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tiie 


THIRD  SERIES. 


VOLUME  I. 

1870-1871. 


LONDON: 

J.  AND  A.  CHURCHILL,  NEW  BURLINGTON  STREET; 

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

ALPHONS  DURR,  Leipzig. 

1871. 


PRINTED  BY  TAYLOR  AND  CO., 

LITTLE  QUEEN  STREET,  LINCOLN’S  INN  EIBLDS. 


INTRODUCTORY. 

Hard  upon  thirty  years  ago  the  first  number  of  the 
‘  Pharmaceutical  Journal  ’  was  printed  for  “  the  pur¬ 
pose  of  circulating  information  respecting  the  nature 
and  objects  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  .  .  .  the 
Editor  solicited  the  support  and  assistance  of  his 
friends  in  the  supply  of  scientific  articles.”  That 
Editor  was  Jacob  Bell ;  and,  in  his  zeal  to  advance 
his  order,  he  determined  to  continue  the  publication 
until  he  saw  his  way  clear  to  “  propose  the  esta¬ 
blishment  of  a  monthly  or  quarterly  journal  of  phar¬ 
macy.” 

The  soil  on  which  he  proposed  to  work  had  always 
lain  fallow;  there  might  be,  and  were,  cultivated 
spots  in  the  land  of  pharmacy,  but  so  hedged  in  as 
to  be  utterly  useless  to  all  save  their  owners  :  there 
were  no  highways  through  which  their  produce 
could  be  carried,  no  courses  through  which  their 
pleasant  waters  could  escape  to  fertilize  the  sur- 
vounding  fallow. 

Bell’s  Journal  furnished  the  needed  outlet,  and  at 
the  end  of  six  months  he  found  that  the  influx  of 
scientific  papers  and  other  matter  had  increased  to 
such  an  extent  that  it  was  difficult  to  restrict  the 
dimensions  of  each  number  within  the  prescribed 
limits.  Chemists  and  druggists  found  the  advantage 
of  a  periodical  interchange  of  ideas,  and  the  old  no¬ 
tion,  that  they  were  the  most  exclusive  of  Englishmen 
as  regarded  each  other,  was  happily  dispelled. 

Through  eighteen  years  Bell  laboured  and  was 
rewarded  by  success, — the  advancement  of  pharmacy 
and  [the  elevation  of  pharmacists  were  to  him  the 
highest  of  all  rewards.  But  then  came  a  cloud  over 
the  scene,  and,  in  what  appeared  to  be  the  full  tide 
of  his  energy,  the  guiding  spirit  of  the  Journal  and 
of  the  Society  was  called  away.  So  ended  the  first 
series  of  the  ‘  Pharmaceutical  Journal.’ 

But  living  and  dying,  the  welfare  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society  was  an  object  of  the  deepest  interest 
to  its  originator,  and  in  the  immediate  anticipation 
of  the  close  of  his  labours,  Jacob  Bell  passed  the 
copyright  of  his  Journal  over  to  the  Society  as  a  free 
gift  of  what  had  become  a  valuable  property,  accom¬ 
panied  by  suggestions  for  its  maintenance,  founded 
on  the  experience  of  the  past  eighteen  years, — sugges¬ 
tions  of  dangers  to  be  avoided  as  well  as  objects  to 
be  pursued. 

Third  Series,  No.  1. 


The  Council  on  whom,  as  trustees,  the  duty  of 
publication  was  thus  conferred,  resolved  unanimously 
to  carry  out  their  work  in  the  manner  indicated  by 
Mr.  Bell,  and  accordingly  secured  the  services  of 
those  gentlemen  who  had  from  the  commencement 
been  his  coadjutors,  to  co-operate  with  a  Com¬ 
mittee,  consisting  of  the  President  of  the  Society  for 
the  time  being,  Mr.  Morson,  and  Mr.  Daniel  Han- 
bury :  thus  the  second  series  of  the  Journal  was 
commenced,  which  ended  last  month  on  the  comple¬ 
tion  of  its  eleventh  volume. 

Other  members  of  the  Council  were  afterwards 
added  to  the  Publication  Committee,  but  twelve 
months  since  it  was  deemed  that  single  responsibility 
was  better  than  divided  authority  for  such  work. 
The  Journal  seemed  to  lack  that  unity  of  purpose 
and  independence  of  tone  which  it  had  possessed 
originally ;  and  when  we  remember  that  Mr.  Bell,  as 
sole  proprietor,  was  responsible  to  no  man  for  its 
contents,  it  is  easy  to  account  for  the  absence  of  a 
certain  amount  of  spirit  which  had  in  his  day  cha¬ 
racterized  its  articles. 

As  proof,  however,  that  the  ,’nterest  of  the  work 
has  not  flagged,  we  may  point  to  the  resolution  just 
arrived  at,  to  alter  the  monthly  to  a  weekly  issue,  in 
accordance  with  which  we  tliis  day  send  forth  the 
first  number  of  the  third  series. 

Various  circumstances  combine  to  render  tliis 
change  desirable ;  the  enlarged  sphere  of  operation 
which  has  been  accorded  to  the  Pharmaceutical  So¬ 
ciety  by  recent  legislation ;  the  great  extension  of  the 
Society,  but  chiefly  the  greater  demand  for  such  in¬ 
formation  as  it  is  our  province  to  convey  in  these 
pages, — a  demand  first  engendered,  and  since  in¬ 
creased  by  the  ‘Pharmaceutical  Journal’  itself,  an 
appetite  increased  by  the  food  supplied.  We  believe, 
could  Jacob  Bell  look  down  on  the  present  condition 
of  Pharmacy  in  Great  Britain,  he  would  say,  “  Well 
done  !”  He  would  say,  too,  “  Go  on,  but  ever  re¬ 
member  the  principles  on  which  we  founded  our  So¬ 
ciety  and  its  Journal ;  let  private  interest  find  no 
place  among  you ;  love  of  science  has  increased  im¬ 
measurably  in  the  minds  of  Chemists  and  Druggists, 
let  the  special  sciences  of  our  trade  have  due  space 
accorded  to  them ;  but  fail  not  also  to  remember  that 
we  have  still  a  trade  to  care  for,  and  let  not  the  ques¬ 
tions  concerning  that  trade  be  overlooked  ;  let  Pliar- 


o 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


[July  2,  1S70. 


maceutical  ethics  be  inculcated  on  broad  general 
principles,  and  trouble  not  yourselves,  except  in 
flagrant  cases,  with  private  modes  of  conducting 
business  ;  the  Journal  is  the  property  of  the  Society, 
and  should  ever  be  mindful  of  its  interests,  but,  al¬ 
though  the  organ,  it  must  not  sink  into  the  mere  tool 
of  the  Council.  One  point  more :  if  you  would 
secure  for  the  Journal  an  increase  of  that  distinct 
influence  which  it  is  surely  exercising  upon  public 
opinion  generally,  and  on  the  opinion  of  the  medical 
profession  particularly,  bo  sure  that  those  who  are 
immediately  concerned  in  conducting  it  are  so  in¬ 
dependent  that,  whilst  they  realize  their  responsi¬ 
bility  for  all  that  may  be  admitted  to  its  pages,  they 
may  have  ample  play  for  the  exercise  of  those 
honourable  motives  which  are  too  often,  under  like 
circumstances,  hampered  by  unnecessary  restric¬ 
tions  ;  in  fact,  unless  its  Editor  be  independent,  it 
will  be  impossible  to  ensure  unity  of  aim  and  pur¬ 
pose.” 


HASAN-i-YUSAF. 


diatoms,  and  has  no  affinity  with  the  Diatomacece 
whatever.  It  was  suggested  that  it  might  be  foramini- 
ferous,  to  which  there  is  a  greater  resemblance.  For¬ 
tunately  we  sent  a  little  to  Dr.  Henry  Carter,  F.R.S., 
who  was  well  acquainted  with  microscopic  objects  in 
India,  and  foraminifera  in  particular.  This  gentle¬ 
man  at  once  suggested  its  affinity  with  the  spores  of 


“  Hasan-i-Yusaf  ”  from  Kashmir. 


BY  M.  C.  COOKE. 

One  of  the  obscure  substances  occasionally  and 
locally  employed  in  India  for  medicinal  purposes  by 
the  natives  is  known  by  the  name  of  “  Hasan-i- 
Yusaf.”  This  is  seldom  mentioned,  and  does  not 
appear  to  be  generally  known  in  India  itself.  La¬ 
hore,  and  probably  Kashmir,  seem  to  be  almost  the 
only  places  where  it  has  any  reputation,  and  for 
what  diseases  it  is  supposed  to  be  a  remedy  we  have 
no  information.  After  some  ineffectual  attempts  we 
at  length  succeeded,  through  the  kindness  of  Dr. 
J.  L.  Stewart,  in  obtaining  a  sample  of  this  drug  by 
post  from  Mr.  B.  Powell,  of  Lahore. 

The  description  of  this  substance  given  by  Honig- 
berger  in  his  ‘  Thirty-five  Years  in  the  East  ’  is  very 
brief.  “  Hossen  Jussif,”  he  writes,  “  is  officinal  in  La¬ 
hore.  It  is  a  whitish  seed  of  the  smallest  size,  very 
likely  to  be  mistaken  for  unripe  poppy  seeds.”  In  re¬ 
ference  to  this,  there  is  a  note  in  the  ‘  Handbook  of 
the  Economic  Products  of  the  Punjab’  (p.  384),  to  the 
effect  that  the  “  Hasan-i-yusaf  is  a  minute,  siliceous 
shell  of  a  triangular  form,  found  floating  on  lakes  and 
ponds  in  the  hills  of  Kashmir,  whence  it  is  skimmed 
off  and  dried.  Erroneously  described  by  Honig- 
berger  and  others  as  a  seed.”  A  little  more  explicit 
information  on  the  same  subject  is  given  in  another 
portion  of  that  work  (p.  320).  Repeating  the  name 
as  “  Hussan  Yusuf,”  it  states : — “  This  is  a  very  in¬ 
teresting  specimen  of  the  siliceous  frustule  of  one  of 
the  Diatomacece.  It  is  of  a  pyramidal  form  with  a 
convex  base,  and  on  each  triangular  face  is  a  pro¬ 
minent,  rounded  knot.  These  markings  are  not 
affected  by  acids,  and  remain  after  heating  to  red¬ 
ness.  'When  heated  in  a  reduction  tube,  it  gives  off 
a  peculiar  smell  and  combustible  gas,  showing  that 
it  is  quite  in  a  fresh  state,  otherwise  it  appears  some¬ 
what  similar  to  a  fossil.  ‘Hussan  Yusuf’  is  col¬ 
lected  in  lakes  and  ponds  in  the  hills  around  Srina¬ 
gar,  in  Kashmir.  It  floats  on  the  surface,  and  is 
skimmed  off  and  dried.” 

A  momentary  glance  is  quite  sufficient  to  convince 
any  one  practically  acquainted  with  the  Diatomacece 
that  this  white  granular  powder  is  not  composed  of 


Selaginella,  and  furnished  for  comparison  those  of 
Selaginella  cernua,  referring  at  the  same  time  to  the 
figure  at  page  436  of  the  ‘  Micrograpliical  Diction¬ 
ary.’  The  spores  of  Selaginella  are  almost  identical 
in  size,  but  more  globose,  less  definitely  ribbed,  and, 
although  allied,  are  not  alike.  Keeping  in  view  the 
place  at  which  this  substance  is  said  to  be  collected, 
“from  the  surface  of  lakes,”  it  occurred  to  us  at 
once  that  some  species  of  Isoetes  would  be  the  pro¬ 
bable  source.  There  being  a  family  relationship  be¬ 
tween  Selaginella  and  Isoetes ,  it  seemed  probable 
that  the  spores  of  Isoetes  would  resemble  those  of 
Selaginella  and  the  “  Hasan-i-Yusaf.”  A  reference 
to  the  figures  of  the  fruit  of  Isoetes  capsularis,  in 
Griffith’s  ‘leones  Plantarum  Asiaticarum,’  part  2, 
plates  116  to  118,  has  confirmed  the  opinion  that  the 
curious  substance,  instead  of  being  a  diatom,  con¬ 
sists  of  the  macrospores  of  a  species  of  Isoetes,  allied 
to,  even  if  not  identical  with,  the  Isoetes  capsularis 
of  Roxburgh,  or  the  common  European  species. 
Especially  should  figure  4  of  the  116tli  plate  be  com¬ 
pared  with  the  “  Hasan-i-Yusaf.”  It  is,  moreover, 
perfectly  true  that  this  substance  does  not  appear  to 
be  at  all  influenced  by  contact  with  cold  nitric  acid ; 
and  even  when  subjected  to  boiling  in  acid,  very 
slow  and  gradual,  as  well  as  imperfect,  disintegra¬ 
tion  takes  place,  unless  the  spores  are  first  broken 
up.  This  fact,  however,  is  by  no  means  fatal  to  the 
conclusion  that  they  are  Isoetes  spores,  in  which,  if 


Spores  of  Isoetes  capsularis  from  Griffith’s  *  leones  Plantarum.’ 
Facsimile  from  Plate  11G. 

we  mistake  not,  a  similar  result  will  accrue,  at  least, 
if  we  may  judge  from  the  treatment  of  Selaginella 
spores  with  cold  acid. 


3 cly  2,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


o 

o 


It  onljr  remains  to  ascertain  what  species  of  Isoe¬ 
tes  is  found  on  the  lakes  of  Kashmir,  and  to  compare 
the  spores  with  this  substance.  The  form,  texture, 
porcellanic  appearance,  resistance  to  acid,  place, 
and  mode  of  collection,  affinity  to  Selaginella,  and 
agreement  with  Griffith’s  figures,  all  indicate  one 
source,  which  we  have  indicated,  for  the  “  Hasan-i- 
Yusaf;”  and  we  commend  this  explanation  with 
some  confidence,  as  removing  the  chief  difficulties  in 
the  way  of  identification  of  this  mysterious  substance 
with  its  botanical  source. 

Note.  Since  writing  the  above  we  have  consulted 
the  ‘  Flore  d’Algerie,’  and  on  the  36th  and  3?th  plates 
find  excellent  figures  of  the  spores  of  Isoetes.  Those 
of  Isoetes  velata  are  almost  identical  with  the  Hasan  - 
i-Yusaf,  and  leave  not  the  slightest  ground  for  doubt 
as  to  the  source  of  the  latter. 


FATAL  CASE  OF  POISONING  WITH  CHLORAL 

HYDRATE. 

BY  J.  F.  BROWN. 

At  the  present  time,  when  the  last  new  and  fashion¬ 
able  remedy — hydrate  of  chloral — occupies  so  large 
a  share  of  our  attention,  and  we  are  very  frequently 
called  upon,  both  by  the  medical  profession  and  the 
public,  to  answer  inquiries  respecting  it,  the  following 
particulars  can  harcUy  fail  to  be  interesting. 

Their  consideration,  too,  may  prompt  scientific 
men  to  pursue  what  appears  to  me  a  highly  important 
inquiry,  viz.  what  means  exist  for  counteracting  the 
effects  of  an  excessive  dose  of  this  substance,  now  so 
extensively  used. 

It  appears  that  Mrs.  — ,  a  married  lady,  about  59 
years  of  age,  had  suffered  from  sleeplessness  and 
mental  agitation,  and  that  her  husband,  on  their  quit¬ 
ting  England,  had  procured  an  ounce  bottle  of  the 
hydrate,  with  the  view  of  trying  its  effect,  and  fearing 
that  in  the  Continental  capital  to  which  they  were 
proceeding,  there  would  be  a  difficulty  in  obtaining 
it. 

Suffering  greatly  from  want  of  rest,  she  became 
very  solicitous  to  carry  out  their  intention,  but  her 
husband  deemed  it  prudent  to  consult  first  a  local 
physician.  This  was  done,  and  he  promised,  on  see¬ 
ing  her  in  consultation  with  an  eminent  professor,  to 
send  a  mixture  or  potion  containing  the  desired  re¬ 
medy.  But  scarcely  had  he  quitted  the  room  than 
she  obtained  possession,  by  opening  a  drawer,  of  the 
bottle  which  they  had  brought  with  them ;  finding, 
probably,  some  little  difficulty  in  removing  the  lumps 
from  the  bottle,  she  placed  the  latter  in  a  glass,  and 
dissolved  or  washed  them  out  by  pouring  into  it  suc¬ 
cessive  quantities  of  water,  finally  swallowing  in  this 
way  the  whole  or  very  nearly  the  whole  of  its  con¬ 
tents.  On  his  return  from  taking  leave  of  the  medi¬ 
cal  attendant,  Mr.  —  learnt  from  his  wife  what  she 
had  done,  and  being  alarmed  by  her  saying,  “  I  feel 
•so  ill,”  he  started  instantly  to  recall  medical  aid  ;  so 
quickty,  indeed,  had  all  this  passed,  that  he  overtook 
the  physician  while  descending  the  last  flight  of 
stairs  of  their  hotel. 

The  remedies  applied  were  an  emetic,  hot  mustard 
poultices  to  the  chest,  and  bleeding  from  the  arm  ; 
but  although  these  were  promptly  used,  they  were 
ineffectual,  as  the  unhappy  lady  expired  within  an 
hour. 

These  circumstances  were  related  to  me  by  a  gen¬ 


tleman  intimately  acquainted  with  the  deceased  lady 
and  her  husband,  and  I  have  only,  in  conclusion,  to 
express  my  indebtedness  to  him  for  the  permission 
to  make  them  public. 

Dover ,  June  23rd,  1870. 


UNGUENTUM  SABINiE. 

BY  T.  H.  BATEMAN. 

To  judge  from  the  limited  demand  for  this  oint¬ 
ment,  it  does  not  now  find  much  favour  among  the 
medical  profession  generally,  although,  in  the  opinion 
of  some  eminent  surgeons,  forming  one  of  the  best 
external  irritants  and  escliarotics  we  have,  acting 
much  more  efficiently  in  keeping  open  blisters,  etc., 
than  does  the  ung.  elemi  of  the  British  Pharmaco¬ 
poeia,  which,  to  some  extent,  has  taken  its  place. 

Looking  at  this  ointment  from  a  pharmaceutical 
point  of  view,  it  is  exceedingly  unsatisfactory ;  the 
specimen  I  have  before  me  (supplied  by  a  London 
wholesale  house)  is  perfectly  rancid,  and  resembles 
in  appearance  “  old  green  elder  ointment.” 

Dr.  Boyle  says,  “  When  made  in  a  porcelain 
vessel,  or  a  water-bath,  it  is  of  a  yellowish-green 
colour,  efficient  and  active,  and  will  keep  good  for  a 
long  time,”  which  it  certainly  does  not,  as  far  as  my 
experience  goes. 

The  B.P.  orders  fresh  savin-tops,  collected  in 
spring,  to  be  used,  thus  compelling  manufacturers  to 
make  their  year’s  stock  at  once,  which  is  decidedly 
objectionable,  as  it  is  thus  frequently  sent  out  rancid. 
Although  this  condition  does  not  in  any  way  inter¬ 
fere  with  its  effect  as  an  irritant,  yet  it  prevents  its 
coming  under  the  category  of  “  elegant  prepara¬ 
tions.” 

Pharmaceutists  (excepting  those  in  a  large  way) 
are  in  the  habit  of  trusting  to  their  wholesale  drug¬ 
gists  for  it,  the  demand,  as  a  rule,  being  too  small  to 
justify  their  making  even  the  quantity  ordered  in 
the  Pharmacopoeia  ;  besides,  made  on  a  small  scale, 
it  is  exceedingly  wasteful,  the  savin-tops  being  so 
bulky  as  to  render  it  difficult  to  strain  the  ointment 
from  them. 

For  satisfaction’s  sake  I  have  prepared  some  my¬ 
self,  adopting  the  following  somewhat  modified  for¬ 
mula,  which  differs  only  from  the  B.  P.  in  the  addition 
of  gum  benzoin  : — 

Fresh  Savin-tops  (bruised)  .  .  8  oz.  - 

Yellow  Wax . 3  oz. 

Prepared  Lard . 16  oz. 

Gum  Benzoin  (coarse  powder)  .  1  oz. 

Melt  the  wax  and  lard  on  a  water-batli,  add  the  gum 
benzoin,  and  digest  for  half  an  hour,  constantly 
stirring,  then  add  the  savin-tops,  and  further  digest 
for  twenty  minutes ;  lastly,  strain  with  pressure 
through  calico  or  flannel,  stirring  occasionally  until 
cold. 

Besulting  ointment,  pale  yellowish-green,  with  the 
odour  of  savin  distinctly  marked,  which  odour  I  have 
failed  to  detect  hi  most,  if  not  all  bought  specimens. 
The  addition  of  gum  benzoin  (judging  from  its  pre¬ 
servative  effect  on  other  ointments)  will,  in  this  case 
I  hope,  tend  to  prevent  any  decided  change  from 
tailing  place. 

Manley  Grove,  Stratford,  Jane  2nd,  1870. 


CHLORIDE  OF  ETHYLIDENE. 

It  is  curious  to  observe  how,  occasionally,  medicinal 
agents  which  have  been  used,  reported  on,  and  laid 


4 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


[July  2,  1870. 


aside,  crop  up  again.  This  week  the  daily  papers  report 
from  Berlin  that  Liebreich  has  been  employing  as  an 
anaesthetic  the  chloride  of  ethylidene — that  is,  the  mono- 
chlorinated  chloride  of  ethylo,  with  which  Dr.  Snow 
made  us  familiar  nineteen  years  ago.  Some  of  our  most 
eminent  surgeons,  Mr.  Bowman,  Sir  W.  Fergusson, 
Mr.  Henry  Lee,  and  others,  operated  on  patients  imder 
this  agent,  and  there  was  almost  an  unanimous  opinion 
in  favour  of  it,  Snow  himself  being  peculiarly  impressed 
with  its  safety.  The  chloride  when  pure  boils  at  a  tem¬ 
perature  a  few  degrees  lower,  and  has  a  lower  specific 
gravity  and  a  lower  vapour  density  than  chloroform. 
It  has  a  higher  boiling-point,  a  higher  specific  gravity, 
and  a  higher  vapour  density  than  bichloride  of  methy¬ 
lene.  Its  composition  is  C2  H4  Cl2 ;  chloroform  is  C  H  Cl3 ; 
and  bichloride  of  methylene  is  CH2C12.  It  is  isomeric 
with  Dutch  liquid,  but  differs  in  boiling-point.  The 
dose  required  to  produce  deep  anaesthesia  is  about  half 
an  ounce.  The  notice  of  monochlorinated  chloride  of 
ethyle  recalls  to  us  the  remembrance  that  our  distin¬ 
guished  countryman,  Snow,  was  suddenly  seized  with 
his  fatal  illness  while  in  the  act  of  writing  on  this 
agent.  He  was  drawing  near  to  the  conclusion  of  the 
chapter  in  his  work  which  treats  of  this  subject,  when 
in  the  middle  of  a  sentence  he  wrote  his  last  word  on  the 
page — the  word  was  “  exit.” — ‘  Medical  Times  and  Gazette ,’ 
June  1  \th,  1870. 


ON  THE  USE  OF  TINFOIL  FOR  PRESERVING  SUB¬ 
STANCES  LIABLE  TO  CHANGE  ON  EXPOSURE 
to,;  AIR. 

BY  ERNEST  BATJDRIMONT. 

Tin  reduced  to  thin  sheets  has  for  many  years  been 
employed  for  preserving  a  great  number  of  substances 
from  the  action  of  air  and  moisture.  The  thin  leaves 
(foil)  of  this  metal  are  essentially  repellent  of  moisture. 
When  cemented  to  the  surface  of  damp  walls,  they  pro¬ 
tect  the  paperhangings  which  may  be  afterwards  ap¬ 
plied,  and  they  are  in  like  manner  used  for  lining  the 
interior  of  boxes  and  drawers  in  which  dried  medicinal 
leaves  and  flowers  are  kept.  It  has  long  been  the  prac¬ 
tice  to  enclose  chocolate  in  tinfoil,  to  prevent  the  fatty 
matter  contained  in  it  from  soiling  the  paper  which 
forms  the  outside  wrapper ;  in  the  same  way  butter  of 
cacao  itself  is  preserved,  and  some  sorts  of  sweetmeats, 
sausages,  and  cheese  are  among  the  articles  similarly 
protected.  Tobacco-pouches  are  lined  with  tinfoil  to 
preserve  the  flavour  and  humidity  of  the  tobacco.  Cakes 
of  opium  are  kept  in  a  moist  and  uniform  state  by  wrap¬ 
ping  them  in  this  material,  and  bisulphate  of  soda  is 
kept  in  the  same  way,  for  use  in  making  artificial  Seltzer 
water  with  Briefs  apparatus.  Lastly,  on  account  of  the 
opacity  of  tinfoil  to  the  rays  of  light,  bottles  are  coated 
with  it  for  the  purpose  of  excluding  light  from  vegetable 
substances  which  would  be  injured  by  its  action. 

Notwithstanding  the  knowledge  of  all  these  facts,  it 
might  be  said  that  the  application  of  tinfoil  for  the  pre¬ 
servation  of  substances  liable  to  change  is  still  rather 
limited,  and  there  seemed  to  be  a  prospect  of  its  admit¬ 
ting  of  a  more  general  use  than  has  hitherto  been  made 
of  it.  At  the  same  time  there  was  an  absence  of  any 
precise  experiments  for  the  purpose  of  determining  in  a 
scientific  manner  the  degree  of  impenetrability  of  tin- 
foil.  Having  been  engaged  for  some  time  in  the  inves¬ 
tigation  of  this  subject,  I  have  obtained  the  following  re¬ 
sults  : — 

For  many  years  past  I  have  observed  that  cacao  butter, 
which  readily  becomes  rancid  even  when  kept  in  bottles 
into  which  it  has  been  introduced  in  the  melted  state,  if 
the  bottles  be  opened  from  time  to  time,  does  not  imdergo 
the  same  change  when  moulded  in  tablets  and  wrapped 
in  tinfoil.  This  fact,  which  was  confirmed  by  many  ob¬ 
servations,  and  could  only  be  explained  by  assuming  the 
impenetrability  of  tinfoil  to  atmospheric  air,  formed  the 
starting-point  for  some  experiments  in  the  same  direc¬ 


tion,  which  proved  satisfactory.  Thus,  a  piece  of  well- 
burned  quicklime,  enclosed  in  a  double  wrapper  of  tin- 
foil,  was  exposed  in  the  atmosphere  of  the  laboratory  by 
the  side  of  another  similar  piece  which  was  exposed 
without  protection.  While  the  latter  became  slacked, 
that  which  was  protected  by  the  tinfoil,  and  weighed 
92-2  grams  on  the  1st  of  December,  1867,  had  only 
gained  3  decigrams  in  weight  at  the  expiration  of  a 
month,  and  after  being  kept  until  the  2oth  of  March, 
1868,  it  had  only  increased  to  94  grams.  It  had  thus 
gained  only  l-8  grams  in  four  months.  On  being  then 
taken  out  of  its  metallic  envelope  much  heat  was  developed 
from  absorption  of  moisture,  and  it  fell  into  powder. 

Satisfied  by  this  experiment  of  the  efficacy  of  tinfoil 
for  preserving  bodies  from  the  action  of  air  and  moisture, 
it  seemed  probable  that  substances  the  most  susceptible 
of  change  might  be  kept  in  the  same  way.  It  was  found 
that  substances  so  deliquescent  as  chloride  of  calcium 
and  liver  of  sulphur,  and  efflorescent  salts  such  as  car¬ 
bonate  and  sulphate  of  soda,  remained  almost  unchanged 
when  wrapped  in  tinfoil,  increasing  or  diminishing  only 
to  a  few  thousandths  of  their  weight  in  several  weeks. 

Other  experiments  were  made  of  a  more  precise  cha¬ 
racter.  It  is  well  known  that  fresh  lemons  become 
rapidly  dried  and  ultimately  hard  when  exposed  to  the 
air,  and  that  they  also  become  perished  and  covered  with 
mould.  I  had  endeavoured  to  prevent  this  drying  and 
moulding  by  placing  the  lemons  in  close  vessels,  in  dry- 
air,  in  sand,  and  also  in  bran,  but  none  of  these  methods 
proved  efficacious.  Thus,  for  example,  in  twenty-one 
days  the  lemons  lost  on  an  average,  17’33  per  cent,  of 
their  weight  in  sand,  and  17*13  per  cent,  in  bran.  Ex¬ 
periments  were  made  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the 
e fleet  of  enveloping  the  fruit  in  tinfoil,  and  also  of  coat¬ 
ing  it  with  a  fihn  of  collodion.  Some  of  the  fruit  pre¬ 
pared  in  each  way,  and  some  unprepared,  was  weighed, 
exposed  to  the  air,  and  again  weighed  at  intervals  of  a 
month.  This  method  was  applied  to  lemons  and  oranges* 
and  the  following  results  were  obtained : — 

1.  The  unprepared  fruit  became  rapidly  dried.  In 
two  months  the  lemons  had  lost  42  per  cent,  of  their 
weight,  while  the  oranges,  in  the  same  time,  had  lost 
only  26  per  cent. 

2.  Collodion,  when  applied  to  the  fruit  alone,  exerted 
but  a  feeble  preservative  influence  in  retarding  sponta¬ 
neous  evaporation.  In  two  months  lemons  coated  with 
collodion  had  lost  29  per  cent.,  and  oranges  22’5  per  cent. 

3.  Tinfoil  almost  entirely  prevents  the  drying  of  the 
fruit.  In  two  months  lemons  lost  only  1*58  per  cent.* 
and  in  three  months  3T6  per  cent.  In  one  case,  indeed, 
the  loss  was  only  0-92  per  cent,  during  the  longer 
period.  Oranges  lost  about  5  per  cent,  in  two  months. 
On  the  removal  of  the  metallic  envelope,  the  fruit  was- 
found  to  be  as  fresh  and  fragrant  as  when  the  experi¬ 
ments  were  commenced.  These  observations  and  experi¬ 
ments  will  tend  to  show  the  remarkable  power  of  tinfoil 
in  preserving  substances  enclosed  in  it  from  the  influence 
of  air  and  moisture  derived  from  air,  and  may  induce 
those  who  are  interested  in  the  subject  to  extend  the 
application  of  this  preservative  means. — Journal  de  Thar - 
made  et  de  Chimie. 


EFFECT  OF  BISULPHIDE  OF  CARBON  ON  WOOD. 

Bisulphide  of  carbon,  according  to  Sidot,  renders  wood 
very  sonorous,  and  makes  it  an  excellent  conductor  of 
heat  and  electricity.  Sidot  passed  vapours  of  bisulphide 
of  carbon  over  pieces  of  wood  in  a  porcelain  tube,  first 
in  the  cold,  in  order  to  expel  the  air,  and  then  at  high, 
temperature,  the  tube  being  slowly  and  gradually  heated 
for  an  hour  until  it  was  red-hot.  The  various  kinds  of 
wood  yield,  by  this  treatment,  a  coal  which  is  not  sur¬ 
passed  by  the  most  sonorous  substances  known.  Sidot 
made  a  bell  of  oak  wood,  and  subjected  it  to  this  treat¬ 
ment  with  bisulphide  of  carbon.  The  sound  it  gave 
after  the  process  compared  favourably  with  that  of  a 


July  2,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


5 


metallic  bell  of  equal  diameter.  The  hardest  kinds  of 
wood  seem  to  produce  the  purest  and  most  harmonious 
tones.  On  account  of  its  capacity  of  conducting  heat 
and  electricity,  Sidot  recommends  the  coal  prepared  in 
this  manner  for  use  in  Bunsen’s  galvanic  batteries,  and 
for  pencils  for  the  electric  light.  Such  pencils  give  a  much 
intenser  light  than  those  made  from  the  graphite  of  gas- 
retorts;  they  become  gradually  white-hot  throughout 
their  whole  mass,  without  burning  at  a  single  point,  and 
cool  down  immediately  as  soon  as  the  fire  is  removed. 
Linen,  hemp,  cotton,  paper,  and  silk  behave  similarly  to 
wood,  and  the  action  of  methylated  spirits  (wood  naphtha) , 
hydrocarbons,  etc.,  resembles  that  of  bisulphide  of  carbon. 
The  coal  from  wood  has  superficial  metallic  lustre,  is 
denser  than  common  charcoal,  and  has  a  greater  absorb¬ 
ing  power  for  gases. — Journal  of  Society  of  Arts. 


CULTIVATION  OP  IPECACUANHA  IN  INDIA. 

The  Supplement  to  the  ‘  Gazette  of  India)  of  23rd 
January,  1869,  contained  a  strong  representation  to  Go¬ 
vernment  from  the  Inspector-General  of  Hospitals,  dated 
5th  October,  on  the  advisability  of  introducing  the  culti¬ 
vation  of  the  ipecacuanha  plant  in  an  analogous  manner 
to  that  of  cinchona. 

The  suggestion  was  forwarded  to  Dr.  Anderson,  the 
Superintendent  of  the  Botanical  Gardens,  Calcutta,  who 
stated  that  he  had,  for  some  years  past,  thought  of  the 
.subject,  but  had  been  unable  to  procure  any  plants  on 
trial  until  April,  1866,  when  one  plant  was  sent  out 
-overland  by  the  Director  of  the  Royal  Gardens  at  Hew. 
This  original  plant  died  soon  after  arrival,  but,  at  the 
-date  of  his  writing,  December,  1868,  nine  plants  were  in 
existence,  artificially  propagated  from  the  original  one, 
besides  five  growing  at  the  cinchona  plantations  at  Dar¬ 
jeeling,  to  which  place  a  cutting  had  been  sent  in  1867. 

The  ‘  Indian  Medical  Gazette,’  on  the  authority  of  Mr. 
Clarke,  now  acting  for  Dr.  Anderson,  quotes  the  remarks 
of  that  gentleman: — “When  I  took  charge  of  the  Gar¬ 
dens,  in  1869,  there  were  seven  plants,  all  under  glass, 
.and  in  a  very  low  state  of  vegetation.  The  plant  had 
been  found  to  grow  very  slowly,  and,  moreover,  to  be 
very  shy  of  propagation  by  cuttings. 

“  It  is  very  possible  that  when  the  plant  once  gets  up, 
it  may  not  prove  slow-growing,  and  that  when  we  once 
have  plants  that  seed,  it  may  not  prove  slow  of  propaga- 
tien ;  but  I  fear  many  days  will  elapse  before  any  pro¬ 
duce  is  likely  to  be  obtained.” — The  Medical  Tress. 


PRODUCTION  OF  SOLID  MANURE  FROM  SEWAGE. 

The  ABC  Frocess. 

One  of  the  most  important  economic  and  sanitary 
questions  of  the  day  is  that  of  the  best  means  of  uti¬ 
lizing  the  sewage  of  towns.  It  has  occupied  the 
attention  of  many  eminent  men  among  chemists, 
agriculturists,  and  engineers,  and  numerous  processes 
have  been  suggested  with  a  view  to  its  solution, 
some  of  which  are  now  undergoing  extensive  practi¬ 
cal  trial.  Among  these  is  the  process  commonly 
designated  the  ABC  process,  by  which  sewage 
water  is  deprived  of  most  of  its  impurity ,  which  is 
separated  in  the  solid  state,  and  rendered  fit  for  use 
as  manure,  while  the  residual  water  is  said  to  be  so 
far  purified  as  to  be  incapable  of  polluting  the  rivers 
it  may  be  allowed  to  run  into.  Although  it  cannot 
be  said  that  the  purifying  effect  of  this  method  of  treat¬ 
ing  sewage  water  has  been  proved  to  be  sufficient, 
there  are  many  who  believe  in  it,  and  still  more.  who 
are  interested  in  the  trial,  and  wish  to  be  acquainted 
with  the  details  of  the  process.  The  following  de¬ 
scription,  which  has  been  published  in  the  ‘  Engineer, 
relates  to  the  works  recently  erected  at  Hastings. 
It  has  evidently  been  written  in  the  interest  of  the 


Company  by  whom  the  process  is  carried  out,  and 
some  of  the  statements  should  therefore  be  received 
with  a  little  reservation  ;  but  it  serves,  nevertheless, 
to  explain  the  general  nature  of  the  operations 
“  The  beauties  of  Hastings  are  too  well-known  to  sea¬ 
side  visitors  to  require  description  here,  and  we  will 
therefore  at  once  take  our  readers  to  the  beach,  where 
the  works  of  the  Hastings  Sewage  Manure  Company  are 
situated,  and  where  they  are  carrying  on  the  ‘  A  B  C  ’ 
process  of  utilizing  sewage.  We  may  premise  that  this 
name  has  been  given  to  the  process  from  the  initial  letters 
of  the  principal  ingredients  used  in  deodorizing  and  pre¬ 
cipitating  the  sewage,  viz.  alum,  blood,  charcoal,  and 
clay ;  other  less  important  chemical  materials  are  used, 
but  the  effect  produced  by  the  mixture  with  the  sewage 
causes  its  instant  deodorization  and  precipitates  a  manure 
which  has  been  appropriately  called  native  guano,  and 
by  which  all  the  well-known  valuable  manurial  qualities 
of  sewage  are  retained,  and  the  whole  is  converted  into 
a  dry  portable  manure,  something  similar  in  appearance 
to,  and  with  many  of  the  valuable  properties  of,  Peru¬ 
vian  guano.  Leaving  the  railway  station  and  proceed¬ 
ing  along  the  beach  road,  and  passing  in  front  of  the  old 
esplanade  to  the  extreme  eastern  limit  of  the  town,  we 
come  upon  the  works  of  the  sewage  company.  These 
are  situated  close  under  the  overhanging  cliffs,  which  are 
220  feet  high,  under  which  they  seem  to  nestle,  and  from 
the  neatness  of  the  elevation  of  the  buildings,  form  no 
unappropriate  and  unsightly  termination  to  the  seabeach. 

“The  elevation  consists  of  a  two-storied  building  of 
red,  relieved  by  bands  of  black  and  yellow  bricks,  with 
simple  windows  with  Gothic  heads.  The  roof  is  of  cor¬ 
rugated  iron,  and  from  the  side  nearest  to  the  cliff 
springs  up  a  chimney  65  feet  in  height,  of  good  propor¬ 
tions,  and  giving  a  very  effective  finish  to  the  whole. 

“  Entering  by  the  western  door,  the  visitor  is  first  struck 
by  the  line  of  iron  pillars  supporting  the  drying  floor, 
between  which  the  eight  centrifugals  used  for  drying 
the  manure,  each  with  its  accompanying  engine,  may  be 
seen.  Passing  between  these,  we  will  take  the  visitor  to 
the  spot  where  the  sewage  first  enters  the  works,  and 
will  do  our  best  to  describe  the  process  which  so  quickly 
converts  this  offensive  substance  into  clear  water  and 
into  valuable  manure. 

“  The  sewer  is  egg-shaped,  6  feet  by  4  feet,  and  con¬ 
veys  the  whole  sewage  of  Hastings.  This,  is  received 
into  a  square  chamber,  13  feet  by  10  feet,  in  which  an 
agitator  revolves  at  great  speed,  not  only  to  thoroughly 
mix  the  ‘ABC’  with  the  sewage,  but  to.  tear  up  all  ex¬ 
traneous  and  heterogeneous  matters. which  are  brought 
down  the  sewers.  On  one  side  of  this  agitating  pit  are 
two  smaller  pits  to  contain  the  ‘  A  B  C  ’  mixture  ;  these 
are  used  alternately,  and  in  them  the  various  chemicals 
above  mentioned  are  mixed  with  water,  and  also  stirred 
up  by  an  agitator. 

“A  chain  of  endless  buckets  delivers  this  mixture  into 
the  agitating  chamber,  where  it  is  thoroughly  stirred 
with  the  sewage.  In  less  than  a  minute  the  chemical 
part  of  the  ‘ABC’  process  is  over,  deodorization  has 
taken  place,  the  solid  part  of  the  sewage  has  curdled 
into  flakes,  and  the  remainder  of  the  process  is  entirely 
mechanical.  The  sewage  thus  treated  then  flows  into 
the  settling  tanks,  originally  built  by  the  local  board 
of  Hastings  some  years  previous  to  the  sewage  com¬ 
pany  commencing  their  operations.  The  size  of  the 
original  tank  was  214  feet  long,  100  feet  wide,  and 
divided  by  seven  lines  of  piers,  which  carry  arches  in 
the  direction  of  its  length,  the  crown  of  these  arches 
being  a  few  feet  below  the  level  of  the  beach.  The 
reason  for  the  tank  being  covered  in  this  instance  is 
owing  to  the  tank  being  below  the  level  of  the  sea,  and 
as  the  sewage  can  be  pent  up  during  the  hours  of  high 
tide.  Under  other  circumstances  the  .  company  would 
have  preferred  to  put  up  tanks  of  their  own  constiuc- 
tion,  open  to  the  air,  so  as  to  admit  of  the  oxidization  of 
the  effluent  water,  the  process  being  entirely  free  from 


6 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


[July  2,  1870. 


all  disagreeable  odour  from  the  moment  the  ‘ABC’ 
process  touches  the  sewage. 

“  The  tank  is  divided  lengthwise  by  a  wall,  each  por¬ 
tion  being  used  alternately.  The  sewage,  treated  as 
previously  mentioned,  remains  quiescent,  allowing  the 
solid  particles  of  both  the  previously  soluble  and  sus¬ 
pended  matter  to  settle.  At  the  end  of  the  tank  nearest 
the  sea,  an  angular  brick  weir,  about  4  feet  high,  encloses 
the  outfall.  It  is  pierced  by  falling  penstocks  or  sluices, 
which  can  be  regulated  as  becomes  necessary.  Over  this 
the  effluont  water  flows  to  the  outfall  sewer,  consisting 
of  a  line  of  4  feet  cast-iron  pipes,  carried  out  nearly  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  to  the  eastward  to  low  water. 

These  iron  pipes,  constructed  and  laid  out  at  an  enor¬ 
mous  cost — a  relic  of  the  old  system  of  discharging 
sewage  into  the  sea, — are  entirely  unnecessary  to  the 
‘ABC’  process.  This  effluent  water  is  perfectly  clean 
and  inodorous,  and  is  the  only  part  of  the  Hastings 
sewage  which  is  allowed  to  escape,  thus  preventing  all 
future  pollution  to  the  neighbouring  bathing  beach.  At 
Leamington,  where  the  ‘ABC’  process  is  also  in  opera¬ 
tion,  the  effluent  water  runs  into  the  river  Learn  so  free 
from  impurity  that  it  has  been  declared  by  Dr.  Letheby 
to  be  practically  innocuous. 

“'Having  thus  followed  the  process  to  the  discharge  of 
the  effluent  water,  we  will  now  return  to  the  remaining 
and  most  important  part  of  the  operations,  viz.  the  ma- 
nurial  part  of  the  sewage.  The  mud  deposited  at  the 
bottom  of  the  tanks  is  pumped  through  a  6-inch  iron 
pipe,  direct  into  the  centrifugal  or  into  a  storage  tank  as 
may  be  required.  The  adoption  of  these  centrifugals  to 
the  purpose  of  drying  the  manure  is  one  of  the  most  in¬ 
teresting  features  of  the  process.  They  are  eight  in 
number,  each  worked  by  an  attendant  engine  of  4-horse 
power,  and  which  have  all  been  christened  by  the 
names  of,  we  doubt  not,  some  favourites  among  the 
fair  sex,  as  seen  by  the  plates  attached,  Mabel,  Maggie, 
Edith,  Harriet,  etc.  They  consist  each  of  a  circular  wire 
gauze  basket,  40  inches  in  diameter,  enclosed  in  a  cast- 
iron  case  of  about  2  feet  in  depth,  rotating  on  a  powerful 
spindle  and  driven  by  means  of  a  band  round  the  fly¬ 
wheel  of  their  respective  engines,  at  the  rate  of  about 
1200  to  1500  revolutions  per  minute.  Through  the 
gauze  of  these  the  moisture  of  the  mud  is  driven  off  by 
centrifugal  force,  leaving  a  partially  dried  solid  deposit 
on  the  sides  of  the  basket.  The  moisture  or  water  thus 
driven  off  is  returned  to  the  agitating  pit,  to  assist  in 
re-treating  fresh  sewage. 

“  The  solid  manure  is  then  removed  to  the  acidifying 
chamber,  where  it  is  sprinkled  with  sulphuric  acid,  the 
object  being  to  entirely  fix  its  ammonia  and  prevent 
its  escape  until  absorbed  by  the  roots  of  the  plants. 
The  gases  which  are  generated  at  the  moment  of  this 
mixture  are  conducted  by  a  flue  to  the  boiler  furnaces, 
and  there  harmlessly  consumed.  Applied  to  one  of  the 
centrifugals  is  a  clever  self-emptying  machine,  which 
discharges  the  mud  without  hand  labour  in  the  form  of 
a  solid  pipe,  which  will  eventually  be  conveyed  on  an 
endless  band  into  the  acidifying  chamber.  From  this 
chamber  the  manure  is  lifted  to  the  drying  room  above, 
where  it  is  spread  to  the  depth  of  8  inches  on  a  steam 
floor,  which  is  supplied  by  the  exhaust  steam  from  the 
various  engines  employed.  It  is  first  deposited  on  the 
hottest  portion  of  the  floor,  and  as  the  moisture  is  driven 
off  removed  to  the  cooler  portion,  thus  avoiding  any 
chance  of  over-heating  the  manure.  After  twelve  hours, 
the  manure,  now  really  become  native  guano,  is  made 
into  heaps,  where  it  is  allowed  to  remain  until  the  fer¬ 
mentation,  which  immediately  begins,  has  ceased.  By 
this  fermentation  all  animal  life,  such  as  entozoa,  tape¬ 
worm  eggs,  etc.,  is  entirely  destroyed.  The  manure  is 
then  lifted  and  put  into  bags  ready  for  the  farmers’  use. 
This  manure  has  earned  already  a  high  reputation  among 
them,  as  is  satisfactorily  proved  by  the  increased  orders 
received  from  the  farmers  who  have  tried  it.  Its  price, 
delivered  at  any  railway  station  in  England  or  Wales,  | 


is  now  £5  per  ton,  whilst  we  believe  its  cost  does  not 
exceed  30s.  The  demand  for  it  has  been  so  great  at  the 
Leamington  works,  we  were  informed  lately,  when  on 
our  visit  of  inspection,  that  it  has  been  found  impossible 
to  meet  it,  and  orders  that  would  exhaust  the  supply 
until  the  autumn  are  still  unexecuted.  An  engine  of  16- 
horse  power  nominal,  which  drives  the  pump  of  the  agi¬ 
tators,  was  constructed  by  Manlove,  Alliott,  and  Co.,  of 
Nottingham,  who  also  supplied  the  centrifugals  and  their 
engines.  The  pumps,  shafting,  and  piping  are  from  the 
works  of  Mr.  Thomas  Middleton,  of  Southwark.  The 
contractor  for  the  building  was  Mr.  John  Howell. 

“  The  plans  were  designed  by  the  managing  directors 
of  the  Native  Guano  Company,  and  executed  and  carried 
out  by  their  staff,  assisted  by  Messrs.  Ellis  and  Birch,  of 
Westminster.  We  were  surprised  to  hear  how  quickly 
these  works  have  been  erected,  manure  having  been 
actually  made  within  seven  weeks  from  the  issue  of  the 
contracts.” 


The  Sulphur  Beds  of  California. — Sulphur  has 
been  chiefly  supplied  from  the  sides  of  Mount  Etna,  in 
Sicily,  but  the  works  on  the  shore  of  Clear  Lake  produce 
now  four  tons  a  day.  The  Sicilian  brimstone  costs  in  Cali¬ 
fornia  4  cents  per  lb.,  but  the  domestic  article  is  sold  for 
3£  cents.  Clear  Lake  occupies  the  crater  of  an  extinct 
volcano,  and  the  evidences  of  volcanic  action  abound  in 
the  vicinity.  Within  a  triangle  of  about  twenty-five 
miles  to  the  side  there  are  volcanic  scoria,  trap,  lava,  ob¬ 
sidian,  tufa,  warm  springs,  and  other  remains  of  eruptions,, 
with  signs  of  subterranean  heat  not  far  from  the  surface. 
The  sulphur  bed  of  Clear  Lake  consists  of  a  bank  re¬ 
sembling  ashes,  containing  numerous  alkaline  and  sul¬ 
phur-springs  with  vent-holes,  from  which  sulphurous 
fumes  escape.  Pure  sulphur  crystals  deposited  from  the 
fumes  surround  these  holes.  The  earth,  containing  about 
50  per  cent,  of  sulphur,  is  placed  in  an  iron  retort  heated 
to  a  high  temperature,  so  that  the  sulphur  is  driven  off 
in  fumes  into  a  receiver,  where  it  settles  in  a  liquid  form, 
and  runs  out  into  pine  boxes  2  feet  long  and  1  foot  square. 
The  lump  sulphur  is  used  chiefly  for  making  powder 
and  sulphuric  acid,  which  last  is  employed  in  making 
bluestone,  giant-powder,  nitric  acid,  and  muriatic  acid, 
and  in  refining  gold  and  silver.  The  consumption  of 
sulphuric,  nitric,  and  muriatic  acids  on  the  coasts  amounts 
to  2,000,0001b.,  and  the  entire  demand  is  supplied  by 
home  manufacture.  Flowers  of  sulphur  have  also  been 
produced  at  Clear  Lake.  The  fumes  passing  off  from 
the  retort  are  in  this  case  led  into  a  large  cool  chamber, 
where  they  condense  into  a  flaky  snow-like  condition. — 
Scientific  Opinion. 

Immunity  of  Monkeys  to  Strychnia. — In  a  former 
number  of  this  Journal  we  recorded  a  case  in  which  a 
monkey  was  found  to  be  perfectly  insusceptible  to  the 
action  of  strychnia.  This  subject  has  been  investigated 
by  Dr.  Theobald  Kinger,  and  the  results  have  been 
published  in  the  ‘  Indian  Medical  Gazette.’  The  follow¬ 
ing  facts  have  been  elicited: — 1st.  That  the  “lungoor” 
may  be  said  to  be  proof  against  strychnia ;  2nd,  That 
the  “pouch-cheek”  monkey  is  susceptible,  but  not  so 
readily  as  a  human  being ;  3rd,  That  the  old  saying  that 
a  monkey  will  nover  eat  anything  that  is  “poisonous” 
is  clearly  shown;  the  “lungoor”  readily  eating  and 
relishing  the  strychnia,  which  produced  no  ill  effects 
upon  him,  whilst  the  “pouch-cheek”  monkey  refused 
the  same,  and  fell  a  victim  to  the  poison. 

A  New  Insect  Poison. — M.  Cloez  considers  the 
following  to  be  a  complete  annihilator  for  plant  lice,  and 
other  small  insects : — Take  3£  ounces  of  quassia  chips, 
and  5  drachms  of  stavesacre  seed  powdered ;  these  are 
to  be  put  into  seven  pints  of  water,  and  boiled  until 
reduced  to  five  pints.  When  the  liquid  is  cooled,  strain 
it,  and  use  with  a  water-pot  or  syringe. 


July  2,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


7 


SATURDAY,  JULY  2,  1S70. 


THE  ‘  LANCET  ’  AND  THE  MUTUAL  MEDICAL 
AID  SOCIETY. 

We  are  glad  to  find  that  the  leading  medical  jour¬ 
nal  has  taken  up  the  subject  of  co-operative  trading 
as  applied  to  the  medical  profession.  There  is  no 
doubt  that  the  Mutual  Medical  Aid  Society,  to  which 
we  alluded  in  our  last  number,  would  affect  medical 
men  much  more  than  pharmacists ;  for  although  it  is 
proposed  that  medicines  as  well  as  advice  should  be 
supplied  to  those  who  subscribe  to  the  association, 
yet  the  subscribers  would,  in  most  cases,  belong 
to  the  class  of  persons  who  generally  get  advice  and 
medicine  together  from  a  general  practitioner.  But, 
admitting  that  our  members  would  probably  not  be 
directly  affected  by  the  particular  institution  referred 
to,  to  so  great  an  extent  as  others,  still  the  influence 
of  this  extension  of  a  system  from  which  chemists 
are  already  suffering  would  be  felt  as  an  aggravation 
of  the  evils  they  have  so  much  cause  to  complain  of. 
The  ‘  Lancet  ’  denies  the  statement  which  had  been 
made  in  one  of  the  daily  papers,  to  the  effect  that 
the  proposal  to  establish  a  Mutual  Medical  Aid  So¬ 
ciety  had  received  the  sanction  of  the  medical  pro¬ 
fession,  and  says  “  the  exact  contrary  is  the  case.” 

Referring  hi  a  subsequent  article  to  a  statement  in 
the  ‘  Graphic,’  that,  if  the  Mutual  Medical  Aid  So¬ 
ciety  is  not  really  self-supporting,  persons  of  honour¬ 
able  feeling,  however  strained  hi  means,  would 
shrink  from  associating  themselves  with  it,  while,  on 
the  other  hand,  if  it  is  self-supporting  there  could  be 
no  reason  for  refusing  any  one  desirous  of  subscribing, 
— for  why  should  persons  of  unlimited  means  pay  more 
for  services  than  the  market  value  ? — the  ‘  Lancet  ’ 
very  justly  observes,  “  We  would  advise  the  eminent 
medical  promoters  of  this  trading  scheme  to  look  out 
sharply  for  their  own  fees.  How  do  they  know  that 
the  Committee  will  not  begin  by  putting  up  the 
posts  of  consulting  surgeon  and  physician  to  public 
competition,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  market  value 
of  the  commodity  they  require  ?  Such  a  competition 
might  not  add  to  the  dignity  of  the  profession,  but  it 
would  perhaps  enable  us  to  estimate  the  value  of 
consultees  from  a  trading  point  of  view.” 


THE  TREATMENT  AND  UTILIZATION  OF 
SEWAGE. 

Many  of  our  readers  are  no  doubt  aware  that  a 
Committee,  appointed  by  the  British  Association,  “to 
report  on  the  treatment  and  utilization  of  sewage,” 
has  been  in  operation  for  some  time.  It  was  first 
appointed  in  1808  at  the  meeting  of  the  Association 
at  Norwich,  and  was  reappointed  last  year  at  Exeter. 


The  subject  was  considered  by  the  Association  to 
be  one  deserving  of  a  thorough  investigation,  but  this 
would  necessarily  involve  considerable  expense  for 
experiments,  especially  analyses ;  and  as  the  Asso¬ 
ciation  has  no  funds  adequate  and  available  for  such 
purpose,  an  appeal  was  made  to  the  various  munici¬ 
pal  authorities  and  other  governing  bodies  ofiicially 
interested  in  the  subject,  for  the  funds  required  for 
the  investigation.  It  appears  that  a  sufficient  amount 
to  defray  the  expenses  has  thus  been  raised,  and  the 
Committee,  comprising  men  eminent  in  their  respec¬ 
tive  departments,  and  possessing  the  requisite  en¬ 
gineering,  chemical,  medical,  and  agricultural  know¬ 
ledge,  to  qualify  them  for  such  an  inquiry,  have  al¬ 
ready  obtained  much  valuable  information,  espe¬ 
cially  with  reference  to  the  methods  adopted  in  most 
civilized  countries  of  dealing  with  town  refuse,  and 
with  reference  to  the  engineering  questions  involved 
in  methods  that  have  been  adopted  or  suggested. 
Much  of  this  information  was  obtained  in  the  first 
year  of  the  Committee’s  operations,  with  a  grant  of 
only  .£10,  but,  with  the  accession  of  much  larger 
funds,  disagreement  has  arisen  among  the  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  Committee  as  to  the  method  of  doing  and 
paying  for  the  work. 

It  appears  that  a  majority  of  the  Committee  have 
decided  that  the  independence  and  disinterestedness 
of  the  members  of  the  Committee  should  be  placed 
beyond  suspicion  by  their  duties  being  of  a  strictly 
honorary  character,  and  all  paid  work  being  obtained 
from  without,  while  two  of  the  chemists  in  the  Com¬ 
mittee  differ  on  this  point,  and  contend  that  it  would 
be  perfectly  consistent  with  their  position,  and  con¬ 
ducive  to  the  interests  of  those  who  have  contributed 
the  funds,  that  the  chemical  work  should  be  done 
under  the  guidance  and  supervision  of  chemical 
members  of  the  Committee,  to  whom  mere  working 
expenses  should  be  paid. 

Both  of  these  appear  to  be  legitimate  modes  of  pro¬ 
ceeding  under  special  circumstances,  the  nature  of 
which  may  determine  the  preference  for  one  or  the 
other,  and  it  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  the  success¬ 
ful  issue  of  an  important  investigation  should  be  en¬ 
dangered  by  a  public  dispute  on  such  a  question. 


SALE  OF  POISONS  (IRELAND)  BILL. 

The  Bill  for  regulating  the  sale  of  poisons  in  Ire¬ 
land,  which,  as  introduced  in  the  House  of  Commons 
on  the  24tli  of  May,  by  the  Solicitor- General  for 
Ireland,  was  given  in  extenso  in  our  number  issued 
on  the  1st  of  June,  is  now  waiting  a  second  reading 
in  the  House  of  Lords.  It  has  undergone  one  or 
two  slight  alterations,  as,  for  instance,  in  section  1, 
the  proviso  that  the  Apothecaries’  Hall  of  Dublin 
might,  with  the  sanction  of  the  Privy  Council,  add 
to  the  schedule  of  poisons,  has  been  struck  out,  and 
that  power  is  now  given  to  the  King  and  Queen’s 
College  of  Physicians  in  Ireland.  In  the  schedule 
of  poisons,  the  preparations  of  prussic  acid,  of  the 

I  T>  Q 


8 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


[July  2,  1870. 


cyanides,  and  of  atropine,  have  been  struck  out. 
With  these  exceptions  the  Bill  appears  to  remain 
intact. 


BETTS’S  METALLIC  CAPSULES. 

PROSECUTIONS  AGAINST  RETAIL  CHEMISTS. 

The  long-pending  suits  in  Chancery,  which  were 
commenced  by  Mr.  Betts  about  five  years  ago,  against 
a  number  of  retail  chemists  and  perfumers,  for  selling 
articles  capped  with  metallic  capsules  which  the 
plaintiff  alleged  were  not  of  his  manufacture  and  the 
use  of  which  was  an  infringement  of  his  patent  rights, 
have  at  last  been  decided  by  Vice-Chancellor  James, 
and  we  are  happy  to  say  that  the  decision  is  wholly 
in  favour  of  the  defendants.  The  circumstances 
under  which  the  suits  were  instituted  are  described 
at  page  41,  Vol.  VII.,  2nd  series,  of  this  Journal, 
and  allusion  has  been  made  to  the  subject  several 
times  since.  In  our  next  issue  we  shall  give  an  ac¬ 
count  of  the  trial,  which  has  occupied  two  days. 
We  can  only  state  here  that  the  cases  were  all  dis¬ 
missed  with  costs,  and  that  the  Vice-Chancellor,  in 
giving  judgment,  condemned  in  strong  terms  the 
conduct  of  the  plaintiff  in  this  affair. 


PROFESSOR  HUXLEY  ON  MATERIA  MEDICA  AS 
A  BRANCH  OF  MEDICAL  EDUCATION. 

In  an  address  delivered  by  Professor  Huxley  the 
other  day,  on  the  occasion  of  the  distribution  of 
prizes  to  the  medical  students  at  University  College, 
in  alluding  to  subjects  he  would  omit  from  the  curri¬ 
culum  of  medical  education,  the  following  remarks 
were  made 

“  I  must  confess,  if  I  had  my  way,  I  would 
abolish  Materia  Meclica*  altogether.  I  recollect, 
when  I  was  at  the  University  of  London,  Dr.  Pereira 
was  the  examiner, — and  you  know  that  Pereira’s 
‘  Materia  Meclica  ’  was  a  book  cle  omnibus  rebus.  I 
recollect  my  struggles  with  that  book  late  at  night 
and  early  in  the  morning  (I  worked  very  hard  in 
those  days),  and  I  do  believe  that  I  got  that  book 
into  my  head  somehow  or  other,  but  then  I  will 
undertake  to  say  that  I  forgot  it  all  a  week  after¬ 
wards.  Not  one  trace  of  a  knowledge  of  drugs  has 
remained  in  my  memory  from  that  tune  to  this ;  and 
really,  as  a  matter  of  common  sense,  I  cannot  under¬ 
stand  the  arguments  for  obliging  a  medical  man  to 
know  all  about  drugs,  and  where  they  come  from. 
Why  not  make  him  belong  to  the  Iron  and  Steel 
Institute,  and  learn  something  about  cutlery,  be¬ 
cause  he  uses  knives  ?  But  do  not  suppose,  after  all 
these  deductions,  there  would  not  be  ample  room  for 
your  activity.  Let  us  count  up  what  we  have  left. 
I  suppose,  at  the  outside,  all  the  tune  that  can  be 
hoped  for  for  medical  education  is  about  four  years. 
That  is  taking  the  outside  limit.  Well,  what  have 
you  hi  those  four  years  upon  my  estimate  ?  Physics 
applied  to  physiology,  chemistry  applied  to  physio¬ 
logy,  physiology ,  anatomy,  surgery,  medicine,  ob¬ 
stetrics,  hygiene,  and  medical  jurisprudence, — nine 
subjects  for  four  years  !  And  when  you  consider 

*  “It  will,  I  hope,  be  understood  that  I  do  not  include 
Therapeutics  under  this  head.” 


what  those  subjects  are,  and  that  the  acquirement  of 
anything  beyond  the  rudiments  of  any  one  of  them 
may  tax  the  energies  of  a  lifetime,  I  think  that  even 
those  energies  which  you,  young  gentlemen,  have 
been  displaying  for  the  last  hour  or  two  might  be 
taxed  to  keep  thoroughly  up  to  what  is  wanted  for 
your  medical  career ;  and  I  entertain  a  very  strong 
conviction  that  any  one  who  adds  to  medical  educa¬ 
tion  one  iota  or  tittle  beyond  what  is  absolutely 
necessary  is  guilty  of  a  very  grave  offence.” 


“AN  AGE  OF  PROGRESS.” 

TO  THE  EDITOR  OF  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 

Sir, — I  beg  you  will  allow  me  space  in  your  next 
issue  to  protest  against  the  character  of  one  of  the 
leading  articles  in  your  last. 

I  could  excuse,  though  I  could  not  approve  the 
tone  of  some  of  the  speakers  who  were  borne  along 
in  the  storm  of  debate  at  the  annual  meeting ;  and  I 
could  extenuate,  though  certainly  I  could  not  justify 
the  conduct  of  a  scrutineer  who  allowed  his  excited 
feelings  to  eclipse  his  judgment ;  but  I  can  acknow¬ 
ledge  no  excuse  for  the  publication  of  a  leading 
article,  professedly  giving  a  deliberate  opinion, — a 
calm  judgment  founded  upon  the  superior  knowledge 
of  the  writer, — in  contrast  to  the  ignorance  and  im¬ 
petuosity  of  the  bulk  of  the  members  of  our  Society, 
yet  containing  statements  which,  though  partial 
truths,  are  virtually  misrepresentations,  and  con¬ 
taining  remarks  which  can  only  be  regarded  as 
sneering  and  unjust  towards  the  men  whom  it  pro¬ 
fesses  to  honour. 

I  could  not  have  imagined,  Sir,  that  an  article  so 
puerile  and  undignified  could  have  fallen  from  your 
pen,  nor  that  your  judgment,  which  I  have  always 
held  in  high  estimation,  could  have  yielded  a  place 
of  honour  to  a  communication  which  was  scarcely 
entitled  to  space  in  the  columns  of  anonymous  cor¬ 
respondence. 

Were  it  not  that  the  editorship  is  vacant  at  the 
moment  I  write,  I  would  say  that  justice  demands  a 
public  apology,  and  a  fair  representation  of  the  case 
in  your  next  number;  but  as  the  Journal  in  July 
may  appear  under  the  authority  of  a  new  editor,  or, 
perhaps,  without  an  editor  at  all,  I  beg  to  chaw  at¬ 
tention  to  one  or  two  points  which  may  enable  your 
readers  to  form  a  more  just  estimate  of  the  merits  of 
the  case  than  they  are  at  present  likely  to  possess. 

In  saying  that  Mr.  Bottle  has  attended  no  com¬ 
mittee  meeting,  does  not  justice  require  that  the  con¬ 
text  should  clearly  state  that  he  has  never  been 
called  to  one?  The  partial  truth  is,  that  he  has 
never  attended  a  single  committee ;  the  lurking  in¬ 
justice  is  the  statement  of  tins  truth  in  such  a  way 
as  to  leave  the  impression  that  he  has  neglected  his 
duty. 

Might  it  not  be  said  with  equal  truth  that  the 
London  members,  being  in  majority,  elected  one  an¬ 
other  to  the  committees,  and  fixed  the  days  of  meet¬ 
ing  at  such  times  as  would  not  be  convenient  to  any 
one  at  a  distance  ?  and  as  your  article  states  three- 
fourths  of  the  business  of  the  Council  is  pre-arranged 
at  these  committee  meetings,  and  a  country  member 
attending  Council  without  the  knowledge  which 
committee  work  would  give  him,  has  no  chance 
against  his  metropolitan  brethren, — might  we  not, 
with  equal  justice,  conclude  that  the  country  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  Council  were  thus  virtually  set  aside, 


July  2,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


9 


and  hopelessly  helpless  till  their  constituents  had 
placed  a  majority  on  their  side  to  enable  them  to 
arrange  matters  better,  and  thus  to  save  the  Society 
from  being  entirely  in  the  hands  of  the  London 
tradesmen,  who  form  but  a  small  minority  of  its 
members  ? 

This  is  a  conclusion  which  might  be  drawn  from 
a  more  careful  examination  of  the  published  infor¬ 
mation  than  that  which  you  have  offered  us,  and  not 
unlikely  to  be  arrived  at  by  the  provincial  pharma¬ 
cists,  if  party  spirit  is  fostered  by  such  one-sided 
writing  being  allowed  to  appear  as  official  matter. 

The  truth  is,  that  the  country  members  of  the 
Council  do  not  feel  that  their  distance  disqualifies 
them  for  the  acceptance  of  committee  work,  for  they 
have  accepted  the  same  ;  they  now  have  elected  one 
another  to  work  along  with  their  London  brethren 
in  all  the  committees ;  they  have  elected  every  coun¬ 
try  member  of  Council  to  at  least  one  committee,  and 
two  of  them — Mr.  Abraham  and  Mr.  Edwards — to 
-as  many  as  foiu*  committees  each ;  they  have  ar¬ 
ranged  the  times  of  meeting  of  the  committees,  so 
that  a  frequent  attendance  of  the  country  members 
will  not  be  impracticable ;  and,  though  their  pre¬ 
sence  will  always  involve  twice  as  great  a  sacrifice 
as  is  required  to  be  made  by  those  residing  within  a 
cab  drive  of  Bloomsbury,  it  is  an  injustice  to  con¬ 
demn  them  before  they  have  had  a  trial. 

May  I  ask  why  Mr.  Deane  is  mentioned  among 
those  who  are  geographically  unable  to  attend  ?  un¬ 
less  it  be  to  mislead  those,  if  there  are  such,  who  do 
not  know  that  Clapham  is  an  easy  omnibus  ride 
from  Bloomsbury  Square.  And  may  I  ask  why  an 
unfair  view  of  the  attendance  of  London  members  is 
given  by  drawing  attention  to  those  who  have  been 
many  times  present,  and  omitting  to  notice  those 
who  have  been  absent  so  often  as  to  show  that  the 
.geographical  qualification  is  no  guarantee  of  regula¬ 
rity  ? 

I  sought  to  justify  this  omission  on  the  ground  of 
your  remarks  having  reference  to  members  of  the 
new  Council  only,  but  this  I  find  is  not  the  case,  as 
the  number  fifteen  applies  to  Mr.  Mbrson,  who  is  not 
on  the  present  Council.  Then,  in  the  hope  of  yet 
justifying  the  omissions,  I  expected  to  find  then  the 
names  of  founders  of  the  Society, — men  who  are 
willingly  acknowledged  to  have  earned  their  laurels 
and  their  ease,  and  would  be  gladly  seen  at  a  meet¬ 
ing  without  constant  attendance  being  expected  of 
them.  But  against  tills.  Sir,  I  find  the  first  name 
you  have  thus  omitted  is  that  of  Mr.  Ince,  who  has 
been  called  to  the  library  committee  seventeen  times, 
and  has  attended  it  only  once. 

I  can,  therefore,  come  to  no  other  conclusion  than 
that  you  have  picked  out  the  good  numbers,  with 
the  intention  of  implying  that  residence  in  London 
ensured  good  attendance,  and  omitted  to  notice  that 
the  London  list  also  included  two  attendances  in  re¬ 
sponse  to  twenty-one  summonses  (Ince),  two  attend¬ 
ances  in  response  to  thirty-four  summonses  (Orridge), 
and  six  attendances  in  response  to  thirty-one  sum¬ 
monses  (Squire),  because  these  facts  detract  from 
the  apparent  strength  of  your  position.  One  would 
think  that  the  first  of  these  names,  so  intimately  as¬ 
sociated  with  ethics,  should  have  prompted  a  fairer 
statement  of  the  case.  I  can  only  imagine  that 
some  unfortunate  circumstance  disturbed  your  usual 
cool  judgment  when  you  wrote  tills  article,  or  you 
could  not  have  offered  to  your  provincial  friends 
the  information  that  the  Council  is  not  a  Young 


Men’s  Mutual  Improvement  Association, — a  piece  of 
information  which  a  day’s  reflection  would,  no  doubt, 
show  you  is  both  uncalled  for  and  offensive;  nor 
could  you,  as  editor  of  a  scientific  journal,  have 
penned  a  sentence  implying  that  Mr.  Brady  is  less 
worthy  of  our  respect  in  consequence  of  Ills  pursuit 
of  natural  history. 

Barnard  S.  Proctor. 

11,  Grey  Street,  Newcastle ,  June  24 th,  1870. 


TO  THE  READERS  OF  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 

I  wrote  the  Leader  entitled  “  An  Age  of  Progress.’’ 
It  has  excited  undue  praise,  but  there  are  some  who 
take  exception  to  the  statements  it  contains. 

It  struck  me  that  it  might  prejudice  the  Editor  of 
the  ‘Pharmaceutical  Journal’  were  he  supposed  to 
be  the  author.  The  only  part  he  has  had  in  the  trans¬ 
action  was  to  tone-down,  modify,  and  materially  im¬ 
prove  my  sentences,  to  their  great  advantage,  I  see 
not  one  syllable  I  wish  to  retract  or  alter :  in  obe¬ 
dience  to  J ournal  usage  the  article  was  not  signed,  a 
circumstance  I  regret.  I  define  the  word  Council  to 
prove  that  it  is  an  assembly  for  deliberation  and  not 
at  all  for  discussion.  I  object  to  reporting  its  pro¬ 
ceedings  for  reasons  I  have  given  so  often  that  I  am 
afraid  of  their  repetition.  Amongst  them  are.  First, 
conclusions  are  arrived  at,  in  the  main,  by  conversa¬ 
tional  means,  perfectly  legitimate  but  unadapted  for 
publication.  Secondly,  the  actual  work  is  done  in 
Committee,  and  it  has  happened  to  myself  and  others, 
that  in  order  not  to  be  eternally  present  before  the 
board,  or  to  gain  the  reputation  of  being  heard  for 
much  speaking,  I  and  others  have  used  the  friendly 
services  of  a  councillor  to  bring  forward  our  particular 
Resolutions.  In  that  case,  a  gentleman  in  the  Coun¬ 
try,  wishing  to  know  his  man  and  give  his  vote,  is 
led  into  error.  A  sign  post  is  an  excellent  institution 
but  it  is  desirable  that  it  should  not  point  the  wrong 
way.  Thirdly  debates  do  arise  occasionally.  I  have 
accurately  described  them  as  a  storm  passing  over 
otherwise  tranquil  waters.  These  of  necessity  often 
involve  personal  matters  which  it  would  be  most 
unwise  to  reveal.  Their  publication  would  sow  an 
abundant  harvest  of  ill-will,  misunderstanding  and 
estrangement. 

But  this  is  not  the  point  about  which  I  am  called 
in  question.  I  have  stated  the  truism  that  neither 
as  I  could  direct  the  home  affairs  of  a  firm  in  Man¬ 
chester,  neither  can  those  residing  at  a  long  distance 
from  the  metropolis  conduct  home  London  business. 
Fearing  however  that  this  paragraph  might  be  mis¬ 
interpreted  into  a  slight  passed  on  our  Provincial 
friends,  the  identical  sentence  was  submitted  to  the 
President  and  met  with  Iris  approval.  Desiring  to 
make  assurance  doubly  sure,  I  added,  that  these 
very  persons  wrere  amongst  the  utterly  best  men  of 
our  Society.  Was  it  possible  to  take  more  care? 
Could  sentences  be  more  guarded?  Moreover  the 
directors  of  this  Journal  and  other  Editors  know  with 
what  elaborate  trouble  I  prepare  my  press  commu¬ 
nications.  Easy  writing  is  never  read.  Two  gen¬ 
tlemen  in  another  periodical  have  ventured  on  a 
description  of  the  same  affair,  namely  the  character 
of  the  Election.  One,  formerly  a  member  of  Council, 
(not  myself)  supplied  the  materials ;  the  Editor  did 
the  text.  Betwreen  them,  they  termed  the  transaction 
of  the  month  of  May,  “Reaping  the  Whirlwind.” 
With  them,  I  regret  the  non-election  of  Mr.  Williams. 


10 


THE  PHAEMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


[July  2,  1870. 


To  me  besides  it  is  a  grief  that  Mr.  Charles  Savory 
has  not  been  allowed  to  take  that  position  to  which 
he  is  so  fully  entitled,  and  to  discharge  the  duties  of 
which  he  is  so  admirably  competent.  But  one  tiling 
disturbs  me — that  I  should  have  been  so  fearfully 
misinterpreted  as  to  cause  a  suspicion  that  I  had 
raised  a  sarcasm  at  the  expense  of  Mr.  Brady.  This 
was  not  particularly  probable  as  with  one  exception 
he  is  the  nearest  friend  I  have,  and  no  Pharmacist 
can  be  prouder  of  his  scientific  reputation  than  my¬ 
self. 

It  is  my  fortune,  or  misfortune,  in  this  case  the 
latter,  to  be  a  diligent  reader  of  French.  In  that 
language  the  commonest  of  all  common  things  is  to 
impute  as  a  fault  a  known,  acknowledged  excellence. 
"When  a  celebrated  songstress  was  addressed  thus, 
■“  Madame  vous  etes  charmante,  bien  que  vous  savez 
chanter,”  the  lady  did  not  resent  as  an  insult  the 
remark  regarding  her  vocal  abilities.  That  a  phar¬ 
macist  at  Newcastle  should  be  engaged  in  scientific 
pursuits  or  devoted  to  the  study  of  Natural  History, 
is  to  Iris  highest  praise.  My  Leader  assumed  this  to 
be  understood. 

"What  is  this  about  ?  I  state  that  to  appoint  on 
Committee  work  those  who  live  at  considerable  dis¬ 
tances  is  unwise  and  injudicious.  So  it  is.  Should 
this  sentiment  be  considered  a  depreciation  of  Pro¬ 
vincial  ability,  I  repudiate  the  notion.  I  am  an 
officer  and  Member  of  the  British  Pharmaceutical 
Conference  winch  alone  would  be  sufficient  denial. 
Last  month  I  left  for  the  next  five  years,  the  thorny 
path  of  Journalism :  but  I  would  ask  the  readers  of 
this  Journal  not  always  to  expect  to  be  written  to  as 
an  Infant  School.  Let  them  give  and  take — let 
them  allow  a  man  to  have  an  opinion  of  his  own. 

Meanwhile  do  not  visit  my  sins  on  the  Editor. 
He  was  less  likely  to  scrutinize  my  short  essay  because 
I  was  on  the  regular  staff,  and  my  contributions  have 
never  yet  been  refused.  I  had  requested  that  space 
should  be  reserved  for  my  article  among  the  leaders, 
and  there  was  little  time  left  for  deliberation  after 
the  manuscript  was  sent.  The  issue  of  the  Journal 
was  delayed  to  admit  of  alterations  which  the  Editor 
suggested,  but  I  am  solely  responsible  for  the  article 
as  it  stands. 

Nothing  remains  but  for  me  to  thank  Professor 
Eedwood  for  his  courtesy  and  his  editorial  care  in 
this  instance. 

Joseph  Ince. 

26,  St.  George' s  Place ,  Hyde  Park  Come r,  S.  IV., 

June  25th,  1870. 


EXAMINATION  IN  LONDON. 

June  1 5th,  1870. 

Present — Messrs.  Allchin,  Bird,  Carteighe,  Cracknell, 
Davenport,  Deane,  Edwards,  Gale,  Garle,  Haselden, 
and  Southall. 

Thirty-four  candidates  presented  themselves  for  ex¬ 
amination  ;  the  following  passed,  and  were  duly  regis¬ 
tered  : — 

As  PHARMACEUTICAL  CHEMISTS. 

♦  Fryer,  Charles . , . Guildford. 

Horsley,  Thomas  Wood . Manchester. 

Furmston,  Samuel  Chambers . . .  .Wycombe. 

Tuck,  William  Henry . Surbiton. 

*  Passed  with  honours. 


As  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS. 


♦Masson,  George  . London. 

♦Appleby,  Calvert . East  Retford. 

♦Powell,  Thomas  Henry . Hornsey  Rise. 

♦Pick,  Richard  . Hull. 

♦Wing,  Lewis  . Torquay. 

Davison,  Anthony  . Kidderminster. 

Wallis,  Herbert  Boyd . London. 

Warren,  William . Chertsey. 

Griffin,  Thomas  . Bromley. 

Horton,  Walter  Charles . Windsor. 

Browne,  Joseph  Alleyne . London. 

Botterill,  George  Thomas  . Boston. 

Goodenough,  Joshua  . Norwich. 

Barclay,  Arthur  Edward  . Lee. 

Read,  Henry  Holditch  . Peterborough. 

Wonfor,  Herbert  Ison . Southampton. 

Osborne,  James . Ashbourne. 

Hill,  William  Edward . Leicester. 

Vincent,  Philip . Fulham. 


The  above  names  are  arranged  in  order  of  merit. 

FIRST,  OR  PRELIMINARY  EXAMINATION. 

The  following,  having  presented  to  the  Board  certifi¬ 
cates  of  examination  by  legally  constituted  Examining 
Bodies,  and  the  said  certificates  having  been  approved, 
were  registered  as 

APPRENTICES  OR  STUDENTS. 


Barclay,  Arthur  Edward . Lee. 

Green,  Marry  at  Hahnemann  ....  Peckham. 
Webb,  Frederick  Brooks . Birmingham. 


EXAMINATION  IN  EDINBURGH. 

May  30 th,  1870. 

Present — Messrs.  Ainslie,  Brown,  Buchanan,  Kemp, 
and  Young. 

Eight  candidates  presented  themselves  for  the  Major 
and  Minor  Examinations ;  the  following  passed,  and  were 
duly  registered : — 

MAJOR  (as  Pharmaceutical  Chemists). 

Duncan,  Joseph . Edinburgh. 

Finlay,  James . Edinburgh. 

MINOR  (as  Chemists  and  Druggists). 

Gilmour,  David  . Edinburgh. 

Howie,  William  Lamond . Edinburgh. 

Macfarlane,  Patrick  . Alexandria,  N.B, 

Paton,  James  . . Edinburgh. 

MODIFIED  EXAMINATION. 

Seven  candidates  presented  themselves  for  examina¬ 
tion  ;  the  following  six  passed,  and  were  registered  as 

CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS. 

Campbell,  William . Glasgow. 


Chalmers,  William. . Glasgow. 

Campbell,  Lome  J ohn  Malcolm  . .  Helensburgh. 

Drysdale,  Robert  . Glasgow. 

Greig,  William,  jun . Glasgow. 

Yoxall,  Henry  . Belfast. 


FIRST,  OR  PRELIMINARY  EXAMINATION. 
Eleven  candidates  were  examined ;  the  following  eight 
passed,  and  were  registered  as 

APPRENTICES  OR  STUDENTS. 

Gilmour,  David  . Edinburgh. 

Hardie,  Alexander . Edinburgh. 

Macauly,  John'  . Helensburgh. 

Macfarlane,  Patrick  . Alexandria,  N.B. 

Macfarlane,  William . Girvan. 

Paton,  James  . Edinburgh. 

Thomson,  Charles  M . Edinburgh. 

Todrick,  William  . Edinburgh. 

*  Passed  with  honours. 


July  2,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


11 


Drobiiuial  fransiutions. 


ABERDEEN  ASSOCIATION  OF  ASSISTANT 
CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS. 

The  half-yearly  General  Meeting  of  the  above  Asso¬ 
ciation  was  held  in  the  U.  P.  Hall,  St.  Paul  Street,  on 
the  13th  inst. ;  Mr.  James  Thorn,  President,  in  tho 
chair. 

Mr.  W.  Donald,  Secretary,  submitted  a  report  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  Association  for  the  past  six  months, 
showing  that  a  number  of  scientific  and  interesting  sub¬ 
jects  had  been  brought  before  the  Society,  and  much  re¬ 
search  and  ability  had  been  displayed  by  those  members 
who  had  contributed  papers  during  the  session.  The 
finances  were  also  reported  to  be  in  a  very  satisfactory 
state,  and  the  attendance  of  the  members  has  been  such 
as  to  leave  no  doubt  of  the  continued  prosperity  of  the 
Association.  During  the  half-year,  ten  gentlemen  have 
been  elected  as  members,  making  a  total  of  fifty-two 
since  the  formation  of  tho  Society  in  1868 ;  but  several 
of  those,  from  various  unavoidable  causes,  have  left  the 
Society,  leaving  on  the  roll  at  present  forty-five  mem¬ 
bers  ;  but  as  that  includes  representatives  from  almost 
every  shop  in  town,  we  have  every  reason  to  feel  grati¬ 
fied  at  the  success  already  attained. 

Classes  have  been  formed  in  connection  with  the  So¬ 
ciety  under  the  tuition  of  Mr.  Roy,  the  subjects  taught 
being  those  embraced  in  the  preliminary  examination  of 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  and  thirty-seven  members 
have  already  availed  themselves  of  the  opportunity  thus 
afforded  them  of  preparing  for  examination. 

Messrs.  Thorn  and  Donald  received  hearty  votes  of 
thanks  for  their  exertions  on  behalf  of  the  Society,  and 
the  following  were  then  elected  office-bearers  for  the  en- 
suing  six  months,  viz. : — Mr.  W.  Donald,  President ;  Mr. 
J.  Bertie,  Vice-President ;  and  Mr.  J.  Thom,  Secretary  and 
Treasurer. 


LIVERPOOL  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

Fifteenth  General  Meeting,  held  May  13th,  1870  ;  the 
President,  Mr.  J.  Abraham,  in  the  chair. 

Messrs.  W.  L.  Fewster  and  W.  Hope  were  duly 
elected  members  of  the  Association. 

The  President  read  an  extract  from  the  ‘  Scotsman  ’ 
relative  to  Sir  James  Simpson’s  obligations  to  Mr.  D. 
Waldie  for  the  suggestion  of  chloroform  as  an  anaes¬ 
thetic.  Mr.  Waldie  had  prepared  it  to  make  chloric 
ether  of  constant  composition. 

Mr.  Redford  said  that  chloral  seemed  to  act  best 
when  given  in  small  doses.  It  was  not  of  uniform  qua¬ 
lity,  some  having  a  fetid  smell,  which  may  explain  the 
unsatisfactory  results  sometimes  following  its  adminis¬ 
tration. 

The  Secretary  read  a  paper  recently  published  on 
“  Crab-oil,”  a  sample  of  which  had  been  shown  at  a  pre¬ 
vious  meeting.  It  is  a  vegetable  oil  obtained  from  the 
fruit  of  the  Carapa  Guianensis ,  and  is  said  to  be  useful 
in  rheumatism. 

Mr.  Jones  gave  the  results  of  some  experiments  on 
the  use  of  chloral  in  photography.  He  found  that  it 
gave  considerably  greater  sensitiveness. 

The  meeting  then  adjourned  to  the  tea-room,  where 
the  remainder  of  the  evening  was  spent  in  the  examina¬ 
tion  of  microscopic  objects. 

Sixteenth  and  concluding  Meeting,  held  May  26th. 
In  the  absence  of  Mr.  Abraham,  the  chair  was  taken  by 
the  Vice-President,  Mr.  J.  T.  Robinson. 

A  letter  was  read  from  Dr.  Symes,  recommending  that 
the  Association  should  provide  four  or  five  books  for 
autograph  prescriptions,  and  offering  to  fill  one  of  them 
himself. 

Air.  Shaw  proposed  that  the  thanks  of  the  meeting 
should  be  given  to  Dr.  Symes  for  his  generous  offer,  and 


that  the  question  be  referred  to  the  Council  to  consider 
the  best  means  of  carrying  out  the  suggestion. 

Mr.  Robinson  seconded  the  motion,  which  was  carried 
unanimously. 

Mr.  Mason  exhibited  a  sample  of  artificial  alizarine, 
beautifully  crystallized,  manufactured  by  Dr.  Calvert ; 
and  Mr.  Davies  showed  two  pieces  of  print  dyed  with  it. 

Mr.  Tate  suggested  that  copies  of  the  list  of  subjects 
proposed  for  papers  at  the  Pharmaceutical  Conference 
should,  if  possible,  be  distributed  among  the  members. 
He  thought  that  apprentices  and  others  actually  en¬ 
gaged  in  making  preparations  might  give  some  valuable 
information. 

Mr.  Redford  said  that  the  meetings  of  the  Associa¬ 
tion  were  the  proper  times  for  such  communications, 
and  that  at  the  Conference  the  results  of  men  of  expe¬ 
rience  were  wanted  rather  than  first  efforts. 

Mr.  Tate  then  read  a  paper,  entitled,  “Notes  on 
Pharmacy,”  Part  2.  The  paper  contained  a  short  resume 
of  the  principal  discoveries  or  improvements  in  phar¬ 
macy  since  the  beginning  of  the  year.  Referring  to  the 
“Adulteration  of  Food  and  Drugs  Bill,”  Mr.  Tate 
pointed  out  that  probably  medical  men  would  be  almost 
exclusively  appointed  analysts  under  the  Act.  He  con¬ 
sidered  Pharmaceutical  Chemists  to  be  far  more  com¬ 
petent,  and  thought  that  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
should  carefully  watch  such  legislation. 

After  a  few  remarks  from  Messrs.  Robinson,  Shaw, 
and  Davies, 

Mr.  Robinson  closed  the  session  with  some  valedic¬ 
tory  remarks.  He  said  that  as  he  had  only  known  that 
day  that  he  would  have  to  supply  the  place  of  the  Pre¬ 
sident,  he  had  not  prepared  an  address,  but  he  wished 
strongly  to  urge  upon  the  members  the  necessity  of 
greater  earnestness  in  contributing  papers  for  the  meet¬ 
ings.  Unless  young  men  would  exert  themselves,  and 
come  forward  in  the  place  of  those  whose  years  entitled 
them  to  rest,  the  Association  would  die  out,  and  it 
would  serve  it  right.  The  Pharmaceutical  Conference 
was  coming,  and  he  hoped  that,  by  seeing  and  hearing- 
men  who  had  made  a  position  for  themselves  by  hard 
work,  new  life  would  be  infused  into  the  younger  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  Association.-  He  concluded  by  expressing 
the  pleasure  which  he  had  felt  in  listening  to  some  of 
Mr.  Davies’s  lectures,  of  which  he  spoke  in  complimen¬ 
tary  terms. 

Mr.  Tate  proposed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Robinson, 
and  said  that  he  hoped  to  hear  fuller  and  freer  discus¬ 
sion  at  the  meetings. 

Mr.  Redford  seconded  the  motion,  and  agreed  tho¬ 
roughly  with  Mr.  Robinson’s  remarks,  thanking  him  for 
his  frank  strictures  on  the  results  of  the  session. 

The  vote  was  carried  by  acclamation,  and  the  session 
closed. 


MIDLAND  COUNTIES  CHEMISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

The  First  Annual  Meeting  of  the  above  Association  was 
held  at  the  Temperance  Hall,  Birmingham,  on  May  27  ; 
the  President,  Air.  W.  Southall,  in  the  chair. 

There  was  not  a  large  attendance  of  members. 

The  Hon.  Sec.  read  the  Report  of  the  Council  and 
Statement  of  Accounts,  which  show  that  the  Association 
is  of  service  to  its  members,  and  has  a  balance  in  hand 
of  upwards  of  £12. 

Report  presented  by  the  Council  of  the  Midland 
Counties  Chemists’  Association,  May,  1870. 

The  Council  in  presenting  their  first  Annual  Report  to 
the  members  of  this  Association,  prefer  giving  simple 
statements  of  their  proceedings  for  the  past  year,  and 
submitting  tho  same  without  comment,  either  congratu¬ 
latory  or  otherwise.  The  object  of  this  Association  being 
the  general  advancement  of  the  interests  of  the  trade,  it 
will  be  perceived  how  far  the  Council  have  kept  that  ob¬ 
ject  in  view. 


12 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


[July  2,  1870. 


After  three  preliminary  meetings,  a  General  Meeting 
was  held  on  May  7th,  1869,  which  was  numerously  at¬ 
tended,  and  there  were  appointed  the  President,  Trea¬ 
surer,  Hon.  Secretaries,  and  Council,  who  were  entrusted 
more  especially  with  the  preparation  of  a  Dispensing  and 
Retail  Price  List.  In  compliance  therewith  the  Council 
held  no  less  than  nine  consecutive  meetings,  which  were 
followed  by  a  General  Meeting,  and  the  price  list,  as  it 
now  stands,  was  adopted  and  circulated  to  each  member 
of  the  Association ;  a  charge  of  Is.  per  copy  was  made  to 
non-members  beyond  the  precincts  of  Birmingham. 

In  the  course  of  these  meetings  efforts  were  also  made 
to  unite  the  members  of  the  trade  in  the  one  common 
object ;  your  Council  canvassed  the  whole  of  the  town, 
when  the  number  of  enrolled  members  reached  just  over 
one  hundred ;  also,  about  250  chemists  of  the  neighbour¬ 
hood  were  invited,  by  circular,  etc.,  to  join,  and  upwards 
of  thirty  of  these  sent  in  their  names  and  subscriptions. 

An  invitation  from  the  Pharmaceutical  Conference  was 
received  and  acknowledged  for  a  deputation  from  this 
Association,  but  its  formation  being  too  recent,  it  was 
deemed  advisable  to  decline.  The  supper  at  Nock’s 
Hotel  was  not  so  well  attended  as  desirable,  but  a  very 
pleasant  evening  was  spent  by  those  present. 

Your  Council  have  had  their  attention  called  to  the 
objectionable  practice  of  a  small  shopkeeper  vending 
paregoric,  but  on  this  occasion  could  not  take  further 
proceedings. 

A  deputation  was  appointed  to  wait  upon  the  Borough 
Inspection  Committee,  relative  to  the  exorbitant  charge 
for  the  licence  for  the  sale  and  storage  of  petroleum,  un¬ 
der  the  new  Act,  -which  took  place  on  December  22nd, 
1869,  and  although  letters  were  read  from  Liverpool, 
Manchester,  and  Bristol,  stating  the  low  terms  for  the 
licence  in  those  places,  the  Borough  Inspection  Commit¬ 
tee  refused  to  make  any  alteration. 

An  appeal  from  the  Birmingham  Chemists’  Assistants’ 
Association,  applying  for  accommodation  to  hold  their 
weekly  meetings,  was  made  to  the  Council,  when  it  was 
unanimously  resolved  that  arrangements  should  be  en¬ 
tered  into  with  the  Temperance  Hall  Committee  to  grant 
them  the  use  of  a  room  for  that  purpose  for  a  period  of 
six  months,  ending  June,  1870.  Action  was  also  taken 
in  unison  with  other  Associations  objecting  to  any  legis¬ 
lation  interfering  with  the  storing  and  dispensing  of 
poisons. 

The  Association  has  been  the  medium  of  compelling  a 
self-styled  chemist  and  druggist  to  take  down  his  sign¬ 
board,  and  the  Secretaries,  with  the  consent  of  the  Pre¬ 
sident,  deemed  it  expedient  to  caution  the  members 
against  being  duped  by  a  vendor  of  questionable  vermin 
eradicator. 

Your  Council  now  retire  from  their  duties,  which  they 
have  endeavoured  to  carry  out  faithfully,  and  hope  that 
their  successors  will  be  able  to  accomplish  much  more 
for  the  welfare  of  Chemists  and  Druggists,  and  for  this 
Association  in  particular. 

The  election  of  officers  for  the  ensuing  year,  and  the 
consideration  of  Mr.  Arblaster’s  letter  to  the  Home  Secre¬ 
tary  on  the  amount  charged  for  the  petroleum  licence  in 
Birmingham,  formed  the  chief  business  of  the  meeting. 

Joseph  Lucas,  4,  Calmore  Row,  1  ^  c 

A.  Stirling  Grieves,  16,  Spiceal  Street,  /  ±lon’  ®ecs' 
June,  1870. 


NOTTINGHAM  AND  NOTTS  CHEMISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

The  adjourned  Annual  Meeting  of  this  Society  was 
held  at  the  Exchange  Rooms,  on  Friday  evening,  May 
27th ;  the  President  in  the  chair. 

The  minutes  of  the  previous  meeting  having  been 
adopted,  the  Hon.  Secretary  then  read  the  following 

Report. 

In  presenting  their  first  Annual  Report,  the  Coimcil  of 


the  Nottingham  and  Notts  Chemists’  Association  take 
the  opportunity  of  congratulating  the  members  upon  the 
very  satisfactory  position  of  the  Society  generally,  as 
well  as  financially. 

The  Society  was  established  in  December,  1868,  for 
the  purpose  of  advancing  the  interests  of  chemistry  and 
pharmacy  in  the  district,  for  providing  means  for  the 
scientific  education  of  the  Assistants  and  Apprentices, 
and  for  the  encouragement  of  feelings  of  mutual  good¬ 
will  and  esteem  amongst  its  members. 

The  Inaugural  Meeting  was  held  at  the  Exchange 
Rooms  in  February,  1869. 

The  number  of  Members  enrolled  at  and  since  that 
meeting,  was  53,  and  of  Associates,  48. 

During  the  Session  which  now  terminates,  several 
very  interesting  papers  have  been  read : — 

On  February  12,  “The  President’s  Address.” 

On  March  12,  “  The  evening  was  devoted  to  the  dis¬ 
cussion  of  the  Pharmacy  Act.” 

On  April  8,  Address  on  “Pharmaceutical  Education.” 
H.  S.  Evans,  Esq. 

On  May  14,  A  paper  “  On  the  Results  of  Examination 
of  Some  Samples  of  Tincture  of  Opium.”  Mr.  Mayfield. 
A  paper  “  On  Botany  and  its  Relations  to  Pharmacy.” 
Mr.  Rayner. 

On  October  19,  “  Address,”  by  the  President. 

On  November  19,  “Hints  on  Dispensing.”  Mr.  R. 
Fitzhugh. 

On  December  10,  “French  Pharmacy.”  Mr.  May- 
field. 

On  February  11,  1870,  “  On  Accidental  Poisoning  and 
the  Precautions  Adopted  for  its  Prevention,  with  Special 
Reference  to  the  Proposed  Bye-laws  of  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society.” 

On  March  11,  “Adjourned  Discussion  on  the  Subject 
of  the  Previous  Meeting.” 

On  April  8,  An  address  on  “  The  Amusement  and  Re¬ 
creation  to  be  Derived  from,  and  the  Advantages  Accru¬ 
ing  to  the  Pharmaceutist  by  the  Study  of  Botany.”  T. 
Bumie,  Esq. 

The  meetings  have  afforded  opportunities  for  the  dis¬ 
cussion  of  matters  of  interest  to  the  profession  generally, 
— such  as  the  Pharmacy  Act,  the  operations  of  the  Petro¬ 
leum  Act,  etc. 

A  deputation  was  appointed  to  wait  on  the  Watch 
Committee  with  a  view  to  modify  the  local  regulations 
of  this  Act ;  the  result  of  which  was  satisfactory. 

A  lengthened  discussion  took  place  on  the  proposed 
compulsory  regulations  respecting  the  keeping  of  poisons, 
and  a  resolution  was  unanimously  adopted  against  any 
compulsory  measures  in  that  direction,  it  being  con¬ 
sidered  that  chemists  did  generally,  in  their  ordinary 
course  of  business,  adopt  sufficient  precaution  for  their 
own  and  the  public  safety.  The  resolution  was  for¬ 
warded  to  the  Pharmaceutical  Society.  Your  Council 
acknowledge,  with  gratitude,  the  kindness  of  the  then 
Vice-President,  now  President,  o¥  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society,  Mr.  H.  S.  Evans,  in  coming  from  London  to  de¬ 
liver  an  address  to  the  Society  on  such  a  subject  as 
“  Pharmaceutical  Education.”  Such  an  address  was  very 
encouraging  to  a  young  Society,  when  coming  from  so 
high  an  authority.  The  Society,  as  a  mark  of  their  ap¬ 
preciation  of  Mr.  Evans’s  kindness,  honoured  themselves 
by  electing  that  gentleman  as  their  first  honorary  member. 

Amongst  other  donations  made  to  the  Society,  not  the 
least  useful  and  interesting  are  a  cabinet,  containing 
materia  medica  specimens,  from  Messrs.  Evans,  Son,  and 
Co.,  and  a  second  one  from  Southall,  Son,  and  Dymond. 
These  cabinets  are  of  great  service  to  the  students,  and 
;he  Council  have  consented  that  they  should  circulate 
amongst  the  members  for  the  use  of  the  Associates,  under 
certain  restrictions. 

Arrangements  were  made  by  which  the  collection  of 
books,  formerly  in  the  possession  of  the  old  Society, 
were  transferred  to  the  new.  Several  valuable  works, 
standard  as  well  as  elementary,  have  been  added  to  the 


July  2,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


13 


library,  and  a  good  nucleus  is  now  formed,  which,  your 
Council  hope  soon  to  see  developed  into  a  good  reference 
as  well  as  circulating  library, — useful  alike  to  all  con¬ 
nected  with  the  Association ;  and  while  they  acknow¬ 
ledge  with  thankfulness  the  donations  which  have  been 
made  to  it  from  time  to  time,  your  Council  would 
earnestly  impress  upon  members  the  necessity  of  using 
their  utmost  endeavours  to  add  to  its  extent  and  useful¬ 
ness. 

The  librarian  announces  a  tolerably  good  circulation, 
which,  has,  however,  somewhat  diminished  during  the 
last  few  months.  The  Council  are  anxious  that  the  As¬ 
sociates  should  avail  themselves  of  the  advantages  of  the 
library,  which  is  even  now  capable  of  supplying  them 
with  suitable  books  in  the  various  branches  of  science  to 
which  their  attention  must  be  called. 

A  petition  was  presented  to  the  Council,  signed  by 
most  of  the  Associates,  praying  that  they  might  unite  to 
form  a  section  for  their  own  instruction ;  your  Council 
had  great  pleasure  in  complying  with  their  request,  re¬ 
serving  to  themselves  the  right  to  direct  their  studies, 
and  suggesting  that  a  Secretary  to  the  section  should  be 
appointed  to  confer  with  the  Council  in  the  interests  of 
the  Associates. 

Mr.  Overton  was  appointed  Secretary,  and  your  Council 
engaged  a  room  in  the  house  of  the  Constitutional  Asso¬ 
ciation,  for  the  purposes  of  the  section,  and  engaged  Mr. 
Hughes  as  teacher.  The  section  meetings  have  been 
held  weekly,  on  Monday  evenings,  and  a  good  attendance 
has  been  the  result, — Pharmaceutical  Chemistry  and 
Materia  Medica  being  the  subjects  appointed  for  study ; 
at  the  completion  of  the  course,  two  prizes  were  offered 
by  the  Council  for  competition,  and  awarded  respectively 
to  Mr.  Bathamley  and  Mr.  Johnston.  Messrs.  Parker 
and  Smith  kindly  offered  two  prizes  for  competition 
amongst  the  younger  students,  which  were  obtained  by 
Mr.  Evan  Jenkins  and  Mr.  Ward.  As  an  inducement 
to  the  Associates  to  prosecute  their  studies,  your  Council 
throw  this  course  open,  free  of  charge.  Your  Council 
made  arrangements  with  the  lecturer  on  chemistry  at 
the  Mechanics’  Institution, ;in*connection  with  the  Science 
and  Art  Department,  for  the  admission  of  Associates  to 
this  class  at  half  the  usual  fees. 

Your  Council  also  provided  a  Latin  Class,  which  has 
been  in  operation  for  nine  months  with  satisfactory  re¬ 
sults.  At  the  end  of  the  first  course  a  prize  was  pre¬ 
sented  by  your  Council  to  Mr.  Johnston  as  being  the 
most  advanced  Student,  and  your  President  presented  a 
second  prize  to  Mr.  Copley,  who  passed  the  best  exami¬ 
nation  amongst  the  Junior  Associates.  Arrangements 
have  been  made  for  a  course  of  lessons  on  botany,  which 
commenced  in  April,  and  will  be  continued  weekly 
during  the  summer  months.  Your  Council  have  to  ac¬ 
knowledge  with  gratitude  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Bumie  in 
offering  to  conduct  this  class  entirely  free  of  charge  ; 
and  also  the  kindness  of  Dr.  Mills  for  his  assistance  by 
demonstrating  to  the  students  the  wonders  of  structural 
botany  by  aid  of  the  microscope.  These  meetings  are 
held  at  the  room  of  the  Society  in  Friar  Lane,  every 
Monday  evening,  commencing  at  nine  o’clock. 

As  the  attendance  has  been  hitherto  rather  limited, 
your  Council  would  earnestly  request  the  Associates  to 
make  every  endeavour  to  attend  this  class,  and  the  em¬ 
ployers  also  to  use  their  influence  with  those  who  are  un¬ 
willing,  and  to  extend  their  permission  to  those  who  are 
willing  to  study  so  important  a  branch  of  their  business. 

In  conclusion,  your  Council  hope  that  their  work,  as 
embodied  in  this  report,  will  give  satisfaction  to  the 
members  and  show  the  great  use  of  such  societies  as  this, 
and,  in  resigning  their  trust,  would  like  to  add  a  few 
words  on  the  practical  working  of  the  Society. 

In  the  first  place,  at  the  Monthly  Meetings  every  ex¬ 
ertion  has  been  made  to  provide  subjects  for  discussion 
which  would  be  a  means  of  mutual  instruction. 

Your  Council  regret  that  the  attendance  of  members 
has  been  very  poor  ;  they  would  respectfully  urge  upon 


all  the  difficulty  of  sustaining  societies  like  this  without 
the  presence  and  aid  of  the  members. 

A  cordial  spirit  of  co-operation  is  the  one  thing  want¬ 
ing  to  assure  the  success  of  this  Association,  and  to  en¬ 
able  the  Council  to  carry  on  those  works  so  auspiciously 
begun,  which  have  already  produced  great  results,  and 
by  which  much  greater  are  yet  to  be  anticipated.  The 
educational  advantages  have  in  no  way  been  better  ex¬ 
emplified  than  in  the  many  admirable  answers  given  by 
the  Students  in  reply  to  the  examination  questions,  and 
your  Council  hope  that  every  Associate  will  endeavour, 
during  the  ensuing  Session,  to  make  a  point  of  attend¬ 
ing  the  various  classes  provided  for  him,  as  far  as  the 
exigencies  of  business  will  allow.  Your  Council,  though 
thankful  for  what  they  have  been  enabled  to  do,  feel  that 
the  usefulness  of  the  Society  would  be  much  enhanced 
by  a  “local  habitation”  of  its  own,  and  would  suggest 
to  their  successors  in  office,  the  desirability  of  taking  a 
room  or  rooms  in  a  central  position,  which  might  be  de¬ 
voted  to  all  purposes  of  the  Society, — as  reading-room, 
library,  class  and  general  meeting  room,  where  the  pro¬ 
perty  of  the  Society  might  be  preserved,  and  the  nucleus 
of  a  museum  collected.  The  purchase  of  a  good  working 
microscope  would  be  beneficial,  and  various  other  instru¬ 
ments  and  apparatus  not  frequently  used,  but  often  use¬ 
ful.  Your  Council  believe  that  this  would  be  a  means  of 
giving  a  practical  value  to  the  Society,  and  would  tend 
to  promote  a  greater  personal  interest  and  a  greater  per¬ 
sonal  attendance. 

The  Treasurer’s  report  was  afterwards  read,  showing 
the  state  of  the  Society’s  funds  to  be  as  follows :  — 
Session  1869-70.  Receipts  ...  44  9  0 
„  „  Expenditure  .  .  30  1  1 


Balance  in  Treasurer’s  hands  .  £14  7  11 

It  was  afterwards  proposed  and  carried  that  the  re¬ 
ports  be  printed  and  circulated  amongst  the  Members 
and  Associates  of  the  Society,  and  all  chemists  resident 
in  the  town  and  country. 

After  passing  an  alteration  of  the  bye-laws  with  re¬ 
spect  to  the  Annual  Meeting,  a  cordial  vote  of  thanks 
was  accorded  to  the  President,  Mr.  Atherton,  for  his  ser¬ 
vices  during  the  past  Session. 

The  following  officers  were  then  appointed  for  the  en¬ 
suing  year : — 

President :  J.  H.  Atherton,  F.C.S. 

Vice-President :  R.  Fitzhugh,  F.C.S. 

Treasurer :  J.  Rayner. 

Honorary  Secretary  :  J.  T.  Mayfield. 

Council :  Messrs.  Bailey,  Jas.  Jenkins,  W.  H.  Parker, 
W.  Smith,  White,  Whitworth,  Waterall,  and  Woodward. 


CHEMICAL  SOCIETY. 

The  last  of  the  Scientific  Meetings  of  this  Society  for 
the  session  which  has  just  ended  was  held  at  Burlington 
House  on  Thursday,  the  16th  of  June ;  Professor  Wil¬ 
liamson,  F.R.S.,  President,  in  the  chair. 

A  paper  was  read  by  Mr.  James  Bell  “  On  Fermenta¬ 
tion,”  in  which  the  author  described  a  number  of  experi¬ 
ments  which  had  been  made  for  the  purpose  of  deter¬ 
mining  what  forms  of  ferment  may  be  obtained  by 
submitting  albumen  derived  from  different  sources  to  a 
variety  of  conditions. 

When  egg  albumen  was  mixed  with  cane  sugar,  and 
the  mixture  allowed  to  ferment  at  75°  F.,  a  species  .of 
yeast  was  formed,  consisting  of  fungoid  cells,  which  dif¬ 
fered  from  those  of  ordinary  yeast,  and  by  which  only  a 
very  small  quantity,  0-2  per  cent.,  of  alcohol  was  pro¬ 
duced. 

The  albumen  of  flour  and  of  malt,  used  in  the  same 
way,  yielded  results  similar  to  those  previously  described, 


14 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


[July  2,  1870. 


the  yeast  so  produced  having  very  little  fermentative 
power. 

Cold  water  extracts  of  flour  and  of  malt,  added  to  solu¬ 
tion  of  cane  sugar,  with  which  was  a  little  glucose, 
became  mucilaginous,  and  the  production  of  yeast-cells 
in  this  mucilage  may  he  easily  watched. 

The  blue  mould  which  forms  on  infusion  of  malt,  and 
the  mould  from  lemon -juice,  were  found  to  act  as  good 
ferments  in  solution  of  grape  sugar. 

From  some  comparative  experiments  made  with  grape 
juice,  to  which  various  quantities  of  glucose  had  been 
added,  the  author  concluded  that  the  fermentation  of 
must  would  be  rendered  more  complete  and  exhaustive 
by  the  addition  of  a  certain  quantity  of  glucose. 

The  President,  in  remarking  on  this  paper,  said  that, 
although  it  was  usual  to  speak  of  the  yeast  plant  in  con¬ 
nection  with  fermentation,  the  organism  appeared  in  all 
its  functions  to  be  animal  rather  than  vegetable.  The 
products  of  its  secretion,  he  said,  are  less  complex  than 
those  it  takes  in.  Moreover,  it  does  not,  like  plants, 
require  light  for  its  vital  process;  nor  does  it  absorb 
heat,  but,  on  the  contrary,  gives  it  off. 

Another  paper  read  at  the  same  meeting  was  “  On 
Organic  Matter  in  Water,”  by  Dr.  Heisch. 

The  author,  having  been  consulted  by  a  manufacturer 
of  lemonade,  who  suddenly  found  that  all  his  lemonade 
after  a  few  days  became  turbid,  and  acquired  a  disagree¬ 
able  odour,  found,  on  examining  the  liquid  under  the 
microscope,  that  it  was  full  of  small  spherical  cells,  with, 
in  most  cases,  a  bright  nucleus. 

Further  investigation  of  the  subject  led  to  the  conclu¬ 
sion  that  the  source  of  the  evil  was  organic  contamina¬ 
tion  of  the  water  used  in  the  manufacture.  On  putting 
a  few  grains  of  the  purest  crystallized  sugar  into  some 
of  the  water,  it  became  turbid  in  a  few  hours,  and  was 
found  to  contain  the  cells  previously  described.  It 
seemed  probable,  from  inquiries  made,  that  sewage  had 
gained  access  to  the  well,  and  to  this  Dr.  Heisch  was 
disposed  to  ascribe  the  result.  Experiments  were  made 
with  various  samples  of  water,  to  which  sugar  was 
added,  as  already  described ;  and  in  every  case  in  which 
the  water  used  had  produced  diarrhoea,  or  other  mischief 
of  that  sort,  when  employed  as  a  beverage,  on  treating 
it  with  sugar,  the  characteristic  cells  were  developed, 
usually  within  twenty-four  hours,  the  temperature  being 
kept  at  60°  or  70°  F.,  and  light  freely  admitted  to  the 
liquid.  A  minute  quantity  of  sewage  itself  was  added 
to  a  solution  of  sugar,  which  had  been  previously  ascer¬ 
tained  to  be  free  from  the  cells,  and  the  solution  was 
soon  afterwards  found  to  contain  them. 

A  number  of  experiments  were  made  with  the  view  of 
ascertaining  whether  other  substances  besides  sewage 
were  capable  of  producing  organisms  such  as  had  been 
observed  in  the  cases  referred  to,  when  added  to  solution 
of  sugar ;  but,  although  in  a  few  instances  growths  were 
produced,  they  never  resembled  the  cells  caused  by 
sewage. 

The  author  states  that  filtering  the  water  through 
the  finest  Swedish  paper  does  not  remove  the  germs, 
and  boiling  for  half  an  hour  does  not  destroy  their 
vitality.  Filtration  through  a  good  bed  of  animal  char¬ 
coal  was  found  to  be  the  most  effectual  mode  of  removing 
them,  and  even  in  this  case  the  charcoal  must  be  freely 
exposed  to  the  air  from  time  to  time,  or  it  soon  loses  its 
purifying  power. 


CHEMICAL  NOTES  TO  THE  PHARMACOPOEIA. 

BY  WILLIAM  A.  TILDEN,  B  SC.  LOND. 

DEMONSTRATOR  OF  PRACTICAL  CHEMISTRY  TO  THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 

Acidum  Arseniosum.  Arsenious  Acid. — White,  ar¬ 
senic  of  commerce  is  procured  by  heating  certain 


ores  in  a  current  of  air.  These  ores  are  compounds 
of  arsenicum  and  sulphur,  with  the  metal  copper 
or  iron,  or  sometimes  nickel  and  cobalt.  Atmo¬ 
spheric  oxygen,  combining  with  the  sulphur,  gives 
rise  to  sulphurous  acid  gas,  S02 ;  with  the  metal  it 
forms  an  oxide  ;  with  the  arsenic,  As2  03.  This  last 
collects  in  the  flues  of  the  furnaces,  whence  it  is  re¬ 
moved  and  purified  by  resublimation. 

[§  Occurs  as  a  heavy  white  powder,  or  in  sublimed 
masses,  which  usually  present  a  stratified  appear¬ 
ance,  caused  by  the  existence  of  separate  layers,  dif¬ 
fering  from  each  other  in  degrees  of  opacity.  When 
slowly  sublimed  in  a  glass-tube,  it  forms  minute 
brilliant  and  transparent  octahedral  crystals.] 

White  arsenic  belongs  strictly  to  the  class  of  bodies 
already  described  as  anhydrides ;  it  is  not  itself  an 
acid,  for  it  contains  no  hydrogen,  but  it  is  supposed 
to  form  the  acid  when  boiled  with  water,  in  which  it 
dissolves  only  sparingly.  The  formula  of  the  acid, 
although  it  cannot  be  isolated,  is  inferred  to  be 
H3  As  03, 

As2  03+8Ha0=2H3  As  03 

from  the  composition  of  its  salts  ;  arsenite  of  silver 
being  Ag'3  As  03.  The  potassium  arsenite  is  probably 
formed  in  preparing  Fowler’s  solution  (liquor  ar- 
senicalis)  by  boiling  white  arsenic,  water,  and  car¬ 
bonate  of  potash  together. 

When  white  arsenic  is  mixed  with  charcoal,  and 
heated  in  a  flask  or  tube,  it  loses  its  oxygen,  which 
combines  with  carbon,  and  escapes  in  the  form  of 
carbonic  oxide,  and  a  crystalline  sublimate  of  the 
element  arsenicum  is  formed  in  the  cool  part. 

2As2  03-f“  3Co=A?4+ CCO. 

Arsenious  anhydride  and  soluble  arsenites  may  be 
recognised  by  the  tests  following : — 

[§  Its  solution  gives  with  ammonio -nitrate  of  silver 
a  canary-yellow  precipitate  (Ag'3As03),  insoluble  in 
water,  but  readily  dissolved  by  ammonia,  and  by 
nitric  acid.  Sprinkled  on  a  red-hot  coal,  it  emits  an 
alliaceous  odour.] 

Sulphuretted  hydrogen  passed  into  a  solution  of  it 
acidified  with  HC1,  gives  a  yellow  precipitate,  As2  S3, 
which  is  readily  soluble  in  sulphide  of  ammonium. 
Sulphide  of  cadmium,  which  is  like  it  in  colour,  is 
not  soluble  in  sulphide  of  ammonium. 

To  detect  a  compound  of  arsenic,  whether  pure  or 
mixed  with  other  matters,  a  modification  of  “Marsh’s 
test”  is  the  best. 


A  is  a  six-ounce  flask  fitted  with  funnel-tube,  and 
containing  pure  granulated  zinc  and  dilute  sulphuric 
acid.  The  hydrogen  produced  in  A  is  conducted 
through  B,  a  short  wide  tube,  containing  chloride  of 
calcium,  to  absorb  moisture  from  the  gas.  C  is  a 
tube  of  hard  glass,  which  will  bear  the  heat  of  the 


July  2,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


15 


Bunsen  gas  flame  without  collapsing.  The  solution 
of  arsenic  introduced  into  A  gives,  by  the  action  of 
the  zinc  and  acid,  arsenuretted  hydrogen : — 

As2  03  -f-.rZn  -f-  a’H2  S04. 

—a?  Zn  S04-f-  3  Ho  O  -j-  2  As  H3  -)-  (x — 0)U2. 

[,t— any  indefinite  number  of  atoms.) 

The  mixture  of  hydrogen  and  arsenuretted  hydro¬ 
gen  escapes  through  C,  which  is  heated  to  redness 
after  the  air  has  all  been  driven  out.  The  elemen¬ 
tary  arsenic  is  then  deposited  as  a  brown  or  black 
sliining  stain  on  the  glass,  just  beyond  the  lamp, 
whilst  the  hydrogen  passes  on  and  escapes. 

For  estimating  the  amount  of  pure  white  arsenic 
in  any  of  its  preparations,  the  Pharmacopoeia  indi¬ 
cates  that  4  decigrams  of  it  dissolved  with  about 
twice  its  weight  of  bicarbonate  of  soda,  discharge  the 
colour  of  80  *8  cubic  centimetres  of  the  volumetric 
solution  of  iodine. 

White  arsenic,  when  treated  with  iodine  in  the 
presence  of  water,  gives  rise  to  hydriodic  acid  and 
arsenic  anhydride ;  both  these  are  colourless,  and 
therefore  the  brown  colour  of  the  iodine  disappears. 

As2  03+20H2  +  2I2= As2  05+4HI. 

One  molecule  of  white  arsenic  (198  grams),  ac¬ 
cording  to  this  equation,  will  reduce  4  atoms  (127  x  4 
=508  grams)  of  iodine.  Now  508  grams  iodine  are  con¬ 
tained  in  40,000  cub.  centims.  of  the  solution  (for  in 
making  it  12-7  grams  are  dissolved  in  1000  of  the 
liquid),  so  that  40,000  cc.  would  be  the  quantity  de¬ 
colorized  by  1  gram-molecule  of  white  arsenic.  Such 
an  amount  would  never  be  used  in  an  experiment, 
but  a  simple  calculation  shows  that  the  quantities  in¬ 
dicated  in  the  B.  P.  are  in  the  same  proportion  to 
each  other.  For 

Grams  of  As203.  Cc.  of  Yol.  Sol.  of  I.  Gram  As203.  Yol.  Sol.  I. 

198  :  40,000  as  ’4*  :  80‘8 

The  best  antidote  to  white  arsenic  is  freshly  made 
ferric  hydrate ;  it  gives  rise  to  an  insoluble  ferrous 
arseniate. 

Arsenic  Acid. — The  substance  generally  known  by 
this  name  is  again  the  anhydride,  not  the  true  acid. 
It  is  prepared  by  boiling  white  arsenic  with  nitric 
acid,  and  evaporating  to  dryness ;  the  residue  is  a 
white  powder,  the  anhydride,  As2Os.  By  dissolving 
this  in  water,  and  concentrating  the  solution,  the 
acid,  H3As04,  is  obtained  in  deliquescent  crystals. 
Arsenic  acid  and  its  salts  are  distinguished  from 
arsenites,  and  also  from  phosphates,  by  giving  a  red 
precipitate  with  nitrate  of  silver,  Ag3As04. 

Soda:  Arsenias.  Arseniate  of  Soda,  Na2HAs04, 
7  H2  O. — Arsenious  acid,  nitrate  of  soda,  and  dry 
carbonate  of  soda,  are  thoroughly  mixed,  and  then 
fused  at  a  red  heat  in  a  crucible.  When  the  effer¬ 
vescence  (caused  by  the  escape  of  N2  Os  and  C  02) 
has  ceased,  the  fused  salt  is  poured  out  upon  a  stone. 
As  soon  as  it  has  solidified,  the  mass  is  boiled  in 
water  and  the  liquid  set  by  to  crystallize.  The  in¬ 
gredients  react  in  the  following  manner : — 

198  85x2=170  106 

As2Oa  +  2NaNO.  -f  Na2C03 
=  Na4Asj07  +  N203  +  C02. 

Sodium  pyro-arseniute. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  proportions  of  the  ingre¬ 
dients  ordered  in  the  B.P.  are  nearly  identical  with 
those  required  theoretically,  as  shown  in  the  equa¬ 
tion  ;  the  carbonate  of  soda  only  being  in  trilling 
excess. 


Parts  of  As203.  NaN03, 

Theory  .  .  .  198  170 

Being  nearly  =:  10  8| 

B.P . 10  8| 


Na2C03 

100 

Ki 


Arseniate  of  soda  crystallizes  sometimes  with  12  in¬ 
stead  of  7  molecules  of  water ;  the  tests  of  the  B.P. 
must,  therefore,  be  made  use  of  to  identify  the  offi¬ 
cial  salt.  At  300°  F.  it  loses  the  whole  of  its  water 
of  crystallization,  amounting  to  40’38  per  cent.  1 
gram  of  the  residue,  that  is,  of  anhydrous  arseniate 
of  sodium,  mixed  with  5 ‘3  cubic  centimetres  of  volu¬ 
metric  soda  (which  converts  it  into  trisodic  arseniate, 
Na3As04),  continues  to  give  a  precipitate  of  arseni¬ 
ate  of  silver  with  volumetric  nitrate  of  silver,  till 
16T3  cubic  centimetres  of  the  latter  have  been 
added. 

Ferri  Arsenias.  Arseniate  of  Iron. — Made  by 
mixing  together  solutions  of  arseniate  and  acetate  of 
soda  and  sulphate  of  iron.  The  arseniate  and  sul¬ 
phate  of  iron  would  alone  give  rise  to  the  production 
of  an  acid  arseniate  of  iron,  which  would  not  be 
precipitated,  probably  thus  : — 

4Na2HAs04  -f  4FeS04 
=  4Na2S04  +  Fe32As04  +  Fe"H42As04. 

But  the  addition  of  the  acetate  of  soda  remedies 
tills,  and  the  whole  of  the  iron  is  precipitated  as 
arseniate. 


2Na2HAs04  +  3FeS04  +  2NaC2H302 
=  3Na2S04  -+-  Fe32As04  +  2HC2H302. 

[§  A  small  quantity  boiled  with  excess  of  caustic 
soda  and  filtered,  gives,  when  exactly  neutralized  by 
nitric  acid,  a  brick-red  precipitate  on  the  addition  of 
solution  of  nitrate  of  silver.]  This  distinguishes  it 
from  the  phosphate,  which  it  closely  resembles  in 
appearance. 

Acidum  Benzoicum.  Benzoic  Acid.  —  May  be 
prepared, — 

1.  By  mixing  benzoin  with  sand,  and  heating  cau¬ 
tiously  ;  the  benzoic  acid  rises  and  condenses  in  the 
cool  cover  of  the  pot  in  crystals. 

2.  By  boiling  benzoin  with  half  its  weight  of 
slaked  lime,  which  forms,  with  the  acid  present, 
benzoate  of  lime,  filtering,  concentrating,  and  adding 
hydrochloric  acid.  On  cooling,  the  acid  crystallizes. 

3.  By  boiling  liippurate  of  lime,  obtained  by  add¬ 
ing  lime  to  cows’  and  horses’  mine,  with  hydro¬ 
chloric  acid. 

Hippuric  acid,  or  benzo-glycocine.  Water. 

HC2(C7H50)H3N02  +  h2o 

Glycocine.  Benzoic  acid. 

=  CjHjNOj  +  HC7H502. 

4.  By  oxidizing  naphthaline  with  nitric  acid, 

Ci0H8  +  402 

Naphthaline.  Oxygen, 

from  the  nitric  acid. 


=  HoC8H404 

Phthalic  acid. 


-}-  U2  C2  04. 

Oxalic  acid. 


and  converting  the  phthalic  acid  into  a  salt  of  lime, 
and  heating  this  pretty  strongly  with  hydrate  of 
lime.  The  phthalate  of  lime  is  converted  into  ben¬ 
zoate  and  carbonate. 


2CaC8H4G4 

Phthalate  of  lime. 

=  Ca2C7H502 

Benzcate. 


-f  Ca2HO 

Hydrate  of  lime. 

-f-  CaC03. 

Carbonate. 


5.  By  exposing  essential  oil  of  almonds  (benzoic 
aldehyde  or  hydride  of  benzoyl)  to  the  air,  it  absorbs 
oxygen. 


16 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


[July  2, 1870. 


2  C7HgO  H  +  02  =  2  C7H5OHO. 

Hydride  of  benzoyl.  Hydrate  of  benzoyl, 

or  benzoic  acid. 

Benzoic  acid  is  never  manufactured  in  this  way,  but 
the  reaction  is  interesting  and  important.  Benzoic 
acid  is  crystalline,  volatile,  very  soluble  in  spirit  and 
in  alkaline  solutions,  but  only  slightly  soluble  in 
water.  Cinnamic  acid  resembles  it  closely  in  this 
respect,  but  differs  from  it  in  giving  a  calcium  salt, 
which  is  much  less  soluble  in  water  than  the  benzo¬ 
ate,  and  also  by  this  test.  [§  Boiled  with  solution  of 
bichromate  of  potash  and  sulphuric  acid,  it  evolves 
an  odour  of  hydride  of  benzoyl.] 

2  HC9H702  +  5  02 

Cinnamic  acid. 

=  2HC7H50  +  2  H20  +  4C02. 

Benzoic  hydride. 

Benzoic  acid  does  not,  under  the  same  reagents, 
evolve  any  odour. 


Lecture  Notes  eor  Chemical  Students.  By  Edward 

Frankland,  F.B.S.,  Professor  of  Chemistry  in  the 

Boyal  School  of  Mines.  Yol.  I.  Inorganic  Chemistry. 

We  arc  very  glad  to  welcome  the  reappearance  of  Dr. 
Frankland’ s  ‘Lecture  Notes.’  Whatever  may  be  the 
views  of  individual  teachers  on  the  question  of  chemical 
notation,  and  whatever  may  be  the  objection  to  the  par¬ 
ticular  system  adopted  in  the  present  instance,  a  book 
which  gives  a  really  systematic  form  to  the  fragmentary 
and  discursive  snatches  of  commingled  fact  and  theory 
hitherto  found  in  most  manuals,  cannot  but  be  acceptable 
to  professors  as  well  as  to  students.  The  chief  object  of  the 
small  volume  before  us,  as  explained  in  the  preface,  is  to 
relieve  the  student  from  the  task  of  making  very  copious 
notes  in  the  lecture-theatre,  and  so  allow  him  to  concen¬ 
trate  his  attention  upon  the  arguments  and  explanations 
of  the  speaker.  Now  it  not  only  well  fulfils  this  purpose, 
— a  sufficiently  useful  one,  when  it  is  considered  how  rare 
among  students  is  the  art  of  making  good  notes  such  as 
will  be  afterwards  serviceable  in  private, — but  it  gives  a 
framework,  the  outline  and  connecting  links  of  which 
stand  out  quite  boldly  through  the  scanty  drapery  of  de¬ 
scription  with  which  it  is  clothed.  The  description  of 
the  properties  of  the  bodies  treated  of  is  almost  entirely 
omitted,  but  on  looking  through  the  book  it  will  be  seen 
that  all  the  reactions  which  serve  to  establish  the  relation¬ 
ship  between  the  several  members  of  any  series  of  bodies, 
are  brought  into  sufficient  prominence,  and  every  pains 
seems  to  have  been  taken  to  supply  all  the  information 
required  to  back  up  the  system  of  classification  advocated. 

The  arrangement  of  the  matter  is  in  accordance  with 
the  classification  of  the  elements  founded  on  their  atomi¬ 
city  or  quantivalence ;  but  this  classification  is  presented 
in  a  judiciously  modified  form.  The  elements  are  ar¬ 
ranged  as  monads,  dyads,  etc.,  according  to  the  number 
of  atoms  of  hydrogen  which  their  atoms  are  capable  re¬ 
spectively  of  representing  ;  but  the  monads,  for  example, 
are  subdivided  into  four  subclasses  or  sections.  The  first 
contains  hydrogen  only.  Even  now  that  everybody 
quite  believes,  in  the  thoroughly  metallic  character  of 
hydrogen,  it  is  still  necessary,  considering  its  physical 
peculiarities  and  small  atomic  weight,  to  set  it  apart  from 
the  solid  metals  potassium,  sodium,  and  silver.  The 
second  section  of  monads  includes  fluorine,  chlorine,  bro¬ 
mine,  and  iodine ;  the  third  comprises  ciesium,  rubi¬ 
dium,  potassium,  sodium,  and  lithium ;  the  fourth, 
thallium  and  silver :  and  so  on  through  six  groups  up  to 
the  hexads.  One  of  the  strange  results  of  this  sort  of 
arrangement,  however,  is  that  we  have  to  look  for  lead, 
which  is.  at  least  as  closely  related  to  thallium  as  any  of 
the  alkaline  group,  in  the  fourth  column  among  the  te¬ 
trads.  Oxygen  is,  in  like  manner,  dissociated  from  its 


kindred  sulphur,  aluminium  from  chromium  and  iron, 
copper  from  silver,  zinc  from  cadmium.  But  of  course, 
all  these  questions  would  be  fully  discussed  in  the  lec¬ 
tures,  of  which  these  notes  are  but  the  skeleton.  Such 
objections  are  moreover  applicable  to  every  scheme  of 
classification  which  has  hitherto  been  proposed. 

"We  have  to  congratulate  the  learned  author  upon 
having  laid  aside  in  this  his  second  edition,  the  greater 
part  of  the  cumbrous  and,  to  our  mind,  objectionable 
graphic  formulae,  with  which  the  pages  of  his  first  edi¬ 
tion  were  so  obtrusively  overloaded. 

So  much  has  been  urged  both  for  and  against  the  em¬ 
ployment  of  this  kind  of  notation  in  the  pages  of  this 
Journal,  as  well  as  elsewhere,  that  it  would  be  superflu¬ 
ous  to  reiterate  those  arguments.  We  would  merely 
direct  notice  to  the  fact  that  either  his  opponents’  remon¬ 
strances,  or  the  late  discussion  in  the  chemical  world  on 
the  (we  had  almost  said  the  late )  atomic  theory,  or  possi¬ 
bly  original  considerations  have  certainly  induced  Dr. 
Frankland  to  think  better  of  it,  and  expunge  from  his 
reprint  the  greater  number  of  these  intricate  and  inge¬ 
niously  disposed  patterns.  A  few,  it  is  true,  linger,  but 
they  are  mere  ghosts,  which  no  one  need  be  afraid  of. 
And  that  no  doubt  may  remain  that  Dr.  Frankland  has 
modified  his  teaching,  if  not  his  creed,  we  quote  the  first 
lines  of  his  former  volume,  and  set  them  side  by  side 
with  the  words  he  now  writes. 

“  Definition. — Chemistry  is  the  science  which  treats  of 
the — 


1870. 

composition  of  all  kinds  of 
matter,  and  of  those  changes 
in  composition  which  re¬ 
sult  from  the  action,  either 
of  different  kinds  of  matter 
upon  each  other,  or  of  ex¬ 
ternal  forces  upon  one  and 
the  same  kind  of  matter.” 

We  repeat,  we  congratulate  him  on  this  emendation, 
and,  doing  so,  we  feel  satisfied  that  the  book  will  prove 
as  useful  as  we  have  every  right  to  expect  it  to  be,  from 
its  own  intrinsic  merits,  and  from  the  high  standing  of 
its  distinguished  author.  W.  A.  T. 


atomic  composition  of  bo¬ 
dies,  and  of  those  changes 
in  matter  which  result  from 
an  alteration  in  the  relative 
position  of  atoms. 


The  Students’  Flora  or  the  British  Islands.  By 
J.  D.  Hooker,  C.B.,  M.D.,  D.C.L.,  LL.D.,  F.B.S.,  L.S., 
etc.,  Director  of  the  Boyal  Gardens,  Kew.  London : 
Macmillan  and  Co.  1870.  Fcap.  8vo,  pp.  xx.  504. 

This  book  is,  as  might  be  expected  from  such  an  ac¬ 
complished  botanist  as  Dr.  Hooker,  one  which  will  un¬ 
doubtedly  prove  a  most  useful  manual  to  students  and 
others  interested  in  the  British  Flora,  and  we  may 
safely  predict  for  it  a  wide  and  lasting  success.  Its 
object,  as  stated  in  the  preface,  is  “to  supply  students 
and  field  botanists  with  a  fuller  account  of  the  plants  of 
the  British  Flora  than  the  manuals  hitherto  in  use  aim 
at  giving.”  In  it  will  be  found,  as  the  result  of  the  au¬ 
thor’s  well-known  extensive  acquaintance  with  plants  of 
all  parts  of  the  world,  a  much  broader  and  more  philoso¬ 
phic  idea  of  genera  and  species  than  we  might  have 
met  with  if  the  work  had  been  written  by  one  whose 
attention  had  been  more  exclusively  restricted  to  the 
flora  of  so  limited  an  area  as  our  own. 

In  the  arrangement  of  the  book  the  ‘  London  Cata¬ 
logue’  of  1867  has  been  followed,  and  the  well-known 
works  of  Syme  and  Watson  have  been  freely  consulted, 
but  its  great  value  arises  from  the  fact  that  all  the  ordi¬ 
nal,  generic,  and  specific  characters  of  the  plants  have 
been  rewritten  by  the  author,  and  great  care  has  been 
taken  to  render  these  descriptions  as  simple  and  perfect 
as  possible. 

From  pages  i.  to  viii.  we  have  an  excellent  preface, 
followed  by  (ix.  to  xx.)  a  “  Synopsis  of  the  Natural  Or¬ 
ders,”  instead  of  the  usual  artificial  key,  Dr.  Hooker  re¬ 
marking  that  from  experience  he  finds  such  artificial 
keys  produce  superficial  habits  amongst  students ;  whilst 


July  2,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


17 


diagnoses  are  more  conducive  to  habits  of  observation. 
This  change  too  is  of  advantage  to  the  student’s  future 
studies  in  Botany,  as  it  familiarizes  him  with  the  method 
always  employed  in  more  scientific  works.  Next  follow 
the  descriptions  of  the  plants  themselves,  the  names  of 
the  orders,  genera,  and  species  being  in  Egyptian  type, 
rendering  them  at  once  distinct  from  the  other  letter- 
press.  As  an  illustration  of  the  hook,  we  will  quote  from 
it  the  description  of  the  sweet  Violet. 

“  2.  V.  odorata,  L. ;  slightly  hairy  or  downy,  runners 
very  long,  leaves  broadly  cordate,  spur  nearly  straight, 
style  hooked,  stigma  oblique.  Siveet  Violet. 

“  Hedgebanks  and  copses,  wild  in  E.  and  S.  E.  England, 
naturalized  elsewhere,  perhaps  native  of  E.  Ireland ;  fl. 
March-May. — Rootstock  short,  scarred.  Leaves  deeply 
cordate  at  the  base,  sinus  closed;  stipules  glandular. 
Bracts  at  or  about  the  middle  of  the  peduncle.  Flowers 
fragrant,  blue,  white,  or  red-purple ;  lateral  petals  with 
or  without  a  tuft  of  hairs ;  spur  short,  obtuse.  Anther- 
spurs  linear-oblong.  Capsule  pubescent,  pedicels  de- 
curved. — Distrib.  Europe,  N.  Africa,  N.  and  W.  Asia, 
to  the  Himalaya.” 

In  the  Umbcilifcras,  in  addition  to  the  diagnosis,  there 
is  an  analytical  key.  In  some  of  the  critical  genera,  Hr. 
Hooker  has  followed  some  well-known  authority.  The 
genera  Rosa  and  Rubus  have  had  the  benefit  of  Mr. 
Baker’s  care,  whose  well-known  accurate  knowledge  of 
them  is  fully  recognized  by  British  and  Continental 
botanists. 

In  conclusion,  we  cordially  recommend  the  hook  to 
students  as  a  companion  in  their  country  rambles  in 
search  of 

“  These  stars  of  earth, — these  golden  flowers.” 

A  pastime  at  once  healthgiving,  intellectual,  and  men¬ 
tally  elevating  and  soothing. 


_  BOOKS  RECEIVED. 

Eczema;  its  Nature  and  Treatment,  and  incidentally  the 
influence  of  Constitutional  conditions  on  Skin  Diseases, 
being  the  Lettsonian  Lectures  for  the  Session  1869-70. 
By  Tilbury  Fox,  M.D.,  etc.  London :  Henry  Renshaw, 
356,  Strand.  1870. 


Characteristics  oe  the  Principal  Wines  we  Drink. 
By  A.  DuPRfi,  Ph.D.,  F.C.S.  Reprinted  from  the  ‘  Popular 
Science  Review.’  London :  Robert  Hardwicke,  192,  Picca¬ 
dilly.  1870. 


SIR  JAMES  CLARK,  BART.,  M.D.,  F.R.S. 

We  regret  to  have  to  announce  the  death  of  this  emi¬ 
nent  physician,  which  occurred  on  Wednesday,  the  29th 
of  June,  at  Bagshot  Park,  Surrey.  The  deceased  baronet, 
who  was  the  son  of  a  farmer,  was  born  in  Banffshire,  in 
1788.  He  was  educated  at  King’s  College,  Aberdeen, 
and  completed  his  medical  studies  at  Edinburgh  Uni¬ 
versity,  where  he  took  the  degree  of  M.D.  Having 
passed  some  years  in  the  service  of  the  navy,  he,  in 
1820,  settled  as  a  physician  in  Rome.  Six  years  after¬ 
wards  he  returned  to  England,  and  practised  in  London. 
He  was  appointed  physician  to  the  Duchess  of  Kent  and 
Princess  Victoria,  as  well  as  to  the  late  King  of  the  Bel¬ 
gians,  and  on  the  accession  of  her  Majesty  to  the  throne, 
she  made  him  her  first  physician,  and  conferred  upon  him 
a  baronetcy.  Sir  James  took  a  lively  interest  in  the  pro¬ 
ceedings  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  especially  at  the 
time  of  its  establishment,  and  for  many  years  afterwards. 
He  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-two. 


We  have  also  to  announce  the  death  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Salman,  Cornwall  Road,  Westboume  Park,  a  much  re¬ 
spected  member  of  our  Society.  He  died  at  his  residence 
on  the  12th  of  June,  deeply  and  J  deservedly  regretted 
by  a  large  circle  of  friends. 


Communications  for  this  Journal ,  and  books  for  review , 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

The  “Age  of  Progress,”  and  the  Provincial 

Members. 

Dear  Sir, — In  the  last  issue  of  the  Journal,  in  the  article 
entitled  “  An  Age  of  Progress,”  you  laudably  endeavour  to 
enlighten  the  benighted  provincial  members  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society,  and  so  philanthropic  is  your  aim,  that 
you  kindly  become  the  interpreter  of  a  word,  the  subtle 
meaning  of  which  you  presume  to  think  they  have  hitherto 
been  unable  to  comprehend;  in  short,  you  attempt,  though 
I  apprehend  without  the  least  necessity,  to  show  what  the 
Pharmaceutical  Council  is,  and  what  it  is  not. 

I  grant  you  that  the  Council  is  not  “A  Young  Man’s- 
Mutual  Improvement  Association,”  I  also  grant  you  that  it 
“aims  at  working  out  and  protecting  the  interests  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society,”  “which  are  grave,”  that  its  “talk” 
is  “serious  talk,”  and  “thoroughly  effectual  as  regards  re¬ 
sult;”  but  from  the  grave  and  effectual  character  of  its  pro¬ 
ceedings  I  maintain  that  the  “  serious  talk”  which  culminates 
occasionally  in  speech-making,  when  a  “storm  passes  over  its 
otherwise  tranquil  waters,”  is  eminently  useful  for  publica¬ 
tion,  and  would  do  much  to  enlighten  the  provincials,  and 
consequently  would  forward  “  An  Ago  of  Progress.” 

Of  such  vital  interest  have  the  proceedings  of  the  Society 
become,  since  the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy  Act,  not  only  to 
the  members  themselves  but  to  the  entire  trade,  that  nothing 
but  dissatisfaction  and  want  of  perfect  confidence  will  prevail, 
until  the  Council’s  proceedings  are  fully  and  faithfully  re¬ 
ported. 

No  doubt  there  will  be  some  slight  disadvantage  in  pub¬ 
licity,  but  the  greater  weight  of  advantage  will  counter¬ 
balance  all  inconvenience.  The  only  safe  and  simple  plan  is 
that  of  publicity,  and  whether  the  present  Council  will  or  not, 
that  object  will  be  attained. 

If  it  be  wished  to  have  a  good  and  reliable  Council,  com¬ 
posed  of  trusted  and  tried  men,  what  better  plan  can  be  de¬ 
vised  to  enable  the  “provincials”  to  judge  of  their  character 
and  capacity  than  that  which  publicity  would  afford  ?  If  it 
be  wished  not  to  have  another  avalanche  of  “provincials,” 
publicity  may  avert  this  great  disaster. 

I  am  sure  I  regret,  and  all  will  regret,  that  any  gentlemen 
who  have  faithfully  served  us  on  the  Council  should  be  passed 
by.  Still  I  cannot  see  how  such  an  unfortunate  result  can 
be  prevented  at  a  time  of  excitement,  like  that  preceding 
the  recent  election,  when  the  trade,  perhaps  solely  for  the 
want  of  that  information  which  fully  reported  proceedings 
would  give,  was  rudely  disturbed  and  unsettled  by  the  pre¬ 
mature  and  unwise  attempt  to  interfere  with  patent  medi¬ 
cines,  and  with  the  storage  of  poisons, 

I  trust,  however,  notwithstanding  the  free  provincial  ad¬ 
mixture  in  the  new  Council,  that  it  will  be  as  useful  and  as 
zealous  as  any  of  its  predecessors. 

I  am,  dear  Sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

Robert  Hampton-. 

Manchester,  June  20,  1870. 


Sir, — Entirely  agreeing  with  your  article  on  the  “  Age  ot 
Progress,”  I  beg  leave  to  offer  a  few  remarks  upon  the  cause 
which,  in  my  opinion,  has  elected  a  Council  not  well  chosen 
to  carry  on  the  important  duties  of  the  Society. 

Being  one  of  the  founders  I  speak  with  some  experience, 
and  although  I  have  never  taken  an  active  part  in  its  affairs, 
I  have  been  ever  ready  to  uphold  the  Council  and  strengthen 
their  hands,  whenever  I  have  considered  them  unjustly  at¬ 
tacked,  as  may  be  seen  by  reference  to  Yol.  IV.,  First  Series, 
p.  97,  in  a  letter  signed  “A  Town  Member,”  and  also  in 
Yol.  X.,  First  Series,  p.  210. 

I  believe  that  the  Boards,  as  constituted  from  year  to  year, 
have  done  good  service  to  the  whole  body  of  chemists,  and 
that  they  have  fairly  earned  our  best  thanks  for  the  manner 
in  which  they  have  advanced  our  interest,  in  the  broadest 
sense  of  the  word ;  and  therefore  it  was  with  the  deepest  pain 
I  found  the  Council  engaged,  in  the  past  year,  in  propound- 
ing  a  system  of  conducting  business,  as  touching  poisons,  so 
extremely  offensive,  that  I  do  not  wonder  it  brought  down  a 
storm  of  indignation  at  the  last  annual  meeting,  which  had 


18 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


[July  2,  1870. 


the  deplorable  effect  of  depriving  us  of  the  valuable  experi¬ 
ence  and  services  of  many  old  members  of  the  Council.  Surely 
no  man  can  have  a  greater  influence  to  bear  upon  him,  in  the 
handling  of  poisons,  than  his  own  material  interest. 

As  I  have  read  in  the  Journal,  from  month  to  month,  re¬ 
commendations  and  propositions  for  the  keeping  of  poisons, 
with  the  view  of  legal  compulsion,  I  have  felt  perfectly 
ashamed  of  my  calling.  My  own  system  being,  to  my  mind, 
infinitely  superior  to  any  proposition  I  have  seen,  still  I  could 
not  presume  to  recommend  it  to  others,  as  every  chemist 
must  be  guided  by  the  construction  of  his  shop,  and  other 
considerations. 

I  have  hitherto  forborne  to  make  any  comment  upon  the 
subject,  believing  it  would  all  come  to  nothing,  which  the  case 
now  plainly  shows. 

I  shall,  at  any  time,  feel  much  pleasure  in  showing  'my 
method  of  keeping  poisons  to  any  chemist, — not  as  being  any 
wonderful  contrivance,  but  for  the  simplicity  which  common 
prudence  dictates.  Doubting  not  most  other  chemists  have  a 
place  equally  good,  and  many  perhaps  better,  nevertheless  I 
have  faith  in  my  own,  and  should  repel  any  interference. 

If  the  Council  will  keep  within  their  legitimate  province, 
they  will  soon  re-establish  confidence,  and,  at  the  next  elec¬ 
tion,  have  a  due  balance  of  experienced  London  members, 
who  certainly  are  in  the  best  position  to  render  good  service 
to  the  trade  at  large. 

I  am.  Sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

John  Beaton. 

Kill  urn,  June  20 th,  1870. 


Dear  Sir, — Will  you  kindly  allow  me  to  point  out  an  error 
in  the  editorial  article  of  the  15th  instant  ?  You  speak  of  the 
provinces  as  being  “omniscient,”  now  that  is  just  what  they 
are  not,  and  the  desire  for  a  greater  amount  of  knowledge 
was  the  mainspring  of  their  action  in  the  matter  of  the  elec¬ 
tion  ;  had  they  been  allowed  to  knoio  a  little  more,  they  might 
possibly  have  done  a  little  less;  and  had  the  statement  of 
attendance  on  Committees  been  published  before  the  election 
instead  of  after,  the  gentleman  who  has  attended  forty-four 
times  would  have  stood  higher  on  the  list  than  he  did.  F urther, 
we  find  from  that  statement  that  four  members  of  the  Council, 
who  live  within  “omnibus  ride  from  Bloomsbury  Square” 
have  attended  just  ten  times  amongst  them,  so  that  proximity 
to  the  Council-room  does  not  necessarily  produce  attendance 
there. 

Neither  are  we  to  be  blamed  for  the  “absence  of  names 
long  held  in  reverence,”  seeing  that  those  names  were  not 
even  on  the  list  of  candidates ;  had  they  been  so,  they  would 
hardly  have  been  rejected.  Even  in  the  provinces  there  is 
some  respect  for  Morson,  Squire,  and  Deane,  who  have  worked 
so  long  and  so  well,  and  whose  names  are  an  honour  to  British 
pharmacy. 

Let  us  hope  that  the  late  storm  will  have  the  effect  of  clear¬ 
ing  the  atmosphere,  and  of  bringing  the  Council  and  the 
members  into  better  accord  than  has  been  the  case  for  some 
time  past,  and  there  will  then  be  no  cause  to  regret  our  action 
in  the  matter. 

Yours  truly, 

W.  Wilkinson. 

Manchester ,  June  20,  1870. 


The  Sale  op  Homoeopathic  Medicines  by  Phae- 

macists. 

Sir, — It  was  not  my  intention  to  make  any  further  remarks 
upon  the  above  subject ;  but  if  you  have  no  objection  to  carry 
the  discussion  into  your  new  seines,  I  should  feel  obliged  if 
you  will  permit  me  to  reply  to  Mr.  Giles’s  second  letter. 
In  the  first  place,  let  me  assure  him  that  so  far  as  I  am  con¬ 
cerned  his  letters  havecaused  no  annoyance  whatever,  and  I  be¬ 
lieve  he  wrote  them  from  a  desire  to  benefit  the  trade  generally. 

I  think  that  the  real  cause  of  the  traffic  in  homoeopathic 
medicines  is  to  bo  found  not  “  in  the  hardships  under  which 
pharmacy  is  often  conducted,”  but  in  the  fact  that  the  public 
demands  them.  If  there  are  any  who  “feel  it  inexpressibly 
painful  ”  and  “  a  degradation  to  themselves  and  their  calling  ” 
to  sell  such  medicines,  to  them  are  Mr.  Giles’s  remarks  very 
well  suited,  even  if  their  “  poverty  and  not  their  will  consents.” 
but  I  believe  there  are  very  few,  if  any,  who  feel  thus. 

Mr.  Giles  says,  he  did  not  represent  the  sale  of  homoeo¬ 
pathic  medicines  as  a  “  breach  of  trade  honesty.”  Surely  he 
must  have  forgotten  his  former  statements,  or  does  ho  desire 
to  recall  them,  but  knows  not  how  to  do  so  ?  What  does  he 


mean  when  he  says,  “  They  (the  world)  may  possibly  deduce 
another  inference  from  this  over-eagerness  to  make  money  all 
round,  obviously  in  defiance  of  conscience  and  consistency ; 
they  may  not  unreasonably  conclude  that  the  pharmaceutist 
who  humbugs  one  customer  with  his  consent,  may  humbug 
the  rest  for  his  own  profit,  and  that  he  who  knowingly  sells 
innocent  sugar-plums  for  deadly  aconite,  may  not  scruple  to 
sell  cheap  powdered  slate  for  costly  scammony”  ? 

After  such  statements,  I  am  surprised  lie  should  deny  that 
he  represented  the  sale  of  the  above  medicines  as  a  breach  of 
trade  honesty.  Does  he  mean  to  assert  that  if  a  chemist  is 
open  to  a  suspicion  of  supplying  slate  for  scammony,  he  is 
not  also  open  to  the  imputation  of  a  breach  of  trade  honesty  ? 
I  maintain  that  if  a  chemist  is  suspected  of  selling  slate  for 
scammony,  he  may  very  reasonably  be  suspected  of  supply¬ 
ing  rad.  rhei  ang.  for  rad.  rhei  E.  I.  elect.,  and  if  that  is 
not  “  a  breach  of  trade  honesty,”  I  should  like  to  know  what 
is  ? 

Mr.  Giles  disowns  Morrison’s  pills,  but  acknowledges  Parr’s 
pills  “ct  hoc  genus  omne,”  and  says  that  my  argument  is 
founded  on  an  assumption.  Well,  Sir,  I  am  agreeable  to  his 
substitution,  or  if  he  will,  Perry  Davis’s  Pain-Killer,  of  which 
it  may  be  said — 

“  It  matters  not  a  pin, 

Whether  rubbed  out  or  taken  in, 

Its  effect  is  just  the  same.” 

My  argument  will  then  he  founded  not  on  an  assumption, 
but  on  an  admitted  fact.  He  further  states  that  he  has  a 
considerable  respect  for  patent  medicines  (mark,  considerable 
respect).  I  never  before  heard  a  chemist  make  such  a  state¬ 
ment,  and  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  Mr.  Giles  stands  alone 
in  this  respect.  But  I  am  still  more  astonished  when  he 
says,  “  They  are,  at  all  events,  based  upon  rational  principles 
of  therapeutics,  such  as  pharmacy  acknowledges.”  The  prin¬ 
ciples  on  which  patent  medicines,  as  a  class,  are  based  (so  far 
as  my  knowledge  goes),  are  that  one  medicine  is  a  remedy,  or 
more  frequently  a  specific  for  various  diseases  and  disorders, 
differing  materially  from  each  other,  and  that,  too,  entirely 
regardless  of  differences  in  constitution  and  sex.  And  I  was 
not  aware  before,  that  pharmacy  acknowledged  such  prin¬ 
ciples. 

If,  however,  such  be  the  case,  why  do  chemists  adorn  their 
shops  with  such  a  varied  number  of  therapeutic  agents  when 
a  few  would  answer  the  same  purpose  ?  Such  an  array  is 
useless  if  Mr.  Giles’s  statement  is  true.  If  he  is  inclined  to 
dispute  what  I  have  said,  I  ask  him  to  read  a  few  of  the 
many  handbills  that  he  receives  from  his  wholesale  house, 
and  I  think  he  will  find  that  I  have  simply  stated  facts.  With 
regard  to  the  solution  of  camphor,  it  is  undoubtedly  an  allo¬ 
pathic  remedy;  but  it  is  only  fair  to  state  that  homoeopathy 
has  brought  it  into  such  general  use. 

Again,  with  regard  to  Mr.  Giles’s  prediction  of  the  dura¬ 
tion  of  homoeopathy,  he  says  that,  according  to  his  observa¬ 
tion,  it  is  already  extinct  as  a  form  of  medical  practice.  Mr. 
Giles  has,  I  think,  put  his  astrological  telescope  to  the  blind 
eye.  I  beg  to  inform  him  that  “  as  a  form  of  medical  prac¬ 
tice  ”  it  is  far  from  extinct,  as  the  rapidly  increasing  number 
of  homoeopathic  physicians  clearly  shows.  He  says,  too,  that 
if  left  alone  he  “  sincerely  believes  the  present  generation  will 
outlive  it.”  I  suppose  he  means  if  left  alone  by  chemists. 
Well,  Sir,  if  it  is  left  alone,  I  sincerely  wish  Mr.  Giles  a  long 
life  and  a  happy  one.  I  quite  agree  with  Mr.  Swenden,  when 
he  says,  “  One  thing  is  certain,  that  if  homoeopathy  be  destined 
to  advance,  and  it  certainly  is  gaining  ground,  the  united 
opposition  of  the  whole  of  the  pharmacists  in  the  country 
could  not  check  it,  for  the  motive  of  our  opposition  would  be 
too  apparent.” 

Mr.  Giles  is  pleased  to  term  homoeopathy  11  arrant  folly,” 
ergo,  those  who  believe  in  it  are  arrant  fools !  including,  of 
course,  homoeopathic  M.D.’s.  Eeally,  how  very  compli¬ 
mentary  we  are !  Permit  me  to  remind  him  that  homoeo¬ 
pathic  M.D.’s  have  to  go  through  the  same  curriculum  as 
allopathic  M.D.’s  before  they  can  practise  homoeopathy. 
Again,  he  says,  “Homoeopathic  practitioners  do  not  now 
trust  to  homoeopathic  doses,  etc. ;  they  do  not  themselves  use 
those  absurd  globules,”  etc.  Here  again,  I  think,  Mr.  Giles’s 
observation  is  somewhat  limited.  Only  very  recently  I  asked 
a  medical  gentleman  if  he  thought  that  pilules  and  globules 
were  rarely  if  ever  prescribed  ?  and  he  replied,  that  he  thought 
they  were  used  quite  as  much  as  formerly,  and  I  know  he 
uses  them  largely  himself. 

In  conclusion,  permit  me  to  remark,  that  I  am  as  desirous 


JuLr  2,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


19 


as  Mr.  Giles  to  see  our  business  raised  to  the  rank  of  a  pro¬ 
fession,  but  I  tbink  he  is  going  the  wrong  way  to  'work  to 
bring  about  such  a  result;  at  any  rate,  trying  to  clean  the 
wrong  end  of  the  stick  first.  There  are  many  things  of  far 
greater  importance  that  want  reforming  in  pharmacy  before 
the  sale  of  homoeopathic  medicines.  Let  him  go  to  our 
country  towns,  large  and  small,  and  examine  the  class  of 
business  there,  including  Bristol,  and  he  will  find  that  70  if 
not  80  per  cent.,  or  more  even,  is  mixed  up  with  the  business 
of  a  grocer,  hosier,  cheesemonger,  oil  and  colour  merchant,  or 
perhaps  even  all  combined,  and  not  unfrequently  a  genteel 
liquor  traffic  to  boot.  Let  Mr.  Giles  endeavour  to  rid  the 
business  of  such  branches  of  trade,  and  I  feel  assured  he  will 
have  the  hearty  co-operation  of  his  confreres. 

I  am  desirous,  too,  to  see  the  business  of  a  homoeopathic 
and  allopathic  chemist  kept  entirely  distinct ;  and  I  feel 
assured  that  homoeopaths  do  not  wish  pharmacists,  for  their 
sake,  to  do  anything  that  is  “  inexpressibly  painful,”  or  that 
they  “  feel  to  be  a  degradation  to  themselves  and  their  calling.” 
If  the  two  businesses  are  kept  so  distinct,  I  firmly  believe  that 
homoeopathy  will  make  far  greater  strides  than  hitherto ;  and 
I  hope  that  pharmacists  will  be  more  loyal  to  those  “  rational 
principles  of  therapeutics,  such  as  pharmacy  acknowledges,” 
and  to  “scientific  investigation”  that  the  day  may  not  be 
postponed  when  homoeopathy  shall  have  a  “  clear  field  and  no 
favour”  from  pharmacists. 

Apologizing  for  thus  trespassing  upon  your  space  a  second 
time, 

I  remain,  yours  respectfully, 

Alfred  Marshall. 

Highbury,  June  16,  1870. 


Sir, — As  one  of  the  offenders  against  whom  Mr.  Giles  has 
directed  his  heavy  onslaught  in  this  month’s  Journal,  may  I 
be  allowed  to  make  a  few  observations  ? 

I  am  pleased  to  recognize,  and  bow  down  to  the  lofty 
standard  claimed  by  him  for  the  pharmaceutical  chemist,  but 
what  is  the  cause  of  the  hot  displeasure  manifested  by  him 
towards  homoeopathy  in  particular,  when  he  confesses 
that  for  Parr’s  pills,  and  other  preparations  from  the  quack 
laboratory,  he  has  “considerable  respect”? 

At  all  events,  homoeopathy  is  practised  by  men  of  education 
and  professional  status,  whose  prescriptions  the  chemist  must 
cither  literally  follow  or  reject.  Are  we,  as  a  body,  prepared 
to  adopt  the  latter  alternative?  But  what  shall  we  say  of 
the  professional  standing  of  the  pet  quacks  of  Mr.  Giles, 
and  what  of  their  scientific  (?)  preparations  ? 

May  not  any  ignorant  pretender  send  as  many  nostrums 
into  the  market  as  he  please,  and  impose,  to  any  extent,  upon 
public  credulity  through  his  mendacious  statements,  that  he 
is  allowed  to  publish  with  impunity  ?  There  is  no  guarantee 
of  medical  knowledge  demanded  of  him.  The  law  is  strict 
only  in  enforcing  the  affixing  of  a  stamp  of  proper  value  to 
every  package  he  sends  out. 

May  I  use  Mr.  Giles’s  own  word,  and  ask,  can  “  humbug  ” 
towards  a  nation  go  further?  It  is  needless,  I  am  sure,  to 
place  before  Mr.  Giles  a  long  list  of  the  names  of  those  who, 
entirely  ignorant  of  medical  knowledge  and  therapeutic  skill, 
do  not  hesitate  to  blazon  forth  by  every  roadside,  and  through 
the  universal  press,  their  miserable  medicaments,  their  lying 
protestations,  but  “luring  to  destroy.” 

I  believe  that  very  many  pharmaceutical  chemists,  as  well 
as  myself,  sell  homoeopathic  medicines  for  the  same  reason 
that  we  sell  quack  medicines, — because  the  public  demand 
them.  We  have  no  more  credence  in  the  practice  than  Mr. 
Giles  himself,  but,  in  fact,  look  upon  homoeopathy,  from  our 
stand-point,  as  one  of  the  follies  of  the  day,  which  now  and 
then  influence  the  public  mind,  to  be  displaced  after  a  short 
season  by  some  other  novelty. 

I  should  be  glad  to  see  a  clean  sweep  made  of  all  such  medi¬ 
cal  myths  from  every  pharmacy,  and  I  doubt  not  many  share 
in  the  feeling.  With  how  much  pleasure,  then,  should  we 
have  received  Mr.  Giles’s  avowal,  had  it  been  to  this  effect, 
that  he  not  only  abominated  homoeopathy  but  quackery  also  ! 

As  an  advanced  man  amongst  us,  he  could  venture  (for  the 
love  of  science)  to  take  the  initiatory  step,  since  his  business 
status  could  bear  the  drawback  his  yearly  returns  might  show, 
and  the  pioneer’s  glory  would  perhaps  be  deemed  by  him  a 
sufficient  reward. 

I  have  but  just  had  my  attention  called  to  Mr.  Giles’s 
letter  in  the  April  number  of  the  Journal,  and  am  amazed  at 
his  forgetfulness  of  all  proper  courtesy  towards  us,  especially 


in  that  portion  of  it,  in  paragraph  3,  beginning  “  They  may 
possibly,”  and  ending  “  I  know.”  I  fear  Mr.  Giles  wrote  not 
only  calamo  currente,  and  therefore  with  little  reflection, 
but  also  atramento  felleo,  hence  his  fierce  and  unwarrant¬ 
able  deduction. 

I  hope  Mr.  Giles  does  not  assume  that  he  himself  is  the 
only  pharmaceutist  influenced  by  high-souled  honour  in  his 
calling.  If  he  possess  it,  let  him  rejoice  that  others  share 
that  (to  the  pharmaceutist)  precious  treasure.  We  want  all 
the  help  we  can  have  to  elevate  our  calling  to  its  true  posi¬ 
tion,  but  that  can  only  be  done  by  unity  and  good  feeling ; 
such  advocacy  as  that  of  Mr.  Giles,  in  the  passage  referred 
to,  will  effect  nothing  but  disaster. 

Mr.  Swenden,  in  his  letter  of  the  9th  of  April,  has  well  re¬ 
ferred  to  the  business  division  of  the  matter  in  dispute.  I 
will  not,  therefore,  take  up  more  of  your  space  by  any  further 
remarks  of  mine.  I  could  not,  however,  pass  over  a  swoop 
so  relentless  and  uncalled  for  without  entering  a  protest 
against  it. 

I  beg  to  remain,  Sir,  yours  obediently, 

Thomas  Witherington, 
Local  Secretary. 

Worcester,  June  16,  1870. 


Work  for  Local  Secretaries. 

Sir, — Most  of  the  Local  Secretaries,  whom  I  have  known, 
seem  to  hold  the  office  in  vain ;  they  do  nothing  for  the  benefit 
of  their  brethren,  and  the  office  gets  no  respect.  Many  of 
them  cannot  point  to  any  work  done,  except,  perhaps,  that 
they  have  got  some  unauthorized  neighbour  into  hot  water 
for  calling  himself  a  “chemist,”  or  some  registered  man  fined 
because  his  printer  accidentally  slipped  “pharmaceutical” 
into  his  address.  Now,  I  would  propose  to  Local  Secretaries 
work  profitable  and  pleasant,  to  make  efforts  to  get  the  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  trade  together,  and  thus  to  form  scientific  and 
trade  associations  of  which  it  will  be  an  honour  to  be  secretary ; 
and  one  of  the  first  subjects  calling  for  their  attention  would 
be  the  prices  of  drugs,  and  for  dispensing.  It  is  a  notorious 
fact,  that  many  well-to-do  chemists  and  pharmaceutists  charge 
absurdly  low  prices — prices  which,  a  little  consideration  would 
show,  cannot  pay  in  a  business  making  such  small  returns  as 
ours  does.  Some  of  our  brethren  forget  to  charge  for  skill, 
and  want  reminding  of  it.  If  a  person  presents  a  prescription 
to  me  consisting  of — 

Magnes.  Sulphat.  5] 

Aquae  ^viij, 

I  consider  I  am  entitled  to  Is.  6 d.  for  dispensing  it,  and 
should  make  that  charge,  though  I  know  many  of  my 
neighbours  would  charge  9 d.  or  lOd.  for  it,  and  experience 
tells  me  that  my  customers  like  the  medicine  better  at  Is.  6d. 
than  at  9 d.  Our  Local  Secretaries  may  do  great  service  to 
the  trade  by  promoting  amicable  discussion  and  settlement  of 
prices.  There  are  probably  but  few  in  the  trade  who  approve 
of  low  prices,  but  they  adopt  them  because  they  fancy,  or 
some  unreliable  customer  tells  them,  that  Mr.  So-and-So  is 
selling  at  low  prices,  and  then,  not  to  be  outdone,  they  adopt 
Mr.  So-and-So’3  fancied  low  scale. 

If  he  can  afford  it,  let  the  Local  Secretary  invite  all  his 
brethren  to  supper,  or  if  he  cannot,  let  him  suggest  such  a 
meeting  at  some  suitable  place,  and  try  to  secure  a  good  at¬ 
tendance;  nothing  brings  men  together  and  sets  them  at 
their  ease  like  a  supper,  afterward  discuss  trade  subjects,  and 
let  the  Secretary  be  prepared  to  bring  the  talk  to  practical 
issue  by  resolut  ions,  put  into  the  hands  of  suitable  men.  The 
first  meeting,  well  managed,  would  be  sure  to  result  in  many 
other  such  being  held.  It  seems  mo3t  natural  that  men  in 
the  same  trade  should  be  friendly  with  one  another,  and 
should  band  together  for  mutual  benefit.  Will  the  Local 
Secretaries  try  ? 

Quintus. 


Exemption  from  Juries. 

Sir, — One  would  imagine  when  the  Pharmaceutical  Chemists 
were  legally  exempt  from  serving  upon  juries,  that  we  had  got 
rid  of  a  very  great  nuisance,  and  so  Ave  should  if  we  could 
only  get  our  names  properly  erased  from  the  J ury  Lists,  and 
so  prevent  ourselves  from  being  summoned ;  but  there  is  the 
difficulty. 

You  will  be  surprised  to  hear  that  since  I  have  been  exempt 
I  ha\*e  been  summoned  four  or  fiAe  times,  and  this  has  been 
done  after  my  having  taken  the  usual  means  to  prevent  it. 


20 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


[July  2,  1870. 


viz.  getting  my  name  cancelled  from  the  list.  This  would  ap¬ 
pear  an  easy  matter,  but  it  is  not  so ;  for  I  find  the  county 
select  the  jury  from  one  list  and  the  borough  from  another, 
and  unless  you  annually  trouble  yourself  in  the  matter  your 
name  is  put  upon  the  list,  and  when  once  summoned  you  are 
in  duty  bound  to  attend  to  claim  exemption.  This,  of  course, 
is  a  morning  wasted.  I  thought  this  year  I  would  be  very 
particular  in  the  matter,  and  you  can,  therefore,  imagine  my 
surprise  on  receiving  another  summons  about  a  month  ago. 
This  I  found  was  owing  to  my  private  residence  being  in  the 
parish  of  Penn,  and  my  name,  unknown  to  me,  being  put 
upon  another  list  altogether.  This  is  very  unpleasant,  and 
the  object  of  my  writing  to  you  is  to  ascertain  if  chemists  in 
the  larger  towns  are  put  to  similar  annoyance,  and  if  not, 
the  means  they  adopt  to  effectually  prevent  it.  There  is  cer¬ 
tainly  fault  to  be  found  with  the  officials,  who  ought,  by  this 
time,  to  be  aware  of  our  exemption.  I  believe  my  neighbours 
have  been  troubled  in  a  similar  manner. 

Yours  truly, 

W.  Y.  Brevitt. 

Wolverhampton,  June  24 th,  1870. 


Order  oe  Merit  at  Examinations. 

Dear  Sir, — There  is  one  part  of  our  present  system  of  ex¬ 
aminations  that  I  do  not  think  is  altogether  right ;  for  this 
reason  I  beg  a  portion  of  your  space  in  the  J ournal.  The 
point  I  wish  to  bring  before  you  is  this,  “  the  arrangement  of 
successful  candidates  in  order  of  merit”  That,  Sir,  I  think 
is  not  quite  justly  carried  out.  Eor  instance,  a  candidate 
presents  himself  for  the  Minor,  and  fails  in  three  out  of  six 
tables,  therefore  is  plucked,  as  it  is  commonly  termed.  He 
gets  a  note  to  say  he  is  eligible  to  again  appear  in  three 
months,  when  he  will  be  re-examined  in  those  subjects  in 
which  he  previously  failed.  He  is,  at  the  end  of  that  time, 
well  up  in  those  subjects;  and  the  marks  of  the  subjects  he 
passed  in  at  the  previous  examination  are  added  to  those 
acquired  at  the  second  examination.  When  the  Journal  is 
published,  and  the  list  appears,  we  find  him  perhaps  second, 
or  third,  with  several  behind  him,  who  have  passed  at  their 
first  attempt. 

To  the  various  readers  of  the  Journal  these  facts  are  not 
shown,  as  no  difference  is  made  between  those  who  pass  first 
or  second  time,  and  often  it  makes  those  who  have  two  ex¬ 
aminations  appear  superior  to  one  who  passes  the  first  time. 
This  takes  away  the  credit  of  passing  without  failure. 

If  to  be  placed  in  order  of  merit,  I  think  they  should  be 
again  examined  in  all  the  subjects,  to  entitle  them  to  be 
arranged  in  the  list  as  is  now  the  rule. 

Indeed,  as  matters  are  now,  many  will  not  mind  failing 
first  time,  in  order  to  get  to  the  top  of  the  list  the  second 
time.  This  is  not  written  simply  on  my  own  account,  but  for 
the  benefit  of  those  who  may  follow. 

Trusting  others  better  able  than  myself  will  take  up  the 
subject, 

I  am,  Sir,  respectfully  yours, 

A  Successful  Minor  Candidate. 

Pendleton,  June  21,  1870. 

[We  understand  that  an  alteration  has  already  been  made 
in  the  mode  of  classifying  successful  candidates  which  will 
meet  the  writer’s  views. — Ed.  Pharm.  Journ.] 


The  Yalisneria  Plant  and  the  Breeding  of  Leeches. 

Sir, — In  the  April  number  Mr.  Colton  asks  for  information 
respecting  the  propagation  of  the  Yalisneria  in  leech  aquaria, 
but  observing  no  reply  I  venture  to  offer  the  following  re¬ 
marks  : — • 

A  mixture  of  sand,  small  stones,  and  shells  is  all  that  is 
required  as  ground  for  the  root. 

The  plant  should  be  placed  lightly  in  and  allowed  to  rest, 
and  should  not  be  rejected  though  apparently  dead,  as  fresh 
shoots  sometimes  spring  up  when  the  leaves  appear  decayed. 

The  Yalisneria  does  not  appear  to  enjoy  direct  light,  nor 
does  it  thrive  in  a  dull  corner.  A  good  reflected  light  seems 
best  suited  for  it,  and  the  nearer  to  the  open  door  of  the  shop 
the  better;  this  I  think  is  important. 

By  following  these  simple  rules  my  stock  of  plants  has,  in 
less  than  three  years,  increased  forty-fold.  I  shall  be  happy 
to  send  Mr.  Colton  one  or  two  healthy  plants,  etc.,  if  he  will 
tell  me  how  ;  and  while  on  the  subject  of  aquaria,  which,  as  I 
think,  are  neither  uninteresting  nor  out  of  place  in  our  shops, 
may  I  ask  him  whether  the  breeding  leeches  are  of  the  ordi¬ 


nary  size,  or,  as  I  am  told,  much  larger,  and  how  his  young 
brood  is  getting  on  ? 

Yours  respectfully, 

B. 

33,  Norfolk  Terrace,  W.,  June  24,  1870. 

P.  S.  I  should  say  the  above  are  but  jottings  of  my  own 
experience;  I  do  not  give  them  as  scientific  facts. — B. 


Anonymous  Correspondence. 

Sir, — I  think  it  very  desirable,  and  I  hope  it  will  be  a  point 
insisted  on  by  the  Editors  of  the  new  series  of  the  Journal, 
that  correspondents  subscribe  their  communications  with  their 
names  and  addresses.  Many  letters  lose  half  their  value  from 
want  of  attention  to  this.  .How  much  more  valuable  would 
the  letters  of  “  One  who  has  known  the  drug  trade  more  than 
thirty  years,”  and  that  of  N.  H.  in  the  supplementary  num¬ 
ber  of  the  15th  of  June  have  been,  if  the  names  and  addresses 
of  the  writers  had  been  given !  A  real  bona-fide  name  is  some¬ 
thing  substantial ;  but  there  is  something  shadowy  and  un¬ 
real  in  initial  letters  and  fictitious  names. 

One  correspondent  who  asks  a  question,  relating  to  cough 
lozenges,  that  may  be  called  “silly,”  because  it  has  been  so 
often  answered,  and  has  appended  initials  corresponding  to 
my  own,  might,  but  for  this  denial,  be  mistaken  for  me. 

I  am,  Sir,  yours  faithfully, 

E.  M.  Eimmington. 


Carbolate  of  Iodine. — Dr.  Evans,  of  Dublin,  has  sent  us  a 
communication  on  this  subject,  in  which,  referring  to  Dr.  W. 
G.  Smith’s  note  in  our  last  number,  he  says,  there  was  no 
controversy  as  to  the  fact,  that  ammonia  will  decolorize 
tincture  of  iodine,  but  as  to  the  question,  whether  the  so- 
called  “  carbolate  of  iodine  ”  was  decolorized  in  that  way, 
which  had  been  proved  in  the  negative.  This  controversy 
must  now  be  considered  closed. 

Barnsley  Chemists. — A  correspondent  from  Barnsley,  who 
signs  himself  “  Pipes  and  Tobacco,”  has  written  to  vindicate 
himself  and  fellow-chemists  from  the  imputations  implied  in 
the  letter  of  “  Spes,”  in  the  May  number  of  this  Journal.  He 
says,  “  I  feel  persuaded,  in  my  own  mind,  that  our  brother- 
tradesman  (whoever  he  may  be)  has  written  upon  first 
thought ;  for  who  would  not  fain  think,  that  had  he  (‘  Spes  ’) 
coupled  kindness  of  heart  with  his  intelligence,  he  would 
never  have  presumed  to  interfere  with  another  man’s  business. 
After  reading  Spes’s  complaint  over  several  times,  I  have 
come  to  the  conclusion  that  the  true  cause  of  it  is,  in  the  fact 
of  a  customer  having  stood  before  him  with  a  prescription 
dispensed  by  another  chemist  at  a  lower  rate  than  he  himself 
named ;  and  by  duly  acknowledging  this  to  be  the  true  cause 
of  his  letter,  and  not  what  is  sold,  but  how  it  is  sold,  the 
chemists  of  Barnsley  will,  I  have  no  doubt,  unanimously 
adopt  the  motto,  ‘Spectemur  agendo.’  ” 

Amateur  wishes  for  a  process  by  which  he  can  prepare 
condensed  milk. 

Pepper's  G-host. — Mr.  Pollard,  of  Rliyde,  refers  “  Inquirer,” 
on  the  above  subject,  to  Pepper’s  ‘  Cyclopaedic  Science  Simpli¬ 
fied’  (Warne  and  Co.). 

“Nemo”  (St.  Andrew’s)  would  probly  find  the  filtration  of  the 
water  through  animal  charcoal  effect  what  he  requires. 

“Minor  P.  Z .” — Chloral  Hydrate  and  Alcoholate  of 
Chloral.  See  Yol.  XI.  (n.  s.)  pp.  150,  721,  and  846. 

“An  Inquirer.” — Chloric  Ether  and  Spirit  of  Chloroform. 
See  Yol.  I.  (n.  s.)  pp.  304,  343;  Yol.  III.  (n.  s.)  p.  533;  and 
Yol.  XI.  (n.  s.)  p.  662. 

“Major  Maude”  (Watton). — The  apparatus  for  preparing 
nitrous  oxide  gas  may  be  obtained  of  Messrs.  Ash  and  Son, 
Broad  Street,  Golden  Square.  When  the  gas  is  used  largely, 
it  may  be  stored  in  a  gasometer  with  advantage. 

S.  G. — Dissolve  the  tannic  acid  in  the  glycerine,  the 
sulphate  of  zinc  in  the  water,  then  mix  the  two  solutions. 
The  resulting  lotion  should  be  clear. 

Mr.  Wilkinson's  communication  on  the  Regulations  for 
Storing  Poisons  will  appear  next  week. 


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

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W. 


July  9,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


21 


PHARMACEUTICAL  PROSPECTS  IN  CANADA. 

BY  J.  BAKER  EDWARDS,  PH.D.,  F.C.S. 

From  some  previous  reports*  your  readers  will  be 
prepared  to  understand  the  present  position  of  Cana¬ 
dian  Pharmacy, — at  least  in  Lower  Canada,  now 
best  known  as  the  province  of  Quebec.  During  the 
last'  session  of  the  Local  Legislatures,  Bills  were 
introduced  to  regulate  the  practice  of  Pharmacy  both 
in  the  province  of  Quebec  and  in  that  of  Ontario. 

Both  of  these  Bills,  though  diverse  in  character, 
and  each  supposed  to  be  best  adapted  to  the  several 
localities,  failed  to  pass  into  law,  chiefly  in  conse¬ 
quence  of  medical  opposition. 

The  Bill  brought  forward  in  Ontario  closely  follows 
the  British  Acts,  and  is  likewise  trammelled  with 
poison  regulations ;  that  of  Quebec,  on  the  other  hand, 
simply  incorporated  a  College  of  Pharmacy,  with 
powers  of  registration,  examination,  and  penal  statutes 
against  offenders. 

In  Ontario  no  legislation  at  present  exists  touch¬ 
ing  Pharmacy,  so  that  the  Bill  had  to  run  the 
gauntlet  of  the  free-traders.  It  was  quietly  shelved 
in  Committee. 

In  Quebec,  on  the  other  hand,  Pharmacy  has  had 
some  recognition  from  the  times  of  early  settlement, 
and  licences  were  required  in  order  to  practise  it, 
which  were  obtainable  from  the  Governor- General 
on  presentation  of  satisfactory  documents.  This 
power,  founded  so  far  back  as  the  28th  Geo.  III. 
c.  8,  in  the  year  1787,  is  probably  the  oldest  enact¬ 
ment  restricting  British  Pharmacy  on  record.  A 
provincial  medical  board,  appointed  by  the  Governor, 
conducted  the  examination  of  candidates  and  granted 
licences  to  persons  selling,  vending,  or  distributing 
by  retail,  medicines  in  Lower  Canada. f  In  1847, 
the  physicians  and  surgeons  of  Lower  Canada  ob¬ 
tained  an  Act  of  Incorporation,  and  assumed  the 
functions  of  the  Provincial  Board ;  but  the  clauses  in 
their  Bill  regulating  the  druggists  and  apothecaries 
were  expunged,  on  the  understanding  and  assurance 
that  the  chemists  would  incorporate  themselves  as  a 
pharmaceutical  society  and  make  proper  regulations 
for  their  own  body.  This  they  neglected  to  do,  and, 
in  1864,  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons 
amended  their  Act,  and  obtained  a  clause  requiring 
that  no  person  should  carry  on  the  business  of  an 
apothecary |  or  chemist  and  druggist  without  a 
licence  from  the  Board,  to  be  granted  after  passing 
such  examination  as  the  Board  may  deem  satisfac¬ 
tory.  In  1865,  the  Board,  by  a  bye-law,  added  the 
condition,  “  That  the  candidate  for  Pharmacy  must 
also  furnish  proof  that  he  has  attended  at  some  uni¬ 
versity,  college,  or  incorporated  school  of  medicine  or 
of  pharmacy  within  her  Majesty’s  dominions,  lec¬ 
tures  on  the  following  branches,  viz.  Chemistry,  two 
courses,  six  months  each ;  Materia  Medica  and 
Pharmacy,  two  courses,  six  months  each ;  Botany, 
one  course,  three  months.”  At  present,  although 
tills  curriculum  has  not  been  very  strictly  insisted 
on  in  individual  cases,  it  is  a  legal  barrier  to  the  ex¬ 
amination  of  competent  persons  already  in  business 
or  of  young  men  arriving  from  abroad.  In  the  de¬ 
bates  on  the  College  of  Pharmacy  Bill  at  Quebec, 
the  representatives  of  the  Medical  Board  urged  with 

*  See  ‘  Pharmaceutical  Movements,’  vol.  ix.  p.  9 ;  Montreal 
C.  A.  vol.  ix.  p.  104 ;  ‘  Pharmacy  in  Canada,’  vol.  xi.  p.  354. 

+  ‘  Canada  Medical  Journal,’  vol.  vi.  no.  11. 

J  This  term  is  generally  adopted  in  America  to  denote  a 
pharmacist,  not  a  medical  practitioner. 

Third  Series,  No.  2. 


great  effect  that  many  of  the  promoters  of  the  Bill 
were  persons  who  had  neglected  the  existing  regula¬ 
tions,  and  that  the  public  had  no  proof  of  their  com¬ 
petence  ;  this  objection  was  really  of  the  most  tech¬ 
nical  character,  because  the  promoters  were  well 
known  as  leading  members  of  the  trade,  both  whole¬ 
sale  and  retail,  and  most  of  them  had  been  many 
years  in  business.  To  meet  it,  however,  several  pre¬ 
sented  themselves  to  the  College  Board  at  the  next 
meeting,  and  applied  for  licences,  but  were  informed 
that  they  must  comply  with  the  bye-law  requiring 
attendance  on  lectures  before  the  College  could  pro¬ 
ceed  to  their  examination.  The  present  powers  are, 
therefore,  unsatisfactory  to  all  parties,  and  probably 
both  the  chemists  and  the  College  will  apply  for 
further  legislation  during  the  next  session  of  Parlia¬ 
ment.  Every  such  discussion  tends  to  show  how 
unsatisfactory  is  the  attempt  of  the  medical  profes¬ 
sion  to  legislate  for  or  to  attempt  to  regulate  Phar¬ 
macy.  This,  the  most  thoughtful  of  the  profession 
have  from  time  to  time  acknowledged ;  and  the 
worthy  editor  of  the  ‘  Canada  Medical  Journal  ’*  sup¬ 
ports  this  view  in  the  following  graceful  terms  : — 

“  With  regard  to  the  apothecaries  and  druggists 
obtaining  an  Act  of  Incorporation,  we  most  fully  en¬ 
dorse  the  views  held  by  the  late  talented  editor  of 
the  *  British  American  Medical  Journal,’  viz.  ‘  We 
have  long  thought  that,  considering  their  number, 
their  respectability,  and  the  specific  objects  of  their 
pursuits,  they  should  be  specially  endowed  with 
powers  peculiar  to  themselves with  this  addition, 
that  twenty-three  years  have  more  than  quadrupled 
their  number,  and  that  the  druggists  and  apotheca¬ 
ries  of  this  part  of  the  Dominion  are,  as  a  class,  re¬ 
liable,  trustworthy,  and  thoroughly  conversant  with 
the  details  of  their  profession.”  ...  a  It  is  in  every 
way  desirable  that  they  should  be  incorporated,  nor 
can  we  see  what  just  grounds  can  be  urged  against 
their  having  the  management  of  their  own  affairs.” 

On  the  other  hand,  an  unthinking  majority  of  the 
profession  desire  simply  to  retain  power,  and  effec¬ 
tually  resist  reform  measures. 

In  this  respect,  the  French  element  is  especially 
felt  to  be  a  great  barrier  to  educational  progress, 
being  eminently  conservative. 

The  debate  in  Committee  at  Quebec  on  this  Bill 
was  the  most  exciting  and  impassioned  that  has  been 
seen  or  heard  there  for  years.  Some  of  the  doctors, 
members  of  the  Assembly,  simply  ignored  all  that 
had  been  done  in  Great  Britain  and  America  during 
the  past  twenty  years ;  refused  to  recognize  the 
examination  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society;  and 
rested  their  arguments  entirely  upon  their  own  ante¬ 
cedents  and  “vested  interests;”  and  the  question 
assumes  the  aspect  of  a  battle  of  races,  with  a  large 
French  majority,  or  a  pitched  battle  between  Mont¬ 
real  and  Quebec,  with  French  Canadians  as  um¬ 
pires. 

The  French  pharmaciens  have  generally  complied 
with  the  law,  but  the  English  sturdily  resisted  it. 
In  Quebec  nearly  all  the  druggists  are  licensed  by 
the  College,  whilst  in  Montreal  only  four  or  five 
have  complied  with  the  law.  The  College  has  no 
penal  clauses  to  enforce  its  laws,  so  that  its  powers 
may  be  set  at  defiance  with  impunity ;  but,  upon  the 
other  hand,  the  unlicensed  chemist  has  no  power  to 
recover  a  just  debt,  because  he  has  placed  himself 
ultra  legem. 


*  Dr.  G.  E.  Fenwick,  C.  M.  J.  vol.  vi.  no.  11,  p.  526. 


22 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


[July  9,  1870. 


On  the  subject  of  a  suitable  pharmaceutical  curri¬ 
culum  the  medical  mind  is  also  quite  at  variance 
with  pharmaceutical  experience. 

It  has  been  abundantly  proved  that  mere  attend¬ 
ance  on  lectures  will  not  educate  the  pharmaceutical 
student;  and  although  it  is  an  unquestionable  ad¬ 
vantage  to  the  student  to  have  his  knowledge  sys¬ 
tematized  by  such  means,  yet  habits  of  exact  and 
exhaustive  reading,  of  individual  judgment  and  in¬ 
terpretation,  of  successful  manipulation,  and  of  self- 
reliance,  are  formed,  not  in  the  lecture-room,  hut  in 
the  laboratory  and  the  library. 

And  there  can  be  little  question  in  the  minds  of 
those  who  have  received  its  advantages,  that  synthe¬ 
tical  and  analytical  manipulations  in  the  laboratory 
are  the  only  sound,  true,  and  essential  bases  of  an 
advanced  pharmaceutical  education.  Chemical  lec¬ 
tures,  with  merely  flashy  experiments  and  no  labora¬ 
tory  instruction,  and  materia  medica  lectures,  without 
museums,  form  but  a  poor  curriculum,  whatever  be 
the  number  of  “  courses”  prescribed. 

In  1858,  the  College  introduced  a  very  stringent 
measure,  which  was  successfully  resisted.  It  de¬ 
manded  as  a  curriculum — * 

A  sound  elementary  education. 

Certificates  of  good  moral  character. 

One  course  of  lectures  on  Medical  Jurisprudence  ; 

Two  courses  on  Materia  Medica  ; 

Two  courses  on  Chemistry  ; 

Each  of  six  months,  at  a  medical  college. 

It  also  contained  penal  clauses  for — 

“  Vending  a  spurious  or  adulterated  medicine.” 
Penalty,  £5  to  £10. 

“  Practising  pharmacy  for  gain  without  a  diploma.” 
Penalty,  £5  to  £20. 

“  Sale  of  poison  without  certificate  and  registra¬ 
tion.”  Penalty,  £2. 

“  Poisons  to  be  kept  in  a  private  and  safe  place, 
and  in  yellow  bottles,  legibly  labelled.”  Penalty,  £5. 

“  Visitation  of  governors  to  inspect  shops.”  Pe¬ 
nalty  for  resistance,  £5. 

In  1860, f  a  Bill  was  introduced  to  compel  drug¬ 
gists  to  kee}:)  open  from  6  a.m.  to  9  p.m.  from  April  to 
November,  and  certain  hours  on  Sundays ;  it  wras 
rather  an  “  early  opening”  than  an  “  early  closing” 
movement.  This  was  also  successfully  resisted. 

It  is  obvious  that,  unless  pharmacists  will  legis¬ 
late  for  themselves,  they  will  be  legislated  for ;  and 
if  they  will  not  educate  themselves,  they  will  be  edu¬ 
cated  more  or  less.  It  is  highly  desirable  that  the 
regulations  adopted  by  British,  Canadian,  and  Ame¬ 
rican  pharmaceutical  bodies  shall  be,  as  far  as  prac¬ 
ticable,  assimilated,  and  the  standards  of  education 
be  consistent,  if  not  uniform  ;  and  the  more  I  see  of 
the  means  of  education  available  in  various  coun¬ 
tries,  the  more  confidently  do  I  endorse  the  opinion  of 
our  lamented  Jacob  Bell,  that  our  pharmaceutical 
students  should  avoid  medical  schools,  and  that  it  is 
our  duty,  wherever  possible,  to  provide  and  encou¬ 
rage  schools  of  practical  chemistry  and  pharmacy, 
which  are  the  true  basis  of  pharmaceutical  educa¬ 
tion. 


ON  SMOKE,— THE  THEORY  OF  ITS  FORMATION. 

BY  SHEURER-KESTNER. 

It  is  well  known  that  pure  carbon,  when  burned 
even  with  an  insufficient  supply  of  air,  never  pro- 

Pliarm.  Journ.  Vol.  XVIII.  o.s.  p.  44. 
f  Pharm.  Journ.  Yol.  XI.  x.s.  p.  245. 


duces  smoke.  Thus  wTood- charcoal  and  coke  produce 
none,  while  hydrocarbons,  on  the  contrary,  emit 
smoke  when  burnt  with  insufficient  quantity  of  air, 
and  some  of  them  even  cannot  be  ignited  without 
yielding  a  smoky  flame. 

It  is  stated,  in  some  works  on  chemistry,  that  the 
production  of  smoke,  and  therefore  of  soot,  takes 
place  in  the  following  way : — A  hydrocarbon  being 
ignited,  and  taking  fire,  the  hydrogen,  being  the 
more  combustible  body,  is  first  oxidized,  and  there 
does  not  then  remain  enough  oxygen  for  the  combus¬ 
tion  of  the  carbon,  so  that  this  is  precipitated  in  the 
form  of  soot,  and  thus  forms  smoke.  It  is  hardly 
necessary  to  insist  on  the  unsatisfactory  nature  of 
this  explanation,  wliich  I  must  say,  however,  is 
never  advanced  excepting  as  an  hypothesis. 

In  fact,  when  a  hydrocarbon  is  ignited,  or,  in 
other  terms,  when  the  first  ignition  is  communicated 
to  the  molecules  which  should  cause  the  oxidation 
of  the  whole  substance,  wre  cannot  consider  the  hy¬ 
drocarbon  as  a  simple  mixture  of  hydrogen  and  car¬ 
bon  ;  and  still  more,  in  saying  that  hydrogen  is  more 
combustible  than  carbon,  wre  adopt  a  second  hypo¬ 
thesis,  for  the  hydrocarbon  contains  the  vapour  of 
carbon,  and  wre  know  nothing  of  the  more  or  less 
combustible  nature  of  the  vapour  of  carbon ;  it  is, 
therefore,  but  one  hypothesis  used  to  solve  another. 
We  find  2e  deposit,  a  separation  of  carbon,  and  wre 
simply  know  this  fact. 

The  investigations  of  M.  H.  Sainte- Claire  Deville 
on  dissociation,  and  those  of  Berthelot  on  the  action 
of  heat  on  hydrocarbons,  induced  me  to  endeavour, 
through  some  new  experiments,  to  throw  light  on 
this  hitherto  obscure  question. 

M.  H.  Sainte-Claire  Deville  has  shown  that  when 
a  compound  gas  is  brought  to  a  sufficiently  high 
temperature,  the  elements  of  which  it  is  composed 
separate;  that  if  the  mixture  resulting  from  this 
dissociation  be  quickly  cooled,  there  will  be  foimd  in 
the  product  a  simple  mixture  in  the  place  of  the 
original  compound ;  but  if,  on  the  contrary,  the 
cooling  has  taken  place  slowly,  the  elements  will  be 
found  to  have  recombined  so  as  to  form  the  original 
compound.  Such  wras  the  first  of  the  observations 
on  which  I  rested  my  investigation. 

On  the  other  hand,  M.  Bertlielot  has  shown  that,  on 
submitting  certain  compound  bodies,  and  especially 
the  hydrocarbons,  to  the  action  of  a  high  tempera¬ 
ture,  it  is  possible  to  produce  new  compounds  re¬ 
sulting  from  the  elements  of  the  first,  and  that  this 
decomposition  may  be  accompanied  by  a  deposition 
of  charcoal. 

These  twro  classes  of  facts  being  once  admitted, 
the  theoretical  question  of  the  formation  of  soot  is 
almost  solved.  In  fact,  wdiat  occurs  in  a  fireplace 
charged  with  coals  ?  Let  us  suppose  that  the  grate 
is  covered  with  incandescent  coal,  that  it  only  con¬ 
tains  ignited  coke :  it  emits  no  smoke.  Let  us  now 
put  fresh  coals  on  the  fire,  and  we  soon  find  black 
smoke  covering  the  mass  and  passing  into  the 
chimney.  After  a  time  the  smoke  diminishes,  and 
finally  ceases  until  the  fuel  has  been  renewed. 

Here  is  wdiat  passes  in  this  case.  When  the  coal, 
composed  of  hydrocarbons,  comes  in  contact  with 
the  incandescent  fuel,  the  hydrocarbons  soon  become 
heated  to  a  sufficient  extent  to  cause  their  distilla¬ 
tion.  The  vapour’s,  coming  in  contact  wdth  the  air, 
become  immediately  ignited,  and  consume  the  oxygen 
by  wdiich  they  are  surrounded.  If  fresh  quantities 
of  air  do  not  replace  the  oxygen  already  consumed, 


July  9, 1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


23 


the  gas  will  pass  up  the  chimney  in  the  state  in  which 
it  left  the  fire,  that  is,  imperfectly  burned  ;  and  thus 
we  have  hydrocarbons  in  the  gaseous  products  of  the 
combustion  of  coal.  This  is  the  first  hypothesis  I 
have  to  present. 

The  second  hypothesis  rests  on  the  observation  of 
M.  H.  Sainte-Claire  Deville.  At  the  moment  when  the 
hydrocarbons  are  disengaged,  being  brought  to  a 
very  high  temperature,  they  behave  like  a  mixture 
of  carbon  vapour  and  hydrogen.  If  a  sufficient 
quantity  of  air  were  supplied  to  this  gas,  its  combus¬ 
tion  would  be  complete  ;  otherwise  it  would  be  im¬ 
perfect,  and  we  should  have  the  result  of  a  cooling 
more  or  less  rapid.  If  the  cooling  should  take  place 
quickly,  as  would  happen  when  it  comes  in  contact 
with  surrounding  cold  objects  or  cold  air,  a  separa¬ 
tion  of  carbon  in  the  form  of  soot  would  occur,  and 
free  hydrogen  would  be  left,  which  thus  accounts  for 
the  presence  of  this  element,  as  well  as  hydrocarbons, 
in  the  gaseous  products  of  combustion,  some  of  the 
hydrocarbons  resulting  from  recombination  of  the  ele¬ 
ments,  as  explained  by  Deville. 

Again,  the  third  hypothesis  rests  on  the  observa¬ 
tion  of  M.  Berthelot.  The  hydrocarbons  distilled 
from  the  coals  are  submitted  to  the  heat  of  the  fire, 
and  decomposed.  They  form  new  compounds  with 
deposition  of  charcoal,  or,  in  other  words,  with  the 
production  of  smoke.  If  there  should  arrive  a  suffi¬ 
cient  quantity  of  air,  the  combustion  of  the  whole 
will  take  place,  but  if  there  is  a  deficiency  of  air,  the 
smoke  will  remain,  together  with  the  new  hydrocarbon. 

It  is  thus  that  smoke  is  produced.  We  have  seen 
that  there  is  always  a  deficiency  of  air  as  a  neces¬ 
sary  cause.  This  statement  may  appear  extraordi¬ 
nary,  as  it  has  been  found  that  the  gaseous  products 
of  the  combustion  of  coal  always  contain  an  excess 
of  air.  This,  however,  is  not  inconsistent  with  the 
previous  statement,  for  in  saying  that  there  is  a  de¬ 
ficiency  of  air,  what  is  meant  is  that  this  is  the  case 
in  each  volume  or  stratum  of  air  in  which  combus¬ 
tion  has  taken  place,  but  the  gases  which  pass  into 
the  chimney  may  be  regarded  as  a  collection  of  such 
volumes  mixed  with  others  rich  in  oxygen,  and  these 
would  be  too  much  cooled  to  admit  of  their  entering 
into  combination. 

It  results  from  these  theoretical  considerations, 
that  for  the  purpose  of  avoiding  or  diminishing 
smoke,  it  suffices  to  cause  the  intimate  admixture  of 
the  gases  the  moment  they  quit  the  fire.  In  fact, 
this  method  lias  been  practically  applied  with  suc¬ 
cess.  The  first  application  of  these  principles  was 
made  by  M.  Harteg.* 

The  furnace  of  M.  Harteg  consists  of  two  fire¬ 
places,  side  by  side,  running  parallel,  and  separated 
by  a  wall.  The  fires  in  these  two  fireplaces  are  fed 
alternately,  and  the  currents  of  gas  being  directed 
one  against  the  other  at  the  back  of  the  furnace,  the 
strata  are  thus  broken  up  and  mixed  so  as  greatly  to 
diminish  the  amount  of  smoke. 

M.  Brixf  diminishes  greatly  the  amount  of  smoke 
or  prevents  it  altogether,  by  introducing  a  little  air 
in  a  minutely  divided  state  behind  the  bridge  of  the 
furnace.  This  air  supplies  the  required  oxygen  at 
the  moment  when  the  combustible  gases  are  still 
sufficiently  heated  for  them  to  become  ignited,  and 
the  admixture  is  readily  effected,  but  with  some  loss 
<of  combustible  matter. 


'*  Harteg,  ‘  Sur  la  Combustion  des  Houilles  de  Saxe.’ 
•f  Brix,  ‘  Sur  la  Combustion  de  la  Houille  de  Prusse. 


Lastly,  M.  Thierry’s  process  consists  in  introdu¬ 
cing  a  jet  of  steam  over  the  surface  of  the  fire.  The 
steam  does  not  exert  any  chemical  action,  but  ope¬ 
rates  mechanically  by  mixing  the  gases,  and  thus 
diminishes  the  amount  of  smoke. 

The  following  experiment  I  have  repeated  fre¬ 
quently,  and  always  with  the  same  results: — If  a 
metallic  tube  be  introduced  into  the  current  of  gases 
in  the  furnace  by  passing  it  through  a  hole  in  the 
brickwork,  the  following  observations  may  be  made, 
— when  the  tube  is  kept  cold  by  an  external  current 
of  cold  water,  a  large  quantity  of  soot  will  be  depo¬ 
sited  upon  it,  which  will  increase  until  the  action  of 
the  cold  water  ceases.  If  the  current  of  water  be 
stopped,  and  the  tube  allowed  to  become  hot,  the  soot 
will  gradually  disappear,  and  will  not  be  again  de¬ 
posited  under  these  circumstances  but  its  formation 
may  be  at  once  determined  by  renewing  the  cooling 
process.  After  the  explanation  I  have  given  of  the 
production  of  smoke,  the  foregoing  result  is  easily 
explained.  The  dissociated  gases  coming  into  con¬ 
tact  with  a  cold  surface,  deposit  the  carbon,  but  at  a 
sufficiently  elevated  temperature  this  combines  with 
oxygen  and  passes  off  as  carbonic  acid. — Reper¬ 
toire  cle  Pliarmcicie. 


ON  DE  LOSSEN’S  OXY-AMMONIA. 

BY  M.  E.  FB.EMY. 

In  a  previous  communication  on  nitrous  acid  I  an¬ 
nounced  the  production  of  a  body  possessing  reducing 
power  in  a  high  degree,  and  which  is  formed  when 
nitrous  acid  or  nitrites  are  submitted  to  the  action  of 
hydrogen,  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  sulphurous  acid,  the 
alkali  metals,  zinc,  tin,  etc. 

I  was  unable  immediately  to  determine  the  nature  of 
this  body,  and  ascertain  whether  its  composition  was 
NH30*  as  thought  to  be  the  case  by  Maumene,  whose 
publication  on  the  subject  has  been  of  great  use  to  me, 
because  by  the  method  I  then  adopted  I  obtained  it  in 
quantities  insufficient  for  the  purpose. 

I  have  recently  discovered  a  method  of  easily  pro¬ 
ducing  this  derivative  of  nitrous  acid,  and  have  accu¬ 
rately  determined  its  characters  and  nature.  I  have 
found  that  it  possesses  very  marked  basic  properties. 

I  prepare  it  in  the  following  manner : — 1  treat  tin 
with  concentrated  hydrochloric  acid,  inducing  chemical 
action  by  a  slight  elevation  of  temperature ;  when  hy¬ 
drogen  is  abundantly  produced,  I  add  to  the  liquor  either 
nitrous  acid  or  a  nitrite,  or,  more  simply,  nitric  acid ;  I 
precipitate  the  protoxide  of  tin  with  ammonia ;  evapo¬ 
rate  the  liquor  to  dryness  by  means  of  a  water-bath,  or 
in  vacuo  ;  and  lastly,  treat  the  dry  residue  several  times 
with  absolute  alcohol,  which  dissolves  the  hydrochlorate 
of  the  base. 

The  circumstances  under  which  this  basic  substance 
has  been  produced,  and  the  way  in  which  it  is  prepared 
led  me  to  think  that  it  is  nothing  else  than  oxy-ammonia, 
the  important  discovery  of  which  is  due  to  M.  Lossen. 
The  formula  for  oxy-ammonia,  NH30,  which  might 
otherwise  be  written,  N2H40.H20,  shows,  among  other 
things,  that  oxy-ammonia  might  be  considered  to  be  a 
hydrate  of  nitrous  acid  (nitrous  anhydride)  in  which  two 
atoms  of  oxygen  are  replaced  by  an  equivalent  quantity 
of  hydrogen.  Its  production  by  the  reducing  action  of 
hydrogen  on  nitrous  acid  or  a  nitrite,  is  thus  perfectly 
intelligible. 

But  for  the  further  elucidation  of  the  subject,  thus 
assuming  so  simple  an  aspect,  two  points  remained  to  bo 
determined. 

*  The  notation  in  this  paper  has  been  changed  from  that 
used  by  the  author  to  the  new  notation  now  used  in  this 
country. 


24 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


[July  9,  1870. 


The  basic  substance  which  I  produced  with  nitrous 
acid  and  the  nitrites  is  characterized  by  a  very  decided 
reducing  power ;  the  neutral  and  acid  salts  of  this  base 
produce  the  same  effect, — thus,  they  immediately  decom¬ 
pose  permanganate  of  potash  and  iodic  acid.  The  re¬ 
ducing  power  which  the  salts  possess,  is,  however,  greatly 
augmented  when  the  base  is  set  free  by  means  of  an 
alkali,  and  a  liquor  is  thus  obtained  which  reduces  salts 
of  copper,  mercury,  silver,  and  gold. 

On  the  other  hand,  there  is  no  mention  made  by  M. 
Lossen,  or  in  the  publications  of  other  chemists  who 
have  studied  oxy-ammonia,  of  the  reducing  action  of  that 
substance. 

Is  therefore  the  base  which  I  have  obtained  different 
from  that  of  M.  Lossen  ? 

Assisted  by  a  young  chemist,  M.  Maudet,  I  have  re¬ 
peated  M.  Lossen’ s  experiments,  and  prepared  oxy-am¬ 
monia  by  the  method  he  has  described,  causing  a  mix¬ 
ture  of  hydrochloric  acid  and  tin  to  act  on  the  nitric 
ether  of  wood  spirit ;  and  I  have  thus  obtained  a  base 
with  all  the  characters  of  that  I  produced  with  nitrous 
acid,  and  which,  like  it,  possesses  great  reducing  power. 
— Repertoire  cle  Rharmacie. 


ON  THE  PREPARATION  OF  SUBACETATE  OF 
LEAD  BY  THE  COLD  PROCESS. 

BY  M.  NERNING. 

"When  this  preparation  is  made  with  heat,  the  acetate 
of  lead  is  liable  to  dissolve  excess  of  oxide  of  lead,  and 
insoluble  basic  acetate  is  thus  produced,  forming  a  white 
floceulent  precipitate,  which  renders  the  liquid  turbid. 
To  obviate  this  inconvenience,  M.  Nerning  proposes  to 
operate  as  follows  : — Put  the  wrater,  litharge,  and  acetate 
of  lead  into  a  bottle,  and  let  them  stand,  with  frequent 
agitation,  for  twenty-four  hours,  then  filter.  The  solu¬ 
tion  thus  obtained  answers  all  the  purposes  for  which 
it  is  required  in  pharmacy,  and,  if  kept  in  a  wrell-stop- 
pered  bottle,  it  will  remain  clear  even  when  kept  for  a 
long  time. — Journal  de  Rharmacie  et  de  Chimie .* 


MODE  OF  PREPARING  THE  CUTCH  OF  COMMERCE 
FROM  THE  ACACIA  CATECHU. 

BY  CLAUDE  DUMAINE. 

Of  this  tree  there  are  two  varieties, — a  white  and  a  red 
kind ;  but  the  cutch  or  catechu  is  almost  always  prepared 
from  the  red  kind,  the  white  being  seldom  cut  down. 
Cutch,  or  catechu,  is  prepared  thus : — The  tree  is  cut  down 
to  about  6  to  12  inches  from  the  ground,  and  chopped  into 
small  pieces,  the  smaller  branches  and  bark  being  re¬ 
jected.  The  chopped  wood  is  then  taken  to  the  place  of 
manufacture,  generally  under  trees  in  the  open  air,  and 
placed  over  a  brisk  fire  in  mud  jars,  called  g hurrahs , 
filled  with  about  two-thirds  of  water.  This  is  allowed 
to  boil  down  till,  with  the  extracted  matter,  it  forms  a 
liquid  of  syrupy  consistence.  The  contents  of  several 
jars  are  then  poured  into  a  larger  jar  and  again  placed 
over  a  brisk  fire  for  a  period  of  from  two  to  four  hours, 
and,  when  sufficiently  boiled  down,  it  is  poured  out  over 
mats  covered  with  ashes  of  cow  dung  and  allowed  to  dry. 
The  wood,  when  dry,  is  used  for  fuel. — Journ.  of  Agr. 
and  Sortie.  Soc.  of  India,  part  iv.  p.  399.  1869. 


*  The  editor,  in  a  note,  states  with  reference  t©  this  pro¬ 
cess,  that  it  has  long  been  adopted  in  the  military  hospitals, 
the  following  being  the  proportions  of  ingredients  used: — 
Crystallized  acetate  of  lead  three  hundred  parts ;  litharge,  in 
fine  powder,  a  hundred  parts ;  distilled  water,  six  hundred  and 
fifty  parts.  Put  them  into  a  bottle,  shake  them  from  time  to 
time,  and  at  the  expiration  of  six  or  eight  hours,  filter. 


THE  PRESENT  PROSPECTS  OF  THE  SEWAGE 
QUESTION  IN  RELATION  TO  THE  PUBLIC 
HEALTH. 

BY  HENRY  LETHEBY,  ESQ.,  M.B. 

(. Read  before  the  Metropolitan  Association  of  Medical  Officers 
of  Health,  May  21,  1870.) 

Hasty  and  inconsiderate  legislation,  promoted  by  those 
who,  as  the  sequel  will  show,  had  no  real  knowledge  of 
either  the  principles  or  practice  of  the  subject  with 
which  they  officiously  meddled,  together  with  the  most 
mischievous  charlatanism,  has  brought  the  whole  ques¬ 
tion  of  the  disposal  of  sewage  into  such  a  frightful  mess, 
that  the  public  are  not  only  loud  in  their  complaints  of 
the  injury  inflicted  on  them,  but  are  equally  emphatic 
in  their  demands  for  a  remedy. 

A  review  of  the  parliamentary  history  of  this  subject 
would  be  instructive,  and  it  would  also  be  amusing,  but 
for  its  serious  results  and  its  solemn  prolixity ;  for  it 
would  show  how  Blue-book  upon  Blue-book,  and  report 
upon  report,  from  the  same  officious  hands,  and  in  the 
same  wearisome  tone  and  bewilderment  of  facts  and 
figures,  had  so  perplexed  the  Legislature,  that  they  were 
glad  to  dispose  of  the  subject  by  hasty  legislation,  or  by 
handing  it  over  to  some  Royal  Commission,  not  always 
discreetly  chosen. 

But  bad  as  are  the  consequences  of  this,  the  prospects 
of  the  future  are  worse,  for  there  is  a  well-grounded  fear 
that  the  same  incompetent  school  of  sanitarians  who 
have  been  concerned  with  our  present  difficulties,  will 
also  be  concerned  with  the  future,  and  that  Parliament 
will  again  have  to  correct  the  errors  of  inconsiderate 
legislation.  If  this  can  be  prevented  it  will  be  of  vast 
importance  to  the  public,  and  none  are  better  able  to 
assist  in  the  matter  than  the  health  officers  of  this  me¬ 
tropolis.  It  is  with  this  object  I  draw  your  attention  to 
it,  and  ask  you  to  give  it  your  serious  consideration. 

In  the  first  place,  let  us  inquire  what  is  the  nature  of 
the  thing  we  have  to  deal  with.  Sewage  is  at  all  times 
a  very  complex  material,  for  it  is  composed  not  only  of 
the  solid  and  liquid  excreta  of  the  population,  but  also 
of  the  fluid  refuse  of  every  branch  of  industry,  as  the- 
filth  of  kitchens,  laundries,  and  dye-houses ;  the  drain¬ 
ings  from  stables,  slaughter-houses,  and  the  public 
markets ;  the  various  liquid  impurities  of  trades  and 
manufactures ;  and  the  washings  of  streets  and  alleys. 
These,  with  the  ejecta  of  the  inhabitants,  and  a  large- 
volume  of  water,  compose  the  sewage  of  towns.  But 
each  of  these  constituents  has  its  specific  influence  on 
the  composition  of  the  general  mass,  and  on  the  putre¬ 
faction  to  which  it  is  subject.  Every  town  or  cityr 
therefore, — in  fact,  every  part  of  a  city, — has  its  own 
peculiar  quality  of  sewage,  varying  with  the  density  of 
the  population,  the  habits  of  the  people,  as  to  their  diet, 
cleanliness,  and  trade  pursuits ;  with  the  season  of  the 
year,  the  state  of  the  weather,  the  day  of  the  week,  and 
even  the  hour  of  the  day.  This  makes  it  difficult  to 
obtain  precise  information  of  the  nature  and  composition 
of  sewage.  Nevertheless,  there  are  twn  ways  by  which 
the  subject  may  be  approached, — as  by  ascertaining  the 
average  amounts  of  solid  and  liquid  matters  contributed 
by  each  individual,  and  by  the  various  branches  of  in¬ 
dustry  ;  and  secondly,  by  making  careful  analysis  of  the 
sewage  collected  throughout  the  day  at  various  seasons 
of  the  year. 

Messrs.  Lawes  and  "Way  in  this  country,  and  MM. 
Wolf  and  Lehmann  on  the  Continent,  have  determined, 
with  very  nearly  the  same  results,  the  average  propor¬ 
tion  of  solid  and  liquid  matters  discharged  daily  from 
the  human  body.  It  varies,  of  course,  with  age  and  sex,, 
but  broadly  it  may  be  said  that,  taking  a  thousand  indi¬ 
viduals  at  all  ages,  as  they  are  found  in  a  population, 
they  contribute  about  2640  lbs.  of  liquid  and  moist  ex¬ 
creta.  In  the  dry  state  it  would  amount  to  about  141 
lbs.  This  is  at  the  daily  rate  of  42-25  oz.  of  moist, 


July  9, 1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


25 


or  2-25  oz.  of  dry  matter  per  head  of  the  population. 
The  washings  of  streets  have  been  carefully  examined 
by  Professor  Way,  who  finds  that  the  liquid  discharged 
into  the  gullies,  after  a  heavy  shower  of  rain,  contains, 
in  the  case  of  granite  roads,  about  813  3  grs.  of  solid 
matter  per  gallon,  and  of  this  276-2  grs.  are  dissolved, 
and  537-1  grs.  suspended.  In  that  of  wood  pavements 
it  contains  only  about  39  grs.  per  gallon,  of  which  34 
grs.  are  dissolved  and  5  grs.  suspended.  The  general 
average  of  the  washings  of  several  streets  differently 
paved,  and  with  various  amounts  of  traffic,  gave  262-6 
grs.  of  solid  matter  per  gallon,  of  which  113-3  grs.  were 
dissolved,  and  149-3  grs.  suspended.  The  refuse  of  fac¬ 
tories,  etc.,  cannot  be  easily  determined,  and  therefore 
we  are  obliged  to  rely  for  our  results  on  the  second 
method  of  investigation — namely,  the  analysis  of  the 
sewage  at  different  times  and  places. 

In  this  metropolis  the  sewage  discharged  by  day  con¬ 
tains  about  94  grs.  of  solid  matter  per  gallon,  of  which 
38  grs.  are  suspended,  and  56  grs.  dissolved :  of  the  sus¬ 
pended  matters,  17  grs.  are  organic,  and  21  grs.  mineral ; 
and  of  the  dissolved,  15  grs.  are  organic,  and  41  grs. 
mineral.  The  night  sewage  is  not  so  rich  in  solid 
elements,  for  it  contains  only,  about  79  grs.  of  solid  mat¬ 
ter  per  gallon,  of  which  14  grs.  are  suspended  and  64 
grs.  dissolved  ;  and  of  these,  15  grs.  are  organic,  and  64 
mineral — the  organic  being  distributed  very  evenly  be¬ 
tween  the  soluble  and  insoluble  constituents. 

Branch  sewers,  and  those  which  are  nearly  stagnant, 
are  generally  very  foul,  for  the  sewage  of  them  contains 
from  150  grs.  to  500  grs.  of  solid  matter  per  gallon,  of 
which  from  90  grs.  to  250  grs.  are  suspended.  The 
organic  matter  ranges  from  20  grs.  to  120  grs.  in  the 
soluble  part,  and  from  20  grs.  to  176  grs.  in  the  in¬ 
soluble. 

Taking-  the  average  of  all  the  results  obtained  in  the 
examination  of  the  metropolitan  sewage  by  Dr.  Hofmann, 
Mr.  Witt,  Professor  Way,  and  myself,  it  may  be  said 
that  it  contains  about  90-4  grs.  of  solid  matter  per  gallon, 
of  which  about  29-8  grs.  are  suspended,  and  60-fi  grs. 
dissolved,  there  being  about  15  grs.  of  organic  matter  in 
■each  of  these  constituents. 

A  storm  of  rain  does  not  diminish  the  proportion  of 
solid  matter,  for  although  it  has  a  tendency  to  dilute 
the  sewage,  yet  it  washes  away  so  large  a  quantity  of 
filth  from  the  streets,  and  disturbs  so  much  of  the  sedi¬ 
ment  in  the  stagnant  sewers,  that  the  sewage  after  a 
storm  generally  contains  more  than  the  average  propor¬ 
tion  of  solid  impurity.  Taking  90  grs.  per  gallon  as  the 
usual  amount,  it  will  be  increased  after  a  storm  to  125 
grs.  per  gallon,  of  which  64  grs.  are  suspended,  and  61 
grs.  dissolved. 

'  The  physical  properties  of  sewage  are  peculiar,  for 
when  examined  under  the  microscope  the  clear  liquor  is 
found  to  contain  a  large  quantity  of  •amorphous  organic 
matter,  with  filaments  of  various  fungi,  and  it  swarms 
with  the  lower  forms  of  animal  life,  as  beaded  spirulina, 
vibriones ,  and  monads  ;  but  soon  after  exposure  to  the  air 
higher  forms  of  infusoria  appear,  as  paramecium,  vorticella , 
rotifera ,  etc.  The  sedimentary  matter  consists  of  the 
remains  of  undigested  food,  as  muscular  fibre,  husk  and 
hail-  of  wheat,  the  cells  and  starch  of  potato,  and  the 
tissues  of  vegetables,  as  cotton,  cabbage,  etc.,  and  fibres 
of  wool.  It  also  contains  the  products  of  some  of  the 
secretions,  as  yellow  biliary  matter,  intestinal  mucus, 
and  crystals  of  uric  acid  and  triple  phosphate;  besides 
the  debris  of  the  streets,  as  particles  of  granite,  flint,  and 
•carbonate  of  lime,  with  a  large  quantity  of  black  amor¬ 
phous  matter. 

[To  be  continued.) 


THE  “ABC”  PROCESS  F$>R  THE  TREATMENT 

OF  SEWAGE. 

This  process  of  purification,  which  has  boen  adopted 
at  Leicester  and  also  on  the  south  coast,  at  Hastings, 


and  which  is  sometimes  called  “Sillar’s  process,”  was 
patented  by  Messrs.  W.  C.  and  R.  G-.  Sillar,  and  W.  G-. 
Wigner.  The  process  is  described  in  the  specification 
of  the  patent  as  follows : — 

“We  add  to  the  sewage  to  be  purified  a  mixture  con¬ 
sisting  of  the  following  ingredients : — Alum,  blood,  clay, 
magnesia  or  one  of  its  compounds,  by  preference  the 
carbonate  or  the  sulphate,  manganate  of  potash,  or  other 
compoimd  of  manganese,  burnt  clay,  otherwise  known 
as  ballast,  chloride  of  sodium,  animal  charcoal,  vegetable 
charcoal,  and  magnesian  limestone.  Of  these  substances, 
the.  manganese  compound,  the  burnt  clay,  chloride  of 
sodium,  and  magnesian  limestone  may  be  omitted,  and  it 
is  not  essential  that  both  animal  and  vegetable  charcoal 
should  be  used.  If  any  of  the  ingredients  named  should 
from  any  cause  be  present  in  sufficient  quantity  in  the 
sewage,  it  may,  of  course,  be  omitted  from  the  mixture. 
The  proportions  in  which  the  ingredients  are  to  be  used 
vary  according  to  the  nature  of  the  sewage  to  be  purified, 
as,  for  instance,  if  a  large  proportion  of  urine  is  present, 
we  increase  the  proportion  of  clay ;  if  the  sewage  is  much 
diluted,  we  slightly  increase  the  proportion  of  alum  and 
blood ;  if  it  contains  a  large  proportion  of  street  refuse, 
we  decrease  the  proportion  of  clay. 

“For  ordinary  sewage  the  following  proportions  have 
answered  well : — 


Alum . 

Blood . 

3  3 

Clay . 

Magnesia . 

5 

33 

Manganate  of  potash  . 

.  10 

33 

Burnt  clay  .... 

.  25 

33* 

Chloride  of  sodium 

10 

33 

Animal  charcoal  .  . 

.  15 

33 

Vegetable  charcoal  .  . 

.  20 

33 

Magnesian  limestone  . 

2 

» 

“These  substances  are  mixed  together  and  added  to 
the  sewage  to  be  purified  until  a  further  addition  pro¬ 
duces  no  further  precipitate.  The  quantity  required  will 
be  about  four  pounds  of  the  mixture  to  one  thousand 
gallons  of  sewage.  In  many  cases  it  is  preferable  to 
mix  the  above  compound  with  a  small  quantity  of  water, 
and  add  it  in  a  liquid  state  to  the  sewage.  The  sewage 
must  then  be  thoroughly  mixed  with  the  compound, 
and  allowed  to  flow  into  settling  tanks.  The  greater 
part  of  the  organic  and  other  impurities  will  be  imme¬ 
diately  separated  in  the  form  of  large  flakes,  which 
rapidly  fall  to  the  bottom,  leaving  the  supernatant  water 
clear  and  inodorous,  or  nearly  so.  The  water  may  then 
be  allowed  to  flow  away  into  a  river,  or  be  disposed  of 
in  any  other  way,  and  the  sediment  or  mud  allowed  to 
accumulate  at  the  bottom  of  the  tank.  In  some  cases  it 
is  preferable  to  add  the  compound  of  manganese  to  the 
water  after  the  sediment  produced  by  the  other  in¬ 
gredients  has  been  allowed  to  subside.  The  sediment 
will  be  found  to  possess  the  power  of  precipitating  a 
further  quantity  of  sewage ;  it  must  therefore  be  pumped 
or  otherwise  taken  from  the  tank,  and  mixed  with  fresh 
sewage,  the  sediment  being  allowed  to  subside  in  the 
same  way  as  before.  The  sediment  may  be  used  five  or 
six  times  over  in  this  way.  When  the  sediment  no 
longer  possesses  the  power  of  precipitating  the  impurities 
in  the  sewage,  it  must  be  removed  from  the  tank  and 
allowed  to  dry ;  when  partially  dry  a  small  quantity  of 
acid,  by  preference  sulphuric  acid,  may  be  mixed  with 
it,  which  will  retain  all  the  ammonia  in  a  soluble  form. 
When  dried,  the  sediment  will  be  a  valuable  manure.” 


THE  ECLECTIC  INHALER. 

This  apparatus,  which  is  made  by  Maw  and  Son  for 
Messrs.  Bullock  and  Reynolds,  is  described  in  the  follow¬ 
ing  terms  by  Dr.  Morell  Mackenzie,  by  whom  it  appears 
to  have  been  designed. 


26 


THE  PIT AEM A CE UTI CAL  JOUENAL. 


[July  9,  1870. 


A  good  inhaler  should  possess  these  properties : — 

1st.  It  should  he  capable  of  containing  a  sufficient 
quantity  of  water,  and  also  space  for  holding  a  sufficient 
quantity  of  steam. 

2ndly.  It  should  provide  for  the  perfect  medication  of 
the  vapour  inhaled,  by  necessitating  the  passage  of  air 
through  the  liquid ;  or,  in  other  words,  it  should  allow 
the  patient  to  inhale,  not  merely  the  medicated  steam 
ascending  from  the  hot  liquid,  hut  air  which  has  passed 
through  the  liquid  and  become  saturated  with  the  vola¬ 
tile  matter.  This  has  been  called  the  hookah  or  hubble- 
bubble  principle,  and  has  been  imperfectly  provided  for 
in  many  inhalers. 

3rdly.  It  should  require  very  little  effort  on  the  part 
of  the  patient. 

4thly.  It  should  be  capable  of  being  kept  at  a  uniform, 
or  nearly  uniform  temperature. 

5thly.  It  should  be  capable  of  being  easily  cleaned. 

_  6thly.  It  should  be  capable  of  being  used  in  either  a 
sitting  or  recumbent  position. 


That  the  Eclectic  Inhaler  fulfils  all  these  conditions 
will  be  now  shown : — 

a.  It  holds  a  pint  of  hot  water,  and  has  a  larger  air 
chamber  above. 

b.  The  perfect  medication  of  the  vapour  is  ensured 
by  allowing  air  to  pass  through  the  medicated  liquid  on 
inspiration. 

c.  Absence  of  effort  is  secured  by  providing  for  the 
ample  supply  of  air  through  the  very  numerous  ingress 
holes  (x  and  z),  and  for  an  easy  passage  of  air  through 
a  large  inhaling-tube  and  mouth-piece;  and  by  being 
constructed  in  such  a  manner  that  the  lower  ingress- 
holes  are  only  covered  by  about  half  an  inch  of  the  medi¬ 
cated  liquids. 

d.  The  temperature  is  maintained  by  a  Clark's  night- 
light,  and  regulated  by  a  thermometer. 

e.  Cleanliness  is  provided  for  by  the  construction  of 
the  apparatus. 

/.  The  use  of  the  inhaler  in  any  position  is  secured  by 
the  elastic  inhaling  tube,  as  in  Curtis’s. 


C 


■-■'v 


INHALER. 

MUKUFACTUHEO  BV 


clark’5 

PATENT; 
pYR  AMI' 


CA/WC/VCLt-S 


DESCRIPTION. 

The  Inhaler  consists  of  three  parts — a,  b,  and  e. 
a  is  an  open  vase,  and  is  essentially  the  containing 
vessel,  into  which  the  hot  water  and  medicated  solution 
are  put.  It  is  shown  in  Fig.  1,  with  a  pint  of  water  in 
it,  and  above  the  water-line  is  a  large  space  for  the  steam. 

b  is  a  kind  of  lid,  resembling  an  inverted  tumbler.  It 
is  shown  in  Fig.  1,  forming  the  lid  of  the  containing  vase, 
and  in  Fig.  2,  with  the  sides  of  the  vase  drawn  diagram- 
matically.  The  bottom  of  the  tumbler  forms  the  cover¬ 
ing  of  the  vase,  and  the  sides  of  the  tumbler  dip  down 
into  it,  leaving  an  air  chamber  between  the  two  parts. 
When  the  vase  has  its  proper  quantity  of  water,  the 
sides  of  the  inverted  tumbler  or  lid  dip  down  only  about 
half  an  inch  below  the  water  line.  The  circumference 


of  the  lid  is  perforated  with  small  holes,  as  seen  at  arT 
and  the  circumference  of  what  would  be  the  rim  of  the 
tumbler  is  perforated  in  the  same  way  at  z.  The  aper¬ 
tures,  both  above  and  below,  communicate  with  the  air- 
chamber.  When  the  patient  inhales,  air  rushes  through 
the  various  holes  above  at  x ,  then  through  the  air-cham¬ 
ber,  again  through  the  series  of  holes  at  z,  and  finally  up 
to  the  mouth-piece,  as  shown  by  the  course  of  the  arrows. 
In  the  centre  of  the  upper  surface  of  the  lid  is  a  project¬ 
ing  nozzle,  to  which  is  attached  a  flexible  tube,  provided 
at  its  extremity  with  a  double-valve  earthenware  mouth¬ 
piece.  There  is  an  opening  in  the  lid,  through  which  a 
thermometer  registering  high  temperatures  passes  into 
the  water. 

c  is  a  stand  on  which  the  vase  rests,  and  is  made  hol¬ 
low,  so  as  to  hold  a  night-light. 


July  9,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


27 


a  !k  Pljiinttitcaitical  founml. 


SATURDAY,  JULY  9,  1870. 


THE  BETTS  SUIT3. 

A  condensed  report  of  the  proceedings  before  Vice- 
Chancellor  James  appears  in  page  32.  Mr.  Betts 
had  tiled  twenty-five  separate  Bills  in  Chancery 
against  retailers  of  capsuled  articles ;  he  sought  in¬ 
junctions,  damages,  and  costs,  and  he  has  completely 
and  signally  failed. 

Upon  the  testimony  of  Mr.  Betts  and  his  witnesses, 
and  the  arguments  of  counsel  advanced  in  his  interest, 
the  Vice-Chancellor  would  have  refused  all  that  was 
asked,  but  when  the  defendant’s  case  was  entered 
upon,  only  so  far  as  the  reading  of  Mr.  Betts’s  evi¬ 
dence  under  cross-examination,  the  Vice-Chancellor 
concluded  to  dismiss  the  Bills  with  costs,  and  re¬ 
marked,  “  I  must  say  this  case  seems  to  me  about 
the  most  impudent  case  that  ever  came  into  Court.” 

Some  passages  in  the  cross-examination  confirm 
the  impressions  which  led  to  the  formation  of  a  Com¬ 
mittee  and  to  a  subscription  for  defence ;  Mr.  Betts 
says, 

“I  have  no  recollection  of  having  had  any  con¬ 
versation  with  Mr.  Sandford  in  particular.  I  met  a 
person  of  that  name,  amongst  others,  at  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society,  when  I  do  not  believe  the  words 
twenty  thousand  pounds  ever  came  out  of  my  mouth.” 

“  I  told  him,  and  I  told  them  all  together,  as  the 
Pharmaceutical  synod,  that  with  their  vast  numbers, 
their  names  being  legion,  a  pound  a-piece  would  put 
me  straight  in  the  matter ;  and  if  the  numbers  were 
few,  five  pounds  a-piece  would  make  an  atonement 
for  all  that  had  passed.” 

“  I  think  I  said  over  thirty  thousand  pounds,  but 
I  did  not  in  words  say  that  I  was  resolved  on  being 
reimbursed ;  I  said  there  must  be  something  solid — 
something  to  eat.” 

The  sentences  quoted  suggest  whether,  if  all  the 
twenty-five  defendants  had  surrendered,  the  experi¬ 
ment  of  filing  bills  would  not  have  been  extended, 
and  whether  if  ,£36, 000,  £30,000,  or  even  £20,000 
had  as  “  something  solid — something  to  eat,”  been 
provided  by  the  Pharmaceutical  Chemists  of  1865, 
the  cravings  of  Mr.  Betts  might  not  have  expanded, 
and  his  operation  extended  far  beyond  the  limits  of 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society. 

But  who  amongst  the  defendants,  or  the  public, 
could  have  imagined  that  but  one  capsule,  and  that 
on  a  labelled  bottle,  would  have  been  produced 
against  each  defendant,  or  that  when  Mr.  Betts 
made  affidavit  that  the  capsules  were  not  made  by 
him,  but  were  of  foreign  manufacture,  there  would 
be  wrung  from  him,  under  cross-examination,  evi¬ 
dence  shoving  that  they  were  made  by  his  own  Paris 
house ;  so  that  under  his  original  oath  there  lurked 


the  subtlety  about  Betts  a  Frenchman,  and  the  same 
Betts  as  an  English  patentee,  which  led  the  Vice- 
Chancellor  to  say  that  he  was  shocked  at  such  a 
mode  of  making  an  affidavit,  and  hoped  never  to  see 
it  again ! 

The  extreme  views  contended  for  by  Mr.  Betts 
would,  if  successful,  have  added  materially  to  the 
difficulties  attending  retail  business ;  the  Vice-Chan¬ 
cellor’s  remarks  deal  lucidly  with  the  question,  and 
will  repay  careful  study ;  we  see  in  them  rules  of 
conduct  for  the  future,  and  thus  good  resulting  from 
the  litigation.  Certainly  the  Defence  Committee 
have  been  eminently  successful,  and  deserve  the  best 
thanks  of  all  interested  in  trade. 


THE  SCIENCE  DEGREES  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  LONDON. 

The  degrees  of  the  University  of  London  not  only 
have  acquired  a  high  reputation  on  account  of 
the  stringency  of  the  examinations  tlirough  which 
they  are  obtained,  so  that  they  are  looked  upon  as 
among  the  best  tests  of  proficiency  in  the  several 
departments  of  learning  to  which  they  relate,  but 
they  present  to  scientific  men  the  peculiar  advan¬ 
tage  of  including  degrees  relating  mainly  to  scientific 
knowledge.  The  science  degrees  have  become  ob¬ 
jects  of  ambition  with  scientific  men,  including  che¬ 
mists,  geologists,  and  others,  and  we  are  very  glad 
to  observe  that  some  of  our  members.,  associates, 
and  students  are  becoming  graduates  in  the  Univer¬ 
sity,  and  taking  degrees  in  science.  At  the  last 
examination,  the  result  of  which  has  just  been  pub¬ 
lished,  we  find  that  one  of  our  associates,  Mr.  John 
Watts,  obtained  the  highest  degree  in  science,  Doc¬ 
tor  of  Science,  D.Sc.,  in  the  fourth  branch,  in  winch 
the  subjects  of  examination  were  inorganic  and 
organic  chemistry,  or  mineralogy.  Mr.  Watts  was 
a  student  in  the  Laboratory  of  tins  Institution  about 
seven  years  ago ;  he  was  elected  Junior  Bell  Scholar 
in  1863,  and  Senior  Scholar  in  1864.  He  has  also 
passed  the  Major  Examination  of  the  Society. 


THE  POLLUTION  OF  RIVERS  COMMISSIONS. 

We  alluded  in  our  last  number  to  the  operations 
of  a  Committee  appointed  by  the  British  Associa¬ 
tion,  “  to  report  on  the  treatment  and  utilization  of 
sewage.”  The  subject  which  tins  committee  has  un¬ 
dertaken  to  investigate  has,  in  connection  with  other 
questions,  occupied  the  attention  of  two  commissions 
appointed  by  the  Government,  from  whom  three  re¬ 
ports  have  already  emanated ;  and  one  of  those  com¬ 
missions  being  still  in  existence,  further  reports  may 
be  expected.  The  first  Pollution  of  Rivers  Commis¬ 
sion  was  appointed  by  the  Government  in  1865,  and 
consisted  of  Robert  Rawlinson,  John  Thornhill 
Harrison,  and  John  Thomas  Way.  That  commis¬ 
sion  investigated  the  pollution  of  the  Thames  and 
the  Lea,  on  winch  two  reports  were  made.  In  1868 

.  c  3 


28 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


[July  9,  1870. 


the  previously-formed  commission  was  superseded 
by  another  consisting  of  Sir  William  Thomas  Deni¬ 
son,  Edward  Frankland,  and  John  Chalmers  Morton, 
who  have  recently  reported  the  results  of  their  in¬ 
vestigations  on  the  Mersey  and  Ribble.  These 
reports  contain  a  large  amount  of  valuable  informa¬ 
tion  relating  to  the  past  and  present  states  of  the 
rivers  alluded  to,  the  causes  of  the  deterioration 
which  has  occurred  in  the  waters  of  these  rivers,  the 
means  which  have  been  tried  or  suggested  for  miti¬ 
gating  the  evils  resulting  from  river  pollution,  and 
other  subjects  to  which  the  attention  of  the  Com¬ 
missioners  was  directed  by  the  terms  of  their  ap¬ 
pointment. 

Many  of  the  questions  involved  in  this  inquiry  are 
of  a  purely  chemical  nature,  and  chemists  are  not 
agreed  with  regard  to  the  solution  of  some  of  them. 
There  are  especially  two  views  entertained  of  the  in¬ 
fluence  of  sewage  on  river-water.  Some  chemists 
contend  that  the  deleterious  matter  communicated  to 
rivers  by  the  introduction  of  sewage,  when  the  quan¬ 
tity  is  not  very  great,  is  soon  destroyed  by  the 
natural  process  of  oxidation,  which  is  always  occur¬ 
ring  in  running  water,  while  others  deny  that  this 
process  of  self-purification  can  be  depended  upon  for 
rendering  the  water  fit  for  domestic  use.  The  Com¬ 
missioners,  with  Dr.  Frankland  as  their  chemical 
guide,  belong  to  the  latter  class ;  and  Dr.  Letlieby, 
a  good  authority  on  such  matters,  may  be  taken  to 
represent  the  former.  We  insert  elsewhere  the  first 
part  of  a  paper  recently  read  by  Dr.  Letheby  at  a 
meeting  of  the  Association  of  Metropolitan  Officers 
.of  Health,  in  which  his  views  are  fully  set  forth. 


UTILIZATION  OF  SEWAGE, 

We  understand  that  the  authorities  of  Southamp¬ 
ton,  profiting  by  the  example  set  them  at  Hastings, 
have  determined  to  adopt  the  ABC  process  of  uti¬ 
lizing  the  sewage  of  their  town,  and  thus  to  preserve 
the  local  waters  and  beach  from  pollution.  Any 
doubt  that  may  exist  as  to  the  sufficiency  of  this  pro¬ 
cess,  a  description  of  winch  was  given  in  our  last 
number,  for  purifying  sewage-water  so  as  to  render 
it  fit  to  be  discharged  into  rivers,  cannot  apply  to 
the  waters  discharged  into  the  sea. 


fettsittiitms  irf  %  f  jjarntraticsil  j&rattg. 

EXAMINATIONS  IN  LONDON. 

July  1870. 

Present — Messrs.  Allchin,  Bird,  Carteighe,  Cracknell, 
Davenport,  Edwards,  Gale,  Garle,  Haselden,  Ince,  and 
Southall.  Dr.  Greenhow  was  also  present  on  behalf  of 
the  Privy  Council. 

MODIFIED  EXAMINATION. 

Thirty-eight  candidates  were  examined  ;  the  following 
twenty-four  passed,  and  were  registered 


As  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS. 

Atkinson,  Leonard . London. 

Capell,  Thomas  . Steyning. 

Chellew,  William  . London. 

Dawney,  Charles  . .  Exeter. 

Deane,  Frederick  Dawson . Jersey. 

Garth waite,  William  Humble  . .  Liverpool. 

Gillet,  Daniel . Liverpool. 

Hayward,  George  . Croydon. 

Hume,  William  Andrew  . Collingham. 

Jenkins,  David  . Bridgend. 

Morford,  Thomas  . Stoke  Newington. 

Moyle,  Joseph  . . .  .London. 

Mundy,  Alfred  Octavius  . London. 

Organ,  Edward  . Bristol. 

Pasco,  George. . . London. 

Howell,  John  Childs . Beading. 

Scott,  Joseph  . Worcester. 

Smith,  Charles  William  ......  Cirencester. 

Smith,  John  Charles . London. 

Squire,  J ames . .  Lewes. 

Stokes,  Walter  Edward . Sandgate. 

Taylor,  John  . . .  Oldham. 

Taylor,  Peter . London. 

Wall,  Alfred  . Leamington. 

FIRST,  OR  PRELIMINARY  EXAMINATION. 
One  hundred  and  seventy-seven  candidates  were  ex¬ 
amined  ;  the  following  one  hundred  and  forty-five 
passed,  and  were  registered  as 

APPRENTICES  OR  STUDENTS. 

Pank,  Philip  Durrell . North  Walsham. 

Parsons,  J  ames  . .  Sheemess. 

Peake,  Arthur . Stalybridge. 

M‘Jannet,  James . North  Walsham. 

Freeman,  Ernest . Stourbridge. 

Lyddon,  Richard  . London. 

(  Cottam,  William  Procter  . . .  .Lancaster. 

(  Parker,  William . London. 

1  Goodacre,  John  William  . . . .  Coventry. 

\  Kidd,  Arthur  . . Broadstairs. 

^  i  Barry,  Frederic . . Bath. 

<  Marden,  George . Fareham. 

(  Treweeks,  Richard  Harwood  Pembroke. 

(Brookes,  Frederick  James. . .  .Selby. 

Daniel,  John  . .  ... .  .  .  Bromley,  Kent. 

Micklem,  Austen  . Reading. 

Hogg,  Joseph  Fawcett  ..... .North  Shields. 

Fraser,  Alexander . Liverpool. 

Lord,  Frederick . Boston. 

Sherbum,  Frederick  . . Keighley. 

■3  f  Burder,  Robert  . Manchester. 

\  Gadd,  William  Fletcher  ....  Oxford. 

Purse,  Alfred  Dodds . Sunderland. 

Dawson,  Cantley . Stockport. 

Cooke,  Edmund  Herbert  . . .  .Northampton. 

Pratt,  Henry  . Thirsk. 

Lewis,  Edward  . Sandown  (I.  W.). 

Burn,  Henry  . . .  London. 

Butterworth,  Albert . Sowerby. 

Farmer,  William  . Bilston. 

M'Cormick,  Frank  Henry ....  Cheltenham. 

Moore,  Albert . Ashton-under-Lyne. 

Walton,  William  Henry  ....  Croydon. 

|  Booth,  William  Grounds  . . .  .Manchester. 

|  Tuck,  Walter  Barber  . Eastbourne. 

Aitken,  Henry,  jun . York. 

"3  (  Slater,  Jonathan . London. 

g  \  Taylor,  Richard  Eccles . Manchester. 

{Robertson,  George . London. 

Saunders,  Thomas  Bealby  . .  Darling-ton. 

Sawyer,  Henry  . Carlisle. 

Turner,  William  Spencer  ....  Hingjham. 

Middleton,  Christopher . Thirsk. 

Moss,  Thomas  Abbot . Carlisle. 

Pike,  John  . Great  Yarmouth. 

Thompson,  Frank  Farrow  . .  Cambridge. 


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July  9,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL 


29 


Plummer,  Arthur  .  . . . . Reading. 

(  Dixon,  Herbert  . .  Retford. 

g  (  Johnstone,  William,  jun.  ....  Nottingham. 

Holmes,  Samuel . . . Hampstead. 

’3  j  Fowler,  George  Bland  ......  Bishop  Stortford. 

pg"  |  Wilkins,  Robert  Elliott . Surbiton. 

*3  (  Morse,  Charles  H.  Stafford  . .  Bishop  Stortford. 

J-  (  Nicholls,  Arthur  Lindley  ....  Shanklin. 

Martin,  William  James ......  London. 

(Buckle,  James .  . . . Malton. 

Jackson,  Richard  . .  ... ......  Carlisle.. 

Leece,  Frederick . . . , ... .....  Preston. 

Windle,  John  Thomas  . Lower  Norwood. 

**  (  Cuttle,  Arthur  Edward  ......  Scarborough. 

«  (  Stables,  William  Skilbeck  ..Scarborough. 

■|  |  Cox,  George  . . Tewkesbury. 

£  \  Gardner,  James  Clarke . Newcastle-on-Tyne. 

|  Loadman,  James Liverpool. 

g  (  Morgan,  Richard  . . London. 

•|  j  Matterson,  John  Kitching  . .  York. 
g  \  Shillcock,  Arthur  ..........  London. 

Clifford,  Richard  Noon . Melton  Mowbray. 

(  Savery,  William  Henry  ....  Burslem. 
g  \  Scott,  Thomas  Alexander  ....  London. 

I  Bolton,  Felix  Palmer . . Dover. 

Eminson,  Thomas  .......  ....  London. 

Richmond,  William  Wil¬ 
kinson  .... ... . .  i ... .....  Carlisle. 

Somerville,  John . . Carlisle. 

Spilsbury,  James  ♦,...  . . Stafford. 

(Farquhar,  J ames  ..........  Aberdeen. 

Ord,  Septimus  William . Newcastle-on-Tyne. 

Rowcroft,  Albert  Edward  ....  Gravesend. 

Turner,  George  Thomas  ....  London. 

Sugden,  Samuel  ...... .. . . .  .Newchurch. 

•  (  Emson,  William  Nicholls. ...Dorchester. 

%  <  Padwick,  William  Guy  ......  London. 

w  (  Spence,  Robert  Davis  ......Harrogate. 

’i  |  Matthews,  Ernest  ..  .  .  .. . . .  .Royston. 

g  j  Sandwith,  William  Henry  . .  Scarborough. 

'a  (  Hemingway,  Edward... ....  .London., 

g  \  Lynn,  Edward  ..... . Blackheath. 

/  Twemlow,  Francis  Ernest 

•a  1  Cassiani  . . . . . London. 

j|  j  Spencer,  Alfred  Barton . Burnham  Westgate. 

[  Thompson,  Harry  . Norwich. 

^  (  Davies,  Thomas  Rhys  . Swansea. 

|  <  Thompson,  Thomas  ........  Knaresborough. 

w  (  Worthington,  William  ......  Preston. 

Shackleford,  Lewis  John  . . .  .Weston-super-Mare. 

"g  |  Hall,  Alfred  Lee ......  . . Winchcombe. 

g  j  Wingate,  John  ............  Lincoln. 

•g  (  Riach,  Charles  Beverly  ......  Aberdeen. 

I"  (  Wilson,  Edward  William  . . .  .Nottingham. 

Bridger,  Thomas  . . . .  Fareham. 

•a  (  Knowles,  William  Edward  . .  Dewsbury, 
d  \  Mattocks,  Charles  Reynolds . .  Coventry. 

/  Brown,  W alker  . Retford. 

Carlton,  Arthur  . . .  Homcastle. 

|  ]  Tebb,  Henry  . . St.  Ives,  Hunts. 

w  Smith,  Walter  James . Rochdale. 

'‘Taylor,  John  . . . Carlisle. 

*3  (  Goodlad,  John  Jonathan  . . , .  Birmingham. 

d  \  Stevens,  Nobbs  . . Swaffham. 

Glazier,  Walter  Henry . London. 

.  (  Chambers,  Machin . .  Lincoln. 

|  <  Green,  Frank  . . Cartmel. 

w  (  Shakerley,  Benjamin  ........  Liskeard. 

■a  j  Pickup,  John  Arthur. . . Bacup. 

g  \  Saville,  George  . . Wakefield. 

(  Lister,  Joseph  „ . Preston. 

%  <  Morgan,  George  Henry . London. 

w  (  Prust,  Thomas  William  ....  Leeds. 

^  |  Cox,  William . Lincoln. 

g.  I  Steele,  Stephen  . . . Stemming. 

w  (  Wyborn,  Samuel  . .  .Windsor. 


^  (  Cooke,  William  Kendle  ....  Brighton. 

g.  <  Sawden,  Alfred  . Filey. 

w  (  Willan,  William . Preston. 

Evans,  Ebenezer  Richard  ....  Cardigan. 

^  (  Banks,  Edward  . . . Salford. 

|  \  Gatenby,  Robert. . . . . Beverley. 

w  (  Threlfall,  Hugh . London. 

/  Adkin,  Thos.  Rennie  Hutton . .  Pontypridd. 

Edwards,  Thomas  . . Newport,  Mon. 

|  -j  Phillips,  James  Wilson  ......  Broadstairs. 

M  Topham,  Harry . .  . . Scarborough. 

'‘Wellington,  James . Oakham. 

r  Baker,  Robert  Southey . .  Battle. 

Barton,  William.. . . . .Preston. 

Bell,  George,  jun.  . . Hull. 

Churchman,  James . .London. 

Cordley,  William  Bains  ....  London. 

Dodds,  William  _ _ Hull. 

Hawley,  William  . . London. 

Morson,  Thomas  Pierre  ....  London. 

Platt,  Jakeh  Wright . Delph,  Saddleworth. 

Salter,  Thomas  . Bradninch. 

Thompson,  Mark  Foggitt ....  Thirsk. 

Tucker,  William  Charles  ....  London. 

Wardle,  William  . . . London. 


The  following  is  a  list  of  the  towns  at  which  the  Ex¬ 
aminations  were  held,  with  the  number  of  candidates 
examined  at  each  town : — 


Aberdeen .  2 

Bath . . .  2 

Beverley  .  3 

Birmingham  . 1 

Boston .  1 

Bradford .  1 

Bridlington .  1 

Brighton .  2 

Bristol  . . .  2 

Cambridge  .  3 

Cardigan . 2 

Carlisle .  6 

Cheltenham . 2 

Chester . 1 

Congleton  .... ... . .  1 

Croydon  . 1 

Coventry . 2 

Darlington  ........  1 

Devonport  .  1 

Dewsbury  ........  1 

Doncaster  . . .  2 

Dorchester  . 1 

Dover  . . .  ....  2 

Fareham . .  2 

Hastings .  1 

Hereford . 1 

Horncastle  . . .  1 

Huddersfield  .  1 


Huntingdon  .  1 


Hull 
Kendal  . . 
Kingston 


2 

1 

1 


Leamington .  I 

Leeds  .  2 

Leicester  . .  1 

Lewes  .  1 

Lincoln  .  5 


Liskeard  . . I 

Liverpool .  3 

London . . ; . . .  43 

Manchester  ........  3 

Merthyr  . 1 

Monmouth  . 1 

Newcastle-on-Tyne  .  4 
Newport  ..........  2 

Norwich  ..........  8 


Northampton 


...  1 
...  2 
...  1 
,...  2 
....  7 
...  2 
....  2 
....  2 
Rochdale  ...  . . .  3 


Nottingham, 
Pembroke 
Portsmouth 
Preston .... 
Ramsgate . . 
Reading  . . 
Retford .... 


Ryde ........  . , 

Scarborough  . , 

Selby  . . 

Stafford  . 

Stalybridge 
Stockport ...... 

Stoke-on-Trent 


Stourbridge 


Sunderland  ........ 

Swansea  . . . 

Tewkesbury  ...... 

Thirsk 

Wakefield  . 

Wednesbury  . . 

Weston-super-Mare . 

Windsor  . . 

Wolverhampton  . . . . 

Yarmouth  . 

York . . . . 

Total  number  of  towns,  74. 


2 

4 

1 

1 

1 

I 

1 

I 

1 

1 

1 

3 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

3 


The  undermentioned,  having  presented  to  the  Board 
a  Certificate  of  Examination  by  the  University  of  Oxford, 
was  registered  as  an 

APPRENTICE. 

Ward,  Edwin . . . Cheltenham. 


CO 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


[July  9,  1870. 


LOCAL  SECRETARIES,  1870-71.* 


Aberdare  . 

Aberdeen  . 

Abingdon  . 

Altrincham  . 

Andover . 

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

Aylesbury . 

Banbury . 

Barnet  . 

Barnstaple . 

Basingstoke  . 

Bath  . 

Bedford . 

Belper . 

Berwick . 

Bewdley . 

Birkenhead  . 

Birmingham  ...... 

Blackburn . 

Blackheath  . 

Bodmin  . 

Bolton . 

Boston  . 

Bradford  (Yorks.) 

Brecon  . 

Bridgnorth . 

Bridgewater . 

Bridlington  . 

Bridport . 

Brighton  . 

Bristol  . 

Bromley  (Kent)  . . 

Buckingham . 

Burnley . 

Bury  St.  Edmunds 

Cambridge . 

Canterbury  . 

Cardiff  . . 

Cardigan  . 

Carlisle  . 

Carmarthen  . 

Carnarvon . 

Chatham  . . . 

Chelmsford . . 

Cheltenham  . . 

Chester  . . 

Chichester . 

Chippenham . 

Christchurch . 

Cirencester . 

Cockermouth . 

Colchester . 

Congleton  . 

Coventry  . 

Croydon  . 

Darlington . 

Deptford . . 

Derby  . . . . 

Devizes  . . 

Devonport . 

Dewsbury  . . . 

Diss . 

Doncaster  . . 

Dorchester . . 

Dorking . 

Dover . 

Dudley  . 

Dumfries  . 

Dundee  . 


Jones,  John. 

Davidson,  Charles. 

Smith,  William. 

Holt,  William  Henry. 
Madgwick,  William  B. 
Johnson,  Samuel  E. 
Bostock,  William. 

Dickins,  Rowland. 
Beesley,  Thomas. 
Huggins,  George  Thomas. 
Goss,  Samuel. 

Sapp,  Arkas. 

Poolev,  John  C. 

Cuthbert,  John  M. 

Ashton,  John. 

Carr,  William  Graham. 
Newman,  Robert. 

Jones,  Charles. 

Southall,  William. 

Pickup,  Thomas  Hartley. 
Lavers,  Thomas  H. 
Williams,  Joel  D. 

Dutton,  George. 

Marshall,  Robert. 
Rogerson,  Michael. 

Bright,  Philip. 

Deighton,  Thomas  M. 
Payne,  Reuben  C. 

Ford,  Christopher. 

Beach,  James. 

Gwatkin,  James  T. 
Stoddart,  William  W. 
Baxter,  William  W. 

Sirett,  George. 

Thomas,  Richard. 

Portway,  John. 

Deck,  Arthur. 

Harvey,  Sidney. 

Joy,  Francis  William. 
Davies,  David. 

Moss,  William. 

Davies,  Richard  M. 

Lloyd,  William. 

French,  Gabriel. 

Baker,  Charles  P. 

Smith,  Nathaniel. 

Bowles,  Charles  A. 

Long,  William  E. 
Westlake,  Bernard. 

Sharp,  Henry. 

Skinner,  Thomas. 
Bowerbank,  Joseph. 
Manthorp,  Samuel. 

Goode,  Charles. 

Wyley,  John. 

Crafton,  Ralph  Caldwell. 
Abbott,  John  Thomas. 
Lockyer,  George. 

Goodall,  Henry. 

Clark,  Robert. 

Radford,  Isaiah  Can. 
Gloyne,  Thomas  H. 
Gostling,  Thomas  P. 

D unhill,  William  W. 
Evans,  Alfred. 

Clark,  William  W. 

Bottle,  Alexander. 

Hollier,  Elliott. 

Allan,  William. 

Hardie,  James. 


*  Local  Secretaries  are  appointed  in  all  Towns  in  Great 
Britain  which  return  a  Member  or  Members  to  Parliament ; 
and  in  such  other  Towns  as  contain  not  less  than  Three 
Members  of  the  Society. 


Dunfermline . 

Durham . 

Ealing . 

Edinburgh . . . 

Elgin . 

Evesham  . 

Exeter . 

Eye . 

Falkirk  . 

Falmouth  . 

Fareham . 

Famham  . . . 

Flint  . 

Forfar . 

Gainsborough  . 

Glasgow . 

Gloucester . 

Goole  . 

Grantham  . 

Gravesend . 

Greenock  . 

Greenwich . 

Guernsey  . 

Guildford  . 

Haddington  . 

Halifax  . 

Harleston  . 

Harrogate . 

Hartlepool . 

Harwich . 

Hastings  and  St.  Leonard’s 

Haverfordwest . 

Hereford . . 

Hertford . 

Hitchin  . 

Holywell  . 

Homcastle . 

Horsham  . 

Huddersfield . 

Hull  . 

Huntingdon  . 

Ipswich  . 

Ironbridge . 

Jersey  . 

Kendal  . 

Kidderminster  . . . 

Kilmarnock  . 

King’s  Lynn . 

Kingston-on-Thames  .... 

Knaresborough . 

Knutsford . 

Lancaster  . 

Launceston  . 

Leamington  . . 

Leeds . 

Leicester . 

Leighton  Buzzard . 

Leith  . 

Leominster . 

Lewes . 

Lincoln  . 

Liskeard . . 

Liverpool  . . . 

Ludlow  . . . 

Lyme  Regis  . 

Lymington . 

Macclesfield  . 

Maidstone  . 

Maldon  . 

Manchester,  Salford,  etc. . . 

Market  Harborough . 

Mauritius  . 

Melbourne . 

Merthyr  Tydfil . 

Middlesborough  . 

Monmouth . 


Brown,  William. 

Sarsfield,  William. 

Barry,  Thomas. 

Mackay,  John. 

Robertson,  William. 
Dingley,  Richard  L. 

Palk,  John. 

Bishop,  Robert. 

Murdoch,  David. 
Newman,  Walter  F. 

Peat,  Walter. 

Crook,  George. 

Jones,  Michael. 

Ranken,  James  A. 
Marshall,  John  F. 
Kinninmont,  Alexander. 

Hasselby,  Thomas  J. 
Gamble,  Richard. 
Beaumont,  William  H. 
Alexander,  James. 
Tugwell,  William  Henry. 
Arnold,  Adolphus. 

Martin,  Edward  W. 

Watt,  James. 

Shaw,  Benjamin. 

Muskett,  James. 

Coupland,  Joseph. 

Corner,  Robert. 

Bevan,  Charles  F. 

Bell,  J.  Alfred. 

Saunders,  David  P. 
Jennings,  Reginald. 

Lines,  George. 

Ransom,  William. 

Jones,  John. 

Elsey,  John. 

Williams,  Philip. 

Higgins,  Tom  Sellers. 
Earle,  Francis. 

Ekins,  William. 

Wiggin,  John. 

Hartshorn,  William  H.  T. 
Ereaut,  John,  jun. 

Severs,  Joseph. 

Bond,  Charles. 

Rankin,  William. 

Atmore,  George. 

Gould,  Frederick. 

Sindall,  John  William. 
Silvester,  Joseph. 

Wearing,  William. 

Eyre,  Thomas  S. 

Jones,  Samuel  U. 
Reynolds,  Richard. 

Cooper,  Thomas. 

Readman,  William. 

Finlay  son,  Thomas. 

Davis,  D.  Frederick. 
Martin,  Thomas. 
Peppercorn,  Benjamin. 
Eliott,  Samuel. 

Abraham,  John. 

Wells,  Edwin. 

Thornton,  Edward. 

Allen,  Adam  U. 

Wright,  George  W. 
Rogers,  William. 
Wallworth,  David. 
Wilkinson,  William. 
Bragg,  William  B. 
Baschet,  George  C. 
Francis,  Henry. 

Smyth,  Walter. 

Taylor,  William  J. 

White,  Walter. 


JuiT  9, 1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


> 

> 


Montrose  . . 

Neath . 

Newark . 

N  ewbury  . 

Newcastle-under-Lyme  . . 

Newcastle-on-Tyne . 

Newport  (Isle  of  Wight) . . 

Newport  (Mon.)  . 

Newtown  . 

Northallerton  . 

Northampton . 

Norwich . 

Norwood . 

Nottingham  . 

Odiham  . 

Oldham . 

Oswestry  . 

Oxford  . 

Paisley  . 

Pembroke  . 

Pembroke  Dock  . 

Perth . 

Peterborough . 

Petersfield . 

Plymouth  . 

Poole  . 

Portsmouth,  etc . 

Preston  . 

Ramsgate  . 

Reading  . . 

Retford  . 

Richmond  (Surrey)  . 

Richmond  (Yorks.)  . 

Ripon . 

Rochdale  . 

Rochester  and  Strood  . . . . 
Rothesay  .............. 

Rugby  . 

Ruthin  . . . 

Ryde  (Isle  of  Wight)  . . . . 

Rye . 

St.  Alban’s . 

St.  Andrew’s . 

St.  Austell . 

St.  Ives  (Cornwall)  . 

Salisbury  . 

Scarborough . 

Selby . . . 

Shaftesbury  . 

Sheerness  . 

Sheffield . 

Shields,  North  . 

Shields,  South  . 

Shrewsbury  . 

Sleaford . . 

Southampton . 

Southport  . 

Spalding . 

Stafford  . 

Stalybridge  . 

Stamford  . 

Stirling  . 

Stockport  . 

Stockton-on-Tees . 

Stoke-on-Trent . 

Stourbridge  . 

Stowmarket  . 

Stratford,  Essex  . 

Stroud . . . 

Sunderland  . 

Swansea . 

Sydenham . 

Tamworth . 

Taunton . . . 

Tavistock  . 

Tenby . . . 


Burrell,  George. 

Hibbert,  Wiliiam. 
Harvey,  John. 

Childs,  Philip. 
Cartwright,  William. 
Proctor,  Barnard  S. 
Orchard,  Herbert  J. 
Phillips,  John. 

Owen,  Edward. 

Warrior,  William. 

Barry,  James. 

Sutton,  Francis. 

Birch,  Henry  Cooper. 
Atherton,  John  H. 
Hornsby,  John  H. 
Hargraves,  Henry  L. 
Smale,  Richard  B. 

Walsh,  Edward. 

Hatrick,  William. 

John,  David  W. 

Andrews,  Charles. 

Reid,  Neil. 

Sturton,  Richard. 

Edgeler,  William  B. . 
BalkwilL,  Alfred  P. 
Penney,  William. 
Rastrick,  J.  L.  (South sea). 
Houghton,  William. 
Morton,  Henry. 

Spokes,  Peter. 

Baker,  William. 
Hopwood,  Henry  J.  S. 
Thompson,  Thomas. 
Stevenson,  Thomas. 
Taylor,  Edward. 

Harris,  Henry  W. 
Duncan,  William. 
Garratt,  John  C. 

Bancroft,  John  J. 

Wavell,  John. 

Plomley,  James  F. 
Davenport,  Edwaid. 
Smith,  William. 

Hem,  William  Henry. 
Young,  Tonkin. 

Atkins,  Samuel  R. 
Whitfield,  John. 

Colton,  Thomas. 

Powell,  John. 

Rayner,  William. 

Radley,  William  Y. 
Brown,  William  II. 

Mays,  Robert  J.  J. 

Cross,  William  Gownn. 
Heald,  Benjamin. 

Palk,  Edward. 

Cumine,  Frederick  H. 
Rhodes,  Frank. 

Averill,  John. 

Brierley,  Richard. 
Patterson,  George. 
Duncanson,  William. 
Lowndes,  Hervey. 
Brayshay,  William  B. 
Adams,  Jonathan  H. 
Bland,  John  Handel. 
Simpson,  Thomas. 

Allen,  William  H. 

Blake,  William  F. 
Nicholson,  John  J. 

Brend,  Thomas. 
Holloway,  Thomas  II. 
Allkins,  Thomas  B. 
Prince,  Henry. 

Gill,  William. 

Davies,  Moses  P. 


Tenterden . 

Tewkesbury . 

Thirsk . 

Tiverton . 

Torquay . 

Truro  . 

Tunbridge  Wells  . . 

Ulver8tone . 

Wakefield . 

Wallingford . 

Walsall  . 

Wandsworth . 

Wareham  . . 

Warrington  . 

Warwick  . 

Watford . 

Wednesbury . 

Welchpool . 

Westbury  . 

W  eston-super-Mare 

Weymouth . 

Whitby . 

Whitehaven  . 

Wigan  . 

Winchester  . 

Windsor . 

Wolverhampton  . . 

Woodstock . 

Woolwich  . 

Worcester . 

Worthing . 

Wrexham  . 

Wycombe  . 

Yarmouth,  Great  . . 
York  . 


Willsher,  Stephen  II. 
Allis,  Francis. 
Thompson,  John. 
Havill,  Paul. 

Millar,  F.  C.  Moss. 
Serpell,  Samuel. 
Gardener,  Charles. 
Downward,  John. 
Gissing,  Thomas  W. 
Payne,  Sidney. 
Highway,  Henry. 

Nind,  George. 

Randall,  Thomas. 
Webster,  Samuel  M. 
Baly,  James. 

Chater,  Jonathan. 
Gittoes,  Samuel  James. 
Williams,  T.  Kemble. 
Taylor,  Stephen. 

Rich,  Thomas. 

Cole,  Walter  T. 
Stevenson,  John. 
Kitchin,  Archibald. 
Bamish,  Edwin  H. 
Powell,  Edward. 
Russell,  Charles  J.  L. 
Brevitt,  William  Y. 
Stubbs,  Robert. 
Rastrick,  John  A. 
Witherington,  Thomas. 
Cortis,  Charles. 

Francis,  John. 
Furmston,  Samuel  C. 
Poll,  William  S. 
Davison,  Ralph. 


THE  SHEFFIELD  PHARMACEUTICAL  AND 
CHEMICAL  ASSOCIATION. 

The  last  General  Monthly  Meeting  of  the  winter 
session  was  held  at  the  rooms  on  Wednesday  evening, 
June  15th;  Mr.  Wilson,  President,  in  the  chair. 

Mr.  Burnell  was  elected  a  member,  and  Messrs.  Clifton, 
Hutchinson,  Liversidge,  and  Pickering,  associates. 

The  Phesident  and  Ex-President  having  kindly  re¬ 
presented  the  Association  at  the  recent  Annual  Meeting 
of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  this  was  deemed  a  favour¬ 
able  opportunity  to  receive  from  them  a  vird  voce  report 
of  the  Meeting  and  Conversazione ;  their  remarks  were 
listened  to  with  great  interest,  and  a  lengthened  conver¬ 
sation  ensued  thereupon,  after  which  a  cordial  vote  of 
thanks  to  the  deputation  was  moved  by  Mr.  Radley, 
seconded  by  Mr.  Waiid,  and  carried  unanimously. 

It  being  announced  that  on  the  following  evening 
Mr.  Ward  would  deliver  the  last  of  a  course  of  twelve 
gratuitous  lectures  on  the  Chemistry  of  the  British 
Pharmacopoeia,  Mr.  Maleham,  on  behalf  of  the  Council, 
proposed  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Ward,  and  cha¬ 
racterized  the  lectures  as  very  valuable  and  instructive, 
having  been  carefully  prepared  at  a  great  expense  of 
time ;  he  trusted  they  would  be  duly  appreciated  by  the 
Associates  who  had  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  listening  to 
them. 

Mr.  Hudson,  in  eulogistic  terms,  seconded  tho  motion, 
which  was  supported  by  Mr.  Radley,  who,  judging 
from  the  report  of  somo  of  the  pupils,  felt  convinced  that 
Mr.  Ward  had  rendered  the  Association  and  the  youths 
good  service;  carried  with  applause. 

Mr.  Wakd  briefly  replied,  expressing  some  disappoint¬ 
ment  that  a  larger  number  of  the  Associates  had  not 
availed  themselves  of  the  opportunity  to  attend. 


32 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


[July  9,  1870. 


A  newly  invented  label-damper  was  presented  by 
Messrs.  Bourne  and  Taylor,  which  was  handed  round 
for  examination,  and  appeared  to  possess  considerable 
merit ;  this  concluded  the  business  of  the  meeting. 


fptotinigs  nf  Sf nmiifit 


EOYAL  INSTITUTION. 

A  lecture  was  delivered  on  Friday  evening,  June  10th, 
by  Dr.  Odling,  F.R.S.,  Fullerian  Professor  of  Chemistry 
to  the  Institution,  “On  the  Ammonia  Compounds  of 
Platinum.”  The  lecturer  alluded  to  the  discovery  of 
ammonia  gas  by  Priestley  in  1774  ;  to  the  characteristic 
property  of  this  gas,  H3N,  of  uniting  directly  with  hy¬ 
drochloric  acid  gas,  HC1,  to  form  a  solid  deposit  of  sal- 
ammoniac,  or  hydrochloride  of  ammonia,  II3X,HC1 ;  to 
the  similarity  of  behaviour  in  many  respects  of  sal-am¬ 
moniac  with  chloride  of  potassium,  leading  to  the  infer¬ 
ence  that  sal-ammoniac  contains  a  composite  metal  am¬ 
monium,  H4N ;  to  the  resemblance  between  chloride  of 
potassium  and  sal-ammoniac  in  the  way  in  which  they 
are  acted  upon  by  a  weak  galvanic  current,  when  a  drop 
of  mercury  forms  the  negative  pole,  an  amalgam  of  po¬ 
tassium,  Kj.Hgy,  in  one  case,  and  an  amalgam  of  ammo¬ 
nium,  (H3N,H)  rHgV,  in  the  other  case,  being  thus  pro¬ 
duced  ;  to  the  characteristic  property  of  ammonia  gas  of 
freely  dissolving  in  water  and  forming  a  liquid  having 
many  of  the  properties  of  aqueous  potash,  although  dif¬ 
fering  from  that,  inasmuch  as  hydrate  of  potassium  is  a 
definite  body,  while  hydrate  of  ammonium  has  an  in¬ 
ferential  existence  only.  He  then  said  that  the  most 
interesting  circumstance  with  regard  to  ammonia,  was 
its  property  of  serving  as  a  type  from  which  compounds 
of  the  most  varied  character  may  be  derived  by  substitu¬ 
tion.  The  general  character  of  those  substitution-changes 
was  described,  and  the  views  of  Laurent  and  others,  with 
reference  to  the  constitution  of  some  of  the  ammonia 
compounds,  and  especially  those  with  platinum,  were 
referred  to. 

He  said  that  his  attention  having  of  late  been  directed 
to  the  study  of  these  compounds,  he  has  succeeded  in 
differentiating  the  simplest  of  the  platinum  sal-ammoniacs 
from  several  allied  and  isomeric  bodies  with  which  it  had 
before  been  confounded ;  and  in  obtaining  from  it  the 
corresponding  hydrated  base  of  the  series.  He  has  also 
obtained  some  reactions  of  interest  with  bodies  belonging 
to  the  more  complex  series ;  and,  as  a  general  result  of 
his  inquiries,  has  ventured  to  put  forward  a  new  scheme 
of  regarding  the  entire  group  of  bodies.  This  scheme  is 
based  on  the  recognition  of  two  principal  facts  or  propo¬ 
sitions  : — 

1.  The  different  platin-ammonia  compounds  are  pro¬ 
duced,  in  the  first  instance,  from  platinous  chloride, 
PtCF2;  and  just  as  the  platinum  of  this  compound  pos¬ 
sesses  the  property  of  taking  up  two  additional  propor¬ 
tions  of  chlorine,  so  as  to  furnish  the  platinic  compound 
Cl2PtCl2,  or  Ptm,Cl4,  so  also  does  the  platinum  of  the 
different  ammoniated  bodies  obtained  from  platinous 
chloride  possess  the*  property  of  taking  up  two  propor¬ 
tions  of  chlorine,  or  its  equivalent  of  other  negative 
radical,  so  as  to  furnish  platinic  compounds  correspond¬ 
ing  to  the  original  platinous  compounds  respectively. 
Hence  the  division  of  platin-ammonia  compounds  into 
the  two  classes  of  platinous  and  platinic,  the  compounds 
of  the  former  differing  in  constitution  from  those  of  the 
latter  class,  just  as  platinic  differs  from  platinous  chloride, 
by  a  direct  fixation  of  chlorine. 

2.  The  monad  residue,  or  radical  amidogen,  ILN,  is 
capable  of  becoming  the  monad  radical  ammon-amidogen, 
II2N.  H3N,  or  U-  No,  just  as  the  monad  radical  methyl, 
H3C,  is  capable  of  becoming  the  monad  radical  methylen  - 
methyl,  or  ethyl,  H3C.H2C,  or  H5C2.*  Viewing  sal- 

*  ‘  Philosophical  Magazine,’  1869,  p.  459. 


ammoniac,  H3N.HC1,  as  the  analogue  of  methylic  chlo¬ 
ride,  HjCHCl,  the  difference  is  noticeable  that,  while 
the  ammonia  both  of  sal-ammoniac  and  ammon-amido¬ 
gen  is  easily  separable,  the  methylen  both  of  methylic 
chloride  and  methylen-methyl  is  inseparable  from  the 
remaining  constituents  of  the  respective  compounds. 
Hence  the  distinction  between  the  two  classes  of  amic 
and  ammon-amic  platinum  compounds,  the  latter  differ¬ 
ing  from  the  former  by  an  actual  addition  of  diad  am¬ 
monia,  much  as  ethylic  differ  from  methylic  compounds 
by  a  virtual  addition  of  diad  methylen.  The  parallelism 
is  indicated  in  the  under- written  formulae  for  methylic 
chloride  and  ethylic  chloride,  sal-ammoniac  and  ammo- 
nio-chloride  of  silver,  respectively — 

HoCHCl  HoCIH  H2N.HC1  H3N  \  Ag 
H2C  /  Cl  H3N  )  Cl 

The  group  of  platin-ammonia  compounds  is  thus  divi¬ 
sible  into  the  two  classes  of  platinous  and  platinic,  and 
each  of  these  again  into  the  two  classes  of  amic  and 
ammon-amic  compounds.  To  these  four  classes  must 
yet  be  added  a  fifth  subclass  of  di-platinic  compounds, 
including  the  nitrate-chloride  of  Raewsky,  and  the  sub¬ 
sequently-discovered  nitrate  of  Gerhardt  and  chloride  of 
Hadow.  The  scheme  of  the  constitution  of  the  entire 
group,  in  accordance  with  the  writer’s  views,  is  exhibited 
in  the  accompanying  table  of  the  principal  chloride, 
hydrate,  nitrate,  and  nitrite  compounds. 


Platinum  Bases  and  Salts  (proposed  scheme). 
Tlatosamine. 

Pt"(H2N)2.2HCl 

Pt"(H„N)2.2H(HO) 

Pt"(H;N)2.2H(N03) 

Amo~platosamine  (Reiset’s). 
Ptf'(H-H2)2.2HCl.Aq. 
Pt"(H5N.,)2.2H(HO) 

Pt"  (H5  N2)2. 2  H  (N  03) 

Tlatinamine  (Gerhardt’s). 

CLPt""(H„N)2.2HCl 
CLPt,,,,(H”N)2.2H(HO)  ? 
(HO)”Pt,m(H2N),.2H  (HO) 

0Pt,/,/(HoN)2.2H(N03).3Aq  ? 
(N03)sPt""(H2N)2.2H(N03) 


Amo-platinamine  (Gros’s) . 

Cl2Pt,,,,(H5N2)».2HCl 

Cl2Pt'"'(H5N;);.2H(N03) 

m0)2Pt'"'(H5N2)2.2H(N03) 

(N02)2Pt»"(H5N2)2.2H(N03) 

(N02)2Pt'"'(H5N2)2.2HCl 

Amo-diplatinamine )  ci:0Pt2"''(H3N!)‘:4HNO3.Aq. 

(Kaewsky  s  etc.),  j  (No3)2OPt2'Al44.lHN03.Aq. 


fato  fractMitjs. 

THE  BETTS  SUITS. 

Vice-Chancellor  James’s  Court,  28 th  June ,  1870. 

Betts  v.  Willmott,  Betts  v.  Potts,  v.  Cleaver,  v.  Field, 
v.  Brooks,  v.  Foster,  v.  Pratt,  v.  Stevenson,  v.  Smith, 
v.  Hall,  v.  Hart,  v.  Ellis,  v.  Warm,  v.  Cooper,  and 
v.  Preston. 

The  suits  were,  in  1865,  commenced  against  customers 
of  Mr.  Rimmel,  and  they  now  came  on  for  hearing. 

Mr.  Willcock,  Q..C.,  and  Mr.  Everitt  appeared  for  the 
plaintiff,  and  Mr.  Kay,  Q.C.,  Mr.  Eddis,  Q.C.,  and  Mr. 
Langley,  for  the  defendant  in  each  case. 

Mr.  Willcock,  Q.C.,  opened  the  plaintiff’s  case,  and 
was  followed  by  Mr.  Everitt,  relying  upon  purchases  of 


July  9,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


33 


one  bottle  from  each  defendant,  each  bottle  bearing  Mr. 
Rimmel’s  labels  and  a  capsule  impressed  “  E.  Rimmel, 
London  and  Paris,  Perfumer,”  within  a  bead  border. 

The  Vice-Chancellor ,  at  the  close  of  the  plaintiff’s  case, 
said, — 

In  this  case  the  plaintiff,  Mr.  Betts,  has  filed  his  bill 
against  Mr.  Willmott,  asking  an  injunction  to  restrain 
the  defendant  from  further  infringing  his  invention, 
from  using  his  invention  in  this  country,  and  for  the 
consequential  damages.  It  is  said,  and  said  with  truth, 
that  according  to  the  practice  of  this  Court  the  scienter 
is  not  material,  that  a  patentee  has  a  right  to  file  his  bill 
against  a  person  who  has  innocently  infringed  his  pa¬ 
tent,  that  he  is  entitled  to  take  legal  proceedings  at  all 
events.  But  I  am  not  prepared  to  hold  that  every  user 
of  letters  patent  by  a  person  necessarily  entitles  the  pa¬ 
tentee  not  to  bring  an  action  in  the  County  Court,  but 
to  file  his  bill  in  this  Court.  I  think  one  must  look  at 
the  circumstances  under  which,  and  the  extent  to  which 
the  infringement  has  taken  place,  and  the  conduct  of  the 
plaintiff  and  de  endant,  before  one  sanctions  such  a  bill. 
If  it  is  to  be  carried  to  the  strict  length,  it  seems  im¬ 
possible  to  draw  a  line  which  would  prevent  a  man  being 
entitled  to  file  his  bill  against  every  gentleman  who,  in 
this  particular  case  for  instance,  has  a  bottle  of  wine 
accidentally  covered  with  a  capsule  in  his  cellar;  I  think 
there  is  a  difference  between  that  case  and  the  case  of  a 
person  selling  articles  for  profit.  If  this  had  been  the 
case  of  a  sale  of  these  capsules  for  profit,  it  would  have 
been  a  different  thing,  because,  in  that  case,  the  person 
would  have  been  selling  the  metal,  and  I  should  have 
been  disposed  to  interfere,  or  if  the  person  were  using 
the  capsules  to  a  large  extent  himself. 

But  I  understand  all  the  evidence  here  is,  that  a  per¬ 
son  in  the  employ  of  the  plaintiff  went  into  the  shop  of 
the  defendant,  and  bought  there  a  bottle  of  a  manufac¬ 
tured  article,  called  Bimmers  Toilet  Vinegar,  the  cork 
of  which  bottle  was  covered  with  a  capsule.  He  bought 
only  one  bottle  with  a  capsule  on.  The  probability  is, 
that  the  defendant  had  sold  other  bottles,  perhaps  he 
had  sold  a  few  dozen  bottles  in  the  course  of  his  trade ; 
but  he  says  he  had  not  the  remotest  idea  he  was  doing 
anything  in  violation  of  the  plaintiff’s  patent ;  that  he 
bought  this  in  the  way  of  trade  from  the  wholesale 
dealer,  and  sold  it  perfectly  innocently  ;  and  the  plain¬ 
tiff  was  informed  by  the  article  itself  who  the  person 
was  from  whom  this  innocent  vendor  obtained  it.  Under 
those  circumstances,  it  appears  to  me,  he  ought  to  have 
given  the  defendant  notice  that  it  "was  an  infringement, 
and  told  him  not  to  do  so  any  more  ;  and  if  he  found  he 
was  doing  it  afterwards,  he  might  very  well  have  filed 
his  bill  against  him,  or  if  the  defendant  had  refused  to 
discover  from  whom  he  bought  the  article.  But,  no 
doubt,  this  defendant  would  at  once  have  told  him,  “  I 
got  this  from  Mr.  Rimmel ;  and  if  Mr.  Rimmel  is  wrong, 
I  will  not  sell  any  more,  I  do  not  wish  to  run  the  risk  of 
a  Chancery  suit  with  Mr.  Betts.”  Probably  that  would 
have  been  the  case  if  he  had  applied  to  him.  But  the 
application  he  received  was  this,  which  does  not  seem  to 
me  to  be  the  right  way  of  dealing  with  a  case  of  this 
kind.  He  says,  “  I  received  from  Mr.  Kent,  the 
plaintiff’s  solicitor,  a  letter  dated  10th  July,  stating  that 
he  was  instructed  by  the  plaintiff  to  commence  proceed¬ 
ings  against  me  for  an  infringement  of  his  letters  patent, 
by  the  use  and  sale  of  metallic  capsules  on  bottles, 
which  capsules  had  not  been  made  by  the  plaintiff,  but 
of  precisely  similar  materials.”  To  which  defendant 
writes : — “  I  have  received  a  letter  from  you  informing 
me  that  I  have  infringed  the  patent  of  Betts’  Metallic 
Capsules.  Now,  as  I  have  never  capsuled,  or  caused  to 
be  capsuled,  any  bottle  or  pot  in  my  establishment,  per¬ 
haps  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  let  me  know  in  what 
way  I  have  infringed  the  patent.”  To  which  the  answer 
is : — “  I  beg  to  state  that  the  sale  by  you  of  the  capsules 
on  bottles  is  the  infringement  complained  of.  Any 
person  supplying  you  is  equally  liable,  and  the  time  will 


come  when  you  will  be  interrogated  as  to  who  has  sup¬ 
plied  you,  when,  and  in  what  quantities.”  Thereupon, 
without  any  further  intimations,  upon  the  same  12th  of 
July,  on  which  that  answer  is  made,  the  bill  is  served  on 
this  defendant.  It  does  appear  to  me  that  that  was  a 
very  violent  and  oppressive  mode  of  proceeding  against 
this  defendant  and  the  others.  It  is  not  justified  by  this 
observation  that,  unless  you  file  bills  against  every  re¬ 
tail  dealer,  you  cannot  maintain  your  patent.  I  do  not 
know  whether  I  should  have  been  able  to  dismiss  the 
bill  with  costs,  though  I  think  I  should  have  tried  to  do 
so,  if  it  had  not  been  for  what  appears  an  equally  un¬ 
usual  course  on  the  part  of  the  defendant, — instead  of 
saying,  “  I  really  did  it  innocently ;  I  do  not  wish  to 
litigate  your  patent;”  instead  of  relying  entirely  on 
the  facts  of  the  case,  the  defendant  puts  in  an  answer, 
in  which  he  submits  whether  the  patent  is  a  good  one  or 
not.  Relying  on  what  he  then  supposed  to  be  the  then 
state  of  the  law,  he  takes  upon  himself  to  litigate  the 
thing,  by  raising  upon  a  concise  statement,  which  is  al¬ 
most  a  cross  bill,  the  very  fact  of  the  invalidity  of  the 
patent,  and  he  files  that  statement,  and  bases  interroga¬ 
tories  upon  it. 

Under  those  circumstances,  it  appears  to  me  that 
neither  side  has  conducted  himself  in  a  way  which  en¬ 
titles  him  to  the  costs  of  these  proceedings ;  and  the 
order  I  propose  to  make  is,  to  declare  that  the  patent 
having  expired,  and  the  Court  being  satisfied  that  the 
infringement  by  the  defendant  was  innocent,  accidental, 
and  trivial,  and  not  such  as  to  have  produced  any  sub¬ 
stantial  damage  to  the  plaintiff,  stay  all  further  proceed¬ 
ings. 

Mr.  Kay . — Your  Honour  has  not  heard  our  evidence. 
We  have  proved  distinctly  there  is  no  infringement. 

The  Vice-Chancellor. — Do  you  mean  to  say  that  this 
capsule  is  not  made  according  to  Betts’  patent? 

Mr.  Kay. — Certainly ;  there  is  no  evidence  of  it. 

The  Vice-Chancellor. — I  think  there  is,  unless  you 
have  strong  affirmative  proof  that  it  is  not. 

Mr.  Kay. — We  have  cross-examined  him,  and  put  the 
article  into  his  hands,  and  he  cannot  say  whether  it  is 
his  or  not. 

The  Vice-Chancellor. — He  said  he  could  not  tell  with¬ 
out  a  microscope. 

Mr.  Kay. — No  ;  he  could  not  tell  at  all. 

The  Vice-Chancellor. — Did  you  put  the  capsule  into  his 
hand  which  was  bought  ? 

Mr.  Eddis. — Yes. 

The  Vice-Chancellor. — Was  there  any  mark  upon  it  ? 

Mr.  Kay. — There  was  no  mark  upon  it  at  all. 

The  Vice-Chancellor. — Is  there  the  microscopical  mark 
upon  it  ?  He  swears  distinctly  it  is  not  his  metal,  but 
made  of  the  same  material. 

Mr.  Kay. — If  your  Honour  had  heard  the  cross-exa¬ 
mination,  you  would  find  it  perfectly  impossible  to  main¬ 
tain  any  case  of  infringement.  He  does  not  know  his 
own  material,  and  he  cannot  distinguish  between  one 
made  by  him  and  anybody  else,  and  he  says  there  is  no 
process  which  he  knows  of  to  enable  him  to  distinguish 
the  things  made  by  him  from  those  made  by  anybody 
else.  The  whole  of  his  evidence  has  gone  to  an  attempt 
to  make  out  a  case  of  infringement,  which  has  failed  in 
toto. 

The  Vice-Chancellor. — I  did  not  know  you  denied  the 
infringement. 

Mr.  Kay. — Yes,  and  I  am  perfectly  ready  to  open  the 
whole  case  to  your  Honour,  rather  than  be  saddled  with 
our  costs  of  this  suit. 

The  Vice-Chancellor. — I  think  you  must. 

Mr.  Kay  then  proceeded  to  read  the  plaintiff’s  cross- 
examination,  but  he  had  only  in  part  done  so  when  the 
Court  rose.  It  contained  passages — 

“  I  have  a  manufactory  in  Paris,  that  is  Espinasse’s.” 

“  I  believe  the  Paris  house  supplied  Rimmel  with  a 
great  many  capsules  at  one  time.” 

“  I  will  not  swear  whether  the  capsules  supplied  to 


34 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


[July  9,  1870. 


Eugene  Rimmel  by  the  house  of  Espinasse  in  Paris,  either 
before  or  after  I  purchased  the  business,  bore  this  in¬ 
scription,  ‘  E.  Rimmel,  London  and  Paris,  Perfumer I 
may  have  sworn  they  did  on  some  former  occasion,  and 
if  so,  it  is  true.” 

“  I  will  not  swear  that  each  of  the  capsules  on  the  11 
Exhibits,  and  on  those  numbered  211  and  401,  was  not 
made  by  my  house  of  Espinasse,  or  that  they  were  not 
sold  and  delivered  by  that  house  to  Eugene  Rimmel.” 

Question.  In  clause  5  of  the  affidavit  of  Sandford  and 
another,  filed  the  18th  of  January,  1869,  in  this  suit,  it 
is  stated  that  you  told  them  “  to  the  purport  that  you 
had  been  put  to  a  great  expense,  £20,000,  with  regard  to 
your  patent,  and  must  be  reimbursed,”  whether  or  not 
is  that  true  F 

Answer.  I  have  no  recollection  of  having  had  any  con¬ 
versation  with  Mr.  Sandford  in  particular.  I  met,  I  be¬ 
lieve,  a  person  of  that  name  amongst  others  at  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society,  when  I  do  not  believe  the  words 
£20,000  ever  came  out  of  my  mouth.  It  would  be  more 
like  at  that  time,  with  interest  and  compound  interest, 
beyond  £30,000  ;  and  I  do  not  think  I  ever  mentioned 
such  a  thing  as  £20,000.  What  transpired  there  I  have 
given  an  account  of  in  one  of  my  affidavits.  It  is  not 
true  that  I  then  stated,  as  is  mentioned  in  the  fifth  para¬ 
graph  of  that  affidavit,  “  that  I  would  sue  every  retailer 
in  the  country  who  had  sold  articles  capsuled  until  I  had 
got  that  sum  of  money.”  I  told  him,  and  I  told  them 
all  together  as  the  pharmaceutical  synod,  that  with  their 
vast  numbers,  their  names  being  legion,  a  pound  a-piece 
from  each  would  put  me  straight  in  the  matter ;  and  if 
the  numbers  were  few,  five  pounds  a-piece  would  make  an 
atonement  for  all  that  had  passed,  namely,  ten  years’  in¬ 
fringement  that  had  been  going  on.  The  reply  was  that 
they  had  no  money,  and,  if  that  is  what  you  mean,  it  will 
be  war  to  the  knife.  I  know  the  difference  between  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  and  the  Defence  Committee.  One 
grew  out  of  the  other.  I  did  not  insist  on  a  payment  by 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society  or  its  members  further  than 
as  my  bills  were  filed  against  any  member  of  that  so¬ 
ciety. 

Question.  Did  you  not  insist  on  a  contract  by  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society  ? 

Answer.  There  were  negotiations  for  peace  after  this 
interview,  and  there  were  plans  suggested  for  an  amic¬ 
able  arrangement  of  the  matters  by  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  insisting  on  the  foreign  merchants  who  had  in¬ 
fringed  and  were  importing  their  goods  into  this  country 
dealing  with  me  thenceforward.  Certain  terms  were 
proposed  by  me  to  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  and  the 
Defence  Committee,  but  they  were  not  accepted. 

Question.  Did  not  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  as  a  so¬ 
ciety  always  refuse  to  identify  itself  with  this  matter  ? 

Answer.  Certainly  not.  They  advanced  to  me  and 
pleaded  guilty  to  the  infringement  of  my  patent  from 
one  end  of  England  to  the  other.  I  believe  that  Mr. 
Rimmel,  in  my  mind,  appeared  to  be  the  cause  of  that 
meeting. 

Question.  Are  you  certain  that  you  did  not  name  £25 
to  any  person  as  the  amount  to  be  paid  by  each  ? 

Answer.  I  may  have  said  that  after  they  had  paid  £5 
as  a  penalty  to  me,  the  taxed  costs  of  the  bill  which  was 
filed  against  them  would  come  to  somewhere  about  £15 
or  more,  and  I  believe  that  was  about  the  amount.  I 
think  those  were  the  terms  on  which  many  were  settled 
with.  I  thought  I  must  fine  them  at  least  £5,  so  that 
they  might  tell  the  world  that  they  had  been  so  fined, 
and  then  it  rested  between  them  and  my  lawyer.  I  be¬ 
lieve  I  told  the  people  at  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
that  I  could  not  declare  my  rights  without  going  at  once 
to  that  expense  of  a  bill  to  assert  my  rights,  and  there¬ 
fore  I  said  I  could  not  assert  them  but  at  that  cost  to  the 
one  or  other  of  us.  I  do  not  recollect  whether  I  named 
the  sum  of  £25  to  be  paid  to  me.  I  do  not  recollect 
whether  I  said  that  I  had  expended  £36,000  in  costs.  I 
think  I  said  over  £30,000,  but  I  did  not  in  words  say 


that  I  was  resolved  on  being  reimbursed.  I  said  there 
must  be  something  solid,  something  to  eat. 

Other  material  passages  appeared  in  the  course  of  the 
proceedings. 

29tii  June,  1870. 

At  the  sitting  of  the  Court,  the  Vice-Chancellor  said, 
— In  this  case,  Mr.  Kay,  is  there  any  evidence  of  the  in¬ 
fringement  except  that  of  Mr.  Betts  himself  ? 

Mr.  Kay. — None,  Sir,  except  the  sort  of  corroborative 
evidence  given  in  the  same  words  by  some  of  his  ser¬ 
vants.  Mr.  Betts  himself  says  in  his  first  affidavit  that 
he  firmly  believes  the  capsules  are  made  in  infringement 
of  his  patent. 

The  Vice-Chancellor. — There  is  nothing  about  capsules 
in  the  patent.  Where  is  the  evidence  that  they  were  not 
made  of  metal  bought  of  his  Paris  house  ? 

Mr.  Kay. — None. 

The  Vice-Chancellor. — What  is  the  evidence  of  the  in¬ 
fringement  ?  What  Mr.  Betts  verily  believes  is  nothing. 

Mr.  Kay. — And  what  he  says  as  to  it  is  quite  consis¬ 
tent  with  the  fact  that  they  were  obtained  from  himself. 

The  Vice-Chancellor. — What  evidence  is  there  that 
these  capsules  are  not  made  of  lead  pm-chased  from  Mr. 
Betts  ? 

Mr.  Willcock. — There  is  some  evidence  which  my  friend 
has  not  read.  With  reference  to  the  actual  houses  at 
which  it  is  suggested  it  may  have  been  bought,  -we  can 
only  give  negative  evidence  as  to  that.  If  they  had 
chosen  to  call  Mr.  Rimmel,  we  might  have  cross-ex¬ 
amined  him. 

The  Vice-Chancellor. — What  evidence  have  you  given  ? 

Mr.  Willcock. — Your  Honour  will  find  it  at  page  7  of 
the  depositions: — “Will  you  pledge  your  oath  whether 
those  capsules  were  or  not  manufactured  by  your  house 
of  Espinasse  ?  A.  I  believe  they  are  infringements,  and 
that  they  are  not  of  the  house  of  Espinasse.  1  found 
this  my  belief  on  this,  that  Rimmel’ s  dies  in  Paris  do  not 
correspond,  as  I  have  been  informed,  with  the  stamping 
on  those,  but  I  will  not  swear  that  they  do  not  corre¬ 
spond  exactly.  I  do  not  know  whether  it  is  the  fact 
that  Dupre’s  capsules  supplied  to  Rimmel  bore  Dupre’s 
name  upon  them.  The  Exhibit  now  produced  and  marked 
W.  B.  24,  appears  to  bear  a  Dupre  capsule.  It  is  a  tin 
capsule,  and  Dupre  puts  his  name  on  the  tin  capsules, 
but  not  on  those  made  of  the  patent  metal.  I  do  not 
know  whether  every  die  used  by  Dupre  for  Rimmel’ s 
capsules  contained  in  the  inner  circle  the  words  ‘  Paris 
and  London,’  or  ‘  39,  Gerrard  Street,  London.’  It  is  not 
known  to  me  that  every  capsule  made  by  my  house  of 
Espinasse  for  Rimmel  bore  a  bead  border.  It  is  not 
known  to  me  that  every  Courdouzy  capsule  supplied  to 
Rimmel  bore  a  rope  border.  I  will  not  swear  that  each 
of  the  capsules  on  the  1 1  Exhibits,  and  on  those  num¬ 
bered  211  and  401,  was  not  made  by  my  house  of  Espi¬ 
nasse,  or  that  they  were  not  sold  and  delivered  by  that 
house  to  Eugene  Rimmel.” 

The  Vice-Chancellor. — That  is  not  the  way  to  prove 
infringement.  You  do  not  even  pledge  your  belief  that 
they  are  not  made  of  metal  bought  from  you. 

Mr.  Willcock. — We  do  not  sell  the  metals. 

The  Vice-Chancellor. — It  would  be  monstrous  if  every¬ 
body  found  with  a  bottle  of  this  kind  were  to  be  con¬ 
sidered  an  infringer.  If  these  bills  had  been  filed  at  the 
commencement  of  the  patent,  no  one  would  have  bought 
a  single  capsule.  I  should  have  taken  the  greatest  pos¬ 
sible  care  not  to  do  it.  I  should  have  said,  I  am  not 
going  to  be  drawn  into  a  Chancery  suit  by  buying  one 
of  these  things.  Have  you  any  other  evidence  of  the 
infringement  ? 

Mr.  Willcock. — The  plaintiff  also  says,  “  In  answer 
to  the  4th  paragraph  of  the  defendant’s  affidavit,  I  say 
that  the  capsule  on  the  bottle  purchased  at  his  shop,  as 
stated  in  my  former  affidavit,  was  not  made  by  me.” 

The  Vice-Chancellor. —  It  might  be  perfectly  true  that 
the  capsules  were  not  made  by  him.  Your  patent  is  not 
for  capsules,  but  for  metal. 


July  9,  1870.] 


THE  PHABMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


35 


Mr.  Willcock. — We  say  we  did  not  sell  it. 

The  Vice-Chancellor. — I  see  evidence  that  you  did  not 
make  the  capsules,  hut  I  do  not  see  a  statement  that  it 
was  not  made  of  your  material. 

Mr.  Willcock. — We  do  not  sell  the  material  to  any¬ 
body. 

The  Vice-Chancellor. — There  is  no  evidence  of  that  fact. 
I  have  not  seen  a  particle  of  evidence  of  the  fact  that 
you  do  not  sell,  or  that  your  agents  in  Paris  do  not  sell, 
the  materials,  or  that  the  man  at  Bordeaux  does  not  sell 

it. 

Mr.  Willcock. — I  wish  to  suppose  that  your  Honour  is 
not  satisfied  of  that,  and  that  is  why  I  was  going  to  the 
other  question,  because  that  raises  the  point  which  I 
wished  to  call  your  Honour’s  attention  to.  The  question 
is  put  to  Mr.  Betts,  “  When  you  say  in  your  affidavit  of 
April,  1869,  that  the  capsules  were  not  made  hy  you,  do 
you  mean  to  swear  that  they  were  not  made  by  your 
French  house  of  Espinasse  ?”  A.  1  hold  that  those  made 
by  my  French  house  are  not  made  by  me  as  regards 
England  most  assuredly.  Q.  Suppose  capsules  were 
made  at  your  manufactory  at  Bordeaux,  should  you  swear 
that  they  were  not  made  by  you  ?  A.  Decidedly,  in  the 
sense  in  which  I  understand  it.  Unless  they  are  of  a 
certain  kind,  they  have  no  business  to  come  into  this 
country,  and  hence  would  be  ignored  by  me,  and  so  with 
my  Paris  or  any  other  house  abroad.  I  explain  it  in  this 
way.  Betts  as  a  manufacturer  in  France  is  a  French¬ 
man.  I  sell  capsules  there  to  be  used  upon  bottles,  and 
such  capsules  may  come  into  this  country,  but  no  capsules 
off  bottles  of  any  kind  should  I  make  or  tolerate  to  come 
into  England,  to  have  one  set  against  another.  There 
is  Betts,  an  Englishman,  and  there  is  Betts,  a  French¬ 
man,  the  one  with  English  rights,  and  the  other  with 
French  rights.  Those  which  may  come  into  England 
are  those  which  bear  my  patent  trade-mark,  and  my 
legend  round  it,  and  these  must  come  on  bottles.  The 
Betts  to  whom  I  allude  is  myself.”  It  is  an  odd  way  of 
putting  it  very  likely,  but,  at  the  same  time  it  stands 
thus.  In  France  his  right  as  a  patentee  had  expired. 
He  manufactures  in  France,  but  then  what  he  manufac¬ 
tures  in  France  and  sells,  the  buyer  has  no  right  to  bring 
into  England.  In  England  he  is  protected  against  the 
infringement. 

The  Vice-Chancellor. — If  I  buy  from  him  in  France, 
surely  he  cannot  say  that  I  have  no  right  to  bring  them 
into  England  ?  Do  you  mean  to  say  an  English  patentee 
can  establish  a  manufacture  abroad,  and  then  say  that 
the  person  to  whom  he  sells  cannot  introduce  the  goods 
into  this  country  ? 

Mr.  Eddis. — If  your  Honour  looks  at  the  next  para¬ 
graph,  you  will  see  these  words,  “  When  you  have  spoken 
of  foreign  manufactures,  have  you  included  in  that 
phrase  yourself  as  a  Frenchman  ?”  A.  “  Yes,  in  the 
sense  in  which  I  used  it.” 

Mr  Willcock. — I  submit  to  your  Honour  that  that  evi¬ 
dence  is  sufficient  to  establish  our  case. 

The  Vice-  Chancellor. — I  have  read  the  depositions  care¬ 
fully  through,  and  I  must  say  this  case  seems  to  me  about 
the  most  impudent  case  that  ever  came  into  Court.  A 
man  says  yrou  have  infringed  my  patent.  I  did  not  make 
the  capsules  which  you  sell ;  I  am  quite  sure  of  that ; 
they  were  made  by  foreign  manufacture.  Then  he  is 
asked,  Do  you  include  in  the  term  “  foreign  manufac¬ 
ture  ”  the  goods  made  by  your  agents  abroad  ?  and  he 
says,  “  I  do.”  I  am  glad  my  attention  was  called  to  this, 
because  it  seems  to  me  monstrous  for  a  man  to  act  in  this 
way.  I  must  say  it  is  not  creditable  to  the  plaintiff, 
when  he  swears  in  his  affidavit  that  these  goods  were  not 
made  by  him,  to  divide  himself  into  an  Englishman 
and  a  Frenchman,  and  to  say  that  he  meant  that  these 
goods  were  not  made  by  him  in  his  English  capacity, 
but  that  they  were  made  by  him  in  his  foreign  capacity. 

I  dismiss  the  bill  with  costs. 

Mr.  Eddis. — That  will  apply  to  all  the  suits  ? 

The  Vice-Chancellor . — Yes.  I  am  shocked  at  such  a 


mode  of  making  an  affidavit ;  I  hope  never  to  see  it 
again.  Each  bill  is  dismissed  with  costs. 


Clja^tcrs  for  Staicnts. 


LIGHT. 

BY  WILLIAM  A.  TILDEN,  B.SC.  LOND. 

DEMONSTRATOR  OF  PRACTICAL  CHEMISTRY  TO  THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 

1.  Light  is  an  agent  which  is,  in  many  respects, 
analogous  to  heat,  but  there  are  one  or  two  impor¬ 
tant  differences  between  them.  For  example,  heat 
passes  through  bodies  by  conduction,  and  is  carried 
from  place  to  place  by  convection  as  well  as  by  radi¬ 
ation  ;  light  is  known  only  in  the  radiant  state. 

2.  Objects  are  visible  only  under  two  conditions  : — 
a ,  when  they  are  self-luminous,  that  is,  when  they 
generate  light ;  or,  b,  when  they  receive  light  from 
some  source,  and  throw  it  off  again  (reflect  it)  hi 
such  a  way  that  at  least  some  part  of  it  strikes  upon 
the  nervous  apparatus  of  the  eye. 

3.  Bodies  may  be  arranged  in  a  rough  way  into 
three  classes,  according  as  they  permit  light  to  pass 
through  them  or  not. 

Transparent  bodies,  such  as  ordinary  window- 
glass,  are  those  which  transmit  light  without  sensibly 
scattering  it.  Objects  are,  therefore,  visible  through 
such  media  without  alteration  of  outline. 

Translucent  bodies,  for  example,  ground  glass  or 
fog,  scatter  the  light  which  passes  through  them  in 
such  a  way  that  the  outlines  of  objects  seen  through 
them  are  confused  or  even  obliterated. 

Opaque  bodies  are  those  which  stop  and  absorb  or 
reflect  all  the  light  which  falls  upon  them. 

There  is  no  such  tiling  as  perfect  transparency, 
for  even  air  and  white  glass  stop  a  part  of  the  light 
incident  upon  them,  and  there  is  probably  also  no 
such  thing  as  perfect  opacity,  for  even  metals,  when 
they  can  be  beaten  thin  enough,  transmit  a  little 
light. 

4.  When  a  ray  of  light  falls  on  a  perfectly  smooth 
surface,  the  whole  or  part  of  it  is  rejected,  and  it 
takes  a  new  course,  which  is  inclined  at  an  angle  to 
its  former  course.  This  is  reflection.  The  law  by 
which  the  direction  of  the  reflected  ray  is  regulated 
is  expressed  usually  thus  : — “  The  angle  of  incidence 
is  equal  to  the  angle  of  reflection.”  Suppose  A  B 


to  represent  the  surface  of  a  flat  mirror ;  I,  a  ray 
coming  through  a  small  hole  in  the  shade  of  the 
lamp,  and  “  falling  upon”  the  surface  of  the  mirror, 
may  be  called  the  incident  ray ;  R,  the  course  into 
which  it  is  “  bent  back,”  is  the  position  of  the  re¬ 
flected  ray.  If  now  a  line,  real  or  imaginary,  be 
drawn  to  the  surface  of  the  mirror  at  the  point  C, 
the  law  tells  us  that  the  incident  ray,  I,  will  always 
form  with  C  D  the  same  angle  that  R  forms  with 
C  D.  And  the  three  lines,  I,  C  D,  and  R,  will  al- 


30 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


[July  9,  1S70. 


X) 

A 

C  B 

Trays  be  in  the  same  plane ;  that  is,  if  three  rods 
attached  to  a  board  in  the  position  of  the  lines  in  the 
figure,  were  used  as  a  model,  and  the  eye  of  the  ex¬ 
perimenter  looked  in  the  direction  of  the  arrow,  he 
would  see  the  three  coincident  and  appear  as  one. 

In  an  experiment  with  a  mirror  he 
would  see  from  this  point  a  spot  of 
light  on  looking  down  R,  and  in  the 
direction  of  the  arrow,  he  would  see 
the  hole  in  the  lamp-shade.  It  will, 
of  course,  be  understood,  that  the 
number  of  rays  proceeding  from  the  lamp  are  infi¬ 
nitely  numerous.  In  a  diagram,  the  course  taken 
by  one  only  of  them  can  be  shown  with  distinctness. 
But  all  of  those  which  fall  upon  the  mirror  are  re¬ 
flected  from  tlieir  various  points  of  incidence,  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  same  law. 

5.  In  the  preceding  experiment  the  spot  of  light 
would  appear  to  proceed  from  behind  the  mirror. 
This  is  also  the  case  with  images  of  persons  or 
things  seen  in  ordinary  looking-glasses.  As  a  gene¬ 
ral  rule,  an  object  appears  to  be  in  the  direction 
from  which  the  rays  which  meet  the  eye  last  pro¬ 
ceeded. 


The  experiment  described  makes  use  of  a  ray 
proceeding  from  a  luminous  point.  The  image  of  an 
object  is  the  result  of  the  association  together  of  an 
infinite  multitude  of  such  points. 


Suppose  A  B  the  surface  of  a  mirror.  The  lines 
I  and  I2  represent  the  paths  of  rays  falling  Bom  the 
extremities  of  the  arrow  upon  the  reflecting  surface. 
Between  them  there  should  be  an  infinite  number  of 
similar  rays  proceeding  from  the  intermediate  points. 
R  and  R2  are  the  paths  of  the  two  rays  represented 
after  reflection.  The  arrow,  therefore,  seems  to  be 
in  the  position  shown  by  the  dotted  lines,  which  are 
a  continuation  of  R  and  B2,  and  it  appears  to  be  at 
the  same  distance  behind  the  reflecting  surface  that 
it  is  in  reality  in  front. 

In  tliis  diagram,  again,  it  has  been  possible  to  re¬ 
present  only  those  rays  which,  after  reflection,  meet 
the  eye.  From  every  point  of  the  object,  however, 
it  will  be  understood  that  rays  proceed  in  every  di¬ 
rection  ;  those  which  are  thrown  downwards  fall  on 
the  mirror  and  are  reflected,  and  of  these  only  a 
certain  number,  viz.  those  whose  paths  of  reflection 
lie  between  R  and  R2,  are  received  in  the  eye. 

6;  Ordinary  objects  are  visible  from  almost  any 
position  the  experimenter  may  take  up  ;  the  reason 
is,  that  the  rays  of  light  thrown  off  from  objects  in 
general  are  distributed  in  an  infinite  number  of  di¬ 
rections,  owing  to  the  irregularity  of  their  surfaces. 
A  beam  of  light  entering  through  the  shutter  of  a 
darkened  room,  and  falling  upon  a  sheet  of  paper, 
will  do  more  to  illuminate  the  room  than  if  it  fell 
upon  a  mirror.  In  the  latter  case,  the  light  will  be 


reflected  in  one  beam,  and  will  afford  only  one 
bright  spot,  instead  of  being  distributed  in  all  direc¬ 
tions. 


Manual  of  Qualitative  Analysis.  By  Robeet  Gal¬ 
loway,  F.C.S.,  Professor  of  Applied  Chemistry  in  the 

Royal  College  of  Science  for  Ireland.  Churchill  and 

Sons.  1870.  Fifth  Edition. 

The  title  page  of  the  volume  before  us  informs  us  that 
we  are  presented  with  a  fifth  edition.  This  fact  implies 
one  or  both  of  two  things  :  either  there  is  an  extraordi¬ 
nary  demand  for  treatises  on  qualitative  analysis,  or  Pro¬ 
fessor  Galloway’s  book  is  better  done  than  others  of  its 
class. 

Whilst  we  most  willingly  accord  to  the  author  of  this 
work  the  large  measure  of  praise  which  he  undoubtedly 
deserves,  we  cannot  withhold,  at  the  same  time,  our  opi¬ 
nion,  that  there  is  yet  room  for  a  good  manual  of  quali¬ 
tative  analysis ;  we  might  say  for  two  good  manuals,  for 
we  should  like  to  see  every  one  of  those  already  existing 
submitted  to  a  process  of  sifting.  For  beginners  we 
ought  to  have  displayed  all  the  most  important  prin¬ 
ciples  deduced  from  just  so  many  familiar  facts  as  would 
serve  to  establish  them  in  the  mind  of  an  intelligent 
school-boy  or  girl;  they  would  then  be  in  a  position 
fairly  to  attack  the  subject  as  it  is  presented  to  them  in 
the  ordinary  handbooks.  When  a  child  is  first  regularly 
instructed  in  writing  or  drawing  he  goes  through  a 
course  of  “pothooks  and  hangers,”  which,  if  they  have 
no  substantive  value  of  their  own,  familiarize  him  with 
the  nature  of  the  work  he  has  before  him,  and  the  tools 
he  has  to  use ;  but  in  science,  as  generally  taught,  the 
unlucky  juvenile  is  plunged,  heels  over  head,  into  the 
waters  of  technicality,  the  shallows  or  the  deeps  of  which 
he  will  be  equally  lucky  if  he  escape.  As  an  experiment, 
we  should  like  to  see  some  one  subject,  say  botany,  taught 
by  the  guidance  of  a  gradational  series  of  lesson  books, 
similar  in  general  principle  to  ordinary  school  “copy¬ 
books.” 

Professor  Galloway  has  already  made  an  attempt  at 
something  of  this  kind  in  his  ‘  First  Step  ’  and  ‘  Second 
Step  ’  in  chemistry,  but  we  wish  we  could  think  he  had 
done  so  with  absolute  success.  His  ‘  Qualitative  Analy¬ 
sis,’  which  we  have  just  most  carefully  examined,  has 
given  us  the  impression,  however,  that  he  has  consider¬ 
ably  improved  with  his  experience  in  writing,  and  par¬ 
ticularly  in  arranging.  If  he  would  now  let .the  present 
volume  stand  as  a  second  step,  and  would  take  the  trouble 
to  compile  another  about  one-third  of  the  size,  and,  not 
disdaining  small  matters,  make  it  really  suited  to  be¬ 
ginners,  he  would  deserve  the  thanks  of  all  chemical 
teachers. 

Chemical  analysis  is  an  art;  its  success  depends,  in 
greatest  measure,  upon  the  judicious  selection  of  the  de¬ 
vices  by  which  the  characteristic  properties  of  bodies  are 
brought  most  prominently  into  view.  One  defect  of  the 
work  before  us  is,  that  it  fails  to  stamp  with  sufficient 
distinctness  the  diagnostic  marks  of  each  radicle  and 
group  of  radicles.  Unimportant  properties  and  reac¬ 
tions  are  made  as  much  of,  except  in  the  tables,  as  the 
most  distinctive,  and  consequently  the  student  finds 
none  of  those  salient  points  to  grasp  at  which  ought  to 
be  ready  to  his  hand.  We  feel  bound  to  say,  however, 
that  there  is  evidence  of  very  careful  work.  There  are 
throughout,  so  far  as  we  have  been  enabled  to  detect,  no 
statements  which  are  fundamentally  incorrect. 

We  like  the  tables  for  contrasting  the  characters  of 
the  members  of  the  several  groups  of  basylous  radicles, 
though  we  demur  to  the  author’s  appropriation  of  all 
the  credit  due  to  the  plan,  for  we  find  the  same  thing  in 
a  slightly  different  form  in  many  other  books. 


July  9,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


37 


There  seems  to  have  been  great  pains  taken  to  give 
the  latest  information,  and  no  process  of  importance  is 
omitted. 

Part  II.,  devoted  to  the  consideration  of  organic  sub¬ 
stances,  contains  a  great  deal  of  useful  matter,  which  is 
generally  rather  shirked  by  writers  on  analysis. 

Part  III.  includes  a  description  of  the  common  opera¬ 
tions,  solution,  filtration,  and  the  like,  an  account  of 
Bunsen’s  flame  reactions,  and  an  enumeration  of  the  re¬ 
agents  commonly  required.  Altogether,  we  have  the 
groundwork  of  a  very  excellent  guide  for  the  student. 
If  the  author  in  the  sixth  edition,  which  he  is  pretty 
certain  to  reach,  would  consent  to  the  excision  of  a  con¬ 
siderable  amount  of  matter,  not  incorrect,  but  foreign  to 
the  subject  in  hand;  if  he  would  carefully  purify  his 
pages  of  a  number  of  trifling  crudities  and  inaccuracies ; 
and,  lastly,  by  putting  in  a  few  good  strong  dashes  of 
light  and  shade,  make  it  less  like  a  young  lady’s  water¬ 
colour  drawing,  one  tint  all  over, — he  would  bring  his 
‘  Manual  ’  to  a  position  of  completeness  and  solid  useful¬ 
ness  which  would  bid  fair  to  double  its  already  large 
circulation,  and  make  it  the  leading  text-book  in  our 
schools. 


Index  to  the  Native  and  Scientific  Names  of  Indian 

AND  OTHER  EASTERN  ECONOMIC  PLANTS  AND  PRO¬ 
DUCTS  :  prepared  under  the  authority  of  the  Secretary 
of  State  for  India,  by  J.  Forbes  Watson,  M.A.,  M.D., 
F.L.S.,  etc.,  Reporter  on  the  Products  of  India.  Lon¬ 
don  :  India  Museum.  1868.  Eoyal  8vo.  Pp.  viii.,  637. 

Though  somewhat  late,  we  now  proceed  to  notice  the 
above  work,  the  publication  of  which  we  announced 
some  time  ago. 

The  trade  which  this  country  enjoys  with  India  is  so 
great  in  extent  and  in  the  variety  of  its  articles,  that 
such  a  book  of  reference  as  the  above  will  be  warmly 
welcomed  by  all  connected  therewith.  To  the  economic 
botanist  it  will  prove  a  valuable  aid  in  the  determina¬ 
tion  of  the  many  new  or  rare  products  which  from  time 
to  time  find  their  way  into  the  English  markets. 

These  vernacular  names  are  compiled  from  various 
publications  on  the  botany,  Materia  Medica,  and  pro¬ 
ducts  of  the  East.  Upwards  of  one  hundred  works, 
beside  much  manuscript  matter,  have  been  waded  through 
to  produce  the  present  Index. 

The  work  does  not  lay  claim  to  be  anything  but  a 
compilation.  No  critical  examination  of  the  orthogra¬ 
phy  or  correct  bestowal  of  the  names  has  been  attempted  ; 
they  are  simply  quoted  as  given  by  the  authors  from 
whose  works  they  are  taken. 

Besides  being  a  useful  index,  the  book  contains  an  im¬ 
mense  amount  of  information.  After  the  name,  the  lan¬ 
guage  from  which  it  is  derived,  and  the  plant  to  which 
it  is  applied,  we  have  references  to  works  where  the 
word  occurs  and  where  information  can  be  obtained  re¬ 
specting  the  substance;  thus,  under  the  various  spell¬ 
ings  of  the  fruit  of  JEgle  Marmelos ,  as  Bael,  Bel,  Bele, 
Beli,  etc.,  we  counted  no  less  than  seventeen  references. 

What  we  should  very  much  like  to  see,  would  be  a  com¬ 
panion  volume  to  the  present  one  (and  from  the  preface 
we  are  led  to  expect  another),  in  which,  under  the  bo¬ 
tanical  name,  the  various  vernacular  names  are  arranged, 
and  concerning  which  the  locality  where  used,  synonymy, 
whether  pure  or  introduced,  derivation  and  moaning, 
whether  collective  or  individual  names,  and  whether  ap¬ 
plied  to  the  plant  as  a  whole  or  to  its  parts  or  products, 
would  be  stated. 

In  addition  to  the  correct  orthography  of  the  name 
being  given,  they  could  be  spelt  as  pronounced,  accord¬ 
ing  to  Mr.  Ellis’s  ‘Glossic  System,’  which  the  English 
Dialect  Society  propose  following  in  their  ‘  Dictionary.’ 
Of  course  this  would  entail  much  critical  labour,  but, 
with  the  resources  at  the  command  of  the  Indian  Go¬ 
vernment,  could  undoubtedly  be  done ;  and  such  an  Index, 
provided  with  copious  references  to  works  where  the  words 
occur,  would  be  an  immense  boon  to  all  scientific  and  com¬ 


mercial  men,  besides  being  of  great  philological  value  and 
interest.  We  say  this  not  in  any  disparagement  of  the 
present  work,  but  having  felt  the  value  of  this,  we  long 
for  a  second,  such  as  we  describe,  and  which  we  are  sure 
would  meet  with  great  success. 


BOOKS  RECEIVED. 

The  Unity  of  Medicine;  its  Corruptions  and  Divisions 
by  Law  Established  in  England  and  Wales,  their  Causes, 
Effects,  and  Remedy.  By  Frederick  Davies,  M.D.,  etc. 
etc.  Second  Edition,  revised  and  extended  to  Ireland  and 
Scotland.  London:  John  Churchill  and  Sons,  New  Bur¬ 
lington  Street.  8vo,  pp.  302.  1870. 


The  Half-Yearly  Abstract  of  the  Medical  Sciences. 
Edited  by  William  Dornett  Stone,  M.D.,  etc.  Yol. 
LI.  January-June,  1870.  London:  John  Churchill  and 
Sons,  New  Burlington  Street.  1870. 


Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy. — At  a  meet¬ 
ing  of  the  College  on  the  27th  of  December  last,  the 
following  gentlemen  were  elected  corresponding  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  College : — Prof.  John  Attfield,  London ; 
Henry  B.  Brady,  Newcastle-on-Tyne ;  John  Abraham, 
Liverpool;  T.  B.  Groves,  Weymouth;  C.  R.  C.  Tich- 
borne,  Dublin ;  E.  Crace  Calvert,  Manchester ;  John. 
Mackay,  Edinburgh ;  W.  W.  Stoddart,  Bristol ;  J.  C. 
Brough,  London. 

Society  of  Pharmacy,  Paris. — We  observe  that 
Prof.  Attfield  and  Mr.  J.  Collins  have  been  elected  cor¬ 
responding  members  of  this  Society. 

Suffocation  by  Carbonic  Acid  Gas. — An  inquest 
has  been  held  on  the  bodies  of  four  men,  J ohn  Smith, 
Edward  Jones,  Samuel  Hassall,  and  Thomas  Bedson, 
who  were  suffocated  in  a  tube  used  to  convey  waste  gas 
from  the  blast  furnace  to  heat  the  furnace  boilers  at  the 
North  Staffordshire  Coal  and  Iron  Company’s  works  at 
Talke.  This  waste  gas,  which  is  very  light,  is  conveyed 
in  a  pipe  150  feet  long  by  4  ft.  6  in.  diameter.  It  appears 
from  the  evidence  that  the  works  had  been  stopped  for 
the  purpose  of  cleaning  the  tube,  and  effecting  some 
slight  repairs,  and  Smith,  the  manager,  with  his  assist¬ 
ants,  Jones  and  Hassall,  went  to  see  to  it.  Shortly 
afterwards  they  were  missed  from  the  premises,  and 
Bedson,  in  his  search,  entered  the  tube,  where  he  also 
fell  a  victim  to  the  gas.  Attached  to  this  tube  is  a  large 
air-tube  used  to  supply  fresh  air ;  and  it  seems  that 
Smith,  in  his  anxiety  to  get  the  repairs  done,  had  omitted 
to  take  the  precaution  of  clearing  the  tube  of  the  gas. 

Dr.  A.  Greatorex  deposed  that  the  cause  of  death  was 
poisoning  by  carbonic  acid  gas,  and  the  jury  returned  a 
verdict  accordingly. 

Dr.  Percy,  of  the  Royal  School  of  Mines,  in  a  letter  to 
the  ‘  Times,’  referring  to  this  lamentable  accident,  states 
that  the  poisonous  ingredient  of  this  so-called  “  waste 
gas  from  the  blast  furnaces”  is  carbonic  oxide,  the  inha¬ 
lation  of  which,  whether  pure  or  mixed  with  common 
air,  rapidly  destroys  life.  He  observes  that  as  the  use 
of  this  “waste  gas  ”  for  heating  steam  boilers  is  extend¬ 
ing  daily,  it  is  important  that  managers  of  such  works 
should  be  acquainted  with  its  highly  poisonous  nature, 
and  take  every  precaution  to  prevent  their  workmen 
from  being  exposed  to  its  influence. 

Ice. — The  following  singular  formation  of  ice  is  re¬ 
corded  in  the  ‘  Central  India  Times,’  as  occurring  in  the 
Chanda  district,  at  the  village  of  Warrora.  On  the  23rd 
of  February  last,  when  an  endeavour  was  made  to  empty 
a  reservoir  connected  with  a  tank  at  that  place,  by 
opening  the  drainage  pipe,  it  was  found  that  the  water 
would  not  flow.  To  ascertain  the  cause,  the  tank  was 
pumped  dry,  when  it  was  found  that  a  solid  mass  of  ice, 
some  three  feet  in  length,  had  been  formed,  completely 


38 


THE  PHAEMACETJTICAL  JOUEJN'AL. 


[July  9,  1870. 


choking  the  mouth  of  the  pipe.  When  removed,  it  ap¬ 
peared  opaque,  somewhat  similar  to  machine-made  ice. 
The  soil  under  which  this  phenomenon  occurred  is  the 
oommon  black  loam  of  the  Deccan  (cotton  soil),  the 
piping  of  ordinary  potter’s  clay,  cemented  at  the  joints 
with  a  composition  of  lime,  linseed  oil,  and  cotton, 
poimded  up  together,  and  the  protecting  masonry  of  the 
indigenous  sandstone  and  mortar.  The  water  in  the  re¬ 
servoir  and  pipe  had  remained  perfectly  still  for  about 
six  months  previously,  the  pipe  having  been  closed  dur¬ 
ing  that  period.  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say,  that  the 
temperature  at  Warrora  never  at  any  time  even  ap¬ 
proached  freezing-point. 

The  Riga  Fine. — M.  Keller,  of  Darmstadt,  writing 
in  ‘  Cosmos,’  says,  that  what  is  known  outside  Russia  as 
the  Riga  Pine,  and  which  has  been  praised  for  its 
specially  good  qualities,  is  unknown  by  any  distinctive 
appellation  at  Riga,  and  is,  in  fact,  nothing  more  than 
the  ordinary  Pinus  sylvestris. — Athenccum. 

The  Treatment  of  Smallpox.  —  At  one  of  the 

meetings  of  the  “Vaccine  Congress,”  in  Paris,  M.  Jaffin 
brought  forward  not  only  a  specific  for  smallpox,  but 
one  which  he  “has  always  found  successful  in  every 
description  of  epidemic  disease”!  The  remedy  consists 
of  a  gramme  of  quinine  dissolved  in  120  grammes  of  an 
opiated  vehicle,  of  which  a  tablespoonful  is  to  be  taken 
every  two  hours. 


©Mtoarg. 


On  the  27th  of  May,  at  Great  Marlow,  Mr.  Robert 
Eoottit,  chemist. 

On  the  24th  ult.,  at  Shepherd’s  Bush,  Mr.  William 
John  Beaton,  son  of  Mr.  John  Beaton,  of  Kilburn,  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society. 


Communications  for  this  Journal ,  and  books  for  review , 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

Betts’s  Suits, 

Dear  Sir, — I  feel  that  I  am  only  fulfilling  my  duty  by  at 
once  returning  my  most  sincere  thanks  to  yourself  and  those 
kind  friends  who  rallied  round  me  with  their  advice  and  pe¬ 
cuniary  assistance  during  the  many  years  the  suits  ‘  Betts  v. 
Willmott  and  others”  have  been  going  on. 

I  would  at  the  same  time  congratulate  the  trade  on  the 
satisfactory  termination  of  those  suits  as  announced  in  your 
last  issue. 

I  am,  your  obedient  servant, 

William  T.  Cooper, 

Chairman  of  the  Betts  Defence  Committee. 

26,  Oxford  Street,  W., 

July  5th,  1870. 


Regulations  for  Storing  Poisons. 

Sir, — Now  that  the  battle  of  the  Regulations  has  been 
fought,  and  the  danger  of  having  vexatious  restrictions  im¬ 
posed  on  our  dealings  with  a  large  number  of  articles  being 
over  for  the  present, — it  may  be  well  to  consider  our  future 
action  in  the  matter.  The  subject  has  assumed  an  altered 
aspect  since  the  Annual  Meeting,  for  it  now  appears  that  the 
Privy  Council,  and  not  the  Pharmaceutical  Council,  were  the 
active  parties  in  the  scheme ;  and  as  it  seems  they  require  the 
adoption  of  some  legal  regulations  for  the  keeping  of  poisons 
(the  necessity  for  which  I  by  no  means  admit),  the  opponents 
of  the  former  proposals  may  perhaps  be  expected  to  assist  in 
the  endeavour  to  devise  some  plan  that  shall  be  practicable, 
and  more  likely  to  meet  with  general  adoption.  Not  tbat  I 


fear  more  onerous  burdens  being  imposed  on  us  without  our 
consent;  we  have  defeated  “  Poison  Bills  ”  before,  and  can  do 
so  again  if  need  be,  but  perhaps  it  may  be  possible  to  discover 
some  plan  that  shall  effect  all  that  is  desired  and  satisfy  the 
Government,  without  interfering  too  much  with  the  arrange¬ 
ments  of  our  shops  or  the  requirements  of  our  trade ;  and  if 
the  matter  be  well  discussed  in  your  columns,  a  more  ac¬ 
ceptable  scheme  may  doubtless  be  arrived  at  before  the  next 
Annual  Meeting. 

It  may,  perhaps,  assist  in  the  discussion  if  the  “  Poison 
Schedule”  be  given  in  extenso,  so  that  people  may  see  what 
it  really  contains ;  and  the  following,  I  believe,  will  be  found 
to  comprise  nearly,  if  not  quite,  every  article  that  may  fairly 
be  included  in  the  list : — 


List  of  Poisons  within  the  Meaning  of  the  Act. 
PART  I. 

Morphiae  Acet. 

Hydrochlor. 


Arsenic,  Alb. 

„  Sulph.  Flav. 

„  „  Rub. 

Perri  Arsenias. 

Liq.  Arsenicalis. 

Arsen.  Hydrochl. 


» 

99 


99 


Mecon. 
„  Sulph. 
Nicotine. 
Strychnia. 


„  Arsen,  et  Hyd.  (Donov.) 

„  Liquor. 

Scheele’s  Green. 

Veratria. 

Sodae  Arsen. 

Cantharides. 

„  „  Liquor. 

Corrosive  Sublimate. 

Aconit.  Extr. 

Cyanide  of  Mercury. 

„  Folia. 

„  Potassium. 

„  Linim. 

„  Silver. 

„  Rad. 

„  Sodium. 

„  Tinct. 

„  Zinc. 

,,  „  Fleming’s. 

„  Potass.  Solut. 

Aconitia. 

Emetic  Tartar. 

Atropia. 

Ergota. 

„  Liq. 

,,  Ext.  Liquid. 

„  Sulph. 

„  Infus. 

„  „  Liq. 

„  Tinctura. 

„  Unguent. 

„  Liq.  Secale  Corn. 

Brucia. 

Prussic  Acid,  B.  P. 

Codeia. 

„  „  Scheele’s. 

Conia. 

Savin. 

Digitalin. 

„  Oil  of. 

Morphia. 

Fifty-three  articles. 


PART  II. 


Almond,  Ess.  Oil  of. 
Belladonnse  Extr. 

„  Fol. 

,,  Linim. 

„  Rad. 

„  Tinct. 

Canthar.  Acet. 

,,  Liq.  Epispast. 

„  Tinct. 

Chloroform. 

Hyd.  Bichlor.  Liquor. 

„  Lotio  Flav. 
Morph.  Acet.  Liq. 

Hydrochl.  Liq. 
Mecon.  Liq. 

Opium. 

„  Pulv. 

„  Extr. 


Opii  Extr.  Liquid. 

Linim.  Opii. 

Liq.  Opii  Sed. 

Nepenthe. 

Pil.  Ipec.  c.  Scill. 

„  Plumbi  c.  Opio. 

„  Saponis  Co. 

Pulv.  Ipec.  Co. 

„  Kino  Co. 

„  Opii  Co. 

Tinct.  Opii. 

Vinum  Opii. 

Poppies,  Ext.  of. 

„  Syrup  of. 

Oxalic  Acid. 

Precipitate,  Red. 

„  White. 

Vermin  Killers  innumerable. 
Thirty,  six  articles. 

Being  a  total  of  89  articles  affected  by  the  Pharmacy  Act. 


99 

99 


Now  cne  of  the  chief  objections  to  the  late  proposed  “Re. 
gulations  ”  was  their  application  to  every  article  in  the  above 
list,  and  it  was  felt  not  only  to  be  impracticable  to  apply  such 
stringent  restrictions  to  so  great  a  number  of  articles,  but 
contrary  to  common  sense  to  require  the  same  rule  to  be 
adopted  with  articles  differing  so  widely  in  their  potency  as 
they  do. 

A  poison-closet,  to  be  any  element  of  safety,  must  be  con¬ 
fined  to  a  very  limited  number  of  the  most  powerful  and 
dangerous  articles.  A  cautious  chemist  would  hardly  like  to 
put  tartar  emetic  or  morphia  in  the  same  cupboard  with 
aconitia  or  strychnia,  but  would  rather  keep  them  as  far 
apart  as  possible.  Besides,  it  is  nonsense  to  talk  of  shutting 
up  such  articles  as  cantharides,  or  ergot,  or  opium,  or  savin, 
or  aconite,  or  belladonna,  and  many  others,  or  even  red  pre- 


Jctly  9,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


89 


cipitate  or  sublimate,  in  a  poison-closet, — there  is  scarcely  any 
one  of  these  that  could  possibly  be  mistaken  for  anything 
else,  except  by  the  grossest  carelessness  or  ignorance  :  and  as 
to  the  idea  that  any  one  would  attach  a  peculiar  sanctity  to 
such  a  poison-closet,  or  approach  its  doors  with  fear  and  re¬ 
verence,  we  may  be  very  certain  that  when  he  knows  per¬ 
fectly  well  that  four-fifths  of  the  articles  contained  in  it  can 
hardly  be  called  either  dangerous  or  deadly,  the  poison-closet 
would  soon  be  considered  of  no  more  importance  than  any 
other  part  of  the  shop. 

The  same  reasons  hold  good  in  regard  to  labelling  with  the 
word  <c  poison,”  and  the  use  of  angular  or  other  fanciful  bot¬ 
tles.  The  word  “  poison  ”  put  on  bottles  containing  tartar 
emetic,  Dover’s  powder,  syrup  of  poppies,  tinct.  belladonna, 
and  others  of  like  nature,  would  convey  no  warning  to  the 
mind  of  the  druggist,  and  might  probably  create  unnecessary 
alarm  in  that  of  the  customer,  whilst  the  use  of  angular  bot¬ 
tles  for  such  articles  as  those,  would  destroy  their  value  {if 
they  have  any  value)  as  safeguards  for  more  dangerous  sub¬ 
stances. 

In  short,  by  far  too  many  and  too  widely  differing  articles 
were  affected  by  the  proposed  regulations,  and  if  we  must 
have  regulations  on  the  subject,  they  should  be  confined  to  a 
few  of  the  more  deadly  and  dangerous  poisons  and  their 
names  specified,  if  they  are  to  be  of  any  service  and  receive 
general  adoption. 

I  am,  Sir,  yours  sincerely, 

W.  Wilkinson. 

Cheetliam  Sill ,  June  20,  1870. 


The  Late  Election  oe  Council. 

Sir, — It  appears  to  me  that  the  constitution  of  the  Society, 
rather  than  the  judgment  of  its  members,  has  been  at  fault 
in  the  late  election  of  Council.  I  agree  with  Mr.  Ince  in 
thinking  that  there  is  too  great  a  proportion  of  the  country 
element  in  the  Council,  and  for  the  reason,  and  only  for  the 
reason  stated  by  him;  in  other  respects  a  better  selection  of 
men  could  hardly  have  been  made.  On  looking  over  the  new 
list  when  it  first  appeared,  I  thought  we  had  done  well,  and 
it  was  on  reading  the  much  but  unjustly  complained  of  leader 
in  the  supplementary  number  of  the  Journal,  that  I  became 
fully  impressed  with  the  importance  of  studying  something 
more  than  the  quality  of  the  men  in  arranging  the  composi¬ 
tion  of  the  Council.  1  am  not  so  thin-skinned  as  Mr.  Proctor 
appears  to  be,  and  was  thankful  that  our  attention  had  been 
drawn  to  this  subject  by  an  article  likely  to  be  read  and  pon¬ 
dered  over;  not  written  in  the  namby-pamby  milk-and-water 
style  to  which  Mr.  Proctor  would  limit  the  editor  of  our 
Journal.  In  reading  the  article  in  question,  and  the  com¬ 
ments  upon  it  which  have  since  been  published,  I  have  been 
anxious  to  form  an  impartial  judgment,  although  perhaps 
with  some  of  the  prejudices  of  a  provincial;  but  I  can  see 
nothing  in  the  article  to  call  forth  the  severe  animadversions 
which  have  emanated  from  Newcastle.  The  discussion  which 
has  taken  place  may,  however,  raise  the  question,  whether  a 
journal,  such  as  ours  has  become,  is  a  suitable  organ  of  com¬ 
munication  in  a  Society,  the  members  of  which  may  be 
strongly  opposed  to  each  other  on  points  affecting  or  sup¬ 
posed  to  affect  their  trade  interests.  It  surely  implies  no 
small  commendation  of  the  editorial  management  of  the 
Journal  since  it  has  been  the  property  of  the  Society,  that 
now,  for  the  first  time  in  eleven  years,  the  judgment  and  im¬ 
partiality  of  the  editor  have  been  called  in  question,  and  only 
now,  when  his  position  and  influence  had  been  previously 
weakened.  But  the  circumstances  by  which  the  Society  is 
surrounded  are  undergoing  a  change,  and  judging  from  re¬ 
cent  manifestations,  it  is  hardly  to  be  anticipated  for  the  fu¬ 
ture  that  there  shall  bo  that  unanimity  in  the  Council,  and 
freedom  from  party  spirit  among  the  great  mass  of  the  mem¬ 
bers,  which  have  characterized  the  past.  Under  such  condi¬ 
tions  the  Journal  may  become  a  source  of  weakness  rather 
than  strength,  and  it  behoves  us  well  to  consider  upon  what 
principles  it  is  to  be  conducted.  Let  the  Society  either  con¬ 
fine  itself  to  the  publication  of  its  transactions  as  other  sci¬ 
entific  Societies  do,  or  if  it  determines  to  seek  influence  through 
journalism,  let  it  invest  the  editorial  function  with  such  a 
balance  of  responsibility  and  freedom  from  undue  control,  as 
may  be  at  once  consistent  with  the  interests  of  the  body  at 
large,  and  with  the  spirit  of  honourable  independence  so  es¬ 
sential  to  the  efficient  performance  of  editorial  duties.  I  hope 
never  to  see  the  Journal  of  our  Society  become  “  the  mere 


tool  of  the  Council.”  One  of  the  objects  of  the  Journal 
should  be  to  promote  the  temperate  discussion  of  questions 
appertaining  to  tho  management  of  the  Society,  and  among 
other  important  points  to  the  composition  of  its  Council. 
That  provincial  interests  should  be  fairly  represented  is  ad¬ 
mitted  by  all ;  nor  will  it  be  denied  that  there  is  a  large  num¬ 
ber  of  members  in  the  Provinces,  and  in  London  also,  in 
every  way  fitted  to  take  part  in  the  deliberations  of  the  Coun¬ 
cil,  who  have  never  yet  had  a  seat  there.  It  is  not  desirable 
that  the  office  of  councillor  should  be  permanent,  or  that  the 
metropolitan  element  in  the  governing  body  should  be  so 
weak  as  to  interfere  with  the  efficient  performance  of  the  work 
to  be  done.  The  question  is,  how  are  we  to  provide  for  the 
election  from  year  to  year  of  a  Council  in  which  all  the  re¬ 
quisite  conditions  are  maintained,  in  which  town  and  country 
are  sufficiently  represented,  in  which  old  blood  and  new  are 
duly,  mixed,  and  opportunities  afforded  for  rising  talent  to 
manifest  its  abilities  at  the  Council-board  ?  In  other  Socie¬ 
ties  it  is  customary  to  have  these  things  regulated  by  the 
bye-laws,  but  in  our  Society  there  is  an  absence  of  any  such 
regulation.  The  consequence  of  this  has  been  that  that 
which  is  not  officially  done  has  been  undertaken  by  those  who, 
dissatisfied  with  the  old  system  of  following  the  stars,  and 
being  at  the  same  time  desirous  of  a  change  in  the  Council 
and  an  infusion  of  new  blood,  have  sought  to  accomplish  this 
through  the  influence  of  circulars,  and  other  methods  of  can¬ 
vassing.  Now  is  it  possible  that  the  government  of  the  So¬ 
ciety  should  be  satisfactorily  conducted  in  this  way  ?  If 
committees  at  Manchester  and  Leeds  are  to  influence  the 
election  of  Councillors,  why  not  others  throughout  the  coun¬ 
try  ?  And  what  would  be  the  result  of  this  ?  Why,  that 
party  spirit  would  be  fostered,  and  members  of  Council  would 
be  seeking  to  satisfy  the  requirements  of  those  through  whose 
influence  they  were  elected,  instead  of  studying  the  interests 
of  the  body  at  large.  I  say,  then,  the  constitution  of  the 
Society  is  at  fault,  and  the  proper  remedy  for  the  defect  will 
be  the  adoption  of  a  bye-law  limiting  the  number  of  provin¬ 
cial  members  of  Council  to  (say)  not  more  than  ten,  and 
limiting  the  period  during  which  a  Councilman  can  continu¬ 
ously  hold  office  to  not  more  than  five  years,  but  admitting 
him  to  election  again  after  the  lapse  of  a  year. 

Pboyincialist. 


An  Age  oe  Peogkess. 

Sir, — Of  the  two  parts  into  which  Mr.  Ince’s  letter  of  last 
week  is  divided,  the  first,  which  has  reference  to  the  publica¬ 
tion  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Council,  possesses  by  far  the 
more  enduring  interest. 

It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  a  man  of  his  standing  should 
have  thrown  the  weight  of  his  influence  into  the  scale  against 
publicity,  from  which  progress  is  inseparable ;  and  I  would 
ask  him  in  all  sincerity,  to  consider  well  whether  his  reasons 
are  not  of  the  same  character  as  those  that  have  always  been 
advanced,  to  be  always  in  the  long-run  overruled  by  the  op¬ 
ponents  of  wholesome  publicity — from  the  case  of  proceedings 
in  Parliament  down  to  those  in  metropolitan  vestries,  and 
Boards  of  Guardians.  Indeed,  the  analogy  between  the  posi¬ 
tions  of  members  of  Parliament  and  members  of  Council  is 
too  obvious  to  be  easily  overlooked ;  and  how  ridiculous  would 
be  the  position  of  a  constituency  proceeding  to  elect  its  mem¬ 
bers  in  total  ignorance  of  their  opinions,  and  without  the 
means  of  learning  them,  either  by  canvass,  by  address,  or  by 
speeches  in  the  House  !  Mr.  Ince,  dwelling,  as  one  may  say, 
in  the  vortex  of  pharmaceutical  life,  and  personally  acquainted 
with  the  leading  members  of  the  Society,  can  have  but  little 
difficulty  in  selecting  his  candidates,  but  I  question  much 
whether  he  has  realized,  or  indeed  can  realize,  the  difficulties 
of  individuals  less  favourably  situated ;  and  I  assert,  without 
much  fear  of  contradiction,  that  for  the  majority  of  members, 
and  with  the  exception  of  a  few  well-known  names  among 
the  candidates,  a  mere  rule  of  thumb,  which  should  lead  to 
the  striking  out  of  alternate  names  or  of  the  redundancy  at 
the  end  of  the  list,  would  usually  give  results  equally  satis¬ 
factory  with  those  at  present  obtained. 

As  a  point  of  etymology,  Mr.  Ince’s  definition  of  the  word 
Council  must  no  doubt  be  accepted  as  correct,  but  examples 
are  not  difficult  to  find,  in  which  it  obtains  a  wider  mean¬ 
ing  ;  indeed,  Mr.  Ince  has  at  this  moment  a  notable  oppor¬ 
tunity  for  earning  the  gratitude  of  the  Pope,  and  lasting  re¬ 
nown  for  himself,  by  suggesting  the  means  for  banishing  dis¬ 
cussion  from  the  great  Council  of  the  Church  now  sitting  at 


40 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


[July  9, 1870. 


Rome — to  which,  by  the  way,  the  word  consilium  more  espe¬ 
cially  applies. 

Mr.  Ince  puts  forward  three  objections  to  publicity.  First, 
that  most  of  the  proceedings  are  of  a  conversational  nature. 
So,  frequently,  are  those  of  the  houses  of  Parliament  when  in 
Committee— -not  to  speak  of  vestries  and  such-like,  which  are 
reported  without  difficulty  every  day ;  nor  is  it  to  be  supposed 
that  verbatim  reports  are  required.  Secondly,  he  is  afraid  of 
not  being  recognized  as  the  father  of  his  own  offspring,  from 
the  circumstance  that  he  has  sometimes  made  a  mouthpiece 
of  another  member.  I  reply  that  he  has  the  remedy  in  his 
own  hands,  and  can  by  no  possibility  be  worse  off  in  that  re¬ 
spect  than  he  is  now.  His  simile  of  the  signpost  is  a  good 
one,  but  he  would  hardly  wish  to  destroy  such  signs  because  one 
had  sent  him  in  a  wrong  direction.  His  third  reason  is  even 
more  unsatisfactory.  Why  the  debates  which  occasionally 
arise  must  of  necessity  be  of  a  personal  nature  I  do  not  know, 
though  I  am  bound  to  accept  his  statement ;  but  of  this  I 
am  certain,  that  if  any  member  can  so  far  forget  himself  as  to 
make  use  of  personalities,  or  make  statements  the  publication 
of  which  will  “  sow  an  abundant  harvest  of  ill-will,  misun¬ 
derstanding,  and  estrangement,”  it  is  highly  desirable  that 
he  shall  be  known  to  the  Society  at  large.  Nor  is  a  feeling  of 
uncertainty  as  to  who  may  next  suffer  under  the  tender  mer¬ 
cies  of  the  Council  likely  to  make  us  less  desirous  of  the  safe¬ 
guard  of  publicity,  of  the  necessity  for  which  Mr.  Ince  has 
now  himself  supplied  us  with  conclusive  proof. 

Charles  Eve. 

Hampstead,  July  4<th,  1870. 


Sir, — May  I  be  allowed  space  for  a  few  remarks  on  the 
“Age  of  Progress  ”  ? 

In  common  with  many  others,  I  feel  annoyed  that  every 
now  and  then  the  Journal  of  our  Society  should  be  made  the 
medium  for  propagating  strictures  and  remarks  which  are 
quite  uncalled  for,  and  reflect  injuriously  on  large  numbers 
of  the  Society’s  friends. 

The  members  of  the  Society  last  month  elected  in  the 
usual  way  a  new  Council.  Immediately  on  this  being  done, 
there  appeared  in  the  Journal  a  somewhat  extraordinary 
leader,  commenting  very  freely  on  the  matter,  and  hinting, 
in  no  indistinct  manner,  that  the  ^Society  had  done  a  very 
foolish  thing  in  electing  such  a  Council.  The  grammatical 
peculiarities  of  the  leader  sufficiently  indicated  its  author, 
and  Mr.  Ince  has  since  acknowledged  it.  Had  it  appeared 
at  the  end  of  the  Journal  among  the  “Correspondence,”  it 
would  probably  have  been  regarded  as  representing  the  opi¬ 
nion  of  an  individual  member,  and  have  called  forth  no  com¬ 
ment;  but,  appearing  with  the  editorial  sanction,  it  was 
looked  on,  and  naturally  so,  as  representing  the  opinions  and 
feelings  of  those  who  conducted  the  Journal. 

Now,  Sir,  comments  of  the  kind  contained  in  that  leader 
could  only  have  been  excusable  had  they  appeared  at  the 
end  of  the  new  Council’s  year  of  office,  and  after,  on  its  part, 
twelve  months  of  gross  mismanagement  and  neglect  of  the 
interests  of  the  Society.  Coming  as  they  did,  at  a  time  when 
neither  Mr.  Ince  nor  any  one  else  could  have  had  the  slight¬ 
est  reason  for  judging  it,  or  supposing  that  it  would  prove 
incompetent  or  indifferent,  they  must  be  considered  to  have 
been  quite  uncalled  for,  and  to  have  had  no  ground,  either  in 
justice  or  good  taste. 

The  present  Council  has  been  chosen  by  the  Society  in  the 
regular  way,  and  to  prejudge  its  action,  to  condemn  it  before 
trial,  is  a  proceeding  quite  without  parallel.  Imagine  the 
Geographical  and  Geological  Society  electing  its  Council, 
and  then  allowing  its  principal  journal  to  speak  of  that  elec¬ 
tion  as  Mr.  Ince  has  spoken  of  ours.  Should  the  Council 
prove  incompetent,  the  Society  will  be  able,  at  the  proper 
time  and  in  the  proper  way,  to  intimate  its  disapproval,  and 
take  proper  action  with  regard  to  it.  It  is  not  wise  to  jump 
to  the  conclusion  that,  because  its  members  are  scattered 
over  the  country,  they  will  be  unable  properly  to  attend  to 
their  duties,  and  that,  therefore,  the  Society  has  done  a  very 
foolish  thing  in  electing  them. 

I  am  sure  that  others,  as  well  as  myself,  have  derived  both 
instruction  and  pleasure  from  much  that,  Mr.  Ince  has  written, 
and  I  regret  that  he  should  ever  employ  a  pen — so  capable 
of  benefiting  the  Society,  and  adorning  the  pages  of  the 
Journal — in  writing  articles  that  causelessly  rouse  hostile 
feeling,  and  tend  to  produce  that  discord  which  already  con¬ 
stitutes  our  principal  weakness. 

York  Town.  A.  H.  Claypole. 


Sir, — I  hail  with  satisfaction  the  first  weekly  issue  of  the 
‘  Pharmaceutical  Journal,’  and  gladly  accept  as  an  omen  of 
impartiality  the  juxtaposition  of  Mr.  Proctor’s  and  Mr. 
Ince’s  letters.  It  will  astonish  most  of  your  readers  to  learn 
the  authorship  of  “  An  Age  of  Progress,”  and  the  unsatisfac¬ 
tory  explanation  will  but  increase  the  surprise.  Rightly  or 
wrongly,  I  have  been  wont  to  attribute  to  Mr.  Ince  a  remark 
I  read  some  years  since  in  recommending  the  study  of 
French  (in  which  I  fully  concur),  that  devotion  would  suffer 
little  by  an  occasional  attendance  at  a  French  service.  But 
if  “  An  Age  of  Progress  ”  is  an  example  of  the  effect  of 
studying  French,  I  imagine  the  advantage  is  more  than 
doubtful :  style  will  not  be  much  improved,  while  moral  tone 
will  be  certainly  lowered.  Possibly  the  recollection  of  the 
common  French  adage,  “  Qui  s’ excuse,  s’accuse,”  would  have 
prevented  Mr.  Ince’s  letter  in  your  last;  but,  in  recollection 
of  many  interesting  and  valuable  contributions  from  the 
same  pen,  we  shall  be  glad  to  forget  this  last  infirmity. 

I  trust,  Sir,  that  you  will  not  insist,  as  one  of  your  corre¬ 
spondents  suggests,  upon  the  name  and  address  of  every 
writer.  Great  names  are  wont  to  carry  more  influence  than 
they  merit  at  all  times ;  while  anonymous  communications 
are  more  likely  to  be  estimated  at  their  intrinsic  worth. 
“  We  want  measures,  not  men.”  There  are  some  subjects, 
too,  to  which  it  would  be  highly  undesirable  to  subscribe 
one’s  name.  Such  a  subject  is  the  appointment  of  local 
secretaries.  I  have  an  ardent  desire  to  see  the  secretaryship 
of  my  own  neighbourhood  more  worthily  filled ;  but  I  should 
be  extremely  sorry  to  offend  a  neighbour,  who  is  very  worthy 
in  many  respects,  by  indicating  my  name  or  residence,  neither 
would  I  thus  put  myself  forward  as  a  candidate.  We  want 
men  as  local  secretaries  who  are  not  merely  the  “  fathers  of 
the  trade”  in  age,  but  who  are  comprehensive  enough  t» 
study  the  interests  of  the  trade  at  large,  whether  in  or  out  of 
the  Society, — men,  who  not  only  collect  members’  subscrip¬ 
tions,  and  make  an  annual  appeal  on  behalf  of  the  Benevolent 
Fund,  but  who  are  in  harmony  with  the  spirit  of  the  times, 
and  have  at  least  some  sympathy  with  the  measures  and  ob¬ 
jects  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society.  I  regret  the  apathy  of 
chemists  in  this  matter.  I  thank  “  Quintus  ”  for  his  sugges¬ 
tions,  which  I,  for  one,  should  be  glad  to  see  carried  out,  as 
well  as  many  others  that  might  be  made. 

I  enclose  my  card,  and  am,  Sir, 

Yours  truly, 

Henricus. 

July  5 th,  1870. 


A.  W.  (Lowestoft). — TJnguentum  Sulphuris  Uypochlo - 
ridi  Compositum.  The  formula  will  be  found  in  Yol.  X., 
page  66 ;  but,  for  the  convenience  of  those  who  may  not  have 
the  early  volumes,  we  repeat  it  here. 

R.  Sulphuris  Hypochloridi  5ij 
Potassae  Subcarbonatis  gr.  x 
Adipis  purificati  *i 

01.  Amygd.  Essent.  irlx.  M.  ft.  unguentum. 

B.  N.  (Northampton). — We  are  not  acquainted  with  Star- 
tin’s  ‘  Treatise  on  Diseases  of  the  Skin.’  A  course  of  lectures 
on  { Chronic  Diseases  of  the  Skin,’  by  Mr.  Startin,  were  pub¬ 
lished  in  the  ‘  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’  vols.  xiii.  and  xiv. 

W.  L.  W.  (Torquay). — We  believe  there  is  no  such  law. 

U.  S. — There  is  no  such  name  registered  in  or  near  Lon¬ 
don. 

I.  T.,  H.  S.,  and  A  Lover  of  Fair  Flay  have  sent  us  com¬ 
munications  on  the  “cutting”  system  adopted  by  some  che¬ 
mists,  with  lists  of  prices  charged,  from  which  we  may  quote 
the  following : — Seidlitz  powders,  Id.  each ;  children’s  powders. 
Id.  each;  castor  oil,  2 d.  per  ounce;  blue  pill  and  black  draught, 
4 d.,  etc. 

Aspirant  should  apply  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Apothecaries’ 
Company. 

W.  F.  Parry  (Hammersmith)  thinks  that  chemists  ought 
to  meet  and  consider  what  steps  should  be  taken  to  coun¬ 
teract  the  injurious  effects  produced  by  co-operative  stores. 

A.  P.  S. — An  Associate  who  has  passed  the  Modified  Ex¬ 
amination  is  not  entitled  to  call  himself  “  Pharmacist.” 


Instructions  from  3f embers  and  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Brem- 
ridg-e,  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  W.C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W. 


July  16,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


41 


THE  CHEMISTRY  OF  THE  ATMOSPHERE. 

BY  J.  ALFRED  WANKLYN. 

A  first  glimpse  at  the  minute  but  potent  constitu¬ 
ents  of  tlie  atmosphere,  is  afforded  by  Dr.  Angus 
Smith’s  reports  under  the  Alkali  Act  passed  in  the 
year  1863.  As  is  doubtless  known  to  many  of  our 
readers,  it  is  the  business  of  the  Government  In¬ 
spector  under  tliis  Act  to  take  upon  himself  the  office 
of  Conservator  of  the  Atmosphere  in  the  manufac¬ 
turing  districts,  and  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty  the 
Inspector  has  had  before  him  the  task  of  distin¬ 
guishing  between  polluted  and  non-polluted  air. 
His  results,  especially  those  just  published  in  the  re¬ 
port  for  the  year  1869,*  appear  to  us  to  be  of  the 
highest  interest. 

That  the  air  of  a  close  room  is  different  from  the 
air  of  a  well- ventilated  room ;  that  air  indoors  is 
different  from  air  outside  ;  that  the  air  of  a  town  is 
different  from  the  air  of  the  country,  and  that  the 
air  of  one  country-place  is  not  quite  the  same  as  the 
air  of  another  country-place, — all  tliis  is  matter  of 
common  observation.  But  wherein  these  differences 
consist  has  been,  up  to  the  present  time,  involved  in 
the  greatest  obscurity,  and  is  now,  for  the  first  time, 
becoming  intelligible. 

Towards  the  close  of  last  century,  immediately  on 
the  discovery  of  the  mam  composition  of  the  atmo¬ 
sphere,  viz.  that  it  consisted  of  a  mixture  of  nitrogen 
and  oxygen,  and  that  the  important  processes  of 
combustion  and  respiration  consisted  in  chemical 
action  of  the  latter  on  the  combustible  burnt  or  on 
the  tissues  of  the  animal  which  breathed, — the  idea 
arose  that  the  differences  between  one  atmosphere 
and  another  depended  on  richness  or  poorness  in 
oxygen.  Tliis  idea,  in  itself  so  plausible,  was  fos¬ 
tered  by  the  irregular  character  of  the  analytical 
results  furnished  by  the  method  of  analysing  air, 
which  was  in  vogue  at  that  early  period  in  the  his¬ 
tory  of  chemical  analysis. 

Many  of  these  early  measurements  of  the  quantity 
of  oxygen  in  the  air  were  made  by  observing  the 
contraction  which  a  volume  of  air  underwent  when 
subjected  to  the  action  of  nitric  oxide.  Very  accurate 
results  are  possible  when  this  process  is  properly 
performed  (Cavendish  got  excellent  results  with  it), 
but  sources  of  error,  which  we  understand  at  the  pre¬ 
sent  day,  though  they  were  not  understood  when  it 
•was  in  use  as  an  analytical  process,  prevented  the 
general  attainment  of  accurate  results  at  that  period. 
Thus  it  was  that  great  variations  in  the  proportion 
of  oxygen  in  the  atmosphere  were  regarded  as  having 
been  found  by  chemical  analysis,  and  to  this  source 
may  be  traced  those  curious  errors  which  have  sur¬ 
vived  to  the  present  day  in  the  discourse  of  the 
itinerant  lecturer,  and  even  of  the  medical  practi¬ 
tioner  (in  foreign  countries  as  well  as  at  home)  who 
opens  the  window  to  let  in  oxygen ,  and  is  oppressed 
by  the  excessive  accumulation  of  carbonic  acid. 

With  the  modern  improvement  in  the  methods  of 
eudiometric  analysis,  the  truth  became  apparent,  that 
the  proportion  of  oxygen  in  the  air  is  very  nearly  con¬ 
stant, — Regnault,  Bunsen,  and  all  modem  chemists 
who  have  examined  the  composition  of  the  atmo¬ 
sphere,  being  unanimous  on  this  point.  The  following 
determinations  may  be  quoted : — 


*  Sixth  Annual  Report  of  the  Inspector  under  the  Alkali 
Act  of  1863.  London :  Eyre  and  Spottiswoode. 

Third  Series,  No.  3. 


Oxygen  per  cent. 

Air  from  sea-sliore,  Scotland  .... 

„  the  summit  of  hills,  Scotland 

„  suburb  of  Manchester  .  .  . 

75  55  ... 

„  St.  John’s,  Antigua  .... 

„  a  close  sitting-room  .... 

„  pit  of  a  theatre,  11  p.m.  .  . 

2  Feb.  1866.  Court  of  Queen’s  Bench  . 

The  air  of  a  crowded  room  therefore  contains  very 
nearly  as  large  a  proportion  of  oxygen  as  the  air  of 
the  open  country.  Furthermore  it  lias  been  shown 
that  great  variation  in  the  proportion  of  oxygen  may 
be  made  without  any  corresponding  physiological 
effect  being  produced  on  animals  breathing  such  an 
atmosphere. 

F or  the  essential  distinctive  characters  of  different 
atmospheres  we  camiot,  therefore,  look  to  the  relative 
percentages  of  oxygen  in  different  specimens  of  air, 
but  must  look  to  other  criteria.  In  truth,  the  sanitary 
chemistry  of  the  atmosphere  is  very  much  like  that 
of  water ;  being,  like  the  latter,  concerned  with  very 
small  quantities  of  impurities  present  in  very  large 
quantities  of  the  main  material.  Pursuing  tliis 
analogy,  which  may  be  of  service  in  conveying  a 
just  idea  of  the  character  of  atmospheric  impurities, 
the  carbonic  acid  present  in  air  may  be  likened  to 
the  total  solids  contained  by  waters.  In  100,000 
volumes  of  average  air  there  are  about  34  volumes 
of  carbonic  acid.  In  100,000  parts  of  average  Thames 
water,  as  supplied  to  the  metropolis  by  the  water 
companies,  there  are  about  28  parts  of  total  solid 
residue.  Moreover,  the  slight  percentage  of  carbonic 
acid  hi  the  air  is  just  as  harmless  as  the  main  bulk 
of  the  total  solid  residue  of  water,  and  the  extent  of 
variation  which  actually  obtains  in  the  amount  of 
carbonic  acid  in  badly  ventilated  rooms  is  quite  too 
small  to  be  of  physiological  importance. 

The  following  numbers  will  serve  to  give  an  idea 
of  the  actual  quantities  of  carbonic  acid  which  occur 
in  different  specimens  of  air. 

100  volumes  of  air  Vols.  of  C02. 

From  the  hills  in  Scotland  contain  0'0332. 

From  surface  of  Thames  (London)  0  0343. 

Neighbourhood  of  middens  contain  0'0 774. 

Worst  parts  of  theatres  „  0'3200. 

The  proportion  of  carbonic  acid  in  the  worst  of 
these  specimens  of  air,  and  probably  a  far  higher 
proportion  of  carbonic  acid,  would  be  without  physio¬ 
logical  importance. 

It  is  not  the  carbonic  acid,  but  matter  existing  in 
air  in  far  smaller  quantity,  which  determines  the 
physiological  character  of  different  atmospheres. 

Referring  to  the  report  just  issued,  it  will  be  seen 
that  Dr.  Angus  Smith  has  recognized  atmospheric 
pollution  by  acids,  salts,  and  nitrogenous  organic 
matter,  the  latter  having  been  detected  and  measured 
by  the  ammonia-process.*  The  absence  of  vegeta¬ 
tion  in  the  northern  manufacturing  towns,  and  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  many  kinds  of  chemical  works,  is 
ascribed,  in  great  part,  to  the  presence  of  free  acids, 
such  as  sulphuric  and  hydrochloric  in  the  atmo¬ 
sphere  ;  and  the  possibility  is  suggested,  that  to  the 
presence  of  traces  of  different  saline  substances  in 
the  air  of  seaside  watering  places,  may  be  due  some 
of  the  sanitary  effects  wliich  attend  a  sojourn  in 
places  of  that  description. 

*  Journal  of  Chemical  Society,  1867,  vol.  v.  p.  445. 


20-999 

20-980 

20-980 

20-960 

20-950 

20-890 

20-740 

20-650 


42 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


[July  16,  1S70. 


In  reference  to  the  nitrogenous  organic  matter,  it 
is  established,  in  a  general  way,  that  open  country 
air  contains  very  little,  and  that  town  air,  especially 
that  of  unhealthy  towns  like  Glasgow,  contains  com¬ 
paratively  much ;  also,  that  the  air  of  close  rooms 
and  of  privies  contains  comparatively  much.  The 
air  of  open  places  in  London  stands  this  test  well ; 
and,  as  is  so  well  known,  London  is  remarkably 
healthy. 

A  curiously  close  parallelism  may  be  traced  be¬ 
tween  the  “  organic  character  ”  of  air  and  that  of 
water. 

Thus,  from  the  data  to  be  found  in  the  report,  it 
appears  that  one  kilogramme  of  air  collected  in  dif¬ 
ferent  parts  of  Chelsea  (London),  gave  0'035  milli¬ 
gramme  of  free  ammonia,  and  0'085  milligramme 
of  albuminoid  ammonia. 

It  is  known  that  one  kilogramme  of  average 
London  water,  such  as  is  supplied  by  the  Thames 
water  companies,  gives  0‘01  milligramme  of  free 
ammonia,  and  0'08  milligramme  of  albuminoid  am¬ 
monia. 

The  range  of  variation  in  atmospheric  air  when  it 
has  been  polluted  is  much  like  the  range  exhibited  by 
polluted  water.  Thus  the  analysis  of  air  from  a 
“midden”  showed — 

In  one  kilogramme  of  air, 

0'20  milligramme  of  free  ammonia; 

O' 32  milligramme  of  albuminoid  ammonia. 

Chemists  who  are  in  the  habit  of  using  the  am¬ 
monia  process  will  recognize  these  numbers  as  being 
such  as  are  given  by  bad  well-water. 

In  conclusion,  and  to  complete  the  parallel,  the 
remark  may  be  made  that  the  daily  amount  of  water 
drunk  by  the  human  subject  and  the  daily  amount 
(by  weight)  of  air  passed  through  the  lungs  are  com¬ 
mensurable  quantities. 


CULTURE  AND  DISEASES  OE  THE  SILKWORM. 

Pasteur  has  recently  investigated  some  of  the 
diseases  which  attack  the  silkworm,  and  has  pub¬ 
lished  the  results  of  his  labours  in  a  work  entitled 
‘  Sur  la  Maladie  des  Vers  a  Soie.’  The  disease,  called 
pebrine,  which  has  been  vei%  prevalent  and  destruc¬ 
tive  of  late  years  in  various  parts  of  France,  has 
especially  engaged  his  attention. 

Pebrine  derives  its  name  from  the  black  specks 
which  occur  on  the  silkworm  suffering  Lorn  it,  and 
it  consists  in  the  development  of  peculiar  parasitic 
corpuscles  which  invade  the  eggs,  the  blood,  and  all 
the  tissues  of  the  silkworm.  One  of  the  observations 
of  M.  Pasteur  is,  that  the  corpuscles  are  very  easy 
of  detection  in  the  moth  of  the  silkworm,  whilst  in 
the  earlier  stages  of  silkworm  development,  i.  e.  in 
the  stage  of  the  egg  and  of  the  worm,  the  detection 
of  the  pebrine  corpuscles  is  difficult  and  often  im¬ 
possible. 

Moths,  which  are  recognized  as  sound,  produce 
sound  eggs,  whilst  unsound  moths  produce  unsound 
eggs,  which,  although  themselves  shoving  no  sign 
ol  the  disease,  cannot  develope  into  healthy  worms. 

Pasteur’s  practical  advice  to  the  silk  cidtivator 
was  to  examine  the  moth,  and  to  make  sure  that 
healthy  moths  were  started  from.  The  mode  of  pro¬ 
cedure  in  vogue  before  Pasteur’s  investigation  of  the 
subject  was  to  examine  the  eggs.  Pasteur  remarks, 
that  the  culture  of  the  silkworm  ought  to  become  a 
profitable  industry  in  many  of  the  colonies  of  Great 
Britain. 


MUSCARIN,  THE  ALKALOID  OF  THE  FLY 

FUNGUS. 

From  Wittstein’s  ‘  Yierteljahressclirift,’  bd.  xix. 
heft  2  (1870),  it  appears  that  Koppe  and  Schmiede- 
berg  have  extracted  an  alkaloid  from  the  fly  fungus 
(Amanita  muscaria),  and  have  given  to  it  the  name 
Muscarin.  The  process  of  preparation  is  very  com¬ 
plicated  and  tedious,  including  the  pressing  out  of 
the  juice  of  the  fungus,  subsequent  concentration 
by  evaporation,  and  precipitation  by  means  of 
alcohol.  The  alcoholic  solution  is  evaporated,  and 
then  purified  by  means  of  sugar  of  lead  and  am¬ 
monia,  which  remove  some  insoluble  matter  from  it ; 
it  is  then  dried  up  with  powdered  glass.  From  the  dry 
mass  a  tincture  in  absolute  alcohol  is  made.  The  eva¬ 
poration  and  precipitation  by  means  of  ammonia  and 
acetate  of  lead  is  repeated.  The  lead  is  subsequently 
removed  by  means  of  dilute  sulphuric  acid.  To  the 
sulphate  of  the  new  alkaloid  there  is  added  the  double 
iodide  of  potassium  and  mercury,  which  throws  down 
a  precipitate  containing  the  alkaloid  in  question. 
From  this  precipitate  it  is  to  be  extracted  by  means 
of  baryta  water,  etc. 

Muscarin  forms  a  crystalline  mass,  which  is  very 
deliquescent,  fusing  to  a  syrup  on  exposure  to  the 
air.  It  is  tasteless  and  odourless ;  reacts  strongly 
alkaline  ;  is  insoluble  in  ether,  little  soluble  in  chlo¬ 
roform,  very  soluble  in  alcohol  and  ether.  When 
exposed  to  the  action  of  heat,  it  first  becomes  brown¬ 
ish  (at  80°  C.),  and  at  100°  C.  is  a  solid,  but  fuses  at 
higher  temperatures ;  strongly  heated,  it  evolves  a 
smell  of  tobacco  and  burns.  It  is  not  alterable  by 
boiling  with  weak  solution  of  potash  or  dilute  sul¬ 
phuric  acid.  Heated  with  solid  potash,  it  evolves  a 
smell  of  fish,  and,  on  further  treatment,  disengages 
abundance  of  ammonia. 

It  is  a  powerful  base,  precipitating  oxides  of  iron 
and  of  copper  from  their  solutions  in  acids.  With 
carbonic  acid,  it  yields  a  tolerably  stable  carbonate, 
and,  with  sulphuric  acid,  it  gives  crystalline  salt, 
which  is  deliquescent. 

Tannic  acid  precipitates  it  only  from  concentrated 
solutions ;  picric  acid,  chloride  of  platinum,  and 
ferrocyanide  of  potassium  give  no  precipitate. 

The  toxic  effects  of  muscarin  resemble  those  of  the 
Calabar  bean. 


ACCIDENT  DURING  THE  RECTIFICATION  OF 

ETHER. 

An  accident,  which  it  is  difficult  to  account  for,  is 
described  in  one  of  the  French  journals,  ‘  Repertoire 
de  Pharmacie,’  as  having  occurred  to  a  chemist,  M. 
Adrian,  while  engaged  in  the  distillation  of  ether. 
The  assistant  who  had  charge  of  the  apparatus 
having  left  the  laboratory  for  a  short  time,  M.  Adrian 
observed  that  the  ether  was  coming  over  too  rapidly, 
and  proceeded  to  reduce  the  jet  of  steam  by  winch  the 
retort  was  heated.  While  he  had  his  hand  on  the 
steam- cock  for  that  purpose,  he  saw  a  flame  in  the 
middle  of  the  laboratory,  on  the  floor,  travelling  to¬ 
wards  the  receiver  attached  to  the  condenser.  In  an 
instant  the  liquid  in  the  receiver  caught  fire,  the  vessel 
broke,  and  some  of  the  burning  liquid  was  projected 
over  M.  Adrian,  finally  setting  his  clothes  on  fire. 
He  suffered  severe  injuries  from  the  accident,  and 
had  great  difficulty  in  escaping  with  his  life.  The 
most  remarkable  part  of  the  case  is  this,  that  the 
process  was  being  performed  by  the  use  of  steam  as 


July  16,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


43 


the  source  of  lieat,  in  a  room  from  which  fire  was 
strictly  excluded.  Whence  came  the  flame  which 
was  first  seen  in  the  middle  of  the  laboratory,  travel¬ 
ing  towards  the  liquid,  which  it  ignited  ?  No  doubt 
the  vapour  formed  a  train  along  the  floor,  and  it  is 
possible  that  this  extended  to  another  apartment, 
where  it  took  fire. 


ON  COCA. 

BY  E.  H.  FOURNIER. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  phenomena  which  claim 
the  attention  of  the  physiologist  is  the  action  of  stimu¬ 
lants  on  the  human  organism.  It  is  a  well-ascertained 
fact  that  they  are  capable  of  supporting  the  organism  in 
the  absence  of  food;  and,  whatever  the  inclinations  of 
individuals  may  have  been,  or  still  are,  with  regard  to 
their  use,  it  is  certain  that  nations  of  the  past  and  pre¬ 
sent  cannot,  or,  at  any  rate,  do  not  exist  without  them. 
Von  Bibra,  in  his  preface  to  ‘  Die  Narkotischen  Genuss- 
Mittel  und  der  Mensch,’  assumes  the  following : — “  Coffee 
leaves,  in  the  form  of  infusions,  are  taken  by  2,000,000  of 
human  beings ;  Paraguay  tea  is  consumed  by  10,000,000; 
coca  by  as  many ;  betel  is  chewed  by  100,000,000;  chi¬ 
cory,  either  pure  or  mixed  with  coffee,  by  40,000,000 ; 
•cacao,  either  as  chocolate  or  in  some  other  form, 
by  50,000,000;  300,000,000  eat  or  smoke  haschish; 
400,000,000  use  opium;  Chinese  tea  is  drunk  by 
•500,000,000;  coffee  by  100,000,000.  All  known  peoples 
of  the  earth  are  addicted  to  the  use  of  tobacco,  chiefly  in 
the  form  of  smoking,  otherwise  by  snuffing  or  chewing.” 
He  adds  that,  with  the  exception  of  cacao,  perhaps  none 
of  these  substances  has  any  direct  nutritive  power.  In 
corroboration  of  the  above  figures,  stand  the  reports  con¬ 
cerning  production,  consumption,  and  taxation  of  these 
articles,  from  which  a  fair  inference  can  be  easily  drawn 
by  anybody  doubting  Yon  Bibra’ s  accuracy. 

In  the  present  article  the  action  of  coca  will  be  con¬ 
sidered,  as  described  by  various  travellers  in  South 
America.  The  substance  itself  is  little  known  in  Europe, 
but  it  has  received  considerable  attention  lately,  and  a 
proposal  has  been  made,  or  at  least  hinted  at,  by  Dr. 
Abl,  of  Zara,  to  introduce  it  here.  He  says, — “  Coca,  in 
the  hands  of  cautious  captains,  will  very  probably  put  a 
stop  to  the  much  more  disgusting  habit  of  chewing  to¬ 
bacco,  and  would  certainly  diminish  the  number  of  those 
who,  after  shipwreck,  perish  from  want  of  food.”  The 
descriptions  given  by  Poppig  and  Weddell*  are  not 
likely  to  stimulate  the  desire  for  the  importation  of  the 
Peruvian  herb.  They  describe  the  coquero  as  a  sickly, 
tottering  being,  with  hollow  eyes,  pale  lips  and  gums, 
black  marks  at  the  comers  of  the  mouth,  and  greenish 
and  stumpy  teeth, — a  somewhat  hideous  counterpart  to 
the  inveterate  drunkard  of  our  own  regions.  Yon 
Tschudif  mentions  a  case  of  a  somewhat  different  cha¬ 
racter.  He  says,  “A  cholo  of  Huari,  named  Hatun 
Huamang,  was  employed  by  me  in  very  laborious  dig¬ 
ging.  During  the  whole  time  he  was  in  my  service,  viz. 
five  days  and  nights,  he  never  tasted  any  food,  and  took 
only  two  hours’  sleep  nightly ;  but,  at  intervals  of  two 
and  a  half  or  three  hours,  he  regularly  masticated  about 
half  an  ounce  of  coca  leaves,  and  he  kept  an  acullico 
continually  in  his  mouth.  I  was  constantly  beside  him, 
and  therefore  had  the  opportunity  of  closely  observing 
him.  The  work  for  which  I  engaged  him  being  finished, 
he  accompanied  me  on  a  twelve  days’  journey  of  twenty- 
three  leagues  across  the  level  heights.  Though  on  foot, 
he  kept  up  with  the  pace  of  my  mule,  and  halted  only 
for  the  chacchar.  On  leaving  me,  he  declared  that  he 
would  willingly  engage  himself  again  for  the  same 
amount  of  work,  and  that  he  would  go  through  it 

*  ‘Voyage  dans  Ie  Nord  de  la  Boline.’ 

f  *  Peru.  Reiseskizzen.’  Translated  by  Ross. 


without  food,  if  I  would  but  allow  him  a  sufficient  supply 
of  coca.  The  village  priest  assured  me  that  this  man 
was  sixty-two  years  of  age,  and  that  he  had  never  known 
him  to  be  ill  in  all  his  life.” 

The  Erythroxylon  Coca  is  a  shrub  about  six  feet  high, 
with  bright  green  leaves  and  white  blossoms.  The  latter 
are  succeeded  by  small  scarlet  berries;  the  former  are 
described  as  shaped  similarly  to  the  leaf  of  the  cherry- 
tree.  In  the  tables  accompanying  Yon  Bibra’ s  work, 
some  specimens  are  shown  in  nature-print  (Naturselbst- 
druck).  They  appear  to  be  considerably  smaller  than 
cherry  leaves,  although  in  shape  not  unlike  them.  The 
coca  is  raised  for  the  seed,  in  garden  beds,  called  alma- 
zigas.  It  requires  humidity;  therefore  maize  is  sown 
between  the  mat  as,  or  young  shoots,  to  screen  them  from 
the  too  great  influence  of  the  sun.  When  the  leaves  are 
ripe — that  is  to  say,  when,  on  being  bent,  they  crack 
or  break  off — the  gathering  commences,  and  they  are 
stripped  from  the  branches,  a  task  usually  performed  by 
women.  The  plant,  thus  rendered  leafless,  is  soon  again 
overgrown  with  verdant  foliage.  The  colour  of  the 
leaves  when  dried  is  a  pale  green.  The  drying  demands 
great  care  and  attention,  for,  if  they  imbibe  damp,  they 
become  dark,  and  then  a  lower  price  is  obtained  than 
when  they  are  green.  Coca  is  not  believed  to  improve 
by  keeping;  the  inhabitants  find  it  unpalatable  at  a 
year  old.  Yon  Bibra  estimates  the  yield  of  one  acre 
(German)  at  800  lb.  of  dried  leaves ;  and  he  calculates 
that  30,000,000  lb.  are  annually  produced. 

The  Indians  masticate  the  coca  generally  in  combina¬ 
tion  with  some  alkaline  substance,  which  they  carry  in 
a  small  flask  gourd,  called  the  ishcupuru  ;  a  pouch,  called 
the  huallqui ,  or  the  chuspa,  contains  a  supply  of  coca 
leaves.  Unslacked  lime  pulverized  is  usually  taken  with 
the  herb.  In  Cerro  de  Pasco,  and  in  places  still  further 
south,  the  Indians  use,  instead  of  this,  a  preparation  of 
the  pungent  ashes  of  the  quinine.  This  preparation  is 
called  “llucta”  or  “llipta.” 

The  flavour  of  coca  is  said  to  be  rather  pleasant.  It  is 
slightly  bitter,  aromatic,  and  similar  to  the  worst  kind 
of  green  tea.  When  mixed  with  the  ashes  of  the  musa 
root,  as  in  some  of  the  Montana  regions,  it  is  somewhat 
piquant,  and  more  pleasant  to  European  palates  than  it 
is  without  that  addition. 

In  Dr.  Mantegazza’s  prize  essay*  the  whole  subject  is 
carefully  reviewed  and  ably  treated.  Abstracts  thereof 
are  contained  in  the  leading  pharmaceutical  journals. 
From  experiments  made  repeatedly  on  himself  and  on 
other  individuals,  Dr.  Mantegazza  draws  the  following 
conclusions ; — 1.  The  leaves  of  the  coca,  chewed  or  taken 
in  a  weak  infusion,  have  a  stimulating  effect  upon  the 
nerves  and  stomach,  and  thereby  facilitate  digestion  very 
much.  2.  In  a  small  dose,  coca  increases  the  animal 
heat,  and  augments  the  frequency  of  the  pulse,  and  con¬ 
sequently  of  respiration.  3.  In  a  medium  dose  (three  to 
four  drachms)  it  excites  the  nervous  system  in  such  a 
manner  that  the  movements  of  the  muscles  are  made 
with  greater  ease,  after  which  it  produces  a.  calming 
effect.  4.  Used  in  a  large  dose,  it  causes  delirium,  hal¬ 
lucinations,  and,  finally,  congestion  of  the  brain. 

An  inveterate  coquero,  or  coca-chewer,  says  Yon 
Tschudi,  is  known  at  the  first  glance.  His  unsteady 
gait,  his  yellow-coloured  skin,  his  dim  and  sunken  eyes 
encircled  by  a  purple  ring,  his  quivering  lips,  and  his 
general  apathy,  all  bear  evidence  of  the  baneful  effects 
of  the  coca  juice  when  taken  in  excess.  Such  an  indi¬ 
vidual  is  treated  as  the  opium-eater  is  treated  jn  Java 
and  the  East  in  general.  Intemperance  is  an  evil  which 
springs  from  the  love  of  self-indulgence ;  and  the  means 
for  its  gratification  are,  in  some  form  or  other,  every¬ 
where  to  be  found. 

Yon  Bibra  looks  upon  the  chewing  Indian  as  upon  an 
adder,  quick  to  the  touch,  and  resenting  with  demonia¬ 
cal  hatred  an  interruption  of  his  feast  and  his  dreams. 

*  Pamphlet,  Milan,  1859.  See  ‘  Oesterreichische  Zeitsckrift 
fur  praktische  Heilkunde,’  Nov.  4,  1859. 


44 


THE  PHAEMACEUTICAL  JOUENAL. 


[July  16,  1870. 


Intoxicated  sometimes  for  several  weeks,  the  debauchee 
hides  in  the  deepest  forest.  There,  stretched  upon  the 
ground,  he  indulges,  unmindful  of  flood,  storm,  or  wild 
beast,  fascinated  by,  as  Bibra  has  it,  one  of  his  compo¬ 
nents.  “Whoso,”  he  says,  “has  experimented  upon 
himself  with  narcotics,  knows  how  long  one  is  able  to 
take  stock  of  one’s  state  while  under  their  influence.  It 
seems  as  if  there  were  two  individuals  present,  the  one 
experiencing  all  the  effect  of  stupefaction,  the  other  con¬ 
scious  of  that  state  in  the  one.” 

Dr.  Weddell  asserts  that  the  Indians  who  accompanied 
him  chewed  coca  all  day  long,  and  sat  down  to  their 
suppers  with  a  double  appetite.  He  believes  that  the 
moderate  use  of  coca  enables  a  man  to  overcome  the 
feeling  of  hunger  for  a  longer  period.  The  exalting 
effect  which  it  produces  calls  out  the  power  of  the  or¬ 
ganism  without  leaving  afterwards  any  sign  of  debility. 
This  is  proved  by  experiments,  and  a  number  of  cases 
treated  by  Dr.  Mantegazza.  The  Inca,  who  lives  at  a 
height  of  from  7,000  to  15,000  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
sea,  and  whose  meagre  fare  consists  principally  of  maize, 
some  dried  meat,  and  potatoes  of  bad  quality,  believes 
that  he  can  sustain  his  strength  solely  by  the  use  of  coca. 
The  porter  who  carries  the  mail,  and  accompanies  the 
traveller  over  the  roughest  roads  at  the  quick  pace  of 
the  mule,  invigorates  and  strengthens  himself  by  chewing 
coca.  The  Indian,  who  works  half-naked  in  the  silver 
and  quicksilver  mines,  looks  upon  this  plant  as  ambrosia 
capable  of  imparting  new  life,  and  of  stimulating  to  new 
exertions. 

Tschudi  says,  “It  is  a  well-known  fact,  confirmed 
by  observation  and  experience,  that  the  Indians,  who 
regularly  masticate  coca,  require  but  little  food,  and, 
nevertheless,  go  through  excessive  labour  with  apparent 
ease.  They  therefore  ascribe  the  most  extraordinary 
qualities  to  the  coca,  and  even  believe  that  it  might  be 
made  entirely  a  substitute  for  food.”  Setting  aside  all 
extravagant  and  visionary  notions,  the  moderate  use  of 
coca  is  not  merely  innoxious,  but  it  may  even  be  very 
conducive  to  health.  There  are  numerous  examples  of 
longevity  among  Indians  who,  almost  from  the  age  of 
boyhood,  have  been  in  the  habit  of  masticating  coca 
three  times  a  day,  and  who,  in  the  course  of  their  lives, 
have  consumed  no  less  than  2700  lb.,  yet,  nevertheless, 
enjoy  perfect  health.  There  are  cases  of  individuals  in 
Peru,  by  no  means  singular,  who  have  actually  attained 
the  age  of  130.  Supposing  these  Indians  to  have  begun 
to  masticate  coca  at  ten  years  old,  and  calculating  their 
daily  consumption  as  a  minimum  at  1  oz.,  the  result  is 
the  consumption  of  27  cwt.  in  120  years. 

In  experimenting  upon  himself,  Dr.  Mantegazza  states 
that  an  infusion  of  coca  will  increase  the  action  of  the 
heart  to  four  times  its  normal  standard;  while  cocoa, 
tea,  coffee,  and  warm  water  only  double  it.  By  taking 
an  infusion  prepared  from  3  dr.  of  the  leaves,  a  feverish 
condition  was  produced,  with  increased  heat  of  the  skin, 
palpitation  of  the  heart,  flashes,  headache,  and  vertigo ; 
while  the  pulse  rose  from  70  to  134.  A  peculiar,  roaring 
noise  in  the  ear,  a  desire  to  run  about,  and  an  apparent 
enlargement  of  the  intellectual  horizon,  indicated  that 
the  specific  influence  upon  the  brain  had  commenced. 
A  peculiar,  hardly  describable  feeling  of  increased 
strength,  agility,  and  impulse  to  exertion  follows ;  it  is 
the  first  symptom  of  the  intoxication,  which  is,  however, 
quite  different  from  the  exaltation  produced  by  alcoholics. 
While  the  latter  manifests  itself  by  increased  but  irre¬ 
gular  action  on  the  muscles,  the  individual  intoxicated 
by  coca  feels  but  a  gradually  augmented  vigour,  and  a 
desire  to  spend  his  newly-acquired  strength  in  active 
labour.  _  After  some  time,  the  intellectual  sphere  parti¬ 
cipates  in  this  general  exaltation,  while  the  sensibility 
seems  to  be  hardly  influenced ;  the  effect  is  thus  quite 
different  from  that  produced  by  coffee,  and  resembles  in 
some  degree  that  of  opium.  Dr.  Mantegazza  could,  in 
this  excited  condition,  write  with  ease  and  regularity. 
After  he  had  taken  4  dr.,  he  was  seized  with  the  peculiar 


feeling  of  being  isolated  from  the  external  world ;  and, 
with  an  irresistible  inclination  to  gymnastic  exercise,  he 
jumped  upon  the  writing-table,  moving  about  with  ease, 
without  breaking  the  lamp  or  other  objects  upon  it.  In 
his  normal  condition,  the  learned  doctor  is  by  no  means 
given  to  gymnastic  exercise.  After  this,  a  state  of  tor 
pidity  came  on,  accompanied  by  a  feeling  of  intense 
comfort — consciousness  being  all  the  time  perfectly  clear 
— and  by  an  instinctive  wish  not  to  move  a  limb  during 
the  whole  day,  not  even  a  finger.  During  this  sensation 
sleep  sets  in,  attended  by  odd  and  rapidly-changing 
dreams.  It  may  last  a  whole  day  without  leaving  a 
debility  or  indisposition  of  any  kind.  Dr.  Mantegazza 
increased  the  dose  to  18  dr.  in  one  day ;  his  pulse  rose  in 
consequence  of  it  to  134.  Three  hours  of  sleep  sufficed 
to  Set  him  right  again,  so  that  he  was  able  to  follow  his 
daily  occupation  without  tho  least  indisposition,  on  the 
contrary,  even  with  unusual  facility.  He  had  abstained 
for  forty  hours  from  food  of  any  kind,  and  the  meals  then 
taken  were  very  well  digested.  During  the  last  stage  of 
intoxication,  and  in  the  moment  when  the  delirium  was 
most  intense,  he  described  his  feelings  to  several  of  his 
colleagues,  who  were  watching  him,  as  being  most  exqui¬ 
site,  ten  years  with  coca  being  preferable  to  a  million  of 
centuries  without.  The  description  was  given  in  writing 
by  Dr.  Mantegazza,  thus : — “  Io  preferiscata  nna  vita  di 
10  anni  con  coca  che  un  di  1,000,000  secoli  senna  coca.”  — 
From  the  1  Food  Journal 


NAVY  DISPENSERS. 

Admiralty ,  TF.C.,  7th  July ,  1870. 

Sir, — I  herewith  transmit  for  the  information  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  twenty  copies  of  the  new  regu¬ 
lations  for  the  appointment  of  dispensers  and  assistant- 
dispensers  in  her  Majesty’s  naval  hospitals,  and  I  have 
to  request  you  will  be  good  enough  to  give  publicity  to 
the  same. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  A.  Armstrong,  Director-General. 

Flias  Bremridge ,  Esq., 

Secretary  and  Registrar , 

Pharmaceutical  Society , 

17,  Bloomsbury  Square ,  TF.C. 

Admiralty ,  2ith  June ,  1870. 

Regulations  relative  to  the  Appointment  of  Dispensers  and 

Assistant-Dispensers  in  Her  Majesty's  Naval  Hospitals 

at  Home  and  Abroad. 

The  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty  are  pleased 
to  direct  that  the  following  regulations  relative  to  the 
qualifications  of  Candidates,  and  the  pay  and  allowances 
of  Dispensers  and  Assistant-Dispensers  of  her  Majesty’s 
Naval  Hospitals  at  home  and  abroad,  shall  in  future  be 
adopted : — 

1.  That  a  Candidate  for  entry  as  Assistant-Dispenser 
shall  make  a  written  application  to  that  effect,  addressed 
to  the  Secretary  of  the  Admiralty. 

2.  As  vacancies  occur,  Candidates  will  be  ordered  to 
attend  at  the  Office  of  the  Director-General  of  the  Medi¬ 
cal  Department  of  the  Navy,  observing  that  no  person 
can  be  admitted  as  an  Assistant-Dispenser  unless  he  pos¬ 
sesses  the  Minor  qualifications  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society;  but  Dispensers  or  Assistant-Dispensers  in  charge 
of  stores  must  possess  the  Major  qualifications  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society. 

3.  The  age  of  Assistant-Dispensers  on  entry  not  to  be 
less  than  20  years,  or  more  than  25. 

4.  The  daily  pay  of  Assistant-Dispensers  will  be  as 
follows : — 


July  16,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


45 


Under 

5  years’ 
service. 

Under 

8  years’ 
service. 

Under 

11  years’ 
service. 

Under 

14  years’ 
service. 

Under 

17  years’ 
service. 

Under 

20  years’ 
service. 

5s. 

5s.  6d. 

6  s. 

6s.  6d. 

7s.  6^. 

8s.  6d. 

and  for  every  additional  year  an  addition  of  Qd.  per 
diem,  till  10s.  a  day  is  reached. 

5.  When  in  charge  of  stores  an  additional  allowance 
will  he  granted,  viz.  at  Haslar  and  Plymouth  Hospitals 
2s.  per  day,  with  the  title  of  Dispenser ;  and  at  other 
Home  and  all  Foreign  Hospitals  Is.  per  day. 

6.  An  allowance  of  6^.  per  day,  in  lieu  of  fuel  and 
lights,  will  he  granted  to  all  Dispensers  and  Assistant- 
Dispensers,  and  they  will  he  provided,  with  quarters. 

7.  Superannuation  will  he  allowed  in  accordance  with 
the  Superannuation  Act  of  1859,  and  a  Certificate .  of 
Qualification  will  he  required  from  the  Civil  Service 
Commissioners,  under  the  terms  of  the  Order  in  Council 
of  4th  June,  1870,  published  in  the  ‘London  Gazette’  of 
the  7th  June,  1870. 

8.  Assistant-Dispensers  will  he  liable  to  serve  in  any 
of  her  Majesty’s  Naval  Hospitals  at  home  . or  abroad,  to 
which  they  may  from  time  to  time.be  appointed. 

By  command  of  their  Lordships, 

Vernon  Lushington. 


ON  THE  COMBINATIONS  OF  CARBONIC 
ANHYDRIDE  WITH  AMMONIA  AND  WATER. 

BY  EDWARD  DIVERS,  M.D. 

The  following  paper  contains  an  account  of  some,  in¬ 
vestigations  that  I  have  made  on  the  chemical  reactions 
and  combinations  of  carbonic  anhydride,  ammonia,  and 
water  with  each  other.  The  properties  and  relations  of 
such  bodies  as  these  being  of  primary  importance  in.  the 
theory  of  chemistry,  they  have  indeed  already  received 
a  large  share  of  the  attention  of  chemists ;  and  there¬ 
fore,  besides  much  that  has  come  to  be.  known  concern¬ 
ing  them,  of  which  it  would  be  impossible  now  to  ascer¬ 
tain  the  discoverers,  several  valuable  memoirs  have  been 
written  upon  them.  Nevertheless,  I  think  it  will  be 
generally  admitted  that  the  combinations  of  these  bodies 
are  still  felt  not  to  conform  in  a  clear  manner  to  the 
ammonium  theory,  the  theory  of  the  general  constitu¬ 
tion  of  salts,  and  even  the  theory  of  combining  propor¬ 
tions. 

In  attempting  to  arrive  at  a  more  satisfactory  know¬ 
ledge  of  these  combinations,  I  have  made  out  much  that 
I  believe  will  be  found  to  be  new,  both  to  chemical  lite¬ 
rature  and  the  traditions  of  the  laboratory,  and  of  ser¬ 
vice  in  helping  to  decide  as  to  the  normal  character  of 
these  combinations. 

General  History. — The  first  contribution  to  a  know¬ 
ledge  of  the  chemistry  of  the  carbonated  compounds  of 
ammonia  must  be  considered  to  be  that  of  Black* * * §  in 
1756,  pointing  out  the  difference  between  solution  of 
ammonia  and  the  solid  carbonate  of  commerce.  After 
this  we  find  Priestley  making  out  the  difference  between 
ammonia  and  its  carbonate  in  his  ‘  Experiments  and 
Observations  relating  to  Alkaline  Air’  in  I774.f 

The  first  recorded  quantitative  analysis  of  a  compound 
of  carbonic  anhydride  and  ammonia,  as  far  as  I  can  dis¬ 
cover,  is  that  by  Bergmann,  in  1774.  J 
The  variable  composition  of  the  compounds  of  car? 


*  ‘Experiments  on  Magnesia,  Quicklime,  and  other  Alka¬ 
line  Substances;’  Edinburgh  (1777),  pp.  65,  86,  103,  and 
109. 

•j"  ‘  Experiments  and  Observations  on  different  Kinds  of 
Air,’  vol.  i.  p.  163. 

J  Works,  translated  by  Cullen,  vol.  i.  p.  29.  Of  the 
“  Aerial  Acid,”  paper  read  in  1774. 


bonic  anhydride  and  ammonia  was  pointed  out  in  1 1 99 
by  Sir  Humphry  Davy,*  but  the  results  he  obtained  prov¬ 
ing  to  be  erroneous,  his  statements  were  untrustworthy. 
The  fact  of  the  existence  of  different  carbonates  was 
afterwards  confirmed  by  Berthollet,  Dalton,  and  others. 

The  Ammonium  Carbonates. — I.  Normal  Ammonium 

Carbonate. 

There  are  certainly  three  combinations  of  ammonia 
and  carbonic  anhydride,  into  the  formation  of  which 
water  enters  in  sufficient  relative  quantity  to  allow  of 
their  being  represented  as  ammonium  salts  of  carbonic 
acid, — the  normal,  the  half-acid,  and  the  acid  carbonate. 

Since  writing  the  note  on  the  preparation  and  compo¬ 
sition  of  the  first-named  of  these  in  the  ‘  Philosophical 
Magazine,’  I  have  ascertained  several  interesting  parti¬ 
culars  in  the  chemical  conduct  of  this  substance,  so  that 
the  facts  there  communicated  form  only  a  small  part  of 
the  history  of  this  salt  I  am  now  able  to  give. 

History. — The  want  of  the  normal  carbonate  of  ammo¬ 
nium  was  only  felt  after  Berzelius  had  promulgated  his 
ammonium  theory ;  until  then  the  carbonate,  C  02  (NH3)2, 
had  been  considered  to  be  this  body. 

Berthollet, f  in  1806,  by  distilling  a  solution  of  the 
acid  carbonate,  obtained  a  weak  solution  of  normal  car¬ 
bonate  (“subcarbonate”)  as  the  distillate.  But  Dalton 
was  the  first  to  describe  a  solid  carbonate,  neutral  in 
composition,  in  1813.*  He  ascertained  that  the  carbo¬ 
nate  of  commerce  did  not  contain  two  atoms  of  ammonia 
to  one  of  carbonic  anhydride,  and  prepared  a  hydrated 
compound  of  these  bodies  in  this  proportion..^ 

This  compound  contained,  according  to  him,  one  atom 
of  water,  and  would  therefore  be  represented  by  the 
formula, 

C020H2(NH3)2. 

The  percentage  number  which  he  gives  for  the  am¬ 
monia  is  indeed  very  incorrect  in  itself;  but  then. he  de¬ 
termined  it  by  using  standard  solution  of  sulphuric  acid, 
and,  as  we  all  know,  the  equivalent  number  he  adopted 
for  ammonia  is  wide  of  the  true  one.  But  then  he  clearly 
established  that  in  the  acid  carbonate  the  acid  is  only 
half  saturated  with  ammonia,  and.  that  in  the  normal 
carbonate  discovered  by  him  the  acid  is  fully  saturated. 
He  was,  however,  also  wrong  in  representing  the  nor¬ 
mal  salt  to  contain,  like  the  acid  salt,  but  one  atom  of 
water  to  one  atom  of  carbonic  anhydride  instead  of  two, 
as  his  analytical  results  really  indicated.  The  following 
is  his  statement  of  the  composition  of  the  two  salts 


*  Works,  vol.  iii.  p.  47. 

f  £  Journal  de  Physique,’  vol.  lxiv.  p.  168.  Troisieme  suite 
des  Recherch.es  sur  les  Lois  de  l’Affinite.  Extracted  from 
the  ‘  Memoires  de  l’lnstitut  de  France  ’  for  1806. 

+  *  Experiments  and.  Observations  on  tbe  Combinations  of 
Carbonic  Acid  and  Ammonia.’  Mem.  of  the  Lit.  and  Phil. 
Soc.  of  Manchester  (2),  vol.  iii.  p.  18;  1819.  . 

§  So  far  as  I  can  ascertain  he  has  never  received  credit  for 
this,  or  for  the  real  excellence  of  his  paper,  in  spite  of  the 
errors  it  contains.  Indeed  Henry,  in  his  £  Life  of  Dalton  ’ 
(Cavendish  Society’s  Publications),  speaks  very  disparagingly 
of  this  paper.  The  circumstances  that  seem  to  me  to  have 
contributed  to  this  result  are : — (1.)  The  paper  was  published 
five  years  after  it  was  read,  in  a  journal  which  probably  had 
a  very  limited  Continental  circulation.  (2.)  The  calculations 
of  the  results  of  his  analysis  are  erroneous,  in  consequence  of 
the  atomic  weight — 6 — he  adopted  for  ammonia.  (3.)  It 
contains  some  decided  errors,  among  which,  unfortunately,  is 
that  of  denying  the  correctness  of  Gay-Lussac  s  researches  on 
the  proportion  by  volume  in  which  ammonia  combines  with 
carbonic  anhydride.  (4.)  It  was  severely  criticized  by  Thom¬ 
son,  in  his  ‘Annals  of  Philosophy’  (vol.  xv.  p.  137),  who, 
nevertheless,  besides  erring  himself  in  his  correction  oi  -Dal¬ 
ton’s  remarks  on  Gay-Lussac’s  researches,  also  misstates 
another  conclusion  at  which  Dalton  had  arrived. 


46 


THE  PHAEMACEUTICAL  JOUENAL. 


[July  16,  1870. 


Carbonic  Anhydride 
Ammonia  .  .  . 


Acid  carbonate 

Carbonate 

(‘carbonate’). 

(‘subcarbonate’). 

.  .  58 

41 

.  .  18 

25  + 

34 

100 

100 

These  results  show  that  the  normal  salt  he  examined 
contained  two  atoms  of  water  to  one  of  carbonic  anhy¬ 
dride.  For  by  accepting  the  percentage  numbers  he 
gives  for  the  acid  carbonate,  and  calculating  from  these 
the  numbers  for  the  normal  salt  with  two  atoms  of  water, 
we  get  just  those  which  he  gives.  Thus : — 


Carb.  A.  Am.  Carb.  A.  Am. 

58  :  18  X  2  ::  41  ;  25-4. 

Water.  Water. 

58  :  24  x  2  4i  ;  33-9. 


Or  putting  it  in  another  way :  if  we  apply  to  his  num¬ 
bers  for  the  normal  carbonate  the  correction  we  know  to 
be  necessary  for  those  he  found  for  the  acid  carbonate, 
we  get  almost  exactly  the  numbers  expressing  the  com¬ 
position  of  the  normal  carbonate  with  two  atoms  of 
water.  The  calculated  numbers  are — 


Acid  carbonate. 

Carbonic  anhydride  .  55-70 
Ammonia  .  .  .  .  21* * * §52 
Water . 22-78 


Norm.  carb.  with  2  O  EL. 
38-60 
29-82 
31-58 


100-00  100-00 

He  prepared  the  normal  carbonate  in  two  ways,  of 
which  one  was  by  distilling  the  commercial  carbonate, 
and  collecting  the  first  product  of  the  distillation  before 
it  had  been  exposed  to  the  air ;  and  the  other,  by  adding 
to  a  warrn  saturated  solution  of  the  commercial  carbo^ 
nate  sufficient  ammonia  to  raise  the  proportion  to  the 
proper  degree,  when,  on  cooling,  the  normal  carbonate 
was^  copiously  precipitated. 

Sir  Humphry  Davy  obtained,  in  1799,  a  salt  that 
seemed  to  be,  according  to  him,  the  most  ammoniacal 
carbonate,  and  by  the  first  of  the  methods  afterwards 

employed  by  Dalton,  but  he  did  not  determine  its  com¬ 
position. 


half  an  atom  of  water,  so  that  it  was  not  a  true  ammo¬ 
nium  carbonate,  its  formula  being — 

(C02)20H2(NH3)4. 

lie  obtained  the  same  compound  also  by  distilling  a 
mixture  of  sal-ammoniac  and  sodium  carbonate. 

Lastly,  in  opposition  to  the  general  statement  to  the 
contrary,  I  myself  announced  in  a  paper  in  the  ‘Philo¬ 
sophical  Magazine  for  1868*  that  a  normal  ammonium 
carbonate  having  the  formula 

C02(0H2)2(NH3L 
could  readily  be  obtained. 

I  have  already  mentioned  that  Berthollet  obtained  a 
solution  of  normal  carbonate  at  an  early  date.  Then, 
the  y  car  before  Rose  s  paper  appeared,  Scanlanf  pointed 
out  that  the  action  of  water  upon  more  of  the  commer¬ 
cial  salt  than  it  can  dissolve  furnishes  a  solution  contain¬ 
ing  the  ammonia  in  much  greater  proportion  to  the  car- 
borne  anhydride  than  is  in  the  commercial  salt.  Dalton, 
however,  claimed  to  have  anticipated  Scanlan  in  this 
observation,  and  the  latter  admitted  the  justice  of  the 
clarm.  Rose,  in  his  paper  the  year  after,  showed  that 
this  solution  was  one  of  the  normal  carbonate,  with  only 
a  little  acid  carbonate,  and  gave  two  other  methods  for 
obtaining  a  solution  of  normal  salt.  One  is  to  boil  a 
solution  of  the  commercial  carbonate;  the  other  is  to 
heat  the  commercial,  carbonate  very  gently  in  a  retort, 
having  its  beak  dipping  under  mercury,  continuing  the 
heat  until  a  great  part  of  the  carbonate  has  volatilized 
and  the  rest  become  wholly  liquefied,  then  setting  aside 
the  liquid  in  a  closed  vessel  to  crystallize  (which  it  con¬ 
tinues  to  do  for  some  days),  and  then  decanting  the 
mother-liquor,  which  is  a  solution  of  normal  carbonate 
nee  from  acid  carbonate.  That  a  solution  of  the  normal 
salt  can  be  obtained  by  distilling  sal-ammoniac,  pearlash, 
and  dilute  spirit  together,  was  known  to  Phillips,  and 
perhaps  others  before  him. 

.Lastly,  normal  ammonium  carbonate,  in  combination 
with  magnesium  carbonate  as  a  crystalline  double  salt, 
was  prepared  by  Fourcroy  many  years  ago,  and  after¬ 
wards  by  Bucholz.J 

(To  be  continued.') 


Dr.  .  Thomson,  in  the  seventh  edition  of  his  ‘  System  - 

at ttQ^I),  3^ated  that  a  normal  carbona 
G2U  fi2  (N  H3)2,  could  be  formed  by  mixing  togethi 
one  volume  of  carbonic  anhydride,  two  volumes  of  an 
moma,  and  one  volume  of  water-vapour.  It  is  vei 
doubtful,  however,  whether  the  product  thus  obtained 
a  single  substance,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  later  part 
the  present  paper. 

In  1834  John  Davyf  repeated  his  brother’s  exper 
merits,  apparently  ignorant  of  what  in  the  meantin 
alton  had  done,  and  ascertained  the  substance  obtaim 
by  Sir  Humphry  to  be  a  hydrated  compound  of  tv 
atoms  ot  ammonia  to  one  of  carbonic  anhydride  E 
also  confirmed  the  above  statement  of  Thomson. 

Hiinefeld,  in  1836,  j  obtained  a  neutral  combination  < 
ammonia  and  carbonic  anhydride  by  distilling  the  con 
mercial  carbonate  with  aqueous  alcohol,  but  he  did  n< 
determine  its  state  of  hydration. 

Next,  in  1839,  Heinrich  Rose§  also  examined  the  mo 
remote  part  of  the  first  product  of  the  slow  distillation  , 
the  commercial  carbonate,  and  found  it  to  contain  tv 
atoms  of  ammonia  to  one  of  carbonic  anhydride-  bn 
according  to  him,  there  was  associated  with  these  on] 


*  Yol.  ii.  p.  384. 

t  ‘  Some  Experiments  and  Observations  on  the  Combir 
tions  ol  Carbonic  Acid  and  Ammonia.’  Edin.  New  Phil 
Journ.  vol.  xvi.  p.  245. 

|  Journ.  fur  prakt.  Chemie,  vol.  vii.  p.25. 

§  Pogg.  Ann.  vol.  xlvi.  p.  373.  “  Ueber  die  Verbindmm 
des  Ammomaks  mit  der  Kohlcnsaure.”  Also  Taylor’s  £  Scfc 
tific  Memoirs,’  vol.  ii.  p.  98. 


THE  PRESENT  PROSPECTS  OF  THE  SEWAGE 
QUESTION  IN  RELATION  TO  THE  PUBLIC 
HEALTH. 

BY  HENRY  LETHEBY,  ESQ.,  M.B. 

(Read  before  the  Metropolitan  Association  of  Medical  Officers, 
of  Health ,  May  21,  1870.) 

(Continued  from  p.  25.) 

\VTien  sewage  has  a  very  offensive  odour,  and  is. 
c\  orv  ing*  marsh,  gas  and  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  it  rarely 
exhibits  much  sign  of  animal  life,  but  when  it  is  diluted 
with  water  and  exposed  freely  to  the  air,  the  bad  odour 
quickly  disappears,  and  the  higher  forms  of  infusoria 
are  rapidly  developed.  This  is  proof  of  the  salutary  in¬ 
fluence  of  air  and  water  in  promoting  the  less  hurtful 
kinds  of  decay.  I  have  often  noticed  that  where  thu 
sedimentary  matters  of  sewage  accumulate  and  putrefy, 
without  free  access  of  air,  foul  gases  are  evolved,  and 
little  or  no  organic  life,  except  of  the  very  lowest  kind, 
appears.  This  was  formerly  the  case  with  the  mud  upon 
Qie  banks  of  the  Thames,  where  the  only  living  things 
were  monads ,  vibriones,  and  fungi;  but  in  the  middle  of 
the  stream,  where  there  was  abundance  of  air  and  water, 


*  Fourth  series,  vol.  xxxvi.  p.  125. 

f  ‘  Reports  of  the  British  Association  for  1838.’  Transac¬ 
tions  of  the  Sections,  p.  63. 

t  Bucholz’s  ‘  Gren’s  Grundriss  der  Chemie,’  part  i.  p.  275x 


July  16,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


47 


the  highest  forms  of  infusoria  abounded.  This  may  he 
noticed  in  every  river  of  the  kingdom  which  receives 
the  sewage  of  a  large  town.  At  first,  the  sedimentary 
matters  deposit  and  putrefy ;  hut  the  supernatant  water, 
containing  all  the  soluble  constituents  of  the  sewage, 
passes  on,  and  rapidly  becomes  clearer  and  clearer,  until 
its  organic  matter  is  appropriated  by  living  beings,  or 
destroyed  by  oxidation.  This  process  is  not  only  indi¬ 
cated  by  the  marked  improvement  in  the  appearance  and 
odour  of  the  water,  but  it  is  actually  demonstrated  by 
the  character  of  the  vegetation,  which  passes  successively 
from  the  simplest  and  lowest  forms  of  fungi  to  conferva , 
calothrix  nivea ,  vaucheria,  etc.,  until  at  last  anacharis,  nas¬ 
turtium,  veronica,  etc.  abound ;  and  when  these  are  clean 
and  healthy  we  may  be  assured  that  the  sewage,  in  its 
noxious  condition,  is  no  longer  in  existence,  and  that  the 
most  refined  skill  of  the  chemist  will  fail  to  discover  it. 

I  have,  on  a  former  occasion,  fully  discussed  this  im¬ 
portant  question,  and  I  should  not  again  refer  to  it  if  it 
had  not  been  made  a  special  subject  of  comment,  and  ap¬ 
parently* * * * * §  of  experimental  inquiry,  by  the  Rivers  Pollu¬ 
tion  Commission ;  for  at  page  1 8  of  their  recent  report 
they  say,  “  It  has  often  been  stated,  but  so  far  as  we 
know  without  proof,  that  the  organic  matter  contained 
in  sewage,  and  other  similar  polluting  materials,  is 
rapidly  oxidized,  during  the  flow  of  a  river  into  which 
such  materials  are  discharged.  Thus,  it  has  been  as¬ 
serted  (Report  of  Royal  Commission  on  Water  Supply, 
p.  79)  that  if  sewage  be  mixed  with  twenty  times  its 
volume  of  river  water,  the  organic  matter  which  it  con¬ 
tains  will  be  oxidized,  and  completely  disappear  whilst 
the  river  is  flowing  ‘a  dozen  miles  or  so!’”  Now,  I 
think  it  is  right  to  state  that  the  quotation  is  not  fairly 
made,  and  that  the  sense  and  substance  of  my  evidence 
herein  alluded  to  are  not  fully  expressed ;  for  on  refer¬ 
ring  to  the  page  from  which  the  Rivers  Pollution  Com¬ 
missioners  have  quoted,  it  will  be  found  that  I  spoke  of 
oxidation  as  only  one  of  the  agencies  concerned  in  the 
destruction  of  organic  matter  in  a  running  stream.  My 
words  are  these :  “  Considering  the  powerfully  oxidizing 
influence  of  water  upon  sewage,  the  many  agencies  which 
are  at  work  destroying  it,  the  power  of  precipitation,  the 
using  of  it  up  by  vegetable  and  aquatic  plants,  and  by 
fish,  and  above  all  by  the  power  of  oxidation,  I  think 
none  of  the  sewage  discharged  into  the  Thames  can,  at 
the  present  time,  be  discovered  at  Hampton ;  ”  and  when 
I  am  asked  how  far  it  would  have  to  flow  before  it  would 
be  broken  up  into  other  chemical  compounds,  I  answer 
thus :  “I  have  made  a  great  number  of  chemical  experi¬ 
ments  to  determine  that.  I  have  examined  most  of  the 
rivers  in  England,  and  this  is  the  conclusion  that  has 
been  come  to,  not  only  in  my  mind,  but  in  the  minds  of 
all  the  engineersf  who  have  devoted  their  attention  to 
the  subject — that  if  ordinary  sewage,  containing,  we  will 
say,  nearly  100  grs.  of  solid  matter  per  gallon,  such  as 
London  sewage,  out  of  which  probably  something  like 
14  grs.  or  15  grs.  are  organic,  be  mixed  with  twenty 
times  its  bulk  of  the  ordinary  river  water,  and  flows  a 
dozen  miles  or  so,  there  is  not  a  particle  of  that  sewage 
to  be  discovered  by  any  chemical  process.”]!  I  ought 

*  The  Commissioners  have  given  a  full  account  of  the  ex¬ 
periments  and  data  on  which  they  base  their  conclusions. 
(See  Report  of  Commission  on  the  Foliation  of  Rivers,  pp. 
18-22.) 

f  Apart  from  the  consideration  that  this,  being  a  chemical 
question,  cannot  be  decided  by  engineers,  it  has  been  pointed 
out  by  the  Royal  Commissioners  (Report,  p.  22)  that  en¬ 
gineers  and  superficial  observers  have  been  misled  as  to  the 
self-purifying  power  of  flowing  water.  They  have  also  pointed 
out  the  circumstance  which  has  led  to  the  erroneous  impres¬ 
sion.  Mere  clarification  of  water  is  no  proof  that  it  has  been 
purified  sufficiently  to  be  wholesome,  and  we  are  not  aware 
that  Dr.  Letheby  has  anywhere  published  chemical  evidence 
to  support  his  views.  It  is,  however,  essential  that  in  a  matter 
of  such  importance  this  should  be  done ;  for  no  mere  assertion, 
however  authoritative  will  suffice. 

X  Dr.  Letheby’s  influence  in  regard  to  sanitary  matters  is 


perhaps  to  have  said  by  any  reliable  chemical  process ; 
for  I  will  not  answer  for  the  results  of  such  processes  as 
are  used  by  Dr.  Frankland  for  the  determination  of  “or¬ 
ganic  carbon”  and  “organic  nitrogen,”  processes  that  1 
have  already  criticized,  and  which  others  have  declared 
to  be  so  faulty,  that  the  range  of  error  embraced  by  them 
is  greater  than  the  range  of  possible  truth.  It  is  curious, 
however,  that  even  with  these  processes  the  Thames  at 
Hampton,  according  to  Dr.  Frankland,  is  purer  than  the 
Thames  at  its  source,  notwithstanding  that  it  has  re¬ 
ceived  the  drainage  from  all  the  towms  on  its  banks.* 

But  to  return  to  the  subject,  the  Pollution  Commis¬ 
sioners  say,  “  We  thought  it  very  undesirable  that  a  sub¬ 
ject  of  such  vital  importance  to  our  inquiry  should  any 
longer  rest  upon  mere  opinion,  and  we  have  therefore  deter¬ 
mined  to  submit  it  to  careful  experimental  investigation.” 
Their  investigations  were  of  two  kinds — namely,  an  ex¬ 
amination  of  the  Mersey,'  the  Irwell,  and  the  Darwin, 
at  different  parts  of  their  course,  choosing  the  winter 
time,f  when  most  of  the  agencies  to  which  I  have  referred 
were  dormant ;  and,  secondly,  by  examining  air  and 
sewage  contained  in  a  bottle.  Both  of  these  investiga¬ 
tions  were  of  the  most  unsatisfactory  kind ;  for  from 
what  I  know  of  the  rivers  in  question,  there  is  no  part 
of  their  course  so  free  from  the  access  of  impurities  as  to 
furnish  even  remotely  the  sort  of  evidence  upon  which 
we  can  rely.  The  evidence,  however,  which  they  do 
furnish  is  that,  notwithstanding  a  continued  access  of 
impurity,  there  is  a  continued  improvement  of  their  con¬ 
dition  ;  and  as  for  the  experiments  with  sewage  in  a 
bottle,  they  are  so  absurdly  ridiculous,  as  a  means  of 
testing  so  important  a  question,  that  I  am  ashamed  to 
refer  to  them.  The  proper  way  in  which  such  an  in¬ 
quiry  should  be  conducted  is  an  appeal  to  the  large  facts 
of  nature ;  for  everywhere  the  rivers  of  England  are 
receiving  the  sewage  of  towns,  and  yet  they  are  every¬ 
where  undergoing  a  rapid  self-purification.  If  this  were 
not  so,  their  condition  would  be  frightful,];  and  we  should 
expect  a  universal  pestilence.  In  this  metropolis,  for 
example,  the  water  which  we  drink  is  taken  from  the 
Thames  after  it  has  received  the  sewage  of  thousands  of 
people,  and  yet,  to  use  the  words  of  Dr.  Frankland,  “it 
is  purer  and  better  adapted  for  domestic  purposes  at 
Hampton,”  where  it  is  taken,  “  than  at  any  other  part  of 
its  course.  §  And  how  has  this  been  effected  but  by  oxi¬ 
dation,  and  by  the  operations  of  animal  and  vegetable 
life  ?  When  Dr.  Miller  was  asked  by  the  Royal  Com¬ 
missioners  on  Water  Supply,  whether  he  had  made  any 
experiments  on  the  power  of  water,  in  a  given  course,  to 
oxidize  organic  matter,  he  said,  “  I  ascertained  a  remark¬ 
able  result  in  1859  upon  the  river:  I  took  specimens  of 
the  water  at  Kingston,  at  Hammersmith,  at  Somerset 
House,  at  Greenwich,  at  Woolwich,  and  at  Erith  on  the 
same  day,  and  examined  the  quantity  of  oxygen  which 
the  water  contained  at  all  these  different  points.  I  found 
that  the  quantity  of  oxygen  at  Kingston  was  the  ordi¬ 
nary  or  normal  proportion ;  at  Somerset  House  it  was 
much  diminished,  at  Greenwich  the  whole  of  the  oxygen 
had  disappeared,  at  Woolwich  it  was  in  much  the  same 
condition,  and  at  Erith  the  water  was  very  much  im¬ 
proved,  showing  that  this  diminution  of  oxygen  had  been 
produced  by  its  action  upon  the  water  contaminated  with 


so  great,  that  it  is  necessary  to  say  the  result  which  he  has 
arrived  at  is  directly  at  variance  with  all  chemical  probability, 
and  with  the  general  opinion  of  chemists.  It  is  also  incon¬ 
sistent  with  the  direct  evidence  of  facts  bearing  on  the  subject. 

*  Dr.  Frankland  clearly  shows  that  the  water  of  the  Thames 
is  purer  near  the  source  of  the  river,  but  he  says  that,  from 
Lechlade  downwards,  it  is  purer  at  Hampton  than  elsewhere. 

-j-  The  experiments  were  made  between  March  10th  and 
June  11th. 

X  The  condition  of  some  rivers  is  frightful. 

§  Dr.  Frankland  and  Dr.  Odling  have  shown  in  their  Re¬ 
port  on  Water  Supply  to  the  Royal  Commission,  that  the 
greater  purity  of  the  Thames  at  Hampton  is,  in  great  mea¬ 
sure,  due  to  admixture  of  tributary  water. 

D  3 


48 


THE  P 14  ABM  A  CEXJTIC  A  L  JOURNAL. 


[July  16,  1870. 


the  sewage  of  the  London  district,  and  that,  as  it  passed 
lower  down,  the  oxygen  was  again  absorbed  from  the 
air,  and  again  it  became  diluted  with  a  large  volume  of 
water  from  below,  from  other  sources — the  Lea,  the 
Lavensbourne,  and  other  tributaries — and  in  this  man¬ 
ner  the  water  had  again  become  oxidized.  I  look,”  he 
says,  “  upon  this  as  a  direct  proof  of  the  effect  of  oxygen  in 
destroying  those  organic  contaminations  which  are  thrown 
into  the  river''1  Dr.  Odling,  also,  in  reply  to  a  question 
from  the  Loyal  Commissioners,  as  to  the  self-purifying 
power  of  water  said,  “  You  see  in  many  rivers,  even  slug¬ 
gish  rivers,  having  sewage  discharged  into  them,  that 
for  a  mile  or  two  the  appearance  of  the  river  is  affected 
by  the  sewage,  but  beyond  a  certain  distance  there  is  no 
recognizable  effect  at  all — the  weeds  are  perfectly  clean 
and  perfectly  healthy ;  ”  and  he  instances  the  river  Soar, 
at  Leicester,  which  is  black  and  very  foul  from  the  re¬ 
fuse  of  the  town;  but  “three  miles  from  the  town  its 
appearance  is  such  that  you  could  not  tell  it  had  been 
contaminated,  for  it  was  running  clear,  with  fish  swim¬ 
ming  in  it,  and  the  weeds  were  clean.”  That,  he  said, 
was  simply  from  a  process  of  self-purification.  Again, 
Dr.  Taylor,  of  Guy’s  Hospital,  in  his  examination  before 
a  Committee  of  the  House  of  Commons  on  the  Metropolis 
"Water  Supply  Bill,  states,  when  speaking  of  the  effect 
of  water  on  sewage  matter,  that  “all  such  substances 
are  very  rapidly  decomposed  and  destroyed ;  the  nitro¬ 
gen  is  converted  into  nitric  acid,  and  the  sulphur  into 
sulphuric  acid,  so  that  those  fetid  and  putrid  substances 
which  go  into  the  Thames  from  London,  when  rolled 
about  by  the  action  of  the  water,  containing  an  enormous 
amount  of  air,  are  all  oxidized  and  destroyed ;  within  a  cer¬ 
tain  limit  they  may  be  found ,  but  still ,  after  a  very  short 
passage ,  they  are  very  soon  indeed  destroyed.  I  believe,” 
he  says,  “it  is  the  opinion  of  every  chemist  who  has  con¬ 
sidered  the  subject,  that  sewage  matter  docs  not  remain 
as  sewage  matter  in  well-aerated  water,  but  all  phos¬ 
phorus,  sulphur,  and  nitrogen  are  speedily  destroyed  by 
the  oxygen  of  the  water.  Every  1000  gallons  of  water 
contain  48  gallons  of  oxygen,  and  that  oxygen  destroys 
all  such  putrescent  effluvia.  "With  water  not  exposed  to 
the  air,  and  not  containing  air,  it  is  most  offensive  and 
mi  wholesome;  but  with  water  containing  air,  like  the 
Thames,  and  exposing  an  enormous  surface  to  the  air  in 
its  daily  motion,  the  effect  is  completely  to  obliterate 
every  trace  (of  sewage  matter)  that  a  chemist  can  detect. 
In  the  Thames,  and  other  water,  the  air  is  in  a  state  of 
solution,  the  matter  in  a  state  of  diffusion,  and  thus  the 
air  and  this  fetid  matter  are  in  the  very  condition  to 
combine  together  and  form  an  innoxious  compound ;  it 
requires  time  and  motion,  but  still  it  does  take  place  with 
very  extraordinary  rapidity.”  And  ho  concludes  his  re¬ 
marks  by  saying,  “  The  supposition  that  the  drainage  of 
London,' which  goes  into  the  river  about  the  bridges,  re¬ 
mains  the  drainage  of  London  all  up  the  river,  is  con¬ 
trary  to  all  chemical  experience ;  it  is  contrary  to  every 
chemical  fact,  and  every  chemical  analysis.”* 

In  a  former  communication  to  you  I  spoke  of  the  in¬ 
vestigations  of  Dr.  Angus  Smith  on  the  polluted  water 
of  the  Clyde,  which  were  to  the  same  effect.  Engineers 
also,  who'  have  been  largely  concerned  in  such  inquiries, 
have  always  spoken  of  the  remarkable  self-purifying 
power  of  water.  Mr.  Hawksley,  whose  experience  of 
this  matter  renders  him  a  very  high  authority  on  the 
subject,  said,  in  answer  to  a  question  from  the  Livers 
Commission,  as  to  the  quantity  of  water,  compared  with 
the  volume  of  sewage  discharged  mto  it,  as  necessary  for 
the  purpose  of  breaking  up  the  sewage  into  inoffensive 
compounds,  that  generally  20  to  1  was  sufficient ;  but  if 
the  water  flows  rapidly,  and  is  very  much  disturbed,  so 


*  The  supposition  here  referred  to  is  an  imaginary  one, 
that  no  chemist  would  entertain.  Whatever  change  sewage 
may  undergo  after  its  discharge  into  rivers,  there  is  no  evi¬ 
dence  to  show  that  it  is  destroyed  so  rapidly  or  to  such  extent 
as  to  be  harmless ;  and  that  is  the  real  point  to  be  considered. 


as  to  be  continually  receiving  fresh  oxygen,  a  smaller 
quantity — even  12  to  1 — will  effect  the  process;  and  if 
it  proceeds  very  tardily  it  may  take  a  little  more,  but 
20  to  1  is  abundant.  “I  could,”  he  adds,  “give  you 
very  remarkable  instances  of  it.  Take  Sheffield.  Nothing 
can  be  fouler  probably  than  the  state  of  the  water  at 
Sheffield,  whereas  if  you  go  down  to  Doncaster  (about 
twenty  miles  below  Sheffield),  the  water  is  supplied  by 
the  water- works,  and  is  actually  drunk  in  the  town.” 
Again,  says  Mr.  Hawksley,  “  Take  the  river  Irwell  (the 
very  river  which  Dr.  Erankland  has  been  examining). 
After  leaving  Manchester  it  receives  the  Irk,  the  Mat- 
lock,  and  all  the  refuse  of  the  manufacturing  population 
for  a  great  many  miles ;  when  it  travels  down  only  eight 
or  nine  miles  to  Warrington  it  is  perfectly  changed ;  it 
ceases,  or  nearly  ceases,  in  that  short  distance,  to  be  an 
offensive  river.”  “At  Leicester,  likewise,”  to  use  his 
words,  “  the  water  was  as  black  as  ink — nothing  would 
live  in  it,  and  the  smell  was  abominable ;  but  by  the  time 
it  had  got  to  Loughborough  (which  is  about  twelve  miles 
below  Leicester)  it  was  entirely  restored  to  its  pristine 
condition.  You  could  stand  on  the  bridge  there  and  see 
the  fish  swimming  amongst  the  beautiful  reedy  and  other 
plants  growing  in  the  water,  just  as  in  the  purest  stream. 
You  could  see  every  pebble  at  the  bottom ;  that  is  an  in¬ 
stance  of  oxidation.”  You  may  remember  the  instance 
which  I  gave  you  last  year  of  the  river  Trent,  which  re¬ 
ceives  the  sewage  and  manufacturing  refuse  of  some  of 
the  largest,  busiest,  and  dirtiest  towns  hr  the  kingdom, 
with  an  aggregate  population  of  more  than  a  million  and 
a  half  of  persons,  and  yet  when  it  arrives  at  Nottingham 
it  is  not  only  clear,  pellucid,  and  inoffensive,  with  abund¬ 
ance  of  fish  and  aquatic  plants,  but  is  actually  used  for 
the  domestic  supply  of  the  town.  But  why  need  I  mul¬ 
tiply  such  instances,  or  dwell  upon  such  self-evident  em¬ 
pirical  facts,  when  they  are  within  the  common  know¬ 
ledge  and  experience  of  everybody?  for  even  Dr.  Erank¬ 
land  is  ready  to  admit,  in  the  case  of  the  London  water 
supply,  that  “by  gradual  oxidation,  partly  in  the  pores 
of  the  soil,  partly  in  the  Thames  and  its  tributaries,  and 
partly  in  the  reservoirs,  filters,  and  conduits  of  the  com¬ 
pany,  this  sewage  contamination  had  been  converted  into 
comparatively  innocuous  organic  compounds  before  its 
delivery  to  consumers.” 

“  I  believe,”  said  Dr.  Frankland,  in  his  evidence  before 
the  Loyal  Commission  on  Water  Supply,  “that  the 
noxious  part  in  sewage  is  that  which  is  held  in  mecha¬ 
nical  suspension,  not  that  in  solution;”  and  no  doubt 
the  sedimentary  matters  of  sewage  are  capable  of  pro¬ 
ducing  an  offensive  condition  of  the  rivers,  for  wThen 
they  are  discharged  into  a  sluggish  stream  they  quickly 
subside,  and  form  accumulations  of  persistently  putrefy¬ 
ing  mud.  This  is  the  chief  cause  of  complaint  wyherever 
sewage  enters  a  river. 

At  the  time  of  the  inquiry  into  the  state  of  the  Thames, 
in  1858,  it  was  admitted  on  all  hands  that  the  filthy  mud- 
banks  of  the  river  were  the  great  source  of  annoyance ; 
and  Dr.  Hofmann  and  Mr.  Witt,  in  their  report  of  the 
matter  to  the  Government  referees,  declared  emphatically 
that  the  formation  of  this  mud-deposit  in  the  bed  of  the 
river  appeared  to  them  to  be  by  far  the  most  serious  evil 
which  results  from  the  discharge  of  London  sewage  into 
the  river,  and  they  strongly  urged  this  point  upon  public 
attention.  Dr.  Odling,  in  his  report  to  me  on  this  sub¬ 
ject,  for  the  information  of  the  referees  appointed  by  the 
Metropolitan  Board  of  Works,  said  that  “any  means 
which  would  prevent  the  deposition  of  organic  mud  in 
the  bed,  but  more  particularly  on  the  exposed  banks  of 
the  river,  wrould  effect  an  amply  sufficient  purification  of 
it.”  The  same  was  my  own  opinion,  for  in  reporting  to 
the  referees  I  stated  that  the  mischief  produced  by  the 
discharge  of  sewage  into  the  river  ‘  ‘  was  not  occasioned, 
as  I  once  supposed,  by  the  soluble  matters  of  the  sewage, 
but  by  the  mud  or  insoluble  constituents  which  settle 
and  putrefy  upon  the  banks  of  the  river.”  These  con¬ 
stituents  being  in  a  solid  form,  and  not  easily  accessible 


July  16,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


49 


to  atmospheric  oxygen,  continue  to  putrefy  for  a  con¬ 
siderable  time.  In  my  laboratory  operations  I  have 
found  that  they  will  keep  up  a  persistent  decomposition, 
with  a  constant  evolution  of  offensive  gases,  for  many 
months,  the  air  being  excluded  from  them.  I  am  there¬ 
fore  of  opinion  that  the  chief  point  to  be  aimed  at  in  the 
purification  of  sewage  is  the  rapid  and  effectual  separa¬ 
tion  of  its  suspended  matters,  leaving  the  soluble  matter 
to  mix  freely  with  proper  proportions  of  running  water, 
in  which  it  will  be  quickly  appropriated  by’infusorial  life, 
or  be  destroyed  by  atmospheric  oxidation ;  and  this  leads 
me  to  consider  the  means  whereby  this  may  be  effected. 

One  method  of  accomplishing  it  is  to  keep  the  solid 
matters  out  of  the  sewage,  as  is  practised,  with  more  or 
less  success,  in  Manchester,  Salford,  and  other  towns  of 
Lancashire.  In  Salford,  according  to  the  report  of  the 
medical  officer  of  health,  Dr.  Syson,  the  most  satisfactory 
results  have  been  obtained  with  a  modification  of  M. 
Goux’s  plan,  whereby  the  soil  is  received  at  once  into 
tubs  lined  with  some  refuse  absorbent ;  and  the  advan¬ 
tages  of  the  plan,  according  to  Dr.  Syson,  are  that  the 
manure  becomes  of  great  commercial  value ;  that  the  ex¬ 
crement  of  the  whole  town  can  be  readily  removed  at 
least  once  a  week ;  and  that  in  case  of  fever  or  contagious 
diseases  the  whole  of  the  excrements  can  be  readily  and 
economically  disinfected ;  besides  which  the  plan  is  simple 
and  economical.  Earth-closets  are  not  so  manageable, 
as  they  require  about  3|  times  their  weight  of  earth  to 
the  excreta,  and  the  difficulties  of  carrying  the  material 
to  and  from  the  closets  are  not  manageable  on  a  large 
scale,  although  I  have  seen  them  in  satisfactory  opera¬ 
tion  in  factories,  as  they  may  be  in  military  camps, 
where  the  organization  of  labour  is  easy.  Instead  of 
earth,  Mr.  Stanford  recommends  charred  seaweed,  which 
is  not  only  an  excellent  deodorizer,  but  does  the  work  of 
three  times  its  weight  of  earth.  In  Edinburgh,  in  olden 
times,  there  were  no  closets  in  the  poorer  houses,  but 
there  were  numerous  public  privies,  which  still  exist. 
These  are  provided  with  from  eight  to  forty  compart¬ 
ments,  beneath  which  there  is  placed  by  the  scavengers, 
every  morning,  a  tin  can,  like  the  modern  milk-can  on  the 
railways,  and  the  can  of  the  previous  day,  with  its  con¬ 
tents,  is  taken  away.  The  soil  is  mixed  with  ashes  and 
road-sweepings,  and  sells  for  about  £7000  a  year,  which 
is  half  the  entire  charge  of  the  scavenging  of  the  older 
part  of  Edinburgh.  Nearly  everywhere  on  the  Conti¬ 
nent  some  such  method  is  adopted  for  the  collection  of 
the  refuse  and  excreta,  and  they  are  profitably  utilized. 
How  far  an  improvement  of  this  condition  of  things,  in¬ 
stead  of  the  present  water-closet  system,  may  have  met 
the  requirements  of  hygiene  and  the  demands  of  agri¬ 
culture,  is  an  important  question.  The  Pollution  Com¬ 
missioners,  however,  condemn  this  plan  in  toto ;  and  so 
far  are  their  views  disturbed  by  the  medium  of  their 
prejudices,  that  they  cannot  perceive  any  difference  in 
the  quality  of  the  sewage  of  a  place  retaining  its  solid 
matters,  and  of  another  which  lets  them  flow  into  the 
public  sewers.  Liverpool,  for  example,  which  collects 
and  disposes  annually  of  about  139,000  tons  of  privy  soil ; 
Manchester,  74,000  tons ;  Salford,  46,000  tons ;  Oldham, 
50,000  tons;  Preston,  30,000  tons;  and  Dolton,  22,500 
tons, — furnish  in  each  case  as  much  sewage,  and  of  the 
same  composition,  as  the  towns  which  discharge  every¬ 
thing  into  the  sewers.  The  inconsistency  of  the  thing  is 
so  striking  that  it  creates  most  serious  doubts  of  the  ac¬ 
curacy  of  the  analyses,  and  of  the  reliability  of  the  deter¬ 
minations  of  organic  carbon  and  organic  nitrogen. 

And  now  let  us  turn  to  the  pet  scheme  of  the  Pollu¬ 
tion  Commissioners — the  disposal  of  sewage  in  all  places 
and  under  all  circumstances  by  irrigation.  Fortunately 
for  us,  the  thing  has  been  tried,  and  is  now  being  done 
in  many  places,  so  that  we  can  test  it  by  its  practical 
results,  and  examine  it  by  the  light  of  something  more 
than  that  of  abstract  speculative  chemistry.* 

*  The  cases  where  sewage  irrigation  has  been  practised 


To  begin  with  its  absolutely  required  conditions.  You 
must  have  a  soil  that  is  sufficiently  porous  to  allow  the 
sewage  to  filter  through  it,  and  this  soil  must  be  well 
drained  to  carry  off  the  subsoil  water.  The  situation  of 
the  farm  must  be  convenient  as  regards  the  flow  of  sew¬ 
age  to  it  by  gravitation,  and  the  discharge  of  water  from 
it  by  drainage.  It  must  not  be  within  reach  of  danger 
from  atmospheric  miasms,  or  the  pollution  of  wells  by 
the  subsoil  drainage.  It  must  have  a  ready  market  for 
the  disposal  of  its  only  merchantable  produce,  green 
Italian  rye-grass ;  and  lastly,  there  must  be  an  area  of  not 
less  than  two  acres  for  every  100  people,  one  of  these  acres 
being  in  use  while  the  other  is  resting  to  recover  itself. 

These  conditions  cannot  always  be  secured,  but  even  if 
they  could,  let  us  see  if  the  objections  to  the  process,  on 
sanitary  grounds,  are  not  conclusively  against  it. 

1.  In  the  first  place,  the  land  irrigated  with  sewage  is 
always  a  fetid,  swampy  morass  of  the  most  offensive  de¬ 
scription.  Nowhere,  of  all  the  places  which  I  have 
visited,  is  there  an  exception  to  this  condition  of  things. 
At  the  Craigintinny  meadows,  near  Edinburgh,  which  I 
have  often  seen,  the  stink  from  them  is  hardly  endurable ; 
— to  use  the  words  of  Dr.  Ligertwood,  who  was  sta¬ 
tioned  at  the  neighbouring  barracks,  “  the  stench  is 
sometimes  quite  sickening.”  At  Norwood  and  at  Bed- 
dington  it  is  a  subject  of  serious  complaint  by  those  who 
reside  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  farms.  I  have  myself 
experienced  it  on  several  occasions,  and  have  been  sur¬ 
prised  at  the  statements  of  Dr.  Carpenter,  of  Croydon, 
whose  pet  thing  it  is,  that  nobody  complains  of  it.  Mr. 
Creasy,  the  surgeon  at  the  Female  Orphan  Asylum,  at  Bed- 
dington,  tells  a  different  story,  for  he  says  it  so  damages 
the  value  of  the  neighbouring  property  that  villas  near 
the  farm  do  not  let  so  well  as  others,  nor  at  so  high  a  rent. 

At  Aldershot,  which  is  frequently  referred  to  as  a  well 
and  successfully  managed  sewage  farm,  I  ascertained,  on 
a  recent  visit  with  Mr.  Hawksley,  Mr.  Eggar,  and  Pro¬ 
fessor  Ansted,  from  the  occupants  of  the  few  cottages 
which  skirt  the  farm,  that  the  stench  is  frequently  un¬ 
bearable  and  most  sickening.  At  Banbury  there  is  but 
one  house  upon  the  estate ;  it  is  a  public-house  called  the 
Bowling  Green,  and  the  landlady  described  to  us,  in  very 
graphic  terms,  the  nuisance  she  was  obliged  to  submit  to. 

2.  But  these  miasms  are  not  alone  offensive,  they  are 
also  dangerous  to  the  public  health ;  in  fact,  the  early 
proceedings  of  those  who  have  brought  about  this  con¬ 
dition  of  things  were  devoted  almost  entirely  to  the  proof 
of  their  morbific  action,  and  it  was  this  apparently  clear 
proof  which  was  made  the  lever  of  their  parliamentary 
movements,  and  was  the  main  cause  of  our  present  diffi¬ 
culties.  Now,  however,  they  will  tell  you  that  the  ema¬ 
nations  from  acres  of  land  sodden  with  putrefying  sewage 
are  neither  offensive  to  the  senses  nor  injurious  to  the 
health.fi  I  put  it  to  you,  gentlemen,  as  a  simple  matter 
of  common  medical  experience,  whether  you  are  of  such 
an  opinion  ;  for,  if  so,  where  is  the  necessity  for  all  our 
elaborate  and  expensive  machinery  for  getting  rid  of 
these  matters  from  our  houses,  and  for  preventing  the 
escape  of  such  offensive  emanations  ?  Why  feel,  in  fact, 
the  least  concern  for  an  untrapped  drain  or  an  overflow¬ 
ing  cesspool  P  One  of  the  highest  medical  authorities 
on  the  subject  of  fevers,  Dr.  Murchison,  has  traced  a  par¬ 
ticular  fever  to  this  particular  source,  and  has  devoted  a 
large  portion  of  his  classical  work  to  the  proof  of  sewer 
gases  being  the  primary  cause  of  what  he  has  termed 
pythogenic  or  enteric  fever.  It  is  true  that  he  has  somo 
doubts,  like  Dr.  Christison,  of  the  effects  of  the  diluted 
gases ;  but  time  will  prove  whether  these  doubts  are  well 


can  scarcely  be  regarded  otherwise  then  as  cases  of  getting 
rid  of  sewage ;  its  utilization  is  still  a  problem  to  be  worked 
out  in  all  that  relates  to  profit  and  health. 

fi  It  is  the  concentration  of  noxious  gases  by  confinement 
that  is  hurtful ;  but  in  irrigation  sewage  need  not  be  putrid, 
moreover  it  is  subject-  to  the  disinfecting  influence  of  the  soil 
and  atmosphere. 


50 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


[July  1G,  1870. 


founded.  Already  enough  has  been  seen  to  show  that 
they  are  not  so  harmless  as  many  suppose.  Mr.  Creasy, 
to  whom  I  have  before  alluded  as  practising  at  Bedding- 
ton,  said  very  recently,  before  a  committee  of  the  House 
of  Commons : — I  know  the  sewage  farm  belonging  to  the 
Croydon  Board  of  Works,  at  Beddington,  and  have  had 
experience  in  my  professional  capacity  of  what  condition 
of  health  is  around  those  flats,  for  I  have  known  the  dis¬ 
trict  ever  since  it  was  a  sewage  farm.  The  first  case  of 
typhoid  fever  occurred  in  the  place  in  1867,  and  from 
that  time  to  this  there  has  been  typhoid  fever  in  every 
cottage  on  the  estate ;  and  I  find  around  it  that  almost 
every  disease  assumes  a  particular  type,  accompanied 
with  what  we  call  a  sewage  tongue.” 

In  the  spring  of  last  year  I  was  inquiring  into  the 
condition  of  a  stream  called  the  Hebble  Brook,  which 
receives  the  sewage  of  Halifax,  and  I  was  informed  that 
at  a  place  near  the  outfall  of  the  brook  into  the  Calder, 
some  of  the  sewage  was  distributed  upon  the  land,  and  that 
it  caused  such  a  serious  outbreak  of  typhoid  fever  in  a 
neighbouring  model  village,  belonging  to  Mr.  Ackroyd, 
that  it  was  found  absolutely  necessary  to  discontinue  it. 

Again,  in  the  autumn  of  1862,  I  had  an  opportunity 
of  witnessing,  on  a  very  large  scale,  the  morbific  effects 
of  sewer  gases  in  the  town  of  Shaftesbury,  and  the  ad¬ 
jacent  village  of  Enmore  Green.  The  town  had  been 
recently  drained  by  a  gentleman  of  no  great  practical 
acquaintance  with  the  subject,  and  he  carried  the  sewage 
into  the  ponds  and  ditches  around  the  town.  It  was  an 
experiment  of  a  very  instructive  kind,  for  soon  the  peo¬ 
ple  were  attacked  with  enteric  fever,  and  in  less  than  a 
year  one-eighth  of  the  whole  population  was  down  with 
the  disease ;  for  out  of  about  3500  persons,  448  were  at¬ 
tacked.  I  am  afraid,  therefore,  that  these  miasms,  even 
when  diluted  with  air,  are  capable  of  producing  serious 
mischief,  and  that  such  facts  are  more  conclusive  than 
the  statistics  of  Dr.  Carpenter,  which  seem  to  show  that 
the  people  of  Beddington  and  Norwood  have  actually 
been  better  in  health  since  the  sewage  was  brought  to 
them  than  before. 

3.  I  would  remind  you  that  the  efficacy  of  sewage 
irrigation  is  entirely  dependent  on  the  percolation  of 
sewage  matter,  and  the  distribution  of  it  through  the 
subsoil  water.  It  cannot  but  be,  therefore,  that  this 
water  is  polluted  to  such  an  extent  as  to  endanger  the 
neighbouring  wells.  Many  instances  of  this  have  al¬ 
ready  come  under  my  notice ;  and  it  would  seem,  from 
the  remarks  of  Dr.  Carpenter,  that  Dr.  Frankland  had 
himself  stated  that  the  chalk  well  at  Croydon,  from  which 
the  public  supply  is  obtained,  is  actually  polluted  with 
the  soakage  of  foul  matters  from  the  irrigated  grounds 
at  Beddington.  The  morbific  effects  of  such  water  are 
but  too  frequently  observed,  as  the  annual  reports  of  the 
medical  officer  of  the  Privy  Council  abundantly  testify ; 
and  then,  again,  if  the  doctrines  of  Professor  Yon  Petten- 
kofer,  of  Munich,  be  correct,  as  they  certainly  seem  to  be, 
that  fluctuation  in  the  level  of  ground  water  charged 
with  sewage  is  the  most  active  agent  of  fever  and  cholera, 
the  consequences  of  irrigation  may  be  most  serious. 

{To  be  continued.) 

The  subject  of  which  this  paper  treats  is  important  in 
its  general  bearings,  and  so  urgently  forced  upon  the  conside¬ 
ration  of  municipal  authorities  throughout  the  kingdom,  that  it 
has  been  deemed  necessary  to  add  some  notes  in  reference  to 
the  opinions  and  assertions  put  forward  by  Dr.  Letheby  with 
great  decision,  and  with  some  aspect  of  plausibility,  though 
they  are  far  from  being  regarded  as  sound  or  judicious  by  sani¬ 
tary  authorities  either  here  or  abroad.  It  is  probably  in  any 
case  premature  to  pronounce  so  decisively  as  Dr.  Letheby  does 
that  sewage  irrigation  is  an  unmitigated  evil;  and,  in  spite 
of  the  positive  declarations  made  by  those  who  act  with  him, 
three  sewage  irrigation  bills  have  passed  both  Houses  of  Par¬ 
liament  this  session.  Those  who  can  distinguish  between 
what  is  termed  “scientific  evidence  ”  and  that  evidence  which 
is  recognized  in  science,  will  probably  fail  to  share  Dr. 
Letheby’s  shame,  or  to  participate  with  him  in  his  apprecia¬ 
tion  of  what  ho  declares  “absurdly  ridiculous.” — Ed.  Ph.  J. 


CRYSTALLIZED  HYDRATE  OF  SODA. 

According  to  a  communication  made  by  0.  Hermes 
to  the  Chemical  Society  of  Berlin,  crystals  containing 
30-09  per  cent,  of  anhydrous  soda  (Na20),  and  having 
the  formula  2NaH0  +  7H.20,  are  deposited  when  a 
concentrated  aqueous  solution  of  caustic  soda,  sp.  gr. 
P365,  is  exposed  to  the  action  of  intense  cold.  The 
crystals  form  rhombic  prisms,  and  are  perfectly  trans¬ 
parent  and  colourless ;  they  begin  to  melt  at  6°  C.  A 
point  worthy  of  being  remembered  is,  that  impure  solu¬ 
tions  of  soda,  contaminated  with  chloride,  sulphate,  and 
carbonate,  are  capable  of  depositing  these  crystals  in  a 
state  of  tolerable  purity. 

The  occurrence  of  errors  respecting  the  composition 
of  these  hydrated  crystals  in  some  of  the  newest  treatises 
on  chemistry  induced  the  author  to  bring  the  subject 
before  the  Chemical  Society  of  Berlin. 


ON  THE  TIME  FOR  COLLECTING  THE  LEAVES 

OF  DIGITALIS. 

BY  F.  SCHNEIDER. 

The  pharmacopoeias  and  text-books  direct  to  collect 
these  leaves  of  the  flowering  plant.  I  had  the  leaves 
annually  collected  in  the  Black  Forest  during  the  latter 
part  of  May  or  beginning  of  June,  requiring  always 
some  flowering  stems.  In  appearance  I  had  a  beautiful 
drug,  but  rarely  could  I  get  a  satisfactory  reaction  by 
tannin  and  ferrocyanide  of  potassium  in  the  infusion. 
In  1869,  a  botanical  friend,  formerly  apothecary,  offered 
to  supply  Digitalis,  which  he  collected  near  the  end  of 
August  and  beginning  of  September,  as  he  had  done 
during  his  long  pharmaceutical  practice,  from  the  rosu- 
late  leaves  of  plants,  flowering  the  following  year.  The 
Digitalis  yielded  a  deeply-coloured  infusion  of  strong 
odour  and  taste,  and  gave  with  tannin  at  once  a  dense 
precipitate  ;  with  ferrocyanide  of  potassium,  after  twelve 
to  fifteen  minutes,  a  strong  turbidity.  The  leaves  should, 
therefore,  be  collected  not  in  the  flowering  season,  but 
late  in  summer. — American  Journal  of  Pharmacy ,  from 
Schweiz.  JFochensckr.  f.  Ph. 


APPLICATION  FOR  BALDNESS. 


Take  of 

Rum . 

Rectified  Spirit  ) 
Distilled  Water  J 
Tincture  of  Cantharides 
Carbonate  of  Potash .  . 

Carbonate  of  Ammonia . 


each 


500  parts. 


75 

3 

3 

5 


» 


Mix  the  liquids,  then  dissolve  the  salts,  and  filter. 
After  having  saturated  the  bald  part  for  some  minutes 
with  this  liquid,  wash  the  head  with  water. — Journal  dc 

Pharmacie  et  de  Chimie. 


Indelible  Ink. — The  following  recipe  is  given  by 
Puscher Dissolve  4  parts  of  anilin  black  in  16  parts 
by  weight  of  alcohol,  with  60  drops  strong  hydrochloric 
acid,  and  dilute  the  dark  blue  solution  with  90  parts  by 
weight  of  water,  in  which  6  parts  of  gum  arabic  has 
been  previously  dissolved.  This  ink  is  said  not  to  act 
upon  steel  pens  or  to  suffer  any  alteration  by  alkalies  or 
acids. — Deutsche  Industriezcitung . 

Poisoning-  by  Corrosive  Acids.  —  On  Monday, 
June  27th,  a  man  was  found  in  Richmond  Park,  lying 
on  the  ground  apparently  in  great  agony.  Near  him 
was  a  small  bottle,  labelled  “  spirits  of  salts.”  He  was 
conveyed  to  the  infirmary,  where  he  lies  in  a  dangerous 
state.  A  few  days  previously,  a  man,  a  plumber  and 
glazier  by  trade,  in  a  fit  of  temporary  insanity,  swallowed 
a  quantity"  of  fluoric  acid ;  he  was  conveyed  to  Middlesex 
Hospital,  where  he  died  almost  immediately. 


July  16,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


51 


SATURDAY,  JULY  16,  1870. 


NAVAL  DISPENSERS. 

We  congratulate  the  Pharmacists  of  Great  Britain 
that  a  step  has  been  taken  towards  the  recognition 
of  the  claims  of  pharmacy  by  the  national  Govern¬ 
ment,  as  implied  by  the  communication  from  the 
Admiralty  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  given  in  another  part  of  this  Journal. 

The  Admiralty  now  requires  that  its  dispensers 
shall  know  their  business,  and  that  department  has 
become  alive  to  the  fact  that  theirs  is  a  business  re¬ 
quiring  to  be  learned.  Now  the  dispensers  and 
assistant-dispensers  in  charge  of  the  Government 
stores  must  be  educated  men  ;  not,  as  formerly,  pen¬ 
sioners  with  a  turn  for  dispensing,  or  persons  needing 
to  be  provided  for  in  some  way,  but  having  no  land 
of  natural  aptitude  for  anything. 

Quoting  from  the  official  communication  just  re¬ 
ferred  to,  “  No  person  can  be  admitted  as  an  assist- 
ant-dispenser  unless  he  possesses  the  Minor  quali¬ 
fications  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society;  but  dis¬ 
pensers  or  assistant- dispensers  in  charge  of  stores 
must  possess  the  Major  qualifications  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society.” 

When  we  reflect  that  the  Admiralty  is  slow  to 
change,  and  how  discipline  and  necessary  subordina¬ 
tion  (as  a  land  of  makeweight  to  their  acknowledged 
advantages)  entail  reticence,  and  a  casting  into  the 
shade  of  such  mishaps  as  the  administration  of  a 
poison  in  place  of  medicine,  we  shall  be  prepared  to 
realize  the  full  significance  of  this  last  order,  trans¬ 
mitted  by  the  Admiralty  to  the  Secretary  of  our 
Society. 


THE  “AGE  OF  PROGRESS.” 


to  bear  their  victory  with  becoming  dignity  and  for¬ 
bearance,  but  also  to  sustain  and  justify  their  claim 
to  a  representation  in  the  Council  proportionate  to 
their  numbers. 

On  these  grounds  alone  we  think  it  would  be  ad¬ 
visable  to  let  this  matter  rest,  and  we  trust  this  view 
will  be  so  far  appreciated  by  our  correspondents  that 
they  will  regard  it  as  a  sufficient  reason  for  the  non¬ 
publication  of  their  letters. 


ANONYMOUS  WRITING. 

A  number  of  letters  have  been  received  in  which 
the  propriety  of  anonymous  correspondence  is  dis¬ 
puted  and  maintained.  As  the  provision  of  a  medium 
of  communication  is  an  important  function  of  this 
Journal,  this  question  deserves  serious  consideration, 
and  there  is  much  to  be  said  on  both  sides.  Wherever 
the  subject-matter  of  a  letter  has  a  personal  bearing, 
it  is  desirable  that  the  name  of  the  writer  should  ap¬ 
pear,  and  in  many  cases  the  statement  of  facts,  or 
even  opinions,  will  gain  weight  by  the  signature  of  a 
name.  At  the  same  time  there  are  cases  in  which 
expression  of  opinion,  argument,  and  criticism,  would 
be  restricted  by  the  necessity  of  publishing  a  wri¬ 
ter’s  name,  and  the  best  safeguard  of  propriety  is  to 
be  looked  for  in  that  exercise  of  judgment  and  regard 
for  principle  which  are  admitted  to  be  characteristic 
of  the  English  press. 

On  the  Continent,  as  many  of  our  readers  doubt¬ 
less  know,  it  is  customary  for  every  leading  article 
to  bear  the  signature  of  the  writer,  and  in  this  coun¬ 
try  the  same  practice  has  been  adopted  by  the 
‘  Fortnightly  Review,’  to  some  extent  by  ‘  Nature,’ 
and  by  other  publications.  It  is,  however,  at  least 
doubtful  whether  we  should  or  not  follow  these 
examples,  and  conform  to  Continental  usage. 


THE  NEW  LIBRARIAN  OF  THE  LONDON 
INSTITUTION. 


In  the  belief  that  the  calm  which  proverbially 
succeeds  a  storm  has  now  become  established,  we 
refrain  from  inserting  a  number  of  letters  that  have 
reached  us  on  this  subject.  The  views  of  all  parties 
have,  we  think,  been  adequately  expressed,  and  fur¬ 
ther  correspondence  would  probably  have  the  effect 
of  supplementing  mere  difference  of  opinion  with  the 
acrimony  arising  from  controversial  disputes. 

If  the  recent  Council  election  be  the  index  of  a 
“  period  of  transition  ”  rather  than  of  an  “  age  of 
progress,”  as  suggested  by  one  of  our  correspondents, 
it  would  seem  to  follow  that  its  advantages  or  disad¬ 
vantages  would  be  better  dealt  with  as  matters  of 
history  than  as  subject  for  prophecy. 

The  desire  of  provincial  members  to  be  more  largely 
represented  in  the  governing  body  of  the  Society  has 
been  attained,  and  it  now  remains  for  them,  not  only 


The  office  of  Librarian  of  the  London  Institution 
was  once  filled  by  the  celebrated  Greek  scholar, 
Porson ;  afterwards  it  was  held  by  Mr.  Thompson, 
and  then  by  the  late  Mr.  Brayley,  who  died  a  short 
time  ago.  The  choice  of  the  managers  of  the  Insti¬ 
tution  has  now  fallen  on  Mr.  J.  C.  Brough,  who  has 
just  been  elected  to  the  librariansliip.  Mr.  Brough 
is  well  known  to  our  readers  from  his  connection 
with  the  ‘  Chemist  and  Druggist,’  of  which  he  was 
editor  until  quite  recently.  The  short-lived  and 
much  regretted  ‘  Laboratory  was,  as  many  of  our 
readers  will  also  recollect,  edited  by  the  same  gentle¬ 
man.  Great  satisfaction  has  been  expressed  with 
Mr.  Brough’s  election :  the  managers  of  the  Insti¬ 
tution  could  hardly  have  hit  upon  a  better  man  foi 
the  office. 


52 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


[July  16,  1870. 


ON  SULPHOCAEBOLIO  ACID  AND  THE  SULPHO- 

CARBOLATES. 

BY  T.  OMAR  GUY'. 

These  chemical  combinations  have  quite  recently  come 
before  the  medical  world  as  new  therapeutical  agents, 
but  have  not  been  thoroughly  investigated.  There  having- 
been  no  satisfactory  process  given  for  their  manufacture, 
the  subject  was  presented  to  me  several  months  ago  for 
investigation;  since  which  time  I  have  experimented 
with  various  combinations,  and  find  the  following  to  give 
the  most  satisfactory  results :  — 

Sulphocarbolic  Acid. — This  is  first  formed  by  com¬ 
bining,  by  aid  of  heat,  sulphuric  and  carbolic  acids,  in 
the  proportion  of  49  parts  by  weight  of  the  former  to  94 
parts  by  weight  of  the  latter,  or  one  equivalent  of  each. 

The  mixture  is  put  into  a  glass  flask  with  a  narrow 
top,  into  which  is  inserted  a  thermometer,  and  covered 
over  by  means  of  a  paper  diaphragm,  in  order  to  keep 
the  fumes  from  escaping.  It  is  then  placed  on  a  sand- 
bath,  and  heat  gradually  applied,  until  the  acid  is  raised 
to  the  temperature  of  290°  F.,  and  kept  at  this  point  for 
ten  or  fifteen  minutes,  and  then  allowed  to  gradually  cool. 

At  first  this  forms  a  thick  syrupy  liquid  of  a  rich  wine 
colour,  which,  in  time,  passes  into  a  crystalline  mass, 
composed  of  small  rhomboidal  crystals,  having  a  reddish- 
brown  appearance.  These  again  become  liquid  at  or 
about  80°  F. 

"When  the  two  acids  are  first  mixed,  heat  is  evolved, 
the  temperature  being  raised  to  190°  F.  Fumes  are 
green  off,  which  are  again  condensed  on  the  sides  of  the 
vessel.  These  have  an  odour  similar  to  carbolic  acid, 
though  differing  in  some  respects. 

Sulphocarbolic  acid  reddens  litmus ;  with  the  sesqui- 
chloride  of  iron,  also,  with  the  solution  of  the  pernitrate 
of  iron,  it  produces  a  beautiful  purple  colour,  which 
fades  when  exposed  to  the  sunlight  for  a  short  time. 
"With  chloride  of  barium,  nitrate  of  baryta,  and  the  ace¬ 
tate  of  lead,  it  produces  a  slight  opalescence,  which  is 
probably  owing  to  a  little  free  sulphuric  acid. 

Its  taste  is  at  first  strongly  acid,  leaving  a  slight  empy- 
reumatic  taste  upon  the  tongue.  It  also  has  a  strong 
empyreumatic  odour,  resembling,  to  some  extent,  carbolic 
acid.  Its  sp.  gr.  is  1-288;  boils  at  540°  F.,  and  is  de¬ 
composed  at  560°  F.  into  a  black,  shiny,  amorphous  mass, 
having  lost  all  of  its  odour ;  soluble  in  water  and  alcohol, 
and  gives  a  decided  reaction  with  the  soluble  barium  and 
lead  salts. 

The  acid  is  soluble  in  any  proportion  of  water,  alcohol, 
and  ether.  It  dissolves  iodine,  and  the  solution  will 
combine  with  water  without  throwing  the  iodine  out  of 
solution. 

When  heated  to  400/  F.  it  becomes  of  a  bright  red 
colour,  and  when  cooled  forms  an  almost  semi-solid  mass. 
If  nitric  acid  is  added  to  a  portion  of  sulphocarbolic 
acid,  it  is  immediately  decomposed  with  violence,  nitro- 
phenic  acid  being  formed — a  black,  oily  liquid,  giving  off 
a  peculiarly  disagreeable  odour,  entirely  different  from 
that  of  carbolic  acid. 

In  forming  the  sulphocarbolic  acid,  I  used  the  chemi¬ 
cally  pure  sulphuric  acid,  sp.  gr.  1-823,  and  Calvert’s 
No.  2  carbolic  acid. 

The  interchange  of  elements  which  takes  place  when 
sulphocarbolic  acid  is  formed  may  be  represented  by  the 
following  reactions : — one  equivalent  of  carbolic  acid 
—  CjoHgOj  =  94;  one  equivalent  of  sulphuric  acid  = 
SOsHO  =  49;  then  C12H602  +  S03HO  =  C12H602 
S03HO  =  C12 II5  O,  S  03,  2 II O,  which  might  be  consi¬ 
dered  sulphophenic  acid,  or  a  hydrated  sulphate  of  the 
oxide  of  phenyl.* 

Sulphocarbolic  acid  has  been  experimented  with  'in 
regard  to  its  disinfectant  properties,  and  found  to  be 
much  more  efficient  than  carbolic  acid  alone. f 


*  These  formula;  are  somewhat  doubtful  and  antiquated. — 
Ed.  Pn.  J.  J 

f  Vide  ‘  Pharmacist/  Chicago,  September,  1869. 


With  salifiable  bases  it  combines  and  forms  salts, 
which  have  been  called  sulphocarbolates.  These  have  a 
faint  odour  of  carbolic  acid,  and  are  supposed  to  have  its 
therapeutical  properties  combined  with  its  respective 
bases,  without  its  causticity,  rendering  it  suitable  for 
internal  administration. 

In  heating  the  acid  great  care  should  be  used  not  to 
heat  it  too  suddenly.  There  is  apt  to  form  at  the  bottom 
of  the  vessel  a  black  liquid,  caused  by  too  great  a  tempe¬ 
rature,  resulting  in  the  decomposition  of  the  acid. 

Sulphocarbolate  of  Soda. — This  salt  is  at  present  con¬ 
sidered  the  most  important  of  the  series.  It  may  be 
produced  by  taking  one  volume  of  sulphocarbolic  acid, 
adding  six  volumes  of  water,  and  completely  saturating 
with  carbonate  of  soda  in  crystals.  The  solution  is  then 
filtered  and  evaporated  slowly  over  a  sand  or  water  bath 
until  a  slight  pellicle  is  formed,  when  it  is  set  aside  to 
crystallize.  When  the  crystals  are  all  formed,  the 
mother- water  may  be  still  further  evaporated,  and  a  new 
crop  of  crystals  obtained. 

Should  they  contain  colouring  matter,  or  the  crystals 
not  be  well-formed,  a  re-solution  and  crystallization  will 
produce  a  beautiful  salt,  free  from  colouring  matter,  and 
of  well-defined  rhomboidal  prisms,  soluble  in  five  parts 
of  cold  water  at  60°  F.,  and  in  two-thirds  its  weight  of 
boiling  water ;  soluble  to  a  slight  extent  in  alcohol,  but 
insoluble  in  ether. 

Sulphocarbolate  of  soda  is  a  nearly  colourless  salt, 
possessing  a  slight  pinkish  tinge.  It  has  a  somewhat 
saline,  bitterish  taste,  and  a  faint  odour  of  carbolic  acid ; 
neutral  to  test  paper ;  produces  no  precipitate  with  chlor¬ 
ide  of  barium,  nitrate  of  baryta,  or  the  acetate  of  lead. 
With  the  sesquichloride  of  iron  and  the  liquor  ferri 
nitratis,  it  produces  a  beautiful  purple  colour,  charac¬ 
teristic  of  the  sulphocarbolic  acid. 

The  crystals  should  be  well  dried  by  exposing  them  to 
the  air  in  a  warm  place  on  filtering  or  porous  paper. 

The  reactions  which  take  place  when  the  salt  is  formed 
maybe  represented  by  the  following  equation: — NaO, 
C02  +  C12  H5  O,  S  03  2  H  O  =  Na0,C12H50S03H0  + 
GO,.  / 

In  heating  this  salt  to  a  high  degree,  it  loses  thirty  per 
cent,  of  its  weight,  and  falls  into  a  greyish- white  powder, 
giving  a  white  precipitate  with  chloride  of  barium,  nitrate 
of  baryta,  and  acetate  of  lead ;  with  the  sesquichloride 
of  iron  and  the  solution  of  ternitrate  of  iron,  it  produces 
a  deep  reddish  colour.  If  the  heat  is  continued  to  red¬ 
ness,  it  takes  fire  and  burns  without  flame.  Nitric  acid, 
added  to  a  solution  of  the  salt,  gradually  acquires  a  red¬ 
dish-brown  colour. 

The  therapeutical  properties  of  sulphocarbolate  of  soda 
have  not  been  thoroughly  investigated.  It  has  been 
used  in  phthisis  with  marked  success ;  also  in  zymotic 
diseases  with  favourable  results.  It  has  been  given  in 
doses  ranging  from  ten  to  sixty  grains.* 

Several  physicians  of  this  city  have  used  the  sulpho¬ 
carbolate  of  soda  in  the  treatment  of  disease.  Among 
the  number  the  following  have  been  reported.  One  case 

was  that  of  Anna  E - ,  having  suffered  from  ozena  for 

several  years.  The  sulphocarbolate  of  soda  was  used, 
varying  the  strength  from  two  to  eight  grains  to  the 
fluid  ounce  of  water.  It  was  used  twice  daily,  with 
Thudichum’s  nasary  douche,  with  the  most  flattering 
success. 

It  was  also  used  as  a  topical  application  in  a  case  of 
syphilitic  sore-mouth  with  good  results.  In  this  case 
the  strength  of  the  solution  used  was  5i  to  f§fv  of  water. f 

As  a  dressing  for  fetid  leg  ulcers  the  solution  of  the 
sulphocarbolates  possesses  one  advantage  over  the  car¬ 
bolic  acid ;  the  acid  in  oil  or  paste  is  at  first  generally 
too  stimulating,  but  soon  volatilizes,  leaving  the  oil  or 
paste  inert.  The  sulphocarbolates  being  less  volatile, 
but  at  the  same  time  possessing  the  antiseptic  qualities, 
a  more  uniform  application  is  obtained. 

*  ‘London  Practitioner/  July,  1869. 
f  Cases  reported  by  Dr.  Collins. 


July  1G,  1870.] 


THE  PHAEMACEUTICAL  JOIIENAL. 


53 


This  salt  was  used  in  several  cases  of  severe  tonsilar 
ulceration,  which  all  rapidly  recovered  without  the  oc¬ 
currence  of  suppuration. 

It  was  also  employed  in  several  severe  cases  of  scarlet 
fever,  every  case  of  which  recovered  in  a  less  period  of 
time  than  under  any  treatment  which  had  previously 
been  employed  in  similar  cases.* — American  Journal  of 
Pharmacy. 


Sransaxtimis  of  fl«  fftanrarnttol  Soxiefj. 

MEETING-  OF  COUNCIL, 

July  0>th,  1870. 

MR.  SANBFORD,  PRESIDENT,  IN  THE  CHAIR. 

MR.  HASELDEN,  VICE-PRESIDENT. 

Present — Messrs.  Abraham,  Atherton,  Bottle,  Bourdas, 
Brady,  Brown,  Dymond,  Evans,  Groves,  Planbury, 
Hills,  Mackay,  Reynolds,  Savage,  Stoddart,  Sutton,  and 
Woolley. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  con¬ 
firmed. 

The  following  letter  from  the  Privy  Council  was  read, 
and  ordered  to  be  entered  on  the  Minutes  : — 

“  Medical  Bepartment  of  the  Privy  Council  Office , 
June  9th,  1870. 

“  Sir, — In  answer  to  your  letter  of  the  3rd  instant, 
submitting,  on  the  part  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society, 
for  the  approval  of  the  Lords  of  Her  Majesty’s  Council 
the  names  of  certain  Pharmaceutical  Chemists  proposed 
to  be  Examiners  for  the  Society  for  the  ensuing  year,  my 
Lords  direct  me  to  inform  you  that  they  approve  the 
appointments  submitted  to  them. 

“I  am,  Sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

“John  Simon. 

“  The  Secretary ,  Pharmaceutical  Society." 

In  consequence  of  the  increasing  number  of  candidates 
for  examination  in  Scotland,  it  was  considered  desirable 
to  extend  the  Board  of  Examiners  to  eight,  as  provided 
under  the  Bye-laws ;  and  the  following  Pharmaceutical 
Chemists  were  thereupon  appointed,  subject  to  the  ap¬ 
proval  of  the  Privy  Council : — 

Henry  C.  Baildon ....  Princes  Street,  Edinburgh. 
Alexander  Noble  ....  Circus  Place,  Edinburgh. 

Letters  were  read  from — - 

The  Science  and  Art  Department,  South  Kensing¬ 
ton,  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  the  votes  of 
thanks  passed  at  the  last  meeting  of  the  Council. 
Professor  Roscoe,  expressive  of  his  appreciation  of 
the  honour  conferred  on  him  in  being  elected  an 
Honorary  Member  of  the  Society. 

Mr.  Schacht,  of  Clifton,  consenting  to  deliver  the 
sessional  address  in  October  next. 

The  report  of  the  Finance  Committee  was  presented, 
showing,  on  the  General  Fund  Account,  a  balance  in  the 

Treasurer’s  hands  of . £1862.  11s.  3 d. 

And  submitting  for  payment  accounts, 

law  costs,  salaries,  etc.,  amounting  to  .  £1469.  11s.  9 d. 

On  the  Benevolent  Fund  Account  a  balance  of 
£458.  12s.  Id. 

The  Finance  Committee,  as  requested  at  the  last  meet¬ 
ing  of  the  Council,  having  taken  into  consideration  the 
funded  capital  of  the  Society  with  a  view  to  its  more  ad¬ 
vantageous  investment,  further  reported,  — 

“That  this  Committee  is  of  opinion  that  the  funded 
capital  of  the  Society  might  be  more  advantageously 
employed  if  invested  in  good  freehold  ground-rents, 
or  freehold  landed  security ;  and  the  Committee  re¬ 
commend  that  a  portion  of  the  capital  bo  so  em¬ 
ployed  at  the  earliest  opportunity.” 


Moved  by  Mr.  Mackay,  seconded  by  Mr.  Brown,  and 

Resolved — That  the  Report  of  the  Finance  Committee 
be  received,  but  the  Council  deem  it  more  prudent 
to  continue  the  present  investment  of  the  funds  of 
the  Society  in  Government  Securities. 

Resolved — That  the  Treasurer  be  requested  to  pay  to 
the  several  annuitants  (10)  their  quarter’s  annuities 
in  advance  to  Michaelmas  next. 

The  Report  of  the  House  Committee  Meetings  of 
June  5,  10,  and  17,  having  been  read,  it  was  resolved 
that  the  Report  be  received :  that  the  matters  recom¬ 
mended  relating  to  office-fittings,  house-cleaning,  paint¬ 
ing,  etc.,  be  referred  back  to  the  Committee  to  carry  out. 

Resolved — That  the  Report  and  recommendations  of 
the  Library,  Museum,  and  Laboratory  Committee 
be  received  and  adopted. 

On  the  Report  and  recommendations  of  the  Parlia¬ 
mentary  Committee,  it  was 

Resolved — That  the  list  of  Local  Secretaries  for  the 
ensuing  year,  now  presented,  be  approved,  and  that 
the  said  list  be  published  in  the  ensuing  number  of 
the  Journal. 

Resolved — That  the  Registrar  be  instructed  to  consult 
the  Society’s  Solicitors,  in  reference  to  proceedings 
to  be  taken  in  certain  cases  reported  by  him  of  in¬ 
fringements  of  the  Pharmacy  Acts. 

On  the  Report  of  the  Special  Journal  Committee,  the 
Council  proceeded  to  the  election  of  an  Editor  for  the 
‘  Pharmaceutical  Journal.’ 

Mr.  Watts  having  withdrawn  his  application,  the  re¬ 
maining  candidates  were 

Dr.  Redwood,  Dr.  B.  H.  Paul,  and  Dr.  J.  Baker  Ed¬ 
wards.  • 

Ballot  having  been  taken,  the  following  was  the  re¬ 
sult  : — 

Benjamin  H.  Paul,  Ph.D.,  F.C.S.  12 

Theophilus  Redwood,  Ph.D.,  F.C.S .  7 

John  Baker  Edwards,  Ph.D.,  F.C.S .  0 

Dr.  Paul  was  therefore  declared  elected  Editor. 

The  election  of  a  Sub-Editor  was  left  to  a  committee, 
consisting  of  the  President,  Vice-President,  Messrs.  Dy¬ 
mond,  Mackay,  and  Reynolds,  subject  to  confirmation  by 
the  next  Council. 

Moved  by  Mr.  Abraham,  seconded  by  Mr.  Mackay, 

That  Professor  Redwood  be  re-appointed  Professor  of 
Chemistry  and  Pharmacy  at  a  salary  of  £400  per 
annum.' 

Amendment — Moved  by  Mr.  Brown,  seconded  by  Mr. 
Woolley, 

That  Dr.  Redwood  be  re-appointed  Professor  of  Che¬ 
mistry  and  Pharmacy  at  a  salary  of  £300  per 
annum. 

Mr.  Brady  demanded  that  the  voting  should  be  by 
ballot. 

Ballot — For  the  Amendment,  11.  Against ,  7. 

The  Amendment,  having  been  put  as  a  substantive 
Motion,  was  carried. 

Moved  by  Mr.  Hanbury,  seconded  by  Mr.  Mackay, 

That,  in  recognition  of  the  long  and  varied  services 
of  Dr.  Redwood,  an  annuity  of  £100  be  in  future 
paid  him. 

Amendment — Moved  by  Mr.  Brady,  seconded  by  Mr. 
Brown, 

That  no  notice  having  been  given  of  the  proposed 
annuity  to  Dr.  Redwood,  the  consideration  of  the 
subject  bo  delayed  for  a  month. 

For  tho  Amendment — 

Messrs.  Atherton,  Brady,  Brown,  Dymond,  Rey¬ 
nolds,  Savage,  Sutton,  and  Woolley. 


*  Vide  ‘London  Practitioner,’  July,  1869. 


54 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


[July  1G,  1870. 


Against — 

Messrs.  Abraham,  Bottle,  Bourdas,  Evans,  Hasel- 
den,  Hanbury,  Hills,  Mackay,  Sandford,  and  Stod¬ 
dart. 

Mr.  Groves  did  not  vote. 

Tbe  Amendment  being  lost,  the  original  Motion  was 
then  put,  when  another  Amendment  was  moved  by  Mr. 
Sutton,  seconded  by  Mr.  Atherton, 

That  Dr.  Redwood  be  allowed  £50  per  annum. 

Mr.  Reynolds  demanded  that  the  voting  should  be  by 
ballot. 

Ballot — For  the  Amendment,  8.  Against ,  10. 

The  original  Motion  was  carried. 

Professor  Bentley  was  reappointed  Professor  of  Bo¬ 
tany  and  Materia  Medica  for  the  ensuing  year. 

Professor  Attfield  was  reappointed  Professor  of  Prac¬ 
tical  Chemistry,  and  Director  of  the  Laboratories,  for  the 
ensuing  year. 

William  Augustus  Tilden,  B.Sc.,  was  reappointed 
Demonstrator  in  the  Laboratories  for  the  ensuing  year. 

John  Moss  was  reappointed  Assistant-Demonstrator 
for  the  ensuing  year. 

On  the  consideration  of  the  resolution  passed  at  the 
last  Annual  Meeting, 


Cadman,  Daniel  Charles . Folkestone. 

Duncan,  Joseph  . Glasgow. 

Goulden,  Edward  Baker . Uckfield. 

Meadows,  Henry . Gloucester. 

Paffard,  Walter  IJaideen  ....  Niagara. 

Reeler,  John  William . Cape  Town. 

Tuck,  William  Henry . Surbiton. 

Williams,  Richard  . Brixton. 

Resolved — That  the  following  Registered  Chemists  and 
Druggists  be  elected  Members  of  the  Society  : — 

Bamitt,  Francis  . Bath. 

Foster,  James  Alfred  . Birmingham. 

Fowke,  Thomas  Edward . Stafford. 

Harvie,  George . Helensburgh. 

Hodkinson,  John . Macclesfield. 

Longhurst,  Edward . Matlock  Bath. 

Malden,  William  Walter  ....  London. 

Stevens,  John  Ashley . Trowbridge. 

Sykes,  Thomas  Hindle  . Southport. 

Wright,  George  . Burton-on-Trent. 

Moved  by  Mr.  Woolley,  seconded  by  Mr.  Brown, — 
That  Elizabeth  Leech,  Munster  House,  Fulham,  Re¬ 
gistered  Chemist  and  Druggist,  be  elected  a  member 
of  the  Society. 

For— 


“That  this  meeting  is  of  opinion  the  means  hitherto 
adopted  by  the  Society  to  supply  the  educational 
wants  of  its  members  are  no  longer  adequate  to  the 
necessities  of  the  times ;  and  it  respectfully  urges 
upon  the  new  Council  the  desirability  of  consider¬ 
ing  some  scheme  by  which  the  resources  available 
for  such  purposes  may  be  more  generally  distri¬ 
buted,” 

It  was  moved  by  Mr.'  Reynolds,  seconded  by  Mr. 
Hanbury,  and 

Resolved — That  the  following  be  a  Committee  to  in¬ 
quire  into  the  existing  facilities  for  Pharmaceutical 
Education  in  the  Provinces,  and  that  they  be  de¬ 
sired  to  offer  suggestions  for  the  aid  and  extension 
thereof: — The  President,  Vice-President,  Messrs. 
Atherton,  Brady,  Dymond,  Groves,  Mackay,  Rey¬ 
nolds,  Stoddart,  Sutton,  and  Woolley. 

The  consideration  of  the  resolution  on  the  Sale  and 
Keeping  of  Poisons,  passed  at  the  Annual  Meeting, 
“  That  the  subject  be  taken  into  consideration  by  the 
incoming  Council,  and  that  a  further  report  be  made 
to  the  next  Annual  Meeting,”  was  deferred. 

A  letter  was  read  from  Messrs.  Churchill  and  Sons, 
containing  suggestions  in  reference  to  the  publication  of 
the  Journal,  etc.,  and  was  referred  to  a  Committee. 


REPORT  OP  THE  BOARD  OP  EXAMINERS 
POR  ENGLAND  AND  WALES. 

June  15,  Major  Examination,  5  candidates,  4  passed. 
„  Minor  „  28  ,,  19 

,,  Separate  „  1  candidate,  1 

July  1,  Modified  „  38  candidates,  19 

Preliminary  „  176  „  144 


» 

» 


jj 


JJ 


.  248  187 

Preliminary  Examination,  certificates  approved,  4. 


Resolved — That  the  following,  being  duly  registered 
as  Pharmaceutical  Chemists,  be  respectively  granted 
a  Diploma  stamped  with  the  seal  of  the  Society : — 


Duncan,  Joseph  . Glasgow. 

Finlay,  James  . Edinburgh. 

Fryer,  Charles . Guildford. 

Furmston,  Samuel  Chambers  .  .Wycombe. 
Horsley,  Thomas  Wood . Manchester. 


Resolved — That  the  following  Pharmaceutical  Che¬ 
mists  be  and  are  hereby  elected  Members  of  the 
Society : — 


Messrs.  Abraham,  Bourdas,  Hanbury,  and  Woolley. 
Against — 

Messrs.  Atherton,  Brady,  Dymond,  Groves,  Haselden, 
Hills,  Mackay,  Reynolds,  Sandford,  Savage,  and 
Stoddart. 

Mr.  Evans  did  not  vote. 

The  motion  was  therefore  lost. 

Resolved — That  the  following,  having  passed  their 
respective  Examinations,  be  elected 


ASSOCIATES  IN  BUSINESS. 

Minor. 

Peake,  Henry  Felix . . .  Twickenham  Green. 

Modified. 

Goodwin,  Medmer  . Plymouth. 

Hackney,  William  Francis ....  London. 

Jones,  Owen . . . Llanrwd. 

Morris,  Frederick  Robert  ....  Lowestoft. 

Water  worth,  Alfred . Preston. 

Resolved — That  the  following,  having  passed  their 
respective  Examinations,  be  elected 

ASSOCIATES  OP  THE  SOCIETY. 

Minor. 

Appleby,  Calvert . Retford. 

Botterill,  George  Thomas  ....  Boston. 

Davison,  Anthony  . Kidderminster. 

Griffin,  Thomas  . Bromley. 

Hill,  William  Edward . Leicester. 

Homer,  Frederick  George  ....  Birmingham. 

Horton,  Walter  Charles  ..... .Windsor. 

Howie,  William  Lamond  ....  Edinburgh. 

James,  George  . -.Haverfordwest. 

Masson,  George . London. 

Osborne,  James . Ashbourne. 

Pick,  Richard  . Hull. 

Powell,  Thomas  Henry  . Hornsey  Rise. 

Vincent,  Philip,  jun . Fulham. 

Wallis,  Herbert  Boyd  . . . London. 

Warren,  William . .  Chertsey. 

While,  William  John . Cheltenham. 

Wing,  Lewis . '. . .  Torquay. 

Wonfor,  Herbert  Ison . Southampton. 

Modified. 

Burgess,  Frederick  Augustus . .  London. 

Floyd,  John  . .  .Liverpool. 

Gowen,  Albert . Stratford-on-Avon. 


July  16,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


Hill,  Edward . Barnstaple. 

Turner,  John  . Ramsgate. 

Matthew,  Josiah  . London. 

The  Secretary  presented  a  list  of  members  who  had 
paid  their  subscriptions  since  the  30th  April  last. 

Resolved— That  they  he  severally  restored  to  their 
former  status  on  payment  of  the  nominal  fine  of  one 
shilling. 

A  request  having  been  made  by  the  Sunderland  Che¬ 
mists’  Association  that  the  Journal  of  the  Society  he  sup¬ 
plied  to  them,  it  was  resolved  that  the  requisition  he  com¬ 
plied  with. 


EXAMINATION  IN  LONDON. 

July  13  th,  1870. 

Present — Messrs.  Allchin,  Bird,  Carteighe,  Cracknell, 
Davenport,  Gale,  Garle,  Haselden,  Ince,  and  Southall. 
Dr.  Greenhow  was  also  present  on  behalf  of  the  Privy 
Council. 

Twenty-five  candidates  presented  themselves  for  ex¬ 
amination, — twelve  Major  and  thirteen  Minor ;  the  fol¬ 
lowing  passed  and  were  duly  registered 

MAJOR  (As  PHARMACEUTICAL  CHEMISTS). 

*'VVebb,  Edward  Alfred . Clapham. 

*  Bland,  Thomas  Fredrick . Stourbridge. 

^Thompson,  William  Milner  ..Thirsk. 

*Raffle,  William  .<* . South  Shields. 

Pitts,  Phineas  Reynolds . Hingham. 

Walton,  Jonathan  Sparke  ....  Haydon  Bridge. 

Adams,  Frank  . Stoke-on-Trent. 

Mason,  Robert  William . Rugby. 

MINOR  (As  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS). 

*Sherburn,  Thomas  . Harrogate. 

*  Sumner,  Benjamin  Tindale. . .  .Homcastle. 

Clark,  Walter  Beules . Leicester. 

Page,  William  Henry . London. 

Storey,  Edward  Henry  . London. 

Margetts,  George  William  . . .  .Fakenham. 

Green,  Marryat  Hahnemann  . .  London. 

Thomas,  Evan  Medeni . Pantyrodyn. 

The  above  names  are  arranged  in  order  of  merit. 


for  Sttarts. 


CHEMICAL  NOTES  TO  THE  PHxlRMACOPCEIA. 

BY  WILLIAM  A.  TILDEN,  B.SC.  LOND. 

DEMONSTRATOR  OF  PRACTICAL  CHEMISTRY  TO  THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 

Acidum  Carbolicum.  Carbolic  Acid. — Synonyms: 
phenic  acid ;  plienic  alcohol ;  hydrate  of  phenyl ; 
phenol.  When  coal-tar  is  distilled,  the  first  portions 
which  come  over  constitute  crude  coal  naphtha,  and 
contain  benzol,  C6H6.  The  next  portion  collected  in 
the  receiver  is  heavy  coal  oil  (being  heavier  than 
water) ;  it  boils  at  300°  F.  and  upwards,  and  con¬ 
tains  carbolic  acid.  Later  in  the  process  the  oil 
which  distils  contains  a  good  deal  of  solid  matter 
(naphthaline,  etc.),  and  the  black  residue  in  the  re¬ 
tort  forms  pitch.  Carbolic  acid  is  separated  from 
the  heavy  oils  by  distilling  them  fractionally,  that  is, 
by  collecting  the  constituents  wliich  pass  over  at 
different  temperatures  in  different  receivers.  The 
details  of  its  successful  preparation  on  the  large 
scale,  are  only  known  to  a  few  manufacturers. 


*  Passed  with  honours. 


It  melts  at  95°  F.,  and  boils  at  370°  F. ;  sp.  gr. 
L065.  Formula  HC6H50. 

It  resembles  creasote  in  many  respects,  but  differs 
from  it  in  having  no  action  on  polarized  light,  and 
being  easily  cry stalliz able  by  cooling.  An  aqueous 
solution  also  gives  a  blue  colour  with  percliloride 
of  iron,  wliich  creasote  does  not.  Carbolic  acid  is  an 
important  antiseptic.  [§  A  slip  of  deal  dipped  into 
it,  and  afterwards  into  hydrochloric  acid,  and  then 
allowed  to  dry  in  the  air,  acquires  a  greenish-blue 
colour.  It  coagulates  albumen.]  Although  called 
an  acid  it  has  no  acid  reaction  upon  litmus-paper, 
and  is  given  off  unchanged  by  heating  any  of  its 
compounds  with  bases. 

By  treating  it  with  nitric  acid  it  gives,  according 
to  the  strength  of  the  acid  and  time  allowed  for 
reaction — 

Mononitrophenic  H  C6H4  (N  02)  O, 
Dinitrophenic  .  HC6H3(N02)20, 

Or  trinitrophenic  H C6H 2  (N  02)3  O  acid. 

The  last  is  important  as  a  yellow  dye,  it  is  called 
picric  or  carbazotic  acid. 

By  dissolving  carbolic  acid  in  oil  of  vitriol,  sulplio- 
carbolic  or  sulpho -phenic  acid  is  obtained,  and  by 
diluting  tills,  and  neutralizing  with  various  metallic 
oxides  or  carbonates,  the  sulpho-carbolates  are 
formed.  These  salts  have  been  recently  introduced 
into  medicine.  The  sodium  salt  is  C6H5NaS04, 
H20  ;  the  zinc  salt  Zn"(C6H5S04)2,H20. 

Acidum  Citricum. — Citric  acid  is  found  in  greater 
or  less  proportion  in  the  fruits  of  all  the  orange 
tribe.  It  is  prepared  practically  from  lemon-juice 
or  from  lime-juice,  by  boiling  with  chalk  until  the 
acid  is  neutralized,  collecting  the  insoluble  citrate 
of  lime  thrown  down : — 

2  H3C6H507  +  3CaCOs  =  Ca"32C6H507 

Citric  acid.  Calcic  citrate. 

+  3(H,0,C02). 

Suspending  this  in  water  and  digesting  it  with  a  suf¬ 
ficient  quantity  of  sulphuric  acid  : — 

Ca"32C6H507  +  3H2S04 
=  2  H3C6H507  +  3  CaS04. 

'The  addition  of  the  chalk  to  the  juice  causes  effer¬ 
vescence,  from  the  escape  of  carbonic  acid  gas;  the 
citric  acid  is  wholly  precipitated  upon  boiling  in  the 
form  of  citrate  of  lime,  leaving  behind,  in  solution, 
the  other  substances  (mucilage,  sugar,  etc.),  which 
are  mixed  with  it  in  the  juice.  The  sulphate  of  lime 
formed  in  the  second  part  of  the  process  is  almost 
wholly  insoluble,  and  is  therefore  filtered  off. 

Citric  acid  crystals  are  soluble  in  three-fourths  of 
their  weight  of  cold,  and  in  half  their  weight  of 
boiling  water;  they  are  easily  distinguished  from 
those  of  tartaric  acid,  by  being  much  shorter  and,  as 
it  were,  rounder,  and  by  giving  no  precipitate  when 
added  in  excess  to  solution  of  acetate  of  potash,  nor 
when  added  in  moderate  quantity  to  cold  lime-water. 
Alum  or  bisulphate  of  potash  would  be  detected  in  it 
by  giving  a  white  precipitate  with  chloride  of  barium. 
7  grams  of  the  acid  are  neutralized  by  the  addition 
of  100  cubic  centims.  of  volumetric  solution  of  soda. 

Citric  acid  is  tribasic ;  out  of  the  10  atoms  of  hy¬ 
drogen  which  it  contains  altogether,  3  atoms  can  be 
expelled  by  the  action  of  metals  by  way  of  double 
decomposition.  For  instance: — 

H3C6H307  .  H20  +  3  NaHO 

Citric  acid  crystals. 

=  Na3C6H507  +  3  H20  +H20. 


56 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


[July  16,  187C. 


If,  then,  1  molecule  of  the  acid  is  neutralized  by  3 
mols.  of  soda,  l  mol.  of  the  acid  will  be  satisfied 
by  1  mol.  of  soda : — 

C6  =  12  X  6  =  72 
H10=  1  X  10  =  10 
Os  =  10  X  8  =  128 


3)210 

70 

70  grams  of  the  acid  would  then  be  neutralized  by 
40  grams  of  soda,  or,  which  is  the  same  tiling,  by 
1000  c.c.  of  the  yoL  sol.  of  soda:  therefore,  7  are 
neutralized  by  100  c.c. 

Crystals  of  citric  acid,  exposed  to  the  temperature 
of  boiling  water,  lose  1  mol.  of  water,  which  is  merely 
water  of  crystallization,  and  can  be  taken  up  again. 
Heated  more  strongly,  the  residual  dry  citric  acid 
again  loses  a  mol.  of  water  and  becomes  transformed 
into  an  acid,  which  is  chiefly  interesting  on  account 
of  its  identity  with  the  acid  of  the  aconite  and  of  va¬ 
rious  species  of  the  equiseta.  It  is  soluble  in  ether, 
whilst  citric  acid  is  not : — 

H.C6H507  -  HjO  =  HsC6Hs06. 

Citric  acid.  Aconitic  acid. 

Acidum  Gallicum.  Gallic  Acid. — Obtained  by 
exposing  crushed  galls,  in  a  moist  state,  to  the  air 
during  a  month  or  six  weeks  ;  then  pressing  out  the 
black  residual  liquid  and  boiling  the  cake  in  water, 
which  extracts  the  gallic  acid  from  it.  On  cooling, 
the  acid  crystallizes  out  from  the  solution. 

There  is  some  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the  nature 
of  the  change  which  gives  rise  to  the  gallic  acid  in 
this  way ;  it  is  probable,  however,  that  under  the  in¬ 
fluence  of  the  “  moulds  ”  which  form  upon  the  mass, 
the  tannin  present  is  broken  up  into  gallic  acid  and 
glucose,  and  that  the  latter,  as  it  forms,  is  almost  en¬ 
tirely  oxidized  to  C02  and  H20  : — 

C27H22  017  -j-  4  H20  =  3C7H605  -j-  C6H1206 ; 

Tannin.  Gallic  acid.  Glucose. 

and  then — 

C6 H12  06  -f-  0  02  =  6  C02  +  6  H2  O  ; 

possibly  in  a  manner  analogous  to  that  by  which  the 
vinegar-plant  promotes  the  oxidation  of  the  alcohol 
in  vinegar  making. 

Minute  silky  needles,  soluble  in  three  times  their 
weight  of  boiling  water,  but  only  in  100  of  cold.  In 
dispensing  gallic  acid,  hot  water  should  not,  there¬ 
fore,  be  employed  to  dissolve  it,  or  the  acid  crystal¬ 
lizes  in  large  tufts  on  cooling.  The  aqueous  solu¬ 
tion  gives  a  deep  bluish  coloration  with  ferric  salts, 
but,  when  pure,  it  does  not  precipitate  the  vegetable 
alkalies  nor  gelatine  as  tannin  does.  [§  The  crys¬ 
talline  acid  when  dried  at  212°  F.,  loses  9*5  per  cent, 
of  its  weight.]  This  is  only  water  of  crystallization ; 
but  when  heated  to  between  410°  and  420°,  it  is 
wholly  resolved  into  carbonic  acid  gas  and  pyrogallic 
acid,  which  sublimes  in  shining  plates : — 

C7H605  =  C6H603  -f*  C02. 

Acidum  Hydrochloricum. — A  solution  of  real  hy¬ 
drochloric  acid,  H  Cl,  in  water. 

On  heating  chloride  of  sodium  (common  salt)  with 
sulphuric  acid,  it  yields  a  colourless  gas,  which,  if 
expelled  into  the  air,  forms  a  steamy  fume,  owing  to 
the  presence  of  moisture.  This  gas  dissolves  rapidly 
and  readily  when  passed  into  water,  forming  the  so¬ 
lution  usually  known  as  hydrochloric  or  muriatic 


acid,  or  spiiit  of  salt.  The  sp.  gr.  of  the  officiil 
liquid  is  1T6,  and  it  contains  31*8  per  cent,  of  HC.. 
The  residue  left  in  the  flask  or  retort  is  acid  sulpliatt 
of  sodium. 

Na  Cl  +  H2S04  =  NaHS04  +  HC1. 

Hydrochloric  acid  and  all  other  soluble  chlorides 
give,  with  solution  of  nitrate  of  silver,  a  curdy  white 
precipitate,  consisting  of  chloride  of  silver,  AgCl, 
soluble  in  excess  of  ammonia,  but  insoluble  in  nitric 
acid. 

[§  11 '48  grams  mixed  with  half  an  ounce  of  dis¬ 
tilled  water,  require  for  neutralization  100  c.c.  of  the 
volumetric  solution  of  soda.] 

1  mol.  of  HC1  (=  36-5)  +  1  mol.  of  NaHO 
=  NaCl  +  H20. 

36*5  grams  of  hydrochloric  acid  gas  would  neutra¬ 
lize  1000  c.c.  of  the  vol.  sol.  of  soda,  which  contain 
40  grams  or  1  mol.  of  NaHO.  3*65  grams  of  HC1, 
or  11*48  grams  of  the  liquid,  will,  therefore,  neutra¬ 
lize  the  same  amount,  viz.  100  c.c.  of  the  vol.  sol.  of 
soda.  11*48  of  the  liquid  contain  accordingly  3*65 
of  the  gas  : — what  do  100  parts  contain  ? 

11*48  :  100  : :  3*65  :  x.  x  =  31*8  per  cent. 

Commercial  hydrochloric  acid  is  liable  to  many 
impurities ;  iron ,  recognized  by  the  colour,  and  by 
giving,  when  diluted,  blue  precipitates  with  ferro- 
and  ferri- cyanide  of  potassium  ;  arsenic,  by  giving, 
after  dilution,  a  yellow  precipitate  with  H2S,  also 
by  tarnishing  copper-foil  boiled  in  it ;  alkaline  salts 
(NaCl,  Na2S04,  etc.),  by  leaving  a  residue  on  eva¬ 
poration  to  dryness ;  sulphuric  acid,  by  giving,  with 
chloride  of  barium,  a  white  precipitate  ;  sulphurous 
acid,  by  the  last  test  in  the  B.  P.,  which  is  identical 
with  that  explained  under  Acidum  Aceticum  ;  chlo¬ 
rine  or  nitric  acid  would  tarnish  copper-foil,  and 
would  also  dissolve  gold-leaf.  To  ascertain  if  any 
gold  has  been  taken  up  by  the  sample  tested,  add  a 
few  drops  of  a  mixture  of  tin  chlorides ;  purple  of 
Cassius  makes  its  appearance. 

Acidum  Hydrocyanicum  Dilutum. — The  official 
preparation  is  a  solution  of  real  acid,  containing  2 
per  cent.  It  is  prepared  by  distilling  yellow  prussiate 
of  potash  with  sulphuric  acid  and  wrater,  and  col¬ 
lecting  the  distillate  in  a  receiver  containing  distilled 
water. 

2K4(Fe"C6N6)  +  0H2SO4 

Ferrocyanide  of 
potassium. 

=  K2Fe"(Fe"C6N6)  +  6HCN  +  6KHS04. 

Everitt’ssalt,  or  ferro-  Hydrocyanic  Acid  sulphate 
cyanide  of  potassium  acid.  of  potassium, 

and  iron. 

At  the  end  of  the  operation  the  retort  contains  a 
solution  of  bisulphate  of  potash,  mixed  with  a  pre¬ 
cipitate  of  the  double  ferrocyanide,  wdiicli  is  generally 
green,  from  the  action  upon  it  of  the  air  in  the  appa¬ 
ratus.  The  distillate  is  diluted  with  w7ater,  till  100 
grains  of  it  give,  wdien  mixed  with  excess  of  nitrate 
of  silver,  a  precipitate  of  cyanide  of  silver,  which, 
when  wrashed  and  dried,  wreighs  10 ’grains. 

HCN  +  AgNO,  =  AgCN  +  HNOa. 

27.  134. 

From  this  equation  27  grains  of  HCN  give  134 
grains  of  AgCN  ;  so  that  if  the  100  grains  of  dis¬ 
tilled  liquid  contain  2  grains,  as  they  should,  10  (or 
more  accurately,  9*926)  grains  of  precipitate  are  ob¬ 
tained. 


JtLY  16,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


57  * 


Hydrocyanic  acid  may  be  detected  with  certainty, 
even  when  present  in  minute  quantity,  by  one  of  tlie 
folowing  processes : — 

a.  [§  Treated  with  a  minute  quantity  of  a  mixed 
solution  of  sulphate  and  persulphate  of  iron,  after¬ 
wards  with  potash,  and,  finally,  acidulated  "with 
hydrochloric  acid,  it  forms  Prussian  blue.] 

_ - - - - 

71.  6HCN  +  FeS04  +  2KHO  +  4KHO  +  d(HO 

Hydrocyanic  Ferrous  Potash, 

acid.  sulphate. 

=  K4(Fe"C6N6)  +  K2S04  +  6H20  +  a-KHO. 

Ferrocyanide.  Sulphate.  Water. 

II.  3K4Fe"C6N6  +  2Fe"'2Cl6  +  aKHO  +  aHCl 

Ferrocyanide  of  Ferric 

potassium.  chloride.  ^ 

z:  Fef,4  3  (Fe"C?N6)  +  12KC1  +  a(KCl+H20). 

Ferric  ferrocyanide, 
or  Prussian  blue. 


b.  Mixed  with  a  few  drops  of  solution  of  sulphur 
in  sulphide  of  ammonium,  evaporated  to  dryness,  and 
then  moistened  with  weak  solution  of  ferric  chloride, 
a  red  stain  of  ferric  sulphocyanide  is  produced. 

I.  (NH4)2S  +  HCN  +  s 

Sulphide  of  Hydrocyanic 

ammonium.  acid. 

=  (NHJHS  +  (NH4)CNS. 

Sulphydrate  of  Sulphocyanide  of 

ammonium.  ammonium. 


II.  Fe^Clg  -f 

Ferric  chloride. 

=  8NH.C1 

Chloride  of 
ammonium. 


6  (NH4)  CNS 

Sulphocyanide. 

+  Fe2(CNS)6.. 

Ferric  sulphocyanide. 


Alkaline  cyanides  give  no  precipitate  with  a  sniau. 
quantity  of  nitrate  of  silver.  So  long  as  the  propor¬ 
tion  of  nitrate  of  silver  to  cyanide  is  not  more  than 
one  molecule  to  two,  a  double  salt  is  formed,  which 


remains  in  solution.  ^ _ 

KCN  +  KCN+  AgN  03  =  KCN,AgCN  +  KN03. 


When  even  the  minutest  quantity  of  nitrate  is 
superadded,  a  white  precipitate  of  cyanide  of  silver 
begins  to  form. 

KCN,  AgCN  +  AgN03  =  2AgCN  +  KN03. 


Upon  this  fact  is  based  the  official  quantitative 
test.  10,000  c.c.  of  the  vol.  sol.  of  nitrate  of  silver 
contain  170  grams  (=  1  molecule)  of  the  silver  salt, 
and  if  this  quantity  were  added  to  2  molecules  or  54 
grams  of  HCN,  rendered  alkaline  by  the  addition  of 
soda,  the  liquid  would  remain  clear,  but  the  next 
drop  would  produce  a  precipitate  of  cyanide  of  silver. 

Now,  if  10,000  c.c.  indicate  the  presence  of  54 
grams  of  H  C  N  in  the  liquid  tested,  the  employment 
of  100  c.c.  in  the  same  manner,  will  indicate  tuo  of 
54,  or  '54  gram  of  HCN. 

The  quantity  of  dilute  acid  which,  according  to 
the  B.  P.,  contains  this  amount  is  27  grams,  which 
corresponds  to  two  per  cent,  of  real  acid ;  for  if  2  / 
contain  ‘54  what  wTill  100  contain  ? 


27  :  100  : :  -54  :  x. 

x  =  2. 

Hydrocyanic  acid  is  very  liable  to  decomposition, 
but  is  more  stable  when  mixed  with  a  little  mineral 
acid  ;  much  of  the  commercial  preparation  therefore 
contains  a  minute  proportion  of  HC1.  The.  chief 
products  of  its  spontaneous  change  are  formiate  of 
ammonia — 

HCN  +  2H20  =  NH4CH02, 


and  a  brown  substance,  the  nature  of  which  is  not 
understood. 

Hydrocyanic  acid  is  also  found  among  the  products 
of  the  action  of  water  upon  bitter  almonds.  These 
seeds  contain  a  crystalline  principle,  amygdaline , 
and  another  substance  of  ill-defined  albuminoid 
character,  the  composition  of  which  is  not  known, 
called  emulsin  or  synaptase.  When  both  are  dis¬ 
solved  in  water,  the  latter,  by  some  unexplained  in¬ 
fluence,  causes  the  amygdaline  to  decompose. 

C20H27N  On  +  2H20 

Amygdaline. 

=  C7H60  +  2C6H1206  +  HCN. 

Essential  oil  Glucose.  Hydrocyanic 
of  almonds.  acid. 

On  distilling  the  mixture,  the  essential  oil  and 
most  of  the  hydrocyanic  acid  pass  over.  The  aqua 
laurocerasi,  B.P.,  contains  HCN,  produced  by  a  re¬ 
action  probably  similar. 


Utlmto. 


Characteristics  of  the  Principal  Wines  we  Drink. 

By  A.  Dupre.  London:  Robert  Hardwicke,  192, 

Piccadilly. 

In  a  short  pamphlet,  reprinted  from  the  ‘Popular  Science 
Review,’  Dr.  Dupre  has  given,  some  interesting  particu¬ 
lars  relating  to  the  common  wines  to  be  met  with  in  the 
wine  trade  in  this  country.  Towards  the  end  of  the 
pamphlet  we  notice  a  very  complete  table  of  analyses  of 
Hock,  Claret,  Hungarian  wine,  Greek  wine,  Sherry,  Port, 
and  Marsala.  The  analyses  are  of  recent  date,  and  by 
himself;  and,  even  if  there  were  nothing  else  m  the 
paper,  they  would  render  it  a  valuable  contribution 
towards  the  chemistry  of  wine. 


BOOKS  RECEIVED. 

A  System  of  Botanical  Analysis,  applied  to  the 
Diagnosis  of  British  Natural  Orders.  For  the 
Use  of  Beginners.  By  W.  Handsel  Griffiths,  Ph.D. 
London :  Wyman  and  Sons,  74,  Great  Queen  Street,  Lin¬ 
coln’s  Inn  Fields.  1870. 


Science  for  the  People:  A  Memorandum. of  Various 
.  Means  for  Propagating  Scientific  and  Practical  Know¬ 
ledge  among  the  Working  Classes,. etc.  etc.  By  Thomas 
Twining,  Vice-President  of  the  Society  of  Arts.  London : 
C.  Goodman,  407,  Strand.  1870. 


Treatise  on  Fermentation  ;  on  the  Source  of  Muscu¬ 
lar  Force  and  Nutrition.  By  Justus  von  Liebig, 
President  of  the  Bavarian  Academy  of  Sciences.  Munich . 
F.  Straub.  1870. 

The  Food  Journal.  No.  6,  Vol.  I.  London:  J.  M.  John¬ 
son,  3,  Castle  Street,  Holborn. 

Transactions  of  the  Odontological  Society  of  Great 
Britain.  No.  7,  Vol.  II.  London:  Wyman  and  Sons, 
74,  Great  Queen  Street. 

Essay  on  the  Cultivation  of  Cinchona.  By  Ch.  Be¬ 
langer,  Director  of  the  Botanical  Garden  of  Martinique. 
Reprinted  from  the  ‘  Revue  Maritime  et  Coloniale,  April, 
1870.  Paris:  Paul  Dupont,  41,  Rue  Jean- Jacques  Rous¬ 
seau. 


Die  Pflanzenstoffe  in  chemischer,  physiologi- 

SCHER,  PHARMAKOLOGISCHER  UND  TOXIKOLOGISCHER 

Hinsicht.  By  Drs.  Aug.  and  Theod.  Husemann. 
Second  Part.  Berlin:  Julius  Springer.  1870. 


58 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


[July  1G,  1870. 


Metrical  System. — Of  all  irregular  weights  and 
measures,  those  in  use  by  pharmacists  in  different  parts 
of  the  world  were  perhaps  the  very  worst.  It  is  with 
especial  satisfaction,  therefore,  we  learn  from  Buchner’s 
‘  Repertorium  fur  Pharmacie,’  that  in  the  new  Austrian 
Pharmacopoeia,  which  was  issued  a  few  months  ago,  the 
metrical  weights  and  measures  are  adopted.  The  prac¬ 
tice  in  Austria  will  of  course  determine  that  of  the  whole 
of  South  Germany. 

[***  It  is  high  time  that  a  similar  step  were  taken  in 
this  country,  and  in  America,  where  even  worse  confusion 
reigns  than  here  in  regard  to  weights  and  measures. — 
Ed.  Ph.  J.] 

British  Association  for  the  Advancement  of 
Science. — This  year’s  meeting  of  the  Association  will 
he  held  in  Liverpool,  on  the  14th  of  September,  under 
the  presidency  of  Professor  Huxley,  and  it  is  expected 
to  be  very  well  attended.  We  desire  to  call  the  atten¬ 
tion  of  our  readers  to  the  fact  that,  in  connection  with 
the  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference  held  during  the 
sanie  week,  there  will  be  an  exhibition  of  objects,  illus¬ 
trating  pharmaceutical  processes  and  products.  Intend¬ 
ing  exhibitors  are  requested  to  forward,  as  soon  as  pos¬ 
sible,  a  description  of  the  articles  to  be  shown,  with  the 
space  required,  to  the  Honorary  Secretary,  Mr.  Edward 
Davies,  Royal  Institution,  Colquitt  Street,  Liverpool. 

Preparation  of  Chloral  Hydrate. — D.  Muller  and 
R.  Paul  point  out  that  the  chief  point  to  be  observed  is 
the  passage  of  chlorine  into  absolute  alcohol  until  this  is 
•converted  into  a  crystalline  mass.  The  chlorine  must  of 
course  be  dry,  the  current  must  be  copious,  and  it  should 
be  kept  up  for  sixty  or  seventy  hours. 

The  product  thus  obtained  abundantly  and  almost 
pure,  should  be  sublimed  into  two  funnels  set  one  above 
the  other.  The  spout  of  one  funnel  is  inserted  into  a 
small  flask  containing  the  hydrate,  and  the  spout  of  ths 
other  serves  as  a  discharging-tube, — Bspori  of  the  Ger¬ 
man  Chemical  Society. 


Peter  Francis  William  Boullay,  the  well-known 
French  pharmaceutist,  died  in  November  last  year.  He 
was  born  at  Caen  in  1777,  of  a  Protestant  family,  and 
early  devoted  himself  to  the  practice  of  pharmacy.  He 
worked  in  Yanquelin’s  laboratory.  In  the  year  1798  he 
opened  a  druggist’s  shop  in  one  of  the  wealthiest  and 
most  frequented  quarters  of  Paris.  In  1803  he  became 
a. member  of  the  Societe  de  Pharmacie.  In  1809,  asso¬ 
ciated  with  four  other  pharmaceutists,  MM.  Boudet, 
Planche,  Cadet,  and  Destouches,  he  commenced  the  ‘  Bul¬ 
letin  de  Pharmacie,’  the  oldest  and  most  esteemed  organ 
of  pharmacy  in  France,  which  under  another  name, 
viz.  ‘  Journal  de  Pharmacie  et  de  Chimie,’  has  survived 
to  the  present  day. 

Boullay  was  connected  with,  and  took  an  active  part 
in  that  J oumal  for  sixty  years.  Among  his  contributions 
to  science,  should  be  mentioned  his  researches  on  differ¬ 
ent  ethers,  viz.,  on  hydrochloric,  arsenic,  and  phosphoric 
■ethers,  which  he  was  the  first  to  prepare.  He  discovered 
picrotoxin.  Conjointly  with  Boutron,  he  investigated 
the  Tonka-bean. 

.  On  the  foundation  of  the  French.  Academy  of  Medi¬ 
cine,  he  was  named  a  member,  and  for  the  space  of  fifty 
years  contributed  to  the  memoirs  of  that  learned  body. 

June  21 ;  Mr.  Benjamin  J.  B.  Crampton,  chemist  and 
druggist,  New  W  ortley,  Leeds.  Mr.  Crampton  and  his 
wife  were  passengers  by  the  Great  Northern  excursion 
train  which  met  with  the  terrible  accident  near  Newark 
and  both  were  killed  on  the  spot. 


Corttsptitnff. 


Communications  for  this  Journal ,  and  boohs  for  review, 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authen¬ 
ticated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Chemists’  English:  An  Echo  op  “A  Voice  prom  the 

Preliminary.” 

Sir, — In  a  recent  issue  of  the  ‘  Pharmaceutical  Journal  ’  at¬ 
tention  was  directed  to  the  numbers  who  failed  to  pass  the  late 
Preliminary  Examinations  ;  and  suggestions  were  offered  for 
preventing  these  failures  in  future.  Many  besides  candidates 
for  examination  might  pay  attention  to  these  suggestions  with 
advantage.  With  the  exception,  perhaps,  of  “historic 
houses,”  most  chemists  have  occasionally  to  frame  some  kind 
of  prospectus  or  trade  circular;  but  whatever  may  be  the 
commercial  value  of  such  a  means  of  advertising  when  re¬ 
spectably  carried  out,  it  cannot  be  otherwise  than  derogatory 
to  issue,  as  is  frequently  the  case,  productions  positively 
ungrammatical,  or  disfigured  by  bombastic  phraseology. 
Chemists  in  general  appear  unable  to  describe  their  qua¬ 
lifications  and  goods  without  mutilating  the  Queen’s 
English  or  defying  Bindley  Murray.  But  for  the  efforts  of 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  our  trade  would  probably  have 
continued  to  exhibit  that  low  type  of  intelligence  which  has  for 
years  past  placed  it,  as  a  whole,  considerably  below  other 
trades  of  corresponding  social  position.* *  Thanks,  however, 
to  the  success  which  has  attended  these  efforts,  the  once 
fashionable  outcry  that  education,  if  not  positivelv  harmful  to 
our  interests,  was  of  little  practical  utility,  is  no  longer  heard ; 
and  the  results  of  this  alteration  in  sentiment,  and  of  our  im¬ 
proved  legal  position,  are  becoming  gradually  manifest. 

If,  however, _  any  difference  of  opinion  might  exist  as  to  the 
relative  practical  value  of  the  examinations  of  the  Society, 
the  Preliminary  (especially  as  remodelled  of  late)  may  cer¬ 
tainly,  as  regards  the  career  of  the  future  chemist,  worthily 
take  its  place  side  by  side  with  the  higher  examinations, 
although  it  stands  only  at  the  threshold  of  his  professional 
curriculum.  In  any  undertaking  almost  everything  depends 
on  a  good  beginning ;  nothing,  therefore,  can  be  more  im¬ 
portant  than  satisfactorily  “  to  determine  that  a  youth  has 
been  fairly  educated  for  tire  business  upon  which  he  is  about 
to  enter.”  .  Years  ago,  as  many  now  in  business  can  testify, 
the  Preliminary  Examination  was,  in  many  eases,  little  more 
than  a  form  ;  and  we  cannot,  therefore,  but  admire  the  deci¬ 
sion  of  the  Board  of  Examiners  to  remodel  it  by  introducing 
written  papers,  the  results  of  which  can  be,  in  all  cases,  fairly 
and  accurately  determined  at  head- quarters.  This  change 
will  undoubtedly  in  time  have  the  very  desirable  effect  of  in¬ 
troducing  into  the  trade  a  superior  class  of  apprentices,  and 
of  deterring  those  from  entering  it  who  are  educationally  un¬ 
fitted  for  its  duties,  to  the  manifest  advantage  of  masters, 
pupils,  and  the  public.  Let  intending  candidates  and  appren¬ 
tices,  then,  give  good  heed  to  this  timely  “  Voice  from  the 
Preliminary”  (nor  let  employers  disregard  it),— remembering 
that,  besides  enabling  them  to  pass  with  credit,  it  will  prove 
of  great  practical  service  to  them  betimes  to  rub  up  “  their 
forgotten  schoolboy’s  knowledge,”  and,  as  far  as  possible,  to 
keep  it  always  bright.f 


*  What  tradesman,  for  example,  would  think  of  carrying 
on  his  business  without  books  ?  Yet  the  writer  was  informed 
not  long  since  by  the  widow  of  a  chemist  lately  deceased,  that 

her  husband  never  kept  any  books ;  and,  on  mentioning  the 
fact  to  a  wholesale  druggist,  he  observed  that  it  was  by  no 
means  unusual  amongst  chemists.  What  was  still  more  re¬ 
markable,  however,  was  that  the  chemist  in  question  left  no 
receipt-books  or  memoranda  of  any  kind,  but,  as  his  widow 
observed,  “keptall  his  receipts  in  his  head;”  she  added,  and 
certainly  not  unjustly,  “he  was  such  a  clever  man.” 

f  With  reference  to  the  stringency  of  the  Preliminary 
Examination,  so  much  objected  to  at  the  late  Annual  Meet¬ 
ing,  it  may  be  observed  here,  that  while  it  is  certainly  right 
to  show  some  leniency,  for  a  tune  at  least,  to  those  who  have 


July  16,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


59 


On  the  principle  that  “  one  fact  is  worth  a  hundred  argu¬ 
ments,”  and  that  “example  is  better  than  precept,”  a  few 
samples  of  chemists’  English,  copied  verbatim  from  a  couple 
of  circulars  which  have  casually  fallen  into  the  writer’s  hands, 
are  appended,  in  illustration  of  the  above  remarks.*  They 
may  serve  to  show  the  practical  value  of  some  acquaintance 
with  English  composition  in  compiling  an  ordinary  trade 
circular. 

Circular  No.  1  (issued  by  A.  B.)  is  remarkable  rather  for 
the  peculiarity  of  its  diction  than  for  anything  positively  un¬ 
grammatical.  Under  the  heading  “  Family  Medicines,”  the 
first  article  named  is  described  as  follows : — 

“  A.  B.’s  Family  or,  Antibilious  Pills. 

“  For  obviating  habitual  costiveness,  removing  giddiness, 
sick  headache,  loss  of  appetite,  indigestion,  flatulency,  heart¬ 
burn,  nausea,  nervousness,  etc.,  arising  from  biliary  derange¬ 
ment,  visceral  obstructions,  etc. 

“  They  are  compounded  entirely  from  the  vegetable  materia 
medica,  therefore  require  no  keeping  in  the  house.  .  .  .  By 
taking  two  or  three  doses  of  these  pills,  all  the  above  symp¬ 
toms  are  speedily  removed;  an  unusual  degree  of  serenity 
pervades  the  mind  .  .  .  .” 

And  well  it  may  after  such  a  wholesale  exorcism  of  almost 
“all  the  ills  that  flesh  is  heir  to”  as  is  here  suggested.  The 
ludicrous  inequality  of  cause  and  effect  clearly  shows  that  the 
laws  regulating  the  action  of  physic  have  (in  this  case  at 
least)  no  relation  to  those  of  physics.  Another  marvellous 
remedy  is — 

“A.  B.’s  Pectoral  Cough  Mixture. 

“  This  invaluable  Medicine  has  the  extraordinary  (?)  pro¬ 
perty  of  immediately  relieving  Coughs,  Colds,  Hoarseness, 
Difficulty  of  Breathing,  etc.  It  immediately  allays  the  tickling 
which  provokes  coughing,  and  removes  the  unpleasant  sensa¬ 
tion  of  wheezing,  by  dissolving  the  congealed  phlegm,  and 
freeing  the  vessels  of  the  lungs  from  acrimonious  humours .” 

Towards  the  close  of  the  circular  the  public  are  informed 
that  “  Leeches  and  Medicines,  or  any  article  of  necessity, 
may  be  had  on  Sundays,”  etc. ;  and  this  curious  production 
ends  thus:  “Every  advice  given  respecting  the  uses  and 
proper  doses  of  Medicines.  Although  many  of  the  most  use¬ 
ful  remedies  have  not  received  notice  in  the  above  List,  it  is 
not  for  the  want  of  appreciation  of  their  value  or  usefulness, 
but  simply  from  their  number  being  impossible  to  enumerate 
all,  but  all  Medicines  in  general  use,  and  the  more  recently 
introduced  Scientific  Remedies  are  kept  in  stock,  or  will  be 
procured  upon  the  shortest  notice.” 

Circular  No.  1  is,  however,  perspicuity  itself  compared  with 
Circular  No.  2,  issued  by  C.  D.  The  preamble  strongly  re¬ 
minds  one  of  the  incoherent  evidence  of  an  old  woman  in  a 
police  court ;  it  reads  thus : — i 

“  C.  D.  respectfully  presents  this  List  of  Articles,  soliciting 
pour  favours,  and  assuring  you  that  no  exertion  shall  be 
omitted  to  merit  your  patronage  and  recommendation. 

“  Personal  attention  is  paid  to  the  Compounding  of  Physi- 


finished  their  apprenticeship,  or  even  to  apprentices  who  have 
been  two  or  three  years  in  the  trade,  it  is  clear  that  some 
period  must  be  put  to  this  sort  of  concession,  or  the  object  of 
increased  stringency  will  not  be  attained.  There  will  always 
be  the  same  inducements  for  masters  in  country  places  to  take 
lads  of  imperfect  education,  and  keep  them  at  “porter’s 
work”  from  morning  to  night.  True,  there  is,  in  such  cases, 
neither  time  nor  inclination  for  study ;  but  whose  fault  is 
this  ?  Is  it  not  partly  the  masters’  ?  And  is  it  not  a  legiti¬ 
mate  effect  of  the  more  stringent  Preliminary  Examination 
to  compel  employers  to  take  no  apprentices  who  have  not  had 
the  requisite  schooling,  and  to  allow  them  some  tijne  at  least 
for  study  ?  This  is  quite  as  incumbent  on  employers  in 
the  country  as  in  London,  for,  though  there  may  be  more 
rough  work  in  the  provinces,  country  chemists  have  duties  to 
perform  quite  as  responsible  as  those  falling  to  the  lot  of  their 
London  brethren.  As  a  practical  suggestion,  it  might  be 
worth  consideration  whether,  in  time,  it  could  not  be  made 
compulsory  for  every  intending  apprentice  to  a  chemist  to 
pass  the  Preliminary  before  his  indentures  were  signed. 
Given  a  suitable  education,  this  is  no  doubt  the  period  when 
it  would  be  most  easily  passod ;  and,  where  necessary,  it 
would  be  better  to  wait  a  few  months  before  entering  on  the 
apprenticeship,  than  to  do  so  without  having  passed  it. 

*  Both  these  circulars  emanated  from  shops  within  the 
London  postal  district,  A.  B.  styling  himself  (though  not  on 
the  circular)  pharmaceutical  chemist. 


cians’  Prescriptions  and  Family  Recipes,  and  forwarded  with 
the  least  possible  delay,  combined  with  the  greatest  care  in 
dispensing  and  economy  in  charges.” 

The  following  extracts  speak  for  themselves 
“Digestive  Dinner  Pills. 

“  Composed  of  Rhubarb,  Ginger,  Camomile,  etc. 

“  They  not  only  aid  the  Digestive  Organs  in  performing 
their  duty,  but  will  also,  if  persevered  with,  restore  them  to 
their  original  strength.” 

“Succus  Taraxaci. 

“  The  expressed  J uice  of  the  Dandelion. 

“  Recommended  for  morbid  conditions  of  the  Liver  and 
Organs,  subservient  to  Digestion,  and  promoting  a  healthy 
secretion  of  bile.” 


[C.  D.  does  not  inform  his  customers  what  organs  dande¬ 
lion  is  good  for,  whether  barrel  or  chamber ;  but  as  they  are 
spoken  of  in  close  connection  with  a  liver,  probably  the 
latter.]  . 

The  circular  appeal's  to  reach  its  climax,  however,  in  the 
annexed  unambiguous  description  of  the  symptoms  indicating 
the  use  of  a  familiar  pill : — 

“Compound  Rhubarb  Pills. 

“  Prepared  in  accordance  with  the  British  Pharmacopoeia, 
from  the  choicest  Drugs.  A  mild  and  cordial  Aperient,  par¬ 
ticularly  adapted  to  persons  of  sedentary  habits,  whose  con- 
finement  produces  Dyspepsia  and  confined  bowels .” 

"We  are  then  informed  that  “broken  Chilblains,  Chapped 
Hands  and  Lips,  or  any  Irritation  of  the  Face  and  Skin,  are 
cured”  by  “  Camphorated  Cream,” — as  the  blackbeetles  are 
said  to  be  destroyed  by  the  phosphorous  paste, — “in  one 
night;”  also  that  “  Arnicated  Chilblain  Liniment,  if  used  as 
soon  as  the  itching  sensation  is  felt,  will  relieve  on  the,/irs£ 
application,”  and  that“  Gout  and  Rheumatic  Drops”  always 
relieve. 

The  antithesis  in  the  following  is  remarkably  abrupt  and 
striking : — • 

“Rosemary  and  Cantharidine  Hair  Wash. 

“For  preserving,  cleansing,  and  preventing  the  Hair  falling 

off- 

“  Confidently  recommended  for  producing  a  new  Growth 

of  Hair.” 

Ttoo  heads  (though  only  one  wash)  are  evidently  referred 
to  here,  one  on  which  there  is  merely  decadence-  of  growth 
and  one  absolutely  bald  ;  otherwise  there  would  be  a  redun¬ 
dancy  of  properties  in  this  wonderful  wash,  since  by  “  pre¬ 
venting  the  Hair  falling  off,”  its  power  to  “  produce  a  new 
growth  ”  would  not  be  called  into  requisition ; — unless  (nappy 
thought !)  the  meaning  is  that  where  there  is  hair  it  keeps  it 
on,  and  where  there  isn't  hair  it  puts  it  on.  C.  D.  is  clearly 
another  Rowland,  if  he  does  not  out- Rowland  Rowland. 

Although  the  above  extracts  thus  irresistibly  provoke  a 
somewhat  humorous  treatment,  they  are  not  quoted  in  any 
sinister  spirit,  but  as  illustrations  of  the  practical  value  of 
preliminary  studies. 

Perhaps  the  chemists  in  question  did  not  compile  these 
circulars ;  iu  that  case,  however,  their  dependence  on  others 
is  a  virtual  confession  of  ignorance,  while  the  fact  that  the 
circulars  bear  their  names  amoimts  to  an  indorsement  of  their 
contents.  With  reference  to  trade  interests,  it  will  probably 
be  admitted  that  if  people  do  read  circulars  (and  it  is  useless 
issuing  them  if  they  do  not),  the  perusal  of  such  as  those  here 
alluded  to  (especially  the  latter),  by  persons  of  fair  education, 
would  so  tend  to  depreciate  their  opinion  of  the  intelligence 
and  capability  of  the  chemists  issuing  them,  as  to  render  such 
very  unwilling  to  trust  them  with  the  preparation  of  their 
medicines.  It  is  true,  the  inference  may  be  unsound,  since 
many  a  man  mixes  medicines  correctly  who  makes  a  frightful 
hodge-podge  of  the  composition  of  words  and  phrases ;  yet  it 
is  a  very  natural  one,  and  in  the  main  correct.  As  a  rule,  it 
would  not  be  either  safe  or  reasonable,  in  cases  where  know¬ 
ledge  is  required,  to  infer  a  special,  apart  from  a  general  ca¬ 
pability.  Under  these  circumstances,  therefore,  a  chemist 
practically  acquainted  with  his  business  might  possibly  suffer 
quite  unjustly ;  so  that,  rather  than  send  out  an  ill-worded 
circular,  it  is  far  better  to  issue  none  at  all. 

Nor  are  the  above  remarks  by  any  means  intended  as  a 
slur  upon  the  trade  as  a  whole.  It  is  most  gratifying  to 
know  that  it  includes  men  of  acknowledged  scientific  standing, 
and  that,  both  amongst  pharmaceutists  and  chemists  and 
druggists,  there  is  a  goodly  number  possessing  a  high  educa¬ 
tional  as  well  as  commercial  status,  and  that  this  number  is 
daily  increasing.  At  the  same  time,  it  must  be  acknowledged 
that  specimens  of  chemists’  English  little  better,  in  point  of 


60 


THE  PHAEMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL. 


[July  16,  1870. 


style  and  grammar,  than  those  given  above  might  be  found 
— for  example,  in  the  ‘Pharmaceutical  Journal’s’  advertise¬ 
ment  sheet. 

How  frequently  wholesale  druggists  begin  or  end  thus  ! 
“With  Messrs.  -  compliments,  soliciting  the  favour  of 
your  orders.”  This  use  of  different  persons  in  the  same 
clause  is  a  very  common  error. 

To  those  (if  there  be  any)  who  think  accuracy  in  style  of  no 
moment  in  trade  announcements,  it  is  sufficient  to  reply  that 
persons  who  make  mistakes  do  not  do  so  intentionally,  and 
would  never  think  of  defending  their  errors  on  the  ground  of 
expediency.  There  is  a  sort  of  involuntary  admission  amongst 
mankind  that  it  is  a  duty  to  be  correct  in  language  as  well  as 
in  behaviour  or  morals.  But  a  practical  reply  might  also  be 
given.  In  these  railroad  times  men  have  scant  leisure ;  that 
which  reads  easily  and  tersely  is  read ;  that  which  reads  enig¬ 
matically  and  clumsily  is  misunderstood  or  passed  over.  Be¬ 
sides,  there  is  the  indirect  effect  of  correctness  or  otherwise 
on  reputation,  which  no  one  can  afford  to  disregard. 

Unfortunately,  slipshod  composition  is  not  a  speciality  of 
the  drug  trade,  but  common  to  all  professions,  as  a  copy  of 
the  ‘  Times  ’  will  easily  prove.  It  is  not  at  all  unusual  to 
find  even  educational  advertisements  to  which  just  exception 
might  be  taken  on  this  score,  while  general  announcements 
are  frequently  unintelligible,  and  sometimes  positively  non¬ 
sensical.  In  all  such  cases,  no  less  than  in  trade  circulars,  a 
little  attention  to  the  phraseology  and  composition  would  be 
a  great  advantage  to  both  advertiser  and  customer  in  the 
opinion  of  Echo. 


“Sic  Vos  non  Vobis.” 


ence,  in  consequence  of  the  system  (most  objectionable  as  I 
think)  of  dispensing  their  own  medicines,  which  is  adopted  by 
about  90  per  cent,  of  the  faculty. 

I  shall  not  here  enter  into  the  many  arguments  which  can 
be  urged  against  this  system,  but  with  great  respect  I  would 
invite  my  confreres  to  unite  together,  and  make  a  vigorous 
effort  to  bring  about  a  better  state  of  things. 

It  appears  to  me,  that  as  a  sweeping  measure  of  medical 
reform  will  soon  be  passed  by  Parliament,  chemists  should 
agitate  for  their  rights,  and  form  themselves  into  some  kind 
of  “  Chemists’  Defence  Association,”  the  main  object  of  which 
should  be,  to  procure  a  legislative  enactment  by  which  medi¬ 
cal  men  shall  be  prohibited  (except  in  special  cases)  from  dis¬ 
pensing  their  own  medicines,  and  be  compelled  to  write  their 
prescriptions,  which  shall  be  compounded  by  duly  qualified 
chemists.  It  is  really  absurd  that  gentlemen,  to  be  registered 
by  Act  of  Parliament  as  chemists  and  druggists,  should  go 
through  a  course  of  education  in  chemistry,  pharmacy,  etc., 
be  obliged  to  pass  a  strict  examination  by  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society,  and  yet  have  hardly  any  opportunities  of  engaging  in 
their  peculiar  work,  viz.  the  compounding  of  medicines.  This 
is  an  anomaly  which  should  not  be  allowed  to  exist  much 
longer.  I  earnestly  hope  that  the  aggrieved  chemists  will  con¬ 
sider  this  matter,  and  should  any  of  them  wish  to  communi¬ 
cate  with  me,  I  beg  to  say,  that  letters  addressed  to  me,  care 
of  Mr.  J udd,  Chemist,  Alcester,  Kedditch,  shall  receive  prompt 
attention. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

D.  Carroll,  LL.B.,  etc. 

J Registered  Chemist  (Exam.) 

June  13th,  1870. 


Sir, -—-I  have  anxiously  read  the  reports  of  the  General  and 
Council  Meetings,  but,  so  far  as  I  can  learn  from  them,  I 
have  reason  to  believe  that,  except  in  the  President’s  speech, 
there  has  been  no  notice  taken  of  the  continued  and  untiring 
labours  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  of  Messrs.  Squire  and  Mor- 
son  as  members  of  the  Council,  of  the  Board  of  Examiners, 
and  each  as  three  times  President  of  the  Society. 

I  do  not  pretend  to  know  how  regularly  these  gentlemen 
have  attended  the  various  Committee  meetings  of  late  years, 
but  I  can  testify  that  they  have  been  most  active,  and  well 
fitted  for  the  honourable  posts  they  have  filled ;  and  I  can 
also  most  confidently  assert  that,  but  for  the  zeal  and  perse¬ 
verance  of  such  as  these,  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  would 
Jiaye  sunk  into  oblivion. 

I  should  like  some  of  the  readers  of  this  J ournal  to  calcu¬ 
late  how  many  hours,  at  the  lowest  estimate,  these  gentle¬ 
men  have  devoted  to  Council  meetings,  examinations,  etc. 
etc.,  at  Bloomsbury  Square  ;  and  without  considering  the 
money  value  of  their  time  (which  to  men  in  business  is  great), 
I  would  remind  them  how  large  a  proportion  of  their  ordinary 
term  of  existence  has  been  surrendered  freely  in  our  service, 
by  forming,  carrying  on,  and  permanently  establishing  a  sys¬ 
tem  of  education  which  otherwise  we  should  not  been  able  to 
avail  ourselves  of. 

I  am,  Sir,  yours  truly, 

,  Charles  J.  L.  Eussell. 

Windsor,  July  9th,  1870. 


Anonymous  Correspondence. 

„  think  Mr.  Eimmington  has  shown  a  great  amount 

oi  needless  alarm  on  the  subject  of  anonymous  correspondence. 
1  believe  that  it  is  the  best  way  of  bringing  “juvenile  talent” 
out,  to  let  the  writers  please  themselves  with  regard  to  the  name. 
A  great  amount  of  useful  information  would  be  missed,  were 

f  i  “ anon.Tmous  correspondence  allowed,”  sent 

lortn  by  the  editor.  Many  young  men  have  not  the  courage 

to  wnte  their  first  articles  when  compelled  to  subscribe  their 
real  name. 

I  remain.  Sir, 

-r>  ,  _  ,  “JuVENIS  ET  IMPERFECTUS.” 

Barnsley,  July  6th,  1870. 


Dispensing  by  Medical  Men. 

Sir,  I  have  read  with  much  interest  the  able  letter  of 
your  correspondent  “T.  Mills,  A.P.S.”  in  a  recent  number  of 
the  Journal. 

He  forcibly  sets  forth  the  pitiable  condition  of  a  large 
number  of  chemists,  who,  though  fully  competent  for  their 
proper  work,  find  it  extremely  difficult  to  eke  out  a  subsist¬ 


Inquirer  (Ipswich). — Under  the  Pharmacy  Act  of  1869,  it 
is  unlawful  for  any  one,  not  being  a  registered  chemist  and 
druggist,  to  sell  retail  vermin-killers  containing  any  of  the 
substances  therein  referred  to. 

Coating  Fills. — An  article  on  this  subject  will  be  found  in 
Yol.  III.  s.s.  p.  562. 

A  Minor  Associate  (London)  desires  to  find  a  good  test  for 
detecting  the  presence  of  geranium  oil  in  otto  of  rose. 

R.M.S.  (Islington). — Fresenius’s  work  is  undoubtedly  the 
best. 

W.  U.  Smith  (Brighton). — The  preparation  of  nitrite  of 
amyle  is  described  in  the  ‘Laboratory.’  It  may  be  obtained 
from  Eobbins  (Oxford  Street)  or  Bullock. 

A  Constant  Reader  (Slough)  desires  to  be  informed  as  to 
the  probable  success  of  a  pharmacist  emigrating  to  Canada 
with  a  capital  of  £500  or  £600  and  a  small  family,  cost  of 
transit,  etc. 

I.  W.  (Sheffield). — 1.  Sulphur  is  used  in  making  mercurial 
plasters,  with  the  object  of  effecting  the  subdivision  of  the 
metal.  2.  Tannic  acid  is  sparingly  soluble  in  dry  ether,  as 
stated  under  the  head  “  Characters  and  Tests but  with 
ether  containing  water  it  forms  a  thick  solution.  See  Watts’s 
‘  Dictionary  of  Chemistry,’  vol.  ii.  p.  760.  3.  We  are  unable- 
to  answer  this. 

_  An  Assistant  (Leeds)  writes  to  protest  against  the  exclu¬ 
sion  of  anonymous  correspondence,  and  urges  that,  in  many 
cases,  the  writers’  only  fault  may  be  excessive  modesty. 

Irwell  (Hull). — The  iron  that  will  not  dissolve  may  be  used 
again,  if  necessary. 

A.  Z.  (Liverpool)  is  desirous  of  obtaining  formula  for  pre¬ 
paring  fruit  essences,  such  as  plum,  raspberry,  etc.,  which  are 
mixtures  of  ethers  and  essential  oils. 

“  An  Age  of  Progress.” — Letters  on  this  subject  have  been 
received  from  Mr.  T.  P.  Gostling,  Diss,  Norfolk;  J.  B.,  Hull  ^ 
A  Provincial ;  and  Mr.  E.  Goodwin  Mumbray,  Eichmond. 

W.  D.  Gibb  (Winchester). — Eeceived  with  thanks.  Shall 
have  attention. 

A  Country  M.  P.  S. — We  should  be  glad  to  hear  from  the 
writer,  in  confidence,  on  the  subject  of  his  excellent  letter. 

Eugene  Rimmel. — Eeceived  with  thanks.  Too  late  for  this 
week. 

E.  G.  Homer  (Birmingham). — Handed  to  the  Secretary. 

Poster  Fide  (Yarmouth  post-mark). — We  shall  be  glad  to* 
hear  further  from  the  writer. 


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

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  Neto  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W. 


July  23,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


61 


ALCOHOLIC  FERMENTATION.  * * * § 

BY  BARON  VON  LIEBIG. 

Some  years  ago  Pasteur  inferred,  from  a  series  of 
experiments  as  to  the  behaviour  of  yeast  in  vinous 
fermentation, f  that  the  explanation  given  by  me  of 
the  action  of  yeast  on  sugar  was  destitute  of  founda¬ 
tion.  I  assumed  that  the  breaking  up  of  the  ferment¬ 
able  substance  into  simpler  compounds  was  to  be  re¬ 
ferred  to  a  process  of  internal  change  obtaining  in 
the  ferment,  and  that  the  influence  of  the  ferment 
upon  the  fermentable  substance,  would  continue  or 
cease  just  as  the  metamorphosis  of  the  ferment  con¬ 
tinued  or  ceased. 

The  transposition  of  the  sugar  atoms  in  the  sugar 
molecule  would  thus  be  a  consequence  of  the  decom¬ 
position  or  dislocation  of  one  or  more  constituents  of 
the  ferment, — it  would  take  place  only  while  the  two 
were  in  contact. 

Pasteur  considers  that  “  the  chemical  change  in 
fermentation  is  essentially  a  phenomenon  accom¬ 
panying  the  vital  activity  of  the  yeast,  beginning 
and  ending  with  this :  vinous  fermentation  never 
takes  place  without  simultaneous  organization,  de¬ 
velopment,  and  reproduction,  i.e.  without  continued 
vitality.  ”t  He  regards  fermentation  as  a  chemical 
process,  accompanying  and  dependent  upon  a  phy¬ 
siological  process.  This  view  was  entertained  more 
than  twenty  years  ago,  and,  although  the  nature  of 
yeast  was  known  to  me  when  I  put  forward  my  view 
as  to  fermentation,  §  the  physiological  process  did  not 
come  within  my  province  ;  my  endeavour  was  to  refer 
the  chemical  change  of  the  sugar  to  some  simple  ex¬ 
pression  comprising  all  similar  processes. 

Pasteur  has  not  gone  into  that  wfliich  I  sought  to 
explain,  viz.  the  disintegration  of  the  fermentable 
substance  in  contact  with  yeast-cells,  and,  inasmuch 
as  he  refers  us  to  “vital  activity ”  as  the  cause  of 
fermentation,  he  substitutes,  for  an  explanation,  a 
fact  which  requires  explanation  itself. 

From  the  chemical  point  of  view,  which  I  cannot 
abandon,  “vital  activity”  is  a  “state  of  motion,”  and, 
in  this  sense,  Pasteur’s  view  is  neither  inconsistent 
with  nor  contradictory  of  mine.  It  is  matter  of  obser¬ 
vation,  I  say,  that  yeast  undergoes  alteration  when 
kept  under  water,  and  ultimately  putrefies  like  annual 
substances.  The  commencement  and  termination  of 
this  process  indicate  that  the  parts  of  the  yeast  are 
in  a  state  of  transposition  or  motion,  terminating 
with  conversion  into  other  compounds  that  are  more 
simple  and  do  not  change  further  while  air  is  ex¬ 
cluded.  In  tliis  case  equilibrium  is  established  when 
the  motion  ceases.  The  state  of  motion  is  quite  in- 
dependent  of  joint  action  in. other  substances.  It  is 
also  observed  that  a  great  number  of  substances 
undergo  alteration  in  the  arrangement  of  their  atoms 
when  in  contact  with  yeast,  new  substances  being 
produced.  Thus,  for  instance,  sugar  behaves  as  if  it 
were  a  part  or  constituent  of  the  yeast-cells ;  there  is 
a  transposition  or  dislocation  of  the  sugar  atoms. 

Comparing,  as  I  did,  the  action  of  the  ferment  on 
fermentable  substances,  with  the  action  of  heat  oh 
organic  molecules,  motion  of  the  atoms  is  evident  in 
both  cases.  Acetic  acid  is  separated  by  heat  into  car¬ 
bonic  acid  and  acetone,  just  as  sugar  is  separated  by 
yeast  into  carbonic  acid  and  alcohol.  In  the  former 


case  the  carbonic  acid  contains  two-tliirds  of  the 
oxygen,  the  acetone  all  the  hydrogen  of  the  acetic  acid 
while,  in  the  latter  case,  the  carbonic  acid  contains 
two-thirds  of  the  oxygen,  and  the  alcohol  all  the 
hydrogen  of  the  sugar. 

The  development  of  a  plant — the  formation  and 
increase  of  yeast — is  dependent  on  the  assimila¬ 
tion  of  food  which  is  internally  converted  into  parts 
of  the  living  organism ;  but  in  fermentation  there 
is,  so  to  speak,  an  action  outwards  upon  substances 
that  are  resolved  into  products  not  serviceable  for 
the  living  organism.  Obviously,  vital  action  and 
chemical  action  are  phenomena  which  must  be  con¬ 
sidered  separately  in  seeking  to  explain  fermentation. 

The  view  that  the  decomposition  of  sugar  in  fer¬ 
mentation  is  due  to  the  development  and  increase  of 
the  yeast-cells,  is  opposed  by  the  fact  that  yeast 
causes  fermentation  in  a  pure  solution  of  sugar,  for 
yeast  consists  chiefly  of  a  substance  containing 
nitrogen  and  sulphur,  besides  phosphates,  which 
could  not  be  furnished  by  the  sugar.  Moreover,  beer- 
}mast  causes  a  similar  decomposition  of  other  sub¬ 
stances  besides  sugar ;  malate  of  lime  is  thus  con¬ 
verted  into  carbonic  acid,  acetate,  carbonate,  and 
succinate  of  lime. 

Hitherto  sugar  fermentation  is  the  only  case  in 
which  the  formation  of  yeast,  capable  of  separa¬ 
ting  sugar  into  alcohol  and  carbonic  acid,  has  been 
observed.  Malic,  citric,  and  other  acids  contain  no 
sugar,  but  they  are  decomposed  like  sugar  by  beer- 
yeast,  and  if  its  influence  were  due  to  the  physiolo¬ 
gical  process,  it  should  have  been  increased  and  de¬ 
veloped  in  these  cases  also. 

Salicin  also  is  decomposed  by  yeast  into  saligenin 
and  salicylic  acid,  and  a  similar  separation  of  sa¬ 
licin  is  caused  by  emulsin,  without  any  recogniz¬ 
able  physiological  process  being  concerned  in  the 
change. 

Emulsin  acts  upon  salicin  and  amygdalin  in  like 
manner,  its  effects  being  recognizable  in  a  few 
minutes  by  the  new  products, — in  the  case  of  salicin, 
by  the  violet  coloration  with  percliloride  of  iron  ;  in 
the  case  of  amygdalin,  by  the  formation  of  Prussian 
blue. 

In  the  decomposition  of  amygdalin  by  emulsin,  it 
is  known  that  water  takes  part ;  only  so  much  amyg- 
dalin  is  decomposed  as  corresponds  to  the  water  ne¬ 
cessary  for  dissolving  the  bitter  almond  oil  produced ; 
any  excess  remains  intact,  but,  if  more  water  be 
added,  there  is  further  decomposition.  Emulsion  of 
sweet  almonds,  which  may  be  regarded  as  a  strong 
solution  of  emulsin,  undergoes  active  vinous  fermen¬ 
tation  when  mixed  with  grape-sugar. 

If  the  decomposition  of  salicin  by  yeast  be  ascribed 
to  the  physiological  process  of  growth  and  develop¬ 
ment  of  yeast,  the  action  of  emulsin  upon  salicin 
has  still  to  be  explained,  and,  if  it  be  assumed  that 
in  this  case  the  readily  alterable  sulphuretted  and 
nitrogenous  constituent  of  the  sweet  almond  has 
caused  the  change,  there  is  also  a  similar  substance 
in  yeast.  Those  substances  are  also  alike  in  losing 
tlierr  power  to  excite  fermentation  when  boiled  with 
water. 

But  if  substances  containing  sulphur  and  nitrogen, 
like  emulsin,  are,  by  reason  of  alteration  in  the  ar¬ 
rangement  of  their  atoms,  capable  of  inducing  change 
in  other  organic  molecules,  so  that  they  separate  into 
new  products, — there  is  reason  for  suspecting  that  in 
the  action  which  yeast  exercises  upon  sugar,  its  sul¬ 
phuretted  and  nitrogenous  constituent  plays  a  similar 


*  Read  at  a  meeting  of  the  Bavarian  Academy  of  Sciences, 

f  Ann.  de  Ch.  et  de  Phys.  (3)  vol.  lviii.  p.  323. 

j  Ibid.  p.  359. 

§  See  Liebig’s  ‘  Letters  on  Chemistry.’ 

Third  Series,  No.  4. 


62 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[July  23,  1S70. 


part.  That  being  the  case,  it  remains  to  explain 
what  the  relation  of  the  physiological  process  in 
the  formation  of  yeast  may  have  to  this  substance, 
which  obviously  acquires  its  peculiar  power  of  ex¬ 
citing  fermentation  only  when  it  becomes  a  consti¬ 
tuent  of  yeast. 

It  might  be  that  the  physiological  process  had  no 
other  relation  to  fermentation  than  that  of  determin¬ 
ing  the  production  of  the  material  which  induces  the 
alteration  of  sugar  and  other  organic  molecules,  by 
an  action  peculiar  to  itself, — like  that  of  emulsin 
upon  salicin  or  amygdalin.  In  that  case  the  phy¬ 
siological  process  would  be  necessary  for  the  pro¬ 
duction  of  that  material,  but  it  would  have  no  further 
connection  with  the  phenomena  of  fermentation. 

Some  experiments  I  have  made  in  this  direction 
will,  perhaps,  contribute  towards  the  elucidation  of 
the  subject. 

There  is  no  doubt  as  to  the  nature  of  beer  and 
wine  yeast.  It  is  a  form  of  development  of  various 
fungi,  and,  when  washed,  consists  of  cell-membrane 
enveloped  in  primordial  vesicle,  a  granular  mucous 
substance,  protoplasm,  and  a  watery  cell-liquid  lying 
in  the  protoplasm  as  drops  of  various  size.  “  By  di¬ 
gesting  in  distilled  water  the  globules  increase  in 
size,  sometimes  until  their  outer  surfaces  nearly 
touch  the  cell  walls.  This  result  is  connected  with 
the  swelling  up  of  the  yeast-cells,  and,  like  it,  is  due  to 
membranous  diffusion,  by  which  water  gains  access 
to  the  cells,  while  the  cell  contents  escape  into  the 
water.”* 

“  Solution  of  iodine  colours  the  cells  faintly  yel¬ 
low;  sugar  and  sulphuric  acid  produce  a  scarcely 
more  distinguishable  rose  colour,  indicating  probably 
that  the  amount  of  albuminous  substance  has  been 
considerably  reduced  by  the  action  of  water,  f 

I  am  in  doubt  whether  the  substance  extracted 
from  yeast  by  water  is  really  albuminous.  When 
one  litre  of  fresh  pasty  yeast  is  washed  by  decanta¬ 
tion  four  times  in  succession  with  six  or  eight  times 
its  volume  of  water,  and  the  residue  digested  with 
four  litres  of  water  for  three  or  four  hours,  only  a 
small  quantity  of  organic  substance  is  extracted, 
less  than  350  milligrams  per  litre  of  water,  and  the 
power  of  the  yeast  to  excite  fermentation  is  scarcely 
at  all  reduced.  When  the  washed  yeast  is  left  for  a 
long  time  with  its  own  volume  of  water,  the  amount 
of  organic  substance  in  the  water  is  increased  ten¬ 
fold,  and  what  is  thus  extracted  appears  to  be  pro¬ 
duced  by  decomposition  of  a  constituent  of  the 
yeast.  This  substance  communicates  very  remark¬ 
able  properties  to  the  water.  Crystalline  cane-sugar 
dissolved  in  it  is  rapidly  converted  into  grape-sugar. 
Even  within  a  few  minutes  Fehling’s  test  gives  a 
copious  precipitate  of  suboxide  of  copper.  The 
liquid  has  a  very  slight  acid  reaction,  is  without 
taste  or  colour ;  with  basic  acetate  of  lead  and  tan¬ 
nin  it  becomes  slightly  milky;  after  standing  for 
some  days  exposed  to  the  air  it  loses  its  transpa¬ 
rency,  and  a  white  flocculent  precipitate  is  formed. 

To  form  some  idea  of  the  action  of  this  organic 
substance  on  cane-sugar,  I  dissolved  various  quanti¬ 
ties  in  the  yeast- water,  and  estimated  the  grape-sugar 
formed  after  twenty-four  hours.  It  appeared  that 
25  grm.  dissolved  in  100  c.  c.  was  fully  converted 
within  twelve  hours.  This  100  c.  c.  of  solution  con¬ 
tained  ’39  grm.  of  the  organic  substance,  and  I  be- 


*  Lermer. 

f  According  to  Dr.  Lermer ’s  microscopic  examination. 


lieve  that  a  much  larger  quantity  of  sugar  was  con¬ 
verted  in  the  same  liquid.  By  heating  this  liquid  to 
boiling  it  entirely  lost  its  power  of  affecting  sugar. 

There  can  scarcely  be  any  doubt  as  to  the  cause 
of  this  action,  for  yeast-water  contains  material  in  a 
state  of  change,  and  the  conversion  of  cane-sugar 
into  grape-sugar  must  be  determined  by  that  state  of 
motion.  The  particles  of  cane-sugar  behaved  as  if 
they  were  parts  or  constituents  of  the  nitrogenous 
material,  and  they  underwent  transposition.  Contact 
with  a  very  small  quantity  of  this  changing  material 
produced  the  same  effect  as  contact  with  mineral 
acids, — the  same  effect  as  powerful  chemical  afffnit}". 

A  similar  phenomenon  is  the  action  exercised  by 
ethyl  aldehyd  upon  cyanogen  in  aqueous  solution  ; 
a  very  small  quantity  of  aldehyd  added  to  this  solu¬ 
tion  determines  the  formation  of  oxamide  by  the 
union  of  the  cyanogen  with  two  atoms  of  water. 
Evidently  the  aldehyd  (part  of  which  is  converted 
into  a  substance  resembling  acrolein  during  this 
change)  produces  an  effect  which  consists  in  a  re¬ 
arrangement  of  the  elements  of  cyanogen  with  those 
of  water.  Sclnnit  and  Glutz  have  recently  observed 
that  contact  with  strong  hydrochloric  acid  causes 
the  conversion  of  cyanogen  into  oxamide  in  the  same 
way  that  it  converts  cane-sugar  into  grape-sugar. 
So  likewise  salicin  is  broken  up  by  dilute  sulphuric 
acid  in  the  same  way  as  by  emulsin. 

The  nitrogenous  substance  produced  in  the  germi¬ 
nation  of  many  cereal  grains,  and  capable  of  con¬ 
verting  starch  into  grape-sugar  and  dextrin,  also  loses 
tins  property  when  heated  to  the  boiling-point  of 
water.  Emulsin  acts  upon  salicin  and  amygdalin ; 
helicoidin  is  converted  by  it  into  salicylic  acid,  sali- 
genin,  and  sugar;  arbutin  into  liydrocliinon  and 
sugar ;  but  emulsin  does  not  act  on  starch  or  cane- 
sugar.  Diastase  acts  on  starch,  not  on  amygdalin  ; 
the  substance  in  yeast-water  acts  upon  cane-sugar, 
not  on  starch.  A  number  of  other  substances  act  in 
a  similar  manner.  Saliva  acts  on  starch  the  same 
as  diastase  from  barley ;  it  decomposes  salicin  like 
emulsin  into  sugar  and  saligenin.  The  pancreatic 
juice  contains  a  substance  which  converts  starch 
into  sugar,  and  fats  into  glycerin  and  fatty  acids. 
Pepsin  belongs  to  the  same  class.  All  these  sub¬ 
stances  are  nitrogenous;  they  all  possess  the  cha¬ 
racter  of  becoming  inert  when  heated  to  the  boiling- 
point  of  water,  and  of  disappearing  after  a  short 
time.  These  substances  differ  considerably  in  com¬ 
position,  though  the}'-  act  in  like  manner ;  but  each 
has  its  own  peculiar  mode  of  action,  proving  that 
this  takes  place  in  different  directions. 

The  action  of  the  substance  contained  in  yeast- 
water  is  evidently  different  from  that  of  yeast 
itself. 

None  of  the  chemists  who  have  investigated  the 
composition  of  yeast  have  obtained  concordant  re¬ 
sults  by  analysis.  Mitscherlicli  found  4,7  per  cent, 
carbon,  Schlossberger  50  per  cent. ;  the  former 
found  10  per  cent,  nitrogen,  the  latter  12'5  per  cent. 
Reichenbach  found  31' 5 7  per  cent,  carbon  and  7'41 
nitrogen  in  four  determinations  with  yeast  dried  at 
100°  C.  This  yeast  was  very  active  in  the  moist 
state.  The  composition  of  yeast  may  be  said  to 
vary  from  day  to  day,  and  this  is  probably  a  sure 
sign  of  the  change  that  it  undergoes  incessantly. 

Yeast  contains  sulphur  as  a  constant  consti¬ 
tuent,  and  it  evolves  sulphuretted  hydrogen  dur¬ 
ing  putrefaction.  Mitscherlicli  found  • 6  per  cent, 
sulphur.  Determinations  in  my  laboratory  with  dry 


July  23,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


G3 


3reast  gave  ’685,  in  another  case  ‘568,*  and  a  third 
*387  per  cent.f  The  amount  of  ash  also  varies  in 
yeast;  it  averages  from  7  to  8  per  cent.,  and  con¬ 
tains  much  phosphate  of  lime,  which  is  evidently  in 
a  state  of  combination  similar  to  that  in  cereal  grain, 
for  it  cannot  be  extracted  by  washing. 

Two  samples  of  yeast-asli  gave  the  following  re¬ 
sults  : — 


I. 

II. 

Mitscherlieh. 

Phosphoric  Acid .  .  . 

44-76 

48-53 

59-3 

Potash . 

29-07 

30-58 

28-3 

Soda . 

2-46 

Lime . 

Magnesia . 

2-39 

4-09 

2-10  ) 
4-16  J 

[  12-5 

Silica . 

14-36 

Chlorine,  Carbonic  Acid, 
Peroxide  of  Iron  .  . 

|  2-12 

- 

These  are  the  same  constituents 

,  and  nearly  the 

same  proportions,  as  in  the  ash  of  wheat  and  rye ; 
after  deducting  silica,  they  are  the  same  as  in  the 
asli  of  barley.  Other  fungi,  such  as  truffles  and 
the  morel,  contain  a  larger  amoimt  of  potash.  | 

Tuber  cibarium.  Morchella  esculenta. 


Phosphoric  Acid  .  . 

32-96 

39-03 

Potash . 

54-51 

49-51 

Lime  and  Magnesia  . 

22-83 

18-48 

Sulphuric  Acid  .  . 

1-17 

2-98 

The  deficiency  of  sulphuric  acid  in  yeast-asli  is 
remarkable ;  probably  it  is  explained  by  the  prepon¬ 
derance  of  phosphoric  acid.  The  ash  of  ordinary 
champignons  ( Agaricus  campestris )  contains  24'29 
per  cent,  of  sulphuric  acid,  and  only  15'43  per  cent, 
of  phosphoric  acid.§ 

Fungi  live  as  parasites  on  organic  substances  pro¬ 
duced  in  the  organism  of  other  plants.  Their  spores 
liave  the  same  relation  to  the  dead  plants  or  animal 
remains,  and  to  solutions  containing  their  chief  con¬ 
stituents,  as  the  blossoms  of  annual  plants  (cereals, 
for  instance),  which  have  collected  in  the  growing 
seeds,  the  substances  contained  in  the  leaves,  stem, 
and  roots.  Just  in  like  manner  the  protein  substances, 
phosphates,  etc.,  still  remaining  in  the  dead  plant- 
remains,  are  transferred  into  the  developing  fungi, 
and  acquire  the  form  of  albumin,  legumin,  sugar, 
mannite,  cellulose,  etc.,  by  the  influence  of  the  or¬ 
ganic  action  of  the  fungi.  In  decayed  oak-wood, 
Sclilossberger||  found  scarcely  a  trace  of  phosphates, 
while  the  parasitic  fungus  [Dcedalea  quercind)  grow¬ 
ing  on  it  contained  a  considerable  amount.  The  in¬ 
stability  of  yeast  when  kept  is  well  known  :  when 
left  in  a  moist,  pasty  state,  in  a  cool  place,  evolution 
of  gas  sets  in.  This  gas  is  carbonic  acid  free  from 
nitrogen.  In  the  pasty  yeast  funnel-shaped  hollows 
are  formed,  from  which  the  gas  escapes  as  from  a 
crater ;  most  of  it,  however,  dissolves  in  the  water, 
and  evaporates  with  this.  When  the  temperature 
of  the  moist  yeast  is  raised,  the  evolution  of  gas  is 
more  marked ;  a  froth  is  formed  on  the  surface  of 
the  liquid,  and  the  transformation  of  the  yeast  is 
accelerated.  Even  at  30°  or  35°  C.  a  true  and  al¬ 
most  violent  fermentation  takes  place,  just  as  in  a 
solution  of  sugar  that  is  mixed  with  sufficient  yeast, 
and  tliis  evolution  of  gas  goes  on  till  the  fermenta¬ 
tion  is  ended. 

.  Besides  carbonic  acid,  this  yeast  fermentation 
yields  another  volatile  product,  viz.  alcohol.  This 

*  Reiclienbach.  +  Demp  wolff. 

I  O.  Koklrauscli.  §  Ibid. 

II  Ann.  Cli.  et  Ph.  lii.  115. 


lias  been  observed  by  both  Pasteur  and  Becliamp. 
Pasteur  has  also  found  that  when  very  little  sugar  is 
fermented  with  a  great  deal  of  yeast,  more  alcohol  is 
obtained  than  corresponds  to  the  sugar,  and  hence 
he  inferred  that  alcohol  must  be  produced  from  the 
yeast.  Pasteur  explains  this  phenomenon  as  fol¬ 
lows: — “The  beer-yeast  consisting  almost  entirely 
of  cells  that  have  attained  their  normal  develop¬ 
ment,  or  are,  so  to  speak,  full  grown,  is  brought  in 
contact  with  sugar,  its  life  is  renewed, — it  sprouts. 
Tliis  is  a  well-known  fact.  If  the  liquor  contains 
sugar  enough,  the  buds  develope;  they  assimilate 
sugar,  and  the  albuminous  material  of  the  mother 
cells.  In  this  way  they  gradually  attain  a  certain 
bulk.  This  is  a  true  picture  of  ordinary  fermenta¬ 
tion.  If,  on  the  contrary,  we  suppose  the  sugar  to  be 
insufficient  for  converting  the  first  shoots  into  per¬ 
fect  cells,  or  even  into  fully-formed  visible  cells,  tliis 
has  to  be  done  in  some  way  with  mother- cells ;  and, 
since  external  food  fails,  the  young  buds  live  at  the 
cost  of  the  mother-cells.” 

He  explained  the  fermentation  of  yeast  itself  thus : 
The  life  of  yeast  manifests  itself  as  soon  as  its  con¬ 
ditions,  moisture  and  warmth,  are  suitable.  Like  a 
seed  always  ready  to  germinate,  yeast  lives  when  it 
has  the  requisite  temperature  and  water,  at  the  cost 
of  its  own  substance,  and  its  vitality  manifests  itself 
by  the  physiological  act  peculiar  to  it, — the  formation 
of  carbonic  acid,  alcohol,  succinic  acid,  and  glyce¬ 
rine.  If  this  yeast  be  brought  in  contact  with 
sugar,  its  vitality,  which  is  never  interrupted,  con¬ 
tinues;  but  in  tliis  case  it  completes  its  formation 
with  a  very  much  greater  apparent  energy,  because 
in  the  same  time  life  and  organization  have  much 
increased.” 

I  must  confess  that  I  am  not  able  to  form  a  clear 
conception  of  Pasteur’s  view  as  to  the  cause  of  the 
fermentation  of  sugar  and  yeast  as  represented  in 
the  foregoing  passage.  He  has  enriched  the  history 
of  fermentation  with  a  number  of  interesting  facts, 
but  in  regard  to  the  cause  of  the  breaking  up  of 
sugar,  our  insight  into  the  matter  has  not  been 
thereby  increased. 

It  can  scarcely  be  doubted  that  the  yeast  developed 
in  fermenting  beer- wort  consumes  a  certain  quantity 
of  sugar  for  the  formation  of  its  cell-membrane  ;  but 
it  remains  wholly  unintelligible  how  the  conversion 
of  sugar  into  cellulose — of  one  carbon  hydrate  into 
another  with  less  water — can  induce  the  breaking 
up  of  another  part  of  the  dissolved  sugar. 

In  one  of  his  experiments,  Pasteur  mixed  a  solu¬ 
tion  of  9'899  grm.  sugar  with  20  c.c.  of  a  clear  watery 
solution  of  yeast  and  a  trace  of  yeast.  The  liquid 
fermented,  and  the  yeast  added  to  it  as  a  seed  in¬ 
creased  considerably.  After  the  sugar  was  com¬ 
pletely  decomposed,  the  yeast  was  weighed,  and  it 
amounted  to  152  milligrams.  According  to  Pasteur, 
yeast  contains  on  the  average  18"5  per  cent,  cellu¬ 
lose.  Substituting  for  this  20  per  cent,  of  sugar, 
there  would  have  been  9869  milligrams  of  sugar  de¬ 
composed  in  tliis  case,  and  30  milligrams  of  sugar 
consumed  for  the  production  of  yeast.  But  it  is 
scarcely  possible  to  think  that  the  physiological  act 
of  transformation  of  30  milligrams  of  sugar  into  the 
substance  of  the  cell-membrane  of  the  yeast  can 
have  been  the  cause  of  converting  329  times  as 
much  sugar  into  carbonic  acid  and  alcohol,  or  suc¬ 
cinic  acid,  glycerin,  and  carbonic  acid  products, 
which  take  no  further  part  in  the  vitality  of  the 
cell. 


64 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[July  23,  1870. 


Pasteur’s  explanation  of  the  fermentation  of  yeast 
alone,  with  production  of  alcohol  and  carbonic  acid 
from  its  own  substance,  is  still  more  obscure.  If 
the  yeast- cell  sprouts  like  a  seed,  and  bears  shoots 
at  a  suitable  temperature  and  moisture,  the  substance 
of  the  old  cell  may  be  used  for  the  production  of 
new  cells;  this  is  intelligible,  but  it  still  remains 
unexplained  whence  come  the  alcohol  and  carbonic 
acid.  The  action  of  the  new  cells  can  only  be  the 
action  of  the  substance  constituting  the  old  ones 
which  they  have  consumed  in  their  formation. 

{To  be  continued.) 


BAOBAB. 

Adansonia  digitata,  L. 

BY  M.  C.  COOKE. 

The  introduction  of  the  baobab  as  a  secondary 
article  of  materia  medica  into  the  Pharmacopoeia  of 
India,  will  be  sufficient  excuse  for  directing  atten¬ 
tion  to  this  somewhat  new  remedial  agent.  The 
baobab-tree  is  a  native  of  Senegal  and  Sierra  Leone, 
and  has  been  introduced  into  India,  where  it  has  be¬ 
come  well  established  in  several  districts.  Humboldt 
states  that  “  the  oldest  description  of  the  baobab  is 
that  of  the  Venetian  Aloysius  Cadamosto  in  1454. 
He  found  at  the  mouth  of  the  Senegal  trunks  whose 
circumference  he  estimated  at  17  fathoms,  or  112  feet. 
Perottet  says  that  he  had  seen  monkey-breadfruit- 
trees  (baobabs)  which  had  a  diameter  of  about  32  feet, 
with  a  height  of  only  from  70  to  85  feet.  The  same 
dimensions  had  been  given  by  Adanson  hi  his  voyage 
(1748).  The  largest  trunks  of  the  monkey-bread¬ 
fruit-trees  which  he  himself  saw  in  1749,  some  on 
one  of  the  small  Magdalena  Islands,  near  Cape  de 
Verd,  and  others  at  the  mouth  of  the  Senegal,  were 
from  26  to  near  29  feet  in  diameter,  with  a  height  of 
little  more  than  70  feet,  and  a  top  measuring  up¬ 
wards  of  180  feet  across.  Adanson,  however,  makes 
the  remark,  that  other  travellers  had  found  trunks 
having  a  diameter  of  about  32  feet.  French  and 
Dutch  sailors  had  carved  their  names  on  the  trunks 
in  characters  six  inches  in  length.  One  of  these 
inscriptions  was  of  the  fifteenth  centuiy,  while  all 
others  were  of  the  sixteenth.  From  the  depth  of  the 
cuts,  which  are  covered  with  new  layers  of  wood, 
and  from  a  comparison  of  the  thickness  of  trunks 
whose  various  ages  were  known,  Adanson  computed 
the  age  of  trees  having  a  diameter  of  32  feet  at  5150 
years.  In  the  village  of  Grand  Galarques,  also  in 
Senegambia,  the  negroes  have  adorned  the  entrance 
of  a  hollow  baobab  with  carvings  cut  out  of  wood 
still  green.  The  inner  cavity  serves  as  a  place  of 
general  meeting,  in  which  the  community  debate 
their  interests.”  While,  however,  the  bold  calcula¬ 
tions  of  Adanson  and  Perottet  assign  to  the  Adan- 
sonias  measured  by  them  an  age  of  5150  or  even 
6000  years,  which  would  make  them  coeval  with  the 
builders  of  the  Pyramids,  or  even  with  Menes,  these 
calculations  must  be  accepted  with  doubt. 

“  In  appearance  Adansonia  is  unlike  any  other 
known  tree ;  the  enormous  dimensions  of  its  trunks 
bear  a  striking  disproportion  to  the  other  parts.  It 
is  not  unusual  to  find  a  trunk  not  more  than  12  or 
15  feet  from  the  root  to  the  branches,  with  a  circum¬ 
ference  of  75  or  78  feet.  The  lower  branches  are 
very  long,  and  at  first  horizontal,  extending  perhaps 
60  feet ;  the  consequence  of  which  is  that  they  bend 


down  to  the  ground,  entirely  hiding  the  trunk,  and 
giving  the  tree  the  appearance  of  a  huge  mass  of 
verdure.  The  wood  is  very  soft,  even  when  in  per¬ 
fection,  and  is  subject  to  a  disease  which  may  be 
compared  to  the  very  malady  of  which  its  celebrated 
discoverer  died, — a  sort  of  softening  of  all  the  hard 
parts,  so  that  the  least  storm  is  sufficient  to  over¬ 
throw  and  dismember  its  enormous  bulk.  A  curious 
practice  prevails  among  the  negroes,  of  hollowing 
its  trunk  out  into  chambers,  and  therein  depositing 
the  bodies  of  malefactors,  or  of  persons  to  whom  the 
usual  rites  of  sepulture  are  denied.  In  this  situation 
the  bodies  become  dried  up,  and  soon  acquire  the 
state  of  perfect  mummies.” 

The  fruit  of  the 'baobab  is  a  large,  oblong,  downy 
pericarp,  from  6  or  8  to  10  or  12  inches  in  length, 
and  in  shape  somewhat  resembling  that  of  the  cacao- 
tree,  but  even,  and  -without  the  longitudinal  furrows 
of  that  species.  It  is  from  8-  to  10-celled,  but  in  a 
chy  state  the  partitions  seem  to  be  only  formed  by 
tough  stringy  fibres.  Each  cell  is  filled  with  a  pulpy 
substance,  which,  when  old  and  dry,  becomes  pithy, 
and  in  this  the  seeds  are  immersed.  They  are 
kidney-shaped,  brown,  sliining,  hard,  with  a  few 
pale  dots. 

Baobab  has  obtained  some  repute  as  a  remedy  in 
dysentery,  for  which  Dr.  Louis  Frank  has  affirmed 
its  efficiency.  The  part  employed  is  the  acid  farina¬ 
ceous  pulp  surrounding  the  seeds.  The  rind  of  the 
fruit,  beaten  up  into  a  paste  with  water,  is  also  re¬ 
commended.  Dr.  R.  F.  Hutchinson  considers  that 
the  action  of  the  farinaceous  pulp  is  due,  not  to  its 
astringency,  but  to  its  virtues  as  a  refrigerant  and 
diuretic.  The  bark  has  been  proposed  as  a  substi¬ 
tute  for  quinine  in  intermittent  fevers  by  Dr.  Duchas- 
saing,  in  decoction,  one  ounce  of  the  bruised  bark  to 
a  pint  of  water  boiled  to  a  third.  Although  not 
mentioned  in  the  Indian  Pharmacopoeia,  the  dried 
leaves  are  said  to  have  been  found  serviceable  in 
diarrhoea,  fevers,  and  other  diseases.  Amongst  the 
African  negroes  the  fruit  is  a  common  article  of  con¬ 
sumption. 

It  must  be  confessed  that  confirmation  is  required 
of  the  value  of  all  the  forms  of  this  drug,  but  there 
seems  to  be  no  doubt  of  its  possessing  some  virtue, 
and  being  worthy  of  more  systematic  and  extensive 
experiment.  A  good  figure  is  given  in  the  ‘  Botanical 
Magazine,’  plates  2791  and  2792. 


PURE  CAUSTIC  SODA. 

For  some  time  past  pure  caustic  soda,  prepared 
from  metallic  sodium,  has  been  an  article  of  manu¬ 
facture.  The  method  by  which  the  metal  is  made 
to  yield  caustic  soda  is  as  follows : — A  deep  silver 
vessel,  of  a  hemispherical  form,  and  capable  of 
holding  about  four  gallons  of  water,  is  employed. 
Into  tliis  vessel,  which  is  cooled  externally  with  a 
current  of  cold  water,  is  placed  a  very  little  water, 
and  upon  the  water  is  placed  a  cube  of  metallic 
sodium  of  about  half  an  inch  hi  diameter.  The 
vessel  is  made  to  revolve  so  as  continually  to  bring 
fresh  portions  of  liquid  into  contact  with  the  metal, 
and  by  this  means  explosion  is  avoided.  When  the 
first  cube  of  metal  has  dissolved,  and  yielded  a  thick 
syrupy  liquid,  a  little  more  water  and  a  second  cube 
of  metal  are  added,  and  the  reaction  allowed  to  take 
place  as  before,  the  vessel  being  kept  in  motion  all 
the  time.  In  tliis  manner  several  pounds  of  sodium 


July  23,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


G5 


may  be  worked  up  into  soda.  The  thick  syrup  so 
resulting  is  next  evaporated  down,  heated  to  redness, 
fused,  and  poured  into  a  mould. 

Inasmuch  as  the  price  of  sodium  is  five  shillings 
a  pound,  the  yield  of  soda  from  a  pound  of  the  metal 
being  about  one  pound  and  three-quarters,  it  is  plain 
that  the  alkali  so  prepared  must  be  cheap.  The 
danger  of  exjdosions  (which,  however,  do  not  occur 
when  proper  care  is  taken)  necessitates  the  employ¬ 
ment  of  stalled  labour  in  this  manufacture,  and  con¬ 
stitutes  a  very  serious  drawback  to  the  commercial 
success  of  the  process. 


NOTE  ON  THE  DIVISION  OF  POWDERS  BY  THE 

EYE. 

The  practice  of  dividing  powders  by  the  eye  (in¬ 
stead  of  by  the  balance),  so  often  resorted  to  in  dis¬ 
pensing,  is  illustrated  by  the  following  examples, 
which  we  quote  from  the  ‘  Medical  Times  and 
Gazette.’ 

A  number  of  packets  of  patent  medicines  having 
been  purchased,  each  separate  powder  in  the  packets 
was  weighed  with  the  following  results 


Patent 

Medicine  A. 

Packet  I. 

Packet  II. 

Grains. 

Grains. 

1 

.  2-25 

1  . 

, .  1-49 

2 

.  2-23 

2  . 

,.  1'87 

3 

.  2-22 

3  . 

, .  2-07 

4 

.  1-99 

4  . 

, .  1-84 

5 

2-09 

5  . 

,.  1-57 

6 

.  1-42 

6  . 

, .  1-60 

7 

.  1-83 

7  . 

,.  1-60 

8 

.  1-73 

8  . 

. .  2-78 

9 

.  2-74 

9  . 

, .  1-93 

18-50 

16-75 

Mean  ....  2-06 

Mean  . . , 

,.  1-86 

From  which  it  appears,  that  with  a  mean  weight 
of  2'0G  grains  for  the  single  powder  in  a  packet  of 
this  patent  medicine,  the  weight  of  one  powder 
taken  at  random  may  fall  as  low  as  P42  grains,  or 
rise  as  high  as  2 '74  grains.  It  also  appears  that, 
with  a  mean  weight  of  l- 86  grains,  the  weight  of  a 
powder  taken  out  at  random  may  be  from  1'49  to 
2'78  grains. 

Patent  Medicine  B. 


Part  of  a  Packet. 


1  . 

2  . 

.  5-60  „ 

3  . 

15-67 

Mean  , 

.  5-22 

Patent 

Medicine  C. 

Packet  I. 

Packet  II. 

Grains. 

Grains. 

1 

.  ..  2-81 

1  . 

2 

...  2-37 

2  . 

.  2-66 

3 

.  ..  2-50 

3  . 

.  3-06 

4 

...  2-61 

4  . 

.  2-93 

5 

...  2-66 

5  . 

.  2-46 

'6 

...  3-00 

6  . 

.  3-08 

7 

...  2-72 

7  . 

.  3-02 

8 

...  2-59 

8  . 

.  2-69 

21-26 

23-60 

Alcan  . 

...  2-66 

Mean  . . . 

.  2-95 

Packet  III.  Packet  IV. 


1 

Grains. 

.  2-63 

1 

Grains. 

.  2-60 

2 

.  2-27 

2 

.  2-94 

o 

O 

.  2-33 

3 

.  2-46 

4 

.  2-43 

4 

.  2-84 

5 

.  3-27 

5 

.  2-78 

6 

.  2-34 

6 

. .  2-78 

7 

.  2-33 

7 

.  2-46 

8 

.  2-69 

8 

.  2-86 

20-29 

21-72 

Mean  ....  2*53 

Mean  ....  2-71 

FACTS  AND  REASONINGS  CONCERNING  THE 
HETEROGENEOUS  EVOLUTION  OF  LIVING  THINGS. 

Under  this  title,  in  a  paper  recently  published  in 
‘Nature,’  Dr.  H.  C.  Bastian  discusses  the  theory  of 
spontaneous  generation.  He  remarks  that  in  all  ages 
there  have  always  been  believers  in  the  possibility  that 
“  living  things  of  various  kinds  could  come  into  being 
de  novo ,  and  without  ordinary  parentage,”  but  that  du¬ 
ring  the  last  hundred  years  this  doctrine  has  lost  ground. 
This  he  attributes  partly  to  the  effect  produced  by  open¬ 
ing  the  field  of  microscopic  research,  and  partly  to  the 
philosophical  doctrines  which  have  prevailed. 

In  order  to  combat  the  theory  of  the  possibility  of 
spontaneous  generation,  the  Abbe  Spallanzani  pro¬ 
pounded  the  hypothesis  that  “multitudinous,  minute, 
and  almost  metaphysical  germs  existed  everywhere, 
ready  to  burst  out  into  active  life  and  development 
whenever  they  came  under  the  influence  of  suitable  con¬ 
ditions.”  This  was  reinforced  by  the  doctrine  of  u  l’em- 
boitement  des  germes,”  contributed  by  Bonnet.  Armed 
with  these  two  hypotheses,  one  set  of  physiologists  have 
maintained  that  the  low  forms  of  annual  and  vegetable 
life  which  make  their  appearance  during  the  decay  of 
vegetable  and  animal  matter  owe  their  origin  to  the 
development  of  germs  previously  diffused  through  the 
organic  matter,  or  else  reaching  it  by  the  atmosphere, 
which  was  supposed  to  be  a  kind  of  general  reservoir  of 
germs  of  all  sorts.  Another  set  of  physiologists  main¬ 
tained  that,  under  certain  conditions,  complex  mixtures 
of  organic  matter  have  the  property  of  evolving  lowly 
organized  living  beings  without  requiring  the  pre-exis¬ 
tence  of  their  germs.  The  details -of  the  controversy 
between  these  two  sets  of  physiologists  are  to  be  found 
in  the  works  of  Pouchet,  Pennetier,  and  Pasteur. 

"What  is  the  degree  of  maltreatment  which  destroys 
germs  ?  This  question  must  of  necessity  occupy  a  front 
place  in  the  controversy,  and  to  this  question  Dr.  Bas¬ 
tian  first  addresses  himself. 

Those  who  deny  the  possibility  of  spontaneous  gene¬ 
ration  are  naturally  predisposed  to  attribute  to  germs  a 
high  power  of  resistance,  for  the  harder  it  is  to.  destroy 
germs,  the  easier  will  it  be  to  show  that  in  a  given  ex¬ 
periment  the  possibility  of  germs  has  not  been  elimi¬ 
nated.  Little  fear,  therefore,  that  the  limit  of  vital 
resistance  has  been  set  too  low.  Placed  in  a  liquid,  living 
things  will  succumb  to  treatment  which  does  not  destroy 
them  when  they  exist  in  dry  air  or .  in  vacuo.  Com¬ 
paratively  few  living  beings,  either  animal  or  vegetable, 
are  capable  of  sustaining  a  temperature  of  7 5°  C.,  if 
they  are  immersed  in  a  liquid ;  and  no  instance  of  sur¬ 
vival  of  a  temperature  of  100°  C.,  applied  for  one  minute, 
is  on  record.  With  regard  to  the  spores  of  fungi  and 
to  bacteria  and  vibrios, — the  living  things  whose  history 
is  in  dispute, — there  is  direct  and  explicit  evidence  that 
they  are  instantly  destroyed  by  boiling  water.  Vibrios 
and  bacteria,  indeed,  appear  to  die  at  553  C.,  according 
to  M.  Pouchet,  and  below  60°  C.,  accordir%  to  M.  Victor 
Meunier.  Dr.  Bastian  himself  ftmnd  them  .not  only 
dead  but  disintegrated  after  exposure  to  boiling  water 
for  one  minute. 


66 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[July  23,  187a 


With  regard  to  the  resistance  in  the  dry  state,  a  tem¬ 
perature  of  130°  C.  is  believed  to  be  necessarily  fatal  to 
all  organisms ;  certainly,  however,  a  red  heat  must  be 
fatal. 

Many  experiments  on  the  possibility  of  spontaneous 
generation  have  been  made  as  follows  (the  method  being 
that  used  by  Schwann  in  the  year  1837)  : — 

The  solution  of  organic  matter  is  boiled  in  a  flask,  and 
is  by  this  treatment  rendered  germless.  The  neck  of 
the  flask  opens  into  a  tube  containing  red-hot  pumice- 
stone,  packed  closely  together.  As  the  liquid  cools,  air 
will  re-enter  the  flask,  to  occupy  the  vacant  space  above 
the  liquid.  But  all  air  that  re-enters  has  to  pass  through 
the  tube  armed  with  red-hot  pumice-stone,  and  must, 
therefore,  be  in  a  germless  state  as  it  enters  the  flask. 

Now,  after  the  lapse  of  several  months,  sometimes 
living  things  have  been  found  in  the  flask  and  sometimes 
not.  Under  these  conditions,  living  things  have  been 
repeatedly  observed  by  Schwann,  Ingenhousz,  Mante¬ 
gazza,  Pouchet,  Joly,  Musset,  Jeffries  Wymann,  Dr. 
Child,  and  even  by  Pasteur  himself,  who,  however,  offers 
a  kind  of  explanation  in  order  to  account  for  such  a  re¬ 
sult.  Under  still  severer  treatment,  Jeffries  Wymann,  of 
Cambridge,  United  States,  has  produced  living  organisms, 
viz.  in  a  liquid  which  had  been  heated  to  120°  C.,  and 
excluded  from  uncalcined  air.  Professor  Mantegazza 
heated  to  120°  C.,  Professor  Cantoni,  of  Pavia,  to  142°  C., 
for  four  hours,  and  still  obtained  organisms. 

The  author’s  work  is  in  confirmation  of  that  of  Pou¬ 
chet,  Wymann,  Mantegazza,  Cantoni,  and  others.  He 
operated  thus : — Into  a  small  flask,  of  about  two  ounces 
capacity,  was  placed  the  liquid  to  be  experimented  upon, 
and  which  generally  occupied  about  three-quarters  of 
the  flask.  The  neck  of  the  flask  was  next  drawn  out 
by  me^ns  of  the  blow-pipe  flame.  The  liquid  was  next 
boiled,  and  whilst  the  steam  was  freely  issuing  through 
the  narrow  neck,  the  latter  was  made  red-hot.  The  boil¬ 
ing  of  the  liquid  was  then  stopped,  and  the  red-hot 
narrow  neck  sealed  up  by  means  of  the  blow-pipe.  After 
being  thus  charged,  the  experimental  flasks  were  main¬ 
tained  at  temperatures  of  23°  C.  and  29°  C.,  until  the  ex¬ 
periment  was  complete. 

By  operating  in  this  manner,  he  got  distinct  and  abun¬ 
dant  development  of  bacteria,  vibrios,  and  leptothrix 
filaments  in  solutions  of  beef-juice  and  decoctions  of 
turnip,  carrot,  and  hay.  The  duration  of  the  experi¬ 
ment  varied  from  five  days  to  about  one  month.  The 
superiority  of  operations  in  vacuo  over  those  in  calcined 
air  is  insisted  on ;  the  influence  of  pressure  being  appa¬ 
rently  to  retard  the  vital  process. 

Another  set  of  experiments  embraced  saline  solutions 
made  with  distilled  water. 

Acetate  of  ammonia,  and  phosphate  of  soda  gave 
nothing  living  after  ten  days. 

_  Tartrate  of  ammonia  and  phosphate  of  soda,  the  solu¬ 
tion  having  been  boiled  for  twenty  minutes,  gave,  in 
eleven  days,  abundant  signs  of  confervas. 

In  other  experiments  the  sealed  flask  was  exposed  to  a 
temperature  of  140°  to  150°  in  a  Papin’s  digester,  and, 
after  this  treatment,  there  was  development  of  organisms, 
sometimes  very  abundantly. 


NEW  MATERIAL  FOR  BLISTERS. 

The  following  formula  for  the  preparation  of  a  blis¬ 
tering  material  is  given  by  MM.  Delpech  and  Gui- 
chard : — 

Take  of  Gelatine,  30  grains. 

Water,  150  grains. 

Alcohol,  150  grains. 

Cantharidate  of  Potash,  6  grains. 

Glycerine,  a  sufficient  quantity. 

The  liquid  is  to  be  painted  on  thin  sheets  of  gutta 
percha,  in  such  quantity  than  4  inches  square  (t.  e.  16 


square  inches)  shall  receive  about  f  grain  of  cantharidate 
of  potash. 

The  advantage  of  cantharidate  of  potash  over  cantha- 
ridine  is,  that  it  is  not  volatile,  and  does  not  lose  in 
strength  on  exposure.  It  is  prepared  by  the  action  of 
potash  on  cantharidine,  and  crystallizes  in  the  form  of 
fine  scales. 


ASHY  CROWN  CINCHONA  IN  VENEZUELA. 

Dr.  Ernst,  the  President  of  the  Society  of  Natural  and 
Physical  Sciences  of  Caracas,  has  rediscovered  the  Cin¬ 
chona  cor  difolia,  Mutis,  var.  rotundifolia ,  Weddell  ( C .  ro.~ 
tundifolia ,  Pavon),  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Caracas,  a 
specimen  having  been  collected  in  1829  by  Dr.  Vargas 
in  the  same  place. 

In  an  excursion  made  by  Dr.  Ernst,  the  trees  were 
found  in  groups  on  the  slopes  of  Papelon,  Anauco,  Gali- 
pan,  etc.,  at  an  elevation  of  4500  feet  above  the  sea-level. 
The  trees  were  covered  with  lichens  (the  Graphis  sulcata  7 
DC.,  being  particularly  noticed),  and  the  largest  of  them 
had  a  circumference  of  83  centimetres.  The  same  tree 
is  said  probably  to  occur  in  Mariches,  from  whence  small 
quantities  of  bark  were  collected  for  exportation  some 
time  ago.  The  bark  of  this  tree  is  known  in  commerce 
as  Ashy  Crown  Bark,  one  of  the  Loxa  or  Crown  Barks, 
and  occurs  in  quills.  From  an  analysis  made  by  Senor 
Vicente  Marcano,  a  member  of  the  same  society,  60 
grammes  of  this  bark  yielded  3  decigrammes  of  quinine, 
and  4  decigrammes  of  cinchonine.  The  bark,  however, 
was  collected  at  the  wrong  season. 

From  Port  Cabello  another  bark,  known  as  Quina 
Maracaibo,  is  exported.  This  is  the  produce  of  the 
Cinchona  Tucujensis ,  a  tree  growing  only  to  the  height  of 
12  to  15  feet,  which  is  found  in  the  forests  surrounding 
the  colony  of  Tovar.  In  the  same  forests  are  found  Cin¬ 
chona  (now  Buena)  Henleana  and  Moritziana  of  Ivlotzschu 
—  Vargasia  :  Bolotin  de  la  Sociedad  de  Ciencias  Fisicas  y 
Naturales  de  Caracas ,  No.  7,  1870. 


Accidental  Poisoning  by  Arsenic. — A  shocking 
case  of  poisoning  through  the  ignorance  of  a  servant- 
girl,  has  occurred  at  Cradley  Heath,  in  Staffordshire.  A 
little  boy  in  the  family  where  the  girl  was  employed 
being  ill,  she  resolved,  in  his  mother’s  absence,  to  give 
him  a  dose  of  magnesia.  Instead  of  it  she  gave  arsenic, 
being  unable  to  read  the  label  on  the  packet.  The 
little  boy  died.  The  girl,  who  took  a  dose  of  the  poison 
herself,  recovered. 

Fatal  Case  of  Accidental  Poisoning. — Early  on 
Saturday  morning  last,  great  excitement  was  created  in 
the  town  of  Ashbourn  and  its  immediate  neighbourhood, 
by  a  report  that  a  whole  family,  consisting  of  a  man 
and  his  wife,  his  son,  a  lodger,  and  female  servant,  had 
been  accidentally  poisoned  in  Compton.  Mr.  Abel 
Harrison  (the  deceased)  and  his  family  occupied  a  pub¬ 
lic-house  in  Compton.  The  house  was  undergoing  re¬ 
pair,  and  advantage  was  taken  of  this  to  cleanse  the- 
bedrooms.  For  this  purpose  Harrison  sent  for  some- 
arsenic  (according  to  the  accounts  that  we  can  gather, 
amounting  to  about  a  pound),  which  a  man  named  Welsh 
mixed  with  naphtha  and  turpentine,  for  the  purpose  of 
cleansing  the  walls  of  the  bedrooms,  using  a  syringe  for 
the  crevices  which  could  not  be  got  at  with  an  ordinary 
brush.  This  took  place  nine  days  previous  to  the  acci¬ 
dent.  On  Friday  night  the  family  slept  for  the  first 
time  in  the  room,  and  on  Saturday  morning  they  all 
found  themselves  seriously  ill.  Surgeons  were  called  in, 
and  gave  it  as  their  opinion  that  they  were  all  suffering 
from  arsenic,  which  they  had  inhaled  during  the  night. 
On  Sunday  night  the  deceased  had  a  turn  for  the  worse, 
and  on  Monday  morning  death  took  place  about  eleven, 
o’clock.  An  inquest  was  held  on  Tuesday  before  the- 
Coroner,  Mr.  Whiston,  and  a  verdict  of  “Accidental 
Death  ”  was  recorded. 


July  23,  1370.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


C7 


Cfje  Jfsraisftnticsl  $oitra;tI. 

■ - ♦ - - 

SATURDAY,  JULY  23,  1S70. 


THE  RULE  OF  THUMB. 

In  another  part  of  this  week’s  Journal  will  be 
found  a  set  of  specimens  illustrative  of  the  worldng 
of  the  Rule  of  Thumb.  Each  powder  in  six  packets 
of  patent  medicines  was  weighed,  and  the  weights 
showed  a  variation  in  quantity  of  from  one  to  about 
two  ;  the  practical  effect  of  this  irregularity  being, 
that  the  patient,  when  he  takes  a  powder  from  a 
packet  of  such  a  medicine,  will  take  half  a  grain  or 
one  grain  of  calomel,  or  something  intermediate 
between  these  quantities,  just  as  chance  may  favour 
him.  It  is  a  lesson  to  use  the  balance,  and  not  to 
guess  at  quantities.  Nothing  is  more  delusive  than 
the  eye  as  a  measure  of  the  weight  of  powders.  A 
practised  eye  will  one  day  be  strangely  successful  in 
making  such  valuations,  and  another  day  as  strangely 
unsuccessful. 


THE  SEWAGE  QUESTION. 

The  public  interest  is  at  present  so  deeply  involved 
in  the  determination  of  an  efficient  remedy  for  the 
sewage  nuisance,  to  which  so  large  an  amount  of 
j;iver  pollution  is  due,  and  the  “A.  B.  C.”  method  has 
been  so  confidently  advocated  for  the  purpose,  that 
the  Royal  Commissioners  on  River  Pollution  have 
considered  it  their  duty  again  to  submit  this  method 
to  careful  investigation.  Though  the  results  of  their 
previous  observations  were  objected  to  by  the  pa¬ 
tentees,  they  did  not  admit  the  validity  of  the  ob¬ 
jections,  and  the  results  of  further  inquiry  given  in 
the  Report,  just  presented  to  Parliament,  fully  con¬ 
firms  the  unfavourable  opinion  previously  expressed 
as  to  the  efficiency  of  the  A.  B.  C.  method. 

The  following  are  the  general  conclusions  arrived 
at  by  the  Commissioners : — 

“1.  The  process  removes  a  large  proportion  of  the  sus¬ 
pended  impurities  from  sewage,  but  on  no  occasion,  when 
we  have  seen  it  in  operation,  has  this  removal  been  so 
complete  as  to  render  the  effluent  sewage  admissible  into 
running  water. 

“  2.  The  ‘  A.  B.  C.’  process  removes  a  very  small  pro¬ 
portion  of  the  soluble  polluting  matters  from  sewage. 
After  treatment  by  this  process,  the  effluent  sewage  is 
very  little  better  than  that  which  is  obtained  by  allow¬ 
ing  raw  sewage  to  settle  in  subsidence  tanks. 

“3.  The  manure  obtained  by  this  process  has  a  very 
low  market  value,  and  cannot  repay  the  cost  of  manu¬ 
facture. 

“  The  manipulations  required  for  the  extraction  and 
drying  of  this  manure  are  attended  with  a  nauseous 
gdour,  especially  in  warm  weather,  and  would  occasion 
a  serious  nuisance  if  the  works  were  situated  in  or  near 
a  town. 

“  It  would  obviously  be  rash  to  set  any  bounds  to  the 
possibilities  of  chemistry.  Substances  may,  perhaps,  be 


hereafter  discovered  capable  of  combining  with  and  ren¬ 
dering  insoluble  the  filthy  constituents  of  our  town 
drainage ;  but  we  are  compelled  to  admit  that  the  pre¬ 
sent  resources  of  this  science  hold  out  no  hope  that  the 
foul  matters  dissolved  in  sewage  will  be  precipitated  and 
got  rid  of  by  the  application  of  chemicals  to  the  offen¬ 
sive  liquid.  The  chemical  affinities  of  these  foul  mat¬ 
ters  arc  so  feeble,  and  the  matters  themselves  are  dis¬ 
solved  in  such  enormous  volumes  of  water,  that  their 
precipitation  is  a  problem  of  extreme  difficulty.” 

The  Commissioners  add  that  the  inevitable  con¬ 
clusion  from  their  inquiry  is  unfavourable  to  the 
A.  B.  C.  method  in  respect  of  its  alleged  power  to 
hinder  the  pollution  of  rivers  by  town  sewage,  and 
that  it  is  equally  unfavourable  as  to  the  value  of  the 
manure  manufactured  by  this  method.  The  one 
statement  is  indeed  in  some  sense  the  complement 
of  the  other;  for  just  in  proportion  as  the  impuri¬ 
ties  of  sewage  escape  separation,  so  must  the  value 
of  the  manure  obtained  from  it  be  reduced. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  in  reference  to  the  impor¬ 
tant  question  as  to  the  value  of  the  A.  B.  C.  manure, 
that  “artificial  fortification  ”  is  occasionally  practised. 
It  appears  that  during  a  recent  visit  to  the  works  at 
Leamington  by  Dr.  Miller  and  Dr.  Odling,  crystals 
of  sulphate  of  ammonia  were  discovered  in  the  ma¬ 
nure  that  was  being  made. 

There  are  also  other  points  in  Dr.  Odling’s  evi¬ 
dence  before  the  Royal  Commissioners,  which  throw 
a  very  dubious  light  on  this  matter. 

Dr.  Letheby’s  paper  on  the  subject,  which  is 
completed  in  this  number,  is  hi  reality  little  more 
than  an  admission  that  sewage  can  be  defecated  by 
irrigation,  and  its  contents  utilized  to  some  extent 
at  least,  while  his  argument  against  this  mode  of 
dealing  with  sewage  simply  amounts  to  the  very  ob¬ 
vious  assertion  that  it  must  be  properly  conducted. 
This  is  a  truism  that  few  would  dispute.  It  is  re¬ 
markable  that  most  of  those  who  took  part  in  the 
discussion  declared  the  subject  to  be  outside  their 
province.  Even  among  the  opponents  of  irrigation 
there  was  little  accord,  for  while  Mr.  Hawksley  be¬ 
lieved  there  was.  nothing  to  be  learned,  and  Dr. 
Letheby  asserted  that  medical  men  were  alone  com¬ 
petent  to  decide  the  matter,  Dr.  Cobbold  regarded  it 
as  chiefly  one  for  chemists  to  deal  with.  Moreover, 
in  reference  to  the  pollution  of  rivers  by  effluent 
water,  Dr.  Letheby’s  advocacy  of  precipitation  me¬ 
thods,  which  remove  so  little  of  the  impurity  from 
sewage,  is  glaringly  inconsistent  with  his  assertion 
that  they  were  preferable  to  irrigation,  which  has 
been  proved  to  purify  sewage  to  much  greater  ex¬ 
tent,  and  for  that  reason  offers  a  better  prospect  of 
utilization  when  properly  conducted. 

A  prop  os  of  sewage,  we  learn  from  the  ‘  Medical 
Times  and  Gazette,’  that  some  members  of  the  un¬ 
fortunate  British  Association  Committee  have  laid 
their  troubles  before  the  Council  of  the  Association, 
stating  in  reference  to  the  protest  entered  against  their 
proceedings-  with  the  money  subscribed  by  towns, 
that  they  felt  it  would  be  unbecoming  in  them  and 

e  3 


8 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[July  23,  1870. 


derogatory  to  the  dignity  of  the  Association  to  con¬ 
tinue  their  labours ;  but  we  understand  the  Council 
resolved  that  there  was  no  necessity  for  it  to  inter¬ 
fere. 


LIEBIG  ON  FERMENTATION. 

"What  is  Fermentation  ? — almost  like  the  question, 
what  is  combustion  ? — is  a  fundamental  problem  in 
chemistry.  Many  years  ago,  Liebig  was  the  first  to 
give  a  chemical  interpretation  of  this  subject.  He 
has  now  returned  to  it,  and  recently  presented  to  the 
Bavarian  Academy  an  important  memoir  on  Fer¬ 
mentation  ;  a  translation  of  the  first  part  of  which 
is  to  be  found  at  the  opening  of  this  week’s  Journal. 


The  Secretaries  of  the  British  Pharmaceutical 
Conference  are  busy  issuing  a  circular  to  announce 
particulars  of  the  meeting  in  Liverpool,  and  to  in¬ 
vite  Pharmacists  to  become  members.  In  future, 
an  annual  report  is  to  be  published,  under  the  title 
of  ‘  The  Year-Book  of  Pharmacy,’  and  a  specimen- 
page  is  sent  with  the  circular.  We  hope  this  under¬ 
taking  will  succeed,  and  that  it  may  prepare  the 
■way  for  similar  reports  on  other  branches  of  science, 
which  have  long  been  needed  and  talked  of. 

We  have  it  on  reliable  authority  that  several  lead¬ 
ing  surgeons  have  determined  to  visit  the  seat  of  the 
war,  in  order  to  make  observations  on  wounds,  and 
advance  the  science  of  military  surgery. 

A  Phahmacist,  writing  to  the  ‘  Lancet,’  draws 
attention  to  the  difficulty  caused  by  the  continuation 
of  the  uncertain  term,  spt.  aether,  chloric,  by  medi¬ 
cal  men.  The  strength  of  such  a  preparation  never 
having  been  given  authoritatively,  dispensers  are 
quite  at  a  loss  what  to  use,  and  the  preparation 
known  under  this  name  varies  from  1  part  chloro¬ 
form  in  6  of  spirit  to  1  in  14,  1G,  or  20  parts, — the 
result  being  alike  unsatisfactory  to  prescriber,  dis¬ 
penser,  and  patient.  He  therefore  urges  medical 
men  to  adopt  the  recognized  Pharmacopoeia  prepa¬ 
ration  and  name  spiritus  chloroformi,  containing  1 
part  chloroform  in  20. 

The  ‘  Pharmaceutisclie  Zeitung  ’  states  that  the 
chloral-hydrate  made  by  Roussin,  of  Paris,  is  alco- 
holate,  and  not  hydrate  of  chloral.  It  yielded  61 ’7 
per  cent,  of  chloroform;  and  contained  23 ‘7  per  cent, 
of  alcohol. 

We  learn  from  the  ‘  Chicago  Pharmacist,’  that  a 
small  lot  of  quinine,  stated  to  have  been  manufac¬ 
tured  hi  London,  and  bearing  the  label  “  Light 
Sulphate  of  Quinine,”  was  found  to  be  devoid  of 
-  quinine.  The  alkaloid  appeared  to  be  cinchonine  in 
the  state  of  liydroclilorate.  In  appearance  it  resem¬ 
bled  sulphate  of  quinine,  but  on  closer  examination 
the  crystals  were  found  not  to  be  so  much  inter¬ 
laced. 


We  have  received  from  M.  Soubeiran  the  proof- 
sheets  of  an  article  about  to  be  published  by  him  in 
the  ‘  Journal  cle  Pharmacie  et  de  Chimie,’  giving  an 
account  of  the  history  and  organization  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society. 

We  leam  from  the  ‘  Times’  that  milk  is  an  article 
of  export  from  the  States.  The  total  value  of  con¬ 
densed  milk  exported  from  the  port  of  New  York  in 
the  year  1869  was  $79,652.  Milk  of  the  value  of 
$21,870  came  to  England. 

We  have  received  from  Dr.  Chandler  a  copy  of 
his  report  to  the  Metropolitan  Board  of  Health  of 
New  York  on  poisonous  cosmetics  sold  in  New  York 
under  the  names  Circassian  Rejuvenator,  Bloom  of 
Youth,  Eugenie’s  Favourite,  etc.  He  finds  that 
most  of  them  contain  lead  in  considerable  amount. 
This  report  lias  given  rise  to  a  complaint  by  the 
proprietor  of  one  of  these  nostrums,  that  it  has 
“inflicted  a  great  wrong  upon  him,  and  almost 
ruined  his  business.” 

We  are  glad  to  hear  that  Dr.  Weddell  has  a 
paper  on  the  Cinchona  in  press,  which  will,  we  trust, 
settle,  in  some  degree  at  least,  the  synonymy  of 
the  genus.  It  will  be  published  in  the  ‘  Bulletin  de 
la  Societe  Botanique  de  France.’ 

The  case  of  Hatun  Huamang,  the  labourer  em¬ 
ployed  by  Tscliudi  “in  very  laborious  digging” 
(mentioned  in  the  article  on  Coca  which  we  published 
last  week),  reminds  us  forcibly  of  the  Welsh  fasting 
girl.  What  would  have  been  the  result  of  a  Guy’s 
Hospital  investigation  into  the  powers  of  endurance 
of  Hatun  Huamang  ?  By  the  bye,  we  learn  from 
the  daily  papers  that  the  father  of  the  Welsh  girl 
has  been  sentenced  to  twelve  months’,  and  the  mother 
to  six  months’  imprisonment. 


fnmsattiims  d  \\t  .fotwfjr. 

EXAMINATION  IN  LONDON. 

July  20th,  1870. 

Present — Messrs.  Allchin,  Bird,  Carteighe,  Cracknell, 
Davenport,  Edwards,  Gale,  Garle,  Hanbury,  Haselden, 
and  Sonthall. 

Thirty -two  candidates  presented  themselves  for  exa¬ 
mination, — ten  Major  and  twenty-two  Minor;  the  fol¬ 
lowing  passed,  and  were  duly  registered : — 

MAJOR  (As  PHARMACEUTICAL  CHEMISTS). 

*  Clarke,  Richard  Feaver  . Torquay. 

Gibbs,  James . Bedford. 

Romano,  Frederick  William 

Richard . . . Rio  Grande  do  Sul. 

Hartt,  Charles  Henry . Torquay. 

Cotterill,  Samuel  . Southampton. 

Griffiths,  Waldron  . Harrow. 

Jackson,  John  Pirn . Leeds. 

Pilley,  Henry  Thomas . Lincoln. 

Robson,  James  Crosby . Darlington. 

MINOR  (As  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS). 

*  Hay  don,  William  Frederic. . .  .Blandford. 

*  Bo  wen,  John  William . . . Handsworth. 

*Hogg,  Joseph  Fawcett  . North  Shields. 

Cooper,  James  . Wycombe. 


July  23,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


69 


Braddock,  Henry . Oldham. 

Butterworth,  Albert . Sowerby. 

Reinhardt,  William  Tynedale.  .  Leeds. 

Habgood,  Henry  . . . Wells. 

Ball,  George  ....  . Ormskixk. 

Williams,  John  Havard . London. 

Broad,  John  Morris . Hornsey  Rise. 

Butterfield,  Edward . London. 

Iveightley,  Joseph  . . Tunstall. 


The  above  names  are  arranged  in  order  of  merit. 


EXAMINATION  IN  EDINBURGH. 

July  1 1th,  1870. 

Present — Messrs.  Buchanan, 

The  following  passed  their  respective  Examinations  : — 

MAJOR  (registered  as  a  Pharmaceutical  Chemist). 
Howie,  William  Lamond  . . .  Edinburgh. 

MINOR  (registered  as  Chemists  and  Druggists). 

The  names  are  arranged  in  order  of  merit. 

Robinson,  James . Darlington. 

Hay,  James  Henry . .  . . Macduff. 

Todrick,  William  . Edinburgh. 

MODIFIED  (registered  as  Chemists  and  Druggists). 

Bates,  John  Freer . . . Manchester. 

Clark,  Simon  Prince . . . Glasgow. 

PRELIMINARY  (registered  as  Apprentices  or 

Students). 

Clark,  Adam  Douglas  . Kelso. 

Gardner,  Robert . Kelso. 

Graham,  John . . Dumfries. 

Three  candidates  were  unsuccessful  in  the  Minor  Ex¬ 
amination,  and  one  candidate  failed  to  pass  the  Prelimi¬ 
nary  Examination. 

Errata  in  List  of  Local  Secretaries. — P.  30,  col.  1,  for 
“  Dorchester  .  .  .Evans,  Alfred,”  read  “  Dorchester  .  .  . 
Evans,  Alfred  John;”  p.  31,  col.  l,for  “Neath  . . .  Hibbert, 
William,”  read  “Neath  .  . .  Hibbert,  Walter.” 


fittings  of  SmMws. 

PARIS.— SOCIETE  DE  PHARMACIE. 

Is?  June,  1870. 

M.  Mialhe,  President. 

The  death  of  M.  Leroux,  the  discoverer  of  Salicine, 
and  one  of  the  oldest  correspondents  of  the  Society,  was 
announced.  He  was  seventy-five. 

M.  Poggiale  presented  a  note  on  the  preparation  of 
bromhydrate  of  quinine  and  cinchonine  by  M.  Latour. 

M.  L.  Soubeiran  gave  expression  to  his  sense  of  the 
sympathy  manifested  by  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  of 
Great  Britain,  and  of  the  cordial  manner  in  which  he 
had  been  received  by  the  Society  on  the  occasion  of  his 
recent  visit  to  London. 

MM.  Boudet  and  Poggiale  referred  to  the  recent  dis¬ 
cussion  in  the  Academie  de  Medecine  respecting  the  “for¬ 
tification”  of  wines. 

The  proposition  made  by  M.  Cap  to  form  a  French 
Pharmaceutical  Association  by  affiliating  the  provincial 
societies  to  the  Societe  de  Pharmacie  de  Paris,  was  re¬ 
ported  upon  and  discussed.  It  was  not,  however, 
adopted. 


THE  PRESENT  PROSPECTS  OF  THE  SEWAGE 
QUESTION  IN  RELATION  TO  THE  PUBLIC 
HEALTH. 

BY  HENRY  LETHEBY,  ESQ.,  M.B. 

{Lead  before  the  Metropolitan  Association  of  Medical  Officers 
of  Health,  May  21,  1870.) 

{Concluded  from  p.  50.) 

4.  There  is  another  very  important  objection  to  sewage 
irrigation  —  the  danger  of  propagating  parasitic  dis¬ 
eases.  Sewage  contains  myriads  of  ova  of  intestinal  en- 
tozoa — every  segment  of  a  tape-worm  discharged  from 
the  human  body  is  crowded  with  them ;  and  if  distributed 
with  sewage  upon  the  land  will  become  attached  to  the 
grass  and  other  green  fodder  which  is  produced  thereon. 
This  is  eaten  by  cattle,  whose  bodies  quickly  become  in¬ 
fected  with  the  parasite  in  its  larval  condition,  and  thus 
the  measly  meat  becomes  the  agent  of  disease  in  our  own 
bodies.  At  present,  the  distribution  of  these  ova,  and 
their  access  to  the  bodies  of  herbivorous  animals,  is  en¬ 
tirely  a  matter  of  accident ;  but  make  it  a  matter  of  cer¬ 
tainty,  as  most  assuredly  you  will  by  distributing  sewage 
upon  the  fodder-producing  land,  and  the  consequences 
must  be  serious.  Dr.  Cobbold,  who  is  our  highest  au¬ 
thority  on  this  subject,  has  published  an  essay  to  warn 
the  public  against  the  danger  of  this  method  of  disposing 
of  town  sewage ;  and  he  has  hinted  at  the  probable  in¬ 
troduction  into  this  country  of  a  terrible  helminthic 
malady  {Bilharzia),  which  is  now  common  in  Egypt,  in 
Africa,  and  the  Mauritius,  and  would  assuredly  be 
propagated  throughout  the  land  by  this  dangerous  scheme 
of  irrigation.  “Have  the  kindness,”  he  says,  “to  ob¬ 
serve  that  every  colonist  returning  from  the  Cape  is 
liable  to  bring  this  parasitic  treasure  with  him  as  a 
‘  guest’  indeed,  dwelling  in  his  blood,  and  feeding  on  his 
life  stream.  In  the  advanced  stages  of  the  malady,  the 
afflicted  individual  must  frequently  evacuate  the  eggs 
and  their  contained  embryonic  larvae,  which  are  thus 
conveyed  into  the  ordinary  receptacles  of  such  voidings. 
There  let  them  remain,  or  convey  them  into  a  cesspool, 
and  no  harm  follows.  If  deemed  preferable,  you  may 
transport  them,  along  with  myriads  of  other  human  pa¬ 
rasite  eggs  and  larvae,  into  a  common  sewer,  and  thence 
into  the  sea;  still,  entozoologically  speaking,  no  harm 
follows.  Here,  however,  let  me  invite  you  to  pause ;  for 
if,  without  due  consideration,  you  adopt  any  one  of  the 
gigantic  schemes  now  in  vogue,  you  will  scatter  these 
eggs  far  and  wide ;  you  will  spread  them  over  thousands 
of  acres  of  ground ;  you  will  place  the  larvae  in  those 
conditions  which  are  known  to  be  eminently  favourable 
for  the  development  of  their  next  stage  of  growth ;  you 
will  bring  the  latter  in  contact  with  land  and  water  snails, 
into  whose  bodies  they  will  speedily  penetrate ;  and,  in 
short,  you  will  place  them  in  situations  where  their  yet 
higher  gradations  of  non-sexual  growth  and  propagation 
will  be  arrived  at.  After  all  these  changes,  there  is  every 
reason  to  believe  that  they  will  experience  no  greater 
difficulty  in  gaining  access  to  our  bodies  here  in  England 
than  obtains  in  the  case  of  those  same  parasites  attack¬ 
ing  our  fellow-creatures,  whose  residence  is  found  in 
Egypt,  in  Natal,  in  the  Mauritius,  or  at  the  Cape.  In  a 
natural  history  point  of  view,  it  would  not  be  an  altoge¬ 
ther  singular  result,  if,  twenty  years  hence,  this  parasitic 
malady  should  be  as  prevalent  in  this  country  as  it  is 
now  known  to  be  in  particular  sections  of  the  African 
continent.  Foreseeing  the  possibility,  not  to  say  proba¬ 
bility,  of  this  contingency,  am  I  not  right,”  he  says, 
“  after  years  of  long  study,  to  raise  my  voice  in  the  hope 
of  preventing  such  a  disaster  ?” 

Nor  is  it  unlikely  that  the  Trichina  may  be  distri¬ 
buted  in  the  same  manner,  for  it  swarms  in  the  intestines 
of  those  who  have  just  become  infected  with  it,  and  may 
be  discharged  into  sewage,  and  scattered  upon  the  land, 
and  eaten  by  creatures  whose  flesh  will  give  it  back  to 
us  again.  No  one,  indeed,  but  the  helminthologist  can 


70 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[July  23,  1870. 


say  what  particular  parasite  may  not  he  distributed  and 
propagated  by  this  dangerous  agricultural  process. 
‘‘May  we  not,  indeed,”  as  Dr.  Cobbold  observes,  “but 
too  reasonably  conjecture  that  the  wholesale  distribution 
of  tape-worm  eggs  by  the  utilization  of  sewage  on  a  stu¬ 
pendous  scale,  will  tend  to  spread  abroad  a  class  of  dis¬ 
eases,  some  of  which  are  severely  formidable  ?  So  con¬ 
vinced  am  I,”  he  says,  “  of  the  truth  embodied  in  an 
affirmative  reply  to  this  latter  query— so  certain  am  I 
that  parasites  are  propagated  in  this  particular  way— so 
surely  do  I  foresee  unpleasant  results,  if  no  steps  be  taken 
to  counteract  the  evil,  that  I  feel  myself  bound  to.  speak 
out  boldly,  and  to  produce  no  uncertain  sound  in  the 
matter  which  most  closely  concerns  humanity.”  The 
whole  question,  in  fact,  is  of  vast  hygienic  importance. 

But,  fifthly,  let  us  see  if  the  system,  in  a  sanitary  point 
of  view,  is  so  successful  as  to  render  the  sewage  innocu¬ 
ous,  before  its  admission  into  a  running  stream.  Go  to 
a  sewage  farm  after  you  have  given  due  notice  of  your 
intended  visit,  and  you  will  be  taken  to  places  where  the 
subsoil  water  is  running  from  the  land  apparently  pure 
and  drinkable ;  and  no  doubt  with  proper  management, 
under  proper  conditions  of  thorough  and  effective  filtra¬ 
tion,  such  a  result  may  be  achieved  ;  but  the  real  ques¬ 
tion  is  how  far  this  is  really  and  practically  accomplished, 
for  it  involves  such  a  nice  adjustment  of  all  the  appli¬ 
ances,  such  a  continuous  distribution  of  the  sewage,  over 
successive  areas  of  land,  and  such  constant  supervision, 
that  it  is  rarely  effected.  To  judge  of  the  results,  there¬ 
fore,  you  must  visit  these  places,  as  I  have  done,  without 
previous  notice,  and  you  must  examine  the  whole  dis¬ 
trict,  for  it  is  not  uncommon  to  find  byways  for  the  dis¬ 
posal  of  the  sewage  which  the  land  will  not  take.  Not 
long  ago,  as  I  have  said,  I  visited  Aldershot,  with  Mr. 
Hawksley,  Mr.  Eggar,  and  Professor  Ansted.  This  you 
know  is  a  pet  place  with  the  advocates  of  the  system,  but 
at  the  time  of  our  visit  we  found  that  nearly  all  the 
sewage  was  passing  along  the  carriers  to  the  outfalls, 
and  going  bodily  into  the  river.  I  took  samples  of  the 
sewage  as  it  entered  the  farm  from  the  two  camps,  and 
as  it  flowed  from  the  farm  to  the  river.  The  original 
sewage  contained  54  grs.  of  soluble  matter  per  gallon, 
and  44  grs.  of  insoluble,  each  of  which  contained  about 
30  grs.  of  organic  matter.  As  it  left  the  filter-tank  it 
contained  the  same  amount  of  soluble  matter,  and  35  grs. 
of  suspended,  of  which  about  26  grs.  were  organic.  As 
it  ran  along  the  carriers  to  the  lower  part  of  the  farm,  it 
retained  its  black  offensive  character,  and  this  was  very 
marked  upon  that  portion  of  the  land  where  a  little  of  it 
was  distributed.  At  one  of  the  outfalls  into  the  Black- 
water  river  it  contained  52  grs.  of  soluble  matter  per 
gallon,  of  which  28  grs.  were  organic;  and  3-84  grs.  of 
suspended  matter.  At  three  other  outfalls  from  the  farm 
the  soluble  matters  amounted  respectively  to  52  grs.,  58 
grs.,  and  54  grs.  per  gallon,  of  which  24  grs.,  20  grs., 
and  22  grs.  were  organic ;  the  suspended  matters  being 
26  grs.,  6  grs.,  and  5  grs.  per  gallon  respectively,  of  which 
12  grs.,  2  grs.,  and  3  grs.  were  organic.  At  the  several 
points  of  discharge  into  the  river  the  sewage  was  black 
and  fetid,  and  there  were  large  accumulations  of  sewage 
mud  in  a  high  state  of  decomposition.  I  took  a  sample 
of  the  river  water  before  it  received  the  outfall  sewage, 
and  after;  the  former  contained  19  grs.  of  soluble  matter 
per  gallon,  and  the  latter  24  grs.,  of  which  the  organic 
amounted  to  3|  grs.  and  5  grs.,  the  ammonia  in  the  two 
cases  being  0-264  of  a  grain,  and  L545  gr.,  showing  an 
enormous  pollution  of  the  river  by  the  so-called  defe¬ 
cated  sewage.  Everywhere  upon  the  land  where  the 
sewage  had  been  distributed  there  were  masses  of  fecal 
matter,  waiting  for  the  first  heavy  shower  of  rain  to 
wash  them  away  into  the  nearest  outfall ;  the  neigh¬ 
bouring  ditches  were  in  a  most  offensive  condition,  and 
we  were  told  by  the  occupants  of  the  houses  adjoining 
the  farm,  that  in  times  of  flood  the  whole  roadway  was 
covered  with  sewage  matters.  Considering  the  praise 
which  has  been  bestowed  on  the  alleged  success  of  this 


farm,  I  was  not  prepared  to  witness  such  a  frightful 
condition  of  things. 

At  the  Craigintinny  meadows,  near  Edinburgh,  it  is 
notorious  that  the  outfall  water  from  the  farm  is  shock¬ 
ingly  offensive,  but  as  it  rims  into  the  sea  it  is  not  com¬ 
plained  of  as  a  nuisance.  A  like  condition  of  things,  but 
not  to  such  an  extent,  I  have  seen  at  Norwood,  at  Rugby, 
at  Warwick,  and  at  Banbury ;  in  fact,  at  the  last-named 
place  the  ditches  around  the  farm  were  full  of  sewage, 
and  the  water  was  running  from  the  outfall  in  a  very 
offensive  state,  showing  that  the  system,  although  sus¬ 
ceptible  of  good  results,  is  rarely  so  in  practice,  unless  it 
receives  an  amoimt  of  attention  that  makes  it  a  serious 
business.  Besides  which,  there  are  times  when  no  atten¬ 
tion  will  prevent  the  discharge  of  foul  sewage  from  the 
land,  as  when  the  soil  is  heavy,  and  a  flood  of  rain  sweeps 
over  it,  and  when  vegetation  is  dormant.  In  winter 
time  it  will  freeze  upon  the  land  and  kill  the  grass,  and, 
as  it  thaws,  run  off  to  the  nearest  stream.  At  Warwick 
we  saw  acres  of  ground  thus  despoiled,  where  the  defe¬ 
cation  of  sewage  was  entirely  a  matter  of  surface  filtra¬ 
tion.  All  authorities,  indeed,  agree  that  the  success  of 
this  system  is  dependent  upon  a  combination  of  circum¬ 
stances  which  are  not  always  attainable,  and  upon  the- 
strictest  care  and  supervision.  Even  then,  according  to 
Dr.  Frankland,  although  it  may  purify  sewage  to  a  great 
extent,  it  does  not  sufficiently  purify  it  to  render  it  ad¬ 
missible  into  potable  water  without  danger;  “the  risk 
arising  not  only  from  the  considerable  amount  of  animal 
organic  matters  which  the  effluent  water  still  retains  in 
solution,  but  also  from  the  absence  of  any  guarantee  for 
the  removal  of  the  germs  or  other  noxious  suspended 
matters  which  are  frequently  present  in  sewage.” 

The  other  means  of  dealing  with  sewage,  so  as  to  se¬ 
parate  the  suspended  matters,  and  to  remove  a  certain 
portion  of  those  which  are  dissolved,  is  to  submit  it  to 
chemical  treatment.  Already  there  are  sufficient  facts 
to  enable  us  to  review  this  part  of  the  subject. 

At  Leicester,  at  Hertford,  and  formerly  at  Tottenham, 
the  sewage  was  defecated  with  lime,  the  lime  being  used 
to  the  extent  of  from  5  to  20  grs.  per  gallon  of  sewage. 
The  treatment  is  effected  by  adding  the  lime  to  the  sew¬ 
age,  and  then  briskly  agitating  it ;  after  which  it  flows 
into  subsiding-tanks,  where  the  sedimentary  matters  de¬ 
posit,  and  the  clear  supernatant  water  runs  off  by  a  weir 
placed  a  little  below  the  surface.  At  Hertford  the  super¬ 
natant  water  is  filtered  before  it  is  discharged  into  the 
outfall,  and  in  summer  time  a  little  chloride  of  lime, 
amounting  to  about  half  a  grain  per  gallon  of  sewage,  is 
also  employed,  as  it  is  found  to  deodorize  the  sewage,  to 
check  secondary  putrefaction,  and  to  prevent  the  growth 
of  the  sewer  fungus  in  the  outfall  channel.  In  the  year 
1858,  when  I  first  examined  this  process  at  Leicester  and 
Tottenham,  for  Messrs.  Bidder,  Hawksley,  and  Bazal- 
gette,  the  referees  appointed  by  the  Metropolitan  Board 
of  Works  to  consider  the  question  of  the  main  drainage 
of  the  metropolis,  I  found  that  with  12  grs.  of  lime  per 
gallon  of  sewage  the  whole,  or  nearly  the  whole,  of  the 
suspended  matters  were  removed,  and  that  the  soluble 
organic  matter  fell  from  13^  grs.  per  gallon  to  10|  grs. 
When  20  grs.  of  lime  were  used,  the  soluble  organic 
matter  fell  to  about  9  grs.  On  the  occasion  of  a  more 
recent  visit  to  Leicester,  with  Dr.  Frankland  and  Dr. 
Odling,  at  the  instance  of  the  Thames  Conservancy 
Board,  we  found  that  the  soluble  matters  of  the  sewage 
were  reduced  from  63  grs.  per  gallon  to  48  grs. — the  or¬ 
ganic  matter  falling  from  15  grs.  to  5  grs.  At  Hertford, 
where  the  original  sewage  is  remarkably  weak  on  account 
of  subsoil  water,  I  have  ascertained  from  many  experi¬ 
ments  that  the  organic  matter  in  solution  is  reduced  from 
about  3  grs.  per  gallon  to  1*6  gr.  All  these  results  ac¬ 
cord  well  with  laboratory  experiments,  and  they  show, 
as  I  stated  in  my  original  report  to  the  referees  alluded 
to,  that,  “judging  from  the  experiments  which  I  have 
made,  and  the  observations  of  practice  on  a  large  scale, 
it  is  ascertained  that  about  12  grs.  of  lime  to  a  gallon  of 


July  23,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


71 


sewage  will  effect  the  speedy  separation  of  all  the  sus- 
p ended  matters,  and  also  about  one-fourth  of  the  dis¬ 
solved  organic  matter,  leaving  a  clear  liquor  which  has 
lost  a  great  part  of  its  offensive  odour ;  and  when  the  clear 
liquor  is  mixed  with  from  five  to  seven  times  its  bulk  of 
water,  and  is  exposed  to  the  air,  it  is  no  longer  offensive.” 

At  Leicester,  where  the  lime  method  has  been  adopted, 
the  river  Soar,  into  which  the  sewage  flows,  has  under¬ 
gone  a  remarkable  improvement.  Before  the  works  were 
established  the  river  was  most  offensive,  the  fish  were 
killed,  the  vegetation  of  the  river  was  destroyed,  and 
those  who  inhaled  the  effluvia  from  it  were  constantly  ill. 
At  the  Belgrave  Mill,  which  is  just  below  the  point 
where  the  sewage  enters  the  river,  the  foulness  of  the 
stream  was  such  that  in  summer-time  the  water  of  the 
mill-dam  appeared  to  boil  with  putrefaction  ;  the  stench 
from  it  was  intolerable,  and  so  large  was  the  quantity  of 
sulphuretted  hydrogen  evolved,  that  the  silver  in  the 
men’s  pockets  turned  black  in  a  few  hours.  At  that  time 
the  men  were  constantly  afflicted  with  diarrhoea,  they 
lost  their  strength,  and  their  appetites  always  failed 
them ;  one  man  only  out  of  thirty  men  in  eighteen  years 
had  been  able  to  stand  it,  and  he  it  was  who  gave  me  an 
account  of  the  matter.  Now,  however,  and  for  the  last 
three  years  since  the  lime  process  has  been  adopted,  the 
river  presents  an  entirely  different  appearance — aquatic 
plants  have  begun  to  flourish,  the  fish  have  ventured  to 
return,  the  black  mud  has  ceased  to  accumulate,  and  the 
mill-dam  is  no  longer  offensive.  All  along  the  stream 
the  people  speak  of  the  change  with  satisfaction,  and  it 
would  appear  that  the  process  fulfils  the  requirement  of 
the  local  Act,  which  demands  that  the  water  discharged 
from  the  works  shall  not  occasion  a  nuisance,  or  be  inju¬ 
rious  to  the  health  of  those  who  live  or  are  employed  on 
the  banks  of  the  stream. 

Crude  sulphate  of  alumina  is  another  precipitating 
agent.  It  is  employed  at  Stroud,  in  Gloucestershire,  in 
what  is  known  as  Bird’s  method.  The  crude  sulphate  is 
made  by  adding  about  20  lbs.  of  sulphuric  acid  to  1  cwt. 
of  powdered  clay,  and  allowing  it  to  stand  for  some  time. 
This  material  is  mixed  with  sewage  in  the  proportion  of 

1  cwt.  to  from  20,000  to  30,000  gallons  of  sewage,  and 
the  sedimentary  matters  are  collected  in  a  properly-con¬ 
structed  tank.  Sulphate  of  alumina  is  decomposed  by 
the  ammonia  of  the  sewage,  and  the  alumina  flocculates 
and  precipitates  the  suspended  matters,  leaving  a  clear 
supernatant  liquid,  from  which  a  good  deal  of  dissolved 
organic  matter  has  been  removed. 

To  ensure  the  precipitation  of  the  alumina,  Dr.  Ander¬ 
son,  of  Coventry,  recommends  the  addition  of  lime.  He 
uses  about  one  pound  of  crude  sulphate  to  every  100 
gallons  of  sewage.  This  mixture  is  well  agitated,  and  then 
a  quarter  of  a  pound  of  lime  in  a  creamy  condition  is 
added.  Again  it  is  agitated,  and  the  flocculent  alumina, 
together  with  the  suspended  matters,  rapidly  falls.  The 
sediment  is  collected  in  subsiding-tanks,  which  are 
worked  alternately,  and  the  clear  liquor  is  run  off  from 
it.  As  in  the  last  case,  the  suspended  matters  are  en¬ 
tirely  removed,  with  a  considerable  amount  of  the  dis¬ 
solved  organic  matter. 

Chloride  of  iron,  with  lime,  is  also  a  powerful  defeca¬ 
tor.  It  was  formerly  used  at  Northampton,  and  is  still, 
to  some  extent  with  lime, — the  lime  being  first  added  to 
the  sewage  in  the  proportion  of  about  a  bushel  to  8500 
gallons  of  sewage,  and  the  chloride  of  lime  to  the  ex¬ 
tent  of  about  half  a  gallon!  The  chloride  is  made  at 
the  works,  and  contains  about  9500  grs.  of  the  mixed 
chlorides  of  iron  per  gallon.  In  this  case  also  the  pre¬ 
cipitation  of  the  sewage  is  very  complete.  At  present, 
however,  the  local  authorities  are  using  sulphate  of  iron 
and  alumina  instead  of  the  chloride.  The  compound  is 
made  by  mixing  3  cwts.  of  crude  sulphuric  acid  -with 

2  tons  of  a  ferruginous  earth  obtained  in  the  neighbour¬ 
hood.  After  standing  for  a  few  days  the  mixture  is 
ready  for  use,  and  it  is  added  to  the  sewage  in  the  above 
proportion  to  a  million  gallons  of  sewage. 


At  Leamington,  where  there  is  an  injunction  against 
the  discharge  of  unpurified  sewage  into  the  river  Learn, 
the  authorities  have  resorted  to  the  use  of  the  “A.  B.  C.” 
process  of  Mr.  Sillar,  which  is  worked  by  the  Native 
Guano  Company  at  its  own  cost.  The  sewage  flows  to 
the  works  by  gravitation,  and  there  it  is  mixed  with  the 
A.  B.  C.  material  (consisting  of  alum,  clay,  sulphate  of 
magnesia,  bone  ashes,  wood  charcoal,  and  a  little  blood 
diffused  through  -water).  The  material  is  added  to  the 
sewage  in  the  proportion  of  1  gallon  to  200  gallons  of 
sewage,  and  the  whole  of  it  well  agitated.  It  then 
flows  through  subsiding -tanks,  where  the  precipitated 
matters  subside,  and  the  clear  water  flows  off  from  a 
weir  into  an  outfall  channel  with  a  filter.  The  tanks 
are  worked  continuously  for  about  a  week,  when  the 
precipitated  matter  is  removed  to  a  centrifugal  machine, 
and  drained  to  the  consistence  of  putty.  This  is  further 
dried  by  exposure  to  the  air,  and  its  ammonia  is  fixed 
by  means  of  a  little  sulphuric  acid,  which  also  breaks  up 
the  organic  matter.  In  this  state  it  is  riddled,  and  sold 
freely  at  a  good  profit  for  manure. 

Samples  of  the  Leamington  sewage  were  taken  for 
examination  by  the  Royal  Pollution  Commissioners  on 
the  1 1th  of  December  last,  and  duplicates  of  them  were 
furnished  to  me  on  the  following  day  for  analysis.  I 
ascertained  that  the  original  sewage  contained  66  grs.  of 
solid  matter  in  solution  per  gallon,  of  which  IP 43  grs. 
were  organic,  while  the  effluent  water  before  filtration 
contained  67  grs.  of  soluble  matter  per  gallon,  of  which 
11 ‘27  grs.  were  organic,  and  the  filtered  water  contained 
61  grs.  per  gallon,  of  which  7’58  grs.  were  organic. 
Again,  the  suspended  matters  in  the  original  sewage 
amounted  to  113-6  grs.  per  gallon,  while  in  the  effluent 
sewage  before  filtration  it  was  7-64  grs.,  and  in  the 
filtered  sewage  3-12  grs.  The  Royal  Commissioners,  in 
describing  their  results,  do  not  mention  the  filtered 
water,  but  in  other  respects  their  results  accord  pretty 
closely  with  mine. 

Lastly,  there  is  a  method  of  the  late  Mr.  Blyth,  which 
is  very  deserving  of  attention.  Mr.  Blyth  was  the  che¬ 
mist  of  the  old  Board  of  Health,  and  he  had  great 
opportunities  of  studying  this  matter.  His  plan  is  first 
to  add  a  soluble  phosphate  of  lime  and  sulphate  of  mag¬ 
nesia  to  the  sewage.  After  agitation,  the  mixture  is 
neutralized  by  means  of  a  little  slaked  lime,  and  the  pre¬ 
cipitated  magnesian  phosphate  carries  down  with  it  the 
whole  of  the  sedimentary  matter,  and  a  portion  of  the 
soluble  ammonia.  A  million  tons  of  sewage  require 
about  1  ton  3  cwts.  of  Blyth’s  compound,  and  4  cwts.  of 
lime  for  neutralizing.  The  resulting  dry  precipitate 
weighs  about  3  tons  8  cwts.,  and  contains  about  58  per 
cent,  of  organic  matter  (yielding  4-5  ammonia)  and  8-66 
of  phosphate  of  lime. 

All  these  methods  are  manifestly  capable  of  separat¬ 
ing  from  sewage  all  the  sedimentary  matter,  and  also  of 
removing  considerable  portions  of  dissolved  organic 
matter ;  but  to  be  effective  there  should  not  only  be 
good  agitation  of  the  sewage  after  the  addition  of  the 
precipitating  agent,  but  there  should  also  be  sufficient 
tank-room  for  the  deposition  of  the  sewage  for  not  less 
than  four  hours ;  and  there  should  also  be  a  means  of 
filtering  the  defecated  sewage  before  it  is  discharged 
into  the  river  or  other  watercourse. 

After  witnessing  the  action  of  lime  as  a  defecator  at 
Leicester  and  Hertford,  Dr.  Odling,  Dr.  Frankland,  and 
myself  reported  to  the  Thames  Conservancy  that  the 
following  were  the  conditions  necessary  to  its  success  : — 

1.  The  proportion  of  lime  should  not  be  less  than  one 
ton  to  a  million  gallons  of  sewage,  and  there  should  also 
be  used  56  lbs.  of  chloride  of  lime. 

2.  That  the  mixture  of  the  sewage  with  the  lime  and 
chloride  of  lime  should  be  very  complete,  and  that  the 
mixture  should  be  agitated,  so  as  to  aggregate  the  sus¬ 
pended  matters,  and  thus  assist  in  the  subsequent  preci¬ 
pitation  of  suspended  matter. 

3.  That  the  sewage  when  thus  treated  with  lime 


72 


THE  PHABMACEUTICAL  JOUBNAL  AND  TBANS ACTIONS. 


[ J uly  23,  1870. 


should  flow  along  two  subsiding-tanks  in  series ;  the 
first  should  be  capable  of  holding  at  least  one  hour  s 
flow,  and  the  second  of  holding  not  less  than  four  hours 
flow.  The  tanks  should  be  four  deep  in  depth,  and  the 
overflow  of  the  defecated  sewage  should  be  by  a  weir 
only  half  an  inch  below  the  surface. 

4.  That  there  should  be  a  double  set  of  tanks  for 
alternate  working. 

5.  That  the  defecated  water  should  flow  through  _  a 
shallow  open  conduit  of  not  less  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
in  length  before  being  received  into  a  stream  of  freely 
running  water,  of  not  less  than  eight  or  ten  times  the 
volume  of  the  defecated  sewage. 

In  this  way,  or  by  any  similar  method  of  defecation, 
the  sewage  of  towns  may  be  easily  and  safely  dealt  with, 
so  as,  on  the  one  hand,  to  ensure  its  purification  before 
it  is  discharged  into  a  running  stream,  and,  on  the 
other,  to  avoid  the  many  dangers  of  irrigation. 

I  refrain  from  entering  on  the  subject  of  the  pecu¬ 
niary  aspects  of  this  question,  for  they  are  nowhere 
encouraging,  notwithstanding  that  the  most  sanguine 
opinions  have  been  expressed  of  the  commercial  and 
agricultural  value  of  sewage.  Irrigation,  like  precipita¬ 
tion,  except  in  the  case  of  the  Leamington  method,  is 
everywhere  unprofitable,  when  it  is  conducted  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  prevent  the  pollution  of  the  neighbouring 
streams  ;  and  I  warn  you  against  the  glowing  accounts 
which  are  given  of  the  profitable  returns  of  certain 
sewage  farms,  for,  if  the  cost  of  outlay  is  considered  and 
balanced  with  the  average  returns,  it  will  always  be 
found  to  be  a  losing  affair.  The  most  sanguine  enthu¬ 
siasts  have  generally  abandoned  the  system  after  a 
trial  of  its  merits.  Little  or  nothing,  in  fact, .  can  be 
profitably  grown  upon  the  sodden  land  but  Italian  rye¬ 
grass,  and  when  this  is  abundant  it  must  be  cut,  or  it  will 
rot  upon  the  ground,  and  it  must  be  sold  for  what  it  will 
fetch.  In  the  summer  of  1866,  when  I  was  in  Edin¬ 
burgh,  I  saw  acres  upon  acres  of  rye-grass  rotting  upon 
the  far-famed  Craigintinny  meadows ;  and  when  I  asked 
the  cause  of  it  I  was  told  by  the  manager  that  the  cattle 
plague  had  ruined  his  customers,  and  there _was  nobody 
to  buy  it  and  nothing  to  eat,  and  there  it  must  rot. 
Besides  which,  there  are  considerable  doubts  as  to  the 
value  of  it  as  fodder.  Mr.  Campbell,  of  Bugby,  who 
ought  to  be  a  high  authority  on  the  subject, — for  it  was 
a  pet  of  his, — honestly  declares  that  his  experience  does 
not  show  a  profit  in  the  use  of  such  fodder,  and  he  gives 
a  good  example  of  it.  Twelve  Ayrshire  cows,  which 
calved  about  the  same  time,  in  May,  1869,  yielded,  at 
the  end  of  twelve  weeks,  an  average  quantity  of  91- 
quarts  of  milk  per  day  per  cow.  Their  daily  consump¬ 
tion  of  rye-grass  was  cwt.  per  cow.  If  they  had 
been  milked  for  nine  months,  the  average  daily  yield  of 
milk  would  have  been  only  from  5  to  6  quarts  per  cow. 
The  cost  of  the  grass,  at  10s.  a  ton,  was  9 d.  per  cow  per 
day,  and  the  other  expenses  of  the  dairy  raised  it  to 
Is.  3 \d.  per  cow.  The  milk,  at  8<7.  per  gallon,  was 
worth  only  Is.  7 d.,  and  when  the  cost  of  sending  it  to 
market  was  taken  into  account,  together  with  the  wear 
and  tear  of  utensils,  he  vainly  asked  for  profit. 

But  all  this  is,  as  I  have  said,  no  part  of  my  present 
inquiry,  for  my  business  is  solely  with  the  sanitary 
part  of  the  question;  and  I  would  ask  you  whether, 
having  regard  for  the  public  health,  there  are  not  serious 
clangers  in  the  rash  recommendations  of  the  Boyal  Pol¬ 
lution  Commissioners  to  scatter  the  sewage  of  every  city 
and  town  in  the  kingdom  broadcast  upon  the  land  F 
Medical  authorities  of  some  sanitary  experience  are  alone 
able  to  engage  in  such  important  pathological  considera¬ 
tions,  and  it  must  strike  every  one  who  is  interested  in 
the  subject,  that  a  Boyal  Commission,  without  any  pre¬ 
tence  of  medical  knowledge,  is  singularly  incompetent 
to  deal  with  such  a  matter.  What  importance  the  public 
or  Parliament  may  attach  to  their  recommendations  I 
am  unable  to  learn,  except  from  former  experience,  but 
it  is  clearly  our  duty,  as  public  health  officers,  to  ex¬ 


amine  the  subject  from  a  medical  point  of  view,  and  I 
doubt  not  what  will  be  the  conclusion. 

Dr.  Cobbold  said  that  individually  he  regarded  the 
sewage  question  as  one  which  was  three  parts  out  of 
|  four  a  chemical  question.  On  this  account  he  thought 
the  chemists  should  have  the  advantage  of  speaking  first 
upon  it.  Dr.  Letheby  had  referred  specially  to  the  re¬ 
marks  made  by  him  in  his  brochure .  Now,  though  the 
observations  he  made  there  were  written  in  a  warm, 
perhaps  too  warm  a  strain,  he  believed  there  was  no 
statement  which  he  was  not  still  prepared  to  substan¬ 
tiate.  And  he  thought  since  he  had  gained  more  ex¬ 
perience  in  experimental  researches,  that  he  could  now 
write  a  pamphlet  much  more  cogent  than  that  to  which 
Dr.  Letheby  had  alluded.  With  reference  to  parasitic 
diseases,  he  would  only  say  that  he  knew  of  two  patients 
in  this  country  who  were  suffering  from  that  frightful 
malady  which  was  so  destructive  in  Egypt.  These 
patients  at  every  urinary  discharge  must  pass  a  number 
of  the  eggs  of  this  parasite,  and  if  the  number  of  persons 
so  afflicted  was  increased  fivefold,  the  chances  of  the  ex¬ 
tension  of  this  disease  must  likewise  increase.  But  hap¬ 
pily  there  were  so  many  contingencies  which  the  para¬ 
sites  had  to  encounter  before  they  arrived  at  the  human 
body  that  the  community  were  yet  spared ;  still  he  held 
by  the  statements  contained  in  his  pamphlet.  Then 
take  the  case  of  ordinary  tape- worm  disorders,  respecting 
which  he  had  had  much  experience.  There  were  about 
3000  persons  in  London  suffering  from  this  cause,  who 
each  passed  from  four  to  twelve  joints  a  day,  each  joint 
containing  30,000  mature  eggs,  which  would  give  at 
least  a  daily  return  of  450  millions,  but  he  believed  1000 
million  eggs  was  nearer  the  mark.  A  certain  number 
of  grains  of  organic  matter  per  gallon  were  found  by 
chemists  in  sewage,  of  which  organic  matter  those  eggs 
must  be  part  and  parcel.  A  handful  of  large  entozoa 
parasites  had  been  taken  from  the  Craigintinny  meadows. 
If  this  sewage  was  distributed  far  and  wide,  it  was  cer¬ 
tain  that  a  considerable  portion  of  these  millions  of  eggs 
must  gain  access  to  the  herbivora.  It  was  known,  from 
experimental  researches,  that  measles  were  developed 
productively  in  beef.  It  was  a  popular  notion  that  pork 
only  developed  measles,  but  he  would  assert  that  in 
underdone  beef  persons  ran  a  greater  risk.  The  pro¬ 
portion  of  tape-worm  disease  derived  from  measly  beef 
was  as  seven  or  eight  to  one  in  the  case  of  pork.  It  was, 
therefore,  to  incur  an  enormous  risk  to  distribute  sewage 
which  contained  these  germs  over  the  land.  It  was 
possible  to  decimate  the  population  of  any  town  within 
a  certain  number  of  months  by  the  distribution  of  tape¬ 
worm  germs,  there  being  one  tape-worm  in  particular 
which  produced  a  disease  of  the  human  body  at  present 
causing  the  death  of  400  persons  annually  in  this  country. 
If  that  parasitic  disease  should  increase  in  the  same  pro¬ 
portion  as  other  parasitic  diseases,  such  as  the  ordinary 
tape-worm,  a  result  would  follow  such  as  still  obtained 
in  Iceland,  where  one-sixth  of  the  population  died  an¬ 
nually  from  this  cause.  Having  these  facts  to  deal  with, 
and  knowing  the  developmental  process  through  which 
these  parasites  passed,  he  thought  they  were  called  upon 
to  ask  people  to  pause  before  adopting  a  scheme  so 
gigantic  as  that  now  proposed,  fraught  as  it  was  with 
consequences  so  serious  as  those  which  he  believed  were 
involved  in  it. 

Mr.  Holland  said  he  did  not  believe  any  portion  of 
Dr.  Letheby’ s  paper,  and  he  thought  the  writer  was  in¬ 
consistent  with  himself.  In  the  first  place  he  alleged 
that  twenty  times  its  volume  of  water  would  purify  the 
sewage  poured  into  it,  and  afterwards  he  asserted  that 
even  a  small  quantity  of  water  from  irrigation  meadows 
was  poison.  Was  Dr.  Letheby  prepared  to  recommend 
that  the  soil  should  be  burnt ;  if  not,  what  did  he  pro¬ 
pose  to  do  with  it  ?  Unless  he  was  prepared  to  recom¬ 
mend  that  all  human  manure  should  be  burnt  to  avoid 
the  supposed  risk,  his  argument  went  for  nothing.  He 
(Mr.  Holland)  believed  that  the  danger  of  spreading  dis- 


July  23,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


73 


case  by  the  irrigation  system  was  purely  imaginary. 
Where  was  the  evidence  of  disease  having  been  produced 
where  the  system  was  adopted  ?  He  had  made  inquiries 
on  the  subject  and  could  find  none.  At  Carlisle  he  asked 
whether  the  sheep  had  the  rot,  and  was  answered  that 
they  had  not.  At  Edinburgh  cows  had  been  fed  with 
grass  from  the  irrigated  meadows  for  sixty  or  seventy 
years,  but  there  was  no  evidence  of  the  prevalence  of 
disease  among  them.  It  was  true  that  they  were  not 
very  healthy,  but  this  arose  from  their  mode  of  life. 
Everything  was  done  to  stimulate  the  production  of  milk 
from  them,  and  they  suffered  from  want  of  exercise  and 
fresh  air.  Sewage  was  nothing  but  manure  suspended 
in  water,  and  the  error  was  not  in  putting  it  on  the  land 
at  all,  but  in  putting  it  on  in  excess.  At  Carlisle  he  had 
been  told  that  the  residents  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
irrigated  fields  were  unhealthy,  but  on  inquiry  it  turned 
out  that  there  were  no  inhabitants  in  close  proximity, 
and  of  those  who  were  anywhere  near,  there  were  abun¬ 
dant  causes  of  unhealthiness  in  the  condition  of  their 
houses. 

Dr.  Carpenter  considered  that  the  arguments  of  Dr. 
Letheby  were  based  upon  a  false  foundation,  and  that 
either  ho  had  little  practical  acquaintance  with  the  facts 
from  which  he  had  drawn  his  inferences,  or  had  taken 
only  such  portions  of  them  as  were  calculated  to  sustain 
his  view  of  the  case.  Dr.  Letheby  had  alluded  to  some 
statements  made  by  him,  and  had  specially  referred  to 
the  sanitary  state  of  the  fields  at  Beddington.  The 
people  of  Croydon  were  among  the  earliest  to  adopt  any 
sanitary  arrangements  at  all.  They  were  compelled 
to  adopt  some  plan,  because  of  the  terrors  of  the  law — no 
less  than  five  or  six  injunctions  having  been  obtained 
against  them,  and  the  Local  Board  were  threatened  with 
committal  to  prison  unless  they  ceased  to  do  certain  acts. 
That  was  in  1858,  and  in  1859  and  1860  they  obtained 
powers  to  do  what  they  had  since  continued  to  do.  In 
1860  the  irrigation  meadows  were  laid  down,  and  they 
had  been  in  active  operation  to  the  present  time.  Until 
this  year  no  complaint,  either  officially  or  otherwise,  had 
been  made  of  injury  arising  from  these  meadows.  Pre¬ 
vious  to  1860,  the  town  had  been  put  to  thousands  of 
pounds  expense  for  damage  occasioned  by  the  sewage, 
but  from  that  year  till  within  the  last  nine  months  they 
had  been  free  from  such  liability.  In  1860  they  laid 
down  276  acres  of  land  for  the  purpose  of  irrigation,  and 
to  remove  the  mischief  which  19,000  people  produced  by 
their  sewage.  Since  then  the  population  of  the  town 
had  increased  to  50,000,  and  he  was  free  to  confess  that 
the  quantity  of  sewage  was  too  much  for  the  land.  The 
result  had  been  that  occasionally  of  late  the  water  was 
not  so  effectually  purified  as  it  should  have  been.  Until 
1867  no  cases  of  fever  occurred  there.  The  water  of  the 
effluent  stream  passed  through  the  grounds  of  a  gentle¬ 
man  residing  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  even  at  the  pre¬ 
sent  time  trout  might  be  seen  swimming  about  in  it. 
That  being  the  case,  was  it  not  evident  the  plan  adopted 
for  dealing  with  the  sewage  was  the  correct  plan  ?  In¬ 
deed,  Dr.  Letheby  said  so  himself,  and  it  had  been  shown 
in  that  room  that,  if  sewage  were  made  to  pass  through 
five  feet  of  earth,  it  would  be  rendered  perfectly  in¬ 
nocuous,  and  would  be  perfectly  oxidized.  Surely,  then, 
the  passage  of  sewage  over  land  where  it  was  exposed  to 
the  air,  and  came  in  contact  with  growing  vegetable 
matter,  would  remove  from  it  all  those  elements  which 
were  injurious  to  health,  and  the  water  would  go  off  per¬ 
fectly  pure.  Dr.  Letheby  was  in  the  position  of  an 
engineer,  who,  some  years  ago,  wrote  a  pamphlet  to 
prove  that  it  was  totally  impossible  for  a  steamboat  to 
cross  the  Atlantic,  because  she  could  not  carry  sufficient 
coals,  the  pamphlet  being  issued  at  the  very  moment 
that  a  steamer  was  actually  accomplishing  the  feat.  The 
town  of  Croydon  was  a  standing  proof  that  sewage  could 
be  successfully  disposed  of  in  the  way  Dr.  Letheby  as¬ 
serted  to  be  impossible.  "With  regard  to  the  question  of 
health,  he  might  state  that,  since  the  beginning  of  the 


year,  there  had  not  been  a  single  case  of  fever  reported 
to  the  Board  of  Guardians  from  Beddington,  and  he 
might  add,  as  the  medical  attendant  of  most  of  the 
wealthy  families  there,  that  ho  had  not  had  a  single  case 
of  fever,  either  typhus  or  typhoid,  among  them  since  the 
irrigation  meadows  commenced.  With  reference  to  the 
effect  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Croydon  proper,  surely,  if 
the  emanations  from  the  farms  were  so  dangerous  as  re¬ 
presented,  the  inhabitants  of  the  densely  populated  low- 
lying  parts,  which  were  within  500  yards  of  the  outfall 
of  those  farms,  would  have  suffered  from  typhoid.  But 
for  a  long-  period  there  had  not  been  a  single  case  in  that 
low  district,  and  with  the  exception  of  a  few  cases  of 
scarlet  fever  there  had  been  no  fever  there  at  all.  The 
irrigation  system  went  on  during  the  winter  as  well  as 
the  summer,  and  in  the  former  period  of  the  year  the 
water  had  gone  off  pretty  nearly  tree  from  those  elements 
which  were  injurious.  This  was  the  result  of  experience 
of  the  system  forced  upon  the  parish  of  Croydon,  and 
which  they  had  not  taken  up  of  their  own  will.  Having 
observed  the  system,  and  seen  its  effects,  he  was  positively 
convinced  that  the  air  which  passed  over  the  fields,  in¬ 
stead  of  being  injurious,  was  a  benefit  to  the  people 
living  around.  It  was  a  positive  fact,  with  regard  to 
Norwood,  that  the  moment  the  irrigation  fields  were 
established  the  mortality  fell  from  18  to  15,  and  had  re¬ 
mained  so.  Dr.  Letheby  said  he  had  evidence  of  water 
coming  off  the  fields  in  an  impure  state.  He  (Dr.  Car¬ 
penter)  knew  that  there  had  been  such  instances,  arising 
from  the  fact  that  persons  had  gone  to  the  fields,  broken 
down  the  carriers,  and  pulled  at  the  sluices,  letting  the 
water  out.  Dr.  Letheby  knew  very  well  that  the  argu¬ 
ment  to  be  drawn  from  the  chemical  analysis  of  the 
water  was  valueless,  unless  he  was  aware  of  all  the  cir¬ 
cumstances  of  the  case. 

Professor  Ansted,  being  referred  to  by  the  chairman, 
as  having  had  experience  of  these  matters  in  connection 
with  the  city  of  Milan,  said  he  hardly  felt  qualified  to 
take  part  in  the  discussion,  although,  perhaps,  so  far  as  a 
certain  amount  of  familiarity  with  works  of  this  kind 
went,  he  might  be  able  to  afford  some  little  information. 
The  general  subject  appeared  to  him  as  far  more  belong¬ 
ing  to  the  medical  man  than  the  geological  engineer,  if 
he  might  so  denominate  himself.  Having  had  the  op¬ 
portunity,  now  and  then,  of  noticing  the  results  obtained 
during  the  irrigation  of  considerable  tracts  of  land  on  a 
large  scale,  with  material  more  or  less  mixed  up  with 
sewage,  he  thought  he  was  justified  in  saying  that  in 
most  cases,  if  not  in  all,  those  results  had  been  certainly 
unfavourable  to  the  general  health  of  the  neighbourhood. 
The  chairman  alluded  to  his  experience  at  Milan.  He 
knew  the  town  well,  and  the  way  in  which  the  sewage 
was  conducted  over  the  fields  in  the  lower  part  of  the 
town,  and  he  believed,  on  the  evidence  of  medical  men — 
some  of  whom  had  been  examined  by  parliamentary  com¬ 
mittees  in  this  country,  and  whose  evidence  might  be 
found  in  blue-books — that  the  result  of  the  system  pur¬ 
sued  there  was  eminently  unsatisfactory  with  regard  to 
the  health  of  the  people  living  near  where  the  works 
were  carried  on ;  and  it  was  not  astonishing,  for  no  one 
could  go  into  the  lower  parts  of  the  town  near  the  stream 
and  the  works  without  being  conscious  of  their  being 
eminently  disagreeable,  and  probably  unhealthy.  The 
Italians  were  not  particular  on  the  subject  of  smells,  but 
it  was  confessed  that  these  were  very  objectionable.  The 
sewage  was  carried  over  the  fields,  and  took  its  course. 
Sometimes  it  was  used,  and  in  all  probability,  when  that 
was  the  case,  it  passed  off  the  ground  without  doing  any 
damage  to  the  water  of  the  stream  ;  but  during  a  great 
part  of  the  year  such  was  not  the  fact,  and  the  conse¬ 
quence  was  that  the  stream  in  its  course  was  much  pol¬ 
luted.  And  this  was  a  result  which  he  had  also  ob¬ 
served  in  other  parts  of  the  world.  A  few  days  previous 
he  had  the  opportunity  of  visiting  the  irrigation  works 
at  Aldershot,  and  there  it  was  perfectly  clear  to  him  that 
the  farm  which  took  the  camp  sewage  and  was  working 


74 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[July  23,  1870. 


it,  was  utterly  inadequate  for  the  quantity  put  upon  it, 
and  that,  from  the  nature  of  the  irrigation,  the  sewage 
water  carried  over  the  fields  could  only  he  used  upon  a 
very  small  scale,  while  the  greater  part  of  it  necessarily 
ran  away  into  the  river.  He  could  not  help  thinking 
that  in  most  cases  this  must  he  the  result.  It  was  not 
for  him  to  say  what  was  the  right  method  of  getting- 
over  the  extraordinary  difficulty  which  the  public  were 
called  upon  to  face,  hut  that  some  method  must  he 
adopted  was  evident.  The  question  before  the  meeting 
was  whether  that  particular  method  of  carrying  on  the 
work  suggested  by  the  Royal  Commission  on  the  Pollu¬ 
tion  of  Rivers  was  likely  to  he  practically  useful.  As 
far  as  his  own  experience  and  knowledge  were  concerned, 
it  seemed  to  him  that  the  method  of  carrying  away  the 
sewage  and  utilizing  it  by  irrigation  might  he  successful 
upon  a  small  scale,  where  the  population  was  limited  and 
the  acreage  was  large ;  hut  he  could  not  see  much  pro¬ 
bability  of  its  being  successful  upon  a  large  scale,  for 
what  upon  a  small  scale  would  practically  do  no  harm — 
say  in  the  case  of  200  or  300  acres — would  he  attended 
with  very  serious  results  in  the  case  of  a  large  city  or 
town.  It  might  he  very  well  in  the  case  of  Croydon, 
where  the  population  was  small,  hut  the  limits  of  the 
adaptability  of  the  system  were  soon  reached,  and  could 
not  he  advantageously  extended. 

Mr.  Liddle  remarked  that  in  dealing  with  the  subject 
they  had  two  enthusiasts  to  encounter — Dr.  Letheby  and 
Dr.  Frankland — whose  papers  were  always  read  with 
attention,  and  probably  between  the  two  some  useful  in¬ 
formation  might  he  gathered.  He  was  disappointed  in 
the  paper  just  read,  because  it  contained  very  little  which 
was  of  practical  benefit  to  the  meeting  as  a  body  of  sani¬ 
tary  officers.  It  raised  objections  to  the  existing  modes 
of  operation,  but  it  gave  them  no  hint  as  to  what  could 
be  done  with  the  sewage,  how  to  utilize  it  without 
creating  a  nuisance,  and  exposing  the  community  to 
those  fatal  consequences  which  Dr.  Cobbold  had  de¬ 
scribed. 

Mr.  Creasy  thought  it  was  necessary  to  explain  in 
some  degree  the  sort  of  conflict  of  evidence  which  had 
taken  place.  When  Beddington  was  mentioned,  it  should 
be  known  that  it  was  a  large  district,  and  that  a  portion 
of  it  had  little  to  do  with  the  sewage  question.  The 
sewage  fields  of  Croydon  had  been  well  chosen  with  re¬ 
ference  to  population,  but  certainly  in  every  cottage  on 
the  estate  there  had  been  typhoid  fever  through  the 
whole  course  of  the  time — not  a  cottage  had  escaped. 
And  as  to  the  outfall  at  Beddington  Comer,  every  well 
was  contaminated,  and  not  a  house  was  free  from  fever. 
At  Carshalton  he  had  had  cases  of  enteric  attack.  At 
Beddington  Comer,  near  the  outfall,  four  children  had 
been  taken  out  of  one  house  in  a  day  stricken  down  with 
scarlet  fever. 

Dr.  Carpenter  interposed  the  remark  that  the  local 
nuisances  in  connection  with  those  cottages  were  quite 
sufficient  to  produce  all  the  fever  complained  of,  without 
seeking  a  cause  in  the  outfall  sewer  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
off. 

Mr.  Creasy  said  that  might  be,  but  the  watershed 
went  in  that  direction.  In  every  one  of  those  houses  an 
examination  of  the  tongues  of  the  inhabitants  would 
show  that  there  was  enteric  irritation.  The  same  indi¬ 
cations  which  were  caused  by  the  Croydon  sewage  on 
one  spot  arose  from  the  existence  of  cesspools  on  an¬ 
other. 

Mr.  Hawksley  said  he  could  fully  justify  the  state¬ 
ments  made  by  Mr.  Creasy,  for  few  persons  were  better 
acquainted  than  himself  with  the  results  of  the  irrigation 
works  at  Beddington  Corner.  He  had  been  profes¬ 
sionally  called  down  to  look  at  those  works  at  intervals 
for  many  years,  and  also  in  consequence  of  complaints 
having  arisen,  although  Dr.  Carpenter  stated  there  had 
been  no  such  complaints  since  1860.  When  on  other 
occasions  he  had  been  in  the  neighbourhood  on  totally 
different  business,  he  had  taken  samples  of  the  water  as 


it  fell  into  the  Wandle,  and  had  them  analysed.  He 
had  also  been  up  the  stream,  and  looked  at  the  con¬ 
fluence  of  the  two  waters,  which  ran  over  the  meadows 
in  different  directions.  On  one  recent  occasion  he  found 
one  of  those  waters  exceedingly  clear,  and  the  other 
about  as  foul  as  it  could  be.  These  two  waters  met,  and 
passed  down  by  the  side  of  the  cottages  just  mentioned, 
and  thence  to  the  Wandle.  In  the  month  of  February 
last  he  was  down  there ;  the  sewage  was  then  frozen 
over  the  whole  surface  of  the  land  for  acres  and  acres, 
and  was  not  in  the  state  which  Dr.  Carpenter  had  de¬ 
scribed.  But,  besides  that,  he  had  been  there  in  the 
summer,  and  in  the  sununer  it  depended  very  much 
upon  the  state  of  the  water  whether  the  sewage, 
when  passed  upon  the  land,  stank  or  not.  In  warm 
weather  it  often  stank  frightfully,  especially  on  “muggy” 
evenings.  The  sewage  then  gave  off  a  very  sickening, 
though  not  necessarily  a  very  powerful  odour.  The 
same  sort  of  thing  occurred  everywhere  when  sewage 
was  applied  to  land — at  the  Barking  farm,  at  Edinburgh, 
at  Aldershot,  and  every  place  he  had  visited.  It  had 
been  stated,  to  his  great  surprise,  in  the  course  of  this 
discussion,  that  at  Carlisle  the  sewage  did  not  stink. 
Most  assuredly  it  did  in  hot  weather,  although  the  entire 
quantity  of  sewage  put  upon  the  enormous  acreage  of  land 
there  was  only  from  200,000  gallons  a  day  as  a  minimum, 
to  something  under  400,000  gallons  as  a  maximum,  which 
was  only  one-sixth  of  the  sewage  of  Carlisle.  And  it 
was  there  of  so  little  value  that  the  other  five-sixths 
were  allowed  to  run  away  into  the  river,  though  the 
acreage  of  land  for  its  reception  was  sufficient  to  utilize 
the  whole.  As  to  the  commercial  economy  of  the  system, 
he  had  made  a  great  many  inquiries,  and  he  had  been 
told  very  frequently  of  crops  being  sold  at  £18,  £20,  and 
even  £25  an  acre,  and  that  every  one  was  delighted  with 
the  effects.  But  when  he  came  to  ask  what  was  the  net 
result  of  the  year’s  working,  he  was  answered,  “  Ah, 
that  is  another  thing.”  “  W ell,  but  what  is  it  ?  ”  “W ell, 
we  lost  so  many  hundred  pounds  last  year,”  and  in  some 
cases  so  many  thousands.  There  was  not  one  single 
place  he  had  heard  of  where  the  application  of  sewage 
for  the  purpose  of  sanitary  disinfection  was  proved  to  be 
a  commercial  success.  It  was  a  commercial  success  at 
Edinburgh.  Why?  Because  it  was  not  applied  for 
sanitary  purposes.  They  used  as  much  as  they  required 
for  irrigation  purposes,  and  the  remainder  ran  into  the 
sea  or  river  nearly  as  foul  as  when  it  entered  upon  the 
land.  But  this  was  not  the  question  now  before  the 
meeting.  The  question  before  them  was  one  which 
almost  every  one  could  answer  for  himself.  Take  the 
case  of  plain  irrigation  by  water  only — pure  water — 
water  issuing,  as  in  the  majority  of  irrigation  schemes  in 
this  country,  from  chalk  springs.  They  all  knew  that 
when  water  was  put  upon  land  in  certain  seasons  of  the 
year  in  that  state  it  did  fertilize  the  land,  and  good  grass 
crops  ensued.  But  what  was  the  result  in  a  sanitary 
point  of  view  ?  Fever  and  ague  were  produced.  G-o  to 
Italy.  He  had  been  over  all  the  irrigation  works  there, 
extending  for  200  miles  in  one  way,  by  60  or  70  in  the 
other,  and  what  was  the  result  ?  The  people  were  in  a 
state  of  actual  decrepitude,  not  simply  affected  with  fever, 
but  with  rheumatic  complaints,  and  there  was  a  great 
deal  of  cretinism.  The  same  thing  existed  in  the  south 
of  France,  where  irrigation  by  water  only  was  adopted. 
Superadd  to  this  foul  organic  matter,  and  what  must  be 
the  result  ?  He  believed  there  was  really  nothing  to  be 
learned  upon  the  subject.  His  own  opinion  was  that  of 
all  unsanitary  applications  the  most  unsanitary  was  that 
of  the  application  of  sewage  to  land  by  way  of  irriga¬ 
tion. 

Mr.  Creasy  said  the  Beddington  grass  was  irrigated 
as  long  as  it  could  stand  up,  and  then  it  was  sent  away 
to  market  with  the  sewage  some  inches  up  the  stem. 
So  that  if  Dr.  Cobbold  was  right,  there  was  an  opportu¬ 
nity  for  the  development  of  entozoa  there. 

Dr.  Letheby,  in  bringing  the  discussion  to  a  close, 


July  23,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


IJtlmtos. 


said  he  thought  Mr.  Holland  had  not  quite  apprehended 
the  statements  he  had  made.  He  had  said  all  along 
that  sewage  going  into  a  running  stream  where  there 
was  abundance  of  vegetation,  fish,  and  a  large  quantity 
of  oxygenated  water,  even  in  the  condition  of  sedimen¬ 
tary  sewage,  was  by  a  natural  process  quickly  disposed 
of.  But  what  he  also  said  was  that  the  main  cause  of 
all  those  nuisances,  which  arose  from  the  discharge  of 
sewage  into  running  streams  was  the  sedimentary 
matter  it  contained,  and  that  the  distribution  of  sewage 
upon  the  land  at  the  present  time  did  not  provide  a  re¬ 
medy,  and  was  accompanied  by  a  large  number  of  dis¬ 
advantages.  He  said,  further,  that  there  was  another 
means  whereby  these  sedimentary  matters  could  be 
separated ;  that  by  a  process  of  chemical  precipitation, 
as  by  lime,  sulphate  of  alumina,  or  the  agents  employed 
by  the  A.  B.  C.  Company,  or  that  recommended  by  Mr. 
Blyth,  they  had  the  power  to  do  certainly,  and  without 
danger,  what  they  were  not  doing  certainly  when  the 
sewage  was  put  on  the  land,  and  with  a  great  deal  of 
danger.  By  this  system  of  precipitation  they  could 
separate  those  solid  elements,  and  could  superadd  agents 
which  were  not  particularly  injurious  to  the  highest 
forms  of  animal  life,  but  were  deadly  to  those  creatures 
referred  to.  There  was,  indeed,  a  mode  within  their 
reach,  of  dealing  with  those  sedimentary  matters  which 
were  the  real  cause  of  nuisance  by  accumulating  in  the 
rivers,  and  of  rendering  the  water  in  such  a  condition 
that  it  might  safely  be  admitted  into  a  stream  of  eight 
or  ten  times  its  volume.  It  was  a  fact  that  in  every  one 
of  the  places  visited,  where  the  irrigation  system  was 
adopted,  they  found — whether  by  accident  or  design — 
abundant  evidence  of  those  evil  results  which  it  was 
most  desirable  they  should  seek  to  avoid.  The  system 
of  precipitation,  by  chemical  processes,  could,  however, 
be  carried  on  without  the  slightest  danger  to  the  public, 
but  this  could  not  be  said  of  any  system  of  irrigation ; 
for  it  was  indisputable,  from  the  investigations  of  Dr. 
Murchison,  that  sewer  gases  would  produce  sewer  fever ; 
and  as  these  gases  are  abundantly  evolved  from  irri¬ 
gated  land,  no  doubt  it  was  a  question  open  to  a  groat 
deal  of  discussion  how  far  they  must  be  diluted  be¬ 
fore  they  would  cease  to  produce  dangerous  conse¬ 
quences.  He  had  told  them  what  he  found  in  his  own 
experience  at  a  model  place — the  Hebble  Brook — where 
the  inhabitants  were  so  decimated  by  fever  that  the 
system  was  obliged  to  be  stopped.  He  was  asked  whe¬ 
ther  the  sewage  then  was  to  be  wholly  lost,  and  not 
utilized  upon  the  land  ?  He  hoped  he  had  sufficiently 
answered  those  questions  by  showing  that  the  proposed 
mode  of  dealing  with  it  was  open  to  the  objections  that 
it  was  dangerous  and  uncertain,  and  that  there  were 
other  and  better  means  of  dealing  with  it.  He  did  not 
mean  to  say  that  by  irrigation  sewage  could  not  be 
defecated,  but  he  contended  that  the  system  required 
great  attention,  and  that  the  result  could  not  be  realized 
in  practice  ;  whereas,  by  the  adoption  of  chemical  pro¬ 
cesses,  there  was  a  safe  and  certain  mode  of  accomplish¬ 
ing  the  object,  and,  so  far  as  he  knew,  these  processes 
were  more  economical,  for  there  was  not  a  single  in¬ 
stance  in  the  country  in  which  the  utilization  of  sewage 
by  irrigation  had  proved  profitable. 

.  On  the  motion  of  Mr.  Liddle,  a  vote  of  thanks  was 
given  to  Dr.  Letheby  for  his  paper,  and  the  proceedings 
terminated. 


Morphia  Collodion.  —  A  preparation  under  this 
name  is  recommended  in  ‘  L’  Union  Medicale,’  as  an 
application  for  neuralgic  pain.  It  is  made  in  the  pro¬ 
portion  of  1  part  of  hydrochlorate  of  morphia  to  30 
parts  of  flexible  collodion,  and  is  applied  by  means  of  a 
camel’ s-hair  brush. 


A  System  of  Botanical  Analysis  applied  to  the  Dia¬ 
gnosis  of  British  Natural  Orders  ;  for  the  use  of 
Beginners.  By  W.  Handsel  Griffiths,  Ph.D.E. 
London:  Wyman  and  Sons.  1870.  Pp.  26. 

This  artificial  key,  published  at  the  request  of  the  au¬ 
thor’s  pupils,  is  compiled  from  various  botanical  works, 
but  differs  from  most  analytical  keys  in  being  arranged 
along  the  pages,  and  having  the  less  important  characters 
indented  from  the  more  important.  This  renders  it  much 
easier  to  consult,  and  it  may  prove  a  useful  aid  to  be¬ 
ginners. 


Vollstandige  Anleitung  zur  Fabrikation  kunst- 
licher  Mineralwasser  und  der  Brause-getranke, 
etc.  etc.  By  Dr.  Hermann  Hager.  Second  Edition. 
Breslau:  E.  Gunther.  1870. 

In  Germany  the  manufacture  of  aerated  water  and 
artificial  mineral  water  is  now  almost  entirely  in  the 
hands  of  pharmacists,  and  there  is  scarcely  a  town  where 
they  are  not  made.  It  is  to  provide  for  the  wants  of 
those  engaged  with  such  work  that  this  book  has  been 
prepared,  and  the  information  it  affords  in  regard  to 
machinery,  materials,  and  formulae  is  such  as  to  be  very 
useful.  It  would  probably  repay  the  trouble  of  transla¬ 
tion. 


Science  for  the  People  :  a  Memorandum  on  Various 
Means  for  Promoting  Scientific  and  Practical  Know¬ 
ledge  among  the  Working  Classes,  addressed  to  Lord 
Henry  Gordon  Lennox,  M.P.,  Chairman  of  the  Council 
of  the  Society  of  Arts.  By  Thomas  Twining,  one  of 
the  Vice-Presidents  of  the  Society.  London :  C. 
Goodman,  407,  Strand.  1870.  Pp.  136. 

The  object  of  this  book  is  to  consider  the  best  means 
of  disseminating  a  knowledge  of  domestic  economy 
amongst  the  lower  classes,  so  that  they  may  “  know  how 
their  dwellings  should  be  constructed  in  accordance  with 
sanitary  principles  ;  what  household  improvements  they 
may  derive  from  the  discoveries  of  science,  or  borrow 
from  the  customs  and  appliances  of  other  nations  ;  what 
fabrics  they  should  wear ;  what  food  they  should  eat, 
and  how  it  ought  to  be  cooked ;  how  they  may  distin¬ 
guish  things  which  are  genuine,  wholesome,  substantial, 
durable,  and  really  cheap,  from  those  which  are  cheap 
only  in  appearance ;  and,  in  short,  how  they  may  live 
with  judgment,  and  get  the  best  money’s  worth  for  their 
money.”  But  to  enable  the  working  classes  to  attain  to 
this  happy  state,  Mr.  Twining  has  found  they  must  have 
a  certain  modicum  of  scientific  instruction,  some  know¬ 
ledge  of  the  elements  of  physics,  chemistry,  human  phy¬ 
siology,  and  natural  history.  This  want  he  has  en¬ 
deavoured  to  meet  by  instituting  at  the  Twickenham 
Economic  Museum  and  elsewhere,  short  courses  of  lec¬ 
tures  of  the  most  elementary  character.  In  this  attempt 
he  has  felt  the  want  of  a  sufficient  staff  of  lecturers  who 
could  restrict  themselves  to  giving  merely  outlines,  and 
yet  make  them  interesting  and  instructive.  The  plan 
he  has  generally  adopted  has  been  to  provide  written 
lectures,  which  could  be  read  while  an  assistant  acted  as 
demonstrator. 

Mr.  Twining  also  urges  the  necessity  of  establishing 
popular  museums  in  furtherance  of  his  object.  These 
museums  are  to  contain  typical  collections  of  natural 
history  specimens,  the  examples  being  so  chosen  as  to 
illustrate  as  completely  as  possible  the  principles  of 
structure  and  classification.  Also  illustrative  examples 
of  domestic  economy,  such  as  building  designs,  house¬ 
hold  furniture,  utensils,  clothing,  food,  etc. 

This  groundwork  of  science,  especially  if  it  becomes,  a 
part  of  primary  education,  may  prove  of  great  use  in 


76 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[July  23,  1870. 


enabling  the  workman  to  master  his  trade,  and  to  work 
from  principle  rather  than  from  rule  of  thumb. 

Although  these  suggestions  are  not  intended  for  those 
whose  profession  renders  real  scientific  training  indispen¬ 
sable,  yet  the  book  will  be  read  with  interest  by  many, 
as  containing  the  views  of  one  of  the  prime  movers  for 
technical  education,  and  the  spread  of  a  knowledge  of 
the  principles  of  domestic  economy. 


The  Cultivation  of  the  Chinchonas  or  Peruvian 

Bark-Trees  in  Java.  By  K.  W.  Van  Gorkom, 

Superintendent  of  the  Plantations  (with  Notes  by  C. 

Hasskarl).  Translated  from  the  German.  London : 

Her  Majesty’s  Stationery  Office.  1870.  Pp.  62. 

The  high  value  always  placed  on  the  curative  proper¬ 
ties  of  the  quinine  barks,  has  made  the  medical  world 
anxious  to  secure  continuous  supplies,  and  the  fears  ex¬ 
cited  by  the  testimony  of  Weddell,  Delondre,  and  other 
travellers  of  the  reckless  destruction  of  these  trees  by  the 
Cascarilleros,  or  bark-gatherers,  have  directed  attention 
to  the  desirability  of  cultivating  them,  so  as  not  to  be  de¬ 
pendent  on  native  sources,  which  may  one  day  fail.  The 
Dutch  Government,  through  the  representations  of 
Reinwardt,  De  Vriese,  Blume,  Mulder,  and  others,  gave 
their  attention  very  early  to  this  subject.  Dr.  De  Vriese, 
who  took  a  warm  interest  in  Economic  Botany,  fortu¬ 
nately  obtained,  in  1851,  a  plant  of  Cinchona  Calisaya ,  in 
Paris,  which  he  dispatched  to  Java.  This  plant  had 
been  raised  from  seed  collected  in  South  America  by  Dr. 
Weddell,  and  became,  in  Java,  the  stock  of  a  numerous 
offspring. 

In  the  same  year,  also,  Mr.  Pahud,  the  Minister  of 
State  for  Holland,  dispatched  Dr.  Hasskarl  to  South 
America,  to  collect  live  plants  and  seeds  of  valuable 
species.  Dr.  Hasskarl  landed  at  Callao,  in  Peru,  in  De¬ 
cember,  1852,  and,  after  an  arduous  journey  and  much 
opposition,  obtained  plants  and  seeds  of  some  Cinchona , 
chiefly  of  C.  Pahudiana,  Howard,  at  first  mistaken  for 
C.  ovata ,  Weddell. 

He  arrived  in  Java  with  his  collection  in  December, 
1854,  and  together  with  Dr.  Teijsmann,  the  Director  of 
the  Buitenzorg  Gardens,  began  the  cultivation.  Unfor¬ 
tunately,  the  site  chosen  for  this  operation  was  one 
having  only  about  6  inches  of  soil,  and  when,  in  1856,  a 
scientific  staff  was  appointed,  the  plantation  was  not 
in  a  very  successful  state.  The  new  director,  Dr. 
Junghuhn,  had  associated  with  him  Dr.  J.  E.  de  Vrij, 
a  chemist  well  known  for  his  abilities,  and  eight  over¬ 
seers.  Only  seventy  plants  were  found  of  any  value, 
and  the  plantation  was  removed  to  a  more  favourable 
situation,  and  while  under  Dr.  Junghuhn’ s  management, 
much  better  results  were  obtained. 

Mr.  Van  Gorkom,  the  present  Superintendent,  reports 
that  there  are  now  under  cultivation  in  Java,  840,653 
plants  of  Cinchona  Calisaya ,  39,512  of  C.  succirubra , 
159,149  of  C.  Condaminea ,  812  of  C.  lancifolia ,  and  409 
C.  micrantha.  Of  C.  Pahudiana  nonumber  is  given ;  the 
last  estimated  number  was  900,000,  but  its  cultivation  is 
not  now  particularly  attended  to,  as  it  is  generally  agreed 
to  be  of  little  value. 

Though  the  past  history  and  present  position  of  Cin¬ 
chona  cultivation  in  Java  is  not  all  that  one  could  de- 
sire,  yet  it  must  be  remembered  that  the  cultivation  of 
the  Cinchona  is  fraught  with  manifold  and  various  diffi¬ 
culties,  and  requires  an  almost  delicate  adjustment  of 
light  and  shade,  heat  and  elevation.  Mr.  Van  Gorkom 
is  very  sanguine  of  the  future  success  of  the  undertaking. 
He  says  that  courage  should  be  derived  “  from  the  cer¬ 
tainty  that  we  are  on  the  right  path,  and  indulge  in  the 
wcll-lounded  hope  that  the  persevering  efforts  of  succes¬ 
sive  Governments — efforts  which  have  aroused  a  sympa¬ 
thetic  feeling  in  the  educated  world  in  general,  and 
amongst  scientific  men  in  particular — will  end  in  glorious 
success.”  And  in  this  hope  we  most  heartily  join  in 
with  them. 


Essais  de  Culture  du  Quinquina  a  la  Martinique. 
Par  M.  Ch.  Belanger,  Directeur  du  JardinBotanique 
de  la  Martinique.  Paris:  1870.  Pp.  7. 

In  1862,  M.  Belanger,  having  obtained  some  cinchona 
plants,  began  their  cultivation,  in  order  to  test  whether 
they  could  be  successfully  acclimatized  in  that  colony. 
He  finds  that,  though  he  has  not  been  able  to  command 
all  the  elements  of  success  desirable,  yet  he  has  experi¬ 
mented  sufficiently  to  convince  himself  of  the  success  of 
the  scheme,  if  the  French  Government  would  undertake 
it.  At  present  there  are  growing  in  Martinique  plants 
of  C.  Calisaya ,  G.  lancifolia ,  C.  officinalis,  C.  succirubra , 
and  C.  Pahudiana , — altogether  90  in  number,  and  ranging 
from  half  a  metro  to  3£  metres  in  height.  Bark  of  three 
years’  growth  has  been  submitted  to  analysis,  and  said 
to  yield  very  fair  results. 


The  Manual  of  Colours  and  Dye  Wares.  By  J. 
W.  Slater.  London :  Lockwood  and  Co.,  7,  Sta¬ 
tioners’  Hall  Court.  1870. 

This  book  is  the  work  of  an  accomplished  chemist,  for 
many  years  practically  engaged  in  the  special  branch  of 
industry  to  which  it  relates.  It  is  calculated  to  supply 
a  gap,  the  existence  of  which  forces  itself  upon  the  at¬ 
tention  of  all  men  who  take  a  rational  interest  in  the 
manufactures  of  this  country.  A  passage  in  the  preface 
to  the  book  before  us  places,  in  a  clear  light,  the  state  of 
affairs  in  this  department  of  literature. 

“  If  their  authors  be  mere  litterateurs ,  or  even  men  of 
abstract  science,  they  cannot  furnish  all  the  required 
particulars.  If  they  are  practical  men,  they  will  not.” 

The  book  before  us  contains  much  information  that 
is  not  easily  accessible.  The  arrangement  followed  is 
alphabetical,  and  the  descriptions  are  admirably  clear. 
Under  “  Hydrometer  ”  will  be  found  some  valuable  in¬ 
formation  concerning  the  irregular  scales  in  vogue. 


BOOKS  RECEIVED. 

Proceedings  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  As¬ 
sociation,  Sixteenth  Annual  Meeting  at  Chicago.  Phila¬ 
delphia  :  Merrihew  and  Son.  1870. 

Dublin  Quarterly  Journal  of  Medical  Science, 
No.  XCVIII.  Dublin:  Fannin  and  Co. 


Second  Report  of  the  Royal  Commissioners  on  Pol¬ 
lution  of  Rivers.  London :  Her  Majesty’s  Stationery 
Office.  1870. 


"Water  Analysis:  a  Practical  Treatise  on  the  Examina¬ 
tion  of  Potable  Water.  By  J.  Alfred  Wanklyn,  M.R.C.S., 
and  E.  T.  Chapman.  Second  Edition.  London:  Triibncr 
and  Co.,  60,  Paternoster  Row.  1870. 


Jahresbericht  uber  die  Fortschritte  der  Pharma- 
cognosie,  Pharmacie  und  Toxicologie.  By  Wig- 
gers  and  Husemann.  1869.  Gottingen:  Through 
Williams  and  Nor  gate. 


On  Diet  and  Regimen  in  Sickness  and  Health. 
By  Horace  Dobell,  M.D.  Fourth  Edition.  Rewritten 
and  much  Enlarged.  London :  H.  Lewis. 

Report  on  the  Gas  Nuisance  in  New  York.  By 
C.  F.  Chandler,  Ph.D.  New  York:  Appleton  and  Co. 
1870. 


Reports  on  the  Water  Supply  of  New  York  and 
Brooklyn.  By  C.  F.  Chandler,  Ph.D.,  and  W.  B. 
Lewis,  M.D. 


Le  Livre  des  Parfums.  Par  Eugene  Rimmel;  Pre¬ 
face  d’AupnoNSE  Karr.  Illustrations  d’A.  De  Neu- 
ville,  Duhousset,  Cheret,  etc.  Paris:  E.  Dentu; 
London:  Chapman  and  Hall.  1870. 


July  23,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


77 


©Mtaarir. 


On  the  17th  July,  at  his  residence,  33,  St.  John’s 
Wood  Park,  Benjamin  Bkogden  Orridge,  Esq.,F.G.S., 
in  the  57th  year  of  his  age. 


JAMES  COPLAND,  M.D.,  F.R.S. 

Force  of  character,  with  geniality  of  temperament, 
unusual  powers  of  generalization  and  research,  with 
literary  accomplishments  of  a  high  order,  were  the  moral 
and  intellectual  features  of  Dr.  James  Copland,  who  died 
on  the  12th  inst.,  after  a  brief  but  painful  illness,  at 
Kilburn.  The  doctor  was  by  birth  an  Orkney  man,  and 
first  saw  the  light  in  November,  1791.  His  education 
was  commenced  and  carried  to  the  University  stage  at 
the  town  of  Lerwick,  in  Shetland,  from  which,  at  the 
age  of  fifteen,  he  came  to  Edinburgh ;  and  with  a  view 
to  qualifying  for  the  Church,  passed  through  the  curri¬ 
culum  of  arts.  After  profiting  to  the  full  by  the  deep 
and  varied  culture  of  the  Edinburgh  curriculum,  he 
abandoned  the  clerical  for  the  medical  career,  and  threw 
himself  with  characteristic  energy  into  his  chosen  pur¬ 
suit.  Four  years’  assiduous  attendance  at  the  classes 
under  the  (then)  efficient  professoriate,  qualified  him  to 
graduate  as  doctor  in  medicine  in  1815,  when  with  the 
instincts  of  so  many  of  his  countrymen,  he  migrated 
southward,  and  attempted  to  establish  himself  in  Lon¬ 
don.  He  failed,  however,  to  win  immediate  success,  and 
after  profiting  as  far  as  he  could  by  the  professional  op¬ 
portunities  afforded  at  the  metropolitan  schools,  he  visited 
Paris,  where  he  availed  himself  of  all  the  advantages  of 
her  clinique.  Thence  he  proceeded  to  Germany,  in 
whose  hospitals,  filled  to  overflowing  with  the  sick  and 
hurt  from  the  newly-terminated  war,  he  was  an  indus¬ 
trious  and  vigilant  observer.  The  febrile  and  dysenteric 
disorders  of  which  he  saw  so  much  were  now  his  chief 
study,  and  with  a  view  to  extending  his  knowledge  of 
them,  he  took  service  under  the  African  Company,  and 
sailed  for  the  Gold  Coast.  On  his  way  thither,  he 
touched  at  various  settlements,  such  as  Senegal,  Gambia, 
and  Sierra  Leone,  at  which  latter  place  three-fourths  of 
the  crew  were  stricken  down  with  yellow  fever,  from 
which,  however,  his  skilful  and  energetic  treatment  res¬ 
cued  them  all  but  two.  He  was  the  last  to  be  seized, 
but  the  measures  w7hieh  had  issued  so  happily  for  his 
patients,  were  applied  with  equal  success  to  himself. 
Powerful  tonics  and  stimulants  were  the  remedies  he 
chiefly  relied  on,  as  we  learn  from  his  ‘  Dictionary  of 
Practical  Medicine/  in  which  he  gives  a  most  interesting- 
account  of  the  epidemic,  and  the  mode  in  which  he  com¬ 
bated  it.  After  a  few  months’  residence  at  Cape  Coast 
Castle,  he  returned  to  Europe  by  way  of  Accra  and 
Benin,  and  after  a  brief  visit  to  his  native  Orkney,  he 
again  passed  through  Edinburgh  and  London  for  the 
Continent,  where  he  sojourned  chiefly  at  Paris,  and  at¬ 
tended  her  hospitals  for  some  months.  He  returned  to 
London,  and  established  himself  at  the  “Terrace,”  at 
Walworth,  having  previously  became  a  licentiate  of  the 
Royal  College  of  Physicians,  and  physician  to  the  Royal 
Infirmary  for  Diseases  of  Children. 

In  1821  began  his  medico-literary  career.  He  contri¬ 
buted  to  the  ‘  Quarterly  Journal  of  Foreign  Medicine  ’  a 
number  of  papers  on  fever  and  the  medical  topography 
of  the  West  Coast  of  Africa.  After  applying  without 
success  in  the  same  year  for  the  post  of  Government 
commissioner  on  the  origin  and  nature  of  the  yellow 
fever  then  prevailing  in  the  Spanish  peninsula,  he  con¬ 
centrated  his  energies  on  home-practice,  established  the 
South  London  Dispensary,  and  before  the  end  of 
1821,  he  published  his  celebrated  memoir  on  turpentine 
as  a  therapeutic  agent,  the  value  of  which  he  had  been 
so  impressed  with  on  the  Gold  Coast.  In  the  January 
of  the  following  year  he  took  the  editorship  of  the 
‘London  Medical  Repository/  and  enriched  its  pages 
with  a  vast  number  of  contributions  on  the  most  various 


topics,  from  public  hygiene  to  private  or  consulting 
practice.  Most  of  these  articles  found  them  way,  in 
substance  at  least,  into  his  great  ‘  Dictionary  of  Prac¬ 
tical  Medicine.’  In  1824  he  translated  and  edited 
Richerand’s  ‘  Physiology/  and  threw  out,  in  the  notes, 
anticipations  of  those  views  on  the  nervous  system  which 
afterwards  brought  so  much  distinction  to  Dr.  Marshall 
Hall.  In  1825  he  projected  his  ‘  Dictionary/  but  he 
did  not  commence  it  till  1830,  when  the  announcement 
of  a  rival  work,  supported  by  sixty  contributors,  sup¬ 
plied  the  doctor  with  the  needed  stimulus.  Night  and 
day  for  twenty-eight  years  he  continued  to  labour  at  his 
work ;  and  in  spite  of  the  incessant  inroads  made  on  his 
time  by  an  increasing  practice,  he  did  not  fail  to  subject 
every  article  to  the  most  exhaustive  consideration,  and 
to  embody  his  ripest  judgment  on  its  details  in  a  stylo 
singularly  forcible  and  effective.  As  a  single-handed 
effort  it  has  been  compared  to  the  Dictionaries  of  Bayle 
and  Johnson ;  while  its  value,  though  diminished  by  the 
progress  of  science,  will  always  be  great  enough  to 
secure  it  an  honoured  place  in  the  library  of  the  phy¬ 
sician.  In  its  abridged  form,  under  the  able  editorship 
of  his  nephew,  Mr.  J.  C.  Copland,  it  has  renewed  its 
popularity  with  the  rising  generation  of  practitioners ; 
while  many  of  its  suggestions  have  been  silently  adopted 
by  the  sanitary  reformer  or  incorporated  with  special 
treatises  on  medicine. 

The  doctor  was  unusually  fortunate  in  the  honours  he 
received,  among  which  we  may  single  out  his  being- 
made  a  Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society  in  1833  ;  a  Fellow 
of  the  Royal  College  of  Physicians  in  1837 ;  Gulstonian 
Lecturer  in  1838 ;  Censor  of  the  College  in  1841,  1842, 
and  1861;  Croonian  Lecturer  in  1844,  1845,  and  1846; 
seven  times  Councillor  between  1844  and  1863  ;  Lumleian 
Lecturer  in  1854  and  1855,  and  Harveian  Orator  in  1857. 
He  delivered  his  discourse  on  this  latter  occasion  in 
Latin  remarkable  for  its  freshness  and  force, — not  a 
cento  of  phrases,  like  the  majority  of  such  orations,  but  the 
work  of  a  man  to  whom  the  language  was  almost  native. 
For  the  last  few  years  he  had  ceased  to  engage  so  exten¬ 
sively  in  consulting  practice ;  and,  though  a  constant 
frequenter  of  the  societies,  he  fixed  his  residence  out  of 
town.  To  the  last,  however,  he  was  always  willing  to 
give  the  poor  artist  or  the  struggling  man  of  letters  the 
benefit  of  his  gratuitous  advice  ;  while  to  all  appearance 
his  hale  and  vigorous  physique  gave  promise  of  a 
lengthened  continuance  of  his  genial  and  philanthropic 
labours.  But  within  the  first  week  of  July  his  old 
enemy,  the  gout,  renewed  the  attack ;  and,  in  spite  of 
every  medical  aid,  he  gradually  sank  till  the  12th,  when 
he  died,  in  his  seventy-ninth  year. 


Climate  of  the  Azores. — The  Hon.  E.  Monson,  in 
his  consular  report  on  the  trade  and  commerce  of  the 
Azores,  expresses  regret  that  so  few  tourists  visit  those 
islands.  He  says  they  are  chiefly  Americans  who  prefer 
taking  a  southern  route  to  Europe,  and  like  to  break  the 
voyage  by  halting  for  a  short  time  in  Fay al ;  while  the  very 
few  Europeans  who  find  their  way  there  are  such  as  the 
casualties  and  exigencies  of  business  compel  to  under¬ 
take  a  voyage  from  which  they  anticipate  no  pleasure. 
Thus  these  islands,  replete  though  they  are  with  objects 
of  interest,  no  less  to  the  man  of  science  than  to  those 
who  travel  for  mere  amusement,  will  remain  neglected 
until,  in  the  process  of  time,  the  so  much  needed  harbour 
improvements  are  completed  sufficiently  to  encourage 
the  visits  of  ocean  steamers.  The  island  of  St.  Michael’s, 
he  says,  should  be  peculiarly  attractive  to  the  invalid. 
It  is  blessed  with  a  climate  equable  and  mild,  although 
somewhat  humid.  According  to  careful  observations, 
the  mean  temperature  of  the  winter  months  is  2°  colder 
than  Madeira,  5°  warmer  than  Lisbon,  13°  warmer  than 
Nice,  12°  warmer  than  Rome,  and  12°  warmer  than 
Naples.  According  to  the  estimate  of  Sir  James  Clark, 
the  mean  annual  temperature  of  St.  Michael’s  is  62°  40', 
that  is  about  2°  less  than  Madeira  during  the  whole 


78 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[July  23,  1870. 


year.  The  mean  monthly  range  of  the  thermometer 
during  the  winter  is  stated  to  he  7°  6'  at  St.  Michael’s, 
against  12°  at  Madeira, — showing  that,  while  the  St. 
Michael’s  winter  is  only  2°  colder  than  that  at  Madeira, 
it  is  more  equable,  or,  at  any  rate,  not  less  so.  The 
south  and  westerly  winds  are  soft,  relaxing,  and  warm  ; 
the  north-easterly  are  colder  and  more  bracing,  but  never 
keen  and  thin.  The  extent  of  the  surrounding  ocean, 
and  the  mildness  of  the  temperature,  naturally  cause  the 
climate  to  be  extremely  humid  ;  in  fact,  the  state  of  the 
atmosphere  has  been  frequently  compared  to  that  on 
board  a  ship  at  sea  ;  but  this  condition  of  the  air  is  not 
productive  of  disease,  nor  is  it  even  a  source  of  incon¬ 
venience  to  those  who  are  in  tolerable  health.  The  na¬ 
tive  poor,  who  are  exposed  to  it  all  their  lives,  and  whose 
cottages  (rarely  possessing  glass  windows  and  invariably 
having  earthen  floors)  are  not  at  all  calculated  to  resist 
its  influence,  are  a  healthy,  robust,  and  handsome  race. 
Neither  cholera  nor  yellow  fever  has  ever  visited  the 
islands,  and  epidemics  of  any  kind  are  almost  unknown. 
Owing  to  the  same  causes  which  produce  the  humidity, 
a  cloudless  sky  is  very  rare  ;  and  this  adds  considerably 
to  the  advantages  of  the  Azores  as  a  place  of  residence 
for  an  invalid,  as  the  direct  heat  of  the  sun  does  not  pre¬ 
vent  a  person  in  delicate  health  from  spending  the 
greater  part  of  the  day  in  the  open  air.  Added  to  these 
advantages  there  are  wonderful  mineral  springs  with 
which  Madeira  has  nothing  to  compete.  The  striking 
volcanic  conformation  of  the  islands  is  worthy  of  the 
study  of  geologists,  and  the  magnificent  scenery  would 
afford  endless  opportunities  to  the  artist;  yet,  Consul 
Monson  adds,  even  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  mainland  of 
Portugal  they  remain  almost  a  terra  incognita ,  while  to 
the  world  at  large  they  are  as  remote  and  mysterious  as 
were  the  Hesperides  to  the  civilized  world  in  the  classic 
days  of  Greece  and  Rome. — Tall  Mall  Gazette. 

Hay-Asthma. — A  correspondent  in  the  ‘  Lancet  ’ 
reports  the  case  of  a  patient  who  has  for  several  years 
suffered  from  this  malady,  but  found  no  permanent  re¬ 
lief  from  any  of  the  usual  remedies.  The  following 
treatment,  however,  proved  efficacious  : — A  small  barrel 
of  sea-weed,  taken  fresh  from  the  shore,  was  given  to 
the  patient  to  sniff  whenever  an  attack  came  on.  Five 
minutes’  inhalation  of  the  sea-weed  sufficed  to  stop  the 
symptoms,  after  which  the  barrel  was  securely  closed, 
and  placed  in  a  cellar  for  future  use.  It  is  suggested, 
that  the  active  principle  of  the  sea-weed  should  (to  ob¬ 
viate  the  cumbrous  device  of  the  barrel)  be  concentrated, 
Like  salts,  in  a  smelling-bottle ;  and  this  idea  has  been 
carried  out  with  success.  Such  a  pocket-companion 
might  prove  serviceable  to  those  whose  liability  to  hay- 
asthma  is  not  proof  against  the  odour  of  the  flowers 
which  decorate  dinner-tables  and  drawing-rooms.  Sea¬ 
weed  should  be  brought  up  fresh  from  the  shore  by  rail, 
and  kept  for  use  in  hospitals  where  strumous  affections 
are  treated, — an  application  of  the  inutilis  alga  which 
might  be  of  benefit  to  other  patients,  who  would  fain,  if 
they  could  afford  it,  “suffer  a  sea-change.” 

Granular  Citrate  of  Magnesia  (effervescent). 

— H.  C.  Archibald  gives  the  following  formula  : — 

Take  of  Acid.  Citric.  .  .  4  lbs. 

Magnesise  Calc.  .  1^  ,, 

Sodas  Bicarb.  .  .3  ,, 

Acid.  Tart.  .  .  .  3  „ 

Pulv.  Sacch.  Alb.  .  6  „ 

01.  Limon.  .  .  .  fl.  oz. 

Alcohol  Fort.  .  .  q.s. 

Powder  the  citric  acid  and  add  the  sugar:  mix 
thoroughly,  then  add  the  soda,  magnesia,  and  tartaric 
acid.  Pass  the  whole  through  a  No.  40  sieve  three 
times ;  moisten  with  strong  alcohol  and  pass  through  a 
No.  8  sieve  ;  place  it  on  a  wooden  tray  to  dry,  then  add 
oil  of  lemons  and  bottle  instantly.  It  usually  takes 
twenty-four  hours  and  a  temperature  of  120°  F.  to  dry 
the  salt  perfectly. — American  Journal  of  Pharmacy. 


Brown  Hair  Dye. — The  hyposulphite  of  lead,  dis¬ 
solved  in  excess  of  hyposulphite  of  soda,  forms  a  hair- 
dye  which  gradually  becomes  brown  from  absorption  of 
oxygen  and  deposit  of  sulphuret  of  lead  on  the  hair. 
The  following  formula  for  the  preparation  of  this  dye,  is 
given  in  the  ‘  American  Journal  of  Parmacy :’ — 

Acetate  of  Lead  ....  5ij 
Hyposulphite  of  Soda  .  .  §j 

Rose  (or  other  Perfumed) 

.  Water . §xiv 

Glycerine . f^ij  : 

Dissolve  the  acetate  of  lead  and  hyposulphite  of  soda  in 
separate  portions  of  water,  filter  separately,  mix  the 
solutions,  and  add  the  glycerine. 

Death  from  Escape  of  Gas. — An  inquest  was  held 
last  week,  at  Haverstock  Hill  on  the  body  of  Charles 
Lawley,  aged  sixteen,  son  of  a  reporter  on  the  ‘Field,’ 
who  was  found  on  Wednesday  suffocated  in  bed.  The 
gas-burner  in  deceased’s  bedroom  was  found  broken  off 
from  the  joint,  and  the  room  was  full  of  gas.  How  the 
joint  got  broken  off  is  unknown.  The  jury  returned  a 
verdict  of  “Accidentally  suffocated  with  gas.” — Standard. 

[***  Probably  the  cause  of  death  was  poisoning  by 
carbonic  oxi  le,  which  exists  abundantly  in  gas ;  ethy¬ 
lene,  which  likewise  occurs,  is  very  poisonous. — Ed. 
Ph.  J.] 

Eucalyptus  Oil. — The  essential  oil  of  eucalyptus 
now  being  introduced  into  use  in  perfumery  by  Mr. 
Rimmel,  has  lately  been  examined  by  Cloetz.  He  took 
the  product  of  Eucalyptus  globulus ,  originally  a  native  of 
Tasmania,  where  it  was  discovered  by  Labillardiere,  in 
the  year  1792.  It  has  since  been  acclimatized  on  the 
shores  of  the  Mediterranean.  From  10  kilogrammes  of 
fresh  leaves  of  the  plant,  275  grammes  of  the  essential  oil 
were  obtained  by  distillation  with  water.  In  another 
experiment  about  double  the  quantity  of  oil  was  obtained. 
The  oil  is  very  fluid,  almost  devoid  of  colour,  and  having 
a  smell  analogous  to  that  of  camphor.  It  begins  to  boil  at 
170°  C.,  and  rises  in  boiling-point  as  the  distillation  pro¬ 
ceeds,  until  above  200°.  The  more  volatile  liquid,  after 
purification  with  caustic  potash  and  with  fused  chloride 
of  calcium,  boils  regularly  at  175°  C., — this  is  eucalyptol. 
Its  specific  gravity  at  8°  C.  is  0‘905  ;  it  deflects  the  ray 
of  polarized  light  to  the  right ;  it  does  not  freeze ;  its 
vapour,  mixed  with  air,  is  fresh,  agreeable  when  inhaled, 
and  has  been  employed  as  a  therapeutic  agent ;  it  is 
hardly  soluble  in  water,  but  very  soluble  in  alcohol ;  its 
alcoholic  solution,  when  highly  diluted,  is  said  to  afford 
a  perfume  equal  to  the  rose.  The  composition  of  euca¬ 
lyptol  is  represented  by  the  formula  C12IL0O  (vapour 
density  6-22).  By  the  action  of  anhydrous  phosphoric 
acid  upon  it,  a  liquid  hydrocarbon  of  the  formula  C12Hjg, 
and  named  eucalyptene,  has  been  obtained.  This  liquid 
boils  regularly  at  165°  C.,  and  has  a  sp.  gr.  of  0-835  at 
12°  C.  Its  vapour  density  is  5-3.  It  is  derived  from 
eucalyptol  by  the  loss  of  the  elements  of  water.  At 
the  same  time  a  polymer  of  eucalyptene  is  produced. 
This  liquid  boils  at  temperatures  above  300°  C.  Decom¬ 
position  of  the  substance  at  the  high  temperature  required 
for  the  determination  of  its  vapour  density,  prevented 
a  determination  of  that  important  datum.  The  name 
eucalyptolene  is  proposed  for  it.  The  behaviour  of  euca¬ 
lyptol  towards  hydrochloric  acid  gas  is  very  interesting. 
Cooled  to  zero  and  then  treated  with  a  current  of  dry 
hydrochloric  acid  gas,  it  absorbs  the  gas  abundantly  and 
solidifies  to  form  a  mass  of  crystals.  Very  soon,  how¬ 
ever,  these  crystals  undergo  spontaneous  decomposition, 
and  are  resolved  into  an  aqueous  solution  of  hydrochloric 
acid  and  a  hydrocarbon,  boiling  about  168°  C.,  and  appa¬ 
rently  identical  with  eucalyptene.  In  chemical  history, 
therefore,  eucalyptol  resembles  camphor,  of  which  it 
appears  to  be  a  homologue — two  steps  higher  in  the 
series. — Repertoire  de  Pharmacie. 


July  23,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


79 


Communications  for  this  Journal ,  and  books  for  review , 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

***  A7!?  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authen¬ 
ticated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Betts’  Suits. 

Sir, — The  report  of  “  Betts’  Suits,”  contained  in  your  last 
number,  is  very  complete  and  accurate;  still,  for  those  who 
are  not  acquainted  with  the  commencement  of  these  prosecu¬ 
tions,  the  part  I  played  in  this  affair  remains  somewhat  ob¬ 
scure,  and  I  hope  you  will  allow  me  to  give  the  following  ex¬ 
planations  to  your  readers,  without  any  reference  or  prejudice 
to  the  action  still  pending  between  Mr.  Betts  and  myself  in 
the  Court  of  Chancery : — 

Since  I  commenced  using  capsules  at  my  London  manu¬ 
factory,  I  procured  them  from  three  different  makers, — Dupre, 
of  Paris,  the  original  inventor  of  metallic  capsules ;  Cour- 
douzy,  of  Bordeaux,  and  Espinasse,  of  Paris.  These  capsules 
were  sold  me  as  being  made  of  tin,  or  alloys  of  tin,  and  never 
having  had  any  warning  from  Mr.  Betts  as  to  an  alleged  in¬ 
fringement  of  his  patent,  I  never  dreamt  they  could  be  made 
of  his  metal.  I  was,  therefore,  much  astonished  at  being 
served  with  a  Bill  in  Chancery  by  Mr.  Betts  in  April,  1865, 
without  the  slightest  previous  intimation.  I  naturally  turned 
to  those  who  had  supplied  me,  and  inquired  what  was  the 
material  of  the  capsules  they  had  sold  me.  Dupre  and 
Courdouzy  made  affidavits  that  they  were  not  composed  of 
the  metal  patented  by  Mr.  Betts,  and  these  affidavits  were 
confirmed  by  chemical  analysis  made  by  Dr.  Odling  and  Dr. 
Redwood.  Mr.  Betts  himself  tacitly  acknowledged  the  truth 
of  Dupre’s  declaration,  by  withdrawing,  at  his  own  expense, 
a  Bill  he  had  filed  against  Mr.  Fisher,  of  Leadenhall  Street, 
for  selling  a  bottle  of  my  toilet  vinegar  with  a  capsule  bear¬ 
ing  that  maker’s  name. 

Espinasse  alone  admitted  that  the  capsules  he  had  supplied 
me  with  were  made  of  the  metal  patented  by  Mr.  Betts, 
although  his  billheads  bearing  the  words,  “Fabrique  de  Cap¬ 
sules  eu  Etain”  (Tin  Capsule  Manufactory),  had  led  me  to 
suppose  that  he  sold  nothing  but  tin  capsules.  He  added, 
that  he  worked  under  a  licence  of  Mr.  Betts,  but  when  I 
asked  him  to  produce  it,  and  thus  take  the  blame  on  his  own 
shoulders,  as  he  had  never  informed  me  of  that  circumstance 
whilst  supplying  me,  he  refused  to  interfere,  saying  he  would 
do  nothing  against  Mr.  Betts’s  interest. 

Now  it  turns  out,  on  cross-examination  of  Mr.  Betts,  in 
the  suits  just  tried,  that  the  house  trading  in  Paris  under  the 
name  of  Espinasse,  was,  in  reality,  the  property  of  Mr.  Betts, 
Espinasse  being  only  his  foreman, — so  that  Mr.  Betts  actually 
supplied  me  himself  with  the  capsules  which  he  called  after¬ 
wards  an  infringement  of  his  patent;  and  not  only  did  he 
supply  me,  but  he  forwarded  capsules  from  the  same  house 
direct  to  my  London  manufactory,  so  that  even  the  poor  plea 
of  Betts  the  Frenchman  and  Betts  the  Englishman  falls  to 
the  ground. 

As  I  said  before,  Mr.  Betts  filed  his  Bill  against  me  in 
April  I860,  and,  three  months  after,  whilst  negotiations  for 
an  amicable  settlement  were  going  on,  he  issued  his  batch  of 
Bills  against  my  customers  without  any  previous  warning  to 
them  or  to  me.  You  may  judge  how  surprised  I  was  at  see¬ 
ing  him  thus  seek  his  remedy  on  both  sides.  The  first  three 
persons  who  came  to  complain  to  me  of  having  been  served 
(all  in  one  day),  I  consoled  with  the  assurance  that  I  should 
see  them  through,  but  when  I  heard  that  twenty-five  bills 
had  been  filed  all  at  once,  and  that  there  were  many  more  in 
the  course  of  preparation,  I  offered  Mr.  Betts  One  Thousand 
Pounds  to  put  a  stop  to  this  system  of  prosecution  which  was 
calculated  to  ruin  my  trade.  This  sum  he  at  first  accepted, 
and  afterwards  declined.  It  was  then  that  meetings  were 
convened,  and  a  Defence  Fund  was  subscribed. 

I  hope  that  the  foregoing  statements  will  suffice  to  establish 
the  two  chief  points  which  I  wish  to  impress  on  your  readers ; 
firstly,  that  I  used  proper  caution  in  the  purchase  of  my  cap¬ 
sules,  and  was  the  victim  of  a  deception  which  could  not  be 
toreseen ;  secondly,  that  I  spared  neither  trouble  nor  expense 


to  protect  my  customers,  unconscious  as  I  was  of  having 
done  any  wrong. 

I  remain,  Sir,  yours  respectfully, 

E.  Rimmel. 

London,  July  12,  1870. 


Navy  Dispensers. 

Sir, — The  members  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  and  the 
readers  of  your  Journal  generally,  must  have  been  at  least 
pleased  with  the  congratulation  offered  to  them  in  your 
article  upon  the  action  of  the  Government  in  respect  to  dis¬ 
pensers  and  assistant- dispensers  in  naval  hospitals  at  home 
and  abroad. 

That  medicines  in  naval  hospitals  should  be  compounded 
and  dispensed  by  hands  as  skilful,  and  directed  with  the  same 
education  as  those  required  by  civil  communities,  there  can 
be  no  question ;  but,  I  think  we  may  fairly  ask  in  how  far 
the  naval  service  is  likely  to  become  popular,  or  an  object  of 
ambition  ?  and  also  what  class  of  candidates  the  Admiralty 
will  be  likely  to  obtain  for  the  remuneration  they  offer  ? 

The  claims  of  Pharmacists  to  recognition  as  members  of 
a  profession  have  long  been  admitted,  and  by  the  determina¬ 
tion  of  the  Government  as  regards  the  navy  dispensers  an¬ 
other  step  is  gained ;  but  this  advance  becomes  undesirable  in 
proportion  as  the  recognized  position  is  made  the  excuse  for 
inadequate  remuneration. 

It  is  to  be  feared  that  the  very  imperfect  knowledge, 
founded  upon  a  baseless  tradition  as  to  the  value  of  drugs, 
entertained  by  the  public,  and  the  ignorance  that  exists  as  to 
the  disproportion  of  the  remuneration  to  the  responsibility 
incurred  by  the  retail  druggist  in  every  prescription  he  dis¬ 
penses,  may  have,  in  some  measure,  guided  the  Lords  of  the 
Admiralty ;  and  it  would  have  been  very  desirable  if  the  re¬ 
marks  of  Mr.  R.  W.  Giles  and  Mr.  Walter  Powell,  on  the 
subject  of  the  relation  of  remuneration  to  Pharmaceutical  re¬ 
sponsibility,  published  in  the  ‘Pharmaceutical  Journal,’ 
s.  s.,  vol.  x.,  could  have  been  laid  before  the  Lords  Commis¬ 
sioners  at  the  time  they  considered  their  scale  of  salaries. 
It  is  not,  however,  too  late  for  the  professional  Pharmacist 
to  press  his  claims  with  the  Admiralty  still  further,  but  he 
ought  to  be  supported  by  the  body  of  his  profession. 

In  order  to  establish  the  professional  position  of  the  Phar¬ 
macist,  the  myth  of  the  value  of  the  materials  employed 
must  lie  swept  away,  and  an  adequate  remuneration  de¬ 
manded  by  the  retail  druggist  for  skill  and  labour  bestowed. 

Mr.  Walter  Powell,  in  reiterating*  the  sentiments  ex¬ 
pressed  by  Mr.  R.  W.  Gilesf  in  the  highly  important  letter 
he  addressed  to  the  Norwich  Conference,  gives  it  as  his  opi¬ 
nion  that  “  the  hope  of  better  days,  when  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tist  shall  be  regarded  as  a  member  of  an  honourable  profes¬ 
sion,  rests  upon  the  excision  and  abandonment  of  all  illegiti¬ 
mate  departments  of  his  business,  and  a  more  exclusive 
devotion  of  time  and  talent  to  his  true  profession.”  He 
remarks  further,  “that,  to  do  this,  considerable  augmenta¬ 
tion  must  be  made  in  charges,  which  cannot  longer  be  based 
upon  the  intrinsic  value  of  medicines,  nor  upon  the  time 
occupied  in  their  dispensing,  but  on  the  knowledge  which 
enables  the  dispenser  faithfully  to  further  and  interpret  the 
wishes  of  the  physician,  thus  rendering  the  former  respon¬ 
sible  trustee  of  the  public  weal.” 

Again,  Mr.  Giles  clearly  exemplifies  the  sacrifice  of  social 
status  resulting  from  the  association  of  a  general  trade  with 
the  special  business  of  dispensing,  and  he  shows  that  vend¬ 
ing  of  perfumery,  hair  washes,  and  the  like,  must  remain  a 
more  profitable,  as  it  is  a  less  responsible  employment  for  the 
qualified  assistant,  whose  services  it  is  necessary  to  engage, 
so  long  as  the  claim  for  skill,  on  the  part  of  the  professional 
dispenser,  is  unrecognized  and  inadequately  remunerated. 

It  is  something  to  have  established  a  claim  to  Government 
recognition,  but  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that  responsibility 
is  engrafted  on  to,  and  inseparable  from  a  recognized  position ; 
and  that,  therefore,  a  claim  for  remuneration  commensurate 
with  the  responsibility  must  be  established  too.  A  qualified 
assistant  can  earn  five  shillings  a  day,  and  more,  without  the 
responsibility  attaching  to  the  navy  appointment.  Why  then 
should  he  gratuitously  undertake  the  responsibility  P  The 
very  education  the  qualified  dispenser  has  obtained  is  an  in¬ 
vestment,  the  bare  interest  of  which,  at  least,  is  reasonably 
due  to  him  in  addition  to  salary,  while  the  latter  ought  to  be 
very  considerably  in  advance  of  that  of  an  ordinary  artisan. 

*  Pharm.  Journ.  s.s.  vol.  x.  p.  313.  f  Ibid.  p.  160. 


80 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[July  23,  1870. 


By  now  making  a  stand  and  demand  for  tlieir  just  due, 
Pharmacists,  on  entering  Government  employ,  may  materially 
strengthen  their  position,  and  further  tlieir  claims  to  con¬ 
sideration  as  a  professional  body.  Now  is  their  opportunity, 
it  seems  a  golden  one,  and  the  embracing  of  it  cannot  too 
strongly  be  encouraged.  It  will  indeed  be  a  pity  if  the  new 
field  for  service  now  opened  is  allowed  to  become  a  refuge  for 
the  destitute,  and  I  sincerely  trust  that  the  subject  will  at 
once  be  taken  up  by  those  who  have  it  in  then*  power  to 
further  the  end  in  view. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  T.  D. 

London ,  18 th  July ,  1870. 


Citrate  of  Magnesia. 

Sir, — I  perfectly  agree  with  Mr.  Rimmington,  that  this  salt  is 
often  badly  manufactured;  but  I  differ  from  him  in  consider¬ 
ing  the  use  of  sugar  as  promoting  deficiency  of  carbonic  acid 
in  the  carbonate  of  soda.  The  sugar  exercises  no  chemical 
action  whatever  on  the  salt.  It  is  simply  used  for  two  ob¬ 
jects:  one,  to  give  adhesion  to  the  granules,  and  the  other, 
to  impart  a  zest  to  the  draughts  made  from  the  citro-tartrate 
of  soda,  alias  citrate  of  magnesia.  It  is  owing  to  the  chemi¬ 
cal  action  which  takes  place  on  the  addition  of  the  acids  to 
the  alkali,  with  a  small  quantity  of  water,  used  for  damping, 
that  the  bicarbonate  loses  part  of  its  carbonic  acid.  This  is 
absolutely  unavoidable,  so  long  as  the  crude  and  destructive 
method  of  damping  the  acids  and  alkali  together  is  adopted. 
The  carbonate  of  soda  also  parts  with  some  of  its  carbonic 
acid  during  the  process  of  drying.  This  additional  loss  might 
be  prevented,  if  a  proper  degree  of  heat  were  applied  dining 
the  granulation.  The  manufacture  of  citrate  is  generally 
intrusted  to  mere  laboratory  porters,  who  have  no  knowledge 
whatever  of  the  influence  of  heat  upon  chemical  compounds, 
or  the  degree  requisite  in  particular  cases.  To  expedite  their 
work,  they  apply  an  excessive  amount  of  steam  to  the  drying- 
pan.  As  this  salt  is  fast  displacing  the  ordinary  seidlitz 
powders,  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  its  manufacturers  still  pur¬ 
sue  their  ordinary  and  destructive  method.  A  better  product 
might  be  obtained  by  damping  the  acids  and  alkali  separately, 
and  applying  a  proper  degree  of  heat  in  granulating.  An¬ 
other  point  worthy  of  remark  is  the  fact,  that  nine-tenths  of 
the  people  who  use  the  citro-tartrate,  generally  put  the  water 
into  the  glass  first,  and  the  salt  upon  the  surface.  The  salt 
ought  first  to  be  placed  at  the  bottom  of  the  glass,  and  the 
water  poured  upon  it.  No  directions  of  this  nature  are  given 
on  the  manufacturer’s  labels. 

J.  Hughes. 

High  Street,  Cheltenham ,  July  15 th,  1870. 


Anonymous  Writing. 

Sir, — I  mean  to  append  my  name  to  this  letter,  and  there¬ 
fore  may,  even  by  those  who  object  to  anonymous  writing, 
the  subject  having  “  cropped  up,”  be  allowed  to  say  a  few 
words  in  favour  of  it. 

First,  however,  I  agree  that — 

Nothing  personal,  or  at  all  affecting  injuriously  the  moral 
character  of  private  individuals,  should  be  admitted  in  print 
without  the  name  of  the  writer ; 

Nor  any  general  attack  be  permitted  to  be  so  made  upon 
the  motives  or  capabilities  of  any  person  or  society,  public  or 
private. 

There  may  also  be  this  further  objection  taken  by  editors 
of  periodicals  to  anonymous  letters,  that,  being  without  a 
name,  they  may  be  necessitated  to  do  what  they  have  hardly 
time  for,  i.  e.  read  them  through  carefully. 

But. this  one  great  advantage — of  an  essay  relying  solely 
upon  its  own  merits,  unaided  and  unobscured  alike  by  the 
addition  of  a  well-known  or  of  an  unknown  name — can  be 
secured  in  no  other  way  than  by  anonymous  publication. 

I  do  not  know,  nor  care  to  know,  how  often  a  novel  idea, 
an  unpopular  sentiment,  or  individual  partiality  or  dislike, 
may  have  consigned  a  well-written  and  telling  article  to  the 
waste-basket,  because  unintroduced  and  unrecommended  by 
a  name,  but  it  needs  small  knowledge  of  human  nature  to 
feel  assured  that  this  must  often  be  the  case.  And  who 
knows  not  the  power  of  a  name  to  give  currency  and  weight 
to  the  dullest  mediocrity  ? 

Let  me  suppose — I  am  sure  these  gentlemen  will  pardon 


the  supposition — that  it  were  possible  for  a  Redwood,  an 
Ince,  or  a  Squire  to  write  nonsense ;  would  a  communication 
signed  by  one  of  them  be  either  refused  insertion  on  this 
account,  or  operate  as  fairly  upon  the  mass  of  readers  as  it 
would  if  unweighted  by  the  influence  of  an  eminent  name  ? 
On  the  other  hand,  it  is  next  to  impossible  impartially  to 
criticize  and  examine  in  print  the  demerits  of  such  a  produc¬ 
tion  otherwise  than  anonymously.  Men  usually,  if  not 
always,  require  the  stimulus  of  a  sense  of  personal  affront  or 
injury — of  private  or  public  animosity — to  stir  them  up  to 
array  themselves  in  open  antagonism  to  a  high  reputation  or 
deserved  eminence.  Yet  those  who  have  attained  both  may 
err,  and  if  they  do,  their  very  superiority  only  makes  it  the 
more  needful  that  errors  upheld  by  commanding  influence 
should  be  impartially  exposed,  without  fear  and  without 
favour.  Import,  however,  the  element  of  personal  feeling, 
and  farewell  to  anything  like  fair  criticism,  or  cool  and  im¬ 
partial  judgment. 

This  one  consideration  alone  (there  are  others)  should,  I 
think,  arrest  in  some  degree  the  tide  of  this  present,  almost 
universal,  crusade  against  anonymous  correspondence  in 
public  prints,  and  moderate  the  zeal  of  those  who  engage  in 
it,  and,  at  the  same  time,  desire  not  merely  to  give,  but  to 
listen  to,  unbiassed  opinion. 

Politically,  I  am  not  afraid  of  the  ballot,  but  I  conceive 
that  question  to  rest  on  an  entirely  different  basis.  I  am 
not  here  advocating  the  moral  cowardice  of  hiding  one’s 
name  from  fear  of  personal  consequences,  but  the  advantage 
which  would  accrue  to  the  cause  of  truth  from  the  absence 
of  suspicion  of  personal  interest  or  motive  on  the  one  hand, 
and  on  the  other  of  a  fair  and  free  investigation  of  facts  and 
arguments. 

Of  two  kinds  of  anonymousness  (I  must  coin  the  word), 
— that  in  which  the  correspondent’s  name  is  unknown  even 
to  the  editor  he  addresses,  and  that  which  conceals  it  from 
the  public  only, — I  am  here  treating  chiefly  of  the  former. 
And  I  will  go  the  length  of  saying,  that  if  a  writer  of  note 
wishes  to  ascertain  his  own  true  weight  in  the  scale  of  public 
estimation,  or  whether  he  has  gained  or  lost  ground  in  an 
opinion  which  he  values,  he  should  occasionally,  not  only 
only  omit  his  name,  but  likewise  employ  an  amanuensis. 

I  am,  Sir,  yours  respectfully, 

Thomas  Lowe. 

Liverpool,  July  Y&th,  1870. 


George  JS.  Clarice  (Woburn). — 

1.  Entry  is  not  necessary  in  the  cases  mentioned,  neither 
is  the  signature  of  the  purchaser  required  by  the  Act. 

2.  The  articles  referred  to  are  not  included  in  both  Parts 
of  the  Schedule,  but  only  in  Part  I.  Part  II.  refers  to  Tinc¬ 
tures,  and  all  vesicating  liquid  preparations  of  Cantharides,  or 
preparations  of  Corrosive  Sublimate.  It  is  only  necessary  to 
label  these. 

3.  No. 

JR.  Jones  Owen. — The  book  referred  to  has  not  been 
received. 

It-  It.  (Leighton  Buzzard)  wishes  £*'  Echo  ”  to  favour  him 
with  the  correct  rendering  of  the  sentence  criticized  at  page 
60  of  the  last  number. 

C.  Brook,  jun.  (Southville)  inquires  if  a  c  Flora  of  Hamp¬ 
shire  ’  is  to  be  procured;  if  so,  where  and  at  what  cost? 

Label  (Maidenhead)  shall  be  answered  by  post. 

A.  Z.  (Liverpool)  will  find  some  information  in  chapter  8 
of  ‘  The  Practice  of  Perfumery.’ 

B.  B.  S.  (Norwich)  wishes  to  learn  who  is  the  maker  of 
“  Symond’s  Ale  Preserver.” 

J.  It.  31.  (Witham)  should  write  to  the  Secretary  of  the- 
Royal  College  of  Surgeons,  Lincoln’s  Irm  Fields, 

B.  J.  (Southport). — 1.  Next  week.  2.  The  o  is  short  in 
the  word  podophyllin. 

A  Country  M.F.S. — If  the  writer  will  favour  us  with  his 
name  and  address,  we  will  write  to  him. 

31.  F.  S.  (Liverpool). — The  dose  is  large,  but,  failing  to 
see  the  prescriber,  we  think  it  might  be  dispensed  with 
safety.  The  case  was  probably  that  of  haemorrhage. 


Instructions  from  3Iemhers  and  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Brem- 
ridge,  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  W.C. 

Advertisements  to  3Iessrs.  Churchill,  Hew  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W. 


July  30,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


81 


ALCOHOLIC  FERMENTATION. 

BY  BARON  YON  LIEBIG. 

( Continued  from  p.  64.) 

Pasteur  thinks  that  in  the  fermentation  of  yeast 
the  cellulose  of  the  old  mother- cells  is  converted  into 
sugar,  part  of  which  is  consumed  in  the  formation  of 
the  cell-membrane  of  the  young  sprouts,  while  an¬ 
other  part  must  he  converted  into  alcohol,  carbonic 
acid,  succinic  acid,  etc.  This  view  might  be  readily 
tested  by  determining  the  cellulose  and  the  alcohols. 
In  the  same  proportion  as  alcohol  was  formed  cellu¬ 
lose  should  disappear. 

I  have  endeavoured  to  prepare  cellulose  from  yeast 
by  Sclilossberger’s  method,*  but  I  have  not  succeeded 
in  obtaining  it  quite  free  from  nitrogen.  I  did  not 
obtain  more  than  17  per  cent,  from  the  yeast,  gene¬ 
rally  less.  Pasteur  found  in  three  experiments 
17*77,  19*29,  and  19*21;  mean,  18*76  per  cent. 

The  determination  of  the  alcohol  is  not  difficult. 

The  yeast  used  for  this  purpose  was  bottom 
yeast ;  it  was  washed  with  water,  and  separated  by 
means  of  a  fine  sieve  from  the  remains  of  hops  and 
beer.  What  passed  through  the  sieve  was  allowed 
to  settle  ;  the  deposit,  mixed  with  ten  times  its  bulk 
of  water  and  repeatedly  washed  with  fresh  water  by 
decantation,  until  the  supernatant  water  was  no 
longer  coloured.  After  this  treatment  the  yeast 
presented  no  foreign  cells  when  examined  by  the 
microscope. 

As  already  mentioned,  the  fermentation  of  yeast 
takes  place  most  freely  at  30°  or  35°  C.,  and  after 
thirty-six  hours  there  is  no  further  evolution  of  gas. 
A  temperature  of  60°  C.  kills  the  yeast-cells ;  after 
exposure  to  this  temperature  in  water,  they  no  longer 
undergo  fermentation,  and  do  not  cause  fermentation 
in  sugar  solution. 

I.  1500  c.c.  moist  yeast,  =  147  grin,  dry  yeast, 
gave,  after  eighteen  hours,  14*792  weak  alcohol, 
0*8472  sp.  gr.  —  11*981  alcohol. 

II.  1200  c.c.,  =  48*81  grm.  dry  yeast,  gave,  after 
thirty-six  hours,  6*188  alcohol. 

III.  1200  c.c.,  =  91*5  grm.  dry  yeast,  gave,  after 
twenty-four  hours,  8*23  alcohol. 

IV.  1000  c.c.,  =  79*22  grm.  diy  yeast,  gave,  after 
eighteen  hours,  6*66  alcohol. 

V.  1000  c.c.,  =  100*58  grm.  dry  yeast,  gave,  after 
thirty-six  hours,  13*9  alcohol. 

Reducing  the  alcohol  obtained  in  these  five  expe¬ 
riments  to  cellulose,  for  comparison  with  the  cellu¬ 
lose  contained  in  the  yeast  taken,  the  following  re¬ 
sults  are  obtained : — 


Yeast. 

Cellulose. 

Equivalent 

alcohol. 

Alcohol 

obtained. 

Percentage  of 
the  cellulose. 

I. 

147*0 

27*57 

15*7 

11*98 

7  6  per  cent. 

II. 

48*8 

9*16 

5*2 

6*18 

118  „ 

III. 

91*5 

17*16 

9*7 

8*23 

87  „ 

IV. 

79*22 

13*85 

7*8 

6*66 

85  „ 

V. 

100*58 

18*86 

11*26 

13*90 

120  „ 

In  these  calculations,  Pasteur’s  determination  of 
the  amount  of  cellulose  has  been  adopted. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  amount  of  alcohol  obtained 
was  greater  in  proportion  to  the  duration  of  the  fer¬ 
mentation. 

If  this  alcohol  were  formed  from  the  cellulose  of 
the  yeast  cell-walls,  all  the  cells  should  have  disap¬ 
peared  in  the  experiments  II.  and  V. ;  but  it  was  evi¬ 
dent  that  the  cells  were  not  reduced  in  quantity,  and 
that  they  do  not  disappear. 

*  Ann.  Ch.  Pk.  vol.  li.  p.  205. 

Third  Series,  No.  5. 


The  cellulose  was  determined  in  the  deposit  from 
experiment  V.,  and  it  amounted  to  11*75  grm.,  inde¬ 
pendent  of  loss  in  the  operation. 

According  to  the  microscopic  examination  by 
Prof.  Niigeli,  “  the  cells  of  yeast  that  has  been  fer¬ 
mented  without  sugar  exactly  resemble  in  form  and 
size  the  cells  of  ordinary  yeast;  they  differ  from 
them  in  so  far  that  they  clo  not  sprout  any  more, 
in  having  coarser  and  thicker  cell-membrane,  in 
their  granular  and  reduced  plasma  contents,” — they 
are,  in  fact,  dead  cells,  and  the  process  of  yeast  fer¬ 
mentation  consists  hi  the  destruction  of  the  cell 
contents.  During  this  fermentation  there  is  no 
perceptible  smell  of  putrefaction. 

The  liquid  obtained  by  washing  the  fermented 
yeast,  gives,  on  boiling,  a  coagulum  similar  to  al¬ 
bumen  :  baryta  water  produces  a  precipitate  of 
phosphate  :  mixed  with  alcohol  as  long  as  it  is  ren¬ 
dered  turbid,  a  syrupy  mass  separates,  and  after  the 
alcohol  is  removed,  the  clear,  yellow,  supernatant 
liquid  deposits  crystals  which  consist  of  ordinary 
leucin. 

The  substance  precipitated  by  alcohol  is  highly 
nitrogenous  and  contains  sulphur.  The  residue  (con¬ 
sisting  of  dead  cells)  washed  and  dried,  is  a  brown, 
tough  mass,  containing  on  the  average  5*64  per  cent, 
nitrogen  and  *493  sulphur.  The  first  yeast  contained 
7*4  per  cent,  nitrogen  or  1*76  per  cent,  more  than 
the  fermented  yeast.  It  is  evident,  therefore,  that  in 
the  fermentation  of  yeast,  its  nitrogenous  constituent 
undergoes  decomposition ;  the  greater  part  of  it  be¬ 
comes  soluble  and  part  remains  in  the  yeast  cells. 
Weak  potash  solution  dissolves  out  of  them  a  sub¬ 
stance  similar  to  casein,  but  containing  only  11*39 
per  cent,  nitrogen. 

It  is  clear  that  if  it  is  not  the  cellulose  of  the  yeast 
which  yields  material  for  production  of  alcohol  and 
carbonic  acid,  these  must  originate  from  a  substance 
analogous  to  sugar  and  constituting  part  of  the  cell 
contents.  Moreover,  since  this  substance  cannot  be 
extracted  by  washing  the  yeast,  it  must  be  in  the 
state  of  a  fixed  compound  with  some  other  substance 
in  the  cell  which  contains  nitrogen  and  sulphur. 

Reducing  to  sugar  the  alcohol  obtained  in  ex¬ 
periment  V.,  it  represents  27  grm.  (C12H12012),  and 
adding  this  to  the  cellulose  in  100  parts  of  yeast  the 
sum  of  the  non-nitrogenous  constituents  would  be 
45*6  according  to  Pasteur,  or  43*5  per  cent,  according 
to  my  determination  of  cellulose.  Hence  there  would 
remain  54*4  or  56*5  per  cent,  nitrogenous  substance, 
containing  7*41  nitrogen,  corresponding  to  13  or  13*5 
per  cent,  nitrogen  in  this  substance,  about  1*5  or  2 
per  cent,  less  than  in  the  albuminates.  Considering 
that  yeast  must  contain  less  than  16*5  per  cent,  of 
pure  cellulose,  with  some  solid  and  liquid  tat,  and  a 
bitter,  resinous  substance,  probably  derived  from 
hops,*  there  would  be  no  great  error  in  assuming  that 
in  yeast  the  substance  containing  nitrogen  and  sul¬ 
phur  is  either  an  albuminate  or  one  closely  related : 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  it  originates  from  an 
albuminate. 

There  is,  I  believe,  no  difference  of  opinion  as  to 
the  behaviour  of  yeast  in  beer  wort;  so  soon  as  per¬ 
fect  yeast- cells  have  been  formed,  the  decomposition 
of  sugar  commences,  and  at  the  same  time  the  for¬ 
mation  of  yeast  goes  on  incessantly  until  all  the  sugar 
is  decomposed. 

As  alreadj7*  mentioned,  the  breaking  up  of  sugar  is 

*  Scklosskerger,  op.  cit.  p.  198. 


82 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[July  30,  1870. 


accompanied  by  a  decomposition  of  tlie  cell  contents, 
from  which  a  nitrogenous  substance  is  dissolved  by 
the  fermenting  liquid.  This  liquid  loses  nitrogenous 
constituents  if  these  become  part  of  the  cells,  and  it 
again  receives  some  by  the  decomposition  of  the  cell 
contents. 

So  far  back  as  1853,  Graham,  Hofmann,  and 
Redwood  ascertained  that  a  hopped  wort  of  pale 
malt,  containing  ’217  per  cent,  of  nitrogen  before 
fermentation,  contained  only  T34  per  cent,  after 
fermentation,  so  that  only  '083  per  cent,  of  the  ni¬ 
trogen  remained  in  the  yeast,  the  rest  remaining  in 
the  fermented  liquid.  The  numerous  nitrogen  deter¬ 
minations  in  beer  by  Feichtinger,*  etc.,  showed  a  con¬ 
stant,  and  on  the  average,  larger  amount  of  nitrogen 
in  Bavarian  beer. 

According  to  experience  in  brewing,  the  yeast 
added  for  setting  up  fermentation  is  mcreased  eighteen 
or  twenty-fold,  or  there  is  obtained  from  1800  to 
2000  parts  for  each  100  parts  of  pasty  yeast. 

In  the  fermentation  of  sugar  with  yeast  there  can¬ 
not  be  any  increase  of  yeast,  for  there  is  no  substance 
containing  nitrogen  and  sulphur  to  serve  as  food  for 
the  yeast-cells.  Pasteur  has  formed  a  peculiar  opi¬ 
nion  respecting  this  process.  He  says,  “If  tliis 
matter  be  examined  more  closely,  it  will  be  evident 
that  in  the  fermentation  of  sugar  in  the  presence  of 
albuminates  there  is  not  more,  but  rather  less  yeast 
formed  than  in  the  fermentation  of  pure  sugar  solu¬ 
tion.”  If  increase  of  yeast  means  addition  and  mul¬ 
tiplication  of  the  yeast-cells,  this  assertion  of  Pasteur’s 
is  perfectly  unintelligible  and  inconsistent  with  the 
facts  ascertained  by  himself.  In  one  of  his  experi¬ 
ments  he  added  20  c.  c.  of  an  aqueous  decoction  of 
yeast,  containing  '331  nitrogenous  substance,  to  a 
solution  of  9 ’890  grm.  sugar,  and  then  added  a  trace 
of  yeast.  After  the  fermentation  had  ceased,  this 
yeast  had  increased  to  T52  grm.  of  dry  yeast.  If  this 
trace  of  yeast  weighed  2  milligrams  this  increase 
would  be  about  seventy-sixfold,  or  100  parts  of  yeast 
would  have  given  7000  parts. 

In  his  experiments  with  sugar-water  and  yeastf 
100  grm.  of  sugar  was  fermented  with  4-625  grm. 
yeast,  and  the  yeast  weighed,  after  fermentation, 
3'230  grm.,  having  lost  30  per  cent.  In  another  ex¬ 
periment  100  parts  of  yeast  were  reduced  to  91  parts. 

Comparing  the  increase  of  weight  in  the  first  men¬ 
tioned  experiment  with  the  other,  in  which  it  was 
only  42  per  cent.,  the  large  difference  appears  re¬ 
markable,  and  the  cause  of  it  is  easily  intelligible, 
for  in  the  former  case  there  was  a  substance  present 
that  served  for  the  increase  and  propagation  of  the 
yeast-cells,  while  in  the  other  case  the  fermentation 
took  place  in  pure  sugar  solution. 

By  increase  of  yeast  nothing  else  can  be  under¬ 
stood  but  multiplication  of  yeast-cells,  and  this  pre¬ 
supposes  the  presence  of  a  nitrogenous  substance  for 
the  production  of  their  nitrogenous  contents.  It  is, 
therefore,  impossible  to  suppose,  that  in  the  fermen¬ 
tation  of  sugar  with  yeast  there  can  be  any  multi¬ 
plication  of  active  yeast-cells,  and  any  increase  of 
weight  must  be  due  to  some  other  cause. 

However,  Pasteur  adopted  entirely  different  as¬ 
sumptions  for  establishing  his  statement.  When  a 
fermented  sugar  solution  is  evaporated  to  dryness, 
and  the  residue  treated  with  alcohol  and  ether,"  there 


*  Ann.  Ch.  Pli.  vol.  cxxx.  p.  227. 
f  Page  401. 


remains  a  nitrogenous  substance  whose  constituents 
Pasteur  regards  as  originating  from  the  yeast.  He 
describes  it  as  the  “  soluble  part  of  the  yeast  that 
passes  into  solution  during  the  fermentation,”  and 
he  considers  that  it  must  be  added  to  the  yeast  re¬ 
maining  after  fermentation,  in  order  to  ascertain  the 
actual  increase  of  weight. 

It  is  in  this  way  that  he  makes  the  dissolved 
contents  of  the  fermented  liquid  in  the  experiment  to 
amount  to  2'320  grm.,  and  adding  this  to  the  yeast 
residue  =  3 '2 30  grm.,  obtains  5 '5 50  grm.  as  the  total 
quantity  of  yeast,  or  ’934  grm.  more  than  the  quantity 
taken  at  first.  In  this  way  he  makes  the  deficiency 
of  33  per  cent,  appear  as  a  surplus  of  20  per 
cent.  It  is  quite  true  that  the  liquid,  after  fermenta¬ 
tion,  contains  in  solution  a  nitrogenous  substance 
that  must  have  originated  from  the  yeast ;  but  the 
whole  of  the  residue  obtained  by  evaporating  this 
solution  cannot  be  regarded  as  originating  from 
yeast,  and  Pasteur  has  himself  given  the  most  con¬ 
vincing  proof  of  this. 

In  the  fifth  section  of  liis  Memoir,  headed  “  Suc¬ 
cinic  Acid,  Glycerine,  Alcohol,  and  Carbonic  Acid 
are  not  the  only  Products  of  Vinous  Fermentation," 
he  describes  an  experiment  in  which  he  fermented 
100  grm.  of  sugar  with  yeast,  and  then  determined 
the  succinic  acid,  glycerine,  and  extractive  material. 
The  yeast  taken  weighed  1T98  grm. ;  the  extract 
(free  from  succinic  acid  and  glycerine)  1T30  grm., 
and  the  remaining  yeast  P700,  so  that  the  extract 
weighed  only  68  milligrams  less  than  the  yeast  taken. 
Therefore,  it  is  self-evident  the  greater  part  of  this 
extract  could  not  have  been  derived  from  the  yeast, 
otherwise  there  would  not  have  been  any  yeast  left 
after  the  fermentation,  while,  in  fact,  there  was  more 
than  the  quantity  taken  at  first. 

The  experiments  of  Graham,  Hofmann,  and  Red¬ 
wood  may  also  be  considered  in  reference  to  Pasteur’s 
observations,  as  furnishing  additional  evidence  that 
the  greater  part  of  the  residual  extract  does  not  ori¬ 
ginate  from  yeast.  They  mention  that  in  the  fer¬ 
mentation  of  sugar,  however  far  it  is  pushed,  there 
is  formed,  besides  alcohol  and  carbonic  acid,  a  pecu¬ 
liar  substance ;  this  is  the  case  with  pure  sugar 
solutions  as  well  as  with  beerwort.  A  solution  of 
cane  sugar  mixed  with  14,  3,  and  6  per  cent,  by 
measure  of  liquid  yeast  gave,  after  fermentation,  4-4, 
3 ‘72,  and  3  7  per  cent,  of  that  substance,  the  cha¬ 
racters  of  which  resembled  those  of  glucic  acid  or 
caramel.  It  was  not  susceptible  of  further  fermen¬ 
tation,  and  presented  the  appearance  of  a  dark  brown 
syrup,  with  a  bitter  and  rather  acid  taste.  Though 
a  mixture  of  various  substances,  it  did  not  contain 
any  dextrin  or  sugar,  but  precipitated  suboxide  when 
boiled  with  an  alkaline  solution  of  copper.  It  is 
true  these  residues  were  not  washed  with  alcohol 
and  ether  before  weighing;  but  comparing  their 
weight  with  the  quantities  of  yeast  taken  in  the 
different  experiments,  it  is  evident  there  is  no  rela¬ 
tion  between  the  two;  with  two  or  three  times  as 
much  3reast,  there  was  no  more  extract  than  where 
the  smaller  quantity  was  taken,  and  it  must  be  re¬ 
membered  that  neither  succinic  acid  nor  glycerine 
reduce  alkaline  solution  of  copper.  Consequently,  it 
is  not  admissible  to  regard  the  extractive  material 
contained  in  a  fermented  liquid  as  being  derived 
from  the  yeast,  and  to  take  it  into  account  as  re¬ 
sidual  yeast  as  Pasteur  does. 

In  a  saccharine  solution  containing  nitrogenous 
and  sulphuretted  material  suitable  for  the  food  of 


July  30,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


83 


yeast  fungus,  the  number  of  active  yeast-cells  is 
sometimes  increased  a  thousandfold  and  more,  while 
the  amount  of  nitrogenous  substance  in  the  solu¬ 
tion  decreases.  During  the  fermentation  of  a  pure 
sugar  solution  mixed  with  yeast,  the  liquid  extracts 
some  nitrogenous  material  from  the  yeast.  In  this 
way  the  efficacy  of  the  yeast  is  reduced,  and  when  a 
further  quantity  of  sugar  solution  is  added,  less  sugar 
is  decomposed.  I  have  found  that  if  the  yeast  remain¬ 
ing  after  fermentation  of  sugar  solution  be  washed 
with  water  before  adding  it  to  fresh  sugar  solution, 
it  ceases  to  produce  fermentation  after  this  has  been 
done  twice.  When  it  is  not  washed  each  time,  it 
causes  very  slight  fermentation  in  the  fifth  quantity 
of  sugar,  but  is  then  exhausted. 

Consequently,  in  regard  to  the  formation  and  mul¬ 
tiplication  of  yeast-cells,  there  is  a  difference  between 
the  fermentation  of  sugar  solution  with  yeast  and 
the  fermentation  of  saccharine  solutions  containing 
nitrogenous  material  applicable  as  food  for  the  yeast 
fungus.  Pasteur’s  statement,  that  in  both  cases 
there  is  an  equal  production  of  yeast,  is  destitute  of 
any  foundation  in  fact. 

Like  Pasteur,  I  have  foimd  that  when  1000  c.  c.  of 
a  10  per  cent,  sugar  solution  is  mixed  with  15  or  20 
c.  c.  of  moist  yeast,  containing  31  to  5  grm.  of  dry 
substance,  the  weight  of  the  yeast  remaining  after 
the  fermentation  is  less  than  that  of  the  fresh  yeast 
taken.  In  this  case  the  fermentation  is  very  rapid 
and  violent,  the  liquid  becoming  clear  within  three 
or  four  days.  So  long  as  the  turbidity  continues, 
this  may  be  regarded  as  a  certain  indication  that 
fermentation  is  still  going  on. 

My  experiments  further  confirm  Pasteur’s  observa¬ 
tion,  that  when  sugar  solution  is  mixed  with  less 
than  the  above  proportion  of  yeast,  the  weight  of  the 
yeast,  after  fermentation,  is  not  less  but  more  than  at 
first.  This  increase  is  from  5  to  12  per  cent,  by 
weight.  The  cause  of  it  has  been  discussed  by  Pas¬ 
teur,  but  I  believe  definite  evidence  can  now  be  fur¬ 
nished  that  it  is  due  to  the  remarkable  circumstance, 
that  the  nitrogenous  material  extracted  from  the 
yeast  during  fermentation  may  itself  serve  as  food 
for  the  production  of  new  yeast- cells.  In  that  case, 
it  is  easily  intelligible  that  the  yeast  should  increase 
in  weight.  At  the  commencement  of  the  fermenta¬ 
tion,  and  for  some  time  afterwards,  nitrogenous  ma¬ 
terial  is  extracted  from  the  cell-contents  of  the  yeast 
by  the  liquid  still  rich  in  sugar.  The  residual  living 
yeast  behaves  to  this  liquid  like  fresh  yeast  that  has 
been  added  to  beerwort, — it  sprouts  and  forms  new 
-cells  which  consume  the  dissolved  nitrogenous  ma¬ 
terial  in  reproducing  the  originally  active  cell-con¬ 
tents.  Then,  inasmuch  as  these  new  cells  act  upon 
sugar,  there  is  again  a  separation  of  nitrogenous  ma¬ 
terial,  and  this  may  continue  to  go  on  for  months. 

The  formation  of  new  cell-membrane  goes  on  pa¬ 
rallel  with  the  production  of  new  cells,  and,  since 
that  consists  of  cellulose,  the  weight  of  the  yeast  is 
thus  increased,  while,  at  the  same  time,  its  relative 
amount  of  nitrogen  decreases.  The  process  just  de¬ 
scribed  may  be  made  apparent  if  a  litre  of  10  per 
cent,  sugar  solution  be  completely  fermented  with 
15  c.c.  moist  yeast  paste.  If  the  clear  liquid  above 
the  remaining  yeast  be  filtered  two  or  three  times 
through  a  double  filter,  there  will  not  be  any  trace 
of  organized  substance  recognizable  in  the  liquid. 
By  boiling  tliis  for  some  time  to  remove  alcohol, 
there  remains  450  or  500  c.c.,  containing  the  nitro¬ 
genous  substance  that  has  been  separated  from  the 


yeast  in  the  fermentation.  If  some  30  or  40  grm.  of 
sugar  be  dissolved  in  the  liquid,  and,  after  cooling  to 
20°  C.,  a  trace  of  yeast*  added  to  it,  the  whole  being 
left  in  a  small  closed  flask,  fitted  with  a  discharge- 
tube  for  gas  dipping  into  water,  it  will  be  found  that, 
after  ten  hours,  there  is  distinct  evolution  of  gas  and 
a  sensible  deposit  of  yeast.  The  discharge  of  gas 
constantly  augments,  and  after  three  or  four  days  the 
yeast  produced  will  amount  to  450  to  600  milligrams 
in  the  pasty  condition.  After  eight  or  ten  days, 
the  whole  of  the  sugar  will  have  disappeared.  By 
repeating  the  same  series  of  operations  with  tliis  liquid 
the  process  is  again  repeated,  and  in  this  way  I  have 
succeeded  in  producing  yeast  of  perfect  activity  four 
times  successively  in  the  same  liquid.  This  yeast 
behaved  towards  sugar  solution  yeast  in  the  same 
way  as  fresh  yeast. 

The  only  precaution  necessary  for  succeeding  in 
this  experiment  is  that,  after  the  end  of  each  fermen¬ 
tation,  the  filtered  and  evaporated  liquid  must  be 
exactly  neutralized  with  carbonate  of  potash,  to  pre¬ 
vent  its  becoming  too  acid. 

The  slow  progress  of  the  fermentation  when  there 
is  only  a  small  quantity  of  yeast,  or  what  is  known 
as  the  after  fermentation,  is  due  to  the  circumstance 
that,  while  the  nitrogenous  and  sulphuretted  mate¬ 
rial  transferred  from  the  yeast-cell  to  the  liquid  in 
consequence  of  the  metamorphosis  taking  place  there, 
has  not  in  itself  the  power  of  converting  sugar  into 
alcohol  and  carbonic  acid.  It  nevertheless  acquires 
that  power  again  ;  tliis  happening  by  its  serving  as 
material  for  the  production  of  new  yeast-cells,  and 
assuming  in  the  cells  that  state  of  combination  in 
which  it  produces  decomposition  of  sugar. 

During  fermentation  a  separation  of  the  nitroge¬ 
nous  cell- contents  takes  place  ;  one  part  remaining  in 
the  exhausted  cell  in  an  insoluble  state,  and  that  is 
the  reason  why  the  action  of  the  yeast  is  limited. 
If  all  the  nitrogenous  constituents  were  separated 
from  the  cell,  and  they  had  the  capability  of  serving 
again  for  the  production  of  new  cells,  the  process  of 
fermentation  would  be  a  true  perpetual  motion. 

The  cases  of  fermentation  of  sugar  solution  with 
washed  beer-yeast,  described  above,  constitute  a 
tolerably  good  representation  of  all  similar  lands 
of  fermentation.  With  a  certain  proportion  of 
yeast,  the  fermentation  is  rapid,  and  the  yeast  de¬ 
creases  in  weight ;  with  a  very  small  amount  of 
yeast,  the  fermentation  is  slow,  and  may  last  for 
months  or  years,  as  in  the  after  fermentation  or  ma¬ 
turing  of  wine,  and  in  this  case  there  is  an  increase 
in  the  quantity  of  yeast. 

It  is  conceivable  that  in  both  cases  the  process  is 
the  same,  and  that  the  difference  is  due  merely  to  the 
quantity  of  yeast ;  but  if  the  continued  formation  of 
cells  were  a  necessary  condition  of  rapid  fermenta¬ 
tion,  then  the  number  of  cell  vessels  and  the  weight 
of  cellulose  should  increase  in  the  same  ratio,  as  in 
the  slow  fermentation,  while  the  fact  is  that  the 
yeast  decreases  in  weight  in  rapid  fermentation. 

Disregarding  mere  opinions  our  actual  knowledge 
of  yeast  and  of  its  action  is  limited  to  the  follow¬ 
ing  : — 

1.  Yeast  consists  of  plant-cells,  that  develope  and 
multiply  in  a  liquid  containing  sugar  and  an  albumi¬ 
nate,  or  some  substance  derived  from  an  albuminate. 
The  chief  mass  of  the  cell  contents  consists  of  a 


*  For  this  purpose  a  piece  of  pasty  yeast,  the  size  of  a  pin’s 
head,  is  mixed  with  10  c.c.  water,  and  of  this  1  c.c.  is  taken. 


84 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[July  30,  1870, 


compound  of  some  substance  containing  nitrogen  and 
sulphur  with  a  carbo-hydrate  or  sugar. 

From  the  moment  ■when  the  formation  of  yeast  is 
complete,  and  when  it  is  left  in  contact  with  water, 
there  is  a  molecular  motion  which  takes  place,  and 
manifests  itself  by  the  transformation  of  the  cell- 
contents.  The  carbo-hydrate  (or  sugar)  contained  in 
the  cells  is  converted  into  alcohol  and  carbonic  acid, 
while  a  small  portion  of  the  substance  containing 
nitrogen  and  sulphur  becomes  soluble,  and  commu¬ 
nicates  to  the  liquid  its  own  molecular  motion,  in 
consequence  of  which  it  has  the  power  of  converting 
cane-sugar  into  grape-sugar.  In  this  process  no 
other  substance  takes  part  besides  water. 

When  cane-sugar  is  added  to  a  mixture  of  yeast 
and  water,  it  is  first  converted  into  grape-sugar,  and 
the  particles  of  sugar,  penetrating  .the  cell-mem¬ 
branes,  behave  in  the  same  manner  as  the  sugar  or 
carbo-hydrate  that  is  a  constituent  of  the  cell-con¬ 
tents  ;  they  are  converted  into  alcohol  and  carbonic 
acid  (or  succinic  acid,  glycerin,  and  carbonic  acid), 
— or,  in  other  words,  the  sugar  undergoes  fermenta¬ 
tion. 

Up  to  the  present  time  there  is  no  ■well-established 
case  in  which  yeast  has  been  formed  without  sugar, 
or  in  which  sugar  has  been  converted  into  carbonic 
acid  and  alcohol  without  the  presence  and  influence 
of  yeast-cells.* * * § 

Schlossberger  observed  that  many  juicy  fungi  (for 
example,  Agaricus  russula,  etc.),  when  kept  in  narrow¬ 
mouthed,  open  flasks,  underwent  vinous  fermentation 
spontaneously,  and  that  alcohol  could  be  obtained 
from  the  expressed  liquid  on  distillation ;  meanwhile 
true  yeast-cells  were  formed. 

According  to  this,  the  significance  of  the  plant  or¬ 
ganism  in  the  phenomenon  of  fermentation  appears 
to  be  clear,  for  it  is  only  through  its  agency  that  an 
albuminate  and  sugar  can  be  united  into  a  peculiar 
compound  in  the  liquid  where  the  yeast-plant  is 
developed,  or,  in  other  words,  associated  in  that 
manner  in  which  they  can,  as  a  constituent  of  the 
fungus,  exercise  an  influence  on  sugar.  When  the 
fungus  ceases  to  grow7,  the  bond  uniting  the  con¬ 
stituents  of  the  cell- contents  is  dissolved,  and  it  is 
the  molecular  motion  acquired  by  the  cell  contents 
which  enables  the  yeast-cells  to  determine  a  dislo¬ 
cation  of  the  sugar  elements,  or  their  separation  and 
rearrangement  into  other  organic  molecules. 


*  It  is  not  here  meant  that,  besides  the  organized  yeast 
ferment,  there  is  no  other  which  could  convert  sugar  into 
alcohol  and  carbonic  acid.  In  regard  to  this  point,  it  is  neces¬ 
sary  to  direct  attention  to  the  highly  remarkable  characters 
of  the  madder  ferment  discovered  by  E.  Schunck.  See  Erd¬ 
mann  and  AVer t her’ s  Journal  fur  Prakt.  Chemie,  vol.  lxiii. 
p.  222. 

Schunck  showed  that  in  madder,  and  in  its  aqueous  ex¬ 
tract,  fermentation  took  place  at  a  moderate  temperature,  in 
consequence  of  which  rubian  is  converted  into  a  number  of 
new  substances,  among  which  alizarin  is  the  most  remarkable. 
Neither  yeast  nor  casein  decomposes  rubian,  and  the  action  of 
emulsin  is  only  partial.  The  madder  ferment,  which  Schunck 
calls  erythrozym,  is  obtained  by  mixing  an  aqueous  extract  of 
madder  with  hydrochloric  acid,  when  it  separates  as  a  brown 
flocculent  precipitate.  In  the  second  stage  of  its  decomposi¬ 
tion,  it  produces  a  true  vinous  fermentation  in  sugar  solution, 
and  Schunck  found  succinic  acid  among  the  products  (1854), 
the  presence  of  this  substance  in  all  fermented  liquids  having 
been  ascertained  so  far  back  as  1848  by  C.  Schunck  in  Dorpat. 
See  Handworterbuch,  vol.  iii.  p.  224. 

(To  be  continued.) 


RHATANY  FROM  PARA. 

BY  DR.  F.  A.  FLUCKIGEE, 

Since  tlie  end  of  last  century  the  roots  of  Krame- 
ria  trianclra,  a  native  of  Peru,  bave  been  known  in 
medicine  under  tlie  name  of  rliatany.  At  a  later 
period — about  1852  in  Germany — it  was  found  to  be 
mixed  with  tlie  roots  of  Krameria  Ixina,  a  native  of 
the  northern  parts  of  South  America  and  of  the  An¬ 
tilles.  It  has  been  shown  by  Hanbury  (1865)  and  by 
Triana*  that  this  plant  yields  the  rliatany  f  of  Sava- 
nilla  or  New  Granada.  Tliis  kind  is  novdiere  pro¬ 
perly  officinal,  but  it  had,  nevertheless,  recently  and 
for  a  time,  almost  displaced  the  Peruvian  root ;  un¬ 
til  later  tliis  has  again  become  abundant. 

A  third  variety  of  rliatany  root  was  described  by 
Berg, |  in  1865,  as  of  Brazilian  origin,  and  coming 
from  Para.  He  obtained  it  from  Gelie  and  Co.,  of 
Dresden.  I  also  obtained  this  drug  from  the  same 
source,  so  that  I  am  able,  from  my  own  observation, 
to  confirm  Berg’s  description,  adding  to  it  only,  that 
the  transverse  figures  frequently  present  a  jagged 
course,  and  sometimes  surround  the  root.  They 
are,  on  the  whole,  very  regularly  distributed ;  and 
though  at  some  places  they  are  entirely  absent,  they 
become  apparent  when  the  root  is  bent  backwards 
and  forwards.  The  Para  rhatany  presented  in  tliis 
case  a  very  peculiar  elasticity  as  compared  with  that 
of  Payta  and  Savanilla,  even  when  in  sticks,  \  inch 
and  more  hi  diameter.  Some  pieces  also  presented 
the  very  remarkable  appearance  of  numerous  corky 
worts.  Like  the  Savanilla  variety,  the  Para  roots 
become  bluisli-black  wdien  thin  slices  are  immersed 
in  sulphate  of  iron  solution.  Very  probably  this- 
w^as  the  root  examined  by  Mettenlieimer.§ 

I  have  also  obtained  the  same  root  lately  from 
Etienne  Hoques  and  Co.,  in  Paris,  and  was  assured 
it  came  direct  from  Para.||  It  is  in  pieces  16  to  20 
inches  long,  and  £  to  f  of  an  inch  diameter,  inclusive 
of  the  bark.  They  are  ah  of  a  dull,  uniform,  dark 
brownish  or  greyish  colour,  like  the  sample  obtained 
from  Gelie  and  Co.  This  colour  in  itself  is  not 
striking,  but  if  the  three  varieties  of  rhatany  are 
compared  together,  there  is  a  distinctly  recognizable 
difference  between  them.  The  Peruvian  or  Payta 
rhatany  is  red,  the  Savanilla  is  violet,  and  the  Para 
root  is  greyish-brown.  The  two  latter  are  most 
alike  superficially,  and  this  is  probably  due  to  the 
preponderance  of  tannin  that  colours  sulphate  of 
iron  bluish-black. 

The  structure  of  Para  rhatany,  as  described  by 
Berg,  corresponds  closely  with  that  of  the  tw7o  speci¬ 
mens  above-mentioned.  But  while  Berg  speaks  of 
its  structure  as  being  very  different  from  that  of  Sa¬ 
vanilla  rhatany,  I  should  limit  that  difference  to  the- 
fact,  that  in  the  Para  root  the  middle  bark  is  always 

*  This  word  is,  as  commonly  thought,  of  Spanish  origin 
but  is  much  more  probably  derived  from  the  language  of  the- 
district  where  the  plant  grows.  Spruce,  who  is  acquainted 
with  this  language  and  with  Spanish,  directed  his  attention 
to  the  krameria  in  examining  the  cinchona  region  between 
1859  and  1861.  According  to  him,  rattani  in  the  Quichua 
language,  means  to  hold,  fasten,  bind  together ;  and  the  word 
rhatany  appears  to  be  derived  from  it.  In  the  Spanish 
Pharmacopoeia  of  1865  it  is  called  Ratania. 

__  f  ‘Exposition  Universelle  do  1867;  Nouvelle  Grenada  et 
Etats-Unis  de  la  Colombie.  Catalogue  de  l’Exposition,’ 
p.  10. 

X  Wiggers,  ‘  Jahresbericht,’  1865. 

§  AViggers,  ‘Jahresbericht,’  1852-53  and  1857. 

||  Berg’s  name,  Radix  rhatanice  Irasiliensis,  is  too  com- 
I  prehensive;  Krameria  Ixina  also  grows  in  Brazil. 


July  30,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


85 


made  up  of  eight  or  ten  rows  of  cells,  while  in  the 
SavaniUa  kind  there  are  only  half  as  many.  Other 
differences  do  not  appear  to  he  general,  when  the 
comparative  examination  is  extended  to  a  large 
number  of  sections  from  roots  of  various  thicknesses. 
Thus,  for  instance,  hi  thin  pieces  only  a  few  cells  of 
the  parenchyma  are  filled  until  oxalate  of  lime,  while 
in  thicker  pieces  this  is  frequently  the  case,  as 
hi  the  SavaniUa  roots.  Even  in  regard  to  the  thick¬ 
ness  of  the  bark,  the  difference  is  often  only  one  of 
degree.  Moreover,  since  the  parenchyma  fibres  in 
the  Para  variety  present  a  very  scattered  appearance 
at  the  outer  circumference  of  the  sections,  it  is  not 
easy  to  distinguish  precisely  between  the  middle  bark 
and  the  interior  bark. 

The  identification  of  Para  rhatany  is  sufficiently 
ensured  by  means  of  the  external  characteristics 
above  mentioned,  except  in  the  case  of  some  few 
pieces. 

After  having  thus  assured  myself  as  to  the  identity 
of  Berg’s  Brazilian  rhatany  with  that  obtained  from 
Para  through  the  French  house,  I  received  a  memoir 
read  before  the  Paris  School  of  Pharmacy  by  Cotton 
in  1868.  This  laborious  paper,  entitled  ‘  Etude  Com- 
paree  sur  le  Genre  Krameria  et  les  Racines  qu’U 
fournit  a  la  Medecine,’  first  specifies  the  21  different 
varieties  of  Krameria  that  are  known,  and  then 
treats  of  the  roots  belonging  to  each.  After  the 
Payta  root,  which  is  the  only  officinal  kind  in  France, 
Cotton  describes  the  SavaniUa  kind,  and  explains 
that  there  are  two  very  different  types  of  it,  viz.  the 
New  Granada,  or  true  SavaniUa,  and  that  from  the 
Antilles.  In  reference  to  the  first  named  type,  Cotton 
gives  no  information  that  is  new  to  me,  and  it  cor¬ 
responds  with  the  SavaniUa  rhatany  described  in 
German  works.  He  states  that  the  roots  from  the 
AntiUes  are  now  commencing  to  displace  those  from 
New  Granada  and  Peru. 

Cotton  distinguishes  two  forms  of  rhatany  from  the 
AntUles,  viz.  a  black  kind  ( Ratanhia  des  AntiUes  a 
■surface  noire)  and  a  brown  land  (R.  d.  A.  a  surface 
■hr une).  The  former  is  characterized  by  numerous 
transverse  fissures ;  the  latter  is  destitute  of  them, 
but  has  longitudinal  fissures.  Although  he  is  dis¬ 
posed  to  regard  these  two  forms  as  being  derived  from 
■different  varieties  of  Krameria,  he,  nevertheless,  finds 
aU  kinds  of  intermediate  specimens.  From  the  de¬ 
scription  and  drawings  of  the  anatomical  structure 
given  by  Cotton,  nothing  definite  can  be  inferred. 
He  states,  further,  that  the  AntiUes  land  (probably 
both  the  black  and  the  brown)  comes  from  several 
places  on  the  coast  of  South  America,  near  Cumanas, 
and  “  as  far  as  Guadeloupe.”  It  appears  to  me, 
therefore,  that  it  is  not  especiaUy  entitled  to  the  de¬ 
signation  of  AntiUes  rhatany.-  Cotton  adds,  that  it 


*  Originally  tliis  was  ascribed  to  K.  Ixina  in  the  French 
Codex,  also  by  Mettenheimer  in  1852,  by  Schuchardt  in 
1855,  and  by  Berg  in  1866.  Here  the  confusion  began,  inas¬ 
much  as  Berg  (Jahresb.  1856)  characterized  Savanilla  rhatany 
-correctly,  but  did  not  refer  it  to  TC.  Ixina;  while  he  de¬ 
clared  Schuchardt’s  Ratanhia  antillica  to  be  identical  with 
it.  Wiggers  (1856)  likewise  regarded  it  as  a  peculiar  kind; 
Mettenheimer  (Jahresb.  1857)  identified  the  root  mentioned 
by  him  with  Berg’s  (Savanilla  or)  Granada  rhatany,  and  dis¬ 
puted  their  identity  with  the  Antilles  root  from  K.  Ixina. 
Perhaps  Mettenheimer’s  description  may,  nevertheless,  as 
already  suggested,  be  referred  to  Para  rhatany,  although  it  is 
not  ^sufficiently  definite.  After  Hanbury  (Pharm.  Journ. 
1865,  Vol.  VI.  p.  461)  referred  Savanilla  rhatany  to  K.  Ixina, 
at  was  again  classed  with  the  original  Antilles  kind.  In  re¬ 
porting  on  Hanbury ’s  memoir,  Wiggers  (1865)  was  correctly 


is  generally,  and  perhaps  witli  reason,  ascribed  to 
Krameria  Ixina,  and  lie  beUeves  lie  lias  proved  this 
opinion  to  be  correct  by  his  comparison  of  specimens 
in  the  Paris  herbarium  with  those  of  commerce.  But, 
as  wiUbe  evident,  this  apphes  only  to  a  few  fragments 
of  the  stem  or  branches,  and  not  to  the  roots  them¬ 
selves,  so  that  Cotton’s  assumption  requires  further 
demonstration,  as  he  points  out  himself,  since  in  re¬ 
gard  to  the  brown  kind  or  variety  of  AntiUes  rha¬ 
tany,  he  is  disposed  to  regard  Krameria  spartioides 
(Klotzsch)  as  the  plant  it  is  derived  from,  and,  up  to 
the  present  time,  this  is  certainly  known  only  in  the 
northern  and  north-eastern  parts  of  South  America. 

The  question  now  arises,  whether  this  so-called 
AntiUes  rhatany  is  a  new  kind,  or  whether  the  black 
form  is  “  identical  with  that  described  by  Schuchardt* * 
in  1855,  under  the  name  SavanUla,  wlfile  the  brown 
root  corresponds  to  a  “false”  rhatany,  mentioned  by 
Martigny,f  as  Cotton  suspects.  I  think  it  very  neces¬ 
sary  to  inquire  further  into  these  questions ;  but,  at 
present,  it  is  my  object  to  clear  up  the  relation  be¬ 
tween  Cotton’s  rhatany,  of  the  AntiUes,  and  that  from 
Para.  Through  the  kindness  of  my  colleague,  Pro¬ 
fessor  Planchon,  of  the  Paris  School  of  Pharmacy,  I 
was  enabled  to  examine  the  specimens  described  by 
Cotton,  and  to  select  typical  examples  of  the  brown 
and  black  kinds  of  his  AntiUes  rhatany.  By  com¬ 
paring  these  with  Para  rhatany,  I  have  come  to  the 
conclusion  that  both  these  forms  are  identical  with 
it.  I  may  remark  also,  that  this  conclusion  is  based 
on  the  examination  of  twelve  pounds  of  Para  rhattany. 

The  author  sums  up  his  remarks  as  follows  ; — 

1.  There  are,  at  present,  in  commerce,  three  dif¬ 
ferent  kinds  of  rhatany,  which  are  best  named  after 
their  principal  ports  of  exportation, — Payta,  Sava¬ 
niUa,  and  Para. 

2.  The  first  two  kinds  are  described  according  to 
origin  and  characters  in  every  modern  work  on  phar¬ 
macognosy. 

3.  The  Para  root  was  first  described  by  Berg,  as 
“  radix  ratanhise  brasihensis  by  Cotton  as  rhatany 
of  the  AntiUes. | 

4.  Its  colour  varies  between  dark  grey  and  brown ; 
the  extremes  of  this  colour  were  regarded  by  Cotton 
as  black  and  brown  varieties. 

5.  Tins  colour  is  very  distinct  from  that  of  Payta 
and  Savanilla  rhatany. 

6.  The  origin  of  Para  rhatany  is  unknown. 

7.  The  substitution,  in  medicine,  of  Payta  rha¬ 
tany  by  another  is  inadmissible.  There  exist  hi  re¬ 
gard  to  the  tannin,  chemical  differences  which  de¬ 
serve  to  be  investigated.  The  tannins  predominat¬ 
ing,  or  exclusively  present  perhaps  in  SavaniUa  and 
Para  rhatany,  produce  bluish-black  precipitates  with 
iron  salts. 


under  tlie  impression  that  the  Antilles  kind  was  peculiar,  and 
hence  he  assumed  that,  in  the  Antilles  and  in  Venezuela, 
K.  Ixina  yielded  this  particular  kind,  as  the  true  Antilles 
root,  while  the  variety  granatensis  was  obtained  from  the 
same  plant  in  New  Granada,  as  the  Savanilla  root.  Whoever 
traces  these  modifications  in  the  idea  of  Antilles  rhatany,  will 
share  with  me  the  wish  to  follow  them  out  completely.  After 
all,  it  seems  to  me  very  questionable  whether  the  former 
French  Codex  was  right  in  referring  its  Antilles  rhatany  to 
K.  Ixina. 

*  Botanische  Zeitung,  vol.  xiii.  p.  536,  and  Wiggers, 
Jahresb.  1855,  p.  48. 

f  Encyclop.  der  med.  pharm.  Naturalien- und  Rohwaaren- 
kunde,  1834,  p.  562. 

X  Cotton  was  not  acquainted  with  Berg’s  work. 


86 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[J  uly  30,  1870. 


SPOGEL  SEEDS. 

Plantago  ispaghula,  Roxb. 

BY  M.  C.  COOKE. 

Spogel  seeds  have  long  been  known  and  employed 
in  the  East.  Probably  both  seeds  and  the  report  of 
their  virtues  were  first  derived  from  Persia.  The 
seeds  of  several  species  of  Plantain,  as  Plantago  am- 
plexicaulis ,  Cav. ;  P.  ciliata,  Desf. ;  P.  decumbens, 
Forsk.,  and  P.  major,  var.  asiatica,  are  used  in 
North-Western  India,  as  well  as  those  of  P.  ispa¬ 
ghula.  Dr.  Stewart  says  that  all  these,  and  it  may 
be  others  of  the  wild  species,  at  times,  are  col¬ 
lected  and  sold  as  the  officinal  seeds,  known  under  the 
two  names  of  “  isafghol  ”  and  “  bartang.”  They  are 
considered  cooling  and  emollient,  and  given  in 
diarrhoea  and  fever.  Honigberger  states  that  the 
seeds  of  P.  major,  which  are  brought  from  Cashmere, 
are  officinal  with  the  Hakims. 

The  true  spogel  seeds  are  those  of  P.  ispaghula, 
Hoxb.  They  are  the  ‘Ispagool’  of  the  Persians, 
called  by  the  same  name  in  Hindustani,  the  ‘  Is- 
pungur  ’  of  Sindh,  ‘  Ispoghol  ’  of  the  Tamuls,  ‘  Is- 
phagula  ’  of  the  Teloogoos,  the  ‘  Buzr-katoona  ’  of 
the  Arabs,  and  the  Yonanee  ‘  Fuslioon.’ 

The  plant  itself  is  thus  described: — Stem  very 
short,  soon  dividing  into  three  or  four  ascending 
round  villous  branches  which  are  a  few  inches  in 
length.  Leaves  alternate,  linear-lanceolate,  3 -nerved, 
luxuriant  in  young  plants,  remotely  denticulate, 
somewhat  woolly,  towards  the  base  channelled,  and 
stem-clasping,  length  six  to  eight  inches,  by  a  quarter 
to  half  an  inch  broad.  Peduncles  axillary,  solitary, 
naked,  erect,  round,  a  little  villous,  the  length  of  the 
leaves.  Spikes  solitary,  terminal,  when  in  seed  1 
to  inches  long,  and  erect.  Capsule  ovate,  2 -celled. 
Seeds  solitary,  ovate-elliptic,  convex  on  the  outside, 
concave  on  the  inner.  Integument  rather  thick, 
tough,  and  brown. 

The  seeds  are  the  officinal  part,  and  are  about  the 

eighth  of  an  inch  in 
length,  of  a  greyish 
colour,  with  a  pink¬ 
ish  tinge.  Under  the 
microscope  they  bear 
some  resemblance  to 
a  minute  cowry  shell, 
the  concave  side  hav¬ 
ing  a  deep  longitudi¬ 
nal  furrow  or  cleft, 
which  is  gaping  at 
the  middle  and  nar¬ 
rowed  towards  each 
end.  They  yield  to  water  an  abundance  of  tasteless 
mucilage. 

Ainslie  observes  that  the  seeds  are  of  a  very  cool¬ 
ing  and  mucilaginous  nature,  and  are,  on  that  ac¬ 
count,  much  prized  by  the  native  practitioners,  who 
prescribe  an  infusion  of  them  in  cases  of  gonorrhoea, 
catarrh,  and  in  nephritic  complaints.  He  adds, 
this  is  one  of  the  few  articles  of  the  Tamool  Materia 
Medica,  the  virtues  of  which  are  so  well  ascertained 
by  the  English  inhabitants  of  India,  as  to  have 
rendered  their  use  common  in  the  regimental  hos¬ 
pitals. 

Dr.  Waring,  in  his  *  Remarks  on  Bazaar  Medi¬ 
cines  ’  says,  “  These  seeds,  which  are  procurable  in 
most  bazaars,  are  highly  useful,  by  their  demulcent 
and  mucilaginous  qualities,  in  diarrhoea  and  dys¬ 


entery,  and  they  may  be  advantageously  employed, 
whether  fever  be  present  or  not.  In  the  early  stages 
of  these  diseases  they  are  best  given  in  decoction, 
prepared  by  boiling  four  drachms  of  the  bruised 
seeds  in  two  pints  of  water,  till  the  quantity  is  re¬ 
duced  to  one  pint,  and  straining.  The  whole  of  this 
may  be  taken,  in  divided  doses,  in  the  course  of  the 
day.  It  need  not  interfere  with  the  use  of  opium,  or 
any  other  remedies  deemed  necessary.  In  chronic 
diarrhoea  they  are  best  given  whole,  in  doses  of  two 
drachms  and  a  half,  mixed  with  half  a  drachm  of 
sugar-candy  or  sugar.  In  their  passage  through  the 
intestines  they  absorb  as  much  fluid  as  make  them 
swell,  and  by  the  time  they  reach  the  lower  part  of 
the  canal,  they  give  out  a  bland  mucilage,  and  in 
general  continue  to  exercise  their  mucilaginous  pro¬ 
perty  until  they  are  passed  by  stool.  They  are 
chiefly  useful  when  the  stools  are  very  watery.  A 
low  diet  and  small  doses  of  opium  aid  their  operation. 

In  the  new  India  Pharmacopoeia,  this  drug  is  in¬ 
cluded  amongst  the  primary  articles,  an  evidence  of 
the  esteem  in  which  the  authors  held  it  for  Indian 
practice.  On  one  or  two  occasions  only  it  has  ap¬ 
peared  in  the  English  market.  The  only  prepara¬ 
tion  named  in  the  above  work  is  the  decoction  of  the 
seeds,  but,  when  bruised  and  moistened  with  water, 
they  are  also  recommended  as  forming  a  good  emol¬ 
lient  poultice. 

Mr.  Twining,  in  his  ‘  Diseases  of  Bengal,’  quotes 
the  report  that  a  slight  degree  of  astringency,  and 
some  tonic  property  may  be  imparted  to  the  seeds  by 
exposing  them  to  a  moderate  degree  of  heat,  so  that 
they  shall  be  dried,  and  slightly  browned.  “  This 
remedy,”  he  adds,  “sometimes  cures  the  protracted 
diarrhoea  of  European  and  native  children,  after 
many  other  remedies  have  failed.” 

In  Spain,  perhaps  also  in  other  parts  of  Southern 
Europe,  and  on  the  northern  coast  of  Africa,  the 
seeds  of  another  species  of  Plantain,  P.  psyllium, 
Linn.,  are  employed  for  their  mucilaginous  properties, 
and  are  made  into  demulcent  drinks  as  a  substitute 
for  linseed  or  marsh-mallows.  Many  other  species 
possess  like  properties  in  a  more  or  less  eminent 
degree. 


THE  CHEMISTRY  OF  THE  ATMOSPHERE. 

BY  J.  ALFRED  WANKLYN. 

Having  treated  of  the  general  conclusions  to  be 
drawn  from  chemical  examinations  of  the  atmo¬ 
sphere,  I  will  now  consider  the  analytical  operations 
by  which  the  composition  of  the  atmosphere  has  been 
investigated. 

The  amount  of  oxygen  in  air  is  determined  by  as¬ 
certaining  the  degree  of  contraction  which  a  mixture 
of  a  certain  volume  of  air  with  an  excess  of  hydro¬ 
gen  gas  undergoes  on  being  exploded  by  the  electric 
spark ;  one-tliird  of  the  contraction  is  equal  to  the 
volume  of  oxygen  contained  in  the  original  air.  An¬ 
other  method,  which  is  very  nearly,  but  not  quite  so 
accurate,  is  to  absorb  the  oxygen  directly,  by  means 
of  pyrogallate  of  potash.  The  determination  of  the- 
proportion  of  oxygen  in  ah  ranks  among  the  most 
accurate  operations  of  chemical  analysis.  This  has 
been  splendidly  exemplified  by  Regnault  and  Bun¬ 
sen. 

The  carbonic  acid  in  the  atmosphere  has  been 
determined  by  several  methods  in  recent  times.  The- 
plan  of  absorbing  the  carbonic  acid  by  means  of  pot- 


July  30,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


87 


ash,  and  then  reading  the  contraction  thereby  pro¬ 
duced,  is  very  unsatisfactory,  inasmuch  as  the  normal 
quantity  of  carbonic  acid  in  the  atmosphere  is  not 
more  than  twice  as  large  as  the  experimental  error 
involved  in  the  two  readings  requisite  for  deter¬ 
mining  on  the  amount  of  contraction  sustained  by 
the  volume  of  air  experimented  on.  This  will  be 
apparent  from  the  following  figures : — In  100  volumes 
of  average  air,  there  is  from  O’ 030  to  O’ 040  of  a 
volume  of  carbonic  acid.  The  readings  of  “  original 
volume  of  air,  before  absorption  by  potash,”  and 
“volume  after  absorption  by  potash,”  cannot  be  de¬ 
pended  upon  as  being  accurate  within  less  than  the 
toImJo  °f  the  total  volume  operated  upon.  In  the  in¬ 
stance,  therefore,  of  a  perfectly  pure  gas,  absolutely 
devoid  of  carbonic  acid,  we  should  sometimes  get 
0’02  for  the  percentage  of  carbonic  acid.  In  other 
words,  a  variation  of  0’02  per  cent,  is  devoid  of 
meaning  when  this  method  is  employed.  But  0’02 
per  cent,  is  equal  to  more  than  one-lialf  of  the  ave¬ 
rage  percentage  of  carbonic  acid  in  the  atmosphere ; 
consequently  this  method  cannot  be  depended  on  for 
determining  the  actual  variations  which  occur  in 
the  carbonic  acid  of  the  atmosphere,  and  this  should 
be  borne  in  mind  in  reference  to  results  obtained  in 
this  way.  Possibly  the  abnormal  results  obtained 
by  Dr.  Frankland  in  the  examination  of  air  from  the 
summit  of  Mont  Blanc,  were  due  to  this  cause. 

Another  method  employed  for  this  purpose,  is  to 
ascertain  the  gain  in  weight,  which  an  apparatus 
charged  with  solution  of  caustic  potash  undergoes 
when  a  known  volume  of  air  is  transmitted  through 
it.  This  method  is  obviously  unsatisfactory,  for 
a  gas,  containing  so  little  carbonic  acid  as  the  at¬ 
mosphere,  cannot  be  deprived  of  its  carbonic  acid 
unless  it  be  passed  through  solution  of  an  alkali  at  a 
rate  far  slower  than  is  practicable,  and  it  is  impos¬ 
sible  to  ensure  that  the  immense  volume  of  inflowing 
gas  shall  be  in  exactly  the  same  state  of  dryness  as 
the  outflowing  gas.  The  third  method,  which  alone 
is  satisfactory,  is  rather  an  old  one.  It  consists  in 
enclosing  a  known  volume  of  air  with  a  quantity  of 
lime  or  baryta-water,  and  subsequently  observing 
the  quantity  of  carbonate  formed.  De  Saussure, 
who  was  the  first  to  operate  in  this  manner,  weighed 
the  carbonate  of  lime ;  Dalton,  and  later,  Pettenkofer 
accomplish  the  same  end  by  means  of  titrations ;  the 
strength  of  the  volume  of  lime  or  baryta -water  being 
known  beforehand,  a  titration  of  the  lime  or  ba¬ 
ryta-water,  after  the  absorption,  furnishes  the  re¬ 
quisite  data.  As  has  been  said,  we  never  meet  with 
so  much  carbonic  acid  in  a  badly-ventilated  room  as 
to  be  of  any  importance  in  itself ;  inasmuch,  however, 
as  the  discharge  of  carbonic  acid  iuto  the  atmo¬ 
sphere  never  takes  place  without  being  accompanied 
by  other  contamination,  the  amount  of  carbonic  acid 
in  a  given  specimen  of  air  may  be  useful  as  an  index 
to  the  general  purity  of  the  specimen.  From  this 
point  of  view,  accurate  determinations  of  the  carbonic 
acid  in  air  acquire  a  value.  They  are,  moreover, 
very  easily  made. 

Referring  to  Dr.  Smith’s  Report  for  1809,  let  us 
consider  the  method  of  research  followed  in  his  in¬ 
quiries.  This  may  be  characterized  as  consisting  in 
washing  a  known  and  generally  enormous  volume  of 
air  with  a  relatively  small  volume  of  water,  and 
then  examining  the  water.  The  results  of  the  water- 
analysis  are  subsequently  to  be  referred  to  the  volume 
of  air  which  has  been  submitted  to  the  process  of 
washing. 


The  first  question  naturally  arising  is,  how  far 
washing  with  water  is  capable  of  removing  micro¬ 
scopic  quantities  of  impurity  from  air  ?  I  have  no 
hesitation  in  asserting  that  the  operation  of  washing 
air,  or  other  gas,  with  water  is  adequate  for  the 
entire  transference  of  all  finely  divided  solids,  and 
all  vapours  from  the  former  to  the  latter.  A  few 
years  ago  the  author  had  a  large  quantity  of 
gases,  wherein  was  diffused  the  vapour  of  a  liquid. 
That  vapour  was  the  product  of  a  new  reaction  he 
was  studying,  and  from  the  circumstances  of  the 
case,  it  could  be  obtained  only  as  vapour  mixed  with 
large  volumes  of  gases.  How  to  extract  the  vapour 
was  the  question  ?  By  reducing  the  temperature  as 
far  as  possible  nothing  was  to  be  expected.  For,  un¬ 
less  at  the  lowest  temperature  reached,  the  tension 
of  the  vapour  should  fall  so  low  that  the  volume  of 
the  gas  would  become  supersaturated  with  vapour 
there  could  be  no  condensation  at  all.  Even 
when  condensation  did  occur,  a  certain  quantity  of 
vapour  would  necessarily  remain,  sufficient  to  satu¬ 
rate  the  gases  at  that  temperature.  Washing  the 
gas  with  water  was  therefore  tried,  and  it  proved 
successful ;  the  liquid  sought  for,  which  had  existed 
in  the  form  of  vapour  diffused  through  an  immense 
volume  of  gas,  was  found  in  the  wash-water.  The 
ease  with  which  such  absorptions  are  effected,  and 
the  obvious  completeness  of  the  operation  will  com¬ 
mend  themselves  to  all  who  make  experiments  of 
this  kind. 

In  order  to  ensure  the  complete  absorption  of  every 
trace  of  vapour  and  finely  divided  solid,  the  method 
adopted  by  Dr.  Ransome,  in  his  recent  experiments 
on  the  organic  matter  of  respired  air,  will  doubtless 
prove  very  advantageous.  Dr.  Ransome  cooled  the 
air  until  the  aqueous  vapour  in  it  began  to  condense, 
and  then  shook  up  with  water.  A  little  considera¬ 
tion  will  show  how  admirably  this  method  of  pro¬ 
cedure  is  calculated  to  promote  a  thorough  washing 
of  every  particle  of  the  air  under  examination. 

In  the  new  air-analysis,  this  extraction  of  the 
liquid  and  solid  impurity  by  means  of  washing  with 
water  is  a  cardinal  method,  and  it  deserves  a  pro¬ 
minent  place  among  the  resources  of  modern  chemi¬ 
cal  analysis. 

The  method  of  water-analysis,  used  by  Dr.  Angus 
Smith  for  the  examination  of  the  wash-water,  was 
that  invented  by  Wanklyn,  Chapman,  and  Smith, 
viz.  the  ammonia-process. 


CHLORAL. 

BY  C.  A.  MARTIUS  AND  P.  MENDELSOHN-BARTHOLDY.* 

In  the  course  of  our  experiments  on  the  preparation 
of  hydrate  of  chloral,  it  fell  in  our  way  to  examine  diffe¬ 
rent  preparations  found  in  commerce,  the  purity  of 
which  was  guaranteed  by  crystallization  from  sulphuret 
of  carbon  and  ether,  and  subsequent  pressing  out.  Our 
attention  was  also  directed  to  the  varying  statements 
respecting  the  points  of  fusion  and  ebullition  of  hydrate 
of  chloral,  and  to  the  possibility  of  admixture  of  foreign 
substances,  even  after  the  renewal  of  free  chlorine  and 
hydrochloric  acid,  and  notwithstanding  its  solubility  and 
apparent  homogeneity ;  and  that  to  these  foreign  sub¬ 
stances  might  be  due  the  discrepancies  relative  to  phy¬ 
sical  properties,  and  possibly  also  the  physiological  dis¬ 
crepancies  found  by  different  observers.  W e  were  espe¬ 
cially  struck  by  the  differences  in  boiling-point  in  diffe¬ 
rent  preparations,  and  led  to  the  preparation  of  a  scries  of 

*  Buchner’s  ‘  Repertoriiun  fiir  Pliarmacie,’  1870. 

F  3 


88 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[July  30,  1870. 


compounds  which  threw  light  upon  these  discrepancies, 
and  which  are,  moreover,  of  some  scientific  interest. 

It  had  been  observed  by  J.  Personnel  that  chloral 
enters  into  combination  with  alcohol  just  as  it  does  with 
water.  According  to  our  observations,  the  other  alco¬ 
hols  of  the  fatty  series  behave  similarly  to  ethylic  alco¬ 
hol.  When  one  equivalent  of  chloral  is  mixed  with  one 
equivalent  of  anhydrous  ethylic  alcohol,  there  is  union 
accompanied  with  development  of  heat,  and,  on  cooling, 
the  resulting  compound  solidifies  into  a  crystalline  mass. 
The  same  takes  place  when  methylic,  butylic,  or  amylic 
alcohol,  or  mercaptan,  is  substituted  for  ethylic  alcohol. 

We  may  regard  these  compounds  as  intermediate 
trichloracetals. 

Acetal.  Trieliloracetal. 

CF3  (CC13 

CH  OCoIIg 

(op2H5 

Chloral  amylate. 


mg 


CH 


OCoH5 

oc;h5 

Chloral  alcoholate. 

CCL 


CH  OH 
(OC2H- 


CC13 

CH  l  OH 


( 


OC,H 


n 


Chloral-hydrate. 

(  CC13 
CH  OH 
(  OH 

Chloral  mercaptide. 

(  CC13 
CII  SH 
(  OCoPL 


Inasmuch  as  the  production  of  these  compounds  takes 
place  without  formation  of  any  bye-products,  analysis  of 
them  appeared  to  be  unnecessary.  We  have,  however, 
taken  the  vapour-densities  of  some  of  them,  and  found 
that,  like  chloral -hydrate  itself,  they  have  only  half  the 
condensation  indicated  by  their  formulas. 

With  the  ethers  of  the  alcohol-radicals  chloral  does  not 
combine.  The  compound  of  chloral  and  ethylic  alcohol 
boils  at  115°  to  116°  C.,  and  solidifies  at  40°  C.,  becoming- 
crystalline.  At  40°  C.  (in  the  fluid  condition)  its  sp.  gr. 
is  1-143. 

In  cold  water  it  dissolves  only  slowly,  but  on  warming, 
the  solution  is  complete.  In  ether,  alcohol,  acetic  ether, 
and  petroleum,  it  is  easily  soluble ;  and  on  cooling-  the 
hot  concentrated  solution,  it  crystallizes  out  in  long- 
beautiful  needles. 

The  methylic  compound  resembles  the  ethylic  com¬ 
pound  very  closely.  It  boils  at  98°  C. 

The  amylic  compound  boils  at  143°  C.,  and  at  25°  C. 
has  a  sp.  gr.  of  l- 2340.  At  25°  C.  it  solidifies  to  a  crys¬ 
talline  mass,  which  is  soluble  in  ether,  alcohol,  and  pe¬ 
troleum.  From  the  last-named  solvent  it  is  capable  of 
crystallizing  in  long  tufts  of  needles.  Only  on  prolonged 
boiling-  with  water  is  the  decomposition  into  chloral  and 
amylic  alcohol  complete. 

Chloral-mercaptide,  chloral,  and  mercaptan  combine 
with  great  evolution  of  heat,  and  form  a  crystalline 
compound,  soluble  in  ether,  alcohol,  sulphuret  of  car¬ 
bon,  and  capable  of  crystallizing  easily  out  of  its  solutions 
hi  these  solvents. 

We  can  easily  understand  that  the  alcohol- compound 
has  been  often  taken  for  the  hydrate  of  chloral,  and  that 
the  hydrate  has  been  often  contaminated  with  the  alco¬ 
holate. 

It  appears  to  us  to  be  especially  interesting  to  study 
the  physiological  characters  of  the  alcohol-compounds ; 
according  to  O.  Liebreich,  the  physiological  effects  of 
the  alcoholate  differ  essentially  from  those  of  hydrate. 
In  preparing-  the  hydrate  for  medicinal  use,  one  of  the 
main  points  to  be  attended  to  is  its  freedom  from  alco¬ 
holic  compounds.  Pure  hydrate  of  chloral  boils  at  85° 
C.,  as  we  have  ascertained  by  numerous  experiments. 


MUSHROOMS. 

Two  cases  of  cryptogamie  poisoning  have  been  re¬ 
ported  within  the  last  fortnight,  and  it  is  certainly  very 
much  to  be  regretted  that  the  difficulty  of  distinguishing 
between  poisonous  and  non-poisonous  Fungi  is  so  great, 
since  mushrooms  are  held  in  such  high  estimation  as  a 
delicacy  by  all  classes,  and  are  gathered  and  consumed 
in  great  quantities  with  so  little  discrimination.  Look- 

*  ‘  Cotnptes  Rend  us,’  vol.  Ixix.  p.  1303. 


at  the  whole  class  of  Fungi,  and  the  purpose 
served  by  its  members  in  the  economy  of  nature,  we 
may  consider  them  in  the  light  of  highly  nitrogenized, 
and  therefore  nutritious  material,  their  special  office  be¬ 
ing  to  convert  organized  material  into  organic  mould, 
serviceable  for  the  growth  and  nourishment  of  the  more 
highly  organized  plants,  while  their  own  growth  is  sup¬ 
ported  by  the  nitrogenous  elements  of  their  nidus. 

The  phenomenon  of  their  growth  may  be  simply  illus¬ 
trated  by  observation  of  the  yeast-plant  in  the  fer¬ 
mentation  of  beer,  or  of  the  vinegar-plant  in  the  produc¬ 
tion  of  vinegar.  Both  these  Fungi  are  species  of  My  co¬ 
derma,  and,  speaking  generally,  they  grow  in  a  fluid 
containing  nitro-hydro-carbonaceous  material  mixed 
with  variable  quantities  of  accidental  elements  and  com¬ 
pounds,  and,  by  appropriating  to  themselves  the  nitro¬ 
genous  element,  they  leave  the  hydro-carbonaceous 
atoms  to  rearrange  themselves.  But  it  happens  that  in 
the  progress  of  these  changes  an  alkaloid,  or  sometimes 
probably  more  than  one,  is  often  developed,  and  may  be 
taken  up  by  the  fungus.  These  alkaloids  are  all  more 
or  less  aerial,  and  according  to  the  degree  of  their 
acridity  they  render  the  fungi  containing  them  more  or 
less  poisonous. 

The  material  forming  the  nidus  affects  the  character 
of  the  alkaloid.  Specimens  of  the  same  species  of  Aga - 
ricus  grown  in  different  beds  -will  vary  in  acidity  to  a 
degree  corresponding  with  the  nature  and  composition 
of  the  bed  in  which  they  have  been  raised.  Climate 
also  appears  to  possess  considerable  influence  in  the  pro¬ 
duction  and  assimilation  of  the  alkaloids  in  fungi,  since 
many  species  may  be  eaten  without  risk  in  one  coun¬ 
try,  while  in  another  the  same  species  are  markedly 
poisonous. 

The  mushroom  we  use  commonly  in  England,  for  in¬ 
stance,  is  held  to  be  poisonous  in  Italy,  and  prohibited  in 
the  Italian  markets  ;  while  in  Paris  the  only  species 
allowed  in  the  markets  is  the  Agaricus  campestris ,  except¬ 
ing-,  of  course,  the  truffle  ( Taber  eestivum )  and  morel 
(Morchella  esculenta).  Boletus  cdulis  has,  however,  been 
cultivated  in  the  south  of  France.  The  mushroom  most 
highly  esteemed  in  this  country  is  the  Agaricus  campes¬ 
tris ,  of  which  the  pileus  is  fleshy  and  dry,  plano-convex, 
flesh-coloured,  becoming  brow-n ;  the  stem  is  stuffed  and 
even,  with  a  white  ring,  somewhat  torn,  placed  about 
its  middle ;  the  gills  are  free.  In  some  parts  of  the 
country  the  Agaricus  arvensis  is  much  prized,  but  it  is 
coarser,  and  more  likely  to  be  acrid-.  It  is  white,  after¬ 
wards  becoming  a  pinkish-brown,  and  it  often  attains  an 
enormous  size. 

A  third  variety  is  the  Marekmius  oreacles ,  or  cham¬ 
pignon,  which  may  usually  be  eaten  wfith  impunity ;  it, 
hownver,  is  sometimes  very  acrid,  and  requires  to  be  ga¬ 
thered  w-ith  judgment,  for  Marasmius  urens,  which  often 
grows  in  the  same  meadow,  is  of  very  much  the  same 
appearance,  and  is  particularly  acrid.  The  last-named, 
however,  is  darker,  and  has  narrower  gills. 

In  France,  the  ordinary  mushroom,  Agaricus  campestris, 
is  in  common  use,  as  already  stated ;  Boletus  edulis  has 
also  been  cultivated,  and  is  thought  much  of.  The  ap¬ 
pearance  of  this  fungus,  however,  is  against  it;  it  is 
high-coloured,  watery-looking,  and  forbidding.  The 
truffle  ( Tuber  cibarium )  is  considered  an  exceptional  deli¬ 
cacy,  and  is  much  sought  after. 

It  is  not,  however,  the  epicurean  view  of  the  subject 
we  now  desire  to  take,  but  the  practical  and  interesting 
question  how  to  distinguish  non-poisonous  fungi  from 
those  which  are  poisonous.  The  duty  of  gathering 
mushrooms  for  commercial  purposes  usually  falls  to  the 
share  of  the  uneducated.  They,  with  a  little  experience, 
and  provided  they  exercise  due  care,  are  morely  likely  to 
discriminate  than  educated  persons,  or  even  sometimes 
than  the  botanist,  paradoxical  as  this  may  appear ;  be¬ 
cause,  from  their  daily  practice,  they  are  familiar  with 
both  the  good  and  the  bad  growing  in  their  neighbour¬ 
hood.  But  accidents  do  occur,  and  will  continue  to 


July  .30,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


89 


occur,  notwithstanding  all  precautions  ;  and  it  seems  im¬ 
possible  to  lay  down  any  rule  that  would  entirely  pro¬ 
vide  a  safeguard,  since  even  the  cultivated  Agariem  cam - 
pestris  may  produce  nausea.  Still,  there  is  good  reason 
to  believe  that  more  casualties  arise  from  carelessness 
than  from  ignorance ;  and  attention  to  a  few  simple 
rules  may  prevent  much  unpleasantness  and  alarm. 

As  a  rule,  the  edible  mushrooms  may  be  distinguished 
from  their  poisonous  brethren  by  their  delicate  sweet 
aroma,  as  contrasted  with  the  heavy  acrid  smell  of  the 
false  mushrooms.  Secondly,  the  delicacy  of  the  true 
mushroom — which  is  free,  or  almost  free,  from  warts— 
contrasts  with  the  scaly  surface  of  the  false.  The  true 
are  either  white  or  brownish ;  their  flesh  is  brittle  ;  they 
grow  in  the  open  dry  pastures,  and  usually  are  solitary, 
while  the  false  often  grow  in  clusters,  in  wet  groimd  and 
in  the  shade,  are  tough  and  watery,  and  highly  co¬ 
loured. 

There  can  be  very  little  doubt  that  many  species  now 
■avoided  might  be  eaten,  but  are  neglected  for  want  of 
experiment. 

Experience  has  gone  to  show  that,  after  pickling  in 
vinegar,  mushrooms,  however  indiscriminately  they  may 
have  been  gathered,  rarely  give  rise  to  discomfort,  pro¬ 
bably  from  neutralization  of  the  alkaloid  by  the  acid  of 
the  vinegar. 

Sufficient  cooking  also  appears  to  render  the  alkaloid 
inert ;  and  it  is  possible  that  good  dressing  would  render 
many  fungi,  not  only  harmless,  but  nutritious  articles  of 
diet.  Darwin  found  the  inhabitants  of  Tierra  del  Fuego 
living  on  a  bright  yellow  globular  fungus,  Cyttaria  Dar- 
winii ,  found  on  the  beach ;  and,  in  Australia,  the  Mylitta 
australis  is  used  as  a  staple  article  of  food,  and  called  na¬ 
tive  bread. 

It  must  not,  however,  be  forgotten  that  there  are  cer¬ 
tain  persons  whose  constitutions  are  obnoxious  to  fungi, 
the  least  possible  quantity  producing  in  them  nausea  and 
a  sense  of  sinking,  with  a  dread  of  impending  dissolution, 
which  are  the  characteristic  symptoms  of  fungus  poison¬ 
ing.  But,  with  the  exercise  of  care  in  selecting  only 
those  that  are  quite  perfect  and  fresh,  proper  cooking, 
and  by  taking  a  reasonable  quantity  of  some  other  food, 
such  as  bread  or  meat,  at  the  same  time, — above  all,  not 
indulging  in  them  too  plentifully, — mushrooms  may  be 
eaten  with  impunity ;  and  they  constitute  at  once  a  nu¬ 
tritious  article  of  consumption,  and,  to  many,  a  grateful 
luxury. 


REPORT  OF  EXPERIMENTS  ON  THE  IODIDE  OF 
POTASSIUM  USED  IN  MEDICINE. 

With  the  object  of  ascertaining  the  degree  of  purity 
which  may  be  looked  for  in  the  iodide  of  potassium  as 
supplied  by  the  druggist  to  the  medical  man,  we  procured 
six  samples  of  the  drug  and  submitted  them  to  chemical 
analysis.  These  samples  were  obtained  from  hospitals 
and  from  druggists  in  various  parts  of  London. 

The  chemical  examination  was  made  as  follows :  8-305 
grains  of  the  iodide,  in  the  undricd  state  and  not  previ¬ 
ously  powdered,  was  dissolved  in  a  little  water,  and  to  it 
a  very  little  alkaline  chromate  of  potash  was  added,  and 
a  standard  solution  of  silver  was  then  dropped  into  the 
liquid  until  the  red  tinge  (the  sign  that  the  iodide  of 
potassium  was  completely  saturated  with  nitrate  of  silver) 
made  its  appearance.  The  quantity  of  standard  solution 
of  silver  being  noted,  the  quantity  of  silver  was  of  course 
known.  As  will  be  seen  from  the  tabular  statement,  the 
quantity  of  silver  used  up  was  that  indicated  by  theory 
in  the  first  five  cases,  while  in  the  last  only  it  was  a  little 
in  excess  of  the  quantity  required  for  absolutely  pure 
iodide  of  potassium. 

After  noting  the  quantity  of  silver  solution,  the  result¬ 
ing  iodide  of  silver  was  washed  first  with  very  dilute 
nitric  acid,  then  with  pure  water,  and  finally  dried  and 
weighed.  The  following  is  a  tabular  statement  of  the 
results  thus  obtained,  viz. : — ■ 


No. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

C. 


Quantity  Quantity  Quantity 
of  Iodide  oflodide  of  Silver 
of  Potassium  of  Silver,  em- 


Obtained  from  taken. 

(grains.) 

Moorfields  Eye  Hospital  ....  8-305 

London  Hospital  . . . 8-305 

Skin  Hospital . 8-305 

Leo  Lee  and  Co.,  Bishopsgate 

Street . 8-305 

Hancock,  Fleet  Street  . 8-305 


Warner  and  Co.,  Fore  Street  8-305 


ployed, 
(grains.)  (grains.) 
11-49  5-40 

11-68  5-40 

11-66  5- 40 

11-66  5-40 

11-48  5-40 

11-68  5-51 


Theoretically  pure  iodide  of 
potassium  . 8-305 


11-750  5-40 


From  these  results  it  appears,  firstly,  that  the  iodide  of 
potassium  is  remarkably  free  from  bromide  and  chloride ; 
and  secondly,  that,  as  actually  sold,  it  is  very  dry.  Ac¬ 
cording  to  these  analyses,  100  parts  of  commercial  iodide 
of  potassium  contain  from  99*3  to  97"7  parts  of  absolute 
iodide  of  potassium,  the  remainder  being  the  inevitable 
“hygrometric  moisture.”  It  is  most  satisfactory  to  find 
this  drug  to  be  commonly  supplied  in  so  high  a  state  of 
purity.  We  cannot,  however,  forbear  remarking  on  the 
high  price  which  is  charged  for  it.  A  druggist  commonly 
asks  two  shillings  an  ounce  for  iodide  of  potassium. 
Now,  iodine  itself  is  dear  at  one  shilling  an  ounce,  and 
iodide  of  potassium  ought  not  to  cost  more  than  iodine ; 
it  ought,  indeed,  to  be  cheaper  than  iodine. 

There  are  two  varieties  of  iodide  of  potassium — the 
opaque  crystals  and  the  transparent.  Fashion  has  led  to 
the  opaque  kind  being  prefei'red  ;  but  there  is  no  other 
reason  in  favour  of  the  opaque.  The  transparent  crys¬ 
tals  are  just  as  pure. — The  British  Medical  Journal. 


CHEMICAL  EXAMINATION  OF  SEVERAL  SORTS 
OF  CONDENSED  MILK. 


BY  L.  IvOFLER. 


The  following  samples,  examined  by  the  author,  were 
exhibited  at  the  Agricultural  Show  at  Schwarzach : — 

I.  From  the  Anglo-Swiss  Condensed  Milk  Company, 
in  Cham,  Canton  Zug ;  in  air-tight  tin  boxes  containing 
one  pound. 

II.  From  the  manufactory  at  Sfissin ;  in  square  glasses. 

III.  From  the  German-Swiss  Milk  Extract  Company, 
at  Vivis  and  Kempten ;  in  glass  vessels. 

IV.  The  same  ;  in  tin  boxes. 

For  the  purpose  of  comparison,  a  similar  preparation 
was  made  with  milk  that  had  been  examined  during 
twelve  days  previously,  with  the  following  results  : — 


15  October 

Specific 

gravity. 

1-034 

Amount  of 
Cream. 
13 

16 

51 

1-036 

13£ 

17 

55 

1-040 

14 

18 

55 

1-034 

13 

19 

55 

1-034 

134 

20 

55 

1-034 

13 

21 

51 

1-035 

12 

22 

11 

1-033 

12 

23 

51 

1034 

134 

24 

15 

1-036 

12 

25 

55 

1-035 

15 

26 

51 

1-033 

15 

Mean  results 

1-035 

13-1 

This  preparation  was  marked  V.,  and  underwent  the 
same  examination  as  the  other  samples. 

Determination  of  Water. — By  drying  until  the  weight 
remained  constant. 

Determination  of  Fat  was  made  by  extraction  with 
ether,  until  the  residue  examined  under  the  microscope 
presented  no  fat  globules. 

Determination  of  Casein  and  Albuminous  Material  was 
made  by  slightly  acidifying  with  acetic  acid  at  a  gentle 
I  heat,  filtering,  and  drying. 


90 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[July  SO,  1879. 


Determination  of  Salts  by  incineration.  The  further 
examination  of  the  ash  showed  that  it  contained,  like  the 
ash  of  pure  cow’s  milk,  upwards  of  40  per  cent,  of  phos¬ 
phates,  and  that  one-half  consisted  of  potash,  soda,  lime, 
and  sulphates. 

The  amount  of  sugar  in  the  samples  varied  between 
25  and  30  per  cent. ;  the  amount  of  milk  sugar,  between 
14  and  18  per  cent. 

The  following  table  gives  the  general  results : — 


I. 

Cham. 

II. 

Sassin. 

III. 

IV. 

Y. 

Constituents. 

Kemp- 

ten. 

Kemp- 

ten. 

Stan¬ 

dard. 

Water  .  . 

22T80 

18-824 

22-421 

18-810 

20-770 

Fat  .  .  . 

12-260 

12-625 

12-030 

13-650 

12-830 

Caseine  and  1 
Albumen  .  j 

28-100 

24-240 

25-960 

24-900 

29-600 

Ash  .  .  . 

2-180 

2-482 

2-673 

2-430 

2-865 

All  of  these  samples,  dissolved  in  four  or  five  times  the 
volume  of  water,  furnished  milk  which,  in  appearance 
and  taste  perfectly  resembled  fresh  boiled  milk,  except 
that  it  was  sweet,  owing  to  the  admixture  of  sugar. — 
VierteljaJiresschriJt  filr  Prahtische  Pharmacie. 


FACTS  AND  REASONINGS  CONCERNING  THE 
HETEROGENEOUS  EVOLUTION  OF  LIVING  THINGS. 

{Continued  from  page  66.) 

In  his  essay  bearing  the  above  title,  Dr.  Bastian  criti¬ 
cizes  Tasteur.  We  quote  the  following  passage: — 

“  Before  closing  this  paper,  it  will  be  necessary  that  I 
should  refer  more  particularly  to  a  certain  part  of 
M.  Pasteur’s  researches,  seeing  that  these  have  so 
strongly  influenced  the  opinions  of  very  many  scientific 
men  on  the  question  of  the  truth  or  falsity  of  the  doc¬ 
trines  of  the  heterogenists.  As  an  experimental  che¬ 
mist  M.  Pasteur  takes  a  most  honourable  position  in  the 
foremost  rank  of  workers,  and  all  his  investigations  on 
this  subject  appear  to  have  been  conducted  with  the 
most  scrupulous  care.  His  reasonings  also  may  seem,  at 
first  sight,  to  be  all-convincing,  so  that  most  people 
might  be  inclined  to  admit  that  he  had  ‘  mathematique- 
ment  demontre,’  as  he  so  frequently  claims  to  have 
done,  all  that  he  set  himself  to  prove.  The  case  may 
seem  at  first  a  poor  one  indeed  for  the  heterogenists ;  but 
as  soon  as  one  gets  over  the  first  impressions  produced 
by  the  various  experiments,  and  begins  to  inquire  whe¬ 
ther  the  reasonings  concerning  them  have  been  in  all 
cases  fair  and  logical,  then  it  may  be  seen  that  the  evi¬ 
dence  against  the  occurrence  of  heterogenesis  is  very  far 
from  being  so  strong  as  it,  at  first  sight,  appeared.  On 
two  or  three  occasions,  when  it  was  very  important  that 
results  should  be  looked  at  from  different  points  of  view, 
M.  Pasteur  has  altogether  failed  to  do  this,  and  has 
wished  to  interpret  them  only  in  accordance  with  the 
views  of  the  panspermatists,  quietly  ignoring  the  equally 
legitimate  interpretation  of  the  same  results  which  might 
have  been  given  by  the  heterogenists.  At  present  I  shall 
confine  myself  to  one  instance  of  this  kind,  because  I 
think  that  on  this  particular  point  the  reasonings  of 
M.  Pasteur  are  as  mischievous  as  they  are  illogical.  If 
others  were  to  follow  his  example,  then  certainly  we 
could  never  hope  to  get  rid  of  the  clouds  of  controversy 
which  at  present  obscure  the  subject. 

“  The  experiments  of  Schwann  were  for  some  time  er¬ 
roneously  believed  by  very  many  to  have  upset  the  doc¬ 
trines  of  the  heterogenists.  No  organisms,  it  was  said, 
were  ever  developed  in  hermetically  sealed  vessels  when 
the  solutions  containing  the  organic  matter  had  been 
boiled,  and  when  all  the  air  which  was  allowed  access  to 
them  had  been  previously  calcined.  Schwann’s  experi¬ 
ments  did  yield  uniformly  negative  results  when  solu¬ 
tions  of  meat  were  employed ;  though  his  experiments 


concerning  alcoholic  fermentation  yielded  results  which 
were  sometimes  positive  and  sometimes  negative.  M. 
Pasteur  also,  for  a  time,  obtained  only  negative  results 
in  repeating  the  experiments  of  Schwann.  In  these  ex¬ 
periments,  however,  he  had  generally  made  use  of  ‘  l’eau 
de  levure  suc-ree,’  of  urine,  or  some  other  fluid  which 
was  naturally  unfitted  to  undergo  evolutional  changes  of 
a  high  order,  or  even  to  produce  lower  organisms  in 
great  abundance.  But  there  came  a  time  when  M.  Pas¬ 
teur  chanced  to  repeat  his  experiments,  using  precisely 
the  same  precautions  as  before,  and  yet  the  results  were 
quite  different, — organisms  were  now  found  in  his  solu¬ 
tions.  There  was  one  important  difference,  it  is  true. 
In  these  latter  experiments,  M.  Pasteur  had  made  use  of 
milk.  Now  the  quantity  of  organic  matter  contained  in 
milk  is,  of  course,  very  great ;  it  is  a  highly  nutritive  and 
complex  fluid.  It  might,  therefore,  and  ought  perhaps, 
to  have  suggested  itself  to  M.  Pasteur,  that  the  different 
results  of  his  later  experiments  were  possibly  explicable 
on  the  supposition  that  the  restrictive  conditions — the 
boiling  of  the  solution  and  the  closed  vessel  already  con¬ 
taining  air — were  too  potent  to  be  overcome  by  the  or¬ 
ganic  matter  in  the  one  solution,  whilst  they  were  not 
too  potent  and  could  not  prevent  evolutional  changes 
taking  place  in  that  of  the  other.” 

In  fine,  M.  Pasteur,  having  made  the  observation  that 
milk,  even  after  boiling  and  being  sealed  up  in  calcined 
air,  produces  bacteria  and  vibrios,  draws  the  conclusion 
that  therefore  the  germs  of  bacteria  and  vibrios  are 
capable  of  resisting  a  temperature  of  100°  C.  Dr.  Bas¬ 
tian,  on  the  other  hand,  maintains  that  the  production 
of  bacteria  and  vibrios  in  the  milk  after  this  treatment 
is  a  proof  that  these  living  things  have  arisen  de  novo. 

Pasteur  has  observed  that  in  alkaline  or  neutral  solu¬ 
tions  of  sugar,  etc.,  there  is  frequent  development  of  low 
forms  of  living  things  after  boiling  and  sealing,  in  con¬ 
tact  with  calcined  air ;  whilst  in  acid  solutions,  other 
things  being  the  same,  there  is  no  development  of 
organisms.  Pasteur  says  that  the  acid  kills  the  germs. 
Bastian  and  the  evolutionists,  on  the  contrary,  say  that 
the  acid  is  unfavourable  to  “evolutional  ”  processes. 

At  the  present  stage  of  the  controversy,  it  is  admitted 
by  the  opponents  of  the  doctrine  of  spontaneous  gene¬ 
ration,  that  organisms  do  arise  in  solutions  which  have 
received  no  germs  from  the  air  and  have  been  exposed 
to  a  temperature  sufficient  for  the  destruction  of  the  de¬ 
veloped  organisms. 

In  order  to  avoid  having  to  admit  the  doctrine  of 
spontaneous  generation  (which  otherwise  would  be 
established  by  such  examples),  the  hypothesis  has  been 
started,  that  the  germs  of  such  organisms  are  endowed 
with  far  greater  powers  of  resistance  than  the  organisms 
themselves.  Since  there  is  no  microscope  powerful 
enough  to  render  these  germs  visible,  and  the  only  test  of 
their  presence  being  the  production  of  the  appropriate 
organism,  it  must,  in  the  nature  of  things,  be  a  difficult 
task  to  experiment  upon  the  resisting  powers  of  these 
germs. 


Chinchonse  in  Java. — Professor  Miquel  has  given  in 
the  last  published  part  of  his  ‘  Annales  Musei  Botanici 
Lugduno-Batavi  ’  (tom.  iv.  fasc.  9,  1869),  descriptions 
of  all  the  Chinchona  plants  at  present  cultivated  in  Java. 
They  are  as  follows: — Chinchona  Calisaya ,  Wedd. ;  C. 
amygdalifolia ,  Wedd. ;  C.  scrobieulata ,  H.  et  B. ;  C. 
euncura ,  nov.  sp.  Miq. ;  C.  Hasskarliana ,  nov.  sp.  Miq. 
(this  appears  to  be  a  hybrid  between  C.  Calisaya  and  C. 
Pahudiana)  ;  C.  carabayensis,  Wedd. ;  C.  officinalis ,  L. ; 
C.  lancifolia ,  Mutis ;  C.  ovata ,  R.  et  P. ;  C.  subsessilis , 
Miq.  (  =  C.  purpurascens ,  Wedd.);  C.  ealoptera  ( =  C. 
pubescens ,  a.  Pelletcriana ,  Wedd.) ;  C.  micrantha,  R.  et 
P. ;  C.  pubeseens,  Vahl ;  C.  Moritziana,  Karst.  ( =  Puencf 
Moritziana ,  Wedd.)  ;  C.  magnifolia,  R.  et  P.  (  =  Duenet 
maqni folia,  Wedd.);  and  C.  carua,  (  =  Buena  carua , 
Wedd.). 


July  30, 18?0.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


91 


(EJe  |)jranMteutiral  foitnral. 

- ♦ - - 

SATURDAY ,  JULY  30,  1870. 


DR.  RUMSEY  ON  THE  PHARMACY  ACT. 

In  some  recent  comments  on  the  Laws  relating  to 
Public  Health,  Dr.  Rumsey,  the  well-known  sani¬ 
tary  reformer,  remarks — touching  the  connection,  so 
obvious  in  theory,  between  legislative  control  over 
the  supply  of  drugs  and  poisons,  and  laws  affect¬ 
ing  the  exercise  of  medical  and  sanitary  functions — 
that  the  two  departments  are  so  sharply  separated 
in  this  country,  that  the  late  attempt  to  establish 
some  normal  relation  between  them,  in  framing  the 
Sale  of  Poisons  Act  of  1808,  was  defeated  by  the 
antagonism  of  its  leaders.  Yet,  in  Great  Britain 
alone  of  all  European  nations,  is  the  practice  of 
pharmacy  legally  undertaken  by  physicians  and 
surgeons  acting  as  apothecaries.  The  fact  that 
there  is  no  law  applying  indifferently  to  all  pliarma- 
copolists,  and  the  existence  of  a  controlling  power 
over  the  examinations  of  chemists,  vested  in  the 
Privy  Council,  are  anomalies  Dr.  Humsey  objects 
to,  as  well  as  the  circumstance,  that  whilst  the 
Medical  Council  is  the  sole  authority  in  the  com¬ 
pilation  of  the  national  Pharmacopoeia,  it  should  pos¬ 
sess  no  control  over  the  selection  of  articles  to  be 
included  in  the  Schedule  of  Poisons.  Dr.  Humsey’ s 
efforts,  as  our  readers  may  perceive,  are  resolutely 
directed  to  secure  a  distinct  separation  of  the  duties 
of  dispenser  and  prescriber.  This  is  a  utopian  pro¬ 
ject  to  many  minds,  but  it  is  one  surely,  though 
slowly,  making  its  way  with  the  medical  profession 
as  both  desirable  and  necessary  for  the  true  interests 
of  the  public  as  well  as  the  profession.  Dr.  Humsey 
complains,  that  though  there  is  all  the  rigidity  of 
caste  hi  the  legal  separation  between  the  two  regis¬ 
ters,  yet  a  large  number  of  the  men  on  either  regis¬ 
ter  invade  at  pleasure  the  occupation  of  those  on  the 
other.  He  further  states,  that  “  Pharmacists  have 
become,  in  fact,  a  new  race  of  unqualified  practi¬ 
tioners.”  This  is  anything  but  a  just  way,  and  it  is 
certainly  a  one-sided  way,  of  putting  the  case,  con¬ 
sidering  Dr.  Humsey  admits  that  many  of  his  pro¬ 
fessional  confreres  systematically  usurp  the  duties 
of  the  pharmacist.  One  more  regret  is  expressed  by 
Dr.  Rumsey,  that  there  is  no  independent  supervi¬ 
sion  of  the  practice  of  pharmacy  and  sale  of  poisons 
in  the  public  interests,  no  inspection  of  druggists’ 
shops  and  stores,  etc.  We  believe  that  Dr.  Humsey 
is  in  a  distinct  minority  on  this  point.  Mere  in¬ 
spection,  as  such,  will  do  little  for  the  public.  Their 
interests  are  directly  secured,  (in  the  only  certain 
way,)  in  proportion  to  the  excellence  of  the  education 
of  the  pharmaceutist  and  of  the  examination,  by 
which  he  becomes  qualified  for  enrolment  in  the 
register  list.  In  like  manner,  mere  legislation  can 


do  little  to  promote  the  desired  demarcation  between 
physician  and  pharmacist.  This  can  alone]  be 
brought  about  successfully  by  the  increased  educa¬ 
tion  of  the  twain. 


HYPODERMIC  INJECTION. 

From  the  ‘  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’  we  learn 
that  the  Committee  appointed  by  the  Royal  Medical 
and  Chirurgical  Society  to  investigate  the  hypo¬ 
dermic  method  of  administering  medicines,  reports  as 
follows : — 

1.  That,  as  a  general  rule,  only  clear  neutral  solutions 
of  drugs  should  be  injected. 

2.  That,  whether  drugs  be  injected  under  the  skin  or 
administered  by  the  mouth  or  rectum,  their  chief  physio¬ 
logical  and  therapeutical  effects  are  the  same  in  kind, 
though  varying  in  degree ;  but 

3.  That  symptoms  are  observed  to  follow  the  subcuta¬ 
neous  injection  of  some  drugs  which  are  absent  when 
they  are  administered  by  other  methods ;  and,  on  the 
other  hand,  certain  unpleasant  symptoms  which  are  apt 
to  follow  the  introduction  of  the  drugs  by  the  mouth  and 
rectum,  are  not  usually  experienced  when  such  drugs  are 
injected  under  the  skin. 

4.  That,  as  a  general  rule,  to  which,  however,  there 
are  many  exceptions,  neutral  solutions  of  drugs,  intro¬ 
duced  subcutaneously,  are  more  rapidly  absorbed  and 
more  intense  in  their  effects  than  when  introduced  by 
the  rectum  or  mouth. 

5.  That  no  difference  has  been  observed  in  the  effects 
of  a  drug  subcutaneously  injected,  whether  it  be  intro¬ 
duced  near  to,  or  at  a  distance  from,  the  part  affected. 

6.  That  the  advantages  to  be  derived  from  this  method 
of  introducing  drugs  are: — rapidity  of  action,  intensity 
of  effect,  economy  of  material,  certainty  of  action,  facility 
of  introduction  in  certain  cases,  and,  with  some  drugs, 
avoidance  of  unpleasant  symptoms.” 

In  commenting  on  this  report,  the  ‘  Medical  Times 
and  Gazette  ’  remarks  : — 

“  We  may  safely  take,  as  a  broad  guide  in  prac¬ 
tice,  the  rule  that  the  physiological  activity  of  nearly 
every  substance  which  can  thus  be  used,  is  three,  if 
not  four  times  greater  when  it  is  given  by  the  skin, 
than  when  it  is  swallowed.”  The  proper  com¬ 
mencing  dose  of  strychnine  is  x^j  grain  of  the  sul¬ 
phate.  The  dose  of  atropine  is  also  grain  at 
first.  The  dose  of  morphia  is  grain  to  ^  grain. 

The  circumstance,  that  the  action  of  medicines  ad¬ 
ministered  hypodermically  is  very  rapid  and  often 
instantaneous,  renders  the  method  invaluable  in 
certain  cases  ;  as,  for  instance,  in  cases  of  poisoning. 


POISON  REGULATIONS. 

The  ‘  Hall  Mall  Gazette,’  in  announcing  the  fact 
that  this  Society  is  in  future  to  certify  the  competence 
of  dispensers  in  naval  hospitals,  expresses  the 
opinion  that  this  is  a  very  proper  proceeding  on  the 
part  of  Dr.  Armstrong,  the  Director-General,  and 
adds  that  the  Society’s  monopoly  is  thereby  com¬ 
pleted.  It  goes  on  to  say,  “  All  monopolies  of  the 
kind  are  to  be  regarded  with  distrust,  and  watched 
with  anxiety  in  the  public  interest.  This  Associa¬ 
tion  has  a  twofold  position :  it  has  public  duties  and 


92 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[July  30,  1370. 


private  interests  to  consult.  The  two  may  not  always 
concur.  It  is  one  part  of  the  duties  of  the  Society 
to  lay  down  regulations  for  the  storing  and  dispens¬ 
ing  of  poisons,  so  as  to  prevent,  as  far  as  possible, 
the  lamentable  calamities  from  accidental  poisoning, 
which  so  often  shock  the  public  mind.  We  will  not 
say  that  they  have  slipwn  any  indifference  to  this 
duty ;  but  its  discussion  has  been  productive  of  so 
much  difference  of  opinion,  that  the  matter  has  been 
postponed,  though  we  hope  not  abandoned.” 

It  is  evident  from  these  remarks  that  the  action  of 
the  Society  in  regard  to  poisons  is  not  lost  sight  of 
outside  its  limits  and  we  would  suggest  that  those 
members  who  have  propositions  to  offer  on  this  sub¬ 
ject  should  communicate  them  for  publication  in  the 
Journal  and  for  criticism  by  others.  It  is  possible 
that  in  this  way  some  good  service  may  be  done, 
while  leisurely  discussion  of  the  subject  and  con¬ 
sideration  of  proposals  may  lead  to  a  suitable  issue 
more  readily  than  hasty  debate  would  do. 

Some  few  weeks  ago  an  article  appeared  in  a  me¬ 
dical  contemporary,  making  use  of  very  strong  lan¬ 
guage  in  reference  to  the  proceedings  of  the  Notting¬ 
ham  and  Notts  Chemists’  Association.  The  only 
assignable  foundation  for  the  strictures  contained 
in  that  article  was  so  obviously  misconception,  that 
they  might  have  been  passed  by  in  silence  had  it 
not  happened  that  two  journals  connected  with 
Pharmacy  have  reproduced  this  objectionable  article 
without  any  comment  and  have  thus  given  it  an 
importance  it  would  not  otherwise  possess.  What 
took  place  at  the  Nottingham  meeting  was  reported 
as  follows  in  the  ‘Pharmaceutical  Journal’  of 
April  last : — 

“  A  matter  of  some  considerable  importance  to  the 
trade  was  brought  forward,  namely,  the  issue  of  cata¬ 
logues,  not  only  of  surgical  instruments,  but  of  many 
druggists’  sundries,  by  Messrs.  Maw,  Son,  and  Thomp¬ 
son,  to  the  medical  profession  throughout  the  country, 
at  prices  identical  with  those  sent  to  the  trade.  Great 
indignation  was  felt  and  expressed  by  the  meeting  at  the 
course  adopted  by  this  house,  which,  more  than  any 
other,  receives  the  support  of  the  chemist.” 

From  this  it  will  be  evident  that  the  vexation  ex¬ 
pressed  by  the  meeting  was  not  beoause  Messrs. 
Maw  and  Co.  had  sent  their  catalogue  of  surgical 
instruments  to  the  surgeons  of  the  kingdom.  Such 
an  objection  would  have  been  unreasonable,  and 
the  true  ground  of  objection  was,  that  they  not  only 
did  this  in  the  legitimate  exercise  of  their  business, 
but  also  issued  to  medical  men  catalogues  of  drug¬ 
gists’  sundries.  In  the  article  we  have  referred  to, 
it  is  assumed  that  Pharmacists  desire  to  coerce  me¬ 
dical  men  into  buying  surgical  instruments  through 
them.  We  need  not  reply  to  the  argument  that 
such  a  desire  would  be  absurd,  further  than  by 
stating  that  it  has  no  existence. 

From  the  ‘Journal  de  Chimie  Medicale  ’  we  learn 
that,  as  a  therapeutic  agent,  bromide  of  sodium 


offers  several  advantages  over  the  corresponding 
potassium-salt,  being  much  easier  of  elimination 
from  the  animal  economy.  M.  E.  Decaisne  has 
administered  it  to  a  patient  during  a  whole  year 
without  producing  that  saturation  which  is  observ¬ 
able  in  the  case  of  bromide  of  potassium. 


We  have  much  pleasure  in  making  known  that 
Dr.  F.  A.  Fliickiger,  whose  paper  on  Pdiatany  ap¬ 
pears  in  this  number,  has  been  promoted  from  the 
position  of  Private  Tutor  to  the  Professorship  of 
Pharmacy  and  Pharmacognosy  at  the.  University  of 
Berne. 

We  regret  to  hear  that  Dr.  Thomas  Anderson, 
Director  of  the  Calcutta  Botanical  Gardens  and 
Superintendent  of  the  Darjeeling  Cinchona  Planta¬ 
tions,  is  seriously  ill.  He  left  Calcutta  some  months 
ago  on  account  of  his  health. 


Dr.  Birdwood  has  published  a  most  valuable  and 
exhaustive  paper  on  the  history,  botanical  and  other¬ 
wise,  of  Gum  Olibarfcim,  in  the  last  part  of  the  ‘  Lin- 
nean  Transactions.’ 


The  plans  for  the  erection  of  a  Pharmaceutical 
Institute  in  connection  with  the  University  of  Mar¬ 
burg  have  been  approved,  and  the  work  was  to  have 
been  commenced  at  once,  but  will  now  probably  be 
delayed  by  reason  of  the  war. 


femsitrfiffns  trf  tire  f  traratol  Satictjr. 

EXAMINATION  IN  EDINBURGH. 

Addendum. — P.  69,  line  13,  after  Present — Messrs. 
Buchanan,  insert  Ainslio,  Ivemp,  and  Young. 


Itetrnp  of  Scientific  Societies. 

QUEIvETT  MICROSCOPICAL  CLUB. 

The  Fifth  Annual  General  Meeting  of  this  Club  was 
held  on  Friday  evening  last,  July  22nd,  at  University 
College,  Gower  Street ;  Peter  Le  Neve  Foster,  Esq.,  Pre¬ 
sident,  in  the  chair. 

According  to  the  Annual  Report  of  the  Committee, 
which  was  read,  the  Club  still  maintains  its  popularity 
and  success.  It  numbers  over  500  members,  and  meets 
for  the  prosecution  of  microscopical  inquiry  and  discus¬ 
sion  twice  a  month  throughout  the  year.  Mr.  Peter  Le 
Neve  Foster,  in  vacating  the  presidential  chair,  which 
he  had  so  ably  filled  during  the  past  year,  delivered  a 
valedictory  address,  in  which  he  called  attention  to 
various  open  questions  in  microscopical  science  as  fields 
well  worth  investigation.  Professor  Lionel  S.  Beale, 
F.R.S.,  was  elected  President  for  the  ensuing  year,  and 
Messrs.  Henry  Lee,  F.L.S.,  Arthur  E.  Durham,  F.R.C.S., 
Peter  Le  Neve  Foster,  M.A.,  and  Dr.  Robert  Braith- 
waite,  F.L.S.,  wero  elected  Vice-Presidents ;  while 
Messrs.  Allhon,  T.  W.  Burr,  F.R.A.S,,  Witham  M.  By¬ 
water,  and  Charles  F.  White,  wero  olected  to  fill  four 
vacancies  on  the  Committee.  The  proceedings  then  ter¬ 
minated  in  a  conversazione. 


July  30, 1670.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


93 


DAMAGES  AGAINST  A  DRUGGIST. 

Court  of  Passage,  Liverpool. 

Kelly  and  Wife  v.  Trilfield. — This  was  a  case  in 
which  the  plaintiff  and  his  wife  sought  to  recover  damages 
from  a  druggist  in  Liverpool,  as  solatium  for  inju¬ 
ries  sustained  by  Mr.  Kelly  in  consequence  of  the  de¬ 
fendant  administering  to  Sarah  Kelly  some  noxious  drug, 
by  which  her  health  was  hurt  and  destroyed.  Dr.  Com- 
mins  was  for  the  plaintiff,  and  Mr.  M'Oubrey  for  the  de¬ 
fendant,  who,  in  answer  to  the  declaration  of  the  plain¬ 
tiff,  had  entered  a  plea  of  not  guilty.  The  case  for  the 
plaintiffs  was  that  on  the  evening  of  the  20th  March, 
1869,  Mrs.  Kelly  went  to  the  defendant’s  shop  and  asked 
for  half  an  ounce  of  castor  oil,  for  which  she  took  a  small 
glass.  She  asked  him  to  put  in  some  water  to  prevent 
the  oil  sticking  to  the  glass,  but  instead  of  doing  that  he 
put  in  some  peppermint.  Mrs.  Kelly  then  told  him 
that  she  did  not  want  peppermint,  upon  which  he  emptied 
the  glass,  and  taking  another  bottle  from  the  shelf  poured 
in  something  which  appeared  to  be  pure  water.  He  then 
poured  in  the  castor  oil,  and  covered  the  glass  over  with 
a  piece  of  paper.  Mrs.  Kelly  took  the  oil  home  and  laid 
it  on  the  corner  of  the  chimney-piece  in  her  bedroom, 
where  it  remained  till  the  morning  of  the  23rd  March, 
when  about  four  o’clock  she  got  out  of  bed  and  swal¬ 
lowed  it.  She  had  no  sooner  taken  the  oil,  and  had 
scarcely  time  to  lay  the  glass  on  the  table,  when  she  felt 
a  burning  sensation  in  her  mouth,  throat,  and  chest.  She 
became  sick,  and  immediately  vomited  the  oil  up  on  the 
floor,  blood  coming  up  with  it.  Her  mouth  and  throat 
were  excoriated,  and  the  boards  of  the  floor  where  she 
had  vomited  are  all  blackened  with  the  liquid.  For  two 
or  three  months  Mrs.  Kelly  had  suffered  much  from  the 
effects  of  the  unfortunate  mistake,  especially  during  her 
confinement,  which  happened  five  days  afterwards.  Dr. 
Commins  said  they  were  not  in  a  position  to  say  what 
the  defendant  had  put  in  the  glass  to  produce  such  effects 
as  these,  but  there  was  no  doubt  it  had  been  some  strong 
drug  winch  had  been  put  in  instead  of  the  water.  The 
medical  evidence  was  to  the  effect  that  either  sal  volatile 
or  liquor  potassae  would  have  produced  the  effects  seen 
on  the  plaintiff’s  throat.  Mr.  M'Oubrey,  for  the  defence, 
stated  that  the  defendant  had  only  put  cinnamon  water 
in  the  glass,  and  suggested  that  if  Mrs.  Kelly  swallowed 
any  deleterious  drug  it  must  have  been  some  of  the  mix¬ 
ture  she  was  in  the  habit  of  using  as  a  French  polisher. 
The  defendant  was  then  called,  and  said  he  had  carried 
on  business  in  Liverpool  as  a  chemist  and  druggist  for 
fifteen  or  twenty  years.  He  recollected  the  plain¬ 
tiff  coming  to  his  shop  on  the  20th  March,  1869,  and 
asking  for  some  castor  oil.  She  told  him  she  would  have 
anything  but  peppermint  in  it,  and  he  then  took  down  a 
bottle  from  a  shelf  opposite  the  counter,  and  put  some 
cinnamon  water  in  the  glass.  Mrs.  Kelly  returned  on 
the  Tuesday  morning  and  said  her  mouth  was  sore,  and 
then  she  three  times  pointed  out  to  him  the  bottle  from 
which  he  poured  the  liquid  into  the  glass  before  he  put 
in  the  castor  oil.  This  bottle  contained  cinnamon  water. 
Defendant  said  there  was  nothing  approaching  to  liquor 
potassse  kept  on  that  shelf — in  fact  he  kept  none  of  these 
alkaline  matters  near  the  place  where  he  took  the  cinna¬ 
mon  water  from. — The  jury  found  for  the  plaintiff,  da¬ 
mages  £10. 

[*#*  We  insert  the  report  of  this  case  as  it  appeared  in  the 
Liverpool  ‘  Daily  Post,’  but  confess  that  we  are  unable  to  per¬ 
ceive  from  it  the  grounds  on  which  the  jury  found  for  the 
plaintiff.  In  the  first  place,  the  length  of  time  during  which 
the  castor  oil  was  left  “on  the  corner  of  the  chimney-piece,” 
apparently  in  an  open  glass,  affords  room  for  the  possibility 
of  some  deleterious  material  having  been  added  in  some  way. 
The  account  of  the  effects  produced  by  the  supposed  “  noxious 
drug,”  are,  at  least,  vague,  and  there  is  no  statement  of  the 
medical  evidence  by  which  they  might  have  been  rendered 
intelligible. — Ed.  Pit.  J.] 


ON  THE  COMBINATIONS  OF  CARBONIC 
ANHYDRIDE  WITH  AMMONIA  AND  WATER. 

BY  EDWARD  DIVERS,  M.D. 

( Continued  from  p.  46.) 

Preparation. — Ammonium  carbonate  may  be  prepared 
in  various  ways  : — 

(a.)  By  digesting  in  a  closed  flask  the  commercial  car¬ 
bonate,  crushed  small,  with  strong  solution  of  ammonia 
for  two  hours,  or  not  much  less,  at  a  temperature  not 
exceeding  12°  C.,  or  thereabouts,  the  ammonium  carbo¬ 
nate  is  left  as  a  mealy,  obscurely  crystalline  mass.  It  is 
to  be  dried  by  pressure  between  folds  of  bibulous  paper ; 
this  operation,  after  most  of  the  mother-liquid  has  been 
absorbed  by  a  few  changes  of  paper,  being  conducted  in 
a  chamber  as  small  as  convenient,  and  as  far  as  possible 
filled  by  the  salt  and  the  paper  used  to  dry  it, — every 
care,  at  the  same  time,  being  taken  to  expose  it  as  briefly 
as  possible  to  the  free  action  of  the  atmosphere  in  this 
stage  of  the  drying.  The  operation  is  practically  com¬ 
plete  when  the  salt  no  longer  makes  distinct  wet  marks 
on  the  drying-paper,  though  it  will  then  still  feel  damp. 
If,  when  the  drying  is  nearly  finished,  the  salt  is  found 
to  be  firmly  adhering  to  the  paper  when  a  change  is 
made,  the  operation  has  been  so  performed  as  to  allow  of 
decomposition  taking  place,  through  insufficient  exclu¬ 
sion  of  air,  either  by  having  adopted  imperfect  means 
for  protecting  the  salt  while  it  was  between  the  folds  of 
paper,  or  by  having  made  the  changes  of  paper  too 
slowly  or  too  many  times.  In  warm  weather  it  is  well 
to  surround  the  chamber  with  ice.* 

(b.)  By  digesting  the  commercial  carbonate  (or  any 
other  carbonate  of  ammonium)  with  strong  solution  of 
ammonia  in  a  closed  vessel  at  a  temperature  of  20°-25° 
until  it  is  dissolved,  and  leaving  the  solution  thus  ob¬ 
tained  in  a  cool  place,  with  the  vessel  containing  it  not 
thoroughly  closed,  in  order  that  some  of  the  ammonia 
may  escape,  when  minute  crystals  form,  converting  it  at 
first  into  a  semi-transparent  magma,  but  afterwards  be¬ 
coming  distinct,  interlacing,  slender  prisms.  One  part 
of  the  commercial  carbonate  to  four  parts  by  weight  of 
the  strong  solution  of  ammonia  is  a  convenient  propor¬ 
tion  in  which  to  take  them.  The  digestion  generally 
takes  about  two  days.  It  may  happen  when  the  am¬ 
monia  has  not  been  allowed  to  escape,  and  the  quantity 
of  carbonate  which  has  been  added  is  relatively  great, 
that  a  few  larger  crystals,  having  quite  a  different  ap¬ 
pearance  to  the  others,  will  form  ;  when  this  is  the  case, 
the  solution  must  be  warmed  until  these  crystals  have 
dissolved,  and  at  the  same  time  some  ammonia  be  al¬ 
lowed  to  escape,  and  then  on  again  cooling  it  these 
crystals  will  not  re-form.  On  the  other  hand,  when  by 
prolonged  digestion  at  a  gentle  heat,  a  very  large  quan¬ 
tity  of  the  commercial  carbonate  has  been  dissolved  in 
the  strongest  ammonia-water,  fortified  occasionally  by 
the  passage  of  ammonia-gas  in  the  cold,  the  solution 
only  yields  the  ammonium  carbonate  with  difficulty, 
until  most  of  the  ammonia  has  been  allowed  to  escape 
from  it  by  keeping  it  in  an  imperfectly-closed  vessel,  and 
the  crystals  are  then  often  large,  flattened  prisms.  In 
separating  minute  crystals  of  ammonium  carbonate  from 
their  mother-liquor,  and  preparing  them  for  analysis, 
the  same  plan  is  to  be  adopted  as  in  the  previous  me¬ 
thod.  The  preparation  is  somewhat  more  manageable 
than  the  preparation  of  the  mealy  form,  and  the  pre¬ 
sence  of  the  crystalline  lustre  serves  as  a  means  of  test¬ 
ing  its  success. 


*  The  chamber  I  made  use  of  was  a  small  glass  pan  witlx 
vertical  sides,  having  another  similar  pan,  or  else  a  beaker, 
just  large  enough  to  glide  into  it.  On  the  bottom  of  the  pan 
a  thick  layer  of  circular  filters,  just  fitting  the  pan,  were  laid; 
then  came  the  salt,  and  over  this  a  second  layer  of  filters ;  on 
this  a  pad  of  tow,  and,  lastly,  the  upper  pan,  weighted,  and 
sometimes  filled  with  ice. 


94 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[July  30,  1870. 


( c .)  By  passing  ammonia  through  a  strong  solution  of 
the  commercial  carbonate  until  it  becomes  charged  with 
the  gas,  when  crystals  of  the  ammonium  carbonate,  simi¬ 
lar  to  those  produced  by  method  ( b ),  will  form  in  small 
quantity,  either  while  the  gas  is  passing,  if  the  solution 
he  kept  cool,  or  afterwards,  on  allowing  the  solution  to 
stand  in  a  closed  vessel  in  a  cool  place. 

(cl.)  By  dissolving  a  sufficient  quantity  of  the  com¬ 
mercial  carbonate  in  warm,  dilute  solution  of  ammonia, 
best  in  a  closed  or  nearly  closed  vessel,  when  ammonium 
carbonate  crystallizes  out  on  cooling.  If  the  free  am¬ 
monia  be  present  in  large  quantity,  the  crystals  are 
small ;  if  it  be  present  in  very  small  quantity  only,  the 
salt  next  to  be  described  crystallizes  out ;  while  if  it  be 
present  in  not  much  more  than  sufficient  quantity  to 
prevent  this,  the  crystals  of  ammonium  carbonate  are 
large.  I  have  found  this  one  of  the  best  methods  for 
getting  large  crystals. 

(e.)  By  adding  dilute  spirit  to  a  solution  of  commer¬ 
cial  carbonate  in  ammonia-water  (or  to  any  solution 
equivalent  to  this  prepared  in  any  other  way),  in  quan¬ 
tity  somewhat  less  than  enough  to  cause  a  precipitate, 
when  the  ammonium  carbonate  slowly  crystallizes  out  in 
long,  flat  prisms.  As  with  the  last  method,  the  size  of 
the  crystals  is  generally  less  in  proportion  to  the  quan¬ 
tity  of  free  ammonia.  When  strong  spirit  is  added  to  a 
concentrated  ammoniacal  solution  of  the  carbonate,  the 
whole  soon  partially  solidifies  through  the  formation  of 
minute  crystals  of  ammonium  carbonate,  large  prisms 
sometimes  shooting  across  the  mass  when  the  mixture  is 
not  too  strong  in  free  ammonia. 

(/.)  By  dissolving  ammonium  carbamate  in  sufficient 
quantity  in  water  at  a  gentle  heat  (30°-35°)  in  a  closed 
vessel,  when,  on  cooling  the  solution,  and  standing  it 
aside  for  some  time,  a  little  ammonium  carbonate  crys¬ 
tallizes  out. 

(g.)  By  dissolving  ammonium  carbamate  in  sufficient 
quantity  in  strong  ammonia  solution  at  the  ordinary 
temperature  in  a  closed  vessel,  and  setting  the  solution 
aside  with  the  vessel  only  imperfectly  closed,  that  am¬ 
monia  may  slowly  escape,  when  ammonium  carbonate 
crystallizes  out. 

(h.)  By  passing  carbonic  anhydride  into  strong  am¬ 
monia-water  for  some  time,  taking  care  to  leave  large 
excess  of  ammonia,  and  setting  the  solution  aside  in  a 
closed  vessel,  when  the  carbonate  separates  in  small, 
usually  minute  crystals. 

(i.)  By  dissolving  good  commercial  carbonate,  crushed 
small,  in  water  at  a  gentle  heat, — best  in  a  closed,  or 
nearly  closed  vessel, — setting  the  solution  aside  to  cool 
and  crystallize,  decanting  the  mother-liquid  on  to  a  fresh 
quantity  of  commercial  carbonate,  again  effecting  solu¬ 
tion  by  heat,  cooling,  and  crystallizing,  a  second  time 
decanting  the  mother-liquid,  and  so  on,  repeating  these 
solutions  and  crystallizations  a  sufficient  number  of 
times,  when,  according  to  the  extent  to  which  the  water 
has  been  treated  with  the  commercial  carbonate,  either 
the  last  solution,  after  depositing  crystals  for  one  or  two 
days,  will,  on  being  decanted,  and  left  for  a  further  time 
in  a  closed  vessel  in  a  cool  place,  deposit  large  prismatic 
crystals  of  ammonium  carbonate,  or  the  solution  will,  in 
one  night’s  crystallization,  form  over  the  first  crop  of 
crystals  a  second  of  the  ammonium  carbonate,  and  con¬ 
tinue  for  some  time  to  yield  more  of  this  substance.* 
If,  instead  of  waiting  for  the  solution  to  crystallize,  it  be 
treated  with  ammonia- water,  a  precipitation  of  minute 
crystals  of  the  salt  will  take  place,  and  convert  the 
whole  into  a  semi-solid  mass.  This  and  method  (d)  are 
the  best  for  obtaining  large  crystals.  The  crystals  are 
relatively  short  and  broad  when  this  solution  is  allowed 
to  crystallize  slowly  at  medium  temperatures ;  but  when 
the  solution  which  has  thus  been  left  standing  for  some 

*  Details  of  the  action  of  waLer  on  the  commercial  carbo¬ 
nate  will  be  given  further  on.  It  would  be  inconvenient  to 
go  into  them  here. 


days  is  exposed  to  the  sky  for  a  night  in  clear  cold 
weather,  long  flat  prisms  generally  form. 

Dalton's  Method  of  producing  the  ammonium  carbo¬ 
nate  by  the  wet  way  has  only  indirectly  succeeded  in 
my  hands. 

Dalton's  Method  by  the  Dry  Way. — Dalton  gives  no 
further  account  of  this  method  than  that  I  have  set 
down  in  the  historical  notice  of  his  paper. 

Sensible  Properties. — Ammonium  carbonate  gives  out 
an  exceedingly  strong  ammoniacal  odour,  due  presum¬ 
ably  not  to  itself,  but  to  ammonia  as  a  product  of  its  de¬ 
composition.  It  has  an  extremely  pungent  taste,  and  at 
once  affects  the  tongue  as  a  caustic  to  a  marked  degree. 

Form. — Ammonium  carbonate  takes  the  form  of  elon¬ 
gated  plates  or  flattened  prisms.  Their  shape  is  roughly 
indicated  by  the  annexed  cuts. 


The  inclination  of  the  side-face  4  to  the  face  2  does  not 
appear  to  be  the  same  as  that  of  the  side-face  3  ;  nor  am 
I  decided  whether  the  side-face  5  is  parallel  or  not  to 
the  side-face  3  ;  but  the  two  faces,  4  and  5,  I  have  found 
it  difficult  to  observe  satisfactorily.  The  faces  of  the 
crystals  lose  their  lustre  when  the  mother-liquor  is  wiped 
off,  and  the  edges  are  rapidly  destroyed.  From  the 
general  inclination  of  the  side-faces  to  the  broad  face  2, 
the  crystals  look  like  half-forms,  or  as  if  the  crystal  had 
been  formed  with  its  face,  1,  on  the  bottom  of  the  vessel, 
which  is  indeed  a  common  position  of  the  crystals.  The 
crystals  have,  however,  the  same  appearance  when 
formed  with  both  surfaces  of  the  plate  free.  The  end 
faces,  6,  7,  are  always  hollowed  out,  and  give  a  distinc¬ 
tive  appearance  to  the  crystals. 

When  large  crystals  are  formed  by  slow  growth,  they 
are  so  broad  in  proportion  to  their  length,  that  they  can 
hardly  be  described  as  prisms.  But  when  large  crystals 
are  produced  in  a  single  night,  they  are  often  of  great 
length,  shooting  across  the  solution  like  nitre  crystals. 
One  of  these  I  measured,  and  found  it  to  be  50  mm. 
long,  6  mm.  broad,  and  about  0-5  mm.  thick.  Crystals 
growing  over  the  bottom  of  the  vessel  take  the  broad, 
short,  tabular  form ;  while  those  produced  in  the  body  of 
the  solution  assume  the  slender,  flat,  prismatic  form. 
When  solitary  crystals  are  first  seen  suspended  in  the 
solution,  they  have  a  narrow  breadth,  no  sensible  thick¬ 
ness,  and  a  considerable  length  relatively  to  their  minute 
bulk,  and  are  hardly,  if  at  all  visible,  except  when  in  a 
position  to  reflect  light  to  the  eye  from  one  or  other  of 
their  broad  surfaces.  A  very  small  absolute  bulk  of  such 
crystals  is  sufficient  to  convert  the  whole  solution  into  a 
semi-transparent  magma,  forming,  as  they  do,  equally 
through  all  parts  of  it.  When  they  are  very  minute, 
and  in  not  too  great  quantity,  the  network  they  form 
can  be  shaken  by  gently  jolting  the  vessel  into  a  smaller 
bulk,  retaining  more  or  less  the  shape  of  the  interior  of 
the  vessel.  Shaken  up  on  to  the  sides  of  the  vessel,  they 
form  masses  looking  like  jelly.  Violently  shaken  up, 
they  subside  afterwards  to  the  lower  part  of  the  vessel. 
When  the  solution  filled  with  these  crystals  is  left  un¬ 
disturbed,  the  crystals  grow,  and  form  a  closely  inter¬ 
lacing  network  of  slender,  apparently  four-sided  prisms. 
The  ends  of  small  crystals,  whether  proportionately  short 
or  not,  are  terminated  by  almost  exclusively  one  face,  the 


July  80,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


93 


other  one  seen  in  the  large  broad  crystals  being  very 
small,  as  shown  in  the  margin.  The  end  faces 
\  of  large,  long  prisms  are  generally  very  im¬ 
perfect,  but  the  outline  of  the  broad  sides  is 
most  like  that  in  the  small  prisms.  Masses  of 
minute  crystals,  such  as  are  at  first  obtained 
by  method  (5),  form,  when  successfully  dried, 
soft,  lustrous  flakes.  When  proof  spirit  is  added  to  a 
concentrated  solution  of  the  carbonate,  strong  in  ammo¬ 
nia,  so  as  to  avoid  immediate  precipitation,  minute  crystals 
form,  and  soon  render  the  fluid  semi-solid  ;  shortly  after¬ 
wards,  larger  prisms  often  shoot  across  the  semi-fluid 
mass.  A  phenomenon  like  the  last  also  generally  occurs 
when  the  semi-solid  mass  obtained  by  method  ( b )  is 
cooled  in  ice,  nitre-like  prisms  shooting  across  it.  When 
only  a  very  little  spirit  is  used,  short,  broad  prisms 
sometimes  form  at  the  base  of  the  clear  solution.  A  so¬ 
lution  not  too  strong  in  ammonia,  mixed  with  a  suitable 
quantity  of  spirit,  and  left  to  stand  in  a  covered  vessel, 
becomes  filled  with  interlacing,  apparently  four-sided 
prisms. 

Chemical  Composition. 


C  02  (0  H2)2  (N  H3)2. 


Carb. anhyd. 

Amm. 

Eound  38T5 

27-85 

33 

37-43 

28-59 

33 

38-44 

— 

33 

39-84 

28-21 

33 

39-15 

26-50 

33 

— 

26-23 

33 

38-33 

28-98 

33 

39-42 

— 

33 

— 

27-85 

3) 

— 

27-82 

33 

— 

29-00 

Calc. 

.  38-60 

29-82 

Wafer. 

31-58 


Behaviour  on  Exposure . — Ammonium  carbonate  gets 
very  damp  when  exposed  to  the  air.  A  similar  change 
takes  place  in  the  half- acid  ammonium  carbonate,  and 
has  been  specially  pointed  out  by  Deville.  Before  crys¬ 
tals  of  the  ammonium  carbonate  can  be  dried,  they  lose 
their  lustre,  and  become  semi -opaque  and  moist,  but  re¬ 
tain  their  general  shape ;  when  pressed,  they  break  down 
to  a  mass  of  wet  acid  carbonate.  This  change  is  not  the 
result  of  absorption  of  moisture  from  the  air,  but  of  the 
instability  of  the  salt  in  an  atmosphere  not  charged  with 
the  products  of  its  own  decomposition;  for  the  action 
goes  on  in  a  stoppered  bottle  until  the  air  in  the  bottle  is 
thus  affected,  and  the  salt  is  wet.  The  change  may  be 
thus  represented : — 

C  02  (0  H2)2  (N  h3)2  =  c  o29  h2n  h,  +  o  h2  +  n  h3. 

It  is  because  -of  this  evolution  of  moist  gas  that  a  feel¬ 
ing  of  dampness  in  the  paper  used  to  dry  the  salt  must 
not  be  regarded  as  proof  that  some  adhering  moisture 
has  not  been  removed  from  it. 

Behaviour  when  heated. — At  about  58°  ammonium  car¬ 
bonate  is  converted  into  water,  carbonic  anhydride,  and 
ammonia,  when  surrounded  by  an  atmosphere  formed  of 
products  of  its  own  decomposition.  When  first  heated 
by  a  water-bath  in  a  retort  connected  with  a  tube  dip¬ 
ping  under  mercury,  signs  of  decomposition  are  appa¬ 
rent  by  the  formation  in  the  retort-neck  of  drops  of  fluid 
and  the  fibrous  crystals  already  described  when  the  ther¬ 
mometer  in  the  bath  registers  about  49°  or  50°,  but  the 
progress  of  the  change  is  soon  arrested  unless  the  tem¬ 
perature  is  raised,  and  no  marked  and  continuous  change 
is  effected  until  the  water-bath  is  at  a  temperature  of 
about  59°  or  60°.  By  maintaining  the  temperature  of 
the  bath  at  60°  no  gas  escapes  from  the  apparatus,  a 
moist,  solid  distillate  is  formed  in  the  neck  of  the  retort, 
and  the  contents  of  the  retort  gradually  liquefy.  Both 
the  residual  liquid  and  the  solid  distillate  contain  the 
ammonia  in  normal  proportion  to  the  carbonic  anhy¬ 
dride,  but  the  solid  is  too  deficient  in  water,  that  moisten¬ 
ing  included,  to  allow  of  its  being  represented  as  an 


ammonium  carbonate,  while  the  fluid  in  the  retort  is  a 
solution  of  the  normal  carbonate,  and,  provided  the 
operation  is  not  carried  too  far,  crystallizes  out  on  cool¬ 
ing.  The  crystals  have  not  been  analysed,  but  they 
were  evidently  the  normal  carbonate.  The  product  of 
the  distillation  was  analysed. 

If  the  heat  be  carried  some  degrees  beyond  60°,  am¬ 
monia  escapes  during  the  distillation,  and  more  water 
rises  in  vapour  with  the  other  constituents.  In  this  case 
the  condensed  salt  is  very  moist,  but  still  has  not  suffi¬ 
cient  water  to  constitute  it  an  ammonium  salt  of  carbonic 
acid,  and,  besides,  is  wanting  in  ammonia.  I  shall  have 
again  to  refer  to  these  products  of  distillation,  and  will 
then  give  the  numerical  data  of  my  analyses.  The  de¬ 
composition  of  the  salt  by  heat  is  thus  represented : — 

C  02  (O  H2)2  (N  H3)2  =  C  02  +  2  0  H2  +  2  N  Hs, 

and  is  therefore  quite  distinct  from  that  it  undergoes  by 
free  exposure  to  the  air. 

Behaviour  with  Water. — Ammonium  carbonate  is  so¬ 
luble  in  its  own  weight  of  water,  or  slightly  more,  at  15°. 
By  cooling  the  solution  contained  in  a  closed  vessel,  some 
of  the  salt  crystallizes  out  again,  but  mixed  with  other 
carbonates. 

The  saturated  solution  is  of  somewhat  oily  consistence. 
It  smells  very  strongly  of  ammonia.  Exposed  freely  to 
the  air  it  loses  ammonia.  Heated,  it  begins  to  effervesce 
between  70°  and  75°,  and  boils  freely  between  75°  and 
80°,  yielding  vapours  which  condense  into  a  moist  solid. 
After  boiling  for  awhile,  and  then  cooling  the  solution, 
it  is  found  to  be  unchanged  in  properties,  except  that  it 
is  weaker. 

A  warm  saturated  solution  of  ammonium  carbonate 
exhibits  the  phenomenon  of  supersaturation  and  sudden 
crystallization  in  a  well-marked  manner  when  it  is 
allowed  to  cool  in  a  closed  flask.  If  the  solution  does 
not  crystallize  while  left  at  rest,  it  will  do  so  suddenly  on 
stirring  it  with  a  glass  rod  or  pouring  it  out  into  another 
vessel. 

Behaviour  with  Alcohol. — Ammonium  carbonate  is  in¬ 
soluble  in  alcohol.  Crystals  of  it,  treated  with  rectified 
spirit,  are  converted  into  acid  carbonate  and  free  am¬ 
monia.  An  aqueous  solution  of  it  is  precipitated  by  al¬ 
cohol,  the  precipitate  being  acid  carbonate,  or  interme¬ 
diate  in  composition  to  this  and  normal  carbonate. 

Behaviour  with  Ammonia-  Water. — Ammonium  carbo¬ 
nate  dissolves  in  ammonia-water  only  very  sparingly  at 
a  low  temperature,  but,  by  digestion  at  ordinary  tem¬ 
peratures,  the  quantity  dissolved  becomes  greater. 
Strong  ammonia- water,  added  to  a  concentrated  solution 
of  the  carbonate,  precipitates  it  unchanged.  Ammonia 
gas,  passed  into  a  moderately  strong  solution,  has  the- 
same  effect.  In  cases  -tfhere  no  precipitate  is  produced, 
the  mixture  will  generally  deposit  some  of  the  salt  when 
cooled  in  ice.  The  small  solubility  of  ammonium  car¬ 
bonate  in  ammonia-water  is  a  fact  which  is  most  ser¬ 
viceable  in  preparing  it.  Thus,  nearly  all  the  methods- 
already  given,  including,  perhaps,  that  in  which  the  salt, 
is  precipitated  by  spirit  from  a  weak  ammoniacal  solution, 
depend  upon  this  influence  of  ammonia. 

Conversion  of  the  Carbonate  into  Carbamate. — But  am¬ 
monia  has  a  much  more  remarkable  effect  upon  ammo¬ 
nium  carbonate  than  that  described  in  the  last  para¬ 
graph.  By  digesting  crystals  of  the  salt  with  water 
saturated  at  a  low  temperature  with  ammonia,  gas  for 
two  or  more  days  at  a  temperature  of  20°  to  25°,  they 
dissolve  in  apparently  unlimited  quantity,  and  are- 
changed  into  ammonium  carbamate.  The  mode  of  pro¬ 
ceeding  is  similar  to  that  adopted  in  method  (5)  for¬ 
getting  ammonium  carbonate  in  minute  crystals.  Some 
of  the  strongest  ammonia-water  of  commerce  is  placed  in 
a  wide-mouthed  bottle,  surrounded  by  ice,  and  treated 
with  a  rapid  stream  of  ammonia  gas  ;*  a  third  of  its 

*  During  the  passage  of  the  gas  the  bottle  is  loosely  closed 
by  a  cork,  perforated  to  admit  the  gas  delivery-tube,  so  as  to 
diminish  loss  by  diffusion. 


96 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[July  30,  1870. 


weight  or  more  of  crystals  of  ammonium  carbonate  are 
added,  the  gas  still  passing ;  then  the  bottle  is  closed 
with  a  vulcanized-rubber  stopper  and  gently  agitated 
for  a  moment,  the  stopper  loosened  to  allow  of  restora¬ 
tion  of  atmospheric  pressure  by  an  outrush  of  the  en¬ 
closed  air,  and  then  tightly  inserted  again  and  secured 
by  string ;  the  bottle  is  then  placed  where  it  will  be  ex¬ 
posed  to  a  temperature  of  20°  to  25°,  and  is  occasionally 
agitated.  In  thirty  or  forty  hours  the  ammonia  solution 
will  have  dissolved  about  half  its  weight  of  ammonium 
carbonate,  if  so  much  or  more  has  been  added.  In  any 
case,  though  the  solvent  action  of  the  liquid  is  not  ex¬ 
hausted,  it  is  well  to  cool  the  bottle  again  by  ice,  and 
pass  more  ammonia  gas  through  it,  at  the  same  time 
adding,  if  necessary,  more  ammonium  carbonate.  On 
opening  the  bottle  for  this  purpose,  after  it  has  been 
cooled,  the  internal  atmospheric  pressure  is  found  to  be 
much  less  than  the  external  pressure.  The  solution 
cooled  in  ice  for  hours  gives  either  no  crystals  or  only  a 
few  groups  of  exceedingly  minute  needles,  which  the  de¬ 
tails  of  the  preparation  of  the  carbonate  by  method  ( b ) 
show  almost  certainly  to  be  unchanged  ammonium  car¬ 
bonate.  After  the  addition  of  the  salt  and  the  ammonia 
gas,  the  operation  is  carried  on  as  before.  On  again 
cooling,  after  thirty  or  forty  hours’  digestion,  the  same 
appearances  present  themselves,  but  a  small  quantity  of 
minute  crystals  is  now  almost  certain  to  appear.  The 
series  of  operations  is  to  be  repeated  as  many  times  as 
are  necessary  for  the  solution  when  cooled  by  ice,  or 
better  by  exposure  to  the  sky  on  a  frosty  night,  to  yield 
the  carbamate.  When  this  point  is  reached,  the  carba¬ 
mate  appears  in  the  form  of  beautiful  large  crystals  and 
crystalline  masses  along  with  a  few  of  the  minute  crys¬ 
tals.  If  the  presence  of  the  crystals  be  disregarded,  and 
the  series  of  operations,  including  the  addition  of  more 
carbonate,  be  again  carried  out,  the  solution,  after  diges- 
tion,  yields,  on  cooling,  a  large  batch  of  the  carbamate. 
The  other  crystalline  matter  does  not  necessarily  increase 
by  repeating  the  operations,  and,  when  it  is  present  in 
more  than  a  very  small  quantity,  further  digestion  with 
more  ammonia  suffices  to  make  it  appear  in  less  quan¬ 
tity.  I  have  thus  converted  carbonate  of  ammonium 
into  carbamate  by  using  only  half  its  weight  of  ammonia- 
water,  and,  after  this  had  been  done,  there  was  no  sign 
that  the  same  solution,  plus  ammonia  gas,  would  not 
have  continued  to  carry  on  the  change  in.  any  quantity 
more  of  the  carbonate. 

The  solubility  of  ammonium  carbonate  in  cold  concen¬ 
trated  ammonia-water  being  slight,  there  can  be  very 
little  of  that  added  left  unchanged.  On  the  other  hand, 
as  the  carbamate  is  freely  soluble  in  ammonia-water, 
much  of  it  remains  in  solution.  No  urea  could  be 
detected  in  the  solution.  *The  reaction  is  simple 
enough : — 

C  02  (0  H2)2  (N  H3)2  -  2  0  H2  =  C  02  (N  H3)2. 

It  may  be  regarded  as  being  only  an  instance  of  the 
well-known  influence  of  heat  in  resolving  ammonium 
salts  of.  polybasic  acids  into  the  ammonium  salts  of  the 
amic  acids,  the  use  of  the  ammonia  in  this  case  being  to 
prevent  a  reversion  of  the  change.  That  ammonia  pre¬ 
vents  the  conversion  of  carbamate  into  carbonate  I  shall 
afterwards  show. 

{To  be  continued .) 


DEATH  FROM  AN  OVERDOSE  OF  STRYCHNIA. 

—AN  INTERESTING  CASE. 

BY  CHARLES  BULLOCK. 

_  -A-  case  of  death,  resulting  from  an  overdose  of  strych¬ 
nia,  occurred  recently  in  Pennsylvania  under  circum¬ 
stances  which  render  the  case  interesting  and  instructive 
to  both  medical  practitioner  and  pharmaceutist. 

The  patient  had  been  labouring  under  an  attack  of 


partial  paralysis,  and  the  medical  attendant  directed  the 
following  prescription : — 

]Jo  Strychnia;  Muriat.  .  .  .  gr.iss 
Liq.  Ferri  Iodidi  .  .  .  5yj 
Syr.  Zingiberis  q.  s.  ut  ft.  ffjiij. 

M. 

Sig.  dose  a  teaspoonful. 

The  whole  of  this  prescription  was  used  as  directed, 
and  the  bottle  returned  to  the  druggist,  by  order  of  the 
physician,  for  renewal  of  the  medicine,  the  dose  on  re¬ 
newal  being  increased  to  one  and  one-half  teaspoonful. 
This  was  taken  with  apparent  benefit  to  the  patient, 
until  the  last  dose,  exhausting  the  contents  of  the  bottle, 
was  given.  About  an  hour  after,  while  at  a  meal,  the 
patient  complained  of  strange  sensations,  and  was  soon 
affected  with  tonic  spasms,  which  are  described  by  two 
medical  gentlemen,  who  were  called  in,  as  well-marked 
results  of  an  overdose  of  strychnia.  Proper  remedies 
were  promptly  used  and  the  spasmodic  action  passed 
away,  leaving  the  patient  able  to  speak,  but  greatly 
prostrated,  and,  failing  to  respond  to  stimulants,  death 
ensued  in  a  few  hours. 

The  bottle  which  contained  the  medicine  was  produced 
before  the  coroner’s  jury  (composed  of  physicians  and 
pharmaceutists).  It  appeared  to  have  been  drained  of 
its  contents  to  make  up  the  last  dose ;  adhering  to  the 
bottle  were  well-formed  crystals,  some  of  them  about  a 
line  in  length,  and  one-fourth  line  in  thickness.  Unfor¬ 
tunately  no  chemical  examination  was  made  to  determine 
whether  the  crystals  wrere  undissolved  muriate  of  strych¬ 
nia  or  iodide  of  strychnia.  A  microscopical  examination 
failed  to  carry  much  weight,  on  account  of  the  destruc¬ 
tion  of  the  form  of  the  crystal  by  washing  previous  to 
mounting,  the  size  of  the  crystal  not  being  accepted  in 
evidence,  as  crystals  of  iodide  of  strychnia  were  shown 
nearly  as  large,  made  by  simple  deposition  from  a  warm 
saturated  solution. 

The  pharmaceutist  by  whom  the  prescription  was 
compounded  testified,  “  that  he  weighed  out  the  muriate 
of  strychnia,  threw  it  into  a  graduated  measure,  added 
the  two  other  ingredients,  and  stirred  them  up  with  a 
bone  spatula  until  he  thought  the  strychnia  had  all  dis¬ 
solved,  as  he  could  see  no  undissolved  crystals  or  solid 
matter.”  To  a  question,  he  replied  that  he  noticed  an 
opalescent  appearance,  resembling  a  quinine  mixture. 

An  inmate  of  the  house  with  deceased  testified,  “that 
she  was  sure  that  the  bottle  of  medicine  was  never 
shaken.” 

The  prescription  as  above  given  had  been  sent  to 
several  prominent  pharmaceutists,  and  the  compound¬ 
ings  criticized  by  the  jury.  In  some  no  chemical  change 
was  discernible,  in  others  crystals  readily  recognizable 
as  iodide  of  strychnia  were  floating  through  the  mixture 
and  deposited  in  the  bottom  of  the  bottle.  In  one  case 
large  crystals  were  contained  in  the  bottle,  evidently  of 
the  original  strychnia  salt  undissolved. 

The  jury,  after  weighing  all  the  evidence,  returned  a 
verdict  of  “  Death  from  prostration,  following  the  acci¬ 
dental  administration  of  an  overdose  of  strychnia. 

“  The  jury  further  find,  from  examination  of  the 
assistant  pharmaceutist,  by  whom  the  prescription  was 
compounded,  a  want  of  proper  attention  to,  or  informa¬ 
tion  in  manipulation,  which  they  cannot  pass  without 
notice  and  reprimand,  as  both  efficiency  and  safety  may 
depend  on  careful  manipulating  skill  wdien  potent  reme¬ 
dies  are  prescribed. 

“They  farther  find  that  the  ingredients  of  the  pre¬ 
scription  are  subject  to  such  chemical  changes  as  renders 
the  strychnia  contained  therein  liable  to  be  precipitated 
to  the  bottom  of  the  bottle  containing  the  prescription ; 
and  if  the  bottle  should  remain  without  proper  agitation, 
an  overdose  of  strychnia  might  result.” 

So  much  for  the  history  of  the  case.  We  now  wish 
to  make  some  remarks  on  the  chemical  and  pharma¬ 
ceutical  character  of  the  prescription,  and  throw  out 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


97 


July  SO,  1870.] 


some  thoughts  on  prescribing  and  compounding,  as  sug¬ 
gested  by  this  case. 

Muriate  of  strychnia  is  not  officinal  in  the  United 
States  nor  British  Pharmacopoeias,  and  is  rarely  pre¬ 
scribed.  It  is  much  less  soluble  than  the  sulphate, 
requiring  50  parts  of  water,  at  71°  F.,  for  solution 
(Gmelin’s  ‘Handbook’).  The  solubility  of  iodide  of 
strychnia  is  not  found  in  any  authority  which  I  have 
consulted.  It  is  spoken  of  as  very  insoluble.  My  own 
determinations  make  its  solubility  0*54  parts  in  100  parts 
of  water,  at  60°  F.* 

When  a  drop  of  syrup  of  iodide  of  iron  is  added  to  a 
cold  saturated  solution  of  muriate  of  strychnia,  the  in¬ 
soluble  iodide  of  the  alkaloid  is  immediately  formed. 

I  have  before  me  the  prescription  alluded  to  in  this 
communication,  put  up  in  two  ways.  In  both  the  mu¬ 
riate  of  strychnia  was  previously  dissolved  in  5iss  of 
water.  In  No.  1  the  strychnia  solution  was  mixed  with 
the  iodide  of  iron,  and  the  ginger  syrup  immediately 
added  and  well  shaken.  In  No.  2  the  strychnia  solution 
was  first  added  to  the  syrup  of  ginger,  well  shaken,  and 
the  iodide  of  iron  added.  In  No.  1  the  bottom  of  the 
bottle  is  covered  with  crystals  of  iodide  of  strychnia,  and 
many  floating  crystals  suspended  in  the  mixture.  In 
No.  2  no  decomposition  is  discernible,  and  after  standing- 
four  days  no  deposit  has  taken  place. 

On  p.  1418  of  the  U.  S.  Dispensatory,  13th  edition 
(1870),  after  quoting  from  this  Journal  the  experiments 
of  Bouchardat  and  Gobley,  on  the  insolubility  of  iodine 
combinations  with  strychnia,  the  authors  add :  “  But 
though  this  fact  establishes  the  impropriety  of  combining 
solutions  of  iodine  and  strychnia  in  prescriptions ,  yet  it  by 
no  means  justifies  the  inference  drawn  from  it,  that 
iodine  might  serve  as  an  antidote  to  strychnia.  Indeed, 
the  contrary  has  been  proved  by  the  experiments  of  Mr. 
S.  Darby,  who  found  the  precipitated  iodide  of  strychnia 
was  highly  poisonous  to  the  lower  animals,”  etc. 

We  have,  in  the  above  quotation,  information  given 
regarding  the  insolubility  of  iodide  of  strychnia,  and  the 
impropriety  of  prescribing  iodine  and  strychnia  solutions 
in  combination. 

It  is  clearly  the  duty  of  the  pharmaceutist  to  see  that 
when  potent  remedies  are  presciibed  in  solution  that  the 
solution  is  complete.  He  ought,  also,  if  allowed  to  dis¬ 
pense  such  articles,  to  be  informed  regarding  decomposi¬ 
tions  liable  to  occur,  and,  if  possible,  guard  against  mis¬ 
chief  likely  to  result  therefrom,  or  else  return  the  pre¬ 
scription  to  the  writer,  with  his  objections  clearly  stated. 
He  should  also  notice  when  such  a  prescription  is  returned 
for  renewal,  whether  any  deposit  has  taken  place  in  the 
bottle,  and  remove  it  by  washing,  should  such  be  the 
case.  The  question  whether  it  is  Iris  duty  to  mark  the 
bottle  “Shake  wrnll,”  when  the  recipe  gives  no  such 
direction,  is  one  admitting  of  different  opinions ;  but  we 
think,  when  so  marked,  the  error,  if  any,  is  on  the  side 
of  prudence. 

We  would  suggest  to  physicians,  when  prescribing  a 
remedy  like  strychnia  in  solution  to  its  usual  full  dose ,  to 
prescribe  it  alone,  and  to  give  separately  whatever  else 
may  be  deemed  advisable.  We  have,  in  our  experience, 
been  made  aware  of  changes  unforeseen  and  unknown  to 
us  until  the  event  developed  the  facts. — American  Journal 
of  Pharmacy. 

[***  Inasmuch  as  the  amount  of  liquid  was  three  ounces, 
equal  to  over  thirteen  hundred  grains,  and  the  hydriodate  of 
strychnine  about  four  grains,  it  is  plain  that  there  was  suffi¬ 
cient  liquid  to  keep  all  of  the  strychnine  in  solution. — Ed. 


*  Hydrochloric  and  even  acetic  acid  much  increase  the 
solubility  of  the  iodide,  without  apparent  decomposition, 
when  the  acids  are  very  dilute. 


(Sjpjjtm!  for  Sfaitab. 


LIGHT — continued. 

35 Y  WILLIAM  A.  TLLDEN,  B.SC.  BOND. 

DEMONSTRATOR  OF  PRACTICAL  CHEMISTRY  TO  THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 

7.  When  light  falls  upon  the  surface  of  a  trans¬ 
parent  substance,  such  as  a  sheet  of  glass,  it  is. 
partly  reflected  from  the  surface,  and  the  remainder 
enters  the  glass.  Of  the  latter  portion  a  certain 
part,  proportionate  to  the  transparency  of  the  glass, 
is  allowed  to  pass  on,  is,  in  other  rvords,  transmitted ; 
the  remainder  is  destroyed,  it  ceases  to  be  light,  and 
is  transformed  into  something  else.  What  becomes 
of  this  lost  light  is  not  known  with  certainty. 

The  light  which  is  transmitted  is  usually  deflected 
on  entering  the  transparent  surface  ;  there  is,  in 
fact,  only  one  position  which  the  incident  ray  can 
occupy  in  which  it  will  not  be  turned  aside  from 
following  its  course.  If  C 
were  the  ray  of  light  falling 
upon  A  B,  the  surface  of  glass 
or  water,  it  would  proceed 
straight  onwards  in  the  direc¬ 
tion  CD.  But  if  I,  or  any 
line  inclined  to  A  B,  be  the 
path  of  the  incident  ray,  it  will 
not  go  on  through  i,  but  will  V/ 
be  bent  in  the  direction  of  R. 

The  ray  thus  turned  aside  is  said  to  be  ref  racted. 

8.  When  the  substance  (e.  g.  glass)  into  which 
the  incident  ray  passes  is  denser  than  that  (e.g.  air) 
from  which  it  passes,  the  ray  is  refracted,  as  in  the 
figure,  downwards  towards  the  hue  C  D,  which  is 
perpendicular  or  at  right  angles  to  the  refracting 
surface. 

If  R  were  the  incident  ray  passing  from  the 
denser  medium  glass  into  the  less  dense  medium 
air,  it  would,  on  the  contrary,  be  bent  away  from 
this  perpendicular  in  the  direction  of  I. 

This  is  also  shown  in  the  next  diagram,  in  which 
A  B  and  a  h  are  the  two  par¬ 
allel  surfaces  of  a  sheet  of 
glass  or  other  transparent 
body.  The  ray  I,  passing, 
we  suppose,  through  air,  falls 
upon  the  surface  A  B,  is  bent 
downwards  so  as  to  become 
more  nearly  perpendicular;  ct 
but  on  emerging  again  it  as¬ 
sumes  the  direction  R,  which 
forms  with  a  h  an  angle  equal 
to  that  which  I  forms  with 
AB.  The  refracted  ray  R, 
after  emergence,  is  therefore  parallel  to  the  original 
incident  ray  I. 

9.  Now  suppose  that  we  have 
to  deal  with  a  wedge-shaped 
piece  of  glass,  instead  of  a  sheet 
with  parallel  surfaces.  We  shall 
find  that,  following  the  same 
rules,  the  course  taken  by  the 
ray  of  light  will  be  that  shown 
in  the  accompanying  figure.  I 
is  the  ray  incident  upon  A  B  ; 
on  entering  the  glass  it  is  turned 
down  towards  the  dotted  perpen¬ 
dicular  ;  on  coming  to  A  C,  and  emerging  from  the 


98 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[J uly  30,  1870. 


.glass  into  a  rarer  medium,  air,  it  is  again  bent, 
but  this  time  away  from  the  dotted  perpendicular, 
and  therefore  takes  the  course  R.  By  means,  there¬ 
fore,  of  such  a  piece  of  glass,  which  is  called  a  prism, 
the  light  is  brought  round  a  corner. 

10.  If  a  beam  of  ordinary  light  refracted  by  a 
prism,  be  received  on  a  sheet  of  paper  or  other  sur¬ 
face,  it  presents  the  appearance  of  a  stripe  of  colours. 
In  the  last  diagram  it  will  be  seen  that  the  direction 
of  the  refracted  ray  I — R  is  always  towards  the  base 
or  broad  side  BC  of  the  prism.  When  the  stripe  of 
•colours,  or  ‘  spectrum’  of  ordinary  light  is  received 
on  the  screen,  it  will  be  noticed  that  the  order  of  the 
coloured  bands  is — 

Red-Orange-Yellow-Green-Blue-Indigc-Violet 

and  that  the  violet  end  is  that  which  is  nearest  to 
the  base  of  the  prism,  the  red  nearest  to  the  opposite 
angle  A.  The  violet  is  said  therefore  to  be  the  most 
refrangible  (i.  e.  capable  of  being  most  bent  by  re¬ 
fraction),  the  red,  the  least  refrangible,  and  the  other 
colours  intermediate  in  the  order  given. 

11.  It  was  by  an  experiment  of  this  kind,  and  by 
reasoning  upon  it,  that  Newton  was  led  to  the  ex¬ 
planation  of  the  constitution  of  ordinary  sunlight. 
White  light  is  made  up  of  a  number  of  coloured  (and 
also  some  invisible)  rays,  each  possessing  a  different 
•degree  of  refrangibility.  When  these  pass  through 
a  prism,  they  are  bent  to  the  extent  peculiar  to  each 
respectively,  and  so  undergo  dispersion,  and  become 
perceptible  as  separate  and  distinct  components ;  when 
they  are  received  simultaneously  in  the  eye,  without 
previously  submitting  to  this  separation,  their  com¬ 
bined  effect  is  ‘  whiteness.’  That  white  light  is  thus 
constituted  is  shown  by  the  experiment  already  de¬ 
scribed,  and  also  by  the  circumstance  that  if  the  band 
of  separated  coloured  rays,  produced  by  sending  a 
beam  of  white  light  through  a  prism,  be  made  to  pass 
through  another  prism  formed  of  the  same  material 
and  in  a  position  the  reverse  of  the  first,  white  light 
will  be  re-generated.  To  effect  this  properly,  the 
two  prisms  must  have  an  angle  A  (see  diagram)  of 
the  same  magnitude  in  both,  so  that  their  refracting 
surfaces  may  be  parallel,  when  the  base  of  the  one 
is  applied  to  the  opposite  angle  of  the  other.  Under 
these  circumstances  the  rays  which  are  separated 
by  the  first  prism  are  reunited  by  passing  through 
the  second. 

12.  We  are  now  in  a  position  to  understand  the 
production  of  colour  in  natural  objects.  A  surface  is, 
for  example,  red,  when  it  decomposes  the  light  which 
falls  upon  it,  reflecting  only  the  constituent  which 
gives  the  impression  we  call  redness,  and  absorbing 
all  the  rest.  For  a  similar  reason,  on  looking  through 
a  piece  of  glass,  it  appears  to  be  of  the  colour  of  the 
rays  which  it  transmits ;  the  remaining  constituents 
may  be  reflected  or  absorbed.  Knowledge  of  these 
facts  helps  also  to  the  understanding  of  the  changes 
of  hue  which  coloured  objects  exhibit  when  illumi¬ 
nated  by  light  from  different  sources.  When,  for 
example,  a  piece  of  silk  appears  mauve  by  daylight, 
it  gives  the  impression  which  a  mixture  in  due  pro¬ 
portions  of  red  and  blue  gives.  By  gaslight  the  same 
usually  appears  red  or  reddish,  from  the  fact  that 
there  is  hi  gaslight  so  much  less  of  the  blue  consti¬ 
tuent  than  in  sunlight,  that  when  illuminated  by  the 
former,  the  proportion  of  blue  reflected  by  the  silk 
must  be  much  less,  and  the  red  effect  predominates. 
In  a  photograpliic  chamber  illuminated  by  nearly 
pure  yellow  light,  all  but  yellow  and  white  objects 


appear  black ;  that  is,  there  is  no  light  which  they 
are  capable  of  reflecting. 

13.  It  has  already  been  mentioned  that  the  con¬ 
stituents  of  sunlight  include  certain  rays  which  are 
invisible.  They  do  not  produce  the  impression  of 
light,  but  the  one  set  of  them  is  capable  of  heating ; 
the  other  of  effecting  chemical  decomposition  and 
combination. 

If  a  beam  of  sunlight  is  passed  through  a  prism, 
and  the  resulting  spectrum  received  upon  a  screen, 
it  may  be  found,  by  the  aid  of  delicate  thermometers, 
or  a  thermo-electric  pile,  that  the  position  of  greatest 
heating  power  is  in  the  dark  beyond  the  extreme 
point  where  the  red  is  visible.  The  position  of 
greatest  luminosity  is  in  the  yellow  portion  of  the 
band  of  light  of  which  the  visible  spectrum  consists ; 
whilst  the  power  of  bringing  about  chemical  changes 
is  confined  to  the  other  end,  the  maximum  point  be¬ 
ing  found  between  the  indigo  and  violet.  It  will,  of 
course,  be  understood  that  not  only  do  the  luminous 
parts  of  the  spectrum  merge  into  one  another  by  im¬ 
perceptible  gradations,  but  that  the  three  forms  of 
action,  resulting  in  heat,  light,  and  chemical  acti¬ 
vity,  are  not  confined  to  one  narrow  portion,  but 
each  extends  over  a  considerable  proportion  of  the 
total  length  of  the  spectrum.  However,  the  heating 
rays  are  no  longer  found  on  reaching  the  extreme 
violet;  and,  in  like  manner,  the  rays  possessing 
photographic  powers  do  not  extend  into  the  yellow 
and  red. 

In  a  rough  sort  of  way,  the  subjoined  diagram  will 
indicate  the  relative  positions  of  the  constituents  of 
sunlight  after  they  have  been  separated  by  the  prism. 

Dark— R— 0— Y— G— B— I— V— Dark 

\ _ _ / 

Luminous. 

x - v. - " 

Heating.  _ 

Chemical. 


Ox  Diet  and  Regimen  in  Sickness  and  Health.  By 

Horace  Dobell,  M.D.  Fourth  Edition.  Rewritten 

and  much  Enlarged.  London:  H.  K.  Lewis.  1870. 

We  have  perused,  with  considerable  pleasure,  this 
small  volume  in  its  new  form.  It  contains  a  number  of 
tables  of  analysis  of  various  articles  of  food,  dietary  scales, 
and  alcohol  percentages,  also  numerous  recipes;  direc¬ 
tions  for  ventilating,  heating,  disinfecting,  and  cleansing ; 
together  with  many  practical  suggestions  for  the  preser¬ 
vation  of  health,  the  prevention  of  infection  and  disease, 
and  the  management  and  comfort  of  a  patient  and  of  the 
sick-chamber. 

Although  much  of  the  matter  is  old,  many  of  the  sug¬ 
gestions  familiar,  and  most  of  the  rules  laid  down  those 
of  common  and  every-day  practice,  yet  the  collection  of 
these  in  a  form  easy  of  reference,  is  of  some  value,  and 
the  book  cannot  fail  to  be  of  interest  to  the  general 
reader. 

A  new  chapter,  consisting  of  a  letter  and  a  leading 
article  from  the  ‘  Times,’  on  “  London  Noise  and  London 
Sleep,”  is  worthy  of  a  passing  notice,  and  the  author  de¬ 
serves  some  credit  for  having  brought  the  subject  pro¬ 
minently  before  the  public. 

There  are  few,  whether  residents  in  or  visitors  to  Lon¬ 
don,  whose  indignation  has  not  been  roused  simultaneously 
with  their  attention,  by  two  “cabbies  careering  down  op¬ 
posite  gutters  and  holding  a  conversation  across  the  road 


July  30,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


99 


at  the  top  of  their  voices,”  or  by  “  drunken  rollickers,  who 
choose  to  sing  and  halloo  up  and  down  our  streets  and 
squares.”  The  ‘  Times,’  in  considering’the  necessity  en¬ 
tailed  upon  us  by  the  spirit  of  the  age,  to  move  on,  not 
only  at  the  expense,  hut  at  the  taxation  of  our  nervous 
energy,  demands  on  the  part  of  the  brain-fagged  and 
overworked,  that  measures  should  he  adopted  to  allow 
exhausted  nature,  at  least,  the  quantum  of  sleep  upon 
which  she  may  recover  herself;  and  points  out  how 
much  might  he  done  by  the  police  towards  preserving  to 
the  hours  of  night  the  stillness  which  is  their  portion, 
and  to  the  Londoner,  whether  he  he  overworked  or  not, 
the  opportunity  of  the  undisturbed  rest  to  which,  at 
least,  he  is  entitled.  Emphasizing  the  opinion  that 
public  support  and  encouragement  would  he  given  to 
well-directed  efforts  of  the  police,  if  they  would  engage 
in  the  cause, — we  may  add,  that  any  agency  that  would 
preserve  to  us  the  divine  nepenthe,  against  which  so  per¬ 
petual  a  war  is  urged  in  London,  is  earnestly  to  he  de¬ 
sired.  It,  at  least,  would  save  a  frequent  disturbance  of 
our  equanimity,  which  alas,  hut  increases  the  waste  of 
our  vis  vita,  and  robs  the  candle  of  life  of  that  brilliancy 
with  which  it  should  burn,  in  compliment  to  the  neces¬ 
sity  imposed  upon  it  to  burn  quickly. 

We  wish  Dr.  Dobell’s  book  all  success. 


The  Unity  of  Medicine  :  its  Corruptions  and  Divi¬ 
sions  by  Law  established  in  England  and  Wales  ;  their 
Causes,  Effects,  and  Remedy.  By  Frederick  Davies, 
M.D.,  etc.  Second  Edition.  London :  Churchill  and 
Sons. 

Dr.  Davies’  treatise  reappears  opportunely,  when  an¬ 
other  effort  is  being  made  to  erect  a  higher  and  more 
uniform  standard  of  admission  into  the  ranks  of  medi¬ 
cine.  He  gives  a  rapid  history  of  the  healing  art  from 
the  earliest  to  the  latest  times,  and  endeavours  to  indi¬ 
cate  the  critical  epochs  when  medicine  became  corrupted, 
as  a  profession,  by  the  influx  of  extraneous  elements  and 
interests.  The  union  of  the  physician  and  apothecary  in 
one  person — a  result  which  was  brought  about  towards 
the  end  of  the  seventeenth  century — completely  destroyed 
the  distinctive  character  of  either  office.  The  apothe¬ 
cary  in  England  and  Wales  was  entitled  to  visit  and 
prescribe,  as  well  as  compound  and  sell  the  medicine  he 
had  prescribed,  provided  only  that  he  received  no  fee. 
He  was  thus  tempted,  says  Dr.  Davies,  to  “  measure  his 
own  worth  and  his  patient’s  means,  in  the  price  and  the 
quantity  of  medicine  he  could  persuade  him  to  take.” 
From  this  ill-assorted  union  of  two  distinct  branches  of 
the  healing  art  have  sprung  most  of  the  abuses  against 
which  medical  legislation  is  now  contending ;  and  Dr. 
Davies  sees  no  remedy  for  them,  but  a  strict  separation  of 
the  calling  of  the  apothecary  from  that  of  the  physician. 
“  It  is  impossible,”  says  he,  “  that  the  great  mass  of  our 
profession  can  pretend  in  one  short  life  to  do  the  work 
of  two;”  therefore,  let  “the  part  so  abnormally  united 
to  the  physicians’  office, — which  has  never  flourished  in 
their  hands,  which  was  never  sanctioned  •  by  any  other 
age  or  state, — be  consigned  to  those  so  well  prepared  to 
receive  it,  with  honour  to  themselves  and  the  profession, 
and  with  advantage  to  all.”  The  rapid  progress  in  the 
efficiency  of  the  pharmacist — a  progress  attained  by  the 
more  exacting  examinations  to  which  he  is  subjected — 
enables  the  physician  to  delegate,  with  increased  confi¬ 
dence,  the  duty  of  preparing  and  dispensing  drugs  to 
its  appropriate  hands ;  while,  relieved  of  work  for  which 
he  was  but  partially  fitted  by  training,  he  will  have  more 
time  to  devote  to  his  already  onerous  vocation.  This  re¬ 
form  has  been  advocated  by  many  recent  writers  on  pro¬ 
fessional  education,  among  others,  by  Mr.  Huxley,  who 
is  quite  in  favour  of  dividing  pharmacy  from  medicine, 
and  constituting  the  votaries  of  the  former  into  a  distinct 
and  honourably  recognized  and  rewarded  profession. 
Dr.  Davies’  work  supplies  many  cogent  arguments, 
drawn  from  history  and  practical  experience,  for  the  ac¬ 


celeration  of  this  reform  ;  and,  even  the  reader,  who  has 
little  personal  interest  in  it,  will  find  himself  strongly 
attached  to  the  reforming-  party  by  the  force  and  occa¬ 
sional  eloquence  of  the  author’s  advocacy. 


Eczema  :  its  Nature  and  Treatment,  and,  incident¬ 
ally,  the  Influence  of  Constitutional  Conditions 
on  Skin  Diseases.  Being  the  Lettsomian  Lectures 
for  the  Session  1869-70.  By  Tilbury  Fox,  M.D. 
Lond.  London :  Renshaw.  Pp.  68. 

In  three  lectures,  written  with  the  fluency  of  the 
journalist  rather  than  the  finish  of  the  man  of  letters, 
Dr.  Tilbury  Fox  runs  over  the  main  features  of  the 
most  typical  of  skin  diseases.  His  views  are  not  so 
much  those  of  the  original  investigator  as  of  the  prac¬ 
tised  compiler — a  compiler,  however,  who  has  seen 
enough  for  himself  to  assume  the  attidude  of  an  eclectic. 
He  retains  all  that  is  good  in  Willan,  and  rejects  all  that 
is  unsound  in  Yon  Hebra’s  supplement  to  that  otherwise 
sagacious  observer ;  while  he  keeps  firm  hold  of  the  one 
true  guide  to  the  nature  and  development  of  the  disease, 
to  wit,  “perverted  innervation.”  Appropriately,  there¬ 
fore,  he  would  have  recourse  to  tonics  and  alteratives  in 
treatment,  while  he  aspires  to  head  that  “  conservative 
reaction”  in  favour  of  drugs,  as  against  the  too  sweeping 
scepticism  that  has  followed  their  misuse. 

There  are,  in  fact,  no  diseases  which  make  heavier 
demands  on  the  pharmacopoeia  than  those  of  the  skin  ; 
and  Dr.  Tilbury  Fox  does  good  service  by  laying  down 
such  prescriptions  as  will  convert  the  practitioner  from 
an  unwitting  ally  into  an  intelligent  combatant  of  their 
symptoms. 


BOOKS  RECEIVED. 


Report  on  the  Quality  of  the  Kerosene  Oil  sold 
in  the  Metropolitan  District  (New  York).  By 
C.  F.  Chandler,  Ph.D. 


Reports  on  the  Quality  of  the  Milk  Supply  of  the 
Metropolitan  District  (New  York).  By  C.  F. 
Chandler,  Ph.D. 


Attempted  Poisoning  by  Laudanum, — A  singu¬ 
lar  case  is  described  by  Dr.  Dobbie,  of  Glasgow,  in  the 
‘  British  Medical  Journal’  of  July  9th,  of  a  lady  who  had 
been  insane,  and  was  then  labouring  under  the  same 
disease,  having  swallowed  two  ounces  of  laudanum. 
The  poison  was  retained  for  two  hours  and  a  half,  when 
she  became  sick :  the  vomiting  was  encouraged  by  the 
administration  of  mustard  and  water,  and  the  patient 
was  quite  well  the  next  morning.  The  case  is  remark¬ 
able,  in  that  so  large  a  quantity  of  laudanum  was  taken 
on  an  empty  stomach,  and  by  a  person  unaccustomed  to 
its  use,  without  producing  any  deleterious  effect. 

Haemostatic  Collodion. — The  following  formula  is 
given  by  Dr.  Pavesi  (;  Union  Medicale  ’) : — 

Collodion,  officinal,  100  parts. 

Phenic  Acid,  10  parts. 

Tannic  Acid, 

Benzoic  Acid,  of  each  5  parts. 

Mix,  by  shaking. 

Explosion  of  Nitro-Glycerine. — The  American 
papers  report  a  terrible  explosion  of  nitro-glycerine,  which 
occurred  in  a  luggage  van  in  Massachusetts,  J une  23rd, 
by  which  one  man  was  killed,  and  about  thirty  injured ; 
also  property  to  the  amount  of  150,000  dollars  was  de¬ 
stroyed.  Fortunately  the  train  to  which  the  van  was 
attached  carried  no  passengers.  The  effects  of  the  ex¬ 
plosion  are  graphically  described,  the  buildings  in  the 
neighbourhood  having  been  destroyed,  and  portions  of 
the  carriages  blown  to  a  great  distance. 


100 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[July  30,  1870. 


©Mtotjr* 

July  25,  at  Park  Place,  Leeds,  after  a  short  illness, 
Mr.  Robert  Goodall,  of  the  firm  of  Messrs.  Goodall, 
Backhouse,  and  Co.,  wholesale  druggists. 


It  is  intended,  as  soon  as  the  particulars  can  he  ob¬ 
tained,  to  publish  a  biographical  notice  of  the  late  Mr. 
Orridge,  whose  services  in  connection  with  the  Benevo¬ 
lent  Fund  were  so  great. 


Communications  for  this  Journal ,  and  boohs  for  review , 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authen¬ 
ticated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Citrate  of  Magnesia. 

Sir, — I  hope  I  may,  without  appearing  to  be  unnecessarily 
intrusive,  be  allowed  to  correct  what  looks  like  a  misappre¬ 
hension  of  the  whole  scope  of  my  letter  on  this  subject,  by 
Mr.  Hughes,  in  his  letter  in  last  week’s  number.  I  cannot 
at  present  refer  to  the  letter,  but  I  do  not  believe  it  contains 
any  expression  that  conveys  the  idea  that  “  the  sugar  exer¬ 
cises  any  chemical  action  on  the  salts,”  or  on  anything;  but 
it  will  be  quite  apparent  to  anybody,  that  if  20  per  cent,  of 
sugar  be  used  by  one  maker,  and  30  or  35  per  cent,  by  an¬ 
other,  that  the  same  percentage  amount  of  carbonic  acid 
cannot  be  given  off  by  both  samples.  Therefore  it  is,  as  I  have 
stated,  the  amount  of  carbonic  acid  which  is  the  indicator 
of  the  value  of  the  compound. 

F.  M.  Rimmington. 


Anonymous  Writing. 

On  the  subject  of  “  Anonymous  Correspondence,”  I  would, 
in  reply  to  the  several  writers,  observe  that  your  Editorial  note 
of  the  16th  inst.  puts  the  matter  on  its  right  footing.  Ano¬ 
nymous  writing  ought  to  be  the  exception,  not  the  rule.  Why 
should  a  writer,  honestly  expressing  his  sentiments,  hide  his 
identity  by  a  fictitious  signature  ?  I  read  the  letters  of  those 
whose  names  appear  and  of  whom  I  have  any  knowledge, 
either  personally  or  by  repute,  with  a  real  interest  and  as 
the  communications  of  friends.  It  is  not  possible,  as  has 
lately  been  proved,  that  even  great  names  can  make  non¬ 
sense  pass  for  reason.  The  analogy  between  the  correspond¬ 
ents  of  the  secular  press,  and  that  of  a  journal  devoted  to  a 
special  interest,  is  not  complete.  The  writers  in  the  latter 
may  be  considered  as  members  of  a  confraternity  and,  as  such, 
willing  to  be  known  to  their  brethren ;  but  a  letter  to  the 
‘  Times,’  on  a  social  or  a  political  question,  is  a  very  different 
affair. 

I  am,  Sir,  yours  faithfully, 

Bradford ,  July  23,  1870.  F.  M.  Rimmington. 

Sir, — Allow  me,  through  the  medium  of  your  valuable 
Journal,  to  second  the  measure  proposed  by  your  corre¬ 
spondent  of  the  16th  inst.  viz.,  “  That  while  the  subject  of 
medical  reform  is  being  broached,  pharmacists  should  agitate 
and  strive  to  obtain  the  privileges  belonging  to  their  true 
position,  which  they  have  to  study  to  attain.”  Let  us  try  to 
gain  that  pecuniary  advantage  from  our  profession  which  will 
sufficiently  reward  us  for  our  pains  in  acquiring  competence 
as  dispensers  and  not  depend  on  selling  grocery  and  oils  for 
our  means  of  subsistence,  thus  making  what  should  be  a 
pharmacy  into  a  general  store,  where  pennyworths  of  arsenic, 
treacle,  tobacco,  and  other  incongruities  are  to  be  had  with 
equal  ease.  However  convenient  this  may  be  for  customers, 
it  does  not  require  a  knowledge  of  botany  and  chemistry  to 
wait  upon  such  customers,  and  they  are  the  most  numerous 
in  country  towns  where  medical  men  dispense  their  medi¬ 
cines. 

I  am,  Sir,  yours  respectfully, 

John  Mills,  A.P.S. 

Biarritz,  France,  July  2oth,  1870. 


“Rule  of  Thumb.” 

Sir, — In  this  week’s  issue  of  the  Journal  you  state  “no¬ 
thing  is  more  delusive  than  the  eye  as  a  measure  of  the 
weight  of  powders.”  Why,  may  I  ask,  is  the  eye  more  liable 
to  delusion  in  this  kind  of  measuring  than  in  that  of  distance, 
or  any  other  kind  of  measuring  ?  Is  a  rifleman  necessarily  a 
good  “  shot  ”  one  day  and  a  poor  “  shot  ”  another  day ;  or 
can  he  in  this  particular  act  trust  to  his  eye  on  Saturday 
afternoon  as  well  as  on  Saturday  morning ;  and  cannot  bulk 
be  measured  with  as  much  accuracy  as  distance  ?  I  know  a 
carpenter  who  never  uses  his  rule  for  measurements  less  than 
six  inches,  and  may  not  the  pharmacist,  with  a  tutored  eye, 
dispense  with  his  scales  in  the  weighing  of  1  or  2  gr.  powder  ? 

After  all,  what  matters  it  whether  or  not  the  scales  are 
used  if  the  most  potent  ingredient  in  these  patent  medicine 
powders  be  no  more  than  sacch.  lact.  ?  There  is  far  too  much 
precision  required  in  dispensing  ingredients  which  are  almost 
inert  ?  Besides,  there  is  next  to  nothing  in  “  dose.” 

Anti-Humbug  in  Dispensing. 

Aberdare,  July  23,  1870. 

The  case  of  measuring  lines  or  distance  is  much  sim¬ 
pler  than  that  of  measuring  irregular  solids,  such  as  little 
heaps  of  powder.  In  the  actual  instance  quoted  by  us  the 
practical  effect  of  guessing  was,  that  an  infant  would  get 
sometimes  half  a  grain  and  sometimes  a  whole  grain  of  calo¬ 
mel;  but  since  our  correspondent  objects  to  precision,  and 
thinks  there  is  nothing  in  dose,  perhaps  he  will  not  attach 
much  importance  to  that. — Ed.  Ph.  J.] 

“Fcho”  informs  “R.  R.”  (Leighton  Buzzard)  that  the 
correct  rendering  of  the  sentence  criticized  at  page  60  of  the 
number  for  July  16th,  would  be  “With  Messrs. - ’  com¬ 
pliments,  soliciting  the  favour  of  Mr.  or  Messrs. - •’  orders.” 

If  your  is  used,  the  sentence  must  be  in  the  letter  form,  com¬ 
mencing  “Dear  Sir,”  or  “Gentlemen.”  (For  druggists  read 
drug  lists.) 

Ignoramus  writes,  “  I  have  found  in  my  house  some  cu¬ 
rious  little  things — toys,  I  suppose ;  small  hollow  metal  balls, 
the  size  of  peas.  Each  ball  is  fastened,  by  means  of  fine 
wire,  to  a  little  capillary  glass  tube  as  a  handle ;  they  are  in 
a  box  labelled  ‘  Fil  d’Archal.’  Will  you,  or  some  of  your 
readers,  be  good  enough  to  inform  me  of  their  properties  ?” 
Perhaps  some  of  our  readers  can  give  the  desired  information. 

A  Minor  Associate  writes  complaining  of  the  M.D.  who,  in 
a  recent  number  of  the  ‘  Lancet,’  criticized  the  presence  of 
druggists  at  “  Mr.  Squire’s  cutaneous  assembly  at  the  Poly¬ 
technic,”  and  considers  that  invidious  distinctions  should  bo- 
avoided  by  those  attending  such  lectures  for  instruction. 

O.  J.  (Teignmouth)  should  apply  to  the  Admiralty  for  in¬ 
formation. 

C.  N. — The  following  is  the  formula : — 

R.  Savon  blauc,  96  grm. 

Carbonate  de  Potasse,  1  grm. 

Alcohol  (21°),  384  grm. 

Mix,  and  filter  the  solution. 

II.  W.  Maleham  (Sheffield). — Handed  to  the  Secretary. 

J.  S.  (Edinburgh)  will  find,  in  the  advertising  columns  of 
the  Journal,  particulars  as  to  the  price  of  the  index. 

C.  Gr.  (Leamington). — Parrish’s  ‘Pharmacy,’  Pereira,  ‘Se- 
lecta  e  Proescriptis,’  Thomas’s  ‘  Medical  Dictionary  ’  would 
probably  suffice.  We  know  of  no  single  book  containing  the 
information  required. 

B.  J.  (Southport). — The  proportion  of  phosphate  of  iron  in 
the  syrup  is  1  grain  in  the  drachm  ;  the  proportion  of  hypo- 
phosphite  of  iron  in  the  syrup  of  hypophosphate  is  2  grains- 
in  the  drachm. 

Inquirer  (Birmingham). — The  proportion  of  benzoin  in 
ung.  zinci  benz.  is  10  grains  to  the  ounce  of  lard.  (See 
Yol.  XIY.  p.  207.) 

Spot  Stroke  (Torquay). — Inquiries  are  being  made  as  to- 
this  matter,  and  we  hope  soon  to  have  full  information. 

JET.  I.  (Brighton)  and  J.  C.  Thesh  (Pontefract)  should 
apply  at  the  War  Office. 

W.  M.  Spooner  (Witham). — Not  on  any  account. 

F.  F.  (Manchester). — 1.  Siebe’s  refrigerator  worked  with 
ether  answers  well.  2.  Apprenticeship  is  not  necessary. 


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

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  Nciv  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W. 


August  G,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


101 


ALCOHOLIC  FERMENTATION. 


EY  BARON  VON  LIEBIG. 

( Continued  from  p.  84.) 

It  lias  already  been  mentioned  tliat  many  organic 
compounds  are  known  wliich  undergo,  in  presence  of 
water,  alteration  and  metamorphosis  having  a  cer¬ 
tain  duration,  and  ultimately  terminating  in  putre¬ 
faction  ;  while  other  organic  substances  that  are  not 
liable  to  such  alteration  hy  themselves,  nevertheless 
suffer  a  similar  displacement  or  separation  of  their 
molecules  when  brought  in  contact  with  the  former, 
like  sugar  in  contact  with  yeast;  but  without  the 
aid  of  vital  action. 

When  the  molecular  work,  or  the  metamorphosis 
of  the  cell-contents  ceases,  its  action  upon  sugar 
ceases  likewise ;  thus,  for  example,  yeast  may  be 
kept  for  many  months  in  a  weak  solution  of  creasote,* 
carbolic  acid,f  or  other  solution  containing  a  certain 
amount  of  alcohol  and  acid,  like  wine,  without  any 
reduction  of  its  efficacy. 

It  is  intelligible  that  the  products  formed  from  the 
nitrogenous  and  sulphuretted  constituents  of  yeast 
in  the  fermentation  of  yeast  alone,  cannot  be  identical 
with  those  formed  from  it  by  contact  with  sugar,  be¬ 
cause  the  sugar,  penetrating  into  the  cells,  reacts 
upon  the  contents,  and  thus  the  re-arrangement  of 
the  particles  of  nitrogenous  substance  is  effected. 
Moreover,  the  liquid  filtered  from  yeast  submitted  to 
fermentation  by  itself  is  rich  in  nitrogenous  sub¬ 
stances,  and  it  is  very  suitable  for  cell  production. 

I  have  mentioned  that  yeast  loses  its  power  of  fer¬ 
menting  when  exposed  to  a  temperature  of  00°  C. ;  in 
like  manner  active  fermentation  in  a  saccharine  liquid 
is  stopped  when  the  liquid  is  heated  to  00°  C.,  and  it 
does  not  recommence  again  on  cooling  the  liquid. 
Pasteur’s  admirable  method  of  making  wine  keep  by 
heating  it  to  60°  C.,  appears  to  be  in  some  way  con¬ 
nected  with  this  influence  of  heat  upon  yeast. 

I  have  observed  that  during  the  putrefaction  of 
yeast,  the  power  of  producing  fermentation  in  sugar 
solution  is  retained  for  a  long  tune.  The  point  at 
which  putrefaction  sets  in  is  easily  recognizable 
when  the  yeast  is  mixed  with  some  nitre  solution. 
While  fermenting  alone  or  with  sugar  solution,  no 
alteration  of  the  nitre  is  caused ;  but  so  soon  as  pu¬ 
trefaction  begins,  the  nitrate  is  converted  into  nitrite, 
and  on  testing  some  of  the  liquid  with  starch,  iodide 
of  potassium,  and  dilute  sulphuric  acid,  a  deep  blue 
colour  is  produced. 

A  quantity  of  yeast  was  left  for  five  weeks  after 
the  commencement  of  putrefaction,  and  every  four 
days  a  portion  of  it  was  added  to  sugar  solution. 
Even  after  it  had  passed  into  an  extremely  putrid 
state,  it  produced  fermentation,  and  then  the  bad  smell 
disappeared  gradually.  However,  the  quantity  of 
alcohol  formed  became  less,  and  there  were  formed 
besides  Carbonic  acid,  other  products  that  I  have  not 
yet  examined. 

In  reference  to  the  formation  and  development  of 
the  yeast-fungus,  Pasteur  has  made  an  observation 
which  has  given  a  new  direction  to  the  views  pre¬ 
viously  entertained. 

It  was  supposed  that  yeast  was  developed  like 
other  fungi,  wliich,  as  parasites,  derive  their  con¬ 
stituents  from  plant  or  animal  remains,  especially 
that  its  propagation  and  multiplication  required  al¬ 


buminates,  or  some  derivative  of  them  besides  phos¬ 
phates. 

Pasteur’s  experiments,  however,  leave  no  doubt 
that  yeast  may  develope  in  mixtures  containing  tar¬ 
trate  of  ammonia,  sugar,  and  the  cell- constituents 
of  yeast. 

It  is  astonishing  that  this  discovery  has  not  at¬ 
tracted  more  attention  in  regard  to  a  special  point, 
for  it  comprises  a  fact  of  very  great  significance  for 
physiology,  viz.,  the  formation  of  albuminate  in 
plants,  respecting  which  we  are  in  possession  of 
scarcely  anything  beyond  conjectures ;  hitherto  this 
has  been  regarded  as  one  of  the  greatest  mysteries 
in  organic  nature. 

We  have  regarded  the  organic  acids  in  plants — 
oxalic,  malic,  citric,  etc. — as  the  intermediate  sub¬ 
stances  between  carbonic  acid  and  sugar,  starch, 
cellulose,  etc.,  hy  means  of  which  the  gradual  tran¬ 
sition  from  carbonic  acid  to  a  plant- constituent  is 
effected ;  but  in  the  food  plants,  which  contain  the 
largest  amounts  of  albuminates,  we  do  not  find  any 
nitrogenous  substance  besides  ammonia  that  can  be 
connected  with  the  formation  of  the  albuminates. 

Tins  problem  appeared  to  be  solved  by  the  experi¬ 
ments  of  Pasteur;  for  if  }^east-cells,  placed  in  a 
mixture  of  ammonia,  tartaric  acid,  sugar,  and  phos¬ 
phate,  could  propagate  and  multiply,  it  is  evident 
that  an  albuminate  must  have  been  formed  from  the 
elements  of  this  mixture,  since  one  of  the  chief  con¬ 
stituents  of  the  yeast-fungus  is  an  albuminate,  and 
in  each  of  the  new  yeast-cells  there  must  be  a  certain 
quantity  of  freshly-produced  albuminate  present, 
without  the  presence  of  which  no  true  yeast-cell 
could  have  been  formed. 

Twenty-five  years  ago  I  directed  attention  to  the 
possibility  that  albumen  in  plants  might  be  formed 
by  combination  of  ammonia  with  sugar,  attended 
with  elimination  of  water. 

Sugar  ..  .  C43H4S04S  )  (  Protein.  C48H36014N6 

Ammonia  Hls  N6  }  =  j  Oxygen.  04 

’  l  Water  .  H30O30 

^43^66^43^6  ^43^66^43^6 

The  substance  here  referred  to  under  the  name  of 
protein  contains  the  same  elements  as  casein,  united 
in  the  same  proportions,  leaving  out  of  consideration 
sulphur,  the  precise  origin  of  which  I  am  not  able  to 
account  for. 

The  idea  of  the  production  of  an  albuminate  from 
ammonia  and  sugar  was  not  therefore  at  all  sur¬ 
prising  to  me,  but  rather  familiar  than  otherwise; 
nevertheless,  I  could  not  readily  conceive  such  a 
mode  of  formation  to  obtain  in  a  fungus,  for  it 
would  not  be  possible  without  elimination  of  oxygen 
from  the  sugar,  while  the  yeast-fungus  grows  in  the 
total  absence  of  light,  and  up  to  the  present  time  no 
evolution  of  oxygen  has  been  observed  in  the  growth 
of  fungi. 

On  closer  consideration  of  the  experiments  which 
preceded  Pasteur’s  chief  experiments,  and  led  him 
to  them,  it  is  scarcely  possible  to  suppress  some 
misgivings.  Thus,  for  instance,  Pasteur  added  to  a 
sugar  solution  some  tartrate  of  ammonia,  and,  after 
fermentation,  he  found  less  ammonia  than  he  had 
added,  inferring  thence  that  the  missing  ammonia 
had  entered  into  combination  and  contributed  to 
the  production  of  yeast.  The  details  of  the  three 


#  Beckamp.  f  Dr.  v.  Pettenkofer. 

Third  Series,  No.  6. 


*  In  a  note  on  the  origin  of  albumen,  Ann.  Ch.  Pli.  li.  287 


102 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  6,  1870. 


chief  experiments  made  in  reference  to  the  disap¬ 
pearance  of  ammonia  are  the  following  : — 

I.  100  grm.  sugar,  dissolved  in  a  litre  of  yeast-water, 

mixed  with  a  trace  of  yeast,  and  left  to  ferment. 

The  yeast- water  contained  ....  ’038  grm.  ammonia. 
The  fermented  liquid  contained  *020  „ 

Deficiency . ’018  „ 

II.  100  grm.  sugar,  10  of  fresh  yeast,  mixed  with  '2  tar¬ 
trate  of  ammonia.  The  liquid  contained — 

Before  fermentation  . *0185  grm.  ammonia. 

After  fermentation . -0015  ,, 

Deficiency  . -0170  ,, 

III.  19’57o  grm.  sugar,  "525  yeast,  and  ’475  tartrate  of 
ammonia.  The  liquid  contained — 

Before  fermentation . *088  grm.  ammonia. 

After  fermentation  . "071  „ 


Deficiency . ’017  „ 

In  these  three  experiments,  the  quantities  of  am¬ 
monia  in  the  fermented  liquids  were  in  the  ratio, 
1:2:5,  and  it  is  rather  striking,  that  the  deficiencies 
were  nearly  the  same  in  all  three  instances.  It  is, 
moreover,  not  easily  explicable  that,  in  these  three 
experiments,  a  part  of  the  ammonia  should  have 
served  for  the  production  of  a  nitrogenous  constitu¬ 
ent,  while  in  the  fermented  liquid  there  was  still  a 
residue  of  nitrogenous  substances,  which  are  admir¬ 
ably  suited  as  food  for  yeast- cells,  and  certainly 
much  more  so  than  ammonia  ;  in  fact,  the  fermenta¬ 
tion  would  have  gone  on  just  the  same  in  the  three 
mixtures  'without  any  addition  of  ammonia. 

The  constancy  in  the  loss  of  ammonia,  notwith¬ 
standing  the  dissimilar  quantities  of  ammonia, 
would  appear  rather  to  indicate  an  error  in  the  me¬ 
thod  of  determination  common  to  all  the  experi¬ 
ments  ;  but  I  will  not  lay  any  stress  on  this  suppo¬ 
sition.  The  confirmation  of  the  most  important  thing, 
viz.  the  increase  of  yeast  by  the  ammonia  in  the 
fermented  mixture,  has  been  left  entirely  unheeded 
by  Pasteur. 

It  is  clear  that  if  he  had  added  an  ammonia  salt 
to  one  of  two  mixtures  of  a  known  quantity  of  sugar 
with  the  same  quantity  of  yeast-water  and  a  trace 
of  yeast,  lie  should,  in  the  two  cases,  have  found  a 
difference  in  the  quantity  of  yeast  produced.  If  the 
ammonia  had  been  applicable  for  the  production  of 
yeast,  the  mixture  with  ammonia  should  have 
yielded  more  yeast  than  the  others  'without  ammo¬ 
nia. 

The  capability  of  ammonia  to  serve  for  the  forma¬ 
tion  of  yeast  is,  therefore,  not  inferred  Rom  the 
fact  that  the  quantity  of  yeast  was  increased  in  the 
presence  of  ammonia,  but  from  the  fact,  that  the  de¬ 
termination  of  ammonia  in  the  fermented  liquid 
showed  a  loss.  The  only  satisfactory  evidence  in 
favour  of  Pastern’s  view,  that  the  ammonia  contri¬ 
buted  to  the  formation  of  yeast  is,  as  already  stated, 
yet  to  be  furnished. 

The  experiments  of  Duclaux  *  seem  to  admit  of 
the  inference,  that  ammonia  has  no  influence  on  the 
formation  of  yeast.  He  fermented  40  grm.  of  sugar 
with  15  grm.  yeast  and  1  grm.  dextro-tartrate  of 
ammonia,  and  found  that  the  yeast  was  reduced 
from  2'5011  grm.  to  2'326  grm.,  or  about  8  per  cent., 
as  in  Pasteur’s  experiment  without  ammonia.  But 


in  all  liquids  that  contain  material  adapted  for  feed¬ 
ing  yeast,  there  is  an  increase  hi  the  quantity  of 
yeast.  However,  I  will  not  lay  any  further  weight 
on  these  considerations,  but  will  turn  to  Pasteur’s 
main  experiments,  by  which  he  believes  that  the 
formation  of  yeast  from  non-nitrogenous  substances 
and  ammonia  has  been  directly  proved. 

When  a  mixture  of  10  grm.  sugar,  100  c.c.  water, 
TOO  grm.  tartrate  of  ammonia,  and  '075  to  ’080  grm. 
yeast-asli,  was  mixed  with  a  trace  of  yeast,  evolu¬ 
tion  of  carbonic  acid  commenced  in  a  few  hours' ;  the 
sugar  was  partially  decomposed  and  the  yeast  in¬ 
creased  ;  ‘0062  grm.  of  ammonia  had  disappeared 
(=  5'2  milligrams  nitrogen),  while  the  yeast  pro¬ 
duced  weighed  ‘043  grm.,  and  this  should  have 
contained  the  nitrogen  of  the  ammonia,  or  upwards 
of  11  per  cent,  of  nitrogen.  Pasteur  has  described 
very  minutely  the  progress  of  this  experiment,  and  I 
believe  it  is  possible  to  infer  with  tolerable  certainty 
from  liis  account,  that  there  was  essentially  no 
vinous  fermentation,  but  that  a  true  lactic  fermenta¬ 
tion  took  place.  There  was,  indeed,  a  sensible 
production  of  alcohol,  but  I  suspect  that  the  quan¬ 
tity  of  alcohol  was  not  determined  by  him,  because 
it  was  too  small.  However,  4  5  grm.  sugar  was  de¬ 
composed,  and  it  was,  for  the  most  part,  converted 
into  an  organic  acid,  equivalent  to  *597  sulphuric 
acid.  This  organic  acid  consisted  chiefly  of  lactic 
acid. 

I  have  many  times  repeated  tliis  experiment  with 
great  care,  and  obtained  nearly  the  same  results  as 
Pasteur  so  far  as  relates  to  the  formation  and  increase 
of  the  yeast.  The  only  alteration  that  I  made  in  the 
mixture  consisted  in  heating  the  liquid  to  boiling, 
and  allowing  it  to  cool  in  the  vessel  before  adding 
the  yeast.  In  another  instance  I  took  sugar  that 
had  previously  been  heated  to  160°  C.,  at  which  tem¬ 
perature  it  is  known  not  to  lose  its  capability  of  fer¬ 
menting.*  I  also  found  that,  after  twenty-four  hours, 
some  carbonic  acid  was  evolved,  and  that  the  greater 
part  of  the  sugar  was  converted  into  an  organic  acid, 
the  nature  of  which  was  not  determined. 

From  one  of  these  mixtures  I  distilled  off  25  c.c., 
and  determined  the  specific  gravity  of  the  distillate 
to  be  '99968,  or  scarcely  different  from  that  of  water. 
By  means  of  Lieben’s  delicate  test,  however,  alcohol 
could  be  detected  in  it. 

There  is  no  doubt  that,  under  these  conditions,  a 
decomposition  takes  place,  and  that  there  is  some 
formation  of  alcohol,  which  probably  originates  from 
the  yeast  added,  although  its  quantity  is  so  small. 
But  the  whole  process  lias  no  resemblance  to  that 
taking  place  in  a  sugar  solution,  to  which  so  much 
nitrogenous  substance  has  been  added,  as  would  cor¬ 
respond  to  the  nitrogen  of  'I  grm.  neutral  tartrate  of 
ammonia  (=  15'2  milligrams  nitrogen).  For  instance, 
in  a  mixture  of  100  c.c.  sugar  solution,  containing 
5  grm.  sugar  and  16  c.c.  of  a  decoction  of  fresh  yeast, 
there  was,  after  adding  a  trace  of  yeast,  in  eight 
hours  a  sensible  fermentation ;  successive  bubbles  of 
carbonic  acid  were  evolved  slowly  but  continuously, 
while  the  bottom  of  the  vessel  became  covered  with 
a  distinct  layer  of  very  white  yeast,  that  increased  in 
thickness  until  all  the  sugar  was  decomposed. 

I  am  fully  conscious  that,  in  researches  of  tliis  land, 
a  negative  argument  does  not  excite  any  special  con¬ 
fidence,  for  it  does  not  require  any  particular  art  not 


#  ‘Comptes  Kendus,’  fix.  450. 


*  According  to  analyses  made  by  Prof.  Volfiard  at  the  in¬ 
stigation  of  Prof.  Nageli,  the  wliitest  and  most  transparent 
crystals  of  sugar  always  contain  nearly  "o  per  cent,  of  nitrogen. 


August  6,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


103 


to  obtain  the  result  another  experimenter  declares  he 
lias  obtained,  wliile  want  of  skill  and  care  in  the 
execution  of  difficult  experiments  are  sufficient  to 
cause  discrepancies ;  but  I  believe  that  I  have  not 
neglected  any  precaution,  and  moreover  Professor 
Nageli,  to  whom  I  gave  a  mixture  prepared  exactly 
according  to  Pasteur’s  directions,  has  not  been  more 
successful  than  I  was. 

Considerations  of  another  kind  induced  me  to  dis¬ 
continue  these  experiments  without  losing  more  time 
over  them.* 

It  must  be  noticed  that,  although  Pasteur  weighed 
the  deposit  formed  in  his  experiments,  he  has  not  fur¬ 
nished  any  evidence  that  the  43  milligrams  obtained 
was  true  beer-yeast.  He  should  have  brought  that 
deposit  into  contact  with  sugar-water,  to  show  that 
it  really  consisted  of  Torvula  cerevisia,  and  it  should 
have  caused  sugar  to  ferment.  The  microscope  is  a 
very  untrustworthy  instrument  for  determining  the 
real  nature  of  such  things  as  this.  To  judge  from 
the  proportionately  large  quantity  of  lactic  acid 
formed  from  sugar  in  Pasteur’s  experiments,  the 
seeds  of  Torvula  cerevisice  must  have  given  rise  to 
lactic  ferment,  viz.  Penicillium  glaucum,  and  the  de¬ 
posit  must  have  consisted  of  this. 

It  is  surprising  that  Pasteur  claims  to  have  pro¬ 
duced  beer-yeast  in  mixtures  that  did  not  contain 
any  sulphur.  There  is  no  such  thing  as  beer-yeast 
that  does  not  contain  sulphur  ;  its  chief  constituent 
is  a  nitrogenous  substance  containing  as  much  sul- 
phur  as  casein  does,  or  even  more. 

Neither  sugar  nor  tartrate  of  ammonia  contain 
sulphur,  and  even  yeast  ash  is  generally  free  from 
sulphur.  That  which  I  used  did  contain  a  trace  of 
sulphuric  acid,  but  even  if  it  had  contained  a  consi¬ 
derable  amount,  the  assumption  that  the  yeast  plant 
possessed  the  capability  of  decomposing  sulphuric 
.acid  would  have  been  admissible  only  if  it  had  been 
distinctly  proved  that  true  beer  yeast  could  have 
heen  produced  in  Pasteur’s  mixtures.  I  look  for¬ 
ward  to  this  proof  with  the  greatest  interest,  and,  if 
Pasteur  should  succeed  in  obtaining  it,  we  shall  have 
gained  an  exceedingly  important  piece  of  information 
in  reference  to  plant  physiology,  either  that  there  is 
beer  yeast  not  containing  any  sulphur,  or  that  fungi 
iiave  the  power  of  decomposing  sulphuric  acid,  and  of 
producing  an  albuminate  from  its  sulphur,  together 
with  ammonia  and  the  elements  of  sugar  or  tartaric 
acid.  This  is  a  power  which  has  hitherto  been  re¬ 
garded  as  belonging  only  to  green  plants  under  the 
influence  of  light. 

The  fact  that  Pasteur,  in  determining  the  ammo¬ 
nia  in  his  fermented  mixtures,  found  less  than  he 
had  added  to  them,  cannot  possibly  be  relied  on  as 
-evidence  that  tliis  ammonia  served  as  food  for  the 
growth  of  yeast ;  for  I  must  again  point  out,  that  in 
no  single  instance  has  he  shown  the  formation  of 
true  yeast  or  its  increase  to  be  due  to  the  pre¬ 
sence  of  ammonia  in  the  fermenting  liquid. f 

*  It  is  well  known  that  in  ammoniacal  salts  of  organic  acids 
there  is  often  a  spontaneous  decomposition  accompanied  by 
formation  of  mould,  without  any  addition  of  ferment. 

f  My  late  friend  Pelouze  communicated  to  me,  some  nine 
years  since,  the  results  of  Pasteur’s  investigations,  and  I  then 
remarked  to  him,  that  I  did  not  perceive  anything  to  induce 
alteration  in  my  views  respecting  the  cause  of  fermentation, 
—adding,  that  if  it  were  possible,  by  the  aid  of  ammonia,  to 
produce  yeast  in  fermenting  liquids,  or  to  increase  its  quan¬ 
tity,  this  possibility  would  soon  be  turned  to  account,  and 
that  I  would  await  such  a  result;  but,  up  to  the  present  | 
time,  the  industrial  preparation  of  yeast  has  not  altered. 


In  carrying  out  the  plan  adopted  by  Pasteur  for 
separating  ammonia  from  fermented  liquids  by  boil¬ 
ing  them  with  calcined  magnesia,  I  have  repeatedly 
obtained  less  ammonia  than  the  liquid  contained ; 
but,  in  such  instances,  the  deficiency  of  ammonia 
was  recognizable  in  the  residual  magnesia  having 
formed  ammonio -phosphate  of  magnesia  in  conse¬ 
quence  of  the  presence  of  soluble  alkaline  phosphates, 
which  are  never  wanting  in  fermented  liquids. 

Pasteur  has  also  discussed  the  question  as  to 
what  becomes  of  the  nitrogen  of  yeast  in  fermenta¬ 
tion  ;  he  says,  “  In  vinous  fermentation  there  is  not 
the  slightest  formation  of  ammonia  at  the  expense 
of  yeast.”  *  Tliis  statement  is,  however,  incon¬ 
sistent  with  that  on  the  previous  page,  to  the  effect 
that  a  litre  of  water,  containing  the  soluble  consti¬ 
tuents  of  yeast,  yielded  '038  grm.  of  ammonia.  I 
find,  moreover,  that  all  fermented  liquids  contain 
ammonia,  though  certainly  a  very  minute  quantity. 
It  seems  as  if  nitrogen  were  excreted  in  some  other 
form,  partly,  perhaps,  as  organic  bases.  I  have 
been  unable  to  detect  leucin  in  the  fermented  residues, 
probably  because  its  amount  is  too  small.  Ludwig 
has  found  trimetliylamin  in  all  the  varieties  of  wine 
examined  by  him ;  and  Oser,  likewise,  has  described 
a  very  remarkable  nitrogenous  base,  destitute  of 
oxygen,  as  being  a  constant  product  of  the  fermen¬ 
tation  of  sugar  with  yeast.  According  to  liis  expe¬ 
riments,  tliis  base  appears  to  be  a  constant  product 
of  the  fermentation  of  cane  sugar. 

In  the  wine  districts  of  France,  where  many 
thousands  of  gallons  of  wine  are  distilled  in  the  ma¬ 
nufacture  of  brandy,  the  residues  of  this  operation 
would  probably  be  a  rich  material  for  investigation, 
in  regard  to  the  non-volatile  products  of  fermentation, 
and  they  would  probably  constitute  a  source  of  in¬ 
teresting  discoveries.  Moreover,  if  it  be  the  case, 
as  Pasteur  states,  that  for  each  litre  of  alcohol  pro¬ 
duced  in  fermentation,  there  is  also  formed  50  grm. 
of  glycerin,  it  is  possible  that  glycerin  might  be  ex¬ 
tracted  from  these  residues  with  advantage. 

Recent  researches  on  the  causes  of  fermentation 
and  putrefaction  have  been  prosecuted  essentially 
under  the  influence  of  the  ideas — entertained  by 
Turpin,  Cagniard-Latour,  Mitsclierlicli,  and  others 
— which  prevailed  in  the  minds  of  many  physiolo¬ 
gists  thirty  years  ago  and  have  been  recalled  by 
Pasteur  within  the  last  ten  years. 

Turpin  states,  as  the  result  of  liis  microscopic  in¬ 
vestigation  of  beer  fermentation  and  acetous  fermen¬ 
tation,  that  “  under  fermentation  is  to  be  understood 
a  joint  action  of  water  and  living  bodies  which  feed 
and  develope  by  the  assimilation  of  a  constituent  of 
sugar,  while,  at  the  same  time,  eliminating  from  it 
alcohol  or  acetic  acid  ;  a  purely  physiological  action 
that  commences  and  ends  with  the  existence  of  in¬ 
fusorial  plants  or  animalcules  whose  life  ceases  only 
when  the  nutritive  saccharine  materials  are  totally 
exhausted.”!  It  is  impossible  to  detect  any  diffe¬ 
rence  between  the  fundamental  views  of  T urpin  and 
those  of  Pasteur. 

Inasmuch  as  Pasteur  has  again  diverted  the 
study  of  fermentation  and  putrefaction  by  micro- 
scopists  into  the  old  objectless  path,  the  result  has 
been,  that  the  general  aspect  of  these  processes  has 
been  disregarded,  the  phenomena  that  are  common 
to  all  of  them  have  been  overlooked.  Observation 


*  Page  380. 

f  Arm.  Cliem.  Pliarm.  1839,  xxix.  100. 


104 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  6,  1870. 


it  lias  been  directed  to  tlie  search  for  mere  details, 
and  has  thus  become  incoherent.  This  tendency 
has  prevailed  so  far  that  special  causes  are  sought 
for  each  of  these  innumerable  processes,  for  each 
one,  in  fact,  there  has  been  found  a  particular  spe¬ 
cies  of  fungus  or  animal,  and  this  is  likewise  the 
case  for  many  diseases,  such  as  cholera,  etc.  In 
this  way  we  have  attained  to  such  a  point,  that  we 
are  no  longer  able  to  comprehend  how  it  is  that,  in 
the  presence  of  these  enemies,  the  organic  world 
continues  to  exist.  If  we  ask  the  microscopic  in¬ 
vestigator  what  is  really  the  nature  of  the  ferments 
which  give  rise  to  lactic,  butyric,  and  other  acids, 
we  receive  as  an  answer  the  names  of  certain  spe¬ 
cies  of  fungi ! 

Though  probably  no  one  will  dispute  the  utility  of 
microscopic  observations,  it  is,  nevertheless,  indis¬ 
pensable  to  recognize  the  fact  that  “  causes  ”  are 
not  to  be  seen,  even  with  microscopes.  Observations 
of  that  nature  are  well  calculated  to  define  the 
limits  of  things  that  participate  in  a  process,  and  to 
direct  investigation  to  the  part  they  take  in  it ;  but 
the  supposition  that  the  whole  affair  is  at  an  end 
when  something  has  been  found  of  which  we  have 
no  further  knowledge,  is  sufficient  evidence  that  the 
true  value  of  physiological  facts  is  misconceived. 

All  putrefaction-ferments,  when  left  for  a  time,  give 
rise  to  the  formation  of  butyric  acid  from  their  own 
elements,  and  they  excite  butyric  fermentation  in 
other  materials  winch  are  susceptible  of  such  change, 
just  hi  the  same  way  that  yeast,  when  left  to  itself, 
produces  alcohol  and  excites  vinous  fermentation 
when  placed  in  sugar  solution.  From  the  fact  that, 
under  certain  conditions,  yeast  excites  lactic  fermen¬ 
tation  instead  of  vinous  fermentation,  it  may  be  in¬ 
ferred  with  great  probability,  that  under  those  condi¬ 
tions,  lactic  acid  is  actually  produced  in  the  yeast  in¬ 
stead  of  alcohol.  Salicin,  a  glucoside,  breaks  up  in  con¬ 
tact  with  emulsin  into  saligenin  and  sugar,  but  in  the 
presence  of  yeast  and  carbonate  of  lime  it  breaks  up 
into  saligenin  and  lactic  acid.  These  facts  are,  I 
conceive,  indications  that  admit  of  our  hoping  to 
come,  by  means  of  properly  conducted  investigation, 
somewhat  nearer  to  the  causes  of  these  changes. 

The  production  of  succinic  acid  and  glycerine  ap¬ 
pears  to  be  indicative  of  a  fermentation  going  on 
simultaneously  with  the  vinous  fermentation ;  it  is 
evidently  analogous  to  the  fermentation  processes  in 
which  lactic  acid  is  formed  from  sugar  or  mannite  and 
sometimes  butyric  acid,  from  lactic  acid.  It  is  pos¬ 
sible  that  the  detection  of  a  small  quantity  of  hydro¬ 
gen  in  the  carbonic  acid  evolved,  might  lead  to  fur¬ 
ther  elucidation.  Mannite  and  glycerine  differ  only 
in  the  amount  of  hydrogen  they  contain. 

I  have  regarded  the  phenomena  of  fermentation 
and  putrefaction  from  a  totally  different  point  of 
view,  and  have  considered  their  elucidation  as  the 
bridge  by  means  of  which  we  may  arrive  at  a  more 
exact  knowledge  of  the  processes  taking  place  in  the 
organisms  of  animals  and  plants.-  Who  can,  at  the 
present  time,  fail  to  perceive  the  significance  of  these 
facts,  in  regard  to  the  conception  and  explanation  of 
many  vital  processes  ?  If  a  change  in  the  locality 
and  relative  position  of  the  elementary  particles  of 
animal  substances,  outside  the  organism,  be  capable 
of  exerting  a  very  definite  influence  upon  a  nmnber  of 
organic  substances  which  are  brought  in  contact  with 
them,  if  those  substances  are  thereby  decomposed, 


while  new  compounds  are  formed  from  their  elements,, 
and  if  it  be  considered  that  the  class  of  substances 
susceptible  of  such  changes  as  take  place  in  fermen¬ 
tation,  comprises  all  those  which  are  constituents  of 
the  food  of  man  and  animals, — who  can  doubt  that 
the  same  causes  act  one  of  the  most  important  parts 
in  the  vital  process,  or  that  they  have  a  powerful 
share  in  the  alterations  which  the  materials  of  food 
undergo  when  they  are  converted  into  fat,  blood,  or 
constituents  of  organs  !  We  know,  indeed,  that  there 
is  in  all  parts  of  the  living  animal  body  an  incessant 
change  going  on ;  that  living  particles  of  the  body 
are  eliminated ;  that  their  constituents,  whether 
fibrin,  albumen,  gelatin,  or  whatever  else  they  may 
be,  rearrange  themselves  as  new  compounds;  that 
their  elements  unite  to  form  new  products.  In  ac¬ 
cordance  with  our  experience  we  must  presume  that 
in  virtue  of  this  activity,  there  is,  at  all  places  where 
it  obtains,  and  corresponding  to  its  direction  and  in¬ 
tensity,  a  parallel  alteration  in  the  character  and 
composition  of  constituents  of  the  blood,  or  of  food, 
coming  in  contact  with  such  changing  particles — 
that  consequently  the  animal  metamorphosis  is  itself 
a  main  cause  of  the  alterations  that  the  food  under¬ 
goes,  and  a  determining  condition  of  the  nutritive 
process;  that  with  every  pathological  variation  in 
the  metamorphosis  of  an  organ  or  a  gland,  or  any 
constituent  of  them,  the  action  of  that  organ  upon 
the  blood  coming  in  contact  with  it,  or  upon  the  cha¬ 
racter  of  its  secretion,  is  also  altered ;  that  the  action 
of  many  therapeutic  agents  depends  on  the  share 
they  take  in  the  metamorphosis,  and  that  they  exer¬ 
cise  an  influence  on  the  quality  of  the  blood,  or  of 
the  food,  chiefly  in  virtue  of  the  circumstance  that 
they  alter  for  a  time  the  direction  and  power  of  the 
activity  obtaining  in  the  organs,  either  accelerating, 
retarding,  or  stopping  it  ? 


UNTO-MOOL. 

Tylophora  asthmatica,  W.  and  A. 

BY  M.  C.  COOKE. 

Recently  it  has  been  proposed  to  introduce  and 
cultivate  ipecacuanha  in  India,  on  a  large  scale,  for 
medical  purposes,  as  has  been  done  with  cinchona. 
It  would  be  well  to  inquire,  before  such  a  step  be 
taken,  whether  any  of  the  known  indigenous  pro¬ 
ducts  affords  a  good  substitute  for  the  officinal  plant.. 
It  is  probable  that  the  evidence  already  collected  is 
insufficient ;  but  it  would  be  comparatively  easy  to 
test  the  value  of  such  drugs  as  we  may  name  prior 
to  any  extensive  experiment  on  acclimatization. 

The  Natural  Order  Asclepiaclece,  contains  several 
plants  with  the  reputation  of  possessing  emetic 
virtues,  some  of  them  equal  to  ipecacuanha.  Of 
these,  the  root  of  the  “  mndar,”  Calotropis  gigantea, 
has  been  named.  The  emetic  properties  of  mudar 
root  have  been  vouched  for  by  several  good  medical 
authorities,  amongst  whom  may  be  mentioned  Sir 
W.  O’Shauglmessy,  Dr.  Bonavia,  Dr.  Hutchinson, 
Dr.  M.  Boss,  Dr.  Newton,  Dr.  Stewart,  and  others. 
On  the  other  hand,  it  is  admitted  that  precaution 
must  be  taken  to  dig  the  root  at  the  proper  season 
and  to  prepare  it  in  a  certain  maimer,  or  it  is  liable 
to  prove  inert. 

Then,  again,  Secamone  emetica,  H.  Br.,  has  been 
mentioned,  as  regarded  by  the  natives  highly  for  its 
emetic  properties  ;  but  the  only  trial  which  has  been 
recorded  was  unsatisfactory,  inasmuch  as  it  was- 


*  Ann.  Chem.  Piiarm.  lxii.  263. 


August  6,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


105 


almost  inert.  It  is  not  impossible  that,  in  tliis  in¬ 
stance  also,  due  regard  was  not  had  to  the  season  at 
which  it  was  collected. 

The  root  of  A&clepias  curassavica,  L.,  called  ‘  Bas¬ 
tard  Ipecacuanha,’  introduced  into  India,  certainly 
has  a  reputation  in  the  West  Indies  and  elsewhere 
as  an  emetic.  Its  use  appears,  however,  to  be '  at¬ 
tended  by  disadvantages,  such  as  powerful  action  on 
the  bowels,  which  would  militate  against  its  regular 
use. 

Besides  these,  Dmnia  extensa ,  It.  Br.,  -and  the 
leaves  of  Hoya  viridijiora ,  It.  Br.,  enjoy  a  reputa¬ 
tion  amongst  the  natives  as  emetics,  but  they  do  not 
.appear  to  have  been  efficiently  tested. 

Finally,  the  root  and  leaves  of  Tylophora  asthma - 
tica,  W.  and  A.,  have  been  strongly  recommended, 
and  tills  is  probably  the  safest  and  best  of  all  the 
remedies  here  enumerated.  The  leaves  are  included 
hi  the  new  ‘  Pharmacopoeia  of  India  ’  as  a  primary 
.article,  and  the  evidence  goes  to  show  that  they  are 
an  excellent  substitute  for  ipecacuanha. 

This  plant  is  the  Asclepias  asthmatica  of  Box- 
burg]  i,  and  the  Gynanchum  of  other  authors.  It  is 
called  ‘  Unto-mool  ’  in  Bengali,  ‘  Kaka-pulla  ’  of  the 
Teloogoos,  and  the  ‘  C-odegam’  or  4  Coorinja’  of  the 
Tamils.  In  the  Mauritius  it  is  known  as  4  Ipeca  du 
pays,’  or  4  Ipeca  sauvage.’  It  is  a  twining  plant, 
from  6  to  12  feet  in  height,  with  opposite,  ovate- 
roundisli,  acuminate  leaves,  which  are  cordate  at 
the  base,  smooth  above  and  downy  beneath ;  the  pe¬ 
duncles  are  short,  with  two  or  three  sessile,  few- 
flowered  umbels ;  the  flowers  are  rather  large,  on 
long  pedicels,  externally  pale  green,  with  a  faint 
tinge  of  purple,  internally  light  purple. 

This  is  a  very  abundant  and  widely  diffused  plant 
in  India,  being  to  be  met  with  in  nearly  all  situa¬ 
tions,  and  in  flower  at  all  seasons.  Is  very  liable  to 
variation,  so  as  to  be  difficult  to  characterize,  but 
may  be  readily  known  from  an  allied  species  by  the 
reddish  or  dull  pink  flowers  and  the  toothed  leaflets 
-of  the  crown. 

The  root  is  sold  in  the  bazaars  in  thick,  contorted 
pieces  of  a  pale  colour,  and  a  bitterish,  somewhat 
nauseous  taste. 


The  dried  leaves  are  from  two  to  three  inches  in 
length,  entire,  ovate-roundisli,  acuminate  at  the 


apex,  cordate  at  the  base.  The  older  or  lower  leaves 
are  scarcely  acuminate,  and  rather  rounded  than 
cordate  at  the  base.  They  have  rather  a  glaucous 
appearance,  with  a  heavy,  disagreeable  smell  when 
bruised,  and  a  nauseous  taste. 

Dr.  Kirkpatrick,  after  remarking  that  the  powdered 
root  and  juice  are  used  by  the  people  of  Mysore  as 
an  emetic,  adds,  44 1  have  administered  this  medicine 
in  at  least  a  thousand  cases,  and  found  it  most  valu¬ 
able.  In  dysentery,  and  as  a  simple  emetic,  it  is  ill 
every  way  comparable  with  ipecacuanha.  The  dose 
is  from  twenty  to  thirty  grains,  with  half  a  grain,  or 
a  grain,  of  tartar  emetic,  if  strong  emesis  is  required. 
If  the  dysentery  distinctly  arise  from  intermittent 
disease,  quinine  is  conjoined.  The  form  of  the 
medicine  I  use  is  the  powder  of  the  dry  leaf.  If  the 
root  were  used,  the  supply  would  soon  be  exhausted ; 
besides,  I  have  found  it  less  certain  than  the  leaf. 
The  preparation  of  the  juice  would  at  all  times  be 
troublesome  and  tedious.  In  catarrhal  and  chronic 
coughs  it  seems  to  act  well.  Its  efficiency  as  a  sub¬ 
stitute  for  ipecacuanha,  not  only  as  a  simple  emetic 
but  as  a  remedy  in  dysentery,  asthma,  and  catarrhal 
affections,  is  confirmed  by  the  report  of  Dr.  Oswald, 
Mr.  Moocleen  Sheriff,  and  others.  According  to  the 
latter,  the  best  treatment  of  snake-bites  consists  in 
producing  free  emesis  by  the  expressed  juice  of  this 
plant,  and  following  up  its  use  with  diffusible  stimu¬ 
lants.” 

Roxburgh  says  that 44  on  the  coast  of  Coromandel 
the  roots  have  often  been  used  as  a  substitute  for 
ipecacuanha.  I  have  often  prescribed  it  myself, 
and  always  found  it  answer  as  well  as  I  could  ex¬ 
pect  ipecacuanha  to  do.  I  have  also  often  had  very 
favourable  reports  of  its  effects  from  others.  It  was 
a  very  useful  medicine  with  our  Europeans  who 
were  unfortunately  prisoners  with  Hyder  Adi  during 
the  war  of  1780-3.  In  a  pretty  large  dose  it  an¬ 
swered  as  an  emetic,  in  smaller  doses  often  repeated, 
as  a  cathartic,  and  in  both  ways  very  effectually.” 
Other  authors  add  that  the  natives  employ  the  root 
as  an  emetic  by  rubbing  upon  a  stone  three  or  four 
inches  of  the  fresh  root,  and  mixing  it  with  a  little 
water  for  a  dose.  It  generally  purges  at  the  same 
time. 

The  leaves  are  considered  preferable  to  the  root, 
— in  fact,  the  leaves  only  are  recommended,  in  the 
Pharmacopoeia  of  India.  The  dose  there  stated  is, — 
as  an  emetic,  from  five-and-twenty  to  thirty  grains 
of  the  powder  of  the  dried  leaves,  conjoined  with 
half  a  grain  or  a  grain  of  tartar  emetic;  as  a  diapho¬ 
retic  and  expectorant,  from  three  to  five  grains,  thrice 
daily,  or  oftener,  combined  with  opium,  and  other 
remedies  of  the  same  class.  It  is  also  stated  on  the 
authority  of  the  same  work,  that  this  is  one  of  the  best 
indigenous  (Indian)  substitutes  for  ipecacuanha.  It 
is  easy  enough  to  obtain  this  drug  from  India,  and 
it  certainly  seems  worthy  of  consideration  whether 
it  should  not  also  be  fairly  tried  in  this  country. 


OPHELIA  CHIRAYTA. 

BY  FLUCKIGER  AND  HOHN. 

This  plant  is  little  known  in  Europe,  and  is  not 
much  used  even  in  England,  although  it  has  a  place 
in  the  British  Pharmacopoeia  of  1867,  as  well  as  in 
that  of  the  United  States  of  1866.  But  in  India 
Cliirayta  has  long  been  in  high  repute,  and  it  is 
generally  sold  in  the  bazaars.  It  is  also  mentioned 
among  the  large  number  of  medicinal  agents  com- 


106 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  6,  1870. 


prised  in  tlie  ‘  Systema  Medicinaa  ’  of  Susrutas  about 
ten  centuries  before  our  era.  The  Sanskrit  name  is 
Kiratatikta,  or  the  bitter  herb  of  tlie  Kiratas,  a 
lialf-caste  race  that  bad  been  driven  back  into  the 
bill  country  of  northern  India.  It  is  with  good 
reason,  therefore,  that  this  plant  has  always  received 
attention  from  English  physicians  in  India,  and  that 
it  has  been  included  in  the  Indian  Pharmacopoeia  of 
1868. 

Strangely  enough,  Guibourt  attempted  to  refer  to 
Chirayta  several  of  the  older  descriptions  and  draw¬ 
ings  of  the  Calamus  aromaticus,  odoratus,  or  verus 
that  was  brought  at  an  early  period  from  India  to 
Europe.  It  is  true  he  pointed  out  the  total  absence 
of  aroma,  so  that  the  remarks  of  Fee  and  Royle 
sufficed  to  prove  the  total  difference  between  the 
odourless  Chirayta  and  Calamus,  although  the  his¬ 
tory  of  the  latter  is  not  yet  fully  ascertained. 

This  plant  from  which  tins  bitter  herb  is  derived 
— Ophelia  chirata,  Griseb. — was  first  drawn  by 
Roxburgh  in  1814,  mider  the  name  Gentian  a  Chi¬ 
rayta  ;  subsequently  also  by  Wallich,  by  Don  (as 
Agathotes  Chirayta),  by  Wight,  and  Clegliorn.  It 
is  an  elegant  annual  Gentiana  of  the  lower  Hima¬ 
laya,  occurring  from  Simla,  and  through  Kumasu,  as 
far  as  Nepaul.  In  its  outward  appearance  Ophelia 
Chirayta  closely  resembles  our  Erythrcea  Centau- 
rium,  though  with  several  differences. 

The  Chirayta  commonly  met  with  in  English 
commerce  is  usually  of  very  inferior  character,  and 
chiefly  consists  of  stalks  deprived  of  their  leaves. 
The  plant  that  has  been  examined  by  Holm  con¬ 
sisted,  on  the  contrary,  of  well-preserved  specimens 
retaining  flowers,  fruit,  and  roots,  so  that  the  essen¬ 
tial  characteristics  of  that  nature  could  be  well 
observed.  For  the  supply  of  this  material  I  am  in¬ 
debted  to  the  kindness  of  my  friend  Daniel  Hanbury. 

The  woody  stems  were  from  2  to  3  feet  long, 
and  ^  inch  thick  at  the  lower  ends,  cylindrical, 
with  knots  at  distances  of  14  to  3  or  4  inches,  at 
the  upper  ends  obtusely  quadrangular,  with  wings 
extending  downwards.  The  colours  varied  from 
brownish-yellow  to  dark  purple-red.  The  branches 
were  more  greenish  or  greyish-brown.  The  root  is 
sometimes  from  2  to  4  feet  long,  and  twice  as  thick 
as  the  stem.  It  forms  generally  a  simple  tap-root, 
furnished  with  somewhat  scanty  fibres.  Larger  spe¬ 
cimens  present  an  angular  bending  of  the  root,  pro¬ 
bably  indicating  a  growth  of  more  than  one  year. 
Generally  the  stem  rises  isolated  from  the  root,  but 
in  some  instances  I  met  with  plants  consisting  of 
several  stems.  The  numerous  prolonged  branches 
resemble  in  then  arrangement  those  of  Erythrcea 
Centaurium,  and  towards  the  upper  part  they  form  a 
thick  whorl.  The  insertion  of  the  leaves  and  flowers 
may  also  be  compared  to  that  of  the  indigenous 
Gentian  referred  to  above.  The  lower  leaves  of 
Ophelia  are  often  3  cm.  in  length  and  7  mm.  broad ; 
the  upper  ones  are  very  much  smaller.  All  of  them 
are  acutely  lancet-shaped,  smooth  edged,  cordate  at 
the  base,  and,  like  the  entire  plant,  perfectly  glabrous. 
According  to  the  size  of  the  leaves,  they  present  3,  5, 
or  7  ribs,  of  which  the  central  one  is  the  thickest. 

The  yellow,  4-parted  corolla  is  about  12  mm.  long, 
and  rather  glandular  at  the  base.  The  calyx  is  much 
shorter  than  the  corona.  The  fruit  is  a  1- celled  cap¬ 
sule,  with  two  valves  at  the  apex. 


*  Derived  from  oQ'Xo;,  useful,  in  reference  to  the  medicinal 
virtue  of  the  plant. 


The  flower  possesses  the  same  intense  biiter  taste 
that  is  characteristic  of  Chirayta.  It  is  only  the 
woody  substance  of  the  thickest  stems  that  is  not 
bitter ;  this  contains  a  considerable  pith.  Even  the 
branches  present  in  sections  a  broad  ring. 

The  popular  name  of  this  drug  in  India  is  Creyat, 
and  it  has  been  applied  to  several  varieties  of  Ophe¬ 
lia  ;  but  it  seems  that  Andrographis  paniculata, 
Wallich  ( Justicia  paniculata,  Burm.),  an  Acan- 
tliacea,  frequent  in  Bengal,  is  principally  under¬ 
stood  under  that  name  (or,  properly,  Kiratha). 
This  plant,  which  is  only  1  or  2  feet  high,  also  tastes 
intensely  bitter,  but  it  is  distinguishable  by  its  al¬ 
ternate,  long-stemmed  flowers,  with  rose-coloured  bi¬ 
labiate  corolla.  Moreover,  the  flower  forms  a  panicle. 

While  Ophelia  Chirayta  is  distinguished  as  duk- 
hani,  or  southern  Chiretta  or  Creyat,  the  Ophelia 
angustifolia ,  Don,  is,  on  the  contrary,  termed  pa- 
hari  Chiretta,  as  coming  from  the  mountains.  This 
variety  grows  in  the  same  districts  as  the  true  Chi¬ 
rayta  ;  but  it  has  leaves  that  are  almost  lineal,  and 
the  flowers  have  a  white  corona,  with  violet  spots, 
that  is  shorter  than  the  calyx. 

On  the  contrary,  Ophelia  elegans ,  Wight,  is  indi¬ 
genous  to  the  mountains  of  southern  India,  and  in 
the  bazaars  of  that  district  it  is  described  as  inland 
Creyat.  It  has  blue  flowers. 

Lastly,  the  Indian  Pharmacopoeia  mentions  the 
white-flowered  O.  densifolia,  Griseb.  (O.  multijlora , 
Dalzell).  All  these  varieties  are  described  as  quite 
as  bitter  as  the  true  Chirayta,  and  as  being,  in  fact, 
used  in  the  place  of  it  throughout  the  north-western,, 
central,  and  southern  provinces  of  India. 

These  varieties  of  Ophelia  correspond  in  their 
native  country  to  the  allied  indigenous  European 
plants  which  have  been  introduced  into  medical  use 
here,  and  from  that  point  of  view  their  investigation 
by  Holm  presents  some  pharmaceutical  interest. 
In  the  Indian  Pharmacopoeia  there  is  an  infusion  of 
Chirayta,  and  an  aromatic  tincture  with  cardamoms 
and  orange-peel. 

By  extracting  the  stalks  and  roots  with  alcohol 
of  60  per  cent,  sugar,  wax,  chlorophyll,  soft  resin, 
tannin,  an  acid  (ophelic),  and  a  pecular  bitter  sub¬ 
stance  (chiratin)  were  dissolved. 

The  acid  was  syrupy,  and  very  deliquescent,  yel¬ 
lowish-brown,  tasting  at  first  slightly  sour,  after¬ 
wards  intensely  bitter.  When  warmed  it  smells  like 
lugian;  it  dissolves  in  water  with  some  turbidity 
(due,  perhaps,  to  resin),  completely  in  alcohol,  or  a 
mixture  of  spirit  with  ether.  It  decomposes  alka¬ 
line  solution  of  copper  when  warmed  with  it ;  also’ 
ammoniacal  solution  of  silver  with  alkalies  it  dark¬ 
ens  ;  with  percliloride  of  iron  it  becomes  reddish- 
yellow  ;  with  sulphate  of  copper  dirty  green ;  with 
lead  salts  yellow,  and  forms  amorphous  compounds 
with  acids.  Analysis  of  the  lead  compound  gave 
^26  h20o,0  as  the  formula. 

Chiratin  is  a  pale  yellow,  very  hygroscopic  pow¬ 
der,  at  the  utmost  capable  only  of  a  granular  crys¬ 
tallization;  it  is  very  bitter,  sparingly  soluble  in 
cold  water,  rather  more  in  hot  water,  readily  soluble 
in  alcohol  or  ether.  It  is  neutral  to  test-paper,  does 
not  reduce  alkaline  solution  of  copper,  and  gives 
with  tannic  acid  a  copious  white  flocculent  precipi¬ 
tate  ;  formula  C52H4sO30.  By  the  action  of  acids 
chiratin  is  separated  into  ophelic  acid  and  a  yellow¬ 
ish-brown  amorphous  substance  that  is  not  sugar, 
but  tastes  bitter,  is  scarcely  soluble  in  water,  readily 
soluble  in  spirit,  does  not  reduce  copper  solution.. 


August  6,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


107 


Holm  assigns  to  it  tlie  formula  C26  H24  Oc,  and  the 
name  Chiratogenin. 

Tlie  herb  itself  gave  the  same  results  as  the  stem 
and  roots. 

HYDRATE  OF  CHLORAL. 

BY  C.  UMNEY,  F.C.S. 

Reference  has  already  been  made  in  the  leading 
journals  of  medicine,  chemistry,  and  pharmacy  to  a 
compound  of  chloral  with  alcohol. 

Recently  this  alcoholate  of  chloral  has  found  its 
way  into  commerce,  and  has  been  offered  for  sale  as 
hydrate,  at  a  much  lower  rate  than  the  market  value 
of  true  hydrate  of  chloral. 

It  is  highly  important  that  the  alcoholate  should 
be  distinguished  from  the  hydrate,  not  only  because 
it  yields  upon  decomposition  a  smaller  proportion  of 
chloroform,  but  because  Dr.  O.  Liebreich  and  other 
therapeutists  who  have  experimented  with  it  affirm 
that  its  medicinal  properties  are  dissimilar  to  those 
of  the  hydrate. 

The  object  of  this  communication  is  to  give  to 
pharmacists  the  details  of  a  quantitative  test  for  de¬ 
termining  the  chloroform  value  of  any  specimen  of 
either  of  these  chloral  compounds  which  may  pass 
through  their  hands. 

a.  Hydrate  of  Chloral. — Take  500  grains  of  the 
salt,  and  dissolve  in  about  1  ounce  of  distilled 
water;  transfer  to  a  1000-grain  graduated  tube,  and 
make  up  the  measure  of  the  solution  to  700  gram- 
measures  ;  to  this  add  solution  of  caustic  ammonia 
('891)  until  the  whole  measures  1000  grains.  Agi¬ 
tate  ;  immerse  the  tube  in  warm  water,  to  assist  tlie 
reaction,  and  set  aside  for  twelve  hours. 

Upon  examination,  the  fluid  will  be  found  to  have 
perfectly  separated  into  two  layers,  the  lower  being 
chloroform  (from  fine  specimens  of  the  hydrate 
nearly  colourless),  the  upper,  a  deep,  sherry- coloured 
solution  of  formiate  of  ammonia. 

The  volume  of  the  chloroform  layer  should  not  be 
less  than  235  grain-measures,  which,  calculated  at 
the  sp.  gr.  of  chloroform  (1*49  7),  would  give  351'7 
grains  by  weight,  a  quantity  equal  to  about  7  0  per 
cent.  (70'3)  of  the  chloral  compound  employed. 

£.  Alcoholate  of  Chloral. — Proceed  as  in  test¬ 
ing  the  hydrate.  The  chloroform  layer  will  be 
about  200  grain-measures,  or  by  weight  299  grains, 
an  equivalent  of  about  60  per  cent,  by  weight  (59'8) 
of  the  chloral  alcoholate.  Such  a  difference,  it  must 
be  apparent,  is  of  great  importance,  as  the  physiologi¬ 
cal  action  of  chloral  is  principally  due  to  its  trans¬ 
formation  into  chloroform  in  the  blood. 

An  eye  accustomed  to  the  rate  of  solution  of  the 
hydrate  in  water  can  soon  detect  the  alcoholate  by 
its  much  less  solubility.  The  hydrate  in  detached 
crystals,*  resembling  crystals  of  sulphate  of  mag¬ 
nesia,  is  a  much  more  soluble  form  than  the  ordi¬ 
nary  hydrate  in  masses ;  it  will  also  produce  upon 
decomposition  with  ammonia  70  per  cent,  by  weight 
of  chloroform. 

The  difference  in  the  boiling-point  of  the  hydrate 
(95°  Cent.)  and  of  the  alcoholate  (116°  Cent.)  is 
alone  almost  sufficient  to  distinguish  one  from  the 
other.  At  any  rate,  this  characteristic,  combined  with 
the  quantitative  chloroform  test,  is  quite  sufficient 
to  enable  the  pharmacist  to  give  with  accuracy  an 
opinion  upon  the  purity  of  any  chloral  hydrate. 

Laboratory ,  40,  Aldersgate  Street ,  E.C. 

*  Hanbury,  Pliarm.  Journ.,  May,  1870. 


OINTMENT  OF  MERCURIC  NITRATE. 

BY  R.  ROTHER. 

One  of  the  most  serious  imperfections  of  the  Pharma¬ 
copoeia  is  its  process  for  the  ointment  of  mercuric  nitrate. 
This  is  a  failure  in  every  respect,  the  nomenclature  not 
excepted.  The  ever- recurring  difficulties  that  the  offi¬ 
cinal  formula  engenders  have  caused  the  accumulation 
of  abundant  literature  designed  to  obviate  or  remove  some 
of  these  inherent  obstacles.  But  even  the  enumeration 
of  all  the  known  processes  has  been  of  no  avail.  Most 
of  the  modifications  that  have  been  suggested  are  based 
upon  the  officinal  process  itself,  and  consist  mainly  of 
alterations  in  the  proportion  of  the  ingredients  or  their 
quality.  But  the  officinal  process  is  in  the  full  sense  of 
the  term  irrational ;  likewise  must  be  any  other  which 
grounds  itself  upon  this.  Therefore,  the  solution  of  this 
profound  problem  cannot  be  discovered  in  the  compo¬ 
nents  of  the  formula,  but  must  be  sought  for  in  the  ope¬ 
ration  alone.  A  review  of  all  the  known  facts  connected 
with  the  history  of  this  preparation  reveals  as  follows  : 
— Firstly,  since  the  value  of  this  combination  is  generally 
recognized,  the  title  should  be  distinctive  of  its  character. 
In  this  regard  the  Pharmacopoeia  completely  fails.  If 
the  solution  of  the  metal  is  officinally  effected  in  the  con¬ 
tact  with  the  acid  at  the  ordinary  temperature,  it  is 
positively  certain  that  both  mercuric  and  mercurous 
nitrate  form  even  in  the  large  surplus  of  acid  shown  by 
the  precipitation  of  mercurous  chloride  in  the  presence  of 
chlorhydric  acid,  consequently  the  ointment  will  receive 
both  nitrates  from  the  beginning.  Evidently,  the  lower 
the  temperature  at  which  the  solution  is  made,  the  greater 
will  be  the  proportion  of  mercurous  nitrate,  in  the  same 
ratio  the  remaining  acid,  and  through  it  the  more  power¬ 
ful  the  oxidation  of  the  fats.  But  the  intenser  the  re¬ 
action,  the  more  probable  will  be  the  reduction  of  the 
mercurial  salts,  and  especially  the  mercurous  nitrate, 
which  is  eminently  dissimilar  in  its  effects  and  molecular 
constitution  to  the  mercuric  salt.  The  following  equa¬ 
tions  will  sufficiently  illustrate  the  above  : — 

3  Hg  +  8  (N  03  H)  =  3  ( (N  03)  2  Hg")  +  Nn  O,  +  4  O  H, 

6 Hg  +  8  (N 03 H)  =  3 ( (N 03)2Hg2)  +  N2“02  +  4  O IU 

When  these  mercurial  solutions  come  in  contact 
with  the  heated  glycerides,  the  complicated  reaction 
which  immediately  ensues  commences  with  two  distinct 
phases.  One  of  these  is  characteristic  only  for  the  so- 
called  non- drying  oils  ;  the  other  is  pretty  general  with 
all.  The  first  of  these  is  determined  by  the  catalytic 
action  of  the  nitrogen  tetroxide  (which  is  always  present 
in  the  mercurial  solution  prepared  without  heat,  and 
should  it  not  be  present,  as  would  be  the  case  by  employ¬ 
ing  a  solution  containing  the  mercuric  nitrate  only,  it 
would,  of  course,  simultaneously  result  from  the  mutual 
decomposition  of  the  nitric  acid  and  the  facts),  and  con¬ 
sists  in  the  transformation  of  the  liquid  triolein  into  its 
white  concrete  and  crystalline  isomere  elaidin.  But  the  se¬ 
cond,  which  is  characterized  by  the  violent  evolution  of 
volatile  products,  consists,  according  to  the  prolongation 
of  the  reaction  or  its  intensity,  favoured  by  external 
causes,  and  the  relative  quantity  of  nitric  acid,  of  the 
destruction  of  part  of  the  oleic,  palmitic  and  stearic  acid 
contained  in  the  glycerides  that  are  usually  employed. 

But  the  complete  dissociation  of  the  original  compounds 
is  effected  with  difficulty.  Pure  lard,  heated  with  eight 
and  ten  times  the  quantity  of  strong  nitric  acid  until  the 
latter  was  dissipated,  still  was  attacked  by  a  fresh  por¬ 
tion.  In  this  case,  all  of  the  nine  volatile  acids  of  the 
series  CnH2n02,  from  acetic  to  capric  inclusive,  are  pro¬ 
duced  together  with  fixed  acids  of  the  series  Gfi  H2„— olfi, 
of  which  suberic  and  succinic  acid  are  more  abundantly 
produced  from  glycerides  containing  chiefly  palmitim 
A  peculiar  and  undetermined  substance  is  invariably 
generated  in  quantity,  and  resists  the  destructive  action 
of  the  nitric  acid  with  remarkable  obstinacy.  This  is  an 
intensely  yellow  oil,  which  saponifies  with  potassium 
hydrate,  with  the  formation  of  a  deep  red  colour ;  and  it 


•108 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  6, 1870. 


is  this  compound  to  which  the  ointment  of  mercurial 
nitrate  owes  its  yellow  colour.  It  is  supposed  that  the 
discoloration  of  the  officinal  ointment  occurs  more  parti¬ 
cularly  when  the  oxidation  of  the  fatty  matter  has  not 
been  sufficient,  and  that  subsequently  the  avidity  of  these 
bodies  robs  the  mercurial  salts  of  their  oxygen  and  re¬ 
duces  them  to  the  metallic  state ;  but  in  the  officinal  oint¬ 
ment  the  greater  part  of  the  mercury  no  longer  exists  as 
normal  nitrate,  but  chiefly  as  basic  nitrate  and  mercurous 
or  mercuric  salts  of  some  of  the  fatty  acids  either  origi¬ 
nally  existing  in  the  fat  or  as  products  of  its  decomposi¬ 
tion.  This  is  amply  evidenced  by  employing  a  drying- 
oil,  as  the  oils  of  cotton  or  flax-seed,  in  the  preparation 
of  the  ointment,  which  of  course,  as  will  be  seen,  are  en¬ 
tirely  inadmissible  for  this  purpose.  If  flax-seed  oil,  for 
instance,  is  heated  with  nitric  acid  alone,  even  until  the' 
latter  is  entirely  consumed,  no  separation  will  take  place ; 
but  if  to  the  heated  oil  the  mercurial  solution  be  added, 
a  greenish-yellow  agglutinated  mass  immediately  sepa¬ 
rates,  which  adheres  to  the  bottom  of  the  vessel  and  the 
stirrer  too  tenaciously  to  admit  of  distribution,  and  more¬ 
over  hardens  on  cooling  to  the  consistence  of  lead  plaster. 
Strong  cold  nitric  acid  has  no  apparent  action  on  this 
substance  ;  neither  have  oil  of  turpentine,  alcohol,  ether, 
and  carbon  disulphide,  when  repeatedly  treated  with 
these  solvents  in  succession ;  but  chloroform  dissolves 
the  greater  part  of  it,  leaving  a  greyish,  light,  flocculent 
deposit,  which  agglutinates  on  the  addition  of  alcohol. 
Cold  strong  nitric  acid  attacks  this  powerfully,  forming 
a  green  solution  containing  abundance  of  mercuric  oxide. 
At  the  same  time  a  yellow  oily  substance  separates, 
which  completely  dissolves  in  chloroform — also  in  ether, 
but  slowly  and  imperfectly  in  alcohol — to  an  intense 
yellow  colour,  and  saponifies  with  potassium  hydrate  to 
a  deep  red  colour.  The  original  resinous  substance,  as 
it  separates  from  the  supernatant  oily  liquid,  is  but 
faintly  acted  on  by  cold  strong  nitric  acid ;  but  the  same 
acid,  when  hot,  dissolves  all  but  a  yellow  oil,  which  se¬ 
parates  from  the  solution,  and  contains  mercury  in  abun¬ 
dance,  as  the  black  precipitate  with  ammonium  sulphide 
indicates.  The  first  chloroformic  solution  of  the  resinous 
deposit,  when  evaporated,  leaves  a  reddish-yellow  var¬ 
nish-like  residue,  which  is  insoluble  in  water,  but  readily 
saponifies  with  potassium  hydrate  to  a  red  solution,  whilst 
a  small  quantity  of  mercurous  oxide  at  the  same  time  se¬ 
parates.  By  the  addition  of  nitric  acid  to  a  solution  of 
this  soap,  a  yellow  precipitate  again  occurs. 

The  separation  of  this  resinous  deposit  at  the  very 
outset  of  the  operation,  goes  to  show  how  easily  the  mer¬ 
curial  nitrates  are  reduced  by  heat,  or,  more  particularly, 
by  the  combined  influence  of  temperature  and  the  re¬ 
ducing  property  of  the  organic  substances,  even  in  the 
presence  of  a  large  excess  of  free  nitric  acid,  which  seems 
to  indicate,  in  this  instance  at  least,  that  the  replacement 
of  the  hydrogen  atom  of  the  acid  molecule  through  the 
mercurial  atom,  renders  it  more  unstable  in  the  presence 
of  organic  matter,  and,  therefore  a  more  powerful  oxi¬ 
dizer. 

The  evolution  of  nitrogen  dioxide  during  the  solution 
of  the  resinous  remnant,  insoluble  in  chloroform  would 
also  indicate  that  the  body  contained  either  metallic 
mercury  or  the  suboxide.  This  supports  the  supposition 
that  the  mercurous  compounds  are  less  stable  than  the 
mercuric  under  similar  circumstances.  It  also  affords 
incontrovertible  evidence  that  in  the  officinal  ointment 
the  smallest  portion  of  the  mercury  exists  as  nitrate,  and 
that  the  greater  portion  can  be  present  in  an  indefinite 
variety  of  forms.  Therefore,  the  only  form  in  which  the 
metal  should  be  combined  is  as  mercuric  nitrate,  and  the 
title  should  designate  it  accordingly. 

Secondly,  a  portion  of  the  fatty  substance  which  the 
formula  demands  cannot  be  obtained,  unless  the  pharma¬ 
ceutist  prepares  it  himself,  because  an  officinal  neat’s-foot 
oil  does  not  exist  in  the  market,  hut  a  rank  and  disgust¬ 
ing  semi-fluid  grease,  which  possesses  none  of  the  officinal 
characteristics.  But  pure  lard  can  always  be  readily  ob¬ 


tained,  and,  since  it  furnishes  an  excellent  ointment, 
should  invariably  be  used. 

Thirdly,  the  manner  of  executing  the  officinal  opera¬ 
tion  is  the  very  embodiment  of  failure.  In  this  process 
it  is  of  the  utmost  necessity  to  employ  vessels  of  immense 
proportionate  size.  It  is  a  point  of  great  importance  to 
retain  the  temperature  of  the  heated  fats  within  certain 
limits,  which  is  an  exceedingly  difficult  office  to  perform 
after  a  violent  reaction  has  set  in ;  and  even  with  all 
these  precautions  the  ointment  may  overflow  or  its  colour 
be  impaired  from  reduction  of  the  metal  by  too  great  a 
heat.  The  production  of  a  good  ointment  by  this  pro¬ 
cess  is  therefore  a  matter  of  chance,  and  depends  upon 
circumstances  that  seem  rather  the  good  luck  of  the  ope¬ 
rator  than  a  well-defined  pharmaceutical  process. 

Now,  all  these  difficulties  can  be  readily  overcome  by 
an  entire  change  in  the  operation  itself,  regardless  of  the 
component  elements  of  the  formula.  The  new  process 
rests  upon  a  scientific  basis,  whose  characteristic  feature 
pervades  it  in  every  detail,  and  which  must  therefore  in¬ 
variably  yield  a  uniform  and  definite  result.  Two  pa¬ 
rallel  operations,  separate  and  distinct,  unite  their  per¬ 
fect  results  to  one  complete  and  unchangeable  whole. 
The  formation  of  mercuric  nitrate  is  effected  with  the  re¬ 
quisite  quantity  of  nitric  acid,  and  the  remainder  is  com¬ 
pletely  consumed  in  the  oxidation  of  the  fats.  This  en¬ 
sures  the  ultimate  existence  of  but  one  compound  of  mer¬ 
cury  in  the  finished  product,  and  that  is,  as  the  title 
implies,  the  mercuric  nitrate.  It  likewise  admits  of  the 
oxidation  of  the  fatty  matter  to  the  utmost  capacity  of 
all  the  available  nitric  acid,  so  that  when  the  last  vestige 
of  this  has  disappeared  the  mercurial  solution  can  be 
mixed  with  tire  nearly-cooled  product  without  causing 
any  further  reaction.  A  very  decided  advantage  of  this 
process  is  that  the  enormously  large  vessels  can  be  dis¬ 
pensed  with.  The  nitric  acid  is  added  to  the  melted  fat, 
and  the  heat  continued  until  brisk  ebullition  sets  in. 
This  occurs  mainly  in  the  centre  of  the  mixture,  and 
without  frothing.  It  is,  however,  of  the  utmost  neces¬ 
sity  not  to  disturb  the  liquids  by  stirring.  If  the  re¬ 
action  becomes  too  violent,  the  mixture  must  be  removed 
a  short  time  from  the  fire  ;  and  if  the  action  slackens  too 
much,  it  must  be  replaced.  Finally,  when  all  the  nitric 
acid  has  been  decomposed,  the  temperature  can  be  con¬ 
siderably  raised  without  causing  any  further  efferves¬ 
cence.  The  boiling  then  is  analogous  to  the  boiling  of 
fatty  matters  in  general. 

From  the  foregoing  results  the  following  formula  is 
deduced 

Take  of  Mercury .  1|  troy  ounces. 

Nitric  Acid,  sp.  gr.  1*42  . .  3^  „ 

Lard  (pure)  .  16|  „ 

Dissolve  the  mercury  in  900  grains  of  the  nitric  acid, 
with  the  aid  of  heat,  and  keep  the  solution  gently  warm 
to  prevent  crystallization  before  it  is  used.  Melt  the 
lard  in  a  suitable  vessel  with  a  moderate  heat ;  then  add 
the  remainder  of  the  nitric  acid,  and  continue  the  heat, 
without  stirring  the  mixture,  as  long  as  moderate  effer¬ 
vescence  continues  ;  but  if  this  becomes  too  violent,  re¬ 
move  the  mixture  from  the  fire,  and  only  replace  it  when 
the  action  slackens  too  much.  Finally,  when  efferves¬ 
cence  ceases  and  the  liquid  only  boils,  even  under  an  in¬ 
creased  heat,  remove  the  mixture  from  the  fire  altogether  ; 
and  when  it  begins  to  stiffen,  add  the  mercurial  solution, 
and  mix  thoroughly. — The  Chicago  Pharmacist. 


Prevention  of  “  Pitting  ”  in  Smallpox. — As  a 

means  of  preventing  the  disfigurement  attending  this 
disease,  a  writer  in  ‘  Union  Medicale  ’  recommends  the 
paintkig  of  the  pustules,  as  soon  as  the  eruption  appears, 
with  tincture  of  iodine.  The  application  should  be  con¬ 
tinued  for  five  or  six  days. 


August  6, 1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


109 


REPORT  ON  CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  BENGAL. 

From  C.  B.  Clarke,  Esq.,  M.A.,  Officiating  Superinten¬ 
dent,  Botanic  Garden ,  and  in  charge  of  Cinchona  cultiva¬ 
tion  in  Bengal ,  to  the  Secretary  to  the  Government  of 
Bengal , — (No.  188,  dated  Botanic  Garden ,  Calcutta ,  the 
29t)i  April ,  1870). 

Sir, — I  beg  leave  to  submit  the  annual  report  on  the 
cultivation  of  Cinchona  in  Bengal  for  the  year  ending 
31st  March,  1870. 

2.  The  three  species  of  cinchona  of  which  the  cultiva¬ 
tion  has  been  extended  during  the  year  are  C.  succirubra, 
C.  officinalis ,  and  C.  calisaya. 

The  number  of  plants  of  these  species  in  permanent 
plantations  were  as  under : — 


C.  succirubra. 

C.  officinalis. 

C.  calisaya. 

March  31, 1869 

615,730 

312,719 

220 

March  31, 1870 

1,055,100 

406,899 

4,000 

Increase 

439,370 

94,180 

3,780 

3.  The  increase  of  permanent  plantation  of  C.  succi¬ 
rubra  and  C.  calisaya  has  been  made  about  Rishap  at  an 
elevation  of  2500  feet ;  the  increase  of  C.  officinalis  at 
Rungbee  at  an  elevation  of  about  4500  feet. 

4.  The  average  growth  for  the  year  of  the  ten  mea¬ 
sured  plants  of  C.  succirubra  planted  in  March,  1867,  at 
Rishap,  has  been  51  inches,  which  fairly  represents  the 
satisfactory  general  growth  of  the  C.  succirubra  planta¬ 
tions. 

5.  The  average  growth  for  the  year  of  the  ten  mea¬ 
sured  plants  of  C.  officinalis  planted  in  October,  1864,  at 
Rungbee,  has  been  12  inches,  which  fairly  represents  the 
unsatisfactory  general  growth  of  the  C.  officinalis  planta¬ 
tions. 

6.  The  average  growth  for  the  year  of  the  ten  mea¬ 
sured  plants  of  C.  calisaya  planted  in  June,  1867,  at 
Rishap,  has  been  52  inches,  which  represents  the  average 
growth  of  all  the  plants  in  the  plantation  catalogued  as 
C.  calisaya.  But  several  important  varieties  are  included 
under  the  name  C.  calisaya ,  and  the  tree  variety  raised 
by  seed  in  February,  1867,  and  planted  out  in  June, 
1867,  has  attained  a  height  of  12  feet  in  October,  1869, 
and  a  tree  of  this  age,  lately  cut  down,  has  produced 
two  pounds  of  dry  bark. 

7.  As  fully  explained  by  Dr.  T.  Anderson  in  his 
annual  cinchona  report  in  Bengal  for  the  year  ending 
31st  March,  1868,  the  exceeding  steepness  of  the  hills, 
combined  with  the  large  rainfall,  prevents  any  tilth  on 
these  cinchona  plantations.  The  grass  and  low  jungle 
having  been  cut  close,  the  young  cinchona  plants  are 
planted  out  in  the  permanent  plantations.  The  weeds 
having  been  merely  headed  down,  not  eradicated,  grow 
with  great  strength  in  a  moist  and  warm  climate,  and 
continual  scouring  of  the  young  plantations  is  necessary. 
This  is  the  chief  expense  under  thissystemofcultivation. 

8.  C.  succirubra  and  C.  calisaya  (tree  variety)  grow  so 
freely,  that  by  the  third  year  the  young  trees  in  the 
plantations  are  all  locked ;  they  then  crush  the  jungle 
beneath  them,  and  can  take  care  of  themselves,  and 
little  further  expense  upon  them  is  called  for. 

9.  But  C.  officinalis  shows  no  inclination  to  become  a 
tree  at  these  plantations ;  it  remains  a  shrub  with  very 
scanty  foliage,  and  even  on  the  plantations  which  are 
five  years  old,  there  continues  the  same  expenditure  in 
scouring. 

10.  C.  succirubra  and  C.  calisaya  are  planted  about 
1200  to  the  acre  ;  C.  officinalis  about  4000  to  the  acre. 

11.  In  the  fifth  year  of  growth  in  permanent  planta¬ 
tion  an  acre  of  C.  officinalis  carries  less  than  one -fourth 
the  bark  carried  by  an  acre  of  C.  succirubra ,  and  costs 
more  than  four  times  as  much  annual  expenditure. 
Moreover,  the  C.  officinalis  then  appears  disinclined  to 
grow  much  larger,  whereas  C.  succirubra  will  clearly 
grow  into  a  considerable  tree. 


12.  I  calculate  that  at  present  it  has  not  been  disco¬ 
vered  how  to  grow  C.  officinalis  to  economic  profit  at 
Rungbee.  I  therefore  stopped  its  extension  in  Septem¬ 
ber  last,  though  I  was  aware  of  the  high  quality  of  the 
grey  bark.  The  present  quantity  is  large  for  an  experi¬ 
ment  ;  and,  as  an  experiment,  a  few  acres  of  C.  officinalis 
were  planted  in  September  last  at  a  somewhat  higher 
level  (5000  feet)  than  the  main  plantation.  Also,  in  all 
the  C.  officinalis  plantations  below  the  level  of  4000  feet 
(above  which  level  C.  succirubra  does  not  thrive),  C.  succi- 
rubra  has  been  planted  between  the  ranks  of  C.  officinalis , 
and  will,  doubtless,  soon  overgrow  it. 

13.  The  propagation  and  extension  of  C.  calisaya  has 
been  pushed  as  fast  as  possible.  There  is  no  difficulty 
in  multiplying  C.  succirubra  and  C.  officinalis  by  cuttings, 
but  at  Rishap  there  is  found  the  greatest  difficulty  and 
uncertainty  in  multiplying  C.  calisaya  by  cuttings. 
Herr  von  G-orkom,  the  Director  of  the  Dutch  Govern¬ 
ment  cinchona  cultivation  in  Java,  informs  me  that 
there  the  same  difficulty  with  C.  calisaya  is  found ;  but, 
on  the  other  hand,  Mr.  M‘Ivor,  in  the  drier  climate  of 
the  Nilgherries,  says  cuttings  strike  with  perfect  success. 

14.  Herr  von  Gorkom  has  sent  me  on  several  occa¬ 
sions  most  valuable  packets  of  C.  calisaya  seed,  which 
germinated  excellently ;  but  if  it  could  be  discovered 
how  to  grow  G.  calisaya  by  cuttings,  I  should  greatly 
prefer  that  method,  as  by  it  I  am  sure  of  getting  exactly 
the  variety  which  I  wish  to  propagate.  Mr.  MTvor  is 
of  opinion,  that  not  merely  do  the  varieties  cross  freely, 
but  that  many  hybrids  are  formed  from  different  species 
of  cinchona. 

15.  The  most  valuable  bark  known  in  the  European 
market  is  the  C.  calisaya  bark ;  this  species  grows  ad¬ 
mirably  at  Rishap,  and,  during  the  past  year,  propaga¬ 
tion  has  been  almost  entirely  confined  to  it.  In  growing 
for  profit,  I  believe  it  will  ultimately  be  found  advisable 
to  grow  one  or  two  species  only  on  these  plantations ; 
and  that  it  is  best  to  discard  a  species  at  once  which  is 
clearly  inferior  with  us  to  C.  calisaya  and  C.  succirubra. 

16.  I  have  lately  brought  from  the  Nilgherries  two 
new  kinds  of  cinchona,  one  provisionally  named  G. 
mirabilis ,  of  Mr.  Broughton,  the  other  G.  pitayo.  In  G. 
mirabilis  the  bark  contains  the  astonishing  quantity  of 
13£  per  cent,  of  quinine  alkaloid,  and  more  than  9  per 
cent,  of  crystallizable  quinine.  G.  pitayo  is  a  rich  bark 
from  Peru,  a  very  high-level  species,  said  to  be  found 
growing  through  the  snow. 

17.  During  the  year  both  C.  succirubra  and  C.  officinalis 
ripened  seeds ;  5f  ounces  of  the  former  and  5i  ounces  of 
the  latter  were'  distributed.  One  ounce  of  seed  will 
raise  nearly  50,000  plants. 

18.  There  were  distributed  from  Rungbee  during  the 
past  financial  year  cinchona  plants  as  under : — 


C.  succi¬ 
rubra. 

C.  cali¬ 
saya. 

C.  offici¬ 
nalis. 

Mr.  Werniche,  Ivursiong  . . 

2500 

50 

•  « 

Dr.  Jameson,  Saharunpore  . 

1500 

260 

500 

Mr.  Robson,  Tukvar . 

•  • 

200 

•  • 

Col.  Strutt,  Kangra  Valley  . 

•  • 

12 

•  • 

Total  . 

4000 

522 

500 

19.  The  amount  of  propagation  having  been  greatly 
reduced,  a  considerable  number  of  the  old  frames  and 
glass  were  sold.  The  receipts  for  the  past  year  of  the 
cinchona  plantation  paid  into  the  Darjeeling  treasury 


were  as  under  : — 

Rs.  As.  P. 

Rent  from  land  let .  1130  0  0 

Price  of  a  wardian  case . .  10  0  0 

Sale  of  cinchona  plants .  156  4  0 

Sale  of  old  glass .  187  8  0 


Total .  1483  12  0 


110 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  G,  1870. 


20.  The  total  expenditure  for  the  year  on  the  Sikhim 
cinchona  cultivation  was  Rs.  50,224,  being  Rs.  18,642 
less  than  the  estimate,  and  Rs.  18,040  less  than  that  of 
the  preceding  year. 

21.  The  C.  succirubra  trees  stand  6  feet  by  6  in  the 
plantations,  and,  as  an  experiment  in  January  last,  a 
small  portion  of  the  denser  plantation  was  thinned  by 
cutting  down  three  trees  out  of  every  four.  This  was 
found  to  produce  300  lbs.  of  dried  bark,  worth  about 
Rs.  250  per  acre. 

22.  At  the  same  time  a  considerable  portion  of  the 
more  advanced  trees  were  pruned  by  the  removal  of  the 
lower  branches.  There  was  stored  from  the  thinnings 
and  prunings  in  all  2400  lbs.  of  dried  bark. 

23.  The  only  private  plantation  in  Sikhim,  which  (so 
far  as  I  know)  is  extending  cinchona  planting  on  a  con¬ 
siderable  scale,  is  that  of  Mr.  Lloyd  and  Colonel  Angus, 
known  as  the  Darjeeling  Cinchona  Association,  and 
which  occupies  the  north  side  of  the  Rungbee  valley. 
This  Association  now  has  about  500  acres  of  permanent 
plantation  of  C.  succirubra ,  and  has  cut  a  considerable 
quantity  of  three-year-old  bark  during  the  late  cold 
weather,  and  sold  it  in  the  London  market. 

24.  The  Government  cinchona  plantation  at  Nunklow, 
in  the  Khasi  Hills,  was  formed  for  the  supply  of  cin¬ 
chona  plants  to  the  planters  in  Assam  and  Cachar. 
Seed  is  now  easily  transmitted,  and  I  believe  the  discon¬ 
tinuance  of  the  plantation  at  Nunklow  has  been  decided 
upon  by  Government. 


Number  and  distribution  of  Cinchona  plants  in  the  Govern¬ 
ment  plantations  near  Darjeeling  on  the  31s£  March , 
1870. 


Names  of  spe¬ 
cies  of  cin¬ 
chona. 

Number  in  permanent 
plantations. 

Number  of  stock  plants 
for  propagation. 

Number  of  seedlings  or 
rooted  cuttings  in  nur¬ 
sery  beds  for  perma¬ 
nent  plantations. 

N umber  of  rooted  plants 
in  cutting  beds. 

Number  of  cuttings 
made  during  the 
month. 

Total  number  of  plants, 
cuttings,  and  seed¬ 
lings. 

C.  succirubra 

1,055,100 

20,000 

164,615 

None 

None 

1,239,715 

C.  calisaya  ... 

4,000 

A0.000 

8,758 

32,274 

2,000 

57,032 

C.  micruntlia 

29,667 

None 

None 

None 

None 

29,667 

C.  officinalis, 
and  varieties. 

406,899 

10,000 

205,952 

307,853 

Ditto 

930,704 

C.  pahudiana 

5,092  None 

None 

None 

Ditto 

5,092 

Total  . 

1,500,758  40,000 

379,325 

340,127 

2,000 

2,262,210 

C.  B.  Clarke, 

Officiating  Superintendent ,  Botanic  Garden ,  and  in 
charge  of  cinchona  cultivation  in  Bengal. 


Conversion  of  Angelic  into  Valerianic  Acid. — 

According  to  Jaffe,  angelic  acid  is  not  converted  into 
valerianic  acid  by  means  of  hydriodic  acid.  According 
to  Ascher,  a  temperature  of  180°  to  200°  C.  is  needed  for 
this  transformation,  which  does  not  take  place  at  low 
temperatures.  By  heating  together  angelic  acid,  red 
phosphorus,  and  hydriodic  acid  to  180°  to  200°  C.,  for  the 
space  of  eight  hours,  a  complete  transformation  into  va¬ 
lerianic  acid  was  effected.  As  our  readers  will  know, 
angelic  acid  differs  from  valerianic  acid  by  two  equiva¬ 
lents  of  hydrogen,  which,  according  to  the  foregoing  ac¬ 
count,  it  acquires  from  the  hydriodic  acid. 

Determination  of  the  Value  of  Cinchona  Bark. 

— The  methods  of  determining  the  value  of  cinchona 
bark  may  be  divided  into  two  classes,  viz.  those  which 
give  the  total  amount  of  alkaloids  all  together,  without 
distinguishing  between  them,  and  those  which  give  the 
amount  of  pure  quinine.  Those  belonging  to  the  former 
class  may,  in  fact,  be  regarded  as  abandoned,  because 
they  are  calculated  to  assign  the  same  value  to  bark  con¬ 


taining  only  modified  and  uncrystallizable  alkaloids  as 
to  bark  containing  a  corresponding  amount  of  pure 
quinine. 

The  methods  most  practised  for  determining  p-ure 
quinine  are  based  upon  the  use  of  ether  or  chloroform 
for  purifying  the  quinine  to  be  determined,  or,  in  other 
words,  they  represent,  as  quinine,  all  the  alkaloid  solu¬ 
ble  in  ether  and  chloroform.  It  may  be  stated,  without 
much  need  of  examination,  that  these  methods  are  calcu¬ 
lated  to  lead  to  serious  errors.  For  instance,  is  it  not 
evident  that  by  this  use  of  ether,  bark  containing  only 
aricine,  may  be  regarded  as  of  good  quality,  inasmuch  as 
that  alkaloid  is  soluble  in  ether  ?  Moreover,  the  inade¬ 
quacy  of  these  methods  may  be  demonstrated  in  a  manner 
entirely  different.  All  manufacturers  of  quinine  have 
been  led  to  abandon  them  on  account  of  the  loss  expe¬ 
rienced  in  many  instances  to  a  large  extent.  They  have 
purchased  as  rich,  samples  of  bark  that  yielded  only 
small  quantities  of  quinine.  At  the  present  time  manu¬ 
facturers  have  adopted  the  plan  of  determining  the  value 
of  bark  by  means  of  a  miniature  operation,  conducted  in 
the  same  way  as  the  manufacture  on  a  large  scale.  This, 
it  must  be  admitted,  is  the  most  judicious  method,  and 
probably  the  only  one  that  can  be  depended  on. 

Though  the  method  suggested  by  M.  Carles  is  not 
open  to  the  objections  raised  against  those  formerly  in 
use,  we  do  not  consider  that  it  should  be  preferred  to 
that  just  mentioned  for  the  purposes  of  manufacturers. 
At  the  same  time  it  may  be  useful  for  pharmacists,  since- 
it  is  more  accurate  than  others. 

His  method  consists  in  determining  quinine  in  the  state- 
of  crystallized  sulphate,  after  its  separation  from  other 
alkaloids  whose  sulphates  are  more  soluble.  Moreover, 
by  the  use  of  chloroform  as  a  solvent,  and  the  separation 
of  resins  by  means  of  dilute  sulphuric  acid,  it  is  possible 
to  obtain  sulphate  of  quinine  in  a  very  satisfactory  state 
of  purity  and  whiteness. 

The  chief  disadvantage  of  the  method  consists  in  re¬ 
lying  too  much  on  a  slight  artifice,  by  means  of  which 
the  soluble  sulphate  of  quinine  is  converted  into  crystals 
by  washing  with  ammonia.  This  is  an  operation  requiring 
some  dexterity  in  manipulation.  It  is  also  to  be  regretted 
that  M.  Carles  has  not  determined  the  solubility  of  the  sul¬ 
phate  in  the  mother  liquors  obtained  in  the  operation,  for 
since  they  contain  sulphates  of  other  alkaloids,  they  may 
also  contain  some  quinine.* 

Fatal  Case  of  Poisoning-  of  a  Man  and  a 
Horse. — In  the  August  number  of  the  ‘Journal  of” 
Botany  ’  is  a  short  notice  of  a  rapidly  fatal  case  of  poi¬ 
soning  by  Qdnantlxe  crocata.  This  is  an  umbelliferous- 
plant  of  common  occurrence  in  the  south  of  England,, 
and  has  frequently  been  eaten  by  mistake  for  other 
allied  plants  with  fatal  effects.  In  the  present  instance, 
it  was  mistaken  for  “  wild  parsnip  ”  by  a  carter,  who- 
thought  himself  afflicted  with  “  scurvy.”  The  man  ate 
some  of  the  root  whilst  at  work,  and  about  an  hour- 
after  he  fell  back  foaming  at  the  mouth,  and  black  in 
the  face.  He  died  before  the  arrival  of  medical  aid 
about  half  an  hour  after  the  first  effects,  one  hour  and  a 
half  after  the  ingestion  of  the  poison.  On  post-mortem 
examination,  about  “  half  a  small  cupful  ”  of  the  masti¬ 
cated  root  was  found  in  the  stomach.  The  horse  to 
which  the  man  had  given  some  of  the  root  lived  half  air 
hour  longer  than  the  man.  (E n  ant  he  crocata  belongs  to 
that  group  of  narcotico-acrid  poisons  comprising  the 
Solanacece,  and  characterized  by  producing  convulsions 
with  delirium.  Death  may  even  occur  more  rapidly 
than  in  the  above  case.  It  is  of  interest  to  note,  as  the 
point  is  one  which  has  been  several  times  observed,  that 
the  juice  of  the  plant  was  yellow  in  colour.  It  has  been 
said  that  the  state  of  the  plant  with  a  colourless  juice 
is  less  virulent  in  its  nature. 


*  Extract  from  the  Report  of  a  Commission  consisting  ©f 
MM.  Gobley,  Roussin,  and  Jungfleisch. 


August  6,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


Ill 


Cjre  ^1(j;mu;tftutic;r(  Jotmmf. 

- ♦ - - 

SATURDAY,  AUGUST  6,  1870. 


THE  POISON  REGULATIONS. 

In  drawing  attention  last  week  to  tlie  remarks  of 
the  ‘  Pall  Mall  Gazette  ’  anent  the  privileges  and 
duties  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  we  were  not 
influenced  by  any  idea  of  an  unkind  spirit  prompting 
our  contemporary;  indeed,  we  thought  he  desired 
rather  to  utter  a  kindly  warning,  more  pleasantly 
expressed  than  other  observations  on  the  same  sub¬ 
jects  which  we  have  read  within  the  last  three 
months :  hut  straws  in  the  air  indicate  the  course  of 
the  wind,  and  it  is  sometimes  well  to  mark  their 
direction. 

In  days  gone  by,  chemists  and  druggists  were  too 
insignificant  a  class  to  attract  attention  from  other 
members  of  society ;  invested  with  privileges,  they 
became  worthy  of  observation.  Privileges  are  never 
granted  without  duties  being  imposed  on  the  recipi¬ 
ents,  and  their  fulfilment  at  once  furnishes  an  object 
for  criticism. 

When  we  are  reminded  that  “  all  monopolies  are 
to  be  regarded  with  distrust,  and  watched  with 
anxiety  in  the  public  interest,”  that  our  Society 
“  has  public  duties  and  private  interests  to  consult, 
and  the  two  may  not  always  concur,”  we  cannot 
fail  to  recognize  the  fact  that  the  eye  of  the  press — 
which  we  may  call  one  of  the  great  lenses  of  the 
public — is  upon  us. 

We  know  that  the  public  safety  can  in  no  way  be 
better  promoted  than  by  aiding  the  education  and 
enforcing  the  examination  of  men  to  whom  the  dis¬ 
pensing  of  dangerous  medicines  is  entrusted.  The 
Pharmaceutical  Society  enunciated  that  as  a  princi¬ 
ple  thirty  years  ago,  and  has  ever  since  faithfully, 
earnestly,  and  at  great  cost,  laboured  to  carry  it  out. 
When  Poison  Bills  were  brought  before  Parliament 
based  on  other  foundations  than  education,  every 
effort  was  made,  and  made  successfully,  to  defeat 
them ;  but  when  that  principle  was  adopted,  the 
Society  joined  heart  and  hand  to  promote  it. 

Now  it  cannot  be  doubted  that  the  public,  scarcely 
conversant  with  the  intricacies  of  the  subject,  see 
greater  security  in  what  they  may  perhaps  call  the 
“  material  guarantee  ’  of  “  Poison  regulations.”  We 
on  the  other  hand  regard  them  as  secondary,  but 
still  important,  means  of  safety,  so  important,  indeed, 
that  scarcely  an  opponent  of  the  code  proposed  by 
the  Council  for  the  consideration  of  the  Annual 
Meeting  could  deny  that  in  Ills  own  establishment 
some  such  precautions  were  in  use.  The  opjiosition 
was  not  grounded  on  objection  to  the  regulations 
themselves,  but  simply  on  a  dislike  to  have  any  sys¬ 
tem  made  compulsory.  Those  who  came  to  oppose 
forgot  apparently  that  there  are,  and  will  be  until 


another  generation  has  succeeded  the  present,  men 
in  business  as  Chemists  and  Druggists,  whose  quali¬ 
fications  have  not  been  proved  by  examination,  and 
in  disinclination  to  accept  for  themselves  any  possi¬ 
bility  of  inconvenience,  they  gave  the  outer  world 
reason  to  suspect  that  the  latter  half  of  the  twofold 
position  described  by  the  ‘  Pall  Mall  Gazette’  had 
more  weight  with  them  than  the  former.  Such  an 
inference  was  rather  strengthened  by  the  assertion 
of  some  that  it  was  useless  to  ordain  regulations  for 
chemists  if  the  same  rules  were  not  to  be  compulsory* 
on  apothecaries. 

We  certainly  cannot  recur  to  the  proceedings  of 
that  stormy  day  with  any  satisfaction,  A  discussion 
quite  foreign  to  the  legitimate  business  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society  was  forced  on  the  meeting,  and, 
as  we  believe,  materially  influenced  the  whole  course 
of  events. 

We  do  not  intend  now  to  enter  on  the  merits  of 
the  proposed  regulations ;  ample  opportunity  will  be 
found  for  that,  between  this  and  next  May,  to  which 
time  the  matter  stands  postponed,  but  we  desire 
rather  to  remind  our  readers  that  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society  is  a  public  body ;  that  it  is  a  part  of 
the  State  Government,  and  if  it  fall  short  of  its 
duty,  a  fair  question  for  discussion  will  arise  as  to 
how  far  it  has  fulfilled  that  part  of  the  contract  to 
which  it  is  bound  by  the  Pharmacy  Acts  of  1852  and 
1868.  These  are  points  which  should  be  pondered 
on  quietly  at  home ;  with  pots,  bottles,  and  general 
shop  arrangements  at  hand,  to  show  what  would  be 
the  comparative  merits  or  demerits  of  the  proposed 
system,  or  what  other  s}rstem  could  be  suggested  as 
an  additional  alternative  to  the  three  already  set 
forth,  and  for  such  reasons  we  invited  those  who  had 
propositions  to  offer,  to  communicate  them  to  us  for 
publication  in  this  Journal  and  for  criticism  by  others. 


THE  PETROLEUM  ACT. 

Our  readers  will  be  glad  to  learn  that  a  Bill  to 
amend  the  Petroleum  Act  is  now  before  the  House 
of  Lords,  and  that  it  contains  provisions  for  exempt¬ 
ing  the  articles  sold  under  the  name  of  “  Benzine 
Collas,”  and  such  fancy  titles,  secured  in  small 
bottles  and  labelled  with  words  of  caution. 

Tliis  is  the  exemption  which  was  promised  by  the 
Home  Secretary  when  the  Pharmaceutical  Society, 
accompanied  by  Mr.  Thomas,  represented  to  him 
the  hardship  and  annoyance  to  which  retailers  were 
exposed. 

It  was  feared  that  the  Government  had  further 
postponed  the  question. 

The  ‘  Times  ’  states,  in  reference  to  tliis  Bill,  that — 

“According  to  the  view  of  the  leading  persons  engaged 
in  the  business,  its  clauses  are  such  as  would  completely 
interrupt  this  important  branch  of  commerce ;  and  strong 
representations  have  therefore  been  made  to  some  of  the 
principal  mercantile  members  of  the  House  of  Commons 
to  prevent  its  being  passed  without  full  consideration 
when  it  shall  come  down  to  that  House.” 


112 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  6,  1870. 


In  reporting  the  accident  that  occurred  at  Brad¬ 
ford,  of  which  an  account  is  given  in  another  part  of 
this  Journal,  the  ‘  Pall  Mall  Gazette  ’  remarks  that 
“  the  substance  known  as  benzoline  seems  to  be  little 
less  dangerous  to  handle  than  paraffin.” 

It  is  almost  incredible  to  meet  with  such  ignorance 
as  that  displayed  by  this  remark,  and  it  serves  in 
some  measure  to  account  for  the  accidents  that  hap¬ 
pen  with  the  dangerous  volatile  spirit  called  benzo¬ 
line.  The  case  of  Mr.  Taylor  seems  to  suggest  the 
need  for  an  alteration  in  the  Petroleum  Bill  now  be¬ 
fore  the  House  of  Lords,  and  that,  in  the  label  to  be 
attached  to  bottles  containing  volatile  spirit,  “  Great 
care  must  be  taken  in  bringing  any  light  near  to  the 
contents,”  etc.,  the  words  in  italics  should  be  re¬ 
placed  by  “  not  to  bring.” 

The  Juries  Bill,  as  amended  in  Committee,  con¬ 
tains  the  following  clause  : — 

“  13.  If  any  overseer,  without  reasonable  excuse  to  be 
allowed  by  the  justice  or  justices  having  cognizance  of 
the  case,  insert  in  the  list  of  persons  qualified  to  serve  as 
jurors  prepared  by  him  the  name  of  any  person  whose 
name  ought  not  to  have  been  inserted  therein,  or  omit 
therefrom  the  name  of  any  person  whose  name  ought  not 
to  have  been  omitted,  he  shall,  on  summary  conviction, 
be  liable  to  a  penalty  for  each  offence  not  exceeding  forty 
shillings.” 


EXAMINATION  IN  LONDON. 

July  2§th,  1870. 

Present — Messrs.  Allchin.  Bird,  Edwards,  Gale,  Garle, 
Haselden,  Ince,  and  Southall. 

Thirty-one  candidates  were  examined ;  the  following 
passed,  and  were  duly  registered  : — 

MODIFIED  (as  Chemists  and  Druggists). 

Baynes,  James,  junior . Brighton. 

Bum,  Thomas  . Hartlepool. 

Campbell,  John . ; . Bristol. 

Dodds,  John  Henderson . Walsall. 

Elkington,  Charles  John . Birmingham. 

Grindell,  John . London. 

Hartley,  Stephen . Ulverstone. 

Holmes,  Frederick  George  ....  Brill. 

Jarvis,  John . Pau. 

Jones,  George  Coverdale . Bournemouth. 

King,  Abraham  . Bristol. 

Metcalfe,  Alfred  . East  Retford. 

Oldham,  Gervase . Stockport. 

Presley,  Edward  . Bristol. 

Siminson,  Henry . Kidderminster. 

Simmons,  Alfred  . Redditch. 

Thyer,  James  . Leamington. 

Yeitch,  William,  junior  . Shildon. 

Wheeler,  Frederick . Guildford. 

Wright,  William  John  . Tunbridge  Wells. 

Young,  Jonathan . Cambridge. 


MINOR  (as  a  Chemist  and  Druggist). 

Banks,  Benjamin  . . Folkestone. 

FIRST,  OR  PRELIMINARY  EXAMINATION. 
The  Certificates  of  Examination  of  the  undermentioned 
were  accepted  in  lieu  of  the  Preliminary  Examina¬ 


tion  : — 

Amoore,  Lewis  Perigo . Hastings. 

Atkinson,  John  George  . Horn  castle. 


rottnral  fransatiioiu 


EXETER  BRANCH  PHARMACEUTICAL 
SOCIETY. 

A  Special  Meeting  of  the  members  of  the  above  Society 
was  held  on  Friday,  the  29th  J uly,  on  the  occasion  of  the 
receipt  of  the  gift  of  books  presented  to  the  Society  at 
the  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference,  held  in  Exeter 
last  year,  by  T.  H.  Hills,  Esq.,  and  termed  in  memory 
of  the  late  Jacob  Bell,  the  “  Bell  and  Hills’  Library 
Fund.” 

The  following  is  the  list  of  works  received : — 5  vols. 
of  Watts’  ‘Dictionary  of  Chemistry;’  1  vol.  of  Fownes’ 
‘  Chemistry ;’  1  vol.  of  Attfield’s  ‘  Chemistry  1  vol.  of 
Hooker’s  ‘  British  Flora ;’  1  vol.  of  Royle’s  ‘  Materia 
Medica ;’  their  handsome  appearance,  and  the  very  ap¬ 
propriate  design  on  the  cover  of  each,  viz.  “Bell  and 
Hills’,”  etc.,  elicited  expressions  of  great  satisfaction. 

After  allusions  to  the  generous  gift,  and  to  the  great 
advantages  to  be  derived  from  the  addition  to  the  exist¬ 
ing  library  of  such  works  for  the  younger  students,  the 
class  which  it  was  especially  the  intention  of  the  donor 
to  benefit,  it  was  resolved  and  carried  unanimously, 
“  That  the  thanks  of  the  Society  be  given  for  the  above 
valuable  works,  and  that  the  Secretary  be  requested  to 
communicate  this  resolution  to  T.  H.  Hills,  Esq. 


pfiiitMtntog  itnir  fate  fmttfMnp. 

A  BILL  INTITULED  AN  ACT  TO  AMEND  THE 
PETROLEUM  ACTS  1862  AND  1868. 

33  &  34  Vict. 

Whereas  it  is  expedient  to  amend  the  law  relating  to 
the  sale  and  keeping  of  petroleum  and  other  substances 
of  the  like  nature : 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Queen’s  most  Excellent  Majesty, 
by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Lords  Spiritual 
and  Temporal,  and  Commons,  in  this  present  Parliament 
assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  as  follows : 

1.  This  Act  may  be  cited  as  the  Petroleum  Act,  1870. 

2.  This  Act  shall  be  construed  as  one  with  the  Petro¬ 
leum  Acts,  1862,  1868,  and  those  Acts  and  this  Act  may 
be  cited  together  as  the  Petroleum  Acts,  1862  to  1870. 

3.  Section  4  of  the  Petroleum  Act,  1868,  shall  not 
apply  to  petroleum  kept  by  a  dealer  for  sale  by  retail,  if 
such  dealer  comply  with  the  following  conditions, 
namely : 

(1.)  That  the  petroleum  is  kept  in  separate  glass, 
earthenware,  or  metal  bottles,  each  of  which  con¬ 
tains  not  more  than  half  a  pint,  and  is  securely 
corked ;  and 

(2.)  That  the  aggregate  amount  of  petroleum  kept 
by  the  dealer,  supposing  the  whole  contents  of  the 
bottles  to  be  in  bulk,  does  not  exceed  three  gal¬ 
lons  ;  and 

(3.)  That  each  bottle  has  attached  thereto  a  label  in 
legible  characters  stating  as  follows :  “  Great  care 
must  be  taken  in  bringing  any  light  near  to  the 
contents  of  this  vessel,  as  they  give  off  an  inflam¬ 
mable  vapour  at  a  temperature  ef  less  than  one 
hundred  degrees  of  Fahrenheit’s  thermometer.” 

Every  dealer  who  acts  in  contravention  of  any  of  the 
above  conditions  shall  be  liable  to  the  forfeiture  and 
penalty  prescribed  by  section  4  of  the  Petroleum  Act, 
1868. 

4.  Any  officer  authorized  by  the  local  authority  may 
purchase  petroleum  from  any  dealer  in  it,  or  may,  on 
producing  a  copy  of  his  appointment,  purporting  to  be 
certified  by  the  clerk  or  some  member  of  the  local  au¬ 
thority,  or  producing  some  other  sufficient  authority,  re¬ 
quire  the  dealer  to  show  him  all  or  any  of  the  vessels  in 
which  petroleum  in  his  possession  is  stored,  and  the  place 


August  G,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


113 


of  the  storage  thereof,  and  to  give  him  samples  of  such 
petroleum  on  payment  of  the  value  of  such  samples. 

When  the  officer  has  by  either  of  the  means  aforesaid 
taken  samples  of  petroleum,  he  may  declare  in  writing 
to  the  dealer  that  he  is  about  to  test  the  same,  or  cause 
the  same  to  be  tested,  in  manner  provided  by  this  Act, 
and  it  shall  be  lawful  for  him  to  test  the  same  or  cause 
the  same  to  be  tested,  at  any  convenient  place  at  such 
reasonable  time  as  he  may  appoint,  and  the  dealer  or  any 
person  appointed  by  him  may  be  present  at  the  testing ; 
and  if  it  appear  to  the  officer  or  other  person  so  testing 
that  the  petroleum  from  which  such  samples  have  been 
taken  has  been  kept,  offered,  or  exposed  for  sale  contrary 
to  the  Petroleum  Acts,  1862  to  1870,  such  officer  or  other 
person  may  certify  such  fact,  and  the  certificate  so  given 
shall  be  receivable  as  evidence  in  any  proceedings 
that  may  be  taken  against  a  dealer  in  petroleum  in  pur¬ 
suance  of  those  Acts ;  but  it  shall  be  lawful  for  a  dealer 
proceeded  against  to  give  evidence  to  show  that  such  cer¬ 
tificate  is  incorrect,  and  thereupon  the  court  before  which 
any  such  proceedings  may  be  taken  may  appoint  some 
person  skilled  in  testing  petroleum  to  examine  the  sam¬ 
ples  to  which  such  certificate  relates,  and  to  declare  whe¬ 
ther  such  certificate  is  correct  or  incorrect. 

Any  expenses  incurred  in  testing  any  petroleum  of 
such  dealer  in  pursuance  of  this  section  shall,  if  such 
dealer  be  convicted  of  keeping,  selling,  or  exposing  for 
sale  petroleum  in  contravention  of  the  Petroleum  Acts, 
1862  to  1870,  be  deemod  to  be  a  portion  of  the  costs  of 
the  proceedings  against  him,  and  shall  be  paid  by  him 
accordingly.  In  any  other  event  such  expenses  shall  be 
paid  by  the  local  authority  out  of  any  fimds  for  the  time 
being  in  their  hands. 

5.  The  temperature  at  which  petroleum  gives  off  an 
inflammable  vapour  shall  for  the  purposes  of  the  Petro¬ 
leum  Acts,  1862  to  1870,  be  tested  in  manner  set  forth 
in  the  schedule  to  this  Act. 

6.  Any  petroleum  sold  or  exposed  for  sale  in  contra¬ 
vention  of  section  5  of  the  Petroleum  Act,  1868,  shall  be 
liable  to  be  seized,  and  upon  conviction  of  the  person 
selling  or  exposing  for  sale  the  same  to  be  forfeited. 

7.  Sections  6  and  8  of  the  Petroleum  Act,  1868,  and 
the  schedule  to  that  Act,  are  hereby  repealed. 

Schedule. 

Directions  for  Applying  the  Flashing  Test  to  Samples  of 

Petroleum  Oil. 

The  cup  which  is  to  hold  the  oil  shall  be  of  thin  sheet 
iron  or  of  metal  blackened  on  its  inner  surface ;  it  shall 
be  two  inches  deep  and  two  inches  wide  at  the  opening, 
tapering  slightly  towards  the  bottom ;  it  shall  have  a  flat 
rim  projecting  from  the  edge  of  the  cup,  by  which  it 
shall  be  supported  in  a  metallic  vessel  four  inches  and  a 
half  deep  and  four  inches  and  a  half  in  diameter;  it 
shall  also  have  a  wire  stretched  across  the  opening, 
which  wire  shall  be  so  fixed  to  the  edge  of  the  cup 
that  the  upper  side  of  the  wire  shall  be  a  quarter  of  an 
inch  above  the  upper  side  of  a  circular  wire,  Which 
shall  be  fastened  round  the  inside  of  the  cup  a  quarter 
of  an  inch  below  its  upper  edge.  The  thermometer 
to  be  used  shall  have  a  round  bulb  about  half  an  inch 
in  diameter,  and  shall  be  graduated  upon  the  scale  of 
Fahrenheit,  every  ten  degrees  occupying  not  less  than 
half  an  inch  upon  the  scale. 

When  the  instrument  is  to  be  used,  the  petroleum  to 
be  tested  shall  be  poured  into  the  cup  till  the  liquid  rises 
just  to  the  upper  side  of  the  circular  wire.  The  outer 
vessel  shall  be  filled  to  within  an  inch  of  its  edge  with 
water,  and  a  small  flame  shall  be  applied  to  the  bottom 
of  the  outer  vessel.  WTien  the  temperature  of  the  water 
has  risen  to  80°  the  cup  which  contains  the  oil  to  be 
tested  shall  be  placed  in  the  outer  vessel,  and  the  ther¬ 
mometer  shall  be  inserted  into  the  oil,  so  that  the  bottom 
of  the  bulb  shall  be  immersed  about  one  inch  and  a  half 
beneath  the  surface.  A  covered  screen  blackened  on  the 
•nside,  and  provided  with  a  hole  in  the  cover  for  the 


passage  of  the  stem  of  the  thermometer,  shall  be  placed 
over  the  apparatus,  and  shall  be  of  such  dimensions  as 
to  surround  it  about  two-thirds,  and  to  reach  about 
eight  inches  above  the  level  of  the  vessels.  The  tempe¬ 
rature  shall  be  raised  gradually,  so  that  it  shall  require 
about  five  minutes  to  raise  the  oil  from  80°  to  95°. 

When  heat  has  been  applied  to  the  water  until  the 
thermometer  has  risen  to  about  90°  Fahrenheit,  a  very 
small  flame,  such  as  that  from  a  piece  of  burning  twine, 
shall  be  quickly  passed  across  the  surface  of  the  oil  on  a 
level  with  the  wire.  If  no  pale  blue  flicker  or  flash  is 
produced,  the  application  of  the  flame  is  to  be  repeated  for 
every  rise  of  two  or  three  degrees  in  the  thermometer. 
Wlien  the  flashing-point  has  been  noted,  the  test  shall  be 
repeated  with  a  fresh  sample  of  the  oil,  using  water  at  the 
temperature  of  80°  as  before,  withdrawing  the  source  of 
heat  from  the  outer  vessel  when  the  temperature  ap¬ 
proaches  that  noted  in  the  first  experiment,  and  apply¬ 
ing  the  flame  test  at  every  rise  of  two  degrees  in  the 
thermometer. 

N.B. — In  performing  the  test,  the  operator  must  be 
careful  not  to  produce  any  current  of  air  which  would 
remove  the  vapour  from  the  surface  of  the  oil,  either  by 
breathing  upon  the  surface  or  by  any  sudden  movement. 


SULPHUR  IN  COAL-GAS. 

In  reference  to  the  determination  of  a  proper  maxi¬ 
mum  for  the  sulphur  impurity  in  gas,  the  referees 
appointed  under  the  Gas  Acts  of  1868  and  1869  have 
examined  the  various  methods  hitherto  proposed  for 
purifying  gas  from  sulphur,  as  well  as  those  at  present 
in  use.  The  practical  adoption  of  many  of  these  methods 
is  hindered,  either  because  they  inordinately  diminish  the 
illuminating  power  of  gas,  or  else  because  the  beneficial 
effect  which  they  show  when  tried  experimentally  is 
not  realized  when  they  are  applied  on  the  large  scale 
required  in  the  manufacture  of  gas. 

The  present  methods  of  sulphur-purification  are  so 
defective,  that  even  doubling  their  extent  in  most  cases 
produces  no  appreciable  improvement  in  the  purity  of 
the  gas.  For  example,  the  production  of  gas  in  summer 
is  only  one-half  what  it  is  in  winter,  while  the  purifying 
surface  remains  the  same  ;  nevertheless  the  referees  find 
that  while  thus  virtually  doubling  the  extent  of  purifying 
material  there  is  no  appreciable  effect  in  reducing  the 
amount  of  sulphur  in  the  gas  of  any  of  the  Companies. 
This  fact,  as  regards  the  three  Companies  included 
under  the  Act  of  1868,  is  clearly  shown  by  the  daily 
testings  now  in  force,  which  give  the  following  averages 
of  the  amount  of  sulphur  at  mid- winter  and  at  mid¬ 
summer. 


CHARTERED. 

CITY. 

CENTRAL. 

Arundel 

Street. 

Leadenhall 

Street. 

Gray’s 

Inn. 

Cannon 

Street. 

Friendly 

Place. 

Cannel. 

Common. 

Common. 

Common. 

Cannel. 

Common. 

Common. 

Deoember, 
1869  .  . 

21-8 

27-4 

22-8 

24-2 

9-4 

20-4 

147 

June,  1870 

22-3 

30-3 

20-4 

25-2 

13-4 

18-8 

13-3 

The  referees  have  endeavoured  to  determine  the  rela¬ 
tive  efficacy  of  each  of  the  separate  stages  of  purification, 
and  of  each  of  the  various  processes  employed  by  the 
Companies,  as  regards  the  elimination  of  this  impurity. 
The  results  already  obtained  are  acknowledged  on  all 
hands  to  be  of  a  most  unexpected  nature.  First,  as 
regards  the  “scrubbers.”  It  has  been  currently  be¬ 
lieved  of  late  that  a  most  efficient  means  of  purifying 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  G,  1870. 


114 


the  gas  from  sulphur  was  to  he  obtained  by  “scrub¬ 
bing,”  or  washing  with  ammoniacal  liquor.  Indeed, 
some  authorities  have  publicly  recommended  that  many 
thousand  gallons  of  the  liquor  should  be  pumped  into 
the  scrubbers  per  hour.  But  the  results  of  the  re¬ 
ferees’  experiments,  as  yet  obtained,  show  that,  whe¬ 
ther  or  not  this  opinion  be  theoretically  correct,  it  is 
totally  wrong  as  regards  the  practical  efforts  produced 
in  the  scrubbers  in  general  use.* 

The  experiments  were  made  with  the  various  kinds  of 
scrubbers  employed  by  the  several  Companies.  These 
scrubbers  differ,  to  some  extent,  from  one  another  in  the 
arrangement  of  the  scrubbing  materials,  especially  as 
regards  the  nature  and  the  distribution  of  the  liquid  em¬ 
ployed.  They  also  differ  as  regards  the  substances  with 
which  the  scrubbers  are  filled :  in  most  cases  coke,  or 
fragments  of  brick,  being  used,  while  in  Mr.  Livesey’s 
scrubber  (from  which  the  best  results  were  obtained) 
the  substance  employed  is  a  network  of  thin  boards  of 
wood,  through  which,  as  in  the  other  forms  of  the 
scrubber,  water  or  ammoniacal  liquor  trickles  down 
slowly  through  the  ascending  current  of  the  gas.  The 
experiments  were  conducted  on  a  uniform  system,  as 
follows: — Just  before  the  gas  entered  the  scrubbers  a 
small  portion  of  it  was  drawn  off,  and  made  to  pass 
through  a  box  containing  oxide  of  iron,  so  as  wholly  to 
remove  the  sulphuretted  hydrogen;  thereafter  it  was 
tested  for  sulphur.  In  like  manner,  as  the  gas  emerged 
from  the  scrubbers  a  portion  of  it  was  similarly  drawn 
off,  and,  after  being  purified  from  sulphuretted  hydro¬ 
gen,  was  tested  for  sulphur.  The  summary  in  the  second 
column  of  this  page  will  suffice  for  the  present  to  show  the 
results  of  these  experiments  so  far  as  they  have  gone. 

Here  it  appears  that  only  in  one  case  did  the  scrub¬ 
bers  materially  reduce  the  amount  of  “sulphur”  [i.e. 
sulphur-compounds  other  than  sulphuretted  hydrogen), 
and  in  the  majority  of  instances  more  sulphur  was  found 
in  the  gas  when  it  emerged  from  the  scrubbers  than  be¬ 
fore  it  entered  them !  These  facts  were  so  unexpected 
and  they  are  so  contradictory  of  the  long-established 


Summary  of  the  Results  of  Experiments  for  ascertaining  the 
effect  of  Scrubbers  upon  the  Quantity  of  Sulphur-com¬ 
pounds  in  Gas. 


Average  of 

Amount  of  Sul¬ 

phur  at  Inlet 
of  Scrubbers. 

Amount  of  Sul¬ 

phur  at  Outlet. 

Increase  or  De¬ 

crease  at  Out¬ 
let. 

Great  Central  Company  . 

29  expts. 

23-55 

28-63 

+  5-06 

Imperial  Gas  Co.  (Fulham) 

26  „ 

21-18 

20-83 

-  -35 

Ditto  (St.  Pancras) 

4  „ 

24-7 

24-8 

+-  *1 

Ditto  (Shoreditch) 

3  „ 

26-35 

25-30 

-1-5 

City  of  London  Company  . 

3  „ 

22-86 

25-41 

+  2-55 

South  Metropolitan  Co. 

5  „ 

33-03 

28-98 

-4-05 

Chartered  Co.  (Westmin.) 

11  „ 

24-62 

26-07 

+  1-45 

opinions  and  practice  of  gas-engineers,*  that  one  of  the 
gas-engineers  tore  up  the  results  of  his  testings  (which 
accordingly  do  not  appear  in  the  above  table),  thinking 
that  he  would  only  stultify  himself  by  sending  in  re¬ 
turns  which,  he  fancied,  must  be  due  to  some  mistake  on 
his  part,  little  expecting  that  they  would  be  amply  cor¬ 
roborated  by  the  facts  obtained  by  the  other  gas-engi¬ 
neers  engaged  in  the  inquiry. 

There  is  no  question  as  to  the  power  of  oxide  of  iron 
and  lime  to  withdraw  a  large  proportion  of  sulphur  from 
gas  under  certain  circumstances ;  but  it  is  evident  from 
the  facts  already  obtained  in  the  referees’  experiments,  that 
an  adequate  knowledge  of  how  to  apply  these  purifying 
materials  in  gasworks,  so  as  to  produce  satisfactory  re¬ 
sults,  has  yet  to  be  acquired. 

As  shown  by  the  reports  of  the  testings  made  by  Dr. 
Letheby  at  the  Corporation’s  testing -place,  previous  to 
the  Act  of  1868, — and  thereafter  from  the  daily  testings 
in  the  five  testing-stations  established  in  conformity  with 
the  instructions  of  the  referees  under  that  Act, — the 
amount  of  sulphur  in  the  gas  of  the  Chartered,  the  Central, 
and  the  City  companies  has  averaged  as  follows : — 


Dr.  Lcthebfs  Occasional  Testings — 1864-68. 


Year. 

Central. 

ClTT. 

Chartered. 

Curtain  Road. 

Brick  Lane. 

Westminster. 

1864- 5  .... 

1865- 6  .... 

1866- 7  .... 

1867- 8  .... 
1868,  Feb.  to  Aug. 

Max. 

35-0 

32-9 

29-93 

34-61 

32-09 

Min. 

16-6 

14-4 

14-79 

7- 43 

8- 85 

Avrge. 

21-9 

24-1 

21-39 

17-44 

14-62 

Max. 

29-7 

28-2 

24- 97 
35-34 

25- 11 

Min. 

14-5 

14-2 

7-12 

9-19 

10-56 

Avrge. 

19-4 

19-6 

17-23 

19-06 

17-24 

Max. 

33-7 

30- 7 
27-80 

31- 96 
23-90 

Min. 

14-4 

13- 0 
10-43 

8-79 

14- 27 

Avrge. 

20-1 

21-2 

17-77 

19-57 

19-03 

Max. 

Min. 

Avrge. 

Max. 

Min. 

Avrge. 

1869,  Aug.  to  Dec. 

1870,  6  Months  . 

37-02 

24-9 

4-01 

3-4 

G 

12-5 

12-7 

as  Ex 

26-3 

25-1 

amine 

12-3 

14-6 

rs’  Daily  Test 

19-9  27-0 
19-7  28*3 

ings— 

8-9 

15-8 

-1869-7 

20-9 

22-3 

0. 

33-7 

30-1 

17- 4 

18- 6 

24- 4 

25- 0 

36-8 

36-7 

14-7 

16-6 

28- 5 

29- 2 

Two  explanatory  remarks  are  necessary  in  connection 
with  these  statistics.  Firstly,  as  regards  the  improvement 
that  has  taken  place  of  late  years  in  the  purity  of  the 
gas  of  the  Central  Company.  In  the  earlier  years  of  the 
above  series,  the  gas  of  this  Company  contained  more 
sulphur  than  that  of  any  of  the  others ;  and  the  improve¬ 
ment  which  has  subsequently  taken  place  is  owing  to  the 
adoption  of  lime  in  the  purifiers,  instead  of  the  oxide  of 


*  The  doubt  suggested  here  by  the  referees  involves  a 
monstrous  inconsistency,  though  the  phraseology  employed 
is  sufficiently  familiar.  An  opinion  that  is  “  theoretically 
correct”  cannot  be  opposed  to  “practical  experience”  if  the 
theory  referred  to  be  worth  anything;  but  it  does  happen 
that  “practical  men”  fail  to  comprehend,  either  the  mean¬ 
ing  of  a  theory  or  its  applicability  to  the  business  they  are 
concerned  with. — Ed.  Ph.  J. 


iron  employed  by  the  other  Companies.  The  works  of  the 
Central  Company  at  Bow  are  in  a  poor  locality,  where 
there  are  numerous  chemical  and  other  works,  which 
produce  greater  nuisances  than  that  -which  arises  from 
the  use  of  lime  in  gasworks.  But  in  the  works  of  all  the 
other  gas  companies,  the  use  of  lime  as  a  purifier  is  in¬ 
admissible,  owing  to  the  nuisance  which  it  occasions  to 
the  neighbourhood  when  taken  out  of  the  purifiers  and 
exposed  to  the  atmosphere.  The  works  of  the  Imperial 
Company  at  Fulham  are  in  a  locality  more  thinly  peopled 

*  The  title  of  gas  engineers  to  have  opinions  on  the  sub¬ 
ject  of  gas-purification  may  fairly  be  said  to  rest  solely  on 
their  technical  experience  in  the  production  of  gas,  without 
being  at  all  a  result  of  their  familiarity  with,  or  even  cogni¬ 
zance  of  the  chemistry  of  that  art,  which  is  indeed  very  much 
in  obscurity. — Ed.  Ph.  J. 


August  G,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


115 


than  that  around  the  gasworks  at  Bow  ;  hut  the  inhabi¬ 
tants  belong  to  a  higher  and  wealthier  class  ;  and  when 
the  Imperial  Company,  two  years  ago,  attempted  to 
adopt  lime  as  a  purifier  in  their  F ulham  works,  the  com¬ 
plaints  made  and  the  indictments  threatened  compelled 
the  company  at  once  to  fall  back  upon  the  ordinary  puri¬ 
fying  process  by  oxide  of  iron. 

The  other  remark  necessary  for  a  right  understanding 
of  the  above  statistics  is,  that  in  1867  an  improvement 
was  made  in  the  Letheby  sulphur-test,  which  was  used 
in  all  the  above  recorded  testings ;  consequently,  at  any 
time  subsequent  to  that  improvement,  the  testings  would 
show  a  greater  amount  of  sulphur,  even  when  the  gas  re¬ 
mained  of  the  same  purity  as  before. 


“CINCHO-QUININE.” 

BY  W.  T.  WENZELL,  CHEMIST. 

[Read  before  the  California  Pharmaceutical  Society, 
March  14  th,  1870.) 

The  article  sold  under  the  above  name  is  stated  to 
represent  all  of  the  alkaloids  naturally  contained  in  Ca- 
lisaya  bark.  It  is  also  asserted  that  all  of  the  cinchona 
alkaloids  possess  equal  febrifuge  and  tonic  properties ; 
and  that  quinia  only  acquired  the  rank  of  superiority  as 
a  febrifuge  by  reason  of  priority  of  discovery, — a  state¬ 
ment  which  is  also  incorrect,  inasmuch  as  cinchona  was 
discovered  as  early  as  1810  by  Gomez,  whereas  quinia 
was  discovered  ten  years  later  by  Pelletier  and  Caventou. 
The  “  cincho- quinine  ”  is  said  to  be  composed  of  bark 
alkaloids,  as  follows: — 1.  Quinia.  2.  Cinchonia.  3. 
Quinidia.  4.  Cinchonidia.  5.  Other  alkaloidal  princi¬ 
ples  present  in  the  bark. 

The  claims  advanced  as  to  its  superiority  over  the  sul¬ 
phate  of  quinia  are,  namely,  that  “cincho-quinine”  con¬ 
tains  the  whole  of  the  active  febrifuge  and  tonic  prin¬ 
ciples  of  Calisaya  bark  ;  that  it  exerts  the  full  effects  of 
sulphate  of  quinia  in  the  same  dose,  without  causing 
cerebral  disturbances ;  that  it  is  nearly  tasteless,  and 
less  costly  than  sulphate  of  quinia.  The  dose  of  the 
preparation  is  left  to  the  discretion  of  the  physician,  with 
the  direction  that  it  may  be  administered  in  doses  vary¬ 
ing  from  five  to  thirty  grains. 

The  apparent  insolubility  of  the  “  cincho-quinine,”  its 
slight  bitter  taste  and  large  medicinal  dose  (30  grs.), 
have  led  me  to  investigate  the  true  nature  of  the  article 
presents.  “  Cincho-quinine”  is  put  up  in  imitation  of 
sulphate  of  quinia  in  ounce  bottles.  It  appears  in  the 
form  of  white  friable  scales,  which  are  almost  tasteless, 
only  a  slight  bitterness  being  perceptible.  When  placed 
upon  reddened  litmus  paper,  and  a  drop  of  alcohol  added, 
the  blue  colour  of  the  litmus  was  promptly  restored.  It 
proved  combustible  without  residue.  When  dissolved 
in  water,  with  the  intervention  of  sulphuric  acid,  the 
solution  tasted  analogous  to  one  of  sulphate  of  cinchonia, 
and  the  solution,  when  strongly  acidulated  with  the 
acid,  possessed  in  very  slight  degree  only  the  optical 
phenomena  of  fluorescence  and  epipolism.  Dr.  Bill’s 
test  of  ferrocyanide  of  potassium  gave  the  known  reac¬ 
tion  for  cinchonia.  “  Cincho-quinine”  was  nearly  inso¬ 
luble  in  ether.  Twenty  grains  of  the  preparation  wrere 
dissolved  in  water  with  a  sufficient  quantity  of  sulphuric 
acid,  and  the  solution  subjected  to  Liebig’s  ether  test, 
which  dissolves  quinia,  quinicia,  and  cinchonicia,  also 
portions  of  quinidia  and  cinchonidia  if  a  large  excess  of 
ether  be  employed.  The  etherial  solution  thus  obtained 
by  successive  washings  with  ether,  left  on  evaporation 
and  drying  a  solid  residue,  weighing  about  half  a  grain, 
possessing  alkaloidal  properties.  This  residue,  when 
dissolved  in  dilute  sulphuric  acid  and  water,  and  treated 
with  Brande’s  chlorine  and  ammonia  test,  will  indicate 
by  its  green  coloration  the  presence  of  quinia,  quinidia, 
and  quinicia.  The  test  responded  in  this  instance  affir¬ 
matively.  In  order  to  determine  which  of  the  alkaloids 
produced  the  coloration,  one  portion  of  the  solution  wTas 


tested  for  quinidia  by  Yan  Heijningen’s  test  of  oxalate 
of  ammonia,  and  another  portion  was  tested  for  quinidia 
by  Dr.  Vry’s  test  of  iodide  of  potassium,  but  both  gave 
negative  results.  Therefore  the  alkaloid  detected  by 
Brande’s  test  is  quinicia,  which  was  confirmed  by  the 
application  of  Herapath’s  optical  and  chemical  tests  of 
the  iodo-sulphates  of  the  cinchona  alkaloids.  One  grain 
of  the  mixed  alkaloids  obtained  by  Liebig’s  test  from 
“cincho-quinine”  by  thorough  exhaustion  with  ether, 
was  dissolved  in  a  fluid  drachm  of  water  sufficiently 
acidulated  with  sulphuric  acid.  The  solution  was  then 
mixed  with  an  equal  bulk  of  alcohol,  the  mixture  warmed 
to  about  100°  F.,  and  treated  successively  with  tincture 
of  iodine.  The  several  (7)  precipitates  which  appeared 
on  cooling  were  amorphous  resinous  substances  soluble 
in  alcohol,  and  did  not  exhibit  in  the  least  degree  crys¬ 
talline  structures.  The  precipitates  first  obtained  were 
reddish  in  appearance,  analogous  to  the  salt  of  iodo- 
sulphate  of  quinicia  ;  the  last  precipitates  possessed  the 
purplish  tint  belonging  to  the  iodo-sulphate  of  cinchoni¬ 
cia.  The  absence  of  all  crystalline  characteristics  of 
iodo-sulphate  salts  thus  obtained  from  the  alkaloids  ex¬ 
tracted  by  ether  from  “cincho-quinine”  point  conclu¬ 
sively  to  the  absence  of  quinia,  quinidia,  and  cinchonidia 
in  the  sample  under  examination ;  and  we  can  safely 
assert  that  “cincho-quinine”  is  in  reality  only  cin¬ 
chonia  containing  about  2  per  cent,  of  quinicia  and  cin¬ 
chonicia. 

“  Cincho-quinine,”  although  having  the  advantage  of 
being  nearly  tasteless,  does  not  contain  quinia,  quinidia, 
and  cinchonidia,  and  therefore  does  not  represent  the 
whole  of  the  active  principles  of  the  bark. 

It  cannot  exert  the  full  effects  of  sulphate  of  quinia  in 
the  same  dose,  inasmuch  as  the  stated  dose  of  “  cincho- 
quinine”  is  from  5  to  30  grains. 

Although  “  cincho-quinine  ”  appears  to  cost  less  than 
sulphate  of  quinia,  it  does  not  follow  that  commercial 
“cinchonia,”  sold  at  four  times  its  value,  is  a  desirable 
substitute  for  quinine  in  an  economical  point  of  view. 

And,  lastly,  one  very  important  principle  should  by  no 
means  be  lost  sight  of,  namely,  that  a  physician  should 
always  know  what  he  is  prescribing,  and  therefore  the 
substitution  of  a  remedy  of  less  efficiency  and  uncertain 
medicinal  value  is  altogether  unwarrantable  and  often 
hazardous. — Pacific  Med.  and  Surg.  Journ .,  April,  1870. 


SIMPLE  APPARATUS  FOR  RAPID  EVAPORIZATION 
AT  LIMITED  HEAT,  UNDER  REDUCED  PRES¬ 
SURE,  WITHOUT  THE  USE  OF  A  PUMP. 

BY  A.  B.  PllESCOTT, 

ASSISTANT  PROFESSOR  OF  CHEMISTRY,  ETC.,  UNIVERSITY 
OF  MICHIGAN,  U.S. 

The  pump  is  not  always  at  hand ;  its  use  is  forbidden 
for  transmission  of  corrosive  vapours ;  and,  moreover, 
the  removal  of  liquids,  in  form  of  vapour,  against  the 
weight  of  the  air  by  muscular  power  is  liable  to  “  ex¬ 
haust”  the  operator  more  effectively  than  it  does  the 
material.  I  desire  to  ask  attention  to  some  uses  of  ordi¬ 
nary  distilling  apparatus  for  the  production  and  mainte¬ 
nance  of  approximate  vacuum  over  liquids  during  their 
vaporization,  in  cases  where  the  heat  of  120°  to  150°  F. 
may  be  applied. 

It  is  necessary  that  the  distilling  apparatus  be  made 
capable  of  air-tight  closure,  and  that  the  air  be  removed 
from  it  to  begin  with.  Then  the  degree  of  exhaustion 
in  the  apparatus  is  in  direct  ratio  to  the  rapidity  of  con¬ 
densation  of  the  vapour  produced.  And  the  rapidity  of 
condensation  is  only  limited  by  the  degree  and  extent  of 
refrigeration  employed,  wTith  a  given  extent  of  evapo¬ 
rating  surface  at  a  stated  temperature.  The  air  in  the 
apparatus,  to  begin  with,  may  be  expelled  through  a 
suitable  aperture  by  steam,  which  may  be  generated 
in  the  “  receiver”  of  the  apparatus  or  in  an  attachment 
thereto. 


116 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  6,  1870. 


Take  two  round-bottomed  glass  flasks,  tbe  one  having 
a  capacity  four  to  eight  times  greater  than  the  other. 
Adjust  the  smaller  upon  a  water-bath,  the  larger  at  10 
to  15  inches  distance  from  the  other,  over  a  sink  or 
large  basin,  and  connect  the  two  with  glass  tubing  and 
perforated  caoutchouc  stoppers,  so  that  the  connecting- 
tube  shall  incline  slightly  downward  from  its  bend  close 
to  the  stopper  of  the  small  flask.  The  stopper  of  the 
small  flask  is  also  to  have  a  second  perforation,  in  wrhich 
is  fitted  a  straight  glass  tube,  2  or  3  inches  long,  its 
lower  end  placed  even  with  the  lower  end  of  the  stopper. 
The  upper  end  of  this  tube  is  very  slightly  drawn  out  for 
a  quarter  of  an  inch,  and  snugly  fitted  with  1  i  inch  of 
firm  rubber  tubing,  the  upper  half  inch  of  which  is  closed 
with  a  piece  of  glass  rod  of  same  diameter  as  the  body  of 
the  tube. 

Now  put  an  ounce  or  two  of  water  in  the  large  flask, 
and  the  material  to  be  evaporated  in  the  small  flask  ; 
close  the  stoppers  perfectly  by  turning  the  flasks  under 
them,  and  leave  open  the  straight  tube.  Apply,  by  the 
water-bath,  the  limited  degree  of  heat  until  it  is  imparted 
to  the  contents  of  the  small  flask ;  then  move  a  lamp 
under  the  large  flask  until  the  water  in  it  has  boiled 
briskly,  and  the  steam  therefrom  has  escaped  con¬ 
tinuously  from  the  straight  tube  for  some  minutes.  Now 
close  the  straight  tube  with  its  caoutchouc  cap,  at  the 
same  time  removing  the  lamp  from  the  large  flask. 
When  the  latter  has  cooled  somewhat,  wrap  it  smoothly 
with  linen  netting  or  gauze,  and  lead  upon  it  a  minute 
stream  of  cold  water,  controlling  the  same  as  required. 
The  liquid  in  the  small  flask  boils  briskly(if  aqueous,  boil¬ 
ing  at  120°  or  150°  F.),  and  the  refrigeration  is  governed  to 
prevent  too  violent  ebullition,  lest  liquid  be  thrown  into 
the  connecting-tube ;  the  degree  of  applied  heat  is  go¬ 
verned  to  the  same  end. 

An  ordinary  glass  retort  may  be  substituted  for  the 
small  flask  as  an  evaporating  vessel,  and  its  tubule  may 
be  fitted  with  a  perforated  stopper,  admitting  a  thermo¬ 
meter.  If  there  is  not  room  in  the  stopper  (of  retort  or 
flask)  for  both  the  thermometer  and  the  steam-escape 
tube,  the  latter  may  be  dispensed  with  by  adjusting  the 
stopper  loose  for  escape  of  steam,  and  pressing  it  tight 
when  the  air  is  expelled.  Flat-bottomed  flasks  favour 
equable  boiling,  but  they  are  liable  to  collapse. 

As  a  condenser ,  I  have  used,  instead  of  the  large  flask, 
a  copper  vessel,  for  more  ready  application  of  heat  with- 
out  danger  of  breaking,  and  for  more  efficient  refrigera¬ 
tion.  This  copper  receiver  is  made  of  conical  shape, 
with  rounded  bottom,  a  vertical  diameter  twice  its  hori¬ 
zontal  diameter,  and  a  neck  bent  to  the  angle  of  about 
50°  with  the  vertical  axis  of  the  vessel.  The  diameter  of 
the  neck  is  three-quarters  of  an  inch,  to  receive  a  retort 
beak,  the  joint  being  covered  with  a  section  of  caout¬ 
chouc  tubing.  Or  it  may  be  fitted  with  a  perforated 
stopper,  to  receive  the  connecting-tube  of  the  flask  when 
evaporation  is  conducted  in  the  latter. 

With  linen  netting  to  spread  the  water  over  the  free 
surface  of  the  condensers,  the  evaporation  therefrom  re¬ 
frigerates  with  a  comparatively  small  supply  of  wnter. 
Using  a  copper  condenser  of  the  above-described  shape, 
a  vertical  diameter  of  12  inches,  and  capacity  of  6  pints, 
attached  to  an  8 -ounce  glass  retort  containing  distilla¬ 
tion  promoters,  I  have  vaporized  4  fluid  ounces  of  water 
in  sixteen  minutes  at  the  constant  temperature  of  128°  F. 
By  ordinary  care  in  the  expulsion  of  air  and  closure  of 
the  apparatus,  exhaustion  can  be  invariably  secured, 
fixing  the  water-boiling  point  at  below  130°  F. ;  that 
is,  atmospheric  pressure  equal  to  at  least  25  inches  of 
mercury  may  be  removed  and  sustained  by  availing 
ourselves  of  the  displacing  effect  of  steam,  and  the 
contraction  of  condensing  vapour,  in  very  simple  appa¬ 
ratus. 

Notwithstanding  the  illustrations  of  vacuum  by  con¬ 
densation,  which  abound  upon  the  physical  lecture-table, 
I  do  not  know  whether  the  devices  suggested  in  this 
note  have  been  tried  or  proposed  for  small  chemical 


operations  by  any  one  else.*  I  have  recommended  them 
to  students,  and  we  have  found  them  satisfactory  for 
various  analytical,  experimental,  and  pharmaceutical 
operations.  We  have  employed  them  chiefly  in  such 
evaporations  as  are  performed  for  the  residue  only,  or,  at 
least,  not  for  the  quantitative  recovery  of  the  distillate, 
in  various  evaporations  of  quantitative  analysis,  in  thn 
elimination  of  non-volatile  alkaloids,  in  determining  the 
organic  matter  in  water,  and  in  preparing  fluid  extracts. 
To  evaporate  at  ordinary  temperatures  by  hand-pump 
exhaustion  is  especially  irksome  in  those  cases  when  ap¬ 
plication  of  125°  to  150°  F.  is  objectionable.  And  to 
connect  a  vessel  under  which  heat  may  be  applied  with 
the  air-pump  involves  quite  as  much  labour  as  the  ar¬ 
rangement  of  apparatus  for  exhaustion  by  condensation. 
American  Journal  of  Pharmacy ,  from  American  Supplement 
to  Chem.  News,  Jan.  1870. 


QUALITY  AND  ANALYSIS  OF  MILK. 

Dr.  C.  F.  Chandler  has  published  a  report  of  the  re¬ 
sults  obtained  in  an  extended  examination  of  the  milk 
supplied  in  New  York,  where  it  appears  that  the  Metro¬ 
politan  Board  of  Health  takes  cognizance  of  this  among 
questions  affecting  the  public. 

The  following  is  an  account  of  the  method  of  analy¬ 
sis : — 

1.  The  water  is  determined  by  evaporating  a  weighed 
quantity  of  milk,  either  alone  or  soaked  up  in  a  known 
weight  of  pure,  fine  quartz  sand.  The  residue  is  care¬ 
fully  dried  at  212°  F.,  and  weighed.  The  loss  in  weight 
represents  the  water,  while  the  residue  includes  all  the 
solid  constituents. 

2.  The  salts  are  determined  by  carefully  burning  off 
the  combustible  portion  of  the  solid  residue  obtained  by 
evaporation,  and  weighing  the  incombustible  ash. 

3.  The  butter  and  casein  are  determined  by  coagu¬ 
lating  the  milk  with  a  few  drops  of  acetic  acid,  boiling, 
washing  the  precipitate  with  water,  and  finally  separat¬ 
ing  the  butter  with  ether,  leaving  the  casein  pure.  On 
evaporating  the  ether,  the  butter  is  left  behind,  or  the 
butter  may  be  extracted  by  ether  from  the  residue  ob¬ 
tained  by  the  evaporation  of  a  quantity  of  milk,  soaked 
up  in  sand. 

4.  The  sugar  is  generally  determined  by  deducting 
the  sum  of  the  other  constituents  from  100.  It  may  be 
directly  determined  by  the  polariscope,  after  the  removal 
of  the  casein  and  butter,  or  it  may  be  determined  by  an 
alkaline  solution  of  copper. 

The  Adulteration  of  Milk. — Numerous  substances 
are  mentioned  as  having  been  used,  or  as  supposed  to 
be  used,  for  adulterating  milk.  Prominent  among  these 
are, — 

1.  Water. — Adulteration  with  this  substance  is  gene¬ 
rally  detected  by  the  specific  gravity  of  the  milk.  Pure 
milk  varies  in  specific  gravity  from  P023  to  P034, 
water  being  represented  by  l-00  3.  Milk  is  heavier  than 
water,  on  account  of  the  casein,  sugar,  and  salts,  which 
it  holds  in  solution.  Butter,  on  the  other  hand,  is 
lighter  than  water,  therefore  the  specific  gravity  of  milk 
increases  with  the  percentage  of  casein,  sugar,  and  salts, 
while  it  diminishes  with  the  percentages  of  water  or 
butter.  It  is  found  that  good  milk  generally  has  a  spe¬ 
cific  gravity  of  from  1  029  to  P032.  In  testing  milk  the 
lower  number  is  selected  as  a  fair  gravity  for  pure  milk  ; 
and  whenever  the  gravity  falls  below  this  number  the 
milk  may  be  considered  as  containing  an  excess  of 
water,  and  consequently  poor  in  quality  or  adulterated. 
An  instrument,  called  a  galactometer,  has  been  devised 
by  Dinocourt,  for  the  purpose  of  testing  the  quality  of 
milk.  It  is  simply  an  areometer,  so  graduated  that  103 


*  This  method  of  producing  a  partial  vacuum  was  employed 
by  Barry  (see  U.S.  Dispensatory,  “  Evaporation  of  Extracts”) 
more  than  forty  years  ago  in  making  extracts  and  volatile 
oils. — Ed.  Ame'r.  Journ.  Pharm. 


August  6,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


117 


on  the  scale  represents  pure  milk,  or  the  gravity  1-029, 
while  0  represents  pure  water,  or  gravity  1  000,  the 
space  hetwreen  being  divided  into  100  parts.  The  num¬ 
bers  on  the  scale  represent,  therefore,  the  percentages  of 

pure  milk. 

Skimmed  milk,  having  been  deprived  of  most  of  its 
butter,  is  heavier  than  whole  milk.  By  skimming  the 
milk  before  testing  it  with  the  galactometer,  the  error 
caused  by  the  butter  is  eliminated.  In  this  case,  how¬ 
ever,  the  mark  for  100,  or  pure  milk,  must  be  placed 
lower  down  on  the  instrument,  as  pure  milk,  having  a 
specific  gravity  of  1-029,  would,  after  being  skimmed, 
have  a  gravity  of  about  1-0133.  The  100°  mark  for 
skimmed  milk  is,  therefore,  fixed  at  this  point. 

The  lactometer  is  a  simple  tube  closed  at  the  lower 
end,  and  graduated  in  hundredths.  It  is  designed  to 
measure  the  quantity  of  cream  which  rises  on  the  milk. 

By  using  the  two  instruments  together,  the  galacto¬ 
meter  and  the  lactometer,  very  satisfactory  conclusions 
with  regard  to  the  quality  of  milk,  can  be  formed.  A 
perfectly  reliable  method,  though  more  laborious,  is  to 
actually  determine  the  percentage  of  water  in  the  milk, 
by  evaporating  a  -weighed  quantity,  and  carefully  drying 
the  residue  at  212°  F.  If  a  milk  loses  more  than  88  per 
cent,  of  water,  having  less  than  12  per  cent,  of  solids,  it 
may  be  safely  pronounced  to  be  adulterated  with  water. 

2.  Chalk. — This  substance  is  generally  supposed  to  be 
extensively  used  to  neutralize  tlie  acidity  in  soured  milk, 
and  to  produce  thickness  and  opacity,  thus  concealing 
dilution  with  water.  It  is  easily  detected,  as  it  is  de¬ 
posited  on  standing,  and  can  then  be  recognized  by  its 
effervescing  -with  dilute  acids.  I  have  never  detected  it 
in  any  sample  of  milk  examined.  Its  presence  would 
also  be  shown  in  a  milk  analysis,  by  the  unusual  amount 
of  ash. 

3.  Flour ,  starch,  emulsions  of  almonds,  or  hemp-seed,  etc., 
are  said  to  be  used  to  thicken  milk,  and  neutralize  the 
blue  colour  caused  by  dilution.  They  were  not  found  in 
any  of  our  samples. 

4.  Sugar,  gum ,  dextrin,  and  borax,  to  increase  specific 

gravity. 

5.  Turmeric  and  annatto,  to  hide  the  blue  colour. 

6.  Cerebral  matter,  sheep's  brains,  to  thicken  watered 
milk,  easily  detected  by  the  microscope,  and  by  its  de¬ 
positing  a  peculiar  white  sediment  on  standing. 

7.  Carbonate  or  bicarbonate  of  soda,  to  neutralize  acidity. 
Detected  by  the  increase  in  the  quantity  of  ash,  or, 
better,  by  the  effervescence  of  the  ash  with  acids. 

297  specimens  of  the  milk  supplied  to  consumers  in 
the  Metropolitan  district  have  been  submitted  to  chemi¬ 
cal  examination.  Of  these  45  were  seized  while  under¬ 
going  the  process  of  dilution  with  water,  245  were 
purchased  from  the  retail  dealers,  and  7  were  procured 
at  one  of  the  crow-ded  cow-stables  in  Brooklyn. 

First  Series  of  Analyses.- — In  the  latter  part  of  Febru¬ 
ary,  some  milkmen  were  detected  in  the  act  of  pouring 
a  suspicious  fluid,  contained  in  milk-cans,  into  their 
milk.  They  were  at  once  arrested,  and  taken,  with  their 
cans,  about  50  in  number,  to  police  headquarters.  Sam¬ 
ples  from  45  of  the  cans,  which  were  placed  in  my  hands 
for  examination,  gave  the  following  results  : — 

2  cans  contained  water,  not  any  too  pure. 

2  cans  contained  water,  clouded  with  a  little  milk, 
probably  from  having  been  pumped  into  cans  which  had 
contained  milk. 

4  cans  contained  water,  to  which  considerable  milk 
had  been  added,  the  specific  gravity  varying  from  1-010 
to  1-017,  representing  by  the  galactometer  from  37  to  60 
per  cent,  of  milk. 

19  cans  contained  milk,  to  which  considerable  w-ater 
had  been  added,  the  specific  gravity  varying  from  1-023 
to  1-028,  representing  from  80  to  97  per  cent,  of  milk. 

18  cans  contained  pure  milk,  varying  in  specific  gra¬ 
vity  from  1-029  to  1-030. 

None  of  the  samples  contained  any  adulterant  save 
water.  The  large  proportion  of  pure  milk  is  accounted 


for  by  the  fact,  that  the  work  of  dilution  was  interrupted 
by  the  police. 

Second  Series  of  Analyses. — During  the  months  of  June 
and  July  a  systematic  examination  of  milk  was  organ¬ 
ized,  the  samples  being  purchased  from  retail  dealers  in 
various  portions  of  the  Metropolitan  District.  210 
samples  were  analysed,  with  the  following  general  re¬ 
sults  : — 

1.  The  specific  gravity  varies  from  L0 10  to  1'032, 
averaging  L0208. 

2.  The  percentage  of  pure  milk,  as  shown  by  the  ga¬ 
lactometer,  ranges  from  37  to  110,  averaging  72£. 

3.  The  percentage  of  water  varies  from  83-57  to  94-17, 
averaging  89-89. 

4.  The  percentag-e  of  solid  constituents,  the  nutritive 
portion  of  the  milk,  varies  from  5-83  to  16-43  per  cent., 
averaging  10-11. 

5.  No  adulteration  was  found  in  a  single  instance,, 
save  water. 

Third  Series  of  Analyses. — During  the  last  four  months- 
of  the  year,  a  series  of  more  elaborate  analyses  was 
undertaken,  with  a  view  to  determine  the  percentages  of 
some  of  the  individual  constituents  of  the  milk.  35 
samples  were  examined,  and  the  results,  wffiich  are  here¬ 
with  presented  in  tabular  form,  establish  the  fact  that — 

1.  The  cream  averaged  7 '89  per  cent.,  ranging  from 
5-20  to  11-80  per  cent. 

2.  The  percentage  of  pure  milk,  as  shown  by  the 
galactometer,  averaged  82-44,  varying  from  50  to  112. 

3.  The  butter  averaged  3-03  per  cent.,  varying  from 
1-81  to  3-76. 

4.  The  casein  and  milk-sugar  together  averaged  6-46- 
per  cent.,  ranging  from  4-16  to  9-02. 

5.  The  saline  and  earthy  constituents  averaged  0-59 
per  cent.,  varying  from  0  39  to  0-87  per  cent. 

6.  The  total  solids  averaged  10-08  per  cent.,  ranging, 
from  6-73  to  12-32  per  cent. 

7.  The  water  averaged  89-92  per  cent.,  ranging  from 
87’68to  93-27  per  cent. 

8.  No  adulteration  was  found  in  any  case,  save  water. 

Fourth  Series  of  Analyses.  —  During  the  month  of 

April,  the  attention  of  the  Board  having  been  called  to 
the  crow-ded  condition  of  some  of  the  large  cow-stables 
in  the  Metropolitan  District,  the  Sanitary  Superinten¬ 
dent,  Dr.  Harris,  was  directed  to  make  an  investigation.. 
It  was  found,  on  examination,  that,  although  the  stables 
were  over-crowded,  dark,  and  damp,  and  deficient  in 
ventilation,  the  animals  generally  presented  a  good  ap¬ 
pearance. 

The  milk  of  these  cow-s  v-as  specially  deficient  in 
butter,  and  in  every  respect  poorer  than  the  milk  of 
healthy  cows.  No  other  indications  of  disease  could  be 
detected  in  the  milk. 


Fatal  Accident  with  Petroleum  Spirit. — Shortly 
after  10  o’clock  on  Thursday  night,  Mr.  David  Taylor, 
a  chemist  and  druggist  at  Bradford,  was  engaged,  in 
emptying  a  thirty-six  gallon  cask  of  benzoline  into- 
smallcr  vessels,  w-hen  a  cat,  which  had  been  jumping 
about,  knocked  over  the  candle  by  the  light  of  which  he 
performed  the  operation.  Alarmed  and  confused  by  the 
circumstance,  Mr.  Taylor  dropped  from  his  hand  a  half- 
gallon  measure  filled  with  benzoline,  v-hich,  becoming- 
ignited,  instantly  set  fire  to  the  house.  A  w-ooden  stair¬ 
case,  beneath  which  the  fire  arose,  was  immediately  in  a 
blaze,  as  were  also  soon  after  the  rooms  above.  Efforts, 
at  suppression  w-ere  made  by  the  inmates,  but  in  vain. 
Two  local  fire  brigades  wrent  to  the  spot,  and  extinguished 
the  fire  in  about  an  hour.  Soon  after  they  arrived,  a 
police  officer,  with  difficulty  and  at  great  peril,  rescued 
from  bed  in  an  upper  room  a  child  of  one  year  and  nine 
months,  but  it  w-as  found  to  be  dead,  either  from  suffoca¬ 
tion  or  burning.  Mr.  Taylor  estimates  his  pecuniary 
loss  at  £1200  or  £1400. — Fall  Mall  Gazette . 


118 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  6,  1870. 


ptictos. 

Le  Livre  des  Parfums.  Par  Eugene  Rimmel  ;  Pre¬ 
face  d’ALrH.  Karr.  Illustrations  d’A.  de  Neuville, 
Duhousset,  Cheret,  etc.  Paris :  E.  Dentu ;  Lon¬ 
don  :  Chapman  and  Hall. 

To  the  lovers  of  perfumes  this  elegant  volume  will  he 
a  source  of  considerable  interest  and  entertainment. 
Unlike  most  works  on  the  subject,  it  does  not  consist  of 
a  mere  dry  collection  of  recipes :  it  is  a  history  of  the 
use  of  perfumes  in  all  ages,  and  among  various  nations. 
Commencing  with  the  Egyptians,  the  Jews  and  other 
Asiatic  people,  he  describes  the  customs  prevailing 
among  them  in  regard  to  perfumes,  passing  then  to  the 
ancient  Greeks,  Romans,  and  Orientals,  the  savages  of 
Africa,  America,  Australia,  etc.,  the  ancient  Gauls  and 
Germanic  tribes,  then,  lastly,  describing  the  development 
of  the  perfumer’s  art  in  more  modern  times.  The  re¬ 
maining  chapters  are  devoted  to  modem  perfumery,  and 
to  an  account  of  the  materials  used  by  the  perfumer,  in 
which  there  is  an  excellent  statement  of  their  nature, 
sources  and  modes  of  preparation.  To  give  some  idea 
of  the  immense  extent  of  the  trade  in  perfumes,  we 
quote  the  following  table,  showing  the  quantities  ex¬ 
ported  from  France  and  the  rate  of  increase  during  the 
present  century. 


Year. 

Quantity, 

Kilogr. 

Value, 

Francs. 

1827  .  . 

;  751,000  . 

.  .  5,401,100 

1837  .  . 

.  886,000  . 

.  .  6,401,600 

1847  .  . 

.  1,275,600  . 

.  .  8,928,900 

1857  .  . 

.  2,706,700  . 

.  .  13,533,100 

1867  .  . 

.  2,626,600  . 

.  .  15,759,600 

The  volume  is  beautifully  illustrated,  with  a  large 
number  of  interesting  woodcuts  and  chromotypes.  It  is 
to  be  hoped  that  the  author  will  soon  produce  an  En¬ 
glish  edition. 

Water  Analysis  :  a  Practical  Treatise  on  the  Exami¬ 
nation  of  Potable  Water.  By  J.  Alfred  Wanklyn 
and  E.  T.  Chafman.  Second  Edition.  London : 
Triibner  and  Co.,  60,  Paternoster  Row.  1870. 

This  is  essentially  an  exposition  of  the  ammonia- 
method  analysis  introduced  by  Wanklyn,  Chapman, 
and  Smith.  The  fact  that  it  has  now  reached  a  second 
•edition  indicates  that  the  method  has  been  accepted  by 
chemists.  The  recent  and  very  interesting  work  of  Dr. 
Angus  Smith  on  the  organic  matter  of  the  atmosphere, 
and  Dr.  Ransome’s  researches  on  the  breath  in  health 
and  disease,  are  both  calculated  to  increase  the  confi¬ 
dence  of  chemists  in  the  trustworthiness  of  the  results 
given  by  the  ammonia-method,  inasmuch  as  both  of 
these  observers  employed  it  in  the  examination  of  the 
water  which  had  absorbed  the  impurities  existing  in 
the  different  specimens  of  air  with  which  they  were 
experimenting. 

Map  of  the  Geographical  Distribution  of  Medi¬ 
cinal  Substances  contained  in  the  British  Phar- 
macopceia  of  1867.  By  a  Lecturer  on  Materia  Medica. 
London :  J ohn  Churchill  and  Sons.  (One  sheet  mounted 
on  cloth,  in  wrapper.) 

It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  even  amongst  those  who 
have  had  the  benefit  of  a  good  education,  the  knowledge 
of  geography  is  often  very  hazy,  as  every  examiner  finds 
when  he  asks  a  candidate  to  point  out  a  certain  place  on 
a  map, — answers  such  as  America,  Asia,  East  Indies, 
not  being  considered  by  some  students  too  wide  of  the 
mark,  a  few  degrees  of  latitude  or  longitude  being  to 
them  of  little  consequence. 

The  idea  of  getting  up  cheap  maps  with  the  geogra¬ 
phical  distribution  of  drugs  marked  on  them  is  a  good 
one,  and  meets  with  favour  from  students,  but  there  is  one 
great  drawback  to  the  map  before  us,  that  is  in  the  case 
of  substances  having  two  or  more  geographical  sources, 
only  indicating  one  on  the  map.  Thus,  if  a  student  looks 


at”  Siam,  he  will  find  no  mention  of  benzoin  being  pro¬ 
duced  there,  but  under  Sumatra  it  is  mentioned  with  the 
note  “  {and  Siam).”  Ammoniacum  he  will  not  find  in  the 
Punjaub,  but  in  Persia  it  is  entered  for  both  countries. 

Though  this  map  is  not  so  full  or  so  instructive  as  Mr. 
Barber’s  Medico-Botanical  Map,  yet  it  will  prove  useful 
to  students  who  do  not  require  a  knowledge  of  drugs 
beyond  those  contained  in  the  Pharmacopoeia. 


©bitoarg. 

ALBRECHT  YON  GRAEFE. 

By  the  death  of  Albrecht  von  Graefe,  medicine  sus¬ 
tains  one  of  the  heaviest  among  her  numerous  losses 
this  year.  He  was  born  at  Berlin  in  182-5,  the  son 
of  an  eminent  surgeon,  who  was  himself  an  oculist  of 
merit.  On  the  conclusion  of  an  unusually  brilliant  aca¬ 
demic  career,  he  accompanied  Professor  Bonders,  the 
great  ophthalmic  physician  of  Holland,  on  a  visit  to 
England  in  1851,  and  having  derived  what  benefit  he 
could  from  observation  of  British  practice,  he  returned 
to  Berlin,  where  he  shortly  afterwards  opened  the  Oph¬ 
thalmic  Hospital,  now  celebrated  all  the  world  over. 
In  1853  he  founded,  along  with  Arlt  and  Donders,  the 
‘  Archiv  fur  Ophthalmologie,’  and  continued  till  his 
death  the  most  frequent  and  most  valuable  contributor 
to  its  pages.  But  a  few  years  elapsed  when  he  gave  to 
the  world  his  great  discovery  that  glaucoma,  or  disor¬ 
ganization  of  the  eyeball,  could  be  arrested  by  iridec¬ 
tomy.  “  There  can  hardly  be,”  says  the  ‘  Lancet,’ 
“either  in  Europe  or  America,  a  community  of  10,000 
people  which  does  not  contain  at  least  one  individual 
who  is  in  the  enjoyment  of  vision  that  has  been  pre¬ 
served  by  iridectomy,  and  who,  if  Yon  Graefe  had  not 
lived,  would  now  be  unable  to  see  the  sun.”  To  oph¬ 
thalmic  medicine  this  was  but  the  most  remarkable  of  his 
many  contributions,  which,  originally  announced  in  his 
own  ‘  Archiv’  and  other  medical  journals,  won  their  way 
into  all  scientific  centres  in  Europe  and  America  by  the 
attractiveness  of  a  style  unexcelled  for  lucidity  and  force. 
Yon  Graefe  owed  much  of  his  success  as  a  practitioner 
to  a  combined  suavity  and  firmness  of  manner,  which 
made  him  at  once  the  physician  and  the  friend  of  his  pa¬ 
tients.  Probably  no  special  practitioner  of  his  time  ever 
won  more  gratitude  from  a  wider  clientele;  certainly 
none  with  the  exception  of  Simpson  (whose  discovery  of 
chloroform  made  iridectomy  possible)  has  been  followed 
with  profounder  regret  to  so  untimely  a  grave. 

July  27,  after  an  illness  of  three  months,  Mr.  Henry 
Sharp,  of  Christchurch,  Hants,  aged  45.  He  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  and  Local 
Secretary  for  the  district. 


Hybridization,  of  Cinchonse. — At  the  March 

meeting  of  the  Linnean  Society  an  interesting  paper,  by 
Mr.  Broughton,  chemist  to  the  Madras  Government, 
was  communicated  by  Mr.  Howard.  Mr.  Broughton 
stated  that  in  the  Madras  gardens  young  plants  were 
growing  which  appeared  to  be  hybrids  been  C.  succirubra 
and  C.  officinalis.  In  Java  also  something  similar  has 
occurred  between  C.  Calisaya  and  C.  Pahudiana  ( =  C. 
Hasskarliana ,  nov.  sp.  Miq.).  In  a  letter,  Dr.  de  Vrij 
says : — “  The  Calisaya  of  Java  contains,  besides  quinine 
and  cinchonine,  very  often  quinidine.  The  C.  Pahu- 
cliana  contains,  besides  quinine  and  cinchonine,  almost 
always  cinchonidine.  In  the  hybrid  of  these  two  I 
found  no  quinidine,  but  cinchonidine  and  quinine.  As 
the  total  amount  of  alkaloids  was  small,  I  was  unable  to 
ascertain  the  presence  of  cinchonine.”  (The  Hague,  1870.) 
This  discovery  will  doubtless  prove  of  great  importance, 
for  by  this  means  the  more  delicate,  but  valuable,  alka¬ 
loid  species  can  be  crossed  with  those  that  are  more  hardy 
but  less  valuable,  and  thus  valuable  and  hardy  plants 
will  be  obtained. 


August  6, 1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


119 


Communications  for  this  Journal,  and  boohs  for  review , 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  1 7,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

*$*  JSro  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authen¬ 
ticated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication ,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

“Rule  op  Thumb.” 

Sir, — “Anti-Humbug”  has  written  a  very  harum-scarum 
letter  upon  the  above  subject.  Now,  accuracy  cannot  be 
humbug.  If  a  pharmacist  has  certain  ingredients  ordered  to 
be  divided  into  twelve  equal  parts,  it  is  his  sole  duty  to  know 
that  each  part  is  an  equal  division,  independent  of  inertness 
or  activity  of  the  medicine.  He  cannot  know  if  he  trusts  to 
a  fallible  organ,  like  the  eye.  Really  there  is  such  a  thing  to 
be  observed  in  dispensing  medicines  as  conscientiousness,  and 
it  is  also  a  fact,  that  the  Pharmacopoeia  recognizes  “  dose.” 
Rifle-shooting  and  carpentering  are  scarcely  such  delicate 
matters  as  the  correct  administration  of  a  dose  of  calomel. 

Yours,  etc., 

Minor  Associate. 

July  30, 1870. 

Sir, — I  confess  I  was  somewhat  surprised  to  find,  upon 
looking  down  the  correspondence  column  of  the  last  issue  of  the 
‘Pharmaceutical  Journal,’  that  there  was  any  gentleman 
who  could  so  unmistakably  advocate  such  a  dangerous  method 
as  “measurement”  by  “rule  of  thumb.”  Apart  from  con¬ 
sidering  the  arguments  of  your  correspondent  in  support  of 
his  views,  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  there  is  a  principle  in- 
volved  in  the  question  upon  which  it  is  very  desirable  we 
should  have  a  clear  understanding. 

In  these  times  of  examination,  when  so  important  a  part 
of  our  curriculum  is  devoted  to  determining  the  student’s 
capacity  for  correctly  ascertaining  the  amount  of  active  in¬ 
gredient  contained  in  each  dose  of  medicine  prescribed;  I 
think  that,  to  allow  the  exhibition  of  such  a  principle  as  that 
contained  in  your  correspondent’s  letter  to  pass  unchallenged, 
is  to  commit  an  error,  the  gravity  of  which  cannot  be  too 
fully  estimated. 

It  may  possibly  be  in  the  power  of  “Anti-Humbug”  in 
dispensing  accurately  to  measure  his  medicines  by  “  rule  of 
thumb,”  but  is  it  correct  that  such  a  method  should  be  openly 
recommended ;  for  I  cannot  see  that  he  lays  down  any  rule 
by  which  we  are  to  decide  upon  the  fitness,  or  otherwise,  of 
our  young  members  to  practise  this  acquirement  P 

Of  the  danger  of  allowing  young  and  unpractised  dis¬ 
pensers  to  proceed  by  “  rule  Of  thumb,”  it  is,  I  trust,  needless 
to  speak  P  Is  it,  therefore,  dangerous  to  allow  opinions  such 
as  these  to  pass  current  in  our  official  organ ;  for  it  is  appa¬ 
rent  they  may  have  a  doubtful,  if  not  a  decidedly  injurious 
effect  upon  the  minds  of  those  who,  by  reason  of  them  in¬ 
experience,  are  so  prone  to  imbibe  erroneous  ideas  ? 

Hoping  that  this  may  not  be  considered  an  unwarrantable 
encroachment  upon  your  valuable  space, 

I  remain,  yours  truly, 

E.  R.  L. 

Bath,  August  1,  1870. 

Trade  Grievances. 

Sir, — May  I  beg  your  indulgence  for  a  small  space  in  your 
Journal,  for  a  few  remarks  on  what  are  popularly  called 
trade  grievances  ?  In  almost  every  number  of  your  Journal 
is  a  mass  of  correspondence,  chiefly  bewailing  our  unfortunate 
lot,  and  suggesting  numerous  and  various  remedies ;  but  as 
yet  I  am  not  aware  they  have  been  followed  by  any  practical 
benefit,  and,  hi  my  humble  opinion,  if  the  following  sug¬ 
gestions  had  not,  by  a  strange  oversight,  been  forgotten  in 
framing  our  new  Act,  we  should  have  very  rapidly  advanced 
from  our  present  position  of  tradesmen  to  our  true  status  of 
professional  men ;  our  pecuniary  affairs,  of  course,  advancing 
in  the  same  ratio. 

The  first  grievance  is  one  that  has  heen  well  ventilated  in 
your  columns,  namely,  Counter  Prescribing  versus  The  Dis¬ 
pensing  of  Medicines  by  Surgeons.  I  would  stringently  re¬ 
strain  druggists  from  supplying  all  but  the  most  simple  medi¬ 
cines,  except  on  the  written  authority  of  a  medical  man,  and, 
on  the  other  hand,  would  insist  on  that  anomalous  animal — 
a  general  practitioner,  being  forbidden,  under  heavy  penalties, 
from  dispensing  his  own  medicines.  I  advocate  the  abolition 


of  counter  prescribing,  although,  myself,  I  do  a  large  practice 
in  it,  because  I  consider  it  to  be  the  root  of  all  dissensions 
between  ourselves  and  the  medical  fraternity.  England 
proudly  considering  herself  the  first  in  the  march  of  civiliza¬ 
tion  and  science,  is,  after  considerable  advances,  still  wofully 
behind  her  Continental  neighbours  in  the  matter  of  medical 
and  Pharmaceutical  reform.  Why  have  we  need  of  so  many 
classes  of  medical  men  ?  From  experience  in  five  Continental 
countries  I  cannot  see  the  necessity.  If  a  “  doctor  ”  to  pre¬ 
scribe,  and  a  “  phannacien  ”  to  dispense,  are  all  that  are  re¬ 
quired  in  France,  Italy,  Switzerland,  Germany,  Belgium, 
why  must  we  be  saddled  with  apothecaries,  surgeons,  etc., — 
mongrel  compounds  of  druggists  and  physicians  ?  Perhaps 
this  clause  was  not  inserted,  because  the  Council  did  not 
think  it  politic  to  grasp  too  much  at  commencement,  and  it 
is  standing  over  to  a  more  favourable  period, — at  least  I  sin¬ 
cerely  hope  so. 

The  other  grievance  is  the  sad  inroad  made  into  our  busi¬ 
ness  and  reputation  by  the  piratical  crew  of  small  shop¬ 
keepers,  herbalists,  quacks,  anti- vaccinators,  Coffinitcs,  etc., 
who  infest  us  as  maggots  do  cheese,  especially  in  large  manu¬ 
facturing  towns,  where  in  any  but  the  principal  thorough¬ 
fares  every  tenth  house  will  sell  castor  oil,  sweet  nitre, 
herbs,  pills,  powders,  et  hoc  genus  omne,  and  who  thus  take 
away  a  great  part  of  our  legitimate  business,  and  get  us  into 
such  disrepute  with  coroners’  juries.  The  remedy  for  this  is 
very  simple,  and  I  was  astounded  when  the  new  Act  came 
into  operation,  without  a  word  on  this  head.  I  would  merely 
add  bodily  to  our  Act  the  6th  Article  of  the  French  Code, 
which  I  translate  verbatim,  for  the  benefit  of  such  of  jrour 
readers  as  may  not  have  seen  it. 

“Art.  YI.  It  is  forbidden  for  all  grocers,  and  all  other  per¬ 
sons,  to  make,  sell,  or  keep  in  stock  any  salts,  composition,  or 
preparations,  entering  into  the  human  body  in  the  form  of 
medicines,  or  to  make  any  mixture  of  simple  drugs,  for  ad¬ 
ministering  in  form  of  medicine,  under  a  penalty  ot  £20,  or 
more  if  requisite.”  This  clause  is  beautifully  clear  and  de¬ 
cisive,  and  if  fortunately  it  had  been  incorporated  in  our  own 
Act,  we  should  have  been  relieved  from  these  parasites,  who 
at  present,  if  they  only  steer  clear  of  poison,  may  sell  (or 
rather  undersell)  their  cheap,  adulterated  drugs,  under  the 
very  nose  of  a  Pharmaceutical  Chemist,  who  has  had  heavy 
demands  on  his  time  and  money,  in  order  to  qualify  him  to 
open  a  shop. 

These  then,  are,  in  my  opinion,  the  only  stumbling-blocks 
on  the  road  to  advancement,  and  if  the  Council  will  only  give 
them  the  consideration  they  duly  deserve,  we  may,,  at  some 
future  time,  relieve  ourselves  of  the  trammels  of  paints,  oils, 
and  colours,  and  rise  to  something  higher  than  “  the  druggist 
round  the  corner.” 

Although  very  dissimilar  to  the  above,  yet  intimately  con¬ 
nected  with  it,  is  your  leader  in  last  number  of  the  J ournal, 
in  which  the  writer  takes  it  for  granted  that  the  new  mem¬ 
bers  have  been  elected  from  the  provinces  merely  in  opposi¬ 
tion  to  London  members,  without  due  regard  to  merit,  or 
long  and  valued  services.  This  is  not  so ;  a  London  chemist 
has  not  the  slightest  idea  what  a  country  drug  business,  is 
like,  or  what  are  the  requirements  of  a  country  druggist. 
The  former  Council,  in  effect,  chiefly  composed  of  Londoners, 
would  insist  on  looking  at  us  from  a  distance  through  the 
rose-coloured  glasses  of  money-coining  West-End  establish¬ 
ments,  and,  wishing  to  elevate  us  too  rapidly  on  a  level  with 
themselves,  have  done  us  considerable  injury,  chiefly  by  neg¬ 
lecting  any  attempt  to  rectify  the  above  grievances;  this 
neglect,  we  are  glad  to  admit,  has  not  been  from  unwillingness 
to  assist  us,  but  merely  from  insufficient  knowledge  on  the 
subject,  and  as  we  provincials  form  the  great  body  of  the 
Society,  pressure  was  brought  to  bear  on  country  members  to 
ensure  the  new  Council  having  the  proper  proportion  of  pro¬ 
vincial  representatives  it  was  entitled  to. 

Apologizing  for  trespassing  so  much  on  your  valuable  space, 
I  remain,  yours  faithfully, 

A  Country  M.  P.  S. 


Pharmacist,  or  Pharmaceutical  Chemist  ? 

Sir, — On  the  eve  of  another  Pharmaceutical  Conference, 
allow  me,  through  the  medium  of  the  J  ournal,  to  draw  the 
attention  of  Pharmaceutical  Chemists  to  the  desirability  of 
adopting  (as  a  body)  the  title  of  “Pharmacist”  or  “Phar¬ 
maceutist”  in  preference  to  that  of  “Pharmaceutical  Che¬ 
mist.” 

We  very  seldom  find  the  title  of  Pharmaceutical  Chemist 
used  by  the  public,  either  in  verbal  or  written  communica- 


120 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  6,  1870. 


tions ;  probably  tbe  reason  of  this  is  due  to  its  length,  the 
word  “chemist”  being  much  more  easily  written  without 
than  with  “  Pharmaceutical  ”  tacked  to  it.  I  think  this  would 
be  obviated  by  the  adoption  of  either  of  the  words  suggested. 

Trusting  the  subject  will  be  taken  up  by  those  capable  of 
bringing  it,  if  thought  desirable,  to  a  successful  issue, 

I  remain,  yours  truly, 

W.  Milner  Thompson. 


Navy  Dispensers. 

Sir, — I  cannot  agree  with  your  correspondent  of  the  23rd 
inst.,  “J.  T.  D.,”  respecting  the  remuneration  to  Navy  dis¬ 
pensers  ;  he  thinks  they  will  be  underpaid,  and  states  that  a 
qualified  assistant  can  earn  5s.  a  day,  or  more. 

In  order  to  form  a  fair  comparison  we  must  remember  that 
the  Navy  dispenser  will  not  require  any  capital,  and  in  this 
respect  he  is  on  a  par  with  an  assistant  in  civil  service  life, 
but  not  with  the  man  who  starts  or  purchases  a  business. 

Now,  Sir,  I  have  been  an  assistant  about  eleven  years,  and 
am  receiving  £40  per  annum,  with  board  and  lodging.  Sup¬ 
posing  I  had  been  a  Navy  dispenser  for  the  same  period,  my 
pay  would  be  £2.  5s.  6 d.  per  week,  and  quarters;  deducting 
12s.  per  week  for  rations  (which  is  ample  in  the  service),  my 
pay  would  be,  free  of  all  drawbacks,  £1.  13s.  Qd.  per  week, 
more  by  18s.  per  week  than  I  now  receive. 

Yours  obediently, 

An  Assistant. 

P.S.  I  have  not  touched  upon  the  very  important  item  of, 
superannuation. 


Free  Trade  in  Surgical  Instruments. 

Sir, — Having  read  the  article  in  question,  which  appeared 
in  a  medical  contemporary,  and  also  your  remarks  thereon,  I 
cannot  refrain  from  expressing  my  astonishment  and  regret 
at  the  extraordinary  strong  language,  of  which  you  justly 
complain.  Surely,  such  ugly  insinuations  as  the  following, 
“  If  the  public  can  be  combined  against  the  profession,  cannot 
we  can  retaliate?”  and  again,  “we  can  very  easily  endanger 
their  regular  trade,”  cannot  embody  the  spontaneous  senti¬ 
ments  and  charitable  expressions  of  the  honourable  profession 
whom  your  contemporary  assumes  to  represent.  If  a  few 
members  of  the  Nottingham  Association  have  ventured  to 
give  utterance  to  their  own  private  feelings,  that  is  no  reason 
why  he  should  fire  such  explosive  missiles  indiscriminately  at 
the  “  enlightened  and  respectable  pharmaceutists  ”  of  whom 
he  speaks,  and  who,  if  he  forgets  not,  are  in  possession  of 
vested  rights,  privileges,  and  honourable  pursuits  far  more 
profitable  than  the  “grasping  conduct”  he  alludes  to.  The 
days  for  such  a  menacing  attitude  and  vain-boasting  having 
gone  by,  and  the  overture  of  a  more  glorious  era  having 
already  commenced,  I  sincerely  trust  that  the  magnifying 
and  deceptive  spectacles  wherein  he  beheld  a  Nottingham 
gnat  assume  the  proportions  of  a  prodigious  camel  will 
never  be  taken  up  again,  and  that  language  so  offensive  and 
uncalled  for  will  be  avoided  in  future. 

T.  C.  Jones. 

ChaUc  Farm  Road,  N.  IF.,  August  1,  1870. 


Case  of  Explosion. 

Sir, — Some  time  since,  I  had  occasion  to  prepare  a  strong 
solution  of  iodine  and  iodide  of  potassium,  and,  having  filtered 
the  solution,  left  the  filter  paper  in  the  funnel,  where  it  re¬ 
mained  until  the  following  morning,  by  which  time  it  was 
quite  dry ;  to  my  great  surprise  when  I  took  hold  of  the  filter 
to  throw  it  away,  an  exceedingly  loud  report  occurred,  shat¬ 
tering  the  paper  and  funnel  to  fragments ;  the  wall  of  the 
room  was  marked  in  various  places  by  the  iodine,  my  face 
also  being  covered  with  iodine  stains  for  weeks.  I  am  quite 
at  a  loss  to  account  for  the  explosion,  perhaps  some  of  your 
readers  may  be  able  to  throw  light  upon  the  subject. 

Judy  27,1870.  F.  j.  Trauten. 


Poison  Regulations. 

Sir, — The  keeping  and  dispensing  of  poisons  is  a  subject 
which  can,  in  my  opinion,  only  be  disposed  of  when  some  de¬ 
finite  plan  is  accepted  by  pharmaceutists,  and  this  will  require 
to  be  easy  of  application,  inexpensive,  and  effectual.  Now, 
the  two  first  methods  recommended  by  the  Council  are  objec¬ 
tionable,  inasmuch  as  they  involve  expensive  alterations, 
either  by  the  adoption  of  distinctive  bottles,  “  angular,  fluted, 
or  corrugated,”  or  of  a  large  “poison  cupboard,”  or  rather 
small  room  to  keep  poisonous  drugs  apart  from  others. 


The  first  of  these  plans  would  require  either  a  very  con¬ 
siderable  number  of  new  and  expensive  bottles  which,  in 
thousands  of  cases,  could  be  ill  afforded;  or  an  amount  of 
room  which  could  be  as  ill  spared,  if  it  could  be  found  at  all. 

One  other  proposal  remains,  viz.  “  that  bottles  or  vessels 
used  in  any  shop  or  dispensary  to  contain  poison,  shall  be 
tied  over,  capped,  or  secured,  in  a  manner  distinguishable 
from  the  way  in  which  any  bottles  or  vessels  not  used  to  con¬ 
tain  poisonous  or  dangerous  articles  used  in  the  same  shop  or 
dispensary,”  etc. 

To  carry  this  into  effect,  I  can  offer  a  simple,  efficient,  and 
inexpensive  plan  which  I  have  used  in  my  own  pharmacy,  and 
with  most  satisfactory  results  for  several  years.  It  consists 
in  the  use  of  a  neatly  constructed  india-rubber  capsule,  which 
goes  most  readily  over  the  stopper  and  shoulder  of  the  bottle, 
fixing  itself  by  its  elasticity  alone.  It  can  be  put  on  or  off 
instantaneously,  and  it  bears  the  word  Poison  prominently 
on  the  side.  These  are  the  capsules  of  which  Mr.  Sandford 
spoke  at  the  Annual  Meeting,  but  at  the  time  he  had  not 
seen  them. 

A  bottle  containing  laudanum,  tincture  of  aconite ,  or  any 
other  dangerous  drug,  protected  by  one  of  these  capsules 
could  not  without  incredible  carelessness  be  taken  down  in 
mistake  for  a  different  bottle  not  requiring  protection.  Their 
general  adoption  by  Pharmaceutical  Chemists  and  the  che¬ 
mists  and  druggists  of  Great  Britain  would,  I  believe,  fully 
meet  all  the  requirements  of  the  Pharmacy  Act,  and  render 
unnecessary  the  interference  of  Government  or  Parliament, 
so  as  to  affect  the  free  action  of  members  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society,  which  will  certainly  be  endangered  if  this  or 
some  other  plan  be  not  voluntarily  adopted. 

I  enclose  you  two  of  the  capsules  which,  if  fitted  on  the 
proper-sized  bottles,  will  enable  you  to  form  a  judgment  on 
them. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

H.  C.  Baildon. 

73,  Princes  Street,  Edinburgh,  August  2,  1870. 

Note. — Subordinate  to  the  safe  keeping  of  poisons,  but  still 
one  of  some  importance  to  pharmaceutists,  evaporation  is 
prevented  by  the  use  of  these  capsules  in  the  case  of  spirituous 
preparations.  I  need  hardly  say  how  great  the  loss  is  from 
this  cause,  or  that  the  greater  number  of  liquid  poisons  are 
spirituous  preparations. 


“Navy  Dispenser”  (Rochester)  should  apply  to  the  Ad¬ 
miralty  Office. 

“ Zeta”  (Liverpool). — Inquiry  shall  be  made. 

“Rees  Lloyd”  (Dowlais). — In  the  press. 

“ Physicians'  English.” — Mr.  D.  Carroll  (Framlingham) 
writes,  in  reference  to  the  letter  of  “Echo,”  in  the  Journal 
of  J uly  16th,  pointing  out  that  physicians  are  also  liable  to 
the  commission  of  errors  in  the  use  of  English  and  Latin. 

E.  Trinder  (Solihull). — Received  with  thanks. 

“ Leno”  (Sheffield)  wishes  to  have  a  formula  for  Quinine- 
Balm  for  the  Hair. 

M.  E.  L.  (Southport). — Apply  at  Apothecaries’  Hall. 

“A  Member”  (Stroud). — Apply  to  the  Secretary. 

C.  B.  A. — Assistants  to  Chemists  and  Druggists  need  not 
be  on  the  Register  of  Chemists  and  Druggists. 

“Flora  of  Hampshire.” — In  answer  to  Mr.  Brook,  jun.,  of 
Southville,  Mr.  Gibbs,  of  Winchester,  writes:  “There  is  no- 
‘  Flora  of  Hampshire"’  published.  There  is  a  manuscript 
copy  of  a  catalogue  of  the  flora  of  Hants,  by  Dr.  Bromfield, 
preserved  at  Kew;  also  a  *  Flora  of  Andover,’  published  by 
Clarke.  I  know  of  several  good  herbaria  of  localities,  and 
should  be  very  glad  to  communicate  with  Mr.  Brook  on  the 
subject.” 


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

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W.  Envelopes  to  be  endorsed  for  “  Pharm. 
Journ.” 

The  General  Index  ta  the  first  Fifteen  volumes  of  this 
Journal  may  be  obtained  of  the  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury 
Square,  price  2s.  8d.,  post  free ;  bound  in  cloth,  lettered,  3s.  8 d., 
post  free. 

The  General  Index  to  the  Yols.  XVI.-XVIII.,  Old  Series, 
and  Yols.  I.-IX.,  Second  Series,  may  also  be  obtained  of  the 
Secretary,  price  3s.  3d.,  post  free. 


August  13,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


121 


NOTE  ON  THE  ALKALOIDS  OF  THE  GENUS 
ACONITUM.* 

BY  PROFESSOR  FLUCKIGER. 

Aconitine  was  discovered  "by  Hesse,  in  1833.  Yon 
Scliroff,  in  1857,  showed  that  there  occur  hi  aconite 
tubers  two  different  principles,  one  being  possessed 
of  narcotic  properties,  the  other  of  an  extreme  acridity. 
Von  Scln’off  did  not  himself  isolate  these  principles, 
bnt  he  ascertained  that  the  physiological  effects  of 
the  aconitine  used  throughout  Germany  agreed  with 
those  of  the  narcotic  principle  above  alluded  to.  On 
the  other  hand,  “  Pure  Aconitine made  by  Messrs. 
Morson  and  Son,  was  stated  by  Yon  Scliroff  to  exactly 
represent  the  acrid  principle,  which  his  physiological 
experiments  had  pointed  out,  in  aconite  tubers.  He 
further  observed,  that  this  acrid  body  prevails,  or 
even  exists  exclusively,  in  the  tubers  of  certain  spe¬ 
cies  of  Aconitum  growing  in  the  alpine  regions  of  the 
Himalayas.  These  highly  poisonous  tubers  have 
been  known  and  used  in  India  since  a  remote  period 
under  the  names  of  Bikh,  Pish,  or  Ativisha,  and  are 
met  with  in  the  bazaars,  and  also  occasionally  im¬ 
ported  into  London.  Von  Scliroff  therefore  suggested 
that  the  Indian  tubers  might  be  the  source  of  what 
he  called  English  Aconitine. 

Thus  there  was  established  in  German  literature 
an  important  difference  between  German  Aconitine 
and  English  Aconitine,  the  two  substances  being  re¬ 
garded  as  by  no  means  identical.  The  name  Aconi¬ 
tine  then  was  restricted  to  the  former,  while  the  de¬ 
signation  of  napelline  (Wiggers),  nep  aline  (Fliickiger), 
acraconitine  (Ludwig),  and  pseudaconitine  (Hiibscli- 
mann),  were  severally  proposed  for  the  so-regarded 
English  preparation.  Hiibschmann,  in  1868,  first 
examined  the  chemical  properties  of  pseudaconitine, 
which  he  had  obtained  from  E.  Merck,  Darmstadt. 
It  is  but  sparingly  soluble  in  ether,  chloroform,  and 
even  in  alcohol,  but  crystallizes  readily,  especially 
from  hot  alcohol ;  it  is  soluble  in  hot  benzol,  does 
not  soften  in  boiling  water,  is  not  coloured  by  cold 
sulphuric  acid,  nor  even  after  the  addition  of  nitric 
acid.  I  have  been  presented  by  the  late  Hiibsch- 
mann  with  a  small  specimen  of  this  pseudaconitine, 
and  am  enabled  to  corroborate  the  above  statements. 
It  is  a  substance  which  has  a  burning,  not  a  bitter 
taste,  and  does  not  produce  any  coloured  reaction 
with  concentrated  sulphuric,  nitric,  or  phosphoric 
acid,  either  cold  or  hot,  alone  or  combined. 

The  aconitine  sold  in  Germany  has  been  for  many 
years  past  mainly  prepared  by  Hiibschmann  from 
tubers  of  Aconitum  Napellus,  grown  in  the  Swiss 
Alps.  An  authentic  sample  of  this  alkaloid,  as  fur¬ 
nished  by  the  manufacturer  himself,  exhibited  the 
chemical  characters  universally  attributed  to  aconi¬ 
tine.  It  dissolves  in  2  parts  of  ether,  2*6  chloroform, 
4'2  alcohol,  but  without  separating  in  distinct  crys¬ 
tals  upon  evaporation.  Aconitine  produces  an  in¬ 
tense  violet  colour  with  hot  concentrated  phosphoric 
acid,  this  characteristic  reaction  lasting  for  several 
days.  Aconitine  has  an  extremely  bitter,  scarcely 
somewhat  acrid  taste. 

Consequently,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  aconitine 
and  pseudaconitine  are  entirely  different  alkaloids, 
which  may  be  easily  recognised  and  separated,  if  oc¬ 
curring,  for  instance,  in  Bildi  tubers.  That  pseudaco- 


*  Abstract  from  the  author’s  paper  in  the  *  Archiv  der 
Pharmacie,’  cxci.  (1870),  196  to  215. 

Third  Series,  No.  7. 


nitine  is  identical  with  Von  Schroff’s  “  English  aco¬ 
nitine,”  I  cannot  assert  positively,  although  I  suppose 
it  to  be  so. 

I  was  now  desirous  of  ascertaining  whether  the 
aconitine  of  English  chemists  and  manufacturers 
agreed  or  not  with  pseudaconitine.  My  friend  Mr. 
Hanbury,  as  well  as  Mr.  Thomas  B.  Groves,  F.C.S., 
of  Weymouth,  kindly  provided  me  with  samples  of 
commercial  aconitine,  to  which  the  latter  gentleman 
also  added  some  specimens  prepared  by  himself.  At 
the  outset  I  examined  the  “pure  aconitine ”  of  Mor¬ 
son,  as  at  present  sold  by  that  manufacturer,  and  also 
samples  of  his  product  dating  from  the  years  1856 
and  1860.  All  of  them  were  found  to  agree  exactly 
with  Hubschmann’s  aconitine.  Nearly  the  same 
may  be  said  with  regard  to  aconitine  made  by  Hopkin 
and  Williams,  which,  however,  produced  a  less  pure 
coloration  with  phosphoric  acid,  and  tasted,  in  aque¬ 
ous  solution,  not  quite  purely  bitter,  but,  at  the  same 
time,  somewhat  acrid.  Its  watery  solution  also  yields 
a  soft  greasy  brownish  precipitate  with  platinocya- 
nide  of  potassium,  whilst  in  Hubschmann’s  and  in 
Morson’ s  aconitine  the  platinum  salt  produces  a 
heavy,  white,  not  at  all  agglutinating  compound. 
Tins  discrepancy  appears  to  be  due  to  the  presence 
of  a  very  small  quantity  of  impurities  in  the  alkaloid 
of  Hopkin  and  Williams.  I  found  its  chlorhydrate 
to  contain  the  same  amount  of  hydrochloric  acid  as 
that  of  Hiibschmann,  and  in  its  physiological  effects 
no  difference  could  be  traced. 

The  samples  of  aconitine,  prepared  by  Mr.  Groves 
from  A.  Napellus,  agreed  partly  with  the  products  of 
Hiibschmann  and  of  Morson,  partly  with  that  of 
Hopkin  and  Williams,  inasmuch  as  the  coloration 
produced  with  hot  concentrated  phosphoric  acid  was 
pure,  or  less  pure  violet.  The  aconitine  of  Mr.  Groves 
(at  least  in  some  of  his  samples)  is  remarkable,  as  it 
consists  of  microscopic  crystals ;  all  the  other  samples 
of  tills  alkaloid,  which  I  had  the  opportunity  of  ex¬ 
amining,  being  entirely  amorphous.  The  said  che¬ 
mist  was  also  the  first  who  succeeded  in  obtaining 
crystallized  salts  of  aconitine ;  *  I  am  indebted  to  him 
for  really  fine  rhombic  octahedrons  of  nitrate  oi 
aconitine. 

It  must  be  concluded  from  the  foregoing  experi¬ 
ments,  that  the  aconitine  used  in  England,  and  that 
found  on  the  Continent,  at  least  in  Germany,  are 
essentially  one  and  the  same  substance. 

Yet  pseudaconitine  exists.  In  1868,  the  London 
house  of  Roller  and  Wiedenmann  met  there  with  a 
“  cheap  aconitine ,”  which  they  sent  for  examination  to 
Mr.  Merck.  When  engaged  in  the  present  investi¬ 
gation,  this  substance  had  disappeared  from  the 
market,  so  that  I  could  not  succeed  in  obtaining  any ; 
but  the  statements  of  Mr.  Merck  f  are  sufficient  to 
show  it  was  pseudaconitine.  Unfortunately  no 
further  information  as  to  the  source  of  this  curious 
body  was  to  be  obtained.  I  am  informed  that  in 
London  it  was  said  to  come  from  the  Continent ! 
Tins  mysterious  pseudaconitine  being  attributed  to 
the  Bildi  tubers,  I  prepared  an  alcoholic  extract 
of  the  latter,  which  was  examined  by  Dr.  Klebs, 
Professor  of  Pathologic  Anatomy  in  our  University. 
It  proved  to  agree  in  its  effects  with  aconitine,  but 
decidedly  not  with  pseudaconitine.  I  am  also  in¬ 
formed,  most  positively,  that  in  London  the  manu¬ 
facturers  of  aconitine  indiscriminately  resort  to  Indian 


*  Pharm.  Journ.  VIII.  (1866)  122* 
f  Ibid.  X.  (1868)  248. 


122 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  13,  1870. 


or  to  Continental  (Swiss)  aconite  tubers,  for  making 
aconitine.  Where  then  does  pseudaconitine  occur  ? 

Bikli  tubers  appear  to  be  collected  from  several 
Himalayan  species,  especially  from  Aconitum  ferox, 
Wallich,  but  A.  Napellus  also  occurs  in  the  Hima¬ 
layas.*  The  specimens  of  Bikli  I  had  the  oppor¬ 
tunity  of  examining  are  not,  however,  the  tubers  of 
the  latter  species,  the  appearance  of  which  is  ex¬ 
tremely  characteristic,  the  tubers  being  always 
formed  in  pairs,  each  pair  united  by  a  short  branch- 
let.  All  the  eastern  tubers,  which  I  have  seen,  are 
single,  and  mostly  considerably  larger  than  those  of 
A.  Napellus,  but  simpler,  and  devoid  of  rootlets.  Their 
-appearance  is  so  uniform  that  I  should  not  feel  en¬ 
titled  to  attribute  them  to  several  mother-plants. 
Whether  there  are  Himalayan  aconites  containing 
pseudaconitine  instead  of  aconitine  is  a  question,  to 
the  solution  of  which  I  am  sorry  I  cannot  contribute. 

Some  other  alkaloids  have  been  pointed  out  by 
Hiibsclimann  as  existing  in  aconite. f  In  Aconitum 
Napellus  he  found  napelline,  differing  from  aconitine 
by  its  solubility  in  ammonia,  and  insolubility  in 
■ether.  The  rhizomes  of  A.  Lycoctonum,  L.,  the 
yellow-flowered  Aconite,  yielded  lycoctonine  and  aco- 
lyctine ;  the  latter,  however,  finally  proved  to  agree, 
probably,  with  napelline.  Again,  Messrs.  Smith,  of 
Edinburgh,  in  1863,  obtained  from  tubers  of  Napellus, 
aconelline  which  substance  is  now  thought  to  be  none 
other  than  narcotine.  No  subsequent  observer  has 
met  with  it  in  aconite.]:  Now  is  the  pseudaconitine 
a  -peculiar  principle,  or  does  it  agree,  as  has  been 
suggested,  with  any  one  among  the  alkaloids  I 
have  named  ?  As  to  napelline,  §  its  properties,  as 
given  by  its  discoverer,  prove  at  once  that  it  is 
quite  different  from  pseudaconitine.  If  aconelline 
agrees  with  narcotine,  the  well-known  characters  of 
this  latter  substance  do  not  allow  us  to  suppose  it  in 
any  degree  similar  to,  still  less  identical  with  pseud¬ 
aconitine.  Lastly,  lycoctonine  having  never  been 
carefully  examined,  I  felt  obliged  to  do  so,  all  the 
more  as  the  late  Hiibschmann  had  himself  furnished 
me  with  it  in  a  state  of  perfect  purity. 

Lycoctonine  consists  of  white,  needle-shaped  crys¬ 
tals,  not  melting  (like  aconitine)  in  boiling  water, 
but  only  at  some  degrees  above.  On  cooling,  it  does 
not  resume  its  crystalline  form  until  it  is  moistened 
with  water,  when  the  amorphous  mass  is  quickly 
transformed  into  tufted  crystals.  By  melting,  lycoc¬ 
tonine  loses  no  water,  nor  does  it  combine  with 
water  by  the  act  of  re-crystallization.  Lycoctonine 
readily  dissolves  in  chloroform,  which,  after  evapo¬ 
ration,  leaves  behind  an  amorphous  varnish,  which 
again,  on  moistening  with  water,  becomes  very 
strikingly  crystalline.  Sulphide  of  carbon,  ether, 
alcohol,  the  fat  and  volatile  oils,  amylic  alcohol,  pe¬ 
troleum  spirit,  largely  dissolve  lycoctonine.  Of  boil¬ 
ing  water,  COO  parts  dissolve  1  part  of  lycoctonine. 
The  solution  has  an  alkaline  reaction  and  bitter 
taste ;  it  produces  fine  yellow  crystals  if  bromine 
water  is  added.  This  takes  place  even  if  the  solu¬ 
tion  contains  but  1  part  of  lycoctonine  in  30,000 
water.  Lycoctonine  is  also  precipitated  by  iodohy- 
drargyrate  of  potassium,  the  compound  crystal- 


*  Hooker  and  Thomson,  ‘Flora  Indica,’  i.  (1855)  3,  64. 
t  For  further  particulars,  see  my  original  paper  in  the 
*  Archiv  der  Pharmacie.’ 

X  Pharm.  Journ.  Till.  (1866)  123. 

§  The  existence  of  napelline  has  been  doubted  by  some 
authors,  but  has  been  always  decidedly  maintained  by 
Hiibschmann. 


lizing  after  some  hours.  One  part  of  lycoctonine  in 
20,000  water  yields  these  crystals  after  twelve  hours. 
The  analogous  mercuric  compound  of  aconitine  al¬ 
ways  remains  uncrystallized.  As  to  physiological 
effects,  lycoctonine  is  far  less  poisonous  than  aconi¬ 
tine. 

Lycoctonine  is,  therefore,  a  well-defined,  peculiar 
alkaloid,  differing  from  aconitine  as  well  as  from 
pseudaconitine.  I  hope  soon  to  determine  its  com¬ 
position. 

The  results  of  the  researches  here  detailed  may 
be  summed  up  as  follows : — 

1.  Aconitine  is  contained  in  the  blue-flower¬ 
ing  European  and  Himalayan  species  of  Aconi¬ 
tum,  especially  in  A.  Napellus. 

2.  Aconitine  is  particularly  characterized  by 
the  following  properties  : — It  is  anhydrous,  be¬ 
comes  soft  in  boiling  water,  although  it  only 
melts  near  120°  C.  The  aqueous  solution  has  a 
bitter  taste,  free  from  acridity  ;  it  is  not  precipi¬ 
tated  by  bichloride  of  platinum,  but  produces  an 
uncrystallizable  precipitate  with  iodohydrargy- 
rate  of  potassium.  It  dissolves  very  readily  in 
ether,  chloroform,  and  alcohol,  and  forms  a 
monoclilorhydrate,  C30  H47  N  07+H  Cl.  The  ni¬ 
trate  can  be  obtained  in  well- developed  micro¬ 
scopic  crystals.  Aconitine  imparts  a  violet 
colour  to  hot  phosphoric  acid  which  has  been 
concentrated  as  much  as  possible  in  the  water- 
bath. 

3.  All  aconitine  from  England  which  I  exa¬ 
mined  agrees  essentially  with  the  German  (or 
Swiss)  aconitine. 

4.  There  exists,  however,  a  base  entirely  dis¬ 
tinct  from  aconitine,  of  uncertain  origin,  but 
perhaps  derived  from  the  aconite  tubers  {bikli) 
of  Nepal  and  other  alpine  regions  of  India.  It 
may  be  distinguished  as  pseudaconitine. 

5.  Pseudaconitine  has  a  burning,  not  a  bitter 
taste.  It  is  insoluble  in  water,  less  soluble  in 
ether,  chloroform,  and  alcohol,  but  freely  crys- 
tallizable  from  these  solutions.  It  is  not  co¬ 
loured  by  hot  concentrated  phosphoric  acid. 

C.  Napelline  differs  both  from  aconitine  and 
pseudaconitine. 

7.  So  also  does  lycoctonine,  an  alkaloid  pecu¬ 
liar  (so  far  as  we  know)  to  the  yellow-flowered 
Aconite  (. Aconitum  Lycoctonum,  L.).  Its  bro¬ 
mine  compound  crystallizes  from  a  dilute  aque¬ 
ous  solution,  but  upon  drying  is  decomposed. 


ACETIC  FERMENTATION. 

BY  BARON  VON  LIEBIG. 

In  the  investigation  of  physiological  or  other  phe¬ 
nomena  where  there  are  both  chemical  and  physio¬ 
logical  processes  concerned,  as  in  the  case  of  fermen¬ 
tation,  the  true  method  of  research  requires  that  the 
chemical  and  physical  laws  of  both  should  be  as¬ 
certained  ;  indeed  the  utmost  we  can  expect  is  to 
arrive  at  a  knowledge  of  these  laws.  The  explana¬ 
tion  of  a  physiological  phenomenon  consists,  there¬ 
fore,  in  ascertaining  first  what  physical  or  chemical 
laws  it  is  subject  to,  and  it  is  the  object  of  further  in¬ 
vestigation  to  determine  the  extent  to  which  they 
are  concerned. 

From  this  point  of  view  I  have  endeavoured  to 
refer  the  chemical  process  of  fermentation  to  a 
chemico -physical  cause,  by  directing  attention  to  the 


Angust  13, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


123 


influence  exercised  by  a  substance  in  a  state  of  mole¬ 
cular  motion  upon  another  highly  complex  substance 
whose  particles  are  held  together  feebly  and  are  in  a 
state  of  tension.  If  the  molecular  motion  in  the  one 
substance  be  the  consequence  of  disturbed  equili¬ 
brium,  some  exercise  of  work  may  be  ascribed  to  it, 
and  this  would  become  sensible  in  the  dislocation  or 
severance  of  the  elements  of  the  other  substance. 

This  view  has  not  been  generally  accepted,  and, 
quite  recently,  another  one  has  been  adopted  by 
which  the  transformation  of  organic  materials  into 
inorganic  compounds  is  ascribed  to  the  nutrition  and 
growth  of  inferior  organisms.  Thus  the  old  idea  of 
vital  force,  belonging  to  the  last  century,  has  again 
become  current  under  a  new  form  in  the  explanation 
of  very  simple  chemical  changes. 

“  Fermentation,”  said  Mitscherlich,*  “  is  caused 
by  a  plant  organism,  and  putrefaction  by  an  animal 
organism.”  Then  twenty-six  years  afterwards,  Pas¬ 
teur  has  described  certain  species  of  fungi,  some  of 
which  produce  acetic  fermentation,  others  lactic  fer¬ 
mentation  or  mucous  fermentation,  while  the  butyric 
and  tartaric  fermentation,  that  resemble  putrefac¬ 
tion,  are  assumed  to  be  caused  by  vibrios. 

The  characters  of  these  animated  ferments  are 
very  peculiar. 

The  acetic  acid  fungus  is,  according  to  Pasteur, 
so  much  like  the  lactic  acid  fungus,  that  the  two  are 
frequently  undistinguishable  by  the  microscope. 
Moreover,  the  lactic  acid  fungus  is  said  to  resemble 
beer-yeast,  f  The  action  of  these  ferments  is  also 
very  varied. 

According  to  Pasteur,  acetic  acid  is  the  product  of 
Mycoderma  aceti  ;  but  this  plant  also  produces  suc¬ 
cinic  acid,  l  and,  in  contact  with  sugar,  it  gives  rise 
to  vinous  fermentation. §  According  to  Pasteur, 
phosphates  and  alkalies  are  necessary  constituents 
of  this  fungus,  while  Mulder  declares  that  when  burnt 
it  does  not  leave  the  least  trace  of  ash.|| 

The  behaviour  of  the  lactic  acid  fungus  is  still 
more  remarkable,  for  its  activity  is  not  limited  to  the 
production  of  lactic  acid  only,  and  it  is  capable  of 
producing  butyric  acid,  mannite,  mucus  and  even 
alcohol.** 

If  sugar  be  fermented  with  beer-yeast,  and  the 
fermented  liquor  be  exposed  to  the  air,  a  layer  of 
mould  is  formed  on  the  surface,  while  the  alcohol  is 
converted  into  acetic  acid.  A  portion  of  that  mould, 
placed  in  contact  until  sugar  and  chalk,  causes  the 
conversion  of  the  sugar  into  lactic  acid. 

The  lactic  acid  ferment  also  produces  butyric  acid 
under  certain  circumstances,  though  the  proper  bu¬ 
tyric  ferment  is  infusorial ;  it  converts  sugar,  gum 
and  lactic  acid  into  butyric  acid.  Atmospheric  air  is 
detrimental  to  it,  and  it  is  killed  by  access  of  air.  How¬ 
ever,  Maddrell  and  Engelhard  found  that  lactate  of 
lime,  although  recrystallized  twice  and  therefore 
containing  only  a  trace  of  lactic  ferment,  was  re¬ 
markably  susceptible  of  butyric  fermentation ;  while 
in  an  experiment  made  specially  to  determine  the 
point  they  observed,  in  opposition  to  Pasteur’s  state¬ 
ment,  that  the  butyric  fermentation  was  accelerated 
by  access  of  air.f  f 


*  Ann.  Cliem.  Pliarm.  xlviii.  126. 
t  £  Comptes  Rendus,’  xlv.  903. 

X  Bull,  de  la  Soc.  Chim.  1862,  p.  52. 

§  Thomson,  Ann.  Chem.  Pliarm.  lxxxiii.  90. 
||  Ann.  Chem.  Pharm.  xlvi.  24. 

**  £  Comptes  Rendus,’  xlv.  913. 
ft  Ann.  Chem.  Pliarm.  lxiii.  86. 


According  to  Pasteur  the  butyric  ferment  can  be 
sown  like  beer-yeast.  He  states  that  in  suitable  media, 
such  as  solutions  of  sugar,  ammonia,  and  phosphates, 
it  increases,  and  that  butyric  acid  is  formed  mean¬ 
while.  But  if  the  facts  are  the  same  as  in  the  case 
of  beer-yeast,  there  does  not  appear  much  hope  of 
any  particular  result.  The  observations  of  these 
living  ferments  are  obviously  very  superficial  and 
contradictory,  so  that  it  is  barely  possible  to  say  that 
dining  the  last  twelve  years  there  has  been  any  ad¬ 
vance  towards  more  definite  ideas  as  to  their  nature 
and  mode  of  action. 

In  reference  to  the  part  taken  by  living  organisms 
in  putrefaction,  Van  den  Broeck*  expresses  himself 
very  clearly  as  follows : — “  The  microscopic  exami¬ 
nation  of  the  five  animal  substances  (egg-white,  egg- 
yelk,  arterial  blood,  gall  and  urine  of  the  dog  and 
oxen)  has  taught  me  that  there  is  no  connection 
between  their  putrefaction  and  the  development  or 
growth  of  vibrios.” 

From  the  moment  a  piece  of  muscle  is  separated 
from  the  living  body  it  begins  to  undergo  alteration ; 
after  some  hours  it  acquires  an  acid  reaction,  the 
coagulable  substances  are  coagulated,  the  contents 
of  the  muscular  tubes  become  more  solid  and  acquire 
a  clouded  appearance  with  a  thickish  consistence. 
The  muscle  contracts  and  thickens,  or  rigor  mortis 
takes  place ;  then,  after  some  time,  the  stiflhess 
ceases,  the  acidity  augments,  and  offensive -smelling 
products  make  their  appearance. 

If  organized  ferments  have  nothing  to  do  with  the 
formation  of  the  first  products  that  appear  in  the 
muscles  up  to  the  occurrence  of  rigor  mortis, — and  I 
believe  there  is  no  physiologist  who  thinks  they  have, 
— then  it  is  difficult  to  understand  how  the  further 
alterations  can  be  determined  by  them. 

Fungi  and  vibrios  are  dependent  upon  organic  ma¬ 
terial  for  their  development  and  nutrition,  and  the 
cases  where  they  are  not  met  with  in  putrefying  or 
decaying  materials  under  ordinary  conditions  are 
seldom  enough.  Accordingly,  as  one  observer  finds 
them  or  not,  opinion  may  shift  from  one  side  to  the 
other,  but  it  would  be  hopeless  to  expect  from  micro¬ 
scopic  observations  an  elucidation  of  the  part  they 
play. 

If  acetic  fermentation  be  understood  as  the  pro¬ 
duction  of  acetic  acid  from  alcohol,  it  is  from  a  che¬ 
mical  point  of  view  the  most  thoroughly  investigated 
and  most  accurately  known  of  all  lands  of  fermenta¬ 
tion. 

Pasteur  has  maintained  that  the  production  of 
acetic  acid  is  a  process  of  fermentation,  and  that  it  is 
determined  by  the  Mycoderma  aceti. 

In  the  cultivation  of  Mycoderma  aceti  upon  alco¬ 
holic  liquids,  the  alcohol  is  converted  first  into 
aldehyde,  and  then  into  acetic  acid.  The  vinegar- 
plant  acts  only  when  in  direct  contact  with  the  air, 
not  when  it  is  immersed ;  it  also  requires  as  food 
phosphates  and  albuminous  substances. f 

I  have  hitherto  believed  that  the  production  of 
acetic  acid  was  well  understood,  and  that  it  consisted 
simply  in  the  oxidation  of  alcohol.  Finely  divided 
platinum  converts  alcohol  into  acetic  acid  by  means 
of  the  oxygen  condensed  upon  it.  A  number  of 
organic  substances  are  known  to  absorb  oxygen  from 
the  air  and  to  retain  for  some  time  the  power  of  oxi¬ 
dizing  other  substances,  as  in  the  case  of  platinum. 


*  Ann.  Chem.  Pharm.  cxv.  79. 
f  £  Comptes  Rendus,’  lviii.  142. 


124 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  13,  1870. 


Oil  of  turpentine,  ether,  aldehyde,  or  bitter  almond 
oil,  that  have  been  shaken  with  air,  will  convert  sul¬ 
phurous  acid  into  sulphuric,  and  decolorize  tincture 
of  indigo ;  even  sulphurous  acid,  and  many  solid  or¬ 
ganic  substances,  will,  while  undergoing  oxidation, 
determine  the  oxidation  of  other  substances,  organic 
and  inorganic. 

Tliis  remarkable  property  was  noticed  more  than 
thirty  years  ago  by  l)e  Saussure*  as  being  possessed 
by  putrefying  substances ;  and  it  is  worth  while  to 
recall  to  mind  his  experiments.  “  When  vegetable 
mould,  or  the  humus  contained  in  various  soils,  or 
moist  seeds  that  have  undergone  fermentation,  are 
kept  under  a  bell  jar  filled  with  oxygen,  this  gas  is 
gradually  converted  into  carbonic  acid.”  Though 
this  is  not  very  remarkable,  the  following  fact  is  veiy 
much  so  : — “  If  hydrogen  gas  be  mixed  with  the 
oxygen  it  is  converted  into  water.  As  the  hydrogen 
disappears,  half  of  its  volume  of  oxygen  disappears 
also.” 

“  When  carburetted  hydrogen,  carbonic  oxide,  or 
the  hydrogen  obtained  by  the  action  of  red-hot  iron 
on  wrater,  are,  in  this  experiment,  substituted  for  hy¬ 
drogen  obtained  by  dissolving  zinc  with  acids,  they 
do  not  undergo  oxidation.”  Saussure  adds,  “  These 
decaying  substances  act  upon  the  mixture  of  oxygen 
with  hydrogen  in  the  same  way  as  platinum,  and 
those  gases  which  prevent  the  action  of  platinum 
also  prevent  the  combination  in  this  case.” 

It  seems  to  me  nothing  can  be  more  evident  than 
that  the  oxidation  of  hydrogen  in  contact  with  de¬ 
caying  materials  and  oxygen  is  a  purely  chemical 
process  that  has  been  further  elucidated  by  the  ex¬ 
periments  of  Schonbein  and  by  the  formation  of 
ozonized  oxygen. 

The  oxidation  of  ammonia  to  nitric  acid  in  the 
presence  of  alkaline  bases  and  in  soils  containing 
much  humus  is  also  due  to  the  same  circumstance. 

Evidently,  decaying  substances  are  capable  of  con¬ 
densing  oxygen  from  the  air  and  bringing  it  into 
such  a  condition  that  it  can  combine  with  other  sub¬ 
stances  which  do  not  combine  with  oxygen  at  low 
temperatures,  except  when  aided  by  these  absorbents 
of  oxygen. 

Let  us  suppose  that,  in  place  of  the  hydrogen  in 
Saussure’ s  experiment,  alcohol  vapour  were  brought 
in  contact  with  decaying  wrood  or  some  material  acting 
in  like  manner,  and  then  we  shall  have  an  explana¬ 
tion  of  the  production  of  acetic  acid  from  alcohol. 
In  consequence  of  the  oxidation  of  its  hydrogen,  al¬ 
cohol  is  [first  converted  into  aldehyde,  and  this  by 
further  oxidation  passes  into  acetic  acid.  It  is  known 
that  the  theory  of  acetification  was  first  suggested  by 
Dobereiner  in  his  memoir  on  “  the  behaviour  of  pla¬ 
tinum  sponge  towards  air  and  alcohol  vapour;”  and 
that  the  method  introduced  by  Schiitzenbacli  in  1823 
for  the  manufacture  of  vinegar  is  based  on  this 
theory. 

In  this  operation  wood -shavings  or  fragments  of 
charcoal  are  used  for  determining  the  oxidation.  At 
one  of  the  largest  vinegar  factories  in  Germany,  the 
dilute  alcohol  receives  no  admixture  during  the  whole 
operation;  besides  air  and  wood- shavings  or  char¬ 
coal,  there  is  no  other  material  concerned,  and  the 
fresh  supply  of  dilute  alcohol  is  only  mixed  with  a 
little  of  the  unfinished  vinegar  from  a  previous  ope¬ 
ration.  The  proprietor  of  these  works,  Hr.  Riemer- 
sclimied,  sent  me  some  of  the  beech- wood  shavings 


which  had  been  used  uninterruptedly  for  twenty- 
five  years ;  and  in  reply  to  my  inquiry  as  to  whether 
the  Mycoderma  aceti  took  part  in  the  production  of 
vinegar,  he  states  that,  so  far  as  can  be  seen,  the 
shavings  that  have  been  thirty  years  in  use  are  quite 
free  from  that  fungus.  According  to  his  data,  a 
hectolitre  of  wine  containing  9  per  cent,  of  alcohol, 
is  converted  into  vinegar  within  three  days. 

If  the  fermentation  of  acetic  acid  were  determined 
by  the  growth  and  development  of  the  vinegar- 
plant,  it  might  be  expected  that  this  fungus  would 
increase  in  some  proportion  to  the  acetic  acid  formed 
when  alcohol  was  used,  as  well  as  when  fermented 
liquors  were  used.  This  really  takes  place  when 
wine  is  used,  and  especially  with  fermented  beer- 
wort,  which  contains  nitrogenous  material  and  phos¬ 
phates  that  serve  as  food  for  the  Mycoderma  aceti. 
The  production  of  the  fungus  is  a  continual  source 
of  hindrance  in  factories  where  beer-wort  is  used, 
since  the  interstices  of  the  wood-shavings  are  gra¬ 
dually  stopped  up  by  its  growth,  and  thus  free  circu¬ 
lation  of  air  is  prevented  so  far  as  to  stop  the  forma¬ 
tion  of  vinegar. 

Howrever,  the  dilute  alcohol  used  in  vinegar  works 
does  not  contain  food  for  the  vinegar-plant,  and  yet 
acetic  acid  is  produced  without  its  aid.  If  the  spirit 
contains  amylic  alcohol,  valerianic  acid  also  is 
formed. 

Microscopic  examination  of  the  wood-sliavings 
sent  me  by  Hr.  Riemerschmied  did  not  show  the 
presence  of  Mycoderma  aceti.  They  had  merely  the 
brown  colour  of  decayed  wTood,  and  the  structure 
was  quite  unaltered. 

It  is  entirely  beyond  doubt  that  the  vinegar- 
plant  is  capable  of  causing  the  conversion  of  alcohol 
into  acetic  acid,  but  tliis  effect  is  not  the  result  of  a 
physiological  process.  For  the  conversion  of  alcohol 
into  acetic  acid  oxygen  only  is  necessary,  and  that 
the  Mycoderma  aceti  does  not  and  cannot  furnish. 
Analyses  of  the  air  discharged  from  the  vessels  where 
the  vinegar  is  made,  show  that  the  oxygen  con¬ 
sumed  hi  the  oxidation  of  alcohol  is  taken  from  the 
air,  and  the  only  part  taken  by  the  vinegar-plant  hi 
the  process  is  that  of  determining  the  absorption  of 
oxygen ;  it  is  active  only  in  virtue  of  this  chemical 
property,  and  it  can  be  replaced  by  a  large  number 
of  dead  materials  or  parts  of  plants.'" 

These  well-known  facts  prove  that  the  production 
of  acetic  acid  from  alcohol  is  not  brought  about  by  a 
physiological  process ;  acetic  acid  is  not  a  product  of 
the  Mycoderma  aceti,  but  a  product  of  oxidation. 

(To  be  continued.') 


*  The  comparatively  large  amount  of  nitrogenous  material 
remaining  after  the  fermentation  of  beer- wort  or  wine-must,, 
containing  little  sugar,  is  a  main  cause  of  the  beer  or  wine 
turning  sour,  for  that  nitrogenous  material  has  a  great  ten¬ 
dency  to  attract  oxygen.  In  German  breweries  gypsum  is 
added  to  the  boiling  wort  with  the  object  of  reducing  the 
amount  of  nitrogenous  material,  and  fermentation  is  carried 
on  at  a  low  temperature  to  avoid  formation  of  acetic  acid. 

In  the  manufacture  of  spirit  from  potatoes  and  maize,  sul¬ 
phurous  acid  has  been  found  very  useful  for  augmenting  the 
yield  of  alcohol  by  preventing  formation  of  acetic  acid.  The 
maize  is  mashed  with  water  containing  some  sulphurous  acid. 
In  Austria  and  Hungary  this  procedure  has  been  dealt  with 
as  a  mystery,  and  manufacturers  have  paid  large  sums  for 
being  taught  it.  I  have  ascertained,  by  special  experiments,, 
that  a  moderate  amount  of  sulphurous  acid  has  scarcely  any 
influence  on  the  fermentation  of  beer- wort  or  of  sugar  with, 
yeast. 


*  Bibl.  Univ.  de  Geneve,  Feb.  1834. 


August  13, 1870.] 


TIIE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


125 


WATER  CHESTNUTS, 

BY  M.  C.  COOKE. 

The  name  of  “  water  chestnuts  ”  has  been  applied  to 
the  fruits  of  several  species  of  Trap  a,  aquatic  plants  be¬ 
longing  to  the  Natural  Order  Haloragacese,  of  which  the 
European  species,  Trapa  natans,  the  “  Marron  d’Eau”  of 
the  French,  is  said  to  have  furnished  part  of  the  food  of 
the  ancient  Thracians.  The  three  principal  Oriental 
species,  if  all  are  really  distinct,  are — 

Trapa  iicornis ,  L. — Nuts  with  two  opposite,  recurved, 
very  obtuse  horns.  The  Lin-ko  of  the  Chinese.  A 
native  of  China,  where  it  is  carefully  cultivated  in  lakes, 
ponds,  and  other  receptacles  of  water. 

Trapa  bispinosa ,  Roxb.  (fig.  1). — Nuts  with  two  oppo¬ 
site,  straight,  barbed,  spinous  horns.  The  Singhara  of 


Fig.  1.  Trapa  bispinosa,  Roxb. 

India.  Cultivated  in  Bengal  and  other  parts  of  India 
as  high  as  Kashmir. 

Trapa  quadrispinosa ,  Roxb. — Nuts  with  two  opposite 
pairs  of  straight,  acute,  spinous  horns.  A  native  of 
Sylhet,  where  it  is  found  floating  on  lakes  and  pools  of 
fresh  water. 

All  these  species  are  esculent,  consisting  chiefly  of 
starch,  but  it  is  to  the  Singhara  nut,  Trapa  bispinosa, 
that  most  of  our  observations  will  apply. 

We  learn  from  Colonel  Sleeman  that  the  water  chest¬ 
nut  is  everywhere  as  regularly  planted  and  cultivated 
in  fields,  under  a  large  surface  of  water,  as  wheat  and 
barley  are  on  the  dry  plains.  It  is  cultivated  by  a  class 
of  men  called  Dheemurs,  who  are  everywhere  fishermen 
and  palanquin-bearers,  and  they  keep  boats  for  the 
planting,  weeding,  and  gathering  the  Singhara.  The 
holdings  or  tenements  of  each  cultivator  are  marked  out 
■carefully  on  the  surface  of  the  water  by  long  bamboos 
stuck  up  in  it,  and  they  pay  so  much  the  acre  for  the 
portion  they  till.  The  long  straws  of  the  plants  reach 
up  to  the  surface  of  the  water,  upon  which  float  their 
green  leaves,  and  their  pure  white  flowers  expand  beau¬ 
tifully  among  them  in  the  latter  part  of  the  afternoon. 
The  nut  grows  under  the  water  after  the  flowers  decay, 
and  is  of  a  triangular  shape,  and  covered  with  a  tough 
brown  integument. 

The  people  are  very  fond  of  these  nuts,  which  are 
often  carried  upon  bullocks’  backs  two  or  three  hundred 
miles  to  market.  They  ripen  in  the  latter  end  of  the 
rains,  or  in  September,  and  are  eatable  till  the  end  of 
November.  The  rent  paid  for  an  ordinary  tank  by  the 
cultivator  is  about  100  rupees  a  year.  Sometimes  200 
rupees  is  paid  for  a  very  large  one,  and  even  300,  or  £30 
a  year.  But  the  mud  increases  so  rapidly  from  this  cul¬ 
tivation  that  it  soon  destroys  all  reservoirs  in  which  it 
is  permitted,  and  where  it  is  thought  desirable  to  keep 
up  the  tank  for  the  sake  of  the  water,  it  should  be  care¬ 
fully  prohibited. 

Dr.  Stewart  says  that  in  Kashmir,  miles  of  the  lakes 
and  marshes  are  covered  with  this  plant.  The  fruit  is 
said  to  yield  the  Government  of  Kashmir  £12,000  of 
annual  income.  Moorcroft  states  that  Runjeet  Sing 
derived  nearly  the  same  share.  From  96,000  to  128,000 
loads  of  this  nut  are  yielded  annually  by  the  lake  of 


Ooller  alone.  In  the  valley  it  furnishes  almost  the  only 
food  of  30,000  people  for  five  months  in  the  year. 

The  seeds  contain  a  great  quantity  of  fecula,  and  are 
eaten  by  the  natives,  either  boiled  or  roasted;  when 
boiled  they  are  said  to  resemble  a  chestnut.  The  seed 
is  also  ground  into  a  coarse  flour,  and  cakes  are  made 
therefrom.  The  Chinese  species  is  similarly  employed 
in  that  country. 

The  flattened,  triangular  kernel  of  this  nut  or  seed  is 
from  three-quarters  to 
an  inch  in  diameter, 
and  about  a  quarter  of 
an  inch  in  thickness, 
internally  white  and 
friable,  externally  co¬ 
vered  by  a  thin  adhe¬ 
rent  brownish  skin. 

Almost  the  whole  of  its 
substance  consists  of 
regular,  oval  or  ellip¬ 
tical  starch  granules 
(fig.  2),  with  a  central 
crack  or  hilum,  some¬ 
times  stellate  in  round- 


of  the  starch  granules,  their  regularity,  and  the  character 
of  the  hilum,  are  sufficient  to  distinguish  them  from  any 
others  that  we  have  seen. 

In  India  the  natives  consider  these  nuts  cooling,  and 
that  they  cure  bilious  affections  and  diarrhoea.  They 
are  also  used  to  form  poultices.  The  red  powder  which 
is  so  freely  used  at  the  Hooly  festival  is  made  from  the 
starch  of  these  nuts,  coloured  red  with  the  flowers  of 
Butea  frondosa  or  Carthamus  tinctorius.  The  drug  palled 
“sweet  hermodactyls,”  or  Surin jan  shirin ,  found  in  the 
bazaars  of  India,  consists  chiefly  of  the  kernels  of  Trapa 
bispinosa ,  and  sometimes  they  are  also  mixed  with  Bu¬ 
rin  j  an  talk ,  or  “bitter  hermodactyls,”  as  an  adulteration. 


NOTES  ON  CHALYBEATE  WATERS. 

BY  JOHN  MACPHERSON,  M.D. 

The  following  notes,  though  made  with  the  view  of 
determining  the  relative  value  of  the  strong  Harrogate 
chalybeate,  of  which  so  much  has  been  of  late  heard,  are 
of  a  general  nature,  and  may  be  useful  at  this  season  of 
the  year. 

There  are  exceedingly  few  mineral  waters  that  contam 
chloride  of  iron  in  solution.  Nay,  it  is  usually  supposed 
that  chlorine  has  been  erroneously  assigned  to  iron  by 
chemists,  whose  analyses  of  waters  would  show  the  pre¬ 
sence  of  its  chloride.  Besides  some  waters  in  J ava  being 
said  to  contain  chloride  of  iron,  that  salt  has  also  been 
assigned  to  the  following  ones,  and  in  the  following 
proportions  in  the  Prussian  pint : — - 


Harrogate.  Alexisbad. 

Bukowina. 

gr- 

gr- 

gr- 

Chloride  of  iron  .  .  . 

.  1*6 

1-083 

0-920 

Carbonate  of  iron .  .  . 

.  1*27 

— 

0-003 

Sulphate  of  iron  .  .  . 

• 

0-574 

1-966 

Total  iron . 

.  2-87 

1-657 

2-889 

Total  mineral  constituents 

.  49-69 

4-876 

6-220 

Carbonic  acid  .... 

.  2-8  in. 

traces 

none 

These  three  are,  therefore,  undoubtedly  strong  iron 
springs ;  but  there  are  others  stronger,  without  including 
the  almost  poisonous  vitriol  ones,  as  they  have  been 


called  ;  for  instance, — 

Wassenach. 

Parad. 

Muskau. 

gr- 

gr- 

gr- 

Carbonate  of  iron  .  . 

.  3-08 

4-8 

l"38o 

Sulphate  of  iron  .  .  . 

• 

— 

1-526 

Total  iron . 

.  3-08 

4-8 

2-911 

Total  mineral  constituents 

.  12-9 

12-4 

8-673 

Carbonic  acid  .... 

•  trflCGS 

26  in. 

traces 

12G 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [August  13,  1870. 


Erom  these  comparisons  it  appears  tliat  the  Harrogate 
Muspratt  well  is  not  unique  in  being  supposed  to  contain 
chloride  of  iron ;  that  it  does  not  contain  iron  in  uniquely 
large  quantity  ;  and  also,  that  it  is  by  no  means  a  pure 
spring,  for  after  allowing  for  22-5  grs.  of  common  salt, 
which  would  not  probably  interfere  much  with  the 
assimilation  of  the  iron,  it  contains  27* *2  grs.  of  other 
salts.  Finally,  the  quantity  of  carbonic  acid  is  very 
trifling. 

Are  strong  iron  waters  like  the  foregoing  ones  well 
adapted  for  drinking  ?  The  general  voice  is  against 
them,  and  they  are  usually  employed  only  for  baths. 
And  it  may  be  said  that,  in  spite  of  all  theoretical  asser¬ 
tions  of  their  styptic  nature,  iron  waters  are  of  little  use 
for  what  are  popularly  termed  steel  baths,  unless  they 
contain  a  great  deal  of  carbonic  acid;  for  the  non¬ 
absorption  by  the  skin  of  solutions  of  salts  in  ordinary 
baths  seems  to  be  definitely  settled  by  the  recent  in¬ 
quiries  of  the  Societe  d’Hydrologie,  of  Paris.  Still, 
notwithstanding  the  presumption  against  such  a  spring 
as  the  Muspratt  one,  the  accounts  of  the  practitioners 
who  use  it  are  entitled  to  consideration.  They  assert 
that  immense  improvement  often  results  from  its  use. 
Glandular  swellings,  low  forms  of  gout,  dyspepsia,  and 
fatty  heart,  have  all  been  found  to  yield  to  its  influence. 
Such  general  statements  are  too  often  made  respecting 
all  waters,  and  from  Dr.  Myrtle’s  book  I  am  much  in¬ 
clined  to  think  that  he  has  obtained  at  least  as  satis¬ 
factory  results  with  the  Tewit  and  the  Kissingen  well, 
containing  as  they  do  only  J4  and  *33  grain  of  carbonate 
of  iron  respectively.  And  he  says  of  the  Muspratt  well, 
that  its  water  must  be  given  with  much  circumspection, 
that  it  is  not  only  most  difficult  of  digestion  frequently, 
but  is  apt  to  cause  some  of  the  most  painful  physio¬ 
logical  effects  common  to  the  ordinary  preparations  of 
iron. 

If,  then,  general  experience  has  shown  that  these 
strong  iron  waters  are  inconvenient  for  drinking,  what 
strength  of  iron  waters  has  practically  been  employed  P 
Waters  containing  from  *35  to  less  than  1  gr.  in  16  oz. 
of  the  carbonate  of  iron,  waters  not  containing  a  large 
amount  of  solid  ingredients  and  containing  a  good  sup¬ 
ply  of  carbonic  acid — such  are  the  waters  the  efficacy  of 
which  has  been  proved  by  the  experience  of  centuries. 
This  is  well  illustrated  by  glancing  at  the  composition 
of  the  most  popular  chalybeate  waters. 


Spa. 

Schwalbach:  Pyrmont. 

Carbonate  of  iron  . 

0*4 

0*46 

0*42 

Other  salts  .  .  . 

1*65 

11*9 

17*9 

Carbonic  acid .  .  . 

20*1 

45 

40  inches 

Or  take  a  few  excellent  wells,  not  perhaps  so  widely 
known.  Konigswarth,  near  Marienbad,  in  Bohemia,  at 
a  height  of  2000  feet ;  Elster  in  Saxony ;  Booklet,  close 
to  Kissingen ;  Rippoldsau,  on  the  whole  the  best  of  the 
Black  Forest  chalybeates,  at  a  height  of  1800  feet;  or 
Liebenstein  in  Central  Germany,  as  high  as  Schwalbach, 
or  about  900  feet. 


St Elsier- 

Carbonate  of  iron  *65  -48  -67 

Other  salts  .  .  5-8  16T2  24*6 

Carbonic  acid  .  37*2  32-9  37*3 


Lieben-  Rippolds- 
stein.  au. 

*59  *67 

10-7  20-6 
40-9  32-8in. 


All  these  are  specimens  of  waters  in  which  iron  is 
presented  in  a  shape  rendering  it  easy  of  assimilation. 
I  shall  not  enumerate  the  springs,  such  as  Marienbad, 
or  Franzensbad,  or  Harrogate,  in  which  the  quantity  of 
sulphates  or  of  common  salt  is  so  great  as  to  make  their 
action  distinctly  purgative.  Two  salt  springs  appear 
to  have  common  salt  in  a  desirable  proportion.  These 
are — 


Eakotski,  Kissingen ;  and  Louisenwell,  Homburg. 
Common  salt .  .  44*7  23 

Carbonate  of  iron  *33  -33 

Carbonic  acid  .41  32  inches 


But  even  in  them,  and  particukrly  in  the  Rakotski, 
there  is  too  much  common  salt. 


The  great  defect  of  our  pure  chalybeates,  such  as 
Tunbridge  Wells  or  Llandrindod,  is  the  want  of  carbonic 
acid  to  render  the  waters  sparkling  for  drinking,  or  use¬ 
ful  for  baths.  The  warm  chalybeates  of  Bagneres  do 
Bigorre  are  also  deficient  in  gas. 

Perhaps  the  places  where  the  best  carbonated  iron 
baths  can  be  had  are  Schwalbach,  Pyrmont,  Liebenstein, 
Konigswarth,  Franzensbad,  Elster,  and  St.  Moritz.  I 
believe  that  the  new  baths  at  Spa  are  good,  but  they  do 
not  contain  the  largest  amount  of  gas. 

With  reference  to  St.  Moritz,  it  is  probable  that  its 
curative  effects  depend  more  on  its  climate  during  three, 
months  of  the  year  and  on  its  baths,  than  on  its  not 
powerful  chalybeate.  Those  who  are  in  search  of  stronger 
chalybeates  than  it  affords  would  do  well  to  go  south  and 
visit  St.  Caterina,  at  the  same  elevation  as  St.  Moritz, 
or  St.  Bernardin,  a  few  hundred  feet  lower,  both  with  a 
large  amount  of  carbonate  of  iron  and  of  carbonic  acid ; 
or,  if  they  will  descend  a  little  towards  Italy,  they  will 
find  two  of  the  best  chalybeates  in  existence,  with  a 
large  supply  of  iron  and  carbonic  acid,  and  minute 
quantities  of  carbonate  of  soda  and  of  common  salt — 
Rabbi  at  a  height  of  about  1800  feet,  and  Pejo  perhaps 
100  feet  higher.  Proceeding  further  and  fairly  into- 
Italy,  he  will  find  the  more  polished  Recoaro,  with  less 
potent  waters,  however.  The  whole  five  are  in  beautiful 
scenery.  The  analysis  of  the  waters  of  Pejo  gives  about 
1  gr.  of  carbonate  of  iron,  with  carbonate  of  soda,  8*6  ~ 
carbonate  of  lime,  1*8;  common  salt,  2*9  ;  total  mineral 
constituents,  15  gr. ;  carbonic  acid,  31  inches :  while 
Rabbi  has  0*91  of  carbonate  of  iron;  carbonate  of  soda, 
6*4;  carbonate  of  lime,  2*3;  common  salt,  2*2;  total 
mineral  constituents,  12*6  gr. ;  carbonic  acid,  29  inches. 
It  is  scarcely  possible  to  have  better  combinations. 

The  war  which  has  broken  out  since  these  lines  were 
penned  will  compel  those  who  will  not  venture  into 
Switzerland  and  the  Tyrol  to  make  the  most  of  our  own 
chalybeates.  At  their  head  in  England  stand  Tunbridge 
Wells  and  Harrogate,  Llandrindod  in  Wales,  Lisdun- 
varna  in  Ireland.  Pannanich  Wells,  near  Ballater,  is 
almost  the  only  chalybeate  in  use  in  Scotland.  A  host 
of  such  springs  were  formerly  in  repute  in  the  three 
kingdoms. — Medical  Times  and  Gazette. 


ON  THE  COMBINATIONS  OF  CARBONIC 
ANHYDRIDE  WITH  AMMONIA  AND  WATER, 

BY  EDWARD  DIVERS,  M.D. 

( Continued  from  p.  96.) 

II.  Half-acid  Ammonium  Carbonate. 

History. — Rose  first  definitively  obtained  this  salt  in 
1839,*  but  I  think  Hiinefeldf  came  across  crystals  of  it 
on  cooling  the  aqueous  alcohol  from  which  he  had  dis¬ 
tilled  some  commercial  carbonate  ;  for  he  described  some 
of  the  crystals  obtained  by  this  cooling  as  rhombic 
plates,  and,  as  crystals  of  the  half-acid  carbonate  can 
thus  be  prepared,  it  is  probable  these  were  some. 

H.  St.  Claire  Deville  obtained  it  in  a  different  way  in 
1852,  and  gave  an  account  of  its  crystalline  form.;}; 

Preparation. — The  half-acid  carbonate  -was  obtained 
by  its  discoverer  by  distilling  some  commercial  carbonate 
at  a  gentle  heat  in  a  retort,  the  mouth  of  which  was 
joined  to  a  tube  dipping  under  mercury,  until  the  con¬ 
tents  of  the  retort  had  become  entirely  liquefied,  and 
setting  aside  the  liquid  thus  obtained  in  a  closed  vessel 
to  crystallize. 

Deville  dissolved  commercial  carbonate  in  concen¬ 
trated  ammonia-water  at  a  temperature  of  about  30°,  and 

*  Poggendorff’s  *  Annalen,’  vol.  xlvi.  p.  373.  Also  Taylor’s 

*  Scientific  Memoirs,’  vol.  ii.  p.  98. 

t  In  1836.  Journ.  fur  Prakt.  Chemie,  vol.  vii.  p.  25. 

J  ‘  Comptes  Rendus,’  vol.  xxxiv.  p.  880.  Ann.  de  Chimie- 
[3],  vol.  xl.  p.  87. 


August  13,  1670.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


127 


set  aside  the  solution  to  crystallize  with  or  without  the 
previous  addition  of  alcohol.  This  method  is  not  very 
satisfactory. 

To  the  methods  given  by  Rose  and  Deville  I  have 
to  add  two  others  quite  different.  The  first  and  most 
important  one  is  the  last  method  given  for  preparing  the 
normal  carbonate.  A  concentrated  solution  of  commer¬ 
cial  carbonate  in  warm  water  is  made  in  a  loosely-closed 
vessel,  and  left  to  crystallize ;  the  operation  is  repeated 
again  and  again  with  the  mother-liquor  and  more  of  the 
carbonate  of  commerce,  until  in  place  of  the  compact 
crop  of  crystals  at  first  obtained,  a  bulky  and  loosely- 
arranged  crop  of  thin  plates  is  produced ;  this  and  those 
succeeding  it  are  crops  of  the  half-acid  carbonate. 

By  using  not  too  great  a  charge  of  commercial  car¬ 
bonate,  and  allowing  the  crystallization  to  go  on,  in  a 
place  not  too  cold,  crystals  form  and  grow  slowly  to  a 
considerable  size ;  or  large  crystals  may  generally  be  ob¬ 
tained  by  decanting  the  mother-liquor,  after  twenty-four 
hours’  standing,  off  the  first  or  second  crop  of  half-acid 
carbonate,  and  leaving  it  undisturbed  in  a  closed  vessel 
for  some  weeks. 

A  modification  of  this  method  is  to  heat  some  commer¬ 
cial  carbonate  in  a  retort  with  just  enough  water  to 
cover  it,  at  a  temperature  not  exceeding  60°,  until  all  is 
dissolved,  then  cooling  the  solution,  and  setting  it  aside 
to  crystallize,  when  it  yields  the  half-acid  carbonate 
mixed  with  acid  carbonate. 

Pelouze  and  Fremy  state,  in  then’  ‘  Traite  de  Chimie,’* 
that  the  half-acid  carbonate,  identical  with  that  obtained 
by  Rose,  may  be  procured  by  cooling  a  solution  of  com¬ 
mercial  carbonate  to  about  0°,  and  this  statement  reap¬ 
pears  in  one  of  our  standard  English  works  on  chemistry. 
It  is  utterly  at  variance  with  my  own  experiments  on 
the  subject.  When  the  solution  has  been  strong  enough 
to  crystallize,  the  crystals  obtained  at  0°  have  always 
proved  to  be  the  acid  carbonate.  And  further,  if  a  solu¬ 
tion  which  has  deposited  crystals  at  0°  is  heated  up  with 
more  of  the  commercial  carbonate,  and  again  cooled,  the 
crystals  which  form  are  still  those  of  the  acid  carbonate. 
Pelouze  and  Fremy  are  besides  in  this  statement  in 
direct  opposition  to  H.  St.  Claire  Deville,  who,  in  his 
paper  “  Sur  la  Forme  et  la  Composition  des  Carbonates 
Ammoniacaux,”t  says  that  prismatic  flattened  crystals  of 
the  acid  carbonate  are  produced  by  greatly  cooling  a 
solution  of  the  commercial  carbonate. 

The  other  new  process  is  the  distillation  of  the  am- 
monio-magnesian  carbonate,  the  products  being  a  fluid 
distillate,  giving  crystals  of  the  half-acid  carbonate,  and 
a  solid  directly  deposited  in  the  neck  of  the  retort  of 
which  the  more  remote  parts  are  also  this  carbonate. 
Further  details  of  the  distillation  wall  be  afterwards 
given. 

To  ensure  success  in  preparing  the  half-acid  carbonate 
for  analysis,  similar  precautions  to  those  recommended 
for  preparing  the  normal  carbonate  should  be  taken,  and, 
as  in  the  case  of  this  salt,  when  the  crystals  are  small  a 
feeling  of  dampness  in  the  drying-paper  must  be  disre¬ 
garded,  and  the  operation  arrested  as  soon  as  the  crystals 
cease  to  make  wet  spots  on  bibulous  paper  pressed  against 
them  for  a  few  moments. 

Sensible  Properties. — Half-acid  ammonium  carbonate 
has  a  very  pungent  ammoniacal  taste  and  smell,  but  the 
pungency  is  less  intense  and  persistent  than  that  of  the 
normal  carbonate. 

Form. — It  occurs  in  the  form  of  thin,  elongated,  six- 
sided  plates,  or,  when  these  plates  are  left  to  grow 
in  their  mother-liquor,  of  flattened,  right  rectangular 
prisms,  terminated  by  the  faces  of  a  rhombic  octahe¬ 
dron. 

Measurements  of  the  angles  of  the  crystals  are  given 
in  Deville’ s  paper  in  the  ‘  Annales  de  Chimie.’ 

Chemical  Composition. — Results  of  the  analyses  of  the 
half-acid  carbonate  have  been  published  by  Rose  and 

*  Vol.  ii.  p.  483. 

f  jinn,  de  Chimie  [3],  vol.  xl.  p.  87. 


Deville  in  their  respective  memoirs  already  referred  to. 
Rose  deduced  from  his  analysis  the  formula — 

(C02)3(0H2)5(NH3)4, 

and  Deville  has  adopted  the  same  formula.  My  own 
experiments  have  led  me  to  adopt  a  different  formula, 
and  the  results  of  my  analyses  point  unmistakably  to 
the  formula  having  four  atoms  of  water.  It  must  be 
taken  into  consideration  that  in  no  case  can  the  samples 
analysed  be  quite  dry,  as  the  decomposition  by  which 
ammonia  is  liberated  also  sets  free  water ;  because  the 
presence  of  this  water  must  lower  the  numbers  found  for 
both  the  carbonic  anhydride  and  the  ammonia,  thus 
making  the  numbers  for  the  former  correspond  closely 
to  the  calculated  number,  in  spite  of  the  decomposition 
which  the  salt  has  undergone,  and  those  for  the  latter 
show  a  greater  deviation  from  the  calculated  number 
than  the  actual  loss  of  the  ammonia  itself  would  cause. 

The  results  of  Rose’s  analyses  correspond  closely  with 
the  numbers  calculated  for  a  salt  containing  five  atoms 
of  water : — 

Pose's  Analyses. 

I.  II.  III.  IV. 

Carbonic  anhydride  .  —  45’35  44-61  44-69 

Ammonia .  23-69  —  —  — 

As  I  have  already  said,  when  speaking  of  the  normal 
carbonate,  the  accuracy  of  the  results  of  an  analysis  of 
such  changeable  salts  depends  very  much  upon  the  suc¬ 
cess  in  preparing  them  for  analysis.  Rose  makes  no 
mention  of  the  method  he  adopted  for  getting  the  salt  in 
the  dry  state  undecomposed,  or  of  his  success  in  doing 
so ;  yet  it  will  be  seen,  on  examining  his  results,  that  the 
ammonia  is  slightly  in  excess  of,  while  the  carbonic  an¬ 
hydride  is  actually  less  than,  the  calculated  quantity, — a 
somewhat  anomalous  result,  admitting  the  accuracy  of 
his  analyses. 

If  it  be  assumed  that  the  salt  analysed,  which  was  in 
very  thin  plates,  retained  some  of  the  mother-liquor,  this 
difficulty  respecting  the  results  will  be  removed ;  for  the 
mother-liquor  from  the  crystals  was  itself  a  solution  of 
normal  carbonate,  according  to  Rose.  This  assumption 
we  are  justified  in  making ;  for  it  has  been  shown  by 
Deville’ s  results  that  other  analyses  recorded  in  Rose’s 
paper  prove  that  the  crystals  employed  must  have  con¬ 
tained  mother-liquor  in  their  interstices.  And  in  further 
support  of  this  assumption,  we  have  also  Deville’ s  testi¬ 
mony,  that  the  half-acid  carbonate  can  hardly  be  ob¬ 
tained  at  once  dry  and  undecomposed. 

Turning  now  to  Deville’ s  deduction  of  the  same  for¬ 
mula  as  Rose’s,  from  the  results  he  himself  obtained,  we 
shall  not  find  it,  I  think,  more  satisfactory  than  that  of 
the  German  chemist.  He  gives  the  annexed  table  of  his 
analyses,  the  samples — none  of  them  dry — being  drier  in 
the  order  of  their  numbers.  (The  water  was  determined 
directly.) 

Deville' s  Analyses. 


I. 

II. 

III. 

IV. 

Mean. 

Carbonic  anhydride 

.  41-4 

46-8 

46-6 

47-8 

4o"65 

Ammonia .... 

.  21-1 

23-7 

24-2 

23-6 

23-15 

Water . 

.  37-5 

29-5 

29-2 

28-6 

31-20 

The  practical  accuracy  of  these  analyses,  as  such,  can¬ 
not  be  impugned  ;  they  were  performed  with  great  pre¬ 
caution  to  avoid  sources  of  error,  and  the  three  consti¬ 
tuents  were  all  determined  by  a  single  operation  in  each 
case.  Now,  their  mean  results  correspond  closely  enough 
with  the  percentage  numbers  for  the  five-atoms-of- water 
formula.  But  then  we  are  certainly  not  right  in  taking 
these  mean  results  as  a  true  indication  of  the  composition 
of  the  salt.  We  can  only  properly  take  the  mean  results 
of  a  series  of  analyses  as  likely  to  be  more  accurate  than 
the  results  of  a  single  analysis,  after  we  have  satisfied 
ourselves  that  the  unavoidable  and  undetected  imperfec¬ 
tions  in  the  performance  of  the  operations  are  as  likely 
to  have  influenced  each  result  in  one  direction  as  in  the 
opposite.  With  the  present  series  of  analyses,  we  know 

h  3 


128 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [August  13, 1S70. 


this  not  to  have  been  the  case ;  but  that,  on  the  contrary, 
every  sample  used  contained  adhering  water,  and  one 
more  than  another ;  and  further,  that  every  sample  might 
have  lost  ammonia,  while  none  could  have  had  it  in  ex¬ 
cess.  Obviously,  therefore,  it  has  been  wrong  to  take, 
as  has  been  done,  the  mean  percentage  quantities  of  the 
constituents  as  the  nearest  approach  to  the  quantities  in 
the  pure  salt. 

I  shall  now  endeavour  to  show  that  the  several  results 
obtained  unequivocally  indicate,  when  taken  in  conjunc¬ 
tion  with  each  other,  that  the  salt  examined  was  a  half¬ 
acid  carbonate,  having  less  than  five  atoms  of  water.  All 
the  samples,  save  the  last,  show  but  very  slight  evidence 
of  loss  of  ammonia,  and  even  in  this  the  ammonia  need 
only  to  have  been  24-6  instead  of  23'6  to  be  in  the  right 
proportion  to  the  carbonic  anhydride.  All  the  samples 
were  damp ;  but  as  the  first  sample  yielded  8  per  cent, 
more  water  on  analysis  than  the  second  and  third  sam¬ 
ples,  equally  free  from  decomposition,  but  better  dried, 
no  other  conclusion  can  be  come  to  than  that  either  the 
first  sample  was  a  very  wet  one  indeed,  or  else  that  a 
more  hydrated  half-acid  carbonate  breaks  up,  while  in  a 
moist  state,  into  water  and  a  less  hydrated  one, — which 
no  one  contends  for,  and  which,  from  the  facts  of  my  own 
analyses,  I  cannot  admit.  In  the  second  and  third  sam¬ 
ples,  the  water  is  nearly  2  per  cent,  less  than  the  calcu¬ 
lated  quantity  for  five  atoms ;  and  yet  both  had  prac¬ 
tically  suffered  no  decomposition,  and  both  were  damp. 
How  is  it  possible,  therefore,  from  these  results,  to  deduce 
for  the  salt  the  formula  with  five  atoms  of  water  ?  In 
the  fourth  sample,  the  water  is  even  2 4  per  cent,  less 
than  the  calculated  quantity ;  but  then  this  sample  was 
somewhat  decomposed.  It  is  not  too  much  to  suppose 
that,  as  the  first  sample  contained  8  per  cent,  more  water 
than  the  others,  these,  moist  as  they  were,  still  retained 
2\  per  cent,  of  moisture.  And  I  contend  that,  had  the 
drying  been  carried  on  uninterruptedly,  instead  of  in 
four  stages,  as  was  done,  and  with  due  protection  of  the 
salt  from  the  free  action  of  the  air,  more  water  might 
have  been  absorbed  from  the  wet  salt,  without  such  a 
loss  of  ammonia  as  would  have  rendered  the  indication 
of  the  analytical  results  ambiguous.  Even,  however,  as 
they  stand,  the  results  indicate  the  salt  with  four  atoms, 
in  a  slightly  decomposed  and  moist  state ;  and  in  this 
state  they  are  described  to  have  been.  They  contain,  in 
this  moist  state,  only  2  4  per  cent,  too  much  water  for  this 
formula.  I  consider,  therefore,  that  Deville’s  analyses  in 
reality  require  the  adoption  of  the  formula  with  which 
my  own  analyses  so  closely  agree. 

It  may  be  added  that,  when  considering  the  relations 
and  analogies  of  this  salt,  a  fifth  atom  of  water  is  found 
to  render  its  composition  peculiar,  if  not  abnormal. 

Chemical  Behaviour. — I  have  little  to  say  of  the  beha¬ 
viour  of  the  half-acid  carbonate  under  circumstances 
capable  of  affecting  it.  The  change  it  undergoes  into 
acid  carbonate,  when  exposed  to  the  air,  is  quite  analo¬ 
gous  to  that  undergone  by  the  normal  carbonate  : — 

(C02)3  (OH2)4  (NH^)4 = 3  C02  OHo  NH3+ OH2+NH3. 

It  is  the  difficulty  of  preventing  this  change,  which 
renders  so  very  doubtful  the  accuracy  of  Rose’s  analyses.* 
When  heated,  its  crystals  melt,  and  are  decomposed.  It 
is  soluble  in  a  little  more  than  five  parts  of  water  at  15° ; 
less  water  than  this  first  becomes  saturated,  and  then 
slowly  decomposes  the  undissolved  salt,  leaving  behind 
acid  carbonate.  Its  solubility  is,  therefore,  as  nearly  as 
can  be  stated,  that  of  the  acid  carbonate  it  may  be  said 
to  contain ;  272  parts  containing  158  parts  of  the  acid 
carbonate,  or  about  three-fifths  of  their  weight.  For  the 
acid  carbonate  is  soluble  in  8  parts  of  water,  and,  there¬ 
fore,  three-fifths  of  a  part  in  about  5  parts.  A  solution 


*  On  allowing  the  crystals  of  half-acid  carbonate  to  decom¬ 
pose  in  a  limited  quantity  of  air,  Deville  has  observed  crystals 
of  acid  carbonate  form,  which  he  thinks  belong  to  a  different 
system  from  that  of  the  ordinary  crystals  of  acid  carbonate. 
(:  Comptcs  Rcndus,’  vol.  xxxiv.  p.  880.) 


saturated  at  20°  evolves  sufficient  carbonic  anhydride  to 
repel  the  stopper  of  a  bottle  containing  it ;  and,  gently 
heated,  effervesces  copiously.  A  saturated  solution, 
cooled,  gives  good  crystals  of  acid  carbonate.  It  is  also 
decomposed  by  spirit,  acid  carbonate  being  left  undis¬ 
solved.  Ammonia  has,  no  doubt,  an  action  upon  it,  com¬ 
pounded  of  its  respective  actions  upon  the  normal  and 
acid  carbonates.  In  short,  the  half-acid  carbonate  seems 
to  be  intermediate  in  its  other  chemical  properties,  as  it 
is  in  composition,  to  these  carbonates. 

When  the  half-acid  carbonate  is  obtained  by  treatment 
of  the  commercial  carbonate  with  water,  the  mother- 
liquor  from  the  crystals  is  equivalent  in  composition  to  a 
solution  of  normal  carbonate,  with  or  without  a  slight 
excess  of  ammonia.  And  Rose  also  found  that  the  mo¬ 
ther-liquor  from  the  crystals  formed  by  his  method  was 
a  solution  of  normal  carbonate.  From  this  somewhat 
remarkable  fact  the  half-acid  carbonate  seems  to  be 
totally  insoluble  in  a  concentrated  solution  of  normal 
carbonate.  An  explanation  of  this  fact  on  another  as¬ 
sumption  will,  however,  be  given  in  another  part  of  this 
paper. 

I  may  here  mention  one  fact  of  interest  concerning 
crystals  of  the  half-acid  and  normal  salts,  viz.,  that  they 
appear  to  act  on  the  glass,  both  English  and  German,  of 
the  bottles  and  flasks  in  which  they  are  stored  for  some 
time,  destroying  the  transparency  of  its  surface.  I  have 
not  observed  the  solutions  of  these  salts  to  do  so. 


PHARMACEUTICAL  NOTES. 

BY  ALBERT  E.  EBERT. 

Not  the  least  duty  of  the  pharmacist,  though  one  more 
honoured  in  the  breach  than  the  observance,  is  his  obli¬ 
gation  to  communicate  to  his  fellows  of  the  craft  such 
improvements  in  manipulation,  in  apparatus,  and  in  the 
convenient  arrangement  of  his  shop  as  his  every-day  ex¬ 
perience  behind  the  counter  must  occasionally  suggest. 
How  much  practical,  desirable  information  is  hid  under  a 
bushel  by  this  sin  of  omission  we  can  only  conjecture ; 
but  if  the  thousands  would  communicate  their  personal 
experience,  it  cannot  be  doubted  that  a  valuable  fund  of 
useful  knowledge  would  accumulate.  The  following 
suggestions  are  made  with  no  great  claim  for  their  origi¬ 
nality  or  importance,  but,  since  they  are  based  upon  ac¬ 
tual  experience,  they  may  be  of  utility  to  others  as  they 
have  been  to  us. 

Test-tubes,  indispensable  for  their  legitimate  purpose, 
will  often  answer  another  useful  end.  For  effecting  so¬ 
lutions  of  small  quantities  of  the  alkaline  or  metallic 
salts,  especially  when  the  solvent  is  of  a  viscid  nature, 
we  have  found  the  test-tube  a  valuable  auxiliary, — more 
convenient  in  use  than  the  mortar,  less  wasteful,  and 
effecting  the  solution  with  greater  dispatch.  We  pro¬ 
ceed  by  dropping  the  salt  into  the  tube,  adding  a  portion 
of  the  vehicle,  and  applying  heat,  with  constant  shaking 
of  the  tube.  Solution  quickly  follows  ;  the  warm  liquid 
is  added  to  the  remainder  of  the  vehicle,  previously 
placed  in  the  vial,  and  the  whole  is  mixed  by  agitation. 

Of  course,  the  dispenser  will  see  that  this  method  of 
procedure  is  not  applicable  where  the  quantity  of  the 
salt  exceeds  its  solubility  in  the  whole  liquid  at  ordinary 
temperatures,  as  crystallization  would  occur.  This  rela¬ 
tion  of  salt  to  solvent  is  often  met  with,  and  then  the 
only  resort  is  to  the  mortar,  in  which  the  salt  may  be 
rubbed  to  powder  before  its  mixture  with  the  liquid,  and 
the  attachment  of  a  “shaking  label”  to  the  vial.  Solid 
extracts  may  be  brought  into  solution  by  the  same  means 
with  great  facility. 

The  moral  effect  of  such  a  display  of  chemical  ware 
before  the  admiring  eyes  of  the  patient  may  be  consi¬ 
dered,  in  some  rare  instances,  as  equally  beneficial  with 
the  product  of  the  combined  skill  of  the  physician  and 
pharmacist. 

In  spreading  plasters  extemporaneously,  convenience 


August  13,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


129 


requires,  and  neatness  demands,  an  imcoated  marginal 
-edge.  This  is  usually  secured  by  pasting  strips  of  paper 
along  the  edges  of  the  skin,  and  removing  them  after  the 
spreading  of  the  plaster  is  effected.  It  is  just  here  that 
a  practical  difficulty  frequently  arises.  The  paper  edges 
are  liable,  from  drying  of  the  paste,  to  adhere  so  strongly 
that  either  paper  or  skin  will  give  way  upon  an  attempt 
;at  their  removal ;  the  application  of  water  will  then  be 
necessary  to  soften  the  attachment,  and  the  final  result 
may  be  expected  to  present  a  daubed  and  uncleanly  as¬ 
pect.  This  difficulty  may  be  entirely  avoided  by  apply¬ 
ing  to  the  paste-brush  a  little  glycerine  before  the  ad¬ 
justment  of  the  marginal  strips. 

Coating  of  Pills. — A  prevailing  fashion  in  pharmacy, 
or  rather  among  prescribers,  is  the  use  of  sugar-coated 
pills.  This  is  very  detrimental  to  the  practice  of  legiti¬ 
mate  pharmacy,  whatever  may  be  its  effect  upon  those 
who  swallow  the  pills.  An  extemporaneous  process  of 
sugar-coating  is  a  desideratum  for  which  our  colleges  of 
pharmacy  should  unite  in  offering  a  prize.  In  the  ab¬ 
sence  of  this,  a  very  excellent  substitute  may  be  found  in 
resin.  This  substance  is  easily  applied,  gives  a  hard, 
tasteless  surface,  a  handsome  appearance,  and  has  a  de¬ 
cided  tendency  to  protect  the  pills  from  change.  The 
coating  cannot  interfere  with  their  medicinal  action,  for 
it  is  readily  dissolved  by  the  fluids  of  the  stomach.  The 
process  of  coating  is  easy  and  expeditious,  and  no  appa¬ 
ratus  is  required. 

We  proceed  as  follows,  keeping  prepared  a  solution  of 
resin  in  ether,  one  part  of  resin  to  ten  parts  of  the  fluid. 
We  return  the  pills,  after  they  have  been  rolled  to  shape, 
to  the  mortar  in  which  their  ingredients  were  mixed, 
pour  over  them  a  little  of  the  resinous  solution,  give  the 
mortar  a  few  twirls,  and  roll  them  out  upon  the  platform 
of  the  pill-machine  or  pill-tile.  By  the  time  the  label  is 
prepared  the  pills  will  have  become  sufficiently  dry  to 
allow  boxing.  A  little  dusting  powder,  preferably  lyco¬ 
podium,  should  be  dusted  over  them,  and  the  work  is 
done. 

Speaking  of  pills,  an  idea  occurs  which  is  worth  sug¬ 
gesting  to  the  manufacturers  of  pill-machines,  namely, 
that  these  convenient  implements  be  made  to  cut  thirty 
pills  instead  of  twenty-four.  The  former  number  of 
pills  is  much  more  frequently  prescribed  than  the  latter. 
A  great  improvement  would  be  the  placing  of  numerals 
before  each  groove,  so  that  the  operator  may  not  be 
obliged  to  count  the  grooves  whenever  a  fractional  num¬ 
ber  of  pills  are  to  be  divided. 

While  making  suggestions,  we  will  continue  by  add¬ 
ing  that  there  is  a  great  need  for  vials,  especially  for 
half-,  one-,  and  two-ounce  vials,  with  lips  suitable  for 
dropping  liquids.  With  the  ware  of  the  market  at  pre¬ 
sent,  it  is  almost  impossible  for  an  expert  to  be  successful 
in  dropping ;  so  what  must  be  the  experience  of  invalids 
and  nurses  in  this  respect  ?  The  defect  may  be  easily 
remedied  by  making  the  lips  of  vials  for  such  uses  broad 
and  thin.  If  we  insist  in  demanding  such  improvements 
as  we  are  suggesting,  manufacturers  will  be  eager  to 
supply  them. — The  Chicago  Pharmacist. 


GLUCOSE. 

We  learn  from  the  ‘Grocer’  that  glucose  is  fast  be¬ 
coming  an  article  of  commerce.  Some  large  parcels  have 
been  already  received  from  the  Continent,  and,  unless 
the  lowness  of  the  price  obtained  for  it  proves  to  be  a 
bar  to  its  free  production,  considerable  quantities  may  be 
expected.  It  is  offered  in  the  form  of  huge  blocks  or 
cakes,  but  when  specially  prepared  for  the  use  of  brewers, 
it  undergoes  a  process  of  crushing  that  reduces  it  into 
small  particles  resembling  grains  of  malt.  It  is  not 
allowed  by  the  Excise  authorities  to  enter  a  brewery  in 
a  liquid  state.  By  some  brewers,  especially  those  in¬ 
terested  in  the  production  of  pale  sparkling  ales,  it  is 
preferred  to  either  malt  or  sugar  for  obtaining  sound  and 
wholesome  liquors,  in  which  there  is  none  of  that  acidity, 


impurity,  or  treacly  sweetness  which  may  be  frequently 
detected  in  ales  and  beer  brewed  from  the  common  classes 
of  raw  sugar.  With  confectioners,  who  require  the  ad¬ 
dition  of  an  almost  colourless  preparation  for  their  more 
delicate  manufactures,  it  is  gradually  taking  the  place  of 
sugar. 


CHEAP  AERATED  BEVERAGES. 

The  following  analyses  and  remarks  are  taken  from 
an  article  with  the  above  title  in  the  ‘  Food  Journal  ’  for 
August : — 

“  Lemonade. — A  good  and  pure  lemonade  should  show 
on  analysis  nothing  but  sugar  and  citric  acid,  and  should 
have  a  pressure  in  bottle  of  at  least  60  lbs.  to  the  square 
inch.  Six  samples  were  tested  with  the  following  re¬ 
sults  : — 


No. 

Con¬ 
tents  of 
bottles. 

Citric 

Acid. 

Sugar 
per  bottle. 

Tartaric 
Acid  per 
bottle. 

Sul¬ 

phuric 

Acid. 

Copper 

or 

Lead. 

1 

9  oz. 

None 

Nearly  1  oz. 

grs. 

9-21 

None 

None 

2 

i  pint 

yy 

About  |  oz. 

20-46 

J) 

yy 

3 

8|  oz. 

yy 

>> 

17-50 

yy 

Trace. 

4 

oz. 

yy 

„  foz. 

17-50 

yy 

yy 

5 

£  pint 

A  little 

>1 

40-00 

yy 

Large 

6 

None 

55 

>> 

20-60 

» 

trace. 

Trace. 

“Thus  we  see  that  in  the  cheap  lemonade  there  is 
rarely  a  trace  of  lemon-juice  at  all,  the  syrup  being  com¬ 
pounded  of  sugar,  tartaric  acid,  and  essence  of  lemons. 
In  four  cases  out  of  six,  poisonous  metallic  contamination 
was  abundantly  evident.  The  aeration  was  very  imper¬ 
fect,  except  in  the  case  of  No.  4,  but  even  in  that  sample 
it  fell  far  short  of  the  proper  amount.  The  lemonades 
were  all  more  or  less  turbid,  and,  under  the  microscope, 
revealed  myriads  of  organized  germs  and  cells  with  a 
bright  nucleus.” 

“  Ginger  Beer. — In  the  common  ginger  beer,  we  find 
that  the  rule  is  to  reduce  the  sugar  and  the  ginger  to  the 
minimum  possible  quantity,  adding  cream  of  tartar  and 
capsicum  to  contribute  the  sharpness  and  pungency  so  in 
vogue  with  the  drinkers  of  the  article.  The  beer  is  also 
commonly  contaminated  with  iron,  we  presume  from  the 
boilers  in  which  it  is  made.  Six  samples  of  this  beverage 
were  also  tested,  with  the  following  results  : — 


No. 

Contents 
of  Bottle. 

Acetic  Acid 
per  bottle. 

Cream  of 
Tartar 
per  bottle. 

Total 

Solids. 

Metals. 

1 

i  pint 

2-63 

grs. 

2-0  grs. 

187"6grs. 

Iron. 

2 

yy 

7-75 

?> 

3-6  „ 

137-1  „ 

55 

3 

>> 

11-00 

» 

4-0  „ 

226-0  „ 

Copper. 

4 

yy 

9-60 

yy 

4-0  „ 

172-5  „ 

None. 

5 

» 

2-30 

yy 

3-5  „ 

244-5  „ 

55 

6 

yy 

5-60 

yy 

2-7  „ 

205-4  „ 

55 

“  This  table  shows  that  in  all  the  beers  acetic  acid  had 
been  formed,  and  some,  such  as  3  and  4,  were  very  bad 
in  this  respect.  These  same  numbers  are  also  to  be  dis¬ 
tinguished  by  an  extra  dose  of  cream  of  tartar,  while 
No.  3  was  found  to  contain  copper,  presumably  from  the 
vessels  used  in  manufacture.  One  bottle  smelt  so  strongly 
of  petroleum  that  its  contents  were  undrinkable.” 


SEWAGE  IRRIGATION. 

The  following  letter  from  Mr.  J.  J.  Mechi,  of  Tiptree 
Hall,  on  the  above  subject,  has  appeared  in  the  ‘  Times,’ 
under  the  heading  “  Waste  ” : — 

“  Every  well-wisher  to  the  country  who  reflects  upon 
the  great  sewage  question,  and  its  present  condition, 
must  feel  humiliated  by  our  national  and  willing  help¬ 
lessness  and  shortcomings  as  regards  the  disposal  and 


130 


THE  T  HARM  ACEH  TIC  AL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  IS,  1873. 


utilization  of  this  our  vast  food-producing  treasure.  The 
blundering  from  beginning  to  end  has  been  immense. 
Our  sanitary  reformers,  in  their  laudable  desire  to  pre¬ 
serve  our  health,  abolished  our  cesspools,  poisoned  our 
rivers,  and  deprived  us  of  the  only  cheap  and  effective 
means  for  fertilizing  our  fields  and  filling  our  stomachs. 

“A  jury  of  Chinamen  would  pronounce  us  guilty  of 
suicidal  insanity,  for  in  China  their  400  millions  of 
people  depend  mainly  on  human  sewage  for  the  pro¬ 
duction  of  their,  food, — they  'do  not,  like  us,  purchase 
birds’  dung  from  Peru,  or  import  the  antiquated  dust 
and  ashes  of  foreign  men  and  animals.  Every  one  in 
Britain  believes  in  the  sheepfold,  but  about  the  man-fold, 
which  is  superior  in  its  effects  and  results,  there  has  been 
complete  apathy. 

“  The  voluntary  principle  has  been  tried  and  failed. 
Parmer  So-and-So,  near  a  town,  declines  to  have  the  nasty 
stuff  on  his  land,  and  so  has  obstructed  its  use.  Some 
wholesome  despotism,  in  railway  fashion,  by  Acts  of  Par¬ 
liament,  has  authorized  Corporations  and  Boards  of  Health 
to  take  land  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  the  sewage. 
London  is,  however,  still  an  exception  to  this  wholesome 
rule.  We  have  expended  four  millions  sterling  in  sewers 
to  convey  it  into  and  to  poison  and  obstruct  our  noble 
Thames,  and  have,  for  this  worse  than  useless  purpose, 
to  pay  a  rate  of  threepence  in  the  pound  for  some  thirty 
or  forty  years,  besides  the  heavy  annual  working  ex¬ 
penses.  Ratepayers  are  naturally  indignant  that  such 
a  valuable  food-producing  material  should  be  wasted. 
The  Thames  Conservators  have  taken  action  by  Parlia¬ 
mentary  powers  to  prevent  solid  matters  passing  into 
the  river.  It  must,  therefore,  go  on  to  the  land.  But 
the  extent  of  land  required,  who  shall  pay  for  it,  and  when 
it  is  to  be  paid  for  or  liquidated,  are  important  and  difficult 
questions.  Ratepayers  very  reasonably  object  to  be 
mulcted  in  the  cost  of  land  which  must  improve  greatly 
in  value,  and  will,  with  the  sewers,  become  a  great  boon 
to  future  generations. 

“  It  appears  to  me  that  the  rule  which  compels  Boards 
of  Health  or  Corporations  to  repay  the  whole  cost  of 
sewage  in  a  few  years,  in  addition  to  the  interest  and 
annual  working  expenses,  is  too  stringent;  and  that, 
looking  to  the  permanency  of  the  works,  the  period  of 
repayment  should  be  considerably  extended.  The  same 
remark  holds  good  as  to  the  purchase  of  land  required 
to  receive  the  sewage.  It  is  the  fear  of  imposing  heavy 
rates  for  an  early  repayment  that  causes  Corporations  or 
Boards  of  Health  to  limit  their  purchase  of  land  to  a 
minimum.  Why  should  they  not  be  allowed  to  mortgage 
the  land  for  long  periods,  thus  easing  the  present  rate¬ 
payers,  and  transferring  a  fair  portion  of  the  burden  to 
posterity,  who,  by  the  improved  value  of  the  land,  will 
be  better  able  to  bear  it  ?  Reliable  evidence  shows  un¬ 
mistakably  that  the  rental  and  value  of  sewaged  land 
increases  year  by  year,  and  will  continue  to  do  so  until 
it  reaches  its  maximum  of  fertility.  The  sewaged  Edin¬ 
burgh  meadows,  the  average  annual  value  of  which  has 
risen  to  £27  per  acre,  prove  this ;  land  near  Croydon, 
worth  in  its  unsewaged  state  about  30s.  per  acre,  was  let 
when  sewaged  for  £5  per  acre,  and  now  (the  first  seven 
years’  term  having  expired)  it  is  let,  with  an  addition  of 
250  acres,  at  £9  per  acre  per  annum,  thus  proportionately 
multiplying  the  value  of  the  fee  simple. 

“  A  very  large  area  would  be  required  for  the  utiliza¬ 
tion  and  purification  of  the  London  sewage.  We  know 
that  London  consumes  daily  the  annual  available  pro¬ 
duce  of  20,000  acres,  and  a  similar  quantity  is  required 
weekly  for  London  horses. 

“  The  average  manurial  power  of  Britain  is  equal  to 
only  two  sheep  or  two  human  beings  per  acre.  At  that 
estimate  London  sewage  should  fertilize  1,750,000  acres. 
Such  an  area  is,  of  course,  at  present  out  of  the  question ; 
but  taking  the  accepted  impression  that  we  should  allow 
100  human  beings  to  each  acre  (or  fifty  times  our  gene¬ 
ral  manurial  power),  even  at  this  rate  35,000  acres 
would  be  required.  To  purchase  this  land  at  £50  per 


acre  would  cost  £1,750,000 ;  to  prepare  it  for  the  recep¬ 
tion  of  sewage  by  drainage,  levelling,  pumping,  etc., 
would  bring  the  probable  cost  to  nearly  £2,500,000. 

“  The  Metropolitan  Board  of  Works  would  hardly  dare- 
to  exact  a  rate  sufficiently  large  to  liquidate  this  amount 
in  a  short  period.  The  right  of  mortgaging  during  a 
century  would  remove  the  difficulty,  or  probably  taking- 
powers  to  resell  the  land  when  improved,  reserving  the 
powers  of  sewaging,  etc. 

“  At  all  events,  the  recent  action  in  Parliament  of  the- 
Thames  Conservancy  will  compel  us  to  fertilize  the  land, 
rather  than  poison  and  choke  our  noble  river.” 


Silk  and  Sunflowers  in  Mauritius. — We  gather 
from  the  last  annual  report  of  the  Royal  Society  of  Arts- 
and  Sciences  of  Mauritius,  that  they  had  received  a 
communication  from  the  “Silk  Supply  Association,” 
asking  whether  silk  could  be  grown  in  the  island,  and 
laying  down  as  a  principle,  that  wherever  the  mulberry- 
tree  will  grow,  there  silk  can  be  produced.  The  Society 
referred  the  question  to  a  committee,  who  report  unani¬ 
mously  that  “  not  only  can  the  mulberry  be  cultivated 
and  the  silkworm  reared  in  Mauritius,  but  that  an  esta¬ 
blishment  founded  on  certain  principles  (which  they  in¬ 
dicate)  would  implant  the  industry  of  the  silk-grower 
on  a  firm  basis  in  the  island.”  The  committee  feel  so 
confident  of  success,  that  they  offer  to  undertake  the 
management  of  the  establishment ;  and  we  notice  that  a 
specimen  of  silk  grown  in  Mauritius,  and  reeled  more- 
than  twenty  years  ago,  was  valued  at  30s.  a  pound  in 
the  London  market  last  January. 

Another  plant,  the  sunflower  (. Helianthus  annuus),  is  to» 
be  cultivated,  and  seeds  have  been  distributed  among  per¬ 
sons  willing  to  undertake  the  task.  It  is  popularly  be¬ 
lieved  that  plantations  of  sunflowers  tend  to  improve 
local  climates,  by  neutralizing  the  effect  of  marsh  air 
and  checking  the  liability  to  intermittent  fever ;  and  in 
some  parts  of  Holland  and  the  South  of  France  the 
growth  of  sunflowers  has  been  encouraged  as  a  means  of 
sanification.  The  same  motive  has  led  to  the  experiment 
now  making  in  Mauritius,  where  some  of  the  planters 
remark  that,  apart  from  all  other  considerations,  the 
seeds  of  the  sunflower  yield  a  valuable  oil  and  are  much 
relished  by  poultry. 

A  climbing  plant,  known  to  botanists  as  the  Telfairia 
(or  Joliffia)  African  a,  was  formerly  abundant  in  Mauri¬ 
tius,  but  has,  for  some  as  yet  unexplained  reason,  com¬ 
pletely  disappeared  from  the  island.  The  plant  being 
useful  as  well  as  ornamental,  growing  to  a  great  height 
and  bearing  seeds  which  yield  a  rich  sweet  oil,  is  to  be- 
reintroduced ;  and  at  the  request  of  the  Governor,  Sir 
Henry  Barkly,  a  supply  of  seeds  has  been  forwarded 
from  Zanzibar  by  Dr.  Kirk. — At  hen  mm,  July  ZQth. 

Clark’s  'Water-Softening  Process. — It  appears 
that  the  patent  for  this  process  has  expired,  and  that  any¬ 
body  can  use  it  now  that  likes  to  do  so.  Seeing  that  the 
London  water  companies  have  us  entirely  at  their  mercy 
in  the  matter  of  water  supply,  it  would  be  only  a  gracious 
act  if  they  were  to  determine  henceforth  to  apply  Clark’s 
softening  and  purifying  process  to  the  whole  of  their 
respective  supplies.  If  the  companies  decline  this  spon¬ 
taneous  manifestation  of  regard  for  their  customers,  it 
may  be  worth  while  for  the  Home  Secretary  to  remem¬ 
ber  this  point  in  his  promised  legislation  upon  the  re¬ 
commendations  of  the  Royal  Commission  on  Water 
Supply. — Lancet. 

Adulteration  of  Carbonate  of  Soda. — The  ‘Ant¬ 
werp  Journal  of  Pharmacy’  calls  attention  to  the  prac¬ 
tice  of  adulterating  carbonate  of  soda  by  mixing  with  it 
a  proportion  of  sulphate  of  soda.  At  first  sight  the  ad¬ 
mixture  is  not  apparent,  though  the  two  salts  differ 
essentially  from  each  other,  both  in  their  crystallization 
and  their  chemical  properties.  The  fraud  is  one  that 
may  easily  be  detected  by  a  chemist. 


August  13,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


131 


SATURDAY,  AUGUST  13,  1S70. 


PHARMACEUTICAL  EXHIBITIONS. 

The  practice  of  holding  periodical  exhibitions  ap¬ 
pears  to  be  gaining  favour  not  only  in  this  country, 
but  also  in  America,  for  a  circular  just  received  from 
Mr.  J.  Faris  Moore,  announces  that  at  the  eighteenth 
annual  meeting  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical 
Association,  to  be  held  in  Baltimore,  on  the  13th 
September  next,  there  will  be  an  exhibition  of  objects 
relating  to  Pharmacy  and  the  Collateral  Sciences. 
It  adds  that  the  exhibition  has  become  a  prominent 
and  interesting  feature  of  the  Association’s  annual 
meeting,  constituting  an  exponent  of  the  progress  of 
chemical  and  pharmaceutical  industry,  besides  afford¬ 
ing  an  excellent  opportunity  for  the  manufacturer 
and  wholesale  dealer  to  make  his  name  and  goods 
known  to  the  trade. 

Following  the  precedent  established  at  Nottingham 
and  Nonrich,  the  Liverpool  Local  Committee  of  the 
British  Pharmaceutical  Conference  has  decided  to 
hold  an  exhibition  of  objects  relating  to  Pharmacy, 
or  having  a  special  interest  for  members  of  the  drug 
trade,  during  the  meeting  which  is  to  commence  on 
Tuesday,  the  13th  of  September,  under  the  presi¬ 
dency  of  Mr.  Stoddart.  The  central  position  of 
Liverpool,  its  commercial  importance,  and  the  prox¬ 
imity  of  large  chemical  manufactories,  constitute 
special  reasons  for  holding  such  an  exhibition  there. 
The  objects  which  it  is  desirable  should  be  repre¬ 
sented  are — 

1.  Novelties  or  improvements  in  pharmaceutical  pro¬ 
cesses,  including  apparatus  and  utensils  for  evaporation, 
distillation,  pulverization,  displacement,  filtration,  etc. 
Applications  of  gas  and  steam  are  especially  desired. 
Models  or  drawings  will  also  be  eligible. 

2.  Instruments  intended  for  use  in  chemical  investiga¬ 
tions,  such  as  apparatus  for  volumetric  analysis,  spectro¬ 
scopes,  polarizing  apparatus  for  testing  the  purity  of 
pharmaceutical  preparations,  etc. 

3.  Microscopes,  microscopic  accessories  and  objects. 

4.  New  medicines  and  medical  appliances,  as  galvanic 
and  electro-magnetic  machines,  enema- syringes,  etc. 

5.  Illustrations  of  general  business  fittings  and  ar¬ 
rangements  for  dispensing. 

6.  Improved  dispensing  appliances,  as  bottles,  boxes 
for  pills  and  powders,  labels,  etc. 

7.  Poison  bottles,  poison  labels,  etc.  Illustrations  of 
precautions  against  mistake,  either  by  dispenser  or  pa¬ 
tient. 

8.  Improved  preparations  for  the  administration  of 
medicines.  This  class  would  include  methods  for  dis¬ 
guising  nauseous  remedies  by  means  of  capsules,  also  the 
various  coatings  of  pills,  also  improved  suppositories  and 
pessaries,  liquors  and  other  substitutes  for  alcoholic  tinc¬ 
tures.  Artificial  mineral  waters. 

9.  Specimens  of  drugs  or  chemicals  remarkable  for  fine 
quality,  or  for  other  reasons.  Illustrations,  botanical  or 
mineral,  of  the  sources  of  medicines. 

10.  Foreign  preparations,  proprietary  or  otherwise. 

11.  Illustrations  of  adulterations,  and  the  means  of 
detecting  them. 


12.  Improved  dietetic  preparations. 

13.  Books,  English  or  foreign,  relating  to  pharmacy 
or  the  collateral  sciences. 

14.  Historical  relics,  having  an  interest  in  connection 
with  pharmacy,  or  its  cultivators,  as  portraits,  auto¬ 
graphs,  etc. 

15.  Any  improvements  within  the  scope  of  the  drug 
trade,  or  consistent  with  it,  but  which  are  not  embraced 
by  previous  classes. 

The  following  Regulations  are  to  be  observed  — 

Objects  for  exhibition  are  to  be  delivered  at  Liverpool 
free  of  carriage  on  or  before  September  8th,  advice  being- 
sent  at  the  same  time  by  post,  and  an  invoice  of  their 
value,  stating  whether  intended  for  sale  or  not;  and 
descriptive  accounts  written  on  one  side  of  the  paper 
only  should  accompany  all  articles  sent.  The  Committee 
will  take  charge  of  unpacking  and  re-packing  articles 
sent  for  exhibition,  but  whilst  every  care  will  be  taken, 
they  cannot  be  responsible  for  damage.  The  Committee 
reserve  the  right  to  decline  any  objects  they  may  con¬ 
sider  unsuitable. 

A  report  upon  the  Exhibition  will  be  prepared  by 
a  Special  Committee,  and  published  in  the  ‘  Proceed¬ 
ings  of  the  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference,’  and 
intending  exhibitors  should  apply  at  once  to  the 
Hon.  Secretary,  Mr.  E.  Davies,  Royal  Institution, 
Liverpool. 

A  similar  exhibition  is  now  being  held  at  New¬ 
castle,  in  connection  with  the  British  MedicaF Asso¬ 
ciation,  and,  among  other  objects  of  interest  to  medi¬ 
cal  men,  new  drugs,  chemicals,  and  preparations  of 
food  are  represented  by  several  well-known  phar¬ 
macists. 


CHEMISTS’  WEIGHTS  AND  MEASURES. 

For  some  time  past  considerable  activity  has  been 
manifested  by  the  local  authorities  of  Islington,  in 
reference  to  incorrect  weights  and  measures,  and 
recently  eighty-four  persons  were  fined.  In  most 
instances  there  appears  to  have  been  no  intention  to 
defraud,  but  it  is  worth  noticing  that  there  were  no 
less  than  sixteen  chemists  among  those  who  were 
fined.  It  appears,  according  to  a  statement  in  the 
‘  Grocer,’  that  one  of  those  who  suggested  greater 
activity  on  the  part  of  the  inspectors  was  a  chemist, 
and  that  he  was  also  one  of  the  first  victims  of  the 
course  he  had  suggested. 


THE  YEAR-BOOK  OF  PHARMACY. 

We  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  a  specimen-page  of 
this  projected  work,  and  are  glad  to  find  that  there 
is  a  steady  progress  towards  its  actual  publication. 
The  Executive  Committee  of  the  British  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Conference  reported  last  year,  at  the  Exeter 
Meeting,  that,  in  considering  whether  the  compila¬ 
tion  and  issue  of  such  a  work  would  be  desirable,  it 
was  felt  that  since  similar  works,  in  connection 
with  various  sciences,  are  published  in  most  other 
countries,  and  are  found  to  advance  knowledge  bene¬ 
ficially,  Great  Britain  should  not  be  without  such 
a  yearly  report.  It  was  the  opinion  of  the  Com¬ 
mittee  that  the  publication  of  a  work  of  the  kind 


132 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [Augugt  13,  1870. 


would  further  the  best  interests  of  pharmacy  and 
pharmacists.  It  was  considered  that  the  necessary 
funds  for  the  publication  of  this  ‘  Year-Book  ’  would 
be  obtained  if  some  five  hundred  new  members 
joined  the  Conference,  and  we  understand  nearly  that 
number  of  additions  has  already  been  obtained.  With 
such  a  desirable  object  immediately  before  British 
pharmacists,  we  anticipate  a  still  larger  accession  to 
the  ranks  of  the  Conference  at  Liverpool. 

The  £  Year-Book  ’  is  to  include  notices  of  all  phar¬ 
maceutical  papers,  new  processes,  preparations,  anc. 
formulae  published  throughout  the  world. 


THE  BRITISH  MEDICAL  JOURNAL. 

It  is  with  great  pleasure  we  learn  that  Mr.  Ernest 
Hart  has  been  unanimously  elected  editor  of  this 
journal,  which  is  the  organ  of  the  British  Medical 
Association.  As  might  have  been  expected,  Mr. 
Hart’s  claims  were  recognized  and  strongly  urged  by 
many  leading  members  of  the  medical  profession, 
and  we  congratulate  the  Association  on  having  se¬ 
cured  the  services  of  so  talented  an  editor  to  fill  up 
the  vacancy  caused  by  Mr.  Jonathan  Hutchinson’s 
resignation.  _ 

In  another  part  of  the  Journal  will  be  found  the 
Act  for  regulating  the  Sale  of  Poisons  in  Ireland.  It 
is  simply  an  extension  of  the  Act  applying  to  Great 
Britain.  _ 

Mr.  H.  Alder  Smith  has  been  elected  Hesident 
Surgeon  to  Christ’s  Hospital,  in  the  room  of  Mr.  Stone, 
resigned.  Mr.  Smith  was  formerly  a  pupil  in  the 
Laboratory  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  and  we 
are  glad  to  find  that  the  distinction  he  gained  as  a 
student  there  and  elsewhere  is  being  followed  by 
practical  success. 

Mr.  Pouter,  who  was  killed  at  the  Hastings  Sewage 
Works  last  week,  was  formerly  a  student  in  the  La¬ 
boratory  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society. 


The  ‘  Times  ’  is  authorized  to  state,  in  answer  to 
frequent  inquiries,  that  the  North  German  Govern¬ 
ment  does  not  object  to  admit  British  medical  men  as 
volunteers  in  their  army  hospitals,  provided  that  they 
speak  German  fluently,  that  they  have  the  licence 
to  practise  medicine  and  surgery  in  the  United 
Kingdom,  that  they  have  the  permission  of  their 
Government  to  serve  as  medical  volunteers  in  Ger¬ 
many,  and  that  they  will  place  themselves  uncondi¬ 
tionally  at  the  disposal  of  the  North  German  Go¬ 
vernment. 

The  ‘  Lancet,’  in  speaking  of  the  Second  Report 
of  the  Rivers  Pollution  Commissioners,  says  that 
“  the  public,  now  fully  sensible  of  the  folly  of  turn¬ 
ing  the  debris  of  our  food  and  bodily  waste  into  otir 
rivers  and  the  sea,  polluting  them  to  an  extent 
which  made  their  condition  destructive  of  public 


health  and  comfort,  have  been  fascinated  with  a 
fiction  that  alum,  blood,  and  clay  possessed  the 
charm  of  preventing  contamination,  and,  at  the 
same  tune,  became  the  medium  of  restoring  to  the 
land  those  fertilizing  agents  which  had  been  ex¬ 
tracted  in  the  formation  of  food.”  It  adds,  that 
these  illusions  are  made  to  disappear  by  Dr.  Frank- 
land’s  investigation  of  the  subject, — the  general  con¬ 
clusions  he  has  arrived  at  being  those  stated  in  our 
notice  of  the  Royal  Commissioners’  Second  Report* 
just  presented  to  Parliament. 


The  Societe  de  Pharmacie  have  named  a  commis¬ 
sion,  consisting  of  MM.  Jungfleisch,  Coulier,  Baudri- 
mont,  Limousin,  and  Regnauld,  to  inquire  into  the 
causes  of  the  accidents  which  occur  in  the  prepara¬ 
tion  of  ox3rgen  by  heating  chlorate  of  potash  with 
peroxide  of  manganese. 

The  £  Medical  Times  and  Gazette  ’  announces,  in 
reference  to  the  suggestion  for  a  memorial  to  the  late 
Sir  J ames  Clark,  that  when  it  was  brought  to  the 
notice  of  his  family  a  desire  was  expressed  by  them 
that  it  should  not  be  carried  out.  Although  they 
feel  deeply  the  kindness  of  the  proposal,  they  consider 
it  doubtful  whether  such  a  memorial  would  have 
been  wished  for  by  Sir  J  ames,  inasmuch  as  he  did 
not  approve  of  the  practice  of  subscriptions  for  such 
purposes.  While  thanking  those  who  entertain  the 
desire,  the  family  hope  that  their  friends  will  not  be 
hurt  by  a  request  not  to  move  further  in  the  matter. 


The  drawings  of  Cinchona,  made  under  the  super¬ 
intendence  of  Dr.  Mutis  at  the  end  of  the  last  cen¬ 
tury,  are  about  to  be  published.  It  win  be  remem¬ 
bered  that  they  were  discovered  by  Mr.  Clements  R. 
Markham  in  an  outhouse  in  the  Botanical  Garden 
at  Madrid,  together  with  some  of  Dr.  Mutis’  MSS., 
a  part  of  which  was  published  under  the  title  of 
£  The  Cinchona  Species  of  New  Granada,’  for  her 
Majesty’s  Stationery  Office,  in  1867,  by  Mr.  Markham. 


Snrasaifitms  of  \\t  || mumtml  f  ridir. 


MEETING  OF  THE -COUNCIL, 

August  3rd,  1870. 

MR.  SANDFORD,  PRESIDENT,  IN  THE  CHAIR. 

MR.  HASELDEN,  VICE-PRESIDENT. 

Present— Messrs.  Atherton,  Bottle,  Bourdas,  Brady, 
Edwards,  Groves,  Hills,  Reynolds,  Savage,  Stoddart,  and 
Woolley. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  con¬ 
firmed. 

Mr.  Woolley  desired  to  move  that  the  portion  of  the 
minutes  referring  to  the  grant  of  an  annuity  to  Dr. 
Redwood  should  be  excepted  from  confirmation,  but,  it 
being  ruled  that  according  to  the  Bye-laws,  Section  6, 
Clause  3,  <£  All  resolutions  carried  at  the  meetings  of  the 

*  See  Pharm.  Journ.  No.  4,  p.  67. 


August  13,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


133 


Council,  except  such  as  relate  to  the  Bye-laws,  shall  he 
acted  upon  without  confirmation,”  he  was  deemed  out  of 
order.  Mr.  W oolley  thereupon  lodged  a  protest  against  the 
funds  of  the  Society  being  dealt  with  in  such  a  summary 
manner  as  that  in  which  the  grant  to  Dr.  Redwood  was 
voted. 

The  following  letter,  received  by  the  President  from 
Dr.  Redwood,  was  read : — 

“  To  the  President  and  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 

of  Great  Britain. 

“  Gentlemen, — Although  I  deeply  regret  the  decision 
of  your  Board  by  which  I  have  been  removed  from  the 
position  I  so  long  occupied  as  Editor  of  the  ‘  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Journal,’  I  must  beg  to  express  to  you  my  thanks 
for  the  liberal  spirit  in  which  you  have  acknowledged 
the  services  I  have  endeavoured  faithfully  and  zealously 
to  render  to  the  Society  from  its  first  formation,  and 
which  I  shall  still  hope  to  find  some  means  of  continuing 
to  render. 

“  I  am,  yours  truly, 

“  T.  Redwood. 

a  August  ls7,  1870.” 

It  was  moved  by  Mr.  Bottle,  seconded  by  Mr.  Savage, 
and 

Resolved  unanimously — That  the  President  be  re¬ 
quested  to  forward  to  Mrs.  Orridge,  on  behalf  of  this 
Council,  a  letter  of  sympathy  and  condolence  in  her 
recent  bereavement,  and  that  a  minute  thereof  be 
entered  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Society,  as  a 
recognition  by  the  Council  of  the  valuable  services 
rendered  to  the  Society  by  the  late  Mr.  B.  B. 
Orridge,  and  more  especially  so  in  furthering  the 
objects  of  the  Benevolent  Fund. 

A  letter  from  the  Medical  Department  of  the  Privy 
Council  Office  was  read,  confirming  the  appointment  of 
the  two  Examiners  for  Scotland,  Henry  C.  Baildon  and 
Alexander  Noble,  nominated  at  the  last  meeting  of  the 
Council. 

The  Report  of  the  Finance  Committee  was  presented, 
showing  on  the  General  Fund  account  a  balance  in  the 

Treasurer’s  hands  of . £986.  5s.  9 cl. 

And  submitting  for  payment  accounts, 

etc.,  amounting  to . £711.  16s.  6(7. 

On  the  Benevolent  Fund  Account,  a 

balance  of . £560.  11s.  11  d. 

Resolved — That  the  Report  be  received  and  adopted, 
and  payments  made. 

Resolved — That  the  Treasurer  be  requested  to  pur¬ 
chase  the  following  Government  Securities  : — 
Consols.  Benevolent  Fund  Account  .  £461.  12s.  10(7. 

New  Three  per  Cents.  General  Fund 

Account . £1200.  0s.  0(7. 

And  for  this  purpose  the  £1000  on  deposit  account  at 
the  Bankers’  was  ordered  to  be  withdrawn. 

The  Report  and  recommendations  of  the  Library,  Mu¬ 
seum,  and  Laboratory  Committee  having  been  read,  it 
was 

Resolved — That  they  be  received. 

Resolved— That  the  Report  of  the  House  Committee 
be  received  and  adopted. 

On  the  recommendation  of  the  Committee  for  the  ap¬ 
pointment  of  Sub -Editor  of  the  ‘Pharmaceutical  Jour¬ 
nal,’  it  was 

Resolved — That  Francis  Passmore  be  appointed,  at  a 
salary  of  £150  per  annum. 

The  Report  and  recommendations  of  the  Benevolent 
Fund  Committee  having  been  read,  it  was 

Resolved — That  the  sum  of  Ten  Pounds  be  granted  to 
a  Member  at  Oxford. 

The  Board  of  Examiners  reported  that  one  Candidate 
presented  himself  for  the  Senior  Bell  Memorial  Spholar- 
ship,  and  seven  for  the  J unior. 


The  former  failed  to  obtain  the  requisite  number  of 
marks  in  his  examinations  to  establish  his  title  to  the 
Scholarship. 

The  Junior  Scholarship  was  awarded  to  Henry 
Churchill,  with  free  Laboratory  instruction  and  materials 
for  the  Session  1870-71. 

SESSIONAL  PRIZES.* 

The  Board  reported  that  during  the  past  Session 
twenty-nine  Candidates  had  passed  the  Minor  Examina¬ 
tion  in  honours,  of  whom  eleven  had  competed  for  the 
Prize  of  Books. 

On  the  report  and  recommendation  of  the  Board,  the 
prize  was  awarded  to  Edward  Alfred  Webb. 

The  Professors  presented  their  respective  Reports  of 
the  results  of  the  competition  for  the  Prizes  offered  by 
the  Council,  which,  having  been  read,  the  following 
awards  were  declared  : — 

Chemistry  and  Pharmacy. 

Bronze  Council  Medals,  .-a  j  Charles  Fryer. 

£  \  Frederick  Hamilton  Peck. 
Certificate  of  Honour  . .  Henry  Forster. 

Botany  and  Materia  Medica. 

Bronze  Council  Medal  .  .Edward  Alfred  Webb. 

Certificates  of  Honour  . .  Frederick  Hamilton  Peck. 

Charles  Fryer. 

Certificates  of  Merit  ....  Henry  Forster. 

John  Pirn  Jackson. 

Everton  Sainsbury. 

Practical  Chemistry. 

Bronze  Council  Medal  . .  Charles  Fryer. 

Certificates  of  Honour  , .  George  Bult  Francis. 

Thomas  Fiitcher  Best. 

William  Raffle. 

Everton  Sainsbury. 

Edmund  Henry  Metcalfe. 
Certificates  of  Merit . . .  .Edward  Alfred  Webb. 

Frederick  Hamilton  Peck. 

• 

The  Professor  of  Botany  reported  that  four  Herbaria 
had  been  received  in  competition  for  the  Prize. 

The  following  awards  were  made 

Silver  Medals  . .  Edward  Rammell. 

Edward  Alfred  Webb. 

Certificate  of  Honour  .  .Alexander  Wood. 

Certificate  of  Merit  ....  Charles  John  Stansby. 

Notice  of  Motion. — Mr.  Savage,  Mr.  Brady, 

That  in  the  Sessional  Examination  in  future  Silver 
Medals  be  awarded  for  the  first  prize,  and  Bronze  Medals 
for  the  second.  Certificates  of  Honour  and  Merit  as  here¬ 
tofore. 

Resolved — That  the  following,  being  duly  registered  as 
Pharmaceutical  Chemists,  be  respectively  granted 
Diplomas  stamped  with  the  seal  of  the  Society 

Adams,  Frank  . Stoke-on-Trent. 

Bland,  Thomas  Frederick  ....  Stourbridge. 

Clarke,  Richard  Feaver  . Torquay. 

Cotterill,  Samuel . Southampton. 

Gibbs,  James . Bedford. 

Griffiths,  Waldron  . Harrow- on-the-IIill. 

Hartt,  Charles  Henry . Torquay. 

Howie,  William  Lamond . Edinburgh. 

Jackson,  John  Pirn . Leeds. 

Mason,  Robert  William . Rugby. 

Pilley,  Henry  Thomas . .  Lincoln. 


*  The  Sessional  Prizes  and  Certificates  will  be  distributed 
at  the  Evening  Meeting  on  the  5th  October  next.  Success¬ 
ful  candidates  will  be  expected  to  attend.  An  Address  to  the 
Students  will  be  delivered  by  Mr.  Schacht,  of  Clifton.  Ladies 
are  invited  to  be  present. 


134 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  13,  1870. 


Pitts,  Phineas  Reynolds . Hingham. 

Raffle,  William . South  Shields. 

Rohson,  James  Croshy . .  Darlington. 

Romano,  Frederick  William 

Richard . Rio  Grande  do  Sul. 

Thompson,  William  Milner  . .  Thirsk. 

Walton,  Jonathan  Sparke  ....  Haydon  Bridge. 

Webb,  Edward  Alfred . Clapham. 

Resolved — That  the  following  Pharmaceutical  Che¬ 
mists  be  and  are  hereby  elected  Members  of  the 
Society : — 

Bland,  Thomas  Frederick  ....  Stourbridge. 

Clarke,  Richard  Feaver  . Torquay. 

Dewson,  Frederick  Stokes  ....  Birmingham. 

Hanson,  Thomas . Bombay. 

Pitts,  Phineas  Reynolds . Hingham. 

Robson,  James  Crosby . Darlington. 

Romano,  Frederick  William 

Richard . Rio  Grande  do  Sul. 

William  Thomas  Phillips,  of  Carmarthen,  having  paid 
his  subscription  for  the  current  year  (due  1st  of  January 
last),  and  a  fine,  was  restored  to  membership. 

Resolved — That  the  following  Registered  Chemists 
and  Druggists  be  elected  Members  of  the  Society : — 

Balcomb,  John . Cheltenham. 

Bowden,  William . Patricroft. 

Clarke,  Thomas  Allen . Homcastle. 

Hopkinson,  Thomas . Grantham. 

Johnson,  Joseph  Garwood  .  .Barnsley. 

Kingsford,  Frederick  . 54,  Piccadilly,  London. 

Knowles,  Charles  W . Thorne,  Yorkshire. 

Lockwood,  George  Alfred  . .  Sheffield. 

Newham,  Benjamin . Sheffield. 

Place,  William  Byron . Betley. 

Riches,  Thomas  . Torquay. 

Sharpies,  George  William  . .  Blackpool. 

Shipley,  William . Ashboum. 

Stockman,  Frederick  . 200,  Essex  Rd.,  London. 

The  following,  having  passed  the  Modified  Examina¬ 
tion,  and  being  in  business  on  their  own  account,  were 
elected  Associates,  with  the  privileges  granted  by  Se.ct. 


20,  Pharmacy  Act,  1868. 

Clift,  Martin  Luther  . London. 

Jarvis,  John . .  ....  Dunstable. 

Searle,  William  George . Manchester. 


The  following,  having  passed  their  respective  Exa¬ 
minations,  were  elected  Associates  of  the  Society  : — 

Minor. 


Butterfield,  Edward . 

. .  London. 

Butterworth,  Albert . 

. .  Sowerby. 

Bowen,  John  William . 

.  .Handsworth. 

Braddock,  Henry . 

. .  Oldham. 

Carroll,  Denis  . 

. .  Dublin. 

Clark,  Walter  Beales  . 

. .  Leicester. 

Diaper,  Albert  . 

.  .Bury  St.  Edmund’s. 

Green,  Marryat  H . 

. .  London. 

Habgood,  Henry . 

..Wells. 

Haydon,  William  Frederic. . 

. .  Blandford. 

Hogg,  Joseph  Fawcett . 

. .  North  Shields. 

Keightley,  J oseph  . 

. .  Tunstall. 

Longley,  John  William  .... 

. .  Leeds. 

Margetts,  George  William  . . 

. .  Fakenham. 

Rage,  William  Henry . 

. .  London. 

Storey,  Edward  Henry  .... 

. .  London. 

Sumner,  Benjamin  T . 

. .  Horncastle. 

Modified. 

Atkinson,  Leonard  . 

. .  London. 

Bates,  John  Freer  . 

Dawney,  Charles . 

. .  Manchester. 

. .  Exeter. 

Deane,  Frederick  Dawson  . . 

.  .Jersey. 

Dodds,  John  Henderson  .... 

.  .Walsall. 

Grindell,  John . 

. .  London. 

Jenkins,  David . 

. .  Bridgend. 

Johnson,  Henry  . Barnsley. 

Moyle,  Joseph  . London. 

Organ,  Edward . Bristol. 

Perkins,  John  Jaquest . Stafford. 

Rowell,  John  Childs . Reading. 

Scott,  Joseph . Worcester. 

Smith,  John  Charles  . London. 

Squire,  James  . Lewes. 


The  Secretary  reported  that  the  Local  Secretaries  ap¬ 
pointed  at  the  last  meeting  of  the  Council  for  Aberdare 
and  Oxford  had  declined  to  accept  office ;  whereupon  it 
was 

Resolved — That  the  following  be  appointed  :  — 

Pratt,  Joseph,  for  Aberdare. 

Tuck,  John,  for  Oxford. 

The  Registrar  was  authorized  and  directed  to  remove 
from  the  Register  of  Chemists  and  Druggists  the  name 
of  Edward  Charles  Whisken,  of  Welchpool. 

The  consideration  of  the  precautions  necessary  for  the 
“  Sale  and  Keeping  of  Poisons  ”  was  again  deferred. 


fmeclrap  jrf  HfitnMe  jtoftts. 


BRITISH  PHARMACEUTICAL  CONFERENCE. 

The  Secretaries  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Conference 
have  issued  a  circular  announcing  that  the  seventh 
Annual  Meeting  will  be  held  in  September  next,  at 
Liverpool,  in  the  Royal  Institution,  under  the  presi¬ 
dency  of  Mr.  W.  W.  Stoddart,  F.C.S.,  F.G.S.  On 
Tuesday,  the  13th,  at  10  a.m.,  the  President  will  deliver 
an  address;  the  reading  and  discussion  of  papers  on 
pharmaceutical  subjects  will  then  commence,  be  con¬ 
tinued  in  the  afternoon  till  4.30,  and  be  carried  on 
during  Wednesday ;  an  adjournment  from  12.30  to  2.0 
taking  place  each  day. 

Members  intending  to  be  present  are  requested  to- 
communicate  with  the  Local  Secretary,  Mr.  E.  Davies, 
Royal  Institution,  Liverpool,  who  will  give  all  informa¬ 
tion  concerning  lodging  and  hotel  accommodation,  etc. 

“  The  facilities  for  communication  with  Scotland  and 
Ireland,  as  well  as  all  parts  of  England,  render  it  pro¬ 
bable  that  this  meeting  will  be  very  numerously  at¬ 
tended. 

“  There  is  much  connected  with  the  trade  of  Liver¬ 
pool  which  cannot  fail  to  be  interesting  to  strangers. 
The  river  Mersey,  with  its  line  of  docks,  five  miles  in 
length;  the  great  works  at  Birkenhead;  the  large 
warehouses,  fitted  with  the  latest  mechanical  appliances ; 
the  quay  sides,  covered  with  the  various  produce  of  all 
climes ;  and  the  numerous  charitable  institutions  on  the 
river,  offer  a  class  of  attractions  almost  peculiar  to  Liver¬ 
pool  ;  while  its  shipbuilding  yards,  foundries,  chemical, 
and  various  other  works  on  an  extensive  scale,  and  its 
vicinity  to  the  mining  and  manufacturing  districts, 
enable  it  to  meet  the  tastes  of  all  classes  of  scientific 
men.  The  proximity  of  Chester  and  the  coast  of  North 
Wales  places  many  interesting  spots  within  easy  reach.” 

An  exhibition  of  objects  relating  to  pharmacy  will  be 
held  this  year  in  connection  with  the  meeting  of  the 
Conference.  Such  exhibitions  are  found  to  stimulate 
pharmaceutical  industry,  promote  original  research,  and 
supply  a  personal  element  of  interest  to  the  transactions, 
of  our  Association.  The  central  position  of  Liverpool, 
and  its  high  commercial  importance,  will  probably  in¬ 
duce  a  large  number  of  phaftnacists  to  exhibit  on  this 
occasion. 

Gentlemen  engaged  upon  any  investigation,  are  re¬ 
minded  that  papers  are  expected  to  be  sent  in  to  the  Secre¬ 
taries  fourteen  days  before  the  Annual  Meeting,  accom¬ 
panied  by  a  short  abstract  for  insertion  in  the  local  and 
other  newspapers. 

Authors  are  specially  requested  to  send  the  titles  of 
their  papers  to  either  of  the  General  Secretaries  two  or 


August  13,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


135 


three  weeks  befoie  the  Annual  Meeting.  The  subjects 
will  then  be  extensively  advertised,  and  thus  full  in¬ 
terest  be  secured. 

Members  disposed  to  accept  any  of  the  unaccepted 
subjects  suggested  for  investigation  in  the  list  sent  to 
them  in  the  early  part  of  the  year ;  work  on  any  subject 
suggested  by  themselves;  propose  any  subject  for  in¬ 
vestigation  by  others ;  forward  for  analysis  specimens 
of  drugs  and  chemicals  whose  examination  might  tend 
to  throw  light  on  the  question  of  adulterations  and  im¬ 
purities  ;  propose  the  recognition  of  any  Pharmaceutical 
Association  and  reception  of  its  delegates  by  the  Con¬ 
ference  ;  nominate  gentlemen  for  membership,  or  make 
any  suggestions  or  propositions,  are  requested  to  advise 
the  Secretaries. 

The  objects  of  this  Association  of  Pharmacologists 
and  chemists  and  druggists  are : — 

(1)  To  increase  the  common  stock  of  pharmaceutical 
knowledge,  and 

(2)  To  promote  community  of  interests  among  those 
engaged  in  pharmacy. 

In  addition  to  the  existing  means  of  attaining  these 
ends,  the  Committee  will  in  future  issue  to  members  an 
Annual  Report  on  the  progress  of  pharmacy, — a  Year- 
Book,  containing  notices  of  all  pharmaceutical  papers, 
formulae,  etc.,  published  in  the  various  scientific  journals 
of  Europe  and  America.  For  the  annual  subscription  of 
5  s.,  each  member  will  thus  receive  a  tangible  quid  pro 
quo  in  addition  to  the  yearly  volume  of  ‘  Proceedings.’ 
The  necessary  funds  for  accomplishing  this  object  can 
probably  be  obtained  without  making  any  charge  in  ad¬ 
dition  to  the  present  subscription,  if  five  hundred  new 
members  be  added  to  the  ranks. 

The  Executive  Committee  call  on  every  chemist  and 
druggist  to  offer  his  name  for  election,  and  on  every 
member  to  make  an  effort  to  obtain  more  members. 
Nominations  will  be  received  by  either  of  the  officers. 

Copies  of  letters  of  invitation  to  membership  will  be 
sent  to  any  member  willing  to  sign  and  forward  them 
to  friends  interested  in  pharmacy. 


HUNTERIAN  MEDICAL  SOCIETY. 

August  3. 

At  a  Special  Meeting  held  in  the  Theatre  of  the  Lon¬ 
don  Institution,  Baboo  Gopaul  Chunder  Roy  delivered  a 
lecture  on  the  state  of  medicine  in  India  prior  to  the 
British  rule.  The  President  of  the  Society,  Mr.  Jonathan 
Hutchinsion,  introduced  the  lecturer,  who  stated  that  he 
had  come  to  England  as  a  candidate  for  an  appointment 
in  the  India  medical  service,  but  had  found,  on  his  ar¬ 
rival,  that  no  examination  was  to  take  place.  He  then 
referred  to  the  high  state  of  civilization  which  existed  in 
Eastern  countries  in  very  early  ages.  There  was  good 
reason  for  believing  that  astronomy  had  its  origin  in 
India,  and  in  that  country  medicine  attained,  at  an  early 
period,  a  high  degree  of  development.  An  advance,  how¬ 
ever,  was  arrested  by  the  Mohammedan  conquests ;  and 
therefore  Hindoo  science,  remaining  as  it  did  at  the 
point  where  it  was  centuries  ago,  presented  a  strange 
contrast  with  modern  science.  The  physicians  of  India 
had  sprung  from  two  of  the  castes — the  Brahmins,  who 
were  the  most  highly  educated  and  from  whom  the 
priests  were  chosen,  and  the  Boyshos  or  traders,  who 
were  not  allowed  to  learn  Sanskrit  or  to  reach  the  higher 
education  of  the  Brahmins.  Medicine  and  surgery  were 
distinct ;  the  latter  being  entrusted  to  barbers,  whose 
operative  skill  was  very  limited.  Medicine  was  from 
very  ancient  times  divided  into  anatomy,  materia  medica 
and  the  treatment  of  diseases.  The  study  of  anatomy 
was  very  imperfect,  in  consequence  of  the  prejudices 
against  handling  dead  bodies.  "What  knowledge  of  ana¬ 
tomy  the  Hindoo  possessed,  was  gained  from  the  dis¬ 
section  of  goats ;  and  an  acquaintance  with  the  human 
skeleton  was  obtained  by  allowing  bodies  to  remain  in 


water  till  the  bones  and  ligaments  alone  were  left.  The 
umbilicus  was  supposed  to  be  the  centre  of  the  vascular 
system.  The  blood  was  regarded  as  a  mixture  of  hu¬ 
mours.  The  materia  medica  attracted  attention  at  an 
early  period ;  and  the  articles  were  described  with  a  view 
to  their  dietetic  as  well  as  to  their  therapeutic  properties. 
Mercury,  arsenic,  iron,  and  several  other  mineral  re¬ 
medies  were  known  in  Hindoo  medicine  many  centuries 
ago.  Gold  dust  entered  very  extensively  into  the  for¬ 
mula  ;  perhaps  not  so  much  for  the  sake  of  increasing 
the  therapeutic  value  of  the  medicines  as  their  cost. 
Sesquioxide  of  iron  was  the  chief  basis  of  tonic  remedies. 
Arsenic  had  been  long  used  in  the  treatment  of  inter¬ 
mittent  fever.  There  were  a  large  number  of  remedies 
belonging  to  the  vegetable  kingdom  in  use  in  India  from 
remote  ages,  some  of  which,  as  bael,  chirayta,  etc.,  had 
been  adopted  in  the  ‘British  Pharmacopoeia.’  Baboo 
Chunder  Roy  recommended  a  careful  investigation  of 
Indian  medicinal  plants ;  believing  it  probable  that 
among  them  would  be  found  some  valuable  remedies  for 
the  prevalent  diseases  of  the  country.  In  works  on  the 
practice  of  medicine,  the  description  of  symptoms  was 
very  exact,  but  the  treatment  was  empirical.  In  fevers, 
low  diet  was  enjoined ;  the  patient  was  kept  for  forty- 
eight  hours  without  medicine ;  then  bitters  and  purga¬ 
tives  were  administered ;  and  then,  if  the  fever  persisted, 
arsenic  in  divided  doses.  This  treatment  rarely  failed 
to  arrest  the  disease  in  ten  days ;  but  it  left  the  patient’s 
constitution  in  an  impaired  state.  Surgery  was  in  old 
times  entrusted  to  barbers,  whose  practice  was  limited 
mostly  to  the  treatment  of  ulcers,  abscesses,  etc.  But 
for  ages  there  had  been  persons  who  performed  the  ope¬ 
ration  for  depression  of  cataract,  cupping  (by  means  of 
cow’s  horns),  bleeding  (in  the  calves  of  the  legs),  etc. 
Hygiene  had  long  held  a  place  in  the  Hindoo  system, 
being  mixed  up  with  religious  rites.  Washing  in  the 
Ganges  was  thus  made  a  religious  ceremony.  The  flesh 
of  the  ox  was  forbidden,  on  account  of  the  use  of  the  ani¬ 
mal  in  agriculture,  and  of  the  cow  in  yielding  milk ;  and 
that  of  the  pig  on  account  of  the  filthy  habits  of  the 
animal.  Dry  earth  had  been  long  used  for  removing 
offensive  smells.  Change  of  climate,  in  the  form  of  pil¬ 
grimages  to  distant  lands,  had  long  been  a  remedy  in 
chronic  diseases.  With  all  this,  there  was  ignorance  of 
some  of  the  fundamental  principles  of  hygiene.  Poison 
and  pure  air  were  in  the  same  category ;  and  a  Hindoo 
sick-room  was  rigidly  closed  at  all  points.  Turning, 
next,  to  the  British  rule,  the  lecturer  referred  to  the  in¬ 
fluence  of  a  surgeon,  Mr.  Broughton,  in  establishing  the 
East  India  Company  in  India  in  the  last  century.  The 
idea  of  founding  an  English  medical  university  in  Cal¬ 
cutta  arose  in  1836.  At  first  there  was  great  difficulty, 
on  account  of  the  religious  prejudices,  in  obtaining  stu¬ 
dents  ;  and  goats  and  dry  bones  were  for  some  time  the 
only  objects  on  which  anatomy  could  be  studied.  The 
necessity  for  dissection  was  at  last  strongly  felt ;  and  it 
was  a  memorable  event  when  Baboo  Modoosudun  Gupto 
first  broke  through  the  prejudices  of  his  race,  and  dis¬ 
sected  a  human  body.  From  this  time,  medicine  ad¬ 
vanced  ;  a  hospital  was  founded ;  and  degrees  were  given 
by  the  University.  Baboo  Chunder  Roy  complained  that 
the  degrees  in  Medicine  of  the  Indian  Universities  were 
not  recognized  in  England.  They  were  obtained  only 
after  stringent  examination ;  and  in  not  one  instance 
where  the  native  holders  of  them  had  come  to  England 
to  undergo  the  competitive  examinations  for  the  Indian 
Medical  Service,  had  there  been  a  failure.  It  had  been 
said  that  the  preliminary  training  was  deficient ;  but  it 
should  be  remembered  that  Sanskrit  stood  in  India  in 
the  place  of  Latin,  and  that  English  itself  was  a  foreign 
tongue  to  the  Hindoos.  He  complained  of  the  low  esti¬ 
mate  in  which  the  native  graduates  of  the  Indian  Colleges 
were  held,  and  trusted  that  means  would  be  taken  to  re¬ 
move  the  stigma  of  inferiority  which  was  attached  to 
them. 


136 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  13,  1870. 


ROYAL  SOCIETY. 

May  19,  1870. 

Experiments  on  the  Effects  of  Alcohol  on  the 

Human  Body. 

BY  DE.  E.  A.  PARKES  AND  COUNT  C.  WOLLOWICZ. 

An  important  series  of  experiments  on  this  subject  has 
been  made  conjointly  by  the  authors.  Their  object  was 
to  ascertain  the  physiological  and  dietetic  effects  of  alco¬ 
hol  on  the  human  body  in  a  state  of  health.  The  plan  of 
observation  was  as  foil o ws :  For  twenty-eight  days  a  man, 
an  intelligent  healthy  soldier,  remained  on  a  diet  precisely 
similar  as  to  food  and  times  of  meals  in  every  respect, 
except  that  for  the  first  eight  days  he  took  only  water  (in 
the  shape  of  coffee,  tea,  and  simple  water) ;  for  the  next 
six  days  he  added  to  this  diet  rectified  spirit,  in  such 
proportion,  that  he  took  in  divided  quantities,  on  the  first 
day  1  fluid  ounce  of  absolute  alcohol ;  on  the  second  day 
2  fluid  ounces  ;  on  the  third  4  ounces  ;  and  on  the  fifth 
and  sixth  days  8  ounces  on  each  day.  He  then  returned 
to  water  for  six  days,  and  then  for  three  days  took  each 
day  half  a  bottle  (12  ounces)  of  fine  brandy,  containing 
48  per  cent,  of  alcohol.  Then  for  three  days  he  returned 
to  water.  There  were  thus  five  periods,  viz.  of  water 
drinking,  alcohol,  water,  brandy,  water.  And  for  ten 
days  before  the  experiments  were  commenced,  the  man, 
a  beer  drinker  usually,  abstained  from  any  alcoholic 
liquid  for  ten  days.  The  food  taken  was  all  weighed,  it 
was  the  ordinary  diet.  The  general  results  obtained  may 
now  be  very  briefly  summed  up.  It  would  seem  first  of 
all  that,  other  conditions  remaining  the  same,  the  weight 
of  the  body  is  unaffected  by  the  taking  of  alcohol.  With 
regard  to  temperature,  we  are  told  “  that  the  general  re¬ 
sult  from  all  observations  surprised  us  (the  observers), 
considering  the  numerous  experiments  on  men  and  ani¬ 
mals  in  which  the  temperature  has  been  found  to  be 
lowered  by  alcohol.”  The  tendency,  indeed,  was  rather 
in  the  opposite  direction,  especially  with  the  brandy. 
The  alcohol  was,  however,  never  pushed  far,  because  the 
object  was  not  to  induce  any  narcotism,  but  to  ascertain 
its  dietetic  value ;  and  the  discrepancy  involved  in  the  ob¬ 
servations  of  Drs.  Parkes  and  Wollowicz  may  be  in  part 
further  explained  by  the  fact  that  the  individual  experi¬ 
mented  upon  possessed  a  perfectly  healthy  resisting,  and 
not  a  diseased  or  weakened  organism.  The  diminution 
of  temperature  by  large  and  narcotic  doses  is  not  dis¬ 
puted  ;  all  that  our  experimenters  affirm  is  that  with  a 
small  amount  of  alcohol,  and  a  good  supply  of  food,  the 
temperature  is  not  diminished.  The  effects  on  the  cir¬ 
culation  described  are  very  interesting.  The  pulse  was 
not  only  more  frequent  and  fuller  when  alcohol  and 
brandy  were  used,  but  the  increased  frequency  was  per¬ 
sistent  after  the  omission  of  the  alcohol.  The  pulse  had 
not  reached  in  six  days  the  point  which  was  proper  to  it 
before  the  alcohol  was  given. 

The  first  day  of  alcohol  gave  an  excess  of  4,  the  last 
23  per  cent,  in  the  beats  of  the  heart,  that  is,  an  excess 
of  13  per  cent,  as  a  mean  of  six  days.  This,  on  calcula¬ 
tion,  amounts  to  an  excess  in  the  daily  work  of  the  heart 
equal  to  lifting  15 ’8  tons  one  foot  during  the  first  two, 
and  24  tons  during  the  last  two  days  of  the  alcoholic 
period.  On  the  fifth  and  sixth  days  after  the  alcohol 
was  left  off,  when  its  elimination  was  complete,  the 
heart  showed  in  the  sphygmographic  tracings  signs  of 
unusual  feebleness ;  and  when  subsequently  brandy  was 
given,  it  was  clear  that  it  was  acting  upon  a  heart 
whose  nutrition  had  not  been  perfectly  restored.  The 
observers  say  that  it  is  evident  that  in  the  man  experi¬ 
mented  upon,  the  amount  of  alcohol  the  heart  will  bear 
without  losing  its  healthy  sphygmographic  tracing  is 
small,  and  it  must  be  supposed  that  eventually  some  dis¬ 
ease  of  the  heart  will  follow  the  excitement  induced  by 
large  doses  of  alcohol.  The  action  on  the  kidneys  of  a 
moderate  amount  of  alcohol  is  not  marked ;  the  amount 
of  water  eliminated  is  rather  increased ;  no  change 
takes  place  as  regards  the  nitrogen  when  the  ingress  of 


nitrogen  is  constant, —  certainly  it  is  not  diminished  in 
amount.  This  conclusion  is  antagonistic  to  the  observa¬ 
tions  formerly  made  on  the  point,  which  indicated  that 
nitrogen  is  retained  in  considerable  amount  in  the  body 
under  the  exhibition  of  alcohol,  which  in  this  way  in¬ 
creases  assimilation,  and  when  food  is  deficient  saves  the 
tissues  from  waste. 

Little  change  is  also  effected  in  the  phosphoric  acid, 
the  chlorine,  and  the  free  acidity  of  the  urine..  The 
elimination  of  nitrogen  by  the  bowels  was  not  lessened. 
The  elimination  of  alcohol  by  the  lungs  was  marked ; 
indeed  a  good  deal  must  have  been  got  rid  of  in  this 
way, — by  the  skin  considerable,  by  the  kidneys  slight. 
Drs.  Parkes  and' Wollowicz  think  that,  though  not  ex¬ 
cessive  at  any  one  time,  the  exit  is  longer  continued 
than  Anstie  and  Dupre  suppose. 

Special  note  was  taken  of  the  effect  of  alcohol  on  di¬ 
gestion  and  appetite.  It  seems  that  in  the  man  under 
observation  some  point  near  two  fluid  ounces  of  absolute 
alcohol  is  the  limit  of  useful  action  on  appetite.  It  might 
have  been  found  to  be  less,  had  the  experiments  been  con¬ 
tinued.  Further,  although  large  doses  interfered  with 
the  appetite,  they  did  not  interfere  with  or  retard  primary 
digestion,  as  far  as  could  be  seen,  nor  the  normal  chemi¬ 
cal  changes  that  result  in  the  elimination  of  nitrogenous 
excreta,  phosphoric  acid,  and  the  like.  In  a  word,  no  evi¬ 
dence  was  forthcoming  to  show  that  alcohol  either  saved 
or  exhausted  the  tissues ;  that  is  to’say,  the  good  or  evil 
ascribed  to  alcohol  in  this  direction  was  not  observed  by 
Dr.  Parkes  and  Dr.  Wollowicz  in  the  healthy  man. 
It  may  be,  of  course,  different  in  disease.  The  effect 
on  the  nervous  system  was  shown  only  by  subjective 
symptoms,— headache,  heaviness,  loss  of  cheerfulness 
and  alacrity,  torpor  and  sleepiness ;  and  narcotism  was 
induced  by  an  amount  of  alcohol  less  than  4  and  nearer 
2  ounces  daily,  and  the  experimenters  conclude  that 
the  narcotism,  the  loss  of  appetite,  and  the  increased  fre¬ 
quency  in  the  heart’s  beats,  are  related  to  the  common 
cause,  viz.  implication  of  the  nervous  system.  The  gene¬ 
ral  inference  of  the  experimenters  on  this  point  is  that 
something  under  2  fluid  ounces  of  alcohol  could  be 
taken  daily  without  harm  by  the  man  under  observation. 
The  following  are  the  final  conclusions  given  by  Dr. 
Parkes  and  his  coadjutor.  “  It  will  be  seen  that  the  ge¬ 
neral  result  of  our  experiments  is  to  confirm  the  opinion 
held  by  physicians  as  to  what  must  be  the  indications  of 
alcohol  in  health  and  disease.  The  effects  on  appetite 
and  on  circulation  are  the  practical  points  to  seize ;  and 
if  we  are  correct  in  our  inferences,  the  commencement  of 
narcotism  marks  the  point  when  both  appetite  and  cir¬ 
culation  will  be  damaged.  As  to  the  metamorphosis  of 
nitrogenous  tissue,  it  seems  improbable  that  alcohol  in 
quantities  that  can  be  properly  used  in  diet  has  any 
effect ;  it  appears  to  us  unlikely  (in  the  face  of  the  che¬ 
mical  results)  that  it  can  enable  the  body  to  perform 
more  work  on  less  food,  though  by  quickening  a  failing 
heart  it  may  enable  work  to  be  done  which  otherwise  could 
not  be  so.  It  may  then  act  like  the  spur  in  the  hide  of  the 
horse,  eliciting  force,  though  not  supplying  it.”  The  ex¬ 
perimenters,  whilst  recognizing  further  the  great  practi¬ 
cal  use  of  alcohol  in  raising  a  failing  appetite,  exciting  a 
feeble  heart,  and  accelerating  a  languid  capillary  circu¬ 
lation,  are  strongly  impressed  with  the  need  of  moderation 
and  caution  in  its  use.  They  do  not  deal  with  diseased 
conditions,  but  only  a  state  of  health,  and  do  not  refer  at 
all  to  the  action  of  wine  or  beer. 


The  Academy  of  Sciences  at  Paris  will  bestow  this 
year  a  prize  of  5000  francs  for  the  best  essay,  “On  the 
Use  of  Electricity  in  Medicine,”  and  two  prizes  in 
botany,  each  of  the  value  of  3000  francs. 


Pencils  of  Sulphate  of  Copper. — M.  Herbelin,  ot 
Nantes,  rubs  a  crystal  of  sulphate  of  copper  on  a  moist 
stone  covered  with  fine  sand,  until  a  pencil  i3  produced. 
^—Repertoire  cle  Pharmacie. 


August  13,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


137 


prliiinwnteg  anlr  fiito  |n)Xfc!)inp. 


INDIAN  DRUGS. 

In  the  course  of  his  speech  upon  introducing  the  Indian 
budget  to  the  House  of  Commons  last  week,  Mr.  Grant 
Duff  said  that  the  revenue  from  opium  had  fallen  off 
largely,  hut  that,  on  the  other  hand,  there  had  been  an 
increase  in  the  excise  from  spirits,  drugs,  etc.,  known  as 
the  Abkari  revenue.  Very  frequent  inquiries  about  the 
forest  service  were  made  at  the  India  Office.  The  ex¬ 
periment  they  had  been  making  of  selecting  young  men 
by  a  competitive  examination,  and  then  giving  them  a 
thorough  training  in  the  great  forest  schools  at  Hanover 
and  Nancy,  bade  fair  to  produce  excellent  results,  and  to 
give,  them  a  real  forest  school  in  India.  That  w’as 
all  the  more  important  because,  although  the  natural 
products  were  not  yet  made  anything  like  so  available 
to  mankind  as  they  ought  to  be,  the  increased  tendencies 
of  all  art  and  science  in  our  times  to  produce  specialities 
and  encourage  specialists  were  depriving  them,  to  a  great 
extent,  of  the  assistance  they  used  to  receive  in  that  field 
from  various  classes  of  their  officers,  and  above  all  from 
their  medical  men.  The  examinations  for  the  special 
Forest  Service  showed  increasingly  careful  preparation. 
The  accounts  they  received  of  the  young  men  studying 
on  the  Continent  were  good,  while  those  who  were  in 
India  were  thought  likely  to  turn  out  very  useful  officers. 
Although  the  receipts  had  largely  increased,  there  had 
also  been  a  proportionate  increase  in  the  expense,  but  in 
a  new  service  that  was  only  what  might  be  expected,  and 
it  might  go  on  increasing  for  some  time  without  raising 
any  presumption  against  the  ultimate  pecuniary  results 
of  the  plan.  In  fact,  much  more  than  mere  pecuniary 
results  were  at  stake :  climatic  changes  of  a  very  dan¬ 
gerous  kind  were  threatening,  or  in  some  instances  had 
actually  occurred,  and  the  evils  that  had  to  be  met  could 
only  be  checked  by  the  direct  action  of  the  Central  Go¬ 
vernment.  The  excellent  results  of  the  cinchona  culti¬ 
vation  had  been  laid  before  the  House.  Peru  and  Ecua¬ 
dor  had  given  increased  facilities  for  combating  fever, 
one  of  the  worst  enemies  of  man  in  India ;  they  had 
already  two  millions  and  a  half  of  cinchona  plants  grow¬ 
ing  there.  It  was  now  the  turn  of  Brazil  to  enable  them 
to  combat  acute  dysentery,  a  hardly  less  formidable  foe. 
Measures  had  been  taken  to  send  out  from  Kew,  from 
Edinburgh,  and  also  directly  from  Brazil,  the  ipecacu¬ 
anha,  which  is  now  considered  almost  a  specific  against 
that  terrible  malady.  Lately  the  Government  of  India 
had  been  devoting  some  attention  to  the  Rhea  or  China 
grass,  an  abundant  Indian  product,  which,  if  a  machine 
could  be  obtained  that  would  detach  the  fibre  from  the 
stalk  in  an  easy  and  satisfactory  manner,  would  become 
of  great  economic  importance  ;  rewards  to  the  amount 
of  £5000  had  been  offered  by  the  Indian  authorities  for 
such  a  machine.  The  opening  of  the  Suez>  canal  seemed 
likely  to  exercise  a  favourable  influence  on  the  tea  culti¬ 
vation  of  Northern  India.  Turning  to  another  very  im¬ 
portant  Indian  product,  it  was  gratifying  to  observe  that 
India  last  year  sent  nearly  as  much  cotton  to  our  shores 
as  the  United  States  and  Brazil  combined.  There  wTas 
satisfactory  evidence  that  the  cultivation  of  the  poppy 
was  spreading  very  extensively  through  China,  although 
the  old  vigorous  edicts  against  it  remained  unrepealed ; 
but  there  was  not  satisfactory  evidence  as  to  how  far  that 
extended  cultivation  was  the  result  of  the  withdrawal  of 
much  of  the  pressure  that  prevented  the  Chinaman  from 
indulging  in  his  favourite  luxury,  and  of  a  consequent 
increase  of  consumption ;  or  whether  it  implied  that  the 
Chinese  opium  was  now  used  by  many  who  formerly 
used  the  Indian  opium.  For  anything  yet  known,  Indian 
opium  might  still  find  a  very  profitable  market  in  China. 
The  estimated  revenue  from  opium  in  1870-1  was  under 
seven  millions,  whereas  in  1867-8  a  smaller  opium  ex¬ 
penditure  produced  an  opium  revenue  of  nearly  nine 
millions. 


Mr.  Eastwick  said  that  one  of  the  most  prominent 
reasons  for  retrenchment  was  the  precariousness  of  the 
opium  trade.  Sir  Richard  Temple,  in  his  statements, 
merely  spoke  of  the  extension  of  opium  cultivation  in 
China,  and  entirely  overlooked  the  exportation  of  opium 
from  Persia.  A  few  years  ago  that  country  did  not  ex¬ 
port  any  opium ;  but  last  year  it  exported  four  thousand 
chests,  worth  about  half  a  million  sterling.  It  had  been 
analysed  and  found  to  be  nearly  equal  to  the  opium  of 
India,  whilst  it  had  the  further  recommendation  of  pay¬ 
ing  no  duty,  so  that  the  profit  was  enormous.  He  should 
not  be  surprised  if  that  branch  of  the  trade  doubled  or 
quadrupled  in  a  year. 


AN  ACT  TO  REGULATE  THE  SALE  OF  POISONS 

IN  IRELAND. 

[14 th  July ,  1870.] 

Whereas  it  is  expedient  for  the  safety  of  the  public 
that  due  provision  should  be  made  to  regulate  the  sale  of 
poisons  in  Ireland : 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Queen’s  most  excellent  Majesty, 
by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Lords 
Spiritual  and  Temporal,  and  Commons,  in  this  present 
Parliament  assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same 
as  follows : 

1.  The  several  articles  mentioned  in  the  Schedule  A. 
to  this  Act  annexed  shall  be  deemed  to  be  poisons  within 
the  meaning  of  this  Act ;  and  the  King  and  Queen’s 
College  of  Physicians  in  Ireland  may  from  time  to  tune, 
by  resolution,  declare  that  any  article  other  than  those 
mentioned  in  the  said  schedule  and  in  such  resolution 
named  ought  to  be  deemed  a  poison  within  the  meaning 
of  this  Act ;  and  thereupon  the  said  College  shall  submit 
the  said  resolution  for  the  approval  of  her  Majesty’s 
Privy  Council  in  Ireland,  and  if  such  approval  shall  be 
given,  then  such  resolution  and  approval  shall  be  adver¬ 
tised  in  the  ‘Dublin  Gazette;’  and  on  the  expiration  of 
one  month  from  such  advertisement  the  article  named  in 
such  resolution  shall  be  deemed  to  be  a  poison  within  the 
meaning  of  this  Act. 

2.  It  shall  be  unlawful  to  sell  any  poison,  either  by 
wholesale  or  by  retail,  unless  the  box,  bottle,  vessel, 
wrapper,  or  cover  in  which  such  poison  is  contained  be 
distinctly  labelled  with  the  name  of  the  article,  and  the 
word  “poison,”  and  with  the  name  and  address  of  the 
seller  of  the  poison  ;  and  it  shall  be  unlawful  to  sell  any 
of  the  poisons  which  are  named  in  the  first  part  of  Sche¬ 
dule  A.  to  this  Act  annexed,  or  which  may  hereafter  be 
added  thereto  imder  section  one  of  this  Act,  to  any  person 
unknown  to  the  seller,  unless  such  person  is  introduced 
by  some  person  known  to  the  seller ;  and  on  every  sale 
of  any  such  article  the  seller  shall,  before  delivery,  make 
or  cause  to  be  made  an  entry  in  a  book  to  be  kept  for  that 
purpose,  stating  in  the  form  set  forth  in  the  Schedule  B. 
to  this  Act  annexed,  the  date  of  the  sale,  the  name  and 
address  of  the  purchaser,  the  name  and  quantity  of  the 
article  sold,  and  the  purpose  for  which  it  is  stated  by  the 
purchaser  to  be  required,  to  which  entry  the  signature 
of  the  purchaser  and  of  the  person  (if  any)  who  intro¬ 
duced  him  shall  be  affixed ;  and  any  person  selling  poison 
otherwise  than  is  herein  provided  shall  be  liable  to  a 
penalty  not  exceeding  five  pounds  for  the  first  offence, 
and  to  a  penalty  not  exceeding  ten  pounds  for  the  second 
or  any  subsequent  offence ;  and  for  the  purposes  of  this 
section  the  person  on  whose  behalf  any  sale  is  made  by 
any  apprentice  or  servant  shall  be  deemed  to  be  the  seller ; 
but  the  provisions  of  this  section  which  are  solely  appli¬ 
cable  to  poisons  in  the  first  part  of  the  Schedule  A.  to 
this  Act  annexed,  or  which  require  that  the  label  shall 
contain  the  name  and  address  of  the  seller,  shall  not 
apply  to  articles  to  be  exported  from  Ireland  by  whole¬ 
sale  dealers,  nor  to  sales  by  wholesale  to  retail  dealers  in 
the  ordinary  course  of  wholesale  dealing,  nor  shall  any 
of  the  provisions  of  this  section  apply  to  any  medicine 


138 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  13,  1870. 


supplied  by  a  duly  qualified  apothecary  nor  apply  to  any 
article  when  forming  part  of  the  ingredients  of  any  me¬ 
dicine  dispensed  by  a  duly  qualified  apothecary,  providec 
such  medicine  be  labelled  in  the  manner  aforesaid  with 
the  name  and  address  of  the  seller,  and  the  ingredients 
thereof  be  entered  with  the  name  of  the  person  to  whom 
it  is  sold  or  delivered  in  a  book  to  be  kept  by  the  seller 
for  that  purpose ;  and  nothing  in  this  Act  contained  shal 
repeal  or  affect  any  of  the  provisions  of  the  Act  of 
the  fourteenth  and  fifteenth  years  of  the  reign  of  her 
present  Majesty,  intituled  “An  Act  to  Regulate  the 
Sale  of  Arsenic.” 

3.  The  provisions  of  the  Act  of  the  twenty-third  and 
twenty-fourth  years  of  the  reign  of  her  present  Majesty 
intituled  “  An  Act  for  preventing  the  Adulteration  of 
Articles  of  Food  or  Drink,”  shall  extend  to  all  articles 
usually  taken  or  sold  as  medicines,  and  every  adulteration 
of  any  such  article  shall  be  deemed  an  admixture  inju¬ 
rious  to^health. 

4.  Every  penalty  recoverable  under  the  provisions  of 
this  Act  shall  be  recoverable  in  a  summary  way,  with 
respect  to  the  police  district  of  Dublin  metropolis  subject 
and  according  to  the  provisions  of  any  Act  regulating 
the  powers  and  duties  of  justices  of  the  peace  for  such 
district  or  of  the  police  of  such  district,  and  with  respect 
to  other  parts  of  Ireland  before  a  justice  or  justices  of  the 
peace  sitting  in  petty  sessions,  subject  and  according  to 
provisions  of  the  Petty  Sessions  (Ireland)  Act,  1851,  and 
any  Act  amending  the  same,  and  shall  be  applied  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  provisions  of  the  Fines  Act  (Ireland),  1851,  or 
any  Act  amending  the  same. 

Schedule  A. 

Part  I. 

Arsenic,  and  its  preparations. 

Prussic  acid. 

•Cyanides  of  potassium  and  all  metallic  cyanides. 
■Strychnine,  and  all  poisonous  vegetable  alkaloids  and 
their  salts. 

Aconite,  and  its  preparations. 

Emetic  tartar. 

Corrosive  sublimate. 

Cantharides. 

Savin,  and  its  oil. 

Ergot  of  rye,  and  its  preparations. 

Part  IP. 

Oxalic  acid. 

Chloroform. 

Belladonna,  and  its  preparations. 

Essential  oil  of  almonds,  unless  deprived  of  its  prussic 
acid. 

Opium,  and  all  preparations  of  opium  or  of  poppies. 
Preparations  of  corrosive  sublimate. 

Preparations  of  morphine. 

Red  oxide  of  mercury  (commonly  known  as  red  precipi¬ 
tate  of  mercury). 

Ammoniated  mercury  (commonly  known  as  white  pre¬ 
cipitate  of  mercury). 

Every  compound  containing  any  of  the  poisons  men¬ 
tioned  in  this  schedule,  when  prepared  or  sold  for  the 
destruction  of  vermin. 

The  tincture  and  all  vesicating  liquid  preparations  of 
cantharides. 


Schedule  B. 


Date. 

Name  of 
Purchaser. 

Name  and 
Quantity 
of  Poison 
sold. 

Purpose 
for  which 
it  is 

required. 

Signature 
of  Pur¬ 
chaser. 

Signature 
of  Person 
introducing 
Purchaser. 

fijjstjrttrs  far  Stuirants. 


CHEMICAL  NOTES  TO  THE  PHARMACOPOEIA. 

BY  WILLIAM  A.  TILDEN,  B.SC.  LOND. 

DEMONSTRATOR  OF  PRACTICAL  CHEMISTRY  TO  THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 

Acidum  Nitricum. —  [§  An  acid,  prepared  from 
nitrate  of  potash  or  nitrate  of  soda,  by  distillation 
with  sulphuric  acid  and  water,  and  containing  70 
per  cent,  by  weight  of  nitric  acid,  H  N  03.]  Spe¬ 
cific  gravity  1'42. 

The  reaction  which  occurs  in  the  retort  is  similar 
to  that  in  which  hydrochloric  acid  is  produced 

KNOa,  or  NaN 03  +  H.,S04 
=  HN03  -f-  KHS04,  or  Na H S 04. 

Absolute  nitric  acid  differs  from  hydrochloric  acid 
in  being,  at  ordinary  temperatures,  not  a  gas,  but  a 
fuming  liquid  of  sp.  gr.  I- 51 ;  this  was  the  prepara¬ 
tion  of  the  B.  P.  1864  ;  it  is,  however,  extremely  un¬ 
stable,  underling  decomposition  spontaneously  in 
the  light,  and  in  many  respects  inconvenient,  and 
was,  therefore,  replaced  in  the  present  edition  by  a 
weaker  acid.  Nitric  acid  poured  over  copper  filings 
evolves  dense  red  fumes,  consisting  chiefly  of  nitric 
peroxide : — 

4HN03  +  Cu  =  Cu"2N03  +  2H20  -f-  2N02. 

If  previously  diluted  with  water,  nitric  oxide  is 
the  gas  evolved  : — 

8HN03  +  3  Cu  =  3  (Cu  2  N  03)  +  4H20  +  2NO. 

Nitric  oxide  is  a  colourless  gas,  but  when  it  meets 
oxygen  either  alone  or  mixed  with  other  gases,  as  in 
atmospheric  air,  it  forms  an  orange-red  vapour  : — 

2NO  +  02  =  2N02. 

Nitric  oxide.  Oxygen.  Nitric  peroxide. 

Nitric  oxide  forms,  with  ferrous  sulphate,  a  dark- 
coloured  solution,  upon  the  formation  of  which  de¬ 
pends  the  usual  test  for  nitrates : — Dissolve  the  sub¬ 
stance  in  water,  add  a  small  crystal  of  sulphate  of 
iron,  and  shake  up  till  partly  dissolved,  then  pour  into 
lie  inclined  tube  sufficient  pure  and  strong  sulphuric 
acid  to  form  a  separate  stratum  at  the  bottom.  The 
fine  where  the  two  liquids  meet  is  marked  by  a 
mrple  or  brown  coloration  if  a  nitrate  (or  nitrite)  is 
iresent.  Nitric  acid  is  an  example  of  what  are 
'mown  as  oxidizing  agents ;  it  readily  and  freely 
gives  up  part  of  its  oxygen.  Tliis  arises  from  the 
strong  affinity  of  the  hydrogen  in  it,  and  the  weaker 
affinity  of  the  nitrogen  for  oxygen;  so  that  when 
brought  into  contact  with  bodies  greedy  of  oxygen, 
oxygen  separates  from  it,  water  is  formed,  and  one  of 
;lie  oxides  of  nitrogen.  This  is  the  reason  of  its  de¬ 
flagration  when  poured  upon  hot  charcoal,  the  deco- 
.orization  of  incligo  and  other  reactions,  e.g.  when 
nitrate  of  ammonia  is  strongly  heated  : — 

NH3.HN  03  =  2H20  +  N20. 

Water.  Nitrous  oxide. 

Also  its  reactions  with  copper  already  described, 
and  resulting  in  the  evolution  of  nitric  oxide  and 
leroxide. 

The  sesquioxide  of  nitrogen,  or  nitrous  anhydride, 
is  evolved  when  it  acts  upon  white  arsenic  : — 

As203  +  2HNOs  =  As205  +  H20  +  N203. 

Arsenious  Arsenic  Nitrous 

anhydride.  anhydride.  anhydride. 


August  13,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


139 


The  whole  of  the  oxides  of  nitrogen  are  tabulated 
below : — 

Nitrous  oxide,  or  laugliing  gas . N3  O 

Colourless. 

Nitric  oxide  (formerly  binoxide  of  nitro¬ 
gen)  . N202,  or  NO 

Colourless,  but  reddens  in  the  air. 

Nitrous  anhydride . N2  03 

Red  fumes,  condensible  to  blue  liquid. 

Nitric  peroxide . N„  04,  or  N  02 

Red-brown  fumes,  condensible  to  orange  liquid  or 
crystalline  solid. 

Nitric  anhydride . N205 

Colourless,  crystalline,  easily  decomposed. 

The  nitric  acid  of  the  B.  P.  should  leave  no  re¬ 
sidue  on  evaporation,  showing  that  it  contains  no 
nitrate  of  potash  or  soda ;  and  should  give,  when 
considerably  diluted,  no  precipitate  with  chloride  of 
bariimi  or  nitrate  of  silver,  showing  freedom  from 
sulphuric  and  liydrocliloric  acids.  It  is  necessary  to 
add  water,  for  the  undiluted  acid  will  throw  down 
many  salts,  such  as  nitrate  of  barium,  which  are  so¬ 
luble  in  water,  but  not  in  the  concentrated  acid.  9 
grams  of  nitric  acid,  B.  P.,  are  neutralized  by  the 
addition  of  100  cubic  centimetres  of  the  volumetric 
solution  of  soda.  1000  c.c.  of  vol.  sol.  of  soda  con¬ 
tain  40  grams  of  NaHO,  and  will  neutralize  1  mole¬ 
cule  of  HN03,  or  grams.  100  will  therefore 
neutralize  xfrth  of  63  or  6‘3  grams.  Tliis  is  the 
amount  of  H  N  03  in  9  grams  of  the  official  acid ;  it 
is  equivalent  to  70  per  cent. ;  for 

9:6-3::  100  :  70. 


The  British  Medical  Association. — The  Thirty- 

eighth  Annual  Congress  of  the  British  Medical  Associa¬ 
tion  was  inaugurated  yesterday  by  the  usual  preliminary 
proceedings  of  the  Council,  and  more  formally  by  the 
general  meeting  of  the  members  in  the  Lecture  Room  of 
the  Literary  and  Philosophical  Society,  on  wrhich  occasion 
Dr.  Charlton,  of  Newcastle,  signalized  his  accession  to 
the  Presidency  for  the  year  by  the  delivery  of  an  address 
almost  equally  interesting  to  the  general  public  and  to 
the  medical  profession,  inasmuch  as  it  was  devoted  to  the 
great  subject  of  Hygiene  and  to  what  may  be  called  the 
politics  of  the  profession.  This  latter  subject  elicited 
sympathetic  response  from  the  Association,  wdiich  has 
already  distinguished  itself  in  the  promotion  of  medical 
reform,  while  it  is  still  leading  the  van  against  obsolete 
pretensions  and  the  obstructiveness  of  vested  interests. 
The  address  furnishes  a  convenient  abstract  of  the  aims, 
principles,  and  achievements  of  the  Society  to  -which 
Newcastle  is  this  week  extending-  its  heartiest  welcome 
and  "warmest  hospitality. — Newcastle  Daily  Chronicle. 

Accident  at  the  ABC  Sewage  Works  at  Hast¬ 
ings. — The  Hastings  sewage  works*  have  become  the 
scene  of  a  melancholy  disaster.  As  in  the  case  of  the 
London  main  drainage,  the  sewage  of  Hastings  is  re¬ 
ceived  into  a  large  tank  or  reservoir,  where  it  is  stored 
until  the  state  of  the  tide  allows  of  its  discharge.  The 
Hastings  Sewage  Manure  Company,  who  work  what  is 
termed  the  ABC  patent,  under  an  arrangement  with 
the  Native  Guano  Company,  have  established  their  works 
just  over  the  spot  where  the  great  intercepting  sewer  dis¬ 
charges  into  the  tank.  The  tank  itself  is  of  considerable 
extent,  and  is  entirely  subterranean,  having  an  entrance 
or  man-hole  at  each  end.  Late  on  Friday  evening  cries 
01  distress  were  heard  proceeding  from  the  tank,  into 

worbnaen  were  known  to  have  de¬ 
scended.  Mr.  Porter,  who  acted  as  chemist  to  the  ma¬ 

*  See  Pharm.  Journ.  No.  1,  p.  5. 


nure  company,  was  on  the  premises  at  the  time,  and  un¬ 
fortunately  sacrificed  his  own  life  in  an  unsuccessful  at¬ 
tempt  to  rescue  them.  He  descended  the  shaft  leading  to 
the  tank,  and  a  man  who  accompanied  him  saw  him  fall. 

An  inquest  was  held,  on  Monday  afternoon,  on  the 
bodies  of  the  two  workmen,  when  the  jury  returned  a  ver¬ 
dict  of  “Accidental  death  from  inhaling  noxious  gases,” 
but  no  evidence  was  produced  to  show  how  these  gases 
were  generated.  A  similar  verdict  was  returned  by  an¬ 
other  jury  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Porter,  whose  body  was  re¬ 
covered  later. 

Blood  Pictures. — Dr.  Day,  of  Geelong,  Australia, 
the  improver  of  the  guaiacum-tests  for  blood  and  other 
animal  fluids,  confirms  the  discovery  of  Neumann,  that 
the  picture  or  network  formed  by  human  blood  can  be 
distinguished  under  the  microscope  from  that  which  is 
formed  by  the  blood  of  other  animals.  He  says  he  has 
repeated  the  experiment,  which  is  “  wonderfully  simple,” 
almost  every  day  for  the  last  two  months,  with  invariable 
success.  A  small  drop,  not  a  mere  speck,  of  the  blood  is 
to  be  placed  on  a  microscopic  slide,  and  carefully  watched, 
at  a  temperature  of  10°  or  12°  Reaumur  (  =  54-2°  to  59° 
Fahr.),  until  the  picture  or  network  formed  by  its  co¬ 
agulation  is  developed.  Human  blood  speedily  breaks 
up  into  a  “  small  pattern”  network ;  the  blood  of  other 
animals  (calves,  pigs,  etc.)  takes  a  longer  time,  and  makes 
a  larger  pattern ;  but  the  blood  of  every  animal  seems 
to  form  a  characteristic  “  picture.”  Dr.  Day  has  ex¬ 
amined  the  blood  of  calves,  pigs,  sheep,  rabbits,  ducks, 
hens,  several  kinds  of  fishes,  etc.,  as  well  as  that  of  man, 
and  has  found  the  results  to  be  trustworthy  and  con¬ 
stant. — British  Medical  Journal. 

Arsenic. — The  use  of  arsenic  in  a  very  large  number 
of  skin  diseases  has  led  to  a  conclusion  that  its  specific 
effects  upon  such  diseases  have  been  greatly  exaggerated. 
In  a  large  number  of  selected  cases  no  benefit  has  been 
apparent.  As  a  tonic  in  neuralgia,  rheumatism,  and 
ague,  it  is  an  excellent  remedy. — Annual  Report  of  the 
Hankow  Medical  Mission,  by  F.  Porter  Smith,  M.B. 


The  death,  at  the  age  of  75,  of  Baron  Charles  yon 
Hiigel  is  announced.  He  was  Austrian  plenipotentiary 
at  the  Court  of  Belgium,  and  well  known  as  an  Austrian 
explorer  and  founder  of  the  Horticultural  Society  at 
Vienna.  He  died  at  Brussels  on  the  2nd  of  June.  Baron 
von  Hiigel  was  author  of  ‘  Botanisches  Archiv  der  Gar- 
tenbaugesellschaft  des  Oesterreichischen  Kaiserstaates,’ 
Wien,  1837  ;  and  of  ‘  Orchideensammlimg  im  Friihjahr 
1845/  Wien,  1845,  which  enumerates  1080  species. 
Some  of  the  plants  collected  by  him  in  Australia  in  1833 
were  enumerated,  and  the  new  species  described  by 
Bentham,  Fenzl,  Schott,  and  Endlicher,  in  the  unfi¬ 
nished  ‘Enumeratio  Plantarum  quas  in  Nov.  Holl.  col- 
legit  C.  L.  B.  de  Hiigel/  Vienna,  1837. 


BOOKS  RECEIVED. 


Obsebvaiions  on  Thebapeuiics  and  Disease.  By 
Donald  Campbell  Black,  M.D.,  L.R.C.S.  Edinburgh. 
London:  John  Churchill  and  Sons.  Glasgow:  James 
Hadden.  1870. 


The  Food  Joubnal.  No.  VII.  London:  J.  M.  Johnson 
and  Sons,  3,  Castle  Street,  Holborn. 

The  Pbacxice  op  Peefumeby  :  a  Treatise  on  the  Toilet 
and  Cosmetic  Arts,  Historical,  Scientific,  and  Practical; 
with  Chapters  on  the  Management  of  the  Hair,  Skin, 
and  Teeth.  By  E.  Jones  Owen.  London:  Houlston 
and  Sons. 


The  Labobaxoet  Guide  :  a  Manual  of  Practical  Che¬ 
mistry  for  Colleges  and  Schools,  specially  arranged  for 
Agricultural  Students.  By  Aeihue  Heebeet  Chuecii, 
M.A.  London:  Van  Voorst. 


140 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  13,  1870. 


Communications  for  this  Journal ,  and  boohs  for  review , 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

*%*  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication ,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Trade  Grievances. 

Sir, — In  the  admirable  letter  of  “  A  Country  M.  P.  S.”  on 
the  above-mentioned  subject  two  suggestions  are  given,  and, 
so  far,  very  good ;  but  I  think  that  there  might  have  been  a 
third,  which  is,  “  that  all  Registered  Chemists  and  Druggists 
be  equally  exempt  with  Pharmaceutical  Chemists  from 
serving  on  juries;”  or,  what  would  be  better,  “that  all  who 
are  M.  P.  S.  or  A.  P.  S.  be  exempt.” 

If  the  latter  suggestion  became  law,  every  chemist  in  the 
country  would  become  connected  with  the  Society,  just  the 
same  as  every  surgeon  is  a  member  of  his  college. 

Again,  I  do  not  see  why  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  should 
not  be  called  the  Royal  College  of  Pharmacy,  and  so  Members 
become  entitled  to  the  initials  M.R.C.Pii.,  and  Associates 
A.R.C.Ph.  The  difference  between  Pharmaceutical  Chemists 
and  Chemists  and  Druggists  would  be  much  the  same  as  it  is 
between  the  Fellows  (F.R.C.S.)  and  Members  (M.R.C.S.)  of 
the  College  of  Surgeons. 

I  remain,  Sir,  yours  obediently, 
W.  B.  C. 

Manchester,  August  8th,  1870. 


Sir, — It  was  with  some  surprise  that  I  read  in  the  Journal 
of  the  0th  an  article  written,  under  the  title  of  “  Trade 
Grievances,”  by  an  M.P.S.  The  writer  of  this  letter,  I 
think,  must  have  been  in  a  somewhat  passionate  frame  of 
mind,  or  he  would  hardly  have  recommended  the  adop¬ 
tion  of  the  sixth  article  of  the  French  code  to  our  En¬ 
glish  law.  It  is  well  that  the  desire  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  for  educational  progress  has  not  led  it  to  wish  to  take 
from  shopkeepers  the  right  of  selling  simple  drugs,  as  salts, 
senna,  etc.  In  not  attempting  this,  the  Society  has  shown 
that  whilst  in  restricting  the  sale  of  poisons  it  has  been 
anxious  to  protect  the  public  welfare,  yet  it  has  not  wished 
to  prohibit  the  sale  of  simple  remedies  merely  to  enrich  the 
class  of  tradespeople  whom  it  represents.  In  stigmatizing 
small  shopkeepers  who  deal  in  the  above  class  of  drugs  as 
pirates,  parasites,  etc.,  I  think  our  friend  has  far  exceeded 
the  bounds  by  which  he  would  have  been  restrained,  had 
he  considered  justice,  good  taste,  and  courtesy. 

Although  wishing  as  ardently  as  “  A  Country  M.P.S.”  that 
the  sale  of  drugs  should  be  confined  to  our  class,  yet  it  is  not 
by  the  aid  of  the  law  that  I  would  see  this  done,  but  by  the 
gradual  enlightenment  of  the  public  mind,  which  will  lead 
people  to  see  the  propriety  of  purchasing  even  the  simpler 
drugs  from  an  educated  tradesman. 

In  conclusion,  I  wTould  just  remark  that,  should  any  Act 
so  stringent  as  the  one  advised  be  passed,  in  all  common 
English  fairness,  grocers  and  wine  merchants  will  demand 
that  we,  too,  be  compelled  to  leave  off  the  sale  of  the  many 
articles  which  belong  especially  to  their  department. 

I  am,  Sir,  yours  truly, 

Walter  B.  Clarke,  A.P.S. 

15,  Belvoir  Street,  Leicester. 


Sir,— <£  A  Country  M.  P.  S.”  should  not  worry  himself 
about  his  “grocer”  neighbours  who  sell  salts  and  senna,  un¬ 
less  prepared  for  fair  play,  for  I  should  be  glad  to  “  spot  ” 
the  small  town  pharmacist  who  does  not  sell  tea,  spices, 
starch,  and  the  numerous  articles  fairly  within  the  province 
of  the  grocery  trade.  The  French  pharmaciens  are  un¬ 
doubtedly  blessed  by  having  Art.  6  to  protect  them ;  but  no 
free-trading  Englishman  can  be  debarred  from  selling  “  that 
which  goeth  into  the  mouth,”  though  it  steal  away  the  brain. 
“  M.  P.  S.”  has  but  a  poor  opinion  of  himself  if  he  fears  the 
competition  of  shopkeepers  who  can  only  sell  scheduled 
poisons  by  affixing  a  patent  medicine  stamp  thereon;  so 
much  for  the  Pharmacy  Act  and  the  five-shilling  patent 
medicine  licence.  We  note,  on  paper,  the  advancing  strides 


of  chemistry,  and  the  superior  position  of  pharmacists,  whilst 
it  is  wrell  knowm  that  grocers  who  have  sold  drugs  are  now 
“registered  chemists;  ”  time,  of  course,  will  settle  the  many 
sham  druggists  now  afloat,  but  until  the  present  generation  die 
off,  or  this  grievance  is  looked  after,  the  existing  state  of 
things  must  continue.  Of  course,  the  well-educated  phar¬ 
macist  will,  as  a  rule,  'carry  more  weight  with  the  public 
than  will  a  second-class  man,  but  it  must  not  be  forgotten 
that  “birds  of  a  feather”  will  sympathize  with  each  other, 
and  No., 2  frequently  drives  ahead  of  No.  1,  whose  pride,  as 
a  superior  and  scientific  man,  brings  him  to  beggary,  espe¬ 
cially  in  small  country  places. 

Just  a  word  about  “  Rule  of  Thumb,”  or  guessing,  there  is 
more  “cry  than  wool”  about  your  correspondents’  letters, 
for  who  would  weigh  out  separately  a  dozen  1  grain  calomel 
powders,  or  not  do  so  in  the  case  of  the  same  number  of  3ij 
magnesia  powders?  A  practical  man  will  judge  correctly, 
and  never  be  in  doubt  as  to  the  best  method  of  dispensing 
physic. 

Just  another  word.  I  am  a  country  pharmacist,  and  to 
make  a  fair  return  am  obliged,  by  the  necessities  of  “  small 
mouths  to  be  filled,”  not  to  do  as  I  wrould  wish,  but  to  pro¬ 
vide  my  clientele  with  the  minor  articles  of  grocery,  and 
encroach  also  upon  the  preserves  of  the  painter,  perfumer,, 
butcher,  wine  merchant,  etc.  etc.,  without  squeamishness, 
thankfully  and  cheerfully. 

I  am.  Sir,  faithfully  yours, 

J.  Houlton. 


Poison  Regulations. 

Sir, — I  regret  to  find  that  the  “  Poisons  Regulations  ”  are 
rising  to  the  surface  again ;  I  had  hoped  they  were  submerged 
with  a  millstone  upon  them. 

Notwithstanding  the  suggestion  of  the  ‘Pall  Mall  Gazette,’ 
that  our  Society  has  public  duties  and  private  interests,  which 
may  not  always  concur,  it  so  happens  with  chemists  that 
public  duty  and  private  interest  do  absolutely  concur ;  for  a 
chemist’s  success  mainly  depends  upon  public  appreciation, 
and  that  depends  upon  the  care  and  attention  of  the  indi¬ 
vidual,  the  public  having  quick  discernment  in  these  matters. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

John  Beaton. 

Kilburn,  August  8th,  1870. 


W.  C.  Fry  (Taunton). — The  work  mentioned  is  a  very  good 
one  for  the  purpose. 

“ Studiosus”  (Knaresborough)  writes  to  ask  which  is  the 
best  modern  work  on  the  general  treatment  of  diseases  in 
cattle  and  horses,  and  its  price. 

A.  B. — (1.)  The  tap  would  be  injured  after  a  time.  (2.)  The 
solution  would  probably  become  contaminated  by  the  metal. 

W.  Young  (Harrow  Road). — Received  with  thanks. 

C.  L.  B.  wishes  to  be  informed  where  he  can  procure  a 
work  on  entomology,  in  which  “the  general  structure  of 
insects  is  fully  explained,  and  the  conformation  of  their 
minute  parts  as  seen  in  the  microscope  is  adequately  illus¬ 
trated.” 

“  Zeta  ”  and  “  Quercus.” — The  new  edition  of  Bentley’s- 
c  Manual  of  Botany  ’  will  be  ready  in  October. 

“  Cortex ”  (Manchester). — (1.)  Scheele’s  green  comes  within 
the  meaning  of  the  Act.  (2.)  Apply  for  information  to  the 
Registrar. 

Gr.  J.  Thomas  (South  Molton)  should  consult  his  solicitor. 

“  Chemist  ”  should  apply  to  the  Inland  Revenue  Office. 


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

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W.  Envelopes  to  be  endorsed  for  “  Bharm . 
Journ .” 

The  General  Index  to  the  first  Fifteen  volumes  of  this 
Journal  may  be  obtained  of  the  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury 
Square,  price  2s.  8 d.,  post  free ;  bound  in  cloth,  lettered,  3s.  8 d.r 
post  free. 

The  General  Index  to  the  Yols.  XYI.-XYIII.,  Old  Series, 
and  Yols.  I.-IX.,  Second  Series,  may  also  be  obtained  of  the 
Secretary,  price  3s.  3d.,  post  free. 


August  20,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


141 


ACETIC  FERMENTATION. 

BY  BARON  VON  LIEBIG. 

( Continued  from  p.  124.) 

The  various  decompositions  of  organic  substances 
may,  as  I  believe,  be  grouped  in  three  distinct  classes. 

The  first  class  comprises  those  forms  of  fermenta¬ 
tion  wliicli  give  rise  to  alcohol,  lactic  acid,  or  butyric 
acid,  and  the  putrefaction  of  animal  materials.  These 
processes,  once  commenced,  continue  to  go  on  with¬ 
out  further  aid  by  atmospheric  oxygen. 

The  second  class  comprises  acetic  fermentation, 
nitrification,  also  the  fermentation  of  urine.  Here 
atmospheric  oxygen  plays  a  definitely  determining 
part. 

The  peculiarity  hi  the  fermentation  of  urine,  or  one 
form  of  it,  was  first  observed  by  Gay-Lussac.  He 
found  that  fresh  urine  might  be  kept  for  months 
without  decomposition  hi  a  clean  glass  vessel  entirely 
filled,  but  if  the  vessel  was  half-filled  with  air,  oxy¬ 
gen  was  absorbed  by  the  urine,  and  a  corresponding 
quantity  of  urea  was  converted  into  carbonic  acid  and 
ammonia.  This  decomposition  was  limited  by  the 
quantity  of  oxygen,  and  it  commenced  again  when 
fresh  oxygen  was  supplied  until  eventually  all  the 
urea  was  transformed. 

This  decomposition  of  the  urea  is  accompanied  by 
an  oxidation  of  the  colour  constituents  of  the  urine, 
and  a  small  quantity  of  acetic  acid  is  formed  at  the 
same  time. 

The  special  peculiarity  of  this  fermentation  is  that 
two  processes  take  place  together,  an  oxidation  and 
a  breaking  up  ;  while  one  or  more  constituents  of  the 
urine  are  being  oxidized  they  act,  by  virtue  of  that 
change,  like  a  ferment  such  as  beer-yeast  upon  cane 
sugar;  urea  associated  with  the  elements  of  water 
breaks  up  as  sugar  does,  without  otherwise  taking 
part  in  the  oxidation.  Fermentation  of  tills  kind 
takes  place  also  in  animal  materials  when  access  of 
air  is  not  prevented  during  their  putrefaction. 

The  fermentation  of  dextrin  in  beer-wort  presents 
a  phenomenon  entirely  similar. 

In  the  course  of  a  long  series  of  experiments  that 
have  been  conducted  in  my  laboratory  by  Dr.  Lermer, 
I  have  had  an  opportunity  of  confirming  the  observa¬ 
tions  of  Musculus,  that  by  the  action  of  diastase, 
starch  is  only  partially  converted  into  sugar. 

In  mashing  malted  barley  the  starch  is  acted  upon 
by  a  large  excess  of  diastase  ;  but  at  the  utmost  the 
sugar  produced  corresponds  only  to  one-half  of  the 
starch  present.  A  sample  of  malt  which  gave  7 4  per 
cent,  of  sugar  when  heated  for  twelve  hours  with  dilute 
hydrocliloric  acid,  yielded  only  34  per  cent,  of  sugar 
when  mashed  until  the  iodine  reaction  was  no  longer 
produced.  A  solution  of  dextrin  does  not  undergo 
fermentation  when  mixed  with  beer-yeast ;  but  when 
some  sugar  is  added  to  the  mixture,  great  part  of  the 
dextrin  is  converted  into  alcohol  and  carbonic  acid 
just  as  the  sugar  itself  is.* 

In  this  case  the  influence  of  the  motion  communi¬ 
cated  to  the  sugar  atoms  by  the  action  of  yeast  ap¬ 
pears  very  evidently  to  have  been  extended  to  the 
dextrin,  upon  which  yeast  has  no  action.  Before  the 


*  300  c.c.  of  a  mash  containing  8 '449  grm.  of  sugar  was 
mixed  with  10  per  cent,  of  yeast  and  left  to  ferment  at  18°  C. 
After  the  lapse  of  six  days  all  the  sugar  had  disappeared ;  the 
alcohol  then  contained  in  the  liquid  was  ascertained  to  be 
6  942  grm.  According  to  the  amount  of  sugar,  it  should  have 
been  only  4-3l7  grm. 

Third  Series,  No.  8. 


dextrin  could  break  up  into  alcohol  and  carbonic 
acid,  it  must  have  been  converted  into  sugar.* 

Excepting  beer-yeast  and  the  vinegar  plant,  which 
can  easily  be  collected  in  quantities  and  purified,  the 
other  ferments  are  scarcely  known  in  regard  to  their 
chemical  relations ;  but  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  by  more 
thorough  investigation  their  peculiarities  and  their 
influence  in  the  production  of  lactic  acid,  butyric 
acid,  etc.,  may  become  explicable  in  the  same  way  as 
the  decomposition  of  sugar  in  vinous  fermentation, 
or  the  production  of  acetic  acid  by  Mycoderma  aceti. 

If  chemical  causes  determine  the  action  of  yeast- 
cells  in  vinous  fermentation,  it  might  be  expected 
that  external  chemical  actions  would  exercise  some 
influence  on  the  progress  of  the  fermentation.  There 
are,  indeed,  many  observations  as  to  the  influence  of 
chemical  agents  upon  the  fermentation  of  sugar,  and 
though  some  of  the  results  I  have  obtained  were  al¬ 
ready  known,  the  confirmation  of  previous  statements 
is  of  some  interest. 

A  trace  of  oxide  of  mercury  entirely  stops  the  ac¬ 
tion  of  yeast  upon  sugar,  f  and  it  acts  in  the  same 
way  upon  yeast-water.  If  this  is  mixed  with  a  little 
of  the  freshly  precipitated  oxide,  then  filtered,  and 
mixed  with  some  solution  of  cane  sugar,  it  will  be 
found  that  no  grape  sugar  is  formed. 

Salts  of  copper  exercise  the  same  influence  upon 
fermentescible  mixtures.  The  yeast  takes  up  the 
copper  salt  and  becomes  green.  In  that  state  it  has 
no  action  on  sugar. 

Persalts  of  iron  colour  yeast  dirty  yellow ;  after 
two  or  three  days  this  colour  disappears  and  then  a 
slow  regular  fermentation  sets  in. 

In  order  to  avoid  repetition,  it  may  be  stated  that 
in  the  following  experiments  the  mixtures  operated 
upon  contained  in  each  instance  5  grm.  of  sugar  with 
the  same  quantity  of  washed  yeast,  and  that,  with  all 
additions  included,  the  total  volume  was  always  100 
c.c.  To  some  of  these  mixtures  were  added  various 
substances,  in  order  to  ascertain  their  influence  on 
the  fermentation ;  one  had  no  admixture,  and  that 
served  as  a  standard  for  comparison. 

When  the  fermentation  took  place  unequally  in 
these  mixtures  within  a  given  time  and  under  the 
same  conditions,  that  could  be  readily  ascertained 
by  determining  the  quantity  of  sugar  remaining  at 
the  end  of  the  experiments ;  if,  for  example,  there 
was  less  sugar  in  the  standard  mixture  that  had  re¬ 
ceived  no  admixture  than  there  was  in  others,  it  is 
evident  that  the  fermentation  must  have  been  retarded 
in  the  latter  cases. 

The  sugar  determinations  were  generally  made  by 
Fehling’s  method,  or  by  a  new  method  which  gives 
very  accurate  results,  and  in  which  cyanide  of  mer¬ 
cury  is  used. 

The  chlorides  of  sodium  and  potassium  appear  to 
promote  fermentation  somewhat.  In  mixtures  con¬ 
taining  these  salts  there  was  about  5  5  per  cent. 


*  After  fermenting  385  c.c.  of  beer-wort  containing  22'86 
grm.  of  sugar,  it  was  found  to  contain  18  grm.  of  alcohol, 
but  according  to  the  quantity  of  sugar  it  contained,  only 
1T683  grm.  should  have  been  formed.  The  excess  of  alcohol 
in  this  and  the  preceding  experiment  can  only  have  originated 
from  dextrin.  The  quantity  of  dextrin  decomposed  in  fer¬ 
mentation  appears  also  to  be  very  much  dependent  upon  the 
temperature  of  the  wort  during  fermentation.  500  c.c.  of  the 
same  wort  fermented  at  8°  C.  gave  13-897  grm.  alcohol ;  while 
according  to  the  quantity  of  sugar  in  the  wort,  14'37  grm. 
of  alcohol  might  have  been  formed, 
f  Colin. 


142 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  20,  1870. 


more  sugar  decomposed  within  sixteen  hours  than  in 
the  standard  mixture. 

Caustic  potash,  soda  and  ammonia,  added  to  the 
mixture  in  such  quantity  as  to  render  the  liquid 
strongly  alkaline,  did  not  hinder  fermentation ;  but 
a  much  longer  time  elapsed  before  the  evolution  of 
gas  became  evident,  since  the  carbonic  acid  was 
taken  up  by  the  alkalies  until  bicarbonates  had  been 
formed. 

Fermentation  is  remarkably  retarded  by  chloro¬ 
form.  After  adding  30  c.c.  of  a  clear,  filtered  solu¬ 
tion  of  chloroform  in  warm  water,  several  mixtures 
were  left  to  ferment  for  fifteen  or  eighteen  hours, 
with  the  following  results  as  regards  the  sugar  de¬ 
composed  : — 

I.  II.  III. 

Mixtures  with  chloroform  0-240  1‘240  TOO  grm. 
„  without  „  P670  2‘230  434 

The  mixture  I.  was  tested  for  sugar  eighteen  hours 
after  fermentation,  II.  fifteen  hours  after,  and  III. 
forty  hours  after. 

Against  100  parts  sugar  decomposed  in  the  stand¬ 
ard  mixtures,  there  was  in  I.  only  14  per  cent,  de¬ 
composed,  within  the  same  time,  where  chloroform 
was  present;  in  II.  there  was  only  55  per  cent,  de¬ 
composed. 

As  chloroform  is  very  sparingly  soluble  in  water, 
if  it  may  be  assumed  that  the  solution  contained  its 
own  volume  of  chloroform  vapour,  it  would  only 
amount  to  one-third  of  the  volume  of  the  mixtures, 
so  that  the  action  of  chloroform  may  be  regarded  as 
very  powerful.  A  few  drops  of  chloroform  added  to 
one  of  the  mixtures,  stopped  the  fermentation  com¬ 
pletely. 

My  experiments  as  to  the  influence  of  quinine 
upon  fermentation  are  confirmatory  of  the  results 
obtained  by  Dr.  Kernel’  and  others.  Small  quantities 
retard,  while  larger  quantities  entirely  stop  fermen¬ 
tation.  With  an  addition  of  0’2  grm.  sulphate  of 
quinine,  the  mixture  contained  4-75  gim.  sugar  after 
forty- eight  hours,  while  in  the  standard  mixture  the 
whole  of  the  5  grm.  had  been  decomposed. 

In  neutral  solutions  nicotine  appears  to  accelerate 
fermentation  somewhat.  With  an  addition  of  0-5 
grm.  hydrochlorate  of  nicotine,  the  sugar  decom¬ 
posed  after  fourteen  hours  was  as  11  :  10  in  the 
standard  mixture,  so  that  one-tentli  of  the  sugar 
remained  in  the  unmixed  solution  of  sugar;  after 
thirty-six  hours  the  quantities  of  decomposed  sugar 
were  as  29  5  :  26‘5,  or  in  the  same  ratio  as  before. 
Therefore  in  both  instances  the  acceleration  was  ap¬ 
parently  the  same. 

The  influence  of  strychnine  is  peculiar.  On  ad¬ 
dition  of  small  quantities,  fermentation  is  at  first 
accelerated,  then  it  is  retarded.  The  mixtures  con¬ 
taining  strychnine  evolve  much  more  gas  during  the 
first  six  hours  than  the  standard  does ;  they  froth 
considerably  more  and  readily  rise  over  the  top  of 
the  vessel. 

In  two  mixtures,  containing  respectively  0‘01  grm. 
and  0T  grm.  hydrochlorate  of  strychnine,  the  quan¬ 
tities  of  sugar  decomposed  within  four  hours  were 
to  the  quantity  decomposed  in  the  standard  as 
15  :  14  :  13 ;  after  eighteen  hours  they  were  as 
24  :  24  :  25-7,  so  that  it  would  seem  there  was  ac¬ 
celeration  during  the  first  four  hours  and  a  retarda¬ 
tion  subsequently. 

This  retardation  is  more  recognizable  when  the 
addition  of  strychnine  is  increased.  On  adding  0’2 


grm.  of  the  salt,  there  were  decomposed  in  two  mix¬ 
tures — 

With  strychnine  .  .  .  3'09  grm.  sugar. 

Without  ,,  ...  368  „ 

Creatin  appears  to  retard  fermentation,  while  crea¬ 
tinine  appears  to  accelerate  it,  and  at  the  same 
time  the  creatine  is  partially  converted  into  creati¬ 
nine. 

An  exceedingly  minute  quantity  of  prussic  acid 
suffices  to  retard  fermentation  and  to  stop  it  alto¬ 
gether.  In  a  mixture  containing  O' 018  grm.  dry 
acid,  the  quantity  of  sugar  decomposed  within  six¬ 
teen  hours  was  only  0  6  grm.,  while  on  the  standard 
there  was  3’4  gnu.  decomposed,  or  six  times  as 
much.  With  a  large  quantity  of  prussic  acid  there 
was  no  fermentation. 

The  action  of  the  organic  substance  in  yeast-water 
upon  cane  sugar  is  not  hindered  by  prussic  acid. 
When  yeast-water,  mixed  with  a  few  drops  of  the 
acid  and  a  solution  of  cane  sugar,  is  left  for  some 
hours,  a  certain  quantity  of  grape  sugar  is  found  to 
have  been  formed.  On  saturating  the  liquid  with 
oxide  of  mercury,  filtering,  and  heating  the  filtered 
liquid  after  addition  of  caustic  soda,  a  grey  precipi¬ 
tate  of  metallic  mercury  is  produced.  It  is  only 
grape  sugar  that  has  this  property  of  reducing  an 
alkaline  solution  of  cyanide  of  mercury. 

However,  prussic  acid  has  a  remarkable  influence 
upon  yeast-water :  it  has  already  been  mentioned 
that  yeast-water  left  in  contact  with  the  air  becomes 
turbid  and  deposits  a  white  sediment.  Frequently 
there  is  also  a  layer  of  mould  formed  on  the  surface. 
This  alteration  appears  to  be  entirely  prevented  by 
prussic  acid.  Yeast-water  mixed  with  a  mere  trace 
of  prussic  acid  remains  for  weeks  perfectly  clear ; 
there  is  no  sediment  formed  nor  any  appearance  of 
moulding. 

Schonbein  has  already  noticed  the  retardation 
caused  by  prussic  acid,  and  one  of  its  most  remark¬ 
able  features  is  that  the  capability  of  yeast  to  pro¬ 
duce  fermentation  is  not  destroyed.  Yeast  that  has 
been  kept  for  some  long  time  in  contact  with  tole¬ 
rably  strong  prussic  acid  was  found,  after  washing 
out  the  acid,  to  produce  perfectly  normal  fermenta¬ 
tion  in  sugar  solution. 

It  appears,  therefore,  that  prussic  acid  does  not 
effect  any  decomposition  of  the  cell  contents,  nor 
enter  into  any  permanent  combination  with  any  of 
its  constituents,  but  that  its  presence  suffices  to  sus¬ 
pend  the  molecular  motion  taking  place  in  the  cells 
just  in  the  same  way  that  a  weak  solution  of  car¬ 
bolic  acid  or  of  creasote  does. 

When  yeast  is  brought  in  contact  with  solution  of 
peroxide  of  hydrogen,  a  copious  evolution  of  oxygen 
takes  place,  as  pointed  out  by  Sclilossberger ;  but  if 
the  yeast  be  mixed  with  some  prussic  acid  before¬ 
hand,  there  is  no  decomposition  of  the  peroxide  of 
hydrogen  and  no  evolution  of  gas. 

This  phenomenon  calls  to  mind  the  remarkable 
observations  of  Schonbein  as  to  the  action  of  prussic 
acid  on  blood-pigment  and  materials  susceptible  of 
putrefaction.  He  found  that  when  fresh  blood  is 
mixed  with  a  solution  of  peroxide  of  hydrogen,  the 
equilibrium  of  this  unstable  compound  is  so  much 
disturbed  that  its  constituents  rapidly  break  up  into 
water  and  oxygen  gas.  However,  the  admixture  of 
a  very  minute  quantity  of  prussic  acid  entirely  neu¬ 
tralized  the  decomposing  influence  of  the  red  pig¬ 
ment  on  the  peroxide,  and  the  mixture  then  became 
dark  blackish- brown. 


August  20,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


143 


It  is  well  known  that  pure  colourless  blood  se¬ 
rum,  of  the  same  degree  of  concentration  as  in  blood, 
may  be  left  for  weeks  in  contact  with  the  air,  and 
that  it  will  not  putrefy ;  while  defibrinated  blood,  on 
the  mixture  of  blood  serum  with  the  corpuscles  of 
the  blood,  rapidly  passes  into  a  state  of  putrid  fer¬ 
mentation.  In  tliis  case  the  blood-pigment  appears 
to  act  upon  the  albumen  of  the  blood  just  in  the 
same  way  as  yeast  acts  on  sugar.  An  addition  of  a 
thousandth  part  of  prussic  acid  to  blood  is  sufficient 
to  suppress  putrefaction  for  a  long  time,  just  the 
same  as  it  prevents  the  fermentation  of  sugar. 

Neither  strychnine,  quinine,  pyrogallic  acid,  nor 
oxide  of  mercury  prevents  the  action  of  blood-pigment 
upon  peroxide  of  hydrogen,  neither  does  chloroform 
nor  hydrate  of  chloral.  Blood  diluted  with  water  is 
rendered  sensibly  paler- coloured  by  chloroform, 
while,  on  the  contrary,  the  colour  is  darkened  by 
hydrate  of  chloral,  even  in  a  slightly  acid  solution. 

Thenard  observed  that  well-washed  white  blood 
fibrine,  when  mixed  with  peroxide  of  hydrogen,  pro¬ 
duces  the  same  effect  as  Schonbein  observed  with 
blood-pigment ;  the  threads  of  fibrine  immersed  in  a 
solution  of  the  peroxide  become  covered  with  gas 
bubbles.  However,  if  the  fibrine  be  moistened  be¬ 
forehand  with  a  few  drops  of  prussic  acid,  and  left 
for  an  hour  before  being  immersed  in  the  solution  of 
peroxide,  there  is  then  no  evolution  of  gas  caused. 

In  the  behaviour  of  yeast-cells  towards  chemical 
■agents,  such  as  strychnine,  chloroform,  quinine,  and 
prussic  acid,  there  seems  to  be  some  analogy  with 
the  influence  exercised  by  some  medicines  upon  cer¬ 
tain  parts  of  the  living  animal  body,  and  from  this 
point  of  view  it  may  be  of  interest. 

In  regard  to  yeast  as  a  plant- cell,  it  is  remarkable 
enough  that  it  has  a  chemical  composition  nearly 
the  same  as  that  of  animal  structures ;  the  chief  dif¬ 
ference  is,  that  the  cell-membrane  of  the  yeast- cell 
consists  of  a  non-nitrogenous  material.  The  mineral 
constituents  are  the  same  in  both  cases,  and  in  the 
large  amount  of  potash  and  phosphoric  acid  present 
analogy  with  those  of  muscle;  moreover,  the  pro¬ 
ducts  of  the  putrefaction  of  yeast- cells  are  scarcely 
different  from  those  afforded  by  animal  materials. 

It  is  to  be  assumed  that  in  the  living  cell  in  the 
animal  organism,  there  is  incessant  transformation 
or  metamorphosis  just  as  in  yeast- cell ;  also,  that 
the  action  of  many  medicines  upon  the  living  body, 
such  as  quinine,  chloroform,  prussic  acid,  etc.,  de¬ 
pends  essentially  upon  the  influence  exercised  by 
them  upon  the  normal  state  of  metamorphosis  upon 
their  altering  the  condition  and  normal  functions  of 
the  nerves.  Some  chemical  agents,  such  as  sulphu¬ 
retted  hydrogen  and  pyrogallic  acicl,  act  in  a  purely 
chemical  manner  upon  the  blood ;  but  the  action  of 
quinine,  of  prussic  acid,  or  of  strychnine  is  not  so 
simple,  and  it  does  not  admit  of  explanation  simply 
by  chemical  alterations. 

The  liver  and  some  glands  may  be  compared  to  a 
system  of  yeast-cells  in  which,  during  its  construc¬ 
tion  out  of  the  constituents  of  the  blood,  peculiar 
compounds  are  formed  that  constitute  the  contents 
of  the  cells — compounds  that  have  only  a  temporary 
existence,  that  exercise  a  special  action  upon  the 
blood  and  its  constituents  (inasmuch  as  their  consti¬ 
tuents  separate  or  arrange  themselves  differently) — 
just  as  the  yeast-cells  act  uponbeer-wort,  and  while  de¬ 
composing  its  sugar,  constantly  reproduce  themselves. 

The  observation  recently  made  by  Sclimulewitsch, 
under  the  guidance  of  Ludwig,  that  the  liver  of 


a  freshly-killed  rabbit  continues  to  secrete  bile  for 
several  lioms  when  defibrinated  dog’s  blood  is  passed 
through  it,  is,  in  this  respect,  of  the  greatest  signi¬ 
ficance,  and  so  is  the  formation  of  sugar  in  the  liver 
observed  by  Bernard  to  take  place  even  when  the 
food  consists  exclusively  of  flesh. 

The  fact  that  a  fresh  calf’s  liver  cut  into  pieces, 
and  kept  in  water  at  30°  to  40°  C.,  begins  after  four 
or  six  hours  to  evolve  pure  hydrogen  gas  without 
giving  off  the  slightest  smell,  is,  I  believe,  indicative 
of  a  powerful  process  of  metamorphosis  going  on  in 
the  liver.  Considering  the  part  played  in  digestion 
by  one  of  the  organic  substances  contained  in  the 
gastric  secretion  ;  considering  also  the  peculiarities  of 
the  saliva  and  of  the  pancreatic  secretion,  it  is 
scarcely  possible  to  avoid  the  conclusion  that  a 
number  of  processes  in  the  animal  organism  are  de¬ 
pendent  on  the  same  causes  that  give  yeast  its 
remarkable  influence. 


ON  MEDICINAL  PEPSIN.* 

BY  RICHARD  V.  TUSOX,  F.C.S., 

Professor  of  Chemistry  at  the  Royal  Veterinary  College. 

Since  the  introduction  into  medicine  of  Corvisart  and 
Boudault’s  “poudre  nutrimentive  ”  in  the  year  1854, 
pepsin  obtained  from  the  stomach  of  the  pig,f  calf,  or 
sheep,  in  a  state  of  greater  or  less  impurity,  has  been 
extensively  prescribed  in  dyspepsia  and  certain  other 
affections.  According  to  the  testimony  of  some  autho¬ 
rities  of  high  standing,  long  experience  in  the  use  of  this 
agent  fully  justifies  the  predictions  relative  to  its  thera¬ 
peutic  value,  which  were  put  forward  by  Corvisart  as  based 
upon  physiological  reasoning.  However,  there  are  other 
authorities,  equally  eminent,  who  either  express  doubts  as 
to  the  efficacy  of  pepsin,  or  positively  state  that  it  is 
totally  devoid  of  medicinal  power.  In  all  probability 
this  difference  of  opinion  mainly  arises  from  the  cir¬ 
cumstance  that  pharmaceutists  supply  medical  men  with 
various  preparations  ;  all  hearing  the  same  specific  name 
of  pepsin,  but  differing  very  considerably  in  their  di¬ 
gestive  powers  and  other  qualities.  In  fact,  so  far  as 
I  have  at  present  been  able  to  collect  evidence  rela¬ 
tive  to  the  merits  and  demerits  of  pepsin,  I  find  those 
who  speak  favourably  of  its  employment  in  the  treat¬ 
ment  of  disease  have  prescribed  that  prepared  by  the 
best  makers ;  while  those  who  express  a  doubtful  or  ad¬ 
verse  opinion  respecting  its  value  have  been  in  the  habit 
of  prescribing  those  varieties  or  makes  which  the  expe¬ 
riments  of  myself  and  others  have  proved  to  be  practi¬ 
cally  without  any  digestive  activity  whatever.  The 
relative  digesting  capability  of  several  samples  of  English 
and  Continental  pepsin  was  investigated  by  Dr.  Sieve- 
king;];  in  1857  and  a  similar  inquiry  was  conducted  by  Dr. 
Pavy§  in  1863.  The  results  of  the  experiments  of  both 
gentlemen  indicated  that  there  was  not  merely  a  differ¬ 
ence  in  the  qualities  of  the  pepsin  prepared  by  different 
makers,  but  that — as  was  particularly  shown  by  Dr. 
Ravy — some  of  the  samples  examined  were  totally  incap¬ 
able  of  digesting  muscular  tissue.  One  would,  have 
thought  that  the  publicity  given  to  these  facts  in  the 
medical  journals  would  have  caused  the  prescription  of 
none  but  the  best  makes  of  pepsin ;  that  it  would,  also 
have  induced  those  who  had  hitherto  fabricated  an  infe  - 
rior  article  either  to  have  abandoned  its  manufacture,  or 
to  have  improved  the  methods  they  employed  for  its 
preparation.  Such,  however,  was  not  the  case,  for  phar¬ 
maceutists  at  the  present  date  continue  to  vend,  while 


*  From  the  1  Lancet,’  August  13, 1870. 

•f  First  brought  into  notice  by  Dr.  Beale. 

‘  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’  1857,  vol.  i.  p«  336. 
The  ‘  Lancet,’  April  25th,  1863. 


144 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [August  20,  I870-* 


medical  men  continue  to  prescribe,  botli  the  good  and 
the  bad  qualities  of  pepsin.  Only  a  few  days  ago  an  old- 
established  and  well-known  wholesale  druggist  told  me 
that  a  customer  applied  to  him  for  two  ounces  of  pepsin. 
He  asked  the  customer  whose  make  he  required.  The 
reply  was,  “the  cheapest.”  On  examining  the  kind  of 
pepsin  supplied  on  this  occasion,  it  was  found  to  be 
absolutely  worthless  as  regards  its  power  of  digestion. 
Nevertheless  it  will  be  used  medicinally  and  if  the 
patient  derives  no  apparent  benefit  from  its  administra¬ 
tion,  the  practitioner  who  prescribed  it  may  be  induced 
to  condemn  pepsin  in  toto  ;  or,  should  the  patient  soon 
get  better,  the  improvement  wall  in  all  likelihood  be 
attributed  to  a  preparation  which  is  perfectly  inert.  In 
the.  first  case,  injustice  wrould  be  done  to  a  medicine 
which  is  said  by  many  eminent  practitioners  to  possess 
great  therapeutic  value  wrhen  properly  prepared ;  while 
in  the  second  case,  a  worthless  preparation  would  receive 
credit  for  performing  a  service  it  is  totally  incapable  of 
rendering. 

.  Being  about  to  conduct  some  investigations  on  artifi¬ 
cial  digestion  and  requiring  for  my  purpose  considerable 
quantities  of  medicinal  pepsin,  possessing  the  highest  di¬ 
gestive  energy,  I  purchased,  in  March  last,  samples  of  the 
principal  English  makers;  also  some  French  samples, 
and  one  of  a  German  maker.  These  were  examined  in 
the  manner  hereafter  described.  The  results  arrived 
at  corroborate  substantially  those  obtained  by  Dr.  Pavy 
seven  years  ago,  although  the  methods  of  investigation 
adopted  by  that  gentleman  and  myself  differ.*  The  fol¬ 
lowing  account  of  them  may  induce  those  who  are  in  doubt 
as  to  the  value  of  pepsin  as  a  therapeutic  agent  to  reinves¬ 
tigate  the  medicinal  action  of  an  agent  which,  according 
to  theory,  ought  to  render  good  service  in  cases  wdiere  the 
secretion  of  gastric  juice  is  either  deficient  in  quantity  or 
defective  in  quality. 

Ten  samples  of  pepsin,  obtained  from  different  sources, 
were  examined.  The  preparations  of  the  several  makers 
are  distinguished  from  one  another  by  letters  in  the  fol¬ 
lowing  manner : — 

A  ) 

I  Same  make,  but  purchased  at  different  houses. 

33  ) 

|  Ditto,  ditto. 

C  ) 

Cl  >  Ditto,  ditto. 

C2  j 

D 

E 

F. 

EXPERIMENTS  UPON  ALBUMEN. 

Fresh  eggs  were  kept  in  boiling  water  for  an  hour  and 
then  allowed  to  get  quite  cold.  After  depriving  them  of 
their  shells,  the  whites  were  cut  into  the  thinnest  possi¬ 
ble  slices,!  great  care  being  taken  to  reject  any  por¬ 
tions  of  yelk,  as  well  as  all  slices  of  white  of  unequal 
thickness.  A  weighed  portion  of  coagulated  albumen 
thus  prepared  was  placed  in  a  two-ounce  wide-mouthed 
bottle,  covered  with  distilled  water  containing  1  per 
cent,  by  volume  of  concentrated  hydrochloric  acid.J 
These  operations  were  conducted  during  the  latter  part 
of  the  day.  Next  morning  the  required  amount  of  pepsin 
was  weighed  out  and  added  to  the  mixture  of  albumen 
and  dilute  hydrochloric  acid.  The  bottle  and  its  con¬ 

*  Dr.  Pavy  noticed  the  relative  solvent  action  on  frogs’  legs 
of  mixtures  of  pepsin  and  dilute  acid. 

t  It  is  easier  to  observe  the  progress  of  the  digestion  of 
albumen  if  it  be  sliced  than  if  it  be  minced. 

J  This  degree  of  dilution  was  adopted  from  the  circumstance 
that  the  results  of  special  experiments  indicated  that  it  was 
more  favourable  to  digestion  than  an  acid  of  greater  or  less 
strength.  It  was  also  ascertained  that  water  containing  five 
per  cent,  of  hydrochloric  acid  appeared  to  prevent  completely 
the  digestive  process  taking  place.  Is  it,  therefore,  wise  to 
administer  acids  along  with  or  immediately  after  pepsin,  in 
cases  in  where  the  stomach  already  contains  an  excessive 
quantity  of  acid  ? 


tents  were  then  placed  in  a  water  bath  and  kept  at  a 
temperature  of  38°  C.  (100-4°  F.).  Digestion  was  regarded 
as  complete  when,  at  the  end  of  four  hours,  particles  of 
albumen  could  no  longer  be  seen,  and  when  the  insoluble 
residue  consisted  of  a  very  minute  quantity  of  fibrous  or 
membranous  matters  only.  These  observations  were 
easily  made,  except  in  the  experiments  upon  samples  of' 
pepsin  containing  large  quantities  of  starch.  In  such 
cases,  when  digestion  appeared  to  be  finished,  the  result 
was  not  recorded  until  the  contents  of  the  bottle  had 
been  carefully  elutriated,  or  strained  through  fine  muslin, 
so  that  it  might  be  ascertained  with  certainty,  by  the 
appearance  of  the  residue  in  the  bottle  or  on  the  filter 
(muslin),  whether  or  not  the  whole  of  the  albumen  had 
been  dissolved. 

In  the  first  series  of  experiments  upon  albumen,  5- 
grammes  of  coagulated  egg-albumen  and  25  cubic  centi¬ 
metres  of  distilled  water,  containing  1  per  cent,  of  hy¬ 
drochloric  acid,  were  employed.  The  quantities  of  pep¬ 
sin  used  are  stated  in  the  subjoined  table,  which  is  in¬ 
tended  to  show  the  relative  amounts  of  the  different 
makers  (A,  B,  C,  D,  E,  F)  required  to  digest  the  same 
quantity  of  albumen  in  four  hours.  Two  comparative- 
experiments  were  in  every  instance  set  going  at  the  same¬ 
time. 


Table  showing  'Results  of  First  Series  of  Experiments  on 
Albumen  (25  cubic  centimetres  of  acidulated  water). 


Weight  of 
Pepsin 
employed. 

MAKE  OF  PEPSIN. 

A. 

B. 

C. 

D. 

E. 

F. 

Grammes. 

0*050  { 

0-075 
o-ioo 
0-150 
0-175 
0-200 
0-250 
0-300 
i  0-400 
!  0-500 

1-000 

1- 500 

2- 000 

3- 000 

4- 000 

5- 000 

Digested. 

Not 

digested 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

digested 

Not 

digested 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto* 

■M  • 

•  •  • 

4«« 

Not 

digested 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

Not 

digested 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

Not 

digested 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

It  having  been  found  impossible  to  continue  the  ex¬ 
periments  on  make  C,  with  more  than  1*5  gramme  of 
pepsin,  in  consequence  of  the  inability  of  25  cubic  cen¬ 
timetres  of  acidulated  water  to  keep  the  mixture  in  a 
sufficiently  liquid  state,  a  second  series  of  experiments 
were  commenced,  in  which  50  instead  of  25  cubic  centi¬ 
metres  of  diluted  acid  was  employed.  The  weight  of  albu¬ 
men  used  was  the  same  as  that  in  the  first  series,  viz.  5 
grammes. 


Table  showing  Results  of  Second  Series  of  Experiments  upon 
Albumen  (50  cubic  centimetres  of  acidulated  water). 


Weight  of 
Pepsin 
employed. 

MAKE  OF  PEPSIN. 

A. 

B. 

C. 

D. 

E. 

F. 

Grammes. 

0-050  { 

0-250 

0-300 

0-400 

0-500 

1-000 

1-250 

5-000 

Digested. 

Not 

digested 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

digested 

•  •  • 

Not 

digested 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

digested 

•  M 

Not 

digested 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

Not 

digested 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

Not 

digested 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

*  Experiments  with  this  make  of  pepsin  were  here  discon¬ 
tinued,  in  consequence  of  the  25  grammes  of  acidulated  water 
employed  being  insufficient  to  maintain  the  requisite  fluidity 
of  the  mixture. 


August  20, 1370.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


145 


From  the  results  of  the  experiments  detailed  in  the 
foregoing  tables,  it  will  he  seen — 

1st.  That,  in  order  to  effect  the  digestion  of  a  given 
weight  of  albumen,  very  different  quantities  of  the  pepsin 
prepared  by  makers  A,  B,  C  are  required. 

2nd.  That,  taking  the  digestive  power  of  C  as  unity, 
the  digestive  ratios  of  A,  B,  and  C  are  as  follows : — 

C  =  1  ( 1-25  gramme  dissolves  5  grammes  of  albumen.) 

B=2‘5  (0-50  „  „  „  „  ) 

A=2 5  (0-05  „  #  „  „  „  ) 

In  other  words,  A  is  ten  times  as  strong  as  B,  and 
twenty-five  times  as  strong  as  C. 

3rd.  That,  inasmuch  as  coagulated  albumen  mixed 
with  acidulated  water  and  equal  weights  of  D,  E,  and  F 
did  not  give  the  slightest  indication  of  being  digested, 
even  at  the  expiration  of  twenty-four  hours  from  the 
-commencement  of  the  experiment,  it  is  evident  that  such 
samples  of  pepsin  are,  to  say  the  least,  practically  desti¬ 
tute  of  the  power  of  digestion.  A  1,  B  1,  C  1,  and  C  2  were 
tested  in  precisely  the  same  manner  as  the  other  samples ; 
it  was  found  that  their  digestive  powers  did  not  ma¬ 
terially  differ  from  the  corresponding  samples  A,  B,  and 
C,  which,  it  will  be  remembered,  were  prepared  by  the 
.same  makers,  but  obtained  from  different  sources. 

The  evidence  afforded  by  the  results  of  the  experi¬ 
ments  already  referred  to,  will  doubtless  be  considered 
quite  sufficient  to  prove  the  existence  of  a  wide  dif¬ 
ference  in  the  digestive  energy  of  certain  samples  of  pepsin 
met  with  in  pharmacy,  and  the  utter  worthlessness  of 
others.  Nevertheless,  the  following  series  of  experiments 
upon  fibrin  was  undertaken  for  the  purpose  of  ascertain¬ 
ing  whether  or  not  the  results  would  accord  with  those 
■obtained  in  the  previous  investigations  upon  albumen. 

EXPERIMENTS  UPON  FIBRIN. 

In  these  experiments  5  grammes  of  finely-minced  fibrin 
(lean  of  rumpsteak)  was  mixed  with  50  cubic  centimetres 
of  distilled  water  containing  1  per  cent,  by  volume  of 
concentrated  hydrochloric  acid,  and  the  quantities  of 
pepsin  stated  in  the  following  table.  Temp.  38°  C. 
(100-4°  F.) ;  duration  of  experiment,  four  hours.  Two 
■comparative  experiments  were  invariably  set  going  at 
the  same  time.  When,  in  consequence  of  the  presence 
■of  starch,  the  progress  of  digestion  could  not  be  satisfac¬ 
torily  watched,  the  mixture  was  strained  through  fine 
muslin  for  the  purpose  previously  named  when  describ¬ 
ing  the  mode  of  experimenting  with  albumen. 


Table  showing  Results  of  Experiments  upon  Fibrin. 


Weight  of 
Pepsin 
employed. 

MAKE  OE  PEPSIN. 

A. 

B. 

C. 

D. 

E. 

P. 

Grammes. 
0-45  { 

1-00 

1- 50 

2- 00 

3- 00 

4- 00 

5- 00 

Digested. 

Ml 

Not 

digested 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

•  •  • 

Not 

digested 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

Not 

digested 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

Not 

digested 
ditto 
•  ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 

Not 

digested 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

We  are  now  enabled  to  see — 

1st.  That  the  relative  digestive  power  of  A  and  B  on 
■fibrin  was  very  nearly  the  same  as  with  albumen,  the 
ratios  being 

10  A  to  1  B  with  albumen ; 

8-88  (in  round  numbers  9)  A  to  1  B  with  fibrin. 

>  2nd.  That  inasmuch  as  5  grammes  of  fibrin  was  un¬ 
digested  by  equal  weights  of  pepsins  C,  D,  E,  and  F, 
these  preparations  are  practically  destitute  of  medicinal 
■value.* 

Having  shown,  from  the  results  of  nearly  three  hun¬ 


*  The  fibrin  remained  undigested  even  at  the  end  of 
twenty-four  hours  from  the  commencement  of  these  experi¬ 
ments. 


dred  experiments  upon  albumen  and  fibrin,  that  the  pep¬ 
sin  distinguished  by  the  letter  A  is  far  superior  in  quality 
to  that  of  any  other  make,  it  appears  to  me  simply  an 
act  of  duty  to  the  medical  profession  and  of  justice  to 
the  undermentioned  firm,  to  state  that  it  is  prepared  by 
Messrs.  Bullock  and  Reynolds,  of  Hanover  Street,  Han¬ 
over  Square.*  In  conclusion,  I  beg  to  thank  my  very 
able  assistant,  Mr.  E.  Lapper,  for  the  aid  he  has  rendered 
me  during  the  prosecution  of  this  inquiry. 


HYDRATE  OF  CHLORAL. 

In  one  of  a  series  of  articles  on  the  “  Progress  of  The¬ 
rapeutical  Science,”  tho  ‘Medical  Times  and  Gazette’ 
mentions  that  some  years  ago  the  late  Sir  J.  Y.  Simpson 
predictedf  that  among  the  organic  compounds  constantly 
being  discovered  by  chemists  some  one  would  be  found 
“  as  important  as  that  most  useful  of  all  drugs — opium — 
and  yet  without  either  its  constipating  effects,  or  in¬ 
direct  tendency  to  excite  subsequent  nausea.”  Such  a 
substance  was  found  before  his  death  in  hydrate  of  chlo¬ 
ral.  From  the  same  article  we  take  the  following  par¬ 
ticulars  : — 

Chloral  itself  was  discovered  by  Liebig,  in  1832 ;  sub¬ 
sequently  it  was  further  examined  by  Dumas,  but  up  to 
last  year  it  remained  a  substance  of  merely  chemical  in¬ 
terest.  Though  itself  a  thin,  colourless  oil,  clearer  than 
water,  greasy  to  the  touch,  possessing  a  peculiar  pungent 
odour,  and  exciting  a  copious  flow  of  tears,  it  forms 
with  water  a  solid  crystalline  compound ;  and,  as  shown 
by  Liebreich,  of  Berlin,  this  compound  possesses  great 
power  as  a  hypnotic  and  ansesthetic.  The  hydrate  of 
chloral  contains  89*02  per  cent,  of  chloral  and  10 -88 
water.  It  dissolves  freely  in  water,  a  saturated  solution 
containing  about  50  per  cent.  When  pure,  its  diluted 
solution  has  a  rather  agreeable  taste,  a  point  of  no  small 
importance  in  its  favour. 

Dr.  Richardson  has  characterized  Liebreich’ s  discovery 
of  the  medicinal  virtues  of  chloral  hydrate  as  a  brilliant 
illustration  of  modern  advance  in  therapeutics,  inasmuch 
as  it  was  arrived  at  by  a  determination  of  the  action  of  a 
substance  theoretically  from  a  precise  knowledge  of  its 
chemical  and  physical  properties.  Hydrate  of  chloral  re¬ 
acts  with  an  alkali  in  such  a  manner  that  they  are  re¬ 
solved  into  chloroform  and  a  formiate.  The  blood  being 
an  alkaline  liquid,  Liebreich  inferred  that  it  ought 
therefore  to  produce  this  change,  and  that  if  chloral 
hydrate  were  introduced  into  the  animal  organism, 
“  every  small  particle  of  it  would  consume  the  surround¬ 
ing  alkali,  the  decomposition  being  completed  only  after 
the  requisite  quantity  of  alkali  had  been  furnished  by 
the  blood  within  an  infinitesimal  period;  a  minimum 
quantity  of  chloroform  would  thus  be  formed  and  passed 
to  its  first  place  of  action,  viz.  the  ganglia  cells  of  the 
cerebrum.”  On  account  of  the  slight  alkalinity  of  the 
blood,  formation  of  chloroform  would  not  take  place  ex¬ 
plosively,  as  it  were,  but  gradually  and  slowly,  its  own 
peculiar  action  would  therefore  also  be  exercised  gradually 
and  slowly  on  the  ganglia  of  the  cord,  and  lastly  on  the 
heart. 

Liebreich  first  experimented  with  the  substance  on 
animals,  and  finding  his  anticipations  realized,  then  ex¬ 
tended  his  observations  to  man.  His  results  were  com¬ 
municated  to  the  Academy  of  Sciences  in  Paris  during 
1869,  and  he  has  since  published  a  valuable  pamphlet  on 
the  properties  of  chloral  hydrate.];  Last  August,  during 
the  meeting  of  the  British  Association  at  Exeter,  speci- 


*  Dr.  Pavy  also  showed  in  1863  that  the  pepsin  of  Messrs. 
Bullock  and  Reynolds  was  much  more  active  than  that  of  any 
otlier  mother* 

f  ‘Physicians  and  Physic,’  1856,  p.  100;  ‘Monthly  Jour¬ 
nal  of  Medical  Science,’  vol.  xvi.  p.  359. 

x  ‘  Das  Chloral  Hydrat,  ein  neues  Hypnoticum  und  Aniis- 
thesien,’  etc.  Yon  Dr.  O.  Liebreich.  Berlin,  1869. 


146 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  20,  18701. 


mens  of  the  medicine,  and  Liehreich’s  report  having 
"been  received  in  England,  Dr.  Richardson  examined  its 
properties,  confirming  Liehreich’s  statements,  and  con¬ 
siderably  enlarging  our  knowledge  of  the  medicinal 
action  of  the  substance.*  He  also  inclined  towards 
Liebreich’s  theory  as  to  its  mode  of  action.  Personne 
also  supports  this  theory,  and  has  advanced  evidence  in 
its  favour.  Dr.  D.  B.  Russell  has  likewise  found  that 
typhus  patients  are  very  sensitive  to  the  action  of  chloral 
hydrate;  and,  in  explanation  of  this  fact,  he  points  to 
the  opinion,  that  the  alkalinity  of  the  fluids  is  increased 
in  typhus.  Of  course,  the  more  alkaline  the  blood,  the 
more  rapidly  the  decomposition  of  the  hydrate  and  the 
production  of  chloroform  might  be  expected  to  take 
place. 

But,  whatever  the  value  of  Liebreich’s  theory  may  be, 
the  chief  thing  is  to  learn  what  are  the  effects  of  chloral 
hydrate — what  is  its  real  value  as  a  medicine  ?  One  of 
the  earliest  to  try  it  in  England  was  Mr.  Spencer  Wells,  t 
Since  then  it  has  been  employed  so  extensively,  that  it 
may  be  useful  to  gather  up  somewhat  the  knowledge 
acquired  as  to  its  value.  There  does  seem  not  a  little 
danger  of  its  being  erected  into  a  kind  of  panacea  for  all 
the  ills  that  flesh  is  heir  to,  of  its  true  worth  and  fame 
suffering  from  too  indiscriminate  use.  Its  value  is  pro¬ 
bably  too  great  and  too  real  for  actual  eclipse  by  its 
abuse ;  but  the  repute  of  this  medicine  may  be  danger¬ 
ously  compromised. 

Hydrate  of  chloral  ought,  when  used  as  a  medicine,  to 
be  perfectly  pure.  When  impure  it  has,  like  impure 
chloroform,  highly  irritating  properties,  and  in  the  for¬ 
mation  of  chloral  other  chlorinated  compounds  may  be 
produced.  These  must  be  carefully  removed.  In  the 
great  demand  that  has  arisen  for  chloral  hydrate,  and 
the  desire  to  cheapen  its  production,  there  is  danger  of 
impure  specimens  being  supplied. 

Liebreich  stated  that,  in  sufficient  doses,  the  hydrate 
produces,  after  a  short  interval,  deep  sleep,  and  when 
carried  far  enough,  complete  anaesthesia  ;  that  its  action 
is  not  accompanied  with  excitement,  and  that  it  leaves 
no  bad  after-effects.  Dr.  Richardson  concluded  from  his 
experiments  that  “  deep  and  prolonged  narcotism  can  be 
safely  produced  by  the  hydrate ;  that,  during  a  portion 
of  the  period  of  narcotism,  there  may  be  complete  anaes¬ 
thesia  with  absence  of  reflex  actions ;  a  condition  in 
which  every  operation  fails  to  call  forth  consciousness, 
and  that,  during  the  narcotism,  there  are  intervals  of 
apparent  exalted  sensibility.”  But  he  observes  the  in¬ 
sensibility  and  the  sleep  this  hydrate  produces  do  not 
represent  or  rival  the  action  of  the  volatile  anaesthetics 
we  use  for  abolition  of  pain  during  surgical  operations. 
Moreover  Demarquay,  of  Paris,  in  his  experiments  on 
rabbits,  failed  to  observe  any  anaesthetic  state ;  but  he 
found  that  the  animals,  though  thrown  into  most  perfect 
sleep,  were  in  a  state  of  highly- exalted  hyperesthesia. 

On  the  whole  it  appears  experience  has  shown  that 
the  hydrate  is  not  truly  anaesthetic ;  that  very  large 
doses  will  produce  heavy  and  prolonged  sleep,  but  not 
true  anaesthesia, — certainly  that  anaesthesia  cannot 
safely  be  induced  by  it.  There  is  but  very  slight  record 
of  direct  evidence  on  this  point.  Professor  Nussbaum 
tried  it  as  an  anaesthetic  in  the  Munich  Hospital ;  out 
of  twenty  cases  it  caused  anaesthesia  in  only  one,  that  of 
a  woman  of  weak  constitution.  All  the  other  subjects 
experimented  on  experienced  only  drunkenness,  and 
they  said  the  pain  caused  by  operations  was  less  severe 
than  under  the  influence  of  chloroform,  sometimes  even 
being  scarcely  felt,  but  only  the  one  experienced  no 
pain  at  all. X  This  report  is  so  imperfect  as  to  be  all  but 
useless  ;  and  it  may  be  taken  for  certain  that  to  produce 


*  Med.  Times  and  Gazette,  Sept.  4,  Oct.  30,  and  Nov.  6, 
1869. 

f  See  Med.  Times  and  Gazette,  vol.  ii.  1869,  pp.  346  and  408. 
X  ‘  American  J ournal  of  the  Medical  Sciences,’  April,  1870, 
from  ‘  Mouvement  Medicale,’  Feb.  1870. 


anaesthesia  the  hydrate  must  be  given  in  toxic  doses. 
M.  Noira  relates,*  as  a  warning,  a  case  of  amputation 
under  the  influence  of  chloral  hydrate.  The  patient,  a 
man  of  sixty-four,  took  five  grains  of  the  hydrate ;  in 
two  hours  amputation  of  the  leg  was  performed  without 
his  making  a  movement  or  uttering  a  cry.  But  the 
pulse  then  became  filiform  and  uncountable,  while  a 
state  of  alarming  coma  lasted  for  eleven  hours.  Then 
violent  delirium  camo  on,  with  vomiting  and  pain  in  the 
stomach,  lasting  for  eight  hours,  and  leaving  the  pa¬ 
tient  in  the  most  extreme  prostration,  the  bad  effects  of 
which  did  not  pass  off  for  many  hours  longer. 

From  smygmographic  observations  made  by  M. 
Bouchat,  Drs.  Anstie  and  Burton  Sanderson, f  it  appears 
that  chloral  hydrate  contracts  the  arterioles.  Dr.  Rus¬ 
sell  Reynolds  has  also  recorded  a  case  in  which  a  dose  of 
50  grains  produced  most  alarming  toxic  effects  in  a  lady 
of  middle  age.  “  The  superficial  pulses  were  almost  im¬ 
perceptible,  and,  when  they  could  be  detected,  were  ex¬ 
cessively  rapid,  weak,  irregular,  and  intermittent.  The 
heart  was  regular  in  its  beat,  although  feeble,  and  in¬ 
tensely  rapid  in  its  pulsations.”  Hence  it  would  seem 
that  the  drug  produces  arterial  anaemia  of  the  brain- 
when  given  in  hypnotic  doses,  and  it  can  hardly  be  de¬ 
sirable  to  push  that  effect  by  very  large  doses.  M. 
Bouchat  considers  it  to  be  contraindicated  in  cases  of  or¬ 
ganic  cerebral  and  cardiac  mischief ;  certainly  its  effects 
may  be  feared  in  cases  of  fatty  or  otherwise  weak  heart. 

But,  as  a  hypnotic,  there  is  no  doubt  Liebreich  has 
placed  in  our  hands  a  most  valuable  and  admirable  me¬ 
dicine.  As  a  sleep-compeller  it  is,  in  a  very  large  num¬ 
ber  of  cases,  unrivalled ;  for  while,  in  power,  opium 
alone  can  be  compared  with  it,  there  is  this  superiority 
to  opium,  that  its  use  entails  no  unpleasant  after-symp¬ 
toms, — no  headache,  no  nausea,  no  anorexia,  no  constipa¬ 
tion, — while  the  sleep  it  produces  is  gentle,  calm,  and  con¬ 
tinued.  At  least  this  is  the  general  rule,  though  there 
have  been  cases  where  chloral  hydrate  has  excited  un¬ 
pleasant  effects,  such  as  nausea  and  painful  dreams. 
Cases  of  this  kind  will  occur  now  and  then,  so  long  as 
human  beings  differ  so  greatly  in  temperament,  consti¬ 
tution  and  sensibility  to  the  action  of  medicine. 


CULTIVATION  OF  CINCHONA  IN  MEXICO. 

Mr.  Hugo  Finck,  Vice-Consul  of  the  North  German 
Confederation  at  Cordova,  Mexico,  writes  as  follows, 
under  date  10  July,  1870,  to  Mr.  Hanbury,  who  has  fa¬ 
voured  us  with  the  extract : — 

*  *  You  remember  sending  me  some  seeds  of 

Cinchona  officinalis :  I  sowed  them  and  a  good  many 
germinated,  but  the  plants  were  all  lost  save  one. 
That  plant  is  now  7  feet  high  and  looking  very  healthy.. 
Afterwards  I  got  from  Mr.  Nieto  about  a  hundred 
small  plants  of  C.  Calisaya,  C.  succirubra,  and  C.  Con - 
daminea ,  which  are  all  growing  amazingly  welL 
Some  are  already  12  feet  high,  with  leaves  from  10 
to  15  inches  long  and  wide  in  proportion.  One 
three-year-old  plant  flowered  at  the  house  of  Mr. 
Nieto,  but  I  think  this  was  premature  and  cause  4 
by  some  impediment  in  the  ground,  as  a  large  stone 
or  some  other  obstruction  with  which  the  roots  came 
in  contact. 

In  1866,  the  late  Emperor  Maximilian  obtained 
some  cinchona  seeds  from  England  which  he  distri¬ 
buted  in  this  country.  Mr.  Nieto  got  the  largest 
share  of  those  seeds,  and  as  he  took  great  pains 
with  them  he  raised  thousands  of  plants,  which  he 
distributed  to  a  number  of  persons.  Of  these  plants 
the  greater  part  were  lost  through  injudicious  ma¬ 
nagement,  so  that  actually  only  about  300  are  alive, 
of  which  number  I  possess  one-third. 


*  ‘  Gazette  des  Hopitaux,’  Dec.  1869. 
f  ‘  Practitioner,’  March,  1870. 


August  20,  lsro.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


117 


REPORT  OF  EXPERIMENTS  ON  THE  BROMIDE 
OF  POTASSIUM  USED  IN  MEDICINE. 

The  bromide  of  potassium  now  used  in  medicine  is 
remarkably  pure.  Out  of  six  samples  described  below, 
only  one  contained  iodine ;  and  even  in  that  case  the 
amount  of  iodine  was  very  minute.  The  crystals  of  bro¬ 
mide  of  potassium,  like  those  of  the  iodide,  are  some¬ 
times  transparent  and  sometimes  opaque ;  the  latter  kind 
containing  a  certain  amount  of  water,  while  the  former 
are  almost,  if  not  entirely,  anhydrous. 

Analyses  of  these  six  samples  gave  the  following  re¬ 
sults  : — 


No. 

Obtained  from 

Quan¬ 

tity 

taken. 

Silver- 
salt  ob¬ 
tained. 

Silver 

required. 

1 

Eye  Hospital,  Moor-  \ 

Grains. 

fields  ;  transparent  > 

kind  . J 

5-955 

9-32 

5-40 

2 

London  Hospital ;  ditto . . 

5-955 

9-32 

5-40 

3 

Douthwaite,58,Bishops-  ) 
gate  Street ;  ditto  . .  j 

5-955 

9-22 

5-40 

4 

Skin  Hospital ;  ditto  .... 

5-955 

9-40 

5-40 

5 

"Warner  and  Co.,  Fore  1 
Street ;  ditto  . J 

5-955 

9-26 

5-40 

6 

Bell  and  Co.,  Oxford  j 
Street ;  opaque  kind  / 
The  theoretical  numbers  \ 

5-955 

9-05 

5-26 

for  absolutely  pure  f 
bromide  of  potassium  ( 

5-955 

9-40 

5-40 

are . / 

A  determination  of  water  was  made  in  the  sample  of 
opaque  bromide  (No.  6).  It  contained  2’7  per  cent,  of 
water. 

The  sample  No.  3,  from  Douthwaite’s,  contained  a 
trace  of  iodide  of  potassium  ;  all  the  rest  were  quite  free 
from  iodine. 

These  results  show  that  chlorides  are  almost  entirely 
absent  from  the  commercial  bromide  of  potassium  in  some 
instances  ;  and  that  in  the  worst  of  the  samples  examined 
there  was  not  more  than  5-2  per  cent,  of  chloride  of  po¬ 
tassium. 

The  method  of  examination  adopted  in  this  case  was 
the  same  as  that  described  in  the  Report  on  iodide  of 
potassium. — British  Medical  Journal. 


THE  MILK  AND  WHEY  CURES.  * 

BY  DR.  HERMANN  LIEBERT, 

Professor  of  Clinical  Medicine  in  the  University  of  Breslau. 

The  time  is  past  when  mineral  waters  were  re¬ 
garded  as  simple  units  (without  reference  to  their  con¬ 
stituents),  where  the  mysticism  of  the  healing  power 
of  the  spirits  bubbling  from  the  depths  of  the  earth  had 
a  particular  charm,  not  for  the  layman  only,  but  also 
for  many  practitioners  ;  when  the  might  of  the  pro¬ 
pitious  Naiads  -within  the  province  of  balneology  gave 
rise,  not  only  to  large  numbers  of  doggrel  verses,  but  to 
a  still  greater  quantity  of  prose  writing.  Natural  phi¬ 
losophy,  chemistry  and  experience  sifted  by  a  process  of 
severe  criticism,  have  at  last  begun  to  bear  sway  even  in 
this  department.  We  have  become  aware  that  the 
ghosts  rising  from  the  deep  are  nothing  but  aerated 
water  impregnated  with  salts  derived  from  the  soil  and 
rocks  through  wliich  it  has  flowed,  and  from  this  fact  we 
derive  a  knowledge  beneficial  to  therapeutics,  as  to  the 
proper  relations  of  solution  and  chemical  combination. 
Of  the  gases  again,  we  know  that  sulphuretted  hydrogen 
for  instance,  is  generated  by  the  decomposition  of  sulphate 

*  Abstract  of  a  lecture  published  in  the  ‘  Medical  Times  and 
Gazette.’ 


of  lime  or  other  sulphates ;  the  bubbling  carbonic  acid 
from  carbonated  salts,  earths,  and  particularly  from 
carbonate  of  lime.  From  a  chemical  point  of  view  we  are 
better  acquainted  with  the  mineral  waters  than  we  are 
with  most  of  our  composite  medicines ;  we  know  that 
their  temperature  depends  on  a  definite  law,  that  of  the 
increase  of  the  heat  of  the  earth  by  one  degree  Centi¬ 
grade  for  every  hundred  feet  in  depth ;  we  know  that 
from  the  very  cold  to  the  hot  springs,  physical  condition 
as  regards  temperature  exercises  a  decided  influence  on 
their  action. 

Concerning  the  bath,  it  has  been  ascertained  that  the 
salts  contained  in  solution  are  not  at  all,  or  but  little, 
absorbed  by  the  skin.  Consequently  that  a  direct  influ¬ 
ence  is  exercised  by  the  bath  only  in  diseases  of  the  skin 
or  in  affections  which  have  communication  with  the  skin 
by  means  of  fistulous  sores  and  otherwise.  The  unques¬ 
tionable  influence  exercised  on  the  nerves  of  the  skin  is 
much  weakened  by  the  epidermis,  but  nevertheless  the 
physical  action  of  the  bath  becomes  quite  prominent  in 
the  majority  of  diseases  which  do  not  directly  concern 
the  surface  of  the  body.  Here  temperature  plays  a  most 
important  part ;  also  in  douches  the  degree  of  concentra¬ 
tion,  the  force  of  the  jet  and  the  height  from  which  the 
water  falls;  in  vapour  baths  minute  atomization  and 
high  temperature,  etc. 

The  more  hygiene  becomes  a  subject  of  close  and  pro¬ 
found  investigation,  the  more  does  climatology  attain  to 
its  full  and  important  rights.  On  taking  a  survey 
of  many  and  accurate  meteorological,  physical,  geogra¬ 
phical,  and  geological  investigations,  it  is  found  that 
they  afford  to  the  physician  many  useful  and  important 
data,  but  at  the  same  time  they  impress  him  with  a 
feeling  of  the  responsibility  of  acting  on  a  strictly  critical 
and  scientific  basis  in  respect  to  such  knowledge. 

The  courses  of  treatment  by  milk  and  whey  occupy  a 
prominent  position  amongst  the  hygienic  courses,  which 
are  very  often  combined  with  climatic  and  mineral- water 
treatment.  They  are  annually  ordered  for  so  large  a  num¬ 
ber  of  patients  that  it  seems  very  necessary  a  clear  idea 
should  be  given  of  them ;  since,  on  the  one  hand,  the  milk 
cure,  more  particularly  with  respect  to  the  different 
species  of  animals  which  supply  the  milk,  has  not  yet 
been  sufficiently  appreciated,  whilst  on  the  other  hand, 
the  course  of  treatment  by  whey  has  been  very  much 
over-estimated,  having  attained  to  such  proportions  in 
the  watering-places  of  Silesia  as  to  render  the  latter 
rivals  even  to  those  of  Switzerland.  Most  health  re¬ 
sorts  where  the  whey  cure  is  practised  have  an  advan¬ 
tageous  climatic  position ;  their  arrangements  and  the 
whole  mode  of  life  in  them  are  well  arranged ;  the  me¬ 
dical  advice  is  mostly  derived  from  full  experience  and 
beneficial  results  in  chronic  cases  cannot  be  denied. 
Nevertheless,  we  must  in  many  cases  confidently  con¬ 
clude  that  the  patients  have  been  benefited  or  cured, 
not  in  consequence  of,  but  in  spite  of  the  whey.  Con¬ 
cerning  this  point,  a  want  of  knowledge  in  natural  phi¬ 
losophy  and  chemistry  is  felt  by  many  physicians,  and 
this  again  proves  that  secular  traditions  must  not  be 
mistaken  for  verified  experience. 

The  author  then  makes  the  following  remarks  on  the 
chemical  nature  of  milk  and  whey : — “If  we  compare 
different  kinds  of  milk  with  reference  to  their  solid  con¬ 
stituents  we  find  that  asses’  milk  is  most  dilute,  contain¬ 
ing  scarcely  9  per  cent,  solid  matter ;  next  stands  human 
milk  with  somewhat  over  1 1  per  cent. ;  next,  goats’  milk 
with  13£  per  cent. ;  next  cows’  milk  with  over  14  per 
cent. ;  then  sheep’s  milk  containing  16  per  cent,  (accord¬ 
ing  to  an  analysis  recently  made  in  my  laboratory, 
even  18  per  cent.) ;  lastly,  mares’  milk,  containing  17 
per  cent.  From  these  facts  asses’  milk  would  be  ap¬ 
plicable  in  cases  where  dilute  milk  seems  desirable. 
Goats’  and  cows’  milk  represent  the  average  quality; 
sheep’s  milk  would  be  suitable  when  that  containing  a 
large  amount  of  nourishment  is  thought  necessary,  and 
it  is  preferable  to  the  rich  mares’  milk — which  in  the 

i  3 


148 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [August  20, 1370. 


central  parts  of  Europe  is  also  frequently  applied  to 
therapeutic  purposes— because  it  contains  a  larger  quan¬ 
tity  of  albumen  and  casein. 

“  Still  more  important  than  the  total  amount  of  the 
solid  matter,  is  the  amount  of  casein  and  albumen.  Ex¬ 
cepting  mares’  milk,  which  is  excessively  poor  in  this 
respect,  human  milk  is  the  poorest,  containing  only  4 
per  cent,  of  casein,  whilst  cows’  milk  contains  nearly  5 
per  cent.,  with  more  than  ^  per  cent,  albumen.  In  direct 
opposition  to  the  latter  stands  asses’  milk,  with  only 
2  per  cent,  casein  and  albumen;  for  this  reason  it  is 
beneficially  employed  in  inflammatory  chronic  diseases, 
in  which  the  supply  of  nitrogenous  matter  must  be 
confined  within  moderate  limits.  Goats’  milk,  with  of 
per  cent,  of  casein  and  albumen,  is  particularly  charac¬ 
terized  by  its  large  amount  of  albumen,  which  is  I5  per 
cent.,  while  sheep’s  milk  is  in  this  particular  again  the 
richest,  since  of  5f  per  cent,  of  casein  and  albumen,  as 
much  as  If  are  albumen. 

“Asses’  milk  contains  also  the  smallest  quantity  of 
butter,  whilst  cows’  and  human  milk  contain  4|  per 
cent.,  sheep’s  milk  nearly  6  per  cent.,  goats’  milk  nearly 
7  per  cent.  Goats’  and  sheep’s  milk  contain,  again,  the 
largest  amount  of  hydrocarbons ;  the  sheep  exhibiting 
the  enormous  value  of  the  nourishing  constituents  of  its 
milk  by  its  containing  Ilf  per  cent,  of  proteine  matters 
and  hydrocarbons. 

“  The  milk  sugar  amounts  on  the  average  to  4  per 
cent,  in  the  milk  of  the  cow,  goat,  and  sheep,  while  there 
is  more  than  5  per  cent,  in  the  milk  of  the  ass. 

“The  salts,  chlorides  of  the  alkalies,  earths,  etc., 
amount  to  I  or  f  per  cent,  on  the  average  in  different 
kinds  of  milk.  The  large  amount  of  milk-sugar  in 
mares’  milk,  viz.  8  per  cent.,  only  moderately  increases 
its  nutritive  value,  but  renders  it  prone  to  alcoholic 
fermentation,  whence  arises  its  manifold  application  in 
the  ‘  Koumyss  ’  cure  treatment  practised  amongst  Tartar 
tribes.” 


POPPY  CULTURE  IN  NORTH  AMERICA. 

In  order  to  supply  the  requirements  of  American  phar¬ 
macy,  the  cultivation  of  the  poppy  has  been  commenced 
in  various  parts  of  North  America.  According  to  the 
‘Journal  de  Pharmacie  d’ Anvers,’  the  Californian  agri¬ 
culturists  have  tried  it  upon  a  large  scale,  and  as  they 
have  been  assisted  by  the  extensive  experience  of  the 
Chinese,  great  numbers  of  whom  are  now  settled  in  the 
State,  the  experiment  has  succeeded  very  well. 

There  is  much  in  this  enterprise  to  tempt  the  farmer. 
It  is  well  known  that  the  poppy  will  grow  in  almost 
every  kind  of  soil,  and  in  nearly  all  climates,  and  that  it 
needs  very  little  skill  for  its  cultivation.  The  amount 
of  labour,  too,  required  for  collecting  the  opium  is  small. 
No  process  can  be  more  simple  than  to  split  open  the 
poppy-head  when  it  is  mature,  and  to  extract  from  it 
the  milky  juice ;  this  is  rolled  into  a  ball  by  means  of  a 
spatula  with  as  much  ease  as  a  dairymaid  forms  a  roll  of 
butter.  Twenty-four  hours  afterwards,  the  opium  is 
ready  for  sale. 

The  poppy  is  also  cultivated  in  Louisiana.  Last 
spring  a  farmer  planted  seven  acres  with  it  there,  and 
he  hopes  to  collect  fifty  pounds  of  opium  per  acre.  This 
would  be  an  excellent  return ;  but  much  depends,  as  in 
the  case  of  cotton,  upon  the  rapidity  with  which  the 
gathering  is  done. 

The  ‘  Journal  of  Applied  Chemistry,’  in  a  recent  num¬ 
ber,  states  that  Mr.  C.  Wilson,  of  Monkton,  Vermont, 
sowed  in  the  spring  of  1868,  rather  more  than  six  and  a 
quarter  acres  with  opium  poppy  seed.  The  yield  from 
the  gathered  juice  of  the  poppy-heads,  or  capsules,  was 
140  pounds,  which,  when  dried,  became  marketable 
opium.  For  this  the  grower  obtained  prices  ranging 
from  eight  to  ton  dollars  per  pound,  from  druggists  and 
physicians  in  New  England.  The  opium  furnished  6-25 
per  cent,  of  morphine.  It  is  stated  by  Professor  Proctor, 
that  with  greater  care  in  obtaining  the  pure  juice  of  the 


capsules,  the  opium  might  be  made  to  yield  10  per  cent, 
of  morphia.  The  proportion  of  this  alkaloid  which  the 
best  Turkey  opium  is  capable  of  affording,  varies  from  9 
to  14  per  cent. 


LARGE  DOSE  3  OF  CHLORAL. 

The  following  account  of  the  effect  of  an  overdose  of 
chloral  upon  the  writer,  who  was  suffering  from  insomnia, 
has  been  furnished  to  the  ‘  Lancet’ : — 

“  With  the  exception  of  want  of  sleep,  I  am  otherwise 
in  good  health.  I  have  found  out  that  alcohol,  taken  in 
excess,  will  in  my  case  procure  sleep ;  but  in  it  I  have 
no  sort  of  inclination  to  indulge,  and  therefore  it  is  that 
I  am  obliged  to  have  recourse  to  narcotics.  I  have  tried 
morphia,  both  bimeconate  and  muriate,  and  have  expe¬ 
rienced  from  its  exhibition  anorexia,  nausea,  and  want  of 
energy  ;  cannabis  indica  almost  provoked  delirium,  and 
bromide  of  potassium  had  no  effect  whatever.  So  you 
may  be  sure  I  was  delighted  when  I  saw  the  first  account 
of  hydrate  of  chloral  in  your  Journal.  I  procured  a 
supply  without  delay,  and  for  months  had  the  intense 
delight  of  refreshing  sleep,  waking  in  the  morning  with 
a  good  appetite,  and  fit  for  any  amount  of  work.  But, 
alas  !  its  effects  were  not  lasting.  In  the  beginning  20 
grains  would  have  the  desired  effect ;  but  latterly  I  have 
often  taken  as  much  as  a  drachm  without  any  effect  at 
all.  On  the  night  of  the  2nd  August  I  took  1  drachm 
of  the  hydrate  of  chloral  at  about  11  o’clock,  and  soon 
after  went  to  bed.  At  1,  finding  myself  hot,  restless 
and  weary,  I  determined  to  take  another  dose.  I  could 
find  no  matches  in  the  room,  and,  as  I  did  not  like  to 
alarm  the  house,  I  took  the  bottle  of  chloral  syrup  (20 
grains  to  1  drachm),  took  a  mouthful,  and  again  sought 
sleep,  but  with  no  better  result.  Being  teased,  wearied 
and  stupefied,  but  without  any  inclination  to  sleep,  I 
again  sought  the  syrup,  and  again  took  another  very 
large  mouthful.  I  was  scarcely  in  bed  when  I  was  fast 
asleep  and  slept  soundly  from  about  2  till  half-past  10 
in  the  morning.  A  servant,  who  had  occasion  to  enter 
my  room  about  6  in  the  morning,  says  that  I  was  then 
snoring  loudly.  I  was  called  at  10  o’clock  and  aroused 
with  some  difficulty.  When  I  tried  to  get  out  of  bed,  I 
found,  to  my  horror,  that  I  had  no  control  whatever  over 
my  legs  from  the  knees  down.  I  could  not  stand  ;  my 
legs  tottered,  and  I  should  have  fallen  had  I  not  clung 
to  the  bedpost.  I  wish  your  readers  to  understand  that 

I  had  the  use  of  every  part  of  my  frame,  except  from  the 
knees  down.  With  the  aid  of  a  servant  I  dressed  my¬ 
self,  and  proceeded  as  well  as  I  could  to  descend  the 
stairs.  In  doing  so  I  had  several  stumbles,  and  should 
have  fallen  were  it  not  for  my  servant’s  support.  I 
made  a  hearty  breakfast  and  went  about  my  business  as 
usual,  the  only  inconvenience  I  felt  being  the  unsteadi¬ 
ness  of  my  gait  and  a  slight  diminution  of  sensation 
about  the  lower  extremities.  On  measuring  the  quan¬ 
tity  remaining  in  the  bottle,  and  knowing  exactly  how 
much  it  contained  when  I  took  the  first  dose  on  the  night 
of  the  2nd  of  August,  I  find  that  between  the  hours  of 

II  and  2  I  swallowed  about  7  drachms  of  chloral!  Had 
I  made  a  similar  blunder  with  any  of  the  other  narcotics 
I  have  mentioned,  I  fear  I  should  now  be  in  that  region 
where  ‘the  wicked  cease  from  troubling,  and  the  weary 
are  at  rest.’  ” 


ANTINEURALGIC  OINTMENT. 

BY  M.  ROUALT. 

Aqueous  Extract  of  Belladonna  .  .  14  grms. 

Extract  of  Opium . 2  ,, 

Lard . 14  „ 

Mix.  Rub  the  parts  affected  by  neuralgic  pains  with  a 
piece  the  size  of  a  hazel-nut.  The  friction  should  be 
continued  for  eight  or  ten  minutes,  or  until  the  grease 
is  completely  absorbed. — Journal  de  Pharm.  et  de  Chimie. 


August  SO,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


149 


SATURDAY,  AUGUST  20,  1870. 


HOSPITAL  DISPENSING. 

A  case  tried  at  one  of  tlie  London  police  courts 
"tliis  week  will  serve  to  show  that  some  of  those 
medical  authorities  who  are  most  urgent  in  pressing 
the  adoption  of  stringent  restrictions  upon  dis¬ 
pensing  by  pharmaceutists  are  by  no  means  the 
most  earnest  and  careful  in  themselves  adopting 
such  precautions.  Jane  Brant,  aged  thirty-four,  a 
married  woman,  was  brought  before  Mr.  Cooke  by 
•the  police.  They  had  been  called  to  the  defendant’s 
apartments,  and  there  found  her  suffering  severely 
from  the  effects  of  poison  which  she  had  taken.  She 
was  an  out-patient  of  the  Boyal  Free  Hospital, 
Gray’s  Inn  Road,  and  had  a  lotion  and  some  medi¬ 
cine  given  her.  Both  the  medicines  were  in  quart 
bottles ;  the  lotion  was  labelled  poison  in  large  letters, 
but  in  the  dark  she  had  drunk  some  of  it  by  mistake. 
It  was  rather  an  odd  reversal  of  the  usual  current  of 
affairs  under  such  circumstances,  to  find  the  prisoner 
•charged  with  criminal  negligence  before  the  magis¬ 
trate.  But  the  woman,  it  was  stated,  was  not  un¬ 
known  at  the  court ;  they  placed  her  at  the  bar  to 
have  the  matter  investigated.  She  was,  of  course, 
•discharged,  but  she  got  the  reprimand  which  would 
probably  have  fallen  to  the  share  of  the  institution 
had  that  been  one  of  a  private  character  instead  of 
being  public. 

There  is  unquestionably  a  good  deal  of  careless¬ 
ness  about  bottles,  and  labels  too,  at  a  great  many 
hospitals.  The  patients  usually  find  their  own  bot¬ 
tles  and  jars,  and  any  poisonous  compounds  find 
their  way  into  harmless  and  familiar  vessels,  the 
customary  receptacles  of  various  household  drinks 
and  domestic  dainties.  Very  strange  and  potent 
confections  find  their  way  into  old  jam-pots.  Hem¬ 
lock  and  the  deadly  nightshade  are  passed  into  ves¬ 
sels  long  identified  with  British  wine  and  stronger 
drinks;  and  the  same  bottle  may  be  seen  making 
alternate  pilgrimages  to  the  public-house  and  the 
dispensary  of  the  best-regulated  hospitals. 

So  much  laxity  in  high  places  is  not  without  its 
dangers,  both  of  fact  and  effect,  inherent  and  by 
example.  If  the  system  of  poison-bottles  be  anywhere 
openly  set  at  defiance,  it  is  at  hospital  dispensaries 
in  the  out-patient  departments;  and  tliis,  too,  in 
dealing  with  the  least  educated  and  most  careless 
part  of  the  population ;  those  who  have  the  smallest 
opportunities  of  precaution  in  storage  of  their  pre¬ 
scribed  medicines,  and  who  are  the  most  liable,  by  ab¬ 
solute  ignorance  and  by  intemperate  habits,  to  omit 
to  study  their  labels. 


HELP  FOR  THE  WOUNDED. 

The  eloquent  appeal  made  by  the  ‘  Times  ’  last 
Monday  in  behalf  of  the  sick  and  wounded  in  the 
present  war,  will  doubtless  meet  with  a  cordial  re¬ 
sponse  throughout  the  kingdom.  A  society  has  been 
formed  for  this  purpose,  under  the  presidency  of  the 
Prince  of  Wales,  and  considerable  subscriptions 
have  already  been  given,  the  Queen  heading  the 
list  with  a  contribution  of  1500.  This  Society 
works  under  the  Red  Cross,  adopted  by  the  Govern¬ 
ments  of  Europe  at  the  Convention  of  Geneva  as  the 
badge  of  neutrality.  Its  agents  are  respected  as  neu¬ 
tral,  and  they  succour  the  wounded  of  both  sides 
alike. 

A  Committee  of  Ladies  has  been  formed  for  col¬ 
lecting,  preparing,  and  issuing  materials,  while  the 
Central  Working  Committee,  presided  over  by  Lieu¬ 
tenant-Colonel  Loyd  Lindsay,  will  provide  for  surgi¬ 
cal  and  other  aid  being  sent  out  at  once. 

Believing  that  many  who  are  connected  with  phar¬ 
macy  would  gladly  contribute  towards  tliis  laudable 
undertaking,  we  venture  to  suggest  that  they  should 
do  so  in  concert,  and  that  a  fund  should  be  raised  to 
hand  over  to  Colonel  Lindsay’s  Committee  as  the 
contribution  of  British  Pharmacists.  This  body 
numbers  no  less  than  some  12,000  members,  and 
though  some  might  say  that  what  they  could  afford 
to  give  would  be  little  assistance  to  such  a  great  un¬ 
dertaking,  it  must  be  remembered  that  even  a  small 
subscription  individually,  would  amount  to  a  very 
considerable  sum  in  the  aggregate.  We  hope  there¬ 
fore  that  this  suggestion  will  be  favourably  received 
by  the  trade  generally,  and  all  connected  with  it, 
each  helping  to  the  extent  of  his  ability.  We  do 
not  fear  in  that  case  obtaining  a  result  that  will  be 
creditable  to  the  whole  body.  Contributions  are 
requested  of  money,  lint,  sticking-plaster,  chloro¬ 
form,  chlorodyne,  quinine,  morphia,  carbolic  acid, 
etc.  We  propose  publishing  weekly  a  list  of  Sub¬ 
scribers  to  the  Fund,  and  we  have  -much  pleasure  in 
stating  that  Mr.  Bremridge  has  consented  to  act  as 
Treasurer. 


THE  REGISTER  OF  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS. 

A  recent  correspondent,  in  referring  to  the  fact 
“  that  grocers  who  have  sold  drugs  are  now  regis¬ 
tered  chemists,”  adds,  “  time,  of  course,  will  settle 
the  many  sham  druggists  now  afloat,”  and  no  doubt 
he  is  so  far  correct  in  Iris  opinion ;  but  there  is  no 
need  for  the  realization  of  this  result  being  left  en¬ 
tirely  to  the  sure  though  slow  agency  of  time.  There 
is  now  an  official  Register  of  Chemists  and  Druggists, 
which  contains  a  list  of  all  members  of  the  trade, 
with  statements  of  their  respective  qualifications. 
This  book  is  supplied  by  Government,  just  as  the 
Medical  Register  is,  to  all  the  law  courts  in  the 
kingdom,  and  to  various  public  officials,  numbering  in 
all  1300,  so  that  it  is  easy  for  magistrates  or  judges 


150 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  20, 1S79. 


to  ascertain  whether  a  person  coming  before  them  in 
reference  to  any  case  is  or  is  not  legally  qualified 
to  practise  pharmacy. 

That  this  is  not  sufficiently  attended  to  we  have 
frequent  occasion  to  notice,  and  we  think  it  desirable 
for  the  general  credit  of  the  trade,  to  call  especial 
attention  to  the  matter.  As  will  be  seen  in  another 
part  of  the  Journal,  a  person  who  has  no  place  on 
the  Register  lias  recently  been  convicted  of  obtaining 
goods  under  false  pretences,  and  he  is  described  as  a 
“  chemist.”  This  case  affords  an  illustration  of  the 
readiness  with  which  titles,  improperly  assumed,  are 
recognized  without  further  notice  or  inquiry,  and  we 
can  scarcely  be  considered  unreasonable  in  express¬ 
ing  the  hope  that  in  future  both  public  officials  and 
editors  will  avail  themselves  of  the  means  afforded 
by  the  “  Register”  for  preventing  impostors  from  re¬ 
presenting  themselves  as  belonging  in  any  way  to 
the  pharmaceutical  body. 

The  Society’s  Local  Secretaries  throughout  the 
country  would  also  do  good  service  by  looking  after 
these  and  similar  cases.  We  have  just  received  from 
a  correspondent  a  circular  bearing  the  name  of  the 
proprietor  of  a  Provincial  Medical  Hall  and  Drug 
Establishment,  who  describes  himself  as  being  a 
“Registered  Chemist  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society , 
London ,”  though  he  is  in  no  way  connected  with  the 
Society. 


ACTIONS  AGAINST  DRUGGISTS. 

Under  the  head  of  Legal  Intelligence  will  be  found 
the  report  of  a  case  that  will  doubtless  interest  many 
provincial  pharmaceutists.  Mr.  Barker,  the  defen¬ 
dant  in  that  case,  "writes  to  ask  if  there  be  any  fund 
available  in  the  Society  to  defend  actions  of  the 
kind.  There  is  not  any  such  provision ;  but  the  fact 
that  pharmacists  are  liable  to  suffer  from  legal  pro¬ 
ceedings  taken  against  them  without  due  cause,  is 
sufficient  to  show  that  the  subject  is  one  worth  con¬ 
sideration. 

Even  in  the  event  of  a  successful  defence  being 
made  in  such  cases,  costs  are  incurred  in  money, 
time  and  anxiety,  which  in  fact  amount  to  an  unjust 
punishment.  Only  a  few  weeks  ago*  we  had  occasion 
to  notice  a  case  in  which  a  defendant  was  con¬ 
demned  to  costs,  though  there  did  not  appear  to  be 
any  ground  for  the  verdict,  so  far  as  the  report  of 
the  case  went,  and  it  is  probable  that  some  organiza¬ 
tion  calculated  to  deal  with  such  cases  would  be  good 
for  the  general  interests  of  the  trade. 


The  article  we  republish  this  week,  from  the 
‘Lancet,’  on  the  subject  of  “Pepsin,”  will  doubt¬ 
less  attract  the  attention  of  the  makers  of  this  re¬ 
medy,  and  we  shall  be  glad  to  receive  from  them  any 
remarks  on  the  subject  winch  will  lead  to  its  being 
more  generally  understood. 

*  See  ante ,  No.  6,  p.  93. 


fratetditp  of  Srientifit  Soiicfics. 

LONDON  INSTITUTION. 

On  the  10th  inst.,  J.  P.  Gassiot,  Esq.,  D.C.L.,  F.R.S., 
distributed  the  prizes  awarded,  and  certificates  granted, 
to  students  who  passed  the  examinations  connected  with 
the  courses  of  educational  lectures  delivered  during  the 
past  session  by  Professors  Guthrie,  Bloxam,  and  Bentley. 
The  prizes  consisted  of  standard  works  on  physics,  che¬ 
mistry,  and  botany,  handsomely  bound.  Dr.  Gassiot 
stated  that  Prof.  Odling  would  open  the  coming  Session 
with  a  course  of  educational  lectures  “  On  Chemical 
Action,”  and  that,  after  Christmas,  Prof.  Huxley  would, 
deliver  a  course  “  On  the  First  Principles  of  Biology.” 


BRITISH  MEDICAL  ASSOCIATION. 

Thirty-eighth  Annual  Meeting. 

Nexccastle-on-Tgne,  August  9th,  10 th,  1  \th  and  Ylth. 

After  the  preliminary  gathering  of  members  and  their 
friends  at  the  Reception  Room  on  Tuesday,  there  was  a 
meeting  of  the  Council,  at  which  the  chief  business  was 
the  election  of  Mr.  Ernest  Hart  as  Editor  of  the  Journal. 
At  a  general  meeting  held  in  the  Lecture  Room  of  the 
Literary  and  Philosophical  Institution  in  the  evening, 
the  retiring  President,  Dr.  Chadwick,  in  opening  the 
proceedings,  spoke  of  the  influence  exercised  by  the  As1- 
sociation  in  reference  to  the  Medical  Acts  Amendment 
Bill  and  dwelt  strongly  on  the  power  of  the  Association 
to  promote  professional  advancement.  Then,  after  a 
passing  mention  of  the  losses  the  medical  profession  has 
sustained  by  deaths  within  the  past  year,  he  expressed 
his  high  sense  of  the  honour  that  had  been  conferred  up¬ 
on  himself  and,  with  the  appropriate  words,  “  The  Presi¬ 
dent  is  dead!  Long  live  the  President!”  relinquished 
the  presidential  chair  to  his  successor,  Dr.  Charlton, 
who,  in  his  inaugural  address,  reviewed  at  length  the 
subjects  of  medical  politics  and  sanitary  reform,  urging 
their  extreme  importance  in  regard  to  the  general  pro¬ 
sperity  of  the  country.  Referring  to  the  time  when  the 
title  of  the  Association  was  changed  from  Provincial  to- 
British,  he  said : — 

It  was  then  that,  for  the  first  time,  our  interests  in 
the  provinces  became  thoroughly  identified  with  those 
of  the  profession  in  the  metropolis.  Since  then,  we  have 
worked  in  perfect  harmony  with  our  London  brethren, 
no  longer  regarding  them  as  mere  visitors,  but  welcoming 
them  to  our  provincial  meetings  as  bona  fide  members  of 
the  Association.  Indeed  it  seems  to  us  that  most  of  the 
great  reforms  of  our  profession  have  taken  place  subse¬ 
quent  to  this  change  of  name — to  this  amalgamation  of 
provincial  and  metropolitan  interests.  Although  the  de¬ 
ficiencies  of  medical  education  and  the  condition  of  the 
medical  practitioner,  had  long  before  been  discussed  in  our 
journals  and  set  forth  in  language  sharp  and  incisive  as 
that  of  Junius,  still  it  is  only  within  the  last  two  decades 
that  the  whole  profession,  tired  of  calling  upon  Jupiter, 
has  unanimously  put  shoulder  to  the  wheel  and  moved, 
with  one  accord,  to  remedy  our  wrongs.  United  by  its 
able  journal,  united  still  more  by  the  cordiality  engen¬ 
dered  at  these  annual  meetings,  the  British  Medical  As¬ 
sociation  has  pushed  forward  in  the  path  of  medical  re¬ 
form  and  the  general  regulation  of  the  profession.  Now 
the  struggle  for  a  good  standard  of  medical  education  is 
finally  before  us.  Hitherto  the  paramount  obstacle  to 
progress  has  been  the  multiplicity  of  sources  from  whence 
licences  to  practise  medicine  have  been  derived.  No 
uniform  standard  of  education  could  be  kept  up  amid 
these  jarring  interests.  The  well-meant  endeavours  of 
the  Medical  Council,  by  sending  out  examiners  to  visit 
the  different  universities  and  corporations  was  no  gua¬ 
rantee  for  permanent  improvement;  these  bodies  were 
ever  competing  for  licentiates  and  were  exposed  to  the 
deadly  temptation  of  lowering  their  standards  of  educa¬ 
tion  to  attract  more  graduates.  Against  this  crying  evil 


August  20, 1S70.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


151 


there  was  hut  one  remedy — a  single  gate  by  which  all 
should  enter  the  profession ;  a  single  but  searching  ex¬ 
amination  for  the  licence  to  practise.” 

For  attaining  this,  he  insisted  upon  the  necessity  for  the 
great  mass  of  practitioners  being  directly  represented  in 
the  Medical  Council  and  he  regarded  the  recent  action 
of  the  Government  as  acknowledging  the  existence — out¬ 
side  the  Medical  Council — of  an  interest  and  a  power 
that  it  was  the  business  of  the  Association  to  augment 
and  consolidate. 

Passing  from  the  question  of  educational  reform,  Dr. 
Charlton  went  on  to  say  that,  when  that  shall  have 
been  settled,  the  Association  would  still  have  before  it 
the  wider  field  of  sanitary  reform,  the  prevention  of  zy¬ 
motic  disease,  the  cleansing  of  our  cities  and  the  purifi¬ 
cation  of  our  rivers.  In  these  matters  some  of  our 
most  time-honoured  institutions  are  pre-eminently  de¬ 
fective.  With  all  our  liberality  of  thought,  and  our 
boasted  tendency  to  progress,  it  must  be  confessed 
that  we  in  England  are,  in  many  respects,  wonder¬ 
fully  conservative.  We  hold  pertinaciously  to  an  in¬ 
stitution  simply  because  it  is  an  ancient  form  of  pro¬ 
cedure  peculiar  to  our  own  country.  We  often  cannot 
bring  ourselves  to  acknowledge  that  what  was  advan¬ 
tageous  in  older  and  ruder  times  is  quite  unsuitable  to 
the  present  state  of  society. 

We  have,  however,  the  subject  of  hospital  improve¬ 
ment,  so  ably  advocated  at  the  Leeds  Meeting  by  Captain 
Douglas  Galton.  We  have,  too,  the  coming  struggle  as 
to  the  extension  or  the  repeal  of  the  Contagious  Diseases 
Acts,  where  a  band  of  strong-minded  women  and  weak- 
minded  men  are  striving  to  reverse  the  verdicts  of  the 
wisest  and  the  best  of  the  medical  and  legal  profession. 
There  will  be  no  lack  of  objects  for  the  energies  of  the 
rising  generation  and  when,  in  after  years,  they  shall 
peruse  the  records  of  what  was  done  at  this  Newcastle 
meeting,  they  will,  we  trust,  return  a  kindly  verdict  that 
we  did  our  best,  according  to  the  lights  we  were  then 
permitted  to  enjoy. 

After  the  usual  vote  of  thanks,  the  Secretary  read  the 
Report  of  Council,  showing  that  there  were  now  4258 
members  on  the  books.  The  subsequent  proceedings 
were  tedious  and  somewhat  disorderly. 

On  Wednesday,  after  the  members  of  the  Association 
had  breakfasted  with  the  Sheriff  of  Newcastle,  the  second 
general  meeting  was  held  and  Mr.  Whipple,  of  Ply¬ 
mouth,  was  elected  President  for  the  ensuing  year.  The 
address  in  medicine  was  then  delivered  by — 

Dr.  Sibson,  who  characterized  the  present  age  as  be¬ 
ing  marked  by  experiment  and  exact  inquiry,  directness 
of  aim  and  skilled  power  to  do  the  work  required,  with 
completeness  and  economy.  The  labour  of  the  past  was 
surpassed,  but  not  superseded ;  wrhile  nothing  that  had 
been  done  was  lost,  invention  would  still  awaken  inven¬ 
tion,  discovery  would  follow  discovery.  Each  advance 
was  a  fresh  starting-point  for  the  future  labourer.  It 
was,  indeed,  everywhere  taken  for  granted  that,  good  as 
this  or  that  work  might  be,  better  work — more  simple 
and  more  to  the  purpose — still  remained  before  them. 
The  ship,  the  bridge,  the  rail,  the  telegraph  and  the 
gun  of  the  present  day,  as  compared  with  the  past,  were 
types  and  marks  of  the  advance  in  the  skill,  precision 
and  energy  of  the  time.  Medicine,  too,  partook  of  the 
movement  that  was  going  on  around  them.  The  know¬ 
ledge  of  disease  was  becoming  at  the  same  time  more 
accurate  and  more  large.  Each  year  gave  them  a  better 
knowledge  what  medicines  could  do,  what  they  could 
not  do.  If  the  spirit  of  scepticism  had  shaken  the  belief 
of  a  few  in  the  medicinal  means  at  their  command,  that 
spirit  had  aroused  inquiry  and  cemented  belief  which 
was  rapidly  shifting  into  knowledge  that  would  be 
secure.  Those  great  old  forms  of  medicine — the  tinc¬ 
ture  of  the  muriate  of  iron,  the  sulphate  of  quinine, 
opium,  the  iodide  of  potassium,  the  infusion  of  digitalis,  an 
occasional  shot,  but  not  a  battery  or  running  fire,  of  calo¬ 
mel — all  those  things,  in  fact,  that  had  served  their  fathers 


well,  would  serve  the  present  generation  better.  They 
knew  what  these  could  do  when  they  were  wanted,  a  j 
well  as  when  they  were  not  wanted,  so  thht,  with  gathered 
power,  they  applied  them  at  the  proper  moment.  Then 
science  reached  forth  its  arms,  adding  recently-discovered 
remedies  to  those  of  the  day  just  gone  by,  chloroform, 
bromide  of  potassium  and  the  still  more  newly-discovered 
hydrate  of  chloral.  So  knowledge  of  disease  ripened, 
until  the  aim  in  its  treatment  became  more  precise  and 
vigorous.  Men  asked  themselves  at  each  step  they  took, 
why  they  did  this  or  that.  Reason  had  taken  the  place 
of  routine,  while  rational  medicine  had  become  at  last  the 
common  property  of  the  profession.  Side  by  side  with 
the  use  of  medicine,  not  second  to  it,  was  the  so-called  hy- 
gienicjtreatment  of  disease,  the  study  and  regulation  of  the 
vital  forces.  The  influence  that  every  physician  exer¬ 
cised  upon  the  mind  and,  through  the  mind,  upon  the 
body  ;  the  soothing  or  stimulating  of  the  nervous  power ; 
the  calming  of  exaltation  or  the  stirring  up  of  apathy  ; 
the  quieting  of  the  over-busy  brain  or  the  spurring  of 
the  flaccid  will ;  the  repose  of  over-used  powers  or  the 
awaking  of  suspended  vital  functions  ;  the  subduing  of 
the  over-sensitive  skin  or  the  stimulating  of  it  when  wan, 
muddy  and  lifeless ;  the  limiting  of  supplies  to  an  over¬ 
fed  frame,  or  the  repair  of  the  body  wasting  with  disease, 
by  the  proper  kinds  of  food  and  stimulants  ;  the  bring¬ 
ing  into  play  and,  as  it  were,  into  fresh  existence,  muscle 
that  had  become  wasted  and  paralysed  by  disease, — these 
-were  all  among  the  aims  that  the  physician  sought  to  ac¬ 
complish.  These  were  among  the  means  that  he  sought 
to  employ  irrespective  of,  but  by  no  means  without  the 
use  of  medicine.  These  were  the  agencies  that  they  all 
held  in  their  power ;  that  each  of  them  exercised  daily  in 
coping  with  the  various  forms  of  malady,  ailment,  and 
constitution.  There  was  a  method  of  treatment,  that  of 
rest  and  ease,  belonging  to  this  great  class,  which  he  had 
himself  been  employing  with  deep  interest  in  acute 
rheumatism  and  acute  gout  for  some  years.  Therefore, 
it  might  be  of  interest  if  he  narrated  the  results  of  his 
experience  in  that  method  of  dealing  with  a  disease  that 
did  so  much  to  cripple  the  heart,  limit  the  bodily  powers 
and  shorten  life.  During  the  last  four  years  he  had 
submitted  all  his  patients  in  St.  Mary’s  Hospital — af¬ 
fected  with  acute  rheumatism  and  acute  gout — to  a  rigid 
system  of  absolute  rest,  protection  from  external  injury, 
gentle  pressure,  equal  warmth  and  the  removal  of  pain 
chiefly  by  treatment  from  without.  Those  two  diseases, 
often  so  apparently  identical,  differed,  as  they  would 
know,  in  this,  that,  while  rheumatism  attacked  those 
whose  blood  and  tissues  were  previously  healthy,  being- 
produced  by  over- work  and  exposure,  gout  seized  upon 
persons  whose  blood  and  tissues  were  already  infected 
and  contained  uric  acid  in  excess.  In  acute  gout,  there¬ 
fore,  he  always  gave  iodide  of  potassium  and  sometimes 
colchicum,  in  the  hope  of  getting  rid  of  the  special 
poison ;  but  in  acute  rhematism  he  gave  no  internal  me¬ 
dicine  during  the  actual  stage  of  the  disease,  unless  it 
was  called  for  by  some  special  reason.  He  gave  his 
patients  no  coloured  or  flavoured  liquid  to  make  them 
think  they  were  taking  medicine  when  they  were  not 
doing  so,  because  he  did  not  think  it  quite  right  and  did 
not  find  it  needful  to  employ  such  a  system  of  fiction. 
If  they  did  so,  they  complicated  their  observations,  de¬ 
prived  themselves  of  the  help  that  the  patient  could  give 
them  when  he  understood  the  aim  of  the  method  of 
treatment.  Whatever  might  be  the  line  of  treatment 
adopted  for  disease,  the  influence  of  treatment  on  the 
disease  itself  was  less  than  the  physician  was  apt  to 
think.  The  great  majority  of  diseases  tended  to  get 
well.  They  had,  so  to  speak,  a  lifetime  of  their  own, 
with  its  periods  of  growth,  maturity  and  decline ;  they 
were  the  passing  tenants  of  the  body  which  they  occu¬ 
pied,  often  with  great  injury,  for  a  limited  time.  Treat¬ 
ment  could  not  change  their  nature,  could  not  expel 
them  at  once,  could  not  quench  them,  could  not  mate¬ 
rially  shorten  or  prolong  their  existence.  But  treatment 


152 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  20,  1870. 


could  lessen  the  sufferings  of  the  body  occupied  by  the 
disease,  shield  it  from  outer  injury,  repair  its  waste,  sup¬ 
port  and  reinfdrce  its  powers;  while  it.  could  ward  off 
those  causes  which  tended  to  increase  or  re-awaken  the 
■disease  by  lessening  the  intensity  of  its  action,  inflam¬ 
matory  or  otherwise,  especially  upon  the  local  struc¬ 
tures.  To  watch,  then,  the  treatment  of  a  disease  was 
to  watch,  so  to  speak,  not  the  remedy  and  its  immediate 
effects,  but  the  disease  itself  and  its  behaviour  during  a 
certain  method  of  treatment.  The  thoughtful  physician, 
while  taking  notice  of  this  or  that  change  in  the  malady, 
knew  that  such  change  was  due  mainly  to  the  natural 
growth  of  the  disease;  he  did  not  attribute  it  to  the 
means  which  he  had  employed  unless  he  had  good  grounds 
for  doing  so.  Dr.  Sibson  then  proceeded  to  describe  in 
detail  the  working  of  his  rest  and  ease  system  as  carried 
out  in  St.  Mary’s  Hospital. 

Among  the  papers  read  at  the  several  sections,  the 
following  possess  an  interest  for  pharmaceutists  : — 

Dr.  Sansom  read  a  paper  “  On  the  Sulpho-carbolates, 
and  the  Antiseptic  Method  in  Medicine,”  in  which  he 
alluded  to  the  difference  of  opinion  with  regard  to  what 
is  termed  the  “germ  theory”  of  disease.  He  thought 
much  of  the  diversity  depended  on  the  connotation  of 
the  word  “  germ.”  There  is  abundant  evidence  that  the 
<l  contagia”  of  transmissible  disease  are  material  and  or- 
ganic ;  they  bear  a  strong  analogy  to  ferments  in  their 
mode  of  operation ;  whatever  the  initial  cause  of  each, 
the  existence  of  organized  material  possessed  of  repro¬ 
ductive  powers  is  intimately  bound  up  with  both  pro¬ 
cesses.  The  author  alluded  to  the  recent  researches  of 
Chauveau  on  vaccine,  glanders,  and  sheep-pox,  as  show¬ 
ing  that  the  activity  of  “contagia”  depended  on  the 
solid  particles  proved  by  Beale  to  be  actively-moving 
masses  of  bioplasm.  He  considered  the  efficacy  of  disin¬ 
fectant  and  antiseptic  measures  was  due  to  no  obvious 
chemical  influence,  but  to  the  poisoning  of  those  septic 
organisms  which  are  intermediary  agents  of  decompo¬ 
sition  between  organic  and  inorganic  matter.  He  thought 
that  the  proliferation  of  contagia  (bioplasm)  might  be 
checked  within  the  living  body.  He  then  discussed 
Polli’s  treatment  by  the  sulphites.  From  the  well-known 
properties  of  carbolic  acid  he  hoped  more  from  the  sulpho- 
carbolates,  of  which  he  gave  a  succinct  description. 
(1.)  The  alkaline  sulpho-carbolates.  There  was  evidence 
of  great  success  from  the  administration  of  the  sodium 
salt  in  throat  ulcerations  and  in  scarlatina.  There  was 
promise  of  success  in  variola.  In  enteric  fever,  Dr. 
Ligertwood,  of  Newbury,  considered  the  treatment  to 
be  efficacious.  (2.)  Sulpho-carbolates  of  alkaline-earth 
metals.  Of  these  the  most  interesting  is  the  very  soluble 
calcium  salt  which  the  author  had  employed  in  cases  of 
rickets  with  remarkable  success.  (3.)  Sulpho-carbolates 
of  the  metals .  The  zinc  and  copper  salts  had  been  used 
by  surgeons,  especially  by  Mr.  John  Wood,  as  antiseptic 
dressings  for  woimds.  A  very  favourable  opinion  of  them 
had  been  given.  The  author  had  employed  the  iron 
salt  internally,  with  varying  success;  he  was  doubtful 
whether  it  had  any  advantage  over  other  salts  of  iron. 
In  conclusion,  he  hoped  that  the  remedies  would  be  tried 
upon  their  merits,  as  he  considered  that,  all  theory 
apart,  they  would  prove  a  useful  addition  to  the  materia 
medica. 

In  the  Physiological  Section,  Dr.  Bolton,  of  Lancaster, 
drew  attention  to  the  Turkish  Bath,  expressing  his  con¬ 
viction  that,  properly  constructed,  it  would  become  a 
valuable  addition  to  the  British  Pharmacopoeia.  He 
showed  that  it  had  been  used  by  our  forefathers  2000 
years  ago,  and  he  regarded  the  part  taken  by  David 
Urquhart  in  reviving  the  use  of  this  bath  as  constituting 
him  one  of  the  greatest  benefactors  of  the  present  age. 

In  the  Section  of  Public  Medicine,  Dr.  Leonard 
Armstrong  read  a  paper  on  “  Difficulties  in  applying 
Sanitary  Laws,”  in  which  he  took  a  retrospective  glance 
at  the  efforts  which  had  been  made  in  South  Shields  to 
secure  an  abatement  of  the  smoke  nuisance.  The  water 


supply  was  an  excellent  one,  the  population  increasing 
and  prosperous  ;  yet,  on  comparing  the  Registrar- Gene¬ 
ral’s  return  for  the  last  two  years,  the  mortality  of 
South  Shields  exceeded  Sunderland  greatly.  To  what 
were  they  to  attribute  this  excessive  mortality  in  South 
Shields  P  Lack  of  pure  air.  The  atmosphere  was  pol¬ 
luted  with  smoke  and  gaseous  nuisances.  Continuing 
his  remarks,  Dr.  Armstrong  enumerated  the  various 
efforts  made  of  late  years  to  abate  the  nuisances,  and 
expressed  his  opinion  that  no  abatement  could  be  ex¬ 
pected  when  local  and  interested  authorities  would  not 
inflict  the  pains  and  penalties  of  the  law.  He  hoped  the 
President  would  support  some  representation  that  all  fu¬ 
ture  sanitary  Acts  should  not  be  permissive,  but  unfet¬ 
tered  by  local  interests  and  feelings. 

Dr.  Stewart,  of  London,  mentioned  that  at  the  works 
of  Mr.  Titus  Salt,  at  Saltaire,  the  smoke  was  consumed  ; 
what  had  been  done  by  Mr.  Salt,  in  his  great  establish¬ 
ment,  might  be  done  in  nine  out  of  ten  of  the  manufac¬ 
tories  of  the  country. 

After  some  discussion,  Dr.  Armstrong  moved  the  fol¬ 
lowing  resolution,  which  Dr.  Robinson  seconded,  and  it 
was  agreed  to : — 

“  That  in  future  sanitary  legislation  the  smoke  nui¬ 
sance  and  other  gaseous  pollutions  of  the  atmosphere 
must  be  dealt  with  by  compulsory  measures  to  be  carried 
into  effect  by  authorities  independent  of  the  district,  and 
instructed  by  competent  local  inspectors  unfettered  by 
local  interests  and  feelings.” 

In  the  evening  the  members  of  the  Association  were 
entertained  at  dinner  by  Sir  W.  Armstrong  at  Jesmond. 

_  The  President’s  Soiree  in  the  Town  Hall  was  bril¬ 
liantly  attended.  Among  the  objects  of  scientific  and 
artistic  interest  were  ornithological  specimens,  archaeo¬ 
logical  collections,  photographs  and  porcelain.  The 
principal  table  was  devoted  to  the  display,  under  a 
series  of  microscopes,  of  some  of  the  most  remarkable 
results  of  modern  zoological  research  in  the  collection  of 
deep-sea  organisms,  kindly  placed  at  the  service  of  Dr. 
Charlton  by  Dr.  Carpenter,  V.P.R.S.  It  may  be  re¬ 
membered  that  in  the  recent  ‘  Lightning  ’  and  ‘  Porcu¬ 
pine  ’  expeditions,  in  the  course  of  which  these  specimens 
were  obtained,  the  sea-bed  was  explored  even  to  the 
enormous  depth  of  three  miles  and  these  organisms  were 
obtained,  creating  a  large  addition  to  our  knowledge  of 
several  divisions  of  the  animal  kingdom. 

On  Thursday  the  Third  General  Meeting  was  held, 
and,  after  some  business  had  been  disposed  of,  the  ad¬ 
dress  on  surgery  was  delivered  by  Mr.  Heath.  This 
was  a  most  satisfactory  and  masterly  production,  philo¬ 
sophical  in  spirit,  comprehensive  and  practical  in  its 
scope,  besides  being  eloquently  delivered.  In  sketching 
the  characteristics  of  modem  surgery,  he  remarked  upon 
the  “  boldness  and  magnitude  of  its  proceedings ;  its  re- 
spect  for  the  integrity  of  the  human  body,  and  its  reti¬ 
cence  of  the  knife.  It  stretches  out  its  hand  to  regions, 
and  takes  within  its  grasp  organs,  formerly  thought  be¬ 
yond  its  reach,  grappling,  not  unsuccessfully,  with  dis¬ 
eases  hitherto  considered  incurable  by  scalpel  or  drug. 
Dangers  and  difficulties  do  not  appal  it,  nor  does  it  fear 
to  undertake  the  gravest  responsibility,  if  only  its  auda¬ 
city  is  justified  by  the  well-founded  hope  of  destroying'  a 
fatal  disease,  or  removing  one  which,  although  not  fatal 
to  life,  may  yet  render  that  life  a  misery,  a  burden  so 
wearisome  to  him  who  carries  it,  that  death  itself  is  not 
a  greater  calamity  than  life  so  oppressed. 

Paradoxical  as  it  may  seem,  whilst  in  one  direction 
it  is  thus  acquiring  new  dominions  and  showing  itself 
capable  of  the  most  daring  enterprises,  in  other  quarters 
it  lays  down  the  knife  and  employs  measures  more  sure, 
safer,  and  attended  with  less  suffering  ;  or  it  substitutes 
milder  for  more  severe  operations,  shrinks  from  unneces¬ 
sary  mutilation  of  the  human  body,  in  every  way  seek¬ 
ing  to  conserve  and  maintain  its  integrity  as  complete  as 
may  be  compatible  with  the  object  to  be  gained. 


August  20, 1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


153 


I  claim  for  it,  moreover,  that  in  its  hold,  as  well  as 
in  its  milder  and  more  conservative  measures,  it  realizes  a 
larger  and  more  uniform  amount  of  success ;  is  thus  a 
more  useful  and  reliable  agent  than  the  art  of  former 
days — a  success  which  is  the  more  satisfactory  that, 
though  brilliant,  it  is  the  result  of  sound  principles,  in¬ 
dustriously  sought  after  and  carefully  carried  out. 

After  illustrating  these  views  at  length,  tracing  out 
the  principles  that  lead  to  the  success  of  modem  surgery, 
and  discussing  various  new  methods  of  procedure,  which 
would  be  out  of  place  to  describe  in  this  Journal,  Mr. 
Heath  went  on  to  speak  of  improved  education,  placing 
at  the  disposal  of  the  student  means  of  learning  the  use 
of  his  hands,  as  one  of  the  chief  causes  of  increased  ope¬ 
rative  skill. 

The  interchange  of  knowledge,  by  means  of  the 
periodicals  of  the  day,  the  rapidity  with  which  a  new 
and  improved  proceeding  or  a  brilliant  operation  be¬ 
comes  known  throughout  the  profession,  tends  also  to 
the  general  level  of  our  success.  Moreover,  I  will  ven¬ 
ture  to  say  that  an  association  like  this,  which  gives  to 
us  obscure  provincials  the  opportunity  of  seeing  and 
hearing  the  brighter  luminaries  of  our  time,  that  brings 
vividly  to  our  minds  every  advance  which  from  year  to 
year  may  be  made  in  our  art,  exerts  a  more  potent  in¬ 
fluence  upon  the  origination  and  spread  of  improvements 
and  in  the  upraising  of  the  general  standard  of  profes¬ 
sional  power  than  has  yet  been  recognized. 

I  have  also  made  it  apparent  that  our  special  branch 
of  surgical  art  is  not  stationary,  but  progressive ;  and 
that  we  may  fairly  challenge  comparison  with  other  aits 
and  sciences,  both  as  to  the  amount  and  rapidity  of  our 
progress. 

As  the  world  grows  older,  as  the  results  gathered  by 
past  workers  and  thinkers  accumulate,  each  succeeding 
generation  stands  on  more  advanced  ground  than  its 
predecessors ;  facts  already  ascertained  furnish  a  basis 
whereon  to  build  new  and  truer  theories,  more  efficient 
instruments  are  at  command  to  investigate  and  to  con¬ 
struct  ;  thus  the  arts  and  sciences  which  increase  our 
knowledge  teach  us  the  properties  and  conditions  of 
matter,  tell  us  of  the  true  place  and  value  of  this  little 
world  in  the  crowded  universe,  or  forge  us  weapons  to 
fulfil  our  destiny  and  subdue  the  earth,  press  onwards 
with  more  and  more  rapid  strides. 

Our  fellow-workers,  the  physiologist,  the  chemist, 
and  the  physician,  are  not  idle  ;  the  innermost  recesses  of 
living  things  are  made  to  give  up  their  secrets ;  the  mys¬ 
teries  of  life  in  health  and  in  disease  are  wrested  from  the 
minute  molecules  of  structure ;  new  drugs  rise  from  the 
alembic ;  strange  plants  yield  up  their  juices  and  their 
fruits  to  soothe  our  pains  or  cure  maladies  hitherto  incur¬ 
able  ;  and,  with  greater  knowledge  and  more  effective 
means,  the  physician  advances  to  the  combat  of  disease 
with  bolder  and  more  certain  steps,  with  greater  assu¬ 
rance  of  victory. 

"What  have  we,  the  votaries  of  the  knife,  to  show  be¬ 
side  these  marvels  ?  If  we  cannot  answer  this  question, 
this  address  has  been  written  in  vain.  Gibbon  asserts 
that  the  meanest  insect  which  crawls  along  the  dome  of  St. 
Peter’s  is  more  worthy  of  regard,  more  wonderful  than 
that  magnificent  structure.  Human  life  is  surely  more  pre¬ 
cious  than  the  appliances  which  are  subservient  to  it ;  but 
life  itself  maybe  far  below  its  value,  or  a  mere  burden,  when 
cumbered  by  painful  disease  or  by  deformity.  We  have 
seen  with  what  audacity  the  modern  surgeon  encounters 
the  most  formidable  enemies  of  life,  what  slight  traces 
of  his  work  he  leaves  behind,  how  limbs  are  preserved 
and  yet  the  diseased  part  taken  away  ;  with  what  facility 
the  cripple  is  rendered  active,  the  humpback  made 
straight,  deformities  conjured  into  symmetry ;  with  what 
safety  the  thickened  lens  is  taken  away  from  the  eye, 
the  torturing  stone  extracted  from  the  bladder.  We 
know  with  how  much  confidence  he  can  say  to  yon 
poor  wretch  writhing  in  inextinguishable  sickness,  Suffer 
me  to  put  you  to  sleep  for  a  brief  space  ;  I  will  undo  in 


a  few  minutes  the  cause  of  your  complaint ;  you  shall 
be  a  sound  man  in  not  much  longer  time  than  would  see 
you  in  your  grave  without  such  assistance.  That  hag¬ 
gard  creature,  too,  whose  form  is  rendered  misshapen, 
whose  life  is  being  exhausted  by  a  monstrous  growth, 
whilst  she  is  unconscious  he  will  take  away  the  encum¬ 
brance  that  oppresses  her,  raise  her  in  a  few  weeks  from 
her  bed  of  suffering,  and  restore  her  to  the  world  a  fresh 
and  blooming  woman. 

But  we  must  not  boast  too  much ;  we  must  confess 
that  there  are  still  foes  whom  we  cannot  yet  overcome  ; 
still  wide  domains  where  the  great  enemy  death  remains 
victorious,  but  which  it  is  for  us  and  our  successors  to 
rescue  from  his  scythe  and  bring  under  the  dominion  of 
the  knife. 

Nevertheless  what  I  have  been  able  to  relate  of  the 
achievements  already  accomplished,  will  suffice  to  show 
that  operative  surgery  has  not  stood  still  whilst  other 
arts  have  advanced ;  that,  if  we  do  not  occupy  the  fore¬ 
most  place,  we  are  at  least  well  to  the  front  in  that  glo¬ 
rious  race  which  they  win  who  do  the  most  to  diminish 
human  suffering  and  prolong  life  ;  to  elevate  and  im¬ 
prove  the  condition  of  man. 

In  the  Medical  Section — 

Dr.  John  C.  Murray  read  a  paper  on  “  Snuff-taking,” 
in  which  he  stated  that  according  to  the  experience  of 
himself  and  others,  the  habitual  snuffer  seldom  or  never 
dies  from  consumption.  He  further  declared  that  six 
cases  of  recovery  from  phthisis  had  come  under  his  own 
notice  consequent  upon  free  snuff-taking.  He  concluded 
that  snuff-taking  is  in  some  degree  preventive  of  con¬ 
sumption,  and  its  frequent  concomitant  bronchitis,  in 
virtue,  perhaps,  of  its  derivative  and  quasi  counter- 
irritant  action.  The  way  to  cure  a  cold,  according  to 
Dr.  Murray,  is  to  have  recourse  to  snuff-taking  at  once. 

The  Public  Dinner  of  the  Association  took  place  in 
the  Town  Hall  in  the  evening,  and  the  satisfaction  of  the 
members  was  warmly  expressed  for  the  facilities  afforded 
so  willingly  by  the  corporation  for  the  transaction  of  the 
Association  business. 

On  Friday  there  was  an  excursion  to  Durham  Univer¬ 
sity,  where  honorary  degrees  were  conferred  on  several 
members.  The  following  papers  were  read  at  the  sec¬ 
tional  meetings : — 

Professor  Hughes  Bennett  read  an  interim  report  by 
committee  investigating  the  antagonism  of  remedies,  and 
illustrated  the  subject  by  experiments  on  some  rabbits. 
Having  given  one  rabbit  the  150th  part  of, a  grain  of 
strychnia,  by  which  it  was  killed,  he  next  injected  the 
same  dose  into  a  second  rabbit,  as  well  as  12  grains  of 
hydrate  of  chloral.  The  second  rabbit,  after  having 
been  thrown  into  a  deep  sleep,  recovered,  and  appeared 
none  the  worse  for  the  experiments  made  upon  it. 

Dr.  J.  Henry  Bennett  contributed  a  paper  “  On  the 
Climate  of  Algeria,”  in  which  he  brought  forward  im¬ 
portant  facts  deduced  from  an  exploration  of  Algeria 
made  in  th'e  spring  of  1869.  Algeria  is  a  kind  of  Swit¬ 
zerland,  extending  above  400  miles  from  east  to  west, 
from  Tunis  to  Morocco,  and  about  120  from  north  to 
south,  from  the  Mediterranean  to  the  desert  of  Sahara. 
This  region  is  entirely  occupied  by  the  Mount  Atlas, 
which  divides  into  three  ranges,  running  from  east  to 
west — the  Lesser  Atlas,  the  Middle  Atlas,  and  the  Greater 
Atlas, — with  connecting  buttresses,  intervening  valleys 
and  elevated  plains.  These  mountains,  not  attaining  an 
elevation  of  above  7000  feet,  do  not  reach  the  line  of  eternal 
snow,  so  there  are  no  glaciers  to  form  large  rivers.  But 
they  are  high  enough  to  precipitate  rain  and  snow  in 
winter  from  moist  air.  The  constant  rarefaction  of  the 
atmosphere  over  the  immense  desert  of  Sahara  causes, 
nearly  all  the  year  round,  a  rush  of  cooler  air  from  the 
northern  quarters — that  is,  from  the  Mediterranean  and 
the  Atlantic,  the  atmosphere  being  thus  all  but  constantly 
charged  with  moisture  winter  and  summer.  Rain  and 
snow  fall  in  abundance  during  the  six  months  of  winter ; 


154 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  20,  1870. 


and  heavy  dews  fall  at  night  both  in  winter  and  summer. 
The  climate  of  the  mountain  region  of  Algeria  is,  there¬ 
fore,  rainy  and  cold  in  winter.  Algiers,  being  on  the 
sea-level,  is  warmer;  indeed,  warmer  than  the  north 
Mediterranean  shores,  but  moist  and  rainy.  The  average 
rainfall  is  thirty-six  inches;  the  average  number  of 
rainy  days  is  ninety.  The  climate  of  Algiers,  being 
thus  mild  and  moist,  is  not  suited  to  those  cases  of 
phthisis  that  require  a  dry  bracing  air,  such  as  is  found 
on  the  east  coast  of  Spain  and  the  Genoese  Riviera. 

The  treatment  of  drunkenness  was  considered  in  the 
Psychological  Section,  and  the  business  of  the  Associa¬ 
tion  was  then  closed  by  the  concluding  General  Meeting, 
which  measures  in  reference  to  the  Medical  Bill  were 
decided  upon. 

One  of  the  most  attractive  features  of  the  present 
meeting  was  the  Annual  Museum  held  in  the  Library, 
the  Museum,  and  the  Hall  of  the  Newcastle  Infirmary, 
in  where  all  new  objects  of  interest  to  the  profession  were 
exhibited,  under  the  superintendence  of  Dr.  Page,  of 
Newcastle.  Large  numbers  visited  it. 

The  principal  exhibitions  of  objects  interesting  to 
Pharmaceutists  were — 

H.  B.  Brady,  Newcastle,  chemical  and  pharmaceutical 
preparations,  among  which  were  samples  of  chloral,  the 
hydrate  of  chloral,  hydrate  of  bromal,  and  chloride  of 
ethylidene,  the  last  new  anassthetic  introduced  by  Dr. 
Liebreich;  also  a  collection  of  medico-electrical  appa¬ 
ratus,  and  a  new  mercurial  lamp  for  calomel  fumigation. 

Messrs.  Calvert,  Manchester ;  specimens  of  carbolic 
acid. 

Messrs.  Ellis  and  Son,  Ruthin;  aerated  and  mineral 
waters. 

Messrs.  Harvey  and  Reynolds,  Leeds ;  clinical  ther¬ 
mometers. 

Messrs.  Hopkins  and  Williams,  London;  chemicals 
and  pharmaceutical  preparations,  including  Matthiessen’s 
apomorphia,  and  the  crystallized  tartrate  of  ammonia, 
in  which  Dr.  Bastian  found  living  organisms. 

Messrs.  Orlando  Jones  and  Co.,  London;  bread  and 
biscuits  made  of  entire  wheat  flour. 

Messrs.  Krohne  ’and  Suzeman,  London ;  various  in¬ 
struments. 

Messrs.  Mayer  and  Mottyer,  London ;  various  instru¬ 
ments. 

Messrs.  Newbery,  London ;  French  specialities,  etc. 

Messrs.  Savory  and  Moore,  London ;  pepsine,  pancrea¬ 
tine,  and  chemical  food. 


GRANT  COLLEGE  MEDICAL  SOCIETY, 
BOMBAY. 

July ,  1870. 

A  New  Indian  Remedy. 

BY  MR.  NARAYAN  DAJI,  GRADUATE  OF  THE  GRANT 
MEDICAL  COLLEGE. 

Ailanthus  excelsa ,  Roxb. — Indian  Ailanthus,  Nat.  Ord. 
Simarubacece. — In  the  following  paper  my  object  is  to 
bring  to  the  notice  of  the  society  a  new  indigenous  article 
of  materia  medica  yielded  by  the  Indian  Ailanthus ,  upon 
which  I  have  experimented  for  some  time  past.  My  in¬ 
vestigations  into  the  medicinal  properties  of  this  simple, 
cheap  and  agreeable  vegetable  bitter,  have  led  me  to 
form  a  favourable  opinion  of  its  efficacy  in  certain  dis¬ 
eases.  Believing  that  an  extended  notice  of  this  ar¬ 
ticle,  so  common  in  many  parts  of  India,  might  not 
be  unacceptable  to  the  members  of  the  profession,  I  sub¬ 
mit  this,  communication  to  you,  and  trust  that  others 
may  be  induced,  as  opportunities  offer,  to  determine  for 
themselves  its  medicinal  virtues. 

The  bark  of  the  Ailanthus  excelsa ,  Roxb.,  which  is  the 
article  in  question,  is  interesting  firstly  on  account  of  its 
being  almost  unknown  to  the  medical  profession;  se¬ 
condly  from  the  likelihood  of  its  proving  a  useful  substitute 
for  one  of  the  officinal  drugs  of  the  British  Pharmacopoeia. 


The  tree  is  pretty  common  in  many  parts  of  India,  and 
its  bark  can  be  obtained  in  sufficient  quantity  for  general 
use.  If  attention  be  paid  to  the  cultivation  of  the  tree, 
the  bark  will,  no  doubt,  be  found  to  be  still  cheaper,  and 
being  an  indigenous  product,  its  use  will  tend  to  our  ad¬ 
vantage. 

Collection ,  Preservation ,  etc. — The  only  part  of  the  tree 
which  is  commonly  employed  as  a  remedial  agent  is  the 
bark,  frequently  of  the  trunk,  and  rarely  of  the  root. 
The  leaves  are  said  to  be  occasionally  used  in  medicine, 
but  they  are  free  from  the  characteristic  bitterness  of  the 
bark.  The  usual  season  for  collecting  the  bark  is  either 
the  cold  or  the  beginning  of  the  hot  season ;  during  the 
rains  the  process  should  be  stopped  on  account  of  the 
difficulty  of  drying  it,  a  point  requiring  particular  atten¬ 
tion.  In  order  to  strip  the  tree  of  its  bark,  it  is  conve¬ 
nient  to  fell  it  with  a  hatchet.  When  the  tree  is  down 
and  the  useless  smaller  branches  are  cut  off,  the  bark  is 
easily  removed  by  first  striking  it  with  the  back  of  the 
hatchet,  which  causes  the  liber  to  loosen  from  off  the  sap- 
wood.  Before  this  is  done,  the  useless  and  thick  corky 
layer  (epiphlceum)  must  be  scraped  off.  The  bark  is 
then  cut  longitudinally  so  as  to  admit  of  its  being  turned 
up  by  the  hand,  when  it  comes  off  in  large  pieces,  which 
are  further  cut  into  small  ones  so  as  to  expedite  its  dry¬ 
ing.  The  drying  should  be  done  as  quickly  as  possible 
by  exposing  the  pieces  to  the  sun’s  rays ;  at  night  they 
should  be  covered  to  avoid  the  effects  of  dew.  The  hy¬ 
groscopic  nature  of  the  active  principle  of  the  bark  must 
be  kept  in  view.  If  the  precaution  of  early  desiccation 
is  not  taken,  a  fermentive  decomposition  soon  com¬ 
mences,  the  bark  becomes  mouldy,  of  a  blackish  colour, 
and  begins  to  stink.  A  quantity  of  bark  thus  decom¬ 
posed  was  in  my  possession,  which,  on  being  subjected  to 
the  usual  process  of  extracting  its  active  principle, 
yielded  a  dark  blue  compound  having  the  smell  of  an 
indigo -vat  and  apparently  resembling  indigo  itself,  and 
which  tinged  the  comparatively  small  quantity  of  the 
bitter  principle  obtained. 

General  Characteristics. — The  bark  of  Ailan  thus  ex¬ 
celsa  is  in  flat  pieces,  of  various  sizes  and  lengths,  depend¬ 
ing  upon  the  manner  in  which  it  is  removed  and  pre¬ 
served.  The  largest  pieces  are  sometimes  one  foot  or 
more  in  length  and  about  six  inches  in  breadth,  but  on 
account  of  their  friable  nature,  they  easily  go  into  small 
pieces  by  rough  handling.  In  thickness  the  bark  varies 
generally  from  a  quarter  of  an  inch  to  half  an  inch  or 
more ;  the  age  of  the  tree,  as  well  as  the  part  from  which 
the  bark  is  chopped,  much  affect  its  thickness  and  general 
qualities.  Its  external  surface  is  rough  and  irregular 
from  a  coat  of  corky  layer  (epiphloeum),  which  varies  in 
thickness  from  two  to  four  lines,  and  is  marked  with 
deep  irregular  furrows  and  protuberances;  its  colour 
varies  from  dirty-grey  to  yellowish-green ;  its  substance 
is  rather  hard,  gritty,  and  insipid.  The  derm  (which  in 
fact  is  the  bark  proper,  consists  of  a  porous  outer  portion 
(mesophloeum),  and  a  compact  inner  portion  (endo- 
phloeum).  The  former  is  about  half  an  inch  thick,  of  a 
uniform  pale  yellowish  colour,  porous,  and  fibrous.  Its 
longitudinal  section  presents  a  reticulated  fibrous  struc¬ 
ture  marked  with  numerous  pores,  in  which  here  and 
there  are  observed  concrete  masses  of  gummy  exudation 
(pectine),  which  is  of  a  pale  brownish  colour  and  insipid.* 
Its  transverse  section  is  rough,  granular,  porous  and 
somewhat  lamellar.  The  inner  portion  of  the  bark  (en- 
dophloeum  or  liber)  is  about  a  line  in  thickness,  pale 
yellow,  smoother  and  more  compact  than  the  outer 
portion. 

It  is  tough  and  fibrous,  and,  when  fresh,  sticky.  In 
the  fresh  state  the  endophloeum  and  the  mesophloeum, 
particularly  the  former,  contain  a  glutinous  and  bitter 
substance  of  a  deep  orange  colour  which  is  the  active 
principle  in  a  state  of  combination. 

The  mesophloeum  is  easily  pulverizable,  forming  a 


*  This  is  particularly  seen  in  the  bark  of  very  old  trees. 


August  20,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


155 


greenish-grey  powder,  which,  when  examined  under  the 
microscope,  presents  numerous  crystals  of  carbonate  of 
lime.  The  liber  (endophloeum)  is  tough,  and  leaves 
fibrous  pieces  on  being  pounded.  The  dry  bark  is  light 
and  breaks  easily  across  with  a  fibrous  porous  fracture. 
It  scarcely  possesses  any  smell,  but  has  a  pure  strongly 
bitter  taste,  especially  at  its  inner  surface.  The  wood, 
as  well  as  the  leaves  of  this  tree,  are  entirely  devoid  of 
bitterness. 

Seat  of  the  Active  Principle. — On  examining  a  section 
of  the  fresh  bark  with  an  ordinary  magnifying  glass,  the 
meshes  between  the  interlacing  fibres  of  the  liber  are 
seen  filled  up  here  and  there  with  a  reddish-  or  orange- 
yellow  and  somewhat  glistening  amorphous  substance, 
which  abounds  within  the  inner  part  of  the  liber.  Inter¬ 
mixed  with  it,  and  covering  the  whole  of  the  fibrous 
texture  of  the  mesophloeum,  are  seen  shiny  rhombic  par¬ 
ticles  of  crystalline  carbonate  of  lime.  The  yellow  amor¬ 
phous  substance  is  very  soluble  in  water,  and  extremely 
bitter,  and  is  the  active  principle  of  the  bark  in  a  state 
of  combination.  It  is  found  in  the  largest  proportion  in 
the  thick  bark  of  old  trees.  The  thinner  bark  of  the  top 
and  branches  is  less  valuable,  for  it  contains  a  smaller 
amount  of  the  active  principle. 

Composition  and  Chemical  Characteristics. — No 
complete  analysis  of  the  Ailanthus  bark  has  as  yet  been 
made.  My  experiments,  however,  lead  me  to  conclude 
the  presence  in  it  of  an  uncrystallizable  bitter  principle 
in  combination  with  lime,  carbonate  of  lime,  salts  of 
magnesia  and  alumina,  uncrystallizable  sugar,  gum,  a 
trace  of  volatile  oil  and  lignin.  The  medicinal  virtues 
of  the  bark  depend  entirely  upon  an  azotized  bitter  prin¬ 
ciple  possessing  an  acid  nature,  to  which  I  propose  to 
give  the  name  of  ‘  Ailanthic  acid.’  It  is  to  this  that  the 
bark  owes  its  bitterness. 

A  cold  infusion  of  the  bark,  in  the  proportion  of  one 
ounce  to  twenty-four  ounces  of  cold  water,  and  allowed 
to  macerate  for  twenty-four  hours,  was  somewhat  turbid, 
lemon-coloured,  and  very  bitter.  A  strong  decoction  of 
it  was  turbid  and  highly  bitter :  when  kept  for  some 
days,  it  slowly  deposited  a  sediment,  and  the  liquid  be¬ 
came  of  a  clear  pale  lemon-colour,  and  retained  its 
bitterness.  A  tincture  of  the  powdered  bark,  prepared 
with  rectified  spirit,  was  of  a  pale  yellow  colour  and 
much  less  bitter  than  the  decoction  or  infusion.  The  de¬ 
coction  exhibited  the  following  reactions  : — Tincture  of 
iodine  or  tincture  of  the  sesquichloride  of  iron  produced 
no  change;  oxalic  acid  or  oxalate  of  ammonia  caused 
a  copious  white  precipitate  (oxalate  of  lime),  insoluble 
in  acetic  acid;  alcohol  produced  muddiness  (from  the 
precipitation  of  gum)  in  a  concentrated  decoction ;  pro¬ 
tonitrate  of  mercury  solution  gave  a  copious  white  preci¬ 
pitate  of  a  complex  compound  of  the  acid  principle  with 
mercury;  solution  of  basic  acetate  of  lead  produced 
abundant  white  precipitate  ;  alkalies  produced  no  change 
except  removing  its  bitterness,  which  reappears  on  the 
addition  of  acids ;  alkaline  carbonates  and  earths  showed 
no  such  effect ;  acids  produced  no  change ;  litmus-paper 
showed  no  signs  of  acidity  (evidently  showing  that  the 
acid  principle  was  in  combination  with  a  base). 

Ailanthic  Acid. — It  was  in  the  beginning  of  the  year 
1867  that  I  first  noticed  the  existence  of  this  principle  in 
the  Ailanthus  bark.  Owing  to  its  uncrystallizable  nature 
and  its  comparative  insolubility  in  other  solvents  than 
water,  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  it  in  a  pure  state  is 
such  as  to  make  its  analysis  still  unsatisfactory.  I  leave 
to  abler  chemists  its  further  examination.  The  following 
method  gives  the  process  of  manufacturing  this  sub¬ 
stance  : — 

Exhaust  the  powdered  Ailanthus  bark  by  repeatedly 
boiling  it  with  water,  collect  and  concentrate  the  decoc¬ 
tions.  When  cold,  filter  and  add  a  sufficient  quantity  of 
a  strong  solution  of  oxalic  acid  to  precipitate  the  lime. 
Add  a  sufficient  quantity  of  strong  solution  of  basic  ace¬ 
tate  of  lead,  which  precipitates  gum,  extractive  matter, 
colouring-matter,  and  excess  of  oxalic  acid ;  filter.  Con¬ 


centrate  the  clear  liquor  on  a  slow  fire,  remove  it  when 
cold  into  a  proper  vessel,  and  pass  through  it  sulphuretted 
hydrogen  gas  so  as  to  precipitate  all  the  lead;  boil, 
filter,  and  evaporate  the  clear  liquid  on  a  water-bath.* 

The  proportion  of  ailanthic  acid  contained  in  the  bark 
varies  a  good  deal  according  to  the  age  of  the  tree,  as 
well  as  the  thickness,  collection,  and  preservation  of  the 
bark.  The  average  quantity  of  acid  I  obtained  from 
two  pounds  of  good  thick  bark  was  nearly  one  ounce. 

Properties,  etc. — When  solid,  ailanthic  acid  is  of  a  waxy 
consistence,  reddish-brown,  becoming  dark  coloured  when 
liquefied,  almost  inodorous,  deliquescent,  very  soluble  in 
water,  much  less  so  in  alcohol  or  ether,  insoluble  in  chlo¬ 
roform  or  benzole.  It  is  uncrystallizable  and  is  ex¬ 
tremely  prone  to  become  glutinous,  even  when  kept  in  a 
stoppered  phial ;  on  account  of  its  hygroscopic  proper¬ 
ties,  it  swells  so  much  as  to  be  preserved  with  great  diffi¬ 
culty  in  an  ordinary  bottle.  Its  aqueous  solution  ab¬ 
sorbs  oxygen.  When  heated,  it  swells,  bums,  and  leaves 
ash,  consisting  chiefly  of  carbonate  of  lime  and  salts  of 
alumina.  Its  taste  is  purely  and  strongly  bitter,  it  red¬ 
dens  litmus,  is  neutralized  by  alkalies  and  strong  earths, 
forming  combinations  which  are  devoid  of  bitterness. 
Its  compound  with  ammonia  is  readily  decomposed  by 
heat,  leaving  the  acid  free.  It  decomposes  the  carbo¬ 
nates  of  alkalies,  of  earths,  and  of  several  metals,  espe¬ 
cially  when  aided  by  heat,  and  takes  the  place  of  car¬ 
bonic  acid,  which  escapes  with  effervescence ;  the  com¬ 
pounds  thus  formed  are  all  more  or  less  soluble  in  water 
and  are  bitter.  When  heated  along  with  a  strong  solution 
of  caustic  potash,  ammoniacal  fames  are  given  off,  indi¬ 
cating  the  presence  of  nitrogen  in  its  composition.  When 
heated  along  with  strong  sulphuric  acid,  it  becomes 
blackened  and  a  penetrating  odour  is  evolved.  Hydro¬ 
chloric  acid  produces  no  change  when  cold,  but,  on  boil¬ 
ing,  it  changes  its  colour  to  a  deep  dark  red.  Nitric 
acid  oxidizes  it  immediately  with  the  production  of  effer¬ 
vescence  (from  the  escape  of  nitrogen),  especially  when 
boiled,  it  makes  the  liquid  clearer  and  paler.  Chromic 
acid  produces  no  change.  Tincture  of  galls  gives  no 
precipitate.  Protonitrate  of  mercury  solution  gives  a 
copious  white  precipitate,  which  is  blackened  by  the  ad¬ 
dition  of  ammonia ;  this  forms  one  of  its  characteristic 
tests.  Persalts  of  mercury  give  no  precipitate.  Chlo¬ 
ride  of  gold  gives  a  dirty  purple  precipitate,  which  slowly 
exhibits  greenish  and  purplish  tints  by  reflected  light. 
Chloride  of  platinum  gives  no  precipitate.  Nitrate  of 
silver  gives  a  whitish  precipitate,  which  soon  turns  dark 
coloured.  Diacetate  of  lead  gives  a  white  precipitate, 
but  does  not  throw  down  the  whole  of  the  ailanthic  acid. 
Acetate  of  lead  produces  no  change.  No  evident  changes 
were  produced  under  the  following  tests : — Chlorine 
water  and  ammonia  ;  oxalate  of  ammonia ;  red  and  yellow 
prussiates  of  potash ;  sulphocyanide  of  potassium  ;  proto¬ 
chloride  of  tin ;  potassio-tartrate  of  antimony ;  proto- 
and  per-salts  of  iron ;  and  sulphate  of  copper. 

Ailanthic  acid  does  not  possess  the  power  of  setting  free 
iodine  from  a  solution  of  iodide  of  potassium.  A  con¬ 
centrated  solution  of  it  dissolves  oxalate  of  lime. 

Ailanthate  of  Lime. — In  this  form  ailanthic  acid  exists 
in  nature.  It  is  soluble  in  water,  forming  a  pale  orange- 
coloured  solution,  which  is  very  bitter.  Oxalic  acid  and 
oxalate  of  ammonia  separate  the  lime  from  combination. 
It  can  be  dried  into  a  hard,  solid,  reddish-brown  mass, 
which,  when  exposed  to  air,  attracts  moisture,  but  less 
quickly  than  the  pure  acid,  and  is  less  sticky  to  the  feel. 
When  drying,  it  swells  much  more  than  the  pure  acid* 
Its  taste  is  not  so  bitter  as  that  of  the  pure  acid ;  it  dis¬ 
solves  freely  in  water,  and  is  uncrystallizable. 

Ailanthate  of  Lead. — This  compound  is  formed  during 
the  preparation  of  ailanthic  acid.  It  is  of  an  ochre-yellow 
colour  when  fresh,  but  changing  to  a  darker  red  when 
kept.  When  hot  and  dry,  it  is  hard  and  brittle  like 


*  In  this  process  ailanthic  acid  still  retains  a  small  percent¬ 
age  of  uncrystallizable  sugar,  which  is  difficult  of  removal* 


156 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  20,  1870. 


resin ;  "but  when  cool  and  kept  for  some  time,  even  in 
an  air-tight  bottle,  it  gets  sticky  and  soft.  While  hot 
and  soft  it  can  he  moulded  into  any  shape  like  wax  or 
gutta-percha,  and  can  he  drawn  into  silk-like  fibres, 
which,  on  cooling,  become  soft  and  glutinous.  The 
freshly-dried  salt  can  he  easily  powdered,  a  property  not 
observed  in  other  compounds  of  this  acid.  The  powder, 
if  inhaled  through  the  nose,  excites  sneezing ;  it  readily 
attracts  moisture  when  cool :  sulphuric  acid  or  sulphu¬ 
retted  hydrogen  removes  the  lead,  and  leaves  the  acid 
free.  Its  taste  is  as  hitter  as  that  of  the  free  acid.  It  is 
freely  soluble  in  water,  and  is  uncrystallizable. 

{To  be  continued.) 


f wlirawntos  imir  fitto  fromMitp. 


ALLEGED  POISONING  OF  SHEEP  BY  DIP¬ 
PING  COMPOSITION— ACTION  AGAINST  A 
CHEMIST. 

SUFFOLK  SUMMER  ASSIZES,  BURY  ST.  EDMUNDS. 

Nisi  Purus  Court,  12 th  August ,  1870. 

Smith  v.  Barker. 

Mr.  O’Malley,  Q.C.,  and  Mr.  Mayd,  appeared  for  the 
plaintiff ;  Mr.  Bulwer,  with  whom  was  Mr.  Naylor,  for 
the  defendant. 

It  appeared  from  the  evidence  given  in  this  case  that 
the  arsenical  solution  was  sold  with  printed  instructions, 
in  which  it  was  stated  to  he  “  poison that  every  gallon 
of  the  composition  was  to  be  mixed  with  forty  gallons  of 
water,  and  that  this  quantity  was  sufficient  for  two  scores 
of  sheep.  Further  directions  were  also  given  to  squeeze 
out  the  liquor  from  the  wool  of  the  sheep  after  they  had 
been  dipped.  The  plaintiff’s  men  appear,  however,  to 
have  used  four  gallons  and  five  quarts  of  the  composition 
for  five  score  sheep,  and  to  have  hurried  the  operation  of 
dipping,  so  that  the  liquor  was  not  sufficiently  squeezed 
out  of  the  sheep’s  wool.  Consequently  arsenic  was  ab¬ 
sorbed  and  several  of  the  sheep  died.  Several  witnesses 
gave  evidence  that  the  composition  could  be  used  with¬ 
out  danger  if  properly  diluted  and  if  the  instructions 
were  carried  out ;  while  others  testified  to  having  used  it 
for  hundreds  of  sheep  without  any  injury  to  them. 

The  declaration  alleged  that  the  defendant  did  not  use 
due  care  and  skill  as  a  chemist  in  preparing  a  certain 
composition  to  destroy  lice  in  sheep,  which  composition 
was  to  be  used  according  to  certain  directions,  that  the 
plaintiff  used  this  composition  with  due  care ;  neverthe¬ 
less  the  solution  was  so  badly  compounded  that  a  number 
of  his  sheep  were  killed  and  others  injured. 

The  judge,  in  summing  up  the  case,  said  the  plaintiff 
complained  that  the  defendant  had  not  used  clue  and 
proper  care  and  skill  as  a  chemist,  in  preparing  the  com¬ 
position  which  was  to  he  used  according  to  certain  direc¬ 
tions  delivered  by  the  defendant  to  the  plaintiff  at  the 
time  of  selling.  This  was  the  real  question  which  the 
jury  had  to  try..  The  counsel  for  the  plaintiff  was  in 
error  m  supposing  it  was  the  business  of  the  defendant 
to  satisfy  them  that  the  plaintiff  was  negligent.  The 
onus  or  burden  of  proof  was  the  other  way,  because  the 
plaintiff  complained  defendant  did  not  use  due  and  pro¬ 
per  skill,  and  that  his  mixture  could  not  be  used  with 
reasonable  safety,  according  to  the  directions.  Certainly 
in  these  instructions  there  was  the  most  distinct  notice 
that  could  possibly  he  given  in  writing  and  print  as 
to  the  poisonous  nature  of  this  solution,  because  there 
were  the  words  “Poison”  “Poison.”  Then  again  no¬ 
thing  could  he  more  precise  than  the  directions  given  as 
to  the  use  of  this  dangerous  mixture,  and  he  presumed 
the  jury  would  be  of  opinion  that  it  behoved  every  one 
who  used  it  to  he  careful  about  it.  On  the  present  occa¬ 
sion  there  was  no  doubt  that  the  death  of  Mr.  Smith’s 
sheep  was  caused  by  the  absorption  of  the  liquid  into 
the  system  of  the  sheep.  They  might  take  it  as  a  fact 


that  the  plaintiff  had  proved  the  death  of  his  sheep  was 
occasioned  by  absorption  into  the  system  of  this  chemical 
solution.  How  was  that  caused  ?  Was  it  caused  by  the 
solution  itself  being  defectively  prepared?  If  it  was 
then  the  defendant  was  liable,  if  it  was  not  the  defendant 
could  not  he  liable.  That  the  solution  as  prepared  by 
Mr.  Barker,  if  the  directions  were  followed,  was  a  harm¬ 
less  one,  there  seemed  to  he  no  doubt.  The  defendant 
said  that  for  nineteen  years  he  had  been  in  the  habit  of 
preparing  the  solution,  and  that  it  had  been  very  exten¬ 
sively  used  on  thousands  and  thousands  of  sheep.  Was 
the  negligence  or  want  of  care  on  the  part  of  the  defen¬ 
dant,  or  on  the  part  of  the  plaintiff  ?  One  question  was 
important,  namely,  how  did  the  4^  gallon  bottle,  toge¬ 
ther  with  the  quart  added  to  it  from  the  first  bottle  be¬ 
come  so  nearly  exhausted  with  the  dipping  of  100  sheep  ? 
If  they  were  satisfied  that  the  defendant  did  not  use  pro¬ 
per  care  in  making  the  preparation,  and  that  the  death 
of  the  sheep  was  occasioned  thereby,  the  plaintiff  would 
be  entitled  to  their  verdict ;  if  on  the  other  hand  they 
were  of  opinion  that  the  death  of  the  sheep  was  not 
caused  by  the  want  of  proper  care  and  skill  on  the  part 
of  the  defendant,  then  the  defendant  would  be  entitled 
to  a  verdict  in  his  favour. 

The  jury  then  consulted  for  about  twenty  minutes, 
and  without  leaving  the  box  returned  a  verdict  for  the 
defendant. 


CENTRAL  CRIMINAL  COURT. 

August  15. 

George  Gorfenkle,  chemist,  pleaded  “  Guilty”  to  ob¬ 
taining,  by  false  pretences,  goods  of  considerable  value 
from  Messrs.  Maw  and  Son,  instrument  makers,  Alders- 
gate  Street,  and  Messrs.  Huxley  and  Co.,  cigar  merchants, 
Whitechapel  Road.  He  was  sentenced  to  twelve  months’ 
imprisonment. 

This  report  is  taken  from  the  ( Times  ’  of  the  16th  inst. 
There  is  no  such  name  on  the  Register  of  Chemists  and  Drug¬ 
gists  as  that  of  George  Gorfenkle. — Ed.  Ph.  J.] 


A  NEW  ANTIPERIODIC. 

Dr.  Lorinser,  of  Vienna,  gives  the  results  of  a  number 
of  observations  made  regarding  the  effect  of  a  new  re¬ 
medy  for  intermittent  fever.  The  remedy  is  the  tincture 
of  the  leaves  of  the  Eucalyptus  globulus ,  a  plant  of  the 
natural  order  Myrtacece.  In  1869,  Dr.  Lorinser  made 
some  experiments,  the  results  of  which  he  published ; 
but  he  was  brought  to  a  standstill  by  the  want  of  a  sup¬ 
ply  of  the  medicine.  The  plant  has  since  been  cultivated 
by  Herr  Lamatsch,  an  apothecary  ;  and  a  sufficient  quan¬ 
tity  of  tincture  has  been  made  from  the  leaves  to  supply 
a  number  of  medical  men  in  the  districts  of  the  Theiss 
and  Danube,  and  in  the  Banat.  The  records  of  fifty- 
three  cases  of  intermittent  fever  in  which  the  eucalyptus 
was  administered  have  been  communicated  to  Dr.  Lo¬ 
rinser  ;  and  he  gives  very  brief  outlines  of  each,  with 
the  following  summary  of  the  results  obtained.  Of  the 
fifty-three  patients,  forty-three  were  completely  cured ; 
in  five,  there  was  relapse  in  consequence  of  a  failure  of 
the  supply  of  the  tincture  of  eucalyptus,  and  quinine  had 
to  be  employed ;  two  of  the  cases  were  not  true  ague ;  in 
one  case,  neither  the  eucalyptus  nor  quinine  cured ;  in 
one,  the  medicine  (as  well  as  other  remedies)  was  vomited ; 
and  in  one,  the  patient  would  not  allow  the  treatment  to 
be  continued.  In  eleven  of  the  cases,  quinine  had  been 
used  without  effect ;  and  nine  of  these  were  cured  by  the 
eucalyptus.  There  was  return  of  the  fever  in  ten  cases, 
at  intervals  varying  from  one  to  four  weeks ;  in  five  of 
these  quinine  had  to  be  used,  in  consequence  of  there 
being  no  tincture  of  eucalyptus,  and  in  the  other  five 
the  eucalyptus  was  successfully  employed.  The  tincture 
is  said  to  be  easily  made,  and  to  have  a  pleasant  aromatic 
taste ;  it  acts  favourably  on  the  digestive  organs.  Dr. 


August  20,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


157 


Lorinser  believes  that  in  it  ve  have  a  valuable  remedy 
for  intermittent  fever.  It  may  be  so ;  but,  considering 
the  comparative  failure  of  the  substances  which  have 
hitherto  been  recommended  as  substitutes  for  cinchona 
and  quinine,  still  more  extended  and  careful  observation 
will  be  necessary  before  recognizing  the  claims  of  the 
Eucalyptus  globulus  to  rank  as  an  antiperiodic  on  which 
dependence  can  be  placed.  The  districts  which  Dr. 
Lorinser  has  chosen  for  testing  the  effect  of  the  remedy 
are,  we  believe,  well  fitted  for  the  purpose — intermittent 
fever  being  very  prevalent  in  them. — Philadelphia  Medi¬ 
cal  ancl  Surgical  Reporter. 


CHINESE  THERAPEUTICS. 

The  Chinese  divide  medicinal  substances  into  heating, 
cooling,  refreshing,  and  temperate.  Their  materia  me- 
dicais  contained  in  the  work  called  the  Pen-taoscang-mou, 
in  fifty-two  large  volumes,  with  an  atlas  of  plates.  Most 
of  our  medicines  are  known  to  them  and  prescribed,  also 
mineral  waters,  with  which  the  country  abounds.  They 
also  have  animal  magnetizers,  called  cong-mou. 

They  divide  their  prescriptions  into  seven  categories, 
viz. : — 1st.  The  great  prescription.  2nd.  The  little  pre¬ 
scription.  3rd.  The  slow  prescription.  4th.  Prompt  or 
through-by-daylight  prescription.  5th.  The  old  pre¬ 
scription,  for  fools,  madmen,  hypochondriacs,  and  the 
hysterical.  6th.  The  even  prescription,  for  the  wise  and 
good.  7th.  The  double  prescription,  for  those  in  the 
family  way. 

Each  of  these  recipes  is  applied  to  particular  cases, 
and  the  ingredients  that  compose  them  are  weighed  out 
with  the  most  scrupulous  accuracy. 

The  physician  never  pays  a  second  visit  unless  sent 
for,  and  sometimes  his  services  are  no  longer  needed. — 
Philadelphia  Medical  and  Surgical  Reporter. 


dialers  for  jSftttafs. 

CHEMICAL  NOTES  TO  THE  PHARMACOPCEIA. 

BY  WILLIAM  A.  TILDEN,  B.SC.  LOND. 

DEMONSTRATOR  OE  PRACTICAL  CHEMISTRY  TO  THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 

Acidum  Nitro-hydrochloricum  Dilutum. —  [§. 
Take  of — 

Nitric  acid  ....  3  fluid  ounces 

Hydrochloric  acid  .  .  4  fluid  ounces : 

Mix  the  acids,  and  allow  them  to  remain  for  twenty- 
four  hours  in  a  bottle,  the  mouth  of  which  is  partially 
closed,  then  add  the  water  in  successive  portions, 
shaking  the  bottle  after  each  addition,,  and  preserve 
the  mixture  in  a  stoppered  bottle.] 

The  reaction  which  the  two  acids  enter  into  gives 
rise  to  the  production  of  a  good  deal  of  gas. 

2HNO,  +  6HC1  =  N202C14  +  4H20  +  CL, 

Chloronitric  gas. 

And  also  simultaneously, 

2HN  03  +  6HC1  =  N202C12  +  4H20  +  2C12. 

Chloronitrous  gas. 

Such  a  mixture  is  called  aqua  regia ;  it  has  the 
property  of  dissolving  gold,  from  the  presence  of  free 
chlorine.  In  the  preparation  of  the  dilute  acid  for 
pharmaceutical  use  the  best  apparatus  consists  of 
two  Winchester  quarts,  connected  by  a  piece  of 
flexible  tubing.  One  contains  the  two  acids,  the 
other  the  water;  gases  evolved  from  the  acids  are 
thus  collected  in  the  same  water  with  which  they  are 
afterwards  to  be  mixed. 


There  is  no  advantage  in  the  official  process  over 
the  plan  of  mixing  the  acids  with  the  water  imme¬ 
diately;  for  after  dilution,  the  elements  rearrange 
themselves  so  as  to  reproduce  nitric  and  hydrochloric 
acids.  This  occurs  more  perfectly  the  larger  the 
proportion  of  water  added :  the  less  water,  the  larger 
will  be  the  amount  of  nitrous  acid  and  chlorine  re¬ 
maining.* 

Acidum  Phosphoricum  Dilutum. — Phosphorus  is 
digested  with  diluted  nitric  acid  till  dissolved :  the 
solution  is  then  evaporated  to  expel  the  excess  of 
nitric  acid  and  complete  the  oxidation  to  pliosphor-ie 
acid,  and  it  is  then  diluted  to  the  proper  strength.. 
The  reaction  which  occurs  will  be  understood  after 
studying  “  nitric  acid.” 

20HNO3  -f  3P4  +  8H20 
=  12H3P04  +  20NO.  “ 

With  ammonio -nitrate  of  silver,  phosphoric  acid 
gives  a  yellow  precip.  of  Ag3P04.  Evaporated  to 
complete  dryness,  it  leaves  a  residue  (glacial  phos¬ 
phoric  acid)  consisting  chiefly  of  metaphosplioric 
acid. 

H3P04n  HP03  +  H20. 

Phosphoric  acid  is  a  most  important  example  of  a 
tribasic  acid.  With  each  metal  it  forms  three  dis¬ 
tinct  salts,  in  which  one,  two,  or  three  atoms  of  the 
metal  replace  an  equivalent  quantity  of  the  hydrogen 
of  the  acid.  It  is  also  capable  of  forming  other 
double  or  triple  salts.  The  following  are  some  ex¬ 
amples  : — 

Phosphates  of  Sodium. 

Monosodic . NaH2P04 

Disoclic . Na2RP04  (B.P.) 

Trisodic . Na3P04. 

Phosphates  of  Calcium. 

Monocalcic  .  Ca"H4  2  P  04  (“  superphosphate  ”)> 

Dicalcic  .  .  Ca"2H22  P04,  or  CaHP  04 

Tricalcic  .  .  Ca"3  2  P  04  (bone-asli). 

Ammonite  Phosphas,  B.P.,  or  diammonic  phosphate _ 
'  (NH4)2HP04. 

If  the  first  phosphate  of  soda  is  heated  to  redness, 
the  residue  is  metaphosphate  of  sodium. 

NaH2P04  =  NaP03  +  H20. 

The  second  one  by  heat  gives  the  sodium  salt  of 
pyrophosphoric  acid. 

2  (Na2HP04)  =  Na4P207  +  H20. 

These  three  acids  of  phosphorus  are  thus  distin¬ 
guished  from  each  other. 

a.  Common,  tribasic,  or  orthophosplioric  acid, 
when  neutralized,  and  its  soluble  salts  give  a  yellow 
precipitate  with  nitrate  of  silver. 

b.  Pyrophosphoric  acid  does  not  coagulate  albu¬ 
men,  and  with  nitrate  of  silver  gives  a  chalky-white 
precipitate  only  after  being  neutralized  by  an  alkali. 

c.  Metaphosplioric  acid  coagulates  albumen,  and 
gives,  with  nitrate  of  silver,  a  transparent  white  pre¬ 
cipitate  without  neutralization. 

The  impurities  indicated  by  the  tests  of  the  Phar¬ 
macopoeia  are  as  follows  : — Metals,  such  as  copper, 
arsenic,  or  lead,  by  sulphuretted  hydrogen  ;  sulphuric 
acid  by  chloride  of  barium ;  hydrochloric  acid  by 
acidified  nitrate  of  silver;  metaphosplioric  acid  by 
solution  of  albumen ;  nitric  acid  by  darkening  a. 


*  See  Pliarm.  Journ.,  N.S.,  Yol.  X.  p.  580. 


158 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  20,  1870. 


solution  of  sulphate  of  iron ;  phosphorous  acid  (the 
result  of  imperfect  oxidation)  by  heating  with  per- 
chloride  of  mercury.  In  the  last  test,  calomel  or 
metallic  mercury  may  be  precipitated. 

H3P03  +  OH,  +  2  Cl2Hg 
=  H3P04  +  2  HOI  +  Hg2  Cl2. 

Or,— 

H,P03  +  OH2  +  CLHg 
=  H3P04  +  2HC1+  Hg. 

355  grains  of  the  B.P.  acid  evaporated  to  dryness 
with  180  grains  of  oxide  of  lead,  and  heated  to  dull 
redness,  increase  the  weight  of  the  residue  to  2 15 ’5 
grains. 

Oxide  of  lead.  P2  05.  Oxide  +  phosphate  of  lead. 

180  +  35-5  =  215-5 

Six  fluid  drachms  (354-375  grains)  therefore  con¬ 
tain  35‘5  grains  of  P205  (10  per  cent.),  or  49  grains 
•of  H3P04. 


Medical  Arrangements  in  the  French  Army. — 

The  Paris  correspondent  of  the  ‘  Lancet’  writes,  “A  cause 
of  complaint  has  been  the  curious  medical  cantine  given 
to  the  regimental  surgeons.  It  consists  of  a  box,  which, 
when  opened,  contains  only  one  solitary  phial,  filled  with 
calomel ;  it  holds  no  sulphate  of  soda,  no  subacetate  of 
lead— in  fact,  none  of  the  most  ordinary  medicaments 
required  for  the  sick  or  wounded  soldier.  Besides  this, 
it  consists  of  an  extraordinary  number  of  small  drawers, 
which,  on  any  dampness  supervening,  would  render  the 
cantine  unfit  for  use.  The  presence  of  a  large  number  of 
pharmaciens  on  the  field,  in  comparison  with  the  limited 
number  of  medical  men,  has  also  given  rise  to  much  cri¬ 
ticism,  and  it  is  asked  of  what  earthly  use  will  be  so  large 
•a  number  of  pharmaciens,  unless  to  ‘  help  to  make  the 
soldier’s  soup.’ 

“  The  fact  is,  that  the  number  of  medical  men  attached 
to  the  ambulances  is  absurdly  limited.  It  has  been  re¬ 
lated  to  me  by  French  army  surgeons  that  after  Magenta 
their  arms  had  become  deadened  from  operating,  and 
their  instruments  useless,  while  there  were  yet  a  large 
number  of  the  French  wounded  unprovided  for,  not  to 
mention  at  least  1500  Austrians.  And  yet  the  number 
remains  as  limited  in  this  campaign.  How  this  can  be 
is  a  mystery. 

“  Each  division  of  the  army  includes  one  ambulance; 
and  as  there  are  four  divisions  to  a  corps  cVarmee  the 
total  number  is  four  ambulances,  to  which,  however, 
must  be  added  a  fifth  attached  to  the  head  quarters  of 
the  special  corps.  Now  each  ambulance  consists  only  of 
five  surgeons,  making  a  total  of  twenty-five  surgeons  to 
a  division.  Obviously  this  number  must  be  altogether 
below  the  requirements  of  the  service,  especially  during 
the  present  campaign,  when  such  energetic  and  rapid 
movements  are  necessary,  and  when  the  wounds  that  are 
inflicted  are  so  numerous,  and  of  a  special  character  on 
account  of  the  arms  in  use.  Therefore,  the  help  afforded 
by  the  volunteer  ambulances  must  prove  invaluable  under 
•existing  circumstances.” 

Liverpool  and  its  Health  Officer.— The  Town 
Council  have  rejected,  by  18  votes  to  16  on  a  division, 
the  Report  of  the  Health  Committee,  which  proposed  to 
put  a  check  upon  the  medical  officer  of  health  in  regard 
to  the  conversion  of  cesspools  into  waterclosets.  This 
has  led  to  the  resignation,  by  Mr.  Alderman  Dover,  of 
the  chairmanship  of  the  Health  Committee,  that  gentle¬ 
man  haying  apparently  been  led  by  strong  economic 
tendencies  to  oppose  the  principle  on  which  Dr.  Trench 
has  acted,  as  leading  to  unnecessary  expenditure.  It  is, 
of  course,  matter  for  regret  that  the  Council  should  lose 
the  valuable  services  of  so  able  and  energetic  a  man  as 
dhe  worthy  alderman ;  but  we  are  quite  sure  that  they 
have  done  wisely  in  supporting  their  medical  officer  of 


health,  who  cannot  possibly  desire  to  put  his  fellow- 
townsmen  to  needless  expense.  Whoever  has  studied 
the  proceedings  of  Dr.  Trench  since  he  has  been  health 
officer  for  Liverpool  must  have  been  led  to  the  conclusion 
that  his  policy  throughout  has  been  based  on  the  soundest 
principles  of  economy. — Lancet. 

How  to  Drive  away  Mosquitoes. — One  of  the 

greatest  plagues  of  hot  countries  is  the  mosquito,  and 
various  have  been  the  means  recommended  for  getting 
rid  of  this  pest.  Jagor,  a  celebrated  German  traveller, 
who  spent  a  number  of  years  in  the  jungles  of  the 
Malayan  Archipelago,  recommended,  if  we  remember 
rightly,  the  roots  of  JPyrethrum  roseum.  In  a  paper 
recently  published  by  Dr.  Birdwood  on  olibanum,  the 
author  says  that  in  Bombay  nothing  so  quickly  clears 
one’s  bed  of  mosquitoes  as  the  burning  of  a  little  olibanum 
or  myrrh  in  it.  The  Protestant  churches  there  are  infested 
by  mosquitoes,  as  by  a  plague.  He  was  often  asked  how 
to  get  rid  of  them,  and  always  answered  that  while  the 
ugly  and  irreverent  punkahs  were  of  no  use,  the  only 
remedy  was  the  immemorial  and  most  beautiful  rite  of 
burning  frankincense. 

Convention  of  Colleges  of  Pharmacy. — At  a 

stated  meeting  of  the  Maryland  College  of  Pharmacy, 
the  following  resolution  was  unanimously  adopted  : — 

“  Resolved ,  That  a  Committee  of  five  be  appointed  to 
request  the  several  Pharmaceutical  Associations  of  the 
United  States  to  send  Delegates  to  a  Convention,  pro¬ 
posed  to  be  held  in  the  City  of  Baltimore  in  September 
next,  at  the  time  of  the  meeting  of  the  American  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Association.” 

The  purpose  being  to  consult  and  determine  upon  the 
best  uniform  course  of  study  for  those  learning  the  pro¬ 
fession  of  pharmacy,  and  to  recommend  the  same  for 
adoption  in  the  schools  of  the  several  associations  they 
represent,  to  the  end  that  there  may  be  a  uniform  stan¬ 
dard  of  qualification  for  all  graduating  in  pharmacy. — 
The  Chicago  Pharmacist. 

Substitute  for  Lint. — Mr.  H.  Pownall,  late  chair¬ 
man  of  the  Middlesex  Sessions,  submitted  to  Lord  Lind¬ 
say’s  committee  a  sample  of  very  fine  picked  oakum, 
which  has  been  used  in  some  of  the  London  hospitals  as 
a  substitute  for  lint  in  dressing  wounds.  Should  this 
substitute  prove  as  useful  as  represented,  the  inmates  of 
unions  and  prisons  might  be  advantageously  employed  in 
its  preparation.  It  would  be  not  only  remunerative, 
but  a  means  of  turning  the  labour  of  the  pauper  to  a 
highly  beneficial  purpose. — Standard. 

Inefficacy  of  Immature  Cantharides. — Recent  in¬ 
vestigation  shows  that  young  cantharides  do  not  possess 
the  epispastic  property,  and  it  would  seem  that  in  me¬ 
dium-sized  insects  it  is  equally  wanting.  It  is  only  the 
full-grown  insects  that  will  raise  blisters.  Cantharidine 
appears  not  to  be  developed  until  the  complete  maturity 
of  the  insect.  In  purchasing  cantharides,  therefore, 
those  only  should  be  chosen  which  have  attained  their 
full  growth. — Zeitschrift  fur  Chemie. 

Poisoning  by  a  Salt  of  Copper. — A  serious  case 
of  poisoning  has  occurred  at  Geneva.  Six  workmen, 
two  hours  after  dining  at  their  usual  place  of  resort,  were 
seized  with  violent  pains  in  the  stomach,  followed  by 
vomiting.  A  doctor  having  been  called  in,  he  recognized 
immediately  the  symptoms  of  violent  poisoning.  The 
men  were  carried  to  the  hospital,  where,  in  spite  of  every 
attention,  three  of  them  died  after  some  hours  of  severe 
suffering. 

Upon  the  police  officer  going  to  tho  house  where  they 
had  dined,  he  found  the  proprietor,  his  wife  and  child, 
and  a  domestic  dangerously  ill ;  the  man  and  his  wife 
dying  the  same  evening.  At  the  inquest  it  was  found 
that  the  mishap  was  due  to  the  negligence  of  a  servant, 
who  had  prepared  the  soup  in  a  copper  utensil,  at  the 
bottom  of  which  was  a  large  quantity  of  verdigris. — 
Journal  de  Chimie  Medicale. 


August  20,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


159 


Health  of  the  Armies  on  the  Rhine. — Besides  the 
dreadful  death-roll  of  slain  and  wounded,  we  may  soon 
expect  to  hear  of  disease  causing  ravages  in  the  ranks  of 
the  hostile  legions.  Dysentery  is  commonly  prevalent 
in  the  Rhine  provinces  of  France  and  Prussia,  as  well  as 
in  Belgium,  during  July  and  August.  The  favourite 
treatment  just  now  among  French  surgeons  is  bismuth 
in  full  doses.  Ipecacuanha  seems  to  have  failed  with 
the  medical  men  on  the  borders  of  the  Rhine.  If  the 
war  be  not  suddenly  concluded,  intermittent  fever  will 
probably  in  about  a  month  from  this  time  be  epidemic. 
It  is  almost  sure  to  be  of  a  very  low  type.  Then  these 
fevers  will  assume  a  remittent  form,  and  true  camp  fever 
will  become  established.  It  is  not  improbable  that 
cases  of  typhus  will  also  occur  in  numbers  to  cause 
anxiety,  though  other  forms  of  fever  will  probably  be 
most  prevalent.  We  are,  of  course,  presupposing  that 
every  hygienic  precaution  will  be  adopted,  for  neglect  of 
any  would  be  sure  to  give  rise  to  proportionate  loss. 
We  speak  only  of  what  is  to  be  expected  under  most  fa¬ 
vourable  circumstances.  As  autumn  advances  the  wea¬ 
ther  will  become  a  more  potent  element, — rheumatic 
affections  and  diseases  of  the  lungs  then  taking  the  lead. 
At  present  the  one  question  is  whether  the  camp  will  be 
exposed  to  heavy  rains. — Medical  Press  and  Circular. 


BOOK  RECEIVED. 

An  Elementary  Course  of  Botany,  Structural,  Phy¬ 
siological,  and  Systematic.  By  the  late  Professor 
Henfrey.  Second  Edition  ;  revised  and  in  part  rewritten 
by  Dr.  Maxwell  T.  Masters.  London:  Van  Voorst, 
Paternoster  Row,  1870. 


©Mtrarj. 

Mr.  J.  T.  Porter,  whose  death  we  reported  last  week, 
was  one  of  the  most  promising  of  recent  students  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society.  About  five  years  ago  he  en¬ 
tered  the  School  of  Pharmacy  under  somewhat  interest¬ 
ing  circumstances.  The  gentleman  with  whom  he  was 
apprenticed,  Mr.  Sutterby,  of  Long  Sutton,  Lincolnshire, 
was  in  the  habit  of  giving  his  pupils  a  fortnight’s  holi¬ 
day  every  summer.  Mr.  Porter,  with  the  consent  of  his 
employer,  denied  himself  the  pleasure  of  the  holiday  on 
one  occasion,  in  order  that  the  next  year  he  might  de¬ 
vote  a  whole  month  to  continuous  study.  Having, 
meanwhile,  saved  enough  money  to  pay  expenses,  he 
travelled  up  to  London,  and  spent  that  month  in  the  La¬ 
boratory  at  Bloomsbury  Square.  This  energy  in  seek¬ 
ing  culture  under  great  difficulties  was  sure  to  meet 
with  success.  It  obtained  for  Mr.  Porter  friends,  who 
enabled  him,  on  completing  his  apprenticeship,  again  to 
work  in  the  Society’s  Laboratory,  this  time  for  three 
months.  He  subsequently  became  private  assistant  to 
the  Professor  of  Practical  Chemistry,  afterwards  filled 
the  position  of  under-manager  in  the  laboratory  of 
Messrs.  Bell  and  Co.,  and  ultimately  was  appointed  che¬ 
mist  to  the  Hastings  Sewage  Works,  where,  injthe  full 
career  of  successful  labour,  and  while  actually  attempt¬ 
ing  to  save  the  lives  of  others,  he  suddenly  met  with  his 
death. 

Mr.  Porter  was  a  steady  worker  in  the  cause  of  na¬ 
tural  and  revealed  truth.  He  published  several  original 
researches  on  matters  connected  with  pharmacy,  and 
was  Secretary  of  the  London  Chemists’  Association. 


We  are  indebted  to  correspondents  for  the  following 
periodicals,  containing  news’  reports,  and  other  matters 
of  pharmaceutical  interest: — The  ‘Newcastle  Daily 
Chronicle,’  Aug.  11,  12,  13,  and  15,  from  Mr.  H.  B. 
Brady;  the  ‘Essex  and  Suffolk  News,’  Aug.  13,  from 
Mr.  Barker;  ‘Allen’s  Indian  Mail,’  Aug.  9,  from  Dr. 
Cleghom;  the  ‘British  Medical  Journal,’  from  the  pub¬ 
lishers  ;  the  ‘  English  Mechanic,’  from  the  publishers ; 
the  ‘  Philadelphia  Medical  and  Surgical  Reporter,’  May 
21,  June  11,  18  and  25,  from  the  publishers. 


(wmsjifltttaa. 

Communications  for  this  Journal ,  and  boohs  for  review , 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication ,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

State  Aid  for  Pharmaceutical  Education. 

Sir, — I  think  the  result  of  the  following  correspondence  is 
of  sufficient  importance  to  justify  my  requesting  you  to  give 
it  a  place  in  the  text  of  your  next  number. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

Clifton,  August  14,  1870.  G.  F.  Schacht. 

“  To  the  Secretary,  Science  and  Art  Department. 

“  Sir, — As  Hon.  Secretary  of  the  Bristol  Pharmaceutical 
Association,  I  beg  leave  to  ask  you  for  information  on  a  point 
of  some  importance  to  this  and  similar  organizations. 

“Our  Association  has  for  its  principal  object  the  education 
of  our  apprentices  and  assistants  in  the  sciences  applied  to 
their  profession,  a  fair  knowledge  of  which  a  recent  Act  of 
Parliament  has  made  obligatory  upon  every  one  who  now 
enters  the  practice  of  pharmacy. 

“  In  Bristol  we  have  calculated  upon  the  aid  of  your  de¬ 
partment,  but  in  other  localities  it  has  been  thought  that  the 
regulations  do  not  warrant  this  course,  inasmuch  as  the 
fathers  of  some  apprentices  pay  income-tax. 

“  An  apprentice  to  a  pharmaceutist  is  boarded,  lodged,  and 
taught  his  profession  m  return  for  his  services,  to  which  is 
generally  added  a  premium.  He  may,  therefore,  be  looked 
upon  as  having  taken  leave  of  home. 

“  The  apprentice,  in  due  time,  becomes  an  assistant,  and  it 
would  be  difficult  to  find  an  assistant  whose  salary  reaches 
the  minimum  amount  assessed. 

“  Under  these  circumstances,  we  have  thought  that  the 
department  might  be  disposed  to  aid  the  spread  of  this  move¬ 
ment  to  other  cities,  by  the  official  announcement— that  they 
will  consider  pharmaceutists’  apprentices  and  assistants  as 
coming  within  the  scope  of  paragraph  xxxvi,  clause  (C), 
page  13  of  the  ‘Directory,’  which  awards  premiums  upon 
‘  Persons  in  the  receipt  of  salaries  not  large  enough  to  render 
them  liable  to  the  income-tax,  as  some  descriptions  of  clerks, 
shopmen,  etc.’ 

“  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir, 

“  Your  obedient  servant, 

“  G.  F.  Schacht, 

“  Hon.  Sec.  Bristol  Pharmaceutical  Association. 

«  Clifton,  July  30,  1870.” 

“  Science  and  Art  Department,  London,  W. 

“  August  3rd,  1870. 

“  Sir, — I  am  directed  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your 
letter  of  the  30th  ultimo,  respecting  the  payment  on  the 
results  of  the  examination  of  pharmaceutical  apprentices 
and  assistants,  and  to  inform  you  that  the  subject  will  be  con¬ 
sidered.  “  I  am,  Sir, 

“  Your  obedient  servant, 

“Norman  M‘Leod, 

«  a.  F.  Schacht,  Fsq.”  “  Assistant  Secretary. 

“  Science  and  Art  Department,  London,  W. 

“  August  11  th,  1870. 

“  Sir, — In  reply  to  your  letter  of  the  30th  ultimo,  I  am 
directed  by  the  Lords  of  the  Committee  of  Council  on  Educa¬ 
tion  to  inform  you  that,  under  the  circumstances  set  forth 
by  you,  their  Lordships  have  been  pleased  to  allow  payments 
to  be  made  on  the  result  of  the  examination  of  pharmaceuti¬ 
cal  apprentices  and  assistants  in  science. 

“  I  am,  Sir, 

“  Your  obedient  servant, 

“  G.  F.  Duncombe,  Chief  Clerk. 

«  G.  F.  Schacht,  Esq.” 


Safeguards  against  Poisoning. 

Sir, — A  respected  correspondent  suggests  the  use  of  elastic 
gum  capsules  as  a  safeguard  against  poisoning. 

I  beg  to  suggest  that,  however  well  the  secondary  object 
(namely,  to  prevent  evaporation  of  ethereal  and  spirituous 
liquids)  might  thus  be  attained,  it  would  be  impossible  to 
j  obviate  the  accidental  displacement  of  a  capsule,  thus  causing 
uncertainty  and  confusion. 


160 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [August  20,  1870. 


Many  years  since,  I  had  the  honour  of  suggesting  a  very 
simple  expedient,  which,  during  a  long  experience,  has  been 
found  truly  effective.  It  is  merely  to  place  the  labels  of 
dangerous  poisons  perpendicularly  on  the  bottle  instead  of  in 
the  usual  manner,  which,  in  some  instances,  prevents  half 
the  inscription  being  read.  Having  adopted  this  plan  in  my 
shop  for  very  many  years,  without  the  occurrence  of  a  single 
accident,  I  venture  to  recommend  it  to  my  brother  phar¬ 
macists.  The  appearance  of  certain  bottles  thus  distinguished 
from  their  fellows  frequently  calls  forth  the  notice  of  intelli¬ 
gent  persons,  both  medical  and  otherwise,  thus  tr.  opii  and 
mist,  senna;  co.,  tr.  aconiti  and  tr.  myrrhse,  acid,  arseniosum 
and  p.  antim.  co.,  stand  side  by  side,  in  perfect  safety.  Like 
the  red  light  upon  the  railway,  everybody  knows  the  signal 
of  danger  and  respects  it  accordingly. 

I  remain,  yours  faithfully, 

P.  Goodwin  Mumbray. 

14  a,  Sill  Rise,  Richmond,  S. IF. 

August  10,  1870. 


Our  Responsibilities. 

Sir, — No  further  information  appears  in  the  last  number  of 
the  Journal  respecting  the  case  of  “  Damages  against  a  Drug¬ 
gist,”  at  Liverpool,  reported  and  commented  on  in  previous 
number.  If  we  are  to  be  exposed  to  actions  and  convicted 
on  such  flimsy  evidence  as  appears  to  have  been  relied  on  in 
that  case,  then  ours  is  a  most  unenviable  position.  If  the 
defendant  does  not  appeal  against  what  appears  to  be  a  mis¬ 
carriage  of  justice,  do  not  the  common  interests  of  the  trade 
require  that  the  case  should  be  further  investigated  ?  One 
such  case  successfully  prosecuted  will  lead  to  others,  and  we 
shall  soon  be  having  every  old  lady  who  may  take  a  dose  of 
castor  oil,  and  “feel  sick  after  it,”  wishing  to  try  the  effect  of 
the  very  comforting  antidotes  they  administer  so  freely  at  the 
“  Court  of  Passage,”  in  Liverpool. 

By  the  way,  the  case  goes  to  show  that  sal  volatile  and  liq. 
potassae  must  find  then’  place  in  the  poison-cupboard, — that 
very  comprehensive  receptacle  “  set  apart  for  dangerous 
articles.”  I  am,  etc., 

London,  August  9,  1870.  George  Pattison. 

[#**  Yfc  are  informed  by  the  Local  Secretary  for  Liverpool, 
that  the  bottles  in  Mr.  Trilfield’s  shop  are  well-labelled,  the 
bottle  for  the  Aq.  Cinnam.  has  a  good  gold  label,  and  that  for 
the  Liq.  Potassas  is  one  of  a  series  with  labels  engraved  in  the 
glass. — Ed.  Ph.  J.] 


“Rule  of  Thumb.” 

Sir, — May  I  again  trespass  on  your  space  with  a  few  words 
in  reply  to  “  J.  Houlton”  ? 

He  asserts  that  there  is  more  “cry  than  wool”  in  the 
letters  published  on  the  above  subject.  I  think  not.  I  can¬ 
not  see  why  a  grain  of  calomel  is  not  to  be  weighed  equally 
with  5ij  of  magnesia.  Measurement  being  an  accurate  mode 
of  dispensing,  while  guessing  is  inaccurate,  the  public  will 
certainly  have  little  confidence  in  any  hap-hazard  method  of 
preparing  medicines.  I  still  contend  that  it  is  the  impera¬ 
tive  duty  of  the  pharmacist  in  all  cases  to  rely  upon  his 
scales  rather  than  his  eye. 

As  to  “  Trade  Grievances,”  there  seems  really  to  be  “  much 
ado  about  nothing.”  The  plain  fact  is  that  pharmacy,  pure 
and  simple,  will  not  afford  a  living  to  the  country  pharmacist, 
and  consequently  he  must  of  dire  necessity  become  a  general 
dealer  in  perfumery,  oils  and  colours,  articles  of  grocery, 
etc.,  so  as,  by  hook  or  by  crook,  to  earn  enough  to  keep  body 
and  soul  together.  At  present  pharmacy  is  a  profession 
that  does  not  afford  professional  remuneration  to  many  of 
those  engaged  in  it,  who  thus  resemble  poor  noblemen,  who, 
with  all  the  distinction  afforded  by  titles,  lack  the  fortune  to 
support  them. 

Yours,  etc., 

August  1 6th,  1870.  Minor  Associate. 


“Pharmaceutical  Titles.” 

Sir, — It  has  for  some  time  been  matter  of  surprise  to  me 
that  so  little  attention  has  been  drawn  to  the  subject  of 
“Pharmaceutical  Titles.” 

I  allude  to  the  different  degrees  of  honour  contained  in  the 
names  of  “  Pharmaceutical  Chemist,”  “  Chemist  and  Drug¬ 
gist,”  etc.,  adopted  by  those  to  whom  these  names  belong 
either  by  examination  or  by  registration. 

My  surprise  is  excited  by  the  little  notice  taken  of  en¬ 


croachments  on  the  advantages  attaching  to  the  higher  dis¬ 
tinction  made  by  those  who,  having  never  passed  the  “Major” 
Examination  of  the  Society,  cannot  claim  the  privilege  of 
calling  themselves  “  Pharmaceutical  Chemists,”  but  neverthe¬ 
less  resort  to  means  by  which  they  may  mystify  the  public 
(who  are,  in  this  matter,  only  half  taught),  and  so  prevent 
their  recognizing  a  difference  between  the  man  who  passes  a 
high  scientific  Examination  (as  the  Major)  and  one  who 
merely  “  goes  in  ”  for  the  “  Modified.” 

I  do  not  say  that  those  who  thus  make  the  most  of  their 
attainments  do  anything  wdiich  is  not  strictly  legitimate,  for 
they  surely  have  a  perfect  right  to  take  advantage  of  their 
position  as  far  as  it  will  go. 

But  the  grievance  lies  in  the  fact  that  their  privileges  are 
too  nearly  identical  with  those  of  their  more  distinguished 
brethren. 

Who  (that  is  not  connected  with  the  business)  could  un¬ 
derstand  the  difference  between  “  Pharmaceutical  Chemist  ” 
and  “  Chemist  by  Examination  of  the  Pharmaceutical  So¬ 
ciety  ”  ?  and  I  find  the  latter  term,  to  which  they  have  a  per¬ 
fect  right,  is  coming  into  use  amongst  those  who  have  passed 
the  “Minor”  or  “Modified”  Examinations. 

Now,  Sir,  is  it  fair  to  him  who  works  hard  to  succeed  in  the 
three  Examinations  of  the  Society,  paying  a  considerable 
sum  as  fees,  besides  numerous  other  expenses,  to  let  another 
who  “  gets  through  ”  what  is  generally  acknowledged  to  be  a 
very  “  modified  ”  form  of  questioning,  reap  equal  advantage,, 
so  far  as  public  opinion  goes  ? 

I  am  glad  to  see  that  the  matter  has  already  been  started: 
in  the  J ournal  by  others,  who  think,  as  myself,  that  this  sub¬ 
ject  should  no  longer  be  neglected.  1  would  strongly  counsel 
the  adoption  of  the  title  “Fellow  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society,”  for  indicating  the  great  distinction  between  “  Major” 
and  “  Minor  ”  Associates,  and  think  this  would — to  a  great 
extent,  at  least — meet  the  w*ants  and  desires  of  the  great  body 
of  the  former,  and  also  of  those  who  aspire  to  attaining 
eventually  “  the  top  of  the  tree.” 

I  would  wish  to  add  “  one  word  ”  to  those  who  are  desirous,, 
with  me,  of  this  amendment  in  the  laws  of  the  Society,  and 
that  is  “  agitate,”  and  so  try  to  induce  those  in  whom  the 
power  of  alteration  lies  to  consider  the  best  means  of  confer¬ 
ring  upon  such  a  large  portion  of  the  members  of  the  body 
this  great  desideratum. 

Hoping  this  subject  will  not  now  be  allowed  to  drop  and  i 
pass  into  oblivion,  j 

I  am,  Sir,  yours  obediently, 

An  Aspirant  to  the  Major. 


"Evaporation  in  vacuo  without  an  Air-pump. — A  corre¬ 
spondent  has  reminded  us  that  the  method  recommended  by 
Mr.  A.  B.  Prescott,  as  quoted  in  the  Pharm.  Journ.  for 
August  6,  is  identical  in  principle,  and  the  arrangement  of 
the  apparatus  essentially  similar,  to  that  described  by  the 
late  Mr.  J.  T.  Barry  in  the  Medico-Chirurgical  Transactions, 
vol.  x.  (1819)  part  1. — See  also  Pharm.  Journ.  Yol.  VI. 
(1865),  30. 

“A  Mmor  Associate.” — Questions  are  sometimes  put  to 
test  the  candidate’s  powers  of  “  guessing.” 

“  Qucesitor.” — See  Yol.  Y.  n.  s.  pp.  408  and  462.  The  Editor 
of  the  last  edition  seems  to  think  the  presence  of  a  little  free 
carbonic  acid  gas  an  advantage.  As  a  domestic  remedy,  we 
think  the  public  prefer  the  flavour  of  that  made  with  the 
carbonate. 

“ Inquirer ”  (Farnham). — We  should  use  the  B.P.  fluid 
extract  unless  “  Battley’s  ”  name  were  mentioned.  Many 
London  prescribers  of  the  present  day  prefer  the  term  “  liquor” 
for  bark,  taraxacum,  sarsaparilla,  etc.,  as  being  shorter  to 
write,  and  less  liable  to  the  possibility  of  confusion  with  the 
old  extracts. 

Arthur  Bolas  (Birmingham). — Yes,  if  the  excess  of  nitric 
acid  used  in  preparing  the  “  liquor  ”  be  not  driven  off.  See 
Squire’s  ‘  Companion  to  the  Pharmacopoeia,’  p.  121. 

S.  L.,  M.P.S.  (Horton)  will  find  that  the  formula  he  re¬ 
quires  has  been  already  given  in  the  ‘Pharmaceutical 
Journal,’  o.  s.  Yol.  XVIII.  p.  579. 


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

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W.  Envelopes  to  be  endorsed  for  “  Pharm - 
Journ.” 


August  27, 1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


161 


GOLD  THREAD. 

Coptis  tecta,  Wall.,  and  Cop>tis  trifolia,  Salisb. 

BY  M.  C.  COOKE. 

Two  species  of  Coptis  are  collected  and  employed 
in  Asia  and  North  America  respectively,  for  similar 
purposes  and  with  like  results.  The  Asiatic  species 
is  the  Mishmi  Tita  of  Assam,  included  as  a  pri¬ 
mary  article  in  the  Pharmacopoeia  of  India ;  the 
Coptis  teeta  of  Wallich,  a  native  of  the  Mishmee 
mountains,  east  of  Assam.  The  officinal  part  is 
the  dried  root  imported  into  Bengal  from  Assam 
in  small  rattan  baskets,  each  containing  from  one 
to  two  ounces  of  the  drug.  This  consists  of  pieces 
of  a  woody  rhizome,  of  the  thickness  of  a  small 
goose-quill,  and  from  one  to  two  inches  in  length, 
often  contracted  at  one  extremity  into  a  short  woody 
stem ;  the  surface  is  usually  rough,  irregular,  more 
or  less  annulated,  and  marked  with  the  remains  of 
rootlets  in  the  shape  of  short  spiny  points.  Ex¬ 
ternally  it  is  of  a  yellowish-brown  colour,  internally 
much  brighter,  frequently  of  a  golden-yellow  colour, 
exhibiting  on  fracture  a  radiated  structure.  Taste 
persistently  bitter,  and  when  chewed  tinges  the  saliva 
yellow.  It  contains  neither  tannic  nor  gallic  acid, 
but  abounds  with  a  yellow  bitter  principle,  soluble 
in  water  and  alcohol.* 

This  drug  was  first  brought  into  notice  by  Dr. 
Wallich  in  1836, f  and  was  reported  upon  by  Mr. 
Twining.  The  late  Dr.  J.  E.  Stocks,  in  his  collec¬ 
tion  of  drugs  from  Scinde,  described  in  the  ‘  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Journal’  (Yol.  XIV.  p.  456),  sent  a  root 
called  ‘  Malimira,’  and  Dr.  Pereira  published  an  ela¬ 
borate  paper  on  it,  J  in  which  he  endeavoured  to  show 
that  tliis  was  the  root  termed  ‘  Mahmira  ’  in  the 
writings  of  Avicenna,  Paulus  iEgineta,  and  other  old 
authors.  Dr.  Waring  at  one  time  doubted  whether 
this  might  not  be  more  correctly  referred  to  Thalic- 
trum  foliolosum,  DC.,  which  has  also  a  bitter  yellow 
root,  but  he  has  since  accepted  Dr.  Pereira’s  views. 

According  to  the  same  authority,  the  Coptis  root 
has  long  been  known  in  Europe  under  other  names. 
In  Guibourt’s  Hist.  Nat.  des  Drogues  it  occurs  under 
the  name  of  ‘  Racine  de  Chynlen  ou  de  Mangouate.’ 
It  is  also  described  by  Murray  under  the  name  of 
‘  Chynlen  ;’  and  it  is  mentioned  by  Ainslie  with  the 
name  of  ‘  Sou-line  ’  or  ‘  Cliyn-len,’  and  he  says  it  is 
a  bitter  root  which  is  brought  from  China  to  India. 

It  was  used  extensively  at  the  Calcutta  General 
Hospital  by  Mr.  Twining,  who  reported  that  its  in¬ 
fluence  in  restoring  appetite  and  increasing  the  di¬ 
gestive  powers  was  very  remarkable,  and  that  it 
might  be  said  to  possess  all  the  properties  of  our  best 
bitter  tonics.  It  did  not  seem  to  exercise  any  febri¬ 
fuge  virtue,  but,  under  its  influence,  several  patients, 
recovering  from  acute  diseases,  manifestly  and  very 
rapidly  unproved  in  strength.  The  dose  was  five  to 
ten  grains  of  the  powder,  or  an  ounce  of  the  infusion, 
tin-ice  daily.  The  Bengal  Pharmacopoeia  contains 
the  following  formula  for  the  tincture  : — Mishmee 
teeta  root,  powdered,  ^hj,  proof  spirit  lb.  ij  ;  dose  5i 
to  5ij-  O’Sliaughnessy  states  that  in  its  chemical 
properties  it  corresponds  exactly  with  the  American 
species.  Both  contain  Berberina.  For  an  account 
of  its  virtues  as  a  tonic,  the  following  autliori- 


*  Pharmacopoeia  of  India,  p.  4. 

t  Trans.  Med.  and  Pliys.  Soe.,  Calcutta,  vol.  viii.  p.  85. 
X  Pharm.  Journ.  1851,  Yol.  XI.  p.  291. 

Third  Series,  No.  9. 


ties  may  be  consulted : — Wallich  and  Twining,* * § 
0’Shaughnessy,f  Macpherson,t  and  Captain  Low- 
tlier.§ 

The  American  Gold  thread  is  Coptis  trifolia,  Salisb. 
It  inhabits  the  northern  regions  of  America  and 
Asia,  and  is  found  hi  Greenland  and  Iceland.  It 
delights  in  the  dark  shady  swamps  and  cold  morasses 
of  northern  latitudes  and  alpine  regions,  and  abounds 
in  Canada  and  the  hilly  districts  of  New  England. 
All  parts  of  the  plant  are  more  or  less  bitter,  but 
this  property  is  most  intense  in  the  root,  which  is 
the  officinal  part.  It  is  a  primary  article  of  the 
United  States  Pharmacopoeia. 

“Dried  Gold  thread,  as  brought  into  the  market, 
is  in  loosely  matted  masses,  consisting  of  the  long 
thread-like  orange-yellow  roots,  frequently  interlaced 
and  mingled  with  the  leaves  and  stems  of  the  plant. 
It  is  without  smell  and  has  a  purely  bitter  taste, 
unattended  with  aroma  or  astringency.  It  imparts 
a  bitterness  and  yellow  colour  to  water  and  alcohol, 
but  most  perfectly  to  the  latter,  with  which  it  forms 
a  bright  yellow  tincture.  The  infusion  is  precipi¬ 
tated  by  nitrate  of  silver  and  acetate  of  lead.  .It 
affords  no  evidence  of  containing  ether,  resin,  gum,  or 
tannin.”  |! 

According  to  Professor  F.  F.  Mayer,  tliis  drug 
contains  Berberina,  as  well  as  Hydrastis  canadensis , 
associated  with  a  colourless  alkaloid,  which  is  not 
precipitated  by  muriatic  or  nitric  acid,  but  the  pre¬ 
cise  nature  of  which  does  not  yet  appear  to  have 
been  demonstrated.  ** 

The  properties  and  uses  of  this  article  are  thus 
described  by  Dr.  G.  B.  Wood.  Gold  thread  is  a 
simple  tonic  bitter,  bearing  a  close  resemblance  to 
Quassia  in  its  mode  of  action  and  applicable  to  all 
cases  in  which  that  medicine  is  prescribed,  though, 
from  its  higher  price,  not  likely  to  come  into  general 
use  as  a  substitute.  In  New  England  it  is  employed 
as  a  local  application  in  aphthous  ulcerations  of  the 
mouth,  but  it  probably  has  no  other  virtues  in  this 
complaint  than  such  as  are  common  to  the  simple 
bitters.  It  may  be  given  in  substance,  infusion  or 
tincture.  The  dose  of  the  powder  is  from  ten  to 
tliirty  grains ;  of  a  tincture  made  with  an  ounce  of 
the  root  to  a  pint  of  diluted  alcohol,  one  fluid  drachm. 

Although  differing  considerably  in  external  appear¬ 
ance,  it  will  be  seen  that  these  two  species  of  Gold 
thread  have  very  much  in  common ;  but  if  the  re¬ 
ports  are  to  be  fully  relied  upon,  the  Asiatic  plant, 
Coptis  teeta,  certainly  has  the  advantage  in  quality 
and  recommendation.  Does  it  not  deserve  a  fair 
trial  in  tliis  country  ? 


THE  SOURCE  OF  MUSCULAR  POWER. 

BY  BARON  LIEBIG. 

As  the  result  of  general  experience,  I  have  for¬ 
merly  expressed  the  opinion  that  the  source  of  the 
mechanical  actions  of  the  animal  body  must  be 
sought  in  material  metamorphosis,  and  especially  in 
the  transformation  of  the  nitrogenous  constituents 
of  muscle.  Accordingly,  the  work  done  by  any  two 


*  Trans.  Med.  and  Pkys.  Soc.,  Calcutta,  vol.  viii.  pp.  85-94. 

f  Bengal  Dispens.  p.  163. 

j  Ind.  Ann.  of  Med.  Sci.  1856,  vol.  iii.  p.  397. 

§  Journ.  Agri-Hort.  Soc.  of  India,  1858,  vol.  x.  App.  p.  6, 
||  ‘  United  States  Dispensatory,’  12th  ed.  p.  326. 

**  Amer.  Journ.  Pharm.,  March  1863,  p.  97. 


162 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  27,  1870. 


individuals  should  he  proportionate  to  the  respective 
mass  of  their  muscles,  while  the  duration  of  the  work 
should  he  proportionate  to  the  supply  of  material 
suitable  for  restoration  of  the  transformed  parts  of 
the  muscular  mass. 

The  comprehensive  and  carefully  conducted  inves¬ 
tigations  of  Playfair  in  reference  to  the  requirements 
of  various  classes  for  albuminates  in  their  daily  food, 
appear  to  leave  no  doubt  as  to  the  correctness  of  this 
view.  He  demonstrated  that  everywhere  and  under 
all  conditions,  the  labourer  required,  for  the  mainte¬ 
nance  of  working  power  and  health,  a  larger  amount 
of  albuminates  than  was  needed  by  an  individual  that 
no  work.  This  is  the  case  in  prisons,  in  peniten¬ 
tiaries,  and  with  soldiers  both  in  war  and  in  peace. 

Moreover,  the  results  of  Playfair’s  investigations 
have  not  encountered  any  earnest  opposition  resulting 
from  observations  of  equal  value.  Isolated  observa¬ 
tions  have  been  urged  against  his  conclusions  ;  but 
I  consider  that  these  should  be  regarded  with  as  much 
caution  as  the  opinion  popularly  held  in  Bavaria, 
that  beer  is  a  good  article  of  nutrition  and  that 
hard-working  men  owe  their  strength  chiefly  to  the 
consumption  of  beer.  Exact  observation  of  the  diet 
of  the  brewery  labourers  in  Munich,  who  consume 
the  largest  amount  of  beer,  shows,  on  the  contrary, 
that  these  people  are  also  the  largest  meat-eaters.* 

The  question  as  to  the  source  of  muscular  power 
has  been  rendered  confused  by  an  inference  that  has 
proved  to  be  erroneous,  and  for  which  I  am  myself 
accountable.  If  the  muscular  substance  in  under¬ 
going  metamorphosis  be  the  source  of  muscular 
power  and,  if  the  ultimate  nitrogenous  product 
formed  hi  this  metamorphosis  with  the  aid  of  oxygen 
be  urea,  then  it  would  follow  (it  was  erroneously  in¬ 
ferred)  that  the  work  done  might  be  deduced  from 
the  quantity  of  urea.  It  was  assumed  that  the 
metamorphosis  would  be  proportionate  to  the  work 
clone  and  that  the  urea  secreted  would  be  also  pro¬ 
portionate  to  it. 

The  first  facts  ascertained  in  opposition  to  this  view 
that  urea  was  a  measure  of  muscular  work,  were  es¬ 
tablished  by  Dr.  Bischoff  in  his  investigation  on  urea 
as  a  measure  of  metamorphosis.  Then  followed  the 
still  more  comprehensive  investigation,  undertaken 
by  Bischoff  and  Yoit  in  Munich,  which  may  be  re¬ 
garded  as  a  continuation  of  the  experiments  made 
at  Giessen.  It  is  probably  unnecessary  to  mention 
here  that  I  have  always  taken  the  liveliest  interest 
in  these  investigations ;  indeed,  the  method  devised 
by  me  for  estimating  urea  owes  its  origin  to  them. 

In  these  experiments  a  clog  was  feci  with  known 
quantities  of  meat  and  fat,  with  meat  alone,  with 
meat,  carbohydrates  and  gelatin.  At  the  same  time 
the  daily  quantity  of  area  secreted  was  determined. 

The  quantity  of  nitrogen  in  the  meat  and  the 
urine  being  known,  it  might  be  assumed  in  calculation 
that  when  the  nitrogen  in  the  urine  was  found  to 
equal  that  in  the  meat  consumed,  the  whole  of  the 
meat  had  been  metamorphosed ;  if  the  quantity  of 
urea  was  less,  a  portion  of  the  meat  consumed  must 
have  remained  in  the  body  or,  in  other  words,  must 


.  *  In  the  brewery  of  Sedlmayer,  at  Munich,  95  workmen, 
six  women,  and  nine  children,  in  all  112  persons,  consumed 
11,189  kilog.  bread,  17,870  kilog.  meat,  and  159,120  litres  of 
beer  from  the  1st  October  to  the  30th  April.  Reckoning  the 
6  women  and  9  children  as  equal  to  9  men,  the  daily  quantity 
of  meat  consumed  per  head  would  be  810  grm.  The  work  of 
the  brewery  labourers  is  the  most  severe  of  any,  and  only  very 
strong  men  are  fit  for  it. 


have  been  assimilated,  while  if  the  quantity  of  nitrogen 
was  greater,  the  excess  must  have  been  furnished  by 
parts  of  the  body. 

The  following  are  among  the  most  important 
results  of  these  experiments : — 

With  a  certain  proportion  of  meat  and  fat,  the 
animal  experimented  upon  could  be  maintained  at  a 
constant  weight.  In  this  case  all  the  nitrogen  ap¬ 
peared  as  urea  in  the  urine,  and  since  there  was  no  in¬ 
crease  of  weight,  the  fat  must  have  been  consumed 
in  respiration. 

It  then  became  apparent  that  by  increasing  the 
supply  of  meat  without  increasing  that  of  fat,  the 
quantity  of  urea  secreted  became  greater  in  the  same 
proportion  as  the  meat  supply  had  been  increased, 
while  at  the  same  tune  the  weight  of  the  animal  in¬ 
creased. 

In  opposition  to  the  opinion,  then  prevailing,  that 
fat  lessened  the  metamorphosis  in  the  body — in¬ 
asmuch  as  it  appeared  to  be  far  more  susceptible 
of  oxidation  than  flesh — it  followed  from  this  ex¬ 
periment,  on  the  contrary,  that  an  excess  of  meat 
took  the  place  of  fat  in  the  process  of  respiration. 
While,  in  the  former  case,  the  fat  was  entirely  used 
up,  it  appeared  that  with  more  meat  a  part  of  this 
fat  remained  unaltered  in  the  body. 

This  fact  acquires  high  significance  in  a  particular 
direction,  inasmuch  as  it  proves  that  there  is  in  the 
animal  body  an  arrangement  by  which  increase  of 
the  blood  or  of  constituents  of  blood  beyond  a  cer¬ 
tain  limit  is  prevented.  When  albuminates  are  sup¬ 
plied  in  quantities  greater  than  the  body  is  in  need 
of,  they  are  removed  in  the  most  speedy  way. 

The  particular  causes  that  destroy  this  excess 
cannot,  under  normal  conditions  of  nutrition,  exer¬ 
cise  any  action  upon  the  constituents  of  the  blood ; 
for,  otherwise,  in  the  case  of  deficient  supply  of  food, 
or  during  abstinence,  those  constituents  would  be  as 
much  subject  to  the  destructive  influence  of  such 
causes,  as  if  the  excess  of  those  constituents  in  the 
food  had  been  acted  upon. 

It  was  further  shown  by  Bischoff  and  Yoit  that 
the  animal  experimented  upon  could  be  sustained 
upon  meat  entirely  destitute  of  fat  and  maintained 
at  its  full  weight  with  very  slight  variations.  In  this 
case  the  secreted  urea  corresponded  in  quantity  to 
the  nitrogen  of  the  meat  consumed. 

The  constancy  of  the  animal’s  weight  indicated 
that  fat  may  be  entirely  replaced  by  meat  in  the 
process  of  respiration  ;  one  part  of  the  meat  had  un¬ 
doubtedly  served  for  generating  heat,  while  another 
part  served  for  the  restoration  of  metamorphosed  parts 
of  the  body. 

But  in  both  cases  the  nitrogenous  product  of  the 
meat  was  the  same,  viz.  urea. 

However,  if  urea  were  a  product  not  only  of  meta¬ 
morphosis,  but  simultaneously  also  of  respiration, 
then  the  quantity  of  urea  secreted  could  not  afford  any 
indication  as  to  the  extent  of  the  metamorphosis. 
If,  moreover,  the  muscular  work  were  determined  by 
the  metamorphosis,  the  amount  of  work  could  not  be 
measured  by  the  urea  secreted.  The  view  previously 
held  could  only  be  maintained  if  it  could  be  shown 
that  the  work  done  by  the  animal  was  augmented  in 
proportion  as  the  supply  of  meat  was  increased. 

In  this  case  it  must  have  been  assumed  that  the 
meat  was  converted  into  muscle,  that  this  muscle 
was  metamorphosed,  and  that  the  products  of  this 
metamorphosis  had  served  as  material  for  generating 
heat. 


August  27,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


163 


However,  in  certain  cases  the  animal  produced  ten 
times  as  much  urea  as  in  normal  feeding,  without 
there  being  any  recognizable  outward  sign  of  increased 
internal  work. 

From  the  view  that  the  metamorphosis  of  nitroge¬ 
nous  constituents  of  the  body  gives  rise  to  the  work¬ 
ing  power,  while  the  urea  secreted  is  a  measure  of 
the  metamorphosis,  it  would  necessarily  follow  that 
the  metamorphosis  must  be  augmented  by  increased 
outward  work  and  that  tills  must  also  increase  the 
quantity  of  urea  secreted  within  a  given  time. 

These  considerations  led  Voit  to  institute  the  ex¬ 
periments  by  which  he  showed  that,  with  a  given 
diet,  the  quantity  of  urea  secreted  was  the  same 
during  both  rest  and  work. 

This  investigation  consequently  demonstrated  that 
though  urea  was  indeed  a  measure  of  the  nitrogenous 
constituents  supplied  in  the  food  and  of  those  meta¬ 
morphosed  in  the  body,  still  it  could  not  be  taken 
as  a  measure  of  the  work  done  by  the  body.  An  in¬ 
crease  of  the  work  did  not  appear  to  have  any  influ¬ 
ence  in  augmenting  the  quantity  of  urea  secreted. 

However,  in  reflecting  on  these  facts,  one  perceives 
at  once  that  tills  could  not  be  otherwise,  for  if  the 
metamorphosis  of  muscular  substance  were  increased 
Fy  work,  a  man  would  be  able  to  use  up  his  entire 
store  of  muscle,  since  the  performance  of  work  is 
subject  to  the  will.  But  the  work  done  by  the  muscles 
must  have  a  limit ;  beyond  a  certain  point  exhaus¬ 
tion  is  produced.  The  cases  in  which  animals  are 
killed  by  excessive  work  requires  a  special  explana¬ 
tion. 

Muscular  force  arises  from  a  process  that  takes 
place  in  the  muscles  ;  so  much  of  them  may  be  con¬ 
sumed  for  producing  work  as  is  available  for  that 
purpose,  but  no  more.  The  application  of  the  avail¬ 
able  force  may  perhaps,  for  a  time,  accelerate  those 
processes  in  the  muscle  by  which  it  is  generated ; 
but  the  work  done  is  not  the  cause  of  the  metamor¬ 
phosis. 

There  is  no  doubt  as  to  the  origin  of  muscular  force, 
or  that  its  seat  is  in  the  muscles  themselves ;  neither 
is  it  doubted  that  it  arises  from  some  material  altera¬ 
tion  or  metamorphosis  of  the  muscular  substance; 
but  opinions  still  differ  as  to  the  process  and  as  to 
the  substances  that  undergo  the  change. 

According  to  one  view  the  force  is  generated  by 
transformation  of  the  nitrogenous  constituents  of 
muscle,  in  which  oxygen  takes  part,  though  without 
directly  causing  it. 

According  to  the  other  view,  on  the  contrary,  the 
force  is  generated  by  combustion,  either  of  the  non- 
nitrogenous  constituents  of  the  muscles  themselves 
or  of  the  non-nitrogenous  constituents  of  the  blood 
flowing  through  the  muscles. 

The  capability  of  muscular  material  to  produce 
muscular  work  cannot  be  doubted. 

A  carnivorous  animal  can  be  sustained  in  good 
health  with  meat  alone  and  without  any  non-nitroge¬ 
nous  material.  In  this  case  the  internal  work  and 
heat  must  be  produced  by  the  transformation  of  flesh. 

No  fact  of  equal  significance  can  be  brought  for¬ 
ward  to  indicate  the  capability  of  fat  or  the  so-called 
carbo-hydrates  to  generate  the  working  force  by 
their  combustion. 

An  animal  cannot  be  sustained  by  feeding  with 
fat  and  carbo-hydrates  alone ;  a  certain  quantity  of 
albuminates  of  muscular  material  is  always  neces¬ 
sary.  Moreover  the  work  done  does  not  bear  any  re¬ 
lation  to  the  non-nitrogenous  materials  of  the  food 


consumed ;  it  cannot  be  increased  by  a  larger  supply 
of  them ;  it  is  not  lessened  by  reducing  the  supply  of 
them,  when  the  quantity  requisite  for  generating  heat 
is  made  up  by  an  equivalent  quantity  of  nitrogenous 
material. 

On  the  contrary  the  most  every-day  experience 
seems  to  show  that  the  power  of  an  individual  to  do 
work  is,  under  otherwise  normal  conditions  of  diet, 
in  a  certain  ratio  to  the  quantity  of  muscular  ma¬ 
terial  consumed  in  his  daily  food,  or  to  the  quantity 
of  material  adapted  for  the  production  of  muscle  ;  that 
the  supply  of  such  constituents  of  the  food  must  be 
increased  as  the  work  to  be  done  is  increased,  so  that 
a  working  individual  requires  more  of  them  in  his 
food  than  one  who  is  at  rest.  Moreover  this  is  the 
case  not  only  from  one  day  to  another  or  during  a  few 
days ;  but  during  a  month  or  a  year. 

(To  be  continued.) 


FRANKINCENSE,  OR  OLIBANTJM.* 

The  following  is  an  abstract  of  the  paper  on  this  sub¬ 
ject  by  Dr.  Birdwood,  which  was  referred  to  in  our 
number  for  July  30  : — 

The  burning  of  incense  for  purposes  of  worship  is  of 
very  old  date,  it  being  represented  in  painting  and 
sculpture  on  the  monuments  of  Egypt  and  Assyria. 
The  first  mention  of  it  and  of  the  use  of  frankincense 
occurs  in  the  Bible.  In  Exodus  xxx.  34-36,  we  read 
that  “  Stacte  and  onycha  and  galbanum,  with  pure 
frankincense,”  were  the  “sweet  spices”  from  which  the 
“pure  and  holy  perfume”  or  “confection”  of  divine 
prescription  which  was  offered  on  the  “  Altar  of  Incense,” 
was  to  be  made  “  after  the  art  of  the  apothecary.”  In 
other  parts  of  the  sacred  writings  it  is  often  mentioned, 
Sheba  being  indicated  as  its  source. 

Herodotus  (born  b.c.  484)  mentions  frankincense  fre¬ 
quently  and  affirms  that  Arabia  was  the  only  country 
producing  “frankincense,  myrrh,  cassia,  cinnamon  and 
ladanum,”  and  that  the  frankincense  trees  were  guarded 
by  winged  serpents,  “small  in  size,  and  of  varied  colours, 
whereof  vast  numbers  hang  about  every  tree  .  .  .  and 
there  is  nothing  but  the  smoke  of  the  storax  which  will 
drive  them  from  the  trees.”  The  Greeks  obtained  their 
storax  from  the  Phoenicians. 

Theophrastus  (b.c.  394-287)  gives  the  fullest  and  most 
accurate  account  of  frankincense  of  all  ancient  writers. 
Dr.  Birdw’ood  has  supplied  the  following  translation  : — 

“  Concerning  frankincense  and  myrrh  and  balsam,  and 
whatsoever  is  like  these,  it  has  [already]  been  said  that 
they  are  produced  by  incision  and  spontaneously.  And 
we  must  [now]  endeavour  to  tell  what  is  the  nature  of 
the  trees,  and  if  they  have  anything  peculiar  as  to  their 
origin  or  collection,  or  other  matters  ;  and,  in  like  man¬ 
ner,  concerning  the  other  sweet-smelling  trees ;  for  al¬ 
most  the  whole  of  them  grow  in  places  towards  the  south 
and  east.  The  frankincense-tree  and  myrrh  and  cassia 
and  cinnamon  grow  in  the  Chersonese  of  the  Arabians, 
about  Saba  and  Adramyta,  and  Citibaena  and  Mali.  But 
the  trees  of  frankincense  and  myrrh  grow,  some  of  them 
on  the  mountain  and  others  in  private  plantations  at 
the  foot  of  the  mountain,  on  which  account  some  of 
them  are  cultivated  and  others  are  not;  and  they  say 
that  the  mountain  is  lofty  and  thickly  wooded  and 
covered  with  snow,  and  that  rivers  also  flow  down  from 
it  into  the  plains,  and  that  the  frankincense-tree  is  not 
large,  being  five  cubits  high  and  covered  with  boughs, 
and  that  it  has  a  leaf  like  that  of  the  pear-tree,  only  much 
smaller,  and  is  of  a  glassy  colour,  very  like  rue,  and  has 
altogether  a  smooth  bark  like  the  laurel ;  but  that  the 
myrrh-tree  is  still  smaller  in  size  and  more  shrub-like, 
and  that  it  has  a  hard  trunk,  and  is  twisted  towards  the 

*  Transactions  of  the  Linnean  Society,  vol.  xxvii.  pp.  111- 
148.  On  the  Genus  Boswellia,  with  Descriptions  of  Figures 
of  Three  New  Species.  By  George  Birdwood,  M.D.  Edin. 

I  Communicated  by  Daniel  Hanbury,  Esq.,  F.R.S.  &  L.S. 


164 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  27,  1870. 


ground,  and  is  thicker  than  a  man’s  leg,  and  has  a  smooth 
bark  like  purslane.  But  others,  who  say  they  have  seen 
them,  nearly  all  agree  concerning  their  size,  namely, 
that  neither,  of  the  trees  is  large,  the  myrrh-tree  being  the 
smaller  and  lower  [of  the  two].  And  they  state  that  the 
frankincense  bears  a  resemblance  to  a  laurel  and  that  it 
has  a  smooth  bark,  but  that  the  myrrh  is  prickly  and  not 
smooth,  and  that  it  has  a  leaf  like  the  elm,  only  crisp  and 
prickly  at  the  top,  like  the  ilex  tree.  And  they  say  that 
in  a  voyage  they  were  making  from  the  Bay  of  Heroes, 
they  disembarked  to  search  for  water  on  the  mountain, 
and  thus  saw  the  trees  and  the  mode  of  collecting  [the 
frankincense] .  And  that  the  trunks  and  boughs  of  both 
were  incised ;  but  that  the  former  appeared  to  have  been 
cut,  as  it  were,  by  an  axe  and  the  latter  to  have  had 
more  gentle  incisions;  and  that  the  drops  partly  fell 
down  and  partly  remained  on  the  tree.  And  that  in 
in  some  places  mats  woven  of  palm-leaves  were  placed 
underneath,  while  in  others  the  ground  underneath  was 
hardened  and  kept  clean;  and  that  the  frankincense  on 
the  mats  was  pure  and  transparent,  but  that  on  the 
ground  less  so ;  and  that  they  scraped  off  what  adhered 
to  the  trees  with  knives,  so  that  the  bark  stuck  to  some 
of  them.  And  they  said  that  the  whole  mountain  was 
divided  amongst  the  Sabseans ;  for  that  they  were  the  lords 
[of  the  place],  and  that  they  were  just  towards  one  another, 
on  which  account  no  one  kept  any  guard  [over  his  own 
property]  ;  and  that  having  themselves  taken  thence  an 
abundance  of  frankincense  and  myrrh,  which  they  placed 
in  their  ships,  none  of  the  inhabitants  being  present,  they 
had  sailed  away.  And  these  both  told  this  and  said  that 
they  heard  that  the  myrrh  and  frankincense  is  gathered 
together  on  every  side  to  the  temple  of  the  Sun;  and 
that  this  belongs  to  the  Sabseans,  being  by  far  the  most 
sacred  thing  in  the  country,  and  that  certain  armed 
Arabs  have  the  custody  of  it ;  and  that  when  they  bring 
it,  each,  heaping  up  his  own  frankincense  and  the  myrrh 
in  a  similar  way,  leaves  them  with  the  keepers,  and 
placing  upon  the  heap  a  little  tablet,  stating  the  number 
of  measures  and  the  price  at  which  each  measure  is  to  be 
Bold;  and  that  when  the  merchants  come  they  inspect 
these  tablets,  and  having  measured  any  heap  that  pleases 
them,  they  put  the  price  of  it  in  the  place  from  which  it 
is  taken ;  and  that  the  priest  then  coming  takes  a  third 
part  of  the  price  for  the  god  and  there  leaves  the  re¬ 
mainder,  which  is  kept  safe  for  the  owners  until  they 
come  and  take  it.  But  certain  others  say  that  the  frank¬ 
incense-tree  is  like  the  lentisck,  and  its  fruit  to  the  berries 
of  the  same,  and  that  the  leaf  of  it  is  reddish ;  and  that 
the  frankincense  from  the  young  tree  is  whiter  and  less 
fragrant,  while  that  from  the  older  trees  is  yellowish  and 
more  fragrant;  and  that  the  myrrh- tree  is  like  the  tere¬ 
binth,  but  rougher  and  more  thorny  and  the  leaf  a  little 
rounder,  and,  if  chewed,  resembling  the  terebinth  in 
taste;  and  that  of  these,  also,  the  older  are  the  more 
fragrant.  And  that  both  grow  in  the  same  place, 
and  that  the  ground  [there]  is  argillaceous  and  flaky, 
and  that  springs  of  water  are  rare.  These  things,  how¬ 
ever,.  are  contradictory  [to  the  statement]  that  it  snows 
and  is  wet  in  that  locality]  and  that  rivers  issue  from 
it.  And  others  also  say  that  it  is  like  the  terebinth,  and 
others  that  it  is  the  terebinth  itself;  for  that  specimens 
of  the  wood  were  brought  to  Antigonus  by  the  Arabs  who 
Conveyed  the  frankincense,  and  that  they  differed  in  no¬ 
thing  from  the  terebinth.  These,  however,  showed  still 
greater  ignorance,  for  they  thought  both  the  frankin¬ 
cense  and  the  myrrh  grew  on  the  same  tree.  On  which 
account,  the  report  brought  by  those  that  sailed  from 
the  City  of  Heroes  is  more  credible;  since  the  frankin¬ 
cense-tree  that  grew  above  Sardis,  in  a  certain  temple, 
has  a  leaf  like  the  laurel,  if  from  this  we  can  form  a  con¬ 
clusion,  and  the  frankincense  produced  from  it,  whether 
from  the  trunks  or  branches,  is  like  the  other  frankin¬ 
cense  in  appearance  and  smell  when  it  is  burnt.  And 
this  tree  alone  grew  without  [any  culture].  And  some 
say  that  the  frankincense  grows  more  abundantly  in 
Arabia,  but  more  beautifully  in  the  neighbouring  islands, 
over  which  the  Arabs  have  sway;  for  there  they  make 
figures  upon  the  trees  of  whatever  they  like ;  which  is 
not  incredible,  as  they  admit  of  any  incisions  that  per¬ 
sons  may  wish  to  make  in  them.  Some  of  the  grains 
also  are  very  large,  in  bulk  as  much  as  a  handful,  and  in 
weight  more  than  the  third  part  of  a  mina.  All  frankin¬ 


cense  is  brought  to  the  market  in  a  rough  state,  similar 
in  appearance  to  the  bark  of  a  tree ;  but  of  myrrh  there 
are  two  kinds,  the  one  in  drops  and  the  other  in  moulds. 
The  quality  is  judged  by  the  taste;  and  from  this  they 
choose  what  is  of  uniform  colour.  Concerning  frankin¬ 
cense  and  myrrh,  this  is  nearly  as  much  as  we  have 
heard  up  to  the  present  time.” 

Diodorus  (about  b.c.  50)  gives  a  long  account  of  this 
substance,  in  which  he  gives  a  very  glowing  description 
of  Arabia  the  Happy,  where  the  air  is  so  highly  perfumed 
with  frankincense  and  other  odoriferous  trees  “  that  it 
even  ravishes  the  senses  with  delight,  as  a  thing  divine 
and  unutterable,”  and  the  perfume  is  wafted  out  to  sea,  so 
that  those  sailing  near  the  coast  are  entertained  “  with 
its  pleasures  and  delights.”  He  also  gives  credence  to 
the  myth  of  the  trees  being  surrounded  by  fearful  ser¬ 
pents.  Speaking  of  an  island  off  the  coast  of  Arabia 
called  Holy  Island,  on  which  no  one  was  allowed  to  bury 
their  dead,  he  says, — 

“The  sacred  isle  produces  frankincense,  and  in  that 
abundance  as  suffices  for  the  service  and  worship  of  the- 
gods  all  the  world  over;  it  has  likewise  plenty  of  myrrh, 
with  other  odoriferous  spices  of  several  sorts,  which 
breathe  out  a  most  fragrant  smell.  The  nature  of  frank¬ 
incense,  and  the  manner  of  getting  it,  is  thus :  the  tree 
is  very  small,  like  to  the  white  Egyptian  thorn,  and  bears 
a  leaf  like  to  the  willow;  it  puts  forth  a  flower  of  a 
golden  colour;  from  the  bark  of  this  tree,  by  incision 
made,  distils  the  frankincense  in  drops  like  tears.” 

Strabo  (b.c.  54-a.d.  24)  says, — 

“  Frankincense  is  produced  in  Catabania,  and  in  the 
parts  of  Arabia  opposite.  Here  the  frankincense- 
tree  grows  along  the  banks  of  the  Isis  and  Niius.  The 
country  of  the  Sabasi  produces  not  only  frankincense  but 
balsam,  sweet-smelling  palms,  calamus,  and  larimnum,  a* 
most  fragrant  perfume.  By  the  trade  in  these  aromatics 
the  Sabseans  and  the  Gerrhaei  have  become  the  richest 
of  all  the  tribes.” 

Pliny  (a.d.  23-79),  too,  gives  a  long  account,  agreeing 
in  most  particulars  with  Theophrastus.  He  says  that 
the  gum  was  at  first  only  collected  once  a  year,  but  when 
a  greater  demand  sprang  up,  the  inhabitants  “  feeling 
the  sweetnesse  of  the  gaine,”  made  a  double  vintage,. 
— the  first  and  best  in  summer,  about  the  dog-days, 
and  the  second  in  the  spring;  the  first  being  called 
Carpheotum,  and  the  second  or  spring  crop,  much  infe¬ 
rior  to  the  first,  Dathiatum. 

Ptolemy  (about  a.d.  150),  in  his  Geography,  places  the 
Libanotophoros,  or  thuriferous  region,  between  Makalla 
and  Muscat. 

The  casual  notices  of  frankincense  by  the  Latin  poets 
and  historians  are,  as  Dr.  Birdw7ood  observes,  very  valu¬ 
able  in  the  present  argument  and  are  very  numerous.. 
The  most  pertinent  of  them  are  quoted  by  Celsus  in  his 
1  Hierobotanicon,’  who  “  makes  a  very  determined  effort 
to  exhaust  all  the  learning  on  the  subject,”  and  “very 
well  proves  how  impossible  it  is  to  be  universally  learned 
on  even  so  infinitesimal  a  subject  as  frankincense.” 

The  high  honour  in  which  frankincense  was  held  by 
the  ancients  is  shown  by  its  being  one  of  the  three  gifts 
brought  by  the  Magi  to  the  infant  Saviour. 

The  Arabian  w7riters  all  agree  that  frankincense  is 
produced  in  the  Hadramaut,  though  Serapion  and  Avi¬ 
cenna  copy  Dioscorides’  mistake  in  saying  it  was  also 
produced  in  India.  Ibn  Batuta  says : — 

“Leaving  Zofar  (Dofar,  Lee;  Sepliar  of  the  Bible F 
G.B.),  I  proceeded  to  sea  towrards  Amman,  and  on  the 
second  day  put  into  the  port  of  Hasik,  where  many  Arab 
fishermen  reside.  W e  have  here  the  incense-tree.  This 
tree  has  a  thin  leaf,  which,  when  scarified,  produces  a  fluid 
like  milk,  this  turns  into  gum,  and  is  then  called  loban , 
or  frankincense.” 

Marco  Polo,  a  European  writer,  says  of  the  city  of 
Escier,  or  Escher : — 

“  This  district  produces  a  large  quantity  of  white  frank¬ 
incense  of  the  best  qualitv,  winch  distils,  drob  by  drop,. 


August  27,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


165 


from  a  certain  small  tree  tliat  resembles  the  fir.  The 
people  occasionally  tap  the  tree  or  pare  away  the  bark, 
and  from  the  incision  the  frankincense  gradually  exudes, 
which  afterwards  becomes  hard.  Even  when  an  incision 
is  not  made,  an  exudation  is  perceived  to  take  place,  in 
consequence  of  the  excessive  heat  of  the  climate. 

“  The  frankincense  is  so  cheap  in  the  country  as  to  be 
purchased  by  the  governor  at  a  rate  of  ten  bezants  the 
quintal,  who  sells  it  again  to  the  merchants  at  40  bezants. 
This  is  done  under  the  direction  of  the  Soldan  of  Aden, 
who  monopolizes  all  that  is  produced  in  the  district,  and 
derives  a  large  profit  from  the  resale.” 

Thevet  says  that  frankincense  is  produced,  with  myrrh, 
in  the  country  about  Pecher  (SheherF)  and  Fartack, 
cities  of  the  kingdom  of  Aden ;  that  there  are  two  kinds, 
the  best  being  whitish,  pure,  clean-cut  and  solid,  collected 
in  summer;  the  second,  a  reddish  kind,  collected  in 
spring ;  also  that  the  tree  resembles  the  resinous  firs. 
He  gives  a  figure,  which  Dr.  Birdwood  takes  to  be  an 
undoubted  Boswellia ,  with  a  background  of  firs. 

Garcia  ab  Horto,  from  whom  Gerard  copies,  says  that 
no  frankincense  is  produced  in  India  and  he  wonders 
that  such  a  mistake  should  have  been  made ;  that  there 
are  two  kinds,  the  best  produced  on  mountains,  and  the 
dark  and  inferior  produced  in  the  plains  ;  that  the  darker 
kinds  of  frankincense  are  called  Indian  by  the  Arabs. 
His  figure  is  a  copy  of  Thevet’s  without  the  background 
of  firs. 

The  word  olibanum,  as  a  synonym  for  frankincense,  was 
used  by  Pope  Benedict  IX.  in  1033,  and  by  Gerard  in 
his  translation  of  Avicenna  in  1490. 

Purchas,  in  ‘His  Pilgrimes’  (London,  1627)  notes 
olibanum  amongst  other  articles  brought  by  the  Arabs 
for  sale  on  the  Arabian  coast. 

Celsus,  in  his  ‘  Hierobotanicon,’  has  the  following  in¬ 
formation  regarding  the  native  country  of  Olibanum ; — 

“  It  is  most  true  that  frankincense  does  not  grow  in 
any  part  of  India,  since  whatever  frankincense  is  con¬ 
sumed  in  India,  and  whatever  is  conveyed  thence  to 
Portugal,  is  brought  out  of  Arabia,  where  alone  it  grows, 
and  is  called  Lovan.  On  which  account,  I  believe  that 
writers  are  mistaken  who  consider  that  it  is  Libanum 
in  Greek,  and  Olibanum  in  commerce,  from  the  fact  of 
its  growing  in  Mount  Lebanon.” 

Linnaeus  referred  frankincense  to  a  Juniper  us,  J.  Lycia. 

Dr.  Birdwood  says  he  takes  the  statement  at  second¬ 
hand.  This  is,  however,  true.  Linnaeus  in  his  ‘  Materia 
Medica’  (Schreber’s  ed.  Alt.  1772)  says, — 

506.  Juniperus  lycia  foliis  temis  undique  imbricatis 
ovatis  obtusis.  Boy.  Mgdb.  90.  Sp.  PI.  1471. 
Cedrus,  folio  cupressi,  major,  fructu  flavescente. 
Bauh.  Pin.  487. 

Loc. :  Africa,  ^Ethiopia,  Arabia,  Arbor ,  peregrina. 
Pharm.  Olibani  (Thuris)  Resina,  granulata,  oleum 
stillatitium,  etc.,  and  in  a  foot-note  “  Olibanum 
ex  hac  arbore  desumtum  esse  alii  statuunt ,  alii  negant , 
$  Sandaracam  non  prioris  sed  hujus  esse  resinam  vo¬ 
lant  alii  ;  lis  pendet.” 

Bruce,  whose  narrative  of  travels  met  with  so  much 
undeserved  opposition  and  incredulity,  actually  figures 
in  his  atlas  a  plant,  afterwards  named,  by  Richard,  Bos¬ 
wellia  papyrifera ,  remarking*  that  it  was  called  Angouah 
by  the  people  about  Tacazza,  and  believed  by  the  Abys- 
sinians  to  be  the  true  frankincense ;  he  adds,  “  in  reality 
it  produces  a  gum  much  resembling  it.” 

In  1807,  Colebrooke  proved  that  a  frankincense-like 
gum  was  yielded  by  Bosivellia  serrata ,  of  Roxburgh  ( =  B. 
thurifera,  Colebr.) .  From  this  it  was  concluded  that  this 
plant  yielded  the  olibanum  of  commerce,  and  it  was  even 
denied  that  Arabia  yielded  any. 

Bruce’s  plant  was  afterwards  described  by  two  bo¬ 
tanists  under  different  names;  in  1820  by  Delile,  under 
the  name  of  Amyris  papyrifera ,  and  by  Endlicher  in 
1838,  under  the  name  of  Pldssleafioribunda. 

Wellstead  in  1838  found  that  large  quantities  of  oli¬ 
banum  were  exported  from  the  Soumali  coast.  He  says, 
u  two  kinds  of  frankincense  are  brought  here  for  expor¬ 


tation  to  Hindustan,  one  called  luban ,  from  Hadramaut, 
which  is  a  powerful  aromatic,  used  in  the  temples  and 
houses  for  fumigation ;  the  other,  Luban  mati,  less  fra¬ 
grant,  but  preferred  for  chewing.” 

Cruttenden  in  1837  saw  the  frankincense-tree  on  his 
journey  from  Merbat  to  Dyreez,  the  principal  town  of 
Dejar,  and  in  1843  the  frankincense-tree  of  the  Soumali 
country.  He  is  reporting  on  the  Mijjertheyn  tribe  of 
Soumalis,  and  says, — 

“  During  the  hot  season  the  men  and  boys  are  daily 
employed  in  collecting  gums,  which  process  is  carried  on 
as  Follows: — About  the  end  of  February  or  beginning  of 
March  the  Bedouins  visit  all  the  trees  in  succession,  and 
make  a  deep  incision  in  each,  peeling  off  a  narrow  strip 
of  bark  for  about  five  inches  below  the  wound.  This  is 
left  for  a  month,  when  a  fresh  incision  is  made  in  the 
same  place,  but  deeper.  A  third  month  elapses,  and  the 
operation  is  again  effected,  after  which  the  gum  is  sup¬ 
posed  to  have  attained  a  proper  degree  of  consistency. 
The  mountain  sides  are  immediately  covered  with  parties 
of  men  and  boys,  who  scrape  off  the  large,  clear  globules 
into  a  basket,  whilst  the  inferior  quality  that  has  run 
down  the  tree  is  packed  separately.  The  gum,  when 
first  taken  from  the  tree,  is  very  soft,  but  hardens 
quickly.  The  flame  is  clear  and  brilliant,  and  the  tra¬ 
veller  is  frequently  amused  by  seeing  a  miserable  Be- 
doui  family,  cowering  under  a  wretched  hovel,  (eating 
their  scanty  meal  by  the  light  of  half-a-dozen  frankin¬ 
cense  torches.  Every  fortnight  the  mountains  are  visited 
in  this  manner,  the  trees  producing  larger  quantities  as 
the  season  advances  until  the  middle  of  September,  when 
the  first  shower  of  rain  puts  a  close  to  the  gathering  o 
that  year.” 

The  export,  he  goes  on.  to  say,  is  in  the  hands  of 
“  those  never-failing  speculators,  the  Banians  of  Pore- 
bunder  (Kattiawar)  and  Bombay.”  At  the  close  of  the 
north-east  monsoon  they  arrive  at  the  coast,  and  settle 
at  Feluk  (Mount  Elephant  of  the  ancients,  Cape  Felix 
of  the  Portuguese,  and  Jibbel  Feel  of  Captain  Saris), 
Bunder  Marayah,  Bunder  Khor,  and  other  Bunders. 
“  The  Bedowins  from  the  interior  immediately  visit 
them,  and,  as  there  is  no  one  to  compete  with  them, 
they  manage  to  engross  the  greater  part  of  the  trade.” 
He  estimates  that  the  quantity  annually  exported  is, — 

To  Bombay  .  .  .  .  377  tons. 

To  Red  Sea  ....  235  „ 

To  Arabia  ....  120  „ 


732 

“  The  trees  that  produce  Luban ,  or  frankincense,  are 
of  two  kinds,  Luban  Meyti  and  Luban  Bedowi.  Of 
these  the  Meyti ,  which  grows  out  of  the  native  rock,  is 
the  most  valuable,  and,  when  clean-packed  and  of  good 
quality,  it  is  sold  by  the  merchants  on  the  coast  for  one 
and  a  quarter  dollars  per  frasila  of  twenty  pounds.  The 
Luban  Bedowi,  of  the  best  quality,  is  sold  for  one  dollar 
per  frasila :  of  both  kinds  the  palest  colour  is  preferred. 
The  trees  vary  greatly  in  height,  but  I  never  saw  one 
above  twenty  feet  with  a  stem  of  nine  inches  in  dia¬ 
meter.  Their  form  is  very  graceful,  and,  when  spring¬ 
ing  from  a  mass  of  marble  on  the  brink  of  a  precipice, 
their  appearance  is  especially  picturesque.” 

In  1843  Kempthorne  and  Vaughan  visited  the  Sou¬ 
mali  country.  Kempthorne’s  specimen  was  identified  by 
Mr.  Bennett,  of  the  British  Museum,  with  Endlicher’ s 
Plosslea  fioribunda,  but  on  the  agreement  of  the  peculiar 
papery  character  of  the  barks  only.  Dr.  Vaughan,  in 
‘  Notes  upon  the  Drugs  observed  at  Aden,’  mentions  the 
following  kinds  : — Luban  maitee ,  Luban  nankur  or  aun- 
gure ,  Luban  makur ,  Luban  berbera  or  muslika ,  and  Luban 
Marbat  or  Saharee  Luban ,  the  finest  kind.  Vaughan’s 
original  specimens  are  in  the  Pharmaceutical  Society’s 
museum. 

In  1847  Carter  published  a  figure  of  the  frankincense- 
tree  of  Arabia,  accurately  defining  the  thuriferous  re¬ 
gion.  He  says, — 


166 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  27, 1870. 


“  Coming  from  the  north-east,  we  first  meet  with  the 
frankincense-tree  on  the  Sabhan  mountains  in  latitude 
17°  30'  N.  and  longitude  65°  23'  E.,  where  the  desert 
ends,  and  the  wooded  mountainous  region  commences ; 
and,  following  the  coast,  which  runs  south-west,  we  find 
the  frankincense  exported  from  the  different  towns  gra¬ 
dually  diminishes  after  the  Bay  of  A1  Kammar  until  we 
arrive  at  Makalla,  from  whence  none  is  exported  from 
the  interior  of  Arabia,  and  but  little  used,  except  what 
is  brought  from  the  African  coast  opposite  that  town. 
By  the  same  inquiry  we  learn  that  the  produce  of  the 
Arabian  trees  is  exported  in  large  quantities  from  places 
on  that  part  of  the  coast  which  intervenes  between  the 
latitude  and  longitude  mentioned  (viz.  17°  30'  N.  and 
55°  23'  E.)  and  the  town  of  Damkote  in  the  Bay  of  A1 
Kammar,  62°  47'  E.  longitude.  Between  these  two 
points  the  trees  are  congregated  in  two  distinct  localities 
—on  the  summits  and  sides  of  the  highest  range  of  moun¬ 
tains  near  the  coast,  and  on  the  plain  between  them  and 
the  sea;  the  former  is  called  Nedjee,  or  highland,  and 
the  latter  Sahil,  or  plains  on  the  coast.  The  Nedjee  is 
about  two  days’  journey  from  the  shore ;  it  is  the  most 
elevated  portion  of  the  great  limestone  formation  of  this 
coast,  which,  from  a  height  of  5000  feet  here,  descends 
in  sudden  and  lofty  steps  upon  the  Arabian  Sea.  To 
get  to  it  you  first  cross  the  Sahil  already  mentioned, 
and  then  ascend  a  minor  range,  which  is  covered,  with 
long  grass  and  trees,  and,  after  passing  a  less  fertile 
region,  called  the  Gathan,  at  last  arrive  at  the  Nedjee, 
where  there  is  no  grass  and  but  few  trees  beside  those 
which  produce  the  frankincense.  The  soil  is  red  and 
subargillaceous,  and,  in  consequence  of  its  scarcity,  the 
trees  are  generally  found  growing  out  of  the  crevices  of 
the  limestone  rock.  It  is  from  this  part  that  the  frank¬ 
incense  is  chiefly  brought,  and,  as  I  have  before  said, 
the  largest  quantities  of  it  are  exported  from  the  different 
towns  on  the  coast  between  the  longitudes  50°  47'  and 
55°  23'  E. 

“  The  libanophorous  region,  therefore,  lies  behind  the 
towns  on  this  part  of  the  coast  where  Theophrastus 
places  it,  and  not,  as  Ptolemy  places  it,  in  Oman.” 

Mr.  Carter  also  procured  dried  and  living  specimens 
of  the  tree,  and  made  careful  drawings  of  them.  In 
1859,  when  Dr.  Birdwood  took  charge  of  the  Agri-Hor- 
ticultural  Society’s  “Old  Gardens”  at  Bombay,  he  found 
Carter’s  plant  still  living.  Through  the  kind  exertions 
of  Colonel  Playfair,  then  at  Aden,  he  obtained  a  fine 
collection  of  several  varieties  of  dried  specimens  and 
cuttings  of  the  African  frankincense-tree,  together  with 
the  frankincense  yielded  by  them.  Both  Carter’s  and 
Playfair’s  plants  have  since  flowered,  and  thus  allowed 
of  their  being  named. 

Dr.  Birdwood,  in  his  “conclusions,”  says: — 

“  It  will,  I  believe,  be  now  agreed  that  Arabia  pro¬ 
duces  frankincense,  and  in  the  very  region  indicated  by 
common  opinion  of  the  ancient  world,  and  so  accurately 
limited  by  Theophrastus.  Now  that  it  has  been  demon¬ 
strated  by  Carter  that  the  libanotophorous  region  lies 
along  the  coast  of  Hadramaut,  the  agreement  between 
the  statements  of  the  Bible,  Herodotus,  Theophrastus, 
Diodorus  Siculus,  Strabo,  Pliny,  Arrian,  Ptolemy,  the 
Arabs,  Marco  Polo,  Bochart  and  Celsus  is  very  strik¬ 
ing.  It  will,  I  believe,  be  agreed  also,  as  implied  in  the 
more  ancient  references  to  Arabia,  and  expressly  as¬ 
serted  by  Diodorus,  Strabo,  Arrian,  and  others  of  the 
ancients,  and  demonstrated  with  such  fulness  by  Crut¬ 
tenden,  Kempthome  and  Vaughan,  and  the  overwhelm¬ 
ing  evidence  of  modem  travellers  (beginning  with 
Bruce)  generally,  that  the  Soumali  country  also  pro¬ 
duces  frankincense  and  probably  the  bulk  of  the  oliba- 
num  of  commerce.  The  agreement  as  to  the  region  about 
Mount  Elephant  (Ras  Fieluk,  Cape  Felix,  Jibbel  Feel) 
between  Arrian,  Captain  Doventon  and  Captain  Saris, 
in  Purchas,  Milbum,  Cruttenden,  Kempthome  and 
Vaughan  is  indeed  quite  startling. 

“  It  will  be  admitted  also,  I  believe,  that  Boswellia 
Carterii  {Mohr  Madow ),  which — with  B.  Bhau-JDajiana 
( Mohr  Add),  the  source  of  the  bulk  of  the  olibanum  of 
commerce  exported  from  the  Soumali  country — is  the 


same  species  as  the  plant  [Mag  hr  ay  t  d'sheehaz)  which 
Carter  found  produced  the  frankincense  of  the  Hadra¬ 
maut,  and  also  that  Bostvellia  thurifera  (including  B. 
glabra )  of  India  and  B.  papyrifera  of  Abyssinia,  although 
thuriferous  species,  are  not  known  to  yield  any  of  the 
olibanum  of  commerce. 

“It  is  very  surprising  that  so  great  weight  of  evi¬ 
dence  in  favour  of  frankincense  being  produced  in 
Arabia  Felix  and  the  Soumali  country  should  ever 
have  been  set  aside  for  the  idle  fancy  that  India  was 
the  source  of  the  olibanum  of  commerce.” 

Dr.  Birdwood  rightly  attributes  at  least  a  portion  of 
this  mistake  to  a  most  prolific  source  of  error,  namely* 
the  alteration  which  has  taken  place  in  the  trade-routes. 

In  the  Paris  Universal  Exhibition  of  1867,  Dr.  Bird- 
wood  noticed  several  bottles  of  frankincense  labelled. 
“  Olibanum,  so  called  because  it  comes  from  Mount  Le¬ 
banon  also  aconite  labelled  “  Aconitum  Nepaullus,  so 
named  because  its  root  is  the  famous  poison  of  Nepaul”  l 
Dr.  Birdwood  then  gives  descriptions  of  the  genus 
Bostvellia  and  the  species  belonging  to  it,  as  enumerated 
below,  with  the  synonyms  of  each  species. 

Genus  Boswellia. 

Roxburgh,  PI.  Corom.  iii.  p.  4.  t.  207 ;  Benth.  and  Hook. 
Gen.  Plant,  i.  p.  322. 

Zibanus,  Colebrooke  in  Asiat.  Res.  ix.  p.  377.  t.  5. 
f.  1. 

Bl'osslea ,  Endlicher,  Nov.  Stirp.  Dec.  47  ;  Iconog. 
t.  119,  120. 

Species  5.  natives  of  Nubia,  Abyssinia,  Berbera,  Arabia, 
and  India. 

1.  Boswellia  Carterii,  Birdwood,  n.  sp.  (with  figures). 

B.  thurifera ,  Colebrooke?  Carter  in  Journ.  Bom¬ 
bay  Br.  Roy.  As.  Soc.  ii.  1847. 

“  Mohr  Madow,”  Playfair. 

“Maghrayt  d’sheehaz,”  Carter. 

Habitat.  Soumali  mountains,  Africa ;  Hadramaut 
Mountains,  Arabia. 

The  “mohr  madow”  and  “maghrayt  d’sheehaz”  are- 
two  varieties,  figures  of  both  are  given. 

2.  B.  Bhau-Dajiana,  Birdwood,  n.  sp.  (with  figure). 

“Mohr  Add,”  Playfair  (Soumali  mountains). 
Habitat.  Soumali  mountains. 

These  two  species  yield  the  bulk  of  the  olibanum  ex¬ 
ported  from  the  Soumali  country  under  the  name  of 
“  Laban-Sheheri.” 

3.  B.  papyrifera,  Richard,  Tent.  Flor.  Abyss,  etc.  iv. 

p.  140.  t.  33. 

Amyris  papyrifera,  Delile,  Cent.  PI.  d’Afrique; 

Caillaud,  Voyage  a  Meroe,  ii.  p.  293. 

Flosslea  floribunda ,  Endl.  Nov.  Stirp.  etc.,  n.  47. 
t.  119,  120. 

“  Angouah,”  Bruce’s  Travels,  vii.  p.  334.  tab.  48. 
Habitat.  Senaar,  Soudan,  Gondar,  and  the  valley 
between  the  Taccaze  and  Mareb. 

4.  B.  thurifera,  Colebrooke,  Asiat.  Res.  ix.  p.  377.  t.  5. 

B.  serrata  and  B.  glabra,  Roxb.  Flor.  Ind.  ii.  pp. 
383,  384. 

B.  glabra,  Roxb.  Cor.  PI.  ii.  t.  207. 

“  Salai,”  India  (Birdwood). 

Habitat.  In  the  mountains  of  Tropical  India ;  Oude 
and  Rohilkund,  Boyle ;  Behar,  Hooker;  Concan, 
Stocks ;  Kattyawar,  Khandeish,  H.  M.  Birdwood. 
There  are  two  varieties  of  this  plant  and  its  gum-resins 
recognized  by  the  natives  of  India,  of  which  Roxburgh 
made  two  species. 

5.  B.  Frereana,  Birdwood,  n.  sp.  (with  figure). 

“  Yegaar,”  Playfair. 

“  Louban  maitee  ”  of  the  Soumalis. 

“  Louban  meyti,”  Cruttenden. 

Habitat.  In  the  white  limestone  mountains  about 
Bundah  Murayha. 

We  are  highly  grateful  to  Dr.  Birdwood  for  this  very’ 
interesting  and  valuable  paper,  which  must  have  cost 
him  immense  labour  and  painstaking  research.  It  is, 


August  27,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1G7 


-without  doubt,  one  of  the  best  monographs  on  any 
materia  medica  substance  we  have  had  for  some  time, 
and  will  undoubtedly  receive  the  recognition  it  is  so  well 
entitled  to.  Dr.  Birdwood  tells  us  that  this  is  the  “  first 
of  a  series  of  monographs  on  such  of  the  vegetable  pro¬ 
ducts  of  the  East,  the  history  and  botany  of  which  need 
further  elucidation.”  We  look  with  interest,  and  with 
some  degree  of  impatience,  for  further  contributions  from 
his  pen,  especially  when  we  find  he  has  not  overlooked 
one  of  the  most  fundamental  desiderata  of  economic 
botany,  that  of  procuring  really  well-authenticated  spe¬ 
cimens  of  the  products  collected  from  the  plants  them¬ 
selves.  He  tells  us  that  nearly  all  the  gums  and  resins 
in  the  Bombay  Museum'  were  collected  by  his  own 
hands. 


OUR  SALAD  HERBS. 

BY  C.  J.  ROBINSON. 

There  is,  perhaps,  no  country  in  the  world  so  rich  as 
England  in  native  materials  for  salad-making,  and  none 
in  which  ignorance  and  prejudice  have  more  restricted 
their  employment.  At  every  season  of  the  year  the 
peasant  may  cull  from  the  field  and  hedgerow  wholesome 
herbs  which  would  impart  a  pleasant  variety  to  his  mo¬ 
notonous  meal,  and  save  his  store  of  potatoes  from  prema¬ 
ture  exhaustion.  Besides  there  can  be  no  question  that  in 
hot  seasons  a  judicious  admixture  of  fresh  green  food  is 
as  salutary  as  it  is  agreeable.  Much  has  been  said  lately 
about  the  advantage  which  the  labouring  man  would 
derive  from  an  accurate  acquaintance  with  the  various 
sorts  of  fungus  ;  he  has  been  gravely  told  that  the  Fis- 
tulina  hepatica  is  an  admirable  substitute  for  beef-steak  ; 
the  Agaricus  gambosus  for  the  equally  unknown  veal 
cutlet.  But  deep-rooted  suspicion  is  not  easily  eradi¬ 
cated,  and  there  will  always  be  a  certain  amount  of 
hazard  in  dealing  with  a  class  of  products  in  which  the 
distinctions  between  noxious  and  innocuous  are  not  very 
clearly  marked.  There  is  not  this  difficulty  with  regard 
to  salad  herbs,  and  we  conceive  that  the  diffusion  of  a 
little  knowledge  as  to  their  properties  and  value  would 
be  an  unmixed  benefit  to  our  rural  population. 

The  first  place  must  be  assigned,  on  the  score  of  an¬ 
tiquity,  to  the  sorrel  plant  ( Rumex  Acetosa ),  which  in 
some  districts  still  preserves  the  name  of  “  green  sauce  ” 
assigned  to  it  in  early  times  when  it  formed  almost  the 
only  dinner  vegetable.  Its  acid  is  pleasant  and  whole¬ 
some,  more  delicate  in  flavour  than  that  of  the  wood- 
sorrel  (Oxalis  Acetosella),  which,  however,  is  used  for  table 
purposes  in  France  and  Germany.  Chervil  ( Anthriscus 
Cerefolium)  is  often  found  in  a  wild  state  and  is  an  ad¬ 
mirable  addition  to  the  salad  bowl;  and  it  is  unneces¬ 
sary  to  enlarge  upon  the  virtues  of  celery  ( Apium  graveo- 
lens )  when  improved  by  cultivation.  John  Ray,  writing 
in  1663,  says  that  “  the  Italians  use  several  herbs  for 
sallets  which  are  not  yet,  or  have  not  been  used  lately, 
but  in  England,  viz.  selleri,  wThich  is  nothing  else  but 
the  sweet  smallage ;  the  young  shoots  whereof,  with 
a  little  of  the  head  of  the  root  cut  off,  they  eat  raw 
with  oil  and  pepper ;  ”  and  to  this  we  may  add  that  the 
alisander  ( Smyrnium  Olusatrum )  is  no  bad  substitute  for 
its  better  known  congener.  The  dandelion,  which  in 
France  is  blanched  for  the  purpose,  affords  that  amari 
aliquid  which  the  professed  salad-maker  finds  in  the 
leaves  of  the  endive,  and  the  same  essential  ingredient 
may  be  supplied  by  the  avens  ( Geum  urbanum ),  the 
bladder  campion  ( Silene  inflata),  and  the  tender  shoots 
of  the  wild  hop.  Most  people  are  familiar  with  the  pro¬ 
perties  of  the  watercress  ( Nasturtium  officinale ),  and  the 
garlic  hedge-mustard  (. Erysimum  Alii  aria) ;  but  it  may 
not  be  generally  known  that  the  common  shepherd’ s- 
purse  ( Capsella  Bursa-pastoris )  and  lady’s-smock  ( Carda - 
mine  pratensis)  are  pleasant  additions,  whose  merits  have 
long  been  recognized  by  our  foreign  neighbours.  In 
fact,  there  is  scarcely  a  herb  that  grows  which  has  not 
some  culinary  virtue  in  a  French  peasant’s  eyes.  Out  of 


the  blanched  shoots  of  the  wild  chicory  ( Cichorium  In- 
ti/bus)  he  forms  the  well-known  barbe  des  capucins ,  and 
dignifies  with  the  title  of  salade  de  chanoine  our  own 
neglected  corn-salad  ( Fedia  olitoria).  It  would  be  very 
easy  to  extend  the  dimensions  of  our  list  of  native  salad 
herbs,  for  there  are,  perhaps,  some  palates  to  which  the 
strong  flavours  of  the  chive  ( Allium  schcenoprasum )  and 
stone-crop  ( Sedum  reflexum )  may  commend  themselves  ; 
but  enough  has  been  said  to  show  that  Nature  has  not 
dealt  niggardly  with  us,  and  that  only  knowledge  is 
needful  to  make  the  riches  she  offers  available.  If  the- 
British  peasant  can  be  taught  to  discover  hidden  virtues 
in  these  plants,  with  whose  outward  forms  he  has  had 
lifelong  familiarity,  we  do  not  despair  of  his  acquiring 
the  one  secret  of  salad-making,  viz.  the  judicious  employ¬ 
ment  of  oil  so  as  to  correct  the  acrid  juices  of  the  plants 
and  yet  preserve  their  several  flavours  unimpaired. — 
Nature. 


NITROUS  OXIDE  GAS. 

In  a  letter  to  the  £  Times  ’  of  August  17,  Dr.  Thudichum 
recommends  the  use  of  this  gas  in  surgical  operations 
upon  wounded  soldiers.  He  remarks  : — 

“  All  possible  efforts  ought  to  be  made  to  reduce  the  sum 
of  pain  to  which,  by  surgical  operations  and  dressings, 
they  are  necessarily  subjected.  Chloroform  is  largely 
used  for  this  purpose,  but  its  application  meets  with  dif¬ 
ficulties  in  many  cases.  Thus,  the  mere  excitement  of 
the  wounded  soldier  is  frequently  so  great  that,  for  fear 
of  choking,  it  cannot  be  applied  at  all ;  in  other  cases 
it  produces  sickness  which  continues  often  for  hours 
after  its  application  and  compromises  the  welfare  of  the 
patient.  Its  action  is  of  such  a  kind  that,  practically,  it 
is  only  applied  for  long  and  severe  operations,  rarely  for 
slight  ones ;  but  never  in  that  most  painful  and  oft-re¬ 
peated  process,  the  dressing  of  wounds. 

“  All  the  advantages  of  chloroform,  to  the  exclusion  of 
the  disadvantages  just  mentioned,  are  possessed  by  ni¬ 
trous  oxide  gas.  It  has  no  smell,  produces  quickly,  in 
four  or  five  full  inspirations,  a  perfect  anaesthesia,  in 
which  all  operations  can  be  performed  without  causing 
pain,  and  hardly  a  minute  after  the  cessation  of  its  inha¬ 
lation  its  influence  on  the  patient  has  entirely  disap¬ 
peared.  It  never  produces  choking  or  sickness,  and 
there  has  never  been  a  case  of  death  under  its  influence. 

“  The  marvellous  effect  of  this  gas  was  originally  dis¬ 
covered  by  Sir  Humphry  Davy,  but  was  not  appreciated 
by  the  scientific  world,  owing  to  the  wanton  ridicule 
cast  upon  it  by  the  short-sightedness  of  Gay-Lussac,  and 
of  several  chemists  following  in  his  wake.  It  is  the  in¬ 
dubitable  and  great  merit  of  British  dentists  to  have 
again  discovered  the  pain-killing  effect  of  nitrous  oxider 
and  to  have'  made  its  use  for  the  relief  of  suffering  a 
matter  of  daily  and  easy  practice. 

“A  bulky  gas  could  not  be  transported  with  the  ne¬ 
cessary  facility,  and  therefore  its  use  remained  limited 
to  institutions.  But  industry  seized  the  processes,  and 
the  gas  was  brought  into  a  compressed  form.  Thie 
compression  is  now  carried  to  fluidification.  Nitrous 
oxide  is  sold  as  a  fluid  in  little  iron  flasks,  of  which  each, 
hardly  bigger  than  a  wine  bottle  without  the  neck, 
evolves  100  gallons  of  gas.  The  production  of  this  fluid 
nitrous  oxide  is  now  a  branch  of  industry  carried  on  by 
the  aid  of  steam  power  erected  specially  and  exclusively 
for  this  purpose  and  yet  the  supply  is  hardly  equal  to 
the  demand. 

“  Now,  from  my  experience  in  war-surgery  and  in  the 
application  of  anaesthetics ;  from  the  inquiries  which 
I  have  instituted  and  the  experiments  which  I  have 
made  relating  to  this  nitrous  oxide,  I  have  come  to  the 
conviction  that  this  agent  would  be  most  useful  in  the 
military  hospitals  of  the  Continent,  not  only  in  primary 
operations,  but  also  in  the  frequent  painful  dressings. 
There  is  less  difficulty  in  its  administration  than  in  that 
of  chloroform,  and  all  surgeons  would  easily  and  quickly 
be  able  to  appreciate  and  use  it. 

k  3 


168 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [August  27,  1870. 


“  I,  therefore,  propose  that  a  portion  of  the  funds 
which  I  have,  no  doubt,  your  generous  appeal  will  cause 
to  come  forth  abundantly  should  be  applied  to  the  pur¬ 
chase  of,  say,  1000  bottles  of  this  pain-destroying  fluid, 
and  of  fifty  inhaling  mouthpieces,  and  that  these  should 
be  forwarded  to  the  hospitals  abroad  as  quickly  as  they 
can  be  obtained.  The  experience  should  be  made  on 
this  scale  to  begin  with.  The  discoveries  of  the  gas,  of 
its  properties,  and  of  its  application  in  surgery,  are  ex¬ 
clusively  English,  and  the  processes  for  its  fluidification, 
or  ‘coercion,’  are  worthy  examples  of  English  mechanics. 
The  gift  would,  therefore,  be  doubly  graceful,  as  being 
both  invaluable  and  the  product  of  national  genius  and 
ingenuity,  and  would  be  applied  with  joy  by  the  surgeons 
and  received  with  blessings  by  the  stricken  warriors.” 

In  reference  to  the  above  letter  the  ‘Lancet’  has  the 
following  remarks : — 

“  We  should  be  extremely  sorry  to  offer  any  oppo¬ 
sition  to  any  proposal  which  presented  a  hopeful  pro¬ 
spect  of  mitigating  the  'pain  of  the  wounded,  but  we 
think  that  the  generosity  of  the  public  should  not  be 
taxed  for  visionary  and  doubtful  schemes,  such  as  that  pro¬ 
posed  by  Dr.  Thudichum  for  supplying  nitrous  oxide  gas. 
There  are,  doubtless,  some  advantages  in  using  this  anaes¬ 
thetic  for  short  operations,  such  as  toothclrawing  and 
the  making  of  incisions  of  a  simple  character.  But  there 
is  no  experience  in  favour  of  its  use  either  for  dressing 
wounds,  or  for  more  important  operations ;  and,  from 
the  fleeting  character  of  the  anaesthesia,  there  is  no  hope 
whatever  of  its  being  really  effective  in  such  cases. 

“We  would  venture  to  suggest  in  preference  the  for¬ 
mation  of  a  special  staff  for  the  purpose  of  directly  re¬ 
lieving  pain  by  the  use  of  the  many  means  which  are 
now  at  our  disposal.  Eirst  and  foremost,  they  would  be 
armed  with  a  full  supply  of  chloroform  ;  secondly,  with 
Dr.  Richardson’s  apparatus  for  the  production  of  local 
ana3sthesia ;  and  we  would,  of  course,  make  no  objection 
to  nitrous  oxide  having  also  a  place  in  the  armamen¬ 
tarium.  Nor  should  these  be  all.  The  subcutaneous  in¬ 
jection  of  sedatives  would  be  of  great  use,  particularly 
in  allaying  the  spasms  which  so  painfully  follow  frac¬ 
tures  and  amputations ;  whilst,  in  the  last  place,  hydrate 
of  chloral  would  pi’obably  be  found  to  relieve  insomno¬ 
lence  to  a  very  great  extent.  One  or  two  physicians 
armed  with  these  remedies  would  not  only  relieve  an 
immense  amount  of  physical  and  mental  suffering,  but 
would  afford  the  profession  an  experience  of  the  very 
highest  value.” 


HARD  AND  SOFT  WATER. 

At  the  recent  visit  of  the  town  council  to  the  water¬ 
works,  Mr.  Bateman  drew  attention  to  the  reports  which 
have  been  industriously  circulated  of  late  years  to  the 
prejudice  of  soft  water,  attributing  to  its  use  the  great 
mortality  which  unhappily  exists  in  some  of  the  large 
towns  and  cities  in  the  kingdom.  He  stated  most  un¬ 
hesitatingly  that  there  was  in  truth  no  foundation  for 
such  reports ;  that  they  were  entirely  fallacious ;  and 
that  the  presumed  facts  which  were  relied  upon  would 
not  bear  the  test  of  scrutiny.  He  referred  to  a  table 
appended  to  the  evidence  taken  before  the  Committee  of 
the  House  of  Commons  on  the  East  London  Water  Bill 
in  1867,  when  the  whole  question  of  the  metropolitan 
water  supply  had  been  inquired  into.  This  table  pur¬ 
ports  to  give  the  mortality  of  various  towns  and  places, 
distinguishing  between  those  supplied  with  water  above 
and  below  ten  degrees  of  hardness.  This  division  is 
perfectly  arbitrary,  and  it  does  not  correctly  represent 
the  point  of  distinction  between  hard  water  and  soft  water. 
The  term  “hard  ”  is  applied  to  water  which  breaks  or 
curdles  soap,*  while  the  term  “soft”  is  applied  to  water 

*  This  effect  of  hard  water  is,  in  fact,  a  precipitation  of 
the  fatty  acid  of  the  soap  consequent  on  the  formation  of 
an  insoluble  compound  of  the  fatty  acid  with  the  earthv 
base  in  the  water. — Ed.  Ph.  J. 


in  which  soap  may  he  used  without  its  curdling.  Each 
degree  of  hardness  represents  one  grain  of  carbonate  of 
lime,  or  an  equivalent  quantity  of  some  other  soap- 
destroying  ingredient,  in  each  gallon  of  water.  Water 
containing  only  four  grains  of  lime  per  gallon,  or  having 
what  is  called  *4°  of  hardness,  does  not  break  soap  ;  while 
water  having  5°  or  upwards  does.  Water  of  10°,  there¬ 
fore,  is  hard  water,  and  its  evil  consequences,  as  regards 
economy,  will  be  shown  by  the  fact  that  in  Glasgow  the 
substitution  of  Loch  Katrine  water  of  1°  of  hardness  for 
Clyde  water,  which  varied  from  7°  to  9°,  according  to 
the  season,  saved  one  half  of  all  the  soap  which  had  pre¬ 
viously  been  used. 

The  table  referred  to  contains  the  names  of  sixteen 
towns  or  places  supplied  with  water  of  10°  or  upwards, 
and  of  eleven  towns  in  which  the  water  supply  does  not 
amount  to  10°.  Among  the  latter  is  Liverpool,  where 
the  water  is  stated  to  be  9-6°. 

The  general  conclusion  is,  that  in  towns  with  water 
over  10°,  the  average  being  14*9°,  the  mortality  is  only 
22*2  per  1000  of  the  population;  while  in  those  having 
water  under  10°,  the  average  being  4*9°,  the  mortality  is 
26 T.  In  London,  the  water  being  13°  of  hardness,  the 
mortality  per  1000  is  23T. 

From  these  data  it  has  been  inferred  that  the  exces¬ 
sive  mortality  of  towns  using  soft  water  is  due  to  the  use 
of  such  water. 

However,  to  say  nothing  of  the  unfairness  of  compar¬ 
ing  such  towns  as  Leamington,  Southport,  Croydon  and 
Cheltenham  wdth  Liverpool,  Sheffield,  Glasgow  and 
Manchester,  the  table  itself  is  full  of  inaccuracies. 
Guildford,  the  county  town  of  Surrey,  is  represented  to 
contain  29,330  persons  and  the  mortality  to  be  19 "4 
per  1000.  Guildford  is,  in  reality,  a  small  town,  with 
less  than  10,000  inhabitants.  It  is  situated  in  a  remark¬ 
ably  healthy  position,  and  a  large  number  of  the  inha¬ 
bitants  which  it  really  does  contain  reside  in  what  may 
be  considered  a  purely  rural  district. 

Newcastle  and  Gateshead  are  put  dowm  as  containing 
14,646  persons,  and  the  mortality  is  stated  to  be  19  per 
1000.  The  real  population  of  those  places  at  the  date 
spoken  of  was  163,807,  and  the  mortality  27‘37*per  1000. 

It  is  evident  that  no  dependence  can  be  placed  on 
tables  so  carelessly  prepared,  and  it  may  be  shown  in  a 
variety  of  ways  that  no  fair  deduction  can  be  drawn 
from  them  at  all. 

The  gross  population  of  the  sixteen  towns  or  places 
having  water  of  10°  or  upwards  is,  according  to  the 
table,  1,135,514,  and  that  of  the  eleven  towns  with  softer 
water  1,532,784.  The  density  of  population  (which, 
however,  is  not  shown  in  the  table)  is,  in  the  former 
group,  10 T7  persons  to  the  acre,  and  in  the  latter  group 
214*74 ;  so  that  in  the  towns  of  higher  mortality  the 
people  are  living  more  than  twice  as  thick  upon  the 
ground  as  in  those  places  with  which  they  are  compared. 

To  most  persons  this  density  of  population  would 
have  been  supposed  to  exercise  an  important  bearing  on 
the  mortality  of  a  district,  and  to  all  those  who  have 
paid  any  attention  to  the  question  it  is  well  known  to 
exercise  a  very  important  influence,  especially  on  the 
health  of  infants  under  five  years  of  age.  Infantile 
mortality  is  always  greatest  in  manufacturing  towns, 
and  in  places  of  dense  population,  whatever  the  charac¬ 
ter  of  the  water  which  may  be  supplied.  If  these  deaths 
be  deducted,  then,  the  mortality  per  1000  of  those  above 
five  years  is  13 '56  in  the  towns  supplied  with  water  of 
10°  or  upwards,  and  13*47  per  1000  in  those  having 
softer  wrater,  or  slightly  in  favour  of  the  latter,  though 
practically  the  same. 

But  the  strongest  proof  that  excessive  mortality  must 
be  sought  for  in  other  causes  than  the  hard  or  soft  cha¬ 
racter  of  the  water  supplied  to  the  inhabitants  will  be 
seen  by  an  examination  of  the  mortality  which  obtains 
in  different  places  supplied  with  the  same  water.  For 
instance,  in  the  table  alluded  to,  the  population  assigned 
to  Birmingham  (a  town  supplied  with  water  of  15-|°  of 


August  27, 1370.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


169 


hardness)  is  made  up  of  those  living  in  Birmingham, 
King’s  Norton  and  Aston,  the  density  of  population  be¬ 
ing  respectively  100’,  1*37,  and  27  persons  to  the  acre, 
the  mortality  being  also  respectively  26-5  per  1000,  17*1, 
and  21  per  1000.  This  varying  mortality  cannot  surely 
be  owing  to  the  water,  which  is  the  same  in  all  the 
three  cases. 

Again,  Liverpool  having  water  of  9-6°  of  hardness  is 
composed  of  Liverpool  and  West  Derby,  the  mortality 
being  in  the  former  place  33-29,  and  in  the  latter  22-73 
per  1000.  Here,  again,  the  water  is  exactly  the  same, 
but  the  density  of  population  is  respectively  100  and  37 
per  acre. 

Sheffield,  a  soft-water  town,  is  composed  of  Sheffield 
and  Eccleshall,  the  mortality  in  the  two  places  being 
28-45  and  22-75. 

Manchester,  Salford  and  Charlton-on-Medlock,  all 
places  supplied  with  the  soft  water  of  the  Manchester 
Waterworks,  exhibited  a  mortality  at  the  time  the  table 
was  prepared  of  31-48,  26-00  and  23-94  per  1000  persons 
respectively.  If  the  high  death-rate  in  Manchester 
were  due  to  the  soft  water,  why  did  it  not  poison  as 
many  persons  in  the  1000  at  Chorlton-on-Medlock  and 
at  Salford  ? 

Instances  from  all  quarters  of  the  kingdom  could  be 
crowded  upon  each  other  showing  a  like  result,  and  the 
fallacy  of  the  deductions  which  have  been  drawn  from 
such  unfair  statistics  as  have  been  thus  only  slightly 
exposed. 

The  fact  is  that  neither  hard  water  nor  soft  water 
appears  to  exercise  any  perceptible  influence  on  the 
tables  of  mortality.  Both,  so  far  as  those  characters  are 
concerned,  appear  to  be  equally  wholesome ;  and  though 
many  painful  diseases  which  are  not  fatal  are,  with 
reason,  believed  to  be  aggravated  by  the  use  of  hard 
water,  there  is  no  reason  for  assuming  that  any  influ¬ 
ence  is  exercised  upon  the  death-rate  by  the  mere  hard¬ 
ness  or  softness  of  water. 

While  it  is  thus  most  conclusively  shown  that,  as 
compared  with  hard  water,  soft  water  is  not  injurious  to 
health,  the  economic  benefits  which  attend  the  use  of 
soft  water  are  so  striking  and  so  great,  that  those  people 
may  consider  themselves  happy  indeed  who  have  the 
advantage  of  such  deliciously  pure  and  soft  water  as  the 
waterworks  of  Glasgow  and  Manchester  afford. 

In  Glasgow,  the  saving  to  the  consumer  of  water  for 
domestic  purposes  only  consequent  on  the  introduction 
of  Loch  Katrine  water  in  the  place  of  Clyde  water  was 
£40,000  per  annum,  equal  to  the  interest  on  the  entire 
cost  of  the  new  works.  This  great  advantage,  too,  has 
been  obtained  without  levying  a  higher  rate  on  the 
rental  of  houses  than  had  previously  existed,  so  that  the 
people  of  Glasgow  have  paid  no  more  per  head  for  their 
water  than  they  had  done  before,  while  at  the  same 
time  they  put  £40,000  a  year  into  their  pockets. 

Similar  advantages  have  attended  the  supply  to  Man¬ 
chester,  but  they  have  not  been  so  obvious,  because  the 
change  in  the  water-supply  was  introduced  gradually, 
instead  of  being  made  at  once  from  hard  water  to  soft. 


INVERTED  SUGAR. 

BY  JAMES  DEWrAB,  F.R.S.E. 

Lecturer  on  Chemistry ,  Veterinary  College ,  Edinburgh. 

For  some  time  past  an  animated  discussion  has  been 
going  on  in  the  columns  of  the  ‘  Comptes  Rendus  de 
l’Academie  des  Sciences’  between  MM.  Dubranfaut  and 
Maumene  regarding  the  nature  of  inverted  sugar.  M. 
Dubranfaut,  many  years  ago,  made  many  valuable  ad¬ 
ditions  to  our  knowledge  concerning  the  composition 
and  reactions  of  various  sugars,  especially  in  explaining 
the  result  of  the  action  of  dilute  acids  on  cane  sugar. 
He  explained  the  levo-rotatory  action  of  inverted  sugar, 
and  its  rapidly  varying  power  with  the  temperature,  as 
the  result  of  a  molecule  of  water,  in  reacting  with  a  mole¬ 


cule  of  cane  sugar,  generating  one  molecule  of  glucose 
and  one  of  laevulose.  Dubranfaut  believed  that  inverted 
sugar  consisted  of  a  mixture  of  glucose  and  laevulose  in 
equal  weights ;  and  although  he  did  not  make  a  direct 
analysis  of  the  product,  yet  he  was  justly  entitled  to  as¬ 
sume  that  it  was  so  constituted,  seeing  that,  generally,  it 
agreed  with  a  mean  of  the  properties  of  inulin  sugar  and 
dextrose. 

In  order  to  support  the  above  view,  he  separated  levo- 
glucose  from  the  inverted  sugar,  through  the  insolubility 
of  the  lime  compound,  and  compared  its  properties  with 
pure  laevulose.  The  decomposition  -would,  according  to 
Dubranfaut,  be  as  follows : — 

4*  — 

Ci2H22Ou  +  h2o  =  c6h12o6  +  c6h12o6 

"t*  73*8  -}-  56  — 106 

(-25) 

So  thoroughly  had  his  facts  and  explanations  been  ac¬ 
cepted  by  chemists  generally,  that  up  to  a  recent  date,  no 
one  had  discovered  any  flaw  in  his  researches,  and  there¬ 
fore  no  doubt  was  thrown  on  the  validity  of  this  theory. 
Recently,  Maumene  has  reinvestigated  the  composition 
of  inverted  sugar  by  analysis.  He  has  attempted  to  se¬ 
parate  the  two  sugars  through  the  action  of  chloride  of 
sodium.  The  dextro-glucose  forms  a  well-defined  crys¬ 
talline  compound  with  chloride  of  sodium,  whereas  the 
laevulose  does  not  form  any  compound.  The  results  ob¬ 
tained  by  this  method  differ  greatly  from  theory.  In¬ 
stead  of  finding  50  per  cent,  of  laevulose,  he  found  88  per 
cent.  In  repeating  the  experiments  of  Dubranfaut  on 
the  separation  of  levo-glucose  by  hydrate  of  lime,  he 
has  not  met  with  any  better  results ;  in  fact,  his  results 
are  quite  opposed  to  those  of  Dubranfaut. 

Apart  altogether  from  expressing  an  opinion  on  the 
merits  of  the  views  entertained  by  the  different  parties 
to  this  discussion,  the  author  has  thought  some  observa¬ 
tions  of  the  same  subject  might  not  be  unworthy  of 
notice  at  the  present  time. 

Linneman,  many  years  ago,  applied  the  process  of  hy¬ 
drogenation  to  the  sugars  that  he  had  found  so  success¬ 
ful  in  treating  the  simple  organic  substances.  In  the 
way  named  he  obtained  mannite  from  inverted  sugar, 
the  following  reaction  taking  place :  — 

C6Hi206  +  H2  =  C6H1406. 

Mannite  had  long  been  known  to  be  the  product  of  cer¬ 
tain  kinds  of  fermentation,  and  occurring  as  a  secondary 
product  in  the  vinous  fermentation  ;  but  it  was  this  ele¬ 
gant  synthesis  of  Linneman  that  first  clearly  showed  the 
connection.  But  although  inverted  sugar  can  be  changed 
into  mannite,  the  next  point  that  demands  a  solution  is 
the  proving  the  inverted  sugar  to  be  composed  of  equal 
quantities  of  dextrose  and  laevulose.  Are  they  both 
transformed  by  hydrogenation  into  mannite  ?  or  is  only 
one  of  them,  and  which  P  Linneman  seems  to  have 
directed  his  attention  to  the  solution  of  this  question. 
He  states  that  it  is  only  the  laevulose  that  is  so  affected. 
The  reasons  why  he  entertains  the  above  views  are  not 
given.  In  all  likelihood  he  thought  that,  just  as  Berth elot 
had  changed  mannite  by  a  peculiar  fermentation  into 
levo-glucose,  so  would  the  levo-glucose  in  inverted  sugar 
be  hydrogenized  into  mannite. 

In  repeating  the  action  of  sodium  amalgam  on  in¬ 
verted  sugar,  I  have  not  seen  any  reason  why  the  one 
sugar  any  more  than  the  other  should  be  supposed  to 
generate  the  mannite.  The  following  is  a  description  of 
the  mode  by  which  the  sugar  was  inverted  and  hydro¬ 
genized  : — 20  grammes  of  cane  sugar  were  dissolved  in 
150  grms.  of  water,  and  inverted  through  the  action  of 
2  grms.  of  sulphuric  acid,  keeping  the  solution  at  the 
temperature  of  70°  C.,  afterwards  adding  pure  carbonate 
of  barium,  filtering,  and  then  adding  one  gramme  of 
sodium  in  the  form  of  a  weak  amalgam.  The  action 
took  place  without  any  evolution  of  hydrogen.  If  the 
amalgam  was  impure  from  the  presence  of  other  metals, 
it  evolved  hydrogen  at  once,  and  the  solution  became 


170 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  27,  187(7. 


"brown ;  otherwise  it  remained  perfectly  clear.  After  one 
month,  the  solution  gave  no  trace  of  sugar  with  the  alka¬ 
line  copper  solution.  It  was  then  carefully  neutralized 
with  dilute  sulphuric  acid,  evaporated  on  the  water  hath, 
the  greater  part  of  the  sulphate  of  sodium  separated  by 
crystallization,  and  the  residue  treated  with  boiling  70 
per  cent,  alcohol,  the  solution  filtered  and  allowed  to 
crystallize.  Sometimes  the  mannite  did  not  crystallize 
until  all  the  alcohol  had  evaporated,  leaving  a  syrup 
that  slowly  assumed  the  crystalline  form.  The  product 
had  no  rotatory  power.  In  no  case  was  the  sugar  en¬ 
tirely  changed  into  mannite — a  gummy  substance  was 
invariably  left,  that  would  not  crystallize  after  exposure 
to  the  air  for  months.  Mannitan,  or  some  similar  body, 
may  be  one  of  the  products. 

Dextro-glucose  made  from  honey  gave  mannite  when 
treated  in  the  same  way,  having  exactly  the  same  melt¬ 
ing-point  as  ordinary  mannite.  In  treating  milk  sugar 
with  dilute  sulphuric  acid,  changing  into  gallactose  and 
hydrogenizing,  dulcite  was  not  isolated ;  but  I  have  not 
specially  studied  the  reaction. — Proceedings  of  the  Royal 
Society  of  Edinburgh. 

Introduction  of  the  Ipecacuanha  Plant  into 
India. — The  Duke  of  Argyll  addressed  the  Governor- 
General  on  the  20th  April  as  follows  : — “  I  have  consi¬ 
dered  the  dispatch  from  your  Excellency  in  Council, 
dated  25th  January,  urging  upon  me  the  importance  of 
introducing  the  ipecacuanha  plant  into  India,  and  sug¬ 
gesting  that  Dr.  Anderson,  Superintendent  of  the  Bota¬ 
nical  Gardens  at  Calcutta,  now  in  this  country,  should 
be  asked  to  submit  proposals  as  to  the  best  means  for 
obtaining  the  object  in  view.  On  the  application  of  the 
Government  of  Bombay  last  year,  I  had  already  recog¬ 
nized  the  importance  of  introducing  this  valuable  medi¬ 
cine  ;  and  the  two  plants  received  at  Bombay  having 
died,  I  had  already  taken  steps  for  procuring  others  for 
transmission  in  July  next.  I  transmit  to  you  the  cor¬ 
respondence  which  has  been  held  with  Dr.  Anderson  on 
this  subject;  and  I  trust  that,  even  should  the  other 
attempts  fail,  Dr.  Anderson  will  still  have  a  sufficient 
number  of  strong  plants  to  take  back  with  him  to  India 
to  secure  the  introduction  and  establishment  of  the 
plant.  It  seemed  to  me  that  an  application  through  the 
diplomatic  agents  of  her  Majesty  was  not  likely  to  be  so 
successful  as  an  application  through  commercial  or 
scientific  gentlemen.  You  will  see  from  the  accom¬ 
panying  memorandum  by  Mr.  C.  R.  Markham  that  he 
has  written  to  Messrs.  Miers  and  Co.,  of  Rio,  to  Mr. 
Bramah  and  to  Dr.  Otho  Wucherer  to  obtain  roots  of 
the  plant.  The  accompanying  correspondence  with 
Dr.  Cleghorn  and  Dr.  Balfour  will  show  you  that  I 
have  also  enlisted  the  kind  assistance  of  the  Royal  Bo¬ 
tanical  Gardens  at  Edinburgh  besides  the  aid  promised 
at  Kew.  I  forward  also  copies  of  the  memorandum  on 
the  propagation  of  the  ipecacuanha  plant  prepared  by 
Mr.  M‘Nab,  of  the  Royal  Botanical  Gardens  at  Edinburgh. 
Dr.  Christison  and  Dr.  Balfoui’  have  likewise  applied  to 
Dr.  Gunning,  a  medical  practitioner  at  Rio,  to  assist 
them  in  obtaining  plants  and  seeds.  I  add  to  these 
documents  the  letters  which  have  passed  between  Dr. 
Hooker  and  this  office  on  the  supply  of  plants  for  Bom¬ 
bay.  You  will  learn  from  my  dispatch  to  that  Govern¬ 
ment  that  the  plants  destined  for  them  will  be  retained 
at  Kew,  and  two  healthy  plants  will  be  sent  to  them 
from  the  Botanical  Gardens  at  Calcutta.”— Allen's  Indian 
Mail . 

Singular  Case  of  Substitution.— A  sample  which 
professed  to  consist  of  pure  chloride  of  aluminium  in 
crystals  was  recently  supplied  by  a  leading  operative 
chemist  in  London.  On  subjecting  it  to  chemical  analy¬ 
sis,  however,  it  proved  to  be  common  potash  alum. 

The  Invention  of  Soda-'Water  is  ascribed  to  Dr. 
Hawkins,  of  Philadelphia,  a  blind  chemist,  who,  in  1812, 
made  the  first  soda  fountain  in  America y— Philadelphia 
Medical  and  Surgical  Reporter. 


HELP  FOR  THE  WOUNDED. 

"We  have  received  through  Dr.  Sieveking  the  following- 
letter  in  reference  to  the  suggestion  put  forward  in  last 
week’s  Journal : — 

2,  St.  Martin's  Place ,  Trafalgar  Square, T  . 
August  24th,  1870. 

TO  THE  EDITOR  OF  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL.  ~ 

Sir, — On  behalf  of  the  Central  Committee  of  the  Asso¬ 
ciation  for  the  Sick  and  W ounded,  I  beg  to  thank  you 
for  the  appeal  you  have  made  in  your  last  issue  to  the 
pharmaceutists  of  Great  Britain  to  promote  the  objects 
of  the  Association.  I  beg  to  offer  you  and  the  pharma¬ 
ceutists  who  may  respond  to  your  call  our  warmest 
thanks  for  any  aid  you  may  afford  us. 

With  the  view  of  rendering  this  aid  as  efficacious  and 
practical  as  possible,  I  take  the  liberty  of  submitting  to 
you  the  following  list  of  articles  which  (with  the  most 
available  forms  for  immediate  use)  have  been  agreed 
upon  by  Doctors  Sieveking  and  Pollock,  medical  mem¬ 
bers  of  our  Committee,  as  being  more  immediately  re¬ 
quired  from  the  stores  at  your  disposal. 

Opium  in  all  forms. 

Opium  in  pills  containing  1  grain  each,  put  up  in 
small  bottles,  4  dozen  pills  to  each  bottle. 

Morphia,  in  pills  containing  i-grain  each. 

Laudanum,  in  2  oz.  bottles. 

Liq.  Ammonise,  in  2  oz.  bottles. 

Sal  volatile,  in  8  oz.  bottles. 

Chloroform,  1  lb.  to  each  bottle. 

Quinia,  in  bulk,  and  in  2-grain  pills,  4  dozen  to  each 
bottle. 

Hydrate  of  chloral,  in  2  oz.  bottles. 

Carbolic  acid. 

Condy’s  fluid. 

Chlorinated  lime  and  soda. 

Effervescing  salines. 

Lint. 

Bandages  of  cotton,  linen,  or  flannel,  with  the  lengths' 
marked  on  each. 

Cotton-wool — sponges — waterproof  sheeting — icebags 
— oil- silk. 

It  is  thought  desirable  that  all  medicines  should  be1 
distinctly  labelled,  in  English  and  Latin,  with  the  doses, 
and  that  each  parcel  or  box  should  be  accompanied  by  a 
list  of  its  contents. 

Fuller  lists  of  articles  required  for  the  wounded  soldiers 
are  published  by  the  Society,  but  I  have  confined  myself 
in  the  above  enumeration  to  the  articles  that  would  ap¬ 
pear  to  come  more  immediately  under  the  cognizance  of 
your  readers. 

Thanking  you  again  for  your  advocacy  of  a  cause 
which  demands  our  liveliest  sympathies,  I  have  the 
honour  to  be,  Sir, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Robert  Loyd  Lindsay, 

Emit. -Col.  and  Chairman  of  Committee. 


Supply  of  Sulphate  of  Quinine  to  the  French 
Army. — The  intendance  militaire  has  advertised  for  es¬ 
timates  for  500  kilogrammes  of  sulphate  of  quinine,  to 
be  supplied  at  the  rate  of  125  kilogrammes  a  month. 
This  advertisement  has  suggested  various  surmises  re¬ 
garding  the  health  of  the  army,  but  they  are  not  of  suf¬ 
ficient  value  to  repeat.  The  fact,  nevertheless,  is  worth 
noticing. — British  Medical  Journal. 

Morfit’s  Hair  Dye. — Scald  black  tea,  two  ounces, 
in  one  gallon  of  boiling  water;  strain,  and  add  three 
ounces  of  glycerine,  tincture  of  Spanish  flies,  half  an 
ounce,  and  bay  rum,  one  quart ;  digest  the  mixture  for 
two  or  three  days,  and  perfume  with  essence  of  rose  or 
bergamot,  or  any  other  favourite  essence  to  suit  the 
taste. — Philadelphia  Medical  and  Surgical  Reporter. 


August  27,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


171 


Cjtf  fount;!. 


SATURDAY,  AUGUST  27,  1870. 


MAJORS  AND  MEMBERS. 

A  glance  at  tlie  Calendar  and  at  the  monthly  re¬ 
port  of  the  Council’s  proceedings,  shows  that  whilst 
the  number  of  candidates  for  the  Major  examination 
is  happily  increasing,  only  a  few  of  those  who  pass 
take  up  their  membership  before  commencing  busi¬ 
ness  on  them  own  account.  At  the  present  time  there 
are,  we  believe,  no  fewer  than  200  examined  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Chemists,  who  are  not  on  the  list, — nearly 
one -tenth  of  the  total  number  of  members. 

We  desire  to  call  attention  to  this  subject,  because 
it  still  seems  not  to  be  generally  known  that  every 
one  who  has  passed  the  Major  examination  is  eli¬ 
gible  to  be  elected  a  member  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society,  whether  he  be  in  business  or  not :  that  it 
is  only  necessary  to  apply  to  the  Secretary,  who  will 
in  due  course  present  to  the  Council  the  names  of  ap¬ 
plicants  for  election. 

Though  it  is  an  obvious  truism,  it  cannot  be  too 
often  reiterated,  that  the  Society’s  future  strength 
and  usefulness  are  in  a  great  degree  dependent  upon 
the  young  examined  men.  Their  number  is  now 
considerable,  and  the  Society  cannot  afford  to  wait 
for  the  prestige  it  would  derive  from  the  accession  of 
such  valuable  alumni. 

They  may  be  regarded  as  the  highly  trained  sol¬ 
diers  of  Pharmacy  who  are  destined  to  replace  that 
noble  band  of  volunteers  who  have  manfully  held  the 
ground  for  nearly  thirty  years,  in  the  confident  hope 
that  every  successful  student  would,  at  the  earliest 
moment,  rush  eagerly  to  the  front  to  relieve  them. 

We  constantly  need  the  daily  practical  experience 
of  educated  assistants  as  well  as  of  employers  ;  they 
can  render  material  assistance  in  the  endeavour  to 
deal  with  the  difficult  subject  of  storing  poisons. 
Their  views  would  be  of  special  service  for  deter¬ 
mining  the  most  efficient  method  of  spreading  pro¬ 
fessional  knowledge  throughout  the  provinces,  so 
that  the  poorest  apprentice  might  himself  pave  the 
way  towards  passing  a  creditable  examination. 
Their  solicitude  in  maintaining  the  high  standard  of 
the  examinations  and  the  qualifications  of  examiners, 
would  also  be  of  real  service,  while  at  no  distant 
time,  some  of  the  more  distinguished  of  them  will  be 
required  to  fill  up  vacancies  in  the  Board  of  Exa¬ 
miners  ;  for,  independently  of  technical  qualification, 
the  Examiners  must  be  members  of  the  Society.  Nor 
can  we  omit  to  mention  the  privilege  of  voting,  see¬ 
ing  how  much  our  internal  welfare  and  material 
prosperity  depend  upon  a  thoughtful  and  judicious 
exercise  of  the  power  which  it  confers.  In  order 


not  to  be  misunderstood,  let  us  disclaim  the  idea  that 
we  are  pleading  for  an  extra  half-guinea  subscrip¬ 
tion.  The  last  balance-sheet  proves  that  the  Society 
is  not  only  free  from  pecuniary  wants,  but  that  it  is 
investing  money  largely.  We  desire,  and  we  hope 
to  secure,  the  personal  support  far  more  than  the 
money  of  those  who  constitute  the  truly  professional 
element  in  pharmacy  and  to  whom  we  now  address 
ourselves. 

We  do  not  hesitate  to  assert  that  in  regard  to 
influence  with  the  public,  in  regard  to  the  means  for 
developing  a  system  of  liberal  education  for  the 
rising  generation  of  chemists  and,  in  regard  to  faci¬ 
lities  for  generally  diffusing  sound  practical  science, 
the  capabilities  of  our  Alma  Mater  are  vastly  in¬ 
creased  by  each  single  educated  pharmacist  who 
becomes  in  every  sense  a  member  of  the  Society. 


MR.  SIMON  ON  THE  PHARMACY  ACT. 

The  reports  of  the  medical  officer  of  the  Privy 
Council  will  henceforth  be  documents  which  will 
have  an  official  interest  and  authoritative  value  for 
the  members  of  the  pharmaceutical  profession.  As 
the  Privy  Council  is  the  controlling  authority  in  re¬ 
spect  to  the  working  of  the  Pharmacy  Act,  while 
the  medical  officer  of  the  Privy  Council  is  the  official 
adviser  of  that  body  in  all  concerning  the  inter¬ 
pretation  and  administration  of  the  Act,  we  shall 
have  to  look  to  his  reports  for  the  indication  of  the 
views  of  the  Government,  so  far  as  it  concerns  itself 
with  our  body.  Perhaps,  on  the  whole,  the  less  it 
does  concern  itself  with  us,  at  present,  the  better  for 
the  public,  for  ourselves  and  for  every  one.  But  since 
the  pharmaceutical  profession  has  received  consider¬ 
able  privileges  as  well  as  a  responsible  and  important 
monopoly,  it  will  of  course,  in  the  future,  have  to 
reckon  with  official  supervisors,  while  hitherto  it  has 
been  entirely  free  and  unfettered.  We  may  state 
that  it  will  be  found  that  the  twelfth  report,  which  is 
about  to  issue,  gives  an  account  of  the  work  done  by 
the  department  up  to  the  beginning  of  the  present 
year,  in  respect  to  the  Pharmacy  Act.  This  is  de¬ 
scribed  as  consisting  in  the  approval  of  a  code  of 
consolidated  and  amended  bye-laws,  under  which 
admission  is  granted  to  the  practice  of  pharmacy, 
additions  to  the  schedule  of  poisons  annexed  to  the 
Act,  and  the  appointment  of  a  visitor  to  the  exami¬ 
nations  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  on  the  part  of 
their  Lordships. 

“  It  had  long,”  says  Mr.  Simon,  “  been  a  desidera¬ 
tum  in  Great  Britain,  as  regards  the  practice  of 
pharmacy,  that  tins  skilled  commerce — where  unskil¬ 
fulness  means  very  serious  danger  to  the  public 
health — should  only  be  open  to  persons  whose  quali¬ 
fications  for  practising  it  safely  had  been  tested  by 
proper  examination ;  and  the  appended  reports  ap¬ 
pear  to  me  to  give  ground  for  much  public  satisfac¬ 
tion,  as  showing  that  the  system  which  the  Pliar- 


172 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  27,  1870. 


macy  Act  of  1868  brought  into  operation,  provides 
adequate  security  to  that  very  important  effect.” 

We  will  next  week  give  further  details  from  this 
report,  the  publication  of  which  marks  the  commence¬ 
ment  of  an  important  era  in  the  history  of  the  prac¬ 
tice  of  pharmacy  in  this  country :  the  era  of  universal 
and  improved  pharmaceutical  education,  of  State  re¬ 
cognition,  and  of  the  consolidation,  as  one  united 
body,  of  the  pharmacists  of  Great  Britain. 


CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’  FUND  FOR  THE 
SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 

We  are  glad  to  find  that  the  suggestion  put  for¬ 
ward  last  week,  has  met  with  very  cordial  approval 
and  recognition,  not  only  from  Pharmaceutists,  hut 
also  from  the  Committee,  as  will  he  seen  from  the 
letter  of  the  Chairman,  inserted  in  another  column. 
Contributions  are  already  coming  in,  and  our  con¬ 
temporary  the  British  Medical  Journal  in  speak¬ 
ing  of  the  appeal  as  timely  and  well-placed,  expresses 
the  belief  that,  on  this  occasion,  the  numerous  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  trade  will  respond  to  it  as  liberally  as 
they  did,  on  a  former  occasion,  to  a  private  appeal  in 
favour  of  the  Garibaldian  volunteers.  In  the  letter 
already  referred  to  will  be  found  a  list  of  the  articles 
which  the  medical  members  of  the  Committee,  Dr. 
Sieveking  and  Dr.  Pollock,  have  agreed  upon  as 
being  more  immediately  requisite.  The  mode  of 
labelling  and  packing  to  be  adopted  is  also  pointed 
out  there.  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  contribu¬ 
tions  received  or  promised  up  to  the  time  of  going  to 


□0 «  s .  d* 

11  Bestia”  , . . .....  . . . . . .  0  5  0 

Binge,  Thomas,  23,  Stockbridge  Terrace  ....  0  5  0 

Bishop,  Alfred,  Mile  End,  N.E . . .  1  1  0 

Blake,  Sandford  and  Blake,  47,  Piccadilly,  W.  2  2  0 

Bourdas,  Isaiah,  Pont  Street,  S. W .  . . .  2  2  0 

Bremxidge,  Elias,  17,  Bloomsbury  Sq.,  W.C. .  110 

Buckle,  C.  F.,  77,  Gray’s  Inn  Road .  0  10  0 

Crowther,  T.,  Tickhill . .  1  9  0 

Deane,  Henry,  Clapham .  1  0  0 

Dinneford  and  Co.,  172,  New  Bond  Street  ..220 

Floyd,  J.  F.,  Bury  St.  Edmund’s .  1  0  0 

Garle,  John,  Bickley . . . .  1  1  0 

Harvey  and  Reynolds,  Leeds .  5  0  0 

Lake,  Richard,  Greenwood  Road  .  0  10  0 

Passmore,  F.,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square  .  0  5  0 

Savage,  W.  D.,  Brighton . .  110 

Sutton,  Francis,  Norwich  .  1  1  0 

Tibbs,  Frederick,  Blackfriars  Road  . .  0  10  6 

Wagstaff,J.H.,  James  St.,  Westbourne  Terrace  10  0 
Whitfield,  J.,  Scarborough .  0  10  0 

Per  Mr.  Sturton,  Local  Secretary, 

Peterborough  : —  £ .  s.  d. 

Bright,  Richard  . .  0  10  0 

Heanley,  Marshall  . . 0  10  0 

Loveridge,  T.  P .  0  2  6 

Negus,  F.  J .  0  2  6 

Parker,  John  Samuel  .  0  2  6 

Parnell,  John  . 0  10  0 

Pearson,  John  H. . . .  0  10  0 

Sturton  and  Sons . . .  0  10  0 

Whit  well,  John  .  0  10  0 

Willson,  Stephen  . .  0  10  0 

-  3  17  6 1 


Per  Mr.  Mays,  Local  Secretary,  £.  s.  d. 

South  Shields  : —  £.  s.  d. 

Crosby,  J.  B .  0  10  0 

Forrest,  Robert .  0  10  0 

Hudson,  Thomas .  0  10  6 

Mays,  R.  J.  J.,  and  Son . . .  1  1  0 

Oates,  Thomas .  0  10  0 

Williamson,  B.  and  E .  0  10  0 

■ -  3  11  6 


John  Bell  and  Co.,  338,  Oxford  Street : — 

Two  boxes  of  medicine,  to  the  amount  of  25  0  0 

containing :  — 

I.  Opium  pills,  1  grain  each,  in  bottles 
containing  4  dozen  each. 

Morphia  pills,  I  grain  each,  in  bottles. 

Quinine  pills,  2  grains  each,  in  boxes. 

Chloroform,  \  lb.  bottles. 

Laudanum,  in  4  oz.  bottles. 

Sal  volatile,  in  4  oz.  bottles. 

Citro-tartrate  of  soda,  in  4  oz.  bottles. 

Lint. 

II.  50  lb.  prepared  oakum  for  surgical  purposes. 

J.  Robbins  and  Co.,  372,  Oxford  Street,  W. : — 

7  lb.  lint. 

12  yards  adhesive  plaster. 

1  dozen  bottles  styptic  colloid. 

J.  Robinson,  Orford  Hill,  Norwich  : — 

A  quantity  of  old  linen. 

1-oz.  bottle  of  citrate  of  iron  and  quinia. 

1-oz.  bottle  of  sulphate  of  quinine. 

A.  P.  Towle,  Manchester : — 

100  1-oz.  bottles  of  chlorodyne. 


The  Lancet ,  in  stating  that  the  Council  of  the 
Hoyal  College  of  Surgeons  has  determined  to  remove 
from  the  list  of  its  members  the  name  of  Edwin 
Lowe,  lately  convicted  for  administering  a  drug  with 
criminal  intent,  says, — “  We  cannot  hut  admire  tins 
vigilance  on  the  part  of  the  Council  and  applaud  the 
result  to  which  it  has  led.  But  we  would  most  re¬ 
spectfully  inquire  whether  it  might  not  be  possible 
to  carry  similar  vigilance  a  step  further,  and  to  re¬ 
move  one  or  two  notorious  persons  from  the  list  be¬ 
fore  they  have  graduated  in  honours  at  the  Old 
Bailey.  When  a  man  is  actually  undergoing  a  crimi¬ 
nal  sentence,  it  matters  little  to  any  one  whether  he 
is  a  Member  of  the  Hoyal  College  of  Surgeons  or 
not ;  but  a  career  tending  to  the  former  distinction 
might  sometimes  be  nipped  in  the  bud  if  the  higher 
officials  of  the  profession  were  empowered  to  warn 
and  to  punish  before  A  22  could  legitimately  inter¬ 
fere.” 

The  idea  expressed  in  this  note  applies  no  less  to 
the  practice  of  pharmacy  than  it  does  to  that  of  me¬ 
dicine  ;  in  both  cases  a  judicious  regard  to  the 
axiom  that  “  prevention  is  better  than  cine  ”  might 
do  much  to  remove  professional  abuses,  and  to  do 
away  with  trade  grievances. 


It  appears  from  evidence  given  before  the  Com¬ 
mons’  Select  Committee  on  the  Abyssinian  Expedi¬ 
tion  that  at  the  sale  of  surplus  stores  the  loss  on 
medicines  alone  amounted  to  .£35, 829. 


August  27,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


173 


fnriratml  fmsadim 


BRISTOL  PHARMACEUTICAL  ^ASSOCIATION. 

A  General  Meeting  of  tlie  Association  was  held  on 
August  12th,  IS 70,  at  the  Philosophical  Institution; 
Mr.  Stoddart,  President,  in  the  chair. 

After  some  routine  business,  the  President  called  the 
attention  of  the  meeting  to  the  special  business  of  the 
evening,  namely,  the  presentation  of  the  prizes  to  their 
young  friends  who  had  been  successful  in  the  recent 
examinations.  The  Committee,  as  the  meeting  was  pro¬ 
bably  aware,  had  offered  a  series  of  prizes,  two  in  each 
subject  upon  which  they  had  been  able  to  arrange  a 
course  of  lectures.  These  subjects  had  been  inorganic 
chemistry,  organic  chemistry,  structural  botany  and  sys¬ 
tematic  botany.  Each  course  had  been  complete  in  itself, 
consisting  of  about  thirty  lectures.  They  were  the 
courses  delivered  by  Mr.  Coomber  and  Mr.  Leipner  in 
connection  with  the  Science  and  Art  Department  of  the 
Government,  and  the  examinations  were  those  conducted 
by  Dr.  Frankland  and  Dr.  Thomson  on  behalf  of  the 
Department.  The  officials  had  supplied  this  Associa¬ 
tion,  at  the  request  of  its  Honorary  Secretary,  with 
a  list  of  its  Associates  who  had  been  examined,  ar¬ 
ranged  in  the  order  of  the  merit  of  their  papers.  The 
result,  on  the  whole,  had  been  highly  satisfactory.  A 
large  amount  of  industry  and  steady  application  had 
been  manifested  by  some  of  the  students,  one  particular 
illustration  of  which  he  could  not  refrain  from  mention¬ 
ing.  His  young  friend  Mr.  Milton  lived  at  a  distance 
of  over  five  miles  from  Bristol,  and  he  had  walked  in 
and  out  for  each  lecture,  and  had  missed  none.  He  had 
thus  walked  600  miles  for  his  chemistry  alone.  He  was 
very  glad  to  find  Mr.  Milton’s  name  among  the  prize¬ 
winners.  He  then  called  upon  Mr.  Coomber,  Professor 
of  Chemistry,  to  read  his  report,  which  was  as  fol¬ 
lows  : — 

“  Gentlemen, — Your  students  received  two  courses  of 
lectures  from  me  during  the  past  session,  one  on  inor¬ 
ganic  chemistry  and  a  second  on  organic  chemistry. 
The  first  course  embraced  the  chemistry  of  the  non- 
metallic  elements,  the  second  the  more  important  classes 
of  organic  compounds.  Twenty-six  students  commenced 
the  study  of  inorganic  chemistry,  and  twelve  presented 
themselves  for  examination  ;  nine  commenced  the  study 
of  organic  chemistry,  and  eight  presented  themselves  for 
examination.  Of  the  twelve  who  offered  themselves  in 
inorganic  chemistry,  four  appeared  in  the  first  class, 
seven  in  the  second  class,  and  one  failed ;  of  the  eight 
who  offered  themselves  in  organic  chemistry,  four 
appeared  in  the  first  class,  three  in  the  second  class,  and 
one  failed.  The  attention  and  persevering  industry  of 
those  young  men  who  offered  themselves  for  examina¬ 
tion  cannot  be  too  highly  spoken  of.  There  were  others 
equally  diligent,  whom  circumstances,  much  to  their 
own  annoyance,  prevented  from  attending  the  examina¬ 
tion.  Still,  in  most  cases,  attendance  at  the  examina¬ 
tions  may  be  taken  to  be  a  fair  test  of  the  assiduity  of 
a  student.  The  attendance  in  many  cases  has  been 
very  regular ;  some  students  have  not  been  absent  on  a 
single  occasion,  and  amongst  these  Mr.  Milton  deserves 
to  be  mentioned,  as  he  walked  in  to  the  lectures  from  a 
country  village  five  miles  distant  from  Bristol.” 

The  following  are  the  questions  that  were  put  at  the 
Examination.  The  value  attached  to  each  question  was 
the  same,  and  three  hours  were  allowed  for  each  paper: — 

INORGANIC  CHEMISTRY. 

Examiner — Professor  Frankland,  Ph.D.,  F.R.S. 

First  or  Elementary  Stage  Examination. 

You  are  only  permitted  to  attempt  eight  questions. 
You  may  select  these  from  any  part  of  the  paper. 

You  are  requested,  whenever  possible,  to  express  the 
reactions  in  equations. 


You  are  to  give  such  numerical  details  as  will  show 
the  mode  of  calculation. 

1.  Explain  how  you  would  demonstrate  experimentally 

that  water  is  formed  by  the  combustion  of  hydrogen 
in  air. 

2.  What  is  meant  by  the  atomicity  or  equivalence  of 

an  element  F  Give  the  atomicity  of  all  the  non- 
tallic  elements. 

3.  What  do  you  understand  by  the  terms  “  element,” 

“oxide,”  “metal,”  and  “non-metal”  P 

4.  One  litre  of  nitrogen  gas,  measured  at  0°  C.,  and  760 

mm.  mercurial  pressure,  weighs  14  criths ;  what  is 
the  weight  in  grains  of  one  cubic  metre  of  the  same 
gas  measured  at  the  same  temperature  and  pres¬ 
sure  ? 

5.  Mention  the  composition  of  Ozone,  state  its  properties, 

and  describe  how  you  would  prepare  it. 

6.  How  would  you  demonstrate  experimentally  the  com¬ 

position  of  water  and  of  air  ? 

7.  Classify  the  following  substances  into  elements  and 

compounds ■ 

Calomel.  Iodine. 

Nitre.  Lead. 

Tin.  Brass. 

Graphite.  Diamond. 

8.  Give  the  names  of  the  substances  denoted  by  the  fol¬ 

lowing  chemical  formulas : — 

HC1  Cl2 


Epsom  salts. 
Copper. 
Bronze. 
Chalk. 


OH2 

n2o5 

Oa 


B203 

so. 


HOo  Cl 
NH. 


'3  KJ'-/2  J”L3 

Give  the  symbolic  formulas  of  the  following  sub¬ 
stances  : — 


Water.  Ozone.  Sal-ammoniac. 

Perchloric  acid.  Hydroxyl.  Boric  anhydride. 

Sulphuric  acid.  Carbonic  anhydride.  Hypochlorous  acid. 

10.  Wliat  is  the  specific  gravity  of  ammonia,  that  of  hy¬ 

drogen  being  taken  as  unity  ? 

11.  How  would  you  show  experimentally  that  hydro¬ 

chloric  acid  consists  of  hydrogen  and  chlorine  ? 

12.  I  add  two  volumes  of  oxygen  to  one  volume  of  each 

of  the  following  gases ;  what  takes  place,  and  what 
effect  will  be  produced,  if  an  electric  spark  be  after¬ 
wards  passed  through  each  of  the  mixtures  P — 

Chlorine.  Nitric  oxide. 

Hydrogen.  Carbonic  oxide. 

Sulphuretted  hydrogen.  Carbonic  anhydride. 

Nitrous  oxide. 


ORGANIC  CHEMISTRY. 

First  or  Elementary  Stage  Examination. 

You  are  only  permitted  to  attempt  eight  questions. 
You  may  select  these  from  any  part  of  the  paper. 

Whenever  possible,  you  are  to  express  the  reactions  in 
equations. 

You  are  to  give  such  numerical  details  as  will  show 
the  mode  of  calculation. 

Atomic  weights  to  be  used : — H  —  1  ;  O  =  16  ;  C  =  12. 

1.  Give  the  formulae  and  percentage  composition  of 

formic  acid  and  oxalic  acid. 

2.  Give  two  distinct  and  different  processes  for  the  pre¬ 

paration  of  ethylene,  showing  all  chemical  changes 
by  equations. 

3.  What  is  the  empirical  formula  of  a  substance  which 

yields  the  following  results  on  analysis  ? — 


Carbon  .  20*00 

Hydrogen .  6*66 

Oxygen .  26*67 

Nitrogen  . 46*67 


100*00 

4.  Give  the  graphic  and  symbolic  formulae  of  the  fol¬ 

lowing  substances : — Prussic  acid,  acetic  acid,  alco¬ 
hol,  methyl,  and  marsh  gas. 

5.  What  member  of  the  alcohol  family  is  found  amongst 


174 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  27,  1870. 


the  products  of  the  destructive  distillation  of  wood ; 
how  can  you  extract  it  in  a  state  of  purity  from 
wood  naphtha,  and  what  is  its  graphic  formula  F 

6.  How  can  you  detect  the  presence  of  nitrogen  in  an 

organic  substance  ? 

7.  You  are  required  to  make  1  oz.  of  lactic  acid  from 

milk  ;  how  will  you  do  it  ? 

8.  Give  the  name  and  graphic  formula  of  a  member  of 

each  of  the  following  families  of  organic  com- 
’  pounds : — Alcohols,  aldehydes,  ethereal  salts,  ethers, 
and  haloid  ethers. 

9.  If  a  mixture  of  acetate  of  potash,  caustic  soda,  and 

quicklime  he  heated  to  a  temperature  somewhat 
below  redness,  what  gaseous  product  is  obtained  ? 
Give  its  name  and  formula,  and  state  where  it  is 
met  with  in  nature. 

10.  You  have  given  to  you  the  following  materials,  and 

are  required  to  make  acetic  acid ;  state  exactly  what 
operations  you  will  perform, _and  explain  all  chemi¬ 
cal  changes  by  equations  : — 

Ethylic  iodide.  Water. 

Sodic  carbonate.  Potassic  chromate. 

Quicklime.  Sulphuric  acid. 

11.  If  an  alkaline  solution  of  potassic  cyanide  he  boiled, 

what  decomposition  takes  place  ? 

12.  If  hitter  almonds  he  macerated  in  warm  water,  what 

member  of  the  aldehyde  family  is  produced,  and 
why  is  this  aldehyde  not  formed  when  sweet  are 
substituted  for  hitter  almonds  ? 

Mr.  Schacht  then  asked  permission,  in  the  absence  of 
their  Professor  of  Botany,  who  was  unfortunately  abroad, 
to  say  a  few  words  about  the  botanical  classes,  which  he 
had  himself  attended  and  watched  with  some  care.  He 
said  it  was  certainly  to  be  regretted  that  the  results  of 
the  Examinations  in  this  part  of  their  scheme  had  not 
been  so  favourable  as  in  chemistry  ;  and  it  was  clear  the 
interest  felt  in  it  had  not  been  so  great.  The  attendance, 
which,  at  the  commencement  of  the  course,  had  averaged 
about  twenty  at  each  lecture,  dwindled,  after  a  short 
time  to  ten  or  twelve.  In  the  “  Structural  and  Physio¬ 
logical”  course,  eight  only  had  entered  for  the  Exami¬ 
nation,  and  two  only  had  passed ;  and  in  the  “  Systema¬ 
tic  and  Economic”  course,  five  only  had  entered,  and 
two  only  had  passed.  In  seeking  for  an  explanation  of 
these  somewhat  unfavourable  facts,  he  was  bound  to  say 
he  could  not  attribute  them  in  any  way  to  their  very  ex¬ 
cellent  teacher,  Mr.  Leipner,  who,  on  the  contrary,  had 
been  most  assiduous  in  his  work  and  most  anxious  to 
advance  his  pupils ;  but  he  thought  they  might  be,  in 
part  at  least,  due  to  the  difficulties  under  which  both 
professors  and  students  of  botany  lay  in  the  winter  sea¬ 
son,  when  so  few  illustrations  of  the  subject  can  be  ob¬ 
tained — a  difficulty  he  would  venture  to  compare  to 
an  attempt  to  lecture  upon  chemistry  without  the  display 
of  experiments.  He  might  add  that  the  Committee 
had  already  discussed  the  desirability,  in  their  next  Ses¬ 
sion,  of  making  botany  a  summer  course.  Truth,  how¬ 
ever,  compelled  him  to  say  they  all  felt  some  disappoint¬ 
ment  at  the  result  of  this  part  of  their  experiment,  which, 
it  must  not  he  forgotten,  was  of  quite  as  much  import¬ 
ance  in  the  practice  of  their  profession  as  chemistry.  He 
hoped  next  year  to  witness  greater  botanical  zeal  amongst 
their  young  friends. 

YE  GET  ABLE  ANATOMY  AND  PHYSIOLOGY. 

Examiner — T.  Thomson,  M.D.,  F.R.S. 

First  or  Elementary  Stage  Examination. 

You  are  only  permitted  to  answer  six  questions. 

1.  How  does  the  root  differ  from  the  stem  in  structure 

and  function  ? 

2.  "What  are  the  appearances  presented  by  a  transverse 

and  longitudinal  section  of  the  trunk  of  an  oak  ? 
Explain  the  terms  sapwood  and  heartwood.  Which 
of  the  two  is  the  more  durable,  and  why  ? 


3.  What  are  spiral  vessels  and  ducts  ?  In  what  part  of 

the  plant  are  they  chiefly  found  F  In  what  plants 
are  they  absent  F 

4.  Define  the  terms  anatropous,  campylotropous  and  or- 

thotropous,  and  name  one  or  two  examples  of  the 
occurrence  of  each. 

5.  Explain  the  terms  hilum,  chalaza,  raphe,  arillus, 

and  give  the  relative  position  of  these  parts  (when 
present)  to  each  other  in  the  three  cases  named  in 
the  preceding  question. 

6.  Describe  the  process  of  respiration  in  plants. 

7.  Point  out  the  principal  differences  between  exogens 

and  endogens. 


SYSTEMATIC  AND  ECONOMIC  BOTANY. 
Examiner — T.  Thomson,  M.D.,  F.R.S. 

First  or  Elementary  Stage  Examination. 

You  are  only  permitted  to  answer  seven  questions,  two 
of  which  must  be  8  and  9. 

1.  In  what  Natural  Orders  of  British  plants  is  the  pla- 

centation  parietal  F 

2.  Give  the  characters  of  the  Natural  Order  Rosacece,  and 

point  out  how  it  differs  from  Leguminosce. 

3.  To  what  Natural  Order  does  the  genus  Clematis  be¬ 

long  F  What  are  its  characters  F  State  in  which 
of  them  it  agrees  with,  and  in  which  of  them  it 
differs  from,  the  other  British  genera  of  the  Order. 

4.  Define  the  terms  raceme,  spike,  catkin,  umbel,  capitu- 

lum,  panicle,  corymb,  and  give  an  example  of  each 
taken  from  a  British  plant. 

5.  What  is  estivation  F  Enumerate  the  different  kinds, 

and  give  one  or  more  examples  of  each,  taken  from 
British  plants. 

6.  To  what  Natural  Order  do  the  plants  yielding  tea, 

coffee,  and  chocolate  belong  F  What  part  of  the 
plant  is  used  in  each  case  F  Give  a  sketch  of  the 
mode  of  preparation  of  each. 

7.  To  what  Natural  Order  do  the  following  useful  pro¬ 

ducts  belong  F  What  is  their  use,  and  what  part 
of  the  plant  yields  them  F  Marsh-mallow,  taraxa¬ 
cum,  cucumber,  hops,  tobacco,  colchicum. 

8.  9.  Describe  the  two  plants  laid  before  you,  taking 

their  organs  (when  present)  in  the  following 
order : — 

Stem.  Sepals.  Ovary. 

Leaves.  Petals.  Fruit. 

Bracts.  Stamens.  Seeds. 

The  lists  furnished  by  the  officers  of  the  Science  and 
Art  Department,  South  Kensington,  were  then  read,  and 
arranged  in  the  order  of  merit  in  which  the  candidates 
passed  their  examinations,  from  which  it  appeared  that 
the  following  gentlemen  became  entitled  to  the  prizes  : — 


Chemistry. 

Inorganic. 

1.  Mr.  A.  W.  Little. 

2.  Mr.  W.  D.  Tamplin. 

Organic. 

1.  Mr.  T.  Milton. 

2.  Mr.  W.  D.  Tamplin. 


Botany. 

Structural  and  Physiological '» 

1.  Mr.  A.  W.  Little. 

2.  Mr.  T.  Milton. 
Systematic  and  Economic. 

1.  Mr.  A.  W.  Little. 

2.  Mr.  T.  Milton. 


The  Prizes  were  then  presented  by  the  President, — 
Mr.  A.  W.  Little  receiving  a  microscope,  value  £3.  3  s. ; 
Mr.  T.  Milton  a  prize  of  books,  value  £2.  2s. ;  and  Mr. 
W.  D.  Tamplin  a  prize  of  books,  value  £1.  Is. 


LEICESTER  CHEMISTS’  ASSISTANTS  AND 
APPRENTICES’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Half-yearly  Meeting  of  the  above  Association 
was  held  at  St.  George’s  Rooms,  Rutland  Street,  on  Fri¬ 
day,  August  5th,  1870 ;  the  President,  Mr.  J.  Young,  in 
the  chair. 

The  Treasurer  (Mr.  E.  H.  Butler)  read  his  financial 
report,  and  explained  that  the  smallness  of  the  balance 


August  27, 1S70.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


175 


in  hand  was  accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  several 
subscriptions  due  from  honorary  members  had  not  been 
collected,  in  order  that  their  acknowledgment  might 
appear  in  the  balance-sheet  of  the  next  half-year,  in 
which  session  the  subscriptions  of  the  majority  of  the 
honorary  members  would  become  due. 

Treasurer' s  Balance  Sheet  for  the  Half  Year  ending 
August  5,  1870. 

Dr. 

To  Balance  brought  forward,  February,  1870  . 

„  Annual  Subscriptions  of  2  Honorary  Mem¬ 
bers  at  10^.  6d . 

„  14  Assistants’  Half-yearly  Subscriptions 

at  3s . . . 

11  Apprentices’  Half-yearly  Subscriptions 

at  2s . . . . . 

Allowance  off  Printing  . 

Cash  from  Library  Fund  for  Hire  of  Books 
Ditto  for  Fines . 


» 


Cr. 


Rent  of  St.  George’s  Rooms  from  January  1  to 


H.  Cooper, 
W.  B.  Blunt 


£. 

8. 

d. 

1 

6 

7 

1 

1 

0 

2 

2 

0 

1 

2 

0 

0 

1 

3 

0 

5 

4 

0 

4 

3 

£6 

2 

5 

£. 

s. 

d. 

0 

15 

0 

0 

10 

0 

0 

4 

6 

0 

8 

2 

0 

3 

0 

3 

15 

0 

0 

6 

9 

£6 

2 

5 

Auditors . 


The  President  then  called  upon  Mr.  W.  B.  Clark 
(Honorary  Secretary)  to  read  his  report,  from  which  it 
appeared  that  during  the  session  nine  members  of  the 
Association  (forming  more  than  35  per  cent.)  had  passed 
eleven  examinations  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  as 
follows, — three  Minor,  two  Modified  and  six  Classical  or 
Preliminary  examinations.  This  highly  satisfactory  re¬ 
sult,  the  Committee  think,  has  not  its  equal  in  any 
similar  Association. 

Classes  have  been  conducted  by  the  more  efficient 
members  of  the  Association  during  the  session  upon 
chemistry,  materia  medica,  botany,  Latin,  and  arith¬ 
metic.  Scientific  papers  have  also  been  read  by  several 
gentlemen  upon  interesting  subjects,  to  whom  the  best 
thanks  of  the  Association  are  due.  Forty-eight  meet¬ 
ings  have  been  held  during  the  half-year,  which  have 
afforded  great  facilities  for  the  improvement  of  the 
members,  and  have  been  well  attended. 

In  acknowledgment  of  the  services  rendered  to  the 
Association  by  Mr.  Edward  Atkins,  B.Sc.,  and  Mr.  R. 
Weaver,  C.E.,  those  gentlemen  were  elected  honorary 
members. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  elected  as  the  Com¬ 
mittee  for  the  ensuing  half-year : — 

*Mr.  Jos.  Young,  President ;  *Mr.  W.  E.  Hill,  Vice- 
President  ;  Mr.  S.  H.  Cadoux,  Honorary  Secretary  ;  *Mr. 
E.  H.  Butler,  Treasurer  ;  *Mr.  W.  B.  Clark,  *Mr.  W. 
B.  Blunt,  and  Mr.  E.  Green. 

The  Committee  desire  to  express  their  thanks  to  Pro¬ 
fessor  Attfield,  Ph.D.,  and  to  the  Rev.  R.  Harley,  F.R.S., 
for  their  kind  services  in  forwarding  the  respective 
examination  papers  for  the  chemistry  and  arithmetic 
classes. 

A  programme  of  the  arrangements  for  lectures,  classes, 
etc.,  from  the  present  time  up  to  February,  1871,  has 
been  issued. 

*  Associates  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society. 


of  Stitnfiftt  jgjjMfs. 

GRANT  COLLEGE  MEDICAL  SOCIETY, 
BOMBAY. 

July,  1870. 

A  New  Indian  Remedy. 

by  mr.  narayan  daji,  Graduate  of  the  Grant 
Medical  College. 

{Continued  from  page  156.) 

Medicinal  Properties  and  Uses. — From  the  Natu¬ 
ral  Order  to  which  this  tree  belongs,  it  may  be  inferred 
d  priori  that  it  would  possess  the  characteristic  proper¬ 
ties  of  that  Order,  and  this  is  found  from  experiment  to 
be  true.  The  medicinal  and  physiological  properties  of 
this  tree  resemble  so  closely  those  of  the  officinal  Picrcena 
excelsa,  or  Jamaica  Quassia-tree,  that  our  Indian  plant 
may  safely  be  considered  a  substitute  for  it.  As  Ailanthus 
bark  owes  its  efficacy  to  the  ailanthic  acid  contained  in  it, 
there  is  scarcely  any  difference  of  action  between  the 
two  except  in  the  dose. 

Physiological  Effects  of  Ailanthic  Acid,  (a.)  On  Vege¬ 
tables. — In  a  strong  aqueous  solution  of  the  acid  the 
leaves  of  Hydrocotyle  Asiatica  were  immersed,  and  kept 
there  for  about  eighteen  hours  without  any  appearance 
of  contraction,  or  other  perceptible  change  in  the  leaves. 

(b.)  On  Animals. — Monads  ( infusoria )  developed  during 
the  decomposition  of  hay  in  water,  were  placed  in  a  di¬ 
lute  watery  solution  of  the  acid  and  examined  under 
a  microscope,  when  their  motion  became  less  active,  and 
they  were  observed  to  perform  a  kind  of  rotatory  motion 
round  themselves.  When  a  stronger  solution  was  added 
to  a  drop  on  the  plate,  the  animalcules  became  motion¬ 
less,  contracted  and  died,  showing  the  poisonous  influ¬ 
ence  of  the  acid. 

Common  flies  avoid  touching  the  acid,  even  if  it  is 
mixed  with  sugar ;  but  how  far  it  proves  poisonous  to 
them  is  a  matter  of  question.  No  poisonous  effects  were 
perceptible  by  its  internal  administration  to  a  hen ; 
nineteen  grains  of  the  acid  were  given  in  a  single  dose. 

(c.)  On  Man. — In  doses  of  from  one  to  three  grains 
ailanthic  acid,  when  given  internally,  acts  as  a  tonic  and 
stomachic,  exciting  the  appetite  and  promoting  diges¬ 
tion.  When  given  continually  in  larger  doses  (from 
grs.  iii  to  grs.  v  two  or  three  times  a  day)  its  digestive 
and  alterative  action  is  distinctly  marked,  especially  in 
cases  of  torpid  states  of  the  digestive  function  attended 
with  muscular  and  nervous  relaxation  and  constipation. 
It  increases  secretions,  especially  that  of  the  liver,  as  in¬ 
dicated  by  the  stools  changing  their  colour  to  yellow, 
improves  the  tone  of  the  muscular  and  nervous  system, 
and  produces  a  corresponding  healthy  change  in  the 
general  system.  Although  it  much  resembles  the  pure 
bitters,  such  as  gentian  or  chiretta,  yet  its  action  is  spe¬ 
cially  marked  by  a  peculiar  stimulation  of  the  digestive 
and  secretory  processes.  In  larger  doses  (from  grs.  xv 
to  grs.  xxx)  it  is  apt  to  occasion  uneasiness  about  the 
stomach,  nausea,  vertigo,  vomiting  and  purging,  but 
without  any  distressing  symptoms.  It  does  not  produce 
narcotism,  its  powers  being  chiefly  directed  towards  the 
sympathetic  system.  It  does  not  exhibit  antiseptic  pro¬ 
perties  when  placed  in  contact  with  dead  animal  or 
vegetable  matter.  It  does  not  prevent  coagulation  of 
blood. 

The  dry  ailanthate  of  lead  acts  as  a  sternutatory,  caus¬ 
ing  an  irritant  effect  on  the  mucous  lining  of  the  nose.  . 

Therapeutic  Uses. — In  dyspepsia,  anorexia,  and  torpid 
states  of  the  digestive  organs,  accompanied  with  habitual 
constipation,  ailanthic  acid  has  been  found  very  service¬ 
able.  It  is  particularly  useful  in  cases  where  the  indi¬ 
gestion  results  from  a  want  of  tone  in  the  general  sys¬ 
tem,  such  as  occasionally  occurs  in  the  convalescence 
from  fevers,  and  from  the  frequent  use  of  purgatives. 
Its  beneficial  effects  in  these  cases  have  been  more 


176 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [August  27,  1870. 


marked  than  those  from  the  use  of  other  ordinary  hitter 
tonics. 

In  haemorrhoids  and  prolapsus  recti ,  it  can  be  advan¬ 
tageously  administered  in  combination  with  other  reme¬ 
dies  which  are  employed  "with  the  view  of  freeing  the 
portal  circulation. 

In  watery  diarrhoea,  brought  on  either  from  errors  of 
diet  or  changes  of  temperature,  or  sedentary  habits,  and 
which  is  characterized  by  a  catarrhal  state  of  the  mucous 
lining  of  the  stomach  and  bowels,  this  remedy  proves 
very  useful ;  it  arrests  the  exhalations  from  the  mucous 
surface,  and  restores  the  secreting  functions.  In  the  ca¬ 
tarrhal  diarrhoea  of  children  I  have  seen  remarkably 
good  effects  from  the  use  of  it.  In  diarrhoea  attendant 
on  inflammatory  causes  it  is  found  comparatively  inef¬ 
ficient. 

In  cholera,  it  has  been  found  of  considerable  benefit, 
especially  when  given  in  the  first  stage,  when  it  appeared 
to  have  considerable  power  in  preventing  the  disease 
from  passing  to  its  second  stage.  It  has  been  also  ob¬ 
served  that  it  checked  vomiting  and  purging  sooner  than 
the  ordinary  remedies,  and  to  have  changed  the  colour 
of  the  stools  to  yellow  without  the  use  of  mercurials.  It 
did  not,  however,  prove  effectual  in  severe  epidemics. 

In  intermittent  and  remittent  fevers,  it  was  found  to 
have  considerable  febrifuge  powers  ;  its  beneficial  action 
in  these  cases  depended  more  on  its  property  of  restoring 
and  augmenting  the  checked  secretions,  than  from  any 
sedative  effects  on  the  vascular  or  nervous  systems.  Its 
antiperiodic  properties  are  not  trustworthy,  but  are 
much  more  marked  than  those  of  several  other  bitters. 
It  proves  very  useful  as  an  alterative  in  reducing  the 
congestion  of  the  liver  and  other  organs  often  met  with 
in  these  disorders.  In  fevers  complicated  with  brain 
symptoms  and  accompanied  with  derangement  of  the 
stomach  and  liver,  I  have  often  found  it  very  beneficial. 

In  general  debility  from  various  causes,  complicated 
with  an  atonic  state  of  the  digestive  organs,  it  proves  a 
very  valuable  tonic  and  alterative,  and  may  be  advan¬ 
tageously  combined  with  preparations  of  iron. 

In  rheumatism  and  gout  its  use  was  found  of  con¬ 
siderable  benefit  by  improving  the  state  of  the  digestive 
function,  a  point  of  great  importance  in  the  treatment  of 
these  diseases. 

In  “  elephantoid  fever,”  attended  with  recurring  in¬ 
flammation  of  the  scrotum  (varix  lymphaticus),  and  chy¬ 
lous  condition  of  the  urine,  the  continued  administration 
of  this  remedy  has  a  marked  effect  in  checking  the  pro¬ 
gress  of  the  disease.  Its  use  in  this  disease  is  deserving 
of  further  trial. 

I  have  not  observed  any  decided  anthelmintic  proper¬ 
ties  from  the  use  of  it. 

Administration,  Preparations,  and  Doses. — Ailan¬ 
thus  bark*  can  be  best  prescribed  in  the  form  of  decoction, 
infusion,  extract,  or  tincture.  The  following  formulae 
were  used  for  the  different  preparations  : — 

Decoction  of  Ailanthus  Dark. — Take  of  Ailanthus  bark 
bruised,  four  drachms;  distilled  water,  one  pint;  boil 
for  ten  minutes  in  a  covered  vessel,  then  strain  and  pour 
as  much  distilled  water  over  the  contents  of  the  strainer 
as  will  make  the  strained  product  measure  a  pint. 

Dose. — From  one  to  two  fluid  ounces  twice  or  thrice 
daily.  It  contains  ailanthate  of  lime. 

Infusion  of  Ailanthus  Dark. — Take  of  Ailanthus  bark, 
bruised,  two  drachms ;  cold  water,  ten  fluid  ounces.  In¬ 
fuse  in  a  covered  vessel  for  half  an  hour  and  strain. 

Dose. — From  one  to  two  fluid  ounces  twice  or  thrice 
daily.  It  is  a  cleaner  preparation  than  the  decoction ; 
often  prescribed  in  dyspepsia. 

Tincture  of  Ailanthus  Dark—  Take  of  Ailanthus  bark, 
bruised,  one  ounce  and  a  half;  proof  spirit  one  pint; 
macerate  for  seven  days  in  a  closed  vessel  with  occasional 
agitation;  then  strain,  press,  filter,  and  add  sufficient 
spirit  to  make  one  pint. 

*  The  bark  should  always  be  deprived  of  its  thick  epi- 
phlceum  before  use. 


Dose. — From  half  a  drachm  to  two  fluid  drachms. 

Extract  of  Ailanthus  Dark. — Take  of  Ailanthus  bark, 
bruised,  one  pound ;  distilled  water  a  sufficiency.  Mace¬ 
rate  the  bark  with  eight  fluid  ounces  of  the  water  for 
twelve  hours;  then  pack  in  a  percolator  and  adding 
more  of  the  water,  allow  the  liquor  slowly  to  pass  until 
the  bark  is  exhausted.  Evaporate  the  liquor ;  filter  be¬ 
fore  it  becomes  too  thick ;  and  again  evaporate  by  water- 
bath  until  the  extract  is  of  a  suitable  consistence  for 
forming  pills. 

Dose. — From  three  to  five  grains,  either  alone  or  com¬ 
bined  with  other  tonics  or  alteratives. 

History. — The  bark  of  this  tree  appears  to  have  been 
in  use  as  a  bitter  tonic  and  alterative  amongst  the  natives 
of  India  from  the  earliest  periods.  The  juice  of  the  fresh 
bark  has  been  regarded  by  them  as  a  valuable  remedy 
against  indigestion  and  diarrhoea.  The  juice  of  the 
leaves  also  is  occasionally  administered  by  them  in  bron¬ 
chitic  affections  as  an  emetic.  The  tree,  however,  is  not 
known  to  the  generality  of  natives,  nor  is  its  account 
and  identification  accurately  given  in  Hindu  works  on 
materia  medica.* 

The  native  vaidyas  (physicians)  on  this  side  of  India 
are  ignorant  of  the  medicinal  virtues  of  the  tree.  In 
Southern  India  it  appears  to  be  more  extensively  known, 
for  Dr.  Ainslie  says,  “  This  bark  has  a  pleasant  and 
somewhat  aromatic  taste,  and  is  prescribed  by  the  native 
practitioners  in  infusion,  in  dyspeptic  complaints  to  the 
extent  of  three  ounces  twice  daily.”  f 

In  allusion  to  this  Dr.  Wight  says,  “  In  confirma¬ 
tion  of  that  statement  I  may  add  that  some  time  ago 
specimens  of  this  plant  were  sent  me,  as  those  of  a  tree, 
the  bark  of  which  is  prescribed  in  the  Circars  as  a  power¬ 
ful  febrifuge  and  tonic  in  diseases  of  debility.”  % 

Royle,  O’Shaughnessy,  Piddington,  Roxburgh,  Drury, 
and  other  writers  on  Indian  plants  that  I  know  of  do 
not  allude  to  the  medicinal  virtues  of  this  plant;  and 
Waring  reiterates,  in  the  Pharmacopoeia  of  India,  the 
statements  already  made  by  Ainslie  and  Wight. 

( To  be  continued .) 


SOCIETY  OF  ARTS.§ 

On  Fermentation. 

BY  PROFESSOR  A.  W.  WILLIAMSON,  F.R.S. 

Lecture  I. 

I  have  sometimes  wished,  when  building  castles  in 
the  air,  that  I  could,  after  a  few  hundred  years,  come 
back  and  see  the  state  of  science  at  that  time.  I  am 
convinced  that  those  who  will  look  back,  from  such 
a  period  as  a  few  hundred  years  hence,  at  the  present 
state  of  our  knowledge  of  nature,  in  any  one  depart¬ 
ment,  will  be  surprised  at  its  smallness ;  in  fact,  even 
now,  when  we  work  at  all  earnestly  at  any  one  part  of 
the  field  of  nature,  we  cannot  refrain  from  feeling  how 
little  is  our  knowledge  compared  with  our  ignorance. 
But,  if  that  is  generally  the  case,  I  think  it  is  peculiarly 
the  case  in  those  studies  in  which  life  is  concerned  ;  and 
the  phenomena  of  fermentation  have  that  peculiarity 
that  they  consist  of  processes  in  which  vital  organisms 


*  Aralu  is  the  Sanskrit  name  of  this  tree  according  to 
Ainslie  (vide  ‘  Materia  Indica,’  vol.  ii.  p.  302) ;  but  on  this 
side  of  India  that  name  is  a  synonym  of  “  Tetuf  or  Calo- 
santhes  Indica  (Bignoniacese),  as  appears  from  several  Sanskrit 
compendiums  of  medicinal  plants  and  drugs,  viz. : — Chudd- 
mani,  Dravyaratnakara,  Bhivaprakas'a,  etc.  The  properties 
and  uses  of  Aralu  there  mentioned  are  applicable  more  to 
Calosanthes  Indica  (“Tetu”)  than  to  the  tree  under  con¬ 
sideration. 

[Aralu  is  also  the  vernacular  name  for  Terminalia  chebula. 
(Vide  Moon’s  Cat.) — Ed.  Ph.  J.] 

+  Ainslie’ s  c  Materia  Indica,’  vol.  ii.  p.  302. 

1  Wight’s  Ill.  Ind.  Bot.,  p.  170.  §  Cantor  Lectures. 


August  27,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


177 


are  concerned,  and  in  which  there  is  every  reason  to 
believe  that  vital  organisms,  or  living  beings,  take  an 
active  and  leading  part.  I  need  not  say  that,  for  that 
reason,  the  explanations  which  we  have,  even  of  the 
simplest  and  best  known  of  the  phenomena  of  fermenta¬ 
tion,  are,  as  yet,  mere  sketches  of  the  reality.  It  is, 
however,  not  the  less  useful  or  the  less  important  to 
know  them  for  that  reason. 

When  we  chemists  are  classifying  substances,  we  adopt 
a  principle  of  classification  which  I  think  is  almost  in¬ 
evitable,  but  it  may  be  as  well  that  I  should  mention 
what  it  is.  We  put  the  simple  things  together,  and  the 
complex  or  difficult  things  together,  and  then  we  try  to 
put  between  them,  in  as  regular  an  order  as  possible,  the 
intermediate  links  of  the  chain  by  which  they  can  be 
connected ;  and  I  believe  that  our  best — I  might  almost 
say  our  only — explanations  consist  in  thus  arranging,  in 
a  natural  order,  the  facts  which  we  have  to  consider, 
and  then  viewing  them,  and  stating  what  we  see,  in  the 
clearest  and  least  ambiguous  terms.  Now,  the  term 
“organic,”  as  applied  to  a  certain  class  of  chemical  sub¬ 
stances  might  be  replaced — and  I  think,  for  some  pur¬ 
poses,  ought  to  be  replaced — by  the  term  “  complex.” 
The  substances  which  we  are  in  the  habit  of  including 
under  the  term  organic  are  peculiarly  complex  ;  in  fact, 
they  are  the  most  complex  with  which  we  have  to  do. 
The  phenomena  of  fermentation  relate  mainly  to  them, 
and  consist  principally  of  a  process  of  change, — the 
breaking- up  of  those  organic  bodies  into  rather  less 
complex  substances  than  themselves, — a  process  of  par¬ 
tial  analysis.  Of  course,  when  1  say  that,  I  give  what  I 
conceive  to  be  a  characteristic  idea  of  the  general  method, 
and  I  must  not  be  supposed  to  assert  that  all  processes 
of  fermentation  are  analytical. 

Amongst  the  characteristics  which,  I  think,  are  par¬ 
ticularly  useful  and  interesting,  as  serving  to  distinguish 
organic  from  inorganic,  complex  from  simple  substances, 
is  their  different  behaviour  under  heat.  I  have  found 
it  exceedingly  interesting  and  instructive  to  bear  in 
mind  the  fact  that  while  simple  and  inorganic  com¬ 
pounds,  as  we  generally  call  them,  are  sometimes  de¬ 
stroyed  and  resolved  into  other  compounds  by  the  action 
of  a  high  temperature,  yet  many  of  them  are  not. 
Amongst  inorganic  substances  we  find  some  which  are 
broken  up  or  changed  by  exposure  to  a  high  tempera¬ 
ture,  but  there  are  others  which  can  stand  even  the 
highest  temperature  without  undergoing  any  permanent 
change,  that  is  to  say,  they  return,  on  cooling,  to  the 
same  state  in  which  they  were  before  the  heat  was 
applied.  With  organic  substances  that  is  not  the  case. 
All  organic  bodies  are  broken  up  into  minute  particles, 
and  assume  new  arrangements,  when  they  are  heated  to 
a  sufficiently  high  temperature ;  and  that  is,  I  think,  a 
distinction  which  is  of  considerable  theoretical  as  well 
as  perhaps  of  some  practical  importance. 

The  processes  of  breaking  up  which  are  effected  by 
heat  upon  organic  bodies  are,  in  the  very  great  majority 
of  cases,  different  from  those  which  are  effected  by  the 
action  of  these  wonderful  little  organisms,  the  ferments  ; 
and  it  is  a  peculiarity  of  the  action  of  the  ferments  that 
they  effect  the  breaking  up — the  analysis — of  complex 
organic  substances,  and  form  products  which,  for  the 
most  part,  we  have  obtained  from  those  materials  by  no 
other  process. 

Amongst  the  processes  of  fermentation,  there  is  one 
which,  from  its  pre-eminent  importance,  and  from  the 
fact  that  we  have  had  occasion  to  study  it  more  fully 
than  any  other,  ought  to  be  first  mentioned.  I  allude 
to  the  process  of  fermentation  by  which  alcohol  is  formed 
artificially.  I  may  say,  indeed,  it  is  the  only  process  by 
which  alcohol  is  ever  made.  It  is  a  process  which  con¬ 
sists  in  breaking  up  some  kind  of  sugar,  for  sugar  is  a 
word  which,  although  popularly  restricted  to  one  par¬ 
ticular  substance,  which  is  extracted  sometimes  from 
the  sugar-cane  and  sometimes  from  beet-root,  is  used 
by  chemists  in  a  more  general  sense,  serving  to  cha¬ 


racterize  a  family  of  bodies  which  have  much  in  common 
with  one  another,  being  for  the  most  part  all  of  them 
sweet,  and  containing  the  same  elements,  but  in  slightly 
different  proportions.  They  all  possess  many  proper¬ 
ties  which  are  of  some  importance.  These  different 
kinds  of  sugar  are  broken  up  by  the  action  of  ferment 
into  alcohol,  and  also  into  another  product,  carbonic  acid 
gas,  which  has  been  long  known,  and  for  a  long  time  the 
process  of  alcoholic  fermentation  was  supposed  to  consist 
simply  in  a  separation  of  sugar  into  these  two  products, 
alcohol  on  the  one  hand  and  carbonic  acid  on  the  other.. 
A  more  careful  examination  of  the  products  has  shown, 
however,  that  these  two  never  appear  alone.  I  believe 
I  may  safely  say,  from  the  researches  of  Pasteur  and 
others,  that  no  case  of  the  formation  of  alcohol  by  fer¬ 
mentation  has  been  known  to  occur  in  which  several 
other  products  have  not  been  formed  simultaneously- 
with  these  two.  With  regard  to  the  difference  of  pro¬ 
perties  of  these  two  bodies,  there  are  one  or  two  points 
of  some  little  interest,  especially  this  one,  that  whereas 
alcohol  is  an  eminently  combustible  substance,  and  is 
well  known  to  have  properties  of  that  kind,  being  fre¬ 
quently  used  as  fuel,  on  the  other  hand,  carbonic  acid, 
the  other  chief  product,  is  completely  burnt;  it  is  a 
substance  incapable  of  undergoing  any  chemical  change 
whatever  analogous  to  combustion.  Alcohol  is  a  sub¬ 
stance  which  I  need  not  show  you,  although  in  its  pure- 
state  it  is  not  very  common  ;  but  I  will,  in  order  to  re¬ 
mind  those  of  you  who  may  be  less  familiar  writh  its  lead¬ 
ing  properties,  make  a  little  carbonic  acid  by  a  short 
process.  I  will  put  a  little  muriatic  acid  upon  some  white- 
marble,  and  the  apparent  ebullition  which  you  see  takes 
place  is  known  to  you  all  as  due  to  the  liberation  of  car¬ 
bonic  acid.  You  might  imagine  the  thing  to  be  ferment¬ 
ing,  only  that  the  process  in  that  case  would  be  less 
rapid.  Now,  if  I  plunge  this  little  burning  paper  gra¬ 
dually  into  the  jar  containing  the  carbonic  acid,  it 
will  burn  more  and  more  faintly,  and  get  extinguished 
when  it  enters  the  gas  ;  it  is  totally  impossible  to. 
set  fire  to  the  gas.  And  there  is  one  other  fact  that 
we  may  notice  at  the  same  time — the  great  specific 
gravity  which  characterizes  this  gas.  I  will  show  you 
that,  in  this  way.  I  will  go  through  the  motion  of 
pouring  from  this  jar  containing  it  into  another  smaller 
jar,  and  no  doubt  the  heavy  carbonic  acid  will  pass 
from  the  jar  in  which  I  first  collected  it  into  the  lower 
one,  wThere  we  shall  find  it  by  means  of  the  taper  as 
before.  You  see  that,  on  lowering  the  lighted  taper 
into  this  small  jar  it  is  extinguished  as  it  was  before. 
I  will  show  you  the  test  by  which  we  usually  discover 
the  presence  of  carbonic  acid.  I  have  here  some  water 
containing  lime  in  solution, — some  lime-water, — and  I 
will  pour  it  into  the  large  beaker  glass,  in  which  there 
is  probably  still  some  carbonic  acid  left.  You  see  the- 
solution  immediately  becomes  turbid,  or,  as  we  express 
it,  a  precipitate  is  formed  by  the  combination  of  the  car¬ 
bonic  acid  with  the  lime- water.  A  compound  is  formed, 
which  is  nearly  insoluble  in  the  water,  called  carbonate, 
which  goes  down  as  a  precipitate. 

In  addition  to  alcohol  and  carbonic  acid,  I  ought  to 
mention  another  kind  of  alcohol,  which  occurs  to  a  con¬ 
siderable  extent  in  some  distilleries  where  raw  grain  or- 
potato-starch  is  used.  This  substance  imparts  to  the 
product  a  very  unpleasant  odour,  and  some  unwholesome 
qualities.  It  is  known  by  the  name  of  fousel  oil.  It 
does  not  mix  with  water,  and  if  I  were  to  pour  some  of 
it  on  water  it  would  float,  without  dissolving  to  any 
considerable  extent.  There  are  some  other  products- 
which  are  even  more  interesting  and  important ;  two 
especially  I  ought  to  mention.  One  is  the  clear  sub¬ 
stance  which  you  see  in  this  bottle,  and  which  you  might 
imagine  to  be  oil ;  it  is  a  fluid  largely  made  now,  and 
known  by  the  name  of  glycerine,  but  in  chemical  lan¬ 
guage  I  should  say  that  this  was  an  alcohol.  It  is  a 
substance  which,  by  tasting,  you  might  mistake  for  sugar, 
for  it  possesses  a  sweet  taste,  resembling  sugar,  but,  to- 


178 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  27,  1870. 


chemists,  it  is  a  kind  of  alcohol,  and  its  appearance  during 
fermentation  together  with  ordinary  alcohol  is  no  doubt 
due  to  a  process  of  the  normal  kind. 

Another  product  which  I  might  compare  to  the  car¬ 
bonic  acid  which  I  just  now  showed  you,  is  this  beau¬ 
tiful  crystalline  acid  substance,  which  has  been  long 
known  by  the  name  of  succinic  acid.  It  got  that  name 
from  the  fact  that  it  was  originally  prepared  from  amber. 
By  subjecting  the  amber  to  dry  distillation,  succinic 
acid,  among  other  products,  is  formed.  Glycerine  and 
succinic  acid,  as  well  as  common  alcohol  and  carbonic 
acid,  are  always  formed  when  any  kind  of  sugar  is  made 
to  decompose  by  the  process  which  is  termed  alcoholic 
fermentation  ;  and  it  is  seldom  that  there  are  not  other 
— and  probably,  in  smaller  quantities,  several  other — 
products  formed  besides  those  four.  In  fact,  the  dif¬ 
ferent  kinds  of  spirit  which  are  obtained  by  the  process 
of  fermentation  and  subsequent  distillation, — I  mean 
those  kinds  of  spirit  to  which  no  artificial  flavouring 
material  is  added  (gin  is  a  general  name  given  to  cer¬ 
tain  spirits  which  are  flavoured  by  artificial  means), 
such  as  brandy,  rum,  and  others, — owe  their  distinctive 
peculiarities  to  the  presence  of  small  quantities  of  vo¬ 
latile  substances  which  are  formed  during  the  process 
of  fermentation,  regarding  which  a  good  deal  has  been 
observed,  and  several  important  facts  have  been  col¬ 
lected. 

There  is  another  process  of  fermentation  which  I  must 
mention,  for  it  is  important  from  its  frequent  occurrence, 
and  that  is  a  process  by  which  another  kind  of  sugar 
usually,  but  sometimes  common  sugar,  is  transformed. 
The  substance  which  most  naturally  undergoes  this 
fermentation  is  milk-sugar.  These  hard  lumps  in  this 
bottle,  which  if  you  were  to  take  out  and  taste,  you 
would  not  imagine  to  be  sugar,  are  made  by  the  crystal¬ 
lization  of  the  solid  substance  in  whey.  The  whey  is 
evaporated  carefully  to  a  small  bulk,  and  this  substance 
which  results  is  known  by  the  name  of  milk-sugar. 
When  a  solution  of  this  is  mixed  with  cheese,  which  is 
the  best  ferment  for  the  purpose,  it  gradually  turns  acid. 
I  dare  say  it  is  known  to  all  of  you  that  milk  itself, 
which  contains  this  body,  and  cheese,  or  rather  caseine, 
dissolved  with  it,  together  with  the  fatty  globules  of 
milk,  when  exposed  to  the  air,  turns  acid.  That  acidity 
is  due  to  a  change  which  takes  place  in  the  sugar. 
The  sugar  disappears  gradually,  and  is  transformed 
into  an  acid  substance  of  which  I  have  a  little  bottle 
here.  It  is  a  strong  acid,  and  here  in  anofher  bottle  are 
a  few  of  its  salts, — a  lime  salt  and  a  zinc  salt,  which  is  a 
very  beautiful  and  characteristic  compound.  I  shall 
have  occasion  hereafter  to  show  you  a  large  bottle  which 
is  now  at  work,  in  which  I  dissolved,  not  this  particular 
kind  of  sugar,  but  the  ordinary  sugar.  I  put  with  it  a 
quantity  of  calcic  carbonate,  and  some  old,  lean  cheese, 
with  a  considerable  quantity  of  water.  The  mixture 
was  kept  at  a  temperature  above  blood  heat  for  some 
eonsiderable  time,  and  a  compound  of  lactic  acid  is  being 
formed.  That  is  a  process  analogous  in  its  general 
features  to  the  fermentation  which  forms  alcohol,  but  it 
is  a  change  of  sugar  in  which  no  alcohol  is  formed. 
Sometimes  there  is  a  trace  of  alcohol,  but  there  is  not 
necessarily  any,  and  no  carbonic  acid  is  formed ;  but 
instead  of  these  products,  the  elements  of  the  sugar 
break  up  into  different  groups,  and  arrange  themselves 
in  another  manner.  That  is  really  the  nature  of  the 
process,  as  far  as  our  most  careful  experiments  have  gone, 
and  the  acid  which  we  make  in  that  way,  which  is  lactic 
acid,  or  acid  of  milk,  is  really  sugar,  of  which  the  ele¬ 
ments  are  arranged  in  a  different  way,  so  as  to  acquire 
acid  properties. 

The  third  process,  which  I  must  mention  from  its 
remarkable  products,  is  one  which,  perhaps,  in  some 
respects  ought  rather  to  be  compared  with  putrefaction, 
for  it  is  a  process  which  has  many  of  the  most  important 
characteristics  of  putrefaction.  In  order  to  deal  with 
the  question  of  fermentation  generally,  it  is  necessary 


to  allude  to  some  varieties  of  such  chemical  changes 
which  are  usually  classed  under  the  term  putrefaction. 
As  a  general  rule,  I  think  the  characteristic  of  processes 
of  putrefaction  is  mainly  the  unpleasant  nature  of  the 
products  which  are  formed.  It  is  not  long  since  a  dis¬ 
tinguished  chemist,  in  speaking  of  alcoholic  fermenta¬ 
tion,  said  that  it  is  really  a  putrefactive  process ;  and  in 
its  intimate  nature  it  is,  as  far  as  we  know,  a  process 
much  like  the  truly  putrefactive  processes,  and  different 
from  the  processes  of  eremocausis  or  oxidation.  This 
other  process  to  which  I  allude  consists  in  forming  the 
acid  substance  which  I  have  here,  and  which  I  will 
not  open,  because  it  is  not  a  very  pleasant  body.  It  is 
a  substance  which  is  known,  although  I  believe  not  very 
commonly,  in  butter.  The  peculiar  rancid  odour  which 
butter  acquires  when  it  is  kept  too  long,  especially  in 
warm  weather,  is  due  to  a  transformation  of  some  of  its 
materials  into  this  particular  acid,  which  Chevreul,  a 
very  distinguished  French  chemist,  separated  from  but¬ 
ter,  and  he  named  it  from  that  circumstance  butyric 
acid.  If  we  leave  some  of  this  product  of  the  last  fer¬ 
mentation — some  of  this  lactate  of  lime,  the  lime  salt 
of  lactic  acid — under  the  same  conditions  in  which  it 
was  formed,  that  is,  if  we  leave  it  in  the  same  vessel  in 
which  it  had  been  formed  from  the  milk  or  sugar,  and 
leave  cheese  with  it,  and  keep  the  mixture  warm,  the 
lactate  will  gradually  decompose,  and  carbonic  acid  will 
be  given  off  together  with  hydrogen  gas,  and  at  the 
same  time  we  find  that  the  lactic  acid  will  be  decomposed, 
and  in  place  of  it  we  get  this  butyric  acid,  and  generally 
some  valerianic  acid  and  a  little  acetic  acid. 

Amongst  the  processes  which  really  are  analogous  to 
fermentation  in  their  nature,  but  which  differ  in  one 
particular,  I  must  mention  one  other,  the  process  of 
forming  vinegar,  or  acetic  acid.  This  large  bottle  con¬ 
tains  vinegar  in  a  form  which  most  of  you,  I  dare  say, 
have  not  seen.  These  fine  white  crystals  are  the  pure 
substance  which,  mixed  with  water  in  an  impure  state, 
are  generally  known  by  the  trivial  name  of  vinegar. 
We  call  that  acetic  acid,  or  hydric  acetate.  The  for¬ 
mation  of  this  body  from  alcohol  represents  a  variety 
of  fermentation  which  is  of  considerable  importance 
and  of  frequent  occurrence.  Everybody  who  has  no¬ 
ticed  the  process  which  takes  place  when  animal  or 
vegetable  matter  is  left  to  itself  in  contact  with  air, 
especially  in  moist  localities,  must  have  observed  that 
there  is  a  gradual  disappearance  of  the  organic  matter. 
For  instance,  if  you  leave  a  piece  of  wood  in  a  moist 
place,  under  certain  conditions  of  very  frequent  occur¬ 
rence  which  are  favourable  to  this  process,  the  wood 
gradually  gets  soft,  and  becomes  transformed  into  a 
brown  substance,  and  if  you  leave  it  long  enough — in 
this  country,  several  years  generally  would  be  needed 
for  this  purpose — it  gradually  disappears.  If  you  were 
to  put  a  piece  of  that  decomposing  wood  into  a  closed 
glass  vessel,  and  examine  the  air  above  it,  you  would 
find  that  the  wood  was  really  burning.  I  am  using  the 
word  combustion  in  the  ordinary  chemical  sense — I 
mean  by  that  word  that  the  oxygen  of  the  air  which 
you  have  enclosed  with  the  wood  is  being  taken  up  by 
the  wood,  and  the  products  of  combustion,  carbonic  acid 
and  water,  are  being  formed  from  the  substance  of  the 
wood.  One  great  class  of  the  processes  of  fermentation 
is  of  that  kind.  They  consist  not  in  a  mere  breaking 
up  of  the  materials  already  contained  in  the  organic 
substance,  but  a  change  of  their  arrangements,  which  is 
due,  more  or  less,  to  the  absorption  of  oxygen,  and  this 
formation  of  acetic  acid  or  vinegar  is  a  case  of  that 
kind.  In  fact,  if  we  were  to  leave  some  ordinary  fer¬ 
mented  wort  in  an  open  vessel,  so  that  the  alcohol  were 
left  there  in  the  mixture  in  which  it  had  been  formed, 
we  should  find  that  the  alcohol  would  gradually  dis¬ 
appear  and  give  place  to  an  acid  substance.  The  pro¬ 
cess  is  well  known  to  wine-makers  and  to  brewers,  and 
their  art  consists,  amongst  other  things,  in  the  avoid¬ 
ance  of  this  process  of  the  oxidation  of  their  alcohol. 


August  27,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


179 


While  the  acetic  acid  is  being  formed,  oxygen  from  the 
air  is  taken  up,  and  in  that  respect  this  process  of  acetic 
fermentation  differs  from  the  other  three  processes  of 
fermentation  which  I  have  described.  When  you  make 
alcohol  and  carbonic  acid  from  sugar,  the  air  takes  no 
part  in  the  process ;  when  you  make  lactic  acid  from  the 
sugar,  the  air  is  not  wanted ;  and  when  you  make  butyric 
acid  from  lactic  acid,  then  again  the  air  may  he  com¬ 
pletely  excluded  and  the  process  will  go  on  without  it. 
But  when  you  make  acetic  acid  from  alcohol,  you  must 
of  necessity  allow  the  free  and  continuous  access  of  air, 
and  the  air  gives  up  some  of  its  oxygen  to  this  ferment¬ 
ing  alcohol,  to  transform  it  into  acetic  acid  and  water  by 
a  true  process  of  fermentation. 

{To  be  continued.') 


CORK  FOR  POISON  BOTTLES. 

The  accompanying  draw¬ 
ing  represents  a  very  inge¬ 
nious  contrivance,  which  has 
also  the  merit  of  being  sim¬ 
ple.  The  wooden  stopper  a 
has  a  pin  passing  through 
it,  one  end  of  the  pin  being 
fixed  to  the  plug  d,  while  the 
other  is  screwed,  so  that,  by 
means  of  the  winged  fitting 
c,  the  stopper  a  can  be  forced 
downwards  until  it  compresses 
the  caoutchouc  rings  b,  mak¬ 
ing  them  bulge  out  laterally 
(as  shown  by  the  dotted  lines) 
and  press  against  the  neck,  so 
that  the  cork  cannot  be  re¬ 
moved  until  the  winged  fitting 
c  has  been  screwed  upwards 
to  relieve  the  pressure. 


Lead  in  Tinfoil. — Tinfoil  very  rarely  indeed  con¬ 
sists  of  pure  tin ;  generally  it  contains  more  or  less  lead. 
According  to  the  resent  analysis  of  August  Yogel,  who 
has  examined  a  great  number  of  samples  from  very  dif¬ 
ferent  sources,  it  contains  from  one  to  nineteen  per  cent, 
of  lead.  There  are,  however,  specimens  of  tinfoil  which 
contain  so  little  lead  that  it  hardly  gives  a  reaction  with 
the  appropriate  tests.  Since  tinfoil  is  so  much  used  for 
covering  articles  of  diet  or  of  confectionery  or  of  perfu¬ 
mery,  it  was  a  matter  of  some  degree  of  interest  to  deter - 
.mine  whether  or  not  there  was  any  danger  of  transfer¬ 
ence  of  lead  from  the  wrapper  to  the  contents.  A  number 
of  experiments  on  soap,  chocolate  and  different  kinds  of 
dry  sugar,  which  had  been  enveloped  in  tinfoil  very  highly 
charged  with  lead,  showed  that  there  was  no  contamina¬ 
tion  with  lead.  Cheese,  on  the  other  hand,  on  account 
of  its  being  moist  and  being  closely  in  contact  with  the 
foil,  did  take  up  lead.  Of  course  the  lactic  acid  of  cheese 
would  also  favour  the  taking  up  of  the  metal.  A  point 
worthy  of  being  recorded  in  connection  with  this  matter, 
is  the  rapid  diminution  of  the  lead  towards  the  centre  of 
the  cheese.  Often  plenty  of  lead  was  found  in  the  rind 
and  none  a  little  way  in  the  cheese. — Repertorium  fur 
Rharmacie,  von  Buchner. 

Capsicine. — The  fruit  of  the  Capsicum  annuum  con¬ 
tains  an  alkaloid  analogous  to  conia.  The  peculiar  smell 
of  this  alkaloid  is  recognizable  when  extract  of  capsicum 

warmed  with  potash. — Repertoire  de  Rharmacie. 

The  Chinese  in  America. — Lum  Ling  Wau,  a 
native  Chinese  physician,  proposes  to  settle  in  New  York, 
and  enter  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  brings 
with  him  his  wife ;  an  interpreter,  Lu  Sing ;  two  Chinese 
apothecaries,  Ah  Mok  and  Ah  Sam,  and  an  endless  as¬ 
sortment  of  drugs  and  medicines. — Philadelphia  Medical 
and  Surgical  Reporter. 


BOOK  RECEIVED. 

The  Dublin  Quarterly  Journal  op  Medical  Science. 
No.  XCIX.  Dublin:  Fannin  and  Co. 


TVe  are  indebted  to  correspondents  for  the  following  perio¬ 
dicals,  containing  news’  reports,  and  other  matters  of  phar¬ 
maceutical  interest : — The  ‘  British  Medical  Journal,’  Aug.  20; 
‘Nature,’  Aug.  18;  the  ‘Chemical  News,’  Aug.  19;  the 
‘  English  Mechanic,’  Aug.  19 ;  the  ‘  Grocer,’  Aug.  20 ;  the 
‘  Chemist  and  Druggist,’  Aug.  15 ;  the  ‘  Chemists  and  Drug¬ 
gists’  Advocate,’  Aug.  20 ;  the  ‘  Medical  Press,’  Aug.  24 ; 
‘  Gazette  Medicale  d’Orient,’  for  June: — from  the  respective 
publishers;  ‘  Correspondence  with  the  Board  of  Trade  from 
Mr.  F.  H.  Breidenbach.’ 


tompntau. 


Communications  for  this  Journal ,  and  boohs  for  review , 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

***  Mo  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication ,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Propessor  Redwood’s  Annjjity. 

Sir, — I  am  very  sorry  to  find,  from  the  report  of  the  last 
Council  Meeting,  that  some  objection  has  been  made  to  the 
annuity  granted  by  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  So¬ 
ciety  to  Dr.  Redwood.  In  addition  to  the  annuity,  allow  me 
to  suggest  that  a  fund  be  raised  to  secure  to  the  worthy  Pro¬ 
fessor  one  hundred  pounds  per  annum,  as  a  mark  of  respect 
for  his  arduous  labours  in  the  advancement  of  pharmacy, 
and  his  unwearied  interest  in  the  welfare  of  Pharmaceutical 
students. 

I  am  respectfully  yours, 

H.  J.  Halliday. 

Manchester,  August  16,  1870. 


Sir, — I  think  the  thanks  of  the  whole  members  of  our 
Society  are  due  to  those  gentlemen,  especially  Mr. Woolley, 
who  so  strongly,  but  unavailingly,  resisted  the  motion  for  an 
annuity  to  Mr.  Redwood ;  not  that  I  for  one  moment  wish  it 
to  be  thought  I  undervalue  the  great  service  and  ornament 
he  has  been  to  us  all,  but  this  I  do  think,  that  it  is  not  just 
to  his  fellow- editors  for  him  to  be  singled  out  for  so  signal  a 
mark.  Besides  I  should  very  much  like  to  know  what  is  the 
reason  of  his  having  been  so  singled  out ;  perhaps  some  of 
those  who  voted  our  money  away  can  tell  us.  If  for  long 
services,  are  there  not  many  men  on  the  Board  who  have 
worked  as  hard  and  long  for  the  cause  ?  We  shall  perhaps  be 
called  upon  to  allow  them  an  annuity. 

I  hope  I  shall  be  acquitted  of  any  feeling  in  the  matter 
other  than  that  of  seeing  one  man,  however  worthy,  picked 
out  of  others  quite  as  worthy,  and  who,  if  one  deserve  it,  all 
deserve  it. 

I  am,  Sir,  yours  obediently, 

Pharmaceutist. 


Sale  of  Drugs  by  Grocers. 

Sir, — In  reference  to  the  remarks  from  Correspondents  in 
your  Journal  respecting  the  sale  of  drugs  by  grocers,  allow 
me  to  offer  two  suggestions  that  appear  to  me  likely  to  go  far 
to  lessen  the  evil. 

1st.  Let  all  the  chemists  of  a  town  or  district  meet,  say  one 
evening  in  each  month,  and  in  a  friendly  spirit  talk  over  trade 

matters.  , 

2nd.  Let  no  chemist  sell  to  a  grocer  any  drug  at  less  than 
the  fair  retail  price.  I  know  an  instance  of  a  chemist  selling 
to  a  grocer  20  oz.  syrup  of  rhubarb  for  Is.  to  sell  again.  As  a 
rule  grocers  obtain  their  drugs,  in  the  first  instance,  from 
retail  chemists,  therefore  it  appears  to  me  we  have  the  remedy 
in  our  own  hands. 

Yours  truly, 

Cheap  and  Nasty. 


180 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[August  27,  1870. 


Trade  Grievances. 

Sir, — As  a  medical  man  I  can  thoroughly  sympathize  with 
A  Country  M.  P.  S.  There  is  no  doubt  medicine  and  phar¬ 
macy  ought  both  to  be  elevated  into  professions  instead  of 
presenting  the  mongrel  combinations  that  exist  at  present. 
To  do  this,  the  Councils  presiding  over  both  callings  should 
be  representative  in  character  and  executive  in  action,  inde¬ 
pendent,  but  at  the  same  time  harmonious  in  combined 
operations  for  the  welfare  of  both  professions.  As  we  have 
good  models  abroad,  it  ought  not  to  be  difficult  for  our  Legis¬ 
lature  to  arrive  at  correct  conclusions,  based  on  the  sound 
principle  of  division  of  labour. 

At  present  pur  Society  of  Apothecaries  urges  a  noble  and 
liberal  profession  to  the  veriest  drug  selling,  and  the  chemists 
in  self- defence  have  to  assume  a  position  for  which  they  do 
not  pretend  to  be  qualified,  in  prescribing  for  all  manner  of 
ailments,  at  the  same  time  that  the  greater  part  have  to 
descend  to  the  meanest  trades  in  order  to  obtain  a  livelihood, 
—at  once  blasting  the  noblest  aspirations  of  what  should  be  a 
body  of  highly  educated,  scientific,  professional  men.  As  for 
practical. difficulties,  I  can  speak  for  myself,  having  practised 
as  what  is  commonly  called  a  general  practitioner  for  years 
in  more  than  one  neighbourhood,  and  have  always  found  it 
an  advantage  to  myself  and  to  my  patients  to  leave  my  dis¬ 
pensing  in  the  hands  of  those  qualified  for  the  purpose.  If  the 
principle  is  sound,  an  increased  area  of  operations  presents  no 
insuperable  difficulties;  what  is  wanted  is  pressure  from 
above,  from  those  authorized  to  exercise  it;  let  us  therefore 
individually  and  collectively  agitate  for  this  consummation. 

I  am,  Sir,  yours,  etc., 

Birmingham.  Percy  Leslie,  M.D. 


Poison  Cores. 

Sir,  Many  suggestions  and  various  contrivances  have 
been  .made  for  the.  better  securing  the  stoppers  of  bottles 
containing  preparations  of  a  dangerous  character,  but  I  am 
not  aware  of  any  invention  yet  which  has  met  with  such 
favour  as  to  be  adopted  by  the  trade  generally.  Convinced 
of  the  necessity  for  some  precaution,  I  beg  to  submit  to  you 
a  cork  which  has  come  to  my  notice,  patented  by  a  Mr. 
Flemings,  of  Oxford  Street,  and  which  merits  some  attention, 
as  it  can  be  made  to  fit  any  sized  bottle,  and  by  its  construc¬ 
tion  would  bring  any  wandering  mind  to  a  sense  of  danger. 

I  am,  Sir,  yours  obediently, 

„  „  .  ,  J.  Wade. 

A  drawing  of  this  cork  will  be  found  at  p.  179. 


Pharmaceutical  Titles. 

our  correspondent  of  last  week  has,  I  am  sure,  the 
thanks  of  all  those  who,  like  himself,  aspire  to  the  Major, 
and  also,  of  those  who  have  attained  it,  as  he  clearly  points 
out  the  justice  of  allowing  those  who  have  passed  the  Major 
Examination  the  title  of  Fellow,  so  that  others  than  those 
connected  with  the  business  may  comprehend  the  value  of 
titles  so  nearly  alike,  which  the  majority  of  people  now  con¬ 
sider  synonymous. 

Hoping  that,  the  Council  will  attend  to  this  matter,  and, 
out  of  simple  justice  to  all,  make  the  title  superior,  in  the 
proportion  that  the  Major  Examination  is  to  the  Modified, 

I  am,  Sir,  yours  obediently, 

'T.  C. 


they  varied  considerably,  and  had  to  be  adjusted  before  they 
could  be  relied  on.  Now,  by  weighing  the  larger  quantity, 
these  possible  inaccuracies  are  reduced  to  the  minimum.  If 
six  .  grains  be  weighed  and  vary  one  quarter  of  a  grain,  that 
variation  is  divided  by  six  when  the  powders  are  carefully 
divided  by  the  eye,  and  in  the  course  of  the  six  doses  the 
total  taken  does  not  exceed  that  prescribed  by  more  than  the 
excess  which  might  have  accrued  on  each  powder  by  separate 
weighing;  for  since  the  powder  turns  or  balances  the  scale, 
the  presumption  is  in  favour  of  excess  rather  than  of  diminu¬ 
tion,  which  excess  again  would  be  slightly  reduced  by  the 
paper,  unless  glazed  paper  were  used. 

Those  who  are  accustomed  to  use  the  eye  in  dividing  such 
powders  would  probably  do  so  with  greater  accuracy  than 
by  ordinary  scales  ;  and  in  dispensing  parts  of  a  grain,  such  as 
half,  third,  or  a  quarter,  I  should  prefer  weighing  one  grain 
accurately  and  dividing,  to  weighing  the  fraction  itself. 

Yours  truly, 

Plymouth.  F.  P.  Balkwill,  M.P.S. 


B.  A.  (Easingwold). — A  very  good  book  for  the  purpose 
required  is  ‘How  Crops  Grow,’  lately  published  by  Messrs ► 
Macmillan  and  Co. 

T.  M.  (Kirkintilloch)  will  find  an  answer  to  his  question 
in  the  April  number  (second  series),  p.  664. 

X.  Y.  (Maidstone). — The  preparations  are  very  similar, 
chloric  ether,  however,  being  very  variable  in  strength,  and 
generally  weaker  than  the  sp,  chloroformi  of  the  B.  P. 

Messrs.  Domeier  and  Co.  (Basinghall  Street)  have  for¬ 
warded,  on  behalf  of  the  German  Hospital  Committees  for 
the  relief  of  the  wounded  soldiers  of  both  nations,  a  circular 
soliciting  donations  of  “  money,  carbolic  acid  (pure  and  im¬ 
pure),  Condy’s  fluid,  permanganate  of  potash  (in  substance), 
quinine,  morphia,  water-cushions,  lint,  sticking-plaster,”  etc. 

‘‘  Rhatany”  (Bristol).— Iron  alum  is  a  salt  in  which  per¬ 
oxide  of  iron  takes  the  place  of  alumina  in  common  alum» 
For  the  mode  of  preparation  see  Watts’s  Dictionary,  vol.  iv. 
p.  596,  or  any  systematic  work  on  chemistry. 

T.  S.  Minett  (East  Grinstead). — Our  correspondent’s  in¬ 
quiry  in  reference  to  Mr.  Schacht’s  letter  shall  receive  atten¬ 
tion. 

G.  A.  (Maidenhead). — No  examination  is  required.  Can¬ 
didates  for  admission  into  the  Society  are  proposed  according 
to  a  form  of  recommendation,  which  may  be  obtained  from 
the  Secretaries.  The  recommendation  must  be  signed  by  five. 
Fellows,  to  three  at  least  of  whom  the  candidate  must  be 
personally  known ;  and  this  certificate  is  read  and  suspended 
in  the  Society’s  rooms  for  three  ordinary  meetings  before 
proceeding  the  election  by  ballot. 

Inquirer  (St.  Andrew’s).— Probably  you  will  find  the  in¬ 
formation  you  require  in  Ure’s  ‘Dictionary  of  the  Arts,* 
under  “  Calico  Printing.” 

Mr.  Trilfelcl  (Liverpool). — We  have  received  a  plan  of 
the  arrangement  of  bottles  in  his  shop. 

W.  Robinson  (Reading). — The  guinea  retained  from  the 
fee  of  a  candidate  who  fails  to  pass  the  examination  is  for¬ 
feited.  He  must  pay  the  full  fee  if  he  presents  himself 
again. 

T.  H. — Petroleum  Act. — The  Bill  introduced  in  the  House 
of  Lords  this  Session,  for  amending  the  Petroleum  Acts,  has 
not  passed  into  law.  It  was  on  the  4th  instant  read  a  third 
time  and  discharged. 


“  Rule  oe  Thumb.” 

„  9uestion  is,  which  is  the  most  accurate  meth 

ot  dispensing  one  grain  calomel  powders,  that  of  weighir 
each  separately,  or  of  weighing  a  given  number,  say  six,  a 
dividing  them  by  the  eye. 

If  scales  were  always  used  delicate  enough  to  turn  to  t 
twentieth  of  a  grain,  as  our  first-class  dispensers  keep  the; 
and  if  our  gram- weights  were  all  of  standard  quality, 
}T0  d  doubtless  be  better  to  weigh  each  grain  separately, 
least  for  inexperienced  hands.  But  I  venture  to  think 
many  country  districts  dispensing  scales  are  not  kept  up’ 
this  high  standard  of  efficiency;  the  bearings  may  not  be  pe 
lectly  clean,  they  may  be  cleaned  and  adjusted  by  unskiif 
persons.  Thus  there  may  be  scales  used  in  dispensing  th 
vould  .not  turn  well  even  to  a  quarter  of  a  grain.  I  use 
when  in  business,  to  clean  my  own  and  test  them  mys< 
every  day.  Moreover,  when  I  used  to  test  grain-weights  pu 
c  ased  from  the  makers  by  a  standard  set,  I  frequently  four 


Errata. — In  the  list  of  exhibitors  at  Newcastle,  p.  154, — 
for  Krohne  and  Suzeman  read  Krohne  and  Sesemann ;  for- 
Mayer  and  Mottyer  read  Mayer  and  Meltzer.  Page  145,  fine 
26  from  top,  for  clearer  read  denser. 


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

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W.  Envelopes  to  be  endorsed  for  “  Pharm. 
Journ 

The  General  Index  to  the  first  Fifteen  volumes  of  this- 
Journal  may  be  obtained  of  the  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury 
Square,  price  2s.  8 d.,  post  free ;  bound  in  cloth,  lettered,  3s.  8d.* 
post  free. 

The  General  Index  to  the  Yds.  XYI.-XVIII.,  Old  Series* 
and  Vols.  I.-IX.,  Second  Series,  may  also  be  obtained  of  tk& 
Secretary,  price  3s.  3d.,  post  free. 


September  3,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


181 


MEDICINAL  FERNS. 

BY  M.  C.  COOKE. 

Ferns  have  been  rather  extensively  employed  in 
medicine,  and  some  of  them  have  acquired  consider¬ 
able  reputation ;  but  it  is  doubtful  whether,  with  two 
or  three  exceptions,  they  are  of  any  real  value.  Some 
are  probably  inert,  others  only  possess  properties 
which  are  more  highly  developed  in  other  substances. 
On  the  whole,  ferns  are  by  no  means  important  re¬ 
medial  agents,  and  their  enumeration  is  more  matter 
of  curiosity  than  suggestive  of  value.  The  present 
list,  though  long,  is  probably  imperfect,  at  least  it 
contains  the  most  important  and  popular  species. 

Ackostichttm  Huacsaro,  Ruiz.  The  rhizome  of 
this  species  is  employed  in  Peru  as  “  Middling  Cala- 
guala,”  “  Cordoncillo  ”  or  “  Huacsaro.”  It  is  sub¬ 
stituted  for  the  genuine  “  Calaguala.” 

Adiantum  jethiopicum,  Linn.  This  is  a  Cape 
species.  An  infusion  is  sometimes  used  as  an  emol¬ 
lient  in  coughs  and  diseases  of  the  chest.  A  syrup 
is  also  prepared  from  it.  The  Basuto  Kafirs,  who 
call  it  “  Ma-o-ru-metsoo,”  employ  its  caudex  in  the 
shape  of  decoction  for  promoting  parturition. 

Adiantum  caudatum,  Linn.  An  infusion  is  em¬ 
ployed  in  the  Mauritius  as  a  diaphoretic  and  instead 
of  tea.  In  some  parts  of  India  it  forms  a  portion  of 
the  “  Hunsraj  ”  of  the  bazaars,  which  is  used  as  an 
astringent  and  aromatic. 

Adiantum  concinnum,  Kth.  “  Culantrillo,”  or 
“  Jarabe  de  Culantrillo,”  is  much  used  in  the  Carac- 
cas  in  pectoral  diseases,  and  said  to  purify  the  blood. 
Six  ounces  of  the  fronds  are  macerated  hi  a  gallon 
of  hot  water  for  twenty-four  hours,  then  evaporated 
to  a  proper  consistence  and  filtered. 

Adiantum  fragile,  Sic.  Named  by  Lunan  as 
medicinal.  Browne  says  all  the  species  of  Adiantum 
are  light  subastringent  vulneraries,  and  may  be  ad¬ 
ministered  with  great  propriety  in  all  relaxations 
and  weaknesses  of  the  fibres,  hi  prurient  consump¬ 
tions  and  in  the  ulcerated  or  relaxed  state  of  the 
glands,  especially  those  of  the  breast,  as  well  as  in 
most  cutaneous  diseases. — Lunan,  Hort.  Jam.  i. 
p.  475. 

Adiantum  lunulatum,  Spr.  The  “  Hunsraj,”  or 
“Mobarldia,”  of  the  Hindoos  has  been  referred  to 
this  species.  It  is  employed  in  India  for  similar 
purposes  to  the  Maiden-hair  of  Europe,  which  latter 
is  known  under  the  name  of  “  Gool-i-mairam.”  Se¬ 
veral  other  species  are  either  mixed  with  this  or 
substituted  for  it  under  the  same  vulgar  name. 

Adiantum  pedatum,  Linn.  “  Canadian  Maiden¬ 
hair.”  Tins  is  said  to  be  the  most  esteemed  sort  of 
Maiden-liair,  being  more  aromatic  than  the  Euro¬ 
pean  Maiden-hair.  It  was  formerly  more  employed 
than  at  present  as  a  pectoral  in  chrome  catarrhs. 
Many  imaginary  virtues  have  been  ascribed  to  this 
as  well  as  other  ferns. 

Adiantum  trapeziforme ,Linn.  “Mexican  Maiden¬ 
hair.”  One  of  the  numerous  species  which  have  been 
employed  for  virtues  which  they  were  supposed  to 
possess  in  common  with  the  true  Maiden-hair  of 
Europe.  It  is  probably  of  little  or  no  value. 

Adiantum  venustum,  Don.  This  is  another  fern 
said  to  yield  a  portion  of  the  “  Hunsraj  ”  of  Indian 
bazaars.  Considered  astringent  and  aromatic,  also 
emetic  in  large  doses,  besides  which  it  is  said  to  be  tonic 
and  febrifuge.  Employed  in  Lahore,  Kashmir,  etc. 

Adiantum  villosum,  Linn.  One  of  the  species 
mentioned  by  Lunan.  Piso  is  said  to  have  recom- 
Third  Series,  No.  10. 


mended  it  for  expectorating  tough  phlegm. — Lunan, 
Hort.  Jam.  i.  p.  474. 

Aspidium  coriaceum,  Sic.  Bouton  states  in  his 
‘  Medicinal  Plants  of  the  Mauritius,’  that  a  decoction 
of  tills  fern  is  employed  in  the  treatment  of  tambave ; 
a  few  cups  of  tliis  are  given  during  the  day,  and  the 
residuum  left  after  the  decoction  is  used  as  a  lotion 
for  bathing  the  neck,  breast  and  back  of  the  patient 
at  intervals. 

Asplenium  Adiantum-nigrum,  Linn.  “  Black 
Spleenwort.”  The  medicinal  properties  of  this  fern 
have  been  extolled  by  various  old  authors,  but  its 
use  is  unknown  in  modern  practice.  Bay  sums  up 
a  catalogue  of  diseases  in  which  it  is  supposed  to  be 
beneficial. 

Asplenium  nidus,  Linn.  The  tender  Ronds  of 
this  species  are  cut  into  pieces  hi  the  Mauritius  and 
form  a  decoction  which  is  said  to  be  an  excellent 
depurative.  The  rhizome  is  also  boiled  for  coughs. 
Boughton  thinks  that  this  is  the  Cetcrach  mentioned 
by  Dr.  Chapotin  a§  employed  in  Madagascar. 

Asplenium  radtatum,  Sw.  According  to  Dr. 
Bird  wood,  the  “  Mor-punkhee  ”  of  the  Hindoos 
belongs  to  this  species.  It  is  employed  locally  in 
medicine,  but  its  virtues  are  not  specially  recorded 
by  him. 

Asplenium  Buta-muraria,  Linn.  “Wall  Bue.” 
Lightfoot  says  that  this  fern  was  at  one  time  sold  as 
an  expectorant  and  deobstruent.  It  was  one  of  the 
species  employed  as  a  substitute  for  Maiden-hair. 

Asplenium  Trichomanes,  Linn.  According  to 
Lightfoot,  tliis  fern  was  formerly  used  as  an  expec¬ 
torant  by  the  peasantry  of  Scotland.  This  is  an¬ 
other  of  the  many  substitutes  for  the  true  Maiden¬ 
hair,  now  fallen  into  disrepute.  Is  the  “  Myle 
conclay”  of  the  Tamils. 

Athyrium  Filix-femina,  Remit.  The  rhizome  of 
tliis  fern  has  been  used  as  a  substitute  for  that  of 
the  Male -fern,  and  the  same  virtues  as  an  anthel¬ 
mintic  have  been  ascribed  to  it.  It  is  now  generally 
admitted,  however,  that  these  virtues  were  more 
supposititious  than  real,  and  it  has  ceased  to  be 
employed. 

Balantium  chrysotrichum,  Hassle.  Affords  the 
“  Pakoe  kidang  ”  of  Java.  The  hairs  are  thicker, 
long  and  less  soft  and  silky  than  those .  of  the 
“  Pena  war  Jambie”  of  Sumatra,  but  are  similarly 
employed.  Some  of  these  fern  products,  consisting 
of  shining  brown  hairs,  have  been  imported  into  tliis 
country,  but  never  came  into  use.  See  notice  by 
Mr.  Hanbuiy  in  Pharmaceutical  J ournal  for 
November,  1856. 

Blechnum  boreale,  Sw.  “Hard  Fern.”  The 
rhizome  had  formerly  the  reputation  of  being  ape¬ 
rient  and  diuretic,  but  has  long  since  _  ceased  to  be 
employed.  Its  virtues  were  doubtless  imaginary. 

Botrychium  cicutarium,  Sw.  Is  fancied  by  the 
inhabitants  of  St.  Domingo  to  be  an  alexipharmic. 

Botrychium  Lunaria,  Sw.  “Moonwort.”  Ma¬ 
gical  properties  have  been  assigned  to  this  fern. 
Gerarde  says,  “It  is  singular  to  lieale  green  and 
fresh  wounds.  It  hath  been  used  among  the  alchy- 
mists  and  witches  to  doe  wonders  witliall,  who  ^  say 
that  it  will  loose  lockes,  and  make  them  to  fall  from 
the  feet  of  horses  that  grase  where  it  doth  grow,  and 
hath  been  called  of  them  ‘  Martagon.  whereas  in 
truth  they  are  all  but  drowsie  dreams  and  illusions ; 
but  it  is  singular  for  wounds  as  aforesaid.  Bay 
commends  its  virtues  in  dysentery. 

(To  be  continued.) 


182 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  3, 1870. 


THE  SOURCE  OF  MUSCULAR  POWER. 

BY  BARON  LIEBIG. 

The  adherents  of  the  doctrine  that  muscular  power 
is  generated  by  combustion  of  non -nitrogenous  mate¬ 
rial  in  the  muscles  do  not  deny  that  the  facts  already 
stated  have  been  established  by  experience,  but  they 
explain  them  in  a  different  manner. 

That  doctrine  is,  in  part,  based  upon  some  facts 
which  Fick  and  Wislicenus  have  established  by  their 
investigation  into  the  source  of  muscular  force  ;  they 
found  that  during  the  performance  of  measurable 
external  work,  viz.  the  lifting  of  their  bodies  to  a 
certain  height,  the  quantity  of  urea  (or  rather  of  ni¬ 
trogen)  secreted  meanwhile  and  within  five  hours 
following,  corresponded  to  a  quantity  of  albumen 
which  would  have  barely  accounted  for  one-tliird  of 
the  work,  supposing  the  albumen  to  have  been  burnt 
and  the  heat  generated  expressed  in  terms  of  work. 
The  nitrogen  in  the  feces  vras  not  estimated.  During 
the  experiment  only  non-nitrogenous  food  vras  con¬ 
sumed. 

The  inference  dravrn  from  this  observation  vras 
that  the  source  of  muscular  power  cannot  be  sought 
in  the  metamorphosis  of  muscular  substance  and  its 
combustion ;  but  that  it  must  be  generated  by  the 
transformation  of  non-nitrogenous  constituents  of 
food  into  oxygen  compounds  in  the  muscles. 

The  calculation  made  by  Fick  and  Wislicenus 
seems  to  be  based  on  the  idea  that  the  production  of 
force  in  muscles  is  analogous  to  the  case  of  a  gun ; 
it  is  conceivable  that  from  the  volume  of  the  gas 
formed  by  combustion  of  the  powder,  the  projectile 
force  of  the  bullet  might  be  calculated ;  or  that,  from 
the  distance  traversed  by  the  bullet,  the  volume  of 
the  gas  might  be  calculated.  If  the  process  of  force- 
production  were  similar  to  the  combustion  of  gun¬ 
powder,  then,  under  the  assumption  that  the  force 
was  generated  by  combustion  of  muscular  substance 
and  that  urea  was  a  product  of  the  change,  the  quan¬ 
tity  of  urea  would  in  fact  be  proportionate  to  the 
work  done ;  always  presupposing  that  force  and 
urea  were  produced  at  the  same  moment.  If  in  this 
case,  the  quantity  of  urea  secreted  did  not  correspond 
to  the  work  done,  it  would  follow  that,  if  the  work 
were  determined  by  combustion,  other  and  indeed 
non-nitrogenous  materials  had  taken  the  place  of 
muscular  substance,  and  combined  wdtli  oxygen. 

However,  it  cannot  be  assumed  that  non-nitro¬ 
genous  food  can  furnish  any  special  condition  for 
the  production  of  force,  since  it  may  be  regarded 
as  certain  that  two  powerful  men  could  have  reached 
the  Faulhorn  inn  without  greater  exhaustion  even 
if  they  had  not  taken  any  food  and  if  they  had 
drunk  only  water  instead  of  wine.  In  regard  to  the 
inference  itself,  this  has  evidently  no  special  import¬ 
ance  ;  for  if  they  had  not  eaten  any  non-nitrogenous 
food,  it  might  have  been  assumed  that  the  fat  of  their 
bodies  had  been  consumed  hi  the  place  of  such  food. 

It  does  not  appear  to  have  been  ascertained  what 
the  experimenters  had  lost  in  bodily  weight  after 
the  experiment.  Their  conclusions  wrould,  of  course, 
be  correct  only  if  the  assumptions  on  which  they  are 
founded  were  true.  But  the  case  may  have  been 
very  different. 

It  may  be  that  the  machine  which  wre  call  organism 
possesses  a  much  more  perfect  arrangement  than  is 
supposed  according  to  the  assumption  of  Fick  and 
Wislicenus,  perhaps  one  as  perfect  as  a  clock,  which 
wre  are  able  to  provide  with  force  daily  by  winding 


it  up,  just  as  wre  provide  the  body  with  food  every 
day,  or  which  may  be  arranged  so  that  in  conse¬ 
quence  of  an  accumulation  of  force,  it  will  work  for 
several  days  without  any  further  supply  of  force. 
For  maintaining  the  action  of  such  a  machine  it  is 
in  both  cases  necessary,  after  the  lapse  of  a  certain 
time,  to  renew  the  supply  of  the  force  that  has  been 
expended  hi  producing  motion ;  but  once  fully  wound 
up,  no  further  supply  is  necessary  within  certain 
limits.  Whatever  force  is  expended,  within  a  given 
time,  over  and  above  the  supply,  must,  of  course,  be 
made  up  for  after  that  time  by  an  increased  supply, 
if  the  original  condition  is  to  be  restored. 

Moreover,  it  may  be  that  urea  is  not  a  product  of 
the  combustion  of  nitrogenous  muscular  material, 
and  that  its  formation  bears  a  relation  to  muscular 
work  totally  different  from  what  Fick  and  Wislicenus 
have  assumed. 

From  their  memoir  it  is  not  quite  clear  how  they 
regard  the  conversion  of  heat,  generated  by  combus¬ 
tion  of  non-nitrogenous  material  in  muscle,  into  me¬ 
chanical  effect  as  taking  place.  Frankland,  who  has 
adopted  their  view,  expresses  himself  very  definitely 
as  follows : — 

“  The  combustible  food  and  oxygen  coexist  in  the 
blood  which  courses  through  the  muscle ;  but  when 
the  muscle  is  at  rest,  there  is  no  chemical  action 
between  them.  A  command  is  sent  from  the  brain 
to  the  muscle,  the  nervous  agent  determines  oxida¬ 
tion.  The  potential  energy  becomes  actual  energy, 
one  portion  assuming  the  form  of  motion,  another 
appearing  as  heat.  Here  is  the  source  of  animal  heat , 
here  the  origin  of  muscular  power !  Like  the  piston 
and  cylinder  of  a  steam-engine,  the  muscle  itself  is 
only  a  machine  for  the  transformation  of  heat  into 
motion ;  both  are  subject  to  wear  and  tear,  and  re¬ 
quire  renewal;  but  neither  contributes  in  any  im¬ 
portant  degree,  by  its  own  oxidation,  to  the  actual 
production  of  the  mechanical  power  which  it  exerts.”  * 

This  passage  represents  the  process  of  force  pro¬ 
duction  according  to  the  view  of  Frankland  and 
others  who  agree  with  him. 

Here  urea  and  uric  acid  are  regarded  as  the  pro¬ 
ducts  of  the  muscle  used  up. 

If  this  view  were  correct,  it  would  follow  that  the 
muscular  machine  is  one  of  the  most  imperfect  ma¬ 
chines  known,  considering  how  large  the  daily  waste 
in  the  shape  of  secreted  urea  would  be.  The  fire¬ 
bars  of  a  steam-engine  furnace  are  not  so  rapidly 
used  up. 

Certainly  the  wonderful  construction  of  the  animal 
body  and  its  parts  will  remain  long,  and  perhaps  for 
ever,  an  insoluble  problem ;  but  the  processes  tailing 
place  in  its  organs  are  of  a  physical  or  chemical  na¬ 
ture,  and  it  is  unintelligible  that  oxygen  and  the 
combustible  materials  of  the  blood  should  require  a 
command  from  the  central  organ  in  order  to  enter 
into  combination.  The  share  taken  by  the  voluntary 
motor  nerves  in  muscular  activity  must  be  of  a  totally 
different  nature. 

However,  it  appears  to  me  unnecessary  to  submit 
the  views  of  Frankland,  Fick  and  Wislicenus  to 
closer  criticism  ;  for  I  believe  that,  on  the  whole,  those 
who  have  occupied  themselves  with  the  inquiry  into 
the  origin  of  muscular  power  have  formed  too  easy  an 
estimate  of  the  problem,  and  that  many  years  will 
elapse  before  it  is  possible  to  arrive  at  any  definite 
conclusion  as  to  what  is  really  the  nature  of  the 
question  to  be  considered. 

*  Phil.  3Iag.  4tli  series,  vol.  xsxii.  p.  194. 


September  3,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


183 


It  is  not  my  intention  to  enter  into  controversy, 
and  I  shall  consider  my  object  attained  if  the  follow¬ 
ing  remarks  should  contribute  something  towards 
throwing  light  upon  the  conditions  that  have  to  be 
ascertained  in  regard  to  this  question. 

Scientific  men  are  tolerably  clear  in  their  views  as 
to  the  mode  in  which  oxygen  operates  in  the  animal 
body :  oxygen  combines  with  the  elements  of  the  food 
or  of  the  body,  carbonic  acid,  water  and  urea  being 
regarded  as  the  ultimate  products  of  the  combustion. 

In  consequence  of  that  combustion  heat  is  pro¬ 
duced,  which  warms  the  body  and  maintains  its 
temperature,  or  becomes  sensible  in  the  form  of  me¬ 
chanical  effect. 

If  the  heat  of  combustion  proper  to  the  various 
kinds  of  food  be  known,  it  would  express  for  each,  in 
some  sort,  its  value  as  a  source  of  power. 

“  From  this  point  of  view,”  says  Frankland,  “  it  is 
Interesting  to  examine  the  various  articles  of  food  in 
common  use,  as  to  their  capabilities  for  the  production 
of  muscular  power,”  and  by  the  determination  of  the 
heat  of  combustion  proper  to  each,  he  arrives  at  the 
result  that,  for  equal  weights  of  food  materials  in 
the  natural  condition,  Cheshire  cheese  represents 
three  times  as  much  force,  expressed  in  food-pounds, 
as  lean  oxflesli;  sugar  two  and  a  half  times  as 
much  ;  and  butter  five  times  as  much. 

Here  it  is  throughout  assumed  that  muscular 
power  is  generated  by  the  combustion  of  these  mate¬ 
rials  in  the  muscles,  and  that  the  process  of  combus¬ 
tion  is  like  that  taking  place  under  the  boiler  of  a 
steam-engine.  In  this  respect,  we  find  two  parts  by 
weight  of  dry  potatoes  put  down  as  equal  to  one  and 
a  half  parts  of  dry  flesh  and  to  two  parts  of  boiled 
ham  (dry),  etc.  These  are  certainly  most  interesting 
results ;  in  any  case  they  are  very  unexpected  re¬ 
sults  of  the  theory. 

This  is,  perhaps,  the  place  to  call  to  mind  that  the 
combination  of  combustible  elements  of  the  animal 
body  with  oxygen  is  a  process  of  a  totally  different 
nature  from  the  ordinary  process  of  combustion. 
Carbonic  acid  is  never  produced  in  the  animal  body 
by  the  combination  of  oxygen  with  carbon ;  it  is  not 
a  product  of  combustion  in  the  ordinary  sense  of  that 
term.* 

In  order  to  comprehend  correctly  the  difference 
between  the  process  of  combustion  under  a  steam- 
boiler  and  that  in  the  animal  body,  it  is  necessary  to 
consider  how  the  formation  of  organic  compounds  in 
plants  takes  place.  These  compounds  are  all  formed 
out  of  carbonic  acid;  they  represent  carbonic  acid 
.atoms  that  have  been  more  or  less  altered.  In  the 
animal  body  those  compounds  are  again  converted 
into  carbonic  acid,  or  into  what  they  originally  were. 

In  the  formation  of  these  compounds  under  the 
influence  of  sunlight,  there  is  an  absorption  of  heat 
or  sun  force.  This  becomes  latent,  and  in  the  re¬ 
conversion  of  those  compounds  into  carbonic  acid 
that  heat  is  again  liberated.  This  liberation  of  heat 
is  at  the  maximum  when  the  reconversion  of  the 
.compounds  into  carbonic  acid  corresponds  exactly  to 
their  formation. 

For  example,  comparing  carbonic  acid  with  sugar 
in  their  most  simple  empirical  formulae,  we  have — 
rO  r  H 

°0  °0 

Carbonic  acid.  Grape  sugar. 

A  glance  at  both  formulse  shows  that  sugar  is,  in 

*  See  “  The  Chemical  Process  of  Respiration,”  Ann.  Chem. 
IHiarm.  lviii.  335. 


fact,  carbonic  acid  in  which  one  equivalent  of  oxy¬ 
gen  has  been  replaced  by  hydrogen.  Carbonic  acid 
is  not  decomposed  in  the  formation  of  sugar,  but  it 
is  only  altered  by  the  exchange  of  one  of  its  consti¬ 
tuents  for  sometliing  else. 

In  the  conversion  of  sugar  into  carbonic  acid,  it  is 
not  the  carbon  of  the  sugar  that  is  burnt,  but  the 
hydrogen  that  had  been  introduced  by  substitution 
into  the  carbonic  acid.  When  this  hydrogen  com¬ 
bines  with  oxygen  in  the  animal  body  and  forms 
water,  its  place  is  again  taken  by  oxygen  which  had 
been  eliminated  from  the  plant.  Consequently, 
sugar  can  be  burnt  in  two  ways  and  converted  into 
carbonic  acid, — either  directly,  by  combination  with 
oxygen  at  a  high  temperature,  or  indirectly,  by  the 
replacement  of  its  hydrogen  by  oxygen  at  a  moderate 
temperature.  The  proportion  of  oxygen  is,  in  both 
cases,  the  same, — sixteen  parts  by  weight  for  every 
fifteen  parts  of  sugar ;  but  if  there  be  inequality  in 
the  work  of  combustion,  by  which  heat  is  expended, 
the  heat  liberated  must  also  be  unequal. 

I  will  continue  the  exposition  of  this  case,  though 
without  assigning  any  weight  to  the  accuracy  of  it ; 
my  object  is  merely  to  show  the  difference  which  it 
is  the  business  of  the  physicist  to  elucidate  more 
completely. 

If  we  suppose  that,  with  the  above-mentioned  for¬ 
mula  for  grape-sugar,  G  grams  of  the  carbon  in  15 
grams  of  sugar  combine  with  oxygen  directly,  then 
there  would  be  6x7838  unit3  of  heat  developed. 
But  if  we  suppose  that  1  gram  of  hydrogen  were 
oxidized  by  8  grams  of  oxygen,  and  that  the  8  grams 
of  oxygen  introduced  were  to  generate  with  the  rest 
of  the  carbonic  acid=14  grams  carbonic  oxide,  just 
as  much  heat  as  in  its  combination  with  carbonic 
oxide,  we  should  then  have, — 

In  the  first  case  47,000  units  of  heat* 

„  other  „  68,900  ,,  „ 

Therefore  in  the  latter  21,900  ,,  ,,  more. 

It  may  be  shown  by  undoubted  facts  that  differ¬ 
ences  of  tills  kind  do  really  occur  in  the  quantities  of 
heat  generated  by  combustion. 

Frankland  determined  among  other  things  the 
heat  of  combustion  of  cane-sugar,  and  found  that 
1  gram  gave  3348  units  of  heat.  Hence  it  follows 
that  171  grams  of  cane-sugar  (1  atom)  would  give 
572,508  units. 

In  fermentation  there  are  produced  from  sugar 
carbonic  acid  and  alcohol,  and,  if  no  other  products 
were  formed,  92  grams  of  alcohol  should  be  obtained 
from  171  grams  of  sugar;  in  reality,  only  88  or  89 
grams  are  obtained, — let  us  say  88£ ;  the  deficiency 
is  succinic  acid  and  glycerine,  etc. 

According  to  numerous  determinations  by  exact 
observers, — Dulong,  Despretz  and  Favre, — 1  gram 
of  alcohol  yields  as  the  mean  6981  units  of  heat,  and 
88|  grams  would  give  617,818  units. 

Consequently,  alcohol  itself  gives,  when  burnt, 
45,310  units  of  heat  more  than  the  corresponding 
quantity  of  sugar  by  the  decomposition  of  which  it 
has  been  formed.  To  this  must  be  added  the  heat 
generated  in  the  fermentation  of  sugar ;  according 
to  the  direct  determination  of  Dubrunfaut,  this 
amounts  to  one-eighth  of  the  heat  that  would  be  ge¬ 
nerated  by  combustion  of  the  carbon  contained  in 

Heat  units. 


*  By  combustion  of  the  hydrogen  .....  34,533 
By  combination  of  14  grams  carbonic  oxide 

with  8  grams  oxygen . 34,384 

Total . 68,917 


184 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  s,  1870. 


the  carbonic  acid  evolved  in  fermentation.  Conse¬ 
quently, — 

Units  of  heat. 

The  alcohol  from  171  grm.  sugar  gives  017,818 

171  grams  sugar  give  in  fermentation  22,743 

Total .  640,501 

According  to  Frankland’ s  determination, 

however, — 171  grams  of  sugar  give  572,508 

Or  less  by .  68,053 

Without  taking  into  account  the  combustion  of  other 
products  of  fermentation,  which  would  have  given 
from  8000  to  10,000  units  of  heat,  sugar  gives 
nearly  one -eighth  more  heat  than  Franldand’s  calcu¬ 
lation  indicates,  when  it  is  burnt  otherwise  than  in 
the  direct  way";  if  we  suppose  alcohol  to  be  oxidized 
at  a  low  temperature,  first  to  aldehyde,  then  to  acetic 
acid,  formic  acid  and  lastly  to  carbonic  acid,  it  is 
possible  that  other  numerical  results  might  be  ob¬ 
tained  for  its  heat  of  combustion. 

In  the  determination  of  heat  of  combustion  much 
depends  on  the  work  done  in  combustion ;  if  part  of 
the  heat  be  expended  in  overcoming  resistances,  that 
part  does  not  appear  as  sensible  heat. 

The  simple  difference  of  density  in  the  diamond 
makes  the  form  of  carbon  less  combustible  than 
charcoal,  and  it  gives  rise  to  a  difference  in  the  heat 
of  combustion.  The  calorific  power  of  diamond  is 
less  than  that  of  charcoal  by  285  units  [of  heat.* 
This  fact  is  accounted  for  by  the  assumption  that  the 
diamond  hi  crystallizing  has  lost  heat,  which  again 
becomes  latent  in  combustion  ;  moreover,  since  cohe¬ 
sion  is  a  resistance  to  be  overcome  in  the  combina¬ 
tion  of  carbon  with  oxygen,  another  portion  of  the 
heat  generated  is  expended  hi  overcoming  that  re¬ 
sistance,  therefore  less  heat  becomes  sensible. 

The  determinations  of  the  heat  of  combustion  for 
various  lands  of  food  materials  by  Frankland  are 
certainly  applicable  for  estimating  the  value  those 
materials  would  have  as  fuel  for  generating  steam  ; 
but  I  am  of  opinion  that  his  numbers  have  no  special 
significance  as  expressing  the  calorific  power  of  food 
materials  hi  the  living  body. 

This,  is  more  especially  the  case  in  regard  to  the 
determinations  of  the  heat  of  combustion  of  nitro¬ 
genous  constituents  of  the  body,  or  the  albuminates 
in  articles  of  food,  and  in  regard  to  the  inferences 
Frankland  has  drawn  from  those  determinations  as 
to  the  value  of  albuminates  as  a  source  of  power. 

These  materials  are  not  combustible  in  the  ordi¬ 
nary  sense  of  the  term,  neither  are  they  burnt  hi  the 
animal  body  any  more  than  sugar  as  such  is  burnt ; 
in  regard,  to  combustibility  and  their  power  of  com¬ 
bining  with  oxygen,  they  are  among  organic  sub¬ 
stances  analogous  to  gold  and  silver  among  inorganic 
substances. 

As  to  tlieir  combustibility,  the  chemist  knows 
well  how  difficult  it  is  to  burn  organic  substances 
that  are  rich  in  albuminates.  Even  at  a  red  heat 
maintained  for  hours  or  days  some  portion  of  nitro¬ 
genous  carbon  remains  imburnt.  The  same  difficulty 
is  experienced  also  with  urea  and  uric  acid  salts. 

Most  nitrogen  compounds  that  are  not  gaseous 
possess  this  peculiarity.  There  is  certainly  no  more 
inflammable  or  more  combustible  substances  than 
hydrogen  and  phosphorus,  but  then-  compounds  with 
nitrogen  are  entirely  uninflammable ;  for  instance 


ammonia,  though  it  contains  half  its  volume  more 
hydrogen  than  ordinary  hydrogen  gas  does. 

The  non -inflammability  of  these  substances  ob¬ 
viously  is  due  to  the  resistance  offered  by  the  nitro¬ 
gen  they  contain  to  the  action  of  oxygen.  Taking 
heat  also  into  account,  it  appears  that  according  to 
the  determinations  of  Favre  and  Silbermann,  1 
gram  of  hydrogen  in  combining  with  nitrogen  to  form 
ammonia  developes  7576  units  of  heat,  or  nearly  as 
much  as  is  developed  in  the  combustion  of  1  gram 
of  carbon  to  carbonic  acid.  It  must  probably  be  as¬ 
sumed  that  in  the  combustion  of  5'66  grams  of  am¬ 
monia,  containing  1  gram  of  hydrogen,  an  equal 
quantity  of  heat  would  be  expended  in  the  work  of 
combustion.  Perhaps  this  may  be  regarded  as  a 
reason  why  ammonia  burns  with  so  much  difficulty 
but  it  is  not  the  only  reason.  Very  much  appears 
to  depend  on  external  conditions ;  if  they  facilitate 
the  oxidation  of  nitrogen,  as  is  the  case  in  mixtures 
of  decaying  materials  with  alkaline  bases,  then  the 
hydrogen  of  ammonia  burns  with  great  readiness. 

In  cyanogen  and  paracyanogen  we  have  two  com¬ 
pounds  of  nitrogen  and  carbon  identical  in  composi¬ 
tion,  but  presenting  a  remarkable  difference  in  re¬ 
gard  to  combustibility,  cyanogen  being  readily  com¬ 
bustible,  while  paracyanogen  burns  with  great  diffi¬ 
culty. 

Observation  shows  that  1  gram  of  carbon  in  cya¬ 
nogen  developes  by  combustion  43  per  cent,  more 
heat*  than  1  gram  of  carbon  does  when  burnt  by  itself. 

Evidently,  therefore,  this  surplus  heat  must  be 
rendered  latent  in  the  formation  of  cyanogen,  and  in  I 
fact  in  the  conversion  of  cyanide  of  silver  into  the 
paracyanide  so  much  heat  is  developed  that  the 
mass  becomes  red-hot.  If  the  combustibility  of  cya¬ 
nogen  be  due  to  the  latent  heat  it  contains,  still  that 
does  not  explain  why  the  carbon  in  paracyanogen 
appears  to  have  lost  its  affinity  for  oxygen  to  such  a 
great  extent. 

This  consideration  of  the  behaviour  of  some  nitro¬ 
genous  substances  may  suffice  to  show  that  it  is  not 
admissible  to  estimate  their  efficacy  as  sources  of 
power  according  to  the  amount  of  heat  they  may 
develope  by  direct  combustion. 

We  may  suppose  the  possibility  of  maintaining  a 
machine  in  a  state  of  work  by  bringing  the  vapour 
of  chloride  of  nitrogen  in  contact  with  phosphorus 
in  a  vessel,  and  yet  it  would  be  next  to  impossible 
to  determine  the  work  done  directly  in  heat  units,, 
for  neither  chlorine  nor  nitrogen  are  combustible 
substances  in  the  ordinary  sense  of  the  term. 

Chloride  of  nitrogen  is  formed  by  the  action  of 
chlorine  on  ammonia ;  if  there  be  excess  of  ammonia 
no  chloride  of  nitrogen  is  formed,  but  the  chlorine 
then  decomposes  the  ammonia  with  considerable 
evolution  of  heat.  In  the  absence  of  free  ammonia 
chloride  of  nitrogen  is  formed  without  any  rise  of 
temperature.  It  is  evident,  then,  that  all  the  heat 
developed  in  the  former  case  is  in  the  latter  case 
rendered  latent  in  the  chloride  of  nitrogen ;  how¬ 
ever,  in  the  decomposition  of  this  substance  the 
latent  heat  does  not  reappear  as  heat,  but  as  motive 
force. 

There  are  many  cases  in  which  mechanical  or 
motive  effects  are  produced  by  some  internal  or 
molecular  motion.  The  magnitude  of  the  effect  in 
these  cases  depends  upon  the  tension  in  which  the 
parts  exist  in  regard  to  one  another. 


*  Favre  and  Silbermann. 


*  11,260  beat  units. 


September  3, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


185 


The  behaviour  of  glass  tears  affords  a  good  ex¬ 
ample  of  such  internal  tension  ;  if  they  are  scratched 
at  any  part  of  the  surface  so  as  to  disturb  the  equili¬ 
brium  of  the  parts,  the  tears  fly  to  powder  with 
great  force.  In  this  case  there  is  no  alteration  in 
the  composition  of  the  glass ;  the  state  of  tension 
obtained  only  in  regard  to  the  homogeneous  particles 
of  glass,  not  in  regard  to  its  constituents.  In  the 
case  of  fulminating  silver  or  of  nitroglycerin,  this 
tension  obtains  especially  in  regard  to  the  dis¬ 
similar  particles  or  the  constituents  of  the  sub¬ 
stances. 

Nitroglycerin,  or  fulminating  silver,  may  be  heated 
above  100°  C.  without  undergoing  decomposition, 
wliile  the  breaking  of  a  small  crystal  of  fulminating 
silver,  or  a  slight  blow  upon  nitroglycerin,  at  once 
causes  the  constituents  of  those  substances  to  assume 
a  state  of  stabile  equilibrium  with  violent  explosion. 

If  nitroglycerin  is  dropped  upon  a  red-hot  iron  it 
burns  completely  with  a  slight  hissing,  but  without 
any  explosion. 

In  the  one  case  an  enormous  motive  force  is  de¬ 
veloped  by  the  blow,  while  in  the  other  case  heat  is 
generated  by  combustion.  The  motive  force  is  the 
result  of  an  internal  molecular  motion ;  the  heat  is 
a  consequence  of  perfect  combustion  of  the  consti¬ 
tuents  of  nitroglycerin. 

Tliesa  examples  are  evidently  quite  inappropriate 
for  elucidating  the  exercise  of  muscular  force  in  the 
animal  body,  which  takes  place  in  a  totally  different 
manner ;  they  are  intended  merely  to  show  that  by 
the  alteration  of  internal  arrangement  of  the  consti¬ 
tuents  of  certain  compounds  great  mechanical  effects 
may  be  produced  without  any  action  of  oxygen  from 
without. 

The  albuminates  of  the  plant  world  are  the  most 
complex  nitrogen  compounds  that  we  know.  All 
the  constituents  of  the  animal  body  are  produced 
from  the  albumen  of  the  body  by  an  altered  internal 
arrangement  of  the  parts  of  albumen,  or  by  their  se¬ 
paration.  In  these  changes  oxygen  exercises  a  deter¬ 
mining  influence  without  being  the  cause  of  them ; 
and  it  may  be  assumed  that  if  these  products  of 
albumen  be  sources  of  power,  the  motion  they  pro¬ 
duce  depends  upon  the  tension  accumulated  in  them 
during  their  formation  and  liberated  in  their  decom¬ 
position,  not  upon  their  combustion  or  upon  the 
conversion  of  heat  into  motive  force. 

It  is  quite  certain  that  the  substance  of  the  mem¬ 
branes  and  those  constituents  of  bone  which  furnish 
gelatin,  that  blood  fibrin,  the  nitrogenous  consti¬ 
tuents  of  brain,  the  acids  of  bile,  liippuric  acid  and 
wine  acid,  are  products  of  the  transformation  and 
breaking  up  of  albumen ;  but  we  have  no  evidence 
that  albumen  yields  urea, ^carbonic  acid  and  water 
as  the  result  of  combustion. 

All  attempts  to  produce  urea  from  albuminates 
by  oxidation  have  failed  as  completely  as  the  attempt 
to  produce  alcohol  from  sugar  by  chemical  means ; 
and  probably  the  conversion  of  uric  acid  into  urea 
and  carbonic  acid  may  afford  a  good  example  of  the 
processes  and  changes  which  the  albuminates  un¬ 
dergo  in  the  animal  body. 

Uiic  acid,  like  albumen,  is  one  of  the  most  difficult 
substances  to  burn  directly ;  it  is  not  broken  up  by 
concentrated  sulphuric  acid,  or  by  boiling  with  hy¬ 
drochloric  acid  or  potash ;  but  there  is  probably  no 
other  substance  of  which  the  constituents  are  so 
readily  moveable  under  the  simultaneous  influence 
of  oxygen  and  acids  or  alkalies,  none  that  is  suscep¬ 


tible  of  conversion  into  such  a  multitude  of  products 
as  uric  acid  is. 

By  addition  of  two  equivalents  of  oxgyen  in  the 
presence  of  an  acid,  uric  acid  breaks  up  into  urea 
and  alloxan ;  by  further  addition  of  oxygen,  alloxan 
breaks  up  into  urea  and  carbonic  acid.  In  the  pre¬ 
sence  of  a  strong  base  and  oxygen,  uric  acid  breaks 
up  into  oxalic  acid,  allantoin  and  urea ;  by  a  further 
addition  of  oxygen  allantoin  breaks  up  into  urea  and 
allanturic  acid,  this  latter  substance  containing  the 
elements  of  carbonic  acid  and  urea. 

In  all  these  cases  urea  is  produced  from  uric  acid 
by  addition  of  oxygen ;  but  it  is  not,  in  any  case,  a 
product  of  .direct  oxidation;  it  is  produced  by  the 
breaking  up  of  a  newly  formed  and  more  highly 
oxidized  compound. 

{To  be  continued.) 


WHAT  IS  ENERGY  ?* 

BY  BALFOUR  STEWART. 

It  is  only  of  late  years  that  the  laws  of  motion 
have  been  fully  comprehended.  No  doubt  it  has 
been  known  since  the  time  of  Newton  that  there  can 
be  no  action  without  reaction ;  or,  in  other  words,  if 
we  define  momentum  to  be  the  product  of  the  mass 
of  a  moving  body  into  its  velocity  of  motion,  then 
whenever  this  is  generated  in  one  direction  an  equal 
amount  is  simultaneously  generated  in  the  opposite 
direction,  and  whenever  it  is  destroyed  in  one  direc¬ 
tion  an  equal  amount  is  simultaneously  destroyed  in 
the  opposite  direction.  Thus  the  recoil  of  a  gun  is 
the  appropriate  reaction  to  the  forward  motion  of  the 
bullet,  and  the  ascent  of  a  rocket  to  the  downrush  of 
heated  gas  from  its  orifice ;  and  in  other  cases  where 
the  action  of  the  principle  is  not  so  apparent,  its  truth 
has  notwithstanding  been  universally  admitted. 

It  has,  for  instance,  been  perfectly  well  understood 
for  the  last  200  years  that  if  a  rock  be  detached  from 
the  top  of  a  precipice  144  feet  high  it  will  reach  the 
earth  with  the  velocity  of  96  feet  in  a  second,  wliile 
the  earth  will  in  return  move  up  to  meet  it,  if  not 
with  the  same  velocity  yet  with  the  same  momentum. 
But  inasmuch  as  the  mass  of  the  earth  is  very  great 
compared  with  that  of  the  rock,  so  the  velocity  of  the 
former  must  be  very  small  compared  with  that  of  the 
latter,  in  order  that  the  momentum  or  product  of 
mass  into  velocity  may  be  the  same  for  both.  In 
fact,  in  this  case,  the  velocity  of  the  earth  is  quite 
insensible  and  may  be  disregarded. 

The  old  conception  of  the  laws  of  motion  was  thus 
sufficient  to  represent  what  takes  place  when  the 
rock  is  in  the  act  of  traversing  the  air  to  meet  the 
earth ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  the  true  physical  con¬ 
comitants  of  the  crash  which  takes  place  when  the 
two  bodies  have  come  together  were  entirely  ignored. 
They  met,  their  momentum  was  cancelled ;  that  was 
enough  for  the  old  hypothesis. 

So,  when  a  hammer  descends  upon  an  anvil,  it 
was  considered  enough  to  believe  that  the  blow  was 
stopped  by  the  anvil ;  or  when  a  break  was  applied 
to  a  carriage-wheel  it  was  enough  to  imagine  that 


*  Reprinted  from  Nature.  This  is  the  first  of  a  series  of 
papers  on  a  subject  that  is  daily  becoming  more  important  in 
its  general  scientific  bearing,  while  it  is  treated  in  so  clear 
and  instructive  a  way  that  the  papers  cannot  fail  to  be  use¬ 
ful  to  all  who  read  them  carefully. — Ed.  Pn.  J. 


186 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  3, 1870, 


the  momentum  of  the  carriage  was  stopped  by  fric¬ 
tion.  We  shall  presently  allude  to  the  names  of 
those  distinguished  men  who  have  come  prominently 
forward  as  the  champions  of  a  juster  conception  of 
tilings,  but  in  the  meantime  let  us  consider  some  of 
those  influences  which  served  to  prepare  men’s  minds 
for  the  reception  of  a  truer  hypothesis. 

We  live  in  a  world  of  work,  of  work  from  which 
we  cannot  possibly  escape ;  and  those  of  us  who  do 
not  require  to  work  in  order  to  eat,  must  yet  in  some 
sense  perform  work  in  order  to  live.  Gradually,  and 
by  very  slow  steps,  the  true  nature  of  work  came  to 
be  understood.  It  was  seen,  for  instance,  that  it  in¬ 
volved  a  much  less  expenditure  of  energy  for  a  man 
to  carry  a  pound  weight  along  a  level  road  than  to 
carry  it  an  equal  distance  up  to  the  top  of  a  moun¬ 
tain. 

It  is  not  improbable  that  considerations  of  this 
kind  may  have  led  the  way  to  a  numerical  estimate 
of  work. 

Thus,  if  we  raise  a  pound  weight  one  foot  high 
against  the  force  of  gravity  we  may  call  it  one  unit 
of  work,  in  which  case  two  pounds  raised  one  foot 
high  or  one  pound  raised  two  feet  high  would  repre¬ 
sent  two  units,  and  so  on.  We  have  therefore  only 
to  multiply  the  number  of  pounds  by  the  vertical 
height  in  feet  to  which  they  are  raised,  and  the  pro¬ 
duct  will  represent  the  work  done  against  gravity. 
The  force  of  gravity,  being  very  nearly  constant  at 
the  earth’s  surface  and  always  in  action,  is  a  very 
convenient  force  for  this  purpose;  but  any  other 
force,  such  as  that  of  a  spring,  would  do  equally  well 
to  measure  work  by.  Generalizing,  we  may  say,  the 
space  moved  over  against  a  force  multiplied  into  the 
intensity  of  that  force  will  represent  the  quantity  of 
work  done.  So  much  for  the  definition  of  work,  and 
it  is  necessary  to  know  what  work  is  before  proceed¬ 
ing  to  define  Energy. 

Now  what  does  the  word  Energy  really  mean? 
In  the  first  place  it  does  not  mean  force. 

Two  substances  may  have  an  intense  mutual  at¬ 
traction,  in  virtue  of  which  they  form  a  very  intimate 
union  with  one  another ;  but  when  once  this  union 
has  been  consummated,  although  the  force  still  con¬ 
tinues  to  exist,  the  combination  is  singularly  defi¬ 
cient  in  Energy.  Nor  does  Energy  mean  motion, 
for  although  we  cannot  have  motion  without  Energy, 
yet  we  may  have  Energy  without  motion. 

By  the  word  Energy  is  meant  the  power  of  doing 
work  ;  and  the  energy  which  a  labouring  man  pos¬ 
sesses  means,  in  the  strictly  physical  sense,  the  num¬ 
ber  of  units  of  work  which  lie  is  capable  of  accom¬ 
plishing. 

This  is  a  subject  which  at  this  stage  we  may  at¬ 
tempt  to  illustrate  by  reference  to  a  very  different 
department  of  knowledge* 

The  analogy  which  we  shall  venture  to  institute  is 
between  the  social  and  the  physical  world,  in  the 
hope  that  those  who  are  more  familiar  with  the 
former  than  with  the  latter  may  be  led  to  perceive 
clearly  what  is  meant  by  the  word  Energy  in  a 
strictly  physical  sense.  Energy  in  the  social  world 
is  well  understood.  When  a  man  pursues  his  course, 
undaunted  by  opposition  and  unappalled  by  obsta¬ 
cles,  he.  is  said  to  be  a  very  energetic  man. 

By  his  energy  is  meant  the  power  which  he  pos¬ 


*  The  subject  has  previously  been  discussed  from  this  point 
of  view  by  Messrs.  Stewart  and  Lockyerfiin  an  article  in 
Macmillan's  Magazine ,  August,  1868. 


sesses  of  overcoming  obstacles  ;  and  the  amount  of 
this  energy  is  measured  (in  the  loose  way  in  which 
we  measure  such  tilings)  by  the  amount  of  obstacles 
which  he  can  overcome — the  amoimt  of  work  which 
he  can  do.  Such  a  man  may  in  truth  be  regarded 
as  a  social  cannon-ball.  By  means  of  his  energy  of 
character  he  will  scatter  the  ranks  of  his  opponents 
and  demolish  their  ramparts.  Nevertheless,  a  man 
of  this  kind  will  sometimes  be  defeated  by  an  oppo¬ 
nent  who  does  not  possess  a  tithe  of  his  personal 
energy.  Now,  why  is  this  ?  A  reply  to  this  question 
will,  if  we  do  not  mistake,  exhibit  in  a  striking  man¬ 
ner  the  likeness  that  exists  between  the  social  and 
the  physical  world.  The  reason  is  that,  although 
his  opponent  may  be  deficient  in  personal  energy,  yet 
he  may  possess  more  than  an  equivalent  in  the  high 
position  which  he  occupies,  and  it  is  simply  this 
position  that  enables  him  to  combat  successfully  with 
a  man  of  much  greater  personal  energy  than  himself. 
If  two  men  throw  stones  at  one  another,  one  of  whom 
stands  at  the  top  of  a  house  and  the  other  at  the 
bottom,  the  man  at  the  top  of  the  house  has  evidently 
the  advantage. 

So,  in  like  manner,  if  two  men  of  equal  personal 
energy  contend  together,  the  one  who  has  the  highest 
social  position  has  the  best  chance  of  succeeding. 
For  tins  high  position  means  Energy  under  another 
form.  It  means  that  at  some  remote  period  a  vast 
amount  of  personal  energy  was  expended  in  raising 
the  family  into  this  high  position.  The  founder  of 
the  family  had,  doubtless,  greater  Energy  than  most 
of  his  fellows,  and  spent  it  in  raising  himself  and  his 
family  into  a  position  of  advantage.  The  personal 
element  may  have  long  since  disappeared  from  the 
family,  but  not  before  it  had  been  transmuted  into 
something  else,  in  virtue  of  which  the  present  repre¬ 
sentative  is  able  to  accomplish  a  great  deal,  owing 
solely  to  the  high  position  which  he  has  acquired 
through  the  efforts  of  another.  We  thus  see  that  in 
the  social  world  we  have  what  may  justly  be  termed 
two  kinds  of  Energy,  namely : — 

1.  Actual  or  personal  Energy. 

2.  Energy  derived  from  position. 

Let  us  now  again  turn  to  the  physical  world.  In 
this,  as  in  the  social  world,  it  is  difficult  to  ascend. 
The  force  of  gravity  may  be  compared  to  that  force 
which  keeps  a  man  down  in  the  world.  If  a  stone 
be  shot  upwards  with  great  velocity,  it  may  be  said 
to  have  in  it  a  great  deal  of  actual  Energy,  because 
it  has  the  power  of  doing  useful  work  or  of  overcom¬ 
ing  up  to  a  great  height  the  obstacle  interposed  by 
gravity  to  its  ascent,  just  as  a  man  of  great  energy 
has  the  power  of  overcoming  obstacles.  But  this 
stone  as  it  continues  to  mount  upwards  will  do  so 
with  a  gradually  decreasing  velocity,  until  at  the 
summit  of  its  flight  all  the  actual  Energy  with  which 
it  started  will  have  been  spent  in  raising  it  against 
the  force  of  gravity  to  tins  elevated  position.  It  is 
now  moving  with  no  velocity — just,  in  fact,  beginning 
to  turn — and  we  may  suppose  it  to  be  caught  and 
lodged  upon  the  top  of  a  house.  Here,  then,  it  re¬ 
mains  at  rest,  without  the  slightest  tendency  to  mo¬ 
tion  of  any  kind,  and  we  are  led  to  ask  what  has 
become  of  the  Energy  with  which  it  began  its  flight  ? 
Has  this  Energy  disappeared  from  the  universe  with¬ 
out  leaving  behind  it  any  equivalent  ?  Is  it  lost  for 
ever,  and  utterly  wasted  ?  But  the  answer  to  this 
question  must  be  reserved  for  another  article. 

(To  he  continued.) 


September  3,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


187 


M’BOUNDOU  OR  ICAJA,  AN  ORDEAL  POISON 
USED  AT  THE  GABOON. 

BY  MM.  RABUTEAU  AND  PEYRE. 

In  1869,  one  of  the  authors  brought  from  the  Gaboon 
some  roots  of  M’boundou.  They  had  been  dug  up  by 
himself  from  a  humid  soil  in  the  vicinity  of  the  river 
Como,  about  thirty  leagues  inland.  It  is  only  with 
great  difficulty  that  the  plant  is  to  he  obtained  in  the 
settlement.  The  places  where  it  is  to  he  found  are  kept 
secret  with  such  care  by  the  fetishmen  from  Europeans, 
and  even  from  the  natives,  that  up  to  the  present  time 
only  a  few  specimens  have  been  obtained,  which  have 
not  been  sufficient  to  enable  a  complete  study  of  its 
toxic  properties  to  be  made. 

The  roots  with  which  the  experiments  were  made  mea¬ 
sured  at  the  crown  the  largest  three  centimetres  in  dia¬ 
meter,  the  smallest  about  one.  They  are  sometimes 
found  of  a  larger  size.  The  length  varied  between  fifty 
and  seventy  centimetres.  The  rather  thick  bark  is, 
both  when  fresh  and  when  dry,  reddish  at  the  surface 
and  of  a  bright  red  colour  under  the  epiderm.  The  wood 
which  it  covers  is  greyish- white  and  very  hard. 

The  experiments  were  nearly  all  made  with  the  bark, 
— some  few,  however,  with  the  root-wood, — from  which 
aqueous  and  alcoholic  extracts  were  prepared.  The  bark 
and  the  wood  are  both  very  bitter,  their  infusions,  even 
when  very  much  diluted,  possessing  still  an  extreme 
bitterness.  Treated  with  a  solution  of  iodine  and  iodide 
of  potassium,  or  with  phosphomolybdic  acid,  they  gave  an 
abundant  precipitate.  They  contain  an  alkaloid  (per¬ 
haps  many)  which  is  believed  to  be  the  same  in  the  bark 
and  in  the  wood,  since  the  effects  observed  upon  animals 
have  appeared  identical,  the  only  difference  noted  being 
that  the  alcoholic  extract  has  seemed  more  active  than 
the  aqueous  extract.  A  difference,  though  but  a  slight 
one,  has  been  noticed  in  the  effect  of  the  poison  when 
introduced  into  the  stomach  from  that  which  follows  it 
when  introduced  under  the  skin  of  animals. 

After  many  experiments  made  with  varied  doses  of 
the  poison  upon  frogs,  rabbits  and  dogs,  it  is  believed 
that  the  following  is  the  manner  of  action  of  the  poison¬ 
ous  principle  of  m’boundou. 

Introduced  in  a  very  small  quantity  under  the  skin  of 
a  frog  the  poison  produces  only  a  constraint  of  the 
movements, — a  sort  of  paralysis, — which  prevents  it 
from  jumping  except  with  difficulty.  The  same  effect 
was  observed  when,  instead  of  introducing  the  extract, 
which  is  very  powerful,  under  the  skin,  a  little  powdered 
root  has  been  substituted  for  it.  When  only  a  small 
quantity  of  the  aqueous  extract  has  been  introduced 
under  the  skin,  its  effect  disappears  completely  after 
about  an  hour. 

A  dose  of  three  milligrammes  of  this  extract  injected 
under  the  skin  of  a  frog  produces  at  first  the  constraint 
of  movements  just  noticed,  but  after  ten  minutes  or 
more  it  suffers  from  shocks  and  tetanic  convulsions. 
These  convulsions  are  not  produced  spontaneously  in 
general,  but  are  brought  on  by  touching  the  animal,  or 
simply  striking  the  table  upon  which  it  rests.  If  the 
dose  is  stronger — one  centigramme,  for  example — the 
convulsions  appear  more  quickly ;  there  is  rigidity,  but 
it  is  rarely  that  the  animal  can  be  raised  altogether  as 
when  one  is  poisoned  by  strychnine.  There  is  always  a 
certain  relaxation  compared  with  what  is  observed  in 
the.  action  of  strychnine.  Moreover,  the  frog  is  not 
rigid  after  death.  This  occurs  after  a  period  not  ex¬ 
ceeding  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  unless  the  dose  has 
been  feeble ;  in  that  case  the  animal,  placed  in  water, 
recovers  completely  after  a  few  hours. 

If  a  frog  be  prepared  according  to  the  method  of 
M.  Claude  Bernard,  by  tying  the  lower  part  of  the 
trunk  and  excluding  the  lumbar  nerves,  then,  by  intro¬ 
ducing  the  extract  under  the  skin,  it  is  ascertained  that 
m’boundou  acts  upon  the  spinal  marrow.  It  is  not  a 
muscular  poison. 


A  dose  of  ten  centigrammes  of  the  extract  of  m’boun¬ 
dou  in  aqueous  solution  injected  under  the  skin  of  a 
rabbit  in  two  or  three  different  places,  in  order  that  the 
absorption  should  be  more  rapid,  killed  the  animal  in 
twenty  minutes.  Five  or  ten  minutes  after  the  injec¬ 
tion,  upon  being  touched,  it  suffered  from  energetic 
starts  and  shocks  that  may  be  compared  to  electric 
shocks ;  at  the  same  time  the  movements  of  its  limbs, 
especially  of  its  posterior  ones,  were  much  impeded.  It 
died  from  asphyxia,  but  its  life  might  have  been  pro¬ 
longed  by  artificial  respiration.  The  same  dose  injected 
in  another  rabbit  at  a  single  point  did  not  cause  death  ; 
at  the  end  of  two  hours  the  animal  had  but  feeble  shocks 
upon  being  touched,  and  even  these  disappeared  totally. 
It  ate  with  appetite.  This  fact  proves  evidently  that 
the  elimination  of  the  poison  is  rapid. 

Fifteen  centigrammes  of  the  same  extract  dissolved  in 
thirty  or  forty  grammes  of  water,  and  introduced  into 
the  stomach  of  a  rabbit,  caused  its  death  at  the  end  of  an 
hour  and  five  minutes.  The  symptoms,  which  were  the 
same  as  the  preceding,  commenced  to  manifest  them¬ 
selves  ten  minutes  after  the  introduction  of  the  poison. 
With  a  dose  of  forty  centigrammes  the  effects  were 
startlingly  sudden. 

The  symptoms  observed  in  dogs  were  of  the  same 
kind,  appearing  generally,  according  to  the  dose,  at  the 
end  of  five  or  ten  minutes.  When  their  appearance  was 
tardy  they  were  easily  provoked,  as  in  the  case  of  the 
rabbits,  by  raising  the  animal  or  simply  touching  it.  As 
before,  the  shocks  were  powerful,  the  breath  was  pant¬ 
ing,  the  posterior  limbs  were  paralysed.  The  uncer¬ 
tainty  and  difficulty  of  the  movements  were  more  appa¬ 
rent  when  the  aqueous  solution  of  the  extract  was 
introduced  into  the  stomach  than  when  it  was  injected 
under  the  skin.  A  dog  which  had  been  made  to  swallow 
twenty-five  centigrammes  of  extract  dissolved  in  forty 
grammes  of  water  called  to  mind  the  bar  that  the  Ga- 
boonese  wish  those  who  have  taken  the  ordeal  beverage 
to  jump  over.  This  animal,  sensible  to  caresses  and 
obeying  the  voice,  could  not  clear  steps  eighteen  centi¬ 
metres  high.  Every  time  that  it  made  an  effort 
it  trembled,  and  suffered  violent  tetanic  convulsions. 
At  the  end  of  an  hour  it  was  still  convulsed,  even  under 
the  influence  of  fear;  but  an  hour  later,  that  is,  two 
hours  after  the  injection  of  the  poison,  there  only  re¬ 
mained  a  slight  stiffness  in  its  movements,  and  it  ate 
with  good  appetite.  Its  ears  and  muzzle,  which  had 
been  hot  before,  became  cool. 

A  dose  of  forty  centigrammes  of  extract  introduced  into 
the  stomach  of  a  dog  caused  death  in  twenty  minutes.  It 
died  of  asphyxia,  accompanied  by  convulsions  ;  its  sphinc¬ 
ters  relaxed,  causing  an  emission  of  urine  and  fecal 
matter.  A  nasal  haemorrhage  was  observed,  which 
haemorrhage  has  also  been  noticed  among  the  Gaboon- 
ese.  Rigidity  did  not  set  in  until  about  three-quar¬ 
ters  of  an  hour  afterwards. 

Upon  considering  these  facts,  it  appears  that  the 
active  principle  or  principles  of  m’boundou  produce 
effects  which  present  a  certain  analogy  with  those  pro¬ 
duced  by  strychnine,  but  differ  considerably  from  them 
under  certain  aspects.  These  effects  resemble  rather 
those  of  brucine ;  but  it  is  remarked  that  m’boundou  did 
not  produce  that  hoarseness  of  voice  in  the  dog  experi¬ 
mented  upon  which,  contrary  to  what  is  generally  ad¬ 
mitted,  the  authors  have  remarked  in  dogs  to  whom 
brucine  has  been  given  by  them. 

M’boundou  is  an  extremely  rapid  poison,  but  the  ex¬ 
periments  tend  to  show  that  it  is  quickly  eliminated 
from  the  system,  and  that  fatal  symptoms  may  be 
allayed  by  artificial  respiration. 

Some  researches  upon  m’boundou  were  made  in  1861 
by  MM.  Pecholier  and  Saintpierre.*  These  experimen¬ 
ters  had  but  a  small  quantity  of  root  at  their  disposal ; 
they  nevertheless  observed  the  greater  part  of  the  symp- 


*  Journal  d' Anatomie  et  de  Physiologic. 

L  3 


188 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  3,  1870. 


toms  above  noted.  But  the  authors  cannot  agree  with 
them  that  the  poison,  after  having  produced  tetanic  con¬ 
vulsions,  leads  to  insensibility,  paralysis  and  death. 
The  restraint  of  the  movements  was  noticed  by  them 
first,  death  occurring  in  the  midst  of  convulsions. — 
Comptes  Jtendus. 


REPORT  OF  THE  WARDEN  OF  THE  STANDARDS. 

In  his  report  for  the  year  ending  March  31,  1870,  Mr. 
Chisholm,  the  Warden  of  the  Standards,  gives  in  a  tabu¬ 
lar  form  the  number  of  verifications  and  reverifications 
of  Local  Standards  by  the  Department  each  year  from 
the  31st  March,  1859,  to  the  31st  March,  1870,  inclusive. 
During  the  last  twelve  months  these  have  amounted  to 
1614,  being  a  decrease  compared  with  the  previous  year 
of  no  less  than  1067.  This  is  partly  accounted  for  by 
the  change  in  the  law,  which  now  allows  remaining 
county  sets  of  standards  to  be  reverified  locally  with  a 
set  which  has  been  duly  reverified  in  the  Standards  De¬ 
partment.  The  number  of  standards  rejected  last  year 
as  requiring  readjustment  was  173,  or  11  per  cent.,  the 
proportion  in  the  previous  year  having  been  13  per  cent. 
There  were  at  the  date  of  the  report  114  places  in  the 
United  Kingdom  without  legal  standard  weights,  and  85 
without  legal  standard  measures,  in  consequence  of  the 
requirement  of  the  law  that  standard  weights  should  be 
reverified  every  five,  and  measures  every  ten  years,  not 
having  been  complied  with.  These  were  cases  known  to 
the  department,  but  it  is  probable  that  there  were  others 
that  had  escaped  official  notice.  For  instance,  a  set  of 
standard  weights  and  measures  from  the  borough  of 
Lostwithiel,  has  been  recently  delivered  at  the  Standards 
Office  for  reverification,  bearing  the  date  of  1741,  and  the 
Exchequer  stamp  of  verification  of  the  reign  of  George 
II.,  which  had  been  in  use  in  the  borough  up  to  that 
time.  They  appeared  to  be  in  good  condition  consider¬ 
ing  their  age.  The  weights  were  deficient ;  the  lb. 
weight  (avoirdupois)  wanting  6-5  grains;  the  measures 
of  capacity  were  mostly  in  excess,  the  half-bushel  to  the 
extent  of  1|-  gill.  The  books  of  the  department,  which 
commenced  in  1824,  contain  no  record  of  the  verification 
of  any  standards  for  Lostwithiel. 

During  the  past  year  the  reverification  of  all  the  offi¬ 
cial  standards  has  been  completed  by  the  most  accurate 
comparisons  of  the  standard  measures  of  capacity,  and 
the  gas-measuring  standards.  In  no  single  instance  has 
any  material  error  been  found  that  could  affect  injuri¬ 
ously  the  accuracy  of  the  copies  verified  for  the  use  of 
local  inspectors. 

A  set  of  standard  avoirdupois  weights  is  now  being 
■constructed  of  glass  by  Mr.  Oertling  and  Messrs.  Chance, 
of  Birmingham,  with  a  view  of  ascertaining  how  far, 
having  regard  to  the  cost,  durability  and  invariability 
of  such  weights,  the  surface  of  glass  not  being  liable  to 
oxidation,  it  may  be  desirable  that  it  should  be  used  as 
the  material  for  local  standard  weights. 

In  pursuance  of  the  recommendations  of  the  Standards 
Commission,  new  standard  measures  of  one-sixth  and 
one-twelfth  of  a  gallon,  as  measure  of  the  wine  bottle 
and  half  wine  bottle,  have  been  constructed  and  are  now 
being  verified.  A  complete  set  of  new  standard  imperial 
measures  of  capacity,  from  the  quart  downwards,  in¬ 
cluding  also  a  series  of  measures  of  decimal  grain-weights 
of  distilled  water  at  the  temperature  of  62°  F.,  have  been 
constructed  by  Messrs.  Griffin.  These  measures  are  in 
the  form  of  glass  burettes,  each  of  which  is  fitted  with  a 
brass  collar  and  screw  at  the  upper  part,  so  that,  being 
attached  to  an  apparatus  made  for  the  purpose,  it  may 
be  filled  with  water  up  to  a  defining  line  on  the  narrow 
tube  of  the  burette  and  made  to  deliver  the  exact  mea¬ 
sure. 

A  complete  set  of  copies  of  the  official  imperial  stan¬ 
dards  is  now  being  constructed  for  presentation  to  the 
French  Government.  When  completed  and  verified, 


they  will  be  deposited  with  the  collection  of  standards 
at  the  Conservatoire  Imperial  des  Arts  et  Metiers  at 
Paris. 

Increased  accommodation  has  been  given  to  the  de¬ 
partment  by  the  addition  of  several  fresh  rooms  to  the 
office,  which  now  includes  all  the  three  floors  of  the  old 
Norman  Jewel  Tower.  From  the  great  thickness  of 
the  stone  walls  of  the  tower,  the  rooms  in  this  building 
are  favourable  for  standard  operations,  being  very  free 
from  vibration,  and  not  liable  to  sudden  fluctuations  of 
temperature.  The  large  room  in  the  basement,  which 
has  a  beautifully  groined  vaulted  roof,  is  fitted  up  as  a 
weighing  room,  with  all  the  finest  balances.  The  adja¬ 
cent  room  is  fitted  for  containing  all  the  glass  fluid  mea¬ 
sures  and  for  making  comparisons  with  them.  The 
large  room  on  the  first  floor  is  intended  to  be  exclusively 
used  for  containing  the  standard  measures  of  length,  the 
new  microscopical  comparing  apparatus  and  the  vertical 
comparateur,  and  for  operations  with  them.  The  new 
rooms  on  the  upper  floor  are  to  contain  the  large  collec¬ 
tion  of  older  standards  of  an  antiquarian  or  historical  cha¬ 
racter.  The  old  roof  of  these  upper  rooms,  with  its  large 
beams  of  chestnut  wood,  has  been  completely  restored, 
the  whole  of  the  interior  of  the  building  being  made  to 
correspond  as  nearly  as  possible  with  its  appearance 
when  originally  completed  in  the  reign  of  Richard  II. 

Invitations  have  been  issued  by  the  French  Govern¬ 
ment  to  the  English  and  other  Governments  to  send  de¬ 
legates  to  take  part  in  the  International  Standards  Com¬ 
mission,  with  the  view  that  every  country  in  which  the 
metric  system  has  been  adopted,  or  its  adoption  contem¬ 
plated,  may  be  furnished  with  uniform  primary  copies 
of  the  metric  standards  at  Paris  of  the  highest  possible 
accuracy.  Twenty-one  countries  have  accepted  the  in¬ 
vitation,  the  number  of  delegates  amounting  to  thirty- 
five,  to  whom  will  be  joined  ten  more  appointed  by  the 
French  Government.  The  three  delegates  appointed  on 
behalf  of  England  are  the  Astronomer  Royal,  Professor 
W.  H.  Miller,  F.R.S.,  and  the  Warden  of  the  Standards. 

The  Coinage  Act  of  last  session  has  imposed  fresh 
duties  on  the  Standards  Department  ;  new  standard 
weights  of  the  gold,  silver  and  bronze  coins,  sixteen  in 
number  (ranging  from  the  five-pound  and  the  two-pound 
gold  piece  down  to  the  farthing,  and  including  silver 
twopences  and  pennies),  are  now  being  constructed  under 
the  provisions  of  the  Act.  As  soon  as  these  standard 
coin  weights  shall  have  been  duly  verified  and  made 
legal  standards  by  an  Order  in  Council,  regulations  will 
be  issued  under  which  any  copies  of  the  standard  coin 
weights  may  be  verified  and  marked  or  stamped  in  the 
department ;  and  no  weights  other  than  those  so  marked 
or  stamped  are  to  be  deemed  just  weights  for  determining 
the  weight  of  gold  and  silver  coins  of  the  realm. 


ANCIENT  USE  OF  ODORIFEROUS  PLANTS. 

In  his  introductory  address  to  the  Medical  Section  of 
the  British  Medical  Association  at  their  late  meeting  at 
Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  Dr.  Rumsey,  referring  to  a  re¬ 
markable  series  of  observations  which  Professor  Mante- 
gazza  has  reported  to  the  Institute  of  Lombardy,  made 
the  following  remarks : — 

“  The  experiments  were  not  made  under  the  dull  sky 
of  Britain,  but  in  sunny  Italy.  We  have  all  heard  how 
Acron  of  Agrigentum,  and  other  followers  of  Empedocles 
the  physicist,  employed  aromatic  and  balsamic  herbs  as 
preventives  of  pestilence,  often  burning  them,  sometimes 
planting  them  round  their  cities.  So  also  Herodian  re¬ 
cords  {langius  Jo .,  Florilegium ,  Morbus,  p.  1854;  Lug- 
duni,  1648)  that,  in  a  plague  which  devastated  Italy  in 
the  second  century — the  counsel  of  the  doctors  having 
been  taken — strangers  crowding  into  Rome  were  directed 
to  retreat  to  Laurentum,  now  San  Lorenzo,  that  by  a 
cooler  atmosphere,  and  by  the  odour  of  laurel ,  they  might 
escape  the  danger  of  infection.  Some  of  us  may  have 


September  3,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


189 


smiled  at  the  latter  part  of  the  advice.  Could  the  scent 
of  herbs  and  flowers  do  more  than  conceal  the  presence 
of  infectious  matter  in  -the  air  F  Mantegazza  now  replies 
in  the  affirmative.  He  says  that  in  the  oxidation  of  the 
essences  of  odoriferous  plants  a  large  quantity  of  ozone 
is  evolved,  at  least  as  much  as  is  produced  by  phosphorus 
or  electricity ;  also  that,  in  the  greater  number  of  these 
cases,  ozone  is  developed  only  by  the  direct  rays  of  the 
sun,  although  in  others  the  action,  commencing  in  solar 
light,  is  found  to  continue  in  darkness.  Some  details  of 
these  interesting  experiments  have  appeared  in  the  scien¬ 
tific  periodicals,  so  I  need  only  mention  that  among  the 
plants  which  largely  develope  ozone  on  exposure  to  the 
rays  of  the  sun,  are  cherry-laurel,  clove  and  lavender ; 
among  flowers,  the  narcissus,  hyacinth  and  mignonette ; 
and  among  perfumes,  similarly  exposed,  eau  de  Cologne, 
oil  of  bergamot  and  some  aromatic  tinctures.  Flowers 
destitute  of  perfume  are  said  not  to  produce  ozone.  The 
professor,  therefore,  recommends  the  cultivation  of  herbs 
and  odorous  flowers  in  marshy  districts  and  in  places  in¬ 
fected  with  animal  emanations. 

“  The  destruction  of  the  demon  Malaria,  by  a  spirit  be¬ 
gotten  by  sunlight  out  of  flowers— if  it  be  confirmed  by 
subsequent  observation — not  only  explains  the  good 
effects  of  what  might  seem  to  have  been  merely  specu¬ 
lative  or  empirical  advice,  but  also  affords  a.  beautiful 
confirmation  of  an  ancient  myth  by  modern  science. 
When  Apollo  the  Healer,  by  his  life-inspiring*  and 
health-restoring  rays,  penetrates  the  loveliest  objects  in 
creation,  and  draws  forth  from  them  a  mysterious  puri¬ 
fier,  a  mighty  but  invisible  disinfectant, — the  god  of 
Medicine  may  be  said  to  administer  to  a  plague-stricken 
people  a  most  potent  remedy  concealed  in  the  most 
grateful  and  attractive  forms.” 


CARDED  OAKUM. 


The  Lancet ,  speaking  of  the  use  of  carded  oakum  as  a 
surgical  dressing  in  war,  says  so  many  advantages  are 
possessed  by  it  “that  we  expect  it  to  be  largely  em¬ 
ployed  in  the  military  hospitals  of  France  and  Germany 
during  the  present  war.  As,  however,  its  qualities  are 
not  yet  so  widely  known  as  they  should  be,  it  may  be 
useful  at  the  present  juncture  to  refer  to  them.  The 
material  is  simply  old  rope  shredded  in  prisons  and 
workhouses,  and  carded  by  machinery.  It  is  of  a  bright 
brown  colour,  with  the  well-known  tarry  fragrance.  A 
little  of  the  oakum  is  roughly  drawn  into  a  suitable 
shape  for  covering  the  wound,  then  wetted,  and  applied 
to  it.  All  discharge  is  absorbed  by  the  dressing,  and 
any  bad  odour  is  effectually  destroyed.  By  dipping  it 
into  hot  water,  and  covering  it  with  oil-silk,  a  conve¬ 
nient  antiseptic  poultice  is  formed,  easily  made,  very 
light  and  answering  perfectly  its  purpose.  It  thus 
supersedes  the  use  of  Lint,  ointments  and  linseed-meal 
or  bread-poultices.  It  is  easily  burnt — no  small  advan¬ 
tage  in  a  crowded  hospital,  where  bad-smelling  applica¬ 
tions  are  a  fertile  source  of  disease  if  not  quickly  de¬ 
stroyed.  Its  simplicity  of  application  saves  much  time 
and  labour — a  great  consideration  where  the  nursing 
staff  is  overtaxed,  as  must  always  happen  after  serious 
engagements.  Its  cheapness  is  another  great  advantage. 
Carded  oakum  can  be  procured,  we  believe,  for  some¬ 
thing  like  9 cl.  per  pound,  about  a  fifth  or  sixth  of  the 
cost  of  lint.  In  America,  during  the  civil  war,  carded 
oakum  was  largely  employed.  It  has  also  been  in  use 
for  some  years  at  the  Children’s  Hospital  in  Great 
Ormond  Street,  and  at  St.  George’s  during  the  last 
twelvemonth  its  use  has  superseded  other  dressings  in 
the  hands  of  several  members  of  the  surgical  staff.” 

Mr.  T.  Westhorpe,  of  the  Falcon  Works,  West  India 
Road,  who  manufactures  the  machine-picked  oakum,  in 
a  letter  to  the  Times ,  points  out  that  the  Lancet  is  wrong 
in  asserting  that  “the  material  is  simply  old  rope 
shredded  in  prisons  and  workhouses  and  carded  by  ma¬ 


chinery.”  He  says,  “I  beg  to  say  that  the  material 
supplied  by  me,  and  now  used  for  some  time  past  in  the 
Children’s  Hospital,  St.  George’s  Hospital,  the  London 
Hospital  and  other  hospitals,  and  known  as  ‘marine 
lint  for  surgical  purposes,’  has  not  a  particle  of  old  rope 
in  it.  A  most  careful  examination  of  the  marine  lint, 
and  also  of  oakum  picked  at  prisons  and  workhouses, 
has  been  made  at  my  manufactory  this  day  by  one  of  the 
principal  surgeons  of  our  large  hospitals.  Having  in¬ 
spected  various  bales  taken  from  some  ten  tons  of  the 
latter,  I  think  I  may  fairly  state  his  opinion  to  be  that 
the  impurities  contained  in  workhouse  and  prison-picked 
oakum,  and  not  to  be  got  rid  of  by  carding,  render  it 
anything  but  a  desirable  application  to  wounds.  Doubt¬ 
less  in  a  few  days  we  shall  have  a  report  from  those 
who  are  using  the  marine  lint  on  the  battle-fields.” 


NEW  TEST  SOLUTION  FOR  SUGAR. 

J.  Loewe  recommends  the  use  of  glycerin  in  place  of 
tartaric  acid  for  the  preparation  of  an  alkaline  copper 
solution  for  the  detection  of  sugar.  Glycerin  entirely 
prevents  the  precipitation  of  oxide  of  copper,  and  the 
solution  prepared  with  it  has  the  advantage  of  being  less 
liable  to  alteration  when  kept  than  the  tartaric  solu¬ 
tion  is. 

To  prepare  a  test  liquid  of  this  kind  16  grams  of  sul¬ 
phate  of  copper  should  be  dissolved  in  64  parts  of  water ; 
to  this  solution  is  gradually  added  80  c.c.  of  soda  solution 
(1*34  sp.  gr.),  then  6  or  8  grams  of  glycerin,  which  re¬ 
dissolves  the  hydrated  oxide  of  copper  that  had  been 
precipitated. 

This  liquid  should  not  become  turbid  when  diluted 
with  two-thirds  of  bulk  of  water  nor  when  boiled. 

The  copper  solution  may  also  be  prepared  by  dissolv¬ 
ing  hydrated  oxide  of  copper  in  a  mixture  of  glycerin 
and  caustic  soda.  The  hydrated  oxide  is  best  obtained 
by  adding  soda  solution  to  an  ammoniacal  solution  of 
sulphate  of  copper,  washing  the  precipitate  and  drying 
over  oil  of  vitriol. 

For  6  grams  of  this  hydrated  oxide  there  should  be  6 
or  8  grams  of  glycerin,  50  grams  of  water  and  56  grams 
of  soda  solution  of  the  strength  above  mentioned.  This 
mixture  is  then  diluted  as  may  be  requisite.  The  author 
prefers  this  solution  to  the  other.  It  does  not  become 
turbid  with  alcohol. 

The  solutions  will  not  bear  considerable  dilution  with¬ 
out  depositing  hydrated  oxide  of  copper,  but  this  may  be 
prevented  by  increasing  the  proportion  of  glycerin  or  of 
soda. — Zeitschrift  fur  analytische  Chemie. 


NEW  SOURCE  OF  CITRIC  ACID. 

Professor  0.  Silvester,  of  the  Catanian  University,  has 
recently  discovered  that  the  fruit  of  Cyphomanclra  betacea 
contains  a  large  quantity  of  citric  acid. 

The  plant  belongs  to  the  Solanacece,  and  it  occurs  here 
and  there  in  gardens  throughout  Sicily.  It  is  a  native 
of  Mexico,  is  frequent  in  Peru  and  other  parts  of  South 
America,  where  it  is  called  Tomate  de  la  Paz.  The  fruit 
contains  from  1  to  1*5  per  cent,  of  pure  citric  acid. — 
Cosmos. 


Modification  of  Bones  by  Earths  in  the  Pood. 

— M.  Papillon  has  recently  communicated  to  the  Aca¬ 
demy  of  Sciences  in  Paris  some  interesting  results  of 
experiments  in  which  pigeons  and  rats  had  various 
earthy  salts  mixed  with  their  food.  After  continuing 
this  for  several  months  the  animals  showed  no  sign  of 
being  affected.  On  examination  of  their  bones  it  was 
found  that  considerable  quantities  of  strontia  and  alu¬ 
mina  had  been  accumulated  in  them  according  as  their 
|  food  had  been  mixed  with  a  salt  of  strontia  or  alumina. 


190 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  3,  1670. 


DECIMAL  GRAIN-WEIGHT. 

(From  the  London  Gazette  of  Friday,  August  12.) 

Whereas  the  Lords  of  the  Committee  of  Privy  Council 
for  Trade  have  represented  to  her  Majesty  that  the  fol 
lowing  decimal  series  of  new  avoirdupois  grain- weights 
have  been  recommended  by  the  Commissioners  appointed 
by  royal  warrant,  hearing  date  the  4th  day  of  May, 
1868,  for  inquiry  into  the  condition  of  the  Exchequer 
Standards  (now  called  the  Board  of  Trade  Standards)  of 
length  and  weight,  and  for  other  purposes,  to  he  lega¬ 
lized  as  secondary  standards,  in  pursuance  of  sections  six 
and  eight  of  the  “  Standards  of  Weights,  Measures,  and 
Coinage  Act,  1866,”  and  that  such  grain- weights  have 
been  constructed,  and  have  been  duly  verified  in  the 
Standards  Department  of  the  Board  of  Trade,  their 
weight  in  relation  to  the  imperial  standard  pound  having 
been  accurately  determined : — 

Decimal  Grain-  Weights. 


» 

» 


» 

» 


4000,  2000,  1000  grains. 
500,  300,  200,  100 
50,  30,  20,  10 


» 


5,  3,  2,  1  grains. 
0-5,  0-3,  0-2,  0-1  „ 

0-05,  0-03, 0-02, 0-01  „ 

Now,  therefore,  in  pursuance  of,  and  by  virtue  of  the 
said  recited  Act  of  Parliament,  her  Majesty,  by  and  with 
the  advice  of  her  Privy  Council,  is  pleased  to  order,  and 
it  is  hereby  declared,  that  the  said  decimal  avoirdupois 
grain-weights  shall  be  legal  secondary  standards  of  Im¬ 
perial  weight,  from  and  after  the  time  when  this  order 
shall  have  been  duly  published  in  the  London  Gazette , 
pursuant  to  the  said  Act. 

Arthur  Helps. 


AMENDMENT  OF  THE  MEDICAL  ACT. 

The  following  letter,  which  sufficiently  explains  itself, 
appeared  in  the  Times  of  the  1st  of  September : — 

Sir, — With  reference  to  a  recent  report  in  your  columns, 
we  beg  to  state  that  at  the  late  meeting  of  the  British 
Medical  Association,  held  at  Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  we 
found  ourselves  compelled  to  resign  our  seats  on  the 
council  of  that  body. 

As  members  of  the  General  Council  of  Medical  Edu¬ 
cation  and  Registration,  we  had  advocated  the  main  pro¬ 
visions  of  the  Amended  Medical  Bill  introduced  into  the 
House  of  Lords  by  the  Lord  President  of  the  Privy 
Council — provisions  which,  in  our  judgment,  were  of  the 
utmost  importance  to  the  public  weal. 

The  Bill,  it  is  believed,  was  withdrawn  in  the  House 
of  Commons  by  Mr.  Forster  in  consequence  of  the  course 
pursued  by  the  Direct  Representation  Committee  of  the 
Association.  That  course  was  subsequently  approved  by 
a  vote  of  the  Association  at  Newcastle. 

We,  therefore,  could  not,  in  justice  to  ourselves  or  to 
the  members  of  the  Association,  continue  any  longer  to 
belong  to  its  executive. 

_  The  question  of  the  permanent  construction  of  a  Me¬ 
dical  Council  of  Education  is  one  of  grave  importance. 
It  is  intimately  connected  with  other  questions  and  in¬ 
terests  entirely  extra-professional,  and  it  cannot,  there¬ 
fore,  be  properly  dealt  with  by  any  hasty  or  one-sided 
legislation. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  obedient  servants, 

George  Paget,  Cambridge. 

William  Stokes,  Dublin. 

Henry  W.  Acland,  Oxford. 

H.  Wildbore  Rumsey,  Cheltenham. 

Dennis  Embleton,  Newcastle-on-Tyne. 


A  Good  Hair  Oil. — The  Journal  of  Applied  Chem¬ 
istry  recommends  the  following Pure  fresh  castor 
oil,  2  oz. ;  Cologne^  spirit  (95  per  cent.),  16  oz.  The  oil 
is  freely  dissolved  in  the  spirit,  and  the  solution  is  clear 
and  beautiful.  A  very  cheap  and  good  dressing  is  made 
by  dissolving  four  ounces  of  pure,'  dense  glycerine  in 
twelve  ounces  of  rose  water. 


Coloured  Rain  and  Snow. — On  the  14th  of  Feb¬ 
ruary  a  remarkable  yellow  rain  fell  at  Genoa.  The  fol¬ 
lowing  details  respecting  it  are  given  in  a  letter  addressed 
to  M.  Ad.  Quetelet  by  M.  G.  Boccardo,  Director  of  the 
Technical  Institute  of  Genoa,  who  examined  it  in  concert 
with  Dr.  Castellani,  professor  of  chemistry.  The  quan¬ 
titative  analysis  gave  the  following  results  : — 

Water .  6-490  per  cent. 

Nitrogenous  organic  substances  6-611 

Sand  and  clay . 65-618 

Oxide  of  iron . 14-692 

Carbonate  of  lime .  ....  8*589 

Examination  under  the  microscope  revealed  the  pre¬ 
sence  of  a  number  of  spherical  or  irregular  ovoid  sub¬ 
stances  of  a  cobalt  blue  colour ;  corpuscles  similar  to 
the  spores  of  Peziza  or  Pcrmospora ;  spores  of  Dema - 
ziacece  or  Spheriacece ;  a  fragment  of  a  Torulacea  (?)  ; 
corpuscles  of  a  pearly  colour,  concentrically  zoned,  pro¬ 
bably  small  grains  of  fecula ;  gonidia  of  lichens ;  very 
scarce  fragments  of  Diatomacece  ;  spores  of  an  olive-brown 
colour ;  a  few  fragments  of  filaments  of  Oscillaria , 
JJlotlirix ,  and  Melosira  varians  ;  a  fragment  of  Synedra ; 
a  peltate  hair  from  an  olive  leaf.  If,  instead  of  collect¬ 
ing  the  earth  on  the  morning  of  the  11th,  when  it  had 
already  been  subjected  to  the  action  of  rain  falling  for 
several  hours,  I  had  been  able  (writes  M.  Boccardo)  to 
observe  the  phenomenon  during  the  night,  at  the  moment 
when  it  was  produced,  it  is  very  probable  that  the  micro¬ 
scope  would  have  shown  the  existence  of  several  kinds 
of  infusoria,  as  has  been  the  case  in  several  similar  in¬ 
stances. 

The  author  notes  that  the  direction  of  the  wind  at 
Genoa  during  the  night  of  the  13th  and  14th  was  from 
the  south-east,  and,  without  being  exactly  a  hurricane, 
as  on  the  preceding  few  days,  was  still  very  strong. 
The  temperature,  previously  exceptionally  low,  had 
risen,  and  probably  did  not  fall  during  the  night  below 
+  4°  R.  (5°  C.  or  41°  F.).  The  journals  state  that  on 
that  date  a  tempest  devastated  the  coasts  of  Sicily.  M. 
Boccardo,  following  P.  Denza,  proposes  the  theory  that 
the  dust  came  from  the  coast  of  Africa.  “We  ought 
not  to  forget,”  he  writes,  “  that,  according  to  Maury’s 
theory  of  the  circulation  of  the  atmosphere,  these  clouds 
of  dust  may  have  travelled  a  long  distance  before  touch¬ 
ing  the  soil  of  Italy,  coming  from  beyond  the  Atlantic,  like 
those  which,  in  1846,  spread  from  Guiana  to  the  Azores, 
over  the  south  of  France  and  the  whole  of  Italy.” 

In  a  paper  in  the  Bulletins  de  la  Societe  Vaudoise, 
No.  62,  Dr.  O.  Nicati  gives  a  resume,  of  various  researches 
respecting  the  peculiar  red  snow  which  occasionally  falls 
in  the  Grisons.  Some  of  this  snow  fell,  mingled  with 
common  snow  and  rain,  during  a  violent  storm  from  the 
south-west,  on  the  morning  of  January  15th,  1867,  in 
various  places.  The  chemical  analysis  of  the  melted 
snow  demonstrated  the  presence  of  minute  quantities  of 
sulphate  of  lime  or  gypsum,  sulphate  of  magnesia,  or¬ 
ganic  matters,  chlorine,  and  iron ;  and  microscopic  exa¬ 
mination  detected  vegetable  fibre,  pollen,  spores,  with 
here  and  there  diatoms  and  small  crystals.  The  colour 
varies  from  brick-red  to  a  pale  yellow.  This  snow  is 
quite  distinct  from  the  red  snow  of  the  upper  alpine  re¬ 
gions,  which  owes  its  colour  to  the  presence  of  the 
minute  plant,  Protococcus  nivalis.  After  discussing  va¬ 
rious  theories  respecting  its  origin,  Dr.  Killias  expressed 
his  opinion  that  it  is  the  dust  of  the  desert  of  Sahara, 
transported  by  a  sirocco,  which  gives  the  colour  to  the 
snow  of  the  Grisons.  Dr.  Nicati  gives  many  interesting 
particulars,  with  analyses,  of  the  Algerian  sirocco  dust, 
and  of  the  mud-rain  in  Naples  and  Sicily ;  and  Professor 
C.  Cramer  states  that  he  has  discovered,  both  in  the  sand 
of  the  Sahara  and  in  the  red  snow  of  the  Grisons,  parti¬ 
cles  of  vegetable  organisms  (especially  polythalamia)  and 
minute  fragments  of  animal  origin,  such  as  wool,  hair, 
etc.  He  considers  the  presence  of  gypsum  in  the  red 
snow  an  incontestable  proof  of  its  containing  matter  con¬ 
veyed  from  the  desert  of  Sahara. — Nature. 


September  3,1870.1  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


191 


SATURDAY,  SEPTEMBER  3,  1870. 


MR.  SIMON  ON  THE  PRACTICE  OF  PHARMACY 
IN  GREAT  BRITAIN. 

In  addition  to  tlie  details  of  tlie  working  of  the 
Pharmacy  Act  to  which  we  last  week  referred,  the 
medical  officer  of  the  Privy  Council  discusses  in  his 
twelfth  annual  report  that  section  of  the  Act  which 
declares  that  the  provisions  of  the  Adulteration  of 
Food  Act  shall  extend  to  the  adulteration  of  drugs, 
and  that  every  such  adulteration  shall  be  deemed  an 
admixture  dangerous  to  health.  This  section,  he 
observes,  has  not  so.  far  as  his  knowledge  goes  yet 
been  acted  on.  Indeed,  seeing  that  the  Adulteration 
of  Food  Act  is  virtually  a  dead  letter,  no  one,  he 
thinks,  could  have  expected  that  the  extension  of  it 
could  be  very  effective.  There  is,  however,  cause 
for  congratulation  in  the  fact  that  a  principle  of  great 
importance  lias,  in  that  section,  been  affirmed  by  the 
Legislature.  The  falsification  of  drugs  he  describes 
as  a  crime  which,  in  the  interest  of  public  health, 
ought  to  be  very  severely  punishable  and  very  regu¬ 
larly  looked  after ;  for  it  so  frustrates  the  best  medi¬ 
cal  skill  and  may  so  steal  away  life  after  life,  that 
it  is  really  a  kind  of  secret  poisoning.  Yet  in  the 
present  state  of  the  law,  with  so  many  just  neces¬ 
sities  for  the  health  of  the  country  unfulfilled,  and 
with  such  great  masses  of  fundamental  sanitary  laws 
to  be  amended  or  created,  it  may  scarcely  be  ex¬ 
pected  that  tills  particular  grievance  can  be  matter 
for  immediate  legislation.  But  on  this  head  it  is 
observed  that  important  changes  must  be  made  in 
the  kind  of  local  authority  needed  to  protect  the 
public  health,  before  the  defects  of  the  administra¬ 
tive  machinery  can  be  remedied,  or  the  law  relating 
to  adulterations  be  brought  into  an  efficient  state. 

Finally,  Mr.  Simon  reports  to  their  Lordships  on 
the  Regulations  concerning  Poisons.  Here  are  his 
words  on  tills  delicate  and  important,  subject : — “  I 
also  regret  to  state  that  the  very  important  power 
which  the  first  section  of  the  Act  vests  in  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society,  to  prescribe  (with  the  consent  of 
the  Privy  Council)  regulations  as  to  the  keeping,  dis¬ 
pensing  and  selling  of  poisons,  has  hitherto  remained 
unexercised  by  the  Society,  and  that,  consequently, 
the  public  is  still  without  the  protection  which  such 
regulations  might  give,  and  which  notoriously  is 
much  needed,  against  the  danger  of  having  poisons 
dispensed  or  used  in  mistake  for  harmless  prepara¬ 
tions.” 

So  much  has  been  said  on  this  subject  already  by 
readers,  writers  and  speakers  in  the  Society,  that  it 
is  probably  unnecessary  for  us  here  to  do  more  than 
merely  lay  before  our  members  this  official  statement. 


Its  weight  and  importance  are  apparent.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  difficulties  and  complications  which 
surround  the  question  have  also  become  very  appa¬ 
rent.  It  is  now  imder  the  consideration  of  a  Com¬ 
mittee,  and  will  have  to  be  once  more  debated  bv  the 
members  at  large  at  a  future  time. 

In  an  appendix  Mr.  Simon  gives  detailed  reports 
from  Dr.  Christison  and  Dr.  Greenhow  on  the  Exa¬ 
minations  of  the  Society,  of  which  we  shall  repro¬ 
duce  the  most  important  parts. 


LIVERPOOL,  SEPTEMBER,  1870. 

Possessed  of  attractions  for  the  teclmical  chemist 
and  the  botanist,  the  geologist  and  the  student  of 
natural  history,  such  as  few  districts  afford,  Liver¬ 
pool  is  eminently  attractive  to  the  hard-worked 
druggist  as  well  as  to  the  man  of  science.  The  local 
committee  are  making  great  preparations  to  receive 
their  pharmaceutical  brethren,  and  promise  a  wel¬ 
come  which  will  doubtless  be  at  least  as  warm  as 
any  previously  accorded  to  the  British  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Conference.  Under  these  circumstances  we 
are  not  surprised  to  hear  that  the  number  of  visitors 
is  expected  to  be  very  much  greater  than  at  any 
previous  meeting,  nor  are  we  surprised  that  a  large 
proportion  of  the  thousand  members  who  have  re¬ 
cently  joined  the  Conference  are  anxious  to  see  what 
is  done  at  these  annual  gatherings,  and  are  not 
unwilling  to  be  convinced  of  the  immense  value  of 
this  association  of  men  of  kindred  pursuits. 

Let  us,  then,  note  for  the  benefit  of  those  who 
contemplate  a  visit  to  Liverpool  and  the  Conference 
for  the  first  time,  that  the  Honorary  Local  Secretary, 
Mr.  E.  Davies,  Royal  Institution,  Liverpool,  will  be 
happy  to  forward  every  information  concerning 
lodging  and  hotel  accommodation. 

On  taking  a  retrospect  of  previous  meetings  we 
have  been  struck  by  the  absence  of  some  well-known 
men,  whose  exertions  in  the  cause  of  true  Pharmacy 
have  contributed  not  a  little  to  foster  that  esprit  de 
corps  which  is  now  (poisons  and  poison  regulations 
notwithstanding)  so  largely  dominant  in  the  trade. 
The  veteran  Morson,  and  the  gay,  open-hearted 
Hills,  after  boldly  crossing  the  Exe  last  year  to 
make  new  acquaintances  and  find  old  friends  with 
new  faces  in  the  fine  old  city  of  Exeter,  both  testi¬ 
fied  in  unmistakable  language  to  the  pleasure  and 
profit  they  derived  from  their  visit. 

Cannot  our  esteemed  President  and  zealous  Vice- 
President  follow  their  example  with  advantage? 
The  various  duties  they  have  regularly  to  perform  in 
London  are  known  to  us,  and  we  would  not  claim  to 
interfere  with  their  well-earned  repose  during  the 
holidays,  had  we  not  a  certain  amount  of  misgiving 
that  the  public  character  and  influence  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society  throughout  the  provinces  would 
be  in  some  degree  lowered  by  their  absence  from  the 
most  important  professional  gathering  of*  the  year. 


192 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  3, 1870. 


The  Society  represents  something  more  than  its  2500 
subscribing  Members  and  Associates  :  it  seeks  to  be 
and,  we  venture  to  add,  is  representative  of  the 
whole  trade ;  its  influence  in  one  form  or  another 
is  now  felt  by  every  chemist  in  Great  Britain. 
It  would  then  be  a  graceful  compliment  to  its 
young  and  prosperous  offspring,  if  the  Council 
were  to  appoint  as  one  of  its  numerous  delegates  to 
the  approaching  meeting  the  chief  actor  in  the 
struggle  for  the  Pharmacy  Act  of  1868,  the  man 
whose  portrait,  removed  from  the  Boyal  Academy 
Exhibition,  we  are  proud  to  hear  will  decorate  the 
walls  of  the  examination  room  next  October.  Do¬ 
mestic  bereavement,  public  and  private  cares  of  no 
ordinary  land  have  been  his  lot  during  the  last  few 
months,  and  we  would  not  willingly  add  further  bur¬ 
dens  ;  but  our  provincial  friends,  anxious  to  take  a 
more  active  part  in  the  working  of  the  Society, 
naturally  desire  to  make  the  personal  acquaintance 
of  its  leading  members.  Their  inclination  and  will¬ 
ingness  to  undertake  fresh  duties  cannot  be  ques¬ 
tioned,  and  in  regard  to  Mr.  Sandford,  we  feel  so 
confident  that  his  presence  in  Liverpool  would  be  of 
service  to  the  Society,  as  well  as  to  the  Conference, 
and  so  gratifying  to  himself,  that  we  do  not  hesitate 
to  urge  the  importance  of  his  not  neglecting  this 
favourable  opportunity  of  taking  counsel  with  his 
constituents  and  friends. 

The  Vice-President,  Mr.  Haselden,  would  bring  a 
large  practical  experience  to  bear  on  the  questions 
for  discussion,  while,  as  an  active,  painstaking  and 
popular  member  of  the  Board  of  Examiners,  he 
would  most  certainly  be  cordially  received.  The 
views  we  have  advanced  in  regard  to  the  officers  of 
the  Society  apply  with  equal  force,  cater  is  paribus, 
to  the  Councillors  and  Examiners  generally.  Then- 
attendance  hitherto  has  not  been  so  numerous  as  we 
could  wish,  and  we  are  disposed  to  think  that  many 
opportunities  for  useful  work  have  been  for  the  time 
lost,  owing  to  the  scarcity  of  the  initiative  element 
of  the  Society  at  former  meetings.  Never  has  there 
been  a  more  appropriate  time  for  those  who  consider 
that  the  duties  of  office  necessitate  other  sacrifices 
than  those  of  regular  attendance  at  Bloomsbury 
Square,  to  show  their  sympathy  -with  chemists  and 
druggists  generally. 

We  hope  to  see  in  the  Liverpool  list,  amongst 
others  new  to  the  Conference,  the  names  of  Bottle, 
Edwards,  Brown,  Woolley,  Williams,  Allchin, 
Darby,  Gale,  Hedwood,  etc.  Edinburgh  may  be  relied 
upon  for  sending  John  Mackay.  Without  his  genial 
spirit,  it  may  be  safely  affirmed  that  no  Conference, 
social,  political,  or  otherwise,  can  be  complete.  We 
can  predict,  with  some  confidence,  that  all  the  guests 
assembled  this  month  at  Liverpool,  will,  on  their 
departure,  carry  away  with  them  an  impression  far 
more  lasting  than  any  that  can  be  produced,  solely 
by  what  our  American  neighbours  designate,  “a 
phenomenal  cataract  of  verbal  influences.” 


0DI3SE  QUEM  LiESERIS. 

We  have  been  reminded  by  several  correspondents 
that  the  Lancet — which  lately  gave  publicity  to  the 
opinion  that  medical  men  ought  not  to  be  called  upon 
to  sit  in  the  same  room  with  Pharmaceutical  Chemists 
at  a  public  exhibition,  and  that  chemists  were  by  no 
means  fit  company  to  be  publicly  associated  with  by 
medical  men  at  the  Polytechnic — this  week  com¬ 
pletes,  as  we  presume,  its  bouquet  of  compliments 
by  designating  the  class  represented  by  this  Journal 
as  “malefactors”  who  are  in  the  habit  of  “pre¬ 
scribing  in  the  dark.” 

We  shall  not,  however,  be  at  any  pains  to  disclaim 
the  title  for  which  pharmaceutists'  are  thus  indebted 
to  the  discriminating  courtesy  of  our  contemporary 
for  in  its  more  sober  moments,  or  at  a  period  of 
stricter  editorial  control,  we  shall  fully  expect  to  see 
a  spontaneous  amende. 


EXEMPTION  FROM  JURIES. 

We  desire  to  draw  the  attention  of  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Chemists  to  the  fact  that  this  is  the  proper 
time,  for  those  who  desire  to  avail  themselves  of 
their  privilege  in  this  respect,  to  take  notice  whether 
their  names  are  included  in  the  List  of  Jurors  affixed 
to  the  parish  church  doors  on  the  three  first  Sun¬ 
days  in  September,  and  hi  that  case  to  make  their 
objections  as  prescribed  by  the  Juries  Act,  1862.* 


CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’  FUND  FOR  THE 
SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 

We  have  much  pleasure  in  acknowledging  the 
following  additional  contributions  during  the  past 
week,  and  in  thanking  those  who  have  already  sub¬ 
scribed  towards  alleviating  a  calamity  which  the 
Times  has  well  characterized  as  a  wholly  exceptional 
outburst  of  the  fearful  forces  which  human  nature,  as 
much  as  physical  nature,  has  in  store, — a  calamity  all 
are  bound  to  relieve  as  one  concerning  all  humanity. 
We  desire,  at  the  same  time,  to  urge  upon  those  who 
contemplate  subscribing,  that  the  pressing  nature  of 
the  case  requires  prompt  action,  and  we  feel  the  more 
impelled  to  do  this  because,  in  the  lists  of  contribu¬ 
tions  hitherto  published,  the  names  of  many  leading 
pharmaceutists  have  yet  to  be  enrolled.  This  is  the 
case  with  the  Local  Secretaries  throughout  the 
country,  who,  of  course,  cannot  be  expected  to  respond 
so  promptly  as  individuals,  since  they  have  the  extra 
trouble  of  collecting  subscriptions.  This  is  a  work 
of  time,  and  while  tendering  our  thanks  to  those 
local  secretaries  who  have  been  the  first  to  send  in 
collections,  we  trust  to  finding  them  before  long  well 
supported  by  their  colleagues  in  other  places. 

The  frightful  magnitude  of  the  suffering  now  being 
undergone  by  the  wounded  soldiers  of  both  armies, 
is  such  as  to  eclipse  altogether  ideas  of  nationality 
or  predilections  in  favour  of  one  side  or  the  other. 

*  See  Pharmaceutical  Journal,  3.3.,  iv.  95. 


September  3,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


193 


£.  s. 

H.  Blacklock,  Bournemouth  . .  0  10 

Alfred  Brady,  Newcastle-on-Tyne  ......... .  2  2 

Henry  B.  Brady,  Newcastle-on-Tyne  .  3  3 

Charles  Cracknell,  217,  Edge  ware  Road  ....  1  1 


W.  B.  Dyson,  4,  Gloucester  Road,  S.AY .  0  10 

Charles  Eve,  Hampstead  . . .  1  1 

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William  Hodges,  Eastgate  Row,  Chester  ....  1  1 

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T.  M.  Orpe,  329,  Old  Kent  Road .  0  10 

Thomas  Taylor,  81,  High  Street,  Peckham  . .  10 

Per  AY.  Wilkinson,  Local  Secretary, 

Manchester: —  £.  s.  cl. 

A.  B .  0  1  0 

W.  Bentley  .  0  5  0 

W.  Carter .  0  10  0 

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James  AYoolley .  2  2  0 

S.  Wyldo  .  0  5  0 

- £10  17 

W.  J.  Bates,  Macclesfield :  — 


12  bottles  1  grain  opium  pills. 

12  bottles  I  grain  morphia  pills. 

6  bottles  2  grain  quinine  pills. 

(each  containing  4  dozen  pills.) 

4  sponges. 

James  C.  Chubb,  102,  St.  John  Street,  E.C. : — 
12  dozen  tin  boxes  of  seidlitz  powders. 

John  Day,  116,  Briggate,  Leeds: — 

8^  lbs.  of  linen. 

2  oz.  sulphate  of  quinine. 

2  bottles  of  Condy’s  fluid. 

M.  J.  Ellwood,  Leominster : — 

6  lbs.  patent  lint,  and  piece  of  linen. 

Robert  Hampson,  63,  Piccadilly,  Manchester  : — 
12  gross  1  grain  opium  pills  in  bottles  con¬ 
taining  4  dozen  each. 

12  gross  £  grain  morphia  pills  in  ditto. 

6  gross  2  grain  quinine  pills  in  ditto. 

4  2-oz  bottles  of  chloral  hydrate. 


PARIS.— SOCIETE  DE  PHARMACIE. 

6th  July ,  1870. 

M.  Lefort,  President. 

M.  Bussy  suggested  that  the  Society  should  exchange 
the  report  of  its  proceedings  with  the  several  other 
pharmaceutical  societies  in  France  which  publish  re¬ 
ports  :  the  proposition  was  referred  to  a  committee. 

M.  Maget  presented  a  number  of  specimens  of  materia 
medica  brought  from  China  by  the  Marquis  ‘d’Herve  de 
Saint-Denis.  M.  Jeannel  referred  to  the  extended  in¬ 
vestigation  of  the  subject  published  by  M.  Debeaux.  A 
committee  was  appointed  to  make  a  detailed  examination 
of  the  collection. 

M.  Bussy  presented,  on  behalf  of  M.  Carles,  a  memoir 
on  the  dissociation  that  oxalic  acid  undergoes  in  a  boiling 
aqueous  solution  under  the  influence  of  a  current  of  gas 
— oxygen,  hydrogen,  carbonic  acid.  The  products  formed 
are  carbonic  acid  and  formic  acid. 

M.  Planchon  laid  before  the  meeting  a  number  of 
drawings  representing  the  anatomical  structure  of  drugs, 
remarking  upon  the  great  constancy  of  the  general  mi¬ 
crographic  characters,  either  in  the  species  of  the  same 
genus  or  in  varieties  of  the  same  species.  He  showed 
that  this  mode  of  examination  was  remarkably  adapted 
for  distinguishing  the  barks  known  as  canella,  and  pointed 
out  the  striking  differences  existing  between  those  be¬ 
longing  to  the  family  Laurinacece  and  those  improperly 
designated  by  that  name. 

M.  Lefranc  read  the  first  part  of  a  paper  on  inuline. 

M.  Duroy  suggested  that  the  Society  should  pronounce 
an  opinion  on  the  application  of  fluid  extracts  for  the 
preparation  of  certain  syrups. 

M.  L.  Soubeiran  read  a  report  recommending  that 
MM.  Y.  Herran,  Howard  and  Zaldivar  should  be  elected 
corresponding  members. 


GRANT  COLLEGE  MEDICAL  SOCIETY, 
BOMBAY. 

July,  1870. 

A  New  Indian  Remedy. 

by  mr.  narayan  daji,  Graduate  of  the  Grant 
Medical  College. 

[Continued  from  page  176.) 

Synonyms. — This  plant  is  the  Ailanthus  excelsa,  Roxb. ; 
AY.  and  A.  Prod.  i.  p.  150 ;  Roxb.  FI.  Ind.  ii.  p.  450 ;  De 
Cand.  Prod.  ii.  p.  89 :  Spr.  Syst.  i.  p.  939 ;  AYilld.  iv. 
974 ;  Roxb.  Cor.  P.  t.  23 ;  AVight’s  Ill.  Ind.  Bot.  i.  t.  67. 
In  the  vernacular  languages  of  India  it  is  known  by  the 
following  synonyms : — 

Aralu,  Sanskrit;  Araduso ,*  Gujarati;  Mahdrukhaf 
(lit.  great  tree) ;  Mahddunga,  Mahdnimba,%  Marathi ;  Peru 
mar  am  (lit.  great  tree),  Tamil;  Pcdda  mdn  ehettu  (lit. 
great  tree),  Pcdda  mdn,  Pedda  manu,  Telugu ;  Arar  ma¬ 
dder  a,  Hindi,  (Allahabad). 

Etymology. — The  generic  name,  Ailanthus,  is  derived 
from  Ailanto ,  the  name  of  A.  glandulosa  in  the  Moluccas, § 
which  signifies  “  the  tree  of  heaven,”  so  called  from  its 


*  Aradcisi  is  the  name  in  Gujarati  of  Adhatoda  Vasica. 
j"  Mahdrukha  is  also  the  name  in  Marathi  of  Cinnamomum 
Tamala  and  species ;  the  other  synonyms  are  corruptions  oi 
the  above.  It  is  so  named  probably  from  its  immense  size. 

J  This  name  signifies  “  great  Nimba,”  so  named  probably 
from  some  resemblance  of  its  leaves  to  those  of  “  Nimba  ’ 
(Azadirachta  Indica).  Mahanimba  is  also  the  name  of 

71 T pi  7 n  A  &  pflpwn  p  7) 

*  §  See  Don’s  ‘Gardening  and  Botany,’  vol.  i.j  Miller’s 

*  Gardener’s  Dictionary,’  vol.  i.  Ail. 


d. 

6 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 


194 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  ;  [September  3,  1870. 


lofty  growth.  The  specific  name  excels  a  refers  to  its  great 
height. 

Botany. — The  genus  Ailanthus  has  at  different  times 
been  variously  placed  by  systematic  botani  sts.  It  was  for¬ 
merly  referred  by  De  Candolle  to  his  tribe  Connaracece  of 


Ailanthus  excelsa,  Roxb. 


the  Order  Terebinthacece .* * * * §  A  closer  research  led  for  a  short 
time  to  its  transference  to  the  extensive  Order  Rutacece , 
of  which  “  Ailanthecc  ”  was  considered  a  second  suborder 
by  Dr.  Arnott,  and  which  was  partially  referred  by 
Meissner  to  the  distinct  tribe  of  Zanthoxylacece.  Bentham 
and  other  later  systematic  botanists  have  placed  this 
genus  in  the  Order  Simarubacece,  an  arrangement  -which  is 
here  adopted. 

“  Generic  character. — Ailanthus ,  Desf.  Act.  Acad.  Paris, 
1786,  263,  t.  8.  Flowers  polygamous.  Calyx  small, 
5-lobed.  Petals  5,  valvate  in  the  bud.  Disk  10-lobed. 
Stamens  10,  fewer  or  none  in  the  female  flowers ;  fila¬ 
ments  without  scales.  Ovary  2-  to  5-lobed ;  styles 
connate,  with  plumose  stigmas ;  ovules  solitary  in  each 
cell.  Fruit  of  1  to  5,  oblong,  membranous  samaras 
thickened  in  the  centre  round  the  seed.  Seed  flat¬ 
tened,  testa  membranous :  albumen  scanty ;  cotyle¬ 
dons  leafy,  nearly  orbicular.  Trees.  Leaves  alternate, 
pinnate ;  leaflets  oblique ;  flowers  small,  in  terminal  pa- 
nicles.”t  A 

“Specific  characters. — A.  excelsa,  Roxb.  Trunk  per¬ 
fectly  straight,  rising  like  that  of  the  fir-tree  to  a  very 
great  height.  Bark  smooth,  'ash-coloured.  Branches 
pretty  numerous,  ascending.  Leaves  about  the  extre¬ 
mities  of  the  branchlets,  abruptly  pinnated,  generally 
about  three  feet  long.  Leaflets  short  petiolated,  from 
ten  to  fourteen  pairs,  obliquely  oblong,  or  somewhat 
sickle-formed,  the  nerve  runs  so  as  to  make  the  exterior 
portion  twice  as  broad  as  the  interior,  very  remotely  and 
grossly  serrated  or  indented,  smooth,  about  four  inches 


*  Wight’s  Ill.  Ind.  Bot.,  p.  169. 
f  Bentham’s  ‘  Flora  Australiensis,’  vol.  i.  p.  373. 


long  and  two  broad.  Petiole  round,  smooth.  Panicle 
terminal,  very  large.  Bracts  minute.  Flowers  exceed¬ 
ingly  numerous,  small,  slightly  tinged  with  yellow,  her¬ 
maphrodite  and  male  mixed.” 

Hermaphrodite  Flowers. — “  Calyx  as  in  the  genus.  Pe¬ 
tals  five,  many  times  larger  than  the  calyx.  Nectary  or 
receptacle  is  a  perforated,  glandulous,  notched  body, 
which  surrounds  and  in  a  great  measure  hides  the  germs. 
Filaments  ten,  shorter  than  the  petals,  inserted  into  the 
lower  edge  of  the  nectary.  Germs  above,  from  one  to 
four,  very  minute,  immersed  in  the  perforation  of  the 
nectary.  Style  none.  Stigma  small.  Capsules  from 
one  to  four,  but  generally  one  or  two ;  not  connected  at 
the  base,  linear,  oblong,  surrounded  with  a  large  mem¬ 
branaceous  wing,  a  little  twisted  at  the  apex  and  base. 
Seed  one,  flattened.” 

Male  Flowers. — Calyx,  corol,  nectary  and  stamens  as 
in  the  hermaphrodite,  but  no  rudiment  of  a  pistil.* 

The  tree  flowers  in  the  cold  season,  and  ripens  its  fruit 
in  April  and  May.  Its  wood  is  soft,  white  and  light ;  it 
is  readily  attacked  by  insects.  At  Baroda  and  other 
places  the  wood  is  used  for  making  handles  and  sheaths 
for  swords  and  for  other  light  work ;  in  the  Circars  it  is 
commonly  made  into  catamarans. 

Habitat. — This  species  of  Ailanthus  is  found  in  a  na¬ 
tive  state  in  India  and  in  Ceylon.  Roxburgh  mentions 
it  as  an  immense  tree,  a  native  of  the  interior  of  Coro¬ 
mandel.  It  flowers  during  the  cold  season,  f  Royle  found 
it  around  Delhi,  along  the  Jumna,  as  well  as  on  the  Coro¬ 
mandel  coast. %  It  is  found  growing  in  the  jungles  of 
Travancore,  Coorg,  Mysore,  Malabar  and  Ceylon.  §  In 
the  Bombay  presidency  it  chiefly  occurs  in  Gujarat  and 
Kattiawar,  particularly  so  near  Ahmedabad,  Baroda  and 
Broach  ;  and  is  thinly  scattered  over  the  Deccan. 

Its  growth  is  not  so  rapid  as  one  would  believe  from  the 
soft  nature  of  its  wood.  At  Mehmoodabad  a  tree  of  the  age 
of  about  seventy  years  is  to  be  seen.  Its  circumference 
at  the  base  measures  eight  feet.  Trees  of  still  larger 
girth  and  greater  age  are  seen  in  other  parts  of  India. 

This  tree  grows  on  the  plains  and  open  valleys,  amongst 
mountains  and  a  few  miles  inland  from  the  coast.  It 
thrives  on  a  somewhat  barren  sandy  alluvium  containing 
limestone.  In  Gujarat,  particularly  about  Ahmedabad 
and  Baroda,  it  flourishes  in  the  neighbourhood  of  villages 
where  the  soil  abounds  in  calcareous  matter,  which  largely 
enters  into  the  structure  of  this  plant.  A  somewh  it  dry 
climate  having  a  considerable  range  of  temperature  ap¬ 
pears  to  be  favourable  to  its  growth. 


SOCIETY  OF  ARTS. 

On  Fermentation. 

BY  PROFESSOR  A.  W.  WILLIAMSON,  F.R.S. 

Lecture  I. — continued. 

Now,  the  question  arises  whether  this  formation  of 
acetic  acid  ought  to  be  classed,  as  I  am  at  present  class¬ 
ing  it,  amongst  the  processes  of  fermentation.  If  it  is 
due  to  the  absorption  of  oxygen,  you  might  naturally 
inquire  whether  one  ought  not  to  place  it  amongst  the 
common  processes  of  combustion,  and  it  is  right  that  I 
should  state  that  by  some  authorities  it  is  at  present  so 
classed.  My  reason,  however,  for  stating  what  I  have 
done,  that  it  is  a  process  of  fermentation,  is  this,  that  it 
is  usually  effected  by  the  action  of  a  peculiar  organism, 
called  a  vinegar-plant,  an  organism  which  I  shall  have 
occasion  to  show  you  hereafter,  which  does  exert  in  that 
particular  process  the  function  of  taking  up  oxygen 
from  the  air  and  of  inducing  the  alcohol  to  combine 


*  Roxburgh’s  *  Coromandel  Plants,’  vol.  i.  p.  24. 

t  Roxb.  FI.  Ind.  vol.  ii.  p.  450. 

X  Royle,  Ill.  Himal.  Bot.  p.  157. 

§  Cleghorn,  Forests  of  S.  India ;  and  Moon,  Cat.  Ceylon 
Plants. 


September  3,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


195 


with  it.  There  are  many  other  processes  by  which  we 
could  get  it,  but  the  actual  process  by  which  we  do  get 
it  is  a  process  in  which  this  vital  organism,  the  vinegar- 
plant,  is  the  agent  of  its  formation.  It  might  be  made 
by  mere  processes  of  combustion,  but  it  is  made  by  a 
process  of  fermentation. 

There  is  one  singular  feature  in  the  first  and  best 
known  of  these  processes — the  alcoholic  fermentation — 
which  you  will  notice  when  I  tell  you  something  of  the 
way  in  which  the  processes  of  fermentation  present  them¬ 
selves,  even  without  very  great  care  on  the  part  of  the 
observer.  If,  for  instance,  you  were  to  express  the  juice 
of  some  sweet  fruit — say  grapes — and  if  you  were  to 
leave  that  expressed  juice  in  contact  with  the  air  for  a 
little  time,  having  first  squeezed  it  through  some  suitable 
cloth  or  filter,  so  as  to  have  it  clear,  of  course  there 
would  be  no  solid  particles  in  it  when  you  put  it  aside ; 
but,  if  you  leave  that  in  a  tolerably  warm  place,  in  con¬ 
tact  with  the  air,  you  would  find  that  little  solid  particles 
would  appear  in  this  juice,  that  they  increase  in  number, 
and  that,  in  proportion  as  they  increase  in  number,  and 
as  the  quantity  of  them  becomes  greater,  so  does  the 
process  of  effervescence — the  evolution  of  gas  from  the 
grape  juice — become  more  and  more  rapid.  These  little 
solid  particles,  which  are  not  present  at  first  in  the  grape 
juice,  but  which  gradually  make  their  appearance  when 
it  is  exposed  to  the  air,  are  what  we  commonly  call, 
in  the  ordinary  case  of  alcoholic  fermentation,  in  this 
country,  yeast— either  beer-yeast  or  wine-yeast;  it  is 
the  same  organism  in  each  case.  The  peculiarity  of  the 
process  is  this,  that  these  substances — this  yeast— which 
seems  to  make  the  sugar  into  those  products  which 
I  enumerated  to  you,  does  not  disappear  while  doing 
the  work,  but  is  produced  by  the  very  process.  The 
more  active  the  production  of  these  yeast-cells,  and 
the  more  speedy  the  growth  of  these  yeast-cells,  the 
more  effective  and  rapid  is  the  process  of  fermentation, 
and  no  fermentation  of  the  kind  which  I  am  speaking  of 
at  present — the  alcoholic  fermentation — has  ever  been 
known  to  take  place  in  the  absence  of  these  organisms. 
That  circumstance  I  just  mention  briefly  at  present,  but 
the  fact  that  these  yeast-cells  appear  whenever  the 
process  is  going  on — and  the  more  they  grow  the  more 
rapid  is  the  fermentation — has  led  people  to  suppose  at 
first,  and  to  believe  afterwards,  that  these  yeast-cells 
were  the  agents  of  the  transformation,  the  active  sub¬ 
stances  which  decomposed  the  sugar  in  contact  with  the 
water,  and  induced  the  transformation  which  we  noticed. 
Now,  the  very  fact  that  one  of  the  two  substances  which 
are  reacting  upon  one  another  chemically  (because  the 
changes  are  chemical  in  their  fundamental  nature), 
should  not  disappear,  but  should  rather  increase  by  the 
process,  is  entirely  anomalous — it  is  entirely  at  variance 
with  the  simplest  and  best  known  facts  of  chemistry,  so 
much  so,  that  if  it  were  not  established  upon  incontro¬ 
vertible  evidence,  I  believe  that  most  chemists  would  be 
inclined  to  disbelieve  it,  and  to  say  it  cannot  be, — it  is 
impossible, — it  is  a  mistake.  If  you  tell  me,  as  a  chemist, 
that  this  yeast  is  transforming  sugar  by  its  action  on  the 
sugar,  and  that  instead  of  being  consumed  the  yeast  is 
actually  increased  in  quantity  by  doing  that  work,  I 
should  say  it  is  nonsense — it  cannot  be,  because  in  all  the 
cases  of  chemical  action  which  I  know  best,  nothing  of 
the  kind  occurs,  but  the  very  opposite.  When  one  sub¬ 
stance  acts  upon  another,  each  one  disappears  in  the 
process,  and  is  transformed  into  a  product  having  other 
properties.  I  need  hardly  give  you  illustrations  of  that ; 
but  one  or  two  simple  cases  may  not  be  useless,  as  serv¬ 
ing  to  fix  clearly  this  important  circumstance  in  your 
minds. 

I  will  take  at  first  one  of  a  particularly  elementary 
and  simple  kind, — a  process  of  combustion.  I  will  take 
a  little  strip  of  metal — magnesium  wire — and  will  hold 
it  for  a  short  time  in  the  flame  of  a  spirit  lamp,  so  as  to 
raise  it  to  a  sufficiently  high  temperature.  The  light 
you  see  emitted  is  due  to  the  combustion  of  the  oxygen 


in  the  air  with  the  metal  magnesium,  wrhich  I  hold  in 
my  hand.  This  is  one  of  the  simplest  possible  cases  of 
chemical  action.  The  metal  has  disappeared.  The  strip 
of  wire  is  gone,  and  oxygen  from  the  air  disappeared 
also.  At  the  same  time  a  white  powder  was  formed.  I 
dare  say  you  did  not  notice  it,  but  here  is  a  quantity  of 
the  same  substance  in  a  bottle.  It  consists  of  oxygen 
from  the  air  combined  with  the  metal  magnesium,  and 
the  point  is  this — that  all  the  magnesium  which  took 
part  in  that  process  disappeared  and  went  to  form  this 
white  powder,  and  all  the  oxygen  which  took  part  in  the 
process  also  disappeared.  The  two  united  together,  each 
disappeared  as  such  and  went  to  form  this  new  product. 
And,  moreover,  we.can  tell,  from  an  examination  of  the 
proportions  in  which  the  substances  combine,  exactly 
what  weight  of  oxygen  would  disappear  for  every  part 
by  weight  of  magnesium.  If  you  burn,  for  instance, 
three  grammes  or  three  pounds  of  magnesium,  you 
would  require  exactly  two  grammes  or  two  pounds  of 
oxygen.  For  instance,  three  pounds  weight  of  magne¬ 
sium  would  combine  with  two  pounds  weight  of  oxygen, 
and  the  product  of  the  two  together  would  be  five 
pounds  in  weight.  I  may  show  you  the  same  thing 
with  soda,  not  the  substance  which  is  commonly  called 
by  that  name,  which  is  a  carbonate  of  that  base.  I  have 
here  a  little  pure  soda  solution  in  a  bottle.  I  will  pour 
some  into  a  beaker-glass,  and  I  will  show  you  one  pro¬ 
perty  which  characterizes  it,  viz.  that  of  changing  the 
colour  of  this  red  paper  into  blue.  Now,  I  will  pour 
some  of  this  acid  body,  the  oil  of  vitriol,  into  another 
beaker-glass.  If  I  put  the  paper  which  has  been  dis¬ 
coloured  into  this  pure  acid,  it  would  be  dissolved ;  but 
I  will  dilute  some  of  it  with  water,  and  then  you  will  see 
that  paper,  which  has  been  rendered  blue  by  the  agency 
I  have  just  used,  is  brought  back  again  to  red  by  the 
agency  of  this  acid.  Now,  if  I  mix  the  acid  with  the 
soda,  we  shall  have  audible  evidence  of  violent  action 
going  on.  I  will  not  go  on  with  the  process,  but  I  have 
purposely  taken  the  two  substances  in  presence  of  very 
little  water,  in  order  to  show  you  that  the  heat  evolved 
makes  the  liquid  boil  with  great  violence.  I  could  have 
avoided  that  by  adding  water  in  the  first  place,  but  I 
wished  to  show  you  the  vigour  with  which  they  unite 
together.  If  I  were  to  go  on  adding  acid  to  the  soda, 
little  by  little,  feeling  my  way  until  I  had  just  completed 
the  action,  I  should  have  got  some  water  formed  and 
some  of  the  beautiful  salt  which  I  have  here, — a  body 
which  is  neither  soda  nor  acid ;  it  is  a  salt  called  Glauber 
salt  or  sodic  sulphate,  and  all  my  materials  would  have 
disappeared  in  the  process.  If  I  use  them  in  proper 
proportions,  all  the  acid  and  soda  would  disappear  and 
go  to  form  these  two  other  products.  I  might  dissolve 
some  of  this  sulphate  in  water,  and  might  put  red  paper 
or  blue  into  it  and  it  would  not  affect  either  of  them-;  it 
is  perfectly  neutral  in  that  respect.  The  proportion  by 
weight  in  which  this  combination  takes  place  is  this.  If 
I  add  40  parts  by  weight  of  soda,  and  49  of  oil  of  vitriol 
in  a  state  of  purity,  I  should  have  as  the  result,  18  parts 
by  weight  of  water,  and  71  of  sodic  sulphate,  and  if  I 
add  together  the  weight  of  my  materials  and  the  weight 
of  my  products,  I  get  the  same — 89.  Nothing  disappears 
in  the  process ;  all  the  acid  and  all  the  base  which  takes 
part  in  it  is  employed.  Each  particle  which  took  part 
in  the  process  disappeared  as  such,  and  it  passed  over 
into  another  form. 

I  will  mention  one  other  case,  because  it  is  somewhat 
more  complex.  I  may  take  the  case  which  I  was  show¬ 
ing  you  just  now,  the  white  marble  and  hydric  chloride 
or  muriatic  acid,  which  I  used  for  making  the  carbonic 
acid  gas.  In  that  case,  I  used  two  materials,  carbonate  of 
lime,  as  it  is  commonly  called,  and  hydrochloric  acid. 
We  get  three  products;  on  the  one  hand  is  a  salt, 
which  is  commonly  called  chloride  of  calcium,  a  solid  sub¬ 
stance  used  for  drying  gases,  as  it  has  a  great  affinity  for 
water ;  another  is  water ;  and  the  third,  as  I  showed  you, 
carbonic  acid  gas.  There,  again,  we  have  precisely  the 


196 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  3,  1870. 


samo  thing.  All  the  marble  and  all  the  hydric  chloride 
which  takes  part  in  the  formation  of  those  three  pro¬ 
ducts  dis&ppeared  as  such,  and  they  resolved  themselves 
into  other  compounds  possessing  different  properties ; 
but  the  weight  of  the  products  is  equal  to  the  weight  of 
the  materials.  That  rule  holds  good  throughout  all 
ordinary  cases  of  chemical  action. 

On  the  other  hand,  in  fermentation  it  is  not  so ;  one 
of  the  active  substances  is  formed,  and  the  more  active 
the  fermentation,  the  more  does  it  grow.  In  fact,  if  you 
want  to  get  yeast,  you  must  go  to  a  place  where  the 
breaking  up  of  sugar  into  alcohol  and  carbonic  acid 
is  going  on  ;  or  if  it  is  in  the  south,  you  must  go  to  where 
wine  is  being  made,  you  go  to  a  wine-maker,  and  get  the 
yeast  from  him.  The  only  way  of  getting  yeast  is  from 
that  process  of  fermentation  which  sets  in  spontaneously 
under  the  conditions  I  named  to  you. 

I  ought,  however,  in  justice  to  the  wonderful  process 
which  I  alluded  to,  to  give  you  two  or  three  other 
particulars  regarding  it.  I  showed  that  sugar  is  broken 
up  by  the  ferment  into  these  products,  but  no  case  is 
known  of  pure  sugar — and  when  I  say  pure  sugar,  I 
mean  sugar  in  the  purest  form  in  which  we  have  it — 
being  decomposed  by  yeast.  If  you  were  to  put  some 
ready-made  yeast — thriving,  growing,  yeast — into  a  so¬ 
lution  of  chemically  pure  sugar,  some  of  your  yeast 
would  decompose,  some  of  it  would  resolve  itself  into 
other  products,  and  other  parts  of  it  would  be  absorb¬ 
ing  those  products  which  are  present  in  the  liquid,  and 
whenever  the  process  is  to  be  carried  on  advantageously 
and  rapidly,  it  is  customary  to  add  some  saccharine 
liquid — some  other  substance  capable  of  nourishing  the 
yeast.  When  I  want  good  fermentation  I  do  not  take 
water  to  dissolve  my  sugar  and  put  yeast  into  it,  but  I 
boil  some  of  this  malt,  which  is  one  of  the  best  materials 
for  the  purpose,  in  water,  and  take  a  decoction  of  malt 
or  decoction  of  yeast  and  put  the  sugar  into  it.  In  such 
a  liquid  there  are  several  bodies  which  we  know  ;  and  I 
may  safely  say  that  there  are  a  great  many  others  which 
we  do  not  know,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  their  pre¬ 
sence  is  of  considerable  importance  to  the  chemical 
change  which  takes  place.  There  are  substances  which 
I  shall  presently  have  occasion  to  show  you  and  to  speak 
of,  formed  by  the  germination  of  the  grain,  by  the  for¬ 
mation  of  the  malt,  which  are  related  somewhat  to  this 
body  which  I  have  here.  This  was  some  pure  wheat 
hour — every  kind  of  flour  would  not  do — and  it  is  sup¬ 
posed  that  some  people  mix  other  materials  with  flour. 
It  was  kneaded  up  with  water,  pressed  together,  and, 
whilst  the  pressure  was  being  continued,  water  was 
allowed  to  trickle  over  it.  I  have  in  another  bottle 
some  of  the  water  that  flowed  over  it.  There  is  a 
white  substance  deposited  from  this  water,  which  is 
commonly  known  and  much  used  by  the  name  of  starch, 
and  starch  is,  in  its  chemical  composition,  first  cousin  to 
sugar  ;  it  is  a  substance  which  passes  over  very  readily 
into  a  kind  of  sugar  by  a  process  I  shall  presently  have 
occasion  to  allude  to.  But  the  little  ball  of  flour  while 
being  kneaded  had  the  starch  washed  away  from  it, 
and  I  have  left,  as  the  result,  a  substance  which  is 
commonly  known  by  the  name  of  gluten.  If  I  were  to 
describe  it  in  chemical  language,  I  should  say  it  is  some¬ 
thing.  like  flesh,  or  the  muscular  fibre  of  animals,  for,  in 
chemical  composition,  it  approaches  very  nearly  to  that. 
When  ,  barley  is  malted,  and  kept  in  a  warm  place  for 
some  time,  the  grains  begin  to  germinate  and  decompose, 
and  some  bodies  are  formed  from  this  gluten,  which  is 
partially  broken  up.  The  malt  contains  also  some  sugar 
made  from  that  starch — grape  sugar,  as  we  usually 
call  it. 

If  we  had  only  these  extreme  cases,  I  really  do  not 
know  what. we  should  do.  If  we  had  in  our  science  one 
set .  of  bodies  which  appeared  so  constantly  to  act  at 
variance  with  the  general  laws  which  the  others  obey, 
I  think  we  could  not  call  chemistry  a  science.  I  have 
taken  two  or  three  examples  to  show  you  the  definite 


proportions  which  we  find  to  regulate  the  ordinary 
process  of  combination.  I  might  have  taken  thousands, 
but  the  point  is  that  this  law  does  not  appear  to  apply  at 
all  to  these  chemical  changes  which  we  call  fermentation. 
One  of  the  active  substances  in  fermentation  is  being- 
formed,  it  is  increasing,  not  disappearing  at  all,  and  the 
contradiction  is  so  strong  and  manifest  that  the  only  way 
out  of  the  difficulty  will  be  to  do  something  of  the  kind 
which  I  was  speaking  of  some  time  ago,  that  is  to  say, 
see  if  we  cannot  get  some  intermediate  facts  which  .will 
serve  to  connect  the  extreme  ones ;  to  see  if  we  cannot 
get  at  first  something  between  the  two  classes,  and  then 
try  to  get  some  further  links  between  them.  There  are 
processes  of  chemical  change — I  will  not  call  them  pro¬ 
cesses  of  fermentation,  for  I  do  not  know  whether  they 
are,  but  which  are  analogous  to  it,  and  some  of  them  are 
very  interesting  and  very  beautiful.  I  have  here  a 
substance  called  amygdalin,  made  from  bitter  almonds. 
It  is  a  bitter-tasting  substance  and  consists  of  four 
elements  -which  it  is  not  necessary  that  I  should 
name.  In  this  other  bottle  I  have  a  paste  formed  of 
sweet  almonds,  which  have  been  crushed  with  a  pestle 
and  mortar,  and  I  will  put  some  of  it  into  the  warm 
distilled  water  in  this  flask.  Into  the  mixture  I  will 
put  some  of  this  amygdalin.  If  I  were  to  leave  it  with¬ 
out  that  addition,  there  would  be  very  little  change ;  the 
substance  would  gradually  subside,  but  there  would  be 
no  product  given  off  in  the  way  you  will  presently  see. 
After  letting  it  stand  for  a  few  minutes,  I  will  pour 
some  of  the  mixture  into  an  open  vessel,  and  we  shall 
be  able,  without  difficulty,  to  perceive  a  fragrant  smell, 
which  is  due  to  the  presence  of  a  liquid  of  which  I  have 
a  quantity  here,  a  substance  known  by  the  name  of  oil 
of  bitter  almonds.  If  we  were  to  perform  the  same 
experiment  on  a  large  scale,  and  macerate  some  of  this 
amygdalin  with  almond  paste,  put  them  together  with 
warm  water,  distil  the  mixture  and  collect  what  comes 
over,  we  should  find  that  water  would  pass  over  and 
with  it  would  be  a  few  drops  of  oil  of  bitter  almonds, 
and  the  amygdalin  would  be  decomposed  in  the  process. 
There  is  in  the  sweet  almond  paste  a  substance  which  I 
cannot  describe  in  better  terms  than  by  comparing  it  to 
that  gluten  which  I  showed  you  just  now.  It  is  very 
similar  to  it  in  its  composition,  and  by  the  contact  of  this, 
the  synaptase,  as  it  is  called,  with  the  amygdalin,  the 
elements  of  the  amygdalin  are  broken  up  into  several 
products  ;  one  of  them  is  the  oil  of  bitter  almonds,  an¬ 
other  is  prussic  acid,  which  generally  accompanies  the 
oil,  the  third  is  a  variety  of  sugar  of  the  kind  which  is 
called  grape-sugar  and  there  is  probably  also  some 
formic  acid.  Here  we  have  the  breaking-up  of  a  com¬ 
plex  body — amygdalin — into  several  simpler  bodies  by 
the  action  of  the  body  called  synaptase ;  but  there  is  not 
in  the  process,  as  far  as  I  know,  any  living  organism  at 
work.  There  is  a  substance  which  is  somewhat  similar 
to  these  living  organisms,  but  there  is  no  organized  struc¬ 
ture,  as  far  as  our  knowledge  goes  at  present. 

Take  another  experiment.  I  have  here  something 
which  is  not  a  blanc  mange,  although  it  looks  something 
like  it ;  it  was  made  by  boiling  potato-starch  with  water. 
We  let  it  cool,  and  then  turned  it  out ;  some  was  put 
into  a  flask  with  two  or  three  ounces  of  crushed  malt. 
It  was  warmed  to  a  temperature  of  60°  Centigrade  for 
about  an  hour ;  there  was  no  boiling.  The  substance 
was  then  squeezed  through  a  cloth  to  keep  back  the 
husks  of  the  malt,  and  here  is  the  liquid  which  ran 
through.  It  is  perfectly  liquid,  and  its  consistency 
is  entirely  different  from  that  of  starch,  from  which 
it  was  made ;  it  is  quite  sweet  to  the  taste,  and  there 
is  a  large  quantity  of  sugar  in  it.  There  is  also  another 
body  which  we  class  with  the  sugars  ;  that  is,  there  is  in 
this  liquid  a  good  deal  of  a  kind  of  gum,  which  we  call 
dextrine,  which  would  easily  pass  into  sugar.  The 
starch,  when  it  was  being  converted  by  the  action  of  the 
malt  into  those  soluble  bodies,  did  not,  so  far  as  we 
know,  break  up  into  simpler  substances ;  the  process 


September  3,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


197 


was  of  a  different  kind.  It  assimilated  the  water — the 
starch  combined  with  the  water,  and  at  the  same  time 
divided  itself,  some  of  it  forming-  one  and  some  the  other 
product.  Here,  also,  there  was  not,  as  far  as  my  know¬ 
ledge  goes,  any  ferment  or  any  organized  cells  in  the 
liquid.  If  they  were  present  it  was  an  accident,  and 
was  not  essential  to  the  change  which  took  place.  I  am 
the  more  confident  in  saying  that  no  ferment  was  there 
present,  for  we  can  get,  and  wo  very  often  do  get,  pre¬ 
cisely  the  same  formation  of  starch  without  any  malt  at 
all.  If,  instead  of  warming  some  of  that  starch  with  the 
infusion  of  malt,  I  had  mixed  it  with  a  little — about 
five  per  cent. — of  that  strong  sulphuric  acid,  and  had 
heated  it,  it  would  have  been  dissolved  almost  like  sugar 
in  water.  In  fact,  there  are  now  in  Germany,  and  also 
in  England,  manufactories  in  which  starch  is  converted, 
by  the  action  of  dilute  sulphuric  acid,  into  grape-sugar, 
and  the  same  change  which  we  get  by  organic  substances 
— that  is  the  point — we  also  get  by  the  action  of  this 
mineral  acid. 

Another  change  of  the  same  kind  I  may  mention,  es¬ 
pecially  as  the  subject  of  it  is  in  itself  interesting.  I 
have  here  a  substance  which  people  have  been  accused 
of  making  for  the  purpose  of  adulterating  quinine.  It  is 
made  from  willow-bark,  and  is  believed  to  possess  febri¬ 
fuge  qualities,  so  that  there  was  some  little  excuse  for 
what  I  have  mentioned.  This  substance  is  called  salicine, 
and  when  heated  with  dilute  sulphuric  acid,  in  the  same 
way  as  the  starch  when  so  heated  was  converted  into 
sugar  and  dextrine,  this  salicine  breaks  up  in  a  way 
which  I  might  compare  with  that  in  which  some  bodies 
are  broken  up  by  fermentation. 

Another  case  of  the  same  kind  is  afforded  by  tannin,  a 
substance  extracted  from  gall-nuts,  and  which  is  present 
in  oak  and  many  other  barks.  It  is  used  for  combining 
with  gelatine,  which  is  the  principal  constituent  in  hides, 
to  form  leather.  If  we  dissolve  this  tannin  in  water, 
and  leave  it  in  an  open  vessel,  it  will  get  mouldy ;  and 
if  you  examined  it  after  some  tune  you  would  find  none 
of  it  left.  It  would  all  disappear,  just  like  sugar  in  the 
process  of  fermentation,  and  in  place  of  it  you  would 
find,  in  that  particular  process,  a  body  which  you  might 
easily  crystallize  out  from  the  liquid,  and  which  I  have 
here ;  it  is  called  gallic  acid.  It  is  a  body  resembling 
tannin  in  some  respects,  for  instance,  in  the  property 
of  forming,  in  combination  with  iron,  a  dark  substance, 
which  is  used  in  suspension  in  water,  for  writing-ink. 
But  it  will  not  do  to  form  leather  in  combination  with 
gelatine.  If  you  left  the  tannin  in  an  open  vessel,  it 
would  decompose,  and  there  would  be  left  gallic  acid, 
and  some  other  material  which  was  formed  at  the  same 
time  would  have  disappeared.  By  boiling  tannin  with 
dilute  acid,  we  get  the  process  performed  more  regularly. 
Upon  boiling  some  tannin  with  dilute  sulphuric  acid, 
you  would  find  that  water  would  be  taken  up  by  it, 
the  tannin  would  combine  with  water,  and  it  would 
break  up  into  sugar  and  gallic  acid,  the  process  being 
exactly  like  that  which  I  mentioned  in  the  case  of 
salicine.  There  is  a  most  direct  analogy  between  the 
process  of  breaking  up  which  sulphuric  acid  effects  upon 
tannin  and  that  of  fermentation.  I  ought  to  say,  when 
telling  you  of  the  decomposition  of  the  tannin,  that  it  is 
effected  by  little  animal  organisms  present  in  the  liquid, 
and  it  appears  that  they  are  the  agents  of  the  trans¬ 
formation. 

Then  there  are  some  other  processes  of  considerable 
importance,  from  their  occurrence  in  the  animal  economy 
— processes  which  I  believe  must  be  classed  between 
those  experiments  which  I  showed  you  a  little  while  ago 
and  the  process  of  fermentation, — I  mean  processes  which 
occur  in  the  operation  of  digestion.  I  have  here  a 
gelatinous  solid,  which  contains  a  substance  called 
pepsine,  which  was  made  by  dissolving  the  inner  lining 
of  a  pig’s  stomach  in  diluted  hydrochloric  acid  at  about 
blood-heat.  The  inner  lining  of  the  stomach  of  that  and 
similar  animals  is  dissolved  gradually,  and  that  solution 


possesses  the  property  of  dissolving  muscular  fibre, 
white  of  egg,  and  other  similar  substances  ;  it  is,  in  fact, 
artificial  gastric  juice,  and  it  would,  for  instance,  dis¬ 
solve  that  lump  of  gluten  which  I  showed  you  just  now 
— which  looked  something  like  india-rubber — and  when 
this  pepsine  dissolves  albumen  by  digestion,  for  the 
process  is  doubtless  of  the  same  kind  as  that  which  oc¬ 
curs  in  the  animal  economy,  it  does  so  by  breaking  it 
up  into  bodies  which  are  no  doubt  simpler  than  itself, 
bodies  which  we  do  not  know  accurately  and  fully. 
They  arc  called  peptones,  for  it  is  common  enough  to 
give  names  to  bodies  even  before  one  knows  them  well. 
I  do  not  know  whether  it  is  a  good  plan,  but  it  is 
customary.  These  bodies  are  a  good  deal  similar  to 
those  which  are  present  in  malt,  and  in  such  like  mix¬ 
tures  which  have  undergone  vital  changes. 

Then  I  will  give  you  one  or  two  other  cases  of  similar 
processes.  Here  is  a  singularly  beautiful  acid,  called 
hippuric  acid,  which  decomposes  with  very  great  readi¬ 
ness  if  left  in  the  liquids  in  which  it  is  originally  found. 
When  that  organic  mixture  is  exposed  to  the  air,  it 
undergoes  a  process  of  putrefaction.  The  general  ap¬ 
pearances  which  take  place  in  the  liquid  while  the  sub¬ 
stance  is  decomposing  would  certainly  be  described  by 
anybody  as  a  putrefactive  process,  and  there  is  formed, 
by  its  decomposition  some  of  this  other  beautiful  acid, 
called  benzoic  acid,  because  it  was  originally  obtained 
from  the  fragrant  gum  benzoin.  At  the  same  time  there 
are  other  products  given  off  which  decompose.  Now,  we 
can  by  mineral  substances  effect  the  same  decomposition 
of  that  hippuric  acid.  A  German  chemist,  to  whom  we 
owe  many  researches  in  these  matters,  showed,  some 
years  ago,  that  if  you  boiled  hippuric  acid  with  dilute 
sulphuric  acid,  it  takes  up  water,  and  breaks  up  into  ben¬ 
zoic  acid,  and  this  crystalline  substance,  called  glycocol 
or  sugar  of  glue.  It  got  that  name  from  the  circum¬ 
stance  that  it  was  obtained  originally  from  glue  by  a  de¬ 
composing  action,  and  it  has  a  sweet  taste.  It  has  no 
analogy  to  sugar  in  its  nature,  but  it  has  that  superficial 
resemblance  that  it  is  rather  sweet. 

This  hippuric  acid  affords  another  case  of  a  body  which 
is  broken  up  either  by  putrefaction,  or  by  the  action  of 
dilute  sulphuric  acid.  It  affords  a  strong  argument,  and 
other  cases  I  have  adduced  afford,  like  it,  an  argument 
that  the  action  of  these  organic  substances  resembles  the 
action  of  sulphuric  acid.  If  we  get  the  same  change  in 
several  cases  by  the  action  of  an  organic  body  as  by  the 
action  of  a  mineral  body,  the  fact  certainly  goes  some 
way  towards  showing  that  the  two  substances  must  be, 
in  their  mode  of  action,  generally  alike.  There  is  an¬ 
other  case,  that  of  urea,  which  in  contact  with  water 
forms  a  carbonate.  That  may  be  done  by  either  class  of 
re- agent.  ~ 

There  are,  however,  some  chemical  processes  even 
simpler  than  these,  and  for  that  reason  they  are  better 
known  to  us,  which  really  may  be  studied  -with  advan¬ 
tage  side  by  side  with  those  I  have  mentioned,  and  they 
will,  I  think,  afford  us,  on  further  consideration,  a  key 
to  the  explanation  of  these  processes.  I  will  only  men¬ 
tion  two.  One  is  a  process  which  is  well  known  in  its 
general  features,  and  it  is  a  process  of  breaking  up  truly 
analogous  to  those  I  have  mentioned,  but  a  perfectly 
simple  breaking  up  of  alcohol  into  two  substances,  both 
of  them  well  known  now,  one  being  water,  and  the  other 
ether.  It  is  a  process  which  consists  in  dividing  the 
elements  of  alcohol  in  such  a  way  as  to  get  nothing- 
formed  but  these  two  products,  though  side  by  side  with 
this  change  there  are  some  secondary  changes  which  do 
not  belong  to  the  process.  This  change  is  effected  solely 
by  the  action  of  oil  of  vitriol  or  sulphuric  acid.  It  has 
been  long  known,  and  it  was  a  subject  of  wonder  for 
some  time  that,  if  sulphuric  acid  is  mixed  with  alcohol 
and  heated,  you  can  distil  off  some  alcohol  from  the 
mixture  in  the  form  of  these  two  products;  then  you 
may  add  some  more  alcohol,  and  if  you  distil  that  oft,  it 
is  also  broken  up  into  ether  and  water ;  then  you  may 


198 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  3,  1870, 


add  some  more  again,  and  you  may  go  on  adding  alcohol 
to  that  original  quantity  of  sulphuric  acid,  and  it  will 
decompose  each  successive  portion  into  these  two  products. 
There  is  no  limit  known  to  the  extent  to  which  sulphuric 
acid  will  effect  that  change.  You  perceive,  therefore, 
that  this,  in  its  general  features,  is  a  process  analogous 
to  those  which  we  were  considering  at  first. 

I  may  illustrate  that  by  an  experiment.  First,  I  will 
show  you  how  we  discover  the  presence  of  sulphuric  acid. 
The  common  test  is,  to  add  some  salt  of  baryta — this 
which  I  have  here  is  a  chloride — to  the  sulphate,  when 
we  get  at  once  a  precipitate,  sulphate  of  baryta.  The 
sulphuric  acid,  in  making  the  ether,  passes  over  into  a 
compound  that  does  not  possess  this  property.  I  have 
some  of  it  here.  It  is  a  clear  liquid,  and  on  mixing  it 
with  the  same  re-agent  I  used  just  now,  you  see  that  it 
will  not  form  the  precipitate ;  I  put  some  of  the  same 
baric  chloride  into  it,  but,  as  you  see,  the  liquid  remains 
clear.  But  I  can  bring  back  my  sulphuric  acid  to  its 
original  state.  Mr.  Taylor,  my  assistant,  was  heating 
some  of  it  just  now,  and  it  has  been  standing  so  long 
that  it  has  returned  to  its  original  state  already.  It  has 
returned  from  the  state  in  which  it  does  not  precipitate 
baryta  to  the  state  in  which  it  does.  There  is  in  the 
process  a  successive  departure  of  the  sulphuric  acid  from 
its  ordinary  state,  and  a  return  to  that  original  state  ;  it 
is  a  kind  of  circle  or  cycle.  The  substance  passes  over 
into  a  compound  which  does  not  precipitate  baryta,  and 
then  it  returns  again  to  its  original  form,  and  that  is  the 
key  to  the  anomaly.  When  the  sulphuric  acid  has 
effected  the  decomposition  of  one  portion  of  alcohol  into 
ether  and  water,  it  comes  back  again  to  sulphuric  acid, 
becomes  exactly  what  it  was  in  the  beginning,  and  is 
able  to  recommence  precisely  the  same  combination.  I 
will  give  you  another  example  of  it.  I  have  here  a 
substance  used  in  one  of  the  commonest  manufactures, 
that  of  oil  of  vitriol,  in  which  the  same  operation  occurs. 
I  have  there  a  substance  at  work  called  nitric  oxide.  It 
is  converting  a  quantity  of  sulphurous  into  sulphuric 
acid.  In  principle  it  would  so  convert  an  infinite  quan¬ 
tity,  but  in  practice  it  is  limited  by  convenience.  It  acts 
by  carrying  oxygen  from  the  air  to  one  portion  of  sul¬ 
phurous  acid  and  then  to  another,  and  thus  it  goes  on, 
and  effects  successive  oxidations  of  a  great  number  of 
particles  of  sulphurous  acid,  forming  sulphuric  acid  from 
them,  and  it  does  that  in  virtue  of  a  process  perfectly 
analogous  to  that  which  I  just  now  mentioned.  The 
gas,  after  one  operation,  returns  to  the  same  state  in 
which  it  was  in  the  beginning  of  the  first  operation ;  it 
is  a  cyclical  process.  I  have  here  some  of  the  nitric 
oxide  combined  with  oxygen,  and  when  in  that  state  it 
has  the  red  colour  which  you  see  in  the  flask.  If  we 
blow  a  little  sulphurous  acid  into  it,  the  red  colour  will 
disappear  as  the  nitrous  acid  gives  up  the  oxygen,  the 
nitric  oxide  itself  being  a  colourless  compound,  but  in 
combination  with  oxygen  it  is  red.  As  the  sulphurous 
acid  passes  into  it,  the  nitric  oxide  parts  with  the  oxygen 
and  becomes  colourless,  but  on  again  blowing  in  a  little 
oxygen  it  returns  to  its  former  red  colour.  This  shows 
you  that  there  are  processes,  of  simple,  normal,  chemical 
action,  somewhat  analogous  to  those  fermentive  proper¬ 
ties  which  I  formerly  described.  Each  one  of  these  pro¬ 
cesses  takes  place  in  perfectly  definite  proportions,  the 
peculiarity  being  that  one  material  which  takes  part  in 
them  returns  at  the  end  of  one  operation  to  the  same  state 
in  which  it  was  at  the  beginning  of  the  operation,  so  that 
the  processes  are  cyclical,  and  this  re-agent  is  able,  by 
acting  successively  on  a  large  quantity  of  particles,  to  re¬ 
peat  its  action  very  frequently  upon  them,  and  beyond 
what  would  appear  to  be  its  definite  combining  propor¬ 
tion.  You  see  this  red  compound  of  nitric  oxide  and 
oxygen  has.  lost  a  great  deal  of  its  red  colour.  I  will  not 
wait  until  it  is  completely  bleached,  but  will  blow  in  a 
little  oxygen,  when  we  shall  get  a  return  to  the  original 
deep  red  colour.  This  is  the  ordinary  process  by  which 
.sulphuric  acid  is  made  on  a  large  scale  in  lead  chambers. 


The  sulphurous  acid  is  allowed  to  remain  a  considerable 
time  in  the  chamber,  and  is  passed  on  from  one  to  an¬ 
other,  as  it  is  acted  on  by  the  nitric  oxide,  which  passes 
through  the  successive  stages  of  its  action  by  a  process 
which  I  should  be  glad  to  name  cyclical,  as  I  shall  have 
occasion  again  to  revert  to  a  similar  process  of  the  same 
name.  At  our  next  meeting  I  shall  have  to  analyse  some 
of  the  best  known,  and  also  some  less  familiar  instances  of 
cyclical  action,  that  we  may  arrive  at  a  conception  of  their 
nature. 


farlratratas  ank  fitto  f mtttMnp. 

In  the  County  Court  of  Yeovil,  Atigust  16 th,  1870. 
The  Pharmaceutical  Society  v.  Colmer  and  Wife. 

BEFORE  CHARLES  SAUNDERS,  ESO-,  JUDGE. 

The  defendants  were  husband  and  wife,  and  were  sued 
for  the  penalty  of  five  pounds,  incurred  by  their  using 
the  title  of  Chemist  and  Druggist,  neither  of  them  being 
registered  under  the  Pharmacy  Act,  1868. 

Mr.  Flux  (of  London)  appeared  for  the  Society,  and 
Mr.  Wood  (of  London)  appeared  for  the  defendants. 

Mr.  Flux,  in  opening  the  case,  said  that  the  action  was 
brought  in  the  exercise  of  powers  which  the  Society  used 
with  reluctance,  as  was  shown  by  the  fact  of  the  case 
being  but  the  third  which  had  been  brought  under  the 
statute.  The  defendants’  course  of  conduct  had  rendered 
the  action  a  necessity,  because  the  title  was  used  by  them 
with  distinct  knowledge  that  they  were  violating  the 
law ;  and  upon  the  customary  application  being  sent  to 
them  before  action,  they  replied  by  a  letter  so  defiant 
that  to  avoid  the  issue  of  a  plaint  was  a  virtual  impossi¬ 
bility.  The  letters  having  been  admitted,  he  read  them 
as  containing  an  admission  that  the  defendants  were 
using  the  title  chemist  and  druggist,  and  then  referred 
to  the  sections  4  and  15  of  the  Act  of  Parliament,  as 
showing  that  the  defendants  had  incurred  the  penalty, 
and  that  the  register  proved  itself,  and  was  conclusive 
in  favour  of  the  plaintiffs.  As,  however,  the  defendants 
were,  by  their  attorney,  prepared  to  admit  the  use  of  the 
title,  he  asked  the  Court  to  accept  and  record  the  admis¬ 
sion,  and  also,  as  the  defendants  desired  an  opportunity 
of  cross-examining  the  Registrar,  he  (feeling  it  desirable, 
in  a  matter  of  the  kind,  to  pursue  the  most  open  course) 
should  put  the  Registrar  in  the  witness-box,  and  ask  him 
a  few  formal  questions,  in  order  to  afford  the  other  side 
the  opportunity  for  the  cross-examination. 

The  Judge  (to  Mr.  Wood). — Do  you  admit  that  the  de¬ 
fendants  used  the  title  Chemist  and  Druggist  ? 

Mr.  Wood. — I  do. 

The  Judge. — Then  I  shall  take  a  note  of  the  admission. 
What  have  you  to  say  ? 

Mr.  Wood  then  raised  a  technical  objection  to  the  form 
of  the  particulars  of  debt,  but  that  was  overruled. 

Mr.  Elias  Bremridge  was  called,  and  proved  that  he  was 
the  Registrar  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Great 
Britain  and  brought  the  action  with  the  sanction  of  the 
Council  of  that  Society. 

Cross-examined  by  Mr.  Wood. — I  was  appointed  Re¬ 
gistrar,  and  was  authorized  to  bring  this  action  by  reso¬ 
lutions  of  the  Council,  which  are  recorded  in  minutes. 

Mr.  Wood  (to  the  Judge). — I  raise  the  objection  that 
the  facts  of  the  witness  being  the  Registrar  and  being 
authorized  by  the  Council,  can  only  be  proved  by  pro¬ 
duction  of  the  minute-book. 

Mr.  Flux. — I  submit,  Sir,  that  the  witness  derived  his 
authority  not  from  the  record  of  the  resolutions  in  the 
minute-book,  but  from  the  resolutions  themselves  as  they 
were  orally  passed ;  that  the  witness  is  acting  in  the  ex¬ 
ercise  of  powers  cast  upon  him  by  the  Legislature ;  and 
that  he  is  not  to  be  called  upon  to  prove  his  authority  by 
the  production  of  any  minute  or  other  books. 

The  Judge. — I  consider  that  the  objection  is  untenable 


September  3,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


199 


and  shall  allow  the  case  to  proceed.  It  is  never  required 
of  officers  of  the  army  or  others  acting  in  public  capaci¬ 
ties  that  they  shall  produce  their  commissions  or  other 
written  authorities.  It  is  enough  for  me  that  the  witness 
is  acting  in  the  capacity  of  registrar  in  the  bringing 
of  this  action,  and  that  no  evidence  calling  his  status  in 
question  has  been  given ;  hut  I  will  take  a  note  of  the 
point,  in  order  that  Mr.  Wood,  if  he  pleases,  may  look 
into  authorities  and  bring  the  subject  before  me  by  way 
of  motion  for  a  new  trial. 

Mr.  Flux. — Perhaps  your  Honour  will  take  judicial 
note  of  the  fact  that  in  the  Register  of  Chemists  and 
Druggists  there  is  printed  the  full  name  of  the  witness, 
with  his  description,  “Secretary  and  Registrar  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Great  Britain.” 

The  Judge. — I  will  do  so. 

Cross-examination  continued  : — I  received  from  the 
defendant  Mrs.  Colmer,  forms  filled  up  according  to 
Schedules  C  and  D  of  the  Act.  The  one  was  signed  by 
her  and  the  other  was  signed  by  a  person  purporting  to 
be  a  duly  qualified  medical  practitioner  and  whom  I 
believe  to  be  a  son  of  the  defendants ;  they  were  dated 
30th  November,  1868.  I  received  afterwards  similar 
papers  dated  the  20th  March,  1869,  and  signed  by  the 
male  defendant  and  by  the  same  medical  practitioner, 
and  I  afterwards  received  papers  dated  6th  April,  1869, 
also  signed  by  the  male  defendant,  giving  his  address  as 
of  a  place  in  London,  and  purporting  to  be  signed  by  a 
duly  qualified  medical  practitioner. 

The  male  defendant  tendered  to  me  £5  as  provision 
for  fees  upon  the  registration  of  his  name. 

Re-examined. — I  was  not  satisfied  by  either  of  the 
sets  of  papers,  and  I  did  not  enter  the  names  of  the 
defendants  or  either  of  them  upon  the  Register  of  Chem¬ 
ists  and  Druggists.  The  judgment  exercised  by  me 
upon  the  papers  was  so  exercised  bond  fide.  The  cases 
of  the  defendants  are  not  the  only  cases,  by  many 
hundreds,  in  which  papers  in  due  form  failed  to  satisfy 
me.  I  have  informed  both  of  the  defendants,  over  and 
over  again,  that  they  have  not  been  placed  on  the  Re¬ 
gister.  The  statute  gives  an  appeal  to  the  Council,  but 
no  appeal  by  either  of  the  defendants  has  ever  been 
made. 

Mr.  Flux. — That  is  my  case,  your  Honour. 

Mr.  Wood  then,  without  calling  witnesses,  addressed 
the  Judge  upon  the  facts,  and  contended  that,  it  having 
been  elicited  upon  cross-examination  that  each  of  de¬ 
fendants  had  sent  to  the  Registrar  forms  in  accordance 
with  Schedules  C  and  D  of  the  Act  of  Parliament,  it  was 
thus  proved  that  the  defendants  were,  by  force  of  the 
clause  numbered  5  in  the  Act  of  Parliament,  chemists 
and  druggists,  and  as  such  entitled  to  be  registered; 
but  that  whether  they  were  registered  or  not,  they  were 
chemists  and  druggists  within  the  meaning  of  the 
statute,  and  not  exposed  to  the  penalty  for  which  the 
action  was  brought. 

J/r.  Flux  contended  that  the  published  Register  was 
conclusive  against  the  defendants  that  the  Registrar  had 
exercised  bona  fide  a  quasi  judicial  function,  and  that  it 
was  not  contemplated  by  the  statute,  or  in  accordance 
with  the  practice  of  the. law,  that  the  bona-fide  decision  of 
the  Registrar  should  be  revised  by  a  Judge  sitting  in  a 
Court ;  that  the  issue  before  his  Honour  was  not  whether 
the  defendants  were  entitled  to  be  placed  on  the  Re¬ 
gister,  but  whether  not  being  on  the  Register,  and  using 
the  title  Chemist  and  Druggist,  they  had  incurred  the 
penalty  under  the  statute.  He  then  referred  to  the  pre¬ 
amble,  and  the  sections  1,  5, 13,  15  and  26  of  the  Statute, 
arguing  that  they  were  consistent  with  each  other,  and 
only  consistent  with  the  construction  of  the  13th  and  15th 
sections  for  which  he  contended,  namely,  that  having 
regard  to  the  admission  of  the  defendants  that  they  used 
the  title  Chemist  and  Druggist,  the  only  question  for  the 
Court  was  whether  they  were  upon  the  register;  and 
then  read  M‘Call’s  case  and  Marwood’s  case,  as  re¬ 
ported  in  the  March  number  of  the  Pharmaceutical 


Journal,  and  the  opinion  of  the  Attorney- General 
therein  referred  to. 

The  Judge :  It  is  a  rule  of  construction  in  relation  to  Acts 
of  Parliament  of  this  kind,  that  the  Court  shall  advance 
the  remedy  intended  by  the  Act.  Now  I  find  that  this 
Act  has  been  passed  to  protect  the  public  in  the  matter 
of  the  sale  of  poisons ;  that  the  preamble  says,  “  It  is  ex¬ 
pedient  for  the  safety  of  the  public  that  persons  keeping 
open  shop  for  the  retailing,  dispensing,  or  compounding 
of  poisons,  and  persons  known  as  Chemists  and  Druggists, 
should  possess  a  competent  practical  knowledge  of  their 
business.”  I  find  also,  that  by  section  13,  provision  is 
made  for  a  register  of  the  qualified  persons,  and  the  Re¬ 
gister  is  made  evidence.  It  is  admitted  that  the  defen¬ 
dants  use  the  title  Chemist  and  Druggist,  and  the  Register 
— published  in  accordance  with  the  Act — is  in  my  hands, 
without  their  names  appearing  in  it.  I  cannot  adopt  the 
view  which  has  been  contended  for  in  the  interests  of  the 
defendants,  and  I  consider  that  the  plaintiffs  are  entitled 
to  recover  the  penalty  provided  by  the  fifteenth  section. 

Judgment  for  the  plaintiffs. 


Generation  of  Heat  by  Fungi. — Dutrochet  has 
observed  that  there  is  more  heat  generated  by  Boletus 
ceneus  than  by  any  other  vegetable,  with  the  exception  of 
Arum.  This  phenomenon  is,  however,  by  no  means  con¬ 
fined  to  B.  ceneus ,  but  is,  I  believe,  common  to  all  Boleti ; 
and  when  decomposition  has  set  in,  the  heat  evolved  is 
considerable,  but  even  when  perfectly  young  and  fresh 
all  the  Boleti  give  out  heat.  Whilst  packing  up  the 
three  large  and  beautiful  specimens  of  B.  colopus,  Fr., 
exhibited  by  me  at  the  last  meeting  of  the  Royal  Horti¬ 
cultural  Society,  I  noticed  the  decided  heat  evolved  from 
the  specimens.  At  the  time  of  packing,  my  plants  were 
perfectly  fresh  and  young,  and  after  being  placed  in  a 
light  paper  box  for  a  short  time,  the  heat  evolved  was 
apparent  to  the  hand.  I  tested  the  heat  with  a  thermo¬ 
meter,  which  stood  outside  the  box  in  a  shaded  room  at 
70°,  this  after  being  placed  in  the  box  with  the  Boleti  for 
half  an  hour  rose  to  75°.  This  fine  species,  though  I  be¬ 
lieve  rather  rare  elsewhere,  is  common  in  early  autumn 
in  Epping  Forest,  where  it  grows  in  company  with 
another  beautiful  species,  B.  pachypus ,  Fr.  Both  attain 
here  very  large  dimensions,  and  the  former  is  extremely 
beautiful ;  the  tubes  are  at  first  brilliant  yellow,  then 
orange ;  the  stem  deep  carmine  with  a  rich  maroon  base ; 
flesh  immediately  changing  to  bright  blue  when  cut  or 
broken. —  W.  G.  Smith  in  Gardeners'  Chronicle. 

Effects  of  Godfrey's  Cordial. — An  inquest  has 
been  recenlyheld,  at  Nottingham,  on  a  child  five  months 
old,  who  having  suffered  from  diarrhoea,  had  Godfrey’s 
Cordial  administered  to  it  by  its  mother.  The  child  suc¬ 
cumbed  and  a  post-mortem  examination  showed^  that 
death  had  been  accelerated  by  opiates.  A  verdict  in  ac¬ 
cordance  was  given  and  the  mother  was  reprimanded 
by  the  coroner  for  her  conduct  in  administering  the 
“remedy.” — Medical  Times  and  Gazette. 


BOOK  RECEIVED. 

Snuff  Taking-:  its  Utility  in  Preventing  Bronchitis,  Con¬ 
sumption,  etc.  By  John  C.  Murray,  M.D.,  F.A.S.L. 
London:  Churchill  and  Sons.  Newcastle- on-Tyne :  D.  H. 
Wilson. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  Aug.  27 ;  the  ‘  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
Aug.  27 ;  the  ‘  Lancet,’  Aug.  27 ;  the  ‘  Medical  Press,’  Aug 
31 ;  ‘  Nature,’  Aug.  25 ;  the  ‘  Chemical  News,’  August  26 ; 
‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  Aug.  26;  ‘  Gardeners’  Chro¬ 
nicle,’  Aug.  27;  the  ‘English  Mechanic,’  Aug.  26;  the  ‘Ca¬ 
nadian  Pharmaceutical  Journal  ’  for  August;  ‘Repertoire  de 
Pharmacie’  for  August;  ‘Revista  Farmaceutica’  for  June; 
‘Notes  upon  Books,’  from  Messrs.  Longman. 

We  have  received  from  a  correspondent  the  ‘  Glasgow 
Daily  Herald  ’  for  Aug.  18  and  20. 


200 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  3,  1870. 


Communications  for  this  Journal ,  and  boohs  for  review , 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication ,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Hospital  Dispersing. 

Sir, — The  Lancet  finds  fault  with  your  editorial  comments 
in  regard  to  the  above  topic.  Whilst  the  Lancet  takes  me¬ 
dical  affairs  under  its  especial  charge,  the  Pharmaceutical 
Journal  may  surely  be  allowed  to  criticize  the  dispensing 
arrangements  of  the  hospitals  and  dispensaries  without  being 
accused  of  a  sinister  motive.  The  safety  of  the  poor  is  as 
much  the  interest  of  the  State  as  that  of  the  rich,  and  I  know 
of  no  valid  reasons  why  lotions,  liniments,  etc.,  of  a  delete¬ 
rious  character  should  not  therefore  be  supplied  to  out-door 
patients  in  “  poison  ”  bottles.  If  it  became  the  rule  to  do  so, 
the  poor  are  not  so  ignorant  as  not  to  become  aware  why 
such  bottles  are  given  them,  and  they  would  soon  learn  to 
keep  them  for  their  legitimate  use.  To  provide  such  bottles 
the  funds  of  the  hospitals  are  available. 

The  majority  of  the  members  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
have  indeed  objected — rightly  so,  I  think — to  any  interference 
with  the  internal  arrangement  of  their  pharmacies,  believing 
that  the  individual  pharmacist  can  best  provide  for  the  safety  of 
the  public  by  storing  poisons  in  his  own  way,  and  according 
to  the  special  circumstances  he  has  to  deal  with.  The  Lancet 
has  forgotten  to  note  the  errors  of  the  class  which  it  essays 
to  represent.  “  Those  who  live  in  glass  houses  should  not 
throw  stones.”  How  many  medical  men — dispensers  of  their 
own  physic — send  out  mixtures,  lotions,  etc.,  in  one  descrip¬ 
tion  of  bottle  !  Will  they  consent  to  submit  their  surgeries  to 
inspection,  or  their  pharmaceutical  knowledge  to  the  test  of 
our  examinations  ?  Let  me  also  inquire  whether  medical  men 
are  less  liable  than  chemists  and  druggists  to  poison  people 
by  mistake  ?  I  trow  not.  Whilst  the  Lancet  is  advocating 
penal  enactments  against  those  who  are  assumed  to  be  so 
presumptuous  as  to  invade  the  domain  of  the  surgeon  and 
the  physician,  let  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal  draw  atten¬ 
tion  to  “  unqualified  ”  pharmacists.  Their  name  is  legion, 
and  they  abound  most  in  that  body  of  which  your  contempo¬ 
rary  is  the  accredited  organ.  “ A  fan-  field  and  no  favour” 
is  the  motto  of  yours  truly, 

August  29th,  1870.  Minor  Associate. 


Plaster-spreading. 

Sir, — In  your  issue  of  August  13th  there  is  a  paragraph 
relating  to  the  fixing  of  paper  margins  in  plaster-spreading. 
No  doubt  the  suggestion  there  made  is  effectual  as  regards 
adhesion,  but  will  it  not  be  open  to  the  objection  of  leaving  a 
sticky  margin  liable  to  discoloration  ?  The  plan  I  have  used 
for  some  years  past  is  to  cut  out  the  margin,  in  one  piece,  from 
brown  paper,  thoroughly  soak  it  in  water,  then  lay  it  out  flat  on 
the  counter,  and  remove  the  superfluous  moisture  with  a 
cloth ;  the  other  side,  which  will  be  quite  wet,  is  laid  on  the 
skin,  and  firm  pressure  applied  with  the  cloth.  If  this  be 
properly  managed, — and  it  requires  but  little  practice, — suffi¬ 
cient  adhesion  takes  place,  so  that,  when  the  paper  is  re¬ 
moved,  a  clean  and  smooth  margin  is  left,  free  from  stickiness. 
This  method  I  know  to  be  followed  by  many  dispensers,  but 
still  it  may  be  a  wrinkle  to  others. 

Liverpool.  T.  H.  Hustwick. 


Professor  Redwood’s  Annuity. 

SIE, — I  quite  agree  with  every  word  of  the  letter  addressed 
to  you  by  Mr.  Halliday.  He  happened  to  be  a  fellow-student 
of  mine  at  Bloomsbury  Square ;  and,  though  I  do  not  know 
whether  the  students  of  that  session  were  specially  favoured 
by  Dr.  Redwood,  I  believe  few  of  them  would  object  to  the 
vote  of  the  Council  as  regards  his  annuity,  or  fail  to  regard 
with  surprise  the  opposition  it  received  at  the  Council  meeting. 

I  could  say  a  good  deal  upon  this  point,  but,  with  your 
permission,  I  will  simply  state  that  much  of  the  voting  upon 
that  occasion  by  some  of  the  “ new  blood ”  was  entirely  at 
variance  with  the  way  I  should  have  voted  myself,  and  is  far 
from  the  way  I  expected  they  would  act. 

W.  Y.  Brevitt. 

Wolverhampton,  August  27th,  1870. 


Sir, — Though  anonymous  letters  should  be  passed  over  in 
silence,  as  productions  which  the  author  himself  is  ashamed 
of,  still,  since  “  Pharmaceutist,”  in  last  week’s  Journal, 
assumes  to  award  the  “  thanks  of  the  whole  members  ”  (sic) 
of  our  Society  to  those  gentlemen  who  so  strongly  resisted 
the  motion  for  an  annuity  to  Mr.  Redwood,  I,  for  one,  desire 
to  be  excepted  from  such  company,  preferring  to  range  my¬ 
self  on  Mr.  Halliday’s  side.  I  see  nothing  to  be  proud 
of  in  curtailing  the  moderate  salaries  and  incomes  of  those 
who  have  spent  their  best  years  in  teaching  us.  If  some  of 
their  pupils  claim  to  be  more  clever  now  than  their  former 
teachers,  this,  if  true,  would  only  prove  that  teacher  and 
pupils  have  both  done  their  duty;  in  a  properly-regulated 
mind  it  would  produce  a  sense  of  gratitude,  not  a  desire  for 
persecution. 

J.  Schweitzer. 

86,  ICing's  Load,  Brighton,  August  27th,  1870. 

How  to  Drive  away  Mosquitoes. 

Sir, — In  the  last  Journal  you  have  a  paragraph  headed 
“  How  to  Drive  away  Mosquitoes.”  I  was  last  autumn  at 
Venice  in  the  “mosquito  season.”  The  special  curtains 
round  the  bed  quite  failed  to  exclude  the  blood-thirsty  vil¬ 
lains,  so  I  went  to  the  “  Farmacia  Reale,”  and  was  supplied 
with  some  pastilles  to  burn.  They  appear  to  be  composed  of 
coarsely-powdered  Byrethrum  roseum,  made  into  a  mass  (with 
solution  of  olibanum  or  other  odorous  gum),  rolled  out  about 
half  an  inch  thick,  and  roughly  cut  into  conical  pieces  one 
and  a  half  inch  long.  The  attractive  label,  “Sonni  tran- 
quilli,”  is  not  to  be  withstood  by  sleepless  foreigners.  I 
nearly  choked  myself  by  burning  three  or  four  at  a  time  in¬ 
side  the  mosquito  nets,  and  the  only  appreciable  effect  was 
that  the  wretches  were  driven  mad,  and  attacked  with  insa¬ 
tiable  fury.  Directly  the  candles  went  out  they  charged 
through  the  clouds  of  incense,  and  the  morning  light  showed 
on  blistered  face  and  half-closed  eyes  how  little  they  care  for 
what  you  euphoniously  term  “the  immemorial  and  most 
beautiful  rite  of  burning  frankincense.”  I  send  you  the  rem¬ 
nant  of  a  box — possibly,  the  museum  has  no  specimen  of  these 
pastilles.  Yours  obediently, 

Wm.  Matthews. 

12,  Wigmore  Street,  August  2 Wi,  1870. 

The  virtue  of  mosquito  curtains  depends  upon  their 
being  properly  arranged,  and  carefully  tucked  in  all  round 
the  bed.  Of  course  if  this  be  done  with  one  or  more  mos¬ 
quitoes  inside  the  curtain,  the  other  tenant  of  the  bed  is 
likely  to  suffer. — Ed.  Ph.  J.] 


Co-operative  Trading. — Our  correspondent  “Anti- Stores” 
appears  to  be  under  some  misconception  in  regard  to  the 
price-list  he  mentions,  which  is  one  advertised  by  a  grocer’s 
firm,  not  by  a  co-operative  store.  The  prices  quoted  are,  in 
some  instances,  very  low,  but  it  seems  nevertheless' to  be  a 
case  of  fair  competition, — always  provided  that  the  goods  are 
of  proper  quality. 

Mr.  B.  M.  Johnson  informs  us,  with  reference  to  Professor 
Tuson’s  paper  on  pepsine,  that  he  has  once  been  supplied 
with  pepsate  of  lead  instead  of  pure  pepsine. 

31.  Ii.  J.  (Chipping  Sudbury). — Application  should  be 
made  at  Apothecaries’  Hall. 

A.  B.  (Hertford). — The  question  is  a  legal  one.  You 
should  consult  your  own  Solicitor,  or  apply  to  the  Solicitor  to 
the  Excise  at  Somerset  House. 

James  Batharn  (Manchester). — The  formula  for  Syr.  Ferri 
Phos.  c.  Quinia  et  Strychnia  (Easton)  is  given  at  page  125.  of 
the  last  edition  of  Squire’s  £  Companion  to  the  Pharmacopoeia.’ 

Mr.  J.  Coles,  of  Coleshill,  has  forwarded  a  copy  of  the  en¬ 
closed  prescription,  in  order  to  elicit  through  these  columns  the 
opinion  of  the  trade  as  to  how  he  ought  to  have  dispensed  it. 

R.  Acid.  Nit.  Mur.  5ij 

Inf.  Quassiai  §xij 
3j  ter  die. 

R.  Podophyllin.  gr.  xv 

Ext.  Coloc.  Co.  gr.  xxxvj 
ij  p.  o.  n. 


Instructions  from  3Iemhers  and  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Brem- 
ridge,  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  W.C. 

Advertisements  to  3Iessrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W.  Envelopes  to  be  endorsed  for  “  Pham. 
J ourn.” 


September  10,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


201 


THE  SOURCE  OF  MUSCULAR  POWER. 

BY  BARON  LIEBIG. 

So  far  as  anything  is  known  of  the  processes  of 
oxidation  that  take  place  at  temperatures  not  ex¬ 
ceeding  the  heat  of  the  body,  the  conversion  of  non- 
nitrogenous  substances  into  carbonic  acid  and  water, 
as  well  as  the  conversion  of  nitrogenous  substances 
into  carbonic  acid,  ammonia  and  water,  takes  place 
in  the  same  way  that  urea  is  formed  from  uric  acid. 
There  are  formed  products  containing  less  hydrogen 
and  more  oxygen,  until  at  last  the  most  highly  oxy¬ 
genated  product  yields  carbonic  acid  by  a  further 
addition  of  oxygen.  Thus  alcohol  is  converted  first 
into  aldehyd,  then  into  acetic  acid ;  this  again  into 
formic  acid,  which  then  yields  carbonic  acid. 

The  liiglily  complex  nitrogenous  compounds  always 
undergo  at  first  a  breaking  up  into  products  that  on 
the  one  hand  contain  a  larger  amount  of  nitrogen, 
while  the  others  are  free  from  nitrogen,  or  contain  a 
smaller  amount  of  it  with  a  larger  amount  of  carbon. 
These  products  are  then  converted,  like  uric  acid  and 
non -nitrogenous  substances,  into  carbonic  acid,  am¬ 
monia  and  water. 

Urea  may  be  regarded  as  carbonic  acid,  in  which 
one  equivalent  of  oxygen  is  replaced  by  amidogen, 
or  as  ammonia  in  which  the  third  equivalent  of  hy¬ 
drogen  is  replaced  by  carbonic  oxide. 

rO  •)  nH2  7 

cnh2  )  or  Nco ) 

In  the  animal  body  oxidation  of  noil-nitrogenous 
compounds  takes  place  in  the  presence  of  alkalies,  and 
in  many  cases  I  believe  the  law  of  oxidation  disco¬ 
vered  by  Kolbe  also  obtains.  This  explains  the 
formation  of  substances  containing  little  or  no  oxy¬ 
gen  out  of  others  that  contain  much.* 

From  what  has  been  said  it  will  be  intelligible 
that  muscular  power,  if  its  source  is  in  the  muscles, 
does  not  originate  by  combustion  taking  place  in  the 
same  way  as  in  the  furnace  of  a  steam  engine ;  it 
can  only  be  the  result  of  a  material  transformation, 
that  is  to  say,  of  motion  taking  place  in  the  interior 
of  the  muscles. 

A  closer  consideration  of  the  behaviour  of  yeast- 
cells  is  perhaps  calculated  to  afford  a  more  definite 
idea  of  the  process  that  takes  place  in  the  living 
muscle. 

Whatever  view  one  may  hold  in  regard  to  the  mode 
in  which  the  yeast-cell  acts  upon  sugar,  it  is  at  least 
certain  that  within  the  yeast-cell  there  is  motion,  by 
means  of  which  it  acquires  the  capability  of  perform¬ 
ing  external  work,  consisting  in  the  breaking  up  of  a 
carbohydrate  and  similar  compounds.  This  work, 
however,  is  chemical  not  mechanical,  as  it  would  be 
if  a  piece  of  wood  were  split. 

Some  notion  of  the  magnitude  of  the  force  exerted 
in  the  action  of  yeast  may  be  formed  from  the  fact 
that  a  particle  of  yeast  will  bring  about  the  conver¬ 
sion  of  at  least  sixty  times  its  weight  of  sugar,  or,  as 
I  believe,  even  upwards  of  a  hundred  times  its 
weight. 

This  breaking  up  of  sugar  is  accompanied  by  a 
considerable  evolution  of  heat,  and  by  a  mechanical 
effect.  According  to  Dubrunfaut’s  direct  determina¬ 
tion,  1  gram  of  sugar  evolves  in  fermentation  127 
units  .of  heat;  in  addition  to  tins,  the  carbonic  acid 
gas  disengaged  has  to  overcome  the  pressure  of  the 
atmosphere,  thus  performing  work  that  must  be  taken 

*  Ann.  Chem.  Pharm.  lxx.  318. 

Third  Series,  No.  11. 


into  account  as  corresponding  to  2482  gram-meters 
for  each  gram  of  sugar. 

Assuming  then  that  yeast  decomposes  sixty  times 
its  weight  of  sugar,  it  follows  that  if  the  evolution  of 
heat  and  the  exercise  of  force  be  referred  to  the  yeast 
alone,  without  regard  to  the  sugar,  each  gram  of 
yeast  is  capable  of  developing  G  X  127=7620  units  of 
heat,  and  a  mechanical  effect  equal  to  148,960  gram- 
meters,  or  very  much  more  than  it  would  produce  by 
combustion,  and  that  is  done  without  the  access  or 
co-operation  of  oxygen. 

Supposing  a  system  of  pipes  and  vessels  as  deli¬ 
cate  as  the  blood-vessels  in  the  muscles,  and  the 
walls  of  those  vessels  to  be  forming  entirely  of  yeast- 
cells,  with  a  stream  of  sugar  solution  moving  through 
these  vessels,  we  should  then,  by  the  determination 
of  the  heat  generated  and  the  mechanical  action 
produced,  be  forced  to  regard  this  apparatus  as  a 
very  enormous  source  of  heat  and  power. 

If  we  knew  no  more  of  sugar  and  of  the  behaviour 
of  yeast  in  fermentation  than  we  know  of  blood  and 
muscle  in  the  work  performed  by  muscles,  we  should 
not  be  in  a  position,  by  the  determination  of  the  de¬ 
crease  of  weight  in  the  system  and  of  the  heat  of 
combustion  of  the  substances  that  the  system  con¬ 
sists  of,  to  form  any  conception  of  the  magnitude  of 
the  causes  acting  in  it. 

If  in  place  of  sugar  solution  we  suppose  that  a  cur¬ 
rent  of  beer-wort  (which  includes  conditions  for  the 
multiplication  of  active  yeast-cells)  flowed  through 
the  system  of  yeast-cells,  then  the  loss  of  weight 
undergone  by  the  working  cells  would  be  made  up 
for  by  the  production  of  new  cells ;  the  system  would 
increase  in  mass  and  circumference,  while  its  action 
would  be  proportional  to  its  largest  section. 

On  the  presumption  that  in  the  alteration  undergone 
by  sugar  in  its  passage  through  the  supposed  system 
of  cells,  we  might  undoubtedly  ascribe  the  carbonic 
acid  and  the  heat  produced,  as  well  as  the  mechani¬ 
cal  effect  (which  are  indications  of  an  oxidation  pro¬ 
cess)  to  combustion,  then  we  might  compare  the  pro¬ 
cess  to  that  taking  place  under  the  boiler  of  a  steam- 
engine,  and  the  parts  of  such  an  engine  with  the  ap¬ 
paratus  consisting  of  cells. 

However,  this  representation  would  be  entirely 
false  :  the  oxygen  of  the  air  may  take  part  in  the 
process  of  fermention,  as  in  the  conversion  of  alcohol 
into  acetic  acid,  but  it  is  not  the  determining  cause 
of  it ;  the  carbonic  acid  evolved  and  the  heat  developed 
are  not  products  of  combustion. 

The  cause  to  which  all  these  actions  must  be 
ascribed  lies  in  the  mobile  cell  contents  and  in  the 
motion  to  which  that  is  subject. 

If  we  compare  the  behaviour  of  a  muscle  with  that 
of  the  yeast-cell,  we  know  that  a  constant  metamor¬ 
phosis  or  motion  is  taking  place  in  it,  and  that  this 
goes  on  even  when  the  muscle  is  separated  from  the 
body.  During  this  alteration  the  muscle  is  capable 
of  performing  a  certain  amount  of  mechanical  work ; 
the  internal  or  molecular  motion  in  the  muscle  is 
quite  independent  of  the  exterior  motion  of  the  mass ; 
it  takes  place  during  rest  and  in  the  absence  of  irri¬ 
tation,  without  the  muscle  showing  any  sign  of  ex¬ 
ternal  motion  ;  but  the  latter  is  dependent  upon  the 
internal  motion,  and  when  this  has  attained  a  certain 
magnitude  the  power  of  the  muscle  for  performing 
mechanical  work  is  extinguished. 

This  behaviour  corresponds  exactly  to  that  of  the 
yeast-cell ;  the  transformation  of  its  cell  contents  is 
quite  independent  of  the  sugar. 


202 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURRAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  10,  1870. 


The  most  distinguished  physiologists  have  occu¬ 
pied  themselves  with  measuring  the  absolute  muscu¬ 
lar  force,  and  they  have  found  that  it  is  proportionate 
to  the  largest  section  of  the  muscle. 

Even  the  severed  muscle  exercises  its  capability 
of  doing  work,  though  there  may  be  no  stream  of 
blood  moving  through  it  and  conveying  oxygen  or 
combustible  elements,  but  without  any  command 
from  the  central  organ  the  potential  energy  becomes 
active  force ;  heat  is  generated  and  carbonic  acid 
evolved,  together  with  certain  other  products,  by 
the  accumulation  of  which,  in  the  interior  of  the 
muscle,  it  becomes  tired.  The  simple  removal  of  those 
products,  by  injecting  a  weak  solution  of  salt,  again 
sets  up  the  capability  of  doing  work  for  some  time. 

The  difference  in  the  behaviour  of  a  muscle  in  the 
living  body  from  that  of  one  severed  from  it  is,  that 
the  capability  of  performing  work  continues  in  the 
living  organism,  while  it  is  speedily  exhausted  in  the 
muscle  that  has  been  severed  from  the  body. 

However,  the  explanation  of  the  continuance  of 
the  capability  to  perform  work  is  not  the  first  but 
the  second  question  that  has  to  be  considered  here. 

The  duration  of  this  state  depends  upon  the  cir¬ 
cumstance  that  the  muscle  is  always  being  restored 
to  its  original  condition,  while  the  products  that  in¬ 
terfere  with  its  working  capability  are  incessantly 
removed  from  it ;  still  a  muscle  remains  for  a  time 
capable  of  performing  work  in  the  absence  of  all 
conditions  for  its  nutrition. 

A  frog’s  heart,  entirely  freed  from  blood  by  inject¬ 
ing  a  weak  solution  of  salt,  will  continue  to  work  for 
twelve  hours  and  more  just  as  in  the  living  body. 
In  this  condition  we  can  scarcely  compare  it  with 
anything  else  than  a  bent  spring  that  gives  out  in 
motion  the  force  it  has  acquired  by  its  tension.  The 
mechanical  tension  depends  upon  an  altered  position 
of  the  ultimate  particles  of  the  spring ;  the  motion 
ceases  when  those  parts  have  been  again  restored  to 
their  original  position.  In  a  manner  quite  similar, 
we  see  that  with  the  mechanical  effects  produced  by  a 
muscle  there  is  an  alteration  in  the  arrangement  of 
its  particles,  and  in  the  absence  of  all  other  causes 
that  determine  performance  of  work,  it  is  impossible 
to  avoid  the  opinion  that  the  motion  of  these  par¬ 
ticles  is  the  source  of  muscular  power  just  in  the 
same  way  that  the  change  in  the  condition  of  the 
contents  of  the  yeast-cell  is  the  cause  of  the  breaking 
up  of  sugar  in  fermentation. 

It  is  known  to  physiologists  that  all  the  blood  maybe 
removed  from  a  frog  by  injecting  a  weak  solution  of 
■salt,  and  that  the  animal  will  nevertheless  move,  jump 
and  breathe  like  a  living  frog  for  hours.  In  reality 
the  animal  does  not,  in  this  case,  behave  differently 
from  its  leg  after  separation  from  the  body,  though 
the  phenomenon  is  one  that  must  astonish  any  one 
who  is  not  a  physiologist.* 


*  I  recently  received  a  letter  from  my  friend  Professor 
'O.  N.  Rood,  ot  New  York,  in  which  he  communicated  to  me 
the  following  case :  Professor  Agassiz  has  been  occupied  for 
some  time  in  catching  sharks  for  the  purpose  of  studying  their 
anatomical  structure,  and  on  one  occasion  a  shark  that  had 
been  hooked  struggled  in  the  usual  violent  manner  before  it 
was  landed ;  but  on  dissection  the  animal  proved  to  be  almost 
entirely  destitute  of  blood.  Closer  examination  showed  that 
it  had  been  attacked  by  a  parasite,  and  the  gills  were  in  some 
places  eaten  through,  so  that  nearly  all  the  animal’s  blood  had 
been  extracted,  and  its  place  taken  by  sea-water.  Agassiz  men¬ 
tioned  this  fact  in  order  to  show  that  the  shai'k  may  retain 
its  power  undiminished  for  some  long  time  after  having  lost 
nearly  all  its  blood. 


It  is  indeed  scarcely  possible  to  do  otherwise  than 
think  that  the  force  of  the  most  complex  constituents 
of  plants  and  animals,  manifesting  itself  in  motion, 
rests  in  their  composition  ;  and  that  this  force  comes 
into  action  in  a  definite  direction  in  consequence  of 
the  physiological  arrangement  of  those  constituents, 
— or,  in  other  words,  their  conformation  in  the  organs 
of  the  living  body,  which  are  built  up  of  these  ma¬ 
terials. 

In  order  to  understand  this,  it  is  only  necessary  to 
remember  that  the  yeast-cell,  in  causing  fermentation, 
loses  a  part  of  its  nitrogenous  constituent,  which  does 
not  in  itself  possess  the  power  of  causing  fermenta¬ 
tion,  though  it  acquires  that  power  when  it  has 
served  for  the  construction  of  a  new  cell,  and  has  re¬ 
gained  its  original  arrangement. 


It  is  not  easy  to  form  any  conception  as  to  whe¬ 
ther,  and  in  what  way,  heat  may  be  concerned  in 
the  performance  of  work  by  muscles ;  the  difficulties 
in  this  respect  will,  perhaps,  be  less  when  we  are 
better  acquainted  with  the  substances  by  the  meta¬ 
morphosis  of  which  muscular  work  is  done. 

The  unaltered  composition  of  syntonin  and  albu¬ 
men  in  muscle  appears  to  prove  that  there  is  no 
breaking  up  of  them  in  the  muscle,  and  consequently 
we  must  assume  that  it  is  by  substances  of  very 
much  higher  tension  that  the  performance  of  work 
by  muscles  is  brought  about.  It  may  be  that  these 
are  products  which  originate  from  albumen  by  the 
action  of  oxygen,  taking  up  heat  in  their  formation, 
as  is  the  case  in  the  formation  of  chloride  of  nitre - 
gen.  The  fact  ascertained  by  Pettenkofer  and  Yoit, 
that,  in  a  state  of  rest,  there  is  an  accumulation  of 
oxygen  in  the  body  without  any  corresponding  for¬ 
mation  of  carbonic  acid,  may  perhaps  be  taken  into 
account  in  regard  to  this  point. 

It  is  conceivable  that,  in  the  breaking  up  of  these 
substances,  the  heat  taken  up  or  rendered  latent 
may  be  converted  into  its  mechanical  equivalent ; 
in  this  case  the  performance  of  work  must  be  pre¬ 
ceded,  or  at  least  accompanied,  by  a  development  of 
heat  by  oxidation,  possibly  of  non-nitrogenous  sul- 
stances. 

The  existence  of  such  compounds  in  muscle  is  per¬ 
haps  indicated  by  the  fact  that  Frankland  was  not 
able  to  determine  the  heat  of  combustion  of  creatin, 
because  it  always  exploded  violently  in  the  tubes, 
just  as  some  cyanogen  compounds  do  when  they  are 
burnt  with  nitre  or  chlorate  of  potash.  As  regards 
cyanogen,  we  know  that  in  its  formation  there  is  a 
very  considerable  amount  of  heat  absorbed.  Hov  - 
ever,  it  must  not  be  supposed  that  there  is  yet  any 
ground  for  saying  whether,  or  in  what  manner, 
creatin  may  be  concerned  in  the  production  of  mus¬ 
cular  force. 

Helmholtz’s  observation  that  there  is  a  sensible 
rise  of  temperature  in  the  working  muscle  separated 
from  the  living  body,  may  perhaps  lead  to  a  solution 
of  this  problem  when  the  collateral  conditions  of  the 
rise  of  temperature  shall  have  been  more  accurately 
ascertained. 

The  most  difficult  thing,  which  may  perhaps  never 
be  explained,  is  the  influence  of  the  nerves  upon 
muscular  work.  A  muscle,  as  an  apparatus  for  per¬ 
forming  work,  evidently  behaves  in  a  manner  similar 
to  the  apparatus  for  producing  electricity  in  electric 
fish. 


In  these  animals  electricity  is  produced  by  a  me¬ 
tamorphosis  in  the  small  voltaic  couples,  and  a  cer¬ 
tain  store  appears  always  to  be  maintained,  which 


September  10,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTION  . 


203 


is,  in  the  state  of  rest,  distributed  in  the  apparatus 
for  the  production  of  the  force,  or  is  applicable  for 
other  purposes  in  the  animal ;  the  force  is  not  gene¬ 
rated  at  the  moment  of  its  application. 

It  is  evidently  dependent  upon  the  will  of  the 
animal,  determined  by  the  nerves,  to  bring  about 
such  an  arrangement  in  the  parts  of  its  electrical 
apparatus  that  the  distributed  free  electricity  may 
be  collected  and  applied  in  giving  shocks.  Frequent 
discharges  fatigue  the  animal,  and  rest  as  well  as 
food  are  requisite  in  order  to  renew  the  accumula¬ 
tion  of  electricity. 

The  nerves  in  the  muscular  appara  tus  appear  to 
act  in  a  similar  manner ;  under  their  influence  the 
metamorphosis  which  is  constantly  going  on  receives 
a  special  direction  in  such  a  manner  that  the  exist¬ 
ing  molecular  motion  is  converted  into  a  motion  of 
mass. 

Any  more  detailed  explanation  of  the  processes 
taking  place  in  muscles  by  which  contraction  is  de¬ 
termined,  and  upon  which  their  capability  of  per¬ 
forming  work  depends,  would  have  to  be  regarded  as 
hazardous  in  the  present  state  of  our  knowledge. 

The  only  points  in  regard  to  which  we  are  no 
longer  in  doubt  are  that  the  muscular  force  is  not 
produced  like  the  motive  power  in  a  steam-engine, 
and  that  the  simple  assumption  of  its  being  pro¬ 
duced  by  combustion  of  non-nitrogenous  or  nitro¬ 
genous  substances  in  muscle  leaves  us  without  any 
help  in  regard  to  this  obscure  subject ;  it  is  a  mere 
formula  without  meaning  which  perplexes  more 
than  it  asserts. 

When  a  constituent  of  a  muscle  produces  a  me¬ 
chanical  effect,  it  must  undergo  chemical  alteration 
from  its  soluble  and  mobile  constituents;  there 
must  be  other  compounds  formed  gradually,  and  this 
must  continue  so  long  as  the  muscle  is  capable  of 
performing  work.  Subsequent  more  exact  investi¬ 
gation  will  render  this  more  intelligible ;  and  for  the 
present  it  may  be  said  with  certainty  that  among 
the  products  thus  formed  urea  is  not  one,  for  it  is 
not  to  be  detected  either  in  the  living  muscle  or  in 
muscle  that  has  been  separated  from  the  body. 

Hence  it  necessarily  follows  that  muscular  work 
and  the  production  of  urea  do  not  bear  any  direct 
relation  to  each  other,  consequently  the  work  per¬ 
formed  during  a  certain  time  cannot  be  measured 
by  the  quantity  of  urea  secreted  during  that  time. 

The  astonishing  observations  of  Dr.  Parkes*  do 
not,  as  I  believe,  admit  of  any  doubt  in  regard  to 
this  point.  I  regard  them  as  the  basis  of  the  true 
law  by  which  we  have  to  judge  as  to  the  metamor¬ 
phosis  of  muscle  in  the  animal  body. 

These  experiments  were  made  upon  two  healthy 
soldiers  (S.  and  B.)  of  dissimilar  bodily  weight. 
Dining  sixteen  days  they  consumed  in  their  food 
equal  quantities  of  nitrogen.  Their  food  consisted 
of  bread,  meat,  vegetables,  etc.,  in  such  proportions 
that  their  bodily  weight  was  maintained  almost  con¬ 
stant.  The  experiments  were  divided  into  five 
periods.  During  the  first  period  both  men  did  their 
usual  work;  during  the  second  they  remained  for 
the  most  part  at  rest  and  in  bed  ;  during  the  third 
period  they  did  their  ordinary  work;  during  the 
fourth  period  they  were  put  to  severe  exertion,  on 
the  first  day  making  a  march  of  twenty-four  En¬ 
glish  miles  over  level  ground,  and  on  the  second  day 
.a  march  of  thirty-five  miles ;  during  the  fifth  period 


*  ‘Proceedings  of  the  Royal  Society,’  No.  94.  18G7. 


they  did  their  usual  work.  The  quantities  of  urea 
secreted  dining  these  five  periods  were  as  follows  : — 

I.  Ordinary  Work. 

Grams. 

Mean  of  4  days.  S.  ...  36"374 

„  B.  .  .  .  37T34 

II.  Rest. 

Mean  of  2  days.  S.  .  .  .  38-348 

„  B.  .  .  .  39T00 

III.  Ordinary  Work. 

Mean  of  4  days.  S.  ...  36*223 

„  B.  .  .  .  37*534 

IV.  Severe  Exertion . 

Mean  of  2  days.  S.  .  .  .  38'643 

„  B.  .  .  .  40-328 

Y.  Ordinary  Work. 

Mean  of  4  days.  S.  ...  40-811 

„  "  B.  .  .  .  38-909 

These  results  seem  to  me  to  demonstrate  unmis¬ 
takably  that  the  nitrogenous  compounds  eliminated 
during  muscular  exertion  are  ultimately  excreted  as 
urea,  and  that  this  does  not  take  place  completely  at 
the  time  the  work  is  done,  but  at  a  later  period. 

During  the  second  period  the  quantity  of  urea 
excreted  by  both  individuals  while  at  rest  was  in¬ 
creased  ;  during  the  third  period  it  was  the  same  as 
in  the  first  period ;  it  increased  considerably  during 
both  of  the  days  of  marching ;  while  in  the  fifth 
period  of  ordinary  work  it  was  always  higher  than 
during  the  first  and  third  periods. 

Conformably  with  these  results  the  bodily  weight 
decreased  during  the  second  period,  while  it  increased 
during  the  third  period,  again  decreased  most  con¬ 
siderably  during  the  fourth  period,  and  was  restored 
to  its  original  state  during  the  fifth  period. 

Dr.  Parke’s  memoir  on  the  excretion  of  nitrogen 
during  rest  and  work  with  non-nitrogenous  diet  also 
contains  a  large  number  of  remarkable  results,  which 
cannot  be  discussed  here  with  one  exception. 

The  loss  of  weight  suffered  by  both  individuals 
during  a  long  march  was  very  considerable,  both 
with  ordinary  diet  and  with  non-nitrogenous  diet. 

In  the  case  of  S.  the  loss  of  weight  during  this 
period  amounted  to  5  pounds  and  4  pounds ;  in  the 
case  of  B.  it  was  4f  and  1^  pound.  The  reason  for 
this  loss  of  weight  cannot  be  doubtful.  Both  indi¬ 
viduals  may  have  lost  fat  by  a  greater  consumption 
of  oxygen  during  the  severe  work ;  but  the  greater 
part  of  the  loss  was  undoubtedly  water ;  not,  indeed, 
liquid  water  that  could  be  replaced  by  drinking,  but 
water  that  was  combined  in  the  muscles  and  tissues, 
and  had  been  set  free  in  consequence  of  the  meta¬ 
morphosis  or  consumption  of  muscular  substance; 
the  slow  restoration  of  the  .bodily  weight  and  the 
necessary  co-operation  of  the  food  prove  that  the 
tissues,  which  in  their  natural  condition  had  retained 
the  water  eliminated,  were  altered  in  their  character ; 
four  days  elapsed  in  the  case  of  S.  and  B.  before 
they  had  again  acquired  their  original  weight. 

The  animal  organism  has  frequently  been  com¬ 
pared  to  a  railway  locomotive  in  which,  by  the  joint 
action  of  air,  water  and  fuel,  heat  and  power  are 
produced.  In  reality  air,  water  and  food,  which 
may  in  a  certain  sense  be  regarded  as  fuel,  are  ne¬ 
cessary  conditions  for  the  production  of  heat  and 


204 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  10, 1870. 


power  in  the  animal  body  also,  but  they  serve  for 
other  purposes  as  well. 

The  iron  and  copper  of  which  the  parts  of  the 
locomotive  mechanism  consist  are  not  supplied  by 
the  fuel,  and  for  the  production  as  well  as  the  main¬ 
tenance  of  those  parts  an  external  force  is  consumed 
on  the  work  of  many  artisans. 

The  difference  between  the  animal  machine  and 
the  locomotive  consists  in  the  circumstance  that  food 
is  requisite  not  only  for  maintaining  its  temperature 
and  producing  force,  but  also  for  providing  the  ma- 
terial^for  the  maintenance  of  its  working  parts,  or 
building  up  its  organs;  even  this  does  not  take 
place  with  expenditure  of  force.  For  the  construc¬ 
tion  of  these  organs  in  the  proper  form  and  character 
for  performing  the  work  belonging  to  them,  there  is 
required  a  certain  amount  of  force  as  in  the  working 
lip  of  the  copper  and  iron  in  the  locomotive,  though 
in  a  different  way ;  but  for  the  production  of  this 
working  force  a  certain  quantity  of  material  must  be 
consumed. 

Moreover,  the  arrangement  of  the  animal  machine 
is  such  that  its  own  parts  and  constituents  serve  to 
supply  at  their  own  cost  its  requirements  in  heat 
and  power,  even  when  food  is  entirely  withheld. 

Of  the  total  quantity  of  force  capable  of  being 
generated  in  the  animal  body,  a  portion  is  applied  in 
performing  interior  work,  comprising 

a.  All  involuntary  motions  of  the  blood  and  of 
respiration,  etc. 

h.  For  working  up  the  food  into  those  substances 
which  serve  for  the  construction  and  restoration 
of  organs,  especially  the  parts  of  the  body. 

And  it  is  only  the  portion  remaining  after  these 
operations  have  been  performed  that  is  available  for 
the  performance  of  external  work. 

(To  be  continued .) 


MEDICINAL  FERNS. 

BY  M.  C.  COOKE,  M.A. 

Ceterach  officinarum,  Willd.  “  Rusty  Spleen- 
wort.”  Is  still  employed  in  Tunis  and  other  parts 
of  North  Africa,  as  well  as  in  Turkey.  It  was  the 
Cetherak  of  the  Persians.  At  one  time  it  was 
strongly  recommended  in  this  country  in  jaundice 
and  diseases  of  the  spleen. 

Oibotium  Barometz,  Siv.  Yields  the  “  Penawar 
Jambie”  of  Sumatra.  It  is  a  similar  substance  to 
“Pulu”  and  employed  for  like  purposes.  This  is 
the  Scythian  Lamb  of  old  writers,  of  which  such 
marvellous  stories  were  told. 

Oibotium  glaucum,  Hook,  et  Am. ;  C.  Cha- 
missoi,  Kaulf. ;  C.  Menziesii,  Hook.  “  Pulu.” 
All  these,  if  really  distinct,  are  natives  of  the  Sand¬ 
wich  Islands,  and  yield  the  substance  called  “  Pulu,” 
which  is  the  silky  hair  found  clothing  the  rhizome 
and  lower  portion  of  the  stalk  or  stipes.  It  has  been 
recommended  as  a  styptic.  For  further  particulars, 
consult  ‘  Pharmaceutical  Journal,’  Senes  2,  Yol.  I. 
p.  501. 

Davallia  tenuifolia,  Siv,  In  the  Mauritius 
this  forms  the  basis  of  the  compound  remedies  used 
by  empirics  for  tambave,  and  is  often  administered 
internally  in  decoction  without  any  admixture,  and 
also  in  the  form  of  a  lotion  and  bath. 

Helminthostachys  dulcis,  Kaulf.  This  fern, 
Dr.  Lindley  states,  is  regarded  in  the  Moluccas  as  a 


slight  aperient ;  it  is  used  as  a  pot-herb,  and  its  young 
shoots  as  asparagus. 

Lastrea  athamantica,  Moore.  Found  growing 
on  grassy  hills  and  in  moist  places  near  Port  Natal. 
The  Zoolu  Kafirs,  writes  Dr.  Pappe,  who  know  it  by 
the  name  of  “ Uncomocomo,”  use  it  as  a  vermifuge; 
and  its  caudex,  given  in  the  form  of  powder,  infusion 
or  electuary,  has  been  proved  to  be  excellent  in  hel¬ 
minthiasis  and  especially  in  the  cure  of  the  tape¬ 
worm. 

Mohria  thurifraga,  Siv.  Grows  abundantly  on 
the  Cape  mountains,  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  When 
bruised  it  smells  of  olibanum.  In  some  parts  of  the 
colony,  Dr.  Pappe  states  that  the  dry  leaves  are 
pulverized  and  made  with  fat  into  an  ointment, 
which  is  cooling  and  very  serviceable  in  bums  and 
scalds.  The  vernacular  name  is  “  Brand-boschjes.” 

Nephrodium  Filix-mas,  Kick.  “  Male-fern.” 
This  is  one  of  the  few  ferns  which  continue  to  main¬ 
tain  their  character  and  position  for  their  remedial 
properties.  The  rhizome  of  the  Male-fern  has  risen 
rather  than  fallen  in  estimation  as  an  anthelmintic^ 
and  as  such  finds  a  place  in  pharmacopoeias  and  in 
regular  practice. 

Nothochlaena  piloselloides,  Kaulf.  Has  been 
employed  in  India  to  subdue  sponginess  in  the  gums,, 
according  to  Dr.  Lindley ;  but  whether  still  in  use 
we  have  no  evidence. 

Ophioglossum  ovatum,  Siv.  This  fem,  in  the 
Mauritius,  enters  into  the  composition  of  a  popular 
remedy  given  in  tambave. 

Ophioglossum  vulgatum,  Linn.  “Adder’s-tongue.” 
“  The  leaves  of  adder’ s-tougue,”  writes  Gerarde, 
“  stamped  in  a  stone  mortar,  and  boiled  in  oyle  olive 
unto  the  consumption  of  the  juice,  and  untill  the 
herbes  be  dry  and  parched,  and  then  strained,  will 
yield  a  most  excellent  greene  oyle,  or  rather  a  bal- 
same  for  greene  wounds,  comparable  to  oile  of  St. 
John’s  wort,  if  it  do  not  farre  surpasse  it  by  many 
degrees  ;  whose  beauty  is  such  that  very  many  art¬ 
ists  have  thought  the  same  to  be  mixed  with  vercli- 
grease. 

“For  them  that  are  with  newts  or  snakes  or  adders  stung,. 
He  seeking  out  an  herb  that’s  called  adder’s-tongue, 

As  nature  it  ordain’d  its  own  like  hurt  to  cure, 

And  sportive  did  herself  to  niceties  inure.” 

Osmunda  regalis,  Linn,  “Royal  Fern.”  A  native 
of  Europe.  The  rliizome  was  formerly  employed 
medicinally,  but  seems  to  be  of  little  or  no  value. 
It  is  affirmed  to  be  tonic  and  styptic,  and  to  have- 
been  serviceable  in  cases  of  rachitis. 

Polypodium  Calaguala,  Ruiz.  According  to  Ruiz, 
the  rliizome  of  this  species  constitutes,  in  Peru,  the 
“  Genuine  Calaguala,”  or  “  Ccallahuala,”  or  “  Slender 
Calaguala.”  It  is  said  to  possess  deobstruent,  sudo* 
rific,  diuretic,  anti- venereal  and  febrifuge  virtues, 
and  is  frequently  used  to  thin  the  blood,  promote 
perspiration,  and  to  mitigate  rheumatic  and  venereal 
pains. 

Polypodium  crassifolium,  Linn.  The  rliizome  of 
this  species  is  called  “  Thick  Calaguala,”  “Puntu- 
puntu,”  or  “  Deer’s-tongue.”  It  is  employed  in 
Peru  in  the  same  manner,  and  for  the  same  purposes, 
as  the  “  Genuine  Calaguala.” 

Polypodium  phymatodes,  Linn.  This  is  the 
“Male-fern,”  or  “  Fougere  male  ”  of  the  Mauritius. 
A  decoction  of  the  stems  is  used  as  an  aperient  and 
refrigerant.  Mixed  with  barley  and  milk,  it  forms 
a  beverage  often  recommended  by  doctors  after  in¬ 
flammatory  diseases. 


September  10,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


205 


•  Polypodium  vulgare,  Linn.  “  Common  Polypody.” 
This  common  European  fern  was  at  one  time  in 
high  repute.  A  decoction  of  the  fronds  was  for¬ 
merly  administered  to  children  for  worms,  cold  and 
whooping-cough.  The  ancients  attributed  many 
virtues  to  this  plant, — Dioscorides,  for  limbs  out  of 
joint  and  chaps  between  the  fingers ;  Pliny,  for  chaps 
on  the  toes  ;  and  others  to  purge  melancholy.  It  is 
the  “ rheum-purging  Polypody”  of  Shakspere. 

Pteris  aquilina,  Linn.  “  Common  Bracken.”  Na¬ 
tive  of  Europe.  The  rhizome  is  said  to  be  astrin¬ 
gent  and  anthelmintic.  Lindley  says  that  it  has 
been  used  with  some  success  as  a  substitute  for  hops. 
Its  esculent  qualities  must  be  very  poor,  although 
it  is  said  to  be  sometimes  eaten.  The  ancients  used 
rhizomes  and  fronds,  in  decoction,  in  chronic  disor¬ 
ders  arising  from  obstructions  of  the  viscera  and 
spleen.  It  is  sometimes  employed  abroad  in  dress¬ 
ing  and  preparing  kid  and  chamois  leather. 

Scolopendrium  vulgare,  8m.  “  Hart’s-tongue.” 

Old  herbalists  seem  to  have  had  great  faith  in  this 
fern.  Lightfoot  says  that  in  Scotland  it  was  used 
by  the  country  people  for  burns  and  scalds;  and 
Ray  writes  of  it  as  applied  in  the  form  of  ointment 
to  wounds  and  ulcers.  In  France  it  is  employed  as 
an  astringent  in  diarrhoea  and  haemorrhage. 

Undetermined  Indian  Ferns.  Several  fern  pro¬ 
ducts  employed  in  India  have  been  enumerated,  but 
at  present  without  accurate  identification.  Amongst 
these  are  “  Iskoolikundrion,”  a  species  of  Scolopen¬ 
drium  ;  “  Doonditarus,”  a  species  of  Dryopteris  ; 
“  Surkhus  ”  or  “Bitarus,”  probably  a  species  of 
Pteris ;  and  “  Bisfaij  ”  or  “  Bulookunboon,”  which 
is  referred  to  a  species  of  Polypodium .” 


NEW  ALKALOIDS  OP  OPIUM. 

BY  O.  HESSE. 

The  author  has  succeeded  in  extracting  from  opium 
several  new  alkaloids.  When  an  aqueous  infusion 
of  opium  is  precipitated  by  caustic  soda  or  lime- 
water  in  excess,  there  remains  in  solution  a  substance 
which  may  be  separated  by  ether.  This  substance 
gives  with  dilute  sulphuric  acid  a  purple  colour 
like  rheadine.  The  coloration  was  observed  formerly 
by  Merck,  but  he  did  not  isolate  the  substance ; 
what  he  described  under  the  name  of  porpliyroxine 
being,  according  to  the  author,  a  mixture  of  several 
alkaloids  which  he  has  now  separated  by  the  follow¬ 
ing  method. 

The  alkaline  liquor  is  shaken  with  ether,  and  after 
acidulating  the  etlierial  solution  with  acetic  acid,  the 
ether  is  evaporated  off.  What  remains  is  mixed  with 
a  dilute  alkaline  solution  gradually  and  stirred 
meanwhile,  so  that  the  resin  which  separates  may 
clot  together.  If  this  operation  is  properly  conducted 
the  alkaloids  remain  in  solution. 

After  twenty-four  hours  the  precipitate  is  sepa¬ 
rated,  the  liquid  mixed  with  slight  excess  of  hydro¬ 
chloric  acid,  and  then  with  ammonia,  which  precipi¬ 
tates  the  bases.  The  whole  is  then  shaken  with 
chloroform,  the  solution,  thus  obtained,  acidulated 
with  acetic  acid,  the  chloroform  driven  off  and  the 
residue  neutralized  with  ammonia.  This  throws 
down  a  resinous  reddish- coloured  precipitate  which 
becomes  crystalline  and  consists  of  impure  lantho- 
pine.  After  twenty-four  hours  the  filtered  liquid  is 
mixed  with  caustic  soda,  very  little  more  than  suffi¬ 
cient  to  decompose  the  ammonia  salts  present ;  it  is 


then  shaken  with  ether  several  times  to  separate  the 
codeia  that  renders  it  turbid.  This  alkaloid  is  dis¬ 
solved  by  ether  more  readily  than  the  other  bases — 
meconidine,  codamine,  laudanine,  and  another  which 
the  author  designates  x.  Ether  does  not  extract 
these  latter  from  the  solution  containing  fixed  alkali 
until  after  chloride  of  ammonium  has  been  mixed 
with  it. 

When  the  etlierial  solution  of  these  bases  is  al¬ 
lowed  to  evaporate  very  slowly,  laudanine  crystallizes 
first,  the  other  three  bases  remaining  as  an  almost 
amorphous  residue  after  the  ether  has  evaporated. 
But  if,  before  the  ether  has  evaporated  off  entirely, 
the  mother  liquor  be  mixed  with  solution  of  bicar¬ 
bonate  of  soda,  crystals  of  codamine  are  deposited  on 
further  evaporation  of  the  ether. 

The  mother  liquor  from  which  codamine  has  sepa¬ 
rated  is  then  mixed  with  acetic  acid  and  with  chloride 
of  sodium,  which  precipitates  chlorhydrate  of  meco¬ 
nidine,  while  the  base  x  remains  in  solution.  The 
latter  is  entirely  separated  from  meconidine  by  re¬ 
peatedly  dissolving  the  hydrochlorate  in  water,  shak¬ 
ing  with  bicarbonate  of  soda  and  ether,  and  then 
evaporating  the  etlierial  solution. 

Meconidine,  as  left  on  evaporation  of  an  etherial 
solution,  is  in  the  form  of  a  yellowish  varnish.  It 
melts  at  58°  C.,  cannot  be  sublimed,  dissolves  in  alco¬ 
hol,  ether,  benzol,  chloroform  and  acetone.  It  blues 
litmus  paper,  is  destitute  of  taste,  but  its  salts  are 
bitter. 

A  solution  of  a  salt  of  meconidine  gives  with  potash 
a  flocculent  precipitate  soluble  in  excess  of  the  pre¬ 
cipitant.  The  solvents  of  meconidine  do  not  extract 
it  from  tills  solution.  A  large  excess  of  ammonia  or 
of  lime  will  also  dissolve  meconidine ;  but  ether  will 
separate  it  from  these  solutions.  Strong  acids  de¬ 
compose  meconidine,  especially  with  the  aid  of  heat, 
producing  a  rose  coloration  that  afterwards  becomes 
purple.  Acetic  acid  alters  meconidine  only  when 
boiled  with  it,  and  then  only  partially.  Concentrated 
sulphuric  acid  dissolves  it  with  olive-green  colora¬ 
tion. 

Meconidine  is  distinguishable  from  rheadine  by  its 
solubility  in  potash  and  by  its  composition,  C21H23N04, 
while  rheadine  is  C21H25N06. 

The  salts  of  meconidine  are  very  instable,  the 
hydrochlorate  and  the  liydriodate  are  amorphous, 
soluble  in  water  and  in  alcohol.  The  chloraurate  is 
a  dirty  yellow  amorphous  precipitate.  The  eliloro- 
mercurate,  white  and  amorphous  ;  hydrochloric  acid 
gives  it  a  rose  colour.  The  chloroplatinate 
(Co1H23N04HC1)  2PtCl4  is  an  amorphous  yellow 
precipitate. 

Laudanine. — This  base,  crystallized  from  boiling 
dilute  alcohol,  forms  colourless  hexagonal  prisms. 
It  dissolves  in  benzol,  chloroform  and  in  boiling 
alcohol ;  cold  alcohol  dissolves  only  ^th.  It  has 
an  alkaline  reaction. 

The  salts  of  laudanine  are  bitter.  Potash  and 
ammonia  throw  down  from  solutions  a  white  preci¬ 
pitate  soluble  in  excess  of  alkali.  Chloroform  ex¬ 
tracts  the  base  readily  from  its  ammoniacal  solution. 
Protochloride  of  iron  colours  the  salts  green,  and 
dissolves  them.  Oil  of  vitriol  dissolves  them  with 
an  orange  coloration,  nitric  acid  with  a  rose  colour, 
which  becomes  dark  violet  when  heat  is  applied. 

Laudanine  has  the  formula  C20  H25  N  03  ;  it  melts 
at  168°  C.,  and  does  not  sublime. 

The  hydrochlorate  forms  colourless  prisms  soluble 
in  water  and  in  alcohol. 


206 


TIIE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  10, 1&70. 


The  chloroplatinate  is  a  yellow  amorphous  preci¬ 
pitate  slightly  soluble  in  boiling  water.  The  cliloro- 
mercurate  is  a  white  precipitate  soluble  in  boiling 
water.  The  hydriodate  is  very  soluble  and  crystal- 
lizable.  The  iodomercurate  is  a  white  amorphous 
precipitate,  melting  in  boiling  water  and  soluble  ;  it 
is  very  soluble  in  alcohol.  The  sulphate  crystallizes 
in  needles ;  the  oxalate  also  crystallizes,  but  is 
sparingly  soluble  in  cold  water. 

Codamine,  C19H23N03. — Tliis  base  is  purified  by 
converting  it  into  sulphate,  decolorizing  with  char¬ 
coal  and  shaking  with  ether  after  addition  of  ammo¬ 
nia.  The  base  crystallizes  from  ether  or  alcohol  in 
hexagonal  prisms  terminated  by  pyramids.  It  is 
slightly  soluble  in  water,  more  so  in  chloroform  and 
in  benzol.  Its  solutions  are  alkaline  and  destitute 
of  taste.  Generally  the  salts  are  amorphous  and 
bitter.  The  base  melts  at  121°  C.,  then  it  decom¬ 
poses,  giving  a  beautiful  crystalline  sublimate. 

Concentrated  sulphuric  acid  produces  a  green 
coloration  with  codamine,  nitric  acid  gives  a  bluish- 
green  that  becomes  violet  when  heat  is  applied. 
Alkalies  precipitate  the  base  and  an  excess  dissolves 
it ;  bicarbonate  of  soda  also  precipitates  it  in  the 
form  of  white  flocks,  which  aggregate  into  a  resinous 
mass. 

Lantliopine,  C23H25N04. — This  base  is  purified 
by  treating  the  liydroclilorate  solution  with  charcoal, 
precipitating  the  liydroclilorate  with  chlorate  of  so¬ 
dium,  decomposing  that  salt  with  ammonia  and 
crystallizing  from  chloroform.  The  base  then  ap¬ 
pears  as  a  white  powder,  consisting  of  microscopic 
prisms  scarcely  soluble  in  alcohol  and  very  slightly 
soluble  in  benzol  or  in  ether.  It  has  no  taste  nor 
any  alkaline  reaction.  It  dissolves  only  in  a  large 
excess  of  acetic  acid.  It  is  precipitated  from  its 
solutions  by  potash  and  dissolved  by  excess  of  pot¬ 
ash.  On  the  addition  of  chloride  of  ammonium  to 
this  solution  the  base  is  separated.  This  base  gives 
no  colour  with  chloride  of  iron,  differing  in  this 
respect  from  morphia.  Concentrated  nitric  acid 
transforms  it  into  a  red  resin ;  sulphuric  acid  gives 
a  violet  coloration.  Heated  to  190°  C.  the  base  be¬ 
comes  brown  ;  it  melts  at  200°. 

The  hydrochlorate  of  lantliopine  C23  H25  N  04  H  Cl 
+  6H20  forms  a  gelatinous  mass  composed  of  very 
small  crystals,  which  aggregate  together  hi  drying 
to  a  horny  mass  that  swells  up  in  water  and  finally 
dissolves.  Boiling  water  dissolves  the  salt,  setting 
free  part  of  the  base.  The  cliloroplatinate  forms  a 
yellow  crystalline  powder  insoluble  in  alcohol;  it 
contains  one  equivalent  of  water.  The  hydriodate  is 
gelatinous  and  soluble.  The  iodomercurate  is  so¬ 
luble  in  boiling  water  and  in  alcohol.  The  sulphate 
forms  very  slender  needles. 

Thebaine. — This  base,  discovered  by  Thiboumery, 
is  contained  hi  the  precipitate  I  obtained  in  the 
manner  described  at  the  commencement  of  this 
article.  That  precipitate  is  dissolved  by  acetic  acid, 
the  solution  decolorized  with  charcoal  and  then 
mixed  with  powdered  tartaric  acid;  after  twenty- 
four  hours  the  crystals  of  tartrate  of  thebaine  that 
have  formed  are  collected  and  recrystallized  from 
boiling  water.  Then  the  base  is  set  free  and  crys¬ 
tallized  from  alcohol.  Pure  thebaine  has  no  taste ; 
it  melts  at  193°  C. 

•  The  acid  tartrate  forms  slender  prisms  soluble  in 
boiling  water  and  boiling  alcohol.  The  salt  requires 
130  parts  of  water  at  20°  C.  for  solution.  The  neu¬ 
tral  salt  is  readily  soluble  in  water  and  alcohol ;  it 


may  be  prepared  by  using  excess  of  the  base,  and 
then  separating  it  with  ether. 

The  liydroclilorate  requires  15 '8  parts  of  water  at 
10°  C.  for  solution ;  it  is  anhydrous  at  100°  C. 

Tliebenine. — Tliis  base  is  formed  by  an  isomeric 
transformation  of  thebaine  under  the  influence  of 
boiling  hydrochloric  acid.  A  solution  of  10  parts 
thebaine  in  200  parts  of  hydrochloric  acid  (l- 04  sp.  gr.) 
is  heated  to  boiling,  and  then  diluted  with  an  equal 
volume  of  water.  Gradually  crystals  separate  ;  these 
are  washed  with  cold  water,  and  redissolved  in  boil¬ 
ing  water  mixed  with  acetic  acid ;  on  cooling  tliis 
solution  fine  crystals  of  liydroclilorate  of  tliebenine' 
separate  as  colourless  laminie  that  are  soluble  in 
boiling  water  or  boiling  alcohol,  and  in  100  parts  of 
cold  water.  Nitric  acid  dissolves  these  crystals  with 
a  yellow  coloration  and  evolution  of  nitrous  fumes; 
the  solution  mixed  with  water  gives  a  yellow  amor¬ 
phous  precipitate  soluble  in  ammonia.  The  hydro¬ 
chlorate  of  tliebenine  C19H21N03  HCI-I-3H2O  is 
bitter,  but  does  not  appear  to  be  poisonous,  while 
thebaine  is  extremely  poisonous.  The  chloroplati- 
nate  is  amorphous  and  yellow.  The  chloromer- 
curate  forms  long  colourless  prisms.  Sulphate  of 
tliebenine  separates  on  adding  sulphuric  acid  to  a 
solution  of  hydrochlorate  as  a  white  crystalline 
powder,  but  slightly  soluble  in  boiling  water,  in¬ 
soluble  in  cold  water  or  alcohol.  It  is  anhydrous  at 
100°  C. 

Thebenine  itself  is  amorphous,  insoluble  in  ether 
or  benzol,  slightly  soluble  in  boiling  alcohol.  It  is 
insoluble  in  ammonia,  but  soluble  in  potash.  It 
absorbs  oxygen  rapidly,  and  the  potassic  solution 
soon  becomes  brown  in  contact  with  atmospheric 
ah'.  Sulphuric  acid  colours  thebenine  blue,  while 
thebaine  gives  a  dark  red  colour  with  the  acid. 

Thebaicine. — Tliis  is  probably  a  second  isomer  of 
thebaine,  formed  by  the  action  of  strong  acids  and 
heat.  Ammonia  gives,  after  this  treatment  of  the¬ 
baine,  an  amorphous  yellow  basic  precipitate,  inso¬ 
luble  in  ether,  benzol,  water  or  ammonia,  slightly 
soluble  hi  boiling  alcohol,  from  which,  however,  it 
does  not  crystallize.  Potash  dissolves  it,  and  the 
solution  turns  brown  in  contact  with  ah.  It  dis¬ 
solves  with  red  colour  in  nitric  acid,  and  with  a  blue 
colour  in  oil  of  vitriol.  The  sulphate  is  resinous,  as 
well  as  the  liydroclilorate. 

The  first  precipitate  contains  also  papaverine,  and 
this  base  is  present  in  the  mother  liquor  from 
which  tartrate  of  thebaine  has  separated.  It  is  pre¬ 
cipitated  with  ammonia  and  treated  with  a  little 
alcohol,  which  renders  it  crystalline  and  dissolves 
an  amorphous  base.  It  is  then  converted  into  oxa¬ 
late,  which  is  crystallized  from  boiling  water.  The 
base  may  be  considered  pure  if  it  dissolves  without 
coloration  in  oil  of  vitriol.  Papaverine  crystallizes 
in  colourless  prisms,  soluble  in  258  parts  of  cold 
ether;  it  crystallizes  from  benzol  and  melts  at 
147°  C.  It  dissolves  in  acetic  acid  without  neutraliz¬ 
ing  it ;  potash  and  ammonia  separate  it  from  this 
solution  as  a  resinous  mass  that  gradually  becomes 
crystalline,  but  is  insoluble  in  excess  of  the  alkali. 
Nitric,  sulphuric  or  hydrochloric  acid,  added  to  the 
acetic  solution,  separate  the  corresponding  salts  in  n 
crystalline  form. 

The  author  assigns  to  papaverine  the  formula 
C21H21N04,  instead  of  C20H21NO4  adopted  by 
Merck  and  Anderson.  This  formula  is  confirmed  by 
the  analysis  of  the  hydrochlorate  and  of  the  chloro- 
platinate.  The  former  dissolves  in  37  parts  of  water 


September  10,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


207 


at  18°  C.,  and  the  latter  is  a  dark  yellow  crystalline 
precipitate.  The  chloromercurate  forms  colourless 
rhomboidal  laminae.  The  iodomercurate  is  crystal¬ 
line  and  soluble  in  boiling  alcohol. 

The  author  concludes  his  memoir  by  stating  the 
relations  which  the  new  bases  bear  to  those  pre¬ 
viously  known.  The  new  bases  exist  in  very  small 
amounts  in  opium.  A  sample  containing  8-3  per 
cent,  of  morphia  gave  0’0058  per  cent,  of  laudanine, 
the  same  quantity  of  lanthopine,  and  0‘0033  of  coda¬ 
mine. 

Codamine  and  laudanine  are  homologues  of  mor¬ 
phia  and  of  codeia.  Lanthopine  is  the  superior 
homologue  of  papaverine.  Ptelated  to  the  latter  two, 
as  oxidation  derivatives,  are  cryptopine  and  narceine 
on  the  one  hand,  rlieadine  and  rlieagine  on  the  other. 

It  has  been  stated  incorrectly  that  cryptopine  is 
soluble  in  potash.  Oil  of  vitriol  colours  cryptopine 
dark  green. — Annalen  der  Chem.  und  Pharmacie, 
cliii.  47. 


WHAT  IS  ENERGY  ? 

BY  BALFOUR  STEWART. 

IT. 

In  our  first  article  it  was  shown  that  energy,  or 
the  power  of  doing  work,  is  of  two  kinds,  namely, 
energy  due  to  actual  motion,  and  that  due  to  position. 
We  ended  by  supposing  that  a  stone  shot  vertically 
upwards  had  been  caught  at  the  summit  of  its  flight 
and  lodged  on  the  top  of  a  house ;  and  this  gave  rise 
to  the  question,  What  has  become  of  the  energy  of 
the  stone?  To  answer  this  we  must  learn  to  re¬ 
gard  energy,  not  as  a  quality ,  but  rather  as  a  thing. 

The  chemist  has  always  taught  us  to  regard  quan¬ 
tity  or  mass  of  matter  as  unchangeable,  so  that  amid 
the  many  bewildering  transformations  of  form  and 
quality  which  take  place  in  the  chemical  world,  we 
can  always  consult  our  balance  with  a  certainty  that 
it  will  not  play  us  false.  But  now  the  physical  phi¬ 
losopher  steps  in  and  tells  us  that  energy  is  quite  as 
unchangeable  as  mass,  and  that  the  conservation  of 
both  is  equally  complete.  There  is,  however,  this 
difference  between  the  two  things — the  same  particle 
of  matter  will  always  retain  the  same  mass,  but  it 
will  not  always  retain  the  same  energy.  As  a  whole, 
energy  is  invariable,  but  it  is  always  shifting  about 
from  particle  to  particle,  and  it  is  hence  more  difficult 
to  grasp  the  conception  of  an  invariability  of  energy 
than  of  an  invariability  of  mass.  For  instance,  the 
mass  of  our  luminary  always  remains  the  same,  but 
its  energy  is  always  getting  less. 

And  now  to  return  to  our  question,  What  has  be¬ 
come  of  the  energy  of  the  stone?  Has  tins  disap¬ 
peared  ?  Far  from  it ;  the  energy  with  which  the 
stone  began  its  flight  has  no  more  disappeared  from 
the  universe  of  energy  than  the  coal,  when  we  have 
burned  it  in  our  fire,  disappears  from  the  universe  of 
matter.  But  this  has  taken  place : — the  energy  has 
changed  its  form  and  become  spent  or  has  disap¬ 
peared  as  energy  of  actual  motion,  in  gaining  for  the 
stone  a  position  of  advantage  with  regard  to  the 
force  of  gravity. 

If  we  study  this  particular  instance  more  minutely, 
we  shall  see  that  during  the  upward  flight  of  the 
stone  its  energy  of  actual  motion  becomes  gradually 
changed  into  energy  of  position,  while  the  reverse 
will  take  place  during  its  downward  flight,  if  we  now 
suppose  it  dislodged  from  the  top  of  the  house.  In 


tliis  latter  case  the  energy  of  position  with  which  it 
begins  its  downward  flight  is  gradually  reconverted 
into  energy  of  actual  motion,  until  at  last,  when  the 
stone  reaches  the  ground,  it  has  the  same  amount  of 
velocity,  and,  therefore,  of  actual  energy,  which  it 
had  at  first. 

Let  us  now  revert,  for  a  moment,  to  the  definition, 
of  energy,  which  means  the  power  of  doing  work, 
and  we  shall  see  at  once  how  we  may  gauge  nume¬ 
rically  the  quantity  of  energy  which  "the  stone  pos¬ 
sesses,  and,  in  order  to  simplify  matters,  let  us  sup¬ 
pose  that  this  stone  weighs  exactly  one  pound.  If, 
therefore,  it  has  velocity  enough  to  carry  it  up  one 
foot,  it  may  be  said  to  have  energy  enough  to  do  one 
unit  of  work,  inasmuch  as  we  have  defined  1  pound 
raised  1  foot  high  to  be  one  unit  of  work ;  and  in  like 
manner  if  it  has  velocity  sufficient  to  carry  it  16  feet 
high,  it  may  be  said  to  have  an  energy  equivalent  to 
16  units  of  work  or  foot-pounds  as  those  units  are 
sometimes  called.  Now,  if  the  stone  be  discharged 
upwards  with  an  initial  velocity  of  32  feet  per  second, 
it  will  rise  16  feet  high,  and  it  has,  therefore,  an 
energy  represented  by  16.  But  if  its  initial  velocit}7 
be  64  feet  per  second,  it  will  rise  64  feet  high  before  it 
turns,  and  will,  therefore,  have  energy  represented 
by  64.  Hence  we  see  that  by  doubling  the  velocity 
the  energy  is  quadrupled,  and  we  might  show  that 
by  tripling  the  velocity  the  energy  is  increased  nine 
times.  This  is  expressed  in  general  terms  by  saying 
that  the  energy  or  quantity  of  work  which  a  moving 
body  can  accomplish  varies  as  the  square  of  its  velo¬ 
city.  This  fact  is  well  known  to  artillerymen,  for  a 
ball  with  a  double  velocity  will  penetrate  much  more 
than  twice  as  far  into  an  obstacle  opposing  its  pro¬ 
gress. 

Let  us  now  take  the  stone  or  pound-weight  having 
an  initial  velocity  of  64  feet  per  second,  and  consider 
the  state  of  tilings  at  the  precise  moment  when  it  is 
48  feet  high.  It  will  at  that  moment  have  an  actual 
velocity  of  32  feet  per  second,  which,  as  we  have- 
seen,  will  represent  16  units  of  work.  But  it  started 
from  the  ground  with  64  units  of  work  in  it :  what 
therefore  has  become  of  the  difference — or  48  units  ?' 
Evidently  it  has  disappeared  as  actual  energy ;  but 
the  stone,  being  48  feet  high,  has  an  energy  of  posi¬ 
tion  represented  by  48  units  ;  so  that  at  this  precise 
moment  of  its  flight  its  actual  energy  (16),  plus  its 
energy  of  position  (48),  are  together  equal  to  the 
whole  energy  with  which  it  started  (64). 

Here,  then,  we  have  no  annihilation  of  energy7, 
but  merely  the  transformation  of  it  from  actual  energy 
into  that  implied  by  position  ;  nor  have  we  any  crea¬ 
tion  of  energy  when  the  stone  is  on  its  downward 
flight,  but  merely  the  retransformation  of  the  energy 
of  position  into  the  original  form  of  actual  energy. 

We  shall  presently  discuss  what  becomes  of  this 
actual  energy  after  the  stone  has  struck  the  ground ; 
but,  in  the  meantime,  we  would  repeat  our  remark 
how  intimate  is  the  analogy  between  the  physical 
and  the  social  world.  In  both  cases  we  have  actual 
energy  and  energy  of  position,  the  only  difference 
being  that  in  the  social  world  it  is  impossible  to  mea¬ 
sure  energy  with  exactness,  while  in  the  mechanical 
world  we  can  gauge  it  with  the  utmost  precision. 

Proteus-like,  this  element  energy  is  always  chang¬ 
ing  its  form  ;  and  hence  arises  the  extreme  difficulty 
of  the  subject,  for  we  cannot  easily  retain  a  sufficient 
grasp  of  the  ever-changing  element  to  argue  experi¬ 
mentally  regarding  it.  All  the  varieties  of  physical 
energy  may,  however,  be  embraced  under  the  two 

m  3 


208 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  10,  1870, 


heads  already  mentioned,  namely,  energy  of  actual 
motion  and  of  position.  We  have  chosen  the  force 
of  gravity,  acting  upon  a  stone  shot  up  into  the  air, 
as  our  example ;  but  there  are  other  forces  besides 
gravity.  Thus,  a  watch  newly  wound  up  is  in  a 
■condition  of  visible  advantage  with  respect  to  the 
force  of  the  mainspring ;  and  as  it  continues  to  go  it 
gradually  loses  tliis  energy  of  position,  converting  it 
into  energy  of  motion.  A  cross-bow  bent  is  likewise 
in  a  position  of  advantage  with  respect  to  the  spring 
of  the  bow ;  and  when  its  bolt  is  discharged,  this 
energy  of  position  is  converted  into  that  of  motion. 
Thus  again,  a  meteor,  a  railway  train,  a  mountain 
torrent,  the  wind,  all  represent  energy  of  actual  visible 
motion ;  while  a  head  of  water  may  be  classed  along 
with  a  stone  at  the  top  of  a  house  as  representing 
energy  of  position.  The  list  which  represents  visible 
energy  of  motion  and  of  position  might  be  extended 
indefinitely  ;  but  we  must  remember  that  there  are 
also  invisible  molecular  motions,  which  do  not  the 
less  exist  because  they  are  invisible. 

One  of  the  best  known  of  these  molecular  energies 
is  radiant  light  and  heat, — a  species  which  can 
_  traverse  space  with  the  enormous  velocity  of  186,000 
miles  a  second. 

Although  itself  eminently  silent  and  gentle  in  its 
action,  it  is,  nevertheless,  the  parent  of  most  of  the 
work  which  is  done  in  the  world,  as  we  shall  pre¬ 
sently  see  when  we  proceed  to  another  division  of  our 
subject.  In  the  meantime  we  may  state  that  radiant 
light  and  heat  are  supposed  to  consist  of  a  certain 
undulatory  motion  traversing  an  ethereal  medium 
which  pervades  all  space. 

Now,  when  this  radiant  energy  falls  upon  a  sub¬ 
stance,  part  of  it  is  absorbed,  and  in  the  process  of 
absorption  is  converted  into  ordinary  heat.  The  un¬ 
dulatory  motion  which  had  previously  traversed  the 
thin  ether  of  space  has  now  become  linked  with  gross 
palpable  matter,  and  manifests  itself  hi  a  motion 
which  it  produces  hi  the  particles  of  this  matter.  The 
violence  of  this  rotatory  or  vortex-like  motion  will 
thus  form  a  measure  of  the  heat  which  the  matter 
contains. 

Another  species  of  molecular  energy  consists  of 
electricity  in  motion.  When  an  electric  current  is 
moving  along  a  wire,  we  have  therein  the  progress  of 
a  power  moving  like  light  with  enormous  velocity, 
and,  like  light,  silent  in  its  operation.  Silent,  wre 
say,  if  it  meets  with  no  resistance,  but  exceedingly 
formidable  if  it  be  opposed ;  for  the  awe-inspiring 
flash  is  not  so  much  the  electricity  itself  as  the  visible 
punishment  which  it  has  inflicted  on  the  air  for 
daring  to  impede  its  progress.  Had  there  been  a  set 
of  stout  wires  between  the  thunder- cloud  and  the 
earth,  the  fluid  would  have  passed  into  the  ground 
without  disturbance. 

The  molecular  energies  which  we  have  now  de¬ 
scribed  may  be  imagined  to  represent  motion  of  some 
sort  not  perceived  by  the  outward  eye,  but  present 
nevertheless  to  the  eye  of  the  understanding,  they 
may,  therefore,  be  compared  to  the  energy  of  a  body 
in  visible  motion,  or  actual  energy  as  we  have 
termed  it. 

But  we  have  also  molecular  energies  which  are 
more  analogous  to  the  energy  of  position  of  a  stone 
at  the  top  of  a  cliff. 

For  instance,  tvo  bodies  near  one  another  maybe 
endowed  with  a  species  of  energy  of  position  due  to 
opposite  electrical  states,  in  which  case  they  have  a 
tendency  to  rush  together,  just  as  a  stone  at  the  top 


of  a  cliff  has  a  tendency  to  rush  to  the  earth.  If  the 
two  bodies  be  allowed  to  rush  together,  this  energy  of 
position  will  be  converted  into  that  of  visible  motion, 
just  as  when  the  stone  is  allowed  to  drop  from  the 
cliff  its  energy  of  position  is  converted  into  that  of 
visible  motion. 

There  is  finally  a  species  of  molecular  energy 
caused  by  chemical  separation.  When  we  cany  a 
stone  to  the  top  of  a  cliff,  we  violently  separate  two 
bodies  that  attract  one  another,  and  these  two  bodies 
are  the  earth  and  the  stone.  In  like  manner  when  we 
decompose  carbonic  acid  gas  into  its  constituents,  we 
violently  separate  two  bodies  that  attract  one  an¬ 
other,  and  these  are  carbon  and  oxygen.  When, 
therefore,  we  have  obtained  in  a  separate  state  two 
bodies,  the  atoms  of  which  are  prepared  to  rush 
together  and  combine  with  one  another,  we  have  at 
the  same  time  obtained  a  land  of  energy  of  molecular 
position  analogous  on  the  small  scale  to  the  energy 
of  a  stone  resting  upon  the  top  of  a  house  or  on  the 
edge  of  a  cliff  on  the  large  or  cosmical  scale. 

(. To  he  continued.) 


GINSENG. 

BY  JOHN  It.  JACKSON. 

Amongst  the  most  extraordinary  medicinal  plants 
which  have  from  time  to  time  been  celebrated  in  different 
ages  and  countries,  the  Ginseng  of  the  Chinese  is  one  of 
the  most  curious.  This  drug  is  the  dried  root  of  Panax 
Schinseng Nees,  a  small  plant,  frequently  with  a  creep¬ 
ing  underground  stem  or  rhizome.  It  is  a  native  of 
China,  and  so  highly  is  it  esteemed  that  it  forms  a  large 
article  of  internal  commerce  and  realizes  almost  fabu¬ 
lous  prices.  As  much  as  300  taels  of  silver,  which  is 
equal  to  about  £100  of  our  money,  is  about  the  average 
price  of  a  single  tael  (640  grains)  of  the  drug.  Though 
it  has  been  proved  by  our  own  chemists  to  possess  no  me¬ 
dicinal  virtues,  other  than  being  mucilaginous,  aromatic, 
slightly  bitter  and  saccharine,  it  is  nevertheless  esteemed 
as  a  most  invaluable  root  by  the  Chinese,  who  believe  it 
produces  the  most  extraordinary  effects  upon  the  human 
system,  invigorating  and  restoring  the  fatigued  and 
wearied  body  to  a  marvellous  degree,  and  bringing  back 
youth  to  the  aged  and  strength  to  the  weak.  Be  this  as 
it  may,  it  has  held  its  position  with  the  Chinese  for  a 
very  long  time,  and  still  continues  to  be  highly  prized. 
In  the  year  1709  we  read  that  a  body  of  Tartars,  num¬ 
bering  some  10,000,  were  sent  by  the  Emperor  of  China 
in  quest  of  the  root,  with  instructions  to  bring  home  as 
much  as  they  could  find,  two  pounds  of  the  best  of  which 
was  to  be  given  by  each  man  to  the  Emperor,  and  the 
remainder  they  were  to  sell  for  the  same  weight  of  fine 
silver.  The  Chinese  name,  Jinsang  or  Ginseng,  implies 
“Wonder  of  the  World,”  and  the  generic  name  Panax 
is  derived  from  the  Greek  panakes  or  panacea,  a  cure 
for  all  diseases.  Both  words,  therefore,  refer  to  its  sup¬ 
posed  extraordinary  powers.  The  Ginseng  plant  grows 
in  the  mountainous  parts  of  China,  but  the  best  quality, 
or  that  which  is  most  esteemed  by  the  Chinese,  is  ob¬ 
tained  from  the  Corea  ;  Manchuria  also  produces  a  good 
variety.  A  species  of  Panax  named  quinquefolia ,  grow¬ 
ing  in  North  America,  has  roots  similar  to  those  of  the 
true  Chinese  Ginseng,  with  which  plant  indeed  it  is 
often  confused.  These  roots  are,  however,  on  compari¬ 
son,  more  slender  than  those  of  P.  Schinseng.  The  Ame¬ 
ricans  at  one  time  exported  them  to  China  in  large  quan¬ 
tities  as  a  substitute  for  the  Chinese  drug. 

The  Commissioner  of  Customs  of  Newchang  has  sent 
home  some  very  interesting  remarks  on  the  trade  and 
cultivation  of  Ginseng,  which  remarks  will  no  doubt  be 
worth  giving  in  his  own  words  ;  he  says  : — 

“  It  is  difficult  in  discussing  the  trade  of  the  chief  port 


September  10, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


209 


in  Manchuria  to  avoid  noticing  tho  strange  root  in 
which  every  native  in  China,  from  the  Emperor  to  the 
humblest  coolie,  places  such  implicit  faith.  Fine  Man¬ 
churian  Ginseng  is  only  found  in  the  upper  valley  of 
the  Usuri,  where  ruined  towns  and  forts  mark  the  cradle 
of  the  race  which  seven  centuries  ago  ruled  over  China 
from  the  Yellow  River  to  the  Great  Wall,  which  was 
forced  back  by  the  valour  and  genius  of  Genghis,  and 
which  400  years  afterwards  again  swept  into  China  to 
occupy  and  retain  the  Imperial  throne.  But  Ginseng 
loves  moisture  and  the  densest  of  the  forests,  which 
cling  to  the  slopes  of  the  hills ;  it  nestles  in  recesses  to 
which  the  rays  of  the  sun  have  never  penetrated,  and 
which  are  as  pathless  now  as  in  the  days  when  the  Golden 
Tartars  were  dwelling  in  and  cultivating  the  plain. 
The  genuine  Manchurian  Ginseng  consists  of  a  stem 
from  which  the  leaves  spring,  of  a  centre  root,  and  of  two 
roots  brandling  off  at  the  same  point  from  each  side  of 
the  centre  root.  The  stem  somewhat  resembles  the  head 
and  neck,  and  the  side  roots  the  shoulders  and  arms  of  a 
man ;  the  main  root  represents  the  body,  and  a  fork, 
which  the  main  root  frequently  forms,  the  legs. 

“  The  Chinese,  with  a  not  ungraceful  feeling,  believe 
that  a  plant  which  thus  expands  into  the  human  form 
amid  thickets  and  jungle  on  wdiich  the  foot  of  man  has 
never  trod,  must  be  intended  to  alleviate  the  sufferings 
of  the  human  race.  Its  precious  qualities  are  increased 
and  intensified  by  age,  and  a  plant  is  of  no  great  value 
until  it  has  been  growing  and  gathering  strength  for  at 
least  an  ordinary  lifetime.  Tho  age,  and  consequently 
the  value  of  a  plant,  are  ascertained  by  a  careful  exami¬ 
nation  of  the  upper  portions  of  the  centre  and  side  roots. 
These  portions  should  be  covered  with  rings,  and  the 
thicker  and  more  numerous  the  rings  the  greater  the 
age.  The  value  of  Ginseng  in  no  way  depends  upon  its 
length,  thickness,  or  colour.  I  myself  have  seen  here  a 
delicate  root  weighing  but  6  mace,  which  cost  50  taels. 
The  upper  portions  of  the  root  also  possess  the  greatest 
healing  power ;  the  stem,  which  appears  above  ground, 
on  the  other  hand,  ought  not  to  be  eaten.  It  is  supposed 
to  be  baneful  rather  than  beneficial. 

“  Informer  years,  the  collection  of  Ginseng  was  in  the 
hands  of  some  forty  merchants,  who,  on  payment  of  a 
heavy  fee,  obtained  the  necessary  authority  from  the 
Tartar  General  of  Kirin.  In  addition  to  the  fee,  each 
merchant  was  bound  to  hand  over  to  Government  a 
certain  weight  of  the  object  of  his  search.  The  search  is 
continued  from  the  end  of  April  to  the  end  of  September. 
In  it  the  merchants  employed  the  outlaws  whom  the 
fear  of  punishment  had  driven  to  take  refuge  in  these 
wilds,  and  who  were  compelled  by  their  position  to  be 
faithful  servants.  These  men  underwent  great  hard¬ 
ships  and  incurred  great  dangers.  Forced  to  wander 
far  from  the  little  patches  of  millet  they  had  raised  for 
their  support,  they  were  even  menaced  by  starvation, 
and  by  the  wolf,  the"  tiger  and  the  leopard ;  and  not  un- 
frequently  the  hardships  were  endured  and  the  dangers 
were  incurred  in  vain. 

“  In  the  time  of  Tankouang,  Ginseng  was  becoming 
yearly  more  scarce  and  plants  of  any  great  age  were 
rarely  found.  Finally,  in  order  to  arrest  their  utter  ex¬ 
tinction,  the  collection  of  the  wild  root  was  prohibited 
by  Imperial  edict.  Steps  were  taken  in  Kirin  to  carry 
this  order  into  effect,  and  measures  were  adopted  to  pre¬ 
vent  the  admission  of  the  interdicted  plant  into  China. 
Nevertheless,  a  very  small  quantity  is  still  clandestinely 
collected — to  a  considerable  extent,  however,  in  Russian 
territory.  The  cultivation  of  Ginseng,  though  allowed, 
is  not  encouraged;  it  is,  in  fact,  hardly  recognized  as 
Ginseng,  as  the  tariffs  of  tho  various  native  custom¬ 
houses  class  it  under  the  general  heading  of  medicine. 
This  course  is  not  altogether  unreasonable.  The  side 
branches  of  the  cultivated  plant  are  frequently  broken 
off,  and  its  premature  growth  and  the  means  made  use  of 
to  expedite  its  development  often  efface  the  resemblance 
from  which  it  derives  its  name. 


“With  a  view  to  produce  a  false  appearance  of  age, 
hair  is  tied  tightly  round  the  upper  portions  of  the  root, 
but  a  practised  eye  can  easily  detect  the  deception. 
Ginseng  is  cultivated  in  Manchuria  and  in  the  Corea. 
The  average  Corean-cultivated  Ginseng  is  superior  to 
the  average  Manchurian ;  84  piculs  27  catties  of  Man¬ 
churian  Ginseng  were  exported  in  foreign  vessels  during 
the  past  year  :  the  value  was  not  two  taels  a  catty.” — * 
The  Gardeners'  Chronicle. 


NITRITE  OF  AMYL.* * § 

Nitrite  of  amyl,  C10HnONO3,  was  first  discovered  by 
M.  Balard.  It  is  an  amber-coloured  liquid,  smelling 
and  tasting  like  the  essence  of  ripe  pears.  It  was  more 
fully  investigated  in  1859  by  F.  Guthrie,  who  specially 
noticed  that  it  possessed  the  property  of  causing  flushing 
of  the  face,  throbbing  of  the  carotids,  and  acceleration  of 
the  heart’s  action.  He  suggested  that  it  might  be  found 
of  value  as  a  resuscitative  in  drowning,  suffocation  and 
prolonged  fainting,  f  The  substance  attracted  very  little 
attention,  however,  till  it  was  taken  up  by  Dr.  B.  W. 
Richardson  at  the  meeting  of  the  British  Association  for 
the  Advancement  of  Science,  held  at  Newcastle  in  the 
year  1863;  he  read  a  report  on  “The  Physiological 
Properties  of  the  Nitrite  of  Amyl,”  and  showed  that 
when  inhaled  it  produced  an  immediate  effect  on  the 
heart,  increasing  the  action  of  that  organ  more  power¬ 
fully  than  any  other  known  agent.  If  a  little  of  the 
nitrite  was  dropped  on  bibulous  paper,  and  its  vapour 
inhaled  through  the  nostrils,  the  action  of  the  heart  was 
instantly  excited,  the  cutaneous  surface  became  red,  and 
the  face  was  deeply  flushed,  assuming  a  bright  crimson 
colour.  Carried  further,  the  nitrite  excited  the  breathing 
and  produced  a  breathlessness  like  that  caused  by  sharp 
running  or  rowing.  It  did  not  cause  anaesthesia.  It 
could  then,  Dr.  Richardson  said,  be  considered  (like 
chloroform  twenty  years  previously)  as  a  physiological 
curiosity,  and  looking  at  its  intensity  of  action,  he  could 
not,  at  that  time,  recommend  its  use  in  medicine. 

In  1864  the  result  of  further  researches  was  reported 
by  Dr.  Richardson  to  the  British  Association,  at  Bath. 
After  an  elaborate  series  of  experiments  he  had  found 
that  nitrite  of  amyl  is  absorbed  by  the  body,  whether  in¬ 
troduced  by  the  skin,  the  stomach,  the  lungs,  or  by  ino¬ 
culation  ;  that  after  absorption  its  effects  are  immediately 
seen  on  the  heart  and  circulation ;  and  that  it  might  be 
considered  the  most  powerful  excitant  of  vascular  action 
yet  discovered.  §  In  1867,  ||  and  again  in  1870,**  Dr.  Lauder 
Brunton  advocated  its  use  in  cases  of  angina  pectoris. 
In  the  discussion  which  followed  the  reading  of  the  se¬ 
cond  communication  before  the  Clinical  Society  of  Lon¬ 
don,  Dr.  Anstie  reported  a  case  where  a  gentleman,  who 
had  suffered  severely  for  twenty  years  from  spasmodic 
asthma,  and  for  four  or  five  years  from  attacks  of  angina 
pectoris,  a  few  seconds  after  one  long  inspiration  through 
one  nostril  from  a  half-ounce  bottle  of  the  drug,  “  passed 
from  a  state  of  agony  into  a  state  of  calm  repose.”  It 
has  also  been  used  successfully  hi  cardiac  disease  brought 
on  by  acute  rheumatism,  paroxysmal  attacks  of  colic  and 
traumatic  tetanus.  These  cases  show  that  in  nitrite  of 
amyl  we  have  an  agent  of  remarkable  power  and  rapidity 
of  action  against  some  forms  of  severe  suffering  and  pain. 
At  present  we  know  little  of  its  powers  for  good  or  the 
limits  to  its  employment ;  but  enough  is  known  to  justify 
and  encourage  further  research  into  its  properties. 


*  Abstract  from  a  series  of  papers  on  the  “Progress  of 
Therapeutical  Science”  in  the  Medical  Times  and  Gazette. 

f  Journal  of  the  Chemical  Society,  vol.  xi.  p.  245. 

j  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,  vol.  ii.  p.  334,  1863. 

§  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,  vol.  ii.  p.  335,  1864. 

|  Lancet,  vol.  i.  p.  97,  1867. 

**  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,  vol.  i.  p.  320,  1870. 


210 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  10, 1 87a, 


WATER  SUPPLY. 

Professor  Frankland,  in  his  report  on  the  quality  of 
the  metropolitan  water  supply  during  the  month  of  Au¬ 
gust,  states  that  all  the  samples  taken  were  clear  and 
transparent  when  drawn  from  the  mains  of  the  compa¬ 
nies,  except  that  supplied  by  the  East  London  Company, 
which  contained  suspended  particles  among  which  living 
organisms  were  foimd.  The  water  abstracted  by  the 
Chelsea  and  Lambeth  Companies  from  the  Thames  below 
its  junction  with  the  Mole  exhibited  nearly  twice  as 
much  previous  sewage  or  animal  contamination  as  that 
abstracted  by  the  other  companies  above  the  junction. 

The  water  supply  of  Birmingham  appears  to  be  in  much 
need  of  the  improvement  for  which  powers  were  obtained 
in  the  last  Session  of  Parliament.  The  analysis  by  Dr. 
Alfred  Hill  of  the  supply  to  the  borough  on  the  3rd  inst. 
shows  that  it  was  “  highly  charged  with  nitrogenous  or¬ 
ganic  matter,”  and  that  it  was  also  “  turbid  and  bright 
green  with  minute  vegetation.”  Dr.  Frankland  urges 
that  until  the  new  supply  is  provided  every  exertion 
should  be  used  to  render  the  quality  of  the  present  sup¬ 
ply  less  objectionable,  by  sand  filtration  for  the  removal 
of  suspended  impurities.  The  proportion  of  chlorine  in 
the  Birmingham  water  has  increased  from  1*41  part  in 
100,000  on  the  10th  of  May  to  744  parts  in  100,000  on 
the  3rd  inst. — Registrar-General' s  Report. 


THE  AMMONIA  CURE  FOR  SNAKE-BITE. 

Professor  Halford,  of  the  University  of  Melbourne,  in 
a  paper  read  before  the  Medical  Society  of  Victoria,  has 
reviewed  at  length  the  history  of  twenty  cases  of  snake¬ 
bite  treated  by  his  method  of  injecting  liquor  ammoniac 
into  the  veins  during  the  last  eighteen  months.  The 
British  Medical  Journal  says  that  these  cases  were  all 
in  the  hands  of  different  practitioners  in  the  colony, 
who  have  each  reported  on  them.  Recovery  followed  in 
seventeen  cases.  In  thirteen  of  these,  the  practitioners 
in  attendance  expressly  report  that  the  patients  were  in 
a  dying  condition,  and,  in  their  belief,  would  soon  have 
died,  but  for  the  employment  of  this  remedy  in  the  man¬ 
ner  prescribed.  The  method  employed  was  that  intro¬ 
duced  by  Dr.  Halford,  and  first  brought  to  the  know¬ 
ledge  of  the  profession  here  by  him,  in  its  pages,  through 
Mr.  Paget ;  viz.,  by  injecting  dilute  ammonia — say,  at 
the  least,  thirty  minims  of  the  liquor  ammoniac  B.  P., 
specific  gravity  959 — into  a  superficial  vein;  the  vein 
being  first  exposed,  and  its  coats  pierced  with  the  nozzle 
of  a  hypodermic  syringe.  Dr.  Dempster,  Dr.  Rae,  Dr. 
Langford,  Mr.  Dallimore  and  Dr.  Meyler,  each  in  his 
own  words,  and  from  the  observation  of  separate  cases, 
describe  the  curative  effect  as  being  immediate,  and  the 
recovery  from  collapse  to  be  so  rapid  and  startling  as  to 
be  “  almost  magical.”  This  method  of  treatment,  of 
which  such  remarkable  effects  are  detailed,  has  been 
sharply  criticized ;  but  Professor  Halford  successfully 
vindicates  the  claim  of  the  snakes  to  be  considered  highly 
venomous — almost  as  much  so,  he  intimates,  as  some  of 
his  London  critics.  They  included  the  tiger-snake,  the 
brown  and  black  snake  of  Australia,  which  are  affirmed 
to  be  as  deadly  as  the  cobra  and  rattle-snakes  of  India. 
Strong  testimony  to  the  efficacy  of  the  treatment  in 
saving  life  was  borne  by  Australian  practitioners  who 
took  part  in  the  discussion,  and  vindicated  Professor 
Halford’s  claim  to  be  considered  as  the  discoverer  of  a 
means  of  rescuing  many  from  an  otherwise  inevitable 
death. 

The  Medical  Times  and  Gazette ,  speaking  of  an  article 
which  has  appeared  in  the  Melbourne  Argus  on  Professor 
Halford’s  claims  in  respect  to  his  treatment  of  snake-bite, 
and  referring  to  the  misstatements  on  this  subject  in  an¬ 
other  medical  journal,  says,  “It  is  almost  impossible  to 
understand  how  those  statements  could  have  been  made 
and  persevered  in  so  ungenerously  and  unjustly.” 


The  Victims  of  Scarlet  Fever. — It  is  to  be  hoped 
that  the  plain  manner  in  which  the  British  Medical 
Journal  has  put  before  the  public  the  price  we  pay  for 
legislative  inaction  in  sanitary  matters  will  lead  to  such 
strong  pressure  upon  the  Homo  Secretary  before  next 
session  that  he  will  be  compelled  to  lift  a  finger  for  the 
preservation  of  our  lives.  Four  hundred  and  seventy 
thousand  persons  have  died  of  scarlet  fever  and  its  allied 
disease,  diphtheria,  in  the  last  twenty-two  and  a  half 
years.  Had  these  victims  of  one  type  of  zymotic  disease 
been  soldiers  whose  lives  had  been  sacrificed  on  the 
battle-field  to  inefficiency  at  the  War  Office,  the  whole 
nation  would  quiver  with  indignation ;  yet  there  can  be 
little  doubt  that  by  far  the  larger  proportion  of  those 
who  have  died  of  scarlet  fever  might  have  been  alive 
now  but  for  the  utter  inefficiency  of  our  complicated 
sanitary  laws  and  the  neglect  of  domestic  legislation 
which  it  is  the  business  of  the  Home  Office  to  initiate. 
One  simple  measure  alone  which  we  have  before  pointed 
out  would  probably  have  saved  half  if  not  three-fourths 
of  the  lives  thus  wasted.  Disinfecting  establishments  in 
each  district  are  the  first  steps  necessary  to  put  a  stop  to 
this  horrible  mortality.  Under  present  arrangements 
bedding  and  clothing  are  allowed  to  spread  infection  far 
and  wide.  Among  the  poor,  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  na 
steps  are  taken  to  disinfect  these  articles,  and  among  the 
wealthier  classes  the  very  steps  taken  to  purify  the  bed¬ 
ding  of  scarlet-fever  patients  only  serve  to  disseminate' 
the  infection  more  widely,  for  the  upholsterer  who  takes 
away  the  mattresses  mixes  them  with  other  goods  of  tho 
same  kind,  and  for  every  family  whose  furniture  is  thus 
purified  probably  another  family  is  attacked.  Then, 
again,  those  who  are  able  to  afford  it  have  the  walls  of 
the  room  in  which  the  patient  has  been  lying  stripped 
of  their  paper,  but  no  care  is  taken  to  see  that  the  paper 
itself  is  destroyed.  Until  we  have  disinfecting  establish¬ 
ments,  with  proper  officers  attached  to  them  to  see  to 
these  matters,  fever  will  continue  to  spread  and  carry  off 
its  thousands ;  and  until  we  have  a  Home  Secretary  who 
will  make  it  compulsory  on  local  authorities  to  take 
such  measures  as  are  dictated  by  common  sense  and  ex¬ 
perience  for  preventing  the  spread  of  infection  and 
enforcing  better  house  arrangements  with  the  view  of 
reducing  the  chances  "of  disease,  we  shall  still  continue  to 
die  of  scarlet  fever  at  the  rate  of  not  less  than  40,000  a 
year,  that  being  the  estimated  number  of  deaths  for 
last  year,  a  rate  which  is  annually  increasing  at  com¬ 
pound  interest. — Rail  Mall  Gazette. 

The  Defence  of  Paris. — The  Journal  OJficiel  pub¬ 
lishes  the  following  note: — “The  Minister  of  Public 
Instruction  has  appointed  a  committee  of  savants ,  who  are 
to  concert  with  the  military  authorities  means  for  apply¬ 
ing  to  the  defence  of  Paris  all  the  latest  results  of  phy¬ 
sical  and  chemical  science.  M.  Berthelot,  Professor  of 
Organic  Chemistry  at  the  College  de  France,  is  President 
of  the  Committee.  Two  Deputies,  MM.  Dorian  and 
Genelot,  represent  the  Corps  Legislatif.  The  first  meet¬ 
ing  of  the  committee  was  fixed  for  Saturday,  September  3, 
at  tho  Ministry  of  Public  Instruction.  Persons  who 
may  have  communications  to  make  or  plans  to  suggest 
are  requested  to  apply  to  M.  Berthelot.  Another  com¬ 
mittee,  specially  charged  with  the  medical  questions  re¬ 
lating  to  the  defence  of  Paris,  is  being  organized  under 
the  presidency  of  M.  See,  Professor  of  the  Faculty  of 
Medicine.”  The  Opinione  Nationale  comments  upon  the 
foregoing  notice: — “We  entirely  approve  the  arrange¬ 
ment  thus  proposed.  Since  scientific  barbarism  is  being 
hurled  against  us,  it  is  the  task  of  civilized  science  to 
defend  us.” — Times. 

Thebolactic  Acid. — Buchanan  has  obtained  from 
opium  an  acid  possessing  the  composition  of  lactic  acid. 
According  to  his  results,  it  appears  to  be  identical  with 
ordinary  lactic  acid.  It  does  not  affect  polarized  light, 
and  in  this  respect  differs  from  the  acid  discovered  by 
Wislicenus. — German  Chemical  Society. 


September  10, 1S70.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


211 


%\t  |l(j;tnn;tmittc;t(  Journal. 

- ♦ - - 

SATURDAY,  SEPTEMBER  10,  1870. 


STATE  AID  FOR  PHARMACEUTICAL  EDUCATION. 

Though  the  existence  of  social  distinctions  in  En¬ 
glish  society  is  a  fact  wliich  must  be  recognized,  we 
consider  it  by  no  means  desirable  that  the  lines 
which  separate  classes  should  be  further  deepened, 
still  less  that  they  should  receive  any  extra  impress 
or  sanction  through  the  operation  of  the  law  wliicli 
notoriously  professes  to  regard  all  classes  and  indi¬ 
viduals  as  equal. 

Schemes  for  the  benefit  of  a  particular  class  or 
section  of  the  community  may,  indeed,  have  their 
peculiar  recommendations,  and  custom  would  seem 
to  indicate  that  sometimes  tliey^have;  but  we  are 
disposed  to  think  that  the  limited  operation  prin¬ 
ciple,  as  it  may  be  termed,  ought  to  be  confined  to 
measures  that  are  of  private  and  voluntary  nature. 
No  more  logical  objection,  perhaps,  could  be  urged 
against  one  section  of  the  State  associating  in  some 
good  work  for  the  benefit  of  another  section  than 
could  be  brought  against  any  average  form  of  private 
charity;  but  we  hold  that  when  the  whole  State, 
through  its  Executive  or  Government,  moves  to 
some  work  of  amelioration  or  progress,  the  entire 
community  should  be  regarded  as  eligible  to  partici¬ 
pate  in  the  benefit  thereby  conferred. 

We  are  quite  aware  that  practical  legislation  can¬ 
not  always  be  carried  out  exactly  in  accordance  with 
theoretical  conviction ;  law-making  is  often  of  neces¬ 
sity  tentative.  There  is,  therefore,  all  the  more 
reason  for  gratulation  when  changes  are  made  that 
bring  practice  and  abstract  right  closer  together. 
We  think  this  has  recently  been  the  case  hi  regard 
to  a  matter  affecting  the  interests  of  pharmacy, 
though  perhaps  the  case  we  refer  to  can  scarcely  be 
called  so  correctly  a  change  as  the  authoritative 
interpretation  of  a  somewhat  ambiguous  statement. 

We  published  in  our  impression  of  August  20,  a 
correspondence  between  Mr.  G.  F.  Schacht,  the  Hon. 
Sec.  of  the  Bristol  Pharmaceutical  Association,  and 
the  Science  and  Art  Department  of  the  Government, 
and  we  now  desire  to  call  especial  attention  to  that 
correspondence  as  containing  a  decision  of  great  im¬ 
portance  in  more  ways  than  one. 

It  is  well  known  that  amongst  various  methods 
adopted  for  the  general  diffusion  of  scientific  know¬ 
ledge,  the  Government  has  fostered  the  formation  of 
science  classes  throughout  the  kingdom  by  a  plan 
which,  so  far  as  it  has  been  carried,  yields  most  pro¬ 
mising  results.  Briefly  described,  this  plan  consists 
in  giving  money  payments  to  teachers  in  proportion 
as  they  succeed  in  passing  their  pupils  through  the 
ordeal  of  a  certain  annual  examination,  conducted 


by  appointed  professors.  The  teachers  are  thus 
enabled  to  demand  from  their  pupils  much  smaller 
fees  than  would  otherwise  be  necessary. 

The  published  regulations,  however,  appeared  to 
indicate  that  these  money  payments  were  only  to  be 
allowed  when  the  student  belonged  to  the  operative 
class.  The  mischief  likely  to  be  produced  by  such  a 
limitation  (did  it  really  exist)  is  obvious ;  for  in 
many  localities  the  classes  conducted  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Science  and  Art  Department  are  the 
only  opportunities  existing  in  the  whole  neighbour¬ 
hood  for  systematic  study  of  science. 

Considering  how  many  persons  above  the  operative 
class  are  in  need  of  scientific  education,  but  unable 
to  obtain  it  except  by  some  such  means  as  that 
afforded  by  the  Department  of  Science  and  Art,  we 
are  at  a  loss  to  perceive  on  what  ground  they  should 
be  excluded  from  participating  in  its  advantages, 
while  these  are  freely  offered  to  persons  of  inferior 
social  position. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  reported  proceedings  of 
the  Bristol  Pharmaceutical  Association  in  last  week’s 
number,  that  Mr.  Schacht  and  his  friends  at  Bristol, 
putting  a  broader  interpretation  upon  the  intention 
of  the  Science  and  Art  Department,  have  made  free 
use  of  the  science  classes  of  their  neighbourhood  for 
the  benefit  of  their  students  in  pharmacy,  reviving, 
indeed,  the  Botanical  Class,  and  calculating  upon 
receiving  the  aid  of  the  Department  hi  then’  endea¬ 
vour  to  give  scientific  education  to  their  apprentices 
and  assistants.  The  decision  contained  in  the  corre¬ 
spondence  already  referred  to  fully  justifies  the  course 
they  had  taken. 

We  would  fain  hope  that  this  decision  is  a  step 
to’wards  such  a  perfect  identification  of  practice  with 
principle  as  we  think  desirable,  so  that  these  classes 
might  become  great  centres  of  scientific  education 
for  students  of  every  station  and  degree — so  many 
colleges,  indeed,  of  a  grand  national  university. 

Something  of  the  kind  may  possibly  be  developed 
in  the  future ;  in  the  meantime  there  is  no  longer  room 
for  doubt  that  these  classes  are  open,  with  all  their 
systematic  and  economic  recommendations,  to  the 
Pharmacists  of  this  kingdom. 

We  are  enabled  to  state  that  on  the  recommenda¬ 
tion  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the 
subject  of  provincial  education,  the  Coimcil  has 
ordered  an  abstract  of  the  returns  lately  sent  in  by 
the  several  provincial  associations  to  be  published. 
The  Council  has  also  invited  the  British  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Conference  to  bring  forward  the  subject  for 
discussion  at  its  meeting  next  week.  This  will 
afford  an  opportunity  for  interchange  of  opinion 
amongst  those  best  acquainted  with  the  require¬ 
ments  of  the  case.  Considering  the  vast  importance 
of  the  subject,  nothing  could  be  more  calculated  to 
emphasize  the  hope  we  expressed  last  week  as  to 
the  Society  being  represented  at  the  Conference  by 
its  President  and  Council. 


212 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  10,  1870. 


THE  BETTS  SUITS  AGAIN. 

Mr.  Betts  appears  to  share  with  the  British 
soldier  his  proverbial  characteristic  of  not  being 
able  to  perceive  when  he  is  beaten ;  for,  as  will  be 
seen  from  a  letter  in  our  correspondence  columns, 
that  persevering  litigant  is  again  returning  to  the 
charge,  and  notwithstanding  the  decision  of  the 
late  Vice-Chancellor  James,  reported  in  this  Jour¬ 
nal  some  weeks  ago,  he  is  about  to  resume  Iris  cru¬ 
sade.  We  understand  that  Mr.  Betts  will  not 
accept  the  adverse  and  condemnatory  judgment  of 
the  Vice-Chancellor,  but  that  he  will  appeal  to 
the  Lord  Chancellor,  and  perhaps  to  the  House  of 
Lords.  If  he  should  not  succeed  in  either  quarter, 
it  is  difficult  to  conceive  what  further  steps  Mr. 
Betts  may  not  take,  but  doubtless  his  inventive 
capacity  would  even  then  be  equal  to  the  occasion. 
If,  however,  he  should  succeed  in  obtaining  a  judg¬ 
ment  in  liis  favour,  he  will  have  obtained  a  means  of 
levying  patent  royalty,  which,  if  not  quite  novel, 
would  be  at  least  out  of  date,  and  sufficiently  unu¬ 
sual  in  modern  times  to  afford  an  interesting  case 
for  those  who  concern  themselves  with  the  working 
of  the  patent  system. 

Howrever,  the  general  facts  of  the  case  are  too  well 
known  to  need  further  mention,  and  beyond  comply¬ 
ing  with  the  request  of  our  correspondent  to  publish 
his  letter,  it  is  not  our  intention  to  deal  with  the  sub¬ 
ject.  We  must  nevertheless  take  this  opportunity 
of  correcting  a  misapprehension  that  might  arise 
from,  and  be  suggested  by,  certain  remarks  of  Mr. 
Betts  at  the  late  trial  as  to  the  position  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society  in  regard  to  this  litigation.  It  is 
not  in  any  wray  a  case  between  Mr.  Betts  and  the 
Society,  nor  has  it  ever  been;  indeed,  the  Society 
has  nothing  to  do  with  the  matter.  Many  of  its 
members,  no  doubt,  are  among  the  vast  number  of 
those  who  were  either  attacked  or  threatened  by  Mr. 
Betts,  and  for  that  reason  only  the  Society,  as  a  body, 
sympathizes  with  the  defence  offered  to  his  attack, 
not  only  by  members  of  the  Society  and  druggists 
generally,  but  also  by  the  great  mass  of  grocers,  oil¬ 
men,  wine  merchants,  or  any  other  traders  who  sell 
bottles  covered  with  capsules. 


The  Central  Working  Committee  of  the  Associa¬ 
tion  for  Giving  Relief  to  the  Sick  and  Wounded  in 
the  present  war,  has  really  determined  to  send  out 
six  surgeons  “whose  expenses  will  be  paid,  though 
their  services,  in  other  respects,  will  be  gratuitous,” 
and  a  Correspondent  of  the  Medical  Times  and  Ga¬ 
zette  commenting  on  the  fact,  remarks  that,  in  other 
words,  a  committee  representing  the  charitable  por¬ 
tion  of  the  wealthiest  community  in  the  world,  pro¬ 
poses  to  exercise  their  charitable  feelings  at  the  ex¬ 
pense  of  the  six  young  men  in  question,  whose  toil 
and  risk  will  go  unrewarded.  From  inquiries  we 
have  made  we  are  enabled  to  state  that  this  is  not 


a  correct  view  of  the  case,  The  Committee  has  not 
contemplated  engaging  surgeons  or  paying  for  ser¬ 
vices  rendered  by  professional  men,  its  action  being 
limited  to  accrediting  competent  volunteers  wrho  may 
be  disposed  to  give  their  services  gratuitously.  There 
are  many  reasons  to  induce  surgeons  especially  to 
embrace  this  opportunity  of  doing  good  service  in  the 
cause  of  humanity,  and  there  does  not  appear  to  be 
any  just  ground  for  complaining  of  the  course  taken 
by  the  Committee. 

But,  though  this  is  a  case  entirely  exceptional, 
we  may  in  a  general  way  take  the  opportunity  of 
expressing  our  opinion  that  the  practice  of  render¬ 
ing  “honorary  services”  in  professional  matters 
is,  as  a  rule,  both  vicious  and  sophistical.  It  too 
often  happens  that  those  who  render  “  honorary  ser¬ 
vices,”  and  affect  to  be  superior  to  the  rule  that  the 
labourer  is  worthy  of  his  hire,  do  so  in  reality  with 
the  object  of  some  ulterior  advantage  to  themselves. 
In  such  cases  “honorary  service”  is  but  a  sham  and 
a  device,  by  which  those  who  happen  to  have  means 
to  admit  of  their  practising  it,  may  gain  an  unfair 
advantage  over  others  who  are  less  fortunately  cir¬ 
cumstanced  in  that  respect.  As  a  case  in  point  we 
may  refer  to  the  late  proceedings  of  the  British  As¬ 
sociation  Sewage  Committee,  which,  after  collecting 
a  large  sum  of  money  to  enable  its  members  to  con¬ 
duct  an  important  public  inquiry,  has  become  im¬ 
pressed  with  the  idea  that  the  services  of  its  mem¬ 
bers  must  be  “  honorary,” — the  result  being  that  the 
members  of  the  Committee  finding  themselves  re¬ 
duced  to  the  alternative  of  working  at  their  own  cost 
or  not  at  all,  most  of  those  who  previously  took  an 
active  part  in  the  work  to  be  done,  have  been  de¬ 
barred  from  continuing  their  labours.  It  yet  remains 
to  be  seen  what,  under  these  circumstances,  is  to  be 
done  with  the  money  collected  from  various  towns 
throughout  the  country,  and  what  may  have  been  the 
object  of  collecting  that  money,  if  the  functions  of 
the  Committee  were  to  be  “honorary!” 


There  seems  to  be  still  some  unpleasant  feeling 
lingering  in  Edinburgh,  consequent  upon  the  selec¬ 
tion  last  year  by  the  British  Association  of  Liverpool 
in  preference  to  that  city  as  the  place  of  meeting  for 
1870.  This  has  been  shown  lately  by  a  letter  which 
has  appeared  in  the  Glasgow  Daily  Herald  relative 
to  the  announcement  in  a  contemporary  of  the  pro¬ 
bable  selection  of  Sir  William  Thompson  as  the  next 
president.  That  journal,  alluding  to  the  saying  at¬ 
tributed  to  Sir  R.  Murchison,  that  no  person  lower 
in  the  scale  than  a  “  live  duke”  would  be  sufficient 
to  bring  together  a  large  meeting  of  the  British  As¬ 
sociation  in  Scotland,  remarks,  “  Sir  Roderick  may 
probably  remember  how  far  his  prescription  was  suc¬ 
cessful  when  it  was  tried ;  and  if  he  will  help  us  to 
have  the  meeting  in  Glasgow,  -with  Sir  William 
Thompson  in  the  chair,  we  will  try  to  show  him  the 
reverse  of  the  medal.” 


September  10, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


213 


CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’  FUND  FOR  THE 
SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Tlie  following  contributions'  have  been  received 


since  last  week  : — 

£.  s.  d. 

John  Attfield,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square  . T  1  1  0 

John  Beddard,  46,  Churton  Street,  S.W . ]  1  0  0 

C.  F.  Bevan,  Harwich  . *  0  5  0 

Thomas  Burn,  Ranelagh  Terrace,  Pimlico  , .  0  5  0 

John  Carr,  171,  High  Holborn  .  1  1  0 

Thomas  Crowther,  Tickhill  . .  1  3  2 

Thomas  Elvey,  8,  Halkin  Street,  SAY .  1  0  0 

Messrs.  Fincham,  57,  Baker  Street,  W .  1  1  0 

R.  H.  Forster,  Dover .  0  2  6 

W.  Fox  and  Son,  109,  Bethnal  Green  Road  . .  2  2  0 

G.  C.,  London .  1  0  0 

John  Lasham,  Romford . . .  0  10  0 

John  W.  Lasham,  ditto . . .  0  5  0 

Henry  Lawrence,  Godaiming  . .  0  10  0 

W.  B.  Randall,  Southampton . .  1  1  0 

Thomas  Robson,  Brighton  .  0  10  0 

W.  H.  Smith,  Brighton  .  0  5  0 

W.  C.  F.  Sparrow,  Ranelagh  Terrace,  Pimlico  110 
R.  Turner,  5,  Chippenham  Ter.,  Harrow  Rd.  0  9  0 

C.  P.  Usk . . .  0  10  0 


Per  A.  Barnett,  Buxton  : —  £.  s.  d. 

•Alexander  Barnett  . .  1  1  0 

Mr.  Hutchinson  .  2  2  0 

Per  S.  Manthorp,  Local  Secretary, 

Colchester : — 

Mr.  Chaplin .  0  10  0 

„  Clarance .  0  10  0 

„  Cole.. .  0  10  0 

„  Cushion .  0  5  0 

„  Hammerton  .  0  10  0 

„  Manthorp  .  0  10  0 

„  Roger  Manthorp  .  0  5  0 

„  Fred.  Manthorp  .  0  5  0 

,,  G.  S.  Manthorp .  0  5  0 

„  Shenstone  .  0  10  0 

„  Prosser  .  0  10  0 


£4  10 


Per  J.  'Whitfield,  Local  Sec.,  Scar¬ 
borough  : — 


A.  D . 

....  0 

1 

0 

H.  Bland  . 

.  0 

10 

0 

J.  M.  Crosby  and  Co . 

. .  . .  0 

10 

0 

S.  Eccles  . 

_  0 

10 

0 

J.  Hill  . 

....  0 

2 

6 

J.  P.  Kington  . 

_  0 

2 

6 

F.  Oldfield . 

.  0 

10 

0 

Geo.  Porrett . 

.  0 

10 

0 

Mark  Rainton  . 

.. . .  0 

5 

0 

W.  Robinson . 

....  0 

5 

0 

W.  Robson  . 

.  0 

10 

0 

J.  C.  Sewell  . 

.  0 

5 

0 

J.  "Whitfield,  2nd  don . 

....  o 

10 

0 

£4  11 


Per  W.  Wilkinson,  Local  Secretary, 
Manchester : — 

Jas.  Beard . 

J.  B . ; . 

.  J.  C . 

J.  J.  Pyne  . 

Sidney  Taylor  . 


0  10  6 
0  1  0 
0  2  6 
2  2  0 
0  5  0 


1 


0 


0 


0 


Ilearon,  Squire  and  Francis,  5,  Coleman  Street : — 
4  oz.  chloral  hydrat. 

4  oz.  bottles  tinct.  opii. 

1  lb.  chloroform. 

1  oz.  quinine. 

4  8  oz.  bottles  of  sal  volatile. 

1  doz.  assorted  bandages. 


Bradley  and  Bourdas,  48,  Belgrave  Road,  S.W. : — 

3  lbs.  chloroform  in  4  lb.  bottles. 

3  lbs.  laudanum  in  4  oz.  bottles. 

4  lbs.  sal  volatile  in  ditto. 

5_lbs.  syrup  chloral  hydrate  in  ditto. 

12  gross  4  grain  morphia  pills  in  bottles  containing 
4  dozen  each. 

6  gross  1  grain  opium  pills  in  ditto. 

4  gross  2  grain  quinine  pills  in  ditto. 

1  dozen  large  honeycomb  sponges. 

1  dozen  carbolic  acid  and  Condy’s  fluid. 

6  yards  adhesive  plaster. 

6  ib.  lint. 

Robert  Hampson,  63,  Piccadilly,  Manchester : — 

12  gross  1  grain  opium  pills  in  bottles  containing 
4  doz.  each. 

12  gross  4  grain  morphia  pills  in  ditto. 

6  gross  2  grain  quinine  pills  in  ditto. 

4  2  oz.  bottles  of  chloral  hydrate. 

Harvey  and  Reynolds,  Leeds  (2nd  donation) : — 

A  quantity  of  waterproof  material,  and  a  small 
quantity  of  lint. 

J.  E.  Lidwell,  High  Street,  Notting  Hill: — 

10  yards  bandages. 

2  lbs.  lint. 

Quantity  of  linen. 

John  Mills,  Eastgate  Row,  Chester  : — 

24  doz.  1  grain  opium  pills. 

24  doz.  £  gr.  morphia  pills. 

24  doz.  2  gr.  quinine  pills. 

W.  Smeeton,  Commercial  Street,  Leeds  : — 

3  doz.  bottles,  each  containing  4  doz.  1  grain 
opium  pills. 

6  bottles,  each  containing  4  doz.  2  grain  quinine 
pills. 

2  doz.  2  oz.  bottles  of  laudanum. 

2  doz.  2  oz.  bottles  of  sal  volatile. 

And  a  quantity  of  lint. 

R.  Turner,  5,  Chippenham  Terrace,  Harrow  Road  : — 

6  boxes  1  grain  opium  pills,  4  dozen  in  each  box. 

Subscriptions  should  be  sent  to  Mr.  Bremridge,  Trea¬ 
surer  to  the  Fund,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 


f  romimtjjs  nrf  Jfritntifft 


BRITISH  PHARMACEUTICAL  CONFERENCE. 

PROGRAMME  OF  PROCEEDINGS. 

Liverpool ,  Royal  Institution ,  Colquitt  Street, 
September  12  to  20,  1870. 

A  Reception  Room,  where  members  and  visitors  may 
assemble,  write  letters,  and  obtain  information,  has  been 
provided  by  the  Local  Committee,  at  16,  Adelphi  Hotel, 
Lime  Street. 

The  Exhibition  of  Objects  relating  to  Pharmacy  will 
be  open  throughout  the  week  in  the  room  over  the 
Savings  Bank,  93,  Bold  Street.  Members:  and  other 
visitors  will  be  admitted  to  the  Exhibition  and  the  meet¬ 
ings  on  wilting  their  name  and  address  in  the  door¬ 
keeper’s  book. 

Monday ,  September  12. 

The  Executive  Committee  will  meet  early  in  the 
evening. 

John  Abraham,  Esq.,  Y.P.,  Chairman  of  the  Local 
Committee,  will  receive  the  Officers,  Resident  Members, 
and  Visitors  prominently  known  in  connection  with 
pharmacy,  at  his  house,  141,  Smithdown  Lane,  at  7.0  p.m. 

Tuesday ,  September  13. 

The  Conference  will  meet  at  10.0  a.m.,  adjourning  at 
12.30  p.m.  ;  the  meeting  will  be  resumed  at  2.0  r.M.,  ad¬ 
journing  at  4.30  p.m. 


214 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  10,  1870. 


The  business  of  this  day  will  comprise  : — 

Election  of  Members. 

(Nearly  one  thousand  names  of  candidates  have  been 
received  by  the  Secretaries.) 

Report  of  Executive  Committee. 

Financial  Statement. 

Reception  of  Delegates  from  Pharmaceutical  Societies 
and  Associations. 

The  President’s  Address. 

The  following  and  other  papers  will  then  be  read : — 

1.  Report  on  the  Purity  of  the  Yellow  Bees’ -wax  of 
Trade.  Edward  Davies,  F.C.S. 

2.  Saccharo-Chirettine :  a  New  Preparation  of  Chi- 
retta.  David  S.  Kemp,  F.C.S. 

3.  On  the  Strength  of  twenty-four  Specimens  of  Sac- 
charated  Carbonate  of  Iron.  Mr.  J.  J.  Nicholson,  Sun¬ 
derland. 

4.  Chloral :  Note  on  the  Best  Forms  for  Internal  Ad¬ 
ministration.  Joseph  Ince,  F.C.S.,  F.L.S. 

5.  The  Apprenticeship  and  Early  Training  of  Phar¬ 
macists.  Mr.  F.  B.  Benger. 

6.  (Not  yet  received  by  the  Secretaries.) 

7.  Analysis  of  Bitter  Cassava  Juice,  and  Experiments 
in  Elucidation  of  its  supposed  Antiseptic  Properties. 
Professor  Attfield. 

On  Tuesday  evening,  at  6.0  p.m.,  a  dinner,  at  the 
1  Adelphi  Hotel,’  will  be  given  by  the  Local  Committee 
to  the  President  and  Officers  of  the  Conference.  The 
Local  Secretary,  Mr.  Davies,  requests  that  gentlemen 
desirous  of  being  present  will  communicate  with  him 
during  the  day,  either  at  the  Royal  Institution  or  at  the 
‘  Adelphi  Hotel.’ 

Wednesday ,  September  14. 

The  Conference  will  meet  at  10.0  a.m.,  adjourning  at 
12.30  p.m.  ;  resuming  business  at  2.0  p.m.,  and  adjourn¬ 
ing  at  4.30  p.m. 

The  business  of  this  day  will  comprise  : — 

Election  of  Members. 

Reception  of  Letters  of  Invitation  to  the  Conference 
for  1871. 

Papers  to  be  read  : — 

8.  A  Century  of  Old  Books.  Joseph  Ince,  F.C.S., 
F.L.S. 

9.  A  Few  Notes  on  Aloes.  William  A.  Tilden,  B.Sc., 
F.C.S. 

10.  Sulphite  of  Zinc.  C.  R.  C.  Tichborne,  F.C.S. 

11.  The  Storing  of  Poisons.  Mr.  Edward  Smith, 
Torquay. 

12.  Ammoniacal  Salts  from  Gas-Liquor;  purified  to 
fit  them  for  use  in  Pharmacy.  W.  L.  Scott,  F.C.S. 

13.  The  chemical  constitution  of  Sulphurated  Potash. 
John  Watts,  D.Sc. 

14  to  21.  Papers  are  expected  from  Messrs.  Greenish 
(lint),  Benger  (apparatus  for  maintaining  constant  tem¬ 
peratures  in  laboratory  operations),  Linford  (a  new  hy¬ 
drometer),  Scott  (purity  of  commercial  alkaloids  and 
lithium  salts),  and  from  other  members. 

Thursday ,  September  15. 

On  Thursday  there  will  be  an  excursion  to  Widnes 
and  Runcorn  at  1.30  p.m.  from  Lime  Street  Station. 
Messrs.  Hutchinson  and  Co.  and  W.  Gossage  and  Sons, 
at  Widnes,  and  the  Runcorn  Soap  and  Alkali  Company 
have  liberally  thrown  open  their  works  to  the  inspection 
of  members,  and  the  party  will  have  an  opportunity  of 
inspecting  the  magnificent  bridge  recently ’built  over  the 
Mersey  by  the  London  and  North-Western  Railway 
Company.  At  7  o’clock  a  collation  will  be  provided  by 
the  Local  Committee  at  Halton  Castle,  a  ruin  on  an 
eminence  commanding  an  extensive  view  of  the  sur¬ 
rounding  country.  Members  of  the  Conference  and 
subscribers  to  the  local  fund  will  be  provided  with 
tickets,  entitling  them  to  a  return  railway  ticket  at 
Is.  0>d.,  on  application  to  Messrs.  Clay  and  Abraham, 
87,  Bold  Street,  not  later  than  Tuesday  evening. 


Tuesday ,  September  20. 

Election  of  Officers  for  1871.  Appointment  of  Place 
of  Meeting  for  1871. 

By  the  kindness  of  the  committee  of  the  Lyceum, 
No.  1,  Bold  Street,  the  news  room  of  that  institution 
will  be  open  to  members  of  the  Conference  during  the 
week. 


SOCIETY  OF  ARTS.* 

Ox  Fermentation. 

BY  PROFESSOR  A.  Wr.  WILLIAMSON,  F.R.S. 

Lecture  II. 

We  left  off  last  week  at  a  point  at  which  we  had  come 
to  recognize  a  difficulty,  which  we  did  not,  to  any  ap¬ 
preciable  extent,  succeed  in  solving.  By  considering 
in  succession  a  certain  small  number  of  processes  in 
which  substances  induced  chemical  changes  in  others 
which  were  in  contact  with  them,  we  classified  them, 
beginning  with  some  very  complex  cases — cases  in  which 
substances  of  formulse  so  long  that,  even  if  I  ventured 
to  give  you  chemical  formulas  at  all,  I  should  hesitate 
to  give  you  their  formulae — took  part  in  the  decompo¬ 
sition,  and  gave  rise  to  products  themselves  having 
formula)  of  no  small  complication.  From  those  we 
passed  to  the  consideration  of  some  bodies  less  complex 
in  their  structure,  and  undergoing  changes  very  much 
like  those  which  we  at  first  considered,  but  having  this 
remarkable  peculiarity  that,  in  these  somewhat  simpler 
cases,  the  changes  were  effected  not  only  by  organic 
bodies  comparable  to  ferments,  but  also,  in  certain  in¬ 
stances,  by  simple  mineral  bodies,  such  as  the  acids. 
In  this  intermediate  class  we  found  that  the  same  effects 
are  produced,  sometimes  by  diastase,  or  such-like  bodies, 
and  sometimes  by  sulphuric  acid.  Then  we  came  to 
some  still  more  simple  cases  of  decomposition,  produced 
solely  by  bodies  of  such  simplicity  that  we  chemists 
have  got  a  tolerably  definite  idea  of  them.  I  gave  two 
cases  which,  I  believe  I  may  say,  are  pretty  well  under¬ 
stood.  The  resemblance  between  the  different  terms  of 
that  long  series  served,  as  I  think  it  will  be  admitted  by 
those  who  followed  the  chain  of  reasoning,  as  an  argu¬ 
ment  in  favour  of  there  being  some  great  resemblance 
in  the  process  which  takes  place  in  these  changes  in  the 
successive  terms  of  the  series  ;  and  I  propose,  before  we 
proceed  further  in  the  study  of  these  wonderful  decom¬ 
positions,  to  analyse  somewhat  the  nature  of  these 
changes  in  the  simple  cases  which  we  last  considered, 
in  order  that  we  may  get,  if  possible,  something  like  a 
master-key — a  very  simply-formed  piece  of  iron — which 
will  open  a  variety  of  locks.  The  two  cases  which  I 
allude  to  were,  first,  the  formation  of  ether  and  water 
from  alcohol  by  the  action  of  oil  of  vitriol ;  and, 
secondly,  the  ordinary  process  of  making  oil  of  vitriol 
in  the  so-called  lead  chambers  ;  and  I  think  it  will  be 
admitted,  even  from  the  very  brief  and  imperfect  state¬ 
ment  which  I  was  able  to  make,  that  we  have  evidence 
of  the  fact  that  the  active  substances  do  return,  after 
they  have  been  doing  one  bit  of  that  work,  to  the  point 
from  which  they  started  before  doing  it.  I  gave  a 
couple  of  illustrations  of  that  fact.  Sulphuric  acid  is 
converted,  while  making  alcohol  into  ether  and  water, 
into  a  substance  called  sulpho-vinic  acid,  which  differs 
from  it  in  a  good  many  properties,  and  then  it  comes 
back  again  to  sulphuric  acid.  Just  so  with  nitric  oxide, 
in  the  process  of  making  oil  of  vitriol ;  it  first  takes  up 
oxygen  and  assumes  the  form  of  those  red  fumes,  then 
hands  that  oxygen  over  to  the  sulphurous  acid  which  is 
in  contact  with  it,  thus  coming  back  again  to  the  state 
of  nitric  oxide  from  which  it  had  started.  Hence  the 
term  which  I  have  suggested  for  this  process  is  cyclical, 
to  denote  the  fact,  which  I  consider  essential,  the  leading 

*  Cantor  Lectures. 


September  10,  is 70.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


215 


fact  that  it  is  a  cycle,  the  idea  of  which  implies  that  the 
road  by  which  it  returns  is  not  the  same  by  which  it 
goes,  and  I  want  that  idea  to  be  suggested  by  the  word. 
In  the  case  of  etherification,  I  wish  I  could  lawfully  use 
formulae  on  the  black  board,  but  it  would  not  do,  for  I 
am  sure  that  the  greater  number  of  my  audience  will 
agree  with  me  that  it  would,  be  a  liberty  which  I  ought 
not  to  take ;  but  chemists  are  in  the  habit  of  denoting, 
by  the  aid  of  formulae,  particulars  which  require  to  be 
fully  explained.  I  mention  that  because,  excluding  that 
ordinary  process,  the  particulars  of  my  argument  must, 
of  course,  be  omitted,  inasmuch  as  I  do  not  use  the  lan¬ 
guage  by  which  alone  those  particulars  can  be  conveyed. 
When  the  sulphuric  acid  acts  upon  alcohol,  and  trans¬ 
forms  it,  by  a  succession  of  these  cyclical  processes,  into 
ether  and  water,  the  general  kind  of  process  is  this : — A 
little  particle  of  the  acid — because  each  one  acts  like  the 
rest,  and  we  had  better  consider  one  as  a  sample  of  the 
rest  —first  takes  something  from  a  contiguous  particle  of 
alcohol,  and  then  it  hands  over  this  something  to  another 
particle  of  alcohol.  That  which  the  acid  takes  in  the 
first  instance  is  called,  in  our  ordinary  language,  ethyl. 
It  is  a  group  consisting  of  carbon  and  hydrogen,  very 
much  like  hydrogen  gas — it  is  a  group  of  those  elements, 
and  behaves  in  a  manner  closely  analogous  to  hydrogen 
itself.  The  acid,  in  doing  that  particular  work  which 
we  have  to  consider,  first  takes  a  particle  of  this  ethyl 
from  one  particle  of  alcohol,  and  whilst  it  does  so,  it 
gives  to  the  alcohol  something  in  exchange  ;  that  some¬ 
thing  is  hydrogen.  And  by  doing  this,  the  sulphuric 
acid  which  has  taken  up  this  ethyl  is  converted  into 
sulpho-vinic  acid ;  it  has  gone  half  round  the  circle,  in 
fact.  The  remainder  of  its  journey  consists  in  reversing, 
in  another  way,  with  another  particle  of  alcohol,  that 
very  same  kind  of  interchange  which  it  had  undergone 
in  the  first  instance,  that  is,  it  gives  up  again  this  little 
portion  of  ethyl  which  it  had  taken,  and  resumes  hydro¬ 
gen  in  place  of  it.  Just  as  that  is  the  general  process 
when  sulphuric  acid  acts  upon  alcohol,  forming  it  into 
ether  and  water,  so  in  the  other  process,  which  I  just 
now  reminded  you  of,  there  is  a  similar  action,  only  there 
is  this  difference— of  course,  I  speak  within  those  narrow 
limitations  which  are  imposed  upon  us  by  our  very  im¬ 
perfect  knowledge  of  even  these  best-known  processes — 
but,  as  far  as  we  know,  the  nitric  oxide  merely  takes  up 
oxygen,  but  gives  up  nothing  in  exchange.  Those  red 
fumes  which  you  saw  were  really  nitric  oxide  plus  oxy¬ 
gen,  not  nitric  oxide  in  which  oxygen  had  replaced 
something  else,  and  that  was  a  difference  between  the 
process  in  that  case  and  in  the  one  to  which  I  just  now 
referred.  Then,  again,  it  simply  gives  up  that  oxygen 
to  the  particle  of  sulphurous  acid. 

The  illustrious  Liebig,  to  whom  we  owe,  in  this  order 
of  phenomena  as  in  every  other  order  which  he  has 
touched,  some  of  the  most  valuable  ideas  which  have 
guided  our  researches,  suggested  many  years  ago,  for 
the  explanation  of  the  phenomena  of  fermentation,  a 
theory  which  certainly  has  rendered  very  great  service, 
and  not  the  less  so  from  the  fact  that  it  has  been  replaced 
by  one  more  perfect.  In  building  a  house,  it  is  certainly 
no  proof  that  a  scaffolding  is  unnecessary  that  in  the 
final  structure  the  scaffolding  is  not  maintained  ;  and  so 
in  the  progress  of  our  science,  as  in  every  other  science, 
each  part  of  the  work  must  be  judged  from  its  usefulness 
in  aiding  the  carrying  on  of  the  building,  even  though 
the  particular  substance  which  was  placed  there  at  the 
time  does  not  finally  form  part  of  the  structure  itself. 
Liebig’s  explanation  really  is  classic,  and  well  worthy 
of  a  few  minutes’  consideration.  He  classed  together 
a  considerable  number  of  cases  of  chemical  action  which 
bore,  at  least  upon  their  surface,  a  considerable  resem¬ 
blance  to  one  another,  and  he  saw  in  them  something 
in  common,  and  by  this  one  resemblance  which  they 
had  he  classed  them,  considering  it  to  be  their  essential 
characteristic  feature.  For  example,  there  is  a  sub¬ 
stance  which  is  made,  by  a  process  of  oxidation,  of  a 


compound  something  like  lime.  It  is  called  baric  per¬ 
oxide.  Thenard  had  found  that  the  oxygen  which  is 
here  taken  up  by  the  baryta  can,  by  a  particular  pro¬ 
cess,  be  passed  over  to  water,  so  that,  in  fact,  Thenard, 
from  this  oxide  of  baryta,  made,  by  a  process  which  I 
will  repeat  on  a  small  scale,  some  oxidized  water,  or  per¬ 
oxide  of  hydrogen,  as  it  is  commonly  called.  Here  is 
some  of  the  peroxide  suspended  in  water,  and  by  adding 
an  acid  hydrogen  salt,  the  hydric  nitrate,  in  small  quan¬ 
tities  (for  if  I  add  it  in  too  large  quantities,  I  should 
destroy  the  peroxide,  which  is  a  very  tender  substance, 
and  requires  to  be  treated  tenderly),  I  should  gradually 
transfer  the  oxygen  from  the  baryta,  with  which  it  was 
at  first  combined,  to  the  water  which  is  here  present. 
This  oxidized  water,  or  peroxide  of  hydrogen,  gives  up 
the  oxygen  which  it  has  just  taken  up  very  easily 
indeed ;  in  fact,  the  difficulty  is  to  prevent  it  doing  so. 
Amongst  processes  of  that  kind,  I  will  show  you  one 
simple  one.  I  will  pour  into  the  water  in  this  large 
beaker-glass  some  of  the  solution  which  I  have  just  pre¬ 
pared,  and  then  add  to  it  a  few  drops  of  this  red  liquid, 
which  is  a  solution  containing  chromic  acid  combined 
with  potash.  You  see,  no  doubt,  that  although  I  have 
only  added  half-a-dozen  drops,  there  is  evidence  of  a 
chemical  change,  and  the  deep  blue  colour  which  is 
formed  by  the  contact  of  the  two  liquids  is  due  to  the 
formation  of  a  new  compound.  The  chromic  acid,  which 
has  a  red  colour,  takes  up  oxygen  from  that  peroxide  of 
hydrogen,  forming  a  blue  compound.  I  have  purposely 
chosen  this  particular  instance,  because  the  process  is  a 
slow  one,  and  we  have  time  to  see  its  intermediate 
changes.  I  will  leave  the  glass  here,  and  in  a  few  mi¬ 
nutes  you  will  see  the  blue  colour  will  have  disappeared, 
and  in  place  of  it  we  shall  have  a  dirty  green  colour, 
hardly  visible.  Whilst  that  change  takes  place,  if  we 
were  to  take  means  to  examine  carefully  what  was  going 
on,  we  should  find  that  oxygen  gas  passed  off,  and  if  we 
examined  the  green  substance  present  at  the  end  of  the 
process,  and  compared  it  to  this  original  red  chromic 
acid,  we  should  find  that  it  consists  of  chromic  acid 
minus  oxygen.  The  peroxide  takes  away  oxygen  from 
this  chromic  acid,  and  yet  the  chromic  acid  has  got  hold 
of  its  oxygen  pretty  firmly ;  it  requires  a  considerable 
amount  of  energy  to  tear  away  even  that  part  which  is 
torn  away  by  the  process.  But  at  the  same  time  the 
oxygenated  water  is  losing  part  of  its  oxygen.  The 
deoxidation  of  the  peroxide  induces  the  chromic  acid  to 
give  up  some  of  its  oxygen ;  the  one  body  induces  in  the 
other  a  change  similar  to  that  which  itself  is  undergoing. 
The  peroxide  of  hydrogen  is  losing  oxygen,  and  it  makes 
the  chromic  acid  also  lose  oxygen.  To  state  the  process 
in  general  terms,  I  may  well  use  the  expression  of 
Liebig,  and  call  it  contagious  action.  There  are  many 
other  cases  of  similar  processes.  Here  is  a  bit  of  rotten 
wood ;  if  I  were  to  moisten  it  and  put  it  into  a  conve¬ 
nient  flask,  leaving  room  for  a  quantity  of  air,  closing 
the  mouth  of  the  flask  with  a  good  cork,  and  leaving  it 
for  a  day  or  two,  also  putting  with  the  air  a  little  hy¬ 
drogen  gas,  which,  you  know  probably,  is  capable  of 
combining  with  oxygen,  I  should,  on  examining  the 
mixture  of  air  and  hydrogen  after  it  had  been  in  contact 
some  time  with  this  rotten  wood,  find  that  the  hydrogen 
had  been  removed  from  the  air,  and  at  the  same  time 
the  oxygen  of  the  air  which  had  been  mixed  with  it  had 
disappeared.  Now  this  wood  is  actually  undergoing  a 
process  of  combustion ;  it  is  actually  absorbing  oxygon, 
or  being  burnt,  very  slowly  indeed,  but  still  at  a  rate 
which  is  not  unimportant,  if  you  want  it  to  last  for  any 
length  of  time.  De  Saussure,  who  noticed  this,  attri¬ 
buted  the  oxidization  of  the  hydrogen  gas  to  the  fact 
that  the  wood  is  itself  undergoing  oxidation.  I  will 
take  another  case  of  the  same  kind.  I  will  put  into,  a 
little  flask  some  of  that  peroxide  of  hydrogen,  and  will 
show  you  another  decomposition  of  it,  which  is  rather 
more  convenient  in  one  respect  than  the  one  I  first  took, 
as  it  will  show  us  something  more  of  the  process.  Into 


216 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  10, 1570. 


this  little  flask  I  put  some  of  the  same  oxidized  baryta 
which  I  used  just  now,  and  I  will  fit  up  the  flask  in 
such  a  manner  that  the  gas,  which  will  come  off  in  a 
tolerably  large  quantity,  can  be  collected  for  examina¬ 
tion.  I  will  then  put  in  contact  with  it  a  substance 
called  silver  oxide,  first  driving  out  of  the  flask  all  the 
air  which  it  at  present  contains.  Having  driven  out  the 
air,  I  put  in  a  few  drops  of  the  nitrate  which  I  employed 
in  the  first  instance,  and  then  I  will  put  in  a  solution  of 
silver  oxide,  which  is,  in  some  respects,  a  good  deal  like 
this  chromic  acid,  at  all  events  in  one  important  respect, 
for  it  has  oxygen,  which  it  can  give  up  under  sufficiently 
strong  pressure.  You  now  see  there  is  a  great  deal  of 
effervescence  going  on,  and  the  gas  which  is  coming  off' 
from  the  little  flask  is  rising  into  this  jar,  where  we 
shall  very  easily  be  able  to  ascertain  whether  it  is  oxygen 
by  the  ordinary  test.  I  should  have  been  glad,  if  it  had 
been  convenient  to  do  so,  to  give  you  one  other  instance 
in  which  a  remarkable  fact  was  discovered  by  Professor 
Brodie,  viz.  a  case  of  an  action  of  this  kind,  where  the 
oxygen  taken  from  the  peroxide  is  in  quantity  exactly 
equal  to  the  quantity  of  oxygen  from  the  other  body. 
Whilst  that  gas  is  collecting,  I  must  enter  shortly  upon 
a  theoretical  question,  apologizing  for  doing  so,  not  that 
I  am  ashamed  of  it,  for  it  is  one  of  the  most  important 
theories  we  possess,  but  on  account  of  the  brevity  with 
which  I  am  compelled  to  treat  it.  Oxygen,  in  the 
free  state,  is  admitted  by  chemists  to  consist  of  two 
little  atoms  linked  together.  In  each  of  the  com¬ 
pounds  which  I  used  there  was  one  little  atom  of  the 
kind.  One  atom  leaves  each  of  them,  and  when  I  get 
free  oxygen,  I  affirm  that  there  has  been  a  process  of 
combination,  that  the  oxygen  from  the  one  substance 
actually  combined  chemically  with  the  oxygen  from  the 
other.  This  is  a  theoretical  result  which  has  been,  in 
great  part,  established  by  Sir  Benjamin  Brodie,  with 
the  help  of  materials  from  various  sources.  What  I 
mentioned  in  the  other  case  holds  good  equally  in 
regard  to  chromic  acid  and  the  other  cases  in  which 
there  was  apparently  no  definite  proportion  of  the 
kind.  There  is  an  actual  chemical  combination 
between  the  oxygen  of  one  substance  and  that  of 
the  other,  it  is  not  merely  that  the  one  substance  is 
compelled  to  decompose  because  the  other  is  decom¬ 
posing;  there  is  between  the  one  substance  and  the 
other  an  interchange,  so  that  a  constituent  from  each  one 
combines  with  a  constituent  from  the  other.  To  do 
justice  to  the  importance  of  this  fact  I  should  need  to 
describe  a  great  number  of  chemical  reactions,  which  at 
present  would  be  impracticable,  but  you  may  take  my 
word  for  it,  that  the  kind  of  process  which  I  have  de¬ 
scribed  is  now  known  to  be  one  of  the  commonest  in 
chemistry.  The  other  day,  when  I  mixed  two  of  the 
commonest  substances,  there  were  interchanges  between 
the  constituents  by  a  process  perfectly  analogous  to  that 
which  takes  place  here.  Here  it  happens,  by  an  excep¬ 
tional  circumstance,  that  the  element  which  from  the 
one  body  combines  with  the  element  of  the  other  is  of  a 
like  kind,,  whereas,  as  a  rule,  you  find  that  unlike  ele¬ 
ments  unite  together  in  these  processes.  Thus  it  is  that 
the  anomaly  which  Liebig  noticed  ceases  to  be  an  ano¬ 
maly and  is  brought  back  to  a  case  of  common  regular 
chemical  action  by  the  aid  of  that  theoiy  to  which  I 
have  just  alluded. 

To  return  to  our  experiment.  This  glass  vessel  is 
now  full  of  the  gas,  and  by  applying  a  taper  which  has 
been  lighted  and  blown  out,  but  is  still  glowing,  we 
shall  find,  on  putting  it  into  the  jar,  that  it  immediately 
ignites,  which  is  the  ordinary  test  of  oxygen  gas.  By 
the  aid  of  that  theory,  which  has  been  discovered  since 
the  time  of  Liebig’s  suggestion,  this  one  case  of  appa¬ 
rently  anomalous  action  has  been  proved  to  be  a  per¬ 
fectly  normal  and  regular  case  of  combination,  and  the 
same  kind  of  thing  hais  been  done  with  regard  to  other 
cases  of  the  same  description.  A  number  of  other  pro¬ 
cesses  which  he  classes  with  these  may  be  shown  to  be 


due,  not  to  any  exceptional  force  that  is  at  work  in  these 
cases,  not  to  the  force  of  any  particular  contagious  action 
among  chemical  substances,  but  to  the  ordinary  forces 
which  induce  chemical  combination  in  the  cases  best 
known  to  us.  Liebig’s  theory  of  contagious  action  has 
been  alluded  to,  by  a  high  authority  in  this  country 
upon  philosophical  matters,  as  being  a  law  of  chemical 
action  of  a  generality  comparable  to  the  law  of  gravita¬ 
tion  in  astronomy,  and  for  that  reason,  if  for  no  other,  it 
must  be  of  considerable  importance  to  know  what  bear¬ 
ing  our  most  advanced  knowledge  has  upon  that  law. 
I  dare  say  you  see  the  connection  between  it  and  the 
case  of  fermentation.  I  will  not  go  into  particulars, 
further  than  is  necessary  in  order  to  show  you  the  gene- 
ral  analogy. 

First,  I  will  take  the  case  of  alcoholic  fermentation,  as 
being  the  case  best  known.  The  ferment  consists  of 
little  cells — which  I  hope  I  shall  be  able  to  show  you  at 
our  next  meeting — each  one  containing  several  chemical 
compounds,  but  itself  a  little  living  being.  I  will  not 
say  at  present  whether  they  are  animals  or  plants. 
When  you  have  these  little  organisms  in  water,  or 
sugar,  or  in  any  moist  substance,  they  are  constantly, 
and  of  necessity,  undergoing  decomposition.  You  may 
arrest  the  decomposition  by  various  agents,  but  if  you 
do  so,  you  kill  them,  or  suspend  their  activity  as  yeast. 
No  case  is  known  to  us  of  their  acting  like  yeast  with¬ 
out  undergoing  at  the  same  time  a  process  of  chemical 
decomposition, — being  broken  up  into  simpler  substances 
than  those  which  were  contained  in  them.  I  pointed 
out,  last  week,  that  the  sugar  which  is  being  decomposed 
by  the  yeast  is  by  that  process  being  broken  up  into 
substances  which  were  contained  in  it,  and  that  was  what 
Liebig  noticed.  He  said  that  this  yeast  is  a  substance 
which  tends  to  decompose, — it  is  breaking  up  into  simpler 
substances,  and  it  induces  in  these  particles  of  sugar 
which  are  in  contact  with  it  a  decomposition  similar  to 
its  own.  The  action  which  it  is  undergoing  is  contagious, 
and  passes  over  to  the  contiguous  particles  of  sugar ;  and 
he  adduced  cases  like  that  of  oxygen,  as  affording  ana¬ 
logies  among  simple  well-known  bodies.  I  think  what 
I  have  said  with  regard  to  the  case  of  oxygen  will  be 
sufficient  to  show  you  that  in  those  simple  cases  the  idea 
of  contagion  is  certainly  not  applicable. 

A  foreigner,  who  was  describing  some  time  ago  the 
luxuriance  of  the  crops  in  America,  spoke  of  a  bushel  of 
mice  being  sown  in  a  field,  and  a  hundred  bushels  of 
mice  being  reaped.  Of  course,  what  he  meant  to  say 
was  maize ,  or  Indian  corn  ;  but  I  am  reminded  of  that 
anecdote  by  the  necessity  I  am  under  for  a  moment  of 
asking  you  to  consider  for  a  while  some  living  beings 
under  their  general  functions  only.  Suppose  you  had  a 
bushel  of  actual  English  mice,  and  you  put  them  into  a 
granary  full  of  corn.  There  clearly  would  soon  be  a 
great  change.  You  are  supposed  to  know  nothing  more 
about  the  particular  organization  of  these  little  beings 
than  you  know  about  the  particular  organization  of  the 
little  yeast-cells.  You  know  that  these  little  things  eat 
grain,  and  that  in  place  of  the  grain  which  they  eat  there 
appear  various  products  of  decomposition,  which  can  be 
easily  collected  and  examined.  They  give  off  carbonic 
acid,  and  so  forth,  and  if  you  examined  the  state  of  that 
granary  after  a  time,  you  would  find  a  chemical  change, 
or  rather  a  set  of  chemical  changes,  going  on  in  the 
organisms  of  these  mice.  The  substance  of  which  they 
consist  would  be  actually  wasting  away ;  they  would  be 
giving  off  carbonic  acid,  and  nitrogenous  and  other 
products.  And  if  you  also  examined  the  state  of  the  coni 
which  was  there  at  first,  you  would  find  that  it  finally 
passed  over  into  these  same  products ;  and  I  say  that  the 
theory  of  contagious  action  is  as  much  applicable  to  the 
action  of  the  bushel  of  mice  in  the  granary  full  of  wheat, 
as  to  the  action  of  the  yeast  cells  upon  a  solution  of  sugar. 
There  is  in  the  one  case,  as  in  the  other,  an  assimilation 
by  the  living  organism  of  the  material  upon  which  it 
acts.  The  materials  undergo  certain  changes,  of  which 


September  10,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


217 


the  general  results  are  known  to  us,  but  of  which  the 
particulars  are,  I  may  say,  in  the  main  almost  completely 
unknown.  As  to  the  processes  by  which  these  products 
are  formed,  it  is  as  well  to  say  that  we  do  not  know  them. 
We  know  a  little  here  and  there  about  them,  but  it  is 
nothing  compared  to  our  ignorance;  therefore  the  re¬ 
semblance  is  the  more  striking,  and  if  -we  were  to  believe 
in  the  contagiousness  of  chemical  action  as  applied  to  the 
case  of  the  assimilation  of  sugar  by  a  ferment,  and  say 
the  ferment  gives  off  alcohol  and  carbonic  acid,  and  that 
sugar  is  also  resolved  into  alcohol  and  carbonic  acid,  we 
should  really  be  describing  in  its  general  features  a  pro¬ 
cess  analogous  to  that  which  I  have  just  now  mentioned ; 
such  a  general  analogy  would  be  readily  admitted  by  those 
who  go  into  the  particulars  of  the  process,  but  I  think  it  is 
of  particular  importance  to  have  in  addition  to  it  some¬ 
thing  more  practically  useful  to  guide  us  in  understanding 
chemical  reactions.  For  that  purpose  I  will  take  one  or 
two  chemical  reactions  of  an  exceedingly  common  kind. 
For  instance,  I  will  again  take  that  chromic  acid  solution 
which  I  just  now  employed.  Here  you  see  is  the  green 
residue  which  I  told  you  would  be  produced ;  I  again 
take  some  of  this  chromic  solution,  throw  some  of  it  into 
water  in  this  jar,  so  as  to  visibly  tinge  the  water  red  ;  I 
will  slightly  acidulate  the  liquid  by  oil  of  vitriol,  and  I 
will  then  pom’  into  the  mixture  (which  I  will  describe  as 
chromic  acid  dissolved  in  water,  for  the  potash  which  was 
present  is  taken  away  from  the  compound  by  the  sulphuric 
acid),  a  substance  wThich  I  will  merely  describe  as  being- 
greedy  of  oxygen,  sulphurous  acid.  If  Liebig’s  theory 
of  contagious  action  were  generally  true  in  chemical 
action,  you  would  no  doubt  expect  that  this  sulphurous 
acid,  in  taking  up  oxygen,  would  make  the  chromic  acid 
also  take  up  oxygen.  It  is  quite  possible  for  the  chromic 
acid  to  do  so,  for  that  blue  substance  which  we  had  in 
this  jar  at  first  was  nothing  but  chromic  acid  with 
oxygen  added  to  it.  But  instead  of  this,  we  shall  have 
at  once  a  reduction  of  the  chromic  acid  to  deep  green, 
which  I  dare  say  appears  to  you  almost  black.  It  is 
precisely  the  same  thing  as  that  pale,  dirty  green  which 
you  saw  before,  but  in  its  concentrated  state.  There  is 
no  oxygen  taken  up  by  the  chromic  acid,  but  it  at 
once  loses  oxygen.  This  sulphurous  acid  wanted  to 
combine  with  oxygen,  and  it  tore  away  at  once  some 
of  .the  oxygen  from  the  chromic  acid,  and  there  -was  in 
this  chromic  acid  a  process,  not  similar  to  that  which 
the  sulphurous  acid  underwent,  but  a  process  precisely 
opposite  to  it — one  combined  with  oxygen  while  the 
other  lost  oxygen, — and  if  you  examined  the  liquid,  you 
would  find  that  the  sulphurous  acid  which  took  part  in 
the  process,  and  has  taken  up  oxygen,  is  nowT  in  the 
form  of  sulphuric  acid.  Again,  I  have  here  some  granu¬ 
lated  zinc,  which  will  very  easily  evolve  hydrogen,  par¬ 
ticularly  wdien  its  activity  is  stimulated  by  throwing  a 
little  copper  vitriol  on  to  it.  After  adding  a  little  water, 
I  will  throw  in  a  little  oil  of  vitriol,  so  as  to  get  an  evo¬ 
lution  of  gas.  Then  I  have  here  a  solution  which  I 
think  must  look  black  to  you,  except  at  the  edges,  which 
is  a  solution  of  a  beautiful  salt  called  permanganate. 
It  is  used  for  deodorizing  certain  fetid  waters,  and  I 
might  compare  it  to  the  chromate  I  was  using  just  now. 
It  consists  of  an  acid  of  the  metal  manganese.  If  I 
throw  some  of  that  into  the  mixture  which  I  have  just 
prepared,  and  leave  it  for  a  short  time,  and  then  ex¬ 
amine  it,  we  shall  find  that,  instead  of  being  induced 
to  give  off  hydrogen  like  the  other  body,  which  is  doing 
so  vigorously,  we  shall  find  it  will  do  the  opposite,  and 
will  combine  with  hydrogen ;  and  the  colour  -which 
belongs  to  it,  and  which  can  be  recognized  so  easily, 
will  disappear,  because  hydrogen  will  be  taken  up  by 
its  oxygen,  and  it  will  be  reduced  and  brought  down 
to  a  substance  containing  comparatively  little  oxygen. 
There,  again,  as  in  the  previous  case  of  the  chromic 
acid,  we  find  that  there  is  a  kind  of  chemical  polarity 
in  the  general  mode  of  action,  that  the  one  substance 
acted  upon  does  precisely  the  opposite  of  the  other. 


There  is  no  tendency  in  this  case  to  do  the  same  thing, 
but  the  two  substances  acting  upon  one  another  do  pre¬ 
cisely  the  opposite,  the  one  taking  up  what  the  other 
loses.  Not  only  is  that  the  case  in  the  instance  of  the 
action  which  I  have  mentioned  here,  but  in  a  great 
number  of  other  cases  of  considerable  interest  and  im¬ 
portance, — bodies  which  act  chemically  with  considerable 
energy  when  allowed  to  do  so,  are  prevented  by  others 
from  so  doing  when  those  others  are  trying  to  do  the 
same  thing.  If,  for  example,  we  put  metallic  copper  into 
nitric  acid,  the  copper  would  dissolve  with  immense 
energy :  it  would  undergo  -what  I  might  call  a  process  of 
combustion.  Again,  if  I  put  mercury  in  contact  with  the 
acid,  the  same  thing  would  occur ;  it  would  be  dissolved 
almost  as  rapidly  as  the  copper.  But  if  I  put  the  two 
together  into  nitric  acid,  the  copper  prevents  the  mercury 
from  undergoing  combustion ;  and  so  far  from  en¬ 
couraging  it  to  do  the  same  thing,  it  actually  takes  from 
it  the  power  which  it  possessed  before  of  undergoing  a 
combination  of  that  kind.  And  more  than  that,  if  I  take 
mercury  which  has  been  burned — a  solution  of  mercury 
in  the  form  of  corrosive  sublimate, — and  put  copper  into 
it,  the  copper  will  actually  unbum  it,  or  make  it  come 
back  again  from  the  point  at  which  it  had  got,  and 
throw  down  the  metal.  You  can  see  the  process  which 
takes  place ;  on  putting  a  strip  of  clean  red  copper  into 
the  solution,  it  becomes  grey,  and  throws  down  the 
mercury  from  the  solution.  So  far  from  encouraging 
the  mercury  to  oxidation,  it  makes  it  do  the  opposite  to 
that  which  it  otherwise  had  a  tendency  to  do. 

Again,  I  will  take  some  of  this  solution  of  copper — it 
ought  to  be  some  of  the  very  solution  which  is  being 
made  here,  where  copper  is  being  dissolved  at  the 
expense  of  mercury — and  if  I  put  into  it  a  piece  of 
common  iron,  perfectly  clean  and  white,  it  will  very 
speedily  combine ;  and  I  cannot  express  its  functions  in 
combining  better  than  by  saying  that  it  will  make 
copper  uncombine,  for  the  copper  which  was  burnt  is 
now  being  unburnt. 

If  we  go  carefully,  with  the  knowledge  of  their  par¬ 
ticulars,  through  the  best-known  chemical  processes,  we 
find  that  there  is,  as  a  rule,  a  force  at  work  which  I 
might  describe  as  polarity — a  tendency  among  con¬ 
tiguous  particles  which  are  acting  on  one  another  to 
assume  functions  which  can  be  best  characterized  as 
being  opposite  to  one  another.  Whatever  the  one  is 
doing,  the  other  is  doing  as  nearly  as  possible  the  very 
opposite  of  it,  and  any  tendency  to  do  like  wrork  I  know 
not  of.  There  are,  however,  cases  which  -would  appear 
to  be  favourable  to  the  notion  of  contagious  chemical 
action.  If  I  blow  out  that  gas-burner,  still  letting  the 
gas  escape,  and  then  bring  near  to  it  a  burning  splint,  it 
will  set  fire  to  the  gas,  and  the  same  with  a  candle-wick  if' 
I  bring  close  to  it  a  burning  match — the  match,  which  is 
burning,  communicates  to  the  wick  the  pi’oeess  which  it 
is  undergoing,— but  the  explanation  is  this,  it  does  so 
merely  because  of  the  high  temperature  which  it  has 
attained.  If  by  any  other  process,  such  as  concentrating 
the  rays  of  a  powerfully-heated  surface  by  means  of  a 
lens,  I  raise  the  temperature  of  the  gas  to  that  point  at 
which  it  is  capable  of  combining  with  the  oxygen  of  the 
air,  it  will  do  just  as  well.  The  accident  that  the  high 
temperature  is  communicated  by  the  biu-ning  splint  has 
nothing  to  do  with  the  process. 

(To  be  continued.) 


Hypodermic  Injection  of  Calomel  for  Syphi¬ 
litic  Diseases  of  the  Eye. — Professor  Quaglino  and 
Dr.  Soresina  give  the  details  of  a  considerable  number 
of  cases  where  this  plan  of  treatment  has  been  successful 
in  various  ophthalmic  diseases  of  syphilitic  origin.  The 
calomel  was  sometimes  injected  hypodermically  into  the 
temples,  sometimes  into  the  arm,  great  benefit  being  ob¬ 
tained  in  every  instance. —  The  Practitioner. 


218 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  10, 1S70. 


f arlwiratitif  anir  fato  fnrmMnp. 


ALLEGED  EXTENSIVE  FRAUDS  ON  THE 

REVENUE. 

Glerkenwell  Police  Court,  September  6th. 

John  Sutton,  of  15,  Regent  Square,  St.  Pancras,  was 
summoned  before  Mr.  Cooke,  for  alleged  frauds  upon  the 
Inland  Revenue  Department. 

From  the  evidence  it  appeared  that  an  officer  of  stamps 
went  to  No.  15,  Regent  Square,  and  there  found  the 
prisoner  exposing  for  sale  drugs  and  medicines  which  by 
law  were  chargeable  with  stamp  duty.  There  were  no 
less  than  337  bottles  containing  drugs  and  medicines  so 
liable,  to  which  the  paper  cover,  label,  or  stamp  provided 
by  the  Commissioners  of  Stamps  had  not  been  affixed. 
The  penalty  for  the  offence  is  £10  in  each  instance,  and 
the  defendant  had  thus  subjected  himself  to  a  fine  of  up¬ 
wards  of  £3000. 

Upon  the  application  of  the  defendant’s  solicitor,  the 
magistrate  adjourned  the  hearing  of  the  case  for  a  fort¬ 
night. 


The  Growth  of  the  Mistleto  on  the  Oak. — 

In  the  volume  of  Transactions  issued  lately  by  the 
Woolhope  Naturalists’  Field  Club,  there  is  a  photo¬ 
graphic  illustration  of  the  Mistleto  Oak  of  Deerfold 
Forest,  one  of  the  few  known  instances  of  the  growth  of 
this  parasite  on  the  Oak.  Dr.  Bull,  in  speaking  of  it, 
says,  “This  very  interesting  tree  grows  in  the  hedge¬ 
row  of  a  field  called  the  Harps  at  Haven  Aymestry,  in 
the  ancient  forest  of  Deerfold,  on  the  property  of  the 
Messrs.  Fortey.  It  was  discovered  in  the  spring  of  1869, 
but  the  Mistleto  must  have  been  growing  on  the  Oak  for 
some  years.  The  Oak  is  of  the  variety  sessifiora ,  and 
may  be  some  fifty  or  sixty  years  old.  At  5  feet  from 
the  ground  it  measures  3  feet  8  inches  in  girth.  The 
Mistleto  is  a  female  plant,  and  grows  high  up  in  the  Oak 
on  the  main  stem  of  the  tree,  after  it  has  bifurcated.  It 
forms  a  large  spreading  bunch,  with  a  diameter  of  3  feet 
6  inches,  and  springs  out  from  the  Oak  in  a  single  stem 
nearly  4  inches  in  circumference.  The  Mistleto  is  also 
growing  on  a  Thorn  in  the  hedge  immediately  below  the 
bunch  in  the  Oak,  and  has  probably  sprung  from  a  seed 
dropped  [by  the  birds  from  above.  The  great  rarity  of 
the  growth  of  Mistleto  on  the  Oak  is  proved  by  the  fact 
that  there  are  but  eight  examples  which  have  been  well 
authenticated  as  existing  at  the  present  time.  They 
are  to  be  met  with  in  the  following  localities  : — Eastnor 
Park,  Herefordshire;  Tedstone Delamere,  Herefordshire; 
the  forest  of  Deerfold,  Herefordshire;  Frampton-on- 
Severn,  Gloucestershire  ;  Sudbury  Park,  Chepstow,  Mon¬ 
mouthshire  ;  Burningfold  Farm,  Dunsfold,  Surrey;  Hack- 
wood  Park,  Basingstoke,  Hants ;  and  one  near  Plymouth.” 
— Gardeners'  Chronicle. 

A  New  Preparation  of  Cotton  for  Stanching 
Haemorrhage. — Dr.  Ehrle,  of  Isny,  calls  attention,  in 
the  Schivabischer  Merhur ,  to  a  simple  preparation  of 
cotton,  which  he  has  found  of  great  service  in  surgical 
operations  followed  by  great  effusion  of  blood.  The 
mode  of  preparation  is  as  follows  :  — American  cotton  of 
the  best  quality  should  be  cleansed  by  boiling  it  for  an 
hour  in  a  weak  solution  of  soda  (about  4  per  cent.),  then 
repeatedly  washed  in  cold  water,  pressed  out  and  dried. 
By  this  process  it  will  be  perfectly  disinfected  and 
adapted  to  more  ready  absorption.  After  this  it  should 
be  steeped  once  or  twice,  according  to  the  degree  of 
strength  required,  in  liquid  chloride  of  iron,  diluted  with 
one-third  water,  pressed  and  thoroughly  dried  in  the  air, 
— neither  in  the  sun  nor  by  the  fire, — then  lightly  pulled 
out.  The  cotton  so  prepared  will  be  of  a  yellowish- 
brown  colour.  It  must  be  kept  very  dry,  as  it  is  affected 
by  the  damp.  Lint  may  be  similarly  treated,  but  the 
fine  texture  of  the  cotton  renders  it  preferable.  When 


placed  on  a  fresh  wound,  it  causes  a  moderate  contraction 
of  the  tissue,  and  gradually  coagulates  the  blood  in  and 
beyond  the  injured  veins,  thus  closing  the  source  of  the 
effusion.  This  property  of  the  chloride  of  iron  is  in¬ 
creased  by  the  dryness  of  the  cotton  and  the  extended 
surface  offered  for  the  development  of  the  chemical 
action. 

A  New  Eye  Salve. — The  following  ointment  is  re¬ 
commended  by  Dr.  Williams,  of  Cork,  after  long  expe¬ 
rience,  in  cases  of  granular  lids,  and  all  cases  of  chronic 
ophthalmia : — 

Arsenici  Sulphureti  gr.  ij 
Unguenti  Citrini  jij 
Axungse  Praeparatse  $vj. 

M.  bene. 

In  cases  of  “granular  lids”  the  upper  eyelids  should  be 
everted,  and  a  piece  of  ointment  the  size  of  a  hemp-seed 
should  be  applied  with  a  camel-hair  pencil  to  the  dis¬ 
eased  conjunctiva. — Dublin  Quarterly  Journal  of  Medical 
Science. 

Poisoning  from  Arsenite  of  Copper  on  'Wall- 
paper. — A  case  of  poisoning  is  reported  in  the  Lancet 
which  illustrates  the  danger  of  using  arsenite  of  copper 
for  decorating  paperhangings.  A  retired  master  ma¬ 
riner,  living  at  St.  David’s,  was  seized  with  what  ap¬ 
peared  to  be  an  attack  of  English  cholera.  The  symp¬ 
toms,  which  were  very  severe,  were  not  subdued  until 
after  twelve  hours’  medical  treatment.  Upon  inquiry,  it 
appeared  that  he  had  been  employed  during  the  whole 
morning  of  the  previous  day  in  removing  the  paper  from 
the  walls  of  a  room  previous  to  having  it  repapered. 
The  paper  last  put  on  was  a  purple  one,  but  underneath 
it  was  another  of  a  green  colour,  which  had  been  on  the 
walls  about  fifteen  years.  He  had  much  difficulty  in 
removing  this ;  indeed,  nearly  the  whole  of  it  had  to  be 
scraped  off  by  a  knife.  This  operation  caused  a  great 
deal  of  dust  to  rise  from  the  paper,  frequently  com¬ 
pelling  him  to  close  his  eyes  in  consequence.  He  must 
thus  have  inhaled  a  considerable  quantity  of  arsenite  of 
copper,  which  occurred  thickly  on  the  paper,  and  was 
easily  rubbed  off.  The  symptoms  also  indicated  inhala¬ 
tion  of  the  poison.  Previous  to  the  attack  he  had  been 
a  strong,  healthy  man,  and  had  never  suffered  from 
cholera  or  cramp,  although  he  had  been  abroad  a  great 
deal. 

Power  of  Opium  to  Relieve  an  Exhausted 
Frame. — Dr.  Barnes,  in  ‘  A  Visit  to  Scinde,’  says : — 
“  On  one  occasion  I  made  a  very  fatiguing  night  march 
with  a  Cutchie  horseman.  In  the  morning,  after  having 
travelled  thirty  miles,  I  was  obliged  to  assent  to  his  pro¬ 
posal  of  halting  for  a  few  minutes,  which  he  employed 
in  sharing  a  quantity  of  about  two  drachms  of  opium 
between  himself  and  his  jaded  horse.  The  effect  of  the 
dose  was  soon  evident  in  both,  for  the  horse  finished  a 
journey  of  forty  miles  with  great  apparent  facility,  and 
the  rider  absolutely  became  more  active  and  intelligent.” 
— Food  Journal. 

Indian  Hemp  in  Menorrhagia  and  Dysme- 
norrhoea.— Dr.  Silver  publishes  several  cases  of  these 
affections  in  which  the  tincture  of  Indian  hemp  has 
proved  of  great  service,  because  he  thinks  its  value  in 
them  is  not  sufficiently  known. — The  Practitioner. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘Brithis 
Medical  Journal,’  Sept.  3  ;  the  ‘  Medical  Times  and  Gazette’, 
Sept.  3 ;  the  ‘  Lancet,’  Sept.  3  ;  the  ‘  Medical  Press,’  Sept.  7 ; 
‘Nature,’  Sept.  1;  the  ‘Chemical  News,’  Sept.  2;  ‘Journal 
of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  Sept.  2 ;  ‘  Gardeners’  Chronicle,’  Sept. 
3 ;  the  ‘  English  Mechanic,’  Sept.  2 ;  the  ‘  Practitioner  ’  for 
September;  ‘Union  Pharmaceutiaue  ’  for  August;  ‘  Reper- 
torium  fur  Pharmacie’  for  September;  ‘Medical  Mirror  ’  for 
September;  the  ‘  Pharmacist’ for  August;  the  ‘  Food  Journal’ 
for  September ;  ‘Journal  of  Applied  Science’  for  September. 

We  have  received  the  ‘Ulverston  Mirror’  for  Sept.  3  from 
Mr.  H.  W.  Mackereth. 


September  10,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


219 


Communications  for  this  Journal ,  and  books  for  review , 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

The  Betts  Chancery  Suits. 


“London,  1s£  September,  1870. 

“Dear  Sir, — We  have  again  to  address  you  on  the  sub¬ 
ject  of  the  Betts  Suits,  partly  in  the  nature  of  a  report  of 
what  has  been  accomplished,  and  in  part  to  show  that  more 
remains  to  be  done. 

“The  Times  of  June  30th,  the  Standard  of  July  2nd,  the 
Pharmaceutical  Journal  of  July  9th,  and  the  Chemist 
and  Druggist  of  July  15th  contain  reports  of  the  proceedings 
which  resulted  in  the  dismissal  of  the  Bills  filed  by  Mr.  Betts 
in  these  suits ;  but  since  those  dates  the  plaintiff  has  brought 
the  cases  before  the  Lord  Chancellor,  and  obtained  an  order 
under  which  he  has  appealed.  We  are  advised  that,  if  the 
appeals  be  properly  contested,  the  defence  will  continue  suc¬ 
cessful,  and  for  that  object  we  need  and  earnestly  solicit  your 
co-operation. 

“  So  long  a  time  has  passed  since  the  Betts  Suits  were  in¬ 
stituted,  and  our  Committee  and  Defence  Fund  formed,  that 
the  general  consternation  which  once  prevailed  has  passed 
away,  and  perhaps  to  an  extent  become  forgotten ;  we  there¬ 
fore  venture  to  remind  you  of  the  facts. 

“  Twenty-five  Bills  in  Chancery  were  filed  against  chemists, 
perfumers,  mineral- water  dealers  and  others,  vendors  of  cap¬ 
suled  articles.  A  person  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Betts  ivent 
into  a  shop  and  bought  there  a  single  bottle,  the  cork  of 
which  was  covered  with  a  capsule  bearing  the  name  and 
address  of  the  person  who  manufactured  the  article  and 
affixed  the  capsule.  The  retailer,  having  bought  and  sold 
the  article  in  the  ordinary  course  of  his  trade  in  perfect 
innocence,  then  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Betts’s  solicitor, 
stating  that  he  ‘  was  instructed  by  Mr.  Betts  to  commence 
proceedings  for  an  infringement  of  his  patent  by  the  use  and 
sale  of  his  metallic  capsules  on  bottles,  which  capsules  had 
not  been  made  by  Mr.  Betts,  but  of  precisely  similar  mate¬ 
rials.’  The  retailer  replied,  ‘As  I  have  never  capsuled,  or 
caused  to  be  capsuled,  any  bottle  or  pot  in  my  establishment, 
perhaps  jrou  will  have  the  goodness  to  let  me  know  in  what 
way  I  have  infringed  the  patent to  which  the  answer  was, 

‘  I  beg  to  state  that  the  sale  by  you  of  the  capsules  on  bottles 
is  the  infringement  complained  of.  Any  person  supplying 
you  is  equally  liable,  and  the  time  will  come  when  you  will 
be  interrogated  as  to  who  has  supplied  you,  when  and  in 
what  quantities ;’  and  on  the  same  date  the  Bill  was  filed. 

“  Mr.  Betts  is  very  experienced  in  litigation ;  he  was  offered 
by  Mr.  Iiimmel  £1000  for  peace,  and  refused  it;  and  when 
an  attempt  at  an  arrangement  was  on  foot  lie  talked  of 
£20,000  or  £30,000  as  something  solid,  something  to  eat,  to 
be  paid  by  the  ‘  Pharmaceutical  body  ’  (bow  much  more  from 
other  traders  was  not  stated).  Some  of  the  defendants 
settled  with  Mr.  Betts  by  paying  £20  to  £25  each ;  but  it 
was  felt  that  unless  a  stand  was  made  Mr.  Betts  might  go 
through  the  kingdom  in  detail,  and,  with  sums  of  £20  or  £25 
apiece  obtained  from  chemists,  perfumers,  wine  merchants, 
grocers  and  others,  fill  his  money-bags  at  the  expense  of 
legitimate  traders,  and  also  that  success  by  Mr.  Betts  in  that 
operation  might  encourage  other  patentees  to  pursue  a  simi¬ 
lar  line,  and  render  business  intolerable.  Thus,  a  stand  was  re¬ 
solved  upon,  a  committee  was  formed,  and  a  defence  fund  raised. 

“  Under  cross-examination  Mr.  Betts  did  not  recognize  his 
own  goods  of  English  manufacture,  and  admitted  having 
sundry  manufactories  abroad;  and  when  it  appeared  likely 
that  the  capsules  on  the  purchased  bottles  had  been  made  by 
his  Paris  house,  he  set  up  a  subtle  distinction  between  Betts 
as  a  French  manufacturer  and  (the  same)  Betts  as  an  English 
patentee,  so  that  the  Vice-Chancellor  said,  ‘  I  must  say 
this  seems  to  mo  about  the  most  impudent  case  that  ever 
came  into  Court.  I  am  shocked  at  such  a  mode  of  making 
an  affidavit.  I  hope  never  to  see  it  again.’ 


“  But  Mr.  Betts,  ‘  the  hero  of  a  hundred  fights,’  will  not  sit 
down  under  the  condemnatory  judgment  of  the  Vice-Chan¬ 
cellor.  He  appeals  to  the  Lord  Chancellor,  and  may  resort 
to  the  House  of  Lords  ;  and  unless  he  is  resolutely  met,  it  is 
impossible  to  predict  the  result.  The  defence  entails  expenses 
which  are,  and  will  be,  heavy ;  and  we  have  to  appeal,  as  we 
do  with  confidence,  to  the  great  body  of  retail  and  wholesale 
dealers  to  aid  the  object  by  a  general  subscription.  Their 
protection  from  similar  suits  has,  no  doubt,  been  secured  by 
the  defence,  as  the  patent  has  expired  during  the  four  years 
of  litigation. 

“  It  should  be  understood  that  the  Defence  Committee  is 
not  identified  with,  and  has  no  claims  upon  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society,  though  many  of  the  leading  members  of  the 
latter  have  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  object  for  which  it 
has  been  formed. 

“Contributions  to  the  Defence  Fund,  in  stamps,  P.  O. 
Orders,  or  cheques,  crossed  ‘  London  and  County  Bank,  may 
be  paid  to  the  Treasurer,  Mr.  Lionel  Newbery,  44,  St.  Paul’s 
Churchyard,  London,  E.C. 

“  Inclosed  is  a  form  for  your  Subscription,  and  we  ask  the 
favour  of  your  filling  it  up  and  remitting  it  at  your  earliest 
convenience. 

“  For  the  Defence  Committee, 

“William  Temple  Cooper,  Chairman. 

“  26,  Oxford  Street,  London,  W.” 

The  following  gentlemen  form  the  Defence  Committee, 
who  ■will  furnish  any  required  information : — 

Barclay,  Robert,  Farringdon  Street,  E.C. 

Carteighe,  Michael,  172,  New  Bond  Street,  W. 

Cooper,  Wm.  Temple,  26,  Oxford  Street,  W. 

Ellis,  George  H.,  4,  Pavement,  Finsbury,  E.C. 

Field,  George,  168,  Edgware  Road,  W. 

Hart,  Walter,  38,  Blackman  Street,  S.E. 

Hills,  Thos.  Hyde,  338,  Oxford  Street,  W. 

Hoyenden,  Robt.,  jun.,  5,  Great  Marlborough  St.,  W. 

Newbery,  Lionel,  44,  St.  Paul’s  Churchyard,  E.C. 

Potts,  Robert  N.,  26,  South  Audley  Street,  W. 

Redwood,  Theophilus,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  W.C. 

Sandpord,  George  Webb,  47,  Piccadilly,  W. 

Sanger,  Wm.  Albert,  150,  Oxford  Street,  W. 

Smith,  Fred.  Wm.,  139,  Newington  Causeway,  S.E. 

Willmott,  Wm.,  83,  High  Street,  Borough,  S.E. 

17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  London. 


“  Free  Trade  in  Surgical  Instruments.” 

Sir, — May  we  be  allowed  to  say  a  few  words  with  reference 
to  the  article  in  your  Journal  of  July  30th,  in  which  our 
names  appear  ? 

In  sending  our  catalogue  of  surgeons’  instruments  to  the 
profession  direct,  we  most  certainly  had  no  intention  of  injur¬ 
ing  in  any  way  our  best  customers,  the  chemists  and  drug¬ 
gists  ;  indeed,  apart  from  any  better  feeling,  our  own  interest 
would  have  prevented  our  doing  this. 

We  learnt  from  experience  that  the  surgeons  would  buy 
their  instruments  direct,  and  in  endeavouring  to  transact 
this  branch  of  our  business  through  the  chemists  we  found 
we  were  seriously  prejudicing  ourselves  without  really  serv¬ 
ing  them. 

With  regard  to  the  few  sundries  included  in  the  surgeons’ 
price-current  they  were  added  simply  to  satisfy  the  profes¬ 
sion  without  furnishing  our  general  list,  and  we  carefully  ex¬ 
cluded  all  articles  that  we  thought  could  possibly  interfere 
with  the  chemists.  As,  however,  they  think  otherwise,  in 
future  we  shall  confine  our  surgeons’  list  strictly  to  surgeons’ 
instruments  and  appliances. 

We  fear,  owing  to  misconception,  which  we  deeply  regret, 
that  we  have  been  the  subjects  of  some  ill-feeling  in  certain 
quarters,  but  this  we  feel  confident  will  disappear  when  our 
motives  become  better  understood. 

In  the  conduct  of  our  business  we  have  always  scrupulously 
studied  the  benefits  of  the  trade,  even  when  to  our  own  pecu¬ 
niary  loss. 

Apologizing  for  troubling  you  on  a  matter  which,  although 
of  a  personal  character,  is  of  no  little  importance  to  us, 

We  are,  Sir,  yours  obediently, 

S.  Maw,  Son  and  Thompson. 

[*V*  We  think  it  right  to  remind  our  readers  that  the 
article  referred  to  by  Messrs.  Maw  dealt  writh  the  obnoxious 
mode  in  which  the  case  had  been  treated  of  in  a  contempo¬ 
rary  rather  than  with  the  merits  of  that  case,  which  is  some¬ 
what  outside  the  range  of  this  Journal. — Ed.  Ph.  J.  j 


Dear  Sir, — Will  you  kindly  insert  the  accompanying  in 
the  next  number  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal  ? 

Yours  truly, 

W.  T.  Cooper. 


220 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  10, 1870. 


Hospital  Dispensing. 

Sir, — This  morning  I  was  engaged  in  perusing  the  article 
in  the  Journal  containing  Mr.  Simon’s  reflections  (in  his  Re¬ 
port  to  the  Lords  of  the  Privy  Council)  upon  the  power  which 
is  vested  in  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  to  prescribe  regula¬ 
tions  as  to  the  keeping  of  poisons  not  having  been  exercised 
by  them,  when  I  was  interrupted  by  a  female  who  asked  for 
a  seidlitz  powder.  This  was  a  preliminary  to  the  inquiry 
how  she  ought  to  take  a  mixture,  or  whether  it  was  a  gargle, 
that  had  just  been  supplied  to  her  at  the  dispensary  of  St. 
Bartholomew’s  Hospital.  She  produced  about  O  j  of  medicine 
without  a  label,  but  in  its  place  a  scrap  of  ungummed  paper 
had  been  thrust  into  her  hand,  upon  which  was  printed 
“  One  teaspoonful  every  hours.” 

The  medicine  was  prescribed  by  one  of  the  ofRciais  connected 
with  the  hospital,  and  as  far  as  the  prescription  could  be  de¬ 
ciphered  from  its  scrawled  and  blotted  condition,  it  was  this — 
“  Hj  Mist.  Cinch.  Rosee  c.  Acid.” 

t. 

I  presume  the  t  meant  that  it  was  to  be  taken  three  times  a 
day,  although  a  teaspoonful  dose  would  be  quite  homoeopathic. 
I  tasted  it,  and  told  the  patient  that  undoubtedly  the  medi¬ 
cine  was  nothing  very  potent,  especially  as  it  had  been  com¬ 
pounded  at  an  establishment  that  did  not  incur  the  trifling 
expense  of  using  adhesive  labels. 

Coupled  with  the  podophyllin  prescription  supplied  by  a 
correspondent  last  week,  does  not  this  exhibit  great  laxness 
on  the  part  of  the  profession  compared  with  the  care  and  at¬ 
tention  displayed  in  most  retail  dispensing  establishments  ? 
Ought  not  Mr.  Simon’s  strictures  in  common  fairness  to  be 
applied  rather  to  the  dispensaries  for  the  poor  than  to  the 
dispensing  chemist  who,  for  his  own  interest,  is  careful  to 
place  explicit  directions  upon  adhesive  labels,  and  attach 
them  to  any  medicine  he  dispenses  ? 

I  am,  Sir,  yours,  etc., 

Robert  Owen  Bitch,  M.P.S.  G.B. 


Sir, — I  have  not  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  article  in 
the  Lancet  from  (which  you  quoted  last  week,  but,  judging 
from  the  choice  little  specimen,  feel  persuaded  that  the 
editor,  if  not  suffering  from  nervous  irritability,  must  have 
been  inhaling  that  gas  that  makes  people  feel  “jolly  under 
difficulties,”  as  did  Mark  Tapley  when  reduced  to  his  worst 
condition  in  the  flourishing  estate  of  Eden. 

General  practitioners,  who  are  everything  in  general  and 
nothing  in  particular,  do  sometimes  assume  airs  of  import¬ 
ance  that  suffer  an  eclipse  when  brought  in  close  proximity 
with  educated  pharmacists,  whose  labours  they  are  not  so 
unwilling  to  profit  by  as  to  acknowledge. 

The  head  and  front  of  their  offending  is  not  therefore 
ignorance  so  much  as  being  competitors  in  the  healing  art. 
They  spoil  practice,  and  many  a  profitable  case  is  entirely 
frustrated  by  the  timely  dose  that  saves  the  doctor. 

General  practitioners  must  sometimes  find  their  cloth 
wofully  soiled  by  contact  with  inferior  people  at  the  Poly¬ 
technic  and  elsewhere,— even  at  church,  which  does  not  ex¬ 
clude  greasy  butchers,  dusty  millers,  musty  pawnbrokers  or 
unctuous  grocers  when  properly  dressed  for  the  occasion. 
Above  all,  these  gentlemen  have  no  objection  to  take  pay 
from  the  disreputable  class  who  “prescribe  (not)  in  the 
dark,”  like  some  shady  practitioners  of  questionable  antece¬ 
dents,  in  their  “hideous  dens  of  iniquity,”  as  designated  by 
the  Times  not  many  years  since. 

I  hope  sufficient  spirit  will  be  found  among  us  to  assert 
our  claims  on  public  confidence  and  respect,  and  that  the 
depletory  influence  of  that  very  old-fashioned  and  almost 
obsolete  instrument,  the  Lancet,  will  not  succeed  in  taking 
one  drop  of  blood  from  our  body  corporate. 

I  am,  Sir,  yours  faithfully, 

N  on-Maleeactor. 


Mr.  Coles’  Prescription. 

Sir, — Respecting  Mr.  Coles’  Prescription  in  Journal  of  the 
3rd  inst.,  I  should  have  used  the  Acid.  Nit.  Mur.  Dil.  in  the 
mixture;  and  the  pills  I  would  have  made  into  twelve, 
knowing,  verbally  or  otherwise,  something  of  the  patient; 
and  the  Directions  ij  p.  e.  n.  Certainly  the  pills  would  be 
powerful,  but  I  should  consider  perfectly  safe. 

I  am,  Sir,  yours  faithfully, 

,  „  R.  Parkinson. 

1,  Wilham  Henry  Street,  Liverpool , 

September  6, 1870. 


As  Mr.  Coles  is  desirous  of  an  expression  of  opinion  from 
any  member  of  the  Profession  as  to  how  the  two  formulae  he 
has  given  ought  to  be  dispensed,  I  readily  offer  mine.  At 
first  glance,  both  appear  to  be  unusually  strong,  while  the 
pill  formula  is  incomplete  as  to  directions  for  the  number  of 
pills  intended  to  be  made  from  the  materice  ordered. 

In  my  experience  I  have  frequently  met  with  instances 
where  medical  men  have  given  such  decided  doses  of  the  very 
same  medicines,  and  I  will  refer  him  with  pleasure  to  two 
who  are  constantly  writing  such  prescriptions  as  he  has 
given.  Prom  the  adjuvans  ordered  in  the  latter  of  the  for¬ 
mulae,  it  appears  to  have  been  evidently  the  intention  of  the 
prescribers  to  exhibit  a  brisk  cathartic  to  counteract  the  con¬ 
stipating  effect  of  the  acid  when  given  in  so  large  a  dose;  but 
then  comes  the  question,  how  many  pills  were  intended? 
From  that  quantity  of  the  materioe  I  should  have  made  it 
into  thirty,  and  directed  two  to  be  taken  every  night. 

I  can  remember  a  case  in  my  early  dispensing  days  of  a 
man  who  regularly  took  one  grain  of  podophyllin  combined 
with  colocynth  and  extract  of  henbane  every  night  with  but 
little  intermission  for  months,  and  with  apparent  ease  as  well 
as  benefit  to  his  health. 

However,  if  opportunity  offered,  I  should  certainly  inquire 
into  the  case  before  delivering  the  medicine  to  my  customers. 

Peltatum. 


Concentrated  Medicine. 

A  correspondent  inquires  how  to  dispense  the  following : — 
R.  Ferri  Pot.  Tart.  3iij 
Amm.  Carbonat.  5iss 
Tinct.  Aurantii, 

Inf.  Calumb.  Cone,  aa  51SS 
Misce. 


M.  T.  (Hampstead)  is  referred  to  the  Erratum  below,  and 
to  No.  4,  p.  68,  where  there  is  a  note  on  the  subject. 

G.  L.  C.  Droivn  (Louth)  writes  to  say  that  he  has  had 
several  pigeons  poisoned  by  perchloride  of  mercury,  and 
wishes  to  be  informed  in  the  columns  of  the  J ournal  whether 
it  would  be  safe  to  eat  them. 

A.  S.  (Hertford)  writes,  in  reference  to  the  plate  licence  for 
smelling-bottles,  stating  that  “  silver- capped  bottles  are  ex¬ 
empt  if  under  5  dwts.,  gold-capped  bottles  are  exempt  if  under 
2  dwts.  of  metal.”  "We  thank  him  for  this  information,  which, 
we  publish  on  his  authority.  It  has  not  been  the  practice  to- 
answer  legal  questions  in  this  Journal. 

September  (London)  desires  to  have  a  formula  for  Brillian- 
tine.  We  must  refer  to  the  rule  as  to  anonymous  letters. 

Mr.  Francis  Bell  (Bradford)  writes  to  say  that  he  has  for¬ 
warded  to  the  German  Committee  in  that  town  12  yards  of 
adhesive  plaster,  2  lbs.  of  lint,  6  bottles  of  Condy’s  fluid  and 
1  oz.  bottle  of  Howard’s  quinine. 

H.  JE.  D.  (Wallingford)  wishes  to  know  whether  any  better 
work  can  be  recommended  for  following  in  collecting  an  her¬ 
barium  than  Babington’s  ‘Manual  of  British  Botany’  (Van 
Voorst,  10s.  6d.)  or  Hooker’s  ‘Student’s  Flora’  (Macmillan 
and  Co.,  10s.  6d.). 

C.  W.  K.  (Thorne). — The  exemption  is  granted  to  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Chemists  only. 

AT.  Y.  Z.  asks  whether  the  duty  is  taken  off  hops ;  whether 
brewers  are  allowed  to  substitute  any  other  bitter  in  making 
bitter  beer  and,  if  so,  whether  chemists  are  allowed  to  sell  it 
to  them.  We  must  call  our  correspondent’s  attention  to  the- 
rule  given  above  respecting  anonymous  communications. 

Erratum. — In  the  answer  to  X.  Y.,  p.  180,  col.  2,  line  26 
from  top ,for  weaker  read  stronger. 


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

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W.  Envelopes  to  be  endorsed  for  “  Bliarm. 
Journ.” 

The  General  Index  to  the7  first  Fifteen  volumes  of  this- 
J  ournal  may  be  obtained  of  the  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury 
Square,  price  2s.  8d.,  post  free ;  bound  in  cloth,  lettered,  3s.  8d., 
post  free. 

The  General  Index  to  the  Vols.  XVI.-XVIII.,  Old  Series, 
and  Vols.  I.-IX.,  Second  Series,  may  also  be  obtained  of  th# 
Secretary,  price  3s.  3 d.,  post  free. 


September  17,  1370.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


221 


GUARANA. 

PauUinia  sorbilis,  Mart. 

BY  M.  C.  COOKE,  M.A. 

Tlie  remarkable  product  called  Guarana  has  not 
been  many  years  known  in  Europe.  The  tree  whence 
it  is  obtained  belongs  to  the  Order  Sapindacece,  and 
is  abundant  in  the  province  of  Amazonas,  along  the 
banks  of  the  Tapajos,  Rio  Negro,  etc.,  as  well  as  in 
Guiana  and  Venezuela.  The  fruit,  scarcely  as  large 
as  a  walnut,  contains  five  or  six  seeds,  which  are 
roasted,  then  mixed  with  water,  and  moulded  into  a 
cylindrical  form  resembling  a  large  sausage,  then 
finally  dried  in  an  oven  and  offered  for  sale.  Gua¬ 
rana  is  used  extensively  in  Brazil,  Guatemala,  Costa 
Rica  and  other  parts  of  South  America,  as  a  nervous 
stimulant  and  restorative. 

Besides  its  medicinal  properties,  this  substance 
has  a  reputation  for  affording  a  refreshing  beverage 
similar  in  its  effects  to  tea  and  coffee.  It  is  grated 
into  a  powder,  very  like  powdered  cacao  in  appear¬ 
ance.  Two  spoonfuls  of  this  powder  are  mixed  in  a 
tumbler  of  water,  and  this  drink  is  regarded  as  a 
stimulant  to  the  nerves,  and,  like  strong  tea  or  coffee, 
is  said  to  take  away  the  disposition  to  sleep. 

The  active  chemical  principle  is  an  alkaloid  first 
discovered  by  Dr.  Theodore  von  Martius,  and  called 
by  him  Guaranine,  but  since  shown  by  Dr.  Sten- 
house  to  be  identical  with  Tlieine.  Guarana  con¬ 
tains  more  than  double  as  much  of  this  alkaloid  as 
good  black  tea,  and  five  times  as  much  as  coffee,  the 
proportions  being  5‘07  per  cent,  in  Guarana,  2'13 
per  cent,  in  tea,  and  0*80  to  l- 00  in  coffee.*  The 
same  alkaloid  is  found  to  the  amount  of  U25  per 
cent,  in  mate,  or  Paraguay  tea,  the  produce  of  several 
species  of  Ilex. 

It  is  rather  a  singular  coincidence  that  the  same 
alkaloid  should  prevail  in  all  the  principal  sub¬ 
stances  employed  hi  a  a  similar  manner  as  beverages 
in  different  parts  of  the  world, — in  the  tea  of  China 
and  India,  the  coffee  of  Arabia,  the  cacao  of  Central 
America,  the  mate  of  South  America,  and  the  Gua¬ 
rana  of  Brazil.  M.  Fournier  has  found  in  the  last- 
named  substance,  besides  tannate  of  caffein,  the  fol¬ 
lowing  principles : — gum,  starch,  an  acrid  green 
fixed  oil,  a  concrete  volatile  oil,  scarcely  soluble  in 
water,  a  peculiar  principle  not  precisely  determined, 
and  tannic  acid,  f 

According  to  the  ‘  Technologist,’  there  is  exported 
annually  from  the  city  of  Santarem  about  16,000  lbs. 
of  tliis  substance,  valued  at  eightpence  or  ninepence 
per  pound,  and  on  the  Rio  Negro  it  has  been  sold  as 
low  as  one  penny  per  pound.  Specimens  were  ex¬ 
hibited  in  the  Brazilian  Court  of  the  International 
Exhibition  of  1862,  made  by  the  Amazonian  Indians, 
who  prepare  it  for  then  own  use,  and  for  conveyance 
to  Para,  Matto  Grosso,  and  Goyaz.  Six  different 
preparations  made  in  Vienna  from  this  substance 
were  also  shown  in  the  Austrian  Court. 

When  Guarana  was  first  employed  in  France 
medicinally,  it  sold  at  the  rate  of  from  four  shillings 
to  twenty  shillings  per  ounce,  but  has  since  gone 
down  in  price.  It  is  included  amongst  the  non-offi- 
cinal  substances  of  the  ‘  United  States  Dispensatory.’ 

Its  effects  upon  the  system  are  said  to  be  those  of 
a  tonic,  but  they  do  not  appear  to  have  been  accu¬ 


rately  investigated.  It  is  habitually  employed  by 
the  Indians  of  Brazil,  either  mixed  with  articles  of 
diet  as  with  cassava  or  chocolate,  or  in  the  form  of 
drink,  prepared  by  scraping  it,  and  suspending  the 
powder  in  sweetened  water.  It  is  considered  by 
them  useful  in  the  prevention  and  cure  of  bowel 
complaints.  Dr.  Gavrelle,  who  was  formerly  physi¬ 
cian  to  Dom  Pedro  in  Brazil,  called  the  attention  of 
the  inofession  to  it  some  years  since  in  France.  He 
had  found  it  advantageous  in  the  diarrhoea  of  phthisis, 
sick  headache,  paralysis,  tedious  convalescence,  and 
generally  as  a  tonic.  By  Dr.  Ritchie,  surgeon  in  the 
British  Navy,  it  is  highly  recommended  in  irritation 
of  the  urinary  passages.*  Dr.  Herve  has  been  in 
the  habit  of  using  it  daily  for  five  or  six  years,  and 
has  never  failed  to  derive  advantage  from  it  in  idio¬ 
pathic  diarrhoea,  even  in  the  most  obstinate  cases. f 
It  may  be  given  in  substance,  in  the  quantity  of 
one  or  two  drachms,  scraped  into  powder,  and  mixed 
with  sweetened  water,  but  the  most  convenient  form 
of  administration  is  that  of  spirituous  extract.  Ac¬ 
cording  to  M.  Dechastelus,  alcohol  is  the  only  agent 
which  completely  extracts  its  virtues,  ether  and 
water  effecting  tliis  object  but  partially.  Of  the  ex¬ 
tract  eight  or  ten  grains  may  be  given  during  the 
day,  in  the  form  of  pill.  It  may  also  be  taken  along 
with  chocolate  as  a  drink.  | 

Another  species  of  PauUinia  ( P .  cupana )  growing 
on  the  banks  of  the  Orinoco  river,  is  also  said  to 
yield  a  similar  substance.  Guarana,  or  Paullinia, 
as  it  is  sometimes  called,  has  never  obtained  general 
favour  in  this  country. 


THE  SOURCE  OF  MUSCULAR  POWER, 

BY  BARON  LIEBIG. 

Considering  muscle  as  the  working  apparatus  and 
source  of  power  in  the  animal  body,  a  knowledge  of  its 
chemical  composition  acquires  great  interest ;  but 
unfortunately  we  know  very  much  less  of  tliis  than 
of  its  morphological  relations. 

We  distinguish  in  muscle  constituents  with  defi¬ 
nite  forms  from  others  that  are  amorphous ;  and  one- 
seventli  part  of  the  dry  material  of  muscle  consists 
of  soluble  substances  which  do  not  coagulate  when 
heated.  These  constitute  the  so-called  extractive, 
that  is  taken  up  from  disintegrated  muscle  by  cold 
water. 

Urea  and  uric  acid  do  not  exist  in  healthy  muscle ; 
uric  acid  has  only  once  been  met  with  by  Meissner 
in  fowls’  flesh,  and  in  very  small  amount — a  few 
milligrams  in  nine  pounds  of  flesh. 

The  mere  fact  of  the  invariable  presence  of  creatin 
or  creatinin  in  the  muscular  flesh  of  all  the  higher 
classes  of  animals  may  be  regarded  as  decisive  proof 
in  favour  of  the  opinion  that  both  these  substances 
are  necessary  for  the  economy  of  muscle. 

Some  physiologists  have  regarded  them  as  apper¬ 
taining  to  excretions,  especially  because  creatinin 
is  frequently  present  in  urine. 

Creatin  is,  in  virtue  of  its  chemical  characteristics^ 
a  substance  that  is  unique ;  imder  the  influence  ol 
very  feeble  reactions, — such,  for  instance,  as  in  a 
fermenting  sugar  solution,  § — it  is  converted  into  a 


*  Ed.  Month.  Journ.  Med.  Sc.  N.s.  v.  p.  4G7. 
d  Brit,  and  For.  Med.  Chir.  JRev.,  Jan.  1858,  p.  192. 
J  United  States  Dispensatory,’  12th  cd.  p.  1578. 

§  Pharm.  Journ.  3rd  ser.  Yol.  I.  p.  142. 


*  For  an  account  of  Dr.  Stenliouse’s  researches,  see  Pharm. 
Journ.  1st  ser.  Yol.  XYI.  p.  212. 
f  Journ.  de  Pharm ,  April  1861,  p.  291. 

Third  Series,  No.  12. 


222 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  17,  1870. 


very  strong  alkaline  base,  and  then  again  into  a 
neutral  substance  solely  by  losing  or  taking  up  water, 
and  without  the  aid  of  acids  when  neutralization 
takes  place.  A  substance  possessing  such  remark¬ 
able  characters  must  surely  be  of  some  importance 
for  the  processes  taking  place  in  the  force-producing 
apparatus. 

However,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that,  in  some 
part,  these  substances  are  given  off  by  the  system ;  but 
I  believe  it  is  going  too  far  to  infer,  from  their  presence 
in  urine,  that  they  have  not  taken  part  in  the  pro¬ 
cesses  going  on  in  the  muscles.  The  organic  alkalies, 
to  which  class  creatinin  belongs,  are  compounds  of  a 
peculiar  and  very  stable  kind  :  and  every  one  would 
hold  it  to  be  inadmissible  that  quinine  should  be  re¬ 
garded  as  without  influence  in  the  process  of  the 
body,  simply  because  it  was  present  in  the  urine. 

Inosinic  acid  is,  according  to  the  most  recent  ob¬ 
servations  of  Seekamp,  a  constant  constituent  of  ox- 
flesh  and  probably  of  all  flesh.  Tins  is  also  the 
case  with  hypoxantliin. 

The  imcrystallizable  nitrogenous  constituents  of 
muscular  flesh,  which  quantitatively  preponderate, 
are  almost  unknown  as  regards  their  chemical  nature ; 
among  those  which  are  non-nitrogenous  there  is  one 
substance  readily  susceptible  of  conversion  into  lactic 
acid,  perhaps  sugar  or  inosite,  which  is  present  in 
larger  amount  in  the  muscles  of  the  heart. 

From  what  has  already  been  said,  it  follows  that 
myosin  or  syntonin,  albumen  tissues,  nerve  substance 
and  phosphates  do  not  alone  make  up  muscle,  but 
that  the  other  combustible  substances,  so  remark¬ 
able  in  their  chemical  nature,  must  be  regarded  as 
equally  essential  constituents.  All  together  take 
part  in  the  processes  of  the  working  muscle,  and 
they  must  be  considered  as  conditions  of  those  pro¬ 
cesses. 

There  is  scarcely  an  inference,  much  less  a  fact, 
that  requires  no  further  foundation  ;  and  if  the 
formed  muscle  constituents  be  regarded  as  the  parts 
of  the  machine,  the  other  mobile  constituents  of  the 
muscle  must  serve  as  the  working  material. 

From  this  point  of  vieAV,  I  believe  we  obtain  a 
wider  conception  of  the  processes  of  nutrition,  which, 
up  to  the  present,  are  known  only  in  the  most  super¬ 
ficial  manner ;  while  the  difference  between  these 
processes  in  carnivorous  and  herbivorous  animals 
becomes  clearer. 

Plants  produce  the  albuminates  which  the  herbi¬ 
vorous  animal  works  up  into  muscular  flesh ;  while 
carnivorous  animals  live  upon  the  flesh  of  the 
herbivora ;  the  organism  of  the  carnivorous  animal 
is  not  incapable  of  producing  albuminates  from 
plants,  but,  as  regards  its  maintenance  and  develop¬ 
ment,  it  is  not  adapted  for  the  working  up  of  plant 
albuminates  into  flesh. 

The  organism  of  the  herbivorous  animal  possesses, 
in  virtue  of  its  peculiar  arrangement,  the  capability 
of  working  up  its  fodder  and  converting  it  into  part 
of  its  body. 

The  carnivorous  animal  is  wholly  destitute  of  this 
capacity ;  its  body  is  not  adapted  for  working  up 
vegetable  food,  as  it  is  presented  naturally. 

It  is  impossible  to  nourish  a  carnivorous  animal 
with  peas,  corn  or  grass ;  the  animal  does  not  eat 
these  materials,  nor  can  it  become  used  to  them ; 
its  masticatory  apparatus  is  adapted  for  tearing  and 
devouring,  not  for  chewing;  the  meat  food  the  ani¬ 
mal  is  supplied  with  requires  no  chewing  in  order  to 
become  assimilable. 


By  the  art  of  man  it  is  possible  to  make  up  for  one 
of  these  deficiencies,  but  not  for  all  of  them,  though 
some  lands  of  vegetable  food  may  be  made  service¬ 
able  for  carnivorous  animals,  as,  for  instance,  by 
converting  com  into  meal ;  thus,  domesticated  car¬ 
nivorous  animals  may  be  nourished  with  bread  or 
meal  in  the  form  of  porridge,  dumplings,  etc.,  with 
or  without  the  addition  of  fat. 

The  nutrition  of  carnivora  with  such  prepared 
vegetable  food  is  always  imperfect ;  the  animals  con¬ 
sume  a  large  quantity,  but  their  digestive  apparatus 
is  not  suited  for  dealing  with  the  large  quantity  that 
would  be  requisite  for  satisfying  the  animals’  wants 
within  a  given  time. 


The  conversion  of  plant-albuminates  into  flesh, 
into  the  apparatus  by  which  an  animal  produces  its 
power  and  heat,  and  the  digestion  of  starch,  subjects 
its  body  to  working  exercise  which  it  is  spared  when 
feeding  on  its  usual  diet.  A  greater  part  of  the  total 
of  the  animal’s  internal  force  is  expended  in  the 
working  up  of  these  materials ;  it  loses  its  wildness, 
and  approximates  in  character  to  an  herbivorous 
animal.  Therefore  a  carnivorous  animal  is  scarcely 
suitable  as  a  subject  for  experiments  intended  for 
the  accurate  determination  of  nutrition  processes. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  working  organs  of  the 
herbivora,  their  chewing  apparatus  and  digestive  or¬ 
gans,  are  not  only  adapted  for  the  subdivision,  but 


also  for  receiving 


large 


masses  of  vegetable  fodder 


in  our  specially  flesli-producing  domestic  animals 
nearly  the  whole  of  the  available  force  in  the  body  is 
expended  upon  this  internal  work.  Besides  the 
carrying  and  motion  of  their  bodies,  these  animals 
do  no  external  work ;  whatever  external  work  they 
are  compelled  to  do  is  lost  for  their  internal  work  of 
flesh-production. 

Comparing  flesh  with  albuminates  the  difference 
between  them  is  immediately  evident.  Fresh  lean 
muscular  flesh  (beef)  contains  : — 

Fat  and  Lactic  Acid  of  Flesh  .  1T8‘ 

Syntonin,  Albumen  of  Flesh  .  .  18-00 

Tissue,  Vessels  and  Nerves  .  .  P50 

Combustible  Soluble  Material 

(extractive) . 2 '64 

Soluble  Salts . 0"6G 

Insoluble  Phosphates  .  .  .  .  0T4 

Water . 

The  plant- albuminates  which  serve  in 
of  an  herbivorous  animal  for  the  production  of  its 
flesh,  are  chemically  identical  with  the  syntonin  and 
albumen  of  flesh ;  the  tissues  and  vessels  differ  far 
more  in  their  composition  from  albuminates,  and  most 
of  all  the  combustible  soluble  constituents  of  muscle. 

Hence  it  is  evident  that  while  the  conversion  of 
plant- albuminates  into  flesh-albuminates  requires  the 
least  expenditure  of  internal  work,  the  production  of 
the  soluble  constituents  of  muscle  requires  the  great¬ 
est  amount  of  internal  work,  and  since  this  is  con¬ 
nected  with  the  consumption  of  material,  the  animals 
require  for  the  maintenance  or  increase  of  their  bod}r- 
weiglit  a  larger  amount  of  albuminates. 

In  the  living  organism  the  laws  that  obtain  in  na- 


24T2 


75-88 

the  body 


ture  generally  are  also  in  full  force,  and  thus  the 
character  of  the  fodder  has  the  greatest  influence 
upon  the  external  working  capabilities  of  the  animal. 

In  appreciating  and  applying  these  conditions,  art 
is  as  usual  in  advance  of  science,  certainly  without 
being  able  to  afford  any  explanation  of  the  facts 
they  are  familiar  with,  for  this  is  not  the  province  of 
art. 


September  17, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


223 


The  feeders  cf  cattle  distinguish  fodder  that  pro¬ 
duces  power  from  ordinary  fodder.  Of  the  former 
land  are  the  seeds  of  cereals  and  Leguminosce ,  which 
are  richest  in  albuminates  and  starch,  the  most 
easly  digested  vegetable  food ;  they  require  less  in¬ 
ternal  work,  and  much  less  time  for  digestion  in  the 
stomachs  of  the  animals  and  for  their  transfer  into 
the  circulation,  than  is  required  by  the  nutritive  ma¬ 
terial  of  grass  or  hay ;  and  it  is  well  known  what  a 

(considerable  influence  is  exercised  on  the  vigour  of 
a  horse  by  the  addition  of  oats  to  liay-fodder,  or  on 
the  production  of  flesh  in  oxen  and  pigs  by  beans  or 
peas. 

Whatever  internal  work  the  animal  is  relieved  of 
in  one  direction  becomes  available  in  another  direc¬ 
tion. 

Just  the  same  laws  obtain  for  man  who  com¬ 
bines  the  peculiarities  of  both  the  herbivora  and 
the  carnivora. 

There  are  large  classes  of  society,  whole  nations  of 
people,  who  live  exclusively  on  vegetable  food  and 
possess  the  full  working  capacity  of  working  animals, 
but  man,  on  the  whole  cannot  dispense  with  meat 
when  engaged  in  a  higher  order  of  work. 

This  is  the  case  in  a  special  degree  for  the  labour 
of  the  brain  or  intellectual  work  which  the  animal 
has  not  to  perform.  This  involves  as  great,  and 
perhaps  much  greater  expenditure  of  internal  force 
as  mechanical  work  by  the  limbs.  For  the  mainte¬ 
nance  of  such  work  an  artificially  prepared  food  is  of 
especial  utility  to  a  man,  and  every  one  knows  that 
when  his  digestive  organs  come  into  conflict  with  his 
food  the  capacity  for  either  intellectual  and  bodily 
work  is  thereby  reduced.  The  food  must  be  of  such 
a  character  that  the  work  of.  digestion  and  various 
other  kinds  of  internal  work  shall  not  be  interfered 
with.  The  mere  prevention  of  sleep  in  consequence 
of  eating  indigestible  food  will,  in  this  respect,  pro¬ 
duce  a  difference. 

It  is  also  intelligible  that  for  a  carnivorous  animal 
a  certain  weight  of  albuminates  eaten  in  the  form  of 
bread  cannot  be  equal  to  the  same  weight  of  albumi¬ 
nates  in  its  flesli-diet,  in  which  the  albuminates  are 
taken,  not  only  in  a  concentrated  form  most  suitable 
to  the  capacity  and  power  of  exercise  of  the  digestive 
organs,  but  at  the  same  time  meat  supplies  all  the 
constituents  of  the  muscular  juices.  In  the  case  of 
a  carnivorous  animal  the  food  taken  requires  a 
minimum  of  internal  work  for  the  reconversion  of  its 
constituents  into  muscular  apparatus  capable  of  ex¬ 
ertion  and  for  making  them  serviceable  for  the  other 
requirements  of  the  body. 

The  conversion  of  a  part  of  the  plant- albuminate 
into  the  soluble  constituents  of  muscle  would  require 
in  the  animal’s  body  a  certain  amount  of  work,  that 
it  would  be  relieved  of  almost  entirely  when  the  albu¬ 
minate  was  supplied  as  meat.* 


*  This  will  perhaps  account  for  the  remarkable  fact  ob¬ 
served  by  Bischoff  and  Yoit  with  the  dog  as  regards  the  in¬ 
crease  of  body- weight  under  meat  diet. 

A  dog  that  had  been  reduced  by  feeding  it  on  bread,  and  of 
34  kilograms  weight,  was  then  fed  with  1800  grams  of  meat, 
and,  on  the  first  day,  it  gained  600  grams.  One-third  of  the 
meat  eaten  remained  in  the  dog’s  body  and  increased  its 
weight  g^th. 

On  the.  contrary,  in  feeding  oxen,  the  rule  is  that  for  the 
increase  in  body-weight  of  1  pound  (=  125  grm.  dry),  from 
four  to  six  times  as  much  albuminates  must  be  supplied  in  the 
food ;  a  tolerably  sure  indication  how  much  more  work  and 
material  is  expended  by  the  herbivorous  animal  in  producing 
flesh. 


In  roasting  and  boiling  meat,  the  flesh  albuminates 
coagulate,  the  soluble  constituents  of  muscle  pass 
into  the  liquid  which  is  retained  almost  entirely,  in 
the  case  of  roast  meat,  within  it  as  in  a  sponge. 
Physiologists  have  made  the  remarkable  observation 
that  flesh  albuminates,  when  coagulated  by  heat  and 
sufficiently  subdivided  by  mastication,  are  more  solu¬ 
ble,  or,  as  this  is  generally  expressed,  more  digestible 
than  they  are  in  the  raw  state.  Both  raw  and  cooked 
albuminates  are  converted  in  the  stomach  into  one 
and  the  same  product,  peptone,  while  the  most 
general  experience  shows  that  roast  meat,  as  well  as 
boiled  meat  eaten  with  the  broth  in  which  it  has 
been  boiled,  possesses  the  same  nutritive  value  as  the 
raw  meat  that  a  carnivorous  animal  eats.  Conse¬ 
quently  the  soluble  constituents  of  muscle  hi  cooked 
meat  must  perform  the  same  duty  in  the  human 
organism  as  they  do  in  the  organism  of  the  car¬ 
nivora. 

The  organs  of  digestion  have  the  greatest  bulk  of 
all  the  organs  of  the  body ;  next  to  the  heart  and 
breathing  muscles,  they  have  the  most  severe  interior 
work  to  perform.  A  muscular  apparatus  of  conside¬ 
rable  development  works  for  hours  hi  order  to  set  in 
motion  the  relatively  heavy  mass  of  food  and  to 
affect  the  intermixture  of  all  its  parts  with  the  se¬ 
creted  juices  of  the  stomach,  so  that  it  is  easy  to 
understand  how  the  force  which  those  muscles  expend 
must  be  derived  chiefly  from  the  muscles  of  voluntary 
motion,  and  hence  it  is  that  rest  of  the  body  is  one 
of  the  conditions  of  active  digestion.* 

The  influence  of  indigestible  food  or  of  a  disturb¬ 
ance  of  the  digestion  upon  the  activity  of  all  the 
organs  in  the  body,  upon  the  mechanical  work  of  the 
limbs,  the  work  of  the  brain  and  upon  sleep  is  suffi¬ 
ciently  well  known.  It  is  evident  that  food  which 
is  difficult  to  digest  requires  a  longer  time,  while 
easily- digestible  food  requires  a  shorter  time  for  its 
digestion,  and  that  the  time  must  be  proportionate 
to  the  work  to  be  performed ;  the  shorter  the  time  of 
digestion  the  more  force  is  economized,  and  of  course 
reserved  for  other  organs.  From  this  point  of  view, 
viz.  economy  of  working  power,  the  art  of  preparing 
food  for  men  as  well  as  for  animals  acquires  a  high 
significance. 

“  Soup  and  porridge,”  says  Hippocrates,  “  were 
invented  because  experience  taught  men  that  the 
food  which  suits  healthy  people  is  not  applicable  for 
the  sick.” 

I  have  already  mentioned  the  remarkable  result 
that  is  attained  by  a  simple  mechanical  subdivision 
of  certain  kinds  of  vegetable  food  in  regard  to  their 
digestion  in  the  stomach  of  a  carnivorous  animal ;  it 
spares  the  animal  the  work  of  chewing  and  enhances 
the  digestibility  of  the  food.  Probably  by  boiling 
meal  to  porridge,  by  the  conversion  of  starch  into 
dextrin  and  sugar,  together  with  the  addition  of 
proper  condiments,  etc.,  the  nutritive  value  of  the 
food  may  be  yet  further  augmented  for  the  animal. 

For  man  especially,  the  proper  selection  and  pre¬ 
paration  of  his  food  are  of  vast  importance  for  the 
development  and  exercise  of  all  his  powers. 


*  The  influence  of  different  kinds  of  working  apparatus 
upon  each  other  is  easily  intelligible  if  we  think  of  what  takes 
place  in  a  factory  whereby  a  single  steam  engine,  or  by  the 
available  power,  several  machines  are  kept  at  work ;  for  ex¬ 
ample,  a  hammer  and  a  rolling-mill  at  the  same  time.  When 
the  rolls  are  in  full  work,  the  hammer  does  but  little,  and 
when  the  hammer  is  being  worked,  only  thin  plates  can  bo 
rolled. 


224 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  17,  1870. 


Bread  such  as  is  commonly  eaten,  may  he  in  a 
certain  sense  compared  to  the  hay  with  which  a 
horse  is  fed ;  hut  it  is  known  that  when  a  horse  is 
fed  with  hay  alone,  all  its  capabilities  are  not  fully 
developed. 

It  is  only  necessary  to  compare  the  performances 
of  German  workmen,  who  consume  bread  and  po¬ 
tatoes  chiefly,  with  those  of  English  and  American 
workmen  who  eat  meat,  in  order  to  acquire  a  clear 
perception  of  the  degree  in  which  the  magnitude, 
energy  and  duration  of  the  work  done  by  the  latter 
are  augmented  by  the  kind  of  food  they  live  upon. 
Again,  compare  the  English  statesman  who,  in 
expounding  his  views  or  maintaining  a  debate  in 
Parliament  delivers  a  speech  lasting  five  hours  or 
more,  who  at  sixty  years  of  age  retains  the  capability 
of  taking  part  in  field  sports,  with  the  German  phi¬ 
losopher  who  at  the  same  age  keeps  up  with  difficulty 
the  remains  of  his  powers  in  order  to  be  capable  of 
work,  while  he  becomes  fatigued  by  a  walk  of  a  few 
hours. 

For  considerable  and  long- continued  intellectual 
or  bodily  exertion  it  is  necessary  to  have  not  only 
good  organs  of  digestion,  it  is  equally  necessary  that 
there  should  be  a  proper  selection  of  food,  which 
should  be  of  such  a  character  that  the  smallest  pos¬ 
sible  portion  of  its  available  force  may  be  required 
for  the  full  production  of  its  action  in  the  body,  so 
that  there  may  be  the  more  of  that  force  remaining 
disposable  at  the  will  of  the  individual. 

A  knowledge  of  the  conditions  most  proper  for  nu¬ 
trition  with  a  view  to  the  performance  of  work  is 
therefore  most  of  all  requisite  in  reference  to  man. 
We  must  endeavour  to  obtain  very  different  means 
of  judging  as  to  these  conditions  now  that  we  know 
urea  is  not  either  a  measure  of  the  work  done,  or 
exclusively  a  measure  of  the  increase  or  decrease  of 
the  body  during  rest  or  work,  as  Dr.  Parke’s  obser¬ 
vations  show. 


WHAT  IS  ENERGY? 

BY  BALFOUR  STEWART. 

III. - THE  CONSERVATION  OF  ENERGY. 

It  is  well  known  that  certain  organisms  of  the 
animal  world  do  not  confine  themselves  to  one  state 
of  being .  or  to  one  order  of  existence,  and  the  most 
familiar  instance  of  this  roving  habit  of  life  is  the 
caterpillar,  which  passes  first  into  the  chrysalis 
state,  and  after  that  into  the  butterfly.  This  habit 
is  not,  however,  peculiar  to  the  organic  wrorld,  for 
energy  delights  in  similar  transmutations,  and  we 
have  just  seen  how  the  eminently  silent  and  invisible 
electrical  current  may  occasionally  be  transmuted 
into  the  vivid,  instantaneous,  awe-inspiring  flash  of 
lightning.  Nor  is  this  element  of  change  confined 
to  our  peculiar  corner  of  the  universe,  but  it  extends 
itself  to  remote  starry  systems,  in  some  of  which 
there  is  a  total  extinction  of  luminosity  for  a  while, 
to  be  succeeded  by  a  most  brilliant  luminous  out¬ 
burst,  presenting  all  the  appearance  of  a  wrorld  on 
fire. 

.  We  shall  not  enter  here  into  great  detail  regard¬ 
ing  the  various  changes  of  energy  from  one  form  into 
another;  suffice  it  to  say,  that  amid  a  11  these 
changes  of  form,  and  sometimes  of  quality,  the  ele¬ 
ment  of  quantity  remains  the  same.  Those  of  our 
readers  who  are  mathematicians  know  what  is  meant 


by  variable  quantities ;  for  instance,  in  the  equation 
x  -f-  y  +  £  =  A,  if  x,  y,  and  z  are  variable  and  A  con¬ 
stant,  you  may  change  x  into  y  and  into  z,  and  y 
into  x  and  into  z,  and  in  fact  perform  any  changes, 
you  choose  upon  the  left-hand  side  of  your  equation, 
provided  that  you  keep  their  sum  always  constant 
and  equal  to  A.  It  is  precisely  thus  in  the  world  of 
energy ;  and  the  invariability  of  the  sum  of  all  the 
energies  of  the  universe  forms  the  doctrine  known  as 
the  “  conservation  of  energy.”  This  doctrine  is  no¬ 
thing  else  than  an  intelligent  and  scientific  denial  of 
the  chimera  of  perpetual  motion. 

Recognizing  the  great  importance  of  work,  it  was 
natural  enough  at  an  early  stage  of  our  knowledge 
that  enthusiasts  should  endeavour  to  create  energy 
or  the  power  of  doing  work,  that  is  to  say,  endeavour 
to  construct  a  machine  that  should  go  on  working 
for  ever  without  needing  to  be  supplied  with  fuel  in 
any  way,  and  accordingly  inventors  became  pos¬ 
sessed  with  the  idea  that  some  elaborate  system  of 
machinery  would,  no  doubt,  give  us  this  grand  desi¬ 
deratum,  and  men  of  science  have  been  continually 
annoyed  with  these  projects  until,  in  a  moment  of 
inspiration,  they  conceived  the  doctrine^of  the  con¬ 
servation  of  energy. 

It  flows  from  this  doctrine  that  a  machine  is 
merely  an  instrument  which  is  supplied  with  energy 
in  one  form,  and  which  converts  it  into  another  and 
more  convenient  form  according  to  the  law  of  the 
machine. 

We  shall  now  proceed  to  trace  the  j)rogress  of 
energy  through  some  of  its  most  important  transfor¬ 
mations.  To  begin  with  that  one  to  which  we  have 
already  alluded,  what  becomes  of  the  energy  of  a 
falling  body  after  it  strikes  the  earth?  This  ques¬ 
tion  may  be  varied  in  a  great  number  of  ways.  We 
may  ask,  for  instance,  what  becomes  of  the  energy 
of  a  railway-train  when  it  is  stopped  ?  what  becomes 
of  the  energy  of  a  hammer  after  it  has  struck  the 
anvil  ?  of  a  cannon-ball  after  it  has  struck  the  tar¬ 
get  ?  and  so  on. 

In  all  these  varieties  we  see  that  either  percussion, 
or  friction  is  at  work :  thus,  it  is  friction  that  stops- 
a  railway-train,  and  it  is  percussion  that  stops  the 
motion  of  a  falling  stone  or  of  a  faffing  hammer,  so 
that  our  question  is,  in  reality,  what  becomes  of  the 
energy  of  visible  motion  when  it  has  been  stopped 
by  percussion  or  friction  ? 

Rumford  and  Davy  were  the  pioneers  in  replying 
to  this  important  question.  Rumford  found  that  hi 
the  process  of  boring  cannon  the  heat  generated  was 
sometimes  so  great  as  to  boil  water,  and  he  sup¬ 
posed  that  work  was  changed  into  heat  in  the  pro¬ 
cess  of  boring.  Davy  again  melted  two  pieces  of 
ice  by  causing  them  to  rub  against  each  other,  and 
he  likewise  concluded  that  the  work  spent  on  this 
process  had  been  converted  into  heat. 

We  see  now  why  by  hammering  a  coin  on  an 
anvil  we  can  heat  it  very  greatly,  or  why  on  a  dark 
night  the  sparks  are  seen  to  fly  out  from  the  break- 
wheel  which  stops  the  motion  of  the  railway-train,  or 
why  by  rubbing  a  metal  button  violently  backwards 
and  forwards  against  a  piece  of  wood  we  can  render 
it  so  hot  as  to  scorch  our  hand,  for  in  all  these  cases 
it  is  the  energy  of  visible  motion  which  is  being  con¬ 
verted  into  heat. 

But  although  this  was  known  nearly  a  century 
ago,  it  was  reserved  for  Joule,  an  English  philo¬ 
sopher  of  the  present  day,  to  point  out  the  nume¬ 
rical  relation  subsisting  between  that  species  of 


September  17,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


225 


i  energy  wliicli  we  call  visible  motion  and  that  which 
we  call  heat. 

The  result  of  his  numerous  and  laborious  experi¬ 
ments  was,  that  if  a  pound  of  water  be  dropped  from 
a  height  of  772  feet  under  the  influence  of  gravity, 
and  if  the  velocity  which  it  attains  be  suddenly 
stopped  and  converted  into  heat,  this  heat  will  be 
sufficient  to  raise  the  whole  mass  1°  F.  in  tempe¬ 
rature. 

From  this  he  concluded  that  when  a  pound  of 
water  is  heated  1°  F.  in  temperature,  an  amount  of 
molecular  energy  enters  into  the  water  which  is 
equivalent  to  7  7  2  foot-pounds,  that  is  to  say,  to  one 
pound  raised  772  feet  high  against  the  influence  of 
gravity,  or  allowed  to  fall  772  feet  under  the  same 
influence. 

He  found  again  that  if  a  pound  of  water  were  to 
fall  twice  this  distance,  or  1544  feet  under  gravity, 
the  velocity  if  stopped  would  raise  its  temperature 
2°  F.,  and  in  fact  that  the  rise  of  temperature  under 
such  circumstances  is  proportional  to  the  height 
from  which  the  pound  of  water  is  supposed  to  fall. 
By  this  means  an  exact  relation  is  established  be¬ 
tween  heat  and  work.  Grove  was  the  first  to  point 
out  the  probability  of  a  connection  between  the 
various  species  of  molecular  energy;  and  the  re¬ 
searches  of  Joule,  Thomson,  and  others  have  esta¬ 
blished  these  relations  with  numerical  accuracy. 
No  better  example  of  the  correlation  of  the  various 
kinds  of  energy  can  be  given  than  what  takes  place 
in  a  galvanic  battery.  Let  us  suppose  that  zinc  is 
the  metal  used.  Here  the  source  of  energy  is  the 
burning  or  chemical  combination  of  the  zinc  with 
oxygen,  etc.,  in  order  to  form  a  salt  of  zinc.  The 
source  of  energy  is,  in  fact,  much  the  same  as  when 
coal  is  burned  ;  it  is  the  energy  produced  by  chemi¬ 
cal  combination.  Now,  as  we  have  said,  the  zinc 
combines  with  the  oxygen  and  sulphate  of  zinc  is 
produced,  but  the  result  of  this  combination  does  not 
at  first  exhibit  itself  in  the  form  of  heat,  but  rather 
in  that  of  an  electric  current.  No  doubt  a  great 
portion  of  the  energy  of  tills  electric  current  is  ulti¬ 
mately  spent  in  heat,  but  we  may,  if  we  choose, 
spend  part  in  promoting  chemical  decomposition ; 
for  instance,  we  may  decompose  water.  In  this  case 
part  of  the  energy  of  the  battery,  derived,  as  has 


been  stated,  from  the  burning  of  the  zinc,  is  spent  in 
heat  and  part  in  decomposing  the  water,  and  hence 
we  shall  have  less  heat  than  if  there  were  no  water 
to  decompose.  But  if,  when  we  have  decomposed 
the  water,  we  mix  together  the  two  gases  hydrogen 
and  oxygen  which  are  the  results  of  this  decomposi¬ 
tion  and  explode  them,  we  shall  recover  the  precise 
deficiency  of  heat.  Without  the  decomposition,  let 
us  say  that  the  burning  in  the  battery  of  a  certain 
weight  of  zinc  gives  us  heat  equal  to  100,  but  with 
the  decomposition  only  80,  twenty  units  of  energy 
have  therefore  become  spent  in  the  decomposition; 
but  if  we  explode  the  mixture  of  gases  procured  from 
the  decomposition,  we  shall  get  back  heat  equal  to 
20,  and  thus  make  the  whole  result  of  the  burning  of 
the  zinc  100  units  of  energy  as  before. 

In  like  manner,  if  our  electric  battery  is  made  to 
do  work,  thus  forming  a  kind  of  engine,  we  shall 
have  the  heat  produced  by  the  current  diminished 
by  the  exact  equivalent  of  the  mechanical  effect 
which  we  have  obtained  from  this  engine. 

There  is  nothing  for  nothing  in  the  universe  of 
energy. 


CONDY’S  PATENT  FLUIDS. 

The  extremely  powerful  oxidizing  properties  possessed 
by  the  mang-anates  and  permanganates  have  been  well 
known,  and  have  frequently  been  made  use  of  in  the 
laboratory  of  the  chemist  for  a  considerable  time  past. 
The  merit,  however,  of  introducing  these  salts  to  the 
general  public  as  most  valuable  deodorizers  and  purifiers 
belongs,  we  believe,  to  Mr.  Condy.  But  though  the 
initiative  in  establishing  then'  manufacture  on  a  large 
scale  thus  belongs'to  Mr.  Condy,  he  seems  to  have  allowed 
himself  to  be  outstripped  in  their  economical  production. 
In  the  following  table  will  be  found  the  strength  of  three 
kinds  of  Condy’s  patent  fluids  as  sold  in  London,  mea¬ 
sured  by  their  oxidizing  power  in  comparison  to  pure 
permanganate  of  potash. 

For  a  due  appreciation  of  the  table,  it  is  necessary  to 
bear  in  mind  that  the  crystallized  permanganate  used  for 
comparison  is  a  chemically  pure  article,  while  Condy’s 
fluids  Nos.  I.  and  II.  are  solutions  of  the  impure  crude 
article,  and  that  even  the  ozonized  water  does  not  con¬ 
tain  the  absolutely  pure  salt.  With  these  explanations 
the  table  will  speak  for  itself. 


1 

2 

Description  of  Article. 

Price  retail  in 
London. 

No.  I. — Green  Fluid  .... 

No.  II. — Red  Fluid  .... 

No.  HI. — Ozonized  Water  .  . 

Pure  crystallized  Permanganate 
of  Potassium . 

j  5d.  per  7i3 
(  5s.  per  gall. 

(  11  d.  per  7$3 
(10s.  per  gall. 
f  Is.  8 d.  per  45 
(  3s.  per  85 

•  2s.  per  15 

3 

Total  solid  con¬ 
tents  in  100 
parts. 

4 

Amount  of  Per¬ 
manganate  of 
Potasli  equal 
in  oxidizing 
power  to  100 
parts. 

5 

Quantity  equal 
in  oxidizing 
power  to  one 
ounce  Per¬ 
manganate. 

6 

Price  of  the  quan¬ 
tity  given  in  co¬ 
lumn  5  as  equi¬ 
valent  to  one 
ounce  Perman¬ 
ganate  of  Pot¬ 
ash. 

13-76 

1-781 

56-143 

£.  s.  d. 

0  3  7 

13-76 

1-781 

56-14 

0  1  9 

8-40 

1-786 

55-99 

0  6  10 

8-40 

1-786 

55-99 

0  3  6 

0-245 

0-224 

447-4 

9  6  5 

0-245 

0-224 

447-4 

8  7  9 

100 

100 

15 

0  2  0 

Particulars  of  Samples  Analysed. 

No.  I.  Condy  s  Patent  Fluid  ( green  solution). — Con¬ 
tained  in  a  glass  bottle  holding  7^5 ;  sold  retail  at  6 d. 
per  bottle,  being  about  5d.  per  7^3  contents.  The  bottle 
was  wrapped  in  pale  buff-coloured  paper,  nearly  covered 


by  two  large  labels  with  green  print.  The  cork  was 
secured  by  a  strip  of  label,  on  which  was  printed  “  Condy’s 
Patent  Fluid.  For  destroying  all  offensive  odours.  Will 
not  stain  when  diluted.” 

No.  II.  Condy’s  Patent  Fluid  {red  solution).— In  a  glass 


226 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  17, lsja 


bottle  holding  7^3 ;  sold  retail  at  Is.  per  bottle,  being  about 
11  d.  for  the  contents.  The  wrapper  was  buff-coloured, 
nearly  covered  by  two  labels  with  red  print.  The  cork 
was  secured  by  a  strip  of  label,  on  which  was  printed  the 
trade  mark  (a  triangle  enclosing  a  0  surrounded  by 
“  Trade  Mark — Condy”) ;  the  French  and  English  prize 
medals ;  and  in  two  circular  spaces  on  one  side,  “  Condy’s 
Fluid.  Does  not  stain  when  diluted  on  the  other  side, 
“  Natural  Disinfectant.  N.B.  The  cork  in  each  bottle 
of  Condy’s  fluid  is  secured  by  a  strip  identical  with  this.” 

No.  III.  Condy’s  Patent  Ozonized  Water  for  Toilet  Pur¬ 
poses. — In  a  small  stoppered  bottle  holding  45,  retail 
price  2s.,  leaving  about  Is.  8^.  as  the  price  of  the  con¬ 
tents.  The  bottle  is  nearly  half  covered  by  a  label,  on 
which  are  printed  directions  for  use,  prize  medals,  etc. ; 
nearly  the  whole  label  being  covered  by  trade  marks 
arranged  in  a  pattern  as  a  groundwork. 

The  active  agent  in  No.  I.  is  chiefly  the  manganate  of 
soda,  though  in  the  table  its  effect  is  measured  against  its 
equivalent  of  permanganate.  In  Nos.  II.  and  III.  the 
active  agent  is  chiefly  the  permanganate  of  soda,  though 
they  contain  also  some  potash.  They  have  also  been 
compared  to  permanganate  of  potash. 

The  crystallized  permanganate  of  potash  used  for  com¬ 
parison  was  bought  retail  for  2s.  the  ounce.  It  was  in 
fine  crystals,  contained  no  soda,  and  its  oxidizing  power, 
as  measured  by  pure  oxalic  acid,  was  exactly  equal  to 
100  per  cent,  of  permanganate  of  potash.  It  was,  there¬ 
fore,  chemically  pure. 


PAYTINE. 

Hesse  gives  this  name  to  an  alkaloid  he  has  obtained 
from  the  white  cinchona  of  Payta.  The  powdered  bark 
is  first  extracted  with  alcohol ;  the  residue  left  after  dis¬ 
tilling  off  the  alcohol  is  mixed  with  caustic  soda  and 
shaken  with  ether.  To  the  ether  solution  dilute  sul¬ 
phuric  acid  is  added,  and,  after  neutralizing  the  excess 
of  acid  with  ammonia,  the  base  is  precipitated  by  iodide 
of  potassium.  The  iodide  of  paytine  is  again  decom¬ 
posed  by  soda,  and  the  liquid,  shaken  with  ether,  gives  a 
solution  which,  on  evaporation,  deposits  fine  crystals  of 
paytine.  The  composition  of  this  base  is  represented  by 
the  formula  C21H24N20  +  H20.  It  is  soluble  in  benzol, 
ether,  chloroform,  petroleum  and  alcohol ;  slightly  so¬ 
luble  in  water;  it  melts  at  156°  C. 

The  hydrochlorate,  C21H24N20HC1,  forms  colourless 
prisms  soluble  in  16’6  parts  of  water  at  15°  C.  It  has  a 
very  bitter  taste,  and  does  appear  to  be  poisonous.  The 
chloroplatinate  is  a  yellow  amorphous  precipitate. 

When  distilled  with  lime,  paytine  yields  a  non-nitro- 
genous  product,  which  the  author  calls  paytone,  as 
colourless  plates  or  needles  soluble  in  ether  and  alcohol. 
It  does  not  combine  with  acids  or  bases. — German  Che¬ 
mical  Society. 


GINGILIE  OIL. 

The  gingilie  ( Sesamum  Indicum )  is  said  to  be  an 
African  plant,  and  is  supposed  to  have  been  introduced 
to  the  West  Indies  by  the  negroes.  It  is  now  pretty 
generally  distributed,  and  in  this  country  it  thrives  ad¬ 
mirably  in  the  Newera  Kalawyia  district.  The  plant  is 
cultivated  for  the  seed,  which  yields  a  fixed  oil.  The 
method  adopted  in  Ceylon  of  expressing  the  oil  is  rather 
primitive,  and  consequently  it  'possesses  an  unpleasant 
flavour  and  a  brown  muddy  colour.  If  properly  pre¬ 
pared,  the  oil  would  form  a  very  good  substitute  for 
sweet  oil.  The  best  method  of  preparing  the  oil  is  as 
follows . — First  steep  the  seeds  repeatedly  in  cold  water, 
or  boil  them  for  a  short  time,  till  they  are  divested  of  the 
reddish-brown  colouring  matter  contained  in  the  epider¬ 
mis  of  the  seeds,  then,  when  the  seeds  have  become  per¬ 
fectly  white,  dry  them  in  the  sun,  and  express  the  oil  in 
the  ordinary  way.  The  seed  yields  from  40  to  44  per 


cent,  of  a  pale  straw-coloured  oil.  When  thus  prepared, 
the  oil  is  perfectly  devoid  of  smell  and  may  be  used  for 
extracting  the  perfume  of  the  jasmine,  tuberose,  camo¬ 
mile  and  yellow  rose.  To  effect  this,  one  weight  of  the 
flowers  should  be  added  to  three  weights  of  the  oil  in  a 
bottle,  which  should  be  corked  and  left  in  the  sun  for 
forty  days,  when  the  oil  will  be  impregnated  with  the 
perfume  of  the  flowers.  The  gingilie  oil  is  soluble  in 
alcohol,  saponifies  with  alkalies,  solidifies  by  nitric  acid, 
and  combines  with  the  oxide  of  lead.  The  gingilie  oil 
is  highly  esteemed  by  Egyptian  belles  for  its  properties  of 
cleansing  the  skin  and  of  imparting  to  it  a  bloom  and 
lustre,  and  also  of  preserving  the  beauty  and  gloss  of  the 
hair.  In  Ceylon  it  is  used  for  similar  purposes.  The 
negroes  also  use  the  seeds  for  making  a  sort  of  beverage 
something  like  coffee,  by  roasting  the  seeds  and  infusing 
them  in  water.  The  commercial  value  of  the  oil  in 
England  is  £40  per  ton. — Jaffna  Neivs. 


A  Gigantic  African  Mushroom. — Dr.  Welwitsch, 
in  his  travels  in  Africa,  met  with  a  number  of  crypto- 
gamic  plants;  among  them  a  gigantic  agaric,  distin¬ 
guished  by  the  immense  size  of  its  head,  sometimes  mea¬ 
suring  more  than  three  feet  in  circumference,  as  well  as 
by  the  delicate  flavour  of  its  flesh.  It  appears  that  on 
a  botanical  expedition  in  a  district  called  Calungembo, 
near  Pungo-Andongo,  his  provisions  began  to  run  short, 
and  towards  the  close  of  a  day’s  ramble  he  came  upon 
some  of  his  men  carrying  one  of  these  enormous  mush¬ 
rooms  home  to  camp  for  supper.  He  had  not  himself 
previously  met  with  it,  but  the  natives  had;  and  the 
short  commons  on  which  they  foimd  themselves  had 
sharpened  their  eyes  and  led  to  their  picking  it  up. 
Some  idea  of  the  size  of  this  specimen  may  be  formed 
from  the  fact  that  that  single  mushroom  made  soup  suf¬ 
ficient  to  feed  his  party  of  twenty.  It  was  as  large  as 
an  umbrella.  Subsequently  he  met  with  it  repeatedly,  and 
also  found  that  it  was  familiar  to  all  the  inhabitants,  a 
few  being  regularly,  or  rather  irregularly,  brought  to- 
market  during  the  season,  at  the  Presidium  of  Pongo- 
Andongo,  where  they  were  sold  at  Id.  to  2>d.  apiece,  ac¬ 
cording  to  size.  The  natives  usually  brought  them,  one 
or  two  hanging  at  each  end  of  a  stick,  carried  Chinese 
fashion  over  the  shoulder.  It  is  a  true  agaric,  as  yet 
undescribed. — The  Food  Journal. 

The  Pood  of  Infants. — Dr.  C.  A.  Coudereau  ex¬ 
presses  himself  in  opposition  to  the  generally  received 
opinion  that  the  milk  of  a  wet-nurse  is  the  best  substitute 
for  that  of  the  mother  when  the  latter  cannot  be  ob¬ 
tained.  He  has  foimd  in  the  milk  of  many  wet-nurses, 
dependent  ontbeir  want  of  cleanliness,  a  peculiar  fungus, 
which  will  develop  under  favourable  circumstances  in 
every  other  kind  of  milk,  giving  to  such  milk  a  peculiar 
odour,  and  discoverable  in  the  evacuations  of  the  child. 
In  regard  to  artificial  food,  he  rejects  also  beef-tea,  as 
well  as  Liebig’s  extract  of  meat,  but  recommends  a  fluid 
into  the  composition  of  which  eggs  enter  largely.  He 
considers  that  a  very  nourishing  and  wholesome  kind  of 
drink  can  be  obtained  from  eight  eggs,  white  and  yolk 
together,  beaten  up  with  about  two  ounces  of  sugar  and 
enough  water  to  make  a  pint  and  a  half  of  fluid.  To 
this  he  adds  a  small  quantity  of  lime-water,  sulphate  of 
potash  and  chloride  of  sodium.  With  a  fluid  so  com¬ 
posed  he  has  obtained  excellent  results. —  Wiener  Medi- 
zinischen  Wochenschrift. 

Chilblains. — M.  W.  E.  Schaller  says  that  the  fluid 
concentrated  chloride  of  iron  is  an  unfailing  remedy  for 
chilblains,  its  application  to  them  for  a  single  day  effect¬ 
ing  a  cure.  It  may  also  be  used  with  advantage  for 
frost-bites. —  Wiener  Medizinischen  Wochenschrift. 

Gastric  Juice. — Signor  Arturo  Menzel  has  pub¬ 
lished  a  considerable  number  of  cases  where  gastric 
juice  has  been  employed  with  advantage  in  cancerous 
tumours.— -Gazetta  Medica  Italiana  Lombarda. 


September  17,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


227 


♦ 


SATURDAY,  SEPTEMBER  17,  1870. 


THE  BRITISH  PHARMACEUTICAL  CONFERENCE. 

The  Seventh  Annual  Meeting  has  been  a  great 
success  in  every  respect.  After  the  President  had 
delivered  the  admirable  address  published  in  another 
column,  the  reading  of  papers  was  continued  until 
4  o’clock,  when  the  members  adjourned  to  the  Ex¬ 
hibition,  where  a  number  of  objects  interesting  to 
pharmaceutists  were  collected  and  arranged  in  a 
manner  that  afforded  great  facilities  for  examination. 
We  shall  refer  more  particularly  to  some  of  these 
hereafter,  but  cannot  now  omit  to  mention  the  very 
excellent  exhibits  of  Messrs.  Hopkin  and  Williams, 
Messrs.  Southall,  Dymond  and  Co.,  and  Messrs. 
Macfarlane,  comprising  the  new  compounds  of 
chloral,  Indian  drugs  and  alkaloids. 

The  dinner  was  well  attended,  and  the  presence  of 
the  President  of  the  Society  was  heartily  appre¬ 
ciated.  One  of  the  most  interesting  points  was  the 
transmission  by  telegraph  of  a  message  of  greeting 
from  the  Conference  to  the  Pharmaceutical  Associa¬ 
tion  now  meeting  at  Baltimore,  a  reply  being  re¬ 
ceived  from  America  the  following  morning. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  second  day  the  discussion 
of  the  Education  question  was  one  of  the  main  fea¬ 
tures  of  interest.  Many  members  spoke,  and  though 
the  discussion  did  not  result  in  any  practical  sug¬ 
gestion,  it  was  evident  that  much  attention  had  been 
given  to  the  subject. 

It  augured  well  for  progress  in  British  Pharmacy 
to  hear  the  statement  boldly  put  forward,  and  appa¬ 
rently  assented  to,  that  many  druggists  who  take 
apprentices  are  either  incompetent  to  give  instruction 
requisite,  or  if  they  were  competent  to  do  so,  did  not 
take  the  trouble.  At  the  same  time  great  difference 
of  opinion  was  expressed  as  to  the  way  in  which  aid 
could  best  be  given  to  promote  the  education  of  ap¬ 
prentices  and  assistants.  In  many  cases,  it  was 
m'ged  that  the  previous  education,  or  want  of  educa¬ 
tion,  rendered  apprentices  unfit  for  acquiring  a  know¬ 
ledge  of  chemistry  and  other  sciences,  or  availing 
themselves  of  the  advantages  within  their  reach. 
The  most  practical  feature  of  the  discussion  was  the 
reference  to  the  Preliminary  examination  of  the 
Society,  and  the  proposal  that  the  passing  of  this 
examination  should  invariably  be  required  of  all  ap¬ 
prentices  before  they  are  received. 

If  this  measure  were  generally  adopted,  no  doubt  a 
great  advance  would  be  made  towards  raising  the 
future  status  of  pharmacists. 

Another  suggestion,  tending  in  the  same  direction, 
had  reference  to  the  propagation  of  the  scientific 
training  now  given  at  the  School  of  Pharmacy,  by 


enabling  the  successful  students  of  that  School  to  em¬ 
ploy  themselves  in  teaching  throughout  the  country. 
If  this  could  be  effected,  there  is  reason  to  believe  that 
the  results  would  far  surpass  those  attainable  by 
any  other  means  in  many  instance.  At  places  where 
there  are  medical  schools  in  existence,  tills  might 
be  superfluous  if  a  course  of  pharmacy  were  given  in 
connection  with  those  schools,  as  at  the  University  of 
Durham  and  at  Newcastle.  One  main  thing  ne¬ 
cessary  in  any  step  of  this  kind,  is  the  suppression 
of  cramming. 

It  was  a  matter  of  general  regret  that  Mr.  Schacht, 
who  has  taken  so  much  interest  in  the  subject  of  pro¬ 
vincial  education,  was  not  present  at  the  Conference  ; 
but,  to  judge  from  the  general  spirit  evinced  by  those 
present,  there  is  reason  to  hope  that  his  efforts  will 
find  numerous  supporters,  and  we  trust  that  those 
who  are  able  to  put  forward  suggestions  as  to  the 
means  of  promoting  pharmaceutical  education  in 
the  provinces  will  not  fail  to  do  so  in  the  columns  of 
this  Journal.  The  means  of  aiding  in  this  work  may 
be  more  in  the  hands  of  the  individual  members  of 
the  trade  than  is  generally  believed.  The  judicious 
introduction  of  science  into  the  educational  training 
of  the  young  is  a  measure  that  we  hope  to  see  rea¬ 
lized  before  long,  and  if  that  be  done  in  such  a  way 
as  to  substitute  for  mere  teaching  the  education  in 
scientific  habits  of  thought,  which  would  develop  e 
not  only  a  capacity  for  appreciating  natural  facts 
but  also  a  taste  for  scientific  knowledge,  it  would  be 
of  vast  benefit  to  the  country  at  large  and  especially 
conducive  to  the  elevation  of  Pharmacy,  notwith¬ 
standing  its  frequent  necessary  connection  with  the 
trade  element  prevailing  in  the  business  of  country 
places. 


HOSPITAL  DISPENSING. 

Since  we  last  referred  to  this  subject  in  a  few  re¬ 
marks  which  have  attracted  the  attention  of  two  of 
our  medical  contemporaries,  another  and  a  somewhat 
singular  instance  of  accidental  poisoning  has  oc¬ 
curred.  An  old  woman,  starting  on  a  long  railway 
journey,  provided  herself,  as  she  thought,  with  her 
gin  bottle,  and,  by  way  of  being  polite  to  her  fellow- 
travellers,  offered  them  a  little  alcoholic  refreshment, 
which  was  accepted  by  two  females,  who,  being 
strangers,  of  course,  drank  first.  It  was  not  until 
after  they  had  each  swallowed  their  dose  that  the 
liberal  old  lady,  in  taking  her  turn  and  applying  a 
more  appreciative  palate,  discovered  that  her  new 
acquaintances  had  swallowed  unknowingly  a  wine- 
glassful  of  a  lotion  meant  for  external  use  only. 
Their  quiet  absorption  of  this  liquid  speaks  volumes 
for  their  politeness,  and  something  also  for  the  pa¬ 
tient  endurance  with  which  the  poor  swallow  very 
vile  liquor,  indeed  with  the  hope  of  deriving  some 
consolation  from  the  consequent  alcoholic  exhilara¬ 
tion.  Fortunately  the  train  just  then  reached  Slough, 
where,  amid  what  is  described  as  a  scene  of  great 

n  3 


228 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  17,  1870. 


excitement,  salt  and  water  emetics  were  successfully 
administered,  so  tliat  no  great  harm  seems  to  have 
been  done. 

The  British  Medical  Journal ,  in  commenting  upon 
the  case,  and  referring  to  our  recent  note  011  the  sub¬ 
ject,  adds,  “  The  accident  gives  room  for  thought.  If 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  whose  function  it  is  by 
Act  of  Parliament  to  devise  rules  for  storing  and  dis¬ 
pensing  substances,  can  offer  any  suggestion  to  our 
hospital  authorities,  they  will  certainly  be  favourably 
received,  and  carefully  considered.  There  is  in 
many  instances  much  room  for  improvement.” 

The  Lancet,  however,  in  an  article  which  not  even 
the  advent  of  the  “  silly  season”  can  justify,  appears 
to  object  to  our  statement  as  to  “  carelessness  about 
bottles  and  labels  too,  at  a  great  many  hospitals,” 
and  adds,  apparently  in  the  way  of  refuting  our  re¬ 
marks,  that  even  the  out-patient  section  of  the  imper¬ 
fect  work  of  the  hospital  system  is  an  immense  boon 
“  to  the  sick  and  diseased  poor.”  This  certainly  never 
was  doubted ;  but  it  need  not  be  balanced  by  unne¬ 
cessary  accidental  poisoning  of  the  class  benefited, 
if  that  result  can  anyhow  be  prevented.  The  writer 
of  this  article  also  thinks  our  remarks  “  came  with 
exceedingly  bad  grace  from  such  a  source,”  and  he 
concludes  by  intimating  in  his  not  very  exquisite 
language  that  the  class  of  pharmaceutists  are 
“  malefactors.”  To  reasoning  so  conclusive,  and 
language  so  refined,  we  can  only  render  the  homage 
of  silence.  This  is  not  the  customary  language  of 
the  profession  to  which  a  writer  in  the  Lancet  may 
be  presumed  to  belong,  and  in  the  name  of  which 
he  assumes  to  speak. 

The  general  moral  of  the  whole  affair  is  to  indi¬ 
cate,  not  only  the  desirability  of  poison  regulations 
or  precautions,  but  also  to  point  out  the  difficulties 
which  environ  the  subject,  since  precautions  are  sub¬ 
ject  to  the  disturbing  influence  of  such  extreme  neg¬ 
ligence  and  stupidity  as  are  displayed  in  these  latest 
examples  of  accidental  poisoning.  However,  it  is 
not  against  those  disturbing  influences  that  we  can 
hope  to  prevail.  They  will  baffle  all  precautions ; 
but  that  is  of  course  no  reason  why  an  attempt 
should  not  be  made  to  afford  as  much  security  as 
possible,  and  to  decide  whether  any  mechanical  pre¬ 
caution  or  any  set  of  regulations  are  at  all  likely  to 
meet  the  desired  object. 


The  draft  of  a  Bill  has  lately  been  laid  before  the 
French  Senate,  containing  provisions  for  medicinal 
and  pharmaceutical  education,  the  details  of  which 
we  propose  to  notice  in  a  future  number.  Its  con¬ 
sideration  has  been  deferred  by  the  occupation  of 
the  Senate  and  Corps  Legislate ;  but  it  is  evident 
that  the  subject  has  been  thoroughly  examined,  and 
it  may  be  assumed  that  the  Bill  shadows  forth  the 
reforyns  which  are  about  to  be  made  in  France,  in 
the  important  subject  of  superior  education  and  pro¬ 
fessional  degrees. 


REPORTS  ON  THE  EXAMINATIONS  OF  THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN. 

In  an  Appendix  to  the  Twelfth  Report  of  the 
Medical  Officer  of  the  Privy  Council  are  printed 
two  lengthy  reports  from  Professor  Christison  and 
Dr.  Greenliow,  the  official  Assessors  of  the  Privy 
Council,  in  which  they  describe  the  objects  and  me¬ 
thods  of  the  Major  and  Minor  Examinations,  and 
state  their  conclusions  as  the  sufficiency  of  these 
Examinations.  The  greater  part  of  these  reports  is 
occupied  by  the  details  of  Examinations,  with  which 
our  readers  are  well  acquainted.  The  following  are 
the  more  important  of  their  comments.  Dr.  Green- 
how  says : — 

“  The  technical  examinations  are  made  as  practical  as 
possible.  The  prescriptions  submitted  to  the  candidates 
are  very  various  in  character,  and  have  all  been  actu¬ 
ally  written  for  patients  and  dispensed  in  chemists’ 
shops.  The  ability  to  read  prescriptions  is  obviously 
one  of  the  most  necessary  qualifications  for  chemists  and 
druggists,  and  a  large  proportion  of  marks  has  therefore 
been  very  properly  allotted  to  this  subject  in  both  the 
Modified  and  Minor  examinations.  When  present  I 
have  observed  that  although  most  of  the  candidates  can 
read  ordinary  prescriptions  correctly  enough  to  ensure 
their  being  able  to  dispense  from  them  with  safety,  com¬ 
paratively  few  are  sufficiently  conversant  with  Latin  to 
read  with  accuracy  prescriptions  couched  in  somewhat 
unusual  terms,  or  having  appended  to  them  minute  di¬ 
rections  for  use  in  the  Latin  language.  The  already- 
recited  regulations  sufficiently  show  the  scope  of  the 
several  examinations  in  the  other  subjects,  and  I  may 
add,  that  the  selection  of  specimens  submitted  to  candi¬ 
dates  for  recognition  is  well  calculated  to  test  their  prac¬ 
tical  knowledge. 

“  I  have  closely  observed  the  mode  of  conducting  the 
several  technical  examinations  by  the  appointed  exa¬ 
miners,  and  can  bear  testimony  to  the  zealous  and  con¬ 
scientious  manner  in  which  these  gentlemen  discharge 
their  duty.  On  some  occasions  I  have  followed  the  same 
candidates  through  their  examination  in  all  the  succes¬ 
sive  subjects,  making  my  own  estimate  of  the  number  of 
marks  which  they  had  earned  in  each  subject,  and  then 
comparing  this  estimate  with  the  number  of  marks 
assigned  to  them  by  the  examiners,  which  has  seldom 
shown  any  considerable  discrepancy.  On  other  occa¬ 
sions  I  have  remained  for  a  considerable  time  watching 
the  examinations  of  successive  candidates  in  the  same 
subject,  and  have  satisfied  myself  of  their  being  con¬ 
ducted  with  perfect  fairness  and  impartiality  as  between 
one  candidate  and  another. 

“  I  am  informed  that  it  is  intended  gradually  to  raise 
the  standard  of  the  examinations,  and  particularly  of  the 
First  or  Preliminary  examination ;  but  it  would  have 
been  manifestly  unfair  to  have  passed  suddenly  from  the 
degree  of  laxity  which,  before  the  passing  of  the  Phar¬ 
macy  Act,  allowed  persons  to  act  as  chemists  and  druggists 
without  any  examination  at  all,  and  to  have  begun  at 
once  to  exercise  a  degree  of  severity  in  the  examinations, 
which  would  exclude  from  the  privileges  of  registration 
under  the  Act  many  fairly  qualified  candidates  whose 
education  had  commenced  before  the  Act  was  passed. 

“  The  regulations  have  now,  however,  been  in  force  for 
some  time,  and  young  men  who  may  hereafter  intend  to 
become  Chemists  and  Druggists,  or  Pharmaceutical 
Chemists,  will  have  no  reason  to  complain  if,  after  a 
reasonable  period  has  elapsed  from  the  passing  of  the 
Act,  they  should  be  required  to  give  proof  of  still  higher 
qualifications  before  being  admitted  to  registration. 

“  The  fact  of  the  rejection  of  so  large  a  proportion  of 
the  candidates  at  every  examination,  would  seem  to  show 
conclusively  that  the  standard  of  the  Board  of  Examiners 


September  17,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


229 


is  as  high,  and  their  mode  of  examination  as  stringent, 
as  can  he  practically  enforced  at  the  present  moment ; 
and,  even  though  the  present  standard  only  were  main¬ 
tained  in  future,  the  gain  to  the  public  would  be  very 
great,  as  they  would  thereby  obtain  security  for  a  degree 
of  competency  in  all  the  chemists  and  druggists  through¬ 
out  the  country,  such  as  was  previously  unknown,  ex¬ 
cepting  among  the  best  chemists  in  large  towns. 

“  I  have,  in  conclusion,  only  to  repeat  what  has  already 
been  implied  in  my  report,  that,  in  my  opinion,  the  ex¬ 
aminations  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  are  of  such 
sort,  and  are  conducted  in  such  manner,  as  to  constitute 
a  sufficient  guarantee  to  the  public  with  regard  to  the 
qualifications  of  persons  admitted  to  register  under  the 
Pharmacy  Act,  1868.” 

Professor  Christison’s  most  important  comments 
and  criticisms  run  thus  : — 

tl  The  only  remark  I  have  to  make  on  the  Preliminary 
examination  is,  that  while  the  examination  on  English 
and  arithmetic  was  such  as  to  prove  a  thorough  know¬ 
ledge  on  the  part  of  candidates,  the  test  of  Latinity  is  at 
present  pitched  somewhat  low.  I  am  satisfied,  however, 
that  it  would  be  unsafe  to  attempt  to  establish  a  higher 
standard  on  that  subject  for  some  time  ;  for  I  am  aware 
that  for  about  thirty  years  past,  in  the  class  of  society 
from  which  the  candidates  at  the  pharmaceutical  exa¬ 
minations  are  derived,  the  acquisition  of  classical  know¬ 
ledge  has  been  discouraged  in  Scotland  through  the 
activity  of  the  utilitarian  sect  of  educational  enthusiasts, 
and  that  the  quality  of  the  teaching  in  many  of  the 
primary,  and  even  some  of  the  secondary,  schools  of  the 
country  has  in  consequence  been  thought  to  have  under¬ 
gone  deterioration.  The  Edinburgh  members  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society,  however,  have  expressed  their 
desire  to  raise  their  standard  of  Latinity  by  degrees,  and  it 
is  hoped  that  a  thorough  Education  Act  for  Scotland  will 
in  no  long  tune  facilitate  the  attainment  of  that  object. 

“  The  Professional  examination  has,  in  my  opinion, 
been  conveniently  subdivided  by  the  Council  of  the 
Society  ;  and  the  extent  of  examination  under  each  head 
has  been  skilfully  limited  in  its  range  to  the  topics 
which  it  is  practically  important  for  the  pharmaceutic 
chemist  to  know. 

“  I  witnessed  several  times  an  examination  on  every 
subject,  except  the  fifth  or  botanical  examination,  and 
I  have  been  gratified  by  the  ability,  fairness,  patience, 
and  kindliness  of  the  examiners.  I  have  also  attended 
the  decisions  of  the  assembled  examiners,  both  on  pre¬ 
liminary  and  professional  matters,  and  I  concurred  in 
the  determination  come  to  in  regard  to  those  candi¬ 
dates — some  of  them  failures — whose  examination  I  had 
witnessed,  or  whose  examination  papers  I  had  read. 

“  The  examiners  being  comparatively  new  to  their  duty, 
it  is  natural  that  they  should  now  and  then  discover  de¬ 
fects,  and  remedy  methods  of  examination.  A  little 
more  experience  on  my  part  may  enable  me  to  suggest 
improvements.  At  present  I  have  but  one  suggestion 
to  make.  Most  examining  boards  have  found  advan¬ 
tage  in  their  candidates  being  examined  on  each  subject 
of  examination  before  two  examiners,  each  duly  quali¬ 
fied  in  the  same  subject.  It  is  needless  to  point  out 
how  this  system  tends  to  secure  fullness  and  fairness  of 
examination — to  satisfy  the  public — and  also  to  promote 
the  comfort  of  the  examiners  themselves,  and  their  con¬ 
fidence  in  their  own  decisions.  It  is  probable,  therefore, 
that  this  measure  may  be  found  advisable  in  the  practice 
of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  also. 

“  The  examination-books  were  put  before  me,  and  from 
these  I  find  that,  between  January  1st  and  December  1st, 
1869,  a  board  for  examination  was  held  on  eleven  days  ; 
that  41  candidates  were  examined  on  preliminary  educa¬ 
tion,  of  whom  only  1  failed ;  and  that  the  Minor,  Major,  or 
Modified  examination  on  professional  matters  was  under¬ 
gone  by  112  candidates  in  all,  of  whom  21  failed  to  pass. 

“  As  I  have  seen  no  reason  to  doubt  either  the  strin¬ 


gency  of  the  examination  or  the  fidelity  of  the  decision 
of  the  examiners  on  preliminary  education,  the  very 
limited  amount  of  failure  in  this  department  may  bo 
taken  as  proof  sufficient  that  the  standard  of  examina¬ 
tion  may  be  raised  when  it  may  be  thought  advisable  to 
do  so.  But  for  various  reasons,  which  it  is  perhaps 
scarcely  necessary  for  me  to  enter  into  here,  I  think  the 
Society  have  done  right  in  not  fixing  the  standard  higher 
at  first. 

“  The  results  of  the  professional  examination  seem  to 
me  satisfactory  in  every  point  of  view.  First,  the  num¬ 
ber  of  candidates  who  have  come  forward  last  year  is 
considerable.  Secondly,  the  rejections,  amounting  to 
nearly  a  fifth  of  the  whole,  testify  that  the  duty  of  the 
examiners  has  been  faithfully  discharged.  Thirdly,  it 
is  creditable  to  the  candidates  that  the  number  of  failures 
has  not  been  larger ;  for  in  other  professions  about  a 
fifth  of  failures  seems  the  usual  average  when  examining 
boards  are  well  organized  and  faithful,  and  the  general¬ 
ity  of  their  candidates  are  well  prepared.” 


CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’  FUND  FOR  THE 
SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 

The  following  communication  has  been  received 
by  the  Treasurer,  and  gives  gratifying  evidence  of 
the  appreciation  by  the  “  Society  for  Aid  to  the  Sick 
and  Wounded”  of  the  efforts  made  in  its  behalf  by 
British  Pharmacists. 

“2,  St.  Martin's  Place ,  London ,  W.C. 

“  September  6th. 

u  The  Secretary  of  the  National  Society  for  Aid  to  the 
Sick  and  Wounded  in  War,  and  the  Ladies’  Committee, 
desire  to  thank  the  Chemists  and  Druggists  of  Great 
Britain  for  their  Subscriptions,  and  for  the  very  valuable 
medicines  they  have  contributed,  which  were  most 
grievously  needed.  They  are  immediately  sent  off  to  the 
Continent  with  no  delay,  as  it  has  not  been  necessary  to 
unpack  them. 

“  Elias  Bremridge,  Esq." 

The  following  contributions  have  been  received 
since  last  week 

£.  s.  d. 


W.  H.  Allen,  The  Grove,  Stratford  .  1  1  0 

J.  Bowes  and  Co.,  Whitehaven  .  1  1  0 

John  Broad,  Hornsey  Rise  .  1  1  0 

T.  Crowther,  Tickhill  .  0  2  6 

C.  Emerson,  8,  Church  St.,  West  Hartlepool. .  0  10  6 

John  Ingham,  Upper  Tooting .  0  2  6 

J.  N.,  Assistant,  Turnham  Green  .  0  2  6 

W.  Parsons,  St.  Mary  Street,  Portsmouth ....  0  5  0 

John  Pepper,  207,  Tottenham  Court  Road. ...  1  1  0 

R.  O.  Rippon,  Great  Berkhampstead .  0  5  0 

J.  G.  Rollin,  3,  South  Street,  Durham  .  0  10  0 

John  Stevens,  High  Street,  Broselcy .  0  10  6 

Wilson  and  Kitchin,  30,  King  St.,  Whitehaven  110 


Collections  per  W.  Moss,  Local  Se¬ 
cretary,  Carlisle: — 

£.  s.  d. 

J.  Daniel  .  0  5  0 

J.  Hallaway  .  0  10  0 

J.  P.  Harrison  .  0  10  0 

W.  Moss .  0  5  0 

James  Sawyer  .  0  5  0 

J.  Sowerby .  0  10  0 

A.  Thompson .  0  10  0 

J.  Todd  .  0  5  0 

J.  D.  Walker .  0  2  6 

-  £3  2  0 

Per  Mr.  Wilkinson,  Manchester,  T.  S.  J ohnson  0  5  0 


230 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  17, 1870. 


Ferdinand  Coles,  248,  King’s  Road,  S.AV., 

2000  i  gr.  morphia  pills  in  boxes  of  50  each. 


4  lbs.  lint. 

W.  E.  Jameson,  Reading, 

6  lib.  stoppered  bottles  chloroform. 

Per  A.  W.  Postans,  35,  Baker  St.,  AV. £.  s.  d. 
Rev.  Dr.  Anderdon .  0  5  0 


From  a  Lady, 

Quantity  of  lint  and  linen. 

Walter  Lacey,  Cotham,  Bristol, 

Box  of  Natal  arrowroot. 

1  oz.  of  quinine. 

Bottle  of  pure  chloroform. 

„  „  methylated  do. 

Quantity  of  sponges. 

2-,  3-  and  4-inch  bandages  in  3,  4,  5,  6,  and  12  yard 
lengths. 

Per  T.  K.  Williams,  Welshpool : — 

T.  K.  Williams, 

1  oz.  sulph.  quinine. 

Bottle  of  chlorodyne. 

2  oz.  hydrate  of  chloral. 

G.  W.  Benson,  Welshpool, 

2  yds.  waterproof  sheeting. 

3  2  oz.  bottles  of  laudanum. 

3  bottles  1  gr.  opium  pills,  4  doz.  in  each. 

4  oz.  cotton  wool. 

Thomas  Griffiths, 

1  lb.  lint. 

A.  Yeatman,  141,  Kentish  Town  Road, 

1  gross  2  gr.  quinine  pills. 

1  gross  £  gr.  morphia  pills. 

Quantity  of  lint  and  bandages. 

Erratum. — The  contribution  announced  in  our  last 
number  from  Messrs.  Hearon,  Squire,  and  Francis,  5, 
Coleman  Street,  should  have  been  acknowledged  as  from 
Mr.  Silvester,  of  Ivnutsford,  per  Messrs.  Hearon,  Squire, 
and  Francis. 


fransuxtions  of  %  f  Ipraamticitl  Jbcictir. 


MEETING  OF  THE  COUNCIL, 

September  7th,  1870. 

MR.  HASELDEN,  VICE-PRESIDENT,  IN  THE  CHAIR. 

Present — Messrs.  Bottle,  Deane,  Dymond,  Evans, 
Hills,  Reynolds,  and  Savage. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  con¬ 
firmed. 

The  Report  of  the  Finance  Committee  was  presented, 
showing,  on  the  General  F und  Account,  a  balance  in  the 

Treasurer’s  hands  of . £342.  19s.  3 cl. 

And  submitting  for  payment  accounts, 

amounting  to . £337.  11s.  7 d. 

On  the  Benevolent  Fund  Account  a 

balance  of . £603.  17s.  Ilr7. 

Resolved — That  the  Report  be  received,  and  payments 
made. 

Resolved — That  the  Report  and  Recommendations  of 
the  House  Committee  be  received  and  adopted. 

Resolved — That  the  Report  and  Recommendations  of 
the  Library,  Museum,  and  Laboratory  Committee 
be  received  and  adopted. 

Resolved — That  the  Pereira  Medal  be  awarded  to 
Frederick  Hamilton  Peck. 

The  Secretary  presented  the  names  of  two  members 
-who  had  paid  their  subscriptions  since  the  30th  April. 

Resolved — That  they  be  severally  restored  to  their 
former  status  on  payment  of  a  fine  of  one  shilling. 


Resolved — That  John  Becket  Hurst,  of  Louth,  and 
Jonathan  Sparke  Walton,  of  Hay  don  Bridge,  be  and 
are  hereby  elected  members  of  the  Society. 

Resolved — That  the  following,  having  passed  the 
Minor  Examination,  be  elected 

ASSOCIATES  IN  BUSINESS. 


Alford,  Thomas  . Stonehouse. 

Michell,  Frederick  John  C . Falmouth. 


Resolved — That  the  following,  having  passed  their 
respective  Examinations,  be  elected 

ASSOCIATES  OP  THE  SOCIETY. 

Minor. 

Broad,  John  Morris  . Hornsey  Rise. 

Sherbum,  Thomas . Harrogate. 

Modified. 

Baynes,  James,  jun . Hull. 

Burn,  Thomas . Hartlepool. 

Gibson,  William  H . Brighton. 

Hartley,  Stephen  . Ulverstone. 

Holmes,  Frederick  George  ....  Brill. 

Jones,  George  Coverdale  . Bournemouth. 

King,  Abraham . Bristol. 

Metcalfe,  Alfred . East  Retford. 

Oldham,  Gervase  . Stockport. 

Siminson,  Henry  . Kidderminster. 

Tupholme,  Edward  II.  .........  London. 

Resolved — That  the  following  registered  Chemists  and 
Druggists  be  elected 

MEMBERS  OP  THE  SOCIETY. 

Bray,  William  . Buntingford. 

Hickin,  Henry  . Shrewsbury. 

Iberson,  John . Barnsley. 

Jackson,  Christopher . Acton. 

Morris,  Thomas  Henry . Rhyl. 

Preston,  W.  L . Dalton-in-Furness. 

Sowerby,  J oseph . Carlisle. 

Taylor,  William . Saltburn-by-the-Sea. 

Watkins,  William  Plenry  . . .  .Blackwood. 

Resolved — That  a  copy  of  the  following  resolution  of 
the  Provincial  Education  Committee  be  forwarded 
to  the  General  Secretaries  of  the  British  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Conference: — “This  Committee  recommend 
that  the  Council  invite  the  British  Pharmaceutical 
Conference  to  bring  forward  the  question  of  Pro¬ 
vincial  Education  for  discussion  at  its  meeting  in 
Liverpool  in  September,  which  would  give  an  op¬ 
portunity  for  the  interchange  of  opinion  amongst 
those  best  acquainted  with  the  question.” 

Resolved — That  the  schedules  issued  to  Provincial 
Chemists’  Associations  having  now  been  returned  to 
the  Council,  an  abstract  of  the  same  be  prepared  and 
printed,  proofs  of  the  same  being  issued,  but  that  its 
insertion  in  the  Journal  be  deferred  until  after  the 
next  Council  meeting. 


Opium. — Mr.  Richardson,  the  Opium  Agent  at  Be¬ 
nares,  has  conceived  and  carried  out  a  judicious  redistri¬ 
bution  of  establishments,  which;  wrill  result  in  a  great 
extension  of  opium  cultivation  without  entailing  addi¬ 
tional  expense  on  the  Government. — Indian  Daily  Neivs. 

Fly  Poison. — A  singular  fatality  is  recorded  by  the 
Times  as  having  occurred  at  Newmarket.  A  -woman 
named  Cooper,  housekeeper  to  Mr.  AY.  Boyce,  was 
sitting  near  a  table  on  which  some  poisoned  papers  had 
been  placed  for  the  purpose  of  killing  flies.  A  fly  was 
seen  to  leave  one  of  these  papers  and  alight  on  the 
woman’s  nose,  which  was  slightly  scratched.  The 
wound  speedily  became  inflamed ;  in  a  short  time  her 
whole  system  became  affected,  and  she  died  in  about 
twenty-four  hours. 


September  17,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


231 


BRITISH  PHARMACEUTICAL  CONFERENCE. 

Meeting  at  Liverpool. 

The  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference  commenced 
its  seventh  Annual  Meeting  on  Tuesday  morning  last, 
in  the  Lecture  Theatre  of  the  Royal  Institution,  Colquitt 
Street,  Liverpool,  under  the  Presidency  of  Mr.  W.  W. 
Stoddart,  F.C.S.,  F.Gr.S.  The  Conference  assembled 
shortly  after  10  o’clock,  when  the  business  was  com¬ 
menced  by  the  reading  of  a  very  long  list  of  candidates 
for  membership  by  one  of  the  Honorary  General  Secre¬ 
taries.  The  candidates  reside  in  all  parts  of  the  United 
Kingdom,  and  one  of  them  in  Kentucky,  United  States ; 
they  numbered  about  920,  and  were  duly  elected  by 
ballot. 

The  President  acknowledged  the  presence  of  Mr. 
Sandford,  the  President  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society, 
an  announcement  which  was  received  with  applause. 

Professor  Attfield  then  read  the 

Report  of  the  Executive  Committee. 

Daring  the  past  year  your  Committee  has  been  actively 
engaged  in  three  important  matters : — First,  the  organiza¬ 
tion  of  means  whereby  to  produce  such  a  Year-book  of 
Pharmacy  for  1870  as  the  meeting  at  Exeter  decided 
should  be  issued.  Secondly,  the  conduct  and  completion 
of  a  system  of  canvassing  for  members  amongst  the 
Pharmacists  of  England,  with  the  double  object  of  ad¬ 
vancing  the  general  aims  of  the  Conference  and  securing 
a  sum  of  money  which  would  admit  of  the  production  of 
such  a  Year-book  without  interruption.  Thirdly,  the 
appropriate  disposal  of  the  Bell  and  Hills’  Library  Fund 
— a  sum  of  fifty  guineas,  generously  given  to  the  Con¬ 
ference  by  Mr.  Thomas  Hyde  Hills,  with  the  suggestion 
that  it  should  be  employed  in  further  stimulating  phar¬ 
maceutical  education. 

The  Year-Book. — In  accordance  with  your  instructions 
at  the  last  Annual  Meeting,  your  Committee  proceeded 
to  obtain  the  services  of  an  editor,  and  to  arrange  for  the 
publication  of  the  yearly  volume. 

The  salary  of  the  editor  was  fixed  at  £100,  this  sum 
to  cover  the  expenses  incidental  to  the  literary  part  of 
the  work.  In  answer  to  the  advertisement,  four  appli¬ 
cations  for  the  office  of  editor  were  received.  After  due 
consideration  of  the  claims  of  the  respective  candidates, 
your  Committee  elected  Mr.  John  Cargill  Brough.  A 
sub-committee  of  publication  was  then  formed,  consisting 
of  Daniel  Hanbury,  F.R.S.,  W.  W.  Stoddart,  F.G.S., 
Joseph  Ince,  F.L.S.,  Michael  Carteighe,  F.C.S.,  and 
T.  B.  Groves,  F.C.S.,  with  Prof.  Attfield  as  Secretary. 
These  gentlemen  have  reported  as  follows  : — First,  that 
they  have  accepted  the  estimate  of  Messrs.  Butler  and 
Tanner,  of  Frome,  to  supply  the  Year-book  on  good 
paper,  bound, "and  otherwise  complete,  on  terms  within 
the  means  at  the  disposal  of  the  Conference  for  the  pur¬ 
pose.  Secondly,  that  they  have  accepted  the  offer  of 
Messrs.  Churchill  and  Sons,  of  London,  to  undertake  all 
matters  connected  with  the  advertisements  on  eligible 
conditions ;  to  prepare  the  Year-book  for  delivery  to 
members,  and  to  place  on  the  title-page  the  name  and 
address  of  their  firm  as  publishers. 

Your  Committee  has  instructed  the  sub-committee  to 
make  such  arrangements  as  shall  ensure  the  issue  of  the 
Year-book  not  later  than  December  1st.  They  can, 
however,  hardly  dismiss  this  subject  without  an  expres¬ 
sion  of  deep  sympathy  with  the  editor  under  the  trying 
circumstances  which  have  contributed  to  cause  some 
delay  in  the  fulfilment  of  his  arduous  and  responsible 
duties,  and  an  expression  of  their  earnest  hope  for  his 
speedy  restoration  to  health  and  strength. 

New  Members. — In  July  of  the  present  year,  the  secre¬ 
taries  drew  up  a  circular  of  invitation  to  membership, 
and  sent  a  copy,  with  specimen  pages  of  the  Year-book, 


to  every  pharmacist  in  England  not  already  a  member  of 
the  Conference.  This  course,  supplemented  by  the 
active  exertions  of  the  local  treasurers  and  other  working 
members,  has  produced  the  gratifying  result  of  swelling' 
our  numbers  from  about  600  to  about  1500,  and  even 
this  high  number  may,  in  the  opinion  of  your  Committee, 
be  even  further  increased  when  the  Year-book  has  been 
distributed,  and  opportunity  been  afforded  for  the  recog¬ 
nition  of  its  value. 

The  Bell  ancl  Hills'  Fund. — Very  soon  after  the  last 
Annual  Meeting  of  the  Conference,  the  following  letter 
was  received  from  Mr.  Hills  by  the  Treasurer : — 

“  Herewith  I  have  much  pleasure  in  redeeming  my 
promise  made  at  Exeter,  and  enclose  a  cheque  for  fifty 
guineas.  Twenty-five  guineas  I  give  in  memory  of  my 
good  friend  Jacob  Bell,  who,  I  feel,  would  have  been 
pleased  with  what  the  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference 
has  done  and  is  doing,  and  twenty-five  guineas  in  my 
own  name.  I  give  the  money  to  the  Council  of  the 
Conference  to  do  what  they  in  their  wisdom  think  will 
best  promote  a  good  feeling  amongst  pharmaceutists  and 
assist  the  education  and  well-being  of  assistants  and  ap¬ 
prentices.  I  give  it  without  conditions.  You  will  re¬ 
member  I  suggested  that  ten  guineas’  worth  of  books 
should  be  presented  to  the  pharmaceutical  chemists  and 
chemists  and  druggists  of  the  cities  and  towns  in  which 
the  Members  of  the  Conference  may  meet,  as  an  addition 
to,  or  nucleus  for,  the  formation  of  a  library,  where  the 
assistants  or  apprentices  may  assemble  for  the  purposes  of 
study  and  mutual  improvement.  I  think  the  Conference 
is  a  great  success,  and  will  do  much  good.  The  generous 
exhibition  of  good  feeling  of  the  chemists  of  Exeter  and 
Torquay  is  worthy  of  imitation  everywhere,  London  not 
excepted.  The  19th  and  20th  of  August  will  be  red- 
letter  days  in  my  pharmaceutical  calendar  and  green 
spots  in  my  pharmaceutical  life.  The  meetings  bring* 
forth  kind  sentiments  and  friendly  feelings  between  men 
interested  in  the  same  business  and  obliterate  imaginary 
jealousies.  With  best  wishes  for  the  success  of  the 
British  Pharmaceutical  Conference,  believe  me, 

“  Always  yours  faithfully, 

“Thomas  Hyde  Hills. 

“P.S. — The  five  artists’  proofs  of  my  good  friend 
Jacob  Bell  which  I  promised  to  your  Committee,  I  will 
have  framed,  to  save  the  Conference  trouble  and  ex¬ 
pense.” 

The  Committee  accepted  in  trust  this  handsome  dona¬ 
tion  of  Mr.  Hills,  and  returned  him  the  warmest  thanks 
of  the  Conference.  A  separate  statement  concerning 
this  fund  will  be  presented  annually  by  the  Treasurer. 
To  the  Library  of  the  Exeter  Branch  Pharmaceutical 
Society,  after  appropriate  inquiries  and  arrangements, 
your  Committee  granted  ten  guineas’  worth  of  such 
scientific  books  as  were  most  required  by  the  local  com¬ 
mittee. 

Railway  Arrangements  in  connection  with  the  Meetings  of 
the  Conference. — The  privilege  accorded  by  the  railway 
companies  to  the  British  Association,  namely,  that  of 
extending  the  time  during  which  a  return  ticket  is  avail¬ 
able,  so  as  to  include  the  whole  period  of  the  meetings, 
has  often  been, desired  by  the  members  of  the  Conference. 
The  number  of  those  travelling  to  the  Annual  Meeting 
hitherto  has  not  been,  however,  sufficiently  great  to  take 
the  trouble  this  arrangement  would  involve.  But  it  was 
thought  that  perhaps  the  companies  might  allow  the  time 
covered  by  the  return  ticket  to  include  the  first  Monday 
instead  of,  as  usual,  the  first  Tuesday  of  the  Association 
week,  and  at  Exeter  last  year,  the  President  of  the  Con¬ 
ference  addressed  the  President  of  the  British  Associa¬ 
tion  on  the  matter.  The  answer  was  that  the  officers 
of  the  British  Association  had  repeatedly  attempted,  but 
in  vain,  to  obtain  from  the  railway  companies  the  exten¬ 
sion  mentioned. 

In  conclusion,  your  Committee  desires  to  testify  to  the 
untii’ing  efforts  the  Liverpool  local  committee  has  made 


232 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  17,  1870. 


to  secure  the  success  of  the  present  meeting.  The  ex¬ 
hibition  of  objects  connected  with  Pharmacy  has  been 
entirely  organized  by  the  resident  members.  The  thanks 
of  the  meeting  will  doubtless  he  fully  expressed  to  the 
Local  Committee  when,  at  the  close  of  the  sittings,  the 
members  will  have  had  opportunities  of  noticing  the 
extent  to  which  the  desire  for  their  comfort  and  pleasure 
have  been  thoughtfully  and  completely  anticipated. 

On  the  motion  of  Mr.  Sumner,  seconded  by  Mr.  J. 
Shaw,  the  Report  and  an  accompanying  Balance  Sheet 
were  adopted. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  in  attendance  as  dele¬ 
gates  from  various  societies : — 

Bristol  Pharmaceutical  Association. — The  President, 
Mr.  Stoddart. 

Nottingham  ami  Notts  Chemists'  Association. — Messrs. 
J.  H.  Atherton,  J.  Rayner. 

Edinburgh  Branch  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society. — 
Messrs.  H.  C.  Baildon,  George  Blanshard,  D.  Brown, 
jun.,  and  J.  Mackay. 

Manchester  Chemists  and  Druggists'  Association. — 
Messrs.  W.  J.  Brown,  W.  J.  Halliday,  J.  T.  Slugg, 
F.  B.  Benger  and  R.  Hampson ;  Members  of  Council 
who  may  be  present. 

London  Chemists'  Association. — Mr.  W.  Martindale. 

Ashton  and  Dukin field  Chemists'  Association. — Messrs. 
Jabez  Waterhouse  and  W.  Bostock. 

Scarborough  Chemists'  Association. — Mr.  J.  Whitfield. 

Leeds  Chemists'  Association. — Messrs.  R.  M.  Atkinson 
and  R.  Reynolds. 

Bradford  Chemists'  Association. — Dr.  Parkinson,  Ph.D. 

Sunderland  Chemists’  Association. — The  Hon.  Sec.,  Mr. 
J.  J.  Nicholson. 

Bath  Chemists'  Association. — The  Treasurer  and  Mr. 
C.  Ekin. 

Brighton  Chemists'  Association. — Mr.  Savage. 

New  castle-on- Tyne  Chemical  Society. — Mr.  H.  B.  Brady. 

On  the  motion  of  Mr.  Baildon,  seconded  by  Mr. 
Evans,  the  following  foreign  members  of  the  Conference 
were  elected : — Mr.  Carlos  Murray,  of  Buenos  Ayres  : 
Senhor  J oaquim  Correa  de  Mello,  of  Campinas,  Brazil ; 
and  Professor  Soubeiran,  of  Paris.  The  number  of 
foreign  members,  which  by  the  rules  of  the  Conference, 
is  limited  to  twenty,  is  now  ten. 

The  President  then  delivered  the  following 

Introductory  Address. 

Gentlemen, — It  has  now  become  an  annual  custom  to 
commence  our  Conference  meetings  with  an  introductory 
address,  the  principal  object  of  which  is  to  briefly  recall 
to  our  memories  some  of  the  most  prominent  observations 
or  discoveries  that  have  taken  place  during  the  previous 
year.  Nor  is  the  custom  less  instructive  than  interest¬ 
ing,  for  all  who  are  in  the  habit  of  reading  from  month 
to  month  the  labours  of  others  know  full  well  the  value 
of  such  occasional  reviews. 

The  prosperous  career  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Con¬ 
ference  is  fully  apparent  in  this  our  seventh  meeting, 
which  promises  to  fairly  rival  any  of  the  former  ones, 
both  in  number  of  visitors  and  interest  of  papers. 

The  number  of  new  members  is  so  unprecedented  as  to 
call  for  special  notice  as  a  great  subject  for  congratula¬ 
tion.  No  fewer  than  900  having  been  added  to  our  list 
since  the  last  meeting  is  a  plain  and  unmistakable  proof 
that  the  institution  of  the  Society  has  not  been  in  vain. 
Indeed,  if  any  evidence  were  necessary  to  prove  the  ap¬ 
preciation  of  our  annual  gatherings,  it  would  be  most 
abundantly  afforded  by  the  good  people  of  Liverpool, 
who  have  left  nothing  undone  to  make  our  visit  success¬ 
ful,  and  ourselves  at  home. 

I  feel  assured  that  it  is  not  only  the  wish  of  your 
Council,  but  of  all  the  members,  that  our  various  visits 
throughout  the  kingdom  should  be  productive  of  good, 
by  planting  a  seed  or  two  of  the  tree  of  knowledge,  which 


by  a  little  careful  training  and  judicious  culture  after 
our  departure,  may  in  after  years  yield  the  fruit  of  in¬ 
creased  intelligence. 

It  appears  to  me  that  the  fundamental  idea  of  the  Con¬ 
ference  is  the  furtherance  of  Pharmacy  proper,  by  di¬ 
recting-  attention  to  the  proper  means  of  scientific  educa¬ 
tion,  or  judicious  training,  and  the  advancement  of  our 
status  as  a  profession. 

Nowhere  in  the  kingdom  is  there  a  better  spirit  for 
improvement  or  stronger  ambition  for  advance  shown., 
than  by  the  inhabitants  of  this  part  of  her  Majesty’s 
dominions.  I  would  therefore  appeal  to  their  experience 
whether  or  no  the  cultivation  of  the  mind  in  scientific 
pursuits  be  not  an  exquisite  source  of  pleasurable  enjoy¬ 
ment  and  actual  profit.  It  may  be  some  curious  reaction 
to  be  unravelled,  some  puzzling  phenomenon  to  be  ex¬ 
plained,  or  the  most  profitable  method  of  conducting 
an  operation  to  be  found,  which,  to  the  intelligent  mind, 
furnishes  a  zest  for  exploration  that  must  be  felt  to  be 
properly  understood. 

What  pleasure  is  there  so  innocent  or  so  enthusiastic 
as  the  mutual  examination  of  perhaps  a  common  object 
under  the  microscope,  or  unfolding  the  nature  of  a  sub¬ 
stance  with  the  subtle  art  of  chemistry  F 

I  do  not  for  one  moment  believe  that  such  works  are 
only  for  the  anchoret  or  the  recluse ;  nay,  a  spirit  of 
enduring  and  cordial  fellowship  is  created,  by  the  glo¬ 
rious  relish  of  meeting  a  kindred  spirit,  to  whom  you  can 
show  a  treasure,  or  with  whom  you  can  have  an  hour’s 
chat. 

In  every  age  the  pursuit  of  knowledge  has  been  the 
theme  of  song  and  verse.  The  very  nature  of  a  man 
possessing  a  “mens  sana  in  corpore  sano”  forces  him  to 
appreciate  all  that  is  beautiful,  and  fills  him  with  an 
insatiable  desire  to  discover  the  cause  of  the  many 
wonders  that  are  continually  taking  place  around  him. 

“Not  a  tree, 

A  plant,  or  leaf,  or  blossom,  but  contain 
A  folio  volume.  We  may  read,  and  read, 

And  read  again,  and  still  find  something  new,— 
Something  to  please,  and  something  to  instruct.” 

That  horrid,  but  perhaps  necessary  cry,  cui  bono  ?  must 
sometimes  be  met,  and  surely  past  experience  can  satisfy 
the  most  mercenary  spirit,  and  show  that  the  so-called 
hobby  of  a  philosopher,  foolish  as  it  may  seem,  fre¬ 
quently  gives  birth  to  results  that  must  startle  the  most 
cold-hearted  utilitarian. 

I  cannot  endorse  the  assertion  of  Adam  Smith  that  a 
philosopher  is  a  person  “whose  trade  is  to  do  nothing 
and  speculate  in  everything.”  Where  would  be  our 
telegraph  if  Faraday  and  Oersted  had  not  studied  the 
properties  of  an  electrified  wire  P  Or  the  wonderful  cal¬ 
culations  of  astronomy  if  Newton  had  let  the  fall  of  an 
apple  pass  by  unheeded  ?  To  the  student  nothing  should 
be  considered  too  trifling  or  unimportant. 

But  it  is  to  the  improvement  of  our  own  particular 
profession  of  pharmacy  that  I  wish  to  call  your  atten¬ 
tion,  hoping,  as  I  do  most  sincerely,  to  enlist  your 
interest. 

We  live  and  have  our  being  in  complete  subjection  to 
Nature’s  laws.  How  foolish,  then,  to  remain  without 
learning  what  those  laws  require,  so  that  we  may  have 
them  with  us  and  not  against  us ! 

Pharmacy,  of  all  pursuits,  is  the  one  most  dependent 
on  the  proper  use  of  these  laws.  The  pharmaceutist 
must  make  the  most  he  can  of  the  numerous  animal,  ve¬ 
getable  and  mineral  substances  with  which  he  has  to  do, 
and  to  carry  on  his  operations  with  the  view  of  produc¬ 
ing  the  best  results.  I  am  convinced  that  the  most  pro¬ 
sperous  and  happy  of  our  body  are  those  that  bear  these 
things  in  mind,  and  who  look  upon  mental  cultivation 
as  a  delight,  and  not  as  a  necessary  but  disagreeable 
task. 

Probably  of  all  occupations  for  procuring  the  means 
of  subsistence  none  surpasses  our  own  in  the  small 
return  for  the  large  amount  of  work  done.  Truly  the 


September  17,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


233 


pharmaceutical  motto  ought  to  have  been,  “  Nihil  est 
aliud  magnum  quam  multa  minuta.” 

Thirty  years  ago  tho  pharmaceutist  was  a  literal 
tradesman,  and  for  thirty  years  we  lived  in  a  theoretical 
anticipation  of  oiu-  character  and  status  being  raised  to  a 
higher  standard.  Our  ever-to-be-remembered  Jacob 
Bell  and  William  Allen,  with  others  of  advanced  views, 
steadily  persevered  in  the  attainment  of  this  object,  and 
hoped  "on  in  the  face  of  strenuous  opposition  to  see  the 
things  that  we  see. 

Two  years  ago  we  obtained  the  long- wished  for  Phar¬ 
macy  Act,  but  at  our  last  meeting  we  had  no  practical 
experience  of  its  working.  All  was  in  embryo.  Since 
that  time  a  twelvemonth  has  elapsed ;  and,  though  too 
short  a  time  perhaps  for  a  conclusive  verdict,  yet  I  ven¬ 
ture  to  say  that  it  has  worked  well,  and  now  more  than 
ever  its  expected  benefits  loom  more  decidedly  in  the 
future. 

Let  us  always  beware,  however,  of  infusing  a  merce¬ 
nary  spirit  into  the  conduction  of  our  Pharmaceutical 
Society.  Its  main  object  is,  and  ever-  must  be,  the  up¬ 
raising  of  our  Pharmaceutical  education,  and  not  the 
lowering  it  into  a  trades’  union,  a  spirit  which  I  am  bold 
to  say  would  prove  its  ruin. 

We  must  not  be  too  impatient  of  a  little  more  nursing 
by  the  valued  hands  of  the  older  members  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society. 

Chemistry,  botany  and  physics  are  to  us  only  secon¬ 
dary  in  importance  to  a  well-grounded  general  educa¬ 
tion. 

The  study  of  botany  is  peculiarly  a  necessity,  since  we 
derive  so  many  of  our  preparations  from  various  plants  ; 
but  its  demands  have  been  so  well  put  before  you  on 
former  occasions  by  our  esteemed  Professor  Bentley  that 
I  must  not  take  up  your  time  by  dwelling  on  them  now. 

Our  younger  members  will  need  no  reminder  from  me 
that  great  changes  have  within  the  last  few  years  taken 
place  in  chemical  philosophy.  Chemistry  now,  more 
than  ever,  claims  to  be  an  exact  science  ;  and,  although  I 
fear  many  of  us  have  bemoaned  the  change  in  notation 
and  the  attendant  difficulty  of  unlearning  an  old  system, 
yet  the  more  simple  explanation  of  puzzling  organic  me¬ 
tamorphoses  will  amply  repay  any  trouble  taken  by  the 
persevering  student. 

Nearly  twenty  years  ago,  our  countryman,  Professor 
Williamson,  introduced  to  public  notice  the  modern  view 
of  chemical  types.  Three  years  afterwards  Gerhardt 
added  to  the  Professor’s  water-type  two  others,  the  hy¬ 
drochloric  acid  and  ammonia. 

From  these  views  we  have  a  more  complete  classifica¬ 
tion  of  the  elements  and  their  combinations  than  we  ever 
had  before.  Ere  many  more  years  have  elapsed,  works 
on  chemistry  must  be  arranged  on  quite  a  different 
plan,  especially  with  regard  to  the  terms  inorganic  and 
organic. 

In  our  older  books  the  compounds  included  under 
these  heads  were  supposed  to  be  as  distinct  as  if  they  be¬ 
longed  to  the  animal  and  mineral  kingdoms.  The  term 
“organic”  then  denoted  those  compounds  which  were 
thought  only  producible  in  the  bodies  of  plants  and 
animals,  and  that  their  production  was  due  to  a  supposed 
“  vital  force.”  Of  course  I  here  allude  to  organic  and 
not  organized  bodies. 

In  later  years  many  of  these  have  been,  and  pro¬ 
bably  all  will  be  formed  by  the  chemical  transformation 
of  inorganic  elements  or  molecules ;  as  cases  in  point,  I 
would  mention  the  artificial  production  of  alcohol,  sugar, 
acetic  acid,  etc.  etc. 

Perhaps  the  best  definition  of  an  organic  substance  is, 
that  it  is  a  carbon  compound,  and  that  carbon  in  che¬ 
mistry  is  analogous  to  desmids  and  diatoms  in  micro¬ 
scopy.  The  latter  seems  to  be  debatable  ground  between 
the  animal  and  vegetable  kingdoms,  as  carbon  is  between 
inorganic  and  organic  chemistry. 

Oxalic  acid  was  once  considered  to  be  only  found  in 
the  juices  of  plants.  Now  it  has  been  prepared  from 


purely  inorganic  elements.  By  the  decomposition  of  a 
piece  of  chalk  we  produce  the  well-known  gas  carbonic 
anhydride  or  carbonic  acid.  Then  by  passing  this  gas 
over  sodium  and  sand  we  have  oxalic  acid,  identical  in 
every  respect  with  that  found  in  the  Rumex  and  Oxalis. 

2C02  +  2K  =  K2C204 

Carbonic  Oxalate  of 

acid.  potassium. 

Our  well-known  alcohol  is  another  instance  of  the  arti¬ 
ficial  production  from  inorganic  ingredients  of  what  was 
formerly  supposed  to  be  formed  only  by  the  fermentation 
of  starch  or  sugar. 

By  passing  the  vapour  of  that  commonest  of  all  mine¬ 
rals — sulphur — over  the  surface  of  red-hot  charcoal,  we 
have  carbon  disulphide,  the  disagreeable  liquid  so  often 
used  for  dissolving  india-rubber.  Then,  again,  if  we  mix 
this  with  hydro-sulphuric  acid  gas,  and  pass  the  mixture 
over  red-hot  copper,  or  with  carbonic  oxide  over  iron,  we 
may,  as  proved  by  the  experiments  of  Mr.  Berthelot, 
produce  olefiant  gas,  or,  as  it  is  now  called,  ethylene 
(C2H4). 

2  CS2  +  2  H2S  +  6  Cu  =  C2H4  +  3  Cu2S. 

Carb.  Hydro-  Ethy-  Cupric 

disulph.  sulph.acid.  leue.  sulphide. 

Lastly,  if  we  dissolve  the  ethylene  in  strong  sulphuric 
acid,  dilute  with  water  and  distil,  we  shall  have  as  the 
result  alcohol,  similar  in  every  way  to  that  prepared  by 
the  distillation  of  grain — 

c,h4  +  h2so4  +  h2o  =  c2h6o  +  h2so4. 

Ethylene.  Sulph.  acid.  Alcohol.  Sulph.  acid. 

We  might,  in  like  manner,  follow  the  synthetical  forma¬ 
tion  of  acetic  acid  from  the  same  inorganic  materials, 
carbon  and  sulphur. 

The  vegetable  alkaloids,  it  is  true,  have  not  yet  been 
artificially  produced ;  but  so  great  an  advance  is  being 
made  in  the  formation  of  organic  compounds  by  artificial 
means,  that  I  think  it  is  not  too  chimerical  an  idea  to 
expect  a  pharmaceutical  solution  of  the  philosopher’s 
stone  problem,  and  to  manufacture  quinia  and  morphia  on 
the  large  scale.  We  should  then  be  entirely  indepen¬ 
dent  of  the  Cinchonacece  and  Papaveracece ,  on  which  we 
now  entirely  rely  for  these  invaluable  medicines. 

In  the  January  number  of  the  Journal  de  Pharmacie  et 
de  Chimie  is  an  article  by  M.  Bourgoin  on  the  electrolysis 
of  the  vegetable  alkaloids, — an  interesting  subject  that 
has  not  hitherto  received  the  attention  it  deserves. 

It  has  for  some  time  been  known  that  the  salts  of  ve¬ 
getable  alkaloids,  when  subjected  to  galvanic  action, 
obey  the  usual  law  of  metallic  bases  and  acids,  for  the 
alkaloid  appears  at  the  negative  and  the  acid  at  the  po¬ 
sitive  pole. 

The  author  states  that  the  sulphates  of  atropia,  brucia, 
strychnia,  codeia,  and  quinia,  when  acted  upon  by  the 
galvanic  current,  behave  exactly  like  ammonium  sul¬ 
phate — 

NH4S04  =  S04  +  NH4. 

+  — 

But,  more  than  this,  he  goes  on  to  say,  that  when 
an  acid  solution  of  either  alkaloid  was  used,  and  the 
conductibility  of  the  liquid  thereby  rendered  more  per¬ 
fect,  the  electrolytic  action  was  much  more  violent. 
The  solution  became  coloured  round  the  positive  elec¬ 
trode,  and  evolved  oxygen,  carbonic  acid  and  carbonic 
oxide  gases. 

The  most  remarkable  result  of  the  experiment  was 
that,  in  each  case,  the  colour  produced  teas  identical  with 
that  seen  when  the  alkaloid  teas  acted  upon  by  strong  nitric 
acid.  Thus,  atropia  and  strychnia  gave  a  yellow,  brucia 
a  blood-red,  and  codeia  an  orange  colour. 

This  effect  was  the  result  of  true  oxidation,  and  not 
from  the  formation  of  nitric  acid. 

The  experiment  appears  to  strengthen  the  idea  of 
Liebig,  that  the  nitrogenous  alkaloids  are  substitu¬ 
tion  compounds  containing  amidogen,  N  H2 ;  in  other 


234 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  17,  1870. 


words,  that  they  may  he  derivatives  of  ammonia,  NH3, 
in  which  one  atom  of  hydrogen  has  been  displaced  by  an 
organic  molecule. 

Having  alluded  to  botany  and  chemistry,  allow  me  to 
take  up  a  little  more  of  your  time  by  giving  an  illustra¬ 
tion  of  the  advantage  of  a  knowledge  of  natural  physics, 
because  many  of  the  most  beautiful  phenomena  pass 
under  the  dispenser’s  notice  every  day. 

At  our  last  meeting  I  had  the  honour  of  alluding  to 
some  experiments,  showing  the  practical  application  of 
spectrum  analysis  to  several  of  our  fluid  preparations. 
By  means  of  the  spectroscope  many  elements  have  since 
then  been  detected  in  articles  of  the  Materia  Medica, 
which,  a  few  years  ago,  were  considered  great  rarities. 

On  the  table  are  the  ashes  of  many  pharmacopoeial 
substances  which  contain  the  metals  rubidium,  lithium 
and  strontium. 

Lithium  has  been  noticed  in  creta  preeparata,  potassse 
tartras  acida,  radix  taraxaci,  radix  rhei,  Gentiana  lutea , 
Atropa  Belladonna ,  Nicotiana  Tabacum,  Triticum  vulgare , 
commercial  pearlash,  raisins,  carbo  animalis,  carragheen 
and  kaolin. 

Strontium  exists  in  many  specimens  of  taraxacum, 
creta  preeparata,  calamine,  etc. 

Rubidium  has  been  detected  in  syrup  made  from  loaf 
sugar  which  most  probably  had  been  manufactured  from 
Austrian  beetroot,  also  in  oak-bark,  from  trees  growing 
on  beds  of  lias  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Bristol,  and  in 
tea,  coffee  and  cream  of  tartar. 

Many  samples  of  bismuthum  album  show  the  green 
line  of  thallium  very  distinctly,  while  oxide  of  zinc  will 
sometimes  indicate  the  presence  of  indium. 

By  some  authors  it  has  been  denied  that  plants  absorb 
from  the  earth  such  metals  as  are  not  absolutely  essential 
to  their  nutrition.  Experiments,  however,  afford  strong- 
evidence  to  the  contrary. 

Mr.  R.  Warington  ( Journ .  Chem.  Soc.  1865)  found  in 
the  ashes  of  the  beech  and  birch  -193  per  cent,  of  man¬ 
ganese.  In  a  case  of  cattle  poisoning  at  Wells  Assizes, 
the  animals  were  proved  to  have  been  killed  by  eating 
plants  containing  lead  derived  from  the  soil  on  which 
they  grew.  Analysis  showed  that  grass,  weeds,  fungi, 
thistles  and  shrubs  contained  a  poisonous  quantity  of 
lead,  although  totally  unaffected  in  their  growth. 

The  triassic  marls  of  Cotham,  near  Bristol,  are  cele¬ 
brated  for  an  abundance  of  celestine,  or  sulphate  of 
strontium.  An  examination  of  the  ashes  of  plants  and 
shrubs  growing  on  these  strata  nearly  always  shows  the 
presence  of  strontium  in  small  quantity.  I  have  detected 
this  metal  in  Taraxacum ,  Arabis ,  Senecio ,  Capsella ,  To  a, 
Senebiera  and  Scoparium. 

In  a  communication  to  the  Royal  Society  ( Proc .  Roy. 
Soc.  18,  546)  Mr.  Huggins  says  he  has  found  traces  of 
lime  in  every  specimen  of  magnesia  he  has  examined, 
even  in  what  was  sold  as  pure  magnesium  oxide  and 
magnesium  chloride.- 

When  magnesium  oxide  was  examined,  the  heat  of 
the  oxyhydrogen  flame  was  necessary  to  bring  out  the 
calcium  lines  distinctly.  He  noticed  that  it  was  always 
most  satisfactory  to  employ  a  minimum  quantity  of  oxy¬ 
gen,  for  when  too  much  was  used  they  were  not  so  dis¬ 
tinctly  visible.  Dr.  Emerson  Reynolds,  whose  experi¬ 
ments  were  recorded  in  the  same  paper,  gives  the  same 
results. 

But  perhaps  of  all  the  phenomena  observed  in  phar¬ 
maceutical  optics,  that  termed  fluorescence  is  the  most 
striking  and  beautiful.  It  is  the  ghostlike  appearance 
which  we  see  every  time  we  dispense  a  bottle  of  mixture 
containing  quinine,  or  syrup  of  red  poppies.  By  very 
delicate  methods  of  observation  the  singular  fluorescent 
property  may  actually  be  seen  on  the  white  demy  in 
which  we  wrap  our  bottles  before  sending  them  out. 

It  was  formerly  supposed  to  be  occasioned  by  the  re¬ 
flection  of  light  from  an  irregular  surface,  or  from  par¬ 
ticles  mechanically  suspended  in  a  solution,  as  when 
tincture  of  arnica  is  added  to  distilled  water.  In  such 


mixtures,  the  effect  to  the  eye  very  much  resembles  fluo¬ 
rescence,  yet  is  of  a  very  different  character,  and  may  be 
distinguished  by  the  rays  of  light  being  polarized,  which 
is  never  the  case  with  the  true  diffusion  of  fluorescence. 

The  most  convenient  way  of  viewing  these  phenomena 
is  by  looking  at  the  solution  under  examination  through 
a  prism,  or  by  the  actinic  light  of  burning  magnesium, 
or  by  passing  the  spark  of  an  induction  coil  through  a 
central  vacuum  tube. 

Fluorescence  may  thus  be  observed  in  many  substances 
of  the  Pharmacopoeia,  such  as  guaiacum,  sulphate  of  qui¬ 
nine,  Hyoscyamus,  Stramonium,  Curcuma ,  Cannabis  indica, 
Digitalis ,  Lobelia ,  litmus,  orchil,  madder  and  Rapavcr 

Rhceas. 

For  some  time  the  phenomena  were  explained  by  Sir 
J.  Herschel,  under  the  term  epipolism,  and  afterwards  by 
Sir  D.  Brewster  as  internal  dispersion.  It  however  re¬ 
mained  for  the  President  of  the  British  Association,  Pro¬ 
fessor  Stokes,  to  discover  the  true  explanation,  viz.  that 
the  effects  were  caused  by  a  change  of  refrangibility  in 
the  rays  of  light.  The  index  of  refraction  is  always 
diminished ,  because  the  length  of  the  light  wave  is  in¬ 
creased  and  the  velocity  lessened. 

For  instance,  the  invisible  actinic  rays  which  lie  be¬ 
yond  the  violet,  are  shown  by  quinine  in  the  blue,  by 
stramonium  and  curcuma  in  the  yellow,  and  by  chloro¬ 
phyll  in  the  red.  In  every  case  the  change  is  towards 
the  red  end  of  the  spectrum. 

It  sometimes  happens  that  fluorescence  is  observed  to 
commence  in  two  parts  of  the  spectrum,  and  would  in¬ 
dicate  that  the  solution  under  examination  contained  two 
distinct  chemical  compounds. 

The  bark  of  the  horse-chestnut  (xE sc  ulus  Jlippocasta- 
num )  is  a  remarkable  example  of  this.  Its  beautiful 
green  fluorescence  was  formerly  supposed  to  originate 
from  a  crystalline  substance  called  eesculin.  A  more 
accurate  series  of  experiments  by  Mr.  Stokes  has  shown 
that  two  parts  of  the  spectrum  were  simultaneously 
affected. 

This  fact  aroused  the  professor’s  suspicion,  which  a 
chemical  analysis  afterwards  proved  to  be  well  grounded. 
Two  glucosides  were  produced,  viz.  sesculin  (C21H240131, 
which  gives  a  sky-blue  light,  and  paviin  (C27H30Ol3), 
which  gives  a  bluish-green.  When  an  aqueous  mixture 
of  both  these  principles  is  submitted  to  examination,  a 
light  is  perceived  in  every  particular  identical  with  that 
from  an  infusion  of  the  original  bark. 

Thus  it  is  that  we  often  observe  the  different  branches 
of  natural  philosophy  dovetailing  as  it  were  into  each 
other,  and  hastening  to  complete  the  chain  of  evidence 
required  for  the  elucidation  of  some  interesting  problem. 

The  past  year  has  been  prolific  in  so  many  new  and 
important  discoveries  that  it  becomes  difficult  to  point 
out  one  or  two  only  for  consideration. 

At  our  last  meeting  Mr.  Hanbury  brought  before  our 
notice  a  new  hypnotic,  the  chloral  hydrate.  Then  it 
was  an  expensive  curiosity,  now  it  is  in  every  one’s 
pharmacy  and  manufactured  in  enormous  quantities. 
The  general  impression  is,  that  it  will  prove  a  very  effi¬ 
cient  remedy,  especially  where  opiates  are  inadmissible. 
It  is,  however,  much  to  be  regretted,  that  already  an¬ 
other  preparation  has  been  introduced  into  the  market, 
which  only  contains  70  instead  of  90  per  cent,  of  chloral, 
and  which  is  declared  by  Dr.  Liebreich  to  be  devoid  of 
any  therapeutic  power.  The  chloral  alcoholate,  as  it  is 
called,  is  not  so  deliquescent  as  the  hydrate,  and  has  a 
boiling  point  of  113-5°  Cent,  and  a  sp.  gr.  1-34,  while  the 
true  hydrate  boils  at  97°  Cent.,  and  has  a  sp.  gr.  of  1*57- 

A  very  simple  method  of  detecting  the  imposition 
by  the  use  of  ammonia  is  described  by  Mr.  Umney. 
(Pharm.  Jourx.,  Aug.  6,  1870.) 

Sulpho-carbolic  acid  is  another  preparation  that  has 
recently  been  brought  into  use.  It  is  made  by  com¬ 
bining  sulphuric  and  carbolic  acids  in  their  molecular 
weights  (49  to  94)  at  a  temperature  of  290°  F. 

That  true  chemical  union  occurs  is  evident  from  the 


September  17,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


235 


fact  that  sulpho-carholic  acid  gives  no  precipitate  with 
chloride  of  barium  or  nitrate  of  lead.  It  produces  a 
characteristic  purple  colour  with  perchloride  or  perni- 
trate  of  iron. 

Many  physicians  affirm  that  it  is  a  more  powerful  dis¬ 
infectant  than  plain  carbolic  acid.  The  salts  most  com¬ 
monly  used  are  the  sulpho-carbolates  of  soda  and  zinc. 

Last  year  Mr.  Hanbury  alluded  to  the  madder  plant, 
a  species  of  the  Rnbiaccce,  which,  although  not  in  our  Ma¬ 
teria  Medica,  yert  is  employed  as  a  medicinal  agent  in 
manufacturing  districts,  and  will,  therefore,  be  my  ex¬ 
cuse  for  again  alluding  to  it. 

Its  principal  consumption,  as  you  know,  is  for  tinc¬ 
torial  purposes,  and  its  value  may  be  easily  conceived 
when  no  less  a  sum  than  £1,000,000  is  annually  paid  by 
us  for  foreign  madder. 

It  owes  its  colouring  matter  to  alizarine , which,  singu¬ 
larly  enough,  does  not  exist  in  the  living  plant,  but  is 
produced  by  a  kind  of  fermentation. 

A  few  months  ago  two  Germans  succeeded  in  artifi¬ 
cially  making  alizarine  in  quantity  by  the  destructive 
distillation  of  coal-tar,  like  the  well-known  aniline  dyes, 
alizarine  being  a  product  from  anthracine  as  aniline  is 
from  benzol. 

During  the  past  twelve  months  our  London  and  pro¬ 
vincial  brethren  have  not  been  idle  at  their  evening- 
meetings,  for  subjects  of  the  highest  importance  have 
been  discussed. 

In  London  Professor  Redwood,  writh  his  usual  apti¬ 
tude,  has  given  a  series  of  most  useful  notes  on  the  Phar¬ 
macopoeia,  which  have  in  their  turn  elicited  practical 
remarks  from  our  ever-ready  friend,  Dr.  Attfield,  and 
other  members.  Abstracts  of  these  have  appeared  in  the 
Journal,  to  which  periodical  I  must  also  refer  you  for  an 
amount  of  work  done  in  the  provinces,  and  which  I 
think  wall  thoroughly  stand  the  test  of  criticism.  Nor 
must  I  forget  our  Transatlantic  confreres,  who  have  been 
prosecuting  pharmaceutical  researches  with  great  dili¬ 
gence.  Their  transactions  are  well  worth  an  attentive 
perusal. 

Since  our  last  meeting  at  Exeter  an  International 
Congress  of  Pharmacists  has  been  held  at  Vienna,  and  I 
trust  we  may  have  the  pleasure  of  reciprocating  the 
friendly  feeling  evinced  on  that  occasion  by  a  cordial 
invitation  to  our  own  shores. 

In  conclusion,  I  trust  I  shall  be  forgiven  if  I  impress 
on  every  one  present  the  importance  of  sinking  petty 
differences  of  opinion,  and  uniting  together  in  advancing 
the  object  for  which  we  have  met  here  to-day,  viz.  the 
promotion  of  pharmacy.  We  certainly  have  the  oppor¬ 
tunity,  and  we  ought  to  take  the  greatest  care  not  to  let 
it  pass  unheeded  or  unimproved. 

Government  shows  a  disposition  to  help  us  in  every 
way,  and  will  give  a  decided  preference  to  those  who 
pass  our  examinations.  For  instance,  they  will  admit 
no  candidate  for  the  office  of  naval  dispenser  until 
he  has  a  satisfactory  diploma  from  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society.  In  return  we  are  in  duty  bound  to  see  that  we 
fulfil  our  trust,  and  discharge  the  moral  obligations  that 
they  have  entrusted  to  our  care. 

We  are  pharmaceutists,  that  is,  professed  preparers  of 
compounds  containing  the  active  principles  of  articles  in 
an  acknowledged  materia  medica,  and  such,  in  my  opi¬ 
nion,  ought  to  be  our  chief  business,  and  the  object  of 
thoughtful  study. 

If  my  view  be  correct,  our  proper  and  legitimate  aim 
ought  to  be  attaining  a  knowledge  of  the  best  method  of 
making  those  preparations. 

I  am  well  aware  that  in  order  to  make  both  ends  meet, 
a  great  number  of  our  body  combine  a  multitude  of  hete¬ 
rogeneous  goods  in  their  common  stock.  Nevertheless, 
I  submit  that  it  does  not  alter  my  idea  of  the  desirability 
of  a  pure  and  simple  pharmacy. 

The  general  tendency  of  the  medical  profession  of  the 
present  day  is  to  leave  to  us  dispensing  of  prescriptions 
which  they  prescribe.  It  is  then  plainly  our  duty  to  lose 


no  time  in  rendering  ourselves  competent  to  undertake 
that  office  in  the  best  possible  manner. 

At  a  late  address  Professor  Huxley  spoke  very  strongly 
on  this  point.  He  said,  when  speaking  of  the  curriculum 
of  study,  “  I  would  abolish  Materia  Medica  altogether. 

.  .  .  I  cannot  understand  the  arguments  for  obliging 
a  medical  man  to  know  all  about  drugs  and  where  they 
came  from.  Why  not  make  him  learn  about  cutlery,  be¬ 
cause  he  uses  knives  ?” 

I  quote  this  as  a  very  significant  expression  and  sign 
of  the  times.  I  must  confess  I  cannot  go  quite  so  far  as 
the  Professor,  for  the  dispenser  well  knows  the  difficulty 
in  dispensing  that  often  arises  from  a  want  of  knowledge 
in  the  properties  and  peculiarities  of  the  drugs  with 
which  the  prescriber  has  to  do. 

No  one,  I  presume,  would  call  the  medical  profession  a 
trade,  because  in  some  out-of-the-way  spot  in  the  country, 
and  many  miles  from  a  pharmaceutist,  a  medical  practi¬ 
tioner  dispensed  his  medicine  or  even  the  prescription  of 
another.  Then  why  should  we  be  prevented  from  raising 
our  status  and  entering  the  professional  ranks,  because 
some  of  our  brethren  in  the  country  find  it  necessary  to 
amplify  their  already  small  income  by  the  sale  of  more 
general  accessories  ? 

It  must  be  borne  in  mind,  too,  that  the  present  time  is 
an  anomalous  one,  and  one  that  will  gradually  pass  away, 
like  the  old  apothecary. 

Let  us  then  accept  the  challenge  that  is  now  virtually 
thrown  at  our  feet,  and  do  the  best  we  can  under  the 
circumstances.  In  future  years  our  children  and  succes¬ 
sors  will  give  us  credit  for,  and  enjoy  the  advantages 
which  will  have  arisen  from  our  present  endeavours  in 
their  behalf.  It  may  be  that  all  the  thanks  the  founders 
of  Pharmacy  will  ever  obtain,  will  be  given  by  them 
long  after  we  have  passed  away. 

Nevertheless  we  should  err  if  we  forgot  the  long-tried, 
steady  and  faithful  work  done  by  such  men  as  Squire, 
Morson,  Deane,  and  many  others  whose  names  need  only 
be  mentioned. 

Why  should  we  not  then  unite  hand  in  hand,  and  with 
the  unselfish  and  free  spirit  of  true  science,  proceed 
steadily  onwards,  surmounting  every  obstacle,  and  letting 
the  motto  on  our  banner  be  “Excelsior!”  for 

“All  the  means  of  action, 

The  shapeless  masses — the  materials — 

Lie  everywhere  around  us.  What  we  need 
Is  the  celestial  fire  to  change  the  flint 
Into  transparent  crystal,  bright  and  clear.” 

I  cannot  conclude  without  alluding  to  the  great  exer¬ 
tions  of  Messrs.  Attfield,  Brady  and  Reynolds  on  behalf 
of  this  Conference.  I  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  to  them 
-we  are  in  a  great  measure  indebted  for  our  successful 
progress.  Few  know  the  immense  amount  of  work  that 
has°been  willingly  gone  through  by  their  untiring  exer¬ 
tions.  .  . 

Long  may  we  deserve  and  appreciate  their  self-denial, 
and  long,  very  long,  may  we  enjoy  the  privilege  of 
having  them  as  our  official  guardians. 

In  a  society  like  the  present,  money  matters  necessi¬ 
tate  delicate,  firm  and  careful  management,  and  this  we 
have  in  our  esteemed  Treasurer,  Mr.  H.  B.  Brady,  who, 
though  always  considerate,  is  ever  watchful  for  our  inter¬ 
ests  ;  I  sincerely  hope,  therefore,  that  we  may  hail  him 
for  many  more  years  as  Honorary  Treasurer  to  “The 
British  Pharmaceutical  Conference.” 

On  the  motion  of  Mr.  Mackay  (Edinburgh),  seconded 
by  Mr.  Williams  (London),  a  vote  of  thanks  was  ac¬ 
corded  to  the  President  for  his  excellent  address  ;  which 
compliment  he  briefly  acknowledged. 

The  reading  of  Papers  was  then  commenced,  and  was 
carried  on  till  shortly  after  4  o’clock,  when  the  Con¬ 
ference  adjourned  to  the  Exhibition  of  Pharmaceutical 
Products,  Apparatus,  etc.,  which  is  held  in  a  room  over 
the  Savings  Bank  in  Bold  Street. 


236 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  17,  1870. 


BRITISH  ASSOCIATION  FOR  THE  ADVANCE¬ 
MENT  OF  SCIENCE. 

Meeting  at  Liverpool. 

The  Fortieth  Animal  Meeting  of  the  British  Associa¬ 
tion  commenced  on  Wednesday.  It  is  the  third  visit 
the  Association  has  made  to  Liverpool,  and  promises  to 
be  very  successful.  The  first  general  meeting  was  held  in 
the  Philharmonic  Hall.  The  retiring  President,  Pro¬ 
fessor  Stokes,  having  vacated  the  chair,  Professor  Huxley, 
the  President  for  the  year,  proceeded  to  deliver  the 
customary  address,  the  subject  chosen  by  him  being 
Spontaneous  Generation. 

The  business  of  the  several  sections  commenced  on 
Thursday  morning.  Among  the  events  of  interest  an¬ 
nounced  to  take  place  during  the  meeting  may  be  men¬ 
tioned  the  discourse  of  Professor  Tyndall,  on  Friday,  upon 
the  Scientific  Uses  of  the  Imagination  ;  and  the  Lecture 
of  Sir  J ohn  Lubbock  to  working  men,  on  Saturday,  upon 
“  Savages.”  The  Mayor  of  Liverpool  gives  two  soirees 
during  the  week.  A  soiree  will  also  be  given  by  Mr. 
Bickeysteth,  for  which  one  thousand  invitations  have 
been  issued.  The  excursions,  seven  in  number,  are  fixed 
to  take  place  after  the  close  of  the  business  of  the  Asso¬ 
ciation. 


SHEFFIELD  SCHOOL  OF  MEDICINE. 

The  winter  session  of  the  Sheffield  School  of  Medicine 
will  commence  on  October  1st,  when  the  Introductory 
Address  will  be  delivered  by  the  Rev.  J.  Lettis  Short, 
and  the  Prizes  distributed  in  the  Anatomical  Theatre  at 
4  P.M. 


SOCIETY  OF  ARTS. 

On  Fermentation. 

BY  PROEESSOR  A.  W.  WILLIAMSON,  F.R.S. 

Lecture  II. — continued. 

There  is  one  other  remarkable  instance  which  I  must 
give  you,  to  show  the  difficulty  in  some  cases  of 
analysing  these  phenomena.  It  is  the  case  of  the  metal 
platinum,  which  I  can  hardly  describe  better  in  general 
terms,  as  regards  its  properties,  than  by  comparing  it  to 
gold.  It  is  what  is  termed  a  noble  metal ;  it  does  not 
dissolve  in  any  ordinary  acid ;  you  might  boil  platinum 
in  nitric  acid  for  any  length  of  time  and  it  would  not 
dissolve.  On  the  other  hand,  silver  is  a  metal  which 
dissolves  readily  in  this  acid,  and  if  you  melt  silver  and 
put  platinum  into  it,  it  will  also  melt,  and  you  obtain  a 
compound  of  the  two  metals  mixed  pretty  uniformlv 
together.  It  was  noticed  that  when  such  a  button  of 
platinum  and  silver  is  put  into  nitric  acid,  not  only  does 
the  silver  itself  dissolve,  as  you  would  expect,  but  some 
of  the  platinum  also  dissolves  with  it ;  not  the  whole, 
but  a  portion.  That  seems,  at  first  sight,  favourable  to 
the  theory  of  contagion ;  it  seems  natural  to  suppose 
that  the  silver  in  dissolving  has  communicated  the  same 
tendency  to  the  platinum,  and  made  some  of  it  dissolve. 
But  that  explanation  will  not  do,  and  for  this  reason. 
When  platinum  is  combined  with  anything  else,  I  care 
not  what,  its  properties  are  not  the  same  as  when  un- 
combmed.  The  very  essence  of  chemical  combination 
18  jfu  7U  Par^GS  which  are  in  intimate  contact  unite, 
and  that  the  compound  possesses  different  properties  from 
the  original  elements.  We  know  that  metals  combine 
with  one  another;  there  are  many  cases  known  to  us  of 
the  foicible  union  of  metals,  and  we  have  no  right  to 
suppose  in  any  case,  unless  we  have  actual  proof  of  it 
that  a  metal  is  present  in  such  a  compound  with  its  ordi- 
naiy  properties,  t  herefore,  it  is  not  free  platinum,  but 
a  compound  of  platinum  and  silver  which  dissolves  and 
there  are  some  compounds  of  platinum  which  dissolve  in 
water,  and  others  which  dissolve  in  nitric  acid,  so  that 


this  process  has  really  nothing  to  do  with  contagious 
action. 

In  the  composition  of  alcoholic  ferments  there  are 
several  substances  of  which  we  know  very  little  at 
present,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  but  the  want  of  this  know¬ 
ledge  is  so  great  that  I  have  no  doubt  it  will  be  soon 
supplied;  certainly,  this  is  a  most  important  field  for 
the  investigation  of  naturalists  who  possess  an  accurate 
knowledge  of  chemical  manipulation.  I  mean  the  simplest 
and  lowest  organisms,  whose  fimctions  are  of  such  im¬ 
portance  in  these  changes,  and  certainly  claim  much  care¬ 
ful  investigation.  But  some  of  the  things  which  we  do 
know  about  the  yeast-cells,  I  must  now  state,  with  rela¬ 
tion  to  the  facts  and  ideas  which  we  have  just  had  before 
us.  In  the  first  place,  with  regard  to  their  growth.  It  is 
very  common,  in  the  process  of  brewing,  to  feed  the  yeast- 
cells  with  a  substance  which  is  formed  in  the  germination 
of  barley.  When  barley  is  left  in  a  moist  state,  at  a  suit¬ 
able  temperature,  it  begins  to  sprout,  and  during  that  pro¬ 
cess  there  is  a  change  in  two  of  its  constituents,  which  I 
showed  you  the  other  day.  One  is  gluten,  a  body  con¬ 
taining  nitrogen,  which  I  compared,  for  the  sake  of  con¬ 
venience,  to  muscular  fibre,  being  in  reality  very  closely 
allied  thereto  in  chemical  composition,  and  during  the 
germination  of  the  seed  this  substance  passes  over  into 
some  product  or  products — I  had  better  speak  quite  ge¬ 
nerally — known  by  the  name  of  diastase.  In  the  yeast- 
cells  there  is  a  substance  very  nearly  resembling  in 
composition  this  gluten,  and  it  cannot  be  doubted  that 
this  gluten,  or  albuminous  body  as  it  is  frequently  called, 
is  capable  of  undergoing  a  similar  transformation  into 
diastase,  and  of  all  foods  the  yeast-cell  enjoys  most 
those  which  contain  diastase.  I  have  a  good  many 
yeast-cells  growing  in  a  suitably  heated  chamber,  and 
those  which  seem  to  thrive  most  are  some  which  were 
put  into  an  infusion  of  malt  to  which  sugar  was  added. 
It  is  common,  in  the  process  of  fermentation,  to  put  in 
yeast  in  tolerable  quantity,  but  the  extent  to  which  it 
grows  depends  upon  the  time  for  which  it  is  left  in 
contact  in  the  material.  I  am  told  that  the  common 
proportion  is  about  one-twentieth  of  the  quantity  of 
yeast  required.  For  instance,  if  20  lbs.  of  yeast  are 
wanted  to  effect  a  given  fermentation,  you  put  into  the 
liquid  which  has  been  fermented  1  lb.  of  yeast  calculated 
in  the  dry  state,  and  give  it  this  diastase  to  feed  upon. 
At  the  same  time,  there  is  sugar  present  in  the  liquid, 
and  during  the  process  of  fermentation  this  pound  weight 
of  yeast  increases  more  and  more,  by  a  process  of  true 
germination  and  growth.  Professor  Mitscherlich  actually 
saw,  under  the  microscope,  some  little  cells  of  yeast 
sprout  and  put  out,  from  the  side  of  the  parent  cell, 
small  cells,  which  gradually  increased  in  size.  The 
actual  process,  however,  has  not  been  seen  by  many 
observers.  And  not  only  does  the  yeast-cell  in  that  way 
feed  upon  these  albuminous  bodies,  which  are  grouped 
together  by  the  name  of  diastase,  but  it  also  takes  part 
of  the  sugar ;  and  these  are  the  two  prominent  facts 
which  we  know  with  regard  to  its  food — that  it  feeds 
upon  substances  of  those  two  classes ;  sugar,  which  con¬ 
tains  no  nitrogen,  and  also  nitrogenous  substances,  which 
are  formed  by  the  partial  breaking  up  of  the  gluten. 
On  the  other  hand,  its  decomposition — I  mean  during 
its  life  ;  I  am  not  speaking  of  any  decomposition  which  its 
materials  may  undergo  if  it  is  killed — gives  off  alcohol, 
carbonic  acid,  succinic  acid  and  glycerine ;  in  fact,  the 
four  chief  products  of  ordinary  alcoholic  fermentation, 
which  I  enumerated  to  you  the  other  day.  And  while 
these  products  are  being  given  off,  there  is  at  the  same 
time  a  considerable  quantity  of  nitrogenous  substances 
being  given  off.  The  albuminous  matter  in  the  yeast- 
cells  is  undergoing  decomposition,  and  is  giving  off 
nitrogenous  substances.  There  is  not  any  well-authen¬ 
ticated  case  of  the  yeast-cell  forming,  during  its  active 
functions,  products  of  complete  breaking  up  or  putre¬ 
factive  decomposition  ;  all  the  products  which  we  know 
best  are  substances  of  considerable  complexity — less 


September  17, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


237 


complex  than  the  materials  of  the  plant,  but  of  great 
complexity ;  and,  accordingly,  the  notion  which  Liebig- 
had  that  the  yeast-cell  is  active  in  the  proportion  as  its 
materials  are  undergoing-  complete  analyses  or  breakings 
up,  and  forming  ammonia  and  carbonic  acid,  is  not  now 
entertained  by  that  distinguished  philosopher. 

Some  time  ago,  an  exceedingly  important  experiment 
was  made  by  M.  Pasteur,  with  a  dew  of  testing  the 
vital  functions  of  the  yeast-cells  in  a  definite  way.  The 
statements  which  I  have  made  to  you  contain  a  good 
many  terms  which  are  exceedingly  general,  as,  for  in¬ 
stance,  the  allusions  to  diastase.  We  really  do  not 
know  what  that  is.  Wo  know  about  what  sort  of  a 
thing  it  is  made  from,  hut  not  definitely.  And  the  same 
with  tho  nitrogenous  products  which  are  given  off  by 
the  yeast-cells ;  we  know  something  about  them,  but 
only  a  little.  Pasteur  put  into  a  solution  of  sugar,  in 
which  some  yeast-particles  were  present,  some  ammonia 
combined  with  an  acid,  and  at  the  same  time  he  put 
some  of  the  ashes  of  other  yeast-cells.  He  took  a  certain 
quantity  of  yeast  and  burnt  it,  so  as  to  remove  by  oxida¬ 
tion  the  carbon,  hydrogen  and  nitrogen  of  the  substance, 
and  the  earth  substances  which  remained,  which  are  es¬ 
sential  to  the  formation  of  a  new  yeast-cell,  he  put  into 
some  fermenting  liquid,  together  with  some  salt  of  am¬ 
monia.  When  he  did  that,  he  really  was  treating  the 
yeast-cells  very  much  in  the  same  way  as  a  good  farmer 
treats  the  wheat  plant.  If  you  want  a  wheat  plant  to 
increase  rapidly,  you  must,  in  the  first  place,  take  care  to 
supply  to  it  all  that  the  wheat  plant  takes  up  in  the 
shape  of  mineral  matter  from  the  soil,  and  the  best  way 
to  find  that  out  is  to  burn  some  wheat,  and  see  what  is 
left.  Then  you  must  supply  plenty  of  ammonia,  and 
the  more  ammonia  you  supply  up  to  a  certain  extent, 
the  more  rapidly  does  the  wheat  grow,  by  building 
up  various  simple  substances  into  the  complex  sub¬ 
stance,  gluten,  which  I  was  speaking  of  just  now. 
Pasteur  put  into  such  a  mixture  a  few  little  cells  of  the 
yeast,  and  they  did  not  thrive.  They  did  transform 
some  sugar  into  alcohol  and  carbonic  acid,  but  they  evi¬ 
dently  were  not  at  home,  and  at  the  end  of  a  certain 
time,  I  forget  how  long,  he  found  there  was  actually 
a  smaller  weight  of  yeast  present  than  he  had  put  in. 
That  was  a  very  different  result  from  what  happens 
when  nitrogen  is  supplied  to  the  yeast-plant  in  the  form 
which  I  mentioned  just  now  as  the  usual  one ;  and  I 
think  the  fact  is  most  instructive,  and  serves  to  show  us 
what  kind  of  a  being  the  yeast-cell  really  is, — I  mean 
whether  it  should  be  classed  among  animal  or  vegetable 
beings.  I  need  hardly  say  that  absolute  distinctions 
amongst  beings  which  we  find  in  nature  are  out  of  the 
question  ;  we  do  not  generally  get  any  absolute  line  of 
demarcation,  for  one  class  flows  over  into  the  other ;  but 
still  the  ideas  which  serve  us  to  classify  organic  and 
other  beings  are  exceedingly  important,  and  in  a  case 
like  this  it  is  certainly  of  considerable  interest  to  have 
some  leading  idea,  by  which  one  may  see  whether  there 
is  a  reason  for  placing  these  beings  amongst  vegetable  or 
animal  organisms,  and  we  cannot  help  giving  special 
weight  in  that  respect  to  the  kind  of  process  which  the 
respective  classes  of  beings  carry  out  in  their  organisms. 
Plants  build  up  complex  substances  from  simple.  All 
the  most  complex  substances  that  we  can  get  are  made 
in  the  organisms  of  plants.  They  may  have  been  taken  - 
over  by  animals  from  plants,  but  they  are  formed  in  the 
main  by  plants.  And  the  chief  chemical  activity  of  ‘ 
animals  is  precisely  opposite ;  they  take  those  complex  - 
substances,  and  break  them  down,  by  means  of  their  . 
vital  functions,  to  the  simple  products  which  are  exhaled 
and  given  off  in  the  processes  of  animal  life.  Therefore,  ' 
the  question  whether  the  process  which  the  yeast  carries  ; 
on  is  a  synthetical  process,  a  building  up,  or  whether 
it  is  in  the  main  an  analytical  process,  is  certainly  one  of  ' 
the  most  important  which  can  guide  us.  Now,  I  think 
what  I  have  said  must  appear  to  you  all  most  conclusive 
in  that  respect, — that  what  we  know  best  regarding  the 


nature  of  the  yeast-cells,  the  food  which  we  know  they 
take  in  large  quantities,  and  upon  which  they  live, 
is  certainly  exceedingly  complex,  and  what  the  yeast- 
cells  take  up  in  preference  is  certainly  sugar,  and  the 
very  complex  nitrogenous  substances  which  are  present 
in  solution  in  the  malt,  and  tho  products  which  they 
give  off,  are  exceedingly  simple  in  comparison.  Their 
functions  are  in  the  main  (those  which  wo  know  best, 
at  any  rate)  analogous  to  those  which  take  place  in 
animal  organisms,  and  are  most  remote  from  those  which 
take  place  in  vegetable  organisms. 

In  a  paper  which  he  has  recently  written  on  the  subject 
of  fermentation,  Liebig-  has  drawn  attention,  amongst 
other  things,  to  the  circumstance  that  the  common  alco¬ 
holic  ferment  can  be  made  to  eat  tartaric  acid.  If  you 
were  to  neutralize  a  solution  of  some  of  these  crystals 
in  water,  and  put  with  the  solution  some  yeast-cells,  at 
the  same  time  supplying  some  nitrogenous  material,  tho 
yeast-plants  would  grow,  and  transform  that  into  other 
substances.  In  the  same  way,  if  you  were  to  put  in 
some  of  this  malic  acid  (which  got  its  name  from  the 
circumstance  that  it  is  present  in  sour  apples),  the  yeast- 
cells  would  also  transform  that ;  and  the  same  in  other 
cases.  One  of  the  most  remarkable  decompositions  is 
that  of  nitric  acid,  which,  by  tho  action  of  the  yeast- 
cells,  is  deprived  of  some  of  its  oxygen,  and  converted 
into  nitrous  acid,  so  that  it  would  appear  that  the  plant 
can  actually  assimilate  or  eat  the  nitrates,  forming  these 
simpler  derivatives  from  them. 

There  is  one  case  which  I  should  like  to  show  you, 
of  an  inorganic  action,  one  in  which  there  is  no  vital 
process  concerned,  but  it  bears  a  sort  of  general  re¬ 
semblance  to  what  I  conceive  to  be  the  principle  of 
those  which  I  have  been  speaking  of.  I  have  here  a 
piece  of  platinum  in  a  peculiar  state,  which  is  well  de¬ 
scribed  by  the  term  “  spongy.”  If  I  hold  it  in  the 
flame  of  common  coal-gas  mixed  with  air,  from  a  Bunsen 
burner,  the  spongy  platinum  eats  the  air  or  the  oxygen 
contained  in  it  and  the  gas.  The  word  “eat”  is  not 
really  so  inappropriate  as  it  may  seem.  If  I  were  to  put 
this  spongy  platinum  into  oxygen,  I  should  find  that  it 
would  combine  a  quantity  of  oxygen  into  its  substance, 
and  make  it  part  of  itself,  and  the  same  with  regard  to 
the  coal-gas.  So  that  here  you  see,  from  the  heat  which 
was  given  off,  the  substance  is  really  effecting  a  chemical 
change  upon  the  materials  which  it  absorbs,  and  it  effects 
that  change  in  its  own  substance.  It  is  admitted  that, 
in  some  way  or  other,  the  yeast  organisms — I  will  not 
again  call  them  plants — actually  assimilate  and  make 
part  of  themselves  the  sugar,  or  tartaric  acid,  or  what¬ 
ever  it  may  be  which  they  decompose ;  but  they  do  not 
give  off  that  substance  which  they  have  eaten  in  the 
same  form.  They  give  off  its  elements,  after  they  have 
undergone  a  rearrangement  in  other  ways.  At  our  next 
meeting  I  propose  to  bring  before  you  some  different 
considerations  regarding  the  vital  functions  of  these  or¬ 
ganisms,  and  some  points  which  bear  upon  questions  of 
sanitary  importance. 


AMERICAN  PHARMACEUTICAL  ASSOCIATION. 

From  a  circular  issued  by  the  Permanent  Secretary, 
Mr.  John  M.  Maisch,  we  learn  that  the  Eighteenth 
Annual  Meeting  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Asso¬ 
ciation  was  to  be  held  on  Tuesday  the  13th  of  Septem¬ 
ber,  in  the  building  of  the  University  of  Maryland,  in 
the  city  of  Baltimore.  Ample  accommodation  has  been 
secured  in  the  same  building-  for  the  exhibition  of  drugs, 
preparations,  apparatus,  models,  and  specimens  interest¬ 
ing-  to  and  connected  with  tho  business  of  the  pharma¬ 
cist.  The  central  position  of  Baltimore,  and  the  impor¬ 
tant  subjects  to  be  reported  and  acted  upon,  are  expected 
to  render  this  meeting  a  very  interesting  one. 


238 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  17,  1870. 


THE  LATE  BENJAMIN  BROGDEN  ORRIDGE. 

“On  the  17th  July,  at  his  residence,  33,  St.  John’s 
Wood  Park,  Benjamin  Brogden  Orridge,  Esq.,  E.G.S., 
in  the  57th  year  of  his  age.” 

This  brief  announcement,  which  appeared  in  our  co¬ 
lumns  a  few  weeks  ago,  probably  conveyed  to  most  of 
our  readers  little  beyond  the  fact  that  a  man  active  in 
business  and  without  reproach  in  his  conduct  of  transac¬ 
tions  involving  no  ordinary  responsibility  and  delicacy, 
had  passed  from  our  midst.  To  some,  it  is  true,  the 
words  might  have  a  deeper  meaning,  but  the  life  they 
referred  to  had  been  so  unostentatious  that,  even  to  col¬ 
leagues  in  various  engagements  of  a  public  character,  it 
seemed  to  be  associated  with  the  single  sphere  of  work 
they  had  in  common.  Of  a  many-sided  existence,  even 
his  fellow-labourers  saw  but  that  which  reflected  the 
object  they  were  mutually  engaged  upon,  or  at  most  it 
showed  but  a  glimpse  of  its  other  phases.  Hence  a  few 
details,  meagre  though  they  be,  and  gathered  not  without 
difficulty  for  this  very  reason,  may  have  an  interest  alike 
for  some  who  enjoyed  his  personal  friendship,  and  others 
who  knew  him  but  by  name  or  in  connection  with  the 
Council  of  our  Society. 

Mr.  Orridge  was  bom  at  Malta  in  the  year  1814.  His 
father  then  held  an  official  position  in  the  island,  which 
he  resigned  about  the  year  1820,  and  returning  to  Eng¬ 
land,  settled  at  Oakham,  in  Rutlandshire,  as  Governor  of 
the  county  jail.  Here  the  boyhood  of  his  son,  the  sub¬ 
ject  of  our  memoir,  was  spent,  and  during  his  educa¬ 
tion  at  the  Oakham  Grammar  School,  under  the  late 
Dr.  Dancaster,  he  had  for  schoolfellows  Noble  and  Pratt 
and  others  who  have  since  become  famous.  In  1827, 
whilst  still  a  lad,  he  lost  his  mother,  and  a  year  or  two 
later  we  are  told  that  he  was  apprenticed  to  his  uncle,  a 
chemist  at  Colchester.  Beyond  this  we  have  no  par¬ 
ticulars  of  his  early  life. 

Arrived  at  manhood  he  removed  to  London,  and  we 
hear  of  him  shortly  afterwards  as  Dispenser  to  the  Mary- 
lebone  Infirmary.  He  entered  the  Pharmaceutical  So¬ 
ciety  as  one  of  its  founders,  and,  at  a  later  period,  settled 
in  the  City  as  a  confidential  agent  in  the  transfer  of 
pharmaceutical  businesses  and  medical  practices,  acquir¬ 
ing  eventually  a  high  reputation  for  probity  and  skill  in 
■such  negotiations. 

Separated  by  the  nature  of  the  occupation  he  had 
chosen  from  the  actual  practice  of  pharmacy,  he  still 
found  an  ample  sphere  of  usefulness  to  his  fellow-mem¬ 
bers,  giving  his  attention  to  such  objects  as  the  scrutiny 
of  measures  of  general  or  local  legislation  likely  to  affect 
the  interests  of  pharmaceutists.  But  the  subject  he 
laid  to  heart  above  all  was  the  Benevolent  Fund,  its  con¬ 
dition  and  prospects ;  and  chiefly  with  a  view  to  effect¬ 
ing-  some  alterations  in  its  administration,  he  allowed 
himself  to  be  nominated  for  the  Council  in  1864,  when 
his  well-known  name  secured  his  immediate  election. 

It  is  needless  to  recount  his  various  efforts  in  respect 
to  the  Fund,  he  was  not  less  zealous  in  its  augmentation 
than  urgent  in  its  liberal  distribution ;  nor  is  it  too  much 
to  say  that  to  Mr.  Orridge  more  than  to  any  other  single 
member,  its  present  noble  dimensions  are  attributable. 
Others  worked  with  him  and  heartily,  but  to  his  clear 
judgment  and  appreciation  of  its  proper  scope  we  owe 
the  wider  basis  on  which  it  at  present  rests,  and  many 
may  bless  him  for  the  provision  it  now  affords  to  en¬ 
feebled  age  and  desolate  widowhood. 

Such  is  the  simple  chronicle  of  his  life  so  far  as  im¬ 
mediately  concerns  us  ;  he  had  done  his  work,  and  only 
resigned  his  seat  in  our  Council  a  few  months  before  his 
death. 

This,  however,  is  but  one  sphere  in  which  his  active 
mind  courted  usefulness.  He  was  a  good  citizen,  and 
ever  ready  to  work  for  the  common  weal.  His  earliest 


public  services  in  the  City  were  in  connection  with  the 
Cheap  "Ward  Benevolent  Fund,  of  which  he  was  for 
many  years  the  Treasurer ;  and  upon  his  recent  retire¬ 
ment  from  that  office  the  members  accorded  to  him  an 
emblazoned  vote  of  thanks,  as  their  testimony  to  the 
value  of  his  labours.  In  1865  he  was  elected  to  repre¬ 
sent  the  Ward  of  Cheap  in  the  Corporation  of  the  City  of 
London,  and  soon  found  a  department  in  which  his 
special  qualifications  met  with  congenial  employment ; 
he  was  at  once  appointed  to  the  “  Library  Committee,” 
and  in  1868  was  chosen  its  Chairman.  A  valued  member 
of  our  Society,  a  colleague  in  the  City  Council,  thus  speaks 
of  him  : — “  As  Chairman  of  the  Library  Committee,  he 
was  over-zealous  and  over-anxious,  and  went  to  the  work 
as  if  that  alone  were  the  labour  of  his  days,  instead  of 
giving  only  that  part  which  a  man  of  business  can  afford 
to  take  from  the  steady  routine  of  active  and  thoughtful 
life.”  He  was  greatly  interested  in  the  history  of  City  life 
under  the  Tudors  and  Stuarts,  and  whilst  he  held  office  as 
Chairman  of  this  Committee,  he  ascertained  that,  hidden 
amongst  the  old  papers  of  the  Town  Clerk’s  Office  in 
Guildhall,  was  a  large  collection  of  copies  on  parchment 
of  letters  from  Queen  Elizabeth,  James  the  First,  Charles 
the  First,  and  their  Ministers,  to  the  Lord  Mayor  of 
London,  between  the  years  1577  and  1640.  He  prepared 
an  abstract  of  some  of  these  relating  to  plays  and  players, 
and  matters  of  religion,  which  was  printed  in  the  Athe- 
nceum  last  autumn ;  and  in  the  spring  of  the  present  year 
he  moved  for  and  obtained  an  instruction  to  the  Library 
Committee  to  examine  and  report  upon  the  discovery 
referred  to,  and  generally  upon  the  condition  of  the 
Corporation  Archives. 

His  literary  labours  were  chiefly  directed  to  archaeolo¬ 
gical  subjects.  In  1868,  he  published  a  work  entitled 
‘  The  Citizens  of  London  and  their  Rulers,’  the  historical 
portion  being  reprinted  from  Norton’s  ‘  Commentaries  of 
London  ;’  and  in  the  following  year  was  a  contributor  to 
the  ‘  Proceedings  of  the  London  and  Middlesex  Archaeo¬ 
logical  Society.’  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  had  a  vo¬ 
lume  in  the  press  on  ‘  The  City  Friends  of  Shakespere,’ 
which  we  understand  is  likely  to  appear  almost  imme¬ 
diately.  Had  his  life  been  spared,  these  might  have  been 
but  the  beginning  of  a  series  of  such  works,  for  which  he 
always  maintained  that  material  enough  existed  in  neg¬ 
lected  and  forgotten  corners  of  the  City. 

N eed  we  say  more  F  His  monument  is  with  us  in  the 
Benevolent  Fund ;  may  the  loss  it  has  suffered  in  his 
removal  be  more  than  compensated  by  the  increased  ac¬ 
tivity  of  those  younger  members  of  our  body  whose  wel¬ 
fare  was  ever  an  object  of  his  solicitude. 

H.  B.  Brady. 


Poisoning'  by  Carbolic  Acid. — An  inquest  has 
been  held  at  Ulverston,  upon  a  man  named  Lace,  whose 
death  had  resulted  from  the  drinking  of  some  carbolic 
acid.  It  appears  that  it  is  the  custom  to  use  carbolic 
acid  as  a  disinfectant  at  the  sewage  tanks,  by  pouring  it 
in  as  often  as  a  bad  smell  arises.  On  the  day  in  question 
two  gallons  had  been  obtained  for  this  purpose,  and 
when  the  men  went  away  to  get  something  to  eat,  the 
bottle  was  left  standing  by  the  side  of  the  tank.  The 
deceased  who  had  formerly  been  employed  on  the  pre¬ 
mises,  seems  to  have  mistaken  the  contents  for  raw 
spirit,  which  was  sometimes  served  out  to  the  men  who 
worked  at  the  tank,  and,  although  it  was  labelled 
“Poison,”  drank  about  a  gill  of  it.  He  was  immedi¬ 
ately  seized  with  symptoms  of  poisoning,  and  died  about 
twelve  hours  afterwards. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  Sept.  10;  the  ‘Medical  Times  and  Gazette/ 
Sept.  10;  the  ‘Lancet/  Sept.  10;  the  ‘Medical  Press/  Sept. 
14 ;  ‘Nature/  Sept.  8 ;  the  ‘  Chemical  News/  Sept.  9  ;  ‘Journal 
oft  he  Society  of  Arts/  Sept.  9 ;  ‘  Gardeners’  Chronicle/  Sept. 
10;  the  ‘Grocer/  Sept.  10;  the  ‘English  Mechanic/  Sept.  9; 
the  ‘  Pharmacist’  for  September. 


September  17,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


239 


Communications  for  this  Journal ,  and  boohs  for  review , 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

***  No  notice  can  be  tahen  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

The  Keeping  op  Poisons. 

Though  there  has  been  much  discussion  upon  the  keeping 
of  poisons  since  the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy  Act,  there  do 
not  appear  to  have  been  any  regulations  suggested  which  have 
met  with  general  approval.  Throughout  the  discussion  my 
impression  has  been  that  legitimately  the  subject  might  be, 
and  perhaps  should  be,  allowed  to  subside  without  any  imme¬ 
diate  steps  being  taken  beyond  those  which  are  already  pre¬ 
scribed  by  the  Pharmacy  Act. 

Clause  1  provides  that  we  shall  conform  to  such  regula¬ 
tions  as  to  the  keeping,  dispensing,  and  selling  of  such  poisons 
as  may  from  time  to  time  be  prescribed  by  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society,  with  the  consent  of  the  Privy  Council. 

And  clause  2  provides  for  a  schedule  of  poisons,  and  “  the 
Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  may  from  time  to  time 
by  resolution”  add  to  the  schedule  list. 

We  are  thus  enabled — maybe  I  should  say  required — to 
add  in  two  ways  to  the  provisions  of  the  Pharmacy  Act  from 
time  to  time.  Under  all  ordinary  circumstances  I  should 
have  understood  that  to  mean  whenever  the  Society  con¬ 
sidered  that  additions  were  required. 

Keeping  in  view  the  Society’s  long  struggle  to  make  edu¬ 
cational  qualifications  the  only  legal  restriction  upon  the 
dealing  with  poisons,  and  their  repeated  protests  against 
angular  bottle  contrivances  and  other  proposed  substitutes 
for  the  responsibility  of  reading  the  label  in  every  instance, 
I  think  the  Society  might  reasonably  be  allowed  to  give  a  fair 
trial  to  regulations  at  present  required  by  the  Act  before  it 
commenced  to  make  additions  to  them.  But  if  it  is  required 
of  us  to  do  something  more  without  delay,  as  appears  to  be 
the  case,  I  would  not  by  any  means  have  us  neglect  that  duty, 
though  we  may  undertake  it  with  some  reluctance  and  hesi¬ 
tation.  It  would  not  do  for  us  to  prescribe  any  ill-con¬ 
sidered  or  unsatisfactory  regulations,  by  way  of  showing  our 
willingness  to  do  our  best,  and  as  yet  I  have  not  seen  any 
which  I  would  willingly  see  enforced. 

In  offering  another  plan  for  discussion,  I  do  so  upon  the 
ground  of  its  being  useful  as  far  as  it  goes,  and  its  not  at¬ 
tempting  too  much.  In  the  keeping  of  poisons,  each  poison 
shall  be  kept  in  a  box,  bottle,  vessel,  or  package  distinctly 
labelled  with  the  name  of  the  article. 

All  poisons  not  intended  for  medicinal  use  shall  also  be 
distinctly  labelled  “  poison  ”  immediately  under  the  name  of 
the  article. 

All  poisons  to  be  used  externally  as  medicines,  but  not  in¬ 
tended  for  internal  use,  shall  be  labelled  either  with  the  word 
“poison,”  or  “for  external  use,”  immediately  below  the 
name  of  the  article. 

All  poisons  intended  for  internal  use  as  medicines,  the 
usual  adult  dose  of  which  is  less  than  one  dram,  shall  bear  a 
label  immediately  under  the  name  of  the  article,  stating  the 
usual  adult  dose;  and  upon  such  articles  the  usual  adult 
dose  of  which  is  less  than  (say  5)  grains  there  shall  be  added 
the  label  “poison”  immediately  below  the  label  indicating 
the  dose. 

The  code  of  regulations  submitted  to  the  last  Annual 
Meeting  proposed  that  all  poisons  should  have  the  poison 
label  attached,  but  considering  that  the  number  of  poisons 
by  Act  of  Parliament  is  very  considerable,  and  liable  to  grow 
by  additions  from  time  to  time, — two  evils  attached  to  it  which 
are  obviated  in  the  proposition  which  I  have  just  made, 
namely,  that  the  word  poison  would,  in  the  former  case,  be¬ 
come  so  common  as  to  lose  its  value  as  a  caution  to  the 
dealer,  while  it  would  add  to  the  uneasiness  of  the  patient  to 
find  how  numerous  were  the  poisons  and  how  freely  many  of 
them  were  dispensed.  The  only  articles  in  the  present 
amended  list  of  poisons  not  used  in  medicine  are  oxalic  acid, 
essential  oil  of  almonds  and  vermin  killers ;  they,  of  course, 
would  bear  the  poison  label. 

Red  and  white  precipitate,  liniments,  ointments  and 


plasters  containing  aconite,  belladonna,  opium,  etc.,  would 
naturally  be  labelled  “  for  external  use.” 

The  mild  preparations  of  opium  and  poppies  would  require 
no  addition  to  their  names;  the  more  potent  tinctures  of 
opium,  aconite,  belladonna,  etc.,  would  have  the  dose  attached, 
as  indicated  in  the  pharmacopoeia,  or  such  dose  as  might  be 
fixed  by  some  competent  anthonty  (say  the  Pharmacopoeia 
Committee),  and  the  most  potent  poisons  only  would  have 
the  poison  label  attached. 

I  have  suggested  5  grains  as  the  dose  which  should  mark 
the  boundary  between  the  more  and  the  less  dangerous  drugs, 
but  this  is  matter  for  discussion,  the  object  being  to  include 
all  that  are  specially  hazardous,  and  at  the  same  time  not  to 
include  too  many.  Arsenic  should  have  the  poison  label, 
though  its  solutions  would  probably  be  sufficiently  protected 
by  having  the  dose  indicated.  So  of  the  alkaloids,  morphia 
and  strychnia  would  have  the  poison  label,  while  their  liquors 
would  be  labelled  respectively  “  Dose  10  to  60  minims  ”  and 
“  Dose  5  to  10  minims.” 

If  it  be  considered  necessary  to  adopt  poison  cupboards,  an¬ 
gular  bottles  or  sand-paper,  I  think  they  should  only  be  applied 
to  those  articles  the  dose  of  which  is  5  grains  and  under,  or 
some  other  limitation  which  shall  not  involve  the  absurdity 
of  using  the  same  precautions  to  all  the  articles  in  so  crude  a 
list  as  the  official  schedule  of  poisons.  It  is  no  protection  to 
use  an  angular  bottle  if  angular  bottles  become  too  common, 
as  they  would  do  if  used  for  all  poisons,  from  syrup  of  poppies 
to  strychnine.  It  may  be  said  that  a  label  stating  the  dose 
would  also  become  too  common,  but  it  would  always  give  use¬ 
ful  information,  and  would,  when  read,  indicate  the  degree  of 
danger,  and  the  degree  might  be  in  some  measure  indicated 
pictorially.  Thus,  the  most  virulent  might  have  red  angular 


less  dangerous  having  angular  white  labels 


and  the  least  dangerous  of  the  articles  requiring 


to  have  the  dose  affixed  should  have  it  upon  a  circular  green 


This  arrangement  would  have  the  advantage  of  leaving 
any  one  to  carry  out  such  additional  precautions  as  best 
suited  his  premises  and  his  requirements.  Many  of  us  would 
probably  put  the  articles  with  the  red  angular  labels  into  a 
poison  cupboard ;  some  would  also  keep  a  separate  part  of 
the  shop  for  those  bearing  the  white  angular  labels;  while 
those  with  the  green  circular  label  would  come  under  the 
ordinary  classification  of  alphabetical  order  in  the  wet  and 
dry  departments. 

Barnard  S.  Proctor. 

G-rey  Street,  Newcastle,  September  6th,  1870. 


Sir, — You  have  invited  the  members  of  the  Society  to 
express  their  opinions  as  to  the  advisability  or  otherwise 
of  adopting  certain  regulations  with  regard  to  the  storing 
of  poisons. 

I  shall  be  glad  if  you  will  allow  me  space  for  a  few  remarks 
on  the  matter. 

The  discussion  of  the  subject  has  given  rise  to  much  ex¬ 
cited  feeling,  and  perhaps  for  this  reason  it  has  obtained  an 
importance  it  does  not  really  deserve. 

To  consider  it  carefully  and  impartially  now  will  probably 
do  much  to  bring  about  a  satisfactory  solution  next  July. 

Whatever  importance  the  subject  may  have  possessed  be¬ 
fore  the  passing  of  the  Act  of  1867,  it  must,  in  my  opinion,  bo 


240 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  17,  1870. 


much,  diminished  now  that  the  Legislature  requires  a  certifi¬ 
cate  of  competency  from  all  who  would  enter  the  profession  of 
pharmacy.  For  may  it  not  be  reasonably  inferred  that  a  man 
who  is  considered  fit  to  undertake  the  greater  responsibility 
of  dispensing  may  be  entrusted  with  the  lesser  office  of  dis¬ 
tinguishing  between  one  drug  and  another,  or  of  storing  them 
safely  ? 

But  here,  as  experience  everywhere  else  abundantly  shows, 
our  action  must  be  guided,  not  by  the  standard  of  a  logical 
theory  only,  but  also  by  the  necessities  of  the  case. 

The  public,  through  the  Legislature,  has  given  us  a  corpo¬ 
rate  existence,  and  has  endowed  us  with  a  monopoly  not  for 
our  own  aggrandizement,  nor  that  we  may  hold  a  semipro¬ 
fessional  status ;  these  may  be  results,  but  the  public  safety 
was  the  reason,  and  the  Legislature  will  jealously  watch  that 
we  use  our  best  efforts  to  attain  that  end. 

Now  the  public  safety  is  as  much  a  matter  of  solicitude  to 
us  as  to  the  Legislature,  but  there  exists  a  difference  of  opinion 
as  to  whether  that  is  best  assured  by  the  imposition  of  minute 
regulations  added  to  proved  competency,  or  whether  after 
having  provided  competent  men,  all  details  are  not  better  left 
to  their  individual  discretion.  The  public  generally  believes 
in  poison  bills  and  regulations,  pharmacists,  as  a  rule,  do  not ; 
they  think  that  a  qualified  man  is  not  only  worthy  of,  and 
entitled  to  confidence,  but  that  his  competence  is  the  best 
safeguard  for  the  public  against  the  risk  of  accidental  poison¬ 
ing.  Unfortunately,  even  the  highest  ability  united  to  long 
experience  is  not  an  absolute  guarantee  against  accident  or 
mistake,  and  instances  have  occurred  within  the  recollection 
of  us  all  where,  through  some  unaccountable  mischance,  cau¬ 
tion  and  ability,  successfully  applied  for  many  years,  have  sud¬ 
denly  failed,  and  fatal  accidents  have  happened,  which  some 
simple  mechanical  contrivance  or  local  arrangement  might 
probably  have  rendered  almost  impossible. 

It  is  this  fatal  liability  that  forms  the  real  argument  in 
favour  of  a  code  of  compulsory  regulations,  and  the  argument 
receives  additional  weight  when  it  is  remembered  that  there 
are  few  pharmacists  who  are  not  assisted  by  young  men  whose 
education  is  incomplete  and  in  various  stages  of  progress. 

In  reply  it  may  be  said,  if  in  the  case  of  a  medical  man 
who  is  not  better  acquainted  with  drugs  and  their  prepara¬ 
tions  than  a  pharmacist,  and  is  assisted  in  the  same  way  by 
younger  men  and  students,  no  interference  is  considered  ne¬ 
cessary,  why  should  it  be  required  from  him  P  But  it  must 
be  borne  in  mind  that  medicine  is  an  old  profession,  and  has 
long  held  the  confidence  of  the  public,  while  pharmacy,  as  a 
recognized  profession,  dates  from  yesterday.  Moreover,  we 
are  in  a  transition  state,  and  cannot  use  the  educational  argu¬ 
ment  so  forcibly  as  we  shall  be  able  to  do  in  a  few  years’  time, 
wben  the  standard  of  qualification  will  be  more  equal. 

For  these  reasons,  among  others,  I  may  perhaps  be  allowed 
to  say  that  it  is  desirable  that  for  our  own  and  for  the  public 
safety,  some  means  should  be  devised  to  prevent,  if  possible, 
these  accidents  which  happen  in  our  unguarded  moments,  rare 
in  their  occurrence,  but  which  without  some  physical  bar  will 
happen  in  spite  of  the  extremest  caution,  and  which  are  so 
lamentable  in  their  character  and  effects  that  they  warrant 
us  in  adopting  every  means  in  our  power  to  prevent  them. 

The  area  of  the  proposed  regulations  then  is  limited  to  ac¬ 
cidents  of  this  kind,  and  it  is  further  limited  by  the  fact  that 
the  guarantee  required  is  already  given  by  a  large  proportion 
of  chemists. 

Were  poison  regulations  adopted,  they  would  do  no  more 
than  make  universal  a  practice  which  is  now  general.  Would 
this  be  worth  doing  ?  I  am  inclined  to  think  it  would  be. 
Would  it  be  worth  doing  by  compulsory  legislation  ?  Cer¬ 
tainly  not.  The  best  men  in  the  Society,  the  men  who  are 
most  competent  and  most  careful,  the  men  who  do  most  to 
ensure  the  public  safety  and  preserve  their  own  reputation, 
would  deprecate,  anything  like  police  interference  as  being 
personally  offensive  and  destructive  of  anything  approaching 
to  a  high-toned  feeling  of  responsibility. 

In  lieu  of  anything  like  compulsory  regulations,  I  would 
suggest,  and  commend  the  idea  to  the  consideration  of  my 
fellow-pharmacists,  that  a  code  of  reasonable  rules  should  be 
drawn  up  after  ample  consideration  and  issued  by  the  Coun¬ 
cil,  with  the  sanction  of  a  general  meeting,  with  an  urgent 
recommendation  for  their  adoption .  Few  in  number,  simple 
and  inexpensive  in  character,  and  interfering  as  little  as  pos¬ 
sible  with  generally  existing  arrangements,  they  might  be 
made  thoroughly  efficacious,  and  be  a  real  safeguard.  Issued 
by  the  present  Council,  they  would  be  free  from  the  objection 
raised  last  July,  that  they  could  be  framed  in  the  interests  of 


the  London  members  only ;  and  the  London  members  could 
not  refuse  to  adopt  regulations  not  different  from  or  more 
stringent  than  those  recommended  by  the  last  Council,  in 
which  they  were  represented  by  a  majority,  while  country 
members  would  stultify  themselves  by  objecting  to  rules 
framed  by  a  Council  pre-eminently  provincial. 

Since  the  somewhat  stormy  discussion  in  July,  the  subject 
has  been  in  abeyance,  and  it  was  a  question  with  me  before 
writing  this  letter  whether  it  were  judicious  to  reopen  it,  but 
as  indications  are  not  wanting  that  the  Legislature  still  looks 
to  us  for  a  solution  of  the  difficulty,  I  have  ventured,  I  trust 
without  unreasonable  bias,  to  suggest  a  course  which,  if  pur¬ 
sued,  would,  I  think,  meet  the  views  of  all  parties  and  lead 
to  a  satisfactory  result.  By  its  adoption  the  public  would 
obtain  the  additional  guarantee  against  pure  accidents  for 
which  it  asks,  and  the  pharmacist  would  not  be  subjected  to 
intrusive  interference  from  without. 

United  action  alone  can  procure  its  success,  or  that  of  any 
course  which  shall  be  alike  satisfactory  to  the  Legislature  and 
honourable  to  ourselves. 

“Via  Media  Salus.” 


Pharmaceutical  Titles. 

Sir, — In  glancing  over  the  correspondence  inserted  in  the 
J ournal  these  last  few  weeks,  I  am  rather  struck  with  the 
desire  of  one  or  two  parties  to  parade  their  intellectual  status 
before  the  eyes  of  their  confreres .  It  is  a  remarkable  fact 
that  the  more  sound  doctrine  a  man  has  instilled  into  his 
mind,  the  more  he  is  persuaded  by  that  knowledge  to  humi¬ 
liate  himself  before  men.  A  great  man  has  said,  “Wisdom 
is  the  standard  of  the  soul,  therefore  get  wisdom  but  our 
friends  the  “Aspirant  to  the  Major”  and  “  T.  C.”  seem  to 
think  that  the  only  reward  for  their  great  attainments  is  to  be 
realized  in  the  appendage  of  F.R.C.P.G.B.  to  their  names. 
I,  for  one,  would  grant  them  what  they  ask  without  a  mo¬ 
ment’s  reflection ;  else  (as  with  some  people)  they  may  be 
unable  to  bear  the  slight,  and  consequently  withdraw  their 
energies  from  the  field  of  “  Major  operations,”  leaving  us  to 
exclaim,  “They  have  fallen,  and  great  has  been  the  fall 
thereof.”  Before  closing  my  letter  I  would  ask  our  friends 
to  show  a  little  brotherly  love  towards  the  persons  of  retiring 
demeanour  who  “go  in”  for  the  very  modified  curriculum, 
and  who  do  not  wish  to  place  themselves  side  by  side  with 
“  Major  fellows,”  except  as  gentlemen ;  also,  I  would  just 
note  the  great  justice  in  granting  a  “  grand  flaming  diploma” 
of  M.P.S.  to  persons  solely  on  the  ground  of  their  having 
been  in  business  prior  to  the  late  Pharmacy  Act,  whereas  all 
those  who  have  been  at  some  expense  (though  not  to  be  com¬ 
pared  to  the  Major)  to  pass  the  Modified  have  not  even  a 
decent  scrap  of  paper  to  show,  but  only  the  threadbare  con¬ 
solation  ol  a  yearly  subscription.  My  advice  to  all  whom  it 
may  concern  is  the  motto  of  “  Aspirant,” — agitate  until  the 
rights  of  every  one  connected  with  the  business  are  fully  ac¬ 
knowledged  by  the  Council,  whether  Major,  Minor,  Modified, 
or  non-modifiedj  men. 

I  remain, 

Barnsley,  August  30th,  1870.  Omega. 


Liebig' s  Malted  "Extract  Biscuits. — We  have  received  from 
Messrs.  Millard  and  Sons  specimens  of  two  varieties  of  these 
biscuits. 

It.  Thomas  (Merthyr). — The  price  of  the  French  Codex  is 
9  fr.  60  c.,  and  the  London  agent  is  Mr.  Bailliere,  Regent 
Street. 


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

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W.  Envelopes  to  be  endorsed  for  “  Fharm . 
Journ." 

The  General  Index  to  the  first  Fifteen  volumes  of  this 
J  ournal  may  be  obtained  of  the  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury 
Square,  price  2s.  8 d.,  post  free ;  bound  in  cloth,  lettered,  3s.  8a., 
post  free. 

The  General  Index  to  the  Yds.  XYI.-XYIIL,  Old  Series, 
and  Yols.  I.-IX.,  Second  Series,  may  also  be  obtained  of  the- 
I  Secretary,  price  3s.  3d.,  post  free. 


September  24,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


241 


THE  ADULTERATION  OF  SAFFRON. 

33Y  DANIEL  HANBURY. 

Saffron  is,  at  tlie  present  time,  the  subject  of  a 
serious  adulteration,  to  which  I  think  it  important 
to  call  attention,  the  more  so  as  I  lind  that  its  na¬ 
ture  and  extent  are  not  fully  known  even  to  experi¬ 
enced  druggists.  Saffron  adulterated  in  the  manner 
I  am  about  to  describe,  is  for  the  most  part,  undis- 
tinguishable  to  the  eye  from  the  drug  in  a  state  of 
purity,  yet  the  means  of  discriminating  between  the 
genuine  and  the  fraudulent  are  of  the  most  simple 
character. 

Let  me  remark  at  the  outset  that  there  is,  in  my 
opinion,  no  method  of  testing  saffron  more  effectual 
than  that  of  scattering  a  very  small  pinch  on  the 
surface  of  a  glass  of  warm  water.  The  stigma  of 
the  saffron-crocus  immediately  expands,  and  exhibits 
a  form  so  characteristic,  that  it  cannot  be  con¬ 
founded  with  the  florets  of  safflower,  marigold  or 
arnica,  or  with  the  stamens  of  crocus  itself. 

It  was  in  performing  this  simple  operation  that  I 
detected  that  some  saffron  which  I  had  just  pur¬ 
chased  had  been  treated  with  a  heavy  earthy  powder, 
which  speedily  separated  from  the  lighter  stigmata, 
and  fell  to  the  bottom  of  the  glass.  Upon  collecting 
and  examining  this  powder  I  found  it  to  be  carbonate 
of  lime ,  which,  by  some  ingenious  process  of  which  I 
am  ignorant,  had  been  made  to  adhere  to  the  thread¬ 
like  saffron  without  in  the  least  altering  its  general 
appearance. 

To  ascertain  the  amount  of  earthy  matter  thus 
fraudulently  added,  I  subjected  several  specimens  of 
saffron  to  incineration,  each  having  in  the  first  in¬ 
stance  been  dried  in  warm  air  until  it  ceased  to  lose 
weight.  The  results  obtained  in  the  examination  of 
eight  samples  are  indicated  in  the  following  table  : — 


Examination  of  Saffron. 


Sample. 

Description. 

Percentage  of  Ash. 

No. 

1 

Origin  unknown, 

.  pure 

5-90 

55 

2 

V)  55 

4-48 

55 

3 

Valencia,  .  .  . 

•  55 

4-41 

» 

4 

y>  ... 

•  » 

5-20 

55 

5 

Alicante,  .  .  adulterated 

21-22 

5J 

6 

)> 

5> 

12-72 

5) 

7 

55  *  • 

55 

28-01 

» 

8 

55  *  * 

55 

15-36 

Sample  No.  2  the  quality  remarkably  fine.  Sample  No.  3, 
so-called  Valencia,  pure,  but  not  of  finest  quality. 
Sample  No.  7  adulteration  perceptible  to  the  eye,  many 
of  the  stamens  being  crusted  with  an  orange-coloured 
earthy  powder. 

The  method  of  testing  a  sample  of  saffron  for 
earthy  adulteration  which  I  recommend  is  tills  : — 
Place  in  a  watch-glass  a  very  small  quantity  (say, 
1  grain)  of  the  saffron,  and  drop  upon  it  8  or  10 
drops  of  water ;  lightly  touch  the  saffron  with  the  tip 
of  the  finger,  so  as  to  cause  the  water  to  wet  it.  If 
the  drug  is  free  from  earthy  matter,  a  clear ,  bright- 
yellow  solution  will  be  immediately  obtained;  if 
adulterated,  a  white  powder  will  instantly  separate , 
causing  the  water  to  appear  turbid ;  and  if  a  drop 
of  hydrochloric  acid  be  now  added,  a  brisk  efferves¬ 
cence  will  take  place. 

Saffron  almost  always  contains  a  few  of  the  pale 
yellow  stamens  accidentally  gathered ;  but  the  pol¬ 
len  from  them  which  is  detached  when  the  drug 

Third  Series,  No.  13. 


is  wetted,  but  which  is  minute  in  quantity,  is  easily 
distinguished  from  carbonate  of  lime  by  not  dis¬ 
solving  when  hydrochloric  acid  is  added.  More¬ 
over,  the  form  of  pollen-grains  may  be  easily  recog¬ 
nized  under  the  microscope. 

Since  tbe  foregoing  paper  has  been  in  type,  I  have 
received  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy  for  September, 
in  which  I  find  a  note  by  Professor  Maisch  calling  attention 
to  the  adulteration  which  I  have  here  described. — D.  H. 


THE  WATERS  OF  THE  BRITISH  PHARMACOPOEIA. 

BY  GEORGE  BROWNEN. 

Distilled  waters  constitute  an  important  class  of 
preparations  in  the  B.  P.  and  have  often  attracted 
the  attention  of  pharmacists.  Haselden,  Proctor 
and  others  have  examined  them,  and  thrown  some 
light  on  their  manufacture  and  preservation ;  but 
our  knowledge  of  them  is  still  incomplete.  Much 
that  is  mysterious  goes  on  in  them ;  they  alter  in 
taste  and  appearance.  Opaque  waters  become  nearly 
clear,  and  their  harshness  gradually  tones  down  to 
mellowness. 

All  the  B.  P.  waters  but  one  are  distillates,  and 
that  one — aq.  camphor* — is  made  with  distilled 
water.  The  apparatus  for  distillation  is  familiar  to 
us  all.  By  its  use  volatile  oils,  though  possessing 
higher  boiling-points  than  water,  are  diffused  in 
steam,  carried  over  and  condensed,  free  from  inert 
matter,  which  is  left  behind  in  the  still.  Forms  are 
given  in  the  British  Pharmacopoeia  for  preparing 
twelve  of  the  thirteen  official  waters ;  the  other  one, 
aq.  flor.  aurant.,  is  an  imported  article.  For  making 
some  waters  the  directions  are  exceedingly  minute, 
for  others  quite  the  contrary.  In  aq.  camphor*,  for 
instance,  the  old  stopper  is  no  longer  used  ;  a  glass 
rod  must  sink  the  camphor  in  the  water.  This  may 
suit  some,  but  not  those  who  have  to  make  this 
water  in  large  quantities,  as  it  is  found  ’that  long 
glass  rods  are  easily  broken,  and  the  advantages  of 
long  pieces  of  glass  over  short  ones  are  not  equiva¬ 
lent  to  the  increased  cost.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
camphor  is  only  ordered  to  be  “  in  pieces,  but  whe¬ 
ther  large  or  small  the  B.  P.  does  not  say.  Yet  this 
vagueness  greatly  affects  the  time  necessary  for  satu¬ 
ration.  Again,  in  the  case  of  aq.  anethi,  bruising 
dill  fruit  is  not  an  easy  task,  but,  having  accomplished 
it,  we  distil  the  authorized  quantity.  Now,  if  we 
leave  the  residue  in  the  still  to  macerate  till  the  next 
day,  and  then  distil  again  another  and  an  equal 
quantity,  it  would  puzzle  most  people  to  know  the 
right  from  the  wrong  article.  Yet  none  of  the  waters 
of  the  British  Pharmacopoeia,  except  aqua  lauro- 
cerasi,  are  supposed  to  want  maceration.  This  cu¬ 
rious  mixture  of  carefulness  and  uncertainty  strikes 
us,  if  we  look  on  these  waters  as  a  class  or  section  of 
the  B.  P. 

Upon  examining  each  separately,  aqua  and  aqua 
destillata  first  attract  notice.  A  hard  taste  must  be 
no  taste  at  all,  pliarmacopoeially  speaking,  or  we 
should  have  to  reject  the  wraters  of  some  of  the  London 
water  companies.  In  distilling  water,  the  first  ^th¬ 
is  rejected,  the  next  U^tlis  saved.  The  tests  given 
in  the  B.  P.  refer  only  to  mineral  matters,  which,  of 
course,  are  separated  ;  but  many  volatile  bodies,  and 
the  results  of  organic  decomposition,  still  remain  in 
the  water,  as  well  as  substances  having  a  high  vola- 
tilizing-point,  but  which  come  over  with  water  in  dis¬ 
tillation.  When  a  recently-distilled  water,  giving 
no  precipitate  with  liq.  calcis,  has  been  mixed  with 


242 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  24, 1S70. 


a  little  peroxide  of  hydrogen  and  re-tested  with  liq. 
calcis,  I  have  sometimes  found  a  precipitate  of  calcic 
carbonate.  I  have  attributed  this  to  the  oxidation 
of  a  carbon  compound  into  carbonic  acid.  Another 
effect  of  this  process  of  oxidation  has  been  the  de¬ 
struction  of  that  musty  odour  so  common  to  recently 
distilled  water.  I  have  theorized  on  these  facts  in 
this  way  :  these  odours  may  be  partly  the  result  of 
electric  action  in  the  still,  and  partly  the  result  of 
algseic  or  infusorial  decomposition ;  slowly  these 
forms  of  matter  pass  into  more  highly  oxidized, 
stable  and  odourless  states,  and  we  say  the  water 
lias  improved  by  keeping.  Well,  for  medical  pur¬ 
poses  so  it  has ;  and  perhaps  this  may  throw  a  ray  of 
light  on  an  after  subject.  Of  substances  volatilizing 
in  connection  with  boiling  water,  ammonia  nitrate 
may  he  taken  as  a  type.  If  a  solution  of  brucine  he 
added  to  recently-distilled  water,  and  sulphuric  hy¬ 
drate  be  allowed  to  trickle  down  the  side  of  the  test- 
tube,  a  rose-coloured  zone,  changing  to  yellow,  may 
be  seen  at  the  line  of  union  in  the  two  fluids,  indi¬ 
cating  nitrates,  and  ammonia  may  be  readily  found 
by  Nessler’s  test.  I  have  obtained  the  same  results 
in  distilled  water  when  more  than  double  the  Phar¬ 
macopoeia  quantity  lias  been  rejected. 

Gases,  as  nitrogen,  etc.,  distil  over  with  water. 
According  to  the  experiments  of  Douny  and  Grove 
pure  boiling  water  has  not  been  obtained ;  their  ex¬ 
periments  tend  to  show  that  nitrogen  expanding  by 
heat  into  a  gaseous  bubble  carried  away  an  atmo¬ 
sphere  of  aqueous  vapour ;  that  in  the  process  of 
boiling,  nitrogen  was  absorbed  as  well  as  evolved ; 
that  in  ■sealed  tubes  boiled  by  electricity  it  was  still 
eliminated ;  and  these  and  other  experiments  go  a 
great  way  to  prove  that  the  action  of  heat  on  pure 
water  would  cause  decomposition.  But  such  refine  - 
ment  is  not  required  for  the  pharmacopceial  article. 
I  have  referred  to  it  as  conffrmative  of  a  theory  I 
shall  shortly  state. 

In  aqua  destillata  we  possess  the  most  powerful 
solvent  known,  and  as  such  it  is  one  of  the  most  de¬ 
licate  articles  to  keep.  It  absorbs  gases  as  rapidly 
as  it  is  distilled ;  some,  as  oxygen  and  nitrogen,  with 
remarkable  avidity  and  force  ;  and  others,  as  the 
common  laboratory  gases,  carbonic  acid  and  am¬ 
monia,  also  with  great  rapidity,  and  then  mi¬ 
nute  important  and  puzzling  changes  are  the  re¬ 
sult.  Not  only  salts  and  minutely-divided  sub¬ 
stances,  but  metals  also,  are  attacked  by  water. 
Iron  is  dissolved  as  ferrous  and  ferric  oxides,  and 
lead,  zinc,  and  its  compound  pewter,  with  their  well- 
known  injurious  results.  Copper  is  as  easily  dis¬ 
solved  as  either  of  the  others.  Cupreous  water  gives 
the  blue  coloration  with  ammonia.  Manganese, 
mercury,  silver,  gold  and  platinum  are  also  attacked. 
Tin  is  dissolved  from  the  worm,  tinned  vessels,  etc., 
and  after  a  little  time  thrown  down  as  stannic  oxide ; 
to  this  action  Parrish  attributed  the  unpleasant  odour 
ot  distilled  water.  Cadmium,  bismuth,  silica  and  glass 
may  be  added  to  the  list,  and  it  is  probable,  if  I 
could  have  experimented  with  the  whole  list  of  ele¬ 
ments,  nothing  would  have  completely  resisted 
aqueous  action,  or  the  almost,  if  not  entirely,  nas¬ 
cent  condition  of  its  gases.  What,  then,  should  we 
use  as  vessels  for  aq.  destillata  ?  I  think  this  shows 
that  glass,  or  metallic  cisterns  coated  with  their 
most  insoluble  compound,  would  be  the  safest  and 
best.  And  yet  we  need  not  wish  the  absorptive  and 
changeful  properties  of  water  less,  or  nature’s  great 
sanitary  operations  might  be  interfered  with.  Sew¬ 


age  and  decaying  matter  soon  find  their  way  into 
water,  and  if  water  could  not  quickly  change  them 
into  innoxious  compounds  there  would  be  death  in 
the  pot  of  teetotallers  and  non- abstainers  alike.  Es¬ 
pecially  should  Londoners  be  thankful, — with  chim¬ 
neys  overhead,  dustbins  and  other  surface  pollutions, 
and  sewage  underfoot,  evolving  putrid  gases,  etc., — 
that  water  is  so  industriously  and  incessantly  turning 
the  noxious  into  less  hurtful  compounds. 

I  have  dwelt  thus  long  on  distilled  water  as  all  the 
substances  found  in  that  water,  including  the  re¬ 
jected  distillate,  are  also  found  in  the  medicated 
waters  of  the  Pharmacopoeia.  To  these  waters  I 
now  briefly  call  attention. 

Aqua  Anetlii. — 1  lb.  of  the  fruit  yields  from  3  to  7 
drachms  of  oil,  sp.  g.  ‘90.  In  a  note  to  his  trans¬ 
lation  of  the  P.  L.,  Phillips  says  that  this  oil  is 
soluble  in  1500  parts  of  water;  if  so,  it  is  evident 
the  proportion  of  fruit  or  oil  is  excessive  in  the  B.  P. 
form.  This  is  a  fact,  and,  if  maceration  had  been 
ordered,  the  quantity  might  have  been  halved  and  a 
superstratum  of  oil  still  obtained. 

Aq.  Flor.  Aurant. — The  foreign  preparation,  with 
which  a  syrup  is  made,  often  substituted  for  syr. 
capillaire.  The  tests  given  for  this  water  should 
have  Gobley’s  test.  Pli.  J.  Ap.  66,  added  to  them ; 
this  test  detects  orange  leaf  and  oil  of  neroli  water. 
1  lb.  of  orange  flowers  yields  about  5ss  of  oil,  sp.  g.  '88. 

Aq.  C amphorae  I  have  already  referred  to.  If  the 
camphor  is  beaten  in  a  mortar  without  spirit,  I  find 
it  can  be  reduced  to  a  coarse  powder,  incapable  of 
sifting  through  the  muslin,  but  sufficiently  fine  to 
make  the  water  quickly.’ 

Aq.  Carui  is  very  similar  to  aq.  anetlii ;  both  pre¬ 
parations  are  reduced  in  quantity  from  the  P.L.,  and 
by  the  adoption  of  maceration  previous  to  distilla¬ 
tion,  might  still  further  be  reduced.  1  lb.  of  carra- 
way  fruit  yields  5iij  to  5x  of  oil  of  sp.  g.  '94. 

Aq.  Cinnamomi  is  slightly  altered  in  proportions 
from  the  B.  P.  Using  the  bark  we  are  not  so  likely 
to  use  cassia.  Pareira  says  these  barks  may  be 
known  apart  by  the  iodine  reaction,  but  the  oils  are 
not  so  easily  distinguished.  1  lb.  of  cinnamon  yields 
5i  to  5iij  of  oil,  sp.gr.  I- 00 6. 

Aq.  Foeniculi  comes  from  Scotland  ;  possibly  En¬ 
glishmen  are  not  yet  alive  to  its  value,  as  it  is  not 
much  in  request  amongst  us.  1  lb.  of  fennel  yields 
5ij  to  5vj  of  oil,  sp.  gr.  '94. 

Aq.  Laurocerasi  has  been  investigated  by  Draper, 
Pooley  and  others,  it  is  one  of  the  most  uncertain 
articles  in  the  Pharmacopoeia.  Draper  advised 
standardizing  its  hydrocyanic  acid ;  a  weak  solution 
of  hydrocyanic  and  sulphuric  acids  has  been  praised 
by  others ;  some  say  make  a  stronger  water  and  di¬ 
lute  when  Avanted,  others  omit  the  maceration  pro¬ 
cess  ;  so  altogether  it  is  a  dangerous  and  uncertain 
article.  The  oil  varies  from  '06  to  '6  per  cent. 
(Umney). 

Aq.  Menth.  Pip.  and  Aq.  Mentli.  Vir.  represent  the 
Labiates ;  they  are  the  only  waters  made  from  oils,  as 
recommended  by  Haselden,  and  are  improvements 
on  the  herb -distilled  waters  of  the  P.  L.  The  oil 
should  be  divided  by  trituration  with  some  solid  be¬ 
fore  it  is  put  in  the  still. 

Aq.  Pimentse  has  been  reduced  |th'  that  is,  2  o z. 
less  pimento  to  the  gallon.  A  thin  layer  of  oil  lies  at 
the  bottom  of  the  water ;  this  opaque  water  becomes 
clearer  by  age  and  deposits  crystals,  to  be  afterwards 
noticed.  1  lb.  of  the  berries  yields  5ij  to  5v  of  oil, 
sp.  gr.  P02. 


September  24, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


243 


Aq.  Rosae,  ordered  to  be  made  from  rose  petals,  is 
often  made  with  otto  or  rose  geranium  oil.  Real 
otto  is  a  scarce  article,  100  lb.  of  petals  yielding  less 
than  5iij  of  solid  otto  fusing  at  80°.  To  the  salt  pro¬ 
cess  I  shall  refer  presently. 

The  last  water  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  is  Aq.  Flor. 
Sambuci ;  this,  as  well  as  aq.  roste,  the  B.  P.  allows 
to  be  made  from  the  salted  flowers.  I  have  found 
the  use  of  salt  unsatisfactory  and  injurious.  Often 
after  salting  and  keeping  in  a  cool  dry  place,  I  have 
found  that  before  the  next  flower-season  came  round 
an  odour  of  chlorine  and  sawdust  was  developed  by 
■distillation.  The  metal  still  was  corroded  ;  the  water 
smelt  like  a  dilute  solution  of  chlorine  and  precipi¬ 
tated  argentic  nitrate  ;  I  therefore  discontinued  the 
salting  process,  and  distilled  a  stronger  water  and 
diluted  it  when  wanted.  This  water  I  have  found  to 
keep ;  I  have  some  two  years  old.  Elder  flowers 
yield  scarcely  ‘32  per  cent,  of  a  volatile  oil  slightly 
lighter  than  water,  yellow,  solid,  and  with  a  powerful 
smell  of  elder-flowers  even  when  largely  diluted. 

These  are  the  waters  of  the  Pharmacopoeia, — lime 
water  is  among  the  liquors, — the  B.P.  definition  of 
waters  evidently  being  solutions  of  essential  oils  in 
water.  Why  is  aq.  pulegii  omitted  ?  It  is  wanted 
as  much  as  some  that  are  official.  Standard  forms 
are  also  wanted  for  aq.  anisi  and  caryopliylli. 

When  first  made,  many  of  these  waters  are  harsh 
and  musty,  but  by  keeping  they  mellow  down. 
What  is  the  cause  of  this  ?  Returning  to  what  I 
noticed  in  aq.  destillata,  has  there  been  any  of  that 
slow  buffsurely  oxidizing  force  of  water  at  work  on 
these  aqueous  solutions  of  oils  ?  Alcohol  has  been 
shown  by  Warington  to  change  in  distilled  water  to 
acetic  acid.  And  these  essential  oils,  composed  of 
alcohols  and  camphors,  probably  succumb  to  the 
same  influences.  At  the  bottom  of  such  waters  as 
aq.  pimentse  and  aq.  cinnamomi  resinous  matter  has 
often  been  noticed.  But  what  is  resin?  The  term 
is  as  correct  chemically  as  copperas  for  ferri  sulph. ; 
it  is  only  a  generic  name  for  a  series  of  acids  pro¬ 
bably  oxidized  from  oils.  This  goes  a  long  way  to 
show  that  essential  oils  are  changed  as  well  as  alco¬ 
hol.  By  which  of  the  compounds  in  the  oils  is  the 
resin  yielded — the  alcohol,  the  camphor,  or  both? 
But  resinification  or  change  commencing,  what  is  to 
hinder  the  new  product  modifying  or  etherifying  the 
remainder?  Such  action  would,  in  the  case  of  a 
water,  be  slow  and  small  in  quantity,  but  such  a  re¬ 
arrangement  of  matter  would  remarkably  alter  some 
of  the  characteristics  of  the  oil  and  water.  In  the 
laboratory  it  may  be  difficult  to  acidify  some  of  these 
oils,  but  to  acidify  quickly  and  completely  is  one 
thing,  to  acidify  or  modify  small  quantities  in  the 
presence  and  by  the  aid  of  powerful  agents  constantly 
at  work  is  another ;  some  action,  •we  know,  takes 
place  which  mellows  the  waters  as  they  are  kept 
affer  distillation.  So  much  for  what  is  in  solution. 
These  waters  should  always  have  a  superstratum  of 
oil  (except,  of  course,  pimento  and  cinnamon)  float¬ 
ing  on  them,  as  Haselden  suggested  ;  adding  also 
that  such  oil  is  as  good  as  the  original  oil.  So 
it  is,  but  I  have  sometimes  noticed  an  oleograpliic 
difference.  After  long  contact  with  water  the  oil 
drop  does  not  give  so  good  a  “  roll,”  and  the  figure  is 
s  ightly  altered  and  slower  in  its  formation.  Between 
the  oil  and  the  water  there  is  always  a  muddy  layer. 
A  great  deal  of  this  is  debris,  or  matter  floated  over 
by  the  steam,  as  well  as  the  results  of  changes  in 
the  water.  On  examining  these  formations  micro¬ 


scopically,  I  have  sometimes  noticed  small  crystal¬ 
line  forms,  which,  when  carefully  separated,  easily 
melt,  and  give  an  odour  resembling  the  essential  oil 
used.  These  crystals,  as  in  cinnamon,  pimento,  ca- 
ryoph.,  and  mentli.  pip.,  have  been  nearly  colourless, 
few  in  number,  only  seen  with  high  powers  and  pos¬ 
sessed  of  polarizing  properties.  Are  these  the  hy¬ 
drates  of  a  portion  of  oil  similar  to  turpine  hydrate  ? 
and  if  so,  may  not  a  hydration  of  the  oil,  especially 
of  that  dissolved,  materially  assist  in  maturing  these 
waters  ?  These  are  subjects  opening  a  wide  field  of 
research  from  what  appears  a  very  simple  subject. 

Lastly,  the  modes  of  preparing  medicinal  waters 
require  attention ;  the  only  authorized  plan  in  B.  P. 
is  distillation  (except  in  the  instance  of  camphor). 
The  first  conclusion  one  draws  from  these  notes  is, 
that  spirituous  essences  are  objectionable ;  they  make 
clear  waters,  but  the  result  of  oxidizing  alcohol  is 
acetic,  acid.  This  was  found  to  be  the  fact  by  Wa¬ 
rington  in  1845,  and  every  observer  since  has  con¬ 
firmed  the  fact.  In  rejecting  the  Dublin  form  for 
waters,  the  compilers  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  were  wise 
and  justified  by  these  facts.  Oils  have  been  rubbed 
down  with  magnesia  and  chalk ;  these,  too,  are  ob¬ 
jectionable,  as  soaps  are  formed  as  pointed  out  by 
Brady  and  Attfield ;  the  water  also  acquires  an  un¬ 
pleasant  odour.  Silex,  according  to  the  old  London 
Pharmacopoeia,  and  kaolin,  or  fine  clay,  as  sug¬ 
gested  by  others,  have  been  used  for  dividing  the  oil 
with  variable  results. 

I  find  that  if  a  small  tube,  containing  an  essential 
oil,  is  placed  in  water  in  a  position  opposite  to  the 
specific  gravity  of  the  oil,  and  the  ends  of  the  tube 
are  closed  with  membrane,  vegetable  parchment,  etc., 
exosmosis  of  the  oil  commences,  and  in  twenty-four  or 
forty -eight  hours  the  water  is  saturated,  and  may  be 
drawn  off  and  replaced  by  a  fresh  portion.  I  do  not 
propose  this  as  a  plan  in  opposition  to  distillation, 
it  is  too  long  in  operation  perhaps,  but  as  a  conve¬ 
nient  way  of  making  those  waters  only  wanted  oc¬ 
casionally,  and  which  are  frequently  made  by  rubbing 
down  the  oil  with  some  other  substance. 


RESEARCHES  ON  THE  ELECTROLYSIS  OF  CERTAIN 
ORGANIC  ALKALIES.* 

BY  M.  EDME  BURGOIN, 

Pharmacien  en  Chef  de  V Uopital  dcs  Enfants-Malades. 

Up  to  the  present  time  but  few  experiments  have 
been  made  to  determine  the  action  of  the  electric 
current  upon  the  alkaloids,  andj  such  as  have  been 
undertaken  have  had  in  view,  mainly,  the  demon¬ 
stration  that  these  bodies  do  not  owe  then*  birth  to 
the  influence  of  the  mineral  alkalies  employed  in 
their  preparation,  but  pre-exist  in  the  vegetable 
sources.  From  the  facts  observed  by  Lassaigne  and 
Feneuille  in  their  experiments  with  delphinine,  and 
the  researches  of  Pelletier  and  Couerbe  upon  picro- 
toxine,  the  following  conclusion  has  been  drawn, 
namely,  that  when  a  salt  of  an  organic  alkali  is 
subjected  to  the  influence  of  the  electric  current,  the 
acid  appears  at  the  positive  and  the  base  at  the  ne¬ 
gative  pole. 

Having  continued  these  imperfect  studies,  I  have 
recognized  that,  in  addition  to  the  facts  noted,  there 

*  This  is  the  ai'ticle  by  M.  Bourgoin,  referred  to  by  the 
President  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Conference  in  his  Intro¬ 
ductory  Address  at  Liverpool.  The  translation  is  taken  Irom 
the  Chicago  Pharmacist,  and  is  by  the  editor  of  that  journal. 


244 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  24, 1870. 


always  occur  secondary  reactions,  wliicli  have  here¬ 
tofore  escaped  the  notice  of  experimenters. 

Note  first  the  action  of  the  current  upon  the  neu¬ 
tral  sulphate  of  ammonia,  thus : — 

so3nh4  o = (so3 + o)  +  (Nsg^ 

Positive  Pole.  Negative  Pole. 

Then  at  the  positive  pole,  (S03  -+-  0)  +  3H0 
=  S03  3H0  -f-  0,*  at  the  negative,  NH4  =  NH3  +  H. 

Beating  this  in  mind,  observe  the  results  of  my 
experiments  upon  the  organic  alkalies. 

I. - ELECTROLYSIS  OF  ATROPINE. 

Neutral  sulphate  of  atropine.  The  reaction  is 
very  rapid  at  first,  but  gradually  abates.  The  nega¬ 
tive  electrode  recovers  the  pure  atropine  in  very  fine 
crystals, — in  fact,  the  crystals  when  washed,  and 
dissolved  in  boiling  water,  yield  a  solution  which 
will  not  give  a  trace  of  precipitate  when  treated  with 
chloride  of  barium. 

At  first  pure  oxygen  only  is  disengaged  at  the  po¬ 
sitive  pole,  but  carbonic  acid  and  carbonic  oxide 
soon  appear,  and  at  the  same  time  the  fluid  in  the 
corresponding  compartment  acquires  a  distinct  yellow 
colour. 

An  analysis  of  the  gas  after  twelve  hours  gave 
these  results : — 

Volume  of  gas . . .  257  )  p  i 

After  the  action  of  KH02  .  246  )  2  4  — 

,,  „  „  the  pyrogallate . .  14  02  =  232 

„  „  „  ,,  acid  chloride..  T8  C202=12-2 

Which  gives  the  composition  of  the  gas  : — 


Carbonic  acid .  478 

Carbonic  oxide  .  475 

Oxygen  .  90 '66 

Nitrogen .  031t 


Secondly. — Acid  sulphate  of  atropine.  The  de¬ 
composition  is  effected  with  great  energy,  and  the 
positive  solution  acquires  at  once  a  fine  yellow  colour. 
From  the  start  a  mixture  of  oxygen,  carbonic  acid, 
and  carbonic  oxide  is  evolved.  The  experiment 
being  arrested  when  the  ciystals  of  atropine  com¬ 
menced  forming  upon  the  negative  electrode,  the 
composition  of  the  gas  from  the  positive  pole  was 
found  to  be  as  follows : — 

After  24  hours.  After  48  hours. 

C204 .  8-3 .  7-9 

02 .  87-9 .  88-6 

C<>02 .  3-8 .  8-9 

N .  .  .  0-4 

At  the  close  of  the  electrolysis,  the  positive  solu¬ 
tion  had  acquired  a  magnificent  yellow  colour,  whilst 
the  negative  compartment  was  still  colourless.  But 
observe  another  result,  still  more  remarkable  and 
well  worth  attention.  The  positive  compartment 
duiing  the  entire  series  of  experiments  had  the  cha¬ 
racteristic  odour  of  the  essential  oil  of  almonds ;  on 
the  other  hand,  the  negative  liquid,  after  treatment 
with  caustic  potassa,  gave  abundant  white  fumes 
upon  the  approach  of  a  stick  impregnated  with  hy¬ 
drochloric  acid,  showing  the  presence  of  ammoniacal 
compounds,  the  nature  of  which  remain  to  be  deter¬ 
mined  by  thorough  study. 

These  results  are  not  without  interest.  They  de¬ 
termine,  substantially,  what  I  have  already  an¬ 

*  See  the  compilation, c  New  Electrolytic  Researches,’  1868. 

■f  The  nitrogen  contained  in  the  gas,  and  which  appears  in 
all  of  the  succeeding  analyses,  is  due  to  the  presence  of  a 
small  quantity  of  air  which  it  is  almost  impossible  to  guard 
against. 


nounced  in  another  paper,  that  the  secondary  pheno¬ 
mena  at  the  positive  pole  arise  from  a  combustion 
provoked  by  the  oxygen ;  and,  further,  that  at  the 
other  extremity  the  current  has  a  single  fundamental 
action — it  decomposes  a  salt,  an  acid,  into  two  parts, 
one  basic,  hydrogen  or  metal,  which  goes  to  the  ne¬ 
gative  pole,  while  the  remaining  elements  are  set  at 
liberty  at  the  positive  pole.  All  the  other  phenomena 
are  but  accessories,  and  can  only  be  regarded  as 
resulting  from  the  oxidation  of  organic  substances. 

But  to  return  to  atropine.  It  is  known  from  the 
studies  of  Pfeiffer,  Kraut  and  Ludwig,  that  atropine, 
when  treated  with  sulphiiric  acid  and  bichromate  of 
potassa,  yields  benzoic  acid.  It  may  be  anticipated 
that  this  acid,  or  possibly  the  essential  oil  of  almonds, 
may  eventually  become  a  source  for  the  derivation  of 
atropine. 

II. - ELECTROLYSIS  OF  BRUCINE. 

Neutral  sulphate  of  brucine.  The  electrolysis  of 
this  salt  is  easily  accomplished ;  after  a  few  mo¬ 
ments  a  beautiful  red  halo  appears  around  the  infe¬ 
rior  extremity  of  the  positive  electrode.  This  halo 
increases  little  by  little  until  it  pervades  the  com¬ 
partment,  the  contents  of  which  eventually  become1 
blood-red.  It  will  be  observed  that  this  coloration 
is  precisely  the  same  as  results  from  the  application 
of  nitric  acid  to  the  alkaloid. 

There  is  no  gaseous  disengagement  at  the  positive 
pole ;  it  follows  that  all  of  the  oxygen  which  is  libe¬ 
rated  is  absorbed,  serving  to  oxidize  the  brucine,  and 
this  is  a  demonstration  that  the  red  coloration  is 
not  due  to  the  formation  of  any  nitrogenous  com¬ 
pound,  but  results  from  direct  oxidation. 

Secondly. — Acid  sulphate  of  brucine.  As  soon  as 
the  current  is  established  the  positive  solution  ac¬ 
quires  a  fine  red  colour ;  this  effect  is  instantaneous,, 
and  this  experiment  may  be  useful  as  a  beautiful 
lecture  illustration. 

The  oxidation  is  very  energetic,  and  the  gas  from 
the  first  contains  carbonic  acid. 


First  gas.  After  4  hours.  After  24  hrs,. 


Carbonic  acid . .  . 

. . .  4-9  _ 

..  10-6  ... 

.  . .  4-4 

Carbonic  oxide  . 

.  . .  6-6  . . . . 

. .  10-9  . .  . 

.  ..  5-8 

Oxygen  - ... 

. ..  877  .... 

..  77-9  ... 

.  ..  89-1 

Nitrogen . 

. ..  0-8  .... 

..  0-6  ... 

...  0-7 

Within  twenty-four  hours  the  red  coloration  gives 
place  to  a  fine  yellow  colour,  and  small  crystals  com¬ 
mence  to  appear  in  the  still  acid  negative  compart¬ 
ment.  By  the  fourth  day  the  solution  is  about  ex¬ 
hausted,  and  the  yield  of  carbonic  acid  and  carbonic 
oxide  is  very  small.  The  crystals  deposited  are  hard 
and  granular ;  after  being  washed  and  dissolved  in 
boiling  water,  their  solution  is  acid  to  test  paper, 
and  gives  a  precipitate  with  chloride  of  barium, 
showing  that  acid  sulphate  of  brucine  contaminates 
the  crystals.  When  treated  with  nitric  acid  the 
blood-red  colour  appears. 

III. - ELECTROLYSIS  OF  STRYCHNINE. 

First. — Acid  sulphate  of  strychnine.  The  saline 
solution  is  a  poor  conductor  of  the  current,  so  that 
the  decomposition  is  but  slowly  effected.  Oxygen  is 
disengaged  on  one  side,  and  hydrogen  on  the  other, 
and  the  negative  electrode  recovers  the  strychnine 
in  confused  crystalline  masses. 

The  positive  solution  assumes  towards  the  close  of 
the  experiments  a  light  yellow  colour,  indicating  oxi¬ 
dation,  an  oxidation,  however,  which  occurs  within, 
circumscribed  limits,  and  does  not  seem  able  to  take- 


September  24, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


215 


place  until  the  solution  lias  become  acid  at  the  posi¬ 
tive  pole. 

Second. — Neutral  sulphate  of  strychnine.  The 
solution  of  the  sulphate,  slightly  acidulated,  is  soon 
tilled  with  a  magnificent  needle-form  crystallization. 
From  the  commencement  the  gas  disengaged  at  the 
positive  electrode  contains  carbonic  acid  and  car¬ 
bonic  oxide. 

First  Gas.  After  36  hours. 

C204  .  1-3  .  1-4 

C202  .  3-5  .  2-7 

0.->  .««•••••  04* 3  . . . . . ,  95*2 
N. .  0-9  .  0-7 

Upon  continuing  the  experiment  a  fine  yellow 
•coloration  manifests  itself  in  the  positive  compart¬ 
ment,  and,  what  is  remarkable,  the  crystals  disap¬ 
pear  hi  the  negative  solution,  the  liquid  becoming 
limpid,  and  remaining  so  during  the  continuance  of 
the  electrolysis. 

When  a  very  acid  solution  of  the  sulphate  of  strych¬ 
nine  is  operated  upon,  the  positive  solution  acquires 
immediately  a  yellow  colour.  The  oxidation  is  very 
energetic,  as  may  be  seen  by  the  following  ana¬ 
lysis  : — 

C204 . 6-4 

C202 . 6-4 

02 . 87*2 


IV. - ELECTROLYSIS  OF  CODEINE. 


First. — Neutral  sulphate  of  codeine.  While  the 
•escape  of  gas  at  the  negative  pole  is  quite  rapid,  it 
is  almost  nothing  in  the  other  compartment;  the 
contents  of  the  latter  acquire  a  yellow  coloration, 
passing  afterwards  to  an  orange -yellow.  At  the 
same  time  crystals  of  codeine  are  deposited  upon  the 
negative  electrode. 

Second. — Acid  sulphate  of  codeine.  The  action  is 
very  energetic,  the  positive  solution  assuming  a 
magnificent  yellow  colour,  which  changes  rapidly  to 
an  orange -yellow,  these  phenomena  being  precisely 
those  observed  when  the  alkaloid  is  touched  with 
nitric  acid.  The  first  bubbles  of  gas  contain  carbonic 
acid  and  carbonic  oxide. 


Analysis  of  Gas  after  24  hours. 

Volume  of  the  gas  . 241  * 

After  the  action  of  potassa . 226-5  j  2  4“  0 

,,  „  the  pyrogallate  18  02  =  208-5 

„  „  acid  chloride  ..  1*5  C202=16’5. 

From  which  is  deduced : — 


c204 . 

.  6-0 

C20,  . 

.  6-7 

0, . 

. 86-5 

N . 

.  0-8 

V. — ELECTROLYSIS  OF  QUININE. 

The  electrolytic  experiments  which  I  have  made 
upon  the  sulphate  of  quinine,  furnished  results  ana¬ 
logous  to  the  foregoing.  It  is  notable,  however,  that 
a  neutral  solution  of  the  sulphate  of  quinine  is  such 
a  poor  conductor  of  the  current  that  decomposition 
takes  place  only  with  the  greatest  difficulty.  From 
this  observation  I  was  led  to  believe,  in  the  com¬ 
mencement  of  these  researches,  that  the  neutral  salts 
of  the  alkaloids  were  not  susceptible  of  electrolytic 
decomposition.  On  the  contrary,  the  electrolysis  of 
the  acid  sulphate  is  easily  accomplished,  the  positive 
solution  acquires  a  red  tint,  which  subsequently  be¬ 
comes  a  deep  red,  and  the  gas  evolved  contains  car¬ 
bonic  acid  and  carbonic  oxide. 


CONCLUSIONS. 

The  conclusions  drawn  from  the  foregoing  experi¬ 
ments  may  be  briefly  stated  as  follows  : — 

First. — The  electric  current  decomposes  the  salts 
of  the  alkaloids  in  the  same  manner  that  it  does  the 
neutral  sulphate  of  ammonia ;  that  is  to  say,  the 
basic  element  goes  to  reconstitute  the  alkali  at  the 
negative  pole,  whilst  the  remaining  elements  are 
liberated  at  the  positive  pole. 

Second. — In  an  acid  solution,  and  in  a  neutral  one 
with  more  difficulty,  the  positive  liquid  takes  a 
coloration  which  is  identical  with  that  obtained  by 
the  direct  application  of  nitric  acid  to  the  alkaloid, 
and  this  is  independent  of  the  formation  of  nitroge¬ 
nous  compounds. 

Third. — The  gas  disengaged  at  the  positive  pole 
contains  not  only  oxygen,  but  also  carbonic  acid  and 
carbonic  oxide,  sometimes  in  equal  volumes. 

Fourth. — Besides  these  gases,  there  are  formed 
various  other  products,  principally  ammoniacal  com¬ 
pounds,  resulting  from  the  breaking  up  of  the  alka¬ 
loids  under  the  influence  of  the  oxygen,  which  pro¬ 
duces  the  effects  of  a  gradual  combustion,  and  this  is 
more  energetic  in  proportion  to  the  increased  acidity 
of  the  solution. 

The  last  fact  is  significant  of  the  possibility  of 
deriving  the  alkaloids  from  other  than  the  natural 
sources,  as  remarked  in  connection  with  the  electro¬ 
lysis  of  atropine. 

These  experiments  assume,  therefore,  considerable 
importance,  since  they  may  lead  to  the  discovery  of 
facts  which  some  day  may  result  in  the  synthetical 
production  of  the  natural  organic  alkaloids. 


Sulphate  of  Iron  has  been  very  successfully  em¬ 
ployed  as  a  disinfectant  of  all  discharges  from  the  pa¬ 
tients  of  the  hospital,  and  it  has  been  regularly  put  into 
the  latrines,  etc.  This  salt  has  the  advantage  of  cheap¬ 
ness  as  well  as  most  undoubted  efficiency.  It  is  exten¬ 
sively  made  in  some  parts  of  China  by  mixing  together 
small  coal  and  iron  pyrites,  covering  over  the  mass  very 
securely,  and  allowing  decomposition  to  take  place. 
After  the  violent  chemical  action  has  ceased  the  mass  is 
broken  up,  dissolved  in  boiling  water,  and  crystallized 
out  in  shallow  vessels.  It  is  used  in  various  chemical 
processes,  such  as  the  making  of  the  beautifully  crystal¬ 
lized  K’ing  Fen,  or  calomel,  produced  by  chemical 
manufacturers  in  Hankow,  but  ingeniously  adulterated 
with  selenite.  Diluted  iodine  tincture  and  the  ethereal 
preparation  of  iodidine  have  been  found  the  best  disin¬ 
fectants  and  stimulants  for  unhealthy  surfaces. — Annual 
Report  of  the  Hankow  Medical  Mission ,  by  F.  Porter 
Smith ,  M.B. 

Liquid  Cement. — For  cementing  glass,  crockery, 
wood,  etc.,  the  following  compound  is  recommended : — 
Six  parts  of  glue,  in  small  pieces,  are  macerated  for  seve¬ 
ral  hours  in  sixteen  parts  of  water ;  one  part  of  hydro¬ 
chloric  acid  and  one  part  and  a  half  of  sulphate  of  zinc 
are  then  added,  and  the  mixture  is  exposed,  for  ten  or 
twelve  hours,  to  a  temperature  of  68°  or  70°  O. — Pharm. 
Cent.  Halle. 

Cure  for  Warts. — The  best  cautery  for  warts  is 
said  to  be  dichloracetic  acid.  It  must  be  applied  on  the 
sharp  point  of  a  stopper  made  for  the  purpose,  and  great 
caution  ought  to  be  observed  not  to  use  too  much  of  it, 
as  it  will  eat  a  deep  hole  into  the  flesh.  One  applica¬ 
tion  is  frequently  sufficient  to  drive  away  a  wart. — 
Scientific  American. 

Condy’s  Patent  Fluid. — In  quoting  the  article  un¬ 
der  this  title  in  last  week’s  issue,  the  source  from  whence 
it  was  taken  was  omitted.  It  appeared  first  in  the  Prac¬ 
titioner  for  August. 


246 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  24, 1&7<?. 


THE  BRITISH  PHARMACEUTICAL  CONFERENCE. 

THE  DINNER. 

On  Tuesday  evening,  after  the  first  meeting  of  the  Con¬ 
ference,  the  President  and  officers  were  entertained  hy  the 
Local  Committee  at  dinner,  at  the  ‘  Adelphi  Hotel.’  The 
Executive  Officers  entertained  were  : — Mr.  W.  W.  Stod- 
dart,  F.C.S.,  F.G.S.,  Bristol,  the  President.  Mr.  H.  C. 
Baildon,  Edinburgh  ;  Mr.  H.  S.  Evans,  F.C.S.,  London ; 
Mr.  J.  Ince,  F.L.S.,  F.C.S.,  London,  Vice-Presidents. 
Mr.  H.  B.  Brady,  F.L.S.,  F.C.S.,  Newcastle-on-Tyne, 
Treasurer.  Professor  Attfield,  Ph.D.,  F.C.S.,  London ; 
and  Mr.  R.  Reynolds,  F.C.S.,  Leeds,  General  Secretaries. 
Mr.  E.  Davies,  F.C.S.,  Secretary  for  Liverpool.  Mr.  T. 
Dutton,  Secretary  for  Birkenhead.  Committee :  Messrs. 
F.  B.  Benger,  Manchester ;  S.  C.  Betty,  London ;  M. 
Carteighe,  F.C.S.,  London  ;  T.  B.  Groves,  F.C.S.,  Wey¬ 
mouth;  W.  Martindale,  F.C.S.,  London;  J.  F.  Robin¬ 
son,  Liverpool;  and  F.  Sutton,  F.C.S.,  Norwich.  The 
Local  Committee  for  Liverpool  consists  of  Mr.  J.  Abra¬ 
ham,  Chairman;  Mr.  R.  Sumner,  Vice-Chairman;  Mr. 
J.  Shaw,  Treasurer ;  Messrs.  H.  S.  Alpass ;  G.  Barber ; 
T.  Britten,  J .  M.  Buck ;  H.  Coupland ;  F.  D.  Delf ;  T. 
Dod ;  E.  Evans,  sen. ;  W.  J.  Foulkes ;  A.  T.  Horton ; 
W.  Jarvis;  S.  Johnson;  C.  Jones;  A.  H.  Mason;  T. 
Martin ;  M.  Murphy ;  J.  Pendlebury ;  A.  Bedford ;  C. 
Sharp;  J.  Thompson;  qnd  J.  "Woodcock.  Mr.  J.  Abra¬ 
ham  occupied  the  chair,  Mr.  R.  Sumner  the  vice-chair, 
and  the  party  numbered  upwards  of  one  hundred. 

The  Chairman,  after  the  loyal  toasts  had  been 
honoured,  referred  to  the  American  Pharmaceutical  As¬ 
sociation,  now  holding  its  nineteenth  sitting  in  the  city 
of  Baltimore.  It  had  been  suggested  to  him  that  they 
should  send  a  message  of  friendly  greeting  to  their  friends 
in  the  West,  as  under: — “From  the  President  of  the 
British  Pharmaceutical  Conference,  at  Liverpool,  to  the 
President  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association, 
at  Baltimore.  The  most  successful  meeting  ever  held, 
sends  hearty  fraternal  greeting.”  He  then  proposed  the 
toast  of  the  evening.  That  meeting  was,  he  said,  the 
seventh  of  the  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference.  It 
was  an  infant  which  had  already,  in  seven  years,  grown 
up  to  he  a  giant ;  and  it  was  so  ably  represented  here 
that  it  needed  no  commendation  from  him.  The  very 
able  address  delivered  that  evening  hy  the  President,  Mr. 
Stoddart,  he  was  sure  well  deserved  the  warmest  enco¬ 
miums  he  could  bestow  upon  it,  and  he  only  wished  that 
any  praise  of  his  was  better  worth  receiving.  He  was 
sure  they  would  drink  with  the  heartiest  goodwill, 
“  The  success  of  the  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference, 
and  the  health  of  Mr.  Stoddart,  its  President.” 

Mr.  Stoddart,  who  was  much  cheered,  said  he  returned 
his  sincere  thanks  for  the  honour  just  done  him  in 
connecting  his  name  with  that  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Conference  of  Great  Britain,  and,  as  its  President,  an 
honour  to  which  he  had  never  thought  to  aspire.  It  was 
with  the  greatest  affection  and  love  that  he  had  seen  the 
Society  grow  as  it  had.  What  he  had  done  for  its  pro¬ 
gress  had  sprung  from  a  liking  for  it.  It  was  one  of  the 
most  useful  institutions ;  and  it  had  done  more  good, 
both  directly  and  indirectly,  than  any  ever  established 
for  the  furtherance  of  their  interest  for  many  a  long  year. 
He  did  not  expect  to  see,  in  his  time,  the  total  benefit 
capable  of  being  derived  from  the  institution ;  but  he 
looked  forward  with  much  pleasure,  prophetically  speak¬ 
ing,  to  the  incalculable  benefits  which  the  younger  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  Society  would  derive.  The  advice  given  by 
the  older  members  was  given  with  hearty  good  will,  and 
for  the  welfare  of  the  younger  members.  The  time 
would  come  when  they  would  be  thankful  for  the  days 
when  the  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference  had  sprung 
from  the  ideas  of  a  few  at  Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  fol¬ 
lowed  as  it  had  been  by  the  meeting  at  Bath,  and  those 
which  had  annually  succeeded  it  down  to  the  Conference 
at  Liverpool. 

Mr.  R.  Sumner  proposed  “Prosperity  to  the  Pharma¬ 


ceutical  Society,”  and  associated  with  the  toast  the  name- 
of  Mr.  Sandford,  the  President  of  the  Society.  This  toast 
was  very  warmly  received,  and 

Mr.  Sandford,  in  response,  said  the  business  of  the 
Conference  should  be  pharmacy,  pure  and  proper.  The 
Society  had  other  business  in  which  that  Conference 
could  help  it.  It  had  the  duty  of  advancing  pharma¬ 
ceutical  education,  and  he  hoped  it  had  not  neglected 
that  duty,  and  that  the  time  might  come  when  it  might 
do  it  more  extensively  than  it  had  done  hitherto — when 
it  might  support  pharmaceutical  schools,  not  only  in 
London  but  in  the  country.  It  would  be  the  endeavour 
of  the  Society  to  carry  out  faithfully  the  duties  put  upon 
it  by  the  Government.  The  members  had  the  matter  in 
their  own  hands,  and  so  long  as  they  used  their  powers 
properly  they  would  have  the  support  of  the  Govern¬ 
ment.  The  Conference  had  it  in  its  power  to  promote 
that  very  much.  To  the  Conference  a  great  deal  might 
be  due  for  the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy  Act.  It  was,, 
therefore,  with  great  pleasure  that  he  had  heard  the 
chairman  speak  so  highly  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society. 
As  for  himself,  he  returned  thanks  for  personal  kindness 
to  him,  and  he  hoped  the  Conference  would  long  con¬ 
tinue  to  be  the  prosperous  body  it  now  seemed  to  be. 

Professor  Attfield  proposed  “  Success  to  the  Liver¬ 
pool  Chemists’  Association,”  the  most  important  Associa¬ 
tion  of  the  kind  throughout  the  country.  In  1849  Jacob 
Bell  came  to  Liverpool  to  urge  the  claims  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society,  and  one  of  the  results  of  his  visit 
was  the  formation  of  the  Liverpool  Chemists’  Associa¬ 
tion.  Jacob  Bell  characterized  Liverpool  as  “a  collec¬ 
tion  of  men  than  whom  there  is  not  a  man  in  the  coun¬ 
try  having  a  greater  amount  of  public  spirit  and  energy.” 
The  same  public  spirit  had  characterized  the  chemists  and 
druggists  of  Liverpool  from  that  time  to  the  present. 
In  the  index  to  the  ‘Pharmaceutical  Journal’  would 
be  seen  a  very  large  number  of  titles  of  lectures  and 
papers  contributed  from  Liverpool,  and  the  character  of 
the  papers  was  unequalled  by  any  given  to  the  parent 
society  in  London.  The  present  Conference  exhibited 
the  same  characteristic  spirit  and  energy. 

Mr.  J.  F.  Robinson  and  Mr.  J.  Shaw  responded. 

Mr.  A.  Bedford  proposed  “  The  Officers  of  the  Con¬ 
ference,”  coupled  with  the  names  of  Mr.  Brady,  Mr. 
Reynolds,  and  Professor  Attfield. 

Mr.  Brady  expressed  his  regret  that  after  seven  years’" 
duty  he  felt  compelled  to  resign  the  office  of  treasurer, 
but  he  hoped  that  the  Conference  would  not  suffer,  and 
that  there  would  be  no  difficulty  in  finding  a  successor. 

Mr.  Reynolds  and  Professor  Attfield  also  replied. 

Mr.  Stoddart  acknowledged  “the  glorious  reception” 
which  the  Conference  had  met  with  at  the  hands  of  the 
people  of  Liverpool,  and  proposed  “The  Local  Com¬ 
mittee,”  coupled  with  the  names  of  Mr.  E.  Davies  and 
Mr.  Mason. 

Mr.  E.  Davies  and  Mr.  A.  H.  Mason  responded,  and 
expressed  their  gratification  that  their  efforts  in  connec¬ 
tion  with  the  exhibition  had  met  with  such  approval. 

The  Chairman  announced  that,  although  he  was  sur¬ 
rounded  by  the  most  brilliant  array  of  pharmaceutical 
talent  ever  assembled  in  the  provinces,  he  had  received 
letters  of  apology  from  Mr.  Henry  Deane,  Mr.  Daniel 
Hanbury,  Professor  Bentley,  Mr.  Hill,  Mr.  Schacht,  Me. 
Cooper  (of  Exeter),  and  other  prominent  members  of  the 
Conference.  He  proposed  “  The  Visitors.” 

Mr.  Groves,  of  Weymouth,  and  Mr.  Mack  ay,  of  Edin¬ 
burgh,  responded. 

Mr.  R.  Sumner  proposed  “  Professor  Archer,  of  Edin¬ 
burgh,”  whose  health  was  received  with  much  applause. 

The  toast  of  “The  Pharmaceutical  Press,”  coupled 
with  the  names  of  Mr.  Paul,  editor  of  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Journal ,  Mr.  Brough,  editor  of  the  Pharmaceuti¬ 
cal  Year-Book ,  and  Mr.  Wootton,  editor  of  the  Chemist 
and  Druggist ,  together  with  other  toasts,  followed  before 
the  party  separated. 


September  24, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


247 


♦ 


SATURDAY,  SEPTEMBER  24,  1870. 


THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Parliament  of  Science  that  has  been  holding 
its  annual  session  at  Liverpool  during  the  last  week 
will  by  tills  time  have  been  prorogued,  and  the  op¬ 
portunity  it  affords  for  communicating  an  impulse  to 
scientific  research,  or  for  giving  a  scientific  direction 
to  various  practical  affairs,  will  have  passed  by  for 
the  present.  There  has  been  no  lack  of  interesting 
topics  for  discussion  in  the  several  sections,  while 
the  addresses  have  been  perhaps  more  than  usually 
attractive,  both  as  regards  their  subject-matter,  and 
by  reason  of  their  authorship.  Professor  Huxley’s 
historical  review  of  the  ideas  connected  with  the 
doctrines  of  spontaneous  generation  could  scarcely 
have  been  so  successful  in  other  hands  than  his ;  and 
the  task  of  treating  upon  the  imagination  as  an  in¬ 
strument  of  scientific  research,  could  scarcely  have 
been  entrusted  to  any  one  more  fitted  to  do  justice  to 
this  theme  than  Professor  Tyndall.  The  elucidation 
of  scientific  principles  connected  with  ship -building, 
and  the  discussion  of  savage  conditions  of  our  ances¬ 
try,  could  not  have  been  dealt  with  more  appropri¬ 
ately  than  at  the  hands  of  Rankine  and  Lubbock. 

The  proximity  of  Liverpool  to  the  smoky  districts 
of  St.  Helen’s  and  Widnes,  the  chief  seats  of  the 
Lancashire  chemical  trade,  was  a  sufficient  reason 
for  the  presence  of  a  large  number  of  chemists  at 
this  meeting,  and  for  the  preponderance  of  papers  re¬ 
lating  to  chemical  manufactures.  These  papers 
have  in  several  instances  given  rise  to  valuable 
discussions,  besides  being  in  themselves  of  great 
interest. 

But  that  feature  of  the  Association  meeting  which 
is  probably  at  once  the  most  beneficial  and  pleasant, 
viz.  the  excursions,  has  this  year  been  especially  de¬ 
veloped  in  the  chemical  section  of  the  Association 
and  the  Conference  meeting.  Last  week  the  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Conference  paid  a  visit 
to  the  Chemical  Works  at  Widnes  and  Runcorn, 
where  they  inspected  several  new  methods,  and 
were  afterwards  very  hospitably  entertained  by  the 
Liverpool  Chemists  at  Halton  Castle.  Two  days 
after,  the  chemical  section  of  the  British  Association 
made  an  excursion  to  St.  Helen’s,  and,  on  Thursday, 
there  was  another  excursion  to  Widnes.  There 
were,  on  these  occasions,  so  many  interesting  opera¬ 
tions  to  be  seen,  that  we  are  compelled  to  defer  at¬ 
tempting  any  description  of  them  for  the  present. 
But  at  the  same  time  we  cannot  omit  calling  atten¬ 
tion  to  the  advantages  resulting  from  these  excur¬ 
sions.  Apart  from  the  mere  instruction  they  afford, 
there  is  no  pltase  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Associa¬ 


tion  or  the  Conference  which  is  more  calculated  to  pro¬ 
mote  good  feeling  amongst  pharmaceutists  through¬ 
out  the  country,  by  rubbing  down  individual  aspe¬ 
rities  that  have  often  no  other  ground  for  existence 
than  what  Professor  Tyndall  would  call  an  unscien¬ 
tific  use  of  the  imagination.  They  also  afford  a 
stimulus  to  thought  and  an  incentive  to  exertion, 
which  probably  could  not  be  obtained  in  any  other  way 
so  effectually  or  so  agreeably.  We  have  here  spoken 
of  the  Conference  together  -with  the  British  Associa¬ 
tion,  for  the  two  are  intimately  related;  and  the 
founders  as  well  as  the  supporters  of  the  Association, 
should  regard  with  pride  and  satisfaction  such  a 
realization  of  their  objects  as  is  presented  by  the 
British  Pharmaceutical  Conference. 


THE  SCHOOL  OF  PHARMACY. 

Now  that  the  scientific  meetings  in  the  provinces 
are  nearly  over,  attention  will  naturally  be  directed  to 
the  addresses  to  students  at  the  opening  of  the  various 
schools  in  London.  To  pharmacists  the  most  inter¬ 
esting  of  these  will  doubtless  be  that  to  be  delivered 
at  the  commencement  of  the  session  in  Bloomsbury 
Square.  Mr.  Schacht  has  been  chosen  by  the  Coun¬ 
cil  tliis  year  to  deliver  the  inaugural  address  on  the 
occasion  of  the  opening  of  the  session,  when  the 
prizes  and  certificates  awarded  to  the  successful 
students  of  the  past  session  mil  be  distributed.  He 
is  well  known  for  his  efforts  in  favour  of  improved 
pharmaceutical  education,  and  as  one  of  those  who 
were  first  to  avail  themselves  of  the  educational  ad¬ 
vantages  provided  by  the  Society  some  twenty-five 
years  ago,  his  words  of  advice  will  have  great  weight. 
The  Council,  in  inviting  the  attendance  of  gentle¬ 
men  connected  with  the  Society,  has  been  pleased  to 
extend  the  invitation  to  ladies.  We  hope  that  a 
hearty  response  will  be  made,  and  that  a  very  suc¬ 
cessful  meeting  will  be  the  result. 


A  letter  was  read  before  the  Chemical  section  of 
the  British  Association,  which  had  been  addressed 
to  it  on  behalf  of  the  Council  of  the  Herman  Che¬ 
mical  Society  of  Berlin  by  Professors  C.  A.  Martius 
and  A.  W.  Hofmann.  The  letter  pointed  out  the 
great  urgency  for  promptly  doing  something  to  coun¬ 
teract  the  effects  of  the  overcrowding  of  the  sick 
and  wounded  in  the  hospitals,  and  asked  the  co-ope¬ 
ration  of  the  section  in  obtaining  from  chemical 
manufacturers  donations  of  the  following  disinfec¬ 
tants  : — liquid  residues  of  the  manufacture  of  chlo¬ 
rine,  chloride  of  lime,  green  vitriol,  permanganate  of 
potash,  and  carbolic  acid  (crude  and  purified). 

Communications  on  the  subject  are  to  be  addressed 
to  Professor  Hofmann,  care  of  Dr.  Wichelhaus,  33, 
G-eorgens  Strasse,  Berlin. 

We  think  it  right,  in  connection  with  tliis  subject, 
to  refer  to  the  paper  we  extracted  last  week  from  our 

contemporary  the  Practitioner,  showing  the  relative 

o  3 


248 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  24, 1870, 


chemical  value  of  the  various  materials  which  owe 
their  disinfecting  qualities  to  permanganic  acid. 
From  the  results  there  stated,  it  will  be  evident  that 
for  transport  great  advantages  are  offered  by  the  solid 
permanganates  over  solutions,  containing  in  some 
instances  only  very  small  amounts  of  the  active  dis¬ 
infecting  material.  To  chemists  this  fact  would  of 
course  be  obvious,  but  we  think  it  worth  while  to 
mention  the  matter  here  for  general  information, 
more  especially  since  permanganates  are  now  manu¬ 
factured  in  quantity  and  at  prices  which  would  have 
been  regarded  as  fabulously  low  some  few  years  ago. 


Samuel  Negus,  Northampton. 

2  lbs.  sponges. 

John  Beddard,  46,  Churton  Street,  Belgrave  Road. 
40  doz.  2  gr.  quinine  pills. 

6  „  small  sponges. 

1  ,,  bottles  smelling  salts. 

1  ,,  4  oz.  bottles  sal  volatile. 

14  „  calico  bandages. 

21  „  flannel  bandages. 

22  yards  wadding. 

44  ,,  flannel. 

2  lbs.  lint. 

2  sets  arm  splints. 

2  „  leg  s[)lints. 

2  tins  extract  of  meat  biscuits. 

E.  C.  Coswav,  19,  Notting  Hill  Terrace. 

2  lbs.  lint. 


CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’  FUND  FOR  THE 
SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


The  following  contributions  have  been 
since  last  week  : — 

11  Canny,”  Newcastle . 

R.  C.  Carruthers,  1,  Egerton  Crescent,  With- 

ington  . 

D.  F.  Daws,  Leominster  . 

John  Mason,  Bournemouth . 

W.  II.  Mathew,  Fore  Street,  Saltash . 

T.  Mathias,  Saundersfoot . 

J.  Noad,  Turnham  Green . 

W.  B.  Place,  Betley,  Crewe . 


received 


£.  s.  d. 
0  5  0 

0  2  6 
0  10  0 
0  10  0 
0  5  0 

0  10  0 
0  2  6 
0  5  0 


Collections  per  Mr.  T.  S.  Higgins, 
Local  Secretary,  Huddersfield  : — 


£. 

s. 

d. 

R.  H.  Abbey . 

. . . .  o 

10 

0 

W.  T.  Bygott  . 

....  0 

5 

0 

W.  Chrispin  . 

.. ..  0 

10 

0 

Ralph  Cuthbert . 

. . . .  o 

10 

0 

R.  Fell  . 

....  0 

10 

6 

Fryer  and  King  . 

....  1 

1 

0 

George  Hall . 

..  . .  0 

10 

0 

C.  H.  Swift  . 

....  0 

2 

6 

"Wheatley  and  Higgins  .... 

. . . .  1 

1 

0 

-  £5 


0 


Collections  per  Mr.  B.  Shaw,  Local 


Secretary,  Halifax : — 

A.  Bancroft,  Halifax  .  0 

J.  Brearley  „  0 

H.  Brearley  „  0 

J.  B.  Brearley  „  0 

"W.  Brook  „  0 

N.  R.  Burgin  „  0 

C.  H.  Denton  „  0 

W.  Dyer  „  0 

James  Farr  ,,  0 

W.  C.  Hebden  „  0 

J.  J.  Holroyd  ,,  0 

J.  Jessop  „  0 

W.  Oldroyd  „  0 

J.  Oldroyd  „  0 

J.  Pollard  ,,  0 

B.  Shaw  „  0 

B.  Wood  ,,  0 

L.  Woodhead  „  0 

W.  Stott,  Sowerby  Bridge .  0 

S.  Cardwell,  Brighouse  .  0 

J.  Chappell  ,,  0 

W.  H.  Pollard  „  0 

G.  Hodson,  Elland  .  0 

W.  Kay,  Staniland .  0 


5  0 
5  0 
5  0 
5  0 
5  0 
5  0 
5  0 
5  0 
5  0 
5  0 
5  0 
5  0 
5  0 
2  6 
5  0 
5  0 
5  0 
5  0 
5  0 
5  0 
5  0 
5  0 
5  0 
5  0 


0 


6 


M.  P.  S.,  Weymouth. 

4  doz.  1  oz.  bottles  chlorodyne. 

|  ^  oz.  ditto. 

6  „  15  gr.  compound  kino  powders. 

Some  bandages. 

E.  R.  Ing,  Swindon. 

30  lbs.  arrowroot. 

1  lb.  lint. 

1  oz.  quinine. 

4  „  Calvert’s  best  carbolic  acid. 

George  Baxter,  Chester. 

2  gross  1  gr.  opium  pills. 

2  „  ^  gr.  morphia  pills. 

2  „  2  gr.  quinine  pills. 

2  oz.  hydrate  of  chloral. 

4  „  chloroform. 

8  „  sal  volatile. 

-4  doz.  Condv’s  fluid. 

tt  „  2  oz.  bottles  laudanum. 

William  Lewin,  Plymouth. 

1  lb.  pure  chloroform. 

1  „  methylated  chloroform. 

1  lb.  liq.  ammon.  in  8  bottles. 

8  oz.  chlorodyne. 

1  gross  2  gr.  quinine  pills. 

1  „  ^  gr.  muriate  of  morphia  pills. 

1  „  1  gr.  opium  pills. 

6  lbs.  lint. 

Septimus  Roe,  Salisbury. 

1  doz.  J  pint  bottles  Condy’s  Fluid  (Crimson). 

1  pint  bottle  ,,  „  „ 

5  pint  bottles  „  „  (Green). 

7  bandages,  2  yards  in  each. 

Surgeons’  tow. 

The  following  have  been  received  by  the  Edinburgh 
Auxiliary  to  the  National  Society  from  Messrs.  Duncan, 
Flockhart  and  Co.,  Robertson  and  Co.,  Mr.  R.  S.  Brown, 
Mr.  W.  R.  Niven,  of  Edinburgh : — 

Valuable  donations  of  chloroform,  laudanum,  opium, 
quinine  and  morphia  pills,  sal  volatile,  citrate  of  mag¬ 
nesia,  lint,  adhesive  plaster,  oil-silk,  prepared  cotton, 
bandages,  etc. 


Extract  of  Calabar  Bean. — J.  B.  Enz  recommends 
the  following  process  for  preparing  this  extract :  reduce 
the  bean  to  a  moderately  fine  powder,  and  macerate  in 
alcohol,  sp.  gr.  *830,  for  ten  days ;  then  transfer  the 
powder  to  a  percolator  and  pass  through  alcohol  until 
the  percolate  becomes  colourless.  Mix  the  tincture  ob¬ 
tained  by  maceration  with  the  percolate,  distil  off  the 
alcohol,  and  evaporate  the  residue,  over  a  water  bath,  to 
the  proper  consistence.  The  yield  of  extract  is  about  2 
per  cent. — Pharm.  Gent.  Halle. 


September  24,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


249 


JprffmMngs  at  StMi&t 


BRITISH  PHARMACEUTICAL  CONFERENCE. 
Tuesday ,  September  13 th. 

The  following  financial  statement  was  put  before  the 
meeting-  by  the  Treasurer,  and  adopted  : — 


The  Treasurer  in  Account  with  the  British  Pharmaceutical 
Conference ,  1869-1870. 

Dr.  £.  s.  d. 

To  cash  in  hand,  August,  1869 .  79  10  1 

„  Sale  of  ‘  Proceedings  ’ .  0  4  6 

„  Interest  from  London  and  Westminster 

Bank .  1  1  4 

„  846  Subscriptions,  viz. : — 

1  for  year  ending  June  30th,  1865. 

3  „  „  „  1866. 

16  „  „  „  1867. 

33  „  „  „  1868. 

132  „  „  „  1869. 

509  „  „  „  1870. 

149  „  „  „  1871. 

3  „  „  „  1872. 

(Total  846)  211  10  0 

£292  5  11 


Cr. 

By  General  Printing — 

Taylor  and  Co . £39  12  0 

Butler  and  Tanner. .  5  12 

J.  Bell .  0  12  6 

- 45  5 

„  Cost  of  ‘  Proceedings,’  Taylor 

and  Co . £43  11  6 

,,  „  Compiling  Index  ....  1  1  0 

- 44  12 

„  Expenses  of  Exeter  Meeting  .  5  10 

,,  Advertising  .  2  4 

„  Stationery .  4  14 

,,  Directing  Circulars .  4  14 

„  Postage .  49  9 

,,  Various  Petty  Expenses .  1  3 

„  Bookbinder’s  Tool  for  “Bell  and  Hills” 

Books .  3  0 

„  ‘Year-book  of  Pharmacy  ’  (Editor’s  Salary 

in  part)  .  35  0 

„  Balance  in  hand  .  96  10 


8 


6 

4 

6 

2 

7 
9 

8 

0 

0 

9 


£292  5  11 


1870.  £.  5.  d. 

August.  Balance  in  hand .  96  10  9 

Estimated  Arrears  of  Subscriptions 
up  to  June  30th,  1870  (204  Sub¬ 
scriptions)  .  51  0  0 


Bell  and  Hills'  Library  Fiend,  1869-70. 

To  Cash  received  from  T.  H.  Hills,  Esq .  52  10  0 

By  Books  forwarded  to  Exeter .  10  10  0 


Balance  in  hand  .  £42  0  0 


Examined  and  found  correct, 

John  Shaw. 

Joseph  F.  Robinson. 

Liverpool,  September  5th,  1870. 

The  Treasurer  explained  that  he  was  reluctantly 
compelled  to  look  to  the  resignation  of  his  office,  espe¬ 
cially  since  the  large  accession  to  the  numbers  of  the 
Conference  would  add  very  materially  to  the  duties 
which  he  felt  he  had  not  the  time  to  perform.  He  would 
be  glad  to  retire  to  the  ranks  of  the  Conference,  and 


continue  in  that  position  to  do  Iris  best  to  serve  its  in¬ 
terests. 

Mr.  Erin  (Bath)  much  regretted  to  hear  this  an¬ 
nouncement  from  their  friend  Mr.  Brady,  and  thought 
that  it  suggested  they  ought  to  elect  a  paid  officer  to 
assist  both  the  Treasurer  and  the  General  Secretary. 

The  President  said  that  Mr.  Ekin’ s  suggestion  should 
bo  considered  at  a  later  stage  of  the  proceedings. 

Mr.  Dymond  moved  that  the  following  members  form 
a  committee  to  report  on  the  exhibition  of  objects  re¬ 
lating  to  pharmacy  : — Messrs.  Carteighe,  Davies,  Ekin, 
Ince,  Paul,  Sutton. 

This  resolution  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Greenish,  and 
carried  unanimously. 

The  following  papers  were  then  read : — 

The  Purity  of  the  Yellow  Beeswax  of  Pharmacy. 

BY  EDWARD  DAVIES,  F.C.S. 

In  this  paper  I  am  only  able  to  give  the  result  of  the 
examination  of  some  samples  of  wax  purchased  in  Liver¬ 
pool,  five  samples  of  crude  wax  obtained  from  a  whole¬ 
sale  house,  and  four  samples  sent  to  me  for  analysis  from 
a  Liverpool  firm,  of  the  history  of  which  I  am  ignorant. 

I  shall  first  give  the  methods  employed,  then  a  table 
of  the  results  and  conclude  with  a  few  remarks.  The 
melting-point  presents  a  little  difficulty,  and,  after  trying 
various  methods,  it  was  found  better  to  take  the  solidify  - 
ing-point.  A  test-tube  containing  about  100  grains  of 
wax  was  immersed  in  hot  water  in  a  beaker  until  per¬ 
fectly  melted.  A  thermometer  was  inserted  in  the  tube 
and  the  water  allowed  to  cool  gradually,  the  wax  being 
constantly  stirred  until  the  bulb  of  the  thermometer 
could  not  be  seen  when  in  the  middle  of  the  wax.  The 
temperature  then  remains  steady  during  the  solidification 
for  about  two  minutes,  and  there  is  no  difficulty  in  get¬ 
ting  the  same  result  any  number  of  times  within  half  a 
degree. 

The  presence  of  paraffin  is  shown  by  the  low  melting- 
point,  but  no  idea  of  its  amount  can  be  obtained  from  the 
degree  shown,  owing  to  the  varying  melting-points  of 
different  samples  of  paraffin.  The  only  method  of  deter¬ 
mining  the  amount  of  paraffin  found  at  all  practical,  con¬ 
sists  in  destroying  the  wax  with  fuming  sulphuric  acid. 
50  grains  of  the  wax,  with  \\  oz.  by  measure  of  fuming 
sulphuric  acid,  are  put  into  a  small  beaker  holding  about 
5  oz.,  and  gradually  heated  in  a  water-bath.  Great  care 
must  be  taken  to  stir  it  very  slightly  at  first,  especially 
if  only  a  small  quantity  of  paraffin  is  present,  as  the 
action  is  apt  to  become  unmanageable.  When  the  vio¬ 
lence  of  the  action  is  over,  the  heat  is  raised  to  100°  C. 
for  about  an  hour  and  a  half  and  the  mixture  occasionally 
stirred.  It  is  then  left  to  cool  very  slowly  in  the  water- 
bath,  and,  when  quite  cold,  the  paraffin  will  be  found 
forming  a  layer  on  the  black  semi-liquid  mass.  It  is 
carefully  removed,  washed  with  water  to  remove  as 
much  of  the  adhering  acid  as  possible,  dried,  and  again 
heated  for  an  hour  in  a  smaller  beaker  with  ^  oz. 
of  the  acid.  This  gives  the  paraffin  perfectly  white, 
and  it  is  then  washed,  dried,  and  weighed.  There  can 
be  no  doubt  that  there  is  some  loss,  as  the  common  paraf¬ 
fin  employed  contains  colouring  matters  destroyed  by 
the  acid ;  but  I  know  of  no  other  method  at  all  useful, 
though  I  have  carefully  tried  some  which  have  been 
proposed. 

For  the  estimation  of  rosin,  the  action  of  cold  alcohol 
seems  sufficient.  To  90  grains  of  pure  wax,  10  grains 
of  rosin  were  added,  by  melting  them  together  and  tho¬ 
roughly  incorporating.  On  exhausting  with  cold  alco¬ 
hol,  by  rubbing  the  wax  in  a  mortar  with  successive 
small  portions  of  alcohol,  filtering,  and  evaporating  on  a 
water-bath,  a  residue  was  obtained  weighing  10-54  grains. 
It  was  brittle  and,  when  heated,  gave  an  unmistakable 
smell  of  rosin.  Pure  wax  yields  2-4  per  cent,  to  cold  al¬ 
cohol,  and  rosin  is  not  entirely  soluble,  but  one  of  these 
about  balances  the  other. 


250 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  34,  1870. 


No  starch  was  found  in  any  of  the  samples,  and  they 
were  all  perfectly  soluble  in  turpentine. 


• 

Specimens. 

Solidifying 

Point. 

Soluble  in 

Alcohol. 

Paraffin. 

Pure  Scotch  wax . 

151-5 

2-4P-C. 

none 

Crude  wax,  Gambia  . 

152-5 

3-10 

not  tested 

„  No.  1 _ 

154-0 

2-40 

11 

„  No.  2 _ 

153-0 

3-60 

11 

„  No.  3.... 

147-5 

11 

11 

„  No.  4. .  . . 

147-0 

11 

,,  No.  5 . .  . . 

146-0 

none 

Purchased  samples,  No.  1  . . 

153-5 

l-8p.c. 

not  tested 

„  No.  2.. 

153-0 

2-28 

33 

5) 

,,  No.  3  . . 

152-0 

3-18 

33 

„  No.  4  . . 

152-0 

2-34 

33 

„  No.  5  . . 

150-5 

5-20 

33 

„  No.  6  . . 

147-0 

11 

„  No.  7  . . 

145-0 

none 

„  No.  8  . . 

139-0 

13-30 

,,  No.  9  . . 

137-5 

36-60 

Samples 

sent  for  analysis, 

No.  1 

142-0 

42-60 

,,  No.  2 . . 

140-0 

43-36 

,,  Is  o.  3 . . 

135-0 

56-50 

33 

„  No.  4. . 

134-0 

56-00 

1 

These  results  show  that  the  degree  given  in  the  P.  B. 
of  140°  F.  is  too  low;  pure  yellow  wax  melts  at  151-5° 
F.,  and  no  sample,  not  containing  paraffin,  has  a  melt¬ 
ing-point  below  145°.  I  think  that  150°  should  he  the 
standard,  for  samples  containing  more  than  40  per  cent,  of 
paraffine  may  be  made  to  agree  with  the  Pharmacopoeia 
standard,  if  a  paraffin  with  a  sufficiently  high  fusing- 
point  be  selected.  The  question  may  seem  an  unim¬ 
portant  one,  but  a  difference  of  16°  in  the  fusing-point  of 
two  samples  of  wax  must  considerably  affect  the  quality 
of  ointment  made  from  them,  especially  in  hot  weather. 

The  effect  of  the  application  of  paraffin  to  the  skin, 
though  probably  not  injurious,  is  not  sufficiently  known 
to  render  its  presence  a  matter  of  indifference.  Most  of 
the  samples  were  bought  in  the  lower  parts  of  the  town, 
and  the  results  show  that  in  Liverpool  there  is  not  much 
cause  to  complain.  I  have  to  thank  Mr.  Thomas  Williams 
for  valuable  assistance  in  working  out  the  above  results. 


The  Chairman  said  that  the  fatty  material  referred  to 
by  Mr.  Davies  might  probably  be  stearin,  which  was 
used  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Bristol  for  adulterating 
wax  sometimes  to  the  extent  of  fifteen  or  twenty  per 
cent.  He  had  found  as  the  result  of  experience  that  if 
there  was  a  crack  about  an  inch  from  the  upper  edge  of 
the  cake,  together  with  a  greasy  appearance,  these  cha¬ 
racters  indicated  the  presence  of  stearine. 

Professor  Attfield  remarked  that  this  was  an  interest¬ 
ing  practical  paper,  and  that  the  results  were  in  favour 
of  his  suggestion  that  the  melting-point  assigned  to  bees¬ 
wax  in  the  Pharmacopoeia  should  be  raised  ten  degrees 
above  the  number  now  given.  Some  discussion  took 
place  as  to  the  mode  of  determining  the  melting-  or  rather 
solidifying-point  of  wax  and  similar  materials. 

Mr.  Groves  (Weymouth)  pointed  out  that  a  difference 
of  ten  degrees  in  the  result  of  experiment  might  be  due 
to  the  method  adopted.  He  recommended  dipping  a  ther¬ 
mometer  bulb  in  the  melted  wax,  and  after  the  film  of 
wax  had  solidified  upon  the  bulb,  suspending  the  thermo¬ 
meter  in  water,  which  was  gradually  heated  until  the 
film  of  wax  became  transparent  and  liquid  ;  then  read¬ 
ing  off  the  temperature  at  which  this  took  place  as  the 
melting-point. 

It  was  also  mentioned  that  the  presence  of  Japan  wax 
would  render  the  melting-point  of  beeswax  low,  but  no 
known  means  seemed  to  be  available  for  detecting  th's 


admixture,  except  the  occurrence  of  that  kind  of  bloom 
on  the  surface  of  the  wax  so  adulterated,  which  is  cha¬ 
racteristic  of  Japan  wax  itself,  as  stated  by  Mr.  Parkin¬ 
son,  Ph.D.,  Bradford. 

Mr.  Davies  said  that  he  had  found  that  pure  wax, 
when  melting,  passes  suddenly  from  the  opaque  to  the 
transparent  condition,  but  that  when  paraffin  was  pre¬ 
sent  the  transition  was  gradual. 

Mr.  Brady  (Newcastle)  recommended  that  as  this  was 
a  subject  of  much  pharmaceutical  interest,  well-authen¬ 
ticated  samples  of  wax  should  be  sent  to  Mr.  Davies  for 
examination,  and  that  he  should  be  requested  to  con¬ 
tinue  his  inquiries  so  as  to  report  on  the  subject  at  a 
future  meeting  of  the  Conference. 


Saccharo-Chirettine,  a  New  Preparation  of 

Chiretta. 

BY  MR.  D.  S.  KEMP,  BOMBAY. 

The  two  official  preparations  of  Chiretta,  the  tincture  and 
the  infusion ,  although  efficient  as  containing  the  active 
matter  of  the  drug,  present  inconveniences  for  habitual 
administration.  The  tincture  becomes  impaired  in  strength 
by  keeping,  and  is  partially  incompatible  with  salts  of 
iron  and  of  the  alkaloids ;  and  the  infusion,  besides 
having  the  same  incompatibilities,  will  not  keep  longer 
than  a  few  hours. 

The  Extract ,  prepared  in  the  usual  way,  is  a  still  more 
unsatisfactory  preparation,  containing,  as  it  does,  a  mere 
fractional  part  of  the  bitter  originally  in  the  dried 
plant.  I  have  not  seen  an  extract  of  chiretta  prepared 
entirely  in  vacuo ;  probably  such  would  be  a  valuable 
product,  although  still  liable  to  deterioration.  No  pre¬ 
paration  can,  in  my  opinion,  be  good  which  undergoes 
evaporation  by  heat  or  exposure  to  the  air,  as  I  have 
always  found  that  the  bitter  principle  in  such  a  process 
disappears,  and  is  replaced  by  a  tasteless  brown  resinous 
matter,  separating  from,  the  aqueous  solution.  The  fol¬ 
lowing  is  the  process  by  which  I  have  succeeded  in  ob¬ 
taining  a  trustworthy  preparation  of  chiretta :  — 

An  infusion  of  chiretta  was  made  at  120°,  and  the 
colouring  matter  precipitated  by  an  excess  of  solution  of 
subacetate  of  lead;  the  product,  after  filtration,  was  a 
nearly  colourless  but  very  bitter  liquid.  The  addition 
of  a  sufficiency  of  ammonio-acetate  of  lead  (mixture  of 
ammonia  and  solution  of  acetate  of  lead)  then  produced 
a  white  precipitate,  consisting  of  the  whole  of  the  chiret- 
tine  in  combination  with  lead.  The  precipitate  being- 
well  washed,  first  with  ammoniacal  water,  then  with  al¬ 
cohol,  was  treated  with  a  mixture  of  sulphuric  acid  and 
alcohol  and  filtered.  The  filtrate  containing  the  chiret- 
tine  was  further  treated  with  carbonate  of  lime  to  remove 
the  excess  of  acid.  The  filtered  liquid,  which  was  of 
indescribable  bitterness,  I  had  no  means  of  subjecting  to 
more  appropriate  evaporation  than  spreading  out  on  a 
clean  glass  plate  ;  the  result  being  a  transparent  extract, 
pale  yellow  in  colour,  dry  at  first,  but  in  time  becoming 
moist.  This  product  I  consider  to  be  impure  chirettine ; 
and  the  same  has  always  resulted  when  modifications  of 
the  above  process  were  tried. 

It  is  a  neutral  substance,  quite  soluble  in  water  and 
alcohol.  Its  aqueous  solution,  when  evaporated  in  the 
air,  deposits  a  tasteless  brown  resin,  into  which  the  chi¬ 
rettine  becomes  entirely  converted  if  the  evaporation  is 
continued  to  dryness.  It  is  very  difficult  to  preserve  the 
pure  solution  at  all  from  this  change  ;  if  aqueous,  it  de¬ 
posits  the  resin ;  if  alcoholic,  it  darkens  in  colour.  But 
the  addition  of  glycerine  will  preserve  either  solutions 
apparently  imchanged  for  many  months.  Dilute  acids 
do  not  affect  chirettine ;  but  liquor  potassae  hastens  its 
conversion  into  resin. 

I  now  prepare  two  pharmaceutical  forms  of  chiretta 
founded  on  this  process,  one,  saccharo-chirettine,  a  dry 
product ;  the  other,  liquor  chirettine,  a  liquid. 

Saccharo-chirettine . — To  prepare  this,  I  follow  the  pro¬ 
cess  above  described  with  an  economical  modification, 


September  24,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


251 


namely,  instead  of  drying  the  chirettine,  I  add  to  its  pure 
solution  a  proportion  of  sugar  (20  lb.  for  each  60  lb.  of 
chiretta  used),  dry  the  whole  by  gentle  evaporation,  and 
powder  it.  The  quantity  of  bitter  principle  present 
causes  quite  a  minute  increase  in  the  weight  of  the  pro¬ 
duct,  which  is,  notwithstanding,  so  bitter  that  1  grain  is 
perceptible  in  a  gallon  of  water. 

When  well  prepared,  in  a  dry  atmosphere,  saccharo- 
chirettine  is  nearly  white.  It  forms  a  clean  solution 
with  water,  and  in  portability  and  handiness  for  adminis¬ 
tration  I  submit  that  it  is  a  most  convenient  pharmaceu¬ 
tic  form  of  the  drug  it  represents.  The  strength  of  sac- 
charo-chirettine  is  as  one  to  three  of  the  herb ;  10  grains 
being  equal  to  30  grains  of  chiretta,  or  about  2^  fluid 
ounces  of  infusion.  It  is  given  as  an  antiperiodic  in 
doses  of  10  to  15  grains,  three  times  daily,  and  here,  in 
Bombay,  considered  equal  to  3  to  5  grains  of  quinine. 

A  decided  advantage  that  can  be  given  it  over  chiretta 
is  that  some  uniformity  of  strength  can  be  guaranteed 
by  regulating  the  quantity  of  sugar  used  according  to 
the  proportion  of  ammonio -acetate  of  lead  required  to 
precipitate  the  chirettine. 

That  chiretta  varies  considerably  in  strength  I  have 
foimd  by  experience. 


The  Chairman  stated  that  he  had  not  found  the  tinc¬ 
ture  of  chiretta  give  any  deposit  on  keeping  in  this  coun¬ 
try.  Probably  the  difference  in  this  respect  might  be 
due  to  climate. 

Professor  Attfield  remarked  on  the  peculiarity  of  the 
active  principle  of  chiretta  in  undergoing  decomposition 
when  its  solution  was  evaporated,  as  being  a  character 
worth  examination  from  a  chemical  point  of  view,  as  well 
as  in  its  bearing  on  the  making  of  pharmaceutical  pre¬ 
parations  of  chiretta. 

Mr.  Groves  approved  highly  of  the  principle  on  which 
the  manufacture  of  saccharo-chirettine  was  based.  He 
also  thought  that  the  satisfactory  results  obtained  by 
the  author  in  this  instance  seemed  to  show  the  wisdom 
of  using  sugar  in  certain  pharmaceutical  preparations  as 
a  preservative,  and  he  referred  to  the  old  practice  of 
preparing  medicines  in  the  form  of  troches,  etc.,  as  one 
probably  useful  on  that  account,  which  might  with  bene¬ 
fit  be  reverted  to  in  our  day,  especially  in  the  case  of 
medicines  destined  for  export  to  foreign  countries. 


The  Strength  of  Twenty-four  Specimens  of 
Saccharated  Carbonate  of  Iron. 

BY  J.  J.  NICHOLSON,  SUNDERLAND. 

I  have  recently  had  occasion  to  examine  several  sam¬ 
ples  of  saccharated  carbonate  of  iron,  and  have  been 
struck  with  the  great  difference  in  their  composition. 
It  is  surprising  that  so  great  a  diversity  should  exist,  for 
the  process  of  manufacture  is  exceedingly  simple,  although 
a  certain  amount  of  care  is  necessary  to  secure  a  good 
and  permanent  preparation. 

However,  the  result  of  my  examination  shows  a  dis¬ 
crepancy  which,  were  the  article  of  a  more  active  nature, 
would  be  rather  alarming ;  even  as  it  is,  we  know  what 
importance  is  attached  to  the  action  of  this  preparation 
in  many  serious  cases,  and  to  say  the  least,  it  would  be 
well  if  we  could  have  an  article  of  more  uniform  strength. 

Each  of  the  twenty-four  samples  I  have  examined  was 
obtained  either  by  myself  or  friends  from  pharmacists  of 
position  in  their  several  towns,  and  nothing  can  show 
more  plainly  how  little  reliance  is  to  be  placed  on  the 
saccharated  carbonate  of  iron  as  a  medicine  than  a  glance 
at  the  following  table,  where  its  strength  may  be  seen  to 
range  from  No.  1,  which  contains  4 T9  per  cent,  of  car¬ 
bonate,  to  No.  24,  which  only  contains  22-6  per  cent. 
The  principal  cause  of  this  difference,  I  believe,  is  to  bo 
found  in  the  preparation,  which  requires  care,  rapidity, 
and^attention,  as  when  finished  and  properly  dried,  the 
change  from  keeping  is  so  slow  and  gradual  as  to  be 


scarcely  worth  taking  into  consideration ;  and  among 
the  samples  here  shown  the  oldest  have  not,  by  any 
moans,  turned  out  the  worst ;  as,  for  instance,  No.  10, 
which  has  been  kept  in  paper  for  seven  years,  and  yet 
comes  up  to  the  ordinary  commercial  standard  of  strength, 
which  Professor  Attfield  gives  in  his  ‘  Manual  of  Che¬ 
mistry’  as  37  per  cent. 


Table  showing  amount  of  real  Carbonate  of  Iron  in  twenty - 
four  specimens  of  Saccharated  Carbonate  of  Iron. 


Iron. 

Iron  in  the 
ferrous 
state. 

Carbonate 

Iron. 

Ferri 
Carb. 
Saech. 
ought  to 
contain. 

1 

y  22-0 

1 

j 

22-0 

45-50 

No.  1 

21-0 

20-25 

41-90 

Liverpool. 

2 

22-4 

19-68 

40-75 

Newcastle. 

3 

22-4 

19-44 

40-23 

Aberdeen. 

4 

23-8 

18-86 

39-10 

Nottingham. 

5 

28-0 

18-63 

38-58 

Sunderland. 

6 

21-0 

18-63 

38-58 

Liverpool. 

7 

21-0 

18-04 

37-36 

London. 

8 

30-8 

17-82 

36-90 

Newcastle. 

9 

21-7 

17-82 

36-90 

London. 

10 

28-0 

17-82 

36-90 

Sunderland. 

11 

19-6 

17-22 

35-66 

London. 

12 

19-6 

17-22 

35-66 

Edinburgh. 

13 

22-4 

17-00 

35-20 

Torquay. 

14 

22-4 

17-00 

35-20 

Belfast. 

15 

22-4 

16-20 

33-55 

Gloucester. 

16 

22-4 

16-20 

33-55 

Sunderland. 

17 

33-6 

15-39 

31-87 

Bristol. 

18 

18-2 

15-39 

31-87 

Belfast. 

19 

22-4 

14-58 

30-19 

Harrogate, 

20 

21-0 

13-77 

28-50 

Liverpool. 

21 

12-6 

12-15 

25-16 

Sunderland. 

22 

21-0 

11-34 

23-48 

Nottingham. 

23 

22-4 

11-34 

23-48 

Aberdeen. 

24 

25-2 

10-92 

22-61 

Castle  Eden. 

In  No.  13,  which  was  sent  to  me  as  a  very  old  sample, 
only  5*4  per  cent,  of  carbonate  has  become  useless  through 
oxidation.  This  is  not  at  all  above  the  average  quantity 
lost  in  the  preparation. 

No.  24  is  known  by  my  informant  to  have  stood 
thirteen  years  in  a  wide-mouthed  bottle  without  a  cork, 
and  how  many  before  that,  he  is  not  able  to  say,  which 
probation  may  certainly  be  considered  a  fair  trial  of  its 
permanence. 

The  relative  age  of  different  samples  may  be  pretty 
nearly  determined  by  their  degree  of  solubility  in  dilute 
hydrochloric  acid ;  those  I  know  to  be  old  have  always 
required  a  considerable  amount  of  heat  for  their  solu¬ 
tion,  while  a  recently  prepared  specimen  will  dissolve  in 
acid  of  the  same  strength  at  ordinary  temperatures.  I 
think  it  is  shown  by  these  examples  that  the  sugar  is 
a  very  efficient  preservative  when  the  preparation  is 
finished,  but  during  the  process  there  is  scarcely  a 
sample  that  escapes  oxidation.  Some  makers  appear  to 
have  tried  to  get  over  the  difficulty  by  largely  increasing 
the  quantity  of  iron,  so  as  to  allow  for  the  oxidation  of 
a  considerable  portion,  as  instanced  in  Nos.  5,  8,  10, 
17,  where  the  iron  is  considerably  in  excess  of  the  nor¬ 
mal  quantity,  but  in  these  cases  the  loss  has  been 
proportionately  great,  while  in  No.  21,  where  the  pro¬ 
portion  of  iron  is  much  smaller,  it  has  been  nearly  all 
preserved  in  the  active  ferrous  state,  the  quantity  in  the 
ferric  form  being  much  less  than  1  per  cent. 

In  No.  1  also,  the  whole,  or  nearly  so,  of  the  carbonate 
has  been  preserved,  and  I  think  this  may  be  classed  as  a 
perfect  specimen  of  ferri  carbonas  saccharata.  In  all 
these  there  are  tracos  of  the  presence  of  sulphates,  but 
in  none  have  I  found  any  appreciable  quantity. 


252 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  24,  1870. 


The  President  stated  that  according  to  his  experience 
the  crystallized  sugar  prepared  by  the  centrifugal  process 
by  Messrs.  Finzel  of  Bristol,  yielded  a  better  product  than 
was  the  case  when  ordinary  loaf  sugar  was  used.  He  at¬ 
tributed  this  to  this  sugar  retaining  less  atmospheric  air. 

Mr.  Williams  said  that  in  his  experience  he  had 
found  the  oxidation  of  the  iron-precipitate  depended  very 
much  on  its  bulkiness  and  the  amount  of  liquid  mixed 
with  it.  He  recommended  that  it  should  he  made  as 
dense  and  as  free  as  possible  from  adherent  moisture  be¬ 
fore  mixing  it  with  the  sugar.  For  this  purpose,  the 
solutions  used  should  he  concentrated,  the  precipitation 
effected  at  the  boiling-point,  and,  after  washing  the  pre¬ 
cipitated  carbonate,  it  should  he  pressed  to  make  it  as 
dry  as  possible. 

Dr.  Watts  pointed  out  the  method  of  the  French 
Codex,  in  which  all  the  operations  involved  in  the  pre¬ 
paration  of  the  carbonate  were  performed  in  the  presence 
of  sugar,  with  the  object  of  preventing  oxidation. 


An  Automatic  Regulator  for  Maintaining  Constant 
Temperatures  in  some  Chemical  and  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Operations. 

BY  F.  BADEN  BENGER. 

The  advantages  claimed  for  this  arrangement  are  ex¬ 
treme  sensitiveness,  certainty  of  action  and  simplicity  of 
construction  ;  it  is  applicable  to  any  operation  in  which 
gas  is  used  as  a  source  of  heat,  whenever  it  is  desirable 
to  maintain  a  constant  temperature  without  continual 
watching,  as  in  the  air-bath  or  drying  closet,  fractional 
distillations,  evaporations,  etc.  The  regulator  consists 


X 

I— 

< 

02 

£= 

< 

Lu 

o 

or 

Ld 

m 

< 

x 

o 

or 

Ld 

I— 

ZD 

O 


of  two  iron  cylinders,  A  and  B,  about  inches  long  and 
£  inch  diameter,  communicating  with  each  other  at  the 
bottom.  Through  the  movable  top  of  A  is  passed  an  iron 
pipe,  C,  reaching  almost  to  the  bottom,  and  another,  D, 
going  only  just  through  the  corner,  B  is  connected  by  a 
union-joint  with  the  outer  chamber  of  the  air-bath ;  suffi¬ 
cient  mercury  is  placed  in  the  cylinders  to  fill  the  tube  con¬ 
necting  them,  and  to  stand  about  £  of  an  inch  above  the 
bottom  in  each,  the  outer  end  of  the  tube  D  is  now  con¬ 
nected  with  the  gas,  and  that  of  C  with  a  Bunsen’s  or  other 
burner  placed  beneath  the  air-bath ;  the  air  in  the  outer 
chamber  becoming  heated,  expands,  and  pressing  on  the 
mercury  in  B,  forces  it  towards  A,  where,  by  rising,  it 
gradually  closes  the  slits  in  the  tube  C,  and  diminishes 
the  supply  of  gas  at  the  burner ;  by  opening  the  small 
tap  E,  the  pressure  is  immediately  removed  and  the  gas 


again  passes  freely.  When  the  desired  temperature  is  at¬ 
tained  in  the  drying-chamber,  the  tap  E  must  be  closed, 
after  which  the  apparatus  acts  automatically,  any  slightlv 
higher  temperature  produced  by  increased  pressure  of 
gas  from  the  “main”  or  other  cause  instantly  rectifying 
itself  by  diminishing  the  supply  at  C,  whilst  cooling  by 
draughts,  etc.,  is  at  once  balanced  by  a  greater  flow. 

Upon  the  table  are  specimens  of  a  drying  closet  and 
an  evaporating  dish,  constructed  on  this  principle.* 


The  Apprenticeship  and  Early  Training  of 
Pharmacists. 

BY  F.  BADEN  BENGER. 

The  education  question  being  one  of  the  foremost  and 
most  important  of  the  day,  I  trust  that  a  few  observa¬ 
tions  on  the  early  training  of  those  connected  with  our 
own  vocation  may  not  prove  uninteresting  to  the  mem¬ 
bers  of  this  Conference.  It  must  be  evident  to  all  those 
who  have  thought  seriously  on  the  subject  that  our  pre¬ 
sent  system  of  apprenticeship  is  inadequate  to  the  higher 
standard  of  scientific  education  required  in  our  calling. 
It  has  answered  its  purpose  in  the  past,  but  requires 
modification  to  adapt  it  to  the  new  pharmaceutical  era. 

Apprenticeships  are,  for  the  most  part,  served  in  small 
businesses,  where  pharmacy  proper  is  subservient,  and 
necessarily  so,  to  less  dignified  but  more  remunerative 
employments.  The  proprietors  are  but  too  glad  to  add 
to  their  scanty  incomes  the  premium  received  with  a 
pupil,  and  they  maintain  the  advantage  by  getting  as 
much  as  possible  out  of  him  in  the  way  of  useful  service. 
The  leisure  of  some  and  the  ability  of  others  is  too 
limited  to  afford  much  personal  instruction  or  direction 
in  scientific  matters  to  those  they  have  undertaken  to 
instruct  in  the  art  and  mystery  of  pharmacy ;  at  the 
end  of  his  term  the  youth  has,  we  will  assume,  gained 
much  useful  information  connected  with  his  business ;  has 
taught  his  fingers  to  fold  a  parcel  neatly,  and  his  eye  to 
guess  a  pennyworth  of  hair-oil  in  a  Worcester  sauce 
bottle,  but  in  how  few  cases  has  he  any  accurate  syste¬ 
matic  knowledge  of  even  the  elements  of  chemistry, 
botany,  or  materia  medica  !  He  then  proceeds,  at  a  very 
small  salary,  to  one  of  those  superior  establishments 
where  “  neither  apprentices  nor  arsenic  are  kept  on  the 
premises.”  At  length  it  becomes  necessary  for  him  to 


pass  an  examination  ;  his 


knowledge 


has  increased,  but 


it  is  a  disorderly  knowledge.  If  he  has  worked,  he  pro¬ 
bably  feels  how  much  of  his  precious  time  he  has  wasted 
in  working  in  wrong  directions ;  he  finds  that,  instead 
of  getting,  as  he  expected,  more  leisure  for  study  as  he 
grows  older  he  gets  less,  and  he  sees  no  other  course 
open  to  him  but  to  cram  under  the  direction  of  a  profes¬ 
sional  crammer.  A  friend  who  has  been  prepared  by 
Mr.  So-and-so  recommends  that  gentleman’s  services, 
and  night  after  night  he  crams  his  memory  with  for¬ 
mulae,  decompositions,  diagrams,  antidotes,  natural 
orders,  and  very  unnatural  methods  of  keeping  certain 
names  and  facts  within  reach  for,  say,  ten  days.  With 
these,  if  he  can  keep  calm,  and  does  not  lose  his  presence 
of  mind  at  critical  moments,  he  probably  gets  through. 
But  this  large  meal  of  many  courses  disagrees  with  a 
mind  not  accustomed  to  generous  diet ;  assimilation  does 
not  follow;  a  reaction  takes  place,  accompanied  by  a 
lasting  distaste  for  similar  mental  food,  and  by  the  time 
the  holiday  which  usually  follows  a  pass  is  over  he  has 
become  confused  as  to  his  facts,  and  foggy  as  to  his  for¬ 
mulae,  but  he  thanks  his  stars  that  the  ordeal  is  over. 

The  outline  I  have  given  of  the  studies  and  opportu- 

*  The  author  claims  originality  only  in  what  appears  to 
him  the  main  feature  of  the  apparatus,  viz.  the  regulator, — 
the  air  in  the  outer  chamber  of  the  bath  acting  by  its  expan¬ 
sion  and  contraction  on  an  india-rubber  diaphragm  having 
been  suggested  as  a  means  of  regulating  the  gas  by  Mr.  W. 
Dancer,  of  Cornbrook  Chemical  Works,  and  others;  but  the 
substitution  of  the  mercurial  regulator  for  the  india-rubber 
valve  removes  all  the  difficulties  met  with  in  the  practical 
application  of  the  principle. 


September  24,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


253 


nities  of  the  apprentices  of  the  period,  though  happily 
contradicted  by  many  bright  examples,  is,  I  believe, 
broadly  true.  Now  this  system,  whilst  it  swells  the 
ranks  of  pharmaceutical  chemists,  and  adds  to  the  funds 
of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  is  not  conducive  to  our 
real  progress.  We  must  remember  that  the  knowledge 
which  will  he  useful  to  a  man  is  not  that  which  he  pos¬ 
sesses  on  an  examination  day,  hut  that  which  he  retains 
afterwards.  I  think  we  may  take  it  as  a  proven  fact 
that  very  few  apprentices  do,  or  even  can,  qualify  them¬ 
selves  during  their  term.  The  range  of  studies  has  be¬ 
come  so  wide  that  very  much  must  he  done  either  before 
or  after,  and  the  advantages  of  doing  it  first  appear  to 
me  many  and  great.  A  hoy  who  had  received  sound 
elementary  instruction  in  chemistry,  botany  and  materia 
medica  before  entei'ing  upon  his  apprenticeship  would  he 
to  a  great  extent  self-dependent;  it  would  then  he 
entirely  his  own  fault  if  he  did  not  find  daily  opportuni¬ 
ties  of  applying  and  increasing  his  knowledge;  work 
which  would  have  been  mere  irksome  drudgery  to  him 
would  he  interesting  and  instructive,  because  he  would 
find  in  it  the  application  of  principles  and  laws  with 
which  he  had  previously  become  familiar. 

The  next  question  is,  how  is  this  knowledge  to  he 
given  ?  I  think  by  the  establishment  of  special  techni¬ 
cal  schools  for  hoys  intending  to  become  pharmacists. 
Mr.  Schacht  has  estimated  the  number  of  young  men 
entering  the  business  annually  as  1693.  Is  it  too  much 
to  expect  that  a  sufficiently  large  proportion  of  these  to 
support  the  experiment  would  he  able  and  willing  to  do 
so  ?  The  laboratories  at  Bloomsbury  Square  are  over¬ 
flowing;  there  is  no  lack  of  students  now  ready  to 
spend  money  for  knowledge  which  they  would  have 
found  doubly  useful  if  obtained  earlier.  There  is  reason 
to  believe  that  our  body  will  be  recruited  from  a  weal¬ 
thier  class  than  hitherto.  A  considerable  sum  will,  in 
most  cases,  have  to  be  expended  one  way  or  another, 
earlier  or  later,  on  the  scientific  education  of  the  chemist 
if  he  is  to  attain,  or,  at  any  rate,  to  maintain  a  position, 
and  I  think  the  earlier  in  his  career  some  of  it  is  in¬ 
vested  the  better.  Moreover,  I  am  disposed  to  believe 
that  some  such  plan  as  I  propose  would  be  in  the  end 
cheaper  as  well  as  better.  A  pupil  having  spent  twelve 
months  in  this  technical  school  would  be  a  much  more 
useful,  or  at  least  less  troublesome,  appendage  to  most 
businesses  than  the  apprentice  of  to-day.  Possibly  some 
of  the  leading  firms  might  be  willing  to  take  him  at  a 
more  moderate  premium.  At  the  end  of  a  three  years’ 
indenture  he  should  pass  the  Minor  with  honours,  and 
would  then  be  certainly  able  to  command  higher  remu¬ 
neration  than  most  men  who  have  been  four  years  in  the 
business  can  now  do. 

I  do  not  propose  any  detailed  scheme,  but  make  this 
suggestion  in  the  hope  that  some  of  you  may  be  able  and 
willing  to  help  its  elaboration.  The  course  of  instruction 
should  be  elementary,  but  thoroughly  sound,  the  main  ob¬ 
ject  being  to  set  up  signposts,  warranted,  as  Mr.  Ince 
says,  to  point  in  the  right  direction.  When  the  appren¬ 
tice  sets  up  his  own,  they  too  commonly  direct  him  by 
supposed  short  cuts,  which  lead  him  into  all  sorts  of 
tangled  difficulties.  The  teachers  in  the  various  depart¬ 
ments  should  be  men  of  real  ability  and  experience.  I 
have  not  much  faith  in  the  educating  power  of  the  “  cer¬ 
tificated  science  teacher,”  who  is  now  ubiquitous.  Much 
as  we  may  respect  a  young  man  who,  in  addition  to  the 
practice  of  some  honest  handicraft,  such  as  shoemaking, 
lectures  on  chemistry,  botany,  and  one  or  two  other 
branches  of  natural  science,  to  the  mechanics  and  arti¬ 
sans  of  his  neighbourhood,  we  may  doubt  if  he  is  the 
most  suitable  person  to  influence  boys  better  educated  in 
ordinary  subjects  than  himself.  It  is  generally  admitted 
that  a  thorough  master  of  a  science  is  required  to  impart 
quickly  and  accurately  the  rudiments  of  his  subject,  and 
these  are  what  we  want. 

The  establishment  should  possess  a  good  museum  of 
drugs  and  a  garden  of  medicinal  plants,  and  should  be 


under  the  direction  of  a  thoroughly  practical  pharmacist. 
How  much  might  be  learned  by  a  boy  in  such  a  school 
in,  say,  twelve  months !  It  should  give  him  such  an  im¬ 
petus  as  would  last  whilst  he  lived.  How  interesting  to 
him  would  be  the  occasional  half-hour’s  stroll  in  the 
country,  for  he  should  know  much  of  physiological  and 
something  of  systematic  botany  by  that  time !  He  would 
pursue  his  studies  with  the  signposts  full  in  view;  and 
would  he  make  a  less  successful  business  man  for  the 
scientific  bias  he  had  received  P  I  think  not.  The  ac¬ 
quirement  of  business  tact  would  be  just  as  necessary, 
but  none  the  more  difficult.  Amongst  the  minor  advan¬ 
tages  to  be  derived  from  this  proposed  year’s  training 
may  be  mentioned  the  bond  of  fellowship  which  would 
be  formed  between  kindred  spirits,  and  which,  thus  early 
established,  would  greatly  tend  to  the  diffusion  of  phar¬ 
maceutical  knowledge  and  the  furtherance  of  the  objects 
aimed  at  by  our  own  Conference. 

If  the  introduction  of  this  subject  brings  about  a  dis¬ 
cussion  from  which  any  more  practical  conclusions  shall 
be  derived,  I  have  not  wasted  your  time  this  morning. 

The  discussion  on  this  paper  was  postponed  until  the 
next  day,  when  the  subject  of  Pharmaceutical  Education 
in  the  Provinces  was  to  be  brought  before  the  Conference 
at  the  suggestion  of  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society. 

The  meeting  then  adjourned  at  12.30. 


BRITISH  ASSOCIATION  FOR  THE  ADVANCE¬ 
MENT  OF  SCIENCE. 

Meeting  at  Liverpool. 

Professor  Huxley’s  inauguration  of  this  scientific  par¬ 
liament  has  gone  off  with  considerable  eclat  and  with 
general  satisfaction.  Abstaining  from  that  general  re¬ 
trospective  representation  of  achieved  scientific  progress, 
which  is  so  attractive  to  a  man  of  comprehensive  attain¬ 
ments-  and  acute  perception,  the  President  has  this  year 
confined  his  address  to  one  special  subject.  In  doing  so 
he  has  probably  been  influenced  by  the  fact  that  the 
subject  chosen  is  one  possessing  such  stupendous  interest 
as  to  command  attention  in  any  case,  while  it  was  certain 
to  do  so  when  treated  of  by  Professor  Huxley.  The 
scientific  problem  of  the  origin  of  life  has  always  attracted 
the  consideration  of  a  certain  class  of  philosophic  in¬ 
quirers,  and  at  intervals  it  has  given  rise  to  the  enuncia¬ 
tion  of  doctrines  that  excited  violent  controversy. 

Quite  recently,  experiments  conducted  by  Dr.  Bastian 
have  again  brought  this  subject  to  the  front,  and  those 
who  are  familiar  with  Professor  Huxley’s  general  views 
or  scientific  labours  will  not  wonder  that  he  should  have 
selected  the  germ  theory  and  the  correlative  question  of 
spontaneous  generation  as  the  theme  for  his  inaugural 
address.  Starting  with  the  statement  that  as  a  matter 
of  every-day  experience  it  is  difficult  to  prevent  articles 
of  food  and  similar  materials  from  becoming  mouldy; 
that  fruit,  apparently  sound,  often  contains  grubs  at  the 
core  ;  that  meat,  left  to  itself,  is  apt  to  putrefy  and  swarm 
with  maggots, — Professor  Huxley  reminded  his  audience 
that  from  the  ancients  down  to  the  seventeenth  century, 
there  was  a  belief  in  the  proposition  that  life  may  and 
does  originate  in  that  which  has  no  life. 

But  this  was  merely  a  belief ;  it  did  not  rest  on  any 
scientific  foundation,  and  Francesco  Redi  was  the  first 
to  subject  the  observations  of  ordinary  experience  to 
scientific  criticism.  He  pointed  out  that  though  mag¬ 
gots  make  their  appearance  in  flesh  and  similar  mate¬ 
rials  exposed  to  the  air,  that  was  not  the  case  if  the  flesh 
was  put  into  a  jar  covered  over  with  fine  gauze,  while 
putrefaction  took  place  just  the  same.  He  inferred 
hence  that  maggots  were  not  generated  by  the  act  of 
putrefaction,  and  that  the  cause  of  their  formation  was 
something  which  was  kept  away  by  the  gauze.  He 
showed,  moreover,  that  something  to  be  the  eggs  depo- 


254 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  2i,  1870. 


sited  by  blow-flies.  Redi’s  experiments  were  extended 
to  many  other  things  besides  flesh,  always  with  similar 
results,  and  generalizing  on  them  he  arrived  at  the  pre¬ 
sumption  that  in  all  cases  of  the  appearance  of  life  in 
previously  dead  material  the  real  explanation  of  the  fact 
was  the  introduction  of  living  germs  or  eggs  from  with¬ 
out  into  that  dead  material.  Hence  originated  the 
hypothesis  of  Biogenesis,  or  what  is  now  termed  the 
germ  theory,  which  may  be  stated  in  the  aphorism 
“  omne  vivum  ex  vivo.”  But  even  in  Redi’s  time  there 
were  difficulties  in  the  way  of  reconciling  known  facts 
with  that  hypothesis,  and  he  candidly  admitted  them. 
However,  the  subsequent  progress  of  microscopic  re¬ 
search  revealed  such  a  prodigality  of  provision  for  multi¬ 
plication  in  the  lowest  and  minutest  forms  of  life  by 
germs  of  some  kind  that  the  old  belief  in  spontaneous 
generation  began  to  appear  not  only  untrue  but  absurd, 
and  at  the  middle  of  last  century  it  was  almost  univer¬ 
sally  discredited. 

But  the  aid  afforded  by  the  microscope  soon  reached  a 
limit,  and,  in  some  cases  where  development  of  life  took 
place,  the  existence  of  extremely  minute  germs  had  to  be 
assumed  in  order  to  make  observation  accord  with  the 
hypothesis  of  biogenesis.  Thus,  for  instance,  an  infusion 
of  hay,  left  for  some  days,  will  swarm  with  living  things, 
among  which  any  one  reaching  the  diameter  of  35^-th 
of  an  inch  is  a  giant.  In  such  cases  the  microscope  was 
no  longer  competent  to  reveal  the  existence  of  germs. 
At  that  stage  Buffon  and  Needham  took  up  the  question 
whether  the  development  of  infusorial  animalcules  was 
due  to  germs  or  not,  and  they  endeavoured  to  submit  this 
t©  a  crucial  test.  Assuming  that  the  vitality  of  all 
germs  is  destroyed  by  heat,  Needham  boiled  the  infusion 
of  hay,  corked  it  up  and  excluded  air  ;  but  nevertheless 
animalcules  were  developed.  Hence  he  inferred  that 
living  germs  were  not  essential  for  the  development  of 
infusoria;  still  he  did  not  altogether  adopt  the ‘alterna¬ 
tive  hypothesis  of  spontaneous  generation,  but  took  re¬ 
fuge  in  a  kind  of  compromise.  Spallanzani  followed,  by 
showing  that  if  air  was  absolutely  excluded  in  Need¬ 
ham’s  experiment  no  infusoria  were  developed.  Schulze 
and  Schwann’s  experiments  with  air  that  had  been  heated 
to  redness  gave  the  same  results,  but  all  they  proved  was 
that  this  treatment  of  air  destroyed  something  essential 
for  the  development  of  life.  That  something  might  be 
gaseous,  liquid  or  solid ;  but  it  still  remained  only  an 
hypothesis  that  it  consisted  of  germs. 

Pasteur  was  the  first  to  show  that  by  straining  air 
through  cotton- wool  clearly  recognizable  germs  were  re¬ 
tained,  that  these  germs  were  competent  to  give  rise  to 
living  forms  in  a  solution  fit  for  their  development,  and 
that  the  incapacity  of  air  strained  through  cotton-wool 
to  give  rise  to  life  was  not  due  to  any  occult  influence  on 
the  constituents  of  the  air.  The  evidence  he  obtained 
as  to  the  existence  of  myriads  of  living  particles  in  the 
air  was  both  directly  and  indirectly  of  great  weight  in 
favour  of  Biogenesis.  On  the  other  hand,  the  fact  that 
hermetically-sealed  liquids,  after  being  exposed  to  heat 
for  a  long  time,  have  sometimes  exhibited  slow  forms  of 
life,  are  the  only  evidence  in  favour  of  spontaneous  genera¬ 
tion.  In  regard  to  these  instances,  they  are  not  invariable 
in  their  results,  nor  do  they  indicate  with  certainty  spon¬ 
taneous  generation,  inasmuch  as  the  resistance  of  living 
material  to  heat  varies  within  considerable  limits. 

This  slender  statement  of  the  history  of  this  question 
given  by  Professor  Huxley  in  his  address,  will  serve  to 
show  that  his  review  was  comprehensive  and  impartial ; 
and  the  opinions  he  offered  himself  are  no  less  so.  In 
the  present  state  of  science,  the  alternative  is  offered  to 
us  of  adopting  the  opinion  that  germs  can  stand  a 
greater  heat  than  has  been  supposed,  or  of  assuming  the 
molecules  of  dead  material  to  be  capable  of  arranging 
themselves  into  living  bodies  exactly  such  as  can  be 
shown  to  originate  in  another  way ;  and  it  is  a  strong  ar¬ 
gument  against  the  doctrine  of  spontaneous  generation 
to  find  Professor  Huxley  declaring  that  under  these  cir¬ 


cumstances  he  does  not  think  the  choice  can  be  doubtful 
for  a  moment.  But  at  the  same  time  he  adds,  that  though 
he  cannot  too  strongly  express  that  conviction,  he  guards 
himself  against  the  supposition  of  suggesting  the  impossi¬ 
bility  of  spontaneous  generation.  That  he  considers  would 
be  presumption.  How  far  it  may  be  possible  to  bring 
together  the  conditions  under  which  matter  assumes 
the  properties  we  call  vital,  is  a  question  we  cannot  yet 
decide  on  scientific  grounds.  Looking  back  through  the 
prodigious  vista  of  the  past,  we  find  no  record  of  the 
commencement  of  life  that  would  indicate  the  conditions 
of  its  origin.  To  say,  in  the  absence  of  evidence,  that 
we  have  any  belief  as  to  the  mode  in  which  existing 
forms  of  life  originated  would  be,  from  a  scientific  point 
of  view,  to  use  words  in  a  wrong  sense.  But,  in  such  a 
case,  expectation  is  permissible  where  belief  is  not,  and 
if  it  were  possible  to  look  back  beyond  the  abyss  of  geo¬ 
logically  recorded  time  to  that  remote  period  when  the 
material  of  the  present  earth  was  passing  through  phy¬ 
sical  and  chemical  conditions  which  it  can  no  more  see 
again  than  a  man  can  recall  his  infancy,  the  man  of 
science  might  expect  to  see  the  solution  of  living  proto¬ 
plasm  from  material  not  living.  That  is  the  expectation 
to  which  Professor  Huxley  is  led  by  analogical  reasoning, 
though  he  begged  his  audience  to  recollect  that  he  had 
no  right  to  call  his  opinion  anything  but  an  act  of  philo- 
sophical  faith. 

It  would  be  impossible  here  to  follow  the  President 
further  in  his  address,  than  by  stating  that  he  dealt  with 
the  subject  in  its  relation  to  epidemic  disease,  and,  in  a 
manner  that  was  deeply  interesting,  reminded  his  audi¬ 
ence  that  in  regard  to  this  point,  the  study  of  a  problem, 
curious  to  investigators  but  apparently  of  no  conceivable 
utility  to  mankind,  had  led  to  the  discovery  of  fields 
laden  with  a  harvest  of  golden  grain  immediately  con¬ 
vertible  into  those  things  which  even  the  most  sordidly 
practical  men  admit  to  be  of  value, — namely,  money  and 
life.  The  cases  he  referred  to  as  illustrating  this  truth, 
were  the  silkworm  disease,  known  in  France  as  ‘  Pebrine,’ 
and  the  mortality  from  scarlet  fever.  He  urged  these 
instances  as  an  admonition  that  ‘'the  people  perish  for 
lack  of  knowledge,”  and  that  the  alleviation  of  misery 
as  well  as  the  promotion  of  man’s  welfare,  must  be  sought 
in  that  diligent,  patient,  loving  study  of  Nature  in  all 
its  multitudinous  aspects,  from  the  results  of  which  we 
arrive  at  exact  knowledge  or  science. 

On  Thursday,  the  15th  inst.,  the  sections  commenced 
their  meetings.  In  section  B,  which  is  devoted  to  Che¬ 
mical  Science,  the  President,  Professor  H.  E.  Roscoe, 
delivered  the  following  address :  — 

Gentlemen, — In  the  midst  of  the  excitement  of  the 
horrible  war  in  which  the  two  most  scientific  nations  of 
the  Continent  are  now  plunged,  let  us  endeavour  to  turn 
our  thoughts  into  channels  more  congenial  to  the  scien¬ 
tific  inquirer ;  and  allow  me  to  recount  to  you,  as  far  as 
I  am  able,  the  peaceful  victories  which,  since  our  last 
meeting  in  Exeter,  have  been  achieved  in  our  special 
department  of  chemistry.  But  first  may  I  be  permitted 
to  draw  your  attention  to  the  fact  that  whilst,  on  the 
one  hand,  we  hear  of  professors  of  chemistry  and  their 
students  volunteering  in  the  humane  offices  of  field- 
apothecaries  or  hospital  attendants,  we  learn,  on  the 
other  hand,  that  a  distinguished  chemist  has  accepted 
the  chairmanship  of  a  scientific  committee  called  together 
for  the  express  purpose  of  employing  all  the  resources 
of  modern  chemistry  in  the  horrible  destruction  of  their 
fellow-creatures ;  for  to  what  do  such  resources  in  the 
last  instance  amount,  but  to  sudden  explosion,  fire,  or 
poison  ?  The  application  of  such  means  in  such  an  age 
as  this  cannot  surely  be  justified  in  any  sense  either  by 
patriotism  or  public  duty.  And  yet,  in  spite  of  all  this, 
it  is,  in  my  mind,  mainly  to  the  brotherly  intercourse  of 
those  interested  in  science  and  in  its  applications  to  the 
arts  and  manufactures  in  different  countries  that  we 
must  look  as  the  small  but  living  fire,  which,  in  the  end, 


September  24, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


255 


will  surely  serve  to  melt  down  national  animosities,  and 
to  render  impossible  the  breaking  out  of  disasters  so 
fatal  to  the  progress  of  science  and  to  the  welfare  of 
humanity  as  that  of  which  we  are  now,  unfortunately, 
the  spectators. 

With  regard  to  the  position  of  chemical  science  at  the 
present  moment,  it  will  not  take  a  careful  observer  long 
to  see  that,  in  spite  of  the  numerous  important  and  bril¬ 
liant  discoveries  of  which  every  year  has  to  boast,  we 
are  really  but  very  imperfectly  acquainted  with  the  funda¬ 
mental  laws  which  regulate  chemical  actions,  and  that 
our  knowledge  of  the  ultimate  constitution  of  matter  upon 
which  those  laws  are  based  is  but  of  the  most  elementary 
nature.  In  proof  of  this  I  need  only  refer  to  the  different 
opinions  expressed  by  our  leading  chemists,  in  a  discussion 
which  lately  took  place  at  the  Chemical  Society  on  the 
subject  of  the  atomic  theory.  The  President  (Dr.  William¬ 
son)  delivered  a  very  interesting  lecture,  in  which  the 
existence  of  atoms  was  treated  as  “the  very  life  of 
chemistry.”  Dr.  Frankland,  on  the  other  hand,  states 
that  he  cannot  understand  action  at  a  distance  between 
matter  separated  by  a  vacuous  space ;  and  although 
generally  granting  that  the  atomic  theory  explains 
chemical  facts,  yet  he  is  not  to  be  considered  as  a  blind 
believer  in  the  theory,  or  as  unwilling  to  renounce  it  if 
anything  better  presented  itself.  Sir  B.  C.  Brodie  and  Dr. 
Odling  both  agree  that  the  science  of  chemistry  neither 
requires  nor  proves  the  atomic  theory ;  whilst  the  former 
points  out  that  the  true  basis  of  this  science  is  to  be 
sought  in  the  investigation  of  the  laws  of  gaseous  com¬ 
bination  or  the  study  of  the  capacity  of  bodies  for  heat, 
rather  than  in  committing  ourselves  to  assertions  incap¬ 
able  of  proof  by  chemical  means.  Agreeing  in  the  main 
myself  with  the  opinions  of  the  last  chemists,  and  be¬ 
lieving  that  we  must  well  distinguish  between  fact  and 
theory,  I  would  remind  you  that  Dalton’s  discovery  of 
the  laws  of  multiple  and  reciprocal  proportions — I  use  Dr. 
Odling’ s  word — as  well  as  the  differences  in  the  power  of 
hydrogen  replacement  in  hydrochloric  acid,  water,  am¬ 
monia,  and  marsh  gas,  are  facts,  whilst  the  explanation 
upon  the  assumption  of  atoms  is,  as  far  as  chemistry  is 
as  yet  advanced,  a  theory.  If,  however,  the  existence  of 
atoms  cannot  be  proved  by  chemical  phenomena,  we  must 
remember  that  the  assumption  of  the  atomic  theory 
explains  chemical  facts  as  the  undulatory  theory  gives  a 
clear  view  of  the  phenomena  of  light.  Thus,  for  instance, 
one  of  the  most  important  facts  and  relations  of  modern 
chemistry  which  it  appears  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  to 
explain  without  the  assumption  of  atoms,  is  that  of 
isomerism.  How,  otherwise  than  by  a  different  arrange¬ 
ment  of  the  single  constituent  particles,  are  we  to  account 
for  several  distinct  substances  in  which  the  proportions 
of  carbon,  hydrogen  and  oxygen  are’ the  same  P  Why, 
for  instance,  should  forty-eight  parts  by  weight  of  carbon, 
ten  of  hydrogen  and  sixteen  of  oxygen  united  together, 
be  capable  of  existing  as  three  different  chemical  sub¬ 
stances  unless  we  presuppose  a  different  statical  arrange¬ 
ment  of  the  parts  by  which  these  differences  in  the  de¬ 
portment  of  the  whole  are  rendered  possible  ?  If,  then, 
it  be  true  that  chemistry  cannot  give  us  positive  infor¬ 
mation  as  to  whether  matter  is  infinitely  divisible  and 
therefore  continuous,  or  consists  of  atoms  and  is  dis¬ 
continuous,  we  are  in  some  degree  assisted  in  this  inquiry 
by  deductions  from  physical  phenomena  which  have  been 
recently  pointed  out  by  the  genius  of  Sir  William 
Thomson.  He  argues  from  four  different  classes  of  phy¬ 
sical  phenomena,  and  comes  to  the  conclusion,  not  only 
that  matter  is  discontinuous,  and,  therefore,  that  atoms 
and  molecules  do  exist,  but  he  even  attempts  to  form  an 
idea  of  the  size  of  these  molecules,  and  he  states  that  in 
any  ordinary  liquid,  transparent  or  seemingly  opaque 
solid,  the  mean  distance  between  the  centres  of  contiguous 
molecules  is  less  than  the  hundred  millionth,  and  greater 
than  the  two-thousand  millionth  of  a  centimetre.  Or,  to 
form  a  conception  of  this  coarse-grainedness,  imagine  a 
rain-drop  or  globe  of  glass  as  large  as  a  pea,  to  be  magni¬ 


fied  up  to  the  size  of  the  earth,  each  constituent  molecule 
being  magnified  in  the  same  proportion ;  the  magnified 
structure  would  be  coarser-grained  than  a  heap  of  small 
shot,  but  probably  less  coarse-grained  than  a  heap  of 
cricket  balls. 

There  is,  however,  another  class  of  physical  considera¬ 
tions  which  render  the  resistance  of  indivisible  particles 
more  than  likely.  I  refer  to  the  mechanical  theory  of 
gases  by  means  of  which,  thanks  to  the  labours  of  eminent 
English  and  German  philosophers,  all  the  physical  pro¬ 
perties  of  gases,  their  equal  expansion  by  heat,  the  laws 
of  diffusion,  the  laws  of  alteration  of  volume  imder  pres¬ 
sure,  can  be  shown  to  follow  from  the  simple  laws  of 
mechanical  motion.  This  theory,  however,  presupposes 
the  existence  of  molecules,  and  in  this  direction  again  we 
find  confirmation  of  the  real  existence  of  Dalton’s  atoms. 
Indeed,  it  has  been  proved  that  the  average  velocity  with 
which  the  particles  of  oxygen,  nitrogen,  or  common  air 
are  continually  projected  forward,  amounts,  at  the  ordinary 
atmospheric  pressure,  to  50,000  centimetres  per  second, 
whilst  the  average  number  of  impacts  of  each  of  these 
molecules  is  5000  millions  per  second.  The  mention  of 
the  molecular  motions  of  gases  will  recall  to  the  minds  of 
all  present  the  great  loss  which  English  science  has  this 
year  sustained  in  the  death  of  the  discoverer  of  the  laws 
of  gaseous  diffusion.  Throughout  his  life  Graham’s  aim 
was  the  advancement  of  our  knowledge  in  the  special  sub¬ 
ject  of  the  molecular  properties  of  gases.  With  this  intent 
he  unceasingly  laboured  up  to  the  moment  of  his  death, 
in  spite  of  failing  health  and  pressure  of  official  business, 
unfolding  for  posterity  some  of  the  most  difficult  as  well 
as  the  most  interesting  secrets  of  nature  in  this  branch 
of  our  science.  “  What  do  you  think,”  he  writes  to  Hof¬ 
mann,  “  of  metallic  hydrogen,  a  white  magnetic  metal  ?” 
And  yet  now,  through  his  labours,  the  fact  of  the  con¬ 
densation  of  hydrogen  in  the  solid  state  by  metallic  palla¬ 
dium,  and  to  a  less  extent  by  other  metals,  has  become 
familiar  to  all  of  us.  Then,  again,  I  would  remind  you 
of  Graham’s  recent  discovery  of  the  occlusion  of  hydrogen 
gas  in  certain  specimens  of  meteoric  iron,  whilst  earth- 
manufactured  iron  contains  not  hydrogen  but  absorbed 
carbonic  oxide  gas,  proving  that  the  meteorite  had  pro¬ 
bably  been  thrown  out  from  an  atmosphere  of  incandescent 
hydrogen  existing  imder  very  considerable  pressure,  and 
therefore  confirming  in  a  remarkable  degree  the  conclu¬ 
sions  to  which  spectrum  analysis  had  previously  led  us. 
The  position  in  the  ranks  of  British  science  left  by 
Graham’s  death  will  not  be  easily  filled  up ;  he  accom¬ 
plished  to  a  certain  extent  for  dynamical  chemistry  what 
Dalton  did  for  statical  chemistry,  and  it  is  upon  his  ex¬ 
perimental  researches  in  molecular  chemistry  that  Gra¬ 
ham’s  permanent  fame  as  one  of  England’s  greatest  che¬ 
mists  will  rest. 

As  closely  connected  with  the  above  subjects,  I  have 
next  to  mention  a  most  important  research  by  Dr.  An¬ 
drews,  of  Belfast,  which,  marking  an  era  in  the  history 
of  gases,  shows  us  how  our  oldest  and  most  cherished 
notions  must  give  way  before  the  touchstone  of  experi¬ 
ment.  No  opinion  would  appear  to  have  been  more 
firmly  established  than  that  of  the  existence  of  three 
separate  states  or  conditions  of  matter,  viz.  the  solid,  the 
liquid  and  the  gaseous.  A  body  capable  of  existing  in 
two  or  more  of  these  states  was  thought  to  pass  suddenly 
from  one  to  the  other  by  absorption  or  emission  of  heat, 
or  by  alterations  of  the  superincumbent  pressure.  Dr. 
Andrews  has  shown  us  how  false  are  our  views  on  this 
fundamental  property  of  matter,  for  he  has  proved  that 
a  large  number  of,  and  probably  all,  easily  condensable 
gases  or  vapours  possess  a  critical  point  of  temperature 
at  and  above  which  no  increase  of  pressure  can  be  made 
to  effect  a  change  into  what  we  call  the  liquid  state,  the 
body  remaining  as  a  homogeneous  fluid ;  whilst  below 
this  critical  temperature  certain  increase  of  pressure 
always  effects  a  separation  into  two  layers  of  liquid  and 
gaseous  matter.  Thus,  with  carbonic  acid,  the  point  of 
critical  temperature  is  30-92°  C.,  and  with  each  given 


256 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  21,  1870. 


substance  this  point  is  a  specific  one,  each,  vapour  exhi¬ 
biting*  rapid  changes  of  volume  and  flickering  movements 
when  the  temperature  or  pressure  was  changed,  but 
showing  no  separation  into  two  layers.  Under  these 
circumstances,  it  is  impossible  to  say  that  the  body  exists 
either  in  the  state  of  a  gas  or  of  a  liquid ;  it  appears  to 
be  in  a  condition  intermediate  between  the  two.  Thus, 
carbonic  acid,  under  the  pressure  of  108  atmospheres, 
and  at  35*5°  C.,  is  reduced  to  the  l-430th  of  the  volume 
which  it  occupies  at  one  atmosphere,  it  has  undergone  a 
regular  and  unbroken  contraction,  and  it  is  a  uniform 
fluid :  if  we  now  reduce  the  temperature  below  31°  C. 
the  liquid  condition  is  assumed  without  any  sudden 
change  of  volume  or  any  abrupt  evolution  of  heat.  We 
can  scarcely  too  highly  estimate  the  value  of  the  re¬ 
searches  of  Andrews. 

As  examples  of  the  power  which  modern  methods  of 
research  give  of  grappling  with  questions  which  only  a 
few  years  ago  were  thought  to  be  insoluble,  I  may  quote 
the  beautiful  observations,  now  well  known,  by  which 
Lockyer  determined  the  rate  of  motion  on  the  sun’s  sur¬ 
face,  together  with  those  of  Frankland  and  Lockyer 
respecting  the  probable  pressure  acting  in  the  different 
layers  of  the  solar  atmosphere  ;  and  lastly,  the  results 
obtained  by  Zollner,  respecting  solar  physics,  and  espe¬ 
cially  the  probable  absolute  temperature  of  the  sun’s 
atmosphere,  as  well  as  that  of  the  internal  molten  mass. 
These  last  results  are  so  interesting  and  remarkable  as 
being  arrived  at  by  the  combination  of  recent  spectro¬ 
scopic  observation  with  high  mathematical  analysis,  that 
I  may  perhaps  be  permitted  shortly  to  state  them. 
Starting  from  the  fact  of  the  eruptive  nature  of  a  certain 
class  of  solar  protuberances,  Zollner  thinks  that  the  ex¬ 
traordinary  rapidity  with  which  these  red  flames  shoot 
forth  proves  that  the  hydrogen  of  which  they  are  mainly 
composed  must  have  burst  out  from  under  great  pres¬ 
sure  :  and  if  so,  the  hydrogen  must  have  been  confined 
by  a  zone  or  layer  of  liquid  from  which  it  breaks  loose. 
Assuming  the  existence  of  such  a  layer  of  incandescent 
liquid,  then  applying  to  the  problem  the  principles  and 
methods  of  the  mechanical  theory  of  gases,  and  placing 
in  his  formulae  the  data  of  pressure  and  rate  of  motion 
as  observed  by  Lockyer  on  the  sun’s  surface,  Zollner 
arrives  at  the  conclusion  that  the  difference  of  pressure 
needed  to  produce  an  explosion  capable  of  projecting  a 
prominence  to  the  height  of  3*0  minutes  above  the  sun’s 
surface,  a  height  not  imfrequently  noticed,  is  4,070,000 
atmospheres.  This  enormous  pressure  is  attained  at  a 
depth  of  139  geographical  miles  under  the  sun’s  surface, 
or  at  that  of  l-658th  part  of  the  sun’s  semi-diameter. 
In  order  to  produce  this  gigantic  pressure,  the  difference 
in  temperature  between  the  enclosed  hydrogen  and  that 
existing  in  the  solar  atmosphere  amounts  to  74,910°  C. 
In  a  similar  way  Zollner  calculates  the  approximate  ab¬ 
solute  temperature  of  the  sun’s  atmosphere,  which  he 
finds  to  be  27,700°  C.,  a  temperature  about  eight  times 
as  high  as  that  given  by  Bunsen  for  the  oxy hydrogen 
flame,  and  one  at  which  iron  must  exist  in  a  permanently 
gaseous  form. 

Passing  on  to  more  purely  chemical  subjects,  we  find 
this  year  signalized  by  the  redetermination  of  a  most 
important  series  of  chemical  constants,  viz.  that  of  the 
heat  of  chemical  combination,  by  Julius  Thomsen,  of 
Copenhagen.  This  conscientious  experimentalist  asserts 
that  the.  measurements  of  the  heat  evolved  by  neutral¬ 
izing  acids  and  bases  hitherto  considered  most  correct, 
viz.  those  made  with  a  mercury  calorimeter  by  Favre 
and  Silbermann,  differ  from  the  truth  by  12  per  cent., 
whilst  the  determination  by  these  experimenters  of  the 
heat  of  solution  of  salts  is  frequently  50  per  cent,  wrong. 
As  the  result  of  his  numerous  experiments,  Thomsen 
concludes  that  when  a  molecule  of  acid  is  neutralized  by 
caustic  alkali  the  heat  evolved  increases  nearly  propor¬ 
tionally  to  the  quantity  of  alkali  added  until  this  reaches 
B  B  3>  or  5  of  a  molecule  of  alkali,  according  as  the  acid 
is  mono-,  di-,  tri-,  or  tetra-  basic.  Exceptions  to  the 


law  are  exhibited  by  silicic,  and  also  partly  by  boracic, 
orthophosphoric  and  arsenic  acids.  In  the  two  latter  the 
heat  of  combination  is  proportional  for  the  two  first 
atoms  of  replaceable  hydrogen,  but  much  less  for  the 
third  atom.  A  second  unexpected  conclusion  which 
Thomsen  draws  from  his  calorific  determinations  is  that 
sulphuretted  hydrogen  is  a  monobasic  acid,  and  that  its 
rational  formula  is  therefore  H  S  H. 

Another  important  addition  made  to  chemistry  since 
our  last  meeting  is  a  new,  very  powerful  and  very  sim¬ 
ple  form  of  galvanic  battery,  discovered,  though  not  yet 
described,  by  Bunsen.  In  this  second  Bunsen’s  battery 
only  one  liquid,  a  mixture  of  sulphuric  and  chromic 
acids,  and,  therefore,  no  porous  cells,  are  employed. 
The  plates  of  zinc  and  carbon  can  all  be  lowered  at  once 
into  the  liquid,  and  raised  again  at  will.  The  electromo¬ 
tive  force  of  Jhis  battery  is  to  that  of  Grove — the  most 
powerful  of  known  forms — as  25  to  18;  it  evolves  no 
fumes  in  working,  and  can  be  used  for  a  very  consider¬ 
able  length  of  tune  without  serious  diminution  of  the 
strength  of  the  current,  so  that  Bunsen  writes  me  that 
no  one  who  has  once  used  the  new  battery  will  ever 
think  of  again  employing  the  old  forms.  I  had  hoped 
to  be  able  to  exhibit  to  the  section  this  important  im¬ 
provement  in  our  means  of  producing  a  strong  current, 
but  war  has  demanded  the  use  of  other  batteries,  and 
Bunsen  has  been  unable  to  send  me  a  set  of  his  new 
cells. 

Amongst  the  marked  points  of  interest  and  progress 
in  inorganic  chemistry  during  the  past  year,  we  have  to 
notice  the  preparation  of  a  missing  link  amongst  the 
oxysulphur  acids  by  Schutzenberger.  It  is  the  lowest 
known,  and  may  be  called  hydrosulphurous  acid,  H2  S  02. 
The  sodium  salt,  NaHS02,  is  obtained  by  the  action  of 
zinc  on  the  bisulphite ;  as  might  be  expected,  it  possesses 
very  powerful  reducing  properties,  and  bleaches  indigo 
rapidly.  The  metallic  vanadates  have  also  been  care¬ 
fully  examined,  and  the  existence  of  three  distinct  series 
of  salts  proved,  corresponding  to  the  phosphates,  viz.,  the 
ortho-  or  tribasic  vanadates,  the  pyro-  ortetrabasic  vana¬ 
dates,  and  the  meta-  or  monobasic  vanadates.  Of  these 
the  ortho-salts  are  most  stable  at  a  high  temperature, 
whilst,  at  the  ordinary  atmospheric  temperature,  the 
meta-salts  are  most  stable.  In  the  phosphorus  series, 
as  is  well  known,  the  order  of  stability  is  the  reverse ; 
and  thus  the  points  of  analogy  and  of  difference  be¬ 
tween  phosphorus  and  vanadium  become  gradually  ap¬ 
parent. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  results  of  modem  organic 
research — for  in  viewing  the  year’s  progress  in  this 
ever-widening  branch  of  chemistry  it  is  impossible  to  do 
more  than  give  a  few  illustrations — I  may  quote  Baeyer’s 
remarkable  investigations  on  mellitic  acid.  Originally 
discovered  by  Klaproth  in  honeystone  or  mellite  (a  sub¬ 
stance  which  yet  remains  the  only  source  of  the  acid), 
mellitic  was  supposed  to  be  a  four-carbon  acid.  Baeyer 
has  quite  recently  shown  that  the  acid  contains  twelve 
atoms  of  carbon,  or  has  a  molecular  weight  three  times 
as  great  as  was  originally  supposed.  He  has  shown  that 
mellitic  acid  is  benzolhexacarbonic  acid,  C12H6012,  or 
benzol  in  which  the  six  atoms  of  hydrogen  are  replaced 
by  the  monad  radical,  carboxyl  (CO OH) ;  as  benzoic  is 
benzol-mono-carbonic  acid,  or  benzol  in  which  one  of 
hydrogen  is  replaced  by  carboxyl.  The  most  interesting 
portion  of  Baeyer’s  research,  however,  lies  in  the  inter¬ 
mediate  acids,  partly  new  and  partly  acids  already  pre¬ 
pared,  which  he  has  shown  lie  between  mellitic  and 
benzoic  acid,  and  in  which  from  one  to  six  atoms  of  hy¬ 
drogen  in  benzol  are  respectively  replaced  by  carboxyl. 
Nor  is  this  all,  for  he  has  proved  that,  with  two  excep¬ 
tions,  each  of  these  six  acids  is  capable  of  existing  in 
three  isomeric  modifications,  thus  giving  us  an  insight 
into  the  arrangement  of  the  molecule  of  these  aromatic 
compounds.  For  the  simplest  mode  of  explaining  these 
numerous  isomers  is  that  given  by  Baeyer  in  the  different 
order  in  which  the  several  atoms  of  hydrogen  in  the 


September  24,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


25  7 


benzol  molecule  are  replaced.  Thus,  in  the  first,  or 
ortho  scries,  the  hydrogen  atoms  in  benzol,  being  num¬ 
bered  in  regular  succession,  are  replaced  in  the  same 
regular  succession ;  in  the  second,  or  meta  series,  the 
order  is  1,  2,  3,  5,  etc. ;  whilst  the  third,  or  para  series, 
take  open  order,  as  1,  2,  4,  o,  etc.  Thus  we  have — 

Ortho  series.  Para  series.  Meta  series. 
CiaHeOiaIIexa-  fMellitic  or 

basic  (Benzolhexacarbonic. 

CnH0O10  Penta  Unknown. 

r  tr  n  TWr.>>  f  Pyroinellitic  or  Isopyromellitic.  Unknown. 
'-'10  8  8  L  ‘  •  (Benzoltetracarbonie. 

r  tt  n  tv  j  Trimesinic  or  Hemimellitic.  Triraellitic. 

0  8  11  •  •  •  j  Benzoltriearbonie. 

r  tt  n  n;  1  Phthalic  or  Isophthalic.  Tetraphthalic. 

881  '  *  ‘  iBenzoldicarbonic. 

p  tt  n  T.r  J  Benzoic  or 

7  0  2  x  ’  (Benzolinonocarbonic. 

Amongst  the  most  interesting  series  of  new  organic 
bodies  are  those  in  which  tetrad  silicon  partly  replaces 
carbon.  Our  knowledge  of  these  substances  is  gradually 
becoming  more  complete ;  the  last  new  member  prepared 
by  Friedel  and  Ladenburg  is  silico-propionic  acid — 

c,h5 

Si  02H 

the  first  of  a  series  of  carbo-silicic  acids  containing  the 
radical  Si02H.  The  interesting  researches  of  Mat- 
thiessen  and  Wright  on  morphine  and  codeine  have 
thrown  a  new  light  on  the  constitution  of  these  opium 
alkaloids.  Treated  with  hydrochloric  acid  morphine 
loses  one  molecule  of  water,  and  gives  rise  to  a  new  base 
called  apomorphine,  thus  : — 

C17II19N03  =  HoO  +  Cj-Hj-N  02, 

Morphine.  Apomorphine. 

which  differs  in  a  remarkable  manner  from  morphine, 
both  in  its  chemical  and  physiological  actions,  being- 
soluble  in  alcohol,  ether  and  chloroform,  whereas  mor¬ 
phine  is  nearly  insoluble,  and  acting  as  the  most  power¬ 
ful  emetic  known,  one-tenth  of  a  grain  producing 
vomiting  in  less  than  ten  minutes.  Codeine,  which 
only  differs  from  morphine  by  CH2,  also  yields  apomor¬ 
phine  on  treatment,  at  a  high  temperature  with  hydro¬ 
chloric  acid,  methyl  chloride  being  at  the  same  time 
eliminated. 

An  important  application  of  the  dehydrating  and  car¬ 
bon-condensing  power  of  zinc  chloride,  long  known  in 
its  action  on  alcohol  to  produce  ether,  has  been  made  by 
Kekule  in  the  reduplication  of  aldehyde  to  form  croton 
aldehyde  with  loss  of  water :  2  (C2II40)  — H20=C4Hc0. 
This  croton  aldehyde  is  also  probably  formed  as  an  in¬ 
termediate  product  in  the  manufacture  of  chloral  from 
aldehyde,  and  gives  rise  to  the  formation  of  croton  chlo¬ 
ral,  C4H3C130. 

The  discovery  of  the  sedative  properties  of  chloral 
hydrate  by  Liebreich  marks  an  era  in  medical  chemistry 
second  only  to  the  discovery  of  the  anaesthetic  properties 
of  chloroform.  Chloral  not  only  combines  with  water 
to  form  a  solid  hydrate  but  also  forms  solid  alcoholates ; 
but  these  bodies  appear  to  possess  quite  different  me¬ 
dicinal  properties  from  the  hydrate,  and  it  is  important 
that  no  alcoholate  should  be  present  in  the  official  pre¬ 
paration. 

The  chemistry  of  colouring  matters  has  lately  received 
an  enormous  impetus  in  the  practical  working  of  the 
brilliant  discovery  of  the  production  of  artificial  aliza¬ 
rine,  the  colouring  matter  of  madder,  by  Messrs.  Graebe 
and  Liobermann.  This  discovery,  announced  at  our  last 
meeting,*  is  of  the  highest  importance — whether  we  re¬ 
gard  its  scientific  interest  or  its  practical  and  commercial 
value — and  it  differs  from  all  the  former  results  which 
have  been  brought  about  by  the  application  of  science 
to  the  production  of  colouring  matter,  inasmuch  as  this 
has  reference  to  the  artificial  production  of  a  natural 
vegetable  colouring  substance,  which  has  been  used  as  a 
dye  from  time  immemorial,  and  which  is  still  employed 


in  enormous  quantities  for  the  production  of  the  pink, 
purple  and  black  colours  which  are  seen  everywhere  on 
printed  calicoes.  During  the  past  year  much  progress 
has  been  made  in  the  practical  working  of  the  processes 
by  which  this  colouring  matter  is  obtained  from  the  hy¬ 
drocarbon  anthracene  contained  in  coal  tar,  and  new  and 
more  economical  plans  for  effecting  the  transformation 
have  been  independently  proposed  by  Perkin  and  Caro, 
and  Schorlemmer  and  Dale.  The  theoretical  investiga¬ 
tion  of  the  reaction — and  especially  of  the  nature  of  some 
other  peculiar  products  formed  in  addition  to  alizarine, 
which  render  the  artificial  colouring  matter  different 
from  natural  alizarine — has  been  carried  out  by  Mr. 
Perkin,  and  especially  by  Dr.  Schunck.  As  we  are  pro¬ 
mised  papers  on  this  subject  from  both  these  gentlemen, 
I  need  not  at  present  enter  further  into  those  interesting- 
questions. 

The  surest  proof  of  perfection  in  a  manufacture  is  the 
degree  in  which  the  waste  products  are  utilized,  and  in 
which  the  processes  are  made  continuous.  One  by  one 
the  imperfections  of  the  original  discovery  are  made  to 
disappear,  and  the  products  which  were  wasted  become 
sources  of  profit,  while  in  many  cases  their  utilization 
alone  renders  possible  the  continuance  of  the  manufacture 
in  the  midst  of  a  rapidly-increasing  district.  The  section 
will  have  the  opportunity  of  inspecting  the  practical 
working  of  at  least  two  of  the  most  valuable  of  these 
new  processes  which  have  lately  been  introduced  into 
our  most  important  chemical  manufacture — that  of  alkali. 
The  first  of  these  has  been  at  work  for  some  time,  it  is 
that  of  the  recovery  of  sulphur  from  the  vat  waste,  that 
bete  noire  of  the  alkali  makers  and  of  their  neighbours. 
Dr.  Mond  has  now,  I  believe,  satisfactorily  solved  the 
difficult  problem  of  economically  regaining  the  sulphur 
by  oxidizing  the  insoluble  monosulphide  of  calcium  in 
the  lixiviating  vat  itself  to  the  soluble  hyposulphite,  and 
decomposing  this  by  hydrochloric  acid  when  all  the  sul¬ 
phur  is  deposited  as  a  white  powder.  The  second  of 
these  discoveries  relates  to  the  recovery  or  regeneration 
of  the  black  oxide  of  manganese  used  for  the  evolution 
of  chlorine  in  the  manufacture  of  bleaching  powder. 
This  subject  has  long  attracted  the  attention  of  chemists, 
and  a  feasible,  though  somewhat  costly,  process,  that  of 
Dunlop,  has  been  at  work  for  some  time  at  Messrs.  Ten¬ 
nant’s  works  at  St.  Rollox.  During  the  last  year  a  very 
beautifully  simple  and  economical  process  proposed  by 
Mr.  Weldon,  and  first  successfully  carried  out  on  a  prac¬ 
tical  scale  at  Messrs.  Gamble’s  works  at  St.  Helen’s,  has 
quickly  obtained  recognition,  and  is  now  wofked  by 
more  than  thirty-seven  firms  throughout  the  kingdom. 
The  principle  upon  which  this  process  depends  was  ex¬ 
plained  by  Mr.  Weldon  at  the  Exeter  meeting.  It  de¬ 
pends  on  the  fact  that  although  when  alone  the  lower 
oxides  of  manganese  cannot  be  oxidized  by  air  and  steam 
under  the  ordinary  pressure  to  the  state  of  dioxide,  yet 
that  this  is  possible  when  one  molecule  of  lime  is  present 
to  each  molecule  of  oxide  of  manganese.  The  manganous 
oxide  is  precipitated  from  the  still  liquors  with  the  above 
excess  of  lime,  and  by  the  action  of  steam  and  air  on 
this,  a  black  powder,  consisting  of  a  compound  of  man¬ 
ganese  dioxide  and  lime,  Mn02CaO,  or  calcium  man- 
g-anite,  is  formed.  This,  of  course,  is  capable  of  again 
generating  chlorine  on  addition  of  hydrochloric  acid, 
and  thus  the  chlorine  process  is  made  continuous  with 
a  working  loss  of  only  2f  per  cent,  of  manganese.  The 
section  will  have  the  advantage  of  seeing  Mond’s  process 
at  work  at  Messrs.  Hutchinson’s,  and  Weldon’s  process 
at  Messrs.  Gaskell,  Deacon  and  Co.’s,  at  Widnes.  A 
third  process,  which  may  possibly  still  further  revolu¬ 
tionize  the  manufacture  of  bleaching  powder,  is  the 
direct  production  of  chlorine  from  hydrochloric  acid 
without  the  use  of  manganese  at  all.  In  presence  of 
oxygen  and  of  certain  metallic  oxides,  such  as  oxide. of 
copper,  hydrochloric  acid  gas  parts  at  a  red  heat  with 
all  its  hydrogen,  water  and  chlorine  being  formed.  This- 
interesting  reaction  is  employed  by  its  discoverer,  Mr. 


25S 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  24,  1870. 


Deacon,  for  the  direct  manufacture  of  bleaching  powder 
from  the  gases  issuing  directly  from  the  salt-cake  fur¬ 
nace.  Air  is  admitted  together  with  hydrochloric  acid 
gas,  and  the  mixture  is  passed  over  red-hot  bricks,  im¬ 
pregnated  with  copper  salt.  The  oxide  of  copper  acts 
as  by  contact  and  remains  unaltered,  whilst  the  chlorine, 
watery  vapour  and  excess  of  air  pass  at  once  into  the 
lime  chamber.  There  are  many  practical  difficulties  in 
working  this  process,  some  of  which  have  still  to  be 
overcome,  but  I  believe  we  shall  hear  from  Mr.  Deacon 
that,  notwithstanding  this  drawback,  he  has  accom¬ 
plished  his  end  of  making  good  bleaching-powder  by 
this  process. 

On  the  motion  of  Professor  Williamson  a  vote  of 
thanks  was  tendered  to  the  President  for  his  address. 

Mr.  D.  Forbes  read  the  Report  of  the  Committee  ap¬ 
pointed  to  inquire  into  the  chemical  nature  of  cast  iron. 

The  reading  of  papers  upon  the  following  subjects 
was  then  proceeded  with  : — ■ 

A  New  Chlorine  Process  without  Manganese.  By 
Mr.  Henry  Deacon. 

The  Weldon  Process  for  the  Manufacture  of  Chlorine. 
By  Walter  Weldon,  F.C.S. 

Air  Pollution  from  Chemical  Works.  By  Alfred 
Fletcher,  C.E. 

Phenomena  of  the  Crystallization  of  a  Double  Salt. 
By  J.  Berger  Spencer,  F.C.S. 

In  the  Anatomy  and  Physiology  Department  of  Sec¬ 
tion  D  (Biology)  Dr.  Richardson  read  an  important  report 
on  methyl  compounds.  With  some  small  aid  •  from  the 
funds  of  the  Association,  he  has  for  some  years  carried 
on  a  series  of  investigations  into  the  uses  of  various 
ethers  and  alcohols  in  medicine  and  surgery ;  and  he  was 
this  year  able  to  point  out  new  remedies,  the  fruit  of  his 
labours,  that  have  won,  and  promise  to  hold,  a  high 
place  among  the  agents  employed  for  the  relief  of  pain 
and  the  cure  of  disease.  He  finds  that  it  is  becoming 
possible  to  predict  the  action  of  new  compounds  with 
great  exactness  from  their  chemical  composition,  and 
also  by  modifying  composition  to  remove  sources  of  in¬ 
convenience  or  of  danger.  By  this  line  of  work  he  hopes 
to  arrive  ultimately  at  an  agent  that  will  supersede 
chloroform  and  its  analogues,  and  that  will  suspend  sen¬ 
sation  without  danger  to  life.  As  a  step  in  this  direction, 
he  announced  the  discovery  of  “  tri-ethylic  ether,”  a  new 
substance,  which  had  already  been  used  as  an  anaesthetic, 
and  from  which  excellent  results  might  be  expected. 
Dr.  Richardson’s  report  was  very  well  received  by  a 
large  audience,  and  called  forth  expressions  of  warm 
commendation  of  his  labours  from  several  speakers. 

On  Friday,  in  Section  B,  the  following  papers  were 
read : — 

Artificial  Alizarine.  By  W.  H.  Perkin,  F.R.S. 

The  Lancashire  Alkali  Trade.  By  W.  Gossage,  F.C.S. 

The  Hydrogenation  and  Hydriodate  of  Cyanogen.  By 
Mr.  T.  Fairley. 

The  Distillation  of  Sulphuric  Acid.  By  Mr.  T.  Fairley. 

The  Time  needed  for  the  Completion  of  Chemical 
Change.  By  Dr.  Hurter. 

Reciprocal  Decomposition,  viewed  with  reference  to 
Time.  By  J.  H.  Gladstone,  F.R  S. 

A  Method  for  the  Determination  of  Sulphur'  in  Coal 
Gas.  By  A.  Vernon  Harcourt,  F.R.S. 

The  Estimation  of  Sulphur  in  Coal  Gas.  By  W. 
Marriott,  F.R.S. 

Note  on  Thermal  Equivalents.  By  J.  Dewar,  F.R.S. E. 

In  the  evening  Professor  Tyndall  delivered  his  lecture 
on  the  Scientific  Uses  of  the  Imagination  to  a  crowded 
audience  at  the  Philharmonic  Hall.  Professor  Huxley, 
the  President  of  the  Association,  occupied  the  chair. 

On  Monday,  the  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Treat¬ 
ment  and  Utilization  of  Sewage  was  read  by  Mr.  Grant¬ 
ham,  C.E. 

A  Supplementary  Report  on  the  Analysis  of  Sewer 
Gases,  by  Professor  Caulfield. 


The  Phosphate  Process  applied  to  the  treatment  of 
Sewage.  By  Professor  Forbes. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  General  Committee,  after  the 
various  invitations  had  been  read,  Professor  Balfour 
moved,  and  Sir  Walter  Elliott  seconded,  that  Edinburgh 
should  be  visited  in  1871.  The  proposal  was  supported 
by  Sir  Roderick  Murchison  and  Mr.  Cowan,  late  M.P. 
for  Edinburgh,  and  carried  unanimously.  Lord  Hough¬ 
ton  then  moved,  and  Mr.  Gassiott  seconded,  that  the 
meeting  should  be  held  at  Brighton  in  1872  ;  this  also 
was  carried.  Upon  the  proposition  of  Professor  Stokes, 
seconded  by  Mr.  Spottiswoode,  Sir  William  Thomson 
was  chosen  to  succeed  Professor  Huxley  in  the  office  of 
President. 


ANDERSON’S  UNIVERSITY. 

ELECTION  OF  PROFESSOR  OF  CHEMISTRY. 

A  pro  re  natd  meeting  of  the  members  of  Anderson’s 
University  was  held  on  23rd  ultimo,  for  the  purpose  of 
electing  a  professor  to  the  chair  of  Scientific  Chemistry, 
yacant  by  the  death  of  Dr.  Frederick  Penny ;  Mr.  Young, 
the  President,  in  the  chair. 

The  Secretary  stated  that  applications  for  the  vacant 
office  had  been  received  from  the  following  gentlemen : — 
Dr.  J.  E.  Thorpe,  Owens  College,  Manchester;  J.  C. 
Brown,  B.Sc.  Lond.,  F.C.S.,  School  of  Medicine,  Royal 
Infirmary,  Liverpool;  Thomas  Ward,  Ph.D.,  F.C.S., 
London ;  R.  C.  Moffat,  Ph.D.,  Glasgow ;  Robert  R.  Tat- 
tock,  F.R.S. C.,  F.C.S.,  Glasgow;  and  Dr.  John  Clark, 
F.C.S.,  Glasgow. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Forbes  said  he  was  fully  persuaded  that 
the  trustees  were  deeply  sensible  of  the  important  bear¬ 
ing  which  this  election,  of  a  successor  to  Dr.  Penny  must 
exercise  upon  the  Anfiersonian  University,  and  that  they 
were  conscientiously  desirous  that  their  choice  might  be 
such  that  the  gentleman  elected  should  not  only  sustain, 
but,  if  possible,  advance  the  celebrity  of  the  chemical 
chair,  extend  the  knowledge  of  chemistry  in  this  great 
commercial  city,  and  enlarge  the  ever-increasing  domain 
of  discovery  by  important  contributions,  which  might 
redound  not  only  to  his  own  celebrity,  but  to  the  honour 
of  the  institution.  He  then  concluded  by  proposing 
that  Dr.  J  ohn  Clark  be  appointed  to  the  vacant  chair. 
Dr.  Ritchie  seconded  the  nomination. 

Mr.  A.  Harvie,  after  a  few  remarks  in  favour  of  Dr. 
Thorpe,  read  a  note  to  the  trustees  from  W.  H.  Perkin, 
of  London,  on  the  qualifications  of  Dr.  Thorpe,  and  con¬ 
cluded  by  proposing  his  election.  Mr.  James  Napier 
seconded  the  nomination. 

Mr.  J.  H.  M‘Clure  proposed  Mr.  Tattock. 

The  meeting  proceeded  to  vote  by  ballot,  Mr.  G.  An¬ 
derson,  M.P.,  and  Mr.  W.  Redder  being  appointed  scru¬ 
tineers.  The  voting  papers  having  been  carefully  gone 
over  by  the  scrutineers,  Mr.  Anderson  intimated  as  fol¬ 
lows  : — Dr.  Thorpe,  28  ;  Dr.  Clark,  23  ;  Dr.  Brown,  4 ; 
Mr.  Tattock,  2.  Dr.  Thorpe  was  declared  duly  elected. 


At  Hull,  on  the  16th  inst.,  aged  33,  Mr.  Thomas 
Toogood,  jun., — of  the  firm  of  Messrs.  T.  Toogood  and 
Sons,  Chemists,  and  son  of  Alderman  Toogood, — much 
respected. 


The  following  journals  Lave  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  Sept.  17  ;  the  £  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
Sept.  17;  the  ‘Lancet,’  Sept.  17 ;  the  ‘Medical  Press,’  Sept. 
21 ;  ‘  Nature,’  Sept.  15 ;  the  ‘  Chemical  News,’  Sept.  16  ;'£  Jour¬ 
nal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  Sept.  16;  ‘  Gardeners’  Chronicle,’ 
Sept.  17 ;  the  ‘Grocer,’  Sept.  17;  the  ‘English  Mechanic,’ 
Sept.  16;  ‘American  Journal  of  Pharmacy’  for  September ; 
‘  Chemist  and  Druggist,’  Sept.  15  ;  ‘  Chemists  and  Druggists’ 
Advocate,’  Sept.  20;  ‘Produce  Markets  Review,’  Sept.  17; 
‘  Philadelphia  Medical  and  Surgical  Reporter,’  Nos.  691  to  702. 


September  24,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


259 


Communications  for  this  Journal ,  and  boohs  for  review , 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Pharmaceutical  Titles. 

Sir, — I  liacl  hoped  that  the  opinions  expressed  by  your  cor¬ 
respondent  on  the  20th  ult.  on  the  subject  of  pharmaceutical 
titles  would  have  been  supported  by  an  abler  pen  than  mine  ; 
but,  rather  than  the  matter  should  be  allowed  to  drop,  I 
would  fain  ask  for  a  small  space  in  your  Journal  to  say  how 
fully  I  endorse  his  sentiments. 

It  seems  to  me,  Sir,  that  this  distinction  of  titles  is  the 
one  great  desideratum  to  the  younger  members  of  our  pro¬ 
fession.  While  all  right-minded  men  would  be  disposed  to 
grant  a  certain  licence  to  the  older  members  of  the  Society, 
those  who  have  borne  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day,  and 
have  laboured  hard  to  bring  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  to 
the  prominent  place  it  now  holds  among  the  scientific  bodies 
of  the  country,  I  think  they  would  also  be  equally  disposed 
to  insist  upon  the  younger  ones  standing  on  their  own  merits. 
No  wonder  the  public  is  bewildered  by  the  multiplicity  of 
titles  now  adopted  to  impose  upon  their  credulity, — titles,  we 
must  admit,  perfectly  just  in  themselves,  but  which  fail  to 
distinguish  the  mere  chemist  and  druggist  from  the  man  who 
has  qualified  himself  by  passing  an  examination  of  so  high  a 
s  andard  as  that  of  the  “  Major”  of  our  Society. 

Nor  can  we  wonder  at  men  stopping  short  at  the  “  Minor,” 
when  the  only  recompense  in  the  -way  of  title  they  get  for 
their  time  and  toil  devoted  in  qualifying  themselves  for  the 
Major  is  the  vague  and  now  almost  meaningless  name  of 
“  Pharmaceutical  Chemist.” 

This  subjecthannot  be  too  strongly  urged  upon  our  Execu¬ 
tive  Council,  and  I  hope  they  will  not  be  slow  to  appreciate 
its  importance,  and  act  upon  it  accordingly;  and  1  would 
suggest  that  other  members  who  feel  interested  in  the  matter 
should  ventilate  it  in  these  columns. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

Another  Aspirant  to  the  Major. 


“Free  Trade  in  Surgical  Instruments.” 

Pear  Sir, — Seeing  a  letter  from  Messrs.  Maw,  Son  and 
Thompson  in  your  Journal  of  10th  inst.  defending  their 
policy,  and  explaining  their  reasons  for  sending  their  cata¬ 
logues  to  surgeons,  I  shall  feel  obliged  if  you  will  give  these 
observations  of  mine  a  place  in  your  columns  in  reference 
thereto.  A  year  or  two  ago  Messrs.  Maw  asked  us  to  for¬ 
ward  to  each  of  our  surgeon-customers  one  of  their  cata¬ 
logues,  and,  at  the  same  time,  to  inform  them  that  we  could 
supply  Messrs,  Maw’s  goods  at  catalogue  prices  (off  which 
they  allowed  us  25  per  cent.).  Some  months  after  this  they 
issued  a  fresh  catalogue  (net  at  six  months  or  5  per  cent, 
cash),  but,  strange  to  say,  many  of  the  articles  at  net  prices 
were  the  same  as  those  formerly  subject  to  25  per  cent. 
The  effect  of  this  was  to  compel  us  to  break  faith  with  our 
customers,  or  else  to  sell  Messrs.  Maw’s  goods  at  no  profit  ; 
the  latter  course  I  preferred  to  adopt.  Messrs.  Maw  ex¬ 
plained  this  in  saying  that  by  taking  25  per  cent,  off  they 
were  selling  at  a  loss;  and  yet  these  were  their  own  terms,  and 
should  have  been  discovered  before  the  first  catalogue  was 
issued.  I  think  we  are  fully  j  ustified  in  condemning  Messrs. 
Maw’s  conduct  towards  us.  They  made  use  of  us  to  distri¬ 
bute  their  catalogues,  and  they  now  supply  surgeons  (who 
keep  no  stock,  only  buy  an  article  just  as  they  want  it,  and 
who  make  extraordinary  prices  of  the  same)  upon  precisely 
the  same  terms  as  ourselves. 

There  is  one  other  feature  in  Messrs.  Maw’s  conduct  to¬ 
wards  us  which  presses  still  more  heavily  upon  retail  che¬ 
mists.  Upon  this  Messrs.  Maw  do  not  touch. 

I  should  very  much  like  their  explanation  and  defence  upon 
what  appears  to  me  a  most  extraordinary  and  unparalleled 
course  of  conduct  for  a  wholesale  house  to  adopt  towards  its 
customers.  I  refer  to  their  sending  their  catalogue  to  the 
chairman  or  clerks  of  the  various  Poor  Law  Boards  through¬ 
out  the  kingdom. 

Is  it  common  justice  to  the  trade  that  every  Poor  Law 
Guardian  throughout  the  kingdom  (and,  of  course,  their 


friends)  should  be  made  acquainted  with  the  cost  price  of 
druggists’  sundries, — elastic  stockings,  bandages,  waterproof 
sheeting,  trusses,  air-  and  hotwater-cushions,  ladies’  belts, 
enemas,  breast-bottles,  conversation  tubes,  electro-magnetic 
machines,  inhalers,  spray  producers,  suspenders,  riding-belts, 
bottles  of  all  kinds,  lint,  sponges,  piline,  medicine  chests, 
elastic  syringes,  spread-plasters,  etc.  ? 

I  have  heard  of  Messrs.  Maw’s  catalogue  being  used  in 
some  instances  by  the  union  clerks  as  a  drawing-room  book. 
The  policy  Messrs.  Maw  are  adopting  towards  the  trade  is  to 
me  even  a  greater  evil  than  the  co-operative  store  system,  of 
which  doubtless,  whether  in  London  or  in  country,  we  all  feel 
more  or  less. 

I  asked  Messrs.  Maw’s  representative  when  he  called  on 
me  last  if  he  had  waited  upon  the  chairman  of  the  Yeovil 
Board  of  Guardians  for  an  order,  for  I  scarcely  thought  it 
consistent  for  him  to  call  upon  me  after  having  sought  to  do 
business  directly  with  my  customers.  T.  C.  Maggs. 


Brighton  Chemists’  Association. 

Sir, — In  the  list  of  delegates  from  the  various  provincial 
societies  to  the  Pharmaceutical  Conference  I  see  the  name  of 
Mr.  Savage  mentioned  as  representing  the  Chemists’  Asso¬ 
ciation  of  Brighton.  May  I  be  allowed,  through  the  medium 
of  your  columns,  to  inquire  in  what  part  of  Brighton  the 
Association  is  located,  and  who  are  its  officers  ?  1  have  been 

a  resident  in  the  town  for  a  period  of  two  years,  and  during 
that  time  have  made  several  inquiries  respecting  the  said 
Association,  but  have  never  received  any  definite  reply  that 
it  at  present  exists.  That  such  an  Association  did  exist  at 
some  remote  period  there  is  not  a  doubt,  and  a  recent  corre¬ 
spondent  in  the  J ournal  has  informed  us  that  there  is  still  a 
nucleus  for  the  reconstructing  of  one ;  if  such  be  the  case, 
why  do  not  the  pharmacists  of  so  large  and  popular  a  place 
as  Brighton  awake  out  of  their  present  dormant  state,  and, 
by  incorporating  the  whole  body  of  principals  and  assistants 
located  here,  establish  an  Association  worthy  the  reputation 
of  the  town,  so  that  at  future  Conferences  the  veteran  worker 
in  the  cause  of  pharmacy — Mr.  Savage — may  be  the  repre¬ 
sentative  of  a  reality,  and  not  of  a  Society  that  has  ceased  to 
exist?  Veritas. 

Brighton.  -  ■  -  — 

Hospital  Dispensing. 

Dear  Sir, — I  who  have  been  for  sixteen  years  a  hospital 
dispenser,  see  nothing  extraordinary  in  a  hospital  physician 
or  surgeon  writing  (scrawling,  if  that  term  better  suits  Mr. 
Fitch)  as  well  as  he  can  upon  a  patient’s  greasy  card  or  paper, 
H  j  mist,  cinch,  rosse  c.  acid.  I  used  to  consider  it  very  thought¬ 
ful  on  the  part  of  the  doctors  when  they  did  “  write  it  short.” 
The  prescriber  knowrs  very  well  that  it  is  only  intended  for 
their  own  dispenser,  and  that  he  will  understand  it.  Most 
hospitals  have  private  formulae,  and  for  very  good  reasons. 
Mr.  Fitch  is  evidently  not  well  up  in  hospital  work.  As  a 
rule,  hospital  prescriptions  are  dispensed  as  well  and  with  as 
good  ai’ticles  as  those  used  in  private  establishments. 

To  try  to  “run  down”  the  medical  profession,  is  not  the 
way  to  elevate  ourselves. 

Let  us  not  copy  the  Lancet. 

Edward  Barber,  Another  3I.P.S.G.B. 

P.S.  “  Mist.  D.D.D.  t.d.”  and  “  Mist.  M.A.C.  t.d.”  would 
puzzle  Mr.  Fitch,  but  hospital  dispensers  here  understand  it. 


Sir, — If  Mr.  Simon  reflects  and  looks  a  little  farther,  he 
will  find  larger  dispensing  establishments  requiring  his  nurs¬ 
ing  other  than  the  pharmacists.  Early  this  month  a  re¬ 
spectable  married  woman  obtained  advice  at  Bartholomew’s 
Hospital ;  a  prescription  was  handed  her  for  the  dispensary ; 
there  the  first  wrords  were,  “  Your  bottles !  ”  The  woman 
answered,  “  I  have  none.”  “  Then  go  and  buy  some.”  This 
she  did  (two  wine  bottles) ;  the  one  was  filled  with  a  “  gargle,” 
the  other  a  “  mixture,”  both  being  handed  to  her,  together 
with  two  corks  and  two  labels,  with  the  sweet  sound  from 
some  one  within,  “  Take  them  away.”  This,  I  fear,  is  an 
average  type  of  hospital  dispensing, — in  other  words,  a  waste 
of  public  money.  If  the  corks  fitted,  why  not  have  kept 
them  there  ?  if  not,  it  was  an  insult  to  have  given  them ;  and, 
again,  was  this  poor  wroman  to  be  made  the  judge  as  to  which 
was  to  be  taken,  and  which  wras  “not”?  To  discern  between 
them  was  accomplished  by  some  difficulty  by 

London,  13 th  September ,  1870.  A  Pharmacist. 


260 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [September  24,  1870. 


The  Pharmacy  Act  in  its  Relation  to  the  Sale 
of  Poisons  by  Grocers,  etc. 

Sir, — The  Members  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  and  all 
connected  with  pharmacy,  will  he  grieved  to  hear  what  I 
have  to  relate  respecting  a  sight  which  I  saw  in  a  large  town 
in  the  north  of  Scotland  about  a  fortnight  since.  On  saun¬ 
tering  along  its  principal  street  I  happened  to  look  into  a 
grocer’s  window,  and,  to  my  astonishment,  I  saw  a  bottle 
(about  2  lbs.)  more  than  three-fourths  full  of  a  bluish  powder, 
and  distinctly  labelled  arsenicum  alb.  The  bottle  was  in  the 
midst  of  three  or  four  dozen  of  apples,  the  other  part  of  the 
window  being  filled  with  packets  of  Brown  and  Poison’s 
Corn  Flour.  On  making  inquiries  as  to  the  use  to  which  it 
was  put,  I  was  told  it  was  good  for  killing  rats,  and  very 
much  used  for  that  purpose.  There  were  no  precautions 
taken ;  the  cork  was  not  even  tied  over  with  leather,  and 
there  it  was  lying  on  its  side  in  the  most  careless  manner  pos¬ 
sible.  Surely  such  a  piece  of  right-down  carelessness  and 
ignorance  should  not  be  allowed  to  pass  unnoticed.  Where 
are  the  limits  of  the  Pharmacy  Act  ?  I  know  nothing  about 
the  qualifications  of  the  man  selling  such  a  poisonous  sub¬ 
stance  as  arsenic  any  further  than  that  he  pretends  to  be 
neither  more  nor  less  than  a  grocer  and  meal  dealer.  I  hope 
that  such  a  case  will  not  pass  without  some  notice  being 
taken  of  it  by  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  and  if  you  think 
of  making  any  inquiry  I  shall  gladly  provide  you  with  par¬ 
ticulars.  Apologizing  for  trespassing  so  largely,  and  hoping 
that  this  may  not  be  considered  an  unwarrantable  encroach¬ 
ment  upon  your  valuable  space, 

I  remain,  dear  Sir, 

Prevention  better  than  Cure. 


State  Aid  for  Pharmaceutical  Education. 

Sir, — Your  remarks  on  this  subject  seem  to  imply  that  we 
are  indebted  to  Mr.  G.  F.  Schacht  for  procuring  us  the  pri¬ 
vileges  of  the  Science  and  Art  Department  Examinations.  I 
beg  to  say  that  those  privileges  have  always  been  accessible 
to  us,  and  that  teachers  have  always  received  payment  on  the 
result  of  our  passing.  As  a  proof  of  this,  I  may  mention  that 
nine  chemists’  assistants  passed  at  the  last  May  Examinations 
at  Birmingham  in  inorganic  chemistry  and  botany,  four  of 
whom  obtained  Queen’s  prizes. 

I  am,  Sir,  yours,  etc., 

An  Assistant. 


Concentrated  Medicine. 

Sir, — While  reading  the  correspondence  part  of  your 
Journal  of  the  10th  instant,  my  attention  was  drawn  to  a 
copy  of  a  prescription,  headed,  “  Concentrated  Medicine,”  the 
correspondent  of  which  wishes  to  know  the  proper  mode  of 
dispensing  it.  Although  these  few  lines  are  from  one  of  less 
experience  than  others,  still  I  give  my  opinion  as  to  the 
manner  of  dispensing  it.  No  doubt  that  the  dispenser  at  first 
sight  is  puzzled,  knowing  that  a  mistake  has  been  made  by 
the  prescriber,  on  account  of  the  strength  and  proportions  of 
the  ingredients  in  the  mixture  being  in  so  concentrated  a 
form,  and  the  Absence  of  directions  for  administration.  The 
following  is  a  copy  of  the  same  as  I  should  have  dispensed  it, 
with  the  addition  of  the  aqua,  which  when  mixed  with  the 
inf.  calumbas  cone,  forms  the  ordinary  strength  of  the  same  in 
the  Pharmacopoeia,  viz. : — 

R.  Ferri  Pot.  Tart,  piij 

Ammon.  Carb.  5iss 
Tinct.  Aurantii, 

Inf.  Calumbse  Cone.,  aa  siss 
Aqute  Destillat.,  ad  §xij. 

Misce  et  signa,  Sumenda  Coch.  Med.  bis  aut  ter  in  die. 

The  above  dose  is  one  which  I  deem  perfectly  safe  for  the 
patient,  who  appears,  according  to  the  ingredients  of  the  pre¬ 
scription,  to  have  been  an  adult. 

I  am,  Sir,  yours  obediently, 

Atherstone,  September  12 th,  1870.  George  Sant. 


Sir, — Having  had  considerable  experience  in  dispensing,  I 
tender  my  method  of  dispensing  the  prescription  (“  Concen¬ 
trated  Medicine”)  in  the  Journal  of  the  11th  instant. 

Well  rub  down  the  iron  and  ammonia  in  a  mortar,  add  the 
infusion  by  degrees,  lastly  the  tincture. 

Respecting  Mr.  Coles’s  prescription  in  the  Journal  of  the 
3rd,  in  the  absence  of  any  information  from  the  patient,  I 
should  put  up  the  mixture  as  prescription,  and  the  pills  di¬ 
vided  into  24 ;  ij  p.  r.  n. 


Perhaps  some  of  your  correspondents  would  inform  me 
what  they  would  have  done  in  a  case  of  this  sort : — 

A  gentleman  presented  a  prescription  a  few  days  since, 
handing  over  with  it  a  16-ounce  bottle,  saying  he  wanted  half 
the  quantity  made  up,  which  just  filled  the  bottle. 

R.  Sulph.  Subiimat.  purif.  §iv 
Potass.  Bitart.  3iss 
Magnes.  Sulph.  51] 

Ac.  Nit.  Mur.  dil.  5iss 
Inf.  Quassise  ^xxiiiss 

M.  A  wineglass  or  less  or  more  on  rising,  “  shaking  the 
bottle  well.” 

According  to  the  label  on  the  bottle  it  had  been  dispensed 
at  one  of  the  first  firms  in  town,  but  no  sign  of  a  shake-the- 
bottle  label  thereon.  Is  it  possible  that  a  London  firm  would 
have  sent  out  medicine  in  that  style  ?  If  nothing  more,  it 
gives  the  public  an  idea  that  a  country  chemist  who  dis¬ 
penses  it  accurately  is  not  up  to  his  business. 

J Eastern  Medical  Mall,  Yours,  etc., 

Brighton ,  September  15 th,  1870.  W.  C.  Hales. 

Improvement  in  Stoppered  Bottles. 

Sir, — Allow  me  to  suggest  to  bottle  manufacturers  the 
utility  of  making  a  little  groove  for  string  at  the  tops  of 
stoppers.  Capping  with  paper  is  wholly  insecure,  and  with 
leather  not  much  less  so.  For  some  time  past  I  have  in  dis¬ 
pensing  tied  stoppered-bottles  with  string,  I  need  scarcely 
say  with  what  inconvenience,  for  want  of  a  little  groove  in 
the  stoppers.  I  am,  Sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

Glastonbury,  September  12th,  1870.  T.  Mayhew. 

Extra  Charges  after  Business  Hours. 

Sir, — Through  the  medium  of  your  next  issue,  I  should  much 
like  to  ask  the  question  of  “extra  charge  for  medicines  after 
or  before  business  hours.” 

Many  people  are  in  the  habit  of  calling  up  the  chemist  at 
all  unreasonable  times,  knowing  that  “  medicines  can  be  had 
at  any  hour  by  ringing  the  bell,”  for  things  which  I  am  sure 
could,  in  many  cases,  bo  left  until  a  more  suitable  time,  and,  if 
we  were  to  charge  some  25  per  cent,  extra,  would  be. 

The  opinion  of  yourself  or  subscribers  will  oblige. 

Yours  obediently, 

J.  H.  Jessop. 

15,  Princes  Street,  Manover  Square,  Sept.  7th,  1870. 

Material  for  Stanching  Blood  from  Wounds. 

Sir, — In  the  American  civil  war  equal  parts  of  flour  and 
salt,  thoroughly  mixed,  were  found  very  efficacious  in  stanch¬ 
ing  the  blood  from  wounds.  Would  it  not  be  as  well  at  this 
juncture  to  revive  the  fact,  and  give  it  as  much  publicity  as 
possible  ? 

I  had  an  opportunity  of  testing  its  efficacy  in  two  in¬ 
stances,  one  in  a  cut  artery,  and  the  other  where  a  man’s 
posteriors  were  frightfully  eaten  away  by  disease.  He  found 
he  could  sit  with  less  pain  by  using  the  powder. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

September  12  th,  1870.  Pax. 


A.  P.  S.  desires  to  be  informed,  through  the  medium  of  the- 
Journal,  as  to  the  best  mode  of  dispensing  the  enclosed  pre¬ 
scription,  and  whether  it  is  intended  to  give  sulphate  of  soda 
or  lime  in  the  mixture. 

R.  Conf.  Aromat.  5ij 
Sodse  Bicarb.  5j 
Acid.  Sulph.  dil.  5ss 
Aq.  Month,  ad  §viij 

Capt.  3j  ter  in.  die.  J.  G.  D. 

IF.  JR.  JL.  (Islington). — Ammoniated  mercury  (white  pre¬ 
cipitate)  is  included  in  the  second  part  of  the  schedule  of 
poisons. 

J.  E.  George  (Aberdare)  wishes  for  a  recipe  for  adminis¬ 
tering  Santonin  in  a  liquid  form. 

IF.  B.  P.  asks  what  are  the  best  means  “  for  preserving 
animal  substances  for  some  length  of  time  in  a  pure  condi¬ 
tion,  without  poison,  fit  for  culinary  purposes.” 

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

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  IF.  Envelopes  to  be  endorsed  for  “  Pharm* 
Journ.” 


October  1,  1870.3 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


261 


THE  PROCESS  OF  NUTRITION. 

BY  BARON  LIEBIG. 

The  achievements  of  that  art  which  relates  to  the 
preparation  of  food  are  really  surprising  in  regard  to 
the  economy  of  power  and  the  increased  efficacy  of 
food  materials  within  a  given  time.  Under  the  in¬ 
fluence  of  heat,  as  already  mentioned,  the  digesti¬ 
bility  of  the  chief  constituents  of  food  is  rather  aug¬ 
mented  than  diminished.  The  operations  of  roasting 
and  boiling,  the  long- continued  simmering  practised 
in  the  preparation  of  various  kinds  of  flesh,  either  of 
mammalia,  fish,  or  birds,  the  selection  of  vegetables 
and  sauces  to  accompany  particular  dishes,  are  all 
means  calculated  for  effecting  the  disintegration  of 
the  food  or  complementing  and  increasing  its  action, 
as  well  as  for  shortening  the  time  required  for  the 
work  of  digestion.  With  the  cliild  we  find  a  differ¬ 
ence  even  with  sugar  and  milk-sugar,  while  both  are 
preferable  to  starch. 

Experienced  cooks  attach  the  greatest  value  to  the 
soluble  constituents  of  the  muscles  of  mammalia  as 
an  adjunct  to  their  viands.  To  obtain  this  working 
material  of  muscle,  they  prepare  from  the  waste  frag¬ 
ments  of  the  kitchen  an  extract,  the  importance  of 
which  is  characterized  by  its  name,  “  stock,”  which 
is  understood  to  denote  its  applicability  as  a  basis  or 
for  enriching  other  preparations  of  food. 

It  is  wholly  unintelligible  that  the  dietetic  value 
of  the  extractive  material  of  flesh  should  not  have 
been  recognized  long  ago  and  regarded  as  perfectly 
well  established ;  it  is  equally  unintelligible  that 
doubts  should  still  exist  in  regard  to  it  even  among 
physicians,  while  the  efficacy  of  this  material  hi  the 
form  of  broth  for  promoting  the  strength  of  conva¬ 
lescents  has  been  well  known,  not  only  for  years,  but 
since  the  time  of  Hippocrates. 

It  is  clear  that  this  material,  taken  in  the  form  of 
soup  or  sauces,  or  as  an  adjunct  to  vegetable  food, 
must  have  the  same  effects  on  the  annual  body  as 
when  it  is  taken  as  a  part  of  meat. 

In  regard  to  the  selection  of  food  corresponding  to 
the  wants  of  man,  instinct  is  an  infallible  guide, 
when  aided  by  that  watchman  of  health,  the  sense 
of  taste ;  it  may  be  misled  for  a  time,  but  not  perma¬ 
nently.  At  the  entrances  of  the  Munich  beer-cellars 
we  find  a  law  of  nature  expressed  by  the  proximity 
of  the  never-failing  cheese -booth.  The  beer-drinker 
consumes  his  respiratory  material  in  the  form  of  beer, 
while  in  the  form  of  cheese  he  obtains  the  material 
indispensable  for  production  of  blood  and  for  gene¬ 
rating  force.  Since  beer  serves  as  respiratory  ma¬ 
terial  more  readily  than  fat  would  do,  he  dislikes  fat 
and  declares  it  to  be  unwholesome.  With  the  beer 
lie  eats  his  cheese  without  butter. 

The  extractive  substances  of  flesh  when  added  to 
food  do  duty  as  true  nutritive  materials  in  the  place 
of  those  substances  which  are  otherwise  produced 
from  albumen.  The  most  simple  observation  will 
suffice  to  dispel  any  doubt  of  this. 

The  experiments  of  Bisclioff  and  Voit  have  esta¬ 
blished  the  fact  that  gelatin  has  a  considerable  nu¬ 
tritive  value  when  combined  with  meat — about  one- 
fourtli  that  of  albumen, — so  that  while  a  dog  weigh¬ 
ing  36  kilograms  lost  in  about  four  days  one  pound 
in  body-weight  when  fed  with  500  grams  of  meat 
alone,  he  gained  in  three  days  about  134  grams  when 
the  same  quantity  of  meat  was  given  together  with 
200  grams  of  gelatin. 

According  to  our  knowledge  of  the  nature  of  gela- 

Third  Series,  No.  14. 


tin  and  its  composition,  this  power  of  nutrition 
cannot  be  accounted  for  on  the  assumption  that  the 
gelatin,  or  any  part  of  it,  is  converted  into  albumen, 
so  as  in  this  way  to  add  to  the  quantity  of  albumen 
consumed  ;  but  we  must  infer  that  it  has  this  power, 
because  it  replaces  certain  substances  necessary  for 
the  animal  organism,  which  are  produced  more  readily 
from  gelatin  than  from  albumen ;  so  that,  in  conse¬ 
quence  of  this,  the  annual  is  relieved  from  work,  to 
s  i me  extent,  while  a  certain  quantity  of  albumen 
remains  available  for  other  purposes. 

A  dog  may  be  fed  with  boiled  porridge  made  of  the 
entire  grain  when  bone-meal  is  added  to  it,  and 
the  animal  will  thrive  almost  as  well  as  if  fed  upon 
meat. 

I  believe  that  the  imperfect  appreciation  of  laws  of 
nutrition  and  dietetics  is  to  be  ascribed  to  two  erro¬ 
neous  ideas ;  one  is  that,  in  experiments  on  nutri¬ 
tion,  a  particular  animal  has  been  regarded  as  the 
representative  of  all  animals,  and  it  has  been 
deemed  proper  to  draw  general  conclusions  as  to  the 
process  of  nutrition  from  experiments  made  with 
that  particular  animal  alone.  From  observations  on 
carnivorous  animals  inferences  have  been  drawn  as 
to  the  phenomena  in  herbivorous  animals ;  and  from 
the  action  of  vegetable  food  in  the  body  of  a  car¬ 
nivorous  animal  attempts  have  been  made  to  draw 
conclusions  as  to  the  nutritive  value  of  meat. 

The  dissimilar  expenditure  of  power  in  individuals 
of  different  classes  of  animals,  or  the  generation  of 
power  for  the  performance  of  interior  and  exterior 
work,  is  but  little  regarded  by  some  physiologists ; 
with  many,  indeed,  the  animal  body  is  nothing  more 
than  a  machine  that  converts  albumen  into  urea.  _ 

A  second  equally  great  error  consists  in  ascribing 
to  albumen,  as  some  physiologists  do,  an  action 
which  it  does  not  at  all  possess,  according  to  its  na¬ 
ture. 

Albumen  is,  for  the  animal  body,  nothing  more 
than  what  carbonic  acid,  water  and  ammonia  are  for 
plants  ;  and  in  this  its  value  is  sufficiently  high. 
Besides  the  importance  that  water  has  for  the  plant, 
inasmuch  as  it  yields  hydrogen  to  it,  there  is  another 
chemical  value  it  has  for  the  plant,  in  being  the 
means  by  which  carbonic  acid  is  taken  up,  and  by 
which  mineral  food  is  supplied.  In  like  manner, 
carbonic  acid,  which  yields  carbon,  has  the  particular 
virtue  of  rendering  soluble  several  substances  which, 
are  insoluble  in  water.  Albumen,  also,  possesses 
similar  characters,  but  it  does  not  exercise  any  spe¬ 
cial  action ;  and  it  is  a  misconception  of  the  nature 
of  albumen  to  suppose  that  physiological  phenomena 
are  to  be  explained  by  means  of  the  idea  we  have  of 
albumen.  It  is  only  by  means  of  the  things  pro¬ 
duced  from  albumen  that  this  substance  acts,  and 
therefore  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  concur  in  the 
modern  notions  of  organized  albumen  and  circulating 
albumen,  which  are,  nevertheless,  one  and  the  same 
thing.  These  notions  introduce  confusion  to  such  a 
degree  that  one  does  not  know  how  to  distinguish  left 
from  right. 

All  combustible  plastic  constituents  of  the  animal 
body  are,  in  fact,  altered  atoms  of  albumen,  just  in 
the  same  way  that  the  constituents  of  the  plant  are 
altered  atoms  of  carbonic  acid  ;  and  it  is  quite  certain 
that  most  of  the  products  originating  from  albumen 
in  the  animal  organism  are  capable,  when  taken  as 
food,  of  replacing  albumen  in  the  processes  of  nutri¬ 
tion  and  force  production,  as  well  as  in  special  pro¬ 
cesses,  as  is  the  case  with  sugar  and  fat,  or  their  den* 


262 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  1,  1870. 


vatives,  such  as  alcohol,  etc.,  in  the  process  of  heat 
production.  The  limited  conceptions  of  food  mate¬ 
rials,  which  rest  upon  observations  of  the  processes 
taking  place  in  the  organisms  of  herbivorous  and 
carnivorous  animals,  must  be  considerably  extended 
in  the  case  of  man. 

Since  the  term  digestion  cannot  be  understood  in 
a  chemical  sense,  otherwise  than  as  the.  process  by 
which  the  colloids  of  the  food — comprising  albumen, 
casein,  gelatin,  starch  and  gum,  etc. — are  trans¬ 
formed  into  a  diffusible  condition,  it  may  be  under¬ 
stood  that  the  constituents  of  muscular  juices,  when 
taken  in  the  food,  require,  for  the  most  part,  no  di¬ 
gestion  ;  and  that  they  are,  when  taken  in  meat  diet 
or  alone,  first  of  all  brought  into  the  circulation,  ex¬ 
ercising  the  action  peculiar  to  them,  long  before  the 
albumen  has  been  rendered  soluble  in  the  stomach. 
They  are  among  the  normal  constituents  of  flesh, 
and  must  be  regarded  as  highly  efficient  nutritive 
material ;  not,  however,  in  the  sense  in  which  albu¬ 
men  is  nutritive,  but  in  a  much  higher  sense.  It  is 
impossible  for  these  substances  to  replace  albumen 
in  its  functions ;  but  they  have  an  activity  indepen¬ 
dent  of  albumen,  they  are  nutritive  materials  which 
economize  work  and  augment  power  in  certain 
directions. 

In  like  manner,  gelatin  must  be  comprised  among 
the  nutritive  substances  that  economize  albumen. 

Studied  from  this  point  of  view  we  shall,  it  is  to 
be  hoped,  have  to  anticipate  an  entirely  different 
view  of  the  action  of  various  articles  of  diet,  and 
even  the  action  of  some  medicines  may  become  ex¬ 
plicable  by  such  an  expansion  of  the  idea  of  nutri¬ 
tion. 

I  regard  it  as  quite  indubitable  that  vegetable  diet 
nmy,  by  addition  of  the  extractive  substance  of  flesh, 
acquire  an  action  upon  the  human  body  just  the 
same  as  a  meat  diet  exerts  ;  of  course,  under  the  as¬ 
sumption  that  there  is  in  the  vegetable  food  a  suffi¬ 
cient  quantity  of  digestible  albuminates.  Certainly, 
the  extract  of  meat  is  the  only  available  means  of 
making  up  for  a  dearth  of  animal  food.  In  regard 
to  matters  of  this  kind  controversy  is  inadmissible, 
and  the  dietetic  value  of  the  material  must  be  tried 
upon  men,  and  not  upon  dogs.* 


*  Experiments  undertaken  at  my  suggestion  by  Dr.  E. 
Bischoff,  in  'which  extract  of  meat  was  added  to  bread  in  order 
-lo  increase  its  nutritive  power  and  facility  of  assimilation  in  the 
case  of  a  dog,  have  not  been  successful,  as  might  have  been  fore¬ 
seen  by  a  more  judicious  consideration  of  facts  previously 
known.  Their  failure  was  due  to  the  nature  of  the  carnivorous 
animals.  The  animal  could  not  eat  a  sufficient  quantity  of 
vegetable  food  to  meet  the  requirements  of  maintaining  the 
body-weight,  neither  could  the  starch  consumed  be  digested 
•completely. 

In  one  experiment  made  by  Bischoff  and  Voit,  it  appeared 
that  a  dog,  weighing  34  kilograms,  fed  for  forty  days  with  as 
anuch  bread  as  he  could  eat,  did  not  consume  more  than  771 
grams  of  bread  daily,  while  he  digested  only  seven-eighths  of 
this  quantity,  the  remainder  passing  away  in  the  faeces,  which 
contained  a  recognizable  quantity  of  starch. 

In  the  6/6  grams  of  bread  assimilated,  there  were  con¬ 
tained  : — 

Bread  albuminate,  Starch, 

56|  grams.  299  grams. 

Calculating  the  starch  into  its  equivalent  of  fat  (24  starch 
==  10  fat),  and  assuming  the  addition  of  meat-extract  to  have, 
as  it  were,  converted  the  bread-albuminate  into  flesh,  the  dog 
would  have  consumed : — 

In  the  form  of  flesh,  Of  fat, 

267  grams.  125  grams. 

But  this  ration  would  be  insufficient  for  a  dog  weighing  34 
kilograms  in  order  to  maintain  his  body- weight.  The  dog 


It  is  right  to  investigate  details  in  order  to  com¬ 
prehend  the  whole  in  its  origin  and  action,  but  in 
order  to  interpret  details  correctly,  it  is  necessary 
to  have  a  clear  conception  of  the  whole  in  its  many- 
sided  aspects  and  surroundings. 

I  know  pretty  well  how  to  estimate  the  significance 
of  experiments  or  facts,  and  how  unlike  they  are  in 
value  for  drawing  conclusions.  The  simple  observa¬ 
tion  of  a  natural  phenomenon  which  takes  place 
without  our  aid  is  very  much  more  important,  though 
frequently  much  more  difficult,  than  the  processes  set 
going  in  experiments  at  our  will.  In  the  former, 
reality  is  always  reflected’  while  experiments  reflect 
only  the  imperfection  of  our  ideas. 

I  remember  years  ago  in  walking  along  the  road 
from  Berchtesgaden,  on  the  Konig  lake,  to  have  ar¬ 
rived  at  a  conviction  as  to  the  source  of  carbon  in 
plants  by  means  of  a  very  simple  observation.  At 
that  time  great  uncertainty  prevailed  in  regard  to 
this  matter,  and  it  was  difficult  to  get  beyond  the  be¬ 
lief  in  humus  being  the  source  of  the  carbon  in 
plants.  But  at  the  place  I  have  mentioned  there  is 
evidence  that  the  carbon  of  plants  can  only  be  derived 
from  carbonic  acid,  and  the  proof  of  this  is  furnished 
by  nature  herself.  There  masses  of  rock  which  have 
fallen  down  from  the  surrounding  mountains  may  be 
seen  with  trees  thirty  or  forty  feet  high  growing  upon 

remained  in  a  state  of  hunger.  The  maintenance  of  his  body- 
weight  could  have  been  expected  only  when  the  assimilated 
starch  had  been  mixed  with  four  times  as  much  vegetable 
albumen,  in  the  form  for  instance  of  gluten,  or  when  it  had 
been  possible  for  the  dog  to  digest  twice  as  much  starch  in 
addition  to  the  bread- albuminate  consumed;  but  he  could 
not  fully  digest  even  the  quantity  consumed. 

Assuming  that  the  dog  fed  with  bread  gives  off  as  much 
nitrogen  as  intestinal  secretion  in  the  faeces  as  the  dog  fed 
with  meat,  and  calculating  from  this  quantity  of  nitrogen,  it 
would  appear  that  the  dog  digested  the  bread-albuminate  to 
within  61/  per  cent. 

Comparing  the  ration  of  pure  vegetable  diet,  which  will 
maintain  a  man  in  a  state  of  perfect  ability  to  work,  with 
that  'which  a  dog  can  digest,  the  difference  in  their  capacity 
of  digestion  at  once  becomes  apparent.  A  wood-cutter  re¬ 
ceives  from  his  employers  when  he  goes  after  breakfast  on  a 
Monday  into  the  forest,  3‘4  pounds  of  dripping,  7‘8  pounds 
of  meal  and  4-5  pounds  of  bread.  He  comes  home  on  Satur¬ 
day  eyening  to  supper.  This  quantity  of  food  is,  therefore, 
sufficient  for  five  days,  it  represents — when  the  starch  is  cal¬ 
culated  as  fat  and  the  bread  as  meat,  100  meal  =  140  bread,  in 
which  there  is  8  per  cent,  albuminate — a  daily  quantity  of  : — 
Flesh,  Fat, 

540  grams.  626  grams. 

Taking  the  weight  of  the  wood-cutter  as  double  that  of  the 
dog  or  68  kilograms,  he  would  receive  in  his  meal  and  fat 
diet  nearly  the  same  quantity  of  meat  as  the  dog,  but  2\ 
times  as  much  respiratory  material.  It  is  this  that  is  defi¬ 
cient  in  the  case  of  the  dog,  and  this  is  what  must  be  sup¬ 
plied  from  its  body.  The  wood-cutter  provides  himself  also 
with  a  portion  of  baked  fruit,  certainly  not  merely  for  the 
sake,  of  his  palate,  for  he  thus  increases  the  quantity  of  alka¬ 
lies  in  his  food.  These  wood-cutters  work  steadily,  but  not 
rapidly ;  they  are  powerful  and  have  a  good  muscular  deve¬ 
lopment. 

Experiments  with  dogs  are  evidently  destitute  of  any  prac¬ 
tical  value  for  judging  as  to  the  nutritive  power  of  vegetable 
food,  and  it  is  in  no  degree  more  possible  to  test  the  value 
of  meat-extract  for  improving  vegetable  diet  by  experiments 
on  carnivorous  animals,  for  in  their  case  we  have  no  measure 
of  the  capacity  for  work.  The  addition  of  meat-extract  to 
the  meal  diet  of  the  wood-cutter  would  have  exercised  an  en¬ 
tirely  different  influence  in  regard  to  his  power  of  working. 

The  statistics  of  consumption  of  food  among  the  Bavarian 
wood-cutters,  which  I  have  received  from  trustworthy  sources, 
disprove  the  very  general  opinion  that  these  people  are  cap¬ 
able  of  hard  work  with  a  diet  consisting  chiefly  of  sugar  and 
bacon.  Opinions  of  this  kind  are,  from  a  scientific  point  of 
view,  not  worth  consideration. 


October  1,  1370.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


263 


them,  with  the  roots  extending  into  fine  cracks  in  the 
rock,  and  covered  only  with  moss  and  a  thin  layer 
of  earth  consisting  of  accumulated  dust.  In  this  case 
a  supply  of  carbon  by  humus  was  quite  out  of  the 
question. 

There  is  no  deficiency  of  similar  facts  which  afford 
indications  of  the  laws  of  nutrition,  all  that  is  re¬ 
quired  is  the  inclination  to  see  them. 

It  appears  to  me  almost  inconceivable  that  the 
high  value  which  a  French  family  sets  upon  the  pot 
an  feu  should  be  merely  due  to  fancy  or  prejudice, 
nor  can  I  believe  that  one  of  the  most  distinguished 
men  in  the  medical  department  of  the  army  should 
venture  to  say,  “  Soup  makes  the  soldier,”*  if  he  was 
not  fully  convinced  as  to  the  high  efficacy  of  meat 
broth  mixed  with  the  necessary  vegetables,  while  we 
know  this  is  a  form  of  food  which  the  French  soldier 
frequently  prefers  even  to  meat. 

Is  it  possible  to  believe  that  the  enthusiastic  praise 
bestowed  upon  the  extract  of  meat  as  a  means  of 
strengthening  wounded  soldiers  by  two  of  the  most 
celebrated  members  of  the  French  Academy,  thirty- 
six  years  ago,  before  extract  of  meat  was  an  article 
of  commerce,  could  have  rested  only  on  imagination, 
or  that  the  opinion  expressed  by  these  two  men  was 
not  based  upon  extensive  experience  ?f 

Daily  experience  teaches  us  that  a  decoction  of  peas, 
fat  and  salt  is  inferior  in  nutritive  power  to  pea-soup 
made  with  strong  meat  broth.  Their  effects  are  also 
different  in  every  way,  and  the  difference  is  decidedly 
in  favour  of  the  soup  prepared  with  meat.  Never¬ 
theless,  it  is  only  to  the  extractive  constituents  of 
the  meat,  and  not  the  albuminous  portion  of  it,  that 
this  difference  is  due. 

Since  my  investigation  of  the  chemistry  of  flesh  in 
1817,  I  have  incessantly  endeavoured  to  make  the 
surplus  meat- supplies  of  South  America  and  the 
Colonies  available  in  the  form  of  extract  for  the  po¬ 
pulation  of  Europe ;  and  it  is  a  most  remarkable  cir¬ 
cumstance  that  now,  when  my  endeavours  are  at 
length  being  realized,  a  question  is  raised  by  some 
medical  men  as  to  the  efficacy  of  meat-broth,  and, 
for  the  first  time,  this  is  being  disputed,  as  if  the  idea 
were  a  novel  one  that  had  not  previously  been  heard 
of.  However,  there  are  always  individuals  who  can¬ 
not  pardon  the  success  of  others,  who  consider  it 
quite  proper  that  those  who  benefit  mankind  with 
useful  inventions  should  be  persecuted,  and  that  the 
fruits  of  their  labour  should  be  disparaged. 

This  is  an  old  experience.  “  My  case,”  says 
Gcithe,  “  should  verify  the  old  proverb,  that  if  one 
has  rendered  the  world  a  service  he  will  have  learnt 
to  take  care  he  does  not  do  so  again.” | 

Medical  men  have  never  troubled  themselves  about 
the  meat-lozenges  (tablettes  de  bouillon),  which  have 
been  an  article  of  commerce  for  half  a  century,  and 
though  represented  to  be  extract  of  meat,  are  really 
nothing  but  gelatine. 

It  appears  to  me  that  progress  in  the  doctrine  of 
nutrition,  in  pathology  and  in  therapeutics  is,  in  the 
first  place,  dependent  upon  the  application  of  the 
fundamental  laws  of  mechanics,  which  obtain  in  the 
animal  organism  and  throughout  nature  in  reference 
to  motion  and  work. 


*  Dr.  Baudens,  “Une  Mission  Medicate  dans  la  Crimee,” 
Rev.  des  Deux  Mondes,  vii.  1857. 

t  Parmentier  was  General  Inspector  of  Health  during  the 
Revolutionary  War;  Proust  was  through  the  whole  Spanish 

war. 

Eckermann,  “  Conversations  with  Gothe.” 


The  greatest  hindrance  to  the  appreciation  of,  and 
insight  into  the  actions  of  the  animal  machine,  is  the 
constant  confusion  of  the  physiological  sense  of  power 
with  actual  power. 

One  of  the  most  distinguished  medical  investi¬ 
gators  considers  “  that  the  food  consumed  strengthens 
much  sooner  than  the  actual  digestion  takes  place, 
and  that  by  the  absorption  of  a  very  small  quantity  of 
material  into  the  blood  a  stimulus  is  produced  suffi¬ 
cient  to  overcome  or  reduce  the  state  of  fatigue  ;  in 
this  way  may  be  explained  the  fact  that  a  drink  of 
fresh  water,  a  glass  of  wine,  beer,  or  spirits,  appears 
for  a  time  as  powerful  a  means  of  restoration,  or 
even  more  so,  than  a  beef  steak.” 

It  is  true  that  even  the  smell  of  a  roast  joint 
makes  one  forget  fatigue  ;  but  it  seems  going  too  far 
to  make  us  believe  that  thirst  and  hunger  are  iden¬ 
tical  conditions.  A  draught  of  cold,  fresh  water  is 
doubtless  in  the  case  of  thirst  a  stronger  restorative 
than  roast  beef,  while  in  the  case  of  hunger  roast 
beef  is  a  stronger  restorative  than  a  glass  of  water. 
Spirits  or  wine  stimulate  but  do  not  strengthen ;  a 
whip  would  do  the  same.  It  may  happen  that  a 
man  has  to  work  immediately  after  taking  his  meal, 
but  he  does  not  do  so  willingly ;  the  rule  is  that  a 
labourer  should  rest  after  his  meal-time  for  an  hour, 
and  it  is  only  after  several  hours  that  he  becomes 
again  capable  of  intense  exertion. 

(To  be  continued.) 


NOTE  ON  THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  ALBUMEN. 

BY  J.  ALFRED  WAN  ILL  YN. 

M.  Bechamp  has  recently  repeated  his  statement 
that  urea  is  obtainable  from  albumen  by  means  of 
permanganate  of  potash,  and  has  published  details 
which  seem  to  leave  little  doubt  on  the  subject.  The 
fact  that  urea  is  itself  oxidizable  by  permanganate  of 
potash  will  go  a  long  way  towards  explaining  the 
failures  experienced  by  other  chemists  in  their  at¬ 
tempts  to  get  it  from  albumen. 

Some  results  obtained  by  Chapman,  Smith  and 
myself,  in  the  course  of  investigations  undertaken 
for  the  purpose  of  establishing  the  ammonia  method 
of  water-analysis,  would  seem  to  indicate  that  urea 
exists  ready  formed  in  albumen ;  or  rather  that  al¬ 
bumen  is,  like  creatine,  a  compound  wherein  urea 
and  something  else  are  joined  together,  with  loss  of 
the  elements  of  water. 

When  albumen  is  mixed  with  aqueous  solution  of 
caustic  potash  and  then  dried-up  in  the  oil  bath,  it 
yields  one-third  of  its  nitrogen  in  the  form  of  am¬ 
monia,  the  remaining  two -thirds  being  obtainable  as 
ammonia  on  boiling  the  dried-up  mass  with  a  solu¬ 
tion  of  permanganate  of  potash.  But,  if  the  pre¬ 
liminary  evaporation  to  dryness  with  caustic  potash 
be  omitted,  the  action  of  strongly  alkaline  perman¬ 
ganate  of  potash  converts  only  two- thirds  of  the  total 
nitrogen  of  albumen  into  ammonia. 

Now,  a  caustic  alkali  converts  urea  into  carbonic 
acid  and  ammonia ;  but  permanganate  of  potash 
oxidizes  it,  so  as  to  yield  no  ammonia,  the  nitrogen 
in  this  case  making  its  appearance  either  in  the  state 
of  gas  or  as  nitric  acid. 

So  likewise  in  the  case  of  creatine,  one-third  of  its 
nitrogen  is  evolved  as  ammonia  when  permanganate 
of  potash  is  employed,  and  in  creatine  one-tliird  of 
the  nitrogen  is  present  in  a  form  other  than  urea, 
while  two-thirds  of  it  exists  as  urea. 

It  would,  therefore,  appear  that  one-third  of  the 


264 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  1,  1870. 


nitrogen  in  albumen  exists  in  the  state  of  urea,  while 
the  remainder  is  in  some  other  state  of  combination. 


ON  THE  DISCRIMINATION  OF  FIBRES  IN  MIXED 

FABRICS.  * 

BY  JOHN  SP1LLEB,  F.C.S. 

In  the  course  of  an  experimental  inquiry  under¬ 
taken  for  the  purpose  of  identifying  the  fibres  enter¬ 
ing  into  the  composition  of  mixed  fabrics,  the  author 
was  led  to  the  discovery  of  the  fact  that  silk  alone, 
of  all  the  materials  ordinarily  used  in  the  production 
of  textile  fabrics,  is  soluble  in  concentrated  hydro¬ 
chloric  acid.  The  chemical  properties  of  the  silk 
solution  so  prepared  were  described,  and  a  photogra¬ 
phic  application  pointed  out  by  the  author,  who  ex¬ 
hibited  in  this  connection  a  matt  paper  print,  which 
was  stated  to  have  been  produced  hi  a  much  shorter 
time  than  that  commonly  required  for  an  ordinary 
print  on  a  plain  salted  paper.  A  hydrochloric  acid 
solution  of  silk  was  used,  which,  being  made  as  con¬ 
centrated  as  possible  and  neutralized  by  addition  of 
ammonia,  furnished  a  new  organic  chloride,  particu¬ 
larly  suitable  for  salting  paper  intended  for  solar 
•camera  enlargements.  For  the  purpose  of  identify¬ 
ing  wool  in  the  presence  of  cotton,  flax,  jute,  etc.,  it 
is  recommended  to  immerse  the  fabric  or  loosened 
fibres  in  a  warm  aqueous  solution  of  picric  acid, 
which  dyes  the  wool  of  a  bright  yellow  without  im¬ 
parting  any -colour  to  cotton.  Thus,  by  treating  a 
mixed  fabric  successively  with  hydrochloric  and 
picric  acids,  valuable  indications  are  afforded  regard¬ 
ing  its  constitution. 

BEECH  MORELS. 

BY  M.  C.  COOKE,  M.A. 

There  are  five  or  six  species,  forming  a  genus  of  fungi 
peculiar  to  the  southern  hemisphere,  most,  if  not  all,  of 
which  are  available  as  food.  These  are  the  beech  morels, 
or  Cyttaria ,  first  made  known  to  science  by  the  Rev.  M. 
J.  Berkeley. 

All  the  species  hitherto  discovered  have  occurred  on 
beech-trees,  each  one,  with  but  a  single  exception,  on  a 
separate  species  of  beech.  Their  geographical  limit  is 
confined  within  a  narrow  zone,  enclosed  between  the  pa¬ 
rallels  of  lat.  30°  and  60°  S.  Four  of  them  are  South 
American,  two  having  been  collected  in  Chili,  one  in 
Tierra  del  Fuego,  and  one  at  Cape  Horn,' — one  species 
being  indigenous  to  Tasmania. 

Darwin’s  Beech  Morel  (Cyttaria  Fanrinii,  B.)  occurs 
on  Fagus  betuloides ,  in  Tierra  del  Fuego.  Small  speci¬ 
mens,  half  an  inch  in  diameter,  are  globose,  but  depressed 
above  and  below,  so  as  to  resemble  a  little  button  mush¬ 
room,  strongly  umbilicate  below,  with  the  edges  of  the 
umbilicus  slightly  puckered,  and  supported  by  a  short 
brown  stem,  one  and  a  half  lines  high  and  two  lines 
thick,  which  proceeds  from  the  umbilicus,  and  is  granu¬ 
lated  like  shagreen,  as  if  beset  with  a  small  black  para¬ 
sitic  Sphceria.  The  epidermis  is  tough,  very  smooth, 
and  shining.  A  vertical  section  presents  a  brown  fi¬ 
brous  mass  springing  from  the  stem,  which  gives  off  on 
every  side  elongated  radiating  fibres,  divided  from  each 
other  by  a  dark  line,  but  which  do  not  easily  separate 
from  one  another.  The  divisions  of  the  internal  mass 
towards  the  circumference  are  more  minute,  but  well 
marked,  and  the  epidermis  quite  distinct.  In  a  more 
advanced  stage  of  growth,  when  the  balls  are  from  one 
to  two  inches  in  diameter,  the  cups  begin  to  appear,  the 


*  Read  in  Section  B.  of  the  British  Association,  on  Friday 
September  16th. 


interior  presenting  in  other  respects  nearly  the  same  ap. 
pearance  as  before,  except  that  the  divisions  are  larger- 
They  are  formed  beneath  the  cuticle,  and  are  at  first 
covered  by  a  portion  of  the  matrix.  The  cuticle  becomes 
depressed,  though  still  tough  and  thick.  The  hyme- 
nium  is  separable  in  a  body  from  the  surrounding  sub* 
stance,  except  at  the  top.  The  cells  or  cups  themselves, 
are  ovate,  lined  almost  to  the  top  by  the  hymenium.. 
The  substance  interposed  between  the  top  of  the  cells- 
and  the  cuticle  is  gradually  absorbed,  and  the  cuticle 
itself  becomes  thinner  and  tightly  stretched  over  the- 
cavity,  and  at  length  bursts  and  forms  a  membranous 
border  to  the  irregular  orifice.  The  margin  appears  to 
be  a  little  reflected.  The  hymenium  consists  of  very 
slender  paraphyses,  and  abundant  large,  slightly  flexuous 
asci,  which  contain  eight  sporidia,  mixed  with  a  few  glo¬ 
bose  granules.  The  asci  at  length  become  free,  in  which 
case  they  are  generally  slightly  swollen  at  the  base,  and 
at  last,  in  old  specimens,  there  is  scarcely  any  trace  of 
them  in  the  hymenium,  which  consists  of  paraphyses 
only.  When  the  cups  are  quite  formed,  and  perforated, 
the  cellular  arrangement  of  the  contents  of  the  balls  has 
wholly  vanished,  and  there  are  only  a  few  faint  radiat¬ 
ing  lines  in  place  of  the  regular  divisions.  The  whole 
substance  is  composed  of  branched,  more  or  less  flexuous 
threads.  Occasionally  the  stem  is  not  at  all  distinct,  and 
the  general  form  less  globose,  probably  from  the  indivi¬ 
duals  having  grown  more  deeply  in  the  fissures  of  the 
bark.  Mr.  Darwin  states  further  of  them,  “  They  are  of 
the  colour  of  the  yolk  of  an  egg,  and  vary  in  size  from 
that  of  a  bullet  to  that  of  a  small  apple ;  in  shape  they 
are  globular,  but  a  little  produced  towards  the  point  of 
attachment.  They  grow  both  on  the  branches  and 
stem,  in  groups  ;  when  young  they  contain  much  fluid, 
and  are  tasteless,  but  in  their  older  and  altered  state 
they  form  a  very  essential  article  of  food  for  the  Fue- 
gian.  The  boys  collect  them,  and  they  are  eaten  un¬ 
cooked  with  fish.  Some  of  these  balls  remain  on  the 
trees  nearly  the  whole  year.” 

Bertero’s  Beech  Morel,  Cyttaria  Berteroi ,  B. — Of  a 
paler  colour  than  the  last,  from  an  inch  and  a  half  to 
three  inches  in  diameter,  not  regularly  globose,  but 
lengthened  at  the  base.  Cups  large,  three-tenths  of  an 
inch  or  more  broad ;  aperture  more  or  less  decidedly 
pentagonal,  bordered  by  the  revolute  margin,  which  is 
split  into  portions  corresponding  with  the  sides  of  the 
aperture.  Asci  more  slender  and  longer  than  in  Dar¬ 
win’s  Beech  Morel;  sporidia  elliptic,  smaller,  separated 
by  a  granular  mass.  The  flesh  in  the  full-grown  plant 
is  mottled,  consisting  of  branched,  flexuous  filaments. 
There  are  a  few  black  granules  about  the  base.  On 
Fagus  obliqua,  in  Chili. 

This  species  was  first  noticed  by  Bertero,  and  after¬ 
wards  found  by  Mr.  Charles  Darwin,  who  says,  “  I  found 
a  yellow  fungus  very  closely  resembling  the  edible 
ones  found  on  the  beech  at  Tierra  del  Fuego.  Speak¬ 
ing  from  memory,  the  difference  consists  in  these  being 
paler  coloured,  but  the  inside  of  the  cups  of  a  darker 
orange.  The  greatest  difference  is,  however,  in  the 
more  irregular  shape ;  in  place  of  being  spherical,  they 
are  also  much  larger.  Many  are  three  times  as  large  as 
the  largest  of  my  Fuegian  specimens.  The  footstalk 
appears  longer  ;  this  is  necessary  from  the  roughness  of 
the  bark  of  the  tree  on  which  they  grow.  They  are 
occasionally  eaten  by  the  poor  people.” 

Tasmanian  Beech  Morel,  Cyttaria  Gunnii ,  B. — This 
is  found  on  living  branches  of  Fagus  Cunniughamii  and 
Fagus  Gunnii ,  in  Tasmania.  It  grows  in  tufts  or  clus¬ 
ters  on  swellings  of  the  branches,  at  first  pear-shaped, 
and  without  any  distinct  stem,  becoming  afterwards 
more  decidedly  globose  and  hollow\  In  size  this  species 
attains  from  one  to  twro  inches  in  diameter,  closely 
studded  with  the  cups,  which  are  numerous,  and  have 
broad,  irregular  orifices.  The  asci  are  rather  short  and 
cylindrical,  each  containing  eight  broadly  elliptical  spo¬ 
ridia.  The  hymenium  very  speedily  becomes  obliterated.. 


October  1,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


265 


This  fungus  abounds  in  the  dense  forests  to  the  west¬ 
ward  in  Tasmania,  and  was  freely  eaten  by  the  aborigines 


Cyttaria  Gunnii ,  Bert. 


In  their  wild  state.  It  has  also  a  reputation  amongst 
the  settlers  for  its  esculent  qualities. 

Hooker’s  Beech  Morel,  Cyttaria  Hookeri ,  B. — Found 
on  the  living  branches  of  Fag  us  antarctica ,  at  Cape 
Horn.  The  common  receptacle  does  not  exceed  an  inch 
in  height,  with  a  diameter  of  from  half  to  three-quarters 
of  an  inch,  attenuated  at  the  base,  and  obtusely  papillae  - 
form  at  the  apex,  universally  smooth.  The  cups  are 
few  in  number,  at  first  filled  with  a  gummy  matter,  and 
.at  length  empty.  The  asci  are  somewhat  linear,  inter¬ 
mixed  with  lineal’,  sometimes  forked,  paraphyses.  Whe¬ 
ther  this  small  and  rather  singular  species  is  at  all  used 
as  an  article  of  food  has  not  apparently  been  ascertained. 

Chilian  Beech  Morel,  Cyttaria  disciformis ,  Lev. — 
The  smallest  species  yet  discovered,  scarcely  exceeding  a 
quarter  of  an  inch  in  diameter.  It  is  flattened  like  a 
button,  with  a  convex  upper  surface,  on  which  are  scat¬ 
tered  a  few  point-like  cells  at  some  distance  from  each 
other.  These  cells  have,  at  present,  only  been  found  to 
contain  long  filaments,  with  a  layer  of  compressed  cel¬ 
lules,  terminating  in  globular  swellings,  each  of  which 
contains  an  opaque  and  irregular  body.  Of  course  this, 
species,  which  is  found  in  Chili,  is  too  small  to  be  of  any 
value  as  an  esculent. 

Allusion  having  been  made  in  a  previous  number  of 
ihis  Journal  to  esculent  fungi,  it  has  not  been  consi¬ 
dered  out  of  place  to  give  a  short  account  of  these  sin¬ 
gular  Beech  Morels  of  the  south.  As  food  products, 
they  do  not  seem  to  differ  much  from  our  own  Morels, 
although  botanically  and  generically  distinct.  Unfor¬ 
tunately,  we  have  very  little  information  regarding 
their  edible  qualities  beyond  the  fact  that  they  are  em¬ 
ployed  as  food.  No  medicinal  virtues  appear  to  have 
been  assigned  to  them.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  the 
practice  of  eating  some  species  of  fungus  seems  to  be 
almost  universal  in  all  countries  where  fleshy  fungi  are 
found,  and  in  all  to  be  confined  to  a  very  few  species. 
Only  very  recently  we  have  been  enabled  to  identify 
the  Morels  which  are  eaten  at  Kashmir,  and  much  still 
remains  to  be  learnt  of  the  esculent  fungi  of  other  parts 
of  the  world.  Certainly  some  are  esteemed  in  Persia 
and  other  parts  of  Asia,  of  which  we  know  nothing. 
In  the  course  of  time  we  hope  to  record  something  of 
these ;  meanwhile,  we  wait  and  hope. 


MUSTARD. 

BY  M.  COMMAILLE. 

White  mustard  possesses  medicinal  properties  which 
•are  very  difficult  to  be  explained.  Our  knowledge  of  its 
chemical  composition,  like  that  of  many  other  organic 
substances,  leaves  much  to  be  desired.  Let  us  glance 
first  at  the  actual  state  of  science  concerning  this  sub¬ 
stance. 

White  mustard,  Sinapis  alba ,  belongs  to  the  important 
family  of  the  Crucifera,  which  furnishes  products  for  use 
in  medicine,  food  and  the  arts.  Like  all  its  congeners, 
it  contains  sulphur  among  its  constituent  elements, 


which  sulphur  readily  manifests  its  presence  when  pu¬ 
trefaction  takes  hold  of  a  plant  of  this  family. 

It  is  admitted  that  one  part  at  least  of  the  sulphur 
present  in  the  crucifers,  and  consequently  in  white  mus¬ 
tard,  is  in  a  form  which  gives  easily  hy dr osulpho cyanic 
acid,  represented  by  the  chemical  formula  H  Cy  S.„  or 

hc2ns2._ 

This  acid  is  rich  in  sulphur,  containing  54  per  cent,  of 
its  weight,  and  is  very  poisonous  in  its  free  state.  It 
was  discovered  by  Kinck  in  1804.  The  same  acid  is  met 
with  normally  in  human  saliva. 

_  In  white  mustard  the  hydrosulphocyanic  acid  is  com¬ 
bined  with  a  particular  base,  sinapine,  which  has  not  yet 
been  obtained  in  the  dry  state.  When  attempts  are 
made  to  do  so,  it  splits  up  into  an  acid,  sinapic  acid, 
C^HjoOjq,  and  a  new  base,  sincaline,  C10H14NO2.  But 
as  the  formula  for  sinapine  is  C32H24N  O10,  it  follows  that 
in  the  separation  it  has  taken  up  two  equivalents  of 
water.  The  sinapine,  it  will  be  observed,  is  not  sulphu¬ 
rized,  but  is  nitrogenized,  as  are  nearly  all  the  organic  al¬ 
kalies.  It  gives  well-crystallized  salts.  The  formula  for 
sulphocyanate  of  sinapine  is  HC2NS2 .  C32H24N  O10. 

Black  mustard,  Sinapis  nigra ,  is  distinguished  from 
white  mustard  by  the  absence  of  sinapine.  The  sulpho- 
cyanic  acid  is  also  found  there  united  to  another  sub¬ 
stance,  allyle,  which  exists  also  in  garlic.  It  is  an  alco¬ 
holic  radical,  of  which  a  great  number  of  combinations 
are  known.  The  sulphocyanate  of  allyle  is  represented 
by  C2NS2 .  CgH..  It  is  much  more  rich  in  sulphur  than 

allyle. 

the  sulphocyanate  of  sinapine. 

This  difference  explains  how  it  is  that  white  mustard 
in  contact  with  water  gives  off,  upon  putrefaction,  an 
odour,  disagreeable  no  doubt,  but  very  far  from  the  hor¬ 
rible  stench  given  off  by  black  mustard  under  the  same 
conditions. 

But  the  sulphocyanate  of  sinapine  does  not  pre-exist 
in  the  white  mustard  any  more  than  the  sulphocyanate 
of  allyle  in  the  black.  They  are  both  the  result  of  a 
reaction  between  the  natural  principles  of  these  seeds 
in  contact  with  water  by  a  fermentation  that  is  deve¬ 
loped  very  quickly.  So  likewise  the  odoriferous  and 
sapid  principle  in  black  mustard,  which  is  so  well 
known,  the  volatile  oil,  is  produced  by  the  action  of  a, 
certain  substance  named  myrosine  upon  the  myronic 
acid  combined  with  the  potash  in  the  seed. 

The  myronate  of  potash  ought,  according  to  MM.  Will 
and  Koermer,  to  be  considered  as  the  essence  of  mustard, 
sugar  and  the  acid  sulphate  of  potash.  Thus,  we  have — 


KCmH18Q20S4K  =  CjHsNS^  +  Ct^O.2 


Myronate  of  potash.  Essence  of  mus¬ 
tard  or  sulpho¬ 
cyanate  of  allyle 

=  c0h5c2ns2. 


Sugar. 


4-ko.so3hoso3. 

Acid  sulphate  of 
potash. 

A  fermentation,  possible  only  in  the  presence  of  water, 
is  absolutely  necessary  in  order  that  black  mustard  may 
acquire  its  pungent  properties. 

Further  research  is  necessary  upon  this  subject,  since, 
according  to  received  opinions,  fermentation  is  never 
produced  except  under  the  influence  of  organized  liv¬ 
ing  bodies.  Now,  myrosine,  the  presumed  ferment  of 
mustard,  does  not  fulfil  this  condition.  However  that 
may  be,  myrosine  is  met  with  in  white  mustard,  but 
myronic  acid  is  not,  hence  the  absolute  impossibility  of 
its  furnishing  essence  of  mustard.  Myrosine  in  the 
presence  of  water  and  sinapisine  gives  a  principle  very 
different  from  the  essence  of  black  mustard.  This  prin¬ 
ciple  is  the  sulphocyanate  of  sinapine  before  spoken  of. . 

Sinapisine,  discovered  by  MM.  Henry  and  Garot,  is 
sulphurized,  crystallizable  and  soluble  in  alcohol.  It  is 
a  crystalloid,  like  myronic  acid ;  whilst  myrosine,  which 
does  not  crystallize,  and  is  coagulated  by  alcohol,  warmth 


266 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  1,  1870. 


or  acids,  like  other  substances  that  approximate  to  albu¬ 
men,  is  a  colloid.* 

To  finish  this  brief  history  of  the  chemistry  of  mustard 
it  may  he  added  that  the  white  contains  much  mucilage, 
and  that  its  ash  contains  10  per  cent,  of  sulphate  of 
potash,  arising  from  the  destruction  of  the  sinapisine. 

If  now  -we  take  advantage  of  the  knowledge  previously 
acquired,  we  shall  be  enabled  perhaps  to  raise  a  corner 
of  the  veil  which  has  hitherto  hidden  the  mysterious 
therapeutic  virtues  of  white  mustard. 

The  purgative  properties  of  this  seed  have  been  ex¬ 
plained  as  a  mechanical  action  of  carrying  through  and 
expulsion, — a  sweeping  of  the  intestine.  The  purifying 
properties  have  been  attributed  to  the  presence  of  sul¬ 
phur  and  to  a  specific  action  which,  considering  the  in¬ 
tegrity  of  the  mustard  in  the  fecal  matter,  is  not  very 
clear. 

If  we  examine  a  mustard-seed  by  the  eye  or  under  a 
microscope,  we  see  that  it  is  nearly  round,  scarcely 
wrinkled  at  the  surface,  neither  very  large  nor  very  small. 
Left  in  cold  water,  it  soon  becomes  ropy  and  very  muci¬ 
laginous,  acquiring  a  perceptible,  but  not  disagreeable, 
flavour.  The  action  of  warm  water  produces  this  result 
much  more  rapidly.  The  seeds  then  roll  one  upon  an¬ 
other  with  the  greatest  facility. 

It  is  to  these  peculiarities  that  it  appears  in  part  to 
owe  its  purgative  property.  Seeds  of  larger  size,  the 
surface  of  which  could  not  be  acted  upon  by  the  liquids 
of  the  stomach  and  intestines,  might,  without  doubt, 
purge  more  or  less,  but  would  greatly  fatigue  the  organs, 
which  could  not  support  a  large  quantity  of  them ;  be¬ 
sides,  the  total  surface  being  much  less,  the  mucilaginous 
principle  would  be  dissolved  in  smaller  quantity. 

Very  small  seeds,  like  the  poppy,  for  instance,  would 
be  often  arrested  in  the  long  course  that  they  have  to 
run ;  soon  the  whole  intestinal  passage  would  be  covered, 
and  there  would  be  no  progression  of  the  mass.  Black 
mustard,  independently  of  its  very  irritating  properties, 
is  too  small. 

The  extreme  readiness  with  which  white  mustard  gives 
with  water  an  abundant  mucilage  (for  which  reason  that 
having  a  thin  perisperm  should  be  chosen)  adds  to  the 
facility,  already  very  great,  of  the  movement  of  the  seed 
due  to  its  convenient  size  and  round  form.  Until  the 
contrary  is  proved,  it  would  appear  that  it  is  to  this 
union  of  properties  that  white  mustard  owes  its  value  as 
a  purgative. 

The  depurative  properties  of  this  seed  do  not  appear 
so  easy  to  explain,  since  it  is  rejected  in  the  excreta  ap¬ 
parently  without  having  undergone  any  modification. 
But  this  appearance  is  deceptive.  The  penetration  of  a 
liquid  into  seeds  which  have  not  a  thick  perisperm  is 
easy.  By  osmose  a  very  rapid  exchange  takes  place  with 
uncontrollable  force,  between  the  liquid  charged  with  the 
soluble  substances  of  the  seeds  and  the  liquid  that  sur¬ 
rounds  them.  Moreover,  we  know  by  the  law  which  go¬ 
verns  dialysis,  which  has  been  so  well  explained  by  the 
late  Mr.  Graham,  that  membranes  allow  crystalloids  to 
exude  easily  (sinapisine  is  a  crystalloid)  while  they  retain 
colloids  (myrosine  is  a  colloid).  It  is  not  impossible, 
then,  that  sinapisine  should  be  rapidly  carried  off  from 
the  mustard-seeds,  although  they  remain  intact,  to  be 
absorbed  by  the  liquids  of  the  digestive  canal,  and  trans¬ 
ferred  by  assimilation  into  the  entire  organism.  That 
the  sinapisine  should  be  carried  off  as  such,  or  that  it 
should  be  transformed  beforehand  into  sulphocyanate  of 
sinapine,  would  matter  little,  sulphur  being  found  in 
both  substances. 

Sulphocyanate  of  sinapine  is,  without  doubt,  an  ener¬ 
getic  poisonous  principle,  but  it  is  among  such  substances 
we  find  the  most  medicines.  It  is  only  necessary  that 
the  doses  should  be  so  suitably  apportioned,  that  they 
may  not  accumulate  in  the  stomach,  and  that  the  elimi- 


*  See  the  researches  of  M.  Bussy  and  MM.  Boutron  and 
Fremy  upon  myrosine,  myronic  acid  and  sinapisine. 


nation  or  destruction  should  keep  pace  with  the  adminis¬ 
tration  of  a  fresh  quantity,  without  which  there  would 
soon  be  symptoms  of  poisoning. 

The  less  energetic  character  of  black  mustard,  and  its 
apparent  inertness  when  employed  as  a  condiment,  should 
not  be  quoted  in  opposition  to  these  views  ;  for  there  the 
sulphocyanic  acid  is  not  combined  with  a  base  but  with 
an  alcohol  radical,  forming  the  sulphocyanate  of  allyle,  a 
very  irritating  substance;  not  a  salt,  but  an  ether, — 
that  is  to  say,  a  substance  absolutely  different. — Journal 
de  Pharmacie  et  de  Chimie. 


Fire  and  Loss  of  Life  at  a  'Wholesale  Che¬ 
mist's. — A  fire,  involving  a  serious  destruction  of  pro¬ 
perty  and  the  loss  of  four  lives  took  place  on  Tuesday 
afternoon  last  at  No.  30,  Liverpool  Street,  Bishopsgate 
Without.  The  premises  in  which  the  disaster  took  place 
were  occupied  by  Mr.  John  Bush,  wholesale  chemist, 
and  were  of  considerable  extent,  consisting  of  stores, 
packing-rooms  and  receiving  offices.  Whilst  the  hands 
were  employed  on  the  ground  floor  packing  goods,  some 
one  in  the  warehouse  gave  the  alarm  that  the  place  was 
on  fire.  At  that  time  only  a  slight  blue  glimmering 
light  could  be  seen  at  the  end  of  the  warehouse,  and 
those  present,  instead  of  at  once  sending  across  the  road 
to  call  the  engines,  tried  with  the  aid  of  buckets  of 
water  to  subdue  the  fire.  The  flames,  however,  soon 
reached  the  bottles  of  tinctures  which  were  on  the 
shelves,  bursting  and  then  seizing  on  the  carboys  of 
spirits.  On  the  first  floor  two  females  and  a  lad  were 
employed  in  cutting  and  preparing  labels.  These  poor 
creatures  were  either  blown  into  or  took  refuge  in  a 
cupboard,  where  they  were  found  dead,  shrivelled  up 
and  burned  in  a  dreadful  manner.  Mr.  James  Woolley, 
the  manager,  was  suffocated  by  the  fumes  of  the  ignited 
chemicals  while  making  an  effort  to  save  the  other 
people  employed  on  the  premises,  as  well  as  his  wife, 
who  was  in  the  first  floor.  His  wife,  who  was  with  diffi¬ 
culty  rescued,  was  in  such  a  state  as  to  necessitate  her 
immediate  removal  to  the  hospital.  The  fire  was  not 
extinguished  until  that  part  of  the  building  where  it 
had  originated  was  considerably  damaged. — Times. 

Adulteration  of  Saffron  with  Chalk. — M.  Con¬ 
stantin,  of  Brest,  has  pointed  out  this  adulteration  in  the 
August  number  of  L'  Union  Pharmaceutique.  The  sample 
he  examined  was  obtained  from  a  drug  house  of  good 
repute,  but  it  contained  as  much  as  15  per  cent,  of  chalk. 
The  observations  of  Mr.  Hanbury  and  Professor  Maisch, 
to  the  same  effect,  would  appear  to  indicate  that  this, 
adulteration  is  extensively  practised. 

University  of  Edinburgh. — It  is  announced  that 
Professor  Allman  is  about  to  resign  the  chair  of  Natural 
History  in  the  University  of  Edinburgh,  which  he  has 
held  since  1855,  on  account  of  ill-health.  It  is  also  said 
that  Sir  Roderick  Murchison  has  resolved  to  give  £6000 
towards  the  endowment  of  a  chair  of  Geology  and  Mine¬ 
ralogy  in  the  University,  if  the  Government  show  equal 
liberality  in  the  matter. 

Puff-Balls  for  the  "Wounded. — It  has  been  sug¬ 
gested  that  dry  puff-balls,  which  are  frequently  used  in 
some  country  districts  for  stanching  blood,  might  be 
employed  with  advantage  in  the  place  of  lint  for  dressing 
the  wounds  of  the  sufferers  in  the  war.  They  possess 
the  property  of  adhering  closely  to  the  wound,  which  is 
rather  a  merit,  perhaps,  when  it  cannot  be  frequentl)” 
dressed,  and  at  present  they  might  be  obtained  in  great 
abundance. 

Hydrochlorate  of  Quinine  in  "Whooping  Cough- 

— Dr.  Breidenbach  calls  attention  to  the  benefit  that 
may  be  derived  from  this  remedy  when  other  means  have 
failed.  It  requires  to  be  administered  in  comparatively 
large  doses.  To  a  child  of  three  weeks  Dr.  Breidenbach. 
gave  a  grain  and  a  half  per  diem ;  and  to  one  of  eight 
years  as  much  as  fifteen  grains  per  diem. — Lancet. 


October  1, 1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


267 


SATURDAY,  OCTOBER  1,  1870. 


PHARMACY  AND  MEDICAL  PRACTITIONERS. 

Where  could  our  good  friend  the  Editor  of  the 
Lancet  have  been  when  the  article  on  “  Pharmacy 
and  Medical  Practitioners”  found  its  way  into  his 
columns  on  the  17tli  ult.  ?  Off  to  the  wars  or,  it  may 
be,  to  the  British  Association  for  the  Advancement 
of  Science.  Clearly  a  spirit  quite  new  to  our  contem¬ 
porary  guided  the  pen  of  the  writer  when,  after  des¬ 
canting  on  the  enormity  of  a  chemist  receiving  as 
much  as  “  25.  6cZ.  or  35.”  for  dispensing  a  physician’s 
prescription,  lie  discovered  that  at  such  a  rate  the 
patient’s  “  drug  bill  is  equal  to,  or  even  exceeds,  the 
doctor’s  bill.” 

On  reading  the  first  half  of  the  article  in  question, 
we  certainly  felt  its  statements  to  be,  in  the  main, 
correct,  and  that  the  duties  of  the  dispenser  should 
be  separated  from  those  of  the  prescriber.  We  do 
not,  however,  agree  that  the  preparation  of  drugs  is 
“  a  mechanical  tiling,  to  be  done  by  a  pupil  in  his 
second  year,”  but  believe  rather  in  the  other  proposi¬ 
tion,  that  it  is  “  a  matter  of  pharmaceutical  che¬ 
mistry,”  and  for  that  very  reason  we  are  astonished 
at  the  complaint  afterwards  made  against  us. 

Pharmaceutical  chemistry  is  a  science  requiring 
brains  as  well  as  industry  and  application  for  its  ac¬ 
quisition,  and  if  we  cannot  say  that  a  pharmacist  should 
be  paid  for  “opinion”  as  the  doctor  is,  we  do  say  unhe¬ 
sitatingly  that  he  should  be  remunerated  for  skill  in 
addition  to  the  bare  price  of  the  drugs  he  is  called  on 
to  compound.  He  does  not  expect  the  statutable 
35.  C d.  for  a  six-ounce  mixture,  which  an  apothecary 
demands,  but  he  surely,  cannot  be  accused  of  extor¬ 
tion  in  charging  at  most  half  as  much,  and  very  often 
as  little  as  one-third.  We  know  not  what  may  be 
the  nature  of  the  writer’s  prescriptions ;  he  begins 
by  saying  the  drugs  must  be  good  and  in  sufficient 
quantity.  Does  he  ever  see  a  mixture  ordered  to 
contain  b  a  drachm  of  quinine  and  2  or  3  ounces  of 
tincture,  to  be  taken  in  teaspoonful  doses ;  enough 
of  it  prescribed  to  last  the  patient  ten  or  twelve 
days?  Does  he  reflect  that  if  the  profit  on  drugs 
were  calculated  on  the  same  scale  as  on  the  common 
necessaries  of  life,  there  is  not  a  chemist  in  the  whole 
kingdom  who  could  keep  his  doors  open?  The 
butcher’s  bill  of  a  week  would  in  many  families  be 
equal  to  the  chemist’s  of  a  year,  and,  without  dispa¬ 
ragement  to  the  former,  we  may  say  that  the  latter 
must  be  a  man  of  superior  education  ;  in  attaining  that 
education  he  must  have  expended  a  certain  amount 
of  hard  cash,  and  worked  for  four  or  five  years  of  his 
life  without  remuneration ;  that  being  an  educated 


man,  called  into  communication  with  his  customer  in 
a  somewhat  confidential  manner,  he  must  at  least 
maintain  a  respectable  position  in  society.  As  a  rule 
chemists  are  “  not  paid  at  once  over  the  counter,” 
but  have  to  wait  at  least  as  long  as  doctors  for  their 
money. 

We  will  tell  our  friend  what  would  be  the  effect  of 
such  a  reduction  of  charges  as  he  proposes.  The 
chemist  would  be  driven  more  and  more,  in  self- 
defence  and  for  mere  maintenance,  to  “  feel  pulses 
over-  the  counter,  even  the  pulses  of  affluent  ladies,” 
and  seeing  so  many  more  prescriptions  (as  of  course, 
according  to  the  new  system  he  would  do),  would  be 
still  better  qualified  than  he  now  is  to  play  the  part 
of  the  doctor,  which  we  agree  with  the  Lancet  in 
thinking  he  should  never  undertake. 

Perhaps,  too,  even  the  affluent  ladies  might,  with 
their  poorer  neighbours,  imbibe  yet  greater  faith  in 
his  skill  and  experience,  and  be  even  more  inclined 
to  consult  him  by  reason  of  his  moderate  charges. 


SANDFORD  TESTIMONIAL  FUND. 

At  the  request  of  the  Honorary  Secretaries  we  have 
great  pleasure  in  announcing  to  the  subscribers  to 
the  above  Fund,  that  the  portrait  of  Mr.  Sandford, 
which  forms  part  of  the  testimonial,  will  be  handed 
over  to  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  at  their  Evening 
Meeting  on  Wednesday  next. 


At  the  present  time,  when  the  subject  of  pharma¬ 
ceutical  education  is  attracting  so  much  attention, 
we  think  the  discussion  on  the  general  subject  of 
education  at  the  meeting  of  the  National  Association 
for  the  Promotion  of  Social  Science  worthy  the  no¬ 
tice  of  our  readers,  especially  with  reference  to  the 
preliminary  education  of  apprentices,  and  have  there¬ 
fore  given  a  brief  report  of  the  proceedings  on  a  sub¬ 
sequent  page. 


We  are  given  to  understand  that  the  subject  of  the 
Betts’  suits  was  not  brought  before  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Conference  at  their  late  meeting  on  account  of 
its  being  considered  by  several  members  of  the  Con¬ 
ference  Committee  to  be  purely  a  trade  matter,  and 
one  foreign  to  the  scope  and  object  of  the  Associa¬ 
tion. 


The  Thursday  evening  meetings  of  the  London 
Chemists’  Association  will  be  recommenced  on  the 
6th  of  October,  when  an  address  will  be  delivered 
by  Mr.  J.  Sands,  the  President. 


At  King’s  College  the  Introductory  Lecture  of  the 
medical  session  will  be  given  by  Professor  Wood, 
F.R.C.S.,  on  Monday,  October  3rd,  at  3  p.m. 

*  r  3 


268 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  1,  1870. 


M.  E.  Gonod,  Secretary  of  tlie  Executive  Com¬ 
mittee  of  the  French  Pharmaceutical  Congress,  has 
informed  his  colleagues  that  on  account  of  grave 
events  which  occupy  the  minds  of  all,  it  has  been 
judged  impossible  to  hold  the  meeting  at  Clermont- 
Ferrand  at  present,  and  it  is  accordingly  adjourned 
until  further  arrangements  can  be  made. 


A  letter  has  been  addressed  to  the  Editor  of  the 
Daily  Telegraph,  signed  by  Mr.  Berkeley  Hill  and 
Mr.  Ernest  Hart,  disputing  the  truthfulness  of  the 
statement  made  by  a  special  correspondent  of  that 
journal  concerning  the  medical  officers  in  connection 
with  the  International  Society,  “  that  in  no  single 
military  ambulance  have  any  of  these  amateur  medical 
assistants  taken  off  their  coats,  so  to  speak,  and  gone 
to  work  like  men  at  what  they  are  engaged  to  do.” 
Messrs.  Hill  and  Hart  give  it  as  their  opinion, 
founded  upon  personal  observation,  that,  although 
there  is  a  great  want  of  organization,  consequent 
upon  the  sudden  and  marvellous  development  of 
the  Society’s  resources,  and  the  entire  absence  of 
any  previous  machinery  for  the  purpose,  the  conduct 
of  the  medical  officers  in  the  service  of  the  British 
Society  has  been  beyond  praise,  and  characterized 
by  the  purest  motives,  as  well  as  the  most  devoted 
zeal.  A  large  number  of  Fellows  and  Members  of 
the  College  of  Surgeons,  and  Doctors  of  Medicine, 
sinking  all  distinctions,  have  willingly  devoted  them¬ 
selves  to  dressers’  work.  There  is  a  crowd  of  loafers 
wearing  the  red  cross,  but  it  is  not  believed  that  if 
their  badges  were  examined  any  one  of  them  would 
be  found  to  bear  the  stamp  of  the  International 
Society,  or  to  be  directly  attached  to  the  foreign  am¬ 
bulances. 


The  publishers  of  the  American  reprint  of  the 
Chemical  News  have  decided  to  discontinue  that 
publication,  and  in  its  place  to  offer  to  all  interested 
in  the  progress  of  chemistry  a  new  journal,  entitled 
The  American  Chemist,  to  be  devoted  to  theoretical, 
analytical,  and  technical  chemistry. 


CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’  FUND  FOR  THE 
SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


The  following  contributions  have  been  received 
since  last  week  : — 

t  £•  s,  d* 

Wm.  Bray,  Buntingford  .  0  5  0 

J.  D.  Fisher,  Halifax .  0  5  Q 

J.  S.  Robinson,  St.  Leonards-on-Sea .  0  5  0 

R.  Rowe,  40,  Alfred  PI.  West,  S.  Kensington  0  10  G 

Septimus  Piesse,  New  Bond  Street,  for  pur¬ 
chase  of  medicines  for  the  sick  and  wounded 

French  only .  50  0  0 

W.  H.  Stickland,  ,,  „  „  2  2  0 


Collections  per  Mr.  I.  H.  Evans,  Lymm  : — 

£.  s. 


Edwin  Brown  .  0  5 

R.  Dutton .  0  2 

J.  Edwards  . 0  1 

I.  H.  Evans  .  0  4 

Thomas  Hind  .  0  1 

Charles  Leech  .  0  2 

Peter  Mairs  .  0  2 

Thomas  Pearson  .  0  2 

William  Pearson  .  0  2 

Miss  Sharp .  0  2 

James  Warburton .  0  2 

P.  Warburton  .  0  1 

George  Watson .  0  5 


d. 

0 

6 

6 

1 

0 

6 

0 

6 

6 

6 

6 

0 

0 

-  £1  14 


7 


The  above  £1.  14s.  7 d.  was  spent  in  the  purchase  of 
calico,  etc.,  which  was  made  into  the  following  by  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Evans  : — 


28  cholera  belts,  stout  flannel. 

14  bandages,  cotton,  10  yds.  x4in. 


41 

20 

24 

19 


it 

» 


11 

8 

11 

X  d 

1  „ 

11 

6 

11 

x  2 

!  „ 

11 

4 

11 

x  3 

'  » 

11 

4 

11 

x  2 

'  jj 

I.  H.  Evans,  Lymm : — 

6  2  oz.  hot.  tinct.  opii. 

6  2  oz.  „  spt.  ammon.  co. 

2  8  oz.  „  liq.  ammon.  fort. 

1  8  oz.  ,,  chloroform. 

6  gross  pil.  opii  gr.  i  in  bots.  4  doz.  each. 

3  „  „  quiniae  gr.  ij  _  „ 

3  ,,  ,,  morphim  gr.  £  in  bots.  6  doz.  each. 

2  tins  extract  of  meat  biscuits. 


J.  Middleton,  Middleborongh-on-Tees : — 
20  lb.  of  lint. 


The  Lancet  announces  the  failure  of  an  experi¬ 
ment  made  to  test  the  method  proposed  by  Professor 
Gamgee  for  the  preservation  of  meat.  Two  cases, 
a  cask  and  an  iron  cylinder,  to  all  appearance  se¬ 
curely  packed  and  thoroughly  air-proof,  were  opened 
at  the  Melbourne  Custom  House  in  the  presence  of 
members  of  the  Intercolonial  Conference  and  others 
interested  in  meat-preservation.  On  the  iron  cylin¬ 
der  being  opened,  gas  burst  out  with  a  liiss  and 
immediately  affected  the  organ  of  smell  most  power¬ 
fully.  The  meat  in  the  cases  also  was  in  a  putrid 
state.  The  whole  consignment,  weighing  527  lbs., 
was  disposed  of  to  the  tallow-melters  at  1(7.  per  lb. 


The  Food  of  the  Armies. — The  Germans  appear 
to  be  a  more  hardy  race  than  their  opponents.  They  can 
eat  black  bread,  the  issue  of  which  had  to  he  prohibited 
among  the  French  prisoners  on  account  of  their  inability 
to  digest  it.  En  passant ,  we  may  state  that  the  Germans 
have  practically  managed  to  solve  for  themselves  the 
difficult  problem  of  an  economical  and  compressed  ration 
for  field  purposes.  Their  soldiers,  we  read,  on  several 
occasions  during  forced  marches  consumed  a  diet  com¬ 
posed  of  mixed  peas  and  meat — a  highly  nitrogenous  but 
not  very  digestible  .compound.  The  Rhine  wines  were 
always  consumed  where  they  could  be  procured,  and  we 
do  not  hear  of  a  rum  or  spirit  ration  being  issued,  as  in 
our  army.  The  craving  for  tobacco  exhibited  by  the 
troops,  and  their  almost  universal  use  of  it,  corroborate 
the  opinion  entertained  by  practical  men  that  the  con¬ 
sumption  of  tobacco  is  of  real  value  to  men  undergoing 
the  hardships  of  physical  exertion  incidental  to  a  cam¬ 
paign. — Lgjicti. 


October  l,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


2G0 


CHEMISTS’  DINNER,  CARDIFF. 

On  Thursday,  Septemher  22nd,  for  the  first  time  in 
the  history  of  Glamorganshire,  the  chemists  and  drug¬ 
gists  of  the  county  sat  down  to  dine  together  and  inau¬ 
gurate  a  personal  intimacy  and  trade  association  amongst 
themselves.  It  was  felt  that  the  Exhibition  of  Fine  Arts 
and  Manufactures  now  being  held  in  Cardiff,  to  which 
thousands  are  drawn  daily  from  all  the  surrounding 
neighbourhood,  was  an  opportunity  not  to  be  lost.  In¬ 
vitations  were  accordingly  issued  to  about  one  hundred 
chemists  throughout  the  county.  The  call,  however, 
was  not  so  liberally  responded  to  as  might  fairly  have 
been  expected.  To  the  honour  of  Pontypridd  be  it  told 
that  that  town  unanimously  accepted  the  invitation,  and 
subsequently  furnished  the  chairman.  All  the  chemists 
of  the  Rhonda  Valley  and  Taff’s  Valley  were  also  present, 
and  Aberdare  found  a  representative  in  Mr.  Abel  James. 
The  majority  of  the  trade  in  the  town  of  Cardiff  availed 
themselves  of  the  opportunity  of  meeting  their  friends 
from  the  country.  But  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  such 
important  towns  as  Merthyr,  Swansea,  and  some  others 
allowed  the  gathering  to  pass  off  without  taking  any 
part  in  it.  The  dinner  was  excellently  served  by  Messrs. 
Cousins  and  Son  at  the  ‘  Angel  ’  Hotel,  Cardiff. 

The  usual  toasts,  loyal,  patriotic  and  clerical,  having 
been  duly  acknowledged,  the  Chairman,  Mr.  Charles 
Bassett,  then  gave  “The  Town  and  Trade  of  Cardiff,” 
which  was  responded  to  by  Mr.  Kernick,  who  from  his 
long  acquaintance  with  the  town  was  well  able  to  speak 
of  its  great  and  still  rapidly- extending  increase  since  the 
time  when  he  came  a  stripling  to  assist  the  late  Mr. 
Charles  Vachell. 

“The  Outlying  Districts  ”  quickly  brought  Mr.  John 
James,  of  Pontypridd,  to  his  feet,  who  spoke  well  of  the 
common  interest  each  ought  to  feel  in  the  welfare  of  the 
other,  for  whereas  Cardiff  would  be  nothing  without  the 
rich  minerals  of  our  hills  and  valleys,  so  those  same  dis¬ 
tricts  would  have  ever  remained  unproductive  but  for 
the  great  outlet  of  our  ports. 

The  Chairman  then  gave  what  may  be  called  the 
toast  of  the  evening,  “The  Pharmaceutical  Society,” 
and  in  speaking  of  the  great  opportunities  held  out  by 
the  Society,  he  gave  some  amusing  anecdotes  illustrative 
of  the  laborious  trials  and  troubles  of  the  apprentice  in 
days  gone  by,  and  of  the  local  peculiarities  and  nomen¬ 
clature  of  the  hill  districts,  which  would  completely  baffle 
the  scientific  and  successful  student  from  Bloomsbury 
Square. 

Mr.  F.  W.  Joy,  Hon.  Local  Secretary,  responded, 
shadowing  forth  the  great  advantages  offered  to  the 
rising  generation  of  chemists,  through  the  means  of  the 
Society,  its  well-appointed  laboratory,  courses  of  lectures 
and  extensive  library;  he  also  enlarged  upon  the  subject 
of  the  Benevolent  Fund,  which  is  open  to  any  deserving 
distressed  member  of  the  trade,  and  strongly  urged  that 
each  one  should  forthwith  add  his  own  name  to  the  an¬ 
nual  subscription  list.  Mr.  Joy  next  spoke  of  the  objects 
of  the  meeting,  which  he  described  as  threefold,  viz.  the 
promotion  of  more  personal  and  friendly  intercourse 
among  the  members  of  the  trade  ;  the  development  and 
protection  of  trade  interests,  and  though  last,  not  least, 
the  formation  of  some  plan  for  the  systematic  education 
of  the  apprentices  and  younger  assistants,  which,  since 
the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy  Act,  had  become  quite  a 
necessity.  He  concluded  by  giving  the  health  of  the 
Chairman,  the  oldest  member  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  in  the  district,  who  had  so  ably  presided  at  this 
their  first  meeting. 

The  Chairman  thanked  his  friends  for  the  honour 
they  had  done  him.  He  had  looked  forward,  he  said, 
to  the  present  meeting  with  some  anxiety,  for  he  con¬ 
sidered  in  a  town  like  Cardiff  there  were  greater  advan¬ 
tages  for  scientific  pursuits  than  he  could  obtain  in  the 


country,  and  he  felt  considerable  diffidence  in  occupying 
so  prominent  a  position,  but  the  kindly  support  he  had 
received  had  so  lightened  his  labours  that  he  had  never 
occupied  the  presidential  chair  with  greater  pleasure, 
and  expressed  his  willingness  to  render  the  trade  of  the 
district  all  the  assistance  in  his  power  on  any  future  oc¬ 
casions. 

The  health  of  the  “  Vice-Chairman  ”  (Mr.  Joy),  “  Our 
Visitors  ”  and  “  The  Host,”  terminated  a  very  pleasant 
and  successful  meeting. 


NORWICH  CHEMISTS’  ASSISTANTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

A  well-attended  Meeting  of  the  assistants  and  appren¬ 
tices  of  the  chemists  in  this  city  was  held  at  the  St. 
John’s  Rooms,  on  September  22nd. 

Mr.  Hill,  having  been  unanimously  voted  to  the 
chair,  stated  that  the  circular  convening  the  meeting 
was  issued  by  Messrs.  Nuthall  and  Perkins.  He  there¬ 
fore  called  upon  those  gentlemen  to  lay  the  first  resolu¬ 
tion  before  the  meeting. 

It  was  moved  by  Mr.  E.  Nuthall,  seconded  by  Mr. 
T.  J.  Perkins,  “  That,  in  the  opinion  of  this  meeting,  it 
is  desirable  to  form  an  Association  of  Chemists’  Assistants, 
and  Apprentices  in  Norwich,  for  the  purposes  of  educa¬ 
tional  improvement  and  social  intercourse ;  and  that  the- 
said  association  be  called  ‘  The  Norwich  Chemists’  Assis¬ 
tants’  Association.’  ” 

Moved  by  Mr.  W.  Butler,  seconded  by  Mr.  T.  W. 
Richardson,  “  That  the  affairs  of  the  society  be  con¬ 
ducted  by  a  President,  Vice-President,  Treasurer,  Secre¬ 
tary,  and  a  Committee  of  five,  the  President,  Vice- 
President,  Treasurer,  and  Secretary,  to  be  ex  officio 
members  of  the  Committee.” 

Moved  by  Mr.  E.  Martin,  seconded  by  Mr.  P.  H_ 
Mason,  “  That  Mr.  Hill  be  elected  President.” 

Moved  by  Mr.  Butler,  seconded  by  Mr.  Ekin, 
“That  Mr.  Nuthall  be  elected  Vice-President.” 

Moved  by  Mr.  Mason,  seconded  by  Mr.  N.  Lincoln, 
“That  Mr.  W.  Butler  be  elected  Treasurer.” 

Moved  by  Mr.  J.  Goodenough,  seconded  by  Mr.  R. 
Bateman,  “  That  Mr.  T.  J.  Perkins  be  elected  Honorary 
Secretary.” 

Moved  by  Mr.  Nuthall,  seconded  by  Mr.  Butler, 
“  That  the  following  gentlemen  form  the  Committee  :  — 
Mr.  Canham,  Mr.  Ekins,  Mr.  J.  Goodenough,  Mr.  N. 
Lincoln,  and  Mr.  P.  H.  Mason.” 

Moved  by  Mr.  Butler,  seconded  by  Mr.  T.  J.  Per¬ 
kins,  “  That  the  Committee  frame  a  code  of  rules,  to  be 
submitted  for  approval  to  a  general  meeting  of  members, 
to  be  held  within  ten  days.” 

After  cordial  votes  of  thanks  to  Messrs.  Nuthall  and 
Perkins  for  the  active  steps  taken  by  them  in  promoting 
the  formation  of  the  society,  and  to  Mr.  Hill  for  his  able 
conduct  and  courtesy  in  the  chair,  the  meeting  dissolved. 

The  greatest  unanimity  of  feeling  prevailed  throughout, 
and  at  the  close  of  the  meeting  the  Secretary  enrolled 
thirty-six  members  out  of  forty -two  present. 


The  'Wine  Supply  of  Paris. — The  Pall  Mall  Ga¬ 
zette  says  that  if  all  the  fermented  liquors  that  pay  the 
octroi  duty  are  consumed  in  Paris,  the  inhabitants  ma¬ 
nage  to  dispose  in  the  course  of  the  year  of  no  less  than 
365,000  tuns  of  wine — equal  to  forty-four  gallons  per 
head  of  the  population,  or  almost  a  pint  a  day  for  every 
man,  woman  and  child  in  the  French  capital ;  and  this, 
too,  in  addition  to  225,000  barrels  of  beer,  nearly  a  cou¬ 
ple  of  million  gallons  of  cider,  and  more  than  that  quan¬ 
tity  of  spirit.  The  authorities  in  Paris  state  that  the 
water-supply  of  the  city  cannot  be  stopped  by  the  Prus¬ 
sians  ;  and  the  two  immense  depots  which  furnish  France 
with  wine  are  both  within  the  line  of  the  fortifications, 
and  quite  full.  There  appears,  therefore,  to  be  little  fear 
of  suffering  from  thirst,  whatever  prospect  there  may  be 
of  misery  from  starvation. 


270 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  1,  1870. 


§  mttop  jof  Srimtiftc  Bmttm. 

NATIONAL  ASSOCIATION  FOE  THE 
PROMOTION  OF  SOCIAL  SCIENCE. 

Meeting  at  Newcastle-on-Tyne. 

The  Fourteenth  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Social  Science 
Congress  was  commenced  at  Newcastle-on-Tyne  on  Wed¬ 
nesday,  Sept.  21,  by  a  special  service,  at  St.  Nicholas 
Church,  when  a  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  Canon 
Norris. 

In  the  evening  the  Inaugural  Address  of  the  Presi¬ 
dent,  his  Grace  the  Duke  of  Northumberland,  was  de¬ 
livered  in  the  New  Town  Hall  to  a  very  large  assembly. 

On  Thursday  the  business  of  the  Congress  was  com¬ 
menced  with  affaddress  by  Mr.  G.  W.  Hastings,  the  Chair¬ 
man  of  Council, “[who  said  that  in  reviewing,  according  to 
annual  custom,  the  work  of  the  Association,  the  first 
place  must  be  given  to  education,  in  respect  of  which  the 
last  session  of  Parliament  had  done  so  much  to  realize 
the  hopes  expressed  at  previous  congresses.  During  the 
session  the  Education  Committee  had  framed  a  report, 
many  suggestions  in  which  had  been  adopted  by  Govern¬ 
ment  ;  and  others  which  had  been  set  aside  would  ulti¬ 
mately  be  demanded  by  public  opinion.  It  recommended 
that  public  instruction  should  be  placed  under  a  minister 
of  education  responsible  to  Parliament,  and  until  this 
was  done  the  work  of  the  department  will  never  be  car¬ 
ried  on  in  the  most  efficient  manner.  Dr.  Lankester  and 
others  have  repeatedly  urged  the  necessity  for  instruction 
in  elementary  physiology  and  the  laws  of  health.  Canon 
Kingsley  had  pleaded  that  physical  science,  and  the  use 
of  the  senses  on  objects  immediately  surrounding  us, 
ought  to  form  part  of  ordinary  instruction.  These  sug¬ 
gestions  are  good,  but  practically  of  little  avail  unless  we 
can  improve  the  character  of  the  teaching.  Then  we 
shall  be  prepared  to  take  the  serious  step  of  deciding 
what  was  to  be  taught.  At  the  bottom  of  the  whole 
matter  of  improved  school  teaching  there  lies  the  ques¬ 
tion  of  the  amalgamation  of  schools.  At  present  the  in¬ 
spectors’  return  show  a  higher  average  of  efficiency  in 
large  schools  than  small.  It  is  better  to  have  one  school 
of  300  children  than  six  of  50  each.  The  number  of 
classes  in  the  larger  need  scarcely  be  greater  than  in  the 
smaller ;  but  while  the  master  in  the  small  school  will  only 
be  the  [superintendent  of  inefficient  pupil-teachers,  the 
large  school  will  support  an  efficient  master  and  a  well- 
paid  staff  of  assistants.  The  large-school  system  will  do 
much  to  lift  the  profession  of  teaching  from  the  dead 
dreary  level  which  it  now  occupies,  and  give  the  country 
the  services  of  a  body  of  teachers  made  doubly  efficient 
by  the  prospect  of  promotion.  He  advocated  also  the 
giving  of  scholarships  and  exhibitions  in  the  national 
schools  to  carry  the  deserving  boy  into  the  secondary 
schools,  and  to  let  him  start  in  the  upward  race  with  the 
self-respect  of  independence.  He  stated  the  object  to  be 
to  enable  any  boy  or  girl,  with  the  requisite  ability  and 
perseverance,  to  work  his  or  her  way  from  the  parish 
school,  or  even  the  workhouse  school,  to  the  grammar 
school  and  the  universities. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  address  the  various  sections 
assembled  in  their  respective  rooms  to  consider  the  ques¬ 
tions  coming  before  them.  In  the  Education  section, 
papers  on  the  Amalgamation  of  Schools  were  read  by 
Mr.  Bourne  and  Mr.  Imeson ;  and  in  the  Health  section 
there  were  papers  on  the  methods  of  disposing  of 
sewage  and  excreta,  with  a  prolonged  discussion.  The 
usual  Ladies’  Conference  assembled  under  the  presidency 
of  Lady  Bowring.  In  the  evening,  Sir  William  Arm¬ 
strong  entertained  a  large  number  of  the  members  of  the 
Association  at  Jesmond  Dene,  and  after  the  dinner  there 
was  a  soiree  in  the  Exchange  Art  Gallery. 

On.  Friday  the  special  question  in  the  Education  sec¬ 
tion  was  “By  what  means  can  a  direct  connection  be 
established  between  the  elementary  and  secondary  schools 


and  the  universities  ?”  Several  papers  were  read  on  the 
subject,  and  in  the  discussion  which  followed,  Mr.  Pears, 
the  General  Secretary  of  the  Association,  said  that  Tas¬ 
mania,  with  a  population  of  80,000,  gave  two  scholar¬ 
ships  to  any  British  university  the  winners  might  select, 
the  value  of  each  scholarship  being  £200  a  year  for  four 
years.  According  to  the  report  of  the  Endowed  Schools 
Commission,  the  money  required  for  establishing  a  direct 
connection  between  the  schools  and  the  universities  was 
already  in  existence,  and  he  protested  against  the  appli¬ 
cation  of  that  money  in  simply  providing  education  for  the 
middle  or  upper  classes.  He  suggested  the  continuation 
of  the  fee  paid  in  the  primary  schools,  but  that  every  boy 
on  reaching  a  certain  standard — say,  the  seventh — should 
have  the  opportunity  of  passing  for  the  same  fee  to  the 
secondary  or  endowed  school.  After  passing  the  neces¬ 
sary  examination  there,  he  should  have  the  privilege  of 
free  admission  to  the  university. 

At  the  close  of  the  discussion,  Mr.  R.  S.  Watson  read 
a  paper  on  the  “Best  Method  of  providing  Higher  Edu¬ 
cation  in  Boroughs.”  He  pointed  out  that  there  is  a 
great  demand  and  need  in  large  towns  for  opportunities 
of  higher  education.  Most  boys  leave  school  at  16,  and 
their  education  is  supposed  to  finish,  where  it  should,  in 
any  high  sense,  be  beginning.  If  they  go  on  with  it 
afterwards,  they  do  so  alone  and  at  great  disadvantage. 
In  all  large  towns  professors  should  be  provided,  with 
sufficient  salaries  to  admit  of  the  class  fees  being  very 
low,  and  classes  for  both  sexes  should  be  held  in  the 
evening,  where  those  engaged  throughout  the  day  might 
carry  out  their  studies  in  a  systematic  manner  without 
reference  to  their  position  in  life.  A  fund  from  which 
retaining  fees  could  be  paid,  a  greater  number  of  highly 
trained  teachers,  and  a  connection  with  some  recognized 
teaching  body  were  required.  Every  large  town  should 
have  an  institution  like  Owens  College,  at  Manchester. 
To  the  old  universities,  as  the  heads  of  education  in  this 
country,  he  looked  for  help  in  this  matter.  College  fel¬ 
lowships  might  be  converted  into  country  lectureships,  or 
the  universities  or  individual  colleges  might  contribute 
an  annual  sum  towards  the  salaries  of  the  professors,  the 
borough  to  be  benefited  contributing  an  equal  amount, 
and  the  professors  being  appointed  by  the  university  or 
college. 

In  the  Health  Department,  Mr.  Phillips  Bevan,  editor 
of  the  Food  Journal ,  read  a  paper  on  “  The  Legislation  to 
prevent  Adulteration  of  Food  and  Drink.”  He  said, 
that  although  it  is  one  of  our  most  important  social  ques¬ 
tions,  the  apathy  and  ignorance  of  the  public  on  the  sub¬ 
ject  of  adulteration  is  astonishing.  As  each  person  thinks 
that  all  others  are  mortal  except  himself,  so  he  imagines 
that  adulteration  affects  any  class  but  his  own;  and 
although  we  acknowledge  its  prevalence,  and  cry  shame 
when  we  read  of  any  particularly  bad  case,  the  sensation 
is  but  momentary,  and  we  go  on  our  way  as  before. 
What  is  adulteration,  and  what  does  it  mean  ?  It  means 
the  lowering  of  the  physique  of  the  nation,  the  poisoning 
of  the  people,  the  deterioration  of  our  constitution ;  and, 
morally,  a  fraud  practised  by  the  seller  on  the  buyer,  a 
cheating,  to  which  we  have  become  so  callous  that  it  has 
hardened  our  conscience  for  honesty  in  other  and  bigger 
things.  The  great  difficulty  in  dealing  with  it  is  that 
the  Government  is  so  slow  to  move,  and  even  men  in 
high  places  practically  defend  it  by  declaring  that  it  is 
not  so  bad  as  it  might  be,  that  the  buyer  must  look  to 
himself,  and  so  on.  It  is  also  a  very  common  argument 
that  people  bring  adulteration  on  themselves  by  buying 
such  very  cheap  articles — so  cheap  that  they  cannot  be 
good  for  the  money.  But  they  do  so  in  ignorance,  and 
if  the  seller  were  compelled  to  label  his  goods  with  the 
names  of  the  real  ingredients,  such  as  ‘  best  butter  mixed 
with  starch,  mashed  potatoes,  and  horse-bone  oil ;  ’  ‘  coffee, 
with  bread-crumbs  and  sand;’  ‘tea,  with  iron-filings;’ 
‘sugar,  with  chromate  of  lead;’  ‘beer,  with  salt  and 
cocculus  indicus,’  it  is  not  the  least  likely  that  their 
cheapness  would  tempt  the  buyer ;  and  if  a  certainty  of 


October  1,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


271 


detection  and  punishment  followed,  we  should  find  that 
the  sellers  would  think  twice  before  they  offered  such 
articles.  It  is  strange  that,  in  all  our  sanitary  machinery, 
the  food  question  and  its  purity  have  been  so  overlooked ; 
hut  pure  food  is  as  necessary  as  pure  air,  good  drainage, 
or  wholesome  water ;  and  it  ought  not  to  be  left  to  the 
philanthropist  to  remedy  the  evil,  with  the  tolerable  cer¬ 
tainty  that  he  will  only  get  snubbed  for  his  pains.  It  is 
a  Government  question,  and  it  ought  not  to  he  the  duty 
of  a  private  member  of  the  House  of  Commons  to  bring 
in  a  Bill.  "With  a  view  to  arouse  public  interest  he  had 
established  the  Food  Journal ,  in  conjunction  with  Messrs. 
Johnson,  feeling  that  there  was  a  great  want  of  some 
public  organ  to  discuss  these  matters ;  and  so  convinced 
was  he  that  no  Bill  could  properly  be  passed  without  the 
knowledge  of  the  legislation  which  prevailed  in  other 
countries,  that  he  applied  to  the  late  Earl  of  Clarendon 
for  permission  to  address  the  various  consuls  on  the  sub¬ 
ject.  His  lordship  not  only  gave  the  permission,  but 
evinced  his  great  interest  in  the  matter  by  requesting 
him  to  draw  up  a  circular,  embodying  all  the  inquiries 
on  food  matters  that  he  wished  to  make.  A  thousand  of 
these  were  sent  out  by  the  Foreign  Office  to  all  the  Con¬ 
sulates  and  Legations;  and  Earl  Granville,  who  has 
taken  up  the  subject  in  the  same  warm  and  earnest  spirit 
as  evinced  by  his  predecessor,  has  forwarded  for  publica¬ 
tion  in  the  Food  Journal  a  mass  of  valuable  information, 
which  has  never  before  reached  this  country.  To  detail 
even  an  epitome  of  these  answers  would  take  up  far  too 
much  of  the  time  of  the  meeting.  He  would,  therefore, 
only  briefly  touch  on  some  of  the  main  points  of  the  first 
question  of  the  circular,  viz. : — £  What  legislative  enact¬ 
ments  at  present  exist  in  the  country  to  which  you  are 
accredited  respecting  the  adulteration  of  food  and  drink  ? 
Are  these  laws  actively  enforced,  and  how  far  do  they 
appear  to  meet  the  evil?’  Very  valuable  information 
came  to  us  from  the  United  States,  in  Mr.  Thornton’s 
report,  which  adverts  to  the  difficulty  of  getting  sys¬ 
tematic  information,  even  through  the  well-arranged 
machinery  of  official  correspondence.  The  State  legisla¬ 
tion  varies  very  much  in  the  different  States,  some  pos¬ 
sessing  no  legislation  at  all,  and  others  inflicting  very 
severe  penalties.  Each  State  legislates  independently, 
and,  in  so  doing,  often  delegates  the  regulation  of  these 
matters  to  the  various  town  or  county  authorities  within 
its  borders.  As  a  general  rule,  the  adulteration  of 
alcoholic  liquor  is  almost  universal.  The  paper  then 
sketched  the  punishments  meted  out  to  those  who  adul¬ 
terate  food  and  drink  in  Rhode  Island,  Vermont, 
Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Missouri,  Mississippi,  Cincinnati, 
Georgia,  and  Texas,  as  well  as  in  Prussia  and  Holland. 
It  showed  that  severe  fines  and  long  periods  of  imprison¬ 
ment  are  commonly  enforced,  and  that  there  are  places 
in  which  the  penalties  are  whipping,  and  even  death,  if 
fatal  results  ensue.  In  Holland  punishment  is  also  pro¬ 
vided  for  persons  who  manufacture  or  sell  ingredients 
for  adulteration ;  so  that  the  flourishing  business  known 
in  England  as  that  of  a  brewer’s  or  distillers’  druggist 
must  be  there  pursued  under  considerable  disadvantage. 
It  proceeded: — “Any  fresh  legislation  on  this  subject 
should  be  compulsory  in  its  character,  and  not  permis¬ 
sive.  All  articles  of  consumption  which  are  manu¬ 
factured  should  have  their  ingredients  declared,  for  there 
is  a  feeling  prevalent  among  manufacturers,  as  for  in¬ 
stance  cocoa-makers,  that  as  long  as  their  articles  con¬ 
tain  nothing  hurtful,  they  are  at  liberty  to  call  them  by 
the  general  name  of  cocoa.  Still,  a  sophistication  is,  to 
a  certain  extent,  a  fraud,  and  every  purchaser  has  a  right 
to  know  what  he  is  purchasing ;  and,  although  we  might 
bo  safe  in  the  hands  of  the  largest  and  most  respectable 
manufacturers,  there  is  a  considerable  class  of  unprin¬ 
cipled  makers  who  are  not  above  taking  advantage.” 
Differences  of  opinion  sometimes  occur  as  to  the  relative 
hurtfulness  of  certain  common  adulterants,  and  an  emi¬ 
nent  authority  had  assured  him  that  he  had  grave  doubts 
as  to  whether  alum  was  not  a  good  thing  instead  of  a 


bad  one.  He  suggested  that  there  should  be  a  Food  Sub¬ 
department  formed,  which  should  take  cognizance  of  all 
food  legislation  and  supplies.  To  it  a  board  of  two  or 
three  of  the  most  eminent  analytical  chemists  should  be 
attached,  who  should  examine  and  pronounce  upon  all 
disputed  chemical  questions,  and  whose  opinion  should 
be  law.  The  sub -department  should  have  the  election 
of,  and  a  certain  amount  of  control  over  the  county  and 
borough  analysts,  whose  appointment  should  be  com¬ 
pulsory  and  not  permissive ;  neither  should  it  rest  with 
vestries  or  corporations,  many  of  the  members  of  which 
are  often  largely  concerned  in  adulteration.  Inspectors 
should  have  power  to  visit  and  take  samples  from  all 
dealers  in  articles  of  food,  subject  to  certain  checks,  so 
as  to  prevent  any  risk  of  tyrannical  domiciliary  visits. 
They  should  also  have  the  power  of  testing  the  supplies 
furnished  to  public  bodies,  such  as  union  contracts,  for 
guardians  have  frequently  a  habit  of  accepting  tenders 
for  food  at  a  price  at  which  the  real  article  cannot  pos¬ 
sibly  be  supplied,  as  a  London  Union  Board  did  the 
other  day  in  the  case  of  butter.  In  cases  where  a  petty 
dealer  declares  his  ignorance  that  the  goods  which  he 
sells  are  adulterated  he  would  make  the  onus  of  proving 
this  fall  upon  him,  and  then  it  would  be  for  the  Food 
Sub-department  to  take  the  matter  up  and  prosecute  the 
manufacturer.  In  adulteration  before  importation,  as 
in  the  case  of  the  Maloo  tea  mixture,  the  department 
might  well  provide  the  machinery  for  setting  consular 
and  other  influence  to  work  to  prevent  it,  and  might  also 
step  in  as  the  proper  arbiter  between  conflicting  interests. 
In  this  very  case  a  great  fraud  on  the  public  was  allowed 
to  go  unpunished  because  the  Customs  could  not  legally 
forego  the  duty.  As  to  offences,  when  proved,  he  was 
no  believer  in  either  a  very  small  or  a  very  large  fine, 
but  he  would  have  no  sliding  scale  at  the  option  of  the 
magistrate.  For  the  first  offence  the  penalty  should  be 
sufficient  to  make  the  offender  smart  in  his  pocket ;  for 
the  second,  he  would  double  it,  and  have  an  afficlie  detail¬ 
ing  the  offence  put  outside  his  door,  as  also  outside  the 
door  of  the  church,  police-station  and  town-hall  for  a 
month.  The  case  should  also  be  advertised  in  the  local 
papers  at  the  offender’s  expense.  For  the  third  offence 
there  should  be  imprisonment  for  one  month,  with  hard 
labour.  Adulteration  is  either  a  fraud  or  it  is  not,  and 
it  should  be  punished  like  any  other  cheating. 

An  interesting  debate  followed,  in  which  Mr.  Rawlin- 
son,  Mr.  Godwin,  Mr.  Serjeant  Cox,  Dr.  Fare,  and 
other  gentlemen  took  part.  The  facts  and  arguments 
brought  forward  by  Mr.  Sevan  were  generally  admitted 
and  assented  to,  and  resolutions  wore  passed  recommend¬ 
ing  local  authorities  to  appoint  analysts,  whose  duty  it 
should  be  to  examine  food  and  drink  at  the  instance  of 
purchasers,  and  recommending  the  Council  to  take  steps 
to  secure  an  amendment  of  the  law. 

A  paper  was  afterwards  read  by  Mr.  Daglish  on 
“  Local  Boards  of  Health,”  and  one  by  the  Rev.  H.  Moule 
on  “  Earth  Closets.” 

On  Saturday  the  members  of  the  Association  assembled 
in  the  morning  to  hear  an  address  from  Dr.  Lyon  Play¬ 
fair’,  the  President  of  the  Education  Department.  He 
expressed  his  opinion  that  with  all  its  defects  the  Act  of 
last  session  is  an  enormous  stride  in  advance  of  the  old 
system  of  contributory  help  under  which  schools  multi¬ 
plied  but  education  slipped  backwards.  He  complained, 
however,  that  it  dealt  with  the  quantity  of  education,  hut 
not  with  its  quality.  The  improvement  which  was  gra¬ 
dually  being  developed  in  the  village  schools  had  been 
thrown  back  by  the  State,  which  had  made  them  mecha¬ 
nical  manufactories,  turning  out  no  end  of  yards  of  the 
three  R’s,  in  standards  one,  two,  and  three,  but  very  few 
in  standards  four,  five,  and  six,  because  the  latter  do  not 
pay.  Dr.  Playfair  proceeded :  even  in  the  least  produc¬ 
tive  of  arts,  that  of  war,  a  State  is  served  by  the  universal 
education  of  her  soldiers.  The  educational  principle  of 
Continental  nations  is  to  link  on  primary  schools  to  se¬ 
condary  improvement  schools.  The  links  are  always 


272 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  1,  1870. 


composed  of  higher  subjects;  the  three  R’s  being  in  all 
cases  the  mere  basis.  Elementary  science,  and  even  some 
of  its  applications  are  encouraged  or  enforced.  Our  pri¬ 
mary  schools  do  not  teach  higher  instruction  than  a  child 
eight  years  of  age  may  learn.  No  armour-plate  of  know¬ 
ledge  is  given  to  our  future  artisan,  hut  a  mere  thin 
veneer  of  the  three  R’s,  so  thin  as  to  rub  off  completely 
in  three  or  four  years  of  the  wear  and  tear  of  life.  So, 
under  our  present  system,  no  knowledge  hearing  on  the 
work  in  life  of  the  people  reaches  them  as  a  result  of  State 
education.  And  yet  we  are  surprised  at  the  consequences 
of  their  ignorance.  A  thousand  men  perish  yearly  in 
our  coal  mines,  but  no  schoolmaster  tells  the  poor  miner 
the  nature  of  the  gas  which  scorches  him,  or  of  the  after¬ 
damp  which  chokes  him.  Boilers  of  steam-engines  blow 
up  so  constantly  that  a  Committee  of  the  House  of  Com¬ 
mons  has  been  engaged  in  trying  to  diminish  the  fre¬ 
quency  of  such  explosions,  hut  the  stokers  who  are  scalded 
to  death  or  blown  to  pieces  were  never  instructed  in  the 
nature  and  properties  of  steam.  In  Great  Britain  alone 
more  than  100,000  people  perish  annually,  and  at  least 
five  times  as  many  sicken  grievously,  out  of  pure  igno¬ 
rance  of  the  laws  of  health,  which  are  never  imparted 
to  them  at  school,  and  which,  as  they  pass  into  no  se¬ 
condary  schools,  they  have  no  chance  of  learning  after¬ 
wards.  Our  pauperism,  our  crime  and  the  misery  they 
produce,  increase  terribly ;  and  our  panacea  for  their  cure 
is  teaching  the  three  R’s  up  to  standard  3.  Our  large 
faith  in  our  little  doings  will  not  remove  mountains.  Our 
low  quality  of  education  is  impoverishing  the  land.  It 
is  disgracefully  behind  the  age  in  which  we  live  and  the 
civilization  of  which  we  boast.  In  the  schools  prior  to 
the  Revised  Code  words  instead  of  ideas  were  worshipped. 
The  teaching  of  science  is  the  reverse  of  all  this,  and  will 
go  far  to  remedy  its  defects.  The  whole  yearnings  of  a 
child  are  for  the  natural  phenomena  around  until  they 
are  smothered  by  the  ignorance  of  the  parent.  Do  not 
suppose  that  I  wish  the  primary  school  to  he  a  lecture- 
theatre  for  all  or  any  of  the  “  ologies.”  While  I  advo¬ 
cate  the  introduction  of  higher  subjects  into  our  schools 
I  wish  them  to  he  of  immediate  interest  and  applicability 
to  the  working  classes.  Six  months  spent  in  teaching 
futm-e  labourers  the  wanderings  of  the  children  of  Israel 
is  sheer  waste  of  time,  as  regards  either  their  temporal 
or  their  eternal  interests.  If  you  bring  up  a  ploughman 
in  utter  ignorance  of  everything  relating  to  the  food  of 
plants,  of  every  mechanical  principle,  of  farm  imple¬ 
ments,  of  the  weather  to  which  he  is  exposed,  of  the  sun 
that  shines  upon  him  and  makes  the  plants  to  grow,  of 
the  rain  which,  while  it  drenches  him,  refreshes  the 
crops  around,  is  that  ignorance  conducive  to  his  functions 
as  an  intelligent  being  made  after  the  image  of  Him  who 
has  done  all  things  wisely  ?  In  all  the  operations  of  the 
field,  from  the  breaking-up  and  manuring  of  the  soil  to 
the  harvesting  of  the  grain,  which  of  the  two  men  would 
feel  that  he  had  the  most  noble  education — the  ignorant 
clodhopper  knowing  nothing  that  he  is  doing,  the  mere 
tool  or  slave  of  his  master,  or  the  worker,  intelligent, 
and  knowing  his  occupation,  aiding  nature  to  fulfil  her 
wise  laws,  and  by  doing  so  feeling  himself  like  St.  Paul, 
and  with  his  humility  also,  to  be  “a  fellow- worker  with 
God  ?”  I  have  selected  for  illustration  the  occupation 
in  which  the  working-man  is  now  the  least  cultured  and 
intelligent,  but  there  is  not  a  single  craft  which  could 
not  be  dignified  in  a  similar  way.  Let  me,  then,  refer 
you  to  an  example,  scarcely  known,  as  it  is  separated 
from  us  by  stormy  seas,  but  singularly  instructive  and 
significant.  Those  of  us  who  have  passed  middle  life 
recollect  the  chronic  state  of  misery  and  poverty  in  the 
Scilly  Islands,  off  the  coast  of  Cornwall.  In  such  a 
wretched  condition  were  they  that  the  inhabitants  were 
only  preserved  from  starvation  during  the  winter  months 
by  constant  contributions  from  the  mainland.  Now  we 
never  hear  cries  of  distress  from  these  islands,  and  for 
what  reason  ?  In  1834,  Mr.  Smith,  who  became  their 
proprietor,  undertook  their  improvement.  He  abolished 


the  cottar  system,  consolidated  holdings,  founded  good 
schools  under  a  compulsory  system  of  his  own,  and  kept 
them  up  to  the  mark  by  constant  inspection.  He  did 
not  content  himself  with  the  three  R’s,  but  directed  the 
instruction  towards  the  occupations  of  an  insular  people. 
History,  geography,  the  rudiments  of  mathematics,  and 
navigation  were  taught  to  the  children.  And  with  what 
result  ?  So  much  esteemed  are  the  youths  of  the  Scilly 
Islands  as  sailors  that  vessels  sometimes  stop  there  to 
procure  them,  and  very  frequently  they  rise  to  be  mates 
and  masters.  Pauperism  has  vanished  from  the  islands, 
so  that  it  is  difficult  to  find  any  of  its  population  poor 
enough  to  accept  the  alms  offered  in  the  Communion 
Service.  The  well-educated  population  show  a  disposi¬ 
tion  to  pass  to  the  mainland,  for  they  are  much  appre¬ 
ciated  there,  and  receive  high  wages. 


BRITISH  PHARMACEUTICAL  CONFERENCE. 

Tuesday ,  September  13  th. 

Notes  on  the  Cultivation  of  the  Opium  Poppy  in 

Australia. 

BY  JOHN  W.  HOOD,  CHEMIST,  MELBOURNE. 

This  paper  was  communicated  by  Mr.  T.  N.  R.  Mor- 
son,  together  with  the  following  letter  addressed  to  the 
Chairman  of  the  Liverpool  Local  Committee : — 

“38,  Queen’ s  Square,  W.C., 

“  September  l(kA,  1870. 

“  My  dear  Mr.  Abraham, — I  this  day  send  you  the 
paper  on  Opium  received  last  mail  from  Melbourne ;  it  is 
a  highly  interesting  paper,  and  at  the  present  time  a  very 
important  one.  I  have  no  doubt  that  very  good  opium 
can  be  produced  in  Australia,  and  at  a  reasonable  price. 
To  the  inhabitants  of  this  part  of  the  globe  its  home  cul¬ 
ture  is  very  important,  on  account  of  the  heavy  duty  on 
that  imported  from  Europe.  I  have  examined  several 
samples  sent  me  at  various  times,  and  although  they 
varied  very  considerably  in  the  quantity  of  morphia  they 
contained,  I  considered  them  all  to  be  genuine  opiums. 

“  I  also  send  you  the  specimens  I  received  per  post  with 
the  paper,  please  exhibit  them.  I  should  like  to  have 
them  returned  to  me  after  the  Conference  is  over.  I 
wish  to  test  some  of  them,  and  afterwards  to  send  them 
to  the  Museum  in  Bloomsbury  Square,  in  Mr.  Hood’s 
name.  “  T.  N.  R.  Morson.” 


The  farmers  in  Victoria,  for  a  good  many  years,  have 
been  touched  with  a  desire  to  try  new  crops  and  new 
industries.  Among  the  many  ventures,  suitable  or  un¬ 
suitable,  was  the  cultivation  of  the  poppy  and  the  pro¬ 
duction  of  opium,  which  has  been  tried  with  varying  suc¬ 
cess  for  the  past  four  or  five  years. 

I  have  felt  some  interest  in  this  subject  and  have  col¬ 
lected  many  samples  from  various  districts,  and  also  per¬ 
formed  some  rather  crude  experiments  myself  on  the 
growth  of  the  poppy,  which  I  beg  to  submit.  I  feel  that, 
perhaps,  my  conclusions  may  be  of  little  value,  but  as  I 
propose  extending  my  investigations  annually,  I  hope 
eventually  to  arrive  at  the  best  means  of  producing  the 
greatest  amount  of  opium  together  with  richness  in 
morphia,  from  a  given  quantity  of  poppy  plants. 

The  first  opium  produced  in  any  quantity  in  Victoria 
was  at  Sunbury,  a  village  about  twenty-two  miles  from 
Melbourne.  Soil  strong,  rich,  volcanic.  It*  was  a  good- 
looking  opium ;  on  analysis  it  only  yielded  some  2  per 
cent,  of  morphia,  but  contained  an  abnormal  amount  of 
other  opium  constituents,  notably  narcotine,  of  which 
there  was  about  8  per  cent.  I  sent  samples  of  this,  and 
other  opium  from  about  the  same  locality,  to  T.  N.  R. 
Morson,  Esq.,  who,  as  reported  in  the  Pharmaceutical 
Journal  for  January,  1869,  stated,  “It  was  of  great 

*  Sample  1. 


October  1,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


273 


beauty  as  far  as  external  characters  were  concerned,  it 
had  the  perfect  odour  of  good  opium,  and  it  dissolved 
with  the  Persian  character,  but  singular  to  say  it  con¬ 
tained  very  little  morphia,  but  a  great  abundance  of  the 
other  principles  known  to  exist  in  opium.” 

This  opinion,  from  so  well  known  an  authority  on  all 
concerned  with  opium,  of  course  reached  Melbourne,  and 
was  published  here  with  the  effect  of  greatly  discouraging 
the  industry.  However,  a  few  did  continue  to  plant  and 
produce,  and  this  last  season  probably  a  hundredweight 
and  a  half  were  brought  into  the  market  here,  where  it 
realized  about  thirty  shillings  (30s.)  per  lb.,  as  it  proved 
to  be  a  very  good  opium,  containing  from  8  per  cent,  to 
10  per  cent,  of  morphia. 

Mr.  Morson’s  opinion  being  so  much  thought  of,  I 
sent  him  samples.  His  report  being  a  favourable  one, 
I  had  it  published  in  the  agricultural  papers,  and  now 
some  attention  is  again  given  to  the  opium  culture,  and 
I  expect  that  sufficient  will  shortly  be  made  to  enable  a 
trial  shipment  to  be  made  to  London,  as  from  the  high 
price  ruling  for  opium  and  its  preparations  it  is  vory  de¬ 
sirable  that  new  sources  of  supply  be  discovered.  With 
the  beautiful  climate  and  fine  soil  of  Australia  eminently 
adapted  for  poppy-growing,  enough  opium  should  be 
produced  to  make  a  marked  influence  on  the  price  in 
the  European  markets,  as  the  growers  here  will  be  well 
paid  at  from  ten  to  twelve  shillings  per  pound ;  but  as  our 
consumption  here  is  enormous,  owing  to  the  great  num¬ 
ber  of  Chinese  colonists,  it  will  probably  be  some  years 
before  the  supply  greatly  exceeds  the  local  demand. 

I  send  herewith  samples  of  opium  from  various  loca¬ 
lities,  produced  in  1867-8,  1868-9  and  1869-70. 

The  poppy  is  sown  here  in  the  months  of  June,  July 
and  early  part  of  August,  the  opium  being  collected  in 
the  summer  months  of  January,  February  and  March. 
Most  of  the  seed  was  obtained  from  Smyrna,  and  pro¬ 
duces  plants  from  five  to  seven  feet  high,  each  bearing 
three  or  four  flowers  of  four  large  white  petals.  There 
is  also  some  East  Indian  variety  cultivated  with  double 
purple  or  black  flowers,  but  it  is  not  popular,  as  it  only 
has  one  flower  on  each  plant  and  yields  but  little  opium. 

In  1868  I  was  desirous  of  ascertaining  whether  special 
manures  or  manner  of  culture  had  any  influence  on  the 
amount  of  opium  yielded  and  its  richness  in  morphia, 
and,  to  determine  it,  made  the  following  experiments : — 

I  took  six  plots  of  virgin  ground  and  treated  them  as 
follows : — 

Nos.  1  and  4  were  manured  with  well-decayed  stable 
manure. 

Nos.  2  and  5  were  entirely  without  manure. 

Nos.  3  and  6  were  manured  with  spent  lime  from  soft- 
soap  works,  containing  about  3  per  cent,  of  potash  and 
with  Peruvian  guano. 

Each  plot  was  the  same  size,  and  was  drill-sown  with 
the  same  lot  of  seeds  on  the  following  dates: — • 

Nos.  1  and  2,  sown  on  June  13th. 

Nos.  3  and  4  ,,  July  1st. 

No.  5  „  „  12th. 

No.  6  „  „  20th. 

The  plants  were  all  above  ground  about  ten  days  after 
each  sowing,  and  about  a  fortnight  after  I  thinned  them 
out,  leaving  150  plants  on  each  plot.  Plots  1,  3,  4  and 
6  received  no  artificial  irrigation,  but  depended  for 
moisture  entirely  on  the  rainfall,  while  Nos.  2  and  5 
were  watered  well  every  week  until  just  before  flower¬ 
ing.  When  ripe,  I  carefully  cut  the  heads  and  collected 
the  opium,  obtaining  the  following  yields : — 


No. 

Yield  of  Opium  in  Grains. 

1 

153 

2 

177 

3 

159 

4 

171 

5 

189 

6 

203 

The  greatest  yields  were  from  Nos.  5  and  6,  the  last 
planted.  Nos.  2  and  5,  which  were  without  manure, 
but  with  plenty  of  moisture,  yielded  much  more  than 
Nos.  1  and  4,  those  manured  with  stable  manure.  The 
opium  was  of  the  ordinary  consistence,  and,  as  far  as 
possible,  free  from  leaves  or  accidental  impurities.  Now, 
as  to  the  richness  of  the  samples  in  morphia. 

On  assay  from  one  hundred  grains  of  each  sample,  well 
dried,  I  obtained  : — 


No. 

Grains  of  Morphia. 

1 

4t*o 

2 

6uj 

3 

6^j 

4 

4t6u 

5 

6-n> 

6 

7  iV 

I  also  obtained  a  notable  quantity  of  morphia  from  the 
aqueous  extract  of  the  bruised  green  heads  from  which 
the  opium  had  previously  been  as  far  as  possible  ex¬ 
tracted. 

As  the  same  seed,  differently  treated,  gives  plants  which 
yielded  opium  of  different  values,  I  naturally  infer  that 
manures,  nature  of  soil,  want  of  moisture,  or  excessive 
supply  of  water,  and  general  manner  of  cultivation,  have 
a  great  influence  on  the  value  of  the  opium  produced. 
Last  season  (1869-70)  I  performed  the  same  experiments 
with  relatively  the  same  results.  This  year  I  hope  to 
extend  my  operations  and  try  many  other  manures,  and 
have  requested  all  who  are  growing  opium  to  favour  me 
with  all  particulars  respecting  manures,  soil,  mode  of 
culture  and  collection  and  yield,  and,  if  possible,  a  sample 
of  the  opium. 

I  cannot  imagine  my  experiments  as  at  all  conclusive, 
as  the  differences  might  have  occurred  on  different  parts 
of  the  same  ground ;  but  if  I  find  that  treatment  with 
stable  manure,  as  a  rule  throughout  the  colony,  gives  a 
worse  yield  than  if  manured  with  guano,  I  may  then 
reasonably  think  that  Peruvian  guano  is  more  fit  for 
manuring  poppies  than  stable  manure ;  and  so  on,  until 
I  arrive  at  the  best  manure  and  best  method  of  cultiva¬ 
tion  of  the  poppy,  so  as  to  obtain  the  greatest  and  most 
valuable  yield  of  opium. 

Samples  of  opium  accompanying  this  paper  : — 

No.  1.  Produced  in  1867-8,  from  80  poppies,  at  Sun- 
bury,  twenty-two  miles  from  Melbourne. 

No.  2.  Produced  in  1869-70,  near  Gisborne,  thirty-two 
miles  from  Melbourne,  on  a  river-flat  of  rich  alluvial 
soil ;  yield  84  lbs.  per  acre. 

No.  3.  From  near  Bairnsdale,  Gipp’s  Land,  in  a  very 
cold  climate,  yield  over  60  lbs.  per  acre. 

No.  4.  From  near  Gisborne,  1867-8 ;  yield  50  lbs.  per 
acre. 

No.  5.  Grown  in  1868-9,  at  Soh  Yarra,  near  Mel¬ 
bourne,  collected  and  dried  on  tin-plates,  so  that  it  is  the 
pure  juice  dried. 

No.  6.  Grown  in  1868-9,  at  Dromana,  on  the  shores  of 
Port  Phillip  Bay,  in  very  sandy  soil ;  the  produce  of  420 
plants. 

Mr.  Dymond  (Birmingham)  observed  that  the  plan 
adopted  by  the  author  of  cutting  off  the  poppy  capsules, 
and  then  extracting  the  opium  from  them,  was  not  that 
practised  in  the  East.  He  had  made  experiments  with 
garden  poppies. 

Mr.  Sutton  (Norwich)  said  that  some  years  ago  a 
medical  gentleman  in  his  neighbourhood  grew  a  consi¬ 
derable  number  of  poppies,  and  extracted  opium  by  inci¬ 
sion  from  day  to  day,  but  the  air-dried  gum  contained 
less  than  2  per  cent,  of  morphia.  The  season,  however, 
was  damp  and  somewhat  cold,  and  this  he  (Mr.  Sutton) 
believed  was  detrimental  to  the  production  of  any  large 
proportion  of  morphia.  The  question  was  really  very 
little  understood,  but  from  experiments  in  various  parts  of 


274 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  1,  1870. 


the  world  it  seemed  an  undoubted  fact  that  fine,  dry,  warm 
weather  produced,  in  any  tolerable  climate,  a  fair  quality 
of  opium ;  whereas,  in  a  contrary  season,  the  other  and 
less  valuable  constituents  (narcotine,  etc.)  were  predomi¬ 
nant.  It  was  therefore  probable  that  the  effect  of  sun¬ 
light  and  warmth  would  be  to  convert  a  portion  of  these 
constituents  into  the  more  valuable  form  of  morphia. 
He  also  stated  that  it  was  his  intention  to  grow  some 
poppies  in  his  own  district,  should  he  able  to  procure 
good  seed,  and  also  forward  some  to  Australia,  for  the 
purpose  of  investigating  the  matter  more  fully. 

Mr.  Dymond  remarked  that  in  his  opinion  we  ought 
to  go  to  Smyrna  for  seed. 

Mr.  Brady  said  he  understood  some  of  the  Norfolk 
specimens  of  opium  contained  a  very  large  percentage  of 
morphia.  He  believed  it  was  considered  impossible  to 
produce  opium  on  a  large  estate  with  a  large  staff  of 
labourers ;  and  in  Asiatic  Turkey  poppies  are  grown 
for  the  purpose  only  by  small  farmers.  The  French 
had  tried  the  growth  of  poppies  in  Algeria,  but  with 
little  success,  so  that  other  conditions  besides  climate 
seemed  to  be  requisite.  The  extract  of  poppy  capsules 
had  been  found  by  Mr.  Deane  and  himself  to  differ  en¬ 
tirely  from  true  opium  in  microscopic  characters. 

Mr.  Groves  (Weymouth)  expressed  his  belief  that 
the  production  of  opium  was  a  continuous  process  of  the 
incised  poppy,  and,  therefore,  that  the  proposal  to  obtain 
opium,  or  anything  resembling  it  in  strength,  by  ex¬ 
pressing  the  unripe  capsules,  would  prove  delusive.  He 
had  himself,  on  two  occasions,  examined  carefully  the 
ripe  capsules.  On  the  first  occasion,  he  had  recovered 
sufficient  alkaloids  to  justify  further  experiment.  The 
second  experiment 'was  conducted  upon  50  lbs.  of  crushed 
capsules.  From  that  large  quantity  was  obtained,  nar- 
ceia  23  grs.,  morphia  75  grs.,  narcotine  36  grs.,  codeia 
33  grs.  He  had  a  decided  impression  that  the  “crushed  ” 
capsules  were  inferior  in  quality  to  the  “  poppy-heads.” 


Analysis  or  Bitter  Cassava  Juice,  and  Experiments 
in  Elucidation  op  its  Supposed  Antiseptic  Pro¬ 
perties. 

BY  PROFESSOR  ATTFIELD,  PH.D.,  F.C.S., 

Professor  of  Practical  Chemistry  to  the  Pharmaceutical 

Society. 

The  bitter  cassava  ( Manihot  utilissima ,  Pohl)  is  a  plant 
whose  tuberous  roots  yield  the  starch  which,  when  granu¬ 
lated,  is  known  as  tapioca.  The  juice  of  the  root  is  said 
to  be  somewhat  poisonous,  but,  when  heated,  the  noxious 
principle  disappears,  and  the  concentrated  fluid  is  used 
as  the  basis  of  various  sauces  (cassareep).  This  juice, 
freed  from  starch  and  boiled,  is  commonly  believed  to  be 
a  powerful  antiseptic.  (Shier,  ‘  Report  on  the  Starch-pro¬ 
ducing  Plants  of  the  Colony  of  British  Guiana,’  Deme- 
rara,  1847 ;  Hamilton,  Pharmaceutical  Journal,  1st 
series,  Vol.  V.  p.  30.) 

A  specimen  of  the  “boiled  juice  of  the  bitter  cassava,” 
having  a  dark  brown  colour  and  a  consistency  of  thick 
cream,  was  recently  sent  to  me  from  Jamaica  (through 
Mr.  Shepherd,  of  Chester),  with  a  request  that  it  should 
be  analysed  and  otherwise  examined,  with  the  view  of 
ascertaining  whether  or  not  its  stated  power  of  prevent¬ 
ing  decay  in  meat  rendered  it  worthy  of  application  as  a 
preserving  agent  on  a  large  scale.  The  following  ana¬ 
lytical  and  other  experiments  were  conducted  : — 

One  hundred  parts  of  the  juice  contain 

Water . 39-2 

Vegetable  matter : 

Albuminoid  substance  .  9-0 

Alkaloidal  bodies .  .  .  none 

Volatile  oil . trace 

Cane  or  grape  sugar  ._  none 

Starch . none 

Mucilaginous  and  other 
inert  matter .  .  .  .  37’7 

-  46  7 


Mineral  constituents : 

Iron  (as  peroxide)  .  .  2-8 

Other  inorganic  salts  .  11 ’3 

-  14T 

Experiments. 

First  Series. — Several  cooked  mutton  chops  were  well 
rubbed  with  various  quantities  of  the  juice,  and  others 
lightly  rubbed,  and  some  smeared  or  covered.  These 
and  a  raw  chop  were  set  aside  in  separate  cupboards. 
In  two  days  the  raw  chop  was  tainted,  and  in  three 
putrid.  In  three  days  one  chop  gave  evidence  of  mould ; 
in  four  days  more  mould,  on  the  others  also :  in  five  to 
eight  days,  all  more  or  less  mouldy  ;  on  the  seventh  day 
one  chop  tainted;  on  the  eighth  to  twelfth,  all  were 
tainted  and  some  putrid. 

Second  Series. — Some  cutlets  cooked  in  water  contain¬ 
ing  small  and  large  quantities  of  cassava  juice,  and  one 
cooked  without  juice,  were  set  aside  in  separate  cup¬ 
boards.  In  seven  days,  the  cutlet  without  juice  was 
putrid ;  in  fourteen  days,  the  others  had  become  mouldy 
and  putrid,  more  or  less  quickly,  and  to  a  greater  or 
less  extent. 

Third  Series. — Beef  was  affected  in  a  similar  manner, 
and  to  about  the  same  extent,  as  mutton. 

Fourth  Series. — Extract  of  meat  was  diluted  with  warm 
water,  and  three  portions  set  aside. 

a.  Unflavoured. 

b.  Flavoured  with  salt  and  pepper. 

c.  Flavoured  with  cassava  juice. 

In  four  days,  a,  the  simple  diluted  extract,  was 
tainted,  and  in  five  putrid.  In  five  days,  b  and  c  were 
slightly  mouldy ;  in  nine  days  tainted,  and  in  fifteen 
putrid, — each  to  about  the  same  extent. 

Remarks. 

The  analysis  and  other  experiments  show  that  cassava 
juice  contains  nothing  that  imparts  to  it  antiseptic  powers 
of  great  value.  Its  property  of  slightly  retarding  the  de¬ 
composition  of  raw  or  cooked  animal  matter  is  not  greater 
than  that  possessed  by  such  common  aromatics  as  pepper ; 
and  wholly  inadequate  to  warrant  its  employment  in 
preserving  meat  on  any  large  or  important  scale. 

The  foregoing  experiments  were  conducted  at  tempera¬ 
tures  of  atmosphere  varying  from  60°  to  80°  F.,  in  different 
places,  and  under  other  varying  conditions.  The  sample  of 
juice  was  apparently  of  average  quality,  though  contain¬ 
ing  a  larger  proportion  of  iron  than  is  present  in  a  speci¬ 
men  in  the  Museum  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society. 
Nothing  was  wanting  to  make  the  examination  fair  and 
crucial. 

I  am  of  opinion  that  the  slight  antiseptic  character  of 
bitter  cassava  juice  is  due  to  the  presence  of  a  very  small 
quantity  of  aromatic  oil,  and  that  the  juice  is  of  no  prac¬ 
tical  value  as  an  agent  for  preserving  meat. 

Since  these  experiments  were  made,  larger  trials  of  the 
juice  have  been  conducted  in  Jamaica,  with  similar  re¬ 
sults  to  those  now  described. 


On  the  so-called  “  Citrate  of  Magnesia”  of 
Pharmacy. 

BY  MR.  F.  M.  RIMMINGTON. 

There  appeared  in  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal  for 
June  15  th  a  letter  by  me  on  a  mode  of  estimating  the 
value  of  the  so-called  citrate  of  magnesia  by  estimating 
the  amount  of  carbonic  acid ;  and  I  then  stated  that  the 
amount  of  acid  was  influenced  by  two  causes,  either  by 
bad  management,  thereby  driving  off  by  heat  too  much 
of  the  carbonic  acid,  or,  by  the  diminution  of  the  pro¬ 
portion  of  the  bicarbonate  of  soda,  and  also,  as  a  matter 
of  course,  that  of  the  tartaric  acid  by  increasing  the  pro¬ 
portion  of  sugar  ;  for  it  follows  as  a  natural  consequence, 
that  if  one  of  the  constituents  be  increased,  the  others 
will  be  diminished  in  the  same  ratio  in  100  parts.  Now, 


October  1,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


275 


the  goodness  of  the  article  depends  upon  its  agreeableness 
as  a  beverage,  and  this  again  depends  upon  the  amount 
of  carbonic  acid  given  off  at  the  time  of  mixture. 

Since  writing  that  letter  I  have  examined  several 
samples,  and  tabulated  the  results  below. 

The  letters  A,  B,  C  distinguish  samples  from  three 
different  makers.  Those  not  marked  are  miscellaneous 
samples. 

One  sample  of  “A,”  on  analysis,  gave  44  per  cent,  of 
bicarbonate  of  soda,  but  only  yielded  15  per  cent,  of  car¬ 
bonic  acid,  being  only  two-thirds  of  the  quantity  that 
had  been  present  originally. 

A  sample  of  “  C  ”  contained  32  per  cent,  of  bicarbonate 
of  soda,  and  yielded  8-2  per  cent,  of  carbonic  acid,  being 
only  one-half  the  amount  that  must  have  been  in  combi¬ 
nation  with  the  soda. 


Table  of  Analytical  Results. 


No.  1  contained  12  per  cent.  C02 


2 

3 

A  4 
B  5 
6 
C  7 
B  8 
A  9 
10 
C  11 
B  12 
A  13 
B  14 
A  15 
C  16 


77 

77 

77 

77 

77 

77 

77 

77 

77 

77 

77 

77 

77 

77 


9 

8 

15 

16 
12-5 
10*5 
13 
167 

9-3 

8-0 


77 

77 

77 

77 

77 

77 

77 

77 

77 

77 


12-5 

14-8 

14 

15 


77 

77 


77 

77 


8-6 


77 


77 

77 

77 

77 

77 

77 

77 

77 

77 

77 

77 

77 

77 

77 

77 


The  average  of  four  samples  marked  A  is  15 ’4. 

77  f0Ur  77  77  B  „  13-9. 

„  three  „  ,,  C  „  8’9. 

The  difference  between  the  highest  and  the  lowest 
being  double  the  amount  of  carbonic  acid,  and,  as  a  con¬ 
sequence,  one-half  the  quantity  of  A  would  make  as  good 
an  effervescing  draught  as  double  the  quantity  of  C, — a 
difference  too  great  not  to  be  perceptible. 


Mr.  Groves  remarked  that  the  antiseptic  properties 
attributed  to  cassareep  were  perhaps  suggested  by  the 
little  tendency  to  decomposition  shown  by  the  fluid  from 
which  it  was  manufactured.  But  this  fluid  contained  a 
notable  quantity  of  prussic  acid,  the  influence  of  which 
in  retarding  fermentation  was  very  remarkable.  Of 
course  cassareep  would  contain  none  of  this  volatile  body ; 
it  must  necessarily  be  dissipated  during  evaporation. 

Mr.  Sutton  (Norwich)  said  that  the  preservative  pro¬ 
perties  of  the  “  cassareep  ”  must  be  very  considerable,  as 
he  believed  it  was  the  custom  of  families  in  Jamaica  and 
other  places  in  the  West  Indies,  to  keep  a  large  pot  of 
the  prepared  juice  in  the  house,  into  which  were  thrown 
odd  pieces  of  cooked  meat,  bones,  etc.,  where  they  were 
preserved  for  almost  any  length  of  time.  So  long  as 
they  were  kept  under  the  surface  no  decomposition  oc¬ 
curred. 

Mr.  Dymond  (Birmingham)  protested  against  the  Con¬ 
ference  officially  recognizing  the  application  of  the  term 
“  citrate  of  magnesia  of  pharmacy  ”  (which  was  the  title 
adopted  for  this  paper)  to  this  preparation,  inasmuch  as 
it  was  a  complete  misnomer.  He  had  formerly  objected 
to  it,  and  thought  the  preparation  should  at  most  be 
termed  citrate  of  magnesia  of  commerce.  It  was  in 
reality  a  mixture  of  tartaric  acid,  sugar  and  carbonate  of 
soda.  He  thought  this  Conference,  as  representing  and 
expressing  the  highest  aims  of  pharmacy,  ought  to  main¬ 
tain  a  scientific  purity  and  exactness  in  its  nomencla¬ 
ture. 

Mr.  Sumner  endorsed  this  opinion,  and  thought  it  de¬ 
rogatory  to  the  pharmaceutical  body  that  the  practice 
should  exist ;  and  this  was  not  the  only  misnomer  the 


Conference  ought  to  denounce.  Similarly  improper 
names  were  continually  creeping  in  from  time  to  time. 

Mr.  Abraham  asked  how  this  material  was  to  bo 
labelled  when  sold  ? 

Mr.  Dymond  replied  that  he  always  labelled  it  “  ci¬ 
trate  of  magnesia  so-called.” 

Mr.  Sutton  considered  it  should  be  labelled  “  granu¬ 
lated  tartrate  of  soda.” 

Mr.  Williams  (London)  said  citrate  of  magnesia  was 
easily  made,  and  was  very  pleasant  tasting.  For  that 
purpose  calcined  magnesia  and  crystallized  citric  acid 
should  be  heated  together  without  any  addition  of  water. 
Under  these  conditions  they  united  together,  forming  a 
soluble  salt. 

Mr.  Sumner  said  that  he  believed  that  King’s  was  a 
real  citrate  of  magnesia. 

Mr.  Abraham  said  he  had  not  analysed  King’s,  but 
he  believed  that  it  was  composed  of  bicarbonate  of  soda, 
tartaric  acid,  and  sulphate  of  magnesia. 

Mr.  Sutton,  of  Norwich,  had  subsequently  examined 
this  medicine,  and  found  it  to  consist  of  bicarbonate  of 
soda,  tartaric  acid,  and  sulphate  of  soda. 

Mr.  Brady,  whilst  deprecating  the  use  of  names  con¬ 
veying  a  wrong  impression  as  to  composition,  thought 
that,  t©  be  consistent,  those  who  advocated  an  abrupt 
change  in  this  particular  case  must  extend  their  protest 
to  “  seidlitz  powders,”  “  salt  of  lemons,”  and  a  number 
of  similar  terms  for  articles  in  very  general  demand. 

Mr.  Sandford  (London)  was  glad  this  question  of 
misnomer  had  been  brought  forward;  he  had  always 
protested  against  applying  definite  chemical  names  to 
articles  not  having  the  composition  thereby  designated, 
and  he  thought  it  was  specially  the  duty  of  this  Con¬ 
ference  to  discountenance  such  practice.  The  evil  was 
increasing ;  we  had  effervescing  “  nitrate  of  potash,”  of 
which  a  drachm  would  contain  5  grains,  but  what  was 
the  other  portion  of  the  powder  P  It  was,  too,  a  matter 
of  importance  to  dispensers.  Physicians  sometimes  pre¬ 
scribed  “  effervescing  citrate  of  potash,”  for  which  in  one 
shop  ordinary  “lemon  and  kali”  would  be  supplied,  in 
the  next  citrate  of  potash,  throwing  doubt  into  the  mind 
of  the  patient. 

Mr.  Phillips  (Crewe)  had  been  accustomed  to  sell 
this  preparation  in  Paris  under  the  name  of  “  granular 
effervescent  aperient,”  in  bottles  with  “  citrate  of  mag¬ 
nesia  ’  ’  stamped  on  them.  The  French  Government 
would  certainly  prevent  its  sale  under  the  false  name 
commonly  adopted  in  this  country.  Citrate  of  magnesia 
is  there  largely  employed  in  doses  of  40  to  60  grams  as 
a  saline  purgative,  and  is  known  under  the  name  of 
“  Limonade  Purgative.” 

Mr.  Groves  confirmed  the  statement  made  by  the  last 
speaker  as  to  the  dose  of  true  citrate  of  magnesia  given 
in  France  being  60  grams,  or  about  2  ounces.  If  the 
alkaline  citrate  or  tartrate  were  given,  they  underwent  a 
process  of  combustion  in  the  organism,  and  became  car¬ 
bonate  before  elimination  by  the  kidneys.  This  should 
be  recollected  by  prescribers. 

Mr.  Andrews  (London)  said  that  Mr.  Albert  E.  Ebert, 
of  Chicago,  had  suggested  that  the  term  “  granular  effer¬ 
vescent  salt”  should  be  applied  to  the  preparation  com¬ 
monly  known  as  “granular  citrate  of  magnesia.” 

Mr.  Umney  (London)  said  he  had  never  found  more 
than  17  per  cent,  carbonic  acid  in  the  samples  of  citrate 
of  magnesia  he  had  examined. 

It  was  then  moved  by  Mr.  Dymond,  seconded  by  Mr. 
Sutton, — 

“  That  this  Conference  is  of  opinion  that  the  term 
‘citrate  of  magnesia,’  as  applied  to  the  ordi¬ 
nary  granulated  preparation  of  commerce,  is  a 
misnomer,  and  should  be  discouraged  as  incon¬ 
sistent  with  the  true  interests  of  pharmacy ;  and 
seeing  that  a  similar  compound  is  already  recog¬ 
nized  by  the  British  Pharmacopoeia  of  1867  as 
‘  citro-tartrate  of  soda,’  this  name  should  as  ra¬ 
pidly  as  possible  be  brought  into  general  use.” 


27  G 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  1,  1870. 


Mr.  Greenish  objected  to  the  special  character  of  the 
latter  part  of  the  resolution,  and  considered  that  there 
was  no  necessity  for  alteration  of  name  so  long  as  granu¬ 
lar  effervescent  citrate  of  magnesia  was  only  a  commer¬ 
cial  article,  and  one  never  prescribed;  if  difficulties  were 
thrown  in  the  way  of  its  retail  sale  by  chemists,  grocers 
would  necessarily  take  it  off  their  hands. 

Professor  Atteield  thought  this  a  very  difficult  ques¬ 
tion  to  deal  with  by  any  formal  resolution.  Should  we 
not  have  “soda-water,”  “ seidlitz-powders ”  and  such 
articles,  next  brought  under  similar  condemnation  ? 

Mr.  Umney  considered  that  the  pharmacists  were  in 
the  hands  of  the  physician  for  such  granular  preparations 
as  effervescent  “nitrate  of  potash,”  and  in  those  of  the 
public  for  the  popular  “  citrate  of  magnesia.” 

Mr.  Savage  (Brighton)  said  whilst  the  discussion  was 
-one  of  some  importance,  it  seemed  to  him  undesirable 
to  make  any  alteration  of  a  name  so  well  known  to  the 
public,  and  the  best  course  to  adopt  would  be  to  avoid 
committing  this  Conference  to  any  resolution  not  likely 
to  be  generally  adopted. 

Mr.  Reynolds  (Leeds)  thought  that  the  second  part 
of  Mr.  Dymond’s  motion  deserved  support  fully  as  much 
as  the  first,  since  prescribers  were  liable  to  overlook  the 
large  quantity  of  alkaline  citrate  and  tartrate  united 
with  the  remedy  they  prescribed,  but  not  indicated  by 
the  name  employed. 

Mr.  Abraham  (Liverpool)  suggested  that  the  term 
“  citro-tartrate  of  soda,”  commonly  called  citrate  of  mag¬ 
nesia,”  should  be  used.  He  objected  to  the  term  “  granu¬ 
lar  effervescent  aperient,”  inasmuch  as  no  pharmaceutical 
description  was  comprised  in  such  a  name. 

Mr.  R.  M.  Atkinson  (Leeds)  thought  it  was  no  secret 
.that  the  article  was  entirely  wanting  in  both  citric  acid 
and  magnesia,  as  citrate  of  magnesia  could  not  be  made 
at  the  price  at  which  this  was  offered  in  the  market ;  he 
therefore  considered  it  an  imperative  duty  of  the  Con¬ 
ference,  if  it  wished  to  hold  an  honourable  position  and 
retain  the  confidence  of  the  public,  that  not  only  in  the 
present  instance,  but  for  the  future,  it  should  condemn 
*11  such  impositions  when  brought  before  it. 

Mr.  J.  H.  Richardson  (Cork)  said  he  entirely  ap¬ 
proved  of  the  resolution. 

Mr.  Mackay  (Edinburgh)  felt  a  difficulty  about  the 
second  part. 

Mr.  Ince  (London)  took  the  same  view,  and  the 
mover  having  consented  to  an  alteration,  the  motion 
was  carried  as  follows : — 

“  That  this  Conference  is  of  opinion  that  the  term 
*  citrate  of  magnesia,’  as  applied  to  the  ordinary 
granulated  preparation  of  commerce,  is  a  misno¬ 
mer, 'and  ought  to  be  discouraged  as  inconsistent 
with  the  true  interests  of  pharmacy.” 


SOCIETY  OF  ARTS.* 

On  Fermentation. 

BY  PROFESSOR  A.  W.  WILLIAMSON,  F.R.S. 

Lecture  III. 

In  referring,  at  our  last  meeting,  to  the  place  in 
nature  which  ought  to  be  assigned  to  these  little  orga¬ 
nisms  of  which  we  have  been  speaking, — the  ferments, — 
I  stated  one  ground  which  appeared  to  me  conclusive,  or 
very  nearly  so,  in  favour  of  placing  them  in  the  animal 
and  not  in  the  vegetable  kingdom.  That  ground  was  a 
chemical  one,  viz.  that  these  organs  assimilate,  or,  to  use 
a  homely  phrase,  they  feed  upon  very  complex  sub¬ 
stances,  and  they  give  off,  during  their  vital  functions, 
less  complex  substances.  That  circumstance  appears 
chemically  conclusive  in  favour  of  their  being  rather 
animals  than  plants,  for  plants  build  up  complex  sub¬ 
stances,  and  animals  assimilate  the  products  which  plants 
have  formed,  and  break  them  up  into  simpler  ones. 

*  Cantor  Lectures. 


There  are,  however,  two  other  considerations  which  I 
think  are  of  such  importance  that  it  would  be  undesir¬ 
able  to  pass  them  over,  which  tend  in  the  same  direc¬ 
tion,  and  are  striking  confirmations  of  the  conclusion  to 
which  we  then  came.  The  one  is,  that  whereas  plants 
require  for  their  growth  the  light  of  the  sun — in  fact, 
their  very  growth  is  a  process  of  absorption  of  heat  by 
their  leaves  from  the  rays  of  the  sun — and  plants  by 
doing  so  render  heat  latent,  as  we  sometimes  express  it, 
that  is,  they  cause  an  apparent  disappearance  of  heat, 
and  lower  the  temperature  of  the  surrounding  space; 
animals,  on  the  contrary,  give  off  heat  during  the  exer¬ 
cise  of  their  vital  fimetions,  and  do  not  need  to  be  exposed 
to  heat  or  to  continuous  light  for  their  growth.  Now,  in 
both  these  respects,  as  in  the  other  respects,  these  little 
cells,  the  ferments,  appear  to  be  distinctly  animals.  I 
do  not  know  of  one  case  of  a  ferment  requiring  or  using 
for  its  vital  processes  the  light  of  the  sun  ;  they  usually 
grow,  and  they  seem  to  thrive  quite  well  in  the  dark. 
Again,  there  are  well-known  cases  in  which,  during 
their  vital  functions,  they  evolve  or  give  off  heat,  so 
that  I  think  these  are  very  overwhelming  reasons  for 
not  considering  them  as  vegetables  in  their  functions, 
but  rather  as  animals  or  animal  atoms.  I  have  on  the 
table  here  three  or  four  liquids,  which  are  in  states  of 
fermentation,  of  which  I  have  already  had  occasion  to 
speak  several  times.  This  first  carboy  contains  an  ex¬ 
tract  of  malt,  to  which  common  cane  sugar  has  been 
added,  and  some  brisk,  thriving  yeast  was  then  intro¬ 
duced.  Effervescence  is  now  rapidly  going  on,  as  you 
may  hear  by  the  gas — carbonic  acid — which  is  escaping 
through  the  bent  tube  into  the  vessel  containing  lime- 
water.  This  liquid  contains  little  soft,  nearly  round 
particles,  which  I  "was  just  speaking  of  as  animals, 
though  they  certainly  do  not  look  like  animals.  The 
second  flask  contains  another  substance,  of  which  I  also 
spoke  the  other  evening.  There  is  here  what  I  might 
call  gastric  juice — it  is  a  mixture  made  for  the  purpose 
of  getting  lactic  acid  from  sugar.  Some  pepsine  was 
made  to  digest  a  certain  quantity  of  white  of  egg,  and 
that  mixture,  whilst  still  acid,  I  mixed  with  some  com¬ 
mon  cane  sugar,  and  put  into  it  some  alcoholic  ferment, 
or  common  yeast.  A  good  deal  of  the  yeast  was  di¬ 
gested,  it  disapp  eared  and  was  dissolved.  I  thereupon 
put  in  more  and  more,  until  there  was  an  excess  of  it 
left  in  the  flask.  It  was  then  kept  for  upwards  of  a 
week  in  a  box  which  I  have  been  using  for  the  purpose 
of  these  fermentations — a  metallic  box,  which  is  kept, 
by  means  of  a  regulated  gas-burner,  at  a  temperature  of 
about  30°  Centigrade,  or  a  little  above  blood  heat.  Dur¬ 
ing  that  time  the  substance  has  been  gradually  under¬ 
going  a  change  or  fermentation.  It  became  strongly 
acid,  and  I  then  added  a  base,  at  one  time  potash,  and 
afterwards  powdered  marble  or  carbonate  of  lime,  which 
was  dissolved  by  the  acid,  and  thus  a  quantity  of  lactic 
acid  was  formed.  Here  also  there  are  little  cells,  which, 
under  the  microscope,  can  be  seen  to  be  different  from 
those  in  the  first  mixture.  They  are  smaller  in  their 
dimensions,  but  yet  they  present  no  very  marked  indi¬ 
vidual  characteristics  by  which  they  can  be  identified. 
Indeed  the  chief,  or,  I  may  almost  say,  the  only  thing 
by  which  we  can  certainly  identify  any  one  of  these 
organisms  is  by  setting  it  to  work,  and  by  seeing  what 
work  it  performs.  In  the  third  carboy  I  have  a  mixture 
which  had  gone  through  the  phase  I  have  just  been 
speaking  of ;  it  contained  some  sugar  with  lactic  fer¬ 
ment,  but  when  all  the  sugar  had  disappeared,  and  was 
transformed  into  lactic  acid,  I  left  the  carboy  in  the  same 
warm  chamber,  and  another  fermentation  has  set  in,  and 
there  is  already  a  considerable  quantity  of  the  substance 
called  butyric  acid  present,  and  the  greater  part,  if  not 
the  whole,  of  the  lactic  acid  has  already  passed  over  inly 
this  butyric  acid.  Here,  in  this  glass  dish,  there  is 
another  ferment  still,  although,  unfortunately,  it  has  got 
disturbed  in  coming  here.  It  contained  a  decoction  of 
yeast,  with  which  was  put  about  2  per  cent,  of  pure 


October  1,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


277 


vinegar  and  a"bout  4  per  cent,  of  alcohol,  and  I  then 
touched  the  surface  of  the  liquid,  which  was  perfectly 
clear,  with  a  glass  rod  which  had  been  in  contact  with 
the  vinegar-plant,  and  left  some  little  particles  floating- 
on  the  surface  of  the  liquid.  These  little  particles,  in 
the  course  of  a  day  or  two,  spread  over  the  liquid,  and 
when  this  vessel  came  from  University  College  this 
morning  it  was  covered  with  a  perfectly  uniform  film, 
consisting  of  little  cells  different  from  each  of  the  others 
to  wrhich  I  have  called  your  attention,  and  quite  dis¬ 
tinguishable  under  the  microscope.  I  should  state  that 
after  the  mixture  w-as  first  made,  and  after  the  vinegar- 
cells  were  put  into  it  and  allowed  to  grow  on  it,  I  sup¬ 
plied  them  with  some  additional  food  twice.  On  one 
occasion  I  added  a  somewhat  larger  quantity  of  alcohol 
than  was  intended,  and  the  effect  was  that  the  cells 
were  most  injuriously  affected.  They  constituted  a 
dense,  smooth,  wdiite  film,  and  this  seemed  almost  to 
disappear,  and  on  examination  under  the  microscope  it 
was  found  that  they  had  shrunk — in  fact,  they  had  been 
killed  by  a  too  strong  dose  of  alcohol.  This  w-as  then 
allowed  to  evaporate,  and  the  vinegar-cells  very  soon 
again  spread  over  the  liquid.  I  will  now  commence  in 
another  dish  a  similar  experiment.  I  have  in  this  bottle 
a  mixture  of  yeast- water  and  alcoh:l,  with  a  few  drops 
of  acetic  acid  in  it.  I  wall  pour  this  into  the  glass  dish, 
and  then  put  on  to  the  surface  some  of  these  little  fer¬ 
ments  which  I  have  here,  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  if 
we  allow  this  mixture  to  stand  wre  shall  find  by  our  next 
meeting  that  it  w-ill  be  covered  over  w-ith  a  smooth  film, 
consisting  of  vinegar-cells,  w-hich  will  be  transforming 
the  alcohol  into  acetic  acid.  I  may  show  you  the 
strength  of  the  acid  in  this  last  instance  by  putting  into 
it  a  slip  of  blue  test-paper,  wdiich  you  see  is  immediately 
coloured  a  deep  red. 

With  regard  to  the  process  by  which  these  cells  are 
propagated  some  exceedingly  interesting  experiments 
have  been  made  under  the  microscope.  Professor 
Mitscherlich  and  various  others, — Pasteur  among  them, 
— have  put  little  alcohol  cells  under  the  microscope, 
putting  them  first  into  a  liquid  upon  which  they  could 
feed,  and  they  have  noticed  that  the  cells,  or  some  of 
them,  gradually  swelled  out  at  one  side, — that  a  little 
wart,  if  I  may  use  the  expression,  made  its  appearance 
on  one  side  ;  that  this  increased  in  size  until  it  became 
as  large  as  the  original  cell,  and  then  it  became  de¬ 
tached.  The  propagation  of  the  alcohol  cells,  the  wine 
ferment,  has  been  seen  by  several  observers  to  take 
place  by  a  process  of  budding.  I  wfill  show  you  the 
growing  cells,  by  throwing  on  the  screen,  by  means  of 
an  oxy-hydrogen  lantern,  a  photograph  of  the  wine  fer¬ 
ment,  some  of  which  will,  I  believe,  show  a  little  excre¬ 
scence  at  the  side,  and  the  general  arrangement  of  the 
cells  will  be  easily  detected.  This  is  a  photograph  from 
a  plate  of  M.  Pasteur’s,  and  conveys  an  exact  represen¬ 
tation  of  the  appearance  which  the  alcohol  cells  ordina¬ 
rily  present.  I  will  now  showr  you  the  photograph  of 
the  acetic  ferments,  and  the  difference  in  the  general 
appearance  is  very  striking.  When  examined  carefully 
it  wall  be  found  that  these  little  vinegar  cells  are  in 
couples,  little  masses  about  twrice  as  long  as  they  are 
broad,  and  by  degrees  they  become  strangulated  at  the 
waist,  and  ultimately  separate.  With  a  considerable 
magnifying  power,  it  has  been  found  that  the  wane  cells 
contain  granulated  particles,  but  exceedingly  little  is 
yet  known  of  their  structure.  Certainly  one  of  the  most 
promising  directions  for  investigation  in  the  phenomena 
of  life  is  presented  by  the  study  of  these  various  little 
organisms,  wrhich  wre  have  so  completely  under  our 
control. 

With  regard  to  the  processes  by  which  these  cells  are 
propagated,  I  have  mentioned  already,  that  when  certain 
liquids,  capable  of  undergoing  decomposition,  are  ex¬ 
posed  to  the  air,  some  little  cells  gradually  make  their 
appearance  in  w-hat  was  at  first  quite  an  unaccountable 
manner.  It  was  long  supposed,  and  on  very  good  au¬ 


thority,  that  the  oxygen  of  the  air  was  the  active  agent 
in  transforming  a  fermentable  substance  into  these  little 
cells ;  and  Gay-Lussac,  one  of  the  ablest  of  French 
chemists,  who  died  a  short  time  ago,  made  some  very 
careful  experiments  with  a  view  to  decide  that  point. 
They  led  him  to  the  conclusion  that  oxygen  was  all  that 
was  needed  in  order  to  initiate  the  process  of  fermenta¬ 
tion  in  the  juice  of  grapes,  which  by  itself  does  not  fer¬ 
ment.  It  is  worth  while  to  state,  in  general  terms,  the 
nature  of  these  experiments.  He  put  into  a  glass  vessel, 
closed  by  mercury,  a  small  quantity  of  grape  juice,  which 
was  expressed  under  mercury,  so  that  it  did  not  come  in 
contact  with  air  on  its  w-ay  into  the  glass  jar  intended  to 
receive  it.  This  was  then  kept  closed  for  some  time 
without  change.  He  then  introduced  oxygen,  sometimes, 
from  the  atmosphere — I  am  now  giving  you  an  account 
partly  of  what  w-as  done  by  Gay-Lussac,  and  partly  what 
w-as  done  by  others — and  sometimes  the  oxygen  was  de¬ 
rived  from  potassic  chlorate.  Air  w-as  used  which  had 
been  passed  through  red-hot  tubes,  so  that  any  vital  or¬ 
ganisms  in  it  must  have  been  destroyed  before  reaching 
the  grape-juice;  and  it  was  found  that,  in  these  cases, 
the  access  of  the  air  to  the  substance  did  induce  the 
formation  of  yeast-cells,  and  did  induce  a  process  of  alco¬ 
holic  fermentation  in  the  liquid  by  their  grow-th.  The 
conclusion,  therefore,  appeared  to  be  established  that 
oxygen  was  all  that  w-as  needed  for  the  process.  Since 
that  time,  however,  other  experiments  have  been  made, 
w-ith  precautions  which  were  not  observed  by  Gay- 
Lussac  ;  and  I  must  especially  quote  a  truly  masterly 
investigator,  Pasteur,  whose  extraordinary  researches  in 
this  subject  have  certainly  constituted  an  important  era 
in  our  knowledge  of  it.  Pasteur  has  made  a  great  num¬ 
ber  of  experiments,  partly  such  as  those  which  had  been 
made  before,  and  partly  fresh  ones,  of  w-hich  I  will  de¬ 
scribe  a  few  characteristic  samples.  For  instance,  he- 
took  little  glass  bulbs,  w-ith  a  long  neck  bent  in  several 
places,  like  the  one  I  hold  in  my  hand.  This  little  bulb 
contains  some  yeast-wrater,  and  also  about  10  per  cent,  of 
sugar,  a  mixture  which  is  peculiarly  susceptible  of  un¬ 
dergoing  fermentation  and  decompositions  of  various 
kinds.  When  this  w-as  introduced  into  such  a  bulb, 
Pasteur  boiled  the  liquid  for  some  time,  so  that  any 
little  living  particles  w-hich  might  have  entered  the  bulb 
with  the  liquid,  by  being  exposed  to  the  temperature  of 
boiling  water,  might  be  killed,  and  also  that  any  parti¬ 
cles  which  might  be  lodged  in  the  neck  of  the  flask  w-ould 
be  similarly  treated  and  killed.  Some  of  these  bulbs  he 
closed,  sealing  up  the  tubes  whilst  still  full  of  steam,  and 
he  then  put  them  by  in  a  warm  chamber,  similar  to  that 
w-hich  I  just  now  alluded  to  as  being  of  the  temperature 
of  30°  Centigrade,  so  that  they  should  be  under  the  con¬ 
ditions  most  favourable  to  the  development  of  any  little 
living  organisms,  if  such  could  develope  themselves.  He 
so  kept  them  for  days,  w-eeks,  and  months,  and  I  am  not 
sure  that  he  did  not  keep  some  for  years,  and  at  the  end 
of  the  w-hole  time  he  found  that  in  no  case  w-as  there  the 
production  of  these  vital  organisms.  I  told  you  that 
when  the  tube  was  closed  the  vessel  w-as  full  of  steam  ; 
of  course  that  steam  was  condensed  on  cooling,  and  left 
a  partial  vacuum  above  the  liquid,  and  w-hen  Pasteur 
opened  the  tube  by  breaking  off  the  point,  the  air  rushed 
in  violently  to  fill  the  vacant  space.  He  found  that  in 
almost  every  case,  although  not  in  all,  after  this  air  had 
rushed  in,  a  process  of  decomposition  commenced,  and  in 
some  cases  he  found  little  animalcules,  and  various  kinds- 
of  mould  in  others,  and  he  has  described  a  considerable 
number  of  different  organisms  which  he  got  in  different 
bulbs  in  that  manner.  It  so  happened,  also,  that  in  one 
case  the  tube,  I  think  accidentally,  at  first  remained,  un¬ 
sealed,  that  it  was  not  kept  from  contact  w-ith  the  air  as 
the  others  were ;  still,  to  his  amazement,  Pasteur  found 
that  even  in  this  one  w-hich  remained  open  there  werc.no 
organisms,  that  it  remained  as  unchanged  as  those  w-hich 
were  sealed  up.  Finding  this,  he  repeated  the  experi¬ 
ment  many  times,  making  a  great  number  of  bulbs  similar 


278 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  1,  1870. 


to  the  first,  putting  some  of  that  same  liquid  into  them, 
and  boiling  the  liquid  for  some  time,  so  as  to  destroy  any 
organisms  ;  but,  when  they  had  been  killed,  he  left  the 
bulbs  open,  and  he  found  that  the  contents  were  as 
effectually  protected  by  the  conditions  there  present  as 
if  the  tubes  had  been  sealed.  He  submitted  the  results 
to  several  members  of  the  French  Academy ;  the  expe¬ 
riment  was  repeated  by  other  persons,  and  the  results 
showed — if  there  were  any  exceptions  I  do  not  remem¬ 
ber  hearing  of  them — that  no  organisms  were  produced. 
You  will  notice  that  the  liquid  which  had  been  boiled 
was  separated  by  a  long,  thin  tube  from  the  outer  air, 
and  the  air  only  had  access  to  it  through  this  long,  nar¬ 
row,  tortuous  passage,  which,  moreover,  was  at  first  wet 
inside,  because  of  the  condensed  steam.  Pasteur  then 
cut  off  some  of  the  tubes,  so  as  to  allow  free  access  of  air 
to  the  contents,  without  having  to  pass  through  this 
long,  narrow  tube,  and  soon  after  that  was  done  the  pro¬ 
cess  of  decomposition  set  in,  and  he  got  various  organisms 
formed  in  his  mixture,  which  developed  themselves  in 
the  way  yeast,  mould,  and  such-like  organisms  generally 
do. 

{To  be  continued.) 

Mortality  from  Snake-Poisoning'. — The  Lancet 

quoting  a  letter,  dated  the  11th  August,  from  T.  D. 
Beighton,  Esq.,  of  the  Bengal  Civil  Service,  magistrate 
of  the  subdivision  of  the  Culna  district  of  the  Burduan 
province  of  Bengal,  remarks,  “  The  Culna  district  com¬ 
prises,  we  presume,  80  or  100  square  miles,  and  has  a 
population  of  about  300,000.  Mr.  Beighton  says  that 
deaths  from  snake-bite  are  singularly  common  in  the 
subdivision.  An  average  of  one  per  day  is  reported 
through  the  police.  The  actual  deaths  are  probably 
double  the  number  reported.  If  this  daily  average  is 
meant  to  apply  the  whole  year  round,  we  should  thus 
get,  in  a  comparatively  small  district,  the  frightful  result 
of  700  deaths  from  snake-bite.  It  is  lamentable  to  think 
that,  despite  the  supposed  remedial  discoveries  in  this 
direction,  we  still  seem  to  be  without  an  agent  to  neu¬ 
tralize  the  effects  of  the  bites  of  poisonous  snakes.” 

Disinfectants  used  in  the  International  So¬ 
ciety’s  Hospitals. — A  correspondent  of  the  British 
Medical  Journal  says,  that  in  these  hospitals  the  sick  and 
wounded  are  most  rigorously  kept  apart ;  the  wounded 
on  the  lower,  the  sick  on  the  higher  floors  of  the  hospitals. 
A  space  of  1500  cubic  feet  is  allowed  for  each  bed.  Car¬ 
bolic  acid  powder  is  strewed  on  the  floors  of  the  rooms 
twice  a  week.  Chloride  of  lime  or  sulphate  of  iron  is 
used  for  the  privies.  Chloride  of  zinc  in  solution  is 
added  to  the  water  used  for  washing  the  bandages,  sheets, 
and  shirts  of  the  wounded.  The  compresses,  lint,  etc., 
are  put  into  a  solution  of  carbolic  acid,  and  afterwards 
poured  out  into  a  hole  dug  in  the  ground,  and  covered 
with  earth.  Sponges  are  used  only  to  wash  the  patients, 
each  of  whom  has  a  sponge  for  himself.  The  wounds 
are  syringed  with  warm  water,  to  which  permanganate 
of  potash  is  added.  The  lint  and  the  compresses  are 
moistened  before  being  placed  on  the  wounds,  sometimes 
with  carbolic  acid  solution,  or  with  a  mixture  of  carbolic 
acid  and  olive-oil. 

Impure  Acetic  Acid. — Dr.  Bruckner,  of  Phila¬ 
delphia,  reports  in  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy , 
that  he  has  found  acetic  acid  to  contain  phosphate  of 
lime.  This  is  a  fact  of  importance  in  reference  to  the 
use  of  acetic  acid  in  the  analysis  of  phosphatic  materials. 
The  author  suggests  that  the  phosphate  may  have  been 
derived  from  bone  black,  used  for  decolorizing  the  acid. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received : — The  ‘  British 
Medical  J ournal,’  Sept.  24 ;  the  ‘  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
Sept.  24;  the  ‘Lancet,’  Sept.  24;  ‘Nature,’  Sept.  22;  the 
‘  Chemical  News,’  Sept.  23;  ‘  Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’ 
Sept.  23;  ‘Gardeners’  Chronicle,’  Sept.  24;  the  ‘Grocer,’ 
Sept.  24 ;  the  ‘  English  Mechanic,’  Sept.  23  ;  the  ‘  American 
Chemist.’ 


femjjmtiimtt. 

Communications  for  this  Journal ,  and  boohs  for  review , 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

“Free  Trade  in  Surgical  Instruments.” 

Sir, — As  discussion  on  the  above  subject  appears  to  be  in¬ 
vited,  we,  the  undersigned  chemists  and  druggists  in  Newbury, 
desire  to  express  our  entire  concurrence  in  the  opinions  and 
statements  of  facts  contained  in  Mr.  Magg’s  letter  of  the 
24th  instant. 

We  consider  that  Messrs.  Maw  have  not  acted  in  a  fair 
and  generous  spirit  towards  the  trade,  after  the  many  years 
that  their  interests  have  been  united ;  and  by  their  present 
mode  of  doing  business  with  surgeons,  boards  'of  guardians 
and  others  not  connected  with  the  profession  in  any  way, 
and  also  by  an  indiscriminate  distribution  of  their  priced 
catalogue  they  are  alienating  their  best  friends,  as  they  term 
chemists,  though  we  doubt  if  the  latter  can  conscientiously 
reciprocate  the  flattering  compliment. 

We  are,  yours  faithfully, 

Philip  Childs,  Local  Sec. 

Hickman  and  Son. 

Davis  and  Son. 

N.  W.  Ryott. 

F.  G.  Hall. 

J.  B.  Pratt. 

Henry  Taylor. 

Tho.  W.  and  B.  Fielder. 

Newbury,  September  26th,  1870. 


Sir, — Several  letters  having  appeared  on  this  subject,  per¬ 
haps  you  will  kindly  allow  me  a  small  space  for  remark. 

I  cannot  join  your  correspondents  in  considering  it  a  griev¬ 
ance  that  surgeons  should  prefer  obtaining  goods  direct  from 
the  manufacturers  and  paying  cash  instead  of  encumbering 
the  books  of  retail  chemists  with  unprofitable,  long-winded 
accounts.  The  fact  alone  is  on  the  broad  principle  an  advan¬ 
tage,  tending  to  the  improvement  of  trade  in  the  aggregate. 

As  for  supplying  surgeons  with  any  drug  or  other  article, 
it  is  generally  found  unsatisfactory  and  unprofitable.  I  lately 
sold  a  general  practitioner  some  Howard’s  citrate  of  iron  and 
quinine,  charging  him  25  per  cent,  on  the  cost.  He  com¬ 
plained  that  the  price  was  excessive,  at  the  same  time  pro¬ 
ducing  a  drug  list  from  a  no  less  respectable  firm  than 
Messrs.  Evans,  Sons  and  Co.,  quoting  a  price  considerably 
lower  than  I  had  given,  but,  while  acknowledging  that  the 
preparation  might  be  considerably  better,  said  the  low-priced 
drug  “  would  answer  his  purpose.” 

An  experience  of  more  than  thirty  years  assures  me  that 
no  house  is  better  disposed  toward  the  legitimate  retailer 
than  that  of  Messrs.  Maw,  Son  and  Thompson,  who  do  not 
supply  articles  to  private  customers,  as  is  the  known  practice 
of  several  wholesale  druggists  and  co-operative  storekeepers, 
— a  direct  injury  tq, retail  trade  for  which  there  is  no  remedy. 
An  instance  occurred  the  other  day  which  is  more  to  the  point 
than  pages  of  complaints.  A  person  applied  to  Messrs.  Maw, 
Son  and  Thompson  for  an  instrument,  value  one  guinea,  and 
in  reply  received  the  enclosed  note : — 

“Dear  Sir, — We  are  in  receipt  of  your  favour  of  the 
17th  inst.  We  only  supply  the  trade  and  medical  profession, 
therefore  must  ask  you  to  obtain  the  articles  wanted  through 
one  of  the  chemists  in  your  neighbourhood. 

“We  are,  dear  Sir, 

“  Very  respectfully  yours, 

“S.  Maw,  Son  and  Thompson.” 

(The  following  post  brought  me  a  credit  note  for  7s.  com¬ 
mission  on  the  sale.) 

I  hope  it  will  be  understood  that  my  object  in  writing  is 
not  with  a  view  to  prolonging  an  unprofitable  correspon¬ 
dence,  but  rather  to  express  an  opinion  that  the  majority 
will  endorse,  namely,  the  right  of  every  house  of  business,  be 
it  large  or  small,  to  conduct  its  own  affairs  in  a  manner  most 
conducive  to  its  own  interests  and  to  those  of  its  supporters 
of  every  grade. 

I  am,  Sir,  (in  haste)  yours  obediently, 

Deprecator. 


October  1,  1870-3 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


279 


The  Bbighton  Chemists’  Association. 

Sir, — Your  correspondent  “  Veritas”  is  entitled  to  know  that 
this  Association  was  formed  some  years  ago,  and  actively  pro¬ 
moted  by  a  few  of  the  old  members  of  the  trade ;  but  by 
reason  of  the  apathy  of  the  younger  branches, — the  meetings 
became  stereotyped, — the  same  half-dozen  gentlemen  meeting 
month  after  month  without  any  additition  to  their  numbers ; 
and,  although  the  trade  subscribed  readily  to  meet  current 
expenses,  they  failed  by  their  absence  to  give  the  necessary 
impetus  to  secure  success,  the  consequence  was  the  meetings 
took  place  at  longer  intervals,  and  at  last  ceased  altogether, 
until  last  month,  when  as  there  seemed  a  probability  of  the 
British  Association  visiting  the  town  and  with  it  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Conference,  a  meeting  was  called  to  consider  the 
subject  and  to  appoint  another  Secretary  in  the  place  of  our 
much-esteemed  friend  Mr.  Gwatkin,  who  resigned  from  ill- 
health.  Mr.  Julius  Schweitzer  was  appointed  Secretai*y, 
whilst  our  Mayor,  Mr.  Cox  and  myself  were  appointed  to  re¬ 
present  the  trade  (as  duly  convened  by  circular)  at  the  Con¬ 
ference.  The  necessary  qualification  to  become  associated 
with  the  trade  and  an  infusion  of  younger  blood  into  the  As¬ 
sociation,  are  favourable  circumstances  to  reinvigorate  the 
institution,  and  as  there  is  a  fund  to  begin  with,  the  young 
men  should  now  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity  of 
arousing  the  latent  energies  of  their  compeers,  and  I  am  quite 
certain  of  this,  that  their  older  brethren  will  not  shrink  from 
any  exertions  to  aid  them.  I  am,  Sir,  yours, 

W.  D.  Savage. 


Druggists’  Prices. 

Sir, — The  Lancet  pursues  a  self-constituted  censorship  of 
pharmaceutical  affairs.  We  are  informed  that  “one  great 
objection  to  practitioners  handing  over  the  dispensing  of 
their  medicines  to  chemists  is  to  be  found  in  the  high  prices 
charged  by  chemists  for  medicines,”  and  also  that  “  the  dis¬ 
pensing  of  an  ordinary  prescription  easily  costs  2s.  6d.  or  3s.” 
Our  profits  are  said  to  be  “monstrously  excessive.”  Let  us 
look  into  the  matter.  In  the  first  place,  I  may  safely  say  that 
mixtures  are  more  generally  dispensed  for  Is.  6d.  and  Is.  8 d. 
than  for  Is.  8 d.  and  2s. ;  certainly  for  less  in  the  provinces. 
A  dozen  doses  of  pills  may  be  had  for  6d.  or  8 d.,  and  medi¬ 
cine  enough  for  a  fortnight  at  an  outlay  of  2s.  Qd.  to  3s.  In 
saying  that  the  chemist  is  “paid  at  once  over  the  counter” 
the  Lancet  makes  a  random  assertion.  The  generality  of 
druggists  do  a  large  booking  trade,  and  allow  their  customers 
to  run  accounts,  not  from  choice  but  of  necessity. 

It  appears  that  in  one  town  the  medical  men  gave  up  dis¬ 
pensing.  Mark  the  effect  of  that  act !  The  druggists  have 
become  familiar  with  prescriptions, — had  they  seen  so  little 
of  those  ungrammatical  productions  before  ? — and  now  they 
feel  pulses,  even  those  of  affluent  ladies,  before  the  very  eyes 
of  the  doctors  themselves.  What  audacity,  what  effrontery! 
Here,  indeed,  is  a  heavy  indictment ;  here  the  head  and  front 
of  our  offending.  A  doctor,  finding  himself  forestalled  by  a 
druggist,  who  had  told  a  lady  that  she  had  a  weak  pulse,  evi¬ 
dently  feels  poignantly  upon  the  subject,  for  he  rushes  into 
print,  and  declares  that  “  this  kind  of  thing  must  be  put  a 
stop  to.” 

Here  are  two  charges  to  meet.  We  are  excessive  in  our 
charges,  and  we  meddle  with  the  practice  of  medicine.  I  say 
that  our  prices  are  not  exorbitant,  that  they  are  perfectly 
legitimate,  and  in  no  way  more  than  due  return  for  our 
labour  and  time,  especially  in  the  face  of  the  qualifications 
which  are  now  to  be  required  of  those  practising  pharmacy. 
It  is  an  egregious  error  to  imagine  that  chemists  will  lower 
their  charges  to  suit  the  fancy  of  the  medical  practitioner, 
so  that  he  may  obtain  full  remuneration,  whilst  the  druggist 
is  left  to  compound  medicines  at  a  maximum  of  trouble  and 
a  minimum  of  profit. 

And  as  to  prescribing,  what  is  to  be  said  ?  Are  not  the 
public  their  own  masters  ?  They  come  of  their  own  accord 
to  us  for  advice,  they  are  perfectly  aware  of  our  status.  They 
do  not  choose  to  call  in  a  doctor  for  every  minute  ailment, 
every  spasm  or  ache.  We  render  them  what  service  we  can, 
and  I  think  it  may  be  truly  said  that  we  do  not  interfere  with 
difficult  and  urgent  cases.  I  have  heard  it  frequently  said 
that  the  doctor,  once  called  in  is,  like  some  parasites,  very 
difficult  to  get  rid  of  ;  and  I  have  known  many  who,  after 
vainly  hinting  to  their  medical  adviser  that  his  persistent 
visits  were  superfluous,  have  been  compelled  to  give  him  an 
outspoken  dismissal.  This  is  a  reason  why  we  are  often  con¬ 
sulted.  W e  force  physic  down  no  one’s  throat. 


It  would  be  better  for  the  Lancet  to  be  a  little  less  partial 
to  its  own  order,  for  it  might  then  discern  medical  short¬ 
comings  and  abuses  more  clearly  than  it  now  appears  to  do. 
It  has  taken  upon  itself  the  unenviable  task  of  attacking 
chemists  and  druggists,  and  in  doing  so  has  employed  lan¬ 
guage  and  epithets  of  a  most  offensive  character.  We  leave 
our  case  to  the  discrimination  of  the  public  in  perfect  confi¬ 
dence,  assured  that  they  will  not  cavil  at  a  body  of  hard¬ 
working  and  painstaking  men.  Whether  the  Lancet's  stric¬ 
tures  have  been  composed  in  a  fit  of  jealousy  or  hate)I  neither 
know  nor  care,  but  to  the  writer  I  may  say, — 

“  Of  your  antipathy 
If  I  am  the  Narcissus,  you  are  free 
To  pine  into  a  sound  with  hating  me.” 

Yours  truly 

Minoe  Associate. 


Phakmacists  and  Medical  Peactitioners. 

Sir,— Quelle  horreur !  to  think  that  a  common,  vulgar 
druggist  should  have  the  impudence  to  come  “betwixt  the 
wind  and  the  nobility  ”  of  a  medical  man !  Sit  in  the  same 
room,  forsooth,  certainly  not !  We  who,  after  heavily  feeing  a 
grinder,  have  passed  with  difficulty  the  “  Hall,”  and  subse¬ 
quently  received  a  diploma  from  the  “College,” — shall  the 
“elect”  associate  with  the  vulgar  herd  of  pharmaceutists 
who  have  really  passed  a  stringent  examination  ?  Never ! 
The  idea  of  a  professional  man,  a  gentleman,  at  a  public 
exhibition  coming  in  contact  with  a  shopkeeper!  Faugh! 
The  smell  of  foenugrec,  cubebs,  assafoetida  would  be  over¬ 
powering.  Heally,  it  is  too  absurd  to  be  entertained  for  a 
moment ! 

Malefactors !  oh,  the  polish,  the  culture,  the  amenities  of 
modem  journalism !  If  the  editor  of  the  Lancet  will  refer  to 
the  police  reports,  he  will  soon  discover  who  are  the  real 
malefactors.  He  may  possibly  find  half-a-dozen  unfortunate 
druggists  who  have  caused  death  by  accident  or  sheer  care¬ 
lessness,  but  he  will  find  a  vast  number  of  cases  where  bond 
fide  medical  men  have  been  found  guilty  of  criminal  prac¬ 
tices.  There  is  a  wide  difference  between  a  druggist  who 
causes  the  death  of  a  child  by  selling  its  mother  a  penny¬ 
worth  of  Godfrey,  and  the  man  with  a  diploma,  who  de¬ 
votes  the  chief  part  of  his  attention  to  a  vile  practice  which 
eventually  lands  him  in  the  hulks.  There  are  very  few  of 
the  former,  unfortunately  for  society  very  many  of  the  latter. 
Who  is  it  that  defile  our  newspapers  by  inserting  disgusting 
advertisements  ?  Medical  men,  who  may  have  received  di¬ 
plomas  in  England,  America,  Germany,  but  still  medical 
men.  I  am  not  aware  that  I  ever  saw  a  specimen  of  this  ob¬ 
scenity  with  the  name  of  a  pharmaceutist  attached. 

If  a  child  die  by  the  carelessness  of  a  druggist  there  is  an 
inquest,  and  the  druggist  generally  gets  severely  reprimanded 
by  the  coroner,  if  nothing  worse;  but  how  many  mistakes  are 
made  by  medical  men  which  never  come  to  light  ?  In  the  latter 
case  it  is  “hum!  ha!”  “unfavourable  symptoms  set  in,” 
“death,”  “certificate,”  “fee  pocketed,”  and  there  it  ends. 
Who,  then,  is  the  malefactor  here  ? 

Can  the  editor  of  the  Lancet  see  nothing  reprehensible  in 
the  “reciprocity  treaties”  now  so  much  in  vogue,  where  the 
physician  compels  his  patient  to  go  to  a  particular  druggist, 
the  two  worthies  subsequently  dividing  the  spoil  ?  Both  are 
utterly  despicable,  but  as  the  proposition  invariably  comes 
from  the  medical  man  he  is  therefore  the  most  to  blame.  Con¬ 
firmatory  evidence  of  this  is  given  in  the  current  number  of 
the  journal  in  an  advertisement  emanating  from  an  M.D. 

According  to  the  Lancet,  then,  a  general  practitioner  (a 
fusion  of  doctor  and  druggist,  forcibly  reminding  one  of  Bar- 
num’s  celebrated  mermaid,  half  monkey,  half  codfish)  is  a 
gentleman ;  but  nevertheless  he  is  not  too  much  of  a  gentle¬ 
man,  not  too  proud,  to  take  the  bread  out  of  the  mouth  of 
the  poor  druggist  he  so  much  despises,  by  retailing  his  medi¬ 
cines.  Why  does  he,  then,  if  he  really  be  a  professional  man 
and  a  gentleman,  play  at  keeping  shop,  dishonestly  cheating 
the  druggist  out  of  the  most  profitable  part  of  his  business  ? 

Would  it  not  be  better  if  the  editor  of  the  Lancet  were  to 
employ  his  literary  talents  in  endeavouring  to  reclaim  his 
erring  brethren  to  the  path  of  rectitude  instead  of  casting 
aspersions  on  men  who  are  in  respect  of  education  and  posi¬ 
tion  fully  his  equals,  and  who,  as  a  class,  not  nearly  so  crimi¬ 
nally-disposed  as  his  own  body  ?  Yours  obediently, 

A  Country  M.P.S. 


Sir, — “Non-Malefactor”  appears  little  to  understand  his 
own  interest  or  position,  and  still  less  that  of  medical  men. 


280 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  1, 1870. 


These  latter  must  either  be  of  service  or  the  contrary ;  common 
consent  will  admit  the  necessity ;  if  so,  medical  men  deserve  to 
be  protected  in  then*  interest,  otherwise  there  is  little  chance 
of  the  high  standard  being  attained  among  us  which  Non- 
Malefactor  ”  seems  to  expect.  It  certainly  will  not  mend 
matters  for  Pharmaceutical  Chemists  to  do  the  work  for  us, 
— they  are  not  educated  for  the  purpose,  so,  to  say  the  least, 
it  is  hardly  honest  on  their  part. 

Both  doctors  and  chemists  must  look  forward  to  the  day 
when  their  relative  position  and  duties  shall  be  defined  by  law, 
as  is  the  case  in  many  Continental  countries. 

September  20 th.  Percy  Leslie,  M.D. 


Dear  Sir, — In  the  Lancet  of  Saturday  the  17th  ult.  appeared 
a  somewhat  more  decent,  temperate,  and  logical  article  on  che¬ 
mists  than  it  has  been  accustomed  to  publish  of  late.  The 
basis  of  the  article  is  a  letter  from  a  correspondent  with  the  ap¬ 
propriate  signature  of  “Reformer,”  and  he  well  deserves  that 
title,  since  in  the  latter  part  of  his  communication  he  says,  in 
reference  to  prescribing  by  chemists,  “  that  this  kind  of  thing 
should  be  put  a  stop  to,  for  I  can  clearly  see,  as  time  advances, 
that  it  will  get  worse.  Is  it  not  possible,  in  this  Medical  Bill 
which  will  be  again  shortly  before  Parliament,  to  get  a  clause 
inserted  to  somewhat  restrict  this  kind  of  thing?  The  only 
other  remedy  I  can  see  will  be  for  all  general  practitioners  to 
supply  then*  own  medicines,  as  in  former  days  (which  cer¬ 
tainly  is  rather  infra  dig.),  and  thus  to  wrench  back  from 
druggists  that  of  which  evidently  they  are  depriving  the  pro¬ 
fession.”  It  would  be  quite  as  fair  for  druggists  to  agitate 
for  a  prohibition  of  doctors  doing  their  own  dispensing,  as 
for  chemists  being  prohibited  from  prescribing ;  and  it  seems 
nothing  more  than  is  to  be  expected,  that  as  long  as  “  the 
profession”  dispense  their  own  physic,  so  long  will  chemists 
do  a  little  pulse-feeling,  tongue-scrutinizing,  counter-pre- 
scribing,  which  at  least  has  been  of  some  use  to  ££  the  pro¬ 
fession ;”  for  ££  Reformer  ”  says  in  the  letter  already  quoted, 
££  that  in  the  town  in  which  he  resides  he  was  one  day  greatly 
amused”  (by  the  tenour  of  his  letter  he  does  not  seem  greatly 
amused,  but  possibly  some  time  has  passed,  so  the  amusing 
effects  have  worn  off)  ££  at  seeing  the  people,  one  after  the 
other,  come  in  to  be  doctored,  the  druggist  actually  in  my 
presence  feeling  then*  pulses,  etc.”  It  certainly  was  not  a 
pleasant  sight  for  one  of  ££  the  profession  ”  to  witness  “people, 
one  after  another,  come  to  be  doctored,”  while  his  time  and 
services  were  not  in  such  great  requisition;  and  then  he  and 
the  other  doctors  of  the  town  had  generously  given  up  dis¬ 
pensing  their  own  physic,  an  act  which  I  am  sure  you  will 
coincide  with  me  in  saying  deserved  a  better  retaliation  and 
which  perhaps  accounts  for  the  rather  bitter  epistle  of  “  Re¬ 
former.” 

But  there  must  be  something  in  the  people  flocking  to  the 
chemists  and  leaving  the  doctors.  Is  it  on  account  of  ££  the 
profession’s  ”  excessive  charges  or  in  their  desire  for  keeping 
on  with  their  patients,  for  both  of  these  are  complaints  often 
urged  against  them  by  the  people;  or  is  it,  as  the  Lancet 
says  in  the  article  referred  to,  that  the  price  charged  by 
druggists  for  dispensing  doctors’  prescriptions  is  high  and  of 
itself  “  a  heavy  and  exhaustive  bill  to  people  in  humble  means, 
so  that  they  can  ill  afford  to  pay  the  doctor’s  fee  in  addition. 
Mixtures  they  say  are  charged  at  the  rate  of  Is.  8 d.  to  2s. 
each,  and  other  medicines  correspondingly ;  so  that  the  dis¬ 
pensing  of  an  ordinary  prescription  easily  amounts  to  2s.  6d. 
or  3s.”  This  is  really  an  immense  amount  to  obtain  for 
twenty  minutes’  work,  and  the  drugs,  chemicals,  bottles  and 
labels  employed,  and  the  risk  of  making  a  mistake,  for  which 
one  might  be  mulcted  in  a  penalty  of  £1000,  as  was  Mr. 
Abraham;  for  when  a  mistake  is  made  by  chemists  it  is  always 
found  out  and  generally  published,  whereas  if  any  mistake  is 
made  in  writing  in  doctors’  prescriptions,  the  chemists,  as  a 
body,  are  most  scrupulous  in  keeping  it  from  the  knowledge 
of  the  patient  and  the  public.  And  this  amount,  which  in 
the  majority  of  prescriptions,  does  not  reach  2s.,  is  grudged 
by  ‘the  profession,”  after  taking  of  the  “person  in  humble 
means  a  sovereign  for  a  fee.  Whether  chemists,  or  even 
the  people,  see  as  “the  profession”  see,  may  be  doubted. 
It  the  doctor  dispensed  his  own  physic,  would  the  charge  be 
much  less  than  Is.  8 d.  or  2s.  for  dispensing,  or  is  not  the 
doctor  s  usual  price  from  2s.  Qd.  to  3s.  for  the  8  oz.  mixture  of 
,  ^  er  thinQ  s  in  the  same  proportion  ?  that  is, 

nearly  double  what  the  Lancet  calls  heavy  and  exhaustive 
prices  charged  by  the  chemist  to  the  “person  in  humble 
means.  This  price  is  not  warranted  by  the  extra  skill  used 


by  the  doctors  in  dispensing,  seeing  that  the  majority  use 
ready-made  mixtures  and  pills,  which  do  for  a  large  proper* 
tion  of  patients,  aud  the  dispensing  is  generally  done  by  assist¬ 
ants  whose  pharmaceutical  knowledge  a  very  modified  exa¬ 
mination  would  “pluck.”  Nor  is  it  the  greater  cost  of  the 
drugs  employed,  as  those  who  supply  dispensing  members  of 
“the  profession”  know,  nor  a  more  concentrated  form,  as 
those  who  take  them  know. 

It  would  have  looked  much  more  becoming  a  learned  pro¬ 
fession  if  they  had  treated  a  newly  State-recognized  Society 
with  some  amount  of  generosity,  and  encouraged  it  in  its; 
laudable  efforts  to  raise  the  standard  of  pharmaceutical  edu¬ 
cation  in  the  country,  instead  of  throwing  cold  water  on  its 
well-meant,  if  at  present  weak  efforts,  or  entering  on  a  new 
crusade  “to  wrench  back  from  the  druggist”  the  small  mo¬ 
dicum  of  dispensing  they  have  granted  him.  Apologizing 
for  the  length  of  this  letter, 

I  remain,  yours  very  obediently, 

“Audi  Alteram  Partem.” 


“  Improvement  in  Stoppered  Bottles.” 

Sir, — Mr.  Mayhew’s  letter  in  the  Journal  last  week  is  a 
very  sensible  one  ;  but  I,  however,  also  suggest  that  a  small 
groove  be  made  in  the  neck  of  the  bottle  to  correspond  with 
the  groove  at  the  top  of  the  stopper,  so  as  to  keep  the  string 
in  its  place.  There  would  be  less  danger  of  the  string  slipping 
from  its  position.  Mr.  Mayhew  is  an  experienced  man;  I 
was  a  fellow-assistant  with  him  in  Cheltenham  in  1838. 

Louth,  September  2 6th,  1870.  John  Hurst. 


Thomas  Lay  (Manchester). — Persons  desiring  to  present 
themselves  for  the  Minor  and  Major  examinations  must  have 
passed  the  Preliminary  examination,  unless  they,  being 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  had  been  in  business  three  years 
before  the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy  Act,  1868,  and  have  also 
applied  before  31st  December,  1868,  to  be  allowed  to  pass  the 
Modified  examination. 

£.  K.  Larnshaw  (Putney). — Yes. 

“  Amor  J ustitice.” — Such  a  person  can  be  registered  without 
examination  upon  making  the  statutory  declaration,  a  form 
of  which  will  be  supplied  by  the  Secretary  on  application. 

“  Inquirer .” — The  Apothecaries’  Hall  certificate  would  be 
accepted  by  the  Board  of  Examiners  in  lieu  of  the  Prelimi¬ 
nary  Examination. 

“ Inquisitive  ”  (Morecambe). — Vide  32  &  33  Yict.  s.  1. 

“Spes  ”  writes,  saying  that  in  the  Conspectus  of  the  Ex¬ 
aminations  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  for  the  Minor 
Examinations  in  Chemistry,  the  candidate  is  requested  to 
give  a  description  of  the  processes  by  which  acids,  oxides, 
salts,  etc.,  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  are  produced,  and  to  state 
the  composition  of  such  as  are  compound.  “Spes  ”  would  be 
greatly  obliged  if  any  of  our  correspondents  would  give  one 
or  more  examples  of  the  above  compounds. 

“  Quarens”  (Greenwich)  (1)  wishes  to  be  informed  what 
Oil  of  Hermes  is.  (2.)  Tourmaline  is  the  name  of  a  group  of 
double  silicates,  usually  found  in  granite,  gneiss  or  mica 
slate.  The  term  artificial  tourmalines  has  been  applied  to 
crystals  of  sulphate  of  iodoquinine  on  account  of  their  optical 
properties.  An  article  in  which  formulae  are  given  for  the 
preparation  of  these  crystals  will  be  found  in  Pharm.  Journ., 
1st  ser.,  Yol.  XIII.  p.  419.  (3.)  Pimpernel  water  is  distilled 

from  the  root.  It  is  acrid,  and  of  a  blue  colour. 

V.  G-.  (Notting  Hill.) — Sulphide  of  arsenic  and  unslaked; 
lime  are  sometimes  used  for  the  purpose  in  combination  with 
starch.  Another  method  is  to  use  a  strong  solution  of  sul¬ 
phide  of  barium  made  into  a  paste  with  powdered  starch. 

“Ink  Pot.” — (1.)  Bloom  of  Roses  is  a  solution  of  carmine 
in  ammonia.  You  will  find  forms  for  its  preparation  in  any 
work  on  cosmetics.  (2.)  Pharm.  Journ.,  2nd  ser.,  Yol.  IX. 
p.  434.  (4.)  See  the  schedule  to  the  “  Petroleum  Act,”  and 

numerous  articles  in  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal,  (dJ 
The  rule  for  anonymous  communications  is  that  no  notice- 
can  be  taken  of  them. 

G-.  H.  H.  will  find  a  recipe  for  Glycerine  and  Lime  Cream 
in  Pharm.  Journ.,  2nd  ser.,  Yol.  VIII.  p.  679. 

Instructions  from  3Iembers  and  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Brem- 
ridg-e,  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  JVC. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  Neiv  Burlington 
Street,  London,  TV.  Envelopes  to  be  endorsed  for  “Pharma 
Journ.” 


October  8,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


281 


THE  PROCESS  OF  NUTRITION. 

BY  BARON  LIEBIG. 

Sensation  and  exertion  are  tilings  fundamentally 
different,  though  it  may  be  a  long  while  before  the 
physiological  intellect  succeeds  in  drawing  a  sharp 
distinction  between  them. 

The  plant  is  a  magazine  of  sun-force  which  has 
been  accumulated  in  its  parts  during  their  develop¬ 
ment,  and  this  force  stored  up  in  the  food  material 
of  animals  is  again  manifested  in  the  animal  body ; 
it  is  the  manifold  action  of  this  force  which  comprises 
and  determines  all  phenomena  of  animal  life.  Hence 
the  elucidation  of  the  laws  obtaining  in  regard  to 
that  force  should,  above  all  tilings,  engage  the  atten¬ 
tion  of  investigators. 

In  a  complex  machine  it  constantly  happens  that 
interruptions  of  the  work  to  be  done  are  caused  by 
the  mere  action  of  the  mechanism  itself :  the  driving 
bands  stretch,  or  a  screw  gets  loose,  or  there  is  a  loss 
of  power  in  consequence  of  friction  between  certain 
parts  of  the  machine,  and  for  this  reason  we  find  in 
large  factories  some  one  continually  occupied  either 
in  finding  out  the  causes  of  such  impediments,  or  in 
providing  a  remedy  for  them  according  to  the  means 
at  his  disposal. 

This  case  presents  a  very  slender  and  scarcely  ac¬ 
curate  representation  of  the  problems  with  which  the 
physician  and  surgeon  are  jointly  concerned  in  deal¬ 
ing  with  the  infinitely  more  complicated  human  ma¬ 
chine  ;  but  their  ultimate  object  is  in  all  cases  that 
of  maintaining  this  machine  in  regular  work  and  in 
good  condition,  so  that  out  of  the  power  generated  in 
the  machine,  there  may  be  a  maximum  amount  re¬ 
maining  available  for  the  performance  of  intellectual 
and  corporeal  work. 

I  have  already  mentioned  the  very  remarkable  fact 
that  in  feeding  a  dog  with  a  mixture  of  fat  and  meat 
(the  latter  being  in  larger  amount  than  requisite  for 
the  animal’s  support),  the  excess  of  meat  which  is 
not  accumulated  in  the  body  undergoes  metamor¬ 
phosis,  its  decomposition  not  being  hindered  by  the 
fat  given  with  it  in  the  food. 

This  fact  proves  the  existence  of  a  cause  which 
definitely  limits  the  accumulation  of  those  blood- 
constituents  which  are  not  applicable  for  increase  of 
flesh,  and  it  may  be  a  question  for  the  investigations 
of  physiologists  to  decide  whether  this  cause  operates 
directly  upon  the  colloidal  albuminates  of  the  blood, 
or  whether  its  operation  is  restricted  to  those  flesh- 
constituents  which  have  passed  info  the  circulation 
before  assuming  the  colloidal  condition.  The  opinion 
that  the  cause  here  referred  to  operates  directly  upon 
the  albuminates  of  the  blood,  as  such,  can  scarcely 
be  reconciled  with  the  phenomena  observed  during  a 
state  of  hunger. 

According  to  what  we  know  respecting  the  pro¬ 
cesses  going  on  in  the  muscles,  urea  is  not  a  direct 
product  from  muscle- constituents  within  the  muscle 
itself,  and  the  question  as  to  the  origin  of  urea,  or 
as  to  the  part  of  the  body  in  which  it  is  formed,  is 
still  one  of  great  interest. 

Stokvis  and  Heynsius  found  urea  in  the  liver  of 
the  mammalia,  and  they  have  expressed  the  opinion 
that  it  is  formed  in  the  liver  from  uric  acid.  Meiss¬ 
ner  has  also  established  by  a  very  comprehensive 
investigation  the  fact  that  urea  does  occur  in  the 
liver. 

For  appreciating  the  processes  going  on  in  the  liver, 
which  is  in  animals  of  the  higher  classes  the  most 

Third  Series,  No.  15. 


powerful  apparatus  in  the  whole  body  for  splitting 
up  material,  it  is  essential  to  take  into  account  the 
remarkable  observation  by  Schmulewitsche*  as  to 
the  formation  of  bile.  Uric  acid  and  the  acids  of  the 
bile  are  nitrogenous  compounds,  and  they  must  be 
regarded  as  derivatives  of  albumen ;  the  same  with 
regard  to  hippuric  acid,  creatin,  glycocol,  etc.  More¬ 
over,  sugar  is  formed  in  the  liver. 

From  the  chemical  point  of  view,  which  is  alone 
to  be  considered  here,  a  comparison  of  the  composi¬ 
tion  of  blood-albumen,  the  acids  of  bile  and  other 
nitrogenous  products,  leads  to  a  recognition  of  some 
very  interesting  relations  of  these  substances  amongst 
each  other,  and  to  blood- albumen :  as  purely  cal¬ 
culated  relations  they  possess  no  real  value,  but  they 
may  nevertheless  be  of  some  utility  in  suggesting 
problems  for  investigation. 

If  to  the  formula  which  I  have  adopted  for  albu¬ 
men  of  blood,f  there  be  added  20  equivalents  of  oxy¬ 
gen,  we  obtain  exactly  the  elements  of  12  atoms  of 
uric  acid,  2  atoms  of  cholic  acid,  1  atom  choleic 
acid,  and  14  atoms  of  water. 


Blood- albumen 
20  Oxygen 


2  uric  acid  .  . 

2  cholic  acid  . 
J  1  choleic  acid  . 
|  14  water  .  . 


^  216  FT169  ^27  ^2  ^63 
^20 


^216^169-^27 

So  Os3 

c60h24n24 

^36 

^104  B-S6  ^2 

024 

c52h45n 

So014 

h14 

014 

^216  ^169  ^  27  ^2  ^SS 


In  like  manner  cholic  acid  contains  the  elements 
of  hippuric  acid,  margaric  acid,  and  a  hydrate  of  car¬ 
bon  ;  by  adding  2  equivalents  of  oxygen  to  2  of  cho¬ 
leic  acid,  we  obtain  the  elements  of  cystin,  choles- 
terin,  margarin  and  carbolic  acid. 

By  the  association  of  4  equivalents  of  water  with 
cholic  acid,  there  may  be  produced  leucin,  oleic  acid 
and  carbonic  acid. 

In  2  atoms  of  uric  acid  and  12  equivalents  of 
water,  there  are  the  elements  of  2  glycocol,  3  urea 
and  6  carbonic  acid. 

From  4  equivalents  uric  acid  and  22  equivalents 
water,  there  might  be  produced  2  creatin,  5  urea  and 
14  carbonic  acid. 

There  would  be  no  object  in  multiplying  these  calcu¬ 
lations,  but  I  do  not  regard  them  as  absolutely  value¬ 
less,  because  a  knowledge  oi  possible  relations  of  this 
kind  awakens  attention  to  those  which  are  actual , 
and  in  that  way  it  may  contribute  towards  paving  the 
way  to  a  comprehension  of  normal  and  pathological 
processes.  In  connection  with  the  foregoing  formulae 
the  occurrence  of  cystin  in  the  urine  involuntarily 
calls  to  mind  the  formation  of  cliolesterin  and  the 
reverse,  while  the  occurrence  of  leucin  suggests  the 
formation  of  oleic  acid. 

In  recent  times  several  physiologists  have  occupied 
themselves  with  the  question  as  to  the  origin  of  fat 
in  the  animal  body. 

Fat  being  lion-nitrogenous,  I  believe  that  its 
formation  must  be  in  some  way  connected  with  the 
non-nitrogenous  constituents  of  the  food,  though  I 
do  not  dispute  the  possibility  of  its  being  produced 
from  albuminates. 

According  to  the  investigations  of  Voit,  it  appears 


*  See  ante,  p.  113. 


f  See  Chemical  Letters. 


282 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  8, 1870. 


oil  the  contrary  to  be  tolerably  well  made  out  that 
fat  is  a  product  of  the  breaking  up  of  albuminates, 
and  Voit  regards  it  as  probable  that  the  milk  sugar 
in  milk  originates  from  the  fat  as  the  result  of  an 
oxidation,  so  that  both  fat  and  milk  sugar  would  be 
derivatives  of  albuminates  hi  the  food. 

But  in  my  opinion  the  investigations  conducted  by 
Voit  in  reference  to  the  origin  of  fat  and  milk  sugar 
in  the  milk  of  cows,  lead  to  entirely  opposite  conclu¬ 
sions,  and  it  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  examine 
somewhat  closely  the  basis  of  his  experiments  and 
opinions. 

The  most  important  argument  adduced  by  Voit  in 
favour  of  the  probable  formation  of  fat  from  albumi¬ 
nates  is  based  upon  some  experiments  made,  together 
with  Pettenkofer,  by  which  Voit  believes  he  has 
proved  that,  in  the  body  of  a  dog  fed  on  meat,  fat  was 
formed  from  flesh,  or  might  have  been  so  formed. 

Comparing  the  quantity  of  carbon  in  the  meat- 
food  taken,  with  the  quantity  given  off  as  carbonic 
acid  and  in  the  other  excretions,  Voit  found  there 
was  a  deficiency  of  3 ’8  grams  carbon  in  the  excre¬ 
tions,  and,  from  considerations  as  to  what  may  have 
become  of  that  carbon,  he  is  inclined  to  think  that  it 
was  converted  into  fat  and  remained  in  that  form  in 
the  body  of  the  dog. 

Although  the  deficiency  of  3'8  grams  is  but  small, 
Voit,  nevertheless,  does  not  think  it  can  be  due  to 
experimental  error. 

Examining  more  closely  the  data  employed  in  this 
calculation,  it  is,  in  the  first  place,  noticeable  that  the 
daily  excretion  of  urea  varied  between  100'41  and 
115'02  grams,  while  the  ftecal  excretion  also  varied 
between  18T  and  53 -6  grams. 

The  quantity  of  carbon  in  the  urine  was  calculated 
from  the  mean  of  ten  experiments  ;  the  quantity  in 
the  faeces  from  the  mean  of  seven  experiments  ;  but 
on  the  other  hand,  only  three  respiration  experiments 
were  taken  into  account  for  the  determination  of  the 
carbon  in  the  expired  carbonic  acid. 

It  appears  to  me  that  this  circumstance  involves 
an  error,  though  it  may  be  a  small  one,  inasmuch 
as  a  correct  balance  could  be  expected  only  when 
the  determination  of  the  carbon  eliminated  in  the 
urine  and  feces  referred  to  the  same  day  on  which 
the  carbon  in  the  expired  carbonic  acid  was  deter¬ 
mined  ;  but  on  that  day  the  dog  did  not  pass  any 
feces,  so  that  the  numbers  given  could  only  re¬ 
present  estimated  quantities,  and  though  they  are  as¬ 
tonishingly  accurate  when  not  differing  more  than  3-8 
grams  in  the  carbon,  they  are  not  absolutely  accu¬ 
rate,  nor  would  any  one  acquainted  with  experiments 
of  this  kind  regard  them  as  sufficiently  accurate  to 
serve  as  a  basis  for  a  theory  of  fat  production. 

But  even  if  the  accuracy  of  the  deficit  be  not  dis¬ 
puted,  there  is  a  further  reason  for  refusing  to  attach 
any  weight  to  Voit’s  inference  that  the  3’8  grams  of 
carbon  wanting  in  the  excretions  had  been  converted 
into  fat,  because  he  forgot  that  the  meat  on  which 
he  fed  the  dog  contained  some  portion  of  fat.  In  liis 
previous  experiments  with  Bischoff,  he  says,  “  the 
meat  was  good  fresh  cow-beef,  always  very  carefully 
deprived  of  fat,  bones,  etc.  Several  analyses  showed 
that  it  contained  at  the  utmost  only  1  per  cent, 
of  fat.”* 

I  have  myself  determined  the  fat  in  a  piece  of 
very  lean  beef  that  had  been  selected  by  Professor 


*  ‘  Die  Gesetze  der  Ernahrung  dee  Fleisclifrcssers,’  p.  58. 


Bischoff  for  this  purpose,  and,  by  dissolving  the  meat 
with  hydrochloric  acid,  I  obtained  -§■  per  cent.  fat. 

Then  considering  that  in  the  experiments  made  by 
Voit  and  Pettenkofer,  the  dog  was  fed  daily  with 
1500  grams  of  meat,  and  assuming  this  to  contain  | 
per  cent,  of  fat,  the  dog  would  receive  5  grams 
of  fat  daily  in  the  meat;  moreover,  if  there  was 
really,  as  observed,  a  deficiency  of  3’8  grams  carbon, 
corresponding  exactly  to  5  grams  of  fat,  it  is  in¬ 
finitely  more  probable  that  this  quantity  of  fat, 
taken  in  the  food,  had  simply  remained  in  the  dog’s 
body,  than  is  the  assumption  that  this  5  grams  of  fat 
was  consumed  in  the  respiration,  while  another  5 
grams  was  produced  out  of  the  albuminates  of  the 
meat.  Such  an  assumption  is  indeed  incompatible 
with  the  economic  laws  of  the  animal  body. 

Besides  this,  Voit  did  not  take  into  account  the 
fact  that  in  his  earlier  experiments  together  with 
Bischoff,*  a  dog  fed  with  1800  grams  of  meat  (or  300 
grams  more  than  in  the  case  above  referred  to)  lost, 
within  seven  days,  230  grams,  or  nearly  half  a  pound 
of  body-weight. 

This  fact  is  as  little  in  favour  of  the  production  of 
fat  from  flesh,  as  the  more  recent  experiments.  It 
may  indeed  be  said  that  the  loss  of  weight  in  an 
animal  fed  with  meat  does  not  at  all  disprove  the 
production  of  fat  from  flesh,  since  the  fat  must  dis¬ 
place  a  certain  quantity  of  water,  and  thus  give  rise 
to  loss  of  weight ;  but  such  an  objection  as  this 
would  not  have  any  significance,  unless  the  produc¬ 
tion  of  fat  from  flesh  were  indubitably  proved,  and 
that  is  not  the  case. 

In  Voit’s  investigation  there  is  the  same  kind  of 
error  that  Pasteur  committed  when,  from  the  loss  in 
his  determination  of  the  ammonia  in  fermented 
liquors,  he  inferred  a  positive  fact,  without  knowing 
the  source  of  that  loss — thus  adopting  a  procedure 
inadmissible  in  scientific  investigation. 

As  may  be  gathered  from  what  has  already  been 
said,  Voit’s  experiments  with  the  dog  cannot  any 
longer  be  admitted  as  arguments  in  the  question  as 
to  the  production  of  fat. 

In  regard  to  Voit’s  experiments  with  the  milch 
cow,  his  exposition  of  them,  just  as  in  Thomson’s 
investigations,  is  based  upon  the  erroneous  idea  that 
a  diet  rich  in  albuminates  exercises  an  influence  on 
the  production  of  butter,  and  increases  the  quantity 
of  it,  while  existing  experience  only  goes  to  show 
that  a  strong  diet  (Kraftfutter)  increases  the  yield 
of  milk. 

The  experiments  made  in  this  direction  by  Kuhn 
show  that  the  composition  of  cow’s  milk  is  very  con¬ 
stant  with  different  animals  and  kinds  of  food  ;  milk 
varies  in  the  amount  of  water,  but  during  long 
periods  of  observation  there  is  scarcely  any  altera¬ 
tion  in  the  relative  proportions  of  its  constituents. 
“  The  greatest  differences  were  observed  in  the  fat, 
next  to  those  in  sugar.  On  the  average  of  all  the 
animals  tins  amounted  to  0  09  per  cent,  in  favour  of 
food  that  was  itself  superior  to  the  extent  of  about  IT  or 
18  per  cent.”  This  is  a  remarkably  small  difference.! 

It  is  evident  that  it  would  only  then  be  possible  to 
speak  of  any  influence  of  albuminates  upon  the  yield 
of  butter  if,  on  the  addition  of  albuminates  to  the 
fodder,  the  amount  of  butter  in  milk  were  sensiWy 
and  permanently  augmented ;  however,  observation 
shows  nothing  beyond  the  fact  that  the  yield  of  milk 


*  Ibid.,  p.  79. 

f  Landwirth.  Versuchs-Station,  Dr.  Nobbe,  1869,  xii.  lot. 


October  8,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


283 


is  increased  by  adding  meal  to  the  ordinary  liay 
fodder. 

The  conclusion  at  which  Voit  arrives  is  the  follow¬ 
ing.  He  says,  “  As  regards  the  main  question,  it 
appears  that,  on  the  whole,  the  cow  took  up  into  the 
circulation  from  the  fodder,  1658  grams  of  fat,  or 
four-fifths  of  the  fat  contained  in  the  milk;  the 
562 '3 5  grams  nitrogen  in  the  urine  corresponds  to 
3602  grams  albumen,  which,  according  to  our  views, 
yields  1851  grams  fat  (100  albumen  =  51  fat).” 

“  Therefore,  we  have  in  all  3509  grams  fat  available 
from  the  food  and  the  albumen.  However,  the  milk 
contained  only  2024  grams  of  fat,  so  that  there  re¬ 
mains  over  and  above  that  1485  grams  fat,  which  is 
nearly  sufficient  for  the  formation  of  the  milk  sugar 
in  such  a  manner  that,  in  the  foregoing  case  at  least, 
there  is  no  necessity  for  having  recourse  to  the  hy¬ 
drates  of  carbon  for  the  wanting  fifth  of  the  fat,  or 
probably  for  the  milk  sugar  either.” 

This  calculation  is  as  clear  as  possibly  can  be ; 
all  the  albumen  of  the  fodder  passing  into  the  circu¬ 
lation  is  supposed  to  be  converted,  in  the  body  of  the 
cow,  into  casein,  urea  and  fat;  any  deficiency  of  fat 
in  the  milk  is  made  up  by  albumen,  and  whatever 
fat  remains  over  is  converted  into  milk  sugar. 

But  in  regard  to  the  validity  of  tills  calculation, 
there  are  very  important  objections. 

It  is,  in  the  first  place,  a  thoroughly  well- established 
fact  that,  for  keeping  up  a  given  condition,  an  animal 
requires  a  certain  quantity  of  albuminates  and  noil- 
nitrogenous  substances  for  the  performance  of  its 
internal  work ;  the  nitrogen  of  the  albuminates  is 
eliminated  in  the  urine  and  fieees,  in  the  former  as 
urea  and  hippuric  acid,  etc. 

A  cow  producing  milk  requires  a  larger  quantity 
of  fodder  than  a  working  ox,  and  the  fodder  must 
contain  the  same  proportion  of  albuminates  as  in 
the  latter  case, — for  100  pounds  live  weight  0‘23 
pounds  albuminates,  and  from  T25  to  1'4  pounds 
lion-nitrogenous  substances,  according  to  Settegast. 
In  both  animals  the  quantity  of  nitrogen  taken  up  is 
the  same ;  in  the  cow,  a  part  of  the  nitrogen  passes 
into  the  milk  as  casein,  and  the  remainder  into  the 
urine  and  faeces.  Deducting  from  the  nitrogen  in 
the  urine  of  the  ox  that  quantity  of  nitrogen  which  is 
contained  in  the  milk  of  the  cow,  the  remaining  nitro¬ 
gen  in  the  urine  of  both  animals  will  be  the  same. 
The  weight  of  both  animals  remains  unaltered,  and 
it  is  clear  that  the  albuminate  which  becomes  casein 
in  the  cow  is  expended  for  work  in  the  body  of  the 
ox.  On  the  whole,  the  secreted  quantity  of  nitrogen 
is  the  same  in  both  cases,  but  the  quantity  in  the 
urine  of  the  ox  is  larger  than  in  that  of  the  cow. 

Consequently,  if  all  the  albumen  corresponding  to 
the  nitrogen  in  the  urine  were,  as  Voit  thinks, 
together  with  the  fat  from  the  fodder,  converted  into 
urea  and  milk  in  the  body  of  the  cow,  much  as  corn 
is  converted  in  a  mill  into  bran  and  meal,  there 
would  not  be  any  albumen  left  for  the  vital  economy 
of  the  animal.  This  leads  obviously  to  the  assump¬ 
tion  that  the  cow  had  lived  solely  at  the  cost  of  the 
non-nitrogenous  constituents  of  the  fodder,  and  had 
thereby  performed  its  internal  work. 

But,  assuming  on  the  contrary  that  the  albumen 
corresponding  to  the  nitrogen  in  the  urine  has  served 
for  internal  work  and  for  replacing  material  elimi¬ 
nated  from  the  body  by  metamorphosis,  it  would  then 
follow  that  the  products  of  tliis  metamorphosis  had 
been  applied  for  the  production  of  milk,  and  that  85 
per  cent,  of  these  products  consisted  of  urea  and  fat. 


Then,  if  we  seek  for  the  reasons  by  which,  regard¬ 
less  of  all  that  we  know  as  to  the  products  of  meta¬ 
morphosis  in  the  animal  body,  we  are  to  be  induced 
to  regard  such  conclusions  as  valid,  we  find  them 
thus  stated  by  Voit : — * 

“  Since  I  do  not  at  present  know  any  better,  I  take 
it  for  granted  that  from  100  albumen  there  are  pro¬ 
duced  33’5  urea  and  51*4  fat.” 

This  is,  indeed,  the  actual  basis  of  Voit’s  theory 
respecting  the  production  of  milk,  a  purely  suppositi¬ 
tious  breaking  up  of  albumen  into  fat  and  urea  in 
proportions  that  suit  his  calculation,  adopted  solely 
to  serve,  in  the  absence  of  facts,  as  the  foundation 
for  an  imaginary  explanation.  Consistent  with  tliis 
is  Voit’s  procedure  in  dealing  with  ascertained  facts 
concerning  the  production  of  milk,  so  as  to  make  them 
agree  with  his  views  ;  in  his  hands,  such  facts  are 
like  wax,  to  which  the  wished-for  form  is  given  by 
kneading  it. 

In  scientific  investigation  such  a  mode  of  proceed¬ 
ing  does  not  convince  any  one ;  it  is  always  a  sign 
that  facts  are  wanting  which  would  speak  for  them¬ 
selves. 

After  all  the  laborious  work  and  all  the  multipli¬ 
city  of  analyses  that  have  been  made,  we  are  not  one 
step  further  advanced  in  our  knowledge  as  to  the 
origin  of  fat  and  milk-sugar  in  the  milk  of  the  cow ; 
and,  as  I  believe,  the  reason  of  this  is,  that  the  ques¬ 
tion  has  not  been  properly  stated.  Let  us  only  sup¬ 
pose  that  Voit  had  in  his  experiments  selected  an¬ 
other  cow, — one  that  gave  little  milk  instead  of  one 
that  gave  much ;  it  is  highly  probable  that  his  cal¬ 
culation  would  then  have  come  out  still  more  favour¬ 
ably  for  his  theory  than  was  actually  the  case ;  it 
might  have  happened  that  the  quantity  of  urea  ex¬ 
creted  by  this  cow  should  have  been  just  as  large  as 
in  the  experimental  case,  and  then  by  calculating 
the  urea  as  albumen,  there  would  have  been  enough 
of  this  substance  available  for  the  production  of  all 
the  constituents  of  the  smaller  quantity  of  milk,  the 
casein,  the  fat  and  the  milk-sugar  together,  and,  in 
such  a  case,  it  would  not  have  been  at  all  necessary 
to  regard  the  fat  of  the  fodder  as  taking  part  in  the 
production  of  milk.  It  must  be  evident  that  as  Voit 
puts  the  question  at  issue,  its  decision  would,  in 
any  case,  have  been  in  favour  of  his  preconceived 
view;  the  more  unfavourable  the  conditions,  the 
better  would  the  calculation  have  suited. 

In  the  treatment  of  physiological  problems  there  is 
only  too  often  an  opportunity  of  observing  the  ab¬ 
sence  of  that  strict  method  which  does  not  permit  of 
data  being  applied  for  drawing  conclusions  before 
their  sufficiency  for  this  purpose  has  been  fully  es¬ 
tablished;  thus,  for  instance,  Voit  calculates  the  ni¬ 
trogen  in  the  urine  of  his  experimental  cow  as  albu¬ 
men,  although  he  knows  that  a  considerable  portion 
of  that  nitrogen  belongs  not  to  urea,  but  to  hippuric 
acid,  which  contains,  relatively  to  nitrogen,  eighteen 
times  as  much  carbon,  which  then  figures  in  the  cal¬ 
culation  as  fat.  In  doing  tliis,  Voit  relies  upon 
Meissner,  who  thinks  himself  justified  in  concluding 
from  his  experiments  that  the  non-nitrogenous  pro¬ 
duct  of  hippuric  acid  must  be  derived  from  non-nitro¬ 
genous  constituents  of  the  food.  However,  the  facts 
ascertained  by  Meissner  are  susceptible  of  an  en¬ 
tirely  different  elucidation,  and,  in  particular,  we 
know  that  benzoic  acid  as  well  as  bitter- almond  oil, 


*  Ojp.  cit.  p.  116. 


284 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  8,  1870. 


are  constant  products  of  the  oxidation  of  albumi¬ 
nates. 

The  production  of  benzoic  acid  from  the  non-nitro- 
genous  constituents  of  hay  appears  to  me  much  more 
difficult  to  explain  than  the  production  of  margaric 
acid  from  hydrates  of  carbon ;  still  these  are  tilings 
that  are  in  no  way  connected  with  the  question  here 
under  consideration. 

Our  experience  in  reference  to  the  chemistry  of 
fermentation  teaches  us  that  from  sugar,  alcohols  may 
be  produced,  which  have  many  characters  in  common 
with  the  fats ;  and  there  is  little  reason  for  regarding 
as  inappropriate  the  opinion  that  in  organic  processes 
alcohols  of  a  higher  order  may  be  produced  from 
non-nitrogenous  substances,  or  that  from  those  al¬ 
cohols  the  corresponding  acids  may  originate.  It  is 
sufficiently  wrell  known  that  butyric  acid  may  be  pro¬ 
duced  from  lactic  acid. 

Quite  recently  it  has  been  asserted  that  by  the  aid 
of  the  microscope,  the  conversion  of  the  plasma  of  the 
cells  into  fat  in  the  lacteal  glands  may  be  observed, 
inasmuch  as  its  breaking  up  is  accompanied  by  the 
appearance  of  fat  in  the  form  of  milk  corpuscles. 
But  independently  of  the  fact  that  we  cannot  actually 
see  such  a  transformation  of  the  constituents  of  cells, 
and  indeed  only  perceive  one  thing  in  the  place  of 
another,  Voit’s  experiments  appear  to  me  in  this  re¬ 
spect  unfavourable  to  the  idea  of  a  conversion  of 
nitrogenous  constituents  of  tire  lacteal  glands  into 
fat,  since  he  is  compelled  to  adopt  the  assumption 
that  at  least  four-fifths  of  the  fat  in  cow’s  milk  must 
have  been  furnished  by  the  fodder. 

The  fat  in  milk  contains,  as  is  well  known,  several 
glycerine  compounds  of  volatile  acids, — butyric,  ca- 
prylic,  and  caproic  acids,  which  may  very  well  be 
derived  either  from  ordinary  sugar  or  from  milk 
sugar. 

The  question  as  to  the  production  of  fat  does  not 
appear  to  me  to  be  susceptible  of  determination  by 
experiments  -with  herbivorous  animals :  what  we  do 
knowr  with  certainty  is  that  in  the  case  of  these  ani¬ 
mals,  albuminates  and  hydrates  of  carbon  must  act 
together,  in  order  to  produce  fat ;  but  we  do  not 
know  at  all  whether  the  non-nitrogenous  product  that 
becomes  fat  originates  from  albumen  or  from  hydrate 
of  carbon,  and  I  do  not  think  it  would  easily  be  pos¬ 
sible  to  ascertain  this  with  certainty. 

In  researches  of  this  kind  I  believe  it  to  be  neces¬ 
sary  to  take  into  account  the  nature  of  the  animal, 
and  that  we  should  not,  without  good  reason,  assume 
the  processes  taking  place  in  an  herbivorous  animal 
to  be  the  same  as  those  going  on  in  the  body  of  a 
carnivorous  animal. 

There  is  a  large  number  of  observations  which 
appear  to  prove  that  in  certain  pathological  processes 
fat  originates  from  nitrogenous  tissues,  and  therefore 
I  regard  it  as  probable  that  in  the  bodies  of  carnivo¬ 
rous  mammalia  albumen  is  concerned  in  the  forma¬ 
tion  of  fat  and  milk  sugar,  perhaps  also  under  some 
conditions  in  the  bodies  of  herbivorous  animals.  At 
least  there  are  no  chemical  reasons  that  are  opposed 
to  such  a  view. 

I  have  already  mentioned  that  cholic  acid,  a  product 
of  the  splitting  up  of  albumen,  contains  exactly  the 
elements  of  liippuric  acid,  margaric  acid,  and  a  hy¬ 
drate  of  carbon : — 


^52  4^43  ^Pi2 —  ^ 


isHgNOg-f  C32H 


Cholic  acid.  Hippuric  acid. 


32 

Margaric 
acid. 


o4+c. 


2H2  o2 

Hydrate  of 
carbon. 


And  in  like  manner  glycocol,  another  product  of  the 


splitting  up  of  albumen,  contains  the  elements  of 


urea  and  sugar : — 
C8H10N2Os 

2  Glycocol. 


c2h4n2o2  +  c6h6o6. 

Urea.  Sugar. 


Chemically,  therefore,  wre  may  regard  as  possible 
the  production  of  milk  sugar  and  of  a  part  of  the  fat 
in  milk  of  carnivorous  mammalia,  from  albumen. 

The  formation  of  hippuric  acid  from  benzoic  acid 
in  the  bodies  of  animals  demonstrates  the  existence 
of  glycocol,  and  its  presence  admits  of  the  belief  that 
this  substance  serves  certain  purposes  in  the  or¬ 
ganism. 

The  fact  that,  in  the  case  of  men  fed  on  a  diet  con¬ 
sisting  chiefly  of  meat,  there  is  a  reduction  of  the 
amount  of  fat  in  the  body,  is  in  no  way  opposed  to 
the  opinion  that  fat  may  be  produced  from  albumi¬ 
nates. 

To  explain  this  fact  it  has  been  assumed  that, 
owing  to  an  excess  of  albuminous  substances  in  the 
food,  there  is  an  increase  in  the  number  of  blood- 
corpuscles  and  that,  thereby,  the  absorption  of  oxy¬ 
gen  by  the  blood  is  augmented,  so  that  the  oxidation 
within  the  body,  especially  of  fat,  is  increased ;  but 
the  absorption  of  oxygen  is  solely  dependent  upon 
the  rapidity  with  which  air  and  blood  come  in  con¬ 
tact  within  the  organs  of  respiration ;  in  the  higher 
animals  it  stands  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  the 
heart’s  pulsations  and  of  the  inspirations  within  a 
given  time  ;  it  is  not  even  dependent  upon  the 
amount  of  oxygen  in  the  respired  air. 

In  compressed  air  the  number  of  inspirations  is 
diminished ;  in  expanded  air  the  number  of  inspira¬ 
tions  is  increased ;  wdiile  in  both  cases  the  quantities 
of  expired  carbonic  acid,  and  the  temperatures,  vary 
only  within  narrow  limits.  In  the  ascent  of  Mont 
Blanc,  Lordet  observed  that,  from  Chamouni  up  to 
the  summit,  the  pulsations  of  his  heart  increased 
from  80  to  136,  while  the  temperature  decreased 
during  the  ascent,  but  after  resting  at  the  same  height 
it  remained  constant  at  36'5°  C. 

The  diminution  of  the  fat  accumulated  in  the  body 
when  the  diet  contains  a  preponderance  of  meat  is 
readily  explicable  from  the  slight  respiratory  value 
of  meat  as  compared  with  fat  and  the  hydrates  of 
carbon. 

A  dog  weighing  34  kilograms  requires  for  the 
maintenance  of  its  weight  a  daily  supply  of  3  pounds 
or  1500  grams  of  meat ;  and  it  is  intelligible  that  a 
man  weighing  twice  as  much  (for  whom  it  would  be 
almost  impossible  that  he  should  consume,  with  a 
little  bread,  3  pounds  of  meat  daily)  would  not  find 
this  diet  sufficient  for  the  requirements  of  respiration. 
According  to  Yoit,  a  working  man  consumes  daily,  for 
instance,  under  normal  conditions  of  diet  137  grams 
of  albuminates  =  549  grams  meat;  also  117  grams 
fat,  and  352  grams  hydrates  of  carbon.  Therefore, 
deducting  from  the  1500  grams  of  meat  the  above 
549  grams,  there  remains  for  replacing  the  fat  and 
starch  951  grams  of  meat,  which  would  barely  suf¬ 
fice  to  make  up  for  the  starch  (97’2  parts  starch  = 
309 ‘7  parts  meat);  and  even  assuming  that  a  man  had 
consumed  1500  grams  of  meat,  it  is  evident  his  body 
must  furnish  the  117  grams  of  fat  that  would  be  de¬ 
ficient.  This  sufficiently  accounts  for  his  becoming 
lean. 

In  all  the  processes  of  the  animal  body, — in  diges¬ 
tion,  formation  of  blood,  respiration  and  metamor¬ 
phosis, — some  part  is  taken  by  those  inorganic  con¬ 
stituents,  or  salts,  which  are  constant  constituents  of 


October  8,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


285 


tlie  blood,  muscles,  tissues,  as  well  as  of  all  organs, 
and,  in  tlie  latter  form,  of  the  food.  Sometimes 
the  part  they  take  is  very  decided;  it  is  only  by 
their  aid  that  the  nutritive  substances  in  the  food  of 
man,  and  in  the  fodder  of  animals,  acquire  the  capa¬ 
bility  of  serving  for  the  maintenance  of  organic  pro¬ 
cesses  and,  consequently,  these  salts  should  always 
be  taken  into  account  in  the  explanation  of  those 
processes. 

However,  the  length  to  which  these  papers  have 
now  extended  precludes  any  more  detailed  conside¬ 
ration  of  the  chemical  relations  of  salts  to  the  or¬ 
ganic  processes  for  the  present,  and  I  must  reserve 
this  subject  for  a  future  opportunity. — Proceedings  of 
the  Roy.  Bavarian  Academy  of  Sciences,  1869,  ii.  4. 


PREPARATION  OF  CANTHARIDATE  OF  POTASH. 

The  following  directions  are  given  by  MM.  Delpech 
and  Guicard : — Dissolve  with  a  gentle  heat  2  grams 
of  cantliaridine  in  150  grams  of  alcohol;  add  l'G 
grams  caustic  potash  dissolved  in  a  little  distilled 
water.  The  liquid  immediately  assumes  the  form  of 
magma,  and  the  alcohol  is  to  be  separated  by  filtra¬ 
tion  and  pressure.  Ninety-eight  parts  of  cantliaridine 
give  163  parts  cantliaridate. 

To  prepare  vesicating  taffetas,  make  a  solution 
consisting  of  gelatin  2  parts,  water  10  parts,  alcohol 
10  parts,  cantliaridate  of  potash  0'2  part,  and  glyce¬ 
rine  as  much  as  may  be  required.  Tliis  mixture  is 
to  be  spread  over  thin  sheets  of  gutta-percha  with  a 
brush,  so  that  each  square  decimetre  may  contain 
one  centigram  of  cantliaridate.  These  taffetas  must 
be  moistened  with  water  before  being  applied.  Vesi¬ 
cation  will  be  produced  in  about  six  hours. — Jo  urn. 
de  Pharm.  et  de  Chim. 


THE  PRODUCTION  OF  IODINE  AND  BROMINE. 

BY  W.  11.  CHANDLER. 

To  Scheele  the  world  is  indebted  for  the  first  intima¬ 
tion  of  the  elementary  existence  of  fluorine  and  chlorine, 
he  having  in  1771  referred  the  action  of  sulphuric  acid 
upon  fluor-spar  to  the  freeing  of  a  distinct  acid  from  the 
mineral,  though  whether  fluorine  has,  even  up  to  the  pre¬ 
sent  day,  been  isolated,  is  a  matter  of  great  doubt.  In 
1774  the  same  chemist  isolated  chlorine.  In  1811  Cour- 
tois  separated  iodine  from  the  waste  liquor  in  the  manu¬ 
facture  of  soda  ash  from  seaweed.  This  was  followed  by 
the  discovery  of  bromine  in  the  bittern  of  sea- water  by 
Balard  in  1826.  The  isolation  of  these  four  closely- 
allied  elements  from  their  compounds  was  thus  included 
in  a  century,  and  the  application  of  them  to  economical 
purposes,  to  any  extent,  has  been  accomplished  since  the 
beginning  of  the  present  century.  Their  close  relationship, 
their  physical  properties  and  their  chemical  affinities, 
which  are  nearly  in  an  inverse  proportion  to  their  che¬ 
mical  equivalents,  induce  the  supposition  that  they  are 
modifications  of  the  same  element. 

The  isolation  of  chlorine,  bromine  and  iodine  from 
their  compounds  with  the  alkalies,  is  accomplished  with 
equal  facility.  But  the  abundant  store  of  the  former  in 
the  enormous  deposits  of  salt  throughout  the  world  and 
in  solution  in  the  ocean  and  inland  seas,  forms  a  striking 
contrast  to  the  rarity  of  the  two  latter  halogens.  In 
combination  witli  silver,  bromine  and  iodine  are  foimd 
in  some  rare  ores  in  Mexico  and  South  America.  Chatin 
claims  to  have  detected  iodine  in  rain-water,  though  in 
very  minute  quantities,  and  even  in  the  atmosphere.  In 
sea-water  traces  of  it  have  been  uniformly  detected 
though  not  in  quantities  sufficient  for  quantitative  esti¬ 
mation.  Bromine  exists  in  slightly  larger  quantities 
and,  associated  with  iodine  and  chlorine,  is  found  in  the 


water  of  the  ocean  and  inland  seas,  the  various  mineral 
and  saline  springs  and  in  salt  deposits  throughout  the 
world. 

According  to  V on  Bibra,  the  amount  of  bromine  in  the 
Atlantic  Ocean,  in  one  United  States  gallon,  is  24  grains ; 
in  the  Dead  Sea,  examined  by  Herapath,  1 2 1  •  5  grains; 
in  the  dried  residue  of  the  Mediterranean,  US  per  cent. ; 
in  the  mineral  springs  of  Ivreutznach,  Ure  found  10  8 
grains ;  in  Kissingen  water,  determined  by  Kastner, 
0‘44  grains;  at  Tenbury,  in  Worcestershire,  examined 
by  Dr.  Ure,  as  much  as  12  5  grains  ;  and  at  Arnstadt,  ac¬ 
cording  to  Hartung,  1 3  •  6  grains.  Iodine  occurs  in  far 
less  quantities,  from  mere  traces  to  2-2  grains  per  gallon, 
this  latter  quantity  being  found  in  the  iodine  spring  at 
Halle. 

In  the  United  States,  both  bromine  and  iodine  have 
been  detected  in  the  various  saline  and  mineral  springs. 
Iodine  was  first  detected  in  this  country,  in  the  Saratoga 
Spring  waters,  by  Drs.  Usher  and  Steel,  in  1830,  and 
bromine  in  the  same  waters  by  Dr.  A.  A.  Hayes,  and  in 
the  salines  of  Onondaga  by  Professor  B.  Silliman,  in  the 
same  year.  The  quantity  of  bromine  in  the  spring 
waters  of  Saratoga  county,  determined  by  Professor 
Chandler,  reaches  3 '63  grains  per  gallon  in  the  water  of 
one  of  the  artesian  wells,  the  largest  amount  of  iodine 
found  being  0-2  grain;  but  in  America,  as  in  Europe, 
it  is  in  the  salines  that  the  quantity  of  these  substances 
becomes  of  economical  importance,  and  in  a  brine  of  the 
Saginaw  valley,  Dr.  Chilton  found  7'6  5  grains  of  bromine ; 
at  Tarentum,  Pa.,  6  grains  bromine  and  4  grains  iodine 
were  reported  by  Stieren  ;  in  the  Salina  brine  analysed 
by  Professor  Goessmann,  however,  only  P36  grains  of 
bromine  per  gallon  are  reported. 

Besides  these  various  sources,  iodine  has  been  detected 
in  the  soda  deposits  of  Peru,  in  the  ashes  of  sponges,  and 
in  the  ashes  of  the  Spanish  barilla  plants.  Cod-liver 
oil  is  said  to  owe  some  of  its  medicinal  properties  to  a 
trace  of  iodine.  Though  the  distribution  of  bromine  and 
iodine  is  thus  very  general,  yet  owing  to  their  existence 
in  such  comparatively  minute  quantities,  the  sources  of 
our  commercial  supply  are  much  more  restricted. 

Up  to  the  beginning  of  this  century  the  alkalies  of 
commerce  were  derived  from  the  ashes  of  plants,  and  the 
burning  of  sea- weeds  was  an  important  industry,  espe¬ 
cially  in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland. 

The  amount  of  ashes  of  sea-weed,  the  so-called  kelp, 
reached  its  maximum  production  in  1800,  when  20,000 
tons  were  collected.  To  produce  this,  400,000  tons  of 
wet  weed  were  burned.  From  this  time,  owing  to  the 
removal  of  the  import  duty  and  to  the  introduction 
of  the  manufacture  of  soda-ash  from  common  salt,  the 
trade  declined.  But  the  discovery  of  iodine  in  the  mother- 
liquors  of  kelp  salts,  somewhat  revived  the  manufacture, 
— and  it  is  to  this  source  alone  that  the  total  supply  of 
iodine  in  commerce  is  due.  The  high  price  stimulated 
the  business,  and,  in  a  few  places  in  New  England, 
iodine  factories  were  established.  These  latter,  however, 
were  soon  abandoned,  the  weed  upon  our  coast  being  of 
poor  quality.  The  process  of  separating  the  iodine  is 
exceedingly  simple,  being  nearly  analogous  to  that  for 
the  isolation  of  chlorine.  The  ashes  are  leached  with 
water,  and  the  various  crystallizable  salts  of  potash  and 
soda  are  separated  by  concentration.  Carbonates,  sul¬ 
phates  and  chlorides  of  potash  and  soda  are  thus  re¬ 
moved,  leaving  in  solution,  sulphite,  hyposulphite  and 
some  carbonate  of  soda,  together  with  the  iodides  and 
bromides.  By  the  addition  of  sulphuric  acid  the  first 
three  salts  are  decomposed,  and  the  sulphate  of  soda  pro¬ 
duced  is  removed  by  crystallization.  The  concentrated 
mother-liquor  is  acidulated  with  sulphuric  acid,  and  after 
the  addition  of  binoxide  of  manganese,  the  iodine  and 
bromine  distilled  off.  The  reaction  may  be  represented 
thus : — 

Nal  +  Mn02  +  2  (HO,  S03) 

=  NaO,SOa  +  Mn  O,  S  03  +  2HO  +  I. 

The  bromine  of  commerce  was  derived  mostly  from 


28  G 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  8,  1870. 


salines  until  the  salt  mines  of  Stassfurt  were  opened ; 
the  Schoenebeck  salt  springs,  near  Magdeburg,  producing 
the  greater  part  of  the  supply  for  Germany.  The  me¬ 
thod  of  manufacture  is  similar  to  that  followed  in  the  se¬ 
paration  of  iodine. 

Upon  opening  the  mines  of  Stassfurt,  bromine  was 
found  in  the  mother-liquors  in  considerable  quantities, 
and  at  present  the  principal  part  of  the  European  pro¬ 
duct  is  derived  from  this  source  ;  as  much  as  300  grains 
per  gallon  having  been  obtained  from  these  mother- 
liquors.  Although  but  two  or  three  of  the  manufactories 
have  economized  this  substance,  the  price  of  bromine  has 
greatly  decreased  during  the  last  five  years.  This  de¬ 
crease  has  been  hastened  by  the  large  production  of  bro¬ 
mine  in  the  United  States. 

Although  the  amount  of  bromides  in  the  Saratoga 
waters  is  considerable,  yet  the  comparatively  limited  flow 
of  water  there,  and  the  large  consumption  of  the  waters 
for  medicinal  purposes,  precludes  the  manufacture.  But 
from  the  strong  salines  it  is  derived  in  large  quantities. 
At  Tarentum,  Sligo  and  Natrona,  in  Western  Pennsyl¬ 
vania,  Pomeroy,  Ohio  and  Kanawha,  West  Virginia,  the 
manufacture  of  bromine  has  become  of  considerable  im¬ 
portance.  The  production  of  1870  will  reach  125,000 
lb.,  a  quantity  probably  in  excess  of  the  United  States 
consumption.  In  1867  the  Stassfurt  production  of  bro¬ 
mine  was  nearly  20,000  lb. 

The  total  production  of  iodine  in  Great  Britain  and 
France  is  about  200,000  lb.  annually,  and  outside  these 
two  countries  very  little  is  produced.  As  the  average 
production  of  iodine  is  about  10  lb.  to  the  ton  of  kelp, 
and  it  requires  20  tons  of  wet  weed  to  produce  one  ton 
of  kelp,  this  total  quantity  represents  the  burning  of 
400,000  toris  of  sea-weed.  At  the  present  price,  the 
iodine  produced  is  of  more  value  than  the  alkaline  salts, 
which  were  the  original  object  of  the  industry. 

As  previously  stated,  iodine  is  not  produced  in  the 
United  States.  Since  its  use  was  first  established  there 
the  price  has  fallen  from  $16'00  to  about  $5'00  per  lb. 
At  present,  bromine  is  furnished  for  less  than  $1-50 
per  lb. 

The  chief  consumption  of  bromine  and  iodine  is  for 
medicinal  purposes  in  the  form  of  iodides  and  bromides 
of  potash,  soda,  or  ammonium.  A  small  proportion  is 
consumed  in  photography.  Bromine  has  been  proposed 
as  a  discharge  in  calico  printing,  and  during  the  late  war 
was  to  some  extent  employed  as  a  disinfectant.  As  yet, 
but  a  small  proportion  of  the  bromine  of  the  saline 
mother-liquors  is  economized ;  but  should  manufac¬ 
turers  turn  their  attention  to  this  important  substance, 
the  consequent  reduction  in  price  would  render  its  eco¬ 
nomical  employment  in  other  directions  possible. — Amer. 
Chemist . 


MISTURA  CRET7E. 

In  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy,  Mr.  II.  P.  Rey¬ 
nolds,  of  Plainfield,  New  Jersey,  recommends  the  follow¬ 
ing  formula  for  mistura  cretae,  which,  he  says,  will 
yield  a  mixture  that  does  not  ferment  in  the  warmest 
weather : — 

P>  Cretas  Prazp., 

Pulv.  Gum.  Acac., 

Glycerinse  (pur.),  aa  £j 
Aquae  Cinnarcomi  *xv 
Mix  in  the  usual  manner. 

.With  the  same  object,  Mr.  W.  Ranstead,  of  Mount 
Airy,  Philadelphi,  prepares  a  powder  as  follows : — ■ 

Cretae  Pi-mp.  ^ss 
Pulv.  Sacch.  Alb., 

Pulv.  Gum.  Acac.  aa  5ij 

Mix  well  by  rubbing  in  a  mortar,  and  keep  well 
stopped  from  the  air  in  a  bottle. 

When  the  chalk  mixture  is  needed  he  uses  5j  of  the 


powder  with  f^ss  each  of  water  and  cinnamon  water  for 
each  f^  required. 

It  is  also  suggested  by  Mr.  Reynolds  that  in  the  next 
revision  of  the  United  States  Pharmacopoeia  glycerine 
should  be  substituted  for  syrup  and  sugar  in  very  many 
of  the  official  preparations.  He  says,  “  Glycerine  prepa¬ 
rations,  made  by  cold  percolation  direct  from  the  crude 
drugs,  may  advantageously  take  the  place  of  nearly  all 
the  present  official  syrups,  possessing,  if  desired,  the 
same  density,  better  representing  their  respective  bases, 
and  being  of  a  far  more  stable  character.  Of  this  I  am 
satisfied  by  actual  experiment.” 


Suicide  by  Poisoning. — On  Tuesday,  September 
17th,  an  inquest  wms  held  by  Dr.  Lankester  upon  the 
body  of  Mr.  Walter  Killick,  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
lately  a  clerk  in  a  mercantile  house.  It  appeared  that 
the  decased  having  shown  signs  of  mental  aberration, 
his  friends  had  taken  steps  to  place  him  in  a  lunatic 
asylum.  It  is  probable  that  he  heard  of  this  design,  for 
he  suddenly  left  his  friends  in  the  country,  and  came  up 
to  town.  After  partaking  of  refreshment  at  an  hotel, 
he  retired  to  rest.  The  next  morning,  as  he  made  no 
appearance,  his  room  was  entered,  and  he  was  found 
lying  on  the  bed  quite  dead.  There  were  bottles  about 
the  room  which  had  contained  chloroform,  beetle  poison 
and  laudanum.  The  laudanum,  it  was  shown,  was  pur¬ 
chased  at  the  shop  of  Mr.  Mason,  chemist,  Old  Street, 
St.  Luke’s,  Mr.  Mason’s  daughter,  a  girl  only  fourteen 
years  of  age,  selling  it.  The  deceased  had  represented 
that  he  was  a  surgeon,  and  wanted  the  poison  to  destroy 
a  dog.  The  jury  returned  a  verdict  “  That  the  deceased 
committed  suicide  while  in  an  unsound  state  of  mind,” 
coupling  with  it  a  reflection  upon  Mr.  Mason  for  per¬ 
mitting  a  child  to  vend  poisons. 

Death  under  the  Influence  of  Chloroform. — A 

few  days  since,  a  man  thirty-four  years  of  age  received  a 
severe  wound  on  the  finger  from  the  kick  of  a  horse.  He 
was  admitted  into  the  Royal  Free  Hospital  the  following 
evening  with  symptoms  of  tetanus.  The  next  day,  it 
having  been  decided  to  amputate  the  finger,  chloroform 
was  administered  on  a  piece  of  lint.  After  two  or  three 
inhalations  the  patient  struggled  violently,  and  shortly 
afterwards  expired.  At  the  inquest  which  was  held,  a 
verdict  of  “  Death  from  tetanus,  accelerated  by  chloro¬ 
form,”  was  recorded. 

Poisoning  by  the  Leaves  of  the  Yew. — l'lm- 

parziale,  of  Florence,  mentions  the  case  of  a  girl  who 
took  a  decoction  of  the  leaves  of  the  Taxus  baccata  to 
bring  on  catamenia.  She  repeated  the  dose  every 
moxming  for  three  days,  but  on  the  fourth  she  took  an 
increased  dose  of  eight  ounces.  Severe  vomiting  ensued, 
a  medical  man  was  called  in,  and  the  vomiting  was  en¬ 
couraged  by  the  use  of  tepid  water.  In  spite  of  eveiy 
effort,  however,  the  patient  died  delirious,  eight  hours 
after  taking  the  last  dose  of  the  decoction.  Nothing  of 
importance  was  revealed  by  a  post-mortem  examination. 

Poisoning  by  Locock’s  Pulmonic  Wafers. — 

It  is  reported  that  a  child  has  recently  been  killed  at 
Kilmarnock  by  swallowing  some  of  Locock’s  pulmonic 
wafers.  Medical  help  was  obtained,  but  it  was  of  no 
avail,  the  child  dying  in  twelve  hours.  The  basis  of 
these  wafers  is  probably  some  form  of  opiate,  but  the 
public  are  not  generally  aware  that  they  are  so  dange¬ 
rous  as  this  case  would  seem  to  prove  them  to  be. — 
Medical  Times  and  Gazette. 

Adulterated  Beeswax. — Dr.  Hager  has  met  with  a 
substance,  sold  in  the  Continental  market  as  beeswax, 
which  consists  of  equal  parts  of  beeswax,  paraffin  and 
Japan  wax. — Pharm.  Cent.  Halle. 

Radway’s  Ready  Relief. — According  to  Dr.  Hager, 
this  nostrum  is  an  alcoholic  solution  of  camphor,  oleo- 
resin  of  capsicum,  and  ammonia. — Pharm.  Cent.  Halle. 


October  8, 1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


287 


|l(;<uin;imttic;i(  founts! . 


SATURDAY,  OCTOBER  8,  1870. 


METROPOLITAN  LABORATORIES. 

The  Pharmaceutical  Society  no  longer  stands  al¬ 
most  alone  in  having,  as  a  iiart  of  its  educational 
department,  a  chemical  laboratory  for  students 
which  would  bear  comparison  with  the  laboratories 
of  the  Continent.  Other  institutions  have  long 
since  seen  the  value  of  this  means  of  study,  and, 
recognizing  the  special  necessity  for  practical  work 
in  the  study  of  chemistry,  they  have  applied  their  re¬ 
sources  in  the  establishment  of  suitable  laboratories. 

In  the  matter  of  chemical  laboratories,  however, 
we  are  yet  shockingly  behind  Germany.  Still  we 
are  improving.  At  St.  Bartholomew’s  there  is  the 
fine  new  laboratory,  presided  over  by  Dr.  Matthies- 
rSEN.  The  Charing  Cross  Hospital  has  also  recently 
enlarged  its  laboratory.  But  the  laboratory  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  will  still  bear  advantageous 
comparison  with  those  of  other  metropolitan  institu¬ 
tions,  and  the  attendance  of  students  at  it  seems  to 
show  that  its  beneficial  assistance  is  well  appreciated. 

Since  last  Session  considerable  changes  have 
taken  place  in  the  chemical  lectures  at  the  medical 
schools.  At  Guy’s  Hospital,  in  the  room  of  Dr. 
Taylor,  there  is  Dr.  Debus.  King’s  College,  as  our 
readers  will  perceive,  has  just  lost  Dr.  Miller. 

St.  Thomas’s,  on  the  other  hand,  which  was  to 
have  removed  to  its  new  quarters,  opposite  the 
Houses  of  Parliament,  is  still  in  its  temporary 
lodgings  in  the  Surrey  Zoological  Gardens. 

Probably  before  long  we  may  have  provincial 
laboratories  in  no  way  inferior  to  those  in  London. 


In  a  recent  article  upon  the  Art  of  Prescribing, 
tlie  Lancet  expresses  an  opinion  that,  as  understood 
by  our  fathers,  it  is  certainly  dying  out  if  not  already 
dead.  Prescriptions  are  simplified,  and  single  drugs 
are  often  given,  but  the  teachers  of  the  present  day 
err  in  paying  no  attention  to  the  instruction  of  their 
pupils  in  the  art  of  writing  such  prescriptions  as 
would  be  given  to  a  private  patient  to  be  com¬ 
pounded  by  an  ordinary  druggist.  Time  may  be 
saved  in  hospital  practice  by  using  formulae  for  mix¬ 
tures  and  pills,  or  referring  to  their  number  in  the 
hospital  Pharmacopoeia,  but  by  so  doing  the  student 
misses  teaching  to  which  he  is  fairly  entitled. 

It  also  points  out  that  although  there  is  a  general 
consent  that  the  “directions”  should  be  in  the  ver¬ 
nacular,  but  the  drugs  and  their  quantities  in  Latin, 
— teachers  seldom  dictate  the  drugs  in  Latin,  much 
less  the  quantities ;  and  asserts  that  if  an  ordinary 
abbreviated  prescription  were  put  into  the  hands  of 
many  advanced  pupils,  they  could  not  put  it  into 
Latin  without  committing  various  solecisms. 


CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’  FUND  FOR  THE 
SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


The  following  contributions  have  been  received 
since  the  publication  of  our  last : — 

C .  s .  d* 


J.  B.  Bailey,  Reading  .  1  0  0 

John  Mitchell,  254,  Upper  Street,  N .  110 

J.  Smart,  Scarborough .  1  0  0 


Collections  per  Michael  Rogerson, 
Local  Secretary  at  Bradford, 
Yorks : — 


£.  s.  d . 


M.  Rogerson  and  Son .  5  0  0 

Joseph  Hick .  2  2  0 

Harrison  and  Parkinson .  5  0  0 

John  Boast .  10  0 

William  Cockshott  . .  1  0  0 

John  Walker .  0  5  0 

William  Newsholme  .  0  10  0 

John  Tankard  .  0  5  0 

James  Foster .  0  5  0 

James  Roper .  0  4  0 

Joseph  Cookson  .  0  2  6 

Samuel  Parker .  0  2  6 

Samuel  Beanland .  0  5  0 

J.  Rhodes  .  0  5  0 

John  Priestley .  0  1  6 


T.  Ackerman,  Bristol . 

3  oz.  bottles  of  sulphate  of  quinine. 

Edward  Constance,  37,  Leadenhall  Street. 
1  doz.  2  oz.  liq.  opii  sedat. 

,,  2  „  cinchon.  cordifol. 


£16  7  6 
110 


J.  Bell  and  Co.,  Hastings. 

2  lb.  methylated  chloroform. 
4  oz.  chloral. 

4  lb.  lint. 


Charles  Jones,  Hanley. 

6  gross  1  gr.  opium  pills,  in  bottles  of  4  doz.  each. 
6  „  2  „  quinine  pills  ,,  „ 

6  „  1  „  morphia  pills  „  „ 

3  lb.  lint. 


R.  H.  Davis,  Harrogate. 

400  pil.  opii,  gr.  i,  in  bottles  of  50  each. 
400  pil.  morphiae  acet.,  gr.  ditto. 

1  oz.  muriate  cinchonine. 

4  ,,  pot  ext.  carnis. 

1  lb.  chocolate  powder. 

1  „  arrowroot. 

2  woven  vests. 

4  bandages. 

S.  A.  Key  worth,  Hastings. 

2  vr-lb.  bottles  pure  carbolic  acid. 

2  lb.  lint. 


The  following  letter  has  been  received  in  reference  to 
this  Fund : — 

Dear  Sir, — Will  you  kindly  allow  an  explanation  in  refe¬ 
rence  to  the  Chemists  and  Druggists’  Fund  for  the  Sick  and 
Wounded  ? 

It  ought  to  be  known  that  our  esteemed  friend  Mr.  Aider- 
man  Gould,  J.P.,  of  Kingston,  among  many  other  places 
visited  Richmond,  and  by  his  disinterested  exertions  suc¬ 
ceeded  in  arranging  two  public  meetings,  at  which  he  de¬ 
livered  interesting  and  stirring  addresses ;  a  committee  was 
formed,  and  the  chemists  on  being  called  upon  liberally  re¬ 
sponded,  by  supplying  considerable  quantities  of  the  most 
useful  medicines,  etc. 

In  addition  to  this  effort  public  collections  were  made  at 
the  various  churches  and  chapels  of  the  town ;  these  tacts 
will,  I  hope,  be  accepted  as  a  sufficient  reason  why  our  names 
did  not  appear  in  your  subscription  list. 

I  remain,  dear  Sir,  faithfully  yours, 

R.  Goodwin  Mumbray. 

14a,  Hill  Rise,  Richmond,  SJfr 


288 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  8,  1870, 


fftetinjf  of  %  ||anwratM 


The  Inaugural  Meeting  of  the  session  1870-71  was 
held  on  Wednesday  evening,  Mr.  Sandford  in  the 
chair,  when  there  was  a  more  than  usually  large 
attendance  of  members,  probably  owing  to  the  in¬ 
terest  felt  in  the  presentation  of  the  Sandford  testi¬ 
monial  portrait,  which  had  been  announced  to  take 
place  on  this  occasion.  Several  ladies  graced  the 
proceedings  by  their  presence. 

The  Secretary  read  the  list  of  donations  to  the 
Library  and  Museum  as  follows  : — 

University  College  Calendar,  1870-71  :  from  the  Col¬ 
lege, — Edinburgh  University  Calendar,  1870-71 :  from 
the  University, — Smithsonian  Report,  1868;  The  Indians 
of  Cape  Flattery,  by  Mr.  J.  G.  Swan  :  from  the  Smith¬ 
sonian  Institution, — Proceedings  of  the  Newcastle -on- 
Tyne  Chemical  Society  :  from  the  Society, — Pisciculture 
dans  les  Neilgherries  ;  Belanger’s  Essai  de  Culture  du 
Quinquina  :  from  M.  le  Dr.  J.  L.  Soubeiran, — Report  on 
the  Specimens  of  Chinchona  in  the  Herbaria  at  Madrid, 
by  C.  R.  Markham  ;  Planchon  on  Peruvian  Barks ;  Bo¬ 
tanical  Exchange  Club — Report  of  the  Curator  and  List 
of  Desiderata  for  1870:  from  Mr.  James  Collins, — Re¬ 
marks  on  the  Generic  name  Cascarilla;  Notes  sur  les 
Quinquinas  :  from  Dr.  H.  A.  Weddell, — On  Medical  Re¬ 
form  :  from  Dr.  Edwards  Crisp, — Address  Delivered  at 
the  opening  of  the  Botanical  Society  of  Edinburgh, 
Session  1869-70  :  from  Dr.  Cleghorn, — Science  et  Nature, 
2  vols. ;  De  la  Biere :  from  Professor  Attfield, — On  a 
Species  of  Ipomcea,  affording  Tampico  Jalap  :  from  Mr. 
Daniel  Hanbury, — Old  Manuscript  Receipt  Book :  from 
Mr.  James  Baynes, — The  Practice  of  Perfumery  :  from 
Mr.  R.  J.  Owen, — 43  Specimens  of  the  Educts  and  Pro¬ 
ducts  obtained  in  working  Seaweeds  by  the  Process  of 
R.  C.  C.  Stanford,  Esq.,  of  Glasgow :  presented  by  Mr. 
Stanford, — Specimen  of  Cape  Saffron  :  presented  by  Mr. 
J.  R.  Reeler,  of  Cape  Town, — Tail  of  the  Musk-rat 
(My gale  Muscovitica),  bought  at  Damascus  in  April,  1870, 
by  Professor  Schwarzenbach,  of  Berne :  presented  by 
Professor  Dr.  Fliickiger, — Bark  of  Cinchona  Calisaya , 
grown  in  Cordova,  Mexico,  by  M.  Nieto  :  presented  by 
Professor  Soubeiran,  of  Paris, — Specimen  of  true  African 
Elemi,  collected  from  a  tree  of  Canarium  edule ,  Hook,  f., 
growing  in  the  Angola  district,  Pungo  Andongo,  by 
Dr.  Friedrich  Welwitsch :  presented  by  James  Collins 
Curator). 

Dr.  Redwood,  being  called  upon  by  the  Chairman 
o  present  his  report  with  regard  to  the  Chemical 
Class,  said  that  at  the  close  of  the  twenty- seventh 
session  of  the  School  of  Pharmacy  he  had  but  little 
to  say,  but  that  little  was  highly  satisfactory.  The 
school  had  passed  through  various  phases  in  the 
course  of  its  history,  commencing  with  a  certain  de¬ 
gree  of  prosperity,  then  suffering  under  some  depres¬ 
sion,  and  again  rising  to  considerable  importance. 
He  was  happy,  however,  to  state  that  at  no  time  had 
it  manifested  a  greater  amount  of  healthful  vitality 
than  at  present.  During  the  last  session  the  school 
had  been  well  supported,  the  students  unexception¬ 
able  in  their  general  conduct,  regular  and  assiduous 
in  their  attendance,  industrious  in  their  studies,  and 
some  at  least,  he  hoped  many,  most  successful  in 
attaining  a  great  degree  of  proficiency.  In  his  own 
class  three  competitors  had  eminently  distinguished 
themselves,  two  very  much  so  indeed.  Of  the  twelve 
questions  submitted  to  these  two  gentlemen,  every 
one  was  answered,  and  well  answered,  and  estimating 
the  value  of  complete  and  perfect  answers  to  these 
questions  at  one  hundred,  the  value  of  the  answers 
given  was  ninety-four.  To  both  these  gentlemen, 


Charles  Fryer  and  Frederick  Hamilton  Peck,  who 
were  so  equal  in  their  attainments,  the  Council  had 
awarded  a  bronze  medal,  and  to  the  third  competitor, 
Mr.  Henry  Forster,  was  given  an  honorary  certifi¬ 
cate. 

The  questions  for  examination  were  as  follows : — 

Chemistry  and  Pharmacy. 

1.  What  is  the  length,  in  inches,  of  a  pendulum  that 
vibrates  in  seconds  of  time,  at  the  latitude  of  London, 
and  at  the  level  of  the  sea  ? 

2.  What  relation  does  th metre  bear  to  the  length  of 
an  arc  of  the  earth’s  meridian  ? 

3.  What  is  the  length  of  the  metre  in  inches  of  our 
measure,  and  what  is  the  difference  between  a  decigram 
and  a  decagram  ? 

4.  In  what  way  does  the  presence  of  air  affect  the  ac¬ 
curacy  of  the  determination,  as  usually  made,  of  the 
weight  or  true  gravitating  force  of  a  body  ? 

5.  What  is  the  specific  gravity  of  a  liquid  a  pint  of 
which  weighs  9625  grains  ? 

6.  Describe  the  process  of  clarification,  and  explain 
the  way  in  which  heat  alone,  both  at  and  below  the  boil¬ 
ing  temperature,  may  effect  the  clarification  of  a  liquid ; 
also  explain  how  liquids  are  clarified  by  the  use  of  white 
of  egg  and  isinglass  ? 

7.  At  which  end  of  the  spectrum  are  the  vibrations 
most  frequent,  and  where  are  the  waves  the  longest,  in 
accordance  with  the  undulatory  theory  of  light  P 

8.  Describe  some  of  the  principal  phenomena  on  which 
spectrum  analysis  is  based. 

9.  Describe  Antimony ,  and  the  preparations  of  it  in 
the  Pharmacopoeia. 

10.  Explain  the  doctrine  of  equivalence,  of  modern 
chemists,  as  applied  to  the  chemical  elements. 

11.  Describe  the  production  of  acetic  acid  by  the  va¬ 
rious  methods  by  which  it  is  practically  obtained,  giving 
the  composition  of  the  different  preparations  of  acetic 
acid  (that  is,  of  the  acid  in  various  degrees  of  dilution) 
of  the  Pharmacopoeia. 

12.  State  the  composition,  respectively,  of  alcohol, 
aldehyd,  chloral,  and  chloroform,  and  show  how  the 
three  last-named  compounds  are  obtained  from  the  one 
first-named. 

Tlie  Chairman  having  handed  the  medals  and 
certificate  to  the  successful  competitors, 

Professor  Bentley  presented  his  report  with  re¬ 
gard  to  the  class  of  Botany  and  Materia  Medica. 
Alluding  to  the  presence  of  the  fair  sex  amongst  his 
audience,  he  said  he  hoped  the  time  would  soon 
come  when  there  would  be  a  ladies’  class  under  his 
superintendence  in  connection  with  the  School  of 
Pharmacy.  For  twenty-two  years  he  had  had  a 
pleasurable  duty  to  perform  on  such  occasions,  and 
what  he  liad  previously  said  he  could  now  most 
conscientiously  repeat — for  he  was  quite  sure  that 
in  no  institution,  collegiate  or  otherwise,  was  there 
to  be  found  a  better  class  of  students,  more  regular 
in  attendance,  more  attentive,  or  more  industrious 
than  was  to  be  found  in  the  Pharmaceutical  Society. 
During  the  last  session  112  students  had  passed 
through  the  class  which  he  had  the  honour  to  con¬ 
duct,  six  of  whom  had  so  liiglily  distinguished  them¬ 
selves  as  to  have  had  honours  awarded  to  them. 
There  was  both  a  viva  voce  and  written  examination; 
in  the  former,  the  two  gentlemen  who  had  gamed 
the  liighest  distinction  had  obtained  thirty-four  out 
of  thirty-five  possible  marks,  and  in  the  latter,  though 
the  standard  could  not  be  expected  to  be  quite  so 
high,  it  was  very  good  indeed.  Mr.  E.  A.  Webb, 
who  received  the  Council  Medal,  and  Mr.  F.  H. 
Peck,  to  whom  was  awarded  a  Certificate  of  Honour, 
were  both  worthy  of  very  high  commendation,  indeed 


October  8,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


2S9 


there  was  hut  very  little  difference  between  them, 
and  Mr.  C.  Fryer  had  also  very  highly  distinguished 
himself.  Three  other  gentlemen  also,  Messrs.  H. 
Forster,  J.  P.  Jackson,  and  E.  Sainsbury  were  also 
well  worthy  of  the  certificates  which  had  been 
awarded  them.  • 

The  questions  for  examination  were  as  follows  : — 

Botany  and  Materia  Medica. 

BOTANY. 

Hours  from  Ten  till  One. 

1.  Describe  the  structure  of  disk-bearing  woody  tissue 
and  mention  the  Orders  of  plants  in  which  it  is  especially 
found. 

2.  "What  are  the  distinctive  characters  between  a  root 
and  a  stem  ?  Define  the  following  : — Corm,  bulb,  tuber, 
tubercule,  rhizome,  and  runner. 

3.  Distinguish  between  determinate,  indeterminate, 
and  mixed  inflorescences.  Define  a  spike,  spadix,  amen¬ 
tum,  corymb,  umbel,  and  capitulum. 

4.  Give  a  sketch  of  the  changes  which  the  crude  sap 
undergoes  in  the  leaves  and  other  green  parts  by  which 
it  is  converted  into  elaborated  sap ;  and  mention  the  im¬ 
portant  practical  applications  which  arise  from  a  know¬ 
ledge  of  such  changes. 

5.  Give  the  essential  characters  of  the  following  Na¬ 
tural  Orders,  and  enumerate  the  officinal  plants  which 
they  respectively  contain : — Malvacece ,  Papaveracea ,  Cu- 
« curbitacecs ,  Scrophulariaccce ,  Polygonacece ,  and  Iridacece. 

MATERIA  MEDICA. 

Hours  from  Two  till  Five. 

1.  Describe  the  physical  characters  of  the  seeds  and 
bark  of  Strychnos  Kux-  Vomica.  Mention  the  physical 
and  chemical  characters  by  which  the  latter  may  be  dis¬ 
tinguished  from  Cusparia  bark. 

2.  What  are  the  botanical  and  geographical  sources  of 
buchu  leaves  ?  Describe  the  leaves  of  the  officinal  spe¬ 
cies  yielding  buchu.  Mention  their  medical  properties, 
and  enumerate  their  officinal  preparations. 

3.  What  is  the  botanical  source  of  elaterium  ?  De¬ 
scribe  how  it  is  obtained  in  the  greatest  state  of  purity, 
its  physical,  chemical,  and  medical  properties,  the  means 
of  ascertaining  its  purity,  and  the  dose. 

4.  What  are  the  botanical  and  geographical  sources  of 
■Jamaica  sarsaparilla  ?  Describe  the  difference  between 
mealy  and  non-mealy  sarsaparillas.  What  are  the  cha¬ 
racteristics  of  good  sarsaparilla  ? 

5.  Describe  the  physical  and  chemical  characteristics 
of  virgin  scammony.  Mention  the  substances  commonly 
used  to  adulterate  scammony,  and  the  means  by  which 
•such  adulterations  may  be  detected. 

The  medals  and  certificates  having  been  handed 
to  the  successful  competitors, 

Dr.  Attfield,  in  making  his  statement  with  re¬ 
ference  to  the  Class  of  Practical  Chemistry,  said  it 
would  be  unnecessary  for  him  to  read  the  whole  of 
the  report  which  at  the  close  of  the  session  he  had 
presented  to  the  Council,  but  it  might  not  be  out  of 
place  for  him  to  say  that  for  the  second  time  in  the 
history  of  the  Laboratory  the  balance  of  the  finan¬ 
cial  account  had  been  on  the  right  side;  and,  as 
considerable  interest  and  importance  was  now  be¬ 
ing  attached  to  the  question  of  provincial  schools,  he 
might  mention  that  for  some  years  past  he  had  kept, 
in  a  form  available  for  ready  reference,  statistics  of 
the  Laboratory,  which  were  at  any  time  open  to  the 
inspection  of  any  one  who  might  be  thinking  of  esta¬ 
blishing  similar  schools.  His  books  showed  the 
name  of  every  student  for  the  last  eight  years,  the 
date  of  his  entry  and  departure,  etc.,  and  also  tables 
shoving  the  number  of  students  in  any  one  session 
or  in  any  part  of  a  session,  and  the  average  position 


attained.  Diming  the  last  session  112  pupils  had 
attended  the  Laboratory,  or  about  23  more  than  in 
any  previous  year.  Many  only  came  up  to  study 
for  a  short  time  preparatory  to  passing  their  exami¬ 
nations,  having  already  worked  at  home  with  the  aid 
of  books,  and  perhaps  with  some  assistance  besides. 
Of  course  these  gentlemen  did  not  attend  the  lec¬ 
tures,  and  thus  it  happened  for  the  first  time  since 
the  Laboratory  had  been  instituted  that  the  num¬ 
bers  attending  were  much  larger  than  the  entries  to 
the  Chemistry  lecture  class  and  within  one  of  those 
attending  the  Botanical  class.  He  had  again  to  an¬ 
nounce,  as  he  did  on  the  previous  occasion,  that  he 
had  during  the  session  held  two  examinations 
weekly,  in  the  course  of  which  he  took  the  students 
at  least  over  the  whole  chemistry  of  the  Pharmaco¬ 
poeia.  These  examinations  had  been  remarkably 
well  attended,  and  seemed  so  popular,  that  they 
would  be  regularly  continued.  With  regard  to  the 
competition  for  prizes,  he  might  mention  that  two 
days  were  allotted  for  the  examination,  the  students 
working  from  ten  to  four  each  day,  and  books  of  any 
kind  being  permitted,  so  that  it  was  strictly  an 
examination  in  practical  chemistry.  The  questions 
asked,  of  which  copies  were  on  the  table,  consisted 
mainly  in  the  analysis  of  liquids,  solids  and  phar¬ 
maceutical  preparations,  and  one  essay  at  quantita¬ 
tive  analysis.  Twelve  gentlemen  competed,  of  whom 
six  were  remarkably  successful.  Mr.  Fryer  obtained 
•92  of  the  possible  number  of  marks,  Mr.  Francis 
•87,  Mr.  Best  *85,  Mr.  Raffles,  '85,  Mr.  Sainsbury 
‘83,  Mr.  Metcalfe  ’82,  Mr.  Webb  ’70,  and  Mr.  Peck 
•68.  In  accordance  with  his  recommendation  the 
Council  had  awarded  medals  to  the  first  two,  and 
certificates  of  honour  and  merit  to  the  others.  With 
regard  to  the  general  conduct  of  the  students  it  was 
unnecessary  to  say  much,  although  he  might  easily 
enlarge  upon  this  subject,  for  where  the  students 
spent  one  hour  with  his  colleagues,  Professors  Red¬ 
wood  and  Bentley,  they  spent  from  ten  to  fifteen 
with  him,  so  that  he  had  abundant  opportunities  of 
judging  of  their  mental  and  moral  character  and 
calibre.  Of  course,  as  in  all  schools,  he  had  found 
during  the  session  perhaps  1  or  2  per  cent,  of  idle 
and  mischievous  students, — young  men  who  were 
well  known  to  all  employers,  and  who  were  just  as 
dangerous  in  a  shop  as  any  article  in  Schedule  A, 
and  perhaps  equally  deserved  to  be  locked  up  and 
marked  “poison;”  but  even  these  were  all  the 
better  for  a  short  stay  in  the  Laboratory.  He  was 
glad  to  conclude  with  two  statements,  first,  that 
during  the  last  two  days  a  greater  number  of  appli¬ 
cations  had  been  made  for  benches  than  at  any  pre¬ 
vious  time,  though,  he  was  happy  to  say,  there  was 
still  plenty  of  room,  additional  accommodation  hav¬ 
ing  been  provided ;  and,  secondly,  that  during  the 
ensuing  session  the  Laboratory  would  still  have  the 
services  of  Mr.  Tilden  and  Mr.  Moss  as  senior  and 
junior  assistants. 

The  questions  for  examination  were  as  follows 

Practical  Chemistry. 

Hours :  Ten  to  Five. 

Books  and  memoranda  permitted. 

1.  The  “solution”  given  to  you  may  contain  any  of 
the  ordinary  metallic  salts  used  in  medicine ;  analyse  it, 
and  state  the  results. 

2.  The  accompanying  “powder”  is  also  a  mixture  of 
common  metallic  salts ;  examine  it,  and  report  your  con¬ 
clusions. 


290 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  8,  1870. 


3.  “  Tincture  of  rhubarb.”  Examine  the  specimen  for 
methylated  spirit. 

4.  Report  on  the  purity  of  the  following  articles  : — 

Acetic  acid. 

Diluted  phosphoric  acid. 

Distilled  water. 

Glycerine. 

5.  “  Bleaching  powder.”  State  the  percentage  of  chlo¬ 
rine  in  the  sample. 

Professor  Bentley  announced  the  result  of  the 
contest  for  the  Herbaria  Prizes.  These  prizes  were 
offered  to  young  students, — the  object  being  to  en¬ 
courage  the  study  of  Botany  amongst  these  young 
men  scattered  throughout  the  country  when  they  had 
opportunities  of  collecting  specimens,  which,  in  all 
probability,  they  never  would  have  again,  and  in  this 
respect  they  were  particularly  valuable.  On  the  pre¬ 
sent  occasion,  this  contest  had  been  peculiarly  suc¬ 
cessful, — four  very  excellent  collections  having  been 
sent  in,  two  particularly  being  of  most  exceptional 
merit,  so  much  so  indeed,  regard  being  had  not  only 
to  the  care  with  which  the  specimens  had  been  col¬ 
lected,  the  admirable  manner  in  which  they  had 
been  preserved,  but  also  the  mode  in  which  they  had 
been  arranged,  and  particularly  the  knowledge  ex¬ 
hibited  in  naming  them,  that  it  was  impossible  to 
choose  between  them,  and  both  collections  were  on 
the  table,  where  he  hoped  parties  would  take  an  op¬ 
portunity  of  inspecting  them.  One  was  sent  by  Mr. 
Webb,  who  had  already  taken  a  prize  in  Botany  and 
Materia  Medica ;  and  to  show  the  advantage  of  sound 
early  training,  he  might  mention  that  this  gentle¬ 
man  was  residing  with  their  friend  Mr.  Deane.  The 
second  collection  was  equally  admirable,  and  was 
contributed  by  Mr.  Rammell,  who  was  living  with 
Mr.  Jackson  at  Crediton.  It  was  interesting  to  no¬ 
tice,  as  shoving  the  great  influence  of  good  training 
on  an  industrious  student,  that  this  gentleman  was 
the  fourth  who  had  successfully  competed  for  this 
prize  whilst  residing  with  Mr.  Jackson.  Silver 
medals  had  been  awarded  to  both  these  gentlemen, 
and  amongst  the  others  more  particularly  deserving 
of  honourable  mention,  were  Mr.  Alexander  Wood, 
who  obtained  a  Certificate  of  Honour,  and  Mr.  C.  J. 
Stansby,  who  obtained  a  Certificate  of  Merit. 

Mr.  Deane  said,  some  persons  might  imagine  as 
he  was  the  Examiner  in  Botany,  that  Mr.  Webb 
might  have  had  certain  special  advantages  afforded 
him  in  making  his  selection,  but  he  had  much  plea¬ 
sure  in  stating  that  that  gentleman  had  been  so  con¬ 
scientious  in  the  matter,  that  he  would  not  receive 
any  assistance  from  him  beyond  a  little  instruction 
in  the  mechanical  arrangement  and  setting  out  of 
his  plants.  In  every  other  respect,  the  collection 
was  entirely  his  own  work. 

Mr.  Haselden  (Vice-President)  in  announcing  the 
name  of  the  successful  competitor  for  the  Pereira 
Medal,  said  he  had  had  the  honour  of  examining  the 
papers.  Seventeen  gentlemen  were  eligible  to  com¬ 
pete,  four  of  whom  did  so,  of  whom  Mr.  Peck  was 
the  successful  candidate.  With  respect  to  the  Prize 
of  Books,  he  had  had  the  pleasure  not  only  of  setting 
the  questions,  but  also  of  conducting  the  examina¬ 
tion,  in  conjunction  with  his  Mend  Mr.  Cracknell. 
Out  of  twenty-nine  eligible  to  compete  for  this  prize, 
seventeen  entered,  and  the  work  was  very  well  done 
by  nearly  all ;  so  much  so,  that  great  credit  was  due 
to  Mr.  Webb,  who  had  succeeded  in  carrying  off  the 
prize. 


The  questions  for  examination  were  as  follows : — 
Pereira  Medal. 

Section  I.  botany. 

Time  allowed :  Two  Hours.  Competitors  are  required 
to  answer  at  least  Two  Questions  in  each  Section. 

1.  Describe  the  germination  of  a  bean  and  of  a  grain 
of  wheat. 

2.  Explain  the  terms  achene ,  drupe ,  berry ,  and  capsule, 
and  give  an  example  of  each. 

3.  What  are  the  principal  medicinal  plants  growing  in 
England  ?  Enumerate  them,  stating  which  occur  wild 
and  which  are  cultivated,  and  mention  the  Natural  Order 
of  each. 

4.  Explain  botanically  the  nature  of  Ergot. 

Section  II.  materia  medica. 

1.  Enumerate  the  medicinal  products  of  the  Order 
Euphorbiacecc,  naming  the  plant  from  which  each  is  de¬ 
rived  and  the  country  in  which  it  grows. 

2.  What  are  the  chief  constituents  of  Opium  ?  Name 
the  more  prominent  characters  by  which  some  of  them 
may  be  recognized. 

3.  What  is  the  alkaloid  of  Greenheart  Bark,  and  in 
what  other  substance  has  it  been  observed  to  exist  ? 

4.  In  what  countries  and  by  what  plants  are  the  fol¬ 
lowing  drugs  produced, — Star  Anise,  Winter's  Bark,  Ga- 
langal,  Venice  Turpentine,  Fenugreek ,  Grains  of  Baradise, 
Bay  Berries,  and  Elecampane  ? 


CHEMISTRY. 

Time  allowed :  Two  Horn’s. 

1.  Describe  the  laws  of  substitution,  giving  at  least 
three  instances  of  substitution  products. 

2.  What  is  the  action  of  the  following  metals  on  nitric 
acid : — copper,  gold,  silver,  tin,  and  zinc  ? 

3.  Describe  tartaric,  citric  and  malic  acids,  and  their 
derivatives.  What  change  occurs  when  these  three 
acids  are  heated  separately  with  caustic  potash  P 

Prize  of  Books. 

DISPENSING  AND  PHARMACY. 

1 

Time  allowed :  Two  Hours.  Standard  Number  of  Marks, 

300. 

State  the  best  method  of  dispensing  the  following 
prescriptions,  assigning  the  reasons  for  the  same,  and 
write  the  labels  in  suitable  language  : — 

]£>  Potassse  Tartratis  3iij. 

Potassae  Bicarb,  ^ij. 

Acid.  Citric.  3iss  vel  q.  s. 

Spt.  iEther.  Nitros.  5vj. 

Mueilag.  Acacia}  5iv. 

Aquai  Destill,  ad  £vj.  M. 

Ft.  mist.,  pars  sexta  horae  tertiis  partibus  capienda  per 
vices  tres,  postea  singulis  horis. 

Camphor  a;  gr.  iij. 

Ext.  Hyoscyam.  gr.  4. 

„  Opii  gr.  M. 

Ft.  pil.  hor.  somn.  sum.  et  repet.  inter  noctem  dolore 
vel  inquietudine  perstante.  Mitte  viij. 

State  the  proportions  of  the  ingredients  in,  and  the 
method  of  preparing,  the  following  decoctions  : — cin¬ 
chona,  haematoxylum,  hordeum. 

Describe  and  explain  the  P.  B.  process  for  preparing 
extractum  glycyrrhizae,  suggesting  any  improvement 
that  might  be  made. 

State  the  reason  for  directing  the  albumen  to  be  sepa¬ 
rated  from  the  extracts  of  aconite,  belladonna,  hemlock, 
henbane,  and  lettuce. 

Describe  and  explain  the  process  of  the  Br.  Ph.  for 
making  syrup,  tolutanus. 

The  Chairman  said,  before  calling  upon  Mr. 
Schacht  to  deliver  the  address,  he  could  not  refrain 
from  saying  a  word  of  welcome  to  the  students  for 


October  8,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


291 


tlie  forthcoming  Session,  keeping  up  the  good  old 
rule  to  speed  the  parting  guests.  There  was  no 
duty  appertaining  to  the  office  which  he  had  the 
honour  to  fill  of  a  more  pleasurable  character  than 
the  distribution  of  the  prizes.  It  took  them  back 
to  the  institution  of  the  school,  and  brought  be¬ 
fore  their  recollection  the  services  of  all  those  who 
had  worked  so  hard  in  bygone  days,  forgetting  their 
own  interests  and  thinking  only  of  those  who  were 
to  come  after  them  in  establishing  the  means  of 
obtaining  a  sound  education  for  the  rising  genera¬ 
tion.  It  was  a  great  pleasure  to  think  of  the  work 
they  had  done,  and  a  still  greater  pleasure  to  see 
that  their  efforts  had  not  been  wasted.  They  had 
this  evening  before  them  the  gentlemen  who  had 
carried  away  the  prizes  ;  but,  as  Professor  Redwood 
had  said,  there  were  others  who  might  have  com¬ 
peted  if  they  had  thought  proper ;  and  whether  they 
gained  prizes  or  not,  they  all  gained  benefit.  Those 
whose  names  had  not  been  mentioned  to-night  he 
hoped  would  be  heard  of  by-and-by  in  after  life,  and 
he  hoped  all  would  remember  that  the  most  im¬ 
portant  part  of  their  labour  was  about  to  commence. 
They  had  shown  that  the  stuff  was  in  them,  and  he 
hoped  they  would  go  on  thoroughly  and  earnestly 
in  the  work  they  had  undertaken,  and  do  all  in 
their  power  to  advance  the  body  to  which  they  all 
belonged.  In  using  the  word  “  all,”  he  could  not 
forget  that  many  who  had  taken  prizes  there  had 
gone  away  to  higher  pursuits;  but  he  believed 
that  the  field  of  pharmacy  now  offered  a  better 
position  to  young  men  than  it  ever  had  done  for¬ 
merly,  and  that  there  was  abundant  room  for  them 
to  exert  the  talents  which  they  had  shown  them¬ 
selves  to  possess.  He  hoped,  therefore,  they  would 
only  take  leave  of  the  school  in  order  to  become 
connected  with  the  Society  as  full  members  or 
associates,  and  he  earnestly  trusted  that  the  same 
success  which  had  attended  them  hitherto  would  fol¬ 
low  them  through  the  whole  of  their  future  career. 

Mr.  Schacht  then  delivered  the  following  ad¬ 
dress  : — 

Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen, 

Before  commencing  my  immediate  subject,  I  wish  to 
say  one  word  about  myself.  I  must  ask  you  to  accept 
my  assurance  that  I  am  in  no  way  responsible  for 
the  fact  that  this  person  occupies  this  position  at  this 
moment.  It  is  the  result  of  the  spontaneous  act  of 
the  Council.  The  arrival  of  the  Secretary’s  note  that 
contained  the  resolution  nominating  me  to  this  duty 
literally  and  truly  filled  me  with  surprise  ;  and  I  felt 
as  some  private  soldier  might  be  expected  to  feel, 
should  his  commanding  officer  summon  him  from  the 
ranks  to  manoeuvre  the  regiment.at  full  parade.  One 
moment  of  utter  surprise,  and  consequent  hesitation, 
in  both  his  case  and  my  own,  might,  I  trust,  be 
deemed  excusable — no  more  than  this,  however, 
would  duty  permit ;  the  next  must  see  us  delivering 
our  salute,  and  proceeding  to  obey  our  orders  with 
what  skill  we  may,  our  respective  commanders  being 
mainly  responsible  for  the  results. 

The  two  gentlemen  who  have  immediately  pre¬ 
ceded  me  in  this  duty  approached  their  task  with 
imusual  claims  to  respect  and  attention.  The  one 
was  strong  alike  in  evidences,  spread  over  many 
years,  of  wise  and  generous  interest  in  the  progress 
of  liis  calling,  and  in  the  consistent  manifestation  of 
those  qualities  of  mind,  life  and  character,  that  have 
stamped  him,  even  in  these  somewhat  fortunate 


times,  the  model  pharmacist.  The  other  was  an  ap¬ 
proved  man  of  science,  and  a  justly  recognized  leader 
of  even  the  advance-guard  of  pharmacy. 

Such  credentials  went  far,  not  only  to  inspire  their 
owner’s  words  with  special  and  peculiar  force,  but  to 
justify  then’  adopting,  most  becomingly  and  fitly,  the 
tone  of  the  teacher. 

From  no  such  point  of  vantage  can  the  present 
address  be  uttered.  It  must  come  to  those  for  whom 
it  is  intended  from,  as  it  were,  their  very  midst.  I 
must  speak  to  them  as  one  of  themselves  or  not 
speak  at  all ;  for  I  am  no  teacher,  the  utmost  that 
conscience  will  suffer  me  to  hope  is  that  through  all 
my  days  I  may  continue  to  be  an  earnest  and  re¬ 
verential  student  of  scientific  truth.  But  those 
that  called  me  hither  knew  this,  no  doubt,  per¬ 
fectly  well,  and  deemed  it  perhaps  not  altogether 
a  matter  of  regret.  They  may  have  estimated  this 
ceremony  (as  I  may  presently  desire  to  repeat)  as  an 
occasion  when  for  grave  public  reasons  its  prominent 
actors  would  be  most  fitly  selected  from  amongst  the 
obscure ;  or,  it  is  possible,  they  may  have  deliberately 
chosen  as  their  spokesman  to  a  body  of  students  one 
whose  name  was  in  some  measure  associated  with  a 
plea  for  the  student  class,  and  an  effort,  slight  in¬ 
deed,  but  still  an  effort,  to  supply  the  student’s 
wants. 

Let  me,  however,  at  once  disown  any  sj)ecial  claim 
for  consideration  upon  this  latter  score,  for,  in  the 
first  place,  it  would  be  by  no  means  my  exclusive 
right,  many  others  having  laboured  in  the  same  di¬ 
rection  fully  as  earnestly  as  myself,  though,  perhaps, 
somewhat  more  silently;  and,  in  the  next  place,  my 
plea  was  not  for  students  within  these  walls.  Year 
after  year  as  they  have  assembled  to  the  launch  of 
successive  sessions  of  this  school,  I  have  envied  them 
far  too  much  to  discover  aught  to  plead  for  in  their 
behalf.  It  has  been  for  those  outside  these  walls  and 
outside  this  city  that  my  plea  has  been  raised. 
Twenty  times  the  number  that  can  gather  here  are 
compelled  to  stay  without ;  for  every  single  student 
that  has  the  good  fortune  to  revel  amidst  the  riches 
of  this  school,  at  least  twenty  of  the  student  class 
are  debarred  from  ever  setting  foot  within  it.  Of 
these  some,  it  must  be  confessed,  are  kept  away  by 
nothing  but  their  own  indifference  and  carelessness. 
These  are  the  drones  of  pharmacy,  and  a  sad  diffi¬ 
culty  they  have  ever  been,  encumbering  and  marring 
every  effort  for  professional  advance,  and  discourag¬ 
ing  all  but  the  most  earnest  of  the  advocates  of  pro¬ 
gress.  But  let  it  not  be  for  one  moment  supposed 
that  all  who  are  not  here  are  drones  and  idlers — that 
only  one  in  twenty  of  our  great  student  class  have 
any  care  for  science  or  for  intellectual  culture. 
Many  long  with  all  their  souls  for  the  advantages  to 
be  gathered  here,  and  gratefully  welcome  every  op¬ 
portunity  for  improvement  that  is  offered,  even 
though  it  fall  short  of  their  ideal.  And  fall  short, 
alas  !  it  always  does ;  for  local  effort,  however  ear¬ 
nest,  and  however  fortunate,  finds  itself  dwarfed  and 
disparaged  when  compared  with  an  imperial  orga¬ 
nization  such  as  this  ;  and  it  is  not  wonderful  that 
observers  who  have  some  knowledge  of  both  should 
be  driven  to  reflect  upon  the  differences  that  exist 
between  them,  and  should  endeavour  to  weigh  their 
value  and  their  effect  upon  the  broad  interests  of 
pharmacy. 

This  important  subject,  I  rejoice  to  know,  at  length 
occupies  the  serious  consideration  of  our  executive, 
and  will,  I  freely  hope,  ere  long  receive  a  wise  solu- 


292 


the  pharmaceutical  journal  and  transactions. 


[October  8,  1870. 


tion.  In  the  meantime,  local  effort  lias  done  some¬ 
thing  ;  and  it  is  gratifying  to  know  that  in  several 
provincial  centres  courses  of  study  similar  in  kind  to 
that  pursued  in  this  school,  and  very  good  in  quality, 
are  at  this  moment  in  operation ;  classes  of  anxious, 
hopeful,  curious  students  are  mustering  for  fresh 
sessions,  there  as  here,  and  are  equally  expecting  the 
revelation  of  good  tilings.  Bear  with  me  then  when 
I  say  that  it  is  with  these  and  with  the  less  fortunate 
ones  still,  who  have  yet  to  long  and  wait  in  patience, 
that  my  first  sympathies  lie,  and  for  whom  I  would 
spend  the  chief  of  my  voluntary  labours. 

But  it  would  be  strange  if,  with  such  a  sentence 
on  my  lip,  my  heart  could  fail  to  find  a  word  of  wel¬ 
come  for  others  also, — for  all  indeed  who  have  the 
mind  to  estimate  the  value  of  scientific  culture,  and 
the  pluck  to  make  the  effort  for  its  attainment.  I 
said  I  envied  the  students  of  this  school.  By  tliis 
was  meant,  not  that  I  begrudged  them  one  particle 
of  the  good  fortune  they  are  enabled  to  enjoy,  but 
that  I  sighed  to  think  so  few,  comparatively  speak¬ 
ing,  could  grasp  the  fine  opportunities  this  school 
affords.  No,  my  only  words  to-night  shall  be,  as  I 
would  wish  them  ever  to  be  to  all  my  fellow-students, 
words  of  heartiest  congratulation. 

So,  then,  most  warmly,  most  heartily  I  congratu¬ 
late  you,  my  fellow-students,  that  you  have  deter¬ 
mined,  for  yourselves  at  least,  life  shall  not  lose  its 
greatest  joy ;  that,  although  some  around  you  select 
the  husks  of  life,  and  pretend  to  be  content  there¬ 
with, — nay,  try  to  persuade  themselves  and  others 
that  husk  is  the  chief  object  of  the  plant’s  whole 
growth,  and  runs  no  risk  of  being  trodden  down  at 
last  of  swine, — you  have  resolved  that  all  tins  is 
specious  and  false ;  that  you  will  look  straight  into 
truth  itself,  will  pierce  the  husk,  will  grasp  the  seed 
and  plant  it  anew  in  fair  and  cultivated  soil,  there 
to  take  root,  grow  and  bring  forth  good  fruit.  Are 
not  all  who  have  so  resolved  indeed  to  be  congratu¬ 
lated?  They  have  touched  the  great  law  of  univer¬ 
sal  Continuity,  than  which  nothing  can  be  nobler, 
“Be  fruitful  all;”  and  from  henceforth  a  healthy 
unrest,  a  longing  to  fulfil  a  higher  work  urges  their 
lives  onward,  upward.  I  said  life’s  greatest  joy; 
can  one  greater  be  hoped  for  man  than  that  he 
should  humbly  attempt  to  fulfil  his  great  Maker’s 
purpose  ? 

But  the  resolve  is  not  quite  all.  There  is  no 
need  surely  to  quote  the  many  well-known  words  of 
wisdom  you  have  learned  upon  tliis  point. 

.  Were  I  to  begin  with  “  Hell  is  paved  with  good 
intentions,”  and  quote  on  till  I  gave  you  the  parable 
of  the  seed  that  fell  on  stony  places,  I  should  but 
remind  you  of  temptations  of  which  you  already 
know.  I  hint  at  them  only  because  they  give  me 
giounds  for  further  congratulations,  for  you  are 
about  to  surround  your  good  resolves  with  condi¬ 
tions  the  most  favourable  for  their  sustentation. 
these  are  the  enthusiasm  of  numbers  associated 
m  n  common  object, — the  influence  of  method  and 
methodical  training — and  personal  contact  with  able 
and  earnest  teachers.  These  are  very  potent  agen¬ 
cies,  and  are  worth  a  moment’s  thought. 

The  mind  of  the  young  man  is,  as  you  know,  in  the 
very  °f  ffs  ardour ;  the  enthusiasm  of  youth  is 
pioveibial,  and  not  only  constitutes  one  of  its  greatest 
charms,  but  is  one  of  its  real  powers  also ;  yet,  per- 
haps  in  a  greater  degree  than  is  the  case  with  most 
of  the  attributes  of  poor  humanity,  it  is  erratic 
prone  to  change  and  prone  to  languish  Let  its 


emotions,  however,  have  been  but  originally  genuine, 
and  the  contagious  influence  of  another’s  constancy’ 
aided  by  the  warm  breath  of  friendly  encouragement 
and  friendly  rivalry,  is  almost  sure  to  fan  the°fading 
spark  to  a  flame  again.  Depend  upon  it  each  can 
do  much  to  help  his  comrade’s  constancy,  very  much 
to  sustain  the  general  gaze  upon  the  general  purpose. 

To  the  same  end  also  works  that  grand  abstrac¬ 
tion,  method.  Of  all  the  qualities  essential  to  the 
fair  cultivation  of  that  which  is  called  mind,  me¬ 
thod  appears  to  me  to  stand  the  first.  Shall  I 
therefore  venture  to  say  one  word  for  the  more  general 
cultivation  of  mathematical  studies  amongst  our 
younger  pharmacists  ?  From  this  place  have  been 
heard  frequent  and  eloquent  utterances  in  praise  of 
classical  culture;  I  willingly  endorse  them.  It  is 
not  perhaps  the  special  direction  of  my  own  taste, 
but  I  recognize  its  value,  and  appreciate  the  pains 
that  others  bestow  upon  it.  Moreover,  I  am  aware 
that  in  one  direction  at  least  it  is  essential  to  the 
proper  fulfilment  of  our  professional  duties.  But 
mathematics,  which  is  indeed  method,  should,  it 
seems  to  me,  precede  all  special  studies,  or,  at  any 
rate,  should  accompany  them  side  by  side.  The 
processes  of  mental  and  of  corporeal  development  in 
many  respects  resemble  each  other ;  mind  as  well 
as  body  requires  both  food  and  exercise  for  its  proper 
growth;  the  mere  pouring  in  of  meat  and  drink 
does  not  necessarily  develope  a  healthy  and  vigorous 
frame;  good  wholesome  exercise  is  needed  for  the 
double  purpose  of  carrying  every  proper  food-atom 
in  streams  of  vital  power  to  its  appointed  place,  and 
for  removing  all  that  is  superfluous,  used  up  and 
baneful.  What  judicious  exercise  is  to  the  body  the 
science  of  method  is  to  the  mind ;  it  assorts  and 
arranges  all  its  mental  pabulum,  and  exalts  to  the 
utmost  its  powers  of  assimilation.  It  would  per¬ 
haps  be  difficult  to  conceive  of  a  mind,  properly 
so-called,  utterly  and  entirely  uneducated  in  method, 
but  one  in  which  this  quality  is  fully  cultivated 
starts  for  the  attainment  of  any  branch  of  know¬ 
ledge  at  a  wonderful  advantage  over  another  not 
so  tutored ;  even  such  indeed  as  the  trained  gla¬ 
diator  would  possess  over  the  peaceful  citizen  in 
a  contest  of  physical .  strength.  True,  that  in  the 
patient  study  of  a  science  such  as  chemistry,  with 
all  its  inherent  logic  and  its  splendid  mathematical 
developments,  the  pupil,  almost  despite  his  pre¬ 
vious  habit  of  mind,  becomes  imperceptibly  edu¬ 
cated  in  the  law  of  method,  and.  in  proportion 
as  tliis  occurs  he  reaps  for  himself  a  double  re¬ 
ward.  But  he  has  much  to  overcome,  much  lee¬ 
way  to  make  good  before  he  can  compete  with  his 
better-equipped  rival,  who  has  brought  to  the  task 
an  organization  of  power  so  complete  that  from  the 
very  first  step  each  new  fact  as  it  is  revealed,  with 
all  its  attendant  bearings,  drops  at  once  into  its 
proper  and  appointed  place,  for  ever  after  a  veritable 
portion  of  his  being. 

I  have  been  led  to  these  remarks,  which  may  to 
some  appear  unnecessary,  from  having  more  than 
once  met  with  professed  students  of  chemistry  who 
were  evidently  ignorant  even  of  the  essential  nature 
of  an  equation;  and  I  hope,  should  there  be  any 
amongst  those  I  am  addressing  whose  attention  has 
not  hitherto  been  enlisted  in  these  studies,  they  will 
make  every  effort  to  supply  the  omission,  so  that 
they  may  reap  the  fullest  advantages  of  the  metho¬ 
dically-conveyed  instruction  that  will  be  presented 
to  them. 


October  8,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


293 


But  I  return  to  the  last  of  the  three  agencies  in¬ 
dicated — the  influence  of  the  teacher  upon  Ills  pupils. 
All  teachers  undertake  a  serious  and  a  very  trying 
responsibility ;  and  in  some  departments  of  educa¬ 
tion  their  difficulties  must  be  very  great  indeed.  In 
those,  however,  with  which  we  are  mainly  concerned 
the  splendour  of  the  subjects  taught,  and  the  illimi¬ 
table  interest  that  attaches  to  them,  must  go  far  to 
save  the  teacher  from  the  sense  of  weariness  and 
ennui  so  likely  to  attend  the  repetition  of  an  ordinary 
oft-told  tale.  I  cannot  otherwise  explain  the  con¬ 
stant  freshness  and  enthusiasm  of  our  professors  of 
chemistry  and  botany,  which,  when  I  was  a  much 
younger  man,  used  to  fill  me  with  surprise.  In 
those  days  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  be  a  lecture- 
pupil  under  two  very  eminent  men — the  late  Pro¬ 
fessor  Brande  and  the  late  Professor  Fownes.  They 
were  both,  as  you  know,  illustrious  chemists,  and 
they  were  both  teachers  of  their  science.  One  was 
old,  and  had  been  lecturing  upon  chemistry  for  thirty 
years  ;  the  other  was  young,  and  had  but  just  written 
the  beautiful  Manual  that  bears  his  name.  Was  the 
old  man  dull,  weary  of  liis  subject,  and  careless  of 
its  effect  upon  his  pupils  ?  and  was  the  young  man 
poetic,  ardent  and  anxious  ?  The  younger  man  was, 
indeed,  all  that  hungry  student  could  desire,  and  so, 
also,  was  the  elder.  His  thirty  years  of  teaching  had 
not  diminished,  by  one  sparkle,  the  energy  and  fresh¬ 
ness  with  which  in  his  youth  he  had  been  wont,  as  the 
coadjutor  of  Davy,  to  expound  the  great  truths  he  had 
helped  to  unfold.  He  could,  and  he  did,  enkindle  en¬ 
thusiasm  as  genuine  and  as  ample  as  attended  the 
efforts  of  any  of  his  juniors.  And  so  I  find  it  ever — in 
London  and  in  Bristol — thirty  years  ago  and  now. 
Nor  should  I  ever  have  wondered  at  the  matter. 
Is  there  so  great  a  difference  between  a  “  tiling  of 
beauty”  and  a  “tiling  of  truth,”  that  one  is  a  “joy 
for  ever,”  and  the  other  may  become  a  weariness  in 
a  paltry  lifetime  ?  Are  they  not  rather  convertible 
terms  ?  Is  not  their  essence  identical — their  source 
One  ?  So  at  least  experience  seems  to  teach,  for  I 
find  that  when  I  am  helping  some  young  beginner 
to  apprehend  a  little  of  what  is  involved  in  the 
fact  that  2  parts  of  hydrogen  unite  with  16  parts 
of  oxygen  to  the  production  of  water,  or  when  I 
read  to  my  cliildren  the  beautiful  liistory  of  “  ger¬ 
mination,”  my  mind  falls  perforce  into  an  atti¬ 
tude  of  reverence,  and  becomes  penetrated  with 
a  consciousness  of  sublimity  as  vividly  now  as 
when,  as  a  youth,  their  first  realization  filled  my 
eyes  with  tears.  No  living  creature  can  be  indif¬ 
ferent  whilst  unfolding  the  splendours  of  scientific 
truth,  provided  only  liis  audience  be  in  some  ac¬ 
cord  with  him.  The  single  thing  that  has  the  power 
to  drag  liis  spirit  down  from  the  lofty  regions  where 
dwell  his  themes,  is  the  consciousness  that  he  is 
surrounded  with  masses  of  dull  clay  that  either  can¬ 
not  or  will  not  mount  with  him.  When  this  does 
occur,  liis  task  is,  indeed,  a  heavy  one ;  his  whole 
being  contracts  with  a  rigour  that  no  effort  from 
within  can  overcome  ;  his  entire  organization  suffers 
a  collapse  ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  let  him  but  feel 
that  he  is  addressing  willing  ears  and  open  minds, 
and  (I  appeal  to  the  experienced  teachers  around 
me)  then  lie  enters  the  treasure-house  boldly  as  one 
who  has  a  right,  and  scatters  lavishly  all  its  precious 
stores. 

You  see  then,  I  hope,  that  all  these  influences  are 
helpful,  and,  what  is  more,  that  their  power  for  help¬ 
ing  is  largely  in  your  own  keeping. 


And  I  can  surely  once  more  congratulate  you,  for 
you  will,  most  likely,  be  surrounded  with  enthusiastic 
companions,  you  are  certain  to  have  able  and  earnest 
teachers,  and  your  instruction  will  be  excellent  in 
quality  and  systematically  conveyed. 

It  remains  only  that,  having  such  .opportuni¬ 
ties,  you  should  make  the  best  possible  use  of 
them.  You  have  elected  to  study  here  because  this 
is  the  best  school  of  pharmacy  in  the  country.  Mind 
that  the  scholars  are  worthy  of  it.  Look  well  to 
your  laurels  and  to  the  credit  of  the  school,  for  I 
promise  you  there  will  be  some  running  close  upon 
your  heels  who,  handicapped  though  they  be,  will 
make  a  sturdy  race  of  it. 

But  there  remains  something  more  to  be  said  ;  at 
least,  I  should  blame  myself  did  I  not  give  expres¬ 
sion  to  a  thought  that  has  been  for  ever  obtruding  itself 
whilst  writing  these  lines,  especially  when  I  endea¬ 
voured  to  realize  this  scene.  I  felt  persuaded  that 
when  we  really  met,  and  I  had  approached  the  conclu¬ 
sion  of  my  address,  the  question  would  occur,  What 
does  all  this  ceremony  mean?  Are  the  leaders  of 
tliis  great  Society  assembled, — has  all  this  fair  and 
goodly  company  come  together  for  the  sole  purpose 
of  doing  honour  to  some  scores  of  young  men  the  majo¬ 
rity  of  whom  as  yet,  have  done  no  more  than  declare 
their  desire  to  study,  and  of  listening  to  a  few  common¬ 
places  from  an  obscure  provincial.  Candidly,  I  think 
not.  They  are  glad, right  glad,  to  welcome  you.  They 
are  glad,  I  will  be  bold  to  say,  to  greet  me ;  but  be¬ 
neath  and  above  any  such  slight  purpose  runs  a 
meaning  in  tliis  gathering,  in  the  presence  of  which 
you  and  I  individually  are  nothing,  except  in  propor¬ 
tion  as  we  are  content  to  merge  ourselves  within  it. 
Every  man  lives  a  double  life,  or  rather  his  life  has 
two  relations, — an  inner  life,  for  which  in  this  world 
he  is  responsible  to  his  conscience  alone,  and  an 
outer  life,  which  relates  him  to  his  fellow-creatures, 
and  in  which  occur  his  thousand  opportunities  of  in¬ 
fluence  for  weal  or  woe.  In  the  one  he  may  aspire 
so  high  as  to  become  the  temple  of  the  Holy  Spirit ; 
in  the  other,  to  be  as  a  'light  set  upon  a  hill,  to 
shine  for  all  men’s  benefit.  As  with  the  individual, 
so  with  societies  of  men  in  their  corporate  capa¬ 
cities.  Tliis  Pharmaceutical  Society  has  a  life  to 
live  before  the  world  which  imposes  obligations  as 
constraining  as  those  which  relate  it  to  its  own 
members ;  and  the  proceedings  of  to-night  constitute 
one  of  the  legitimate  occasions  for  its  public  confes¬ 
sion  of  faith.  It  may  be  that  for  a  moment  my  voice 
is  the  one  most  distinctly  heard,  and  yours  the  ears 
most  directly  addressed ;  but  my  interpretation  of 
this  ceremony  assures  me  we  are  but  puppets  stand¬ 
ing  for  the  moment  in  the  place  of  an  idea,  and  that  ^ 
by  giving  (as  is  done  to-night)  the  places  of  honour 
to  the  youngest,  and  to  the  least  distinguished  of  her 
votaries,  tliis  Society  declares  its  homage  to  science 
herself;  and  records  its  conviction  that  although  its 
range  of  duties  may  at  times  include  matters  that  sa¬ 
vour  of  privilege,  of  trade,  and  even  of  private  interest, 
yet  that  pharmacy  is  absolutely  and  verily  a  branch 
of  pure  truth. 

Be  this  the  general  conviction  or  not,  it  is  mine, 
and  justifies  me,  I  trust,  in  the  expression  of  a  hope 
that  each  one  of  you  will  enter  upon  his  work  with  a 
serious  spirit  and  a  consciousness  of  real  responsi¬ 
bility. 

I  have  urged  you  to  look  to  your  laurels  and  to 
the  credit  of  your  school,  and  I  now,  in  the  name  of 
the  whole  Society,  wish  you  heartily  and  sincerely 


294 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  8,  1870. 


eveiy  success  in  your  studies.  Distinction  and 
honours  are  within  your  reach, — strive  for  them  by  all 
means  and  enjoy  your  rewards  to  the  full ;  but  I 
should  rejoice  to  think  that  in  the  midst  of  any 
triumphs  the  future  may  bring,  when  the  heart  was 
beginning  to  swell  with  the  pride  of  first  achievement 
and  success  was  threatening  to  awake  the  flame  of 
vanity,  some  lingering  memory  of  the  higher  obliga¬ 
tion  1  have  just  indicated  might  serve  to  restore  you 
to  a  humble  spirit.  I  would  that  you  and  I  could  at 
all  times  remember  we  are  not  mere  units,  with 
privilege  to  live  for  ourselves  alone,  any  more  pro¬ 
fessionally  than  privately.  We  are  ingredients  of  a 
body  corporate,  whose  honour  is  to  the  extent  of  our 
opportunities  committed  to  each  one’s  care,  and  it  is 
our  bounden  duty  to  preserve  it  pure.  Let  us  aim 
high,  therefore,  and  yet  be  lowly,  seeking  the  general 
advance  rather  than  our  own  advantage  ;  in  a  word, 
let  our  first  efforts  be  to  become  Christian  gentlemen, 
and  then,  for  certain,  every  fresh  attainment  we  may 
acquire,  and  eveiy  meed  of  honour  we  may  gain,  will 
become  a  new  grace  and  a  new  dignity  for  our  com¬ 
mon  mistress  Pharmacy. 

The  Chairman  in  proposing  a  vote  of  thanks  to 
Mr.  Schaclit,  said  there  was  a  little  matter  which  he 
had  forgotten  to  mention  when  distributing  the  prizes. 
As  they  were  aware,  Mr.  Hills,  the  treasurer,  last 
year  published  a  portrait  of  Mr.  Jacob  Bell  at  his 
own  expense,  intending  to  give  the  whole  of  the  pro¬ 
ceeds  of  the  sale  to  the  Society  to  be  distributed  in  a 
prize  of  books.  The  portrait  had  not  sold  so  well  as 
had  been  anticipated,  but  Mr.  Hills’  generosity  was 
was  not  to  be  baulked,  and  he  had  therefore  aug¬ 
mented  the  sum  realized  by  a  further  donation  of 
money,  making  in  all  an  amount  of  stock  which 
would  produce  PTO  a  year.  The  details  of  the  prizes 
were  not  }ret  definitively  arranged,  but  it  was  pro¬ 
posed  that  a  prize  of  books  should  be  given  every 
month  to  those  who  passed  the  best  Minor  Examina¬ 
tion  ;  many  members  of  the  Council,  whose  opinion 
was  of  great  value,  thinking  that  prizes  being  awarded 
to  these  young  students  would  have  the  effect  of 
leading  them  on  to  further  exertions.  After  an¬ 
nouncing  the  next  meeting,  the  Chairman  said  he 
had  concluded  the  business  of  the  evening,  but  he 
understood  there  was  to  be  an  afterpiece  of  which 
he  was  to  be  the  subject,  and  he  would  therefore  beg 
leave  to  withdraw. 

Mr.  Frederick  Barron  having  been  requested  to 
take  the  chair,  said  he  was  much  gratified  at  the 
honour  which  had  been  conferred  upon  him.  As  the 
meeting  were  aware,  upwards  of  <£500  had  been  sub¬ 
scribed  by  the  trade  for  the  purpose  of  presenting 
the  President  with  a  suitable  testimonial,  and  though 
this  did  not  appear  a  very  large  sum,  yet  considering 
that  chemists  as  a  body  were  not  very  wealthy,  he 
thought  they  need  not  be  ashamed  of  what  had  been 
done,  and  what  had  been  given  was  given  heartily 
and  freely.  Mr.  Sandford  enjoyed  the  affectionate 
respect  of  all  who  knew  him  throughout  the  length 
and  breadth  of  the  land,  and  in  the  Society  to  which 
he  had  devoted  the  best  efforts  of  a  great  part  of  his 
life  he  was  deservedly  popular.  His  tune  was  ex¬ 
ceedingly  valuable ;  he  was  a  man  not  only  of  a  large 
and  generous  heart,  but  of  a  highly  cultivated  mind, 
and  he  had  given  to  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
much  more  of  liis  time  and  attention  than  could 
fairly  have  been  expected  of  him.  The  result  was, 
that,  seconded  as  he  had  been  by  the  efforts  of  liis. 


colleagues  and  of  the  able  professors  connected  with 
the  Institution,  they  had  not  only  obtained  the  Phar¬ 
macy  Act,  but  had  placed  the  Society  in  a  higher 
position  than  it  had  ever  before  occupied.  Having 
referred  in  terms  of  high  approbation  to  the  addresses 
which  he  had  heard  on  that  and  similar  occasions, 
Mr.  'Barron  requested  the  Secretary  to  uncover  the 
portrait  of  Mr.  Sandford,  the  sight  of  wliich  elicited 
a  burst  of  applause.  He  stated  that  the  selection  of 
the  artist,  Mr.  Knight,  R.A.,  had  been  made  after 
the  greatest  deliberation,  and  he  believed  the  result 
showed  that  their  choice  had  been  a  wise  one.  He 
understood  that  Mr.  Sandford,  with  great  generosity, 
had  expressed  his  intention  of  handing  over  the  por¬ 
trait  to  the  Society,  and  it  would  probably  be  hung 
by  the  side  of  the  portrait  of  Mr.  Allen,  their  first 
President,  whom,  in  his  personal  character,  Mr. 
Sandford  in  many  points  resembled.  In  conclusion, 
he  was  sure  all  who  heard  him  would  unite  in  wish¬ 
ing  long  life  and  happiness  to  their  esteemed  Presi¬ 
dent,  and  he  invited  them  to  join  in  giving  three 
hearty  cheers. 

Mr.  Mackay  having  proposed  a  vote  of  thanks  to 
Mr.  Barron  for  his  services  as  Chairman  of  the  Tes¬ 
timonial  Committee,  which  was  briefly  acknowledged, 
the  proceedings  terminated. 


BRISTOL  PHARMACEUTICAL  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Annual  General  Meeting-  of  the  Association  was 
held  on  Friday,  September  30,  at  the  Philosophical  In¬ 
stitution  ;  Mr.  Stoddart,  President,  in  the  Chair. 

The  minutes  of  the  previous  meeting  having  been  read 
and  confirmed,  the  following  report  and  statement  of 
accounts  were  read  and  adopted : — 

Report. 

The  Council  of  the  Bristol  Pharmaceutical  Association 
have  great  pleasure  in  presenting  to  the  members  their 
first  Annual  Report.  They  have  endeavoured  to  fulfil 
their  appointed  duty.  Their  instructions  were  “  to  use 
their  best  efforts  for  the  establishment  of  a  thoroughly 
efficient  school  of  pharmacy,  and  to  arrange  a  series  of 
open  meetings  for  the  delivery  of  lectures  and  the  read¬ 
ing  of  scientific  papers.”  With  regard  to  the  latter  por¬ 
tion  of  these  instructions,  they  have  to  report  that  on 
each  second  Friday  of  the  months  November  and  De¬ 
cember,  1869,  and  January,  February,  March,  April  and 
May,  1870,  useful  and  interesting  matters  were  pre¬ 
sented  to  the  members  and  associates  in  the  form  of 
lectures  and  papers.  The  lectures  were  delivered  by 
Mr.  Coomber,  Mr.  Gilford,  Mr.  Townsend  and  Mr.  Wm. 
Lant  Carpenter,  and  the  papers  were  read  by  Mr. 
Boucher,  Mr.  Stoddart,  Mr.  Giles  and  Mr.  Schacht. 
At  most  of  these  meetings  good  attendances  welcomed  the 
lecturers  ;  but  the  Council  regret  to  have  to  notice  that 
on  occasions  when  distinctly  pharmaceutical  subjects 
were  announced  the  attendances  were  the  smallest;  a 
fact  that  they  feel  must  operate  to  the  discouragement 
of  those  who  would  otherwise  be  willing  workers  for 
the  general  good. 

In  reference  to  the  establishment  of  a  school  of  phar¬ 
macy,  the  Council  have  to  report  that  they  have  availed 
themselves  of  the  best  resources  at  their  disposal  for  the 
attainment  of  this  most  important  object.  They  are 
quite  aware^hat  as  yet  Bristol  does  not  possess  a  perfect 
school  of  pharmacy,  but  they  have  been  able  to  arrange 
four  complete  courses  of  lectures  upon  the  most  important 
portions  of  pharmaceutical  education,  viz.  chemistry, 
organic  and  inorganic ;  and  botany,  structural  and  sys¬ 
tematic.  They  are  satisfied  that,  as  far  as  they  have 


October  s,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


295 


been  able  to  proceed,  the  character  of  the  instruction 
given  has  been  the  best  of  its  kind,  and  they  are  glad  to 
be  able  to  report  that  a  fair  number  of  students  have 
availed  themselves  of  the  opportunities  thus  offered,  and 
have  proved  the  excellence  of  their  instruction  by  pass¬ 
ing  in  goodly  numbers  the  Government  examinations. 
The  Report  then  gave  the  details  of  the  examinations, 
and  the  names  of  those  who  had  received  prizes  at  the 
end  of  the  Session,  already  pi'inted  in  our  number  for 
August  27. 

The  plan  for  these  lectures  adopted  by  the  Council 
consisted  in  making  arrangements  with  the  teachers  of 
chemistry  and  botany  in  the  Government  science  classes 
at  the  School  of  Mines,  by  which  those  classes  became 
open  to  any  number  of  pharmaceutical  students  present¬ 
ing  the  ticket  of  this  Association.  They  were  thus 
enabled  to  offer  to  their  associates  complete  and  excellent 
courses  of  lectures  for  very  small  fees,  one  stipulation 
only  being  made,  that  they  should  present  themselves 
for  examination  at  the  conclusion  of  the  course. 

Some  doubts  having  been  expressed  as  to  the  proba¬ 
bility  of  this  course  being  approved  by  the  Lords  of  the 
Committee  of  Council  on  Education,  a  communication  was 
forwarded  to  the  department  by  the  Honorary  Secretary 
requesting  a  formal  statement  upon  the  point.  The  reply 
was  in  every  respect  satisfactory,  and  definitely  asserted 
that  students  in  pharmacy  are  entitled  to  every  advan¬ 
tage  that  the  science  classes  can  afford. 

The  Council  have  full  confidence  that  their  successors 
in  office  will  be  gradually  enabled  to  develope  these  ini¬ 
tiatory  measures  into  a  complete  school  of  pharmacy,  and 
are  rejoiced  to  see  that  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  of  Great  Britain  are  taking  steps  that  appear  to 
lead  to  the  desirable  system  of  granting  pecuniary  aid  to 
provincial  efforts  in  scientific  education.  They  believe 
such  a  course  to  be  both  wise  and  just,  and  they  congratu¬ 
late  the  whole  body  of  English  pharmacists  on  the  pro¬ 
spect  for  good  that  it  opens  out  to  them. 

The  Council  cannot  conclude  their  report  without 
acknowledging  the  courtesy  of  the  Committee  of  the 
Philosophical  Institution,  who,  at  all  times,  have  so 
readily  granted  the  Association  the  use  of  their  Theatre 
and  rooms. 

The  Treasurer  in  Account  with  the  Bristol  Pharmaceutical 
Association  for  the  Year  ending  September  30,  1870. 


Dr.  £.  s.  cl. 

To  59  Members’  Subscriptions .  30  19  6 

„  Donations  .  1  1  0 

„  39  Associates’  Subscriptions  .  9  15  0 

„  Cash  received  for  Lecture  Fees .  10  10  0 


£52  5  6 

Cr.  £.  s.  d. 

By  Cash  and  Receipt  Book . ,...  0  7  6 

„  Postages .  4  3  0 

„  Printing .  5  9  6 

„  Prizes  for  Students .  6  1  4 

„  Fees  to  Lecturers .  14  14  0 

„  Donation  to  Philosophical  Institution  for 

Use  of  Room,  etc .  6  6  0 

„  Balance  . .  1 5  4  2 


£52  5  6 


HALIFAX  AND  DISTRICT  CHEMISTS  AND 
DRUGGISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Winter  Session  of  the  above  Association  was  com¬ 
menced  on  the  9th  September  by  a  General  Meeting  of 
the  members,  at  their  room,  in  the  Mechanics’  Institute ; 
Mr.  Stott,  Vice-President,  in  the  chair. 

#  The  Chairman,  alluding  to  the  severe  illness  of  the  Pre¬ 
sident,  expressed  the  great  regret  which  was  felt  by  the 
trade  at  his  continued  indisposition,  and  the  hope  that  an 
■early  recovery  would  take  place.  He  said  the  subjects 


for  the  evening’s  consideration  were  of  great  importance. 
The  Committee  of  the  Association  was  thoroughly  intent 
upon  pushing  forward  measures  of  improvement,  both  in 
relation  to  the  members  and  their  young  men,  and  the 
summer,  which  is  usually  considered  as  a  respite  from 
committee  work,  had  this  year  been  employed  in  ascer¬ 
taining  the  feelings  of  the  majority  of  the  trade  in  re¬ 
ference  to  the  proposed  measures,  and  in  forming  such 
plans  as  would  be  of  general  benefit ;  he  felt  sure  that 
the  earnestness  which  the  Committee  had  shown,  as  well 
as  the  disinterestedness  of  their  work,  would  keep  alive 
that  enthusiasm  which  founded  the  Association,  and 
which  the  numerous  attendance  at  the  meeting  showed 
to  be  unabated.  Before  entering  into  the  discussion  of 
these  matters,  he  would  call  upon  the  members  to  elect 
delegates  to  the  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference,  to 
be  held  in  Liverpool  the  ensuing  week ;  the  objects  of 
these  yearly  conferences  were  so  well  understood  amongst 
them,  that  it  would  be  unnecessary  on  his  part  to  dilate 
on  the  necessity  of  giving  them  their  cordial  support. 

After  some  discussion,  it  was  resolved  unanimously, 
“  That  Messrs.  Stott  and  Farr  be  the  delegates  from  this 
Association  to  the  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference.” 

The  Secretary,  Mr.  Hebden,  then  informed  the  mem¬ 
bers  that  the  Committee  had  succeeded  in  engaging  a 
suitable  teacher  for  botany,  and  the  class  which  was  com¬ 
menced  in  the  early  part  of  summer  would  cease  at  the 
end  of  autumn,  till  the  following  spring,  when  it  would 
again  commence.  This  arrangement  was  necessary,  so 
as  not  to  crowd  and  confuse  too  much  the  studies  of  their 
young  men.  Chemistry  and  Latin  would  constitute  their 
studies  during  the  winter.  The  teacher  had  arranged 
for  a  number  of  meetings  early  in  the  summer  mornings 
to  give  the  students  practical  illustrations  of  his  teach¬ 
ing.  The  popularity  of  the  study  of  botany  amongst 
these  young  men  was  strongly  evidenced  by  the  fact  that 
the  number  of  students  was  double  that  of  the  other 
classes.  The  Committee  had  fixed  the  student’s  fee  at 
os.  the  term,  and  as  the  fee  of  the  teacher  and  other  in¬ 
cidental  expenses  would  amount  to  much  more  than 
would  be  thus  received,  and  as  it  was  also  considered  de¬ 
sirable  that  a  prize  should  be  offered  at  the  close  of  the 
term  for  competition,  the  Committee  trusted  it  would  be 
agreeable  to  the  members  that  the  amount  of  the  defi¬ 
ciency  and  prize  should  be  paid  from  the  general  fund  of 
the  Association.  In  reference  to  the  classes  in  Chemistry 
and  Latin,  he  read  a  letter  from  Mr.  Gibb,  the  Principal 
of  Haley  Hill  College,  in  which  was  stated  the  number 
of  students  in  each  class,  their  regularity  of  attendance, 
their  success  at  the  college  examinations  last  May,  and 
the  earnestness  with  which  they  devoted  themselves  to 
their  studeis.  The  Latin  class,  at  the  express  wish  of 
the  students,  was  now  continued  throughout  the  year. 
The  only  matters  he  had  to  complain  of  were  that  the 
number  of  students  ought  to  be  greater,  considering  the 
number  of  young  men  connected  with  the  trade  in  the 
town  ;  and  of  the  lateness  of  business  hours,  which  was 
a  most  serious  obstacle  to  successful  studying. 

The  members  entered  generally  into  the  discussion  of 
these  classes,  and  a  desire  was  expressed  to  give  their 
young  men  every  facility  for  early  and  regular  attendance. 

Mr.  Farr  proposed,  and  Mr. Brooke  seconded,  “That 
the  Secretary  be  empowered  to  pay  out  of  the  funds  of 
the  Association  such  amounts  as  may  be  required  to  meet 
the  wants  of  the  Botany  class.”  Carried  unanimously. 

Mr.  Shaw  stated  his  intention  to  offer  a  prize  in  March 
next  for  competition  in  materia  medica,  conditionally  that 
there  be  a  reasonable  number  of  competitors. 

The  Secretary  then  informed  the  members  as  to  the 
success  which  had  attended  the  efforts  of  the  Committee 
for  curtailing  the  business  hours  of  the  trade  ;  they  had 
proposed  to  the  members  individually  that  every  night 
except  Saturday  night  the  shutters  should  be  put  up  at 
8  o’clock,  and  the  door  finally  closed  at  8.30  ;  “  matters  of 
necessity  would  of  course  be  attended  to  at  the  back 
doors,”  and  on  Sundays  no  shop  door  to  be  opened. 


296 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  8,  1870. 


A  great  majority  expressed  their  acquiescence  to  this 
plan,  hut  a  few  had  not  as  yet  given  a  decided  reply  ;  it 
would  he  for  the  meeting  to  consider  what  course  would 
he  best  to  pursue. 

Mr.  Jessop  considered  the  plan  far  too  moderate,  and 
would  propose  that  the  shutters  should  he  put  up  at  7 
o  clock,  and  finally  close  at  8.30.  He  considered  that 
this  would  he  a  mild  hut  eventually  effectual  protest  to 
the  public  against  late  shopping,  and  it  would  enable 
them  to  set  their  young  men  at  liberty  much  earlier  to 
pursue  their  studies. 

Mr.  Pollard  and  Mr.  Brookes  spoke  in  support  of 
this  plan. 

The  Secretary  begged  of  Mr.  Jessop  not  to  press  this 
proposition.  At  the  present  meeting  it  would  no  doubt 
be  carried  by  a  majority,  but  its  only  result  would  be  to 
embarrass  the  Committee.  Moderate  as  was  their  own 
plan,  it  was  still  a  matter  of  doubt  as  to  its  success.  It 
would  be,  therefore,  impolitic  to  attempt  anything  more 
difficult.  Whatever  engagement  the  members  entered 
into,  would  depend  in  a  great  measure  for  its  fulfilment 
on  the  confidence  they  had  in  each  other,  and  it  would 
risk  the  very  foundation  of  the  Association  if  it  risked 
the  breaking  of  that  confidence. 

Mr.  Shaw  would  support  the  plan  of  the  Committee, 
although  he  sympathized  with  the  more  advanced  pro¬ 
position. 

Mr.  Brierley  said  success,  however  small,  must  first 
be  attained,  and  the  next  step  would  be  all  the  more  easily 
gained,  whereas  if  too  much  was  attempted,  the  project 
would  fall  to  the  ground.  The  small  change  advocated 
by  the  Committee  would  introduce  the  thin  end  of  the 
wedge. 

Several  of  the  members  supporting  this,  Mr.  Jessop 
withdrew  his  proposition. 

The  plan  of  the  Committee  being  thus  agreed  to,  a 
deputation  was  appointed  to  wait  upon  those  who  had 
not  yet  stated  their  intentions. 

The  Chairman  then  drew  the  attention  of  the  mem¬ 
bers  to  the  time,  which  was  too  far  advanced  to  introduce 
further  subjects  for  consideration,  especially  so  as  the 
next  subject  was  a  most  intricate  and  difficult  question, 
V1Z-  Uniform  Retail  Prices.”  It  was  absolutely  neces- 
sai  y  that  the  most  complete  and  clear  understanding 
should  be  established,  and  that  the  question  should  be 
discussed  in  all  its  details ;  he  should  therefore  adjourn 
the  subject  till  their  next  monthly  meeting. 


read  by  Mr.  Laird  at  the  Norwich  Conference,  but  he 
only  gave  a  few  examples,  and  the  scope  of  the  paper 
was  confined  to  the  specific  gravities  of  tinctures. 

It  was  my  intention  to  have  added  another  column 
giving  the  percentage  amount  of  extractive  contained  in 
the  tinctures,  which  would  have  greatly  increased  the 
usefulness  of  the  table,  forming  a  standard  of  quality  to 
which  reference  could  be  made,  but  pressure  of  other 
engagements  compelled  me  to  relinquish  the  task  before 
it  was  completed. 

A  Table  showing  the  Specific  Gravities  and  Weights  of 
certain  Volume-Measures  of  various  Tharmaceutical 
Liquids. 


Name  of  Liquid. 


iEther.  B.P . 

-ZEther.  purus,  B.P. 
Sp.  aether,  sulph.  . . 

„  chloroform . 

„  aether,  nitros. . . 
„  ammon.co.jB.P. 
»  _  >>  P.L. 

„  vini  rect . 

,,  tenuior  . 

Chloroformum  .... 
Tinct.  aconiti,  B.P. 
>>  ,,  P.L. 

„  cantharid.  . . 

„  cardam.  co. . . 

„  cinchon.  flav. 

„  cinchonae  co. 

„  camphor,  co. 

„  digitalis  .... 

„  ferriperchlor. 

,,  hyoscyami  . . 

„  loheliao  aeth. 

o  °pii . 

„  rhoei  . 

Vin.  ipecacuan . 

Dec.  sarsae  co.  cone. 
Syr.  simplex  ...... 


1 

Specific 

Gravity. 

Weight  of 

!  16  fi.  oz. 

Weight  of 

20  fl.  oz. 

1 

Weight  of  1 
gallon  =  10. 

0-735 

oz.  grs. 

oz.  grs. 

14  56 

lbs.  oz. 

grs. 

Ilf  10 

7  5f 

0-720 

14  14 

14  29 

6  I4f 

31 

0-809 

12J  94 

7  15 

66 

0-871 

13f  87 

17f  90 

8  Ilf 

105 

0-845 

13J  15 

16f  81 

8  7f 

41 

0-870 

13f  80 

17f  80 

8  Ilf 

34 

0-918 

14J  87 

17!  63 

8  12 

67 

0-838 

13f  70 

16f  38 

8  6 

44 

0-920 

14|  3 

18  12 

9  1 

30 

1-497 

•855 

23f  89 

13!  70 

29f  77 
17  52 

14  5! 

16 

0-859 

13!  90 

17  84 

8  12 

0-924 

14f  13 

18!  3 

9  4 

60 

0.954 

15f  . . 

19  60 

9  13! 

0-937 

15  20 

18f  .. 

9  6f 

•939 

15  18 

18f  20 

9  6f 

9  3 

0-923 

14!  95 

18f  90 

76 

0-938 

15  .. 

18f  24 

9  6f 

1-0064 

16  44 

20  56 

10  1 

0-937 

15  20 

18f  40 

9  6 

0-810 

13f  90 

16  99 

7  15! 

0-940 

15  17 

18f  54 

9  6f 

0-942 

15  39 

18  38 

9  6f 

60 

0-993 

15f  74 

19f  73 

9  15 

84 

1-055 

16f  65 

21f  44  10  9 

1-336 

21f  57 

26f  30|13  5f 

iramMitp  trf  Srititlifft  SwMits. 


BRITISH  PHARMACEUTICAL  CONFERENCE 
Meeting  at  Liverpool. 

Tuesday ,  September  13th. 

The  Specific  Gravity  and  the  Actual  Weight  c 
certain  “  Volume-Measures  ”  of  Various  Liquii 
and  Preparations. 

BY  F.  M.  RIMMINGTON. 

Our  system  of  weights  and  measures,  as  well  as  ou 
p  armaceutical  practice  of  using  weights  and  volume 

for71flui(is  so  irregular  and  unsystc 

matic,  that  all  engaged  m  pharmacy  cannot  but  hav 
experienced  the  inconvenience  of  having  constantly  t 

^JRert  rf™  mt.°  "’eights  and  weights  into  mea 
sures.  The  frequent  experience  of  this  want  myseb 
suggested  to  me,  some  time  ago,  the  desirableness  of 
table  of  the  principal  liquids  in  use  in  pharmacy  accu 
rately  ascertained  from  authentic  samples,  in  order  tha 
exact  computation  may  be  made  by  its  data.  The  utilit- 
of  such  a  table  is  confined  to  such  liquids  as  profess,  o' 
are  intended  to  be,  of  Pharmacopoeial  strength. 

borne  attempts  of  a  similar  kind  have  been  made  ii 
some  of  the  foreign  Pharmacopoeias,  and  a  paper  wa 


fihe  President  said  that  the  contents  per  ounce  were* 
conciclent  with  the  specific  gravity ;  for  instance,  lemon 
juice,  having  a  sp.  gr.  1040,  would  contain  40  grains  of 
citric  acid  per  ounce,  and  so  on,  except  in  such  cases  as 
a  urn  and  sulphate  of  soda,  where  there  is  much  water  of 
crystallization.  In  those  cases  it  would  be  half,  or  20 
grains  per  ounce. 

?;‘TN0LDS  (1jGC(1s)  referred  to  the  rule  laid  down 
b\  Dr.  Roberts,  of  Manchester,  in  regard  to  urine.  This 
was  that,  roughly  speaking,  the  units  and  tens  of  the 
specific  gravity,  when  compared  with  one  thousand  parts 
of  v  ater,  represented  the  grains  of  sugar  in  an  ounce  of 
diabetic  urine. 

~^r-  Watts  (London)  referred  to  recent  and  other  re¬ 
searches  on  the  supposed  porous  condition  of  liquids,  and 
the  extent  to  which  anhydrous  salts,  which  dissolved  in 
liquids  without  increasing  the  bulk  of  those  liquids,  were 
considered  to  occupy  an  interstitial  position  in  regard  to 
the  particles  of  which  the  liquids  were  composed. 


Concentrated  Compound  Decoction  of  Sarsaparilla. 

BY  MR.  F.  M.  RIMMINGTON. 

The  preparation  of  sarsaparilla  so  long  known  in  the 
trade  as  concentrated  decoction  of  sarsaparilla  has  re¬ 
ceived  less  attention,  perhaps,  than  any  other  galenical 
preparation  at  the  hands  of  scientific  pharmacists.  No 
criteria  have,  to  my  knowledge,  been  given  of  w’hat  it 


October  8,  1870.3 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


297 


should  be ;  and,  considering  the  large  demand  for  it, 
there  is  ground  for  supposing  that  some  samples  are  not 
quite  all  they  should  be.  It  is  a  preparation,  too,  that  is 
not  easily  judged  by  the  senses.  Samples  are  sometimes 
met  with  of  such  intensely  deep  colour  that  suspicion  is 
excited.  Other  samples  appear  to  have  a  greater  consis¬ 
tence,  and  sometimes  the  taste  of  licorice  is  stronger  than 
it  ought  to  be.  Now,  all  these  appearances  may  be  fal¬ 
lacious  ;  some  data  upon  which  to  enable  the  mind  to 
form  a  judgment  are  required.  Sarsaparilla  itself  has 
nothing  very  distinctive  in  it.  There  are  no  alkaloids  to 
estimate,  and  the  only  datum  is  the  amount  of  extractive 
afforded  by  a  given  quantity  of  root.  All  this  uncer¬ 
tainty  I  have  experienced,  and  have  attempted  to  fix  a 
standard  of  comparison. 

I  assume,  from  my  personal  experience,  that  the  spe¬ 
cific  gravity  of  a  liquor  made  with  good  root,  in  the 
proportion  of  a  pound  to  a  pound  of  fluid  and  10  per  cent, 
of  spirit,  ought  to  have  a  gravity  of  from  1-045  to  1-055. 
But  as  the  specific  gravity  alone  is  insufficient  as  a  test, 
as  it  may  be  affected  by  several  circumstances,  but,  taken 
in  connection  with  the  amount  of  extractive  contained  in 
a  given  volume,  it  is  of  some  value.  But  as  the  amount 
of  extract  may  be  influenced  by  the  addition  of  other 
extracts,  and  sometimes  salts  are  added  for  the  purpose 
of  increasing  the  colour  and  amount  of  extractive ;  con¬ 
sequently,  it  is  necessary  to  estimate  the  amount  of  ash. 
These  three  tests  together  will,  I  think,  be  a  pretty  good 
guide  to  the  judgment  as  to  the  quality  and  purity  of  the 
article.  I  have  been  unable  to  obtain  sufficient  samples 
to  make  a  long  table,  but  the  following,  I  think,  are  suf¬ 
ficient  to  show  the  value  of  the  plan  I  suggest. 

I  may  add  that  the  decoction  has  always  a  strongly 
acid  reaction,  and  effervesces  with  carbonates. 


"NTn 

Specific 

Extract 

Ash  in 

gravity. 

in  1  fl.  oz. 

ditto. 

1 

1-055 

64  grs. 

10  grs. 

2 

57  „ 

9-7  „ 

3 

1-027 

50  „ 

9-0  „ 

4 

1-034 

52  „ 

9-5  „ 

5 

1-017 

33  „ 

7-5  „ 

6 

1-049 

67  „ 

13-7  „ 

7 

1-048 

64  „ 

)  The  amount  of  ash  not  taken,  the 

8 

1-048 

75  „ 

>  experiment  being  made  before 

9 

1-010 

34  „ 

)  this  paper  was  contemplated. 

Bradford. 


The  President  spoke  as  to  the  difficulty  of  obtaining 
the  extract  in  a  uniform  state  of  dryness. 

A  Member  stated  that  common  salt  was  used  by  some 
makers  to  preserve  the  essence  and  to  reduce  the  amount 

of  spirit. 

Mr.  Groves  (Weymouth)  had  found  the  deposit 
formed  in  the  compound  decoction  to  consist  mainly  of 
a  compound  of  glycyrrhizin  with  acetic  acid. 


Wednesday ,  September  \^th. 

The  Conference  reassembled  at  10  a.m.  The  spacious 
Lecture  Theatre  of  the  Royal  Institution  again  exhibited 
a  numerous  attendance  throughout  the  day. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  proceedings,  Professor 
Attfield  announced  that  an  answer  had  been  received 
from  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association,  in  con¬ 
ference  at  Baltimore,  to  the  telegram  sent  on  Tuesday 
evening  across  the  Atlantic  from  the  Adelphi  Hotel.  It 
was  as  follows : — “  From  Professor  Maisch,  Baltimore, 
to  Secretary  of  Pharmaceutical  Conference,  Liverpool. 
— Fraternal  greeting  of  American  Pharmaceutical  Asso¬ 
ciation.” 

After  the  transaction  of  the  usual  business,  the  follow¬ 
ing  paper,  an  abstract  of  which  is  given,  was  read. 


A  Century  of  Old  Books 

Relating  to  Pharmacy  and  Kindred  Subjects. 

BY  JOSEPH  INCE 

Member  of  the  Royal  Society  of  Literature. 

The  design  was  to  exhibit  one  hundred  volumes  illus¬ 
trative  of  the  Pharmacy  of  the  fifteenth  and  sixteenth 
centuries.  Some  of  these  were  of  great  rarity  and  ex¬ 
cellence — the  object  contemplated  will  best  be  explained 
by  the  preface  which  we  subjoin. 

A  few  rare  old  books  are  here  presented  for  inspection. 
I  have  to  thank  those  who  have  so  largely  contributed 
from  their  stores,  and  also  to  acknowledge  the  skill  and 
promptness  with  which  the  descriptive  writers  have  exe¬ 
cuted  their  task.  This  collection  was  begun,  finished, 
catalogued,  and  on  its  way  to  Liverpool,  within  the  space 
of  one  month.  It  is  hoped  that  a  great  town  such  as  this 
manufacturing  centre,  with  its  trade  activity  and  its 
wonderful  mercantile  intelligence,  will  not  disdain  to 
read  these  records  of  the  past.  Some  possess  special  in¬ 
terest,  such  as  Gerard’s  ‘  Herbal,’  remarkable  for  noble 
type  and  quaint  illustrations,  which  at  this  moment  are 
copied  by  modem  artists  ;  Prosper  Alpinus,  the  Secrets 
of  Alexis,  Pomet,  and  many  others.  I  regret  exceed¬ 
ingly  for  the  sake  of  the  members  of  the  Conference  that 
I  have  had  to  stand  alone,  and  that  I  have  been  deprived 
of  the  aid  of  one  whose  power  of  accurate  analysis,  lit  up 
by  a  graceful  fancy,  would  have  lent  an  added  charm  to 
these  pages.  Accept  them  as  an  earnest  of  goodwill ; 
they  have  received  as  much  care  as  other  pressing  occu¬ 
pations  and  anxieties  would  permit.  It  is  right  sometimes 
to  live  in  centuries  not  our  own ;  and  as  men  trace  out 
the  sources  of  the  Nile,  so  we  may  take  pleasure  in  learn¬ 
ing  the  springs  from  which  our  present  information  has 
been  derived.  To  study  these  productions  is  to  love 
them.  No  man  ever  yet  could  decipher  a  black  letter  in 
the  spirit  of  a  fossil.  N one  can  hold  converse  with  the  great 
dead,  and  have  a  mean,  ignoble  mind  ;  and  these  ancient 
tomes  hold  in  their  hands  the  gift  of  rest.  I  would  fain 
say  one  other  thing.  Should  any  writer  wish  to  escape 
fee  oleness  of  style,  and  gain  manliness  of  expression,  let 
him  become,  first,  a  diligent  student  of  the  Bible,  spe¬ 
cially  of  Isaiah,  the  authorized  translation  of  which  is 
the  grandest  rendering  of  the  English  language  extant. 
Secondly,  let  him  be  a  reverent  admirer  of  men,  the  com¬ 
position  of  whose  works  has  been  and  will  remain  a  con¬ 
stant  theme  of  admiration.  I  congratulate  whoever  lie 
may  be  to  whom  this  exhibition  may  prove  his  first  in¬ 
troduction  to  a  literature  much  of  which  seems  inspired. 
What  can  exceed  in  stateliness  or  beauty  the  dedication 
to  King  James  ?  What  can  surpass  many  sentences 
which  these  recondite  treatises  contain  ?  This  statement 
is  not  upset  by  knowing  that  several  have  no  other  re¬ 
commendation  than  the  date  they  bear.  This .  class  of 
research  moreover  may  induce  a  healthy  dissatisfaction 
with  ourselves  ;  for  while  chemistry  has  advanced  with 
giant  steps,  and  botany  has  shaped  itself  into  a  definite 
science,  and  is  excellently  taught,  I  entertain  the  hete¬ 
rodox  belief  that  we  have  altered  many  things  in  Phar¬ 
macy  without  improvement.  After  which  dreadful  de¬ 
claration  I  fall  back  on  Francis  Lord  Bacon  (1597) :  — 

“Reading  maketh  a  full  man conference  a  ready 
man ;  and  writing  an  exact  man.  And,  therefore,  if  a 
man  write  little,  he  had  need  have  a  great  memory ;  if 
he  confer  little,  he  had  need  have  a  present  wit ;  and  if 
he  read  little,  he  had  need  have  much  cunning  to  seem 
to  know  that  which  he  doth  not.” 

The  chief  contributions  were  received  from  Provincial 
Associations  and  Pharmacists :  the  collection  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  was  included,  while  a  few  private 
gentlemen  sent  valuable  additions. 

It  is  obvious  that  books  forwarded  without  description 
would  fail  to  be  of  service ;  eight  writers  therefore  united 
to  supply  explanatory  notes. 

There  was  a  certain  man  having  great  authority,  for 
he  had  the  command  of  all  the  treasures  in  Ethiopia,  and 


298 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  8,  1870. 


he  lived  in  the  reign  of  Candace.  Riding  in  his  chariot 
he  read.  A  strange  thing,  for  it  was  an  age  when  com¬ 
mon  people  read  seldom  and  dignitaries  almost  never. 

“  Understandest  thou  what  thou  readest?”  was  the 
question.  “How  can  I,  except  some  man  should  guide 
me  P”  was  the  answer. 

The  annotators  were,  James  Collins,  Daniel  Hanbury, 
A.  F.  Haselden,  F.  T.  Marzials,  John  Moss,  Richard 
Reynolds,  W.  A.  Tilden  and  Joseph  Ince. 

The  chief  object  of  interest  was  the  collection  lent  by 
Daniel  Hanbury  which  was  the  one  shown  during  the 
reading  of  the  paper  at  Liverpool.  We  quote  his  own 
remarks  on  the  following  books  : — 

Pomet. — Histoire  Generate  des  Drogues,  traitant  des  Plantes , 
dcs  Animaux  et  des  Mineraux,  Ouvrage  enrichy  de  plus  de 
quatre  cent  Figures  en  Taille-douce  tirees  d' apres  Nature  ; 
avec  un  discours  qui  explique  leurs  differens  Noms,  les  pays 
(Vou  elles  viennent,  la  maniere  de  connoitre  les  veritables 
d' avec  les  falsi  fees ,  et  leurs  proprietez,  ou  Von  decowvre 
Verreur  des  Anciens  et  des  Modernes ;  le  tout  tres  utile 
au  public.  Par  le  Sieur  Pierre  Pomet ,  Marchand  Fpicier 
et  Droguiste.  Paris ,  1694.  fol. 

No  work  of  its  class  has  enjoyed  a  more  deserved  and 
extensive  reputation  than  Pomet’ s  History  of  Drugs. 

Here  is  the  first  edition  published  in  Paris  in  1694,  at 
which  period  Pomet  was  keeping  a  shop  in  the  Rue  des 
Lombards,  the  great  drug-street  of  that  capital,  as  his 
advertisement  at  the  end  of  the  volume  makes  manifest. 
But  what  a  marvellous  contrast  is  a  History  of  Drugs  in 
the  seventeenth  century  to  the  Manual  of  Materia  Medica 
which  suffices  for  the  nineteenth  !  Would  any  modem 
student  have  the  courage  to  sit  down  to  the  perusal  of 
the  stately  folio  of  528  pages,  illustrated  by  400  en¬ 
gravings  F  To  speak  seriously  Pomet’ s  book  is  of  great 
utility  and  excellence,  not  so  much  by  reason  of  its  eru¬ 
dition  and  research,  as  on  account  of  the  information 
which  the  author  gives  as  the  result  of  his  own  observa¬ 
tion  and  experience.  Although  it  is  profusely  illustrated 
by  engravings  which  must  have  been  produced  at  no 
small  cost,  the  figures  are  often  poor  and  spiritless,  and 
in  some  instances  entirely  imaginary,  thus  contrasting 
unfavourably  with  the  rude  but  life-like  wood-cuts  of 
Brunfels  published  a  century  and  a  half  before. 

Monardes  (Nicolaus) .  Historia  de  las  Cosas  que  se  traen 
de  nuestras  Lidias  Occidentals  que  sirven  en  Medicina. 
Sevilla ,  1574.  4°. 

The  writer  who  first  gave  to  Europe  an  account  of  the 
more  useful  plants  and  vegetable  products  discovered  by 
the  Spanish  adventurers  in  the  New  World  was  Dr. 
Monardes,  a  physician  of  Seville,  who  in  1569  published 
a  small  volume  under  the  above  title.  Other  editions  of 
this  work  were  printed  in  1571  and  1580.  In  1596 
an  English  version  made  by  one  Frampton  was  pub¬ 
lished  as  “  Joy  full  Newcs  out  of  the  New-found  Worlde ;  ” 
the  work  also  appeared  in  French,  the  translator  being 
Antoine  Cohn,  Maistre  Apoticaire  Jure  de  la  ville  de 
Lyon,  and  in  Italian.  Better  known  than  the  original 
Spanish  or  than  the  English,  French  or  Italian  transla¬ 
tions,  is  the  excellent  Latin  version  included  in  the  Libri 
Exoticorum  of  the  learned  Clusius,  which  appeared  in 
1605. 

Monardes  never  visited  America,  but  derived  his  in¬ 
formation  and  specimens  from  the  navigators  and  ex¬ 
plorers  who  were  doubtless  at  that  period  frequently 
arriving  at  Seville.  .  Among  the  drugs  he  describes  are 
Copal,  Anime,  Liquidambar,  Balsam,  Guaiacum,  Sarsa¬ 
parilla,  Tobacco  (of  which  there  is  a  woodcut),  Sassafras, 
Coca  Leaves  and  Cevadilla,  besides  many  which  now 
find  no  application  in  Europe.  Of  this  latter  class  is 
Nephritic  Wood ,  a  substance  the  origin  of  which  is  still 
entirely  unknown ;  it  is  remarkable  for  its  aqueous  in¬ 
fusion  exhibiting  a  beautiful  blue  layer  on  the  surface 
(like  a  solution  of  quinine),  a  fact  which  Monardes  did 
not  fail  to  observe. 


Hieronymus  Prunschwyg  on  the  Art  of  Distillation. 

A  work  of  which  there  are  numberless  editions,  in¬ 
cluding  an  English  version  printed  in  Southwark  in  1525 
and  entitled  Noble  Experience  of  the  Virtuous  Handywork 
of  Surgery — and  of  Distillation.  The  present  edition  ap¬ 
peared  at  Strasburg  in  1515  ;  appended  to  it,  is  the  Book 
of  Life  of  Marsilius  Ficinus ,  the  Florentine ,  which  con¬ 
tains  curious  representations  of  mediaeval  herb  gardens, 
an  apothecary’s  shop,  laboratory,  studio,  besides  various 
scenes  of  domestic  life.  The  volume  has  been  much  mu¬ 
tilated,  but  it  is  of  interest  as  having  belonged  to  Philip 
Melancthon,  in  whose  hand  it  is  probable  are  some  of 
the  manuscript  notes  on  the  fly-leaves  at  the  end. 

Prosperi  Alpini  de  Plantis  Aegypti  Liber.  Venetiis.  1592. 

4o. 

Prosper  Alpinus,  a  celebrated  physician  and  professor 
at  Padua  visited  Egypt  between  the  years  1580  and 
1584,  publishing  on  his  return  several  works  bearing 
upon  medicine.  One  of  these  is  a  small  volume  on  the 
plants  of  Egypt,  in  which  the  author  describes  and 
figures  various  useful  trees,  shrubs  and  herbs,  at  that 
day  but  little  known.  Among  the  number  are  Cassia 
Fistula,  the  Sycomore  Fig,  Date,  Palm,  Tamarind,  Cot¬ 
ton  and  Sesamum.  The  first  edition  of  this  book  ap¬ 
peared  in  1591  ;  the  second  published  at  Venice  in  1592, 
is  that  herewith. 

{To  be  continued.') 


We  regret  having  to  record  the  death  of  Dr.  William 
Allen  Miller,  one  of  the  honorary  members  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society,  on  the  30th  September.  He 
was  born  at  Ipswich  on  December  17th,  1817. 

After  having  been  assistant  to  the  late  Mr.  Daniell,  he 
succeeded  him  as  professor  of  chemistry  at  King’s  Col¬ 
lege  in  1845.  In  the  same  year  he  was  elected  a  Fellow 
of  the  Royal  Society.  In  later  years  he  became  Trea¬ 
surer  and  one  of  the  Vice-Presidents  of  the  Royal  So¬ 
ciety.  In  1851,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  assayers  to 
the  Mint.  He  was  one  of  the  members  of  the  recently 
appointed  Royal  Commission  to  inquire  into  the  condi¬ 
tion  of  science  in  this  country.  He  was  one  of  the  Vice- 
Presidents  of  the  Chemical  Society,  having  occupied  the 
President’s  chair. 

His  best  known  work  is  his  textbook  on  *  Chemistry,’ 
originally  published  in  the  years  1855  and  1857.  His 
first  scientific  publication  was  a  ‘Research  on  the  Electro¬ 
lysis  of  Secondary  Compounds’  (1844).  This  research 
was  done  conjointly  with  Mr.  Daniell. 

In  1845,  he  published  a  paper  on  the  spectra  of  heated 
vapours.  In  1849,  he  wrote  on  the  atomic  volumes  of 
analogous  organic  liquids. 

Within  the  last  few  years  he  has  given  a  discourse  to 
the  Chemical  Society  on  the  “Analysis  of  Potable  Water.” 

Some  analyses  of  gutta  percha,  and  a  paper  on 
“  Transparency,”  complete  the  list.  He  joined  Mr. 
Higgins  in  the  investigation  of  the  spectra  of  the  fixed 
stars. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  Oct.  1 ;  the  ‘Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
Oct.  1 ;  the  ‘  Lancet,’  Oct.  1 ;  ‘  Nature,’  Sept.  29 ;  the  ‘  Chemi¬ 
cal  News,’  Sept.  30;  ‘  Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  Sept.  29; 
‘  Gardeners’  Chronicle,’  Oct.  1  ;  the  ‘  Grocer,’  Oct.  1 ;  the 
‘English  Mechanic,’  Sept.  30;  the  ‘Produce  Markets  Re¬ 
view,’  Oct.  1 ;  the  ‘Practitioner’  for  October;  the  ‘Food 
Journal  ’  for  October;  ‘Journal  de  Pharmacie  et  de  Chimier 
for  July;  ‘  Gazette  M4dicale  d’Orient  ’  for  July  and  August; 
the  ‘Journal  of  Applied  Science’  for  October;  the  ‘Educa¬ 
tional  Times  ’  for  October;  the  ‘Quarterly  Journal  of  Micro¬ 
scopical  Science  ’  for  October ;  the  ‘  Philadelphia  Medical  and 
Surgical  Reporter,’  Nos.  703-705. 


October  8,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


299 


CffmspniJMtt. 

Communications  for  this  Journal ,  and  boohs  for  review , 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

* **  JSo  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Poison  Regulations. 

Sir, — I  have  watched  with  considerable  interest  the  ex¬ 
pression  of  various  opinions  in  your  correspondence  columns, 
relative  to  the  best  method  of  keeping  and  dispensing  poisons. 

Whatever  may  be  the  result  of  the  present  discussion,  our 
greatest  security  against  the  improper  administration  of  poi¬ 
sons  will  be  the  proper  education  and  training  of  all  who  sell 
and  dispense  them,  and  I  should  prefer  that  our  efforts  be 
restricted  to  securing  this,  leaving  each  individual  to  adopt 
those  precautions  which  his  particular  class  of  business  ren¬ 
dered  desirable.  But  as  it  appears  that  we  are  expected  to  do 
something  more,  it  is  well  to  consider  what  features  must 
necessarily  be  included  in  any  system  of  regulations  to  fit  it 
for  general  adoption. 

Any  plan,  to  be  effective,  must  be  extremely  simple  and 
capable  of  being  easily  worked.  Anything  of  a  complicated 
character  would  promise  infinitely  more  danger  than  safety. 
It  is  frequently  overlooked  that  many  of  the  plans  proposed 
would  require  as  great  care  and  attention  to  secure  their  ob¬ 
servance  as  would  almost  suffice,  in  the  first  instance,  to  guard 
against  the  possibility  of  error,  thus  working  for  one  object 
twice  over. 

Viewed  in  the  light  of  the  preceding  remarks,  I  think  some 
of  the  proposed  schemes  are  very  unsuitable.  Distinctive 
stoppers,  caps,  etc.,  are  useful  to  a  very  limited  extent.  In 
the  hurry  of  a  busy  day  too  much  care  and  attention  would 
be  required  to  ensure  the  proper  use  of  them,  and  there  would 
also  be  the  chance  of  some  being  applied  to  the  wrong  bottles. 
Distinguishing  the  bottle  itself,  by  making  it  a  peculiar 
shape,  or  by  distinctive  labelling,  appears  to  me  a  much 
better  idea,  and  would  doubtless  be  of  great  service,  though 
the  use  of  peculiar-shaped  bottles  in  dispensing  for  lotions, 
liniments,  etc.,  is  rendered  less  valuable  than  it  would  other¬ 
wise  be  by  the  liability  of  their  being  used  for  general  pur¬ 
poses  afterwards.  While  on  this  point,  I  must  say  that  in 
spite  of  the  immunity  from  accident  which  appears  to  have 
attended  one  of  your  correspondents’  (Mr.  Mumbray’s)  sys¬ 
tems  of  labelling,  I  should  hesitate  to  keep  such  articles  as 
tinct.  opii,  tinct.  aconiti,  and  acidum  arseniosum  in  the  situa¬ 
tion  he  describes,  however  labelled.  The  system  of  labelling 
suggested  by  Mr.  B.  S.  Proctor  seems  unnecessarily  compli¬ 
cated.  Keeping  dangerous  articles  in  one  particular  place, 
such  as  a  cupboard,  is  a  precaution  which,  I  think,  should 
never  be  neglected,  though  the  articles  so  treated  would  de¬ 
pend,  in  some  degree,  upon  the  class  of  business  done. 

The  system  adopted  in  the  establishment  where  I  was  ap¬ 
prenticed,  which  was  found  to  answer  very  satisfactorily,  and 
which  I  have  in  operation  in  my  own  shop,  is  as  follows : — 
Care  is  taken  that  all  articles  of  a  dangerous  character  are 
distinctly  labelled  “Poison.”  Articles  of  a  dangerous  cha¬ 
racter,  likely  to  be  mistaken  for  innocent  substances,  and  also 
otto  of  roses,  rare  essential  oils,  chemicals,  etc.,  and  articles 
generally  in  the  handling  of  which  it  is  desirable  that  extra 
care  should  be  taken,  are  kept  in  cupboards.  Exceptionally 
dangerous  articles,  such  as  acid,  hydrocyanic,  dil.,  are  addition¬ 
ally  protected  by  the  use  of  peculiarly-shaped  bottles  or  other¬ 
wise. 

I  would  suggest  that  the  Council,  instead  of  the  regula¬ 
tions  proposed  at  the  last  annual  meeting,  next  year  submit 
something  of  the  following  character : — 

1.  All  boxes,  bottles,  vessels  or  packages  containing  poisons 
6hall  be  distinctly  labelled  with  the  word  “Poison;”  and,  if 
practicable,  shall  be  otherwise  distinguished  from  similar  re¬ 
ceptacles  for  innocent  substances. 

2.  All  poisonous  substances  of  a  character  likely  to  be  mis¬ 
taken  for  innocent  articles  shall  be  kept  apart  in  a  place  pro¬ 
vided  for  the  purpose. 

These  regulations  (if  they  are  stringent  and  definite  enough 
to  deserve  the  name)  appear  to  me  to  do  as  much  in  the  way 
of  providing  security  for  the  public  as  is  likely  to  be  effected 
by  any  other  system  of  regulations.  They  are  simple  and 
not  too  stringent,  can  therefore  be  varied  in  character  to  a 
slight  extent  to  suit  the  requirements  of  different  businesses, 


and  for  these  reasons  their  adoption  would  be  probable. 
They  comprise  as  much  as  would  be  generally  carried  into 
effect  of  the  most  stringent  set  of  rules  which  are  likely  to  be 
proposed,  unless  we  are  prepared  for  a  system  of  close  inspec¬ 
tion,  which  at  present,  I  presume,  is  not  contemplated. 

I  am,  Sir,  yours  respectfully, 

A.  II.  Buckett. 


Pharmacy  and  Medical  Practitioners. 

Sir, — A  letter  from  “  Reformer  ”  in  the  Lancet  of  the  17th 
ult.,  is  made  the  subject  of  a  leader,  headed  “  Pharmacy  and  Me¬ 
dical  Practitioners.”  “  Reformer  ”  complains  of  the  extent  to 
which  druggists  prescribe,  and  says,  “  Nearly  every  patient 
the  medical  man  is  sent  to,  he  finds  has  been  doctored  by  this 
dignitary  (the  chemist)  first,  and,  therefore,  he  guesses  it  is  a 
bad  case.  I,  myself,  the  other  day  was  standing  in  one  of  the 
shops,  and  was  greatly  amused  at  seeing  the  people,  one  after 
another,  come  in  to  be  doctored,  the  druggist  actually,  in  my 
presence,  feeling  their  pulses,”  etc.  Then  “  Reformer  ”  sug¬ 
gests,  in  order  “  to  put  a  stop  to  this  sort  of  thing,”  that  ° 

(1)  A  clause  should  be  inserted  in  the  Medical  Bill  before 
Parliament,  and 

(2)  “That  general  practitioners  should  supply  their  own 
medicines  as  in  former  days  (which  is  certainly  very  infra 
dig.)  and  thus  wrench  back  from  druggists  that  of  which  evi¬ 
dently  they  are  depriving  the  profession.” 

Upon  this  amusing,  yet  frightful  picture  of  pharmaceutical 
morals  in  ye  nineteenth  century,  the  editor  builds  an  article, 
the  sum  of  which  is  that  the  “monstrously  excessive  profits  ” 
of  the  chemist  ought  to  be  lessened  in  order  that  the  public 
may  be  better  able  to  pay  the  doctor.  He  begins,  of  course, 
with  “  the  time  of  Hippocrates,”  “  the  Roman  Empire,”  etc., 
rushes  through  the  middle  ages  in  half-a-dozen  lines,  and 
finds  himself  face  to  face  with  the  modern  medical  prac¬ 
titioner,  “  who  wishes  to  be  liberated  from  care  about  mere 
drugs,  to  whom  the  notion  of  making  remuneration  depend  on 
the  amount  of  medicine  supplied  is  abhorrent,  and  who  wishes 
to  be  paid  for  his  opinion.”  But  “  there  are  difficulties  and  ob¬ 
stacles  and  serious  objections  to  such  arrangements.”  What 
are  they  ?  Mr.  Editor  supplies  us  with  one  only,  that  is,  the 
high  prices  charged  by  chemists.  He  says,  “  Mixtures  are 
Is.  8 d.  or  2s.  apiece ;  an  ordinary  prescription  easily  costs 
2s.  6d.  or  3s. ;  people  find  their  drug  bill  equal  to  the  doctor’s, 
and  the  fact  of  paying  as  much  to  the  man  who  dispenses  a 
prescription  as  to  the  man  who  writes  it,  is  a  reductio  ad 
absurdum.  Moreover,  the  chemist  is  paid  at  once;  the 
doctor  only  after  months  or  not  at  all ;  and  there  is  no  hope 
for  better  days  till  chemists  have  shown  how  patients  can  be 
supplied  sufficiently  and  satisfactorily  at  prices  which  do  not 
inconvenience  them  or  impair  their  ability  to  pay  their 
doctor !” 

I  need  not  waste  your  space  in  inquiring  if  these  statements 
be  correct.  The  experience  of  your  readers  will  supply  the 
answer.  It  will  say  that  a  skilled  and  scientific  workman, 
who  gets  2s.  for  a  6-ounce  mixture  and  12  pills,  which  have 
taken  20  or  30  minutes  of  his  time  and  Is.  worth  of  his  stock, 
is  badly  paid ;  it  will  say  that  he  would  scarcely  make  a 
living  if  he  worked  from  morning  till  night  at  this  rate ;  it 
will  say  that  competition  and  co-operation  and  dispensa¬ 
ries  prevent  his  being  paid  after  even  this  humble  manner 
in  poor  districts,  and  that  in  rich  ones  the  doctor  gets  his 
guinea,  and  the  chemist  Is.  6d.  for  a  bottle  of  concentrated 
drops  to  last  the  patient  a  week.  It  would  indeed  speak  little 
for  the  faculty,  if  “  Reformer’s”  tale  were  true  of  every  Phar¬ 
macy  in  the  kingdom,  instead  of  less  than  5  per  cent,  of  them. 
Further,  the  remedy  of  the  Lancet,  i.  e.  reduction  of  prices, 
would  most  likely  increase,  instead  of  curing  the  disease  of 
which  “Reformer”  complains,  because  the  “dignitaries” 
would  then  be  more  consulted  than  ever.  The  gist  of  “  Re¬ 
former’s  ”  argument  is  that  we  fill  our  shops  by  charging  so 
little ;  Mr.  Editor’s  i3,  that  we  beggar  the  profession  by 
charging  so  much.  Pray,  Sir,  show  us  how  we  may  avoid 
Scylla  and  not  run  into  Charybdis ;  and,  as  the  Lancet  is  bent 
on  demonstrating  “  the  evils  of  the  system  of  transferring  the 
business  of  dispensing  to  chemists,”  supply  us  with  a  mild 
counterblast.  Yours  obediently, 

. -  *  Max. 

Sir, — The  following  extract  from  the  Lancet  has  embodied 
what  I  have  often  thought  myself,  and  I  have  carefully  re¬ 
flected  on  the- subject,  and  have  consequently  taken  at  times 
very  different  views  of  the  matter  : — 

“  One  great  objection  to  practitioners  handing  over  th® 


300 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  8,  1870. 


dispensing  of  their  medicines  to  chemists  is  to  be  found  in 
the  high  prices  charged  by  chemists  for  medicines.  These 
prices  are  such  as  to  be  of  themselves  a  heavy  and  exhausting 
bill  to  people  of  humble  means.  Mixtures  are  charged  at 
the  rate  of  Is.  Sd.  or  2s.  apiece,  and  other  medicines  corre¬ 
spondingly,  so  that  the  dispensing  of  an  ordinary  prescrip¬ 
tion  easily  costs  2s.  6d.  or  3s.  People  whose  family  doctor 
does  not  supply  them  with  medicines  find  that  their  drug  bill 
is  equal  to  or  even  exceeds  the  doctor’s  bill.  Now  this  ap¬ 
pears  to  us  quite  unreasonable.  The  percentage  of  profit  to 
the  chemist  is  monstrously  excessive,  allowing  for  all  the 
incidental  expenses  of  his  business.  And  the  fact  of  paying 
as  much  to  the  man  who  dispenses  a  prescription  as  to  the 
man  who  writes  it  is  a  complete  want  of  distinction  between 
two  very  distinct  services,  and  a  reductio  ad  absurdum.  But 
this  is  not  all.  The  chemist  is  paid  at  once  over  the  counter, 
in  the  full  urgency  of  the  want  of  the  patient.  The  doctor  is 
probably  not  paid  for  months,  when  the  chance  of  being 
paid  at  all  is  greatly  reduced.  It  is  hopeless  to  think  of  me¬ 
dical  practitioners  giving  up  the  dispensing  of  their  own  pre¬ 
scriptions  until  chemists  have  shown  them  how  patients  can  be 
supplied  sufficiently  and  satisfactorily  with  drugs  at  prices 
which  do  not  inconvenience  them,  and  do  not  impair  their 
ability  to  pay  their  doctor.” 

It  seems  a  most  extraordinary  fact  that  a  chemist  in  one 
part  of  town  should  charge  as  much  for  preparing  a  pre¬ 
scription  as  a  licensed  apothecary  or  medical  practitioner 
should  charge  for  both  visit  and  medicine,  in  another.  The 
doctors  are  a  most  generous  race;  we  must  be  friendly  with 
them,  for  they  are  our  best  friends ;  and  if  our  journals  are 
going  to  bicker,  the  sooner  a  better  spirit  is  imparted  into 
the  controversy  the  better  for  us  all. 

George  Mee. 

79,  Grosvenor  Hoad,  Highbury,  N. 

Sir, — The  article  in  the  Lancet  contains  statements  so  in¬ 
correct  and  an  argument  so  utterly  false,  as  to  deserve  some 
notice.  The  writer  must  be  grossly  ignorant  of  chemists’ 
business,  or  he  would  have  known  that  instead  of  cash  pay¬ 
ments,  one,  two  and  three  years’  credit  is  more  the  rule  than 
the  exception ;  and  that  tlie  practitioner  who  obtains  his  fee 
for  prescribing  orders  ingredients  and  quantities  very  dif¬ 
ferent  from  those  he  would  use  if  he  prepared  the  medicines 
himself.  I  have  now  dispensed  the  following  from  a  general 
practitioner : — 

R.  Quinse  Disulph., 

Terri  Sulph.,  aa  gr.  xx 
Acid.  Sulph.  Dil.  5iij 
Sp.  Chloroform.  5ij 
Sp.  JEther.  Nit.  5vj 
Aquae  ad  gviij 

f.  Mist.  Cap.  coch.  j  medium  c.  aqua  ter  die. 

The  profit  on  this,  at  Is.  8<i.  or  2s.,  would  certainly  not  be 
“  monstrously  excessive but  it  would  be  a  very  extraordi¬ 
nary  occurrence  to  find  any  private  surgery  sending  out  such 
a  medicine  at  all.  The  writers  think  it  absurd  that  the  in¬ 
ferior,  who  dispenses  the  deadly  compound  ordered  by  a 
practitioner,  should  receive  as  much  in  payment,  and  imply 
that  if  the  chemist  is  paid  for  the  ingredients,  he  has  no  right 
to  look  for  any  remuneration  for  his  skill,  care  or  time.  I 
have  two  prescriptions  before  me  now  in  preparation,  and  I 
can  see  nothing  at  all  absurd  in  supposing  my  responsibility 
for  the  accuracy  of  these  formulae  should  be  repaid  in  a  different 
manner,  and  at  a  higher  price  than  for  merely  rolling  out 
soap  and  bread-crumbs  for  a  surgeon’s  private  practice: — 

R.  Strychniae  gr.  i 

Acid.  Pliosph.  Dil.  5ij 
Aquae  Destill,  jiv 
Sol.  Strychnia. 

Sol.  Strychniae  jv 
Acid.  Hydroyanic.  Dil.  jiss 
Aquae  51- 

Take  15  drops  three  times  a  day  with  meals. 

R.  Ext.  Colchici  5i 
Strychniae  gr.  i 
Ext.  Aconiti  gr.  vj 
Acid.  Arseniosi  gr.  ij.  J.  H. 

Fiat  pilulae  xx.  1  pill  three  times  a  day  after  food. 

Silvered. 

If  medical  men  find  it  necessary  to  give  such  concentrated 
forms  for  the  good  of  their  patients,  they  should  remember 
that  much  of  the  success  attending  their  experiments  depends 


upon  the  dispenser,  and  that  he  is  deserving  of  a  higher 
reward  than  the  mere  profit  on  the  articles  used.  If,  as  the 
writer  argues,  it  is  hopeless  to  expect  practitioners  to  give 
up  dispensing  their  own  medicine,  so  is  it  equally  futile  to  ex¬ 
pect  chemists  to  discontinue  to  prescribe  in  such  a  manner 
as  not  to  inconvenience  those  who  seek  their  advice  instead 
of  paying  the  doctor. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

'  John  Wade. 


Hospital  Dispensing. 

Dear  Sir, — Having  been  engaged  in  hospital  dispensing 
nearly  five  years,  I  can  most  fully  endorse  all  that  Mr.  Barber 
says  on  the  subject. 

In  reply  to  “  A  Pharmacist,”  I  would  say  I  do  not  think 
that  the  case  he  mentions  is  an  “  average  type  of  hospital 
dispensing,”  or  “a  waste  of  public  money at  least,  it  is  not 
a  type  of  mine  or  that  of  six  other  hospitals  I  am  acquainted 
with.  It  is  true  a  public  dispenser  is  compelled  to  be  as 
quick  as  possible,  and  therefore  he  could  not  waste  his  and 
the  patient’s  time  (who,  perhaps,  has  been  waiting  his  or  her 
turn  to  see  the  doctor  for  two  or  three  hours)  by  asking  for 
bottles  as  politely  as  a  chemist  would  ask  a  customer  when 
no  one  else  is  waiting  to  be  served. 

Of  course  I  do  not  justify  the  giving  of  corks  and  labels  to 
the  patients  themselves  to  put  on  any  kind  of  bottle,  for  that 
is  the  dispenser’s  work  and  not  the  patient’s.  My  own  plan 
of  dispensing  (i.  e.  with  regard  to  bottles  and  labels)  is — 

First,  to  have  a  large  notice  posted  in  the  waiting-room  to 
the  effect  that  “  no  medicines,  etc.,  will  be  dispensed  in  any 
bottles  which  have  been  used  for  domestic  purposes,  such  as 
wine,  beer  and  spirit  bottles,  etc.  Proper  medicine  bottles 
may  be  bought  in  the  dispensary.”  So  that  patients  may 
bring  their  own  bottles  or  buy  them  at  any  shop  just  as  they 
choose;  but,  to  save  time,  and  as  a  convenience  to  them,  I 
keep  a  stock  of  bottles,  which  they  are  generally  very  glad  to 
get. 

Secondly,  I  use  labels  printed  in  bold  type,  with  the  name 
of  the  institution  at  the  top,  and  labels  so  plain  can  be  read 
by  most  patients  if  they  are  only  able  to  spell. 

With  such  precautions  I  have  only  heard  of  one  mistake, 
and  that  was  by  a  woman  who  went  to  her  cupboard  in  the 
dark,  and  drank  from  a  “lotion  bottle”  without  measuring 
the  dose.  Happily  no  harm  resulted. 

I  am,  Sir,  yours  obediently, 

Wm.  Billing  Orton,  A.P.S. 

’Manchester,  Sept.  24 th,  1870. 


Chloral  Hydrate. 

Sir, — I  should  esteem  it  a  favour  if  any  of  your  scientific 
correspondents  could  inform  me,  through  the  medium  of  your 
Journal,  what  are  the  principal  incompatibles  of  chloral 
hydrate.  F.  B. 


“  Consternatio  ”  says : — “  In  answer  to  the  inquiry  by 
‘  Spes  ’  in  last  week’s  Journal,  as  to  what  ‘acids,  oxides  and 
salts  ’  are  ‘  compounds  ’  (a  description  of  which  is  required 
in  the  Minor  Examinations  on  Chemistry),  I  think  that  I 
should  be  right  in  suggesting  acid,  nitro-hych’ochlor.  dil.  and 
acid,  sulphuric,  arom.  as  “compound”  acids,  and  soda  tarta- 
rata,  alumen,  antim.  tartaratum,  and  ferri  et  quinice  eitras  as 
‘compound’  salts.” 

T.  G.  B.  (Worthing). — As  the  new  notation  is  that  which 
is  now  most  generally  used,  it  is  necessary  for  students  to 
become  acquainted  with  it.  But  the  present  being  a  time 
of  transition  from  the  use  of  one  system  to  another,  a  know¬ 
ledge  of  the  old  notation  is  also  requisite. 

Au  Revoir.-°-A  very  full  knowledge  of  formulae  is  required. 

T.  L.  (Strood)  asks,  “Would  any  brother  apprentice 
inform  me  where  I  could  obtain  a  map  of  Gaul  (temp.  J ulii 
Csesaris)  without  buying  another  work.” 

C.  W.  Brown  (Plymouth.) — The  liquor  potassae  perman* 
ganatis  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  should  contain  four  grains  of 
permanganate  of  potash  to  the  ounce ;  this,  it  will  be  seen  by 
reference  to  a  recent  estimation  published  in  our  columns,  is 
half  the  strength  of  Condy’s  fluid. 

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

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W.  Envelopes  to  be  endorsed  for  “  Pharm. 
Journ.” 


October  15,  1370.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


301 


NEW  METHOD  OF  DETERMINING  GRAPE  SUGAR. 

BY  CARL  KNAPP. 

Professor  Liebig  lias  mentioned  the  fact  that 
the  addition  of  prussic  acid  to  a  mixture  of  yeast- 
water  with  a  solution  of  cane  sugar  does  not  prevent 
the  conversion  of  cane  sugar  into  grape  sugar  by  the 
organic  substance  in  the  yeast-water.  After  satu¬ 
rating  such  a  mixture  with  oxide  of  mercury,  adding 
caustic  soda,  and  heating  the  liquid  to  boiling,  a 
precipitate  of  metallic  mercury  is  formed,  but  no 
such  precipitate  is  formed  under  the  same  conditions 
in  a  solution  of  cane  sugar  mixed  with  an  alkaline 
solution  of  cyanide  of  mercury. 

Further  experiments  showed  that  an  alkaline  so¬ 
lution  of  cyanide  of  mercury  is  completely  reduced 
to  metallic  mercury  by  grape  sugar,  and  at  the  sug¬ 
gestion  of  Professor  Liebig  the  author  of  the  paper 
undertook  to  apply  this  reaction  for  the  determina¬ 
tion  of  grape  sugar.  He  now  gives,  as  the  result  of 
liis  inquiry,  the  following  method : — 

A  solution  is  made  by  dissolving  10  grams  pure 
dry  cyanide  of  mercury,  adding  100  c.  c.  caustic 
soda  solution  of  1145  sp.  gr.  and  diluting  to  1000  c.  c. 

For  determining  the  value  of  tipis  solution,  commer¬ 
cial  grape  sugar  was  first  dried  at  100°  O.,  then 
boiled  with  absolute  alcohol  till  a  saturated  solution 
was  obtained  ;  the  crystals  which  separated  on  cool¬ 
ing  this  solution  were  taken  for  use. 

A  series  of  experiments  showed  that  400  milli¬ 
grams  of  cyanide  of  mercury  is  decomposed  by  100 
milligrams  of  anhydrous  grape  sugar,  on  boiling 
them  together  in  an  alkaline  solution. 

The  sugar  determination  by  this  method  is  con¬ 
ducted  just  as  in  the  Fehling  test :  40  c.  c.  of  the 
cyanide  solution  is  heated  to  boiling  in  a  porcelain 
dish,  and  the  sugar  solution,  containing  about  0-5 
per  cent.,  added  until  the  whole  of  the  mercury  is 
reduced.  The  quantity  of  sugar  solution  required 
for  effecting  this  reduction  ■will  contain  100  milli¬ 
grams  grape  sugar. 

On  adding  the  sugar  solution  to  the  boiling  allva¬ 
line  liquid,  a  turbidity  is  at  once  produced,  but  this 
disappears  again  towards  the  end  of  the  operation, 
and  the  liquid  becomes  slightly  yellowish. 

In  order  to  judge  of  the  progress  of  the  operation, 
a  drop  of  the  liquid  is  from  time  to  time  placed  on 
fine  Swedish  filter-paper  laid  over  a  beaker  contain¬ 
ing  a  little  strong  sulpiride  of  ammonium.  So  long 
as  any  cyanide  of  mercury  remains  undecomposed  in 
the  liquid,  a  brown  spot  is  thus  produced  upon  the 
paper,  and  the  end  of  the  reaction  is  indicated  when 
such  a  spot  is  no  longer  produced  in  this  way.  This 
point  may  be  ascertained  much  more  sharply  by 
holding  a  drop  of  sulphide  of  ammonium  on  a  glass 
rod  immediately  over  the  paper  moistened  with  a 
drop  of  the  liquid  being  operated  on. 

At  first  the  entire  spot  becomes  brown,  but  when 
the  reaction  is  nearly  terminated,  only  a  pale  brown 
ring  appears  round  the  edge  of  the  spot ;  afterwards 
that  is  to  be  recognized  only  when  the  paper  is  held 
up  to  the  light,  and  at  last  the  spot  remains  quite 
unaltered.  With  some  practice,  £  per  cent,  solution 
of  grape  sugar  can  be  titrated  up  to  T  c.  c. 

If  at  the  end  of  the  reaction  the  spot  be  allowed  to 
dry  on  the  paper,  a  pale  brown  ring  of  sulphide  of 
mercury  always  makes  its  appearance,  inasmuch  as 
the  solution  always  contains  a  trace  of  grape  sugar  and 
a  trace  of  cyanide  of  mercury,  either  of  which  is  to 
be  removed  only  by  an  excess  of  the  other  substance. 

Third  Series,  No.  16. 


This  circumstance,  however,  does  not  interfere  with 
the  delicacy  of  the  test,  provided  the  coloration  of 
the  fresh  spot  be  taken  as  the  indication  when  the 
reaction  is  completed. 

From  a  large  number  of  experiments  in  which 
tills  method  was  adopted  and  compared  with  Fehling’ a 
test,  the  author  has  convinced  himself  that  it  is  not 
inferior  to  the  latter  in  accuracy,  and  though  the 
results  it  furnishes  are  not  better  than  those  obtained 
by  Fehling’ s  method,  there  is  an  advantage  in  the 
new  method  requiring  less  tune  for  making  a  deter¬ 
mination,  and  a  further  advantage  in  the  fact  that 
the  reduction  of  cyanide  of  mercury  is  not  affected 
by  foreign  substances,  such  as  alkaloids,  which  in 
some  cases  interfere  with  the  colour  of  the  suboxide 
of  copper  precipitate.  But  perhaps  the  chief  advan¬ 
tage  of  the  new  method  lies  in  the  easy  preparation 
of  the  standard  solution  and  its  capability  of  being 
kept  without  alteration. — Annalen  der  Chemie  und 
Pharmacie. 


HYDROBROMATES  OF  QUININE  AND  CINCHONINE. 

BY  M.  LATOUR. 

The  successful  use  of  bromide  of  potassium  in  af¬ 
fections  of  the  nervous  system,  and  the  association  of 
this  salt  with  sulphate  of  quinine,  as  well  as  other 
alkaloids,  induced  the  author  to  prepare  hydrobro- 
mate  of  quinine,  in  the  belief  that  it  might  be  useful 
as  a  medicine. 

The  hydrobromates  of  quinine  and  cinchonine 
were  prepared  by  double  decomposition  of  bromide 
of  potassium  and  the  sulphates  of  the  alkaloids,  as 
follows : — 

Neutral  Hydrobromate  of  Quinine. 

Basic  sulphate  of  quinine  .  .  10  grams. 

Alcohol  of  85° . 50  „ 

Bromide  of  potassium ....  8  „ 

Distilled  water  ......  20  „ 

Dilute  sulphuric  acid  (1  percent.)  10  „ 

The  sulphate  of  quinine  and  the  alcohol  are  heated 
together  in  a  small  flask ;  the  solution  of  bromide, 
mixed  with  dilute  sulphuric  acid,  is  then  added, 
and  the  whole  heated  to  boiling.  After  a  few  minutes 
the  sulphate  of  potash  is  separated  by  filtration,  and 
washed  with  hot  alcohol .  The  filtration  and  washings 
are  then  evaporated  to  half  the  volume,  and  left  to 
ciystallize.  After  twenty-four  hours  an  abundant 
crop  of  crystals  was  formed,  and,  when  pressed  be¬ 
tween  filter-paper,  the  salt  was  white,  opaque,  of  a 
pearly  appearance.  The  salt  thus  obtained  is  suffi¬ 
ciently  pure  for  use,  though  it  contains  traces  of  sul¬ 
phuric  acid. 

The  proportion  of  bromide  of  potassium  used  must 
be  rather  more  than  equivalent  to  the  sulphate  of 
quinine,  otherwise  a  mixture  of  basic  and  neutral 
hydrobromate  is  produced.  It  is  also  necessary  to 
add  sulphuric  acid,  in  order  to  make  the  quinine 
sufficiently  soluble,  as  well  as  to  decompose  a  por¬ 
tion  of  the  bromide  of  potassium,  so  as  to  produce 
liydrobromic  acid,  necessary  for  forming  a  neutral 
salt  with  the  quinine. 

Basic  Hydrobromate  of  Quinine. — This  salt  was 
prepared  in  the  same  way,  but  only  5  grams  of  bro¬ 
mide  of  potassium  were  used,  together  with  10  grams 
of  dilute  sulphuric  acid.  A  better  plan  is  to  dissolve 
1  gram  of  the  neutral  salt  in  10  grams  of  a  mixture 
of  alcohol  and  water  in  equal  parts.  This  solution, 
heated  to  70°  C.,  is  mixed  with  very  dilute  ammonia 


302 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  15, 187(7. 


solution,  until  it  acquires  a  slight  alkaline  reaction, 
and  then  mixed  with  a  solution  of  O' 5  gram  neutral 
liydrobromate  of  quinine,  shaking  the  whole  until  it 
becomes  cold :  a  copious  precipitate  is  then  formed, 
consisting  of  basic  liydrobromate. 

The  neutral  salt  is  very  soluble  in  water,  soluble 
in  almost  all  proportions  in  alcohol,  and  its  reaction 
is  acid.  The  basic  salt  is  sensibly  soluble  in  water, 
very  soluble  in  alcohol,  and  its  reaction  is  alkaline. 

The  hydrobromates  of  cinchonine  are  prepared  in 
a  similar  manner.  The  neutral  salt  corresponds  to 
the  hydroclilorate ;  it  is  anhydrous,  very  soluble  in 
water,  and  less  soluble  in  alcohol  than  the  corre¬ 
sponding  salt  of  quinine.  Its  solution  has  an  acid 
reaction.  The  basic  salt  is  sensibly  soluble  in  water, 
very  soluble  in  alcohol,  and  its  solution  has  an 
alkaline  reaction.— Journ.  de  Pharmacie  ct  de  Cliimie. 


REPORT  ON  OPIUM  PRODUCTION  IN 
WURTEMBERG. 

BY  JULIUS  JOBST. 

The  author  states  in  this  report  the  results  of  this 
year  as  follow  : — 

Though  large  quantities  of  poppies  were  sown  last 
spring,  the  crop  rarely  did  well  in  consequence  of 
the  continued  dry  weather.  This  alone  put  an  end 
to  any  prospect  of  considerable  development  in  opium 
cultivation  for  the  present  year,  and  the  scarcity  of 
labourers  at  the  time  of  gathering  was  for  a  time  a 
further  hindrance.  Subsequently,  when  the  influence 
of  the  war  had  driven  many  to  this  work,  the  best 
time  for  collection  was  past,  and  the  poppies  ripened 
too  quickly,  owing  to  the  great  heat. 

On  the  contrary,  the  price  of  the  new  Asiatic  opium 
admitted  of  the  best  Wurtemberg  opium  fetching  as 
much  as  34s.  per  pound.  At  this  price  the  earnings 
of  a  labourer  would  amount  to  2s.  6d.  a  day,  which 
is  good,  considering  that  old  men,  women  and 
children  could  be  employed  for  the  pui-pose. 

The  opium  of  this  year  is  much  superior  to  that 
previously  grown.  The  amount  of  morphia  it  contains 
is  12  per  cent.,  even  in  samples  that  are  somewhat 
moist. — Gewerbeblatt  aus  Wurtemberg . 


C0L0PH0NINE  AND  C0L0PH0NIC  HYDRATE.* 

BY  CHARLES  R.  C.  TICHBORNE,  M.R.I.A.,  F.C.S. 

When  we  submit  to  distillation  (either  with  or  with¬ 
out  water)  the  natural  exudations  oi  the  different  pines, 
the  first  result  is  the  extraction  of  volatile  hydrocarbons, 
.or  oils  of  turpentine.  These  oils  were  until  very  lately 
considered  as  identical,  but  recent  investigations  have 
proved  that  there  is  a  considerable  disparity  in  the  pro¬ 
ducts  from  different  species  of  the  pines. 

If,  after  the  extraction  of  the  volatile  oils,  the  distilla¬ 
tion  is  pushed  further,  we  get  a  second  series  of  volatile 
compounds,  which,  however,  differ  materially  from  the 
first,  inasmuch  as  they  are  decomposition-products  re¬ 
sulting  from  the  splitting  up  of  the  colophony,  or  resi¬ 
nous  part,  into  more  simple  molecules  of  different  iso¬ 
meric  modifications. 

All  the  resin  oils  obtained  by  myself  gave  the  result  I 
am  now  about  to  detail.  I,  however,  believe  that  the 
discrepancies  exhibited  by  the  turpentines  are  perpe¬ 
tuated  through  the  products  obtainable  upon  the  de¬ 


structive  distillation  of  the  resins  proper  to  such  turpen¬ 
tines. 

My  attention  was  first  directed  to  the  substance  which 
I  have  named  colophonine  from  an  observation  made 
preparatory  to  investigating  the  volatile  oils  procured 
on  submitting  resin  to  destructive  distillation. 

I  took  commercial  rosin,  and  after  drying  for  some 
time  at  a  slightly  elevated  temperature  distilled  it  in  an 
iron  retort.  I  got  by  this  means  a  thick  distillate,  which 
contained  a  considerable  quantity  of  undecomposed 
resin.  Gaseous  products  escaped  which  are  said  to  con¬ 
tain  ethylene,  tetrylene  and  marsh  gas.  The  liquid 
products  amounted  to  about  74  per  cent,  of  the  resin  em¬ 
ployed,  and  a  small  coke  "was  left  in  the  retort.  This 
thick  oil,  on  rectification,  gave  about  5  to  6  per  cent,  of 
a  light  yellow  but  mobile  fluid,  which  is  known  under 
the  names  of  “resin  spirit,”  “vive  essence,”  Harz- 
essenz.”* 

This  lighter  portion,  or  “resin  spirit,”  is  supposed  to 
consist  mainly  of  the  hydrocarbons  homologous  of  the 
series  CnH2„_4  and  CnH2„_6,  and  and  oxygenated  oil 
which  has  been  named  colophonone.  f  It  is  these  light 
oils  that  yield  colophonic  hydrate.  They  act  energeti¬ 
cally  upon  the  fluid  alloy  of  potassium  and  sodium,  even 
when  free  from  the  last-named  substance ;  therefore  it 
is  probable  that  colophonone  or  other  oxygenated  oils 
form  a  large  ingredient. 

It  is  given  as  a  specific  characteristic  of  colophonone, 
that  if  it  is  treated  with  sulphuric  or  hydrochloric  acid  a 
green  oil  separates  on  the  addition  of  water.  This  is, 
however,  only  partially  true,  for  I  have  found  that 
the  “resin  spirit,”;};  procured  in  the  above  experiment, 
or  old  resin  spirit  that  had  been  washed,  only  gave  this 
reaction  in  a  slight  degree. 

It  was  therefore  evident  that  the  colour-phenomenon 
was  due  to  the  presence  of  some  other  substance  soluble 
in  water,  and  not  to  a  specific  property  of  the  colopho¬ 
none.  On  treating  old  resin  spirit  with  distilled  water 
two  or  three  times,  and  on  evaporating  these  washings 
at  a  low  temperature,  a  brown  crystalline  mass  was  pro¬ 
cured,  which  gave  the  colour-reactions,  hitherto  attri¬ 
buted  to  the  oil  itself,  in  a  most  vivid  manner.  It  there¬ 
fore  becomes  evident  that  the  whole  subject  of  colo¬ 
phonone  requires  revision.  It  was  probable  that  the 
substance  analysed  under  that  name  was  a  mixture. 

I  subsequently  obtained  specimens  of  the  new  sub¬ 
stance  in  which  individual  crystals  had  attained  some 
considerable  magnitude. 

Some  of  them  were  three  centimetres  long  and  over 
two  grammes  in  weight.  They  were  of  an  amber  colour, 
from  impurities,  and  were  obtained  by  submitting  a 
large  volume  (10  litres)  of  the  spirit  in  an  imperfectly- 
closed  vessel  to  1 2  months’  slow  evaporation  and  oxida¬ 
tion.  I  have  procured  as  much  as  281  grammes  of  the 
crude  crystals  from  4-5  litres  of  resin  spirit  by  washing. 

The  following  are  the  characteristics  of  this  com¬ 
pound,  which,  when  purified,  is  a  truly  beautiful  sub¬ 
stance  : — 

Colophonic  hydrate  is  white,  perfectly  odourless,  and 
has  a  sweetish  taste.  It  is  very  soluble  in  water,  alco¬ 
hol,  ether,  chloroform  and  tetrachloride  of  carbon,  not 
quite  so  soluble  in  cold  benzole  and  resin  spirit,  but 
slightly  soluble  in  cold  bisulphide  of  carbon. 

Colophonic  hydrate  crystallizes  readily  from  water  or 


*  Mr.  J.  Turner,  a  large  distiller  of  resin,  has  kindly  sent 
me  the  following  notes  regarding  the  statistics  of  the  produc¬ 
tion  of  these  oils  on  a  manufacturing  scale  : — 

Percentage. 

“Resin  spirit”  (boiling  at  135°  C.)  .  .  .  5-3 


Heavy  oils . 64-6 

Pitch . 14-4 


Gaseous  products  and  Ifr  O . 15-7 

+  Schiel. 

j  I  shall  use  the  term  “resin  spirit”  throughout  this 
paper  to  designate  the  oils  got  on  rectifying  resin  oils. 


*  Read  before  the  Royal  Irish  Tcademy. 


October  15,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


303 


alcohol  in  beautiful  acicular  prisms,  which  sometimes 
attain  some  magnitude.  Heated,  it  melts  and  sublimes 

I  with  a  partial  loss  of  the  elements  of  water.  The  crys¬ 
tals  which  first  sublime  lose  water,  but  nearly  resemble 
those  obtained  from  a  solution,  both  as  regards  their 
appearance  and  composition.  Those  which  afterwards  rise 
(or,  if  the  first,  are  resublimed)  lose  more  water  and  form 
hexagonal  plates,  or  fern-like  fronds,  of  great  beauty. 
It  was  found  impossible  to  accurately  measure  the  large 
crystals  already  mentioned,  the  twelve  months’  immer¬ 
sion  having  rounded  and  worn  the  faces,  from  the  rise 
and  fall  of  temperature  in  the  medium  in  which  they 

I  were  formed.  They  seem  to  belong  to  the  dimetric 
system,  and  are  the  result  of  the  combination  of  the  two 
prisms  of  that  system. 

The  hydrated  crystals,  when  placed  over  sulphuric 
acid,  or  in  vacuo ,  gradually  lose  water  and  effloresce, 
but  as  the  substance  is  itself  volatile,  the  loss  could  not 
be  measured  under  such  circumstances.  When  placed 
under  a  bell-glass  over  sulphuric  acid,  the  surface  of  the 
acid  becomes  covered  with  green  film,  produced,  as  will 
afterwards  be  explained,  by  the  mutual  action  of  the 
water,  sulphuric  acid  and  colophonic  hydrate.  Some 
difficulty  was  experienced  in  procuring  the  anhydrous 
compound.  From  the  above  results  it  was  supposed 
that,  on  submitting  the  hydrate  to  sublimation,  the  water 
of  hydration  would  be  dissociated.  Such,  however,  was 
not  the  case,  and  a  combustion  of  the  sublimed  crystals 
pointed  to  no  formula.  The  sublimate  was,  in  fact,  a 
mixture  of  the  anhydrous  and  hydrated  compounds. 

The  first  of  these  substances  I  obtained  in  the  follow¬ 
ing  manner: — I  gently  fused  in  a  test-tube  for  some 
time  the  crystals  obtained  from  an  aqueous  solution,  oc¬ 
casionally  drying  out  the  moisture  which  condensed  at 
the  top  of  the  tube  with  bibulous  paper.  The  sublimated 
crystals  were  repeatedly  broken  down  and  mixed  with 
the  fused  mass.  This  process  was  continued  as  long  as 
moisture  was  given  off.  I  retained  the  crystalline  mass 
for  analysis.  It  seemed  to  have  suffered  no  decomposi¬ 
tion  exclusive  of  dehydration,  and  formed  a  friable  and 
nearly  perfectly  white  substance. 

On  making  a  combustion  of  the  above,  O' 21 8  gramme 
gave  0*505  gramme  C02  and  0*218  gramme  HsO. 

In  a  second  experiment  0*307  gramme  of  the  fused 
mass  gave  0*7076  gramme  of  C02,  and  0*324  gramme  of 
H20. 

These  experiments  point  to  the  empirical  formula 
O10H22O3. 

1  2  Theory. 


Carbon  .  . 

63*16 

62*86 

63*15 

120 

Hydrogen  . 

11*10 

11*72 

11*58 

22 

Oxygen  .  . 

25*27 

48 

100*00 

190 

The  crystals  obtained  from  an  aqueous  solution  gave 
when  burnt  the  following  results :  0*265  gramme  of 
■crystals  produced  0*557  gramme  of  C02,  and  0*270 
gramme  of  H20. 

Theory. 

/" - A  >» 

Carbon  .  .  .  57*35  57*70  120 

Hydrogen  .  .  11*32  11*53  24 

Oxygen  .  .  .  30*77  64 


100*00  208 

Colophonic  hydrate  .  C10H22O3  :  H20. 
Colophonine  ....  C10H22O3. 


Products  formed  therefrom 

Hydroearbides.  by  the  occult  molecule  H20  Hydrates. 
(“Turpentine  Camphors.’’) 

C,0H1S,  C,0H16.  C,„H16,  C10Hlt;  H,0.* 

(“Diterebene.”)  (“  Terpinole.”) 

C10H16.  (a)  C10H16 ;  H20.  C10Hlfi;  H20:  H20. 

(Turpentine,  or  (“Liq.  Turpentine  (Hypothetical  hy- 
“terebin-  Camphor.”)  drate,  supposed 

thene.”)  transition  pro- 


c10h16.  (B) 


^io^Ti6  5  2H20 
(“  Terpine.”) 
C10H16;  3H>0 


(“  Terebene.”)  (Colophonine.) 

n  tr  a!  C 

-2(C2H402)-%|30 

‘  Principles,*  p.  396. 


H 


transition 
ducts.) 

C10H16;  2H20 :  IRO. 
(Terpine  hydrate.) 
C10Hj6  ;  3H20  :  H20. 
(Colophonic  hydrate.) 

H340. 

— Vide  Naquet’s 

(Terpinole.) 


20- 


In  the  above  table  I  have  endeavoured  to  convey,  by 
the  punctuation,  the  accretion  of  the  series,  and  the  dif¬ 
ferent  degrees  of  molecular  integration. 

It  will  be  observed  that  each  hydrate  would  be  isomeric 
with  the  next  higher  homologue  in  the  camphor  series. 
The  hydrates  to  the  first  two  in  the  series  are  wanting, 
but  it  is  probable  that  they  exist,  as  the  compound  called 
liquid,  turpentine  camphor  is,  in  the  presence  of  water, 
converted  into  terpine,  the  isomer  of  its  hydrate.  If  we 
do  not  suppose  that  the  hydrate  is  first  formed,  we  could 
hardly  account  for  the  formation  of  terpine. 

Colophonic  hydrate  was  violently  acted  on  by  bromine , 
accompanied  by  a  copious  separation  of  carbon  and  hy- 
drobromic  acid.  In  water  the  action  was  more  manage¬ 
able,  and  the  ultimate  product  was  a  brominated  oil, 
which,  after  washing  first  with  a  diluted  solution  of  car¬ 
bonate  of  sodium  and  then  with  water,  was  dried  over 
sulphuric  acid.  *471  gramme  of  this  oil,  after  being  de¬ 
composed  in  a  sealed  tube  with  pure  soda,  was  treated 
with  an  excess  of  nitric  acid  and  nitrate  of  silver.  It 
gave  *766  gramme  of  bromide  of  silver,  agreeing  very 
nearly  with  the  formula  of  a  tetrabrominated  compound. 

Professor  Jellett,  who  kindly  examined  this  substance 
for  me,  as  regards  its  optical  properties,  finds  that  it  is 
perfectly  inert  when  in  solution,  and  possesses  neither 
right  nor  left-handed  rotation,  f 

As  previously  stated,  the  light  oils  from  resin,  when 
treated  with  sulphuric  acid  and  then  with  water,  produce 
a  green  substance.  This  coloration  is,  however,  due  to 
the  presence  of  colophonic  hydrate.  On  treating  that 
compound  with  acids,  a  series  of  striking  phenomena  is 
exhibited,  conjugated  acids  being  formed,  which  exhibit 
a  fine  display  of  colours.  The  generality  of  these  are 
green.  Sulphuric,  phosphoric  (monobasic  and  tribasic), 
arsenious,  citric  and  tartaric  acids  give  these  reactions. 

On  treating  the  crystals  with  an  excess  of  the  acid, 
and  then  adding  spirit,  the  colour  is  developed.  It  is 
necessary  to  use  heat  in  most  cases.  The  sulphuric  acid 
reaction  is  capable  of  rendering  evident  a  milligramme 
of  the  new  substance,  if  properly  applied.  It  is  not 
necessary  to  use  heat  in  this  case.  Under  certain  cir¬ 
cumstances,  hydrochloric  acid  is  capable  of  producing 
this  green  reaction ;  but  when  colophonic  hydrate  is 
treated  with  an  excess  of  strong  hydrochloric  acid,  after 
the  expiration  of  half  an  hour,  a  brilliant  rose  colour  is 
developed  on  pouring  it  into  alcohol.  If  the  experiment 
is  pushed  further,  different  shades  of  violets  are  produced, 
until  the  ultimate  result  of  the  maceration  is  a  magnifi¬ 
cent  indigo  blue. 

Terpine  does  not  give  any  of  these  reactions. 

As  regards  the  origin  of  colophonic  hydrate,  it  is  pro- 


Colophonine  is,  therefore,  isomeric  with  terpine  hydrate, 
or  is  more  properly  a  homologue  of  terpine.  It  is 
another  instalment  towards  filling  up  an  interesting 
series.  This  compound  is  probably  derived  from  tere¬ 
bene. 


*  Formed  by  the  action  of  dibromhydrate  of  citrene  on 
acetateof  silver,  2  (Cl0H18Br2)  =4(C2H3  Ag02)  — 4(AgBr). 

f  It  does  not  differ  in  this  respect  from  its  congeners  the 
terpine  hydrates  and  similar  products,  in  which,  although 
the  hydrocarbide  preserves  its  integrity,  its  gyratory  power 
is  suspended. 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  15, 187&. 


301 


bably  formed  under  similar  circumstances  to  the  terpine 
camphors,  i.  e.  hy  oxidation,  or  the  assimilation  of  the 
elements  of  water.  I  have  failed,  however,  in  forming 
this  substance  artificially  hy  oxidizing  the  resin  spirit 
with  nitric  acid.* 

It  is  not  present  in  newly-prepared  resin  spirit,  as  I 
have  already  explained ;  and  as  my  supply  of  colophonic 
hydrate  was  expended,  my  researches  upon  this  substance 
were,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  brought  to  a  close.  It  is,  how¬ 
ever,  my  intention  to  renew  them  at  a  future  period. — 
The  Chicago  Pharmacist. 


HYOSCYAMIN;  ITS  PREPARATION  AND  CONSTI¬ 
TUTION,  WITH  REMARKS  ON  SOME  OTHER 
SUBSTANCES  PRESENT  IN  HENBANE  SEEDS. 

BY  HEINRICH  HOIIN. 

Assistant  at  the  Jena  Institute  of  Pharmaceutical 
Chemistry. 

At  the  suggestion  of  Professor  Ludwig,  the  author 
undertook  the  preparation  of  a  large  quantity  of  hyoscy- 
amin,  with  the  object  of  studying  its  characters,  and  en¬ 
deavouring  to  determine  its  formula. 

The  material  used  for  the  purpose  was  the  seed  of 
Uyoscyamus  niger ,  furnished  by  Herr  A.  Geheeb,  in  Geisa. 

Separation  of  Uyoscyamin. — 5450  grm.  of  the  fresh  seed 
was  dried  and  coarsely  powdered,  then  extracted  with 
alcohol  (containing  90  per  cent,  by  volume)  in  two  suc¬ 
cessive  operations.  The  tinctures  thus  obtained  were 
operated  upon  separately. 

After  distilling  off  the  alcohol  from  the  first  tincture, 
there  was  deposited  a  considerable  quantity  of  yellowish- 
brown  resin,  while  the  remaining  residue,  which  had  an 
acid  reaction,  separated  after  some  time  into  a  watery 
layer,  and  an  oily  layer  floating  above.  During  the 
cooling  of  the  liquid  residue,  more  of  the  yellowish- 
brown  resin  separated,  and  this  was  set  aside  with  the 
other  portion  for  subsequent  examination.  The  oil  was 
separated  and  washed  three  times  with  hot  water ;  its 
perfect  separation  from  tho  aqueous  emulsion  required 
long-  rest  on  the  water  bath,  and  meanwhile  more  resin 
was  deposited.  The  resin  was  nitrogenous. 

The  whole  of  the  aqueous  liquid  was  then  evaporated 
to  about  500  grm.  filtered  through  paper  moistened  with 
water,  the  filtrate  rendered  alkaline  with  caustic  potash, 
and  then  shaken  with  about  \  lb.  of  chloroform.  The 
chloroform  was  then  well  washed  with  water  and  dis¬ 
tilled  off,  leaving  about  1  grm.  of  slightly  coloured  alka¬ 
loid  of  a  tough  consistence  and  strong  unpleasant  odour. 
This  substance  presented  all  the  characters  of  hyoscya- 
min  described  by  Geiger.  It  had  a  tolerably  strong  and 
permanent  alkaline  reaction,  was  precipitated  by  iodine 
water  of  a  brown  colour,  by  chloride  of  gold,  in  yellow 
flocks  that  became  crystalline  after  a  time,  by  tannin  and 
chloride  of  mercury  in  white  flocks,  and  by  caustic  potash 
from  a  concentrated  solution,  the  precipitate  being  so¬ 
luble  in  excess  of  the  alkali. 

A  solution  of  the  alkaloid  in  very  dilute  alcohol  left 
for  evaporation  over  sulphuric  acid,  presented  on  the 
second,  day  flocculent  deposits,  which  were  found  under 
the  microscope  to  be  well-developed  stellate  groups  of 
needles.  But  since  these  crystals  were  still  yellow-co¬ 
loured,  and  mixed  with  a  viscid  substance,  they  were 
again  dissolved  in  chloroform,  the  solution  shaken  with 
hydrochloric  acid,  and  the  alkaloid  again  taken  up  with 
chloroform  after  the  aqueous  solution  had  been  rendered 
alkaline  with  carbonate  of  potash.  After  evaporating  off 
the  chloroform,  there  remained  only  about  0'5  grm.  of 

*  Mr.  Turner  forwarded  me  from  England  a  bottle  con¬ 
taining  resin  spirit,  in  which  he  had  observed  crystals. 
Thev  proved  on  examination  to  be  colophonic  hydrate.  The 
bottle  originally  contained  about  8  oz. ;  but  from  evaporation, 
only  half  an  ounce  remained ;  it  consisted  of  about  25  per 
cent,  of  colophonic  hydrate.  It  had  been  exposed  to  sunlight 
for  about  eight  years ;  fight,  however,  is  not  essential  to  the 
formation  of  this  compound. 


slightly  yellow  alkaloid,  but  this  could  not  be  crystal¬ 
lized,  and  even  when  converted  into  hydxochlorate,  the 
salt  could  not  be  crystallized. 

The  chloroform  that  was  used  for  purification,  and  had 
been  shaken  with  dilute  hydrochloric  acid,  gave  on  eva¬ 
poration  a  white  waxy  residue,  crystallizing  in  groups  of 
whito  needles. 

The  alkaline  liquid  that  had  been  shaken  with  chloro¬ 
form  was  slightly  acidulated  with  hydrochloric  acid,  and 
a  quantity  of  dark  coloured  flocks  separated,  while  an 
odour  of  butyric  acid  became  sensible.  On  adding  to> 
the  filtered  liquid  a  concentrated  solution  of  tannic  acid, 
a  yellowish-white  precipitate  was  formed ;  this  was  col¬ 
lected  on  a  filter,  washed  with  cold  water,  dissolved  in 
dilute  alcohol,  then  mixed  with  fresh  precipitated  car¬ 
bonate  of  lead,  and  evaporated  to  dryness.  The  residual 
mass  was  finely  powdered,  boiled  several  times  with 
strong  alcohol,  and  the  filtered  solution  distilled.  When 
the  liquid  was  reduced  to  a  certain  volume,  there  were 
formed  small  white  crystals  in  the  retort ;  the  quantity, 
however,  was  too  small  for  collecting,  and  the  whole 
liquid  was  evaporated  slowly  in  a  capsule,  but  no  sign  of 
crystallization  was  recognizable,  the  residue  being  a 
tough  yellowish  mass,  of  bitter  taste,  no  particular  smell, 
and  readily  soluble  in  water  or  alcohol. 

The  presence  of  butyric  acid  was  ascertained,  also  of 
volatile  bases,  and  of  a  glucoside,  to  which  the  author 
gives  the  name  Hyoscypikrin. 

The  second  alcoholic  tincture  was  treated  in  the  same 
manner  and  with  the  same  result  as  before. 

The  circumstance  that  the  fat  oil  obtained  from  the 
tincture  was  acid,  induced  the  author  to  examine  this  oil 
for  alkaloid,  and  ho  found  that  it  contained  a  consider¬ 
able  quantity  of  hyoscyamin.  However,  this  could  not 
be  crystallized  either  from  alcohol  or  benzol,  but  in  all 
instances  tho  solution,  when  reduced  to  a  small  bulk,  be¬ 
came  gelatinous,  and,  when  dried  up,  left  a  shining 
gummy  residue. 

In  order  to  exhaust  tho  seed  completely,  it  was  finally 
digested  with  water,  containing  about  1  per  cent,  sul¬ 
phuric  acid.  The  expressed  and  filtered  liquid  was  neu¬ 
tralized  with  ammonia  evaporated  to  a  syrup,  during 
which  operation  much  grey  slimy  substance  separated 
the  thickened  liquid  was  digested  with  acidified  alco¬ 
hol,  the  solution  neutralized  and  evaporated ;  the  dark 
brown  residue  mixed  with  ammonia  was  shaken  with 
chloroform,  and  gave  off  a  further  quantity  of  hyoscya¬ 
min. 

The  entire  quantity  of  alkaloid  obtained  from  the  seed 
was  about  3  grams  or  0-06  per  cent.,  which  is  more  than 
was  obtained  by  Renard. 

The  author  suggests  that  since  the  oil  takes  up  hyoscya¬ 
min,  it  would  be  desirable  in  preparing  the  alkaloid  to- 
extract  the  oil  first  by  means  of  bisulphide  of  carbon  or 
some  such  solvent. 

Another  difficulty  arises  from  the  chloroform  remaining 
mixed  in  the  state  of  emulsion  with  the  liquids,  when  it  is 
shaken  with  them,  rendering  the  operation  very  tedious. 
This  is  best  got  over  by  evaporating  the  liquids  to  a 
syrupy  consistence  and  extracting  with  strong  alcohol  to 
separate  mucilage,  dextrin,  etc. 

The  precipitation  of  hyoscyamin  by  chloride  of  plati¬ 
num  has  been  confirmed  by  the  author;  but  it  takes- 
place  only  from  concentrated  solutions,  and  the  pre¬ 
cipitate  is  redissolved  by  excess  of  the  chloride  of  pla¬ 
tinum.  He  had  also  occasion  to  observe  the  strong 
action  of  hyoscyamin  in  dilating  the  pupil,  in  conso- 
quence  of  a  dilute  solution  being  accidentally  spirted  into 
one  of  his  eyes ;  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour  afterwards 
considerable  dilatation  of  the  pupil  took  place ;  on  the 
second  day  the  other  eye  was  similarly  affected,  and  this 
lasted  for  three  days. 

To  determine  the  composition  of  hyoscyamin,  a  double 
salt  of  gold  was  prepared  and  analysed  with  results  lead¬ 
ing  to  the  formula : — 

C18  Hm  N06  H  Cl  Au  Cl3. 


October  15,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


305 


The  analysis  of  the  pure  alkaloid  gave  results  leading 
to  the  formula : — 

^36-^28^2^6  +  HO. 

Comparing  this  formula  with  that  of  atropin,  they 
differ  by  C2  H5  N,  and,  consequently,  hyoscyamin  might 
be  regarded  as  atropin,  in  which  H  was  replaced  by  me- 
thylammonium  C2H3II3N,  or  as 

^34^22  (C2H3,H3N)06-j-H0. 

The  formula  calculated  from  the  gold  salt  would  be 
CagHjo^O^,  but  if  it  be  assumed  that  this  salt  contains 
6  atoms  of  water  of  crystallization,  there  would  remain 
C36H34N.2Og,  and  this  comes  somewhat  nearer  to  that 
found  above.  The  difference  in  the  hydrogen  was  pro¬ 
bably  due  to  the  hygroscopic  nature  of  the  gold  salt  and 
the  multiplication  of  the  consequent  error  in  analysing  a 
small  quantity  of  substance  having  so  high  a  formula. 

By  treating  hyoscyamin  with  caustic  alkali  it  is  broken 
up  into  an  acid,  which  the  author  believes  to  bo  iden¬ 
tical  with  or  closely  related  to  atropic  acid,  a  base 
analogous  to  conia,  together  with  some  ammonia  and 
bases  resembling  methylamine. 

The  waxy  crystalline  substance  above  mentioned  was 
very  feebly  acid  in  solution  ;  its  melting-point  was  from 
208°  to  210°  C.,  but  it  became  soft  at  120°.  It  had 
neither  smell  nor  taste,  would  not  sublime,  was  insoluble 
in  water,  readily  soluble  in  strong  alcohol,  especially  on 
warming,  still  more  soluble  in  ether  and  chloroform. 
Analysis  gave  results  which  appeared  to  show  some 
relation  between  this  substance  and  lactucerin  C32  H26  02, 
and  the  author  suggests  the  name  hyoscerin,  C32M30  06  (?). 

The  analysis  of  the  glucoside,  which  the  author 
terms  hyoscypikrin,  gave  results  loading  to  the  formula 
G$4  Hs2  028. 

It  was  not  determined  conclusively  whether  the  vola¬ 
tile  methylic  base  was  formed  by  the  action  of  caustic 
alkali  or  whether  it  was  actually  present  in  the  seed. 

The  nitrogenous  resin  was  purified  by  dissolving  it  in 
weak  alcohol,  evaporating  the  solution  and  pouring  off 
the  residual  watery  liquid  from  the  deposit  of  resin. 
This  was  dried,  deprived  of  adherent  fat  by  digestion  with 
ether,  and  finally  treated  with  animal  charcoal  after 
solution  in  weak  alcohol. 

The  resin  still  remained  yellowish  after  this  treat¬ 
ment.  It  could  not  be  crystallized  from  alcohol  or  from 
•ether.  It  had  a  bitter  taste  and  a  peculiar  smell ;  the 
alcoholic  solution  scarcely  reddened  litmus  paper.  Con¬ 
centrated  sulphuric  acid  as  well  as  caustic  alkalies  dis¬ 
solved  the  resin  with  deep  orange  coloration.  Neutral 
and  basic  acetates  of  lead  gave  a  yellowish  precipitate 
with  the  alcoholic  solution.  Analysis  gave  results 
agreeing  with  the  formula  Ci10Hj.0N2O32.  The  resin  did 
not  appear  to  be  much  altered  by  treatment  with  dilute 
acids  or  alkalies ;  when  boiled  several  hours  with  strong 
caustic  alkali,  some  ammonia  was  given  off. — Neues  He- 
pertorium  fur  Tharmacie. 


THE  INTRODUCTION  OF  CHLOROFORM  INTO 
ANAESTHETICS.* 

.  In  a  pamphlet  issued  by  Mr.  George  Waldie,  of  Lin¬ 
lithgow,  he  discusses  with  some  warmth  the  question  of 
the  introduction  of  chloroform  into  anaesthetics,  main¬ 
taining  that  justice  was  not  done  to  his  brother,  Mr. 
David  Waldie,  by  the  late  Sir  James  Y.  Simpson  in  his 
account  of  the  discovery  of  its  value  as  an  agent  for  the 
relief  of  pain.  Mr.  G.  Waldie  says : — 


*  ‘  The  True  Story  of  the  Introduction  of  Chloroform  into 
Anaesthetics,  being  the  Original  Account  given  of  it  in  1847, 
and  a  Re-statement  in  1870.  By  David  Waldie,  F.C.S., 
Member  of  the  Asiatic  Society  of  Bengal,  with  Remarks  by 
George  Waldie.  Linlithgow:  George  Waldie.  Edinburgh: 
Oliver  and  Boyd.’ 


“  It  never  was  the  desire  of  my  brother  to  take  away  from 
the  late  Sir  James  Y.  Simpson  any  of  the  credit  which  was 
justly  due  to  him,  neither  is  it  mine  in  writing  these  pages; 
but  now  that  the  wonders  of  organic  chemistry  are  being  un¬ 
folded,  and  now  that  we  are  in  sight  of,  if  we  have  not 
already  reached,  the  period  when  chloroform  as  an  anaesthetic 
is  to  be  superseded  in  its  turn  by  some  till-now  unknown 
compound,  it  is  time  that  the  history  of  chloroform  should  bo 
better  known ;  and  what  follows  will  show  both  the  necessity 
for  this,  and  the  obligation  laid  upon  me  to  contribute  to¬ 
wards  making  it  so.” 

The  account  given  by  Mr.  David  Waldie  himself  of 
his  share  in  the  discovery  is  as  follows  : — 

“  On  occasion  of  a  visit  to  Dr.  Simpson,  when  in  Scotland 
in  1847,  he  spoke  to  me  of  his  trials  of  various  vapours,  in  hia 
endeavours  to  discover  something  else  than  ether,  at  that 
time  employed  to  some  extent  for  anaesthetic  purposes,  amongst 
lothers  mentioning  chloric  ether,  the  chemical  constitution  of 
which  he  was  evidently  not  aware  of.  This  I  explained  to 
him,  showing  him  that  it  was  chiefly  vapour  of  alcohol  that 
would  be  inhaled,  and  advised  him  to  try  the  pure  chloro¬ 
form,  which  appeared  to  me  likely  to  be  suitable.  I  promised 
also  to  prepare  some  as  soon  as  I  could  on  my  return  to 
Liverpool,  and  send  it  to  him  for  trial.  Unfortunately  the 
laboratory  of  the  Company  had  pi*eviously  been  destroyed  by 
fire,  and  was  not  then  restored,  so  that  I  could  not  prepare  it ; 
and  in  the  meantime  Dr.  Simpson  had  procured  some  chloro¬ 
form,  and  discovered  its  effects  by  inhalation. 

“  When  the  news  came,  not  long  after  my  return  to  Liver¬ 
pool,  I  felt  pleased  at  the  success  of  my  recommendation,  but 
was  also  mortified  that,  from  these  unfortunate  circumstances, 
I  had  not  been  able  to  do  something  in  carrying  it  out.  I  had 
inhaled  both  nitrous  oxide  gas  and  ether  vapours  before,  and 
felt  interested  in  the  inquiry ;  and  have  no  doubt  but  that,  if 
I  had  been  in  a  position  to  prepare  the  chloroform,  I  should 
at  once  have  discovered  its  properties  on  my  own  person.” 

In  the  first  pamphlet  issued  by  Sir  James  Y.  Simpson 
on  the  subject  of  chloroform  he  gives  his  account  of  the 
circumstances  that  induced  him  to  experiment  with  chlo¬ 
roform  in  these  words : — 

“  With  various  professional  friends  more  conversant  with 
chemistry  than  I  am,  I  have  since  that  time  [the  introduc¬ 
tion  of  anaesthetic  practice  from  America]  taken  opportuni¬ 
ties  of  talking  over  the  idea  which  I  entertained  of  the  pos¬ 
sible  existence  or  discovery  of  new  therapeutic  agents,  ca¬ 
pable  of  being  introduced  into  the  system  by  respiration,  and 
the  possibility  of  procuring  for  inhalation  vaporizable  or 
volatile  preparations  of  some  of  our  more  active  and  old- 
established  medicines;  and  I  have  had,  during  the  summer 
and  autumn,  ethereal  tinctures,  etc.,  of  several  potent  drugs 
manufactured  for  me  for  experiment  by  Messrs.  Duncan, 
Flockhart  and  Co.,  the  excellent  chemists  and  druggists  of 
this  city.  ...  I  have  tried  upon  myself  and  others  the  inha¬ 
lation  of  other  volatile  fluids.  ...  I  have  found,  however,  one 
infinitely  more  efficacious  than  any  of  the  others,  viz .  chloro¬ 
form,  or  the  perchloride  of  formyle,  and  I  am  enabled  to 
speak  most  confidently  of  its  superior  anaesthetic  properties, 
having  now  tried  it  upon  upwards  of  thirty  individuals.  The 
liquid  I  have  used  has  been  manufactured  for  mo  by  Mr. 
Hunter,  in  the  laboratory  of  Messrs.  Duncan,  Flockhart 
and  Co.” 

To  this  was  subjoined  the  following  foot-note : — 

“  In  talking  over  with  different  chemists  what  fluids  might 
be  sufficiently  volatile  to  be  respirable,  and  hence  deserving  of 
being  experimented  upon,  Mr.  Waldie  first  named  to  me  the 
perchloride  of  formyle,  as  worthy,  among  others,  of  a  trial ; 
Dr.  Gregory  suggested  a  trial  of  the  chloride  of  hydrocarbon, 
etc.  I  have  been  deeply  indebted  to  Dr.  Gregory  and  Dr. 
Anderson,  for  their  kindness  in  furnishing  me  with  the  re¬ 
quisite  chemical  agents  for  these  experiments ;  and  also  to  my 
assistants,  Dr.  Keith  and  Dr.  Duncan,  for  the  great  and 
hearty  zeal  with  which  they  have  constantly  aided  mein  con¬ 
ducting  the  inquiry.” 

Mr.  Waldie  disappointed  that  Sir  James  should  speak 
of  his  suggestion  in  so  incidental  a  manner,  and  that,  too, 
in  a  foot-note  where  it  was  likely  to  be  overlooked,  pre¬ 
pared  a  paper  entitled  “  Chloroform,  the  New  Agent  for 
producing  Insensibility  to  Pain  by  Inhalation,”  which 


306 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  15, 187CS. 


he  read  shortly  afterwards  at  a  meeting  of  the  Liverpool 
Literary  and  Philosophical  Society,  in  which,  after  a 
short  resume  of  the  general  history  of  anaesthetics  up  to 
that  time,  he  continues  : — 

“  “  Dr.  J.  Y.  Simpson,  Professor  of  Midwifery  in  the  Univer¬ 
sity  of  Edinburgh,  who  has,  since  the  introduction  of  ether 
inhalation  into  this  country,  carried  on  the  investigation  of 
the  merits  of  the  practice  with  the  greatest  ardour  and  assi¬ 
duity,  had  been  for  some  time  on  the  search  for  other  vapours 
possessing  the  properties  of  ether  without  certain  disadvan¬ 
tages  connected  with  its  use,  the  result  of  which  has  been  the 
discovery  of  such  properties  in  chloroform  through  the  follow¬ 
ing  circumstances : — 

“  The  term  chloric  ether  was  at  one  time  applied  to  the 
chloride  of  olefiant  gas,  or  Dutch  liquid  of  chemists.  In  1831 
Mr.  Guthrie,  an  American  chemist,  was  led  by  a  statement 
in  Silliman’s  ‘Elements  of  Chemistry,’  that  the  alcoholic 
solution  of  chloric  ether  was  a  grateful  and  diffusible  stimu¬ 
lant,  to  attempt  a  cheap  and  easy  process  for  its  preparation. 
This  he  did  by  distilling  a  mixture  of  spirit  and  chloride  of 
lime,  collecting  the  product  so  long  as  it  came  over  sweet  and 
aromatic.  This  both  Guthrie  and  Silliman  supposed  to  be  a 
solution  of  the  chloride  of  olefiant  gas,  and  called  it  chloric 
ether.  In  reality,  it  was  an  impure  spirituous  solution  of 
chloroform. 

“  In  1831  Soubeiran,  and  in  1832  Liebig,  prepared  liquid  by 
a  similar  process,  and  separated  the  chloroform.  Dumas,  in 
1834,  purified  it  fully,  and  made  an  accurate  analysis  of  it ; 
he  found  it  to  be  composed  of  12  parts  carbon,  1  part  hydro¬ 
gen,  and  106^-  parts  chlorine,  and  named  it  chloroform,  from 
being  analogous  to  formic  acid  in  its  composition,  but  con¬ 
taining  chlorine  instead  of  oxygen.  From  theoretical  consi¬ 
derations  Liebig  termed  it  perchloride  or  terchloride  of  for- 
myle — in  chemical  symbols  C2HC13.  It  is  a  colourless  trans¬ 
parent  liquid  of  specific  gravity  nearly  1500,  or  about  1| 
times  the  weight  of  water ;  it  boils  at  141°  F.,  the  vapour 
having  a  specific  gravity  nearly  four  times  that  of  air;  it 
quickly  evaporates  at  ordinary  temperatures,  but  does  not 
burn  easily;  it  has  a  sweet  taste  and  agreeable  smell;  is 
soluble  in  all  proportions  in  strong  spirit,  but  very  sparingly 
soluble  in  water,  to  which  it  communicates  its  taste  in  a  small 
degree. 

“  To  the  best  of  my  knowledge,  from  the  result  of  many 
inquiries,  it  seems  to  have  been  introduced  into  this  country 
as  a  medicinal  agent  first  in  Liverpool,  where  indeed,  in  the 
form  of  a  spirituous  solution,  it  has  been  more  known  than  in 
any  other  part  of  the  country,  and  from  which,  I  believe,  the 
knowledge  of  its  therapeutic  properties  has  extended.  About 
the  year  1838  or  1839  a  prescription  was  brought  to  the 
Apothecaries’  Hall,  Colquitt  Street,  one  ingredient  of  which 
was  chloric  ether.  No  substance  being  known  there  of  that 
name  having  the  properties  of  that  with  which  the  mixture 
had  been  previously  prepared,  Dr.  Brett,  then  the  company’s 
chemist,  in  investigating  the  subject,  found  in  the  United 
States’  Dispensatory  the  formula  for  its  preparation  which 
has  been  noticed  above,  and  prepared  some.  Its  properties 
pleased  some  of  the  medical  men,  particularly  Dr.  Formby, 
by  whom  it  was  introduced  into  practice  in  this  town.  After 
coming  to  take  charge  of  the  company’s  laboratories  I  found 
that  the  method  of  preparation  yielded  a  product  which  was 
not  of  uniform  strength,  and  sometimes  of  disagreeable 
flavour.  Accordingly  I  altered  the  process  by  separating  and 
purifying  the  chloroform,  and  dissolving  it  in  pure  spirit,  by 
which  a  product  of  uniform  strength  and  sweet  flavour  was 
always  obtained.  Thus  prepared,  it  is  much  superior  to  spe¬ 
cimens  I  have  seen  of  London  manufacture.  Those  members 
of  the  profession  who  are  in  the  habit  of  using  it  prefer  it 
greatly  to  sulphuric  ether,  as  possessing  all  its  remedial  value, 
and  being  very  much  more  agreeable. 

“The  vapour  of  the  so-called  chloric  ether  seems  to  have 
been  tried  as  a  substitute  for  sulphuric  ether  in  February  or 
March  last,  but  without  very  satisfactory  results,  which,  in¬ 
deed,  could  scarcely  be  expected,  unless  the  vapour  of  alcohol 
possessed  the  same  properties,  it  being  composed  principally 
of  alcohol.  When  in  Scotland,  in  October  last,  Dr.  Simpson 
introduced  the  subject  to  me,  inquiring  if  I  knew  of  anything 
likely  to  answer.  Chloric  ether  was  mentioned  during  the 
conversation,  and  being  well  acquainted  with  its  composition, 
and  with  the  volatility,  agreeable  flavour,  and  medicinal  pro¬ 
perties  of  chloroform,  I  recommended  him  to  try  it,  promis¬ 
ing  to  prepare  some  after  my  return  to  Liverpool,  and  send 
it  to  him.  Other  engagements  and  various  impediments 


prevented  me  from  doing  this  so  soon  as  I  should  have 
wished,  and  in  the  meantime  Dr.  Simpson,  having  procured 
some  in  Edinburgh,  obtained  the  results  which  he  communi¬ 
cated  to  the  Medico- Chirurgical  Society  of  Edinburgh  on  the 
10th  of  November,  and  which  he  published  in  a  pamphlet, 
entitled,  ‘  Notice  of  a  New  Anaesthetic  Agent  as  a  Substitute 
for  Sulphuric  Ether  in  Surgery  and  Midwifery.’  ” 

In  this  paper  no  remark  was  made  upon  Sir  James. 
Simpson’s  acknowledgment.  The  author,  however,  sent 
a  copy  of  the  paper  to  him  ;  hut  Sir  James  took  no  no¬ 
tice  of  it,  either  by  letter  or  personally. 

As  to  the  amount  of  credit  due  to  Mr.  Waldie  for  the 
suggestion,  the  following  statement  by  Mr.  Abraham,  of 
Liverpool, — a  gentleman  at  that  time  holding  a  respon¬ 
sible  position  in  the  Apothecaries’  Company,  and  now  a 
member  of  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,. 
— has  considerable  interest : — 

“To  judge  correctly  it  is  necessary  to  bear  in  mind  one 
fact  in  particular,  that,  at  the  time  when  Simpson  was  induced 
to  try  chloroform  it  was  not  known  as  a  commercial  article^ 
I  believe  it  wras  not  used  except  in  Liverpool,  and  there  by 
twro  houses  only — the  Apothecaries’  Company  and  Mr.  Clay — 
for  making  chloric  ether,  to  which,  I  believe,  it  was  usually 
diluted  as  soon  as  made.  If  Simpson  had  not  met  with  your 
brother,  it  is  not  at  all  likely  that  he  would  have  seen  or 
thought  of  chloroform;  and  subsequent  experience  justifies 
us  in  assuming  that  he  would  never  have  found  out  anything 
as  good.” 

Mr.  Waldie  says  : — 

“  Some  of  my  friends  have  considerably  overrated  the  im¬ 
portance  of  my  share  in  the  discovery,  but  this  I  have  uni¬ 
formly  discountenanced.  Willingly  do  I  acknowledge  that 
the  discovery  was  Dr.  Simpson’s,  and  the  honour  his  due.  All 
that  I  looked  for  was  a  distinct  and  honest  acknowledgment 
that  I  had  recommended,  or  even  suggested,  to  him  to  try 
chloroform.  Out  of  all  the  great  renown  and  more  substantial 
advantages  the  discovery  brought  him,  he  might  easily  have 
spared  that ;  but,  irrespective  of  this,  I  considered  it  only  an’ 
act  of  justice,  and  I  did  not  get  it. 

“  It  may  be  asked  why  I  did  not  then  demand  it — demand 
it  from  him  on  appeal  to  the  public  ?  I  did  so  indirectly  to  # 
limited  extent  by  the  paper  already  alluded  to,  and  have  got 
acknowledgments  occasionally  more  satisfactory  than  Dr. 
Simpson’s.  But  I  did  not  press  the  matter,  as  I  thought  it 
lay  with  others,  not  with  me,  to  decide  what  amount  of  value 
the  recommendation  or  suggestion  was  worth.  Possibly  it 
may  have  been  a  foolish  or  a  weak  course ;  certainly  it  has  not 
been  a  very  successful  one.  Yet  I  hesitated  to  say  that  the 
value  of  my  suggestion  had  been  underrated,  and  would  pro¬ 
bably  hesitate  even  now  to  proclaim  so  publicly,  though  I  am 
inclined  to  think  so  upon  evidence  that  in  the  circumstances 
seems  unimpeachable, — the  testimony,  indirect,  of  Sir  James 
Simpson  himself.” 

He  then  points  out  the  amount  of  credit  given  by  Sir 
James  Simpson  himself,  in  his  last  work,  the  ‘  History 
of  Modern  Anaesthetics,  a  Second  Letter  to  Dr.  Jacob 
Bigelow,’  to  Dr.  Jackson  for  having  suggested  the  use  of' 
ether  to  Dr.  Morton,  and  continues  : — 

“Yet,  much  as  is  the  credit  given  to  Dr.  Jackson  for  sug¬ 
gesting  ether,  not  a  word  is  said  of  the  man  who  suggested 
and  recommended  chloroform  to  Dr.  Simpson.  His  name 
is  not  once  mentioned,  and,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  he  never- 
got  any  greater  credit  from  Dr.  Simpson  for  one  principal 
means  of  obtaining  his  wide-spread  renown,  than  was  con¬ 
veyed  in  a  foot-note  to  his  original  announcement,  to  the- 
eflect  that  Mr.  Waldie  had  first  mentioned  chloroform  to  him. 
The  statement  was  not  correct,  inasmuch  as  it  conveyed  n 
proper  or  sufficient  intimation  of  what  I  had  done.  I  did  not 
merely  mention  it,  I  distinctly  recommended  him  to  try  it, 
and  also  intended  to  help  him  to  do  it,  an  intention  which 
only  circumstances  prevented  me  from  carrying  out. 

“  I  have  no  wish  to  detract  from  the  fame  of  Sir  J ames 
Simpson.  I  have  the  highest  admiration  of  his  great  and 
rare  talents,  and  of  the  marvellous  industry  with  which  he 
applied  them  to  the  cultivation  of  medical  science.  I  can  only 
join  in  the  wide-spread  regret  which  his  loss  to  the  world  has 
called  forth,  and  wish  that  he  had  lived  to  answer,  if  he  could, 
the  remarks  I  have  made.  His  reputation  cannot  suffer  by 


October  15,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


307 


my  getting  credit  for  wliat  I  am  justly  entitled  to,  and  that 
is  all  I  ask ;  and  I  would  willingly  entertain  the  hope  that, 
had  he  been  still  living  amongst  us,  and  my  claim  been  placed 
before  him  as  it  is  now  before  the  public,  he  himself  would 
have  admitted  its  justice.” 


VEHICLE  FOR  THE  INTERNAL  ADMINISTRATION 
OF  CHLOROFORM. 

To  supply  the  wants  felt  by  many  physicians  of  a 
good  vehicle  for  the  internal  administration  of  chloro¬ 
form,  Dr.  G.  Wilson  Murdock,  of  Cold  Spring,  New 
York,  in  a  letter  to  the  Medical  Record ,  suggests  the  use 
of  a  solution  of  chloroform  in  glycerine,  which,  having 
tried,  he  has  found  to  answer  the  purpose  so  completely 
as  to  leave  little  to  he  desired. 

Dr.  Murdock  says  that  by  a  little  care  in  rubbing  it 
up,  one  part  of  chloroform  in  hulk  can  be  dissolved  in 
three  of  glycerine.  This  solution  is  perfectly  clear,  is 
bland  to  the  taste,  and  has  hut  a  slight  odour  of  chloro¬ 
form.  It  can  he  taken  readily  as  it  is,  or  can  he  diluted 
with  water  to  any  extent  without  disturbing  the  solution. 
Curiously  enough,  the  addition  of  water  immediately 
increases  the  smell  of  chlorofonn  without  any  precipita¬ 
tion  of  it. 

In  preparing  it,  it  is  best  to  take  one  part  of  chloro¬ 
form  with  two  parts  of  glycerine ;  add  the  chloroform 
very  slowly  and  rub  up  carefully.  Then  put  it  in  a 
bottle  and  let  it  stand  twenty-four  hours.  A  little 
chloroform  will  have  deposited  at  the  bottom.  Separate 
this  and  rub  it  up  with  the  third  part  of  glycerine,  then 
mix  it  with  the  rest,  and  the  solution  is  complete.  No 
further  separation  will  take  place.  Six  ounces  of  glyce¬ 
rine,  with  twro  of  chloroform,  will  give  seven  fluid  ounces 
of  the  solution,  so  that  each  fluid  drachm  contains  about 
17  m  of  chloroform. — Chicago  Pharmacist. 


THE  ROASTING  OF  COFFEE. 

In  distilling  a  cold  prepared  extract  of  roasted  coffee 
with  lime  or  magnesia,  an  alkaline  distillate  is  obtained, 
which,  by  evaporation  after  the  addition  of  hydrochloric 
acid  and  extracting  with  alcohol,  yields  a  pure  chloride 
of  methyl  ammonium.  This  salt  is  chloride  of  ammo¬ 
nium,  in  which  one  equivalent  of  hydrogen  is  substi¬ 
tuted  by  methyl,  the  radical  of  methylated  spirit  or 
methyl  alcohol,  this  being  the  lowest  one  in  the  series  of 
alcohols,  of  which  ordinary  alcohol  and  ether  are  repre¬ 
sentatives.  This  product  is  formed  by  the  decomposition 
of  caffein,  when  combined  with  tannic  acid,  as  is  the 
case  in  all  coffees,  pure  caffein  yielding  different  pro¬ 
ducts  of  decomposition,  among  which  is  cyanogen.  In 
roasting  coffee,  part  of  the  caflein  is  volatilized  together 
with  some  methylamin,  while  the  larger  amount  re¬ 
mains  with  the  coffee  itself.  Half  of  the  caffein  of  the 
coffee  is  decomposed  in  this  way ;  one  sample,  which 
before  roasting  tested  1-45  per  cent.,  yielding  afterwards 
only  0-65  per  cent,  of  caffein.  The  temperature  at  which 
these  changes  are  effected  is,  in  the  case  of  green  coffee 
(Porto  Rico),  275°  C.;  in  the  case  of  yellow  coffee  (Java), 
250-255°  C. 

Caffein  is  soluble  in  bisulphide  of  carbon  and  in  ben¬ 
zole  ;  in  benzole  especially,  to  such  an  extent  that  it  may 
be  used  with  advantage  for  the  preparation  of  the  pure 
alkaloid. — New  York  j Druggists'  Circular. 


Poisoning'  by  an  Embrocation. — A  widow  lady 
named  Elizabeth  Simpkins,  who  resided  with  her  brother- 
in-law  at  Crewe,  has  lately  died  under  the  following 
circumstances.  It  appeared  that  the  deceased  had  been 
a  sufferer  from  rheumatism,  and  that  for  the  last  seven¬ 
teen  years  she  had  been  in  the  habit  of  using  an  embro¬ 
cation  consisting  of  chloroform  and  aconite,  prepared  by 
Dr.  Dawes,  of  Longton.  About  half-past  one  on  the 


morning  in  question,  she  awakened  her  brother-in-law 
and  told  him  she  had  taken  the  wrong  medicine.  Medi¬ 
cal  men  were  sent  for,  but  on  their  arrival  life  was  ex¬ 
tinct. — Liverpool  Daily  Courier. 

Poisoning  by  Strychnia. — An  accident  which 
nearly  proved  fatal,  occurred  a  few  days  ago  to  a  lad 
residing  at  Bishopsfield,  Chester.  His  master  had  put 
some  cheese  into  a  cupboard  to  poison  mice.  The  cup¬ 
board  was  generally  locked,  but  having  inadvertently 
been  left  unlocked,  the  boy  went  to  it  and  ate  a  piece  of 
the  cheese.  Ho  soon  showed  symptoms  of  poisoning 
from  strychnia  and  was  taken  to  the  infirmary,  where 
the  stomach-pump  having  been  applied  and  antidotes 
administered,  he  recovered. — Liverpool  Daily  Courier. 

A  Child  Killed  by  Worm  Lozenges. — An  in¬ 
quest  was  held  at  Leeds,  on  Saturday  last,  on  Arthur 
Shepherd,  aged  one  year  and  eight  months.  The  mother 
of  the  child  had  obtained  from  a  Mrs.  Geldart,  the  widow 
of  a  herbalist,  some  lozenges  her  husband  had  manufac¬ 
tured  during  his  lifetime,  containing  sugar,  ginger, 
hellebore,  gamboge  and  calomel,  wliich  she  had  given  to 
the  deceased  and  three  other  children,  the  deceased  hav¬ 
ing  a  quarter  of  a  lozenge,  that  not  being,  in  the  opinion 
of  Mrs.  Geldart,  too  much  for  a  child  of  that  age.  After 
taking  the  lozenges  all  the  children  became  sick,  the 
deceased  especially  so.  A  medical  man  wTas  sent  for, 
but  when  he  arrived  the  child  was  in  a  dying  state,  and 
its  death  took  place  the  same  night.  A  post-mortem 
examination  showed  that  it  had  been  poisoned  by  helle¬ 
bore.  A  verdict  to  that  effect  was  returned,  and  Mrs. 
Geldart  was  cautioned  that,  if  she  permitted  any  more 
of  the  lozenges  to  be  used,  she  might  get  into  serious 
trouble. — Leeds  Paper. 

Solutions  of  Soluble  Chlorides  for  Road- 
Watering. — At  the  Liverpool  Meeting  of  the  British 
Association  Mr.  W.  J.  Cooper,  who  has  introduced  the 
method  of  watering  roads  with  a  solution  of  deliquescent 
chlorides,  stated,  in  a  paper  read  by  him,  that  the  expe¬ 
riment  tried  by  the  Westminster  Board  of  Works  at 
Whitehall  and  Knightsbridge  had  been  so  successful 
that  they  had  resolved  to  extend  it  throughout  their  en¬ 
tire  district.  He  gave  statistics  to  prove  that  a  saving 
of  expense  was  effected  by  his  plan ;  besides  which,  he 
called  attention  to  the  special  value  of  some  of  the  chlo¬ 
rides  in  chemically  deodorizing  and  disinfecting  the 
offensive  matter  deposited  on  public  thoroughfares.  Mr. 
Cooper  claims  for  his  present  solution,  which  contains 
the  chloride  of  sodium  and  calcium,  that  the  chloride  of 
calcium  decomposes  the  carbonate  of  ammonia  of  the 
horse-droppings,  and  produces  carbonate  of  lime  and 
chloride  of  ammonium,  which  salts,  combining  with  the 
chloride  of  sodium,  serve  to  form  a  layer  of  concrete  on 
the  surface.  He  now  suggests  that  to  the  original  solu¬ 
tion  a  portion  of  chloride  of  aluminium  should  be  added, 
which  he  thinks  would  completely  purify  and  disinfect 
the  streets  over  which  it  was  spread. 

Colouring  Materials  in  Tinctures. — Mr.  G.  M,r. 
Kennedy,  of  Pottsville,  Pennsylvania,  in  a  letter  to  the 
American  Journal  of  Pharmacy ,  referring  to  the  presence 
of  red  saunders  in  the  United  States  Pharmacopoeia  for¬ 
mula  for  tinct.  cinchonm  comp.,  says  that  it  is  not 
required,  as  there  is  colouring  matter  enough  in  the 
other  drugs  that  are  used  to  make  the  tincture  a  dark 
red.  He  suggests  that  this  is  one  of  the  matters  that 
should  be  taken  into  consideration  in  the  revision  of  the 
United  States  Pharmacopoeia. 

Antiseptics  in  the  War  Hospitals. — The  Berlin 
correspondent  of  the  British  Medical  Journal  writes,— 
“In  1866  permanganate  of  potash  was  the  antiseptic 
remedy  d  la  mode ;  this  year  it  is  carbolic  acid.  .In 
every  hospital  it  is  used  on  the  largest  scale  for  dressing 
and  washing  wounds,  in  more  or  less  strict  accordance 
with  the  directions  of  Mr.  Lister.” 


308 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [October  15,  1870. 


SATURDAY,  OCTOBER  15,  1870. 


AUTOGRAPH  PRESCRIPTIONS 
FOR  EXAMINATION,  LOAN,  AND  REFERENCE. 

Mr.  J oseph  Ince  wishes  once  more  at  the  opening 
of  the  Session  to  direct  attention  to  this  subject. 
The  London  collection,  consisting  of  fifteen  volumes, 
is  finished,  save  the  concluding  book  which  is  re¬ 
served  for  France  and  Germany.  It  was  thought  it 
would  be  a  want  of  courtesy  to  exclude  these  two 
great  nations,  which,  had  it  not  been  for  the  late  un- 
happy  disturbances  would  have  rendered  most  ener¬ 
getic  aid.  It  is  some  satisfaction  to^note  that  the 
value  and  interest  of  these  written  formulae  has  in  no 
way  diminished  during  tlie'progress  of  their  arrange¬ 
ment.  Switzerland  is  well  represented  in  recent 
contributions.  Albert  Ebert  has  not  forgotten 
Chicago  :  the  student  who  consults  these  pages  need 
not  visit  Norway  :  while  Mr.  Gerard,  as  well  as  the 
London  Chemists’  Association  have  amply  illustrated 
the  practice  of  our  own  celebrated  physicians. 

More  than  a  passing  remark  is  due  to  Mr.  W. 
Procter  Jr.  of  Philadelphia  for  his  selection  of  Ame¬ 
rican  Prescriptions.  Their  worth  is  much  increased 
by  an  explanatory  letter,  containing  the  names  of  the 
prescribers  and  details  of  transatlantic  Pharmacy. 

The  following  sentence  will  be  read  with  surprise. 
“  It  may  be  well  to  observe  that  in  the  United  States 
the  Latin  language  is  rarely  used  in  writing  the  di¬ 
rections  for  the  use  of  a  prescription.  The  general 
education  of  Physicians  here  would  not  justify  it,  nor 
are  Pharmaceutists  qualified  to  translate  other  than 
the  simple  and  brief  directions — especially  since  the 
abandonment  of  Latin  in  the  Revision  of  1840.” 

Fifteen  volumes,  destined  for  Provincial  Associa¬ 
tions,  will  complete  the  original  scheme.  Three 
have  been  despatched,  six  are  in  active  preparation. 
Bradford,  Bristol  and  Liverpool  will  head  the  list, 
and  no  pains  will  be  spared  to  ensure  variety  in  each 
separate  compilation.  Eighteen  hundred  formula), 
which  are  most  earnestly  desired  will  put  us  in  pos¬ 
session  of  a  sufficient  library  of  autographs. 

Would  our  readers  kindly  aid,  and  direct  their 
enclosures  to  the  Office  of  the  Secretary  ? 


It  was  announced  last  week  that  for  the  present 
Dr.  Odling  would  deliver  the  chemical  lectures  to 
the  medical  students  at  King’s  College,  and  that  Pro¬ 
fessor  Bloxam  would  conduct  the  classes  for  students 
of  applied  science,  but  we  understand  that,  since 
Bartholomew’s  Hospital  is  now  without  a  chemical 
lecturer,  there  is  a  possibility  of  Dr.  Odling’ s  former 
connection  with  this  school  inducing  him  to  resume 
for  a  time  the  lectures  there. 


CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’  FUND  FOR  THE 
SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Total  amount  of  money  contributions  up  to 

this  date . £137  0  2 

besides  contributions  of  drugs,  etc. 

Received  since  the  last  publication : — 

Walter,  G.  Jameson,  Hastings . £110 

Erratum. — In  Mr.  Rogerson’s  collection,  published 
last  week,  Mr.  S.  Parker’s  subscription  should  have  been 
4s.  6d.,  and  the  total  amount  collected  £16.  9s.  6d. 


iransatta  rrf  fjjaraamrfkal  Hrietg. 


MEETING  OF  THE  COUNCIL, 

October  5th,  1870. 

MR.  SANDFORD,  PRESIDENT,  IN  THE  CHAIR. 

MR.  HASELDEN,  VICE-PRESIDENT. 

Present — Messrs.  Abraham,  Atherton,  Bottle,  Bour- 
das,  Brady,  Brown,  Deane,  Dymond,  Edwards,  Evans, 
Hanbury,  Hills,  Mackay,  Reynolds,  Stoddart,  Sutton, 
and  Woolley. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  con¬ 
firmed. 

The  Report  of  the  Finance  Committee  was  presented, 
showing,  on  the  General  Fund  account,  a  balance  in  the 

Treasurer’s  hands  of .  £1220.  14s.  0 d. 

On  the  Benevolent  Fund  account,  a 

balance  of .  £617.  19s.  11  d. 

And  submitting  for  payment  sundry 
accounts  for  alterations,  repairs,  sa¬ 
laries,  etc.,  and  annuities,  amount¬ 
ing  to .  £1367.  13s.  10 d. 

Resolved — That  the  Report  of  the  Finance  Committee 
be  received  and  adopted,  and  payments  made. 

Resolved — That  in  future  all  accounts  relating  to  ex¬ 
penditure  on  the  house,  including  alterations  and 
improvements,  be  examined  and  certified  by  the 
House  or  other  Committee,  before  being  submitted 
to  Council  by  the  Finance  Committee. 

Resolved — That  the  Report  of  the  Benevolent  Fund 
Committee  be  received  and  adopted,  and  that  the 
Treasurer  be  requested  to  pay  the  sum  of  £15  to 
applicants  for  relief. 

Moved  by  Mr.  Brady,  seconded  by  Mr.  Deane,  and 

Resolved — That  in  the  Sessional  Examinations  in 
future,  a  Silver,  instead  of  a  Bronze  Medal,  be 
awarded  for  the  first  prize,  and  a  Bronze  Medal  for 
the  second  prize.  Certificates  of  honour  and  merit 
as  heretofore. 

Moved  by  Mr.  Dymond,  seconded  by  Mr.  Mackay — 

“  The  subject  referred  to  this  Council  by  the  last 
Annual  Meeting  respecting  the  keeping,  selling, 
and  dispensing  of  the  poisons  enumerated  in  the 
Pharmacy  Act,  having  been  considered,  this  Coun¬ 
cil  records  its  opinion  that  the  recommendations 
already  made  have  been  misunderstood,  that  they 
embrace  the  principles  on  which  poison  regula¬ 
tions  should  be  framed,  but  that  they  are  capable  of 
extension,  that  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  more 
fully  consider  the  subject  and  prepare  some  expla¬ 
nation  of  their  application,  which  may  be  circulated 
amongst  the  chemists  of  the  kingdom. 

Amendment — Moved  by  Mr.  Woolley,  seconded  by  Mr. 
Brown — 

“  That  the  subject  of  the  Sale  and  Keeping  of  Poisons 
be  discussed  in  Council  and  not  referred  to  a  Com¬ 
mittee.” 


October  15,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


309 


For  the  Amendment — 

Messrs.  Atherton,  Bottle,  Brady,  Brown,  Reynolds, 
Sutton,  and  Woolley. 

Against — 

Messrs.  Abraham,  Bourdas,  Deane,  Dymond,  Ed¬ 
wards,  Evans,  Haselden,  Hanbury,  Hills,  Mackay 
and  Sandford. 

The  Amendment  being  lost,  a  further  Amendment  was 
moved  by  Mr.  Reynolds,  seconded  by  Mr.  Brady, 

“  That  the  Poison  Regulations  proposed  by  the  late 
Council  having  been  rejected  by  the  Annual  Meet¬ 
ing,  and  condemned  by  many  meetings  in  various 
parts  of  the  country,  it  is  not  expedient  to  accept 
them  as  the  basis  of  ajreconsidcration  of  the  subj  ect. 

For  the  Amendment — 

Messrs.  Atherton,  Bottle,  Brady,  Brown,  Reynolds, 
Sutton  and  W oolley . 

Against — 

Messrs.  Abraham,  Bourdas,  Deane,  Dymond,  Ed¬ 
wards,  Evans,  Haselden,  Hanbury,  Hills,  Mackay, 
Sandford  and  Stoddart. 

The  Amendment  being  again  lost,  the  following 
Amendment  was  moved  by  Mr.  Brown,  seconded  by  Mr. 
Bottle, 

“  That  the  question  relating  to  the  storing  and  dis¬ 
pensing  of  poisons  be  referred  to  a  Committee  to 
report  to  the  Council  as  to  the  form  in  which,  after 
due  consideration,  the  matter  shall  be  presented  to 
the  Annual  Meeting.” 

For  the  Amendment — 

Messrs.  Bottle,  Brady,  Brown,  Stoddart  and  Wool- 
ley. 

Against — 

Messrs.  Abraham,  Bourdas,  Deane,  Dymond,  Ed¬ 
wards,  Haselden,  Hanbury,  Hills,  Mackay  and 
Sandford. 

The  Amendment  being  lost,  the  original  Motion  was 
put  as  a  substantive  Motion,  and  carried. 

Whereupon  certain  gentlemen  were  proposed  to  form 
a  Committee,  but  Messrs.  Brown  and  Reynolds  object¬ 
ing  that  they  could  not  serve  on  a  Committee  appointed 
to  consider  the  question  under  a  foregone  conclusion  of 
the  Council  with  which  they  disagreed,  the  Council, 
after  some  discussion,  permitted  the  withdrawal  of  the 
Resolution  just  passed,  in  order  that  all  opinions  should 
be  represented  in  tho  Committee ;  and  it  was 

Resolved— That  it  is  desirable  to  take  into  considera¬ 
tion  the  question  of  Regulations  for  the  Sale  and 
Keeping  of  Poisons,  in  accordance  with  the  Resolu¬ 
tion  passed  at  the  last  Annual  Meeting,  and  that 
the  following  be  appointed  a  Committee  for  that 
purpose,  viz.  Messrs.  Abraham,  Bottle,  Brown, 
Deane,  Dymond,  Edwards,  Hills,  Hanbury,  Mackay, 
Reynolds  and  Stoddart. 

Moved  by  Mr.  Reynolds,  seconded  by  Mr.  Sutton,  and 

Resolved— That  the  Tabulated  Returns  on  Provincial 
Education,  collected  by  the  Committee  on  that  sub¬ 
ject,  be  received  and  published  in  the  Journal. 

Resolved— That  Mr.  John  Green,  of  Christchurch,  be 
elected  Local  Secretary,  vice  Mr.  Henry  Sharp, 
deceased. 

Resolved — That  the  following,  having  passed  then- 
respective  examinations,  be  elected 

ASSOCIATES  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 

Minor. 

Fox,  William  Albert  . St.  Albans. 

Nuthall,  Edwin  . . . . . N orwich. 

Thompson,  Benjamin  ......  ......  Brighton. 


Resolved — That  the  following,  having-  passed  their 
respective  Examinations,  be  elected 

ASSOCIATES  IN  BUSINESS. 


Minor. 

Riddle,  William  R . Hexham. 

Modified. 

Hayward,  George . .  Croydon. 

Reedman,  William  Henry . Bletchingley. 

Rosolved — That  the  following  Registered  Chemists 
and  Druggists  be  elected  Members  of  the  Society : — 

Ball,  Edwin . Buxton. 

Curtis,  Thomas  West . Holbeach. 

Martin,  John  . Seacombe. 

Miller,  William  Henry _ Ridgeway. 

Welch,  Charles  . Reading. 


LONDON. 

John  M‘Lean _ 11,  Clifton  Road,  Paddington. 

Henry  Astrop  . .  Old  Kent  Road. 

The  Secretary  presented  the  name  of  a  member  who 
had  paid  his  subscription  since  the  30th  April. 

Resolved— That  he  be  re-elected  a  member  of  the 
Society  on  payment  of  a  fine  of  one  shilling. 

Resolved — That  the  ‘Pharmaceutical  Journal  and 
Transactions  ’  be  supplied  to  the  Midland  Counties’ 
Chemists’  Association  regularly  as  published. 


THE  JACOB  BELL  PORTRAIT. 

Mr.  Hills  called  the  attention  of  the  Council  to  his 
original  proposal,  as  to  the  application  of  the  proceeds  of 
the  sale  of  the  Engravings  of  the  Portrait  of  the  late 

Jacob  Bell,  viz.,  . 

That  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  the  Engravings  ot  the 
Portrait  be  invested,  and  the  interest  of  the  same  be 
applied  to  the  purchase  of  books  to  be  selected  and  given 
by  the  Examiners  as  prizes  at  their  monthly  Examina¬ 
tions  to  the  candidate  who  shall  pass,  the  Minor  Exami¬ 
nation,  first  in  honours,  and  in  the  opinion  of  the  Board 
be  entitled  to  the  prize. 

Mr.  Hills  then  said  that  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  ot  the 
portraits  had  not  amounted  to  as  much  as  he  had  hoped, 
and  he  desired,  if  the  Council  would  allow  him,  to  sup¬ 
plement  the  amount  received  by  the  donation  of  a  suf¬ 
ficient  sum  to  produce  £10  a  year,  and  he  had,  in  fact, 
with  that  view  purchased  two  £100  bonds  of  the  1870 
5  per  cent.  Russian  Loan.  He  wished  now,  therefore,  to 
hand  over  the  bonds  he  had  purchased,  for  the  purpose 
originally  expressed  by  him,  of  establishing  a  Prize  Fund. 
He  would  suggest  that  a  prize  of  books,  of  a  nature  .to 
assist  the  student  in  preparing  himself  for  the  Major 
Examination,  should  be  given  monthly,  by  the  Board  ot 
Examiners,  to  the  candidate  for  the  Minor  Examination 
who  most  distinguished  himself,  provided  such  candidate 
took  honours  in  the  Examination ;  for  this  reason,  that 
it  would  be  an  additional  inducement  for  the  student  to 
present  himself  for  the  Major  Examination.  Mr.  Huls 
wished  it  to  be  quite  understood  that  he  merely  offered 
this  as  a  suggestion,  but  would  prefer  that  the  .  details 
of  the  distribution  of  the  fund  should  be  left  entirely  at 
the  discretion  of  the  Council  and  the  Board  of  Examiners. 

Resolved— That  the  very  cordial  thanks  of  the  Ccmncil 
on  behalf  of  the  Society  be  tendered  to  T.  H.  Mills, 
Esq.,  for  his  handsome  and  liberal  offer  of  the  Fund 
he  now  proposes  to  hand  over  for  the  purpose  o 
purchasing  prizes  to  be  given  to  the  success!  ul  can¬ 
didates  at  the  Minor  Examinations. 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  1 5, 1S70. 


310 


PHARMACEUTICAL  EDUi  A 1 1 

TABULATED  RETURNS  FROM  PRO VI  C  ^ 

(The  Numbers  of  Students  refi  q 


NAME  OF  SOCIETY  AND 
YEAR  OF  ESTABLISH¬ 
MENT. 


Aberdeen 


Ashton-under- 

Lyne 


Bath  . 

Birmingham 


Bradford  .... 

Bristol . 

Colchester  . . 
Dundee  . 


Edinburgh  (/) 
Exeter  . 


Glasgow 


Gosport . 

Halifax  .... 


Society  of  Chemists  and 
Druggists  (1839) 
Ashton-under-Lyne  and 
Dukinfield  Chemists’ 
Association  (1869) 
Chemists’  Assoc.  (1864) 
Midland  Counties  Che¬ 
mists’  Assoc.  (1869) 
Chemists’  Assistants’  As¬ 
sociation  (1868) 
Chemists’  Association 


Pharmaceutical  Associa¬ 
tion  (re-estab.  1869) 
Association  [of  Chemists 
and  Druggists  (1841) . 
Chemists  and  Druggists’ 
Association 


Exeter  Pharmaceutical 
Society  (1845) 
Chemists  and  Druggists’ 
Mutual  Improvement 
Association  (1854) 


PREPARATION  FOR  THE 
PRELIMINARY  EXAMINATION. 


CHEMISTRY  (INORGANIC  AND  0R(  yj( 


0 


Teacher. 

Fee. 

Lesson  Hour. 

No.  of  Students 

entered. 

No.  of  Lessons.  | 

Teacher. 

Fee. 

Lecture  Hour. 

0 

4- 

s 

0 

X 

z  iii 

a 

«*.  . 

c  ' 

c 

*  ! 

]  | 

m 

Dr.  Beveridge . . 

(*) 

GO 

8 

(0 

George  Ward, 
F.C.S. 

(cl) 

8.30  p.m. 

<  i 

c  . 

W 

GO 

GO 

j  I 

Mr.  Gibb  . 

(Latin  only, 
weekly.) 

5s. 

per 

sess. 

8-9 

P.M. 

10 

•  • 

Mr.  Jarmain, 
F.C.S. 

5s.  per 
sess. 

Elem.  8-9 

P.M. 

Adv.  8.30- 
9.30  p.m. 

1 

j 

Mr.  Megilley  . . 

Mr.  W.  B.  Clark 
Mr.  H.  Cooper 
(Latin  only.) 

A  class 
42s. 

B  21s. 

Free 

Free 

8-10 

6-8 

8.30- 

10.30 

ditto 

11 

11 

•  • 

•  • 

Geo.  Ward,  F.C.S. 
S.  Jefferson, F.C.S. 
Geo.Ward, F.C.S. 

(Organic.) 

Mr.  H.  Cooper . . 

Edward  Davies, 
F.C.S. 

C.  Schorlemmer, 
F.C.S. 

Sf  f21s. 
1  i  5s. 

10  s.  6^. 
free 

free 

7s.  6 d. 
Includi 

* 

8.15-10 

8-9.30 

8.30- 9.45 

8.30- 10.30 

7-8  p.m. 

6  p.m. 

ng  Pharmacy. 

]•  2 

J 

2 

];  1 

J 

J.  Smith,  B.A.  . . 
(Latin  only.) 

5  s. 

6  P.M. 

49 

20 

Mr.  Bray  . 

(Latin  only.) 

5s. 

9-10 

P.M. 

25 

13 

Mr.  Sissling .... 

Mr.  Byder  (A)  . . 

Geo.  Harrison, 
F.C.S. 

Mr.  Curry . 

5s. 

10s. 

10s.  6d. 

10  s. 

8-9  P.M. 

1  2 

9-10  p.m. 

8.30  p.m. 

3  l 

2  1 

Halifax  and  District  Che¬ 
mists  and  Druggists’ 
Association  (1868) 


Hull 

Leeds 


Chemists’  Association 
(1868) 

Chemists’  Association 
(1862) 


Leicester  . . . 


Liverpool  .... 
Manchester  . . 


Chemists’  Assistants  and 
Apprentices’  Associa¬ 
tion  (1869) 

Chemists’  Assoc.  (1868) 


Chemists  and  Druggists’ 
Association 


Newcastle-on- 

Tyne 

Nottingham  . . 


No  return 


Plymouth  .... 
Sheffield  .... 


Sunderland  . . 
York . 


Nottingham  and  Notts 
Chemists’  Association 
Association  of  Chemists 
for  Plymouth,  Devon- 
port  and  Stonehouse  . 
Pharmaceutical  and  Che¬ 
mical  Association 
Chemists’  Association 
Chemists’  Association 


(a)  The  fee  for  the  three  classes  of  Chemistry  (Inorganic 
and  Organic),  Materia  Medica  and  Pharmacy,  and  Botany, 
inclusive,  is  21s.  There  are  four  lectures  in  each  week,  and 
the  return  of  students  under  Chemistry  appears  to  apply  to 
all  the  classes. 


(b)  Students  attend  the  classes  in  Manchester,  the  distar 

being  six  miles.  .  .  p, 

(c)  The  Midland  Institute  supplies  lectures  in  Latin,  or 
mistry  and  Materia  Medica,  which  are  well  attendee 
chemists’  assistants.  See  note  on  separate  page. 


October  15,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


311 


I 


UN  IN  THE  PROVINCES. 

ASSOCIATIONS. - SESSION  1868  1869. 

r'0SE  ENGAGED  IN  PHARMACY.) 


The  Returns  for  1869-70  will  appear 
in  a  future  Number. 


HEMISTRY  (PRACTICAL). 


MATERIA  MEDICA  AND 
PHARMACY. 


BOTANY 


1 

acker. 

Fee. 

Lecture  Hour. 

No.  of  Students 
entered. 

|  No.  of  Lectures. | 

Teacher. 

Fee. 

Lecture  Hour. 

No.  of  Students 

entered. 

1  No.  of  Lectures.! 

Teacher. 

Fee. 

Lecture  Hour. 

No.  of  Students 

entered. 

No.  of  Lectures.! 

Total  Numbe 

Lectures. 

(Prelim.  Ex.  excl 

Dr.  Beveridge 

00 

Dr.  Beveridge  . . 

00 

(0 

(*) 

(c) 

\J 

L.C.Miall,  E.L.S. 

00 

8.30 

28 

14 

26 

P.M. 

( e ) 

R. 

Moffat, 

21s. 

9  30 

13 

25 

iff) 

Ph 

.,F.R.S.E. 

P.M. 

Ge 

ge  Ward, 

21s. 

7.30- 

6 

28 

Mr.  J.  Abbott  . . 

5s. 

7-8 

20 

30 

1 144 

] 

IS. 

10 

A.M. 

ill 

I.  Cooper 

free 

8.30- 

11 

•  • 

Mr.  W.  E.  Hill 

free 

8.30- 

11 

•  • 

Mr.  Jos.  Young  . 

•  •  •  •  •  • 

8.30- 

11 

10.30 

10.30 

10.30 

Ed 

.rd  Davies 

7  O 

Oft 

7  Q 

26 

67 

OOo. 

/— y 

o 

jjr. 

JL  » 

Includi 

ng  Botfi 

•  •  •  • 

iny. 

Included  in  Mat.  Me 

d.  and  Ph 

armacy. 

- 

A  Snmfira 

6s. 

7.30 

58 

12 

Prof.  Williamson, 

5s. 

4  P.M. 

28 

12 

44 

M.R.C.S. 

r.M. 

F.R.S. 

Not  it 

eluding 

Pharim 

icy. 

26 

i  VorimiQ  fThp- 

free 

8  P.M. 

12 

12 

F.  P.  Balkwill, 

Sys.  5s. 

10-12 

20 

30 

\  72 

mists  Mem- 

to 

(h)  Ec 

Phy.  5s. 

7— 8.3( 

)  20 

30 

J72 

hers. 

assoc. 

10s.  6d 

9-10 

15 

12 

.  Mr.  Birks . 

10s.  6d. 

9-10 

22 

10 

34 

Dll  •  UU  W  JLtlilvi.} 

F.C.S. 

P.M. 

P.M. 

12 

o 


•73 

<u 

3 


<«: 
(«) 
3nt  i 

if) 

19) 


for  Chemistry  and  Botany,  inclusive,  6s. 
ere  arc  Chemistry  and  Botany  classes  at  the  Govern¬ 
ance  School. 

o  return.  Vide  Table  for  1869-70. 

iderson’s  University  and  the  Mechanics’  Institute 


have  hitherto  supplied  students  with  lectures  in  Latin,  Che¬ 
mistry  and  Botany,  but  the  business  hours  of  a  large  portion 
of  the  trade  are  such  as  to  prevent  many  from  taking  advan¬ 
tage  of  them.  _  . 

(h)  The  classes  are  in  connection  with  the  Plymouth  and 

Devonnort  Science  School. 


312 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [October  15,  1870. 


MANCHESTER  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

The  Second  Annual  General  Meeting-  of  the  above 
Association  was  held  in  the  Memorial  Hall,  Albert 
Square,  on  Friday,  October  7th ;  Mr.  AY.  S.  Brown, 
Vice-President,  in  the  chair. 

The  following  report  was  read  by  the  Honorary  Secre¬ 
tary  : — 

Your  Council  have  again  the  satisfaction  of  presenting 
a  favourable  Report  of  the  condition  and  prospects  of  the 
Association.  The  number  of  members  and  associates  on 
the  books,  though  fewer  than  last  year,  is  still  large. 
The  passing  of  the  Pharmacy  Act  in  1868  startled  the 
entire  trade  out  of  its  apathy,  and  the  result  was  a  sudden 
interest  in  the  future  of  our  vocation,  evidencing  itself 
in  this  district  by  a  ready  response  to  the  canvass  for 
members  which  was  at  that  tune  made.  Some  of  these 
have  not  maintained  their  connection  with  the  Associa¬ 
tion,  and  their  places  have  been  but  partially  filled  up 
by  new  members.  There  is  reason  to  believe,  however, 
that  those  who  remain  are  they  who  take  a  real  interest 
in  the  aims  and  work  of  our  Society,  and  that  our  real 
strength  is  not  less,  but  greater. 

The  pharmaceutical  courses  established  last  session  at 
Owens  College  were  not  in  all  cases  so  largely  attended 
as  was  anticipated.  Some  dissatisfaction  was  expressed 
in  the  daily  papers  at  the  hour  which  had  been  chosen 
for  the  delivery  of  the  lectures ;  this  point  has  been  most 
carefully  reconsidered,  and  with  the  very  kind  co-opera¬ 
tion  of  the  trustees  and  professors  of  the  College,  some  new 
arrangements  have  been  made,  which  it  is  hoped  will  meet 
the  requirements  of  the  majority  of  those  for  whose  benefit 
they  have  been  undertaken.  One  of  the  principal  fea¬ 
tures  in  the  new  scheme  is  a  course  of  lectures  on  Prac¬ 
tical  Pharmacy ;  one  of  our  own  members,  Mr.  Louis 
Siebold,  having  been  appointed  lecturer ;  and  it  is  confi¬ 
dently  hoped  that  this  class  will  be  as  well  attended  as 
the  importance  of  the  subject  deserves.  The  following 
is  a  detailed  syllabus  of  the  whole  Pharmaceutical 
course  : — Five  courses  of  lectures,  comprising  twenty- 
seven  lectures  each, — Pharmaceutical  Latin,  Professor 
Wilkins,  M.A.,  or  Mr.  Bentley,  M.A.,  Mondays,  3  to 
4  p.m.  Chemistry,  Professor  Roscoe,  F.R.S.,  or  Dr. 
Thorpe,  Mondays,  4  to  5  p.m.  Pharmacy,  Mr.  Siebold, 
Wednesdays,  4  to  5  p.m.  Materia  Medica,  Mr.  Somers, 
Wednesdays,  5  to  6  p.m.  Botany,  Professor  William¬ 
son,  F.R.S.,  Wednesdays,  7.30  to  8.30  p.m.  The  lec¬ 
ture  fees  are  15s.  for  one  course,  £2  for  three  courses, 
and  £3  for  the  complete  series  of  five.  A  Laboratory 
course  of  Practical  Pharmaceutical  Chemistry,  by  Pro¬ 
fessor  Roscoe,  F.R.S.,  and  Mr.  Schorlemmer,  F.C.S., 
Mondays,  from  6  to  8.30  p.m.  This  class  is  intended  for 
those  students  in  pharmacy  who  have  already  passed 
through  the  lectures  on  Elementary  Chemistry,  or  who 
have  otherwise  made  themselves  acquainted  with  the 
principles  of  the  science.  Each  of  these  students  will 
be  provided  with  a  working-table,  set  of  tests  and  all  the 
requisite  apparatus :  fee,  £4.  4s.  A  prize  for  diligent 
attendance  throughout  the  session  and  proficiency  in 
the  examinations,  will  be  given  in  each  class  by  the 
Manchester  Chemists^  and  Druggists’  Association,  at  the 
end  of  the  session.  The  Principal  will  attend  at  the 
College  to  admit  new  students  on  Thursday  and  Friday, 
the  6th  and  7th  of  October,  from  6.30  to*9  p.m.,  or  en¬ 
tries  may  be  made  with  Mr.  F.  Baden  Benger,  Hon. 
Sec.  of  the  Association,  1,  Market  Place.  Those  students 
who  are  unable  to  attend  the  afternoon  classes  may  sub¬ 
stitute  corresponding  evening  classes,  for  particulars  of 
which  see  prospectus. 

The .  advantages  thus  offered  to  pharmaceutical  stu¬ 
dents  .  in  Manchester  and  district  are  such  as  but  very 
few  cities  could  provide,  and  your  Council  cannot  too 
strongly  urge  Members  and  Associates  to  make  the 


arrangements  as  extensively  known  and  availed  of  as 
possible. 

Keeping  in  view  the  main  object  of  the  Association,  to 
provide  means  of  professional  and  scientific  education  for 
assistants  and  apprentices,  great  efforts  have  been  made 
during  the  past  session  to  found  a  library  and  museum. 
These  efforts  have — through  the  liberality  of  many 
friends,  some  unconnected  with  Manchester,  except  by 
sympathy  with  our  cause — been  attended  with  an  en¬ 
couraging  degree  of  success.  Upwards  of  £65  has  been 
subscribed  to  a  special  library  fund ;  part  of  this  has 
been  invested  in  standard  works  of  reference,  and  the 
Library  Committee  is  about  to  make  further  purchases. 
For  the  accommodation  of  these  books  and  their  readers, 
it  has  been  necessary  to  purchase  a  book-case  and  to  rent 
and  furnish  a  suitable  room  ;  this  has  been  done  in  Mitre 
Chambers,  Cathedral  Gates.  It  is  open  for  the  use  of 
Members  and  Associates  on  Monday,  Wednesday,  and 
Friday  evenings,  from  six  to  ten,  and.  it  is  hoped  will  be 
much  resorted  to  during  the  winter  months.  The  ex¬ 
penses  connected  with  this  undertaking  have  somewhat 
reduced  the  balance  of  the  General  Fund,  but  it  was 
thought  desirable  to  devote  the  whole  of  the  Special 
Library  Fund  to  the  purchase  of  books.  A  large  and 
handsome  cabinet  for  the  materia  medica  specimens,  con¬ 
taining  one  hundred  and  thirty  drawers,  has  been  pre¬ 
sented  by  Messrs.  Woolley,  and  a  series  of  remarkably 
beautiful  specimens  of  dried  and  mounted  medicinal 
plants,  by  Mr.  Ransome,  of  Hitchin.  Mr.  T.  H.  Hills, 
of  London,  has  generously  contributed  engravings  of  the 
late  Jacob  Bell,  John  Bell  and  Jonathan  Pereira,  ac¬ 
companied  by  a  cheque  for  £5.  5s.  to  the  Library  Fund, 
and  Mr.  J.  J.  Pyne  a  complete  series  of  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Journal  from  its  commencement,  in  thirty  volumes, 
with  other  books. 

The  monthly  meetings  of  the  past  session  were  sup¬ 
plied  with  interesting  papers  and  were  well  attended. 
These  were  held  alternately  on  the  afternoon  and  evening 
of  the  first  Friday  in  the  month.  Tea  was  provided  at 
the  evening  meetings,  and  it  is  proposed  to  continue 
this  arrangement  for  the  present.  The  Council  would 
be  glad  if  the  associates  as  well  as  members  would  con¬ 
tribute  papers  or  introduce  subjects  for  discussion  at 
these  meetings,  the  success  of  which  so  much  depends  on 
the  hearty  co-operation  of  all. 

To  maintain  and  extend  the  usefulness  of  this  Associa¬ 
tion  should  be  the  desire,  as  it  is  the  interest,  of  every 
chemist  and  druggist,  assistant  and  apprentice  in  Man¬ 
chester  and  the  surrounding  towns.  Its  efforts  to  pro¬ 
mote  the  good  of  the  entire  trade  commend  it  to  prin¬ 
cipals,  and  the  merely  nominal  associates’  fee  of  2s.  6d. 
per  annum  cannot  be  beyond  the  means  of  the  poorest 
apprentice ;  yet  for  this  small  sum  he  obtains  access  to 
such  books,  materia  medica  specimens,  etc.,  as  will  prove 
of  great  service  to  him  in  preparing  for  the  inevitable 
examination,  besides  sharing  the  advantages  which  are 
inseparable  from  association  with  those  engaged  in  simi¬ 
lar  studies. 

Your  Council  trusts  that  the  Association  will  be 
strengthened  by  a  large  accession  of  members  during  the 
present  session. 

The  Treasurer  in  Account  with  the  Manchester  Chemists 
and  Druggists’  Association. 


1869.  £.  s.  d. 

Oct.  6.  To  Cash  in  hand .  4  1  8§ 

„  „  Bank .  86  5  6 

1870. 

Sept.  30.  „  114  Members  .  57  0  0 

„  95  Associates  .  11  17  6 

„  Cash  for  11  Lists  .  011  0 

„  Bank  Interest  .  2  1  10 


£162  7  eh 


To  Balance  brought  down . , . . 


73  18  8h 


October  15,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


313 


£.  s .  d. 

By  Cash  for  Stationery,  Stamps,  Printing 

and  Advertising .  29  5  2 

Owens  College  Fees  for  Summer  Course 

(1869)  of  Botany .  14  12  0 

Rooms,  etc.,  for  Meetings  in  Memorial 
Hall . 


V 

■n 


11 

Ditto,  Mitre  Chambers  . . .  9 

..  3 

..  2 


Porter  for  taking  charge  of  Rooms 
Collector’s  Commission 

Furniture  . . . . .  15 

1 
0 
0 


13  4 
10  10 
4  0 


Gas  Fittings 

Sundries . . 

Balance  in  hand 


i* 


Bank . . . . .  73 

£162 


2 

15 

19 

5 

2 

17 


6 

6 

6 

0 

H 


64 


Library  Fund. 

1870.  _  £  s.  d. 

Sept.  30.  To  Subscriptions  received  .  63  11  6 

£63  11  6 

Oct.  1.  To  Balance  brought  down  . .  28  5  7 

£  s.  d. 

May  16.  By  Stamps  and  Envelopes  .  2  6  11 

July  1.  „  Cash  for  Books .  32  19  0 

Sept.  30.  „  Balance  in  Bank .  28  5  7 


£63  11  6 

Examined  and  found  correct,  )  Standen  Paine. 
September  27th,  1870.  }  William  Bagshaw. 


In  moving  the  adoption  of  the  report,  the  Chairman, 
after  remarking  that  he  was  glad  to  see  such  a  large  at¬ 
tendance  of  members,  and  friends  whom  they  cordially 
welcomed  and  hoped  to  include  in  their  ranks,  said  the 
Association  was  formed  two  years  ago,  under  an  impulse 
communicated  by  the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy  Act,  1868, 
and  they  had  great  reason  to  congratulate  themselves 
upon  the  continued  success  which  had  attended  its  opera¬ 
tions.  He  thought  they  had  been  more  successful  than 
they  could  have  anticipated ;  and  certainly  when  they 
contrasted  their  progress  with  that  of  kindred  associa¬ 
tions,  Manchester  had  no  reason  to  be  ashamed  of  the 
efforts  put  forth,  or  with  the  results  attained.  These 
were  not  only  professional  but  social,  and  have  had  many 
practical  outcomes  in  the  experience  mutually  communi¬ 
cated,  and  the  mutual  confidence  and  goodwill  established 
between  members  of  the  same  business  who  had  previ¬ 
ously  very  little  knowledge  of  each  other.  Beyond  that, 
and  as  the  principal  object  of  their  Association — the 
education  of  apprentices  and  assistants  of  the  present 
day,  who  would  be  the  pharmacists  of  the  future, — they 
had  every  reason  for  congratulation  that  in  the  outset 
they  decided  to  connect  themselves  with  that  noble  in¬ 
stitution  which  Manchester  had  the  privilege  of  possess¬ 
ing,  and  ought  to  be  exceedingly  proud  of — Owens  Col¬ 
lege.  The  cordial  co-operation  accorded  to  them  by  the 
trustees  of  that  institution  had  culminated  in  the  pro¬ 
ducing  for  the  present  session  of  a  course  of  lectures 
which  he  thought  would  bear  comparison  even  with  the 
Central  School  in  Bloomsbury  Square.  He  believed  no 
other  city  or  town  had  such  a  complete  course  of  phar¬ 
maceutical  education  provided  at  so  small  a  cost.  He 
hoped  this  state  of  things  would  result  in  a  large  acces¬ 
sion  both  of  members  and  associates,  for  it  was  most  im¬ 
portant  that  they  should  have  the  encouragement  of  a 
large  number  of  members  and  associates  and  large  at¬ 
tendances,  and  they  looked  to  their  future  connection 
with  Owens  College  as  likely  to  result  in  the  establish¬ 
ment  of  an  institution  to  provide  pharmaceutical  educa¬ 
tion,  and  eventually  in  a  college  of  pharmacy,  which 
might  attain  a  high  position.  Efforts  made  in  providing 
pharmaceutical  education  had  been  hitherto  principally 


confined  to  the  parent  institution  in  London,  where  there 
was  a  large  and  flourishing  educational  establishment, 
but  that  was  only  available  to  a  few.  The  application 
of  that  kind  of  education  locally  had  occupied  the  atten¬ 
tion  of  the  governing  body,  and  it  was  confidently  hoped 
that  in  a  short  time  a  practical  scheme  would  be  devised 
by  which  assistance  could  be  afforded  to  localities  where 
such  advantages  as  were  presented  in  Manchester  were 
not  available.  He  trusted  that  they  would  be  able  to  do 
without  any  extraneous  aid  at  all.  They  had  endea¬ 
voured  to  meet  all  requirements  both  in  town  and  country 
by  the  arrangement  of  their  meetings,  and  he  hoped  that 
the  appeal  they  had  put  forth  in  the  report  would  bring 
many  new  members.  Let  them  not  be  content  with  114 
members,  but  go  on  until  all  who  were  connected  with 
the  business  became  associated.  He  hoped  to  see  more 
of  their  friends  of  the  medical  profession,  for  it  was  most 
important  that  there  should  not  be  needless  and  causeless 
jealousy.  He  referred  with  satisfaction  to  the  state  of 
the  library  fund,  and  expected  to  see  it  largely  increased 
in  the  future.  The  work  of  the  Association,  he  took  it, 
had  not  only  had  a  practical  effect  in  their  own  city  but 
in  many  places.  The  action  they  took  when  some  ob¬ 
jectionable  regulations  with  regard  to  the  selling  and 
dispensing  of  poisons  were  sought  to  be  forced  upon  them 
by  legal  enactment,  was  supported  by  many  other  kin¬ 
dred  institutions,  and  it  resulted  in  the  defeat  of  an  at¬ 
tempt  made,  without  protecting  the  public  in  any  way, 
to  impose  restrictions  that  were  objectionable,  and  ren¬ 
dered  it  difficult  to  carry  on  the  business  of  a  chemist 
with  that  freedom  and  care  which  had  always  character¬ 
ized  the  trade.  In  conclusion,  he  advocated  such  a  shorten¬ 
ing  of  the  hours  of  labour  as  would  allow  apprentices  and 
assistants  more  time  for  study,  and  moved  the  adoption 
of  the  report  and  statement  of  accounts. 

Mr.  Slttgg  seconded  the  motion,  and  said  he  considered 
the  report  an  admirable  one,  and  that  the  Association 
was  in  a  most  healthy  state. 

The  report  having  been  adopted,  it  was  announced 
that  Mr.  Standring  had  expressed  his  wish  to  retire  from 
the  office  of  President ;  whilst  he  sympathized  with  the 
work  of  the  Association,  his  failing  health  and  distant 
residence  from  town,  rendered  it  impossible  for  him  to 
fulfil  the  duties  of  President  satisfactorily. 

It  was  then  proposed  by  Mr.  G.  S.  Woolley,  and  se¬ 
conded  by  Mr.  F.  B„  Benger,  and  carried  unanimously, 
that  Mr.  W.  S.  Brown,  whose  energy,  zeal  and  ability 
were  so  well  known  to  the  members,  be  elected  Presi¬ 
dent. 

On  the  motion  of  Mr.  Halliday,  seconded  by  Mr. 
Hampson,  an  alteration  was  made  in  the  Bye-laws  to 
allow  of  the  election  of  two  Vice-Presidents. 

Mr.  J.  T.  Slug-g,  F.R.A.S.,  and  Mr.  Wilkinson  were 
then  unanimously  elected  to  these  offices. 

Two  vacancies  occurring  in  the  Council  list  by  the  re¬ 
tirement  of  Mr.  Standring  and  Mr.  Bateman,  Mr.  Red- 
ford,  of  Messrs.  Ransome  and  Co.,  and  Mr.  Hughes  of 
Victoria  Street,  were  elected  ;  the  remaining  members  of 
the  Council  were  re-elected,  as  were  also  the  Hon.  Sec., 
Mr.  F.  B.  Benger,  and  the  Treasurer,  Mr.  G.  S.  Woolley. 

Professor  Attfield,  of  Bloomsbury  Square,  London,  and 
Mr.  T.  H.  Hills,  of  338,  Oxford  Street,  London,  two 
gentlemen  who  had  shown  much  kind  interest  in  the 
success  of  the  Association,  were  elected  honorary  mem¬ 
bers. 

It  was  announced  that  the  next  monthly  meeting 
would  be  held  in  the  Memorial  Hall,  on  Friday  evening, 
November  4th.  Tea  and  coffee  at  7  p.m.  ;  the  subject 
for  discussion  being  “  Apprenticeships  and  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Education  in  the  Provinces.” 


Tannin  and  Glycerin  Pencils. — Dr.  Schuster  pro¬ 
poses  the  use  of  tannin  mixed  with  glycerin  as  a  substi¬ 
tute  for  caustic  injections.  This  material  is  at  first  waxy, 
but  soon  becomes  hard,  and  it  melts  in  a  moist  atmo¬ 
sphere  at  the  temperature  of  the  body. — Lancet. 


314 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  15, 187CT. 


f  ramJrhtgs  of  JkwnMc  Satictios. 

BRITISH  PHARMACEUTICAL  CONFERENCE. 

Meeting  at  Liverpool. 

Wednesday ,  September  Hth. 

A  Century  op  Old  Boors. 

BY  JOSEPH  INCE. 

[Concluded  from  page  298.) 

The  late  Dr.  Pereira's  note-book  on  Cardamoms. 

Interesting  as  showing  with  what  labour  and  patience 
the  author  sought  for  and  noted  information  relative  to 
any  particular  subject  on  which  he  was  at  work. 

Christiani  Francisci  Paullini  MoaxoKaPv°ypa(Pia  seu  Nucis 
Moschatce  Curiosa  description  historico-medico-physica. 
Francofurti  et  Lipsice ,  1704.  8°. 

A  curiosity  of  prolixity,  the  whole  work  of  876  pages 
being  devoted  to  a  discussion  on  Nutmegs. 

Herbarius  Patavice,  printed  at  Padua  in  1485. 

It  consists  of  an  alphabetical  catalogue  of  medicinal 
plants,  a  rude  representation  of  which  heads  each  chapter. 
The  name  of  each  plant  is  given  in  .German  as  well  as  in 
Latin. 

Otho  Brunfels. — Herbarum  Vivce  Ficones  ad  natures  imita- 
tionem ,  summd  cum  diligentid  et  artificio  effigiatce  una  cum 
effectibus  earundem  *  *  *  Argentorati ,  1530.  fol. 

Brunfels,  a  native  of  Mentz,  was  a  theologian  and 
physician  occupying  in  the  latter  capacity  the  post  of 
poliater  or  chief  medical  officer  of  the  city  of  Bern.  In 
this  office  he  died  a.d.  1534.  Of  his  numerous  works 
that  of  wdiich  the  title  is  here  given  is  remarkable  for  its 
excellent  woodcuts,  which  have  indubitably,  as  the  author 
asserts,  been  made  from  the  very  plants  and  not  drawn 
from  memory  or  imagination.  In  this  respect  they  pre¬ 
sent  a  most  striking  contrast  to  the  figures  in  other 
works  of  the  period,  as  well  as  in  many  of  those  of  a 
much  later  date. 

It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  the  time  was  too  limited 
to  examine  these  specimens  of  ancient  pharmacy  in  de¬ 
tail.  Pharmacopoeias  of  various  date  and  type,  abounded. 
Quaint  tractates,  such  as  The  Garden  of  Health  (1649.) 
Boyle’s  Noctiluca  (1680).  Conclave  of  Physicians  (1686) 
Pharmacopoeia  Reformata  (1744)  Holt  Waters  (1731) 
Yal.  Cordi  Dispensatorium  (1690).  Speculum  Lapidum 
Camilli  Leonardi  (1502)  Secrets  of  Alexis  (1568)  and 
about  forty  similar  productions  were  not  wanting. 

Some  Latin  Books  were  worthy  of  special  commenda¬ 
tion,  amongst  which  may  be  mentioned  Valerius  Cordus, 
a  small  but  most  interesting  volume.  Mr.  Haselden  un¬ 
dertook  several,  and  also  contributed  a  notice  of  the  cele¬ 
brated  Dr.  Radcliffe,  part  of  which  we  subjoin. 

Dr.  Padcliffe' s  Practical  Dispensatory. 

A  portrait  of  the  doctor,  wearing  a  long,  flowing, 
curling  wig,  after  the  fashion  of  the  period,  adorns  the 
frontispiece,  under  which  is  written,  “  Johannes  Rad¬ 
cliffe,  M.D.  Ob.  Nov.  1,  1714.  jEtat.  64.  Printed  for 
Charles  Rivington,  in  St.  Paul’s  Churchyard. 

Before  we  examine  the  contents  of  the  book,  let  us  in¬ 
dulge  in  a  brief  account  of  this  once  celebrated  doctor. 

He  was  bom  at  Wakefield,  Yorkshire,  in  1650,  near 
which  place  his  father  was  possessed  of  a  moderate  estate, 
who  having  a  numerous  family,  did  not  think  it  prudent 
on  account  of  the  expense,  to  breed  his  children  to  letters, 
but  at  the  prompting  of  his  neighbours  was  induced  at 
length  to  send  this  son  to  a  school  at  Wakefield.  Hav¬ 
ing  shown  great  aptitude  in  learning  he  was  removed  at 
fifteen  to  Oxford,  and  entered  at  University  College, 
1665.  In  1669  he  took  his  first  degree,  and  was  chosen 
Senior  Scholar  of  this  college.  In  June,  1672,  he  took 
his  degree  of  M.A.,  and  in  1675,  Bachelor  of  Physic. 
After  this  he  practised  in  Oxford  until  1684,  when  he 
came  and  settled  in  London.*  In  the  autumn  of  1689, 

*  From  the  Universal  Magazine  for  July,  1760. 


when  he  resided  in  Bow  Street,  Covent  Garden,  an  ur¬ 
gent  message  reached  him  rather  late  in  the  day.  Hur¬ 
rying  into  his  carriage,  he  hastened  with  all  speed  to 
Kensington  House,  then  the  palace  of  his  Majesty  King 
William  the  Third.  He  was  ushered  into  the  sick 
chamber  of  the  king,  who  had  been  some  time  unwell. 
“Doctor,”  said  the  king,  “  Bentinck  (Earl  of  Portland) 
and  Zuleistein  (Earl  of  Rochford)  have  been  urgent  with 
me  that  I  should  again  send  for  you  ;  and  though  I  have' 
great  confidence  in  my  two  body  physicians  here,  yet  I 
have  heard  so  much  of  your  skill,  that  I  desire  you  will 
confer  with  Bidloo  and  Laurence  [the  medical  attendants], 
whether  some  other  plan  might  not  be  adopted.”  “  May 
it  please  your  Majesty,”  said  Dr.  Radcliffe,  “I  must  be 
plain  with  you,  sir.  Your  case  is  one  of  danger,  no 
doubt,  but  if  you  will  adhere  to  my  prescriptions  I  will 
engage  to  do  you  good.”  The  consultation  between  the 
professionals  was  short,  the  treatment  altered,  and  the 
royal  patient  was  soon  restored,  and  a  few  months  after¬ 
wards,  he  fought  the  battle  of  the  Boyne. 

The  doctor  was  a  great  frequenter  of  taverns  and 
clubs,  where  the  choicest  spirits  of  the  day  were  wont  to 
assemble.  He  was  at  one  time  engaged  to  be  married 
to  the  daughter  of  a  wealthy  citizen,  but  a  discovery 
which  he  seemingly  made  during  his  courtship,  and  which 
did  not  redound  to  the  lady’s  credit,  caused  him  to  break 
the  engagement,  although  a  source  of  regret  at  the  time ; 
but  in  his  plain  peculiar  way  he  infers  that  the  lady, 
however  a  very  deserving  gentlewoman,  is  not  fit  to  be 
his  wife,  as  she  is,  or  ought  to  be,  another  man’s  already. 

His  practice  was  very  large,  and  increased  daily.  He 
had  considerable  humour,  and  once  when  sent  for  to  a 
gentleman  suffering  from  quinsy,  for  which  no  applica¬ 
tion  had  been  of  service,  he  desired  the  lady  of  the  house 
to  have  a  hasty  pudding  prepared,  and  when  done  his 
own  servants  brought  it  up.  It  was  placed  on  the  table 
in  full  view  of  the  patient.  “  Come,  Jack  and  Dick,” 
said  Radcliffe,  “  eat  as  quickly  as  possible ;  you  have 
had  no  breakfast  this  morning.”  Previously  instructed, 
they  commenced  a  fierce  attack  upon  the  pudding ;  but 
one  dipping  faster  than  the  other,  a  quarrel  arose,  ending 
in  the  pudding  being  pelted  at  each  other.  The  patient 
was  seized  with  a  hearty  fit  of  laughter,  the  quinsy 
burst,  .discharged  its  contents,  and  the  cure  was  thus 
speedily  effected.  He  always  spoke  confidently,  and 
thus  inspired  hope  and  faith  in  his  patients.  When  in 
his  sixtieth  year  he  was  once  more  in  love  with  a  very 
young  lady,  but  was  unfortunate  and  rejected,  and  so 
remained  single  for  the  rest  of  his  life.  Speaking  of 
himself  in  the  latter  part  of  his  days,  he  says,  “  By  fol¬ 
lowing  the  dictates  of  common  sense,  while  I  practised 
at  Oxford,  after  taking  my  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Medi¬ 
cine,  instead  of  stoving  up  my  patients  who  were  ill  of 
the  small-pox,  I  gave  them  air  and  cooling  emulsions, 
and  thus  rescued  more  than  a  hundred  from  the  grave.” 
He  always  discountenanced  quacks  and  intermeddlers, 
as  he  styled  them. 

He  realized  by  his  practice  a  princely  fortune,  and  is 
now  more  particularly  remembered  by  the  way  in  which, 
looking  upon  Oxford,  his  Alma  Mater,  he  bequeathed 
property.  He  left  his  Yorkshire  estate  to  the  Master 
and  Fellows  of  the  University  College  for  ever,  in  trust 
for  the  foundation  of  two  travelling  fellowships ;  £5000 
for  the  enlargement  of  the  building  of  the  University 
College;  £40,000  for  building  a  library  at  Oxford;  £500 
yearly  for  ever  towards  mending  the  diet  of  St.  Bartho¬ 
lomew’s  Hospital. 

The  ‘  Pharmacopoeia  Practica’  is  divided  into  two  parts 
and  an  appendix.  In  the  first  part,  twelve  chapters 
treat  of  Cathartics,  Glysters,  Suppositories,  Diaphoretics, 
Leeching,  Tapping,  etc.  etc.  In  the  second  part,  six 
chapters  treating  of  Restoratives,  Attenuants,  Neutrals, 
etc.  etc.  The  appendix  of  Opiates,  Milk,  Dipping, 
Axioms  concerning  local  medicines,  etc.  etc.,  an  index 
to  the  first  and  second  parts,  referring  to  every  remedy 
or  disease  mentioned  in  the  work. 


October  15, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


815 


To  give  an  example  or  two  of  the  style  of  the  Author 
and  his  treatment  of  disease,  we  quote  this,  touching  on 

Cholera. 

When  Persons  are  inclinable  to  a  Vomiting,  Promo¬ 
tion  is  often  necessary ;  and  therefore  in  a  Cholera  Mor¬ 
bus ,  where  there  is  an  abundance  of  bilious  and  sharp 
Humours,  there  you  may  gently  promote  it  by  giving 
Chicken  Broath  or  Whey  or  Barley-water ;  after  you 
have  diluted  and  washed  well,  give  ’em  Decoct.  Alb.  and 
attemperating  Draughts  with  Laudanum  in  ’em  till  the 
Vomiting  ceases.  I  speak  upon  a  supposal  that  you  are 
called  early  in  ;  because  if  the  Vomiting  has  continued 
so  long  as  to  have  exhausted  the  spirits,  nothing  remains 
to  be  done  save  the  giving  of  Opiates  and  Cordials.” 
The  learned  in  treatment  may  decide  how  far  this  differs 
from  modern  usage. 

The  following  for  an  Enema  may  in  some  degree  sur¬ 
prise  dispensers  accustomed  to  the  extreme  simplicity, 
simple  sometimes  to  a  fault,  of  modern  prescribers. 

Take  the  decoction  of  Aromaticks,  viz.,  Calamus  Aro- 
maticus,  Galangal,  of  each  half  an  ounce ;  Leaves  of 
Mint,  Wormwood,  Centaury  Tops,  of  each  two  Pugils 
[handfuls] ;  Seeds  of  Caraways,  Anise  Seeds,  and  Carda¬ 
moms,  of  each  half  an  ounce ;  mix  with  it  Electuary 
Lenitive,  and  Epsom  Salt,  of  each  one  ounce ;  Oil  of 
Amber,  half  a  dram ;  mix  and  make  a  Glyster,  to  be 
thrown  in.” 

There  are  numerous  eccentric  forms  similar  to  the 
above,  and  many  others  simple  as  those  in  general  use 
at  the  present  time.  Some  of  the  means  prescribed  would 
scarcely  admit  of  being  printed  now,  therefore  we  pass 
them  over.  Many  of  the  observations  are  full  of  sound 
reasoning,  and,  deprived  of  peculiarities,  might  stand 
side  by  side  with  the  writings  of  modern  authors  ;  and 
with  this  we  close  our  remarks  on  Dr.  Radcliffe’s  Phar¬ 
macopoeia  Practica. 

Farther  we  need  not  quote ;  but  we  must  reprint  two 
articles — the  first  by  Professor  Wanklyn,  and  the  second 
by  Mr.  Ince. 

The  Hcrmetical  Triumph ,  or.  the  Victorious  Philosophical 
Stone.  A  Treatise  more  compleat  and  more  intelligible 
than  any  yet  Extant ,  concerning  the  Hermetical  Magis- 
tery.  Translated  from  the  French.  To  which  is  added , 
The  Ancient  JVar  of  the  Knights ,  being  an  Alchymistical 
Dialogue  betwixt  our  Stone,  Gold ,  and  Mercury  ;  of  the 
true  Matter ,  of  which  those  who  have  traced  Nature  do 
prepare  the  Philosopher' s  Stone.  Translated  from  the 
German.  London :  Printed  by  F.  Noble ,  at  Otway' s 
Head ,  St.  Martin's  Court ,  near  Leicester  Fields.  1740. 

Opposite  the  title  page  there  is  a  very  elaborate  fron¬ 
tispiece. 

“The  Ancient  War  of  the  Knights”  was  “composed 
originally  in  the  German  tongue  by  a  very  able  Philo¬ 
sopher,”  and  is  given  in  duplicate  in  this  book. 

One  English  translation,  which  is  to  be  found  towards 
the  end  of  the  book,  was  made  directly  from  the  German. 
The  other  English  translation  was  made  from  the  French 
version,  which  itself  had  been  made  from  a  Latin  trans¬ 
lation  of  the  original  German.  As  might  be  expected, 
the  English  direct  from  the  original  German  is  vigorous 
and  terse,  whilst  the  other  is  comparatively  .weak  and 
verbose. 

The  “War”  consists  mainly  of  a  discussion  between 
the  “Stone”  and  “Gold”  as  to  their  relative  merits ; 
the  part  taken  by  Mercury  being  very  slight,  and  con¬ 
fined  to  a  single  expression  of  assent  made  to  a  remark 
made  by  Gold. 

A  very  curious  passage,  warning  the  reader  against 
attributing  the  plain  and  literal  sense  to  works  of  this 
kind  may  be  quoted  from  the  dialogue.  “But  when 
they  name  barely  the  name  of  Gold  and  Mercury,  they 
do  it  to  hide  the  Art  from  the  senseless  and  the  un¬ 
worthy,  knowing  very  well  that  such  only  dwell  upon 


Names  and  written  processes,  without  meditating  further 
upon  the  foundation  of  this  Matter.  But  the  Prudent 
and  Diligent  read  with  Prudence,  and  ponder  how  one 
squares  with  the  other,  out  of  which  they  get  a  Founda¬ 
tion  ;  finding  thus  by  speculation,  and  from  the  Philoso¬ 
pher’s  sentences,  the  true  matter  which  no  Philosopher 
ever  named  and  described  openly  by  its  true  Name.” 

That  the  writings  of  “true  Philosophers”  should  be 
somewhat  hard  to  understand,  need  therefore  not  occa¬ 
sion  much  astonishment. 

There  is  gold,  such  as  we  find  it,  and  there  is  an  ideal 
gold  such  as  we  never  find  it,  and  which  never  appears 
to  be  endowed  with  infinite  perfections.  With  our 
modern  ideas  and  modes  of  thought  it  is  hard  to  bring 
our  minds  into  a  proper  frame  for  the  study  of  these  old 
alchemical  writings. 

J.  A.  Wanklyn. 

Primitive  PhysicJc ;  or  an  Easy  and  Natural  Method  of 
curing  Most  Diseases.  By  John  Wesley.  Ilomo  sum  : 
humani  nihil  a  me  alienum  puto.  Bristol :  Printed  by 
William  Pine,  in  Narrow  Wine  Street ;  and  sold  at  the 
New  Boom,  in  the  Horse-Fair  ;  and  at  the  Foundery,  near 
Upper- Moor- Fields,  London.  1762. 

This  was  the  book  that  afforded  so  much  amusement 
to  Robert  Southey,  wrho,  with  the  most  good-natured  plea¬ 
santry,  reviewed  its  contents.  He  recounts  how  the  labori¬ 
ous  evangelist,  wearied  with  his  efforts,  retired  to  a  friend’s 
house  and  applied  a  certain  plaister,  the  healing  merits, 
of  which  he  subsequently  described  in  terms  of  extreme 
laudation.  Southey  was  inclined  to  think  that  cessation, 
from  apostolic  work,  and  needed  rest,  should  have  had 
their  share  of  credit  in  the  cure  effected. 

The  chief  interest  of  the  treatise  lies  in  the  preface, 
some  passages  of  which  have  become  household  words  ra¬ 
the  community  which  the  writer  founded.  Wesley  first 
states  that  man  before  the  fall  was  in  perfect  health ;  he 
was  in  harmony  with  nature — nature  at  peace  with  him. 
Then  came  sin,  and  disease  followed  in  its  train ;  but. 
great  remedies  are  provided  of  which  temperance  and 
exercise  are  chief.  Physick  was  at  first  traditional,  the 
father  handing  down  his  observations  to  the  son  ;  or  else 
these  stores  of  knowledge  remained  in  the  keeping  of  the 
elders.  Further  advance  was  made  by  what  is  termed 
accident :  a  man  walking  in  a  grove  of  pines  finds  out 
the  use  of  the  natural,  exuded  gum,  just  as  in  later  times- 
the  value  of  Peruvian  bark  was  brought  to  light.  Even¬ 
tually  hypothesis  dethroned  experience,  theories  sprung 
up  and  the  science  of  medicine  was  established.  Phy¬ 
sicians  were  held  in  honour,  and  profit  attended  then- 
employ  ;  hence  the  wish  to  shroud  their  art  in  mystery, 
to  talk  splendid  darkness  about  astrology  and  astronomy, 
and  to  keep  the  profane  vulgar  at  a  distance.  “Yet 
there  have  not  been  wanting  from  time  to  time,  some 
lovers  of  mankind  who  have  endeavoured  (even  contrary 
to  then  own  interest)  to  reduce  Physick  to  its  antient 
standard  :  [they  have  shewn]  that  every  man  of  common 
sense  (unless  in  some  rare  cases)  may  prescribe  either  to 
himself  or  his  neighbour,  and  may  be  very  secure  from, 
doing  harm,  even  where  he  can  do  no  good.  Even  in 
the  last  age  there  was  something  of  this  kind  done,  par¬ 
ticularly  by  the  great  and  good  Dr.  Sydenham.” 

“  Without  any  regard  to  this,  without  any  concern 
about  the  obliging  or  disobliging  any  man  living ;  a 
mean  hand  has  made  here  some  little  attempt  toward  a 
plain  and  easy  way  of  curing  most  diseases.  I  have  only 
consulted  herein  experience,  common  sense,  and  the  com¬ 
mon  interest  of  mankind.”  Such  is  the  intention  of  the 
book.  In  its  day  it  commanded  a  large  sale,  though  it 
will  scarcely  bear  the  test  of  modern  investigation.  The 
author  started  with  two  inestimable  blessings :  a  com¬ 
fortable  appreciation  of  his  own  abilities,  and  thorough 
confidence  in  himself.  It  seems  that  full  allowance  being 
made,  the  perusal  of  the  directions  will  create  a  feeling 
of  disappointment.  The  following  sentence  has  been 
often  quoted.  “  The  Love  of  God,  as  it  is  the  sovereign. 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [October  15,  1870. 


316 


remedy  of  all  miseries ;  so  in  particular  it  effectually  pre¬ 
vents  all  the  bodily  disorders  the  passions  introduce,  by 
keeping  the  passions  themselves  within  due  bounds.  And 
by  the  unspeakable  joy  and  perfect  calm,  serenity  and 
tranquillity,  it  gives  the  mind,  it  becomes  the  most  power¬ 
ful  of  all  the  means  of  health  and  long  life.”  The  idea 
is  twice  repeated.  “  In  uncommon  or  complicated  dis¬ 
eases,  or  where  life  is  more  immediately  in  danger,  I 
again  advise  every  man  without  delay  to  apply  to  a  phy¬ 
sician  that  fears  God.”  In  his  third  preface,  Wesley 
used  a  word  that  has  been  a  motto  ever  since  throughout 
the  Methodist  connection;  to  remedies  the  effects  of 
which  he  had  himself  observed,  he  added  “  tried”  Also 
he  insists  on  the  application  of  electricity  as  a  remedial 
agent :  in  the  Appendix,  no  less  than  37  diseases  are  de¬ 
clared  to  yield  to  its  influence. 

The  collection  of  receipts  are  more  curious  than  use¬ 
ful,  they  are  not  equal  to  the  average  of  such  compila¬ 
tions.  “For  an  Ague .  8.  Make  six  middling  pills  of 

cobwebs.  Take  one  a  little  before  the  cold  fit :  two  a 
little  before  the  next  fit :  the  other  three,  if  need  be,  a 
little  before  the  third  fit.  I  never  knew  this  fail.  Cho¬ 
lera  Morbus.  131.  Drink  two  or  three  quarts  of  cold 
water,  if  strong ;  of  warm  water,  if  weak.  132.  Or,  boil 
a  chicken  an  hour  in  two  gallons  of  water,  and  drink  of 
this  till  the  vomiting  ceases.”  This  would  excuse  the 
man,  who  during  the  outbreak  of  this  pestilence  at  Paris, 
sold  half-ounce  bottles  of  distilled  water  at  a  franc  a- 
piece,  upon  the  Pont-Neuf. 

We  next  come  to  Dr.  Dovers’s  successful  treatment  of 
Consumption.  “  Mr.  Masters,  of  Eversham,  was  so  far 
gone  that  he  could  not  stand  alone.  He  was  advised  to 
lose  six  ounces  of  blood  every  day  for  a  fortnight,  if  he 
lived  so  long ;  and  then  every  other  day ;  then  every 
third  day,  then  every  fifth  day,  for  the  same  time.  In 
three  months  he  was  well.  Tried.” 

Wesley,  however  much  the  above  may  be  called  in 
question,  describes  three  eye-waters,  the  third  of  which 
is  prescribed  occasionally  now ;  and  we  wonder  that  in 
these  days  of  advertisements  no  one  has  brought  it  out 
as  a  patent  medicine.  Moreover,  it  is  efficacious,  and  to 
it  we  can  add,  tried.  The  first  is — “  (303.)  Heat  half 
an  oimce  of  Lapis  Calaminaris  red  hot,  and  quench  it  in 
half  a  pint  of  French  white  wine,  and  as  much  white 
Rose  Water:  then  pound  it  small  and  infuse  it.  Shake 
the  bottle  when  you  use  it.  It  cures  soreness,  weakness, 
and  most  diseases  of  the  eye.  I  have  known  it  cure 
total  blindness.” 

The  form  still  used  is — “  (305.)  Boil  very  lightly  one 
spoonful  of  white  copperas  scraped,  and  three  spoonfuls 
of  white  salt,  in  three  pints  of  spring  water.  'When  cold, 
bottle  it  in  large  vials  without  straining.  Take  up  the 
vial  softly,  and  put  a  drop  or  two  in  the  eye  morning 
and  evening.”  To  the  surprise  of  the  writer  of  these 
lines,  he  has  been  in  the  habit  of  preparing  an  eye-lotion 
without  being  aware  that  he  was  indebted  to  Wesley’s 
pages  for  its  origin.  “  306.  An  eye -water  which  was 
used  by  Sir  Stephen  Fox,  when  he  was  60  years  of  age, 
and  could  hardly  see  with  the  help  of  spectacles ;  but 
hereby  in  some  time  recovered  his  sight,  and  could  see  to 
read  the  smallest  print  without  glass  or  spectacles,  till 
above  80.  Take  six  ounces  of  rectified  spirit  of  wine, 
dissolve  it  in  one  drachm  of  camphor ;  then  add  two  pu- 
gils  of  dried  elder  flowers.  It  is  used  as  an  embrocation 
for  the  forehead  and  eyelids.” 

Powdered  Assarabacca  is  Major' s  snuff.  We  passover 
a  large  quantity  of  receipts,  expressing  astonishment 
that  they  should  have  found  favour.  The  gout  is  to  be 
cured  by  the  application  of  a  raw  lean  beef-steak  (368) ; 
while  for  the  iliac  passion,  Sydenham  orders  alive  puppy 
to  be  held  constantly  on  the  belly  (431) — a  singular  mode 
of  giving  bark ;  while  rupture  in  children  (588)  is  treated 
by  boiling  a  spoonful  of  egg-shells  dried  in  an  oven,  and 
powdered,  in  a  pint  of  milk  to  three  quarters  of  a  pint. 
Feed  the  child  constantly  with  bread  boiled  in  this  milk. 
What  shall  we  say  when  for  green  sickness,  we  are 


gravely  instructed  to  take  an  ounce  of  quicksilver  every 
morning ;  while  for  twisting  of  the  bowels,  one,  two,  or 
three  pounds  of  quicksilver  in  water,  are  suggested.  Our 
age  has  taught  us  better  things. 

Experience  and  common  sense  are  the  handmaidens  of 
abstract  science.  Wesley  forgot  that  though  a  rudder 
may  be  a  most  sensible  invention,  it  requires  a  skilful 
hand  to  guide  it.  Nevertheless,  he  can  well  forgive  a 
passing  smile,  for  there  is  no  man  who  has  lent  a  stronger 
impulse  to  religious  intelligence  and  activity  than  the 
author  of  Primitive  Physic. 

Joseph  Ince. 

One  hundred  volumes  were  included  in  this  collection : 
those  only  were  noticed  of  special  interest.  Mr.  Ince,  in 
conclusion,  paid  a  well-deserved  compliment  to  Mr. 
Tilden  for  his  energetic  and  successful  aid. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  DURHAM  COLLEGE  OF 

MEDICINE. 

Newcastle- on-Tyne,  1870-71. 

The  Winter  Session  commenced  on  Monday,  Octo¬ 
ber  3,  when  the  Very  Reverend  the  Dean  of  Durham, 
Warden  of  the  University,  presented  the  scholarship 
and  prizes  to  the  successful  candidates.  The  successful 
students  in  Pharmacy  were — Henry  Melhuish  (silver  me¬ 
dal  and  1st  certificate  of  honour),  George  Foggon  (2nd 
certificate  of  honour)  ;  in  Practical  Chemistry,  C.  W. 
Wilson  (medal  and  certificate  of  honour) ;  in  Botany, 
John  Murray  (medal  and  1st  certificate  of  honour), 
William  Johnson  (2nd  certificate  of  honour)  ;  in  Materia 
Medica,  John  Murray  (medal  and  certificate  of  honour), 
William  Johnson  (2nd  certificate  of  honour). 

The  Warden  and  Senate,  desirous  of  adding  to  the 
facilities  of  medical  students,  and  of  promoting  phar¬ 
maceutical  education,  last  year  instituted  a  lectureship  on 
pharmacy. 

The  curriculum  for  students  in  pharmacy  consists  of 
attendance  on  lectures  on  botany,  materia  medica,  che¬ 
mistry  and  pharmacy.  The  lectures  on  the  two  former 
of  these  subjects^  are  delivered  in  the  summer,  and  those 
on  the  two  latter  in  the  winter  session  of  study. 

The  Chair  of  Pharmacy,  which  was  specially  instituted 
for  pharmacy  students,  is  held  by  Barnard  S.  Proctor, 
Esq. ;  the  other  portions  of  the  pharmacy  curriculum 
being  obtained  by  their  attending  the  courses  insti¬ 
tuted  for  the  medical  students,  the  respective  lecturers 
in  which  are,  Botany — J.  Thornhill,  Esq.,  and  W.  C. 
Arnison,  Esq.,M.D.,  M.R.C.S.;  Materia  Medica — Thomas 
Humble,  Esq.,  M.D.,  M.R.C.P. ;  and  Chemistry — A. 
Freire-Marreco,  Esq.,  M.A. 

The  order  in  which  students  in  pharmacy  attend  the 
several  courses  of  lectures  is  optional,  but  as  the  study  of 
materia  medica  and  pharmacy  involves  the  application 
of  knowledge  acquired  from  the  courses  on  botany  and 
chemistry,  it  is  recommended  that  the  following  order 
be  adopted  as  far  as  circumstances  admit : — botany,  che¬ 
mistry,  materia  medica  and  pharmacy. 

The  course  on  practical  pharmacy  includes — general 
processes  and  physics  applied  to  pharmacy — pharma- 
copoeial  processes  and  the  most  important  recent  im¬ 
provements  in  pharmaceutical  preparations — dispensing 
operations — testing  and  the  test  solutions  of  the  Phar¬ 
macopoeia — and  is  illustrated  with  apparatus,  experi¬ 
ments,  and  processes  in  operation. 

Feis-  £.  s.  d. 

Perpetual  ticket  for  pharmacy  curriculum ....  6  6  0 

(This  applies  only  to  students  at  present  en¬ 
gaged  in  pharmacy,  and  who  enter  before 
October,  1871.) 

Separate  courses  of  lectures . . .  each  4  4  0 

The  perpetual  ticket  entitles  the  holder  to  attend  the 


October  15,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


317 


lectures  on  botany,  chemistry,  materia  meclica  and  phar¬ 
macy,  and  to  use  the  Museum  of  Materia  Medica  in  the 
Library  of  the  College. 

At  the  end  of  each  Session,  a  silver  medal  and  certifi¬ 
cates  of  honour,  if  merited,  will  be  awarded,  after  exami¬ 
nation,  to  the  best  students  in  each  of  the  following 
classes,  viz.  pharmacy,  (practical)  chemistry,  botany, 
materia  medica. 


MEETING  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 

Thursday,  London  Chemists’  Association,  at  9.30  p.m.  “  The 
Double  and  Triple  Salts  in  General  Use.”  Ry  Mr.  M. 
Dell. 


fadiaratag  a nlr  fate  fmteMitgs. 

Thames  Police  Court,  October  1  Ith. 

BEFORE  MR.  PAGET. 

Susan  Denman  was  charged  with  swallowing  a  quan¬ 
tity  of  laudanum  with  intent  to  commit  suicide.  On 
Monday  evening  the  prisoner  entered  the  station-house 
in  Arbour  Street  East,  and  said  she  had  purchased  three- 
pennyworth  of  laudanum  and  swallowed  it.  She  ap¬ 
peared  in  a  very  bad  state,  and  was  immediately  con¬ 
veyed  in  a  cab  to  the  London  Hospital,  where  the  sto¬ 
mach-pump  was  used  and  the  poison  dislodged.  She 
had  taken  enough  laudanum  to  kill  half-a-dozen  persons. 
Mr.  Paget  asked  where  she  had  obtained  so  much  lauda¬ 
num.  The  prisoner  replied  at  the  shop  of  a  chemist  and 
druggist  in  Stepney,  and  she  could  get  as  much  more  if 
she  required  it.  Mr.  Paget  said  this  must  be  looked  to 
by  the  police.  The  prisoner,  who  said  she  was  tired  of 
her  wretched  existence,  and  had  bought  the  poison  with 
the  intention  of  destroying  her  life,  was  remanded  for  a 
week. — Times. 


Birmingham  Police  Court,  October  5th. 

A  wholesale  chemist,  Mr.  Frederick  Green,  carrying  on 
business  in  Weaman  Street,  Birmingham,  was  summoned 
under  the  Petroleum  Act,  for  keeping  petroleum  stored 
on  his  premises  within  fifty  yards  of  a  dwelling- 
house,  without  having  a  licence.  An  inspector  visited 
the  shop  and  found  several  casks  of  the  oil,  some  four- 
gallon  canisters  packed  in  boxes  to  be  sent  away,  and 
about  50  or  60  gallons  in  a  cistern ;  altogether  about 
400  gallons.  For  the  defence  it  was  stated  that  Mr. 
Green  had  applied  for  a  licence  to  the  Town  Council, 
but  it  had  not  yet  been  granted.  He  thought  he  could 
sell  in  the  meantime.  A  penalty  of  £15  was  imposed, 
with  costs. — Liverpool  Daily  Courier. 


Augustus  Matthiessen,  F.R.S.,  was  born  in  London, 
2nd  January,  1831,  and  (lied  6th  October,  1870,  under 
very  painful  circumstances.  He  occupied  the  Chemical 
Chair  at  St.  Bartholomew’s  Hospital,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished  and  most 
promising  chemists  in  the  country. 

His  earliest  chemical  work,  now  of  about  fourteen  years’ 
standing,  was  devoted  to  an  investigation  of  the  method 
of  preparing  the  metals  of  the  alkalies  and  alkaline  earths 
by  electrolysis ;  this  was  carried  out  in  the  laboratory  of 
Bunsen  in  Heidelberg.  He  was  the  first  to  isolate  the 
metals  calcium  and  strontium,  which  he  found  to  be  yel¬ 
low,  as  well  as  very  malleable  and  ductile. 

A  most  laborious  and  protracted  investigation  into  the 
conductivity  of  metals  and  alloys  was  also  begun  in  the 
laboratory  of  Kirchhoff  about  the  same  date.  This  was 
continued  in  his  own  laboratory  in  London  during  seve¬ 


ral  years  ;  the  results  being  recorded  in  nine  papers  pub¬ 
lished  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Royal  Soeiety. 

Some  years  ago,  in  conjunction  with  Mr.  Foster,  he 
executed  a  brilliant  piece  of  work  on  the  constitution  of 
narcotine,  from  which  iodide  of  methyl  was  procured  by 
means  of  the  action  of  hydriodic  acid.  The  real  struc¬ 
ture  of  narcotine  seems  to  have  been  disclosed  by  this 
investigation. 

His  recent  labours  on  the  alkaloids  of  opium,  on  mor¬ 
phia  and  codeia,  are  also  calculated  to  throw  light  on  the 
constitution  of  the  natural  alkaloids.  They  have,  more¬ 
over,  furnished  a  new  therapeutical  agent,  viz.  “  apomor- 
phia,”  which  promises  to  be  of  some  degree  of  impor¬ 
tance  in  medicine.  In  his  last  researches  he  was  joined 
by  Mr.  Wright. 

Dr.  Matthiessen  was  elected  a  Fellow  of  the  Royal 
Society  some  years  ago.  Last  year  he  received  a  Royal 
Medal  for  his  researches  on  metals  and  alloys.  He  was 
likewise  one  of  the  editors  of  the  Thilosophical  Magazine , 
and  was  last  year  appointed  to  an  examiner  ship  in  the 
University  of  London. 


Conservancy  of  the  Thames. — An  important  step 
has  now  been  taken  towards  the  ultimate  purification  of 
the  Thames.  The  Twickenham  Local  Board  have  been 
informed  by  the  Thames  Conservators  that  efiluent  sew¬ 
age  water  discharged  into  the  Thames  must  not  contain 
more  than  3  gr.  of  suspended  and  70  gr.  of  soluble 
matter,  nor  more  than  2|-  gr.  of  organic  matter  (2  gr.  of 
carbon  and  f  gr.  of  nitrogen) .  This  standard  is  to  be 
universally  adopted  in  the  case  of  all  towns  and  villages 
draining  into  the  Thames. — Lancet. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’ Oct.  8 ;  the  ‘Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
Oct.  8;  the  ‘Lancet,’  Oct.  8;  ‘Nature,’  Oct.  6;  the  ‘Chemi¬ 
cal  News,’  Oct.  7;  ‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  Oct.  6; 
‘  Gardeners’  Chronicle,’  Oct.  8 ;  the  ‘  Grocer,’  Oct.  8  j  the 
‘  English  Mechanic,’  Oct.  8 ;  the  ‘  Produce  Markets  Re¬ 
view7,’  Oct.  8 ;  the  ‘  Archiv  for  Pharmaci  og  technisk  Cliemi 
med  deres  Grundvidenskaber,’  for  J anuary  to  J une,  from  Mr* 
S.  M.  Trier  of  Copenhagen. 


flotes  itnfr  f  mm. 

***  In  accordance  with  a  wish  expressed  bg  numerous 
correspondents ,  a  column  will  in  future  be  devoted  to  notes 
and  queries ,  with  the  object  of  facilitating  the  exchange  of 
information  among  members  of  the  trade  and  students. 

I  should  be  glad  to  have,  through  the  columns  of  the 
Journal,  an  experienced  dispenser’s  opinion  as  to  how  he 
would  prepare  and  send  out  the  following  prescription  - 
R.  Acid.  Gallici  5hj 
Sp.  Yini  Rect. 

Aquas  Rosa?,  aa  5V 

Misce,  fiat  solutio. 

To  be  used  as  directed.  W.  M. 


Will  any  subscriber  inform  me  how  I  may  mount  micro¬ 
scopical  objects,  especially  sections  of  leaves,  wood,  etc.  ? 

R.  J.  M. 


Are  chemists  and  druggists  having  more  than  one  shop  for 
the  sale  of  patents  compelled  to  take  out  separate  licences  for 
each  ?  T.  Marshall. 


“  Cymri  ”  desires  to  learn  by  what  means  he  can  dissolve 
ordinary  isinglass  without  acid,  so  as  to  fit  it  for  brewers’ 
finings,  in  the  manner  of  Coleman’s  Tasteless  Beer  Finings. 


“  Botanist  ”  desires  to  be  informed  where  he  can  procure  the 
proper  paper  for  mounting  “dried  specimens;”  also  labels 
with  the  words,  Tribe,  Habitat,  Date,  etc.,  printed  on  them 
with  places  to  be  filled  in. 


318 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  15,  1870. 


tormpttona. 

Communications  for  this  Journal ,  and  hooks  for  review , 
should  he  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

***  No  notice  can  he  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  he  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication ,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

‘‘Help  for  Students!” — Pharmaceutical  Education 
in  the  Provinces. 

Dear  Sir, — At  tlie  recent  Liverpool  Conference  two  papers 
were  read,  and  a  lengthened  discussion  arose  on  the  “  educa¬ 
tional  question.”  It  was  my  privilege  to  be  present  as  a 
delegate,  and  to  listen  to  the  observations  of  our  worthy 
President  and  other  gentlemen  whom  we  have  long  esteemed 
for  their  intelligence  and  earnest  efforts  to  promote  the  eleva¬ 
tion  and  best  interests  of  our  body.  I  quite  agreed  with  the 
various  speakers  that  no  subject  in  connection  with  our  asso¬ 
ciation  is  deserving  of  more  careful  consideration  than  the 
training  and  education  of  the  young  men,  who  will  in  due 
time  become  our  successors  and  the  future  chemists  of  this 
country.  In  every  branch  of  society  these  questions  are  re¬ 
ceiving  more  universal  attention,  and  increased  facilities  are 
being  offered  for  thorough  mental  culture. 

We,  therefore,  on  whom  so  much  responsibility  devolves, 
must  not  be  behind  the  age  in  vigilance  and  activity  in  these 
matters.  Already  special  privileges  have  been  accorded  to 
us  by  Government,  but  in  conjunction  therewith  additional 
duties  also  devolve  upon  us,  viz.  to  protect  the  public  against 
accidents  through  ignorance  and  the  incautious  use  of  dan¬ 
gerous  and  powerful  medicines.  The  prolonged  controversy 
and  correspondence  which  have  taken  place  on  the  “  Poisons  ” 
question  may  be  cited  as  a  proof  that  we  are  fully  alive  to 
the  responsibilities  of  being  entrusted  with  the  safe  storage 
and  dispensing  of  deadly  and  hazardous  drugs.  It  seems 
almost  impossible  by  any  simple  arrangement  of  chemists’ 
establishments  to  avoid  the  possibility  of  accidents,  neither 
would  it  be  agreeable  to  gentlemen  of  liberal  education  and 
experience  to  subject  the  details  of  their  business  to  the  in¬ 
spection  or  dictation  of  others,  probably  less  conversant  with 
its  requirements  than  themselves ;  at  the  same  time  we  are 
all,  I  think,  agreed  that  a  systematic  and  complete  course  of 
education  is  of  vital  importance,  and  that  this  is  the  best 
guarantee  for  safety  we  can  offer  to  the  Government  and  the 
public  at  large. 

The  question  therefore  arises,  “How  can  this  be  most 
effectually  encouraged  and  carried  out  P” 

Prom  long  experience  I  may  venture  to  say  that,  as  a 
class,  the  young  men  entering  and  engaged  in  the  drug 
business  are  as  thoughtful,  intelligent  and  diligent  in  the 
pursuit  of  knowledge  as  those  in  any  other  department  of 
business  or  science.  Many,  in  their  earlier  days,  had  not  the 
advantages  which  are  now  offered ;  and  we  owe  much  to  the 
founders  and  various  members  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
for  the  example  and  stimulus  they  have  given.  We  revere 
the  memories  of  Allen,  Bell  and  other  noble  pioneers  of  the 
past.  Much,  however,  still  remains  to  be  done.  The  Society 
is  well  represented  by  the  learned  and  able  members  of  the 
Council  for  the  present  year;  and  we  rejoice  to  see  that  so 
many  young  men  are  coming  forward  each  season  to  compete 
for  the  prizes  and  to  pass  the  examinations.  It  involves  no 
little  amount  of  energy,  application  and  self-sacrifice  for  those 
who  are  in  most  cases  closely  occupied  with  business  all  day, 
to  find  the  time  (often  wrested  from  the  hours  of  sleep)  to 
pursue  the  course  of  study  necessary  for  success. 

I  believe  the  very  struggle  will  itself  be  a  good  thing  for 
those  young  men  in  years  to  come,  teaching  them  the  import¬ 
ance  of  industry,  perseverance  and  economy  of  moments ;  but 
at  the  same  time  I  would  say  that  there  is  a  word  we  might 
use  and  perhaps  carry  into  practice  with  good  effect  for  all 
parties,  that  word  is  “Sympathy.”  How  often  it  cheers 
the  drooping  spirit  and  reinvigorates  relaxing  energies !  I 
have  generally  found  that  the  diligent  student  at  nights  is 
also  the  most  active  and  faithful  apprentice  or  assistant 
during  the  day,  and  thus  becomes  more  valuable  to  his  master. 
A  word  of  kindly  encouragement  now  and  then, — the  offer  of 
more  time  for  reading  when  the  day’s  work  and  duties  are 
over,  or  half  an  hour  for  study  during  the  day, — often 
stimulates  and  creates  a  genial  reciprocity  of  feeling.  A 
youth  thus  taken  into  the  business  and  treated  as  a  son, 
generally  grows  up  thoughtful  and  steady,  and  proves  a  com¬ 


fort  and  a  credit  to  the  house  with  which  he  was  connected. 
Pleasing  remembrances  of  this  character  can  never  be  for¬ 
gotten  ;  and  while  it  is  thus  desirable  that  mutual  sympathy 
should  be  cultivated  in  the  family  circle  and  business  esta¬ 
blishments,  I  think  the  same  principle  might  with  profit  be 
applied  to  our  Society  at  large.  I  believe  all  those  who  joined 
in  the  recent  Conference,  felt  cheered  and  highly  gratified  by 
the  hearty  welcome  and  generous  reception  they  met  with  at 
the  hands  of  their  Liverpool  friends.  We  went  as  it  were 
with  tears  (for  the  first  day  was  very  wet),  but  we  certainly 
returned  again  “rejoicing,”  having  also  assisted  the  Liver¬ 
pool  Chemists’  Association  to  celebrate  its  “majority.”  The 
same  feeling  of  sympathy  often  leads  members  and  associates 
in  the  country  to  look  with  affection  and  interest  to  the  parent 
Society, — to  you,  our  fathers  and  seniors  in  the  metropolis. 
Some  of  us,  however,  have  watched  and  assisted  the  Society 
even  from  its  commencement.  I  well  remember  (a  youth, 
as  I  then  was,  just  entering  the  business)  with  what  zest  we 
received  and  read  the  first  numbers  of  the  new  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Journal,  and  thinking  the  objects  it  sought  were 
very  good,  I  joyfully  sent  up  my  first  half-guinea  as  an  asso¬ 
ciate  more  than  twenty-eight  years  ago ;  yet  my  interests 
and  sympathy  have  never  declined,  and  though  it  has  cost 
me  now  some  £25  to  £30,  I  have  always  been  glad  to  con¬ 
tribute  my  share  to  its  support.  As  “children,”  therefore, 
we  in  the  provinces  have  been  faithful  to  our  “parent”  in 
the  capital.  I  am  happy,  too,  to  find  that  your  resources 
are  increasing,  and  that  last  year  £500  was  able  to  be  set 
aside  for  the  “Benevolent  Fund” — a  noble  institution,  and 
that  you  are  also  in  so  good  a  pecuniary  position  as  to  feel 
justified  to  devote  other  sums  as  bonuses  to  indicate  your 
appreciation  of  long  and  valuable  services,  and  I  have  con¬ 
fidence  that  the  members  at  large  (when  appealed  to)  will 
support  any  right  expressions  of  gratitude  for  help  and  sym¬ 
pathy  thus  rendered  to  the  association. 

In  reflecting  upon  the  present  income  of  the  “Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society  ”  I  have  occasionally  asked  myself  how  its  funds, 
a  considerable  proportion  of  which  are  derived  from  the  pro¬ 
vinces,  might  be  turned  to  the  best  account.  Before  a  chemist 
can  obtain  the  diploma  (and  I  would  urge  each  young  friend 
to  determine  on  taking  the  highest  position),  the  sum  of  ten 
guineas  will  have  been  paid,  in  the  three  separate  fees  of  two, 
three  and  five  guineas  each.  In  the  case  of  many  whose  first 
resources  are  but  limited,  this  is  no  trifling  consideration, 
apart  from  the  expenses  of  books,  classes,  hours  of  study,  etc. 

Now  how  can  we  best  assist  and  show  our  “sympathy” 
for  these  laborious  students,  especially  for  those  who  reside 
in  our  smaller  towns,  and  therefore  have  not  all  the  advan¬ 
tages  which  London  and  other  cities  or  larger  towns  afford  ? 
Your  interest  and  desire,  I  may  fully  presume,  would  be  to 
encourage  and  secure  young  men  of  character  and  ability, 
and  help  them  to  elevate  themselves  to  higher  social  positions, 
and  none  is  nobler  than  that  of  a  “  pharmaceutical  chemist.” 
I  therefore  beg  respectfully  to  suggest  that  wherever  a 
chemists’  association  is  established  in  a  town  or  neighbour¬ 
hood,  principals,  assistants,  and  apprentices  uniting  to 
commence  a  library,  museum,  reading-room,  etc.,  and  to 
raise,  say  £10,  £20,  or  £50  amongst  themselves,  that  the 
parent  Society  ( i .  e.  our  London  friends)  should  kindly  offer 
an  equal  amount,  or  at  least  some  stated  sum  in  proportion 
to  that  which  they  may  raise.  It  would  thus  stimulate  local 
effort,  and  be  a  suitable  return  for  the  subscriptions  some  of 
us  have  for  so  many  years  been  forwarding  and  still  forward 
to  you.  There  are  about  twenty-five  associations  already 
formed,  and  on  their  behalf  I  beg  most  respectfully  to  make 
this  proposition, — trusting  you  will  bring  it  before  the  Presi¬ 
dent  and  Council  for  their  consideration  and  approval.  While 
helping  to  scatter  abroad  the  seeds  of  knowledge,  they  also 
will  ultimately  realize  an  “abundant  harvest.” 

Believe  me,  dear  Sir,  yours  faithfully, 

W.  Bostock,  Local  Secretary. 

Ashton-under -Lyne, 

September  30 th,  1870. 


Prison  Compounders. 

Sir, — In  an  unfair  fight  the  bystanders  generally  interfere ; 
will  you  act  that  part  between  Parliament  Street  and  us  poor 
compounders  ? 

The  army  and  navy  compounders  have  lately  been  recog¬ 
nized;  how  is  it  that  the  convict  service  has  been  passed 
over?  or  in  a  prison  of  1600  men  the  “ dispensing”  (sic)  is 
allowed  to  be  done  by  some  of  the  warders  (as  for  some  years 


October  15,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


319 


past),  who  receive  no  extra  pay  for  thus  keeping  another 

officer  out. 

In  conclusion,  I  beg  to  call  your  attention  to  the  terms 
offered  to  any  young  man  anxious  for  “  service .”  He  must 
submit  himself  to  the  Civil  Service  Commissioners  for  exami¬ 
nation,  and  to  a  duly  appointed  person  for  examination  in 
pharmacy,  and  to  two  or  three  medical  men  as  to  bodily 
health;  and  after,  perhaps,  three  months  waiting,  he  is  ap¬ 
pointed,  and  will  receive  £57  per  annum,  reaching  to  £72  in 
ten  years,  with  an  allowance  of  2s.  per  week  for  lodging,  and 
7s.  per  week  for  board  in  lieu  of  living  in  the  prison ;  and  for 
the  better  information  of  the  public,  they  mark  you  as  an 
atom  of  the  broad  arrow,  by  clothing  you  in  blue  and  brass 
buttons.  There  being  no  chance  of  promotion,  as  in  the  army 
and  navy,  where  more  are  employed,  could  they  not  honour 
us  with  the  title  of  Dispenser  ? 

I  am  yours,  etc. 

Farlchurst  Frison.  Beoad  Aeeow. 


“  Extea  Chaeges  aetee  oe  beeoee  Business  Houks.” 

Sir, — The  question  as  to  the  advisability  of  making  extra 
charges  on  anything  purchased  after  or  before  business  hours, 
is  one  which  ought  to  be  more  generally  considered,  and  many 
will  be  glad  to  see  that  the  subject  has  been  started  in  the 
Journal  by  your  correspondent  Mr.  Jessop. 

The  idea  has  often  occurred  to  me  that  an  extra  charge  of 
at  least  25  per  cent,  should  be  exacted  on  the  articles  pro¬ 
cured  from  chemists’  establishments  on  Sundays  or  after 
hours  on  the  other  days  of  the  week. 

I  think  if  the  subject  were  fairly  laid  before  the  public  they 
would  see  the  justice  of  such  action,  for  those  who  really 
need  medicine  at  such  times  would  not  object  to  an  additional 
charge ;  whereas  others  who  come  at  such  hours  not  urgently 
requiring  physic,  should  be  made  pay  for  the  needless  trouble 
and  labour  they  give. 

I  am,  Sir,  yours  obediently, 

Kappa. 


Sir, — It  was  with  much  pleasure  that  I  saw  in  your  last 
impression  a  letter  on  “  extra  charges  after  business  hours.” 
It  is  the  custom  here,  and  I  believe  our  rule  is  not  an  excep¬ 
tional  one,  to  charge  half-a-crown  if  called  up  after  eleven  at 
night  or  early  in  the  morning ;  and  this  has  effectually  put  a 
stop  to  what  otherwise  might  have  become  an  intolerable 
nuisance. 

That  a  man  should  have  to  leave  his  warm  bed  to  supply, 
at  the  usual  prices,  “  antibilious  pills,”  paregoric,  soda  water, 
or  any  other  such  article,  to  people  who  only  consult  their 
own  convenience  in  the  matter,  is,  I  think,  positively  humi¬ 
liating  to  those  who  passively  submit  to  it. 

This  subject  reminds  me  of  another  which  I  should  like  to 
see  reformed,  viz.  “  Sunday  trading.”  I  think  most  of  my  con¬ 
freres  will  agree  with  me,  that  a  great  proportion  of  the  articles 
sold  on  Sundays  are  either  absolutely  unnecessary,  or  might, 
by  the  exercise  of  a  little  foresight,  have  been  obtained  on 
the  preceding  Saturday  night.  I  am  of  opinion  that  it  would 
be  well  if  chemists  were  to  charge,  say,  25  per  cent,  on  every 
article  so  supplied;  and  such  extra  charge  would,  I  hope, 
be  devoted,  in  the  majority  of  cases,  to  our  “Benevolent 
Fund.” 

Let  us  all  strive  to  make  Sunday,  as  far  as  possible,  what  it 
should  be,  a  day  of  rest. 

I  remain,  yours  respectfully, 

Sept.  2 Wh,  1870.  T.  H.  P. 


Hospital  Dispensing. 

Sir, — Allow  me  to  correct  a  misapprehension  existing  on 
the  part  of  Mr.  Edward  Barber,  a  hospital  dispenser  of  six¬ 
teen  years’  standing,  as  to  the  purport  of  my  recent  note.  I 
distinctly  drew  attention  to  the  mode  in  which  the  prescrip¬ 
tion  was  dispensed,  and  made  no  attack  upon  the  use  of  pri¬ 
vate  formulaj  or  quality  of  the  drugs  supplied.  The  sneer 
conveyed  in  his  remark,  “  a  patient’s  greasy  card,”  is  not  per¬ 
tinent,  for  this  was  a  freshly-written  prescription.  I  also 
remind  Mr.  Barber  that  it  is  nonsense  to  offer  a  puzzle  of 
professional  ciphers  in  his  postscript,  as  he  had  previously  in¬ 
formed  your  readers  “the  prescriber  knows  very  well  that  it 
is  intended  only  for  his  own  dispenser,  and  that  he  will 
understand  it.” 

In  conclusion,  I  repeat  my  conviction  that  the  law  to  be 
equitable  must  eventually  place  the  storing  and  retailing 
poisons,  as  well  as  matters  relating  to  pharmacy  and  dis¬ 


pensing,  whether  conducted  by  the  surgeon,  charity  or  dis¬ 
pensing  chemist,  under  the  control  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Council,  freely  and  indifferently  elected  by  its  own  consti¬ 
tuents. 

Robeet  Owen  Fitch. 

Well  Street,  South  HacTcney, 

September  9th,  1870. 


Dear  Sir, — The  letter  of  a  “Pharmacist”  is  certainly  not 
one  of  the  most  complimentary  to  those  whose  duty  it  is  to 
dispense  the  medicine  prescribed  by  the  physicians  of  public 
hospitals  and  dispensatories. 

In  the  first  place,  I  will  thank  “Pharmacist”  to  explain 
what  he  means  by  an  “average  type  of  hospital  dispensing  ” 
or  his  “  waste  of  public  money.”  Let  him  ask  himself  whe¬ 
ther  if  the  authorities  of  these  benevolent  institutions  thought 
it  a  waste  of  money,  they  would  keep  it  on  ?  In  respect  to 
the  labelling  of  the  medicines,  “Pharmacist”  must  not  take 
St.  Bartholomew’s  as  a  pattern.  He  must  understand  that 
every  hospital  or  dispensary  standing  upon  its  own  basis  has 
its  own  way  of  doing  things. 

I  think  I  may  safely  say  that  nine  out  of  ten  dispensers 
would  take  the  trouble  to  stick  the  labels  on  the  bottles,  and 
also  to  adjust  the  corks  in  a  more  decent  and  proper  manner. 
Perhaps  if  the  details  of  the  case  that  “Pharmacist”  men¬ 
tions  came  to  be  thoroughly  sifted,  only  about  a  fourth  part  of 
that  which  “Pharmacist”  asserts  would  be  found  to  have 
really  taken  place,  and  that  there  was  no  necessity  for  putting 
him  to  the  trouble  of  discerning  between  a  mixture  and  a 
gargle. 

Ebenezee  S. 

London ,  September  28 th. 


PHAEMACEUTICAL  TITLES. 

Dear  Sir, — I  passed  the  “  Minor  ”  the  latter  part  of  last 
Session,  and  at  that  time  had  no  intention  of  attempting  the 
“  Major,”  for  the  simple  reason,  I  thought  the  title  “  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Chemist  ”  scarcely  worth  the  trouble  to  obtain  it. 
Seeing  some  of  your  readers  are  agitating  on  “  Pharmaceutical 
Titles,”  and  feeling  sure  the  Council  will  help  us  in  the 
matter,  I  have  changed  my  plans,  now  purpose  becoming  an 
“  Aspirant  for  the  Major,”  and  hope  to  have  the  pleasure  of 
chatting  over  the  subject  with  the  gentlemen  who  have  written 
under  that  name,  during  the  coming  session  at  Bloomsbury 
Square. 

I  think  “Omega”  in  his  letter  of  the  17th  instant  is 
scarcely  going  the  nearest  way  to  promote  reform ;  grumbling 
at  what  has  been  done  is  certainly  not  the  best  course  to 
pursue,  nor  do  I  think  he  shows  his  “brotherly  love”  in  en¬ 
deavouring  to  ridicule  the  diplomas  of  a  Society  to  which  he 
pays  an  annual  subscription. 

Hoping  steps  may  be  taken  to  bring  the  subject  of  “  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Titles  ”  prominently  before  the  Council, 

I  am,  dear  Sir,  yours  faithfully, 

Spes. 


Sir, — Your  correspondent  “Omega”  seems  to  be  labouring 
under  a  mistake  with  regard  to  the  motive  which  influenced 
me  (at  least)  in  taking  up  the  subject  of  “  Pharmaceutical 
Titles.” 

That  there  is  any  wish  in  my  mind  to  “  parade  my  intellec¬ 
tual  status  before  the  eyes  of  my  confreres  ”  I  most  empha¬ 
tically  deny;  in  fact,  there  is  no  need  for  such  a  desire. 
Those  who  are  connected  with  our  business  are  already  fully 
aware  of  the  exact  worth  of  the  existing  titles,  and  if  the 
public  were  equally  well  informed  the  necessity  for  an  addi¬ 
tion  to  the  means  of  distinction  would  be  obviated.  That 
they  are  not  so  becomes  to  me  more  and  more  apparent,  and 
the  wish  that  they  should  be  made  so  increasingly  urgent. 

But  though  I  do  not  wish  to  parade  the  “  Major  honours  ” 
(which  I  hope  to  attain)  for  the  sake  of  “parading,”  and 
though  I  do  not  look  to  “  F.R..C.P.G-.B.”  as  the  only  reward 
for  my  future  attainments,  I  do  candidly  admit  that  one  of 
the  motives  which  induced  my  longing  for  an  amendment  in 
the  present  state  of  affairs  is  “£.  s.  d .” 

This  may  be  thought  a  very  mercenary  reason  for  any 
action  connected  with  a  scientific  subject,  but  whilst  phar¬ 
macy  continues  a  “  business,”  “  £.  s.  d.”  must  be  a  conside¬ 
ration,  and  a  very  important  one,  to  those  concerned  in  it. 

As  I  tried  to  express  in  my  former  letter,  it  is  the  manifest 
injustice  of  allowing  “  Modified  ”  gentlemen  to  reap  equal 


320 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [October  15, 1870. 


advantages  with.  “  Majors  ”  of  which  I  complain,  and  that 
injustice  I  hope  to  see  before  long  swept  away. 

As  to  showing  “brotherly  love”  toward  our  “Modified 
brethren,”  I  think  a  reperusal  by  “  Omega”  of  my  letter  of 
August  20th  will  show  that  I  wish  to  see  all  fairness  done  to 
them  as  to  the  other  members  of  the  community,  though  I 
cannot  help  thinking  that  they  already  enjoy  their  share  of 
title,  for  if  they  wish  no  higher  test  of  their  knowledge  than 
the  “very  modified  curriculum”  they  surely  ought  to  be 
(and  doubtless,  being  of  “  retiring  dispositions,”  are)  satisfied 
with  what  they  already  possess  in  “  Chemist,  by  examination 
of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society.” 

But  “  Omega  ”  goes  on  to  complain  that  those  who  have 
passed  the  Modified  Examination  do  not  possess  a  “  grand 
flaming  diploma  ”  to  show  for  their  success.  Now,  of  course 
he  cannot  be  speaking  the  minds  of  those  gentlemen  them¬ 
selves,  for  they,  being  of  a  “retiring  demeanour,”  would  by 
no  means  wish  an  opportunity  for  “parading”  their  attain¬ 
ments,  so  he  must  of  necessity  be  judging  them  incorrectly  in 
one  or  the  other  particular  when  expressing  himself  in  this 
manner. 

I  am  glad  to  see  that  he  joins  with  me  in  counselling 
“agitation”  as  the  great  means  for  success  in  this  point, 
which  “agitation,”  however,  has  been  very  poorly  shown  up 
to  the  present  time  by  the  numbers  who  I  am  sure  are 
desirous  of  a  reformation  in  these  matters. 

I  am,  Sir,  yours  obediently, 

“An  Aspirant  to  the  Major.” 


Poisonous  (?)  Feeding  Bottles. 

Sm, — I  wish  to  bring  under  your  notice  a  rather  singular 
statement  in  a  letter  which  has  appeared  in  the  Leicester 
Chronicle  and  Mercury,  and  to  ask  the  opinion  of  those  more 
experienced  than  myself  whether  they  consider  it  possible 
for  such  a  poisonous  action  to  take  place.  Speaking  of  the 
now  prevalent  use  of  feeding-bottles  the  writer  (Dr.  W.  L. 
Emmerson)  says, — 

“  Unfortunately  the  caoutchouc  or  india-rubber  decomposes 
the  warm  milk  very  quickly,  and  a  poisonous  compound  re¬ 
mains.  Nurses  are  often  surprised  when  the  cork  is  removed 
and  the  offensive  gas  escapes ;  but  they  are  seldom  aware  of 
the  mischief  which  the  poisonous  milk  is  effecting,  and  it  is 
often  too  late  when  the  medical  man  is  called  to  supply  a  re¬ 
medy.  I  have  often  been  grieved  to  see  children  suffering 
from  this  cause,  and  alas,  in  many  cases,  the  patients  were  so 
reduced  by  diarrhoea  and  blood-poisoning  that  death  was  in¬ 
evitable.” 

I  can  only  think  that  the  “  poisonous  compound  ”  mentioned 
by  the  doctor  is  sour  milk  arising  from  a  want  of  cleanliness 
in  not  well-washing  out  and  cleaning  the  tubes  before  use. 
As  it  is  a  rather  serious  charge  against  the  tribe  of  “  Feeders” 
now  so  much  in  vogue,  I  lay  the  letter  before  your  readers 
and  am 

Yours,  etc.  C.  B.  N. 


Advebtising  by  Postage  Cabds. 

Sir, — I  think  it  high  time  for  the  retail  trade  to  adopt  some 
effectual  means  for  arresting  the  evil  of  wholesale  houses 
making  the  public  at  large  acquainted  with  trade  prices.  I 
allude  to  the  advantage  that  is  taken  of  the  halfpenny  postage 
cards  for  advertising  (more  especially)  articles  for  the  toilet. 
Since  its  adoption  on  Saturday  last  I  have  received  three  of 
these  cards,  two  of  the  same  not  only  with  trade  prices  af¬ 
fixed,  but  stating  extra  allowances  if  a  certain  quantity  is 
ordered  at  one  time. 

I  may  add  that  one  of  the  preparations  is,  comparatively 
speaking,  a  new  article  in  the  market,  and,  in  my  opinion, 
the  proprietor  could  not  possibly  have  put  a  more  effectual 
obstacle  in  the  way  of  the  retail  trade  introducing  and  recom¬ 
mending  the  articles  to  the  notice  of  then’  customers  than  by 
advertising  in  this  public  manner  both  the  retail  and  whole¬ 
sale  prices. 

I  remain,  Sir,  yours  faithfully, 

Newriham,  October  5th.  A  Countby  Chemist. 


Sale  oe  Poisonous  Matebials. 

Sir, — In  this  district  a  large  quantity  of  sulphate  of  copper 
is  used  for  dressing  wheat.  This  trade  is  being  done  to  some 
extent  by  grocers,  who  send  out  the  article  with  no  label,  and, 
of  course,  at  sometimes  a  penny  per  pound  cheaper  than  the 


chemists.  This  is  obviously  unfair, — is  it  legal  ?  These  men 
would  rather  not  sell  the  more  virulent  poisons ;  customers 
who  ask  for  them  arc  referred  to  the  nearest  druggist,  while 
the  provision  dealer,  happy  in  having  no  responsibility,  pockets 
the  profits  accruing  from  the  sale  of  senna,  Epsom  salts, 
castor-oil,  and  a  variety  of  articles  certainly  not  in  the  cate- 
gory  of  provisions.'  If  the  Pharmacy  Act  gives  the  pharma¬ 
cist  and  the  druggist  a  greater  responsibility,  it  should  also 
give  him  protection.  Sulphate  of  copper  looked  at  in  the 
light  of  sugat's,  and  retailed  at  3 %d.  per  pound,  is  derogatory 
to  the  dignity  of  the  beautiful  crystal,  and  the  people  who 
vend  it  are  treading  on  our  corns.  Can  you  give  me  the 
remedy  ? 

Yours,  etc., 

October  4 th,  1870.  Bbeasting  the  Hill. 


Pharmacy  and  Medical  Practitioners. — We  have  received 
a  letter  from  Mr.  George  Mee,  stating  that  in  consequence  of 
only  a  portion  of  a  former  communication  having  appeared 
in  the  J ournal  of  last  week,  his  meaning  is  liable  to  be  mis¬ 
interpreted.  He  thinks  that  chemists  cannot  appreciably 
lower  their  charges,  and  that  this  is  never  done  without  a  cor¬ 
responding  deterioration  in  the  skill  and  materials  employed. 
If  practitioners  made  their  attendance  more  valuable,  they 
would  order  less  medicine ;  and  in  good  neighbourhoods, 
where  practitioners  have  given  up  their  dispensing,  not  a 
tithe  of  the  medicine  has  been  prescribed,  without  any  loss  of 
prestige  on  their  part. 

[###  From  want  of  space  we  are  unable  to  print  the  letter 
entire. — Ed.  Ph.  J.] 

An  Assistant  (Thirsk)  complains  that  some  chemists  do  not 
make  the  tinctures,  etc.,  which  they  sell  retail,  according  to 
the  B.  P.,  and  thus  are  enabled  to  undersell  others  who  do. 
He  suggests  that  the  liability  to  a  penalty  of  £ 5  for  not 
making  up  prescriptions  according  to  the  B.  P.  should  be  ex¬ 
tended,  and  that  before  going  any  further  with  the  poison 
question,  steps  should  be  taken  to  secure  a  uniform  strength 
for  all  tinctures,  spirits,  etc. 

J.  M.  Paldoclc. — Our  correspondent’s  letter  does  not  con¬ 
tain  anything  that  is  not  thoroughly  well  known  and  appre¬ 
ciated,  and  since  his  arguments  do  not  seem  relevant  to  the 
subject  he  refers  to,  the  publication  of  his  letter  would  be  on 
all  grounds  undesirable. 

J.  Pingley  (Northampton). — We  believe  that  the  hydrated 
chloride  of  aluminum  is  being  introduced  by  Messrs.  Bolton 
and  Co.,  Holborn  Bars. 

“Young  Dispenser ”  (Oldham)  should  apply  at  the  War 
Office. 

“  Spero.” — (l.)’The  examinations  must  be  passed  sepa¬ 
rately.  (2.)  Bentley’s  ‘Manual  of  Botany’  will  be  ready  in 
a  few  days.  (3.)  At  a  herbalist’s.  (4.)  Either  would  pro¬ 
bably  suit.  (5.)  Yes,  if  properly  studied. 

T.  L.  (Everton). — We  do  not  know  of  a  work  so  compre¬ 
hensive  that  is  published  at  so  low  a  price. 

An  Apprentice  of  the  Society  (Bromley). — There  is  danger 
of  an  explosion  while  rubbing  up  chlorate  of  potash  with  any 
organic  substance. 

J.  Thompson  (Liverpool)  should  appty  to  the  Excise  Com¬ 
missioners  at  Somerset  House. 

“  Cymri ”  (Chester). — There  is  a  work  by  Mulder  on  wine, 
but  not,  that  we  are  aware,  one  on  beer. 

Andrew  Parfoot  (Leicester). — An  article  will  shortly  ap¬ 
pear  on  the  subject  referred  to,  so  far  as  is  consistent  with 
its  treatment  in  a  pharmaceutical  journal. 

G.  P.  (London). — The  Botanical  Exchange  Club,  of  which 
Dr.  J.  Boswell  Syme  is  the  Curator.  A  copy  of  the  last 
Report  and  the  Regulations  of  the  Club  might  be  obtained 
by  applying  to  the  Secretary,  Dr.  Trimen,  71,  Guilford  Street, 
Russell  Square. 

Communications,  Lettebs,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  F.  B.  Benger  (Manchester),  Dr.  Divers  (London),  Mr. 
T.  B.  Groves  (Weymouth),  Mr.  A.  H.  Mason  (Liverpool), 
Mr.  Houlton  (Witherby),  Mr.  F.  M.  Rimmington  (Brad¬ 
ford),  Mr.  W.  W.  Stoddart  (Bristol). 


Instructions  from  Members  and  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Brem- 
bidge,  Secretary,  17,  Ploomsbury  Square,  W.C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Purlington 
Street,  London,  Tfr.  Envelopes  to  be  endorsed  for  “  Phartn. 
JournP 


October  22, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


321 


THE  LOSS  OF  SPIRIT  IN  MAKING  THE  TINCTURES 
OF  THE  BRITISH  PHARMACOPOEIA. 

13 Y  C.  UMNEY,  F.C.S. 

As  a  considerable  portion  of  a  pharmacist's  time  is 
necessarily  occupied  in  the  preparation  of  tinctures, 
any  subject  connected  with  their  production  must 
always  be  of  interest  to  him.  To  those  who  have 
little  opportunity  of  making  laboratory  notes,  the  re¬ 
cord  of  the  loss  of  alcohol  (in  its  officinal  forms  of 


Tinct. 


33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

3) 

33 

>3 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 


aconit . 

arnica} . 

aurantii  . 

belladonna)  . . . . 

benz.  comp . 

buchu  . 

calumbse . 

camphor,  comp. 

cantharid . 

capsici . 

cardam.  co . 

cascarilke . 

castor  . 

catechu . 

chiretta) 
cinchona)  . .  . 

v  CO. 
cinnam.  . . . 

cocci  . 

colchic.  scm. 

conii . 

croci  . 

cubeba) . 

digitalis  . . . 

ergota) . 

ferri  acet. . . . 


*  •  «  •  • 


galla) 


gent,  co . 

hyoscyam.  . . 

jalap  a) . 

kino . 

krameria) .... 
lavand.  comp. 

limonis . 

lobelia) . 

„  mther. 

lupuli  . 

myrrha)  . . . . 
nuc.  vomic.  . . 

opii  . 

,,  ammon. . . 
pyrethri  . . . . 
quassia)  . . . . 

rhei  . 

sabina) . 

scilla)  . 


senega) . 

senna)  . 

serpontar . 

stramon.  . . . , 

sumbul . . 

valerian,  am. 
valerian.  . . . 
veratr.  viiid. 
zingibcris . . . 


fort. . 


Quantity 

made. 

Alcohol *838 
to  make 
up  measure. 

1  .  . 

Gals. 

Pints. 

4 

2-5  . 

10 

3-0  . 

10 

2 

5 

2 

5 

10 

4 

5 

1-0  . 

20 

5 

2 

•5 

5 

2 

10 

10 

5 

1 

2 

2 

1 

2 

•5 

5 

2 

1 

1-2 

1 

10 

10 

5 

1 

no  loss 

5 

20 

2-0 

2 

3 

3 

*3-5 

5 

5 

2-5 

4 

2-9 

10 

25 

•5 

1 

1-0 

1 

10 

2 

5 

1 

10 

1 

1 

.  3 

.  5 

f3*5 

5 

.  2 

2*5 

.  5 

2-5 

.  10 

3*6 

o 

Cl 

C5 


s  ® 


Pint3. 


5-0 

•7 


1-0 

3-0 

*5 

•6 


2-0 


2-0 

12-0 

9-0 

4-0 

•25 

U5 

•75 

•6 


a 

cr  o 
co  > 

■Sjf 


7-9 

3-8 

6*3 

4T 


63 

7-1 

•7 

1- 9 

2- 5 


5-0 

3-2 


3-0 

2-0 


•4 

7-0 

6-0 

2-0 


2-0 

1*5 

2-5 


4-0 


'io 


w 

4-0 

•8 

3-0 

•75 

2-0 

•9 

*5 

1-0 


2-3 


12-5 

15-0 

11- 3 
10-0 

31 

94 

4- 6 
7-5 
3-2 
7-5 

12- 5 
15-0 

50 

8*7 

75 

5- 0 


°.  a 

pus 
a  o 


10-0 


2‘o 


5- 0 
1*3 

9- 4 
10-5 

14- 5 
10-0 

6- 2 
6-2 
1-0 
2-5 

12-5 

8- 7 
50 

5- 0 
7-5 

9- 3 
2-5 

10- 9 

6- 3 

4- 2 

4.4 

5- 7 

15- 6 

6- 3 
3 1  '5 


proof  and  rectified  spirit)  entailed  in  the  manufacture 
of  tinctures,  ma}T  be  of  sendee ;  and  even  to  those 
who  possess  such  memoranda  of  their  own,  the  peru¬ 
sal  of  the  preceding  schedule  may  be  interesting. 

It  must  always  be  remembered  that  the  quantity  of 
spirit  required  to  make  the  measure  of  tinctures  to  a 
given  bulk,  will  only  be  strictly  uniform,  in  so  far  as 
the  operators  proceed  under  precisely  the  same  cir¬ 
cumstances. 

No  causes  will  be  found  to  influence  results  more 
than  the  manufacture  of  tinctures  upon  a  small  as 
compared  with  a  large  scale,  and  the  use  of  the 
screw  as  contrasted  with  the  hydraulic  press,  in  the 
final  removal  of  the  spirit  from  the  marc ;  even  the 
difference  between  the  temperature  of  summer  and 
winter  may  cause  a  variation  in  the  results. 

The  loss  of  alcohol  noted  in  these  tinctures  has 
not  been  the  subject  of  special  experiment,  but 
merely  the  memoranda  made  in  the  ordinary  routine 
of  manufacture.  It  may  be  well  to  remark  that 
hydraulic  pressure  has  always  been  used  for  the  re¬ 
covery  of  the  spirit,  when  the  quantity  of  ingre¬ 
dients  has  been  sufficiently  large  to  admit  of  its 
application. 


Tinct.  aloes 


guaiac.  am. 
tolutani  ... 


Gals. 

Menstruum 
required 
p.  c.  by 
volume. 

Ingredients  occupy 
when  in  solution, 
filtered,  and  made 
to  prescribed 
volume. 

3 

95 

5  p.  c.  by  vol. 

8 

927 

7*3  „ 

2 

93 

7 

In  those  tinctures  in  which  the  ingredients  are 
directed  to  be  macerated  in  a  portion  only  of  the 
spirit,  and  the  measure  finally  made  up  when  their 
solution  has  been  effected,  the  percentage  volume 
such  ingredients  occupy  when  dissolved  and  filtered 
has  been  determined ;  the  difference  therefore  in 
volume  will  be  the  amount  of  menstruum  required 
to  produce  the  exact  measure.  To  the  tinctures 
directed  to  be  thus  made  in  the  Pharmacopoeia,  the 
compound  tincture  of  benzoin  might  have  been  added, 
as  a  considerable  augmentation  in  volume  is  pro¬ 
duced  by  using  the  whole  of  the  alcohol  for  macera¬ 
tion. 

Laboratory ,  40,  Aldersgate  Street,  E.C. 


TESTING  OF  BITTER  ALMOND  OIL  AND  OIL  OF 

CLOVES.* 

BY  F.  A.  FLUCKIGER. 

Since  the  foundation  of  the  anilin  dye  industry, 
nitro-benzol,  or  oil  of  mirbane,  has  become  a  readily 
obtainable  substance,  costing  no  more  than  one- 
twentietli  as  much  as  the  true  bitter- almond  oil, 
which  it  resembles  in  many  characters.  For  some 
purposes  there  is,  in  reality,  little  more  reason  for 
objecting  to  the  use  of  nitro-benzol  than  to  the  use 
of  crude  bitter-almond  oil  containing  prussic  acid. 
Existing  toxological  experience  has  proved  nitro- 
benzol  to  be  a  narcotic  poison,  though  it  is  scarcely 
more  dangerous,  on  the  whole,  than  bitter- almond 
oil.f  Every  now  and  again  the  problem  of  clistin- 
guisliing  these  two  liquids  comes  forward  in  pliar- 


*  Sp.  aether,  sulph. 
Third  Series,  No.  17. 


f  Sp.  ammon.  arornat. 


*  Abstract  from  the  author’s  paper. 

f  Compare  Husemann,  Supplement  to  the  ‘  Handbuck  dor 
Toxicologic,’  1867,  p.  118. 


322 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [October  22,  1870. 


maceutical  literature,  and  for  that  reason  the  author 
deems  the  publication  of  the  following  remarks  to  be 
appropriate. 

There  is  no  difficulty  in  distinguishing  between 
bitter-almond  oil  and  nitro-benzol  when  these  sub¬ 
stances  are  pure  and  unmixed.  The  specific  gra¬ 
vity  of  bitter-almond  oil  is  from  POT  to  TOIL  or  at 
the  utmost  1'075  that  of  nitro-benzol  is  P20  to  P29, 
so  that  Wagner  has  based  on  this  difference  a  me¬ 
thod  of  determining  the  amount  of  nitro-benzol  in 
bitter-almond  oil.  If  at  the  same  time  advantage  be 
taken  of  the  solubility  of  the  aldelyde  in  a  solution 
of  bisulphite  of  soda,  it  is  possible  to  effect  an  ap- 
proximatively  accurate  separation  of  bitter- almond 
oil  from  nitro-benzol,  leaving  prussic  acid  out  of  ac¬ 
count.!  However,  it  is  but  seldom  that  a  quantitative 
determination  is  needed ;  more  frequently  the  mere 
detection  of  nitro-benzol  is  alone  requisite,  and  this 
must  be  attempted  before  the  application  of  Wagner’s 
method,  bv  means  of  some  characteristic  reaction. 
Reactions  of  this  kind  have  been  suggested  for  the 
purpose  by  Maiscli  and  Dragendorff.  The  former 
relies  upon  the  conversion  of  nitro-benzol  into  a 
brown  resin  by  alcoholic  solution  of  potash,  and  the 
conversion  of  bitter-almond  oil  into  benzoate  of  pot¬ 
ash  by  the  same  reagent.  Dragendorff  has  shown 
that  these  substances  behave  differently  with  sodium, 
— nitro-benzol  becoming  dark- coloured,  while  bitter- 
almond  oil  gives  white  flocks.  However,  Wagner 
regards  both  these  methods  as  insufficient.  Fliicki- 
ger  quite  agrees  with  him,  and  considers  that  the 
only  reaction  worth  considering  in  regard  to  this  sub¬ 
ject  is  the  conversion  of  nitro-benzol  into  anilin  and 
its  coloured  derivatives.  Some  anilin  is  formed 
even  in  Maiscli’s  test,  as  was  shown  by  Zinin;  but 
much  more  is  formed  bv  treating  the  nitro-benzol 
with  hydrogen  generated  by  zinc  and  hydrochloric 
acid,  according  to  Hofmann’s  plan,  or  by  iron  and 
acetic  acid  as  Bechamp  recommends, — the  latter 
being  the  plan  adopted  in  manufacturing  anilin  from 
nitro-benzol. 

Nitro-benzol  may  be  readily  recognized  by  dilut¬ 
ing  it  with  alcohol,  leaving  it  in  contactwitli  zinc  and 
hydrochloric  acid,  and,  when  the  evolution  of  gas  has 
ceased,  supersaturating  with  potash  and  producing 
the  colour  reactions  of  anilin.  It  is  evident  that  this 
method  would  be  applicable  for  detecting  nitro-benzol 
in  bitter-almond  oil  as  well  as  in  other  liquids ;  and, 
although  it  has  come  into  use,  the  author  found  a 
want  of  any  statement  as  to  its  delicacy,  and  for  that 
reason  he  undertook  the  following  experiments.  He 
finds  it  is  not  necessary  to  add  alcohol,  nor  to  sepa¬ 
rate  the  anilin  formed,  unless  very  great  accuracy  be 
required.  The  test  is  applied  as  follows :  granulated 
zinc  is  covered  with  dilute  sulphuric  acid  (I'll  sp. 
gr.),  adding  the  oil  to  be  tested,  and  shaking  up  well ; 
after  about  two  hours  the  watery  part  of  the  liquid  is 
to  be  poured  on  a  moist  filter.  When  heating  has 
been  prevented,  the  filtered  liquid  is  colourless.  The 
anilin  salt  on  the  filter  may  be,  without  further  puri¬ 
fication,  converted  in  the  usual  manner  into  coloured 
compounds  by  any  of  the  suitable  oxidizing  agents. 
The  author  recommends  chlorate  of  potash,  chromate 
of  potash  or  percliloride  of  iron. 

On  adding  to  a  small  portion  of  the  filtrate  a  few 
grains  of  chlorate,  a  violet  colour  is  produced,  or,  with 
small  quantities  of  anilin,  a  red  colour.  The  cliro- 


*  Gmelin,  c  Handbuch/  vi.  15. 

t  Wagner;  Frcsenius,  Zeitsckrif't  fur  Analyt.  Cliem.  y.  286. 


mate  produces  a  blue  colour  that  soon  passes  into 
red,  brown,  dark  green ;  percliloride  of  iron  gives  a 
red  coloration.  The  action  of  chromate  is  very  deli¬ 
cate  ;  but  the  chlorate  is  to  be  recommended  as 
cleaner.  If  the  latter  salt  does  not  react  at  once,  a 
drop  of  concentrated  sulphuric  acid  must  be  added, 
and  the  tube  left  for  an  hour  or  so. 

By  this  very  simple  test  1  per  cent,  of  nitro-benzol 
may  be  detected  with  certainty  in  bitter-almond  oil. 
The  reactions  are  obtained  also  when  only  1  or  2 
grins,  of  oil  containing  1  per  cent,  of  nitro-benzol  is 
operated  upon  with  10  grins,  granulated  zinc,  and 
10  grms.  dilute  sulphuric  acid  during  1  or  2  hours. 
Very  intense  colorations  are  produced  when  the  ni¬ 
tro-benzol  in  the  oil  amounts  to  5  per  cent. 

HoAvever,  it  is  not  absolutely  necessary  to  use  hy¬ 
drogen  or  acids  for  producing  it,  in  order  to  convert 
nitro-benzol  into  anilin.  If  bitter-almond  oil  contain¬ 
ing  nitro-benzol  be  mixed  with  finely  divided  iron  or 
zinc,  and  the  pasty  mixture  exposed  to  a  tempera¬ 
ture  of  100°  C.  in  a  closed  vessel  for  some  hours  or 
days,  the  formation  of  anilin  takes  place.  It  is 
facilitated  by  the  addition  of  a  little  alcohol.  After¬ 
wards,  the  mixture  is  diluted  with  some  alcohol  and 
filtered,  the  solution  containing  the  etlierial  oil  and 
the  anilin  is  mixed  with  some  dilute  sulphuric  acid, 
so  as  to  obtain  sulphate  of  anilin  in  solution  for 
testing. 

Pure  bitter- almond  oil  treated  in  this  way  does  not 
give  any  colour  reactions.  When  the  action  of  me¬ 
tallic  iron  or  zinc  upon  the  oil  has  been  continued 
too  long,  the  filtrate  obtained  after  addition  of  sul¬ 
phuric  acid  is  rather  brownish,  but  even  then  chlorate 
of  potash  would  not  produce  any  blue,  red,  or  green 
coloration  if  there  were  no  nitro-benzol  [^resent. 

Lastly,  the  author  remarks  that  although  a  well- 
adjusted  addition  of  alcohol,  as  well  as  nitro-benzol, 
to  bitter-almond  oil,  would  not  affect  the  specific 
gravity,  still  5  or  10  per  cent,  of  spirit  would  be  in¬ 
dicated  by  the  action  of  fuming  nitric  acid.  Equal 
volumes  of  true  bitter-almond  oil  and  of  this  acid  mix 
together  without  disturbance,  while  the  presence  of 
alcohol  would  give  rise  to  a  violent  reaction. 

Oil  of  cloves  is  so  Avell  characterized  by  its  chief 
constituent,  and  is  at  the  same  time  so  cheap,  that  it 
is  not  likely  to  be  much  adulterated,  unless  it  be  with 
carbolic  acid. 

If  the  acid  be  combined  with  bases,  most  of  the 
etlierial  oils  that  might  have  been  added  as  adulte¬ 
rants  would  be  recognizable  by  the  smell  they  give 
to  the  remainder  of  the  oil  of  cloves.  Fat  oils  would 
show  their  presence  bjr  reduction  of  the  specific  gra¬ 
vity,  and,  excepting  castor  oil,  by  the  reduced  solu¬ 
bility  in  alcohol,  which  dissolves  pure  oil  of  cloves  in 
all  proportions.  In  order  to  detect  carbolic  acid,  the 
author  suggests  the  following  test : — shake  from  2  to 
10  grms.  of  the  oil  to  be  tested  with  50  to  100  times 
as  much  hot  water,  and,  after  cooling,  pour  off  the 
clear  liquid.  Add  to  a  portion  of  this  liquid  a  drop 
of  ammonia,  and  then  a  pinch  of  chloride  of  lime. 
If  the  oil  of  cloves  contains  carbolic  acid,  the  liquid 
then  acquires,  on  shaking,  a  greenish  colour  that 
passes  into  blue,  and  lasts  for  some  days.  Pure  oil  of 
cloves  does  not  give  this  reaction,  if  it  be  desired 
to  apply  this  test  very  delicately,  the  liquid  may  be 
gently  evaporated  to  a  small  bulk  at  a  moderate 
heat. — Seine  eitz.  Wochensclirift  fur  Pharmacie. 


October  22,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


323 


SYNTHESIS  OF  OIL  OF  RUE.* 

BY  E.  VON  GORUP-BESANEZ  AND  FEIiD.  GRIMM. 

Tlie  volatile  oil  of  garden  rue,  which  had  been 
regarded  by  Gerhardt  and  Caliours  as  the  aldehyde 
of  capric  acid  C10H20O,  was  examined  by  Williams 
and  Hallwachs,  who  assigned  to  it  the  formula 
CnH220.  Hallwachs,  moreover,  suspected  that  it 
might  turn  out  to  be  a  ketone,  and  not  an  aldehyde. 
This  view  was  maintained  by  Harbordt,  who,  work¬ 
ing  in  Strecker’s  laboratory,  showed  that  it  did  not 
undergo  oxidation  easily,  and  that  it  did  not  yield 
the  acid  C10H20O2  on  oxidation.  According  to 
Harbordt,  oil  of  rue  consists  of  me  th}d- 110113d  ketone 

CO 

L  C  9  Hjg 

The  authors  have  confirmed  this  formula  by  pre¬ 
paring  it  synthetically.  They  subjected  to  destruc¬ 
tive  distillation,  at  as  gentle  a  heat  as  possible,  a 
mixture  of  acetate  of  lime  and  caprate  of  lime  in 
equivalent  proportions,  and  obtained  an  oil  which, 
on  examination,  turned  out  to  be  identical  with 
the  natural  oil  of  rue,  and  to  have  the  composition 
CnH220.  The  equation  explaining  its  production 
is  as  follows  : — 

Acetate. 

i9—  ,0  ,  ch3coi0 

CajU  +  CajU 


Caprylate. 

CoH,9C0) 


-  colo 

-  Ca2  j  * 

It  boils  at  223°  to 


Methyl-nonyl  ketone. 

+  colCH* 

F  co|c9hI9 

224°  C.,  and  has  a  sp.  gr.  of 


(18295  at  17 ‘5°  C.,  and  forms  a  crystalline  compound 
with  bisulpliates.  The  capric  acid  employed  in  the 
research  had  been  extracted  from  a  specimen  of 
Hungarian  fousel  oil. — Abstract  from  the  Neaes 
Repert.  fur  Pharm.  von  Buchner,  1870. 


ACRIDINE— A  NEW  ORGANIC  BASE. 

Graebe  and  Caro  have  discovered  an  interesting  vola¬ 
tile  alkaloid  of  the  formula  C]2H9N,  on  which,  from  its 
violent  irritating  and  acrid  qualities,  they  have  bestowed 
the  mame  Acridine.  It  accompanies  anthracene,  the  hy¬ 
drocarbon  from  which  artificial  alizarine  is  made,  and 
was  discovered  during  the  purification  of  anthracene.  It 
is  one  of  the  most  stable  organic  compounds,  being  cap¬ 
able  of  withstanding  a  temperature  of  360°  C.,  which  is 
its  boiling-point.  It  is  a  colourless  crystalline  substance, 
and  fuses  at  107°  C.  In  ether  and  in  alcohol  it  is  easily 
soluble.  In  cold  water  it  is  almost  insoluble ;  hot  water, 
however,  dissolves  it  to  some  extent.  It  is  a  strong  base, 
capable  of  uniting  with  acids  to  form  salts. — Journal  fur 
Traktische  Chcmie ,  No.  14,  1870. 


GLUCOSE. 

BY  TROF.  CHARLES  A.  JOY. 

In  the  year  1811,  Kirchhoff,  a  celebrated  German 
chemist,  discovered  that  it  was  possible  to  convert  starch, 
by  means  of  sulphuric  acid,  into  sugar.  Great  expecta¬ 
tions  were  founded  upon  the  announcement  of  the  dis¬ 
covery,  as,  in  consequence  of  Continental  wars  and  the 
English  blockade,  sugar  had  become  a  very  dear  article, 
and  it  was  at  first  thought  that  an  ample  supply  could 
be  obtained  in  this  way ;  but  everybody  was  destined  to 
be  grievously  disappointed  as  soon  as  the  subject  was 
more  thoroughly  investigated,  and  it  was  found  that  the 
sugar  thus  produced  was  of  a  different  character  from 
that  to  be  obtained  from  the  cane  and  beet.  Still,  the 
discovery  of  Kirchhoff  was  of  great  importance,  and  has 

*  Read  at  the  Royal  Bavarian  Academy  on  June  11. 


led  to  many  practical  applications.  It  was  soon  found 
that  glucose  or  grape  sugar  could  be  made  in  several 
ways,  and  that  it  was  always  the  product  of  the  germi¬ 
nation  of  starch  grains,  and  sometimes  occurred  already 
formed  in  nature. 

It  is  probable  that  both  cane  and  grape  sugar  are 
formed  from  the  starch  contained  in  the  cellular  tissues 
of  the  plant,  cane  sugar  being  formed  first,  and  then 
grape  sugar,  if  acids  be  present.  Acidulous  fruits  con¬ 
tain  only  grape  sugar,  whereas  cane  sugar  occurs  in 
those  that  are  free  from  stronger  acids.  The  chief  natu¬ 
ral  sources  of  the  grape  sugar  are  in  the  sap  of  the 
grape  vine,  in  plums,  cherries,  figs,  honey,  in  the  liver 
and  in  diabetic  urine  ;  but  it  would  not  be  economical  to 
prepare  it  from  any  of  those  sources. 

One  of  the  latest  methods  for  the  preparation  of  grape 
sugar  is  the  one  proposed  by  Maubre,  and  is  as  follows  : 
— The  mixture  of  dilute  sulphuric  acid  and  starch  meal 
is  boiled  under  pressure  of  six  atmospheres.  The  neces¬ 
sary  boilers  are  similar  to  those  used  for  high-pressure 
engines,  and  are  lined  with  lead  and  provided  in  the 
interior  with  a  perforated  lead  tube  for  the  passage  of 
steam.  The  boiler  is  further  furnished  with  safety-valve, 
stop-cocks,  thermometers,  etc.  In  the  process  of  manu¬ 
facture  561b.  of  sulphuric  acid  of  66°  B.  are  diluted  with 
5600  lb.  water,  and  heated  to  212°  F.  A  mixture  of  the 
same  amount  of  Acid  and  water  is  made  in  a  separate 
wooden  vessel,  the  heat  of  which  is  raised  to  86°  F. 
Into  the  second  mixture  2240  lb.  of  starch  meal  are  well 
stirred  and  heated  to  100°  F.  This  is  gradually  added 
to  the  first  mixture,  and  after  heating  with  open  valves 
for  a  few  minutes  to  212°  F.,  the  stop-cocks  arc  all  closed 
and  the  heat  raised  to  320°  F.  and  continued  until  all  of 
the  starch  is  converted  into  sugar,  which  requires  from 
two  to  four  hours. 

The  contents  of  the  boiler  are  then  run  into  a  wooden 
tank,  and  1681b.  of  pure  chalk  or  carbonate  of  lime,  pre¬ 
viously  stirred  up  with  5001b.  of  water,  is  gradually 
added  to  neutralize  the  acid  ;  the  gypsum  is  caught  on  a 
filter  and  the  filtrate  evaporated  to  20°  B.,  and  afterwards 
clarified  by  blood  and  bone-black  and  again  filtered.  In 
this  way  the  product  is  obtained  pure,  and  free  from 
bitter  and  empyreumatic  taste,  and  is  well  suited  for 
any  of  the  purposes  to  which  grape  sugar  is  adapted. 

Another  way  is  to  convert  the  starch  into  sugar  by 
means  of  malt.  For  this  purpose  10  to  12  lb.  of  barley- 
malt  are  well  stirred  with  400  lb.  of  water,  and  to  this 
is  added  1001b.  of  starch,  and  the  whole  is  heated 
to  158°  F.,  and  kept  at  that  temperature  for  several 
hours,  under  constant  agitation.  At  158°  F.  the  starch 
becomes  pasty,  the  grains  burst,  and  at  first  there  are  no 
signs  of  sugar,  but  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour  the  liquid 
becomes  more  fluid  and  begins  to  have  a  sweetish  taste. 
Great  care  must  be  observed  to  retain  the  heat  at  the 
same  temperature,  not  to  have  it  either  higher  or  lower 
than  above  indicated,  and  to  ensure  this  several  thermo¬ 
meters  ought  to  be  put  in  different  parts  of  the  apparatus. 
After  six  hours  the  liquor  can  be  filtered  and  clarified, 
and  evaporated  to  a  syrup.  The  sugar  prepared  in  this 
way  always  retains  the  taste  of  malt  and  is  only  adapted 
to  use  in  breweries,  where  this  property  will  not  prove 
deleterious. 

Grape  sugar,  or  glucose,  can  be  prepared  in  open  ves¬ 
sels  by  allowing  a  mixture  of  starch  and  water  to  flow 
gradually  at  a  temperature  of  130°  F.  into  a  vat  con¬ 
taining  water  acidulated  with  1  per  cent,  of  sulphuric 
acid.  By  keeping  it  at  a  boiling-point  the  starch  is  at 
once  altered,  without  producing  mucilage.  The  amount 
of  starch  taken  is  usually  about  one-half  the  weight  of 
water  employed.  After  all  of  the  starch  is  added,  boil 
for  half  an  hour  and  decant.  The  sulphuric  acid  is  neu¬ 
tralized  by  carbonate  of  lime  as  before,  and  the  liquid 
evaporated  to  the  specific  gravity  of  1’28,  and  set  aside 
to  crystallize.  The  molasses  is  allowed  to  drain  off,  and 
the  sugar  is  dried  at  a  gentle  heat  in  a  current  of  dry  air. 

In  the  United  States,  especially  in  the  west,  it  is  more 


324 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [October  22,  1870. 


economical  to  make  grape  sugar  from  corn.  There  are 
several  large  establishments  where  this  business  is  now 
extensively  prosecuted.  The  corn  is  steeped  in  weak 
soda  lye  to  separate  the  husk  and  soften  the  gluten.  It 
is  then  ground  wet  and  run  through  revolving  sieves,  by 
which  the  husks  and  gluten  are  separated.  The  starch 
flows  through  long  ways  and  troughs,  in  which  are  slats 
against  which  the  solid  particles  lodge,  and  thus  separate 
from  the  water.  The  wash  water  is  run  into  a  large 
cistern,  where  it  can  be  fermented  into  weak  vinegar. 
The  starch  is  put  wet  into  a  mash-tub  and  treated  with 
1  per  cent,  sulphuric  acid  in  sufficient  water  for  three 
to  eight  hours.  Where  it  is  intended  to  make  sugar  the 
whole  of  the  starch  is  converted,  but  if  syrup  is  sought 
then  some  part  of  the  dextrine  is  left  unaltered.  The  acid 
liquor  is  neutralized  with  chalk  as  before,  and  evaporated 
in  vacuum  pans,  and  after  the  separation  of  the  gypsum 
is  run  into  barrels  and  allowed  to  crystallize.  For  syrup 
a  certain  percentage  of  dextrine  is  ieft  in  tjic  liquid  un¬ 
converted,  which  helps  to  keep  it  from  crystallizing,  and 
in  the  manufacture  of  syrup  special  care  must  be  ob¬ 
served  to  neutralize  all  of  the  acids.  The  sugar  is  some¬ 
times  cast  into  blocks  six  inches  square  and  dried  on 
plaster  plates,  in  a  current  of  dry  air,  as  hot  air  would 
be  apt  to  discolour  it.  It  has  been  found  that  glucose 
can  be  made  from  cellulose  as  well  as  from  starch,  but 
the  process  is  too  expensive  for  practice ;  it  is,  however, 
interesting  from  a  scientific  point  of  view,  and  ought  to 
be  mentioned  in  this  connection. 

Two  parts  of  clean  linen  shreds  are  gradually  added 
to  three  parts  of  sulphuric  acid,  and  they  are  allowed  to 
stand  twenty-four  hours ;  the  whole  is  then  largely  di¬ 
luted,  and  the  sulphuric  acid  neutralized  by  carbonate 
of  lime  or  carbonate  of  baryta.  In  a  similar  manner 
any  other  kind  of  cellular  tissue,  as  cotton,  wood-shav¬ 
ings,  paper,  etc.  can  be  converted  into  grape  sugar. 

It  is  a  singular  fact  that,  although  we  can  prepare 
grape  sugar  from  cane  by  the  action  of  acids,  no  way  is 
at  present  known  by  which  glucose  can  be  reconverted 
into  sucrose.  It  would  be  a  discovery  of  great  import¬ 
ance  if  we  could  make  cane  sugar  from  glucose,  as  in 
that  event  common  sugar  could  be  prepared  from  a 
great  variety  of  refuse  matters,  and  would  be  largely 
reduced  in  price. 

There  was  a  time  when  much  grape  sugar  was  manu¬ 
factured  in  England  clandestinely,  for  the  purpose  of 
adulterating  Muscovado  sugar,  but  this  illegitimate 
business  was  destroyed  as  soon  as  the  tariff  on  sugar 
was  reduced.  The  price  of  cane  sugar  must  be  very 
high  before  manufacturers  can  afford  to  make  grape 
sugar  for  its  adulteration. 

The  starch  of  potatoes  can  be  converted  into  glucose 
by  digesting  for  a  few  horns  with  parings  of  the  potato. 
This  operation  is  largely  practised  by  German  farmers 
in  the  preparation  of  food  for  fattening  hogs.  The 
starch  is  rendered  more  digestible  hi  this  way,  and  from 
the  glucose  some  of  the  larger  proprietors  manufacture 
alcohol,  for  which  they  obtain  a  high  price. 

An  excellent  article  of  starch  sugar  can  be  prepared 
from  Indian  corn,  which  will  yield  alcohol  one-eighth 
cheaper  and  quite  as  pure  as  that  from  cane  sugar.  As 
by  a  recent  decision  of  our  Courts  the  manufacturers  of 
alcohol  and  vinegar  from  this  source  are  not  distillers 
within  the  meaning  of  the  tax  levy,  the  business  is  not 
hampered  by  licences,  inspections,  or  stamp  duties,  and 
has  thus  a  great  advantage  over  ordinary  distilleries. 

In  some  parts  of  Europe  large  quantities  of  grape 
sugar  are  used  to  add  to  wine,  but  in  this  country  it  is 
not  so  much  the  wine  growers  as  the  brewers  who  make 
such  an  extensive  use  of  it  as  to  give  rise  to  its  regular 
importation.  This  can  hardly  be  justified  excepting  in 
times  when  the  price  of  barley  is  very  high. 

We  find  in  the  Zyinotechnic  A ews  of  St.  Louis  an  inter¬ 
esting  article  on  the  uses  of  starch  sugar  in  the  manu¬ 
facture  of  beer,  Rom  which  we  quote  the  following 
paragraphs : — • 


“  Barley  contains  on  an  average  57  per  cent,  of  starch 
and  cognate  substances.  These  pass  into  the  wort, 
partly  as  sugar,  partly  in  the  shape  of  dextrine  (gum). 
The  relative  proportions  of  these  ingredients  vary  in 
accordance  with  the  method  of  brewing,  but  experience 
teaches  that,  on  an  average,  one  bushel  of  barley  yields 
about  12  lb.  of  sugar  and  15  lb.  of  dextrine.  A  portion 
of  the  latter  substance  is  further  transformed  into  sugar 
during  fermentation,  so  that  a  bushel  of  barley  repre¬ 
sents,  on  an  average,  16  lb.  of  sugar  and  11  lb.  of  dex¬ 
trine  (gum). 

“  Both  dextrine  (gum)  and  sugar  are  equally  essential 
to  the  brewing  process.  The  latter  furnishes  the  alco¬ 
hol,  without  which  no  beverage  can  be  called  spirituous  ; 
while  the  former  constitutes  almost  the  entire  extractive 
matter,  or  body  of  the  beer,  which  is  one  of  the  chief 
distinguishing  features  between  beer  and  wine.  Now  it 
is  true  that  all  (commercial)  starch  sugar  contains  a  cer¬ 
tain  amount  of  dextrine, — the  more,  the  poorer  the  qua¬ 
lity  ;  but  this  portion  would  bo  insufficient  in  case  a  good 
article  was  used,  while  in  the  contrary  case  it  would  be 
paid  for  at  an  extravagant  rate. 

“  Imported  potato  sugar  of  good  quality,  containing 
some  15  per  cent,  of  dextrine  (gum),  costs  about  12  cents 
per  pound  at  New  York.  Maize  sugar  of  equal  purity 
can  be  furnished  at  8  cents  per  pound.  20  lb.  of  either 
article,  costing  respectively  S2'40  and  $1  *60,  would  yield 
16  lb.  of  fermentable  sugar  and  3  lb.  of  dextrine  (gum), 
while  a  bushel  of  barley  will  not  only  yield  16  lb.  of 
sugar,  but  11  lb.  of  dextrine  or  gum  besides.  Thus, 
starch  sugar  can  be  added  to  beer  wort  only  in  small 
quantities,  unless  when  it  is  desired  to  impart  a  vinous 
character  to  the  beer.  When  the  latter  object  is  not  in 
view,  the  best  substitute  for  barley  will  always  be  found 
in  maize  or  some  other  cheap  grain. 

“Not  so  in  the  manufacture  of  wine.  For  this  pur¬ 
pose,  good  starch  sugar,  containing  not  exceeding  15  per 
cent,  of  dextrine,  is  decidedly  preferable  to  cane  sugar.  A 
pound  of  the  latter,  of  the  quality  suitable  for  wine  manu¬ 
facture,  costs  at  least  15  cents;  whereas,  as  just  stated, 
good  starch  sugar  from  maize  can  be  sold  at  8  cents. 
Now,  as  5  lb.  of  starch  sugar  are  equivalent  to  4  lb.  of 
cane  sugar  as  regards  their  yield  of  alcohol,  the  balance 
is  altogether  in  favour  of  maize  sugar,  to  wit : — 

4  lb.  cane  sugar  at  15  cents  ...  60  cents. 

5  lb.  grape  sugar  at  8  cents  ...  40  cents. 

“  The  15  per  cent,  of  dextrine  (gum)  contained  in  the 
maize  sugar  will  (according  to  the  usual  proportion  of 
sugar  added  to  must)  increase  the  amount  of  4  extract’  in 
wine  only  by  a  few  per  cent.,  and  will  tend  to  give  it  the 
‘  mouthly’  taste  (body)  which  in  meagre  wines,  already 
fermented,  is  sought  to  be  produced  by  the  addition  of 
glycerine. 

“  Enormous  quantities  of  cane  sugar  are  already  being 
consumed  in  the  wine  manufacture  in  this  country ;  so 
that  even  as  a  consideration  of  national  economy  it  is 
highly  important  to  supply  in  maize  sugar  a  partial  sub¬ 
stitute  for  imported  cane  sugar.” 

In  France  there  is  a  use  for  grape  sugar  arising  from 
the  fact  that  the  sugar  manufacturers  do  not  prepare  mo¬ 
lasses  ready  for  the  market  as  they  do  in  this  country. 
The  crude  molasses  is  bought  up  by  second  parties  and 
the  grape  sugar  is  used  very  largely  by  them  to  extend 
it  and  give  it  body.  An  alkaline  solution  of  grape  sugar 
is  converted  by  heat  into  a  dark  brown  body,  called  me- 
lassic  acid.  This  acid  has  a  powerful  affinity  for  oxygen, 
and  reduces  the  CuO  to  Cu20.  Some  of  the  tests  for 
grape  sugar  are-  founded  upon  this  reaction.  One  of 
them,  known  as  Feliling’s  test,  is  prepared  as  follows : — 
A  standard  copper  solution  is  made  from  1  oz.  crystallized 
sulphate  of  copper,  3  oz.  cream  of  tartar,  11  oz.  pure 
carbonate  of  potash,  14  or  16  oz.  of  a  solution  of  caustic 
soda  (sp.  gr.  IT 2),  and  water  until  the  solution  measures 
15,160  water  grains ;  200  measured  grains  of  this  solution 
contain  a  quantity  of  copper  that  would  be  reduced  by  1 
grain  of  sugar,  each  atom  of  sugar  reducing  10  atoms  of 


October  22,  1870.3  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


325 


the  black  oxide  of  copper  to  the  state  of  suboxide.  Cane 
sugar  is  converted  into  grape  by  boiling  with  weak  sul¬ 
phuric  acid,  and  it  can  then  be  easily  tested  by  the  stan¬ 
dard  solution.  It  sometimes  becomes  necessary  to  test 
for  sugar  in  diabetic  urine ;  this  is  accomplished  in  various 
ways.  One  of  them,  called  Trommers’  test,  is  as  follows  : 
— Add  caustic  potash,  and  filter  if  necessary,  then  dilute 
solution  of  sulphate  of  copper  in  small  quantities ;  the 
precipitate  that  first  forms  dissolves  on  stirring,  and  the 
solution  becomes  azure  blue,  but  after  standing,  a  fawn- 
coloured  precipitate  of  suboxide  of  copper  will  be  formed. 
The  conditions  and  precautions  to  bo  observed  are  fully 
given  in  medical  works  and  need  not  be  repeated  here. 
The  property  of  grape  sugar  to  reduce  metallic  salts  is 
made  use  of  for  the  preparation  of  silver  mirrors.  Add 
to  the  nitrate  of  silver  a  few  drops  of  ammonia  and  then 
some  grape  sugar,  and  the  metal  will  be  precipitated. 

Chloride  of  silver  can  also  be  reduced  by  grape  sugar, 
and  this  method  affords  a  way  for  reclaiming  photogra¬ 
phic  wastes,  and  of  preparing  pure  metallic  silver.  Take 
14  parts  of  well- washed  and  still  moist  chloride  of  silver, 
24  parts  of  caustic  soda,  sp.  gr.  1-333,  11 J  parts  ammonia, 
sp.  gr.  0-925 ;  to  this  add,  with  constant  agitation  in  a 
flask,  71r  parts  pure  honey,  or  9}  parts  grape  sugar  syrup, 
and  let  the  mixture  stand  in  a  warm  place  until  sul¬ 
phuretted  hydrogen  affords  no  sign  of  silver.  Decant 
and  wash  out  all  traces  of  chlorine.  The  reduced  silver 
can  then  bo  dried  and  melted  in  a  crucible. 

Platinum  black,  finely  divided  metallic  platinum,  can 
be  obtained  from  the  chloride  by  adding  carbonate  of 
soda  in  excess,  and  heating  the  solution  for  ten  minutes. 
The  precipitate  can  be  collected  in  a  filter,  and  then  well 
washed  and  dried. 

Grape  sugar  crystallizes  in  warty,  cauliflower  concre¬ 
tions,  composed  of  hard  transparent  cubes.  It  is  less 
soluble  in  water  than  cane  sugar,  but  more  soluble  in 
alcohol.  Two  and  a  half  parts  of  glucose  are  required 
to  produce  the  same  sweetening  effect  as  one  part  of  cane 
sugar.  Sulphuric  acid  does  not  decompose  it,  but  forms 
a  definite  acid  with  it,  sailed  sulpho-saccharic  acid.  It 
forms  a  double  salt  with  common  salt. 

Na  Cl, 2  (CjoPI^)  012)  +  2aq. 

It  also  forms  definite  but  unstable  combinations  with 
the  alkaline  bases. 

From  the  foregoing  it  will  be  apparent  that  grape 
sugar  can  be  easily  and  cheaply  prepared,  and  that  it  is 
capable  of  many  important  uses  in  the  arts  if  it  could  be 
manufactured  in  adequate  quantity  and  at  a  reasonable 
rate. — Journ.  of  Applied  Chemistry ,  New  York,  June ,  1870. 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 

A  return  has  just  been  published  of  the  East  Indian 
Cinchona  cultivation,  including  all  the  returns  issued 
from  April  1866  to  1870,  and  as  was  the  case  with  the 
two  preceding  documents,  it  contains  much  useful  and 
interesting  matter.  Beside  the  Annual  Reports  of  the 
superintendents  of  the  cinchona  plantations,  there  are 
Reports  of  the  Madras  and  Bombay  Commissions,  formed, 
for  the  purpose  of  testing  on  a  large  scale  the  efficacy  of 
the  sulphates  of  cinchonidine,  quinidinc  and  cincho¬ 
nine.  The  trials  were  conducted  by  a  great  number  of 
civil  and  military  practitioners,  in  stations  notably  ma¬ 
larious,  and  in  cases  which  were  types  of  all  the  forms  of 
fever  to  be  met  with  in  the  malarious  districts  of  Southern 
India.  In  the  first  report  of  the  Madras  Commission,  it 
is  stated  that  Tip  to  March,  1867,  1145  cases  of  paroxys¬ 
mal  fever  had  been  treated  with  those  alkaloids.  Of  this 
number  410  were  treated  with  cinchonine,  359  with 
cinchonidine  and  376  with  quinidinc.  Doses  of  8  or  10 
grains  daily  were  found  to  produce  the  best  results, 
larger  doses  producing  cinchonism.  Out  of  this  num¬ 
ber  only  4  deaths  occurred,  and  in  these  cases  the  fever 
was  complicated  with  pneumonia  and  diarrhoea ;  the 
patients  being  half-starved,  emaciated,  and  completely 
prostrated  by  the  malarious  influences  which  surrounded 


them.  Of  the  remaining  1141  only  27  failed,  i.  e.  about  2 
per  cent.  In  these  the  fevers  were  not  recent,  but  the 
systems  of  the  patients  were  chronically  poisoned  by 
malaria, — quinine  failing  equally  in  many  cases.  Judging 
from  these  facts,  the  Commissioners  are  of  opinion  that 
these  alkaloids  are  scarcely  inferior,  if  at  all,  to  quinine. 
The  general  opinion  that  cinchonine  is  a  greater  irritant 
than  quinine,  was  not  found  to  hold  good  ;  the  difference 
between  the  three  alkaloids  and  quinine  being  looked 
upon  by  the  Commission  as  of  degree  and  not  of  kind. 

From  this  period  to  April,  1868,  2472  cases  were  tried 
with  the  four  alkaloids  under  precisely  similar  condi¬ 
tions,  in  order  to  make  the  comparative  trial  as  perfect 
as  possible.  Of  this  number,  2445  were  cured  and  27 
failed.  With  chemically  pure  sulphate  of  quinine,  846 
cases  were  tried,  of  which  840  were  cured  and  6  failed ;  the 
time  taken  to  effect  a  cure  being  from  1  to  7  days,  while 
the  doses  varied  from  2  to  20  grains.  Sulphate  of  quini- 
cline  was  administered  in  664  cases,  660  cases  were  cured 
and  4  failed,  the  time  taken  in  effecting  the  cure  being 
from  1  to  8  days,  with  doses  of  from  2  to  30  grains  daily. 
Sulphate  of  cinchonidine  was  tried  in  403  cases,  of 
which  399  were  cured  and  14  failed  ;  the  time  occupied 
being  from  1  to  4  days,  with  doses  of  3  to  20  grains. 
Sulphate  of  chinchonine  was  used  in  559  cases,  546 
were  cured’and  13  failed;  the  time  occupied  being  from 
1  to  8  days,  with  doses  of  from  2  to  30  grains.  The 
general  dose  was  from  1  to  8  grains.  This  shows  about 
1  per  cent,  of  failure  ;  but  the  cases  of  failure  were  of 
patients  completely  saturated  with  fever.  From  this  it 
will  be  seen  that,  with  the  exception  of  cinchonine,  the 
other  alkaloids  in  their  therapeutical  and  physiolo¬ 
gical  action  resemble  quinine  in  a  remarkable  degree. 
Indeed,  Mr.  Broughton  says  that  for  a  period  of  thirty 
years  much  of  the  commercial  sulphate  of  quinine,  from 
the  method  employed  in  its  manufacture,  would  inevit¬ 
ably  contain  the  sulphates  of  quinidine  and  cinchonidine, 
and  would  occasionally  even  consist  entirely  of  the  latter 
salts.  All  the  cases  treated  have  been  carefully  tabulated 
on  a  uniform  method,  and  it  would  appear  from  the  re¬ 
sults  given  that  chemically  pure  and  ordinary  commercial 
sulphate  of  quinine  and  sulphate  of  quinidine  are  equal 
in  value;  sulphate  of  cinchonidine  only  slightly  less 
efficacious,  and  sulphate  of  cinchonine,  though  consider¬ 
ably  inferior  to  the  others,  is  a  valuable  remedial  agent 
in  fever.  Like  quinine,  they  have  a  tonic  effect,  help 
digestion  and  increase  the  appetite. 

The  Bombay  Cinchona  Commission  report  that  they 
consider  all  these  alkaloids  as  febrifuges,  anti-periodics 
and  tonics,  and  their  general  effects  to  be  similar  to 
quinine,  though  perhaps  in  an  inferior  degree.  They 
produce  the  same  effects  as  quinine  to  the  extent  of  \  or 
f ;  the  value  of  the  four  alkaloids  and  the  doses  neces¬ 
sary  to  produce  an  equal  result  being  as  follows : — Quinine 
3  to  20  grains  ;  quinidine  5  to  20  grains ;  cinchonidine 
7  to  20  grains  ;  cinchonine  7  to  20  grains.  There  are 
many  other  interesting  features  in  this  valuable  report, 
to  which  we  shall  allude  in  a  future  article. 


MILK  OF  ROSES. 


In  making  milk  of  roses,  the  chief  object  should  be  to 
roduce  a  perfect  emulsion,  or  one  at  least  which,  if  it 
jparates  after  long  repose,  may  be  restored  to  a  homo- 
eneous  state  by  slight  agitation.  Although  other  per- 
imes  may  be,  and  are  commonly  added  to  it,  the  scent  of 
>scs  should  predominate  and  form  its  characteristic 
lour. 


1.  Almonds  (blanched)  . I2  ounce. 

Oil  of  almonds  )  {of  each. 

White  Windsor  Soap  ) . I  1  drachm. 

Rose  water  .  i  pint. 


Make  an  emulsion ;  to  the  strained  emulsion  add  a 


mixture  of — 

Essence  or  spirit  of  roses 
Alcohol . 


.  I  fl.  drachm. 

. 2|  fl.  ounces. 


32G 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  22,  1870. 


and,  subsequently,  of  — 

Rose-water . q.  s. 

To  make  the  whole  measure  one  pint,  more  alcohol  is 
often  ordered  and  used ;  but  much  of  it  is  apt  to  cause 
the  separation  of  the  ingredients.  In  many  samples, 
and  in  the  inferior  ones  generally,  it  is  omitted  alto¬ 
gether.  Some  makers  add  a  few  drops  of  oil  of  berga¬ 
mot,  with  two  or  three  drops  each  of  oil  of  lavender  and 
otto  of  roses,  dissolved  in  the  alcohol. 

2.  Oil  of  almonds  )  (  of  each. 

White  Windsor  soap  j . (1  ounce. 

Salts  of  tartar .  £  drachm. 

Boiling  water .  ^  pint. 

Triturate  and  subsequently  agitate  until  perfectly  united. 
When  cold,  further  add, 

Alcohol .  2  fl.  ounces. 

Spirit  of  roses .  a  few  drops. 

Rose-water  .  q.  s. 

to  make  the  whole  measure  a  pint. 

The  above  are  used  as  cosmetic  washes  in  a  similar 
way  to  “Gowland’s  Lotion,”  also  to  remove  scurf, 
freckles,  and  acne  or  other  pimples,  and  eruptions  in 
slight  cases. 

FRENCH  MILK  OF  ROSES. 

1.  Tincture  of  benzoin. . . .  (simple)  ^  fl.  ounce. 

„  „  styrax  ....  £  fl.  ounce. 

Spirit  of  rose .  1  to  2  fl.  drachms. 

Alcohol .  2|  fl.  ounces. 

Mix,  and  add  gradually,  with  agitation, 

Rose-water  .  16|  fl.  ounces. 

Augustin  recommends  the  addition  of  a  little  carbonate 
of  potash  (say  1  dr.  to  the  pint)  when  it  is  intended  to 


be  used  as  a  lotion  in  acne. 

2.  Tincture  of  benzoin.,  (simple)  1  fl.  drachm. 

„  ,,  balsam  of  Peru  . .  20  drops. 

Rose-water  .  i  pint. 

The  addition  of  an  ounce  of  alcohol,  in  lieu  of  a  like 

quantity  of  rose-water,  improves  it. 

3.  Almond  paste  .  3  drachms. 

Rose-water  .  a  pint. 

Tincture  of  benzoin .  ^  fl.  ounce. 

and  make  an  emulsion  as  before.  Use,  etc.,  same  as  the 
preceding. 


GERMAN  MILK  OF  ROSES. 

Dilute  solution  of  diacetate  of 
lead .  i  fl.  ounce. 

Lavender-water .  2~fl.  drachms. 

Alcohol  .  2^  fl.  ounces. 

Rose-water .  J  pint. 

Mix,  with  agitation.  The  alcohol  is  often  improperly 
omitted,  or  less  is  used.  It  is  cooling  and  astringent, 
and  is  employed  as  a  wash,  like  the  preceding ;  also 
in  most  eruptions,  excoriations,  etc.,  but  it  is  more  active 
and  less  fitted  for  very  frequent  use. — New  York  Drug¬ 
gists  Circular. 


TESTIMONIAL  TO  EMPLOYERS. 

On  Wednesday,  the  19th  inst.,  one  of  those  pleasing 
events  so  indicative  of  good  feeling  between  the  em¬ 
ployers  and  employed  took  place  at  1G,  Coleman  Street, 
City.  Messrs.  Thomas  and  Frederick  Burbidge,  of  the 
firm  ofBurgoyne,  Burbidge  and  Co.,  were[cach  presented 
with  a  handsome  silver  goblet  and  salver  and  an  illumi¬ 
nated  memorial.  In  addition  to  the  crests  the  goblets 
bore  the  following  inscriptions «  Presented  to  Thomas 
[or  Frederick]  Burbidge,  Esq.,  by  the  employes  of  Messrs. 
Burgoyne,  Burbidge  and  Co.,  as  a  mark  of  their  esteem 
and  good  wishes,  19th  October,  1870.”  The  goblets 
and  salvers  were  executed  by  the  wcll-knov  n  silver¬ 
smiths,  Messrs.  Johnson,  Walker  and  Tolhunt,  of  Al- 
dersgate  Street.  The  whole  of  the  arrangements  were 


carried  out  by  a  committee  appointed  by  the  employes , 
consisting  of  Messrs.  Bartliffe,  Chamberlain,  Close,  Frith, 
Webb,  Weeks,  Udger  and  Yanloy.  One  of  the  rooms 
in  the  large  warehouse  was  cleared,  and  the  proceed¬ 
ings,  which  were  of  the  most  enthusiastic  description, 
commenced  at  two  o’clock.  Mr.  Yanloy  was  called  to 
the  chair-,  and  delivered  the  following  address : — 

“Messrs.  Thomas  and  Frederick  Burridge, 

“  Gentlemen, — As  the  Chairman,  and  therefore  the  re¬ 
presentative  of  my  fellow- workers  in  your  establishment, 
it  is  my  great  privilege  and  pleasure  to  occupy  the  posi¬ 
tion  I  hold  to-day.  Gentlemen,  the  object  of  our  ask¬ 
ing  you  to  meet  us  is  to  testify  to  you  that  the  many 
kindnesses  we  have  received  under  various  circumstances 
at  3Tour  hands,  and  the  good  wishes  each  and  all  of  us 
bear  to  you  for  your  future  prosperity,  call  for  some¬ 
thing-  more  enduring  than  mere  words  or  acts  of  duty. 
It  is  to  the  credit  of  Mr.  Charles  Chamberlain  that  the 
idea  was  started  of  presenting  a  testimonial  to  you. 

“  Gentlemen,  that  idea  has  culminated  in  the  present 
proceedings.  Out  of  the  number  of  your  employes  you 
will  find  that  eighty- eight  have  contributed  their  portion 
to  these  testimonials,  and — with  one  or  two  exceptions, 
from  illness  or  business  arrangements — they  are  now  pre¬ 
sent.  F or  many  reasons  it  was  not  considered  expedient  by 
the  committee  appointed  to  take  the  management  of  these 
proceedings,  to  solicit  from  the  juniors  or  from  those 
recently  engaged  in  your  establishment  any  contribu¬ 
tions  whatever,  and  we  trust  this  arrangement  will  be 
approved  of  by  you. 

“  Gentlemen,  wo  are  deeply  grateful  for  the  interest 
you  take  in  us,  individually  and  collectively.  Our  be¬ 
nevolent  and  excursion  funds  receive  at  your  hands  a 
large  amount  of  support;  and  in  any  amusements  we 
have  hitherto  adopted,  we  have  always  found  you  to 
take  the  deepest  interest,  not  only  assisting  us  by  your 
purse,  but  by  your  presence  and  counsel. 

“  It  is  now  my  pleasing  duty  to  ask  you  to  accept  these 
small  tributes  of  our  regard, — presenting  you,  Mr.  Thomas 
Burbidge,  with  a  silver  goblet  and  salver  and  an  illumi¬ 
nated  memorial,  and  you,  Mr.  Frederick  Burbidge,  with 
a  silver  goblet  and  salver  and  an  illuminated  memo¬ 
rial. 

“  We  thank  you  for  your  courtesy  in  meeting  us  to-day, 
and  assuring  you  of  our  united  efforts  to  place  your 
business  in  a  still  higher  position  than  that  it  has 
already  attained,  we  wish  you  long  life  and  health  to 
enjoy  the  fruits  of  your  enterprise.” 


EAST  INDIAN  CINCHONA  BARK. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  features  at  a  recent  drug 
auction  in  London  (13th  inst.)  was  the  sale  of  cinchona 
bark,  grown  in  the  Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Darjeeling, 
East  India. 

On  one  occasion  previously  this  bark  has  found  its 
way  into  commerce  but  in  small  quantity.  This  par¬ 
cel  consisted  of  nineteen  cases,  each  about  eighty 
pounds  in  weight,  and  was  described  as  red  bark  ( Cin¬ 
chona  succirubra ). 

At  a  glance  it  was  apparent  that  the  greatest  care  had 
been  bestowed  upon  its  collection  and  preparation,  and 
that  it  had  been  obtained  from  young  trees  -whose  ages 
did  not  vary  considerably.  It  consisted  entirely  of  quills, 
exceedingly  uniform  in  their  length  (about  fifteen  inches), 
varying  in  thickness  from  the  size  of  cinnamon  bark  to 
that  of  one’s  thumb  ;  externally  somewhat  smooth,  with¬ 
out  lichens,  of  a  greyish  colour,  with  a  pale  reddish  inte¬ 
rior,  resembling,  to  an  unpractised  eye,  grey  bark. 

An  average  sample  selected  from  five  cases  gave  upon 


analysis  in  100  parts — 

Total  alkaloids  (hydrated)  .  3-36 

Quina  (by  ether)  .  2-40 

Cinchonidine  and  Cinchonine .  ‘95 


Crystallized  Sulphate  of  Quinine  . .  1*81 


October  22, 18700  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


327 


SATURDAY ,  OCTOBER  22,  1870. 


PHARMACY  IN  IRELAND. 

It  is  generally  supposed  that  there  will  he  an  at¬ 
tempt  to  assimilate  the  law  of  Pharmacy  in  Ireland 
to  the  recent  enactments  in  England  and  Scotland. 
It  is  probable  that  Sir  Dominic  Corrigan,  M.D.,  the 
new  member  for  Dublin,  will  take  an  active  part  in 
this  contemplated  Bill.  Although  the  object  will  be 
to  create  a  body  of  qualified  pharmacists,  as  in  the 
English  Bill,  still,  in  tliis  case  it  will  in  some  degree 
be  a  process  of  levelling  down,  not  of  levelling  up. 

The  draft  will  probably  be  the  Bill  of  the  Apothe¬ 
caries’  Hall,  modified  to  meet  some  objections,  and 
separated  from  the  “  Poisons  Bill,”  which,  as  our 
readers  are  no  doubt  aware,  has  already  become  law.* 

The  draft  of  the  Pharmacy  Bill  in  its  original  form 
was,  as  we  stated  at  the  tune,  fair,  and  would,  with 
some  few  alterations  in  committee,  have  met  the 
requirements  of  the  time. 

We  shall  look  forward  with  some  interest  to  the 
future  prospects  of  pharmacy  in  the  Sister  Isle. 
From  the  fact  that  every  compounder  in  Ireland  has 
become  a  licensed  medical  practitioner,  pharmacy, 
as  an  art,  may  be  said  to  be  almost  extinct  in  that 
.country. 

THE  POSTAL  REGULATIONS. 

We  have  received  several  complaints  that  the 
■Journal  is  now  sent  out  uncut  and  unstitched.  This 
has  been  done  in  order  to  comply  with  the  regula¬ 
tions  laid  down  by  the  Post-Office  authorities  in 
.reference  to  the  transmission  of  periodical  publica¬ 
tions  for  one  halfpenny  postage.  The  fact  that 
some  readers  of  the  Journal  object  to  the  new  ar¬ 
rangement  will  be  submitted  to  the  consideration  of 
ilie  Council  at  its  next  meeting. 


THE  SALE  OF  LAUDANUM, 

It  would  appear  from  the  police  cases  reported 
this  week  as  well  as  last  week  that  some  of  our 
magistrates  are  not  acquainted  with  the  Sale  of 
Poisons  Act.  Under  its  provisions  it  is  competent 
for  registered  druggists  to  sell  any  quantity  of  lau¬ 
danum  under  certain  conditions.  Moreover,  we  be¬ 
lieve  druggists  are  generally  careful  in  the  exer¬ 
cise  of  their  discretion  as  to  the  sale  of  poisons. 
Therefore  the  remarks  of  the  magistrates  in  both 
these  cases,  implying  censure  of  the  druggists  who 
.sold  the  laudanum,  were  uncalled  for  so  far  as  the 
facts  are  made  known. 

*  u  Poison  Bill  for  Ireland,”  vide  Pharmaceutical  Jour¬ 
nal,  Yol.  XI.  p.  746. 


It  will  be  seen  from  the  report,  at  p.  334,  that  a 
correction  has  to  be  made  in  the  statement  that  the 
message  received  from  the  American  Pharmaceutical 
Association  was  an  answer  to  the  message  sent  by 
the  Conference  meeting  at  Liverpool.*  Both  mes¬ 
sages  were  sent  spoiitaneousl}r  and  almost  at  the 
same  moment. 


We  understand  that  Mr.  Wanklyn  is  a  candidate 
for  the  chair  of  Chemistry  connected  with  the  medi¬ 
cal  school  of  Bartholomew’s  Hospital.  Considering 
this  gentleman’s  reputation  at  home  and  abroad,  as 
well  as  the  importance  of  this  chair,  and  the  fact 
that  so  few  of  our  chemists,  who  hold  high  position, 
are  active  cultivators  of  their  science,  we  venture  to 
think  that  Mr.  Wanklyn’s  appointment  would  be  a 
step  well  calculated  to  make  good  the  great  loss  tliis 
school  has  suffered  in  the  death  of  Dr.  Matthiessex, 
and  for  that  reason  we  wish  him  all  success. 


Ax  interesting  letter  from  Mr.  Erxest  Hart  has 
appeared  in  the  British  Medical  Journal,  contain¬ 
ing  an  account  of  his  recent  visit  to  the  seat  of  war 
in  company  with  Mr.  Berkeley  Hill.  These 
gentlemen  took  with  them  private  stores  furnished 
by  Mr.  Hills  (Bell  and  Co.),  Messrs.  Savory  and 
Moore,  Mr,  Blaise  (Savigny  and  Co.),  Mr.  Edwin 
Arnold  and  Mr.  Vox  Glehn.  Mr.  Hart  was 
authorized  to  expend  a  certain  amount  of  money  on 
account  of  the  French  Committee,  and  Colonel 
Lindsay,  on  behalf  of  the  British  Society,  placed  at 
his  disposal  a  store  of  assorted  surgical  instruments, 
together  with  a  letter  authorizing  the  Society’s 
agents,  in  case  of  necessity,  to  furnish  what  stores 
they  could  spare  from  their  depots.  They  arrived 
immediately  after  the  battle  of  Sedan,  and  Mr.  Hart 
speaks  highly  of  the  arrangements  made  for  the  re¬ 
ception  of  the  wounded  by  the  Belgian  authorities. 


®wnsactians  of  %  flprairattcal  Sotiffg. 

EXAMINATION  IN  LONDON. 

October  lith,  1870. 

Present — Messrs.  Allchin,  Bird,  Carteigho,  Cracknell, 
Davenport,  Deane,  Edwards,  Gale,  Garle,  Haselden  and 
Ince. 

MODIFIED  EXAMINATION. 

Forty-five  Candidates  presented  themselves  for  Exa¬ 
mination  ;  the  following  thirty  passed,  and  were  duly 
registered  as 

CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS. 

Allsop,  George  William . Birmingham.] 

Booth,  Edwin  . Southport. 

Clark,  John  . Sheffield. 

Evans,  Gomer  . London. 

Farrer,  Robert  S . .  Brighton, 

Fewster,  William  Long  wood. .  Liverpool. 

Forster,  William  Day . Godaiming.  ! 

*  See  No.  15,  p.  297. 


•Equal.  Equal.  Equal.  Equal.  E-qual.  Equal.  Equal.Equal.  Equal.Equal,  Equals  Equal.Equal.  Equal.  Equal. 


32  S 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS 


[October  22,  1870, 


Fudge,  Charles  'William . Shepton  Mallet. 

Gregory,  John . Stockton-on-Tees. 

Ham,  William . London. 

Harland,  Richard  Thomas  ....  Geneva. 

Hughes,  William,  junior. ....  .Presteigne. 

Jones,  Ellis  . Bala. 

Feast,  Samuel  John . Camborne. 

Lidgctt,  Walter  Fletcher  ....  Leicester. 

Light,  John  Henry . Bristol. 

Manfull,  Horatio  John  . Nottingham. 

Mason,  Frederick . Rotherham. 

Oakey,  Joseph . Liverpool. 

Passingham,  George  William  .  London. 

Philpots,  George  Payne . Leyton  Green. 

Rowley,  Seth  Breaks  . London. 

Shirtliff,  Francis  . Blackheath. 

Sproat,  Robert . Hull. 

Stevens,  Edmund  Matthew  .  .London. 

Tabor,  Samuel . Reading. 

Thomas,  Horace  Alfred . Norwich. 

Walton,  Henry . Manchester. 

Wightman,  James  Temple. . .  .Whitehaven. 

Wilson,  Joseph  Gilpin  . Dublin. 

FIRST,  OR  PRELIMINARY  EXAMINATION. 

Two  hundred  and  twenty-four  Candidates  were  exrt- 
mined  ;  the  following  one  hundred  and  sixty-four  passed, 
and  were  registered  as 

APPRENTICES  OR  STUDENTS. 

Macaulay,  Joseph  John . Manchester. 

Martin,  William  Thomas  . . .  .Lewes. 

Maitland,  Leslie  . Aberdeen. 

{Bell,  Charles  John  . Wellingborough. 

Bendrigh,  John  Cuthbertson  . .  Sanquhar. 

Savory,  Harry  Banting . Painswick. 

|  Davies,  Arthur  . Swansea. 

Evans,  John  Watkin  . London. 

(  Ford,  Francis  . Pendleton. 

X  Jackson,  Henry  Lawson . Crediton. 

|  Clayton,  George  . Aberdeen. 

\  Giles,  William . Aberdeen. 

Blake,  Charles  Alexander  ....  London. 

Cassie,  Ralph  Jas.  Forbes  Leith  .  Aberdeen. 

(  Barron,  Alexander  . Aberdeen. 

\  Spencer,  James . Manchester, 

Cooper,  Frederick  Richard. . .  .Manchester. 

|  Cleaver,  Edward  Laurance. . .  .London. 

\  Fryer,  Charles  Hart. . . Norwich. 

(  Gostling,  William  Ayton  ....  Diss. 

(  Samson,  Ernest  . . .  ". . Bristol. 

Miller,  Nathaniel . Preston.  [chester. 

Willcock,  George . Bedford,  near  Man- 

(  Hall,  Henry  Stacey . Doncaster. 

\  Morrison,  William  Hay . Aberdeen. 

(  Hosie,  John  . Aberdeen. 

|  Hall,  Henry  Thomas  . Stafford. 

i  Allan,  Alexander  Stuart . Aberdeen. 

\  Glover,  William  . . . . .  .  .Newcastle,  Staffs. 

(  Heppell,  James  . Forest  Hill. 

Russell,  Matthew  Rawlings  ..Whitehaven. 

(  Bradley,  William . Dudley. 

|  Ellis,  Henry . Rochdale. 

(  Highmoor,  George  Samuel ....  Leeds. 

-^a8‘8‘>  William  Watkins . Edmonton  Green. 

/  ^°8'8'on>  George  . Newcastle-on-Tyne. 

\  Norman,  A\  illiarn  Haswell. . . . Wellingborough, 

1  Gilkes,  Frederick  George  . . .  .Banbury. 

\  Handford,  Joseph  John  . Gt,  Torrington. 

(  Sturton,  Richard . Cambridge. 

t  Bradshaw,  John  . Runcorn. 

<  Pauldcn,  Henry  . Liverpool. 

(  Sumner,  Robert  Mason  . Liverpool. 

(  Butler,  George  Henry . Christchurch. 

1  Cruickshank,  Joseph  . Aberdeen. 

Cruickshank,  William , , . . , . ,  Aberdeen, 


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Faiiman,  George  Peters . London. 

Norweb,  Artlnu-  . Nottingham. 

Stoddart,  Joseph  . Alresford. 

Marsh,  William  . Manchester. 

j  Braddock,  James . Manchester. 

{  Wren,  Henry  . Bermondsey. 

(  Ivirkby,  Robert . Ulverstone. 

I  Simpson,  James  . Foveran. 

SBartle,  William  Frederick  . .  .  .Tyldesley. 

Davies,  David  C . New  Quay. 

Inglis,.  William  . Ashton-under-Lyne. 

Oakes,  Henry  . Pickering. 

Emerson,  Isaac  Brown  . West  Hartlepool. 

\  Atkinson,  Miles  . Manchester. 

{  Southerst,  Marshall . Haslingden. 

Beck,  Alfred  Wallis . Norwich. 

Gordclier,  William  Gibbs  . . . .  Sitting-bourne. 

Willan,  Robert . Ulverstone. 

Ncwhill,  John  William  . Huddersfield. 

f  Stevens,  Richard . Leeds. 

(  Taylor,  Herbert  Edwin  . Hadleigh. 

Cullen,  Harry  . Tewkesbury. 

Cheyne,  Andrew  . Liverpool. 

[Harrison,  James  . Horncastle. 

|  Mills,  John  P . Taunton. 

(  Wilson,  Richard  Edward  . . .  .Newport,  Mon. 

t  Carr,  George . Sheffield. 

Chambers,  Pearson . Cockermouth. 

-j  Forth,  William  Pilcher  . Ashford. 

Fowler,  Thomas  . Torrington. 

''Holmes,  William  James . Bacup. 

Hope,  William  Hodgskin  . .  .  .Wellingborough. 

Fraser,  Andrew  . Aberdeen. 

(  Pattinson,  Dan . Whitehaven. 

(  Warrack,  Arthur  Forbes  . . .  .Aberdeen. 

Bull,  Edward  Samuel . Liverpool. 

Harsant,  Frank  Worsley  . . .  .Epsom. 

Herbert,  Samuel  . Bristol. 

(  Brown,  Frederick . Lincoln. 

Carruthers,  Robert  Buck  ....  Withington. 

i  Cruickshank,  George  . Aberdeen. 

V  Gordon,  John  . Aberdeen. 

j  Bates,  William  Richard . Liverpool. 

(  Price,  Benjamin  Meredith  ....  Hereford. 

Fegan,  John . . London. 

Abbott,  Thomas  Eastoe  . Darlington. 

Bradley,  J  ohn  . . Leeds. 

Broomhead,  George  Emmet  . .  Aberdeen. 

Dingle,  William  Alfred  . Ashton-under-Lyne.. 

Edey,  George  . Rochester. 

Minett,  Thomas  Samuel . East  Grinstead. 

Thompson,  Fred  . Sheffield. 

Walker,  George  . Doncaster. 

Watson,  Joseph  Henry  . Halifax. 

Woolley,  Harold . Manchester. 

Walton,  Major  Foulds . Sowerbv  Bridge. 

j  Crofts,  Henry  Baptist . Cranbrook. 

(  Cowe,  Samuel  M‘Cutchan  . . .  .Whitehaven. 

f  Hogg,  Edward  Grindle  . Ealing'. 

{  Marsh,  William  Henry  . Norwich. 

Coumbe,  John  Button . Plymouth. 

Lewis,  J oseph  . Milborne  Port. 

Newton,  John  Titus . Sedgley. 

Case,  Perkins  William  . Trowbridge. 

Twist,  Edward  Herbert  . Prescot. 

Sharp,  William  George  Graham  Birmingham. 

(  Eckersley,  Moses . Wigan. 

\  Evans,  David  . .  .Newcastle  Emlyn. 

f  Dunlop,  Thomas  Hall . Newcastle-on-Tyne. 

X  Weeding,  William  Samuel ....  Hastings. 

f  Bannard,  Henry  . London. 

Davez,  Thomas  Scrcombc  ....  Exeter. 

Gooding,  Henry  . Woburn. 

Hope,  John  Hart . Wellingborough. 

Kirton,  Richard  Gervase . Boston. 

Storey,  John  Charles  . Hull. 

kWilmer,  Frederick  Joseph  . . .  .Newport  Pagnel'. 


October  22,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


329 


(Forsbrook,  William  Henry  . .  Birmingham. 

Grove,  Harry  Nicholas  . Walsall. 

Roberts,  David  Prosser  . Hereford. 

Hambridge,  Thomas  . Tottenham. 

^  (  Bake,  Alfred  Benjamin  . Guildford. 

| }  Christie,  James . Aberdeen. 

w  (  Avison,  David  . Wakefield. 

!  Bristow,  Charles  Robert . Ryde,  Isle  of  Wight. 

Lund,  Richard  John  . Leeds. 

Severs,  Samuel  Thomas . Leeds. 

Wheeler,  William  Henry  ....  Bristol. 

Woolldridge,  George  . Birmingham. 

Haworth,  Edwin . Oswaldtwistlo. 

Gould,  Henry  Thomas  . Newport,  I.  W. 

Broadbent,  Sidney  . Saddlcworth. 

f  Boulton,  Henry  Hamer  . London. 

Bunn,  Charles  Grinling . Colchester. 

Hethcrington,  Martin  Luther  .  Highbury. 

Howard,  George  . Havant. 


T0 
a * 


cc 

3 

cr 

& 


c* 

-W 


Hodgson,  Alfred  . York. 


}{ 


§  / 


-w 


Jameson,  William  Edward  . . .  .Bristol. 

Mills,  Robert . London. 

Urwin,  James  Alexander  ....  Harton. 

Pott,  Frederick  Fore  . London. 

Clarke,  Thomas  Edward . Shrewsbury. 

Hargreaves,  Joseph . Liverpool. 

•3  |  Holgate,  Sam  . York. 

J*  1  Harry,  Seth  . Gravesend. 

/  Kirkwood,  Daniel . Beith. 

Bumpstead,  Robert  George. . .  .Colchester. 

Fox,  William . Grantham. 

Harrison,  William  Hopper ....  Barnstaple. 

Husband,  John  Cecil  . Berwick-on-Tweed. 

Jeffery,  Henry  Thomas  . Tring. 

Macdonald,  George  Edward  . .  Ashton-under-Lyne. 

Smith,  Arthur  John . London. 

Stephan,  William  Henry  ....  Chipping  Norton. 

Stubbs,  Edwin . Hull. 

Thompson,  Lawrence  Joseph.  .Thirsk. 

Walbran,  Francis  Maxwell. .  .  .Leeds. 

The  Certificates  of  Examination  of  the  following  by 
other  bodies  were  accepted  in  lieu  of  the  Society’s  Pre¬ 
liminary  Examination  : — 

Birch,  Charles  . Chesterfield. 

Cogman,  Charles . London. 

Lansdalc,  John  Anstey  . High  Wycombe. 

Overton,  Charles  Arthur . Horncastle. 

Utting,  Charles  Edward . Diss. 

Walton,  Thomas  . Bishopwcarmouth. 

Webb,  Herbert  Charles  . London. 


The  Questions  for  Examination  were  as  follows. 

Time  allowed :  Three  Hours. 

LATIN. 

Translate  into  English  two  or  more  of  the  following  sen¬ 
tences  : — 

1.  Ita  dies  circiter  quindecim  iter  fecerunt,  uti, 
inter  novissimum  hostium  agmen  ct  nostrum  primum, 
non  amplius  quinis  aut  senis  millibus  passuum  in- 
teresset. 

2.  Quos  quum  apud  se  in  castris  Ariovistus  con- 
spexisset,  exercitu  suo  praisente,  conclamavit :  Quid 
ad  se  venirent  F  an  speculandi  causa  F  Conantes  di- 
cere  prohibuit,  et  in  catenas  conjecit. 

3.  Liquorem  ammonia?  spii'itu  miscc :  turn  ex  ro- 
torta  vitrea,  lento  igne,  destillet  octarius ;  denique  in 
hoc  liqua  camphoram. 

4.  Optime  terantur  simul,  dein  in  pulvercs  octo 
mquales  dividentur,  quorum  capiat  aeger  unurn  omni 
hora?  quadrante,  donee  adsit  catharsis. 

5.  Decline  cyathus  vinarius. 

6.  State  the  superlatives  of  bom:-s,  multus  and  nc- 
qnam. 

7.  Give  the  accusative  endings  of  the  five  declen¬ 
sions. 


8.  Give  the  third  persons  singular  and  plural,  indi¬ 
cative  mood,  present  tense  of  capio,  sumo ,  adhibeo  and 
coy  i  to. 

■9.  How  does  the  relative  agree  with  the  antecedent  F 
Give  an  example  in  Latin. 

ARITHMETIC. 

10.  A  cow  and  a  calf  were  worth  £16.  7s.  10|c/. : 
the  calf  alone  was  worth  £2.  6s.  7 what  was  the 
value  of  the  cow  F 

11.  A  wall  28  feet  in  height  was  built  in  15  days  by 
68  men;  how  many  men  working  at  the  same  rate 
could  build  a  wall  32  feet  high  in  8  days  P 

12.  Reduce  ykVV  to  its  lowest  terms. 

13.  Multiply  3§  by  4^-. 

14.  Divide  207T5975  by  1-25. 

ENGLISH. 

15.  Name  the  relative  pronouns;  why  are  they  so 
called  ? 

16.  Give  the  masculine  nouns  corresponding  to 
duchess,  heifer,  witch  and  roe,  and  the  feminine  to 
beau,  lord,  master  and  executor. 

17.  How  are  the  comparative  and  superlative  de¬ 
grees  formed  F  Give  examples,  and  state  what  change 
takes  place  in  dissyllables  in  y. 

18.  What  is  meant  by  a  neuter  verb  F  and  write 
down  a  sentence  containing  one. 

19.  Parse  the  following : — The  Imperial  troops  took 
possession  of  the  bridge. 

20.  Write  from  15  to  25  lines  upon  one  only  of  the 
following  subjects  : — 

a.  War  and  the  consequences  thereof. 

b.  Steam,  its  advantages  and  disadvantages. 

e.  The  holiday  trip. 


EXAMINATION  IN  EDINBURGPI. 

October  11th ,  1870. 

Present — Messrs.  Aitken,  Baildon,  Brown,  Buchanan, 
Kemp,  and  Young. 

Twenty-two  Candidates  were  examined — two  Major, 
six  Minor,  nine  Modified,  and  five  Preliminary  ;  the  fol¬ 
lowing  passed :  — 

MAJOR  (registered  as  Pharmaceutical  Chemists). 

Paton,  James . . Edinburgh. 

Robinson,  Janies  . Darlington. 

MINOR  (registered  as  Chemists  and  Druggists). 

*Oscroft,  James . Salford. 

Brewis,  Thomas  . Rothbury. 

Elder,  William  Nind  . Pultency  Town. 

Straehan,  Alexander  . Aberdeen. 

MODIFIED  (registered  as  Chemists  and  Druggists). 

Cant,  David  . Forfar. 

Clarke,  Joseph  Adam . Glasgow. 

Clarkson,  Thomas  . Hartlepool. 

Coates,  Joseph . Newcastle. 

Purdic,  James  . Glasgow. 

Sibthorp,  Stephen  James  Ken¬ 
neth  . .  Glasgow. 

Tocher,  George . Portobello. 

PRELIMINARY  (registered  as  Apprentices  or 

Students) . 

Attwood,  Henry  Ernest . Edinburgh. 

Forewell,  Henry . Edinburgh. 

Linklater,  James . Edinburgh. 

M‘Glashan,  Alexander  . Perth. 


Erratum. — Page  309,  col.  2,  linos  13  and  14, 

for  Martin,  John . Seacombe. 

Miller,  William  Henry  . . .  .Ridgeway. 

read 

Martin,  John . Ridge  w  a) . 

Miller,  William  Henry - Seacombe. 


*  Passed  with  honours. 


330 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS 


[October  2.2,  1870. 


PHARMACEUTICAL  EDUlA? 

TABULATED  RETURNS  PROM  PROFIT 

(The  Numbers  op  Students  rjL 


NAME  OF  SOCIETY  AND 
YEAR  OF  ESTABLISH¬ 
MENT. 

Aberdeen  .... 

Society  of  Chemists  and 
Druggists  (1839). 

Ashton -rxDER- 

Ashton-under- Lyne  and 

Lyne. 

Dukinfield  Chemists’ 
Association  (1869) 

Bath  . 

Chemists’  Assoc.  (1864). 

Birmingham  . . 

Midland  Counties  Che¬ 
mists’  Assoc.  (1869) . . 
Chemists’  Assistants’  As¬ 
sociation  (1868) 

Bradford  .... 

Chemists’  Association 

Bristol . 

Pharmaceutical  Associa¬ 
tion  (re-estab.  1869) 

Colchester  . . 

Association  of  Chemists 
and  Druggists  (1845) 
Chemists  and  Druggists’ 
Association. 

Dundee  . 

Edinburgh  . . 

Exeter . 

Exctor  Pharmaceutical 
Society  (1845) 

Glasgow  .... 

Gosport . 

Chemists  and  Druggists’ 
Mutual  Improvement 
Association  (1854) 

Halifax  .... 

Halifax  and  District  Che¬ 
mists  and  Druggists’ 
Association  (1868) 

Hull  . . . . 

Chemists’  Assoc.  (1868) . 

Leeds  ........ 

Chemists’  Association 
(1862) 

Leicester  .... 

Chemists’  Assistants  and 
Apprentices’  Associa- 
^  tion  (1869)  (/) 
Chemists’  Assoc.  (1868) . 

Liverpool  .... 

Manchester  . . 

Chemists  and  Druggists’ 
Association  .  ; 

Newcastle-on- 
Tyne . 

University  of  Durham . . 

Nottingham  . . 

Nottingham  and  Notts  j 
Chemists’  Association  .  1 

Plymouth  (/) 

Association  of  Chemists  j 
for  Plymouth,  Devon-  1 
port  and  Storehouse 

Scarborough.  . 

Chemists’  Assoc.  (1870) . 

Sheffield  .... 

Pharmaceutical  and  Che¬ 
mical  Association 

Sunderland  . . 

Chemists’  Association  . 

Taunton  .... 

Chemists’  Assoc.  (1870) . 

York . 

Chemists’  Association  . . 

PREPARATION  FOR  THE 
PRELIMINARY  EXAMINATION. 


CHEMISTRY  (Inorganic  axd  Oi  51C)  |  ■" 


Teacher. 


Fee. 


U 

2 

O 


£ 

O 


CD 


Mr.  Roy 


Mr.  J.  Trotter 
(Latin  only.) 


W.  Skae,  M. A. . . 


Mr.  Gibb  (/<) 
(Latin  only.) 


Mr.  Megilley  . . 


Mr.  W.  B.  Clark 
Mr.  Cooper  (Latin) 


Pr.Wilkins,  M.  A. 
A.  Symonils,B.A. 
(Latin  only.) 


Mr.  Cokayne 
(Latin  only.) 


5  s. 

per  qr. 


9  r.M. 


8.30 

P.M. 


31*.6rf. 


5s.  per 
Sess. 


A  42^. 
B  2U. 


1  os. 


10  5. 


& 

CD 

&  . 


<D 

°.  £ 
o  © 
£ 


a 

o 

GO 

CO 

<D 


o 


34 


Teacher. 


Fee. 


u 

3 

o 

w 


© 

F* 

a 


o 

© 


4  |  Dr.  Beveridge  (a) 

woelcl\ 

(*) 


Various  .  .  .  . 


8-9 

P.M. 


8-10 

6-8 


8.30- 

10.30 

ditto 


7.30 

r.M. 


9-10 

P.M. 


10 


5 

3 


20 


27 


d  mo. 


daily. 


50 


26 

13 


6 

5 


27 


26 


(c) 


Geo.  Ward, F.C.S. 

Thos.  Coomber . . 


(/) 

iff) 


Mr.  Jarmain  (A) 


W.  A.  Rudd,  (0 
M.R.C.S.  Includ 
G.  Ward,  F.  C.S.  a 
Mr.  Jefferson,  \ 
F.C.S.  J 


Mr.  G. Ward  Org. 


Mr.  Josh.  Young 


Includes  P 
Edward  Davies, 
F.C.S. 

Professor  Roscoe, 
F.R.S. 

C.  Schorlemmer 
A.  Freire-Mar- 
reco,  M.A. 


C 

C 

X 


V 

© 

c 


c 


— \ 


(d) 

•W 


425. 


05.  per 
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8.30 


In. 

8.  p.m.  26  >  30 


10  A.M. 


215. 
es  Prac. 

r2U 


1-1  [05. 

105. 6  d. 


Mr.  Taylor 
Mr.  Ryder. 


Mr.  Geo.  Harri- 
•  son,  F.C.S. 


rac.  Che 
free 


155. 


(*) 


OS. 

105. 


El.  8-9 
Adv. 
8.30- 

9.30 
8-10p.m. 
Ch.,  Mat. 

8.15- 
10 

8-10 
8.30- 
9.45 
8.30- 

10.30 

mistry. 

7-8 

P.M. 

8.30 
r.M. 


4  P.M. 


8-9 

P.M. 


and 


1 . 


It, 

iiSI 


K 

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•  - » 11111 

i 


105.6c/.  9-10 


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(a)  These  classes  are  in  connection  with  the  Mechanics’ 
Institution. 

(b)  Students  attend  the  classes  in  Manchester,  the  distance 
being  six  miles. 


(d)  Fee  for  Chemistry  and  Botany,  inclusive,  5s. 

( e )  Fee  for  Chemistry  and  Botany,  inclusive,  os.  See  Jjj® 


I  * 

k 


on  page  332 

Therear^l^T^^H^^G^^DLciasae 


nail 


1  T-  ■ 


* 


October  22,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


331 


IN  THE  PROVINCES. 

L  ASSOCIATIONS. - SESSION  1869  1870. 

t those  engaged  in  Pharmacy.) 


:IIEMISTRY  (Practical). 


MATERIA  ME DIC A  AND  PHARMACY". 


acher. 


Fee. 


M 


v. 

0 

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© 

u 

0 


© 

© 


0 

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0Q  £ 

V-4  © 

0.  £ 
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Teacher. 


<M  1 

o 


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fc-l 


rlltellOUSC  10  s. 


8  P.M. 


6  13 


Dr.  Beveridge 
(rt)  Including 


(*) 


W.J.  Churchill  nom. 


Fee. 


Vi 

0 

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0 

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V-l  © 
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BOTANY. 


Teacher. 


Fee, 


Vi 

33 

O 

X 


© 

© 

Hi 


21s. 

Botany. 


18 

Does  no  t  includ|e  Pharm'acy. 


7-9 

P.M. 


8 


3 

weekly 


Included  in  Mat.  M  ed.  and 

(*) 


14 


_  T3 

m  £ 


O  # 


o  © 
& 


© 

© 


H3 

© 


V-i 

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© 

&  • 

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II 

o  ^ 
H 


00 


L.C.Miall,F.L.S. 


A.  Leipner 


00 


(0 


8.30 


8  P.M. 


33 


20 


14 


13 


14 

26 


52  108 


M 


W.  Laird 


R. 


.  Moffat, 


PD.,F.R.S.E. 


free 
42s.  11  a.m, 


21s. 


9.30 

P.M. 


50 


13 


25 


42  s. 


9  A.M. 


14 


100 


(/) 

($0 


42s.  8  a.m. 


13 


50 


300 


Geo. “Ward, 
C.S. 


(0 

21s. 


(0 


7.30- 

10 


31 


1  ward  Davies 


^  F  reire-Mar- 
eco,  M.A. 


63s. 


7-9 

r.M. 


5  26 


Mr.  Torbitt 


(*) 


9.30 

A.M. 


16 


42s. 

Botany. 

15s. 


50 


Dr.  Carter . . , . 

Includes 

Mr.  Somers  . . 

Does  not  inc  lude  Pb 

T.  Humble, 

M.D. 

Materia  Mediea. 

B.  S.  Proctor 
Pharmacy. 


Mr.  Walker 


5s.  per 
Sess. 


8.30- 

10 


13 


25 


85 


J.  C.  Niven  . . . . 


6s. 


6.30- 
7-30  A.M 


24 


16 


8.30- 

10.30 


Mr.  Hughes  . . 


(*) 


free 


7-9 

P.M. 

8.35 

armacy. 


2 

20 


16 


4.0 
7.30 
9-10  30 


Mr.  W.  E.  Hill . 


26 

27 


8.30- 

10.30 


6 


21 


Included  in  Mat.  M  ed.  and 

15  s. 


Prof.  Williamson, 
F.R.S. 


J.  Thornhill  . . . . 
W.  Arnison,  M.D. 


Dr.  Burnie  ....  free 


Pharma 

7.30 


cy- 

21 


}(*) 


3  P.M. 


9-10 


F.  P.  Balkwill  . .  Sys.5s.  10-12 


Ee.  and  Struc.  . .  5s. 


27 


67 

81 


16 


300 


30 


16 


62 


13 


7-8.30  13 


30 

30 


Ward 


free 


9-10 


30  12 


Mr.  Gowland,  10s.  6(7.  9-10  15 

F.C.S. 


12 


Mr.  Bilks . 10s.  6(7. 


9-10 


22 


10 


46 


T( 


ISt 


itlicrto  supplied  students  with  lectures  in  Latin,  Che 

RT1  C\  ■  1  1  XT  ll  lit  til  A  1  1  I  1  cm  *  \  rtiirt  L  r.  HMr,  f  1  n  T\/\l»t  1  /IT 


oiuuumg  nun  1CUIIUC5  ill  XJiiiiii;  \>iiv- 

and  Botany,  but  the  business  hours  of  a  large  portion 
trade  are  such  as  to  prevent  many  from  taking  advan- 

?  fhom 


m 


Practical),  Materia  Mediea  and  Pharmacy,  and  the  fee  is  21s. 
(j)  The  classes  are  free  to  all  members  of  the  Association, 
(it)  The  fee  of  £6. 6s.  entitles  to  admission  to  all  the  classes. 
See  additional  note. 


332 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  22,  1870, 


PHARMACEUTICAL  EDUCATION  IN  THE 
PROVINCES. 

The  following  is  an  epitome  of  the  additional  informa¬ 
tion  furnished  by  the  various  societies : — 

Aberdeen. — The  Latin  class  is  spoken  of  favourably  by 
the  teacher.  In  the  Chemistry  (Organic  and  Inorganic) 
-class  two  students  have  received  second-class  government 
certificates,  and  a  large  number  intend  applying  for  the 
Preliminary  Examination  in  October  next.  The  Library 
is  a  very  select  and  valuable  one,  numbering  300  volumes, 
and  is  well  used.  It  is  open  once  a  week  from  8  to  9 
p.m.,  and  for  reference  during  the  meeting-  of  the  classes. 
Books  may  be  obtained  at  other  times  by  giving  an  hour’s 
notice.  There  is  but  a  mere  commencement  of  a  museum. 
This  Society  was  established  in  1839,  before  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society ;  and  Mr.  J ohn  Mackay,  in  his  evidence 
before  the  House  of  Commons,  referred  to  the  benefits 
which  had  followed  its  institution.  The  members  for¬ 
merly  paid  an  entrance  fee  of  £2.  2s.  and  an  annual 
subscription  of  lO.s.  6d.,  but  this  year  the  entrance  fee 
has  been  abolished.  The  assistants  are  allowed  the  use 
of  the  class-room ;  they  meet  fortnightly  in  the  winter 
months,  and  monthly  during  the  remainder  of  the  year, 
when  papers  are  read  and  subjects  discussed  in  connec¬ 
tion  with  the  business.  The  greatest  wants  are  a  mu¬ 
seum  and  a  Practical  Chemistry  class. 

Ashton-under-Lyne  and  Dakin  field.  —  There  are  no 
classes  immediately  connected  with  this  Association. 
Some  students  attend  the  Manchester  classes,  others  are 
preparing  for  the  Preliminary  Examination  by  private 
tuition.  No  library  or  museum.  Several  lectures  on 
chemistry  and  kindred  subjects  were  delivered  during 
last  session,  which  were  well  attended. 

Bath. — A  small  library,  from  which  books  may  be 
obtained  at  any  time ;  it  is  not  much  used.  No  museum. 

Birmingham. — (1.)  The  Midland  Counties  Chemists’  As¬ 
sociation  was  established  last  year  mainly  for  the  protec¬ 
tion  of  trade  interests.  Arrangements  have  been  made 
with  Dr.  Alfred  Hill  for  the  delivery  of  a  course  of  twelve 
lectures,  commencing  the  5th  of  October,  on  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Chemistry,  in  his  laboratory  at  the  Queen’s  Col¬ 
lege.  (2.)  The  Chemists  Assistants’  Association  report 
that  those  attending  the  lectures  on  Materia  Medica  in 
connection  with  it  have  found  them  of  great  assistance 
in  preparing  for  their  examinations.  There  is  no  library 
at  present,  but  the  formation  of  one  is  contemplated.  A 
small  museum.  There  are  also  classes  and  lectures  in 
connection  with  the  Midland  Institute,  comprising  Che¬ 
mistry,  Botany  and  Latin,  which  are  well  attended  by 
-chemists’  assistants  in  Birmingham. 

Bradford. — The  payment  of  5s.  annually  by  Appren¬ 
tices  and  Associates  as  members  of  the  Society  entitles 
them  to  free  admission  to  the  classes.  Two  Associates 
have  passed  the  Modified  and  one  the  Major  Examina¬ 
tion.  No  library  or  museum. 

_  Bristol. — The  classes  are  the  science  classes  in  connec¬ 
tion  with  the  Educational  Department  of  the  Govern¬ 
ment.  The  Council  have  arranged  with  the  two  pro¬ 
fessors,  that  by  the  payment  of  a  lump  sum  they  should 
be  entitled  to  send  to  their  lectures  any  number  of  phar¬ 
maceutical  students.  Of  the  26  who  entered  for  Inor¬ 
ganic  Chemistry,  12  underwent  the  Government  examina¬ 
tion,  of  whom  11  passed  and  1  failed.  In  Organic  Che¬ 
mistry,  out  of  9,  8  were  examined,  7  passed  and  1  failed. 
Jn  Botany,  8  were  examined,  2  passed.  The  details  of 
these  examinations  will  be  found  reported,  Pharm. 
Journ.  No.  9,  p.  173.  No  library  or  museum. 

Colchester. — No  educational  organization.  The  library, 
numbering  about  300  volumes,  is  open  daily,  and  con¬ 
tains  the  books  required  in  preparing  for  the  Society"’ s 
examinations.  The  number  of  books  issued  last  year 
was  164.  No  museum. 

Edinburgh. — The  North  British  Branch  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society  at  Edinburgh  has  a  library  in  which 
there  are  upwards  of  250  volumes.  These  are  available 


to  all  members,  associates  and  apprentices  of  the  Society'. 
There  is  also  a  museum,  containing  more  than  400  spe¬ 
cimens,  which  is  open  to  all  students  in  pharmacy  on 
application  to  the  Secretary'.  The  books  ax-c  not  much 
used,  although  there  are  constantly'  several  volumes  in 
circulation.  The  museum  is  in  x-equest  generally  by 
those  who  are  preparing  for  their  examination.  Some 
y'ears  ago  an  effort  was  made  to  open  special  classes 
in.  the  evening  for  y'oung  men.  At  first  this  was  suc¬ 
cessful,  but  the  attendance  became  gradually  so  thin 
that  they  were  given  up.  Since  then  no  separate  classes 
have  been  opened,  but  the  University  and  other  lectures 
have  been  attended  by'  Pharmaceutical  students.  Last 
session  admission  was  given  to  regular  courses  on  matei-ia 
medica,  chemistry  and  botany',  at  the  reduced  fee  of 
£2.  2s.,  to  all  who  were  engaged  in  the  study'  of  pharmacy. 
It  is  hoped  that  similar  arrangements  may  be  made  for 
next  session.  It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  in  a  place 
like  Edinburgh,  young  men  have  a  choice  of  teachers, 
and  as  no  special  lecturers  are  named  by'  the  Society, 
they'  may  and  do  attend  any'  class  they'  please.  In  re¬ 
gal'd  to  education  for  the  Preliminary  examination,  there 
are  opportunities  given  for  instruction  in  Latin.  One 
gentleman  advertises  a  class,  at  a  suitable  hour,  for  per¬ 
sons  preparing  for  the  Preliminary'  examination ;  and  also 
for  those  who,  wishing  to  pass  the  Minor,  may  require  to 
study  a  short  time  to  enable  them  to  pass  the  classical : 
fee  31^.  Gd.  per  quai'ter. 

N.B. — By  the  kind  permission  of  Pi’ofessor  Archer, 
students  in  pharmacy'  have  the  privilege  of  inspecting 
the  valuable  collection  of  materia  medica  and  other  spe¬ 
cimens  in  the  Edinburgh  Museum  of  Science  and  Art. 

Exeter. — No  educational  oi'ganization  in  connection 
with  the  Society,  but  there  are  classes  for  Chemistry  and 
Botany  at  the  School  of  Science.  About  120  books  be¬ 
longing  to  the  Society'  have  hitherto  been  kept  in  the 
counting-house  of  one  of  the  members ;  efforts  are  being- 
made  to  provide  a  more  convenient  place  for  inference 
and  study'.  No  museum. 

Glasgoiv. — Andei'son’s  University'  and  the  Mechanics’ 
Institute  have  hitherto  supplied  students  with  education 
in  Latin,  Chemistry  and  Botany',  but  the  business  hours 
of  a  large  portion  of  the  trade  are  such  as  to  prevent 
many'  from  taking  advantage  of  them.  There  are  no 
classes  for  Materia  Medica  or  Pharmacy',  except  at  the 
Universities,  where  the  houx-s  and  fees  are  both  unsuit¬ 
able.  No  library  or  museum. 

Gosport. — Only  a  trade  society'  for  the  x-egulation  of 
prices. 

Halifax. — The  classes  in  Chemistry  and  Latin  are  in 
connection  with  Haley'  Hill  College.  The  class  in  Botany 
is  founded  by  the  Association,  and  any'  deficiency'  is  sup¬ 
plied  from  its  funds.  Two  great  obstacles  exist,  prevent¬ 
ing  that  thorough  application  of  the  young  men  to  their 
studies  which  is  now  so  much  needed.  One  obstacle  is 
the  apathy'  of  a  great  proportion  of  them,  and  the  other 
is  the  late  business  hours  of  the  ti-ade.  Great  efforts  are 
at  present  being  made  to  remove  both  these  barriers. 
Special  pi'izes  will  be  offex-ed  for  competition  at  the  end  of 
the  present  session,  which  it  is  hoped  will  rouse  the  spirit 
of  the  students,  and  a  movement  is  on  foot  “  which  has 
fair  prospects  of  success”  for  an  earlier  uniform  closing- 
hour.  No  library'  or  museum. 

Hull. — The  fees  received  from  the  classes  do  not  pay 
much  more  than  half  the  expenses,  the  deficiency  being 
made  up  by'  subscriptions.  The  past  session  is  looked  on 
as  a  success  by  the  Committee,  but  it  is  doubtful  whether 
the  institution  can  be  kept  up  without  further  aid.  The 
lectures  on  Botany  are  given  in  the  Hull  Botanical  Gar¬ 
dens,  where  there  is  a  splendid  collection  of  plants  and 
an  able  curator.  The  average  attendance  at  the  Che¬ 
mistry  class  is  14;  at  the  Botany'  class,  15.  The  pi*o- 
g-ress  of  the  students  is  spoken  of  by  the  teachers  as 
satisfactory'.  No  library',  but  a  few  books  ax-c  promised. 
No  museum. 

Leeds. — Chemistry'  classes  arc  conducted  at  two  Insti- 


October  22, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


333 


tutions  in  the  town  (the  Mechanics’  Institute  and  the 
Young  Men’s  Christian  Association),  and  Associates  of 
the  Society  are  allowed  to  attend  either  course  on  the 
same  terms  as  the  members  of  the  respective  societies. 
In  a  letter  to  the  Secretary,  Mr.  George  Ward  says, 
“Several  of  the  students  distinguished  themselves  "by 
their  success  at  the  examinations  in  connection  with  the 
Science  and  Art  Department,  and  on  the  whole  their  at¬ 
tention  to  the  subjects  of  study  was  highly  satisfactory. 
The  interest  manifested  in  the  organic  branch  of  the 
science  was  not  equal  by  any  means  to  that  shown  in  the 
inorganic  and  practical.”  The  students  in  Mr.  Jefferson's 
class  were  also  very  successful  at  the  examinations. 
There  is  a  library  of  about  180  hooks,  which  can  he  ob¬ 
tained  between  9  a.m.  and  10  p.m.  It  is  also  open  as  a 
reading-room  from  8  to  10  p.m.  The  number  of  books 
issued  in  1869  was  170.  The  museum  consists  of  a  materia 
mediea  cabinet,  containing  226  specimens,  neatly  ar¬ 
ranged  and  labelled,  in  bottles  and  glass  tubes,  and 
various  other  articles.  This  collection  was  made  by  the 
Associates. 

Leicester. — Of  25  assistants  and  apprentices  who  are 
members  of  this  Association,  9  have  passed  eleven  exami¬ 
nations  during  the  last  half-year,  viz.  3  Minor,  2  Modi¬ 
fied  and  6  Preliminary.  A  prize  of  os.  has  been  given 
in  each  class  at  the  close  of  the  last  two  sessions.  Some 
assistance  is  rendered  to  the  Association  by  the  sub¬ 
scriptions  of  employers  as  honorary  members.  The 
library  numbers  twelve  volumes,  and  is  open  once  a 
week ;  subscription  Id.  per  week.  There  have  been  36 
issues  of  books  during  the  last  six  months.  The  museum 
consists  of  one  of  Evans,  Lescher,  and  Evans’  50 s.  cabi¬ 
nets  of  materia  mediea. 

Liverpool. — In  1868-69  two  members  passed  the  Minor 
Examination,  and  in  1869-70  two  more  passed.  There 
is  a  library  of  566  volumes,  open  every  day  from  9  to  5, 
and  on  meeting  nights  from  7  to  10 ;  there  have  been 
290  issues  of  books  in  1868-69.  The  museum  contains  a 
complete  illustration  of  the  materia  mediea  of  the  British 
Pharmacopoeia,  and  a  good  general  collection  of  chemical 
and  materia  mediea  specimens. 

Manchester. — Tn  1868-69  the  lectures,  in  consequence 
of  the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy  Act  and  the  small  fees 
demanded,  were  largely  attended,  but  were  not  self- 
supporting,  the  deficiency  being  made  up  by  the  Asso¬ 
ciation.  The  classes  are  now  arranged  in  connection 
with  Owens  College,  that  institution  taking  the  fees  and 
supplying  the  instruction.  A  chair  of  Pharmacy  has 
been  established  at  the  suggestion  of  the  Association. 
Great  efforts  are  now  being  made  to  form  a  good  library 
and  museum.  About  £70  has  been  collected,  and  a  suit¬ 
able  room  engaged  at  a  rent  of  £25  per  annum.  The 
library  at  present  consists  of  about  70  valuable  works  of 
reference;  the  museum  of  about  130  furnished  drawers, 
similar  to  those  at  Bloomsbury  Square,  and  50  dried  and 
mounted  medicinal  plants.  They  arc  open  three  even¬ 
ings  a  week  from  6  to  10. 

Newcastle-on  -  Tyne. — The  classes  for  pharmaceutical 
education  are  in  connection  with  the  Pharmacy  section 
of  the  Durham  University  College  of  Medicine,  whose 
head-quarters  arc  in  Newcastle.  To  meet  the  require¬ 
ments  of  “students  in  pharmacy”  a  lectureship  in  Prac¬ 
tical  Pharmacy  has  been  instituted  by  the  Senate  of  the 
University,  a  curriculum  for  such  students  has  been  re¬ 
cognised,  and  the  lecture  hours  have  been  arranged  a§ 
far  as  practicable  to  suit  their  convenience.  A  winter¬ 
evening  course  of  lectures  on  Chemical  Physics,  by  A. 
Freire-Marreco,  M.A.,  Reader  in  Chemistry  in  Durham 
University,  is  not  included  in  the  tabulated  return.  There 
is  a  museum  of  materia  mediea,  containing  about  360 
specimens,  of  which  200  are  organic,  the  remainder  che¬ 
mical.  Most  of  the  specimens  are  good,  both  in  quality 
and  size,  and  are  enclosed  in  the  usual  museum  jars,  ar¬ 
ranged  in  glass  cases  at  one  end  of  the  library.  The 
specimens  of  organic  materia  mediea  were  presented  to 
the  College  some  years  ago  by  Mr.  H.  B.  Brady,  and  re¬ 


quire  some  additions  to  make  the  collection  completely 
represent  the  organic  materia  mediea  of  the  present 
Pharmacopoeia.  The  Library  consists  of  several  hundred 
volumes,  but  being  the  library  of  a  medical  college,  to 
which  pharmacy  has  only  recently  been  added,  it  is  as 
yet  destitute  of  works  suited  to  pharmacy  students. 

Nottingham. — The  classes,  confined  to  apprentices, 
most  of  them  very  young,  have  been  successful,  and  the 
examinations  very  satisfactory.  Arrangements  are  in 
progress  for  fitting  up  class  and  reading-rooms,  library 
and  museum.  It  is  intended  to  institute  during  the 
winter  months  classes  for  the  Preliminary  Examination, 
Inorganic  Chemistry  and  Pharmacy.  Classes  for  Botany 
and  Materia  Mediea  are  to  commence  in  February,  and 
continue  during  the  spring  and  summer  months.  The 
library  contains  74  volumes,  and  is  open  four  times  a 
week.  Museum  very  small. 

Plymouth. — The  Chemistry  and  Botany  classes  are  in 
connection  with  the  Science  School.  No  library.  The 
Museum  consists  of  a  case  presented  by  Mr.  H.  S.  Evans. 

Scarborough. — An  attempt  will  be  made  to  form  a  class 
during  the  winter.  No  library  or  museum. 

Sheffield. — A  collection  of  specimens  of  materia  me- 
dica,  chemical  and  pharmaceutical  preparations,  forming 
the  nucleus  of  a  museum.  Also  a  small  library,  of  65 
volumes,  which  it  is  intended  to  increase  largely.  The 
reading-room  is  open  once  a  week  from  8  to  10  p.m.,  but 
not  much  used.  The  Association  also  possesses  a  valuable 
microscope,  which  is  lent  to  members  on  certain  con¬ 
ditions.  The  educational  course  is  not  duly  appreciated. 
The  young  men  are  evidently  not  fully  awake  to  the  re¬ 
quirements  of  the  Pharmacy  Act.  The  advantages  of  the 
classes  have  not  been  sought  by  those  living  in  neigh¬ 
bouring  towns.  Access  to  the  library  and  museum  for 
purposes  of  reference  may  be  had  by  members. 

Sunderland. — The  Society  has  two  rooms,  one  for  read¬ 
ing  and  the  other  for  classes,  open  every  evening.  The 
nucleus  of  a  library  has  been  formed,  consisting  of  40 
volumes,  which  it  is  expected  will  be  increased  by  dona¬ 
tions  from  the  members.  A  cabinet  of  materia  mediea,  and 
a  few  specimens  of  chemicals,  form  the  museum.  Arrange¬ 
ments  are  being  made  to  form  classes  for  the  Preliminary 
examination  during  the  ensuing  winter. 

Taunton. — Only  a  trade  association,  with  no  organiza¬ 
tion  for  educational  purposes. 

f  mtaciitl  ®raimi.ctioits. 

SUNDERLAND  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  First  General  Meeting  of  the  Session  1870-71 
was  held  in  the  Society’s  Rooms,  Fawcett  Street,  on 
Monday  evening,  October  10th;  Harrison  Thompson, 
Esq.,  Vice-President,  in  the  chair. 

Mr.  J.  J.  Nicholson  read  a  paper  on  the  “Advance- 
of  Practical  Chemistry  during  the  past  Year,”;  describ¬ 
ing  some  of  the  novelties  shown  at  the  exhibition  of 
pharmacy  at  Liverpool ;  and  explaining,  by  the  aid  of 
diagrams  and  specimens,  the  process  for  the  manufacture 
of  alizarine  from  coal  tar;  Mond’s  process  for  the  re¬ 
covery  of  the  waste  sulphur  in  alkali  works ;  and 
Weldon’s  and  Deacon’s  methods  for  the  continuous  pro¬ 
duction  of  chlorine. 

At  the  close  of  the  Address,  on  the  motion  of  Mr. 
Robinson,  seconded  by  Mr.  J.  Harrison,  a  hearty  vote 
of  thanks  was  accorded  to  Mr.  Nicholson. 

Mr.  J.  Harrison  gave  notice  that  at  the  next  meeting 
he  would  bring  forward  a  motion  that  steps  should  bo 
taken  to  extend  the  exemption  from  juries  to  registered 
chemists  and  druggists. 

It  was  announced  that  the  next  lecture  in  connection 
with  the  Society  would  bo  given  by  Mr.  Sharp  on  No¬ 
vember  7  th. 

After  the  transaction  of  other  business,  and  the  usual 
compliment  to  the  Chairman,  the  meeting  separated. 

The  work  of  this  Society  is  now  fairly  inaugurated* 


334 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [October  22,  1870. 


A  library  has  been  established ;  a  reading-room,  to  which 
many  of  the  leading  medical  and  pharmaceutical  perio¬ 
dicals  are  supplied,  is  open  nightly,  a  course  of  lectures 
bias  been  arranged,  and  classes  have  been  formed  for  the 
instruction  of  the  apprentices  in  the  various  branches  of 
knowledge  required  for  their  examinations. 


fmttMttjjs  .of  jsmtrtifft 

AMERICAN  PHARMACEUTICAL  ASSOCIATION. 

Meeting  at  Baltimore. 

The  Eighteenth  Annual  Meeting  of  the  American 
Pharmaceutical  Association  was  commenced  on  Tuesday, 
September  13,  in  the  Lecture  Room  of  the  University  of 
Maryland,  Baltimore,  under  the  presidency  of  Mr.  E.  H. 
Sargent,  of  Chicago. 

The  President,  after  a  few  words  of  welcome  to  those 
present,  referred  to  the  concurrence  in  the  time  of  meet¬ 
ing  of  two  kindred  associations  in  different  and  widely 
separated  nations.  He  thought  that  as  the  British  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Conference  was  in  session  in  Liverpool  at 
that  moment  it  would  be  appropriate  to  render  some¬ 
thing  more  than  a  formal  recognition  of  the  fact,  and 
that  some  expression  of  interest  in  an  Association  having 
the  same  aims  and  speaking  the  same  language  was 
called  for. 

A  list  of  forty-eight  applications  for  membership  from 
all  parts  of  the  country  was  read,  and  the  applicants 
having  complied  with  the  requirements  of  the  bye-laws 
were  unanimously  elected. 

On  the  motion  of  Mr.  A.  B.  Taylor,  of  Philadelphia, 
it  was  resolved  unanimously  that  “  the  Secretary  be  re¬ 
quested  to  telegraph  a  fraternal  message  to  the  British 
PharmaceuticaljC©nference,  now  in  session  in  Liverpool.” 

After  reports  had  been  received  from  various  com¬ 
mittees,  the  President  read  his  Annual  Address,  which 
was  well  received.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  con¬ 
sider  and  report  upon  its  recommendations  and  sug¬ 
gestions. 

_  On  Wednesday  morning,  after  the  minutes  of  the  pre¬ 
vious  meeting  had  been  read,  the  Secretary  said  that  on 
the  previous  evening  he  had  sent  a  telegram  to  Liver¬ 
pool,  in  accordance  with  the  resolution  adopted: — 

“  Pharmaceutical  Conference,  Liverpool. 

“  Fraternal  greetings  of  American  Pharmaceutical 
Association.  Maisch,  Secretary.” 

About  two  hours  later  he  received  the  following  tele¬ 
gram,  signed  by  the  President  of  the  British  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Conference : — 

“American  Pharmaceutical  Association,  Baltimore. 

“  The  most  successful  meeting  ever  held  sends  hearty 
fraternal  greeting.” 

Their  English  brethren  had  thus  preceded  them  in 
time,  and  the  messages  passed  each  other  in  transitu. 

The  officers  for  the  ensuing  year  were  then  nominated 
and  elected,  the  office  of  President  being  conferred  on 
Mr.  Richard  H.  Stabler,  of  Virginia. 

The  Secretary  then  read  the  Annual  Report,  which 
referred  specially  to  the  regulation  of  pharmacy  in  the 
United  States.  It  mentioned  that  the  State  ot'  Rhode 
Island  had  adopted  a  law,  compelling  all  persons  desiring 
to  engage  in  the  business  to  pass  a  satisfactory  examina¬ 
tion  before  a  committee  of  five  pharmacists,  appointed 
by  the  Governor.  In  New  Jersey  efforts  were  made  to 
Rave  a  drug  law  passed  by  the  Legislature,  but  they  were 
not  successful.  It  is  expected  this  will  be  accomplished 
in  the  next  meeting  of  the  Legislature.  The  Maryland 
Legislature  has  passed  a  law,  compelling  all  persons 
who  intend  to  practise  pharmacy  in  the  city  of  Balti¬ 
more  to  pass  a  similar  examination. 

A  list  of  queries  was  then  submitted,  thirty-seven  in 
number ;  these  had  been  prepared  for  acceptance,  and 
the  names  of  the  persons  who  had  agreed  to  prepare 


the  replies  for  the  next  annual  meeting  were  reported. 
Among  the  subjects  referred  to  were — ■ 

I.  The  preparations  of  rennet,  pepsine,  and  pancreatic 
juice,  which  have  been  recommended  to  assist  assimila¬ 
tion  of  fat  in  the  human  stomach.  In  the  course  of 
the  day  Mr.  S.  M.  M‘Collin  read  a  paper  relating  some 
of  his  experience  in  the  preparation  of  pepsine.  He  pre¬ 
pared  fluid  preparation,  in  which  glycerine  was  the 
chief  preservative  agent. 

II.  The  system  of  apprenticeship  and  the  amount  of 
preliminary  education  to  be  required  of  apprentices. 
Interesting  meetings  were  held  by  the  delegates  on  the 
evenings  of  Wednesday  and  Thursday  for  the  discussion 
of  this  subject,  at  which  a  series  of  resolutions  were 
passed,  which  will  be  given  in  our  next  number. 

III.  Granulated  effervescing  compoimds  sold  by  drug¬ 
gists  under  popular  names  that  do  not  correspond  with 
their  composition. 

IV.  The  comparative  value  of  carbolic  acid  and  other 
disinfectants  and  antiseptics. 

The  reading  of  answers  to  queries  of  last  year  was 
then  proceeded  with,  and  occupied  nearly  the  remainder 
of  Wednesday  and  Thursday. 

Mr.  Joseph  P.  Remington,  of  Philadelphia,  read  a 
paper  “  On  Glycerine,”  giving  the  results  of  some  care¬ 
ful  experiments  on  samples  of  the  leading  kinds  in  the 
market.  The  experiments  showed  conclusively  that  the 
lower  grades  of  glycerine  were  unfit  for  medical  use, 
while  the  best  quality  of  several  of  the  leading  manu¬ 
facturers  were  inodorous,  colourless,  free  from  impurities, 
giving  with  the  usual  reagents  negative  results  in  almost 
every  case.  The  specific  gravity  varied  from  1-245  to 
1-253. 

Dr.  E.  R.  Squibb  inquired  if  he  had  met  with  formic 
acid  as  an  impurity,  but  Mr.  Remington  replied  that  he 
had  not  noticed  it.  Dr.  Squibb  stated  that  it  had  been 
asserted  that  that  acid  was  the  cause  of  the  unpleasant 
symptoms  in  some  cases  where  it  had  been  used.  To  de¬ 
tect  the  unpleasant  odour  of  glycerine,  it  was  best  to 
dilute  it  to  about  ten  times  its  bulk  with  water,  and 
apply  heat,  when  the  odorous  principles  are  more  readily 
distinguished  than  if  it  be  heated  alone. 

The  Secretary  read  a  paper  upon  a  case  of  poisoning 
by  fluid  extract  of  aconite,  by  Dr.  S.  P.  Duflield,  of  De¬ 
troit,  in  which  it  appeared  that  there  was  culpable  neg¬ 
ligence  of  an  employe  of  a  large  manufacturer,  who  had 
labelled  a  pound  bottle,  “  Fluid  Extract  Acta?a  Racem.,” 
instead  of  “Fluid  Extract  Aconit.  Rad.”  The  question 
would  naturally  suggest  itself,  how  many  more  bottles 
were  thus  labelled,  and  had  any  others  died  from  this 
criminal  neglect  ?  In  the  course  of  some  remarks  by 
Dr.  Squibb  and  others,  it  was  elicited  that  the  odour  and 
chemical  reactions  of  Veratrum  viride  are  almost  identical 
with  aconite ;  and  that  cimicifuga  and  aconite  root  have 
been  found  repeatedly  mixed  in  the  same  package.  It 
was  also  stated  that  owing  to  negligence  on  the  part  of 
the  physician,  who  had  written  badly,  or  of  the  pharma¬ 
cist,  who  had  imperfectly  translated  the  wretched  hiero¬ 
glyphics,  fluid  extract  of  belladonna  had  been  sub¬ 
stituted  for  taraxacum,  and  fluid  extract  of  veratrum  for 
valeriana. 

Mr.  William  Procter,  jun.,  contributed  a  paper  on 
the  assaying  of  opium  to  determine  its  contents  of  mor¬ 
phia.  After  narrating  various  processes  conducted  on 
several  portions  of  the  same  solution  of  opium,  Mr. 
Procter  said  that  he  preferred  a  slight  modification  of 
the  present  United  States  Pharmacopoeia  process,  more 
familiarly  known  as  Staple’s  process,  which  he  thought 
would  best  meet  the  wants  of  pharmacists  who  desire  to 
test  this  drug.  The  chief  points  to  observe  are  to  ex¬ 
haust  the  drug  thoroughly,  evaporate  with  care  to  a 
small  bulk,  and,  after  adding  alcohol  to  the  remaining 
solution,  to  add  the  ammoniated  alcohol,  allowing  it  to 
stand  24  to  36  hours,  preventing  the  loss  of  ammonia  by 
evaporation. 

Dr.  Squibb  said  that  in  the  cose  of  opium,  he  always 


October  22,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


335 


•advised  pharmacists  to  buy  it  already  in  powder  and  test 
it  for  themselves,  With  all  other  drugs  he  advised,  on 
the  contrary,  that  they  should  huy  them  whole  and 
powder  them  themselves.  He  attributed  the  cause  of  the 
considerable  superiority  found  in  the  morphia  strength  of 
some  of  the  grades  of  opium  to  superior  cultivation,  care 
in  preparation,  and  freedom  from  diluting  substances. 

Mr.  B.  F.  Stacy,  of  Charlestown,  Mass.,  read  a  very 
interesting  paper  on  the  “  Honey  Trade  in  the  United 
States.”  From  the  statistics  furnished,  it  appeared  that 
the  various  States  yield  honey  in  the  following  order : — 
New  York,  North  Carolina,  Kentucky,  Missouri,  Ten¬ 
nessee,  Ohio,  Virginia,  Pennsylvania,  Illinois,  Indiana  ; 
the  yield  of  the  other  States  was  not  given.  In  1868,  the 
total  production  sent  to  market  was  over  30,000,000 
pounds,  besides  212,000  gallons  imported  from  the  West 
Indies. 

Mr.  A.  B.  Taylor  called  attention  to  the  resolution 
adopted  at  the  National  Pharmacopoeia  Convention, 
which  directed  the  abolition  of  all  measures  of  capacity, 
and  showed  some  of  the  difficulties  which  would  be  met 
with  in  its  practical  application.  Statements  were  also 
made  by  Dr.  Squibb  and  others  upon  the  subject. 

Resolutions  were  passed  tendering  the  thanks  of  the 
Association  to  Messrs.  Gail  and  Ax,  to  Messrs.  Maltbv 
and  Co.,  and  Messrs.  Thomas  Kensett  and  Co.,  for  the 
courtesy  shown  by  them  to  the  Association  upon  its 
visit  to  their  respective  establishments ;  also  to  the 
faculty  of  the  University  of  Maryland  for  the  free  use  of 
their  hall  for  the  purpose  of  the  meeting. 

Another  resolution  was  passed  thanking  the  pharma¬ 
ceutists  of  Baltimore  and  their  friends,  especially  the  Re¬ 
ception  Committee  and  the  Local  Secretary,  for  their  en¬ 
deavours  to  render  the  visit  pleasant  and  social. 

Before  the  meeting  separated,  however,  it  was  decided 
to  appoint  a  committee  to  take  into  consideration  a  sug¬ 
gestion  to  invite  the  International  Congress  of  Pharma¬ 
cists  to  meet  in  the  United  States  in  1876,  the  committee 
to  report  upon  the  subject  in  1871. 

Messrs.  Maisch  (Philadelphia),  Sargent  (Chicago), 
M‘Murdy  (Albany),  Menninger  (Ralegh)  and  Ash 
(Jackson)  were  appointed  a  committee  to  report  upon 
the  legislative  action  upon  pharmacy  and  the  drug  trade 
in  the  different  States  of  the  Union. 

Dr.  E.  Hoffman  (New  York),  Professor  John  Maisch 
(Philadelphia)  and  Mr.  E.  H.  Sargent  (Chicago)  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  draw  up  an  address  of  felicita¬ 
tion,  embodying  the  kind  sentiments  of  the  Association 
on  the  occasion  of  the  fiftieth  anniversary  jubilee  of  the 
North  German  Apothecary  Association,  and  to  forward 
the  same  to  its  permanent  President  Mr.  William  Dank¬ 
worth,  at  Magdeburg,  in  the  name  of  the  Amex’ican 
Pharmaceutical  Association. 

It  having  been  resolved  to  reassemble  at  St.  Louis, 
Mobile,  on  the  second  Tuesday  in  September,  1871,  the 
Convention  adjourned. 

In  connection  with  the  meeting  there  was  a  very  in¬ 
teresting  and  instructive  exhibition  of  drugs,  chemicals, 
druggists’  sundries,  materia  medica  and^pharmaceutical 
preparations. 

BRITISH  PHARMACEUTICAL  CONFERENCE. 

Meeting  at  Liverpool. 

Wednesday ,  September  14 th. 

{Continued  from  page  316.) 

Discussion  on  Facilities  for  Pharmaceutical 
Education  in  the  Provinces. 

The  following  communication  received  from  the  Secre¬ 
tary  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  was  read  : — 

“  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society,  held  on  the  7th  September,  1870,  it  was  resolved, 

#  “  That  a  copy  of  the  following  resolution  of  the  Pro¬ 
vincial  Education  Committee  be  forwarded  to  the  General 
Secretaries  of  the  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference : — 


“  Copy  of  Resolution. 

“  This  Committee  recommend  that  the  Council  invite 
the  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference  to  bring  for¬ 
ward  the  question  of  Provincial  Education  for  discus¬ 
sion  at  its  Meeting  in  Liverpool,  in  September,  which 
would  give  an  opportunity  for  the  interchange  of 
opinion  amongst  those  best  acquainted  with  the  ques¬ 
tion.” 

The  President  expressed  his  great  regret  that  his 
friend  Mr.  Schacht  was  unavoidably  prevented  from  be¬ 
ing  present.  It  was  very  much  to  Mr.  Schacht’s  earnest 
interest  in  the  question  of  Provincial  Education  that  its 
present  prominent  position  was  due.  They  were,  how¬ 
ever,  fortunate  in  having  amongst  them  the  President  of 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  Mr.  G.  W.  Sandford,  and 
he  would  invite  that  gentleman  to  favour  the  meeting 
with  any  remarks  which  he  might  be  disposed  to  make. 
He  was  glad  to  refer  the  meeting  to  the  proof-sheets 
of  a  return  on  Provincial  Education  from  1868  to  1870, 
obtained  by  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  a  supply  of 
which  had  been  forwarded  for  the  use  of  those  present. 

The  President  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  Mr. 
Sandford,  said  that  in  responding  to  the  invitation  made 
by  his  friend  Mr.  Stoddart,  he  felt  that  his  own  posi¬ 
tion  there,  during  the  present  discussion,  ought  rather  to 
be  that  of  a  listener  than  a  speaker.  The  meeting  would 
understand  that  some  reticence  was  a  duty  in  connection 
with  his  official  position,  since  he  could  not  lay  down  any 
special  line  of  policy  as  having  been  agreed  upon  by  the 
Society  which  he  had  the  honour  to  represent.  At  the 
same  time,  he  made  no  secret  of  his  personal  wish  to 
promote  Pharmaceutical  Education  in  the  provinces.  It 
was  impossible  to  ignore  the  fact  that  under  the  present 
transitional  system,  there  were  many  masters  who  would 
not  —he  should  hardly  be  wrong  in  saying  could  not — 
teach  their  apprentices  the  essentials  of  their  duties  in 
connection  with  pharmacy.  Where,  then,  should  this 
want  be  supplied  ?  It  was  not  to  be  expected  that  all 
young  men  could  afford  the  means  necessary  to  come  up 
to  Bloomsbury  Square,  and  avail  themselves  of  its  cur¬ 
riculum,  but  if  proper  means  were  provided  in  the  pro¬ 
vinces,  there  would  be  no  difficulty  in  young  men  fitting 
themselves  to  pass  the  Minor  Examination  very  soon 
after  completing  their  apprenticeship.  When  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society  was  first  established,  one  of  its  earliest 
proceedings  was  to  open  a  school  of  pharmacy,  accessible 
to  young  men  at  a  very  slight  cost.  It  was  by  carrying 
on  that  sort  of  expenditure  for  a  few  years  that  the  So¬ 
ciety  could  help  Pharmaceutical  Education.  “  Provi¬ 
dence  helps  those  who  help  themselves,”  and  the  Society 
should  only  help  those  who  were  inclined  to  help  them¬ 
selves.  Some  persons  suggested  rewards  for  passing- 
good  examinations ;  others  wanted  something  to  go  on 
with  at  the  beginning.  The  Society  wanted  to  encourage 
the  schools  which  would  send  up  lads  for  examination, 
and  should  in  a  moderate  way  give  grants  where  there 
were  lectures  established  and  a  sufficient  number  of  pu¬ 
pils  to  warrant  the  grant.  Some  candidates  came  up 
from  employers  who  had  taught  them  so  well  that  they 
were  able  to  pass  their  examination  without  going  into 
the  Society’s  laboratory  at  all. 

Mr.  W.  D.  Savage  (Brighton)  said  he  had  had  thirty- 
eight  years’  experience  of  apprentices,  and  his  opinion 
was  that  if  they  were  afforded  opportunities  for  study 
there  would  soon  be  a  better  class  of  assistants. 

Mr.  H.  S.  Alrass  (Liverpool)  said  the  difficulty  was 
to  find  apprentices  with  a  sufficient  preliminary  educa¬ 
tion  to  begin  with.  They  had  not  a  proper  knowledge 
of  Latin,  and  their  general  knowledge  was  defective. 

Mr.  Sandford  remarked  that  the  difficulty  would  be 
obviated  if  masters  would  agree  only  to  take  apprentices 
who  had  passed  the  preliminary  examination  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society. 

Mr.  F.  B.  Benger  (Manchester)  urged  that  there 
should  be  assistance  afforded  in  scientific  education 
during  apprenticeship ;  and  that  there  should  be  a 


33  G 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  22,  1870, 


special  technical  school  which  would  give  instruction  in 
sound  elementary  knowledge  of  chemistry,  botany  and 
materia  medica. 

Mr.  Abraham  (Liverpool),  in  reply  to  a  question,  said 
that  for  the  last  twenty  years  the  Liverpool  Chemists’ 
Association  had  provided  classes  and  lectures  free  to  the 
apprentices,  hut  the  number  of  pupils  had  been  and  still 
remained  extremely  small.  But  ho  quite  expected  that 
the  stringent  changes  already  effected  in  the  state  of  the 
law  permitting  the  practice  of  pharmacy  would  compel 
a  very  much  larger  number  to  seek  scientific  instruction. 
I  he  means  provided  in  Liverpool  had  been  ample, — good 
instruction  in  the  classes  and  free  lectures  of  the  best 
character,  yet  they  had  been  poorly  attended  ;  the  ap¬ 
prentices  and  assistants  to  whom  the  opportunities  had 
been  offered  either  did  not  know  their  necessity,  or  they 
were  unable  or  unwilling  to  take  advantage  of  them. 
The  lecturer  on  chemistry  was  Mr.  Edward  Davies,  the 
secretary  of  the  local  committee  of  that  Conference.  He 
(Mr.  Abraham)  was  anxious  that  the  rudiments  of  che¬ 
mistry  should  bo  taught  in  secondary  schools  for  boys, 
so  that  they  might  have  the  groundwork  of  the  science 
before  commencing  their  special  technical  training.  That 
such  a  system  was  practicable  had  been  convincingly 
shown  in  a  large  and  excellent  school  in  Liverpool, 
where  about  eighty  boys  had  at  once  passed  the  Govern¬ 
ment  examination  in  chemistry. 

Mr.  H.  Matthews,  F.C.S.  (London),  said  that  as  a 
former  pupil  of  the  City  of  London  School,  ho  could  not 
refi  ain .  from  naming  its  early  and  earnest  labours  in 
promoting  science-teaching.  A  sufficient  number  of 
years  had  now  elapsed  to  judge  of  the  fruit  of  such  a 
system,  and  they  found  accordingly  that  amongst  the 
old  pupils  of  the  City  of  London  School  the  following 
well-known  chemists  could  be  ranked,  viz.,  Messrs! 
Perkin,  Bloxam,  Spiller,.  Heaton,  Divers,  etc.,  whilst 
other  departments  of  science  included  amongst  their 
active  workers  the  former  students  of  the  same  school. 
It  as  unquestionable  that  the  future  tastes  and  pursuits 
of  the  man  depended  upon  the  bent  given  to  them 
during  boyhood. 

Mr.  E.  Bremriboe,  Secretary  and  Registrar  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society,  said  that  most  of  the  failures  of 
students  to  pass  the  Minor  Examination  arose  from  de¬ 
ficient  elementary  education.  He  thought  that  masters 
should  require  every  youth  to  pass  the  Preliminary  Ex¬ 
amination  before  he  commenced  his  apprenticeship. 

Mr.  Mack  at  (Edinburgh)  cited  his  own  apprentice¬ 
ship  to  show  the  extreme  difficulty  that  formerly  existed 
tor  study.  When  he  was  an  apprentice  he  used  to  steal 
fiom  his  meal  times  one  hour  for  the  study  of  pharmacy 
and  another  for  materia  medica.  The  system  of  ap¬ 
prenticeship  in  Scotland  differed  from  that  of  England. 
Ihe  apprentice  did  not  reside  in  the  house,  and  his 
parents  paid  no  premium ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  the 
employ  ei  paid  a  small  salary,  which  might  be  progres¬ 
sive  or  not.  About  twenty  years  since,  the  chemists  of 
Edinburgh  mutually  agreed  that  thev  would  make  it  a 
condition  of  every  apprentice’s  indenture  that  his  friends 
should  pay  the  fees  for  his  attendance  upon  classes  in 
chemistry,  and  materia  medica,  the  master  covenantin'1- 
at  the  same  time  to  allow  sufficient  time.  He  and  some 
othev  chemists  in  Edinburgh  still  adhered  to  this  system. 
In  Scotland  mow  chemistry  was  being  taught  in  most 
schools.  It  is  also  extended  to  ladies’  schools.  Physio- 
logy  and  chemistry  were  taught  in  the  High  School  of 
Edinburgh,  and  a  regular  lecturer  was  appointed.  There 
was,  therefore,  no  excuse  for  lads  going  into  the  esta¬ 
blishment  of  a  chemist  and  druggist  without  passing  the 
Preliminary  Examination.  The  Pharmacy  Act  gave  the 
pharmacists  much  power,  and  they  ought  not  to  take  an 
apprentice  without  he  could  produce  evidence  that  he 
had  passed  the  Preliminary  Examination  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society — an  examination  not  over-severe  or 
over- strict. 

Mr.  H.  C.  Baildon  (Edinburgh)  confirmed  the  state¬ 


ments  of  the  previous  speaker,  and  concurred  in  his 
opinions. 

Mr.  A.  T.  Horton  (Liverpool)  referred  to  the  limited 
attendance  on  the  classes  of  the  Liverpool  Chemistsr 
Association  as  described  by  Mr.  Abraham,  and  suggested 
that  it  might  partly  bo  accounted  for  by  the  fact  that 
there  were  in  the  town  many  other  classes  for  instruction 
in  chemistry. 

Mr.  H.  B.  Brady  (Newcastle-on-Tyne)  wished  to 
make  a  few  remarks  on  preliminary  education.  Firstly, 
with  reference  to  botany.  It  had  been  his  intention,  till 
quite  a  recent  period,  to  have  made  a  communication  to 
that  meeeting  on  the  means  of  teaching  botany,  supple¬ 
mentary  in  some  measure  to  Mr.  Schacht’s  paper  of  last 
year.  .  Mr.  Matthews  had  spoken  of  the  importance  of 
the  bias  given  to  the  mind  at  an  early  age.  This  was 
eminently  true  of  botany ;  and  whilst  they  knew  that  at 
Professor  Henslow’s  village  schools,  where  the  scientific- 
teaching  absorbed  but  an  hour  or  two  per  week,  girls  of 
from  ten  to  thirteen  years  of  age  acquired  an  excellent 
knowledge  of  English  botany,  it  was  monstrous  to  sup¬ 
pose  that  it  presented  any  difficulties  for  pharmaceu¬ 
tical  students.  But  method  of  teaching  was  a  most  im¬ 
portant  point.  Let  botany  bo  regarded  in  the  first 
place  as  a  subject  for  observation  rather  than  one  of 
mere  book  definitions.  The  Sunday  afternoon  walk 
would  yield  material  for  study ;  but  if  not,  the  student 
had  a  fair  claim  on  his  master  for  the  medium  of  time 
necessary  for  the  purpose,  and  he  could  not  believe  it 
would  ever  be  refused.  Professor  Oliver’s  ‘  Elementary 
Lessons  in  Botany  ’  w’ould  stand  in  the  place  of  a  teach¬ 
er.  As  to  the  general  question,  and  the  modes  of  faci¬ 
litating  provincial  education,  ho  had  last  year  given 
some  account  of  what  had  been  done  at  Newcastle,  viz. 
the  establishment  of  a  chair  of  practical  pharmacy  in  the 
University  of  Durham  (the  medical  faculty  of  which  has 
its  head-quarters  in  Newcastle),  and  the  institution  of  a 
distinct  programme  for  students  in  pharmacy.  Many 
present  at  that  meeting  had  thrown  doubt  and  distrust 
on  the  association  of  pharmaceutical  with  medical  stu¬ 
dents,  and  it  was  gratifying  to  be  able  to  report  on  the 
authority  of  Mr.  Freire-Marreco,  the  reader  in  chemis- 
try,  that  so  far  as  could  be  observed  the  arrangement 
worked  in  every  way  satisfactorily.  He  maintained  that 
if  the  experiment  should  go  on  as  satisfactorily  as  it  had 
begun,  it.  would,  in  their  case  at  least,  be  a  distinct  waste 
of  teaching  power  to  separate  the  two  classes  of  stu¬ 
dents.  It  was  interesting  to  find  that  an  arrangement 
almost  exactly  identical,  even  to  the  amount  of  fees  de¬ 
manded,  was  already  in  vogue  at  Chicago.  "Whilst  they 
were  calling  upon  medical  men  to  refer  to  them  in  mat¬ 
ters  touching  chemistry,  materia  medica  and  the  like,  he- 
(Mr.  Brady)  thought  it  absurd  to  fix  a  lower  standard  of 
education  and  shorter  courses  of  lectures  for  pharmaceu¬ 
tical  students  than  medical  students  themselves  enjoyed. 

.Mr.  Sutton  (Norwich)  lamented  the  want  of  opportu¬ 
nities  afforded  for  instruction  in  some  districts.  Nor- 
wic-h,  for.  instance,  did  not  yet  possess  the  means  of 
scientific  instruction  which  Liverpool  had.  The  remedy 
for  the  difficulty  mentioned  by  Mr.  Alpass  was  in  the 
hands  of  the  pharmacists  themselves.  He  would  not 
take  an  apprentice  under  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  un¬ 
less  the  youth  was  well  educated.  * 

Mr.  Ekin  (Bath)  said  he  was  surprised  that  no 
mention  had  been  made  of  the  Government  scheme  of 
education,  which,  he  thought,  would  go  far  to  get  us  out 
of  our  difficulties.  The  second-grade  schools  which 
were  shortly  to  be  established  all  over  the  kingdom 
would  give  just  the  education  that  was  required.  The 
scheme  was  to  give  a  boy  a  thorough  knowledge  of  his 
own  language,  to  enable  him  to  read  Latin  easily,  and  to 
give  him  a  sound  elementary  knowledge  of  chemistry, 
botany  and  physics.  If  only  the  Pharmaceutical  So¬ 
ciety  would  require  in  addition  to  the  subjects  now  in¬ 
sisted  upon  at  the  Preliminary  Examination  a  thorough 
elementary  knowledge  of  chemistry,  botany  and  physics,. 


October  22,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


337 


— and  "by  an  elementary  he  by  no  means  meant  a 
superficial  knowledge, — they  would  get  just  the  class 
of  pharmaceutical  students  they  wanted.  He  did  not 
behove  in  the  science-teachers  holding  certificates  Rom 
the  Science  and  Art  Department,  who  were  for  tho 
most  pai't  men  of  deficient  education,  and  who  would 
entirely  fail  to  command  the  respect  of  boys  of  the  class 
from  which  pharmacists  were  taken ;  and  he  need 
hardly  say  that  if  boys  had  no  respect  for  their  teachers, 
they  would  get  but  little  benefit  from  their  teaching. 
If  needs  be,  and  until  these  second-grade  schools,  as 
they  were  called,  were  fairly  established,  technical 
schools,  as  recommended  by  his  friend  Mr.  Benger, 
would  fill  up  the  void  ;  but  he  thought  they  need  not  be 
under  much  concern  about  ways  and  means ;  only  let 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society  create  the  demand  by  their 
requirements  at  the  Preliminary  Examination,  and  the 
supply  would  quickly  arrange  itself. 

Mr.  Savage  (Brighton)  suggested  that  in  publishing 
the  names  of  those  who  passed  the  Minor  Examination, 
the  names  of  the  institutions  where  their  education  had 
been  obtained  might  be  added. 

Mr.  Payne  (Wallingford)  wished  to  call  the  attention 
of  the  meeting  to  the  position  of  pupils  in  small  towns, 
where  there  were  insufficient  numbers  to  employ  combi¬ 
nation. 

Mr.  R.  Sumner  (Liverpool)  said  that  it  had  always 
Teen  an  opprobrium  to  their  local  Chemists’  Association, 
that  it  received  so  little  support  from  Associates.  He 
felt  strongly  upon  the  extensive  and  growing  refusal  of 
the  larger  establishments  to  receive  apprentices, — a  re¬ 
fusal  which  some  of  them  even  blazoned  abroad,  adopt¬ 
ing  as  a  motto,  “No  apprentices  taken,  and  no  arsenic 
kept  on  tho  premises.”  He  held  that  this  was  an  evil 
which  required  correction. 

Mr.  Dymond  (Birmingham)  said  that  they  need  not  be 
too  anxious  about  young  men  availing  themselves  of  the 
means  of  instruction.  Tho  legal  position  would  now 
eompel  them  to  do  this.  For  the  subjects  required  by  the 
Preliminary  Examination,  Government  Science  Classes 
might  be  looked  to  as  valuable  auxiliaries,  and  they  saw 
how  extensively  such  subjects  as  chemistry  were  being 
introduced  into  middle-class  schools.  Doubtless,  much 
remained  to  be  done,  for  whilst  there  were  about  8€00 
•chemists  and  druggists  in  Great  Britain,  he  only  found 
24-5  students  recorded  in  the  returns  on  provincial  edu¬ 
cation  as  attending  classes  in -chemistry.  He  thought 
that  they  should  appeal  to  the  Government  to  aid  such 
science-teaching. 

Mr.  Martindale  (London)  feared  that  the  distribution 
ef  aid  Rom  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  would  produce 
local  jealousies,  and  that  the  smaller  towns  would  be 
neglected.  He  agreed  with  Mr.  Ekin  that  the  elements 
of  chemistry  and  botany  should  be  introduced  into  the 
Preliminary  Examination.  The  School  of  Pharmacy  at 
Bloomsbury  Square  had  now  spread  over  the  country  a 
large  number  of  well-trained  pharmacists,  to  whom  we 
might  look  as  competent  teachers  of  Materia  Medica. 

Mr.  Atherton  (Nottingham)  gave  the  experience  of 
the  Local  Chemists’  Association  to  which  he  belonged, 
and  said  that  all  the  assistants  and  apprentices  of  the 
town  had  joined  it.  In  the  organization  of  lectures,  it 
was  most  desirable  that  they  should  be  delivered  by 
those  who  knew  the  exact  requirements  of  the  students 
ef  pharmacy,  since  a  want  of  this  knowledge  on  the 
part  of  medical  or  other  lecturers  had  sometimes  defeated 
the  object  of  the  course. 

Mr.  M.  Murphy  (Liverpool)  continued  the  discussion. 

The  President  agreed  with  Mr.  Alpass  as  to  the  im¬ 
portance  of  primary  education,  and  regretted  that  the 
education  of  the  present  day  was  getting  too  superficial, 
the  simple  fact  being  that  pupils  neglected  to  learn  how 
to  spell.  In  the  Crimean  war  many  dispensers  were 
thrown  out  because  of  their  inability  to  spell  even  one- 
syllable  words.  Few  persons  who  had  not  given  special 
attention  to  this  subject  would  credit  the  extent  of  the 


evil.  Ho  had  examined  a  class  of  five  boys,  supposed  to 
be  prepared  for  the  Preliminary  Examination,  and,  upon 
dictating  a  sentence  of  words  of  one  syllable,  none  of  the 
boys  made  less  than  three  mistakes  in  the  spelling.  It 
had  long  been  a  rule  with  him  to  give  time  for  instruc¬ 
tion  to  his  assistants  and  apprentices.  He  wished  to  take 
that  opportunity  of  commending  to  tho  notice  of  all  their 
young  men  the  admirable  little  work  by  Professor  Oli¬ 
ver,  entitled  ‘  Lessons  in  Elementary  Botany.’  Tho  use 
of  this  text-book  would  afford  a  very  delightful  intro¬ 
duction  to  the  science. 

Mr.  R.  Reynolds  (Leeds)  could  not  allow  the  discus¬ 
sion  to  end  without  alluding  to  the  facts  disclosed  by  tho 
printed  return  on  provincial  education,  of  which  the 
proof-sheets  were  before  tho  meeting.  It  appeared  to 
him  a  hopeful  circumstance  that,  in  several  towns,  there 
was  already  provision  for  teaching  some  of  the  subjects 
required  in  the  technical  training  of  pharmacists.  It 
was  to  the  aid  and  extension  of  these  existing  means  that 
they  should  look.  He  must  specially  allude  to  the  expe¬ 
riment  which  had  been  made  by  the  Univorsity  of  Dur¬ 
ham,  in  connection  with  the  College  of  Medicine  at  Ncw- 
castle-on-Tyne,  where  sixteen  students  had  paid  a  fee  of 
six  guineas  each  for  perpetual  tickets  to  a  full  curriculum 
of  pharmaceutical  education.  In  the  discussion  of  this 
subject  last  year,  several  members,  including  himself, 
had  expressed  doubts  whether  the  affiliation  of  schools 
of  pharmacy  with  those  of  medicine  would  be  to  the  inter¬ 
est  of  the  former.  It  was  now  placed  on  record  by  their 
friends  in  Newcastle,  as  the  result  of  a  year’s  trial,  that 
no  inconvenience  had  been  found,  and  that  they  were 
pefectly  satisfied  with  tho  arrangement.  If  this  con¬ 
tinued  to  be  the  case  in  the  future,  it  would  much  sim¬ 
plify  their  task,  since  there  were  eight  or  nine  other 
towns  having  schools  of  medicine,  to  which  the  system 
could  be  extended.  He  (Mr.  Reynolds)  hoped  that  they 
would  not  overlook  the  necessity  for  thoroughness  in  any 
system  to  which  they  gave  their  sanction.  Now  that  a 
certain  standard  of  professional  training  was  required  by 
law,  students  must  be  prepared  to  be  thorough ;  and  those 
providing  the  classes  must  not  let  their  duties  to  be  per¬ 
formed  a  dilettante  spirit.  It  must  be  a  serious  part  of  tha 
work  of  the  day,  and  not  merely  depend  on  spare  time. 

The  Conference  adjourned  at  12.30  p.m. 


anir  fate  IramMnjp. 


WoRSHir  Street  Police  Court,  October  VU-h. 

BEFORE  MR.  NEWTON. 

Miss  Alice  Maud  Kemp  was  charged  with  having  at¬ 
tempted  to  commit  suicide  by  taking  laudanum.  A 
police-constable  said,  that  on  Saturday  night,  having 
been  called  to  a  house  in  Stoke  Newington  and  told  that 
a  young  lady  had  taken  poison,  he  went  upstairs  and 
found  the  prisoner  in  a  state  of  semi-insensibility.  He 
was  informed  that  she  had  taken  something  from  a 
bottle,  and  a  small  phial  was  shown  him  which  smelt  of 
laudanum.  A  medical  man  attended,  and  she  gradually 
recovered.  She  told  witness  that  she  had  procured  the 
laudanum  from  Mr.  Cooper,  of  Amherst  Road,  and  had 
bought  an  ounce  and  a  half. 

A  solicitor  here  said  he  appeared  on  behalf  of  Mr. 
Cooper. 

Mr.  Newton  said  that  no  doubt  Mr.  Cooper  would  be 
called  on  to  answer  what  had  been  stated  against  him, 
but  at  present  he  was  not  before  the  Court.  He  had 
better  attend  on  a  future  day. 

The  prisoner  was  remanded  for  a  week. — Standard . 


*338 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [October  22,  1870. 


Hotes  an) it  Entries. 

***  In  accordance  with  a  wish  expressed  by  numerous 
correspondents ,  a  column  will  in  future  be  devoted  to  notes 
and  queries,  with  the  object  of  facilitating  the  exchange  of 
information  among  members  of  the  trade  and  students. 

In  order  to  facilitate  reference,  correspondents  are  re¬ 
quested  to  mark  their  ansivers  in  each  case  with  the  title  and 
number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

[2.]— MOUNTING  MICROSCOPIC  OBJECTS. — It.  J. 
31.  may  mount  sections  of  leaves,  wood,  etc.,  for  tlie. micro¬ 
scope,  as  follows: — Make  several  sections,  which  may  be 
roughly  viewed  under  the  microscope,  with  the  object  of 
choosing  the  thinnest  and  most  regular  one  for  the  purpose. 
Having  done  this,  place  it  on  the  centre  of  one  of  the  glass 
slides  that  are  sold  for  the  purpose  by  most  philosophical  in¬ 
strument  makers,  and  carefully  drop  on  it  one  or  two  drops, 
or  just  sufficient  to  cover  it,  of  Canada  balsam.  One  of  the 
very  thin  little  squares  of  glass,  which  are  also  sold  by  the  above, 
is  now  carefully  dropped  on  to  the  object,  and  the  slide  has 
then  to  be  heated  very  gently  over  the  flame  of  a  spirit-lamp 
to  dispel  any  air-bubbles  that  may  have  formed,  and  this  part 
of  the  process  is  very  essential.  The  slide  should  be  put 
away  for  a  week  or  so  to  dry,  either  on  the  top  of  a  bookcase 
or  the  cabinet-work  of  the  shop.  It  will  have  been  sufficiently 
long  when  the  superfluous  balsam  that  has  oozed  out  from  the 
sides  is  found  to  be  quite  hard.  This  should  be  carefully 
rubbed  off'  the  glass  with  a  little  turpentine,  or  cut  and  scraped 
off,  and,  the  name  being  appended,  the  slide  is  complete.  This 
is  a  simple  process,  which  will  render  most  opaque  organic 
substances  transparent  and  permanently  mounted. — “  Give 
and  Take.” 

If  It.  J.  31.  will  forward  his  address  to  Mr.  Alfred  Laslett, 
Market  Place,  Hadleigh,  Suffolk,  that  gentleman  will  be  happy 
to  give  him  a  few  hints  on  mounting  microscopical  objects. 

[3.1— PATENT  MEDICINE  LICENCE. — T.  Marshall 
is  informed  that  chemists  keeping  more  than  one  shop  are  re¬ 
quired  to  take  out  only  one  licence  for  the  sale  of  “  patents,” 
etc. — “Give  and  Take.” 

COMPOUND  SALTS.  —  Major  Associate,  in  reply  to 
“  Spes,”  refers  him  to  the  manufacture  of  hydrochloric  acid 
(II  Cl) ;  the  acid  of  pharmacy  is  obtained  by  the  action  of 
sulphuric  acid  on  chloride  of  sodium,  the  resulting  gas  being 
dissolved  in  water.  The  following  represents  the  decomposi¬ 
tion  which  takes  place : — 

2  NaCn  _  (  Na2SO, 

H2S04->  “  12HC1 

showing  that  hydrochloric  acid  is  a  compound  of  hydrogen 
and  chlorine.  He  would  also  refer  “  Spes”  to  sulphuric  acid 
(H2S04),  oxide  of  antimony  (Sb203),  ferrous  sulphate 
(FeS04),  and  ferric  sulphate  (Fea3S04);  the  decomposi¬ 
tions  occurring  in  the  manufacture  of  each  of  these  com¬ 
pounds  are  given  in  Attfield’s  ‘  Chemistry.’ 


[6.] — ESSENCE  OF  COFFEE. — JR.  J.  (Manchester)  de¬ 
sires  to  be  informed  what  is  the  best  method  of  making  es¬ 
sence  of  coffee. 

[7.]—  CHILBLAINS.— J.  W.  D.  HJ.  (Yorkshire)  would 
feel  obliged  if  any  of  our  readers  would  tell  him  of  a  remedy 
for  chilblains  “  to  be  taken  internally.” 

[8-] — PATENT  MEDICINES. — •“  Socius”  wishes  to  know 
whether  any  registration,  certificate,  or  special  licence  is  re¬ 
quired  for  the  introduction  of  a  now  patent  medicine. 

[9*] — GREEN  FIRE. — T.  31.  (Nottingham)  wishes  for  a 
good  recipe  for  making  green  fire. 

„  [10.]  —WHOLESALE  DRUGGISTS’  ASSISTANTS’ 
SOCIETA.  J.  Hart  (Bow)  having  heard  that  the  assistants 
in  the  wholesale  drug  trade  are  about  to  form  a  society, 
which  would  afford  them  the  means  of  interchanging  trade 
opinions  and  tend  to  improve  their  social  and  intellectual 
position,  would  feel  obliged  by  any  of  our  readers  furnishing 
him  with  further  information  on  the  subject. 

[1L] — AUSTRALIA. — Can  any  of  your  correspondents 
inform  me  what  chance  there  is  of  a  druggist,  with  moderate 
capital,  succeeding  better  in  Australia  than  in  this  countrv? 
— W.  Miller. 


Communications  for  this  Journal,  and  boohs  for  review , 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

The  Poison  Question. 

Sir, — I  hope  the  action  taken  by  Messrs.  Brown  and  Rey¬ 
nolds,  and  those  who  joined  them  at  the  Council  meeting  held 
on  the  5th  instant,  will  meet  with  the  hearty  approval  and 
appreciation  of  the  majority  of  the  members  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society  and  of  druggists  generally.  I  imagine  that 
the  recommendations  made  by  the  late  Council  were  suffi¬ 
ciently  well  understood,  and  had  for  their  object  the  compul¬ 
sory  adoption  of  one  or  other  of  the  methods  suggested  for 
the  storing  and  selling  of  poisons,  and  that  the  objectionable 
feature  in  the  scheme  was  that  it  was  to  be  made  compulsory, 
and,  of  course,  to  be  attended  with  the  obnoxious  machinery 
of  inspector,  etc.,  to  ensure  its  being  put  in  operation. 

I  do  not  think  the  number  of  cases  of  accidental  poisoning, 
arising  from  carelessness  on  the  part  of  chemists,  calls  for 
such  interference  with  their  rights  and  privacy  as  the  making 
imperative  of  any  such  measure  necessarily  would. 

At  the  general  meeting  Mr.  Haselden,  in  seconding  the 
adoption  of  the  regulations,  said,  “  that  it  was  much  better  to 
saddle  themselves  than  let  anybody  else  do  it,”  but  is  it  not 
best  not  to  be  saddled  at  all  ? 

Let  the  Council  be  united  and  object  to  any  scheme,  by 
whomsoever  proposed,  which  has  for  its  object  the  fettering 
of  the  members  of  our  profession. 

I  trust  that  the  compulsory  scheme  will  again  be  success¬ 
fully  opposed. 

John  R.  Thompson. 

Bishopwearmoxdh,  Sunderland,  Oct.  18th,  1870. 


“Extra  Charges  after  or  before  Business  Hours.” 

Sir, — There  are  very  few  assistants  or  apprentices  but  are 
rejoiced  to  see  this  subject  brought  forward.  It  is  one  which 
exerts  great  influence  on  their  future  mental  prospects. 

How  many  of  us  are  there  who,  by  reason  of  frequent  in¬ 
terruptions,  are  prone  in  despair  to  cast  aside,  pro  tern., 
“  Attfleld,”  “  Royle  ”  or  “  Bentley,”  the  study  of  which  de¬ 
mands  close  application !  The  experience  of  many  will  doubt¬ 
less  coincide  with  mine,  that  often  the  greater  part  of  the 
evening’s  business  is  done  between  8  and  10  o’clock.  That 
such  a  state  of  things  should  continue  is  what  I  hope  few  will 
affirm.  I  beg  to  suggest  that  as  it  does  not  appear  (to  me) 
to  be  a  subject  for  the  “  Council,”  the  local  secretaries  should 
take  the  matter  in  hand.  Let  them  canvass  the  chemists  in 
their  own  districts,  and,  having  obtained  the  signatures  of 
those  willing  to  adopt  the  plan,  advertise  it  with  the  signa¬ 
tures  appended  in  the  principal  local  papers, — say,  for  four 
weeks, — the  expense  of  which  I  am  sure  would  be  cheerfully 
borne  by  the  assistants  and  apprentices. 

Of  course  the  extra  25  per  cent,  would  be  at  the  disposal  of 
the  chemists  themselves,  but  I  hope  it  would  be  willingly  de¬ 
voted  to  the  benefit  of  Associations  or  to  the  Benevolent 
Fund. 

I  look  forward  to  the  time  when  we  shall  cease,  like  the 
medical  men,  to  bo  at  the  beck  and  call  of  the  public,  without 
extra  charge. 

October  18 th.  H.  B. 


Notes  and  Queries. 

Sir, — I  congratulate  you  on  the  new  feature  introduced  in 
the  last  number  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal;  I  refer 
to  the  space  you  intend  devoting  to  “  Notes  and  Queries.” 
Doubtless  the  advantages  will  be  incalculable,  if  our  members 
only  enter  into  the  matter  with  spirit  and  “  give  and  take  ” 
in  their  ideas  for  the  general  weal  of  our  body.  In  one  of  your 
contemporaries — The  English  3Iechanic — the  system  has  been, 
found  to  answer  so  well,  and  the  readers  have  been  so  generous 
in  their  anxiety  to  help  their  brother  readers  in  all  subjects, 
whether  mechanical,  chemical  or  philosophical,  etc.,  that  that 
part  of  the  work  alone,  in  itself,  forms  quite  an  encyclopaedia 


October  22,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


339 


of  useful  information  and  formula?.  I  should  like  to  see  our 
“  Notes  and  Queries”  answering  the  same  useful  ends. 

May  I  also  suggest  that  the  “ Queries ”  and  “Answers” 
be  both  prefixed  with  a  number  and  the  name  of  the  subject 
in  large  type,  and  that  should  the  “Queries”  remain  unan¬ 
swered  for  two  weeks,  that  the  number  be  again  inserted 
under  a  list  called  “  Unanswered  Queries,”  as  many  con¬ 
tributors  would  not  answer  some  of  the  queries,  thinking  that 
others  would  be  sure  to  reply  to  them.  And,  again,  should 
two  or  three  answers,  differing  in  detail,  be  given  to  the  same 
query,  I  think  that  they  should  be  inserted,  thus  affording  a 
choice  of  replies  to  the  querists. 

Wishing  the  new  feature  every  success. 

October  17th,  1870.  J.  Ross  Faulkner. 


Poisonous  Feeding  Bottles. 

Dear  Sir, — About  nine  years  since  my  wife  used  a  feeding- 
bottle,  having  a  glass  tube  reaching  to  the  bottom,  armed 
with  a  tip  of  vulcanized  india-rubber;  in  the  night  she  ob¬ 
served  an  offensive  smell  from  it,  and,  calling  my  attention, 
I  found  the  disgusting  odour  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen  very 
strong.  I  at  once  got  up  and  washed  it,  but  not  until  I  had 
used  pure  chlorine  could  I  get  rid  of  the  smell ;  of  course  Ave 
did  not  use  the  bottle  again.  In  the  morning  the  child’s  body 
was  inflated  and  very  tense,  and  wre  have  no  doubt  but  that  a 
few  minutes  more  use  of  the  bottle  would  have  proved  fatal. 

The  milk,  which  was  perfectly  new,  was  thus  prepared: — 

2  oz.  new  milk,  mixed  with  2  drams  sugar  of  milk,  dissolved 
in  2  oz.  hot  water  and  a  very  little  salt  added. 

I  presume  the  sulphur  of  the  vulcanized  india-rubber  acted 
on  the  hydrogen  of  the  milk,  but  whether  the  process  was 
facilitated  by  the  presence  of  salt  or  the  sugar  of  milk,  I  do 
not  know.  We  ever  after  used  the  plain  old  bottle  and  calves 
teat,  fitted  with  sponge,  well  washed  with  hot  water  every 
time,  and  the  teat  taken  off  and  kept  in  spirit. 

Plyr.-iouth,  October  17 th,  1870.  F.  P.  Balkwill. 


Dear  Sir, — Your  correspondent  C.  B.  N.  asks  for  a  little 
information  respecting  feeding-bottles,  in  consequence  of  a 
statement  made  by  Dr.  W.  L.  Emmerson ;  which  statement 
he  considers  singular,  but  the  truth  of  which  is  beyond  a 
doubt.  If  I  understand  your  correspondent  correctly,  he 
wishes  to  know  what  chemical  change  takes  place  in  the  milk, 
which  would  cause  it  to  become  poisonous  ?  I  will  endeavour 
simply  to  explain  it  to  him.  The  following  is  the  composition 
of  milk : — 


Water . 

.  858 

Casein . 

.  68 

Butter . 

.  38 

Sugar  with  extractive 

.  30 

Salts . 

.  6 

1000 

The  casein  comes  under  the  head  of  the  nitrogenous  food¬ 
stuffs,  which  compounds  are  essentially  necessary  to  build  up 
the  principal  tissues  of  the  body,  as  muscular  fibre,  nervous 
substance,  etc.  Now  it  is  well  known  that  the  nitrogenous 
compounds  are  most  easily  decomposable ;  and  though,  as  in 
milk,  the  sugar  and  salt  are  sufficient  to  preserve  the  nitro¬ 
genous  principle,  casein,  when  in  the  living  tissues,  they  are 
not  in  sufficient  quantity  to  preserve  it  when  out  of  the  living 
tissues.  Casein  is  under  the  most  favourable  circumstances 
for  decomposition  when  allowed  to  remain  for  any  length  of 
time  iu  an  india-rubber  tube  with  warmth  applied.  Though 
the  nitrogenous  compounds  are  so  very  essential  in  building 
up  the  tissues,  they  are,  nevertheless,  when  decomposed,  most 
poisonous.  If  taken  into  blood-vessels  by  the  absorbent  in 
only  small  quantities,  pyemia,  or  blood-poisoning,  takes  place, 
and  death  in  the  majority  of  instances  is  the  result.  Can 
these  unfortunate  circumstances  take  place  through  the  means 
of  feeding-bottles  ?  I  believe  they  can ;  and,  moreover,  I  be¬ 
lieve  hundreds  of  children  die  annually  of  pyemia,  caused 
through  the  decomposition  of  casein  in  the  tubes  of  feeding- 
bottles.  I  do  not  for  one  moment  blame  the  feeding-bottles, 
the  blame  rests  entirely  upon  those  who  have  the  manage¬ 
ment  of  them ;  in  short,  it  is  for  want  of  cleanliness.  I  would 
recommend  that  the  tubes  be  no  longer  than  six  inches ;  that 
the  milk  which  is  put  in  the  bottle  should  always  have  a  little 
salt  and  sugar  added  to  it;  that  every  time  the  bottle  is  used, 
the  teat  and  pipe  should  be  separated,  and  with  the  aid  of  the 
tube-brush  well  washed  out  with  salt  and  water;  the  strength 
of  which  solution  should  be  a  small  teaspoonful  of  salt  to  one 


pint  of  water.  If  these  precautions  are  taken,  no  one  need 
fear  blood-poisoning  by  means  of  feeding-bottles ;  and  their 
safety  will  be  equal  to  their  use,  which  is  great. 

Thomas  Pemberton. 

Birmingham,  Oct.  17 th,  1870. 


Pharmacy  and  Medical  Practitioners. 

Sir, — “Reformer,”  the  Lancet  correspondent,  appears  to 
me  to  be  writing  on  a  subject  of  which  he  knows  nothing  at 
all ;  and  in  writing  thus  only  exposes  his  ignorance  to  those 
“dignitaries”  whom  he  so  contemns.  If  a  doctor  of  any 
standing  at  all,  he  ought  to  know  that  an  ordinary  prescrip¬ 
tion  does  not  easily  cost  from  2s.  6d.  to  3s.  Of  course,  if 
there  should  be  mixture,  pills  and  ointment  on  one  prescrip¬ 
tion,  it  may  easily  cost  2s.  6d.  or  3s. ;  but  an  ordinary  pre¬ 
scription  contains  a  mixture  only,  which  would  be  charged 
Is.  9 d.  or  2s.  at  the  most. 

“Reformer”  says  that  “people  whose  family  doctor  does 
not  supply  his  own  medicines  find  their  drug  bill  is  equal  to, 
or  even  exceeds,  their  doctor’s  bill.”  Granted  that  a  chemist 
gets  3s.  even  for  a  prescription,  we  will  suppose  written  by 
“Reformer,”  I  think  that  he  (“Reformer”)  would  be  some¬ 
thing  more  than  astonished  at  his  patient  if  he  offered  him 
only  3s.  as  his  fee;  and  if  a  doctor’s  practice  is  among  so 
poor  a  class  that  he  can  only  get  3s.  as  his  fee,  it  is  very  cer¬ 
tain  that  it  is  impossible  for  a  chemist  to  get  2s.  6cZ.  or  3s. 
for  the  medicine.  And  yet  “ Reformer”  states  as  a  fact  that 
the  patient’s  drug  bill  equals  or  exceeds  the  doctor’s. 

Mr.  Mee,  in  commenting  on  “  Reformer’s  ”  letter  sa3-s,  “  It 
seems  a  most  extraordinary  fact  that  a  chemist  in  one  part 
of  town  should  charge  as  much  for  preparing  a  prescription 
as  a  licensed  apothecary  or  medical  practitioner  should  charge 
for  both  visit  and  medicine  in  another.”  As  Mr.  M.  is  a 
chemist,  he  ought  to  know  that  such  is  not  the  case.  That  a 
chemist  at  the  West-End  charges  more  than  one  at  Highbury 
we  can  all  understand ;  for  a  man  who  pays  £300  or  £400 
rental  cannot  be  expected  to  charge  the  same  as  one  whose 
rent  is  only  £60,  and  whose  general  expenses  are  in  the  same 
ratio.  But  I  do  not  think  that  Mr.  M.  knows  of  an  instance 
where  a  surgeon’s  fee  for  visit  and  medicine  is  as  little  as  the 
chemist’s  charge  for  medicine  only.  As  Mr.  Mee  dispenses 
for  a  surgeon,  it  is  very  possible  that  he  speaks  feelingly  when 
he  says,  “  We  must  be  friendly  with  them  (the  doctors),  for  they 
are  our  best  friends ;”  but  I  fail  to  see  as  yet  in  what  way 
they  are  “  a  most  generous  race.” 

So  long  as  practitioners  persist  in  prescribing  medicines  in 
such  concentrated  forms  as  now  appears  to  be  general,  they 
must  not  be  surprised  if  their  patients’  bills  are  rather  heavy. 
I  have  to-day  dispensed  for  a  surgeon  the  following  prescrip¬ 
tions  : — 

No.  1. 


R. 

Tr. 

Cinchona?  Simpl.  , 

Ft. 

Mist.  Sig.  5j  bis 

No.  2. 

R. 

Tr. 

Cinchome  Co.  Mi) 

Acid.  Nitr.  dil.  My 

Tr. 

Aurantii  5iy. 

M.  ft.  Mist. 


Two  teaspoonfuls  three  times  a  day  in  a  wineglassful  of 
water. 

It  is  a  curious,  though  an  undeniable  fact,  that  the  surgeon 
who  dispenses  his  own  medicine  prescribes  the  most  simple 
remedies,  and  not  in  a  concentrated  form.  Another  grievous 
sore  with  “  Reformer  ”  is  chemists’  prescribing,  and  he  insinu¬ 
ates  that  they  do  harm  rather  than  good.  What  would  he 
say  to  a  doctor  who  ordered  tr.  lytta?  for  a  child  suffering 
from  hooping-cough  ?  If  a  chemist  ventured  to  prescribe  it 
he  would  be  put  down  as  an  ignorant  man,  to  say  the  least. 
I  know,  however,  a  M.R.C.S.  who  ordered  it.  So  far  as  my 
experience  goes,  I  think  that  chemists  cure  their  patients 
sooner  than  medical  men.  If  doctors  would  give  up  dis¬ 
pensing,  the  chemists  would  give  up  prescribing,  but  not  till 
then,  I  think. 

Bristol.  An  Assistant. 


Sir, — In  noticing  the  communication  of  Dr.  Leslie,  I  hope 
that  gentleman  will  do  me  the  justice  to  remark  that  I  have 
not  in  any  degree  reflected  upon  the  position  or  practice  of 
the  honourable  section  to  which  he  belongs,  namely,  the 
physicians,  who  are,  indeed,  our  best  friends,  and  whose 
function,  although  exercised  upon  a  higher  level,  does  not 
conflict  with  the  interests  of  pharmacists ;  as  for  the  “  posi- 


340 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [October  22, 1370. 


tion”  we  occupy,  and  our  intelligent  appreciation"  thereof, 
the  learned  doctor  may  find  an  illustration  in  the  corre¬ 
spondence  which  appears  in  your  weekly  columns.  The  che¬ 
mists  would  not  have  assumed  the  defensive  had  it  not  been 
for  the  unscrupulous  attacks  of  the  Lancet,  which  are  not 
only  insulting  to  an  educated  body  of  men,  but  amount  to  a 
gratuitous  olfence  against  the  good  manners  that  regulate 
our  social  system. 

Non -Malcontent. 


Brighton  Chemists’  Prices  versus  Brighton 
Chemists’  Association. 

Sir, — Having  read  in  the  Journal  a  letter  of  Mr.  W.  D. 
Savage  on  the  Brighton  Chemists’  Association,  I  wish  to  offer 
a  few  remarks  in  connection  with  that  subject. 

Having  been  for  the  last  few  months  in  Brighton,  I  have 
become  acquainted  with  the  “cutting”  system  prevalent 
there,  of  which  I  give  the  following  instances : — 

A  six-ounce  saline  mixture  for  (id.  A  quarter  of  a  pound 
of  tartaric  acid  for  4%d.  Epsom  salts,  two  ounces  for  Id. 
Prepared  chalk,  14  oz.  for  Id.  Camphorated  chalk,  3d.  per  oz. 
Citrate  of  magnesia,  2d.  per  oz.,  etc. 

Now,  I  am  persuaded  that  where  the  trade  is  divided 
against  itself  by  such  a  sj'stem  of  underselling  no  Chemists’ 
Association  will  stand,  and  no  brotherly  feeling  can  possibly 
exist. 

A  Pharmaceutical  Student. 


Specieic  Gravities  and  Volume  Measures. 

Sir, — In  your  report  of  the  discussion,  which  followed  the 
reading  of  my  papers  on  “Specific  Gravities  and  Volume 
Measures”  at  the  Pharmaceutical  Conference,  it  was  stated 
that  “the  contents  per  ounce  were  coincident  with  the  specific 
gravity”  (solid  contents  being  referred  to).  On  making  re¬ 
ference  to  my  notes  and  memoranda,  I  find  that  as  regards 
the  class  of  fluids  I  have  been  operating  on  this  rule  does 
not  apply,  or  make  any  approximation  to  the  truth,  and, 
therefore,  the  statement  ought  to  be  corrected. 

As  examples  I  will  give  two  or  three  instances  : — 

Vin.  Ipecacuanhee,  sp.  gr.  0-993 . solid  contents,  19-2  peroz. 

Tinct.  Hyoscyami  „  0-937 .  „  „  18-35  „ 

Tinct.  Opii  „  0-940 .  „  „  18-79  „ 

Dec.  Sarsce  Co.  „  1-027 .  „  „  50*00  ., 

As  applied  to  solutions  of  sugar  and  salts  the  approximation 
will  be  closer.  A  solution  of  pure  sugar  containing  30  grs. 
to  the  ounce  has  a  sp.  gr.  of  1-028. 

F.  M.  Rimmington. 


Ung.  Aq.  Rosas  and  Tincturje. 

Sir, — As  medical  gentlemen  occasionally  order  ung.  aq.rosce 
in  their  prescriptions,  is  it  not  desirable  that  dispensers  should 
have  a  recognized  formula  for  it  P  Nearly  every  establishment 
having  its  own  recipe  and  modus  operandi,  each  would  pre¬ 
pare  a  prescription  containing  the  above  differently  from  every 
other;  a  result  not  at  all  in  accordance  with  “'uniformity  in 
physic.” 

The  Pharmacopee  Franeaise  contains  a  formula,  and  (if  I 
were  F.  instead  of  A.  P.  S.)  I  would  suggest  the  follow¬ 
ing  modification  for  insertion  in  a  future  edition  of  the 
B.  P. 

Cerm  Albse  §j 

Cetacei 

Olei  Amygdalae  f^x 

Aquae  Rosie  f^iij 

Tinct.  Benzoini  uixx.  E.  s.  a. 

The  benzoin  and  the  small  quantity  of  aqua  render  it  less 
liable  to  change  than  -would  be  the  case  were  the  former 
omitted  or  the  latter  augmented,  and  that  is  a  desideratum 
in  a  pharmacopoeial  preparation. 

V  hile  I  am  on  the  theme  of  the  B.  P.,  perhaps  you  will 
permit  me  to  say  it  is  my  opinion,  founded  on  observation 
and  practice,  that  it  would  add  much  to  attaining  “  uni¬ 
formity  in  physic  ”  if  tinctures  were  required  to  be  kept  at 
least  one  month  before  being  used,  so  as  to  allow  time  for 
that  peculiar  change  to  take  place  which  most  vegetable  solu¬ 
tions  undergo.  Tinct.  aurantii,  for  instance,  when  prepared, 
either  by  maceration  or  percolation,  from  recently  dried  peel 
or  from  fresh  peel,  grows  much  darker  and  developes  a  finer 
flavour  after  three  or  four  weeks.  Of  coiu-se  the  remedy  for 
this,  in  respect  of  colour,  is  to  use  stale  peel  in  which  that 


resinous  change,  alluded  to  in  Pharm.  Journ.  Vol.  NI.  p. 
604,  has  taken  place.  But  there  is  no  remedy,  except  time, 
for  others,  such  as  squills,  colchicum,  etc. 

Now  with  regard  to  tinct.  calumbre,  why  not  use  the  root 
in  coarse  powder  instead  of  “  cut  small  ”  ?  the  result  is  far  more 
satisfactory.  The  colour  is  richer  because  more  calumbate  of 
berberine  (?)  is  taken  up,  and  there  is  little  or  no  amylaceous 
deposit. 

The  mortar  instead  of  the  knife  is  resorted  to  in  the  case  of 
tinct.  rhei,  a  proceeding  which,  at  one  time,  would  have  been 
thought  very  unpharmaceutical. 

H.  E.  Godfrey. 


“  Ignorans  ”  (Tamworth). — Sulphate  of  lime  and  caustic 
potash  would  be  formed. 

C.  C.  (Taunton). — (1.)  Ten  ounces.  (2.)  In  London  to  send 
ten  ounces. 

M.  P.S.  (Liverpool). — The  dilute  acid  is  obviously  intended. 
We  should  dispense  the  prescription  with  this  acid. 

A.  P.  S.  (Liverpool).—  SARSAPARILL A  "AND  QTTI- 
NINE. — (1.)  Add  the  simple  fluid  extract  of  the  B.  P.  to  a 
solution  of  the  quinine  in  a  slight  excess  of  dilute  sulphuric 
acid.  (2.)  Probably  a  combination  of  quinine  with  astringent 
matter.  Filtration  would  not  be  justifiable. 

“A  Cliftonian,>  (Windsor). — We  know  of  no  form  for  this 
preparation.  We  should  suppose  1  to  5  a  convenient  prepa¬ 
ration. 

G.  JI.  U.  (Helensburgh).— (1)  GLYCERINE  CREAM. 
Beat  almonds  into  a  thick  emulsion  with  water,  strain,  dilute, 
and  add  q.  s.  glycerine  and  otto.  (2)  We  know  of  no  such 
preparation,  but  it  might  be  readily  made  by  dissolving  5  grains 
of  the  scaly  preparation  in  each  drachm  of  water. 

T.  H.  C.  (Southsea). — We  cannot  explain  the  difference. 
The  appearance  should  be  that  described  as  belonging  to  the 
lotion  dispensed  by  yourself. 

A.  F.  J.  (Norwich). — We  confess  to  being  not  philoso¬ 
phical  enough  to  answer  your  question. 

“ (Englishman  ”  (Leamington).  —  Wanklyn  and  Smith’s 
Water  Analysis,  Bowman’s  Medical  Chemistry. 

G.  K.  (Surbiton)  and  Caradoc  Jones  (Ebbw  Vale)  are 
informed  that  an  article  giving  advice  to  students  preparing 
to  pass  the  examinations  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  has 
been  reprinted,  and  may  be  had  on  application  to  the  Regis¬ 
trar. 

“ Inquirer  ”  (Pontypool). — Such  sale  is  not  illegal,  prus- 
siate  of  potash  not  being  a  poison. 

We  have  received  a  communication  from  Mr.  Condy,  which 
shall  receive  early  attention. 

Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  T.  B.  Groves  (Weymouth),  Mr.  C.  Umney  (London),  Mr. 
F.  P.  Balkwill  (Plymouth),  *Mr.  J.  R.  Faulkner  (London),  Mr. 
F.  Buck  (Chelmsford),  Manager  of  the  Floriline  Company, 
The  Committee  of  the  Burgoyne  Testimonial,  Mr.  Chapman 
(Manchester),  Messrs.  Jones  and  Son  (Worksop),  Mr.  Wood 
(Barnsley),  Mr.  Reynolds  (Leeds),  Mr.  C.  E.  C.  Tichborne 
(Dublin). 


The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  Oct.  15;  the  ‘Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
Oct.  15;  the  ‘Lancet,’  Oct.  15;  ‘Nature,’  Oct.  13;  the  ‘Che¬ 
mical  News,’  Oct.  14;  ‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  Oct. 
13;  ‘Gardeners’  Chronicle,’  Oct.  15;  the  ‘Grocer,’  Oct.  15; 
the ‘English  Mechanic,’  Oct.  15;  the  ‘New  York  Drug¬ 
gists’  Circular  ’  for  October,  from  Mr.  Deane :  the  ‘  Baltimore 
Gazette,’  Sept.  17 ;  the  ‘Canadian  Pharmaceutical  Journal’ 
for  September;  the  ‘  Journal  of  Materia  Medica  ’  for  August 
and  September;  ‘Neues  Jahrbuch  fiir  Pharmacie,’  numbers 
for  February,  March,  April,  May,  June,  July,  and  August, 
from  the  Editor. 


Instructions  from  Members  and  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  he  sent  to  Elias  Brem- 
ridge,  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  W.C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington ■ 
Street,  London ,  7F.  Envelopes  to  he  endorsed  for  “  Pharm . 
J ourn.” 


October  29,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


311 


RATIONAL  THERAPEUTICS. 

In  the  introduction  to  a  course  of  lectures  just 
commenced,  Dr.  Richardson  treated  of  the  method  to 
be  followed  in  studying  the  relation  between  re¬ 
medies  and  their  effects,  illustrating  the  connection 
between  variation  of  physiological  power  and  varia¬ 
tion  of  chemical  constitution  by  reference  to  the 
ethyl  compounds.  The  radicle  ethyl  furnishes  a 
multitude  of  compounds  that  are  analogous  in  pos¬ 
sessing  narcotic  power ;  commencing  with  the  hydride 

H*  *s  *n  composition  least  removed  from 

the  radicle  itself,  we  find  it  is  a  gas,  insoluble  in 
blood  and  negative  in  its  action  on  nervous  material ; 
hence  it  is  not  active  either  as  an  excitant  or  as  a 
narcotic.  It  must  be  inhaled  with  air  in  the  propor¬ 
tion  of  30  or  40  per  cent,  in  order  to  produce  any 
decisive  effect.  Then  it  acts  like  nitrogen,  producing 
temporary  insensibility  by  interfering  with  the  re¬ 
spiratory  process,  which  cannot  be  sustained. 

U  XT  l 

Again,  alcohol  2  jj5  j  0  (which  differs  from  hy¬ 
dride  of  ethyl  by  containing  oxygen  and  from  water 
S  ]•  0,  in  having  ethyl  in  place  of  half  its  hydrogen) 


Hj 

is  a  stimulant  and  narcotic.  It  acts  directly  on  the 
nervous  system  and  excites  the  action  of  the  heart. 
Given  freely  it  induces  deep  narcotism,  but  as  it  is 
largely  absorbed  by  the  blood,  a  great  quantity  of  it 
is  required  before  there  is  sufficient  saturation  to  in¬ 
duce  narcotism.  Hence  it  is  not  difficult  to  make  an 
annual  insensible  with  alcohol  vapour. 

Replacing  the  whole  of  the  hydrogen  in  water  by 

ethyl,  we  obtain  ether,  q-2  jj5  j 0,  a  powerful  narcotic, 

having  less  direct  stimulating  action  than  alcohol, 
but  producing  its  effects  more  rapidly.  Being  less 
soluble  in  blood  than  alcohol,  it  may  be  administered 
by  inhalation  of  its  vapour  so  as  to  saturate  the 
blood,  and  then  it  acts  as  a  narcotic.  Still  it  is  too 
soluble,  and  is,  therefore,  wanting  in  potency,  so  that 
we  are  obliged  in  using  it  to  keep  up  the  saturation 
by  persistent  administration  to  the  exclusion  of  much 
ah.  Thus  symptoms  of  asphyxia  and  restlessness 
are  often  produced,  which  prevent  the  use  of  ether. 

In  the  chloride  of  ethyl,  C2  H5  Cl,  we  have  a  sub¬ 
stance  which  produces  great  excitation  of  the  heart 
and  deep  narcotism.  Being  sparingly  soluble  in  blood 
the  saturation  necessary  for  this  effect  is  soon  reached. 
But  like  chloroform,  which  it  resembles  chemically, 
this  substance  produces  rigid  muscular  contraction 
as  it  narcotizes ;  it  also  causes  vomiting,  and,  by 
arresting  first  respiration,  then  the  action  of  the 
heart,  it  kills,  as  chloroform  does,  when  its  adminis¬ 
tration  is  continued  too  long. 

The  iodide  of  ethyl  produces  with  narcotism  great 
excitement  of  the  heart  and  circulation  as  well  as 
free  glandular  secretion. 

_  Bromide  of  ethyl,  C2  H5  Br,  possessing  good  phy¬ 
sical  qualities  for  a  volatile  narcotic,  produces  deep 
narcotism  and  but  slight  muscular  excitement, 
though  to  some  extent,  like  the  chloride  and  iodide, 
it  excites,  causes  vomiting  and  irritates  the  mucous 
surfaces. 

0  TL  1 

Sulpliide  of  ethyl,  ^,2  ^  -  S,  produces  rapid  narco¬ 
tism  without  excitement,  and  though  with  frogs  the 
insensibility  may  be  sustained  for  many  hours  with¬ 
out  death,  it  induces  paralysis  of  the  nervous  centres 
supplying  the  heart  and  the  muscles  of  respiration. 

Third  Series,  No.  18. 


Nitrite  of  ethyl,  C2H5N02,  produces,  besides  nar¬ 
cotism,  a  general  paralysis  of  the  nerves  governing 
the  contractile  function  of  the  blood-vessels,  causing 
suffusion  of  the  face,  and  rapid  action  of  the  heart. 

A  similar  series  of  relations  between  constitution 
and  physiological  action  is  found  in  the  amyl  series. 
Between  the  actions  of  the  ethyl  and  amyl  series  there 
is  a  difference  in  regard  to  what  Dr.  Richardson  calls 
persistency  of  effect,  due,  he  considers,  to  the  radicle 
amyl  being  richer  in  carbon  and  hydrogen. 

Dr.  Richardson  ascribes  the  narcotism  in  all 
these  cases  to  the  ethyl  of  the  several  compounds, 
and  the  phenomena  which  lie  outside  the  narcotism 
he  considers  to  be  referable  to  the  various  other  sub¬ 
stances  with  which  it  is  combined.  He  considers 
that  wherever  a  basic  element  or  radicle  exists  it 
always  plays  a  part  of  its  own,  at  the  same  time 
modifying  the  action  of  the  substances  with  which 
it  may  be  united  but  not  destroying  their  action  or 
preventing  them  from  being  recognized.  But  in  some 
cases  the  action  of  the  associated  substance  may  be 
so  determinate  that  it  becomes  the  prominent  fact, 
while  the  action  of  the  base  is  obscured.  This  is  to 
some  extent  the  case  with  the  nitrites,  and  very 
markedly  so  in  the  case  of  the  cyanides. 

The  physical  properties  of  a  substance  probably 
modify  the  physiological  action  belonging  to  its  con¬ 
stituents  ;  thus  vapour  density  will  regulate  the  rate 
of  diffusion ;  the  boiling-point,  solubility  and  other 
characters  will  also  exercise  some  influence  in  modi¬ 
fying  the  effects  of  a  substance  as  a  medicine. 

We  must  also  admit  the  probability  that  some 
medicines  undergo  chemical  alteration  within  the 
body.  Thus,  for  instance,  hydrate  of  chloral  is  per¬ 
haps  converted  into  chloroform  by  contact  with  weak 
alkaline  liquids  in  the  organism. 

Again,  though  animals  are,  as  a  rule,  affected  in 
like  manner  by  various  substances,  there  are  pecu¬ 
liarities  in  some  animals  in  consequence  of  which 
the  effects  of  certain  substances  are  modified  in  par¬ 
ticular  cases.  Pigeons  are  insensible  to  the  influ¬ 
ence  of  morphia,  goats  are  unaffected  by  nicotine. 

The  specific  action  of  substances  is  another  point 
to  be  studied.  Of  late  years  it  has  been  customary 
to  suppose  that  all  agents  act  through  the  blood ;  but 
we  are  now  learning  that  many  substances  act  directly 
upon  the  peripheral  nerve-surfaces,  the  effect  being 
transmitted  by  light  or  sound.  Dr.  Richardson  con¬ 
siders  that  nitrite  of  amyl  acts  thus,  for  in  an  animal 
recently  dead  the  heart  can  be  influenced  by  its 
application  to  the  surface  of  the  retina,  or  to  the  olfac¬ 
tory  tract.  Dr.  James  Jones  has  also  shown  that 
prussic  acid  acts  fatally  by  application  to  the  medulla 
oblongata. 

The  study  of  this  subject  leads  to  ground  so 
entirely  new  that  it  cannot  easily  be  traversed,  -  but 
having  got  a  glimpse  of  what  is  to  be  learnt  it  is,  as 
Dr.  Richardson  remarked,  impossible  to  leave  such 
ground  untraversed.  “  Better  get  over  it  ever  so 
little,  and  even  in  lame  and  shambling  gait  than- not 
to  venture  at  all.  Let  us  once  fairly  get  upon  this  new 
ground  and  we  march  straight  to  the  positive  science 
and  art  of  cure  ;  then  the  fate  of  quackery  intra  or 
extra  the  ranks,  is  sealed  for  ever.  Let  us  not  ven¬ 
ture  on  the  new  ground,  and  we  remain  as  we  are— 
■wiser  than  gross  uncertainties  but  weak  because, 
uncertain  ourselves,  we  are  constantly  obliged  by 
our  questionings  and  admissions  to  proclaim  to  the 
vulgar  that  even  the  guides  cannot  find  their  way. 


342 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [October  29,  1670. 


THE  CHEMICAL  REACTIONS  OE  CHLORAL 

HYDRATE. 

BY  J.  F.  BROWN. 

Tlie  few  simple  experiments  which  I  have  here 
briefly  noted  were  suggested  hy  the  letter  of  “  F.  B. 
in  the  Journal  for  October  8th,  asking  for  a  list  of 
incompatibles  with  the  above-named  substance. 
Their  results  may  perhaps  fulfil,  to  some  extent,  liis 
requirements. 

The  sample  of  the  hydrate  used  was  of  the  ordi¬ 
nary  kind,  in  cakes  and  fragments  of  cakes,  and 
yielded  70 '9  per  cent,  of  chloroform  when  tested  by 
the  method  proposed  by  Mr.  Urnney  in  the  ‘  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Journal,’  p.  107. 

Chloral  hydrate,  when  heated,  fuses  and  boils, 
giving  off  an  acid  vapour. 

Treated  with  strong  nitric  acid,  fumes  of  nitric 
peroxide,  N2  04,  were  evolved.  On  the  addition  of 
water  and  an  excess  of  ammonia  the  usual  reaction 
followed,  a  globule  of  chloroform  collecting  at  the 
bottom  of  the  tube. 

Half  a  drachm  was  readily  dissolved  by  f5ss  of 
pure  alcohol,  and  no  separation  resulted  on  the  addi¬ 
tion  of  water.  The  hydrate  is  freely  soluble  in  rec¬ 
tified  spirit,  and  the  solution  mixes  well  with  dis¬ 
tilled  water ;  but  I  remember  some  time  since  dis¬ 
pensing  a  mixture  containing  chloral  hydrate,  tinc¬ 
ture  of  orange  peel,  and  water,  when  on  dissolving  the 
hydrate  in  the  tincture  and  adding  it  to  the  water, 
a  separation  took  place  of  numerous  oily  drops, 
which  were  with  difficulty  diffused  through  the  mix¬ 
ture.  The  sample  used  on  that  occasion  was  ob¬ 
tained  from  a  well-known  firm  of  manufacturing 
chemists,  but  was  strikingly  different  to  any  that  I 
have  seen,  either  before  or  since,  being  in  distinct 
transparent,  needle-like  crystals,  very  damp,  but 
with  difficulty  soluble  in  water.  . 

Ether  dissolves  the  hydrate  hi  the  same  propor¬ 
tion  as  alcohol,  but  on  adding  to  the  solution  five 
times  its  volume  of  distilled  water  a  very  curious 
separation  occurred.  It  was  evident  that  a  stratum 
of  heavier  liquid  was  forming  at  the  bottom  of  the 
tube,  but  the  mode  in  which  this  took  place  was  to 
me  a  novel  one. 

Looking  attentively  at  the  column  of  liquid,  I 
could  perceive  an  ascending  current  of  tolerably 
large  globules.  These,  when  they  reached  the  sur¬ 
face,  coalesced,  to  form  a  large  drop  suspended  from 
it,  which  presently  parted  from  its  support,  much  as 
a  soap-bubble  would  have  done,  and  descended 
slowly  to  the  bottom. 

This  was  repeated  until  the  liquids  were  com¬ 
pletely  separated,  and  on  examining  the  lower  stra¬ 
tum  I  found  it  to  consist  of  an  ethereal  solution  of 
chloral.  A  little  exposed  in  a  watch-glass  left  a 
residuum  of  dense,  oily  liquid,  which  imparted  a 
transient  greasy  stain  to  paper. 

Glycerine  is  a  good  solvent  for  the  hydrate  of 
chloral,  and  the  solution  mixes  with  water  un¬ 
changed. 

A  solution  of  one  part  of  the  hydrate  in  six  of 
water  was  mixed  with  different  alkaline  solutions  of 
the  same  strength  (except  that  of  acid  carbonate  of 
sodium,  which  was  one  in  twelve)  with  the  following 
results : — Carbonate  of  potassium  induced  decompo¬ 
sition  at  the  temperature  of  the  atmosphere  62°  F. 
Carbonate  of  sodium  at  100°  F.  Acid  carbonate  of 
sodium,  acid  carbonate  of  potassium,  and  car¬ 
bonate  of  ammonium  at  212°  F.,  and  only  after 


the  disengagement  of  carbonic  acid  gas,  from  which 
it  may,  I  think,  be  inferred  that  the  reaction  is  due, 
not  to  the  acid  salts,  but  to  the  neutral  compounds 
to  which  they  are  reduced  by  boiling. 

With  saccharated  solution  of  lime  a  white  precipi¬ 
tate  of  hydrate  of  calcium  was  obtained. 

With  tincture  of  percliloride  of  iron  a  precipitate 
of  ferric  hydrate. 

With  solution  of  subacetate  of  lead  a  white  preci¬ 
pitate  of  hydrated  oxide  of  the  metal ;  and  on  boil¬ 
ing  with  solution  of  silver  nitrate,  oxide  of  silver  was 
thrown  down. 

A  solution  of  tannic  acid,  at  a  boiling  heat,  caused 
the  evolution  of  pungent  acid  vapours,  probably  of 
formic  acid. 

The  solution  of  the  hydrate  was  apparently  un¬ 
affected  by  sulphuric,  acetic  or  gallic  acids,  and 
neither  in  substance  nor  in  solution  was  it  affected  by 
iodine  or  percliloride  of  mercury. 

May  I,  in  conclusion,  express  a  hope  that  the 
attention  of  my  fellow-students  will  be  called  to  tliis 
subject,  that  my  statements  may  be  confirmed  or  in¬ 
validated  by  further  and  more  complete  experiments. 

Dover ,  October  2\st,  1870. 


JAVA  CINCHONA  BARK. 

Some  months  ago  several  bales  of  cinchona  bark 
■were  imported  into  Holland  from  the  Dutch  planta¬ 
tions  in  Java.  Samples  of  this  bark  have  been  sent 
out  by  the  Handels-Maatschappij  in  sealed  packets 
with  the  analysis  of  Professor  Gunning.  In  a  recent 
number  of  the  Ncaes  Repertorinm  fur  Pharmacie , 
Herr  Jobst  describes  this  bark  as  consisting  of 
larger  pieces  than  the  first  samples  sent  over  in 
1867  from  the  English  plantations  in  the  Hima¬ 
layas,  although  in  both  instances  there  was  a  want 
of  that  fine  character  presented  by  the  older  bark 
from  the  Andes  as  regards  colour. 

Dr.  Henkel,  of  Tubingen,  is  now  engaged  in  a 
microscopic  examination  of  this  bark,  the  results  of 
which  will  shortly  be  published,  and  Herr  Jobst 
gives  the  following  results  of  liis  chemical  examina¬ 
tion  : — 

No.  I.  T.  P.  King’s  Bark. 

Containing,  according  to  Professor  Gunning,  when 
dried  at  100°  C. — 

Alkaloid  soluble  in  ether  .  3’5  p.  c.  (much  quinidine). 
„  insoluble  „  .  2'0  „ 

This  sample  consists  of  single  and  double  quills 
from  2  to  7  inches  long,  from  the  size  of  a  goose- 
quill  to  4  an  inch  in  diameter  and  about  1  line  in 
thickness.  The  pieces  are  mostly  of  a  dull  brown 
colour,  with  longitudinal  cracks  and  faintly-marked, 
transverse  striae,  covered  with  warts  at  some  parts,  and 
pale  yellow  at  the  interior.  Herr  Jobst  found  it  con¬ 
tained  in  all  3‘2  per  cent,  of  alkaloids,  much  of 
which  was  concliinine  and  cinchonine,  only  a  trace 
of  quinine  and  no  quinidine,  but  an  amorphous  basic 
substance  that  has  not  yet  been  examined. 

Nos.  II.  and  III.  T.  P.  King’s  Bark. 

Containing,  according  to  Professor  Gunning,  when 
dried  at  100°  C. — 

Alkaloid  soluble  in  ether  .  2T  p.  c.  (little  quinidine). 
„  insoluble  „  .  1*3  „ 

Tliis  sample  consists  of  fine,  uniform  quiffs  of  a 
grey  colour,  covered  here  and  there  writh  lichens. 
The  quills  were  7  inches  long,  from  5  to  6  lines  dia- 


October  29,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


343 


meter  and  about  1  line  in  thickness.  The  cracks 
and  striae  were  scarcely  recognizable,  and  the  colour 
of  the  bark  inside  was  pale  or  dark  yellow.  The 
total  amount  of  alkaloids  was  3 ’5  per  cent.,  consist¬ 
ing  of  P7  quinine  with  some  quinidine,  concliinine, 
cmchinine  and  amorphous  basic  substance. 

No.  IV.  M. 

Containing,  according  to  Professor  Gunning,  when 
dried  at  100°  C  — 

Alkaloid  soluble  in  ether  .  .  .  1*1  per  cent. 

„  insoluble  „  ...  0'9  ,, 

This  consisted  of  grey,  greyish-brown  and  brown 
quills,  and  flat  pieces  about  8  inches  long,  with  lon¬ 
gitudinal  cracks,  but  no  transverse  strife :  reddish- 
yellow  inside.  It  contained  in  all  l-9  per  cent,  al¬ 
kaloids,  including  0-5  quinine,  besides  cinchonine, 
some  quinidine,  concliinine  and  amorphous  base. 

Brown  Java  bark. 

Total  amount  of  alkaloids  1*2  per  cent.,  chiefly 
quinidine  and  amorphous  base  with  trace  of  quinine, 
but  neither  cinchonine  nor  concliinine.  This  bark 
(Pahudiana)  is  already  well  known  to  be  worthless, 
and  the  Dutch  Government  has  forbidden  its  pro¬ 
duction. 

These  results  show  that  only  two  of  these  samples 
(Nos.  II.  and  III.)  contain  any  sensible  amount  of 
the  alkaloid  that  is  alone  of  use, — crystallizable 
quinine, — and  in  regard  to  this  the  samples  are 
nearly  the  same  as  a  very  ordinary  sample  of  Ca- 
lisaya  bark.  Consequently  the  Java  bark,  as  pro¬ 
duced  at  the  present  time,  is  quite  unfit  for  the 
manufacture  of  quinine. — Abstract  of  paper  in  the 
Neues  Jalirbucli  fur  Pharmacies  xxxiv.  18. 


Colters  for  Sfatonts. 


CHEMICAL  NOTES  TO  THE  PHARMACOPOEIA. 

BY  WILLIAM  A.  TILDEN,  B.SC.  LOND. 

DEMONSTRATOR  OF  PRACTICAL  CHEMISTRY  TO  THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 

Acidum  Sulphuricum. — Sulphurous  acid  gas  is 
procured  either  by  burning  sulphur  or  by  roasting 
iron  pyrites  (Fe  S2) ;  it  is  passed,  together  with  the 
vapour  of  nitric  acid,  in  a  stream  of  air  into  a  large 
chamber  lined  with  sheet  lead.  At  intervals,  jets  of 
steam  are  thrown  into  the  chamber.  These  mate¬ 
rials  react  on  each  other  in  this  way :  oxygen  from 
the  nitric  acid  and  water  (of  the  steam)  unite  with 
sulphurous  acid  gas,  and  form  sulphuric  acid,  which, 
being  scarcely  volatile,  collects  as  a  liquid  at  the 
bottom  of  the  chamber.  The  nitric  oxide  (N  O) 
which  results  from  the  deoxidation  of  the  nitric  acid 
combines  with  oxygen,  which  enters  in  the  form 
of  atmospheric  air  and  produces  nitric  peroxide 
(N  02) ;  this,  in  turn,  gives  up  oxygen  to  a  second 
portion  of  sulphurous  acid  and  itself  is  again  re¬ 
duced  to  nitric  oxide.  These  changes  go  on  in  this 
order  incessantly.  On  the  one  hand  we  have  sul¬ 
phurous  acid  gaS  and  vapour  of  water,  on  the  other 
atmospheric  oxygen  and,  occupying  an  intermediate 
position,  the  nitric  oxide.  As  the  oxygen  comes  in 
it  is  handed  over,  by  the  intervention  of  the  N  0, 
into  combination  with  the  S  02,  H„  O. 


O 

( from  the  air). 


SO, 


PRO 


} 


\  [  or  H9  SO, 


becoming 

IPS  Os 


NO 

(alter  natch/ 

N 0  and  NO.,). 

i 

The  above  reaction  is  accompanied  by  other 
changes.  Sometimes,  when  water  is  deficient,  a 
crystalline  body  forms  in  the  lead  chambers.  Tliis 
compound  is  believed  to  contain  the  elements  of  sul¬ 
phurous  anhydride,  S  02,  nitric  peroxide,  N  02,  plus 
oxygen  ;  but  its  constitution  is  quite  unknown. 

The  weak  acid  of  the  lead  chambers  is  concen¬ 
trated  first  by  evaporation,  afterwards  by  distillation. 
Sulphuric  acid  is  an  oily  liquid;  specific  gravity 
1‘843.  It  has  an  intense  affinity  for  water,  absorb¬ 
ing  water  greedily  when  exposed  to  the  air,  evolving 
considerable  heat  when  mixed  with  water,  and  the 
mixture  undergoing  diminution  or  contraction  of  vo¬ 
lume.  "When  diluted,  it  gives  with  chloride  of  ba¬ 
rium  a  wliite  precipitate  of  sulphate  of  barium,  in¬ 
soluble  in  acids  and  in  water.  Sulphuric  acid  chars 
and  decomposes  almost  all  lands  of  organic  sub¬ 
stances.  In  consequence  of  its  attraction  for  water, 
it  removes  part  of  their  hydrogen  and  oxygen  in  that 
form,  and  a  mass  of  highly  carbonaceous  composi¬ 
tion  and  appearance  remains.  Some  bodies  dissolve 
in  it  without  blackening  ;  indigo  does  tliis.  Others 
do  not  blacken,  but  are  completely  decomposed  ;  for 
example, — 

C2H204  +  H2S04 

Oxalic  Strong  sul- 
acid.  phuric  acid. 


=  CO  +  CO,  +  h2o,  h2so4 

Carbonic  Carbonic  Hydrate  of  sul- 

monoxide.  dioxide.  phuric  acid. 


Nordhausen  or  fuming  sulphuric  acid  is  made  by 
distilling  at  a  strong  heat  partially  dried  sulphate 
of  iron.  The  product,  notwithstanding  its  ready  de- 
composability,  is  generally  looked  upon  as  a  definite 
compound.  Some  chemists  still  regard  it,  however, 
as  a  mere  solution  of  sulphuric  anhydride,  S  03,  in 
sulphuric  acid,  H2  S  04.  The  old  name,  oil  of  vitriol, 
arose  from  its  being  thus  prepared  from  sulphate  of 
iron,  or  green  Vitriol.  White  vitriol  is  sulphate  of 
zinc  ;  blue  vitriol,  sulphate  of  copper. 

The  sulphuric  acid  of  commerce  contains  traces  of" 
many  impurities ;  bisulpliate  of  potash  or  soda  would 
be  left  by  evaporation  in  a  platinum  dish ;  nitric  or 
nitrous  acid,  detected  by  a  solution  of  sulphate  of 
iron,  which,  poured  over  the  surface,  developes  a 
purplish  colour  where  the  two  liquids  unite ;  arsenic' 
or  lead,  by  diluting  with  a  considerable  quantity  of 
water,  and  saturating  with  sulphuretted  hydrogen. 
A  white  cloud  of  sulphate  of  lead  is  usually  observed 
on  adding  water  to  common  oil  of  vitriol;  tliis  is  de¬ 
rived  cliiefly  from  the  pans  in  which  the  first  con¬ 
centration  is  effected ;  it  is  slightly  soluble  in  the 
strong  acid,  but  scarcely  at  all  so  when  diluted,  tliis, 
is  the  cause  of  the  precipitation. 

Impure  sulphuric  acid  may  be  freed  from  contami¬ 
nation  with  arsenic  by  heating  it  with  a  little  hy¬ 
drochloric  acid ;  the  arsenic  is  expelled  in  the  form 
of  chloride.  It  may  be  purified  from  nitrous  com¬ 
pounds  by  distillation  with  a  little  sulphate  of  am¬ 
monia. 

(NH4)2S04  +  N203  =  2N2  +  3  H20  +  H2S04. 

[§  5*06  grams,  mixed  with  an  ounce  of  distilled 
water,  require  for  neutralization  100  c.c.  of  the  volu¬ 
metric  solution  of  soda.]  Sulphuric  acid  is  bibasic ; 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [October  29,  1870. 


344 


one  molecule  of  it  will  therefore  require  two  molecules 
of  hydrate  of  sodium  for  neutralization, — 

98  40x2=80 

H2S04  +  2NaHO  =  Na2S04  +  2H20 

or, — 

49  40 

4-H2S04  +  NaHO  =  iNa2S04  -f  H20. 

1000  c.c.  of  vol.  sol.,  which  contain  40  grams  of 
soda,  will  therefore  neutralize  49  grams  of  sulphu¬ 
ric  acid ;  100,  therefore,  neutralize  one-tenth  of  49, 
or  4- 9  grams.  5' 0(3  grams  of  the  official  sulphuric 
acid,  which  require  100  c.c.  of  volumetric  soda, 
therefore  contain  this  quantity  of  real  acid.  This  is 
96' 8  per  cent.,  for 

5*06  :  100  as  4*9  :  96*8. 

Acidum  Sulphuricum  Dilutum. — 35*9  grams  of 
the  diluted  acid  are  neutralized  by  the  addition  of 
100  c.c.  of  vol.  sol.  of  soda ;  this  indicates  13*64  per 
cent,  of  H2  S  04. 

The  strength  of  the  diluted  acids  of  the  Pharma¬ 
copoeia  is  so  arranged  that  six  fluid  drachms  of  any 
of  them  contain  sufficient  acid  to  neutralize  one 
molecule  in  grains  of  an  alkaline  hydrate. 

f3yj  Contain 

Acid.  Hydrocli.  Dil.  1  grain-mol.  (=  36*5  gr.)  HC1 
Acid.  Nitric.  Dil.  .  1  grain-mol.  (=  03  gr.)  HN03 
Acid.  Sulpli.  Dil.  .  £  grain-mol.  (=  49  gr.)  H2S04 
Acid.  Pliosph.  Dil.  .  grain-mol.  (=  32*6  gr.)  H3P04 

Either  of  these  quantities  would  neutralize 

1  grain-molecule  (=  40  gr.)  of  NaHO 
or  1  grain-molecule  (—  50  gr.)  of  KHO 
or  4  grain-molecule  (=  53  gr.)  of  Na2  C  03 
or  |  grain-molecule  (=  09  gr.)  of  K2  O  03. 


P ARICINE.* 

BY  O.  HESSE. 

This  alkaloid  was  discovered  by  Winckler,  in  1845, 
in  a  sample  of  bark  brought  from  Park,  which,  according 
to  Howard,  had  been  derived  from  Cinchona  Intea ,  a  tree 
which  is  called  ‘  lengua  de  vacca  ’  (cow’s  tongue)  in 
Huanuco,  by  reason  of  the  rough  feel  of  its  leaves. 
W eidenbusch  made  an  analysis  of  the  alkaloid,  which 
showed  that  its  percentage  composition  was  very  similar 
to  that  of  aricine,  and,  on  this  ground,  Gerhardt  asserted 
that  it  was  merely  amorphous  aricine. 

Subsequently  Winckler,  in  studying  cortex  chin® 
pallidae  in  1865,  took  up  the  subject  again,  and  compared 
paricine  with  beberine,  because  the  latter  has  also  the  cha¬ 
racter  of  being  precipitated  from  its  solutions  by  nitric 
acid.  Winckler  found  that  these  alkaloids  had  the 
greatest  resemblance  in  their  chemical  behaviour  towards 
the  reagents  he  employed,  and  he  was,  therefore,  of 
opinion  that  elementary  analysis  would  prove  them  to  be 
identical. 

>  Upon  this  basis  Fluckiger  assumes  not  only  the  iden¬ 
tity  of  paricine  and  beberine, — buxin  or  pelosine, — but 
also,  conjectures  that  paricine  probably  exists  in  all  kinds 
of  cinchona  bark.  In  order  to  separate  it  from  the  mix¬ 
ture  of  bases  Fluckiger  suggests  that  those  bases  should 
be  converted  into  the  sparingly  soluble  iodine  compounds, 
,and  the  paricine  extracted  by  ether. 

Hesse  disclaims  the  intention  of  examining  whether 
the  method  is  suitable  for  detecting  paricine  or  not,  but 
rather,  seeks  to  show  that  the  alkaloid  in  question  does 
not  exist  in  the  kinds  of  cinchona  bark  used  for  making 
..quinine.  During  the  last  eight  years  he  has  given  at- 

*  Abstract  from  a  paper  in  the  Reports  of  the  Berlin 
Chemical  Society,  1870,  no.  5. 


tention  to  this  matter,  but  has  not  succeeded  in  obaining 
the  smallest  trace  of  paricine  from  those  kinds  of  bark. 
In  all  instances  the  alkaloids  readily  soluble  in  ether, 
after  separating  quinine  and  cinchonine  by  means  of  tar¬ 
taric  acid,  were  submitted  to  examination  by  treating  the 
sulphuric  acid  solution  of  these  bases  with  concentrated 
nitric  acid  ;  but  in  no  single  instance  was  there  any  pre¬ 
cipitation  or  turbidity  caused  thereby.  |If  paricine  had 
been  present,  however,  it  should  have  been  found  in  this 
way. 

The  author  adds,  moreover,  that  paricine  is  not  even 
identical  with  pelosine,  since  the  latter,  as  Fluckiger  has 
observed,  turns  light  towards  the  right,  while  pelosine  is, 
according  to  De  Vry,  optically  inactive. 


EXAMINATION  OF  THE  RESIN  OF  TAMPICO 

JALAP.* 

BY  PROFESSOR  H.  SriRGATIS. 

The  author  has  published  the  results  of  a  preliminary 
examination  of  the  resin  contained  in  this  drug  with  the 
object  of  comparing  it  with  the  resin  of  true  jalap.f 

Tampico  jalap  resin  was  obtained  by  first  extracting  the 
root  with  water,  then  digesting  it  with  alcohol,  evapo¬ 
rating  off  the  alcohol  and  washing  the  resin  with  water. 
A  second  solution  in  alcohol  and  treatment  with  animal 
charcoal  completed  the  purification.  The  author  gives 
the  resin  the  name  of  Tampicin. 

This  substance  presents  a  general  resemblance  to  con- 
volvulin.  It  is  translucent,  colourless  or  slightly  yellow, 
brittle,  without  odour  or  taste,  and  readily  soluble  in 
alcohol  or  ether.  Its  solubility  in  ether  distinguishes  it 
from  convolvulin,  j  as  well  as  from  jalapin,  the  resin  of 
the  Ipomeea  orizabensis.  It  also  differs  from  them  in  com¬ 
position.  The  alcoholic  and  ethereal  solutions  have  a 
slight  acid  reaction. 

By  the  action  of  strong  bases  this  resin  is,  like  con- 
volvulin,  converted  with  addition  of  the  elements  of 
water  into  an  acid  soluble  in  water, — Tampicinic  acid. 

Strong  acids,  such  as  hydrochloric,  nitric  or  sulphuric 
acids,  when  diluted  dissolve  the  resin  gradually,  convert¬ 
ing  it  into  sugar  and  a  fatty  acid — Tampicoleic  acid. 
Concentrated  sulphuric  acid  colours  the  resin  yellow  at 
first,  then  dissolves  it  with  a  fine  red  colour,  which  gra¬ 
dually  becomes  brown.  With  acetic  acid  this  resin  be¬ 
haves  in  the  same  manner  as  convolvulin,  dissolving  with¬ 
out  being  broken  up. 

Tampicin  is  much  more  readily  affected  by  heat  than 
convolvulin.  Its  melting-point  is  about  130°  C. 

Analysis  of  the  resin  elided  in  vacuo  at  100°  C.  gave 
results  corresponding  with  the  formula  C3tH-4014;  Mayer 
gives  C30H50O16  as  the  formula  of  convolvulin. 

Tampicinic  acid  resembles  convolvulinic  acid,  being  an 
amorphous,  yellowish,  shining,  translucent  mass  without 
odour,  and  having  a  rankish,  bitter  taste.  It  is  hygro¬ 
scopic,  readily  soluble  in  water  and  alcohol ;  the  solu¬ 
tion  has  an  acid  reaction,  and  expels  carbonic  acid  from 
the  alkaline  carbonates.  It  is  scarcely  soluble  in  ether. 

This  acid  is  precipitated  only  by  acetate  of  lead  and 
chloride  of  mercury.  Dried  at  90°  C.  in  vacuo  and  ana¬ 
lysed,  it  gave  results  indicating  the  formula  C34H60Oi7; 
Mayer  gives  O31H,0O16  +  1|H20. 

Tampicoleic  acid  is  white  and  crystalline,  with  a  sharp 
taste,  without  smell,  readily  soluble  in  alcohol,  sparingly 
in  ether,  both  solutions  having  a  distinct  acid  reaction. 
When  heated  it  melts  to  a  yellowish,  oily  liquid  that 
solidifies  on  cooling  to  a  hard,  white,  radiated  mass.  The 


*  Read  before  the  Royal  Bavarian  Academy  of  Sciences, 
2nd  July,  1870. 

f  Kayser,  Ann.  Ckem.  Pliarm.  li.  81,  and  W.  Mayer,  ibid. 
lxxxiii.  121,  xcv.  129. 

4  Sometimes  this  drug  appears  to  be  mixed  with  the  tu¬ 
bercles  of  other  Convolvulace®,  perhaps  those  of  true  jalap. 
One  sample  of  Tampico  jalap  yielded  a  resin  only  in  part 
soluble  in  ether. 


October  29,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


345 


alcoholic  solution  expels  carbonic  acid  from  the  alkaline 
carbonates.  Analysis  indicated  the  formula  C16H3203. 
The  alkaline  salts  of  this  acid  are  soluble  in  water,  the 
ether  crystallizes  in  rhombic  tables. 

Summarizing  the  result  of  this  investigation,  it  ap¬ 
pears  that  the  resin  of  Tampico  jalap  resembles  convol- 
vulin  in  belonging  to  the  class  of  conjugated  sugar  com¬ 
pounds  or  glucosidos,  while  it  differs  from  that  substance 
by  its  perfect  solubility  in  ether  and  in  composition. 

*  Experiments  made  in  the  Kbnigsberg  hospital  to  as¬ 
certain  the  medicinal  action  of  Tampicin  appear  to  show 
that  in  this  respect  it  resembles  true  jalap  resin,  though 
it  is  less  certain.  Moreover,  the  use  of  this  drug  in  the 
place  of  true  jalap  does  not  seem  advisable,  for  although 
its  price  is  only  a  third  of  what  it  was,  the  much  smaller 
amount  of  resin  it  contains,  and  the  large  amount  of  al¬ 
cohol  required  for  its  extraction,  renders  tampicin  dearer 
than  convolvulin. — Abstract  from  paper  in  the  Nates  lie- 
pertorium  fur  Pharmacie ,  xix.  452. 


KASHMIR  MORELS. 

RY  M.  C.  COOKE,  M.A. 

That  Truffles  and  Morels  are  found  in  North-Western 
India  and  Kashmir,  has  for  years  been  an  article  of  faith 
with  mycologists,  although  no  opportunity  has  occurred  for 
satisfactorily  determining  the  species.  It  is  quite  true  that 
names  have  been  applied  to  them,  but  without  just'eause. 

Through  the  kindness  of  Dr.  J.  L.  Stewart  we  have 
at  length  received  from  Mr.  Baden  Powell,  of  Lahore, 
a  string  of  dried  Morels  procured  by  him  from  Kashmir. 
This  string  contains  two  species,  both  of  them  small,  and 
neither  of  them  the  Morchella  esculenta  of  Europe,  which 
the  Rev.  M.  J.  Berkeley  has  quoted  as  inhabiting  Kash¬ 
mir.  In  a  paper  recently  communicated  to  the  Botanical 
Society  of  Edinburgh  we  have  described  these  two  Kash¬ 
mir  Morels. 

In  his  ‘Notes  on  the  Products  of  Kashmir,’*  Lieutenant 
Lowther  says,  “  I  saw  fungi  of  all  sizes  and  hues  daily 
collected  and  devoured  by  old  women,  which  in  Europe 
would  have  entailed  death  to  the  eater.  Either  the  soil 
of  this  favoured  valley,  or  the  stomachs  of  these  hungry 
beldames,  must  be  of  an  uncommon  order.  On  the  green 
slopes,  which  are  constantly  grazed  on  by  sheep  and 
homed  cattle,  I  gathered  quantities  of  superior  mush¬ 
rooms,  and  observed  numerous  champillons  (a  French 
dainty)  in  the  thickets  on  the  hills.  Morels  or  Truffles 
are  produced,  which  are  dried  and  sold  in  the  chief  mar¬ 
kets.”  This  writer  mentions  a  Morel  which  sells  at  two 
annas  per  seer,  and  is  called  “Kungutch.” 

Honigberger  says,f  “  Morels  are  imported  from  the 
hills  into  Lahore,  but  are  very  little  used  by  the  natives, 
and  the  English  use  them  not  medicinally  but  for  culi¬ 
nary  purposes.  The  Morels  which  are  brought  from 
the  Hozara  country  are  large.”  From  this  it  would 
appear  that  another  species  of  Morchella ,  quite  different 
the  two  alluded  to,  is  found  in  this  region. 

Dr.  Royle  states  in  his  Himalayan  Botany  that  he 
only  obtained  specimens  of  common  Morels,  or  M .  esm- 
lent  a ,  the  “Kana  Kuchoo”  of  the  natives  of  India,  which 
are  every  year  brought  down  for  sale  from  Kashmir, 
whence  some  fine  specimens  wrere  procured  in  1831  by 
the  plant-collectors  detached  from  the  Saharunpore  Bo¬ 
tanic  Garden.  The  recently-published  ‘  Handbook  of 
Punjab  Products  ’  states  that  large  quantities  of  Morels 
are  brought  down  from  Kashmir  to  Umritsur. 

In  his  ‘  Punjab  Plants  ’  Dr.  Stewart  refers  the  Kash¬ 
mir  Morel  to  J/.  mnilibera ,  and  gives  as  vernacular 
names,  “  Kana  kach,”  “  Kangach,”  “  Kana  bichu”  and 
“  Girch  hatra,”  and  for  the  plains,  “Khumb.”  He 
adds,  “  This  appears  to  be  abundant  in  and  near  Kash¬ 
mir,  from  which  considerable  quantities  are,  after  drying, 
exported  to  the  plains.  1  have  only  once  noticed  it 
growing  fresh  at  6000  feet,  near  Chumba.  It  is  much 

*  Journal  of  A gri. Sort.  Society  of  India,  viii.  p.  207. 

f  ‘  Thirty-five  Years  in  the  East/  p.  323. 


eaten  by  natives,  both  fresh  and  dry,  and  is  said  to  be 
preferred  by  them  to  the  mushroom.  Dried,  it  is  a  not 
unsatisfactory  addition  to  a  stew,  even  for  an  European 
taste.  I  have  no  proof  that  a  Morel  which  is  found 
abundantly  in  the  desert  about  Jhung,  etc.,  and  is  said 
to  be  got  near  Hoshiarpur,  etc.,  is  the  same  species.  It 
is  considered  a  great  dainty  by  the  natives,  and  relished 
by  those  Europeans  who  have  tasted  it.” 

Dr.  Henderson  has  remarked  that  “  in  Shahpur  and 
other  districts  where  there  is  ‘  Kalr  ’  in  the  soil,  both 
Morels  and  mushrooms  are  abundant ;  the  former  in 
August  and  September,  the  latter  in  the  end  of  the  cold 
season,  after  heavy  falls  of  rain.”  He  adds  that  he  has 
seen  Morels  half  a  pound  in  weight  and  mushrooms  half 
a  foot  in  diameter. 

This  is  the  sum  of  information  that  we  have  been  able 
to  collect  respecting  the  Morels  of  Northern  India; 
from  which  it  appears  that  there  is  still  one  or  more  large 
species  of  Morel,  different  from  the  two  here  recorded. 

The  dried  Morels  are  perforated  through  the  pileus, 
and  strung  upon  coarse  twine  at  about  half  an  inch 
distance  apart.  Each  fungus  is  from  an  inch  to  an  inch 
and  a  half  in  length,  and  from  a  quarter  to  half  an  inch 
or  more  in  diameter.  Usually  the  short  stem  is  broken 
off  and  the  pileus  alone  remains.  The  specimens  consist 
of  the  two  species  intermixed,  of  which  the  following  are 
the  specific  characters : — 

Morchella  deliciosa,  Fries. — Pileus  subcylindrical, 

acute,  adnate  at  the  base ; 
ribs  longitudinal,  firm, 
connected  by  transverse 
folds ;  stem  even,  short ; 
asci  cylindrical ;  sporidia 
elliptical,  one  and  a  half 
diameters  in  length. — Fr. 
Sys.  Myc.  ii.  p.  8  ;  Kromb- 
holz,  t.  16.  f.  17-19. 
“  Kana  kach,”  “  Kan 
gach,”  “Kana  kuchoo” 
of  Lahore.  (Fig.  1.  Spore 
magnified  500  diameters.) 

The  total  length  of  the 
dried  specimens  is  an  inch 
or  an  inch  and  a  quarter, 
including  the  stem,  which 
Fig.  1.  Morchella  deliciosa.  -{g  a^Q^t  one-fourth  of  the 

entire  length.  It  differs  from  M.  esculenta  in  its  much 
smaller  size,  different  form  of  areolae,  longitudinal  ribs  and 
smaller  sporidia,  as  well  as  other  points.  It  is  found  in 
Java  as  well  as  Kashmir  and  Europe.  The  sporidia 
are  -0006  in.  long  by  ‘0004  in.  broad. 

Morchella  gigaspora,  Cooke. — Pileus  subcylindrical 


Fig.  2.  Morchella.  gigaspora. 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  29,  1870. 


3dG 


or  somewhat  conical,  free  at  the  base,  and  nearly  to  the 
top  of  the  pileus ;  ribs  somewhat  longitudinal;  connected 
by  distant  transverse  folds,  forming  elongated,  nearly 
linear  pits  ;  stem  even,  short ;  asci  cylindrical ;  sporidia 
cylindrical,  rounded  at  the  ends,  three  diameters  and 
upwards  in  length. — Trans.  Bot.  Soc.  Edin.  1870. 
*(  Kana  kach,”  “  Kan  gach,”  “  Kana  kuchoo”  of  Lahore. 
M.  semilibera  of  Stewart’s  ‘Punjab  Plants.’  (Fig-  2. 
Spore  magnified  500  diameters.) 

The  total  length  of  the  dried  specimens  does  not  ex¬ 
ceed  an  inch  and  a  half.  The  exposed  portion  of  the 
stem  not  more  than  half  an  inch  in  length,  and  the  dia¬ 
meter  of  the  pileus  at  the  base,  its  broadest  part,  not 
more  than  three-quarters  of  an  inch.  Sporidia  ‘002  in. 
long  by  *0006  in.  broad. 

This  species  is  distinguished  from  all  its  congeners  by 
the  very  large  size  of  its  sporidia.  It  is,  perhaps,  most 
closely  related  to  M.  patula ,  certainly  not  to  M.  semilibera. 
It  is  evidently  the  least  common  of  the  two  Kashmerian 
species.  What  is  the  uncertain  third  or  fourth  species  F 
We  must  wait  and  hope. 


THE  CITRATES  OF  THE  U.S.  PHARMACOPOEIA.  * 

BY  C.  LEWIS  DIEHL. 

The  author  of  this  paper  is  of  opinion  that  almost 
every  pharmacist  who  personally  superintends  the  pro¬ 
duction  of  his  preparations  could,  by  noting  the  difficul¬ 
ties  and  phenomena  which  occur  during  the  various  pro¬ 
cesses,  materially  aid  the  progress  of  pharmacy.  Many, 
from  various  causes,  are  prevented  from  doing  this,  and 
thus  a  great  deal  of  valuable  information  is  lost  to  the 
pharmaceutic  world.  Among  the  observant  workers,  a 
large  class  will  be  found  who,  from  motives  of  gain,  are 
prevented  from  publishing  their  observations ;  others  are 
prevented  by  reason  of  excessive  modesty,  which  causes 
them  to  view  their  experiences  as  a  necessary  result  of 
their  inexperience  ;  and  still  others,  who  are  not  encum¬ 
bered  Jby  this  excess  of  modesty,  are  prevented  by  press 
of  business  or  events  beyond  their  control. 

The  design  of  the  author  is  to  draw  attention  to  a  num¬ 
ber  of  preparations,  most  of  which  have  come  under  his 
observation  within  the  last  twelve  months.  Some  of  them 
— officinals  of  the  United  States  Pharmacopoeia — he  has 
found  to  admit  of  improvement,  either  in  their  general 
character  or  their  methods  of  preparation ;  while  for  the 
unofficinals  he  has,  in  some  cases,  constructed  formulae 
deemed  by  him  in  accordance  with  the  spirit  of  the 
national  standard. 

Citrate  of  Iron. — The  Pharmacopoeia  directions  for 
.making  this  preparation  are  to  take  a  convenient  quan¬ 
tity  of  the  solution  of  citrate  of  iron,  evaporate  it  to  the 
consistence  of  syrup,  and  spread  it  on  glass,  so  that,  on 
drying,  the  salt  may  be  obtained  in  scales.  The  formula 
for  the  preparation  of  the  solution  is  as  follows : — 

Citric  acid,  in  coarse  powder,  5  troy  oz.  360  grs. 

Solution  of  tersulphate  of  iron,  1  pint. 

Water  of  ammonia, 

Distilled  water,  each,  a  sufficient  quantity. 

Dilute  the  solution  of  tersulphate  of  iron  with  2  pints 
of  distilled  water,  add  to  it  a  slight  excess  of  ammonia, 
while  constantly  stirring,  then  transfer  the  precipitate 
formed  to  a  muslin  strainer,  and  wash  it  with  water  till  the 
washings  are  nearly  tasteless.  When  the  precipitate  is 
drained,  put  half  of  it  in  a  porcelain  capsule  on  a  water- 
bath,  heated  to  150°,  add  the  citric  acid,  and  stir  the  mix¬ 
ture  until  the  precipitate  is  nearly  dissolved.  Then  add 
so  much  of  the  reserved  precipitate  as  may  be  necessary 
fully  to  saturate  the  acid.  Lastly,  filter  the  liquid  and 
evaporate  it,  at  a  temperature  not  exceeding  150°,  until 
it  is  reduced  to  the  measure  of  a  pint. 

To  obtain  a  good  preparation,  it  is  advisable  to  employ 

*  Abstract  from  a  paper  entitled  “  Pharmaceutic  Items  ” 
in  the  Chicago  Pharmacist  for  September. 


an  excess  of  hydrated  sesquioxide  of  iron.  If  the  pro¬ 
cess  is  conducted  in  conformity  with  the  directions  of  the 
Pharmacopoeia,  and  the  ingredients  are  in  the  condition 
intended,  a  satisfactory  article  may  be  prepared;  but 
strict  adherence  to  the  formula  is  necessary  to  ensure 
uniformly  a  successful  product.  One  principal  difficulty 
exists  practically  in  maintaining  the  temperature  of  the 
mixture  of  citric  acid  and  hydrated  sesquioxide  of  iron 
without  exceeding  150°  F.  Constant  attention  to  ensure 
this  end  is  required,  for  by  an  elevation  of  the  tempera¬ 
ture  above  150°  F.,  a  portion  of  the  hydrated  sesquioxide 
is  molecularly  changed  and  becomes  insoluble,  rendering 
it  difficult  to  determine  whether  or  not  the  solution  has 
become  completely  saturated  with  iron.  This  difficulty 
has  been  overcome  by  precipitating  about  one-eighth 
more  of  hydrated  sesquioxide  of  iron  than  is  required  by 
the  Pharmacopoeia,  and  adding  to  about  three-fourths  of 
the  magma  the  citric  acid  prescribed.  By  occasional 
stirring,  a  clear  solution  is  obtained,  which  should  be 
gently  heated  by  a  water-batli :  fractional  parts  of  the 
remaining  magma  should  then  be  added,  until  it  is  no 
longer  dissolved,  each  portion  being  allowed  to  dissolve 
perfectly  before  adding  the  next. 

During  the  evaporation  of  a  quantity,  however,  it  has 
been  observed  that,  although  the  ingredients  had  been 
in  proper  condition  and  the  manipulation  correct,  the 
solution  became  uncommonly  dense  before  it  had  been 
reduced  to  the  proper  measure ;  and  that  on  diluting  it 
with  water,  a  turbid  mixture  was  produced.  It  was  in¬ 
ferred  that  a  portion  of  the  uncombined  hydrated  ses¬ 
quioxide  of  iron  had  been  dissolved.  This  was  appa¬ 
rently  substantiated  by  the  addition  of  a  relatively  small 
portion  of  citric  acid,  which  rendered  the  solution  quite 
limpid  and  miscible  with  water  without  the  production 
of  turbidity.  The  conclusion  drawn  is  that  when  a  warm 
solution  of  citrate  of  iron  exercises  a  prolonged  action 
upon  recently  precipitated  hydrated  sesquioxide  of  iron, 
it  has  the  property  of  dissolving  a  portion  of  the  hy¬ 
drated  base. 

The  preparation  of  scales  of  citrate  of  iron  is  not  at  all 
difficult,  even  if  all  the  citric  acid  has  not  been  satu¬ 
rated. 

Ammonio-citrate  of  Iron. — In  the  preparation  of  this 
salt,  according  to  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia,  1  pint  of  the 
solution  of  citrate  of  iron  is  mixed  with  6  fluid  ounces  of 
water  of  ammonia;  the  mixture  is  then  evaporated  in 
the  same  manner  as  the  citrate  of  iron,  care  being  taken 
that  the  temperature  should  not  exceed  150°.  The  re¬ 
sult  should  be  in  garnet -red  translucent  scales,  of  a 
slightly  ferruginous  taste,  readily  and  wholly  soluble  in 
water.  The  solution  causes  no  change  in  the  colour  of 
litmus  or  turmeric,  and  does  not  yield  a  precipitate  with 
ferrocyanide  of  potassium.  Solution  of  potassa  produces 
with  it  a  precipitate  of  sesquioxide  of  iron  with  the  evo¬ 
lution  of  ammonia.  To  prepare  it  successfully,  the  com¬ 
plete  saturation  of  the  citric  acid  with  hydrated  sesqui¬ 
oxide  is  quite  necessary.  If  this  be  not  the  case,  the  re¬ 
sulting  salt  is  removed  from  the  glass  with  difficulty, 
neither  can  it  be  obtained  in  handsome  scales,  being 
generally  of  a  muddy  colour.  By  reserving  about  one- 
sixteenth  of  the  solution  of  citrate  of  iron,  adding  to  the 
main  bulk  of  the  solution  aqua  ammoniae  until  in  slight 
excess,  and  then  the  reserved  portion,  a  salt  has  been 
obtained  which  was  found  to  be  rapidly  soluble  in  water, 
readily  removed  from  the  glass  plates,  and  less  prone  to 
deliquescence  than  the  compound  completely  saturated 
with  ammonia.  The  direction  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  to 
use  a  given  measure  of  aqua  ammonia;  is  objectionable, 
on  account  of  the  variable  strength  of  that  article  as 
found  in  the  shops,  or  obtained  from  the  manufacturer  ; 
for  while  it  is  a  simple  matter  for  the  skilled  operator  to 
determine  its  strength  expeditiously,  it  requires  more 
time  than  pharmacists  not  skilled  or  prepared  for  these 
determinations  are  willing  to  devote  to  it. 

{To  be  continued.) 


October  29,  1W0.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


317 


Poisoning  by  Yew  Berries. — A  case  of  poison¬ 
ing  by  yew  berries  ( Taxus  baccata )  is  reported  in  the 
Medical  Times  and  Gazette.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  24th 
of  September  a  patient  was  found  dead  in  the  ward  of 
the  Sussex  County  Asylum.  In  the  morning  he  had 
«eaten  a  hearty  lunch  and  returned  to  work ;  at  dinner 
he  complained  of  pain  in  the  epigastrium,  and  vomited 
part  of  his  food.  As  he  was  a  very  greedy  man,  eating 
all  he  could  get  hold  of,  this  was  not  considered  remark¬ 
able.  At  five  o’clock,  when  the  attendant  went  to  rouse 
him  to  bathe,  he  was  sitting  in  a  chair  quite  dead.  Sus¬ 
picion  of  poison  was  awakened  by  the  presence  of  yew 
berries  in  a  motion  passed  into  his  clothes.  Upon  in- 
•  quiry  it.  was  found  that  he  had  eaten  some  about  ten 
o’clock.  Upon  a  post-mortem  examination  berries  were 
found  in  the  intestines.  The  medical  gentleman  who 
reports  the  case  asserts  that  poisoning  by  yew  berries  is 
a  very  rare  occurrence,  many  persons  being  able  to  eat 
dhcm  with  impunity.  He  suggests  that  it  would  be  in¬ 
teresting  to  know  to  what  extent  these  berries  are  really 
poisonous,  and,  if  the  narcotico-acrid  properties  reside 
solely  in  the  stones,  whether  the  active  principles  might 
j siot  be  separated  and  employed  in  medicine  in  the  place 
tof.more  expensive  drugs. 

The  Suffolk  Chronicle  of  Tuesday  last  reports  what 
mmy  punve  to  be  another  case  of  poisoning  by  yew  berries, 
which  Tias  occurred  at  Sudbury.  Five  children,  after 
playing  in  the  cemetery  with  some  berries,  went  home 
.ill,  complaining  of  headache  and  sickness.  One  of  them, 
five  years  old,  died  the  next  day.  Some  berries  were 
found,  which  proved  to  belong  to  the  wild  Guelder-rose. 
The  only  other  berries  in  the  cemetery  were  those  of  the 
yew.  The  children  all  deny  having  eaten  any ;  but  one 
vof  them  says  that  the  deceased  was  playing  with  a  berry, 
which  she  squeezed,  causing  the  juice  to  squirt  into  her 
eye  and  mouth,  and  making  her  cry  because  of  the 
smart.  No  seeds  were  detected  in  the  excreta.  The  in¬ 
quest  was  adjourned,  that  a  post-mortem  examination 
misdit  be  made, 

Death  through  an  Overdose  of  Chlorodyne.-*-* 

-An  inquest  was  held  in  Liverpool,  on  Tuesday  last,  upon 
the  body  of  Mr.  Glover,  a  cotton-broker.  Evidence  was 
given  that  on  the  previous  Thursday  the  deceased  pur¬ 
chased  five  drams  of  chlorodyne  from  Mr.  Buxton,  che¬ 
mist,  79,  Kensington.  The  bottle  containing  it  was  la¬ 
belled,  and  the  dose  was  stated  on  the  label  to  be  ten 
drops.  He  told  the  chemist  he  was  in  the  habit  of  taking 
half  a  spoonful.  He  afterwards  purchased  half  an  ounce 
of  laudanum  and  two  ounces  of  castor  oil  from  another 
chemist.  The  next  morning  the  servant,  finding  that 
she  could  not  rouse  him,  sent  for  medical  assistance.  Dr. 
Prichard  and  Dr.  Parker  attended,  but  except  for  a  few 
minutes,  when  he  said  that  he  did  not  intend  to  take  so 
much,  the  patient  did  not  recover  consciousness,  and  he 
■died  the  same  evening.  The  laudanum  and  castor  oil  he 
had  purchased  were  not  found.  Only  about  one  dram 
and  a  half  of  the  chlorodyne  remained.  The  jury  re¬ 
turned  an  open  verdict,  expressing  an  opinion  that  the 
deceased  had  taken  an  overdose  of  chlorodyne. — Liver¬ 
pool  Mercury. 

Poisoning  by  Croton  Oil. — At  Sydney,  a  child 
thirteen  months  old,  has  been  poisoned  by  a  liniment 
(Containing  1  drachm  of  croton  oil  to  15  of  soap  liniment. 
It  is  estimated  that  the  dose  was  two  minims  and  a  half, 
which  proved  fatal  in  six  horns.  The  child’s  father, 
who  administered  it,  could  neither  read  nor  write. — 
Medical  Times  and  Gazette. 

Poisoning  by  Oil  of  Vitriol. — On  Saturday,  Oc¬ 
tober  1,  an  inquiry  was  instituted  relative  to  the  death 
►of  Mr.  Robert  Chambers,  an  oilman,  residing  in  Hunter 
Street,  Brunswick  Square.  Evidence  was  given  that 
the  deceased  was  a  highly  nervous  man,  and  had  lately 
tbeen  under  the  delusion  that  he  was  liable  to  be  hanged 
ifor  an  accident  which  had  happened  in  his  shop.  On 
ihe]  previous  Thursday  he  drew  off  a  quantity  of  oil 


of  vitriol  from  a  carboy  in  the  shop,  and,  after  saying 
that  the  police  should  not  hang  him,  drank  about  a"  giil 
of  it.  The  jury  returned  a  verdict  of  “  Suicide  while  in 
an  unsound  state  of  mind.” 

Death  from  Chloroform  in  Japan. — Considerable 
sensation  has  been  created  at  Yokohama  in  consequence 
of  a  death  following  the  administration  of  chloroform. 
After  a  protracted  inquiry  a  coroner’s  jury  returned  a 
verdict  of  “  Death  from  the  effect  of  chloroform  adminis¬ 
tered  without  proper  degree  of  care.”  The  surgeon 
who  administered  the  chloroform  (Dr.  Dalliston)  has,  in 
consequence,  been  committed  for  trial,  but  liberated  on 
bail  in  the  sum  of  5000  dollars.  Public  attention  in 
Japan  and  China  has  been  called  to  this  case  by  Dr. 
Edward  Henderson,  Municipal  Medical  Officer  and 
Health  Officer  at  Shanghai,  who  criticizes  the  various 
statements  made  by  the  witnesses  in  a  masterly  manner. 
— Medical  Times  and  Gazette. 

Statue  to  the  late  Professor  Graham,  F.R.S. — 

It  has  been  decided  by  the  friends  and  admirers  of  the 
late  Professor  Graham  to  erect  a  statue  of  him  at  Glas¬ 
gow.  Leave  has  been  asked  and  obtained  from  the  Town 
Council  for  placing  it  at  the  south-east  comer  of  George 
Square.  The  sculptor  is  Mr.  William  Brodie,  of  Edin¬ 
burgh.  The  pedestal  will  be  of  Aberdeen  granite,  and 
the  figure  of  bronze,  corresponding  with  the  figure  of 
Watt  at  the  south-west  corner. 

New  Sulphur  Deposit. — A  new  source  of  supply  of 
sulphur  is  announced  in  the  New  York  Times.  It  is  in 
the  island  of  Saba,  one  of  the  Dutch  West  Indies,  situated 
about  110  miles  south-east  from  St.  Thomas  and  40  miles 
south-west  from  St.  Martha.  The  island  is  of  volcanic 
oi'igin,  about  1 1  miles  in  circumference,  and  at  its  highest 
point  about  2800  feet  above  the  sea-level.  Though  a 
Dutch  possession,  the  language  spoken  by  its  2000  in¬ 
habitants  is  chiefly  English.  The  sulphur  deposit  was 
discovered  by  a  person  from  New  York,  who,  noticing 
indications  of  sulphur-ore,  quarried,  with  the  help  of  the 
natives,  two  sloop  loads,  which  he  took  to  New  York, 
and  submitted  for  analysis.  The  report  of  the  chemists 
was  to  the  e&et  that  YbUe  the  ^  Sicily  ores  yield  only 
about  30  per  cent,  of  brimstone  lot'  the  ore  consumed^ 
the  Saba  ore  yields  an  average  of  over  60  per  cent.  Add¬ 
ing  to  this  the  fact  that  the  island  is  only  about  1500 
miles  from  New  York,  it  will  be  seen  that  this  is  an  im¬ 
portant  discovery,  and  it  will  not  be  wondered  at  that 
steps  have  been  taken  to  secure  leases  of  the  best  tracts 
on  the  island. 

Scarlet  Fever. — Dr.  Renfrew,  of  Glasgow,  recom¬ 
mends  that  in  scarlet  fever  a  medicine  consisting  of  a 
mixture  of  tincture  of  steel  and  chlorate  of  potash. 
This  mixture,  he  says,  contains  chlorine,  which  destroys 
the  poison ;  muriatic  acid,  which  supplies  an  acid  wanted 
in  the  blood;  iron,  to  improve  the  impaired  red  disks 
and  to  assist  in  forming  new  ones ;  and  chlorate  of 
potash  to  supply  oxygen,  to  oxidize  the  disintegrated 
matters  floating  in  the  blood. 

Permanganate  of  Potash. — Dr.  H.  S.  Thorne,  of 
Chicago,  reports*  that  he  has  treated  oxaluria  and  dys¬ 
pepsia  successfully  with  grain-doses  of  permanganate  of 
potash  made  with  bread  into  pills,  three  of  which  were 
to  be  taken  daily  for  ten  days.  On  examination  of  the 
urine  after  a  few  days  not  a  crystal  of  oxalate  of  lime 
could  be  seen.  Dr.  Rose,  of  Michigan  University,  had 
previously  prescribed  it  in  the  following  form  : — 

R.  Permanganate  of  Potash  gr.  viij 
Water  ^ij. 

M.  si g.  One  teaspoonful  to  be  given  three  times  a 
day. 

It  should  not  be  given  except  on  an  empty  stomach, 
as  it  is  decomposed  in  contact  with  organic  matter,  yield¬ 
ing  its  oxygen  to  any  substance,  simple  or  compound, 
that  will  receive  it. — Druggists'  Circular. _ 

*  Michigan  University  Medical  Journal. 


348 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [October  29, 1870.. 


CONVENTION  OF  DELEGATES  FROM  COLLEGES 

OF  PHARMACY. 

In  compliance  "with  a  request  of  the  Maryland  College 
of  Pharmacy,  a  meeting’  of  delegates  from  the  various 
Colleges  was  held  on  the  evenings  of  September  14th  and 
15th,  at  the  Hall  of  the  Maryland  College  of  Pharmacy. 

The  object  was  to  confer  upon  the  subject  of  pharma¬ 
ceutical  education,  and  a  uniform  standard  for  the  gra¬ 
duations  of  students. 

Joseph  Roberts  and  Prof.  J.  Earis  Moore,  both  of 
Baltimore,  were  duly  elected  President  and  Secretary. 
Delegates  were  in  attendance  from  the  Maryland,  Now 
York,  Philadelphia,  Massachusetts  and  Chicago  Colleges, 
also  from  the  California  Pharmaceutical  Association  and 
New  Jersey  Pharmaceutical  Association. 

The  following-  recommendatory  resolutions  were 
adopted : — 

1.  That,  in  the  opinion  of  this  meeting,  more  attention 
to  the  preliminary  education  of  those  who  .propose  to 
enter  the  business  of  pharmaceutists  is  needed,  and  it  is 
earnestly  recommended  to  the  colleges  and  societies,  of 
pharmacy  to  urge  their  members  and  the  profession 
generally  to  give  greater  ^care  to  this  subject  in  taking 
apprentices. 

2.  That  a  term  of  four  years’  service  in  a  dispensing 
drug  store  be  recommended  to  be  exacted  from  students 
in  pharmacy  before  coming  up  for  examination. 

3.  Apprentices  not  to  be  taken  under  sixteen  years  of 
age,  and  shall  be  twenty-one  years  of  age  before  being- 
entitled'  to.  receive  their  diplomas. 

4.  The  branches  to  be  taught  in  colleges  of  pharmacy 
should  at  least  include  lectures  on  general  chemistry, 
elementary  botany,  materia  medica,  and  the  general 
facts  and  principles  of  pharmacy ;  and,  when  practicable, 
opportunity  should  be  provided  for  general  and  analy¬ 
tical  chemistry. 

5.  Whatever  method  of  examination  be  adopted  should 
include  questions  both  oral  and  written,  and  that  parti¬ 
cularly  a  familiarity  with  the  physical  properties  of  spe¬ 
cimens  should  be  insisted  on. 

6.  Diplomas  should  not  be  recognized  as  evidence  of 
qualification,  unless  based  on  four  years’  service  in  a  dis¬ 
pensing  shop. 

7.  Each  college  of  pharmacy  is  requested  to  take 
action  on  these  resolutions,  and  report  next  year. 

This  organization  of  delegates  was,  on  vote,  made 
permanent,  and  it  is  to  meet  annually,  at  the  same  time 
and  place  as  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association. 

The  meeting  then  adjourned. 


IRISH  SCIENTIFIC  SOCIETIES. 

As  the  tune  draws  nigh  for  the  savoir-faire  of  the  sci¬ 
entific  world,  it  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  give  a  list 
of  the  principal  scientific  bodies  in  Ireland,  most  of  which 
are  comparatively  unknown  in  England,  although  of 
considerable  importance  as  publishing  Societies.  The 
oldest,  most  important,  and  best  known  is  the  Royal  Irish 
Academy,  the  members  of  which  luxuriate  in  the  letters 
M.R.I.A.  after  their  names.  This  Society  has  for  the 
last  few  years  been  rather  monopolized  by  the  archaeolo¬ 
gist.  That  important  branch  of  the  Academy  has  per¬ 
haps  received  an  undue  development,  to  the  detriment  of 
pure  science, .  from  the  beautiful  archaeological  museum 
and  antiquarian  library  which  it  possesses.  The  appoint¬ 
ment  of  the  last  President,  Professor  Jellett,  whose  re¬ 
searches  in  connection  with  polarized  light  are  well 
known,  has  tended,  however,. to  neutralize  this  propen¬ 
sity.  The  Academy  has  the  distribution  of  a  Govern- 
ment  grant  of  £200  per  annum,  in  aid  of  original  re¬ 
search,  which,  it  distributes  in  the  most  careful  and  con¬ 
scientious  spirit.  The  Academy  is  devoted  to  pure  sci¬ 
ence;  technical  papers  arc  not  received.  It  publishes 
both  f  Transactions”  and  “  Proceedings.”  The  Royal 
Dublin  Society  is  taken  up  chiefly  with  applied  science. 


It  gives  annually  a  series  of  popular  lectures,  similar  in 
character  to  those  given  by  the  Royal  Institution.  The 
Society  receives  considerable  aid  from  Government,  and 
it  has  charge  of  the  fine  botanic  gardens,  natural  history 
museum,  agricultural  museum,  and  national  gallery  of 
art.  The  curator  of  the  minerals  is  Dr.  Emerson  Rey¬ 
nolds,  a  chemist  of  considerable  standing.  This  Society 
has  also  a  very  fine  library,  and  publishes  its  “  Proceed¬ 
ings.” 

The  “  Royal  Geological  Society  of  Ireland”  is  also  a 
chartered  Society,  and  it  also  publishes  its  proceedings. 

The  Zoological  Society  possess  a  fine  collection  of  ani¬ 
mals  at  their  gardens  in  the  Phoenix  Park. 

The  other  Societies  (non-publishing)  are  the  Natural 
History  Society,  and  the  “  Chemical,”  “  Scientific,”  and 
“Microscopic”  Clubs.  The  last-named  publishes  its 
minutes,  however,  in  one  of  the  journals  of  microscopic 
science.  It  records  the  woi’k  done  by  some  of  our  best 
mieroscopists,  viz.  William  Archer,  Dr.  Percival  Wright, 
Eugean  O’Meara,  etc. 


Amount  of  Active  Substance  in  Can  rum  ma- 
culatum. — In  an  address  recently  delivered  by  Professor 
von  Schroff  to  the  Society  of  Physicians  in  Vienna,  he 
stated  that  his  experiments  have  led  him  to  the?  follow¬ 
ing  conclusions : — * 

1.  The  unripe  fruit  of  one-year  coniurn  plants  contains; 
the  smallest  amount  of  conia, 

2.  The  unripe  fruit  of  the  two-year  plants  contains 
most  conia,  especially  when  the  development  of  the  fruit 
is  advanced  and  it  is  near  ripening. 

3.  The  perfectly  ripe  fruit,  which  is  produced  only  by 
the  two-years  plant,  stands  in  regard  to  its  efficacy  be¬ 
tween  those  mentioned  above. —  JFochenblattes  der  K.  1C 
Gesellschaft  der  Aerzte  in  Wien,  1870,  no.  1. 

Test  for  Butyric  Acid  in  Glycerine. — Perutz 
states  that  when  glycerine  is  gently  heated  with  alcohol 
and  sulphuric  acid,  butyric  ether  is  formed  if  the  glycerine 
contains  butyric  acid,  and  it  may  be  recognized  by  its 
characteristic  odour. — Journ.  Chim.  Med. 

Syrup  of  Ipecacuanha. — The  following  formula  is 
sent  to  tho  Chicago  Pharmacist  by  Mr.  L.  E.  Sale,  of 
Huntsville,  Alabama,  who  says  that  it  will  give  a  good 
syrup  of  ipecacuanha,  wdiich  will  keep  without  dete¬ 
rioration  : — 

R.  Fluid  Extract  of  Ipecac.  (U.  S.  P.)  f  Jxvijss 
Granulated  Sugar  ^xxxij 
Water  fxvj. 

Pour  the  fluid  extract  of  ipecacuanha  on  the  sugar  in 
a  shallow  evaporating  vessel,  and  set  aside  in  a  warm 
place  to  dry ;  w-hen  dry  add  the  water,  dissolve  the  sugar 
with  aid  of  gentle  heat  and  strain. 

Application  for  Ringworm. — Spirit  of  turpentine 

brushed  over  the  surface  has  been  recommended  as  a 
cure  for  the  common  ringworm. — New  York  Druggists 
Circular. 

Palatable  Hydrate  of  Chloral. — Hydrate  of  chlo¬ 
ral  5ss  ;  chloroform  water  5ij  ;  syrup  of  oranges  or  tolu 
5i-ij  ;  tincture  of  ginger  6  to  12  drops;  water  to  H  oz. 
The  chloroform  w-ater  is  prepared  by  dissolving  half  a 
fluid  ounce  of  chloroform  in  a  gallon  of  water.  This 
seems  to  intensify  the  action  of  the  chloral  hydrate,  and 
covers  the  acrid  taste. — Richmond  amd  Louisville  Medical 
Journal. 

Delicate  Colour-Test  for  the  Detection  of 
Strychnia. — Mr.  T.  Wenzell,  of  San  Francisco,  states 
that  in  experimenting  for  the  discovery  of  the  presence 
of  minute  portions  of  this  alkaloid,  he  has  found  that  a 
solution  of  1  grain  of  permanganate  of  potash  in  2.000 
grains  of  sulphuric  acid,  to  be  the  best  test  for  the  pur¬ 
pose.  In  delicacy  of  reaction,  brilliancy  and  duration 
of  colours,  it  is  greatly  superior  to  the  bichromate  ot 
potassa  and  sulphuric  acid  test. — American  Journal  of 
Pharmacy . 


October  29,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


SATURDAY,  OCTOBER  20,  1870. 


Communications  for  this  Journal,  and  boohs  for  review ,  etc., 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

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

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W.  Envelopes  to  be  endorsed  “  Bharm. 
Journ .” 


THE  EFFECTS  OF  DRUGS. 

For  some  thousands  of  years  tlie  question,  How 
medicine  cures  disease  ?  has  rather  afforded  scope 
for  the  exercise  of  fancy  than  it  has  admitted  of 
Being  considered  by  the  aid  of  precise  observation 
and  direct  experiment.  Even  at  the  present  day  we 
have  scarcely  any  acquaintance  with  the  rational 
connection  doubtless  existing  between  the  individual 
nature  of  a  medicinal  agent  and  those  physiological 
■effects  which  we  know  it  produces.  Our  knowledge 
in  this  respect  is  almost  entirely  empirical,  and  it  is 
•only  of  late  years  that  some  glimmer  of  light  has  been 
thrown  upon  this  obscure  though  important  subject. 
Dr.  B.  W.  Richard  sox,  one  of  the  foremost  pioneers 
in  tins  field,  has  for  some  years  devoted  his  attention 
to  studying  the  physiological  action  of  various  defi¬ 
nite  substances,  and  he  has  already  obtained  results  of 
great  interest,  which  he  makes  known  in  occasional 
courses  of  lectures.  On  another  page  we  give  some 
account  of  an  introduction  to  such  a  course.  It  may 
be  asked  by  some  acutely  practical  people,  What  has 
this  to  do  with  Pharmacy  ?  Is  it  not  rather  mere 
.scientific  speculation  ?  We  do  not  think  so,  and 
with  all  regard  for  the  practical  requirements  of 
trade,  we  believe  that  subjects  such  as  those  dis¬ 
cussed  by  Dr.  Richardson  ought  to  receive  the  care- 
fid  consideration  of  pharmacists. 

We  believe  also  that  their  exposition  rightly  finds 
a  place  hi  this  Journal,  inasmuch  as  it  is  the  official 
organ  of  the  body  which  is  charged  with  the  duty  of 
raising  the  standard  of  pharmaceutical  competence. 
For  that  reason  it  should  be  a  leader  of  opinion  as 
well  as  of  practice,  and  since  the  art  of  healing  is  so 
capable  of  expansion,  its  handmaiden  pharmacy 
should  not  refuse  to  look  beyond  the  narrow  bounda¬ 
ries  of  the  present,  nor  confine  her  attention  solely  to 
the  range  of  past  experience. 

A  few  months  ago  Chloral  was  a  substance  altoge¬ 
ther  outside  the  pale  of  pharmacy  ;  the  mention  of  it 
in  a  pharmaceutical  journal  might  have  been  cen¬ 
sured  as  unpractical ;  but  since  then  it  has  become 
perhaps  one  of  the  most  important  items  of  the  materia 
medica.  Who  can  say  which  of  the  substances  now 
known  only  to  theoretical  chemistry,  may  be  the  next 
io  take  place  with  opium  and  bark  and  calomel  as  a 


3R> 


daily  necessity  for  the  physician,  as  a  material  to  be 
used  hourly  by  the  pharmacist  ? 


The  question  as  to  whether  quinine  exists  in 
plants  other  than  the  Cinchona:  has  often  been  raised, 
and  it  has  just  received  another  answer  in  the  nega¬ 
tive.  The  bark  of  the  Hymenodictyon,  excelsum,  a 
large  forest  tree,  has  long  been  in  repute  in  India  as 
a  valuable  native  febrifuge,  its  properties  being  due, 
it  was  thought,  to  the  presence  of  quinine.  It  was, 
moreover,  formerly  considered  one  of  the  Cinchona , 
and  known  under  the  name  of  C.  excelsa.  Mr. 
Broughton,  the  Government  Quinologist  at  the  Oota- 
kamund  Plantations,  has  recently  examined  the 
fresh  bark  of  this  tree,  and  finds  that  the  bitter  taste 
is  owing  to  the  presence  of  asculin,  the  principle 
found  also  in  the  bark  of  the  liorse-chestnut-tree. 
The  bark  when  dry  becomes  almost  tasteless,  owing 
to  the  asculin  coming  in  contact  with  decaying  or¬ 
ganic  matter,  and  being  changed  into  asculetin.  Cu¬ 
riously  enough,  both  these  barks,  which  contain 
asculin,  have  been  recommended  for  the  same  pur¬ 
pose.  As,  however,  asculin  is  much  dearer,  less 
plentiful,  and  less  efficacious  than  quinine,  it  is  not 
likely  to  come  into  use  in  India.  We  may  also  men¬ 
tion  that  a  very  interesting  tree  (the  bark  of  which  is 
also  said  to  contain  quinine)  grows  in  Central  Africa, 
forming  large  forests ;  it  is  used  largely  by  the 
natives  in  cases  of  fever.  Dr.  Welwitsch,  who  dis¬ 
covered,  and  figured  it  in  his  ‘  Sertum  Angolense,’ 
wider  the  name  of  Corinanthe  paniculata,  is  endea¬ 
vouring  to  obtain  a  supply  of  the  bark  for  chemical 
analysis  and  trial.  The  tree  is  remarkably  cinclio- 
naceous  in  habit. 

It  appears  from  a  recent  article  by  Dr.  Pott  in 
the  Zeitschrift  fun  die  Gesammten  Natuncissen- 
schaften  that  extracts  of  flesh  and  fish  have  been 
prepared  in  Java  and  Sumatra  for  several  centuries. 
The  raw  material,  after  being  boiled  and  commi¬ 
nuted,  is  placed  in  a  press,  the  expressed  juice  being 
exposed  to  a  moderate  heat  till  it  assumes  the  con¬ 
sistence  of  syrup.  The  extracts  so  prepared  all 
possess  an  intensely  saline  taste,  arising  from  the 
accumulation  of  organic  salts  caused  by  their  great 
concentration.  Upon  analysis  they  were  found  to 
contain  mere  traces  of  gelatine  and  to  give  no  indica¬ 
tion  of  albumen.  One  sample  contained  20-9  water, 
IGA  ash.  The  dry  extract  contained  9  54  nitrogen. 


CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’  FUND  ON  BEHALF 
OF  THE  SICK  AND  WOUNDED  IN  THE  PRESENT 
WAR. 

Since  the  publication  of  the  last  list  of  subscribers 
some  further  contributions  have  been  received.  W  e 
propose  closing  the  Fund  on  the  30th  November 
next,  and  shall  then  give  a  final  list. 


350 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  39,  1870. 


franjRttwns  of  ttc  jsirtutir 

EXAMINATIONS  IN  LONDON. 

October  19  th,  1870. 


FIRST,  OR  PRELIMINARY  EXAMINATION. 

The  Certificate  of  Examination  of  the  undermentioned 
by  the  Incorporated  Law  Society  was  accepted  in  lieu  of' 
the  Preliminary  Examination. 

Riley,  Charles  Reynolds . South  Lambeth. 


Present — Messrs.  Allchin,  Bird,  Cartcighe,  Cracknell, 
Davenport,  Deane,  Edwards,  Gale,  Garle,  Hanbury, 
Haselden,  Ince  and  Southall. 

Dr.  Grecnhow  was  also  present  on  behalf  of  the  Privy 
Council. 


Twenty-eight  Candidates  -were  examined, — four  Major 
and  twenty-four  Minor  ;  the  following  passed : — 

MAJOR,  (registered  as  Pharmaceutical  Chemists). 


^Lutterworth,  Albert  . Sowerby. 

Strickland,  George  Hodgson  . .  Darlington. 

Barrett,  Frederick  John . Fakenham. 

Joule,  John  Samuel . Buxton. 


MINOR  (registered  as  Chemists  and  Druggists). 

*Ward,  Edwin  . Cheltenham. 

^Marshall,  Eli . London. 

*  Newman,  Arthur  Joshua  . . .  .High  Wycombe. 

* Wright,  Joseph  . Knutsford. 

^Nicholson,  Edward . Manchester. 

Chandler,  J ohn . N ottingham. 

Thomas,  John  Darby  Dermott .  Clifton. 

Foster,  Henry  Pibworth . Portsmouth. 

Udale,  Daniel  . Congleton. 

Robinson,  Joseph . Chester-le-Street. 

Thomas,  Thomas  Rees . Llandovery. 

Darby,  Samuel  Aldred . Reading. 

Bradford,  Cordlcy  . Spalding*. 

Salmon,  Thomas  . Pontypool. 

Little,  Arthur  Nicholas  . Bristol. 

Eden,  Thomas  . Dublin. 

Marshall,  Austen . Stratford-on-Avon. 

Spring-all,  John  Barcham  ....  Norwich. 

Part,  Edward  James  . Dover. 

The  above  names  are  arranged  in  order  of  merit. 


FIRST,  OR  PRELIMINARY  EXAMINATION. 
The  Certificate  of  Examination  of  the  undermentioned 
by  the  University  of  Cambridge  was  accepted  in  lieu  of 
the  Preliminary  Examination. 

Folkard,  Montague . Colchester. 


October  20 th,  1870. 

Present — Messrs.  Allchin,  Bird,  Carteighe,  Cracknell, 
Davenport,  Deane,  Gale,  Garle,  Hanbury,  Haselden, 
Ince  and  Southall. 

Dr.  Grecnhow  was  also  present  on  behalf  of  the  Privy 
Council. 

Eighteen  Candidates  were  examined;  the  following 
passed : — 


FIRST  OR  PRELIMINARY  EXAMINATION. 
October  3rd,  1870. 

■  The  following  is  a  list  of  towns  in  which  Examinations, 
were  held,  with  the  number  of  candidates  annexed: — 

(Omitted  last  week.) 


Aberdeen  . 18 

Abingdon  .  1 

Ashton-under- Ly no  3 

Banbury .  2 

Barnstaple .  4 

Berwick .  1 

Birmingham .  4 

Blackburn .  1 

Boston .  1 

Bradford .  1 

Brighton .  1 

Bristol .  8 

Buckingham .  1 

Bury  St.  Edmund’s.  1 

Cambridge .  2 

Cardigan .  2 

Chesterfield  .  1 

Cockermouth .  1 

Colchester .  2 

Darlington .  1 

Devizes  .  1 

Diss .  1 

Doncaster  .  3 

Dover .  2 

Dudley  .  2 

Exeter .  1 

Glasgow .  1 

Grantham  .  1 

Guildford  .  1 

Halifax  .  3 

Hartlepool . «.  1 

Hastings .  1 

Heroford .  3 

Horncastle .  2 

Huddersfield .  2 

Hull. .  2 

Ipswich  .  2 

Leamington  .  1 

Leeds  . 10 

Leicester . . , .  3 

Leighton  Buzzard . .  2 

Lewes .  1 

Lincoln  .  2 

Liverpool  .  7 


Lymington .  1 

Manchester . 11 


Ncwcastle-on-Tyne  4 
Newcastle-un.-Lyme  1 
Newport  (I.  of  W.)  L 


Newport  (Mon.)  . .  1 

Northampton .  4 

Norwich .  5 

Nottingham  .  1 

Peterborough .  1 

Preston  .  4 

Plymouth  .  2. 

Portsmouth .  2 

Rip  on .  1 

Rochdale .  2 

Rochester  .  1 

Ryde  .  1 

Sanquhar  .  1 

Scarborough .  I 

Shaftesbury  .  1 

Sheffield .  3- 

Shrewsbury  .  1 

Southport  .  1 

South  Shields .  1 

Stafford  .  2 

Stockport  .  2 

Stourbridge  .  1 

Swansea .  1 

St.  Alban’s .  1 

Taunton .  1 

Tenterden  .  2 

Tewkesbury  .  I 

Thirsk .  2 

Torquay .  1 

Tunbridge  Wells  . .  2 

Ulverstone .  2 

Wakefield .  2 

Walsall  .  1 

Warrington  .  1 

Whitehaven  .  S' 

Wigan .  1 

Winchester  . 2 

Yarmouth,  Great  . .  2 
York  .  3: 


MINOR  (registered  as  Chemists  and  Druggists). 

*Lyddon,  Richard . London. 

NSweetman,  Robert  . Warwick. 

*  Roberts,  Joseph  Elliott  . Leeds*. 

*Hardy,  Robert  . Boston. 

Loveless,  Edward  William _ Bath. 

Elliott,  Thomas  . Clay  Crosse 

Melhuish,  Thomas  Boucher  .  .London. 

Francis,  George  Bult  . Diss. 

Walker,  John  Sydenham  . . .  .Manchester. 

Slater,  Jonathan  . Keswick. 

Rieveley,  Charles . Birkenhead. 

Grinstead,  J  ohn  . Chichester. 

Goodman,  Daniel  Henry . Bath. 

The  above  names  are  arranged  in  order  of  merit. 

*  Passed  with  honours. 


Erratum.  — Page  328,  col.  2,  lino  6  from  bottom, 
for  Davez,  Thomas  Sercombe. 

read  Davey,  Thomas  Sercombe. 


rabraral  fensiixfions. 


LIVERPOOL  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  following  programme  of  classes  to  be  held  in  con¬ 
nection  with  the  school  of  pharmacy  of  this  Association 
during  the  session  1870-71  has  been  issued. 

Chemistry. — A  course  of  lectures  will  be  delivered  by 
Edward  Davies,  F.C.S.,  Lecturer  on  Experimental  Phy¬ 
sics  in  Queen’s  College,  on  inorganic  and  organic  che¬ 
mistry,  preparation  of  chemical  products  used  in  phar¬ 
macy,  qualitative  and  volumetric  analysis.  Each  lecture 


October  29,  1370.J 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


351 


will  be  followed  by  questioning  upon  the  previous  lec¬ 
ture,  and  illustrated  with  experiments.  The  course  will 
commence  on  Friday,  November  4th,  from  8  to  9.30  p.m., 
and  will  be  continued  weekly  until  the  end  of  April  at 
the  laboratory,  17,  Back  Colquitt  Street.  Fee  for  the 
course,  one  guinea.  Pharmaceutical  students  will  be 
received  at  the  laboratory  for  the  study  of  practical  che¬ 
mistry  at  any  hour  between  9  and  5  o’clock.  Foe,  one 
guinea  and  a  half  for  three  months,  two  hours  per  week. 

Materia  Medica. — A  course  of  lectures  wall  be  deli¬ 
vered  by  W.  Carter,  M.B.,  B.Sc.,  F.R.C.S.I.,  Lecturer 
on  Botany  and  Zoology  in  Queen’s  College,  having  spe¬ 
cial  reference  to  the  requirements  of  the  examinations 
under  the  Pharmacy  Act,  and  will  bo  illustrated  by  spe¬ 
cimens  from  the  museum.  The  course  will  include  the 
recognition  of  drugs,  properties  of  drugs,  adulterations 
of  (Rugs,  plants  and  animals  yielding  medicinal  sub¬ 
stances,  etc.  The  lectures  will  be  delivered  in  the 
Museum,  Royal  Institution,  on  Tuesday  evenings,  at 
8.15,  from  November  1  to  the  end  of  March,  1871.  Fee, 
one  guinea. 

Botany. — This  course,  by  Dr.  Carter,  will  include  (1) 
Structural  and  Physiological  Botany — cells  and  vessels, 
roots,  stems,  leaves,  flowers  and  fruit,  functions  of  the 
organs  of  vegetation  and  reproduction ;  (2)  Systematic 
Botany  and  Demonstrations  on  Plants — general  classifi¬ 
cation,  Linncan  and  natural  systems,  distinctive  charac¬ 
ters  of  the  British  Natural  Orders.  Attention  will  be 
paid  to  the  recognition  of  plants  by  dried  and  fresh  spe¬ 
cimens  and  plates.  The  class  wrill  be  held  on  Tuesday 
evenings,  at  8.15,  from  April  4th  until  the  end  of  July, 
1871.  Fee,  one  guinea. 

Further  particulars  may  be  obtained  at  the  School  of 
Pharmacy,  17,  Back  Colquitt  Street,  or  of  Mr.  Edward 
Davies,  Hen.  Sec. 


THE  LINCOLN  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  First  Meeting  of  the  Lincoln  Chemists’  Associa¬ 
tion  for  the  session  1870-71  was  held  on  Tuesday,  Octo¬ 
ber  18th.  Nearly  all  the  members  were  present,  and  the 
following  offieex's  were  elected : — Brest  dent :  Mr.  \V.  Har¬ 
rison.  Vice-B resident  :  Mr.  C.  Clayton.  Hon.  Secre¬ 
tary  :  Mr.  C.  F.  Gadd.  Councillors  :  Mr.  F.  Mack,  Mi*. 
J.  Wingate,  Mr.  W.  Cox. 

Several  new  membei*s  were  elected,  the  accounts 
audited,  and  the  funds  were  found  to  be  in  a  prosperous 
condition. 

This  Association  has  sent  several  members  to  Blooms¬ 
bury  Square  for  the  different  examinations,  and  it  is  to 
be  hoped  that  its  sphere  of  usefulness  may  greatly  extend. 


HULL  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Second  Annual  Meeting  of  this  Association  took 
place  at  the  Cross  Keys  Hotel,  on  Tuesday,  October  18th, 
to  pass  the  accounts  and  elect  officei’S  for  the  ensuing 
year.  Mr.  Baynes  was  re-elected  President,  Mr.  A. 
Smith  Vice-Pi*esident,  and  Mr.  Bell,  Secretary. 

Through  the  able  management  and  liberality  in  time 
and  money  of  these  gentlemen,  suppoi*ted  by  an  active 
Committee,  this  Association  was,  during  the  session 
1869-70,  not  only  self-supporting,  but  enabled  to  pro¬ 
vide  interesting  and  instructive  lectures  on  botany, 
pharmacy  and  materia  medica  to  a  good  number  of  the 
apprentices  of  Hull.  The  lecturers  give  a  very  satisfac¬ 
tory  report  of  the  attention,  good  conduct  and  intelli¬ 
gence  of  their  pupils. 

It  is  hoped  that,  in  future,  all  the  chemists  in  Hull, 
and  especially  those  who  have  appi'entices,  will  take 
more  interest  in  this  movement  by  attending  regularly 
the  monthly  meetings,  and  inducing  the  youths  under 
their  care  to  attend  the  lectures. 


BRITISH  PHARMACEUTICAL  CONFERENCE. 

JFedncsday,  September  1’4 th. 

The  Conference  l’eassembled  at  2  p.m. 

The  President  said  it  gave  him  gi'eat  pleasure  to  in¬ 
troduce  to  the  meeting  one  of  their  oldest  members,  who 
had  often  contributed  valuable  papers  to  their  Proceed¬ 
ings,  but  who  resided  at  so  gi'eat  a  distance  that  they 
had  not  had  his  personal  presence  before.  He  alluded 
to  Mr.  Tichbornc,  Chemist  to  the  Apothccai'ies’  Hall  of 
Ireland,  who  had  come  from  Dublin  to  attend  the  meet¬ 
ing. 

On  Sulphite  of  Zinc. 

» 

BY  CHARLES  R.  C.  TICHBORNE,  F.C.S.,  M.R.I.A., 

Chemist  to  the  Apothecaries'  Hall ,  Ireland ,  etc. 

The  interest  that  attaches  to  the  sulphites  from  a 
pharmaceutical  point  of  view  is  inci'easing  every  day, 
and  the  following  notice  of  the  chemical  and  general 
properties  of  one  of  them  will,  I  have  no  doubt,  be  of 
use.  The  sulphites  are  gradually  creeping  into  favour 
with  the  medical  profession.  No  doubt  this  is  due  moi*e 
or  less  to  the  development  of  the  germ  theories  and- 
kindred  views,  for  as  regai’ds  the  antiseptic  properties  of 
the  sulphites  there  are  no  two  opinions.  The  antiseptic 
power  of  the  anhydride  is  perpetuated  through  all  its- 
salts,  more  or  less  modified  by  its  solubility  or  decompo- 
sibility. 

Having  had  occasion  to  prepare  the  sulphite  of  zinc, 
I  was  impressed  with  an  opinion  that  it  was  one  of  those 
compounds  that  bid  fair  to  become  practically  useful,, 
and  was  therefore  woi'thy  of  careful  investigation. 

j Preparation. — Zinc  being  bivalent,  6  ounces  of  sul¬ 
phate  of  zinc  and  5\  ounces  of  sulphite  of  sodium  were 
dissolved  respectively  in  6  and  10  ounces  of  distilled 
watei*,  and  poured  together  whilst  hot.  If  necessary, 
the  solutions  should  be  filtered  before  mixing..  The 
quantities  are  calculated  after  the  following  equation :  — 

Zn"S04;  7H20  +  Na2S03;  7H20 
=  Zn"  S  03  +  Na2  S  04  +  14  H2  O. 

The  salt  is,  as  will  be  seen  further  on,  practically  inso¬ 
luble,  and  this  method  of  preparation  is  much  better 
than  dissolving  cai’bonate  of  zinc  in  sulphurous  acid. 
The  salt  does  not  immediately  form  whilst,  the  mixed 
solutions  are  hot,  but  as  they  slowly  cool  it  is  deposited 
in  needle-like  prisms;  these  crystals  are,  when  once 
formed,  extremely  insoluble  in  hot  or  cold  water.  As- 
regards  its  purification,  the  mode  simply  consists  in  well 
stirring  during  the  cooling,  so  as  to  get  microscopic 
crystals.  These  are  thrown  upon  a  filter,  and  well 
washed  with  distilled  water  as  long  as  the  washings  give 
any  decided  precipitate  with  chloride  of  barium  in  the* 
presence  of  hydrochloric  acid.  The  washing,  however, 
always  gives  a  minute  precipitate,  but  the  sulphate  will 
not  practically  amount  to  an  impurity  of  any  import¬ 
ance,  and  it  is  this  reaction  that  has  evidently  given  the* 
idea  of  a  constant  oxidation  going  on  which  is  unlimited 
as  regards  its  extent.  The  salt,  when  properly  washed, 
is  dried  at  100°  C.  The  yield  is  about  43. 

Composition. — The  following  formulae  have  been  given 
by  different  authorities  as  the  composition  of  this  salt : — 

Foi'dos  and  others,  ZnS032H20. 

Rammelsberg,  2  (Zn  S  03)  5  H2  O. 

There  was  evidently  some  discrepancy  here,,  and  it 
was  therefore  considered  necessary  to  detei'mine  the 
actual  composition.  #  g 

The  sulphite  was  finely  powdered  and  di'ied  at  lOCP  C  . 
1*237  gramme  of  the  salt  so  prepared  required.  2099; 
grain-measures  of  the  B.  P.  volumetric  solution  of  iodine’ 
to  colour  the  solution  blue,  mucilage  ot  starch  and  a  few- 
drops  of  acid  having  been  previously  added.  This  gave 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  29,  1870. 


oDZt 


3-r01  per  cent,  of  anhydride  as  being  present.  Now, 
theory  requires  for  2  molecules  of  water  35 '35  per  cent., 
therefore  this  is  rather  low,  which  is  no  doubt  due  to 
a  trace  of  sulphate  of  zinc. 

Air-dried  sulphite,  however,  only  consumed  2985 
grain-measures  of  the  decinormal  solution,  the  weight 
taken  being-  1-918,  which  corresponds  with  the  ter- 
hydrated  salt.  Thus,  theory  Zn"  S  03 ;  3  H.:  0  would  give 
32-16  anhydride,  practice  gi ves  32-39.  Sul  phite  which  had 
been  finely  powdered,  and  submitted  to  the  prolonged 
action  of  sulphuric  acid  under  a  bell-glass,  gave  a  simi¬ 
lar  result.  We  therefore  see  that  the  discrepancy  ob¬ 
served  in  different  authorities  is  easily  accounted  for ;  the 
composition  of  the  salt  varies  according  to  the  method 
by  which  it  is  dried.  It  is  as  follows : — 

Dried  in  the  air,  or  over  sulphuric  acid,  Zn"  S  03 ;  3ILO. 
Dried  at  100°  C . ".  .  .  .  Zn"S03;  2H20. 

M.  Fordos’  formula  is  correct  as  long  as  the  salt  is 
dried  at  100°  C.,  but  not  unless  this  is  the  case  ;  whilst 
Rammelsberg-  had  evidently  been  operating-  upon  a  salt 
one  molecule  of  water  in  which  had  been  partially  disso¬ 
ciated  by  heat.  The  terhydrated  salt  may  be  viewed  as 
the  normal  compound,  as  it  seems  perfectly  stable  under 
ordinary  circumstances. 

General  Properties  and  Stability. — Sulphite  of  zinc  is 
very  insoluble  in  water  at  the  ordinary  temperature. 
500  grains  of  a  saturated  solution  consumed  82-5  measures 
of  the  iodine  solution,  which  represented  -164  per  cent, 
of  the  hydrated  salt.  It  crystallizes  in  semitransparent 
prismatic  crystals,  which  are  pellucid  on  recrystallization 
from  sulphurous  acid.  It  decolorizes  a  solution  of  iodine 
without  being  acidulated.  One  extraordinary  property 
of  the  sulphite  of  zinc  is  its  ready  solubility  in  an  excess 
of  sulphurous  acid.  If  washed,  sulphurous  anhydride  is 
passed  for  some  considerable  time  through  1  part  of  the 
salt  suspended  in  about  3^  parts  of  water.  A  solution  is 
readily  obtained  containing  about  20  per  cent,  of  sul¬ 
phite,  and  having-  a  specific  gravity  sometimes  as  high 
as  1-240  to  1-245  at  15°  C.  15  per  cent,  easily  dissolves 
in  the  ordinary  sulphurous  acid  of  the  Pharmacopoeia. 

When  dry,  neither  the  di-  nor  tri-hydrate  sutlers  oxi- 
■  dation  on  exposure  to  the  air.  They  are,  contrary  to  what 
is  stated  in  the  books,  perfectly  stable  salts ;  however, 
like  most  of  the  sulphites  when  in  solution,  they  suffer  a 
:  gradual  but  slow  oxidation ;  and  thus  its  antiseptic 
power.  Thus  a  saturated  solution  of  the  sulphite  when 
tested  with  the  volumetric  solution  gave  the  following 
results, — in  each  experiment  500  grains  were  taken: — 


Day  of  tlie  Month.  Grain  Measures  of  Vol.  Solution. 

8th . 82-5 

9th . . . 66* 

10th . 50* 

11th . 25- 

12th . 10- 


On  the  15th  the  sulphurous  acid  had  become  converted 
into  sulphuric.  The  saturated  acid  solution  was  diluted 
-  with  water,  and  tried  in  a  similar  manner.  The  oxida¬ 
tion  was  not  nearly  so  rapid,  and  at  the  expiration  of 
fifteen  days  it  had  not  lost  ten  per  cent,  of  its  strength. 
The  saturated  acid  solution  suffers  very  little  change. 

Uses  in  Pharmacy. — The  composition  of  sulphite  of  zinc 
would  naturally  point  to  its  therapeutic  uses.  It  might 
be  viewed  as  a  desiccant,  antiseptic,  astringent  and 
caustic  (we  are  now  speaking  of  its  external  applica- 
tions).  As  regards  the  last  its  insolubility  renders  it  so 
mild  that  it  could  be  hardly  considered  under  the  head 
of  a  caustic  at  all,  and  more  nearly  approaches  the  desic- 
•  cant,  oxide  of  zinc,  in  this  respect.  Its  antiseptic  pro¬ 
perties,  like  all  the  readily  oxidizable  sulphites,  are  well 
marked ;  nor  is  it,  indeed,  necessary  for  it  to  come  in 
contact  with  acid  secretions  for  its  power,  in  this  respect, 
to  come  into  play.  It  has  been  tried  in  some  of  the 
hospitals,  and  well  spoken  of  in  many  cases.* 

*  A  medical  friend,  of  considerable  hospital  experience, 


The  following  formula3  may  be  suggested : — 

Sidphite  of  Zinc  Lotion. 

Take  of 

Finely  powdered  sulphite  of  zinc  20  grains. 

Distilled  water  gxx. 

Digest  twenty-four  hours,  occasionally  shaking,  and  then 
decant  the  clear  solution  for  use.  This  lotion  should  be 
made  as  required. 

This  lotion  will  contain  about  I  grain  to  the  fluid 
ounce,  and  might  be  advantageously  used  as  a  cold-water 
dressing-  for  wounds. 

Acid  Sidph ite  of  Zinc  Lotion. 

Take  of 

Powdered  sulphite  of  zinc  8  grains. 

Sulphurous  acid  B.  P.  5i  fluid. 

Mix,  and  when  dissolved  add 

Distilled  water  gi  gvij. 

Sidphite  of  Zinc  Ointment. 

Take  of 

Prepared  lard  5vij. 

Powdered  sulphite  of  zinc  1  w . 

dried  at  100°  C  j  ol‘ 

Compound  Sulphite  of  Zinc  Ointment. 

Take  of 

Lard  giiiss. 

Oxide  of  zinc  5iij. 

Sulphite  of  zinc  5i. 

The  above  ointment  has  been  found  most  useful  as  a 
mild  desiccant  and  antiseptic  ointment  in  skin  diseases. 

The  President  said  the  sulphites  were  coming  into 
very  general  use,  especially  the  lime,  potash  and  soda 
sulphites ;  and  that  one  large  mode  of  consumption  was 
for  brewing  purposes,  for  making-  weak  beers  keep  from 
turning  sour  in  summer  weather. 

Mr.  Cottrill  (Shepton  Mallet)  said  that  in  Somerset¬ 
shire  the  use  of  bisulphite  of  lime  for  cider  was  very 
extensive. 

Mr.  Tichborne  stated  that  bisulphite  of  lime  was 
much  used  in  the  porter  breweries  of  Dublin,  and  its 
preservative  effect  was  undoubted.  However,  it  was 
open  to  the  objection  that  some  of  the  nitrogenous  com¬ 
pounds  of  the  porter  united  with  the  liberated  sulphur, 
and  when  this  porter  was  bottled  a  fetid  gas  was  deve¬ 
loped.  This  difficulty  did  not  exist  in  the  case  of  ale. 

Professor  Attfield  remarked  that  the  discussion  of 
the  paper  by  Mr.  Tichborne  had  somewhat  drifted  into 
one  of  its  bearings  only,  but  beyond  this  they  must  re¬ 
cognize  that  the  paper  represented  a  large  amount  of 
able  and  laborious  work,  for  which  they  were  greatly 
indebted  to  the  author. 


The  Flax  Lints  of  Commerce  under  the  Microscope. 

BY  THOMAS  GREENISH,  F.R.M.S. 

The  introduction  of  machine-made  lint,  which  dates 
from  about  1847,  has  to  a  very  great  extent  superseded 

writes  as  follows : — “  A  lotion  of  the  sulphite  of  zinc  proved 
highly  beneficial  in  a  case  of  gonorrhoea,  rapidly  lessening  the 
discharge,  and  causing  but  slight  pain.  From  the  rapidity  of 
the  change  in  the  character  of  the  discharge  after  each  in¬ 
jection,  it  would  appear  as  though  it  acted  not  only  as  an 
astringent,  but  also  as  an  antiseptic,  causing  decomposition  in 
the  pus,  with  which  it  came  in  contact ;  and  subsequently  in 
its  chronic  stage  an  injection,  formed  of  1  grain  of  sulphite 
to  the  gi,  held  in  solution  by  a  sufficient  quantity  of  sul¬ 
phurous  acid,  caused  a  complete  cure,  without  pain  or  incon¬ 
venience.  It  requires  further  experience  before  pronouncing 
definitely  on  its  merits  ;  but  there  is  sufficient  evidence  of  its 
usefulness  to  warrant  extensive  trial  in  other  cases.  It  would, 
no  doubt,  make  an  excellent  collyrium  (without  the  acid)  in 
purulent  ophthalmia,  and  a  stronger  solution  might  be  used 
in  ulceration  of  the  mouth  and  gums.  The  solution  of  2  grains 
to  gi  of  the  acid  solution  was  tried  with  excellent  results  to 
lessen  the  fetor  in  a  case  of  extreme  suppuration  from  a 
burn.  In  skin  diseases,  especially  those  of  a  parasitic  origin, 
sulphite  of  zinc  would  probably  prove  invaluable.” 


October  29, 1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


353 


that  made  by  hand.  The  latter  had  many  defects,  and 
the  former  possesses  many  advantages.  Machinery,  by 
lowering  the  price  of  lint,  has  very  much  increased  its 
consumption;  but  there  still  lingers  in  the  minds  of 
many  persons  the  feeling  that  there  is  no  lint  like  that 
made  by  hand,  and  also  a  suspicion  that  the  so-called 
“flax-lints”  contain  a  mixture  of  cotton,  varying  in  the 
samples  of  different  makers,  but  objectionable  in  all. 

Just  at  the  time  when  I  was  engaged  on  this  subject  a 
circumstance  occurred. which  will  serve  to  illustrate  my 
remarks.  A  medical  man  called  on  me  for  some  lint.  I 
unrolled  a  packet  of  Taylor’s  Super  A  1  flax  lint.  He  ob¬ 
jected  to  it,  remarking  that  it  was  mixed  with  cotton,  and 
also  that  the  presence  of  cotton  in  lint  detracted  from  the 
value  of  the  lint  as  a  dressing  for  sores;  and  this  was  espe¬ 
cially  the  case  when  applied  to  a  blistered  surface.  Now 
here  was  a  question  of  fact  and  also  one  of  opinion ;  and  to 
determine  one  at  least  of  these — the  presence  of  cotton, 
or  otherwise,  in  samples  of  professedly  flax  lint — was 
the  object  I  had  in  view,  and  I  have  thought  that  the 
subject  possessed  sufficient  interest  to  justify  me  in  bring¬ 
ing  the  results  under  j’onr  notice. 

A  difficulty  met  me  at  the  outset.  I  had  purposely 
discarded  all  “ cotton  lints,” — they  did  not  come  within 
the  scope  of  my  inquiry ;  and  to  examine  every  sample 
even  of  those  labelled  “flax  lints,”  whether  from  whole¬ 
sale  houses  or  retail  establishments,  would  occupy 
more  than  the  limited  time  at  my  disposal,  and  be  of  no 
practical  value,  for  the  absence  of  the  maker’s  name  left 
no  means  of  identification.  Here,  for  instance,  is  a 
sample  of  lint.  The  packet  had  a  very  pretentious  label 
— “  Superfine  Lint,”  etc.  It  does  not  profess  to  be  flax, 
nor  does  it  say  that  it  is  cotton,  neither  has  it  the  maker’s 
name.  Its  composition  is  about  half  cotton  and  half 
flax,  and  the  same  remark  will  apply  to  the  linted  surface. 
I  have  examined  a  good  many  samples  labelled  flax  lints, 
from  different  sources,  but  shall  illustrate  this  paper  by 
reference  to  those  of  a  fewT  well-known  makers. 

No.  1  Sample. — I  will  commence  with  the  lint  to 
which  objection  was  made,  Taylor’s  Super  A  1  Flax 
Lint.  I  certainly  was  somewhat  startled  to  find  that  it 
did  contain  cotton.  By  taking  a  piece  of  this  lint  and 
detaching  from  it  a  few  threads,  without  reference  to  any 
particular  part,  the  presence  of  cotton  may  be  detected  ; 
but  when  the  sample  is  subjected  to  a  more  methodical 
investigation, — when,  for  instance,  the  warp  is  separated 
from  the  weft  which  crosses  it  at  right  angles,  and  they 
and  the  fluff  on  the  surface  are  examined, —  it  is  found 
that  the  “warp”  consists  of  a  yam  of  loose  linen  fibre, 
the  “weft”  of  a  closely -twisted  thread  of  cotton,  and 
that  the  fluff  on  the  surface  contains  no  cotton  what¬ 
ever,  being  composed  entirely  of  flax.  I  use  the  words 
“yarn”  with  reference  to  the  flax  -warp,  and  “thread”  to 
the  cotton  weft,  to  convey  a  tolerably  correct  idea  of 
their  relative  size  and  condition  in  the  fabric.  A  stray 
fibre  of  cotton  may  be  found  on  the  surface,  but  it  is  not 
there  in  any  appreciable  quantity.  The  cotton  would 
appear  to  have  its  place  and  value  in  binding  together, 
so  to  speak,  the  flax  yarns ;  but  it  forms  no  part  of  the 
linted  “pile,”  consequently  all  the  fibres  coming  into 
contact  with  a  wound  are  pure  flax.  It  is  just  possible 
that  the  presence  of  a  thin  thread  of  cotton  as  a  weft, 
may  make  the  material  lighter  and  more  porous,  and 
assist  in  producing  a  larger  linted  surface  to  a  given 
weight  of  lint.  The  view  adopted  is  probably  borne  out 
by  reference  to  the  next.  I  think,  therefore,  that  we 
are  justified  in  considering  this  sample  as  a  flax  lint. 

No.  2  Sample  is  Maw’s  Ellesmere  Lint,  composed  en¬ 
tirely  of  flax  in  warp  and  weft,  and  consequently  the 
fibres  of  which  the  linted  surface  is  composed  have  no 
mixture  of  cotton.  It  is  a  coarse  lint  as  compared  with 
some  others. 

No.  3  Sample  is  Robinson’s,  of  Chesterfield,  Flax  Lint. 
Warp  flax  ;  weft  cotton.  Surface  for  the  most  part  flax. 

No.  4  Sample  is  hand-made  lint,  composed  entirely  of 
flax.  It  has  very  little  fluff’  on  the  surface. 


The  second  question  may  now  be  considered.  Is  the 
presence  of  cotton  in  any  quantity  really  objectionable 
when  forming  part  of  the  linted  surface  ?  It  would  be 
difficult  for  me  by  any  direct  experiment  to  determine 
this  point.  I  must  leave  others  to  speak.  I  shall  only 
quote  one  authority  bearing  directly  on  lint,  and  his 
remarks  I  think  embody  the  opinions  of  most  of  those 
■who  have  alluded  to  the  subject.  Erasmus  Wilson,  in 
his  treatise  on  ‘  Healthy  Skin,’  says,  in  substance,  “that 
he  attributes  the  softness  and  smoothness  of  linen  to  the 
roundness  and  pliability  of  its  fibre ;  the  cold  feeling  to, 
its  being  a  good  conductor  of  heat, — the  porosity  of  its, 
fibre  rendering  it  very  attractive  of  moisture,  absorbing- 
it  freely,  which,  as  water  is  a  conductor  of  heat,  removes 
it  rapidly  from  the  body.  On  the  contrary,  “  cotton  is  a 
bad  conductor  of  heat ;  it  does  not  absorb  moisture  to , 
conduct  the  heat  away.  It  wants  the  freshness  of  linen ; 
it  is  not,  like  linen,  composed  of  fibres  which  are  per¬ 
fectly  rounded,  but,  on  the  contrary,  its  fibres  are  flat. 


and  have  sharp  edges,  which  are  apt,  in  delicate  skins, 
to  excite  irritation.  It  is  on  this  account  that  we  care¬ 
fully  avoid  the  application  of  cotton  to  a  graze  or  wround, 
and  employ  for  such  a  purpose  its  softer  and  smoother- 
rival,  linen.” 

You  will  observe  that  his  objections  to  cotton  apply,, 


in  the  first  place,  to  its  being  a  bad  conductor  of  heat, 
and,  in  the  second,  to  the  sharp  edges  of  the  cotton. 
His  first  objection  may  be  valid,  but  the  second  has  no 

*  The  woodcuts  represent  the  appearance  of  the  fibres  by. 
transmitted  light. 


351 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [October  29,  1870. 


foundation  in  fact.  Cotton  has  no  sharp  edges;  its 
fibre  may  he  compai'ed  to  a  tube  of  some  thin  material 
'Collapsed,  and  with  rounded  edges,  ribbon-like,  but  more 
•or  less  twisted.  The  fibre  of  flax  is  rounded.  There  is 
•certainly  a  difference  in  the  feeling  between  linen  and 
cotton  when  applied  to  the  skin,  to  whatever  cause  this 
may  be  attributed. 

The  superiority  of  linen  to  cotton  as  a  dressing  for 
wTounds  is  generally  admitted  ;  and  I  think,  therefore, 
that  we  may  accept  as  a  fact  that  cotton,  in  so  far  as  it 
forms  part  of  the  linted  surface,  detracts  from  the  value 
of  the  lint.  But  how  is  the  occasional  preference  for 
hand-made  lint  to  be  explained  ?  On  carefully  com¬ 
paring  a  piece  of  hand-made  lint  with  that  made  by  ma¬ 
chinery,  both  being  flax  surfaces,  I  think  it  can  only  bo 
a  question  of  the  relative  quantity  of  “  pile  ”  on  the  sur¬ 
face  of  either  sample ;  and  a  reference  to  the  next  lint 
would  seem  to  support  my  views. 

No.  5  Sample  is  “  Charpie,”  a  kind  of  lint  used  in 
the  German  hospitals,  with  reference  to  which  I  will 
quote  a  paragraph  from  one  of  the  newspapers  : — “  A 
Good  Hint. — ‘  Charpie  ’  is  a  game  at  which  all  ladies 
should  now  be  playing.  It  is  played  in  this  way.*  Tear 
pieces  of  linen  into  fragments  about  three  inches  square, 
;  and  draw  out  every  thread  separately.  It  is  capital  fun, 

« especially  adapted  for  the  delicate  fingers  of  young  ladies, 
who  can  arrange  parties  for  it  at  each  other’s  houses ; 
and  the  best  of  all  is  that  this  charpie — a  kind  of  lint — i's 
invaluable  to  the  poor  wounded  soldiers,  whose  suffer¬ 
ings,  for  the  want  of  such  a  thing,  are  often  excruciat¬ 
ing  and  intolerable.”  These  detached  threads  are  scraped 
into  fluff,  which  is  applied  first,  and  then  covered  with 
the  piece  that  remains,  from  which  the  threads  have  been 
.drawn  in  one  direction  only. 

No.  6  Sample  is  Marine  Lint,  which,  through  the  ne¬ 
cessities  of  the  present  time,  has  acquired  some  notice. 
Eor  this  sample  I  am  indebted  to  the  kindness  of  Mr. 
Martindale.  In  a  letter  to  the  Lancet  of  September  2nd, 
the  maker  says,  “  Marine  lint  is  made  from  a  variety  of 
fibres  (generally  vegetable),  prepared  by  a  peculiar  pro¬ 
cess,  and  will  retain  its  disinfectant  qualities  and  tarry 
fragrance  for  many  years.”  I  take  a  piece  of  this,  and 
•clean  it  by  several  immersions  in  methylated  spirit.  Its 
tar  and  its  mystery  disappear  together.  It  is  composed 
■  of  flax  or  hemp  fibres ;  in  fact,  it  seems  to  me  to  be  no¬ 
thing  more  than  “  tow  waste  ”  passed  through  a  solution 
.of  tar. 

One  word  more  as  to  the  means  adopted  for  the  detec¬ 
tion  of  cotton-fibre  in  combination  with  that  of  flax. 

The  microscope  is  perfectly  efficient  for  this  purpose. 
The  value  of  polarized  light  in  determining  form  and 
structure  is  well  understood  by  the  microscopist.  I 
have  availed  myself  of  it  in  these  investigations.  By  its 
mid,  and  with  a  little  management  in  manipulation, 
every  fibre  of  which  the  thread  or  fluff  is  composed  can 
be  told  with  unerring  accuracy.  In  the  examination  of 
.a  sample  of  lint,  I  wTould  suggest  that  in  the  first  place 
.a  low  power  be  employed  to  determine  from  the  back  of 
it  the  relative  size  of  wrarp  and  weft,  their  closeness  or 
otherwise ;  then  that  fibres  from  each  and  also  a  portion 
of  the  linted  surface  be  examined  separately  by  polarized 
light.  By  this  means  no  specimen  of  lint  can  fail 
thorough  investigation. 

If  I  have  succeeded  in  throwing  any  light  upon,  and 
investing  with  interest,  the  subject  brought  before  you, 
my  time  in  the  investigations  and  yours  in  listening  to 
.the  results  will  not  have  been  spent  in  vain. 

I  have  here  for  distribution  some  lithographic  plates  of 
ootton  and  flax  under  the  microscope,  kindly  supplied  me 
by  Mr.  Suffolk,  F.R.M.S.,  to  wrhom  I  am  indebted  for 
much  information  and  many  kind  suggestions  on  this 
subject. 


The  President  said  that  referring  the  different  quali¬ 
fies  of  cotton  and  flax  lints  to  the  microscopic  structure 
csvas  an  exaggeration  and  a  popular  error.  If  any  dif¬ 


ference  really  existed  in  their  relative  merits,  which  many 
doubt,  it  probably  was  not  because  one  fibre  wras  flat  and 
the  other  round,  but  because  the  cotton  twisted  by  being 
wetted  by  the  moisture  from  the  wound,  and  by  its 
movement  caused  the  irritation  complained  of. 

Mr.  Ince  remarked  upon  the  very  different  practice  of 
this  country  and  that  of  France  and  Germany  in  the 
selection  of  lint.  In  common  with  many  others,  he  had 
lately  given  up  a  good  deal  of  time  to  making  charpie  to 
send  to  the  seat  of  war.  In  France,  charpie ,  made  by 
pulling  out  each  separate  thread  of  a  linen  or  cotton 
fabric,  w\as  sold  by  weight.  The  French  and  Germans 
will  not  use  English  lint  because  of  the  fluff,  and  large 
quantities  sent  out  for  the  relief  of  the  wounded  have 
been  returned  to  England  to  be  exchanged  for  other 
articles.  The  new  material  called  “marine  lint”  was 
highly  appreciated. 

Mr.  Martindale  referred  favourably  to  the  experience 
of  “  marine  lint  ”  in  some  of  the  London  hospitals.  As 
an  antiseptic  dressing,  a  little  loosely  applied  as  a  pad¬ 
ding,  placed  above  the  ordinary  lint  dressing,  it  had  been 
found  efficacious,  especially  in  cases  where  there  was 
much  fetid  discharge,  of  which  it  was  a  most  effectual 
deodorizer.  The  surgeons  at  St.  George’s  Hospital 
spoke  wrell  of  it,  having  used  it  for  some  time,  and  at  the 
University  College  Hospital  it  had  been  used  with 
success.  Its  application  was  found  to  add  much  to  the 
comfort  of  the  patient  by  destroying  the  disagreeable 
odour  vThich  is  often  so  persistent  from  gunshot  and  other 
wounds.  It  had  been  largely  used  for  this  purpose 
during  the  American  war,  wrhere  it  was  first  introduced 
as  a  surgical  appliance. 

Mr.  Baildon  regarded  the  prejudice  against  cotton 
lint  as  being  without  any  good  foundation,  and  stated 
that  in  the  hospitals  of  Edinburgh  cotton  lint  was  used. 
As  to  the  new  “marine lint,”  carbolic  acid  wras  evidently 
its  active  agent. 


SOCIETY  OF  ARTS. 

On  Fermentation. 

BY  PROEESSOR  A.  W.  WILLIAMSON,  F.R.S. 

Lecture  LLL. — continued. 

I  will  now  leave  these  experiments  for  the  present,  in 
order  that  I  may  tell  you  of  some  other  discoveries, 
w'hich  will  afford  a  key  to  them.  One  of  the  most  im¬ 
portant  observations  was  made,  at  an  early  stage  of  the 
investigations,  on  the  subject  of  ferments,  by  Dr.  Schwrann. 
He  passed  air  through  a  red-hot  tube,  and  he  asserted, 
as  the  result  of  his  observations,  that  air  wliich  had  been 
so  heated  was  incapable  of  producing  the  effects,  winch 
I  mentioned  just  nowr  as  having  been  noticed  by  other 
observers  as  produced  by  common  air ;  that  whereas 
ordinary  air  starts  fermentation,  air  which  has  been 
passed  through  a  red-hot  tube  does  not.  That  wras  w’hat 
he  said,  and  in  some  of  his  observations  he  wras  quite 
correct,  but  in  some  others  he  must  have  been  misled. 
Shortly  after  his  observations,  another  German  philoso¬ 
pher  thought  of  using  cotton-wool  as  a  strainer.  He 
passed  air  through  a  glass  tube  fitted  up  somewhat  in 
the  same  manner  as  the  one  I  have  here,  with  a  tolerably 
compact  plug  of  cotton -wool,  which  allowed  the  air  to 
pass  through  it,  but  at  the  same  time  acted  as  a  strainer, 
and  collected  a  quantity  of  dirt  at  the  side  where  the  air 
entered  it ;  and  ho  found  that  the  air  winch  had  been 
thus  strained  was  no  longer  capable  of  producing  the 
phenomena  of  decomposition,  w'hich  air  in  the  unstrained 
or  unheated  state  does.  Since  then,  Pasteur  has  done 
the  same  thing  in  a  more  accurate  and  more  decisive 
manner ;  and  he  has  repeated  the  experiment  with  heated 
air,  with  precautions  which  leave  nothing  to  be  desired. 
One  novelty  in  Pasteur’s  process  is  the  use  of  a  kind  ot 
cotton  which  is  soluble — cotton  which  has  been  in  con¬ 
tact  with  strong  nitric  acid,  wrhich  is  called  gun-cotton. 
It  retains  the  structure  and  appearance  of  ordinary  cotton, 


October  29,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


355 


tout  has  this  peculiarity,  that  it  dissolves  easily  in  a  mix¬ 
ture  of  alcohol  and  ether.  He  put  into  a  tube  a  plug  of 
this  gun-cotton,  and  then,  by  means  of  an  aspirator,  he 
drew  air  through  this  strainer  for  a  long  time,  until  he 
had  collected  quite  a  quantity  of  dust.  He  then  took 
this  gun-cotton  with  the  dust  upon  it,  and  put  it  into  a 
t;ube,  where  he  poured  alcohol  and  ether  upon  it  until 
the  cotton  was  dissolved,  and  nothing  left  but  the  dust. 
In  that  manner  he  got  the  lightest  portions  of  the  dust 
and  the  heavier  portions  by  themselves,  as  they  very 
soon  subsided  in  the  liquid  in  which  the  gun-cotton  had 
been  dissolved.  He  then  poured  fresh  alcohol  upon  them, 
.so  as  to  thoroughly  cleanse  them,  and  then  put  them 
under  the  microscope,  in  order  to  examine  the  particles 
of  which  they  consisted.  He  found  in  this  dust  a  great 
many  particles  of  sand,  calcic  carbonate,  and  other 
mineral  particles,  as  would  naturally  be  expected,  and 
also  a  great  quantity  of  organic  matter — little  particles 
of  cotton  wool,  wood,  and  so  on,  and  mixed  with  these 
'he  found  some  little  spherical  or  oblong  particles  of  very 
different  sizes,  and.  of  some  considerable  varieties  of 
shape.  Some  of  these  little  round  particles  he  found 
-consisted  of  mere  starch,  and  many  of  you  are,  no  doubt, 
aware  that  starch  consists  of  little  spheroidal  masses  of 
different  sizes.  These  he  got  rid  of  by  a  solvent,  and 
others  were  then  left,  which  resembled  in  their  appear¬ 
ance  so  closely  the  germs  of  various  fungi  and  organisms 
of  those  kinds  and  eggs  of  animalcules  that  they  were, 
to  outward  appearance,  undistinguishable  from  them. 
He  then  took  a  liquid  which  had  been  boiled,  but  which 
was  capable  of  decomposing — such  a  one  as  I  mentioned 
here — by  the  action  of  any  of  these  substances,  and  he 
put  it  into  a  flask,  with  precautions  which  I  will  not  de¬ 
tain  you  by  mentioning  now,  more  than  to  say  that  he 
slid  into  this  liquid,  which  had  not  got  anything  present 
to  induce  the  formation  of  organisms,  some  of  the  gun¬ 
cotton  with  the  dust  yet  in  it.  It  was  the  same  thing  as 
T  mentioned  before,  only  that  the  substance  had  got 
some  of  this  dust  from  the  air  added  to  it ;  and  he  found 
/that  he  also  got  the  formation  of  organisms  very  readily 
<  and  abundantly.  He  found  that  these  little  particles, 
which  were  to  the  eye  undistinguishable  from  germs  and 
■spores,  behave  towards  liquids  of  this  kind  just  as  if  they 
were  so.  In  various  other  ways  the  same  form  of  expe¬ 
riment  has  been  repeated,  and  uniformly  with  the  same 
result,  viz.,  that  when  Little  particles  collected  from  the 
air,  particles  of  extreme  tenuity,  are  put  into  a  liquid 
susceptible  of  undergoing  decomposition,  a  great  variety 
of  organisms  will  make  their  appearance,  just  as  if  their 
seed  had  been  sown  in  the  liquid.  This  circumstance  is 
one  which,  I  think,  will  justify  us  in  going  back  to  what 
I  told  you  of  Pastern'’ s  previous  observations.  I  told 
you  that  he  opened  a  number  of  the  little  bulbs  which 
had  contained  yeast-water  and  sugar,  so  as  to  allow  the 
-air  to  rush  into  them.  He  found  that,  in  some  cases,  he 
-got  one  kind  of  organism  produced,  and  in  others  an¬ 
other  ;  in  fact  he  got  a  great  variety.  But  if,  instead  of 
allowing  the  air  to  go  into  these  bulbs  in  this  way,  he 
poured  the  liquid  out  into  an  open  vessel,  he  always  got 
ihe  same  sort  of  organisms ;  there  was  no  variety.  The 
appearance  of  the  particles  which  resembled  germs  is,  as 
I  said,  exceedingly  various,  and  there  are  many  reasons 
to  suppose  that  if  there  are  the  germs  of  these  organisms 
in  the  air,  there  must  be  an. immense  variety  of  them,  a 
•variety  so  great  that  we  could  not  even  venture  to  guess 
.at  its  extent  at  present.  When  the  liquid  had  free  ac¬ 
cess  to  all  of  them,  it  is  found,  for  reasons  which  would 
oasily  suggest  themselves,  on  reflection,  to  anybody,  that 
some  of  them,  those  which  can  thrive  best  upon  the  par- 
iicular  substance,  develope  themselves  to  the  exclusion  of 
-the  rest.  I  will  give  you  one  or  two  examples  of  the 
influence  of  food  upon  the  development  of  ferments,  in¬ 
stances  which  are  well  known,  and  are  of  some  im¬ 
portance,  as  serving  to  prove  the  point  which  I  have 
just  mentioned.  You  are  aware  that  the  mixture  which 
J  have  been  speaking  of,  yeast- water  with  sugar,  can  be 


made  to  undergo  alcoholic  fermentation.  I  have  already 
referred  to  it  repeatedly  in  that  point  of  view.  We  can 
make  it  undergo  alcoholic  fermentation  if  we  put  some 
alcoholic  ferment  into  it,  and  keep  it  at  a  proper  tem- 
pei'ature;  but  if,  instead  of  putting  some  number  of 
cells — and  even  a  few  grains  weight  consist  of  an  enor¬ 
mous  number  of  cells — if,  instead  of  that,  we  were  merely 
to  leave  some  of  this  liquid  in  contact  with  the  air,  we 
should  have  no  alcoholic  fermentation  set  up  in  it.  That 
particular  mixture  of  yeast- water  and  sugar  does  not, 
when  exposed  to  all  these  germs,  get  yeast-cells  deve¬ 
loped  in  it,  at  all  events  not  to  any  perceptible  extent. 
Instead  of  that,  it  gets  cells  formed  which  are  similar 
to  those  in  the  second  bottle  I  showed  you,  which  is 
forming  lactic  acid,  that  is  to  say,  the  lactic  fermentation 
will  set  in.  The  fact  is,  that  the  liquid  is  unwholesome 
for  these  particular  cells ;  and  does  not  agree  with  the 
alcohol  cells,  or  yeast-cells,  so  that  if  a  gx-cat  number  of 
various  germs  are  thrown  into  these  particular  sub¬ 
stances,  those  which  can  thrive  better,  which  are  the 
lactic  acid  cells,  develope  themselves,  and  the  alcohol 
cells  do  not.  Again,  if  instead  of  taking  this  decoction 
of  yeast  and  sugar,  you  were  to  take  some  grape  juice, 
you  would  have  alcoholic  fermentation  at  once.  That 
is  the  way  it  is  done.  If  I  were  to  leave  a  decoction  of 
malt  in  contact  with  the  air,  in  the  same  manner  you 
would  get  the  same  thing  set  in  as  a  rule.  Again,  if 
some  of  the  liquid  which  I  have  in  the  glass  dish  here — 
some  of  the  yeast- water  with  a  little  alcohol  and  acetic 
acid — be  left  in  an  open  vessel,  it  gets  an  organism  formed 
upon  it ;  in  fact,  that  is  a  process  which  Pasteur  recom¬ 
mends  for  getting  vinegar  cells,  if  you  want  any.  He 
says  the  air  will,  if  you  give  it  time,  and  supply  the  re¬ 
quisite  conditions,  start  these  cells  in  that  mixture,  but 
no  alcohol  cells,  nor  lactic  acid  cells,  can  be  grown  in  it. 
It  does  not  suit  them;  it  is  a  substance  which  stfits 
vinegar  cells,  and  them  only.  Whatever  may  be  the 
variety  of  the  cells  present  in  the  air,  it  only  developes 
those  of  that  particular  kind. 

(To  be  continued.) 


ASSOCIATION  OF  MEDICAL  OFFICERS  OF 

HEALTH. 

The  First  Meeting  of  this  Association  for  the  season 
was  held  on  Saturday,  October  15,  at  the  Scottish  Cor¬ 
poration  Hall ;  the  President,  Dr.  Druitt,  in  the  chair. 

Specimens  of  the  new  antiseptic  chlor-alum,  White- 
head’s  soup  squares  and  meat  preserved  by  Mr.  Richard 
Jones’s  process  were  exhibited. 

Mr.  Rogers  introduced  the  subject  of  the  registration 
of  disease,  which  he  advocated  with  great  earnestness. 

Dr.  Druitt  read  an  address  on  the  Sanitary  Topics  of 
the  Day.  Alluding  to  the  prevalence  of  scarlet  fever  in 
the  metropolis,  he  said  that  this  was  the  season  when  it 
might  be  expected  to  increase  after  a  partial  diminu¬ 
tion  during  the  summer  months.  In  the  week  ending 
October  8,  192  deaths  from  this  disease  were  reported, 
being  the  largest  number  registered  since  last  December. 
It  was  clear  that  we  wanted  a  registration  of  disease, 
coupled  with  a  provision  for  making  its  existence  known 
to  the  sanitary  authorities.  The  existence  of  scarlet 
fever  in  a  house  instead  of  being  made  known,  is,  from 
various  reasons,  studiously  concealed.  It  was  clear  that 
scarlet  fever  is  propagated  by  the  bodies  of  the  sick,  and 
the  clothes,  apartments,  etc.,  contaminated  by  them,  or 
by  such  causes  as  fermenting  heaps  of  impurities,  recep¬ 
tacles  of  excretions,  drains,  and  the  like.  He  believed 
scarlet  fever  to  be  emphatically  a  product  of  sewer 
gases.  In  disinfecting  pipes  and  sewers  by  carbolic 
acid  a  sufficient  quantity  should  be  used  to  drench  the 
whole  canal,  as  infusoria  in  putrid  water  are  not  killed 
until  the  acid  is  freely  used.  As  a  disinfectant  for  rooms 
and  bedding,  he  preferred  the  fumes  of  burning  sulphur 
to  any  other.  He  advocated  periodic  fumigations  of 
crowded  houses ;  the  drenching  of  drains,  closets  and 


35G 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  29,  1870: 


earth  with  carbolic  acid ;  the  oiling,  staining  and  harden¬ 
ing  of  floors,  so  that  instead  of  being  scrubbed,  they 
might  be  cleaned  with  something  of  the  turpentine  kind ; 
the  abolition  of  fixed  carpets  in  bed-rooms,  and  the  burn¬ 
ing  of  the  sweepings  of  sick-room  floors.  The  other  sub¬ 
jects  discussed  in  the  paper  were,  the  Contagious  Diseases 
Act,'  baby  farming,  the  principles  of  sanitary  law,  the 
necessity  of  Building  Acts,  the  dwellings  of  the  poor  and 
local  taxation. 

Dr.  Rogers  believed  that  scarlet  fever  arose  from 
animal  decomposition.  In  twelve  years’  experience  at 
the  Strand  Union  he  had  never  had  a  case  of  scarlet 
fever  spread  in  the  sick-wards,  while  eleven  or  twelve 
days  after  a  woman  entered  the  receiving  ward  with  a 
child  that  had  the  measles,  the  disease  ran  through  the 
whole  of  the  nursery,  which  was  fifty  yards  off.  Scarlet 
fever  was  more  under  control,  he  thought,  than  any 
other  of  the  preventiblc  diseases.  The  reason  of  its 
spreading  so  rapidly  in  some  districts  was  that  the  ex¬ 
creta  were  not  properly  got  rid  of.  At  the  Strand  Union 
the  drains  were  of  the  best,  and  as  soon  as  there  were 
any  smells  in  the  wards  he  punished  the  nurses  by  stop¬ 
ping  their  beer  and  other  extras.  The  result  was,  the 
smells  soon  vanished. 

Dr.  Liddle  thought  inspectors  should  be  appointed  to 
decide  whether  houses  were  fit  for  habitation  or  not,  and 
if  not,  Government  should  take  stops  to  pull  them  down. 

Dr.  Gibbon  said  the  result  of  the  last  speaker’s  action 
would  be  that  the  poor  would  have  no  houses  at  all,  for 
he  had  made  ample  provision  for  pulling  them  down,  but 
none  for  building  them  up  again. 

Dr.  Aldis  said  that  at  Eastbourne  an  outbreak  of 
scarlet  fever  had  originated  in  the  old  and  badly-drained 
portion  of  the  town. 

Dr.  Tilly  remarked  that  he  had  recently  inspected 
forty  or  fifty  houses,  into  which  there  was  a  constant 
admission  of  sew'er  gases. 

Dr.  Stevenson  said  he  had  found  sulphurous  fumiga¬ 
tion  very  effective,  but  there  were  considerable  difficul¬ 
ties  in  the  way  of  burning  sulphur.  The  bisulphide  of 
carbon  was  very  volatile,  and  should  be  used  carefully, 
but  it  was  much  more  effective  than  solid  sulphur. 

Dr.  Ilife  said  scarlet  fever  in  his  parish  had  not  ori¬ 
ginated  from  dirt,  filth  or  bad  drainage. 


MEETINGS  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 

Wednesday,  Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Great  Britain. — 
“On  Some  of  the  Infusions  of  the  Pharmacopoeia.”  By 
Mr.  J.  B.  Barnes. — “On  the  Purity  of  some  of  the  Alka¬ 
loids  of  Commerce.”  By  W.  L.  Scott,  F.C.S. 

Thursday,  London  Chemists’  Association. — ■“  Belladonna 
and  its  Preparations.”  By  Mr.  R.  Pick. 


prliiravcutsiti  anil  fiito  framiJinp. 


Thames  Police  Court. 

BEFORE  MR.  FAGET. 

The  Shipment  of  Dangerous  Articles. 

Messrs.  James  M‘Ewan  and  Co.,  merchants  and  ship- 
brokers,  of  Cannon  Street,  City,  were  summoned  before 
Mr.  Paget,  at  the  instance  of  the  East  and  West  India 
Dock  Company,  for  unlawfully  causing  to  be  sent  to  the 
East  India  Dock  for  shipment  on  board  a  vessel  called 
the  “  Coloena,”  two  packages  of  mineral  extract,  without 
distinctly  stating  the  nature  of  such  goods  on  the  out¬ 
side  of  the  packages  containing  the  same,  or  otherwise 
giving  due  notice  thereof  to  the  superintendent  of  the 
dock,  whereby  the  defendants  had  incurred  a  penalty 
not  exceeding  £20.  It  was  proved  that  three  packages 
of  goods  were  shipped  on  board  the  “Coloena”  for 
Wellington,  New  Zealand,  as  lamps.  Two  of  the  pack¬ 
ages  contained  a  highly  combustible  and  dangerous  sub¬ 
stance,  petroleum  spirit,  and  the  third  only  contained 


lamps.  The  dangerous  nature  of  the  petroleum  spirit 
was  proved  by  Mr.  Ogston,  analytical  chemist,  on  be¬ 
half  of  the  dock  company,  and  it  was  stated  by  Mix 
Young  that  if  an  explosion  had  occurred  on  board  the 
“  Coloena  ”  on  the  voyage  nothing  could  have  saved  the 
ship,  cargo,  110  passengers  and  crew  from  total  destruc¬ 
tion.  Mr.  Paget  said  the  liquid  shipped  on  board  ship 
was  a  most  dangerous  article.  It  was  described  as  the 
most  dangerous  part  of  petroleum,  and  very  inflam¬ 
mable.  If  the  stuff  had  been  shipped,  qnd  stowed  away 
imder  hatches,  every  living  soul  on  board  would  have 
been  on  a  volcano.  This  was  a  case  of  so  much  import¬ 
ance  that  he  felt  bound  to  inflict  the  full  penalty  of  £20. 
and  £3.  os.  costs. — Times. 


Worship  Street  Police  Court. 

BEFORE  MR.  BUSHBY. 

Alice  Maud  Kemp  was  charged,  on  remand,  with  hav-- 
ing-  attempted  suicide  by  taking  laudanum.  The  facts 
of  this  case  were  reported  last  week.  The  prisoner  stated 
that  she  had  purchased  an  ounce  and  a  half  of  laudanum 
at  Mr.  Cooper’s,  chemist,  of  Amherst  Road,  Hackney. 

The  prisoner,  in  answer  to  the  magistrate,  said  that 
wdien  she  purchased  the  poison  at  Mr.  Cooper’s  she 
stated  that  she  wanted  it  for  some  silk.  She  could  not 
say  for  what  purpose  laudanum  might  be  used  with  re¬ 
gard  to  silk,  but  she  said  that  as  it  was  the  first  thing 
she  thought  of.  She  had  only  been  there  once  before, 
but  Mr.  Cooper  did  not  know  her  address  or  name  until 
she  told  him  at  the  time  of  purchasing  the  laudanum. 
She  denied  that  she  had  stated  she  wanted  the  poison  for 
a  lotion  for  her  leg. 

The  mother  of  the  prisoner  having  expressed  her  will¬ 
ingness  to  become  surety  for  her  daughter’s  good  be¬ 
haviour  for  one  month,  she  was  set  at  liberty. 

A  solicitor  wished  to  address  the  Court  upon  behalf  of 
Mr.  Cooper,  but 

Mr.  Bushby  said  that  he  could  not  hear  him,  as  Mr. 
Cooper  was  not  before  the  Court.  Adverting  to  the  sale 
of  the  poison  by  Mr.  Cooper,  Mr.  Bushby  said  that  from 
what  the  prisoner  had  stated,  it  appeared  that  the  poison 
was  sold  by  the  chemist  to  her  without  any  introduction 
given  by  a  friend  known  to  both,  as  required  by  the  Act 
of  Parliament,  and  without  any  previous  knowledge  of 
the  party  to  whom  he  had  sold  the  poison.  In  the  interest 
of  the  public  safety  he,  Mr.  Bushby,  thought  that  the 
police  should  make  inquiries  into  the  case,  and  see  if  the 
17th  section  of  the  Act  (31  &  32  Yict.)  had  not  been 
infringed,  and  he  directed  that  to  be  done. 

The  solicitor  begged  to  be  allowed  to  call  attention  to 
the  Act. 

Mr.  Bushby  declined  to  allow  anything  so  irregular. 
If  the  police  found  that  the  Act  had  been  infringed,  and 
Mr.  Cooper  was  brought  before  the  Court  to  answer  for 
having  incautiously  sold  the  poison,  there  would  be  ample 
opportunity  of  arguing  the  question, 


At  the  Southwark  Police  Court,  a  young-  woman 
charged  with  being  destitute  and  creating  a  disturbance- 
in  the  public  streets,  said  that  she  had  been  to  a  chemist 
the  evening  before,  and  had  he  supplied  her  with  what 
she  wanted  she  would  have  been  dead  by  that  time  and 
all  her  sorrows  forgotten. 

[***  This  case  serves  to  illustrate  the  truth  of  the 
opinion  expressed  last  week,  that  druggists  are  careful  to 
exercise  discretion  in  the  sale  of  poisons.' — Ed.  I*h.  J.] 

At  the  Manchester  Police  Court,  on  Tuesday,  Octo¬ 
ber  8th,  a  lamp  manufacturer  was  summoned  for  having 
thirty  gallons  of  petroleum  stored  in  a  cellar  -without  a 
licence.  The  defendant,  who  had  been  refused  a  licence 
six  months  ago,  because  he  had  failed  to  comply  wilu. 
the  instructions  of  the  watch  committee,  was  fined  £10, 
and  the  petroleum  and  vessels  containing  it  were  ordered 
to  be  forfeited. 


October  29,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


357 


Ifotcs  a  lily  tunics. 

***  In  accordance  with  a  wish  expressed  by  numerous 
correspondents ,  a  column  will  in  future  be  devoted  to  notes 
and  queries ,  with  the  object  of  facilitating  the  exchange  of 
information  among  members  of  the  trade  and  students. 

In  order  to  facilitate  reference ,  correspondents  are  re¬ 
quested  to  mark  their  answers  in  each  case  with  the  title  and 
number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  quenes  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

[1.]— GALLIC  ACID  SOLUTION.  — A.  P.  S.  would 
Lave  well  rubbed  the  gallic  acid  in  a  mortar  and  made  into  a 
solution  with  5vj  of  the  S.  V.  R.  and  aq.  rosae  previously 
mixed,  and  have  rinsed  out  the  mortar  with  the  remaining 
5iv;  he  would  also  have  affixed  a  “shake  the  bottle  ”  label 
above  the  ordinary  label.  He  thinks  it  impossible,  according  to 
all  writers  and  liis  own  experience,  to  keep  gallic  acid  “  in  such 
■a  concentrated  state  ”  in  solution,  except  at  about  200°  F. 


I  beg  to  say  that  I  should  have  dispensed  the  prescription  as 
follows : — 

Introduced  the  sp.  vini  rect.,  aqua  rosse  and  acid,  gallic,  into 
a  test-tube,  shaken  them  together  and  applied  heat  until  a 
perfect  solution  was  obtained,  after  which  I  should  have 
poured  it  into  the  bottle  I  intended  for  it.  When  I  found 
that  the  mixture  “  congealed  ”  on  cooling,  I  should  have  as¬ 
certained  what  directions  the  prescriber  had  given  for  its  use. 
It  they  were  such  as  could  be  applied  to  the  mixture  in  the 
congealed  state,  or  when  “  liquefied,”  by  placing  the  bottle  into 
a  vessel  containing  “  hot  ”  water,  well  and  good ;  but,  if  other¬ 
wise,.  I  should  have  communicated  with  the  prescriber,  in¬ 
forming  him  that  the  mixture  could  not  be  used,  if  made  up 
in  the  manner  prescribed,  and  suggesting  that  a  “  perfect  ”  so¬ 
lution  might  be  obtained  by  subtituting  “glycerine  and  otto 
of  rose  ”  for  the  aq.  rosrn,  or  “  acid,  tannic.  ”  for  the  “  acid, 
gallic.,”  either  of  which  when  treated  in  the  above  manner, 
will  form  a  mixture  that  does  not  congeal  on  cooling. — 
J.  T.  C.  5 

[2.]— MOUNTING  MICROSCOPIC  OBJECTS.— P.  J. 
M.  will  find  every  information  required  as  regards  the  mount¬ 
ing  of  objects,  etc.,  for  the  microscope  in  Wood’s  £  Common 
Objects  for  the  Microscope,’  Is.,  or  Lankester’s  ‘  Half  Hours 
with  the  Microscope,  3s.,  either  of  which  he  may  procure 
from  any  London  publisher.  The  latter  is  an  excellent  little 
work.— J.  T.  C. 

[7.] — CHILBLAINS. — In  reply  to  J.  W.  D.  II.,  a  corre¬ 
spondent  sends  the  following : — Magnes.  sulph.  c.  potass, 
oxymur.  omni  mane. 

[9.]— GREEN  FIRE.— 

R.  Pul.  Barytas  Nit.  lbj 

Pul.  Potassae  Chlor.  Ex.  3j 
Pul.  Gum  Shellac  ^iij 
Pul.  Antim.  Nigri  ^ss 
Misce  secundum  artem. — W.  A.  C. 


R.  Barytae  Nit.  *xij 
G.  Shellac  ^iss 
Potassae  Chloratis  yj 
Carbonis  yss 
Arsenici  5ij 

Note. — Let  the  Shellac  be  well  powdered. — Druggist. 


R.  BaN03  =  62| 

S  10i 

KC1  23f 

C  >  If 
Sulphuret  of  Arsenic  If 

Mix.— A.  H.  J. 


.  Reduce  to  an  impalpable  powder  separately,  and  mix  to¬ 
gether  in  a  sieve. 

Nitrate  of  Baryta  16 
Picrate  of  Ammonia  6 
Flowers  of  Sulphur  2. 

Burns  with  great  brilliancy;  yields  no  smoke. — A.  H.  J. 
Answers  have  also  been  received  from  “  Cor  sock”  and  J.  F. 
Follard,  giving  recipes  essentially  the  same  as  the  above. 


UIL  D’ARCHAL. — While  looking  for  something  else, 
the  communication  of  “Ignoramus”  in  the  Journal  for 
July  30  has  just  caught  my  eye.  The  articles  in  question  be- 
long,  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  to  a  small  perfume  lamp,  of  which 
I  have  a  specimen.  It  is  not  unlike  an  ordinary  spirit-lamp, 
except  that  the  wick  is  confined  in  a  glass  tube  fitting  loosely 
m  the  neck,  and  retained  in  its  place  by  a  flange  at  its  upper 

To  use  the  lamp  it  is  partly  filled  with  perfumed  spirit,  and 
the  stalk  or  “  handle  ”  of  the  platinum  ball  is  thrust  into  the 
wick  so  as  to  allow  the  latter  to  project  a  little  above  the  ends 
or  the  strand  of  cotton  composing  it.  The  wick  is  then  ig¬ 
nited,  and  when  the  platinum  sphere  is  red-hot  the  flame  is 
blov  n  out  with  a  sharp  puff.  It  shielded  from  draughts  of 
air,  the  metal  ball  will  retain  its  temperature  by  continuing 
to  decompose  the  vapour  of  the  spirit  rising  through  the 
wick.— J.  F.  Brown. 

(  OIL  OF  HERMES. — T>.  C.  L.  writes  in  answer  to 
‘Queer  ern”  that  syrup  of  red  poppies  is  sold  as  oil  of  kermes 
in  the  W est  of  England. 


[12.] — TEETH  STOPPING. — “  Odontalgia ”  would  be 
glad  ot  a  good  formula  for  metallic  cement  for  teeth-stopping. 

[13.]  — EAU  SEDATIVE. — Can  any  one  of  your  correspon¬ 
dents  tell  me  how  to  make  an  elegant  preparation  of  the  fol¬ 
lowing  French  recipe  ? 

Strong  Liquor  of  Ammonia  ....  5xvss 

Camphorated  Alcohol . 3ijss 

(made  by  adding  150  parts  camphor  to  500  alcohol) 

Salts . gvijss 

Water . *Xvij. 

[14.] — SACHET  PERFUME. — “ Ignoramus ”  wishes  to 
know  the  best  method  of  perfuming  a  writing-desk,  or  mak¬ 
ing  a  suitable  sachet  for  the  same  object. 

[15.] — MEZEREON  EXTRACT. — Is  the  mezereon  ex¬ 
tract  contained  in  the  lin.  sinapis  comp,  of  any  other  use  than 
as  a  colouring  agent  ? 

[16.] — ROME  AND  PARIS. — A.  S.  asks  at  what  hour  the 
pharmaciens  in  Rome  and  Paris  close  in  the  evening  ? 

[17.] — AQ.  MENTH.  PIP. — W.  S.  R.  wishes  to  be  in¬ 
formed  why  aq.  month,  pip.,  made  with  the  foreign  oil,  turns 
pink  upon  exposure  to  the  light. 

[18.]— RUBINI’S  CAMPHOR. — J.  Botham  wishes  for  a 
formula  for  Dr.  Rubini’s  Camphor. 

[19.] — SALE  OF  POISONS. — F.  P.  W.  wishes  to  know 
if  grocers  can  legally  sell  “  Wheat  Dressing  ”  and  “  Fly 
Powder  for  Sheep,”  or  whether  these  preparations  are  to  be 
classed  as  vermin  killers. 

[20.]—  BLEACHING  LARD. — T.  B.  Alikins  wishes  to  be 
informed  of  a  cheap  and  easy  method  of  bleaching  lard,  with¬ 
out  impanlng  its  qualities  for  domestic  use. 

[21.] — GLYCERINE  JELLY. — B.  W.  W.  (Sheffield)  is 
in  want  of  a  good  recipe  for  making  glycerine  jelly. 

[22.] — COSMETIQUE. — A .  P.S.  would  be  glad  of  a  good 
recipe  for  making  brown  cosmetique  for  fixing  the  hair  and 
moustache. 

[23.]— COLOURING  FOR  POMADE.— S.  W.  S.  (Hull) 
would  feel  obliged  by  any  of  our  readers  telling  him  of  a  good 
colouring  ingredient  for  pomade  (yellow)  which  will  not  fade 
with  the  light. 


BOOKS  RECEIVED. 

Notes  sue  les  Quinquinas.  Par  H.  A.  Weddell.  Paris. 
Victor  Masson  et  Fils.  1870. 

r««  ■  ■  '  ■  ■  ■  ■ 

Transactions  op  the  Clinical  Society  of  London. 
Vol.  iii.  London.  1870. 


Copy  of  all  Correspondence  between  the  Secretary  of 
State  for  India  and  the  Governor- General,  and  the  Go¬ 
vernors  of  Madras  and  Bombay,  relating  to  the  Cultivation 
of  CniNCHONA  Plants,  from  April,  1866,  to  April,  1870. 
Return  ordered  by  the  House  of  Commons  tobeprinted.  1870. 

Plea  for  Pure  Science  :  being  the  Inaugural  Lecture  at 
the  opening  of  the  Faculty  of  Science  in  University  Col¬ 
lege,  London.  By  A.  W.  Williamson,  Ph.D.,  F.R.S. 
London :  Taylor  and  Francis,  Red  Lion  Court,  Fleet  Street. 


358 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[October  29,  1870, 


Cormptote. 

***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Pharmaceutical  Titles. 

Sir, — In  your  issue  of  the  17th  ult.  a  letter  appears, 
signed  “Omega,”  on  which  I  should  like  to  make  a  few  re¬ 
marks,  since  I  consider  it  to  refer  to  all  who,  with  “  Aspirant 
to  the  Major”  and  “  T.  C.,”  share  the  opinion  that  some  dis¬ 
tinct  title  ought  to  be  given  to  those  who  have  succeeded  in 
passing  the  three  examinations  of  the  P.  S.  at  great  expense 
not  only  of  money  but  pf  time.  “  Omega  ”  accuses  us  of 
wishing  “to  parade  our  intellectual  status,”  which  is,  by  his 
bitter  repining  for  a  grand  flaming  diploma,  evidently  one  of 
his  peculiar  weaknesses,  but  where  he  has  seen  this  desire  dis¬ 
played  amongst  the  Major  Candidates  beyond  the  ordinary 
desire  all  men  have  of  reaping  some  advantage  by  their  ex¬ 
penditure  of  money  and  labour,  I  am  at  a  loss  to  conceive  ;  he 
seems  to  think  it  very  unjust  that  those  who  have  worked 
hard  for  many  months  to  pass  the  three  examinations  of  the 
P.  S.,  should  enjoy  any  precedence  over  those  who  have  merely 
passed  such  an  examination  as  any  apprentice  who  has  been 
in  the  trade  a  year  or  two  ought  to  be  able  to  pass  creditably. 

I  suppose  our  dear  brother  in  pharmacy  is  one  of  those 
persons  of  retiring  demeanour  (and  surely  he  had  better  have 
kept  in  the  shade  than  have  paraded  his  ignorance  before  the 
eyes  of  an  intelligent  profession)  who  wish  for  a  higher  social 
position,  but  shrink  from  paying  the  inevitable  price  of  hard 
labour,  energy  and  perseverance.  If  he  have  a  very  burning 
desire  for  a  grand  flaming  diploma,  I  should  advise  him  to  apply 
the  saying  of  the  great  man  whom  he  quotes  to  himself,  and 
employ  his  time  in  getting  sufficient  wisdom  whereby  to  pass 
the  Major, — and  he  might  at  the  same  time  get  a  little  under¬ 
standing,  of  which  he  seems  to  be  sadly  in  want  at  present, — 
and  then  he  may  also  find  that  there  is  a  higher  reward  in  the 
satisfaction  of  having  improved  his  mind  than  in  having  a 
title  to  his  name  or  even  than  in  having  obtained  that  su¬ 
preme  height  of  human  bliss, — the  possession  of  a  grand 
flaming  diploma.  But  even  if  he  does  not  choose  to  take  my 
advice,  he  may  still  have  the  satisfaction  of  deceiving  the 
public  into  the  belief  that  he  is  on  an  equality  with  a  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Chemist  by  styling  himself  “  Chemist  by  Exami¬ 
nation  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,”  for  the  public  can  see 
no  difference  between  the  two  terms. 

I  am  also  ignorant  of  the  remarkable  fact  of  which  our  cor¬ 
respondent  kindly  informs  us,  viz.  that  true  doctrine  leads 
men  to  humble  themselves  before  men ;  I  had  rather  thought 
that  it  led  them  to  humble  themselves  before  their  Maker, 
not  before  their  fellow-men,  but  probably  our  correspondent’s 
humility  is  another  of  the  virtues  which  he  is  anxious  to 
parade  before  the  eyes  of  the  public. 

Before  he  next  exhibits  himself  in  print  for  the  ridicule  of 
the  profession,  he  had  better  take  the  trouble  to  consult  Dr. 
Johnson,  where  he  will  find  that  doctrine  and  knowledge, 
advice  and  motto,  are  not  synonymous  terms  as  ho  uses 
them. 

1  must  now  leave  our  dear  brother  to  agitate  for  his  grand 
flaming  diploma,  and  sincerely  hope  he  may  succeed  in  ob¬ 
taining  it,  when,  as  he  gazes  on  the  coveted  object  of  his  life, 
he  will,  perhaps,  be  content  to  hold  his  peace  and  leave  us  to 
obtain  our  title  of  Fellow  undisturbed. 

Candidate  for  the  Major. 


Sir, — The  reason  why  Major  men  would  like  the  title  of 
“  Fellow”  is,  that  at  present  the  public  are  quite  unable  to 
distinguish  between  them  and  the  Modified  men.  In  fact,  a 
friend  of  mine,  who  has  passed  the  Modified  Examination  is 
considered  far  in  advance  of  me  by  some,  because  he  went  up 
to  London  and  passed  it  immediately,  whilst  I  had  to  prepare 
for  the  Major. 

To  show  the  necessity  of  parading  our  status  even  before 
our  confreres,  I  would  mention  that  a  Minor  Associate 
opened  a  shop  just  before  the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy 
Act,  and,  being  elected  a  member  of  the  Society,  a  chemist 
close  at  hand  quite  thought  he  had  a  Major  to  contend  with, 
because  he  was  a  member.  Again,  Modified  men  call  them¬ 
selves  “  Chemists  by  Examination  of  the  Pharmaceutical  So¬ 
ciety,”  and  boast  that  their  title  sounds  grander  than  ours ; 


and  when  asked  what  is  the  difference  between  an  Associate 
and  a  Member,  reply,  that  “  all  Associates  have  been  exa¬ 
mined,  but  that  all  Members  have  not.” 

In  conclusion,  I  think  that  if  the  Society  could  be  called 
“The  Royal  College  of  Pharmacy,”  its  Majors  and  Founders,. 
“Fellows,”  and  its  Minors  and  Chemists  “Members,”  our: 
whole  Society  would  be  raised  in  the  estimation  of  the 
Public.  Alpha. 


Dear  Sir, — No  one  will  dispute  the  fact  that  the  vast 
majority  of  the  public  does  not  appreciate  the  difference  be¬ 
tween  the  titles  of  Pharmaceutical  Chemist  and  Member  of 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society.  I  confess  that  I  fail  to  see  how 
those  members  wTho  are  such  merely  from  being  in  business 
two  years  ago,  can  object  to  all  who  have  passed  the  Minor 
and  Modified  Examinations  being  classed  with  them  as 
members,  whilst  the  Founders  of  the  Society  (that  is  to  sayr 
all  who  were  members  before  the  Act  of  1868)  could  thenr 
with  all  those  who  have  passed  the  Major  Examination,  en¬ 
joy  the  title  of  Fellow.  If  such  were  the  case,  it  would  per¬ 
haps  be  found  advantageous  to  admit  those  who  pass  the- 
Preliminary  Examination  to  the  title  of  Associate.  W e  should 
then  have  three  distinct  and  well-marked  gradations  of  rank, 
in  the  Society,  which  could  hardly  fail  to  be  understood  by 
the  public,  as  only  the  Fellows  and  members  could  conduct, 
businesses. 

I  feel  confident  that  the  agitation  which  is  now  commencing' 
on  this  point  will  rapidly  attain  its  end,  and  the  thanks  of  all 
concerned  will  be  due  to  you  for  your  courtesy  in  inserting' 
correspondence  on  the  subject. 

Philip  H.  Mason. 

Noncich,  September  2,  1870. 


Sir, — I  have  noticed  several  communications  in  your  Jour¬ 
nal  on  pharmaceutical  titles.  I  fully  agree  with  some  of 
them.  “Aspirant  to  the  Major”  tells  us  that  the  “Modified, 
men  ”  are  of  a  class  whose  retiring  dispositions  are  such  that 
they  are  perfectly  satisfied  with  their  present  attainments. 
I  think  it  might  be  proved  that  he  is  under  a  delusion  to 
suppose  this,  for  some  of  them,  I  have  no  doubt,  would  be  glad, 
to  compete  even  with  “Aspirant  to  the  Major,”  were  it  not 
for  the  expense  and — a  not  less  important  thing — the  sacrifice- 
of  time  required  for  the  Major.  I  do  not  hesitate  to  say,  any 
young  man  of  ordinary  ability  can  pass  either  the  Modified 
or  Minor  Examination  by  making  good  use  of  his  leisure  time- 
and  working  systematically,  without  losing  more  than  a  week 
in  London;  whereas  for  the  Major,  it  is  almost  imperative- 
that  he  should  have  a  course  of  study  which  it  is  next  to  im¬ 
possible  to  obtain  in  the  ordinary  routine  of  business. 

The  titles  themselves  are  very  secondary,  I  have  no  doubt  ~r 
but  the  public  can  in  a  great  measure  judge  of  their  chemist’s 
ability  without  requiring  to  see  his  diploma.  Should  it  be 
deemed  necessary  to  make  a  change,  let  the  pharmaceutical  che¬ 
mist  be  Fellow,  the  chemist  and  druggist  Member,  and  he  who-' 
chooses  to  subscribe  to  the  Society,  and  has  passed  the  Modi¬ 
fied  or  Minor,  Associate, — each  having  his  certificate  to  that 
effect.  If  “Aspirant  to  the  Major”  studies  the  lists  of  the- 
Minor  Examination,  he  cannot  but  be  convinced  that  large- 
numbers  stop  at  this  qualification,  and  consequently  will  be  a 
very  strong  body,  unless  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  step  in 
with  an  additional  Act,  enforcing  all  to  pass  the  Major  Exa¬ 
mination. 

Wakefield,  Oct.  17th,  1870.  A.  P.  S. 


Sir, — “To  be,  or  not  to  be?”  that  is  the  question.  Is  it 
granted,  or  is  it  not  granted,  that  the  Modified  Examinations 
of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  are  worthy  the  time  and 
labour  of  the  gentlemen  conducting  them  ?  If  not  suffi¬ 
ciently  stringent,  why  do  the  Privy  Council  sanction,  the- 
President  and  Council  of  the  Society  endorse,  and  the  majo¬ 
rity  of  our  brethren  acknowledge  them  ?  Such  are  the  ques¬ 
tions  I  submit  to  the  omniscient  philosophy  of  our  worthy 
friends  “  Spes”  and  “  Aspirant  to  the  Major.” 

“  Spes  ”  does  not  see  his  own  fault  when  complaining  that 
last  session  he  passed  the  Minor,  and,  not  being  able  to  dis¬ 
tinguish  the  “  Major  ”  title  from  the  great  bulk  of  titles  ac¬ 
corded  to  the  body  of  English  chemists,  he  declined  “  going" 
in”  for  the  “grand  event.”  , 

In  “Aspirant’s”  former  epistle  he  gives  us  to  understand 
that  we  Modified  men  “resort  to  means  whereby  we  may 
mystify  tho  public,”  and  that  they,  the  Majors,  having 


October  20, 1670.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


350 


assed  a  highly  scientific  examination,  have  not  the  least 
esire  to  do  so.  Had  he  been  addressing  his  note  to  an  inde¬ 
pendent  journal  there  might  have  been  some  need  of  such  a 
full  explanation  regarding  the  curriculum  for  these  large 
minds;  but,  as  the  letter  appeared  in  our  Journal,  I  contend 
that  all  of  us  knew,  in  all  probability,  as  much  about  the 
-examination  for  Fellows  as  “Aspirant”  did;  hence  I  main¬ 
tain  the  great  desire  of  parading  his  status  before  our  eyes, 
which,  however,  he  flatly  denies. 

It  seems  to  me  an  injustice  not  to  grant  a  similar  diploma 
to  the  one  given  to  men  simply  on  account  of  their  being  in 
business  prior  to  the  Act  of  1868  to  all  who  have  gone  in  for 
and  come  out  from  the  “  very  modified  affair.”  The  whole 
tenor  of  “  Aspirant’s  ”  ill-wind  has  been  directed  against 
Modified  men  (he  forgetting  those  who  have  not  passed  any 
■examination) ;  consequently  I  have  taken  upon  myself,  as 
much  as  lies  in  my  power,  their  defence,  in  the  hope  that 
abler  hands  will  render  assistance,  seeing  that  we  are  con¬ 
stantly  being  slighted. 

I  suppose  it  is  perfectly  understood  that  all  men  in  busi¬ 
ness  prior  to  the  late  Pharmacy  Act  (whether  old  or  young) 
are  entitled  to  become  members,  to  sit  on  the  Council  (if 
elected),  and  to  have  a  “grand  flaming  diploma;”  whereas 
we,  the  “Modified  men,”  are  not  entitled  to  any  one  of  the 
former,  but,  whether  old  or  young,  we  are  allowed  to  pass  the 
Minor  (I  believe)  and  Major  Examinations,  and  then  we  can 
assume  the  same  titles  as  our  scientific  brethren,  but  on  no 
account  can  the  law  be  relaxed  towards  us  (as  I  think  it  was 
with  regard  to  Assistants),  so  that  we  might  be  on  a  par,  not 
with  Pharmaceutical  Chemists,  but  with  members  of  the 
Society. 

Barnsley,  October  11  th,  1870.  Omega. 

*  Sir, — I  put  in  a  plea  for  the  “  Modified  gentlemen,”  as  they 
arc  called;  certainly  I  shall  never  forget  the  scene  which  I 
-witnessed  in  the  Society’s  Library  on  the  morning  of  the  ex¬ 
amination  day  on  which  I  was  present.  There  were  fifty 
men,  most  of  whom  had  been  dragged  out  of  the  even  tenor 
of  their  way  from  all  parts  of  the  country ;  some  of  them  con¬ 
siderably  over  thirty  years  of  age,  with  business  settlements 
and  prospects,  to  show  reason  why  they  should  call  them¬ 
selves  “  Chemists.”  From  several  I  heard  tales  of  real  suffer¬ 
ing  and  hardships,  the  inevitable  results  of  retrospective  legis¬ 
lation. 

And  now,  to  find  youthful  “  aspirants  ”  tauntingly  write  of 
“retiring  dispositions,”  “very  modified  conclusion,”  etc., 
must  to  some  be  rather  irritating,  and  warrants  the  remark 
that  such  expressions  are  neither  dignified  nor  brotherly. 
For  my  own  part,  it  was  of  little  consequence  to  me  whether 
one  examiner  told  me  that  I  could  read  a  Latin  prescription, 
•or  another,  that  I  knew  one  tincture  from  another,  when  for 
more  than  ten  years  I  have  either  personally  or  by  deputy 
dispensed  about  eighty  prescriptions  a  day.  I  base  my  claim 
(and  so  I  feel  persuaded  do  all  my  Modified  friends)  to  be  a 
Chemist  and  Druggist,  not  upon  having  passed  the  Modified 
Examination,  but  upon  having  honourably  served  a  term  of 
apprenticeship  to  the  business.  Personally  I  should  scorn  to 
■write  up  “  Chemist  by  Examination  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
■Society.”  It  is  untruthful,  because  intended  to  convey  more 
than  the  truth. 

“Alpha”  (1). 

Sir, — “Aspirant  to  the  Major”  speaks  patronizingly  of  the 
“very  modified  curriculum”  through  which  the  Modified 
gentlemen  have  to  pass ;  leading  any  one  to  regard  such  an 
examination  as  a  mere  farce,  and  in  reality  no  test  at  all.  I 
would  ask  if  this  be  complimentary  to  the  Council  of. the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  ?  They  have  instituted  this  examina¬ 
tion  professedly  for  the  purpose  of  testing  our  ability,  and  are 
we  to  conclude  that  gentlemen  in  the  capacity  of  examiners 
will  waste  their  time  in  conducting  a  sham  ?  If  it  be  no  test, 
why  does  it  exist?  I  think  by  referring  to  “Omega’s” 
■letters,  “  Aspirant  ”  will  find  that  he  chiefly  complains  of  the 
injustice  of  established  Chemists  and  Druggists,  who  have 
not  passed  any  examination  (not  even  excepting  the  “  very 
modified  test”),  being  admitted  Members  of  the  Society; 
whereas  we,  who  have  also  complied  with  the  requirements 
of  the  Pharmacy  Act  (though  belonging  to  those  of  retiring 
dispositions),  are  only  admitted  as  Associates.  This  is  the 
objection.  Place  us  upon  terms  of  equality  with  those  who 
were  in  business  prior  to  1868,  and  we  shall  be  satisfied. 

Barnsley ,  October  19 th,  1870.  “Alpha”  (2). 


Feeding  Bottles. 

Sir, — In  connection  with  the  subject  of  infants’  feeding- 
bottles  allow  me  to  draw  your  attention  to  the  following 
important  statement,  which  appears  in  the  official  report  of 
the  Hon.  Mr.  Thurlow  to  the  Foreign  Office,  on  the  Inter¬ 
national  Exhibition  of  Domestic  Economy  held  at  Amsterdam 
last  year,  concerning  an  infants’  feeding-bottle  exhibited  there. 

L.  M. 

“  This  infants’  feeding-bottle  meets  with  so  much  demand 
in  Lancashire,  where  I  am  told  its  sale  is  counted  by  several 
hundreds  of  thousands  each  year,  and  indeed  on  the  Conti¬ 
nent,  wherever  it  has  been  introduced,  that  I  could  not  but 
regard  it  as  my  duty  to  inquire  of  Professor  Gunning,  the 
Government  Analyst  at  Amsterdam,  the  reasons  which  had 
led  to  its  condemnation.  These  reasons  were  kindly  given  to 
me,  promptly  and  without  reserve ;  and  the  question  being 
one,  in  which  it  is  of  the  first  importance,  to  challenge  criti¬ 
cism,  and  by  all  means  to  arrive  at  the  truth,  I  do  not  hesi¬ 
tate  to  quote  them  in  translation,  leaving  the  further  discus¬ 
sion  of  the  knotty  points  involved  to  the  scientific  world. 
With  these  objections,  which  probably  apply  more  or  less  to 
all  infants’  feeding-bottles  made  upon  the  same  principle,  I 
shall  close  this  review  of  Class  IV. : — 

“  ‘I  object  to  the  ‘infants’  feeding-bottles’  in  all  instances 
when  any  part  of  them  is  composed  of  caoutchouc,  or  any  like 
material.  There  is  nothing  so  ill  suited  to  the  constitution 
of  the  human  body  as  the  material  in  question.  Milk,  which 
by  contact  is  only  slightly  tainted  with  the  smell  thereof, 
although  this  is,  perhaps,  imperceptible  to  the  keenest  sense, 
must  have  lost  a  portion  of  its  quality  of  quick  and  easy  diges¬ 
tion. 

“  ‘  When,  in  consequence  of  suction,  the  pores  of  the  caout¬ 
chouc  are  enlarged,  some  portion  of  milk  always  remains  be¬ 
hind  in  them,  which  cannot,  or  at  least  cannot  without  great 
difficulty,  be  removed.  This  milk  quickly  becomes  bad,  and 
spoils  the  fresh  milk  with  which  it  comes  in  contact.  The 
caoutchouc  material  in  question  is  made  up  of  several  ingre¬ 
dients.  White  zinc  or  white  lead  is  very  commonly  employed, 
wThich  are  very  poisonous.  My  objections  are  not  founded 
exclusively  on  a  priori  conclusion.  In  this  country  many 
fatal  cases  have  happened  among  infants,  which,  on  solid 
grounds,  may  be  ascribed  to  the  use  of  these  bottles.’  ” 


Hydraulic  Presses  por  Tinctures. 

Sir, — In  the  very  useful  and  interesting  article  on  Tinc¬ 
tures  bv  Mr.  Umney,  found  in  this  week’s  Journal,  he  men¬ 
tions  the  use  of  the  hydraulic  press  for  the  recovery  of  the 
solvent.  There  can  be  no  question  as  to  the  great  saving 
that  would  be  effected  by  this  means  as  compared  with  the 
screw. 

The  hydraulic  press  is  a  very  simple  •  piece  of  mechanism. 
I  greatly  wonder  that  no  mechanician  has  introduced  a  handy 
little  press,  suitable  for  tinctures  in  quantities  of  from  2  to  4 
quarts.  Is  it  not  worth  some  one’s  while  to  think  of  it  ?  By 
the  bye,  is  Mr.  Umney  right  in  attributing  a  loss  of  37'5  per¬ 
cent.  to  the  preparation  of  tinct.  zingiberis  fort.  ? 

Manchester,  Oct.  22nd,  1870.  J.  T.  Slugg. 


Hospital  Dispensing. 

Sir, — Allow  me  a  few  words  in  reply  to  Mr.  Fitch. 

I  did  not  intend  the  remark  “  greasy  card”  to  apply  to  his 
case,  although  if  he  will  examine  the  patient’s  card  at  this 
date  I  feel  sure  he  will  find  it  in  that  state. 

Upon  the  second  or  third  visit  to  the  surgeon,  the  card  is 
generally  unfit  to  write  upon.  If  Mr.  Fitch  understood  hos¬ 
pital  work,  he  would  not  rush  to  print  his  single  complaint. 
The  majority  of  cases  are  greatly  exaggerated. 

Scores  of  patients  never  intend  and  never  do  take  the 
medicine  given.  All  bottles  ought,  of  course,  to  be  properly 
labelled. 

I  have  had  posted  in  the  -waiting-room  the  following 

Notice. 

“  Send  for  medicines  as  early  as  possible  after  the  visit  ot 
the  surgeon  as  the  dispensary  hours  permit. 

“  Bring  clean  bottles,  etc.  Take  the  corks  out  of  the 
bottles.  Let  all  labels  remain  on  the  bottles.  Medicines  will 
not  be  given  to  children.” 

With  Mr.  Fitch,  I  hail  with  pleasure  the  “  good  time  com* 
ing,”  but  it  will  not  be  in  his  time  nor  mine. 

Edward  Barbee. 

83,  Devonshire  Street,  Sheffield. 


mo 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [October  29,  1870. 


Public  Dispensaries. 

Sir,-— That  a  stricter  surveillance  is  necessary  in  the  ma¬ 
nagement  of  our  public  dispensaries  will,  I  think,  be  granted 
by  every  one  at  all  conversant  with  the  subject.  I  am  con¬ 
vinced  there  are  few  chemists  in  our  larger  towns  but  could 
narrate  instances,  if  not  of  the  blundering,  most  certainly  of 
the  slipshod  manner  in  which  the  dispensing  is  conducted  in 
these  dispensaries.  The  following  instance  of  the  latter  may 
be  given,  not  as  one  of  the  grossest,  but  as  one  of  the  most 
recent  that  has  come  under  my  own  observation,  having  oc¬ 
curred  no  later  than  Saturday  last. 

A  poor  but  respectable  woman  received  a  prescription,  which 
she  was  instructed  to  present  at  one  of  our  public  dispensaries. 
The  prescription  was  for  drops  (liquor  of  arsenic)  and  an  oint¬ 
ment  (nitrate  of  mercury).  She  had  no  phial  for  the  drops, 
but  one  was  supplied  her,  charged  for,  and  then  handed  to  her 
ivitliout  a  cork.  Part  of  the  contents  in  consequence  were 
spilt  in  the  basket  in  which  she  carried  it,  and  more  than  pro¬ 
bably  amongst  the  small  purchases  she  had  been  making  when 
out,  and  was  then  carrying  home.  On  the  phial  was  the  sim¬ 
ple  word  “  Poison.”  No  label  to  state  whether  for  external 
or  internal  administration.  No  name  to  indicate  where  it 
had  been  got.  No  number,  as  indeed  there  could  not  be, 
seeing  the  prescription  was  not  copied.  She  was  asked  for  a 
box,  into  which  to  put  the  ointment,  and  as  she  had  none,  a 
two-ounce  willow  box  was  given  her,  and  into  it  was  placed 
the  two  drams  of  ointment  ordered.  (The  ointment,  I  may 
state,  was  quite  black.)  This  box  was  an  old  one  which  had 
previously  contained  pills,  and  the  pill-label  was  neither  re¬ 
moved  from  the  lid  nor  a  new  one  pasted  over,  so  that  the  oint¬ 
ment  was  actually  sent  out  labelled  as  pills.  For  this  box 
the  charge  of  one  penny  was  made,  but  whether  this  penny 
was  a  perquisite  to  the  dispenser,  or  was  one  of  the  sources  of 
income  of  this  most  excellent  charity,  I  could  not  discover. 

I  neither  expect  nor  advocate  for  our  public  charities  all  the 
comforts  or  niceties  of  independent  means,  but  I  do  expect, 
and  would  insist  that  the  ease  or  comfort  or  indifference  of 
our  public  dispensers  should  not  interfere  with  the  proper 
discharge  of  their  duty,  or  neutralize  in  any  way  the  good  of 
these  useful  and  worthy  institutions.  A. 

Pharmacy  and  Medical  Practitioners. 

Sir, — As  a  proof  of  the  “ monstrously  excessive  charges  ” 
which  we  shall  be  enabled  to  make  if  “this  spirit  of  bickering” 
be  further  indulged  in,  the  following  prescription  was  handed 
to  me  this  week, — “Tincture  of  Actcea  racemosa,  %  ounce;” 
and  as  the  patient  supplied  his  own  bottle,  you  can  imagine 
the  amount  of  profit  made  by  the  transaction.  I  have  re¬ 
ceived  several  similar  prescriptions  written  in  Latin,  with 
either  verbal  directions  or  “To  be  used  as  directed,”  and  on 
being  repeated,  the  article  has  been  asked  for  in  English. 
In  all  cases  the  parties  have  been  in  by  no  means  “  humble 
circumstances.”  In  one  case  the  patient  was  told  to  ask  for 
“  1  drachm  of  pill  mass,  for  which  the  charge  would  be  3 d  ” 

I  cannot  agree  with  your  correspondent  that  “  it  is  a  most 
extraordinary  fact  that  chemists  in  one  part  of  town  should 
charge  as  much  for  preparing  a  prescription  as  medical  men 
should  charge  for  both  visit  and  medicine  in  another,”  as  he 
must  be  well  aware  that  “locality  regulates  prices”  to  a 
great  extent.  I  certainly  should  be  surprised  if  I  paid 
the  same  for  having  a  mixture  dispensed  in  Bond  Street  and 
Ratcliff  Highway. 

We  should  all  be  extremely  obliged  to  “Reformer”  if  he 
would  kindly  inform  us  where  retailing  ceases  and  counter 
practice  begins,  as  I  was  informed  by  a  medical  gentleman 
the  other  day  that  digestive  pills,  hair  washes  and  cough 
linctuses  were  decidedly  “  contraband  of  war,”  and  I  fear  until 
I  see  the  “breadth  of  the  line”  more  clearly,  I  must  remain, 

“A  Pharmaceutical  Sinner.” 


fen’,-— hen  I  read  the  letter  of  Mr.  Mee,  upon  the  extract 
from  the  Lancet,  I  was  astounded  at  the  one-sidedness  of  it.  If 
chemists  were  in  the  same  odour  with  the  public  as  the  sur¬ 
geons,  at  least  50  per  cent,  of  the  former  would  “  cave  in  ”  in¬ 
stantly,  and  the  remainder  within  a  short  period.  A  head  of 
a  family  has  just  informed  me  that  those  [doctors’  bills  are 
the  black  spots  flickering  about  his  memory  day  and  night. 
I  tiy  to  relieve  him  for  6 cl.  or  Is.,  whilst  he  has  to  pay  three 
times  as  much  for  the  «  nobbut  water  and  salts  ”  of  the  doctor. 
The  haphazard  messes  that  leave  dingy  surgeries  are  not  to 
be  classed  at  all  with  the  correctly-dosed  and  neatly- wrapped 
bottles  of  the  chemist ;  the  patient,  sick  and  weary,  will  not 
swallow  aq.  menth.,  made  by  adding  ess.  menth.  to  aq.,  with 


the  oil  floating  in  greasy  abundance  round  the  bottle.  I 
have  dispensed  for  surgeons  and  supplied  them  with  the 
whole  of  their  drugs ;  I  find  per  cent,  an  average  outlav, 
or  £25  per  £1000  practice, — this  does  not  include  bottles,— 
the  bottle  is  frequently  the  most  expensive  part  of  the  parcel 
of  medicine.  Mr.  Wade’s  letter  is  to  the  point;  the  day  will 
be  when  the  inert  mixture  and  cheap  pill  must  give  way  to 
the  well-studied  prescription;  the  cost  being  a  secondary 
matter  wdiere  human  life  is  at  stake.  J.  Houlton. 


F.  R.  (Camberwell). — The  object  of  washing  ether  is  to 
separate  alcohol.  The  use  of  ether  in  this  preparation  has 
been  condemned  by  good  authorities.  It  will  probably  be 
omitted  from  the  form  in  the  next  edition  of  the  B.  P. 

J.  W.  (Attercliffe). — (1.)  The  formula  in  the  B.  P.  is  correct 
for  the  definite  salt.  Attfield,  in  his  Chemistry,  p.  180,  states 
that  the  process  does  not  yield  this  salt,  but  a  mixture  of  two 
subacetates  having  the  formula  written  by  our  correspondent. 
The  process  can  only  be  symbolized  in  the  modern  notation 
satisfactorily  upon  the  latter  supposition.  (2.)  First  person 
singular,  indicative  mood,  perfect  tense,  of  the  Greek  heu~ 
rislco,  to  find  out  or  discover. 

T.  Grainger  (Birmingham). — The  labels  sent  would  be 
liable  to  stamp  duty.  As  explained  in  the  Appendix  to  the 
Calendar  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  the  Medicine  Stamp 
and  Licence  Acts  require  that  if  the  medicine  be  a  secret  pre¬ 
paration,  or  if  it  has  been  recommended  on  the  label,  or  on  a 
handbill,  or  by  any  public  advertisement,  for  the  cure  or  relief 
of  any  disorder,  it  shall  then  be  stamped  and  the  vendor  must 
take  out  a  licence  for  its  sale. 

Advertising  by  Postal  Cards. — The  manager  of  the  Flori- 
line  Company  writes,  in  reply  to  a  letter  from  a  “  Country  Che¬ 
mist,”  in  which  he  supposes  the  Company  to  be  alluded  to, 
that  (1)  the  price  cards  were  only  sent  to  the  trade,  so  that 
with  the  exception  of  the  letter-carrier  they  would  not  be 
likely  to  be  seen  by  the  general  public ;  (2)  that  the  article 
advertised  would  not  be  supplied  to  any  but  the  trade,  except 
at  the  retail  price,  no  matter  in  what  quantity  ordered. 

G-.  M. — (1.)  Yes.  (2.)  Melt  equal  parts  of  zinc  and  tin 
together,  and  combine  these  with  three  parts  of  mercury: 
the  mass  must  be  shaken  until  it  is  cold ;  the  whole  is  then 
rubbed  down  with  lard  to  the  proper  consistence. 

“  A  Country  Apprentice .” — The  Latin  Grammar. 

“ Registered  Student ”  (Alnwick). — (1.)  Yes.  (2.)  Yes* 
Apply  to  the  Registrar. 

W.  A.  C.  (Lynn). — The  numbers  of  the  specimens  this 
year  were— Mr.  Webb’s,  460  and  duplicates?  Mr.  Rammell’s, 
542 ;  Mr.  Wood’s,  330. 

A.  H.  J. — The  questions  were  published  at  p.  288-9. 

“  Ignorans.” — The  chemists  and  druggists  eligible  to  be 
elected  members  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  are  those  who 
were  in  business  before  the  1st  of  August,  1868,  and  the  As¬ 
sociates  those  who  were  admitted  before  the  1st  July,  1842. 

“Inquirer.” — We  should  think  a  perfectly  saturated  solu¬ 
tion  of  chloride  of  iron  is  meant,  or  such  a  preparation  as  the 
ferri  perchloridi  fortior  liquor  of  the  B.  P. 

“  Botanist  ”  (Southport). — Professor  Oliver’s  ‘  Elementary 
Lessons  in  Botany  ’  is  published  by  Messrs.  Macmillan  and 
Co.,  price  4s.  6d. 

“ Santonica”  (London). — (1.)  Make  the  citrine  ointment 
twice  over.  (2.)  We  have  not  observed  this  action,  and  do 
not  see  why  it  should  occur.  Your  description  indicates  the 
reduction  of  a  portion  of  the  oxide  to  the  metallic  state; 

J.  Botham  (Manchester). — Dr.  Rubini’s  camphor  is  a  pro¬ 
prietary  article.  We  do  not  know  of  a  formula  for  its  pre¬ 
paration. 

Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  J.  F.  Brown  (Dover),  Mr.  A.  P.  Towle  (Manchester), 
Mr.  J.  H.  Gortling  (Halesworth),  Mr.  T.  B.  Allkins  (Tam- 
worth),  Mr.  J.  Houlton  (Wetherby),  Dr.  Divers  (London), 
Mr.  Reynolds  (Leeds),  Mr.  H.  W.  Maleham  (Sheffield), 
Mr.  A.  H.  Mason  (Liverpool),  Mr.  W.  Shaw  (Hull),  Mr.  C. 
Tucker  (Bridport),  Mr.  W.  D.  Williams  (Salisbury),  Mr.  T. 
Perkins  (Norwich),  Mr.  Davies  (Liverpool),  Mr.  F.  H.  Cumine 
(Southport),  Mr.  Hornsby  (Brighton),  “Assistant,”  “A  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Sinner,”  D.C.L.,  M.P.S. 

The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  J ournal,’  Oct.  22 ;  the  ‘  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
Oct.  22;  the  ‘Lancet,’  Oct.  22;  ‘Nature,’  Oct.  20;  the  ‘Che¬ 
mical  News,’  Oct.  21;  ‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  Oct. 
20 ;  ‘  Gardeners’  Chronicle,’  Oct.  22 ;  the  ‘  Grocer,’  Oct.  22 ; 
the  ‘English  Mechanic,’  Oct.  21;  the  ‘Journal  of  Materia 
Medica  ’  for  October. 


November  5, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


361 


THE  OPIUM  TRADE  OF  CHINA. 

BY  P.  L.  SMMONDS. 

Few  are,  perhaps,  aware  of  the  enormous  trade 
still  carried  on  in  opium  from  India  to  China ;  and 
what  is,  probably,  even  less  generally  known,  is  that 
the  poppy  is  largely  cultivated  in  China  itself,  and 
that  the  native  drug  is  beginning  to  replace  much  of 
the  Mahva  opium.  Mr.  It.  Fortune  saw  the  poppy 
extensively  grown  in  China  for  the  purpose  of  in¬ 
spissating  the  juice,  but  was  able  to  form  no  esti¬ 
mate  of  the  quantity  actually  grown.  We  have, 
however,  confirmatory  recent  evidence  of  the  exten¬ 
sion  of  the  culture  and  production  in  China.  More 
than  thirty  years  ago  it  was  stated  in  the  Chinese 
Repository,  on  the  testimony  of  the  counsellor  Choo 
Tsun,  that  in  his  native  province,  Yunnan,  the  poppy 
was  cultivated  all  over  the  hills  and  open  country, 
and  that  the  quantity  of  opium  annually  produced 
there  could  not  be  less  than  several  thousand  chests. 
Indian  opium  now  brings  in  an  average  annual 
gross  revenue  to  the  Indian  Government  of  about 
£8,200,000. 

The  value  of  the  opium  shipped  from  India  to 
China  in  the  last  ten  years  is  thus  given  in  the 
official  statistics  ;  from  which  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
average  annual  import  has  not  varied  very  greatly  in 
the  two  quinquennial  periods,  although  there  are 
alternate  high  and  low  years,  and  the  price  fluc¬ 
tuates  much : — 


£ 

£ 

1860  . 

1865  . 

1861 . 

...  10,181,713 

1866  . 

..  11,122,746 

1862  . 

1867 . 

..  10,431,703 

1863  . 

1868  . 

..  12,309,915 

1864  . 

...  10,756,093 

1869  . 

..  10,695,654 

Total .... 

..  53,043,240 

Total .... 

.  54,471,822 

Average. 

..£‘10,608,648 

Average. 

.£10,894,364 

In  1850  the  consumption  of  Indian  opium  in 
China  was  about  82,000  chests  of  110  lb.  each,  but 
this  was  exceptionally  large. 

In  his  report  upon  the  trade  of  Tien-tsin  for  1866, 
our  Consul  drew  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  in¬ 
crease  in  the  importation  of  opium  in  that  and  the 
previous  year  had  been  immediately  preceded  by  an 
Imperial  edict,  issued  on  the  28th  April,  1865,  which 
prohibited  the  cultivation  of  the  poppy  throughout 
the  empire.  He  stated  that  though,  at  first,  the  ope¬ 
ration  of  this  edict  was  beneficial  to  the  trade  in 
foreign  opium,  the  poppy  was  still  grown  exten¬ 
sively,  and  the  prohibition  would  prove,  ineffectual. 
That  such  has  hitherto  been  the  result  is  proved  by 
the  fact  of  another  edict  having  been  issued  on  the 
31st  January,  1869,  redirecting  all  viceroys  and  go¬ 
vernors  to  cause  proclamations  to  be  issued,  forbid¬ 
ding  altogether  the  cultivation  of  the  poppy,  which 
is  stated  to  have  been  introduced  from  Kan-suh  into 
Shen-si  and  Shan- si,  and  afterwards  grown  in  the 
provinces  of  Kiang-su,  Honan  and  Shan-tung.  The 
ground  of  objection  to  the  poppy,  and  even  to  potato 
culture,  stated  in  the  edicts,  is  that  they  withdraw 
land  from  the  cultivation  of  rice  and  grain. 

There  is  little  doubt  that  the  competition  of  na¬ 
tive-grown  opium  has  had  much  to  do  with  the 
declining  price  of  the  foreign -grown  since  1866,  and 
that  at  the  same  time  the  increased  production  of 
the  native  has  lessened  the  importation  of  Indian 
opium. 

Third  Series,  No.  19. 


At  Tien-tsin,  since  1866,  it  is  certain  that  a  yearly 
diminishing  importation  has  accompanied  a  yearly' 
falling  price,  plainly  indicating  a  decreasing  demand1 
for  foreign  opium.  There  is  no  evidence,  however, 
according  to  Mr.  Consul  Mongan,  of  the  decrease  of 
opium  smoking,  but  rather  of  its  increase ;  and 
therefore  it  may  fairly  be  inferred  that  the  quantity 
of  native  opium  has  so  much  increased,  or  its- qua¬ 
lity  so  much  improved  of  late,  as  to  have  shut  out  a 
considerable  amount  of  the  Indian  drug.  This  infer¬ 
ence,  too,  is  much  strengthened  by  the  reference 
which  the  late  edict  makes  to  the  spread  of  poppy 
culture  over  northern  China. 

In  addition  to  the  provinces  enumerated  in  the 
edict,  there  is  also  ample  evidence  of  extensive  poppy 
cultivation  in  other  parts  of  the  Chinese  empire. 
It  seems  to  have  been  carried  on  for  many  years  in 
the  extreme  south-west  hi  the  province  of  Yunnan, 
the  largest  portion  of  which  has  thrown  off  its  alle¬ 
giance,  and  is  now  a  practically  independent  kingdom. 

Sze-chuen  has  also  been  for  many  years  a  great 
poppy  province,  and  the  drug  produced  there  very 
perceptibly  affects  the  market  at  Hankow.  When 
Lord  Elgin  visited  that  city  in  1858,  he  stated  (Blue 
Book,  1859,  page  443)  that  he  saw  there  “  shops 
where  native  opium  was  openly  advertised  for  sale.” 
Mr.  T.  T.  Cooper,  in  some  notes  on  his  travels  to¬ 
wards  India  through  Central  China,  spealdng  of 
Sze-chuen,  says,  “  In  spring  the  country  was  white 
with  the  flower  of  the  opium  poppy,  now  one  of  the 
staple  productions  of  the  province;”  and  Mr.  A. 
Wylie,  the  well-known  Sinologue,  who  has  travelled 
lately  in  the  same  province,  says  in  a  letter,  “  One 
fact  I  can  vouch  for,  and  that  is  the  widespread  use 
of  the  drug,  and  consequent  degradation  of  the 
people.  It  was  pitiable  to  see  the  victims  of  this 
practice  coming  to  us  to  ask  for  relief  and  desiring 
to  be  cured,  and  such  were  by  no  means  confined  to 
the  lower  classes.  I  believe  the  practice  in  Sze- 
chuen,  as  elsewhere,  is  very  widespread  among  the 
literary  and  governing  class.  From  all  the  informa¬ 
tion  we  could  gather,  it  commenced  in  this  province 
within  twenty  or  thirty  years  past.  Li  the  ‘  Statisti¬ 
cal  Account  of  Sze-cliuen,’  published  in  1817,  which 
gives  a  detailed  list  of  the  productions  of  the  pro¬ 
vince,  the  poppy  is  not  named.  I  do  not  remember 
seeing  any  foreign,  though  it  is  sold  there,  but  at 
eveiy  market  the  farmers  bringing  in  their  little 
lumps  of  native  production  were  always  to  be  met 
with.  As  far  as  I  could  learn,  the  price  ranged  from 
140  to  250  cash  the  tael  weight.” 

Another  vast  region,  not  mentioned  in  the  edict  of 
1869,  in  which  poppy  culture  has  been  spreading 
rapidly  within  the  last  few  years,  is  Eastern  Mon¬ 
golia  and  Central  and  Northern  Manchuria,  the 
drug  thence  brought  down  to  the  coast  competing 
with  Indian  opium  in  the  Newchwang  market. 
Thus,  in  the  provinces  of  Yunnan,  Sze-chuen,  Shen-si, 
Kansuh,  Shan-si,  Honan,’  Shan-tung  and  Kiang-su, 
as  well  as  in  Manchuria  and  Mongolia,  native 
opium  is  produced ;  and  that  its  consumption  by  the 
Chinese  is  lessening  the  demand  for  the  Indian 
drug,  would  seem  to  be  indicated  by  the  fact  that 
in  1868  the  total  importation  of  the  latter  was  less 
than  it  had  been  in  1867  by  4789  chests,  represent¬ 
ing  a  value,  at  the  average  ruling  rate,  of  nearly  two 
millions  sterling. 

These  figures  are  given  in  a  letter  that  was  pub¬ 
lished  in  the  North  China  Daily  News  of  the  22nd 
February,  1869. 


362 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  5, 1870. 


Native  opium  sells  in  Tien-tsin  at  from  125  taels 
to  200  taels  per  picul  less  tlian  Indian,  and  tliougli 
nominally  prohibited,  it  pays  a  similar  local  duty  to 
foreign.  Opium  is  brought  into  Tien-tsin  either 
crude  or  prepared.  When  in  the  former  state  it  is 
generally  spoken  of  as  “tu,”  earth  or  clay,  from  its 
outward  resemblance  to  lumps  or  cakes  of  common 
clay:  and  the  native,  as  distinguished  from  the 
foreign,  which  is  termed  “yang-tu,”  or  foreign  earth, 
is  called  “hsi-tu,”  or  western  earth — a  name  that 
has  clearly  a  geograpliical  reference  to  the  producing 
provinces.  (Consular  Reports,  No.  2,  1869.) 

Prepared  opium,  called  “ya-pieu-kao,”  is  generally 
composed  of  foreign  and  native  drug  boiled  down, 
and  often  largely  adulterated  by  an  admixture  of 
various  glutinous  substances,  and  amongst  the  rest 
by  a  decoction  of  the  berries  of  a  leguminous  tree 
called  the  “  huai-shu,”  which  grows  abundantly  in 
$he  province. 

Before  concluding,  I  may  give  a  few  figures  show¬ 
ing  the  imports  and  consumption  of  opium  in  the 
United  Kingdom.  Opium  imported  and  used  in 
this  country : — 


Imports. 

lb. 

Consumption. 

lb. 

1830 . 

1845 . 

1850 . 

1855 . 

1860 . 

1865 . 

The  Board  of  Trade  returns  for  the  last  two  years 
are,  of  course,  not  yet  issued. 

The  largely  increased  imports  and  consumption, 
unless  a  greater  home  stock  is  held,  would  give 
ground  to  the  opinion  that  opium  is  beginning  to  be 
used  somewhat  extensively  for  other  than  medicinal 
purposes. 

In  1858  we  imported  but  82,085  lb.,  and  re¬ 
tained  for  consumption  77,639  lb.  In  1868  we  im¬ 
ported  (nearly  all  from  Turkey)  322,3091b.  and  re¬ 
exported  123,965  lb.,  thus  leaving  198,344  for  home 
consmnption.  The  reshipments  are  principally  to 
Holland,  the  United  States,  New  Granada  and  the 
West  Indies.  In  the  latter  countries  it  is  evidently 
destined  for  consumption  by  the  Chinese. 


NEW  REMEDIES. 

The  following  extracts  from  a  recent  lecture  by 
Dr.  B.  W.  Richardson  will  probably  be  of  interest 
to  pharmacists : — 

Nitrite  of  Amyl. — The  physiological  action  of  ni¬ 
trite  of  amyl  is  directly  exerted  on  the  ganglionic 
nervous  tract ;  it  paralyses  so  that  the  nervous  supply 
over  the  extreme  vascular  system  is  impaired ;  if 
the  effect  be  sustained,  the  muscular  system  gene¬ 
rally  is  thrown  into  relaxation.  The  observation  of 
this  effect  of  the  nitrite  has  led  Dr.  Richardson  to 
suggest  it  primarily  as  a  remedy  for  excessive  spas¬ 
modic  action,-— for  tetanus  specially,— and  it  has 
been  applied  in  that  direction  with  much  success. 
Lately,  Mr.  Foster,  of  Huntingdon,  has  administered 
the  nitrite  with  complete  success  in  a  case  of  trau¬ 
matic  tetanus,— holding  the  convulsions  in  check  for 
the  long  period  of  nine  days.  The  nitrite  is  best 
administered  by  inhalation,  five  minims  on  a  piece  of 
folded  linen  or  handkerchief  being  the  dose  for  an 
adult.  It  will  act  if  given  by  the  mouth ;  but  as  the 
action  is  very  energetic,  and  requires  to  be  kept  un¬ 


der  the  control  of  the  administrator,  it  is  much  safer 
administered  by  inhalation.  In  tetanus,  the  periods 
of  recurrence  of  the  spasmodic  attacks  should  be 
carefully  watched,  and,  when  the  paroxysm  is  threat¬ 
ened,  the  inhalation  of  the  nitrite  should  commence, 
so  as  to  subdue  the  spasmodic  seizure.  The  agent 
has  been  administered  also  with  success  in  spasmodic 
angina,  asthma  and  colic. 

The  action  of  the  nitrite  is  curative  only  in  so  far  as 
it  controls  the  spasm, — that  is  to  say,  it  prevents 
death,  and  so  leaves  time  for  recover}'.  Dr.  Richard¬ 
son  has  observed  that  frogs  under  strychnine  tetanus 
are  immediately  relieved  of  spasm  by  nitrite  of  amyl, 
and  that,  with  great  care  in  keeping  the  animals  free 
of  spasm,  they  can  be  sustained  until  the  strychnine 
is  removed  from  the  body,  when  there  is  recovery ; 
in  tills  explanation  he  defines  the  true  place  of  the 
nitrite  as  a  remedy.  In  tetanus  the  administration 
of  the  nitrite  is  not  to  be  considered  as  displacing 
other  rational  means  of  cure.  On  the  contrary,  it 
favours  other  means ;  it  enables  food  to  be  freely 
supplied,  it  gives  time  for  the  action  of  purgatives 
and  diuretics,  or  for  the  employment  of  the  liot-air 
bath. 

Caustic  Ethylates. — The  ethylates  are  crystalline 
substances,  in  which  one  atom  of  hydrogen  of  abso¬ 
lute  alcohol  is  substituted  by  one  of  potassium  or  of 
sodium.  Brought  into  contact  with  the  body,  the 
ethylates  at  first  produce  no  action,  but  as  they  pick 
up  water  from  the  tissues  they  are  decomposed,  the 
potassiimi  or  sodium  is  oxidized,  yielding  caustic 
potassa  or  soda  in  the  fresh  state,  while  alcohol  is  re¬ 
formed  from  the  recombination  of  hydrogen  derived 
from  the  water.  Dr.  Richardson  proposes  the  em¬ 
ployment  of  these  ethylates  as  caustics.  He  be¬ 
lieves  they  will  be  found  to  be  the  most  effective  and 
manageable  of  all  caustics ;  and  that  in  cases  of 
cancer,  when  it  is  desirable  to  destroy  structure 
without  resorting  to  the  knife,  and  in  cases  of  mevus 
and  other  simple  growths,  they  will  be  of  essential 
service.  The  ethylates  can  be  held  in  solution  with 
alcohol  in  various  degrees  of  strength ;  the  solution 
can  be  applied  with  a  glass  brush  or  injected  by  the 
needle,  and  a  slow  or  quick  effect  can  be  ensured, 
according  to  the  wish  of  the  operator.  The  ethylate 
of  potassium  is  the  most  active  agent. 

Triethylic  Ether. — When  the  ethylate  of  sodium  is 
acted  upon  by  chloroform,  the  chemical  action  which 
takes  place  is  very  fierce,  and  great  care  is  required 
to  secure  a  fair  product.  The  chlorine  of  the  chlo¬ 
roform  combines  with  the  sodium  of  the  ethylate  to 
form  chloride  of  sodium,  and  triethylic  ether  remains. 
As  chloroform  contains  three  atoms  of  chlorine,  eacli 
single  part  of  chloroform  decomposes  three  parts  of 
ethylate  of  sodium.  Thus  : — 3  (C2  Hs  Na  O) ,  ethylate 
of  sodium;  CHC]3,  chloroform  =  3  Na  Cl,  chloride 
of  sodium,  and  C7H1603,  triethylic  ether. 

The  ether  is  a  heavy,  aromatic,  ethereal  fluid, 
having  a  vapour  density  of  74,  a  specific  gravity  of 
'896,  and  a  boiling-point  of  145°  C.,  297°  F.  It  acts 
much  like  alcohol  physiologically.  Dr.  Richardson 
has  lately  used  it  as  a  menstruum  of  ethylic  ether 
for  general  anaesthesia.  The  ethylic  ether  carries 
over  with  it,  in  evaporation,  sufficient  of  the  heavier 
ether  to  form  a  compound  vapour  which  is  veiy 
pleasant  to  breathe  and  equable  in  action.  He  has 
administered  this  compound  twice  for  operations  on 
the  eye, — once  while  Mr.  Brudenell  Carter  operated 
for  strabismus,  and  once  while  Mr.  Walker,  of  Liver¬ 
pool  operated  for  cataract.  The  anaesthesia  in  both 


November  5,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


363 


i  cases  was  perfect.  The  ether  also  forms  an  excellent 
mixture  with  bichloride  of  methylene ;  and  if  mix¬ 
tures  of  anaesthetic  substances  were  satisfactory 
scientific  applications,  it  might  be  brought  into  exten¬ 
sive  use.  Dr.  Richardson  accepts  it,  however,  rather 
as  an  index  of  the  way  than  of  a  resting-place.  He 
looks  for  a  simple  ether  which  shall  have  the  full 
and  safe  qualities  of  the  mixture,  together  with  per¬ 
fect  Stability.  There  is,  in  truth,  already  another 
ether,  called  trimethylic,  made  by  acting  on  methyl¬ 
ate  of  sodium,  CH3NaO,  with  chloroform;  the  pro¬ 
duct  being  3(NaCl),  common  salt,  and  C4Hi0O3, 
trimethylic  ether.  But  tliis  ether,  which  has  a  ya- 
pour  density  of  53,  and  a  high  boiling-point,  is  not 
quite,  though  it  approaches,  the  substance  required. 

■  ■  -  -  •  -  ■  ■  —  — 


Cfrajters  far  j&taJrtnts. 


CHEMICAL  NOTES  TO  THE  PHARMACOPOEIA. 

BY  WILLIAM  A.  TILDES',  B.SC.  LOND. 

DEMONSTRATOR  OF  PRACTICAL  CHEMISTRY  TO  THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 

( Concluded  from  page  344.) 

Acidum  Sulphurosum. — Strong  sulphuric  acid  is 
heated  with  charcoal,  and  the  resulting  mixture  of 
gases  conducted  by  suitable  tubes,  first  through  a 
small  quantity  of  water  to  free  it  from  impurity, 
then  into  the  water  in  which  the  sulphurous  acid 
gas  is  to  be  dissolved. 

2  H2  S  04  -f-  C  —  2  Ho  0  -f-  2  S  02  -f*  C  02. 

From  this  equation,  it  appears  that  the  sulphu¬ 
rous  acid  gas  evolved  is  mixed  with  half  its  volume 
of  carbonic  acid  gas.  The  latter  escapes. 

Sulphurous  acid  gas  may  be  made  in  many  other 
ways. 

By  burning  sulphur, — $  +  02=  S  02. 

By  the  action  of  undiluted  sulphuric  acid  on  many 
metals,  as  on  copper  and  mercury, — 

2H2S04  +  Cu==CiiS04-f  2H20  +  S02. 

By  boiling  sulphur  with  sulphuric  acid,— 

2H2S04  +  S  =  2H20  +  2SQ2  +  $02. 

Compare  this  with  the  action  of  carbon. 

Or  by  the  action  of  acids  on  sulphites  or  hypo¬ 
sulphites. 

Sulphurous  acid  gas,  sometimes  called  sulphur 
dioxide,  is  not  an  acid,  but,  like  other  anhydrides, 
generates  an  acid  when  united  with  water. 

S02  -f”  H20  =  H2S03. 

Sulphurous  acid  gas.  Sulphurous  acid. 

It  is  a  pimgent  gas,  condensable  to  the  liquid  state 
by  application  of  cold  or  pressure ;  soluble  in  water  ;* 
the  gas  in  a  moist  state,  as  well  as  the  solution, 
possessing  the  power  of  bleaching  organic  colours. 
With  sulphuretted  hydrogen  the  solution  gives  a  de¬ 
posit  of  sulphur  with  formation  of  wrater  and  penta- 
thionic  acid. 

S  02  +  2  H2  S  =  2  H2  O  -f-  S2 
and 

me  ae^ie^eiFfor  ~si§pimr?usQ  acid  and 

*  It  is  proposed  to  employ  a  5  per  cent,  solution,  there 
being  a  little  difficulty  in  preparing  a  liquid  01  the  official 
strength  as  a  commercial  article. 


sulphites  has  been  described  under  Acidum  Aceticum. 
The  solution,  by  exposure  to  the  air,  absorbs  oxygen, 
and  is  soon  converted  into  sulphuric  acid.  If  fresh 
it  gives  no  precipitate,  or  but  a  very  slight  one,  with 
BaCL,  hut  a  copious  one  if  solution  of  chlorine  be 
also  added.  In  the  latter  case  sulphuric  acid  is 
formed. 

H2  S  03  -f-  o  H,  +  Cl2  =  H2  S  04  +  2  H  Cl. 

Sulphite  of  barium  is  soluble  in  acids,  sulphate 
not  so.  Iodine  does  the  same  when  the  liquid  is 
sufficiently  diluted. 

H2S03  +  0H2  +  I2  =  H2S04  +  2HI. 

It  niust  not  be  overlooked  that  in  more  concen¬ 
trated  solutions  the  reaction  goes  the  other  way,  e.g., 

2KI  +  2H2S04=  K2S04  +  I2  -f-  2 H2 O  +  S 02. 

The  strength  of  sulphurous  acid  solutions  is  to  be 
tested  by  the  volumetric  solution  of  iodine.  The 
reaction  has  just  been  shown.  As  soon  as  the  whole 
of  the  S  02  has  been  changed  into  H2  S  04,  the  next 
drop  of  iodine  which  is  superadded  remains  in  the 
liquid  unchanged,  and  therefore  forms  with  the 
starch  previously  added  its  characteristic  blue  com¬ 
pound.  When  tliis  point  is  reached  the  dropping  in 
of  the  iodine  is  stopped. 

3 ‘47  grams  of  the  official  sulphurous  acid  require 
for  complete  oxidation  100  c.c.  of  the  vol.  sol.  of 
iodine.  1000  c.c.  of  the  vol.  sol.  contain  ^  of  an 
atom  of  iodine,  or  12*7  grams ;  100  c.c.  therefore 
contain  of  an  atom,  which,  according  to  the 
equation  already  given,  is  sufficient  for  molecule 
of  S02,  or  *32  gram.  This  would  be  the  quantity  in 
3 ‘47  grams  of  the  solution;  it  is  equivalent  to  O' 2: 
per  cent. 

3'47  :  100  as  ‘32  :  9  2. 


THE  CITRATES  OF  THE  U.S.  PHARMACOPCEIA. 

BY  C.  LEWIS  DIEHL. 

{Concluded  from  page  346.) 


Citrate  of  Iron  and  Quinia. — The  formula  of  the  United 
States  Pharmacopoeia  for  this  preparation  is  as  fol¬ 
lows  : — 

Solution  of  citrate  of  iron  10  fl.  oz. 

Sulphate  of  quinia  1  troy  ounce. 

Diluted  sulphuric  acid. 

Water  of  ammonia. 

Distilled  water,  each,  a  sufficient  quantity. 
u  Triturate  the  sulphate  of  quinia  with  six  fluid  ounces 
of  distilled  water,  and  having  added  sufficient  diluted 
sulphuric  acid  to  dissolve  it,  cautiously  pour  into  the 
solution  water  of  ammonia,  with  constant  stirring,  until 
in  slight  excess.  Wash  the  precipitated  quinia  on  a 
filter,  and,  having  added  to  it  the  solution  of  citrate  of 
iron,  maintained  at  the  temperature  of  120°  by  means  of 
a  water-bath,  stir  constantly  until  it  is  dissolved.  Lastly, 
evaporate  the  solution  to  the  consistence  of  syrup,  and 
spread  it  on  plates  of  glass,  so  that,  on  drying,  the  salt 
may  he  obtained  in  scales.  In  thin  transparent  scales, 
varying  in  colour  from  reddish-brown  to  yellowish  - 
brown,  with  a  tint  of  green,  according  to  the  thickness 
of  the  scales.  Its  taste  is  ferruginous  and  moderately 
bitter.  It  is  slowly  soluble  in  cold  water,  more  readily 

aia  causes  a  whitish  ciuiy 
precipitate  of  quinia;  hut  no  sesquioxide  of  iron  is 

thrown  down.”  ,  .  . 

The  solubility  of  this  compound  is  so  excessively  spa¬ 
ring,  even  when  heat  is  applied  to  favour  it,  that  it 


is 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  5,  1870. 


364 


:a  question  whether  its  medicinal  efficacy  is  not  unpaire 
thereby.  There  exists  no  particular  difficulty  in  pre¬ 
paring  a  handsome  article  when  the  directions  of  the 
Pharmacopoeia  are  followed.  Put  these  directions  are 
liable  to  the  same  objections  as  specified  previously  with 
regard  to  solutions  of  citrate  of  iron,  as  a  good  result  is 
■dependent  entirely  upon  the  accurate  attention  given 
to  the  preparation  during  the  process  of  heating  ;  ior  n 
the  heating  reaches  a  certain  point  of  temperature  higher 
than  directed  when  the  quinia  is  being  dissolved,^  it  is 
apt  to  agglomerate  into  masses  which  are  very  un¬ 
manageable  and  difficult  to  dissolve.  The  difficulty  may 
be  obviated  by  triturating  the  properly  precipitated  and 
washed  quinia  with  a  portion  of  the  solution  of  citrate  ot 

iron,  introducing  it  into  a  flask,  and  then  adding  the  re- 
— •  0  Dj  agitation,  the  quima 

dissolves  in  a  short  time,  forming  a  clear  solution,  which 
may  be  concentrated  on  a  water-bath  without  paying 
any  special  attention  to  temperature,  and  will  scale  with 
perfect  facility.  But  by  far  the  more  popular  salt  is  the 
ammonio-citrate  of  iron  and  quinia ,  which  appears  to  have 
replaced  the  officinal  compound  almost  entirely.  This 
may  be  prepared  successfully  by  reserving  about  one- 
sixteenth  of  the  solution  of  citrate  of  iron  and  quinia, 
obtained  as  above,  and  adding  to  the  remaining  fifteen- 
sixteenths,  contained  in  a  flask,  dilute  aqua  ammoniae 
in  fractional  portions,  until  a  permanent  precipitate  re¬ 
sults.  Upon  each  addition  of  ammonia,  quinia  is  copi¬ 
ously  precipitated,  but  it  re-dissolves  readily  by  agitation 
until  toward  the  end  of  the  process,  when  it  will  dissolve 
more  slowly,  and  care  must  be  exercised  to  avoid  an  un¬ 
desirable  excess  of  alkali.  The  addition  of  the  reserved 
one-sixteenth  of  solution  will,  by  careful  manipulation, 
redissolve  the  precipitate  formed;  and  the  solution, 
which  in  this  instance  may  be  evaporated  to  the  consis¬ 
tence  of  treacle  on  an  ordinary  water-bath,  without 
special  care  as  to  temperature,  will,  when  spread  upon 
glass  plates,  form  fine  scales  of  a  handsome  garnet  colour, 
of  perfect  and  rapid  solubility  and  only  moderate  deli¬ 
quescence. 

Solution  of  the  Soluble  Citrates. — An  expeditious  method 
of  dissolving  the  soluble  scaled  preparations  is  to  place 
the  salt  in  a  mortar,  add  just  sufficient  water  to  cover 
it,  allow  it  to  stand  a  minute  or  two,  then  gently  tritu¬ 
rate  the  mixture  with  a  pestle,  when  perfect  solution 
will  result.  If  it  is  attempted  to  dissolve  the  salts  by 
direct  trituration  with  water,  they  will  adhere  to  the 
pestle  and  sides  of  the  mortar  and  Greatly  delay  the 
operation. 

'Pills  of  the  Soluble  Citrates. — These  may  be  conve¬ 
niently  and  expeditiously  prepared  by  adding  from 
ten  to  fifteen  per  cent,  of  finely  powdered  elm-bark,  and 
forming,  a  mass  by  the  aid  of  glycerine,  which  appears 
to  exercise  just  sufficient  solvent  power  to  effect  proper 
cohesion.  .A  plastic  mass  is  obtained,  which  does  not 
harden  rapidly,  and  is  readily  rolled  into  pills. 


fluencing,  and  in  fact  determining  to  some  extent  the 
quality  of  the  beer. 

Glycerine  is  employed  for  the  improvement  of  wines 
made  from  inferior  grapes,  the  juice  of  which,  being  de¬ 
ficient  in  sugar,  can  never  yield  a  sweet  wane.  It  is  pre¬ 
ferable  to  sugar  for  the  purpose,  as  although  sugar  is 
cheaper,  it  would  produce  a  second  fermentation,  which 
is  not  wanted. 

The  extent  to  which  glycerine  is  employed  to  improve 
wines  cannot  be  demonstrated,  as  no  wrine  merchant  will 
admit  that  ho  uses  it;  but  in  western  Germany  the 
makers  of  purified  glycerine  eond  their  travelling  agents 
not  only  to  the  wine  merchants,  but  to  the  wine  farmers 
themselves,  so  that  the  former  buy  already  improved 
wine,  and  need  not  therefore  add  any  more  glycerine. 
Experiments  have  proved  that  what  thus  improves  wine 
will  do  no  harm  to  beer.  Beer  containing  but  little  gly¬ 
cerine  has  had  1  per  cent.  Of  glycerine  added  to  it,  effect¬ 
ing  a  great  change  in  taste  and  fulness.  Glycerine  added 
directly  to  the  wort  will  not  interfere  in  any  way  with 
the  manipulation  or  processes  of  brewing. 

In  the  preparation  of  a  full  beer  that  will  keep  with¬ 
out  being  too  bitter,  glycerine  may  be  used  instead  of 
sugar  to  counteract  the  bitterness  with  advantage,  as  it 
does  not  prolong  the  fermentation  and  clearing  as  sugar 
does.  Glycerine  is  not  readily  volatile,  but  in  a  boiling 
liquid  it  passes  over  with  the  vapour  of  water.  For  this 
reason  it  should  be  added  after  the  wort  has  become  cool 
and  before  it  goes  into  the  fermenting-tubs.  One  or  two 
pints  of  it  may  be  used  to  every  hundred  quarts  of  beer, 
according  to  the  quality  of  the  hops  used.  One  pound 
of  glycerine  represents  two  pounds  of  malt  extract,  or 
three  and  one-third  pounds  of  malt,  which  accordingly 
may  be  reduced  in  quantity. — New  York  Druggists'  Cir¬ 
cular. 


IODIDE  OF  CALCIUM,  AND  SYRUP  OF  IODIDE 
OF  CALCIUM.* 

BY  OTTMAR  EBERBACH. 

Having  had  occasion  to  use  the  chemical  specialities 
called  iodide  of  lime  and  syrup  of  iodide  of  lime,  and 
finding  that  the  articles  sold  under  these  very  unche¬ 
mical  names  were  not  simple  chemical  combinations  (as 
for  example,  iodide  of  iron  or  syrup  of  iodide  of  iron), 
but  mixtures,  the  former  a  mechanical  mixture  of  iodine 
and  quicklime,  the  latter  of  the  two  distinct  chemical 
combinations  called  iodide  of  calcium  and  iodate  of  oxide 
of  calcium,  and  being  desirous  to  obtain  a  preparation  in 
strict  accordance  with  the  title, — the  author  investigated 
the  matter,  with  the  following  results  : — 

The  preparation  called  iodide  of  lime  is  a  mechanical 
mixture  of  iodine  and  quicklime  which,  when  put  into 
hot  water,  undergoes  a  chemical  reaction,  forming  iodide 
of  calcium  and  iodate  of  the  oxide  of  calcium,  as  illus¬ 
trated  by  the  following  equation  : — 


GLYCERINE  IN  BEER  AND  WINE. 

The  demonstration  by  Pasteur,  ten  years  ago,  and 
later  by  Nessler,  Pohl  and  others,  of  the  natural  pre¬ 
sence  of  glycerine  in  fermented  liquors,  gave  rise  to  an 
advantageous  process  for  the  improvement  of  wines.  It 
wasalso  inferred. that  a  certain  admixture  of  glycerine 
with  beer  would  improve  its  quality.  A  series  of  expe¬ 
riments  were  made.  Several  kinds  of  celebrated  beer, 
from  Diesden,  Gulmbach,  Bohemia  and  Erlangen,  were 
analysed..  In  all  these  beers  glycerine  could  be  detected, 
m  none  in  less  proportion  than  -02  per  cent.,  while  in  the 
into  alcohol  and  carbonic  aciri  orUJit  ^ q 1 

**“»  «*•=  ™ ■satast 


6CaO  +  61  =  5  Cal  +CaOIOs. 

These  combinations  are  both  contained  in  the  so-called 
syrup  of  iodide  of  lime.  To  prepare  the  iodide  of  cal¬ 
cium  free  of  the  iodate  of  oxide  of  calcium,  the  most 
practical  method  is  as  follows  : — prepare  first  a  solution 
of  the  protoiodide  of  iron,  by  mixing  iodine  with  a  small 
excess  of  iron  and  sufficient  water  ;  let  this  stand  until 
the  solution  assumes  a  pale  green  colour ;  filter,  and  add 
to  the  filtrate  one-third  as  much  iodine  as  had  been  used 
to  make  the  solution  of  protoiodide  of  iron ;  heat  to  the 
boiling-point,  and  add  sufficient  milk  of  lime  to  precipi¬ 
tate  all  of  the  iron,  which  precipitates  in  the  form  of 
Woehler’s  granular  magnetic  oxide  of  iron,  according  to 
the.  following  equation : — 

^2  *3  1  *  '■'M<  V.  J.  1^2  \_/g  T  Tt  V_/ct_L. 

To  obtain  the  iodide  of  calcium,  filter  the  solution  and 


From  the  Michigan  University  Medical  Journal. 


November  5,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


evaporate  the  filtrate  with  the  exclusion  of  air,  as  car¬ 
bonic  acid  has  the  tendency  to  decompose  it.  It  crystal¬ 
lizes  in  the  form  of  needles ;  by  evaporating’  to  dryness 
it  forms  a  white  fusible  mass.  It  is  soluble  in  alcohol, 
very  deliquescent,  and  decomposes  when  fused  in  contact 
with  air,  forming  oxide  of  calcium  and  free  iodine.  To 
make  the  syrup  of  iodide  of  calcium,  the  following  for¬ 


mula  is  proposed.  Take  of — 

Iodine . . . .  4  oz. 

Iron  (in  form  of  wire) .  7^  dr. 

Distilled  water .  q!  s. 

Milk  of  lime  (fresh) .  q.  s. 

Sugar . . . 28  oz. 

Simple  syrup .  q.  s. 


Mix  3  oz.  of  the  iodine  with  the  iron  and  4  oz.  of  water, 
in  a  thin  flask  with  long  neck ;  shake  occasionally  until 
the  reaction  has  ceased  and  the  solution  assumes  a  pale 
green  colour  ;  filter  the  solution  and  add  the  remainder 
of  iodine ;  heat  to  the  boiling-point,  and  add  milk  of 
lime  until  all  of  the  iron  is  precipitated ;  filter  and  wash 
the  precipitate  with  hot  water  until  all  the  iodide  is 
washed  out,  then  bring  the  whole  to  the  measure  of 
20  oz. ;  add  the  sugar  and  dissolve  by  a  gentle  heat ;  to 
the  solution  add  enough  simple  syrup  to  make  it  mea¬ 
sure  40  oz. ;  mix  thoroughly,  and  fill  into  2  oz.  bottles, 
well  corked. 

The  syrup  is  a  transparent,  colourless  liquid,  which 
does  not  tinge  starch  paper  blue.  Mixed  with  sulphuric 
acid  it  gives  a  white  precipitate  of  sulphate  of  oxide  of 
calcium  and  turns  the  supernatant  liquid  brown,  which, 
by  heating,  emits  violet  vapours  of  iodine. 


THE  MULLEIN  PLANT. 

The  Mullein  ( Verbascum  Thapsus)  is  a  biennial  plant, 
with  a  straight,  tall,  stout,  woolly,  generally  simple  stem, 
occasionally  with  one  or  two  branches  above,  winged  by 
the  decurrent  bases  of  the  leaves,  and  from  three  to  five 
feet  high.  The  leaves  are  alternate,  oblong,  acute,  rough 
and  densely  tomentose  on  both  sides.  The  flowers  are  a 
golden  yellow  colour,  rotate,  nearly  sessile,  and  are  ar¬ 
ranged  in  a  dense,  spiked,  club-shaped  raceme;  calyx 
five-parted  and  downy ;  corolla  five-lobed,  rotate. 

Mullein  is  common  in  the  United  States,  growing  in 
recent  clearings,  along  the  sides  of  roads,  in  slovenly 
fields,  etc.,  flowering  from  June  to  August.  Some  bota¬ 
nists  consider  it  to  have  been  introduced  from  Europe. 
The  leaves  and  flowers  are  the  parts  used.  They  have  a 
faint,  rather  pleasant  odour,  resembling  that  of  a  mild 
narcotic,  and  a  somewhat  bitterish,  albuminous  taste,  and 
yield  their  virtues  to  boiling  water.  Mullein  is  demul¬ 
cent,  diuretic,  anodyne  and  anti-spasmodic.  The  infusion 
is  useful  in  coughs,  catarrh,  haemoptysis,  diarrhoea,  dys¬ 
entery  and  piles.  Its  diuretic  properties  are  rather 
weak,  yet  it  is  very  useful  in  allaying  the  acridity  of 
urine  which  is  present  in  many  diseases.  It  may  be 
boiled  in  milk  sweetened  and  rendered  more  palatable 
by  the  addition  of  aromatics,  for  internal  use,  especially 
bowel  complaints.  A  fomentation  of  the  leaves  also 
forms  an  excellent  local  application  for  inflamed  piles, 
ulcers  and  tumours.  The  leaves  and  pith  of  the  stalk 
form  a  valuable  cataplasm  in  white  swellings,  and  in¬ 
fused  in  hot  vinegar  or  water,  it  makes  an  excellent 
poultice  to  be  applied  to  the  throat  in  cynache  tonsillaris, 
cynache.  maligna,  and  mumps.  The  seeds  are  said  to 
pass  rapidly  through  the  intestines,  and  have  been  success¬ 
fully  used  in  intestinal  obstructions.  They  are  narcotic, 
and  have  been  used  in  asthma,  infantile  convulsions  and 
to  poison  fish.  The  infusion  may  be  drunk  freely.  The 
flowers,  placed  in  a  well-corked  bottle  and  exposed  to 
the  sun,  are  said  to  yield  an  excellent  relaxing  oil. — 
New  York  Druggists'  Circular. 


3U5 


DARWINISM  IN  CHEMISTRY. 

A  writer  in  the  Medical  Times  and  Gazette  asks  the 
question  whether  the  groups  of  elements  which  resemble 
each  other  so  strangely  can  be  composed  of  isolated  spe¬ 
cies  of  matter,  or  whether  they  are  not  rather  formed  of 
individual  members  of  a  family  having  a  community  of 
origin  F  Towards  the  elucidation  of  this  subject  he  brings 
forward  the  following  statements : — 

The  existence  of  natural  families  of  elements  has  long 
been  recognized  by  chemists.  Chlorine,  bromine  and 
iodine  form  ope  such  family;  potassium,  sodium  and 
lithium  (to  which  the  metals  caesium  and  rubidium  have 
been  added  by  Bunsen’s  spectrum  analysis)  constitute 
another.  The  group  barium,  strontium  and  calcium,  as 
also  the  group  magnesium,  zinc  and  cadmium,  are  well 
recognized.  There  is  also  the  very  extensive  nitrogen 
family,  comprising  nitrogen,  phosphorus,  arsenic,  anti¬ 
mony,  vanadium,  bismuth,  boron  and  some  others.  Then 
there  is  the  carbon  family,  comprising  carbon,  silicon 
and  tin.  Oxygen,  sulphur  and  tellurium  form  a  group. 
Lastly,  there  is  the  singular  group  comprising  aluminium, 
chromium,  manganese,  iron,  nickel  and  cobalt.  The 
place  of  the  metal  copper  is  difficult  to  assign;  silver 
likewise  presents  difficulties.  Hydrogen  is  placed  by 
some  in  the  chlorine  family,  but  is  commonly  taken  to 
belong  to  the  potassium  family ;  in  short,  nearly  every 
element  has  been  assigned  to  one  or  other  natural  family. 
In  the  first-mentioned  example,  viz.  chlorine,  bromine 
and  iodine — the  family  likeness  is  not  in  the  obvious 
physical  characters  of  the  elements  themselves :  chlorine 
is  a  greenish-yellow  gas  under  ordinary  atmospheric 
pressure  and  temperature;  bromine  is  a  brownish-red 
liquid ;  iodine  a  dark  crystalline  solid,  yielding  violet  . 
vapour  on  being  heated.  Many  compounds  of  these  ele¬ 
ments,  however,  require  analysis  to  distinguish  them. 
Hydrochloric  acid,  hydrobromic  acid  and  hydriodic  acid 
are  colourless  gases,  very  strongly  fuming  in  moist  air, 
and  very  soluble  in  water.  They  need  to  be  subjected 
to  some  chemical  test,  or  else  to  have  their  density  de¬ 
termined  in  order  to  become  distinguishable.  Again, 
chloride,  bromide  and  iodide  of  potassium  are  very  much 
alike. 

There  is  also  a  close  parallelism  between  the  possible 
combinations  of  chlorine,  bromine  and  iodine  with  other 
elements.  Thus,  there  are  the  chloride,  the  bromide  and 
the  iodide  of  potassium  or  of  sodium,  etc.  Chloride  of 
ethyl  is  represented  by  bromide  and  iodide  of  ethyl,  and 
chloroform  finds  its  analogues  in  bromoform  and  iodo¬ 
form.  But  the  parallelism,  although  close,  is  not  abso¬ 
lute.  Thus,  there  appear  to  be  more  oxides  of  chlorine 
than  of  iodine.  The  chloride  of  copper  does  not  appear 
to  have  an  iodine  representative ;  and  probably  there  are 
many  complex  organic  chlorides  which  admit  of  no  cor¬ 
responding  iodides ;  inversely,  compounds  of  iodine,  with 
iodides  of  the  compound  ammoniums,  seem  to  be  unre¬ 
presented  by  corresponding  chlorine  compounds. 

In  the  second  group — that  of  the  metals  potassium, 
sodium,  and  lithium — there  is  in  their  compounds  a  re¬ 
semblance  very  often  so  close  that  chemical  analysis  has 
to  be  called  in  to  distinguish  whether  there  be  potassium, 
sodium,  or  lithium  in  the  compound.  There  is,  again, 
the  closest  parallelism  between  the  possible  compounds 
of  these  metals.  Not  a  single  potash-salt  of  any  one  of 
the  thousands  of  possible  acids  but  has  its  fellow  sodium- 
salt.  The  only  breaches  of  the  parallel  that  occur  to  the 
writer  are  in  the  oxides  of  the  metals  and  in  the  degree 
of  hydration  of  the  salts — potassium-  and  sodium-salts 
taking  up  different  numbers  of  atoms  of  water  of  crystal¬ 
lization  ;  the  individual  uncombined  members  of  the  po¬ 
tassium  group  present  also  a  physical  similarity.  All  are 
solids  under  ordinary  conditions ;  potassium  and  sodium 
having  veiy  nearly  the  same  melting  and  boiling  points. 

Between  the  chemical  equivalents  of  the  different 
members  of  a  natural  family  some  very  curious  and  in¬ 
teresting  relations  have  been  traced.  Thus,  the  equiva- 


366 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  5, 1870. 


lents  of  potassium,  sodium  and  lithium  are,  respectively, 
39-1,  23  and  7.  Now,  23  is  the  exact  arithmetical  mean 
between  39  and  7 ;  and  in  energy  and  general  resem¬ 
blance  sodium  is  the  mean  of  potassium  and  lithium. 
The  equivalents  of  the  members  of  the  chlorine  group 
exhibit  a  somewhat  similar  relationship,  only  not  so  pre¬ 
cisely.  They  are  35-5,  80-0  and  127’0,  the  middle  one 
not  being  quite  the  arithmetical  mean.  Barium,  stron¬ 
tium  and  calcium  afford  a  similar  example,  viz.  68*5,  43 
and  20  respectively.  In  the  potassium  group  the  highest 
equivalent  and  highest  energy  go  together ;  in  the  chlo¬ 
rine  group  the  least  equivalent  is  joined  to  the  highest 
energy  (chlorine  being  more  energetic  than  bromine,  and 
bromine  more  energetic  than  iodine) ;  in  the  barium 
group  the  order  is  curious,  viz.  highest  equivalent  with 
highest  energy  (barium) ;  next,  intermediate  equivalent 
with  lowest  energy  (strontium) ;  and  last,  lowest  equi¬ 
valent  with  intermediate  energy  (calcium). 

A  suggestive  relationship  subsists  between  the  equiva¬ 
lents  of  oxygen  and  sulphur,  chemical  fellows  with 
strongly -marked  resemblances,  whose  equivalents  bear 
to  one  another  the  exact  ratio  of  1  to  2. 

Lastly,  nickel  and  cobalt  offer  a  marvellous  case  of  re¬ 
semblance.  Chemically,  they  are  almost  indistinguish- 
•ably  alike  in  their  compounds ;  physically,  they  are  like 
•one  another  as  isolated  elements ;  and  their  equivalents 
are  absolutely  identical,  so  far  as  the  most  accurate  de¬ 
terminations  have  been  able  to  show. 


Postal  Cards  and  Sympathetic  Ink. — The  in¬ 
troduction  of  the  halfpenny  postal-cards,  with  the  direc¬ 
tion  on  one  side  and  the  correspondence  on  the  other,  has 
given  interest  to  the  subject  of  sympathetic  ink.  One  of 
the  best-known  kinds  of  sympathetic  ink  consists  of  a 
weak  solution  of  chloride  or  nitrate  of  cobalt.  Writing 
executed  with  such  a  solution  is  invisible  until  it  is 
warmed,  when  it  appears  green  or  bluish,  disappearing 
on  exposure  to  moist  air;  the  explanation  being,  that 
the  anhydrous  chloride  and  nitrate  of  cobalt  are  deep 
green  or  bluish,  whilst  the  hydrated  salts  are  very  pale 
pink — invisible  in  small  quantities  of  salt.  If,  instead  of 
chloride  or  nitrate,  acetate  of  cobalt  containing  a  little 
nitre  be  used,  then  the  writing  will  come  out  in  pale  rose- 
coloured  characters,  visible  whilst  warm  and  invisible 
when  cold.  Another  variety  of  sympathetic  ink  consists 
of  weak  infusion  of  galls.  To  render  the  writing  visible, 
it  must  be  dipped  into  solution  of  an  iron-salt,  the  com¬ 
mon  sulphate  or  green  vitriol  answering  the  purpose  very 
well.  Yellow  prussiate  of  potash,  dissolved  in  water, 
also  makes  an  ink  which  becomes  visible  on  treatment 
with  persalts  of  iron.  A  great  number  of  possible  solu¬ 
tions  will  at  once  suggest  themselves  to  the  chemist; 
thus  the  writing  might  be  done  with  acetate  of  lead  and 
rendered  visible  by  means  of  a  solution  of  sulphuretted  hy¬ 
drogen.  No  doubt  basic  acetate  of  lead  would  be  superior 
to  neutral  acetate  for  such  a  purpose.  Most,  and  possibly 
all,  kinds  of  sympathetic  ink  give  writing  which  becomes 
more  or  less  visible  when  the  paper  written  upon  is  very 
strongly  heated,  to  the  point  of  becoming  slightly  burnt. 
Some  of  the  solutions  which  are  sometimes  recommended 
as  sympathetic  ink,  as,  for  instance,  solutions  of  silver 
and  gold,  are  very  unsatisfactory,  becoming  visible  on 
exposure  to  the  light.  Hence,  many  sympathetic  inks 
are  little  to  be  relied  on,  and  the  safest  are  those,  such  as 
the  basic  acetate  of  lead,  which  require  a  special  solu¬ 
tion  for  their  development. — British  Medical  Journal. 

Explosion  of  Naphtha. — On  Wednesday  evening, 
Oct.  26,  while  a  party  of  men  onboard  H.M.S.  Hercules 
were  lowering  a  cask  containing  Hay’s  Patent  Anti- 
Fouling  Composition  into  the  carpenter’s  store-room,  it 
fell  from  the  slings,  and  bursting,  its  contents  ran  over 
the  deck.  Some  men  were  sent  to  clean  the  deck,  who 
took  with  them  two  lamps.  The  vapour  of  the  naphtha 
used  in  the  composition  coming  in  contact  with  the 
lights  caused  an  explosion,  which  was  followed  imme¬ 


diately  by  a  second,  the  flame  on  each  occasion  rising 
through  the  hatchway  to  the  upper  deck.  Upon  descend¬ 
ing  into  the  storeroom,  where  the  effluvium  was  most 
overpowering,  it  was  found  that  six  men  were  severely, 
and  three  slightly,  burned.  As  a  quantity  of  the  liquid 
had  reached  the  “  double  bottom”  under  the  store,  both 
compartments  were,  as  soon  as  possible,  flooded  with 
water,  to  prevent  the  possibility  of  a  fire  breaking  out. — 
Standard. 

Poison  of  Acorns. — Sir  George  S.  Jenkinson  has 
written  a  letter  to  the  Times ,  stating  that  in  the  neigh¬ 
bourhood  of  his  seat  at  Eastwood  Park,  Berkeley, 
Gloucestershire,  the  cattle  are  dying  by  scores  from 
having  eaten  too  many  acoms  which  had  fallen  during 
the  late  gale.  If  once  a  beast  is  taken  ill  nothing  seems 
to  have  any  effect  on  the  inflammation  which  ensues, 
death  following  more  or  less  quickly  in  each  case.  The 
poison  affects  the  intestines,  blackening  and  rotting 
away  the  mucous  membrane.  He  says  that  it  is  only 
the  cattle  that  have  been  out  and  eaten  largely  of  the 
acoms  that  are  affected. 

Preserved  Meat. — It  is  well  known  that  meat  pre¬ 
served  in  tins  by  the  ordinary  process  of  heating  in  a 
chloride  of  calcium  bath  for  a  prolonged  period  and 
then  closing  the  orifice,  is  surrounded  by  jelly,  which, 
with  most  of  its  juice,  has  been  extracted  from  the  meat, 
leaving  a  tasteless  and  exhausted  fibre.  To  obviate 
this  objection  a  method  has  been  adopted  by  Mr.  Richard 
Jones,  in  which  the  steam  is  exhausted  from  each  tin  by 
a  tube  connected  with  a  vacuum  chamber,  the  meat 
being  thus  dried  with  its  juices  left  in  their  natural  place 
amongst  the  muscular  substance,  while  the  whole  pro¬ 
cess  can  be  effected  at  a  lower  temperature,  and  with 
less  injury  to  the  flavour  and  appearance  of  the  meat. 

Bocal  Applications  to  Burns. — Dr.  A.  D.  Bin- 

kerd,  writing  in  the  Philadelphia  Medical  and  Surgical 
Reporter  (July  9th,  1870),  prefers,  as  an  application  to 
bums  when  first  seen,  carbolic  acid  and  glycerine,  in  the 
proportion  of  from  5  to  10  drops  of  the  former  thoroughly 
incorporated  with  2  ounces  of  the  latter,  spread  on  with 
a  camel’s-hair  or  other  light  brush,  then  a  layer  of  raw 
cotton,  over  which  a  roller-bandage  is  neatly  adjusted. 
For  the  suppuration  following  bums  he  recommends  the 
following  dressing : — Yellow  wax,  melted  and  strained, 
£i ;  raw  linseed-oil  ^iij  >  tannin  5i ;  subnitrate  of  bis¬ 
muth,  gr.  xx.  The  wax  must  be  first  melted,  the  oil 
then  added,  and  the  whole  stirred  until  incorporated; 
next,  the  tannin  is  added,  and  lastly  the  bismuth.  The 
ointment  should  be  applied  on  pieces  of  lint. 

Adulteration  of  Catechu. — It  is  a  well-known  fact 
that  catechu  is  often  adulterated ;  the  sophisticated  sub¬ 
stance  injuriously  affecting  various  operations  in  which 
it  is  employed,  especially  dyeing  and  calico-printing. 
According  to  Tissandier,  genuine  catechu,  when  ex¬ 
hausted  by  means  of  ether,  loses  53  per  cent,  of  weight, 
leaving,  after  drying,  47  per  cent,  of  residue.  A  mixture 
of  catechu  and  alum  gives  a  white  precipitate  with  nitric 
acid  and  with  chloride  of  barium. 

Solvent  for  the  Ear  Wax. — After  a  series  of 
experiments  made  by  Dr.  Petrequin,  of  Lyons,  in  which 
he  tried  successively  olive  oil,  glycerine  and  oil,  alcohol 
and  olive  oil,  olive  oil  and  oil  of  turpentine,  ether,  alka¬ 
line  solutions,  soap  and  water,  chloroform,  sulphuret  of 
carbon,  etc.,  he  has  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  the 
old  remedy  of  tepid  water  is  the  best  for  the  purpose. 

Antidote  to  Carbolic  Acid. — Sweet  oil  or  castor 
oil  swallowed  in  large  quantities  are  recommended  as  the 
most  efficient  antidotes  to  carbolic  acid,  when  it  has  been 
taken  in  poisonous  doses. 

New  Application  of  Chloral  Hydrate. — A  wntei 
in  the  Lancet  reports  that  he  has  used  chloral  hydrate 
combined  with  chloric  ether  successfully  in  severe  cases 
of  diarrhoea. 


ITovember  5, 1370.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


367 


C|e  IjjariMteutical  |ount;tl 

♦ 

SATURDAY,  NOVEMBER  5,  1870. 


Communications  for  this  Journal ,  and  boohs  for  review,  etc., 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square . 

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

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W.  Envelopes  to  be  endorsed  “  Pharm. 
Journ .” 


THE  ELECTION  OF  ANNUITANTS. 

In  another  column  our  readers  will  find  particu¬ 
lars  of  the  election  of  two  more  annuitants  on  the 
Benevolent  Fund,  raising  this  class  of  recipients  to 
the  number  of  twelve.  By  the  passing  of  the  Phar¬ 
macy  Act  of  1868,  the  advantages  of  the  fund  were 
thrown  open,  as  many  of  our  readers  know,  to  the 
whole  class  of  chemists  and  druggists,  instead  of 
being  restricted,  as  was  the  case  before  that  period, 
to  members  of  the  pharmaceutical  body. 

Though  the  number  of  applicants  for  temporary 
und  permanent  relief  is  increasing  annually,  we  are 
.surprised  to  notice  that  the  amount  of  subscriptions 
and  number  of  individual  subscribers  are  decreasing. 
This  apathy  on  the  part  of  the  large  majority  of  the 
trade  is  much  to  be  regretted,  and  we  hope,  for  the 
sake  of  our  cloth,  will  not  be  allowed  to  continue. 
A  body  of  men,  mustering  somewhere  about  10,000, 
should,  without  much  special  pleading,  be  able  to 
provide  assistance  for  the  whole  of  its  distressed 
members,  and  for  all  the  widows  and  orphans  having 
n  claim  upon  it. 

If  every  chemist  and  druggist  were  to  subscribe 
five  shillings  yearly,  the  directors  of  the  fund  would 
have  a  revenue  approaching  the  necessities  of  the 
charity ;  and  we  commend  this  suggestion,  in  all 
sincerity,  to  those  who  have  not  hitherto  made  it 
their  practice  to  subscribe.  It  is  painful  to  notice 
how  frequently  the  most  skilful  and  highly  endowed 
men  become  unfortunate  in  business;  and  we  only 
allude  to  the  circumstance  to  quicken  the  sense  of 
responsibility  which,  in  our  opinion,  devolves  upon 
every  registered  chemist  and  druggist,  that  of  con¬ 
tributing  annually,  as  a  matter  of  duty,  at  least  some 
amount  towards  the  relief  of  his  distressed  brethren. 


Some  time  since,  we  noted  the  serious  illness  of 
Dr.  Anderson,  and  we  have  now  the  sorrowful  task 
of  recording  his  death. 


*VVe  are  glad  to  state  that  at  the  moment  of  going 
to  press  permission  has  been  received  horn  the  Post- 
Office  for  the  posted  copies  of  the  Journal  to  be  cut. 


immMnp  mf  %  ffrwntratiral 


BENEVOLENT  FUND. 
Election  of  Annuitants. 


A  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  the  Society  on 
Friday,  the  28th  October,  pursuant  to  notice,  for  the 
Election  of  Two  Annuitants  on  this  Fund,  each  to 
receive  Thirty  pounds ;  Mr.  A.  F.  Haselden,  Vice-Presi¬ 
dent,  in  the  chair. 

Four  applicants  remained  on  the  list  of  Candidates 
approved  by  the  Council  for  Election. 

Scrutineers  were  appointed  from  the  voters  present, 
who,  after  examining  the  votes,  presented  the  following 
report : — 

“We,  the  undersigned  scrutineers,  appointed  at  the 
sixth  election  of  annuitants  on  the  Benevolent  Fund  of 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Great  Britain,  do  hereby 
certify  that  we  have  examined  the  voting  papers  com¬ 
mitted  to  us,  and  report  the  following  result : — 


Hannah  Greaves  . 

Charles  Thomas  Anderson 

John  Watkins . . 

Sarah  Wilson  . . . .  i , 


No.  of  Brought 
Votes,  forward. 


,.1982..,. 739.,.. 
..1715. ...787.... 
..  929. ...763.... 
, i  623 «•«.  91,i. . 


Total. 

2721 

2502 

1692 

714 


w  Signed, 

John  Bradley.  H.  F.  Groves. 

I.  Bourdas.  Frederick  Andrews. 

Charles  E.  Turner.  William  A.  Tilden. 
Charles  Coles.  T.  H.  Holloway.” 


Votes  polled  for  unsuccessful  candidates  are  carried forward. 


PHARMACEUTICAL  MEETING. 

Wednesday,  November  2nd . 

The  Chair  was  taken  by  Mr.  Haselden,  Vice-Presi¬ 
dent. 

The  Secretary  having  read  the  minutes  of  the  pre¬ 
vious  meeting,  announced  the  following  donations  to  the 
Library  and  Museum : — 

Calendar  of  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons  for  1870  : 
from  the  College, — Transactions  of  the  Clinical  Society, 
vol.  iii. :  from  the  Society, — Specimen  of  Bauxite  (alu- 
minate  of  iron)  used  as  a  source  of  aluminium, — Specimen 
of  Cryolite:  from  H.  B.  Brady,  Esq.,— Specimen  of 
falsely-packed  Chiretta :  from  Mr.  H.  S.  Evans. 

The  following  papers  were  then  read : — 

Remarks  on  a  Specimen  of  Chiretta,  presented  to 
the  Museum  by  Mr.  H.  Sugden  Evans. 

BY  E.  A.  WEBB. 

I  wish  to  draw  the  attention  of  the  meeting  to  the 
packet  of  chiretta  upon  the  table,  which  Mr.  Henry 
Sugden  Evans  has  kindly  presented  to  the  Museum.  It 
is  one  of  a  number  of  packages  that  were  imported  into 
England  about  a  year  ago.  It  is  curious  from  having  in 
the  centre  a  package  of  a  distinct  plant,  which  has  been 
first  carefully  tied  up  by  itself,  and  then  surrounded  by 
the  chiretta. 

When  first  shown  to  me,  I  saw  it  must  be  a  madder 
of  some  sort  by  its  square,  rough  stems,  which,  as  well 
as  the  roots,  are  red,  and  by  its  coming  from  India  I 
suspected  it  might  be  munjeet,  Rubia  cordifolia .  I  have 
since  had  my  opinion  confirmed  in  several  ways. 

1st.  I  obtained  from  the  stems  a  very  fair  quantity 
of  alizarine  by  digesting  them  in  strong  sulphuric  acid 
and  then  diluting  with  water,  whereby  the  alizarine 
was  precipitated. 

2nd.  I  submitted  a  sample  to  Mr.  Daniel  Hanbury, 
who  kindly  compared  it  with  the  illustrations  and  de¬ 
scriptions  he  had  of  the  plant,  with  which  it  agreed  as 
far  as  the  specimens  would  allow  us  to  judge. 

And  3rd,  by  his  advice,  I  sent  a  sample  to  Mr.  M.  C. 


3G8 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  5,  1870, 


Cooke,  Curator  of  the  Museum  at  the  India  Office,  from 
■whom  I  had  the  following  satisfactory  reply : — 

“  Dear  Sir, — I  have  not  the  slightest  doubt  that  your 
specimens  are  Rubia  cordifolia.  Yours  most  obediently, 

“  M.  C.  Cooke.” 

The  following  are,  I  think,  the  chief  characters  by 
which  it  may  be  distinguished  from  chiretta  : — 

It  is  a  trailing  plant,  with  an  underground  stem 
about  the  thickness  of  a  quill,  giving  off  rootlets  at  in¬ 
tervals  ;  of  a  dull  reddish  eolour  externally,  but  brighter 
internally.  The  stems  are  long  and  trailing,  quadran¬ 
gular,  the  angles  being  covered  with  small  recurved 
prickles.  The  cortical  portion,  when  old,  soon  breaks 
off  from  the  internal  woody  portion,  which  is  round,  and 
of  a  red  colour  like  the  root. 

The  leaves  are  about  an  inch  and  a  half  long,  sup¬ 
ported  upon  peduncles  about  half  that  length,  arranged 
in  whorls  of  four  at  the  nodes,  which  are  very  con¬ 
spicuous.  They  are  5 -ribbed,  with  an  entire  or  dentate 
margin,  and  generally  more  or  less  cordate. 

The  specimen  I  examined  had  no  signs  of  flower  or 
fruit  upon  it. 

The  true  Ophelia  Chiretta ,  on  the  other  hand,  has  a 
thick  branching  root,  a  round,  smooth  brown  stem,  ses¬ 
sile  amplexicaul  opposite  leaves,  and  purely  bitter  taste. 

The  reason  of  this  false  packing  is  I  think  very  evi¬ 
dent,  when  we  know  that  about  that  time  chiretta  was 
between  2s.  and  3s.  a  pound,  while  munjeet  was  between 
4 d.  and  6d. 


Mr.  Tilden  asked  if  Mr.  Webb  was  sure  it  was  aliza¬ 
rine  he  had  procured  from  the  plant. 

Mr.  Webb  said  that  he  had  tested  it  with  potash  and 
in  other  ways,  and  he  had  no  doubt  of  the  result. 

Mr.  Tilden  said  he  had  thought  the  appearance  might 
be  due  to  purpurine.  He  was  working  with  Dr.  Sten- 
house  when  that  gentleman  discovered  mungistine,  which 
presented  the  most  magnificent  crystals,  in  the  shape  of 
beautiful  golden  scales,  while  alizarine  was  not  contained 
in  Rubia  cordifolia.  It  might  easily  be  proved  by  boiling 
some  in  water. 

Mr.  Webb  said,  that  when  boiled  and  reprecipitated, 
it  appeared  in  an  amorphous  condition.  He  had  sublimed 
some,  from  which  he  had  got  crystals  very  similar  to 
alizarine. 

Professor  Bentley  said  he  was  quite  sure  the  meeting 
would  agree  with  him  that  it  was  of  great  importance 
that  such  specimens  as  that  on  the  table  should  be 
brought  before  the  notice  of  the  Society  immediately 
they  found  their  way  into  the  market.  Very  fortunately 

Infusions  of  the  Pharmacopoeia ,  prepi 


in  the  present  case  the  adulteration  was  so  palpable  that 
it  would  be  at  once  detected,  but  in  some  cases  there 
would  be  more  difficulty,  and,  therefore,  it  was  of  im¬ 
portance  that  their  attention  should  be  called  to  the 
matter,  in  order  that  they  might  be  on  their  guard.  He 
had  looked  over  many  specimens  of  chiretta,  but  had 
never  met  with  such  an  instance  of  adulteration  before ; 
indeed,  according  to  his  experience,  it  was  a  substance 
very  little  subject  to  adulteration,  but  in  this  case  the- 
reason  assigned  by  Mr.  Webb  was  evidently  the  correct 
one,  and  the  difference  in  price  had  led  to  an  attempt  to' 
deceive  the  public.  He  might  add  that  he  had  no  doubt 
of  the  plant  being  munjeet. 

Dr.  Attfield  said  he  believed  the  adulteration  was- 
not  nearly  so  manifest  when  the  specimen  was  first  placed 
in  Mr.  Webb’s  hands.  - 

Mr.  Clements  drew  attention  to  an  improved  atmo¬ 
spheric  gas-stove  of  his  manufacture,  a  specimen  of  which 
was  placed  on  the  table ;  the  advantages  he  claimed  for 
it  being  the  small  amount  of  gas  burnt  and  the  perfect 
combustion  which  took  place.  A  gallon  of  water  coidd 
be  boiled  in  fourteen  minutes,  at  the  ordinary  day  pres¬ 
sure,  which  would  support  a  combustion  of  about  8  feet 
per  hour.  The  burners  were  made  of  silicate  of  magne¬ 
sia  or  soap-stone ;  he  had  himself  had  one  in  use  for  two 
years  and  a  half  without  its  getting  out  of  order,  and  Dr. 
Odling  had  also  used  it,  and  reported  favourably  of  its- 
capabilities.  The  size  exhibited  was  sold  at  15s.,  but 
they  were  made  larger  if  required,  and  might  be  adapted 
for  cannel-coal  gas  as  well  as  ordinary  gas. 

Experiments  on  Some  of  the  Infusions  of  the 

Pharmacopoeia. 

BY  J.  B.  BARNES. 

In  the  two  last  editions  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  the  time 
for  the  preparation  of  most  of  the  infusions  has  been 
very  properly  lessened,  but  I  shall  be  able  to  show  that 
a  still  further  reduction  in  the  time  of  making  infusions- 
can  be  made  without  detriment  to  the  resulting  product. 
In  each  separate  set  of  operations  the  sample  of  drug 
employed  was  the  same ;  the  measuring  and  weighing 
were  carefully  made;  each  infusion,  excepting  that  of 
linseed,  was  filtered  through  paper  before  the  specific 
gravity  was  taken  and  the  evaporation  set  going ;  the 
latter  was  made  in  porcelain  dishes  over  a  water  bath, 
and  the  resulting  extract  finally  dried  in  a  water  oven  at 
212°  F.  until  the  weight  became  constant. 

In  the  following  tables  the  results  obtained  are  ex¬ 
hibited  : — 

red  in  accordance  with  the  Time  ordered. 


Infusion. 

Quantity  of  In¬ 
gredients  to  half 
a  pint  of  Dis¬ 
tilled  Water. 

Time  of  Infusion. 

Quantity  Evapo¬ 
rated. 

Specific 

Gravity. 

Weight  of  Dried 
Extract  obtained. 

Bearberry . 

Buchu  . 

Cascarilla  . ' . 

Cinchona  . . . 

Cusparia . 

Digitalis . ,  t 

Dulcamara . . 

1  Gentian  root  .... 

Gentian  \  Orange  peel . 

(  Lemon  peel . 

Hop  . . . 

Linseed  {  ^nsee<* 

(  Liquorice  root  .... 

Rhatany  . . 

Rhubarb . 

Senega  . . . 

Senna  ( ?,e.nna  . 

(  Ginger . 

Serpentaria . 

Valerian . . . 

J  ounce . . 

4  ounce . . 

1  ounce . . 

|  ounce . . 
i  ounce . . 

30  grains . . 

1  ounce . . 

60  grains  \ 

60  grains  !> 

5  ounce  ) 

J  ounce . , 

160  grains  1 

60  grains  J 
i  ounce . . 

J  ounce . , 

|  ounce . . 

1  ounce . ,  1 
30  grains  J 
\  ounce . . 
120  grains. . 

Two  hours  .... 
One  hour  .... 
One  hour  .... 
Two  hours  .... 
Two  hours  .... 
One  hour  .... 
One  hour  .... 

One  hour  .... 

Two  hours  .... 

Four  hours .... 

One  hour  .... 
One  hour  .... 
One  hour  .... 

One  hour  .... 

Two  hours  .... 
One  hour  .... 

Ten  fluid  ounces 

» 

r 

17 

71 

One  pint ...... 

Ten  fluid  ounces 

a 

a 

a 

a 

a 

a 

it 

a 

a 

1-215 

1-213 

1-211 

1-210 

1-210 

1-208 

1-215 

1-215 

1-213 

1-210 

1-210 

1-211 

1-213 

1-223 

1-209 

1-210 

Grammes* 

5-33 

3-57 

2- 74 
1-94 

3- 05 

1- 07 
5-13 

2- 26 

2-79 

1-28 

2-16 

2- 71 

3- 69 

9-OS 

•71 

1-91 

In  Grains. 

82-25 

55"08 

42- 28 
29-93 
46-45 
16-51 
79-16 

34-87 

43- 04 

19-75 

33-33 

41-82 

56-93 

140-12 

10-95 

29-47 

November  5, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


3G9 


Infusions  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  NOT  prepared  in  accordance  with  the  Time  ordered. 


Infusion. 

Quantity  of  In¬ 
gredients  to  half 
a  pint  of  Dis¬ 
tilled  W ater. 

Time  of  Infusion. 

Quantity  evaporated. 

Specific 
Gravity . 

Weight  of  dried 
Extract  obtained. 

Bearberry  . 

Buchu . 

Cascarilla  . 

Cinchona  . 

Cusparia . 

Digitalis . . . 

Dulcamara . 

|  Gentian  root  .... 

Gentian  <  Orange  peel . 

(  Lemon  peel . 

Hop . 

T  .  i  (  Linseed . 

{  Liquorice  root  .... 

Rhatany . 

Rhubarb . 

Senega  . 

Senna  { . 

[  Ginger . 

Serpentaria  . 

Valerian . 

J  ounce . .  | 

£  ounce  . . 

1  ounce  . . 

ounce  . . 

£  ounce . . 

30  grains. . 

1  ounce . . 

60  grains . .  \ 
60  grains. .  •< 
i  ounce . .  J 

b  ounce . . 
160  grains. .  1 
60  grains. .  / 
I?  ounce  . . 

J  ounce  . . 

J  ounce . . 

1  ounce . .  ) 
30  grains. .  / 
J  ounce . . 
120  grains. . 

One  hour  .... 
Half  an  horn  . . 
Half  an  hour  . . 
Half  an  hour  . . 
Half  an  hour  . . 
One  hour  .... 
Fifteen  minutes 
Half  an  hour  . . 
a  Made  with 
*  g  bruised  root. 
Made  with 
sliced  root. 
One  hour  .... 

Two  hours  .... 

Half  an  hour  . . 

n 

» 

n 

r> 

Ten  fluid  ounces 

n 

n 

it 

u 

One  pint . 

Ten  fluid  ounces 

}  „ 

}  .. 

ii 

ii 

ii 

ii 

ii 

ii 

ii 

ii 

1-215 

1-213 

1-213 

1-211 

1-210 

1-210 

1-208 

1-215 

1-216 

1-208 

1-213 

1*210 

1-210 

1-211 

1-213 

1-221 

1-209 

1-210 

Grammes. 

5-35 

2-82 

3-55 

2- 73 
1-96 

3- 06 

1- 07 
5-14 

2- 85 

2-16 

2-78 

1- 27 

2- 15 

2- 71 

3- 6 

8-9 

•7 

1-86 

In  Grains. 

82-56 

43-51 

54- 78 

42- 12 
30-24 
47*22 
16-51 
79-32 

43- 98 

33-33 

42-9 

19-59 

33-17 
41-81  ] 

55- 55 

137*34 

10-08 

28-7 

Infusion  of  bearberry  made  in  two  hours  gave  5 -33 
grammes  extract ;  that  which  had  infused  one  hour 
yielded  5-35  grammes  ;  the  infusion  which  had  stood  for 
half  an  hour  gave  2'82  grammes  ;  the  conclusion  is,  that 
the  one-hour  infusion  is  as  good  as  that  which  stood  two 
hours. 

Infusion  of  buchu,  made  to  infuse  half  an  hour,  gave 
3 '55  grammes  of  extract,  and  that  which  stood  one  hour 
3  -5  7  grammes  ;  there  is  no  real  difference. 

Cascarilla  infusion,  made  in  one  hour,  gave  2*74 
grammes  of  extract,  and  that  which  had  stood  half  an 
hour  2 73  grammes. 

Infusion  of  cinchona  bark,  prepared  in  one  hour,  yielded 
within  two  centigrammes  the  same  amount  of  extract 
as  that  which  had  been  infused  for  two  hours ;  practically 
they  are  identical. 

Infusion  of  cusparia  (although  the  temperature  of  the 
distilled  water  is  ordered  to  be  at  120°  F.,  and  the  time 
of  infusion  two  hours)  is  equally  strong  when  macerated 
for  one  hour  only. 

Infusion  of  digitalis  made  in  fifteen  minutes  gave 
exactly  the  same  amount  of  extract  as  that  which  had 
stood  one  hour. 

That  of  dulcamara,  infused  for  half  an  hour,  yielded 
within  one  centigramme  the  same  weight  of  extract  as 
that  which  had  infused  one  hour. 

Compound  infusion  of  gentian,  made  in  accordance 
with  the  time  and  manner  ordered  in  the  Pharmacopoeia, 
namely,  one  hour,  and  the  root  sliced,  gave  2-26  grammes 
of  extract ;  whilst  when  infused  for  half  an  hour,  and 
the  gentian  root  was  bruised ,  the  amount  of  extract  ob¬ 
tained  was  2-85  grammes ;  therefore  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that  it  should  be  directed  to  be  bruised  instead  of 
sliced.  Of  course,  when  gentian  root  is  fresh,  it  is  tole¬ 
rably  soft  and  can  be  easily  sliced  as  thin  as  you  please, 
but  it  is  seldom  met  with  in  that  state. 

Infusion  of  linseed,  which  had  stood  for  two  hours, 
was  within  one  centigramme  as  strong  as  the  Pharma¬ 
copoeia  infusion,  which  is  directed  to  be  infused  for  four 
hours. 

Infusion  of  hop,  made  in  one  hour,  was  also  within 
one  centigramme  as  strong  as  that  which  had  stood  two 

AOUl’S. 

Infusion  of  rhatany,  made  in  half  an  hour,  yielded 
2  15  grammes,  whilst  that  which  had  infused  one  hour 
gave  2-16  grammes  of  extract. 


Senega  infused  for  half  an  hour  gave  3-6  grammes  of 
extract,  and  that  of  the  Pharmacopoeia,  which  stood  one 
hour,  3 -69  grammes. 

Infusion  of  senna,  made  in  accordance  with  the  time 
in  the  Pharmacopoeia,  yielded  the  large  amount  of  9-08 
grammes,  that  prepared  in  half  an  hour  gave  8'9  grammes 
of  extract ;  therefore,  this  is  not  so  good  as  that  which  had 
stood  one  hour,  but  by  a  slight  increase  in  the  quantity 
of  senna,  this  infusion  can  be  made  in  half  an  hour  equally 
as  strong  as  the  Pharmacopoeia  preparation. 

Infusion  of  serpentaria,  which  had  stood  for  two  hours, 
yielded  '71  gramme  of  extract,  whilst  that  made  in  half 
an  hour,  gave  *7  gramme. 

That  of  valerian,  made  in  one  hour,  gave  1-91  gramme 
of  extract,  and  the  infusion  prepared  in  half  an  hour 
yielded  1-86  gramme. 

From  these  results,  I  draw  the  following  conclusion : 
— namely,  that  infusions  of  bearberry,  buchu,  cascarilla, 
cinchona,  cusparia,  dulcamara,  gentian,  hop,  linseed, 
rhatany,  rhubarb,  senega  and  valerian,  can  be  prepared 
in  half  the  time  ordered  by  the  Pharmacopoeia ;  those  of 
digitalis  and  serpentaria  in  one-fourth  the  time  directed 
for  infusion ;  and  this  without  resorting  to  any  special 
manner  of  making. 

I  trust  the  Pharmacopoeia  Committee  will  take  up  this 
subject,  examine  it  for  themselves,  and  make  the  neces¬ 
sary  abridgment  of  the  time  in  the  directions  for  making 
these  infusions,  and  thereby  facilitate  their  speedy  pre¬ 
paration. 

The  extracts  obtained  in  this  series  of  operations  are 
of  course  perfectly  dry,  for  the  most  part  in  a  spongy 
condition,  and  can  be  easily  reduced  to  powder.  Extract 
of  rhubarb,  as  all  dispensers  must  know,  is  either  very 
soft  or  tough,  and,  when  in  the  latter  condition,  is  diffi¬ 
cult  to  manage  in  pill  making ;  the  exsiccated  extract 
on  the  other  hand  is  exceedingly  manageable,  and  can  be 
at  once  without  trouble  reduced  to  fine  powder. 


Dr.  Attfield  said  Mr.  Barnes  seemed  to  have  given 
his  result  in  terms  of  the  weight  of  extract,  but  he  pre¬ 
sumed  he  also  judged  of  the  character  of  the  infusions  by 
the  nose  and  palate. 

Mr.  Barnes  said  he  had  done  so. 

Dr.  Attfield  said  it  would  have  been  interesting,  in 
the  case  of  the  extract  of  cinchona,  to  ascertain  whether 
there  was  the  same  proportion  of  the  alkaloids  in  each 


370 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  5, 1870. 


case,  although,  no  doubt,  they  would  go  into  solution  at 
about  the  same  rate  as  other  substances. 

The  Chairman  said  the  remark  of  Dr.  Attfield  sug¬ 
gested  the  desirability  of  carrying  these  experiments  fur¬ 
ther  ;  but,  whatever  might  be  the  result  of  such  re¬ 
searches,  it  was  evidently  of  importance  to  pharmacists 
to  know  that,  in  case  of  necessity,  they  might  make  an 
infusion  in  half  an  hour  as  well  as  in  one  or  two  hours. 
He  was  sorry  to  say  that  prescribers  did  not  order  infu¬ 
sions  as  much  as  formerly,  because,  in  his  opinion,  a  good 
fresh  infusion,  if  employed  as  a  stomachic,  was  much 
better  than  a  tincture  of  the  same  substance.  He  be¬ 
lieved,  however,  the  great  difficulty  writh  medical  men 
had  been  the  delay  which  was  necessary  in  the  prepara¬ 
tion,  which  often  could  not  be  allowed ;  and  other  prepa¬ 
rations  were  therefore  had  recourse  to.  He  believed  this 
matter  was  well  worthy  of  the  attention  of  the  Pharma¬ 
copoeia  Committee  whenever  they  sat. 

Mr.  Bass  asked  if  Mr.  Barnes  had  tried  the  experiment 
of  redissolving  the  extract  in  the  same  amount  of  water 
required  to  make  the  infusion ;  and,  if  so,  whether  the 
difference  in  smell,  taste,  and  general  appearance  was 
very  perceptible,  or  whether  he  found  much  difficulty  in 
redissolving  the  extract. 

Mr.  Barnes  said  he  had  not  made  the  experiment 
referred  to,  but  in  washing  out  the  dishes  he  found  the 
extract  very  readily  soluble. 

Mr.  Carteighe  said  the  paper  was  one  of  great  prac¬ 
tical  value,  but  he  believed  it  was  possible  to  carry  the 
experiments  further,  and,  by  increasing  the  quantity  of 
ingredients,  get  quite  as  satisfactory  results  in  a  quarter 
of  an  hour.  It  would  certainly  be  a  great  desideratum 
if  any  infusion  in  the  Pharmacopoeia  could  be  made  in 
ten  minutes  or  a  quarter  of  an  hour ;  and  he  could  not 
help  thinking  that  very  often,  if  they  were  content  to 
waste  a  little  more  of  the  drug,  it  would,  in  the  long-run, 
be  much  more  economical  than  waiting  so  long  as  they 
were  in  the  habit  of  doing. 

Mr.  Umney  said  he  did  not  suppose  that,  in  the  case  of 
infusions  made  at  a  very  high  temperature,  the  extract 
would  be  redissolved  very  readily,  on  account  of  the  al¬ 
buminous  matter  being  coagulated,  but  those  obtained 
at  the  temperature  of  boiling  water  would  probably  be 
readily  soluble. 

Mr.  Tilden  said,  no  doubt  the  suggestion  made  by 
Mr.  Carteighe  was  one  founded  on  practical  experience ; 
but  he  fancied  that  increasing  the  proportion  of  the  in¬ 
gredients,  and  using  a  shorter  time,  would  hardly  be  a 
fair  way  of  altering  the  mode  of  preparing  infusions. 
For  instance,  in  the  case  of  an  infusion  of  orange  or  of 
buchu,  if  such  a  plan  were  adopted,  the  result  would  be 
very  different  to  what  it  would  if  the  infusion  stood  for 
a  longer  time.  A  cup  of  tea  that  had  stood  for  a  long 
time  was  not  exactly  the  same  as  one  made  quickly. 

Mr.  Carteighe  said,  no  doubt  the  thing  must  be  done 
cautiously,  but  the  experiments  showed  such  a  trifling 
difference  in  the  most  extreme  cases  that  a  slight  in¬ 
crease  in  the  ingredients  would  probably  reduce  the  time 
materially. 

Mr.  Barnes  did  not  think  that  the  dry  extract  of 
buchu,  if  dissolved  in  water,  would  represent  the  infu¬ 
sion,  and  the  same  with  gentian. 

Professor  Redwood  said,  all  facts  of  this  kind  must 
be  of  importance  to  those  engaged  in  revising  the  Phar¬ 
macopoeia ;  and,  no  doubt,  it  was  desirable  to  reduce  the 
time  required  for  making  infusions,  but  still  there  were 
other  points  to  be  taken  into  consideration  in  connection 
with  that  object.  This  matter  received  attention  at  the 
time  the  last  edition  but  one  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  was 
being  prepared ;  and  the  whole  of  the  infusions  were 
submitted  to  a  careful  examination,  with  the  view  of 
determining  the  beat  proportion  in  which  to  use  the  in¬ 
gredients,  the  best  time  during  which  to  conduct  the 
maceration,  and  the  best  temperature  for  the  water. 
He  was  not  prepared  to  offer  any  specific  opinion 
with  reference  to  the  points  specially  alluded  to  by  Mr. 


Barnes  ;  but  he  must  say  he  did  not  consider  the  shorten¬ 
ing  of  the  time  during  which  the  infusion  stood  was  the 
most  important  point  to  attend  to.  Indeed,  he  believed 
the  product  might  be  considerably  deteriorated  by  aim¬ 
ing  too  much  in  that  direction.  For  instance,  in  tea¬ 
making  there  was  a  certain  specific  time,  which  was 
found  to  be  most  advantageous  for  making  a  good  in¬ 
fusion  ;  and  all  tea  tasters  had  come  to  the  conclusion 
that  seven  minutes  was  the  period  during  which  tea 
ought  to  be  infused.  In  order  to  bring  out  the  best 
qualities  of  the  tea,  this  time  should  be  neither  longer 
nor  shorter.  It  was  the  same  with  several  of  the  in¬ 
fusions  orderd  in  the  Pharmacopoeia.  For  instance, 
in  the  case  of  chiretta  it  had  been  found  that  water 
at  120°  yielded  a  more  agreeable  infusion,  and  one- 
which  was  considered  to  act  better  as  a  tonic  than  when 
made  with  water  either  hotter  or  colder.  The  mere 
amount  of  the  extract,  therefore,  was  not  the  only  point 
to  be  considered,  nor  did  ho  suppose  that  Mr.  Barnes 
had  confined  his  attention  solely  to  that.  At  any  rate 
the  subject  was  one  deserving  of  attention,  and  if  it- 
were  found  that  the  time  could  be  shortened  without  de¬ 
triment,  there  was  no  doubt  that  it  would  be  advanta¬ 
geous,  but  he  believed  many  chemists  were  under  the  im¬ 
pression  that  there  was  more  difficulty  in  keeping  fresh 
infusions  fit  for  use  than  the  facts  would  fully  warrant* 
It  was  by  no  means  difficult  to  keep  even  those  most 
susceptible  of  change,  in  a  fit  state  for  use,  not  only 
for  days,  but  weeks,  and  in  some  cases  he  had  done  so 
for  months,  by  properly  preparing  and  bottling  them, 
either  with  stojipers  or  with  cotton- wool  in  the  neck  of 
the  bottle,  so  that  no  unfiltered  air  could  reach  the  con¬ 
tents.  In  such  cases,  therefore,  the  time  occupied  was  of 
comparatively  little  importance. 

Mr.  Barnes  said  he  was  led  to  make  these  experi¬ 
ments  by  having  to  make  an  infusion  of  serpentaria  one- 
day,  when,  the  patient  being  very  unwell,  it  was  wanted 
in  a  great  hurry,  and  he  found  that  by  the  method  sug¬ 
gested  the  infusion  was 'made  in  half  the  prescribed  time 
(two  hours)  equally  agreeable  and  as  good  in  every 
respect.  When  half  a  pint  of  an  infusion  which  had 
macerated  half  an  hour,  was  evaporated  to  dryness,  the 
resulting  extract  weighed  and  found  to  be  the  same- 
weight,  or  within  a  centigramme  or  two  over  or  under 
the  amount  obtained  from  the  same  quantity  of  infu¬ 
sion  which  had  taken  one  hour  to  make, — he  could  not 
conceive  how  it  was  possible  to  suppose  that  the  one- 
infusion  was  not  as  good  as  the  other. 

The  Chairman]  said  Mr.  Barnes  had  chosen  a  very 
fair  way  of  arriving  at  something  like  a  definite  conclu¬ 
sion  ;  and  certainly,  for  his  own  part,  if  he  were  to  make 
two  infusions  of  the  same  drug,  allowing  them  to  stand 
different  times,  he  should  scarcely  like  to  rely  upon  his 
own  judgment  in  tasting  and  smelling  the  results  as  a 
means  of  judging  whether  they  were  precisely  alike. 
He  should  almost  want  a  committee  to  decide  upon  such  a 
point.  Dr.  Redwood  had  referred  to  the  system  of  fill¬ 
ing  up  bottles  with  fresh  infusions,  which  had  been 
adopted  over  and  over  again,  and  no  doubt  they  would 
keep  good  in  the  ordinary  sense  for  a  considerable  time, 
that  is  to  say,  they  did  not  turn  mouldy  or  sour,  but  he 
did  not  think  there  was  the  same  aroma  as  when  freshly 
made.  That  was  why  he  suggested  at  one  time  that  in¬ 
fusions  intended  for  keeping  should  have  a  small  quan¬ 
tity  of  alcohol  added  to  them,  which  from  some  experi¬ 
ments  seemed  to  have  the  effect  of  retaining  the  odour 
and  aroma.  He  had  known  infusions  carefully  made  go- 
bad  in  twelve  hours  in  hot  weather, — senna,  for  instance, 
— even  when  kept  in  a  cool  place. 

Mr.  Bland  said  the  remarks  of  Professor  Redwood 
showed  the  necessity  for  caution  in  the  mode  of  prepar¬ 
ing  infusions,  and  it  must  be  remembered  that  even  if 
they  could  be  made  in  ten  minutes  the  patient  could  not 
take  the  medicine  boiling  hot.  With  regard  to  cin¬ 
chona,  he  was  quite  satisfied  that  in  most  of  the  pro¬ 
cesses  given  for  its  preparation  a  large  quantity  of  the 


November  5,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


371 


alkaloids  were  wasted.  He  was  satisfied  that  no  infu¬ 
sion  of  cinchona  made  in  one  hour  would  contain  all  the 
alkaloids  which  might  he  extracted  from  it. 

Mr.  Umney  said,  some  time  since,  Professor  Redwood,  in 
his  resume  of  the  alterations  which  would  in  all  proba¬ 
bility  be  made  in  future  editions  of  the  Pharmacopoeia, 
mentioned  the  fluid  extract  of  ergot  as  one  of  those  pre¬ 
parations  which  he  thought  could  be  equally  well  pre-* 
pared  without  ether.  He  (Mr.  Umney)  had  made  con¬ 
siderable  quantities  in  both  ways,  and  he  found  no 
difference  in  the  product  after  it  had  been  kept  four 
or  five  months.  He  would  lay  on  the  table  two  speci¬ 
mens  which  had  been  made  about  four  months,  one  pre¬ 
pared  in  each  way.  It  was  important  to  recollect  that 
the  loss  of  ether  was  something  considerable, — 70  or  80 
per  cent. ;  and  it  appeared  to  him  a  farce  to  take  up  an 
inert  body  by  means  of  an  expensive  solvent  like  ether, 
and  then  to  redistil  it,  and  then  to  throw  away  that  inert 
body. 

Mr.  Barnes  asked  what  solvent  Mr.  Umney  employed. 

Mr.  Umney  replied  water  only  at  120°. 

The  Chairman  said  he  supposed  Mr.  Umney  had  fol¬ 
lowed  the  directions  in  the  Pharmacopoeia,  simply  omit¬ 
ting  the  ether.  He  had  always  thought  the  ether 
process  unnecessary,  and  it  involved  not  only  a  waste  of 
material,  but  a  waste  of  time. 

Mr.  Martindale  said  he  had  always  felt  that  there 
was  a  disadvantage  besides  that  of  taking  the  oil  from 
the  ergot  by  means  of  the  ether,  for  they  could  not  be 
certain  that  they  did  not  take  away  some  active  proper¬ 
ties  which  the  water  alone  would  not  have  done.  There 
was  therefore  a  great  disadvantage  in  using  ether  to  ex¬ 
haust  the  oil,  because  it  might  likewise  take  with  it  other 
principles  which  might  be  of  great  service.  He  had 
made  the  fluid  extract  as  Mr.  Umney  had  suggested,  and 
it  had  been  used  for  a  considerable  time  at  University 
Hospital,  and  equally  approved  with  that  made  in  the 
ordinary  way. 

Professor  Redwood  said  that  if  the  ether  was  not 
thoroughly  well  washed,  so  as  to  deprive  it  entirely  of 
spirit,  it  would  remove  some  of  the  active  principle  of 
the  ergot.  The  result  of  the  experiments  made  seemed 
to  indicate  that  pure  ether  did  not  take  out  the  ordi¬ 
nary  active  matter  of  the  ergot,  but  only  the  essential 
oil.  In  justice  to  one  of  the  members  of  that  Society, 
he  should  say  his  attention  was  first  drawn  to  this  sub¬ 
ject  from  the  fact  of  Mr.  Hemingway  having  commu¬ 
nicated  to  him  that  the  fluid  extract  of  ergot  could  be 
made  quite  as  well  without  ether  as  with  it,  and  that  he 
had  been  in  the  habit  of  so  preparing  it  for  some  time. 

A  Member  said  he  had  prepared  the  extract  without 
ether  for  some  years  before  it  was  introduced  into  the 
Pharmacopoeia,  and  had  not  found  that  there  was  any 
difference  in  its  strength. 

The  Chairman  said  Professor  Redwood  had  suggested 
other  matters  in  which  some  alteration  in  the  mode  of 
preparation  might  be  made,  amongst  others  purified  ox¬ 
gall  and  belladonna  plaster.  He  should  like  to  know 
whether  any  of  the  members  had  made  experiments  upon 
any  of  these  preparations. 

Mr.  Umney  thought  that  the  belladonna  plaster  would 
be  much  better  if  made  in  the  mode  suggested  by  Mr. 
Balmer,  with  the  alcoholic  extract  of  the  root. 


tM iiciaJ  fnmsatiwms. 


LIVERPOOL  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 
Annual  Meeting. 

Session  1869-70. 

.  The  Annual  Meeting  was  held  at  the  Royal  Institu¬ 
tion,  October  13th,  1870.  In  the  absence  of  the  Presi¬ 
dent,  Mr.  Shaw  took  the  chair. 


Messrs.  F.  Allison,  J.  Blair,  A.  T.  Horton  and  E. 
Keighley  Sharp  were  elected  members  of  the  Association. 

The  Secretary  then  read  the  Annual  Report. 

Annual  Report. 

The  Report  which  your  Council  lay  before  you  this 
year  presents  features  of  unusual  interest,  both  with  re¬ 
ference  to  the  Association  itself  and  also  as  regards  events 
closely  connected  with  it,  and  which  should  exert  con¬ 
siderable  influence  on  its  progress  and  vitality.  Having 
completed  the  twenty-first  year  of  its  existence,  the 
Association  has  given  evidence  of  its  ability  to  contend 
with  and  overcome  the  difficulties  incident  to  the  youth 
of  all  voluntary  societies,  and  may  now  look  forward 
confidently  to  years  of  strength  and  usefulness.  Still 
there  are  dangers  to  be  avoided ;  the  enthusiasm  which 
greeted  its  early  years  has  passed  away,  and  from  its. 
solid  advantages  and  practical  value  to  its  members  it 
must  now  derive  its  support.  To  provide  these,  and  to 
watch  over  the  interests  of  the  Association  are  the  duties 
of  your  Council,  and  they  trust  that  you  will  find  that 
they  have  not  neglected  their  responsible  functions. 

15  members  and  2  associates  have  been  elected  during 
the  past  session ;  24  have  resigned,  or  by  death  and. 
removal  have  ceased  to  belong  to  our  ranks,  leaving  127 
at  present  on  the  roll. 

In  that  important  department  of  the  work  of  the  As¬ 
sociation  which  consists  in  its  fortnightly  meetings,  your 
Council  cannot  report  so  favourably  as  in  some  former 
years.  The  interest  of  these  meetings  can  only  be  kept 
up  by  the  united  efforts  of  the  members,  and  your  Council 
trust  that  by  an  increased  supply  of  papers,  and  more 
vigorous  discussion  of  them,  their  usefulness  may  be 
augmented.  The  papers  read  have  principally  related 
to  the  practice  or  ethics  of  pharmacy,  and  your  Council 
desire  to  express  their  acknowledgments  to  those  gen¬ 
tlemen  who  have  contributed  them. 

Several  additions  of  valuable  works  have  been  made 
to  the  library,  and  its  treasures  have  been  freely  used. 
The  Librarian  reports  that  374  books  have  been  taken 
out,  against  290  in  the  previous  session,  and  that  this 
does  not  represent  the  whole  benefit  resulting  from  tho 
constant  access  which  members  have  to  tho  books,  as 
in  many  cases  they  are  consulted  at  the  library,  and  not 
taken  away. 

Your  Council  have  the  pleasure  of  announcing  that 
ten  guineas  have  been  voted  by  the  Pharmaceutical  Con¬ 
ference  from  the  Bell  and  Hills’  Fimd  for  the  purchase  of 
books  for  the  library. 

The  Materia  Medica  collection  in  the  museum  is  ar¬ 
ranged,  affording  a  complete  illustration  of  the  Pharma¬ 
copoeia,  and  your  Council  have  much  pleasure  in  inform¬ 
ing  you  that  a  valuable  collection  of  70  dried  medicinal 
plants  has  been  presented  to  the  Association  by  Mr. 
Ransom,  of  Hitchin. 

The  School  of  Pharmacy  has  been  conducted  as  in  the 
previous  sessions.  Y'our  Council  have  had  the  subject 
of  providing  pharmaceutical  education  under  their  care¬ 
ful  consideration,  and  trust  that  the  measures  which 
they  have’adoptcd  will  be  attended  with  increased  success. 

The  lectures  on  the  evenings  of  the  general  meetings, 
by  Mr.  Davies,  F.C.S.,  have  also  been  continued  during 
the  past  session,  and  have,  formed  a  valuable  part  of  the- 
proceedings  of  the  session. 

Your  Council  have  been  much  gratified  by  the  visit  of 
the  Pharmaceutical  Conference.  The  meeting  has  been 
most  successful,  the  numbers  attending  having  been 
large,  and  the  expressions  of  satisfaction  general. 

A  very  pleasant  opportunity  for  friendly  intercourse 
was  afforded  by  the  President  at  his  house  in  J anuary  last, 
and  a  large  number  of  members  enjoyed  his  hospitality. 

The  following  members  of  Council  retire  by  rotation, 
and  are  eligible  for  re-election : — Messrs.  Davies,  Murphy, 
Sharp  and  Dr.  Symes. 

Y'our  Ti-easurer  will  present  a  report  of  the  finance  of 
the  Association  which  shows  a  balance  due  to>  him  of 
£14.  15s,  3 d. 


372 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  5,  1870. 


The  Treasurer  read  the  financial  report. 

The  Liverpool  Chemists'  Association  in  account  with  John 
Shaw,  Treasurer.  Session  1869-70. 


Cash  received.  £.  s.  d. 

Balance  from  1869  . 1  12  6 

109  Members’ Subscriptions  ....£54  0  0 

Less  One  Member  paid  twice  ....  010  0 

-  53  10  0 

Arrears  .  0  15  0 

13  Associates’  Subscriptions  .  3  5  0 

Microscope  Fees  . 0  4  6 

Library  Fines  .  0  3  3 

Balance  due  to  Treasurer  .  14  15  3 


£74  5  6 

Cash  paid.  £.  s.  d. 

Rent  .  10  10  0 

Tea,  Coffee  and  Attendance  .  12  12  10 

Insurance  . . .  1  0  0 

Books  and  Periodicals  . . .  7  5  0 

Printing  and  Stationery .  15  18  0 

Directing-  and  Delivering-  Circulars  .  6  1  6 

Collector’s  Commission  .  116  9 

Mr.  Davies  for  Lectures .  8  5  0 

Secretary’s  Expenses  .  0  15  5 

Librarian  .  4  0  0 

York  Glass  Company  . .  3  1  0 

H.  Gilbertson  and  Sons,  for  Glass . .  3  0  0 


£74  5  6 

Examined  and  found  correct,  October  13th,  1870. 

Charles  Sharp,  \  Auditors 

Alfred  Henry  Mason  /  ^ ltauors * 

Mr.  Shaw  moved  “  That  the  Reports  as  read  be 
adopted,  and  together  with  the  Transactions  of  the 
General  Meetings,  the  Laws  and  Bye-laws,  the  Cata¬ 
logue  of  Books  in  the  Library  and  the  List  of  Members, 
be  printed  and  circulated  among  the  members.”  He 
explained  that  the  deficit  was  caused  by  extra  expendi¬ 
ture  on  the  museum  and  library.  Next  year  there  would 
be  several  items  of  expense  omitted,  and  he  hoped  that 
this  feature  would  not  recur. 

Mr.  Mason  seconded  the  resolution,  and  observed  that 
in  many  cases  employers  did  not  give  sufficient  oppor¬ 
tunity  to  their  apprentices  and  assistants  for  study. 
The  resolution  was  carried  unanimously. 

The  meeting  then  proceeded  to  the  election  of  four 
members  of  the  Council  in  place  of  Messrs.  Davies, 
Murphy,  Sharp  and  Dr.  Symes,  who  retired  by  rotation. 
The  retiring  members  were  re-elected. 

__  Mr.  Mason  moved  that  a  special  vote  of  thanks  be 
given  to  Mr.  Ransom,  of  Hitchin,  for  his  donation  of  70 
dried  medicinal  plants  for  the  museum. 

The  vote  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Bedford  and  carried 
unanimously. 

Mr.  Tanner  moved  the  following  resolution,  That  the 
best  thanks  of  this  meeting  be  given  to  the  donors  to 
the  Library  and  Museum,  and  to  the  authors  of  papers 
during  the  past  session. 

The  motion  was  seconded  by  Mr.  T.  F.  Abraham  and 
passed. 

Mr.  Woodcock  moved,  11  That  the  best  thanks  of  this 
meeting  be  given  to  the  officers  and  council  for  their 
valuable  services  during  the  past  session.” 

Mr.  Tate  seconded  the  motion,  and  alluded  to  the 
constant  attendance  of  the  President,  and  to  the  large 
amount  of  labour  which  had  fallen  upon  the  Secretary 
during  the  session.  Carried  nem.  con. 

Mr.  Bedford  said  that  he  was  glad  that  no  expression 
of  regret  had  appeared  in  the  Report  with  reference  to  the 
deficit,  as  he  considered  that  the  money  had  been  well 
spent  and  fully  accounted  for.  He  called  attention  to 
the  new  arrangements  for  the  School  of  Pharmacy, 


and  hoped  that  a  new  epoch  of  success  had  been  com¬ 
menced.  He  proposed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  Chair¬ 
man. 

Mr.  Tate  seconded  the  motion,  which  was  carried  by 
acclamation,  and  the  meeting  separated. 


SHEFFIELD  PHARMACEUTICAL  AND 
CHEMICAL  ASSOCIATION. 

The  First  General  Monthly  Meeting  of  the  Winter 
Session,  1870-71,  was  held  in  the  Music  Hall,  on 
Wednesday  evening,  October  19th,  when  there  was  a 
good  attendance  of  Members  and  Associates  to  hear 
Dr.  J.  C.  Hall  deliver  the  Inaugural  Address.  Mr.  E. 
Wilson,  the  President,  occupied  the  chair.  Dr.  Hall 
commenced  his  remarks  by  saying  that  he  had  the  honour 
of  being  the  first  President  of  the  Associated  Society  of 
Chemists  and  Druggists  in  that  district,  and  he  could 
not  but  remember  that  he  then  said  that  it  was  of  the 
utmost  possible  importance  that  all  chemists  and  drug¬ 
gists  should  be  associated  together  in  one  body,  and  that 
the  same  good  plan  should  be  adopted  with  regard  to 
them  as  was  pursued  in  respect  to  his  own  profession  in  the 
passing  of  the  Apothecaries  Act  of  1815.  That  Act  had 
done  more  to  advance  the  interests  of  the  medical  profes¬ 
sion  than  any  measure  that  ever  was  passed.  He  had 
the  greatest  possible  respect  for  the  then  Pharmaceutical 
Society,  but  he  could  not  help  at  the  time  expressing  the 
feeling  that  a  wise  thing  would  be  done  if  a  general  as¬ 
sociation  of  chemists  and  druggists  could  be  formed.  He 
Congratulated  the  meeting  that  his  advice  had  been  taken 
and  that  they  now  were  a  united  body.  The  newspapers 
were  filled  with  discussions  on  the  subject  of  technical 
education.  Educational  Boards  were  now  being  formed 
all  over  England ;  and  a  Bill  had  been  passed  with  a 
view  to  giving  that  education  to  the  young  which  had 
been  found  to  be  of  so  much  importance,  more  especially 
in  Germany.  If  young  chemists  and  druggists  did  not 
desire  to  be  pushed  aside,  they  must  be  up  and  doing  ; 
they  must  be  active  in  their  determination  to  possess  that 
general  knowledge  which  would  fit  them  for  the  acquisi¬ 
tion  of  the  technical  learning  absolutely  necessary  to  en¬ 
able  them  to  succeed  in  the  profession  on  which  they  had 
embarked.  They  might  ask  how  could  they  find  time  to 
cultivate  their  intellectual  powers  when  they  had  to  rise 
early  in  the  morning,  and  from  the  tune  they  pulled 
down  the  shutters  to  the  time  they  put  them  up  again 
were  incessantly  engaged.  All  he  could  say  was,  that  as 
soon  as  they  could,  they  should  get  up  an  early- closing 
movement,  which  would  do  them  good  and  do  their 
masters  no  harm.  He  had  always  found,  too,  that  men 
with  an  earnest  purpose  could  find  time  to  make  time, 
and  a  lad  should  get  up  an  hour  before  it  was  time  to 
take  down  the  shutters  rather  than  be  left  behind  in  the 
race.  It  was  really  astonishing  how  fruitful  the  shortest 
season  was  found  to  be  when  rightly  employed.  He 
would  exhort  them  to  profit  by  every  spare  moment,  and, 
amongst  other  things,  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  the 
French  or  German  language, — better  if  of  both.  He 
would  not  deny  any  one  relaxation  from  toil,  but  he 
could  assure  them  that  the  solid  enjoyment  to  be  realized 
in  the  pursuit  of  knowledge  was  to  an  indefinite  degree 
better  than  that  to  be  found  at  casinos  and  singing-rooms. 
He  pointed  to  the  wide  field  which  chemistry  opened  to 
them  for  the  exercise  of  their  talents,  and  besought  them 
not  to  be  daunted  by  any  difficulties  in  the  cultivation  of 
that  science  which  had  done,  and  was  still  destined  to  do, 
so  much  for  mankind.  The  lecturer,  on  resuming  his 
seat,  was  loudly  applauded. 

Mr.  Radley  proposed,  and  Mr.  Wilson  seconded  a 
cordial  vote  of  thanks  to  Dr.  Hall  for  his  able  address, 
and  it  was  unanimously  carried. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  having  been  read  and 
confirmed,  and  other  business  transacted,  the  meeting 
broke  up. 


November  5, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


373 


GLASGOW  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

Annual  Business  Meeting. 

The  Annual  business  Meeting  of  this  Association  was 
held  in  the  Mechanics’  Institution,  38,  Bath  Street,  on 
Thursday  evening  last,  27th  Oct.  There  was  a  largo 
attendance  of  members ;  Mr.  John  M‘Millan,  the  retiring 
President,  occupied  the  chair.  The  Treasurer,  on  being- 
called  upon,  made  his  statement,  which  showed  a  ba¬ 
lance  of  £5.  12s.  6bd.,  being  much  larger  than  that  of 
any  previous  year.  The  Secretary  then  read  the  follow¬ 
ing  report : — 

“  It  is  very  gratifying  to  notice  from  the  records  of 
this  Association,  that  a  gradual  improvement  has  been 
going  on  from  year  to  year  in  the  character  and  im¬ 
portance  of  the  Association  ;  and  this  progress  has  not 
been  less  noticeable  in  the  past  year  than  in  any  of  its 
predecessors.  The  number  of  members  on  the  roll  is 
ninety  (twenty-three  of  whom  are  employers) ;  and 
though  it  is  not  what  might  be  expected  in  such  a  large 
city  as  this,  still  it  shows  a  vast  improvement  from  what 
it  was  five  or  six  years  ago.  This  increase  is  doubtless 
attributable  to  the  interest  created  by  the  passing  of  the 
Pharmacy  Act  in  1868,  an  interest  which,  we  trust,  will 
never  die  away.  The  first  point  of  interest  to  be  noticed 
among  last  year’s  records  is  the  short  course  of  lectures 
on  chemistry"  by  Dr.  Moffat,  all  of  which  were  well 
attended  and  highly  appreciated.  Those  papers  of  pro¬ 
fessional  interest,  read  by  the  members  at  the  fortnightly 
meetings,  were  most  creditable  to  the  authors ;  while  the 
discussions  which  usually  followed  brought  out  the  great 
amount  of  pharmaceutical  knowledge  to  which  many  of 
the  members  have  attained.  The  President’s  Prize  for 
the  best  Essay  on  “  The  Iron  Preparations  of  the  British 
Pharmacopoeia,”  was  not  the  least  important  of  last 
yrear’s  transactions  ;  and  though  it  is  to  be  regretted  so 
few  took  advantage  of  that  respected  gentleman’s  libe¬ 
rality,  it  is  gratifying  to  note  that  the  papers  sent  in 
were  of  such  a  character  that  the  examiners  had  some 
difficulty  in  giving  their  decision.  The  Pharmaceutical 
Journal  has  been  received  regularly"  throughout  the 
year  by  your  Secretary",  and  its  contents  perused  by" 
those  members  who  do  not  get  it  direct.  The  annual 
Soiree  and  Ball  of  the  Trade  was,  as  usual,  quite  success¬ 
ful. 

“  The  arrangements  for  the  forthcoming  Session  are  in 
a  very"  forward  state.  Dr.  Moffat  is  expected  to  follow 
up  his  course  of  lectures  on  chemistry"  of  last  y-ear  this 
Session  also  ;  and  Mr.  Hennedy,  Lecturer  on  Botany 
to  the  Mechanics’  Institution,  is  expected  also  to  contri¬ 
bute  to  this  winter’s  course;  while  ‘  Yolumetrical  Ana¬ 
lysis,’  ‘  Volatile  Oils,’  and  other  important  subjects, 
will  be  discussed  by  the  members.  Your  Committee 
also  trust  that  the  discussion  last  year  on  the  ‘  Trade 
Price  List  ’  and  ‘  Early  Closing  ’  will  not  be  forgotten ; 
for,  though  some  improvement  has  already  been  made, 
we  are  not  to  rest  satisfied.  It  is  the  province  of  socie¬ 
ties  such  as  ours,  as  it  is  to  the  interest  of  every  member 
of  the  profession,  assistant  or  employer,  to  take  up  such 
questions.  Success  in  this,  however,  as  well  as  in  other 
things,  depends  altogether  upon  the  unity  and  co-opera¬ 
tion  of  all.  It  is  therefore  hoped  that  a  large  number  of 
additional  members  will  come  forward  this  Session,  and 
that  the  committee  to  be  appointed  will  work  as  faithfully 
as  former  committees  have  done  in  the  past.” 

The  President,  in  proposing  the  adoption  of  the  re¬ 
port,  delivered  his  valedictory  address,  in  course  of 
which  he  took  occasion  to  notice  the  action  taken  by  this 
and  other  societies  throughout  the  kingdom  in  reference 
to  the  proposed  “  Regulations  for  Keeping  and  Storing- 
Poisons,”  expressing  a  hope  that  we  shall  hear  no  more 
of  them  after  tho  opposition  which  they  met ;  and  that  as 
the  education  of  the  pharmacist  was  now  compulsory, 
the  manner  in  which  his  business  should  be  conducted 
would  be  left  to  his  own  discretion. 


The  reports  were  afterwards  adopted,  and  the  follow¬ 
ing  officers  were  appointed  for  the  ensuing  Session,  viz. : 
— President,  Mr.  Thomas  Davison ;  Vice-President,  Mr. 
R.  Brodie ;  Treasurer,  Mr.  T.  D.  Cassells  ;  Secretary ,  Mr. 
J.  M.  Fairlie ;  with  a  large  and  influential  Committee. 

Votes  of  thanks  to  the  retiring  officers  brought  the 
meeting  to  a  close. 


framlmtp  ai  Siitirtific  Itorittits. 


BRITISH  PHARMACEUTICAL  CONFERENCE. 

Meeting  at  Liverpool. 

Wednesday,  September  14 th. 

{Continued  from  page  354.) 

Mr.  Brady  informed  the  Conference  that  the  meeting  of 
the  General  Committee  of  the  British  Association  had  just 
decided  to  make  some  important  alterations  in  its  future 
procedure  as  to  towns  to  be  visited.  It  had  been  deter¬ 
mined  to  fix  the  place  of  meeting  two  years  beforehand, 
which  would  give  more  time  for  making  local  arrange¬ 
ments.  Of  course,  this  alteration  had  a  special  interest 
for  the  Conference. 

The  President  then  called  for  any  invitations  to  the 
Conference  to  hold  its  meeting  next  year. 

Dr.  Attpield  read  the  following  communication  from 
Glasgow  : — 

11  Glasgoio,  Sept.  10 th,  1870. 

u  Dear  Sir, — Anticipating  that  the  members  of  the 
British  Pharmaceutical  Conference  will  honour  this  city 
with  their  presence  next  year,  the  Committee  of  the 
Glasgow  Chemists  and  Druggists’  Association  have  de¬ 
sired  me  to  express  their  gratification  at  the  prospect  of 
meeting  those  who  are  so  well  known  in  name  among 
them,  but  whom  they  have  as  yet  not  had  the  pleasure 
of  seeing-  here ;  and  to  state  that,  in  the  event  of  such 
being  agreed  upon,  they  will  be  prepared  to  give  them  a 
hearty"  welcome,  and  be  most  happy  to  co-operate  with 
and  assist  them  in  making  the  necessary  arrangements. 

“  I  am,  dear  Sir,  yours  respectfully, 

“  James  M.  Fairlie, 

“  Sec.  G.  C.  and  P.  Assoc.' ’ 

“  To  Dr.  John  Att field, 

“  Sec.  of  the  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference , 
u  Adelphi  Hotel,  Liverpool." 

Mr.  W.  D.  Savage  said  that  at  a  meeting-  of  the  Che¬ 
mists  and  Druggists’  Association  of  Brighton,  it  was  re¬ 
solved  that  the  Mayor  (A.  H.  Cox,  Esq.)  and  himself 
should  appear  at  that  meeting  as  delegates  to  convey  to 
the  Conference  an  invitation  to  visit  Brighton.  He  re¬ 
gretted  that  his  Worship  the  Mayor  was  unavoidably 
prevented  being  present,  but  he  assured  the  Conference 
that,  if  it  visited  Brighton,  it  wouldjbave  a  hearty  wel¬ 
come.  The  wishes  of  the  chemists  of  the  town  had  been 
made  public  in  the  following  announcement,  which  ap¬ 
peared  in  the  Brighton  papers  of  August  30th : — “  At  a 
meeting  of  the  Chemists  and  Druggists’  Association,  held 
in  the  May-or’s  Room  on  Friday  last,  S.  A.  Brew,  Esq., 
in  the  chair,  it  was  unanimously  resolved  to  invite  the 
members  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Conference  to  come  to 
Brighton  next  y'ear,  or  whenever  the  British  Association 
favours  us  with  a  visit ;  and  his  Worship  the  Mayor  (A. 
H.  Cox,  Esq.)  and  W.  D.  Savage,  Esq.,  were  delegated 
to  convey  the  invitation.  At  the  same  meeting,  Mr.  T. 
J.  Gwatkin  sent  in  his  resignation  as  honorary  secretary" 
in  consequence  of  ill-health.  A  vote  of  thanks,  and  a 
unanimous  feeling-  of  regret  to  lose  such  valuable  services, 
was  passed,  and  Mr.  Julius  Schweitzer  was  elected  in  his 
stead.” 

Mr.  Baildon  (Vice-President)  rose  to  convey,  on  behalf 
of  Edinburgh,  the  message  of  invitation  to  the  Conference 
with  which  he  and  his  fellow-delegates  were  charged.  He 
did  not  know  if  the  British  Association  would  select  Edin¬ 
burgh  for  its  meeting  in  1871,  but  he  could  promise  the 
Conference  that  whenever  it  visited  that  city,  it  would 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL 'AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  5,  1870. 


U74« 


receive  a  hearty  -welcome,  and  that  everything  would 
he  done  for  the  convenience  and  gratification  of  its  mem¬ 
bers. 

Mr.  Mackay  cordially  seconded  his  friend  Mr.  Bail- 
don’s  representation  of  the  feeling  of  the  chemists  of 
Edinburgh. 

The  President  expressed  his  sense  of  the  honour  done 
to  the  Conference  by  the  invitations  now  received,  and 
stated  that,  in  accordance  with  usual  custom,  the  decision 
upon  the  place  of  meeting  would  for  this  year  be  postponed 
until  a  final  meeting,  to  be  held  on  the  following  Tues¬ 
day. 


The  Fulmar  (Fulmarus  glacialis )  and 
Fulmar  Oil. 

BY  EDWARD  C.  C.  STANEORD,  F.C.S. 

In  the  parish  of  Harris,  Inverness-shire,  nearly  200 
miles  from  Inverness,  and  about  forty-five  miles  west 
of  the  nearest  point  in  North  Uist,  57°  50'  N.  lat.  and 
8°  3 o'  W.  long.,  is  situated  perhaps  the  most  remarkable, 
■certainly  the  loneliest,  little  village  in  Great  Britain. 

“St.  Hilda’s  lonely  isle  ”  is  seldom  reached  by  stran¬ 
gers,  and  I  therefore  record  briefly  some  impressions 
derived  from  a  recent  visit.  There  are  several  islands, 
-one  of  which  only,  the  south  or  main  island,  is  inha¬ 
bited. 

Seen  from  North  Uist  on  a  very  clear  day,  the  main 
island  has  exactly  the  appearance  of  an  enormous  whale 
on  the  horizon,  and  the  north  islands  look  like  a  huge 
.sea-fortress  with  a  tower  on  each  side. 

The  north  island,  or  island  of  Boreray,  with  its  sur¬ 
roundings,  is  perhaps  the  boldest.  We  sighted  this 
island  in  the  early  morning  looming  through  a  dense 
mist,  and  quite  close  to  the  vessel.  As  the  mist  sud¬ 
denly  cleared  away,  a  startling  scene  presented  itself.  A 
perpendicular  rock,  some  1000  feet  in  height  sheer  out 
■of  the  Atlantic,  towered  above  our  heads.  Its  face, 
covered  with  lichens  of  every  variety  of  colour,  was 
gorgeously  illuminated  by  the  rising  sun.  It  was 
flanked  by  two  enormous  rocky  pillars  800  to  900  feet  in 
height,  one  of  which  is  beyond  the  perpendicular.  This 
rock  is  an  extraordinary  sight ;  it  is  perfectly  white  from 
sea-line  to  summit,  being  completely  covered  with  the 
White  eggs,  droppings  and  feathers  of  an  innumerable 
family  of  Solan  geese,  which  are  said  to  keep  this  rock 
entirely  to  themselves.  We  astonished  the  winged  in¬ 
habitants  by  a  cannon-shot,  but  they  repaid  the  astonish¬ 
ment  with  interest,  for  we  were  unprepared  for  the 
•extraordinary  effect  of  the  myriads  of  wings  which  im¬ 
mediately  hovered  over  and  around  us,  and  turned  day 
into  night. 

St.  Hilda  proper  lies  about  three  miles  south  of  Bore- 
ray.  It  may  be  described  as  a  precipitous  mountain 
ridge,  which  in  some  parts  falls  sheer  into  the  sea,  with 
enormous  precipices  some  1500  feet  high.  It  is  three 
miles  long  and  two  miles  in  its  extreme  breadth.  It  lies 
501  miles  due  west  of  Schillay  Island  in  the  Sound  of 
Harris.  The  formation  is  marked  in  Nicholl’s  geologi¬ 
cal  map  as  greenstone  with  syenite  veins.  On  the  south¬ 
east  side  the  hill  slopes  down  to  a  small  open  bay  much 
exposed,  and  the  landing  is  difficult.  On  this  side  of 
the  hill  the  village  is  situated.  About  thirty  houses, 
well  built  and  better  roofed  than  is  usual  in  the  West 
Highlands,  are  occupied  by  about  seventy  inhabitants. 
The  population  does  not  increase,  the  infant  mortality  is 
large,  and  said  to  be  peculiar  to  the  island. 

It  is  somewhat  remarkable  that  the  inhabitants  are 
not  fishermen,  but  are  all  farmers  and  birdcatchers. 
Until  quite  recently  none  of  the  men  knew  how  to  fish. 
The  staple  food  of  the  island  is  a  bird  called  the  fulmar, 
which  forms  the  subject  of  this  notice. 

This  bird  is  a  species  of  petrel,  the  Fulmar  glacialis ,  or 
Procellaria  glacialis  of  Linnaeus,  the  Fulmar  petrel  of 
Buffon,  belonging  to  the  family  of  Frocellariecc ,  order 


Nat  at  ores.  At  a  distance  the  bird  might  be  mistaken 
for  a  gull,  which  it  resembles  in  size  and  colour ;  it  is 
more  nearly  allied,  however,  to  the  albatross,  which  it 
resembles  in  its  remarkable  bill  and  its  vomiting  oil 
when  attacked.  The  head,  neck  and  lower  parts  are 
pure  white,  the  wings  and  back  bluish-ash,  and  the  bill 
bright  yellow.  The  bill  is  stout  and  thick,  the  upper 
mandible  considerably  hooked  at  the  tip,  where  it  is  also 
dilated  and  sulcated  ;  the  lower  mandible  is  straight  and 
slightly  truncated.  The  nostrils  are  united  in  a  single 
tube.  A  sharp  claw  on  the  legs  takes  the  place  of  a 
hind  toe.  The  flight  of  the  bird  is  very  beautiful,  and 
it  has  a  remarkably  graceful  movement  of  the  head. 
The  fulmar  inhabits  Polar  regions,  and,  so  far  as  I  can 
ascertain,  is  unknown  in  any  other  of  the  outer  Hebrides, 
and  is  found  only  on  St.  Hilda.  It  breeds  enormously 
there  in  the  rocks,  laying  a  single  large  white  egg,  and 
the  young  is  fed  by  the  oily  matter  disgorged  by  the 
parents. 

The  strong  bill  enables  them  to  extract  oily  matter,  by 
perforating  the  skin  of  dead  seals  or  whales. 

In  Newfoundland  they  feed  largely  on  the  codfish 
offal,  and  probably  they  are  experienced  fishers  every¬ 
where. 

The  method  of  catching  these  birds  is  peculiar  to 
St.  Kilda;  the  men  may  well  call  themselves  bird- 
catchers,  for  assuredly  there  are  none  like  them.  The 
process  seems  simple  enough,  but  the  awful  danger  must 
be  seen  to  be  appreciated ;  indeed,  the  climbing  pro¬ 
pensities  of  these  men  would  astonish  any  member  of 
the  Alpine  Club. 

Hanging  on  a  rope  (often  made  of  heather)  the  bird- 
catcher  descends  the  fearful  precipices,  armed  with  a 
sort  of  fishing-rod,  having  a  slip  noose  at  the  end.  This 
he  dexterously  throws  over  the  head  of  the  bird,  which 
is  sitting  on  a  ledge  of  the  rock  beneath  him,  and  hauls 
him  up.  He  then  dips  the  bird’s  beak  into  a  small 
leather  bag  suspended  to  his  waist,  and  there  the  oil  is 
vomited.  The  bird  is  then  killed  and  eaten  as  food, 
the  feathers  and  the  oil  forming  the  two  articles  of  ex¬ 
port.  Beds  made  of  the  feathers  are  said  never  to  har¬ 
bour  insects,  but  it  is  alleged  also  that  they  are  difficult 
to  keep  dry. 

The  oil  is  a  good  deal  mixed  with  a  rougher  sort  from 
Solan  geese,  and  realizes  a  poor  price  as  an  ordinary 
rough  fish-oil.  The  sample  I  exhibit  is  genuine.  It  is 
of  a  clear,  dark,  slightly  reddish  sherry- colour,  and  has 
a  powerful  and  peculiar  odour, — an  odour  of  which  the 
whole  island  and  all  the  inhabitants  smell.  It  is  cer¬ 
tainly  a  fish-oil,  and  it  possesses  nearly  all  the  properties 
of  cod-liver  oil. 

Its  specific  gravity  is  midway  between  cod-liver  and 
sperm. 

Fulmar  Oil,  sp.  gr.  .  .  .  *902 
Cod-liver,  light  „  .  .  .  .  *924 
„  brown,,  ....  *929 
Sperm  Oil  ,,....  *875 

It  is  soluble  in  ether.  Cold  alcohol  dissolves  less  than 
1  per  cent,  and  hot  alcohol  3  per  cent. 

.  Treated  with  a  drop  of  oil  of  vitriol,  it  produces  pre¬ 
cisely  the  same  coloured  reactions  as  cod-liver  oil,  which, 
if  the  generally-received  views  be  correct,  would  show 
it  to  be  a  liver-oil. 

It  contains  a  very  faint  trace  of  iodine. 

Heated  with  oil  of  vitriol  and  excess  of  potash  it  gives 
off  a  strong  odour  of  oil  of  rose. 

Saponified  with  soda,  the  soap  retains  the  peculiar 
odour,  and  yields  a  tolerably  fluid  fatty  acid  on  acidify¬ 
ing  the  solution. 

I  shall  be  glad  if  this  short  notice  of  fulmar  oil  will 
induce  any  one  to  experiment  with  it  for  medicinal  pur¬ 
poses.  I  have  no  doubt  a  good  deal  might  be  obtained, 
and  a  good  market  would  be  a  boon  to  that  isolated 
people. 

The  specimen  of  fulmar  exhibited,  and  which  is 
offered  to  the  Museum  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society, 


November  5,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


375 


Tvas  one  of  two  that  I  had  stuffed  after  keeping  them 
alive  for  about  a  fortnight.  It  has  suffered  a  little  in 
.appearance  from  its  captivity. 

The  President  expressed  his  interest  in  the  singular 
facts  laid  before  the  meeting  by  their  friend  Mr.  Stan¬ 
ford.  The  habits  of  birds  included  some  phenomena 
which  were  startling  by  their  uniformity  and  obedience 
to  some  hidden  rule.  Thus,  the  sea-birds  frequenting 
the  rocks  near  Tenby  were  in  the  habit  of  appearing  for 
the  season  upon  a  certain  and  uniform  day  each  year. 

Mr.  Groves,  remarking  upon  the  powerful  odour  of 
guano  evolved  by  the  stuffed  specimen  upon  the  table, 
.said  that  the  egg  of  the  fulmar  had  also  a  strong  smell. 

A  Member  referred  to  the  recent  Sea-birds  Preserva¬ 
tion  Act,  mentioning  that  the  island  of  St.  Kilda  was 
-specially  exempted  from  its  operation. 

Mr.  Mackay  stated  that  the  deplorably  destitute  con¬ 
dition  of  the  population  of  St.  Kilda  was  ample  justifica¬ 
tion  for  this  exemption.  Sea-birds  and  their  eggs  might 
be  said  to  be  the  sole  food  of  the  people,  who  were  often 
■on  the  verge  of  starvation.  Food  was  occasionally  sent 
to  the  island,  but  sometimes  the  sea  was  so  rough  that 
no  communication  could  take  place  for  a  period  of  months. 
He  had  understood  that  the  skin  of  the  bird  was  made 
into  shoes. 


A  Few  Notes  on  Aloes. 

BY  WILLIAM  A.  TILDEN,  B.SC.  LOND.,  F.C.S., 
Demonstrator  of  Practical  Chemistry  to  the  Pharmaceutical 

Society. 

In  the  list  of  subjects  for  investigation  issued  to  the 
members  of  the  Conference  is  the  following  question,  No. 
176 : — “  Compound  Decoction  of  Aloes  loses  bitterness 
after  some  time  ;  to  what  is  this  due  ?” 

Before  attempting  to  answer  this  question,  a  few  points 
in  the  chemistry  of  aloes  require  notice. 

In  the  last  edition  of  Pereira’s  ‘  Materia  Medica’  four 
proximate  principles  are  enumerated  as  forming  the  most 
important  constituents  of  aloes. 

1.  Aloetin,  aloesin,  amorphous  aloin,  bitter  principle 
of  aloes. 

2.  Crystallized  or  hydrated  aloin. 

2.  Resin. 

4.  Aloesic  acid ;  supposed  by  some  to  be  gallic  acid. 

Experiments  made  by  myself,  in  addition  to  those  al¬ 
ready  published  by  Mr.  Groves  and  other  chemists,  in¬ 
duce  me  to  adopt  an  opinion  respecting  the  constitution 
of  aloes  somewhat  modified  from  the  foregoing. 

I.  Aloetin. — The  first  of  these  bodies  certainly  forms  a 
constituent  very  important  as  to  quantity  of  all  the 
varieties  of  aloes.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  it  is  the 
product  of  the  alteration  of  crystallizable  aloin,  partly 
by  the  action  of  heat,  partly  by  the  oxidizing  action  of 
the  air.  I  regard  it  as  a  mixture  of  anhydrous  aloin, 
which  is  capable  in  the  presence  of  water  of  recovering 
its  crystalline  condition,  and  the  brown  oxidized  sub¬ 
stance  referred  to  further  on. 

II.  Crystallizable  aloin  is  the  body  to  which  especially 
■all  the  varieties  of  aloes  owe  their  bitterness.  Its  isola¬ 
tion  is  usually  thought  to  be  a  matter  of  some  difficulty, 
but  the  following  simple  process  will  furnish  any  desired 
quantity, — pounds  if  necessary. 

Select  a  specimen  of  Barbadoes  aloes,  the  most  power¬ 
fully  odorous  that  can  be  procured,  bright-looking,  and 
not  the  most  waxy :  break  it  up  and  dissolve  it  in  a 
quantity  of  boiling  distilled  water,  to  which  a  few  drops 
of  sulphuric,  sulphurous,  or  hydrochloric  acid  have  been 
added.  The  proportions  employed  may  be  those  of  the 
Pharmacopoeia  for  Extractum  Aloes,  viz.  one  pound  to  a 
gallon.  Let  the  liquid  stand  a  night  to  deposit  resin, 
then  pour  it  off  and  evaporate  quickly  till,  if  1  lb.  of 
aloes  have  been  used,  about  2  lbs.  of  liquid  remain. 

This  left  for  twenty-four  hours  will  deposit  an  abun¬ 
dant  crop  of  yellow  crystalline  matter.  The  fluid  portion 
poured  off  and  duly  concentrated  yields  a  first-rate  ex¬ 


tract.  The  yellow  crystals  must  be  well  drained  and 
pressed,  and  will  yield  pure  aloin  by  recrystallization 
once  or  twice  from  water  mixed  with  a  small  proportion 
of  rectified  spirit.  If  the  selection  of  the  aloes  be  looked 
to,  the  product  will  amount  to  about  20  per  cent,  of  the 
material  employed. 

Aloin  has  been  said  to  be  with  great  facility  decom¬ 
posed  or  altered  by  the  simple  application  of  heat  to  its 
aqueous  or  alcoholic  solution.  I  have  found,  however, 
that  it  will  bear  without  appreciable  change  compara¬ 
tively  rough  treatment  in  this  way,  provided  the  solution 
is  quite  neutral  or  slightly  acidified.  A  little  pure  aloin 
dissolved  in  distilled  water  may  be  evaporated  to  dryness 
and  heated  till  it  fuses,  and  then  redissolved  in  water, 
and  this  operation  repeated  several  times,  but  the  aloin 
undergoes  but  slight  change  of  colour,  and  will  still  crys¬ 
tallize  on  letting  the  solution  stand  for  an  hour  or  two,  or 
almost  immediately  on  stirring.  The  transparent  yellow 
varnish  left  by  evaporating  solutions  of  it  consists  merely 
of  anhydrous  aloin ;  treatment  with  water  restores  to  it 
its  crystalline  state.  It  is  of  course  already  known  that 
if  kept  in  a  moist  state  on  a  water-bath  for  some  time, 
the  pure  substance  becomes  gradually  brown,  and  assumes 
the  appearance  of  Socotrine  aloes ;  but  this  is  a  compara¬ 
tively  slow  process,  and  even  after  some  time  a  consider¬ 
able  quantity  of  the  aloin  is  still  capable  of  crystallizing. 

A  further  illustration  of  its  stability  is  exhibited  in  the 
following  experiment  and  accompanying  specimen. 
About  ten  years  ago,  a  paper  by  Ivosmann  appeared  in  the 
Journal  de  Pharmacies  the  object  of  which  was  to  show 
that  aloes  was  a  mixture  of  glucosidic  bodies.  The  ex¬ 
periments  by  which  grape  sugar  was  obtained,  and  its 
presence  indicated  by  the  asserted  production  of  alcohol 
and  carbonic  acid,  were  performed  by  Kosmann  solely 
upon  Cape  aloes.  I  have  made  a  number  of  experiments 
which  convince  me  that  he  is  quite  incorrect  in  his  state¬ 
ments,  but  as  I  hope  to  reproduce  the  subject  at  a  future 
meeting,  I  will  cite  only  one  experiment  made  with  pure 
aloin.  Some  aloin  was  dissolved  in  about  an  equal  weight 
of  oil  of  vitriol  (it  forms  a  clear  orange  syrup)  ;  the  solu¬ 
tion  was  gently  heated  for  a  few  minutes,  and  then  poured 
into  water  and  kept  boiling  for  about  four  hours. 

Saturated  by  excess  of  pure  carbonate  of  barium,  fil¬ 
tered  and  evaporated  on  a  water-bath,  a  minute  quantity 
of  barium  retained  in  solution  precipitated  by  dilute  sul¬ 
phuric  acid  and  the  liquid  further  concentrated,  unaltered 
aloin  was  deposited  in  yellow  crystals.  A  part  of  the 
solution  which  had  been  thus  treated  was  submitted  to 
the  fermentation  test.  Three  tubes  full  of  mercury  were 
inverted  in  a  small  mercurial  trough.  Into  the  first  was 
introduced  some  washed  yeast  and  distilled  water.  _  Into 
the  second  some  washed  yeast  and  a  weak  solution  _  of 
sugar.  Into  the  third  some  yeast  and  the  boiled  solution 
of  aloin.  The  first  and  third  gave  no  bubbles  of  gas 
larger  than  a  pin’s  head ;  the  second  tube  was  completely 
filled  with  C02  in  half  an  hour. 

To  ascertain  if  the  aloin  prevented  fermentation,  two 
similar  tubes  were  set  up.  The  first  contained  yeast, 
distilled  water  and  sugar ;  the  second  had  in  addition  a 
portion  of  the  solution  which  had  been  boiled  and  tested 
as  above.  Both  gave  gas  in  about  half  an  hour  nearly 
equally.  A  portion  of  the  same  sample  of  yeast  was 
used  in  all  these  cases.  There  is  consequently  no  sugar 
produced  by  boiling  aloin  with  acids,  and  the  aloin  un¬ 
dergoes  practically  no  change. 

The  copper  test  is  inapplicable,  inasmuch  as  pure  aloin 
which  has  undergone  no  manipulation  reduces  alkaline 
copper  solutions  rapidly  and  freely.* 

Aloin  gives  no  apparent  change  with  tartar  emetic  nor 
with  ferrous  salts,  but  with  ferric  salts  it  strikes  an  olive 
coloration,  which  is  destroyed  by  reducing  agents. 

III.  The  substance  termed  resint  which  abounds  in  all 
kinds  of  aloes,  is  not  very  happily  so  called,  for  it  is 
soluble  in  considerable  quantity  in  hot  water.  It  is  said 

*  I  have  found  that  many  other  bodies  besides  the  glucoses 

do  this ;  amongst  others,  tannin  and  orcin. 


876 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  5,  1870. 


to  yield  chrysammic  acid  by  treatment  with  nitric  acid, 
and  is  therefore  related  in  some  way  to  the  soluble  part 
of  aloes;  but  this  is  a  point  upon  which  nothing  is 
known  at  present. 

IV.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  “  aloesic  acid,” 
supposed  to  be  present  in  aloes,  has  no  existence.  The 
reaction  with  iron  salts,  ascribed  to  it  is  due  to  the  crys- 
tallizable  aloin,  and  the  acidity  to  test-paper  presented 
by  an  infusion  of  aloes  is  a  property  of  the  half-oxidized 
substance  contained  in  the  uncrystallizable  “  aloetin.” 

V.  In  addition  to  those  bodies,  there  is  in  all  aloes  a 
small  but  notable  proportion  of  vegetable  albumen.  It 
is  left  when  either  kind  is  exhausted  with  rectified  spirit. 
Its  presence  probably  promotes  the  change  to  which 
solutions  of  aloes  are  always  subject. 

Pure  aloin,  then,  in  pure  solutions,  is  liable  only  to 
very  tardy  alteration.  Exposed  to  the  air,  it  gradually 
absorbs  oxygen,  and  the  solution  deepens  in  colour ;  but 
the  change  which  is  thus  slow  under  such  circumstances, 
is  very  rapid  indeed  if  a  small  quantity  of  any  alkali  is 
introduced.  The  solution  then  becomes  in  a  few  hours 
of  a  deep  brown  colour ;  and  after  the  lapse  of  three  or 
four  days,  if  the  air  be  admitted,  the  aloin  entirely  dis¬ 
appears,  and  is  transformed  into  a  substance,  or  mixture 
of  substances,  which  no  longer  possesses  any  bitterness, 
but  is  perfectly  insipid.  An  experiment  was  made  by 
dissolving  pure  aloin  in  water  with  an  equal  weight  of 
carbonate  of  potassium  ;  the  solution,  left  in  an  imper¬ 
fectly  closed  flask  for  about  a  week,  entirely  lost  its 
bitter  taste.  Nitrate  of  barium  was  added  to  remove  the 
carbonate,  and  the  filtered  liquid  mixed  with  acetate  of 
lead.  The  result  was  a  dirty  greenish  precipitate,  which 
was  removed  and  basic  acetate  of  lead  added.  This  gave 
a  bright  orange  precipitate,  which  was  collected  and 
analysed.  Its  composition,  compared  with  that  of  aloin, 
is  shown  by  the  subjoined  numbers  : — 

Yellow  Precipitate. 

C  . . . .  14-30 

H _  1-40 

0  . . . .  25  71 
Pb  ..  58-59 


Aloin 

(Stenhouse). 

C  .. ..  60-67 
H. . . .  5"65 

O....  33-68 


100-00 


out  fresh  and  intensely  bitter.  I  know  an  instance  of  a 
chemist  who  nearly  lost  a  valuable  customer  in  the  fol¬ 
lowing  way.  He  had  been  in  the  habit  of  dispensing  a 
3xij  mixture,  containing  5yj  vini  aloes.  When  he  first 
prepared  it  he  had  a  pint  of  the  vin.  aloes  in  stock,  which 
probably  had  been  made  five  or  six  years,  and  had  not 
the  slightest  taste  of  aloes  in  it,  but  it  pleased  the  patient. 
At  length  the  stock  was  exhausted,  and  the  mixture  pre¬ 
pared  with  a  fresh  supply  of  vin.  aloes  recently  prepared. 
The  patient  could  hardly  be  convinced  that  a  mistake 
had  not  been  made ;  and  it  was  found  that  5ss  of  the  re¬ 
cently-prepared  vin.  aloes  imparted  more  bitterness  to 
the  §xij  mixture  than  the  whole  5yj  of  the  old.  I  have 
tasted  samples  of  dec.  aloes  comp,  concent.  1  to  3,  almost 
devoid  of  bitterness  ;  and  a  maker  of  that  article  informs 
me  that  it  is  a  most  unsatisfactory  preparation.” 

The  active  constituent  of  aloes  is  still  unknown.  That 
the  purgative  property  is  not  due  to  aloin  was  first  shown 
by  Robiquet,  and  is  proved,  I  think,  by  the  fact  of  its 
complete  disuse  after  a  very  short  trial.  Mr.  Young 
says  that  he  has  not  noticed  any  variation  of  power  in 
the  specimens  of  different  degrees  of  bitterness  which 
he  has  tried;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  I  have  myself 
taken  large  doses  of  the  oxidized  alkaline  solution  of 
aloin,  or  of  extract  of  aloes,  without  perceiving  the 
slightest  effect. 

There  is  in  Druitt’s  ‘Surgeon’s  Yade  Mecum’  a  pre¬ 
scription  which,  I  am  informed  by  the  author,  is  the 
most  active  form  in  which  any  kind  of  aloes  can  be  ad¬ 
ministered.  Barbadoes  aloes  is  made  into  a  mass  with 
strong  sulphuric  acid,  and  in  that  state  roll  ed  out  into 
pills.  Dispensing  difficulties  may  have  stood  in  the  way 
of  the  more  extensive  employment  of  this  form,  but  if  it 
bears  out  the  character  attributed  to  it,  it  would  seem 
that  a  half  oxidized  condition  of  the  aloes  is  the  most 
advantageous. 

The  questions  which  still  remain  to  be  solved  with  re¬ 
ference  to  aloes  are  numerous.  Amongst  others,  two  very 
important  points  seem  to  me  to  require  examination. 
These  are  the  nature  and  properties  of  the  resinoid 
matter,  and  the  cause  of  the  differences  between  the  seve¬ 
ral  varieties  of  this  important  drug  known  to  commerce. 


100-00 

From  which  it  appears  that  whilst  in  aloin  the  carbon 
stands  to  the  oxygen  nearly  as  1  to  4,  in  the  oxidized  sub¬ 
stance  it  is,  roughly  speaking,  in  the  proportion  of  1  to  2. 

Some  extract  of  Socotrine  aloes  was  boiled  with  car¬ 
bonate  of  potash  and  water,  in  the  proportion  directed 
for  the  preparation  of  compound  decoction  of  aloes,  the 
remaining  ingredients  being  omitted.  Keeping  this 
solution  in  the  way  described,  it  also  became  tasteless 
and  gave  the  same  reactions. 

Mr.  William  Young,  pharmaceutical  chemist,  pro¬ 
posed  the  question  which  stands  in  the  Conference  list, 
and  I  am  indebted  to  him  for  the  specimens  upon  the 
table,  and  also  for  his  permission  to  quote  from  a  letter 
with  which  he  has  favoured  me. 

He  says,  “  For  more  than  ten  years  I  have  observed 
that  decoct,  aloes  co.  loses  its  bitterness  on  keeping,  but 
I  cannot  say  that  it  loses  its  aperient  property.  I  have 
frequently  taken  a  fluid  ounce  of  various  degrees  of  bit¬ 
terness,  and  have,  always  found  it  produce  the  desired 
effect.  But  this  is  a  matter  which  does  not  affect  the 
pharmaceutist  so  much  as  the  fact  that  the  public  cannot 
be  persuaded  that  a  medicine  which  is  not  uniform  in 
taste-  is  rightly  prepared.  I  venture  to  assert  that  if  a 
customer  were  to  purchase  successively  at  one  establish¬ 
ment  four  ounces  of  decoct,  aloes  co.  weekly,  and  each 
sample  being  a  week  older  than  the  one  immediately 
preceding,  no  two.  samples  would  be  alike.  Of  course  if, 
as  I  understand  is  the  custom  in  some  large  establish¬ 
ments,  a  large  quantity  is  prepared  and  kept  some  weeks 
before  use,  a  greater  uniformity  would  be  arrived  at ; 
but  that  puts  the  small  tradesman  at  a  great  disadvan¬ 
tage,  who  perhaps  prepares  a  pint  at  a  tune,  and  sends  it 


The  President  said  that  the  question  discussed  in 
Mr.  Tilden’s  paper  had  very  great  interest,  and  he  felt 
surprised  at  the  extent  of  the  change  which  had  been 
found  to  occur. 


fitrlianieutejr  mh  fato  fmaimtjjs. 

A  correspondent  has  forwarded  to  us  a  paragraph  from 
the  Sherborne  Journal ,  in  which  it  is  stated  that  Joseph 
Grassby  alias  Gardiner,  a  chemist’s  assistant,  was  con¬ 
victed  at  the  late  sessions  of  a  robbery  from  Mr.  Mason, 
of  Weymouth,  and  sentenced  to  seven  years’  penal  ser¬ 
vitude.  There  were,  besides,  three  other  indictments 
hanging  over  him.  The  prisoner  is  well  known  in  the 
trade,  having  held  situations  in  many  parts  of  the  coun¬ 
try,  most  of  which  he  lost  through  dishonesty. 


Another  breach  in  the  still  narrowing  circle  of  the 
original  pharmaceutical  body  has  occurred  by  the  re¬ 
moval  of  Mr.  Charles  Wright,  of  Manchester.  Those 
who  were  most  intimately  acquainted  with  the  deceased 
gentleman  have  reason  to  remember  his  kind  and  liberal 
conduct,  affording  every  facility  for  study,  lectuies,  etc. 

For  several  years  past,  increasing  infirmities  have 
prevented  Mr.  Wright  taking  an  active  part  in  business. 
His  death  was  accelerated  by  a  severe  attack  of  bron¬ 
chitis,  the  complaint  which  had  troubled  him  much 
during  the  latter  part  of  his  life.  He. died  last  month  at 
his  country  residence,  Fairfields,  aged  7  0  years,  sincerely 
beloved  and  regretted  by  many  friends.  R.  G.  M. 


November  5,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


377 


Dfotes  n't r  Queries* 

In  order  to  facilitate  reference,,  correspondents  are  re¬ 
quested  to  mark  their  ausivers  in  each  case  with  the  title  and 
number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

[2.]— MOUNTING  MICROSCOPIC  OBJECTS. — Allow 
me  to  recommend  It.  J.  M.  to  peruse  Davies  on  ‘  Preparing 
and  Mounting  Microscopic  Objects  ’  (2s.  6d.,  Hardwicke),  tlie 
most  comprehensive  book  on  the  subject. — J.  H. 

[12.] — TEETH  STOPPING.— W.  A.  C.  sends  the  follow¬ 
ing  recipe  for  the  preparation  of  enamel  for  decayed  teeth : — 
R.  Hydrargyri, 

Pul  vis  Stanni,  aa  5ss. 

Shake  together  for  five  minutes,  then  mix  in  the  palm  of 
the  hand  to  a  paste  and  fill  up  the  cavity.  No  food  should 
be  eaten  for  three  hours  afterwards. 

[13.] — EAU  SEDATIVE. — I  suppose  the  “elegance”  re¬ 
quired  by  your  correspondent  in  eau  sedative  is  the  removal 
of  the  particles  of  camphor.  The  only  plan  I  know  is  by 
filtration  ;  or  would  it  not  be  better  to  substitute  aq.  camph. 
cone,  for  the  sp.  camph.  ?  On  the  Continent  the  working 
classes,  when  purchasing  eau  sedative,  generally  ask  for  the 
bottle  to  be  “well  shaken  up,”  the  disciples  of  Raspail  pre¬ 
ferring  to  have  some  body  in  then.'  lotion. — Piiakmacien. 

Your  correspondent  [13]  has  not  sent  the  correct  formula 
for  the  above  preparation.  The  following  is  Raspail’s  recipe 
for  the  weak  eau  sedative,  No.  1,  which  is  that  adopted  in 
the  Paris  Codex : — 

Ammoniaque  liqiude  de  22°,  equiv.  to  liq.  ammonite 

*923,  or  about  double  the  strength  of  liq.  ammo- 

ni®,  B.P . . . f^ij 

Alcool  camphre  (1  to  9),  equiv.  to  sp.  camph.  B.P.  .  fjiiss 

Sel  marin  (sodii  chloridi) . §ij 

(not  Salts  gviiss.) 

Eau  distillee  (aq.  destill.) . f^xxxss 

(not  Sxvij.) 

Dissolve  the  salt  in  a  small  quantity  of  water,  add  the  am¬ 
monia,  then  the  sp.  camph.,  and  last  the  water  (by  small  por¬ 
tions),  diligently  shaking  after  each  addition. 

Nos.  2  and  3  differ  from  the  above  only  in  the  quantity  of 
ammonia, — No.  2  containing  3xx  and  No.  3  5xxvin  the  litre 
(gxxxv).  The  solution  is  usually  filtered,  but  some  pharrna- 
ciens  send  it  out  turbid. — E.  B.  S. 

[14.] — SACHET  PERFUME. — Sachet  perfume  may  be 
composed  of  nearly  any  agreeable  mixture  of  dry  scents,  such, 
for  instance,  as  lavender  flowers,  orris  root,  rose  leaves,  and 
benzoin,  of  each  equal  parts,  with  a  little  tonquin,  vanilla  and 
musk  added  according  to  taste.  It  should  be  ground  up  or 
roughly  powdered.  Or  paper  may  be  perfumed  by  steeping 
cotton  wool  in  any  favourite  esprit,  and  placing  it  when 
dry  in  a  desk  with  the  paper. — Give  and  Take. 

[15.] — MEZEREON  EXTRACT. — The  mezereon  extract 
in  tinct.  sapon.  co.  is  doubtlessly  added  to  increase  the  sti¬ 
mulating  properties. — Give  and  Take. 

[16.]— ROME  AND  PARIS. — “  Pharmacien  ”  begs  to 
inform  A.  S.  that  the  hours  in  an  English  Continental  phar¬ 
macy  are  generally  from  7  a.m.  to  10  p.m.,  and  often  much 
longer  in  the  season,  Sundays  and  week-days  alike. 

E.  13.  S.  says  the  time  of  closing  in  Paris  varies  from 
10  p.m.  to  midnight  in  different  quarters  of  the  city.  Usually, 
however,  regular  work  is  suspended  at  nine  o’clock,  but  the 
eleves  remain  ordinarily  in  the  pharmacie  (as  their  sitting- 
room),  and  are  expected  to  spend  their  evenings  in  study. 

[18.] — RUBIN P-S  CAMPHOR.— Alcohol  and  S.V.R. 
partes  aequales.  Camphor  ad  sat. — Inquirer. 

“An  Unexamined  Member ”  writes  that  Rubini’s  Tinct. 
Camphor  is  made  by  dissolving  5  oz.  camphor  in  6  oz.  fluid 
sp.  vini  rect.  60  over  proof,  i.  e.  in  its  own  weight  of  spirit. 
He  finds,  however,  that  in  winter  part  of  the  camphor  is  depo- 

a-'-  .  ~—a  --  -  »T„rl , .  —  r 

rieneed  this  objection  to  so  strong  a  solution. 

“  Bonder  e”  says  the  term  “Rubini’s  Camphor”  has  been 
applied  by  a  homoeopathic  house  in  the  north  to  ordinary 
camphor  pilules,  he  supposes  “  in  the  exercise  of  homoeopathic 
licence.” 


[22.] — COSMETIQUE. — Two  parts  wax  and  one  part  oil, 
melted  together,  and  coloured  to  the  desired  shade  by  grind¬ 
ing  or  rubbing  up  in  a  mortar  brown  umber  with  oil.  Or, 
two  parts  beef  suet  and  one  part  wax,  and  coloured  as  above. 
— Give  and  Take. 

X.  22.  (Birmingham)  recommends  the  following: — 

R.  Adeps  pra3p.  melted  with  a  third  of  its  weight  of  wax 
in  winter  or  half  in  summer ;  colour  with  fine  brown  umber ; 
strain.  Stir  it  constantly,  and  when  it  begins  to  thicken, 
pour  it  out  into  proper  moulds. 

[23.]— COLOURING  FOR  POMADES.— If  S.  W.  S. 
adds  a  small  quantity  of  powdered  gamboge  he  will  find  it  a 
nice  colouring  ingredient,  and  unaffected  by  exposure  to 
light.— B.  T.  M.  J  J 

J.  Barker  (Sudbury)  says  that  Mi*.  Alfred  Allchin  supplies 
an  oleum  flav.  which  answers  the  purpose  well  for  colouring 
oil  yellow,  and  does  not  fade  from  exposure  to  the  light  for 
some  months. 

I.  F.  Broion  (Dover)  says  that  yellow  wax  is  worth  a  trial 
as  a  yellow  colouring  if  used  instead  of  white  wax  in  proper 
proportions,  and  care  be  taken  to  select  a  clean,  bright  sample. 

T.  F.  Htodson  (Exeter)  recommends  gamboge  digested  in 
olive  oil  for  several  days,  with  frequent  shakings,  and  either 
decanted  after  settling  for  a  couple  of  days  or  filtered. 

PULYIS  GLYCYRRniZJi  CO.  (Pharm.  Boruss.).— 
In  answer  to  W.  T.  (Edinburgh)  we  give  the  formula — 


R.  Foliorum  sennoe . 2 

Radicis  glycyrrhizte,  singulorum  pulveratof  um 

partes  duas . 2 

Fructuum  foeniculi  pulveratorum . 1 

Sulphur  is  depur  ati,  singulorum  partem  unam  1 
Sacchari  albissimi  pulverati  partes  sex  ...  6 
Misceantur. 

EASTON’S  SYRUP  OF  PHOSPHATE  OF  IRON, 


QUINIA  AND  STRYCHNIA.— In  answer  to  «  Dispenser ,” 
the  following  is  the  formula,  as  given  by  Squire  (p.  125) : — 
Sulphate  of  iron,  2£  oz. ;  phosphate  of  soda,  3  oz. ;  sulphate 
of  quinia,  l  Jr  oz.  and  48  grains ;  strychnia,  24  grains ;  diluted 
phosphoric  acid,  56  oz. ;  sugar,  56  oz.;  distilled  water,  q.  s. 
Dissolve  the  sulphate  of  iron  and  the  phosphate  of  soda  in 
separate  portions  of  water,  mix  the  solutions,  collect  the  pre¬ 
cipitate,  wash  it,  dissolve  it  and  the  quinia  and  strychnia  in 
the  phosphoric  acid,  mix  all  together,  add  the  sugar  to  form 
a  syrup. 


[24.]— TANNIN  IN  GALLS. — F.  C.  is  desirous  of  know- 
ing  the  proportion  of  tannin  in  the  following  galls  : — English, 
Aleppo,  Mecca,  Chinese  and  Japanese. 

[25.] — FUMIGATION. — “  Inquirer  ”  wishes  to  know  the 
best  method  for  fumigating  rooms  after  fever. 

[26.1 — CHLORAL  HYDRATE. — What  is  the  dose  of 
chloral  hydrate  and  in  what  diseases  is  it  generally  admi¬ 
nistered  ? — Chemictts. 

[27.] — BENZINE. — Can  chemists  sell  benzine,  for  clean¬ 
ing  purposes,  in  Qd.  or  Is.  bottles  without  having  a  petroleum 
licence  ?” — Chemicus.  ; 

[28.]—  SYMPATHETIC  INK.  —  J.  H.  B.  would  feel 
obliged  if  any  of  our  readers  would  furnish  him  with  a  good 
recipe  for  sympathetic  ink  which  will  become  legible  upon  the 
application  of  steam  or  heat. 

[29.] — QUININE  MIXTURE. — A.  P.  S.  wishes  for  a 
formula  for  a  quinine,  sarsaparilla  and  dandelion  mixture, 
with  the  dose. 

[30.]— HAIR-OIL  SCENT. — G.  C.  W.  asks  for  a  good 
hair-oil  scent  formula.  It  must  not  contain  ess.  limonis  or 
be  too  costly. 

[31.] — TOOTH  PASTE. — X.  R.  would  be  glad  of  a  good 
recipe  for  making  cherry  or  rose  tooth-paste  that  will  not  ter- 
ment. 

[32.] — DENTISTRY. — S.  S.  would  be  glad  of  information 
as  to  the  qualification  required  to  take  a  “  surgeon-dentist’s  ” 
diploma,  and  the  best  books  treating  of  the  subjects  taken  up 


Several  queries  have  been  received  which  have  not  been 
accompanied  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  senders,  in  com¬ 
pliance  with  the  regulations  printed  at  the  head  of  these 
columns. — Ed.  Ph.  J. 


378 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  5, 1S79. 


tompnlmixe, 

***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith . 

PHAEMACEUTICAL  TITLES. 

Sir,— As  you  have  given  a  place  in  your  Journal  to  the 
remarks  of  “An  Aspirant  to  the  Major,”  I  would  submit  the 
following  facts  to  your  kind  consideration : — 

Up  to  my  fourteenth  year  I  received  the  education  of  a 
gentleman ;  then,  being  unfortunately  deprived  of  the  indul¬ 
gence  of  further  school-training  by  the  death  of  my  father,  I 
was  apprenticed  to  a  chemist  in  the  year  1860,  when  the 
watch-word  was  “  push  on  ”  and  time  was  occupied  by  work 
and  bed.  After  a  five  years’  apprenticeship  and  six  years’ 
assistancy  under  these  unfavourable  circumstances,  I  have, 
by  dint  of  perseverance  and  unwearied  attention  to  study, 
succeeded  in  passing  the  Modified  Examination,  only  to  find 
that  my  position  will  not  permit  a  further  outlay  of  time  and 
money  for  the  Preliminary,  Minor  and  Major.  Ann  I  not  to 
be  excused  for  wearing  the  hardly  earned  plume  of 

Associate  oe  the  Phakmaceutical  Society? 

Sunlury,  September  26th,  1870. 


Sir, — I  should  like,  as  a  “  Major  man,”  to  express  a  hope 
that  Pharmaceutical  Chemists  will  make  an  effort  to  obtain  a 
title  sufficiently  distinctive  to  recompense  them  in  some  degree 
for  then’  labours.  The  principal  facts  of  the  case  have  been 
very  clearly  stated  by  “  An  Aspirant  to  the  Major,”  and  it  is 
not  only  those  who  aspire  to,  but  also  those  who  have  passed 
the  higher  examination  who  are  interested  in  the  subject. 

Until  about  two  years  ago,  membership  of  the  Society  was 
an  honour  granted  only  to  Pharmaceutical  Chemists,  and  the 
terms  were  generally  regarded  as  synonymous;  then,  per¬ 
haps,  the  title  was  sufficient ;  but,  for  the  good  of  the  Society 
and  to  prevent  opposition  to  the  “  Pharmacy  Act,”  member¬ 
ship  was  thrown  open  to  all  chemists  and  druggists  in  busi¬ 
ness  and,  now  the  difference  between  the  numerous  titles  of 
the  Society,  so  nearly  alike,  is  scarcely  understood  by  the  trade 
itself,  while  it  certainly  never  will  be  by  the  public  at  large. 
The  creation  of  the  new  titles  would  in  no  way  interfere  with 
existing  interests,  therefore  it  need  cause  no  jealousy,  as 
the  examination  would  be  open  to  all,  and  those  who  have  the 
intellect  might  also  have  the  title.  “  Omega,”  at  the  com¬ 
mencement  of  his  letter,  satirically  criticizes  the  vanity  of 
those  who  desire  the  title  of  “  Fellow,”  and  shortly  after  falls 
into  the  same  weakness  himself,  complaining  that  a  flaming 
diploma  is  not  awarded  to  the  Modified.  For  the  admission 
that  he  would  grant  what  we  ask  without  a  moment’s  re¬ 
flection,  I  am  grateful,  and  hope  it  will  be  borne  in  mind. 
I  also  quite  agree  with  him  on  another  point,  which  is,  that 
unless  some  real  advantage  be  given  to  those  who  pass  the 
professional  examination  the  number  who  enter  for  it  will 
ultimately  fall  off.  In  fact,  I  know  several  who  would  readily 
attempt  it,  if  any  reasonable  advantage  would  be  gained  by 
so  doing.  Your  correspondent  makes  a  statement  which  I 
believe  to  be  incorrect,  namely,  that  the  passing  of  the  Modi¬ 
fied  involves  a  yearly  subscription.  I  always  understood  that 
the  expenses  cease  with  a  nominal  examination  fee. 

In  conclusion,  I  would  ask  “  Omega  ”  whether,  solely  on 
the  ground  that  knowledge  should  make  men  humiliate  them¬ 
selves,  he  could  justly  object  to  a  distinctive  title  as  a  re¬ 
ward  for  hard  study  and  no  inconsiderable  expense  ?  In  re¬ 
ply  to  his  quotation,  I  would  recall  to  hi3  memory  another 
one  equally  important,  about  “  giving  honour  where  honour 
is  due.” 

I  hope  this  subject  will  be  fully  discussed, — not  in  a  party 
spirit  or  in  one  of  jealousy,  which  would  break  the  unity  of 
the  Society  and  endanger  its  prosperity,— but  as  a  matter  of 
justice  to  those  who  have  passed  the  Major  and  as  an  incen¬ 
tive  to  those  who  aspire  to  do  so.  M.P.S. 


Si1;,— Respecting  pharmaceutical  titles,  would  it  not  be 
well  for  Omega”  and  his  critics  to  display  rather  less  asneritv  ? 
I  owe  my  membership  to  the  mere  fact  of  being  m  business  be¬ 
fore  July,  1868,  but  think  it  really  hard  that  those  who  pass 
the  Major  Examination  have  not  a  title  manifestly  superior 
to  mine.  I  would  therefore  support  the  movement  for  urging 
the  creation  of  a  class  of  Fellows,  to  consist  of  all  wrho  pass 


or  have  passed  the  Major  Examination,  and  of  the  founders,, 
among  whom  I  would  include  all  who  were  members  before 
the  passing  of  the  first  Pharmacy  Act  in  1852.  The  case  of 
“  Modified  Men”  also  presents  some  degree  of  hardship,  but 
I  apprehend  it  is  only  what  is  almost  necessarily  consequent 
on  the  passing  of  any  such  law  as  the  Pharmacy  Act,  intro¬ 
ducing  a  new  era  in  pharmacy.  However  these  gentlemen  may 
console  themselves  with  the  reasonable  prospect  of  reaping 
the  benefit  of  it  in  years  yet  to  come,  when  the  Act  shall 
have  had  time  to  produce  its  natural  result  of  diminished 
competition. 

An  Unexamined  Membeb. 


Sir, — Permit  me  to  add  my  quota  to  the  discussion  now 
going  on  in  the  pages  of  the  Phabmaceutical  Joubnal 
relative  to  the  advisability  of  establishing  a  Fellowship.  For 
some  time  I  have  held  the  opinion  that  such  a  course  would 
be  the  best  that  could  be  followed  under  existing  circum¬ 
stances.  In  the  first  place,  I  consider  it  would  tend  to  un¬ 
ravel  the  mystery  which  at  present  shrouds  all  pharmaceutical 
qualifications  and  titles  in  the  public  mind;  secondly,  it 
wrould  tend  to  restore  the  confidence  of  a  large  majority  of 
gentlemen  (who  have  passed  the  “Major  ’’Examination) 
and  allay  their  dissatisfaction,  felt  at  several  clauses  in  the- 
“ New  Pharmacy  Act;”  an  Act  which  I  consider  was  a  great 
injustice  to  pharmacists,  and  by  which  the  then  Council  of 
the  Society  certainly  forfeited  all  claims  to  our  confidence.  I 
think  there  is  no  question  that  the  title  “  Royal  College  of 
Pharmacists  ”  would  have  much  greater  weight  with  the  pub¬ 
lic  than  the  present  title,  and  convey  a  better  idea  of  what 
our  Society  really  is.  Most  people  seem  to  imagine  that 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society  is  of  a  similar  nature  to  an  Odd¬ 
fellows’  or  Foresters’  Society;  in  fact,  I  have  several  times 
been  asked  by  persons,  noticing  my  diploma  of  membership 
from  a  distance,  to  what  lodge  I  belonged;  imagine  how- 
gratified  I  feel,  at  such  times,  to  receive  such  an  acknow¬ 
ledgment  for  money  and  time  expended  in  obtaining  the  said 
diploma ! 

I  will  now,  with  your  permission,  offer  a  suggestion  for 
the  consideration  of  those  who  hold  similar  views  to  mine*, 
as  I  think  there  has  now  been  plenty  of  talking,  and  it  is 
quite  time  some  steps  were  taken  to  promote  the  object  we 
have  in  view. 

I  would  suggest,  then,  that  a  meeting  be  called  by  an¬ 
nouncement  in  the  Journal  (to  be  held  in  town)  to  draw  up 
a  petition  for  presentation  to  the  Council,  praying  them  to 
frame  a  short  measure  for  the  ensuing  session  of  Parliament* 
embodying  the  following  views 

1st.  The  title  “Pharmaceutical  Society”  to  be  altered  for 
the  title  “  Royal  College  of  Pharmacists.” 

2nd.  Founders  of  the  Society,  Pharmaceutical  Chemists* 
and  all  who  pass  the  “  Major,”  to  be  admitted  Fellows  of  the- 
College,  with  the  title  “  Pharmacist.” 

3rd.  All  who  pass  the  Minor  or  Modified  Examinations,, 
together  with  those  now  in  business,  to  be  admitted  “  Mem¬ 
bers. with  the  title  “  Chemist  and  Druggist.” 

If  this  could  be  carried  out,  it  would  have  the  effect  of 
showing  to  the  public  that  there  is  a  difference  between  a 
Pharmaceutical  Chemist  and  one  who,  having  passed  or  com¬ 
plied  with  the  forms  of  a  Modified  Examination,  flamingly 
announces  himself  as  a  “  Chemist  by  Examination,”  “  Mem¬ 
ber  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,”  etc.  If  this  course  can¬ 
not  be  carried  out,  then  wre  must  use  our  elective  powers  in 
altering  the  constitution  of  the  Council ;  we  must  make  it  a-. 
sine  qua  non  that  all  who  seek  re-election  must  first  posi¬ 
tively  express  themselves  in  favour  of  these  views  before  wo- 
accord  to  them  our  support. 

Tamworth,  Oct.  31s£,  1870.  T.  B.  AiiKlNS- 


Sir, — It  seems  “Aspirant  to  the  Major”  would  fain  in¬ 
duce  the  Council  to  ignore  the  nationally-recognized  title  of 
Pharmaceutical  Chemist,  a  title  obtained,  after  immense 
trouble,  by  a  special  Act  of  Parliament. 

The  assertions  of  your  correspondent  must  appear  ex¬ 
tremely  vague  to  those  who  understand  the  past  history  of 
pharmacy  and  fully  appreciate  its  present  position.  The’ 

SDGcinl  tatm viloorpa  nP  T^V»a i»»y» onanf J . 

1st.  The  honourable  distinction  acquired  by  those  vn» 
have  shown  sufficient  diligence  and  interest  in  their  profes¬ 
sion  to  obtain  the  requisite  theoretical  and  practical  infor¬ 
mation  which  enables  them  to  pass  the  examinations  of  the 
Society.  This  can  bo  no  vague  honour,  as  it  is  well  known. 


November  5,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


379 


that  the  Pharmacy  Act  prevents  any,  excepting  the  “foun¬ 
ders,”  from' obtaining  the  honour  without  examination. 

2nd.  The  recognition  and  reliance  placed  in  this  class  of 
men  by  the  medical  profession,  though  there  may  be  no  per¬ 
sonal  knowledge  of  the  dispenser  on  the  part  of  the  pre¬ 
scribe^  further  than  that  he  holds  the  rank  and  title  of  a 
Pharmaceutical  Chemist. 

3rd.  Pharmaceutical  Chemists,  being  the  only  fully  quali¬ 
fied  body,  are  empowered  to  elect  the  largest  number  of  their 
body  to  the  Council,  so  that  as  a  natural  consequence  they 
will  always  occupy  an  influential  position. 

4th.  The  preference  given  by  Government  and  local  go¬ 
verning  bodies  to  Pharmaceutical  Chemists  as  dispensers  or 
analysts. 

5th.  Exemption  from  serving  on  juries,  a  matter  of  no 
small  moment,  as  our  young  friend  will  find  when  he  gets 
into  business. 

In  conclusion,  let  me  remind  any  other  “  Aspirants  to  the 
Major”  that  the  examinations,  like  those  of  the  legal  and 
medical  professions,  are  fitting  to  the  requirements  of  the 
times,  and  adapted  more  especially  to  the  wants  of  practical 
pharmacy,  and  if  young  men  think  they  deserve  higher  dis¬ 
tinctions  for  what  they  know  let  them  measure  their  abilities 
-against  the  standard  of  any  of  our  learned  universities,  and 
there  seek  the  high  degrees  and  diplomas  ambition  leads 
them  to  crave  after.  Pharmacist. 

*#*  Our  correspondent  might  also  have  added  that  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Chemists  are  alone  eligible  for  the  responsible  and 
eminently  honourable  position  of  Examiner,  and  that  they 
alone  receive  the  special  original  diploma  with  which  the  public 
and  medical  men  have  been  gradually  taught  to  associate 
'high,  professional  attainments.  No  other  graduates  in  phar¬ 
macy,  whether  examined  or  not,  receive  a  diploma. 

In  regard  to  connection  with  our  Society — which  is  alto¬ 
gether  voluntary — “Majors”  are  eligible,  immediately  after 
they  have  passed,  to  be  elected  full  Members  of  it;  while 
“ Minors” and  those  who  pass  the  Modified  Examination  are 
at  no  time  eligible  for  membership.  The  highest  position  the 
latter  can  obtain,  even  when  in  business,  is  that  of  Associate. 

It  is  obvious  that  when  the  aspiring  youths  of  1870  shall 
have  become  the  successful  hardworking  pharmacists  of  the 
future,  the  anomaly  of  which  they  now  complain  will  have,  in 
great  part  if  not  entirely,  disappeared  by  efflux  of  time,  and 
the  Society  will  be  constituted  of  Members  who  will  be  ex¬ 
amined  Pharmaceutical  Chemists,  and  Associates  who  will 
be  examined  Chemists  and  Druggists. 

This  correspondence,  which  must  now  close,  seems  to  indi¬ 
cate  that  to  avoid  being  mistaken  for  an  wwexamined  com¬ 
petitor,  or  for  one  who  has  passed  only  the  Modified  Examina¬ 
tion,  the  safest  way  is  to  “go  in”  heart  and  soul  for  the 
“Major,”  so  as  to  win  a  living  title  which  cannot  be  assailed 
or  simulated,  that  of  a  highly  educated  and  accomplished 
professional  man. — Ed.  Ph.  J. 

Loss  op  Spirit  in  Making  Tinctures. 

Sir, — The  kind  remarks  of  your  correspondent  Mr.  J.  T. 
Slugg,  of  Manchester,  upon  my  communication  “The  Loss  of 
Spirit  in  Making  Tinctures  of  the  British  Pharmacopoeia  ” 
(Pharmaceutical  Journal,  October  22nd),  require  some 
further  explanation  from  me. 

The  loss  of  37'5  per  cent,  of  alcohol  (’838)  in  making  tinct. 
zingib.  fort,  in  accordance  with  the  Pharmacopoeia  is  strictly 
correct,  as  the  “  sufficiency  ”  to  produce  the  measure  there 
ordered  is  represented  by  the  volume  of  the  final  product, 
plus  37’5  per  cent. 

Now  the  Pharmacopoeia  does  not  mention  (as  in  other 
tinctures)  the  application  of  pressure  to  the  contents  of  the 
percolator,  and  for  the  reason  that  its  compilers  well  knew 
that  such  a  large  quantity  of  ingredient  was  only  to  be  ex¬ 
hausted  by  the  displacement  of  one  pint  of  fluid. 

Perfection  would  seldom  have  been  attained  had  the  per¬ 
colation  been  made  with  75  per  cent,  of  the  alcohol  (as 
tinct.  zingib.),  or  even  with  the  whole  of  the  spirit,  and  then 
pressure  applied  to  the  ingredients,  finally  making  up  the 
measure. 

No  pharmacist  would  (as  Mr.  Slugg  has  properly  queried) 


consider  as  worthless  any  marc  containing  such  a  large  per¬ 
centage  of  alcohol ;  he  would,  of  course,  resort  to  pressure  or 
heat  for  its  recovery.  By  the  former  method  he  would  ob¬ 
tain  12  per  cent.,  and  by  the  latter,  with  suitable  apparatus, 
at  least  20  per  cent,  should  be  recovered. 

The  subject  of  hydraulic  pressure,  as  adapted  to  small 
pharmacies,  I  hope  shortly  to  comment  upon. 

Charles  Umnet. 

Laboratory,  40,  Aldersgate  Street,  E.C. 


Druggists’  Charges. 

Sir, — The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  prescription  dispensed 
to-day,  and  which  will  be  charged  more  than  “half-a-crown,” 
which  appears  to  be  the  utmost  value  put  on  any  prescrip¬ 
tion  by  some  of  our  “  medical  friends.”  It  may  perhaps  in¬ 
terest  some  of  our  “pharmaceutical  brethren  ”  to  see  it. 

E.  Quince  Disulph.  5iss 
Acidi  Nitrici  dil.  5iij 
Aquae  ^j- 

M.,  signa:  A  teaspoonful  to  be  mixed  with  6  oz.  cold  water 
and  two  tablespoonfuls  to  be  taken  twice  or  thrice  a  day. 

Cheltenham,  Oct.  2 oth,  1870.  D.  C.  L. 


The  Major  Examination. 

Dear  Sir, — Allow  me  to  give,  in  reply  to  “  A  Candidate  for 
the  Major,”  the  following  extract  from  the  Pharmaceuti¬ 
cal  Journal  of  March,  1869 : — 

“Do  not  be  misled  by  those  who  state  it  to  be  a  ‘mere  ba¬ 
gatelle.’  Get  up  as  thoroughly  as  you  can  the  different 
branches  mentioned  in  the  synopsis,  and,  if  practicable,  spend 
at  least  a  week  in  daily  attendance  at  the  library  and  museum 
of  the  Society.  You  will  then  find  it  comparatively  easy; 
but  if  you  come  up  the  day  before  with  an  idea  that  it  is 
nothing,  and  without  that  preparation,  you  will  probably  be 
numbered  with  those" (of  whom  there  is  more  than  one  West- 
End  assistant)  who,  in  failing,  have  only  to  blame  their  own 
carelessness.” 

Wakefield,  Oct.  31  st,  1870.  Thomas  W.  Romans. 


Pharmacy  and  Medical  Practitioners. 

Sir, — “  Reformer’s  ”  letter  is  so  offensively  worded,  that  it 
entitles  us  to  unusual  liberty  of  speech  respecting  it,  and,  as 
in  the  attack  he  leaves  open  his  most  vulnerable  side,  I  shall 
not  hesitate  to  throw  a  spear. 

We  are  charged,  I  understand,  with  “prescribing,”  high 
charges,  and  “general  insubordination”  to  the  profession. 
Well,  I  suppose,  to  the  first  charge  we  must  plead  guilty; 
and,  speaking  for  myself,  I  wish  I  were  more  guilty  of  this 
offence,  and,  for  these  reasons : — Firstly,  I  consider  myself  quite 
as  competent  as  some  medical  men  to  deal  with  small  matters. 
If  the  parties  applying  to  me  are  satisfied  with  the  aid  they 
obtain,  and  they  ought  to  be  the  sole  judges  of  their  own 
affairs,  it  is  not  for  medical  men  to  feel  aggrieved  because  they 
will  not  accommodate  themselves  to  public  requirements. 

Secondly,  because  the  medical  man  frequently  keeps  what 
he  calls  an  “open  surgery,”  where  he  vends  pennyworths  of 
senna,  salts,  etc.,  to  servant  girls,  and  yellow  ochre  for  the 
joiners’  planes. 

Now,  as  to  high  charges  for  dispensing,  I  believe  the  usual 
charge  for  an  8-oz.  mixture,  coming  from  a  surgery,  is  2s.  Qd. 
exclusive  of  an  additional  charge  for  investigating  the  patient’s 
complaint  at  the  surgery ;  whereas  the  druggist’s  charge  for 
the  same  mixture  averages  from  Is.  6d.  to  2s.  at  the  most ;  it 
is  usually  infinitely  better  prepared,  more  neatly  and  atten¬ 
tively  finished,  probably  contains  very  superior  ingredients, 
and  has  not  been  put  together  by  his  wife  or  by  a  man  who 
also  serves  as  groom. 

A  surgeon  of  standing,  extracted  a  guinea  from  my  pocket 
in  less  than  five  minutes,  for  an  opinion  upon  a  rather  trifling 
matter,  although  I  called  at  his  house  for  it,  and  he  knew  me 
to  be  a  druggist ;  on  the  other  hand,  a  perfect  stranger,  pass¬ 
ing  through  the  town,  came  to  me  with  his  wife  and  family, 
and  was  surprised  that  I  did  not  take  cognizance  of  his  being  a 
medical  man  and  make  a  large  reduction  upon,  the  mixture 
and  other  things  he  was  taking.  The  acquisitiveness  of 
druggists  is  not  to  be  compared  to  that  of  the  medical  man — 
M.D.  shall  I  say  P — who  bargains  with  “Reformer’s”  incom¬ 
petent  druggist  that  he  is  to  get  for  9 d.  that  for  which  he 
himself  charges  his  patient  2s.  Qd.,  without  even  the  trouble 
of  sending  it  home.  _  ... 

A.s  to  the  third  charge,  I  consider  myself  and  my  fraternity 


380 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  5,  1870. 


quite  equal  to  “  Reformer  ”  in  education,  the  polite  arts  and 
morality.  We  take  our  places  and  perform  our  office  in  so¬ 
ciety  on  equal  terms,  and  I  hope  we  shall  always  possess  suf¬ 
ficient  spirit  for  the  maintenance  of  our  dignity,  and  not 
stoop  to  the  dictation  of  any  man.  Law  and  prudence  de>- 
mand  that  a  third  party  should  stand  between  the  Palmers, 
Pritchards  and  Monks  of  the  profession  and  their  patients; 
a  man  better  qualified  than  they,  to  dispense  prescriptions, 
who  could  correct  errors,  give  evidence  as  to  medicine  pre¬ 
scribed,  and,  in  many  cases,  prevent  “  dark  deeds.”  Are  we 
quite  sure  that  death  has  never  unwittingly  lurked  in  a  bottle 
emanating  from  a  surgery,  and  his  dread  presence  at  the  bed¬ 
side  of  the  patient  been  accounted  for  as  “unfavourable 
symptoms  set  in !”  “  Quite  what  I  expected  from  the  first,” 
etc.  ?  I  believe  that  the  public  and  Government  have  only  to 
be  well  instructed  on  this  head,  to  see  the  propriety  of  taking 
dispensing  out  of  the  hands  of  the  faculty  as  far  as  possible, 
and  handing  it  over  to  persons  exclusively  educated  for  the 
purpose.  Finally,  having  been  in  the  business  thirty-seven 
years,  and  educated  in  the  first  houses,  I  am  of  opinion  that 
as  a  whole,  and  looking  at  the  limited  nature  of  the  sale  of 
drugs,  most  businesses  are  preferable  to  that  of  a  chemist  and 
druggist,  notwithstanding  the  great  profits  we  get. 

I  append  a  specimen  of  prescribing  by  the  faculty,  which  I 
call  “grape  shot.”  I  make  no  remarks  upon  it,  except  that 
the  complaint  which  it  is  intended  to  cure  must  be  of  a  pecu¬ 
liar  and  ramified  character. 

“Nemo  me  Impune  Lacessit.” 

R.  Liq.  Ammon.  Acet.  ^iss 
Potas.  Nitrat.  9ij 
Syr.  Tolut.  5ij 
Mucil.  Acaciae  jj 
Sp.  iEther.  Nitr.  5j 
Oxym.  S  cilice  5hj 
-/Ether.  Chlor.  1vlxx 
Tinct.  Opii.  Co.  oi.l 
Vin.  Ipecac,  <B.xx 
Aquae  ad  syj.  M. 

Ft.  mist,  cujus  cap.  coch.  jss  magn.  ter  in  die. 


Feeding  Bottles. 

Sir, — Possessed  of  a  mind  somewhat  addicted  to  the  “  curi¬ 
ous,”  I  was  induced,  by  the  perusal  of  Mr.  Balkwill’s  letter, 
to  try  an  experiment  or  two,  to  ascertain  how  far  the  india- 
rubber  portion  of  &  feeding-bottle  was  concerned  in  the  pro¬ 
duction  of  the  poisonous  compound,  so  detrimental  and  some¬ 
times  fatal  to  the  little  ones. 

To  this  end  a  portion  of  india-rubber  tube  was  immersed  in 
some  fresh  milk  and  exposed  to  the  same  treatment  it  would 
undergo  in  an  ordinary  feeding-bottle,  for  the  space  of  forty- 
eight  hours;  during  this  interval  it  was  examined  several 
times,  and  although  the  character  of  the  milk  had  changed, 
there  was  not  the  faintest  trace  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen. 
The  tube  was  then  removed,  wiped  with  a  cloth,  cut  open, 
and  thoroughly  examined,  but  no  change  whatever  had  taken 
place. 

The  milk  was  again  examined,  after  the  lapse  of  some  hours 
more,  and  found  to  be  in  a  state  of  decomposition,  giving 
plain  evidence  of  the  formation  of  sidpliuretted  hydrogen, 
but  without  the  presence  of  india-rubber. 

It  is  evident,  therefore,  that  this  poisonous  compound  is 
not  produced  by  the  teat  or  tube,  but  is,  de  facto,  the  product 
of  milk  decomposition,  which  takes  place  entirely  independent 
of  the  india-rubber. 

The  theory  “  that  the  sulphur  of  the  india-rubber  acted  on 
the  hydrogen  of  the  milk,”  appeared  unsatisfactory,  and  was 
not  sufficient  to  account  for  the  change. 

The  probable  solution  of  that  part  of  the  question  appears 
to  be  this, — the  casein  of  the  milk  is  decomposed,  the  sulphur 
which  it  contains  combines  with  some  hydrogen,  set  free  in 
consequence  of  this  decomposition,  and  this  accounts  for  the 
sulphuretted  hydrogen  liberated  unnoticed  in  the  feeding- 
bottle. 

But  this  will  not  take  place  if  the  feeding-apparatus  is 
properly  looked  after,  and  the  very  simple  and  necessary  pre¬ 
cautions  suggested  by  Mr.  Pemberton  adopted. 

There  is  little  doubt  that  a  very  small  portion  of  already 
decomposed  milk  allowed  to  remain  in  the  tube,  teat  or  bottle, 
will  act  as  a  ferment,  and  in  a  very  short  space  of  time  infect 
the  entire  body  of  fresh  milk;  and  here  lies  the  entire  diffi¬ 
culty  and  danger. 


Attention  to  cleanliness  removes  the  whole ;  neglect  of  this 
alone  produces  the  “poisonous  compound  ”  which  may  induce 
disease  and  result  in  death. 

I  have  thought  it  would  be  a  wise  plan  to  discard  the  use  of 
“  corks  ”  in  feeding-bottles. 

Corks  (and  especially  when  faulty  or  fissured)  are  absorbent, 
and,  unless  long-soaked  and  well-brushed,  will  contain  quite 
enough  decomposed  matter  to  contaminate  fresh  milk,  if 
allowed  to  remain  long  in  contact. 

In  conclusion,  I  cannot  but  think  that  if  children  are  really 
poisoned  by  this  means,  it  must  exhibit,  on  the  part  of  those 
who  use  the  “feeder,”  an  amount  of  wanton  carelessness , 
scarcely  credible  in  an  age  which  boasts  of  its  progress  and 
sanitary  reforms. 

Brighton,  October  2oth,  1870.  G.  G.  Hornsby. 


Aurora  Borealis. 

Sir, — The  late  magnificent  display  of  the  Aurora  Borealis, 
was  witnessed  in  perfection  at  Richmond.  Viewed  from  the- 
high  ground  of  Mount  Ararat  and  the  Park,  the  whole  hemi¬ 
sphere  appeared  in  a  rich,  ruddy  glow,  a  vast  sea  of  flickering 
flame,  the  beauty  of  which  surpasses  any  attempt  to  describe.. 

The  highest  perfection  of  the  display  continued  from  about 
seven  till  half-past  eight  o’clock  on  Monday  evening  the  24th 
ult.,  suggesting  the  idea  of  a  tremendous  conflagration.  The 
fire  brigade  turned  out,  but  after  scouring  the  country  from 
Mortlake  to  Brentford,  returned  without  having  extinguished 
the  “  awful  blaze.” 

On  the  following  evening  a  repetition  of  the  phenomenon 
occurred,  and  lasted  from  about  half-past  six  until  nearly 
eight  o’clock,  when  the  brightness  gradually  declined. 

At  early  dawn  on  the  morning  following  each  of  these  dis¬ 
plays,  beautifully  illuminated  clouds  were  observed  towards- 
the  eastern  horizon,  much  resembling  in  appearance  those- 
tender  cirro-cumuli,  surrounded  by  a  bright  atmosphere,  some¬ 
times  seen  on  a  calm  summer  evening. 

By  a  remarkable  coincidence  the  24th  of  October  is  the 
anniversary  of  “  one  of  the  most  brilliant  auroras  ever  known 
in  this  country,”  noticed  by  Mr.  Glaisher,  October  24,  1847, 
and  we  shall  probably  be  favoured  with  records  of  the  mag¬ 
netic  storm  by  the  electricians  at  the  Kew  Observatory. 
See  Humboldt’s  ‘  Cosmos,’  vol.  i.  p.  188. 

R.  Goodwin  Mumbray. 


_  “ Student  X.” — The  salary  that  might  be  expected  for  services 
in  a  laboratory  would  depend  more  upon  the  practical  compe¬ 
tence  possessed  than  upon  the  mere  possession  of  the  degree 
of  B.Sc. 

F.  J.  B.,  Major  Associate,  is  requested  to  communicate 
with  the  Editor  respecting  his  letter,  as  no  answer  has  been 
received  to  a  letter  sent  to  the  address  he  named. 

W.  B.  Williams  (Salisbury). — Prussiate  of  potash  is  not  a 
poison,  nor  is  it  included  in  Part  I.  of  the  poison  schedule, 
therefore  it  is  not  subject  to  the  regulations  as  to  labelling, 
etc. 

Owen  Jones  (London). — In  our  opinion  they  certainly  do. 

“Druggist”  (Birkenhead). — According  to  the  terms  of 
the  Act,  we  should  consider  the  article  mentioned  as  being 
liable  to  duty.  In  reference  to  a  similar  article,  the  Inland 
Revenue  Office  has  taken  a  contrary  course,  though  it  is  now 
considered  to  have  been  wrong  in  doing  so. 

JR.  J »  O.  (London). — Elixir  of  garus  is  a  preparation  of  the 
French  Codex.  It  is  also  given  at  p.  449  of  Dorvault’s 
‘  L’Officine.’ 

Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  W.  D.  Boon  (Lynn),  Mr.  A.  H.  Mason  (Liverpool),  Mr. 
H.  H.  Pollard  (Ryde),  Mr.  Perkins  (Norwich),  Mr.  J.  Watts, 
jun.  (Sheffield),  Mr.  R.  G.  Mumbray  (Richmond),  Mr.  T. 
Appleton  (Fulham),  Mr.  A.  W.  Bennett  (London),  “Regis¬ 
tered  Chemist  and  Druggist”  (London),  J.  C.  (Wakefield;, 
“Agitator,”  “The  Original  Modified  Man,”  “An  Associate,” 
L.,  A.  E.  <7.  (Norwich),  J.  E.  T.  C.  (Manchester). 

The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  Oct. 29 ;  the  ‘Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
Oct.  29;  the  ‘Lancet,’  Oct.  29;  ‘Nature,’  Oct.  27;  the  ‘Che¬ 
mical  News,’  Oct.  28;  ‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  Oct. 
27 ;  ‘  Gardeners’  Chronicle,’  Oct.  29 ;  the  ‘  Grocer,’  Oct.  29 ; 
the  ‘  English  Mechanic,’  Oct.  28 ;  the  ‘  Canadian  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Journal/  for  October;  ‘Journal  of  Applied  Science’ 
for  November;  the  ‘Educational  Times’  for  November; 
the  ‘Practitioner’  for  November;  the  ‘Food  Journal’  for 
November. 


November  12, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


381 


HOSPITAL  PHARMACY  120  YEARS  AGO. 

A  most  interesting  account  of  the  early  history 
and  practice  of  St.  Thomas’s  Hospital  is  given  by 
Dr.  W.  H.  Stone  in  the  first  volume  of  a  new  series 
of  the  Reports  of  that  Hospital  just  published.  The 
facts  are  obtained  from  several  different  sources,  and 
amongst  others  a  most  quaintly  written  book,  which 
emanated  from  the  shop  of  one  “E.Duncomb,  in 
Duck  Lane,  Little  Britain,”  in  1741,  and  bears  the 
title  of  ‘  The  Physical  Yade  Mecum,  or  Fifth  Gift  of 
Theopliilus  Pliilantliropos ;  wherein  is  contained  the 
Dispensatory  of  St.  Thomas’s  Hospital,  with  a  cata¬ 
logue  of  the  Diseases,  and  the  nature  of  their  cure, 
prescribed  in  the  said  Hospital ;  ’  a  book  peculiarly 
interesting  to  pharmaceutists,  as  showing  how  unex¬ 
pectedly  great  has  been  the  progress  of  the  science 
they  cultivate  within  the  space  of  a  single  century. 
Dr.  Stone  tells  us  that  the  frontispiece  portrays  a 
fourfold  conversation  which  is  being  carried  on  be¬ 
tween  the  Patient  and  Doctor,  Death  and  the  Deity. 
A  coffin  and  a  skeleton  in  the  foreground  serve  as 
emblems  of  mortality,  and  the  doctor,  after  seeking 
the  Divine  assistance,  is  represented  as  having  pro¬ 
duced  the  following  prescription,  which  is  written  on 
a  scroll  in  his  hand  : — 

“  From  infection  sprung,  it  is  a  fever  strong, 
Unless  with  present  speed  a  vein  be  open, 

Thou  must  die  or  bleed. 

VS  ad  Six  statim, 

Episp.  Nuclice  quam  primum. 

Bol.  Alex.  9j  cum 

Nitri.  gr.  xij,  6ta  quaque  liora  sumend. 

Jul.  Card.” 

The  author  of  the  work  says  of  himself,  that 
“  whether  ever  it  will  fall  to  my" lot  to  be  much  con¬ 
cerned  in  the  curative  or  practical  part  of  this  Art  I 
at  present  know  not ;  and  can’t  think  upon  it  but  with 
some  kind  of  Anxiety  or  Fear !  yet  since  God  put  it 
into  my  mind,  and  inclined  my  heart  towards  ob¬ 
taining  knowledge  thereof,  I  have  not  been  idle,  as 
tho  I  hoped  to  receive  it  by  Revelation,  or  might 
obtain  the  Art  of  Healing  by  Inspiration ;  but  on 
the  contrary,  have  used  what  industry  and  diligence 
I  could  in  acquiring  the  previous  knowledge  needful 
hereto ;  and  after  some  years  attending  the  Academy 
of  Liberal  Arts  and  Sciences  under  the  most  Learned, 
Worthy,  and  Pious  Professor  Eames  ;  various  courses 
of  Anatomy  by  the  Incomparable  Dr.  Nicliolls,  Pro¬ 
fessor  of  Anatomy  at  Oxford,  and  of  Chemistry  by 
the  Ingenious  Dr.  Pemberton,  Professor  of  Physic 
at  Gresham  College,  I  entered  myself  Physician’s 
pupil  at  St.  Thomas’  Hospital  on  the  2nd  March, 
1728,  in  order  to  acquire  the  Practical  Art  of  Phy- 
fk-  This  estimable  gentleman  attended  regularly 
the  “Apothecaries’  shop,  which  is  a  very  neat,  pretty 
place,  well  stored  with  medicine ;  besides  which,  it 
is  ornamented  by  the  Apothecary,  who  is  a  very  Ju¬ 
dicious,  Prudent,  Curious,  and  Ingenious  Gentleman, 
by  a  Museum  or  Cabinet  of  various  curiosities,  and 
a  large  handsome  framed  skeleton,  without  Decora - 
tions  and  Ornaments.”  The  actual  pharmacopoeia 
ox  the  hospital  wras,  at  the  time  our  author  published 
k°°k,  made  up  of  a  printed  work  bearing  date 
He,  and  various  old  manuscripts,  and  the  reme¬ 
dies  used  were,  some  of  them,  as  follows 

Aqua  Limacum,  or  Snail  Water. 

Third  Series,  No.  20. 


Directed  to  be  thus  made  : — 

Garden  Snails,  cleansed  and  bruised,  6  gallons. 

Earthworms,  washed  and  bruised,  3  gallons. 

Common  'Wormwood,  Ground  Ivy  and  Car- 
duus,  each  4  lb. 

Pennyroyal,  Juniper  Berries,  Fennel  Seeds, 
Aniseed,  each  1±  lb. 

Cloves  and  Cubebs,  bruised,  each  3  oz. 

Spirit  of  Wine  and  Spring  Water,  each  8  gal- 

1  x  u  7  vj 

Ions. 

Digest  together  for  twenty-four  hours  and  draw  off 
in  a  common  alembick.  This  compound  wras  said  ta 
be  “well-contrived  for  cheapness  and  efficacy,  and 
for  persons  whose  circumstances  and  manner  of 
living  have  not  habituated  them  to  any  delicacies, 
it  is  as  good  a  snail-water  as  can  be  made.”  How 
the  fashions  have  changed  ! 

Salivation  uTas  the  very  commonest  practice,  the 
calomel  bolus  containing  20  grains  for  a  dose,  “  the 
common  bole  for  salivation.”  Another  bolus,  “the 
Turbith,”  contained  5  grains  of  calomel  and  3  of 
tartar  emetic.  There  is  a  significant  “  N.B.”  ap¬ 
pended  to  this  last  prescription  that  “in  the  working 
of  tliis  vomit  it  is  needful  to  drink  plentifully  of 
Carduus  Tea,  through  defect  of  which  I  knew  one 
that  Died.”  Marvellous  must  have  been  the  effect  of 
the  “Viperian  Bolus,”  which  contained  5ss  of  the 
Flesh  of  Vipers  in  powder,  the  dose  being  two  boluses 
a  day.  Viper’s  flesh,  with  opium  in  addition,  wrere 
the  chief  ingredients  of  the  “  Venice  Treacle,”  or 
Andromachus’s  electuary.  But  this  was  almost 
surpassed  in  delicacy  by  the  “  Expressio  Millepedum,” 
or  expression  of  woodlice,  made  of  three  ounces  of 
lice  in  spirit  and  water.  Several  well-known  names  oc¬ 
cur,  Pilulie  Cocke  Majores  and  Minores  ;  Matthews ; 
Rudius’  and  Ruffy’s,  or  the  Common  Pill.  The  ex¬ 
tent  to  which  salivation  was  pushed  may  readily  be 
gathered  from  the  statement  that  “  Some  spit  plenti¬ 
fully,  viz.  5,  G,  or  7  pints  in  24  hours ;  with  others 
it  passes  off  more  by  sweat  and  urine  than  by  mouth ; 
which  things  must  be  observed  with  regard  to  the 
Patient’s  Welfare.” 

There  appears  to  have  been  a  special  “powder  for 
diseased  eyes,  made  of  glass  what  quantity  you 
please,”  well  pounded.  It  was  used  to  “  clear  the 
eye  of  specs  wliicli  cloud  the  sight  by  blowing  thro’ 
a  Quill  some  of  the  powder  upon  the  Parts  affected, 
though  it  is  not  often  used.”  A  favourite  diuretic 
was  the  tinctura  Veneris  of  Boerhaave;  it  used,  ac¬ 
cording  to  all  accounts,  to  work  wonders.  Our 
author  found  that  by  its  aid  he  cured  one  case  of 
dropsy  completely ;  “  and  a  prodigious  Discharge  of 
Urine  being  excited,  that  it  ran  as  out  of  an  open 
Cock,  upon  which  the  Integuments  of  the  abdomen 
became  so  loose  that  they  might  be  wrapt  over  one 
another.  The  Patient  grew  perfectly  well,  and  en¬ 
joyed  a  good  state  of  Health  many  years  after.” 
Dr.  Stone  declares  the  following  to  be  the  gem  of 
the  whole  collection.  It  is  described  as  a  “  good 
medicine,”  and  directions  were  given  that  if  the  dose 
be  too  noisome,  it  may  be  lessened  and  repeated  the 
oftener.”  Here  it  is :  Take  of  fresh  Horse  Dung 
3yj ;  Penniroyal  water  ^xij  ;  Treacle  water  £iv.  In¬ 
fuse  them  warm,  and  to  the  strained  Liquor  add 
Mitlnidate  ^ij  ;  White  Sugar,  a  sufficient  quantity 
to  sweeten  it :  drink  half  a  Pint  twice  a  day.  Dr. 
Stone  exclaims,  Can  we  wonder  at  reactionary  move¬ 
ments  in  favour  of  infinitesimal  doses  ?  What  has 
often  surprised  us  is  the  fact  that  the  sick  and  suf- 


SS2 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  12,  1870. 


fering  should  ever  have  been  induced  to  swallow  so 
many  beastly  compounds.  We  imagine  the  fact  to 
be  in  great  measure  explained  by  the  secrecy  with 
which  the  apothecary  surrounded  his  concoctions. 
Be  that  as  it  may,  the  reminiscences  of  the  not  very 
long  past,  enable  us  to  institute  a  most  satisfactory 
comparison  as  regards  the  doings  and  knowledge  of 
our  immediate  ancestors  and  ourselves  relative  to  the 
practice  of  pharmacy,  and  give  us  much  encourage¬ 
ment  for  the  future.  Whether  our  practice  at  the 
present  day  will  cut,  to  the  generation  to  come,  as 
sorry  a  figure  and  excite  as  great  a  laugh  as  does 
that  of  the  last  century,  is  a  matter  upon  which  we 
may  freely  speculate.  Who  will  venture  to  say  with 
any  confidence  in  this  age  of  rapid  progress,  when 
to-morrow  revolutionizes  the  tilings  of  yesterday, 
that  this  may  not  be  the  case  ? 


CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 
ACONITE  ALKALOIDS. 

BY  DR.  TH.  HUSEMANN,  OF  GOTTINGEN. 

The  researches  made  by  the  author,  in  conjunc¬ 
tion  with  Professor  A.  Husemann,  on  plant-products, 
enable  him  in  answering  the  question  proposed  by 
Fliickiger  to  offer  some  additional  remarks.  In  the 
first  place  he  agrees  that  the  name  pseudaconitina 
ought  to  be  retained,  and  he  prefers  it  to  nepaline, 
in  which  is  involved  a  theory  as  to  its  origin.  Aco- 
nitina  is  a  body  whose  physiological  action  is  better 
understood  than  its  chemical  relations. 

The  physiological  actions  of  pseudaconitina  and  of 
aconitina,  when  applied  externally,  differ  in  this  re¬ 
spect  ;  the  former  acts  similarly  to  veratria,  the  latter 
not.  Taken  internally,  pseudaconitina  is  given  in 
much  smaller  doses  than  aconitina,  and  then  often 
acts  fatally.  They  both  depress  the  action  of  the 
heart  and  lungs,  and  act  similarly,  but  unequally,  on 
the  bowels. 

Adelheim  could  perceive  only  a  difference  in 
strength  between  aconitina  and  pseudaconitina  de¬ 
rived  from  Aconitum  ferox. 

Keeping  these  distinctive  characteristics  in  view, 
we  may  conclude  that  “  so  long  as  aconitina  has  been 
used  in  Great  Britain,  pseudaconitina  has  most  fre¬ 
quently  been  used  in  the  place  of  it.” 

Turnbull’s  aconitina  was  said  by  him  to  cause 
numbness  and  contraction,  with  a  feeling  of  weight 
lasting  from  two  to  twelve  hours  when  applied  ex¬ 
ternally.  But  soon  after  its  introduction  differences 
in  the  quality  of  the  alkaloids  were  noticed ;  some 
being  much  stronger  than  others,  some  dilating,  some 
expanding  the  pupil.  So  late  as  1854,  Hilton  and 
others  were  inquiring  as  to  the  kind  of  aconitina 
that  could  have  produced  effects  on  the  skin  similar 
to  veratria. 

Fleming  found  that  0  milligrams  exhibited  by  the 
stomach,  or  5 .  milligrams  subcutaneously,  caused 
death  in  11  minutes.  The  alkaloid  was  made  by 
T.  and  H.  Smith  from  the  leaves  of  Aconitum  Na- 
joellus. 

Schroffs  experiments  with  Morson’s  aconitina 
show  results  very  similar. 

Headland,  using  an  alkaloid  prepared  by  himself 
from  Aconitum  ferox,  found  6  milligrams  to  kill  a 
cat  in  20  minutes. 

Exact  experiment  as  to  the  action  of  pseudaconi¬ 
tina  on  men  is  confined  to  one  by  Pereira,  who  found 
1°  milligrams  to  have  a  violent  and  dangerous 
effect.  ° 


It  is  clear,  then,  that  the  English  aconitina  does 
differ  from  that  of  Geiger  and  Hesse.  This  is  also 
proved  by  the  want  of  activity  as  a  topical  application 
evidenced  by  the  German  alkaloid. 

The  author  is  decidedly  of  opinion  that  pseud¬ 
aconitina  should  not  be  regarded  as  a  mere  impurity, 
but  as  the  real,  active  principle,  for  which  the  Swiss 
aconitina  has,  without  cause,  been  substituted.  He 
thinks  we  ought  to  endeavour  to  introduce  pseud¬ 
aconitina  as  well  as  aconitina  into  the  dispensary, 
and  discover  a  method  of  preparing  the  first  hi  a 
pure  state,  whereby  we  should  be  in  a  position  to 
have  a  constant  preparation  of  real  efficacy  in  the 
treatment  of  neuralgia. 

From  liis  own  experience  he  states  that  rabbits 
have  survived  from  1  to  2  grains  of  German  aco¬ 
nitina  dissolved  in  water,  and  introduced  through  the 
mouth ;  i.  e.  from  twelve  to  twenty-four  times  as 
much  as  would  be  required  of  pseudaconitina.  Others 
have  quoted  similar  experiences. 

He  cannot  admit  that  English  aconitina  owes  its 
virtues  to  an  impurity,  but  rather  that  pseudaconitina 
is  the  substance  to  which  English  aconitina  owes  its 
reputation ;  in  which  case  the  term  impurity  would, 
of  course,  be  inappropriate.  Since  1864  even,  two 
kinds  of  aconite  alkaloid  were  obtainable  in  the 
London  market;  the  one,  pseudaconitina,  sold  as 
pure  aconitina ;  the  other,  aconitina,  of  presumed 
foreign  manufacture,  impure  and  useless.  Of  this 
fact  both  pharmaceutists  and  doctors  have  more  or 
less  been  aware  for  some  time. 

Probably  the  present  state  of  the  aconitina  trade 
is  occasioned  by  the  scarcity  of  bikli  root  in  the 
English  market,  from  which  we  believe  pseudaconi¬ 
tina  is  derived.  Headland  has  stated  that  with  great 
care  pseudaconitina  may  be  extracted  from  Aconitum 
Napellus  in  very  small  quantity.  T.  and  H.  Smith 
appear  to  have  done  this.  The  method  adopted  by 
Morson  is  not  known,  he  having  declined  to  give 
information  thereupon ;  further  than  that  his  method 
is  a  peculiar  one.  Perhaps  after  all  his  method  de¬ 
pends  on  the  selection  of  the  roots  operated  on. 

As  regards  the  colour  tests  of  these  alkaloids, 
Husemann  remarks  that  according  to  Adelheim,  the 
colour  reaction  (phosphoric  acid  ?)  is  as  well  marked 
with  pseudaconitina  as  with  aconitina. 

Great  doubt  still  hangs  over  the  various  other  al¬ 
kaloids  said  to  have  been  derived  from  the  genus 
Aconitum. 

Buckheim  and  Lisenmenger  seem  to  have  esta¬ 
blished  a  distinction  between  napellin  and  acolyctin, 
and  have  proved  that  napellin  and  lycoctonin  are 
inferior  in  activity  to  aconitina. — Abstract  of  Paper 
in  Ncues  Jahrbuch  cler  Pharmacic. 


CHEMICAL  NOTES  TO  THE  PHARMACOPOEIA. 

BY  WILLIAM  A.  TILDEN,  B.SC.  LOND. 

DEMONSTRATOR  OF  PRACTICAL  CHEMISTRY  TO  THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 

Acidum  Tannicum.  C27H22017.  Powdered  galls 
are  damped  with  water,  and  then  made  into  a  paste 
until  ether.  On  submitting  the  mass  to  pressure  a 
strong  solution  of  tannin  is  obtained,  which  is  evapo¬ 
rated  at  first  spontaneously,  and  at  last  in  an  oven 
at  the  temperature  of  boiling  water.  The  tannin  is 


November  12,  1870.3  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


3S3 


then  left  in  the  form  of  vesicular  masses,  made  up  of 
thin  glistening  scales.  The  amount  of  tannin  ob¬ 
tained  varies  from  30  to  00  per  cent,  of  the  weight  of 
the  galls  employed. 

Tannin  is  uncrystallizable,  very  soluble  in  water 
and  in  rectified  spirit,  and  gives  a  yellowish- white 
precipitate  with  solution  of  gelatine.  [Contrast  these 
with  the  characters  of  gallic  acid.]  It  is  almost  in¬ 
soluble  in  pure  ether,  but  in  a  mixture  of  ether  and 
water  readily  dissolves. 

It  is  soluble  in  about  six  times  its  weight  of  glyce¬ 
rine  ;  in  less  if  warmed.  It  gives  precipitates  with 
almost  all  metallic  solutions,  and  with  most  of  the 
alkaloids.  If  free  from  adulteration,  it  is  completely 
soluble  in  rectified  spirit,  and  burns  without  leaving 
a  residue. 

The  amount  of  tannin  dissolved  in  a  liquid,  e.  g.  a 
vegetable  infusion,  is  usually  estimated  by  ascertain¬ 
ing  the  amount  of  a  solution  of  gelatine  of  known 
strength,  wliicli  is  precipitated  by  a  given  quantity 

of  it.  ....  . 

Tannin  is  a  “  glucoside,”  that  is,  when  boiled  with 
acids,  or  when  under  the  influence  of  the  peculiar 
ferment  contained  in  galls,  it  splits  up,  yielding  glu¬ 
cose  among  the  products  of  its  decomposition.  [See 
gallic  acid.]  There  are  several  varieties  of  tannin  ; 
this  from  oak  galls  (gallotannic  acid)  is  distinguished 
by  giving  a  bluish-black  precipitate  with  ferric  salts ; 
another  kind  from  catechu  (mimotannic  acid)  gives  a 
greenish  compound  with  ferric  solutions. 

Acidum  Tartaricum.  H2C4H406.  Acid  tartrate 
of  potash  is  first  boiled  with  chalk  until  the  effer¬ 
vescence  has  ceased  and  the  liquid  is  neutral.  There 
is  then  formed  a  precipitate  of  tartrate  of  calcium, 
and  a  solution  of  neutral  potassic  tartrate. 

2(KHC4H406)  +  CaC03 

Acid  tartrate  of  Carbonate  of 
potassium.  calcium. 

=  K„C4H40,  +  CaC4H4  06  +  H.0,C02. 

Neutral  tartrate  Tartrate  of  Carbonic 

of  potassium.  calcium.  acid. 

To  the  liquid  is  added  a  solution  of  chloride  of 
calcium ;  this  causes  a  further  precipitation  of  tar¬ 
trate  of  calcium : — 


K2C4H406  +  CaCL 
=  CaC4H406  +  2  K  Cl. 

The  mixed  precipitates  are  collected,  drained, 
washed,  and  decomposed  by  digestion  with  diluted 
sulphuric  acid : — 

CaC4H406  +  H2S04  =  H2C4H406  +  CaS04. 

Most  of  the  sulphate  of  calcium  produced  is  re¬ 
moved  by  filtration ;  the  tartaric  acid  crystallizes 
from  the  concentrated  solution. 

Tartaric  acid  is  recognized  by  blackening,  when 
heated,  with  an  odour  like  that  of  burnt  sugar.  It 
gives  a  white  crystalline  precipitate  (KHC4H406) 
with  solution  of  acetate  of  potash.  Admixture  of 
oxalic  acid  would  be  detected  by  the  solution  giving 
a  precipitate  with  one  of  sulphate  of  lime  ;  alum  or 
any  sulphate,  by  forming  a  precipitate  with  chloride 
of  barium  ;  sulphate  of  lime,  by  giving  a  precipitate 
with  oxalate  of  ammonia,  also  by  leaving  a  residue 
when  burned  with  free  access  of  air. 

7  grams  (Jy  of  a  gram-molecule)  of  tartaric  acid 
require,  for  neutralization,  100  cubic  centimetres  of 
the  volumetric  soda.  100  c.c.  vol.  solution  contain 
of  a  gram-molecule,  or  4  grams  of  NaHO. 

Tartaric  acid  utters  an  example  of  isomerism.  There 


are  three  (or  perhaps  four)  acids  all  represented  by 
the  same  chemical  formula,  being  of  the  same  com¬ 
position,  but  differing  from  one  another  in  chemical 
and  physical  properties.  Dextrotartaric  acid,  the 
common  kind,  rotates  a  ray  of  polarized  light  to  the 
right ;  kevo-tartaric  acid  to  the  left ;  and  racemic 
acid,  which  is  formed  by  the  union  of  the  two  former, 
is  inactive.  Bodies  which  thus  have  the  same  compo¬ 
sition,  but  exhibit  characteristics  which  show  that 
they  are  not  identical,  are  said  to  be  isomeric.  The 
differences  are  considered  to  be  due  to  a  difference  of 
constitution,  or  manner  of  arrangement  of  then-  con¬ 
stituent  atoms.  The  particular  kind  of  isomerism 
exhibited  by  the  modifications  of  tartaric  acid  is 
sometimes  called  physical  isomerism  or  allotropy. 
The  related  bodies  are  convertible  one  into  the  other, 
and  differ  chiefly  in  mechanical,  slightly  in  chemical 
properties. 

Oxalic  Acid. — Appendix  I.  The  oxalic  acid  of 
commerce  is  made  in  two  ways.  Sometimes  sugar 
is  boiled  with  slightly  diluted  nitric  acid:  nitrous 
fumes  are  evolved,  and  on  cooling,  the  oxalic  acid 
crystallizes  out.  Saccharic  acid,  C6H10O8,  is  formed 
at  first,  and  is  afterwards  converted  into  oxalic  acid, 
but  the  reactions  cannot  be  shown  in  any  simple  or 
probable  equation.  A  large  quantity  is  now  made 
by  roasting  sawdust  (impure  cellulose)  with  a  mix¬ 
ture  of  caustic  potash  and  soda.  The  resulting  alka¬ 
line  oxalate  is  boiled  with  lime,  which  gives  insoluble 
oxalate  of  calcium,  and  this  is  converted  into  the 
acid  by  digesting  with  diluted  sulphuric  acid. 

[§  Test.  It  is  entirely  dissipated  by  a  heat  below 
350°  F.]  The  commercial  acid  almost  invariably 
leaves  a  small  residue  of  sodic  carbonate.  Oxalates 
oive  a  white  precipitate  with  chloride  of  calcium, 
which  is  not  dissolved  by  the  addition  of  acetic  acid : 
when  heated  they  give  oft  carbonic  oxide,  C  O,  and 
leave  a  residue  of  carbonate  of  the  metal.  Neutral 
ammonium  oxalate,  heated  gently,  gives  up  water 
and  furnishes  a  white,  nearly  insoluble,  slightly 
volatile  residue  of  oxamide. 

(N  H4)2  C2  04  —  2  H2  O  =  (NH2)2C20, 

Oxalate  of  ammonium.  Oxamide. 

Oxalic  acid  is  resolved  by  heating  it  gently  with 
glycerine  into  formic  acid  and  carbonic  acid  gas. 

C2H204  =  CH.O,  +  C02. 

The  glycerine  takes  no  obvious  part  in  the  decom¬ 
position ;  but  without  it  a  much  higher  temperature 
is  requisite.  Oxalic  acid  and  oxalates,  heated 
with  strong  sulphuric  acid  (q.  v.),  evolve  carbonic 
monoxide  and  dioxide  gases.  The  latter  may  be 
separated  from  the  former  by  passmg  tlie  im.jed 
^ases  through  solution  of  potash.  The  0O2  is  an 
sorbed  the  C  O  left  untouched. 

Oxalic  acid  is  dibasic  and  therefore  gives  two: 

series  of  salts,  neutral  and  acid. 


H2C204,  2H.O. 


k2c2o4, 
hkc2o 


h2o. 
h,  a. 


Crystallized  oxalic  acid 
Neutral  potassic  oxalate  . 

Acid  potassic  oxalate  ) 

(Binoxalate  of  potash)  ) 

But  it  also  gives  another  class  of  compounds 
formed  by  the  union  of  the  normal  acid  oxalates. 

with  oxalic  acid. 

Quadroxalate  of  potash  )  K  H  C2  04  ]  2  H2  O. 
(Salt  of  sorrel)  )  H202O4  ) 

The  antidote  to  oxalic  acid  is  chalk  or  whiting. 


381 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  12,  1870. 


THE  USE  OF  AMMONIA  IN  SNAKE  BITES. 

The  following  has  been  sent  to  the  Tall  Mall  Gazette 
by  a  correspondent  signing  himself  “  An  American”: — 

“  While  a  temporary  resident  of  one  of  the  Southern 
states  of  the  United  States,  where  rattlesnakes  are  nu¬ 
merous,  a  man  who  had  been  bitten  by  one  of  these 
venomous  reptiles  sent  for  the  writer  to  visit  him.  Being- 
absent  at  the  time,  my  visit  was  delayed  some  twelve 
hours.  I  found  the  patient  was  wounded  over  the  top 
of  his  shoe,  just  above  the  instep.  His  leg  was  swollen 
to  an  enormous  extent  up  to  the  body  ;  and,  having  no 
pretensions  to  medical  or  surgical  science,  I  sent  imme¬ 
diately,  a  distance  of  twelve  miles,  for  a  medical  man. 
In  the  meantime,  as  the  case  seemed  certain  to  terminate 
fatally,  and  having  read  in  some  newspaper  that  am¬ 
monia  was  a  sure  antidote  for  snake  poison,  I  determined 
upon  an  immediate  experiment.  Having  no  instruments, 
with  the  patient’s  razor  I  cut  the  wound  entirely  out, 
applied  to  the  part  cotton  saturated  with  a  mixture  of 
ammonia  and  olive  oil,  and  renewed  the  application  every 
thirty  minutes.  I  also  gave  him  ammonia,  diluted  with 
whisky,  in  large  doses,  every  thirty  minutes,  and  applied 
a  bandage  to  his  thigh,  as  tightly  drawn  and  as  close  to 
the  body  as  possible.  Under  this  treatment,  to  my  utter 
astonishment,  the  patient  recovered.  Lest  this  case  may 
be  regarded  as  exceptional,  I  would  add  another,  which 
soon  after  came  under  my  observation,  to  confirm  it,  in 
which  a  rattlesnake  so  perfectly  grappled  his  fangs 
through  the  ball  of  a  man’s  little  toe  (as  it  projected 
through  a  hole  in  his  shoe),  and  so  firmly  fastened  upon 
it,  that  the  head  of  the  snake  had  to  be  cut  off  to  disen¬ 
gage  it.  In  this  case  also  some  eight  hours  elapsed  ere 
I  was  called  to  it ;  and  on  approaching  the  patient  such 
was  his  agony  from  the  wound  he  begged  me  to  4  take 
his  rifle  and  shoot  him.’  The  leg  was  terribly  swollen 
to  the  knee,  but  on  cutting  out  the  wound  (the  entire 
ball  of  the  toe)  and  applying  the  same  remedies  as  in  the 
first  case,  this  patient  also  recovered. 


ON  THE  COMBINATIONS  OF  CARBONIC 

ANHYDRIDE  WITH  AMMONIA  AND  WATER. 

BY  EDWARD  DIVERS,  M.D. 

( Continued  from  page  128.) 

III.  Acid  Ammonium  Carbonate. 

History.  Berthollet  announced  his  discovery  of  the 
acid  carbonate  in  1806,  in  his  ‘  Troisieme  Suite  des  Re- 
cherches  sur  les  Lois  de  l’Affinite,’* *  and  gave  an  excel¬ 
lent  account  of  its  properties.  Dalton,  Phillips,  Rose, 
St.  Claire  Deville  and  others,  have  since  then  added 
materially  to  our  knowledge  of  this  salt. 

Preparation. — It  is  obtained  by  exposing  any  other 
carbonate  of  ammonium  to  the  air ;  by  treating  the  half¬ 
acid  or  the  commercial  carbonate  with  water  or  with 
aqueous  alcohol,  or  by  treating  the  normal  carbonate 
Yi  alcohol ;  by  cooling  sufiiciently- concen¬ 

trated  aqueous  solutions  of  the  half-acid  or  the  commer¬ 
cial  carbonate,  when  it  crystallizes  out;  by  treating  a 
solution  of  any  other  carbonate  of  ammonium  with  car¬ 
bonic  anhydride  ;  and  by  mixing  together  carbonic  an- 
hydride  ammonia  and  water,  the  first  being  in  excess. 
A  modification  of  the  last  method  is  to  distil  the  acid 
car  Donate  at  a  temperature  not  exceeding  62°  C  The 
operation  is  a  very  slow  one,  but,  if  the  acid  carbonate  is 
more  rapidly  converted  into  vapour,  the  process  fails. 
In  any  case,  some  of  the  product  will  be  impure. 

Sensible  Qualities.- Acid  carbonate  has  a  cooling,  saline 
dry6,  n0t  at  firSt  ammomacalj  and  has  no  smell  when 

Form.— It  occurs  in  the  form  of  powder  ;  in  crystals, 

3ent  or  .0Palescent,  obtained  from  water;  Indin 
.crystalline  semi-transparent  cakes. 

Crystalline  Form.— A  great  deal  has  been  written  on 


*  Journal  de  Physique,  lxiv.  168. 


this  subject.  The  crystals  belong  to  the  right  prismatic 
system,  and  exhibit  the  faces  of  the  three  orders  of 
rhombic  prisms,  as  well  as  the  three  pairs  of  faces  of  the 
right  rectangular  prism.  When  the  crystals  form  in  a 
solution  of  commercial  carbonate,  cooled  a  little  below 
its  point  of  saturation ;  or  in  a  not  too-concentrated  so¬ 
lution,  prepared  by  pouring  hot  water  over  the  carbonate 
in  a  flask  and  then  corking  the  flask  ;  or  in  a  solution  of 
commercial  carbonate,  moderately  strong,  which  has  been 
treated  with  a  stream  of  carbonic  anhydride,  they  are 
hard  and  brilliant,  and  have  the  general  contour  of  a 
flattened  ovoid.  The  flatness  of  the  crystals  varies  ac¬ 
cording  to  the  strength  of  the  solution  in  the  more  basic 
carbonates  of  ammonium.  Generally  there  are  to  be 
seen  among  the  ovoid  crystals  deposited  from  a  cooled 
saturated  solution  of  commercial  carbonate,  some  long, 
essentially  four-sided  crystals  with  truncated  summits. 
These  do  not  differ  in  composition,  or  otherwise  in  form, 
from  the  first- described  crystals,  and  give  way  to,  or  else 
are  transformed  into,  the  other  variety  when  left  for  a 
time  in  their  mother-liquor.  When  a  warm  saturated 
solution  of  acid  carbonate  is  made  by  digesting  the  acid 
carbonate  with  the  water  in  a  firmly-closed  bottle,  the 
crystals  which  form  are  opaque,  and  first  appear  as 
simple  rhombic  prisms  with  dihedral  summits.  These, 
however,  rapidly  thicken,  and  then  might  be  described 
as  octahedrons  on  a  rectangular  base.  They  have  the 
same  faces  as  the  previously  mentioned  forms.  They 
readily  cleave  into  long  rhombic  prisms.  Their  opacity 
is  evidently  due  to  their  having  a  composite  structure 
and  retaining  mother-liquor  in  their  interstices.  When 
a  very  concentrated  solution  of  the  commercial  carbonate 
is  made  in  warm  water  in  a  flask,  and  especially  when 
some  effervescence  is  permitted  to  go  on,  and  the  solution 
allowed  to  cool,  crystals,  very  different  in  appearance 
from  those  already  described,  make  their  appearance. 
They  generally  form  at  the  surface  of  the  solution,  and 
remain  hanging  vertically ;  and  present  a  remarkable 
appearance  from  being  closely  packed  together,  and  all 
extending  down  into  the  solution  to  an  equal  depth,  with 
their  lower  edges  parallel  to  the  surface  of  the  solution. 
In  other  cases  these  crystals  form  at  the  bottom  of  the 
vessel,  and  this  generally  happens  when  the  crystals  are 
prepared  by  taking  a  solution  of  commercial  carbonate 
which  has  already  yielded  a  good  crop  of  crystals,  and 
dissolving  in  it,  by  the  aid  of  heat,  as  much,  or  nearly  as 
much,  fresh  commercial  carbonate  as  possible.  When 
the  crystals  form  at  the  bottom  of  the  vessel,  some  rest 
on  their  broad  sides,  but  most  of  them  stand  up,  closelv 
packed  in  groups,  nearly  parallelly  arranged,  with  then- 
angles,  not  their  edges,  projecting  upwards.  They  have 
not  the  transparency  and  brilliancy  of  the  ovoid  crystals, 
but  this  is  evidently  due  to  the  peculiar  character  of  then- 
faces,  and  not  to  the  existence  of  any  interstices  in  them. 
They  have  the  form  of  thin,  rectangular,  and  nearly 
equilateral  plates,  with  or  without  the  corners  slightly 
cut  off,  with  their  broad  faces  crinkled  and  with  bevelled 
edges.  The  faces  forming  the  edges  and  truncated  cor¬ 
ners  of  the.  plates,  are  those  of  the  different  orders  of 
rhombic  prisms  apparent  in  the  previously-described 
crystals.  The  broad  faces  of  the  plates  are  not  at  all 
like  true  crystalline  faces.  They  are  not  only  crinkled 
or  waved,  but  are  not  always  in  their  general  bearings 
parallel  to  each  other  and  to  the  normal  macro-pinacoids 
of  the  rectangular  prism,  the  places  of  which  they  oc¬ 
cupy-  Bose  has  described  crystals,  also  right  rhombic 
prisms,  which  have  different  angular  measurements, 
identical  with  those  of  the  corresponding  potassium-salt. 
These,  however,  he  only  succeeded  in  obtaining  once. 
Deville  at  one  time  thought  that  he  had  seen  oblique 
rhombic  .prisms  of  acid  carbonate  produced  by  the  de¬ 
composition  of  the  half-acid  carbonate,  but  he  has  since 
come  to  the  conclusion  that  only  one  form  of  acid  car¬ 
bonate  exists.  The  cakes  of  acid  carbonate  produced  by 
its  own  slow  distillation,  exactly  resemble  well-crystal¬ 
lized  specimens  of  the  commez-cial  carbonate. 


November  12,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


3S5 


Chemical  Composition. — Rose  analysed  the  acid  car¬ 
bonate  prepared  in  different  ways,  and  obtained  results 
which  led  him  to  consider  that  the  following-  acid  car¬ 
bonates  existed : — 


co2oh,nh3 

C02)4(OH2)5(NH3)4 
C  02)2  (OH2)3  (N  H3)2. 

But  crystals  like  those  to  which  he  gave  the  second  for¬ 
mula  have  a  composition  expressed  by  the  first  one, 
according  to  Berthollet,  J.  Davy,  Deville  and  myself. 
The  salt  found  by  him  to  have  the  composition  repre¬ 
sented  by  the  third  formula  was  a  product  of  distillation 
once  only  obtained  by  him  in  small  quantity.  For  this 
reason,  and  from  a  consideration  and  repetition  of  some 
of  Rose’s  methods  of  preparing  carbonates  by  distillation, 
I  am  disposed  to  regard  the  existence  of  such  a  salt  as 
extremely  doubtful. 

Behaviour  on  Exposure. — It  is  probably  quite  fixed  in 
dr}'  air.  In  ordinary  air  it  is  very  slowly  dissipated,  as 
was  pointed  out  by  Dalton.  According  to  John  Davy, 
it  is  decomposed  by  the  atmospheric  moisture,  and  ren¬ 
dered  alkaline.  Certainly,  the  moister  it  is,  the  more 
ammoniacal  it  renders  the  air  confined  with  it  in  a  bottle. 
By  exposure  to  air,  the  faces  of  the  crystals  lose  much  of 
their  lustre.  It  is  not  quite  easy  to  recognize  the  nature 
of  the  change  which  the  salt  undergoes  by  exposure ; 
for  example,  when  the  salt  has  been  left  for  a  while  in  a 
closed  bottle,  how  is  the  strong  smell  of  ammonia  which 
is  generated  to  be  accounted  for  F  What  has  become  of 
the  carbonic  anhydride  that  was  in  combination  with  it  ? 

Behaviour  when  Heated. — Like  the  normal  carbonate, 
when  heated  in  a  retort,  a  little  of  it  is  first  decomposed, 
and  yields  a  few  drops  of  liquid  distillate,  at  about  49° 
C.,  which  gradually  crystallize  in  needles ;  while  the 
rest,  getting  thus  enveloped. in  an  atmosphere  of  the  pro¬ 
ducts  of  this  decomposition,  undergoes  no  change  at  this 
heat.  At  about  60°  it  is  slowly  decomposed  into  carbonic 
anhydride,  water  and  ammonia,  the  salt  in  the  retort  re¬ 
maining  dry ;  but  when  the  heat  is  carried  much  above 
60°  C.,  the  salt  in  the  retort  gets  wet.  The  effect  of  heat 
is  therefore  thus  represented  : — 


C020H2NH3  =  C02  +  OH2  +  NH3. 

Behaviour  with  Water. — As  was  first  pointed  out  by 
Berthollet,  the  acid  carbonate  dissolves  in  about  8  parts 
of  water,  at  15°  C.  By  exposure  to  the  air  this  solution 
rapidly  loses  carbonic  anhydride,  but,  as  also  pointed 
out  by  Berthollet,  this  loss  is  soon  arrested.  Gently 
heated,  it  effervesces.  The  solution  placed  in  contact 
with  solid  acid  carbonate  decomposes  it  even  at  low  tem¬ 
peratures,  large  bubbles  of  carbonic  anhydride  being- 
formed,  as  was  pointed  out  by  Davy,  which  adhere  to  the 
crystals,  and,  if  the  latter  are  small,  carry  them  to  the 
surface.  A  saturated  solution  of  acid  carbonate  crystal¬ 
lizes  out  when  cooled. 

Behaviour  with  Alcohol. — Acid  carbonate  is  very 
slightly,  if  at  all,  acted  on  by  strong  aqueous  spirit,  cold 
or  boiling.  The  crystals  boiled  with  the  spirit  are 
slowly  decomposed,  as  they  would  be  by  the  heat  alone  ; 
carbonic  anhydride  and  ammonia  escape,  and  the  remain¬ 
ing  spirit  is  left  weakened,  and  with  a  little  caustic  am¬ 
monia  dissolved  in  it. 

Behaviour  with  Ammonia. — Dry  crystals  of  the  acid 
carbonate  are  not  acted  on  by  ammonia  gas,  either  at 
ordinary  temperatures  or  that  of  0°  C.  When  the  pow¬ 
dered  salt  and  strong  solution  of  ammonia  are  brought 
together,  a  hissing  sound  is  produced,  the  mixture  be¬ 
comes  warm,  and  the  salt  cakes  together  and  shows  little 
evidence  of  being  dissolved. 

By  digesting  the  acid  carbonate  with  the  strongest 
solution  of  ammonia  in  a  closed  vessel,  at  a  temperature 
of  20  -25°,  ammonium  carbamate  is  slowly  formed  in 
considerable  quantity.  The  mode  of  procedure  is  exactly 
similar  to  that  already  described  for  converting  the  nor¬ 
mal  carbonate  into  the  carbamate  ;  as  are  also  the  results, 
except  that,  as  might  be  anticipated,  the  yield  of  the  car¬ 


bamate  is  greater.  In  the  first  stage  of  the  reaction,  by 
which  the  carbamate  is  formed,  the  acid  carbonate  and 
the  ammonia  probably  react,  to  form  cai-bamate  and  nor¬ 
mal  carbonate  ;  in  the  second  stage,  the  normal  carbonate 
thus  formed  changes  into  water,  and  carbamate,  as  was 
explained  when  treating  of  the  reactions  of  the  normal 
carbonate.  Representing  the  change  by  a  single  equa¬ 
tion  between  the  substances  employed  and  those  finally 
obtained,  we  have  — 

CO,OH2NH3  +  NIL,  =  C02(NH3)2  +  OH2. 

(To  he  continued.') 


CYSTINE.* 

This  rare  substance  has  the  composition  C3HrN02S  ; 
it  crystallizes  in  the  form  of  six-sided  plates,  and  forms 
with  hydrochloric,  nitric  and  phosphoric  acids,  definite 
crystalline  compoimds. 

Dr.  Bence  Jones  has  shown  that  nitrous  acid  decom¬ 
poses  cystine  with  evolution  of  nitrogen,  the  sulphur  it 
contains  being  oxidized  to  sulphuric  acid,  whilst  a  non¬ 
crystalline  substance  is  left  which  is  precipitable  by 
nitrate  of  silver,  mercuric  chloride,  or  acetate  of  lead. 

The  cystine  used  in  the  author’s  experiments  was  ob¬ 
tained  by  treating  pounded  calculi  with  strong  liquor 
ammonia?,  which  dissolved  the  greater  part,  then  evapo¬ 
rating  the  solution  at  a  very  gentle  heat.  The  cystine 
which  separated  was  again  dissolved  in  ammonia  and  re¬ 
crystallized. 

Hydrochlorate  of  Cystine,  —  obtained  by  dissolving- 
cystine  in  boiling  hydrochloric  acid,  separated  on  cool¬ 
ing  as  beautiful  needle-shaped  crystals,  very  soluble  in 
water.  When  thoroughly  dried  in  vacuo  over  quick¬ 
lime,  the  crystals  were  found  not  to  be  readily  soluble  in 
water.  0-05  gram  of  crystalline  hydrochlorate  of  cystine 
yielded  0-0452  gram  of  AgCl,  corresponding  to  22-2  per 
cent,  of  HC1  (calcined  22’ 5). 

When  cystine  is  dissolved  in  strong  solution  of  ammo¬ 
nia,  and  a  solution  of  silver  nitrate  in  ammonia  added, 
no  precipitate  is  formed,  nor  does  the  solution  darken  in 
the  cold.  When  slightly  acidified  with  nitric  acid,  a 
canary-yellow  precipitate  is  thrown  down.  The  filtrate 
blackened  when  heated,  and  on  filtering  off  the  black 
precipitate  a  clear  colourless  solution  was  obtained,  which 
was  not  further  blackened  when  boiled  with  ammoniacal 
solution  of  oxide  of  silver.  On  analysis  the  yellow  sub¬ 
stance  proved  to  be  a  compound  .of  cystine  with  nitrate 
of  silver. 

In  a  subsequent  experiment  an  ammoniacal  solution  of 
cystine  was  boiled  with  an  ammoniacal  solution  of  nitrate 
of  silver.  A  black  precipitate  fell  which  consisted  of 
sulphide  of  silver.  The  filtrate  from  the  precipitate  of 
sulphide  of  silver  was  subsequently  treated  with  solution 
of  chloride  of  ammonium  to  separate  the  excess  of  silver. 
The  solution  was  found  not  to  be  precipitated  by  hydro¬ 
chloric  acid  and  chloride  of  barium  nor  by  sulphate  of 
calcium.  It  is  therefore  evident  that  when  an  ammo¬ 
niacal  solution  of  cystine  is  heated  with  ammoniacal  so¬ 
lution  of  oxide  of  silver,  the  sulphur  is  separated  entirely 
as  sulphide  of  silver,  none  being  oxidized ;  it  is  also  ob¬ 
vious  that  no  oxalic  acid  is  formed. 

Cystine,  treated  with  NaHO,  and  evaporated  in  a 
silver  basin,  gives  a  reddish  liquid ;  sulphide  of  sodium 
is  then  produced,  blackening  the  basin,  and  ammonia  is 
copiously  evolved.  On  treating  the  residue  with  water, 
neither  sulphuric  nor  oxalic  acids  can  be  detected,  but 
the  liquid  contains  a  large  quantity  of  sulphide  of  sodium 
with  a  mere  trace  of  sulphite. 

Cystine,  heated  to  150°  C.  with  solution  of  caustic 
baryta  in  sealed  tubes,  gives  off  ammonia,  a  large  quan- 

*  Abstract  from  a  paper  by  James  Dewar,  F.R.S.E., 
Lecturer  on  Chemistry,  Veterinary  College,  Edinburgh ;  and 
Arthur  Gamgee,  M.D.,  F.li.S.E.,  Lecturer  on  Physiology  at 
Surgeons’  Hall,  Edinburgh,  published  in  the  Proceedings  ot 
theltoyal  Society  of  Edinburgh,  1809-70. 


>S6 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[Xovember  12,  1870. 


tity  of.sulphide  of  barium,  a  smaller  quantity  of  sulphite 
of  barium,  and  a  trace  of  hyposulphite  being  formed. 
A  o  trace  of  sulphocyanide  could  be  detected. 

Cystine  was  heated  for  several  hours  in  a  sealed  tube 
at  130  C.  with  an  alcoholic  solution  of  potash.  At  the 
conclusion  of  the  experiment  a  small  quantity  of  dark 
stickv  matter  was.  found  adhering  to  the  tube,  which 
contained  a  yellowish  liquid.  The  latter  smelt  strongh” 
of  ammonia,  which  was  separated  by  distillation.  The 
lesidue  was  acidified  with  dilute  sulphuric  acid,  and 
shaken  up  with  ether.  Ether  left  a  yellow  non-crystal- 
line  substance,  possessed  of  an  indefinite  but  disagreeable 
odour.  This  substance  had  a  strong  acid  reaction,  and 
was  found  to  contain  no  sulphur. 

*s  a(Ued  to  a  mixture  of  tin  or  zinc  and 
dilute  hydrochloric  acid,  large  quantities  of  sulphurated 
hydrogen  are  given  off ;  even  after  the  action  has  gone 
on  for  several  days,  traces  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen  con¬ 
tinue  to  be  given  off.  When  treated  in  the  same  man¬ 
ner  taurine  does  not  evolve  H0S. 

It  is  to  be  noted  that  this  evolution  of  H2S  might  be 
used  as  a  test  for  cystine,  care  being  previously  taken  to 
separate  any  sulphide. 

Cystine  was  placed  in  water  and  a  stream  of  nitrous 
acid  gas  passed  through  it.  No  action  took  place  until 
the  water  was  heated ;  it  then  commenced  and  proceeded 
briskly,  with  abundant  effervescence,  until  the  whole  of 
the  substance  was  dissolved. 

The  clear  solution  contained  a  large  quantity  of  sul¬ 
phuric  acid,  but  not  a  trace  of  oxalic  acid.  When  boiled 
with  an  ammoniacal  solution  of  nitrate  of  silver  con¬ 
siderable  reduction  took  place,  a  beautiful  mirror  of 
sin  er  being  deposited  on  the  glass.  The  fluid  was  again 
subjected  to  the  action  of  nitrous  acid;  still  no  oxalic 
acid  could  be  found,  and  the  reduction  of  an  ammoniacal 
solution  of  oxide  of  silver  continued. 

Cramer  believed  that  cystine  was  intimately  related  to 
the  body  called  Serin,  C3H7N03,  which  is  obtained  as 
one  of  the  products  of  the  action  of  alkalies  on  silk. 

-  erm,  when  treated  with  nitrous  acid,  yields  glyceric 
acid,  as  alanine  under  the  same  circumstances  yields 
lactic  acid,  and  therefore  serin  may  be  looked  upon  as 
amido-glyceric  acid. 


Supposed  Poisoning  by  the  Berries  of  the 
Guelder-Rose. — At  the  adjourned  inquiry  into  the 
death  of  a  child  at  Sudbury,  referred  to  on  p.  347  of 
this  Journal,  the  medical  men  who  made  a  post-mortem 
exammation  of  the  body  said  that  they  had  found  the 
stomach  perfectly  empty,  and  that,  although  they  made 
a  careful  examination,  they  failed  to  detect  any  poison¬ 
ous  substance  in  the  bowels,  or  any  signs  of  poisoning 
As  they  could  not  discover  any  natural  cause  for  death 
they  had  come  to  the  conclusion  that  it  had  been  caused 
by  the  absorption  of  the  active  principles  of  some  narcotic 
poison.  With  respect  to  the  berries  of  the  wild  Guelder- 
rose,  which,  it  was  suggested,  had  been  eaten  by  the 
deceased,  they  were  not  aware  of  any  medical  work  re¬ 
ferring  to  them  as  jioisonous.  The  jury  returned  a  ver¬ 
dict  in  accordance  with  the  medical  evidence. 


Cramer  further,  believed  that  cystine  was  a  sulpho- 
;am_°'gl7Cer?C,  aci^ *'•  e-  serin  in  which  hydroxyl  has 


been  replaced  by  H  S. 

This  supposed  relation  is  exhibited  below 


CHoOH 

CHOH 

COsH 

Glyceric  Acid, 


ch0nh2 

CHOH 

C02H 

Amido-glyceric  Acid 
or  Serin. 


CH2NHo 
CHSH  ‘ 
COoH 

Cystine. 


Considering  that  this  relation  of  cystine  to  serin  really 
exists,  some  have  argued  that  on  treatment  with  nitrous 
acid,  cystine  should  yield  glyceric  acid.  The  authors  do 
not  admit  that  this  would  really  be  the  case,  and  they 
refer  to  the  case  of  sulpho-lactic  acid,  a  body  analogous 
to  the  supposed  sulphur  derivative  of  serin,  and  giving 
on  oxidation  sulpho-propionic  acid;  if  therefore  cystine 
were  built  up  as  Cramer  supposes,  it  might  be  expected 
1 .ft  sulpho-acid  would  be  formed  on  treatment  with 
nitrous  acid.  But,  however  carefully  the  action  of  nitrous 
acid  was  regulated,  the  sulphur  separated  as  sulphuric 
■acid,  thus  pointing  to  a  decided  difference  in  its  re¬ 
actions  from  what  might  have  been  expected  from  the 
supposed  constitution  of  cystine.  Although,  not  con- 
sidermg  the  experiments  as  definitive,  the  authors  assert 
that  glyceric  acid  is  not  a  product  of  the  action  of  nitrous 

uVmrd  thfy  Pr?d*ct  that>  in  a11  probability,  cystine 
will  be  found,  related  to  pyruvic  acid— to  be  an  amido- 

sulpho-p yruvic  acid  This  supposition  is  based  on  the 
near  approach  of  the  analyses  of  the  silver  salt  of  the 
acid  obtained  by  the  action  of  nitrous  acid  on  cystine  to 
the  composition  of  a  pyruvate,  and  on  the  general  cha¬ 
racter  of  the  oily  acid  produced. 


What  is  a  Poison? — In  reference  to  the  recently 
reported  cases  of  poisoning  by  acorns,  the  Observer  re¬ 
marks  : — “  Boys  at  school  have  not  unfrequently  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  that  pretty  but  unsavoury  little  pet,  a 
white  mouse.  The  white  mouse  has  an  inordinate  love 
for  apple,  and  if  allowed  slices  of  apple  without  discre¬ 
tion  will  eat  until  he  dies  in  a  fit  of  something,  which 
may  be  either  colic,  or  indigestion,  or  apoplexy ;  and  in 
its  symptoms  resembles  all  three  combined.  The  same 
fate  has  often  befallen  chickens  which  have  been  allowed 
raw  rice.  The  warmth,  of  the  crop  makes  the  rice  ex¬ 
pand,  and  the  chicken  is  choked  in  much  the  same  way 
as  a  human  being  would  be  choked  if  he  were  to  mix 
and  drink  the  contents  of  a  dozen  white  seidlitz  papers 
first,  and  of  a  dozen  blue  papers  afterwards,  or  as  the 
boa- constrictor  was  choked  who  swallowed  his  blanket. 
And  so,  too,  it  seems  that  hungry  cattle  will  gorge  them¬ 
selves  to  death  with  raw  acorns,  exactly  as  a  starving 
man  might  eat  himself  to  death  with  raw  chestnuts  or 
raw  potatoes.  Out  of  this  fact  has  arisen  an  immense 
turmoil  of  words,  some  writers  stoutly  asserting  that 
acorns  are  “poisonous,”  others  as  stoutly  denying  the 
assertion.  .  The  answer  is  easy  enough.  Anything  is  a 
poison  which,  if  swallowed  (or  inhaled,  or  even  injected), 
produces  death ;  and  in  the  strict  acceptation  of  the  term 
a  man  is  poisoned  who  is  killed  by  swallowing  a  pen¬ 
knife  or  a  dose  of  ground  glass.  But  the  term  “poison” 
is,  as  a  rule,  restricted  to  those  things  which  are  poisons 
in  .  very  small  quantities.  Children  have  often  been 
poisoned,  by  an  over-dose  of  common  salt  given  as  an 
anthelmintic,  and  men  have  been  poisoned  by  drinking 
for  a  wager  a  bottle  of  raw  brandy,  by  eating*  for  a  wager 
ten  pounds  of  beefsteak,  and  even  by  drinking  cold  well- 
water  in  hot  weather.  But  yet  we  do  not  as  a  rule  apply 
the  term  “poison  ”  to  salt  or  to  brandy,  or  to  beefsteaks 
or  to  well-water.  The  whole  difficulty  is  one  of  ambi- 
guity,  and  shows  how  a  quarrel  may  arise  from  a  mere  mis¬ 
conception  as  to  the  exact  meaning  of  a  technical  term.” 

Madeira.— The  war,  in  the  exercise  of  its  remote  in¬ 
fluences,  is  giving  at  the  present  time  a  twofold  promi¬ 
nence  to  the  Island  of  Madeira.  Coincidently  with  the 
neglect  of  the  vineyards  in  France  and  Germany,  an 
overflowing  vintage  has  been  gathered  in.  A  large  in¬ 
crease  of  produce  was  naturally  expected  from  the  pro¬ 
gress  of  an  extending  vine  culture ;  but  a  circumstance 
apparently  trivial,  a  general  paucity  of  seeds  in  the  grape, 
was  unforeseen,  and  has  caused  the  yield  to  overflow  the 
provisions  of  the  most  liberal  calculations.  There  is  a 
scarcity  of  casks  to  store  the  new  wines,  the  few  coopers 
on  the  island  not  being  able  to  meet  the  demand  on  their 
labour.  The  absence  of  seeds,  however,  is  stated  by  Dr. 
Graham,  a  Madeira  authority,  to  be  a  constant  result  of 
a  moist  winter  and  spring.  As  a  health  resort,  also, 
Madeira  now  obtains  unwonted  prominence  by  the  de¬ 
fection  of  the  popular  winter  retreats  of  the  South  of 
France.  Notwithstanding  the  suggestions  of  circuitous 
routes  to  avoid  disturbed  districts,  many  persons  prefer 
facing  a  sea  voyage  to  the  doubtful  society  of  an  excited 
and  revolutionary  population. — Times . 


November  12,  1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


387 


fijje  |)|aniMteuttc<tl  Journal. 


SATURDAY,  NOVEMBER  12,  1870. 


Communications  for  this  Journal, and  boohs  for  revieic,  etc., 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

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

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W.  Envelopes  to  be  endorsed  “  Bharm. 
Journ.” 


ATT)  TO  PHARMACEUTICAL  EDUCATION  IN  THE 

PROVINCES. 


We  have  now  before  us  the  complete  Report*  of 
the  Committee  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  facilities 
existing  for  provincial  education  in  pharmacy,  and 
tliis  subject,  one  of  the  greatest  importance  to  the 
future  progress  of  our  calling,  is  treated  in  a  way 
-which  indicates  that  the  future  and  the  permanent 
have  been  steadily  kept  in  view  in  their  treatment 
of  a  difficulty  which  is  transitional  and  only  of  the 
•present. 

The  whole  question  hangs  upon  two  points,  the 
extent  and  kind  of  education  which,  for  the  public 
■good,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Board  of  Examiners  to 
•demand  from  the  students,  and  the  remuneration 
which  the  pharmacists  are  enabled  to  reap  as  a  conse¬ 
quence  of  their  extended  education.  Another  gene¬ 
ration  will  see  the  present  difficulties  pass  away 
under  the  action  of  the  natural  law  of  supply  and 
demand,  and  the  wisdom  of  those  who  hold  the  helm 
of  our  affairs  will  be  seen  in  their  endeavour  to  per¬ 
mit  events  to  pass  on  as  nearly  as  possible  in  them 
natural  course,  giving  their  attention  to  the  assist¬ 
ance  of  those  who  do  the  best  they  can  for  them¬ 
selves,  and  diminishing,  wherever  practicable,  the 
sacrifices  which  individuals  have  to  make  for  the 


general  good. 

With  the  experience  before  us  of  so  many  small 
societies  which  have  sprung  up  and  died  of  apathy 
in  the  second  or  third  year  of  their  existence,  it 
would  be  imprudence  on  the  part  of  the  central  body 
to  give  freely  without  some  guarantee  that  the 
money  was  invested  and  not  thrown  away.  It  would 
likewise  be  a  waste  of  strength  to  keep  schools  in 
operation  which  are  not  capable  of  providing  their 
•students  with  instruction  in  all  the  subjects  required 
by  the  Board  of  Examiners.  A  student  ought  not 
to  feel,  on  entering  a  school  of  pharmacy,  that  he 
would  have  to  pass  on  to  another  for  instruction  in 
some  subject  in  which  the  curriculum  of  the  first 
school  was  deficient. 

But  in  looking  over  the  tabulated  returns,  p.  330, 
how  few  of  the  local  organizations  give  us  any 
assurance  of  either  permanency  or  efficiency !  Of 
the  27  enumerated,  only  14  give  lectures  at  all,  and 

*  See  page  389. 


only  3 — Edinburgh,  Newcastle  and  Sheffield — give 
the  complete  curriculum.  In  Liverpool  20  lectures 
are  made  to  include  botanv,  materia  medica  and 
pharmacy.  In  Manchester  practical  chemistry  and 
pharmacy  are  wanting.  In  Leeds  materia  medica, 
pharmacy  and  botany  are  wanting.  In  Leicester 
botany  is  treated  in  three  lectures.  To  deny  assist¬ 
ance  to  these  latter  towns,  because  their  curriculum 
is  not  complete,  would  be  blighting  to  our  most  hope¬ 
ful  prospects.  Of  the  sixteen  organizations  which 
give  the  date  of  their  establishment,  ten  were  esta¬ 
blished  in  1868  or  1869,  and  are  only  now  at  that 
period  which  is  usually  most  trying  to  the  vitality  of 
institutions  depending  for  their  existence  upon 
the  labour  of  a  few  individuals  who  reap  neither 
riches  nor  honour  in  return.  A  little  judiciously- 
bestowed  assistance  will  probably  convert  several  of 
these  into  permanent  and  efficient  institutions. 

Many  other  modes  of  giving  to  the  provinces  have 
been  suggested  besides  those  recommended  b}r  the 
Committee ;  but  any  mode  which  did  not  involve  a 
special  inquiry  into  each  case  would  save  present 
trouble  at  the  expense  of  the  future.  The  arrange¬ 
ments  now  recommended  are  framed  with  the  view 
to  their  naturally  dying  out ;  as  the  change  in  cir¬ 
cumstances,  which  ten  years  will  bring  about,  enables 
the  teachers  in  the  provinces  to  have  sufficiently 
large  classes  and  sufficiently  high  fees  to  remunerate 
them  for  tlieir  services. 

As  yet  we  can  scarcely  be  said  to  have  any  data 
upon  wliich  to  form  an  estimate,  either  of  the  num¬ 
ber  of  students  who  will  desire  to  avail  themselves 
of  official  aid,  or  of  the  fees  wliich  may  be  expected 
from  them.  Allusion  is  made  to  the  requirements  ot 
medical  students  having  resulted  in  the  establish¬ 
ment  of  medical  schools  in  eight  of  the  principal 
towns  of  England ;  but  it  must  be  remembered  that 
the  medical  is  more  numerous  than  the  pharmaceu¬ 
tical  body,  and  that  the  medical  student  cannot  take 
up  liis  degrees  without  having  attended  lectures  at 
recognized  schools  ;  whereas  our  students,  so  long  as 
they  have  the  required  knewloclgo,  maj  ii  up 

where  and  how  they  can.  The  attendance  of  students 
upon  lectures  when  not  compulsory  will  be  deter¬ 
mined  by  the  fees  charged  and  the  value  of  the  aid 
derived  from  them.  The  experience,  at  Edinburgh 
and  Newcastle  shows  that,  even  at  the  present  time, 
something  like  remunerative  fees  may  be  obtained 
where  the  quality  of  the  curriculum  is  satisfactory. 

After  making  all  due  allowance  for  the  difficulty 
of  obtaining  either  large  classes  or  large  fees  where 
the  attendance  is  optional,  we  think  the  Com¬ 
mittee  have  underrated  what  may  be  reasonably 
expected  from  provincial  institutions ;  they  say 
“  the  requirements  of  the  Minor  Examination  may 
be  met  by  a  large  section  ot  young  men  who  v  ill 
take  situations  in  towns  offering  the  means  ot  tech¬ 
nical  education.”  But  there  is  no  reason  why  pro¬ 
vincial  education  in  pharmacy  should  not  shortly 


388 


TIIE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[November  12, 187a.- 


become  as  efficient  as  is  the  medical  education  pro¬ 
vided  in  the  eight  towns  alluded  to  in  the  report. 

The  ^  alue  and  permanence  of  local  schools  must 
depend  mainly  upon  their  enabling  students  in  their 
neighbourhood  to  qualify  themselves  fully  without 
the  necessity  of  their  attending  lectures  or  labora¬ 
tory  practice  in  the  Metropolis ;  and,  while  we  would 
urge  upon  every  student  to  avail  himself  of  every 
means  of  gaining  knowledge  within  his  reach,  we 
must  admit  that  a  mutual  improvement  society,  with 
a  small  library  and  materia  medica  collection,  should 
affoid  all  the  assistance  required  by  ciny  earnest  stu¬ 
dent  to  enable  him  to  pass  the  Minor.  So  long  as 
there  is  a  Minor  Examination  conferring  the  title  of 
“  Chemist  and  Druggist,”  and  enabling  the  holder  of 
the  same  to  carry  on  business,  the  mutual  improve¬ 
ment  associations  of  small  towns  will  do  the  work  of 
providing  the  lower  grade  pharmacists  for  those 
neighbourhoods  which  do  not  afford  scope  and  re¬ 
muneration  enough  to  tempt  men  of  higher  status. 

The  great  preponderance  of  lectures  on  chemistry, 
a  pop ul <u  science,  compared  to  those  upon  materia 
medica  and  pharmacy,  subjects  especially  pharma¬ 
ceutical,  suggests  that  local  associations  have  already 
availed  themselves  of  science  classes  at  mechanics’ 
institutes,  etc.  In  aiding  such  schools  it  will  be  ne¬ 
cessary  to  see  that  contributions,  either  to  a  library 
oi  museum,  tor  the  benefit  of  pharmacy  students,  be 
not  appropriated  as  the  property  of  the  mechanics’ 
institution. 

f  Cffiuse  I  provides  that  the  Connell  may  impose 
Conditions  upon  the  recipients  of  their  gifts,  and 
clauses  9  and  10  indicate  that  a  watchful  eye  will 
be  kept  upon  the  uses  made  of  their  contributions. 

We  shall  look  forward  with  interest  every  year  to 
the  tabulated  return  which  they  promise. 

It  now  remains  for  our  provincial  friends  to  take 
stock  of  their  own  resources  ;  to  ask  what  they  have 
done  and  what  they  can  do  for  themselves, — what 
prospect  they  have  of  establishing  permanent  schools 
of  pharmacy  with  such  assistance  as  it  would  be 
iocwonabio  rm  t.heir  part  to  ask,  and  on  the  part  of 
the  parent  body  to  give  ;  and,  in  the  event  of  their 
expectations  being  of  a  less  ambitious  nature,  to  con¬ 
sider  what  help  will  meet  the  temporary  wants  of 
their  neighbourhood,  or  will  facilitate  the  working  of 
mutual  improvement  classes,  which,  it  must  be°re- 
membered,  was  the  only  kind  of  school  for  pharma¬ 
ceutical  education  which  afforded  assistance  to  many 
distinguished  pharmacists  of  the  present  day. 


Our  readers  will  notice  with  regret  that  at  the 
last  meeting  Mr.  H.  B.  Brady  resigned  Ids  seat  at 
the  Council.  Few  besides  those  who  have  laboured 
with  him  have  any  conception  of  the  energy  anti 
conscientiousness  with  which  he  performed  more 
than  Ids  share  of  the  Society’s  business,  and  of  the 
impetus  he  gave  to  the  moving  power  at  a  time  when 
there  were  many  Councillors  and  but  few  active 
workers.  It  is  fitting  that  it  should  now  be  recorded 
in  these  columns  that  to  him  the  Members  and  Asso¬ 
ciates  are  mainly  indebted  for  the  publication  of  tliis; 
Journal  weekly.  Zeal  for  the  Society  and  for  phar- 
macy  prompts  us  to  hope  that  after  the  lapse  of  a  few 
years,  when  he  shall  have  grown  proof  against  Lon¬ 
don  fogs  and  English  winters,  Mr.  Brady  will  allow 
his  late  constituents  to  again  draw  upon  Ids  time  and 
comfort.  We  promise  beforehand,  on  their  behalf; 
that  it  shall  then  be  for  only  a  very  moderate  amount 

-k  understand  that  IVIessrs.  Jenkins  and  Phil¬ 
lips,  of  Lime  Street,  E.C.,  have  just  received  a  large' 
parcel  of  cinchona  bark  from  Columbo,  Ceylon.  If 
consists  ot  the  bark  of  the  twigs  and  young  branches,, 
and  is  in  very  fine  condition.  It  is  to  be  sold  in 
Mincing  Lane  in  about  three  weeks’  time. 


Our  readers  will  regret  to  hear  that  Mr.  Bichard. 
Beinolds,  who  has  lately  taken  an  active  part  in 
the  preparation  of  the  Beport  on  Provincial  Educa¬ 
tion,  published  this  week,  has  met  with  an  accident 
in  a  railway  collision,  and  though  we  understand  the- 
result  is  not  believed  to  be  serious,  it  will  require.- 
his  being  kept  quiet  for  some  time. 

NOTICE. — In  order  to  prevent  delay  in  the  in¬ 
sertion  of  advertisements,  we  find  it  necessaiy  to 
remind  advertisers  that  they  should  send  to  the 
1  ublisliers,  Messrs.  Churchill  and  Sons,  11,  New 
Burlington  Street,  and  not  to  either  the  Editor  of 
the  Journal  or  the  Secretary  of  the  Society. 


drotfcimigs  nf  %  § jrrawmttial  j-srattj. 

MEETING-  OF  THE  COUNCIL, 

November  2nd ,  1870. 

MR.  SANDFORD,  PRESIDENT,  IN  THE  CHAIR. 

MR.  HASELDEN,  VICE-PRESIDENT. 

Present— -Messrs.  Atherton,  Bottle,  Bourdas,  Deane, 
Dymond,  Edwards,  Groves,  Hanbury,  Hills,  Reynolds, 
Savage,  Stoddart,  Sutton  and  Woolley. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  con- 
finned. 


Me  leant  from  a  letter  just  received  from  Bare 
Liebig  that  he  is  scarcely  yet  recovered  from  li 
late  severe  illness,  which  was  brought  on  by  ove: 
exertion  m  working  at  the  papers  on  “  Fermentation, 
‘  Source  of  Muscular  Power”  and  “Nutrition,”  < 
which  translations  were  recently  published  in  tli: 
ouriiciL 


The  President  read  the  following’  letter  from  Mr- 
H.  B.  Brady: — 

“  To  G.  AY.  Sandeord,  Esq., . President  of  the  Pharma - 

ceutical  Society. 

u  Dear  Sir, — The  time  has  come  when  it  seems  right 
for  me  to  tender  my  resignation  as  a  member  of  the 
Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  and  I  beg  you  to 
convey  to  the  November  meeting  of  the  body  my  de¬ 
cision  not  longer  to  hold  a  seat  at  their  board. 

“  I  need  not  go  into  the  reasons  that  impel  me  to  resign: 


November  12,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


3S9 


-now  rather  than  retain  office  till  the  end  of  the  year, 
hat  may  just  say  that  I  have  held  office  as  long  as  in 
niv  opinion  a  member  representing  a  country  district 
should ;  that  with  the  present  preponderance  of  country 
members  of  the  Council,  I  could  not,  during  the  winter 
months,  do  the  amount  of  Committee  work  which  it  is 
.absolutely  necessary  each  should  take,  and  that  it  would 
bo  wrong  for  me  longer  to  hold  a  position  which  can 
readily  be  filled  by  some  one  with  larger  opportunities 
and  greater  power  of  benefiting  the  Society  in  these 
particulars. 

“  I  need  not  assure  the  Council  of  my  desire,  whether 
in  office  or  out  of  it,  to  further  by  every  means  in  my 
power  the  advancement  of  pharmacy  and  the  welfare  of 
the  Society. 

“  I  remain,  dear  Sir,  faithfully  yours, 

“Henry  B.  Brady.” 

Whereupon  it  was 

Moved  by  Mr.  Deane,  seconded  by  Mr.  Hills,  and 
Resolved — That  the  Council,  in  accepting  the  resig¬ 
nation  of  Mr.  H.  B.  Brady,  desire  to  record  their 
great  regret- at  the  loss  they  sustain,  and  that  cir¬ 
cumstances  necessitate  the  course  ho  has  found  it 
desirable  to  adopt. 

It  was  ordered  to  be  recorded  on  the  minutes, 

That  the  portrait  of  the  President,  George  Webb 
Sandford,  painted  by  J.  P.  Knight,  R.A.,  was  pre¬ 
sented  to  the  Society  at  the  first  Evening  Meeting 
for  the  session,  October  5th,  by  Frederick  Barron, 
Esq'.,  in  the  name  of  the  Committee  of  the  Fund 
raised  for  that  purpose. 

The  Report  of  the  Finance  Committee  was  presented, 
showing  on  the  General  Fund  Account  a  balance  in  the 

'Treasurer’s  hands  of . £1390.  5  s.  3 cl. 

Submitting  for  payments  Accounts 

amounting  to . £582.  15s.  7  cl. 

On  the  Benevolent  Fund  Account  a 

balance  of . £547.  12s.  lit?. 

Resolved — That  the  Report  be  received  and  adopted 
and  payments  made. 

The  Report  of  the  Library,  Museum  and  Laboratory 
Committee  having  been  read,  it  was 

Resolved — That  it  be  received  and  adopted. 

Benevolent  Fund. 

Resolved — That  Charles  Thomas  Anderson  and  Hannah 
Greaves,  having  at  the  late  election  obtained  the 
largest  number  of  votes,  be  declared  elected  annui¬ 
tants,  and  that  the  Treasurer  be  requested  to  pay 
them  their  several  annuities  to  Christmas  next. 

Application  for  temporary  assistance  having  been 
made  by  the  two  unsuccessful  candidates,  it  was 
Resolved — That  the  sum  of  £10  be  granted  to  each  of 
them. 

Resolved— That  the  Report  of  the  House  Committee 
be  received  and  adopted. 

Upon  the  Report  of  the  Parliamentary  Committee,  it 
was 

Resolved — That  the  Registrar  be  requested,  and  is 
hereby  authorized,  to  erase  from  the  Register  of 
Chemists  and  Druggists  the  names  of  Thomas 
Holmes,  of  Great  Grimsby,  and  Samuel  Dicey 
Holmes,  of  Mortlake  Road,  Richmond,  Surrey. 

The  following  Report  of  the  Provincial  Education 
Committee  having  been  read  was  received  and  adopted. 

Report. 

Your  Committee  have  already  presented  to  the  Council 
tabulated  results  of  their  inquiries  into  the  present  faci¬ 
lities  for  Pharmaceutical  Education  in  the  provinces. 
These  returns  show  the  existence  of  a  considerable 
amount  of  educational  effort,  which  may  be  taken  as 
confirmatory  evidence  of  an  educational  demand. 

The  Committee  next  proceeded  to  the  second  stage  of 
ihe  inquiry  remitted  to  them.  They  gladly  embraced 


the  opportunity  of  inviting  Mr.  Geo.  F.  Schacht,  of 
Clifton,  to  attend  their  meeting,  at  which  it  was  con¬ 
sidered  how  to  aid  Provincial  Education.  The  Report 
now  presented  shows  the  conclusions  at  which,  after  full 
discussion,  the  Committee  arrived. 

It  is  clear  that  the  requirements  of  the  Pharmacy  Act 
of  1868  will  annually  compel  the  technical  education  of 
a  number  of  young  men,  many  times  greater  than  can 
be  received  into  the  Society’s  School  of  Pharmacy  in 
London.  Many  of  these  may  obtain  the  needful  amount 
of  knowledge  by  diligent  private  study,  but  the  case  of 
the  majority  will  probably  be  analogous  to  that  of  pro¬ 
vincial  students  of  medicine,  whose  wants  have  resulted 
in  the  establishment  of  medical  schools  in  eight  of  the 
principal  towns  of  England.  To  a  large  extent  the 
students  of  these  medical  schools  pursue  their  studies 
simultaneously  with  engagements  as  assistants  to  medi¬ 
cal  men.  It  is  evident  that  the  cost  of  an  educational 
course  is  thus  much  reduced.  Your  Committee  believe 
that  whilst  the  greatest  advantages  will  fall  to  the  lot  of 
those  students  who  pass  a  session  at  the  Society’s  School 
in  London,  still,  the  requirements  of  the  Minor  Examina¬ 
tion  (viewed  as  the  portal  to  the  title  of  Chemist  and 
Druggist)  may  be  met  by  a  large  section  of  young  men 
who  will  take  situations  in  towns  offering  the  means  of 
technical  education. 

Such  a  system,  when  established,  will  bring  its  at¬ 
tendant  changes  to  both  employer  and  employed.  The 
former  must  be  prepared  to  grant  a  regular  amount  of 
time  to  his  assistants  for  attendance  upon  lectures,  and 
the  assistant  will  doubtless  find  that  the  money-payment 
for  his  services  is  somewhat  reduced  in  consequence. 

The  Committee  consider  that  there  are  many  reasons 
tending  to  make  this  system  of  education  a  desirable  one. 
The  following  are  the  more  prominent,  viz. : — the  in¬ 
terests  of  the  students,  to  whom  a  complete  course  of  in¬ 
struction  would  be  offered,  to  the  discouragement  of 
spasmodic  effort  and  cramming;  the  advantages  of  a 
healthy  competition  and  the  stimulus  of  class-teaching 
would  be  seemed ;  the  standard  of  the  Board  of  Ex¬ 
aminers  would  be  upheld  by  the  circumstance  that  the 
required  education  could  be  obtained  by  those  who  wished 
for  it ;  finally,  the  above-named  influences  would  raise 
the  tone  of  the  body  corporate,  and  increase  its  esprit  de 
corps. 

It  does  not  appear  to  be  the  function  of  the  Society 
to  initiate  new  Schools  of  Pharmacy,  but  it  may  mate¬ 
rially  strengthen  the  endeavours  which  are  being  made 
in  this  direction  in  various  districts,  and  aid  the  further 
development  of  existing  institutions.  Theoretically,  the 
Society  ought  to  require  as  a  condition  of  granting  aid 
that  there  should  be  a  complete  curriculum  of  the  sub¬ 
jects  required  for  the  Minor  Examination,  viz.  Chemis¬ 
try,  Practical  Chemistry,  Materia  Medica  with  Phar¬ 
macy,  and  Botany.  The  Committee  recommend  that 
this  standard  be  deemed  to  be  that  recognized  by  the 
Council,  but  that  at  first  its  application  be  not  enforced. 

It  frequently  happens  that  courses  of  lectures  deli¬ 
vered  at  other  institutions  are  available  for  the  students 
of  provincial  Chemists’  Associations.  Where  no  reason 
to  the  contrary  exists,  this  economy  of  teaching-power  is 
to  be  commended  and  encouraged. 

The  discussion  upon  Provincial  Education  at  the  re¬ 
cent  meeting  of  the  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference 
at  Liverpool  exhibited  great  unanimity  of  feeling  upon 
the  elementary  education  to  be  required  from  those 
entering  the  calling  of  pharmacy.  The  opinion  was  ex¬ 
pressed  by  nearly  all  the  speakers,  that  no  youth  should 
be  accepted  as  an  apprentice  until  he  had  passed  the 
Preliminary  Examination.  The  Committee  cordially  en¬ 
dorse  this  view,  and  they  would  exclude  the  subjects  of 
this  examination  from  those  to  be  aided  by  the  Society. 

The  question  of  permanence  in  the  system  of  grants  in 
aid  of  Provincial  Education  has  received  attention,  and 
the  Committee  wish  to  record  their  views  upon  this  im¬ 
portant  aspect  of  the  question.  They  regard  the  prer 


390 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  12,  1870. 


sent  as  a  period  of  transition,  since  a  large  number  of 
young  men  are  now  engaged  in  pharmacy  who  entered 
upon  it  prior  to  the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy  Act  of 
18G8,  and  who  find  that  qualifications  which  they  did 
not  anticipate  are  demanded  from  them.  These  young 
men  represent  the  class  which  will  probably  be  the 
earliest  to  reap  the  full  benefits  of  the  Pharmacy  Act, 
but  it  must  be  admitted  that  they  do  not  find  those  edu- 
cational  institutions  which  should  be  complementary  to 
the  examinations  they  must  undergo.  For  a  period  of 
five  or  six  years  this  class  will  continue  to  exist,  but  in 
a  diminishing  ratio.  The  history'of  the  School  of  Phar¬ 
macy  in  Bloomsbury  Square  affords  a  precedent,  since 
private  enterprise  could  not  sustain  the  earlier  years  of 
an  establishment  so  favourably  situated  as  that  was. 
The  fact  that  education  was  a  voluntary  act  justified  the 
support  given  by  the  Society  to  the  School  of  Phar¬ 
macy.  The  position  of  the  class  of  young  men  now  re¬ 
ferred  to  justifies  the  extension  of  aid  to  educational 
courses  in  the  provinces.  When  this  transition  period 
shall  have  passed,  the  raison  d'etre  of  the  present  scheme 
will  have  passed  with  it,  and  the  experience  of  its  work¬ 
ing  will  certainly  leave  some  valuable  lessons.  The 
Committee  do  not  consider  that  it  will  permanently  be 
the  duty  of  the  Society  to  contribute  funds  for  educa¬ 
tional  purposes  in  the  provinces,  and  they  would  urge 
upon  all  who  undertake  the  management  of  local  educa¬ 
tion  to  bear  in  mind  that  in  a  few  years  it  should  be  self- 
supporting.  Even  now,  thoroughness  ought  to  be  en¬ 
sured  in  any  course  offered  to  students,  and  such  fees 
should  be  fixed  as  are  compatible  with  this. 

The  Committee  recommend  that  for  the  present  the 
following  be  laid  down  as  conditions  for  making  grants 
in  aid  of  Provincial  Schools  of  Pharmacy,  viz. : — 

1.  That  the  application  bo  made  in  writing  by  three 
or  more  resident  members  of  the  Pharmaceutical  So¬ 
ciety. 

2.  That  it  shall  state  the  kind  of  aid  required,  and, 
where  a  money  grant  is  applied  for,  shall  indicate  the 
sum  intended  to  be  applied  to  each  specific  purpose. 

3.  That  where  a  grant  is  made  for  the  purpose  of  pro¬ 
viding  materials  for  class-teaching,  the  applicants  shall 
be  prepared  to  guarantee  their  safe  custody  for  a  period 
of  three  years.  The  said  materials  to  be  the  loaned  pro¬ 
perty  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  for  three  years,  at 
the  expiration  of  which  they  may  be  resumed  by  it,  or 
otherwise  disposed  of.  The  Council  may,  in  special 
cases,  forego  this  guarantee  where  it  deems  it  not  desir¬ 
able. 

4.  Such  duplicate  specimens  as  may  from  time  to  time 
be  available  from  the  Society’s  Museum  shall  be  distri¬ 
buted  amongst  the  Museums  of  Societies  making  appli¬ 
cation  in  accordance  with  Clause  1,  and  shall  be  regarded 
as  absolute  gifts  unless  the  Council  shall  impose  condi¬ 
tions. 

5.  Applications  for  aid  to  libraries  must  give  particu¬ 
lars  of  the  number  of  volumes  already  contained  in  such 
library,  and  specify  the  name  of  each  book  applied  for 
and  its  price. 

6.  That  where  a  grant  is  applied  for  towards  guaran¬ 
teeing  a  minimum  sum  to  a  teacher  of  chemistry,  prac¬ 
tical  chemistry,  materia  medica,  pharmacy,  or  botany, 
a  statement  shall  be  made  of  the  number  of  lectures  to 
be  given,  the  lecture  hours,  and  the  fees  to  be  paid  by 
the  students.  If  such  grant  be  made,  the  names  and 
attendance  of  the  students  at  each  lecture  must  be  re¬ 
corded,  and  reported  to  the  Council  at  the  end  of  the 
course. 

7.  The  Council  may  grant  sums  to  pay  to  provincial 
schools  one-half  of  the  salary  of  a  student  or  other  person 
as  curator  and  lecture  assistant. 

8.  The  relative  claim  of  any  town  to  receive  aid  from 
the  Society  must  be  indicated  by  the  earnestness  and 
efficiency  of  local  effort.  A  complete  curriculum  of  che¬ 
mistry,  practical  chemistry,  materia  medica,  pharmacy 
and  botany,  is  the  standard  to  be  aimed  at. 


9.  All  applications  to  the  Council  for  aid  may  be  re¬ 
ferred  to  a  standing  Committee  appointed  annually  for 
this  purpose.  The  recommendations  of  the  Committee 
to  be  laid  before  the  Council  for  action  thereon. 

10.  The  Committee  to  present  annually  a  tabulated 
return  of  the  state  of  Provincial  Education. 

Resolved — That  the  Committee  on  Pharmaceutical! 
Education  be  continued  as  a  standing  Committee. 

Resolved — That  a  grant  of  not  less  than  eight  guineas 
be  made  to  applicants  from  Norwich  for  the  pur¬ 
chase  of  sots  of  Botanical  Diagrams,  subject  to  the 
conditions  already  adopted  by  the  Council. 

REPORTS  OF  EXAMINERS. 

October ,  1870. 

England  and  Wales. 

Candidates 


October  14,  Modified . 

Examined. 

Passed. 

30 

Failed. 

15 

11 

19,  Major . 

.  4 

4 

0 

11 

,,  Minor . 

.  24 

19 

5 

11 

20,  ,,  . 

.  18 

13 

5 

11 

3,  Preliminary  . 

. 224 

164 

60 

11 

„  Certificates  in 
Preliminary 
nation  . 

lieu  of 
Exami- 
.  9 

0 

0 

SCOTL 

October  11,  Major . 

324 

AND. 

Examined. 
.  2 

230 

Passed. 

2 

85 

Failed 

0 

,,  Minor . 

.  6 

4 

2 

,,  Modified . 

.  9 

7 

2 

11 

,,  Preliminary  . 

.  5 

4 

1 

22 

17 

5 

Resolved — That  diplomas  stamped  with  the  Seal  of  the- 
Society  be  severally  granted  to  the  following  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Chemists : — 

Barrett,  Frederick  John . Fakenham. 

Butterworth,  Albert  . Sowerby  Bridge. 

Joule,  John  Samuel . Buxton. 

Strickland,  George  Hodgson  . .  Yarm. 

Resolved — That  the  following,  having  passed  their 
respective  Examinations,  be  elected 

ASSOCIATES  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 

Minok. 

Bradford,  Cordley  . Spalding. 

Eden,  Thomas  . Dublin. 

Elliott,  Thomas . Clay  Cross. 

Foster,  Henry  P . Portsmouth. 

Francis,  Geo.  B . Diss. 

Goodman,  Daniel  H . Bath. 

Grinstead,  John  . Chichester. 

Little,  Arthur  N . Bristol. 

Loveless,  Edward  Wm . Bath. 

Marshall,  Austen . Stratford-on-Avon.. 

Melhuish,  Thomas  B . London. 

Part,  Edward  James  . Dover. 

Robinson,  Joseph . Chester-le-Street.- 

Salmon,  Thomas  . Pontypool. 

Thomas,  John  D.  D . Clifton. 

Walker,  John  S . Manchester. 

Modified. 

Cullen,  Robert  Henry' . Paris. 

Dunn,  Henry  . Shipley. 

Evans,  John . Worcester. 

Farrer,  Robert  S . Brighton. 

Fewstcr,  William  L . Liverpool. 

Forster,  William  Day . Godaiming- 


November  1-2,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


391 


Gregory,  John . Stockton-on-Tees. 

Harland,  Richard  T . York. 

Hughes,  William,  jun . Presteigne. 

Lloyd,  John . London. 

Oakey,  Joseph . Liverpool. 

Sproat,  Robert . Hull. 

Wilson,  Joseph  G . Dublin. 

Resolved — That  the  following,  having  passed  the 
Modified  Examination,  he  elected 


ASSOCIATES  IN  BUSINESS. 

Casely,  Samuel . London. 

Hollway,  Albert  B . Cardiff. 

Resolved — That  the  following,  having  paid  their  Ar¬ 
rears  of  Subscription,  and  the  usual  fines,  be  restored 
to  Membership : — 

Thonger,  Gilbert . Birmingham. 

Potter,  Charles . Knaresborough. 

Horsfield,  J ohn  M . Rotherham. 

Hallsworth,  Thomas  . Ardwick. 

Resolved — That  Charles  Potter  (Associate,  1842)  be 
and  is  hereby  elected  a  Member  of  the  Society. 

Resolved — That  the  following  Registered  Chemists  and 
Druggists  be  elected 

MEMBERS  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 


Henry  Overbury . Alcester. 

Sidney  Redman  . Taunton. 


Henry  Overbury . Alcester. 

Sidney  Redman  . Taunton. 


LIVERPOOL  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 


The  First  General  Meeting  of  the  Twenty-second 
Session  was  held  at  the  Royal  Institution,  Colquitt 
Street,  on  the  27th  October  last ;  the  President  in  the 
chair. 

The  Secretary  announced  that  the  following  gentle¬ 
men  had  been  elected  officers  for  the  Session  1870-71  : — 

President:  Mr.  John  Abraham;  Vice-President :  Mr. 
Edward  Davies,  F.C.S. ;  Honorary  Treasurer  :  Mr.  John 
Shaw;  Honorary  Secretary  :  Mr.  Alfred  H.  Mason,  56, 
Hanover  Street;  Council:  Messrs.  Barber,  Delf,  Jones, 
Murphy,  Redford,  Sharp,  Summer,  Symcs. 

Professor  Attfield,  Ph.D.,  F.C.S. ,  Thomas  Hyde  Hills, 
Esq.,  London,  W.  W.  Stoddart,  Esq.,  F.C.S.,  F.G.S., 
Bristol,  were  unanimously  elected  honorary  members  of 
the  Association. 

Mr.  J.  M.  Buck  was  elected  a  member,  Mr.  Burnet  D. 
Cohen  was  elected  an  associate. 

Several  donations  to  the  Library  and  Museum  were 
announced. 

Mr.  Davies,  F.C.S.,  exhibited  a  specimen  of  phos¬ 
phorus,  crystallized  from  fusion,  in  crystals  of  peculiar 
form,  and  explained  its  formation. 

Miscellaneous  communications  having  been  discussed, 
the  President,  Mr.  John  Abraham,  delivered  the  open¬ 
ing  Address  of  the  Session  as  follows  : — 

It  has  been  usual  to  commence  the  business  of  the 
Session  by  a  few  introductory  remarks  from  the  chair,  and, 
in  accordance  with  this  custom,  I  proceed  to  make  a  few 
general  observations.  Two  valuable  addresses  have  lately 
been  delivered,  which  many  of  us  have  heard  or  read. 
One  by  Air.  Stoddart,  at  the  recent  meeting  in  Liverpool 
of  the  Pharmaceutical  Conference  ;  the  other,  by  Mr. 
Schacht,  at  the  opening  of  the  Session  of  the  School  of 
Pharmacy  in  Bloomsbury  Square.  The  former  was  de¬ 
livered  in  this  place,  and  conveyed  some  compliments, 
which,  I  suppose,  we  might  appropriate  to  ourselves,  did 
our  self-appreciation  accord  with  the  generous  sentiments 
of  the  speaker.  Our  pursuits  demand  scientific  know¬ 
ledge,  and  they  afford  some  opportunities  for  scientific  re¬ 
search  ;  but  it  cannot  be  said  that  many  of  us  devote  much 
time  to  experiment  or  to  study.  Some — perhaps  most — 
are  too  busy,  some  arc  so  little  busy  in  those  things  which  ! 


keep  the  pot  boiling  that  they  think  they  can  spare  no 
time  for  any  pursuits  which  do  not  bring  fuel  to  the  fire. 
It  is  not  for  me  to  do  more  than  remind  such  of  the  plea¬ 
sures  and  advantages  of  science ;  and  if  any  one  says  or 
thinks  that  it  is  not  for  mo  to  teach  or  censure  others,  I 
am  sure  that  he  will  meet  with  a  cordial  assent  from 
myself,  only  that  I  respectfully  plead  the  necessities  and 
duties  of  my  office.  Teachers,  and  even  parents,  incul¬ 
cate  many  a  valuable  lesson  which  they  do  not  always 
exemplify.  Allow  me  to  quote  a  few  words  from  Mr. 
Stoddart,  which  I  believe  to  be  well  worthy  of  repetition. 

‘  The  pharmaceutist  must  make  the  most  he  c<>n  of  the 
numerous  animal,  vegetable  and  mineral  substances 
with  which  he  has  to  do,  and  to  carry  on  his  operations 
with  the  view  of  producing  the  best  results.  I  am  con¬ 
vinced  that  the  most  prosperous  and  happy  of  our  body 
are  those  that  bear  these  things  in  mind  and  who  look 
upon  mental  cultivation  as  a  delight,  and  not  as  a  neces¬ 
sary  but  disagreeable  task.’ 

“  Our  Society  is  not  so  meritorious  as  some  of  our 
friends  have  been  pleased  to  think  ;  it  is  not  so  useless 
as  perhaps  some  of  ourselves  occasionally  fear.  We 
keep  a  little  flame  of  science  burning.  We  afford  oppor¬ 
tunities  for  useful  discussions,  and  I  confidently  affirm 
that  during  the  whole  period  of  the  existence  of  the 
Association,  we  have  afforded  full  opportunities  at  the 
smallest  possible  cost  for  the  acquisition  of  a  scientific 
knowledge  of  their  profession  by  students  of  pharmacy. 
If  the  number  who  have  availed  themselves  of  these 
privileges  has  been  small,  it  has  been  from  no  fault  of 
the  Association  or  of  its  teachers.  An  honourable  am¬ 
bition  to  be  useful,  not  hope  of  fees,  has  been  the  stimu¬ 
lus  to  those  who  have  given  their  time  and  talents  to  this 
work.  If  any  of  our  friends  think  we  ought  to  do  more, 
and  well  they  may  think  it, — I  say  let  them  help ,  and  if 
they  do  not,  whatever  the  reason  may  be,  I  venture  to' 
think  they  should  not  discourage  those  who  may  try  to 
do  a  little.  The  other  address  to  which  I  have  referred' 
is  that  of  Mr.  Schacht  on  the  opening  of  the  session  at 
Bloomsbury  Square.  Those  who  had  not  the  pleasure  of 
hearing-  it  will  be  rewarded  by  a  reference  to  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Journal  and  Chemist  and  Druyyist,  and  I 
would  strongly  recommend  every  young  man  to  read  it. 
Mr.  Schacht  has  taken  great  interest  in  the  cause  ot 
pharmaceutical  education,  and  he  thinks  that  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society  should  do  more  than  hitherto  to  pro¬ 
mote  education  in  the  provinces.  I  wait  to  know  how 
he  and  others  propose  to  effect  their  object.  I  fear  that 
more  is  expected  from  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  than 
the  few  thousands  a  year  at  the  disposal  of  the  Council 
can  possibly  accomplish.  It  occurs  to  me  that  possible 
the  Society  might  be  instrumental  in  procuring  the  occa¬ 
sional  services  of  lecturers  and  experimental  demonstra¬ 
tors  in  places  where  no  competent  instructor  resides, 
but  where  a  tolerable  class  would  bear  the  whole  or  part 
of  the  expense.  The  theory  has  hitherto  been  that  an 
apprentice  was  taught  his  business  by  his  master,  and  if 
he  were  not  perfect  by  the  end  of  his  apprenticeship 
that  he  could  pick  up  all  he  wanted  behind  some  other 
counter.  Modern  ideas  of  the  duties  of  the  pharmacist 
do  not  accord  with  these.  A  scientific  knowledge  of 
chemistry  and  of  botany  is  insisted  on  and  required  by 
Act  of  Parliament.  This  can  hardly  be  acquired  behind 
the  counter,  even  if  every  master  were  qualified  to  impart 
it.  We  know  that  this  is  not  the  case,  and  that  appren¬ 
tices  who  learn  nothing  except  what  is  acquired  in  the 
ordinary  routine  of  a  shop  are  exceedingly  deficient  in 
these  necessary  things. 

“  Of  the  new  drugs  which  have  been  recently  intro¬ 
duced,  chloral  is  the  most  important.  So  far  as  I  can 
learn,  we  are  entirely  indebted  to  the  Continent  for  our 
supply,  and  it  is  by  no  means  of  a  uniform  character. 

I  cannot  see  why  it  cannot  be  made  in  Lancashire  as  well 
as  anywhere  else,  unless  it  be  that  our  excise  duties  on 
spirit  interfere.  Surely  bonded  laboratories  would  be- 
conceded  by  the  Government,  and  I  have  heard  that  the.: 


392 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  12,  1870. 


manufacture  of  tinctures  in  bond  for  exportation  has 
been  commenced.  The  price  of  opium  and  its  pre¬ 
parations  continues  very  high,  but  it  is,  perhaps,  still 
more  important  to  note  that  the  quality  of  opium 
brought  into  the  market  is  even  more  variable  than 
formerly.  Mr.  Morson  informs  me  that  opium  sup¬ 
posed  to  come  from  Persia,  and  very  similar  in  odour 
and  appearance,  varies  in  its  richness  in  morphia  from  1 
to  10  per  cent.  Some  promising  specimens  from  a  new 
source — Australia — were  shown  at  our  recent  exhibition. 
The  adulteration  of  drugs  has  been  curiously  illustrated 
lately  in  respect  to  two  imported  articles,  saffron  and 
■cochineal,  in  both  of  which  the  weight  of  the  genuine  ar¬ 
ticle  is  largely  increased  by  powders  made  to  adhere  to 
them.  For  the  detection  of  the  former  we  are  indebted 
to  Mr.  Daniel  Hanbury,  who  has  shown  that  carbonate 
of  lime  is  made  to  adhere  to  the  saffron,  with  hardly  any 
change  of  appearance,  though  chemical  tests  and  also 
the  microscope  make  it  apparent.  In  the  case  of  cochi¬ 
neal,  a  shining  powder  is  made  to  adhere  to  the  insects, 
as  I  can  easily  show  you.  The  powder  is  not  soluble  in 
hydrochloric  acid,  and  it  may  be  micaceous  or  barytic. 

“  It  will  have  been  seen  that  the  Council  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society  have  again  under  their  consideration 
the  provisions  for  the  regulation  of  the  keeping  and  dis¬ 
pensing  of  poisons.  This  office  is  conferred  upon  the 
-Society  by  Act  of  Parliament,  and  every  consideration  of 
prudence  and  duty  compels  the  Society,  in  my  opinion, 
to  attempt  its  discharge.  It  may  be  that  some  mode  of 
effecting  the  object  may  be  devised  less  obnoxious  than 
that  hitherto  proposed,  but  I  think  that  the  opposition 
which  the  formerly  framed  regulations  met  with  was  a 
mistake.  I  should,  however,  be  quite  willing  that  they 
should  at  first  be  tried  as  a  voluntary  system  only. 

“  In  conclusion,  I  beg  to  express  my  hope  that  we  may 
have  a  prosperous  session  ;  that  each  one  will  contribute 
his  quota  to  the  common  stock,  and  that  amongst  them 
will  be  some  who  have  not  hitherto  read  papers  to  us.” 

After  the  address  the  President  illustrated  his  remarks 
about  the  adulteration  of  saffron  and  cochineal,  etc.,  and 
a  discussion  followed. 

A  very  cordial  vote  of  thanks  was  moved  by  Mr. 
Davies,  F.C.S.,  to  the  President  for  his  hopeful  and 
practical  address,  and  seconded  by  Mr.  Bedford,  who 
expressed  a  hope  that  the  President  would  impress  upon 
principals  the  necessity  of  allowing  their  apprentices  and 
assistants  time  to  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunities 
for  study  offered  for  them  to  enable  them  to  meet  the 
requirements  of  the  times. 

The  President  having  briefly  returned  thanks,  the 
meeting  separated. 


NORWICH  CHEMISTS’  ASSISTANTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

The  Inaugural  Meeting  of  this  Society  was  held  in 
the  new  rooms,  in  Duke  Street,  on  Friday  evening, 
October  21st.  The  employers  having  been  invited  to 
attend,  the  majority  of  the  leading  members  of  the  trade 
were  present,  including  Messrs.  F.  Sutton  (Local  Secretary 
do  the  Pharmaceutical  Society),  A.  J.  Caley,  0.  Corder, 
J.  Robinson,  J.  R.  Fitch,  Cubitt,  W.  Searby,  Gardiner, 
Cassey,  F.  Smith,  W.  S.  Bird  and  Wilson. 

Letters  were  read  from  other  gentlemen,  expressing 
their  inability  to  attend  and  their  hearty  co-operation 
with  the  movement. 

The  room  was  adorned  with  some  handsome  rare'  ferns 
in  pots,  and  other  botanical  productions  ;  also  magnifi¬ 
cent  specimens  of  the  crystals  of  the  Pharmacopoeia,  and 
a  beautiful  collection  of  the  many  alkaloids  of  the  chin- 
chona  barks. 

The  President  (Mr.  Alfred  Hill)  took  the  chair  at 
•8.30,  and  said : — 

Gentlemen, — My  first  duty  this  evening  is  to  offer 
■thanks,  in  the  name  of  this  Association,  to  those  of  our 
.employers  who  have  shown  their  willingness  to  help  by 


their  presence  here  to-night.  Such  a  public  expression 
of  sympathy  was  the  one  thing  wanting  to  strengthen 
our  hands ;  all  else  has  been  most  encouraging ;  those 
gentlemen  before  whom  any  notice  of  our  projects  has 
been  laid  up  to  the  present,  have  expressed  their  entire 
concurrence  with  them.  The  limited  time  at  our  dis¬ 
posal  has,  however,  prevented  our  consulting  with  many 
principals ;  I  bog,  therefore,  to  lay  before  you,  in  as  few 
words  as  possible,  the  objects  of  this  Association,  together 
with  the  means  of  fulfilling  the  same.  It  will  not  be 
necessary  for  me  to  advocate  the  utility  of  this  project. 
— no  one  can  now  open  a  business  without  first  pass¬ 
ing  the  Examinations  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society, 
— our  object  is,  by  mutual  help,  to  render  easier  the  pre¬ 
paration  for  these  examinations.  In  the  first  place  we 
desire  to  found  a  library.  For  some  time  to  come  we 
shall  be  unable  to  purchase,  so  we  have  inaugurated  a  loan 
system,  and,  as  far  as  we  have  gone,  this  seems  to  be 
very  promising.  For  the  first  fruits  I  bog  to  refer  you 
to  these  shelves ;  the  majority  of  these  books  have  been 
lent  by  the  members  of  the  Council.  Those  principals, 
to  whom  we  have  at  present  applied  for  co-operation  in 
this  work,  have  nobly  responded,  and  I  do  not  doubt  that 
other  gentlemen  will  do  the  same.  These  books  will 
not  be  allowed  to  circulate.  In  time,  I  hope  to  see  the 
walls  of  this  room  covered  by  objects  of  Pharmaceutical 
interest  and  folios  of  autograph  prescriptions  upon  the 
table.  In  both  of  these  aims,  I  solicit  our  employers’ 
help,  as  we  must  principally  depend  upon  them  for  the 
nucleus  of  our  museum. 

For  the  use  of  the  Chemistry  Classes,  Mr.  Robinson 
has  most  handsomely  presented  a  varied  collection  of 
chemicals,  etc.,  and  I  now  beg  to  thank  him  in  the  name 
of  the  Association.  I  regret  that  I  am  unable  just  at  this 
moment  to  lay  before  you  precise  arrangements  respect¬ 
ing  the  classes, — the  first  of  which,  however,  will  be 
held  on  Monday  evening  next,  at  8.15,  subject,  “Ele¬ 
mentary  Chemistry,”  by  Mr.  E.  Nuthall,  and  we  hope 
by  that  time  to  have  a  list  of  all  for  your  information. 

The  classes  proposed  by  the  Council  are,  Chemistry, 
Qualitative  Analysis,  Botany,  Materia  Medica  and 
Latin. 

I  cannot  refrain  from  noticing  the  kindness  with  which 
Mr.  A.  J.  Caley  and  Mr.  0.  Corder  have  offered  to  give 
lectures,  respectively,  on  Materia  Medica. 

On  Monday,  this  room  will  be  at  your  disposal  for 
reading,  etc.,  and  I  would  recommend  all  those  who  pur¬ 
pose  going  through  a  regular  course  of  study  to  come 
up  then  and  register  themselves  for  their  respective 
classes. 

Besides  the  annual  income,  a  large  outlay  is  required 
at  the  start  for  furnishing.  To  this  fund  I  hope  the 
employers  will  subscribe  liberally.  We  have  been  com¬ 
pelled  to  lay  on  gas,  and  are  desirous  of  doing  the  same 
with  water.  The  last,  however,  we  fear  we  must  omit 
for  the  present. 

With  the  exception  of  addressing  a  few  words  to  those 
who  will  shortly  be  students,  I  feel  my  task  to  be  ended. 
To  them  I  would  say  that  however  complete  the  ad¬ 
ministration  of  this  Association,  its  ultimate  success  rests 
with  you.  Unless  you  work  with  a  heart  and  show  your 
appreciation  of  the  many  advantages  by  getting  rapidly 
through  the  examinations,  this  Association  will  be  a 
mere  skeleton  without  life.  But  if,  on  the  other  hand, 
you  attend  the  classes  regularly,  supplementing  this  by 
home  work,  I  feel  sure  that  this  Association  will  prove  a 
glorious  success. 

Upon  the  means  of  securing  regular  attendance  at 
classes,  I  would  earnestly  invite  discussion.  There  seems 
to  be  a  strong  feeling  in  favour  of  some  method  of  making 
attendance  at  classes  other  than  a  matter  of  fancy,  so 
that  the  tutor  may  be  saved  the  annoyance  of  the  con¬ 
stant  repetition  necessitated  by  occasional  students. 

I  would  recommend  to  your  consideration  the  system 
of  entrance  fees  for  each  class,  reminding  you  that  that 
which  one  has  to  pay  for  one  values  more  than  anything 


.November  12, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


gratuitous  and  is  less  likely  to  throw  away ;  of  course, 
these  fees  would  go  to  the  funds  of  the  Association,  not 
to  the  tutors.  I  would  suggest  that  a  portion  of  the 
money  he  devoted  to  the  purchase  of  a  prize  or  prizes  for 
competition  by  the  students.  I  trust  to  hear  a  full  ex¬ 
pression  of  feeling  on  this  subject  from  all  present. 

Erom  what  I  have  said,  I  hope  you  will  not  infer  that 
I  look  upon  the  passing  of  the  examinations  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society  as  the  only  ultimate  object  of  these 
efforts.  I  wish  you  to  understand  that  I  deprecate 
“  cramming.”  The  simple  acquirement  of  facts  can  be 
of  little  use  except  for  the  present.  But  if  these  facts 
are  employed  to  develope  reasoning  powers  so  as  to 
enable  you  to  trace  in  them  the  working  of  those  laws 
which  we  call  nature,  they  will  elevate  you  into  thinking- 
men,  and  make  you  ornaments  to  the  calling-  upon  which 
you  have  entered. 

Mr.  F.  Sutton,  F.C.S.,  who  had,  at  the  request  of  the 
Committee,  called  upon  the  employers  to  be  present, 
wished,  as  Local  Secretary  of  the  Pharmaceutical  So¬ 
ciety,  to  be  permitted  at  that  stage  of  the  meeting  to  say 
a  few  words  of  congratulation  and  encouragement  to 
those  young  men.  He  had  that  day  received  a  letter 
from  an  employer,  regretting  that  he  could  not  be  pre¬ 
sent,  and  stating  that  a  similar  association  was  formed 
twenty-five  years  ago,  but  fell  through,  owing  to  the 
lukewarmness  of  the  young  men  themselves.  He  could 
quite  believe  that  was  the  case,  but  circumstances  had 
strangely  altered  since  then ;  and  now  it  was  not  a 
matter  of  choice  with  a  young  man  whether  he  passed 
an  examination  or  not,  it  was  a  matter  of  necessity,  and 
it  behoved  every  one  present  to  look  that  fact  fully  in 
the  face.  Ho  would  caution  them  not  to  expect  too 
great  things  at  first,  not  to  attempt  too  much.  A  very 
great  deal  might  be  done  with  limited  means ;  it  was 
astonishing  how  many  instructive  demonstrations,  in 
practical  chemistry  for  instance,  might  be  shown  with 
the  simplest  apparatus.  He  was  very  glad  to  hear  that 
a  course  of  lectures  on  pharmacy  and  materia  medica 
had  been  promised  by  Mr.  A.  J.  Caley,  and  another  on 
botany  by  Mr.  Corder.  For  his  own  part,  he  regretted 
that  he  could  not  promise  a  course  of  lectures  on  che¬ 
mistry,  but  he  would  give  them  a  lecture  or  two,  and  felt 
sure  there  were  some  among  themselves  whose  practical 
acquaintance  with  the  science  was  sufficient  to  give  all 
the  demonstrations  required.  Norwich  laboured  under 
the  great  drawback  that  there  was  no  school  of  medicine 
or  science  in  it,  nor  any  private  teachers,  and  he  feared 
it  would  be  a  long  time  before  the  city  could  establish 
such  public  aids  as  were  to  be  found  in  many  large  manu¬ 
facturing  towns  in  the  North  and  West.  He  was  glad  to 
see  so  many  of  the  employers  present,  but  was  prepared 
to  see  all.  This  was  a  movement  which  was  of  quite  as 
much  importance  to  them  as  to  the  young  men  ;  he  felt 
sure  that  the  better  educated  and  more  intelligent  an 
assistant  or  apprentice  was,  so  much  the  more  would  he 
be  of  service  to  his  employer. 

Mr.  A.  J.  Caley  assured  the  meeting  of  his  support, 
and  enforced  the  necessity  of  real  work.  He  spoke  of 
the  pleasures  to  be  derived  from  the  possession  of  know¬ 
ledge,  and  the  immense  advantages  of  early  rising,  ten¬ 
dering  much  kind  advice  to  the  young  men. 

.Most  of  the  other  employers  present  took  part  in  a 
discussion  upon  the  hours  most  suitable  for  having  the 
rooms  open,  Messrs.  Searby,  Gardiner  and  Wilson  ad¬ 
vocating  the  necessity  of  closing  the  rooms  at  an  early 
hour,  to  allow  the  apprentices  to  reach  their  homes  with¬ 
out  interference  with  domestic  arrangements. 

Mr.  Smith  remarked  that  an  evident  consequence  of 
this  Association  would  be  the  adoption  of  an  early  hour 
for  closing  their  respective  establishments,  to  allow  their 
assistants  the  full  advantage  of  the  Association. 

Questions  from  Messrs.  Bird  and  Cubitt  elicited 
various  particulars  relating  to  expenditure,  etc.,  from 
the  Treasurer  and  Vice- President  in  the  unavoidable 
absence  of  the  Secretary. 


393 


All  the  employers  present  joined  as  honorary  members, 
and  the  following  donations  were  promised : — 

£.  s.  d. 


Mr.  Caley .  1  1  0 

„  Sutton  .  1  0  0 

„  Smith  and  Sons  . 2  2  0 

„  Cubitt  .  1  1  0 

„  Row  .  1  1  0 

„  R.  Fitch  .  1  1  0 

„  J.  R.  Fitch  .  1  1  0 

,,  J.  Robinson  . . .  1  1  0 

„  G.  P.  Watson .  1  1  0 

„  English .  1  1  0 

,,  R.  C.  Pitts .  2  2  0 

„  J.  Watson  .  1  1  0 


,,  William  Rackham .  ..  1  1  0 

Mr.  O.  Corder  a  set  of  botanical  diagrams. 

A  vote  of  thanks  to  the  Chairman  terminated  the  pro¬ 
ceedings. 


NOTTINGHAM  AND  NOTTS  CHEMISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

The  First  General  Meeting  of  the  Session  1870-71  was 
held  in  the  Rooms  of  the  Society,  Britannia  Chambers,, 
on  Friday  Evening,  October  21st;  the  President,  Mr.  J,- 
H.  Atherton,  F.C.S.,in  the  chair.  The  following  Dona¬ 
tions  to  the  Society  were  announced : — Three  Guineas, 
from  Mr.  Bass ;  the  ‘  Pharmaceutical  Journal,’  from  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society ;  several  books,  from  Mr.  W.  H, 
Parker;  the  first  volume  of  Gmelin’s  ‘  Chemistry,’  from* 
Mr.  Rayner.  The  thanks  of  the  Society  were  heartily 
accorded  to  the  donors. 

Mr.  Burnie’s  Report  of  the  Botany  Class  was  read  by 
the  President,  and  the  Prize  for  the  greatest  efficiency 
was  awarded  to  Mr.  Bothamley. 

A  number  of  interesting  objects  were  upon  the  table, 
the  uses  of  which  were  explained  by  the  President ; 
amongst  others, — an  interesting  collection  of  Ashes  of 
Plants,  and  other  substances,  illustrating  the  more  gene¬ 
ral  diffusion  of  some  of  the  rarer  elementary  bodies  (in¬ 
cluding  the  new  metals  Rubidium  and  Indium),  which  was 
exhibited  at  the  Meeting  of  the  British  Pharmaceutical 
Conference  at  Liverpool,  illustrative  of  the  recent  re¬ 
searches  by  Mr.  Stoddart,  the  President,  in  the  applica¬ 
tion  of  spectrum  analysis  to  medicinal  substances ; 
Limousin’s  Oxygen  Apparatus,  for  preparing  and  in¬ 
haling  oxygen  gas ;  a  new  Drop  Bottle ;  and  Maw’s 
Nautilus  Life  Belt. 

The  President  then  delivered  the  Inaugural  Address 
of  the  Session,  in  which  he  reviewed  the  past  work  of  the 
Society,  and  spoke  of  its  future,  particular  attention 
being  given  to  the  provincial  education  question ;  tho 
present  means  of  technical  education  in  London  and  the 
provinces,  and  the  best  method  of  supplying  the  demand,, 
caused  by  the  educational  improvement  necessitated  by 
the  operations  of  the  Pharmacy  Act;  and  the  urgent 
necessity  that  assistance  should  be  rendered  to  societies . 
showing  a  disposition  to  help  themselves,  which,  by  local 
peculiarities,  were  debarred  from  the  assistance  of  any 
existing  technical  schools.  Referring  to  the  general 
aspect  of  the  Poison  Regulation  question,  the  President 
expressed  his  opinion  that,  in  face  of  the  very  few  acci¬ 
dents  attributable  to  the  carelessness  of  dispensers,  and 
the  higher  educational  standard  imposed,  it  was  unwise-: 
to  insist  on  any  “compulsory”  regulations  whatever- 
But  if  the  Pharmaceutical  Council  felt  that,  in  their 
interests  and  the  interests  of  the  public,  some  extra  pre¬ 
cautions  were  necessary,  he  felt  sure  that  the  issue  by 
the  Council  of  suggestions,  to  be  adopted  by  those  not 
already  using  any  suitable  precautions,  would  be  met 
and  treated  with  respect  and  consideration.  The  Presi¬ 
dent  said  he  felt  bound  to  allude  to  the  present  unsatis¬ 
factory  condition  of  the  ‘Journal.’  He  believed,  how¬ 
ever,  that  it  was  of  only  a  temporary  nature,  and  that  an 
improvement  would  soon  be  manifest.  He  then  referred. 


391 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  12,  1870. 


to  the  principle  involved  in  the  issue  of  such  a  periodical 
by  a  body  like  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  and  hoped 
that  in  time  the  ‘  J oumal  ’  would  be  simply  the  record  of 
the  proceedings  of  the  Society,  and  that  the  trade  and 
miscellaneous  matters  demanded  by  the  chemists  through¬ 
out  the  country  would  be  supplied  by  the  issue  of  an  in¬ 
dependent  weekly  publication  like  the  ‘  Lancet.’ 

After  referring  to  other  practical  matters,  the  Pre¬ 
sident  concluded  by  urging  the  members  and  associates 
to  unite  together  in  endeavouring,  by  mutual  conces¬ 
sions,  to  carry  out  the  work  of  the  Society,  and  the 
general  advancement  of  pharmacy. 

A  cordial  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Atherton  for  his  in¬ 
teresting  address  was  moved  by  Mr.  Rawer,  seconded 
by  Mr.  Fitzhugh,  and  carried  unanimously. 

The  following  programme  of  lectures  and  classes  in 
connection  with  the  School  of  Pharmacy  of  this  Associa¬ 
tion  has  been  arranged  for  the  ensuing  Session  : — 

Chemistry. — A  course  of  thirty  lectures,  by  Mr.  George 
Elders,  M.B.,  on  “Inorganic  Chemistry,”  to  com¬ 
mence  on  Monday  evening,  November  7th,  at  the  rooms 
of  the  Association,  and  be  continued  weekly.  Time,  9  to 
10  p.m.  Fee  for  the  course,  os. 

Pharmacy  and  Materia  Me  die  a. — A  course  of  twenty- 
six  lectures,  by  Mr.  Mayfield,  M.P.S.,  at  the  rooms  of 
the  Association,  commencing  on  Wednesday  evening, 
November  9th,  at  9  o’clock. 

These  lectures  have  been  arranged  with  special  refer¬ 
ence  to  the  requirements  of  the  Examinations  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society.  Fee  for  the  course,  5s. 

Botany. — Arrangements  will  be  made  for  a  course  of 
lectures  on  “Structural  and  Physiological  Botany,”  to 
commence  in  the  Spring,  full  particulars  of  which  will 
be  announced  in  due  course. 

Preliminary  Examinations.  —  Although  not  forming 
part  of  the  ordinary  technical  education  provided  by  the 
Society,  the  Council  have  arranged  for  a  class,  provided 
a  sufficient  number  of  associates  make  application  to 
join.  (No  arrangement  will  be  made  for  less  than  ten 
candidates.)  Fee  for  a  course  of  twelve  lessons,  5s. 

Until  further  notice,  the  Library  and  Reading  Room 
will  be  open  on  Monday  and  Wednesday  evenings,  from 
8.30  to  10.15  p.m. 

Applications  for  information  and  tickets  for  the 
various  courses  of  lectures  should  be  made  to  the 
Honorary  Secretary,  Mr.  J.  T.  Mayfield. 


fmccMnip  df  jirientifa  Emetics. 

BRITISH  PHARMACEUTICAL  CONFERENCE. 

Meeting  at  Liverpool. 

Wednesday ,  September  14 th. 

( Continued  from  paeje  376.) 

The  Storing  of  Poisons. 

BY  EDWARD  SMITH,  F.C.S. 

One  of  the  most  important  and  interesting  questions 
at  the  present  moment  on  the  pharmaceutical  tapis  is 
“  the  storing  of  poisons.” 

From  the  tone  of  the  medical  and  general  press,  it  is 
very  evident  that  the  public  consider  the  Pharmacy  Act 
to  have  thrown  the  onus  of  suggesting  and  providing 
efficient  means  to  prevent  “  as  far  as  possible  the  lament¬ 
able  calamities  from  accidental  poisoning  which  so  often 
shock  the  public  mind,”  on  the  Pharmaceutical  Society, 
i.  e.,  practically  on  ourselves ;  and  therefore,  whether  we 
agree  with,  or  differ  from,  the  reasons  which  induce  the 
public  to  require  this  at  our  hands,  it  is  very  clear  that 
unless  we  set  our  house  in  order,  and,  to  the  best  of  our 
abilities,  provide  some  plan  of  storing  poisons  more  in 
accordance  with  the  wishes,  and  with  some  regard  for 
the  tender  susceptibilities,  of  physic-takers,  we  shall 
presently  find  ourselves  in  an  exceedingly  unfortunate 


position,  by  having  the  power  to  act  taken  from  us  and 
placed  in  the  hands  of  those  who  will  turn  a  very  deaf 
ear  to  any  appeal  or  entreaties  on  our  part.  We  shall 
probably  find  ourselves  smarting  under  the  imposition 
of  unpractical  and  very  irritating  regulations,  and  pos¬ 
sibly  compelled  even  to  submit  our  pharmacies  to  the 
indignity  of  inquisitorial  supervision  by  Government 
officials. 

Without  entering  into  the  general  question  as  to  the 
desirability,  necessity,  or  otherwise,  of  any  poison  regu¬ 
lations,  it  appears  to  me  that  at  the  somewhat  peremptory 
demand  of  the  public,  either  from  within  or  without, 
must  some  action  proceed ;  and  surely  there  cannot  be  a 
shadow  of  a  doubt  in  our  minds  as  to  who  are  the  most 
competent  to  undertake  the  matter.  Our  business  is  one 
of  such  a  varied  character — a  combination,  as  it  were,  of 
the  elements  of  a  profession,  with  trade  as  a  basis — that 
we  cannot  contemplate  the  interference  of  an  external 
authority  without  shuddering  at  the  inevitable  result. 

If,  then,  we  are  best  able  to  manage  our  business  affairs 
and  provide  our  own  laws  and  rules,  the  soundest  policy 
and  the  truest  wisdom  dictate  that  we  should  lose  no 
time  in  facing  and  grappling  with  this  poison  question, 
which  already  ripples  the  sea  of  public  opinion,  and 
which  may,  if  we  are  not  wise  enough  to  calm  the  rising 
storm,  ultimately  swamp  all  our  hopes  of  self-govern¬ 
ment,  and  possibly  convert  the  Pharmacy  Act  into  an 
instrument  of  grievous  oppression.  For  these  reasons,  I 
now  venture  to  bring  the  subject  before  you,  in  the 
earnest  hope  that  some  satisfactory  proposition  may  be 
evolved  from  the  discussion  which  may  follow,  and  that 
as  the  fruit  of  your  deliberations,  the  Pharmaceutical 
Council  will  be  enabled  to  frame  regulations,  equally 
satisfactory  to  ourselves  and  to  the  general  public. 

When  we  come  to  consider  the  matter  attentively,  we 
soon  discover  there  are  two  essential  conditions  on  which 
every  regulation  must  be  based,  viz.  simplicity  and  elas¬ 
ticity. 

Any  complex  arrangements  would  speedily  break 
down,  and  collapse  by  their  own  inherent  weakness. 
The  first  strain  put  upon  them  would  create  a  state  of 
things  very  much  more  conducive  to  an  accident  than 
the  entire  absence  of  all  regulations.  Indeed  it  is  highly 
improbable  that  they  would  or  could  be  carried  out  by 
the  majority  of  pharmacists,  since  it  would  entail  an 
expenditure  of  time  not  often  at  the  disposal  of  those 
engaged  in  business  houses.  Pharmacists  are  not,  as  a 
rule,  in  a  position  to  retain  the  services  of  more  assist¬ 
ants  than  they  can  fully  employ ;  hence,  during  a  press 
of  business,  either  behind  the  dispensing  counter  or  on  a 
market-day,  when  perhaps  scores  of  pounds  of  arsenic 
and  other  poisonous  preparations  are  retailed  over  the 
counter,  any  but  the  very  simplest  regulation  would,  in 
point  of  fact,  be  ignored. 

Whatever  plan  we  decide  upon  must,  of  necessity, 
therefore  be  so  simple  that  it  will  safely  bear  the  many 
and  varied  exigencies  of  everyday  practical  work. 

In  addition  to  simplicity,  there  must  also  be  elasticity ; 
for  not  only  have  we  to  take  charge  of  the  few  grains  oi 
atropia  or  aconitia,  but  also  7  lb.  parcels  of  oxalic  acid 
and  the  hundredweight  cask  of  arsenic.  The  same  regu¬ 
lation  should,  if  possible,  cover  every  case. 

Now,  on  reflection,  it  is  clear  that  in  addition  to  the 
care  habitual  to  those  who  have  the  handling  of  poisons, 
we  can  frame  regulations  based  upon  either  one  or  both 
of  the  senses  of  sight  and  touch.  The  former  we  have 
embodied  in  the  use  of  blue  poison  bottles ;  the  latter  in 
the  various  angular  and  peculiarly-shaped  bottles  that 
have  from  time  to  time  been  suggested. 

Hitherto,  these  ideas  have  only  been  carried  out  with 
regard  to  bottles,  and  it  is  really  difficult  to  see  how 
peculiarly-shaped  parcels  or  casks  can  practically  be 
used.  I  conceive  we  are  compelled  to  fall  back  upon 
the  sense  of  sight,  'which  perhaps  is  the  most  acute  ot  all 
our  faculties,  and  the  best  for  our  purpose,  seeing  that 
it  is  the  one  most  intimately  connected  ■with  the  brain 


November  12,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


395 


;and  intellect.  For  these  and  other  reasons  I  would 
therefore  suggest  that  all  bottles,  packages  and  casks 
containing  poisons  be  of  a  dark  blue  colour.  I  fix  upon 
blue  simply  because  it  has  already  to  a  certain  extent 
been  adopted  by  many  pharmacists,  and  requires  but 
very  little  extension  to  complete  the  system.  From  time 
immemoi’ial  Scheele’s  acid  has  been  stored,  with  general 
satisfaction,  in  blue  bottles,  and  possibly  may  have  been 
the  j ons  et  origo  of  all  blue  poison-bottles. 

There  can  be  no  difficulty  in  wrapping  parcels  of 
poisons  in  blue  paper,  nor  in  painting  casks  with  blue 
paint.  Shop  bottles  as  well  as  stock  bottles  would  of 
course  follow  the  same  rule,  so  that  without  any  diffi¬ 
culty,  and  with  a  minimum  of  disturbance  to  existing 
.arrangements,  this  simple  plan  might  very  readily  be 
adopted.  Of  course  every  package  must  be  distinctly 
labelled,  and  the  word  ‘poison’  attached. 

I  object  to  alternative  regulations,  because  they  create 
confusion,  and,  imperceptibly,  lead  to  no  distinct  regula¬ 
tion  whatever.  Our  assistants,  who  have  mainly  the 
handling  of  poisons,  are  not  fixtures  ;  they  migrate  from 
xme  place  to  another,  and  if  at  each  pharmacy  a  different 
.method  of  storing  obtains, — the  changes  being  rung,  as  it 
were,  on  alternative  systems, — naturally  enough  the 
mind  gradually  loses  its  sensitiveness  to  the  danger  im¬ 
plied  by  these  differing  regulations,  no  distinct  impres¬ 
sion  is  retained  capable  of  acting  as  a  caution,  and  the 
inevitable  result  is  confusion  and  insecurity,  if  not  posi¬ 
tive  danger. 

I  see  no  great  advantage  in  every  pharmacist  using 
.the  same  shaped  bottles  ;  I  would  rather  allow  sufficient 
latitude  in  such  minor  considerations,  so  that  a  man  may 
use  his  own  discretion,  and  adapt  his  plan  to  suit  the 
■especial  requirements  of  his  pharmacy. 

Neither  do  I  agree  with  poison  cupboards  or  other 
methods  of  isolation.  They  are,  at  best,  but  clumsy 
mechanical  contrivances,  and  would,  in  all  probability, 
.fail  to  secure  the  smallest  modicum  of  safety ;  but,  on 
the  contrary,  rare  and  seldom-used,  but  inoffensive  pre¬ 
parations  would  be  stored  there  as  a  place  of  safety,  and 
thus  render  supremely  dangerous  the  very  place  where 
-security  is  supposed  to  reign  triumphant.  There  seems 
to  mo,  practically,  to  be  far  greater  safety  in  the  dis¬ 
tinctively-coloured  poison  bottles,  dotted  here  and  there 
on  the  shelves,  than  having  them  concentrated  in  some 
•out-of-the-way  and  dismal  corner  of  a  cupboard  or  room  ; 
and  not  only  because  these  individual  dots  appeal  more 
'distinctly  to  the  mind  through  the  eye,  but  also  because 
we  thus  avoid  the  especial  danger — a  danger  by  no 
means  to  be  disregarded — of  using  one  poison  for  an¬ 
other.  I  conceive  there  is  nearly  as  much  danger  in  dis¬ 
pensing,  say  strychnine  for  morphia,  as  strychnine  for 
James’  powder;  and,  therefore,  any  plan  of  bringing 
powerful  medicines  together  has  in  it  an  element  of 
weakness  which  may  easily  eventuate  in  an  accident. 

It  may  be  thought  that  simply  to  enclose  all  poisons 
in  a  blue  or  other  plain-coloured,  receptacle  is,  in  reality, 
no  precaution  at  all ;  undoubtedly  not,  unless  the  adoption 
is  general  and  complete.  But  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
has  the  power  to  make  it  a  general,  and,  therefore,  effi¬ 
cient  precaution.  By  the  first  clause  of  the  Pharmacy 
Act,  all  pharmacists  must  conform  to  such  regulations  as 
to  the  keeping,  etc.,  of  poisons,  as  may  be  prescribed  by 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  with  the  consent  of  the 
Privy  Council,  and  the  twenty-sixth  clause  enacts  that 
the  name  of  any  person  who  is  convicted  of  any  offence 
against  the  Act,  may  be  erased  from  the  register  of  phar¬ 
macists, — that  is,  deprived  of  the  right  of  selling  or  keep¬ 
ing  poisons  ;  and  this  power,  invested  in  the  Society,  is 
the  fulcrum  by  which  all  of  us  may  most  effectually  be 
compelled  to  carry  out  any  simple  regulation,  such  as 
the  one  proposed. 

I  have  in  this  paper  but  very  cursorily  touched  upon 
the  more  salient  points  of  the  question,  my  object  being 
rather  to  provoke  discussion  than  to  dogmatize. 

There  is  one  consideration,  however,  which  the  Phar¬ 


maceutical  Council  must,  in  common  justice  to  our  pro¬ 
fession,  and  out  of  regard  to  the  public  safety,  not  lose 
sight  of.  I  refer  to  the  expediency  of  all  dispensers  of 
medicine  adopting  the  same  system  and  conforming  to 
the  same  regulation.  Clearly  enough  it  would  be  idle  to 
enforce  regulations  upon  us,  if  dispensing  surgeons,  who 
are  said  to  dispense  on  an  average  more  medicine,  and, 
it  has  been  said,  poison  more  patients  than  pharmacists, 
should  be  still  allowed  unrestrictedly  to  keep  and  sell 
poisons.  I  do  not  mean  that  they  should  in  any  way 
become  subject  to  the  Pharmaceutical  Council,  but  to 
their  own  governing  body, — that  is  to  the  Council  of  the 
College  of  Physicians  or  Surgeons,  who  should  have  the 
power  to  reprimand  or  suspend,  according  to  circunm 
stances. 

The  probable  effect  of  this  would  be  that  many  sur¬ 
geons  would  be  induced  to  give  up  dispensing,  much  to 
their  own  ultimate  advantage,  whilst  pharmacists  being 
no  longer  deprived  of  their  legitimate  work,  would  gladly 
embrace  the  opportunity  of  giving  up  prescribing  or  en¬ 
croaching  in  any  way  on  the  province  of  the  medical  man. 
I  am  sufficiently  sanguine  to  believe  that  so  very  de¬ 
sirable  a  result  will  eventually  be  secured,  having,  as  its 
ultimate  effect,  the  creation  of  a  feeling  of  perfect  har¬ 
mony  and  community  of  interests  between  the  members 
of  the  medical  and  pharmaceutical  profession. 


ptrliraentaxg  nni  fate  fnjmMnp. 


Greenwich  Police  Court. 

BEFORE  MR.  MAULE. 

Mr.  Hassett,  grocer,  appeared  to  answer  to  a  summons 
charging  him  with  an  infringement  of  the  Petroleum 
Act,  by  keeping  petroleum  oil  in  an  iron  drum  or  cistern 
and  a  can,  without  wire-gauze  at  the  openings.  The 
inspector  said,  that  upon  visiting  Mr.  Hassett’ s  premises, 
he  found  in  the  yard  an  iron  drum  or  cistern,  containing 
benzoline  oil.  The  opening  or  neck  had  had  wire-gauze, 
but  it  had  evidently  been  eaten  away  by  the  oil.  Near 
the  drum  was  a  can  containing  four  to  six  gallons  of 
benzoline,  which  had  no  wire-gauze,  as  required  by  the 
Act. 

For  the  defence,  it  was  urged  that  the  wire-gauze  of 
the  drum  or  cistern  had  been  accidentally  knocked  off  by 
a  boy  while  emptying  the  benzoline  from  the  cans, 
which  were  supplied  by  merchants  without  such  wire- 
gauze. 

Mr.  Maule  said  that  it  was  most  important  that  the 
provisions  of  the  Act  of  Parliament,  in  relation  to.  the 
storing  or  keeping  of  petroleum  oils,  should  be  strictly 
adhered  to,  and  imposed  a  fine  of  £2.  10s.  and  costs. 
Times. 


Charge  of  having  substituted  a  Mercurial  Powder 
for  Dover’s  Powder. 

This  case  was  heard  at  the  last  Cavan  Quarter  Sessions, 
in  Ireland.  A  sub-inspector  of  constabulary,  at  Bally- 
jamesduflf,  named  Henry  M^eir,  brought  an  action  to  re¬ 
cover  £40  damages  from  a  Dr.  Bames,  for  having  care- 
lessly  administered  improper  medicines  to  the  plaintiff. 
He  stated  that  he  had  a  cold  and  applied  to  Dr.  Baines 
for  a  Dover’s  powder.  Two  were  sent,  and  he  took  one 
of  them  on  a  Saturday  evening  ;  that  night  he  was  very 
ill,  “  a  dry  heat  through  his  skin,  no  perspiration,  and 
his  throat  very  sore.”  On  Sunday  Dr.  Barnes  called 
to  see  him  and  gave  a  gargle  for  his  throat,  and  he  took 
the  remaining  powder.  These  powders  did  not  cause 
perspiration,  but,  on  the  contrary,  salivated  to  an  extra¬ 
ordinary  degree.  A  Dr.  Mawlimney  was  then  called  in. 
and  found  his  pulse  very  high,  and,  on  examining  his 
mouth,  Dr.  Barnes  agreed  with  him  that  Mr.  Wen1  was 
labouring  under  mercurial  salivation.  There  was  then 
some  conflicting  evidence  as  regards  the  presence  oi  an 


39G 


THE  P H  ARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  12,  1870, 


ulcer  in  the  plaintiff’s  throat,  and  the  general  condition 
of  the  said  plaintiff.  The  Assistant-Barrister,  before 
whom  the  case  was  tried,  said  that  it  was  evident  that 
by  some  mistake  the  plaintiff  got  the  wrong  medicine, 
and,  under  the  circumstances,  he  would  give  a  decree  for 
whatever  amount  ho  had  been  out  of  pocket  by  the 
transaction,  viz.  £6,  plaintiff's  cost,  and  £10  Dr.  Maw- 
limney. 

One  of  the  medical  periodicals,  in  commenting  upon  the 
foregoing,  says  that  there  was  no  evidence  to  show  that 
the  patient’s  salivation  was  caused  by  mercury  at  all,  and, 
that  if  it  were  so,  there  W as  no  evidence  to  show  that  the 
powder  supplied  by  Dr.  Barnes  contained  any  mercurial ; 
also  that  the  amount  which  it  could  convey  was  obvi¬ 
ously  insufficient  to  cause  such  a  result  in  a  healthy  con¬ 
stitution.  It  then  goes  on  to  pass  some  strictures  upon 
Dr.  Barnes  for  allowing  an  unqualified  person  to  dis¬ 
pense  medicines, — it  having  appeared  in  evidence  during 
the  trial,  that  a  young  woman,  a  sister  of  Dr.  Barnes, 
occasionally  made  up  her  brother’s  medicines. 


DR.  THOMAS  ANDERSON,  E.L.S.,  F.B.S.E. 

Dr.  Anderson  was  educated  at  Edinburgh.  "Wishing 
to  follow  up  the  study  of  natural  history,  he  entered  the 
service  of  the  East  India  Company,  and  proceeded  to 
India.  He  succeeded  Dr.  Thomson  as  Superintendent 
of  the  Calcutta  Botanic  Gardens,  and  has  well  sustained 
the  reputation  of  an  office  rendered  memorable  by  the 
great  botanists  who  have  held  it.  He  was  for  some  time 
Conservator  of  the  Assam  Forests,  and,  at  his  death, 
Superintendent  of  the  Darjeeling  cinchona  plantations, 
where  his  labours  had  met  with  marked  success. 

About  two  years  ago,  owing  to  a  dangerous  illness,  he 
had  tol  eave  his  family  in  Calcutta  at  a  few  hours’  no¬ 
tice,  arriving  in  England  in  a  very  low  state.  His 
health  greatly  improving,  ho  set  to  work  upon  his  long- 
deferred  ‘Flora  of  India,’  which  promised  ere  long  to  see 
the  light ;  his  favourite  subject  of  cinchona  cultivation 
also  received  a  large  share  of  his  attention,  especially  the 
■  chemical  portion  of  it.  In  the  midst  of  his  valuable 
work  he  had  a  relapse,  and  left  Kew  for  Scotland,  where 
it  was  hoped  rest  and  quiet  would  restore  him,  but  he 
never  rallied,  and  died  on  the  26th  of  October  last  at 
Edinburgh.  Besides  his  valuable  reports,  he  published 
many  papers  on  systematic  botany.  His  enumeration  of 
the  Acanthaccce ,  an  Order  previously  a  source  of  much 
tixmble  to  systematic  botanists,  has  been  highly  praised 
and  admired  for  its  lucidity  and  philosophical  treatment. 
The  cinchona  question  in  him  has  lost  an  able  worker, 
especially  from  a  botanical  point  of  view,  for  much  good 
must  have  accrued  from  the  study  of  them  in  situ  by 
such  an  accomplished  botanist. 


lelmto. 


Concentric  Calculators  :  A  New  and  Rapid  Method 
of  Ascertaining  Equivalents,  without  stating  the  Sum 
in  Writing.  By  John  Bellows.  Gloucester.  1870. 

The  very  ingenious  contrivance  published  by  the 
author  under  the  above  title  is  one  which,  although  diffi¬ 
cult  to  describe  in  a  manner  that  is  intelligible  to  the 
reader,  requires  but  a  few  minutes’  study  to  enable  any 
person  with  an  arithmetical  turn  of  mind  to  appreciate 
it  as  an  instrument  by  which  a  great  deal  of  time  and 
trouble  may  be  saved.  At  the  same  time  it  is  so  very 
simple  in  its  arrangement  that  it  might  be  correctly  used 
by  a  child.  It  is  adapted  by  the  author  to  a  series  of 
tables,  to  suit  all  classes  of  persons  who  may  require 
such  information  as  is  generally  found  in  the  most  com¬ 
plete  ready  reckoners  and  interest  tables.  Series  A, 


which  is  specially  adapted  for  the  use  of  chemists,  medi¬ 
cal  students,  etc.,  contains  four  tables  for  the  conversion 
of  (1)  grammes  into  grains;  (2)  kilos  and  grammes  into 
pounds  and  ounces  avoirdupois  ;  (3)  divisions  of  the  litre 
into  fluid  ounces,  drachms  and  minims,  and  (4)  hecto¬ 
litres  and  litres  into  gallons  and  pints.  No.  1  mav  be 
described  briefly  thus.  It  consists  of  four  concentric 
circles  revolving  on  a  pivot,  each  circle  containing  the 
numbers  1  to  9  in  large  figures,  arranged  at  equal  dis¬ 
tance  aroimd  the  inside  of  it.  In  the  outside  circle  these 
figures  represent  decagrammes,  or  tens  of  grammes,  and 
against  each  figure  is  placed  its  equivalent  in  grains, 
printed  in  smaller  type.  In  the  next  circle  inwards  the 
large  figures  represent  grammes,  with  their  equivalents ; 
in  the  next  decigrammes,  and  in  the  inside  circle  centi¬ 
grammes.  By  turning  these  circles  on  their  pivot,  until 
the  large  figures  representing  the  number  of  grammes 
of  which  the  equivalent  in  grains  is  required  are  in  a 
line  when  read  towards  the  centre,  the  sum  of  the  smaller 
figures  by  their  side  will  give  the  required  answer. 
Thus,  for  example,  were  the  equivalent  in  grains  of 
|  65-83  grammes  required,  by  bringing  the  necessary  largo 
figures  in  a  line  as  described  above,  the  following  sum 
J  will  be  presented : — 


05 

925-941 

01 

77-162 

00 

12-346 

05 

•463 

1015-912  grains  =  65-83  grammes. 

The  Calculators  are  very  portable  and  extremely  well 
got  up.  The  arrangement  of  the  type  is  very  good,  and 
the  general  appearance  is  all  that  could  be  desired. 


BOOKS  RECEIVED. 

Jahresbericbtt  uber  die  Fortsciiritte  der  Chemie 

UND  VERWANDTER  TlIEILE  ANDERER  WlSSENSCIIAFTEN 

fur  1868.  Giessen.  1870. 

Address  on  Certain  Aspects  of  Medical  Reform.  By 
D.  Campbell  Black,  M.D.  Read  before  the  Medico- 
Cliirurgical  Society  of  Glasgow.  Glasgow,  1870. 

Aesculap  Tidskrift  for  Pharmaci  ocn  Narbeslag- 
tade  Fack. 

Reen  og  Sund  Luft.  Efter  et  Foredrag  af  Otto  Ulo. 
Copenhagen,  1870. 

The  Liverpool  Medical  and  Surgical  Reports. 
Edited  by  P.  M.  Braidwood,  M.D.,  and  Reginald 
Harrison,  F.R.C.S.  London:  John  Churchill  and  Sons, 
New  Burlington  Street;  Liverpool:  Adam  Holden,  48, 
Church  Street.  1870. 

Medico-Chirurgical  Transactions.  Published  by  the 
Royal  Medical  and  Chirurgical  Society  of  London.  Yol.  liii. 
London:  Longmans.  1870. 


Carbonic  Acid. — In  a  paper  read  in  Section  D  of 
the  British  Association,  entitled  “New  Physiological 
Researches  on  the  Direct  Action  of  Carbonic  Acid,”  Dr. 
B.  W.  Richardson  showed  that  the  result  of  subjecting  a 
vegetable  alkaline  infusion  to  the  action  of  carbonic  acid 
under  pressure  was  a  thick  fluid  substance,  resembling 
the  fluid  which  exudes  from  some  trees.  When  gently 
dried  it  became  a  semi-solid  substance,  which  yielded 
elastic  fibres,  and  somewhat  resembled  caoutchouc. 
When  the  serum  of  blood  was  treated  with  carbonic 
acid  under  pressure  and  gentle  warmth,  96°  F.,  the  col¬ 
loidal  part  was  separated ;  but  when  the  blood,  with  the 
fibrine  removed  from  it,  was  treated,  there  was  no  direct 
separation,  the  blood  corpuscles  seeming,  for  a  time,  to 
engage  the  gas  by  condensation  of  it.  But  blood  con¬ 
taining-  fibrine,  and  held  fluid  by  tribasic  phosphate  of 
soda,  was  at  once  coagulated  by  the  acid.  The  bronchial 
secretion  is  thickened  by  carbonic  acid,  and  a  tenacious 
fluid  is  obtained,  resembling  the  secretion  which  occurs 
in  asthma  and  bronchitis,  while  secretions  on  serous, 
surfaces  are  thickened  and  rendered  adhesive. 


November  12,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


397 


itotcs  anir  Queries. 

***  In  accordance  with  a  wish  expressed  by  numerous 
correspondents ,  a  column  will  in  future  be  devoted  to  notes 
and  queries ,  with  the  object  of  facilitating  the  exchange  of 
information  among  members  of  the  trade  and  students. 

In  order  to  facilitate  reference ,  correspondents  are  re- 
1  guested  to  mark  their  ansivers  in  each  case  with  the  title  and 
■  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

[18.] — RUBINI’S  CAMPHOR. — In  regal’d  to  J.  Botham' s 
query,  tlie  following  formula  will  be  found  successful : — 

R.  Alcohol,  1  part  by  measure. 

Camphor,  1  part  by  weight. 

Let  the  alcohol  be  prepared  in  the  following  way : — 

Take  of  S.  Y.  R.  *xx. 

Pot.  Sub.  Carb.  ^j. 

Digest  for  24  hours,  and  pour  off  the  supernatant  liquor, 
rejecting  the  residue. — J.  T.  R.,  Warrington. 

[21. j — GLYCERINE  JELLY.— In  answer  to  B.  W.  W. 
(Sheffield),  AT.  Q.  Z.  sends  the  following  recipe  for  the 
above : — 


[32. ] — DENTISTRY. — S.  S.  will  find  all  the  necessary 
information  with  reference  to  diploma,  or  rather  certificate  of 
qualification  in  dental  surgery,  under  the  heading  “  Royal 
College  of  Surgeons,  England,”  in  the  London  and  Provin¬ 
cial  Medical  Directory,  by  Churchill,  which  he  can  generally 
borrow  of  any  practitioner  of  standing.  Tome’s  ‘Dental 
Surgery,’  by  Churchill  and  Sons,  is  the  best  Manual. — 
L.  A.  S.  A. 

SYRUPUS  EERRI  QUINCE  ET  STRYCHNLE 
PIIOSPHATUM  (Easton’s). — Mr.  Squire’s  formula  for  the 
above  preparation,  as  recommended  to  “  Dispenser ”  in  last 
week  s  Journal,  has  two  objections.  First,  the  quin®  sulphas 
is  ordered  to  be  added  along  with  the  precipitated  ferrous 
phosphate  and  strychnine  to  the  diluted  phosphoric  acid,  in¬ 
stead  of  being  converted  into  phosphate,  which  can  readily 
be  done  by  sodium  phosphate  in  the  same  way  as  the  other. 
The  second  objection  is,  the  absence  of  sodium  acetate  inva¬ 
riably  used  in  this  and  similar  preparations,  to  ensure  the 
occurrence  of  acetic  acid  in  the  solution, — sulphuric  acid 
being  a  solvent  of  ferrous  phosphate,  while  acetic  acid  is  not. 
Let  any  one  make  the  ferrous  phosphate  with  and  without 
the  sodium  acetate,  and  the  advantage  in  favour  of  the  latter 
will  be  at  once  apparent.  In  other  respects  the  formula  is 
good. — W.  Robertson,  177,  High  Street ,  Elgin. 

[***  Our  correspondent  “Dispenser  ”  specified  the  formula 
given  by  Mr.  Squire,  which  was  therefore  supplied. — Ed. 
Ph.  J.] 


White  soft  soap 
Pure  glycerine 

Almond  oil .  . 

Otto  of  thyme . 


.  4  oz. 

•  6  „ 

C  3  lbs.  in  summer. 
'  (_  4  ,,  in  winter. 

.  2  drachms. 


QUILLAI  BARK. — In  answer  to  A.  Z .,  quillai  or  soap 
bark  is  the  produce  of  the  Quillaia  saponaria,  a  rosaceous 
tree  growing  in  South  America,  and  there  used  as  a  sub¬ 
stitute  for  soap.  It  has  been  used  as  a  hair  wash  in  this 
country. 


Mix  the  soap  and  glycerine  in  a  mortar,  add  the  perfume  to 
(the  oil,  and  rub  it  in  gradually,  taking  care  not  to  add  the 
•oil  faster  than  it  can  be  incorporated,  or  the  result  will  not 
have  the  jelly-like  appearance  required. 

[23.]— COLOURING  FOR  POMADE.— A  preparation 
•called  “  Aureoleinc,”  made  by  Mr.  Baldock,  South  Norwood, 
for  the  last  six  years,  will  fully  answer  the  purpose  intended, 
as  it  will  stand  exposure  in  the  window  for  at  least  twelve 
months  without  fading. 

If  S.  W.  S.  (Hull)  will  send  his  card  to  Mr.  Henry  H. 
Pollard,  140,  High  Street,  Ryde,  I.W.,  that  gentleman  will 
-communicate  with  him  respecting  colouring  for  Pomades. 

[25.] — FUMIGATION. — Generate  chlorine  by  adding 
dilute  hydrochloric  acid  to  chlorinated  lime  placed  in  open 
dishes ;  or,  equally  good,  disinfect  with  sulphurous  acid  gas, 
by  burning  sulphur  in  the  form  of  match  or  in  an  open  pan. 
Doors,  windows  and  other  outlets  ought  to  be  kept  closed 
during  the  process  of  disinfection,  and  all  polished  steel  or 
gilt  furniture  removed. — L.  A.  S.  A. 


[33.] — DISPENSING. — Will  some  of  your  readers  kindly 
give  me  their  opinion  as  to  the  best  method  of  dispensing  the 
following  prescription,  and  the  appearance  it  should  present 
when  completed : — 

R.  Tr.  Quini®  Co.  .  .  .  §iss 
Ammon.  Carbon.  .  .  gr.  1 

Syrup.  Aurantii  .  .  .  5SS 

Aqu® . gi. 

M.  ft.  Mist.  H.  K. 

[34.] — J.  W.  will  be  glad  of  a  formula  for  making  aq. 
camphor®  concent.,  B.P.,  extemporaneously. 

[35.]— ROSE  TOOTH-POWDER. — What  is  the  best- 
method  of  making  rose  tooth-powder  so  as  to  give  a  good 
pink  colour  ? — E.  H. 

[36.]— EAU  DE  COLOGNE. — B.  Shakerley  (Liskeard) 
wishes  for  a  good  recipe  for  making  Eau  de  Cologne. 

[37.] — EAU  DE  PORTUGAL. — A  correspondent  wishes 
to  know  the  composition  of  Eau  de  Portugal. 


[26.]— CHLORAL  HYDRATE  is  given,  to  allay  pain 
and  produce  sleep,  in  doses  from  10  to  120  grains :  30  is  the 
ordinary  dose. — F.  Goodwin. 

[*#*  10  to  30  is  the  ordinary  dose. — Ed.  Pit.  J.] 

[27.] — BENZINE. — A  petroleum  licence  must  be  ob¬ 
tained.  Generally  the  magistrates  or  other  local  authority 
will  grant  a  licence  to  store  a  quantity  not  exceeding  two 
gallons,  if  the  case  is  properly  explained  to  them.  Applica¬ 
tion  should  be  made,  in  the  first  instance,  to  the  clerk  to 
such  authority. — L.  A.  S.  A. 

[28.] — SYMPATHETIC  INK.— A  solution  of  proto-ni¬ 
trate  of  mercury  developes  black  either  by  heat  or  the  appli¬ 
cation  of  an  alkaline  solution,  as  lime-water.  Glazed  paper 
should  not  be  used  for  secret  writing,  or  it  will  be  more  or 
less  visible  on  the  surface.  Rolled  demy  is  better  than  ordi¬ 
nary  note-paper. — J.  Whitfield,  Scarborough. 

J.  H.  B.  will  find  that  by  writing  with  the  following  solu¬ 
tion  and  applying  heat,  the  writing  will  become  perfectly 

black : — 

R.  Cupri  Chlor . 5i 

Aqu®  Dest . 5ij. 

Ft.  Sol. 

— A.  J.  Lance. 

[29.]— QUININE  MIXTURE.— Most  trade  fonnul® 
contain  only  a  trace  of  quinine,  and  a  more  appreciable  pro¬ 
portion  of  chiretta.  Quinine,  producing  a  bulky  sediment 
with  sarsaparilla,  is  not  much  used  in  the  combination. — 
^Simon  Pure. 


[38.]— SOLUBILITY  OF  FERRI  CITRAS.— No  doubt 
others  have  experienced  the  same  difficulty  as  myself  trying 
to  dissolve  in  water,  and  sometimes  in  an  acid  mixture,  ferri 
citras;  and  although  many  years  have  elapsed  since  the 
difficulty  was  remedied  by  the  addition  of  ammonia  or  car¬ 
bonate  of  ammonia,  and  finally  the  ammonio-citrate  of  iron 
became  well  known  and  generally  prescribed,  yet  there  are 
medical  men  now  who  continue  to  order  the  insoluble  com¬ 
pound.  I  suppose  they  are  not  aware  of  its  insolubility; 
and  some  of  my  friends,  when  spoken  to  on  the  subject, 
have  readily  altered  it  to  the  ammonio-citrate.  But  some¬ 
times  a  prescription  is  presented  containing  the  salt,  and 
we  have  no  opportunity  of  consulting  the  writer,  nor  of 
knowing  how  it  was  previously  dispensed.  It  would  be 
better  for  the  profession  to  adhere  as  much  as  possible  to  the 
Pharmacopoeia,  and  then  wre  should  know  what  is  meant.  I 
have  generally  put  the  ammonio-citrate  w  hen  the  citrate  has 
been  ordered,  but  not  always.  What  do  you  advise? — J.  L., 
Birmingham,  Nov.  7,  1870. 

I* X*  In  a  case  of  this  kind  wre  could  not  undertake  to  ad¬ 
vise,  but  wre  believe  the  general  practice  is  to  use  the  solublo 
preparation. — Ed.  Ph.  J.] 

Unanswered  Queries. 

In  the  event  of  any  query  remaining  unanswered  four 
weeks,  the  number  and  subject  will  be  inserted  for  two  weeks 
in  the  list  of  unanswered  queries. 

4.  Isinglass  for  Brewers’  Finings,  p.  317. 

5.  Labels  for  Herbaria,  p.  317. 


393 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  12, 1870. 


***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  Writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Pharmaceutical  Education. 

Sir, — During  the  discussion  (on  “  Pharmaceutical  Educa¬ 
tion  in  the  Provinces”)  at  the  meeting  of  the  Pharmaceuti¬ 
cal  Conference  held  at  Liverpool,  Mr.  Bremridge,  in  a  short 
but  pithy  speech,  expressed  exactly  the  opinion  that  I  have 
held  for  some  time,  viz.  that  no  master  should  take  a  youth 
as  an  apprentice  unless  he  has  previously  passed  the  Prelimi¬ 
nary  Examination  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society.  If  all 
masters  would  insist  upon  this  it  would  give  themselves  far 
greater  satisfaction,  as  they  would  then  be  able  to  turn  out 
upon  the  world  qualified  assistants  (unless,  of  course,  the  ap¬ 
prentice  was  a  regular  thick-skull),  and  (to  me,  at  any  rate) 
it  is  far  greater  pleasure  to  teach  the  sciences  of  chemistry 
and  botany  than  to  teach  Latin,  etc.  It  would  also  be  the 
best  thing  that  could  be  done  for  the  would-be  apprentice,  as 
I  think  he  would  learn  his  Latin,  etc.  much  better  in  class  at 
school  than  he  would  at  home.  Any  one  who  takes  a  youth 
as  an  apprentice,  honestly  intending  to  do  his  duty  to  him 
and  to  his  pharmaceutical  brethren,  will  certainly  act  as  Mr. 
Bremridge  suggests. 

There  is  one  more  point  to  which  I  should  like  to  call  the 
attention  of  the  executive  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  and 
that  is  the  desirability  of  publishing  more  to  the  public  the 
necessity  of  educating  youths,  intended  to  follow  the  profes¬ 
sion  of  pharmaceutical  chemists,  in  the  Latin  language.  I 
have  had  many  applications  from  fanners  and  first-class 
tradesmen  in  this  neighbourhood,  desiring  to  apprentice  their 
sons  to  the  profession  of  pharmacy,  and  in  all  cases  to  the 
question  “Does  your  son  know  anything  of  the  Latin  lan¬ 
guage  ?”  the  answer  has  been  in  the  negative. 

Tanmorth,  October  25 th,  1870.  T.  B.  Allkins. 


Pharmacy  and  Medical  Practitioners. 

Sir, — In  last  wreek’s  issue  of  the  J ournal  I  read  with  inter¬ 
est  a  letter,  appended  to  which  was  a  prescription,  called  by 
the  writer  of  the  letter  “  grape  shot.”  As  regards,  however, 
the  ingredients,  they  all  seem  applicable  to  one  complaint, 
namely,  a  severe  cold  and  cough.  Not  but  what  I  think  that 
half  the  number  of  the  things  would  have  been  quite  as 
useful. 

I  send  you  copy  of  recipe  I  made  up  a  short  time  ago  for  a 
medical  man,  which  might  almost,  I  think,  be  called  a  pana¬ 
cea,  as  it  is  calculated  to  cure  a  cough,  indigestion,  an  attack 
of  nervous  weakness,  or,  indeed,  almost  any  kind  of  weak¬ 
ness,  containing,  as  it  does,  five  or  six  tonics.  Here  it  is : — 
R.  Ac.  Nitric.  Dil.  tux 

Ferr.  et  Quin.  Cit.  gr.  x 
Tinct.  Nucis  Yom.  aiij 
Bismuth.  Nit.  gr.  x 
Pulv.  Tragac.  Co.  gr.  x 
Yin.  Ipecac,  iqx 
Tr.  Valer.  Am. 

Tr.  Aurant.  3ss 

%r.  5j 

Inf.  Calumb. 

Aq.  Menth.  Pip.  part,  {equal,  ad  5ss. 

Ft.  Ht.  ter  die  sd. 

How  can  wre  get  legitimate  profits  out  of  a  recipe  like  this  ? 

Beta. 


Sir,— Being  a  late  student  in  the  art  of  pharmacy  at 
Bloomsbury  Square,  I  am  naturally  anxious,  for  the  honour  of 
our  College,  to  be  able  to  dispense  any  prescription  which  may 
be  presented  me  for  that  purpose.  The  following  prescription 
has,  however,  fairly  puzzled  me.  French,  German,  Ameri¬ 
can  and  other  pharmacopoeias  have  been  searched  in  vain. 
In  despair  I  ask  your  readers  for  information.  Is  it  a  relic 
bygone  days,  when  doctors  exhibited  as  a  sign  a  parti¬ 
coloured  pole,  and  bled  and  shaved  their  customers  as  well ; 
and  when  chemists,  instead  of  mixing  “nasty  medicine,” 
confined  their  attention  to  the  conversion  of  ignoble  metals 
into  gold,  and  other  similar  ambitious  objects  ?  Or  is  it  only 
meant  to  perplex  country  chemists,  and  make  their  clients 
think  them  fools  P 


As  I  w'as  only  able  to  obtain  a  copy,  I  enclose  beneath  a 
draft  of  this,  as  nearly  as  I  could  understand  the  cabalistic 
writing : — 

“Mr.  ScarlifTe. 

R.  Pulvis  Cinerii  gr.ij 
Extr.  Laxativ.  gr.  ij 
Extr.  Drastici  gr.  iv. 

M.  ft.  Pil.  ij  h.  s.  bis  hebdomadoe  sumendoc. 

11.  Liq.  Alkalinoe  5iss 
Extr.  Nigr.  gr.  ss 
Infus.  Amarre  3 viij 
Tinct.  Amarce  5yj. 

M.  Capiat  sextam  partem  ter  in  die. 

Maii  17  die,  18G9.  Watson  Bradshaw..”' 

I  enclose  the  prescription  envelope  for  your  inspection,. 

F.  J.  B.,  3'Iajor  Associate. 

[*##  The  prescription  envelope  sent  by  our  correspondent 
bears  the  name  of  Messrs.  Wilkinson,  late  Bridge  and  Co., 
270,  Regent  Street,  London,  with  the  endorsement  “Copied 
A.  2176.”  The  prescription  -would  therefore  seem  to  have 
been  dispensed  by  that  firm,  and  probably. they  could  furnish. 
F.  J.  B.  with  the  information  he  requires. — Ed.  Ph.  J.] 

Sir, — Having  read  the  correspondence  in  the  Journal  writh 
regard  to  the  concentrated  form  of  doctors’  prescribing,  and 
the  wonderful  profit  that  “  Reformer  ”  thinks  the  chemist 
gets  therefrom,  I  wish  to  enlighten  him  on  the  state  ofr 
affairs  in  the  north  of  London.  A  customer  came  into  the- 
shop  yesterday,  and,  handing  me  a  prescription,  asked  wrhat 
I  would  charge  for  dispensing  it.  The  following  is  a  copy : — 
R.  Pulv.  Calumbae,  Pulv.  Zingib., 

Sodae  Bicarb.,  aa  5ij 
Ferri  Citrat.  9iv 
Quinae  Disulph.  gr.  xvj 
Sacch.  Alb.  §ij.  Misce,  ft.  pulv. 

Cap.  i  parv.  ter  die  ex  aqua. 

Knowing  the  cutting  wTe  have  to  compete  with  here,  I  said 
Is.  3d.  The  reply  was,  “  Why,  Mr.  H.  makes  it  up  for  6 d.”' 
Perhaps  some  of  your  readers  wrill  not  credit  this,  neverthe¬ 
less  it  is  a  fact,  and  Mr.  H.  is  a  man  who  places  M.P.S.  at  the’- 
end  of  his  name.  Can  “  Reformer  ”  make  the  chemist’s  bill  as 
heavy  as  the  doctor’s  at  this  rate  ?  If  he  can,  he  has  beeix 
brought  up  at  a  very  different  school  to  what  I  have. 

October  25 th,  1870.  Assistant.. 


Druggists’  Charges. 

Dear  Sir, — The  following  prescription  was  brought  to  my 
shop  to  be  dispensed : — 

Acid.  Nit.  Mur.  Dil . 5ijss 

Liq.  Taraxaci . ad 

Ft.  Mist.  s.  3j  secund.  vel  tert.  horis. 

J.  B.  Mulock. 

My  assistant,  in  my  absence,  charged  4s.  for  it.  A  few  days 
after,  my  customer  sent  a  friend,  stating  that  I  must  have- 
made  a  mistake  in  the  price.  He  had  it  made  up  frequently, 
and  never  paid  more  than  2s.,  and  only  Is.  9 d.  at  Yarmouth 
and  Royston.  I  reduced  the  price  to  3s.  6d. ;  at  the  same 
time  I  informed  him  I  could  not  believe  the  prescription  was 
faithfully  compounded  at  the  low  price  charged.  I  will  make 
no  comment  upon  the  cutting  prices  charged,  but  leave  it  to 
the  consideration  of  my  professional  brethren. 

A  Pharmaceutical  Chemist  (by  Examination). 

Cambridge,  Nov.  1870. 

Sir, — J ust  now,  when  the  spirit  of  our  profession  is  being, 
roused  by  a  few  medical  men  whose  practices  afford  them, 
ample  time  for  writing,  it  would  bo  well  for  us  to  bear  in 
mind  the  fact  that  our  most  serious  enemies  are  “  those  of 
our  own  households,”  and  to  do  our  utmost  to  reform  our 
own  ranks. 

For  a  person  to  apply  to  us  for  a  certain  article,  stating 
that  the  oilman  or  grocer  charges  for  it  some  few  pence  less 
than  ourselves,  is  bad  enough.  In  this  case,  however,  we  can 
remark  that  we  are  chemists,  leaving  it  to  be  inferred  that 
our  goods  are  of  superior  quality ;  but  when  we  are  told  of  a 
chemist  underselling  us, — it  may  be  a  neighbour, — we  feel 
helplessly  injured  in  pocket  and  wounded  in  mind. 

I  have  been  asked  for  a  shilling  Is.  1  \d.  patent  medicines, 
and  for  a  Is.  6 d.  pot  of  Liebig’s  Company’s  extract  of  meat ; 
in  |each  instance  I  was  told  that  they  could  be  obtained  of 
chemists  at  the  above  quotations. 

Now,  if  we  look  the  truth  in  the  face,  we  cannot  fail  to 


November  12, 1370.1  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


39D 


notice  that,  in  spite  of  improved  education,  there  is  a  decided 
falling  off  in  the  drug  business ;  our  expenses  increase  and  our 
receipts  decrease.  This  arises  from  two  causes,  over  the  first 
of  which — that  persons  do  not  take  nearly  so  much  medicine 
ns  formerly,  while  a  great  deal  of  that  which  is  consumed  is 
obtained  at  free  institutions — we  have  no  control ;  but  for  the 
second  surely  something  may  be  done,  with  proper  determi¬ 
nation  on  the  part  of  the  Council. 

To  tell  us  to  wait  a  little  longer,  that  education  will  do 
away  with  these  miserable  cutting  traders,  is  about  the  same 
as  telling  us  that  men  of  talent  are  invariably  good  men. 
The  chemist  who  sells  spirits  of  nitre  at  2d.  per  oz.,puts  up  a 
6  oz.  mixture  for  8J.  from  a  prescription,  or  supplies  Is.  1  \d. 
patent  medicines  for  a  shilling,  is  not  likely  to  have  his  prin¬ 
ciples  changed  by  any  educational  influences.  Whatever  his 
professions  may  be,  what  he  wants  is  money ;  and  he  cares 
nothing  for  the  honour  of  the  Society,  or  the  success  of  its 
members,  so  long  as  he  can  obtain  it. 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  some  of  these  cutting 
establishments  are  large  ones,  and  that  in  them  young  men 
are  taught  a  certain  mode  of  doing  business  which  they  in 
many  cases  carry  out  in  other  localities  on  their  own.  ac¬ 
count;  and  that  this  they  will  continue  to  do  unless  they 
are  constantly  cautioned  against  a  system  of  business  which, 
whilst  it  is  certain  to  ini ure  others,  can  never  prove  a  source 
of  happiness  to  those  who  adopt  it. 

London,  Nov.  1st,  1870.  East  Central. 


Sir, — The  following  came  under  my  notice  to-day,  which  I 
think  ought  to  be  made  known  to  the  trade  generally : — 

Having  dispensed  this  prescription, 

R.  Tinct.  Lyttos  5i'j 

„  Ferri  Muriat.  Jiss. 

M.  Capt.  gtt.  xxx  ter  die  ex  aqua, 

I  was  surprised,  after  stating  my  price,  to  hear  that  it  was 
more  by  25  per  cent,  than  the  customer  had  ever  before  paid, 
at  the  same  time  telling  me  that  9 d.  was  the  usual  price ! 
It  bore  the  stamps  of  two  suburban  chemists  of  the  Metro¬ 
polis.  As  the  bottle  was  brought,  bearing  also  a  label  of  a 
third  London  chemist,  I  considered  my  charge  but  a  fair  re¬ 
muneration,  and  was  annoyed  to  feel  that  the  London  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  profession  should  be  so  far  behind  us  provincials 
in  their  prices,  when  they  ought  to  be  the  pioneers  to  a  better 
•order  of  things. 

I  hope  to  see  more  uniformity  in  dispensing  prices,  which 
are  now  so  irregular.  “Pharmaceutical  Chemist.” 

Bristol,  November  3 rd,  1870. 


Sir, — Your  correspondent  “Breasting  the  Hill,”  in  the 
Journal  of  the  14th  inst.,  alludes  to  the  practice  of  non-phar¬ 
maceutists  selling  ordinary  medicines,  etc.  etc.,  at  low  prices, 
and  particularly  notices  sulphate  of  copper  at  per  lb. 

Now,  I  believe  the  chemists  have  more  to  fear  from  each 
other  than  from  outsiders. 

I  send  you  a  copy  of  a  bill  circulated  by  a  Pharmaceutical 
Chemist  in  a  small  country  town  south  of  the  Thames : — 


“  Season,  1870.  Usual  charge. 

“Down’s  Farmers’  Friend,  7 d.  per  packet .  9d. 

“  Cooper’s  Wheat  Dressing,  4 \d.  „  .  6d. 

“  Best  Blue  Vitriol,  3d.  per  lb. 

“  The  above  warranted  genuine.” 


I  have  seen  the  articles,  and  can  testify  they  are  as  war¬ 
ranted. 

Oct.  10th,  1870.  _  M.  P.  S. 

Pharmacy  in  Ireland. 

Sir, — It  was  with  feelings  of  pleasure  and  gratification  that 
I  perused  the  leading  articles  in  the  Journal  of  October 
the  22nd,  with  reference  to  Pharmacy  in  Ireland. 

Now  that  the  time  is  approaching  when  that  very  impor¬ 
tant  subject,  which  has  for  so  many  years  been  left  unno¬ 
ticed,  is  about  to  be  reconsidered,  I  think  it  a  favourable 
opportunity  of  tendering  a  few  remarks  through  the  columns 
of  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal,  which  I  feel  sure  will  be 
perused  and  receive  the  appreciation  of  many  of  my  brother 
chemists  in  that  country.  It  is  indeed  time  that  something 
should  be  done  for  them,  as  for  many  years  they  have  had  to 
battle  against  great  difficulties  in  practising  their  profession. 

While  an  assistant  in  a  large  chemist  and  druggist’s  esta¬ 
blishment  in  Ireland,  I  had  prescriptions  handed  me  daily  to 
dispense ;  but  as  I  was  not  employed  by  a  member  of  the 
Apothecaries’  Hall,  it  would  have  been  a  breach  of  the  law, 


making  me  liable  to  a  heavy  fine,  had  I  done  so,  no  matter 
how  simple  the  prescription  might  be.  For  instance: — 

It.  01.  Ricini . gss 

Aquae  Cinnam.  ...  ad  5'j 
Cras  mane  sumend. 

In  consequence  of  this  law  the  poor  chemists  are  compelled 
to  hand  their  customers  over  to  the  apothecary,  and  of  course 
thereby  lose  the  sale  of  other  articles.  In  London,  in  the 
same  capacity,  I  had  the  privilege  of  receiving  and  com¬ 
pounding  as  many  prescriptions  as  the  house  was  favoured 
with.  As  Dublin  is  separated  from  London  only  by  a  four  or 
six  hours’  journey,  I  must  confess  that  it  appears  somewhat 
strange  that  such  a  difference  in  the  law  should  exist. 

I  have  had  many  friends  who  served  their  apprenticeships 
in  Ireland  as  chemists  and  druggists,  and  who  had  the  means 
of  opening  on  their  own  account,  but  had  to  come  to  England 
to  do  so ;  for  in  Ireland,  their  own  country,  they  were  pre¬ 
vented  from  practising  the  most  profitable  part  of  their  busi¬ 
ness,  dispensing,  not  being  registered  members  of  the  Hall. 

I  think  it  will  be  admitted  that  a  law  such  as  this  is  ano¬ 
malous  and  unjust;  and  I  trust  the  Council  of  the  Society 
will  do  their  utmost  to  extend  the  Pharmacy  Act  to  Ireland, 
so  that  the  law  of  Pharmacy  there  maybe  assimilated  to  that 
of  England  and  Scotland,  and  all  Pharmaceutical  Chemists, 
or  registered  chemists,  with  all  already  established  there  who 
pass  the  Modified,  or  any  of  the  examinations  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society,  may  have  the  privilege  of  dispensing  and 
compounding.  Then  our  brothers  in  Ireland  will  be  on  a  par 
with  us  in  England,  and  the  monopoly  which  has  so  long 
stood  in  their  way  will  no  longer  exist.  Let  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society  be  the  one  recognized  body  of  the  three  coun¬ 
tries,  England,  Ireland,  and  Scotland. 

A  Registered  Chemist  and  Druggist. 

London,  Nov.  4 th,  1870. 


Hospital  Dispensing. 

Sir, — A  word  about  Hospital  Dispensing,  my  experience 
of  which  is  limited  to  a  fortnight,  when  I  was  lent  to  a  hospital 
in  the  absence  of  one  of  the  dispensers.  What  I  saw  during 
that  time  certainly  did  not  encourage  much  hope  that  many 
of  the  out-patients  would  derive  great  benefit  from  the  treat¬ 
ment  they  received.  On  certain  days,  when  a  popular  doctor 
was  in  attendance,  about  300  persons  would  come  to  see  him 
in  the  course  of  about  five  hours,  i.  e.  one  per  minute  !  Surely 
no  one  could  in  so  short  a  time  thoroughly  investigate  a  pa¬ 
tient’s  necessities,  write  his  prescription,  and  make  the  usual 
entry  in  the  hospital  books.  Frequently  also  when  so  many 
patients  came,  the  doctor  would  be  unable  to  remain  long 
enough  to  give  them  even  one  minute  each,  and  a  part  of  them 
would  be  left  to  the  care  of  a  medical  student,  who  had  passed 
no  test  of  his  qualifications  whatever.  Then  when  the  pre¬ 
scription  was  written,  though  the  medicines  were  always  duly 
labelled,  they  were  necessarily  compounded  in  the  roughest 
style,  minute  accuracy  being  out  of  the  question  ;  and  some¬ 
times  a  week’s  supply  of  an  infusion  would  be  sent  out  when 
it  wras  already  rather  stale,  and  other  things  in  similar  style. 

An  Unexamined  Member. 


Loss  op  Spirit  in  Making  Tinctures. 

Sir, — Since  looking  over  Mr.  Umney’s  communication  re¬ 
lative  to  the  loss  of  spirit  in  the  preparation  of  tinctures,  I 
have  referred  to  my  own  tables,  which  for  some  time  past  I 
have  kept,  and  I  find  from  them  that  the  average  loss  has 
been  about  4  per  cent,  more,  which  doubtless  results  from  the 
use  of  an  ordinary  screw-press,  instead  of  the  more  effectual 
hydraulic  press.  This  amounts  to  a  considerable  loss  in  a 
year,  even  in  a  moderate-sized  business ;  and  I  am  conse¬ 
quently  led  to  believe,  with  your  correspondent  Mr.  Slugg, 
of  Manchester,  that  an  effective  and  moderately  cheap  hy¬ 
draulic  press  might  be  manufactured  for  the  use  of  pharma¬ 
cists,  which  would  be  of  inestimable  value  in  the  preparation 
of  juices,  etc.,  as  well  as  tinctures. 

Mechanicians  appear  to  me  to  be,  in  general,  very  backward  in 
ministering  to  the  requirements  of  modern  pharmacy,  for  there 
are  several  kinds  of  apparatus  which,  if  made  moderately  cheap, 
would,  I  am  sure,  command  a  sufficiently  remunerative  sale. 
Among  such  I  may  mention  the  hydraulic  press,  a  good 
pharmaceutical  stove,  and  a  vacuum  apparatus  for  evapora¬ 
tion,  etc.,  besides  a  number  of  less  important  articles.  Of 
course  these  are  now  manufactured  for  the  wholesale  trade 
and  a  very  few  retail  pharmacists  ;  but  the  fact  of  their  being 
made  singly  so  enhances  the  cost  of  production,  that  only 


400 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  12, 1870, 


very  few  avail  themselves  of  these  scientific  pharmaceutical 
appurtenances.  I  would  therefore  suggest  to  the  notice  of 
the  Council  of  the  Society  the  advisability  of  offering  a  small 
prize  to  mechanicians  for  each  of  the  above  articles,  making 
the  conditions  for  which  the  competitors  should  strive  effi¬ 
ciency  with  economy  of  price.  J.  Ross  Faulkner. 

LadbroJce  Grove  Hoad,  Nov.  1st,  1870. 


Infusion's  of  the  British  Pharmacopceia. 

Dear  Sir, — Although  I  had  the  pleasure  of  hearing  Mr. 
Barnes  read  his  excellent  paper  upon  infusions  at  the  evening 
meeting  of  the  Society,  I  did  not  then  notice  that  he  gave  the 
Anrious  specific  gravities  of  the  officinal  preparations  as  com¬ 
pared  with  those  made  by  maceration  for  shorter  periods. 

Upon  reading  his  paper,  as  it  appeared  in  the  Journal,  I 
was  astonished  to  find  that  the  specific  gravities  published 
ranged  from  1-210  to  1-220. 

Surely  this  must  be  an  error  ? 

I  should  imagine  that  1-005  to  1-010  would  more  accu¬ 
rately  represent  the  specific  gravity  of  the  British  Pharma¬ 
copoeia  infusions.  Charles  Umney. 

Laboratory,  40,  Aldersgate  Street. 


Sir, — In  answer  to  your  correspondent  who  has  discovered 
that  the  specific  gravity  columns  in  my  paper  on  ‘  Experi¬ 
ments  on  Some  of  the  Infusions  of  the  Pharmacopoeia,’  are 
incorrect,  I  find  that  unfortunately  the  weight  of  the  bottle, 
207  grains,  was  omitted  to  be  deducted  from  the  weight  of 
the  1000-grain  bottle ;  therefore,  in  order  to  get  at  the  cor¬ 
rect  specific  gravities,  it  will  be  necessary  to  deduct  207,  the 
weight  of  the  bottle,  in  each  case.  J.  B.  Barnes. 

Trevor  Terrace,  ICnightsbridge,  Nov.  8,  1870. 


Trade  Morality. 

Sir, — The  press  is  ever  ready  to  take  up  the  cause  of  jus¬ 
tice  and  equity.  How  is  it  that  it  has  so  long  passed  over 
one  of  the  greatest  evils  trade  has  ever  known — an  evil  that 
is  working  silently,  yet  surely,  the  downfall  of  the  middle 
class  in  England  ?  Perhaps  it  is  because  the  evil  has  no 
name,  for  we  naturally  shrink  from  the  harsh  names  of 
covetousness  and  dishonesty.  Shall  we  call  it  an  absence  of 
good  principle,  whereby  our  tradesman,  envying  his  neigh¬ 
bour’s  prosperity  and  livelihood,  conceives  the  idea  of  under¬ 
selling  him  in  some  legitimate  article  of  his  trade,  in  the 
hope  thereby  of  catching  a  few  more  herrings  at  the  sacrifice 
of  his  neighbour’s  sprats,  which  for  that  piu-pose  he  sells 
to  the  public  at  a  non-remunerative  price  ? 

As  the  system  is  rapidly  on  the  increase,  would  it  not  be 
well  that  the  public  journals  should  ventilate  the  subject  P 
The  public  would  then  be  on  their  guard,  and  surely  could 
not,  if  they  understood  it,  encourage  a  system  which,  instead 
of  tending  to  the  general  good,  must  end  in  the  ruin  of  the 
entire  trading  class. 

Examples  of  this  system  are  found  in  grocers  selling 
biscuits,  beer  and  wine ;  bakers  selling  tea ;  drapers  selling 
pictures,  teapots,  clocks,  eau  de  cologne  and  general  per¬ 
fumery,  not  at  a  price  which  in  itself  can  be  remunerative,  in 
which  case  there  would  not  be  the  same  objection,  but  at  a 
price  requiring  the  addition  of  larger  profits  on  then-  own 
legitimate  trade  to  make  it  pby;  the  result  is  that  every¬ 
body’s  trade  in  turn  is  cut  up  piecemeal,  to  the  injury  of  all 
and  the  good  of  nobody.  If  this  sort  of  thing  continues,  pro¬ 
fit  will  cease  to  exist,  and,  as  a  matter  of  course,  the  trades¬ 
man  with  it,  and  England  must  revert  to  the  old  feudal 
times  when  there  was  no  middle  class  at  all,  but  lords  and 
serfs  only. 

If  that  be  all  that  the  civilization,  education  and  enlighten¬ 
ment  of  the  nineteenth  century  can  do  for  us,  it  becomes  a 
question  whether  we  ought  not  to  pause  in  the  excessive 
efforts  now  being  made  in  the  so-called  educational  depart¬ 
ment,  and  inquire  what  results  have  already  been  achieved  ? 
Possibly  some  one  will  reply,  “  Oh,  it  is  because  we  have 
done  so  little  to  educate  the  masses  that  this  demoralization 
prevails.”  Is  there  not  evidence  that  those  who  do  such 
things  are  educated  up  to  it— for  education  in  the  abstract 
contains  no  moral  principle, — that  our  trading  classes  are  well 
educated,  and  prostitute  that  education,  and  often  high  abili¬ 
ties,  to  commercial  fraud  ? 

Who  will  deny  the  education  of  the  Civil  Service  corps  ? 
yet  that  body,  highly  enlightened  though  it  may  be,  en¬ 
couraged  and  patronized  by  a  larger  number  of  the  higher 
class,  has  instituted  a  corporation  of  a  nature  utterly  sub¬ 


versive  of  all  trade  principles  and  practice  as  hitherto  under¬ 
stood,  which,  if  carried  out,  must  pauperize  the  kingdom 
by  the  ruin  of  the  middle  trading  class,  well  called  the  back¬ 
bone  of  the  State,  paying  as  it  does,  not  only  the  largest  pro¬ 
portion  of  the  taxes,  but  the  salaries  of  the  very  men  who 
now  seek  its  overthrow. 

Perhaps  to  some  this  subject  may  seem  inappropriate  for 
discussion  in  a  scientific  journal;  but  are  the  professions; 
quite  clear  of  the  moral  infection  which  seems  to  be  perme¬ 
ating  all  modern  institutions,  whether  governments,  pro¬ 
fessions,  or  trades  P  It  is  more  than  doubtful  if  there  is  not 
enough  in  the  daily  working  of  our  own  profession  to  set  us- 
thinking  whether  there  is  nothing  to  amend.  Recent  com¬ 
munications  to  your  Journal  would  seem  to  bear  me  out  in 
this.  If  in  these  few  lines  I  have  opened  a  subject  for  con¬ 
sideration,  I  shall  not  have  thus  far  intruded  myself  on  your 
valuable  space  in  vain.  w.™™, 

Hampstead.  _  Waltde  Biggs. 


Caution  to  the  Trade. 

Sir, — In  18G3  a  man  came,  showed  me  an  advertisement 
in  a  paper,  said  he  wms  appointing  agents  for  his  rat  poison,, 
and  if  I  took  a  quantity  I  should  be  advertised  as  local  agent. 
I  did  so,  and  soon  afterwards  (by  a  caution  in  the  Journal)  I 
found  others  had  been  victimized  also. 

After  closing  on  Monday  I  went  out,  and  was  surprised 
to  find  on  my  return  that  the  rascal  had  called  again,  and 
represented  to  my  assistant  that  I  had  ordered  three  dozen* 
to  be  paid  for  on  delivery.  Perhaps  you  will  kindly  caution 
the  trade  again  in  the  J oumal.  Henry  Long. 

Nigh  Street,  Notting  Hill,  Nov.  8,  1870. 


“Audi  Alteram  Partem ”  thinks  that  the  writer  in  the- 
Lancet,  who  says  that  the  rate  of  profit  charged  in  chemists’ 
prices  is  “much  too  high,”  has  fallen  into  the  error  of  com¬ 
paring  pharmacy  with  other  trades,  from  which  it  differs  in 
the  limited  demand  for  the  articles  supplied,  and  the  superior 
education  it  requires.  While  few  druggists  take  £25  a  week, 
many  grocers  and  drapers  take  ten  times  that  amount,  and 
consequently  they  can  sell  their  goods  at  a  much  lower  rate  of 
profit.  In  no  case  does  the  proverb  “cheap  and  nasty” 
prove  truer  than  in  the  sale  of  drugs ;  and  it  is  doubtful  whe¬ 
ther,  as  a  rule,  cutting  druggists  get  a  very  much  larger 
amount  of  custom  than  those  who  adhere  to  respectable 
prices.  Our  correspondent  is  of  opinion  that  doctors  who 
dispense  their  own  medicines  prescribe  medicine  very  differ¬ 
ent  from  that  of  the  non-dispensing  physician,  and  that  their 
shelves  are  often  very  imperfectly  furnished,  as  would  appear 
from  a  letter  lately  published  in  ike  Lancet,  in  which  the  writer 
says  of  another  practitioner  that  he  did  not  keep  such  arti¬ 
cles  as  glycerine  or  carbolic  acid  in  stock. 

T.  Appleton  (Fulham). — The  volume  will  consist  of  the 
numbers  for  a  year,  and  the  Index  will  be  issued  as  soon  as 
the  volume  is  completed. 

“Inquirer.” — No  person  would  be  entitled  to  call  himself 
a  Member  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  on  going  into  busi¬ 
ness  until  he  had  passed  the  Major  Examination  and  been 
elected  by  the  Council  of  the  Society. 

S.  C.  Furmston  (Richmond). — The  fourth  edition  of  Pe¬ 
reira’s  c  Materia  Medica’  was  published  in  1854,  by  Messrs- 
Longmans.  The  work  has  been  considerably  altered  and  en¬ 
larged  since  1840. 

jE.  S.  Presley  (Bristol). — He  would  be  liable. 

G.  H.  Strickland. — Apply  to  the  Secretary. 

Pharmaceutical  Titles. — We  have  received  letters  on  this 
subject  from  “An  Associate,”  L.,  A.  E.  J.,  “'Agitator,”  J.  C., 
“  Theta,”  “Aspirant  to  the  Major,”  but  as  the  correspondence 
is  closed,  we  cannot  insert  them,  more  especially  since  they 
do  not  throw  any  new  light  on  the  questions  at  issue.  The 
latter-named  correspondent  approves  of  Mr.  Allkins’s  idea  of 
a  petition,  but  thinks  many  would  be  unable  to  attend  a 
meeting  in  town,  and  suggests  that  some  one  should  take  the 
initiative  by  preparing  a  petition  and  advertising  for  signa¬ 
tures  to  be  sent  to  him.  We  should  advise  our  correspondent 
to  communicate  with  Mr.  Alikins  by  letter. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  Nov.  5;  the  ‘Medical  Times  and  Gazette/ 
Nov.  5;  the  ‘Lancet,’  Nov.  5;  ‘Nature,’  Nov.  3;  the  ‘Che¬ 
mical  News,’  Nov.  4;  ‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts/  Nov- 
3;  ‘Gardeners’  Chronicle/  Nov.  5;  the  ‘Grocer/  Nov.  5; 
the  ‘English  Mechanic/  Nov.  4;  the  ‘  Produce  Markets  Re¬ 
view/  Nov.  5. 


November  19,  1870.3  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


401 


STARCH  FOR  THE  MICROSCOPE. 

BY  M.  C.  COOKE,  M.A. 

It  may  be  presumed  that  the  time  is  past  when 
the  microscope  required  an  apologist.  For  the  use 
of  such  an  assistant  in  the  detection  of  adulteration, 
or  in  the  discrimination  of  minute  bodies  such  as 
starch  granules,  no  advocate  is  needed,  because  it 
has  become  a  necessity.  Even  the  practised  micro  - 
scopist,  as  well  as  the  occasional  experimentalist,  are 
constantly  being  made  aware  by  experience,  either 
of  small  errors  in  observation  or  greater  errors  in  the 
preservation  of  microscopic  objects.  Perhaps  as  in¬ 
teresting  and  useful  a  series  as  any  that  could  be  re¬ 
commended  to  the  majority  of  the  readers  of  this 
Journal,  would  be  a  long  and  well-authenticated 
series  of  starches.  Unfortunately,  however,  these 
are  best  observed  when  mounted  in  fluid ;  and  when 
thus  prepared,  two  serious  charges  of  condemnation 
are  liable  of  being  pronounced  against  them.  Both 
these  failures  having  occurred  in  my  own  cabinet,  I 
venture  to  warn  others,  in  the  hope  of  preserving 
them  from  similar  disappointment.  The  first  charge 
may  be  preferred  against  all  fluid  mountings,  that  if 
left  alone,  even  when  flat,  for  a  few  years,  the  gold 
size  or  other  substance  of  which  the  ring,  or  shallow 
cell  is  composed,  flows  in  and  discolours  the  starch, 
or  there  is  a  tendency  to  leakage,  minute  it  may  be, 
but  enough  to  become  annoying.  The  second  charge 
is  a  far  more  important  one,  and  that  to  which  I  de¬ 
sire  more  particularly,  and  specially,  to  direct  atten¬ 
tion.  All  starches  mounted  in  fluid  of  any  kind  that 
I  have  seen  employed,  exhibit  in  the  course  of  time 
a  great  tendency  to  change,  so  much  so  that  in  many 
instances  they  become  of  little  or  no  value  as  tests 
in  the  comparison  of  closely  allied  forms.  Some 
have  become  utterly  valueless  in  four  or  five  years. 
The  only  safeguard  that  I  am  prepared  to  recom¬ 
mend  is  that  which  I  am  now  adopting,  of  mounting 
with  every  specimen  that  is  put  up  “  in  fluid”  a  du¬ 
plicate  mounted  “  dry.”  Both  can  be  accommodated 
on  the  same  slide,  which  for  many  reasons  is  prefer¬ 
able  ;  still,  with  all  drawbacks,  starch  mounted  dry 
is  not  liable  to  change,  and  to  become  so  utterly 
valueless,  as  when  mounted  in  fluid.  The  more  de¬ 
licate  the  starch,  the  more  fatal  the  change.  By  com¬ 
paring  freshly  mounted  specimens  with  old  ones,  this 
change  is  painfully  manifest. 

Besides  mounting  starches  dry,  which  only  require 
a  ling  of  old  gold-size  the  size  of  the  cover,  and  no 
deeper  cell,  they  may  be  put  up  in  balsam,  or  in  bal¬ 
sam  and  chloroform,  or  in  gum  dammar  dissolved  in 
benzine.  Pale  copal  varnish  is  not  at  all  a  bad  sub¬ 
stitute  for  balsam  in  mounting,  but  not  so  good  as 
the  gum  dammar  dissolved  in  benzine.  Select  a  nice 
clean  piece  of  dammar,  break  it  up  and  place  in  a 
wide-mouthed  bottle,  cover  well  -with  benzine,  let  it 
stand  till  dissolved,  shaking  occasionally,  and  if  too 
thick,  add  more  benzine,  until  when  well  mixed  it 
drops  freely.  If  too  thin,  by  leaving  the  bottle  open 
the  benzine  will  soon  evaporate  sufficiently  to  obtain 
the  desired  density.  In  the  course  of  time  this  me¬ 
dium  is  sure  to  become  too  thick  for  use,  but  the  ad¬ 
dition  of  benzine,  stirring  all  together,  and  then 
allowing  it  to  stand  until  perfectly  clear,  will  soon 
remedy  this  defect.  If  this  substance  had  but  a  fair 
trial,  I  think,  as  no  heat  is  required  in  mounting, 
that  it  would  almost  wholly  supersede  balsam.  In 
fact,  I  have  never  used  a  drop  of  balsam  for  any- 
Third  Series,  No.  21. 


thing  since  I  became  acquainted  with  “  dammar  in 
benzine.” 

Tliis  communication  would  hardly  be  complete 
without  a  reference  to  the  methods  which  may  be, 
or  are,  employed  in  mounting  starches  for  the  micro¬ 
scope.  Besides  the  dry  method,  and  mounting  in 
resinous  media,  the  following  have  been  recom¬ 
mended  : — 

Camphor  water  is  one  of  the  common  media  that 
are  employed  for  starches  and  other  vegetable  or¬ 
ganisms.  A  lump  of  camphor  is  placed  in  a  bottle 
of  distilled  water,  so  that  as  much  of  it  as  possible 
may  be  dissolved.  One  grain  each  of  baysalt  and 
alum  are  added  for  each  ounce  of  water,  or  a  drop  or 
two  of  creasote  is  shaken  up  with  each  ounce  of 
water,  which  is  afterwards  filtered. 

Glycerine  is  also  used,  especially  when  diluted 
with  two  parts  of  the  above  camphor  water.  It  is 
worthy  of  remark  that  when  glycerine  is  employed  as 
a  medium,  gum  dammar  in  benzine  is  excellent  for 
securing  the  covers,  because  the  exudation  of  any 
small  quantity  of  the  glycerine  around  the  edges  of 
the  cover  is  no  obstacle  to  the  adherent  properties  of 
the  dissolved  dammar.  In  fact,  a  drop  of  glycerine 
may  be  let  fall  upon  the  centre  of  a  slide,  starch  may 
be  dusted  over  it,  a  thin  cover,  round  or  square,  laid 
on  and  pressed  flat,  and  held  by  a  clip  ;  all  the  gly¬ 
cerine  winch  is  pressed  out  beyond  the  edges  of  the 
cover  may  then  be  wiped  away,  and  gum  dammar  in 
benzine  run  round  the  edges  of  the  cover.  In  twenty- 
four  hours  the  dammar  is  dry  enough  to  remove  the 
clip,  and  in  a  few  days  the  slide  may  either  be  covered 
with  paper,  or  the  dammar  may  be  trimmed  off  a 
little,  and  a  coat  of  black  varnish  painted  over  it. 
If  not  used  for  starches,  this  mode  of  mounting  is 
good  for  many  objects,  and  glycerine  is  much  more 
manageable  than  by  any  other  method,  owing  to 
the  greater  affinity  between  the  glycerine  and  ben¬ 
zine. 

Glycerine  and  gum,  mixed  in  the  following  pro¬ 
portions  may  be  used  :  one  ounce  each  of  gum  arabic, 
glycerine  and  distilled  water,  with  one  and  a  half 
grains  of  arsenious  acid.  The  latter  is  dissolved  in 
the  cold  water,  then  the  gum,  and  lastly  the  glyce¬ 
rine  are  added  and  mixed. 

Castor  oil  is  a  veiy  troublesome  fluid  to  use,  but  it 
has  been  employed  for  starch,  though  with  no  corre¬ 
sponding  advantage. 

Alcoholic  fluids  are  always  objectionable,  on  ac¬ 
count  of  their  solvent  power  upon  most  of  the  sub¬ 
stances  used  for  securing  the  covers. 

Of  all  the  media  employed  for  starches,  where 
employed  at  all,  none  are  equal  in  my  estimation, 
not  even  balsam,  to  gum  dammar  dissolved  in  ben¬ 
zine.  When  the  polariscope  is  to  be  used,  this  plan 
should  be  adopted,  and  certainly  no  one  would  sup¬ 
pose  an  examination  of  starch  complete  without  the 
aid  of  polarized  light. 

In  his  recent  lectures  on  “  Microscopical  Manipu¬ 
lation,”  Mr.  W.  T.  Suffolk  has  expressed  similar 
flews  on  this  subject,  “A  series  of  starches  from 
various  plants  should  be  mounted  and  kept  for  com¬ 
parison.  Two  slides  of  each  should  be  prepared, 
one  dry,  the  other  in  balsam  for  examination  with 
the  polariscope.  When  starch  is  mounted  in  balsam, 
care  should  be  taken  to  employ  as  little  heat  as  pos¬ 
sible.  Starch  granules  are  not  well  preserved  in 
fluids.”  The  use  of  “  dammar  ”  instead  of  “  balsam 
obviates  the  employment  of  heat  at  all,  and  con¬ 
sequently  is  preferable.  In  conclusion,  I  would 


402 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  19 , 1870. 


enforce  tlie  advice  to  mount  all  starches  for  the  mi¬ 
croscope  “  dry  ”  and  in  “  dammar,”  but  by  no  means  to 
place  reliance  upon  shdes  containing  starch  mounted 
in  glycerine,  camphor  water,  or  fluids  of  any  kind 
which  maintain  a  condition  of  fluidity. 


THE  PURGATIVE  ACTION  OF  ALOES. 

BY  T.  AND  H.  SMITH. 

In  the  19th  number  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Jour¬ 
nal,  there  is  published  the  report  of  a  paper  read  by 
Mr.  William  Tilden,  B.Sc.,  before  the  British  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Conference  at  Liverpool,  entitled  “A  few 
Notes  on  Aloes.”  In  this  paper  Mr.  Tilden  gives 
some  very  valuable  information  concerning  the  che¬ 
mical  properties  of  the  drug,  and  we  have  much 
pleasure  in  bearing  testimony  to  the  ability  of  his 
researches,  but,  at  the  same  tune,  we  feel  called  upon 
to  notice  one  or  two  points  in  his  paper,  on  which 
we  conceive  his  deductions  to  be  erroneous. 

He  states  that  the  active  constituent  of  aloes  is 
still  unknown ;  that  Robiquet  first  showed  that  the 
purgative  property  was  not  due  to  aloin ;  and  he  as¬ 
serts  that  this  latter  substance  is  in  complete  disuse. 

On  these  points  we  entertain  entirely  diverse 
opinions,  and  as  the  discoverers,  and  as  far  as  we 
know  the  only  manufacturers  of  aloin,  we  claim  to 
some  little  knowledge  of  its  chemical  and  therapeu¬ 
tical  properties. 

Mr.  Tilden  enumerates  and  describes  four  sub¬ 
stances  said  to  be  present  in  aloes  of  the  best  quality, 
viz.  : — 

(1.)  Aloetin,  aloesin,  amorphous  aloin,  bitter  prin¬ 
ciple  of  aloes. 

(2.)  Crystallized  aloin. 

(3.)  Resin. 

(4.)  Aloesic  acid. 

Of  these  four  Mr.  Tilden  disbelieves  in  the  exist¬ 
ence  of  one,  viz.  aloesic  acid,  and  adduces  a  reason 
why  (3)  resin  should  be  related  to  the  soluble  portion 
of  aloes.  Of  aloetin  he  remarks  that  it  is  very  im¬ 
portant  as  to  quantity,  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  it 
is  the  product  of  the  alteration  of  crystallized  aloin. 
He  regards  it  as  a  mixture  of  crystallized  aloin,  ca¬ 
pable  of  recovering  its  crystalline  condition  in  pre¬ 
sence  of  water  and  brown  oxidized  matter.  We  have 
many  and  various  reasons  for  at  present  coinciding 
to  some  extent  with  Mr.  Tilden  in  these  remarks, 
but  we  are  entirely  at  a  loss  to  imagine  to  what  sub¬ 
stance  he  would  attribute  the  purgative  action  of 
aloes,  since  he  denies  that  aloin  lias  any  such  effect, 
and  yet  concludes  that  aloes  absolutely  consists  of 
that  substance  and  products  of  its  decomposition. 

It  is  well  known  that  the  medicinal  powers  of 
aloes  are  not  equal  in  different  samples  ;  that  of  two 
samples  of  the  same  variety,  one  may  possess  twice 
the  purgative  action  of  the  other,  and  that  when  the 
varieties  are  different,  the  difference  in  medicinal 
value  is  in  many  cases  even  more  marked. 

.  The  idea  of  an  active  principle  is  generally  tena¬ 
ciously  associated  with  something  such  as  strychnia 
or  aconitia,  of  infinite  power  in  small  doses ;  but 
there  are  very  many  active  principles,  it  must  be  re¬ 
membered,  the  powers  of  which  are  not  very  many 
times  greater  than  those  of  the  drugs  from  which 
they  are  obtained,  and,  in  this  present  case,  taking 
Mr.  Tilden’ s  results,  he  could  not  possibly  expect 
that  aloin  would  have  more  than  five  times  the  power 


of  good  aloes,  inasmuch  as  he  obtains  more  than 
20  per  cent,  of  the  principle  from  the  drug. 

If  it  be  admitted  that  aloin  is  the  active  purgative 
principle  of  aloes,  one  manifest  advantage  from  using 
it  would  be  that  we  have  therein  a  medicine  of  un¬ 
varying  strength,  and  we  possess  what  we  judge  to 
be  conclusive  evidence  that  there  is  no  other  sub¬ 
stance  of  value  in  aloes,  and  that  in  all  cases  where 
aloes  of  best  quality  will  produce  purgation,  a  pro¬ 
portionate  dose  of  aloin  will  be  of  equal  and  more 
certain  effect. 

When  Robiquet,  in  1856,  published  his  research 
on  Aloetin,*  he  denied  that  that  substance  (which 
he  seems  to  have  supposed  identical  writh  aloin)  had 
any  purgative  effect.  At  the  time  we  contemplated 
publishing  a  denial  of  this,  but  the  late  Sir  James 
Simpson  happening  to  visit  our  works,  we  mentioned 
our  intention  to  him,  when  he  dissuaded  us,  observ¬ 
ing  that  medical  men  were  quite  sufficiently  con¬ 
vinced  of  the  power  of  aloin,  and  that  he  frequently 
prescribed  it  and  often  took  it  himself,  and  with  un¬ 
varying  good  effect.  We  could  name  very  many 
other  medical  men,  of  undoubted  eminence,  who  con¬ 
stantly  prescribe  it  in  preference  to  aloes,  finding 
that  it  has  in  no  case  any  ill  effect,  and  that  there  is 
never  any  need  to  give  an  increased  dose  when  its 
use  is  regular  and  long  continued.  Our  own  per¬ 
sonal  experiences  bear  out  these  statements,  and  our 
commercial  transactions  give  most  emphatic  testi¬ 
mony  that  the  demand  is  not  decreasing.  Since  its 
first  discovery,  our  manufacture  has  increased  from 
a  few  pounds  to  many  thousand  ounces  yearly,  and, 
although  we  have  not  arrived  at  Mr.  Tilden’ s  grati¬ 
fying  result  of  20  per  cent.,  yet,  b}-r  recent  improve¬ 
ments  in  our  manufacture,  we  shall  be  able  to  pro¬ 
duce  it  at  about  two-thirds  its  present  price,  and  we 
find  the  dose  requisite  to  be  aloin  to  aloes,  as  1  is  to 
5.  We  should  be  happy  to  forward  that  gentleman 
a  few  doses  for  purpose  of  trial,  should  he  wish  it. 

Edinburgh ,  November  12 th,  1870. 


for  SMottfcs. 

CHEMICAL  NOTES  TO  THE  PHARMACOPOEIA. 

BY  WILLIAM  A.  TILDEN,  B.SC.  LOND. 

DEMONSTRATOR  OF  PRACTICAL  CHEMISTRY  TO  THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 

JEther. — Sulphuric  acid  and  rectified  spirit  mixed 
together  develope  considerable  heat,  and  if  the  mix¬ 
ture  is  distilled,  ether  is  one  of  the  products  which 
find  their  way  into  the  receiver.  The  process  thus 
simply  conducted,  however,  speedily  comes  to  an  end, 
so  far  as  the  production  of  ether  is  concerned.  The 
plan  adopted  in  the  Pharmacopoeia  is  therefore  that 
known  as  the  continuous  process. 

Sulphuric  acid  is  mixed  with  rectified  spirit,  and 
the  mixture  heated  to  ebullition  in  a  distillatory 
apparatus  furnished  with  a  good  condenser ;  this  is 
continually  supplied  with  a  stream  of  spirit  [run  in 
by  a  tube  leading  from  a  reservoir]  at  such  a  rate  as 
to  supply  the  place  of  that  which  undergoes  etherifi¬ 
cation,  and  therefore  distils  over.  The  explanation 
usually  given  of  this  reaction  Is  somewhat  as  fol¬ 
lows  : — the  spirit  and  sulphuric  acid  give,  by  their 
mutual  decomposition,  water  and  an  acid,  the  ethyl- 
sulpliuric,  or  sulphovinic. 

*  Journal  de  Fharmacie ,  tome  xxix. 


November  19,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


403 


Cj Ht H O  H-  H2S04  =  C2H8HS04  +  H20. 

[The  presence  of  this  compound  can  be  shown  by 
saturating  the  liquid  with  chalk,  and  evaporating 
down  the  filtered  solution :  a  soluble  cry stalliz able 
salt  (C2H6)2Ca" (S04)2  results.] 

Heated,  this  compound  is  decomposed  by  alcohol, 
giving,  at  a  temperature  of  280°  to  300°  F.,  ether  and 
sulphuric  acid. 


C2H5HO  +  C2H5HS04  =  (C2H5)20  +  h2so4. 

The  ether  and  the  water  formed  by  the  first  reac¬ 
tion  distil  over  together ;  the  sulphuric  acid  thus  re¬ 
generated  remains  behind  to  pass  again  through  the 
same  changes.  A  little  alcohol  distils  over  unchanged, 
and  a  small  quantity  of  sulphurous  acid  accompanies 
it ;  these  are  removed  from  the  distillate  by  agitating 
with  slaked  lime  and  a  strong  solution  of  chloride  of 
calcium,  the  ether  is  then  redistilled. 

It  is  important  in  this  process  to  observe  the  pro¬ 
portions  in  the  boiling  mixture,  so  that  the  tempera¬ 
ture  may  neither  be  too  low  (when  little  but  spirit 
would  pass'over),  nor  too  high  (when  the  ether  would 
be  contaminated  with  oil  of  wine) . 

Ether  may  be  formed  from  alcohol  by  the  action 
of  many  other  bodies.  Doubtless  the  explanation 
of  its  production  by  sulphuric  acid  just  given  is 
correct,  but  in  other  cases,  as  in  the  action  of  chloride 
of  zinc,  the  alcohol  seems  simply  to  lose  the  elements 
of  water, — the  residues  of  two  molecules  becoming 
condensed  into  one. 


cfnjo 


—  HoO  = 


C2H6 

c2h5 


} 


o 


Ether,  though  of  low  specific  gravity  as  a  liquid, 
forms  a  veiy  heavy  vapour.  This  would  be  inferred 
from  its  formula,  (C2H5)20  (=  74)  forming  the 
same  volume  of  vapour  as  H2(=2).  It  is,  there¬ 
fore,  37  times  heavier  than  hydrogen,  and  37  X  ‘0693 
(the  sp.  gr.  of  H)  =  2’564  times  heavier  than  the  air. 

Pure  ether  agitated  with  water  takes  up  of  that 
liquid  about  ^  of  its  volume  ;  whilst  it  dissolves  in 
about  9  or  10  times  its  volume  of  water.  Ether  is 
used  as  a  solvent,  chiefly  of  fatty  matters,  and  in  the 
Pharmacopoeia  for  other  purposes.  As  a  solvent, 
benzol  or  purified  bisulphide  of  carbon  might  in 
some  cases  be  advantageously  employed  instead  of 
ether.  The  valuable  properties  of  these  liquids  have 
been  somewhat  overlooked  in  pharmacy. 

Alcohol  Amylicum. — This  liquid  is  employed  in 
the  Pharmacopoeia  as  the  source  of  valerianic  acid 
and  valerianates.  The  acid  is  derived  from  it  by 
boiling  with  oxidizing  agents,  of  which  a  mixture  of 
bichromate  of  potash  and  sulphuric  acid  is  the  most 
frequently  employed.  Ordinary  amylic  alcohol  is  an 
alcohol  belonging  to  the  same  series  as  wood-naphtha 
(methylic  alcohol)  and  common  spirit  of  wine  (ethylic 
alcohol),  and  it  gives  products  of  oxidation  and  other 
derivatives  similar  to  those  obtained  from  those 
bodies.  Thus,  the  formation  of  fonnic,  acetic  and 
valerianic  acids  is  shown  in  the  following  equa¬ 
tions  : — 


CHjHO  +  O,  =  CHH02  +  H20. 

Methylic  alcohol.  Formic  acid. 

c2h5ho  +  o2  =  c2h,ho2  +  h2o. 

Ethylic  alcohol.  Acetic  acid. 

aH  HO  +  02  =  C5H9H02  +  HoO. 

Amylic  alcohol.  Valerianic  acid. 


In  either  of  these  the  oxygen  of  the  air  may  be  em¬ 
ployed  (through  the  agency  of  platinum  black)  or 
nascent  oxygen  developed  from  some  oxidizing  mix¬ 
ture. 

The  Pharmacopoeia  is  hardly  correct  in  treating 
fousel  oil  as  identical  with  anylic  alcohol.  Fousel 
oil  differs  considerably  in  character,  according  to  the 
sources  from  which  it  has  been  procured,  some 
samples  containing  no  inconsiderable  proportions  of 
other  alcohols,  such  as  butylic,  which  would  yield 
butyric  acid,  C4H302.  Probably  much  of  the  vale¬ 
rianate  of  soda  prepared  from  fousel  oil  contains 
butyrate.  The  characters  indicated  in  the  B.P.  as 
belonging  to  amylic  alcohol  should  be  more  definitely 
stated. 

{To  be  continued.) 


A  COMBINED  SOLUTION  OF  PEPSINE  AND 
PANCREATINE.* 

The  value  of  pepsine  as  a  remedial  agent  in  cases  of 
indigestion  is  generally  admitted,  but  experience  has 
proved  that  it  is  only  in  certain  forms  of  indigestion 
that  it  is  of  use. 

Food  is  divided  into  two  classes,  nitrogenized  and 
unnitrogenized.  The  former,  being  digested  in  the 
stomach,  is  acted  on  by  pepsine ;  the  latter,  digested  in 
the  intestine,  escapes  its  action  almost  altogether.  The 
only  action  pepsine,  as  it  appears  in  the  gastric  juice, 
seems  to  have  on  fat  is  to  dissolve  the  albuminous  cell- 
wall,  so  leaving  the  fat  free  to  be  acted  upon  by  the 
pancreatic  secretion.  This  suggests  a  probable  cause  of 
indigestion  ;  for  if  the  gastric  fluid  be  deficient  in  quan¬ 
tity  or  quality,  the  albuminous  cell-walls  of  the  fat  may 
not  be  dissolved,  the  fat  is  not  acted  on  sufficiently  by 
the  pancreatic  secretion,  and  not  being  emulsified,  can¬ 
not  be  taken  up  by  the  lacteals.  On  the  other  hand, 
diseases  of  the  pancreas  or  intestine,  by  checking  the 
absorption  of  fat,  may  cause  indigestion  incurable  by 
pepsine.  This  indigestion  should  be  treated  by  pan¬ 
creatine,  the  chief  action  of  the  pancreatic  secretion  being 
the  emulsion  of  fats. 

There  being  two  classes  of  food  to  be  digested,  each  in 
a  different  portion  of  the  digestive  tract,  it  is  evident 
that  the  more  perfectly  one  is  digested  the  more  easily 
will  the  other  be.  If  the  stomachic  digestion  be  weak, 
the  fat  granules  are  not  set  free  nor  the  fibrine  dissolved 
as  they  should  be  ;  the  consequence  being  that  the  pan¬ 
creatic  secretion  cannot  do  its  work  properly.  If  the 
intestinal  digestion  be  weak,  the  emulsifying  of  the  fats 
as  they  pass  from  the  stomach  being  imperfectly  per¬ 
formed,  the  food  is  detained  longer  in  the  stomach  than 
is  right,  the  proportion  of  fat  to  fibrine  is  increased,  the 
fat  enveloping  the  nitrogenized  food  hinders  the  action 
of  the  gastric  juice,  and  acidity  and  stomachic  indiges¬ 
tion  are  produced.  In  treating  stomachic  indigestion, 
therefore,  it  is  important  to  accelerate  the  digestion  of 
fatty  and  saccharine  portions  of  the  food ;  and  in  intestinal 
to  accelerate  and  perfect  the  digestion  of  the  albuminoids. 
There  are  also  cases  in  which  the  digestion  of  both  the 
nitrogenized  and  unnitrogenized  food  is  at  fault. 

Impressed  with  the  foregoing  ideas,  Mr.  Edward  Long, 
of  Dublin,  sent  to  the  author  a  sample  of  his  solution  of 
pepsine  in  glycerine,  asking  him  to  try  it  in  practice, 
and  give  his  opinion  upon  it.  The  author,  however, 
thought  that  a  solution  of  pepsine  and  pancreatine,  com¬ 
bined  in  suitable  proportions,  would  fulfil  the  conditions 
necessary  for  a  perfect  digestive;  he  therefore  sug¬ 
gested  to  Mr.  Long  the  preparation  of  such  a  solution. 
The  result  of  the  experiment  is  given  in  a  letter  from 


*  Abstract  of  a  paper  by  Richard  John  Kinkead,  B.A.  and 
M.T.C.D.,  in  the  Lancet,  no.  xx.  vol.  ii.  1870. 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  19,  1870. 


401 


Mr.  Long  to  the  author,  from  which  we  give  the  follow¬ 
ing  extracts  : — 

“Following  up  the  subject  of  our  conversations  some 
time  since,  I  have  been  making  experiments  on  pancrea¬ 
tine  obtained  directly  from  the  fresh  pancreas  of  the  calf. 
The  result  has  been  quite  what  might  have  been  ex¬ 
pected  from  a  priori  reasoning,  as  you  will  see  from  the 
subjoined  statements. 

“  Some  difficulty  was  experienced  in  obtaining  the  so¬ 
lution  of  pancreatine  in  an  eligible  form  for  administra¬ 
tion  ;  but  at  last  I  succeeded  in  producing  what  as  closely 
as  possible  represents  the  digestive  fluids  found  in  man. 
It  is  composed  of  pepsine  and  pancreatine  in  suitable 
proportions,  using  for  the  former  a  solution  of  pepsine 
introduced  by  me  some  time  ago,  and  adding  the  solution 
of  pancreatine  as  now  prepared. 

“In  the  experiments  made  to  test  its  effects  a  very 
curious  result  was  observed.  Meat — beef  and  mutton — 
digested  in  pepsine  alone  was  found  to  be  entirely  dis¬ 
solved  with  the  exception  of  the  fat,  which  floated  as  a 
film  on  the  surface,  and  this  film  was  entirely  emulsified 
when  a  proper  quantity  of  pancreatine  was  added,  and 
the  usual  conditions  as  to  temperature,  etc.,  attended  to. 
This  is  exactly  what  we  might  expect,  reasoning  from 
known  physiological  principles. 

“  Pepsine  in  an  effectual  form  has  been  a  great  boon  ; 
but,  as  I  have  shown  above,  it  will  not  digest  the  oily  or 
fatty  aliments  ;  failing  thus  to  supply  the  system  with  the 
substances  vitally  necessary  in  strumous  diseases.  It  is 
obvious  how  desirable  the  action  of  this  fluid  will  be  as 
an  addendum  to  the  use  of  cod-liver  oil. 

“  The  pancreatic  emulsion  has  never  seemed  to  me  the 
nicest  or  most  eligible  mode  of  effecting  what  is  desired. 
It  is  nauseous  to  the  taste  of  many,  and  often  keeps 
badly ;  the  quantity  of  mutton  suet  employed,  which 
may  be  supposed  to  be  all  the  fatty  matter  the  pan¬ 
creatine  present  is  capable  of  emulsifying,  is  not  as  much 
as  might  be  desirable  in  many  cases.  In  some,  suet  at 
all  may  not  be  the  most  suitable  form  of  fat.  The  fluid 
I  now  describe  is  very  palatable,  and  will  keep  almost 
any  time.  It  may  be  given  with  any  kind  of  food.  My 
experiments  were  made  with  fat  mutton-chops  and  rich 
beef-steaks,  as  typical  aliments,  with  most  satisfactory 
results. 

“  The  first  experiments,  thrice  repeated,  were  made 
with  muriatic  acid,  water,  and  the  combined  solution,  to 
represent  the  gastric  juice  and  pancreatic  secretion. 
The  second,  with  solution  of  pepsine  alone,  with  acid 
and  water,  followed  by  the  addition  of  the  plain  pan¬ 
creatic  solution  after  an  interval  of  two  hours.  Both 
were  entirely  satisfactory ;  but  the  latter  were  pecu¬ 
liarly  interesting  in  4a  physiological  point  of  view,  as 
stated  above,  and  tended  to  show  the  exact  part  played  by 
each  fluid  in  the  animal  economy.  But  as  the  adminis¬ 
tration  of  two  fluids  in  succession  would  be  troublesome 
in  practice,  and  be  scarcely  attended  to  by  patients  (at 
all  times  averse  to  trouble),  I  have  thought  it  desirable 
to  .mix  the  two  in  one  fluid.  This  has  the  advantage  of 
being  quite  agreeable,  as  liquor  of  pepsine  always  is ; 
while  the  taste  of  the  liquor  of  pancreatine  is  entirely 
concealed  by  the  former.  Some  medical  friends  of  mine 
reported  most  favourably  of  it,  after  trial  in  practice. 

“  The  experiments  in  the  laboratory  were  as  fol¬ 
lows  : — 

“  No.  1. — Mutton  (fat  and  lean  about  equal  parts),  one 
ounce  ;  water,  . one  ounce  and  a  half ;  muriatic  acid,  fifteen 
minims ;  solution  of  pancreatine  and  pepsine,  one  drachm. 
Digested  at  100 3  for  four  hours,  this  was  converted  into 
a  homogeneous  pulp,  and,  when  diluted  with  a  little 
water,  presented  quite  a  chylous  appearance. 

“No.  2. — Beef  (fat  and  lean),  an  ounce  and  a  half. 
Treated  in  the  same  way,  with  same  result,  the  pulp 
being  much  deeper  in  colour. 

“  Nos.  3  and  4. — I  then  operated  on  the  same  quan¬ 
tities  of  each,  first  digesting  with  pepsine  solution  alone, 
as  intimated  above,  and  then  adding  the  liquor  pancrea¬ 


tine — keeping  up  the  heat.  In  these  latter  experiments 
the  result  seemed  more  perfect,  but,  as  I  have  said,  the 
same  procedure  would  be  rather  inconvenient  in  prac¬ 
tice. 

“The  results  were  found  to  be  identical  in  three  suc¬ 
cessive  experiments,  at  intervals  of  several  weeks.” 


THE  PRESENT  STATUS  OF  POTASH  PRODUCTION.* 

From  being  the  most  abundant  and  cheapest  of  the 
alkalies,  potash  has  rapidly  passed  to  the  position  of  the 
most  expensive ;  and  one  of  the  chief  problems  in  tech¬ 
nical  chemistry  is  comprised  in  the  efforts  to  lessen  its 
consumption  by  the  substitution  of  other  bases,  or  to 
cheapen  and  increase  its  production  by  the  utilization  of 
the  abundant  raw  materials  offered  by  the  mineral  king¬ 
dom.  The  first  step  has,  in  many  instances,  been  suc¬ 
cessfully  accomplished  by  the  employment  of  soda,  am¬ 
monia  or  lime,  as  basic  factors  to  accomplish  a  given 
result  previously  and  almost  exclusively  brought  about 
by  potash.  Thus,  the  pure  potash  alum  has  almost  dis¬ 
appeared  from  the  markets,  its  place  being  assumed  by  a 
chemical  equivalent  in  which  at  least  one-half  of  the 
original  potash  is  replaced  by  ammonia — an  ammonia 
potash  alum.  So  also  the  manufacture  of  the  somewhat 
useful  chlorate  of  potash  was  formerly  effected  by  the 
passage  of  chlorine  gas  into  potash  solution, — a  process 
resulting  in  the  production  of  five  equivalents  of  the 
much  less  valuable  and  less  useful  chloride  of  potassium 
for  each  equivalent  of  the  desired  salt.  Now,  a  mixture 
of  lime  and  potash  is  employed,  and  chlorate  of  potash 
and  chloride  of  calcium  are  produced.  These  two  salts 
are  much  more  readily  separated  by  crystallization  than 
were  the  two  products  of  the  old  method ;  at  the  same 
time  a  great  saving  of  potash  is  effected,  46  parts  of 
caustic  alkali  producing  nearly  323  parts  of  chlorate, 
where  formerly  upwards  of  336  were  required  for  the 
same  operation. 

In  spite  of  these  and  similar  substitutions,  potash  be¬ 
comes  scarcer.  We  cannot  get  rid  of  its  use  entirely. 
There  are  many  important  technical  operations  in  -which 
it  is,  as  yet,  a  sine  qua  non,  and  some  in  which  it  must 
always  remain  such.  In  the  production  of  a  pure  crys¬ 
tal  glass  soda  cannot  replace  potash,  since  it  imparts  a 
greenish  hue  to  the  product.  Nitrate  of  soda  cannot 
be  substituted  for  saltpetre  in  the  manufacture  of  gun¬ 
powder,  though  it  has  already  taken  off  the  burden  from 
the  nitrate  of  potash  in  very  many  of  the  operations  of 
the  manufacturing  chemist.  In  the  formation  of  the 
simple  and  compound  cyanides,  potash  will  probably 
always  be  a  requisite. 

Hence,  new  sources  of  supply  must  be  sought  after 
and  be  made  available.  The  slow  process  by  which  the 
vegetable  kingdom  extracts  and  assimilates  the  valuable 
potash  from  mineral  matter  must  be  replaced  by  the 
quicker  changes  of  art  operating  on  the  same  substances. 
The  original  forests  of  America — one  of  the  great  centres 
from  which  potash  has  been  sent  into  connnerce — are  so 
rapidly  disappearing  or  finding  such  manifold  uses  and 
demands  for  their  woods  and  timbers  that  the  old  source 
of  supply  and  means  of  production — that  from  the  inci¬ 
neration  of  terrestrial  vegetation — are  fast  losing  their 
prominence  by  the  supersedure  of  new  raw  materials  and 
new  methods  of  manipulation.  We  procure  potash  now 
by  the  incineration  of  marine  and  littoral  plants,  as  well 
as  those  of  the  land.  We  derive  it  from  inorganic  na¬ 
ture  by  the  decomposition  of  feldspar  and  other  potash- 
bearing  minerals,  and  by  the  treatment  of  certain  mate¬ 
rial  from  the  rock-salt  mines  of  Prussia.  Even  the 
animal  kingdom  has  been  placed  under  contribution 
towards  the  same  end.  Let  us  examine  into  these  several 
sources,  and  arrive  at  the  present  status  of  potash  pro¬ 
duction  the  -world  over,  omitting,  however,  the  old  source 

*  Abstract  of  a  paper  in  the  Scientific  American ,  by  Pro¬ 
fessor  Charles  P.  Williams. 


November  19,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


405 


of  the  ashes  of  land  vegetation,  as  being-  sufficiently 
familiar  to  require  nothing  further  than  mere  mention. 

In  the  salt-deposits  which  underlie  the  variegated 
sandstone  of  Stassfurt,  Prussia,  a  mass  of  carnallite  (a 
double  chloride  of  potassium  and  magnesium)  has  been 
discovered,  equal  to  6,000,000  tons  of  chloride  of  potas¬ 
sium.  Lai’ge  quantities  of  this  deposit,  amounting  to 
150,000  tons  in  1866,  are  worked  into  chloride  of  potas¬ 
sium.  From  20,000  to  30,000  tons  of  82  per  cent,  chlo¬ 
ride  are  now  annually  produced  in  this  locality,  and  find 
ready  sale  at  about  §40  per  ton. 

Feldspar,  containing  about  13  per  cent,  of  potash,  has 
been  proposed  as  a  source  of  one  alkali.  Lawrence  sug¬ 
gests  its  extraction,  in  the  form  of  caustic  or  carbonate, 
by  mixing  the  finely-pulverized  orthoclase  with  sawdust 
and  straw,  and  arranging  the  mixture  in  heaps,  which  are 
to  be  damped  from  time  to  time  with  mine  or  some  other 
nitrogenous  liquid.  After  undergoing  for  six  months 
this  process  of  decomposition  through  fermentation,  the 
materials  are  mixed  with  a  thick  cream  of  lime,  made 
into  bricks,  and  calcined  at  a  high  temperature.  By 
leaching  this  residue,  the  potash  dissolves,  and  silicate  of 
lime,  etc.,  remain  behind. 

Hack  proposes  to  heat  the  mineral  with  lime,  and  to 
treat  the  calcined  mass  with  water  under  a  pressure  of 
eight  atmospheres,  for  the  production  of  a  strong  lye, 
through  which  carbonic  acid  is  passed  for  the  precipita¬ 
tion  of  silica  and  alumina,  and  for  the  formation  of  car¬ 
bonate  of  potassa.  Meyer’s  plan  is  essentially  the  same 
as  Hack’s.  Ward  uses  fluor-spar  with  lime  for  the  de¬ 
composition  of  feldspar  for  obtaining  the  potash.  None 
of  these  methods  have  as  yet  been  utilized  on  a  practical 
scale,  but  doubtless,  in  time,  some  of  them,  as  well  as 
those  of  Wurtz  and  Tilghman,  for  extracting  the  alkali 
as  chloride  or  sulphate  from  greensand  marl  or  feldspar, 
will  become  technically  important. 

From  about  22  tons  of  wet  seaweed  there  are,  on  the 
average,  produced  somewhat  more  than  500  pounds  of 
chloride  of  potassium,  in  addition  to  bromine,  iodine 
and  various  soda  salts.  This  source  of  potash  has,  how¬ 
ever,  since  the  discovery  of  the  Stassfurt  deposits,  become 
of  minor  importance  ;  but  the  weeds  still  continue  to  be 
collected,  mainly  for  the  extraction  of  the  bromine  and 
the  iodine,  more  especially  for  that  of  the  latter. 

About  twenty-five  years  ago  it  was  suggested  by 
Dubrunfaut  that  the  molasses  from  the  manufacture  of 
beet-root  sugar  could  be  utilized  in  the  production  of 
potash  compounds,  by  first  converting  uncrystallizable 
sugar  into  alcohol,  which  is  distilled  off,  and  subsequently 
evaporating  the  liquor  to  dryness  and  incinerating  the 
residue.  According  to  Payen,  the  ash  of  this  molasses 
contains  49‘88  per  cent,  of  potash  soluble  in  water,  and 
1*7  per  cent,  insoluble.  This  plan  was  first  carried  into 
practice  at  the  distillery  of  Serret  and  Co.,  but  has  since 
been  adopted  on  a  large  scale  at  several  places  in  both 
France  and  Germany.  The  establishment  at  Waghause- 
lin,  Baden,  annually  produces  upwards  of  300  tons  of 
commercial  potashes,  containing  from  88  to  94  per  cent, 
pure  carbonate  of  potash. 

In  1862,  Dr.  Hoffmann,  in  his  report  on  the  London 
Exhibition,  called  attention  to  a  new  source  of  potash 
utilized  in  certain  parts  of  France,  more  especially  at 
the  great  seats  of  the  woollen  manufacture,  as  Rheims, 
Fourmies,  and  Elboeuf.  Here  the  liquors  in  which  more 
than  27,000,000  kilog.  of  sheep’s  wool  are  washed  are 
bought  for  the  “  suint  ”  they  contain.  This  “  suint  ”  is 
a  compound  of  potash  with  a  peculiar  nitrogenous  animal 
acid,  about  which  but  little  is  known,  which  was  first 
pointed  out  by  Chevreul  as  forming  no  less  than  a  third 
of  the  weight  of  raw  merino  wool,  and  a  somewhat  less 
proportion  of  ordinary,  coarser  wools.  It  forms  on  the 
average  about  15  per  cent,  of  the  weight  of  raw  fleece, 
and  is  exceedingly  soluble  in  cold  water.  The  washings 
of  the  amount  of  fleece  above  given  would  give,  accord¬ 
ing  to  J.  Lawrence  Smith,  about  1,167,750  kilog.  of  pure 
potash,  worth,  at  the  average  rate  of  American  potashes, 


from  §400,000  to  §450,000.  The  process  of  extraction  is 
a  simple  one,  and  consists  simply  in  boiling  the  washing- 
liquor  down  to  dryness,  and  calcining  the  residue,  which 
somewhat  resembles  baked  molasses  in  appearance,  in  re¬ 
torts  with  the  production  of  gas,  tar,  and  ammoniacal 
liquid,  together  with  a  coke-like  substance  which  is 
leached.  From  the  solution  thus  obtained,  sulphate, 
chloride  and  carbonate  of  potassa,  free  from  corresponding 
soda  compounds ,  are  separated  by  continued  evaporation. 


PHARMACY  BILL  FOR  IRELAND, 

PROrOSED  BY 

The  Governor  and  Company  of  the  Apothecaries 

Hall,  Dublin. 

Draft  Bill. 

To  regulate  the  Practice  of  Pharmacy  in  Ireland,  to  in¬ 
stitute  a  Pharmaceutical  Society,  and  to  alter  and 
amend  the  Act  passed  by  the  Parliament  of  Ireland, 
in  tfie  thirty-first  year  of  the  reign  of  his  Majesty 
George  the  Third,  intituled  “  An  Act  for  the  more 
effectually  preserving  the  health  of  his  Majesty’s  sub¬ 
jects,  for  erecting  an  Apothecaries’  Hall  in  the  City  of 
Dublin,  and  regulating  the  profession  of  an  Apothecary 
throughout  the  kingdom  of  Ireland.” 

Whereas  it  is  expedient,  to  enable  the  governor  and 
company  of  the  Apothecaries’  Hall  of  Dublin  to  grant 
licences  to  persons  (other  than  duly  qualified  Apotheca¬ 
ries),  to  assume  the  name  of  Pharmaceutical  Chemists, 
and  to  keep  open  shop  for  the  retailing,  dispensing,  or 
compounding  of  prescriptions  of  duly  qualified  medical 
practitioners,  and  also  to  grant  certificates  enabling  per¬ 
sons  to  be  engaged  or  employed  as  students,  apprentices, 
or  assistants,  respectively. 

And  whereas,  it  is  expedient  and  necessary  that  such 
persons  should  possess  a  competent  practical  knowledge 
of  their  business,  and  to  that  end,  that  from  and  after  the 
day  herein  named,  all  persons  should,  before  commencing 
such  business,  be  duly  examined  as  to  their  qualifications 
and  practical  knowledge,  and  that  a  register  should  be 
kept,  as  herein  provided,  and  that  there  should  be  insti¬ 
tuted  a  Pharmaceutical  Society  for  Ireland,  and  also  that 
the  Act  passed  in  the  Parliament  of  Ireland,  in  the  thirty- 
first  year  of  his  Majesty  George  the  Third,  intituled  “An 
Act  for  the  more  Effectually  Preserving  the  Health  of 
his  Majesty’s  Subjects,  for  erecting  an  Apothecaries’  Hall 
in  the  City  of  Dublin,  and  Regulating  the  Profession  of 
an  Apothecary  throughout  the  Kingdom  of  Ireland,” 
should  be  amended : — 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Queen’s  Most  Excellent  Majesty, 
by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Lords  Spiritual 
and  Temporal,  and  Commons,  in  this  present  Parliament 
assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same  as  follows  : — 

1.  From  and  after  ‘  one  thousand 

eight  hundred  and  seventy-one,  it  shall  be  unlawful  for 
any  person,  other  than  a  duly  qualified  apothecary,  to 
sell  or  to  keep  open  shop  for  retailing,  dispensing,  or 
compounding  medical  prescriptions  in  Ireland,  unless 
such  person  shall  be  a  pharmaceutical  chemist  within  the 
meaning  of  this  Act,  and  be  registered  under  this  Act. 

2.  Pharmaceutical  chemists  within  the  meaning  of  this 
Act  shall  consist  of  all  persons  who  shall  be  duly  ex¬ 
amined  and  licensed  in  pharmacy,  and  registered  as 
pharmaceutical  chemists  under  the  provisions  of  this  Act. 

3.  The  examiners  for  the  purposes  of  this  Act  shall 
consist  of  the  governor  or  deputy-governor,  with  six 
members  of  the  Court  of  the  Apothecaries’  Hall,  who 
examine  on  the  subjects  specified  in  clause  4  of  this  Act, 
together  with  six  other  examiners  selected  by  members 
of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Ireland,  provided  that 
until  said  conjoint  Board  be  formed,  the  examinations 
may  be  carried  on  for  the  time  being  by  the  aforesaid 
members  of  the  Com't  of  the  Apothecaries’  Hall.  _ 

4.  All  such  persons  as  shall  have  been  so  appointed  to 
conduct  examinations  under  this  Act  shall  be,  and  the 


40G 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  19,  1870. 


same  are  hereby  declared  to  be,  fit  and  proper  persons  to 
conduct  all  such  examinations  as  are  provided  for  or  con¬ 
templated  by  this  Act,  and  shall  respectively  have  full 
power  and  authority,  and  are  hereby  authorized  and  re¬ 
quired  to  examine  all  persons  who  shall  present  them¬ 
selves  for  examination  under  the  provisions  of  this  Act 
in  their  knowledge  of  the  Latin  and  English  languages, 
in  arithmetic,  in  botany,  in  materia  medica,  in  pharma¬ 
ceutical  and  general  chemistry,  in  practical  pharmacy, 
in  the  British  Pharmacopoeia,  and  such  other  subjects, 
as  may  from  time  to  time  be  determined,  by  any  bye-law 
of  the  General  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  of 
Ireland.  Provided  always,  that  such  examinations  shall 
not  include  the  theory  and  practice  of  medicine,  sur¬ 
gery,  or  midwifery,  or  any  branch  of  medicine  or  surgery ; 
and  the  said  examiners  are  hereby  empowered  to  grant 
or  refuse  to  such  persons,  as  in  their  discretion  may  seem 
fit,  certificates  of  competent  knowledge  and  qualification 
and  skill  to  exercise  the  business  or  calling  of  pharma¬ 
ceutical  chemists,  or,  as  the  case  may  require,  to  be  en¬ 
gaged  or  employed  as  students,  apprentices,  or  assistants, 
respectively  ;  provided,  nevertheless,  that  in  case  of  re¬ 
jection,  a  rejected  candidate  may  present  himself  for  re¬ 
examination  after  six  months. 

5.  The  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Ire¬ 
land  shall,  within  three  calendar  months  after  its  forma¬ 
tion,  appoint  a  fit  and  proper  person  to  act  as  Registrar 
under  this  Act,  and  said  Council  shall  have  power  to 
remove  the  said  registrar,  or  any  future  registrar  to  be 
appointed  under  this  Act,  from  said  office,  and  from  time 
to  time  to  appoint  a  new  registrar  in  the  room  of  any 
registrar  who  may  die  or  retire,  or  be  removed  from 
office,  as  aforesaid,  and  also  to  appoint  and  remove  from 
time  to  time  a  treasurer,  and  such  clerk  and  other  officers 
as  may  be  requisite  for  carrying  out  the  purposes  of  this 
Act,  and  also  to  pay  suitable  salaries  to  the  said  re¬ 
gistrar,  treasurer,  clerks,  and  officers,  provided  that 
pending  the  formation  of  such  Society,  the  Governor  and 
Council  of  the  Apothecaries’  Hall  shall  appoint  fit  and 
proper  persons  as  registrar,  treasurer,  clerks,  and 
officers. 

6.  For  every  examination  and  registration,  and  for 
every  certificate  of  same,  such  reasonable  fees  or  charges 
shall  be  paid  as  shall  from  time  to  time  be  fixed  and  de¬ 
termined  by  any  bye-law  to  be  made  by  the  General 
Council  of  the  Apothecaries’  Hall  of  Dublin,  or  by  the 
Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  as  the  case  may 
be,  provided  always,  such  fees  or  charges  shall  at  no 
time  exceed  the  fees  laid  down  respectively  in  each  case 
in  Schedule  (A)  to  this  Act  annexed,  and  such  fee  shall 
be  paid  to  the  treasurer,  and  shall  by  him  be  applied 
as  the  said  Council  of  the  Apothecaries’  Hall  or  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  shall  direct  in  furtherance  of  the 
provisions  of  this  Act. 

7 .  The  registrar  to  be  appointed  under  or  by  virtue  of 
this  Act  shall  from  time  to  time  make  out  and  maintain 
a  complete  register  of  all  persons  certified  as  pharma¬ 
ceutical  chemists  by  the  examiners  appointed  under  this 
Act,  also  of  all  persons  certified  in  like  manner  as  ap¬ 
prentices,  students,  or  assistants,  respectively,  and  shall 
keep  a  proper  index  of  the  register,  and  all  such  other 
registers  and  books  as  may  be  necessary  for  giving  effect 
to  the  bye-laws  which  shall  from  time  to  time  be  made 
in  conformity  with  the  provisions  of  this  Act. 

8.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  registrar  to  make  and 
keep  a  correct  register,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions 
of  this  Act,  of  all  persons  who  shall  be  entitled  to  be  re¬ 
gistered  under  this  Act,  and  to  erase  the  names  of  all 
registered  persons  who  shall  have  died,  and  from  time  to 
time  to  make  the  necessary  alterations  in  the  addresses 
of  the  persons  registered  under  this  Act.  To  enable  the 
registrar  duly  to  fulfil  the  duties  imposed  upon  him,  it 
shall  be  lawful  for  the  registrar  to  write  a  letter  to  any 
registered  person,  addressed  to  him  according  to  his  ad¬ 
dress  on  the  registrar,  to  inquire  whether  he  has  ceased 
to  carry  on  business,  or  has  changed  his  residence,  such 


letter  to  be  forwarded  by  post  as  a  registered  letter, 
according  to  the  Post-Office  regulations  for  the  time  be¬ 
ing  ;  and  if  no  answer  shall  be  returned  to  such  letter 
within  six  months  from  the  sending  of  the  letter,  a 
second  of  similar  purport  shall  be  sent  in  like  manner ; 
and  if  no  answer  be  given  thereto  within  three  months 
from  date  thereof,  it  shall  be  lawful  to  erase  the  name 
of  such  person  from  the  register,  provided  always,  that 
the  same  may  be  restored  by  direction  of  the  Council  of 
the  Apothecaries’  Hall  of  Dublin,  or  of  the  Council  of 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  as  the  case  may  happen  to 
be,  should  they  think  fit  to  make  an  order  to  that  effect. 

9.  No  name  shall  be  entered  in  the  register  except  of 
persons  authorized  by  this  Act  to  be  registered,  nor  un¬ 
less  the  registrar  be  satisfied  by  the  proper  evidence  that 
the  person  claiming  is  entitled  to  be  registered ;  and 
any  appeal  from  the  decision  of  the  registrar  may  be  de¬ 
cided  by  the  Council  of  the  Apothecaries’  Hall  of  Dub¬ 
lin,  or  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  as  the  case  may 
be ;  and  any  entry  which  shall  be  proved  to  the  satis¬ 
faction  of  such  Council  to  have  been  fraudulently  or  in¬ 
correctly  made,  may  be  erased  from,  or  amended  in,  the 
register,  by  order  in  writing  of  such  Council. 

10.  The  registrar  shall,  in  the  month  of  January,  in 
every  year,  cause  to  be  printed,  published,?  and  sold  a 
correct  register  of  the  names  of  all  pharmaceutical  che¬ 
mists,  and  a  correct  register  of  all  persons  registered  as 
students,  apprentices,  and  assistants,  and  in  such  registers 
respectively  the  names  shall  be  in  alphabetical  order, 
according  to  the  surnames,  with  the  respective  resi¬ 
dences,  in  the  foi’m  set  forth  in  schedule  (B)  to  this  Act, 
and  such  printed  registers  shall  be  called  “  The  Regis¬ 
ters  of  Pharmaceutical  Chemists,  and  of  Pharmaceutical 
Students,  Apprentices,  and  Assistants  for  Ireland,”  and 
a  printed  copy  of  such  registers  for  the  time  being,  pur¬ 
porting  to  be  so  printed  and  published  as  aforesaid,  or 
any  certificate  under  the  hand  of  the  said  registrar,  and 
countersigned  by  the  Governor  or  two  members  of  the 
Council  of  the  Apothecaries’  Hall  of  Dublin,  or  by  the 
President  or  two  members  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society, 
shall  be  evidence  in  all  courts,  and  before  all  justices  of 
the  peace,  and  others,  that  the  persons  therein  specified 
are  registered  according  to  the  provisions  of  this  Act, 
and  the  absence  of  the  name  of  any  person  from  such 
printed  register  shall  be  evidence,  until  the  contrary 
shall  be  made  to  appear,  that  such  person  is  not  regis¬ 
tered  according  to  the  provisions  of  this  Act. 

11.  Any  registrar  who  shall  wilfully  make,  or  cause 
to  be  made,  any  falsification  in  any  matter  relating  to 
the  said  registers,  and  any  person  who  shall  wilfully 
procure,  or  attempt  to  procure,  himself  to  be  registered 
under  this  Act,  by  making  or  producing,  or  causing  to 
be  made  or  produced,  any  false  or  fraudulent  representa¬ 
tion  or  declaration,  either  verbally  or  in  writing,  and 
any  person  aiding  or  assisting  him  therein,  shall  be 
deemed  guilty  of  a  misdemeanour,  punishable  by  fine  or 
imprisonment,  and  shall,  on  conviction  thereof,  be  sen¬ 
tenced  to  be  imprisoned  for  any  term  not  exceeding 
twelve  months. 

12.  Every  registrar  of  deaths  in  Ireland,  on  receiving 
notice  of  the  death  of  any  pharmaceutical  chemist,  or 
pharmaceutical  student,  apprentice,  or  assistant,  shall 
forthwith  transmit  by  post  to  the  registrar  under  this 
Act  a  certificate,  under  his  own  hand,  of  such  death,  with 
the  particulars  of  the  time  and  place  of  death ;  and  on 
receipt  of  such  certificate,  the  said  registrar  under  this 
Act  shall  erase  the  name  of  such  deceased  pharmaceutical 
chemist,  or  student,  apprentice,  or  assistant,  as  the  case 
may  be,  from  the  register,  and  shall  transmit  to  the  said 
registrar  of  deaths  the  cost  of  such  certificate  and  trans¬ 
mission,  and  may  charge  the  cost  thereof  as  an  expense 
of  his  office. 

13.  From  and  after  the  one 

thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-one,  any  person 
who,  not  being  a  duly  registered  pharmaceutical  chemist, 
or  duly  qualified  apothecary,  shall  keep  an  open  shop  or 


November  19,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


407 


wareroom  for  the  retailing,  dispensing,  or  compounding 
medical  prescriptions,  or  who  shall  take,  use,  or  exhibit 
the  name  or  title  of  apothecary,  pharmaceutical  chemist, 
or  pharmaceutist,  or  pharmacist,  or  dispensing  chemist, 
in  Ireland,  or  make  use  of  any  sign  or  title,  implying 
that  he  is  a  qualified  apothecary,  or  that  he  is  registered 
as  a  pharmaceutical  chemist  under  this  Act,  or  any  phar¬ 
maceutical  chemist  or  apothecary  who  shall  take  or  em¬ 
ploy  any  person  as  student,  apprentice,  or  assistant, 
■without  such  person  having  obtained  the  proper  certifi¬ 
cates  hereinbefore  directed,  or  who  shall  compound  any 
.medicines  of  the  British  Pharmacopoeia  except  according 
to  the  formularies  of  the  said  Pharmacopoeia,  each  and 
every  person  so  offending  shall  for  every  such  offence  be 
liable,  on  summary  conviction  before  one  or  more  justices 
<of  the  peace,  to  pay  a  penalty  of  five  pounds,  and,  when 
arecovered,  such  penalties  shall  be  applied  to  the  purposes 
tof  this  Act ;  but  nothing  in  this  Act  contained  shall  pre¬ 
vent  any  person  from  being  liable  to  any  other  penalty, 
damage,  or  punishment,  to  which  he  would  have  been 
subject  if  this  Act  had  not  passed. 

14.  Upon  the  decease  of  any  pharmaceutical  chemist 
or  apothecary  actually  in  business  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  it  shall  be  lawful  for  any  executor,  administrator, 
or  trustee  of  the  estate  of  such  pharmaceutical  chemist 
for  apothecary,  to  continue  such  business  for  a  period  not 
•exceeding  six  months,  and  provided  such  business  shall 
<be  bond  fide  conducted  by  a  duly-qualified  apothecary,  or 
by  a  pharmaceutical  chemist  registered  under  this  Act ; 
provided  always,  that  registration  under  this  Act  shall 
not  entitle  any  person  so  registered  to  practise  medicine 
•or  surgery,  or  any  branch  of  medicine  or  surgery. 

id.  It  shall,  nevertheless,  be  lawful,  anything  to  the 
■contrary  notwithstanding,  for  the  examiners  appointed 
under  this  Act  to  admit  to  examination  any  chemist  and 
druggist  who  shall  have  been  in  business,  as  such,  on 
his  own  account,  for  a  period  of  not  less  than  five  years 
before  the  passing  of  this  Act,  and  who  shall,  within  six 
.months  after  it  has  passed  into  law,  make  application  in 
writing  for  examination  to  the  registrar  under  this  Act, 

•  accompanied  with  a  certificate  according  to  schedule  (Cl 
•to  this  Act ;  and  every  such  chemist  and  druggist  who 
■shall  have  satisfied  the  examiners  as  to  his  knowledge, 
skill  and  competency  to  carry  on  and  conduct  the  busi¬ 
ness  of  a  pharmaceutical  chemist,  shall  receive  the  cer¬ 
tificate  of  pharmacy  from  the  said  examiners,  and  shall 
be  entitled  to  be  placed  on  the  register  of  pharmaceutical 
chemists  of  Ireland ;  and  the  person  so  certified  shall 
pay  the  same  fees  as  other  pharmaceutical  chemists 
under  this  Act ;  provided  always,  that  in  case  of  rejec¬ 
tion,  the  rejected  candidate  may  be  re-examined  after 
•■six  months. 

16.  It  is  hereby  further  enacted,  that  a  Pharmaceutical 
■Society  shall  be  instituted,  to  be  named  “  The  Pharma- 
'Ccutical  Society  of  Ireland;”  and  authority  is  hereby 
given  for  the  formation  of  such  Society;,  and  in  order  to 
the  formation  of  same  it  shall  be  lawful  for  every  person 
who  has  been  duly  licensed  and  registered  as  a  pharma¬ 
ceutical  chemist  by  this  Act,  and  also  for  every  duly- 
qualified  apothecary,  upon  payment  of  an  annual  sub¬ 
scription  of  one  guinea  each  to  the  Treasurer  appointed 
wader  this  Act,  to  become  a  member  of  said  Society,  and 
■to  have  a  voice  and  vote  in  all  general  meetings  of  the 
Society  ;  and  the  Governor  and  Council  of  the  Apothe¬ 
caries’  Hall  of  Dublin  are  hereby  authorized  and  re¬ 
quired,  within  one  year  after  the  passing  of  this  Act,  to 
convene  a  meeting  of  all  members  of  the  Society,  to  be 
h.eld  at  their  Hall  in  Dublin,  by  written  or  printed  sum¬ 
monses,  to  be  issued  ten  days  previous  to  the  day  agreed 
upon  for  holding  such  meeting ;  and  it  shall  be  lawful 
for  the  members  in  assembly  at  such  meetings  to  appoint 
a  President,  Vice-President,  Council,  and  Secretary,  for 
nonducting  the  business  of  the  Society,  and  like  meetings 
of  the  Society  shall  be  holden  annually. 

17.  At  all  general  meetings  of  the  Society,  it  shall  be 
lawful  for  the  Society  to  make  all  such  bye-laws  and  rules  j 


for  the  advancement  of  pharmacy  and  for  the  good  go¬ 
vernment  of  the  Society  as  the  members  present  shall  in 
their  wisdom,  and  by  a  majority  of  votes  determine;  pro¬ 
vided  always,  that  said  bye-laws  and  rules  shall  be  con¬ 
sonant  with,  and  not  contrary wto,  any  of  the  provisions 
of  this  Act ;  and  it  shall  also  be  lawful  for  the  Society  at 
every  such  annual  meeting,  for  the  members  present  to 
elect  from  among  themselves,  by  a  majority  of  votes,  six 
persons  to  be  conjoint  examiners  with  the  examiners  on 
the.  Pharmacy  Court  of  the  Apothecaries’  Hall,  to  record 
their  votes  as  to  the  merits  of  the  several  candidates  who 
have  undergone  examination. 

18.  The  parts  hereinafter  mentioned  of  the  aforesaid 
Act  of  the  “  Thirty-first  of  George  the  Third,  chapter 
thirty-four,”  shall  be,  and  the  same  are  hereby  repealed ; 
that  is  to  say,  so  much  of  the  tenth  clause  as  relates  to 
seven  years’  apprenticeship,  the  whole  of  the  twenty- 
third  clause,  so  much  of  the  twenty- fourth  clause  as  re¬ 
lates  to  fees  for  certificates,  and  the  whole  of  the  twenty- 
fifth  and  twenty-sixth  clauses. 

19.  This  Act  may  be  cited  as  the  Pharmacy  Act,  Ire¬ 
land,  1870. 

20.  This  Act  shall  apply  to  Ireland  only. 


Schedule  A. 

Seale  of  Fees  for  Certificates . 


Apprentices  and  Students .  2  Guineas. 

Assistants  . . . 3  Guineas. 

Pharmaceutical  Chemists  .  5  Guineas. 

The  Fee  for  Registration  .  5  Shillings. 


Schedule  B. 


Name. 

Kesidence. 

Date  of  Kegistration. 

A.  B. 
C.  D. 
E.  F. 

Grafton  Street,  Dublin. 
Patrick  Street,  Cork. 
Corn  Market,  Belfast. 

Jan.  10th,  1871. 
March  4th,  1871. 
Juno  15th,  1871. 

Schedule  C. 

Certificate  to  be  signed  by  a  duly  qualified  medical  prac~ 
titioner  or  magistrate  respecting  a  person  who  was  irl 
business  as  a  chemist  and  druggist  in  Ireland  for  five 
years  on  his  own  account. 

To  the  Registrar  appointed  under  the  Fharmacg  Act, 
Ireland,  18/1. 

I,  residing  at  in  the  county  of 

hereby  certify  that  I  am  a  duly  qualified  medical  prac¬ 
titioner  (or  magistrate),  and  that  to  my  knowledge 
residing  at  in  the  county  of 

has  been  in  business  as  a  chemist  and  druggist  on  his 
own  account  for  a  period  of  not  less  than  five  years. 

(Signed) 

This  day  of  1871. 


Punitaqui  Quicksilver  Mine. — According  to  Na¬ 
ture,  an  attempt  is  again  being  made  to  work  the  quick¬ 
silver  mine  of  Punitaqui,  in  Ovalle  department,  Chile. 
It  was  worked  for  the  crown  in  Spanish  times,  but  the 
War  of  Independence  and  Indian  incursions  stopped  it, 
as  the  latter  did  again  in  1830. 

Obstinate  Hiccough. — Dr.  Juaritz  states,  in  the 
Siglo  Medico ,  that  a  medical  man,  just  convalescent  from 
gastric  fever,  being  seized  with  a  very  persistent  and 
fatiguing  hiccough,  obtained  relief,  after  many  antispas- 
modics  had  been  tried  without  effect,  from  an  infusion  of 
mustard,  which  he  drank  in  mistake,  thinking  it  an  in¬ 
fusion  of  linseed. — Lancet. 


40S 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  19, 137a 


CONDY’S  FLUIDS. 

The  article  on  this  subject  in  No.  12  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Journal  has  called  forth  a  reply  from 
Mr.  Condy  which,  besides  being  irrelevant  to  the 
point  discussed,  is  much  too  long  for  insertion.  As 
the  article  in  question  was  taken  by  us  from  the 
pages  of  the  Practitioner,  and  as  Mr.  Condy’s  ob¬ 
jections  to  it  have  been  answered  in  that  journal  so 
well  as  to  leave  nothing  more  to  be  said,  we  can 
merely  remark  in  reprinting  this  reply,  that  we  fully 
concur  in  the  views  expressed  therein. — Ed.  Ph.  J. 

“  We  have  received  a  lengthy  remonstrance  from  Mr. 
H.  Bollman  Condy  on  the  subject  of  our  report  on  the 
various  disinfecting  and  purifying  fluids  sold  in  his  name, 
and  we  must  say  that  Mr.  Condy’s  letter  shows  a  strange 
want  of  appreciation  of  the  motives  with  which  we  called 
attention  to  the  composition  and  the  prices  of  his  goods. 
Our  statement  was  substantially  this  : — The  manganates 
and  permanganates  were  long  ago  known  to  the  chemist 
as  powerful  oxidizers,  but  Mr.  Condy  was  the  first  per¬ 
son  to  see  that  this  property  might  be  turned  to  the  pur¬ 
poses  of  disinfection,  and  to  commence  the  manufacture 
of  these  agents  on  the  large  scale.  We  remonstrated 
with  him,  however,  for  maintaining  so  high  a  price  for 
these  fluids  in  proportion  to  the  intrinsic  cost  of  the  ac¬ 
tive  ingredients.  We  showed  that  pure  permanganate  of 
potash ,  representing  the  highest  oxidizing,  and  therefore 
disinfecting  power,  possessed  by  any  ingredient  of  Mr. 
Condy’s  fluids,  can  be  purchased  retail  for  two  shillings 
(in  ounce ,  and  that  with  this  quantity  it  would  bo  possible 
to  convert  400  ounces  of  distilled  water  into  a  disinfect¬ 
ing  fluid  of  equal  power  with  the  No.  III.  “  Ozonized 
water;”  400  ounces  of  which,  at  Mr.  Condy’s  price, 
would  cost  about  eight  guineas.  That  with  the  same  two 
^hillings’  worth  of  permanganate  of  potash  one  could 
convert  50  ounces  of  distilled  water  into  a  disinfectant 
of  equal  strength  with  the  “  green”  01  the  “red”  solu-  j 
tiohs,  while  the  same  quantity  of  the  latter,  at  Mr. 
Condy’s  prices,  would  cost  respectively  Is.  9 cl.  and  3s.  Gel. ; 
but  that  the  red  and  green  fluids,  being  made  mainly 
with  the  cheap  manganates  and  permanganates  of  soda, 
the  cost  of  which  is  very  greatly  less  than  that  of  che¬ 
mically  pure  permanganate  of  potash,  there  is  in  fact  an 
extremely  large  margin  of  profit  to  the  manufacturer. 
In  restating  the  gist  of  our  original  remarks,  we  have 
now  to  add,  that  we  might  have  greatly  strengthened 
them ;  for  we  have  discovered  that,  in  Germany,  the 
purest  possible  permanganate  of  potash  can  be  procured 
for  threepence  an  ounce,  or  eight  times  cheaper  than  the 
specimen  which  formed  the  basis  of  our  comparisons. 

“Now  to  these  criticisms  Mr.  Condy  makes  three  kinds 
of  objections,  which  it  is  necessary  to  separate  carefully 
from  each  other.  In  the  first  place,  he  maintains  that  a 
trader  has  a  right  to  make  what  profits  he  can ;  to  quote 
his  own  words,  “  It  (our  table  of  analysis)  shows  indeed 
that  the  selling  price  of  Condy’s  fluid  is  somewhat  (!) 
higher  in  two  of  the  kinds  than  that  of  the  equivalent 
quantity  of  its  active  ingredient.  But  surely  this  is  no¬ 
thing  unusual ;  on  the  contrary,  it  is  the  rule  in  such 
cases,  as  every  chemist  and  druggist  must  know.  Is  the 
Liquor  Potassse  Permanganatis  of  the  Pharmacopoeia 
dispensed  per  ounce  at  the  price  of  the  eight  grains  of 
the  permanganate  contained  therein  ?  Ear  from  this 
being  so,  sixpence  per  ounce  is  very  commonly  charged 
for  it.  Is  it  not  the  case  that  all  other  proprietary  dis¬ 
infecting  preparations  sell  at  rates  greatly  in  excess  of 
the  value  of  the  quantity  of  the  active  ingredients  con¬ 
tained  in  them  r”  Really,  this  needs  no  comment.  We 
had  paid  Mr.  Condy  the  compliment  of  presuming  that 
his  views  were  not  altogether  those  of  a  mere  trader ;  the 
claims  to  scientific  discovery  which  he  put  forward  had 
led  us  to  believe  in  his  patriotic  intention  to  bring  a 


valuable  sanitary  discovery  within  the  reach  of  the  poor, 
and  of  public  health  authorities  who  might  require  to 
use  it  on  a  large  scale.  We  beg  his  pardon  if  we  have 
been  mistaken. 

“  The  second  objection  which  Mr.  Condy  makes  to  our 
remarks  is  to  the  effect  that  even  the  oxidizing  power  of 
the  manganates  was  not  applied  in  laboratories  before 
Hofmann  (1856),  and  that  Hofmann  learned  it  from 
Condy.  That  is  quite  erroneous ;  our  analyst  informs 
us  that  this  use  of  these  salts  -was  common  long  before 
1856,  to  his  personal  knowledge. 

“  The  third  objection  to  our  remarks  is  a  charge  of  in¬ 
accuracy  in  our  analysis  of  the  “  Ozonized  water.”  In 
answer  to  this  we  have  to  remark  that  the  examination 
was  made  by  one  of  the  first  analysts  of  this  country, 
and  we  are  therefore  disinclined  to  attach  any  very  great 
importance  to  Mr.  Condy’s  hints  about  some  previously 
quite  unknown  permanganate.  The  only  object  in  using- 
a  permanganate  for  toilet  purposes,  one  would  think, 
must  be  for  its  oxidizing  power.  It  is  a  fact  that  for 
three  farthings  one  could  impregnate  eight  ounces  of  dis¬ 
tilled  water  with  J  per  cent,  of  pure  permanganate  of 
potash  (purchased  in  Germany) ;  and  it  is  also  a  fact 
that  such  a  solution  -would  be  practically  tasteless. 

“After all,  however,  it  is  comparatively  unimportant 
what  the  character  or  price  of  a  toilet-water  may  be. 
But  we  must  repeat  the  expression  of  our  regret  that 
Mr.  Condy  does  not  yet  see  his  way  to  reducing  the 
above-mentioned  scale  of  profits  on  his  green  and  red 
fluids,  which,  in  order  to  make  them  useful  as  disinfec¬ 
tants  in  precisely  the  places  where  there  is  the  most  ur¬ 
gent  need  for  this  class  of  agents,  ought  certainly  to  be 
sold  at  a  considerably  cheaper  rate.  We  would  even 
venture  to  predict  that,  in  the  long-run,  commercial  suc¬ 
cess  would  also  be  found  to  attend  upon  the  lower  rather 
than  the  higher  rates  of  profit ;  and  we  should  be  de¬ 
lighted  to  hear  that  Mr.  Condy  had  benefited  himself 
while  doing  a  service  to  the  public.” 


DRUG  MARKET  NOTES* 


HE  SIN  OF  SCAMMONY.. 

We  have  had  ail  opportunity  of  examining  a  re¬ 
cent  importation  of  resin  of  scammony ,  said  to  have 
been  manufactured  in  Smyrna  from  scammony  root. 

It  had  a  resinous  fracture,  translucent  edges,  fra¬ 
grant  odour,  and  was  nearly  wholly  soluble  in  ether 
and,  as  far  as  could  be  ascertained,  was  entirely  free 
from  other  resinous  substances  likely  to  be  used  as 
adulterants  ;  its  pale  brown  colour  would  almost  lead 
one  to  suppose  that  animal  charcoal  had  been  used, 
for  its  decolorization. 


Analysis  of  100  Parts. 

He  sin  (soluble  in  ether  dried  at  212°)  .  91*4 

Insoluble  in  ether  .  2*8 

Water  .  5  8 


100-0 

It  was  certainly  quite  equal  to  any  we  have  seen 
produced  by  the  British  Pharmacopoeia  process,  and 
far  superior  to  some  of  the  so-called  resin  of  scammony 
of  pharmacy,  which  is  little  better  than  the  hardened 
alcoholic  extract  of  the  root  (resin  with  glucose). 

Former  parcels  of  this  resin,  sent  from  Smyrna, 
are  said  to  have  found  a  ready  sale  in  France  ;  the 
excessive  price,  however,  asked  for  this  London 
import  prevented  a  sale  being  effected. 


November  19,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


409 


SATURDAY,  NOVEMBER  19,  1870. 


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

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

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  Neio  Burlington 
Street,  London ,  W.  Envelopes  to  be  endorsed  “  Bharm. 
Journ.” 


PHARMACY  AND  MEDICAL  PRACTICE. 

Tlie  controversy  wliicli  has  for  some  time  been 
carried  on  in  the  correspondence  columns  of  this 
Journal  and  of  the  Lancet,  as  to  the  existing  rela¬ 
tions  of  pharmacy  to  medical  practice,  has  assumed 
a  different  and  more  important  aspect  since  the 
scattered  grievances  of  the  profession  have  been 
gathered  up  and  adopted  bjr  the  editorial  pen  of  our 
influential  contemporary.  As  in  actual  warfare,  the 
skirmish  of  outposts  threatens  to  involve  the  oppos¬ 
ing  parties  in  a  general  engagement;  but  we  will 
not  willingly  permit  ourselves  to  be  drifted  into  an 
impolitic  and  unnatural  quarrel  with  our  proper 
allies,  the  medical  profession;  therefore  we  do  not 
hesitate  to  hang  out  the  olive  branch  and  confess 
that  we  have  observed  with  regret,  the  acrimonious 
tendency  of  the  correspondence  on  both  sides.  At 
the  same  time,  we  owe  a  duty  to  our  members  which 
we  shall  not  shrink  from  fulfilling ;  and  this  duty 
constrains  us  to  take  serious  exception  to  the  tone  of 
the  leader  hi  the  Lancet  of  October  22nd,  founded, 
us  it  appears  to  us,  upon  an  entire  misconception  of 
the  case  it  professes  to  deal  with.  We  think  the 
tone  of  that  article  must  be  deprecated  by  all  who 
desire  the  maintenance  of  good  relations  between 
the  profession  of  medicine  and  its  handmaiden,  the 
art  of  Pharmacy,  amongst  whom  we  fondly  believe 
that  the  quantity  and  quality  of  both  bodies  are 
included. 

While  we  are  solicitous  to  show  all  proper  respect 
to  the  exalted  profession  of  medicine,  and  to  extend 
that  consideration  to  the  Lancet,  as  being,  in  some 
•sense,  its  recognized  organ,  our  first  duty  is  to  uphold 
the  independence  of  Pharmacy,  and  we  protest,  in 
terms  admitting  of  no  misinterpretation,  that  Phar¬ 
macy,  while  willing  to  concede  respect  and  deference 
to  the  higher  branch  of  the  healing  art,  owes  neither 
obligation,  subjection,  nor  allegiance  to  its  members. 
It  acknowledges  no  authority  by  virtue  of  which  they 
may  assume  to  interfere  with  its  internal  affairs ;  it 
repudiates  any  suggestion  of  subservience  inconsis¬ 
tent  with  its  own  absolute  independence  in  that 
respect. 

Having  said  this,  our  readers  will  understand  that 


we  do  not  propose  to  follow  the  Lancet  into  a  futile 
discussion  of  the  alleged  overcharges  of  chemists. 
So  far  as  the  Lancet  and  the  medical  profession  are 
concerned,  Pharmaceutists  are  free  to  make  their 
own  arrangements  with  the  public,  without  reference 
to  such  extrinsic  considerations  as  the  ability  of  their 
customers  to  pay  a  further  sum  to  some  other  person 
for  medical  advice.  It  argues  little  wisdom  to  sup¬ 
pose  that  competition  will  not  surely  bring  prices  to 
a  fair  average,  but  it  implies  absolute  fully  to  suppose 
that  where  competition  fails,  any  other  influence — be 
it  the  remonstrance  of  the  Lancet  or  the  pleadings  of 
angels — will  have  a  chance  of  success.  Were  it  ne¬ 
cessary  to  do  so,  we  are  prepared  to  prove,  not  by 
vague  assertions,  but  by  statistical  facts,  that  the 
average  dispensing  charges  of  Pharmaceutists  are 
fair  and  moderate ;  but  for  the  purpose  in  hand  it  is 
sufficient  to  refer  to  our  own  pages  during  the  last 
two  or  three  years,  to  show  that,  in  the  opinion  of 
those  upon  whose  action  any  alteration  must  depend, 
the  dispensing  department  of  Pharmacy  is  less  re¬ 
munerative  than  ordinary  retail  trade. 

Having,  then,  disposed  of  the  accusation  of  over¬ 
charges,  as  not  admissible  in  a  discussion  upon  what 
the  Lancet  properly  terms  “  the  relation  of  pharmacy 
to  medical  practice,”  it  is  surprising  how  little  re¬ 
mains  that  is  tangible,  and  how  obscure  that  little 
is.  After  a  most  earnest  study  of  the  article  under 
consideration,  we  are  obliged  to  confess  that  we  do 
not  know  what  is  the  exact  nature  of  the  Lancet's 
complaint,  nor  what  is  the  precise  character  of  the 
restrictions  which  it  calls  upon  Pharmaceutists  to 
observe.  We  suspect,  indeed,  that  the  Lancet  could 
not  venture  to  put  forward  any  proposition  hi  express 
terms  which  would  not  either  outrage  public  opinion 
or  dissatisfy  its  malcontent  correspondents,  whose 
statements,  we  take  leave  to  observe,  do  not,  accord¬ 
ing  to  our  belief,  represent  the  feelings  of  an  en¬ 
lightened  profession.  We  fear  that  whatever  would 
satisfy  those  correspondents  would  be  so  imprac¬ 
ticable,  that  it  would  be  no  more  effectual  against 
public  opinion  than  a  cobweb  against  the  charge  of 
an  infuriated  bull.  The  Lancet  tells  us  that  the  es¬ 
sential  tilings  are  “  two ;  ”  we  venture  to  interpolate 
that  the  two  essentials  of  any  restrictions  of  pharma¬ 
ceutical  functions  are  that  they  should  be  rational 
and  practicable.  This  being  granted,  we  see  no  dif¬ 
ficulty  in  candid  advocates  arriving  at  a  fair  under¬ 
standing  ;  and  the  time  appears  to  have  come  when 
it  is  desirable  that  this  vexed  question,  the  source  of 
many  petty  jealousies  in  time  past,  should  be  set  at 
rest  by  frank  and  full  discussion.  The  following 
passages  will  put  the  views  of  the  Lancet  fully  before 
our  readers ;  but  we  profess  ourselves  unable  to  in¬ 
terpret  their  combined  signification  until  we  are  in¬ 
formed  whether  the  stringent  restrictions  of  the  first 
two  quotations  are  intended  to  be  moderated  in  the 
spirit  of  the  latter.  We  cannot  derive  this  informa¬ 
tion  from  their  position  or  context ;  tliis  may,  how- 


410 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  19, 1370, 


ever,  be  more  our  fault  than  clue  to  want  of  per¬ 
spicuity  in  the  writer. 

We  are  told — 

It  is  essential  that  drugs  be  taken  only  upon 
medical  advice. 

Druggists  must  be  prepared  to  limit  themselves 
to  the  work  of  preparing  drugs  prescribed  by 
others. 

Pharmacists  and  druggists  must  know  that  they 
are  entirely  unfitted  for  advising  persons  affected 
with  sferious  ailment  or  disease. 

A  great  deal  of  prescribing  by  chemists  confessedly 
goes  on.  It  is  in  constant  evidence  in  our 
( Lancet )  columns  that  chemists  prescribe  even 
in  serious  cases  and  sometimes  visit. 

If  a  literal  interpretation  be  attached  to  the  first 
two  passages,  we  must  say  frankly  that  they  will 
prove  intolerable  to  the  trade  and  to  the  public,  and 
it  would  be  useless  for  Pharmaceutists  to  pretend  to 
accept  them.  But  if  we  may  understand  them  to 
be  limited  by  what  follows,  to  an  improper  assump¬ 
tion  of  responsibility  in  circumstances  where  the 
chemist  must  admit  his  want  of  qualification,  we 
can  only  express  our  unconditional  concurrence.  But, 
then,  we  wonder  why  the  article  was  ever  written ! 
It  asserts  a  truism  of  which  every  reasonable  person 
must  be  aware,  one  which  Pharmacy  unreservedly 
acknowledges ;  any  infringement  of  it  being  a  breach 
of  pharmaceutical  discipline,  to  be  visited  upon  the 
offender,  not  upon  the  innocent  commonwealth.  We 
are  not  prepared  to  deny  the  statement  that  “  a  great 
deal  of  prescribing  by  chemists”  goes  on;  but  we 
believe  that  the  prescribing  here  spoken  of  is,  for 
the  most  part,  justifiable  and  unavoidable.  We  are 
intuitively  conscious  that  there  are,  in  this  country, 
millions  of  persons — graphically  described  by  the 
Lancet  as  “  people  who  believe  in  paying  for  all  that 
they  receive,  and  refuse  to  pauperize  themseves” — 
who  have  no  accessible  means  of  obtaining  relief  for 
their  minor  ailments,  other  than  recourse  to  the 
chemist. 

We  venture  to  assert  that  the  organization  of  the 
medical  profession  is  totally  unequal  to  cope  with 
this  gigantic  public  necessity,  and  this  conviction 
helps  us  to  understand  a  dark  saying  of  the  Lancet , 
that  the  remedy  for  the  grievance  of  prescribing 
chemists  “  rests  Jirst  with  the  medical  profession  in 
perfecting  its  own  efficiency''  When  it  has  done 
that, — when  it  has  brought  a  better  medical  service 
within  reach  of  these  classes, — it  will  be  time  to  call 
upon  chemists  to  vacate  the  functions  which  they 
now  discharge  conscientiously,  kindly,  and  to  the  best 
of  their  ability.  Tliis  is  the  prescribing  to  which 
we  confess,  on  the  part  of  Pharmaceutists  chiefly  in 
the  poorer  districts,  from  which  the  complaints  of 
interference  usually  proceed.  We  hope,  for  the 
honour  of  the  medical  profession,  not  to  be  reminded 
of  the  fable  of  the  dog  in  the  manger,  by  medical 
pien  restraining  others  from  doing  that  which  is 


beyond  their  physical  ability  to  do  themselves.  Any 
present  interference  with  existing  custom  would  in¬ 
deed  be  to  place  “  artificial  and  injurious  restric¬ 
tions  ”  in  the  way  of  the  supply  of  drugs ;  nor  are- 
we  sanguine  enough  to  hope  that  it  will  ever  be  pos¬ 
sible  to  supersede  the  present  imperfect  accommoda¬ 
tion  by  a  better  one.  Notliing  is  more  common 
than  for  a  person  who  has  not  a  shilling  to  spend,  to 
apply  to  a  chemist  for  sixpence  worth  of  cough 
drops,  or  some  other  simple  remedy.  Can  human 
ingenuity  devise  a  way  by  which  any  portion  of  this 
modest  coin  can  be  diverted  to  the  payment  of  a 
medical  fee  without  grievously  taxing  the  patient, 
and  placing  an  artificial  restriction  upon  the  use  of 
drugs?  It  is  open  to  the  Lancet  to  say  that  the 
man  would  probably  be  better  without  the  drops,  but 
you  cannot  make  him  think  so,  and  you  have  110  right 
to  control  his  freedom  of  choice. 

We  cannot  close  this  article  without  expressing  a 
hope  that  the  discussion  is  now  finally  removed  from 
the  sphere  of  personalities,  and  that,  if  it  be  con¬ 
tinued,  it  may  be  in  an  earnest  and  temperate  spirit, 
becoming  two  departments  of  a  profession  devoted 
to  the  relief  of  human  suffering.  We  have  carefully 
abstained  from  introducing  topics  of  an  irritating 
nature,  which  will  at  once  present  themselves  to  our 
readers  as  trenchant  weapons  of  debate,  for  we  are  not 
actuated  by  desire  to  heap  confusion  upon  an  enemy, 
but  are  sincerely  anxious  to  appease  a  friend,  and 
deem  it  better  to  restrain  the  exuberance  of  our  own 
members  than  provoke  asperities  from  those  with 
whom  it  is  our  policy  and  our  desire  to  cultivate  re¬ 
lations  of  mutual  respect.  Therefore  we  exhort  Phar¬ 
maceutists,  as  they  value  that  independence  for  which 
we  shall  ever  strenuously  contend,  to  avoid  its  abuse, 
and  to  show  by  their  conduct  that  they  know  how 
to  exercise  their  privileges  in  a  spirit  of  good  feeling 
and  good  faith. 


PHARMACY  IN  IRELAND. 

A  few  weeks  ago  we  notified  the  probability  of  an 
attempt  being  made  to  assimilate  the  law7  as  to  the 
practice  of  pharmacy  in  Ireland  with  the  Pharmacy 
Act  of  Great  Britain.  The  need  for  such  a  measure 
is,  we  are  sure,  sufficiently  w7ell  appreciated  by  all 
wrho  have  any  cognizance  of  the  case,  to  ensure  their 
attentive  consideration  of  the  steps  taken  with  the 
object  of  giving  an  independent  existence  to  the  art  of 
pharmacy  in  the  Sister  Isle,  and  of  creating  there  a 
body  of  competent  pharmacists.  We  mentioned  at 
the  same  time  that  the  Apothecaries’  Hall  at  Dublin 
would  probably  bring  forwrard  a  Bill  with  this  object, 
and  w7e  are  now7  enabled  to  place  before  our  readers 
the  draft  of  this  Bill.'1'  It  proposes  to  amend  the 
Act  for  regulating  the  profession  of  an  apothecary, 
and  that  a  Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Ireland  should 
be  instituted,  since  it  is  deemed  expedient  to  enable 

*  See  page  405. 


November  19, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


411 


the  Governor  and  Company  of  the  Apothecaries’ 
Hall  of  Dublin  to  grant  licences  to  persons — other 
than  duly  qualified  apothecaries — to  assume  the 
name  of  pharmaceutical  chemists,  and  to  keep  open 
shop  for  the  “  retailing,  dispensing,  or  compounding  of 
prescriptions  of  duly  qualified  medical  practitioners, 
and  also  to  grant  certificates  enabling  persons  to  be 
engaged  or  employed  as  students,  apprentices,  or  as¬ 
sistants,  respectively.” 

A  copy  of  this  draft  appears  to  have  been  sent 
round  to  the  chemists  and  druggists  in  Ireland  by 
Hie  Governor  and  Company  of  the  Apothecaries’ 
Hall,  with  a  request  that  they  should  give  it  careful 
consideration  and  communicate  to  that  body  their 
opinions,  together  with  any  suggestion  they  might 
wish  to  offer. 

The  chemists  and  druggists  of  Ireland  seem,  how¬ 
ever,  to  have  regarded  the  action  of  the  Apothecaries’ 
Company  as  being  too  paternal,  and  not  calculated 
to  promote  the  interests  of  Pharmacy,  for  at  a  meet¬ 
ing  called  shortly  afterwards  by  the  Association  of 
Chemists  and  Druggists  of  Ireland  to  discuss  this 
Draft  Pharmacy  Bill,  which  was  largely  attended, 
a  decided  objection  was  expressed  to  the  Apothe¬ 
caries’  Company  taking  the  position  of  a  governing 
body  in  regard  to  Pharmacy.  At  the  meeting  held  in 
Dublin  on  the  11th  inst.,  a  resolution  was  passed 
“  that  the  Association  of  Chemists  and  Druggists  of 
Ireland,  whilst  admitting  the  necessity  of  a  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society  for  Ireland,  decline  to  place  them¬ 
selves  under  the  control  of  the  Apothecaries’  Hall  of 
Ireland.” 

In  this  state  of  the  matter  it  would  probably  be 
somewhat  premature  to  offer  any  remarks,  since  the 
Draft  Bill  will  most  likely  attract  the  attention  of 
our  Council.  We  would,  however,  suggest  that  the 
Chemists  and  Druggists  of  Ireland,  who  are  most  of 
all  concerned  in  the  proposed  measure,  should  indi¬ 
vidually  express  their  views  regarding  it  in  this 
Journal ;  and  doubtless  there  are  many  members  of 
the  trade  here  who  will  also  feel  disposed  to  do  the 
same  in  the  general  interest  of  Pharmacy. 


The  recent  accession  of  Mr.  Dakin  to  the  position 
of  Lord  Mayor  affords  an  opportunity  for  reminding 
our  readers  of  his  connection  with  the  drug  trade 
as  the  head  of  a  firm  of  wholesale  druggists  in 
St.  Catherine  Cree  Lane,  Leadenhall  Street.  Mr. 
Dakin  was  born  in  1808,  and  was  educated  at  the 
Grammar  School,  Knutsford,  and  afterwards  at  the 
University  College,  London.  He  wras  one  of  the 
original  promoters  of  mechanics’  institutes  in  the 
Metropolis,  and  with  Dr.  Birkbeck  assisted  in  the 
foundation  of  the  London  Mechanics’  Institution, 
Chancery  Lane.  He  has  been  twenty-eight  years 
connected  with  the  Corporation,  and  served  the 
office  of  sheriff  in  1804.  He  is  also  a  magistrate  for 
Middlesex.  We  may  add  that  Mr.  Dakin  was  for 


many  years  proprietor  of  a  retail  establishment  ill 
King  William  Street,  City,  and  it  is  with  regret  we 
do  not  find  his  name  on  the  Register  of  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Chemists ;  but  we  hope  during  the  period 
he  occupies  his  exalted  position  we  shall  find  him 
identifying  himself  with  his  professional  bretlinen. 
We  are  glad  to  state  that  he  has  consented  to  be  one 
of  the  stewards  of  the  Chemists’  Ball,  to  be  held  on 
the  25tli  January  next. 


The  friends  of  Mr.  Richard  Reynolds  will  be  glad 
to  learn  that  we  hear  he  is  progressing  favourably, 
and  that  it  is  hoped  he  will  not  experience  any 
serious  ill- effects  from  the  accident  he  met  until  last 
week,  though  it  may  be  necessary  that  he  should, 
for  some  time,  abstain  from  business  occupations. 


f  wtttop  fff  t§ t  f  jpntitratiiral  j&rti ttg. 


EXAMINATION  IN  LONDON. 


November  1  1870. 


Present — Messrs.  Allchin,  Bird,  Carteighe,  Crackncll, 
Davenport,  Deane,  Edwards,  Gale,  Garle,  Haselden, 
Ince,  and  Southall. 

Thirty  candidates  presented  themselves  for  examina¬ 
tion,  seven  Major  and  twenty- three  Minor ;  the  following 
passed,  and  were  duly  registered  : — 

MAJOR,  (as  Pharmaceutical  Chemists). 

* Ilay don,  William  Frederick. . .  .Blandford. 


*Metcalfe,  Edmund  Henry . Richmond. 

*Mason,  Philip  Henry  . Norwich, 

Young,  Joseph  . Leicester. 

Ingham,  John . Tooting. 

Chase,  Thomas  . London. 


MINOR  (as  Chemists  and  Druggists). 

*Makinson,  Thomas  . Hampstead. 

*Bannard,  Henry  . London. 

* Wright,  Thomas  . Leicester. 

*Collishaw,  John . . . Nottingham. 

UShcnstonc,  William  Ashwell  . .  Colchester. 

*Wills,  Joseph . Carlisle. 

*Noad,  Joseph . Coleford. 

Fairbairn,  Robert  Waller . York. 

Hillier,  Henry  . Newport,  Mon, 

Binns,  John  George . Manchester. 

Riches,  William  James . North  Walsham. 

Milton,  Thomas,  jun . Henley-on-Thames 

West,  William  . Leeds. 

Mumford,  Francis  Charles  ....  Gloucester. 

Mountain,  Robert . Harrogate. 

Glazier,  Walter  Henry . London. 

Robertson,  George . London. 

Stubbs,  Tyson . Rye. 

Sanderson,  Thomas  . Birmingham. 

The  above  are  arranged  in  order  of  merit. 


FIRST  OR  PRELIMINARY  EXAMINATION. 

Certificates  presented  by  the  under-mentioned  were, 
accepted  in  lieu  of  this  Examination : — 

Stefford,  Charles  . Sydenham. 


*  Passed  with  honours. 


412 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  19, 1370. 


MANCHESTER  CHEMISTS’  ASSISTANTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

A  meeting-  was  held  on  November  3rd,  in  the  Council 
Room  of  the  Manchester  Chemists  and  Druggists’  Asso¬ 
ciation,  attended  by  a  large  number  of  the  chemists’ 
assistants  and  apprentices  of  this  city. 

It  was  proposed  by  Mr.  W.  Metcalfe  that  an  Asso¬ 
ciation  should  be  formed,  to  be  called  the  “  Manchester 
Chemists’  Assistants’  Association,”  to  have  for  its  object 
the  mutual  assistance  of  its  members  in  all  matters  relat¬ 
ing  to  business,  and  as  a  help  to  those  preparing  for  the 
examinations  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society.  After  be¬ 
ing  supported  by  several  gentlemen,  the  meeting  was 
adjourned  until  that  day  week,  when  a  code  of  rules  was 
to  be  submitted  for  revision. 

The  second  meeting  was  held  on  November  10th,  and 
was  more  largely  attended  than  the  previous  one. 

Mr.  Metcalfe  having  been  unanimously  voted  to  the 
chair,  the  rules  were  submitted,  and  after  a  very  lengthy 
discussion  were  revised  and  passed,  after  which  the  fol¬ 
lowing  officers  and  committee  were  elected  for  the  ensu¬ 
ing  year : — President :  Mr.  W.  Metcalfe.  Vice-President : 
Mr.  Yeats.  Honorary  Secretary  and  Treasurer:  Mr.  B.  H. 
Cowgill.  Committee :  Mr.  Cooper,  Mr.  Gill,  Mr.  Mercer, 
Mr.  Midgley,  Mr.  Raworth,  Mr.  Spencer. 

The  benefits  to  be  derived  from  the  Association  having 
been  very  earnestly  discussed,  the  meeting  was  dissolved. 

It  is  proposed  to  read  a  paper  at  each  weekly  meeting 
upon  some  subject  of  a  practical  nature,  after  which 
discussion  will  be  invited  upon  the  same. 

This  Association  will  work  in  unison  with  the  “  Man¬ 
chester  Chemists  and  Druggists’  Association,”  one  of  the 
rules  making  it  compulsory  for  each  member  to  be  also 
an  Associate  of  that  Society.  The  session  will  extend 
from  the  1st  October  to  the  ' 3 1st  April  in  each  year. 


SUNDERLAND  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Monthly  Meeting  of  the  above  Society  was  held 
on  Monday  evening,  November  7th,  at  the  Society’s 
rooms  in  Fawcett  Street ;  Mr.  R.  Robinson  in  the  chan. 

Mr.  Sharp  read  a  paper  -on  Sulphur,  tracing  its  his¬ 
tory  from  the  earliest  record,  describing  the  various 
sources  from  whence  it  is  obtained,  its  commercial  uses 
and  chemical  characters. 

_  Owing  to  the  unavoidable  absence  of  Mr.  Harrison, 
his  resolution,  concerning  the  exemption  of  Chemists  and 
Druggists  from  juries  was  postponed  to  a  future  meeting. 

At  the  close,  a  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  Mr.  Sharp. 
The  next  meeting  was  announced  to  be  held  on  December 
5,  when  Mr.  Cockburn  will  read  a  paper  on  Cinchonas. 


romMttjjs  nf  SntitMc  JjjjjMm. 


BRITISH  PHARMACEUTICAL  CONFERENCE. 
Meeting  at  Liverpool. 

Wednesday ,  September  14 th. 

( Continued  from  page  395.) 

A  better  Excipient  for  the  Official  Pill-masses, 

AND  FOR  EXHIBITING  SUBSTANCES  GENERALLY  IN  A 
Pilular  Form. 

BY  W.  MARTINDALE,  F.C.S., 

Dispenser  and  Teacher  of  Pharmacy  to  the  University 

College  Hospital. 

The  making  of  pills  and  pill-masses  is  such  an  every  - 
day  performance  of  the  pharmacist,  and,  being  one  which 
requires  a  little  dexterous  manipulation,  “  the  rapid  and 
skilful  preparation  of  them  from  all  the  numerous  sub¬ 
stances  of  which  they  are  composed  has  been  justly  con¬ 


sidered  to  demand  his  highest  qualification  as  a  practical 
dispenser.”* 

The  active  medicaments  which  prescribers  wish  to 
administer  in  a  pilular  form  vary  very  much  in  their 
physical  and  chemical  characters ;  most  frequently  the 
bulk  of  the  ingredients  are  powders,  or  substances  capable 
of  being  reduced  to  the  state  of  powder.  In  such,  and 
indeed  in  all  cases,  the  choice  of  a  suitable  excipient  is  of 
the  greatest  importance,  both  as  regards  the  therapeutic 
action  of  the  ingredients,  and  likewise  its  being  adapted 
for  the  purpose  of  combining  with  them  to  form  a  firm 
plastic  mass,  which  can  be  readily  rolled  out  and  divided 
into  pills  capable  of  retaining  their  globular  form.  To 
quote  Dr.  Redwood,  the  excipient  should  therefore  be 
such  as  “will  not  be  incompatible  with  any  of  the  ingre¬ 
dients  of  the  pills ;  will  modify  as  little  as  possible  their 
action,  either  by  causing  them  to  become  hard,  or  in 
any  other  way ;  and  will  not  unnecessarily  or  inconve¬ 
niently  increase  their  size.”f  For  the  sake  of  uniformity 
in  dispensing,  to  the  last  condition  there  should,  I  think, 
be  this  marginal  allowance,  as  small  doses  and  active 
principles  are  now  so  much  in  vogue,  that  unless  spe¬ 
cially  required,  the  active  ingredients  and  excipient  to¬ 
gether  in  each  pill  should  not,  in  any  case,  weigh  less 
than  one  grain,  that  is  if,  say,  a  quarter  of  a  grain  of  hy¬ 
drochlorate  of  morphia  were  ordered  to  be  made  into  a 
pill,  three-quarters  of  a  grain  of  excipient  should  be 
used. 

The  excipients  for  pill-mass  which  are  required  to  be 
kept  as  such — not  moulded  into  pills  at  the  time  of 
making ;  the  official  pill-masses,  for  example — shoidd,  if 
possible,  keep  them  in  a  plastic  condition,  or,  at  least,  in 
such  a  state  that  they  could  readily  be  made  to  assume 
this  condition  again  by  beating  up  in  a  mortar,  without 
any  further  addition  of  excipient  being  needed,  as  this 
would  lessen  the  quantity  of  active  ingredients  contained 
in  a  given  quantity  of  the  mass. 

I  will  briefly  examine  how  far  the  excipients  hi  gene¬ 
ral  use  fulfil  the  required  conditions. 

Confection  of  Hips. — This  is  directed  to  form  sulphate 
of  quinine  into  a  mass  in  the  official  pilula  quinise,  and 
it  is  much  used  as  an  excipient  for  powdered  crystal- 
lizable  salts,  and  metallic  powders  generally, — but  it  is 
unstable  in  its  chemical  character,  — the  sugar  it  contains 
becomes  partially  converted  into  grape  sugar,  and  this 
being  less  soluble  soon  crystallizes.  It  therefore  re¬ 
quires  on  some  occasions  much  more  of  this  excipient 
necessary  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  plastic  mass,  than 
at  others.  Unless  very  recently  prepared,  it  is  impos¬ 
sible  to  combine  one  part  of  it  with  three  of  sulphate  of 
quinine  into  a  mass  which  can  be  rolled  and  divided  into 
pills,  as  is  directed  in  the  official  pilula  quinirn. 

Confection  of  Poses. — This  confection,  although  it  varies 
a  little  in  consistency,  is  not  liable  to  undergo  the  gra¬ 
nular  crystallization  to  which  confection  of  hips  is  so 
prone.  It  is  directed  to  be  used  as  an  excipient  in  eight 
out  of  the  twenty  official  pill-masses,  and  with  the  ex¬ 
ception  of  pilula  aloes  cum  ferro,  it  makes  masses  which 
retain  then-  plastic  condition  tolerably  well.  Its  fault  is, 
the  quantity  needed  materially  increases  the  bulk  of  the 
mass,  for  example,  five-twelfths  of  its  weight  of  the 
official  mass  of  pilula  aloes  cum  myrrha  is  composed  of 
the  excipient.  Its  bulkiness  generally  precludes  its  use 
as  an  extemporaneous  excipient. 

Treacle. — This  is  the  excipient  in  five  of  the  officinal 
pill-masses.  It  does  not  find  favour  with  the  dispenser, 
because  it  is  so  peculiarly  viscid  that  when  a  little  is 
taken  from  the  bulk,  there  is  apt  to  be  formed  a  thread¬ 
like,  attenuated  attachment,  which  is  not  conducive  to 
cleanliness.  It  is  better  adapted  for  making  pill-masses 
in  quantity  than  for  extemporaneous  dispensing,  but 
it  does  not  generally  keep  them  in  a  plastic  condition. 
About  one-third  of  its  weight  of  the  compound  rhubarb 
pill-mass  is  composed  of  this  excipient,  and  even  that 

*  Cooley’s  c  Encyclopaedia  of  Practical  Receipts.’ 

f  Mohr  and  Redwood’s  £  Practical  Pharmacy.’ 


418 


November  19, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


quantity  does  not  make  a  mass  which,  when  kept,  can 
readily  he  made  to  assume  its  plastic  condition  again. 
Simple  syrup  is  sometimes  used  for  vegetable  powders, 
but  it  likewise  forms  a  somewhat  bulky  excipient. 

Hard  Soap. — This  is  one  of  the  excipients  in  seven  of 
the  official  pill-masses.  A  little  powdered  soap  is  useful 
in  reconciling  an  essential  oil  to  an  obstinate  pill-mass, 
but  on  account  of  its  chemical  action  its  use  should,  as 
much  as  possible,  be  avoided.  Mucilage  is  often  used 
foi  extemporaneous  work,  but  pills  made  up  with  it  are 
apt  to  become  very  hard  and  insoluble, — in  fact,  with 
some  fine  metallic  powders  it  forms  a  good  cement. 
Bread  crumb  and  manna  are  used  for  such  substances 
as  calomel.  Those  containing  bread  crumb,  it  is  well 
known,  get  very  hard  when  kept. 

But  where  a  somewhat  fluid  excipient  is  needed,  the 
one  which  either  alone  or  with  some  admixture,  finds 
most  favour,  is  glycerine.  If  there  be  any  extractive 
matter  among  the  active  ingredients,  such  as  there  is  in 
vegetable  powders  generally,  it  forms  of  it  a  ready  sol¬ 
vent,  and  of  the  whole  a  plastic  mass.  But  there  is  a 
great  danger  of  adding  too  much  of  this  excipient,  in 
which  case  it  oozes  out  to  the  surface  of  the  pills  after  a 
time,  and  gives  them  an  unsightly  moist  appearance. 
To  avoid  this,  it  is  generally  mixed  with  one-third  of  its 
bulk  of  water,  or  better  still,  of  rectified  spirit.  A  little 
in  this  diluted  state,  kept  in  one  of  Chalk’s  drop  bottles, 
flows  more  readily  than  the  pure,  and,  if  used  in  slight 
excess,  the  more  volatile  fluid  evaporates,  there  is  thus 
less  likelihood  of  the  surface  of  the  pills  becoming  moist, 
but  a  mass  of  this  kind  does  not  keep  sufficiently  plastic. 
On  account  of  its  peculiar  properties,  for  therapeutic 
reasons  glycerine  forms  about  the  best  general  excipient 
for  pills.  In  the  pure  state  it  is  not  liable  to  change  in 
itself, — its  taste  is  agreeable,  and  excepting  in  a  few  in¬ 
stances  with  metallic  salts,  it  produces  no  reaction  more 
than  mere  solution  of  them,  with  non-metallic  salts  the 
same,  but  of  these  it  is  a  much  more  general  solvent, — 
and  its  solvent  and  preservative  action  on  vegetable  sub¬ 
stances  generally  is  such,  that  a  class  of  preparations  of 
this  kind  has  been  suggested  as  substitutes  for  tinctures. 
When  the  vegetable  ingredients  of  a  pill  are  bulky, 
powdered  rhubarb  for  example,  less  is  required  of  it  than 
of  any  other  excipient.  It  has,  too,  the  advantage  of 
keeping  them  in  a  readily  soluble  condition,  and  by  rea¬ 
son  of  its  non-volatility,  if  a  mass  containing  it  should 
not  remain  plastic,  it  easily  becomes  so,  without  further 
addition  of  excipient,  when  “  worked  ”  in  a  mortar.  But 
the  disadvantage  of  the  pills  made  with  it  becoming 
moist  on  their  surface  is  a  great  drawback  to  its  being 
generally  used,  I  have,  therefore,  endeavoured  to  get 
some  absorbent  for  this  excess  of  moisture. 

Wre  used  to  have  at  the  University  College  Hospital  a 
general  excipient  for  pills,  which  was  then  called  bread 
mass.  This  was  composed  of  a  mixture  of  wheat  flour,  pow¬ 
dered  soap,  and  treacle  beaten  together  ;  it  did  duty  for 
confection  of  roses,  confection  of  hips  and  most  other  ex¬ 
cipients  ;  and  generally  did  this  well,  as  regards  rapidity 
with  which  it  would  form  substances  into  a  suitable  plastic 
condition  for  rolling  into  pills.  But  when  required  for  such 
salts  as  calomel,  corrosive  sublimate,  nitrate  of  silver,  the 
sulphates  of  iron  and  copper,  etc.,  these  were  decidedly  in¬ 
compatible  with  the  soap  it  contained.  Nevertheless, 
when  I  interdicted  its  use,  I  found  we  had  need  of  some¬ 
thing  resembling  it,  as  most  frequently  we  get  the  exci¬ 
pient  left  to  the  option  of  the  dispenser,  and  no  other  exci¬ 
pient  in  ordinary  use  was  found  so  generally  applicable  as 
it  has  been.  To  obtain  this  desideratum,  I  first  tried  a 
mixture  of  four  and  glycerine ,  but  this  I  was  surprised 
to  find  possessed  little  or  no  adhesiveness,  very  unlike 
the  mixture  of  Jlour  and  water ,  of  which  the  gluten  con¬ 
tained  in  the  flour  forms  such  an  adhesive  paste ;  yet  I 
found  the  flour  was  an  excellent  absorbent  of  the  glvcc- 
nne.  1  next  tried  various  proportions  of  glycerine  and 
flour  heated  together,  to  form  a  jolly  resembling  the  gly¬ 
cerine  of  starch,  but  of  firmer  consistence.  By  stirring 


constantly  and  heating  together  until  a  temperature  of 
about  240°F.  is  reached,  five  parts  of  glycerine,  by  weight, 
and  one  part  of  flour,  a  firm  adhesive  paste  is  formed,  which 
I  call  Glycerine  Mass.  As  an  excipient  for  vegetable 
powders  it  answers  well,  and  for  other  substances  on 
which  it  can  exert  a  partially  solvent  action,  it  is  eminently 
useful.  Among  these  are  such  salts  as  valerianate  of  zinc, 
4  grains  with  1  of  the  glycerine  mass  forms  a  good  pill. 
Quinine,  3  parts  with  1  of  the  mass, — B.  P.  strength, — 
works  well.  Compound  powder  of  ipecacuanha,  5  grains 
with  f  of  a  grain  of  the  mass  makes  a  small  pill.  Oxide 
of  zinc,  too,  4  grains  with  1  makes  a  good  mass.  But 
for  most  mineral  and  insoluble  powders  it  is  too  moist, 
and  will  not  form  with  them  a  firm  mass ;  some  addi¬ 
tional  absorbent  is  necessary,  and  for  this  purpose  I  found 
nothing  better  than  the  one  I  have  before  mentioned — 
flour ;  equal  parts  of  the  glycerine  mass  and  flour  forms  a 
tolerably  firm,  solid,  adhesive  paste,  somewhat  resembling 
dough,  but  it  is  not  so  elastic ;  this  I  now  call  Bread 
Mass.  It  possesses  great  capacity  for  the  absorption  of 
insoluble  powders,  such,  for  example,  as  calomel  (3  grains 
with  H  grain  of  this  mass  makes  a  good  pill),  nitrate 
and  carbonate  of  bismuth,  arsenic,  etc.  Of  reduced  iron, 
three  parts  with  two  of  it  forms  a  good  mass,  in  which 
the  iron  is  not  liable  to  oxidation.  Carbolic  acid,  too,  of 
which  it  is  a  good  solvent,  is  readily  made  into  a  pill  with 
the  bread  mass, — a  little  additional  flour  being  necessary 
for  this  substance.  Then  again,  substances  that  are  given 
in  minute  doses,  as  the  salts  of  morphia,  resin  of  podo¬ 
phyllum  and  other  active  principles,  to  partially  dilute 
their  action,  or  where  an  excipient  is  needed  to  slightly 
increase  the  bulk  of  a  pill,  it  is  well  adapted  for  use.  And 
among  the  official  pill-masses,  an  equal  quantity  of  it  can 
with  great  advantage  be  used  to  supplant  confection  of 
roses  in  all  these,  with  the  exception  of  pilula  aloes  cum 
ferro — for  which  the  glycerine  mass  is  needed,  and  pilula 
ferri  earbonatis,  this  too,  requires  the  glycerine  mass, 
with  which  it  mixes  well,  but  after  a  time  the  pills  have 
a  tendency  to  become  moist.  Mercurial  pill  I  have  not 
tried  with  it.  The  same  quantity  of  this  bread-mass  will 
replace  the  treacle  in  pilula  scillas  composita.  Equal 
parts  of  it  and  powdered  soap  in  place  of  powdered  soap 
alone  (if  this  might  be  permitted),  form  a  much  better 
mass  than  the  official  one  of  pilula  saponis  composita.. 
This  pill-mass,  made  strictly  according  to  the  British 
Pharmacopoeia,  soon  becomes  set  into  a  condition  resem¬ 
bling  a  piece  of  soap,  in  which  state  much  beating  is 
necessary  to  make  it  again  plastic. 

Of  the  glycerine  mass  to  be  added  to  the  Pharmacopoeia 
quantities  of 

Pil.  Cambogim  Comp,  (vice  Syrup)  1  oz.  makes  a  good 
mass. 

,,  Colocynth.  Comp.  ( vice  Water)  3  dr.  makes  a  good 
mass,  and  does  not  get  so  hard. 

„  Hydrarg.  Subchlor.  Comp.  ( vice  Castor  Oil)  14-  oz. 
makes  a  good  mass,  but  becomes  slightly  moist. 

„  Ipecac,  c.  Scilla  ( vice  Treacle),  1  oz.  makes  a  good 
mass,  which  does  not  crumble. 

,,  Rhei  Comp.  ( vice  4  oz.  Treacle)  2  oz.  makes  a  good 
mass,  and  keeps  tolerably  plastic. 

Among  the  other  official  pill-mass  which  I  have  not 
tried  with  these  excipients  are  pilula  colocynthiclis  et 
hyoscyami  and  pilula  conii  composita — these  I  find  do 
not  generally  require  any  excipient — and  pilula  ferri 
iodidi,  the  starch  contained  in  the  flour  with  that  would 
not  form  an  elegant  preparation. 

Nitrate  of  silver  is  generally  recommended  in  works 
on  Materia  Medica  to  be  made  into  a  pill,  with  bread 
crumb,  but  this  contains  common  salt,  with  which  it  is 
incompatible.  I  recommend  the  following  formula,, 
which  is  a  modification  of  the  bread  mass  : — 

Nitrate  of  silver,  6  grains. 

Distilled  water,  6  minims. 

Dissolve  and  add — 

Glycerine  mass,  12  grains. 

Flour  ...  24  grains. 


414 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  19,  1870. 


Mix  to  form  a  mass  which  may  he  divided  into  two- 
grain  pills,  each  containing  a  quarter  of  a  grain  of  nitrate 
of  silver.  The  mass  rolls  out  well.  Keep  them  from  ex¬ 
posure  to  the  air  and  light. 

For  per  chloride  of  mercury  pills  : — 

Perchloride  of  mercury,  6  grains. 

Distilled  water  .  .  48  minims. 

Heat  in  a  test-tube  till  dissolved,  and  add  it  to 
Glycerine  mass,  48  grains. 

Flour  ...  96  grains. 

Mix  well  and  divide  into  ninety-six  two-grain  pills, 
each  of  which  will  contain  a  sixteenth  of  a  grain  of  per¬ 
chloride  of  mercury. 

In  recommending  these  excipients,  glycerine  mass  and 
bread  mass ,  for  general  use,  I  consider  them  therapeu¬ 
tically  the  best,  but  pharmaceutically  they  are  not  always 
so,  as  glycerine  has  some  affinity  for  moisture,  and  pills 
containing  it  suffer  if  exposed  to  this  in  any  way  ;  a  damp 
situation  or  a  very  humid  state  of  the  atmosphere,  will 
sometimes  spoil  the  appearance  of  a  batch  of  them.  But 
in  the  use  of  these  masses  as  excipients  for  the  extempo¬ 
raneous  dispensing  of  pills,  the  utmost  cleanliness  may 
be  observed,  as  they  are  not  viscid  or  clammy  like  trea¬ 
cle,  syrup  or  pure  glycerine.  They  likewise  keep  pills 
more  plastic  than  the  other  excipients  used,  and  they  are 
more  neutral  in  their  chemical  action  than  those  in 
general  use. 

Substances  like  nitrate  of  silver  and  perchloride  of 
mercury  may  form  different  combinations  with  the  albu¬ 
minoid  principles  contained  in  the  Horn',  but  in  such  state 
they  will  probably  be  quite  as  readily  assimilated,  and  have 
a  similar  medicinal  action,  as  physiologists  affirm  that  most 
metallic  substances  enter  into  the  blood  as  albuminates. 
I  have  had  some  fear  lest  the  gluten  contained  in  the 
flour  might  favour  some  decomposition  similar  to  fer¬ 
mentation,  but  such,  from  nearly  two  years’  use  of  them, 
I  have  never  yet  seen  take  place,  the  glycerine  seems  to 
check  anything  of  the  kind.  The  crude  gluten  obtained 
In  the  moist  condition  from  flour,  I  find  is  nearly  entirely 
soluble  in  glycerine,  the  solution  does  not  appear  to  un¬ 
dergo  any  change  when  kept. 

Taking  these  points  into  consideration,  and  the  fact 
that  the  masses  I  have  suggested  form  economical  exci¬ 
pients,  and  for  hospitals,  where  some  quantity  of  these  are 
needed  and  form  an  item  in  their  expenditure,  I  think 
they  may  meet  with  some  favour. 

A  mixture  of  glycerine  and  tragacanth  is  often  used, 
and  produces  very  similar  results  to  those  I  have  ob¬ 
tained  from  the  glycerine  mass.  I  have  not  had  much 
experience  with  such  a  mixture,  but  I  find  it  makes  a 
more  elastic  paste,  which  is  often  a  disadvantage,  as  it 
causes  the  pills  to  have  a  certain  amount  of  springiness, 
and  renders  them  difficult  to  form  perfectly  globular. 

Glycerine  of  starch,  or  a  mixture  of  glycerine  of  starch 
and  flour,  do  not  form  such  adhesive  pastes  as  those  I 
have  used. 

Phosphorus  is  sometimes  ordered  in  a  pilular  form ; 
and  to  exhibit  it  in  that  condition,  oil  of  theobroma  is  a 
good  excipient.  One  per  cent,  of  phosphorus  may  be 
readily  dissolved  in  this  by  the  following  process : — 
Having  melted  the  oil  contained  in  a  wide-mouthed 
bottle  placed  in  a  wrater-bath,  add  the  phosphorus,  and 
partially  closing  the  mouth  of  the  bottle,  heat  till  this 
too  melts,  and  the  temperature  of  the  mixture  becomes 
about  180°  F .  Then  cork  it  tightly,  and  with  a  little  brisk 
-agitation  the  phosphorus  will  dissolve  almost  immedi¬ 
ately.  Allow  the  fluid  to  cool  and  solidify ;  and  having 
in  this  condition  divided  it  into  suitable  lots  for  rolling, 
beat  each  in  a  mortar  to  render  it  plastic  before  applying 
it  to  the  machine,  and  work  off  quickly.  A  three- grain  pill 
will  contain  of  a  grain  of  phosphorus.  They  may  be 
•coated  with  a  solution  of  sandarach  in  absolute  alcohol  in 
the  following  manner : — place  the  pills  in  a  covered  pot, 
and  pour  upon  them  a  few  drops  of  the  solution,  agitate 


well,  and  turn  them  out  upon  a  slab,  separate  them  from 
each  other  and  allow  them  to  dry  in  the  ah’.  This  gives 
them  a  tolerably  impervious  coating.  The  process  ot 
coating  may  be  repeated  if  necessary. 

For  dried  sulphate  of  iron ,  of  which  a  large  quantity 
is  sometimes  ordered  in  a  pill,  I  find  syrup  is  the  best 
excipient.  No  form  of  glycerine  seems  to  answer  well 
for  this  substance.  The  water  in  the  syrup  for  a  time 
appears  to  have  more  affinity  for  the  sugar  than  it  has  to 
form  water  of  crystallization  for  the  sulphate,  and  a 
little  syrup  therefore  keeps  the  mass  plastic  for  a  suffi¬ 
cient  length  of  time,  that  it  can  easily  be  rolled  into  pdls. 
Five  grains  of  this  substance  can  thus  be  made  into  a 
small  pill. 

In  conclusion,  you  are  well  aware  the  task  of  pill¬ 
making  is  not  always  an  easy  one,  as  frequently  sub¬ 
stances  are  ordered  together  in  a  pill-mass  which  have 
great  repulsion  for  each  other — the  dexterous  reconciling 
of  them  brings  into  play  much  of  the  art  of  pharmacy. 


Note  ox  Hydrargyrum  c.  Creta. 

BY  M.  J.  ELLWOOD. 

A  sample  of  hyd.  c.  creta  sent  out  by  a  London  firm 
came  recently  under  my  notice.  Its  black  colour  and 
exceedingly  strong  metallic  taste  at  once  attracted  my 
attention,  and  aroused  my  curiosity  as  to  its  manufacture. 
I  remember  a  paper  being  read  at  the  Birmingham  meet¬ 
ing,  describing  a  new  method  for  preparing  blue  pill,  the 
mercury  being  obtained  in  a  state  of  fine  division  by  pre¬ 
cipitation  from  mercuric  chloride  with  stannous  chloride. 
I  have  no  doubt  this  grey  powder  was  prepared  by  a 
similar  process  as  regards  the  mercury.  To  ascertain 
the  truth  of  my  supposition,  I  prepared  a  small  quantity 
of  precipitated  mercury  and  mixed  it  in  its  moist  state 
with  the  proper  proportion  of  chalk,  and  dried  with  a  gen¬ 
tle  heat.  The  resulting  powder  resembled  the  original  in 
colour  and  general  appearance,  but  had  not  quite  so 
strong  a  taste,  probably  owing  to  the  precipitated  mer¬ 
cury  prepared  by  myself  having  been  very  carefully 
washed  from  any  traces  of  tin. 

I  send  a  sample  of  that  prepared  by  myself,  but  regret 
to  say  that  the  original  sample  was  destroyed ;  that  sent, 
however,  will  give  you  a  pretty  accurate  idea  of  it. 

Since  writing  the  above,  I  have  referred  to  the  dis¬ 
cussion  attendant  on  the  reading  of  Mr.  Benger’s  paper 
on  “  Blue  Pill,”  and  find  that  Mr.  Brady  remarked  that 
the  process  alluded  to  might  possibly  answer  for  prepar¬ 
ing  grey  powder.  Some  manufacturer  evidently  took 
the  hint  at  the  time,  for  the  bottle  from  which  the  sam¬ 
ple  was  taken  was  marked  as  received  into  stock  in  1866, 
just  one  year  after  the  Birmingham  meeting. 


MiCROSCoric  Examination  of  Extracts  made  from. 

Officinal  Tinctures. 

BY  M.  J.  ELLWOOD. 

Messrs.  Deane  and  Brady’s  interesting  papers  on 
“  Microscopic  Analysis  applied  to  Pharmacy,”  induced 
me  to  repeat  their  experiments  on  opium  preparations, 
and  afterwards  to  extend  my  researches  to  several  of  the 
officinal  tinctures.  I  prepared  slides  of  ten  tinctures  ac¬ 
cording  to  the  plan  recommended  by  Messrs.  Doane  and 
Brady;  after  a  lapse  of  from  two  to  eighteen  months, 
and  in  two  cases  more  than  two  years,  crystals  have  ap¬ 
peared  in — 

Tincture  of  Belladonna. 

„  Conium. 

,,  Digitalis. 

Purified  ,,  Opium  (B.  and  D.’s  form). 

I  may  also  state  that  a  very  gradual  growth  of  crys¬ 
tals  has  continued  up  to  the  present  time,  now  nearly 
three  years  since  the_experiments  were  made. 


November  19,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


415 


No  appearance  of  crystals  are  observable  however,  in 
Tincture  of  Cascarilla. 

,,  Buchu. 

Simple  ,,  Cinchona. 

,,  Nux  Vomica. 

Simple  „  Rhubarb. 

•except  in  the  case  of  Tincture  of  Pellitory,  which  is  as 
yet  doubtful. 

I  am  not  prepared  to  say  what  the  crystals  are,  but 
the  forms  of  some  of  them  incline  me  to  suspect  oxalate 

•of  lime. 


Purified  Tincture  of  Opium  (Brady  and  Deane’s  form)  • 


Aqueous  Solution  of  Opium,  after  maceration  in  Ether. 


One  of  my  experiments  with  opium  proved  extremely 
interesting.  I  washed  powdered  opium  with  ether,  and 
then  made  an  aqueous  extract  of  the  residual  powder, 
which  soon  produced  on  my  slide  magnificent  feather¬ 
like  crystals,  but  without  any  appearance  of  the  pris¬ 
matic  crystals  of  narcotine,  forming  an  excellent  polari- 
scope  object. 


Laboratory  Notes  on  Turmeric. 

BY  JAMES  COOKE. 

Although  but  a  short  time  has  passed  since  my  be¬ 
coming  a  member  of  the  British  Pharmaceutical  Con¬ 
ference,  yet  the  conviction  that  members  of  a  Society 
should  all  be  contributors  to  the  common  welfare  and 
prosperity,  inclines  me  to  send  a  few  lines,  even  should 
they  be  only  suggestive,  through  Joseph  H.  Richardson. 

It  is  possible  that  few  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Conference 
have  prepared  or  seen  Cheirantliine,  a  crystalline  product 
of  the  wallflower  petals.  A  small  portion  prepared  by 
me  some  years  ago  will  be  sent  with  this,  which  may  in¬ 
terest  some  not  yet  acquainted  with  it. 

My  principal  object  here  is,  however,  not  cheiranthine. 

As  brevity  on  such  occasions  as  the  present  is  impor¬ 
tant,  a  short  communication  must  suffice. 

Several  vegetable  products,  but  little  examined  as  yet, 
have  in  years  past  and  to  the  present  time  yielded  in¬ 
teresting  results. 

Indications  of  new  substances  with  basic  propei’ties  in 
plants,  British  and  foreign,  of  various  Natural  Orders, 
may  readily  bo  obtained  by  curious  inquirers.  Vegetable 
acicls  seem  to  receive  less  exact  inquiry. 


416 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  19, 1370. 


In  recent  experiments  with  turmeric,  I  have  discovered 
a  basic  substance,  which,  separated  by  ammonia  from  its 
combinations  with  sulphuric  and  nitric  acids,  presents 
a  finely  granular  semicrystalline  precipitate,  readily  so¬ 
luble  in  hydrochloric  acid.  This  combination  crystal¬ 
lizes  in  long  prismatic  crystals  with  oblique  termina¬ 
tions.  It  is  colourless,  and  much  disposed  to  become 
opaque. 

The  nitrate  crystallizes  in  very  short  prisms  with  a 
tendency  to  unite  in  pairs  which,  much  magnified  (f  ob¬ 
ject-glass),  resembled  the  disposition  of  the  two  lobes  of 
some  anthers  in  the  Gramincse. 

The  sulphate  also  presents  groups  of  long  crystals, 
grouped  in  a  stellate  manner,  opaque  by  prolonged  dry¬ 
ing  in  warm  air.  This  salt  is  also  colourless. 

There  were  indications  of  another  base,  resembling  in 
some  points  that  existing  in  calumba  root.  I  say  that , 
but  believing  that  there  are  at  least  two,  mean  the  prin¬ 
cipal  one. 

The  colouring  matter  is  quite  another  product. 

I  have  some  intention  of  undertaking  for  another  year, 
if  health  and  leisure  allow  it,  the  examination  of  the 
salts  of  lithia,  which  I  find  noted  in  the  desiderata. 

Let  me  conclude  by  wishing  success  to  the  Conference, 
an  organization  which  may  prove  very  serviceable  by 
carefully  and  earnestly  encouraging  working  bees,  and 
by  putting  in  their  way  what  is  worth  having  in  forth¬ 
coming  Year-Books. 


The  Chemical  Constitution  of  Sulphurated 

Potash. 

BY  JOHN  WATTS,  D.SC.  LOND. 

The  following  paper  contains  an  account  of  some  ex¬ 
periments  upon  which  I  have  been  engaged  during  the 
last  few  months,  in  order  to  ascertain  more  directly  the 
exact  chemical  composition  of  sulphurated  potash. 

Different  chemical  works  give  different  and,  apparently 
at  first  sight,  discrepant  results  respecting  the  reaction 
which  ensues  when  a  mixture  of  potassic  carbonate  and 
sulphur  is  submitted  to  fusion.  By  some,  especially  by 
those  of  high  authority,  it  is  asserted  that  the  reaction  1 
takes  place  according  to  the  following  equation, 

4  K,  C  03  +  5  =  Iv2  S  04  +  3  K2  S3  +  4  C  0*, 

Sulphate.  Sulphide. 

potassic  sulphide  and  potassic  sulphate  being  produced, 
while  carbonic  anhydride  is  evolved.  By  others  it  is 
stated  that  potassic  hyposulphite  is  one  of  the  products 
of  the  reaction,  and  that  either  potassic  sulphate  is  not 
produced  at  all,  or  the  equation  proceeds  in  two  stages, 
thus, 

3  K2  C  03  +  4  So  =  K2  So  03  -f  2  Eo  S3  +  3  C  (A. 

Hyposulphite. 

4  K.2  S2  03  =  3  K2  S  04  +  K2S5. 

Hyposulphite.  Sulphate.  Sulphide. 

the  hyposulphite  being  resolved  into  sulphate  and  sul¬ 
phide  when  the  temperature  at  which  the  fusion  is  con¬ 
ducted  approaches  ignition. 

A  few  qualitative  analyses  of  some  samples  of  “sul¬ 
phurated  potash,  prepared  with  varying  molecular 
proportions  of  materials,  immediately  decided  in  favour 
of  the  latter  equations ;  the  presence  of  potassic  hypo¬ 
sulphite  in .  considerable  proportion  was  readily  esta¬ 
blished,  while  potassic  sulphate  was  detected  only  in 
very  small  quantity,  and  in  one  sample  disappeared  alto¬ 
gether.  It  is  well,  perhaps,  to  mention  that  there  is 
much  difficulty  in  preparing  a  sample  entirely  free  from 
sulphate,  since  if  the  heat  employed  be  somewhat  too 
high  or  too  long  continued,  a  proportion  of  sulphate  is 
immediately  formed  at  the  expense  of  the  hyposulphite 
present. 


Being  now  enabled  to  calculate  the  percentage  com¬ 
position,  I  proceeded  to  the  quantitative  analysis  of 
several  commercial  samples,  to  see  how  closely  their  per¬ 
centage  might  agree  with  that  which  had  been  deduced 
from  theoretical  considerations.  The  samples  were  pro¬ 
cured  from  some  of  the  best  wholesale  houses,  and  fairly 
represent  the  article  as  met  with  in  commerce.  The 
analysis  resolves  itself  into  the  quantitative  separa¬ 
tion  of  a  mixture  of  potassic  sulphide,  hyposulphite  and 
sulphate,  but  the  probable  presence  of  potassic  sulphite 
and  potassic  carbonate  must  not  be  ignored,  since  the 
former  may  be  derived  from  incipient  oxidation,  and  the 
latter  may  result  from  imperfect  decomposition. 

There  are  two  methods  of  effecting  the  separation  of 
sulphides  from  hyposulphites  and  the  higher  oxacids  of 
sulphur  : — 1.  By  adding  to  a  solution  of  the  salt  in  ques¬ 
tion  a  strongly  ammoniacal  solution  of  argentic  nitrate, 
the  sulphur  existing  as  potassic  sulphide  is  alone  pre¬ 
cipitated  as  argentic  sulphide,  while  the  remaining  silver 
salts  are  retained  in  solution  by  the  excess  of  ammonia 
present ;  the  argentic  sulphide  is  collected  and  washed, 
and  the  sulphur  estimated  either  by  oxidation  or  by  re¬ 
duction  in  a  current  of  hydrogen.  To  another  portion 
of  the  salt,  solution  of  argentic  nitrate  is  again  added, 
omitting  the  previous  admixture  with  ammonia, — argentic 
sulphide  is  precipitated  as  before,  while  at  the  same  time 
the  hyposulphite  is  resolved  into  a  mixture  of  argentic 
sulphide  and  argentic  sulphate  ;  when  the  decomposition 
is  complete,  excess  of  ammonia  is  added  and  the  sulphide 
collected  and  estimated  as  before.  The  amount  of  sul¬ 
phur  corresponding  to  one-half  of  the  hyposulphite 
present  is  then  calculated,  by  deducting,  from  the  total 
amount  of  sulphur  found,  the  weight  of  sulphur  as 
obtained  in  the  first  operation. 

2.  By  Werther' s  method.  Recently  precipitated  cad- 
mic  carbonate  is  added  in  excess  to  the  solution  to  be 
analysed ;  double  decomposition  ensues,  potassic  car¬ 
bonate  formed,  and  cadmic  sulphide  precipitated ;  this 
latter  is  washed,  oxidized  with  fuming  nitric  acid,  and 
the  sulphuric  acid  estimated  as  baric  sulphate.  The 
hyposulphite  present  is  unaffected  by  cadmic  carbonate, 
and  consequently  will  be  found  undiminished  in  the  fil¬ 
trate,  where  it  can  be  readily  estimated  by  the  usual 
decinormal  iodine  solution. 

Werther’ s  method  is  preferable  to  the  first  process  for 
several  reasons.  The  cadmic  sulphide  washes  with  great 
rapidity,  since,  like  argentic  chloride,  it  has  a  tendency 
to  coagulate  into  small  clots ;  moreover,  it  has  no  in¬ 
clination  to  oxidize  by  exposure  to  the  air.  The  substi¬ 
tution  of  a  volumetric  estimation  in  the  case  of  the 
hyposulphite  is  likewise  more  expeditious,  and  in  accu¬ 
racy  perhaps  excels  the  gravimetric  method.  I  give  the 
actual  analyses  more  in  detail. 

Estimation  of  the  Sulphide. — About  T5  gramme  were 
dissolved  in  water,  and  excess  of  cadmic  carbonate  added. 
The  reaction  takes  place  almost  instantaneously,  without 
heat,  and  if  the  carbonate  has  been  used  in  sufficient 
quantity,  the  cadmic  sulphide  separates  perfectly.  The 
sulphide  was  then  collected  on  a  filter,  washed  with  hot 
distilled  water  and  partially  dried ;  then  transferred  to  a 
small  flask  and  oxidized  with  fuming  nitric  acid,  the 
boiling  was  continued  until  the  unoxidized  sulphur  had 
acquired  a  pure  yellow  colour,  when  the  whole  being 
allowed  to  cool,  the  sulphur  was  separated  and  weighed. 
The  sulphuric  acid  formed  was  then  estimated  with  baric 
chloride  in  the  usual  way. 

Estimation  of  the  Hyposulphite. — A  volume  of  carbonic 
acid  -water  was  added  to  the  filtrate  from  the  cadmic 
sulphide  precipitate,  to  convert  the  carbonates  present 
into  acid  carbonates ;  decinormal  iodine  solution  was 
then  run  in,  till  the  blue  colour  appeared  as  indicated  by 
starch  paste.  The  value  of  the  iodine  solution  being 
known  as  corresponding  to  crystallized  soclic  hyposul¬ 
phite,  the  equivalent  quantity  of  anhydrous  potassic 
hyposulphite  was  readily  calculated. 

Estimation  of  the  Sulphite. — But  the  estimation  of  the 


NoTomber  19,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


417 


hyposulphite  requires  a  correction,  lest  any  of  the  iodine 
employed  should  have  been  consumed  by  sulphurous 
acid.  The  direct  estimation  of  the  S02  is  based  upon 
the  fact  that  while  iodine  oxidizes  hyposulphurous  acid 
into  tetrathionic  acid,  it  converts  sulphurous  acid  directly 
into  sulphuric  acid ;  therefore,  by  estimating  the  sul¬ 
phuric  acid  so  formed,  we  are  enabled  to  calculate  with 
facility  the  amount  of  sulphurous  acid  from  which  it  was 
derived.  Further,  the  amount  of  sulphurous  acid  being 
known,  the  iodine  required  for  its  complete  oxidation  is 
known  also;  the  weight  of  this  latter  being  deducted 
from  the  total  weight  of  iodine  employed,  the  remainder 
represents  correctly  the  proportion  of  iodine  consumed 
by  the  hyposulphite. 

In  no  single  instance  was  any  potassic  sulphite  de¬ 
tected  in  solution  of  sulphurated  potash ;  the  numbers 
obtained  in  the  analyses  after  oxidation  with  iodine, 
always  exactly  corresponded  with  those  yielded  by  the 
estimation  of  the  sulphuric  acid  originally  present. 

Estimation  of  the  Sulphate. — About  seven  grammes  were 
dissolved  in  a  small  quantity  of  water,  and  the  solution 
completely  decomposed  by  addition  of  dilute  hydrochloric 
acid.  A  gentle  heat  was  applied  to  volatilize  sulphuretted 
hydrogen  and  sulphurous  gases.  After  filtering  off  and 
washing  the  precipitated  sulphur,  the  sulphuric  acid  in 
the  filtrate  was  estimated  with  baric  chloride. 

Estimation  of  the  Carbonate. — 6-5  grammes  were  dis¬ 
solved  in  water,  and  directly  precipitated  with  excess  of 
baric  chloride.  The  precipitate  consisted  of  baric  car¬ 
bonate,  sulphate  and  a  small  quantity  of  the  sparingly- 
soluble  hyposulphite ;  this  was  washed  with  distilled 
water,  transferred  to  the  usual  carbonic  anhydride  appa¬ 
ratus,  a  little  potassic  chromate  added  to  effect  the  oxi¬ 
dation  of  any  hyposulphite  which  might  chance  to  be 
present,  and  the  carbonic  anhydride  determined  by  loss 
in  the  usual  way. 

Estimation  of  the  Total  Potassium. — Two  grammes  of 
the  salt  having  been  weighed  in  a  porcelain  crucible,  the 
latter  was  very  slowly  and  carefully  brought  to  a  red 
heat  so  as  to  decompose  the  hyposulphite,  and  at  the 
same  time  convert  nearly  the  whole  of  the  sulphide  pre¬ 
sent  into  sulphate.  After  allowing  the  crucible  to  cool 
slightly,  a  few  drops  of  nitric  acid  were  added,  and  the 
whole  evaporated  to  dryness.  The  subsequent  addition 
of  a  drop  of  strong  sulphuric  acid  ensured  the  conversion 
of  the  whole  of  the  salt  into  sulphate,  and  the  excess  of 
sulphuric  acid  being  expelled  by  a  red  heat  with  the 
assistance  of  ammonic  carbonate,  the  potassium  was 
weighed  in  the  form  of  sulphate. 

I  give  the  theoretical  percentage  composition  of  sul¬ 
phurated  potash,  supposing  it  to  be  formed  according  to 
the  equation — 


Sulphur  .... 

25-45 

Potassium  .  .  . 

17-21 

Pot.  Hyposulphite 

21-56 

,,  Sulphate  .  . 

3-38 

„  Carbonate  .  . 

32-72 

100-32 

Excess  .  .  . 

•32 

100-00 

Sulphur  .... 

28-17 

Potassium  .  .  . 

22-65 

Pot.  Hyposulphite . 

38-00 

„  Sulphate  .  . 

2-34 

,,  Carbonate  .  . 

7-50 

Ferrous  Sulphide  . 

•92 

99-58 

Loss  .... 

•42 

100-00 

Sulphur  .... 

28-32 

Potassium  .  .  . 

20-20 

Pot.  Hyposulphite . 

31-82 

„  Sulphate  .  . 

4-32 

,,  Carbonate  .  . 

14-09 

Ferrous  Sulphide  . 

1-00 

99-75 

Loss  .... 

•25 

100-00 

Sample  “A”  has  been  very  carefully  prepared;  it 
contains  no  carbonate,  only  a  trace  of  sulphate,  and  the 
full  percentage  of  sulphide.  All  the  other  samples  con¬ 
tain  carbonate,  especially  “B,”  which  latter  is  a  very 
indifferent  preparation,  containing  not  less  than  32  per 
cent,  of  undecomposed  carbonate,  with  a  proportional 
decrease  in  the  amount  of  sulphide. 

The  ratio  of  potassium  to  sulphur  in  potassic  trisul¬ 
phide  is  78  of  potassium  to  96  of  sulphur.  In  the  fore¬ 
going  analyses  the  ratio,  as  might  be  expected,  is  not 
quite  so  uniform,  at  the  same  time  it  is  sufficiently  so  to 
show  that  the  potassium  exists  in  the  salt  principally  as 
tri sulphide  admixed  with  a  certain  varying  proportion  of 
tetra-  or  pentasulphide. 

Ratio  in  A  .  .  .  .  78  to  1 1 1 

„  B  ....  78  to  115 

„  C  ....  78  to  97 

„  D  ....  78  to  109 


3  Ko  C  03  +  4  S2  =  Ko  S2  03  -f  2  K2  S3  +  3  C  02, 


but  the  Pharmacopoeia  orders  a  slight  excess  of  potassic 

carbonate :  — 


Sulphur  .  .  . 

Potassium  .  .. 
Pot.  Hyposulph. 


35-68  \ 
29-00  j 
35-32 


in  combination. 


100-00 

The  following  are  the  results  of  the  analysis  of  four 
distinct  samples,  A,  B,  C,  D  : — 


A.  Sulphur  .  .  .  , 

Potassium  .  . 

Pot.  Hyposulphite 
„  Sulphate  . 


95. ys  |  potassic  sulphide. 

38-32 

0-87 


100-60 

Excess  ...  -60 


100-00 


In  sample  <CB,”  owing  to  the  deficiency  of  potassium 
in  combination  with  the  sulphur-,  due  to  imperfect  pre¬ 
paration,  the  ratio  more  nearly  approaches  tetrasulphide 
than  trisulphide  of  potassium. 

I  append  the  analysis  of  one  sample  in  which  com¬ 
plete  decomposition  has  taken  place,  owing  to  its  having- 
been  kept  for  a  period  of  about  nine  months  in  a  bottle 
with  an  imperfectly-fitting-  stopper.  As  will  be  seen, 
the  potassic  sulphide  has  entirely  disappeared,  having 
been  oxidized  principally  to  hyposulphite  and  sulphate 
with  separation  of  sulphur. 


E.  Potassic  sulphate  .  .  .  .  18-06 

,,  hyposulphite  .  .  51-60 

Free  sulphur . 15*42 

Ferrous  sulphide  .  .  .  .  1*73 

Potassic  carbonate  .  .  .  3-10 

Moisture . 8-89 


98-81 

Loss . 


100-00 


418 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  19, 187&- 


Ferrous  sulphide  must  be  noticed  as  an  impurity  in 
several  samples.  In  every  case  the  ferrous  sulphide 
formed  a  superficial  coating  upon  one  side  only  of  the 
fragments ;  it  is  obvious  that  the  salt  when  in  fusion 
has  been  poured  out  upon  an  iron  plate  instead  of  upon 
a  stone  slab,  and  hence  has  contracted  this  objectionable 
contamination.  When  sulphurated  potash  is  of  yellow 
colour,  or  breaks  with  a  yellow  or  orange  fracture  in¬ 
stead  of  a  deep  brown,  it  is  almost  certain  that  it  con¬ 
tains  a  considerable  amount  of  undecomposd  carbonate. 
Specimen  “B”  shows  this  orange  colour  exceedingly 
well,  and  I  have  noticed  it  in  several  samples  which  I 
purposely  prepared  at  a  very  low  temperature.  In  care¬ 
fully-prepared  samples  the  colour  varies  very  slightly 
indeed,  being  always  of  a  rich  mahogany  -brown  tint, 
commonly  described  as  liver-coloured.  The  colour  may 
be  seen  in  specimens  A  1,  B  1,  which  have  been  pre¬ 
served  from  oxidation  by  enclosing  them  a3  soon  as  cold 
in  bottles  previously  filled  with  coal-gas. 

There  is  no  difficulty  in  preparing  sulphurated  potash 
upon  the  small  scale;  indeed,  since  more  care  can  be 
taken  in  its  preparation,  it  is  likely  to  prove  a  superior 
article.  A  quarter  to  half  a  pound  of  a  mixture  of  20 
parts  of  dry  potassic  carbonate  and  12^  parts  of  sulphur 
are  placed  in  a  Florence  flask,  and  carefully  heated  by  a 
Bunsen  burner.  The  mouth  of  the  flask  is  to  be  stopped 
with  a  plug  of  cotton- wool;  as  soon  as  the  contents 
commence  to  liquefy  the  flask  must  be  gently  agitated 
once  or  twice,  and  when  effervescence  has  ceased,  and 
the  mixture  perfectly  fluid,  the  gas  is  withdrawn,  and 
the  whole  allowed  to  cool  for  two  hours.  The  flask  is 
then  broken,  and  the  contents  immediately  transferred 
to  a  well-stoppered  bottle.  If  the  salt  has  not  been  per¬ 
mitted  to  become  quite  cold,  it  is  not  sufficiently  brittle 
to  be  broken  into  pieces ;  and  further,  it  then  adheres  so 
firmly  to  the  glass  that  it  is  very  difficult  subsequently 
to  remove  it. 

I  have  said  that  the  reaction  which  occurs  in  pre¬ 
paring  sulphurated  potash  is  such  that  potassic  sulphide 
and  hyposulphite  are  produced,  but  that  if  the  heat  be 
increased  the  hyposulphite  splits  into  pentasulphide  and 
sulphate.  It  might  be  supposed  at  first  sight  that  the 
percentage  of  sulphide  would  be  increased  by  employ¬ 
ing  an  elevated  temperature,  and  possibly,  if  closed 
vessels  were  always  used  in  its  preparation,  this  might 
to  some  extent  be  the  case;  but  it  is  impossible  so  to 
prepare  it  on  the  large  scale ;  and  when  atmospheric 
oxygen  obtains  access  to  the  mixture  the  decomposition 
of  the  hyposulphite  proceeds  differently,  oxygen  being 
absorbed,  while  sulphurous  anhydride  is  given  off. 
2K2S203  +  203  =  2  K2  S  04  +  2  S  02. 

Potassic  sulphide  also  undergoes  combustion  when 
unduly  heated,  producing  the  same  compounds  as  re¬ 
sult  from  hyposulphite,  consequently  sulphurated  potash 
containing  a  large  amount  of  sulphate  can  only  be  re¬ 
garded  as  a  faulty  preparation.  It  appears,  however, 
that  the  error  more  generally  lies  in  the  opposite  direc¬ 
tion. 

With  respect  to  the  test  given  in  the  Pharmacopoeia, 
that  three-fourths  of  its  weight  should  be  soluble  in 
alcohol  of  84  per  cent.,  it  appears  that  few  samples  will 
come  up  to  this  standard ;  nevertheless,  if  the  salt  con¬ 
tain  only  half  its  weight  of  potassic  sulphide,  it  may 
fairly  be  considered  as  a  good  preparation. 


The  Fluid  of  Pitcher-Plants. — Mr.  G-.  B.  Buck- 

ton  records  in  Nature,  No.  54,  for  November  10th,  some 
experiments  on  this  subject.  Difference  of  opinion  has 
been  expressed  as  to  the  nature  and  use  of  the  liquid 
found  in  the  so-called  pitchers  of  various  plants,  such  as 
Nepenthes,  Sarracenia ,  and  certain  orchidacese.  It  is  ge¬ 
nerally  supposed  to  be  pure  rain-water  stored  up  for  the 
use  of  the  plant.  In  the  artificial  circumstances  under 
which  tropical  plants  are  grown  in  this  country,  it  is  dif¬ 
ficult  to  distinguish  this  fluid  from  the  water  used  in 
watering.  Mr.  Buckton  has,  however,  collected  the 


iquid  from  two  flowers  of  Coryanthes,  a  species  of  Orchi- 
daceae,  which  had  just  opened,  to  the  extent  of  about 
■  ;wo  centimetres.  He  found  it  clear  and  somewhat  glu- 
inous  in  consistence,  possessing  a  high  refractive  power, 
and  a  specific  gravity  of  1’062.  Its  odour  was  pleasant 
mt  faint,  becoming  more  marked  by  a  gentle  heat ;  al¬ 
though  the  taste  was  not  acrid,  the  mawkish  flavour 
would  render  it  quite  unpotable.  It  was  neutral  to- 
;est-papers,  became  milky  by  concentration  in  the  water- 
:>ath,  and  finally  yielded  a  transparent  gum  insoluble  in* 
alcohol.  Oxalates  produced  no  precipitate  of  lime,  but 
3asic  lead  acetate  gave  a  curdy  reaction.  Hot  concen¬ 
trated  sulphuric  acid  blackened  it.  100  parts  of  the 
'.iquid  contained — 

98 '51  water  and  volatile  oils. 

1-49  non-volatile  residue. 

No  further  analysis  is  given. 

farliitmtntarg  anir  |tato  fnrmtttgs. 

Southwark.  Police  Court,  November  ith. 

BEFORE  MR.  PARTRIDGE. 

Elizabeth  Morvin,  described  as  a  needlewoman,  was 
charged  on  remand  with  attempting  to  commit  suicide 
by  swallowing  a  quantity  of  aquafortis,  which  had  been 
supplied  to  her  child  by  a  chemist  in  the  Waterloo  Road. 
A  police  constable  said  that  he  was  called  in  to  a  house 
in  Duke  Street,  where  he  found  the  prisoner  suffering 
great  agony.  Being  told  she  had  swallowed  aquafortis, 
he  took  her  to  a  surgeon,  and  thence  to  the  hospital,, 
where  the  stomach  pump  was  used,  and  she  eventually 
recovered.  On  inquiry  he  found  that  she  had  sent  her 
daughter  to  purchase  two-pennyworth  of  aquafortis.  The 
child  told  him  that  she  went  to  several  chemists,  and  at 
last  one  of  them  supplied  her  with  the  poison,  which  she 
gave  to  her  mother,  who  drank  it  off.  The  prisoner  said 
that  having  had  a  dispute  with  the  father  of  her  child,, 
she  had  been  drinking  to  excess,  and  did  not  know  what 
she  was  about.  Mr.  Partridge  told  her  that  she  had  had 
a  narrow  escape,  which  he  hoped  would  act  as  a  caution 
to  her  for  the  future,  and  after  suitably  admonishing  her, 
ordered  her  to  be  given  up  to  her  landlady. 


BOOKS  RECEIVED. 

A  Manual  of  Botany:  including  the  Structure,  Func¬ 
tions,  Classification,  Properties  and  Uses  of  Plants.  By 
Robert  Bentley,  F.L.S.,  M.R.C.S.E.  Second  Edition. 
London  :  John  Churchill  and  Sons,  New  Burlington  Street- 
1870.  From  the  Publishers. 


Dublin  Quarterly  Journal  of  Medical  Science. 
November,  1870.  Dublin :  Fannin  and  Co.,  Grafton  Street. 
From  the  Publishers. 

On  the  Fulgurator:  a  New  Apparatus  for  producing 
Electric  Sparks  of  very  great  length.  1870.  From  tho 
Author. 

Elementary  Chemistry.  By  the  Rev.  H.  Martyn  Hart, 
M.A.  London :  Cassell,  Petter  and  Galpin.  1870.  From 
the  Publishers. 


The  Natural  History  of  Commerce,  with  a  Copious 
List  of  Commercial  Terms  and  their  Synonyms  in  Various 
Languages.  By  John  Yeats,  LL.D.  London:  Cassell, 
Petter  and  Galpin.  1870.  From  the  Publishers. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  Nov.  12;  the  ‘  Medical  Times  and  Gazette, 
Nov.  12 ;  the  ‘ Lancet,’  Nov.  12 ;  ‘  Nature,’  Nov.  10;  the  ‘  Che¬ 
mical  News,’  Nov.  11 ;  ‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  Nov. 
10;  ‘  Gardeners’  Chronicle,’  Nov.  12;  the  ‘  Grocer,’  Nov.  12; 
the  ‘English  Mechanic,’  Nov.  11;  the  ‘Produce  Markets 
Review,’ Nov.  12 ;  the  ‘Philadelphia  Medical  and  Surgical- 
Reporter,’  nos.  706-710;  ‘New  York  Druggists’  Circular 
for  October. 


November  19,  1670.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


419 


ftofoj  anb  G§ hotm. 

In  order  to  facilitate  reference ,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  their  answers  in  each  case  with  the  title 
md  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

Ho  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

[5.] — LABELS  FOR  HERBARIA. — I  have  a  book,  on 
the  title-page  of  which  is  the  following  : — “Price  3s.  Botanical 
Labels  for  a  Herbarium,  edited  by  a  Corresponding  Member 
of  the  Botanical  Society,  London.  Faversham:  Printed  by 
W.  Ratcliffe,  Court  St.”  Iam  afraid  it  was  published  some 
years  ago,  and  may  now  be  out  of  print. — William  D.  Gibb, 
Winchester. 

[24.]— TANNIN  IN  GALLS.— Prof.  Fehling,  Pharm. 
JOURN.,  Vol.  XIII.,  p.  420,  gives — 

Gall  nuts,  30  to  33  per  cent. 

Aleppo  galls,  60  to  66  per  cent. 

Chinese  „  70  per  cent. 

I  should  think  J apanese  contain  about  the  same  as  Chinese. 
If  F.  C.  is  a  chemist,  he  might  easily  estimate  the  proportion 
of  tannin  in  Mecca  galls.  I  believe  they  contain  very  little. 
— H.  E.  G. 

[28.] — SYMPATHETIC  INK. — A  solution  of  sulphate 
of  ammonia  makes  a  good  invisible  writing  fluid,  blackening 
by  heat  from  the  acid  attacking  the  paper ;  dilute  acid,  sulph. 
also,  but  it  is  corrosive  and  acts  on  the  pen.  A  little  s.  v.  r. 
in  the  solution  quickens  its  absorption. — Wm.  Bartho¬ 
lomew,  Fgliam. 

[35.]— ROSE  TOOTH-POWDER.— A  most  beautiful 
pink  colour  may  be  obtained  by  adding  strong  liquid  am¬ 
monia  to  carmine  (the  carmine  must  be  mixed  with  a  small 
quantity  of  chalk  before  adding  the  ammonia). — F.  Allen, 
Holywell. 

[36.]— EAU  DE  COLOGNE.— (La  premiere  quality.) 
Spirit  (from  grape),  60  o.  p.,  6  gallons 
Otto  Neroli  Petale  ^iij 

„  „  Bigarade  3j 

„  „  Rosemary  §ij 

„  „  Orange  Peel  3  V 

„  „  Citron  Peel  £v 

,,  „  Bergamot  Peel  ^ij. 

Winchester  Terrace,  Sunderland.  George  Myles. 

F.  A.  H.  recommends  an  essential  oil  manufactured  espe¬ 
cially  for  the  purpose. 

[37.]— EAU  DE  PORTUGAL. 

Rectified  Spirit  (60  o.  P.)  1  gallon 
Oil  of  Orange  Peel  gviij 
Oil  of  Citron  ^ij 
Oil  of  Bergamot  3j 
Otto  of  Rose  35. 

(Piesse’s  ‘Art  of  Perfumery.’) — F.  A.  H. 

SYRUPUS  FERRI  QUINLE  ET  STRYCHNIA) 
PHOSPHATUM. — In  the  last  two  numbers  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Journal,  under  “Notes  and  Queries,”  I  have 
seen  communications  respecting  “  Syrupus  Ferri  Quinioe  et 
Strychnioe  Phosphatum  (Easton’s),”  and  in  one  number  a 
formula  is  given  as  stated  by  Squire. 

On  reading  this  I  notice  that  it  differs  from  one  I  have, 
both  in  proportions  of  ingredients  and  manipulation,  al¬ 
though,  ’as  regards  the  ingredients,  the  difference  is  not  a 
great  one. 

The  formula  I  have  I  copied  from  a  portion  of  a  work  lent 
by  Dr.  Aitken  (and  I  believe  written  by  him)  to  a  former 
employer  of  mine,  in  which  he  mentions  the  syrup  as  having 
been  recommended  by  Mr.  Easton  to  him  for  trial  in  his 
practice.  As  the  formula  may  be  useful  to  chemists,  I  give 
it  as  there  stated. 

R.  Ferri  Sulph.  3v 

*Sodse  Phosph.  3vj  (vel  5j) 

Quiniae  Sulph.  gr.  exeij 
Acid.  Sulph.  Dil.  q.  s. 

Aq.  Ammonice  Fort.  q.  s. 

Strychniae  gr.  vj 
Acid.  Phosphor.  Dil.  5xiv 

_  Sacchar.  Alb.  ^xiv. 

*  5vj  is  the  quantity  generally  used. 


Dissolve  ferri  sul.  in  1  oz.  of  boiling  water  and  sodae  phosph. 
in  2  oz.  boiling  water ;  mix  and  -wash  the  precipitate  till  the 
washings  are  tasteless.  With  q.  s.  of  diluted  sulphuric 
acid  dissolve  the  quinine  in  2oz.  of  water,  precipitate  the 
quinine  with  liq.  ammon.  fort,  and  wash  carefully.  Dissolve 
,he  phosphate  of  iron  and  quinine  thus  obtained,  and  also 
;he  strychnine  in  the  diluted  phosphoric  acid,  add  the  sugar 
and  dissolve  without  heat ;  product  should  measure  24  oz. — 
Henry  Newman,  London. 


[39.] — LIQUOR  COCCI. — “  Percontator”  would  be  glad 
of  a  good  practical  formula  for  cochineal  colouring,  which 
will  keep,  remain  bright  and  not  deposit. 

[40.] — CHLORAL  HYDRATE. — “Hypnotic”  would  like 
a  form  for  syr.  chloral  hyd.  gr.  x  to  dr.  in  which  the  taste  of 
chloral  is  masked  on  dilution. 

[41.] — BATH  POWDER. — A.  B.  C.  (Norwich)  wishes  to 
je  informed  what  the  powder  or  preparation  is  which  is  used 
in  baths  after  a  patient  has  been  suffering  from  scarlet  fever. 

[42.] — CHILBLAINS. — “ Lugoney  ”  and  C.  Bennett  wish 
::or  a  formula  for  a  good  chilblain  liniment. 

[43.] —VEGETABLE  ALKALOIDS. — “ A  Bookworm ” 
asks  for  a  reference  to  practical  works  on  the  preparation  of 
vegetable  alkaloids  (non- officinal). 

[44.] — PERFUMES. — “  Chemicus”  would  feel  obliged  if 
any  gentleman  would  favour  him  with  a  recipe  for  a  cheap 
tasting  perfume. 

[45.] — WATER  TEST. — J.  G.  M.  will  be  glad  if  any  one 
could  inform  him  of  a  simple  way  of  testing  water  for  or¬ 
ganic  impurity,  especially  such  as  is  derived  from  sewage. 

[46.] — WEATHER  GLASS. —  Can  auy  correspondent 
give  the  recipe  for  making  a  liquid  for  indicating  changes  of 
the  weather  by  the  rise  or  fall  of  a  sediment  in  the  same  P — 
C.  E.  M.,  Bury. 

[47.]— SMALLPOCK  MARKS. — A.  H.  C.  (Cirencester) 
wishes  to  know  if  there  is  any  application  for  temporarily 
effacing  smallpock  marks,  and  if  so,  what  it  is  or  where  it  can 
be  obtained. 

[48.] — CRYSTALLINE  POMADE. — A.  H.  C. is  in  want 
of  a  good  recipe  for  making  crystalline  pomade. 

[49.] — EAU  DE  MILLEFLEURS. — G.  S.  will  be  greatly 
obliged  if  “TJtile”  (Boston),  who  supplied  a  recipe  for 
jockey  club  bouquet  in  the  Number  for  February,  1870,  would 
now  be  kind  enough  to  give  one  for  eau  de  millefleurs. 

[50.]— SYRUPUS  CHLORAL  (HYDRAT.) . — G.  31.  T 
(Penzance)  wishes  to  know  of  a  good  formula  for  syrupus 
chloral  (hydrat.). 

[51.] — BRILLIANTINE. — G.  31.  T.  wishes  for  a  recipe 
for  making  brilliantine. 

[52.]— COFFIN’S  COMPOSITION  POWDER.— Can 
any  of  your  correspondents  furnish  me  with  a  formula  for 
Dr.  Coffin’s  composition  powder? — A.  B. 

[53.]— DISPENSING. — Will  any  of  your  correspondents 
inform  me  how  to  dispense  the  following  mixture,  so  as  to 
make  it  clear  and  of  a  sherry  colour  ? — 

R.  Beberiae  Sulphatis  5* * 

Ferri  Citratis  3i 
Syrupi  Aurantii, 

Tincturae  Calumbae,  ana  §i 
Infus.  Calumbm  ad  §iv. 

Fiat  mistura.  C.  F.,  Winchester. 

[54.].— PLATES  OF  MEDICINAL  PLANTS. — B.  31.  S. 
(Boston)  wishes  to  be  informed  where  he  can  obtain  plates  of 
the  medicinal  plants,  especially  of  the  indigenous,  and  the 
probable  cost. 

Unanswered  Queries. 

In  the  event  of  any  query  remaining  unanswered  four 
weeks,  the  number  and  subject  will  be  inserted  for  two  weeks 
in  the  list  of  unanswered  queries. 

4.  Isinglass  for  Brewers’  Finings,  p.  317. 

6.  Essence  of  Coffee,  p.  338. 

10.  Wholesale  Druggists’  Assistants’  Society,  p.  338. 

11.  Australia. 


420 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  19,  1870. 


***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication ,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Pharmaceutical  Education. 

Sir, — To  a  certain  extent  I  agree  with  Mr.  Bremridge  and 
Mr.  Allkins  on  the  subject  of  Pharmaceutical  Education,  but 
my  idea  is  that,  in  the  main,  practical  experience  is  far  better 
than  theoretical  knowledge;  the  former  is  carried  out  in 
daily  pursuits,  the  latter  is,  in  many  instances,  laid  on  the 
shelf  when  once  the  “  necessary  examination  ”  is  over.  At 
any  rate,  I  think  Mr.  Allkins  would  not  advocate  the  placing 
of  a  youth  under  the  tuition  of  an  M.  P.  S.  such  as  “  As¬ 
sistant  speaks  of,  more  particularly  if  he  is  like  some  of  our 
brother  chemists,  who,  for  the  consideration  of  fifty  or  sixty 
poimds  premium,  undertake  (as  per  indenture)  to  board, 
lodge,  teach,  and  instruct,  by  the  best  means  possible,  the 
art  of  a  Chemist  and  Druggist  (dispense  a  6-oz.  mixture  for 
8 d.,  retail  sp.  tether.  nitr.  2 d.  oz.,  make  their  proof  spirit 
for  tinctures,  half  and  half,  mix  alum  with  cream  of  tartar, 
prepare  tr.  opii  with  ext.  papaveris,  etc.). 

It  is  very  [right  to  assist  apprentices  in  some  theoretical 
parts  of  the  business,  but  pharmacists  ought  to  adopt  no  other 
methods  than  the  authorized  formulae,  and  they  should  scorn 
the  idea  of  any  kind  of  sophistication.  If  such  were  the  case, 
depend  upon  it  the  cutting  system  would  gradually  wear  out. 

Brighton,  Nov.  15 th,  1870.  “  Proof  Spirit,  P.B.” 


far  such  a  statement  was  correct,  the  following  morning  I 
took  a  copy  of  the  prescription  to  Messrs.  Corbyn  and  Co. 
(Poultry),  giving  them  an  account  of  what  had  taken  place. 
Their  reply  at  once  was,  if  the  prescription  has  been  dis¬ 
pensed  by  them  their  charge  for  it  was  Is.  lOd.  Comment, 
therefore,  is  needless.  Upon  my  return  I  wrote,  informing 
the  gentleman  of  the  result  of  my  visit  to  Messrs.  Corbyn’s.. 
I  need  scarcely  say  I  have  heard  nothing  since. 

E.  Applegate. 

Tipper  Holloway  Road,  November  14 th,  1870. 

Pharmaceutical  Apparatus. 

Sir, — The  very  excellent  suggestion  made  by  Mr.  Faulkner 
in  your  last  issue  will,  I  trust,  meet  with  the  approval  of  the- 
Council  of  the  Society.  I  crave  permission  to  add  that  I  con¬ 
sider  it  would  be  most  politic  at  the  present  juncture,  while 
so  much  is  being  written  about  “  Pharmaceutical  Education 
in  the  Provinces,”  if  the  Council  were  to  invite  competition 
for  the  best  complete  set  of  laboratory  fittings  suited  to  the 
requirements  of  an  ordinary  retail  business.  I  think  a  prize 
of  sufficient  value  to  excite  an  active  competition,  together, 
perhaps,  with  the  privilege  of  the  successful  competitor 
being  permitted  to  erect  a  model  at  the  house  of  the  Society, 
where  it  might  be  seen  by  any  person  connected  with  phar¬ 
macy,  would  yield  us  what  lias  been  long  a  desideratum; 
while  at  the  same  time,  by  means  of  this  small  encourage¬ 
ment,  some  of  the  difficulties  which  beset  a  successful  prose¬ 
cution  of  pharmacy  in  the  provinces  would  be  obviated. 

If  you  consider  the  above  remarks  of  sufficient  interest,  I 
should  feel  obliged  by  their  insertion  in  the  next  number. 

Cliff  Town,  Southend,  Nov.  14 th.  Jas.  Wheeler. 


Preliminary  Examination. — Prize  Scheme. 

Sir, — In  the  hope  of  giving  some  encouragement  to  can¬ 
didates  for  the  Preliminary  Examinations  of  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society,  allow  me  to  propose  the  following  scheme  : — 

That  candidates  for  these  examinations  shall  pay,  in  addi¬ 
tion  to  the  ordinary  fee  of  two  guineas,  one  or  two  shillings 
extra  (at  discretion) ;  that  this  sum  shall  be  appropriated  at 
the  end  of  the  year  to  the  purchasing  of  medals,  books,  etc., 
and  that  these  shall  be  given  as  rewards  of  merit  to  the  three 
or  four  best  competitors  at  each  examination  during  the  year. 
This  scheme  may  be  either  optional  or  compulsory.  If, 
however,  the  latter  plan  could  be  adopted  the  affair  would 
be  made  much  easier,  for  by  the  former  plan  the  prizes  would 
be  available  only  to  those  who  subscribed  the  extra  fee.  This 
might  cause  confusion.  Suppose,  then,  that  a  shilling  was 
fixed  as  the  extra  fee,  and  that  this  was  compulsory.  I  think 
that  so  trifling  an  amount  would  not  cause  many  objections, 
but,  on  the  contrary,  the  plan  would  meet  with  much  appro¬ 
bation.  '  _______  An  Encouragee. 

Dispensing  Charges. 

Sir, — Several  correspondents  having  addressed  you  in  last 
week’s  Journal  upon  the  above  subject,  allow  me  to  give  an 
instance  which  came  under  my  own  observation,  showing 
how  inexpedient  it  is  to  be  so  influenced  by  mere  statements, 
as  not  to  make  a  fair  and  proper  remunerative  charge  for  dis¬ 
pensing.  About  a  week  since  I  dispensed  the  following  pre¬ 
scription  : — 

R.  Quince  Sulph.  9i 
Acid.  Sulph.  Dil.  5i 
Tinct.  Cardam.  Co.  §ss 
Tinct.  Hyoscyami  5hj 
Mist.  Camphorse  ad  yviij. 

M.  Take  two  tablespoonfuls  three  times  a  day. 

An  empty  bottle  without  label  was  brought  by  the  ser¬ 
vant,  and  from  some  little  observation  made  I  thought 
a  very  moderate  charge  was  requisite.  Accordingly  Is.  9 d. 
was  charged.  To  my  surprise,  in  the  evening  of  the  same 
day  the  mixture  was  returned,  with  a  statement  that  Mr.  G. 
could  not  think  of  keeping  the  medicine  at  such  a  preposte¬ 
rous  price.  The  gentleman  subsequently  called  himself,  and 
asked  why  I  should  charge  Is.  9 d.  for  dispensing  a  pre¬ 
scription  which  had  been  prepared  several  times  by  Corbyn 
in  the  Poultry  for  Is.  3d.,  and  once  in  my  own  neighbourhood 
for  the  same  amount  (in  the  latter  case  it  afterwards  transpired 
that  the  charge  was  made  on  account  of  it  being  stated  Cor¬ 
byn’s  had  charged  that  sum).  I  said  I  could  not  think  of 
altering  my  price,  which  was  exceedingly  moderate,  and  that 
I  did  not  think  it  possible  Corbyn’s  should  make  such  a  charge 
for  it.  Wishing  fully  to  investigate  the  matter,  and  see  how 

*  See  No.  20,  p.  398. 


Obscure  Prescriptions. 

Dear  Sir, — Some  of  your  readers  may  feel  interested  in 
reading  another  specimen  of  Mr.  If  atson  Bradshaw’s  pe¬ 
culiar  style  of  prescribing,  commented  upon  by  F.  J.  B. 
last  week,  and  I  therefore  enclose  a  formula,  which  was 
brought  to  me  some  time  since  to  dispense : — 

R.  Pulv.  Cinerei  gr.  ss 

Ext.  Sedativ.  gr.  iv 
M.  ft.  pil.  h.  s. 

R.  Liq.  Alkalin.  5iss 

Extr.  Nigr.  gr.ss 
Ess.  M.  Pip.  mxx 
Infusi  Subamarte  ad  ^viij 
Tinct.  Subamarse,  5vj 
M.  capiat  partem  sextam  ter  in  dies. 

Aprilis  19 mo  die,  1869.  Watson  ^Bradshaw. 

43,  Welbeck  Street,  Cavendish  Square,  W. 


“  Socius”  and  e<  Chemicus,”  who  do  not  send  them  names 
and  addresses,  are  referred  to  the  Registrar. 

Bharmacy  in  Ireland. — “  Mercurius ”  wishes  to  be  in¬ 
formed  by  “A  Registered  Chemist  and  Druggist ”  (London) 
the  route  by  which  he  can  get  from  Dublin  to  London  in 
“  four  or  six  hours,”  as  he  has  to  travel  that  journey  fre¬ 
quently. 

“  Inquire r”  (Hampstead). — Your  letter  has  been  handed 
to  the  Secretary. 

“A  Century  of  Old  Books.” — W.  J.,  writing  concerning 
Mr.  Ince’s  paper,  expresses  his  opinion  that  a  very  interesting 
book  might  be  produced  on  the  changes  which  have  taken 
place  in  pharmaceutical  preparations  and  remedial  compounds. 
The  London  ‘  Dispensatory,’  published  by  the  Colleges  of  Sur¬ 
geons  and  Physicians,  which  was  the  authorized  Pharmaco¬ 
poeia  at  the  time  when  some  of  the  books  mentioned  in  Mr. 
Ince’s  paper  were  issued,  contains  some  absurdities  quite  as 
foolish  as  any  to  be  found  in  Wesley’s  ‘  Primitive  Physick. 

“Patent.” — No. 

R.  A.  R.  (Brompton). — No. 

F.  J.  Barrett. — We  cannot  understand  your  question. 


Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Jr.  J.  E.  Howard  (London),  Mr.  W.  J.  Bramwell  (Brighton), 
Jr.  A.  Barfoot  (Leicester),  Dr.  L.  V.  Newton  (New  Lork), 
Jr.  C.  Umney  (London),  Mr.  R.  Giles  (Clifton),  Mr.  J.  !• 
3aldock  (Rochester),  Dr.  Kidd,  Mr.  C.  R.  C.  Tichborne 
Dublin),  Mr.  Watson  Bradshaw,  Mr.  A.  W.  Bennett,  Mi- 
Barker,  Messrs.  Churchill  and  Sons,  Mr.  Cann  (Greenwich), 
Jr.  B.  H.  Cowgill  (Manchester),  Mr.  Allchin,  Mr.  Maleham 
Sheffield),  Mr.  Roberts  (Leeds),  Magnesia  (Richmond),  Dis- 
>enser,  A  Bookworm,  Iodi  (Sudbury),  W .  M.  (Carhsle), 
Deprecator. 


November  2^>  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  421 


INFUSIONS. 

EY  A.  ALLCHIN. 

The  infusions  used  in  pharmacy  have  perhaps 
given  rise  to  more  discussion  than  any  other  class  of 
preparations  contained  in  the  British  Pharmacopoeia. 
13ut  though  much  lias  been  said  and  written  on  the 
subject,  nothing  very  satisfactory  lias  as  yet  resulted, 
and  the  position  of  this  matter,  as  it  now  stands,  is 
hardly  creditable  to  pharmacists  as  a  professional 
body. 

The  questions  respecting  the  use  of  concentrated 
preparations  are  still  undecided,  and,  what  is  worse, 
there  is  no  uniformity  of  practice.  We  have  on 
the  one  hand  pharmacists  of  acknowledged  ability 
refusing  to  recognize  these  preparations,  which  we 
know  to  be  in  daily  use  in  many  establishments ; 
while  on  the  other  hand,  they  are  recommended  as 
well  as  used  by  men  of  great  experience,  whose 
opinion  is  entitled  to  respect,  inasmuch  as  they  con¬ 
scientiously  believe  that  in  using  concentrated  prepa¬ 
rations,  they  are  faithfully  fulfilling  the  intentions  of 
the  prescriber  as  well  as  their  duty  towards  patients. 

Anything  that  would  tend  to  do  away  with  these 
differences,  both  in  practice  and  opinion,  that  have 
so  long  perplexed  pharmacists,  should  be  gladly  wel¬ 
comed  by  them,  and  for  this  reason  alone  the  paper 
recently  brought  before  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
by  Mr.  Bames  merits  the  careful  consideration  of  all 
concerned  with  dispensing.  The  author  may  fairly 
be  considered  to  merit  the  thanks  of  the  trade,  not 
only  for  having  directed  attention  to  the  subject,  but 
also  for  having  taken  a  step  hi  the  right  direction, 
and,  in  a  great  measure,  disposed  of  the  difficulties  by 
which  it  has  been  surrounded. 

Before  proceeding  to  speak  more  particularly  of 
this  paper,  it  appears  desirable  to  give  a  brief  resume 
of  what  had  previously  been  published  on  the  subject 
of  infusions. 

In  the  first  volume  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal 
the  preparation  of  infusions  and  decoctions  was 
brought  forward  by  Mr.  Bell,  and  he  drew  attention 
to  the  fact  that  a  paper  had  been  'written  on  the  sub¬ 
ject  by  Mr.  Alsop,  of  Chelsea,  in  the  year  1836,  but 
owing  to  the  want  at  that  period  of  any  channel  for 
the  publication  of  such  papers  in  this  country,  it  had 
been  sent  to  Philadelphia  and  published  in  the  Ame¬ 
rican  Journal  of  Pharmacy.  An  abstract  of  this  pa¬ 
per  was  published  in  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal,* 
and  the  hope  wras  expressed  that  such  communica¬ 
tions  might  in  future  be  furnished  to  the  Society  in¬ 
stead  of  travelling  from  London  to  England  by  way 
of  Philadelphia.  Among  the  points  discussed  in  this 
paper,  the  best  form  of  pot  or  jar  for  infusions  was 
first  referred  to,  and  the  one  recommended  was  that 
in  which  the  ingredients  are  allowed  to  rest  on  a  per¬ 
forated  plate,  placed  nearly  at  the  top  of  the  vessel, 
rather  more  boiling  water  being  added  than  would 
be  sufficient  to  cover  the  ingredients,  so  as  to  allow 
for  absorption.  This  plan  -was  adopted,  in  order  that, 
during  the  maceration,  the  liquid  in  contact  with  the 
infused  material  might  become  charged  with  soluble 
matter,  and  then  sink  through  the  perforations  while 
the  imsaturated  portion  of  water  took  its  place,  the 
action  continuing  until  the  whole  of  the  soluble 
matter  became  extracted. 

The  most  convenient  mode  of  preserving  infusions 
was  then  considered ;  the  one  recommended — the 
most  valuable  that  has  ever  been  devised — was  at 


*  New  Series,  Yol.  II.  p.  89. 
Third  Series,  No.  22. 


once  adopted.  It  is  still  used  b}^  many  of  the  most 
enlightened  of  our  brethren,  and  has  been  at  all  times 
strongly  recommended  by  the  Professor  of  Chemistry 
and  Pharmacy  to  our  Society  as  well  as  many  other 
distinguished  men. 

The  operation  is  briefly  as  follows : — When  the 
maceration  has  continued  the  prescribed  time,  the 
infusion  should  be  strained  and  transferred  to  stop¬ 
pered  bottles  of  convenient  size,  the  bottles  being 
filled  to  the  top  of  the  necks,  and  if  the  liquid  be 
sufficiently  hot,  the  stopper  is  to  be  inserted  and 
made  to  displace  its  own  bulk  of  liquid.  In  cases 
where  the  infusion  becomes  cold  before  the  expira¬ 
tion  of  the  time  which  it  is  directed  to  stand,  it  is 
necessary  to  place  the  filled  bottles  in  a  water-batli 
and  again  heat  them  before  the  stoppers  are  in¬ 
serted.  Ordinary  bottles  with  corks  can,  with  a 
little  judicious  management,  be  made  to  answer  the 
purpose  either  by  perforating  the  cork  and  closing 
the  aperture  as  the  liquid  cools  with  sealing-wax,  or 
by  using  the  cork  entire.  In  the  latter  case,  the 
cork  having  been  previously  fitted  to  the  neck,  has 
only  to  be  placed  on  the  top  of  the  filled  bottle,  and 
gradually  pressed  down  on  the  receding  fluid  as  it 
cools. 

When  the  discussion  of  this  subject  was  first  com¬ 
menced,  in  August,  1841,  the  names  of  two  gentlemen 
•were  mentioned  who  were  at  that  time  making  con¬ 
centrated  preparations  said  to  possess  the  requisite 
properties  of  the  drugs  in  a  convenient  form,  but  the 
plan  adopted  for  making  them  not  being  generally 
known,  their  use  was  limited  and  it  was  considered  dif¬ 
ficult  to  form  any  decided  opinion  as  to  the  real  value 
of  these  preparations.  In  1845,  Mr.  Thomas  Greenish 
communicated  a  paper  on  infusions,*  confining  his  ob¬ 
servations  principally  to  the  temperature  at  which 
infusion  of  calumba  ought  to  be  prepared.  He  ad¬ 
mitted  that  when  made  with  cold  water,  it  possessed 
the  requisite  strength  and  aroma,  and  had  also  the 
advantage  of  being  bright,  but  he  showed  that  owing 
to  the  presence  of  albumen,  it  was  more  liable  to  de¬ 
composition  than  an  infusion  made  at  a  temperature 
of  212°.  On  this  occasion  Dr.  Redwood  referred  to  the 
plan  of  Mr.  Alsop  for  the  preservation  of  infusions, 
and  stated  that  lie  had  found  infusions  preserved  in 
that  way  were  perfectly  good  at  the  end  of  twelve 
months  when  put  into  six-  or  eight- ounce  bottles 
and  the  mouths  closed  with  tinfoil  while  quite  hot. 

In  1847,  the  sixth  edition  of  the  Prussian  Pharma¬ 
copoeia  appeared,  and  in  order  to  guard  against  the 
too  rapid  cooling  of  infusions  when  made  hi  small 
quantities,  the  vessels  in  which  they  were  made  were 
ordered  to  be  exposed  to  the  influence  of  steam  for 
five  minutes. 

In  1853,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Edinburgh  Chemists' 
Association,  on  March  16tli,  Mr.  James  Gardner 
read  a  paper  on  the  watery  infusions  of  the  Pharma¬ 
copoeia,  and  on  concentrated  infusions,!  in  which  he 
stated  that  his  attention  had  for  many  years  been 
directed  to  concentrated  infusions,  and  gave  a  de¬ 
tailed  account  of  a  method  for  their  preparation. 
According  to  this,  we  -were  directed  to  take  of  the 
materials  ordered  by  the  College  as  much  as  would 
make  any  number  of  pints  or  gallons  of  an  ordinary 
infusion,  then  to  exhaust  them  with  hot  or  cold  water, 
and  having  strained  carefully,  to  evaporate  the  liquid 
to  a  ninth  part  of  the  measure  ordered  by  the  Col¬ 
lege  ;  lastly,  to  add  an  eighth  part  of  rectified  spirit, 


*  Pliann.  Journ.  1st  ser.  v.  307. 


f  Ibid.  xii.  485. 


422  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  26,  1870, 


and  when  the  concentrated  liquor  had  become  clear, 
it  was  to  be  decanted  off  or  filtered.  One  ounce  of 
such  a  concentrated  infusion,  added  to  seven  of  dis¬ 
tilled  water,  was  said  to  form  a  mixture  equal  in 
strength,  and  possessing  all  the  medicinal  properties 
of  an  ordinary  infusion.  This  mixture  was  also  said 
to  be  superior  to  an  ordinary  infusion  in  appearance. 
Mr.  Gardner  concluded  his  remarks  by  stating  that 
several  similar  preparations  were  in  use,  but  that  so 
far  as  he  had  an  opportunity  of  judging,  they  did  not 
adequately  represent  the  strength  required  by  the 
College.  This  appears  to  have  been  the  first  formula 
published  for  making  concentrated  infusions,  and  it 
is  obviously  open  to  objection,  inasmuch  as  it  would 
be  impossible  to  evaporate  such  infusions  as  those  of 
“  orange,”  “  chamomile,”  “  cascarilla,”  etc.  etc.  with¬ 
out  impairing  then’  qualities.  This  communication 
was  supplemented  by  another  in  1855,  in  which  a 
proposition  was  made  to  overcome  these  objections 
by  first  digesting  these  bodies  in  the  spirit  that  was 
ultimately  to  be  used  for  their  preservation. 

In  1854,  Mr.  Frederick  Curtis  presented  to  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  several  specimens  of  concen¬ 
trated  preparations,*  which  were  placed  on  the  table 
at  a  meeting  on  December  6th,  and  gave  rise  to  one 
of  the  most  animated  discussions  that  ever  took  place 
on  this  subject.  Mr.  Curtis,  when  pressed,  made 
known  the  mode  by  which  he  made  his  preparations. 

At  two  subsequent  meetings  the  discussion  was 
continued. 

In  1855,  Dr.  Edwards  read  a  paper  on  concen¬ 
trated  infusions  and  decoctions  at  the  Liverpool 
Chemists’  Association,!  in  which  he  stated  that  con¬ 
centrated  infusions  were  at  that  time  much  hi  use, 
especially  among  medical  men  who  dispensed  their 
own  medicines,  and  he  believed  their  experience 
would  go  far  to  justify  their  use. 

About  the  same  time,  Messrs.  Barton  made  known 
a  formula  for  preparing  Inf.  Calumbae  Concent.  | 

Mr.  Jacob  Bell  furnished  several  formulae  for  con¬ 
centrated  preparations.  On  these  occasions  much 
valuable  information  was  elicited,  but  no  advance 
appears  to  have  been  made  in  regard  to  the  real  ques¬ 
tion  at  issue,  viz.  whether,  if  “  fresh”  infusions  be  or¬ 
dered,  it  is  justifiable  to  substitute  “  concentrated” 
preparations. 

Mr.  Southall  communicated  a  short  note  at  a  meet¬ 
ing  of  the  Society, §  in  which  he  pointed  out  that  one 
difficulty  in  the  way  of  adopting  the  use  of  concen¬ 
trated  infusions  was  that  some  of  them  would  not  keep 
well  without  the  addition  of  at  least  25  per  cent,  of 
rectified  spirit,  and  he  also  suggested  that  this  spirit 
should  be  utilized  in  obtaining  the  active  principles  of 
some  of  the  ingredients  which  were  little  soluble  hi 
water. 

A  paper  was  also  read  by  Mr.  Bastick,  ||  hi  which  he 
expressed  his  opinion  that  in  order  to  render  the  con¬ 
centrated  infusions  efficient  substitutes  for  those  of 
the  Pharmacopoeia,  it  was  necessary  to  study  the 
constituents  and  characters  of  every  drug  employed 
in  their  preparation,  and  that,  in  consequence  of  the 
varied  properties  of  these  drugs,  no  uniform  method 
would  be  found  applicable  for  the  manufacture  of 
such  concentrated  infusions. 

Another  paper  was  read  by  Mr.  Schacht,**  in  which 
he  advocated  the  use  of  concentrated  preparations  in 


*  Pliami.  Journ.  1st  ser.  xiv.  304.  f  Ibid.  xiv.  348. 

X  Ibid.  xiv.  368.  §  Ibid,  xiv.  437. 

II  Ibid‘  xiv.  439.  **  Ibid .  xiv.  486. 


certain  instances,  as  they  had  been  already  acknow¬ 
ledged  by  the  Pharmacopoeia  authorities  ;  and  he  sug¬ 
gested  that  an  extension  of  the  principle  would  be 
attended  with  considerable  advantage.  He  also 
gave  a  series  of  formulae  for  their  preparation. 

Mr.  Whipple  read  a  paper,  in  which  he  said  of  the 
infusions*  that  he  believed  they  were  invaluable  re¬ 
medies  when  prepared  according  to  the  Pharmaco¬ 
poeia,  whilst  his  conviction  concerning  the  so-called 
concentrated  infusions  was  that  they  were  inadmis¬ 
sible  in  preparing  prescriptions,  as  they  were  not 
sanctioned  by  the  College  of  Physicians. 

While  making  some  remarks  upon  this  subject, 
Mr.  Henry  Deane  stated  that  he  had  made  a  calcu¬ 
lation  what  the  cost  would  be  in  a  small  establish¬ 
ment  to  make  infusions  “  fresh”  every  morning,  and 
he  found  it  to  be  about  P’8. 

In  Mr.  J.  Gardner’s  second  paper  on  the  subject! 
he  said  that  if  the  College  of  Physicians  were  right 
in  ordering  boiling  water  as  the  best  solvent  of  the 
substances  ordered  to  be  prepared  by  hot  infusion, 
he  did  not  see  what  there  could  be  to  prevent  the 
practical  pharmacist  from  producing  concentrated 
infusions  which  would  keep  well,  and  would,  when 
diluted,  be  equal,  if  not  superior,  to  those  made  hi 
the  ordinary  way. 

(To  be  continued.) 


NITRITE  OP  AMYL. 

BY  C.  UMNEY,  F.C.S. 

Although  the  experiments  made  by  therapeutists 
with  nitrite  of  amyl,  have  been  upon  somewhat  a 
limited  scale  as  compared  with  the  research  bestowed 
upon  other  novel  remedial  agents,  still  even  now,  with¬ 
out  the  charm  of  novelty,  there  may  be  many  practi¬ 
tioners  who  are  desirous  of  further  experimenting 
with  such  a  potent  body. 

In  order  to  give  the  physician  an  opportunity  of 
fairly  estimating  the  value  of  this  medicine,  it  is 
necessary  that  the  pharmacist  should  supply  it  in  a 
state  of  almost  absolute  purity. 

It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  at  the  present  time 
most  of  the  nitrite  of  amyl,  as  found  hi  the  leading 
pharmacies  in  town,  is  far  from  being  uniform ;  in¬ 
deed,  it  is  in  a  most  unsatisfactory  state,  as  the 
following  experiments  show. 

It  will,  however,  be  well  to  preface  the  publication 
of  the  details  by  saying  that  true  nitrite  of  amyl 
should  be  made  by  passing  nitrous  acid  into  amylic 
alcohol,  which  has  been  previously  subjected  to  frac¬ 
tional  distillation  until  the  portion  retained  for  use 
has  a  boiling-point  of  132°  Cent.  A  nitrite  so  pre¬ 
pared,  when  deprived  of  any  excess  of  acid  it  may 
contain  by  rectification  over  fused  potassic  carbonate, 
will  have  a  boiling-point  of  98°~99°  C. 


(a.)  Spec.  Grav.  ’865 

Fractional  distillation. 

Temperature. 

Quantity  distilled. 

80°  to  90°  Cent.  .  . 

...  O’O 

90  „  100  „  .  . 

.  .  65’2 

100  „  110  „  .  . 

.  .  .  20-9 

110  „  120  „  .  . 

...  2‘1 

120  „  130  „  .  . 

.  .  .  1*1 

Residue  in  retort  .  . 

.  .  .  9'1 

Loss  hi  distillation  .  . 

...  1’6 

lOO’O 

arm.  Journ.  1st  ser.  xiv.  493. 

f  Ibid.  xiv.  495. 

November  2(5,  1970.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


423 


(0.)  Spec.  Grav.  -871. 

Fractional  distillation 

Temperature. 

Quantity  distilled. 

70°  to  80°  Cent.  . 

.  .  .  .  *0 

80  „  90  ... 

....  28-8 

90  „  100  ... 

....  335 

100  „  110  ... 

....  10-7 

110  „  120  ... 

.  .  .  .  5b 

120  „  130  .  .  . 

....  29 

Residue  in  retort 

....  10-2 

Loss  in  distillation  . 

....  19 

(y  )  Spec.  Grav.  'Sod. 

80°  to  90°  Cent. 

. 3-8 

90  „  100  .  . 

. 129 

100  „  110  .  . 

. 10-2 

110  „  120  .  . 

. 99 

120  „  130  .  . 

. 14-3 

130  „  140  .  . 

. 28*9 

140  „  150  .  . 

. 30 

150  „  100  .  . 

. 2T 

Residue  in  retort 

. 127 

Loss . 

. 1-0 

100-0 

A  glance  at  tliese  tables  will  clearly  show  the 
great  difference  in  the  various  specimens  examined. 
The  deviation  from  the  correct  boiling-point,  evi¬ 
dently  indicates  that  in  specimen  y  more  especially, 
crude  or  merely  rectified  fousel  oil  was  used  for  its 
preparation,  without  any  previous  subjection  to  frac¬ 
tional  distillation. 

Specimen  /3  was  certainly  some  little  better,  but 
far  from  perfection ;  upon  a  care  had  evidently  been 
bestowed,  but  this  doubtless  might  be  considerably 
improved. 

Surely  with  such  a  valueless  basis  as  fousel  oil, 
greater  pains  might  be  taken  for  the  production  of 
pure  amylic  alcohol  as  a  starting-point,  in  order  to 
produce  a  nitrite  that  would  be  reliable,  instead  of 
one  likely  to  become  a  source  of  annoyance  to  the 
profession,  and  a  disgrace  to  our  art. 

Laboratory ,  40,  Aldersyate  Street ,  E.C. 


ALOES. 

BY  WILLIAM  A.  TILDEN,  B.SC.,  E.C.S. 

The  appearance  of  a  note  by  the  Messrs.  Smith  on 
the  “Purgative  Action  of  Aloes”  affords  me  an  op¬ 
portunity  for  explaining  one  or  two  points  in  my 
paper  on  an  allied  subject  which  are  not  quite  so 
clearly  stated  as  I  could  wish. 

Under  the  head  ‘  Aloetin  ’  in  my  paper,  the  view 
is  expressed  that  it  is  a  mixture  of  anhydrous  aloin 
with  a  brown  oxidized  substance  “  referred  to,  further 
on.”  By  an  absurd  oversight,  which  can  only  be 
explained  by  the  hurried  manner  in  which  the  ac¬ 
count  of  these  experiments  was  collated  from  my 
notebook,  definite  allusion  to  this  oxidized  substance 
is  altogether  omitted  in  the  subsequent  part  of  the 
paper.  An  apology  for  tliis  omission  is  therefore 
due  to  the  Conference,  and  acknowledgment  to  the 
Messrs.  Smith  for  taking  the  trouble  to  draw  atten¬ 
tion  to  it.  The  following  passage,  however,  does 
occur  in  the  original  paper : — “  It  is,  of  course,  al¬ 
ready  known  that  if  kept  in  a  moist  state  in  the 
water-bath  for  some  time,  the  pure  substance  be¬ 
comes  gradually  brown,  and  assumes  the  appearance 
of  Socotrine  aloes.”  And  again,  in  paragraph  IV. 
“  The  acidity  to  test-paper  presented  by  an  infusion 


of  aloes  is  a  property  of  the  half-oxidized  substance 
contained  in  the  unciystallizable  aloetin .”  This  was 
the  brown  substance  to  which  I  intended  to  refer. 
In  the  absence,  as  I  fancied,  of  any  evidence  point¬ 
ing  to  aloin  as  the  active  part  of  aloes,  in  presence 
of  the  experiments  adduced  by  Robiquet  ( The  Che¬ 
mist ,  1850),  and  of  the  fact  that  I  have  myself  re¬ 
peatedly  taken  in  the  course  of  these  experiments 
doses  of  A  grain  and  1  grain  of  pure  crystallized 
aloin  without  discovering  the  cathartic  action  with 
which  it  is  credited,  I  attributed  to  this  substance  in 
my  own  mind  the  qualities  for  which  aloes  as  a  drug 
is  valued.  I  am,  however,  perfectly  open  to  receive 
information  on  this  point,  and  to  modify  my  opinion 
accordingly.  My  desire  was  to  express  that  opinion 
with  due  caution  and  reserve.  AVitli  reference  to 
the  employment  of  aloin  in  medical  practice  I  must, 
however,  say  that  in  my  own  experience,  and  in  that 
of  pharmacists  of  whom  I  have  made  inquiries, 
aloin  is  but  rarely  prescribed  here  in  the  south,  and 
indeed  there  are  few  druggists  who  keep  it  in  stock. 

The  action  of  the  air  upon  alkaline  solutions  of 
aloin  or  of  aloes  is  to  produce  a  body,  or  mixture  of 
bodies,  whose  distinguishing  characteristic  is  abso¬ 
lute  freedom  from  bitterness.  It  was  certainly  not 
this  substance  which  I  desired  to  indicate  as  that  to 
which  preparations  of  aloes  owe  their  activity,  nor 
do  I  believe  it  to  be  a  constituent  of  aloes  in  its  or¬ 
dinary  condition,  at  least  to  more  than  a  trifling  ex¬ 
tent.  The  main  point  in  my  paper  was  to  furnish 
an  answer  to  the  question,  why  does  decoction  of 
aloes  lose  its  bitterness  ?  I  reply  that  it  is  in  con¬ 
sequence  of  the  absorption  of  oxygen  by  the  aloin  ; 
this  extreme  stage  of  oxidation  being  scarcely  ob¬ 
tainable  except  in  the  presence  of  free  alkali. 


IMPROVED  MOULD  FOR  SUPPOSITORIES 
AND  PESSARIES. 

BY  A.  W.  GERBARD, 

Dispenser ,  Guy' s  Hospital. 

Between  three  and  four  years  ago  the  subject  of 
medicated  suppositories  and  pessaries,  and  the  best 
kind  of  mould  for  casting  them,  engaged  the  attention 
of  pharmacists,  and  a  paper  was  read  before  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  by  Mr.  H.  B.  Brady,  in 
which  he  discussed  the  various  means  employed  for 
moulding  them,  and  rightly  came  to  the  conclusion 
that  metal  moulds  would  be  found  the  most  con¬ 
venient,  giving  the  best  results.  At  the  same  time 
he  introduced  a  mould,  made  at  his  suggestion,  by 
Messrs.  Maw  and  Son,  which,  I  believe,  has  come 
into  general  use. 

On  examining  Mr.  Brady’s  pattern  (an  illustra¬ 
tion  of  which  may  be  seen  in  the  number  for  May, 
1800),  it  will  be  observed  that  it  is  a  piece  of  metal 
divided  into  three  by  a  longitudinal  section  passing 
through  each  row  of  holes,  these  tlrnee  pieces  open 
upon  two  hinges  for  the  purpose  of  removing  the 
cones  ;  there  is  also  a  fastening  at  each  end  w  liich 
holds  it  firmly  together.  Whilst  using  one  of  these, 
it  seemed  to  my  mind  unnecessarily  complicated, 
and  that  one  could  be  made  simpler  and  cheaper, 
giving  equally  good  results. 

The  mould  which  forms  the  subject  of  the  accom¬ 
panying  illustration  is  the  result  of  my  experiment. 
It  is  composed  of  two  pieces  of  metal,  one  lying  upon 
the  other,  kept  in  position  by  a  pin  at  each  end  ;  the 
holes  are  drilled  through  the  top  into  the  bottom 


424 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[November  2G,  1870, 


piece,  the  two  pieces  thus  forming  a  transverse  sec¬ 
tion  through  the  apertures.  The  two  flat  surfaces 
which  meet  together  form  a  perfect  joint,  the  weight 
of  the  top  piece  of  metal  being  sufficient  to  keep  it  in 


position,  so  that  none  of  the  melted  material  can  run 
between.  The  working  of  this  mould  is  compara¬ 
tively  easy.  Having  poured  in  the  substance  and 
allowed  it  to  cool  sufficiently,  it  is  only  necessary  to 
lift  the  to}}  piece  from  the  bottom,  which  brings  the 
suppositories  with  it,  then  a  gentle  pressure  with  the 
thumb  easily  removes  them.  From  my  practice  and 
that  of  others,  I  find  this  mould  answers  extremely 
well,  and  its  simplicity  over  that  of  the  other  wiil 
enable  it  to  be  sold  much  cheaper. 

I  will  add  a  few  practical  remarks  on  the  success¬ 
ful  working  of  the  moulds,  and  the  making  of  suppo¬ 
sitories.  Let  the  moulds  be  perfectly  clean,  and  as 
cold  as  possible  before  using.  Whilst  pouring  in  the 
material,  stir  continually,  otherwise  the  amount  of 
active  principle  will  vary  in  each  cone.  In  dealing 
with  tannin,  do  not  use  too  great  a  heat,  or  it  will 
run  together,  forming  a  resin-like  mass,  which  is  un¬ 
manageable  and  useless.  Various  agents  have  been 
proposed  to  assist  the  removal  of  the  cones,  but  in 
my  experience  I  have  found  nothing  answer  so  well 
as  the  condensation  of  moisture  obtained  by  breath¬ 
ing  into  the  holes  immediately  previous  to  pouring  in 
the  fluids.  If  these  precautions  are  neglected,  whe¬ 
ther  tliis  mould  be  used  or  any  other,  failure  may  be 
the  result ;  it  will  not,  however,  be  the  fault  of  the 
machine,  but  of  the  machinist.  In  this  as  in  many 
other  branches  of  our  profession,  it  is  the  skill,  dex¬ 
terity  and  common  sense  of  the  manipulator  that 
ensures  perfect  success. 


Caters  for  Stahnfs. 


CHEMICAL  NOTES  TO  THE  PHARMACOPOEIA. 
by  william  a.  tildex,  b.sc.  loxd. 

DEMONSTRATOR  OF  PRACTICAL  CHEMISTRY  TO  THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 

Alumen.  The  most  interesting  process  by  which 
alum  is  made,  and  by  which  large  quantities  are 
produced,  is  that  in  which  ‘  alum  schist  ’  is  the  mate¬ 
rial  employed.  This  mineral  is  a  rough  silieate  of 
alumina,  containing  iron  pyrites,  Fe  S2.  By  roast- 
ing  it,  and  afteiv  ards  exposing  it  to  the  air,  oxygen 
is  absorbed,  and  the  mineral  effloresces  and  crum¬ 
bles  down  to  a  crystalline  mass.  This,  treated  with 
water,  gives  a  solution  which  contains  sulphate  of 
aluminum  and  ferrous  sulphate  ;  concentrated  and 
mixed  with  sulphate  or  chloride  of  ammonium  it 


gives  alum,  which  crystallizes  out,  and  a  salt  of 
iron,  which  is  drawn  off  in  the  mother-liquors. 

The  salt  is  purified  by  recrystallization.  The  alum 
of  the  Pharmacopoeia  is  not  the  only  salt  known 
under  this  title.  Alum  is,  in  fact,  a  generic  name 
for  a  class  of  double  sulphates,  containing  one  of 
the  univalent  metals,  and  one  of  those  which,  like 
aluminum,  forms  a  sesquioxide.  They  all  crystallize 
in  octaliedra,  and  contain  the  same  amount  of  crys¬ 
tallization-water. 

Ammonia  Alum,  B.P.  (NH4)2S04,  A123S04  24H20 
Potash  Alum  ....  K2S04,  A123S04  24H„0 
Chrome  Alum  .  .  .  .  I\2S04,  Cr23S04  24H20 

Iron  Alum . K2SQ4,  Fe23S04  24H„0 

Or  . (NH4)2S04,  Fe23S04  24H20 

Common  alum  is  soluble  in  about  eighteen  tunes 
its  weight  of  cold  water,  and  the  solution  reddens 
litmus  strongly.  [§  Its  aqueous  solution  gives,  with 
caustic  potash  or  soda,  a  white  precipitate  (aluminic 
hydrate,  ALoHO)  soluble  in  excess  of  the  reagent, 
and  the  mixture  evolves  ammonia,  especially  when 
heated.  The  aqueous  solution  gives  an  immediate 
precipitate  with  chloride  of  barium  (this  shows  it  to 
be  a  sulphate)  ;  it  does  not  acquire  a  blue  colour  from 
the  addition  of  yellow  or  red  prussiate  of  potash.] 
This  last  test  is  intended  to  indicate  that  it  is  free 
from  iron ;  but  no  ordinary  alum  is  ever  met  with  so 
free  from  impurity  as  this  would  indicate.  Traces  of 
iron  do  not  interfere  with  the  application  of  alum  to 
ordinary  purposes,  and  probably  its  complete  re¬ 
moval  by  any  practical  method  would  be  impossible. 

Dried  alum  is  nearly  insoluble  in  water,  but  re¬ 
covers  its  solubility  by  long  boiling. 

Roche  alum  was  originally  a  native  salt  (roclie, 
French = rock) ,  but  is  now  -always  a  factitious  sub¬ 
stance,  made  by  stirring  up  some  oxide  of  iron  with 
alum  solution  whilst  crystallizing. 

Ammonias  Caebonas. —  [§  Produced  by  submitting 
a  mixture  of  sulphate  of  ammonia  or  chloride  of 
ammonium  and  carbonate  of  lime  to  sublimation.] 

Ammonia  gas  is  lost  in  the  operation,  and  the  salt 
which  condenses  in  the  solid  state  is  of  very  uncer¬ 
tain  composition.  The  formula  given  in  the  Phar¬ 
macopoeia,  N4H16C308,  is  intended  rather  to  indicate 
the  average  composition  of  the  commercial  salt  than 
to  set  it  up  as  a  compound  of  definite  character. 
It  appears  in  crystalline  cakes,  which  are  often 
partly  made  up  of  a  white  opaque  portion.  Tliis  is 
less  pungent  than  the  translucent  parts,  and  is 
probably  chiefly  acid  carbonate.  When  treated  with 
a  small  quantity  of  water,  it  leaves  a  residue  of  acid 
carbonate,  and  also  when  exposed  to  the  air  it  loses 
something  to  which  it  owes  its  pungency,  and  gives 
the  white  pulverulent  odourless  acid  carbonate  as  a 
residue.  It  is  usually  from  these  characters  con¬ 
sidered  to  be  a  mixture  of  two  salts,  one  of  which  is 
almost  certainly  the  acid  carbonate  NH4HC03 ;  the 
other  more  volatile  and  soluble  portion  is  by  some 
believed  to  be  the  normal  carbonate  (NH4)2C03,  by 
others  the  amnionic  carbamate  (NH4)  NH2CO„,  or 
(NH3)2C02.  The  latter  hypothesis  is  in  accordance 
with  the  formula  of  the  Pharmacopoeia.  The  follow¬ 
ing  equation  would  represent  the  changes  by  which 
it  would  be  formed  : — 

0NH4C1  -P  3  Ca  CO, 

=  3CaCJ2  +  3  (NH4)2C03. 

Two  molecules  of  the  resulting  carbonate  of  am¬ 
monia  lose  ammonia,  and  the  remainder  parts  with 


.November  26, 1870.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


425 


water,  so  tliat  the  actual  reaction  is  somewhat  as 
follows : — 


GNH4C1  +  3  CaC03 

_  n  f2NH4HC03  |NH4NH2COJ 
=  3CaCl2  +  j2NH3  H20  ) 


Perhaps  the  safest  and  simplest  course  is  to  regard 
it  as  a  compound  of  carbonic  anhydride,  ammonia 
and  water  (NH3)4  (C02)3  (H20)2. 

AivnroNii  Bromidum. — Usually  made  by  first  di¬ 
gesting  together  iron  wire,  bromine  and  water,  so  as 
to  obtain  a  solution  of  ferric  bromide,  and  then  de¬ 
composing  this  by  a  sufficient  quantity  of  solution 
of  carbonate  of  ammonia.  On  filtering  off  the  ferric 
hydrate  and  evaporating  down  the  solution,  a  crys¬ 
talline  mass  is  obtained.  Or  it  may  be  obtained  by 
decomposing  calcic  bromide  by  carbonate  of  am¬ 
monia.  The  iodide  of  ammonium  is  prepared  in  a 

similar  manner.  .... 

[§  A  solution  of  the  bromide  in  water,  mixed  with 
mucilage  of  starch  and  a  drop  of  an  aqueous  solution 
of  bromine  or  of  chlorine,  does  not  exhibit  any  blue 
colour.]  This  test  shows  the  absence  of  iodide; 
should  any  part  of  that  salt  be  present  iodine  would 
be  liberated,  2NH4I  +  Br2  or  Cl2=2NH4Br  or 
2NH4C1  +  I2,  and  this  would  form  with  starch  the 
characteristic  blue  compound. 

Ammon  ii  Chloridum  is  formed  by  neutralizing 
the  ammoniacal  liquors  obtained  in  gas-making  with 
hydrochloric  acid  and  evaporating  till  the  solution 
crystallizes.  The  salt  is  purified  by  sublimation. 
The  ammonia  which  exists  in  these  liquors  in  the 
form  of  carbonate,  sulphide,  cyanide,  etc.,  is  the  re¬ 
sult  of  the  decomposition  at  a  high  temperature  of 
the  nitrogenous  constituents  of  the  coal.  Chloride 
of  ammonium  generally  contains  a  little  iron  and 
traces  of  tarry  matters ;  frequently,  too,  the  chlo¬ 
rides  of  volatile  alkaloids  (compound  ammonias)  are 
present  in  minute  quantity. 


CITRATE  OF  IRON  AND  QUININE. 

In  the  Practitioner  for  October  the  following  table  is 
given,  showing  the  results  of  analyses  of  six  specimens 
of  citrate  of  iron  and  quinine  purchased  in  London. 
According  to  the  British  Pharmacopoeia,  this  prepara¬ 
tion  should  contain  20  per  cent,  of  ferric  oxide  and  16 
per  cent,  of  quinine. 

No.  I.— A.  Cooper,  Abingdon  Terrace,  Kensington.— 
Olive-green  scales. 

No.  II.— W.  Lambert  Kiddle,  34,  Tavistock  Place.— 
Dark  olive-green  scales. 

No.  III.— W.  J.  Jones,  3,  Newland  Terrace,  Kensing¬ 
ton. — Very  small  olive-green  scales. 

No.  IV.— Burgoyne,  Burbidges  and  Co— Pale  yellow¬ 
ish-green  scales. 

No.  V.— Glover  and  Co.,  19,  Goodge  Street,  W.— 
Golden-brown  scales. 

No.  VI.— Knowles,  33,  Seymour  Street,  Euston  Square. 
Golden-brown  scales. 


Ferric  oxide. 

Quinine. 

cent 

B.I 

. 

.  .  20  per 

cent.  . 

.  .  16  per 

No. 

I. 

.  .  19-3 

99  • 

.  .  175 

99 

No. 

II. 

.  .  20-2 

jy  • 

.  .  16-2 

99 

No. 

III. 

.  .  21-4 

99  • 

.  .  154 

99 

No. 

IV. 

.  .  21-3 

99  * 

.  .  7T 

99 

No. 

V. 

.  .  20-9 

99  * 

.  .  4-2 

99 

No. 

VI. 

.  .  20-4 

99  * 

.  .  4T 

99 

CUCUMBER  OINTMENT. 

Mr.  Luther  E.  Sale,  of  Huntsville,  Alabama,  publishes 
in  the  Chicago  Pharmacist  the  following  as  a  simple  for¬ 
mula  for  making  cucumber  ointment : — 

Take  of  Oil  of  Sweet  Almonds,  seven  fluid  ounces. 

Spermaceti,  eighteen  drachms. 

"White  Wax,  five  drachms. 

Glycerine,  one  fluid  ounce. 

Green  Cucumbers,  4  lb. 

Cut  the  cucumbers  in  small  pieces,  mash  them  in  a 
Wedge  wood  mortar,  let  them  macerate  in  their  own 
liquor  for  twelve  hours,  express  and  strain  ;  melt  the 
almond  oil,  spermaceti  and  wax  together  by  means  of  a 
water-bath ;  add  the  strained  liquor,  stirring  constantly, 
so  as  to  incorporate  the  whole  together.  Set  aside  in  a 
cool  place  (an  ice  chest  preferred)  till  it  becomes  hard, 
then  beat  wdth  a  wooden  spoon  to  separate  the  watery 
portion  of  the  cucumbers  from  the  ointment ;  pour  off 
the  liquor  thus  obtained,  and  mix  the  glycerine  with  the 
ointment  without  the  aid  of  heat  by  working  it  with  the 
hands  until  it  becomes  thoroughly  incorporated.  Put 
up  in  four-ounce  jars,  cover  with  a  layer  of  rose-water, 
and  set  aside  in  a  cool  place.  The  ointment  prepared  in 
this  way  will  keep  sweet  and  nice  for  twelve  months. 


DETECTION  OF  ADULTERATIONS  IN  COPAIVA 

BALSAM. 


EY  DR.  H.  HAGER. 


The  author  has  met  with  copaiva  balsam  adulterated 
with  oil  of  sassafras.  The  adulteration  is  detected  in  the 
following  manner :  1  c.c.  balsam  and  2  c.c.  concentrated 
sulphuric  acid  are  mixed  ;  after  the  mixture  has  cooled, 
20  c.c.  alcohol  are  added,  the  mixture  is  heated  to  boiling, 
and  then  set  aside.  If  the  balsam  be  pure,  after  the  ad¬ 
dition  of  the  alcohol,  a  milky  grey  yellowish  or  pale  red¬ 
dish  yellow  liquid  is  obtained,  which  on  boiling  becomes 
yellow,  clear  and  transparent,  a  resinous  compound 
settling  to  the  bottom.  If  adulterated  with  oil  of  sassa¬ 
fras,  the  addition  of  alcohol  produces  a  dark  brown-red 
colour,  becoming  after  boiling  much  darker,  with  a  tint 
of  violet,  similar  to  the  juice  of  black  cherries. 

Oil  of  turpentine,  which  is  probably  rarely  used  as  an 
adulterant,  is  readily  detected  by  heating  slightly  two  to 
four  drops  of  the  balsam,  dropped  upon  bibulous  paper, 
in  such  a  manner  that  no  visible  vapours  are  eyoh  ed. 
Oil  of  turpentine  evaporates  first  and  is  recognized  b\ 


its  odour.  #  .  ,  f 

This  test  is  unreliable  if  Venice  turpentine  is  used  toi 
adulteration.  The  author  invites  experiments  with  the 
following  test,  which  has  given  him  reliable  results ;  5 
or  6  drops  of  water  and  5  to  7  c.c.  balsam  are  mixed  m 
an  evaporating-dish  with  sufficient  levigated  litharge  to 
form  a  thick  semi-liquid  mass.  At  a  temperature  of  20 
to  25°  C.  (68°  to  70°  F.),  a  well-marked  turpentine  odour 
is  given  off,  if  the  balsam  contains  but  10  per  cent. 
Venice  turpentine,  and  even  5  per  cent,  may  be  still 

recognized.  .  u 

An  approximate  quantitative  estimation  of  the  adulte¬ 
rant  may  be  made  as  follows  :  5  grams  balsam,  8  to  10 
drops  water,  and  15  grams  litharge  are  heated  for  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  in  a  sand-bath,  then  for  several  hours  m 
a  water-bath.  After  cooling,  the  hard  mass  is  rubbed  to 
powder  and  boiled  with  benzin,  the  liquid  evaporated 
and  the  residue  macerated  with  90  per  cent,  alcohol  for 
several  hours.  The  alcoholic  filtrate  evaporated  to  dry¬ 
ness,  leaves  about  0-2  to  0-3  resin,  which  when  boiled  with 
solution  of  potash,  yields  a  filtrate  which  is  not  or  scarcely 
tinned  by  sulphide  of  ammonium.  In  the  presence  of 
turpentine,  however,  this  last  residue  contains  about 
three-fourths  of  the  resin  of  the  adulteration,  and  yie  ds 
with  "potash  a  liquid  in  which  sulphide  of  ammonium 
produces  a  bulky  brown-black  precipitate,  lhe  lead 


426 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  26,1870, 


compound  of  the  resin  of  turpentine  is  soluble  in 
benzin  and  alcohol,  but  not  the  corresponding  com¬ 
pound  with  the  resin  of  copaiva. — Ph.  Cent.  Halle ,  1870, 
296,  297. 

AMOUNT  OF  ARSENIC  IN  PHOSPHORUS  OF 
COMMERCE. 

BY  C.  J.  RADEMAKER,  M.D. 

In  preparing  dilute  phosphoric  acid  according  to  the 
process  of  the  U.  S.  P.,  the  author  passes  a  current  of  sul¬ 
phydric  acid  through  the  solution,  in  order  to  free  it 
from  all  substances  precipitable  by  that  agent  in  acid 
solutions,  invariably  obtaining  a  yellowish  precipitate, 
which  upon  examination  proves  to  be  sulphide  of  arsenic. 

In  order  to  find  the  amount  of  arsenic  present  in  a 
given  quantity  of  phosphorus,  he  has  resorted  to  the  fol¬ 
lowing  process : — 

100  grammes  of  phosphorus  were  oxidized  with  nitric 
acid,  the  solution  diluted  and  the  arsenic  precipitated 
as  a  sulphide  (AsS5)  by  means  of  sulphydric  acid,  the 
solution  allowed  to  rest  for  six  days.  The  precipi¬ 
tated  sulphide  of  arsenic  was  collected  on  a  filter  and 
washed,  transferred  to  a  small  evaporating  dish  and  oxi¬ 
dized  with  nitric  acid,  and  reduced  by  means  of  sul¬ 
phurous  acid  to  arsenious  acid,  and  precipitated  in  the 
form  of  AsS3,  by  means  of  sulphydric  acid  ;  the,  precipi¬ 
tate  digested  with  ammonia,  in  order  to  free  it  from  the 
small  amount  of  sulphur  present,  the  solution  filtered 
from  the  undissolved  matter,  and  evaporated,  dried  and 
weighed,  and  found  to  weigh  15  grains,  or  nearly  one 
gramme. — American  Journal  of  Pharmacy . 


AN  ELEGANT  COUGH  MIXTURE. 

Hydrochlorate  of  Morphia . .  gr.  ss 

Glycerine . 2  fluid  ounces. 

Mix.  A  teaspoonful  wdien  the  cough  is  troublesome. 


Poisoning  by  an  Escape  of  Gas. — An  inquest 
has  been  held  at  Leeds  concerning  the  death  of  five  per¬ 
sons  supposed  to  have  been  suffocated  by  coal-gas  during 
the  night  of  the  12th  and  13th  November.  It  appeared 
that  the  deceased,  who  lived  in  two  adjoining  houses, 
were  known  to  have  been  in  good  health  on  the  previous 
day.  The  families  not  making  their  appearance  as  usual 
on  the  13th,  the  police  and  others,  late  in  the  day,  broke 
open  the  doors  and  windows,  when  two  bodies  in  one 
house  and  two  children  in  the  other  were  found  dead. 
The  father  and  mother  of  the  children  were  insensible, 
and  the  father  has  since  died. 

Mr.  J.  E.  Jenkins,  surgeon,  said  that  he  had  made  a 
poet  mortem  examination  of  the  body  of  one  of  the  de¬ 
ceased  children,  and  he  was  of  opinion  that  death  had  re¬ 
sulted  from  narcotism  produced  by  coal-gas.  On  the 
bedroom  being  filled  with  gas  there  would  be  first  stupor, 
then  vomiting,  and  soon  total  insensibility,  which  would 
end  in  death  by  the  exclusion  of  atmospheric  air. 

Evidence  was  given  that  upon  search  being  made,  it 
was  found  that  the  main-pipe  between  the  two  houses 
was  broken  across.  This  seemed  to  have  been  caused  by 
the  subsidence  of  earth  resulting  from  the  making  of  a 
drain  underneath. 

The  jury  found  a  verdict  of  “  Accidental  death,”  with  a 
recommendation  to  the  authorities  to  require  gas-mains 
to  be  put  on  solid  ground  by  the  parties  to  drainage 
operations. 

A  New  Source  of  Lead  Poisoning. — Dr.  John¬ 
son  reports  in  the  British  Medical  Journal ’,  a  curious  case 
of  lead  poisoning  that  has  come  under  his  notice  at 
King’s  College  Hospital.  There  were  well-marked 
symptoms  of  lead  poisoning  in  the  patient,  but  there  was 
no  evidence  as  to  the  source  of  the  lead.  Upon  being 
questioned  as  to  the  materials  used  in  his  trade,  the 
patient,  who  is  a  portmanteau  maker,  said  that  he  worked 


much  with  a  black  glazed  cloth,  which  he  called  “  over¬ 
land  cloth,”  used  for  making  portmanteaus  and  covers. 
A  portion  of  this  cloth  was  obtained  and  examined  for 
lead.  Three  or  four  square  inches  of  the  glazed  cloth 
were  incinerated  in  a  porcelain  crucible ;  a  considerable 
quantity  of  a  greyish-white  ash  was  thus  obtained.  This 
was  treated  with  nitric  acid,  which  dissolved  it  pretty 
completely  with  a  brisk  effervescence.  Lead  was  found 
in  the  filtered  solution  by  the  following  tests : — (1)  a 
white  sulphate  on  the  addition  of  dilute  sulphuric  acid ; 
(2)  a  yellow  precipitate  of  chromate  on  the  addition  of 
potassic  chromate  ;  (3)  a  yellow  iodide  in  silky  scales  on 
the  addition  of  potassic  iodide.  The  reaction  in  each 
case  was  well  marked.  The  ash  contained  also  a  good 
deal  of  chalk.  Dr.  Johnson  supposes  that  the  man,  who 
works  at  his  own  home,  and  confesses  that  he  often  takes 
his  meals  without  washing  his  hands,  in  cutting  the  cloth 
would  get^his  hands  covefed  with  the  lead-contaminated 
dust,  and  that  some  of  this  would  be  swallowed  with  his 
food.  The  man  says,  too,  that  he  is  in  the  habit  of  using 
the  cuttings  and  remnants  of  the  cloth  as  fuel,  and  it  is 
possible  that  some  volatilized  lead  might  enter  the  sys¬ 
tem  through  the  lungs. 

The  Colour  of  Butterflies*  ‘Wings. — A  writer  in 
Nature  says  that  wishing  to  test  the  effect  of  acid  on  the 
colours  of  the  wings  of  a  butterfly  or  moth,  he  applied 
muriatic  acid  to  a  dried  and  set  specimen  of  the  six- 
spotted  burnet  ( Zygcena  flipendulce).  The  only  change 
that  followed  in  this  and  subsequent  experiments  was 
that  the  red  became  yellow ;  where  there  was  no  red 
there  was  no  change.  Upon  applying  the  acid  to  the 
red  parts  of  the  red  admiral  butterfly  ( Vanessa  atalanta ), 
no  change  took  place.  Comparative  examination  under 
the  microscope  failed  to  explain  the  phenomenon,  which 
appears  to  point  out  a  clear  difference  in  the  nature  of 
the  wing  of  a  moth  and  that  of  a  butterfly.  A  remark¬ 
able  fact,  perhaps  connected  with  this,  is  that  a  yellow 
variety  is  known  of  almost  every  moth  containing  red  in 
the  wings. 

Nitro-Glycerine  Explosion. — At  Frankfort,  near 
Paines ville,  Ohio,  on  November  1,  two  magazines,  con¬ 
taining  150,000  lbs.  of  nitro-glycerine,  exploded.  Four 
persons  were  killed.  The  buildings  in  the  neighbour¬ 
hood  were  greatly  damaged,  the  shock  from  the  explosion 
being  felt  for  miles.  Where  the  magazines  stood  are 
now  two  ponds  of  water,  50  feet  across  and  75  feet  deep. 
The  loss  to  the  Glycerine  Company  is  estimated  at  not 
less  than  25,000  dollars.  This  is  the  second  explosion  of 
the  kind  within  two  months. — Times. 

Oil  of  Peppermint  as  a  Local  Anaesthetic. — 

Dr.  Alfred  W right,  writing  to  the  Lancet ,  says,  that  a 
few  years  ago,  when  in  China,  he  became  acquainted 
with  the  fact  that  the  natives,  when  suffering  from  facial 
neuralgia,  applied  oil  of  peppermint  to  the  seat  of  pain 
with  a  camel-hair  pencil.  Since  then,  in  his  own  prac¬ 
tice,  he  has  frequently  employed  oil  of  peppermint  as  a 
local  anaesthetic,  not  only  in  neuralgia  but  also  in  gout,, 
with  remarkably  good  results.  He  has  found  the  relief 
from  pain  to  be  almost  instantaneous. 

Water-Glass  as  a  Bandage. — Professor  Darby,  of 
the  University  of  South  Carolina,  speaks  very  favourably 
of  the  employment  of  liquid  glass  in  the  formation  of 
immovable  bandages.  He  considers  it  preferable  to  either 
gypsum,  dextrine,  glue,  or  starch.  The  mode  of  appli¬ 
cation  is  to  envelope  the  limb  in  wadding,  to  protect 
prominences  of  bone  from  undue  pressure,  and  round  the 
wadding  to  wrap  three  or  more  bandages  of  unglazed 
muslin,  each  bandage  being  freely  painted  with  silicate 
of  potash.  Between  the  second  and  third  bandages  strips 
of  muslin  saturated  in  the  solution  may  be  applied,  to 
give  extra  support  to  the  broken  parts.  The  limb  should 
be  kept  at  perfect  rest  until  the  bandages  are  dry,  the 
time  required  varying  from  three  to  twelve  hour's,  ac¬ 
cording  to  the  amount  of  material  used. — Medical  Times 
and  Gazette . 


November  26,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


427 


SATURDAY,  NOVEMBER  2G,  1870. 


Communications  for  this  Journal ,  and  boohs  for  review,  etc., 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

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

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W.  Envelopes  endorsed  “  Pharm.  Journ.” 


HENRY  DEANE. 

We  cannot  too  cordially  thank  our  contemporary, 
the  Chemist  and  Druggist,  for  the  admirable  memoir 
given  in  its  last  number  of  Mr.  Deane.  The  editor 
exercised  a  wise  discretion  in  publishing  the  paper 
intact  as  an  autobiography,  although,  as  we  gather 
from  the  apology  offered  for  doing  so,  it  was  sent 
rather  as  memoranda  from  which  he  might  cull  such 
material  as  suited  him  for  the  pages  of  his  journal. 
No  curtailment  could  have  made  the  record  more 
modest,  no  addition  more  interesting  and  valuable. 
We  would  that  this  memoir  could  be  perused  by 
every  registered  apprentice  and  student  of  our  So¬ 
ciety,  nay,  by  every  youth  entering  on  the  business 
of  life,  to  whom  it  is  all-important  to  feel  that  “  there 
is  nothing  beneath  the  dignity  of  a  man  which  is  not 
.dishonourable !” 

To  those  who  know  Henry  Deane  the  perusal 
must  be  a  source  of  immense  pleasure.  We  laid 
aside  the  paper,  refreshed  by  the  contemplation  of 
Ms  continuous  effort  to  pursue  the  right  path,  to 
build  up  knowledge  brick  by  brick,  and,  while  fol¬ 
lowing  science  for  pure  love  of  her,  yet  so  to  utilize 
her  benefits  at  every  step  as  to  make  liimself  a  bene¬ 
factor  to  liis  fellow-men  as  well  as  an  ornament  to 
liis  profession.  Long  may  Henry  Deane  be  with 
us  to  continue  his  career  of  usefulness,  and  enjoy 
ihe  respect  he  has  so  justly  earned ! 


A  few  copies  have  lately  arrived  in  England  of  the 
“  Supplement  to  the  Pharmacopoeia  of  India,’  which 
consists  of  a  catalogue  of  Indian  synonyms  of  the 
medicinal  plants,  products,  and  inorganic  and  organic 
substances  included  in  the  Indian  Pharmacopoeia,  in 
fourteen  languages,  with  explanatory  and  descriptive 
remarks.  It  has  been  prepared  by  Mooden  Sheriff, 
G.M.M.C.,  and  printed  and  published  by  order  of 
the  Government  at  the  request  of  the  Committee  of 
the  Pharmacopoeia  of  India.  We  hope  shortly  to  be 
furnished  with  a  cop}'-,  so  that  we  may  be  enabled  to 
give  a  much  fuller  notice  of  the  work  in  our  pages. 


We  are  sorry  to  hear  that  the  delay  in  the  arrival 
of  the  October  number  of  the  Chicago  Pharmacist, 
has  been  caused  by  the  occurrence  of  a  fire  at  the 
establishment  in  which  it  was  printed.  The  whole  of 


the  stock  of  the  Pharmacist,  which  was  unfortunately 
not  insured,  has  been  entirely  destroyed. 

The  persistency  with  which  the  word  “  Ozokerit” 
was  kept  before  the  public  in  advertisements  for  a 
considerable  time  caused  an  amount  of  curious  spe¬ 
culation,  which  was  remarkably  illustrative  of  the 
general  ignorance  prevailing  even  among  the  edu¬ 
cated  classes  in  regard  to  natural  productions  and 
phenomena.  At  a  time  when  petroleum  and  paraffin 
are  things  of  every-day  familiarity,  it  seems  strange, 
indeed,  that  no  one  should  have  recognized  in  the 
name  which  caused  so  many  silly  surmises,  an  ordi¬ 
nary  mineralogical  designation  of  earth- wax,  or  the 
natural  paraffin,  occurring  abundantly  in  Galicia, 
the  Danubian  provinces  adjoining  the  Carpathians, 
and  even  in  this  country  to  some  extent.  Specimens 
of  it  exist  in  most  mineralogical  collections,  and  a 
report  of  a  chemical  examination  of  the  substanee 
was  published  in  the  first  series  of  this  Journal.* 


As  will  be  seen  by  an  advertisement  in  another 
part  of  the  Journal,  dispensers  are  required  for  two 
of  her  Majesty’s  foreign  hospitals.  The  candidates 
must  have  passed  the  Major  examination  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society,  and  be  not  less  than  twenty 
or  more  than  twenty-five  years  of  age. 


The  fact  that  the  highest  of  Civic  dignities  in  tliis 
country  is  now  held  by  a  member  of  the  drug  trade 
will  be  sufficient  reason  for  our  pointing  out  that  in 
several  provincial  towns  the  office  of  mayor  is  held 
by  members  of  the  trade.  Thus  at  Heading  the 
mayor  is  Peter  Spokes,  Pharmaceutical  Chemist; 
at  Launceston,  John  Ching,  Chemist  and  Druggist ; 
at  Richmond,  Yorkshire,  Thomas  Thomson,  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Chemist;  and  at  Newbury,  11.  A.  Ryott 
Chemist  and  Druggist. 


Visitors  at  the  Liverpool  meeting  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Conference  will  be  glad  to  learn  that  at  a 
late  meeting  of  the  Liverpool  Chemists’  Association 
the  valuable  services  of  Mr.  A.  H.  Mason,  in  con¬ 
nection  with  the  exliibition  of  pharmaceutical  objects, 
met  with  special  recognition,  and  that  the  President 
presented  him  with  three  handsomely  bound  volumes. 
Longfellow’s  ‘  Hyperion,’  and  Meteyard’s  ‘  Life  of 
Wedgewood,’  containing  the  following  inscription : — 

British  Pharmaceutical  Conference. 

Liverpool  Meeting ,  1870. 

This  volume,  with  two  others,  was  presented  to  Mr. 
Alfred  II.  Mason  by  the  Local  Committee,  as  an  ex¬ 
pression  of  their  high  appreciation  of  his  services,  espe¬ 
cially  in  connection  with  the  arrangements  for  the  exhi¬ 
bition. 

(Signed)  Chairman,  John  Abraham. 

Hon.  Secretary,  Edward  Davies,  F.C.S. 

It  must  be  as  gratifying  to  Mr.  Mason,  as  it  is  well 
deserved  to  receive  such  a  mark  of  appreciation. 

*  Pliarm.  Journ.  Vol.  XIV.  381. 


428 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[November  26,  1870, 


fkomfinjs  at  %  f  IpraamttoJ  Jwutjr. 


ERRATUM. 

P.  411,  col.  2,  First  or  Preliminary  Examination. 
for  Stefford,  Charles, 
read  Hefford,  Charles. 


EDINBURGH  MEETING. 

The  First  Meeting  of  the  Session  took  place  in  St. 
George’s  Hall,  119a,  George  Street,  on  Tuesday  evening, 
21st  November,  at  8.30  p.m.  ;  Mr.  Aitken,  President,  in 
the  chair.  There  was  a  good  attendance.  The  Secre¬ 
tary  announced — 

1.  The  following  additions  to  the  Library  : — Pereira’s 
Materia  Medica.  Squire’s  Companion  to  the  B.  P.,  7th 
edition,  1869.  Balfour’s  Manual  of  Botany  (new  edition). 
Animal  Chemistry  (Odling).  Attfield’s  Chemistry  (1869). 
Bentley’s  Manual  of  Botany,  2nd  edition.  Roscoe’s  Ele¬ 
mentary  Chemistry.  Selecta  e  Prmscriptis,  2  copies. 

2.  The  following  presentations  to  the  Library : — Edin¬ 
burgh  Medical  Pharmacopoeia  of  1722,  presented  by 
J.  Wilson,  Perth.  Milne’s  Materia  Medica,  1869,  pre¬ 
sented  by  the  publisher.  Several  Numbers  of  the  ‘Phar¬ 
macist.’  Proceedings  of  American  Pharmaceutical  As¬ 
sociation. 

3.  Presentations  to  the  Museum  : — Two  very  hand¬ 
some  specimens  of  Sugar  of  Milk,  from  J.  C.  Pottage, 
Edinburgh.  Various  Articles  used  in  the  preparation 
and  dispensing  of  Medicines,  from  Messrs.  Poths  and 
Haas,  London.  A  Series  of  Sixtv-six  dried  Medicinal 
Plants,  carefully  laid  down  on  papers  from  Mr.  Ransom, 
of  Hitchin.  These  were  very  much  admired. 

The  President  then  made  the  following  remarks  : — 

Gentlemen, — You  will  have  seen  from  the  billet  call¬ 
ing  this  meeting  that  I  am  expected  to  give  a  few  open¬ 
ing  remarks. 

I  am  glad  that  on  the  present  occasion  I  am  neither  to 
be  burdened  nor  to  burden  you  with  a  long  speech,  the 
more  so,  as  I  doubt  not  you  are  looking  forward  with 
some  degree  of  impatience  to  the  interesting  paper  we 
are  to  be  favoured  with  from  our  esteemed  and  talented 
friend  Dr.  Stevenson  Macadam. 

Our  museum  and  library  are  at  present  in  good  ’work¬ 
ing  order.  The  curator  of  the  museum  will  be  glad  to 
arrange  to  meet  young  men  who  are  desirous  of  becom¬ 
ing  acquainted  with  the  specimens  there,  for  an  hour -in 
the  evenings,  and  for  this  purpose,  the  Secretary  will 
receive  the  names  of  those  who  may  wish  to  attend,  in 
order  that  due  arrangements  may  be  made,  and  the  time 
fixed.  The  admittance  will  be  free  to  all  connected  with 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society. 

The  catalogue  of  the  library  contains  a  fair  number  of 
works,  on  scientific  subjects  well  worthy  of  your  earnest 
attention.  The  Council,  therefore,  would  be  well  pleased 
to  see  those  more  fully  appreciated,  and  they  invite  all 

“  To  read  who  have  not  read  before, 

And  those  who  always  read  to  read  the  more.” 

A  complaint  very  frequently  made,  by  those  particu¬ 
larly  who  would  be  well  pleased  to  get  over  their  ex¬ 
aminations  with  the  smallest  amount  of  labour  or  study, 
is  that  they  have  not  been  taught  this  or  that  branch  in 
early  life.  It  may  be  so,  but  we  are  inclined  to  think, 
and  do  consider  such  excuses  as  a  sort  of  refug'c  for  inert 
minds,  for  generally  we  find  the  things  a  man  knows 
best  are  those  he  teaches  himself  when  his  mind  is  ma- 
tuied.  Much,  no  doubt,  may  be  done  to  improve  what- 
is  termed  a  neglected  education,  but  we  would  have  you 
beai  in  mind,  education  to  be  efficient  can  never  limit 
itself  to  the  mere  giving  of  information ;  that  the  do¬ 
’s  elopment  ot  the  mental  powers,  the  guidance  of  the 
mental  tendencies,  and  the  formation  of  taste,  are  at 


least  of  equal  importance.  It  behoves  us  then  to  depend 
as  much  on  our  own  resources  as  on  the  tuition  of  others. 
At  the  same  time  we  ought  to  lose  no  opportunity  for 
improvement,  in  whatever  shape  it  may  be  placed  before 
us.  You  cannot,  and  therefore  need  not  expect  all  to  be 
prizemen  ;  you  may  not  achieve  the  greatness  or  excel¬ 
lence  attained  by  others,  but  do  not  imagine  you  arc  in¬ 
ferior  to  them  because  of  the  condition  in  which  you  may 
be  placed. 

“  Honour  and  shame  from  no  condition  rise ; 

Act  well  your  part,  there  all  the  honour  lies.” 

_  As  the  most  casual  observer  cannot  fail  to  perceive  the- 
gigantic  strides  education  has  made  within  the  last  few 
years  among  all  classes,  he  will  not  fail  to  discover  at 
the  same  time  the  increasing  attention  being  paid  to  its 
extension.  It  is  also  one  of  the  most  encouraging 
features  of  our  times  that  much  of  our  former  litera¬ 
ture,  which  could  find  its  way  to  the  libraries  of  the- 
wealthy  only,  has  now  been  brought  within  the  reach 
of  almost  every  one. 

AVe  would,  therefore,  have  you  to  read  and  master 
what  you  read,  cultivate  habits  of  thinking,  and  by  these 
means  you  may  place  your  foot  upon  the  ladder  of  eleva¬ 
tion,  which  but  a  few  years  since  could  only  be  sur¬ 
mounted  by  some  genius.  Let  it  bo  your  earnest  desire 
to  raise  yourselves  in  the  social  scale  as  intellectual  and 
moral  beings,  keep  always  in  mind,  that  as 

“  The  twig  bends,  the  tree  inclines.” 

Gentlemen,  before  closing  these  few  and  imperfect  re¬ 
marks,  allow  me  to  thank  you  for  the  honour  conferred 
in  placing  me  for  the  third  time  in  the  Presidential  chair. 
I  beg  to  say  the  duties  will  be  performed  to  the  utmost 
of  my  ability,  and,  I  trust,  to  your  satisfaction. 


Dr.  Stevenson  Macadam  read  an  interesting  paper  on 
“Fermentation.”  He  referred  to  the  old  theory  as  to 
the  effect  of  a  nitrogenous  substance  upon  one  that  was 
not  so,  and  then  introduced  the  more  recent  experiments 
of  Dr.  Tyndall,  M.  Pasteur  and  Dr.  Angus  Smith.  He 
also  referred  to  the  striking  effect  produced  by  a  cer¬ 
tain  amount  of  heat  in  destroying  the  spores  or  germs 
present  in  the  atmosphere,  and  which  were  now  believed 
by  many  to  be  the  means,  acting  upon  sugar  and  other 
materials,,  of  causing  the  peculiar  change  which  yeast 
effects  in  inducing  and  carrying  on  fermentation.  Dr. 
Macadam  illustrated  his  subject  by  several  diagrams 
and  tables. 

At  the  close  of  the  paper,  a  cordial  vote  of  thanks  to 
Dr.  Macadam  for  his  interesting  and  instructive  commu¬ 
nication,  proposed  by  Mr.  Baildon  and  seconded  by  Mr. 
Young,  was  unanimously  carried. 


The  Secretary  then  intimated  that  he  would  be  glad 
to  receive  the  names  of  anjr  young  men  who  wished  to 
meet  with  the  Curator  of  the  Museum,  who  had  kindly 
agreed  to  devote  an  hour  in  the  evenings  to  go  over  the 
various  specimens  contained  in  the  Museum.  These 
meetings  would  be  free,  and  open  to  all  connected  with 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society. 


Drabiittial  fransiiriiotts. 


LEEDS  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Annual  Meeting  of  this  Society  was  held  in  the 
Library  of  the  Association,  on  Wednesday  evening,  Oc¬ 
tober  12th,  1870. 

The  minutes  of  the  previous  meeting  were  adopted, 
when  the  following  gentlemen  were  unanimously  elected 
Members  and  Associates : — 


November  26,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


429 


MEMBERS. 

Charles  Daniel  Hart . Burley  Road. 

John  William  Hardman  . .  . .  Woodhousc  Lane. 

Edward  Fenton  Atkinson  . .  .Kirkstall  Road. 

ASSOCIATES. 

George  Fell  Bowman,  residing-  with  Mr.  Bowman. 
John  Bradley,  „  Mr.  Stead. 

John  Exley,  „  Mr.  Exlcy. 

John  William  Dcwhirst,  „  Mr.  Becdle. 

The  Honorary  Secretary  then  read  the 

Report. 

In  presenting  their  Report,  your  Committee  have  to 
state  that  there  is  an  increase  in  the  number  of  Mem¬ 
bers  of  two  as  compared  with  that  of  last  year ;  but  in 
the  number  of  Associates  there  is  a  decrease  of  eleven. 
The  numbers  now  in  the  Association  are  as  follows  : — 

Members .  37 

Associates .  39 

The  decrease  in  the  number  of  Associates  is  anything 
but  satisfactory,  and  seems  to  indicate  a  feeling  of  apathy 
in  the  junior  members  of  our  trade  ;  and  your  Committee 
strongly  exhort  those  rising  up  amongst  us  to  avail 
themselves  of  the  privileges  so  liberally  offered  for  a 
small  fee. 

The  privileges  of  an  Associate  are — 

1st.  Access  to  a  valuable  and  gradually-increasing- 
library  and  materia-medica  cabinet. 

2nd.  Admission  to  the  lectures  and  discussions  of  the 
Society  at  the  monthly  meetings  during  the  session. 

3rd.  If  an  Associate  wishes  information  upon  any  par¬ 
ticular  point,  a  written  query  dropped  into  the  question 
box  elicits  the  desired  intelligence. 

4th.  Attendance  at  certain  chemical  and  botanical  lec¬ 
tures  at  the  lowest  fees. 

oth.  Power  to  compete  for  certain  prizes  occasionally 
offered.  Probably,  if  more  would  come  forward  to  con¬ 
test,  more  prizes  would  be  forthcoming. 

All  these  advantages  are  open  to  our  Associates  at  the 
nominal  charge  of  2s.  6d.  per  annum,  or  a  fraction  over 
one  halfpenny  per  week.  Your  Committee,  therefore, 
earnestly  urge  upon  all  assistants  and  apprentices  in  this 
district  that,  if  for  no  other  reason,  they  ought  from  a 
feeling  of  self-interest  to  join  the  Leeds  Chemists’  Asso¬ 
ciation. 

At  the  last  annual  meeting,  after  the  transaction  of 
the  usual  yearly  business,  the  newly- elected  President, 
Mr.  Wm.  Smeeton,  read  an  address  in  which  he  earnestly 
advised  our  associates  to  cultivate  habits  of  observation 
and  of  mental  application.  At  the  second  meeting,  Mr. 
E.  Thompson  gave  an  interesting  account  of  the  con¬ 
struction  and  uses  of  a  few  meteorological  instruments 
lent  for  the  occasion  by  Messrs.  Harvey,  Reynolds  and 
Co.  Mr.  James  Abbott  occupied  the  third  meeting  ; 
subject,  “  Palms  and  their  Products.”  The  paper  read 
was  interesting  and  full  of  facts.  At  the  fourth  meet¬ 
ing,  a  Member  failing  to  be  ready  with  the  expected 
paper,  Mr.  R.  Reynolds  considerately  filled  up  the  gap, 
and  reviewed  some  portions  of  the  proceedings ^of  the 
American  Pharmaceutical  Society.  Mr.  Samuel  Taylor 
read,  at  the  fifth  meeting  of  the  session,  an  essay  “  Upon 
some  Articles  of  Every-day  Request.”  The  President 
favoured  the  concluding  meeting  with  the  results  of  his 
experience  in  the  preparation  of  linimentum  potassii 
iodidi  cum  saponc,  and  of  chloral  hydrate  ;  and,  after  a 
short  discussion,  Mr.  E.  Thompson  introduced  the  pro¬ 
position  of  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
with  respect  to  certain  proposed  regulations  for  keeping-, 
selling,  and  dispensing  poisons.  The  proposed  regula¬ 
tions,  being  considered  unnecessary  and  prejudicial  to  the 
interests  of  the  trade,  a  committee  wras  appointed  to  draw 
up  a  memorial  against  the  same,  which,  with  a  statement 
of  objections  attached  thereto,  was  presented  to  the 
Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society.  The  effort  made 
was  successful,  and  it  is  not  likely  that  the  objectionable 
regulations  will  ever  become  law. 


Your  Committee  thankfully  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  some  valuable  gifts  to  the  library  and  museum : — 

‘  The  Pharmaceutical  Journal,’  from  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society ;  ‘  A  Medico-Botanical  Map  of  the  World,’  and 
two  books  of  labels,  from  Mr.  Barker,  of  Liverpool ;  ‘  A 
Post-Office  Directory  of  the  Manufacturing  and  Retail 
Chemists  of  England,’  from  Mr.  Edwin  Yewdall;  Por¬ 
traits  of  Dr.  Pereira,  Mr.  Wm.  Allen  and  of  the  late 
Jacob  Bell,  Esq.,  from  Thomas  Hyde  Hills,  Esq. ;  ‘  The 
Chemists  and  Druggists’  Almanack,’  from  Mr.  R.  Rey¬ 
nolds  ;  nine  specimens  of  roots,  fruits,  etc.,  from  Air. 
James  Collins,  Curator  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  ; 

‘  A  Collection  of  Prescriptions,’  from  Joseph  Inco,  Esq. ; 
three  specimens  of  fruits,  etc.,  from  Mr.  R.  Reynolds. 

In  order  to  secure  the  successful  working  of  the  library, 
it  has  been  judged  expedient  to  alter  certain  bye-laws. 

Four  Associates  competed  for  the  prize  of  one  guinea 
offered  by  Thomas  Harvey,  Esq.,  for  the  best  herbarium. 
Two  of  the  herbaria  wrere  not  very  unequal,  and  yet 
much  superior  to  the  others  ;  and  Mr.  R.  Reynolds  there¬ 
fore  kindly  offered  a  prize  to  be  given  to  the  collector  of 
the  second  in  order  of  merit.  The  first  prize  was  ob¬ 
tained  by  Mr.  Frederick  Casson,  and  the  second  was 
awarded  to  Mr.  Francis  Mather. 

Twenty-two  Associates  have  attended  Mr.  Ward’s 
lectures  on  chemistry,  and,  according  to  that  gentleman  s 
statement,  have  made  creditable  progress.  Seven  of 
these  have  passed  the  Science  and  Art  examination. 

Messrs.  R.  M.  Atkinson  and  R.  Reynolds  attended  the 
British  Pharmaceutical  Conference,  lately  held  in  Liver¬ 
pool,  as  delegates  from  our  Society. 

Your  Committee  deeply  regret  the  resignation  of  their 
Secretary,  Mr.  Edwin  Yewdall,  on  account  of  ill-health 
and  by  medical  advice.  Whilst  tendering  him  their 
hearty  sympathy  on  this  occasion,  they  offer  him  warni 
thanks  for  the  unremitting  zeal  lie  has  manifested  in 
furthering  the  interests  of  the  Association,  and  trust  at 
the  next  annual  meeting  he  will  feel  able  to  resume  those 
duties  wrhich  he  has  heretofore  so  satisfactorily  dis¬ 
charged. 

When  the  accounts  were  audited,  it  was  ascertained 
that  there  was  a  balance  due  to  the  Secretary  of  nine 
shillings  and  sixpence. 


MANCHESTER  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

The  First  Ordinary  Monthly  Meeting  of  the  session 
was  held  in  the  Memorial  Hall,  Albert  Square,  on  1-  lidaj 
evening,  November  4  ;  Mr.  W.  S.  Brown,  President,  m 
the  chair.  Tea  was  served  at  7  f.m. 

The  formal  business  of  the  meeting  included  the  elec¬ 
tion  of  about  twenty  new  associates. 

A  resolution  was  then  passed  expressive  of  the.  deep 
reo-ret  felt  by  the  officers  and  members  of  the  Association 
on  hearing  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Charles  W  right,  so  long 
and  honourably  connected  with  the  business  in  Man- 

Chester.  • 

Letters  were  read  from  Professor  Attfield  and  Mr.  T. 
II.  Hills  expressing  their  satisfaction  in  having  been 
elected  honorary  members  of  the  Association. 

The  President  then  called  on  Mr.  Benger  to  introduce 
the  subject  chosen  for  discussion,  “  Pharmaceutical  Edu¬ 
cation  and  Apprenticeship,”  by  reading  a  paper  he  had 
contributed  to  the  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference. 

Mr.  Benger  having  read  this  paper,  added,  it  was 
scarcely  an  appropriate  introduction  of  the  subject  to  a 
local  association.  He  hoped  nothing  he  had  said  v  ould 
be  construed  into  disrespect  for  any  of  the  older  mem  >cis 
of  the  trade.  Nothing  could  be  further  from  his  inten¬ 
tions  than  to  depreciate  the  value,  of  apprenticeships 
served  to  some  non-scientific  chemists  and  druggets  , 
there  are  hundreds  of  thoroughly  practical  men  w  lose 
success  amply  testifies  to  the  wisdom  and  skill  with. 


430 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  26,  1370. 


which  they  have  conducted  their  businesses.  The  privi¬ 
lege  of  serving  an  apprenticeship  to  such  men  is  great, 
and  will  be  appreciated  by  all  sensible  young  men. 
Business  habits  cannot  be  acquired  in  the  lecture-room, 
but  by  the  careful,  observant  study  of  the  business 
transactions  of  honourable  men.  An  important  point 
seems  to  be,  how  much  and  what  kind  of  personal  scien¬ 
tific  instruction  the  apprentice  can  reasonably  expect 
to  receive  at  the  hands  of  his  master.  He  must  depend 
mainly  on  his  own  efforts  ;  he  pays  a  premium  to  be 
introduced  into  a  special  field  of  observation,  the  amount 
of  premium  generally  depending  on  the  extent  of  that 
field,  while  the  advantages  ho  derives  depend  on  his  own 
powers  of  observation  and  the  use  ho  makes  of  them. 
It  is  essential  to  his  success  that  he  shall  have  acquired 
previously,  or  that  he  acquire  at  an  early  stage  of  his 
apprenticeship,  some  knowledge  of  the  sciences  bearing 
upon  pharmacy.  Should  his  master  bo  competent  and 
willing  to  undertake  the  direction  of  his  studies  in  these 
subjects,  so  much  the  more  money  value  should  be 
attached  to  the  indenture,  but  this  should  bo  clearly 
understood  by  the  contracting  parties.  It  must  not  be 
assumed  that  a  body  of  men  accustomed  to  conduct  busi¬ 
nesses  in  which  scientific  knowledge  has  been  often  well- 
nigh  superfluous  shall,  upon  the  passing  of  a  Pharmacy 
Act,  be  able  suddenly  to  transform  themselves  into  pro¬ 
fessors  of  chemistry  and  botany.  Should  the  medical 
profession  confine  itself  more  strictly  to  the  practice  of 
its  legitimate  duties,  the  rising  generation  of  pharma¬ 
cists  may,  and  doubtless  will,  have  more  general  need  of 
scientific  knowledge  ;  and,  having  availed  themselves  of 
the  facilities  now  afforded  for  its  acquirement,  will,  in 
their  turn,  be  competent  to  instruct  their  apprentices  in 
these  higher  branches  of  pharmaceutical  education,  but 
he  thought  that  in  ordinary  apprenticeships  the  masters’ 
responsibility  does  not  extend  so  far.  On  the  other 
hand,  accurate  scientific  knowledge  of  no  trifling  nature 
is  absolutely  demanded  by  the  Pharmacy  Act,  and  the 
apprentice  has  a  perfect  right  to  inquire  what  op¬ 
portunities  will  be  afforded  him  for  meeting  these 
requirements.  In  London  and  large  provincial  cen¬ 
tres,  where  courses  of  lectures  are  provided  with  a 
library  and  museum  open  for  study,  much  difficulty 
need  not  be  apprehended;  but  there  still  remains  a 
large  number  of  apprentice-taking  businesses  scattered 
throughout  the  smaller  towns  of  the  country  where  such 
opportunities  do  not  exist;  and  in  such  situations  a 
young  man  who  had  previously  become  possessed  of  a 
sound  elementary  education  in  science  would  have  many 
advantages  over  his  fellows  located  in  large  cities, — 
more  leisure  and  more  opportunities  for  following  up 
some  of  his  studies.  It  is  probable  that  the  improved 
school  system  about  to  be  introduced  by  Government 
will  afford  such  an  education,  otherwise  it  might  be 
given  in  some  such  special  technical  school  as  he  had 
suggested ;  failing  these,  it  will  always  be  desirable 
that  the  apprentice,  on  completing  his  term,  shall  obtain 
employment  where  the  efforts  of  local  association  have 
provided  the  necessary  means  of  scientific  education. 
There  is,  he  feared,  in  the  present  day  much  danger  of 
regarding  the  passing  of  examinations  as  the  main  ob¬ 
ject  of  study,  and  an  inclination  to  do  just  so  much  and 
no  more  than  would  ensure  that  end.  It  is  this  spirit 
which  encourages  the  pernicious  system  of  cramming. 
The  chief  aim  of  elementary  scientific  education  must 
be  to  create  a  taste  for  and  a  love  of  the  subject.  In 
conclusion,  he  quoted  some  remarks  bearing  on  this  by 
the  late  Dr.  Channing: — “The  mark  of  a  good  teacher 
is  not  only  that  he  produces  great  efforts  in  his  pupils, 
but  that  he  dismisses  them  from  his  care,  conscious  of 
having  only  laid  the  foundation  of  knowledge,  and 
anxious  and  resolved  to  improve  themselves.  One  of  the 
sure  signs  of  the  low  state  of  instruction  among  us,  is, 
that  the  young  on  leaving  school  feel  as  if  the  work  of 
intellectual  culture  were  done,  and  give  up  steady  vigo¬ 
rous  effort  for  higher  truth  and  wider  knowledge.  The 


universe  is  charged  with  the  office  of  education;  it  is 
not  confined  to  a  few  books  anxiously  selected  by  pa¬ 
rental  care.  Innumerable  voices  come  from  all  they  see, 
meet,  feel.  Nature,  society,  experience  are  volumes 
opened  everywhere,  and  perpetually  before  their  eyes. 
They  take  lessons  from  every  object  within  the  sphere  of 
their  senses ;  from  the  sun  and  stars ;  from  the  flowers 
of  spring  and  from  the  fruits  of  autumn ;  from  every 
associate  from  the  pursuits,  trades,  professions,  in  which 
they  move ;  all  these,  and  more  than  these,  are  appointed 
to  teach,  awaken,  and  develope  the  mind. 

Mr.  Waterhouse  (Ashton)  agreed  in  the  main  with 
what  had  been  said,  but  he  thought  if  apprentices  had 
received  a  good  English  education,  there  would  be  no- 
great  difficulty  about  technical  matters,  with  the  help  of 
Associations  like  their  own. 

Mr.  Siebold  remarked  on  the  much  larger  proportion 
of  successful  candidates  in  the  examinations  than  for¬ 
merly,  and  attributed  this  partly  to  the  help  of  local 
associations. 

Mi*.  Wilkinson  said  that  all  the  11  apprentices  who 
had  presented  themselves  at  the  last  “  Preliminary”  in 
Manchester  had  passed,  still  there  was  a  very  large  pro¬ 
portion  of  those  who  had  examinations  to  pass  who  could 
not  or  did  not  avail  themselves  of  the  lectures  and  classes: 
now  going  on. 

Mr.  Woolley,  alluding  to  the  proposed  assistance 
from  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  thought  such  help, 
should  be  at  first  directed  to  those  who  had  entered  the 
business  previous  to  the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy  Act. 

The  Chairman,  Mr.  Siebold,  Mr.  Bostock,  and' 
others,  spoke  with  approval  of  the  class  for  mutual  im¬ 
provement  which  had  just  been  formed  amongst  the 
associates,  the  Chairman  promising  that  the  Council 
would  give  it  all  possible  assistance  and  encouragement. 


SHEFFIELD  PHARMACEUTICAL  AND 
CHEMICAL  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Second  General  Monthly  Meeting  of  the  present 
Session  was  held  in  the  rooms  of  the  Association,  on 
Wednesday,  November  9th ;  the  President,  Mr.  Wilson, 
in  the  chair.  A  lecture  was  delivered  by  Mr.  F.  T. 
Griffiths,  Esq.,  M.D.,upon  “The  Nightshades,” — it  was. 
of  a  most  interesting  and  instructive  character’,  com¬ 
prising  an  enumeration  of  the  natures,  properties,  and 
histories  of  the  varied  classes  belonging  thereto.  The 
following  is  a  brief  abstract. 

The  Solanacca,  or  Nightshade  family,  constitute  one  of’ 
the  richest  and  most  interesting  group  of  plants,  and 
their  history  is  also  very  complex.  If  amongst  them  are 
some  worthy  of  honourable  mention,  there  are  many,  on 
the  contrary,  which  come  short  of  glory.  Nightshades 
and  felonworts  do  not  all  possess  lenitive  properties  7 
there  are  in  the  group  many  other  plants,  and,  perhaps, 
the  best  known  are  those  which  represent  nothing  less 
than  a  collection  of  violent  poisons.  The  general  phy¬ 
siognomy  of  these  unwholesome  plants  fully  justifies  the 
unflattering  names  given  to  them  from  the  time  of 
Linnams,  who  termed  them  all  livid,  even  to  that  of  mo¬ 
dern  botanists,  who  stigmatized  them  as  suspicious,  ve¬ 
nomous  or  hideous.  Poisonous  principles  are  entirely 
absent  in  some  species,  or,  if  present,  are  so  in  such  small 
proportions  as  to  exercise  but  feeble  influence  over  the 
animal  economy ;  whenever  they  are  secreted  in  an  ap¬ 
preciable  quantity,  we  may  affirm  that  they  are  similar, 
and  that  they  belong  to  that  class  of  poisons  which  are 
specially  noxious  and  stupefying.  The  special  details  of 
this  family  of  plants  afford  sufficient  materials  for  the 
purpose  of  classification,  and  botanists  have  been  able  to- 
establish  the  characteristics  rigorously  based  upon  the 
nature  of  the  fruit,  sometimes  bacciform,  id  cst ,  more  or 
less  succulent,  as  that  of  the  tomato  or  the  potato,  and 
sometimes  capsular,  that  is  dry,  like  those  Of  tobacco  and 
of  the  stramoniums.  Thus  they  have  been  grouped  into 


November  26,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


431 


two  grand  general  sections,  subdivided  into  six  varieties, 
and  from  these  we  select  and  glance  rapidly  at  the  his¬ 
tory  of  the  most  important  species. 

Belladonna,  Atropa  Belladonna ,  whose  generic  name 
was  taken  by  Linmeus  from  that  of  Parque,  Atropus ,  owes 
its  specific  name  of  “  beautiful  lady  ”  to  the  reputation 
which  lotions  compounded  from  the  plant  had  in  Italy 
for  preserving  beauty  ;  this  solanum  is  tolerably  common 
everywhere  in  woods  and  uncultivated  spots  around  our 
dwellings ;  it  hides  in  the  angles  of  old  walls  and  ruins, 
and  it  is  thus  too  often  found  by  children  and  ignorant 
persons,  who,  seduced  by  its  aspect  and  sweet  taste,  be¬ 
come  victims  to  their  curiosity.  The  stems  and  the  root 
are  not  less  dangerous  than  the  leaves  and  berries ; 
amongst  the  symptoms  of  intoxication  by  belladonna  is 
that  which  is  termed  carphologic,  wdiich  means  a  seeking 
for  little  objects ;  the  affected  person  imagines  he  sees 
insects  everywhere  around  him,  small  birds  continually 
flying  before  him,  and  ho  madly  excites  himself  in  their 
useless  pursuit ;  amongst  the  numerous  symptoms  of 
poisoning  by  this  plant  are  violent  delirium,  extreme 
agitation,  frightful  visions,  dilatation  of  the  pupils  of  the 
eye,  etc. 

Thorn-apple,  Batura  Stramonium ,  known  also  under 
various  names  as  stramonium,  devil’s  herb,  or  sorcerer’s 
herb  ;  the  Arabs  call  it  datora,  the  Persians  tatula, — the 
word  is  manifestly  derived  from  the  radical  “tat,”  which 
means  to  prick  or  puncture,  in  allusion  to  the  spinous 
envelope  by  which  the  fruit  is  protected.  It  is  of  all 
poisonous  solanals  the  most  energetic  and  the  most  re¬ 
markable  ;  it  is  the  one  which  has  caused  the  most  serious 
accidents.  A  decoction  of  three  capsules,  made  wuth 
milk,  wras  taken  in  mistake  by  a  man,  and  it  occasioned 
in  him  a  furious  delirium,  followed  by  general  paralysis, 
which  continued  for  several  wrecks. 

The  hyoscyamus,  nicotiana,  mandragora,  Solanum  Dul¬ 
camara :,  etc.,  were  also  fully  treated  of,  and  their  poison¬ 
ous  natures  and  peculiarities  illustrated  by  numerous 
interesting  anecdotes  by  the  lecturer,  who  proceeded  at 
some  length  to  describe  the  alkaloids — atropine,  hyoscya- 
mine,  daturine,  solanine  and  nicotine,  their  therapeutic 
properties,  physiological  action,  etc.,  and  concluded  by  a 
short  resume ,  in  which  he  spoke  of  the  general  symptoms 
produced  by  the  toxic  action  of  the  solanals,  manifesting 
themselves  with  a  constancy  which  supplies  valuable 
indications  for  the  treatment  of  the  poisoned  victims,  and 
for  the  detection,  and  perhaps  punishment,  of  the  poisoner. 
The  eminently  irritating  action  of  the  solanals  concen¬ 
trates  itself  in  the  brain,  where  it  is  rendered  manifest 
by  the  contraction  of  the  temples,  the  redness  of  the  face, 
the  intense  headache,  delirium  and  convulsions.  Irrita¬ 
tion  is  then  the  first  effect  produced.  Later  on,  a  second 
effect  is  stupor ;  but  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  this 
stupor  is  only  due  to  the  irritation  exalted  to  its  highest 
pitch ;  it  is  only  when  the  cerebral  inflammation  has,  by 
congestion,  distended  the  vessels  and  tissues  of  the  brain 
so  as  to  cause  their  compression  against  the  bones  of  the 
skull,  that  dull  and  profound  narcotism  begins.  This 
narcotism  differs  also  from  that  produced  by  certain  other 
somniferous  plants,  such  as  opium,  for  example.  In  the 
latter  case,  it  is  rather  a  languishing  of  the  nervous  sys¬ 
tem,  or  the  retardation  of  the  circulation  of  the  blood 
which  induces  sleep  ;  in  the  former,  on  the  contrary,  it 
is  because  the  blood  is  over-driven  at  first,  and  subse¬ 
quently  reduced  to  impotence  by  the  excess,  that  the 
vital  activity  falls  into  torpidity. 

At  its  conclusion  a  cordial  vote  of  thanks  was  awarded 
by  the  members  present  to  the  lecturer. 

Messrs.  Branson,  Collinson,  Davy,  Horsfield  and  A. 
and  C.  Laycock,  of  Rotherham,  were  elected  members, 
and  Messrs.  Blacker,  Booth,  Hollinrake,  Johnson, 
Learoyd,  Robson  and  Thomson,  associates. 

The  President  announced  the  following  donations  to 
the  library  and  museum Thirty -seven  bound  volumes 
of  the  Lancet  and  seven  volumes  of  Bell’s  ‘  Surgery,’  from 
Mr.  Nathaniel  Booth,  of  Rotherham,  and  a  cabinet  col¬ 


lection  of  minerals  and  metals  from  Messrs.  Cutloy  and 
Preston,  High  Street. 

Mr.  G.  B.  Cocking  proposed  and  Mr.  Huddlestoxe. 
seconded  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Booth,  and  Mr.  Wilson 
proposed  and  Mr.  Watts  seconded  a  vote  of  thanks  to 
Messrs.  Cutley  and  Preston  for  their  handsome  donations, 
both  of  which  were  unanimously  carried.  This  concluded, 
the  business  of  the  meeting. 

O 


DUNDEE  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

The  First  General  Meeting  of  Session  1870-71  was- 
held  in  Lamb’s  Hotel  on  the  9th  of  November ;  Mr. 
Laird  in  the  chair. 

The  following  were  elected  office-bearers  for  the  ses¬ 
sion  : — President :  Mr.  Wm.  Laird,  Ph.C.  Vice-Presi¬ 
dent  :  Mr.  David  Russell.  Treasurer :  Mr.  G.  Jack. 
Secretary  :  Mr.  Jas.  Russell.  Council :  Mr.  A.  B.  Ander¬ 
son,  Mr.  Wm.  Doig,  Mr.  D.  H.  Ferries,  Mr.  C.  Kerr, 
Ph.C. 

The  report  from  the  Committee  having  been  read,  it 
was  resolved  to  rent  a  room,  in  order  to  facilitate  the 
formation  of  classes  for  instruction  of  apprentices  in  che¬ 
mistry,  materia  medica  and  pharmacy.  A  Committee- 
was  appointed. 

A  vote  of  thanks  to  the  Chairman  terminated  the  pro¬ 
ceedings. 


LIVERPOOL  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Second  General  Meeting  of  this  Association  /was 
held  at  the  Royal  Institution,  on  the  10th  November ; 
the  President,  Mr.  John  Abraham,  in  the  chair.  Them 
was  a  large  attendance. 

The  minutes  of  the  previous  meeting  were  read  and 
confirmed. 

Letters  were  read  from  Messrs.  Attfield,  Stoddartr 
and  Hills,  acknowledging  their  election  as  honorary 
members. 

Mr.  Joseph  Hallawell,  Mr.  Charles  C.  Bell,  and  Mr. 
Thomas  Williams  were  elected  members. 

Mr.  William  Hallawell,  Mr.  Edward  Olivant,  and 
G.  Harriman  were  elected  associates. 

The  President  exhibited  a  bottle,  labelled  “Palatable 
Cod-Liver  Oil,”  which  contained  a  mixture  consisting; 
of  nine  parts  of  cod-liver  oil  and  seven  parts  of  syrupy 
flavoured  with  lemon  and  oil  of  aniseed  or  dill.  Parti¬ 
cular  care  was  taken  to  cover  the  whole  of  the  bottle 
with  the  labels,  and  prominent  instructions  were  given 
that  “the  bottle  should  be  well  shaken.”  He  observed 
that  a  circular  accompanied  each  bottle,  with  testimo¬ 
nials  from  medical  men  and  some  who  held  the  title  of 
F.C.S.,  and  he  could  not  understand  how  such  men 
could  lend  their  names  to  a  practice  by  which  the  public 
were  led  to  believe  that  they  were  purchasing  genuine 
cod-liver  oil,  whereas  wRat  they  received  was  only  about, 
half  oil.  He  strongly  condemned  such  a  practice,  and 
was  unanimously  supported  by  the  members  in  an  ani¬ 
mated  discussion  which  followed. 

The  Secretary  exhibited  a  sample  of  chiretta,  falsely 
packed  with  munjeet  ( Rubia  cordifolia) ,  presented  to  the 
museum  by  Messrs.  Evans,  Sons  and  Co.,  a  description 
of  which  appears  in  the  Pharmaceuttcal  Journal,  3rd 
Series,  No.  10,  page  367. 

Mr.  Richard  Evans  (Cleveland  Square)  called  atten¬ 
tion  to  the  correspondence  which  appeared  lately  in  the 
Pharmaceutical  Journal  respecting  poisonous  feeding- 
bottles,  and  stated  that  six  years  ago,  one  of  his  children 
died,  and  upon  application  to  the  medical  man  who  at¬ 
tended  the  child  for  a  certificate  of  death,  it  was  refused, 
the  child  exhibiting  strong  symptoms  of  having  been 
poisoned,  which  symptoms  he  considered  were  pioduecd 


432 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  26,  1870. 


from  the  use  of  an  ordinary  feeding-bottle,  the  white 
tubing,  not  being  india-rubber,  but  a  composition  (con¬ 
sisting  of  india-rubber  dissolved  in  10  per  cent,  of  bisul¬ 
phide  of  carbon,  and  thickened  up  with  white  lead,  resin, 
and  sometimes  oxysulphuret  of  antimony,  to  give  it  a 
pink  colour),  from  which,  when  coming  in  contact  with 
the  milk,  sulphuretted  hydrogen  was  evolved,  and  lactate 
of  lead  formed  in  the  stomach.  He  exhibited  a  feeding- 
bottle  (which  he  had  originally  made  for  use  in  his  family 
for  some  years,  but  at  the  request  of  many  friends  and 
medical  men,  he  now  had  it  for  sale),  the  advantage  of 
which  was  that  the  tubing  and  teat  being  formed  of  na¬ 
tive  rubber,  vulcanized  by  means  of  magnesia,  none  of 
the  evils  mentioned  in  the  other  case  could  possibly  oc¬ 
cur.  He  stated  that  Dr.  Nevins,  the  lecturer  at  the 
Royal  Infirmary  School  of  Medicine,  had  been  so  con¬ 
vinced  of  the  value  of  this  arrangement,  that  he  recom¬ 
mended  the  students  when  they  met  with  cases  of  vomit¬ 
ing,  griping,  and  diarrhoea  in  infants,  to  ascertain  how 
they  were  fed,  and  if  the  white  tubing  was  used  to  treat 
the  patient  for  lead  poisoning. 

Mr.  A.  Norman  Tate,  analytical  chemist,  stated  that 
at  the  request  of  a  medical  gentleman,  he  had  analysed 
some  samples  of  tubing,  and  found  lead  in  each. 

Mr.  Davies  had  tested  several  samples  with  the  same 
result,  and  testified  the  value  of  Mr.  Evans’s  suggestion 
from  practical  experience. 

Mr.  Edward  Davies,  F.C.S.,  read  a  paper  upon 
“  Ozone,”  of  which  the  following  is  an  abstract : — 

When  the  electrical  machine  was  invented,  it  was  soon 
noticed  that  a  peculiar  odour  was  produced  during  the 
working  of  the  machine.  Von  Marum,  about  a  century 
ago,  found  that  on  passing  sparks  through  oxygen  it 
assumed  the  same  smell  and  attacked  mercury. 

In  this  state  our  knowledge  of  ozone  remained  until 
Schonbein  published  his  first  paper  on  ozone  in  1840, 
showing  its  production  in  the  electrolysis  of  water,  and 
afterwards  in  the  slow  oxidation  of  phosphorus. 

Ozone  can  be  prepared  in  many  ways.  1st.  Clean 
phosphorus  is  put  into  a  bottle  with  a  little  water  for  an 
hour  or  two,  then  removed,  and  the  enclosed  air  well 
washed  to  remove  phosphoric  acid.  2nd.  A  hot  glass 
rod  is  held  in  a  vessel  containing  ether  vapour  and  air. 
When  the  rod  is  sufficiently  heated,  in  the  dark  a  pale 
blue  lambent  flame,  resembling  that  emitted  by  phos¬ 
phorus,  is  seen.  If  oxygen  be  employed  instead  of  air, 
and  a  heated  glass  tube  used,  an  explosion  ensues.  3rd. 
By  the  electrolysis  of  water  strongly  acidulated  ;  accord¬ 
ing  to  M.  Cr.  Plante,  more  ozone  is  obtained  by  using 
lead  electrodes.  4tli.  By  electrical  discharges  in  air  or 
oxygen.  This  method  yields  the  largest  quantity  of 
ozone.  By  passing  dry  oxygen  through  Siemen’s  ozone 
generator  (which  is  essentially  a  Leyden  jar,  the  two 
coatings  of  which  are  connected  with  the  terminals  of  an 
induction  coil),  a  stream  of  strongly  ozonized  oxygen 
may  be  obtained,  oth.  By  the  action  of  strong  sulphuric 
acid  on  permanganate  of  potassium.  It  is  also  said  to 
be  produced  during  chemical  combinations,  as  that  of 
sulphuric  acid  with  potash,  in  fermentation  and  putre¬ 
faction,  and  by  plants  when  in  flower. 

The  tests  used  to  indicate  its  presence  are  : — 1st.  Paper 
brushed  over  with  starch-paste  containing  iodide  of  po¬ 
tassium  ;  the  ozone  oxidizes  the  potassium,  and  the  free 
iodine  unites  with  the  starch.  2nd.  Red  litmus  mois¬ 
tened  with  solution  of  iodide  of  potassium.  The  potash 
set  free  turns  the  paper  blue.  3rd.  Paper  moistened 
with  solution  of  sulphate  of  manganese.  The  paper 
turns  brown  from  formation  of  di-oxide  of  manganese. 
4th.  Paper  moistened  with  oxide  of  thallium,  which  turns 
brown  owing  to  formation  of  peroxide  of  thallium. 

Ozone  tarnishes  silver  foil  and  mercury  ;  corrodes  cork 
and  india-rubber ;  oxidizes  indigo  into  isatin,  ferrocyanide 
of  potassium  into  ferricyanide,  and  destroys  bad  smells. 
Peroxide  of  manganese  and  peroxide  of  lead  convert  it 
into  ordinary  oxygen  without  undergoing  change  them¬ 
selves  ;  peroxides  of  hydrogen  and  barium  also  convert 


it  into  ordinary  oxygen,  and  are  decomposed  into  oxygen 
and  protoxides. 

Ozone  possesses  a  powerful  odour,  from  which  it  de¬ 
rives  its  name — o(eiv  signifying,  to  have  a  smell.  It  is 
almost  insoluble  in  water. 

Oxygen  in  the  free  state  is  combined  with  itself  to 
form  a  molecule,  which  may  be  represented  as  0  ©. 
The  view  of  ozone  generally  received  is  that  it  is  ©  0  © 
condensed  into  two  volumes.  This  view  is  supported  by 
the  fact  that  when  put  in  contact  with  iodide  of  potas¬ 
sium  it  does  not  contract.  If  this  be  so,  when  ozone  is 
produced  by  electrical  action,  either  both  atoms  of  ordi¬ 
nary  oxygen  must  become  negative  and  unite  with  ordi¬ 
nary  oxygen,  or  the  molecule  must  split  into  positive  and 
negative  oxygen,  and  a  molecule  of  antozone  0  ©  0  be 
also  formed.  Antozone  has,  however,  not  been  satisfac¬ 
torily  isolated,  unless  the  fumes  produced  in  contact 
with  water  when  ozonized  oxygen  is  passed  through 
iodide  of  potassium  solution  consist  of  antozone  me¬ 
chanically  mixed  with  aqueous  vapour  (Meissner).  Wil¬ 
liamson  and  Baumert  considered  ozone  to  bo  IL  03 ;  but 
this  mew  seems  disproved  by  the  experiments  of  An¬ 
drews. 

Ozone  is  found  generally  in  the  air,  Dr.  Richardson 
sa ys  that  the  amount  may  be  -Too go-  It  is  absent  generally 
in  large  towns,  especially  in  close  courts.  It  is  doubtful  if  it 
produces  disease,  though  catarrh  may  be  a  result  of  excess, 
as  it  produces  the  symptoms  of  that  disease  when  inhaled. 
Equally  uncertain  is  the  action  which  it  exerts  in  pre¬ 
venting  disease.  According  to  some  observers  the  occur¬ 
rence  of  cholera  is  coincident  with  absence  or  diminution 
of  ozone,  and  its  departure  with  a  return  of  ozone. 
Against  this  view  must  be  set  the  observations  of  Father 
Denza,  that  in  Turin  during  cholera  the  amount  of  ozone 
remained  an  average  quantity,  and  of  M.  Fournet,  that 
at  Lyons,  where  no  ozone  can  ever  be  detected,  cholera 
is  not  more  frequent  or  severe  than  elsewhere. 

Many  of  the  discrepancies  observed  may  be  due  to  the 
method  used  for  measuring  the  amount  of  ozone.  This, 
consisting  in  the  use  of  iodide  of  potassium  and  starch 
papers,  is  liable  to  many  sources  of  error.  Many  other 
substances  will  set  iodine  free  besides  ozone,  and  the 
tendency  of  free  potash  to  convert  free  iodine  into  iodide 
and  iodate  of  potassium,  must  have  some  influence  on  the 
delicacy  of  the  test.  Until  some  more  certain  means  is 
discovered,  present  observations  must  be  received  with 
great  caution,  or  the  knowledge  which  we  possess  will 
be  worse  than  ignorance,  as  being  calculated  to  mislead. 

The  methods  for  preparing  ozone,  and  the  various 
tests  for  it  mentioned  by  Mr.  Davies,  were  fully  and 
ably  illustrated  by  many  very  successful  experiments. 

The  President  said  that  at  the  soiree  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society  an  apparatus  was  exhibited  for  produc¬ 
ing  ozone  in  large  quantities. 

A  discussion  followed,  in  which  Messrs.  Tate,  Wright, 
Blair  and  Samuel  took  part. 

Mr.  A.  Norman  Tate  said  he  was  very  glad  to  hear 
Mr.  Davies  close  his  valuable  paper  as  he  did.  He  had 
always  avoided  ozone,  as  he  considered  the  knowledge 
that  chemists  had  of  it  was  worse  than  ignorance,  as 
ozone  was  often  said  to  be  present  when  other  things 
might  exist.  He  complimented  Mr.  Davies  on  his  con¬ 
centration  of  the  subject,  and  moved  a  vote  of  thanks. 

Mr.  Blair,  in  seconding  the  vote,  said  that  when 
ozone  was  absent  cloth  goods  would  not  dye,  and  in¬ 
stanced  the  remarkable  effect  of  a  thunderstorm,  d’ning 
which  the  power  of  the  mordant  was  increased,  and  the 
stuff  was  dyed.  In  the  island  of  Skye  ozone  was  very 
abundant,  and  the  people  never  suffer  from  catarrh. 
He  considered  also  that  if  ozone  could  be  produced  in 
quantity  at  a  reasonable  rate,  it  would  be  of  great  ser¬ 
vice  to  decolorize  sugar. 

The  vote  having  been  carried  by  acclamation,  Mr. 
Davies  returned  thanks,  and  the  meeting  separated. 


November  26,  1870-]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


433 


BRITISH  PHARMACEUTICAL  CONFERENCE. 

Meeting  at  Liverpool. 

Wednesday ,  September  \it7i. 

(■ Continued  from  page  418.) 

Nepaul  Aconite. 

BY  T.  15.  GROVES. 

It  had  been  my  intention  to  furnish  the  Conference 
with  a  general  view  of  the  recent  researches  of  Professors 
Fliickiger  and  Klebs  on  the  aconite  bases,  but  for  seve¬ 
ral  reasons  I  now  abstain  from  doing  so.  In  the  first 
place,  Professor  Fliickiger  has  himself  communicated  to 
the  Pharmaceutical  Journal  a  resume  of  his  long  and 
able  paper,  and  secondly,  poor  Professor  Ivlebs,  to  whom 
had  been  entrusted  the  physiological  portion  of  the  in¬ 
quiry,  having  been  prevented  by  illness  from  elaborating 
his  notes  on  the  termination  of  the  experiments,  has  now 
been  ordered  to  the  front  as  a  military  surgeon,  leaving 
his  manuscripts  unaccessible,  and  nothing  further  pub¬ 
lished  respecting  his  labours  than  is  to  be  found  in  Pro¬ 
fessor  Fliickiger  s  paper  already  alluded  to.  I  much 
regret  this  delay,  as  I  should  attach  the  first  importance 
to  such  method  of  testing  in  the  case  of  substances  so  ill- 
defined  chemically,  so  susceptible  of  modification  in  the 
process  of  extraction,  and  withal  so  immensely  powerful 
in  their  action  on  the  living  body,  as  are  the  group  of 
aconite  alkaloids. 

Fliickiger’s  motive  in  undertaking  his  investigation  was 
a  desire  to  determine  whether  or  no  there  were  at  the 
present  time  two  different  aconitinas  supplied  to  the  me¬ 
dical  profession,  and  if  so,  in  the  second  place  to  determine 
exactly  their  respective  characteristics,  and  lastly,  to  as¬ 
certain  the  source  from  which  each  alkaloid  was  derived. 

In  the  first  and  second  parts  of  the  subject,  he  was 
highly  successful,  and  pharmaceutists  arc  greatly  in¬ 
debted  to  him  for  establishing  indubitably  the  fact  that 
there  are  both  aconitina  and  pseudaconitina.  As  regards 
the  source  of  the  latter,  he  regrets  his  inability  to  settle 
the  moot  question,  whether  it  owes  its  origin  to  the  Indian 
aconite  roots  known  under  the  name  of  Bikh,  or  not. 
Yon  SchrofF  early  declared  that  such  was  the  case,  and 
that  he  had  extracted  from  Bikh  roots  an  alkaloid  he  re¬ 
garded  as  the  acrid  principle  of  aconite,  as  distinguished 
from  the  narcotic  principle  represented  by  German  aco¬ 
nitina.  But  he  unfortunately  identified  this  acrid  prin¬ 
ciple  with  Mors  on’s  aconitina,  which  substance  Fliickiger 
was  able  to  prove  identical  with  the  German  article,  and 
moreover,  that  it  for  many  years  had  not  perceptibly 
altered  its  character.  Fliickiger’ s  examination  of  Bikh, 
limited  to  the  physiological  testing  of  an  extract  of  that 
root,  pointed  to  the  conclusion  that  it  contained  aconitina, 
not  pseudaconitina.  It  will  be  well  here  to  read  a  sum¬ 
mary  of  Fliickiger’s  conclusions. 

1.  Aconitina  is  found  in  the  roots  of  the  European  blue- 
flowered  aconites,  especially  A.  Xa pell  us. 

2.  It  is  also  found  in  the  Himalayan  species  that  go 
by  the  name  of  Bikh,  amongst  which  occurs  A.  Xapel- 
his ,  sp. 

3.  According  to  Hiibschmann  aconitina  is  wanting  in 
A.  Lycoctonum ,  the  yellow-flowered  aconite. 

4.  Aconitina  is  characterized  by  the  following  proper¬ 
ties.  It  softens  in  boiling  water,  and  imparts  to  phos¬ 
phoric  acid  that  has  been  concentrated  by  heating  over  a 
water  bath  at  from  80°  to  100°,  a  violet  tint  that  in  the 
cold  lasts  for  whole  days.  Its  watery  solution  tastes 
bitter,  not  acrid.  It  is  not  precipitable  by  chloride  of 
platinum.  Soluble  in  5  pts.  sp.  v.  r.  (7o  p.  c.),  also  so¬ 
luble  in  ether  and  chloroform.  It  fuses  completely  at 
about  120°.  Its  nitrate  crystallizes  well,  the  free  base 
not  so  distinctly. 

5.  The  above  description  (par.  4)  applies  generally  to 


English  aconitina,  except  that  occasionally  an  acrid  taste 
accompanies  the  bitter. 

6.  Hence  the  term  “English  aconitina”  is  not  distinc¬ 
tive. 

7.  There  is  found  among  the  varieties  of  aconitina  an 
entirely  different  basic  body,  of  unknown  origin.  A  con¬ 
jecture  may  be  hazarded  that  it  is  derived  from  the  Indian 
Bikh  roots. 

8.  It  is  here  referred  to  under  the  name  pseudaconitina. 
Its  discoverer,  Yon  Schroff,  however,  called  it  English 
aconitina.  Other  chemists  have  termed  it  napcllin,  nepa- 
lin,  acraconitina. 

9.  Pseudaconitina  does  not  soften  in  boiling  water,  does 
not  give  the  violet  colour  with  phosphoric  acid,  tastes  acrid 
not  bitter,  does  not  dissolve  in  water,  is  little  soluble  in 
ether,  chloroform  and  sp.  v.  r.  in  tho  cold,  crystallizes 
readily  in  large  prisms  from  boiling  saturated  solutions 
in  the  above. 

10.  Napcllin  proper  is  an  alkaloid  distinct  from  the 
above  alkaloids. 

11.  Lycoctonin  is  likewise  a  distinct  alkaloid,  and  is 
exceedingly  well  characterized  by  tho  behaviour  of  its 
watery  solution  with  bromine  water  and  iodohydrargy- 
rate  of  potassium. 

Equally  striking  is  the  quickness  with  which  cautiously 
melted  lycoctonin,  after  completely  cooling,  becomes  re¬ 
converted  by  moistening  with  water  into  crystals. 

I  am  happy  to  be  in  a  position  to  throw  considerable 
light  on  the  source  of  the  long-sought  pseudaconitina. 

When  last  in  London  (in  August  last)  I  ascertained 
from  our  esteemed  ex-president,  Mr.  D.  Hanbury,  that 
there  had  been  a  large  importation  of  Indian  aconite 
roots,  and  that  they  wrcre  obtainable  at  an  exceedingly 
low  price.  They  were  represented  as  coming  from  Ne¬ 
paul,  but  whether  they  were  the  produce  of  Aeon  it  um 
ferox ,  or  of  some  other  aconite,  was  not  ascertainable.  I 
at  once  determined  on  testing  the  nature  of  the  alkaloid 
or  alkaloids  they  might  contain,  and  procured  from 
Messrs.  Barron,  Harveys  and  Co.  a  supply  of  the  root3, 
for  which  I  paid  the  absurd  price  of  8 <7.  per  lb.  I  say 
absurd,  for  I  have  it  on  record  in  my  price-book  that 
when,  some  years  since,  I  asked  for  a  quotation  of  price 
of  Aconitum  feroXy  I  obtained  the  answer  22 s.  per  lb. ! 

Six  pounds  of  these  roots  I  treated  after  the  method 
explained  in  my  paper  on  aconite,  read  before  this  Con¬ 
ference  at  Nottingham  in  1866.  I  need  not,  therefore, 
repeat  its  details.  Of  the  roots  themselves  I  exhibit  some 
characteristic  specimens.  In  texture  they  differ  much 
from  English  aconite  roots.  They  are  often  tough 
and  leathery,  so  that  they  are  difficult  to  powder,  even 
after  considerable  exposure  in  tho  drying  closet.  These 
refractory  roots  are,  when  completely  dry,  hard  and 
flinty.  It  appears  that,  in  these  cases,  starch  has  be¬ 
come  converted  into  dextrine.  In  fact,  on  tearing  a 
root,  the  broken  edge  appears  inclined  to  transparency, 
exhibiting  a  sort  of  waxiness.  That  this  was  not  due  to 
an  unusual  proportion  of  resin  was  evidenced  by  the  re¬ 
sult  of  my  analysis,  which  showed  that  the  Bikh  roots 
were  less  resinous  than  the  English  roots  I  had  previously 
operated  upon. 

Omitting  mention  of  the  earlier  processes,  I  will  com¬ 
mence  detail  at  the  point  when  the  alkaloids  had  been 
concentrated  into  a  crude  acid  solution,  measuring  about 
6  ounces. 

This  solution,  first  partially  decolorized  with  animal 
charcoal,  was  transferred  to  a  separating  funnel  and  alka¬ 
lized  with  ammonia.  It  became  nearly  solid ;  and  I  was  at 
once  aware  of  the  extraordinary  richness  of  the  material 
I  was  treating.  Washed  repeatedly  with  ether,  the 
magma  disappeared.  After  each  ethereal  washing,  the 
ether  was  shaken  with  acidulated  water,  and  used  over 
again.  The  acid  solution  thus  obtained  was  again 
treated  with  ammonia  and  ether.  Care  was  taken  to 
contract  the  bulk  as  far  as  possible ;  and  tho  ether,  loaded 
with  alkaloids  but  yet  scarcely  coloured,  was  put  asido 
for  spontaneous  evaporation.  After  about  halt  an  hour, 


434 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  26,  1870. 


white,  shining  crystals  began  to  make  their  appearance. 
These  increased  from  day  to  day,  until  the  mother-liquor 
Rad  become  syrupy.  They  were  then  removed,  washed 


with  ether,  and  dried  on  blotting-paper.  Examined 
chemically,  they  correspond  in  every  respect  with  Fliicki- 
ger’s  description  of  pseudaconitina.  They  weighed  43 
grains. 

The  syrupy  mother-liquor,  evaporated  to  dryness  in  a 
fared  capsule,  weighed  130  grains,  without  reckoning 
wrhat  was  temporarily  lost  in  the  washings.  It  had  the 
appearance  of  resin,  became  soft  over  the  water-bath ; 
wrhen  cold,  was  brittle  and  structureless.  It  was  dis¬ 
solved  in  alcohol,  and  the  solution  poured  guttatim  into 
boiling  water  kept  slightly  acidulated  with  nitric  acid. 
It  dissolved  without  residue.  The  solution  was  con¬ 
centrated  to  a  thin  syrup,  and  set  aside  to  see  whether 
-it  would  crystallize.  It  showed  no  tendency  that  way, 
in  this  respect  differing  from  the  alkaloid  of  Aconitmn 
Napellus ,  so  it  was  diluted  with  water,  and  treated  with 
■a  slight  excess  of  ammonia.  The  white  magma  was 
thrown  on  to  a  filter,  washed  a  little  with  water,  then 
drained  on  blotting-paper  and  dried.  It  weighed  in  that 
condition  87  grains.  * 

The  loss  occasioned  by  precipitation  thus  amounted  to 


Since  writing  the  above,  I  have  had  an  opportunity  of  as¬ 
certaining  the  opinion  of  Dr.  Th.  Husemann  respecting  pseud- 
nconitina  and  aconitina,  expressed  in  a  paper  published  subse¬ 
quently  to  that  of  Dr.  Fliickiger  in  the  Neues  Jahrbuch  der 
Nharmacie.  He  writes,  “  The  physiological  actions  of  pseud- 
aconitin  a  and  of  aconitina,  when  applied  externally,  differ  in  this 
respect— the  former  acts  similarly  to  veratria,  the  latter  not  so. 
Taken  internally, pseudaconitina  is  given  in  much  smaller  doses 
than  aconitina  and  often  acts  fatally.  They  both  depress  the 
action  of  the  heart  and  lungs,  and  act  similarly  but  unequally 
on  the  bowels.” 

Adelheim,  however,  could  perceive  only  a  difference  of 


43  grains.  This  was  caused  mainly  by  the  solubility 
of  aconitina  in  water.  It  is  stated  to  dissolve  in  150  parts 
of  that  fluid,  but  that  proportion  is  much  too  little  for 
the  recently  precipitated  alkaloid  and  an  ammoniacal 
liquor.  To  avoid  loss,  therefore,  the  wash  waters  and 
absorbent  papers  must  be  looked  sharply  after. 

It  is,  therefore,  probable  that  the  pseudaconitina  that 
from  time  to  time  has  made  its  appearance  in  the  Euro¬ 
pean  markets,  under  the  name  of  aconitina,  has  been  de¬ 
rived  from  the  Indian  aconites,  of  which  it  seems  to  be 
characteristic,  as  lycoctonin  is  peculiar  to  the  yellow- 
flowered  aconite.  The  very  large  proportion  of  true 
aconitina  yielded  by  Bikh,  and  the  facility  of  purifying  it 
from  its  crystalline  and  sparingly  soluble  concomitant, 
point  unmistakably  to  the  future  source  of  the  alkaloid, 
and  to  a  large  reduction  of  its  present  enormous  price. 


Note  on  Calamine. 

BY  11.  REYNOLDS,  E.C.S. 

It  has  been  supposed  that  those  who  desired  the  genuine 
calamine  of  pharmacy  (prepared  carbonate  of  zinc)  could 
obtain  such  from  a  manufacturer  in  Derbyshire.  Al¬ 
though  this  used  to  be  the  case,  it  is  so  no  longer,  as  the 
calamine  issued  from  the  above  source  is  no-w  a  silicate 
of  zinc  (the  electric  calamine  of  mineralogists)  and  not  a 
carbonate.  The  maker  appears  to  be  satisfied,  because 
the  mineral  contains  about  70  per  cent,  of  oxide  of  zinc, 
and  the  substitution  seems  to  be  the  result  of  difficulty 
in  getting  the  right  substance,  and  not  from  any  fraudu¬ 
lent  intention.  However,  the  fact  is  not  a  satisfactory 
one,  and  some  other  means  of  supply  is  desirable.  The 
silicate  is  easily  distinguished  from  true  carbonate,  inas¬ 
much  as  it  partially  dissolves,  without  effervescence,  in 
hydrochloric  acid,  and  then  gelatinizes,  from  the  separa¬ 
tion  of  silica.  - - 

The  President  confirmed  the  statement  of  the  diffi¬ 
culty  in  obtaining  genuine  calamine.  He  was  able,  how¬ 
ever,  to  announce  that  a  recent  discovery  of  this  ore  had 
been  made  in  the  Mendip  Hills,  which  he  hoped  would 
soon  be  made  available  for  the  purposes  of  pharmacy. 

Mr.  Williams  (London)  also  spoke  of  the  absence  of 
genuine  English  calamine  from  the  market,  but  said  that 
a  satisfactory  article  was  imported  from  Belgium. 


Mr.  Wentworth  Lascelles  Scott,  F.C.S.,  furnished 
a  paper  on  “  The  Purification  of  Ammoniacal  Salts  from 
Gas  Liquor  so  as  to  utilize  them  for  Pharmaceutical 


degree,  not  of  kind,  between  aconitina  and  pseudaconitina 
derived  from  Aconitmn  fer ox . 

Very  soon  after  Turnbull’s  discovery  of  aconitina,  and  its 
introduction  into  medical  practice,  differences  in  the  action  of 
alkaloids  of  various  sources  were  noticed.  Some  would  not 
produce  the  sensation  of  numbness,  contraction  and  weight, 
lasting  from  two  to  twelve  hours,  as  described  by  Turnbull ; 
some  were  stronger  than  others;  some  dilated,  others  expanded 
the  pupil.  From  5  to  6  milligrams  of  the  stronger  kind  seem 
to  have  been  the  poisonous  dose  for  a  cat,  whereas  the  weaker 
kinds  were  toned  down  step  by  step  to  almost  positive  in¬ 
ertness. 

Husemann  is  decidedly  of  opinion  that  pseudaconitina  ought 
not  to  be  regarded  as  a  mere  impurity  of  aconitina,  but  rather 
as  the  true  active  principle  of  aconite,  and  thinks  that  both  al¬ 
kaloids  deserve  a  place  in  the  dispensary  as  soon  as  a  method 
shall  have  been  devised  for  preparing  them  in  a  state  of  purity. 

He  regards  the  Indian  aconite  roots  as  the  most  likely 
source  of  pesudaconitina,  although  he  thinks  it  probable  that 
Aconitum  Napellus  may  possibly  contain  it  in  small  quantity. 

Morson’s  preparation,  it  is  well  known,  cannot  always  be 
relied  upon.  Its  topical  action  is  at  times  much  more  power¬ 
ful  than  at  other  times.  The  method  of  extraction  adopted 
by  him  is  not  known.  It  is  said  to  be  a  peculiar  one ;  but 
there  is  reason  for  supposing  that  its  success  depends  mom 
on  careful  selection  of  the  roots  than  on  any  relinement  ot 
chemical  treatment. 


"November  26,  1970.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


435 


Purposes,”  which,  was  a  continuation  of  his  paper  of  last 
year  on  the  same  subject. 

The  next  paper  was  by  the  same  gentleman,  and  was 
entitled  a  “  Report  on  the  Purity  of  Commercial  Salts  of 
Lithium.”  The  author  had  examined  twenty-seven  sam¬ 
ples,  obtained  from  different  sources.  Of  these  sixteen 
wrere  found  to  be  pure,  six  showed  signs  of  extraneous 
matter,  and  five  were  adulterated  to  a  greater  or  less  ex¬ 
tent,  a  result  which  the  author  thought  on  the  whole  to 
be  satisfactory. 

Mr.  Williams  remarked  that  some  carbonate  of  lithi¬ 
um  had  been  met  with  that  contained  60  per  cent,  of  car¬ 
bonate  of  sodium. 


Mr.  Atherton  (Nottingham)  moved  the  following  re¬ 
solution  : — 

“That  the  best  thanks  of  the  Conference  be  given 
to  the  authors  of  papers  read  before  it.” 

Mr.  H.  S.  Evans  seconded  the  resolution,  which  was 
heartily  carried. 

Mr.  Carteighe  said  he  had  been  permitted  the  privi¬ 
lege  of  moving  the  following  resolution : — 

“  That  the  cordial  thanks  of  the  assembled  members 
be  presented  to  their  brethren  of  Liverpool  and  the 
neighbourhood,  especially  to  Messrs.  Abraham,  Sum¬ 
ner,  Shaw,  Davies,  and  the  other  members  of  the 
Local  Committee,  for  their  great  and  successful  efforts 
in  organizing  the  Exhibition,  making  arrangements 
for  the  meetings,  and  promoting  the  general  objects  of 
the  Conference,  as  well  as  for  the  hospitable  reception 
they  have  accorded  to  their  visitors.” 

He  begged  to  assure  the  Chairman  and  all  the  gentle¬ 
men  on  the  Local  Committee  that  this  resolution  ex¬ 
pressed,  though  feebly,  the  real  feelings  of  all  the  visitors, 
and  that  they  were  not  only  thoroughly  conscious  of  the 
.large  expenditure  of  time  and  money  required  in  organi¬ 
zing  their  Exhibition  of  singular  excellence,  but  also 
deeply  sensible  of  the  personal  kindness  and  hospitality 
displayed  with  so  much  continuity  by  their  Liverpool 
friends.  He  was  convinced  the  resolution  would  be  re¬ 
ceived  with  all  the  acclamation  that  it  deserved. 

Mr.  Savage  (Brighton)  seconded  the  motion. 

Dr.  Attfield  said  that  he  could  not  allow  the  resolu¬ 
tion  to  pass  without  adding  his  testimony  to  the  excel¬ 
lence  of  all  the  arrangements  which  had  been  made  by 
the  Local  Committee.  The  Chairman,  Mr.  Abraham, 
and  the  Local  Secretary,  Mr.  Davies,  had  shown  every 
•anxiety  to  ascertain  what  steps  would  be  most  conducive 
to  the  success  of  the  meeting,  and  these  were  in  all  cases 
carried  out  promptly  and  efficiently.  The  wishes  of  the 
■officers  of  the  Conference  had  been  completely  antici¬ 
pated  by  the  Local  Committee. 

The  resolution  was  carried  amid  hearty  cheering. 

Mr.  Abraham  acknowledged  the  vote  of  thanks,  and 
■expressed  his  satisfaction  that  their  arrangements  had 
met  with  the  approval  of  their  friends.  A  knowledge  of 
this  and  the  kind  way  in  which  it  had  been  now  ex¬ 
pressed  was  an  ample  reward  for  any  exertions  which 
“they  had  made. 

Mr.  Shaw  replied,  and  said  that  they  had,  during 
“twelve  months,  looked  forward  with  pleasure  to  the 
meeting  which  had  now  been  held.  His  post  as  Trea¬ 
surer  of  the  Local  Committee  had  brought  him  into  con¬ 
tact  with  the  members  of  the  trade  generally,  and  all 
were  anxious  that  a  suitable  reception  should  be  given  to 
the  Conference. 

Mr.  Davies  also  replied,  and  received  from  the  meet¬ 
ing  a  very  cordial  and  well-deserved  recognition  of  the 
-admirable  way  in  which  he  had  performed  the  onerous 
•duties  of  Local  Secretary. 

Mr.  Savage  moved,  and  Mr.  Mackay  seconded  a  vote 
<of  thanks  to  the  Treasurer  and  General  Secretaries. 

Mr.  Williams  moved,  and  Mr.  Shaw  seconded  a  vote 
of  thanks  to  the  President,  "which  was  put  to  the  meeting 
by  Mr.  Abraham,  and  warmly  received.  The  President 
acknowledged  the  vote. 


Closing  Business. 

Tuesday ,  September  20. 

The  Conference  met  at  10  a.m.  ;  Mr.  Abraham,  Vice- 
President  in  the  chair.  He  said  that  the  first  business 
to  be  considered  by  the  meeting  would  be  some  proposed 
alterations  in  the  rules. 

It  was  then  proposed  by  Mr.  Carteighe,  and  seconded 
by  Mr.  H.  Matthews, — 

“That  Rule  1  be  altered  as  follows: — Any  person 
desiring  to  become  a  member  of  the  Conference  shall 
forward  his  name  to  the  General  Secretaries,  and  be 
balloted  for  at  a  general  meeting  of  the  members, 
two-thirds  of  the  votes  given  being  needful  for  his 
election.  If  the  application  be  made  during  the  re¬ 
cess,  the  Executive  Committee  may  elect  the  candidate 
by  a  unanimous  vote.” 

Mr.  Redford  expressed  an  opinion,  in  which  Mr. 
Davies  concurred,  that  there  should  be  no  restrictions 
upon  the  admission  of  members  to  the  Association,  but 
that  it  should  be  thrown  open  to  all. 

Mr.  Savage  thought  that  the  right  of  demanding  a 
ballot  should  be  retained. 

Mr.  Atherton  thought  the  Executive  Committee 
should  have  the  power  to  reject  a  candidate. 

Mr.  Horton  asked  whether  there  was  any  rule  about 
expulsion  P  He  would  also  like  to  know  how  often  the 
Executive  Committee  met  ? 

Mr.  Reynolds  said  that  any  member  whose  subscrip¬ 
tion  was  more  than  two  years  in  arrear,  after  written 
application,  was  liable  to  be  removed  from  the  list  by 
the  Executive  Committee.  Members  might  be  expelled 
for  improper  conduct  by  a  majority  of  three-fourths  of 
those  voting  at  a  general  meeting,  providing  that  four¬ 
teen  days’  notice  of  such  intention  of  expulsion  wrere  sent 
by  the  Secretaries  to  each  member  of  the  Conference. 
The  Committee  met  whenever  there  was  any  business  to 
transact. 

Mr.  Redford  suggested  that  a  list  of  candidates  for 
membership  should  be  posted  to  the  members  every  three 
months. 

Mr.  Sumner  suggested  that  each  candidate  should  be 
nominated  by  a  member  residing  in  the  same  locality. 

Mr.  Robbins  thought  that  persons  on  the  Register  of 
Chemists  and  Druggists  should  be  entitled  to  member¬ 
ship  without  election ;  all  others  should  be  elected. 

An  amendment  was  then  proposed  by  Mr.  Savage, 
and  seconded  by  Mr.  Robbins, 

“  That  all  members  registered  as  chemists  and  drug¬ 
gists,  on  payment  of  the  annual  subscription,  be  freely 
elected;  but  all  others  not  so  registered  shall  either 
obtain  the  signature  of  the  local  treasurer,  or  be  sub¬ 
ject  to  the  veto  of  the  Executive  Committee.” 

This,  upon  being  put  to  the  vote,  was  lost. 

Another  amendment  was  moved  by  Mr.  Davies  and 
seconded  by  Mr.  Dutton, — 

“  That  any  person  desiring  to  become  a  member  of 
the  Conference  shall  forward  his  name  and  address  to 
the  Treasurer,  with  subscription  for  the  current  year.” 
Mr.  Sumner  asked  what  scrutiny  the  Executive  Com¬ 
mittee  could  exercise  in  the  case  of  candidates  living  at 
a  distance. 

The  amendment  was  then  put  ,to  the  vote  and  re¬ 
jected. 

The  original  resolution  was  carried  unanimously. 

The  following  alteration  in  Rule  V.  was  proposed  by 
Mr.  Groves,  seconded  by  Mr.  Savage,  and  carried  una¬ 
nimously, — 

“  The  officers  of  the  Conference  shall  be  a  President, 
four  elected  Vice-Presidents,  all  past  Presidents,  who 
shall  be  Vice-Presidents,  a  Treasurer,  two  General 
Secretaries,  one  Local  Secretary  and  nine  other  Mem¬ 
bers,  who  shall  collectively  constitute  the  Executive 
Committee.  Three  members  of  this  Executive  Com¬ 
mittee  to  retire  annually  by  ballot  of  the  annual 
meeting,  the  remainder  being  eligible  for  re-election. 


436 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  26,  1870. 


The  Executive  Committee  shall  be  elected  at  each 
annual  meeting-  by  ballot  of  those  present.” 

Upon  the  proposition  of  Mr.  Evans,  seconded  by  Mr. 
Atherton,  it  was  resolved  unanimously, — 

“  That  the  invitation  to  hold  the  next  meeting  of 
the  Conference  in  Edinburgh,  in  August,  1871,  be  ac¬ 
cepted.” 

Upon  a  ballot  being  taken,  the  following  were  declared 
to  be  the  retiring  members  of  the  Executive  Committee : 
— Mr.  S.  C.  Betty,  Mr.  Cooper,  and  Mr.  J.  T.  Robinson. 

It  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Atherton,  seconded  by  Mr. 
Williams,  and  carried  unanimously, — 

“That  in  consequence  of  the  large  increase  in  the 
number  of  members,  the  Executive  Committee  be  re¬ 
commended  to  appoint  a  paid  agent  as  Assistant- 
Secretary  and  Sub-Treasurer.” 

The  ballot  for  officers  for  1870-71  was  then  taken; 
the  Chairman  declared  the  result  to  be  as  follows : — * 

f) *P^  )  fl 

W.  W.  Stoddart,  F.G.S.,  F.C.S. 

Vice-Presidents  who  have  filled  the  office  of  President. 

H.  Deane,  F.L.S. 

Professor  Bentley,  F.L.S.,  M.R.C.S. 

D.  Hanbury,  F.R.S.,  F.L.S.,  F.C.S. 

Vice-Presidents. 

J.  Abraham,  Liverpool.  J.  Ince,  F.L.S.,  F.C.S. 

H.  C.  Baildon,  Edinburgh.  J.  Williams,  London. 

Treasurer — G.  F.  Schacht. 

General  Secretaries. 

Professor  Attfield,  Ph.D.,  F.C.S. 

R.  Reynolds,  F.C.S.,  Leeds. 

Local  Secretary. — J.  Mackay. 

Committee. 

F.  B.  Benger,  Manchester. 

H.  Matthews,  F.C.S.,  London. 

M.  Carteighe,  F.C.S.,  London. 

G.  Blanshard,  Edinburgh. 

T.  B.  Groves,  F.C.S.,  Weymouth. 

W.  Martindale,  London. 

E.  Davies,  F.C.S.,  Liverpool. 

H.  B.  Brady,  F.L.S.,  F.C.S.,  Newcastle-on-Tyne. 

F.  Sutton,  F.C.S.,  Norwich. 

It  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Sumner,  seconded  by  Mr. 
Bourdas,  and  carried  unanimously,  — 

“  That  Mr.  H.  S.  Evans  and  Mr.  J.  F.  Robinson 
be  elected  Auditors  for  the  present  year.” 

It  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Robbins,  seconded  by  Mr. 
Evans,  and  carried  unanimously, — 

“  That  a  grant  of  books,  of  the  value  of  ten  guineas, 
be  made  from  the  Bell  and  Hills  Fund  to  the  Library 
of  the  Liverpool  Chemists’  Association.” 

The  President  of  the  Liverpool  Chemists’  Association 
thanked  the  Conference,  on  behalf  of  the  Association,  for 
the  gift,  and  said  that  their  Library  now  amounted  to 
about  six  hundred  volumes. 

It  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Matthews,  seconded  by  Mr. 
Bourdas,  and  carried  unanimously, — 

“  That  the  best  thanks  of  the  Conference  be  presented 
to  the  Committee  of  the  Liverpool  Royal  Institution 
for  the  use  of  its  rooms  for  the  meetings  of  the  Con¬ 
ference.” 

It  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Martindale,  seconded  by  Mr. 
Williams,  and  carried  unanimously, — 

“  That  the  best  thanks  of  the  Conference  be  tendered 
to  the  Trustees  and  Managers  of  the  Liverpool  Savings 
Bank  for  the  use  of  its  rooms  for  the  Exhibition  of 
Objects  relating  to  Pharmacy.” 

A  vote  of  thanks  having  been  accorded  to  the  Chair¬ 
man,  the  proceedings  terminated. 


MEETING  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 

Thursday,  London  Chemists'  Association,  at  9.30  p.m. — 
“  On  Hypophosphites.”  By  Mr.  R.  Jewell. 


fiu-IiiMMttitrj  ani>  fate  fnjmimtp. 


Double  Suicide  by  Cyanide  of  Potassium. 

An  inquest  was  held  on  Wednesday,  Nov.  16,  at  Red- 
hill,  upon  the  bodies  of  Robert  Walker  and  Helen  Mason, 
who  had  been  found  dead.  A  document,  signed  by  both 
the  deceased,  in  which  they  expressed  their  intention  to 
commit  suicide,  was  produced. 

W.  Mills,  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Padrick,  chemist, 
Warwick -town,  said  the  deceased  man  came  to  his  em¬ 
ployer’s  shop  on  Friday  night,  and  asked  for  two  penny¬ 
worth  of  prussic  acid  to  clean  gold  lace,  which  ho  refused 
to  give,  as  by  the  new  Act  of  Parliament  a  witness  was 
required.  The  man  called  again  in  about  a  quarter  of  an 
hour,  accompanied  by  James  Crouch,  a  person  known  to 
witness,  and  he  was  then  served  with  half  an  ounce  in  its 
crude  state. 

James  Crouch,  gardener,  said  that  while  he  was  look¬ 
ing  into  Mr.  Padrick’ s  window  the  man  asked  him  to  go 
in  as  a  witness.  He  said  he  did  not  mind  if  there  was 
no  harm.  He  then  went  in  and  signed  the  book  as  a 
witness.  He  never  saw  the  man  before. 

Dr.  Hallowes  said  he  had  no  doubt  cyanide  of  potas¬ 
sium,  which  contains  prussic  acid,  was  the  cause  of  death. 
Three  grains  would  be  sufficient  to  destroy  life.  He 
thought  it  was  most  likely  taken  in  a  crude  state,  and 
that  death  ensued  in  four  or  five  minutes  after  taking  it. 

Evidence  was  given,  showing  that  both  the  deceased 
were  very  peculiar  in  their  manner.  The  jury  returned 
a  verdict  “  That  the  deceased  destroyed  themselves  while 
in  an  unsound  state  of  mind.”  They  also  censured  the 
man  Crouch  for  signing  his  name  when  he  did  not  know 
what  it  was  for,  and  the  coroner  refused  him  his  ex¬ 
penses. —  Times. 


William  M‘Connell,  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Canadian  Pharmaceutical  Society,  died  on  the  28th  of 
September  from  the  effects  of  a  railroad  accident,  after 
lingering  for  ten  hours.  He  resided  at  Coburg,  and 
has  left  a  widow  and  four  children. 


Poisoning  of  a  Family  by  Sheep-Sipping  Com¬ 
position. — A  case  of  poisoning  of  a  family  consisting  of 
a  farmer,  his  wife  and  their  son,  showing  a  large  amount 
of  carelessness  in  dealing  with  poisonous  washes,  is  re¬ 
ported  in  the  Leeds  Mercury  as  having  occurred  near 
Driffield.  Three  ounces  and  a  half  of  mercury  had  been 
purchased  by  the  son  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  sheep- 
wash,  which  ho  prepared  over  the  kitchen  fire  in  the 
evening.  When  the  mercury  was  sufficiently  dissolved, 
it  was  removed  from  the  fire,  poured  into  a  tin  vessel  and 
placed  under  the  kitchen  table,  where  it  remained  during 
the  night.  Next  morning  the  servant  went  to  fill  the 
kettle  for  breakfast,  and  did  so  from  the  tin  vessel  con¬ 
taining  the  mercurial  preparation,  mistaking  it  for  one 
she  had  been  in  the  habit  of  using.  From  this  mixture 
coffee  was  prepared,  all  three  partaking  of  it.  Strong 
symptoms  of  poisoning  were  immediately  manifested, 
and  medical  assistance  was  obtained,  but  in  spite  of  every 
effort  the  father  died  on  the  following  day,  after  suffering- 
great  agony. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  Nov.  19;  the ‘Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
Nov.  19  :  the  !  Lancet,’  Nov.  19 ;  ‘Nature,’  Nov.  17 ;  the  ‘  Che¬ 
mical  News,’  Nov.  18  ;  ‘  Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  Nov. 
17 ;  ‘  Gardeners’  Chronicle,’  Nov.  19;  the  ‘  Grocer,’  Nov.  19- 
the  ‘English  Mechanic,’  Nov.  18;  the  ‘Produce  Markets 
Review,’  Nov.  19;  the  ‘Chemist  and  Druggist’  for  Novem¬ 
ber;  th,e  ‘  Chemists  and  Druggists’  Advocate  ’  for  November; 
the  ‘Chicago  Pharmacist’  for  October;  the  ‘American 
Journal  of  Pharmacy  ’  for  November. 


November  26, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


487 


flute  iiitir  Queries. 


***  In  order  to  facilitate  reference ,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  their  answers  in  each  case  with  the  title 
and  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

[26.] — DOSE  OF  CHLORAL  HYDRATE. — The  dose 
of  chloral  hydrate  varies  very  much  as  to  quantity.  In  a 
patient  this  week,  to  whom  I  prescribed  it,  50  grains  had  no 
•effect;  but  by  pushing  it  to  75  grains,  excellent,  and  most 
invigorating  sleep  was  procured. — Charles  Kidd,  M.D. 

[29.]— QUININE  MIXTURE. — If  A:  P.  S.  will  try  ext. 
cinchonas  liq.  B.  P.  with  sarsaparilla,  he  will  probably  be  more 
successful  than  with  quinine  alone;  the  following  produces 
an  elegant  mixture  : — ■ 

Decoct.  Sarsae  Co.  Cone.  5  parts 
Ext.  Cinchon.  Liq.  B.P.  2  „ 

Sp.  Yini  Rect.  .  .  .  3  „ 

Tinct.  Quinae  Co.  .  f  2  „ 

Syr.  Aurantii  ....  4  „ 

Mix.  Dose  5i  to  5U»  water. 

If  dandelion  be  desired,  some  of  the  succus  tarax.  B.  P.  may 
be  added,  but  then  the  mixture  is  not  quite  clear. — J.  H. 
Baldock,  S.  Norwood. 

[33.]— DISPENSING. 

R.  Tinet.  Quinim  Co.  §iss 
Ammon.  Carb.  gr.  1 
Syrup.  Aurantii  3ss 
Aquae  $j. 

M.  ft.  mist. 

Mix  the  tinct.  quinae  co.  and  sjw.  aurantii.  Dissolve  the 
aminon.  ses.  carb.  in  the  aqua,  and  add  this  last  to  the  tinc¬ 
ture  ;  an  opalescent  mixture  is  obtained,  but  no  appreciable 
precipitate,  which  is?m£  the  case  if  the  conditions  be  reversed. 
In  either  case,  however,  a  thick  mixture,  with  deposition  of 
quinine,  is  the  ultimate  result. — J.  H.  Baldock,  S.  Nor- 
ivood. 

[35.]— ROSE  TOOTH  POWDER.— Add  9i  of  carmine 
to  each  pound  of  precipitated  chalk,  well  rubbing  it  with  a 
little  of  the  chalk  first.  The  more  it  is  rubbed,  the  more  the 
colour  is  developed. — J.  H.  Baldock,  Norwood. 

.[36.]— EAU  DE  COLOGNE.— J?.  Shakerley  (Liskeard) 
will  find  the  following  a  good  recipe  for  making  Eau  de 
Cologne : — 

R.  Oil  Bergamot  5iij 
„  Lemon  gij  _ 

„  Lavender  5iiiss 
„  Neroli  5iiss 
„  Thyme  5ij 
„  Rosemary  5j 
Ess.  Vanilla  5ij 
Otto  of  Rose  gtt.  xxxiv 
Ess.  Patchouli  5j 
Musk  gr.  x 

Orange  Flower  Water  Oj 
Rectified  Spirit  of  Wine  Oxiij 

Macerate  for  fourteen  days  and  filter. — J.  F.,  Aberdeen. 

[38.]— SOLUBILITY  OF  CITRATE  OF  IRON.— In 
answer  to  J.  L.  (Birmingham)  T.  H.  (Bideford)  writes, — ■“  I 
frequently  have  to  make  up  prescriptions,  written  by  an 
eminent  physician  of  a  neighbouring  town,  in  which  citrate 
of  iron  is  ordered;  but  as  I  never  allow  any  in  my  shop  to 
■substitute  one  medicine  for  another,  and  knowing  how  little 
soluble  citrate  of  iron  is  in  cold  water,  I  always  have  it  put 
into  a  test-tube  with  distilled  water  and  dissolved  over  the 
gas,  which  only  takes  a  short  time,  and  then  forms  an  ele¬ 
gant  mixture.” 

[42.] — CHILBLAINS. — In  answer  to  “  Lugoney  ”  and  C. 
Bennett ,  “  Utile  ”  (Boston)  says  that  the  following  makes  an 
■excellent  chilblain  lotion : — 

R.  Glycerine  5iij 
Arnica  Root  gj 
Spirit  of  Camphor  5ss 
Rose  Water  5j.  M. 

Directions — To  be  well  rubbed  in  night  and  morning. 


Dr.  Dewar’s  lotion — 

R.  Sulphurous  Acid, 

Glycerine,  each  5j 

Distilled  Water  51]'.  M. 

— Chemists  and  Druggists’  Almanack,  1869. 

A  solution  of  chloride  of  ammonium,  variously  disguised, 
is  also  used. — H.  H.  P. 

[44] — PERFUMES. — In  answer  to  “  Chemicus,”  who 
requires  a  good,  cheap,  lasting  perfume,  “  Utile”  sends  the 
following : — 

R.  YTangylang, 

Ess.  Bouquet,  each  ^iv 
„  Millefleurs  ^ij 
„  Patchouli  5>j.  M. 

[46.]—' WEATHER-GLASS. 

R.  Nitrate  of  Potash, 

Sal  Ammoniac,  each  5ss 
Camphor  5ij 

Rectified  Spirit  of  Wine  *ij.  M. 

This  composition  to  be  put  into  a  bottle  8  or  10  inches  in 
length  and  about  f-inch  in  diameter,  and  the  mouth  covered 
with  perforated  bladder. 

The  following  are  the  changes  which  may  be  observed : — 

If  the  weather  promise  to  be  fine,  the  insoluble  matter  will 
settle  at  the  bottom  of  the  tube,  while  the  liquid  remains 
pellucid;  but  previous  to  a  change  for  rain,  the  compound 
will  gradually  rise,  the  fluid  remaining  transparent. 

Twenty-four  hours  before  a  storm  or  very  high  wind,  the 
substance  will  be  partly  on  the  surface  of  the  liquid,  appa¬ 
rently  in  the  form  of  a  leaf,  the  fluid  in  such  case  will  be  very 
turbid  and  in  a  state  resembling  fermentation. — W.  J.  Wat- 
kinson,  Preston. 

[51.]— BRILLIANTINE. 

Honey  5j 
Glycerine  3SS 
Eau  de  Cologne  35s 
Rectified  Spirit  of  Wine  31]. 

—  Chemists  and  Druggists’  Almanack,  1869. 

The  following  is  another  formula : — 

Castor  Oil,  2  parts 
Absolute  Alcohol,  6  parts. 

Scent  with  otto  of  rose. 


[55.]— OIL  AND  COTTON  CAKE.— D.  Jenkins  (Bridg¬ 
end)  wishes  to  know  the  best  form  of  giving  oil  and  cotton 
cake. 

[56.] — HAIR  WASH. — “ Alumen”  (Bayswater)  asks  for 
a  formula  for  a  good  inexpensive  hair  wash,  one  that  will 
have  a  clean  appearance. 

[57.]— FLORIDA  WATER. — “  Nemo  ”  (Sudbury)  will 
be  glad  if  any  of  our  readers  can  give  him  a  recipe  for  Florida 
water,  or  tell  him  where  to  procure  it. 

[58.] — WALNUTS. — What  is  the  best  method  for  keeping 
walnuts  in  good  condition  ? — Iodi. 

[59.] — DISPENSIN G, — What  is  the  best  way  of  preparing 
the  enclosed  prescription  ?  I  have  prepared  it  several  times, 
but  with  a  very  peculiar  result,  a  copious  black  precipitate 
being  thrown  down. — Magnesia. 

R.  Quin®  Sulph.  gr.  xij 
Ferri  Sulph.  gr.  xij 
Magnes.  Sulph.  3iss 
Tinct.  Zingiber.  Siss 
Aquce  ad  3VJ 
M.  ft.  mist. 

A  tablespoonful  in  water  twice  a  day  after  food. 

[60.]— CHEMICAL  CABINETS.— IIow  does  the  Phar¬ 
macy  Act  affect  the  sale  of  chemical  cabinets  P  They  mostly 
contain  one  or  two  chemicals,  such  as  sulpho- cyanide  of  po¬ 
tassium,  corrosive  sublimate,  or  prussiate  of  potash,  which 
come  within  Part  I.  of  the  Schedule  A.  of  the  Poisons  Act, 
and  require  registration  before  sale,  and  yet  this,  I  think,  is 
never  done.  I  am  anxious  to  know  if  I  can  bring  out  a  new 
chemical  cabinet  which  should  contain  the  above. — E.  J.  B. 

It  would  not  be  legal  to  sell  poisons  in  chemical  cabi¬ 
nets,  except  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  ot  the  Act. 
Sulphocyanide  of  potassium  and  prussiate  ot  potash  are  not 
poisons. — Ed.  Pii.  J.] 


433 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  26,  1870, 


Cjomspnienre. 

***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Obscure  Prescriptions. 

Sir, — I  forward  a  copy  of  another  peculiar  prescription 
also  bearing  the  signature  “  Watson  Bradshaw.”  I  was  in¬ 
formed  it  had  been  dispensed  without  difficulty  at  the  phar¬ 
macy  of  Mr.  Wilkinson,  Regent  Circus,  Oxford  Street. 

I  should  be  obliged  if  he  or  some  other  correspondent  would 
state  in  your  columns  what  recognized  preparations  are  in¬ 
dicated  by  the  names  written  in  this  prescription. 

A  Puzzled  Druggist. 

London,  15th  Nov.  1870. 


43,  Welheclc  Street,  Cavendish  Square,  W. 

Nov.  15,  1870. 

Six', — A  respectable  chemist  in  my  vicinity  has  just  handed 
to  me  for  my  amusement,  I  presume,  a  copy  of  your  serial  of 
Nov.  12th.  I  find  therein  a  letter  from  a  correspondent 
who  styles  himself  as  “  Major  Associate.”  I  am  not  find¬ 
ing  fault  with  your  remarks,  which  I  consider  very  appro¬ 
priate,  and  I  shall  not  condescend  to  offer  any  obseiwations 
on  the  “animus  lividus  et  moi'dax”  which  must  have  ani¬ 
mated  the  writer ;  but  I  certainly  must  be  permitted  to  think 
that  in  the  columns  of  a  justly  influential  Joui-nal  like  youi's,  it 
is  unwise,  nay,  unfaii',  to  associate  the  name  of  a  Physician 
with  such  a  vile  specimen  of  Latinity  as  that  I  find  inserted 
in  connection  with  myself. 

Your  correspondent  ought  to  know  that  if  he  aspire  to  any 
“  honoui’,”  which  a  Society  of  your  reputation  is  calculated 
to  confer,  that  he  is  shedding  no  lustre  on  himself  or  his  fra¬ 
ternity  by  making  such  gross  blunders  as  he  has  sought  to 
fasten  upon  xne. 

I  simply  write  this,  lest  any  respectable  reader  might 
espouse  the  belief  that  I  really  was  the  ‘  Ipse  Auctor  ’  of  the 
vile  Latinity^  in  question.  I  he  errors  are  so  flagrant  that  I 
think  the  writer  ought  to  blush  for  his  own  ignorance  and 
temerity. 

For  Cinerii  read  Cinerei. 

For  Hebdomadce  lege  JLebdomadd. 

For  Allcalince  read  Alkalini. 

For  Amarce  read  A  mart. 

I  beg  utterly  to  deny  ever  having  indited  such  barbarous 
Latin  as  that  imputed  to  me,  and  remain, 

Yours  faithfully, 

Watson  Bradshaw, 
Formerly  Surgeon  H.M.  Loyal  Navy. 


43,  Welheclc  Street,  Cavendish  Square,  W. 

Nov.  20,  1870. 

Sir, — You  have  not  only  omitted  to  insert  my  letter,  wherein 
I  l’epudiated  the  Authorship  of  a  Pi'escription  full  of  false 
Latinities ;  but  you  have  absolutely,  in  defiance  of  my  care¬ 
fully-couched  pi'otest,  suffered  your  columns  to  be  made  the 
ready  vehicle  of  a  repetition  of  such  injustice. 

Undei’stand,  Sir,  I  consider  it  infinitely  ‘infra  dig.’  to  enter 
the  arena  with  such  coi'respondents  as  yours  appear  to  be, 
and  condescend  to  dissert  upon  the  squabblings  of  silly  drug¬ 
gists  ;  but  when  I  find  my  name  is  so  unblushingly  paraded 
in  your  Journal,  in  such  a  mode  as  to  serve  merely  to  excite 
the  cachinnations  of  a  few  ignorant  readers,  by'identifying  me 
with  Inconect  Latinity,  it  is  time  that  I  should  take  up  arms, 
and  emphatically  remind  you  that  you  are  immeasurably  ti-ans- 
gressing  the  license  of  all  tolerable  Journalism.  What  right 
do  you  conceive  yourself  to  possess  to  make  use  of  my  name 
in  a  private  matter  between  my  patients  and  myself? 

My  patients  are  invariably  reminded  that  they  can  only 
have  their  medicines  compounded  by  the  especial  druggists, 
to  whom  I  hand  them  over. 

I  have  a  perfect  personal  right,  and  shall  continue  to  exer¬ 
cise  it  whenever  I  think  proper,  of  inditing  my  pi'esci'iptions 
in  any  mode  I  may  deem  expedient,  without  the  risk,  I  should 
think,  of  subjecting  myself  to  the  Censorship  of  a  posse  of 
angry  druggists. 

You  are  widely  over-rating  your  legitimate  sphere  of  action 
if  you  consider  that  you  have  a  right  to  dictate  to  the  Medi¬ 
cal  Profession  how  they  should  conduct  their  own  private 
affairs. 


You  have  no  right  whatever  to  interfere  with  Medical  Men, 
much  less  to  allow  your  correspondents  to  take  their  names 
in  vain. 

You  have  been  guilty  of  an  actionable  offence  (Constructive 
Libel)  in  having  twice  allowed  my  name  to  appear  in  your 
columns  under  a  false  and  invidious  guise.  I  'null  not  re¬ 
tread  the  ground  (see  last  letter),  but,  having  counsel’s 
opinion  on  the  subject,  I  have  to  inform  you  that  unless  you 
do  me  all  just  l’eparation  for  the  unwai’rantable  manner  in 
which  my  name  has  introduced  into  your  columns,  I  shall 
direct  my  solicitor  to  institute  immediate  legal  proceedings. 

I  beg  to  observe,  finally,  that  you  have  no  moral  or  legal 
right  to  make  use  of  my  name  under  any  pi'etext  whatever. 

Your  obed1  serf 

Watson  Bradshaw, 
Formerly  Surgeon  H.M.  Loyal  Navy , 


*#*  We  are  soi’ry  Mr.  Watson  Bradshaw  considers  our 
publication  of  the  prescriptions  an  injustice  to  him.  They 
were  printed  exactly  according  to  the  copies  sent  by  our  cor¬ 
respondents,  but  we  were  informed  that  the  writing  of  the 
originals  was  difficult  to  decipher. 

The  letter  of  our  correspondent  F.  J.  B.  affords  inter¬ 
nal  evidence  of  his  freedom  from  personal  animus  in  asking 
for  an  explanation  of  a  prescription  he  could  not  understand. 
Probably  he  did  not  know  of  the  existence  of  Mr.  Watson 
Bradshaw,  and  was  as  little  concerned  as  ourselves  whether 
his  Latinity  be  classical  or  “  vile.” 

That  was  not  the  point  to  wdiich  attention  was  directed, 
and  Mr.  "Watson  Bradshaw  is  entirely  mistaken  in  supposing 
any  question  raised  as  to  his  Latinity. 

The  difficulty  experienced  by  F.  J.  B.  was  of  a  totally 
different  nature,  and,  as  wre  think,  one  much  more  serious. 
How  was  he  to  dispense  an  unintelligible  prescription  ?  How 
to  convince  his  customer  that  his  inability  to  dispense  it  was 
not  a  result  of  incompetence,  but  was,  as  it  now  appears  from. 
Mr.  Watson  Bradshaw’s  letter,  due  to  a  proceeding  by  which 
that  prescriber  limits  the  compounding  of  his  patients’  medi¬ 
cine  to  certain  druggists  ? 

Had  the  name  of  any  particular  druggist  been  indicated 
on  the  prescriptions,  perhaps  no  difficulty  wrould  have  arisen 
but  this  does  not  appear  to  have  been  part  of  the  system  by 
wdiich  Mr.  Watson  Bradshaw  hands  his  patients  over  to 
especial  druggists,  for  notwithstanding  his  reminding  patients 
of  this  fact,  we  find  that  his  pi'escriptions  are  taken  to  other- 
druggists,  in  distant  parts  of  the  country  to  be  dispensed. 

Though  wTe  have  not  offered  any  comment  on  the  practice 
of  writing  prescriptions  in  such  a  manner  as  not  to  be  gene¬ 
rally  intelligible  to  pharmacists,  we  believe  wm  should  be 
justified  in  expressing  an  opinion  on  a  matter  so  closely 
connected  with  phannacy,  and  that,  in  doing  so,  we  should 
not  be  considered  “  to  dictate  to  the  medical  profession.” 

Howevei',  wre  are  enabled  to  showr,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  that 
such  a  practice  is  dangerous,  by  a  case  that  has  come  under 
our  notice,  in  which  a  prescription,  similar  to  those  published 
and  written  in  unusual  terms,  was  actually  dispensed  in  a 
country  town,  remote  from  the  prescriber’s  residence,  much 
in  the  same  manner  as  a  hieroglyphic  inscription  might  be- 
translated;  the  medicines  thus  administered  on  speculation 
being,  among  others,  the  extracts  of  henbane  and  belladonna 
and  a  preparation  of  mercury.  A  proceeding  so  fraught  with 
danger  to  the  patient  was  unquestionably  improper  on  the- 
part  of  the  dispenser,  but  the  fact  must  not  be  overlooked 
that  a  large  share  of  censure  is  due  to  the  writer  of  the  pre¬ 
scription,  in  so  far  as  he  furnished  the  druggist  with  a  pro¬ 
vocation  to  go  beyond  his  legitimate  sphere  of  action,  in  order 
to  meet  the  wants  of  a  customer  under  circumstances  which 
rendered  a  reference  to  the  prescriber  impossible. 

Mr.  Watson  Bradshaw’s  remarks  do  not  touch  this  point,, 
and  it  is  solely  in  the  wish  to  afford  him  full  publicity  that  wr& 
give  space  to  liis  letters,  by  wdiich  it  appears  that  from  having 
regarded  this  Journal  as  a  source  of  amusement,  he  now 
makes  it  an  object  for  scolding.  At  the  same  time,  to  avoid 
any  ground  for  suspicion  that  we  desire  to  misrepresent  his 
Latinity,  we  publish  a  fac  simile  of  one  of  his  prescriptions 
wdiich  may  also  account  for  the  difficulty  experienced  by- 
F.  J.  B.  in  deciphering  the  one  he  sent  us  a  copy  of. — Ed^ 
Pn.  J. 


November  26,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


430 


7 


440 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [November  26,  1870. 


Pharmacy  in  Ireland. 

Sir, — Taking  advantage  of  tlie  invitation  you  kindly  offer 
Irish  chemists  and  druggists,  to  express  in  the  columns  of 
your  Journal  their  opinions  on  the  proposed  Pharmacy  Bill 
for  Ireland,  I  would  submit  a  few  reasons  why  we,  the 
Chemists  and  Druggists  of  Ireland,  who  are  likely  to  come 
under  its  immediate  influence,  decidedly  object  to  it. 

Primarily  we  object  to  it  because  it  is  not  in  accordance 
with  the  tenor  of  the  Pharmacy  Act  of  1868 — an  Act  which 
we  deem  every  well-wisher  of  Pharmacy  would  like  to  see 
made  general  over  the  three  kingdoms,  or,  if  this  is  not 
found  possible,  that  at  least  the  Irish  Bill  should  be  in  as 
close  harmony  with  the  other  as  circumstances  will  admit. 

Now,  the  proposed  Bill  does  not  make  any  advance  towards 
attaining  this  object,  but,  instead,  makes  a  retrograde  move¬ 
ment  and  endows  with  supreme  power  a  body  of  men  whose 
influence  on  pharmaceutical  matters  the  Bill  of  1868  curtailed 
and  endeavoured  to  eradicate, — I  mean  the  medical  profession. 

We  do  not  seek  to  deny  that  they  ought  to  have  an  im¬ 
portant  voice  in  the  matter,  but  to  give  apothecaries  supreme 
control  over  Irish  pharmacy  is  a  principle  running  right  in 
the  teeth  of  pharmaceutical  advance,  and  will  prove  an  in¬ 
superable  obstacle  towards  assimilating  English  and  Irish 
legislation  on  the  subject.  We  have  now  a  British  Pharma¬ 
copoeia,  why  not  endeavour  to  obtain  a  British  Pharmacy  Act  ? 

Again,  is  there  any  satisfactory  reason  why  an  individual 
who  in  England  is  a  pharmaceutical  chemist  under  the  Act  of 
1868  should,  when  he  removes  over  to  Ireland,  be  denied  the 
privileges  of  compounding  and  dispensing  medicines,  simply 
because  he  does  not  bring  with  him  the  diploma  of  the  Go¬ 
vernor  and  Managers  of  the  Apothecaries’  Society  of  Dublin  ? 
We  think  not,  and  in  the  interest  of  a  large  and  increasingly 
influential  body  of  men  who  have  already  had  to  submit  too 
long  to  the  tyrannical  rule  of  the  apothecaries,  we  protest 
firmly  and  unmistakably  against  the  proposed  Bill,  trusting 
that  our  brethren  across  the  Channel  will  at  once  see  the 
cloven  hoof  protruding  itself,  and  act  accordingly. 

That  pharmacy  in  Ireland  should  be  confined  exclusively 
to  the  members  of  a  profession  who,  in  their  own  domain,  are 
so  jealous  of  their  dignity  that  we  find  them  continually 
harping  on  the  time-worn  complaint  that  chemists  and  drug¬ 
gists  do  not  separate  completely  prescribing  from  dispensing, 
seems  to  be,  to  say  the  least,  inconsistent  with  justice,  while  it 
certainly  leaves  out  in  the  cold  those  who  till  now  considered 
that  the  practice  of  pharmacy  was  their  profession. 

The  chemists  and  druggists  of  Ireland  will  be  blind  to 
their  best  interests  if  they  allow  such  a  Bill  as  the  one  pro¬ 
posed  to  be  passed  into  law,  and  we  trust  that  they  will 
agitate  on  the  subject  and  be  able  to  show  that  might  is  not 
always  right. 

Cork,  November  22ncl,  1870.  J.  S. 


Threats  oe  Law  Proceedings  against  Druggists. 

Sir, — A  female  asked  over  the  counter  for  sixpenny- 
worth  of  “steel  pills;”  about  a  dozen  and  a  half  were  given 
to  her  (pilulre  ferri  carb.  P.B.),  labelled  “steel  pills”  on  the 
box,  and  without  any  comment  upon  their  dose,  etc.  A 
gentleman  called  the  next  day,  saying  that  the  lady  had  taken 
some  of  them,  and  in  consequence  was  seriously  ill,  and  that 
proceedings  in  law  would  be  taken. 

What  I  would  ask  is,  whether  the  person  so  purchasing  a 
medicine  can  bring  an  action  against  the  vendor  P  for  threats 
such  as  these  are  by  no  means  uncommon  in  this  neighbour¬ 
hood  (generally  from  people  of  the  Jewish  persuasion),  and 
are  a  source  of  anxiety,  especially  as  more  than  one,  not  far 
off,  have  been  ruined  or  nearly  so  by  similar  means.  I  would 
ask  also  whether  there  is  a  society  for  the  mutual  protection 
of  the  chemists’  trade. 

Whitechapel,  November  Is#,  1870.  C.  G. 

[***  Any  one  can,  if  he  please,  bring  an  action  against  any 
one  else,  either  with  reason  or  without.  It  is  the  privilege  of 
those  who  are  unreasonably  proceeded  against  to  prove  that 
this  is  the  case,  and  in  some  instances  to  incur  much  trouble 
and  expense  in  doing  so.  We  are  not  aware  that  any  such 
Society  as  that  referred  to  is  in  existence. — Ed.  Ph.  J.] 

Poisonous  Feeding-Bottles. 

Sir, — I  should  feel  obliged  by  your  inserting  these  few  lines 
on  the  above  subject,  to  say  that  from  what  has  been  written 
and  the  erroneous  impression  created  in  consequence,  I  made 
an  experiment  (on  the  bottle  used  by  my  own  baby)  with  a 
view  of  finding  out  the  true  cause  of  the  undoubtedly  disgusting 


odour  evolved.  That  the  sulphur  used  in  the  process  of  vul¬ 
canizing  the  india-rubber  is  the  cause,  I  take  it  there  can  be 
no  doubt,  since  after  having  had  the  tube  and  teat  of  pure 
black  india-rubber  in  use  for  some  time,  they  are  as  sweet 
and  free  from  smell  as  when  first  adapted  to  the  bottle. 

South  Nonvood.  J.  H.  Baldock. 

[***  Our  own  experience  enables  us  to  confirm  the  state¬ 
ments  of  our  correspondent  as  to  the  sulphur  of  vulcanized 
rubber  being  the  source  of  the  sulphuretted  hydrogen.  Pro¬ 
bably  this  defect  might  be  remedied  by  digesting  the  tube- 
and  teats  for  some  time  in  a  moderately  strong  solution  of 
caustic  alkali. — Ed.  Ph.  J.] 


Druggists’  Charges. 

Sir, — In  reference  to  the  letter  of  your  correspondent, 
“Pharmaceutical  Chemist,  Cambridge,”  it  seems  probable- 
that  the  mixture  was  prepared  with  clecoct.  taraxaci,  in  which 
case  Is.  9 d.  or  2s.  might  be  a  fair  charge.  That  the  decoction 
was  intended  seems  probable  from  the  dose,  5j.  The  dose 
stated  in  the  B.P.  for  succus  taraxaci  is  5j  to  5\j-  Doctors 
appear  often  to  write  prescriptions  without  any  definite  idea 
of  the  preparations  they  are  ordering. 

As  to  query  No.  33  (Dispensing),  what  would  IT.  IC.  think 
of  the  following  ? — 

R.  Quinas  Disulph.  9ss 

Liq.  Ammon.  Acet.  *iss.  M. 

A  teaspoonful  every  four  hours  in  water. 

On  taking  the  above  to  the  prescriber  and  explaining  the 
sort  of  mess  it  would  make,  he  at  once  said  he  knew  of  course 
it  was  insoluble,  but  had  thought  it  would  merely  require 
shaking  up;  however,  he  rewrote  it,  adding  aqua  ad  ^vj,  and 
directing  a  tablespoonful  for  a  dose.  Even  this  must  be  pre¬ 
pared  “  secundum  artem,”  or  it  will  make  a  mess  too. — W.  M. 


Pepsine  and  Pancreatine. 

Sir, — Having  seen  in  your  issue  of  the  19th  inst.,  Mr.  R. 
J.  Kinkead’s  article,  headed  “A  New  Digestive,”  and  relating 
to  the  combined  use  of  pepsine  and  pancreatine  in  cases  of 
dyspepsia,  would  you  do  me  the  favour  of  giving  publicity  to 
the  fact  that  in  a  preparation  to  which  I  have  applied  the 
term  “  Gastrodyne,”  I  have,  for  more  than  twelve  months- 
past,  used  pepsine  and  pancreatine  in  combination  with  the 
best  results  P  A.  Farr. 

Waterloo  Hoad,  November  1 9th,  1870. 


The  Lord  Mayor  oe  London. 

Sir, — Perhaps  it  would  not  be  uninteresting  to  some  of 
your  readers  to  know  (from  information  contained  in  the 
Prescot  Observer)  that  Mr.  Dakin  served  his  apprenticeship 
with  Mr.  Threlfall,  a  Liverpool  chemist,  who  retired  from 
business  some  time  ago,  but  still  lives  in  the  suburbs  of  that 
town,  and  is  well  known  to  the  writer.  Mr.  Dakin  after¬ 
wards  removed  to  a  wholesale  London  house,  and  on  marry¬ 
ing  a  daughter  of  his  employer,  was  received  into  partnership. 

Vincit  Amor  Patriy:. 

Liverpool,  November  21st,  1870. 


“  Spero  ”  (Yarmouth)  is  referred  to  the  rule  as  to  anony¬ 
mous  correspondence. 

“  A  Minor  Associate  in  Business  ”  (Liverpool). — Apply  at 
Apothecaries’  Hall. 

B.  T.  (Edinburgh). — There  are  no  such  persons. 

Erratum. — The  signature  of  the  writer  of  the  letter  entitled 
“  Obscure  Prescriptions  ”  in  last  week’s  Journal  was  accident¬ 
ally  omitted.  It  should  have  been  “  J.  F.  Brown,  J)over.,, 


Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  A.  H.  Mason  (Liverpool),  Dr.  Kidd,  Mr.  J.  H.  Askew 
(Liverpool),  Mr.  G.  Wellborn  (Grantham),  Mr.  Jenner  (Bury 
St.  Edmund’s),  Mr.  T.  F.  Best  (Camberwell),  Mr.  E.  Barber 
(Sheffield),  Mr.  G.  W.  Jones  (Worksop),  Mr  R.  H.  Rowell 
(Houghton-le-Spring),  Mr.  F.  C.  Wyatt  (Henley),  Mr.  J- 
Bordass  (Driffield),  Mr.  J.  Staley  (Rochdale),  Mr.  B.  H. 
Cowgill  (Manchester),  Mr.  A.  W.  Postans  (London),  Mr.  C. 
Wanron,  Mr.  W.  Wilson  (Devonport),  Mr.  J.  H.  Baldock 
(South  Norwood),  Mr.  Ellwood  (Leominster),  F.  B.  (Mac¬ 
clesfield),  S.  S.  (Holloway),  “Pepsine”  (Rugby),  “Inquirer  ’ 
(Bedford),  “Reciprocate”  (Chichester),  “Beta”  (York), 
“Vincit  Amor  Patrim,”  H.  G.  (Bath),  H.  H.  P.,  “Two  In¬ 
quirers,”  “Alpha”  (Sudbury),  “Iodi”  (Sudbui'y),  “Vulca¬ 
nite,”  “  Odor,”  J.  S.  A. 


December  3, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


441 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  JAVA. 

BY  JOHN  ELIOT  HOWARD. 

Many  readers  of  this  Journal  feel  a  deep  interest 
in  the  introduction  of  the  cinchona-trees  into  the 
regions  of  the  East.  These  will  naturally  inquire 
what  are  the  results,  as  practically  ascertained, 
from  the  many  years  of  labour  and  the  great  expense 
incurred  since  the  month  of  April,  1852,  when  the 
first  plant  of  genuine  cinchona  arrived  safely  at 
Java ;  and  still  more  expressly  since  the  13tli  De¬ 
cember,  1854,  when  M.  Hasskarl  (sent  out  by  the 
Dutch  Government  to  collect  seeds)  arrived  with  his 
precious  cargo  at  Batavia. 

The  first  date  was  that  of  the  introduction  of  the 
Cinchona  Calisaya  from  seeds  collected  by  Dr. 
Weddell*  (from  some  one  of  its  varieties  apparently) ; 
the  latter  was  the  period  from  which  ive  reckon  the 
acclimatization  of  quite  another  species,  which  seems 
to  have  found  a  more  congenial  habitat  than  the  first 
on  the  mountains  of  Java.  In  fact,  the  propagation 
of  this  latter  was  so  easy  and  rapid  that  it  became 
soon  an  object  of  attention  to  botanists,  and  of  some¬ 
what  anxious  consideration.  The  plants  ere  long 
numbered  hundreds  of  thousands,  and  the  possible 
eventual  value  of  the  species,  as  a  source  to  be  relied 
upon  for  the  production  of  quinine,  was  doubtful. 
At  the  end  of  1863  these  plants  were  reported 
1,139,148  against  only  12,093  of  Calisaya ,  and  a  few 
hundreds  of  other  species. 

Being  unfamiliar  to  botanists,  it  was  mistaken  for 
the  C.  lucumafiolia,  an  illusion  which  I  assisted  to 
dispel ;  and  in  the  year  1860,  being  engaged  in  the 
publication  of  my  ‘  Nueva  Quinologia,’  I  received 
from  my  friends  in  Java  very  ample  materials  for 
the  description  of  the  species.  At  the  suggestion 
of  those  most  interested,  and  as  a  compliment 
well  deserved  by  his  exertions  in  the  cause  of  cin¬ 
chona  cultivation,  I  named  it  C.  Pahudianci,  after 
the  Governor,  M.  Pahud,  whose  term  of  office  was 
just  about  expiring.  I  then  pronounced  it  an  inferior 
species,  and  expressed  my  belief  that  it  would  prove 
a  source  of  disappointment  to  the  Dutch  Govern¬ 
ment.  From  this  opinion  I  have  never  departed, 
although  I  have  been  willing  to  follow,  with  a  greater 
or  less  degree  of  expectation,  the  researches  of  my 
friend  Dr.  De  Vrij,  whose  analysis  of  the  root-bark 
shows  better  results  than  I  have  been  able  to  obtain 
from  that  of  the  rest  of  the  tree. 

It  wall  be  understood  that  I  refer  to  the  quinine- 
producing  powers  of  the  species,  which  seem  to  me 
unpromising.  In  other  respects,  I  have  been  in¬ 
duced  to  modify  my  judgment  in  a  more  favourable 
sense.  It  is  well  known  that  from  a  therapeutic  and 
pharmaceutical  point  of  viewr,  the  value  of  a  specimen 
of  bark  does  not  coincide  with  the  amount  of  quinine 
it  may  contain.  Other  ingredients,  and  among  them 
the  alkaloid  commonly  known  as  uncry stallizahle 
quinine  (of  which  this  bark  possesses  a  large  share), 
no  doubt  contribute  largely  to  the  medicinal  qualities 
of  the  bark,  and  I  believe  that  Dr.  De  Vrij  considers 
his  experiments  show  that  this  is  superseded  by  real 
quinine  in  the  roots.  I  have  found  that  the  bark 
transmitted  by  Mr.  MTvor  as  that  of  G.  Paliudiana, 
and  skilfully  prepared  by  him,  attracted  the  atten¬ 
tion  of  a  London  broker  familiar  with  the  article  in 

*  Soubeiran  ct  Delondrc,  del’ Introduction etde  1’ Acclima¬ 
tion  des  Cinchonas  dans  les  Indes  Neerlandaises.  1868. 
Pa£c  27. 

Third  Series,  No.  23. 


preference  to  those  of  other,  and,  in  my  opinion, 
superior  kinds  sent  at  the  same  time.  I  have,  con¬ 
sequently,  taken  up  a  land  of  neutral  position  in  the 
contest  which  has  been  waged  with  fierceness  over 
this  plant  even  in  the  Chambers  of  the  Dutch  Go¬ 
vernment.  In  so  doing  I  have,  as  is  usual,  incurred 
an  amount  of  obloquy  disproportionate  to  the  of¬ 
fence,  and  which  is  avowedly  increased  by  my  having 
been  favoured  with  so  much  assistance  from  my 
friends  in  Java,  in  the  way  of  specimens  and  of 
botanical  descriptions,  as  I  have  fully  acknowledged 
in  my  ‘  Quinologia.’  _  Professor  Miquel,  in  particular, 
has  attacked  me  personally  on  the  subject,  though  I 
have  never  either  seen  or  had  correspondence  with 
him.  In  my  ‘  Quinology  of  the  East  Indian  Planta¬ 
tions  ’  I  expressed  myself  thus: — “It  is  extremely 
unpleasant  to  come  in  contact  with  such  a  state  of 
things,  and  I  find  that  I  am  censured  for  not  being 
sufficiently  one-sided  in  the  dispute.  The  writer  in 
‘  Gids  ’  says,  ‘  Mr.  Howard,  who  described  the  un¬ 
fortunate  sort  as  a  new  species  in  his  noble  work  on 
cinchona,  although  he  at  first,  with  reason,  brought 
its  usefulness  into  question,  afterwards  took  a  posi¬ 
tion  of  weakness  and  uncertainty  as  the  conflict 
began  to  wax  warm,’”  etc. 

To  this  I  have  only  to  reply  that  I  have  published 
such  information  as  came  to  my  hands  as  correctly 
as  I  could,  and  intend  still  to  do  so.  I  see  no  occa¬ 
sion  to  alter  my  account  of  the  species  given  in  the 
‘  Nueva  Quinologia,’  and  still  believe  that  it  is  with¬ 
out  value  if  looked  at  simply  as  a  source  for  the  ex¬ 
traction  of  quinine ;  but  as  regards  the  root-harlc,  I 
have  personally  no  information  to  oppose  to  the 
favourable  estimate  elsewhere  entertained,  and  must 
therefore  maintain  a  position  of  “  uncertainty”  till 
this  is  removed  by  those  who  can  decide  the  question. 
If  the  C.  Pahudiana  be  looked  upon  in  another  point 
of  view,  viz.  as  a  possible  source  of  bark  for  phar¬ 
maceutical  purposes,  I  have  shown  in  my  reports 
given  to  the  Government  of  British  India,  on  speci¬ 
mens  from  Ootacamund,  that  the  quill  bark  is  not 
only  not  worthless,  but  that  such  quills  as  those  sent 
by  MTvor  were  actually  preferred  to  other  kinds 
sent  with  them  by  dealers  most  competent  to  judge 
in  London,  and  this  is  not  without  reason,  from  their 
taste,  appearance  and  chemical  composition.  I  can¬ 
not,  therefore,  agree  with  those  who  recommended * 
the  superfluous  labour  of  cutting  down  the  trees  ; 
neither  can  I  rank  this  plant  “among  the  best  sorts  of 
all,”  as,  it  seems,  some  have  attempted  to  do.  The 
trees  having  now  many  years’  growth,  might  perhaps 
furnish  quill  bark  fit  for  the  home  market ;  and  I  shall 
be  surprised  if  it  is  not  at  least  equally  valued  there 
with  the  bark  of  the  so-called  C.  Calisaya,  which, 
I  am  afraid,  will  prove  “unfortunate”  also,  at  least 
if  it  produces  but  T3  per  cent,  as  described  by  Van 
Gorkom. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  above  estimate  of  mine 
has  been  fully  borne  out  by  experience,  but  in  the 
meantime  I  must  revert  to  the  learned  professor, 
who,  as  I  am  informed  by  my  friends  (for  he  has 
not  sent  me  a  copy  of  his  workf),  says, — 

“  Veritati  contrarium  est,  quod  nuper  adliuc  excla- 


*  I  have  added  the  italics  in  this  and  other  places  to  direct 
the  reader’s  attention.  Compare  this  with  the  version,  “A 
magistrate  nostro  Indico^Vsszm  fuisse,”  etc.  _ 

•f  “  De  Cinchonre  speciebus  quibusdam  adjectis  iis  qufe  in 
Java  coluntur,  scripsit  F.  A.  Guil.  Miquel,  in  Anna1.  3Iusei 
JBotanici  Lngdwio-Batavi,”  tom.  iv.  fasc.  is.  p.  263;  186i). 


442 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December 3,  1870. 


mavit  Howard,  a  magistratu  nostro  Indico  jussum 
fuisse  arbores  ipsas  innumerabiles  diruere  et  ex- 
stirpare  ”  (p.  270). 

An  extract  from  the  Official  Report  of  the  Trans¬ 
actions  in  the  Dutch  Parliament  of  27  May,  1802 
(sent  me  in  the  original  and  in  a  translation),  is  as 
follows : — 

Mr.  Uhlenbeck,  Minister  of  the  Colonies,  speaks, — 

“  And  to  show  the  great  difference,  I  communicate 
that  in  all  the  time  that  the  cinchona  culture  has 
been  performed  on  a  large  scale,  there  have  only 
been  planted  7804  cincliona-trees  which  realty  con¬ 
tain  quinine,  wliilst  in  the  meantime  there  have 
been  planted  1,029,291  trees  (Pahudianas),  which 
are  only  fit  for  firewood  ( brand  hout ).” 

Ditto  of  the  session  of  the  Parliament  on  2nd  June, 
1863.  Mr.  Van  Eck  (M.P.)  speaks : — 

“  The  former  Minister  of  the  Colonies  stated  only 
the  trees  are  firewood ,  we  must  destroy  them” 
( uitroeijen ,  to  root  out,  extirpate ,  destroy,  exterminate). 

Professor  Miquel  also  says  in  the  same  work : — 

“  Tasdiosam  liistoriam  liaud  repetam,  nec  liabeo 
quae  ultro  opponam  Howardio  qui  me  dissentientem 
indigne  tractavit  in  plagula  quadam  diurnorum  nos- 
trorum  mendacem  me  exclamans.” 

As  I  never  wrote  (nor  could  write)  an  article  in 
a  Dutch  newspaper,  M.  Miquel  can  only  refer  to  the 
folio  whig  extract  from  a  letter  of  Dr.  de  Vriese, 
who  died  in  1862,  and  consequently  cannot  defend 
himself. 

A  letter  from  myself  to  Dr.  de  Vrij,  published 
with  my  permission,  contains  the  following  in  refe¬ 
rence  to  the  determination  of  the  C.  Pahudiana 
(Prof.  Miquel,  contrary  to  De  Vriese,  Dr.  Weddell, 
Markham,  etc.,  identifying  the  plant  with  C.  Cara- 
bayensis ) : — 

“I  sent  over  to  Dr.  de  Vriese  a  fine  specimen  of 
the  plant  hi  question  with  the  fruit  well  developed, 
given  me  by  Dr.  Weddell  himself.  And  in  a  letter 
written  subsequently,  under  date  4tli  November, 
1860,  Dr.  de  Vriese  says, — The  examination  and 
comparison  of  C.  Carabayensis  and  C.  Pahudiana 
has  shown  me  indubitably  that  the  two  species  are 
different.  To  maintain  a  contrary  opinion  would  be 
a  He.” 

I  proceed  to  say,  “  I  hesitate  to  copy  the  above 
strong  expressions,  but  they  throw Hglit  on  the  subject, 
as  showing  there  must  have  existed  some  excitement 
of  the  feelings,  connected,  no  doubt,  with  the  great 
material  interests  at  stake,  which  may  have  interfered 
with  calm  scientific  inquiry,  and  led,  in  Dr.  de 
Vriese’s  opinion,  to  erroneous  Statements.” 

So  far  my  letter,  and  I  must  add  that  it  is  a  very 
unimportant  matter,  in  comparison,  whether  these 
species  are  identical  or  (as  in  my  judgment)  separate. 
I  had  shown  in  my  ‘  Quinologia  ’  their  points  of  re¬ 
semblance  as  well  as  of  separation;  but  it  is  im¬ 
portant  that  a  personal  attack,  against  which  I  have 
no  opportunity  to  defend  myself,  should  appear  in  a 
work  published  at  the  expense  and  under  the  au¬ 
spices  of  the  Dutch  Government. 

Since  the  departure  of  M.  Pahud,  and  the  death 
of  Dr.  Jungliulm,  the  cultivation  of  the  plantations 
has  passed  under  different  management,  as  I  have 
mentioned  in  the  Appendix  to  my  work  previously 
mentioned. 

The  proportion  of  plants  of  different  species  is 
now  very  different.  In  the  second  quarter  of  1870, 
according  to  a  paper  sent  me  by  Dr.  Hasskarl,  the 
plants  were  as  follows : — 


C.  Calisaya  and  C.  Hasskarliana  1,100,983 
C.  succirubra  and  C.  caloptcra*  .  152,782 


C.  officinalis .  222,904 

C.  lancifolia .  43,227 

C.  micrantha .  620 


Total  .  .  1,520,516 

The  progress  of  the  cultivation  is  spoken  of  in 
warm  and  eulogistic  terms,  and  the  number  of  C. 
Pahudiana  trees  (now  grown  to  a  good  height)  is  left 
out  of  the  account. 

It  is  unfortunate,  however,  that  all  has  to  be  tested 
by  practical  results,  and  the  favourable  analyses  at 
present  published,  have  their  true  value  brought  to 
light  by  the  price  per  pound  paid  for  the  barks  set 
forth  for  public  sale  in  Amsterdam. 

In  the  past  season  there  was  a  pretty  large  im¬ 
portation  of  these  barks;  and  samples  under  the 
name  of  Konings  Kina  and  Bruine  Kina  were  for¬ 
warded  to  this  country,  where  they  were  examined, 
but  did  not  meet  with  much  acceptance.  A  sale 
has  since  taken  place  in  Holland,  and  the  results  are 
not  a  Httle  curious,  and  certainty  worthy  of  record. 
The  so-called  Calisaya,  or  Konings  Kina ,  was  bought 
(as  I  am  informed)  by  a  druggist,  at  about  2 s.  En- 
ghsh,  with  the  intention  of  its  being  sold  for  phar¬ 
maceutical  purposes,  and  not  for  the  manufacture  of 
quinine.  The  remainder  appears  to  be  Pahudiana 
(but  it  may  perhaps  be  called  Hasskarliana),  and 
brought  a  higher  price,  averaging  about  2s.  14^.  En- 
ghsh  money.  I  do  not  think,  however,  that  any 
manufacturer  of  quinine  would  invest  his  money  in 
this.  As  far  as  my  information  goes,  there  has  been 
as  yet  no  production  of  bark  fitted  for  the  manu¬ 
facture  of  quinine,  with  the  exception,  perhaps,  of 
one  sample  which  resembled  both  in  appearance  and 
in  quahty  one  of  the  Calisaya  layers  of  the  French  (the 
product,  I  beheve,  of  the  C.  micrantha  Calisayoides, 
of  Dr.  WeddeH’s  new  classification).  It  was  con¬ 
sequently  a  poor  and  very  second-rate  bark,  although 
the  best  from  Java.  The  C.  Hasskarliana  of  Miquel 
is,  according  to  Dr.  de  Vrij,  the  result  of  the  inter¬ 
ference  of  the  pollen  of  C.  Pahudiana  with  the  C. 
Calisaya.  Professor  Miquel  makes  it  a  new  species. 
On  this  I  give  no  opinion,  but  I  am  pleased  to  see 
that  the  C.  Pahudiana,  with  its  congeners,  is  proving 
itself  worthy  of  the  character  I  gave  it,  as  likely  to 
be  found  useful  as  a  medicine.  Of  this  I  have  an 
additional  confirmation  in  the  examination  of  a  good- 
looking  sample  of  bark  called  C.  Pahudiana,  just 
brought  into  the  EngHsh  market  from  the  plantation 
of  a  gentleman  in  Ceylon.  This  contains  a  fair  por¬ 
tion  both  of  quinine  and  cinchonidine,  and  is  Hkely 
to  prove  a  good  bark  for  pharmaceutical  purposes. 

M.  Van  Gorkom  concludes  his  official  report  for 
1864  with  the  following  words : — “  Until  now  the 
different  reports  concerning  the  cultivation  of  Chin- 
cliona  have  thrown  more  darkness  than  Hght  on  the 
subject,  and  consequently  the  credit  of  this  great 
undertaking  has  suffered.” 

It  would  be  greatly  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  ma¬ 
nufacturers  of  quinine,  if  this  gentleman  would  throw 
Hght  upon  the  question,  what  prospect  six  years  of 
additional  experience  enable  him  now  to  hold  out  as 
to  any  possible  supply  of  their  wants  from  this  quar¬ 
ter  in  the  future  ? 


*  Probably  C.  pulescens,  subspecies  C.  Pelletierina,  if  the 
deep  green  colour  attributed  to  the  leaves  is  correctly  repre¬ 
sented. 


December  3,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


443 


Chapters  for  SMrats. 

CHEMICAL  NOTES  TO  THE  PHARMACOPOEIA. 

BY  WILLIAM  A.  TILDEX,  B.SC.  LOND. 

DEMONSTRATOR  OF  PRACTICAL  CHEMISTRY  TO  THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 

Antimonii  Oxidum. — Solution  of  chloride  of  an¬ 
timony  is  poured  into  water,  and  the  white  precipi¬ 
tate  of  oxichloride  of  antimony  allowed  to  settle  and 
partially  washed  by  decantation.  It  is  then  digested 
with  solution  of  carbonate  of  sodium  till  completely 
decomposed,  and  finally  the  deposited  oxide  is  washed 
to  free  it  from  chloride  of  sodium.  The  reaction 
consists  in  the  formation  of  an  insoluble  compound 
of  oxide  and  chloride  of  antimony : — 

a;SbCl3  +  3H20  =  Sb203,  (x—2)  Sb  Cl3  +  6HC1. 

The  proportion  of  oxide  in  the  precipitate  increases 
with  the  proportion  of  water  used  for  washing.  The 
carbonate  of  sodium  removes  the  last  traces  of  chlo¬ 
ride — 

2SbCl3  +  3Na2C03  =  Sb203  +  GNaCl  +  3C02. 
Prepared  in  this  way  the  oxide  generally  has  a  buff 
tint,  from  the  presence  of  a  minute  quantity  of  oxide 
of  iron.  It  can  be  procured  perfectly  white  by  redis¬ 
solving  the  washed  oxichloride  in  hydrochloric  acid 
and  reprecipitating  with  water :  the  second  washings 
should  be  performed  with  water  to  which  a  few  drops 
of  acid  have  been  added.  If  heated  too  strongly  or 
exposed  to  the  air  too  much  during  drying,  it  is  apt 
to  become  partially  converted  into  the  double  oxide 
Sb204,  formerly  called  antimonious  acid.  When  in 
this  condition  it  will  not  dissolve  completely  in  acid 
tartrate  of  potash,  as  stated  in  the  Pharmacopoeia. 
Antimonic  anhydride  is  left — 

2  Sb204  +  2KHC4H406 
=  2  SbO  K  C4H406  +Sb2Os  +  H20. 

Antimonium  Sulphur  atom. — Black  sulphide  of 
antimony  is  powdered  and  boiled  for  two  hours  with 
solution  of  soda.  The  strained  solution  is  then 
mixed  with  a  slight  excess  of  dilute  sulphuric  acid 
and  the  precipitate  collected,  washed  and  dried  on  a 
water  bath.  The  sodic  hydrate  may  be  represented 
as  acting  two  parts.  One  half  undergoes  decompo¬ 
sition  with  the  sulphide  of  antimony,  yielding  sul¬ 
phide  of  sodium  and  oxide  of  antimony ;  the  other 
half  dissolves  up  the  oxide  of  antimony,  as  it  is 
formed : — 

Sb2S3  +  GNaHO  =  Sb203  +  3Na2S  +  3H20. 

The  sulphide  of  sodium  that  is  produced  takes  up  at 
the  same  time  sulphide  of  antimony.  Thus  two 
soluble  compounds  result,  the  second  being  the  coun¬ 
terpart  of  the  first,  but  containing  sulphur  in  place 
of  oxygen,  atom  for  atom : — 

3Na20,Sb203  =  2Na3Sb03. 

3  Na2  S,  Sb2  S3  =  Nas  Sb  S3. 

On  the  addition  of  sulphuric  acid  to  the  solution  of 
these  two,  sulphide  of  antimony  is  alone  deposited, 
for  the  sulphuretted  hydrogen  produced  by  the  de¬ 
composition  of  the  second  compound  suffices  to  con¬ 
vert  the  oxide  of  the  first  into  sulphide : — 

Na3SbO,  +  NasSb  S3  +  3H2S04 
=  Sb2Ss  -f  3H20  +  3Na2S04. 

This  must,  however,  be  accepted  as  an  explanation 
only  of  the  principal  features  of  the  decomposition  ; 
other  minor  and  more  complex  reactions  go  on  simul¬ 


taneously.  They  arise  chiefly  from  the  action  of  the 
oxygen  of  the  air  during  the  boiling. 

If  the  alkaline  solution  be  allowed  to  cool  before 
the  acid  is  added,  a  brown  precipitate,  a  compound  of 
oxide  and  sulphide  of  antimony,  is  deposited.  This 
is  what  was  formerly  known  and  employed  as  mine¬ 
ral  kermes. 

[§  Sixty  grains  of  this  preparation  dissolved  in 
hydrochloric  acid  and  dropped  into  water  give  a 
white  precipitate,  which,  when  washed  and  dried, 
weighs  about  53  grams.]  This  cannot  be  regarded 
as  by  any  means  a  satisfactory  test.  If,  for  ex¬ 
ample,  rather  too  much  hydrochloric  acid  were  em¬ 
ployed  for  dissolving  it,  a  considerable  proportion  of 
the  compound  would  be  lost  in  the  form  of  chloride, 
which  would  be  retained  in  the  mother  liquor.  A 
better  plan  would  be  somewhat  as  follows: — 50 
grains  moistened  with  nitric  acid,  then  dried  and 
heated  to  redness,  would  give  a  white  residue  weigh¬ 
ing  about  45  grains.  And  the  weight  of  this  is  not 
sensibly  altered  by  washing  with  boiling  water. 

Antimonum  Tartaratum. — Oxide  of  antimony  is 
mixed  with  cream  of  tartar  and  water  into  a  paste, 
allowed  to  stand  twenty-four  hours,  and  then  water 
added  and  the  whole  boiled  up,  filtered  and  set  by  to 
crystallize.  A  little  antimonic  anhydride,  Sb2Os,  is 
generally  left  insoluble  in  the  form  of  a  white 
powder. 

The  formula  of  this  compound,  as  given  in  the 
Pharmacopoeia,  seems  to  be  anomalous.  It  is  better 
to  represent  it  as  a  tartrate  containing  an  atom  of 
potassium  and  an  atom  of  a  compound  radicle,  to 
which  it  is  not  necessary  to  give  a  name,  but  which 
replaces  the  atom  of  basylous  hydrogen  belonging  to 
the  cream  of  tartar  from  which  the  salt  is  made. 
Antimony  is  usually  trivalent,  Sb'",  the  union  of  one 
atom  with  an  atom  of  oxygen  which  is  bivalent  0", 
gives,  therefore,  a  compound  which  is  univalent 
(Sb"'0"y.  The  formula  of  tartar  emetic,  written  on 
this  principle,  is  then  (Sb0)'KC4H406.  Crystals 
of  the  salt  are  easily  recognized  by  their  triangular 
facets,  which  are  marked  by  parallel  lines.  A  solu¬ 
tion  of  the  salt  in  a  mixture  of  hydrochloric  and  tar¬ 
taric  acids  gives  with  sulphuretted  hydrogen  an 
orange  precipitate  of  sulphide  of  antimony.  This 
compound,  after  being  dried  in  a  water  bath,  contains 
only  a  very  small  quantity  of  water  (about  1^  per 
cent.) ;  if  heated  more  strongly  it  suddenly  loses  its 
amorphous  state,  becoming  black  and  crystalline. 
It  is  then  identical  in  composition  with  the  native 
sulphide. 

Argenti  Nitras. — Pure  silver  is  dissolved  in  di¬ 
luted  nitric  acid,  and  the  solution  evaporated  till  it 
yields  crystals : — 

3Ag2  +  8  H  N  03  =  6  AgN  03  +  N202 
+  4H20. 

Traces  of  gold,  or  of  sulphide  of  silver,  which  may 
be  present,  will  remain  insoluble  as  a  nearly  black 
powder.  Solutions  of  nitrate  of  silver  are  best  de¬ 
canted  from  any  sediment,  not  filtered,  since  contact 
with  the  organic  matter  of  the  filter  renders  the 
nitrate  of  silver  liable  to  decomposition  on  exposure 
to  light.  Nitrate  of  silver  is  often  made  by  dissolv¬ 
ing  silver  coins,  or  other  form  of  common  silver. 
Brazilian  and  Portuguese  coins  are  used  for  this 
purpose.  When  this  plan  is  adopted,  the  solution  is 
evaporated  to  dryness  and  the  residue  heated  strongly 
for  some  time.  The  nitrate  of  copper  present  is  in 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  3,  is:o. 


411 


tills  way  decomposed,  giving  insoluble  black  oxide  of 
copper : — 

2  (Cu  2  N  03)  =  2  Cu  0  +  2  N2  02  +  3  02, 
whilst  the  nitrate  of  silver  remains  unchanged.  On 
treating  with  distilled  water  the  latter  alone  dis¬ 
solves. 

[§  10  grains  dissolved  in  distilled  water  give  with 
hydrochloric  acid  a  precipitate,  which,  when  washed 
and  dried,  weighs  8'44  grains.  The  filtrate  when 
evaporated  by  a  water  bath  leaves  no  residue.] 
Adulteration  of  the  fused  stick  with  nitrate  of  potash 
would  in  tills  way  be  detected. 

{To  be  continued.) 

ON  THE  COMBINATIONS  OF  CARBONIC 
ANHYDRIDE  WITH  AMMONIA  AND  WATER. 

BY  EDWARD  DIVERS,  M.D.* 

{Continued  from  page  385.) 

Ammonium  Carbamate. 

History. — "Who  discovered  that  ammonia  and  carbonic 
anhydride  unite  to  form  a  solid  I  do  not  know.  Gay- 
Lussac  first  determined  the  proportion  in  which  these 
gases  combine. 

Preparation. — («.)  By  the  direct  union  of  dry  ammonia 
and  carbonic  anhydride  gases,  when  it  is  deposited  partly 
as  an  incrustation  on  the  walls  of  the  vessel  in  which  it 
is  formed,  and  partly  as  flocculi.  This  is  the  earliest 
method  known. 

(i b .)  (Rose’s  method.) — By  distilling  together  ammo¬ 
nium  sulphamate  and  anhydrous  sodium  carbonate,  when 
it  is  also  obtained  as  an  incrustation  on  the  walls  of  the 
condensing  vessel. f 

{c.)  (Kolbe  and  Basaroff’s  method.) — By  passing  car¬ 
bonic  anhydride  and  ammonia  gases,  both  perfectly  dry, 
into  cold  absolute  alcohol,  separating  the  copious  crys¬ 
talline  precipitate  by  filtration  from  the  greater  part  of 
the  liquid,  and  heating  it  with  absolute  alcohol  in  a  her¬ 
metically-sealed  tube  to  100°  or  above,  when  the  liquid 
on  cooling  deposits  the  carbamate  in  large  crystalline 
laminae. f  I  have  not  repeated  any  of  these  processes. 
I  am  able  to  add  to  them  several  others  made  out  by 
myself. 

{el) .  By  passing  carbonic  anhydride  and  ammonia  gases 
into  concentrated  aqueous  solution  of  ammonia,  when  the 
carbamate  separates  in  crystals,  which,  when  dried  as  well 
as  possible  by  pressure  between  folds  of  bibulous  paper, 
contain  only  a  little  carbonate. 

{e.)  By  digesting  in  a  closed  vessel  an  aqueous  solution 
of  ammonia,  saturated  -with  the  gas  at  a  low  temperature, 
with  either  the  commercial  carbonate,  or  any  other  car¬ 
bonate  of  ammonium,  at  a  temperature  of  20°-25°  for 
thirty-six  or  forty  hours,  when  the  carbamate  either 
crystallizes  out  at  once  on  cooling,  or  will  do  so  after 
cooling  the  solution,  passing  more  ammonia  gas  into  it, 
adding  more  carbonate,  repeating  the  digestion  as  before, 
and  then  again  cooling.  This  process  has  been  already 
described  in  the  account  of  the  reactions  of  the  normal 
and  acid  carbonates.  The  best  carbonate  to  employ  is 
the  commercial  carbonate,  because  it  yields  more  of  the 
carbamate,  as  might  be  anticipated  from  its  composition. 

.(/•)  By  heating  the  commercial  carbonate  of  ammonia 
mixed  with  a  sufficient  quantity  of  anhydrous  potassium 
carbonate  in  a  retort,  immersed  in  a  water-bath  at  a  tem¬ 
perature  carried  slowly  from  about  50°  to  about  80°,  and 
connecting  the  neck  of  the  retort  with  a  wide  tube  dip- 
ping  under  mercury,  when  the  neck  of  the  retort  becomes 
incrusted  with  the  carbamate  in  a  translucent  crystalline 

*  Abstracted  by  the  author  from  his  paper  in  the  Journal 
of  the  Chemical  Society. 

t  Poggendorff’s  c  Annalen,’  vol.  xlvi.  p.  373.  Also  Taylor’s 
‘  Scientific  Memoirs,’  vol.  ii.  p.  98. 

X  Direct  conversion  of  ammonia  carbamate  into  urea. 
Journal  of  the  Chemical  Society  (2),  vol.  vi.  p.  194. 


condition.  The  water-bath-  is  to  be  maintained  at  a  tem¬ 
perature  not  much  exceeding  60°  C.  until  ammonia  gas, 
which  is  at  first  generated  in  large  quantities,  has  nearly 
ceased  to  escape  through  the  mercury.  The  temperature 
of  the  bath  is  then  to  be  raised,  but  not  so  rapidly  as  to 
cause  any  material  escape  of  gas  through  the  mercury. 

{g.)  By  distilling,  as  in  the  last  process,  a  mixture  of 
the  commercial  carbonate  of  ammonia  and  anhydrous 
calcium  chloride,  when  an  incrustation  forms,  similar  in 
every  respect  to  that  obtained  in  the  last  case,  which  is 
the  carbamate.  At  a  temperature  of  the  water-bath  of 
about  48°  a  considerable  quantity  of  carbonic  anhydride 
escapes  through  the  mercury,  and  at  about  52°  the  in¬ 
crustation  begins  to  form,  and  continues  to  do  so  with 
very  little  further  escape  of  gas,  while  the  temperature 
is  allowed  to  rise  very  slowly  to  65°,  a  temperature  which 
is  sufficient  to  carry  the  process  to  its  completion. 

(A.)  By  distilling  the  commercial  carbonate  extremely 
slowly,  when  the  more  remote  part  of  the  earlier  formed 
incrustation  will  be  found  to  be  impure  carbamate.  I 
have  obtained  samples  from  an  incrustation  thus  pre¬ 
pared,  in  which  six-sevenths  and  five-sixths  respectively 
of  the  contained  ammonia  were  in  the  state  of  carbamate. 
There  are  no  sensible  qualities  by  which  the  composition 
of  the  product  can  be  inferred,  so  that  it  is  quite  pos¬ 
sible,  indeed,  more  probable  than  not,  that  parts  of  the 
incrustation  were  more  nearly  pure  carbamate  than  the 
samples  selected  for  analysis  proved  to  be.  This  process 
is,  of  course,  only  of  interest  from  a  theoretical  point  of 
view.  The  product  obtained  by  Rose  by  a  similar  pro¬ 
cess  is  not  the  same  as  that  obtained  by  me,  a  fact  which 
admits  of  a  ready  explanation,  as  will  be  presently  seen. 

{i.)  By  distilling  the  normal  carbonate  at  a  heat  not 
exceeding  60°,  when  a  solid  condenses  containing  even 
less  water  than  the  product  of  method  (A). 

(j.)  By  repeatedly  dissolving  commercial  carbonate  at 
a  gentle  heat  in  the  same  quantity  of  water,  cooling  after 
each  addition,  and  separating  the  crystals,  as  already  de¬ 
scribed,  until  crystals  of  normal  ammonium  carbonate 
are  deposited ;  then  once  more  warming  the  solution, 
dissolving  a  fresh  quantity  of  commercial  salt  in  it,  allow¬ 
ing  it  to  cool  and  crystallize  for  a  day,  separating  the 
crystals,  passing  ammonia  gas,  straining  off  or  not  (as  may 
be  necessary)  the  precipitate  of  normal  carbonate  pro¬ 
duced,  renewing  or  continuing  the  stream  of  ammonia  till 
the  solution  (kept  cool)  is  about  saturated,  and  straining 
off  the  precipitate  of  normal  carbonate,  when  the  solution 
will  prove  by  its  reactions  to  be  apparently  a  solution 
of  carbamate  with  a  little  carbonate  dissolved  in  it.  I 
think  it  not  unlikely  that  by  carrying  this  process  fur¬ 
ther,  with  some  modification,  crystals  of  carbamate  might 
be  obtained ;  but  I  have  made  no  experiments  in  this 
direction. 

(A.)  By  distilling  the  commercial  carbonate  with 
strong  spirit,  or,  probably  better  still,  with  absolute  alco¬ 
hol.  The  carbamate  is  wet — mixed  with  water  and 
spirit — but  contains  very  little  carbonate. 

Sensible  Qualities. — Ammonium  carbamate  has  a  strong 
smell  of  ammonia,  but  not  at  all  equal  to  that  of  the 
normal,  or  even  half-acid,  carbonate.  As  regards  its 
taste  also,  it  is  strongly  ammoniacal,  but  without  the 
causticity  of  the  normal  carbonate. 

Form. — It  occurs  in  the  form  of  flocculi ;  of  an  incrus¬ 
tation  more  or  less  crystalline ;  of  prisms  found  some¬ 
times  projecting  from  this  incrustation ;  of  crystalline 
laminae  (Kolbe  and  Basaroff ) ;  and  of  crystals  neither 
tabular  nor  decidedly  elongated  or  columnar. 

Of  the  system  of  the  last-named  crystals,  I  am  unable 
to  speak  with  any  degree  of  assurance,  but  they  seem  to 
belong  to  either  the  right  or  the  oblique  rhombic  pris¬ 
matic  system.  They  frequently  occur  massed  together, 
like  crystals  of  alum,  one  crystal  capping  the  other,  as  it 
were.  When  solitary  they  are  not  only  of  no  groat  size, 
but  also  are  rapidly  deprived  of  their  angles  and  edges 
by  the  changes  they  undergo.  When  their  growth  is 
not  interfered  with  by  contact  with  each  other  and  with 


December  s,  1870.]  THE  PHAEMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


445 


crystalline  particles  of  the  normal  carbonate,  they  are 
perfectly  transparent.  The  incrustation  consists  of 
prisms  arranged  perpendicularly  to  the  surface  of  forma¬ 
tion.  The  translucency  of  the  mass  attains  a  high  de¬ 
gree  of  perfection  in  those  parts  formed  nearest  to  the 
source  of  heat.  Fragments  from  this  part  of  the  incrus¬ 
tation  appear  almost  perfectly  transparent  when  thrown 
into  water.  In  appearance  this  form  of  the  carbamate 
differs  little,  if  at  all,  from  a  similarly  formed  deposit  of 
acid-carbonate— with  one  exception.  This  is  in  the  parts 
formed  near  the  source  of  heat,  which  acquire  an  in¬ 
creased  translucency  by  the  continued  action  of  the  heat 
employed  in  carrying  on  the  process,  and  also  undergo 
marked  contraction,  so  as  to  exhibit  gaping  fissures,  and 
become  partly  separated  from  the  walls  of  the  retort  on 
which  they  rest.  This  phenomenon  is  always  observed 
in  the  carbamate,  whether  formed  by  the  action  of  potas¬ 
sium  carbonate  or  calcium  chloride,  and  never  with  hy¬ 
drated  incrustations,  according  to  my  experience.  The 
prisms  which  sometimes  project  from  the  free  surface  of 
the  incrustation  are  thick  and  generally  very  short,  but 
sometimes  they  pass  right  across  to  the  opposite  wall  of 
the  retort-neck  or  condensing-tube. 

Chemical  Composition. —It  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  ad¬ 
duce  evidence  to  prove  that  ammonium  carbamate  is 
composed,  according  to  the  formula — 

C02  (N  HA-,, 

of 

Carbonic  anhydride  .  .  5 6 •41 

Ammonia . 43'59 


100-00 

Behaviour  on  Exposure. — It  evolves  an  odour  of  am¬ 
monia  which,  when  a  solid  lump  of  it,  or  a  crystal,  is 
exposed  freely  to  the  air,  rapidly  diminishes  in  intensity ; 
at  the  same  time  the  carbamate  gradually  deliquesces  ; 
by  continuing  the  exposure  it  is  nearly  dissipated.  The 
residue  left  is  acid  carbonate,  generally  in  the  form  of  a 
porous  cast  or  superficial  skeleton  of  the  original  frag¬ 
ment. 

The  deliquescence  of  the  carbamate  is  an  interesting- 
fact,  not  only  as  affording  further  evidence  that  the  car¬ 
bamate  has  only  a  slowly-manifested  chemical  affinity 
for  water,  but  also  as  distinguishing  between  the  mere 
physical  attraction  of  a  body  for  water,  and  its  chemical 
transformation  with  water  into  a  new  substance. 

Behaviour  when  Heated. — Ammonium  carbamate,  un¬ 
like  the  true  carbonates,  does  not  fuse  when  heated.  Ac¬ 
cording  to  John  Davy  it  is  converted  into  gas  at  60°  C. 
My  own  experiments  very  nearly  confirm  this  statement. 
I  was  not  able  to  fix  the  point  very  closely,  but  found  it 
to  be  about  59°. 

It  has  been  for  many  years  familiar  to  chemists  that 
the  carbamate  obtained  from  two  volumes  of  ammonia 
and  one  volume  of  carbonic  anhydride  yields  three 
volumes  of  vapour.  A  fact  like  this  is  now  held  by  most 
chemists  to  be  proof  that  a  substance  thus  behaving  is 
decomposed  at  the  moment  when  it  assumes  the  gaseous 
state.  Bineau  took  the  density  of  the  vapour  of  the 
carbamate  at  ordinary  temperatures,*  and  foimd  it  also  to 
accord  with  the  sum  of  the  volumes  of  the  ammonia  and 
carbonic  anhydride  which  form  it.  Another  proof  that 
it  is  decomposed  when  dissipated  at  ordinary  tempera¬ 
tures,  is  to  be  found  in  the  powerful  odour  of  ammonia 
which  is  then  perceived ;  for  it  is  inconsistent  with  what 
we  know  for  certain  of  the  change  in  properties  produced 
by  chemical  combination,  to  suppose  that  a  compound  of 
ammonia  should  smell  like  ammonia  itself. 

Bineau  has  also  furnished  us  with  special  evidence  that 
the  vapour,  obtained  by  distilling  carbamate,  is  nothing 
but  a  mixture  of  the  two  above-named  gases.  He  ob¬ 


*  “  Recherches  sur  les  Densities  dc  Vapeur.”  Ann.  de  Chimie, 
vol.  lxviii.  p.  416. 


served*  that  the  gaseous  product  obtained  by  exposing 
the.  salt  to  heat  retains  its  gaseous  state  at  a  temperature 
which  is  lower  than  that  at  which  it  is  formed.  I  am 
myself  able  to  confirm  this  statement. 

Behaviour  with  Water. — One  part  of  ammonium  car¬ 
bamate  dissolves  in  about  one  and  a  half  parts  of  water, 
sensible  cold  being  produced  by  the  solution.  It  dis¬ 
solves  unchanged,  as  is  shown  by  the  reactions  of  the 
solution  immediately  after  it  is  prepared.  But  the  car¬ 
bamate  in  solution  soon  combines  with  water  and  be¬ 
comes  carbonate,  according  to  this  equation, — 

C02(NH3)2  +  20H2=C04(NH4)2H2. 

Behaviour  with  Alcohol. — Ammonium  carbamate  is 
soluble  in  spirit  of  sp.  gr.  -829,  according  to  John  Davy. 
In  absolute  alcohol,  when  heated  with  it  in  a  sealed 
tube,  it  dissolves,  and  crystallizes  out  when  the  solution 
is  allowed  to  cool  (Kolbe  and  Basaroff).  I  have  made 
no  experiments  on  this  subject  myself. 

Behaviour  with  Ammonia-water. — It  dissolves  freely  in 
the  strong  ammonia- water  of  commerce,  with  production 
of  cold.  At  15°  one  part  dissolves  in  a  little  more  than 
two  parts  of  the  ammonia- water.  The  solution,  left  to 
itself  for  some  time,  yields  crystals  of  the  noimal  carbo¬ 
nate.  But  when  cooled  down  to  about  0°  soon  after  it  is 
made,  it  yields  the  carbamate  again  in  relatively  large 
crystals.  Ammonia,  therefore,  has  the  power,  well 
marked,  of  impeding  the  hydration  of  the  carbamate. 
To  this  fact  is  probably  due  the  success  in  obtaining  the 
carbamate  from  the  carbonate  by  heating  its  solution  in 
presence  of  ammonia. 

Iteactions  which  serve  to  distinguish  the  Carbamate  from 
the  Carbonates  generally. — Rose  has  pointed  out  the  fol¬ 
lowing  :  — The  carbamate  is  not  perceptibly  affected  by 
dry  hydrochloric  acid  in  the  cold,  and  warmed  in  the 
acid  is  decomposed  without  liberation  of  water.  In  dry 
chlorine  gas  it  is  not  at  first  affected,  but  is  slowly  de¬ 
composed  without  formation  of  water.  It  assumes  in 
the  cold  a  pale  yellowish  colour  when  placed  in  sulphu¬ 
rous  anhydride.  Heated  in  sulphuretted  hydrogen  gas, 
no  water  is  produced.  It  yields  carbonic  anhydride 
ivithout  effervescence  when  the  vapours  of  sulphuric  anhy¬ 
dride  are  passed  over  it. 

Besides  these,  it  has  a  special  reaction  in  solution  with 
calcium  chloride ;  when  mixed  with  anhydrous  calcium 
chloride  it  can  be  expelled  by  a  gentle  heat,  leaving  the 
chloride  unchanged ;  it  does  not  melt  or  become  moist 
when  heated,  and  it  dissolves  freely  in  strong-  ammonia- 
water.  Its  becoming  moist  on  exposure  is  not  charac¬ 
teristic,  as  both  the  half-acid  and  the  normal  carbonates 
become  moist  also,  though  from  a  different  cause. 

Chemical  Constitution  of  the  Carbamate. — Analogy  has 
caused  this  salt  to  be  regarded  by  Gerhardt,  and  most 
chemists  after  him,  to  be  like  the  salts  formed  by  the 
union  of  other  anhydrides  with  ammonia;  conclusive 
evidence  on  this  point  i3  still  wanting.  There  are  no 
metallic  carbamates  known.  With  calcium  chloride  and 
with  barium  chloride  it  does  not,  however,  behave  like 
ammonium  carbonate ;  and  this  is  probably  due  to  the 
formation  of  a  not  very  insoluble  calcium  carbamate. 
In  connection  with  this  point  I  may  state  that  by  adding 
to  the  solution  obtained  from  the  commercial  carbonate 
by  water — method  if) — a  concentrated  solution  of  cal¬ 
cium  chloride,  I  have  obtained  a  crystalline  precipitate 
not  only  somewhat  soluble  in  its  mother-liquor,  but 
which,  after  being  filtered  off  and  pressed  between  bibu¬ 
lous  paper,  has  sometimes  proved  almost  perfectly  so¬ 
luble  in  water,  though  in  a  few  minutes  its  solution 
deposited  calcium  carbonate  ;  it  did  not  smell  of  ammo¬ 
nia.  I  am  not  sure  that  this  precipitate,  however,  was 
really  calcium  carbamate  ;  but  I  made  analyses  of  it  in 
its  impuro  and  damp  state,  not  venturing  to  wash  it,  and 

*  “  Sur  quelques  Combinaisons  ammoniacales  et  sur  le  role 
que  joue  l’Ammoniaque  dans  les  reactions  chimiques.  ’  Ann. 
de  Chimie,  vol.  lxvii.  p.  249. 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December 3, 1870, 


44G 


the  results  of  these  agree  remarkably  well  with  a  com¬ 
pound  haying  either  of  the  following  formulae, 

C  03(N  H4)2,  C  03  Ca.  (C02NH2)2Ca. 

Ammonio-calcium  carbonate.  Calcium  carbamate, 

mixed  with  hydrated  calcium  chloride.  A  similar  pre¬ 
cipitate  is  obtained  with  barium  chloride.  The  probabi¬ 
lity,  I  think,  is,  that  the  precipitates  are  carbamates ; 
and  if  so  the  constitution  of  the  ammonium  carbamate  is 
that  expressed  by  its  name,  and  by  the  formula — 

C02  (N  H2)  (NH4). 

{To  be  continued .) 


A  NEW  MATERIAL  FOR  SUPPOSITORIES. 

Mr.  T.  Carre,  of  Meaford,  has  communicated  to  the 
Canadian  Pharmaceutical  Journal  a  formula  for  a  new 
material  for  the  administration  of  opium  or  other  medi¬ 
cine,  by  suppository.  He  says  that  in  trials  made  upon 
patients  suffering  from  hemorrhoids  he  has  found  it, 
from  its  elastic  texture,  to  possess  advantages  over  other 
excipients  used  for  a  like  purpose.  Gelatin  being  one  of 
the  ingredients,  it  could  not  be  used  for  making  suppo¬ 
sitories  containing  tannin,  as  an  insoluble  and  inert  sub¬ 
stance  would  be  formed.  The  following  is  the  for¬ 


mula  : — 

Best  Glue . 4  oz. 

Glycerine . 8  oz. 

Golden  Syrup . 2  oz. 

Water . 8  oz. 


Soak  the  glue  in  the  water  until  quite  soft,  then  dis¬ 
solve  over  steam  or  water  bath.  Mix  the  syrup  and 
glycerine  well  together,  add  them  to  the  glue  solution 
and  boil  until  they  lose  about  2  oz.  in  weight ;  then  pour 
out  on  an  oiled  tray,  or  into  any  suitable  mould,  previ¬ 
ously  removing  any  scum  formed.  The  result  is  an 
elastic  substance,  which  will  keep  for  a  long  time,  but 
dissolving  more  readily  when  fresh.  When  required 
for  use  the  composition  should  be  dissolved  in  a  little 
water  with  gentle  heat,  the  opium  or  other  drug  mixed 
with  it,  and  then  run  into  a  mould. 


A  Confidential  Circular  from  New  York. — A 

firm  in  New  York  have  forwarded  printed  circulars  to 
many  persons  in  England  offering  to  supply  them  with 
aluminium  sovereigns.  They  say  that  the  base  coins  are 
“  minted  with  the  express  design  of  circulating  in  Great 
Britain,  being  of  such  perfect  execution,  and  so  admirably 
calculated,  both  as  regards  weight,  colour,  sound,  and 
resistance  to  acid  tests,  to  deceive  the  most  accomplished 
experts,  that  their  detection  is  almost  beyond  the  bounds 
of  possibility.”  “The  aluminium  of  which  they  are 
composed”  is  stated  to  have  been  “  discovered  in  a  valley 
among  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  was  at  first  mistaken, 
not  only  by  the  miners  but  by  dealers  in  the  precious 
metal,  for  pure  gold.  It  was  more  than  a  month  before 
its  true  character  was  discovered,  for  it  was  so  much  like 
pure  gold  that  the  difference  could  be  detected  only  by 
its  lighter  weight.”  The  price  of  these  imitation  sove¬ 
reigns  is  annexed  in  the  “  strictly  confidential  circular” 
—namely,  £2  for  20,  53  for  £5,  £10  for  108,  £20  for  218, 
and  £50  for  550.  “No  more  than  550  sovereigns  will  be 
sent  at  one  time  to  any  one  person,  for  fear  they  might 
lose  their  prudence  and  pass  them  off  too  rapidly,  thereby 
causing  suspicion,  for  they  are  so  easily  passed  that  some 
persons  might  get  too  greedy  and  overdo  the  business.” 
The  circular  also  contains  directions  how  to  send  an 
“  order  for  sovereigns”  to  a  firm  of  tobacconists  in  the 
Broadway,  New  York,  who  in  the  list  of  prices,  also 
printed,  which  accompanies  the  “  strictly  confidential 
circular,”  boast  of  having  “paid  over  3,100,000  dollars 
taxes  to  Government  in  four  years.”  It  is  recommended 
to  “word  your  letter  in  sending  an  order  for  sovereigns 
so  as  to  make  it  read  as  if  you  were  ordering  so  many 
pounds  of  smoking  tobacco.”  The  price  list  and  “strictly 
confidential  circular”  are  enclosed  in  envelopes  of  a  yel¬ 
low  colour,  with  two  three-cents  postage  stamps  on  each. 
— Times. 

Tannin  versus  Alum. — Dr.  Max  Jaffe,  of  Ham¬ 
burg,  says  that  alum,  so  frequently  used  for  gargles,  is 
hurtful  to  the  teeth ;  he  thinks  that  tannin,  dissolved  in 
water  or  red  wine,  is  far  preferable. — Lancet. 


CHALK  MIXTURE. 

The  following  formula  is  published  in  the  American 
Journal  of  Pharmacy,  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Robinson,  of  Potts - 
ville,  who  says  he  has  used  it  for  two  years  and  found  it 
satisfactory : — 

J£>  Crete©  Prsep.  ...  1  troy  ounce. 

Sacchari, 

Pulv.  G.  Acacke,  .  .  each  ^  troy  oz. 

01.  Cinnamomi  ...  15  drops. 

-Mix  in  the  usual  manner  with  a  pint  of  water. 


SYRUP  OF  CITRIC  ACID. 

Mr.  Benjamin  Lillard,  of  Nashville,  Tennessee,  sends 
the  following,  original  formula  for  the  preparation  of 
syrup  of  citric  acid  to  the  American  Journal  of  Phar¬ 
macy  : — 


Take  of  Citric  Acid,  in  fine  powder 

Water . 

Syrup . 

Oil  of  Lemon  ... 


60  grains. 

a  sufficient  quantity. 
16  fluid  ounces. 

30  minims. 


Dissolve  the  citric  acid  in  the  water,  add  the  syrup  and 
spirit  of  lemon,  shaking  well  until  they  are  thoroughly 
mixed. 

When  convenient,  hot  or  warm  water  may  be  used.  He 
says,  “I  have  used  the  syrup  made  by  this  formula  for  over 
eighteen  months,  including  two  summers  in  this  climate, 
and  have  found  it  to  retain  its  brilliancy  and  flavour 
better  than  when  prepared  by  the  old  formula.” 


DRUG  MARKET  NOTES. 


Under  this  head  we  purpose  giving  occasionally 
some  particulars  as  to  the  drugs,  etc.,  imported  into 
this  country,  and  shall  be  glad  to  receive  information 
on  the  subject  from  correspondents. 

Among  parcels  of  drugs  which  have  lately  been 
offered  for  sale  were  the  following : — 

Nux  Vomica,  424  bags  and  240  pockets. 

Gambier,  181  bales. 

Bees’  Wax, — Madagascar,  9  cases  ;  Cape,  2  cases ; 

Angola,  46  cakes  ;  Gambia,  58  cakes. 

Japan  Wax,  66  cases. 

Sandal-wood,  4  tons. 

Sandal- wood  Oil,  2  cases. 

Roll  Annatto,  241  baskets. 

Opium, — Turkey,  77  cases;  Persian,  25 ;  Indian, 
5;  Egyptian,  3. 

Scammony,  23  cases. 

Camphor, — China,  240  cases;  Japan,  20  tubs. 
Coceulus  Indicus,  213  bags. 

China  Soy,  65  casks. 

Honey, — Australian,  5  barrels ;  Jamaica,  2  barrels. 
Castor  Oil,  610  cases. 

Crown  Bark,  53  bales. 

Cubebs,  210  bags. 

Ipecacuanha,  11  serons. 

Cascarilla  Bark,  57  serons. 

Olibanum,  61  cases. 


December  3,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


447 


SATURDAY,  DECEMBER  3,  1870. 


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

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

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W.  Envelopes  endorsed  “  Bharm.  Journ.” 


CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’  FUND  FOR  THE 
SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 

In  accordance  with  the  notice  given  some  weeks 
since,  we  now  close  the  Subscriptions  to  this  Fund. 
The  contributions  received  since  the  last  publication, 
October  15,  1870,  are  as  follow: — 

£.  s.  d. 

John  S.  Hodgkinson,  Matlock  Bridge  .  0  5  0 

Per  W.  F.  Blake,  Loc.  Sec.  at  Stroud  : — 

£.  s.  d. 

W.  F.  Blake,  Stroud  .  0  10  6 

Mrs.  Gay  ,,  1  1  0 

James  B.  Carr  „  0  10  6 

J.  Alfred  Pearce,  Cainscross  ....  0  10  6 

John  Simpkins,  Minchinhampton  0  10  6 

-  3  3  0 

W.  M.  B.,  London .  0  5  0 

Rev.  D.  Anderton  .  0  5  0 

J.  F.  Thursfield,  Kettering, 

15  bottles  Condy’s  fluid, 

And  a  bundle  of  old  linen. 

Altogether  the  money  contributions  amount  to  the 
sum  of  £139.  17**.  2d.  This  has  been  handed  over  to 
the  National  Association  without  any  deduction.  In 
addition  to  this  simi  a  large  quantity  of  medicine  and 
materials  of  various  kinds  has  been  sent  up  to  the 
Society’s  house,  by  various  members  of  the  trade,  and 
this  also  has  been  handed  over  to  the  Association. 
Had  the  subscriptions  to  the  Fund  been  more  general 
a  very  large  sum  would  have  been  collected ;  but  it 
must  be  borne  hi  mind  that  many  who,  have  not  con¬ 
tributed  to  it  were  compelled  to  give  their  aid  in 
conjunction  with  then*  immediate  neighbours  to  the 
local  funds  raised  with  the  same  object,  and  that  this 
was  the  only  reason  why  many  names  are  absent 
from  the  list  of  subscribers  to  the  Chemists  and 
Druggists’  Fund. 


We  are  informed  by  correspondents  that  at  two 
other  places  besides  those  mentioned  by  us  last  week, 
members  of  the  drug  trade  have  been  chosen  as 
mayors,  viz.  Beverley,  Yorkshire,  where  James  M. 
Robinson,  Pharmaceutical  Chemist,  has  been  elected 
for  the  sixth  time,  and  Abingdon,  Berks,  where 
William  Ballard,  Pharmaceutical  Chemist,  fills  the 
office  of  mayor. 


We  beg  to  remind  our  readers  that  the  meeting  to 
be  held  on  the  7th  inst.,  promises  to  be  of  sufficient 
interest  to  induce  a  large  attendance.  Mr.  How- 
den’s  communication  on  the  state  of  Pharmacy  in 
America  will  offer  many  opportunities  for  profitable 
discussion  of  our  own  condition,  and  for  the  com¬ 
parison  of  various  modes  of  dealing  with  details. 
The  production  of  opium  in  our  Australian  colonies 
is  also  a  subject  that  is  of  special  importance.  Mr. 
Allchin,  we  understand,  will  also  bring  before  the 
meeting  a  description  of  an  easy  and  effectual  mode 
of  bottling  infusions,  fruits,  etc.,  for  preservation. 
Mr.  C.  H.  Wood  is  also  to  bring  forward  some  phar¬ 
maceutical  notes. 


The  British  Medical  Journal  announces  that  the 
Poor  Law  Commissioners  for  Ireland  have  ordered 
an  apothecary  to  be  appointed  who  shall  purchase 
drugs,  compound  them,  and  distribute  them  to  the 
various  unions.  It  is  thought  that,  besides  seeming 
pure  medicines,  the  expenditure,  now  amounting  to 
£32,000  annually,  may  be  considerably  diminished. 
The  salary  is  to  be  £500,  and  the  election  is  vested 
in  the  hundred  and  sixty-three  Poor  Law  Boards 
which  exist  in  Ireland. 


In  the  closing  number  of  the  forty-second  volume 
of  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy,  which  we 
have  just  received,  there  is  an  announcement  that  it 
is  in  contemplation  to  begin  the  next  volume  with  a 
monthly  issue  instead  of  a  bi-monthly  one.  Mr.  Wil¬ 
liam  Procter,  jun.,  who  has  for  twenty-five  years 
acted  as  editor  of  the  journal,  expresses  his  sympa¬ 
thy  with  the  change,  but  at  the  same  time  intimates 
his  intention  of  taking  the  opportunity  to  resign. 


The  Council  of  the  Apothecaries’  Hall  of  Ireland 
have  selected  “  The  British  Pharmacopoeia'’  as  the 
subject  for  the  annual  prize  to  be  competed  for  by 
apprentices  to  apothecaries  in  May  next. 


The  Anniversary  Session  of  the  St.  Andrew’s 
Medical  Graduates’  Association  will  be  held  at  the 
Freemasons’  Tavern,  on  Saturday,  December  3,  at 
5  p.m.,  when  an  address,  entitled  “  For  the  Future 
of  Physic,”  will  be  delivered  by  Dr.  Richardson, 
F.R.S.,  President  of  the  Association. 


NOTICE. — The  reports  of  proceedings  at  the 
meetings  of  provincial  societies  frequently  do  not 
reach  us  until  some  time  after  the  meetings.  The 
secretaries  of  the  societies  are  requested  to  furnish 
these  reports  as  early  as  possible  for  insertion  in 
the  Journal.  They  should  reach  the  Editor’s  office 
not  later  than  Wednesday  morning,  if  intended  tor 
publication  in  the  current  week,  or  if  a  proof  be 
required,  not  later  than  Monday. 


448 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  3, 1870. 


nfewral  tawsartimts. 


BRISTOL  PHARMACEUTICAL  ASSOCIATION. 

The  first  meeting-  of  this  Society  for  the  Session  1870-71 
was  held  at  the  Philosophical  Institution,  on  Friday, 
Nor.  11.  The  Hon.  Secretary  (Mr.  Schacht),  having 
read  the  minutes  of  the  last  meeting,  announced  the  ar¬ 
rangements  the  Council  had  made  for  the  ensuing  session. 
These  were — 

“Organic  Chemistry,”  a  course  of  thirty  lectures  hy 
Mr.  Coomber,  F.C.S. 

“  Inorganic  Chemistry,”  a  course  of  thirty  lectures  hy 
Mr.  Coomber,  F.C.S. 

“Vegetable  Physiology  and  Economic  Botany,”  a 
course  of  thirty  lectures  hy  Mr.  Leipner. 

“Systematic  Botany,”  a  course  of  thirty  lectures  hy 
Mr.  Leipner. 

In  addition  to  these  regular  courses  of  scientific  in¬ 
struction,  there  would  he  monthly  meetings  in  that 
theatre,  open  to  members  and  associates,  at  which  sub¬ 
jects  of  professional  interest  would  he  presented.  The 
following  was  the  list  as  at  present  arranged  : — 

Friday,  Nov.  11,  a  lecture  hy  Mr.  W.  W.  Stoddart, 
F.G.S.,  on  “The  Chemistry  of  the  Sugars.” 

Friday,  Dec.  16,  a  lecture  hy  Mr.  Thomas  Coomber, 
F.C.S. 

Friday,  Jan.  13,  a  lecture  hy  Mr.  Adolph  Leipner. 

Friday,  Feb.  10,  Pharmaceutical  Papers  and  Discus¬ 
sions. 

Friday,  March  10,  a  lecture  hy  Mr.  W.  Lant  Carpenter, 
B.Sc. 

Friday,  April  14,  a  lecture  hy  Mr.  W.  A.  Tilden,  B.Sc. 

Friday,  May  12,  Pharmaceutical  Papers  and  Discus¬ 
sions. 

Mr.  Stoddart,  the  President  of  the  Association,  in¬ 
stead  of  the  usual  inaugural  address,  then  delivered  a  lec¬ 
ture  on  “  The  Chemistry  of  the  Sugars,”  explaining  their 
natural  history,  manufacture,  and  analytical  reactions. 
The  latter  were  more  particularly  explained  when  Phar¬ 
maceutical  preparations  were  alluded  to,  as  will  he  seen 
from  the  following  head-notes  : — 

The  Saccharine  Group. — Cane  sugar  ;  grape  sugar  ; 
fruit  sugar ;  office  in  plant  life ;  office  in  food  ;  Liebig’s 
theory  doubted ;  distinction  between  sugar,  starch,  and 
gum. 

Cane  Sugar. — (Sucrose  C12H22On),  in  what  found, 
manufacture,  statistics,  preparation  on  the  small  scale  ; 
sucrates  (Liq.  Calc.  Sacch.),  crystalline  form  (sugar 
candy),  properties,  decomposition,  by  heat  (barley  sugar), 
(Sacch.  Ust.),  by  chemical  agents,  by  alkalies,  by  acids 
(Syr.  Limon.),  (fruit  tarts). 

Grape  Sugar.  —  (Dextro-glucose  Cf>HJ2Oe),  where 
found,  manufacture,  statistics,  American  method  (bread), 
glucosides,  from  cellulose  ( Cetraria  islandica ),  false  honey, 
false  manna,  properties,  fermentation  (beer,  alcohol),  de¬ 
composition,  by  heat  (glucose  caramel),  by  chemical 
agents  (Bottger’s  test,  Trommer’s  test,  Mel  AEruginis), 
hy  acids  (cod-liver  oil),  hy  alkalies  (Mulder’s  test). 

Fruit  Sugar.  —  (Lsevo-glucose  C6H1206).  Where 
foimd,  properties  (treacle). 

>  Analysis. — Centigrade  testing  (Lowe’s  test),  fermenta¬ 
tion  process,  specific  gravity  (Syr.  Simplex),  polarizing 
saccharimeter,  impurities. 

The  whole  was  illustrated  hy  copious  experiments  and 
apparatus.  Two  polarizing  saccharimeters  were  shown 
and  explained.  One  of  the  well-known  Soleil  model, 
and  the  other  of  more  recent  construction  hy  Hoffmann, 
of  Paris.  Among  the  specimens  of  cane-sugar  was  a 
splendid  crystal,  nearly  two  inches  long,  with  the  faces 
and  angles  perfectly  formed, — in  fact  a  saccharine  Koh- 
i-noor.  Among  the  statistics  given  was  one  that  sounded 
somewhat  startling,  namely,  that  each  Englishman  con¬ 
sumed  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  hundredweight  of  sugar 
per  annum.  The  experiment  showing  the  fermentation 


process  was  especially  interesting.  The  sugar  was  seen 
fermenting,  and  the  carbonic  acid  was  collected.  The  car¬ 
bon  was  then  separated  from  the  gas  as  a  black  powder. 

Just  as  we  are  going  to  press,  we  have  received  reports; 
of  meetings  of  the  Glasgow  Chemists  and  Druggists” 
Association  (Nov.  14)  and  the  Liverpool  Chemists’  Asso¬ 
ciation  (Nov.  24). 


BRITISH  PHARMACEUTICAL  CONFERENCE. 

Meeting  at  Liverpool. 

Wednesday ,  September  14 th. 

{Continued  from  page  436.) 

Pharmaceutical  Exhibition,  held  at  Liverpool,. 

September,  1870,  in  connection  with  the  Meeting. 

of  the  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference. 

Agnew,  J.,  Liverpool. 

Cod-liver  oil  jelly. 

Attfield,  Professor. 

Weights  and  measures.  Comments  on  the  metric  de¬ 
cimal  system.  Model  illustrating  the  cubic  contents 
of  a  litre. 

Photographs  of  prominent  Members  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Conference. 

Austin  and  Co.,  Liverpool. 

Cardboard,  wood  and  ornamental  paper  boxes  for  che¬ 
mists’  use.  Glass  feeding-bottles. 

Baildon,  H.  C.,  Edinburgh. 

India-rubber  poison  capsules.  Saccharo-chirettine — 
active  principle  preserved  by  sugar,  by  D.  S.  Kemp 
and  Co.,  Bombay  and  Poona. 

Balmer,  J.,  London. 

Specimens  of  the  sulpho-carbolates  of  the  metals, 
alkalies  and  alkaline  earths. 

The  new  belladonna  plaster.  See  Pharm.  Journ., 
May,  1870. 

Barber,  George,  Liverpool. 

Pharmaceutical  labels  for  bottles,  drawers,  museums 
or  cabinets  of  materia  rnodica.  Each  label  contains 
an  abridgment  of  the  information  found  in  the  Phar¬ 
macopoeia.  In  this  way  the  labour  of  reference  is 
avoided. 

The  medico-botanical  map  of  the  world  and  pocket 
companion  to  the  Pharmacopoeia. 

Beatson  and  Co.,  Rotherham  Glass  WorJcs. 

Poison  bottles. 

Blandy,  H.  Blandy’s  patent  wash-bottle  for  nitrous 
oxide  gas. 

Bostock,  W.,  Ashton-under-Lyne. 

Genuine  medicated  lozenges. 

British  Seaweed  Company,  Limited,  The,  A  fine  col¬ 
lection  of  products  from  seaweeds,  obtained  by  Stan¬ 
ford’s  process,  numbering  about  fifty  specimens; 
the  series  includes  three  varieties  of  Laminaria  and 
three  varieties  of  Fueus ,  which  are  generally  used 
for  this  purpose.  The  charcoals  from  these  are  all 
shown,  and  the  residues  after  lixiviation.  The  crude 
potash  and  soda-salts  thus  obtained,  with  crude 
iodine  and  bromine,  follow  in  a  series.  Resublimed 
iodine,  in  fine  crystals,  and  a  collection  of  pure 
potash  salts,  manufactured  by  this  Company,  are  also, 
exhibited.  The  pure  chloride  forms  the  basis  of 
these ;  sulphate,  carbonate  and  bicarbonate,  iodide 
and  bromide  are  specially  well-represented  salts  of 
which  the  Company  are  large  makers.  This  ad¬ 
mirable  collection  has  been  presented  to  the  Museum; 
of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  by  Edward  C.  C. 
Stanford,  Esq.,  who  has  promised  further  to  add  to 
it,  and  to  exhibit  results  of  his  latest  researches  on 
seaweed. 

A  stuffed  specimen  of  the  Fulmarus  glacialis ,  or  Fulmar 
Fetrel  of  St.  Kilda,  and  a  specimen  of  the  oil  vomited. 


December  3, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


449 


by  it.  Thi?.  remarkable  bird  is  described  in  a  paper 
read  before  the  Conference  by  Edward  C.  C.  Stan¬ 
ford,  Esq.,  and  the  specimen  is  presented  by  him  to 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society. 

Products  from  excreta  obtained  by  Stanford’s  process. 
These  are  sulphate  of  ammonia  and  solution  of  am¬ 
monia,  exhibited  to  show  the  purity  of  ammonia 
salts  from  this  source.  Acetate  of  lime  and  excreta 
charcoal  which  has  been  burnt  twenty  times.  The 
process  is  a  dry  process,  in  which  chai-coal  is  substi¬ 
tuted  for  eai’th ;  the  quantity  required  is  one-fourth 
that  of  earth,  and  the  supply  is  derived  from  the 
excreta  itself ;  the  charcoal  from  this  source  being-  a 
most  powerful  deodorizer. 

Particulars  of  Stanford’s  patent  process  may  be  seen 
in  the  Chemical  News,  vol.  xx.  p.  196,  also  Report  of 
British  Association ,  1869,  and  Proceedings  of  Glasgow 
Philosophical  Society,  1869. 

Bushby,  Thomas. 

Pill-making-  machine. 

<Calyeiit  and  Co.,  Manchester. 

Carbolic  acid,  crude  and  refined. 

Sulpho-carbolates. 

Carbolic  soaps,  in  bar  and  cakes. 

Picric  acid. 

Disinfecting  powder. 

*  Chemist  and  Druggist, ’  Proprietors  oe  the 
London. 

‘The  whole  of  the  designs  (twenty- eight  in  number) 
for  a  dispensing  counter,  for  the  prize  offered  by  the 
proprietors  of  the  Chemist  and  Druggist.  The 
competitor  who  obtained  the  prize  was  Filmer 
Kidston,  Duke  Street,  Union  Street,  Bishopsgate, 
London,  with  the  following  report : — “  This  design 
Fas  several  points  of  excellence  ;  besides  being  the 
best  arranged  and  most  convenient  as  a  dispensing- 
counter,  it  is  handsome  in  appearance  without  being- 
showy.” 

Five  other  competitors  were  awarded  honourable  men¬ 
tion,  viz.  Messrs.  Beynon,  Fletcher,  Watson,  Willis, 
and  Young.  The  gentlemen  appointed  to  judge  the 
merits  of  the  designs  were  Messrs.  T.  H.  Hills,  J oseph 
Ince  and  Charles  Savory.  The  various  designs 
seemed  to  afford  great  interest  to  pharmaceutists, 
and  were  freely  criticized  during  the  whole  time  the 
Exhibition  was  open. 

A  model  of  the  arrangement  for  the  storage  of  poisons, 
by  Mr.  J.  C.  Young,  of  Warrington.  A  full  descrip¬ 
tion,  with  engraving,  appears  in  the  Chemist  and 
Druggist ,  September  15th,  1870. 

Dinnefoiid  and  Co.,  London. 

Improved  horsehair  flesh  gloves,  belts,  Clarendon 
flesh  rubbers,  Cambridge  and  excelsior  pads,  horse 
glove  brushes,  etc.,  manufactured  by  them  with  im¬ 
proved  machinery. 

Ellis  and  Co.,  Ruthin. 

Mineral  medicated  waters. 

Evans,  Son  and  Co.,  Liverpool ;  and  Evans,  Lescher 
and  Evans,  London. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  series  of  objects  exhibited 
was  a  large  collection  of  living  plants  in  pots, — mainly 
contributed,  we  understand,  by  the  kindness  of  Mr. 
Tyerman,  Liverpool  Botanic  Gardens,  and  repre¬ 
senting  the  source  of  many  articles  of  materia  medica 
not  produced  in  Great  Britain.  The  list  is  as  fol¬ 
lows  : — 

Jalap;  camphor;  Barhadoes  aloes ;  green  tea;  tapioca; 
lime ;  arrowroot ;  scammony ;  gamboge ;  annatto ;  lemon 
grass ;  nutmeg ;  cinnamon  false,  ditto  true ;  clove ; 
locust ;  castor  oil ;  coffee ;  vanilla ;  cinchona  pale,  ditto 
yellow  ;  nux  vomica ;  mango ;  jatropha  curcas,  or  physic 
mut ;  caper ;  ginger ;  long  pepper;  tamarind  ;  black 
pepper  ;  balsam  of  Peru ;  pomegranate ;  Montserrat  lime 
fruit  juice,  and  mature  fruit ;  and  tree  with  immature 
fruit  imported  from  the  Olveston  plantation  in  the  island 
of  Montserrat. 


Messrs.  Evans,  Son  and  Co.  also  exhibited  a  large 
collection  of  drugs  and  pharmaceutical  preparations, 
concentrated  waters,  etc. 

Bengal  opium. 

Patna  „ 

Turkey  _  „ 

And  various  other  raw  drugs. 

Sapo  durus  for  liniments,  with  specimens  of  lin.  potass, 
iodid.,  etc. 

Crystallized  oil  of  thyme,  or  thymol. 

Cabinets  of  materia  medica  and  chemicals ;  Lescher’ s 
‘  Elements  of  Pharmacy,’  and  other  books ;  pharmacy 
microscopes  of  various  powers,  prices,  etc.,  suitable  for 
students. 

Evans,  R.,  Liverpool. 

Improved  feeding-bottle. 

Foulkes,  W.  J.,  Birkenhead. 

Transparent  fluid  cement. 

Specimens  of  breakages  in  glass  and  pottery  admirably 
joined  therewith. 

Gilbertson  and  Sons,  London. 

Poison  bottles,  Merrikin’s  patent  pentagon  acid  bot¬ 
tles  with  indestructible  labels. 

Gillon  and  Co.,  Leith. 

Extractum  carnis  and  essence  of  beef,  concentrated 
meat  essences,  sweet  milk,  preserved  fresh  salmon, 
lime-juice  cordial  and  other  preparations. 

Good  all,  H.,  Derby. 

Levigating  machine,  and  specimens  of  drugs  ground 
thereby. 

Goosey  and  Rogers,  Stepney,  London. 

Marginal  plasters. 

Hargreave  and  Co.,  Manchester. 

Poison  bottles. 

Harvey,  Reynolds  and  Co.,  Leeds. 

Large  photograph  of  business  premises. 

Fine  specimens  of  extract  from  English  beef. 
Haywood,  J.  S.,  Nottingham. 

Model  displaying  elastic  surgical  stockings  and  the 
applications  of  elastic  fabric. 

Truss,  chest  warmer. 

Herrings  and  Co.,  40,  Aldersgate  Street ,  London. 

Expressed  juices,  officinal  and  non-officinal,  of  conium, 
digitalis,  wild  lettuce,  henbane,  belladonna,  broom, 
colchicum,  goose  grass,  taraxacum,  buckthorn,  buck- 
bean,  etc. 

Resin  of  scammony,  entirely  free  from  saccharine 
matter  most  commonly  found  in  the  resin  scam¬ 
mony  of  pharmacy,  which  in  the  majority  of  speci¬ 
mens  is  merely  hardened  alcoholic  extractive  of 
scammony  root ;  scammony  roots. 

01.  myristicae  express.  — This  oil  is  obtained  by  hy¬ 
draulic  pressure  from  crushed  nutmegs ;  in  odour 
it  is  far  superior  to  common  oil  of  mace. 

Expressed  oil  of  stavesacre  obtained  by  hydraulic 
pressure  (50  cwt.  to  the  square  inch)  from  the  crushed 
seeds  of  Delphinium  Staphysagria.  This  oil  is  now 
used  in  preference  to  the  ointment  in  some  of  the 
London  hospitals. 

Resin  podophyllin  is  now  almost  wholly  imported  from 
the  United  States,  where  it  is  obtained  by  a  process 
somewhat  different  to  that  of  the  British  Pharma¬ 
copoeia.  The  specimen  manufactured  according  to 
the  B.  P.  process  is  equal,  if  not  superior,  to  the 
imported  resinoid. 

Sulphate  of  quinine.  Citrate  of  iron  and  quinine  (con¬ 
taining  an  equivalent  of  25  per  cent,  stilphate),  also 
citrate  of  iron  and  quinine  of  corresponding  strength, 
made  with  amorphous  quina. 

As  the  manufacture  of  quinine  is  only  carried  on  in 
two  or  three  establishments  in  the  kingdom,  we 
have  seldom  opportunities  of  seeing  the  results  of 
the  competition  of  English  manufacture.  The  spe¬ 
cimen  exhibited  is,  we  think,  as  good  as  any  v  e 

have  previously  seen.  . 

Specimens  also  of  granular  effervescent  citro -tartrate 


450 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  3,  1870. 


of  soda,  and  of  powders  as  ground  in  their  drug 
mills. 

Messrs.  Herrings’  laboratories  and  drug  mills  are  un¬ 
der  the  superintendence  of  Mr.  C.  Umney,  whose 
name  is  well  known  to  pharmaceutical  chemists. 

Hodginson,  King  and  Co. 

Quinovatc  of  lime,  a  new  preparation  of  Peruvian 
bark. 

Bichloride  of  methylene,  a  new  anaesthetic. 

Hood  and  Co.,  Melbourne .  Exhibited  by  M  orson  and 
Son,  London. 

No.  1  opium,  from  Sunbury,  near  Melbourne. 

No.  2  „  from  Gisborne,  near  Melbourne ;  rich  al¬ 

luvial  soil,  well  manured. 


No.  3 
No.  4 
No.  5 
No.  6 


J) 


from  Gippsland  ;  rich  soil,  cold  climate, 
from  near  Gisborne;  volcanic  soil, 
from  South  Yarra. 

from  Dromana,  on  the  shores  of  Port 
Phillip ;  very  sandy  soil. 

A  paper  upon  these  specimens  of  opium  was  commu¬ 
nicated  to  the  Conference  by  Mr.  Morson. 

Horkin  and  Williams,  Messrs.,  London ,  List  of  Spe¬ 
cimens  EXHIBITED  BY. 

1.  Mercury  biniodide.  2.  Bismuth  citrate  ver.  3. 
Zinc  sulphocarbolate.  4.  Soda  sulphocarbolate.  5.  Iron 
sulphocarbolate  per.  6.  Uranium  nitrate.  7.  Anthra- 
quinone.  8.  Iodoform.  9.  Iron  iodate.  10.  Delphine. 
11.  Papaverine.  12.  Ammonia  tartrate  (neutral).  13. 
Acid  cinnamic.  14.  Lithia  citrate  cryst.  15.  Chloral, 
pure  anhydrous.  16.  Ditto  (insoluble  modification).  17. 
Chloral,  hydrate  (mass).  18.  Ditto,  recry st.  pure.  19. 
Ditto,  recryst.  from  Benzole.  20.  Chloral,  methylate. 

21.  Chloral,  alcoholato.  22.  Chloral,  butylate.  23. 
Chloral,  amylate.  24.  Chloralide.  25.  Bromal  hydrate. 
26.  Ethylidene  chloride.  27.  Methyl  acetate.  28.  Ethyl 
bromide. v  29.  Amyl  nitrate.  30.  Amyl  nitrite.  31. 
Amyl  chloride.  32.  Amylene  bromide.  33.  Amyleno 
bibromide.  34.  Benzoyl  chloride.  35.  Propylamine. 
36.  Acid  chloracetic.  37.  Haematoxyline  cryst.  38. 
Cantharidine.  39.  Curari  poison.  40.  Ethal.  41.  Cho- 
lesterine.  42.  Apomorphia  hydrochlorate.  43.  Tyro¬ 
sine.  44.  Leucine. 


Motes  on  the  above  Specimens. 

2.’  Bismuthi  citr.  ver.  Suitable  for  liq.  bismuthi 
amnion,  citr.  B.  P.  5  grains  to  1  dram  nearly  re¬ 
presents  the  Pharmacopoeia  strength :  it  is  readily 
soluble  in  ammonia ;  is  also  quite  free  from  copper, 
arsenic  and  other  impurities. 

7.  Anthraquinone.  Interesting  as  being  the  interme¬ 
diate  product  between  anthracine  and  artificial  aliza¬ 
rine  ;  also  as  one  of  the  series  of  “  kinones.” 

8.  Iodoform.  Now  largely  used  as  a  local  anodyne. 

9.  Iodate  of  iron.  Lately  used  in  medicine. 

15.  Pure  anhydrous  chloral.  In  liquid  form. 

16.  „  In  its  insoluble  form. 

17.  Chloral  hydrate.  Fused. 

18.  „  Recrystallized  from  bisulphide 

of  carbon. 

19.  ,,  Recrystallized  from  benzol. 

20.  Chloral  methylate.  Combination  of  chloral  and 
methyl  alcohol,  deliquescent. 

21.  Chloral  alcoholate.  Sometimes  sold  as  chloral 
hydrate,  but  far  less  effective. 

22.  Chloral  butylate.  Possesses  a  very  pleasant  smell ; 
insoluble  in  water. 

23.  Chloral  amylate.  Insoluble  in  water,  crystallizing 
with  great  beauty  ;  the  combination  of  chloral  with 
various  alcohols  is  attended  with  great  rise  of  tem¬ 
perature  ;  in  the  case  of  the  methyl  compound,  the 
mixture  actually  boils.  All  these  compounds  can  be 
readily  distilled,  and  thus  be  obtained  of  constant 
boiling-points,  and  quite  pure. 

Chloral  hydrate,  when  distilled,  gives  a  very  white 
and  beautiful  product. 

24.  Chloralide.  Product  of  the  long-continued  action 


of  boiling  sulphuric  acid  on  chloral.  This  body 
differs  essentially  from  all  the  other  known  chloral 
compounds,  inasmuch  as  when  treated  with  alkalies 
it  yields  no  chloroform. 

25.  Bromal  hydrate.  Now  being  tried  medicinally, 
but  its  action  not  yet  fully  understood.  Its  vapoui- 
produces  a  copious  flow  of  tears. 

26.  Ethylidene  chloride.  A  new  anaesthetic,  introduced 
to  medicine  by  Dr.  O.  Liebreich,  of  Berlin. 

30.  Amyl  nitrite.  This  body  when  pure  has  a  re¬ 
markable  effect  upon  the  action  of  the  heart,  and 
has  been  largely  used  to  relieve  the  spasm  in  angina 
pectoris ;  it  is  often  improperly  confounded  with 
nitrate  of  amyl,  a  substance  quite  destitute  of  the 
peculiar  properties  of  the  nitrite. 

35.  Propylamine.  One  of  the  compound  ammoniasc 
having  a  strong  odour  of  lierring-brine ;  used  as  a 
remedy  for  rheumatism. 

36.  Chloracetic  acid.  In  crystals ;  a  substitution  repre¬ 
sentative  of  glacial  acetic  acid. 

39.  The  Curari  or  Woorari  poison  ;  the  arrow-poison 
of  the  South  American  Indians.  When  applied  to 
a  wound,  it  produces  death,  but  may  be  administered 
internally  without  any  ill  effects, — is  said  to  act  as 
an  antiperiodic. 

Howe,  E.  W.  and  Co.,  London.  Pure  chloral ;  bromal 

hydrate  ;  carbonate  of  lithia  ;  white  shellac. 

Hustwick,  T.  H.,  Liverpool. 

Specimens  of  sulpho-carbolatos  of  ammonium,  magne¬ 
sium,  sodium,  calcium,  copper,  iron  and  zinc,  also 
carbolic  acid  mouth-wash. 

Hutchinson,  John  and  Co.,  JYidncs. 

Specimens  of  alkali  in  various  stages  of  manufacture, 
and  samples  of  sulphur  recovered  by  Mond’s  process. 

Ince,  J.,  London. 

Collection  of  old  books,  illustrative  of  the  pharmacy  of 
the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries. 

Jones,  Orlando  and  Co.,  London. 

Chapman’s  entire  Wheat-flour. 

Limousin’s  Oxygen  Gas  Inhaling  Apparatus. 

Limousin’s  drop  measures  give  drops  of  equal  size  and 
of  the  weight  of  5  centigrammes  of  distilled  water. 
A  table,  showing  the  number  of  drops  of  several 
fluids  making  one  gramme,  accompanies  each  mea¬ 
sure. 

Liverpool  Chemists’  Association. 

Collection  of  70  medicinal  plants,  presented  to  the 
Association  by  Ransom,  of  Hitchin. 

Lowe,  Charles  and  Co.,  Manchester. 

Carbolic  acid  crystals,  a  solid  block  weighing  1^  cwt 

Picric  acid  crystals. 

„  paste. 

Anthraquinone. 

Sulphophenate  of  soda. 

„  of  zinc. 

Anthracene,  crude. 

„  .  pure. 

Rosolic  acid,  crude. 

„  pure. 

Naphthaline. 

Disinfecting  powder. 

Macfarlan,  J.  F.,  and  Co.,  Edinburgh. 

Samples  of  opium. 

Morphia  and  salts. 

Apomorphia  muriate,  got  by  the  action  of  hydrochloric 
acid  on  morphia. 

Oxymorphine  (morphine  +  O),  new  base  (Matthiessen). 

Codeine  and  salts. 

,,  reproduced  from  chlorocodide. 

Apocodeine  chloride,  got  by  the  action  of  chloride  of 
lime  on  codeine  (Matthiessen) . 

New  base,  got  by  the  action  of  H2S04  on  codeine 
(Matthiessen). 

Narceine. 

Meconine,  from  E.  opii. 

„  „  opianic  acid. 


December  3, 1S70.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


451 


Meconine,  from  narcotine,  by  water. 

These  three  specimens  of  meconine  have  precisely  the 
same  chemical  composition  and  physical  properties  ; 
hence  it  may  be  assumed  that  meconine  is  not  a 
normal  constituent  of  opium,  but  a  product  of  the 
decomposition  of  narcotine. 

Papaverine. 

Thebainc. 

Meconic  acid. 

Narcotine  and  products  of  decomposition. 

New  base,  obtained  by  the  action  of  H2S04  on  narco¬ 
tine  (Matthiessen  and  Armstrong). 

Hydrochlorate  of  cotarnamic  acid,  a  new  poison  (Mat¬ 
thiessen)  . 

Greenheart  bark  and  nuts. 

Bebeerine  sulphate  (com.). 

„  pure. 

Marks,  H.,  London,  Sponge  Merchant. 

Fine  sponge,  on  rock,  very  rare. 

Finger  sponge ;  Turkey  cup  and  honeycomb. 

Martin,  F.  R.,  Itedland ,  Bristol. 

Numerous  specimens  of  alkaloids  and  pharmaceutical 
preparations,  also  microscopic  slides  of  rare  salts, 
also  microscope  and  spectroscope. 

Martindale,  William,  F.C.S.,  London. 

Plaster-spreading  apparatus,  as  described  in  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Journal,  p.  33,  July,  1869,  with  addi¬ 
tional  improvements,  so  that  the  front  plate  can  be 
entirely  removed  and  the  whole  cleansed  with  much 
greater  ease  than  in  the  original  apparatus,  by  the 
different  arrangement  of  the  screw-adjustment  for 
regulating  the  thickness  of  the  plaster. 

Mason,  A.  H.,  Liverpool. 

Specimens  of  artificial  borax  crystallized  on  rods. 

Maw,  Son  and  Thompson,  London. 

Collection  of  sundries  common  to  the  pharmaceutical 
counter.  A  great  variety  of  syringes,  magneto-elec¬ 
tric  machines,  and  an  exceedingly  fine  specimen  of 
enamelled  glass,  representing  the  Pharmaceutical 
arms — unfortunately  broken  in  unpacking. 

Pessary  and  suppository  moulds,  made  according  to 
the  pattern  designed  by  Mr.  H.  B.  Brady,  of  New- 
castle-on-Tyne. 

We  notice  a  stove  designed  by  Mr.  Groves,  of  Wey¬ 
mouth,  and  manufactured  by  Messrs.  Maw  and  Son. 
It  is  made  up  of  a  series  of  Bunsen  burners  in  three 
rings,  mounted  on  a  stand,  which  can  be  adjusted 
to  any  convenient  height.  Each  ring  of  burners  is 
under  the  control  of  a  separate  tap,  there  being  also 
a  tap  which  regulates  the  whole.  This  arrangement 
gives  a  great  range  of  heating  power,  one  good 
feature  being  that  the  gas  can  be  lowered  to  the 
lowest  conceivable  point  without  going  out,  as  in 
the  case  with  ordinary  large  Bunsen  burners.  Up 
to  this  time  a  stove  of  the  kind,  adapted  alike  to 
the  requirements  of  both  large  and  small  pharma¬ 
cies,  has  been  a  great  desideratum. 

Mottershead  and  Co.,  Manchester*. 

A  series  of  cheap  German  thermometers  for  laboratory 
use ;  the  scale  is  permanently  marked  on  a  slip  of 
milk-glass  or  paper,  which,  presenting  a  flat  surface 
to  the  eye,  is  easily  read  off.  This  slip  is  enclosed 
with  the  tube  containing  the  mercury  in  an  outer 
strong  glass  tube.  These  thermometers  are  made 
with  scales  ranging  from  212°  to  600°  F.,  at  prices 
from  2s.  upwards. 

Various  sets  of  hydrometers,  conveniently  arranged 
with  trial  jar,  thermometer,  etc.,  in  cases. 

Various  forms  of  Bunsen’s  gas  burners,  illustrating 
methods  of  regulating  the  supply  of  air  to  that  of 
gas. 

Series  of  reagent  bottles,  with  indestructible  enamelled 
labels. 

Funnel  jackets  for  the  filtration  of  fats,  etc.,  at  high 
temperatures. 


Small  apparatus  for  producing  and  keeping  a  constant 
supply  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen  for  the  use  of 
chemists. 

Fine  wire-gauze  masks  for  protecting  the  face  in 
chemical  experiments. 

Improved  Dobereiner’s  hydrogen  lamps. 

Benger’s  automatic  apparatus  for  maintaining  con¬ 
stant  temperatures  in  some  chemical  and  pharma¬ 
ceutical  operations.  See  Piiarm.  Journ.  p.  252. 
Forms  exhibited,  a  drying  closet  and  an  evaporating 
basin. 

Proctor,  B.,  Newcastle-upon-Tyne . 

Pill  scoop. 

Bedford,  A.,  Liverpool. 

Improved  pessary  mould. 

Richardson,  R.,  Cork. 

Goulding’s  flower  and  plant  food. 

Newnham’s  pure  condensed  milk. 

Pessary  mould. 

Rimmel,  E.,  London  and  Paris. 

Perfume  vaporizer  and  fountain. 

Sarg  and  Co.,  Vienna. 

Glycerine.  Scented  glycerine. 

Solid  and  liquid  glycerine  soap. 

Silicated  Carbon  Company. 

Filters  for  domestic  and  manufacturing  purposes. 
Southall,  Son,  and  Dymond,  Birmingham. 

The  objects  exhibited  by  this  firm  were  in  four  parts  : — - 
I.  A  collection  of  the  officinal  drugs  of  the  Phar¬ 
macopoeia  of  India,  which  are  not  contained  in  the 
British  Pharmacopoeia,  1867.  These  drugs  wero 
exhibited  in  glass  jars,  to  which  were  affixed  printed 
labels,  conveying  the 
Botanical  names, 

Habitat  of  plant, 

Officinal  part  employed, 

Properties  of  ditto, 

Therapeutic  uses, 

Recognized  preparations, 

And  doses. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  whole  of  these  drugs 
which  this  firm  exhibited  : — 

Rusot  (or  Rasot).  Kind.  Watery  extract  from  the 
wood  and  bark  of  species  of  Berberis  (non-officinal). 
Azadirachta  Indica.  Nim  or  Margosa  Bark  and  Oil. 
Luffa  amara.  Bindaal.  Stalks  of  plant. 

Coptis  Teeta.  Coptis  or  Mishnu.  The  dried  root. 
Datura  alba.  Bhatura.  The  leaves  and  seeds. 
Aconitum  heterophyllum.  Atis.  The  dried  root. 
Aconitum  ferox.  Bikh  or  Bish.  The  dried  root. 
Diospyros  embryoptera.  Gab.  The  fruit. 

Narcotine.  Alkaloid. 

Pharbitis  Nil.  Kaladina.  Tho  seeds. 

Andropogon  (Cymbopogon)  Nardus.  Citronelle.  The 
oil. 

Andropogon  (Cymbopogon)  citratum.  Lemon  Grass . 
The  oil. 

Mylabris  Cichorii.  Telini  fly.  The  dried  insect. 
Carum  (Ptychotis)  Ajowan.  Ajwain  or  Omum.  The 
fruit. 

Plantago  Ispaghula.  Lspaghnl.  The  seeds. 

Tinospora  cordifolia.  Galancha.  The  root  and  stems. 
Butea  frondosa.  The  seeds. 

Gynocardia  odorata.  Chaulmugra.  The  seeds  and  oil. 
Hydrocotyle  Asiatica.  Lndian  Pennywort.  The  leaves. 
Ciesalpina  (Guilandina)  Bonducella.  Bonduc.  Seeds. 
Citrus  Bergamia.  Lime.  The  fruit. 

Dipterocarpus  he  vis.  Gurjun.  Wood  oil. 

Boswellia  floribunda.  Olibanum.  The  gum  resin. 
Sinapis  juncea.  Eai  or  Lndian  Mustard.  The  seeds. 
Garcina  pictoria.  Lndian  Gamboge.  Tho  gum  resin. 
Soymida  febrifuga.  Ltohun  Tree.  The  bark. 

Acacia  Catechu.  Catechu.  The  extract  of  heart-wood- 
Alstonia  scholaris.  Alstonia.  The  bark. 

Anamirta  Cocculus.  Cocculus.  The  dried  fruit. 


452 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  3,  1870. 


Punica  Granatum.  Pomegranate.  The  root  bark. 

„  „  „  The  dried  peri¬ 

carp  of  fruit. 

Andrographis  paniculata.  Karigdt.  The  dried  stalks 
and  root. 

Mucuna  prui’iens.  Cowhage.  The  hairs  of  the  pod. 

Oryza  sativa.  It  ice.  The  husked  seeds. 

Berberis.  Indian  Barberry.  The  root  bark. 

Gracilaria  lichenoides  and  G.  confervoides.  Ceylon 
Moss.  The  dried  plant. 

Calotropis  gigantea.  Mudar.  The  root  bark. 

II.  A  case  containing  large  specimens  of  eight  scale 
preparations,  and  six  salts  of  bromine  and  iodine 
manufactured  by  this  firm,  viz. : — 

Ferri  et  Ammonia)  citras,  P.B.  1867. 

,,  ,,  ,,  made  with  iron  wire. 

Ferri  et  Quinim  citras,  P.B.  1867. 

Ferri  et  Strychnia)  citras. 

Ferri  citras ;  ferri  pyrophosphas ;  ferrum  tartaratum ; 
bismuthi  et  ammonia)  citras  ;  cadmii  bromidum  ;  cadmii 
iodidum ;  ammonii  bromidum  ;  ammonii  iodidum  ;  po- 
tassii  bromidum ;  potassii  iodidum. 

III.  Four  tall  glass  jars,  containing  specimens  of  Ana¬ 
lysed  Drugs  answering  to  the  tests  of  the  British 
Pharmacopoeia,  1867,  viz. : — 

Opium,  containing  at  least  6  to  8  per  cent,  of  precipi¬ 
tated  morphia. 

Scammonium,  yielding  from  80  to  90  per  cent,  of  resin. 

Yellow  cinchona  bark,  containing  at  least  2  per  cent, 
of  nearly  pure  quinia. 

Pale  cinchona  bark,  yielding  not  less  than  ^  per  cent, 
of  alkaloids. 

(The  importance  of  affixing  to  these  (and  other)  drugs 
a  guarantee  of  strength,  so  as  to  ensure  uniformity 
in  the  administration  of  doses,  cannot  be  over-esti¬ 
mated.) 

Four  other  tall  glass  jars,  containing  specimens  of 
Oleum  Morrhua), 

Succus  Taraxaci, 

Oxymel  Scilke,  and 
Solution  of  Iodide  of  Iron. 

(One  fluid  drachm  of  this  solution  is  equivalent  to  one 
drachm  of  solid  iodide  of  iron.  It  is  readily  em¬ 
ployed  in  dispensing  and  in  making  the  syrup  of 
iodide  of  iron,  which,  if  made  with  grape  sugar,  will 
keep  well  without  decomposition. 

IV.  Several  cases  of  the  sixth  edition  of  the  collec¬ 
tions  of  specimens  of  the  organic  materia  medica 
of  the  British  Pharmacopoeia,  1867,  for  the  use  of 
medical  and  pharmaceutical  students. 

Silverlock,  II.,  London. 

Working  model  of  poison  cabinet,  containing  40  labels 
of  various  sizes  on  revolving  stand,  only  1  label  on 
either  disc  being  exposed  to  view  at  once. 

Labels  on  red  ground,  and  distinctive  collection  of 
dispensing  and  trade  labels. 

Spence,  Berger  and  Co.,  Manchester. 

Samples  of  Mudie’s  disinfectant. 

Jordan’s  Norway  cod-liver  oil. 

Spence,  Peter,  Manchester. 

Very  fine  crystals  of  alum,  manufactured  under  ex¬ 
hibitor’s  patent. 

Sumner,  R.,  jun.,  Liverpool. 

Nicely  crystallized  specimens  of  sulphocarbolates  of 
zinc  and  soda. 

Thonger  and  Co.,  Liverpool. 

Poison  labels. 

Tomlinson,  M.,  Manchester. 

Mahogany  dispensing  counter  with  carved  glass  cases 
and  mirror'sereen,  and  fitted  with  expedio  label  rack 

Species  jar,  pedestal  stand  and  sundries. 

Watts,  Dr.  J.,  London. 

Variety  of  tanning  materials,  with  estimation  of 
amount  of  tannin. 

Extract  of  Abies  Canadensis. 


Webb,  A.,  Clapham. 

Herbarium — an  excellently  arranged  collection  of  dry 
plants,  for  which  the  prize  medal  of  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society  was  awarded,  October  5,  1879. 

Whitthread,  Mr.,  Liverpool. 

Specimen  of  Pistaclvia  Lentiscus  plant,  and  of  Pistachia 
Tercbinthus ,  from  Scio ;  also  fine  white  gutta  pcrcha 
and  pure  silica. 

York  Glass  Company. 

Swan-necked  show  bottle,  percolators,  poison  bottles, 
etc. 


MEDICAL  SOCIETY  OF  LONDON. 

In  a  paper  read  lately  before  a  crowded  meeting  of 
Fellows  of  the  Medical  Society  of  London,  Dr.  Richard¬ 
son  discussed  the  medical  aspects  of  the  germ  theory. 
He  pointed  out  that  however  medical  men  might  differ 
on  the  question,  yet  there  were  some  points  in  which 
they  all  agreed.  They  agreed  that  certain  diseases  owe 
their  origin  to  what  might  be  designated  poisons,  that 
these  poisons  are  organic  in  their  construction ;  that 
they  can  produce  specific  phenomena  of  disease ;  that 
they  are  communicable  under  certain  well-understood 
conditions.  They  also  agreed  pretty  well  as  to  the 
diseases  which  are  due  to  these  organic  poisons. 

But  from  this  common  ground  some  turned  to  what 
may  be  called  the  vital  road,  others  to  the  chemical,  or 
to  the  physical,  in  which  the  vital  and  chemical  are  either 
correlated  or  considered  identical. 

Dealing  first  with  the  vital  or  germ  theory,  Dr. 
Richardson  said  that  it  arose  from  the  analogy  of  the 
process  of  growth  and  development  of  plants  and  animals. 
The  theory  was  that  diseases  called  communicable  have 
their  origin  in  germs  possessing  the  inherent  property 
of  reproduction.  Within  the  body  these  germs  repro¬ 
duce  themselves,  and  thereby  excite  disease.  Outside 
the  body  they  float  in  the  air,  mingled  with  dust,  or 
adhere  to  solid  substances,  or  are  suspended  in  water  in 
which  they  are  not  soluble.  Owing  to  their  vitality, 
it  is  urged  they  are  indestructible  under  ordinary  con¬ 
ditions  of  cold  and  heat,  moisture  and  dryness.  We  ask 
from  whence  disease  comes,  and  are  told  from  a  germ. 
We  ask,  what  is  a  germ  ?  We  are  told  that  it  is  a  living- 
organism,  capable  of  reproduction  ;  a  ferment  plant  pos¬ 
sessing  the  power  of  exciting  fermentative  changes  in 
the  human  body,  the  disease  being  the  sign  of  the  fer¬ 
mentation  ;  or  it  is  a  micrococcus,  the  spore  of  a  fungus, 
which,  put  into  a  soil  rich  in  nitrogen,  multiplies  by 
division,  and  becomes  the  cause  of  diseases  bearing  the 
signs  of  putrefaction.  But  there  was  a  natural  fermenta¬ 
tion  existing  in  the  body  previous  to  the  fever.  Is  this, 
then,  a  new  fermentation  ?  If  so,  of  what  kind  ?  Or,  if 
it  produces  putrefaction,  where  is  the  putrefaction  ? 
The  germs  have  been  compared  in  their  action  to  pep- 
sine,  but  pepsine  is  an  animal  secretion,  and  a  dependent 
substance.  Germs  are  said  to  withstand  influences  which 
destroy  the  vitality  of  higher  forms  of  life.  If  they  are 
reproduced  with  such  rapidity  under  favourable  condi¬ 
tions,  and  possess  such  persistency  of  life,  there  would  be 
so  great  an  increase  of  them  that  in  time  the  world  would 
be  depopulated.  But  where  are  the  germs  of  such 
diseases  as  the  black  death,  plague,  sweating  sickness, 
dancing  mania,  and  the  ague  of  London  in  the  time  of 
Sydenham  and  his  contemporaries  ?  Can  improved  sa¬ 
nitary  conditions  have  any  effect  in  destroying  living  re¬ 
productive  germs  which  resist  the  ordinary  causes  of 
death  and  dissolution  P  Again  the  theory  fails  to  account 
for  the  fact  that  some  epidemics  are  most  pronounced  in 
the  last  quarter,  and  least  in  the  second  quarter  of  each 
year  ;  that  sometimes  they  are  attended  with  low  and 
sometimes  with  high  mortality  ;  that  scarlet  fever  occurs 
most  frequently  between  the  fifth  and  tenth  years,  and 
with  rapidly  lessening  frequency  after  the  tenth  year ; 


December  3,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


453 


and  the  immunity  from  recurrence  of  such  diseases  as 
scarlet  fever  and  small-pox. 

The  physical  theory  differs  from  the  vital  in  that  it 
places  the  reproductive  force  of  the  virus  in  the  animal 
itself.  It  does  not  dispute  that  the  poisons  assume  the 
solid  form,  and  are  carried  about  by  water  and  air,  but 
it  declares  their  perfect  destructibility.  The  result  of 
experiments  by  Fordyce,  confirmed  by  Chauveau, — show¬ 
ing  that  the  virus  of  small-pox,  diluted  by  water  up  to  a 
certain  point,  is  active,  but  beyond  that  point  inert,  — 
was  explained  by  the  germ-theorists  as  being  caused  by 
the  mechanical  distribution  of  the  germs  by  the  water, 
which  lessened  the  certainty  of  inoculation.  The  physi¬ 
cal  theorists,  besides  this,  assume  the  molecular  disinte¬ 
gration  of  the  particles  by  water.  The  author  had  found 
that,  after  diluting  snake  poison  largely  with  water,  not 
only  was  its  power  to  infect  destroyed,  but  evaporation 
of  the  water  and  reconcentration  failed  to  bring  it  back. 
Dr.  Richardson  looks  upon  the  poisons  as  organic  pro¬ 
ducts,  particles  derived  from  the  secretions  of  the  animal 
body.  Thus,  a  person  suffering  from  a  communicable 
disease  is  poisonous  precisely  as  a  cobra  di  capello  is  poi¬ 
sonous, — that  is  to  say,  he  produces  by  secretion  an 
organic  poison  which,  coming  in  contact  in  the  right 
way  with  a  healthy  person,  produces  disease.  In  some 
cases,  a  change  in  the  natural  secretion  is  induced  by 
direct  contact  with  the  poisonous  matter,  causing  it,  as  it 
is  poured  out,  to  be  changed  into  a  substance  the  same  as 
that  which  excited  the  action ;  this  may  either  be  car¬ 
ried  away  and  replaced  by  a  new  and  healthy  secretion, 
in  which  case  there  is  recovery,  or  be  absorbed  into  the 
blood,  exciting  change  there  also,  and  so  lead  to  disor¬ 
ganization  of  the  blood  and  death.  In  other  cases,  the 
secretions  themselves  undergo  decomposition,  arising 
from  atmospheric  influences,  or  the  constitutional  ten¬ 
dencies  of  the  person  affected,  the  effects  following  being 
precisely  the  same  as  those  following  its  introduction 
into  the  body.  The  author  also  maintained  that  the 
physical  theory  explains  the  specific  character  of  each 
poison.  Whatever  the  mode  of  entrance  of  the  poison, 
it  acted  according  to  its  nature,  by  making  election  of  one 
particular  secretion.  It  also  explains  the  limitation  of 
the  poisons,  for,  if  it  be  the  particles  of  an  animal  secre¬ 
tion  that  become  poisonous,  their  production  and  dis¬ 
semination  must  cease  with  the  life  of  the  animal.  This 
is  the  fact ;  the  dead  are  not  contagious  like  the  living, 
and  epidemics  cease  as  their  poisons  are  resolved  into 
elementary  forms  of  matter.  He  claimed  also  that  it 
accords  with  the  facts  relating  to  the  seasons,  it  being 
natural  that  changes  in  secreted  fluids  should  be  most 
active  when  there  is  excess  of  moisture  in  the  air  and 
coldness. 

Dr.  Richardson  said  that  if  the  evidence  of  such  change 
was  insufficient,  it  was  better  than  any  produced  for  the 
germ  theory.  In  the  study  of  change  of  colloidal  bodies 
by  contact,  the  action  of  the  different  oxygens  on  animal 
fluids,  the  action  of  known  organic  chemical  compounds 
such  as  nitrite  of  amyl,  there  was  ample  suggestion  for 
experimental  research  on  the  organic  poisons  derived 
from  animal  bodies.  In  conclusion,  his  object  had  been 
to  show  that  the  germ  theory  of  the  origin  of  communi¬ 
cable  disease  was  not  to  be  accepted  in  one  eager  grasp 
as  the  absolute  truth ;  that,  beautiful  as  it  was  from 
analogy,  and  grand  as  it  was  as  a  generalization  if  it 
were  true,  it  might  after  all  be  a  delusion. 


SOCIETY  OF  ARTS. 

Ox  Fermentation. 

BY  TROFESSOR  A.  W.  WILLIAMSON,  F.R.S. 

Lecture  III. — continued. 

I  stated  that  exposure  to  a  red  heat  was  found  by 
Pasteur  to  act  effectually  in  destroying  the  vitality  of 
these  little  particles,  and  in  every  case  in  which  he  used 
air  which  had  been  subjected  to  that  heat,  he  found  that 


the  air  was  incapable  of  sowing  any  of  these  organisms 
in  liquids  even  the  most  favourable  to  them.  There  was, 
however,  still  one  remarkable  exception,  which  was  pre¬ 
sented  by  the  experiment  of  Gay-Lussac,  to  which  I 
alluded  some  time  ago.  He  found  that  when  he  used  a 
mercury  trough,  which  he  selected  as  giving  him  the 
best  condition  for  the  purpose,  he  got  these  little  cells 
produced  from  the  air  which  had  been  calcined.  Now, 
Pasteur  found  that  mercury  exposed  to  the  air,  as  it 
is  in  these  operations,  has  adhering  to  it  a  number  of 
these  little  germs,  and  that  when  no  more  than  the 
ordinary  precautions  are  taken  for  cleansing  the  mercury, 
it  has  with  it  a  considerable  variety  of  such  little  or¬ 
ganisms,  which,  if  placed  in  a  suitable  material,  develop 
themselves  and  grow  quite  well.  He  proved  this  in 
various  ways.  For  instance,  some  of  the  little  bulbs 
which  had  been  sealed  up  whilst  full  of  fermentable 
liquor  and  steam,  and  which  had  been  kept  for  some  time 
in  a  warm  chamber,  so  as  to  bo  certainly  free  from  vital 
organisms,  were  opened  under  mercury,  so  as  to  allow 
the  ends  of  the  tubes  to  be  filled  with  mercury.  He 
then  lifted  it  up,  so  that  nothing  came  into  contact  with 
the  liquid  but  mercury,  and  passed  into  them  sometimes 
air  which  had  been  passed  through  a  red-hot  platinum 
tube,  and  sometimes  oxygen  gas  given  off  from  molten 
chlorate,  where  certainly  there  would  be  nothing  of  or¬ 
ganic  life  present,  and  in  almost  all  these  cases  he  found 
that  organisms  developed  themselves.  He  attributed 
this  entirely  to  the  mercury,  because  when  that  was  ab¬ 
sent  the  result  was  the  opposite.  In  order  to  prove  this 
point  more  decisively,  he  took  a  liquid  which  was  cap¬ 
able  of  decomposing,  kept  it  for  some  time  in  a  quiescent 
state,  and  then  allowed  a  drop  of  mercury,  in  the  state 
in  which  he  had  been  using  it  before,  to  flow  into  it,  and 
put  the  mixture  into  his  warm  chamber.  He  soon  found 
that  the  mercury  had  carried  in  the  germs  of  these 
organisms,  and  that  they  developed  themselves  quite  well 
in  it.  Certainly  any  one  unaccustomed  to  such  accurate 
precautions  could  hardly  have  anticipated  such  a  result 
as  that,  and  a  result  which  is,  I  think,  most  instructive,, 
as  showing  what  extraordinary  precautions  are  needed, 
in  order  to  prevent  the  entrance  of  these  excessively 
small  particles  into  the  materials  which  we  are  working 
with.  Side  by  side  with  this,  I  must  mention  another 
result  of  Pasteur’s,  for  it  was,  perhaps,  hardly  less  start¬ 
ling,  and  that  was,  that  when,  instead  of  taking  the 
liquid  which  I  mentioned  to  you  just  now,  yeast- water 
and  sugar,  he  took  common  cow’s  milk,  or,  at  all  events, 
the  mixture  which  is  sold  by  that  name,  and  boiled  it, 
with  a  view  of  destroying  any  organisms  that  might  be 
in  it,  and  then  he  sealed  up  the  bulb  while  still  full  of 
steam,  so  that  no  air  could  get  into  it,  and  when  he  kept 
such  sealed-up  bulbs  for  some  time  in  a  warm  chamber, 
he  found  clear  evidences  of  decomposition ;  he  found  a 
turbidity  in  the  substance,  a  curdling  of  the  nitrogenized 
materials  of  the  milk  :  and  on  taking  out  som  e  ot  it,  ho 
found  it  was  swarming  with  little  animalcula  ;  and  yet 
he  had  boiled  the  milk  for  a  considerable  time,  and  had 
closed  the  vessel  whilst  the  ebullition  was  still  going  on, 
so  that  no  air  could  have  carried  the  germs  into  it  before 
it  was  closed.  Still,  there  were  the  little  organisms  unmis¬ 
takably  present.  He  then  modified  his  experiment  in 
this  manner.  He  boiled  his  milk  at  a  higher  temperature. 
I  need  hardly  tell  you  how  that  can  be  done.  You  are, 
of  course,  aware  that  the  temperatures  at  which  water, 
or  milk,  or  any  liquid  boils  arc  different,  according  to 
the  pressure  which  the  air  exerts  upon  it ;  that  is  to  say, 
if  you  were  to  boil  water  here,  and  then  if  you  were  to 
carry  it  to  the  top  of  St.  Paul’s,  and  notice  the  tempe¬ 
rature  in  each  case,  you  would  find  that  at  the  greater 
height  it  would  boil  at  a  lower  temperature.  If,  in  like 
manner,  you  carried  it  down  to  the  bottom  of  a  deep 
mine,  and  boiled  it  there,  you  would  find  the  tempe¬ 
rature  would  be  higher ;  the  greater  the  pressure  ot  tho 
superincumbent  air,  tho  higher  the  temperature  at  which 
any  liquid  boils.  Pasteur  wanted  to  make  his  milk  boil 


451 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  ?,  1870. 


at  a  higher  temperature,  and  for  that  purpose  he  resorted 
to  a  very  simple  device.  He  had  a  long  tube  attached 
to  the  vessel  in  which  his  milk  was  boiling,  bent  over  at 
the  top,  and  brought  down  into  a  glass  jar  containing 
mercury  to  the  depth  of  fifteen  inches,  or  more.  Of  course, 
tinder  these  circumstances,  the  steam,  which  was  being 
formed  in  the  vessel,  has  to  force  its  way  up  against  the 
pressure  of  this  mercury ;  the  pressure  of  these  fifteen 
inches  of  mercury  was  added  to  the  pressure  of  air,  and 
n  total  pressure  was  obtained,  about  half  as  much  again 
as  the  pressure  of  the  atmosphere  amounted  to.  Of 
course,  the  milk  had  to  boil  at  a  higher  temperature, 
corresponding  to  this  higher  pressure ;  and  what  did  he 
find  then?  He  proceeded,  as  before,  with  the  experi¬ 
ment,  closing  the  vessel  while  it  was  boiling,  and  not 
letting  any  air  into  it.  He  then  kept  it,  and  he  found 
that  no  organisms  appeared,  even  on  keeping  it  a  very 
long  time ;  and  he  was,  therefore,  led  to  conclude  that 
the  milk  must  have  contained  in  it  some  germs  which 
could  withstand  the  temperature  at  which  the  milk  was 
boiling  at  first,  but  the  vitality  of  which  was  destroyed 
by  exposure  to  the  higher  temperature  to  which  ho  ex¬ 
posed  it  in  the  subsequent  experiment.  He  had  reason 
for  that,  for  other  experiments  had  been  made  by  himself, 
.and  by  various  other  philosophers,  which  proved  that 
many  species  of  organisms  can  withstand  a  very  high 
temperature  without  losing  their  vitality.  In  that 
respect,  there  are  great  differences  amongst  these  little 
organisms  which  are  remarkable  and  interesting,  and 
wall,  no  doubt,  be  of  value  to  future  investigations.  To 
give  you  an  idea  of  the  great  variety  presented  by  them 
in  their  power  of  withstanding  heat,  I  may  mention,  that 
if  I  were  to  heat  the  contents  of  this  carboy,  in  which  the 
alcoholic  fermentation  is  going  on,  to  60°  Centigrade  (100° 
being  boiling-point  Centigrade),  which  is  rather  more 
than  half,  the  fermentation  would  be  completely  arrested, 
and  the  yeast-cells  would  be  killed.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  particles  in  milk  are  capable  of  withstanding  100°. 
Pasteur  connected  that  fact  with  the  circumstance  that 
milk  is  alkaline,  whilst  this  liquid  is  acid,  and,  as  a  rule, 
acid  liquids  destroy  the  vitality  of  these  organisms  at  a 
lower  temperature  than  alkaline  liquids.  That  is  not 
all.  There  are  in  the  particles  themselves  great  dif¬ 
ferences  in  their  power  of  withstanding  heat.  Amongst 
the  experiments  which  are  particularly  remarkable  in 
that  point  of  view,  I  ought  to  mention  some  with  regard 
to  the  little  spores  of  mould,  and  such-like  things ;  for 
instance,  the  Penicillium  glaucum,  and  some  others.  M. 
Pasteur  collected  some  of  these ;  and  after  taking  a  little 
piece  of  asbestos,  or  mineral  flax,  as  it  is  sometimes  called, 
and  heating  it  in  a  flame,  so  as  to  destroy  anything  adher¬ 
ing  to  it,  he  put  it  carefully  into  a  vessel  in  which  some  of 
this  mould  was  growing,  and  moved  it  about,  so  that  a 
number  of  particles  of  the  seed  of  the  mould  might  ad¬ 
here  to  it.  He  then  heated  the  asbestos  thus  coated  with 
dust  to  120°  C.,  a  higher  temperature  than  that  to  which 
the  milk  had  been  exposed ;  but  after  putting  it  into  a 
liquid  capable  of  feeding  mould,  he  found  that  the  mould 
made  its  appearance  in  considerable  quantity,  so  that  the 
germs  of  that  particular  organism  were  not  destroyed 
by  120°  of  temperature.  He  even  went  higher,  as  far  as 
125°,  and  found  that  that  was  not  enough,  but  a  little 
■over  125°  killed  them;  130°  they  cannot  stand,  so  that, 
according  to  these  observations,  the  limit  appears  to  be 
between  125°  and  130°. 

In  all  the  cases  of  which  I  have  been  speaking,  the 
ferments  (because  all  these  organisms  are  in  their  nature 
and  functions  analogous  to  the  common  ferments)  were 
.removed  from  the  substances  which  were  employed  be¬ 
fore  the  air  and  such-like  materials  carrying  the  germs, 
were  brought  in  contact  with  them. 

AVith  regard  to  processes  for  arresting  fermentations 
and  decomposition  in  liquids  in  which  they  are  taking 
place,  a  number  of  observations  have  been  made  which 
are  of  considerable  practical  as  well  as  theoretical  im¬ 
portance,  in  relation  to  the  results  which  I  have  been 


stating.  Of  course,  mere  heating,  carried  to  a  sufficient 
intensity,  will  arrest  any  process  of  fermentation  or 
putrefaction  which  may  be  going  on  in  a  substance,  and 
the  applications  of  that  process  are,  of  course,  exceed¬ 
ingly  numerous  and  important.  The  only  thing  is,  that 
we  do  not  know,  and  it  would  be  most  hazardous  to  sup¬ 
pose  that,  in  any  particular  case,  we  can  name  beforehand 
the  temperature  requisite  to  destroy  a  particular  or¬ 
ganism.  If  any  observer  were  to  say  that  he  has  ex¬ 
posed  a  mixture  to  100°,  and,  therefore,  the  organism 
must  be  destroyed,  experience  would  refute  him ;  if  he 
said  he  had  exposed  it  to  110°,  or  even  120°,  expe¬ 
rience  again  would  refute  him ;  but  if  he)  had  exposed 
it  to  150°,  and  asserted  that  he  must  have  destroyed 
them,  it  is  quite  possible  that  experience  might  show 
that  there  are  organisms  which  will  resist  even  that  tem¬ 
perature.  It  would  have  been  almost  impossible,  some 
time  ago,  to  admit,  and  we  could  not  have  admitted,  that 
these  organisms  would  have  withstood  the  temperature 
which  they  have  been  found  to  withstand ;  and,  there¬ 
fore,  what  temperature  is  sufficient  to  destroy  the  or¬ 
ganism  in  any  case  must  be  found  by  experiment,  and 
that  alone.  Amongst  other  conditions  for  arresting  the 
process  of  decomposition  or  putrefaction,  which  are  in 
their  nature  like  those  of  fermentation,  I  ought  to  men¬ 
tion  the  process  of  drying.  All  the  processes  of  fermen¬ 
tation  which  I  have  been  speaking  of,  and  all  others, 
which  I  could  tell  you  of,  are  accompanied  by  moisture. 
Moisture  is  present,  and  is  essential  to  them ;  in  fact, 
these  little  organisms  are  exceedingly  soft,  wet  things ; 
moisture  constitutes  a  great  part  of  their  substance,  and 
in  a  dry  medium  they  cannot  live,  or  if  the  substance 
were  dried,  they  would  be  destroyed  by  it.  Applications, 
therefore,  of  a  mere  drying  process  arc  amongst  the  most 
important  and  interesting  of  this  class  of  agencies.  Many 
of  them  are  well  known.  For  instance,  the  ordinary 
process  of  preserving  fruit  by  means  of  drying  it.  Germs 
of  putrefaction  or  decomposition  may  be  present  in  the 
fruit ;  but  if  you  merely  take  away  the  greater  part  of 
the  moisture,  you  render  the  substance  incapable  of  de¬ 
composing.  Among  the  agents  which  serve  for  that 
purpose,  there  are  some  which  abstract  the  water,  not  in 
a  state  of  vapour,  but  in  the  liquid  state ;  for  instance, 
common  salt.  If  you  put  a  piece  of  fresh  meat  in  contact 
with  salt,  or  rub  it  over  with  the  salt,  the  salt  gradually 
absorbs  the  water,  and  draws  the  water  out  of  the  meat. 
The  action  is  truly  a  drying  action  upon  the  meat,  and 
it  is  effectual  by  a  perfectly  similar  process  to  that  which 
would  go  on  if  you  exposed  the  meat  in  a  dry  chamber 
to  a  current  of  warm  air.  In  like  manner,  of  course,  it 
is  known  to  many  persons  that  sugar  is  used  just  as  salt 
is,  to  remove  water  from  substances  containing  it  in  any 
quantity.  If  you  were  to  rub  any  fruit  or  animal  sub¬ 
stance  with  a  sufficient  quantity  of  dry  sugar,  you  would 
get  the  sugar  dissolved  by  the  water  which  would  be 
removed  from  the  materials  ;  and  amongst  the  observa¬ 
tions  which  are  made  in  common  life,  there  are  some 
which  bear,  in  an  interesting  and  instructive  way,  upon 
what  I  have  been  saying  to  you.  For  instance,  1  have 
heard  it  said  that  ordinary  jam — fruit  and  sugar,  which 
have  been  boiled  together  for  some  time — keeps  better  if 
the  pots  into  which  it  is  poured  are  tied  up  whilst  hot. 
The  observation  has  been  so  frequently  made  that  one 
was  inclined  to  think  that  there  must  be  some  truth  in 
it ;  and  I  think  if  we  admit  that  the  paper  can  act  as  a 
strainer  in  the  same  way  as  the  cotton  wool,  you  will, 
see  at  once  that  it  must  be  as  people  suppose.  Take  two 
cases.  Suppose  one  pot  of  jam,  allowed  to  cool  before  it 
is  tied  down,  little  germs  will  fall  upon  it  from  the  air, 
and  they  will  retain  their  vitality  because  they  fall 
upon  a  cool  substance ;  they  will  be  shut  in  by  the  paper 
and  will  soon  fall  to  work  decomposing  the  fruit.  If 
you  take  another  pot,  perfectly  similar,  filled  with  a  boil¬ 
ing  hot  mixture,  immediately  cover  it  over,  though,  of 
course  some  of  the  outside  air  must  be  shut  in,  any  germs 
which  are  floating  in  it  will  be  scalded,  and  in  all  pro- 


December  3,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


455 


Lability  destroyed,  so  that  no  decomposition  can  take 
place. 

Amongst  other  materials  which  serve  to  arrest  fer¬ 
mentation,  there  are  several  chemical  agents  of  consider- 
•able  energy,  which  are  frequently  employed  for  that 
purpose.  Amongst  the  foremost,  I  ought  to  mention 
creasote,  the  active  material  of  smoke ;  and  I  have  no 
doubt  that  the  antiseptic  action  which  smoke  is  said  to 
exert  upon  ourselves — because  it  is  said  that  smoke  is 
very  wholesome,  although  I  do  not  lean  to  that  view 
myself — is  due  to  the  presence  of  this  creasote  or  carbolic 
acid.  Every  one  is  aware  that  one  process  for  preserving 
meat,  which  has  long  been  in  use,  is  to  suspend  it  in  a 
chimney  in  which  the  smoko  of  wood  is  present.  The 
.smoke  of  wood,  like  that  of  coal,  contains  this  substance, 
or  one  nearly  allied  to  it,  and  amongst  antiseptic  agents 
it  is  one  of  the  most  energetic.  A  small  .quantity  of 
this  carbolic  acid  thrown  into  that  fermenting  liquid 
would  completely  kill  the  organisms.  In  the  same  way, 
if  I  were  to  introduce  a  little  sulphurous  acid  into  any  of 
these  mixtures,  I  should  immediately  kill  the  organisms 
and  arrest  the  fermentation.  Sulphurous  acid  is  now 
largely  used  for  this  purpose,  being  employed,  in  com¬ 
bination  with  lime  and  water,  to  saturate  the  casks  in 
which  beer  is  to  be  stored,  so  that  the  wood  being  im¬ 
pregnated  with  it,  any  germs  which  might  find  their 
way  from  the  atmosphere,  and  set  up  a  process  of  decom¬ 
position,  are  arrested  and  destroyed.  Another  very 
powerful  antiseptic  agent  is  prussic  acid,  one  of  the  most 
powerful  of  poisons  to  all  animal  organisms,  and  it  is 
particularly  powerful  in  stopping  the  action  of  these  fer¬ 
ments.  Another  substance,  which  I  think  is  worthy  of 
consideration,  in  the  same  point  of  view,  is  a  mixture 
which  is,  to  a  great  extent,  of  unknown  composition. 
I  refer  to  the  poisonous  matter  which  is  given  off  in 
iobacco  smoke.  It  must,  I  think,  when  present  in  the 
air,  exert  a  very  powerful  antiseptic  action  upon  these 
organisms.  It  has  been  shown,  by  the  experiments  of 
Professor  Tyndall,  that  in  the  lower  vessel  of  the  lungs 
there  are  considerable  deposits  of  the  dust  which  floats 
about  in  the  air ;  and  we  are,  of  course,  exposed  in  that 
manner  to  the  action  of  a  number  of  the  seeds  of  these 
ferments,  and,  for  aught  we  know,  of  diseases,  because 
many  malignant  diseases  are  attributed  to  processes  of 
decomposition  analogous  to  those  which  we  have  been 
considering :  and  they  may  be — and,  as  some  persons 
think,  are — carried  by  germs  in  the  air,  in  the  same  way 
as  those  I  have  been  mentioning.  Now,  any  powerful 
substance  which  would  kill  these  germs  must,  of  course, 
exert  a  beneficial  action,  and  when  persons  are  exposed 
to  the  smoke  of  tobacco,  there  is  no  doubt  that  some 
of  it  enters  the  lung  with  the  air  which  is  vitiated,  and 
that  some  of  the  smoke  must  be  deposited  in  the  lower 
passages  of  the  lungs  with  these  little  mischievous  germs, 
and  must  certainly  somewhat  astonish  them. 

I  have  here  several  little  apparatus,  all  alike  in  their 
general  arrangement ;  each  consists  of  two  little  tables, 
-connected  together  in  such  a  way  that  air  may  be  made 
lo  pass  through  both  of  them  in  one  direction,  but  not  in 
the  other.  A  tube  goes  from  the  top  of  one  into  the 
liquid  in  the  second,  and  the  tube  from  this  second  passes 
on  into  the  air ;  and  these  bottles  can,  by  means  of  an 
aspirator,  be  supplied  with  air  which  has  been  strained 
through  cotton  wool,  and  no  other  air  can  pass  into 
them.  The  bottles  contain  the  same  mixture  which  I 
have  been  talking  about  so  much,  yeast-water  and  sugar, 
a  liquid  which  decomposes  in  almost  any  way  you  like, 
for  almost  all  these  germs  live  in  it  more  or  less  vigo¬ 
rously.  After  the  liquid  was  put  in,  it  was  kept  boiling 
for  a  considerable  time,  so  that  there  is,  I  trust,  in  the 
bottles  no  living  organism  whatever ;  in  fact,  I  have 
reason  to  believe  that  any  organisms  which  may  have 
been  there  have  been  destroyed  by  the  high  temperature 
to  which  they  were  exposed.  I  might  draw  hundreds  of 
cubic  feet  of  air  through  that  apparatus,  and  it  would 
remain  entirely  unchanged.  Next  Monday  we  will  re¬ 


sume  this  again.  We  will  also  examine  this  particular 
apparatus,  which  is  exactly  the  same,  with  this  excep¬ 
tion,  that  after  the  whole  had  been  filled  in  the  manner 
I  have  stated,  a  little  mould  was  introduced  by  a  sepa¬ 
rate  tube  into  the  first  bottle.  The  apparatus  will  be 
taken  back  to  University  College,  where  it  will  be  put 
into  the  warm  chamber,  where  the  organisms  will  be 
developed ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  the  liquid  in  the  first 
bottle  will  be  in  a  state  of  active  decomposition  before 
the  day  is  over.  Then  next  week,  we  will  draw  purified 
air,  which,  by  itself,  has  no  action  on  the  liquid,  and  see 
whether  it  will  carry  any  germs  into  the  second  bottle. 
I  have  no  doubt  that,  by  Monday  next,  there  will  be 
enough  mould  upon  it  to  enable  us  to  perform  the  experi¬ 
ment  ;  and  I  shall  then  also  have  the  pleasure  of  telling 
you  of  some  applications  which  M.  Pasteur  has  made  of 
his  theoretical  results  to  practical  purposes,  such  as  the 
preservation  of  wines  and  such-like  matters. 


MEETINGS  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 

Tuesday,  Dr.  B.  W.  Richardson’s  Lectures  on  Experimental 
and  Practical  Medicine,  at  5  p.m. — “  A  Physiological  View 
of  Dialysis  and  of  the  Colloidal  and  Crystalloidal  Construc¬ 
tion  of  Animal  Bodies.” 

Wednesday,  Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Great  Britain,  at 
8.30  p.m. — “Pharmacy  in  the  United  States.”  By  Mr.  R. 
IIowden.  “  Notes  on  Australian  Opium.”  By  Mr.  J.  S. 
Ward.  See  page  417. 

Thursday,  London  Chemists'  Association,  at  9.30  p.m. — 
“  Regulations  for  the  Storing  and  Dispensing  of  Poisons.’’ 
By  Mr.  H.  A.  Taubman. 


f arliitnmrtarir  irair  fato  fwmbiiujs. 

Illegal  Storage  of  Petroleum. 

Mr.  Moses  Beck,  grocer,  of  Tunbridge  Wells,  was 
summoned  by  the  Inspector  of  Petroleum  for  keeping 
on  his  premises,  without  a  licence,  petroleum  which 
flashed  when  exposed  to  a  temperature  of  100°.  The 
inspector  stated  that  upon  visiting  the  defendant’s  pre¬ 
mises  he  found  a  quantity  of  petroleum  in  an  iron  tank 
two  or  three  yards  from  the  back  of  the  house,  a  sample 
of  which,  when  tested,  flashed  at  94°  F.  In  accordance 
with  the  Act  of  Parliament  he  tested  a  second  sample, 
which  flashed  at  92°  F.  Upon  cross-examination  he  said 
that  he  put  the  thermometer  at  the  bottom  of  the  vessel. 

Mr.  Langham,  for  the  defence,  urged  that  the  instru¬ 
ment  produced,  which  was  used  by  the  inspector  for  test¬ 
ing,  was  incomplete,  and  that  the  thermometer,  instead 
of  being  immersed  one  inch  and  a  half  in  the  oil,  as  pre¬ 
scribed  by  the  Act  of  Parliament,  had  been  allowed  to 
rest  on  the  bottom  of  the  vessel.  Consequently,  since  the 
temperature  of  the  metal  would  be  ten  degrees  higher 
than  that  of  the  oil,  the  test  had  not  been  carried  out  in 
accordance  with  the  Act  of  Parliament.  He  also  con¬ 
tended  that  the  flame  used,  a  lamp  filled  with  spirits  of 
wine,  was  not  that  meant  by  the  Act,  which  said  a  “  very 
small  flame.” 

Mr.  Redwood,  Secretary  and  Consulting  Chemist  to 
the  Petroleum  Association,  said  that  the  certificate  pro¬ 
duced,  stating  that  the  oil  would  not  flash  when  exposed 
to  a  temperature  of  104°,  was  signed  by  him.  He  tested 
the  usual  percentage  of  the  oil.  He  used  How’s  appa¬ 
ratus.  He  had  frequently  made  tests  with  Dr.  Letheby, 
who  used  an  apparatus  exactly  similar.  The  witness 
pointed  out  several  details  in  which  he  considered  the 
apparatus  used  by  the  inspector  was  incomplete. 

The  magistrates  decided  that  the  inspector  had  com¬ 
plied  with  all  the  requirements  of  the  Act  of  Parliament, 
and  that  the  defendant  must  pay  a  fine  of  10s.  and  costs. 
A  case  for  the  Court  of  Queen’s  Bench  was  applied  tor 
and  granted. — Grocer. 

[%*  Petroleum  cases  generally  furnish  amusing  illustrations 
of  the  perplexity  into  which  not  only  judges  or  magistrates, 
but  also  witnesses  and  lawyers  may  fall,  when  dealing  with 


456 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  3,  1870. 


matters  tliey  do  not  understand.  But  in  this  respect  the  ar¬ 
gument  of  Mr.  Langham  on  behalf  of  the  defendant  in  the 
above  case  is  probably  unique,  for  if  it  were  admitted  that 
the  temperature  of  the  oil  was  10  degrees  less  than  that  of 
the  metal  vessel  containing  it,  and  that  the  higher  tempera¬ 
ture  were  indicated  by  the  thermometer, — then  the  flashing- 
point  of  the  oil — 104°  F. — would  have  appeared  to  be  ten  de¬ 
grees  higher  than  if  it  were  tested  in  accordance  with  the 
Act.  But  the  idea  of  such  a  difference  of  temperature  exist¬ 
ing  between  the  oil  and  the  metal  vessel  is  as  absurd  as  the 
argument  in  which  it  is  assumed  to  be  the  case.  This  is  an¬ 
other  indication  of  the  miserable  confusion  that  reigns  in  all 
matters  connected  with  petroleum  legislation. — Ed.  Fn.  J.] 


Sale  of  Patent  Medicine  without  a  Licence. 

Mr.  John  Kennedy,  a  surgeon  and  chemist,  of  Brom¬ 
ley,  Middlesex,  was  on  Wednesday  charged  before  Mr. 
Lushington,  at  the  Thames  Police  Court,  with  selling  a 
patent  medicine  without  a  licence.  The  prosecution  was 
instituted  by  the  Board  of  Inland  Revenue.  The  de¬ 
fendant  for  many  years  had  been  duly  licensed  to  sell 
patent  medicines,  hut  he  had  failed  to  renew  his  licence 
for  the  past  year.  An  officer  engaged  for  the  purpose 
purchased  of  the  defendant  a  box  of  Holloway’s  pills  for 
Is.  \\d.  The  Government  stamp  was  affixed  to  the  box. 
It  was  stated  that  the  defendant  had  taken  out  a  licence 
since  the  sale  of  the  box  of  pills.  Mr.  Lushington  thought 
the  justice  of  the  case  would  he  fully  answered  by  fining- 
the  defendant  the  minimum  fine  of  £5,  as  it  did  not  ap- 
-  pear  that  any  fraud  was  intended. 


Edward  Jeake,  who  described  himself  as  a  chemist, 
though  his  name  is  not  on  the  register,  was  brought  be¬ 
fore  Mr.  Knox  at  Marlborough  Street,  on  a  charge  of 
obtaining  a  charitable  contribution  under  false  pretences. 
After  evidence  had  been  given  proving  the  offence,  the 
prisoner  entered  into  a  long  history  of  his  life,  stating 
that  he  had  been  in  business  as  a  chemist,  and  had  failed 
through  getting  involved  in  a  lawsuit  about  aniline  and 
magenta.  He  said  that  when  the  cholera  rvas  raging  in 
London  he  had  been  employed  as  medical  officer  at 
Whitechapel,  that  he  was  master  of  four  languages,  and 
understood  the  classics  and  mathematics.  He  was  sorry 
for  what  he  had  done,  and  hoped  the  magistrate  would 
deal  leniently  with  him.  Mr.  Knox  sentenced  him  to 
three  months’  imprisonment  with  hard  labour. 


Suicide  by  Nitric  Acid. 

An  inquest  was  held  on  Friday,  Nov.  25,  at  Camden 
Town,  respecting  the  death  of  Mrs.  Boroughs.  It  ap¬ 
peared  that  she  had  just  returned  from  marketing  and  had 
sat  down  to  supper  with  her  husband,  when  suddenly  she 
started  from  her  chair,  and  giving  a  hysterical  laugh 
rushed  out  of  the  room.  Her  husband  followed  her  im¬ 
mediately,  and  found  her  in  the  bedroom  drinking  from  a 
small  phial  labelled  “Poison,”  which  he  said  had  been 
given  him  some  time  previously  for  an  eruption  on  the 
hands.  Dr.  Dyer  said  that  when  he  was  called  to  see 
the  deceased  she  was  insensible.  From  the  colour  of  the 
lips  and  mouth,  he  could  see  that  she  had  drunk  a  quan¬ 
tity  of  nitric  acid ;  there  were  also  stains  of  the  acid  on 
her  hands  and  over  the  carpet.  She  died  on  the  second 
day  from  the  effects  of  the  poison.  A  verdict  was  re¬ 
turned  of  “  Suicide  while  of  unsound  mind.” — Times. 


BOOKS  RECEIVED. 

The  Chemists  and  Druggists’  Almanack  and  Diary, 
1870.  London:  ‘Chemist  and  Druggist’  Office,  Cannon 
Street.  From  the  Publishers. 


A  Treatise  on  the  Nature,  Cause,  Cure,  and  Pre¬ 
vention  of  Disease,  with  Practical  Illustrations  of  the 
Medicinal  and  other  Uses  of  Hibbert’s  Patent  Antiseptic 
Solutions,  etc.  By  W.  Hibbert.  Manchester :  John 
Heywood,  Deansgate.  1870. 


Dotes  anh  djtfcrws. 


In  order  to  facilitate  reference,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  marl  tlieir  answers  in  each  case  with  the  title 
and  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

JYo  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications.. 
All  queries  or  ansivei's  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

[30.]— HAIR-OIL  SCENT.— 7T.  31.  Betts  (Grantham) 
recommends  the  following:  — 

Artificial  Essential  Oil  of  Almonds  3j 

Oil  of  Lavender  ^vij 

Oil  of  Cassia  5ij.  Mix. 

[36.] — EAU  DE  COLOGNE.— In  reply  to  “  B.  Shaker- 
ley,”  H.  H.  sends  the  following  formula:  — 

R.  Ess.  Limon.  Opt.  5iv 
,,  Berg.  Opt.  5v 
01.  Neroli  Opt.  5>j 
01.  Rosmarini  5iss 
01.  Casske  irxx 

S.  V.  Rect.  Oiv. 

Macerate  for  fourteen  days,  and  filter. 

[39.]— LIQUOR  COCCI. 

Cochineal, 

Salts  of  Tartar, 

Cream  of  Tartar,  of  each  1  oz. 

Alum  1  oz. 

Distilled  Water  8  oz. 

Sugar  4  oz. 

Boil  the  cochineal  and  salts  of  tartar  in  the  water,  then  add 
the  cream  of  tartar  and  alum  and  strain  through  muslin, 
afterwards  filter  and  make  up  to  8  oz.  Add  the  sugar,  and 
dissolve  by  means  of  a  gentle  heat. — Arthur  W.  Postans. 

Similar  answers  have  been  received  from  if.  B.  N., 
C.  Bobinson,  “  Vincit  Amor  Patrice,”  and  W.  Biggs. 

T.  B.  Best  (Camberwell)  sends  the  following  formula, 
which  he  says  will  also  answer  for  crimson  ink : — 

Carmine  3j 

Solution  of  Potash  rqxxv 
Distilled  Water  to  §j. 

[40.]— SYR.  CHLORAL  HYDRATE.— Make  a  syrup 
with  concentrated  orange-flower  water,  dissolve  the  hydrate,, 
and  add  mv  spiritus  chloroformi  to  each  drachm. — Arthur 
W.  Postans. 

[***  Syrup  of  tolu,  syrup  of  orange  or  orange-flower  are  also 
used?  as  well  as  glycerine  or  peppermint  water.  Perhaps  the 
best  plan  is  to  use  equal  parts  of  a  syrup  and  of  cliloroforir  - 
water.  See  PnARM.  Joubn.  No.  18,  p.  348.  The  strength  of 
the  preparation  should  be  uniformly  10  grains  to  the  fluid 
dram. — Ed.  Ph.  J.] 

[42.]— CHILBLAINS.— Make  a  liniment  of  equal  parts  of— 
Tincture  of  Cantharides 
Solution  of  Ammonia 
Soap  Liniment. — Beta. 

Tincture  of  Aconite  5iss 
Glycerine  5ij 

Compound  Camphor  Liniment  jKss. 

Mix.  To  be  used  every  night,  but  not  if  the  skin  is 

broken,— L.  S,  — ■— — 

R.  Terebintliinoe  5SS 
Sp.  Campkorte, 

Liq.  Plumbi  Subacet.,  ana  Dip 

Make  a  liniment.  To  be  applied  night  and  morning  with 
a  camel-hair  pencil. — F.  B.,  3Iacclesfield. 

Chilblains  Unbroken. 

R.  Liq.  Potassai  5iss 

Potass.  Cyanidi  gr.  viij 
Aq.  Camph.  ad  3viij. 

Fiat  lotio  stepe  utend. 


R.  01.  Terebinth.  5ij 
Liq.  Ammonia)  §iss 
Lin.  Saponis  3iij 
Sp.  Rosmarini  3] 

Aceti  Dest.  3  viij 

Ft.  linim.  scepe  utend. — C.  Wanron. 

In  the  answer  given  by  “  Utile  ”  last  week,  “tincture  of 
arnica  mont.”  was  misprinted  “  arnica  root.” 


December  3,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


457 


[45.] — WATER  TEST. — The  ordinary  practical  test  is  to 
add  liq.  potassse  permanganatis  gtt.  x  to  a  pint  of  the  water. 
Let  it  stand  twelve  hours.  If  the  water  be  pure,  it  retains 
its  pink  colour ;  otherwise,  it  turns  greenish  or  muddy. — 
H.  H.  P. 

Mr.  C.  Robinson  (Streatham)  and  R.  H.  R.  (Hougliton-le- 
Spring)  recommend  a  similar  plan. 

[*£*  This  test  is  extremely  crude,  and  one  that  cannot  be 
depended  upon  in  a  matter  of  such  importance  as  the  quality 
-of  water  for  domestic  use. 

Probably  the  readiest  and  most  convenient  mode  of  detect¬ 
ing  the  presence  of  organic  impurity  in  water  is  that  intro¬ 
duced  by  Wanklyn,  and  fully  described  in  the  work  reviewed 
last  August  (see  No.  6). 

Another  very  good  method  is  that  suggested  by  Mr.  Heisch 
in  the  Journal  of  the  Chemical  Society  for  October,  1870, 
p.  32,  adding  to  the  water  a  very  small  quantity  of  pure  sugar, 
and  leaving  it  for  some  time  in  a  stoppered  bottle.  If  the 
water  be  contaminated  with  any  such  impurity  as  would  re¬ 
sult  from  sewage  contamination,  there  will  be  an  influence 
exercised  on  the  sugar  as  in  fermentation,  and  it  will  be  con¬ 
verted  into  butyric  acid,  which  can  be  recognized  by  its 
smell.  In  any  case,  however,  the  testing  of  water  is  an  ope¬ 
ration  requiring  so  much  nicety  of  manipulation  and  fami¬ 
liarity  with  analytical  work,  that  it  should  never  be  attempted 
by  any  one  but  a  practised  analyst. — Ed.  Pn.  J.] 

[46.] — WEATHER-GLASS. — Take  a  thin  glass  tube,  12 
inches  long  and  f-inch  in  diameter,  and  fill  three-fourths  of 
it  with  the  following  solution  : — 

Camphor  5ij 
Nitre  5iss 
Sal  Ammoniac  5j 
Proof  Spirit  BijU 

Solve.  The  tube  may  be  tied  over  with  bladder  if  required. 

As  a  sign  of  fine  weather,  the  sediment  of  white  flakes  will 
settle  near  to  the  bottom  of  the  tube,  while  the  liquid  will  be 
quite  transparent  above.  As  a  sign  of  rain ,  the  matter  will 
ris,e  to  the  surface  of  the  solution.  At  the  approach  of  a 
storm,  the  matter  will  float  on  the  surface  of  the  solution  in 
the  form  of  white  flakes,  and  the  fluid  will  appear  in  a  state 
of  fermentation.  During  frost,  the  solution  will  present  a 
starry  appearance,  and  during  summer  or  hot  weather  the 
matter  will  fall  to  the  bottom  as  a  solid  substance.  Several 
other  predictions  might  be  given,  but  these  glasses  as  a  rule 
are  not  to  be  depended  upon. — Vincii  Amoe  Pairiaj. 

Similar  answers  have  been  received  from  T.  F.  Rest  (Cam¬ 
berwell),  F.  T.  G.  (Bath). 

In  the  recipe  published  last  week  from  Mr.  Watkinson, 
££ proof  spirit”  should  have  been  printed  and  not  “rectified 
spirit,”  as  the  presence  of  water  is  required  to  cause  a  portion 
of  the  camphor  to  be  deposited. 


[49.]— EAU  DE  MILLEFLEURS.— In  answer  to  G.  S., 
“  Utile”  (Boston)  sends  the  following  recipe  for  eau  de  mille- 
fleurs  - 

R.  Essence  of  Violets  lb.j 
„  Jasmine 
„  Bergamot  gtt.  xx 
Otto  of  Rose  gtt.  x.  M. 


[52.]— COFFIN’S  COMPOSITION  POWDER.  —  G. 
Wrigglesworth  (Hull)  sends  the  following  copy  ot  Dr.  Coffin’s 
own  published  formula  : — 


R. 


Pulv. 


SJ 


Mix. 

ened. 


Bacc.  Lauri  ^iv 
„  Zingib.  Opt.  §ij 
„  Pini  Canadensis 
„  Caryophyllarum 
„  Pip.  Cayenne 
Dose :  a  teaspoonful  in  a  cup  of  hot  water,  sweet- 


} 


ana  qij 


Answers  similar  to  the  above  have  also  been  received  from 
J.  Staley  (Rochdale)  and  L.  S.  (Stourbridge) ;  also  one  from 
J.  Rordass  (Driffield),  who  gives  a  larger  proportion  of 
ginger  and  says  that  a  large  quantity  is  sold  in  his  district. 


[53.]— DISPENSING.— C.  F.,  Winchester.  No.  21,  p.  419- 

A.  P.  S.  does  not  think  it  possible  to  make  a  clear,  sherry- 
coloured  solution  with  the  ingredients  given,  even  with  the 
.aid  of  heat. 


[56.]— HAIR  WASH. — “Alumen  ”  will  find  the  following 


a  good  and  cheap  hair  wash,  presenting  at  the  same  time  a 
clean  appearance : — 

R.  Sp.  Ammon.  Arom., 

Tinct.  Cauthar., 

Glycerinse,  ana  ^ss 
Aq.  Rosae  ad  gyj. 

— A.  B.  Fletcher,  Totton. 


R.  Pulv.  Sodae  Bibor.  5j 
Potass.  Carb.  5j 
Tr.  Lyttai  5fii 
Sp.  Rosmarini  5j 
Aq.  Camph.  3vj 
Aq.  Rosae  ad  5xx.  M. 

Scent  with  essence  of  bitter  almonds  and  filter. — 

G.  W.  P.,  Manchester. 

[59.]— DISPENSING  (“  Magnesia  ”).  No.  22,  p.  437. 

If  the  following  modus  operandi  be  adopted  by  “  Magnesia ” 
he  will  find  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  a  satisfactory  result : — 

Dissolve  the  quinine  with  a  sufficiency  of  dilute  sulphuric 
acid  in  a  small  quantity  of  the  water,  and  the  sulphate  of 
iron  in  a  second  portion,  mix  the  solutions,  and  add  the  sul¬ 
phate  of  magnesia  dissolved  in  the  remainder  of  the  wrater, 
and  finally  the  tincture  of  ginger.  Thus  prepared,  a  perfect, 
although  opalescent  solution  is  obtained.  The  black  precipi¬ 
tate  referred  to  I  have  been  unable  to  obtain,  and  should 
suspect  it  to  be  tannate  of  iron,  from  the  admixture  of  tannin 
with  some  of  the  ingredients  employed. —  Geo.  Masson. 

Charles  Schmidt  suggests  to  dissolve  the  gr.  xij  quin,  sulph. 
in  a  little  aq.  destill.,  acidulated  with  nix  acid,  sulphur,  dil., 
add  solut.  magnes.  sulph.  §iij,  and  having  previously  mixed 
the  ^iss  tinct.  zingiber,  with  the  same  quantity  of  aq.  destill., 
shake  together,  finally  dissolve  the  gr.  xij  ferr.  sulph.  in  the 
mixture. 

By  adding  a  little  acid,  sulph.  dil.  (enough  to  effect  a  ready 
solution  of  quinioe  sulphas),  dissolving  magnesias  sulphas, and 
adding  the  solutions  together,  no  deposit  takes  place.  The 
ingredients  rubbed  in  a  porcelain  mortar,  and  dissolved  to¬ 
gether,  give  a  blackish  deposit.  In  this  state  the  addition  of 
a  drop  or  two  of  acid,  sulph.  dil.  produces  a  fine  clear  mixture, 
of  course  rendered  opaque  by  the  addition  of  tinct.  zingiberis. 
— John  H.  Dodds,  Walsall. 

I  have  prepared  the  prescription  which  “ Magnesia ” 
gives,  but  do  not  get  a  copious  black  precipitate.  What 
precipitate  there  is  is  caused  by  the  insolubility  of  the 
quinao  sulph.,  and  what  discoloration  there  is  results  from 
the  action  of  the  iron  on  the  tinct.  zingib.  A  few  drops  of 
acid,  sulph.  dil.  will  effect  a  solution  and  at  the  same  time 
prevent  any  darkening. — A.  B.  Fletcher,  Totton. 

[***  We  do  not  see  that  our  correspondents  would  be  jus¬ 
tified  in  adding  the  acid  as  suggested. — Ed.  Pn.  J .] 

[61.] — TASTELESS  PILLS. — Any  information  as  to  the 
method  of  giving  a  tasteless  covering  (non- saccharine  and 
unaffected  by  exposure  to  air)  to  pills  will  oblige — Two  In¬ 
quirers. 

[*#*  A  solution  of  balsam  of  tolu  and  chloroform  formsthe 
best  coating  for  pills. — Ed.  Pn.  J.] 

[62.]— ARTIFICIAL  TINCTURE  OF  MUSK.  —  W 
Wilson  (Devonport)  wishes  for  a  formula  for  making  arti¬ 
ficial  tincture  of  musk  from  the  oil  of  amber. 

[Put  into  a  cup  f5j  of  oil  of  amber,  and  add  to  it,  drop 
by  drop,  f^iiiss  of  strong  nitric  acid ;  let  it  stand  for  thirty- 
six  hours,  then  separate  and  wrash  the  resinous  matter. — 
Ed.  Pn.  J.] 

[63.]_GREEN  FLUID  FOR  SHOW  BOTTLES.— W. 
W.  wishes  for  a  recipe  for  making  a  good  green  fluid  for 
show  bottles. 

T64.J— COLD  CREAM. — “  Alpha ”  (Sudbury)  desires  a 
good  formula  for  making  cold  cream. 

[65.] — CEMENT. — “  Iodi  ”  (Sudbury)  wishes  for  a  recipe 
for  making  diamond  cement,  or  a  transparent  cement  foi  glass, 
china,  etc. 

[66.]— CEMENT  FOR  INDIA-RUBBER. —  “  Vulca¬ 
nite”  asks  for  a  formula  for  a  good  cement  that  wrould  fasten 
the  ends  of  pieces  of  vulcanized  india-rubber  together. 

[67. _ TINCT.  PRUNI  VIRGINIAN2E  — R.  3.  D. 

wishes  for  a  formula  for  the  preparation  of  this  tincture. 


458 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  3,  1870. 


***  Ab  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Obscure  Prescriptions. 

Sir, — Many — I  think  I  may  say  the  majority  of  your 
readers — will  be  pleased  to  see  that  in  your  Journal  attention 
has  been  drawn  to  the  slovenly  method  in  which  prescrip¬ 
tions  are  frequently  written.  Medical  journals  have  for  some 
time  past  been  making  editorial  attacks  upon  dispensing 
chemists  for  high  charges  and  for  prescribing ;  but  I  think 
their  attention  might  well  be  turned  to  a  matter  nearer  home, 
viz.  the  present  loose  style  of  prescribing.  I  will  put  the 
question  to  any  average  dispenser,  whether  he  is  not  con¬ 
tinually  troubled  by  it.  The  prescription  is  frequently  care¬ 
lessly  written,  often  the  terms  are  indefinite,  and  sometimes 
two  or  three  pharmacopoeias  are  mixed  up  together,  while 
the  dispenser  is  all  the  time  subject  to  the  Pharmacy  Act. 
He  can,  therefore,  only  dispense  comfortably  when  he  has 
neither  conscience  nor  property ;  the  absence  of  the  first  allow¬ 
ing  him  to  keep  what  he  considers  self-respect,  the  want  of 
the  latter  enabling  him  to  defy  attempts  to  recover  penalties. 

I  once  lived  in  a  surgery,  and  by  excellent  fortune  was  on 
very  good  terms  with  my  master.  After  sending  out 
“inf.  calumb.”  for  “mist,  camph.”  several  times,  and  by  the 
law  of  average,  vice  versa,  I  was  obliged  to  propose  that  after 
he  had  “written  in”  I  should  always  read  the  entries  over 
to  him  before  dispensing.  After  that  arrangement  we  got 
on  pretty  well  together.  It  was  no  compliment  to  propose 
such  conditions  to  him,  but  what  was  I  to  do  ? 

Unfortunately  dispensers  in  retail  cannot  do  this,  they 
must  either  hand  back  the  prescription  or  make  it  up  by 
guess.  Of  course,  if  they  can  afford  to  take  the  first  course 
they  will  return  the  prescription;  but  suppose  a  man  is 
“running  up  hill,”  can  he  avoid  the  second?  Why,  he 
would  at  least  be  “  thought  a  fool,”  and  if  he  had  an  un¬ 
scrupulous  brother-chemist,  the  honest  man  would  be  cut 
out.  Honesty  may  be  its  own  reward,  but  how  about  paying 
your  bills  ? 

Now  how  can  all  this  petty  distress  be  avoided  ?  I  think 
by  all  chemists,  when  they  have  doubts  about  prescriptions, 
referring,  if  possible,  to  the  prescriber,  and  when  this  is  im¬ 
possible,  declining  to  dispense  by  mere  guess.  If  this  rule 
was  invariably  carried  out  it  would  soon  remedy  bad  writing 
so  far  as  prescriptions  go ;  the  wealthy  and  needy  would  be 
on  the  same  “platform.”  Many  will  say  to  this  proposal, 
“  What  about  the  patient  perishing  for  lack  of  physic  ?”  My 
reply  is,  does  it  differ  much  whether  a  man  perishes  for  lack 
of  physic,  or  is  destroyed  by  having  the  wrong  ?  All  respon¬ 
sibility  on  this  point  rests  with  the  prescriber,  who  is  amply 
paid  for  (in  these  cases)  unfulfilled  duties. 

M.P.S.  by  election. 

Brighton,  November  26th,  1870. 


Sir, — I  beg  to  thank  you  for  the  remarks  made  in  support 
of  my  letter  published  in  your  Journal  of  the  12th  instant. 
You  were  correct  in  supposing  that  the  classical  acquirements 
of  the  author  of  the  prescriptions  in  question  were  a  matter  of 
but  little  interest  to  me.  May  I  be  permitted  to  advise  that 
gentleman,  if  he  wishes  his  prescriptions  handed  down  to  ad¬ 
miring  posterity,  in  all  their  purity  of  true  classical  expres¬ 
sion,  to  write  them  in  such  a  manner  that  the  real  termina¬ 
tions  may  be  seen  without  the  aid  of  a  powerful  microscope  ! 

As  the  author  appears  to  consider  few  of  the  readers  of  our 
Journal  “respectable”  enough  for  him  to  “condescend”  to 
answer  them  with  civility,  perhaps  he  will  think  it  less  “infra 
dig.  ”  to  give  an  explanation  of  his  remarkable  prescriptions 
in  the  columns  of  the  Lancet  or  some  other  “respectable” 
medical  journal. 

He  also  speculates  in  rather  a  sarcastic  manner  upon  the 
amount  of  “lustre”  I  am  likely  to  “shed”  upon  my  “fra¬ 
ternity.”  May  I  be  permitted  to  ask  him — with  all  due  re¬ 
spect,  and  with  a  deep  sense  of  my  own  ignorance  and  infe¬ 
riority  if  his  prescriptions  (classical  though  they  may  be) 
will  bring  him  any  very  great  amount  of  “honour”  from  the 
Members  of  the  College  to  which  he  belongs  ? 

E.  J.  B.,  Major  Associate. 


Sir, — The  thanks  of  chemists  generally  are  due  to  you 
for  your  publication  of  Mr.  W.  Bradshaw’s  prescription. 
It  is  a  chef  d’ceuvre  of  hieroglyphic  art,  and  reflects  the 
greatest  honour  on  the  profession  of  which  its  author  is  a 
member. 

There  can  be  little  doubt  that  when  a  being  of  such  talent 
and  renown  (for  who  amongst  us  has  not  heard  of  Mr.  Wat¬ 
son  Bradshaw?)  descends  from  the  lofty  eminence  of  naval 
surgeon  to  pity  and  relieve  the  bodily  sufferings  of  poor  mor¬ 
tals  on  earth,  we  should  be  careful  how  we  offend  his  dignity 
by  daring  to  question  any  word  or  deed  of  his,  no  matter 
how  obtuse  it  may  seem  to  our  benighted  senses.  Nor  should, 
we  take  the  liberty  of  mentioning  his  great  name  in  the  same- 
breath  with  a  posse  of  silly  or  angry  druggists.  Such  is  the 
tenour  of  his  second  letter,  which,  indicating  an  almost  angelic 
serenity  of  temper,  effectually  exposes  by  contrast  the  silly 
squabbles  that  promoted  its  production.  What  business  on 
earth  has  a  druggist  to  speak?  He  has  no  professional 
wrongs ;  he  is  made  expressly  to  execute  the  wishes  of  the 
doctor;  in  case  of  an  accident  to  take  all  culpability  from 
him  and,  if  need  be,  to  bear  it  himself.  In  this  case  it  would 
seem  that  it  is  Mr.  W.  Bradshaw  who  suffers  wrong  and  in¬ 
justice,  as  he  mildly  hints,  because  some  silly  and  ignorant 
druggists — incapable  of  reading  and  dispensing  prescriptions 
of  his,  couched  in  such  concise  and  every-day  terms,  and 
written  in  such  a  legible  and  masterly  style  of  caligraphy  as 
the  specimen  published  last  week — have  asked  for  an  expla¬ 
nation  of  the  terms  used.  Who  can  blame  the  ex-naval  sur¬ 
geon  for  preferring  druggists  to  whom  he  has  imparted  the 
key  to  his  Euclid,  the  “open  sesame”  of  his  mysteries  ?  No 
doubt  he  does  it  from  purely  disinterested  motives.  But  if  it 
cannot  be  a  matter  of  surprise  that  such  a  man  should  be  con¬ 
taminated  by  entering  the  arena  of  pharmaceutical  corre¬ 
spondence,  surely  legal  proceedings  would  be  “  infra  dig.” 
indeed  !  I  trust  that  the  publication  of  the  prescription  may 
have  the  beneficial  effect  of  inducing  some  surgeons  to  be- 
somewhat  more  explicit  in  prescribing.  If  they  are  plain, 
and  readable,  no  druggist  will  ever  complain  of  their  Latinity.. 

Norwich.  T.  P. 


43,  Welbeclc  Street,  Cavendish  Square,  W. 

'  Nov.  27,  1870. 

Sir, — I  not  only  complained  in  my  letter  of  the  incorrect 
Latinities  imputed  to  my  authorship,  but  disputed  your 
right,  in  toto,  of  using  my  name  at  all,  still  less  in  the  way 
you  have  permitted  it  to  be  paraded  in  your  columns. 

If  your  intention  had  been  simply  to  assist  a  puzzled  drug¬ 
gist  out  of  the  quagmire,  or  to  discuss,  on  the  broad  basis,, 
the  advisability  of  “obscure  prescription- writing,”  this  might 
have  been  fully  effected  without  my  name,  and  thus  I  should- 
have  been  spared  the  necessity  of  troubling  you  on  a  subject 
upon  which  I  could  say  so  much,  and  par  par enthese,  what¬ 
ever  theories  you  could  have  advanced  I  am  certain  would 
no4  have  changed  my  opinions;  and,  perhaps,  to  set  the 
matter  finally  at  rest,  for  I  admit  that  it  is  an  important  sub¬ 
ject  for  discussion,  I  contend,  as  an  invariable  rule,  it  is 
better  that  patients  ( omnium  generum)  should  not  know 
what  medicines  they  may  be  taking;  and  if  this  be  deemed  a 
special  feature  in  the  management  of  certain  cases,  which  I 
could  abundantly  illustrate,  I  consider  it  quite  supererogatory 
on  the  part  of  any /puzzled  druggist  to  question  the  motives 
of  any  prescriber ;  and  I  am  well  certain  of  this,  that  any 
pharmacist  presuming  to  dispense  any  prescription  “ob¬ 
scurely  ”  written,  which  the  presenter  thereof  had  been  “  dis¬ 
tinctly  ”  told  could  only  be  made  up  by  an  “ especial”  drug- 
gish  designated,  would  be  held  legally  liable  for  all  conse¬ 
quences  flowing  therefrom  by  a  British  judge  and  jury. 

I  have  always  been  consistently  opposed  to  the  writing  of 
prescriptions  in  English,  and,  in  short,  I  think  that  they 
cannot  be  made  too  unintelligible  for  the  patient’s  benefit.  A 
general  practitioner  does  not  edify  his  patient  by  informing 
him  what  his  6- ounce  mixture  contains.  There  are  many 
other  cogent  reasons  which  could  be  urged  in  favour  of  the 
system  which  I  adopt,  but  to  which  I  need  not  now  advert, 
but  I  am  quite  prepared  to  vindicate  anything  which  I  may 
do  or  advocate. 

The  prejudices  of  certain  patients  are  so  well  known  by 
medical  men,  that  there  can  be  no  dissentient  opinion  in  such 
cases  as  to  the  expediency  of  concealing  the  means  that  may 
be  thought  by  the  medical  adviser  indispensable  for  their  re¬ 
covery.  Conceive,  for  example,  a  nervous  patient,  requiring 
a  full  dose  of  morphia,  indulging  his  morbid  fear  of  having 


December  3,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


459 


that  drug  administered  to  him  by  refusing  to  take  a  draught 
containing  it ! 

I  was  in  the  habit  formerly  of  prescribing  in  the  usual 
style,  but  so  many  cases  were  brought  to  my  notice,  which 
induced  me  to  adopt,  under  certain  circumstances,  my  present 
system  of  cognomens.  One  patient,  a  lady,  had  been  taking 
4  grains  of  blue  pill  twice  a  week  for  two  years.  Another, 
whenever  he  had  the  smallest  ailment,  would  rush  to  an  old 
prescription,  for  which,  some  time  or  other,  he  had  invested 
a  guinea,  and  commence  to  take  80  minims  of  liq.  potassse 
daily.  Such  practices  I  consider  fraught  with  much  danger 
to  tiie  physic-taking  community,  and  I  consider  also  that  any 
check  which  can  be  imposed  upon  prescription-holders  from 
getting  their  favourite  recipes  dispensed  at  random,  ought  to 
be  rather  hailed  as  a  happy  omen  than  otherwise. 

This  observation  applies  to  all  the  “  obscure  ”  prescriptions 
which  have  been  so  eagerly  thrust  upon  your  notice ;  that  is 
to  say,  the  ingredients  therein  contained  were  only  intended 
to  be  taken  under  my  guidance,  and  not  to  be  had  recourse 
to  on  every  promiscuous  occasion.  Why  do  not  such  patients 
go  and  consult  another  medical  man  when  they  are  at  a  dis¬ 
tance  remote  from  the  prescriber,  and  not  endeavour  to  do  a 
little  quiet  flirtation  with  a  village  chemist  ?  It  is  true 
some  disappointment  must  be  felt,  when  a  man,  whose  ex¬ 
press  function  it  is,  cannot  decipher  an  “obscure”  prescrip¬ 
tion  ;  but  he  can  only,  at  most,  suffer  the  loss  of  a  stray 
shilling  or  two,  whereas  he  might  quietly  allow  the  patient 
to  swallow  4  grains  of  pil.  hyd.  twice  a  week  for  twTo  years, 
or  to  take  80  minims  of  liq.  potassae  daily,  when  he  might 
require  very  different  treatment.  The  practice  of  medicine 
is  a  grave  and  responsible  vocation,  and  it  is  quite  as  desir¬ 
able  to  counteract  the  random  use  of  nocuous  medicines,  as  it 
is  incumbent  on  the  man  of  medicine  to  study  and  know 
aright  the  uses  of  his  various  therapeutic  agents ;  and  pa¬ 
tients  themselves  cannot  be  too  forcibly  reminded  of  this 
fact,  that  when  they  try  to  “do”  the  doctor,  they  only  “un¬ 
do  ”  themselves. 

Watson  Bradshaw, 
Formerly  Surgeon  Royal  Navy. 

L.  W.  A.  (Newcastle)  writing  on  this  subject,  expresses  his 
•opinion  that  the  silly  druggists  with  whom  Mr.  Watson 
Bradsliawr  professes  to  think  it  infra  dig.  to  “enter  the 
arena,”  would  probably  go  through  an  examination  on  the 
British  Pharmacopoeia  better  than  he  could,  and  that  they 
apparently  pay  more  respect  than  he  does  to  that  important 
work.  J.  W.  A.  also  thinks  Mr.  Bradshaw’s  admission  that 
his  “  patients  are  invariably  reminded  they  can  only  have 
their  medicines  compounded  by  the  especial  druggists  to  whom 
he  hands  them  over,”  is  one  that  does  not  do  much  credit  to 
him,  and  is  decidedly  a  breach  of  medical  etiquette. 

Sir, — The  following  prescription  was  this  morning  brought 
to  me  by  one  of  my  customers  to  dispense  : — 

Lin.  Tereb.  Bellad.  n.m. 

Mist.  Menstruments  No.j.  (Sic.) 

It  had  been  written  by  one  who  signs  himself  M.A.  and 
M.D.,  one  who  professes  to  give  “advice  gratis  to  the  poor.” 
May  I  ask  is  it  honest  on  the  part  of  a  physician  to  compel 
these  patients  to  go  to  a  particular  chemist,  he  (the  doctor) 
receiving  a  percentage  upon  the  transaction  ? 

Is  it  such  a  great  crime  for  a  respectable  chemist  to  do  a 
little  prescribing  when  such  an  example  is  set  us  by  our 
■“betters”?  I  think  not;  yet,  Sir,  this  M.A.  and  MkD.  is 
■one  of  those  who  would  prevent  us.  I  call  such  a  one  a 
hypocrite  and  a  sham  philanthropist. 

Sheffield.  Edward  Barber. 

[***  We  insert  some  of  the  foregoing  letters  more  for  the 
satisfaction  of  correspondents  than  for  the  sake  of  any  light 
they  throw  upon  the  question  originally  put  forward  by 
E.  J.  B.,  and  we  must  decline  to  publish  any  further  letters 
which  do  not  bear  directly  upon  that.  Perhaps  Mr.  Bradshaw 
or  his  especial  druggists  will  supply  this  desideratum.] 

As  to  the  other  subjects  more  or  less  obscurely  touched 
upon  in  the  above  letters,  it  would  seem  that  the  present  ex¬ 
citement  of  the  political  world  in  regard  to  secret  treaties  is 
contagious,  and  a  similar  state  of  mind  is  being  developed 
among  pharmacists  as  to  the  nature  of  the  relations  which 
sometimes  exist  between  prescriber  and  dispenser.  This  is  a 
question  of  great  importance,  and  so  well  worthy  of  further 
ventilation  that  we  shall  recur  to  it  at  an  early  date. — Ed. 
Pn.  J.] 


Beware  of  Swindlers. 

Sir,— Allow  me  to  corroborate  the  communication  of  Mr. 
Long  in  your  last  week’s  issue,  respecting  a  man  going  about 
the  country  to  appoint  agents  to  sell  an  “Infallible  Vermin 
Killer  ”  for  the  firm  he  represented. 

It  is  about  six  weeks  since  a  very  gentlemanly-looking 
sort  of  a  fellow,  elegantly  plumed  in  the  fashion  of  the  day, 
drove  up  to  my  shop  door  with  a  horse  and  gig,  of  first-class 
appearance,  of  such  a  style  and  in  such  a  good  condition  as 
would  not  be  degrading  for  the  use  of  any  nobleman.  This 
gentlemanly  rascal  intimated  that  I  should  seldom  see  tra¬ 
vellers  from  any  respectable  firm  with  such  a  grand  equipage. 

He  professed  to  represent  a  firm  of  the  name  of  Messrs. 
Newman,  Howard  and  Co.,  Bath  Row,  Birmingham,  stating 
that  he  was  nephew  of  one  of  the  partners,  and  that  the  Mr. 
Howard  in  the  firm  was  a  near  relative  of  the  well-known 
Messrs.  Howard  and  Sons,  the  celebrated  quinine  manufac¬ 
turers.  He  showed  me  several  advertisements  in  newspapers 
respecting  the  vermin  killer,  with  agents’  names  appended, 
and  said  it  was  also  advertised  in  the  Pharmaceutical 
Journal.  He  also  displayed  some  very  handsome  posters, 
with  blank  spaces  at  bottom  for  the  insertion  of  agents’ 
name.  An  agent’s  district  was  to  comprise  a  circuit  of  five 
miles,  in  which  posters  and  handbills  were  to  be  circulated 
free  of  expense  to  agent. 

Other  special  advantages,  too  numerous  to  mention,  were 
also  offered.  I  purchased  only  half  of  what  he  seemed  anxious 
for  me  to  take,  and  after  he  had  gone  I  proceeded  to  examine 
all  the  numbers  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal  I  had, 
but,  to  my  surprise,  failed  to  meet  with  a  single  word  con¬ 
cerning  the  matter. 

I  have  written  twice  to  this  celebrated  Birmingham  firm  (?), 
who  it  appears  from  invoice  are  “  Manufacturers  of  Chemical 
Preparations,”  but  have  not  received  any  reply. 

I  trust  my  brother-chemists  will  be  on  the  alert,  and  be 
able  to  detect  these  profound  rogues  and  impostors  before 
they  are  duped  by  them,  should  any  present  themselves  in 
their  shops. 

Rawtenstall,  November  14 th,  1870.  H.  Halstead. 


Sir, — A  letter  on  this  subject  appeared  in  the  Lancet  and 
has  since  been  copied  into  several  of  the  daily  papers.  It  ap¬ 
pears  that  one  chemist  charged  4s.  for  a  mixture  for  which 
another  charged  but  Is.  6d.,  and,  for  this  act  of  a  single  man, 
the  whole  fraternity  are  charged  with  extortion.  In  reply,  I 
am  quite  ready  to  admit  that  the  charge  was  exorbitant, 
provided  the  mixture  contained  only  simple  ingredients ;  it 
may,  however,  have  contained  expensive  articles,  or  have  been 
prescribed  in  a  concentrated  form ;  but,  probably,  it  was  not 
obtained  from  a  dispensing  chemist  at  all,  but  from  a  sur¬ 
geon  or  apothecary  keeping  an  open  shop ;  and  this  class  of 
practitioners  get  a  “  very  fair  ”  profit,  as  the  following  instance 
may  show : — 

A  surgeon  keeping  an  open  shop  told  me  that  he  frequently 
got  2s.  6 d.  for  a  blue  pill  and  black  draught,  the  usual  price 
charged  by  chemists  being  only  9 d.  There  have  been  cases, 
too,  brought  before  the  public  in  which  doctors’  bills  have 
been  disputed  solely  because  the  patients  considered  they  had 
been  overcharged ;  but  who  has  ever  heard  of  a  chemist’s 
bill  being  disputed  on  this  score  ? 

Chemists  are  not  infallible,  nor  are  they  free  from  extor¬ 
tioners  and  unjust  men,  any  more  than  lawyers  and  medical 
men  are ;  but,  as  a  class,  they  are  a  hardworking,  honest, 
thoughtful  body  of  men, — not  overpaid  for  their  responsibility, 
as  the  scarcity  of  retired  chemists  shows, — whose  services  are 
daily  becoming  appreciated  more  freely  by  the  public.  Add 
to  this  that  all  now  wishing  to  become  chemists  are  compelled 
to  pass  examinations,  and  it  will  at  once  be  seen  that  the 
business  of  a  dispensing  chemist  in  England  is  rapidly  on  its 
way  to  become  a  profession  ranking  as  high  as  on  the  Conti¬ 
nent.  A  Dispensing  Chemist. 


Druggists’  Charges. 

Sir, — The  Lancet  complains  of  the  excessive  charge  made 
by  chemists  for  dispensing,  while  many  of  us  complain  of  some 
of  our  brother-chemists  for  cutting  down  the  prices.  Mr.  Ap¬ 
plegate’s  letter  gives  a  fresh  illustration  of  the  fact  that  we 
ought  not  to  take  for  granted  all  our  customers  say  about 
the  prices  charged  by  other  chemists,  but  follow  his  example 
and  firmly  refuse  to  reduce  the  price  because  the  customer 
says  that  Mr.  So-and-so  has  charged  so  much  less. 

Reliable  testimony  may,  however,  sometimes  be  got  con- 


4G0 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  s,  1870. 


cerning  the  prices  charged  by  other  druggists.  Several  weeks 
ago  I  dispensed  the  following  prescription  for  a  stranger : — 

R.  Yin.  Ipecac.  5j 
Oxymel.  Scillte, 

Syr.  Papav.  Alb.,  ana  5^ij 
Tinct.  Ferri  Perchlor.  5j- 
M.  A  teaspoonful  every  four  hours  in  water. 

The  customer  brought  a  bottle  and  called  for  the  mixture 
an  hour  or  so  after.  He  asked  the  price  of  the  medicine  and 

I  charged  Is. ;  he  told  me  that  Mr. - of - only  charged 

Sd.  I  said  that  Mr. - might  do  so  if  he  liked,  but  I  cer¬ 

tainly  could  not  think  of  dispensing  the  prescription  at  such 
a  price;  consequently  he  would  not  take  the  mixture.  Wishing 
to  test  some  of  my  neighbours  whom  I  suspected  of  doing  a 
cutting  trade,  I  sent  a  boy  incognito  to  them  with  a  copy  of 
the  prescription  to  inquire  how  much  they  would  charge  to 
dispense  it.  One  replied  Is.,  another  9d.,  and  a  third,  recently 
elected  a  member  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  said,  “  If  you 
bring  your  own  bottle,  I  will  make  it  up  for  6 d.” 

An  apprentice  of  mine  saw  recently  in  the  windows  of  a 
shop  less  than  a  mile  from  St.  Paul’s  Churchyard,  whose 
owner  is  the  proprietor  of  a  well-known  patent  for  gout  and 
rheumatic  pills,  a  printed  bill  stating  that  seidlitz  powders  were 
sold  there  at  4 d.  per  dozen.  He  went  in  as  an  ordinary  customer 
and  found  that  their  seidlitz  powders  were  8 d.  a  box,  and  that 
by  seidlitz  powders  at  4<d.  per  dozen,  4 d.  for  a  dozen  powders 
wTas  meant,  six  white  papers  (acid)  and  six  blue  papers  (salts) 
making  six  seidlitz  draughts.  Surely  such  a  grossly  dis¬ 
honourable  trick  would  almost  call  for  the  removal  of  the 
chemist’s  name  from  the  Register. 

I  hope  that  all  those  who  declaim  so  loudly  against  the 
cutting  prices  of  others,  practise  what  they  preach,  but  I 
fear  that  it  is  not  so. 

S.  S.  Holloway. 

[***  Several  other  correspondents  write  in  reference  to  the 
statement  contained  in  the  letter  of  a  “  Prescriber  ”  which  ap¬ 
peared  in  the  Lancet  of  the  19th  ult. ;  they  suggest  that  it 
would  be  desirable  to  ascertain  the  ingredients  of  the  medi¬ 
cine  referred  to,  and  that  since  the  correspondent  of  the 
Lancet  writes  from  personal  knowledge  of  the  case,  he  can, 
perhaps,  give  a  copy  of  the  prescription  as  well  as  the  name 
and  address  of  the  dispenser.  We  have  written  to  the  editor 
of  the  Lancet,  requesting  his  assistance  in  this  matter. — Ed. 
Pn.  J.] 


Six-, — I  think  it  is  a  pity  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal 
does  not  print  occasionally  half  a  column  of  rates  of  prices 
for  10  or  8  or  6  oz.  mixtures,  etc.  Of  course  every  medical 
man  knows  what  would  be  a  fair  price  for  such  “  mixtures,” 
but  coming  with  the  authority  of  your  Council,  it  would  be 
something  for  a  physician  or  surgeon  to  fall  back  on  when 
he  is  asked  questions  as  to  prices.  I  remember  in  my  quiet 
apprenticeship  days,  when  I  saw  served  out  thousands  of 
ordinai-y  8  oz.  mixtures,  3s.  6d.  average  price.  I  remember 
in  another  place,  always  this  8  oz.  mixture,  2s.  2d.  (circum¬ 
stances  quite  equal) ;  but  now  mark  the  difference  during 
the  last  two  yeai-s.  I  write  a  prescription  at  Kilburn  or  St. 
John’s  Wood,  and  the  chemist  vei-y  properly,  as  I  think, 
chai-ges  Is.  8 d.  or  2s. ;  but  on  the  miserable  system  of  “  doing 
a  trade  ”  at  any  risks,  I  every  week  find  that  by  taking  the 
prescription  to  one  of  the  “  cheap  and  nasty  ”  shops  off  Ox¬ 
ford  Street,  near  Grosvenor  Square,  the  same  8  oz.  mixture, 
bottle,  cork,  label  and  some  quack  wrapper  are  all  given  for 
Id.  or  Qd.  I  know,  of  course,  all  about  competition  as  a 
healthy  (?)  phase  of  trade;  but  I  must  confess  I  tell  my 
patients  that  cheap  and  adulterated  drugs  are  so  common 
that  I  would  prefer  their  getting  the  mixture  at  Is.  8c?.  or  2s. 
But  then  we  have  no  standard  rate  of  prices  to  assure  our 
patients  that  a  conscientious  and  honourable  chemist  cannot 
give  an  8  oz.  mixture  for  Qd. 

November  15.  Charles  Kidd,  M.D. 


Citrate  of  Lron  and  Quinine. — Hr.  J.  Stathers. — We  have 
received  yoiu-  letter  and  the  sample  of  citrate  of  iron  and 
quinine;  but  we  cannot  undertake  to  furnish  professional 
analyses  gratuitously. 

Lt.  Bayner  (Owston  Ferry). — The  letter  and  stamps  have 
been  handed  to  the  Secretary. 

W.  C.  H.  (Brighton),  who  asks  a  question  concerning  chloric 
ether,  has  omitted  to  send  his  name. 

“Botanist”  (Rochester). — In  the  last  edition  of  the  ‘Ca¬ 
lendar  ’  there  is  no  such  reference  made. 


Microscopic  Examination  of  Starch. 

Dear  Sir, — Mr.  Cooke’s  remarks  on  the  mounting  of 
starches  for  microscopic  purposes,  induces  me  to  add  my 
experiences.  I  have  given  up  using  old  slides  of  starches  on 
standards  for  references,  having,  like  Mr.  Cooke,  found  that 
the  granules  in  course  of  time  become  materially  altered  in 
shape  and  appearance,  no  matter  in  what  fluid  they  have 
been  mounted.  Being  so  satisfied  of  their  untrustworthiness, 
I  now  prefer  the  trouble  of  preparing  fresh  slides  as  occasion 
requires,  and  mount  the  starches  temporarily  in  glycerine. 
I  have  for  some  time  used  a  solution  of  dammar  in  benzole 
as  a  mounting  medium,  its  use  having  been  suggested  to  me 
by  Mr.  Swan,  of  Newcastle- on-Tyne ;  but  I  also  use  and 
prefer  for  most  purposes  the  resin  of  Canada  balsam  dissolved 
in  benzole,  prepared  by  evaporating  the  balsam  over  a  water 
bath  until  solid,  and  dissolving  in  the  benzole.  This  last 
makes  a  brighter  and  cleaner-looking  solution  than  the  dam¬ 
mar,  and  dries  quite  as  rapidly.  I  have  also  tried  with  par¬ 
tial  success  a  solution  of  pure  pale  yellow  rosin  in  benzole. 

Leominster,  November  22nd,  1870.  M.  J.  Ellwood. 


IF.  H.  Cotter  ell  (Dover). — Pharm.  Journ.  2nd  series, 
Vol.  X.  p.  180. 

“  Guaco.” — We  think  not. 

B.  Hayton  Davis  (Harrogate). — The  only  officinal  prepa¬ 
rations  are  the  fluid  extract,  infusion  and  syrup.  (See  Notes 
and  Queries.) 

Messrs.  31‘Master,  Hodgson  and  Co.  are  informed  that, 
owing  to  the  official  character  of  this  Journal,  we  are  con¬ 
strained  not  to  give  editorial  notices  of  new  inventions,  etc., 
which  might  appear  to  partake  of  the  nature  of  advertise¬ 
ments  ;  meanwhile  we  shall  always  be  glad  to  afford  space  to 
any  communications  respecting  novelties  which  may  possess 
general  interest  for  the  drug  trade. 

“ A  Constant  Beader”  is  thanked  for  his  communication. 
We  were  already  aware  of  the  facts  to  which  he  refers,  but 
cannot  make  use  of  his  letter,  since  it  is  anonymous. 

H.  H.  Bollard  (Ryde).  —  The  several  recipes  will  be  in¬ 
dexed.  We  are  obliged  for  your  suggestion. 

Chapters  for  Students. — B.  C.  J.,  Manchester,  writes  to 
say,  in  reference  to  the  method  of  making  alum  described  by 
Mr.  Tilden,  at  page  424,  that  nine-tenths  of  the  alum  used  is 
now  made  by  the  following  method : — The  shale  of  the  coal- 
measures  is  calcined  in  long  ridges,  it  is  then  put  into  iron 
vessels  lined  with  lead,  sulphuric  acid  from  the  chamber  is 
then  poured  over  it,  and  the  mass  allowed  to  digest  at  about 
230°  F.  to  240°  F.  The  temperature  is  kept  up  by  steam  and 
ammonia  vapour,  which  are  blown  in,  and  also  by  a  small  fire 
underneath  the  pans.  When  the  solution  is  strong  enough  to 
crystallize,  it  is  drawn  off  into  lai*ge  coolers  and  there  agitated 
to  prevent  the  formation  of  large  crystals;  the  alum-ilour  so 
obtained  is  washed  and  redissolved  by  steam,  and  the  solution 
rim  off  into  crystallizing-tubes,  where  it  remains  for  ten  days  or 
a  fortnight ;  the  mother-liquor  is  then  run  off,  and  the  alum  is 
broken  up,  and  is  ready  for  the  market.  This  is  a  brief  out¬ 
line  of  the  manufacture  of  alum  as  carried  on  at  Mr.  Spence’s 
works  at  Manchester  and  Goole,  one  of  the  largest  manufac¬ 
tories  of  this  salt  in  the  world,  where  250  tons  are  turned  out 
weekly. 

Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  W.  N.  Twelvetrees  (Manchester),  Mr.  R.  W.  Giles  (Clif¬ 
ton),  Mr.  J.  E.  Howard,  Mr.  F.  C.  Maggs  (Yeovil),  Mr.  W. 
Aylesbury  (Weymouth),  Mr.  A.  E.  Cole  (Lee),  Mr.  H.  Pol¬ 
lard  (Ryde),  Mr.  A.  C.  Wootton,  Mi-.  H.  B.  Brady  (New¬ 
castle),  Messrs.  Churchill,  Mr.  R.  C.  Tichbome  (Dublin), 
Mr.  A.  H.  Mason  (Liverpool),  Dr.  B.  W.  Richardson,  Mr. 
J.  C.  Pooley  (Bath),  “Polio,”  “  Medicus  ”  (Garston),  “Cor¬ 
tex”  (Manchester),  “Iota”  (Southampton),  “Constant 
Reader,”  “A  Physician”  (Oldham),  “  Utile  ”  (Boston),  “Ex- 
hibatui-,”  M.  P.  S.  (Tunbridge  Wells),  J.  F.  (Aberdeen),  J.  F. 
B.  (Derby),  H.  (Salisbury),  J.  F.  (Halifax),  J.  T.  E.  (War¬ 
rington),^.  M.,  T.  M.  (Worksop),  F.  C.  Wyatt  (Henley). 


The  following  joui-nals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal, ’  Nov.  26;  the  ‘  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
Nov.  26 ;  the c  Lancet,’  Nov.  26 ;  ‘  Nature,’  Nov.  24;  the  ‘  Che¬ 
mical  News,’  Nov.  25;  ‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  Nov. 
24;  ‘Gardeners’  Chronicle,’  Nov.  26;  the  ‘  Grocer,’  Nov.  26; 
the  ‘English  Mechanic,’  Nov.  25;  the  ‘Produce  Markets 
Review,’  Nov.  26;  the  ‘Journal  of  Applied  Science’  for  De¬ 
cember.  The  ‘  Medical  Press  and  Circular  ’  has  not  come  to 
hand  for  two  weeks.  • 


December  10,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


4G1 


PHARMACY  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

The  following  is  a  resume  of  the  information  com¬ 
municated  by  Mr.  Robert  Howden,  at  the  Evening 
Meeting  of  the  Society  on  the  7  th  inst. : — 

This  information  was  obtained  during  a  tour  in 
which  he  visited  New  York,  Boston,  Albany,  Buffalo, 
Chicago,  Milwaulde,  Iowa,  Cincinnati.  Washington, 
Richmond,  Baltimore  and  Philadelphia.  He  pro¬ 
posed,  first,  to  give  a  description  of  a  chemist’s  shop, 
or  drug  store ;  then  to  refer  to  the  pharmacist,  his 
clerks  or  assistants,  and  their  educational  resources  ; 
and,  thirdly,  to  give  some  information  relating  to 
trade  customs. 

The  Drug  Store  is  generally  situated  at  the 
comer  of  a  street,  or  as  it  is  termed  in  America, 
the  corner  of  a  block.  It  has  externally  a  handsome 
and  commanding  appearance,  with  large  plate-glass 
windows.  On  looking  at  the  outside  from  the  street, 
it  will  be  noticed  that  it  is  well  supplied  with  blinds, 
— roller-blinds  within  and  shop-blinds  without 
stretching  over  the  pavement, — and  that  on  these 
blinds  are  inscribed  in  large  black  letters,  iced  soda- 
water,  cool  cream  soda,  polar  soda,  Saratoga  spring 
water,  congress  water,  or  Ottawa  beer.  Large 
boards  standing  on  the  pavement  under  the  stall- 
board  plate  repeat  these  announcements.  On  ap¬ 
proaching  the  window  an  English  chemist  searches 
curiously  for  large  specie  jars  emblazoned  with 
heraldic  designs,  or  huge  show-bottles  filled  wdtli 
many  gallons  of  coloured  waters.  He  will  look  in 
vain  for  these,  as  well  as  for  framed  glass  tablets  re¬ 
lating  to  pharmaceutical  membership  and  to  care¬ 
fully-dispensed  prescriptions.  But  he  will  see  on 
the  floor  of  the  window,  without  any  inclosure,  a 
few  toilet  bottles,  not  always  in  pairs ;  large  bottles 
of  popular  proprietary  medicines  in  faded  showy 
wrappers,  with  framed  show-cards  printed  in  co¬ 
loured  type  explaining  their  merits ;  some  French 
essences  ;  twro  or  three  stray  smelling-bottles,  sup¬ 
ported  by  many  empty  eau  de  Cologne  boxes :  the 
whole  covered  with  3rellowr  gauze  to  keep  off  the  flies. 
Here  it  may  be  observed  that  the  American  shop¬ 
keeper,  or  merchant  as  he  prefers  to  call  himself, 
knows  little  of  the  art  of  displaying  goods  attractively 
in  his  shop  window  ;  it  is  a  method  of  gaining  cus¬ 
tom  altogether  unpractised.  The  display  is  within. 
It  is  there  the  public  are  desired  to  see  and  ex¬ 
amine,  and  this  custom  is  promoted  by  leaving  the 
shop  window  bare  of  goods,  and  exposing  the  inte¬ 
rior  of  the  store  as  much  as  possible  to  the  throng  of 
passengers. 

On  entering  our  typical  drug  store,  one  is  struck 
at  once  by  its  size  and  its  whiteness.  It  is  much 
larger  than  chemists’  shops  at  home,  often  twelve 
feet  high  and  more  than  fifty  feet  deep.  The  floor 
is  of  white  marble,  the  counters  of  the  same  material 
or  painted  in  imitation  of  it,  and  the  ceilings  not 
whitewashed  but  delicately  coloured  in  panels. 
Against  the  walls  behind  the  counters  are  the  fix¬ 
tures  and  shelves  that  give  the  character  to  the 
store.  These  begin  with  drawers  like  our  own,  but 
from  them  rise  at  intervals  of  about  four  feet  from 
each  other  handsomely-carved  pilasters,  their  tops 
united  by  a  continued  massive  cornice.  The  walls 
are  thus  divided  into  recesses : — The  first  and  all 
alternate  recesses  contain  shelves  and  bottles,  those 
intervening  are  hung  with  plate-glass  doors  making 
Third  Series,  No.  24. 


glass  cases,  wherein  are  shown  proprietary  medi¬ 
cines  in  pint  and  quart  bottles.  It  is  not  generally 
considered  of  importance  that  the  shop  bottles  should 
be  very  near  each  other,  or  that  they  should  be  quite 
filled.  In  wrell- conducted  pharmacies,  boldly-labelled 
three -pint  bottles  may  often  be  seen  with  but  half  a 
pint  or  a  pint  of  tincture  in  them, — a  surprising 
custom  with  spirits  of  wine  costing  only  seven  shil¬ 
lings  a  gallon  !  In  the  upper  part  of  these  shelved 
alcoves  are  occasionally  to  be  seen  imposing  busts  ef 
scientific  or  classical  demi-gods  larger  than  life,  who 
look  down  with  dignified  and  calm  approval  on  the 
useful  labours  belowr. 

The  first  object  that  attracts  attention  upon  enter¬ 
ing  a  store  is  an  imposing  soda-water  apparatus, 
built  of  coloured  marbles  and  bristling  with  silver 
taps.  The  counters  beyond,  except  at  the  farthest 
end  where  a  space  is  reserved  for  dispensing,  are 
completely  covered  with  deep  glass  cases,  often 
eighteen  inches  high.  These  glass  cases  contain  a 
profusion  of  miscellaneous  goods,  hair-bruslies, 
sponges,  Paris  perfumery,  English  toilet  soaps, 
leather  purses,  union  smelling-bottles  with  gilt  caps, 
cigar  cases,  wickered  bottles,  foreign  proprietary  me¬ 
dicines  and  specialities  of  the  house. 

The  arrangements  for  dispensing  are,  with  a  few 
allowTances,  similar  to  our  own ;  as  are  the  graduated 
measures,  pestles  and  mortars  and  palette  knives. 
The  dispensing  scales  are  of  the  finest  workman¬ 
ship,  very  superior  to  ours,  being  costly  and  delicate 
balances,  sometimes  with  plated  silver  beams,  in¬ 
closed  in  square  glass  cases  having  a  lifting  sash, 
and  forming  a  conspicuous  object  at  the  dispensing 
counter. 

The  American  pharmacist  is  at  present  a  self-edu¬ 
cated  man ;  he  is  very  intelligent,  and  extremely 
well-informed  in  all  matters  relating  to  his  profes¬ 
sion.  His  assistants,  who  are  called  clerks,  have 
their  ranks  recruited  not  by  apprentices,  a  term 
never  used  in  most  of  the  States,  but  from  the  hired 
boys.  A  lad  of  the  age  of  sixteen  will  enter  the 
service  of  a  pharmacist.  He  takes  with  him  no  pre¬ 
mium,  but  immediately  receives  wrages,  and  in  return 
sweeps  the  shop,  dusts  the  bottles,  cleans  measures, 
mortars  and  windows,  takes  out  medicines,  cuts  labels 
and  serves  soda  water.  After  the  second  year  of 
“  rudiments,”  he  is  encouraged  to  read  the  United 
States  Dispensatory,  corresponding  to  our  Pharma¬ 
copoeia,  and  other  standard  works,  is  placed  behind 
the  retail  counter  where  he  learns  the  art  of  “  serv¬ 
ing,”  and  by  degrees,  from  the  chief  clerk,  the  higher 
art  of  “  dispensing.”  If  the  store  is  within  reach  of 
any  school  of  pharmacy,  the  lad  attends  the  instruc¬ 
tion  and  lectures  there  delivered  at  the  cost  of  his 
employer. 

This,  it  is  contended,  is  a  preferable  method  of 
making  pharmacists  to  the  English  one  of  appren¬ 
ticeships.  Over  and  over  again  wras  it  said,  “I 
would  never  have  any  one  in  my  employ  I  could  not 
discharge.”  Incompetent  persons  are  summarily  dis¬ 
missed,  the  trade  relieved  from  their  dead  weight, 
and  the  capable  and  intelligent  candidates  only  suf¬ 
fered  to  remain.  These  candidates,  it  must  never  be 
forgotten,  have  previously  had  the  inestimable  ad¬ 
vantage  of  a  good  education  provided  for  them  by 
the  State  free  of  all  charge  to  their  parents.  Tliis 
system  is  thoroughly  republican ;  a  boy  or  a  man, 
of  never  so  humble  an  origin,  may  advance  if  lie 
will.  The  road  upward  is  broad,  open  and  direct ; 
made  easy  to  travel,  and  maintained  by  all  statute 


462 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  10,  1870 . 


law,  by  all  social  law,  and  by  tlie  enthusiastic  appro¬ 
bation  of  every  citizen. 

No  adequate  educational  instruction  is  at  present 
available  for  the  young  American  student  in  phar¬ 
macy.  He  must  teach  himself.  There  are,  how¬ 
ever,  noble  exceptions  at  Philadelphia  (of  a  high 
order),  at  New  York,  Baltimore,  Boston,  Chicago, 
St.  Louis  and  San  Francisco,  where  lectures  are 
delivered  during  the  winter  evenings  on  materia  me- 
dica,  chemistry  and  practical  pharmacy,  examina¬ 
tions  held  and  diplomas  conferred.  In  every  in¬ 
stance,  except  the  city  of  Baltimore,  the  attendance 
is  entirely  voluntary.  There  are  no  classes  for 
teaching  Latin,  a  knowledge  of  that  language  being 
considered  unnecessary,  as  physicians  now  write 
their  “  directions  ”  in  English. 

Of  trade  customs,  the  most  important  is  that  the 
whole  of  the  medicines  prescribed  by  the  medical 
profession  are  supplied  entirely  by  the  pharmacists. 
No  physician,  the  generic  term  for  the  whole  body 
of  medical  practitioners,  sends  out  his  own  medi¬ 
cines.  He  invariably  writes  prescriptions.  On  the 
other  hand,  no  pharmacist  prescribes.  He  carefully 
and  scrupulously  abstains  from  doing  so.  And  this 
is  the  universal  and  national  custom  in  all  the  States, 
with  few  and  rare  exceptions  on  the  part  of  depraved 
members  in  either  profession.  The  effect  on  the 
welfare  of  pharmacy  is  manifest ;  a  very  large  num¬ 
ber  of  stores,  even  in  country  towns,  dispense  thirty 
prescriptions  in  a  day ;  and  in  the  cities  some  thirty, 
others  fifty,  a  hundred,  and  even  a  hundred  and 
fifty.  The  physician  is  very  jealous  of  his  preroga¬ 
tive,  and  will  occasionally  endeavour  to  prevent  a 
pharmacist  repeating  a  prescription  unless  a  second 
fee  has  been  received  by  him.  That  a  copy  should 
be  given  for  the  use  of  the  patient’s  Mends,  he  re¬ 
gards  as  an  outrage.  No  prescriptions  are  returned 
to  the  patient,  but  are  preserved  pasted  in  a  book,  by 
the  chemist  who  first  dispenses  them.  The  physi¬ 
cian’s  fee  is  generally  twenty  sliillings  for  a  first 
consultation  and  eight  sliillings  for  every  subsequent 
one ;  lower  fees  are  taken  from  the  less  affluent 
classes.  The  pharmacist  generally  charges  about 
sixpence  an  ounce  for  medicines,  that  is,  three 
shillings  for  a  six-ounce  mixture. 

The  next  important  custom  is  that  pharmacy  is  a 
free  trade  all  over  the  United  States  for  any  one  who 
chooses  to  enter  its  ranks.  Any  person  may  open  a 
drug  store  anywhere,  and  boldly  write  over  it  phar¬ 
macist  or  apothecary.  Although  this  state  of  tilings 
is  greatly  deplored  by  every  respectable  pharmacist, 
at  present  it  is  the  law,  with  the  exception  of  the 
city  of  Baltimore,  and  in  a  modified  degree  of  one  or 
two  States ;  the  only  condition  required  by  the  Go¬ 
vernment  being  one  it  never  suffers  to  be  neglected, 
— that  of  taking  out  a  licence.  This  is  done  at  an 
annual  charge  of  two  pounds.  If  tobacco  is  sold, 
another  licence  is  required,  at  the  cost  of  one  pound ; 
and  if  spirits  of  wine  and  intoxicating  beverages  are 
dealt  in,  a  further  licence  is  necessary,  at  the  cost  of 
five  pounds.  All  pharmacists  take  out  an  apothe¬ 
cary  s  and  a  spirit  licence,  and  many  a  tobacco 
licence,  thus  paying  to  the  State  annually  eight 
pounds. 

_  Throughout  the  United  States  everything  is  of  a 
high  money  value, — according  to  the  common  phrase, 
“doubled  since  the  war.”  The  rents  paid  by  pharma¬ 
cists  form  no  exception  to  tliis  law.  In  a  rising  country 
town  L'l  00  a  year  is  a  moderate  rental,  in  the  inferior 
and  third-rate  streets  in  the  cities  about  the  same. 


In  the  second-best  streets  £200  and  £300  are  paid  in 
very  numerous  instances.  In  the  leading  thorough¬ 
fares  of  the  chief  cities,  as  New  York,  Boston  and 
Chicago,  the  rents  are  commonly  1:5 00,  and  in  the 
very  best  situations  £?50,  £1000  and  even  more  per 
annum.  For  these  enormous  rentals  the  landlord 
only  lets  the  shops  with  the  basement,  and  is  most 
unwilling  to  grant  a  lease.  The  rents  paid  by  public 
companies,  firms  and  particularly  by  drapers,  are 
greatly  in  advance  of  these  sums. 

When  “  everything  is  dear”  it  follows  that  wages 
and  salaries  must  be  high.  A  boy  on  first  entering 
a  drug  store  receives  about  eight  shillings  a  week, 
advancing  as  he  improves  to  twelve  and  sixteen.  On 
becoming  a  clerk  he  receives  at  first  £ 00,  then  £80, 
then  <£100  a  year.  When  cliief  clerk  £140  to  <£200, 
and  in  rare  cases  <£250.  In  every  case  he  has  to 
provide  his  own  board  and  lodging  ;  for  no  pharma¬ 
cist  lives  at  his  place  of  business,  or  supplies  meals 
to  those  in  his  service. 

The  hours  of  business  are  very  long  all  over  the 
Union,  generally  from  7  a.m.  to  11  p.m.  There  are 
some  cities  where  they  are  from  G  a.m.  to  midnight, 
every  pharmacist  in  these  cities,  without  exception, 
observing  them.  An  inscription  over  one  drug  store 
announced,  “  This  Pharmacy  open  night  and  day.” 
All  chemists’  shops  are  open  all  day  on  Sunday 
everywhere.  Very  few  shutters  are  used ;  the  inside 
roller  blind  is  drawn  down  to  shut  a  store,  and 
drawn  up  to  open  it.  Gas  is  subjected  to  a  tax  by 
Government,  and  is  therefore  exceptionally  dear, 
costing  in  different  cities  from  nine  shillings  to 
fourteen  shillings  per  thousand  feet. 

With  heavy  charges  to  defray,  the  returns  of  a 
pharmacist’s  business  are  necessarily  large.  During 
the  summer  months  heavy  sums  are  taken  for  iced 
soda-wat3r  and  other  gaseous  beverages.  In  the 
West,  in  one  moderately- sized  city,  several  pharma¬ 
cists  will  take  each  £8  a  day  for  draughts  of  soda- 
water  and  fruit  beverages,  of  wliicli  £5  will  be  taken 
in  the  evening.  In  the  cities  this  sum  is  exceeded. 
There  is  one  apparatus  in  the  very  best  situation  in 
Boston  that  is  well-known  to  return  £40  a  day 
during  hot  weather. 

The  general  results  of  pharmaceutical  trading  are 
very  high ;  £2000  a  year  is  a  moderate  annual  re¬ 
turn.  Many  stores  return  £6000  per  annum,  and 
in  every  large  city  there  is  at  least  one,  if  not  two, 
pharmacists  whose  returns  are  £12,000  a  year. 

The  art  of  skilfully  preparing  medicines,  whereby 
they  become  less  nauseous  in  taste,  more  easily  di¬ 
gestible,  or  more  permanent  and  convenient  in  form, 
is  largely  practised  under  the  name  of  “  elegant 
pharmacy.”  Combinations  attaining  any  of  these 
results  are  in  much  request,  and  are  welcomed 
eagerly  by  the  physicians,  who  continually  order 
them  in  their  prescriptions.  A  large  increase  of 
business  accrues  to  the  ingenious  pharmacist,  not 
only  from  his  own  city  and  State,  but  from  the  whole 
Union.  Orders  for  these  preparations  are  entered 
one  after  another  in  an  order  book,  from  places  as 
remote  from  the  pharmacist’s  city  as  St.  Petersburg 
and  Madrid,  Vienna  and  Paris,  Home  and  Chris¬ 
tiania  are  remote  from  London. 

In  conclusion,  Mr.  Howden  expressed  his  admira¬ 
tion  of  and  gratitude  for  the  cordial  and  generous 
welcome  extended  to  him  in  every  city  by  every  phar¬ 
macist  to  whom  he  applied.  There  was  invariably 
an  earnest  desire  to  supply  abundantly  every  land 
of  information  that  might  be  thought  interesting  to 


December  10,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


463 


the  Society  in  London.  He  found  among  the  large 
body  of  pharmacists  in  the  United  States  many  indi¬ 
viduals  eminent  for  varied  experience,  practical 
skill  and  ripened  intelligence,  whose  matured  powers, 
at  present  confined  to  the  routine  of  their  own  stores, 
might,  under  kindly  and  more  public  circumstances, 
nobly  contribute  to  the  service  and  progress  of  the 
profession  of  pharmacy. 


SP.  iETHERIS  NITROSI,  B.P.* 

BY  ALFRED  E.  TANNER. 

The  process  in  the  B.  P.  is  the  one  usually  known 
as  Redwood’s ;  it  consists  in  distilling  a  mixture  of 
rectified  spirit,  nitric  and  sulphuric  acids,  together 
with  copper  wire,  at  a  certain  temperature,  in  a 
glass  retort,  furnished  with  a  thermometer ;  and  in 
operating  on  the  Pharmacopceial  quantity,  15  fluid 
ounces  are  ordered  to  be  drawn  over,  and  this  dis¬ 
tillate  is  to  be  mixed  with  40  fluid  ounces  of  rec¬ 
tified  spirit,  or  a  sufficiency,  so  that  the  mixture  may 
correspond  to  the  tests  for  sp.  gr.  and  percentage 
of  C2H5N02,  this  latter  being  determined  by  means 
of  a  saturated  solution  of  Ca  Cl. 

Now  I  have  followed  this  process  for  the  prepara¬ 
tion  of  spiritus  setlieris  nitrosi  ever  since  the  Pharma¬ 
copoeia  was  published,  but  have  never  succeeded  in 
collecting  the  amount  of  distillate  there  ordered  ;  on 
no  occasion  have  I  been  able  to  produce  more  than 
about  11  fluid  ounces,  excepting  by  the  addition  of 
more  nitric  acid  than  the  Pharmacopoeia  allows, 
and  then  the  product  has  been  too  rich  in  nitrous 
ether. 

I  have  usually  found  this  11  fluid  ounces  of  distillate 
to  contain  50  per  cent,  of  C2H5N02 ;  that  is,  it  will 
show  a  separation  of  42  per  cent,  when  agitated  in  a 
graduated  tube  with  double  its  volume  of  saturated 
solution  of  CaCl ;  this,  then,  appears  to  contain  the 
whole  amount  of  C2H3N02  required,  viz.  about  5£ 
fluid  ounces,  or  3G'0  per  cent,  of  the  quantity  ordered 
by  the  Pharmacopoeia  to  be  drawn  over,  and  on  mix¬ 
ing  this  with  four  times  its  volume  of  rectified  spirit, 
the  mixture  corresponds  exactly  with  the  spiritus 
aetlieris  nitrosi  of  the  Pharmacopoeia,  showing  10  per 
cent,  of  C2H5N02  by  the  CaCl  test,  and  having  a 
sp.  gr.  -84(5. 

I  should  mention  that  this  11  fluid  ounces  of  dis¬ 
tillate  was  produced  within  the  limit  of  temperature 
ordered,  viz.  180°,  but  bv  increasing  the  heat  to  200° 
there  was  no  difficulty  in  distilling  about  4^  fluid 
ounces  more,  but  that  appeared  to  consist  princi¬ 
pally  of  spirit ;  it  was  not  acid  when  first  distilled, 
but  became  so  in  a  few  days.  On  the  last  occasion 
of  preparing  sp.  ietlier.  nitros.,  I  made  a  few  notes 
which  may,  perhaps,  be  interesting  to  some. 

The  quantities  operated  upon  were  those  mentioned 
in  the  B.  P.,  viz.  sp.  vini  rect.  Oj,  acid  nitric  3  fluid 
ounces,  acid  sulphuric  2  fluid  ounces,  and  copper  wire. 
These  ingredients  (with  the  exception  of  ^  fluid  ounce 
of  the  nitric  acid  which  was  set  aside  to  be  added 
subsequently),  were  put  into  a  glass  retort,  and  the 
mixture  distilled  at  a  temperature  commencing  at 
100°  and  rising  to  175°.  The  nitrous  ether  began  to 
form  at  100°,  which  is  10  degrees  lower  than  the 
point  indicated  in  the  Pharmacopoeia  :  when  the  tem¬ 
perature  had  risen  to  175°  and  about  8  fluid  ounces 


.  *  Read  at  a  Meeting  of  the  Liverpool  Chemists*  Associa¬ 
tion,  Nov.  27,  1870. 


had  passed  over,  the  boiling  ceased,  and  no  more  could 
be  distilled  without  exceeding  the  limit  of  tempera¬ 
ture,  viz.  180°;  so  the  contents  of  the  retort  were 
allowed  to  cool  somewhat,  and  the  remaining  \  fluid 
ounce  ot  nitric  acid  was  added ;  the  distillation  was 
then  continued  as  before  and  3  fluid  ounces  more 
passed  oyer,  making  together  11  fluid  ounces;  a 
fresh  receiver  was  adapted  to  the  apparatus  and  the 
contents  of  the  retort  heated  to  200° ;  the  distillate 
thus  produced  measured  41  fluid  ounces,  and  con¬ 
sisted  chiefly  of  spirit ;  it  was  nearly  neutral  to  test 
paper,  and  had  veiy  little  flavour  of  nitrous  ether, 
its  sp.  gr.  was  ’807.  I  further  distilled  the  contents 
of  the  retort  until  a  temperature  of  220°  was  shown  ; 
this  produced  about  2  fluid  ounces  more  of  a  liquid, 
chiefly  spirit  and  water,  having  a  sp.  gr.  '897,  this 
was  also  neutral,  but  had  a  disagreeable  odour.  The 
11  fluid  ounces  of  distillate  above  referred  to  was 
then  examined  and  found  to  have  a  sp.  gr.  ’881,  and 
showed  by  the  CaCl  test  a  separation  of  42'5  per 
cent.,  thus  corresponding  to  50‘5  per  cent.  C2H5N02. 
This  agrees  tolerably  well  with  the  calculated  sp.  gr. 
of  a  mixture  of  equal  parts  of  rectified  spirit  (  838) 
and  nitrous  ether  (’900),  which  gives  ‘870  as  a  mean; 
the  difference  between  these  numbers  may,  I  think, 
be  accounted  for  by  the  condensation  which  takes 
place  on  mixing. 

These  considerations,  I  think,  show  that  there  is 
more  spirit  used  in  the  first  part  of  the  process  than 
is  necessary,  or  what  amounts  to  the  same  thing, 
too  little  nitric  acid.  I  think  a  proportionate  increase 
of  nitric  acid  should  be  used,  and  the  distillate  tested 
as  to  the  amount  of  C2H5N02  it  contains,  and  if,  as 
in  the  case  just  mentioned,  it  is  found  to  contain  50 
per  cent.,  then  1  volume  mixed  with  4  volumes  of 
rectified  spirit  would  furnish  spiritus  setlieris  nitrosi 
of  the  Pharmacopoeia  strength. 

On  the  question  of  keeping  this  compound  I  re¬ 
gret  having  no  suggestion  to  offer.  It  seems  inhe¬ 
rent  in  the  nature  of  nitrous  ether,  even  when  pure, 
to  change  rapidly,  becoming  strongly  acid  after  be¬ 
ing  kept  a  few  days.  Doubtless  the  keeping  pro¬ 
perties  of  sp.  nitr.  are  in  direct  proportion  to  its 
strength  in  ether.  A  5  per  cent,  solution  is,  I  think, 
more  desirable  than  the  present  strength,  and  it 
would  approach  nearer  to  that  usually  sent  out  by  the 
wholesale  houses.  I  have  reason  to  believe  it  is 
never  sent  out  of  the  strength  ordered  in  the  B.  P. 

The  only  possible  remedy  to  prevent  this  decom¬ 
position  that  I  can  conceive  may  be  the  introduction 
of  some  other  substance  which  will  exert  a  preserva¬ 
tive  influence  over  it.  I  have  not  made  any  experi¬ 
ments  in  this  direction,  but  they  are  well  worthy  our 
attention.  Some  organic  substance,  such  as  C  H  Cl 3, 
might  possibly  be  of  use.  I  see  acetic  ether  recom¬ 
mended  in  one  of  the  American  journals  of  phar¬ 
macy,  but  can  say  nothing  of  it  from  experience. 

Before  concluding,  I  should  like  to  say  a  word  or 
two  of  a  practice  which  I  consider  highly  repre¬ 
hensible.  Most  of  the  wholesale  houses,  I  believe, 
send  out  what  they  term  solutio  retlieris  nitrosi  1  to 
7  for  the  purpose  of  making  sp.  (ether,  nit.,  and 
doubtless  the  confiding  pharmacist  considers  he  has 
got  hold  of  a  most  convenient  article  for  making  this 
otherwise  uncertain  preparation.  I  have  even  heard 
of  its  being  used  in  the  proportion  of  5j  for  every 
3j  of  spiritus  (etheris  nitrosi  ordered,  and  trusting  to 
the  other  tinctures  ordered  in  the  mixture  to  make 
the  requisite  amount  of  spirit.  I  had  occasion  the 
other  day  to  examine  a  sample  of  this  preparation 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  10,  is?a 


464 


procured  from  a  respectable  wholesale  house.  It 
was  received  in  a  stoppered  bottle  covered  with  3Tel- 
iow  paper,  on  the  label  of  which  were  the  words 
“  Solut.  setheris  nitros.  1  part  added  to  7  parts  of 
sp.  vini  rect.  (50  per  cent.)  forms  the  sp.  setlieris  ni- 
trosi  of  the  British  Pharmacopoeia.”  Thus,  its  pre¬ 
tensions  were  very  explicit  indeed,  informing  you  of 
the  strength  your  spirit  ought  to  be,  and  also  exactly 
defining  what  the  mixture  would  be  when  made. 
Now,  as  the  label  contained  no  special  precaution 
for  keeping  and  storing  this  solution,  I  was  rather 
doubtful  of  its  assertions,  for  a  solution  of  this 
strength  ought  to  contain  80  per  cent,  of  C2  H5  N  02 ; 
and  as  C2H5N  02  boils  at  about  (55°  F.,  this  solution 
must  be  very  dangerous  to  store,  especially  in  sum¬ 
mer,  and  unless  some  special  precautions  were  adopt¬ 
ed  ;  but  I  soon  found  there  were  no  fears  to  be  enter¬ 
tained  on  this  account.  The  sp.  gr.  was  found  to  be 
•857,  and  the  separation  by  the  CaCl  test  about  3  per 
cent.,  thus  corresponding  to  11  per  cent,  of  C2PI5N  02 
instead  of  80,  or  1  per  cent,  above  the  strength  of 
f-pirit  aetli.  nit.  of  the  B.  P.  Now,  as  tliis  article  is 
usually  charged  from  os.  to  Gs.  per  lb.,  you  will  see 
how  large  a  price  we  sometimes  pay  for  our  credu¬ 
lity.  We  ought  not  to  allow  ourselves  to  be  im¬ 
posed  upon  in  this  manner.  The  process  of  the 
Pharmacopoeia  is  neither  expensive  nor  difficult,  and 
I  strongly  advocate  making  this  and  other  prepara¬ 
tions  for  ourselves,  or,  when  this  is  not  practicable, 
to  subject  them  to  strict  examination  before  taking 
into  stock.  I  have  great  suspicions  of  many  of  these 
concentrated  preparations,  and  doubt  not  that  could 
they  all  be  examined  with  the  same  facility  as  this 
one,  many  would  be  found  very  deficient. 


PATENT  MEDICINE  LICENCES. 

The  amount  of  duty  received  on  these  in  1801  was 
.£5384  and  in  1809  A 6842.  The  Act  now  in  force 
concerning  them  is  the  52  George  III.  c.  150,  which, 
sifter  giving  a  schedule  of  medicines  liable  to  the  duty, 
proceeds  to  enact  generally  that  it  shall  apply  to 
“  all  other  pills,  powders,  lozenges,  tinctures,  etc.  to 
he  used  or  applied  externally  or  internally  as  medi¬ 
caments  for  the  prevention,  cure  or  relief  of  any  dis¬ 
order  or  complaint  incident  to,  or  in  anywise  affect¬ 
ing  the  human  body,  wherein  the  person  making, 
preparing,  uttering,  vending  or  exposing  the  same 
to  sale  hath,  or  claims  to  have,  any  exclusive 
right  or  title  to  the  making  or  preparing  the  same, 
or  which  now  are,  or  shall  be  prepared,  uttered, 
vended  or  exposed  to  sale  under  the  authority  of  any 
letters  patent  under  the  great  seal,  or  which  now  are 
or  shall  be  by  any  public  notice  or  advertisement,  or 
by  any  written  or  printed  papers  or  handbills,  or  by 
any  label  or  words  written  or  printed,  affixed  to  or 
delivered  with  any  packet,  box,  bottle,  phial  or  other 
enclosure  containing  the  same,  held  out  or  recom¬ 
mended  to  the  public  by  the  makers,  vendors  or  pro¬ 
prietors  thereof  as  nostrums  or  proprietary  medi¬ 
cines,  or  as  specifics,  or  as  beneficial  to  the  preven¬ 
tion  or  cure  or  relief  of  any  distemper,  malady, 
ailment,  disorder,  or  complaint  incident  to  or  in  any¬ 
wise  affecting  the  human  body.” 

Artificial  mineral  waters  were  named  among  the 
articles  included  in  the  schedule,  but  they  were  ex¬ 
empted  by  the  3  &  4  Will.  IV.  c.  97. 

The  duty  on  the  licence  is  in  London  and  Edin-  j 


burgh  A2,  in  other  cities,  boroughs  and  corporate 
towns  106*.,  and  elsewhere  os.  The  stamp  duty  on 
the  packet,  box,  etc.  in  which  the  medicines  are  sold 
is  ad  valorem ,  and  ranges  from  1  Id.  to  AT.  The 
labels  bearing  the  stamp  are  prepared  at  the  Excise 
Office,  by  an  ingenious  machine  invented  by  Con¬ 
greve,  the  proprietors  of  the  medicines  paying  for 
that  portion  of  the  die  which  contains  their  names 
and  addresses.  These  labels  are  issued  by  the  Re¬ 
gistrar  of  Licences  at  his  office. 

It  has  been  lately  found  that  imitations  of  the 
labels  are  made  in  large  quantities  on  the  Continent 
to  cover  spurious  preparations  in  foreign  markets, 
and  some  few  specimens  have  appeared  in  this  coun¬ 
try.  The  number  of  persons  who  took  out  medicine 
licences  in  1809  was  11,422  in  England  and  849  in 
Scotland.  The  increase  in  five  years  in  the  number 
of  medicine  licences  granted  has  been  1349.  The 
amount  of  duty  received  on  patent  medicines  in 
1809  was  AGO, 860,  being  almost  an  increase  of  cent, 
per  cent,  in  the  last  fifteen  years. 


THE  REACTION  OF  POTASSIC  IODIDE  WITH  THE 
OFFICINAL  TRISNITRATE  OF  BISMUTH. 

BY  W.  BATHURST  WOODMAN,  M.D.,  AND 
C.  MEYMOTT  TIDY,  M.B. 

Aii  out-patient  attending  at  the  London  Hospital  was 
taking  the  bismuth  mixture  of  its  Pharmacopoeia,  when 
it  was  thought  advisable  to  add  iodide  of  potassium  to 
the  previous  prescription.  When  she  came  the  following 
time,  she  appeared  much  alarmed  at  a  red  precipitate  in 
the  mixture,  which  she  supposed  to  be  “  red  lead  ”  pur¬ 
posely  put  in  by  some  neighbour,  the  sediment  having 
been  almost  colourless  when  she  reached  home.  As  no 
mention  is  made  in  the  ordinary  text-books  of  materia 
medica  of  the  decomposition  which  takes  place,  although 
it  is  doubtless  well  known  to  metallurgists,  it  occurred 
to  the  authors  to  examine  the  reaction  a  little  more 
closely.  The  change  takes  place  slowly,  and  appears  to 
consist  in  the  formation  of  an  iodide  of  bismuth,  potassic 
nitrate  remaining  in  solution.  This  iodide  of  bismuth  is 
a  dark-red  substance  of  cubic  form,  and  seems  to  he  a 
simple  iodide,  which  is  almost  insoluble  both  in  water 
and  in  excess  of  potassic  iodide.  Some  of  its  properties 
are  curious.  It  is  a  very  insoluble  substance ;  for,  in  ad¬ 
dition  to  what  is  mentioned  above,  we  may  add  that 
saturated  solutions  of  chloride  of  ammonium,  chloride  of 
sodium,  ferrocyanide  of  potassium,  and  corrosive  subli¬ 
mate,  do  not  dissolve  it  in  any  appreciable  proportions. 
Acetic  acid  dissolves  it  slightly,  without  effervescence. 
On  boiling  with  liquor  potassae  or  ammonia,  the  hydrated 
oxide  of  bismuth  (HBi04)  is  produced,  which  is  inso¬ 
luble  in  excess  of  either  reagent.  On  treating  this  iodide 
with  strong  nitric  acid,  there  was  active  effervescence ; 
fumes  of  iodine  being  given  off,  a  blackish,  metallic-look¬ 
ing  substance  being  left,  entirely  soluble  in  spirit,  which 
proved  to  be  pure  iodine.  Acid  nitrate  of  bismuth  re¬ 
mained  in  solution,  which  was  not  precipitated  by  a 
small  quantity  of  water,  or  until  neutralized.  With  hy¬ 
drochloric  or  sulphuric  acid  there  was  no  effervescence, 
but  iodine  was  again  precipitated  ;  with  the  latter  some 
iodic  acid  was  formed.  Oxalic  acid  also  decomposed  the 
salt,  setting  free  the  iodine  ;  the  action  being  somewhat 
slower  than  it  was  in  the  case  of  the  mineral  acids. 

A  few  trials  of  it  in  doses  of  5  to  20  grains  appear  to 
indicate  that  it  is  not  an  energetic  therapeutic  agent, 
which  is  probably  to  he  ascribed  to  its  comparative  inso¬ 
lubility. — British  Medical  Journal. 


December  io,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


465 


POISONING  BY  SNUFF  CONTAMINATED  BY 

LEAD. 

The  following  curious  case  of  lead  poisoning,  which 
has  come  under  the  notice  of  Dr.  Garrod.,  was  mentioned 
by  him  in  a  lecture  at  King’s  College  Hospital,  and  is 
reported  in  the  Lancet : — 

A  gentleman,  a  resident  in  India,  began  to  suffer  some 
time  since  from  nervous  exhaustion,  anaemia,  and  debility 
of  both  upper  extremities ;  he  was  a  great  snuff-taker, 
taking,  on  an  average,  as  much  as  an  ounce  in  the  course 
of  a  day.  He  consulted  several  medical  men  in  India, 
and  they  attributed  his  symptoms  to  inordinate  snuff¬ 
taking.  He,  however,  continued  to  take  snuff  and  to  get 
worse,  and  at  last  came  to  England  to  seek  further  ad¬ 
vice.  When  Dr.  Garrod  saw  him  ho  discovered  a  blue 
line  on  the  gums.  His  suspicions  were  directed  to  the 
snuff,  which  he  found  to  contain  a  considerable  quantity 
of  lead.  To  ascertain  whether  or  not  the  presence  of 
lead  in  this  specimen  was  an  accidental  circumstance,  six 
packets  were  ordered  from  the  house  in  Calcutta  with 
which  the  gentleman  had  been  in  the  habit  of  dealing. 
The  snuff  was  contained  in  sheet-lead  packages,  which 
were  all  found  to  contain  lead  to  about  the  same  extent 
as  the  first  specimen.  Dr.  Garrod  exhibited  a  solution 
which  he  had  tested  in  the  following  way  :  Ten  grains 
of  snuff  were  burned  in  a  platinum  capsule,  and  the  ash 
was  treated  with  nitric  acid  ;  the  crystallized  result  was 
dissolved  in  distilled  water,,  with  the  addition  of  a  small 
quantity  of  acetic  acid,  and  then  tested  with  iodide  of 
potassium,  which  threw  down  an  abundant  precipitate  of 
yellow  iodide  of  lead.  The  leaden  packages  were  labelled 
“best  brown  rappee,”  and  bore  the  name  of  a  well- 
known  English  firm,  from  which  they  had  been  exported 
to  India.  The  snuff  itself  was  rather  moist.  Where  it 
adhered  to  the  sides  of  the  case,  it  was  dotted  with  white 
spots,  probably  consisting  of  carbonate  of  lead,  formed, 
Dr.  Garrod  suggests,  by  the  fermentation  of  the  damp 
snuff.  Since  Dr.  Garrod’ s  attention  has  been  directed  to 
this  subject,  he  has  spoken  to  a  medical  man  recently  re¬ 
turned  from  Calcutta,  who  told  him  that  he  had  quite 
lately  met  with  three  cases  of  lead -poisoning,  which  on 
investigation  were  found  to  be  due  to  the  use  of  snuff. 


Sulphurous  Acid. — The  value  of  sulphurous  acid 
gas  as  a  disinfectant  has  been  established  by  many  and 
crucial  experiments,  and  is  generally  admitted.  This 
agent  is  specially  recommended  by  medical  officers  of 
health.  There  is  a  want  of  convenient  methods  of  apply¬ 
ing  it,  and  especially  of  applying  it  in  a  limited  space 
and  to  a  definite  and  measured  degree.  Mr.  John  Gamgee 
has  called  attention  to  the  convenience  of  employing  it 
as  disengaged  from  an  alcoholic  solution.  Cold  alcohol 
will,  lie  states,  take  up  throe  hundred  time3  its  bulk 
of  sulphurous  acid  gas.  Where,  for  example,  it  is  de¬ 
sired  to  saturate  a  box  of  clothing  with  this  gas,  it  is 
sufficient  to  drop  a  certain  quantity  of  its  saturated  solu¬ 
tion  of  alcohol  into  the  floor  of  the  box,  and  a  large  de¬ 
finite  quantity  is  set  free  by  the  evaporation.  The  sug¬ 
gestion  is  one  of  importance,  and  seems  to  us  worthy  of 
attention.  The  solution  of  sulphurous  acid  in  alcohol 
could  easily,  and  probably  with  advantage,  become  a 
general  article  of  pharmaceutical  commerce  for  medical 
and  sanitary  use. — British  Medical  Journal. 

Baths  for  University  College  Hospital. — A  com¬ 
plete  set  of  ordinary  and  medicinal  baths,  the  first  in 
connection  with  any  London  hospital,  is  about  to  be 
erected  at  University  College  Hospital.  The  expense  wall 
be  about  £1300,  of  which  sum  £1100  has  been  collected 
through  the  energy  of  Dr.  Tilbury  Fox,  the  Physician 
to  the  Skin  Department.  The  general  bath-hall  will  be 
30  feet  by  23  feet,  and  have  attached  to  it  a  dressing- 
platform  15  feet  by  10  feet,  and  a  Turkish  bath  10  feet 
by  7  feet,  into  which  both  hot  air  and  steam  will  be  ad¬ 
missible.  The  hall  itself  will  be  fitted  with  four  or  five 
ordinary  baths — hip,  sit,  and  others — and  also  a  large 


needle-bath  and  apparatus  for  douche  and  shower  appli¬ 
cations.  In  this  part  will  also  be  the  alkaline  and  acid 
baths.  Entirely  separated  by  a  lobby  and  anteroom, 
and  having  a  distinct  entrance,  will  be  the  chamber,  15 
feet  by  11  feet,  in  which  patients  affected  with  conta¬ 
gious  skin  complaints  and  syphilitic  eruptions  are  to  be 
fumigated  or  otherwise  treated, — the  fumes  from  the 
iodine,  sulphur,  and  mercurial  medications  here  given, 
being  carried  away  by  a  special  pipe  to  the  top  of  the 
hospital  building.  Patients  suffering  from  contagious 
complaints  will  be  kept  entirely  away  from  the  place  in 
which  the  simpler  baths  are  given.  Adjoining  this  part 
of  the  baths  will  be  a  large  chamber,  7  feet  by  5  feet,  for 
disinfecting*  by  a  strong  heat  the  clothes  of  such  patients 
as  are  suffering  from  phtheiriasis. 

Artificial  Ice. — We  learn  from  the  Mew  York  Time x 
that  an  ice  machine,  constructed  on  Tellier’s  principle,  is 
now  being  exhibited  in  the  United  States.  The  material 
used  is  gaseous  ammonia,  which  is  liquefied  by  pressure. 
It  is  said,  that  the  machine  will  make  one  hundred  tons 
a  day,  at  a  cost  of  four  or  five  shillings  per  ton  ;  and  that 
the  ice  made  by  it  is  transparent  and  durable.  The 
cooling  effect  of  the  vaporization  of  liquefied  ammonia; 
may  be  applied  to  chambers  containing  articles  of  food 
to  be  preserved,  or  refrigerators  might  be  constructed  on. 
any  scale.  The  holds  of  ships  coidd  thus  be  converted 
into  refrigerating  chambers  with  the  greatest  ease,  offer¬ 
ing  a  ready  means  for  the  conveyance  of  meat  from  ona 
port  to  another  in  a  wholesome  state. 

Epsom  Salts. — In  reply  to  a  query  propounded  by 
the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association,  as  to  the  best, 
method  for  disguising  the  taste  of  Epsom  Salt,  Mr.  J.  W, 
Smith,  of  Nashville,  suggests  the  following  : — • 

p.  Liquorice  Root  (deprived  of  the  outer  bark),  4  02- 
Boiling  water,  2  pints,  or  a  sufficiency. 

Mix  and  allow  to  strain,  with  occasional  stirring  until 
cold ;  express  through  muslin,  adding  more  water,  if  ne¬ 
cessary,  until  the  residue  in  the  strainer  is  tasteless; 
then  filter  and  to  the  filtrate  add  4  oz.  of  sulphate  of 
magnesia.  Finally  evaporate  to  dryness  over  a  water 
bath.  Each  ounce  of  the  compound  represents  about 
one  ounce  of  the  crystallized  salt. — Revie  w  of  Pharmacy. 

A  Pleasant  Remedy  for  Sea-Sickness.— There 
have  been  many  suggestions  made  as  to  the  prevention 
of  sea-sickness,  none  of  which  have,  to  say  the  least,  been 
found  completely  successful  in  practice.  The  introduc¬ 
tion  into  practice  of  hydrate  of  chloral,  which  produces 
with  certainty  sleep  for  a  definite  number  of  hours,  has 
suggested  a  means  of  escaping  the  horrors  of  a  short  sea- 
passage  at  least,  and  possibly  of  mitigating  the  mort 
prolonged  horrors  of  sea-sickness.  To  go  asleep  at  Dover, 
and  wake  to  find  oneself  at  Calais,  is  a  plan  which,  fail¬ 
ing  other  expedients,  has  in  it  much  promise.  An  ordi¬ 
nary  dose  of  hydrate  of  chloral  produces  sleep  usually 
in  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  and  with  almost  unfailing  cer¬ 
tainty.  Some  cases  just  published  by  Dr.  Doring,  of 
Vienna,  seem  to  show  that  the  value  of  hydrate  of  chlo¬ 
ral  to  obviate  sea-sickness  is  very  great.  It  produces 
quiet  and  prolonged  sleep.  In  all  the  instances  recorded, 
it  seems  to  have  been  of  great  value  even  during  pro¬ 
longed  sea- voyages,  giving  a  good  night’s  rest,  arresting 
violent  sickness  when  it  had  set  in,  and  stopping  the 
tendency  to  its  recurrence. — British  Medical  Journal. 

Explosion  of  an  Ammonia  Still. — An  explosion 
of  an  ammonia  still  took  place  last  week  at  Mr.  J. 
Barrow’s  chemical  werks.  West  Gorton,  Manchester, 
doing*  serious  injury  to  throe  workmen.  The  still,  which 
was  made  of  iron,  boiler  form,  and  about  seven,  inches 
diameter,  was  blown  over  a  cottage  three  storeys  high 
into  a  pool  of  water,  about  eighty  yards  distant.  The 
three  injured  men  were  taken  to  the  Manchester  In¬ 
firmary,  one  of  them  having  had  his  skull  fractured. 
standard. 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  10,  1670. 


40G 


Carious  Teeth. — M.  Magilot  recommends  the  fol¬ 
lowing  preparation  for  carious  teeth  : — 

Chloroform .  5  parts. 

Laudanum .  2  „ 

Tincture  of  Benzoin .  10  ,, 

Cotton  wool  saturated  with  this  to  he  inserted  in  the 
cavity,  and  renewed  until  insensibility  of  the  part  is  pro¬ 
duced. — Revue  Medicate. 

[***  Where  the  nerve  of  the  tooth  is  exposed,  a  most 
efficient  remedy  will  he  found  in  the  careful  application 
of  a  very  small  portion  of  carbolic  acid  to  the  inside  of 
the  tooth. — Ed.  Ph.  J.] 

A  Phase  of  Pharmacy  in  America. — The  follow¬ 
ing  advertisement  appears  in  the  Canadian  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Journal : — “The  United  Society  of  Shakers,  New 
Lebanon,  New  York,  prepare  every  description  of  vege¬ 
table  medicines  of  superior  quality,  including  roots, 
barks,  herbs,  etc.,  packed;  alcoholic  extracts,  solid;  al¬ 
coholic  extracts,  fluid ;  aqueous  extracts,  solid ;  powdered 
drugs ;  powdered  sweet  herbs.  In  ordering  goods  from 
wholesale  houses  order  Shaker  Herbs,  to  secure  satis¬ 
faction.” 

Cinchona  Cultivation  in  Java. — In  ‘Flora,’  for 
October  10th,  is  a  communication  from  Professor  Hasskarl 
on  the  cultivation  of  the  cinchona  in  Java.  He  reports 
that  the  weather  has  been  on  the  whole  favourable,  and 
the  growth  of  the  plants  leaves  nothing  to  be  desired. 
The  total  numbers  of  plants  grown  from  seeds  and  layers 
is  1,520,516;  of  which  1,100,983  are  C.  Calisaya ,  next  in 
number  come  C.  officinalis  and  succirubra ,  etc.,  very  few 
C.  lancifolia  and  micrantha.  In  addition  to  these,  there 
.ore  870,599  transplanted  plants,  giving  in  the  gross  total 
an  increase  of  197,699  plants  since  the  commencement  of 
the  year.  460  kilograms  of  the  bark  were  sent  to  Hol¬ 
land  in  December,  1869,  and  wrere  sold  at  from  2  to  3 
florins  per  kilogram  ;  900  kilograms  have  since  been 
exported,  and  more  than  1000  are  now  ready.  The  total 
produce  for  1870  will  probably  be  4000  kilograms  of  dry 
bark  for  exportation,  besides  some  hundreds  for  use  in  the 
island.  The  stripping,  cutting,  drying,  sorting,  and 
packing  are  already  becoming  a  considerable  industry  in 
the  island. 

The  importation  here  referred  to  is  the  same  as  that 
mentioned  in  Mr.  Howard’s  paper  last  week.  There  is  no¬ 
thing  here  to  contravene  the  result  arrived  at  by  Mr.  Howard, 
that  the  cultivation  in  Java  fails  to  produce  bark  suited  for 
manufacturing  purposes.  The  why  and  wherefore  of  this 
remains  to  be  discovered. — Ed.  Ph.  J.] 


DRUG  MARKET  NOTES. 

Although  no  very  complete  details  are  kept  of  the 
commerce  in  drugs,  yet  the  Board  of  Trade  returns 
furnish  us  with  the  approximate  particulars  of  all 
the  most  important,  and  under  the  subordinate  head 
of  “  other  articles,”  some  of  the  minor  trade  products 
(in  the  quantity  point  of  view)  are  given.  The 
“  annual  statement  of  the  trade  and  navigation  of 
the  United  Kingdom  with  foreign  countries  and 
British  possessions  for  1869”  just  issued,  enables  us 
to  make  a  cursory  examination  of  the  quantities  im¬ 
ported  of  the  principal  articles ;  but  to  make  any 
useful  comparisons,  the  re-exports,  stocks,  and  cur¬ 
rent  wholesale  prices,  "would  have  to  be  given.  The 
following  statistical  notes  may,  however,  prove  use¬ 
ful.  Glancing  at  the  principal  articles  for  the  last 
live  years,  we  find  that  of — 

Arrowroot. — The  exports  have  averaged  about 
22,000  cwt.*;  in  1836  they  reached  32,000  cwt. 

Cinchona  Baric. — The  average  imports  are  from 
9000  to  15,500  cwt.;  in  1869  they  were  11,232  cwt. 


Camphor. — The  imports  fluctuate  greatly ;  in  1865 
the}'"  were  10,755  cwt. ;  in  the  next  three  years  they 
ranged  from  7100  to  3700  cwt.,  whilst  in  1869  they 
reached  17,480. 

Galls. — The  imports  of  nut  galls  have  been  steadily 
increasing  from  15,964  cwt.  to  25,842  in  1868,  and 
21,040  in  1869. 

Gum  Arabic. — In  tills  gum  there  has  been  a  steady 
increase  from  46,032  cwt.  in  1865  to  67,989  cwt.  in 
1869. 

Isinglass. — The  average  imports  have  been  about 
3000  cwt.,  the  figures  in  1869  being  3287  cwt. 

Liquorice  Juice  and  Paste. — There  has  been  lately 
a  gradual  increase  from  27,286  cwt.  in  1865  to  37,208 
in  1869. 

Opium. — The  imports  have  fluctuated  greatly  ;  in 
1865  they  were  401,571  lbs.,  in  1866,  198,223  lbs.,  in 
1867,  273,522  lbs.,  in  1868,  322,309  lbs,  and  in  1869r 
219,495  lbs. 

Rhubarb. — Of  late  the  imports  have  been  rising. 
In  1865  they  were  129,967  lbs.,  then  they  touched 
383,821  lbs.  in  1866,  and  have  since  varied  from 
227,663  lbs.  in  1867  to  358,613  lbs.  in  1868,  and 
270,627  lbs.  in  1869. 

Oils. — The  quantity  of  Castor  oil  has  more  than 
doubled  in  the  five  years,  having  risen  from  20,163 
cwt.  in  1865  to  50,426  cwt.  in  1869.  Essential  and 
perfumed  oils  nearly  average  500,000  lbs.  per  annum; 
one-fourtli  of  these  come  from  Sicily,  about  half  from 
India,  China,  and  Ceylon.  Of  Cod-liver  oil  we  im¬ 
ported  last  year  more  than  1000  tuns,  but  only  a 
portion  of  this  was  for  medicinal  use. 

Of  Balsams,  the  imports  last  year  of  Copaiva  were 
171,084  lbs.,  of  Peru,  39,153  lbs.,  and  of  unenume¬ 
rated  balsams  13,085. 

Cantharides. — Imported  in  1869,  14,785  lbs. 

Cardamoms. — 85,512  lbs. 

Cassia  Fistula. — 35,882  lbs. 

Castoreum. — 5063  lbs. 

Cocculus  Indicus. — 825  cwt. 

Collodion. — 90  gallons. 

Cubebs. — 23,649  lbs. 

Ether. — 2295  gallons. 

Gamboge. — 481  cwt. 

Gentian. — 100  tons. 

Guinea  grains,  or  grains  of  Paradise. — 2051  cwt. 

Gum  Eupliorbium. — 138  cwt. 

Jalap. — 73,346  lbs. 

Lemon  and  Lime  Juice. — 289,916  gallons. 

Leeches,  to  the  value  of  £7 067. 

Liquorice  powder,  29  cwt.,  and  of  root,  909  cwt. 

Manna. — 23,911  lbs. 

Mineral  water. — 145,326  gallons. 

Musk. — 23,477  ounces. 

Myrrh. — 535  cwt. 

Nux  Vomica. — 3899  cwt. 

Olibanum. — 11,753  cwt. 

Pink  root. — 126  lbs. 

Pomatum. — 31,848  lbs. 

Quassia. — 4442  cwt. 

Quinine,  sulphate  of. — 62,086  oz. 

Sarsaparilla. — 306,777  lbs. 

Sassafras. — 132  cwt. 

Croton  seed. — 222  quarters. 

Seneka  root. — 9395  lbs. 

Senna. — 756,956  lbs. 

Sulphuric  acid. — 19,997  lbs. 

Tartaric  acid. — 388,523  lbs. 

Tragacantli. — 1525  cwt. 


December  10,  1370.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


407 


Cbc  pjaniutmitical  |ourn;tl. 

- ♦ - 

SATURDAY,  DECEMBER  10,  1870. 


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

Instructions  from  Members  and  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Brem- 
ridge,  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury  Sqtiare,  W.C. 

Advertisements  to  3Iessrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W.  Envelopes  endorsed  “  Bharm.  Journ.” 


DRUGGISTS’  CHARGES. 

"We  acknowledge  with  much  pleasure  the  assurance 
given  in  the  following  note,  appended  to  the  letter 
.addressed  to  the  Editor  of  the  Lancet  last  week,  in 
reference  to  a  letter  published  in  that  Journal : — 

“  We  would  courteously  request  the  Editor  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Journal  again  to  refer  to  the  Lancet 
•of  the  19th  November,  where  he  will  find  that  our  cor¬ 
respondent  makes  no  attack  whatever  upon  druggists  as 
a  class,  but  merely  relates  a  fact  regarding  the  conduct 
of  an  individual. — Ed.  L.” 

We  hope  that  the  daily  papers  which  also  put  for¬ 
ward  this  statement  regarding  the  conduct  of  an 
Individual  as  a  sensational  illustration  of  the  extor¬ 


tionate  character  of  “  Druggists  and  their  Charges,” 
will  in  like  manner  have  the  fairness  to  administer 
an  antidote  to  the  poison  they  have  supplied — no 
doubt  unconsciously — to  the  public  mind,  and  we 
trust  to  receive  from  our  medical  contemporary  a 
statement  of  the  name  and  address  of  the  individual 
dispenser  referred  to,  as  well  as  a  copy  of  the  pre¬ 
scription  on  which  the  alleged  overcharge  was  made. 

A  propos  of  this  subject,  it  so  happens  that  in  the 
medical  journals  of  last  week,  charges  for  medicine 
are  discussed  at  some  length — not  druggists’  charges, 
however,  but  those  of  medical  men.  A  correspondent 
of  the  Medical  Times  and  Gazette  submits  a  system 
of  charges  specially  adapted,  as  he  thinks,  for  the 
general  practitioner  in  the  country,  and  he  gives  the 
following  rate  of  charge  for  medicine  supplied : — 


V 

V 


'‘Mixtures  for  adults,  3yj  (6  doses)  . 

gviij  (8  doses)  . 
*xij  (12  doses)  . 
„  gxvj  (16  doses) 
children  up  to  3vj  •  • 

lotions  of  similar  size 
would  be  similarly  priced. 

Pills  .  .  .  from  1  to  6 

.  12 


Gargles 


and 


from  1  to 
6 

each 


s. 

1 

1 

2 

2 

1 


d. 

0 

6 

0 

6 

0 


0 

1 

0 

1 

0 


6 

0 

6 

0 

6 


Powders  . 

55 

Draughts  . 

Blisters  and  plasters,  65.  to  Is.,  or  more, 
according  to  size. 

Ointments  to  3j,  6tf. ;  3lj>  D.” 


He  then  adds : — 

“  Although  it  may  sound  paradoxical,  in  a  certain  sense 
Hiis  is  the  basis  of  the  system  ;  for  the  prices  of  medi¬ 


cines  should  be  the  same  for  all  classes  of  private  patients. 
They  should  he  much  what  the  patient  would  pay  at  an 
ordinary  druggist’s ;  for  the  doctor,  be  it  remembered,  is 
his  own  druggist.” 

Again,  in  the  Journal  of  the  British  Medical  Asso¬ 
ciation  we  find  a  document  emanating  from  the 
Shropshire  Ethical  Branch,  recommending  a  tariff 
of  medical  fees,  and  among  other  things  provided  for 
are  medicines,  the  charges  being  regulated  for  three 
different  classes  of  patients,  as  follows  : — 

“Mixtures,  3x1]. — I.  3s.  6 d.  to  -is.  6d. ;  II.  4s.  to  4 s.Gd.; 
III.  4s.  to  5s. 

„  5viij. — I.  2s.  Gd.  to  3s.  Gd. ;  II.  3s.  to  3s.  6d.  ; 

III.  3s.  Gd. 

„  giv. — I.  Is.  Gd.  to  2s. ;  II.  2s.  to  2s.  Gd. ;  III. 

2s.  Gd. 

Draught,  ^iss. — I.  Is.  to  Is.  6f7. ;  II.  Is.  Gd. ;  III.  Is.  Gd. 
to  2s.  Gd. 

When  two  or  more  are  sent,  a  moderate  de¬ 
crease  in  the  charge  should  be  made. 

Drops,  -iss  to  ^ij. — I.  Is.  Gd. ;  II.  Is.  Gd.  to  2s.  ;  III.  2s. 
to  2s.  Gd. 

Pills,  xij. — I.  Is.  Gd. ;  II.  Is.  Gd.  to  2s.  ;  III.  2s.  to 
2s.  Gd. 

„  vj. — I.  Is. ;  II.  Is.  to  Is.  Gd. ;  III.  Is.  Gd.  to  2s. 

,,  ij. — I.  Gd.  to  Is. ;  II.  Is.  ;  III.  Is. 

Powders,  vj. — I.  Is.  Gd. ;  II.  Is.  Gd.  to  2s. ;  III.  2s.  to 
2s.  Gd. 

„  iv.— I.  Is.  to  Is.  Gd. ;  II.  Is.  Gd.  to  2s. ;  III.  2s. 

„  i. — I.  Gd.  to  Is. ;  II.  Is. ;  III.  Is. 

Blisters. — I.  Is.  to  Is.  Gd. ;  II.  Is.  Gd.  to  2s. ;  III.  2s.  to 
2s.  Gd. 

Gargles  and  Lotions. — May  ho  charged  somewhat  lower 
than  medicines  proper.” 

We  abstain  at  present  from  any  comment  on  these 
propositions,  and  simply  submit  the  scales  of  charge 
for  the  consideration  of  our  readers. 

The  fact  that  a  tariff  is  proposed  for  medicines  as 
well  as  for  visits,  etc.,  would  seem  to  indicate  that 
medical  men  do  not  see  their  way  to  giving  up  the 
preparation  of  medicines.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that 
this  should  be  the  case,  for  there  is  every  reason  to 
believe  it  would  be  advantageous  both  to  the  phar¬ 
macist  and  to  the  medical  man  if  the  compounding 
of  medicines  were  left  solely  to  the  former.  But,  in 
this  respect,  we  are  far  less  fortunate  than  our 
cousins  across  the  Atlantic,  where,  as  Mr.  Howden 
has  shown  in  his  account  of  American  Pharmacy, 
the  functions  of  the  physician  and  the  pharmacist 
are  invariably  kept  separate.  The  results  of  that 
system,  as  described  by  Mr.  Howden,  are  such  as  to 
make  it  well  worth  consideration  whether  it  would 
not  be  wise  to  follow  the  example  here. 


THE  USE  OF  CHLOROFORM  AS  AN  ANESTHETIC. 

At  the  Royal  Society  of  Edinburgh  on  Monday 
evening  Professor  Chrlstisox,  in  proposing  a  vote  of 
thanks  to  Mr.  Milne- Home  for  his  address,  alluded 
to  the  notice  that  had  been  given  of  Sir  James  Simp¬ 
son.  As  to  the  discovery  of  chloroform,  he  said  the 
liistory  of  that  had  never  yet  been  fully  given.  When 
fully  given,  it  would  constitute  one  of  the  most 
*  curious  instances  he  knew  ol  the  gradual  progress  of 


468 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  10, 187a 


discovery.  There  was  one  link  which  he  thought, 
injustice  to  Sir  William  Lawrence,  he  should  sup¬ 
ply,  as  he  could  do  it  authoritatively.  Sir  William 
Lawrence,  in  the  summer  of  1847 — the  same  year  in 
the  November  of  which  Sir  James  Simpson  made  his 
great  discovery — did  repeatedly  employ  a  solution  of 
chloroform  in  rectified  spirit  as  an  anaesthetic  in  his 
surgical  practice,  and  ascertained  that  it  was  a  supe¬ 
rior  agent  to  sulphuric  ether.  Had  Sir  William 
possessed  that  knowledge  of  chemistry  which  Sir 
James  Simpson  very  properly  held  that  every  medi¬ 
cal  man  should  possess,  he  thought  there  was  a 
strong  probability  that  he  would  have  anticipated 
Sir  James  in  his  great  discovery.  But  the  article 
had  come  to  him  recommended  by  the  very  absurd 
name  of  chloric  ether.  He  (Dr.  Christison)  rather 
believed  there  was  no  such  thing  as  chloric  ether 
known ;  nevertheless  there  was  an  article  which  had 
been  so  called.  It  was  recommended  to  Sir  W. 
Lawrence  under  that  name ;  it  was  tried  under  that 
name;  and  he  was  informed  that  both  Sir  William 
and  his  assistant  saw  that  something  more  concen¬ 
trated  was  wanted,  and  that  they  were  busy  con¬ 
sidering  how  they  might  concentrate  it  when  sud¬ 
denly  the  discovery  of  Sir  James  Simpson  came  forth 
and  put  an  end  to  their  inquiries.  Had  they  been 
aware  that  the  substance  in  their  hands  was  nothing 
else  than  a  solution  of  chloroform  in  rectified  spirit, 
the  solution  of  their  problem  would  have  been  very 
simple  indeed. 


SUPPLY  OF  DRUGS  TO  UNIONS. 

The  announcement  by  the  Irish  Poor  Law  Board 
of  their  intention  to  appoint  an  officer  to  be  called  a 
Poor  Law  Unions’  Apothecary,  who  is  to  have  the 
entire  management  of  the  purchase,  preparation  and 
supply  of  drugs  to  all  the  Irish  dispensaries,  seems 
to  have  given  general  satisfaction.  The  system  of 
obtaining  supplies  of  drugs  by  contract,  in  the  ab¬ 
sence  of  a  skilled  officer  whose  special  duty  it  should 
be  to  test  their  quality,  and  to  see  that  the  contracts 
are  fulfilled,  is  one  so  pernicious  from  its  tendency 
to  promote  a  false  economy  in  the  acceptance  of  low 
tenders,  and  by  the  encouragement  it  must  offer  to 
adulteration  as  well  as  all  kinds  of  jobbery,  that  it 
hardly  causes  surprise  when  we  are  told  that  for  years 
past  complaints  have  been  made  by  medical  officers  in 
respect  to  the  quality  of  the  drugs  supplied  under 
non  tract ;  that  adulteration  has  frequently  prevented 
successful  treatment  of  patients,  whilst  guardians 
have  been  often  imposed  upon  with  regard  to  cost. 
The  salary  of  <£*500  a  year,  together  with  a  residence 
at  the  depot  in  Dublin,  will  doubtless  secure  a  goodly 
number  of  candidates  to  select  from,  and  already  it 
is  stated  that  an  ex-Lord  Mayor  of  Dublin  is  in  the 
field. 

But  surely  if  such  an  appointment  is  likely  to  be 
beneficial  in  Ireland,  a  similar  one  would  not  be 


without  advantage  in  England.  We  can  hardly 
assume  that  in  this  country  drugs  are  less  liable  to 
sophistication,  or  that  contractors  are  more  honour¬ 
able  and  guardians  more  intelligent  than  in  Ireland. 
Therefore,  since  the  serious  evils  flowing  from  the 
contract  system  have  been  thought  sufficient  by  the 
Irish  authorities  to  justify  their  present  step,  we 
heartily  agree  with  our  contemporary,  the  Lancet,  in 
asking  Mr.  Goschen  to  turn  his  attention  to  the 
matter. 

If,  it  is  argued,  the  cost  of  drugs  in  Ireland  be 
£32,000,  then  it  would  amount  to  something  like 
three  times  as  much  in  England ;  and  from  this 
point  of  view  alone  it  is  worth  while  to  make  sure 
that  the  money  is  well  laid  out. 


OBSCURE  PRESCRIPTIONS. 

In  referring  to  Mr.  Watson  Bradshaw’s  state¬ 
ment  that  his  patients  are  invariably  reminded  they 
can  only  have  their  medicines  compounded  by  the 
especial  druggists  to  whom  he  hands  them  over,  and 
that  he  considers  he  has  the  right  to  indite  his  pre¬ 
scriptions  in  any  mode  he  may  deem  expedient,  the 
British  Medical  Journal  remarks  : — 

“  The  mode  in  which  a  medical  man  frames  his  pre¬ 
scriptions  is  not  precisely  ‘  his  own  private  affair  ”  ;  and 
the  particular  mode  of  secret  formulae  which  Mr.  Brad¬ 
shaw  avows  himself  to  employ  has  been  emphatically 
condemned  by  the  whole  profession.” 

The  Medical  Times  and  Gazette  is  of  opinion 
that — 

“  If  a  medical  practitioner  chooses  to  write  prescrip¬ 
tions  that  cannot  be  understood  and  properly  dispensed 
by  a  qualified  druggist,  he  is  to  a  certain  extent  answer- 
able  for  any  results  that  may  arise  therefrom.  When  a 
medical  practitioner  under  such  circumstances  objects  to 
any  comments  that  a  respectable  journal,  in  the  interests 
of  the  public,  may  think  it  right  to  make  upon  his  con¬ 
duct,  he  shows  his  ignorance  of  the  law.  The  press  is 
for  the  protection  and  safety  of  the  public,  and.  would 
fail  in  its  duty  if  it  did  not  fairly  comment  upon  trans¬ 
actions  which,  to  say  the  least  of  them,  are  ‘  irregular.’  ” 

We  are  glad  to  find  these  opinions  expressed  by 
the  representatives  of  the  medical  profession,  and 
that  the  practice  of  writing  prescriptions  in  secret 
terms  is  condemned  from  a  medical  point  of  view  as 
much  as  we  feel  it  is  to  be  condemned  from  the 
pharmacist’s  point  of  view.  In  tills  respect  we  are 
sure  that  the  objects  with  which  that  practice  is 
adopted  cannot  promote  the  real  interests  of  phar¬ 
macy  ;  indeed  it  is  hard  to  say  whether  the  pharma¬ 
cist  who  lends  himself  to  such  a  practice,  and  in  fact 
makes  it  possible,  is  not  even  more  to  blame  than  the 
medical  practitioner  who  suggests  it. 


The  Secretaries  of  the  Chemical  Society  have  (by 
direction  of  the  President  and  Council)  issued  a  cir¬ 
cular  stating  that  their  attention  has  been  directed 
to  the  absence  of  any  provision  on  the  part  of  the 


December  10,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


409 


Society  for  making  known  to  its  Fellows  the  progress 
of  chemistry  in  foreign  countries,  and  asking  for 
subscriptions  to  enable  them  to  defray  the  expense 
of  a  report  to  be  published  in  the  monthly  Journal  of 
the  Society,  of  all  papers  whatever  of  scientific  in¬ 
terest,  and  of  all  the  more  important  papers  relating 
to  applied  chemistry.  A  sum  of  £272  has  already 
been  promised.  Not  more  than  one-fiftli  of  any  con¬ 
tribution  is  to  be  called  for  in  one  year. 


Members  of  the  trade  throughout  the  country  will 
doubtless  be  looking  forward  with  interest  to  the 
•steps  taken  in  reference  to  the  storing  of  poisons. 
We  may  state  that  at  the  meeting  of  Council  on  the 
7th  inst.  this  question  was  discussed,  and  that  it 
took  up  the  greater  part  of  a  long  sitting.  We  hope 
soon  to  place  before  the  readers  of  this  Journal  a 
report  of  the  proceedings. 


Among  the  objects  of  interest  at  the  late  meeting 
of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  there  was  a  specimen 
of  the  “  Herbarium  Pharmaceuticum,”  which  has 
been  prepared  for  the  use  of  pharmaceutical  schools 
and  associations  by  Mr.  Siebold,  of  Manchester. 
The  want  of  such  a  collection  of  plants  must  be  fre¬ 
quently  felt  by  students  in  the  provinces. 


Wte  have  much  pleasure  in  stating  that  Mr. 
"Williams  has  been  unanimously  elected  a  member 
of  the  Council,  and  we  do  not  doubt  that  all  who 
know  him  will  be  equally  unanimous  in  thinking 
that  the  place  left  vacant  by  the  retirement  of  Mr. 
Brady  could  not  have  been  better  or  more  worthily 
filled  up. 


Tile  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  Cheetham,  D.D.,  of  Christ’s 
College,  Cambridge,  Rector  of  Quarndon,  Derby  - 
sliire,  who  has  been  appointed  to  the  Bishopric  of 
Sierra  Leone,  was  consecrated  in  St.  Paul's  Cathe¬ 
dral  on  November  30th.  Dr.  Cheetiiam’s  original 
profession  was  pharmacy,  and  he  resided  for  some 
years  in  the  establishment  of  Mr.  Harvey  (now 
Harvey  and  Reynolds)  at  Leeds. 


By  the  courtesy  of  a  correspondent  we  are  en¬ 
abled  to  add  to  the  list  of  members  of  the  drug  trade 
who  have  been  elected  to  the  office  of  mayor  this 
year,  the  name  of  Mr.  Robert  Walker,  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Chemist,  Maidenhead. 


We  learn  from  Messrs.  Longman’s  Notes  on  Books, 
that  it  is  intended  to  issue  early  in  187 1,  a  Supplement 
to  Watts’s  ‘  Dictionary  of  Chemistry,’  bringing  the 
record  of  chemical  discovery  down  to  the  end  of  the 
year  1800.  It  will  form  a  volume  of  about  000  pages, 
and  many  of  the  former  contributors  have  consented 
to  furnish  additions  to  their  articles.  We  should  hi 


glad  to  see  this  supplementary  volume  made  annual, 
so  as  to  give  a  permanent  value  to  the  original  work. 


The  Gardener*  Chronicle  announces  that  by  the 
resignation  of  Mr.  J.  J.  Bennett,  F.R.S.,  a  vacancy 
is  caused  in  the  office  of  Keeper  of  the  Botanical 
Department  of  the  British  Museum.  If  the  usual 
course  be  followed,  Mr.  Carruthers,  the  Senior 
Assistant-keeper,  will  succeed  to  the  post. 


Professor  Bloxam  has  been  elected  to  the  chair 
of  Chemistry  in  King’s  College,  vacant  by  the  death 
of  Dr.  Miller. 


Dr.  John  Murray  has  been  appointed  assistant- 
physician  to  the  Middlesex  Hospital,  to  fill  the  va¬ 
cancy  caused  b}r  the  resignation  of  Dr.  J.  Burdon- 
Sandeiison,  F.R.S. 


The  election  of  a  Professor  of  Chemistry  at  St. 
Bartholomew’s  Hospital  in  the  place  of  the  late  Dr. 
Mathiessen  will  take  place  on  the  13th  inst. 


EXAMINATION  IN  LONDON. 

December  2nd,  1870. 

Present — Messrs.  Allchin,  Bird,  Carteighe,  Cracknoll, 
Davenport,  Deane,  Edwards,  Ctale,  Garle,  Haselden,  and 
Ince; 

Dr.  Grecnhow  was  present  on  behalf  of  the  Privy 
Council. 

MODIFIED  EXAMINATION. 

Forty-five  candidates  presented  themselves  for  ex¬ 
amination;  the  following  passed  and  were  registered  as 

CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS. 

Ault,  Reuben  . Chesterfield. 

Biggleston,  Edwin  Radford  ..Exeter. 

Bond,  Edward . Reading. 

Bond,  John  . Okeliampton. 

Borman,  John  Henrie  ........  Upper  Norwood. 

Came,  Robert  Harkness . Bayswater. 

Chapman,  Josialx  Thomas  . , . .  Ilulme. 

Dix,  Thomas  Henry  . Croydon. 

Hall,  Thomas  Henry  . . Sheffield. 

Harvey,  Henry . Wakefield. 

Hern,  William  Henry,  jun.  .  .St.  AustelL 

Keall,  Douglas . . .  Kington. 

Martin,  Amelias  Hare . Paris. 

Moseley,  Sackville  Gwynne  . .  Cardiff. 

Owen,  Robert  Henry  ........  Rhyl. 

Pratt,  Edward  Jonathan . Newbury. 

Pratt,  Thomas  Henry . Newbury. 

Richardson,  Alexander  . London. 

Sellers,  Blanchard  F.  . Birmingham. 

Smith,  Allen  ......... ... .... .  West  Derby. 

Smith,  Robert  John  . .... . Horselydown. 

Snell,  Charles  Henry  . Plymouth. 

Steed,  Robert  Owen. . . Southwark. 

Sugden,  Joseph  William..  . . . . High  Harrogate. 

Targett,  Charles  George . Faringdon. 

Taylor,  Walter . Nottingham* 

Wilson,  Clement  Fisher . Bury. 


470 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  10,  1870. 


EXAMINATION  IN  EDINBURGH. 
November  22 /id,  1870. 

Eleven  candidates  were  examined — two  for  the  Minor 
Examination,  two  for  the  Modified,  and  seven  for  the 
First,  or  Preliminary;  the  following  passed  and  were 
registered : — 

MINOR  (as  a  Chemist  and  Druggist). 

Lee,  Thomas . Salford. 

MODIFIED  (  as  Chemists  and  Druggists). 

Parker,  William  George . Newcastle-on-Tyne. 

Pool,  George . Manchester. 

FIRST,  or  PRELIMINARY  (as  Apprentices  or 

Students). 

Bremncr,  Allan  Hugh . Edinburgh. 

Brown,  George . t. . .  .Edinburgh. 

Cowper,  David  Burgess . Edinburgh. 

Fenton,  Thomas  . Edinburgh. 

McNiven,  Thomas  . Edinburgh. 

McParlan,  James . Glasgow. 

Young,  John . Edinburgh. 


PHARMACEUTICAL  MEETING. 

Wednesday,  December  7tJi. 

MB.  HASELDEN,  VICE-PRESIDENT,  IN  THE  CHAIR. 

The  Secretary  having  read  the  minutes  of  the  pre¬ 
vious  meeting,  announced  the  following  donations  to  the 
Library  and  Museum  : — 

Medico- Chirurgical  Transactions,  vol.  53  :  from  the 
Royal  Medical  and  Chirurgical  Society, — Manual  of 
Botany :  from  Professor  Bentley, — Herbarium  Pharma- 
eeuticum  ;  a  collection  of  the  Dried  Plants  of  the  British 
Pharmacopoeia,  with  Index :  from  Louis  Siebold,  Esq., 
Lecturer  on  Pharmacy  at  Owens  College,  Manchester. 

Professor  Attfield  drew  attention  to  a  slight  modifi¬ 
cation  in  Mr.  Benger’s  apparatus,  which  has  already  been 
noticed  in  the  Pharmaceuttcal  Journal,*  for  securing 
equability  of  temperature  in  analytical  and  other  opera¬ 
tions,  in  which  gas  is  used  as  the  heating  agent,  and  in 
which  inconvenience  has  often  been  felt  by  variations  in 
the  supply  of  gas.  Mr.  Benger’s  apparatus,  it  would 
be  remembered,  consisted  of  a  tube  in  the  shape  of  the 
letter  U,  introduced  between  the  gas-burner  and  the 
source  of  supply.  Into  one  limb  of  the  U  tube  was  in¬ 
serted  the  gas-pipe,  at  the  bottom  of  which  was  a  narrow 
slit  through  which  the  gas  passed,  and  thence  by  a  second 
pipe  out  of  the  same  limb  of  the  U  tube,  on  its  way  to 
the  burner.  The  bottom  of  the  slit  and  the  bend  of  the 
U  tube  was  closed  by  mercury.  The  other  end  of  the  U 
tube  is  connected  with  any  chamber  that  is  being  heated ; 
a  rise  of  temperature  expands  the  air  in  the  chamber, 
which  immediately  presses  on  the  mercury  in  one  side  of 
the  U  tube,  raises  it  at  the  other  end,  partially  closes  the 
slit,  and  thus  diminishes  the  supply  of  gas  to  the  burner. 
Conversely,  when  the  chamber  begins  to  cool,  the  air 
contracts,  the  mercury  rises  in  the  free  limb  of  the  U 
tube,  falls  in  the  other,  and  allows  a  greater  supply  of 
gas  to  go  through  the  slit.  It  was  found,  however,  that 
vf  hen  this  apparatus  was  connected  with  an  oven  such  as 
was  exhibited  (about  1  foot  square),  having  a  jacket 
within,  it  was  rather  cumbrous  and  expensive ;  and 
Mr.  Benger  therefore  proposed,  as  a  modification,  that  an 
air-chamber  of  any  size  desired  should  be  lowered  into 
an  unjacketed  oven,  or  whatever  apparatus  was  being 


*  Phaem.  Jouen.  3rd  Series,  No.  13,  p.  253. 


heated.  In  the  connecting-pipe  was  a  small  stopcock, 
which,  being  left  open  until  the  requisite  temperature- 
was  attained,  would  then  be  closed,  and  the  apparatus  at 
once  became  self-acting.  Another  modification  was  to 
use  a  glass  flask,  or  even  a  test-tube,  which  might  be  con¬ 
nected  in  the  same  way  with  the  U  tube,  and  lowered 
into  any  solution  which  it  might  bo  necessary  to  evapo¬ 
rate  at  a  lower  temperature  than  boiling-point,  or  any 
other  fixed  temperature. 

The  Chairman  said  the  apparatus  appeared  very  use¬ 
ful,  and  the  thanks  of  the  members  were  certainly  due  to- 
Mr.  Benger  for  bringing  it  forward. 

Mr.  Abraham  said  the  same  principle  might  evidently 
be  applied,  with  slight  modifications,  to  a  steam  appa¬ 
ratus. 

Mr.  Grove  said  the  only  objection  he  had  seen  to  the 
apparatus  when  first  proposed,  that  the  air-jacket  must 
be  made  very  tight,  seemed  to  be  now  removed,  and  the 
present  modification  would  not  only  come  much  cheaper, 
but  would  bo  more  easily  used. 


The  Chairman  drew  attention  to  the  collections  of 
prescriptions  which  had  been  laid  on  the  table  by  Mr. 
Ince,  amongst  the  contents  of  which  would,  he  believed, 
be  found  some  prescriptions  illustrating  the  paper  which 
Mr.  Howden  was;  about  to  read  to  them  on  American 
pharmacy. 

Mr.  Ince  said  the  collections  which  he  and  his  friends 
were  forming  were  intended  to  illustrate  every  subject* 
connected  with  pharmacy;  and  each  of  the  fourteen 
volumes  on  the  table  contained  about  twenty  American 
prescriptions,  taken  from  the  different  States,  and  illus¬ 
trating  the  exact  stylo  of  prescription  which  were  in  use 
in  the  United  States.  Some  were  written  in  ink,  and 
others,  as  was  quite  as  common,  in  pencil.  These  latter 
had  been  carefully  preserved,  to  avoid  the  risk  of  their 
fading ;  so  that  he  hoped  they  would,  to  some  extent, 
illustrate  the  general  subject  of  American  pharmacy. 

Mr.  Abraham  asked  if  the  volumes  on  the  table  con¬ 
tained  any  of  Mr.  AVatson  Bradshaw’s  prescriptions. 

The  Chairman  said  he  thought  the  specimens  which 
had  appeared  in  the  Journal  were  quite  sufficient. 

Mr.  Ince  said  there  were  four  specimens  of  Mr.  Brad¬ 
shaw’s  prescriptions  on  the  table. 


The  Chairman  said  a  very  nice  collection  of  dried 
plants,  labelled  “Herbarium  Pharmaccuticum,”  had 
been  placed  on  the  table,  but  he  did  not  know  the  history 
of  it. 

Mr.  Brown  (of  Manchester)  said  the  collection  in 
question  had  been  forwarded  to  Professor  Bentloy,  whe  he 
had  hoped  would  have  been  present  to  explain  it.  In  his 
absence,  however,  he  might  state  that  this  collection  had 
been  prepared  by  Mr.  Siebold,  of  Manchester,  who  had 
arranged  about  150  of  such  collections,  which  ho  intended 
to  offer  for  sale,  principally  to  Pharmaceutical  Schools 
and  Associations,  at  £4.  4.?.  each.  Such  a  collection  had 
been  much  wanted,  and  since  the  passing  of  the  Phar¬ 
macy  Act,  many  inquiries  had  been  made  for  such  a 
thing,  but  so  far  as  he  was  aware,  nothing  of  the  kind 
had  hitherto  been  supplied.  About  two  years  ago,  Mr. 
Siebold  had  arranged  with  some  friends  on  the  Continent 
to  supply  him  with  such  plants  as  could  not  be  obtained 
in  England ;  and  in  the  interval  he  and  his  friends,  with 
no  small  amount  of  labour,  had  succeeded  in  obtaining 
about  150  of  such  sets  as  the  specimen  on  the  table, 
which  consisted  of  about  100  plants.  He  did  not  wish 
in  any  way  to  advertise  this  matter,  and  much  regretted 
that  Professor  Bentley  was  not  present  to  give  his  opinion 
of  the  collection,  but  certainly  as  far  as  ho  could  judge* 
the  plants  were  well  selected  and  carefully  prepared. 

The  Chairman  said  the  specimens  seemed  extremely 
well  set  up,  and  he  would  recommend  the  members  pre¬ 
sent  to  examine  the  collection  for  themselves. 


December  in,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


471 


The  Chairman  then  called  upon  Mr.  Howden  to  ad¬ 
dress  the  meeting  and  give  the  results  of  his  observations 
on  the  condition  of  Pharmacy  in  the  United  States.* 
At  the  conclusion  of  the  address, 

The  Chairman  said  Mr.  Howden’s  paper  had  been 
most  valuable  and  interesting,  and  contained  so  much 
matter  that  he  feared  it  would  be  impossible  to  do  it 
justice  in  the  way  of  discussion  in  the  short  time  that 
remained.  He  should  therefore  suggest  that  the  meeting 
be  adjourned  to  the  4th  of  January. 

Mr.  Howden  remarked  that  he  wished  to  call  attention 
to  the  bottles  on  the  table,  which  were  specimens  of 
American  pharmacy.  Ho  did  not  know  that  they  all 
possessed  extraordinary  merit,  but  large  quantities  of  them 
were  sold.  He  was  passing  one  day  through  a  laboratory 
when  he  noticed  a  large  tub  holding  about  100  gallons. 
The  proprietor  said  to  him,  “  How  do  you  filter  your 
syrups  in  London  Y  ’  His  reply  was  that  they  did  not 
filter  them  at  all.  His  friend  said,  ‘‘Not  filter  your 
syrups !  why  I  have  this  to  filter.  I  make  this  quantity 
every  three  weeks.”  The  process  Mr.  Howden  thought 
an  ingenious  one.  Ho  took  a  cone  of  felt  or  flannel 
about  four  feet  long  and  filled  it  with  water  containing 
several  sheets  of  white  filtering-paper  beaten  into  a  pulp. 
As  the  water  passed  away  it  left  a  deposit  of  paper  felt 
on  the  inner  surface  of  the  filter,  admirably  adapted  for 
filtering  syrups.  He  was  rather  proud  of  it,  and  justly, 
adding  that  it  had  this  further  advantage,  after  it  had 
been  used,  he  set  a  boy  to  wash  the  paper  again,  when 
it  was  as  good  as  ever.  The  inventor  of  this  filter 
was  Mr.  Frank  Wyeth,  of  Philadelphia.  There  were 
also  on  the  table  some  specimens  of  “  elegant  pharmacy.” 
There  was  also  on  the  table  one  ingenious  device,  which 
he  believed  was  quite  new,  and  for  which  a  patent  had 
been  taken  out.  It  consisted  in  first  mixing  certain 
active  drugs  with  glycerine  and  then  with  gelatine,  run¬ 
ning  the  mixture  out  into  flat  cakes,  with  little  ridges 
separating  it  into  squares  like  a  chess-board,  so  that  each 
square  contained  a  definite  amount  of  the  drug,  say 
■|  grain  of  calomel,  a  grain  of  quinine,  or,  as  in  a  speci¬ 
men  in  his  hand,  1  grain  of  ipecacuanha.  In  this  way  a 
medical  man  in  the  country  might  possess  himself  of 
portable  medicines ;  he  only  had  to  put  a  few  of  these 
gelatine  sheets  into  his  pocket,  and  when  he  wanted  to 
make  a  mixture,  he  could  snip  oft'  squares  with  a  pair  of 
scissors,  put  them  in  a  bottle,  fill  up  with  water,  and  his 
medicine  was  prepared.  There  were  also  pills  coated 
with  gelatine  which  were  well  deserving  of  notice. 
Also,  powdered  blue  pill.  There  was  also  a  bottle 
of  the  celebrated  sweet  quinine,  which  had  been  so 
largely  advertised,  and  which  had  led  to  some  very 
painful  circumstances  to  those  interested  in  the  ma¬ 
nufacture.  He  had  brought  over  a  bottle,  thinking  it 
would  be  interesting  for  the  students  in  the  laboratory 
to  analyse  it,  and  see  of  what  it  really  was  composed. 
Then  there  were  some  packets  of  what  were  known  as 
“  Shaker  herbs,”  a  remedy  which  had  a  great  reputation 
in  the  States,  and  some  other  preparations  of  a  similar 
character.  He  might  also  draw  attention  to  an  engraving 
of  the  premises  of  Messrs.  Powers  and  Weightman,  of 
Philadelphia,  who  were  leading  manufacturing  che¬ 
mists. 


The  Chairman  also  drew  attention  to  a  number  of 
American  photographs  which  Mr.  Howden  had  collected 
in  his  travels,  and  which  he  had  kindly  placed  on  the 
table  for  inspection. 

Professor  Attfield  thought  Mr.  Howden  had  treated 
his  subject  so  exhaustively,  that  he  doubted  whether 
there  was  much  left  for  discussion.  The  clear  and  gra¬ 
phic  way  in  which  he  had  given  his  experience  afforded 
much  matter  for  congratulation  that  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  had  been  so  well  represented  in  America  during 


*  A  resume  of  Mr.  Ilowden’s  address  will  be  found  at  p.  401 . 


the  last  few7  months.  Mr.  Howrden’s  paper  had  been  so- 
interesting,  that  it  had  set  the  speaker  longing  to  know 
something  of  tho  state  of  pharmacy  on  the  Pacific  coast 
of  tho  American  Continent.  By  good  fortune  there  sat 
by  him  (Professor  Attfield)  a  gentleman  who  occupied,, 
sixteen  years  ago,  tho  same  relative  position  in  the  very 
room  in  which  they  wrero  assembled,  wrhen  they  were- 
both  students  in  what  was  then  tho  laboratory.  Mr. 
Hugh  Lloyd  Jones  had  since  resided  in  Vancouver’s 
Island,  at  Victoria,  and  had  visited  San  Francisco  and 
other  places  on  that  coast,  and  he  had  expressed  his 
wbllingness  to  give  tho  Society  on  a  future  occasion  tho 
results  of  his  experience  of  the  pharmacy  of  those  lo¬ 
calities. 

The  Chairman  said  he  did  not  intend  to  convey  that 
there  was  any  room  for  discussion  on  the  merits  of  Mr. 
Howden’s  paper,  but  there  wrero  many  points  on  which 
he  thought  it  w7ould  be  interesting  to  have  a  few  more 
remarks, — -for  instance,  on  the  practices  of  their  Ame¬ 
rican  cousins,  such  as  expecting  the  public  to  walk  inside 
their  stores  and  view  their  goods,  instead  of  displaying 
them  in  the  window7,  keeping  their  bottles  nearly  empty, 
which  w7ould  be  considered  a  very  bad  sign  in  England 
and  so  on.  Again,  Mr.  Howden  had  spoken  of  American 
scales,  and  he  had  no  doubt  what  he  said  wras  correct, 
but  ho  should  like  to  know7  whether,  when  powders  were? 
prescribed,  they  were  accustomed  to  take  the  precaution 
usual  in  England  of  weighing  each  separate  dose,  be¬ 
cause  it  appeared  to  him  that  the  arrangement  described 
would  not  be  so  convenient  for  that  purpose  as  the  small 
horizontal  scales  in  use  here.  There  wrere  also  other- 
matters  on  which  he  thought  useful  information  might 
be  elicited  by  discussion. 

Mr.  Woolley  (Manchester)  said  ho  had  much  pleasure- 
in  proposing  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Hov7den,  for  he 
had  rarely  listened  to  a  paper  with  so  much  interest 
and  he  was  very  glad  to  ha\  e  the  opportunity  of  learn¬ 
ing  so  much  of  pharmacy  on  tho  other  side  of  the  waiter. 
He  thought  it  most  desirable  to  adjourn  tho  discussion. 

Mr.  Brown  (Manchester)  seconded  the  motion..  Ho* 
very  frequently  came  in  contact  with  American  citizens, 
and  had  heard  somewhat  of  the  conditions  under  which 
pharmacy  was  carried  on  in  America,  and  tho  difficulties 
wdiich  attended  the  business  there,  but  he  had  never- 
received  anything  like  the  information  which  had  been 
so  pleasantly  conveyed  by  Mr.  IIow7den.  He  had  lis¬ 
tened  w*ith  very  great  pleasure  to  tho  details  which  had 
been  given  by  Mr.  HowMcn,  and  thought  many  of  them 
would  form  interesting  subjects  for  discussion  on  another 
occasion. 

The  resolution  having  been  carried  unanimously, 

Mr.  Howden,  in  acknowdeclging  the  compliment,  said 
he  had  not  gone  so  much  into  detail  as  ho  could  have 
wished,  as  it  was  very  difficult  to  condense  the  experi¬ 
ence  of  six  wreeks  into  an  hour,  but  he  should  bo  happy 
to  attend  the  adjourned  meeting,  and  if  he  could  give 
any  additional  information  it  would  afford  him  much 
pleasure  to  do  so. 

The  meeting  was  then  adjourned  to  Wednesday, 
January  4th. 


MANCHESTER  CHEMISTS’  ASSISTANTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

The  Weekly  Meeting  of  this  Association  was.  held  or* 
Thursday  evening,  November  17th;  the  President .  in 
the  chair.  A  very  interesting  and  instructive. discussion 
took  place  upon  the  prescribing  of  “Medical  Prac- 
t it i oners.”  A  paper  on  Water  was  also  read  l)j 
Atkinson. 


472 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  10,  1870. 


GLASGOW  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

The  First  General  Meeting  of  this  Association  was  held 
on  Thursday  evening,  November  17,  in  the  Lecture 
Hall  of  the  Mechanics’  Institution,  Bath  Street ;  the 
newly  elected  President,  Mr.  Thomas  Davison,  M.P.S., 
in  the  chair.  There  was  a  good  attendance  ;  several  new 
members  were  elected.  The  Treasurer  announced  that 
the  following  donations  had  been  received  towards  the 
funds  of  the  Association : — From  Dr.  A.  M.  Robertson, 
10s.;  the  Glasgow  Apothecaries’  Company,  £3.  35. ;  James 
Taylor,  Esq.,  £1.  la. 

The  President  briefly  introduced  Roger  Hennedy, 
Esq.,  Professor  of  Botany,  Andersonian  University,  who 
delivered  a  highly  interesting  and  instructive  lecture, 
entitled  “The  Histology  of  Plants.”  The  lecture,  which 
treated  principally  of  cell- growth  in  the  structure  of 
plants  and  elicited  frequent  applause,  was  illustrated  by 
drawings,  etc.,  of  the  plants  in  their  various  stages  of 
growth.  At  the  conclusion,  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was 
.awarded  Mr.  Hennedy  for  his  lecture,  who  in  reply  stated 
he  pm-posed  following  up  the  same  subject  in  his  next 
lecture. 

A  special  General  Meeting  of  the  Association  was  held 
on  the  23rd  November,  in  the  Garrick  Hotel,  to  hear  the 
report  of  the  Committee  appointed  at  a  previous  meeting 
io  look  out  for  a  more  suitable  and  permanent  place  of 
meeting.  On  the  report  being  presented,  it  was  unani¬ 
mously  resolved,  on  the  motion  of  Mr.  Kermath,  to  ac¬ 
cept  the  offer  made  by  the  managers  of  the  Andersonian 
University. 

Mr.  Kermath  then  gave  notice  that  at  next  general 
meeting  he  woidd  bring  forward  a  motion  to  the  effect 
that  a  price  list  be  compiled  for  prescriptions,  that  it  be 
issued  by  the  Association,  and  that  every  effort  be  made 
to  get  the  members  of  the  profession  in  the  city  and 
neighbourhood  to  abide  by  it. 

The  Secretary  then  stated  that  as  the  rules,  etc.,  of 
the  Association  were  now  considered  to  be  a  little  out  of 
date,  and  as  he  considered  the  removal  of  the  Society  to 
George  Street,  where  it  would  be  under  the  wings,  as  it 
were,  of  Anderson’s  University,  a  fitting  opportunity  for 
remodelling  its  constitution,  he  would  at  the  next  General 
Aleeting  bring  forward  a  new  code  of  rules,  etc.,  for  the 
approval  of  the  members. 


LIVERPOOL  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Third  General  Meeting  of  the  Session  was  held, 
November  24th,  1870  ;  the  President,  Mr.  John  Arra- 
-HAm,  in  the  chair.  The  minutes  of  the  previous  meeting 
were  read  and  confirmed. 

Mr.  James  Agncw  and  Air.  AY.  T.  AYarhurst  were  elected 
members. 

Mr.  E.  Davies,  F.C.S.,  exhibited  a  bulb  filled  with  a 
mixture  of  chlorine  and  hydrogen ;  on  being  exposed  to 
the  action  of  magnesium  light  the  two  gases  combined  to 
form  hydrochloric  acid  gas  with  a  loud  report. 

Air.  A.  E.  Tanner  read  a  paper  upon  “  Spiritus  JEther. 
Nitrosi,  B.P.”* 

In  the  discussion  which  followed— 

Mr.  Hilditcii  said  that  by  mixing  the  11  ounces  which 
first  distilled  over  (containing,  as  Mr.  Tanner  had  said, 
■50.  per  cent,  of  nitrous  ether)  with  44  ounces  of  rectified 
spirit,  a  solution  was  obtained  containing  10  per  cent,  of 
nitrous  ether,  and  much  sweeter  than  when  the  15  ounces 
was  distilled  over  and  mixed  with  40  ounces  of  spirit, 
he  having  always  found  that  the  latter  part  of  the 
distillate  had  a  very  disagreeable  smell. 

Air.  Rawland  stated  that  in  manufacturing  sp.  aether, 
nit.  B.P.  in  large  quantities,  he  generally  produced  from 
do  per  cent,  to  75  per  cent,  of  the  given  distillate  at  the 


*  See  page  463. 


given  temperature,  but  by  an  increase  of  temperature  at 
this  point  he  drew  over  the  required  quantity ;  he  could 
not  understand  why  a  concentrated  solution  could  not  be 
made. 

The  President  said  that  he  had  always  succeeded  in 
producing  the  required  quantity  of  the  first  distillate, 
and  he  thought  the  Pharmacopoeia  process  a  very  satisfac¬ 
tory  one ;  the  only  modification  he  could  suggest  would  be 
that  the  acid  should  be  added  in  even  more  than  two  por¬ 
tions.  He  stated  that  it  was  the  opinion  of  Air.  Hanbury 
that  sp.  mther.  nit.  B.P.  was  an  acid  preparation  from  the 
very  first ;  he  (the  President)  thought  that  the  instruc¬ 
tions  given  in  the  Pharmacopoeia  were  so  simple  that 
every  chemist  should  manufacturehis  own, — he  did  not 
see  any  necessity  for  a  concentrated  solution. 

A  discussion  followed  in  which  several  members  took 
part. 

The  President  thanked  Air.  Tanner  for  so  ably  bring¬ 
ing  the  subject  before  the  meeting,  and  called  upon  Air. 
Charles  Sharp  for  his  communication  on  “  Some  Recent 
Analysis  of  Cosmetics.” 

Air.  Sharp  brought  before  the  notice  of  the  meeting  a 
report  recently  made  by  Dr.  Chandler,  Chemist  to  the 
Board  of  Health  of  New  York,  on  the  presence  of  lead 
in  a  large  number  of  hair  restoratives,  enamels,  skin 
powders,  etc. 

The  report  referred  to  an  inquiry  which  arose  out  of 
some  cases  of  lead  palsy  occurring  in  the  practice  of  a 
medical  man  in  New  York,  which  were  traced  to  the  use 
of  a  cosmetic  known  as  Laird’s  Bloom  of  Youth.” 

Dr.  Chandler  found  that  the  preparations  he  examined 
contained  acetate  and  carbonate  of  lead,  corrosive  subli¬ 
mate  and  bismuth,  in  variable  quantities.  In  all  the 
hair  restoratives  lead  was  present,  the  skin  powders  were 
comparatively  harmless,  the  enamels,  however,  were  of  a 
very  deleterious  character. 

The  following  gives  the  result  of  analysis,  showing  the 
quantity  of  salts  of  lead  in  each  fluid  ounce  : — 


1.  Clark's  Restorative . 0T1 

2.  Chevalier’s  Life  for  the  Hair  .  1-02 

3.  Circassian  Rejuvenator  .  .  .  2*71 

4..  Hair  Afigour . .  2*89 

5.  A\rood’s  Hair  Restorative  .  .  .  3  08 

6.  Hair  Restorer  of  America  .  .  3 -28 

7.  Gray’s  Hair  Restorative  .  .  .  3-39 

8.  Phalon’s  Vitalia  ......  4-69 

9.  Aregetable  Ambrosia  .  .  .  .  5-00 

10.  Airs.  Allen’s  Hair  Restorer  .  .  5  5 7 

11.  Indian  Hair  Tonique  .  .  .  .  6 -29 

12.  Sicilian  Hair  Renewer  ....  7T3 


13.  Physiological  Hair  Regenerator .  7 ‘44 

14.  Alartha  Washington’s  Restorer  .  9-80 

15.  Singer’s  Hair  Restorative .  .  .  16-39 

Air.  Blair  said  that  a  mixture  of  hydrochlorides  of 
aniline  and  copper  formed  a  very  successful  hair-dye ; 
it  was  largely  used  by  workmen  employed  in  manufac¬ 
tories  of  anilines,  and  it  was  found  impossible  to  prevent 
their  using  it ;  in  fact,  when  aldehyde  green  was  dis¬ 
covered,  they  were  so  infatuated  with  it,  that  they  dyed 
their  hair  green.  He  thought  that  a  solution  of  Hof¬ 
mann’s  violet  (which  is  perfectly  neutral  and  soluble  in 
glycerine)  would  form  a  good  mixture  for  dyeing  the 
hair  black. 

In  reply  to  the  President,  Air.  Blair  said  this  mixture 
would  stain  the  ki  n. 

A  discussion  followed,  in  which  the  President,  Alessrs. 
Tanner,  Sharp,  Blair  and  T.  F.  Abraham  took  paz*t. 

The  Secretary  asked  the  members  to  inform  him  of 
any  miscellaneous  communications  they  wished  to  make, 
so  that  they  could  be  announced  upon  the  circulars  call¬ 
ing  the  meeting,  and  then  those  who  felt  disposed  could 
come  with  the  subject  considered  beforehand ;  he  moved 
a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  contributors  of  the  communica¬ 
tions,  which  was  earned  unanimously. 

The  President  annoimced  that  it  was  proposed  to 
hold  a  Conversazione  in  January,  1871,  and  that  Professor 


December  10, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


Roscoo  had  signified  his  willingness  to  attend  to  give  a 
lecture. 

The  announcement  was  received  with  acclamation  by 
the  members  present  and  the  meeting  adjourned. 


ABERDEEN  ASSOCIATION  OF  ASSISTANT 
CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS. 

At  the  Half-yearly  Meeting  of  the  Aberdeen  Associa¬ 
tion  of  Assistant  Chemists  and  Druggists,  held  in  the  St. 
Nicholas  Lane  Hall,  on  Thursday,  24th  ult.,  the  fol¬ 
lowing  were  elected  office-bearers  for  the  next  six 
months  : — President ,  Mr.  Donald  ;  Vice-President ,  Mr. 
Tocher  ;  Treasurer,  Mr.  Barron  ;  Secretary ,  Mr.  Gordon  ; 
Committee ,  Messrs.  Cassil,  Maitland,  Hosil,  Lunnan  and 
Joss.  This  Association  still  continues  to  flourish  with 
all  its  former  interest  and  vigour  ;  its  roll  is  still  as  full, 
and  the  state  of  its  financial  matters  is  very  healthy. 

During  the  last  six  months  several  valuable  and  in¬ 
teresting  papers  have  been  delivered  by  various  of  its 
members,  some  upon  objects  connected  with  the  drug 
trade,  and  others  upon  more  general  subjects,  about 
which  it  no  less  behoves  the  young  chemist  to  understand 
something,  even  in  this  age,  in  which  pharmaceutical 
education  is  so  much  talked  of. 


ipmwtoitijs  of  jSncntiffc  Sorittics. 


BRITISH  PHARMACEUTICAL  CONFERENCE. 

Meetings  of  Executive  Committee. 

October  5th,  1870. 

In  connection  with  the  recent  Annual  Meeting  at 
Liverpool  a  letter  was  read  from  the  Local  Committee, 
begging  that  the  offer  of  a  grant  of  money,  which  had 
been  made  by  the  Conference,  as  usual,  to  defray  the  ex¬ 
penses  of  the  Meeting  and  Exhibition,  might  be  recalled, 
a  considerable  surplus  being  already  in  hand.  The  Exe¬ 
cutive  Committee,  after  some  discussion  in  which  the 
liability  of  the  Conference  for  such  costs  was  fully  con¬ 
firmed,  acceded  to  the  request,  and  the  General  Secre¬ 
taries  were  instructed  to  convoy  to  the  Local  Committee 
at  Liverpool  the  formal  thanks  of  the  Executive  Com¬ 
mittee  for  the  highly  successful,  liberal  and  judicious 
manner  in  which  the  objects  of  the  Conference  had  been 
fulfilled  and  advanced  by  the  Chairman,  Secretary  and 
every  other  member  of  the  Liverpool  Committee. 

Mr.  James  Collins  was  elected  Assistant-Secretary  and 
Sub-Treasurer  for  1870-71. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  reappointed  a  Com¬ 
mittee  of  Publication  for  the  proposed  Year-Book  of 
Pharmacy : — Messrs.  Carteigho,  Groves,  Hanbury,  Ince 
and  Stoddart,  with  Professor  Attfield  as  Secretary. 

Messrs.  Cruse,  Hayland,  Garlc,  Henderson,  Ilopkin, 
Bell,  Hall,  Flood,  Tryer  and  Kent,  were  elected  members 
of  the  Conference. 

December  7th,  1870. 

The  Year-Book  Committee  reported  that  two  hundred 
pages  of  the  volume  were  already  in  type,  and  that 
the  other  three  hundred  would  bo  printed  in  about  a 
fortnight.  The  work  had  been  delayed  in  August  and 
September,  owing  to  the  serious  illness  of  the  editor, 
Mr.  Brough.  Hoping  against  hope,  arrangements  were 
postponed  until  help  became  essential.  The  manuscript 
had  been  completed  and  the  book  conducted  through  the 
press  by  Mr.  Joseph  Ince. 

The  Transactions  of  the  Conference,  edited,  as  hitherto, 
by  the  General  Secretaries,  would  be  bound  up  with  the 

Year-Book. 

Messrs.  Davies,  Knowles,  Curtis,  Cocking,  Clarke, 
Ilartt,  Howman,  Gregory,  Thomas  and  Breton  were 
elected  members. 

***  Members  joining  during  the  current  year,  Juno 


473 


30th,  1870,  to  June  30th,  1871,  and  paying  the  annual 
subscription,  five  shillings,  will  bo  entitled  to  one  copy  of 
the  Year-Book.  Gentlemen  desiring  membership  are- 
invited  to  send  in  their  names  and  addresses,  legibly 
written,  to  the  Secretaries,  Professor  Attfield,  17,  Blooms¬ 
bury  Square,  London,  W.C.,  or  Mr.  R.  Reynolds,  Brig- 
gate,  Leeds. 


ROYAL  SOCIETY. 

The  series  of  experiments  undertaken  by  Dr.  Parlces 
and  Count  Wollocwicz,  with  the  object  of  ascertaining 
the  effects  of  pure  alcohol  and  brandy  on  the  human 
body,  a  report  of  which  was  laid  before  the  Royal  Society 
last  May,*  has  been  followed  by  another  series  in  which 
the  experimenters  have  investigated  the  effects  of  claret 
of  good  quality.  On  the  whole  the  results  arrived  at  are 
very  nearly  identical  with  those  of  the  former  experi¬ 
ments.  There  was  a  marked  increase  in  the  action  of 
the  heart  and  an  acceleration  of  the  pulse,  coinciding 
nearly  with  the  effect  produced  by  pure  alcohol ;  there 
was  no  unequivocal  alteration  of  temperature  in  the 
axilla  or  rectum,  no  alteration  in  the  elimination  of  ni¬ 
trogen,  no  alteration  in  the  phosphoric  acid  of  the  urine, 
some  augmentation  of  the  free  acidity  of  the  urine :  no 
alteration  of  the  alvine  discharges.  They  think  that 
claret  wTine,  in  doses  of  ten  to  twenty  ounces  daily,  can¬ 
not  be  distinguished  in  its  effect  from  pure  alcohol.  They 
do  not  go  so  far  as  to  say  that  the  dietetic  effects  of  red. 
Bordeaux  wine  and  of  dilute  alcohol  are  identical ;  but 
the  difference  between  them  must  be  sought  in  their 
effects  on  primary  digestion  and  assimilation.  The  in¬ 
fluence  of  the  sugar,  of  the  salts,  and  of  the  acidity, 
must  also  be  ascertained  by  other  methods  than  those 
adopted  by  them.  As  to  the  quantity  which  might  be 
thought  moderate,  ten  ounces  of  wine,  containing  about 
one  fluid  ounce  of  pure  alcohol,  did  not  cause  the  least 
unpleasant  feeling  of  heat  or  flushing  to  a  robust  and 
healthy  man  to  whom  it  was  given,  but  twenty  ounces- 
caused  him  to  feel  uncomfortable,  the  face  was  somewhat 
congested,  and  he  was  a  little  drowsy.  With  regard  to 
this  man  taking  any  alcohol  at  all,  they  were  decidedly 
of  opinion  that  he  wrould  be  better  without  it,  as  his 
heart  naturally  acts  quickly  and  strongly  enough.  He 
had  gone  through  the  Abyssinian  campaign,  and  stated 
that  when  the  force  was  without  rum,  owing  to  a  defi¬ 
ciency  of  transport,  he  had  not  felt  the  want  of  the  sti¬ 
mulant,  although  some  of  his  comrades  did. 


LINNEAN  SOCIETY. 

At  the  Meeting  of  this  Society  on  Dec.  1st  a  paper  by 
Dr.  Hance  was  read,  “  On  the  Source  of  Radix  Galangse 
minoris  of  Pharmacologists.”  The  source  of  the  Greater 
Galangal  has  long  been  known  to  be  Alpvna  Galanga, 
Linn.,  that  of  the  Lesser  Galangal  has  been  more  ob¬ 
scure.  Galangal  is  not  used  in  English  medical  prac¬ 
tice,  and  on  the  Continent  has  become  almost  obsolete ; 
its  export  from  China  is,  however,  considerable,  and  is 
rapidly  increasing,  as  the  following  table  will  show  : — 

lb.  Value. 

1867  .  112,000  .  £478  0  7 

1868  .  177,641  .  1206  13  5 

1869  ,  370,800  .  3046  16  9 

During  an  expedition  to  the  island  of  Hainan,  a  quan¬ 

tity  of  the  root  which  furnishes  the  Lesser  Galangal  was 
observed  exposed  to  the  sun  in  baskets.  On  a  subsequent 
occasion  the  plant  itself  was  discovered  at  a  spot  six  miles 
inland,  at  an  elevation  of  100  feet  above  the  sea,  grow¬ 
ing  in  a  dry  red  soil,  the  result  of  volcanic  action.  Here 
it  is  evidently  planted,  but  was  subsequently  detected 
growing  .wild  in  jungles  in  the  same  island ;  20  or  30 
stalks  spring  from  each  root,  hut  rarely  more  than  one  or 
two  bear  flowers.  The  fruit  appears  to  be  the  bitter 

*  Pliarm.  Journ.  3rd  Scries,  Yol.  I.  p.  136. 


474 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  in,  1870. 


"kind  of  cardamom  figured  by  Mr.  Hanbury.  The  plant  is 
closely  allied  to  Alpinia  calcarata,  which  flowers  readily 
in  the  Calcutta  Botanic  Gardens ;  but  was  determined 
by  Dr.  Hancc  to  be  a  perfectly  distinct  and  well-defined 
■species,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  Alpinia  officinanun. 
A  diagnosis  of  the  species  was  given  by  Dr.  Hance. 


ANDERSONIAN  UNIVERSITY  MEDICAL 

SCHOOL. 

At  the  opening  of  the  Winter  Session  of  the  Medical 
School  at  the  Andersonian  University,  Glasgow,  on 
November  26,  Dr.  Thorpe,  late  of  Owens  College,  Man¬ 
chester,  the  recently-appointed  Professor  of  Chemistry, 
delivered  the  introductory  lecture.  There  was  a  large 
attendance.  In  the  absence  of  the  President,  the  chair 
•was  taken  by  Mr.  Harvey. 

The  Chairman  said  the  institution  had  been  fortunate 
in  the  possession  of  men  of  great  talent.  To  go  back, 
they  had,  in  the  first  instance,  Dr.  Ure,  then  Dr.  Gregory, 
Dr.  Graham,  and  lastly,  one  not  the  least  among  them, 
Dr.  Penny.  He  trusted  that  the  selection  of  Dr.  Thorpe, 
whom  he  had  now  the  pleasure  to  introduce  to  the  au¬ 
dience,  would  be  equally  fortunate.  Dr.  Thorpe  had 
done  much  for  the  science,  young  as  ho  was,  and  he  (the 
Chairman)  trusted  he  would  live  still  further  to  extend 
that  knowledge  which  he  had  already  brought  before 
the  world,  and  which  was  worthy  of  older  men,  and  that 
he  would  be  able  to  produce  something  of  value  to  his 
students. 

Dr.  Thorpe  took  the  opportunity  of  expressing  the 
deep  sense  of  his  obligation  to  the  trustees  of  the  insti¬ 
tution,  who  had  elected  him  as  successor  to  men  whose 
names  gave  an  imperishable  lustre  to  science  and  the 
history  of  that  place.  He  continued — No  one  could  be 
more  profoundly  sensible  than  I  am  of  the  high  honour 
which  has  thus  been  conferred  upon  me,  and  no  one 
more  keenly  alive  to  the  great  responsibility  which  is 
thus  attached  to  my  office.  And  although  I  feel  how 
utterly  it  is  beyond  my  power  even  to  attempt  to  extend 
the  boundaries  of  chemical  science  as  did  Graham,  or 
the  range  of  chemical  literature  like  Gregory,  or  to 
emulate  the  power  of  clear  and  lucid  exposition  possessed 
by  my  predecessor,  Dr.  Penny,  I  trust  that  I  may  not 
be  found  wanting  in  the  desire  to  show  forth  the  labours 
of  these  and  other  men,  conscious  that  by  so  doing  to 
the  best  of  my  ability,  I  shall  reap  the  approbation  of 
your  trustees,  and  obtain  the  cordial  co-operation  of  my 
colleagues.  Thanks  to  the  untiring  exertions  and  zeal 
of  the  late  Professor  Penny,  the  chemical  reputation  of 
this  place  has  become  a  thing  to  be  highly  prized ;  and  I 
.assure  you,  gentlemen,  that  it  will  be  my  constant  effort, 
so  far  as  I  am  able,  to  cherish  and  maintain  it.  But,  to 
turn  now  to  my  more  immediate  subject,  I  feel  that  it 
would  be  in  the  highest  degree  presumptuous  in  me  to 
attempt  to  give  you  anything  like  the  usual  address  on 
occasions  of  this  nature.  Fully  impressed  with  the  truth 
.and  wisdom  of  the  old  maxim,  “Ne  sutor  ultra  crepi- 
,-dam,”  and  acting  under  the  advice  of  some  of  my  col¬ 
leagues,  I  wish  rather  to  confine  myself  to  the  subject 
with  which  I  am  connected,  and  attempt  to  indicate  to 
you  the  pro vince  of  the  science  which  I  have  the  honour 
to  teach. 

Dr.  Thorpe,  then  proceeded  to  give  an  address  upon 
modern  chemistry,  which  we  purpose  printing  as  soon 
•.as  we  have  space. 


THE  ST.  ANDREW’S  MEDICAL  GRADUATES’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

On  Friday  and  Saturday,  the  2nd  and  3rd  inst.,  the 
members  of  this  Association  met  at  the  Freemasons’ 
Tavern ;  Dr.  Richardson,  the  President,  took  the  chair 
an  the  first  day.  Several  honorary  members  were 
•elected. 

The  Treasurer’s  and  Council  reports  having  been  read, 
Dr.  H.  Day,  of  Stafford,  was  elected  President,  while 


Dr.  Richardson,  the  retiring  President,  was  elected  to 
the  new  office  of  President  of  the  Council. 

Dr.  Whitmore  read  a  paper  on  “  Sanitary  Defects  and 
Sanitary  Needs  of  the  Day,”  giving  statistics  to  prove 
that  in  the  last  thirty  years  there  has  been  no  decrease, 
but  rather  an  increase  in  the  rate  of  mortality,  especially 
during  the  last  ten  years,  in  which  sanitary  reforms 
have  been  most  actively  carried  out.  This  ho  attributed 
to  the  fact  that  sanitary  enactments  were  frequently  a 
dead  letter,  whilst  density  of  population  and  other  causes 
of  disease  have  much  increased. 

Dr.  Richardson  delivered  an  eloquent  address  on 
“  The  Future  of  Physic,”  in  which  ho  said  that  he  had 
been  led  to  think  that  it  would  be  a  pleasing  and  useful 
task  to  construct  a  history  of  the  science  of  medicine  in 
the  Victorian  era.  In  carrying  out  this  idea,  a  vista  of 
the  future  of  medicine  had  often  presented  itself,  of  the 
course  that  medical  science  will  take  under  the  influence 
of  change  of  thought  respecting  the  physical  forces  of 
the  universe,  giving  rise  to  the  question,  What  can  we 
who  now  exist  do  for  the  future  ?  At  present  we  live  in 
uncertainty ;  we  appear  to  dabble  with  questions  of  legis¬ 
lation  without  teaching  or  influencing  the  legislator, 
trusting  to  Government  protection  for  the  right  to  apply 
our  skill  instead  of  throwing  away  the  oppressive  shield 
it  loans  to  us.  He  advocated  the  complete  isolation  of 
medicine  from  the  trammels  of  such  legislation  as  leads 
to  useless  and  endless  attempts  to  put  down  quacks  by  the 
power  of  the  law.  The  influence  of  a  William  Harvey 
does  more  to  reform  medicine  than  all  the  medical  re¬ 
formers  that  ever  lived.  One  of  the  first  things  required 
is  the  simplification  of  the  language  used  by  medical 
men.  The  bringing  into  use  of  a  simple  and  reasonable 
scientific  language  would  be  an  important  service  ren¬ 
dered  to  physic.  It  is  essential  also  that  some  alteration 
be  made  in  training  our  sons  for  the  medical  profession. 
The  necessity  of  revising  and  extending  our  methods  of 
observation  was  then  alluded  to,  and  the  enlarged  field 
of  research  opened  up  by  recent  discoveries.  In  the 
future  of  physic,  too,  it  would  be  only  according  as  the 
'  good  of  the  community  was  sought  rather  than  that  of 
the  individual,  that  the  prosperity  of  the  profession 
would  be  secured. 


A  report  of  the  Second  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Ashton 
and  Dukinficld  Chemists’ Association  has  been  received, 
too  late  for  insertion,  in  consequence  of  having  been 
wrongly  sent  to  the  publishers  instead  of  the  editor. 


MEETINGS  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 
Monday,  3Iedical  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

London  Institution,  at  4  p.m. — “On  Chemical  Action” 
(Educational  Course).  By  Professor  Odling. 

Tuesday,  Loyal  Medical  and  Chirurgical ,  at  8.30  P.M. 

Photographic  Society,  at  8.30  p.m. 

Wednesday,  Society  of  Arts,  at  8  p.m. 

Microscopical  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

Thursday,  Loyal  Society,  at  8.30  p.m. 

Linnean  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

Chemical  Society,  at  8  P.M. 

London  Institution,  at  7.30  p.m. — “On  Count  Rumford 
and  his  Philosophical  Work.”  By  W.  M.  Williams. 
London  Chemists'  Asssociation,  at  9.30  p.m. — “The  Waste 
Products  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  Processes.”  By  G. 
Brownen. 


We  regret  to  have  to  record  the  death  of  Mr.  Charles 
Coles,  Pharmaceutical  Chemist,  of  Hampstead,  which 
happened  on  December  1,  after  a  few  days’  illness,  from 
inflammation  of  the  lungs.  The  deceased  gentleman, 
who  was  always  ready  to  render  any  service  to  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society,  attended  at  Bloomsbury  Squpe 
for  the  last  time  upon  the  occasion  of  the  late  election 
of  the  annuitants  on  the  Benevolent  Fund,  when  he 
I  signed  the  report  as  one  of  the  scrutineers. 


December  io,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


475 


A  Manual  of  Botany  :  including  the  Structure,  Func¬ 
tions,  Classification,  Properties,  and  Uses  of  Plants. 

By  Robert  Bentley,  F.L.S.,  etc.  Second  Edition. 

J.  Churchill  and  Sons.  1870. 

An  Elementary  Course  of  Botany,  Structural,  Phy¬ 
siological,  and  Systematic.  By  Professor  Arthur 

Henfrey,  F.R.S.,  etc.  Second  Edition,  revised  and 

in  part  re-written  by  Maxwell  T.  Masters,  M.D., 

F.R.S.,  etc.  Van  Voorst.  1870. 

One  chief  use  of  botanical  text-hooks  must  always  he 
.as  a  companion  and  aid  to  a  course  of  lectures ;  and  we 
trust  that  the  publication  within  the  same  year  of  new 
editions  of  such  important  works  as  Balfour’s  Class-hook, 
Bentley’s  Manual,  and  Henfrey’ s  Elementary  Course,  is  a 
sign  of  an  increasing  demand  for  instruction  in  botany. 
Not  that  a  good  text-hook  will  necessarily  handle  a  sub¬ 
ject  in  precisely  the  same  manner  as  it  will  he  discussed 
in  a  good  course  of  lectures.  We  hold  that  the  right 
mode  of  treatment  varies  under  the  two  circumstances. 
A  text-hook  must  always  start  from  the  very  com¬ 
mencement  of  the  subject,  taking  for  granted  that  the 
learner  is  entirely  ignorant  of  it,  and  proceeding  to  un¬ 
fold  it  step  by  step  in  logical  sequence.  The  lecturer 
has  the  great  advantage  that  he  can  soon  form  an  esti¬ 
mate  of  the  intelligence  of  his  class,  and  moreover  can 
often  demonstrate  by  a  single  reference  to  the  specimens 
with  which  his  pupils  are  supplied,  what  will  take  pages 
do  explain.  He  will  hence  frequently  he  able  to  make 
allusions  to  points  of  structure  and  to  phenomena,  the 
detailed  explanation  of  which  is  deferred  to  a  later  period 
•of  the  course. 

In  Professor  Henfrey’ s  ‘  Elementary  Course  of  Botany’ 
the  subject  is  handled  in  much  the  order  that  it  should 
be  in  a  course  of  lectures  :  first  comes  the  morphology 
of  each  separate  organ  in  succession,  the  root,  stem, 
leaves,  etc. ;  then  the  principles  and  systems  of  classifi¬ 
cation  ;  then  the  physiology  and  minute  structure ;  and 
finally,  geographical  and  geological  botany.  But,  ad¬ 
mirable  as  this  programme  is  in  the  lecture-room,  it  fails 
to  a  certain  extent  in  the  text-book ;  and  we  doubt  whe¬ 
ther  it  would  be  possible  for  a  learner  unaided  to  gain 
an  adequate  knowledge  of  botany  from  this  work.  To 
take  an  instance,  very  early  in  the  book  we  are  told  that 
“  adventitious  roots  take  their  origin  from  the  cambium- 
region,  tying  beneath  the  epidermis,  rind,  or  bark  of  the 
■stem,  and  break  their  way  out  through  this.”  Now  this 
sentence  would  be  quite  unintelligible  to  the  learner,  in¬ 
asmuch  as  it  is  not  till  several  hundred  pages  further  on 
that  he  will  find  any  explanation  of  what  is  meant  by 
the  term  “  cambium-region.”  The  lecturer  would,  on 
the  other  hand,  be  able  in  a  few  words  to  give  such  ex¬ 
planation  as  would  be  sufficient  for  his  present  purpose. 
The  able  editor  of  this  edition,  Dr.  Masters,  has  evidently 
frequently  been  hampered  by  the  divergence  of  his  own 
views  from  those  of  Professor  Henfrey,  and  the  work 
consequently  loses  something  in  unity.  Some  parts  also 
have  not  been  sufficiently  brought  down  to  the  present 
lime.  It  might  have  been  better  to  have  omitted  all  re¬ 
ference  to  vegetable  palaeontology  than  to  have  retained 
such  a  bald  and  incomplete  outline  as  we  find  in  the 
seven  pages  devoted  to  the  subject. 

The  relative  value  of  scientific  text-books  lies  so  much 
in  the  general  mode  of  treatment  rather  than  in  the  de- 
.scriptive  details,  which  are  now  almost  uniformly  accu¬ 
rate  and  reliable,  that  we  can  do  little  more  than  con¬ 
trast  the  two  works  before  us  in  the  former  respect. 
Professor  Bentley  commences  on  the  more  logical  plan  of 
•tracing  the  vegetable  structure  from  its  simplest  form  ; 
'describing  first  the  cell  as  an  individual,  tracing  it  through 
its  various  forms  and  degrees  of  complexity,  to  the  dif¬ 
ferent  kinds  of  tissue  and  the  contents  of  cells,  and  hence 
proceeding  to  the  various  organs  of  plants,  their  struc¬ 
ture  and  functions.  This  plan  has  the  advantage  that  it 


leads  the  student  step  by  step  from  the  known  to  the 
unknown ;  and  the  book  can  be  used  in  the  study  as  well 
as  the  lecture-room.  The  work  being  intended  especially 
“  as  a  practical  guide  to  the  properties  and  uses  of  plants,” 
we  find,  following  the  description  of  each  Natural  Order, 
an  account  of  its  medicinal  or  economic  properties,  with 
a  history  of  any  species  of  special  importance.  This  de¬ 
partment  contains  a  large  amount  of  information  indis¬ 
pensable  to  the  pharmaceutist,  which  he  will  not  find  in 
so  convenient  a  form  elsewhere. 

The  best  plan  to  give  an  idea  of  the  completeness  of 
the  ‘  Manual’  as  a  Handbook  of  Botany,  will  be  simply 
to  recapitulate  the  headings  of  the  chapters.  The  first 
book,  Organography,  or  Structural  and  Morphological 
Botany,  embraces  general  morphology  of  the  plant  (sim¬ 
ply  introductory) ;  elementary  structure  of  plants,  or 
vegetable  histology,  including  the  cell  as  an  individual, 
and  the  kinds  of  cells  and  their  connection  with  each 
other ;  organs  of  nutrition  or  vegetation,  the  stem,  root, 
and  leaf ;  organs  of  reproduction,  the  inflorescence,  floral 
envelopes,  stamens,  pistil,  fruit,  ovule  and  seed ;  general 
morphology  or  theoretical  structure  of  the  flower ;  and 
reproductive  organs  of  Cryptogams.  The  second  book, 
Systematic  Botany,  or  the  Classification  of  Plants,  in¬ 
cludes  systems  of  classification ;  and  the  arrangement, 
character,  distribution,  properties,  and  uses  of  the  Na¬ 
tural  Orders.  The  third  book,  Physiology,  embraces 
special  physiology,  including  the  physiology  of  the  ele- 
meritary  structures,  physiology  of  the  organs  of  nutri¬ 
tion,  and  physiology  of  the  organs  of  reproduction  ;  and 
general  physiology,  or  the  life  of  the  whole  plant,  includ¬ 
ing  food  of  plants  and  its  sources,  life  of  the  whole  plant  or 
the  plant  in  action ;  and  special  phenomena  of  plant  life. 

The  very  large  amount  of  information  useful  to  stu¬ 
dents  or  practisers  of  pharmacy  will  be  illustrated  by  the 
following  quotation  of  the  properties  and  uses  of  the 
Order  Marantaceie  : — 

“  The  rhizomes  of  some  species  contain  starch,  which, 
when  extracted,  is  extensively  employed  for  food.  One 
species  has  been  described  as  possessing  aromatic  and 
stimulant  properties ;  this,  if  true,  is  a  marked  departure 
from  the  general  properties  of  the  Order,  for  one  of  its 
distinctive  characters  from  Zingibcracccc  is  usually  con¬ 
sidered  to  be  the  absence  of  such  qualities. 

“  Ganna. — One  or  more  species  of  this  genus  yield 
tous-les-mois ,  a  very  pure  and  useful  starch,  now  largely 
consumed  in  this  country  and  elsewhere.  _  The  exact 
species  of  Canna  from  which  this  starch  is  obtained, 
is  not  positively  known ;  it  is  said  to  be  C.  edulis ,  but  it 
is  just  as  probable  to  be  derived  also  from  C.  glauca  and 
C.  Achiras.  A  rhizome  called  ‘  African  Turmeric, ’  from 
its  resemblance  in  appearance  and  properties  to  ordinary 
commercial  turmeric,  has  been  described  by  Dr.  Daniell 
in  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal.  The  plant  producing 
it  is  said  to  be  the  Canna  speciosa  of  Roscoe.  It  requires 
further  investigation.  The  seeds  of  C.  indica  are  com¬ 
monly  known  under  the  name  of  Indian  Shot,  from  their 
black  colour  and  hardness,  etc.  The  seeds  of  this  and 
other  species  are  made  use  of  as  beads.  The  rhizomes 
or  tubers  of  some  species  are  eaten  as  a  vegetable. 

“  Maranta.  M.  arundinacea. — The  rhizomes  or  tubers 
of  this  plant  contain  a  large  quantity  of  starch,  which, 
when  extracted,  constitutes  West  Indian  arrowroot,  one 
of  the  purest  and  best  known  of  the  amylaceous  sub¬ 
stances  used  as  food.  As  this  arrowroot  is  now  obtained 
from  M.  arundinacea  in  other  parts  of  the  world  besides 
the  West  Indies,  it  is  best  distinguished  as  Maranta 
starch.  It  forms  a  very  firm  jelly,  and  is,  perhaps,  the 
most  palatable  and  digestible  starch  known.  The  name 
arrowroot  was  originally  applied  to  this  plant  from  the 
fact  of  its  bruised  rhizome  being  employed  by  the 
native  Indians  as  an  application  to  the  poisonous  wounds 
inflicted  by  their  arrows.  The  name  arrowroot  has  since 
been  given  to  various  other  starches  used  as  food  in  this 
country  and  elsewhere.  M.  ramosissima  is  also  used  in 
the  East  Indies  for  obtaining  arrowroot.” 


47G 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  10,  1870, 


It  will  be  seen  from  this  epitome  and  extract  that  we  J 
have  here  a  complete  vade  mecum  on  all  subjects  con¬ 
nected  with  the  physiology  and  pharmaceutical  pro¬ 
perties  of  the  vegetable  kingdom.  The  size  of  the  volume 
is  so  convenient  that  it  ought  to  be  in  the  hands  of  every 
student  and  every  practitioner. 

The  Manual  is  now  so  well  known  that  we  need  dilate 
no  further  on  its  merits,  more  than  to  welcome  this 
second  edition.  If  wo  may  venture  a  hint  to  all  writers 
of  similar  works,  we  would  ask  why  it  is  necessary  to 
muddle  the  brains  of  a  student  by  describing  at  length 
half-a-dozen  old  worn-out  systems  of  classification,  which 
have  now  fallen  entirely  into  disuse,  and  might  well  be 
consigned  to  oblivion. 


The  Natural  History  of  Commerce,  with  a  Copious 
List  of  Commercial  Terms  and  their  Synonyms  in 
Several  Languages.  By  John  Yeats,  LL.D.,  F.R.G.S., 
F.G.S.,  etc.,  assisted  by  several  Scientific  Gentlemen, 
pp.  xvi.  436.  Illustrated  with  Mcyen’s  Botanical- 
Geographical  Map.  London,  Cassell,  Potter  and  Gal- 
pin.  1870. 

The  subject  of  technical  education  is  one  of  great  im¬ 
portance,  and  though  a  book  like  the  one  before  us  is  not 
calculated  to  aid  those  intending  to  practise  pharmacy  in 
the  acquisition  of  technical  knowledge  of  a  high  standard 
as  is  now  with  them  a  legal  necessity,  yet  the  dissemina¬ 
tion  of  such  information  as  it  contains  amongst  the  less 
specially  educated  classes  is  a  matter  of  interest  to  all, 
and  the  well-being  of  the  country  at  large  is  affected  for 
better  or  for  worse  as  its  rate  of  diffusion  is  greater  or  less. 

On  the  Continent  trade  education  is  well  looked  to  by 
the  respective  governments,  and  books  are  published 
with  the  specific  object  of  enlightening  the  future  mer¬ 
chant  or  artisan  on  the  characters  and  properties  of  the 
substances  which  ho  will  have  to  trade  in  or  manipulate. 
The  author  in  his  Introduction,  speaking  of  the  technical 
schools  of  Leipzig,  Antwerp,  Berlin  and  Amsterdam, 
says : — 

“In  them  the  future  Dutch  or  German  merchant  is 
taught  to  look  beyond  the  limits  of  the  Zollverein,  and  to 
regard  the  world  at  large  as  a  vast  storehouse,  with  the 
contents  of  which  he  must  make  himself  familiar.  At 
school  he  studies  the  sources  of  supply  for  the  goods  he 
must  hereafter  deal  in.  A  counting-house,  he  is  told, 
is  a  place  in  which  he  will  be  expected  to  use  his  know¬ 
ledge,  and  not  to  seek  it.  He  is  first  made  acquainted 
with  the  laws  and  conditions  of  soil  and  climate,  and 
then  brought  into  contact  with  specimens  of  produce 
from  the  different  kingdoms  of  nature these  he  is  re¬ 
quired  to  examine  and  describe  methodically.” 

The  book  is  divided  into  four  parts,  viz. : — I.  Geo¬ 
graphy  of  the  Home  Country,  the  adjacent  Continent, 
our  Colonial  Dependencies  and  Foreign  Trade  Connec¬ 
tions  (pp.  1-125)  ;  II.  Commercial  Products  of  the  Ve¬ 
getable  Kingdom  (pp.  128-255)  ;  III.  Commercial  Pro¬ 
ducts  of  the  Animal  Kingdom  (pp.  257-348) ;  and  IV. 
Raw  Mineral  Produce  (pp.  349-385).  These,  again,  are 
subdivided  into  other  divisions. 

In  Part  I.  there  is  much  useful  information  on  the 
geographical  aspect  of  the  question,  which  will,  doubt¬ 
less,  prove  of  great  use.  We  should  have  been  sorry 
indeed  it  all  reference  to  the  geography  of  the  sub¬ 
ject  had  been  omitted.  The  dearth  of  such  knowledge  is 
great ;  even  amongst  those  who  have  received  a  fair  edu¬ 
cation,  it  is  often  exceedingly  vague.  After  giving  some 
account  of  the  home  products,  the  foreign  produce  is 
treated  of,  and  the  flora  and  fauna  of  the  zonal,  divisions 
indicated.  From  the  fact  that  this  part  received  the 
revision  of  Professor  Hughes,  its  accuracy  may  be  re¬ 
lied  on. 

In  Part  II.,  to  which  wo  shall  more  especially  address 
ourselves,  wo  have  the  subject  subdivided  into  two  parts  ^ 
Food  Plants  and  Industrial  and  Medicinal  Plants  ; 
the  former  distributed  under  seven  classes,  and  the  latter 
under  ten. 


Amongst  the  cereals  wo  fail  to  find  any  good  account 
of  rice,  though  it  is  imported  in  vast  quantities  into  this 
country  for  home  and  foreign  consumption.  There  is  a 
poor  account  of  Bengal  rice,  none  of  its  many  varieties 
being  mentioned.  No  mention  is  made  of  Madras,  of 
Rangoon,  of  Necransie  (called  Arracan  after  being* 
cleaned),  of  Bassein,  or  of  Siam  rices. 

In  the  account  of  Cemtonia  siliqua  we  read  “supposed 
to  be  tho  locust  bean  on  which  St.  John  the  Baptist  fed.” 
This  should  have  received  greater  qualification  by  the 
word  “  erroneously  ”  being  inserted  before  the  word  “  sup¬ 
posed,”  as,  without  doubt,  tho  animal  locust  is  meant ;  it 
being  to  this  day  a  delicacy  with  native  tribes  where  it 
is  found. 

Cctnm  coccinen  is  stated,  with  a  query,  to  be  the  source 
of  Tous-les-mois  ;  as  it  is  a  fibrous  and  not  a  tuberous  rooted 
plant,  this  cannot  be  the  case :  it  is  most  likely  C. 
edulis. 

Hebradendron  cambogioid'es  of  Graham  is  given  instead 
of  Garcinia  morella  as  the  source  of  gamboge. 

Under  the  “  Gums  and  Gum-resins”  there  is  no  men¬ 
tion  of  myrrh,  galbanum  or  ammoniacum.  Olibanum, 
in  spite  of  the  researches  of  Carter,  Birdwood  and 
others,  is  still  said  to  come  from  Basic  cilia  serruta.  Under 
“  Medicinal  Barks  ”  the  Countess  of  Chinchon  is  quoted 
as  the  “  Countess  of  Cinchona,”  though  if  it  were  true, 
the  case  of  Gin  v.  Chin  would  be  unknown.  The  source 
of  red  bark  is  stated  to  be  “not  yet  ascertained.”  A  re¬ 
ference  to  any  work  on  materia  meclica  will,  however, 
show  that  C.  sneeirnbra ,  Pavon,  ms.,  is  the  plant  yielding 
it.  Id  crania  excelsa  is  not  mentioned ;  Quassia  amara  es¬ 
capes  with  the  statement  “  is  a  valuable  febrifuge ;”  but 
the  seeds  of  Sim  aba  Cedron,  truly  an  interesting  object, 
though  seen  only  in  our  museums,  has  nearly  twelve  lines 
devoted  to  it.  Again,  Chondrus  Crispins  is  mentioned,  but 
why  is  Cetraria  islandica  left  out  ? 

Gambier  and  Cutch  are  both  put  down  to  the  account 
of  Acacia  Catechu ,  but  Gambier  is  obtained  from  a  rubiace- 
ous  plant,  Uncaria  Garnbir.  In  several  places  only  one 
plant  is  mentioned  as  producing  a  certain  substance, 
whereas  there  are  several.  Ilex  Paraguagensis  is  the  only 
source  of  mate  given ;  Mr.  Miers  has  mentioned  eight, 
Gutta  percha  is  mentioned  as  from  one  plant  Isonandra 
gutta;  but  the  researches  of  Do  Yriese,  Reinwarut, 
Motley  and  others,  now  that  least  a  dozen  afford  it. 

Some  of  the  substances  are  badly  arranged ;  mustard 
and  the  oil  of  illicium  (though  their  Natural  Orders  are 
indicate  1)  are  grouped  under  “  Umbelliferous  Plants  with 
Aromatic  Fruits.”  Under  essential  oils,  oil  of  illicium  is 
not  mentioned* 

We  have  thus  freely  criticized  this  part,  because  there 
are  many  good  points  in  the  book,  and  there  is  no  reason 
why  a  certain  standard  of  excellence  having  been  attained 
in  a  portion  of  it,  the  whole  should  not  be  all  one  could 
desire.  It  requires  careful  revisal,  and  the  recent  litera¬ 
ture  of  the  subject  to  be  well  attended  to.  A  nice  power 
of  discrimination  is  required  to  judge  between  necessary 
and  unnecessary  matter,  for  however  interesting  a  sub¬ 
stance  may  bo,  if  it  does  not  actually  occur  in  commerce, 
it  should  be  unhesitatingly  excluded.  More  attention 
should  have  been  paid  to  state  the  commercial  varieties, 
and  short  terse  descriptions  of  each  article  given,  so  as  to 
enable  the  student  to  compare  it  with  the  substance  itself, 
and  thus  strengthen  him  in  the  habit  of  “  describing 
methodically.” 

Our  space  will  not  allow  us  to  go  into  detail  with  Part 
III.  We  must  say,  however,  that  it  is  capitally  arranged, 
and  contains  a  large  amount  of  interesting  information, 
given  in  a  very  readable  style. 

We  cannot  close  our  notice  without  directing  attention, 
to  the  very  valuable  Appendix.  It  consists  of  nearly  400 
names  of  substances  and  their  synonyms,  in  24  languages. 
It  will  doubtless  prove  a  great  boon,  and  we  should  like 
to  see  it  enlarged  and  published  in  a  sepiirate  form. 

The  book  deserves  success.  It  is  well  got  up,  and  the 
i  type  and  paper  are  good. 


December  10, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


477 


gtotes  into  Qumes. 


***  In  order  to  facilitate  reference ,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  their  ansiccrs  in  each  case  with  the  title 
and  number  of  the  quern  icfcrrcd  to. 

No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  ter  iter. 

[5.] — LABELS  FOR  HERBARIA. — Should  “Botanist” 
be  obliged  to  have  his  own  labels  printed,  the  following  form 
may  be  of  use  to  him : — The  plants  to  be  mounted  on  car¬ 
tridge  paper,  placing  above  them  the  suborder  or  genera, 
and  below,  the  species,  common  name,  locus  and  tempus  (or 
place  where  and  time  when  gathered),  and  divide  into  fasciculi 
(or bundles). — AAncit  Amok  Pateije. 

Labels  for  herbaria  can  be  had  from  G.  Witt,  King’s  Lynn, 
at  os.  per  1000.  I  enclose  one. — E.  M. 

Mr.  M.  Beane  recommends  Newman’s  Botanical  Drving- 
paper  as  the  best  for  herbaria  purposes.  It  may  be  obtained 
at  9,  Devonshire  Street,  Bishopsgate,  price  15s.  to  18s.  per 
ream.  He  also  says  that  a  book  of  botanical  labels  was  pub¬ 
lished  by  the  Botanical  Society  of  London,  which  might  be 
obtained  from  Mr.  Van  Voorst,  Paternoster  Row ;  but  he 
ithinks  it  is  better  to  have  a  blank  form  of  label  printed,  as 
-the  duplicate  labels  in  the  book  arc  limited. 

[30.] — HAIR-OIL  SCENT. — II.  P.  Meander  sends  the 
following : — 

01.  Lavand.  5xvj 
Ol.  liosmar.  yxvj 
01.  Cassai  §ij 
01.  Caryoph.  ^iv. 

It  costs  about  3s.  per  lb. 

[37.]— EAU  DE  PORTUGAL. — J.  F.  (Aberdeen)  in 
answer  to  a  correspondent,  sends  the  following  recipe: — 

R.  01.  Limonis  5vj 

Ol.  Verbenae  gtt.  xv 

01.  Bergamot  5j 

Otto  Rosse  gtt.  xv 

Sp.  V.  Rect.  M. 

[39.] — LIQUOR  COCCI. — A  reply  has  been  received  from 
J.  1. 11.  similar  to  one  given  last  week. 

[48.]— CRYSTALLINE  POMADE.—"  Utile  ”  (Boston) 
begs  to  inform  A.  H.  C.  that  the  following  makes  a  good 
crystalline  pomade : — 

R.  Oil  of  Almonds  5XX1V 

Castor  Oil  3 viij 
Spermaceti  §iv 
Palm  Oil  5vj 
Oil  of  Verbena, 

„  Cassia, 

Otto  of  Rose,  each  ^Ixl 
Essence  of  Bergamot  5j 

Mix. 

[57.] — FLORIDA  WATER. —  Geo.  Veanall,  Chemist, 
Cranleigh,  Surrey,  can  supply  “Nemo”  (Sudbury). 

[59.] — DISPENSING. — Although  four  replies  have  been 
made  to  this  query,  all  of  them  have  failed  to  notice  the  only 
point  worthy  of  attention,  viz.  that  the  quantity  of  salts 
ordered  is  not  soluble  in  a  mixture  containing  one-fourth  of 
its  volume  of  rectified  spirit,  the  heat  generated  by  mixing 
K  oz.  of  a  rectified  tincture  with  4.V  oz.  of  water  being  suffi¬ 
cient  to  keep  the  salts  in  solution  for  a  time,  but  before  two 
•doses  had  been  taken  the  remainder  would  have  set  into  a 
magma  of  small  crystals.  I  fail  to  get  the  copious  black 
precipitate  noticed  by  your  querist,  the  slight  deposit  there 
is  being  due  to  resin,  etc.,  from  the  ginger  slightly  darkened 
by  the  iron. — J.  H.  Baldock,  S.  Nonoood. 

The  peculiar  black  precipitate  which  M.  Masson  did  not 
•discover  (was  his  tinct.  zingib.  B.P.  ?),  but  which  ~  Magnesia  ” 
and  others  found,  is  clearly  accounted  for  by  the  action  of  the 
lerri  sulph.  on  the  resin,  etc.  of  the  tinct.  zingiberis.  The 
undissolved  quime  sulph.  carries  mechanically  the  result— a 
dark,  resinous  tannate  (?)  of  iron — to  the  bottom  of  the  liquid, 
leaving  an  almost  discoloured  solution  of  magnes.  sulph.  above. 
I  cordially  endorse  3’our  opinion  as  to  the  impropriety  of  in¬ 
troducing  acid,  sulph.  dil.  in  such  a  case. — Alpha. 


[61.] — TASTELESS  PILLS. — With  regard  to  the  inqui¬ 
ries  of  two  of  your  correspondents,  I  have  been  accustomed  to 
coat  mjr  pills  with  a  mixture  of  pulv.  gum  tragacanth  and 
p.  sacch.  alb.  in  equal  proportions.  After  having  well  shaken 
them  with  a  small  quantity  of  white  of  egg,  and  dusted  them 
liberally  with  the  powder  I  have  named,  they  attain  a  slowly 
soluble  coating,  pleasant  to  the  taste,  and  of  smooth  surface. 
— J.  T.  R. 

[63.]— GREEN  FLUID  FOR  SHOW  BOTTLES.— J". 
Barker  (Sudbury)  writes : — “  In  answer  to  IF.  IF.,  sulphate 
of  copper  and  nitric  acid,  diluted  with  water,  form  a  very  pretty 
green.  I  have  some  now  in  my  window,  made  in  1851,  and 
it  is  perfectly  bright  and  clear,  and  entirely  free  from  any 
deposit  whatever.” 

C.  Fields  (Stamford)  and  “Pestle  and  Mortar”  (Dorking) 
recommend  copper  coins  or  wire  treated  with  nitric  acid. 

Chloride  of  nickel,  diluted  to  the  desired  tint,  is  the  best ; 
chloride  of  copper  also  gives  a  good  colour. — J.  H.  Baldock, 
S'.  Nonoood. 

The  following  will  give  a  good  bright  colour  :— 

Solution  of  Cupri  Acet. 

%  Diluted  Acetic  Acid. 

Mix  and  add — 

Solution  bichrom.  of  potass,  q.  s.  to  get  the  colour  required. 
— H.  Bland,  Scarborough. 

A  very  beautiful  and  permanent  emerald  green  can  be 
obtained"  by  dissolving  nickel  in  dilute  sulphuric  acid  with 
heat. — Pestle  and  Moetae. 

R.  Cupri  Sulph.  partem  unam 
Sodii  Chloridi  partes  duas. 

Dissolve  in  water  and  dilute  to  desired  shade. — H.  Stokey. 

The  following  dce3  not  contain  more  than  5  grains  of  solid 
matter  to  the  gallon,  and  can  be  altered  in  shade  to  any 
degree  by  the  addition  of  the  bichromate  :— 

Liq.  Fer.  Perch.  Fort.  P.B.  "iv 
Sol.  Potass.  Pruss.  «lv 
Acid.  Hydrochlor.  Pur.  iqx 
Scl.  Potass.  Bichromat.  «lv  vel  q.  s. 

Aquae  cong.  ij. 

The  solutions  should  be  saturated,  and  the  acid  the  strong 
P.B. 

[64.]— COLD  CREAM.— 

R.  Cer.  Alb., 

Cetacei,  ana  |]  5>'j 
Ol.  Amygdal.  3  viij 
Aquae  Rosae  §iv 
Otto  de  Rose  gtt.  ij. 

Dissolve  the  wax  and  spermaceti;  add  the  oil;  then  gra¬ 
dually  mix  with  the  rose  water,  previously  made  warm. 

[65.]— DIAMOND  CEMENT. 

R.  Ichthyoc.  Opt.  §vj 
Gum  Mastic  §ij 
„  Olibani  gij 
Aquae  Purse 
Sp.  Vini  Rect.  §xij 

Dissolve  the  isinglass  in  the  water  (in  a  water  bath),  then 
stir  in  the  mastic  previously  dissolved  in  the  sp.  vini,  and 
lastly  stir  in  the  oliba-num  in  the  state  of  an  impalpable  powder. 
— J.  W.  Selwojb. 

Isinglass  in  strong  acetic  acid  to  the  consistence  of  a  paste 
gives  a  good,  clear  cement. — J.  H.  Baldock,  S.  Nonoood. 

[67.]— TINCT.  PRUNI  VIRGINIAN  JE. — 

R.  Wild  Cherry  Bark,  bruised,  2  ounces. 

Proof  Spirit,  20  ounces. 

Digest  for  fourteen  days;  express,  and  filter.  Or  the 
tincture  may  be  better  prepared  by  the  process  of  displace¬ 
ment  or  percolation. — Alfked  Utley. 

See  paper  by  Professor  Bentley  on  Primus  (Cerasus) 
Virginians  in  PflARM.  Journal,  Vol.  Ar.  Second  Series; 
form  for  tincture,  page  105. 

A  similar  answer  has  been  received  from  J.  M.  Baldock 
(S.  Norwood);  and  others  from  C.  Fields  (Stamford)  and 
(S'.  M.  S.  (AVeymouth),  giving  seven  days  for  digesting. 


1 68.]— POT  POURRI. — “  Iodif  (Sudbury)  would  be  glad 
of  a  recipe  for  making  pot  pourri.” 


478 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  10, 1 870, 


[69.]— FRENCH  ESSENCES. — “Odor”  would  feel  ex¬ 
tremely  obliged  to  any  brother  chemist  who  would  kindly 
supply  him  with  some  practical  information  relative  to  the 
strength  and  process  of  preparing  essences  from  floral  po¬ 
mades  as  practised  by  manufacturing  perfumers. 

[70.] — DISPENSING. — Will  any  of  your  readers  kindly 
give  me  their  opinion  as  to  the  best  method  of  dispensing 
the  following  liniment?— 

R.  01.  Camph.  ^ij 

Ext.  Belladonnce  3ss. 

M.,  ft.  linimentum.  J.  S.  A. 

[71.] — CORN  PLASTER. — “Utile”  would  feel  greatly 
obliged  by  any  of  our  correspondents  giving  him  a  good  for¬ 
mula  for  a  corn  plaister  that  would  do  to  spread  on  sheeting. 

[72.] — COUGH  BALSAM. — “ A  Correspondent”  wishes 
for  a  recipe  for  a  celebrated  cough  balsam. 

[73.] — CHLORODA'NE. — 31.  P.  S.  desires  to  be  furnished 
with  a  recipe  for  chlorodyne  soluble  in  water. 

[74.] — TOILET  VINEGAR. — “Reciprocate”  would  be 
obliged  by  any  correspondent  giving  a  formula  for  toilet 
vinegar. 

[75.]— DECAYED  TEETH.— G.  W.  P.  (Manchester) 
would  like  to  know  what  is  the  best  and  safest  thing  to  use 
for  destroying  the  nerve  of  a  decayed  tooth.  Something  in 
the  form  of  a  paste  is  preferred. 

[76.]— GLYCERINE  JELLY. — T.  31.  (Worksop)  would 
like  a  recipe  for  making  transparent  glycerine  jelly  either 
with  tragacanth  or  isinglass. 

[77.] — DISPENSING. — Can  any  of  your  readers  inform 
me  how  I  can  dispense  the  following  mixture  so  as  the  result 
shall  be,  without  Altering,  perfectly  clear  ?  It  has  been  dis¬ 
pensed  in  London,  and  every  time  a  clear  mixture  was  sent 
out.  I  have  dispensed  it  some  twenty  or  thirty  times,  and  it 
has  always  been  milky  ? 

R.  Acid.  Phosph.  Dil.  B.P.  5iij 
Ferri  Cit.  c.  Quin.  5j 
Tinct.  Nucis  Vomicce  5j 
Sp.  Chloroformi  5ij 
Aq.  Destill,  ad  ^vj. 

Ft.  mist.  One  tablespoonful  to  be  taken  in  half  a  wine¬ 
glass  of  water,  at  eleven  and  five. — “Exhibatur.” 

[78.]— PASTE  FOR  CLEANING  METALS. — “ Polio” 
will  be  glad  if  any  correspondent  will  inform  him  of  a  good 
recipe  for  making  a  paste  to  clean  and  polish  brass,  tin,  etc. 

[79.] — PASTIL  PAPER. — Can  any  of  your  readers  give 
me  a  form  for  making  a  good  aromatic  pastil  paper  ? — 
G.  H.  B. 

[80.] — DISPENSING. — Will  some  of  your  readers  kindly 
tell  me  the  best  method  to  pursue  in  dispensing  the  follow¬ 
ing  prescription  ? 

R.  Syr.  Tolutan.  5vj 
Bals.  Peruv.  5yj 
Tinct.  Nucis  Vom.  5\j 
Aquae  Camph.  ad  ^vj. 

M.  S. — A  dessertspoonful  frequently.  “  Cortex.” 

[81.]  SYRUP  OF  TAMARINDS. — “ 3Iedicu$”  wishes 
for  a  recipe  for  a  syrup  of  tamarinds,  as  a  basis  for  cough 
mixtures. 

[82.]  COLOURS  FOR  CARBOYS. — 31.  is  desirous  to 
know  the  best  way  of  preparing  green,  crimson  and  blue 
colours  for  carboys. 

[83.]  ORANGE  BITTERS. — 31.  P.  S.  and  “Iota”  wish 
for  a  recipe  for  orange  bitters. 

[84.]  PEPPERMINT  CORDIAL. — 31.  P.  S.  wishes  for 
a  recipe  for  making  peppermint  cordial. 

[85.]-  GINGER  BRANDA. — 31.  P.  S.  wishes  for  a 
recipe  for  making  ginger  brandy. 

[86.]  PICK-ME-UP. — “  Iota  ”  asks  for  a  recipe  for 
making  “  Pick-me-up.” 

[87.]  GUM  COWRIE. — AT.  Q.  Z.  wishes  to  be  informed 
what  is  gum  cowrie. 


CamsgMim 


***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

“  The  Storing  oe  Poisons.” 

Sir, — Your  report  of  Mr.  Smith’s  paper  “On  the  Storing 
of  Poisons,”  read  by  him  at  the  Liverpool  Conference  haa 
much  interested  me,  and  I  regret  that  press  of  business 
prevented  its  being  discussed. 

When  our  Council  introduced  their  code  of  restrictions,  it 
was  generally  supposed  to  be  a  spontaneous  act  on  their  part  ? 
and,  with  others,  I  signed  a  protest  against  any  compulsory 
regulations ;  but  having  since  learned  that  they  only  yielded  to 
Governmental  pressure,  I  now  feel  that  it  is  no  longer  a  ques¬ 
tion  whether  we  shall  have  any  or  no  legal  restrictions  laid 
upon  us,  but  toliat  they  shall  be,  and  therefore  it  becomes 
each  and  all  of  us  to  assist  our  Council  to  conclusions  that 
will  satisfy  the  Government  and  the  public  without  unduly 
fettering  ourselves. 

For  this  reason,  I  venture  to  express  my  unqualified  ap¬ 
proval  of  Mr.  Smith’s  suggestions.  They  commend  them¬ 
selves  to  my  judgment  as  simple,  efficient  and  practical ;  and 
in  support  of  these  views  I  would  say  that  I  have  kept  and 
sold  oxalic  acid  wrapped  in  purple  paper  for  some  years- 
past,  and  believe  it  has  been  a  useful  safeguard.  Also,  that 
I  have  kept .  dangerous  poisons  for  dispensing  purposes  in¬ 
purple  glass  bottles;  and  I  believe  that,  if  the  plan  were  fully 
carried  out,  it  would  be  as  effectual  a  preventive  of  accidents 
as  could  be  adopted,  without  hindering  business  or  inducing 
a  dangerous  trust  in  mechanical  contrivances.  It  is  not  need¬ 
ful  for  those  who  have  poison  cupboards  to  do  away  with 
them ;  but  the  well-known  fact  that  many  rarely-used  but 
innocent  preparations  are  often  kept  in  such  cupboards,  makes 
the  necessity  for  some  distinction  in  the  bottles  self-evident. 

I  sympathize  with  Mr.  Smith’s  objection  to  alternative- 
regulations.  Unless  the  system  adopted  is  one,  and  so  simple- 
that  it  could  be  made  universal  without  difficulty,  it  would  be 
worse  than  valueless. 

The  chief  difficulty,  to  my  mind,  is  the  fact  that,  in  the  pre¬ 
sent  Schedule,  comparatively  innocent  preparations  are  classed 
with  the  most  virulent  as  “poisons.”  Such  an  arrangement; 
would  mar  the  usefulness  of  any  plan,  if  applied  to  all.  We 
cannot  associate  an  idea  of  danger  with  such  articles  as  syrup 
of  poppies  or  paregoric. 

I  also  object  to  the  indefinite  wording  of  the  present  sche¬ 
dule,  such  as  “  Opium,  and  all  preparations  of  opium,  or  of 
poppies.”  Every  legal  “  poison  ”  should  be  distinctly  named, 
and  only  such  preparations  be  included  in  the  schedule  as 
may,  from  their  intensity  or  peculiarity,  be  considered  truly 
dangerous. 

It  appears  to  me,  therefore,  that  the  first  thing  to  be  done 
is  to  get  the  schedule  revised.  When  this  is  accomplished, 
there  will  not  be  much  difficulty  in  applying  the  principles 
advocated  by  Mr.  Smith  to  the  “  Storing  of  Poisons.” 

John  C.  Poolet. 


Sir, — I  beg  to  submit  the  following  plan  to  your  notice  for 
the  storing  of  poisons.  As  its  adoption  would  ensure  a  ready 
system  whereby  order  could  be  maintained  in  the  position  of 
the  bottles,  I  sincerely  hope  that  some  of  your  correspondents 
may  be  pleased  with  the  idea. 

Let  the  shelves  be  covered  with  thin  strata  of  wood,  or 
other  rigid  material,  in  which  holes  have  been  cut  correspond¬ 
ing  with  the  size  and  number  of  the  bottles;  a  convenient 
space  should  be  left  between  the  shelves  and  covering, — each 
bottle  being  thus  fitted  closely  in  separate  divisions,  and,  pre¬ 
suming  that  they  are  of  ordinary  variety,  it  would  be  ex¬ 
tremely  difficult,  without  gross  carelessness,  to  misplace  them. 

The  closet  might  also  be  fitted  with  grooves  in  which  the- 
shelves  could  slide,  by  which  the  additional  advantage  would 
be  obtained  of  permitting  a  closer  inspection  when  required. 

I  may  add  that,  during  a  ten  years’  experience  in  some  of 
our  leading  dispensing  establishments,  I  have  not  seen  or 
heard  of  any  arrangement  so  simple,  or  more  practical,  than 
the  one  just  described.  J.  T.  R. 


December  io,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


479 


Fox’s  “Palatable”  Cod-liver  Oil  and  Castor  Oil. 

Sir, — Our  attention  has  been  directed  to  the  report  in  your 
Journal  of  the  transactions  of  the  Liverpool  Chemists’  Associa¬ 
tion,  November  10th,  at  which  meeting  the  President  directed 
attention  to  “palatable”  cod-liver  oil,  stating  that  “he  ob¬ 
served  that  a  circular  accompanied  each  bottle,  with  testimo¬ 
nials  from  medical  men,  and  some  who  held  the  title  of 
F.C.S.,  and  he  could  not  understand  how  such  men  could  lend 
their  names  to  a  practice  by  which  the  public  were  led  to  be¬ 
lieve  that  they  were  purchasing  genuine  cod-liver  oil,  whereas 
what  they  received  was  only  about  half  oil.” 

The  President  appears  to  wish  the  Association  to  infer  that 
we  are  deceiving  the  public  by  thus  introducing  the  “palat¬ 
able  oils.”  Now,  our  object  has  been  the  very  reverse  of 
this.  We  have  distinctly  and  repeatedly  stated  that  they 
are  a  preparation,  and  contain  a  proportion  of  oil;  and  if  the 
public  will  but  take  the  trouble  to  look,  they  can  see  this  for 
themselves.  Had  we  not  thus  have  placed  the  “  palatable  ”  oils 
before  the  public,  but  led  them  to  believe,  as  stated,  that 
they  were  oils  only,  the  sale  would  not  have  reached  the  ex¬ 
tent  it  has.  Again,  our  preparations  are  specially  intended 
for  those  who  cannot  take  the  simple  oil,  and  who  therefore 
would  not  have  the  remotest  wish  to  purchase  what  would 
disagree  with  them. 

It  has  been  our  great  aim  to  put  fully  before  the  medical 
faculty,  both  by  circular  and  weekly  advertisements  in  the 
medical  papers  (to  which  we  would  direct  attention)  the  fact 
of  the  oil  being  a  combination.  If  we  have,  as  stated  by  the 
President,  led  the  public  to  believe  they  were  purchasing  cod- 
liver  oil  only,  we  have  defeated  our  own  purpose,  and  con¬ 
veyed  an  impression  the  very  opposite  to  our  intention,  inas¬ 
much  as  we  have  most  distinctly  wished  it  to  be  understood 
that  the  preparations  are  not  all  cod-liver  oil. 

We  fully  invite  the  opinions  of  the  medical  profession  as 
to  the  therapeutical  value  of  these  preparations  in  contrast 
to  the  ordinary  simple  oils. 

Enclosed,  we  hand  you  opinions  of  some  of  the  physicians 
•of  the  leading  hospitals  and  others,  which  will  show  the  value 
of  our  preparations  in  cases  where  the  ordinary  simple  oils 
have  failed  to  accomplish  the  purposes  intended,  and  wherein 
it  is  clearly  stated  “that  it  (cod-liver  oil)  is  quite  as  efficacious 
as  the  ordinary  oil,  and  much  more  readily  digested  by  the 
weak  stomachs  of  phthisical  patients.” 

Manchester,  Feb.  Otli,  1870.  George  W.  Fox  &  Co. 


Sir, — Having  seen  certain  strictures  in  your  last  issue,  in  a 
spirit  of  fairness  I  contradict  the  statement  that  the  palatable 
oils  have  been  brought  before  the  public  with  a  view  to  deceive 
them.  I,  together  with  my  medical  brethren,  have  received 
a  circular  on  two  occasions  stating  distinctly  that  the  prepa¬ 
rations  of  Messrs.  Fox  and  Co.  only  contain  50  per  cent  of 
-oil;  and  |Mr.  Abraham,  the  President  of  the  Liverpool 
Chemists’  Association,  needs  not  to  be  informed  that  very  few 
persons  take  cod-liver  oil  for  the  love  of  that  nauseous  medi¬ 
cine,  but  at  the  recommendation  of  the  profession. 

Messrs.  Fox  and  Co.  have  not  only  sent  circulars,  but 
advertise  weekly  in  the  medical  papers  the  proportion  of 
■oil  in  their  preparations. 

I,  for  one,  have  long  felt  the  want  of  a  more  agreeable 
form  of  administering  cod-liver  and  castor  oils,  and  have  re¬ 
commended  the  preparations  alluded  to  with  marked  satis¬ 
faction  and  benefit. 

Mr.  Abraham,  perhaps,  considers  the  chemists  and  drug¬ 
gists  immaculate ;  but  I  have  a  preparation  called  “  cod-liver 
cream,”  prepared  by  a  chemist,  which  is  stated  on  the  label 
do  contain  90  per  cent,  of  oil,  and,  on  analysis,  contains  about 
‘.25  per  cent. 

Now  Messrs.  Fox  and  Co.’s  preparations  contain  more  oil, 
according  to  Mr.  A.’s  statement,  than  they  advertise. 

I  think  it  premature  for  the  Liverpool  Chemists’  Associa¬ 
tion  to  have  acted  as  they  have,  but  I  am  afraid  there  is  a 
vein  of  selfish  interest  at  the  foundation  of  their  criticisms. 

Oldham,  November  30th,  1870.  A  Physician. 

Sir,— -I  noticed  in  your  number  of  Saturday  last  the  report  of 
\a  meeting  of  the  “  Liverpool  Chemists’  Association,”  where 
it  states,  “  The  President  exhibited  a  bottle  labelled  *  Palat¬ 
able  Cod-liver  Oil,’  ”  etc. 

.  -A-3  Messrs.  Fox  and  Co.,  of  Manchester,  have  secured  the 
.right  to  use  the  term  “palatable”  cod- liver  oil,  I  presume 
-tae  remarks  referred  to  their  preparations :  and  as  one  of 
their  earliest  agents,  and  one  who  has  pushed  the  sale  of  their 


oils,  I  feel  that  the  remarks  made  by  Mr.  Abraham  apply  to 
me,  and  indeed  to  every  chemist  who  has  sold  the  prepara¬ 
tions  referred  to,  quite  as  much  as  to  Messrs.  Fox  and  Co. 

I  should  be  sorry  to  think  I  had  assisted  in  deceiving  the 
public  to  the  extent  I  must  have  done  if  Mr.  Abraham’s  idea 
be  a  correct  one.  I  am  of  opinion,  however,  that  he  is  wrong, 
and  that  the  Liverpool  Chemists’  Association  has  acted 
very  unfairly,  by  pronouncing  judgment  upon  a  matter  it 
is  evidently  in  ignorance  about. 

Messrs.  Fox  and  Co.  have  depended  almost  entirely  upon 
the  support  of  the  medical  profession,  and  on  the  first  introduc¬ 
tion  of  their  oils  sent  circulars  to  all  members  in  towns  where 
the  oils  were  introduced,  stating  that  they  contained  50  per 
cent,  (even  less  than  Mr.  Abraham  gives  as  the  proportion),  and 
also  sent  a  sample. 

True,  that  the  labels  do  completely  cover  the  bottles, — for 
advertisement, — and  that  “prominent  instructions  are  given 
to  shake  the  bottle the  very  fact  of  that  instruction  being 
given  would  tell  the  most  dull  mind  that  it  was  a  compound, 
and  required  well  mixing  before  being  taken. 

There  has  been  no  attempt  to  keep  the  proportion  of  oil  a 
secret,  and  now  it  has  been  made  known  to  every  member  of 
the  medical  profession  in  the  United  Kingdom.  It  has  not 
been  stated  on  the  bottles  certainly,  and  I  don’t  see  the 
necessity  for  doing  so  in  a  preparation  mostly  recommended 
by  professional  men,  who  are  quite  aware  of  its  composition. 

I  consider  the  oils  to  have  been  brought  out  in  a  perfectly 
honest  manner ;  and,  if  medical  gentlemen  have  found  them 
to  be  all  that  they  are  represented,  and  to  supply  a  great 
want,  I  think  they  are  perfectly  justified  in  giving  their  tes¬ 
timony,  if  they  think  fit,  and  feel  sure  most  of  your  readers 
will  agree  with  me  that  the  Liverpool  Chemists’  Association 
has  overstepped  its  bounds  by  presuming  to  complain  of 
medical  gentlemen  having  done  something  the  particulars  of 
which  the  Association  had  evidently  not  taken  the  trouble 
to  inquire. 

A  spirit  of  fair  play  is  my  reason  for  writing  these  lines, 
and  asking  the  favour  of  your  inserting  them  in  your  next 
issue.  JAS.  WlNTERBOTTOH. 

Oldham,  Nov.  30.  _____ 

DRUGGIOTS’  ClTARIfES. 

Sir, — Yesterday,  a  person  brought  me  the  following  to  dis¬ 
pense  : — 

R.  Ext.  Col.  Co.  5j 
Pil.  Rhei  Co.  5ss 
Pulv.  Ipecac,  gr.  xv 
01.  Carui  gtt.  x 
Sapon.  Cast.  gr.  xx. 

Mix,  and  divide  into  36  pills.  Two  to  be  taken  every  other 
night,  or  as  occasion  may  require. 

I  charged  Is.  3d.  for  this,  and  was  in  return  insulted  by 
him,  and  told  that  he  would  never  come  into  my  shop  again. 
On  inquiring  his  reasons,  I  was  told  that  my  charge  was 
outrageous,  and  that  he  had  had  the  same  prescription  fre¬ 
quently  dispensed  at  a  first-class  establishment  in  Wolver¬ 
hampton  for  8 d.  Is  not  this  rather  too  bad,  that  a  chemist 
should  by  thus  “cutting”  not  only  injure  himself  (which 
would  not  much  matter),  but  should  also  injure  respectable 
chemists,  who  use  genuine  drugs  and  try  to  make  a  living 
out  of  their  trade,  which  at  the  Wolverhampton  dispensing 
prices  would  be  rather  difficult? 

I  hope  some  day  to  see  a  list  of  prices  for  dispensing  issued 
by  the  Society,  from  which  no  one  can  depart,  not  even  the 
proprietor  of  the  first-class  establishment  at  Wolverhampton. 

J.  F.  Pollard. 

Wavertree,  near  Liverpool,  December  2nd,  1870. 


Sir, — Your  correspondent  Charles  Kidd,  M.D.,  in  last 
week’s  issue  of  the  Journal,  having  indicated  the  neighbour¬ 
hood  in  which  I  live  as  the  place  where  cheap  and  nasty  phy¬ 
sic  can  be  procured  at  the  rate  of  3d.  or  7 d.  for  8  oz.,  with  a 
bottle,  etc.,  and  as  he  must  allude  to  one  of  two  or  three  of  us, 
I  notice  some  of  his  remarks  without  apology.  In  reply  to  the 
worthy  doctor’s  strictures,  then,  I  have  to  say  that  I  charge 
as  much  as  he  seems  to  think  a  fan.'  price ;  and  that  in  the 
case  of  physicians’  prescriptions  dispensed,  it  is  the  rule,  and 
always  has  been  with  me,  to  send  neither  quack  wrapper 
nor  medicine  list. 

If  the  doctor  will  give  me  the  favour  of  a  visit,  I  shall  be 
happy  to  show  him  my  list  of  charges,  which  has  been  in  use 
for  the  last  ten  years. 

I  use  the  infusions  made  fresb,  and  never  send  out  stale, — 


4S0 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  10, 1870, 


the  best  scammony,  etc.  etc. ;  ancl  profess  to  charge  a  respect¬ 
able  price.  I  think  therefore  my  brethren  will  see  I  do  not 
come  under  the  doctor’s  designation  in  keeping  the  “  cheap 
and  nasty”  shop  off  Oxford  Street,  near  Grosvenor  Square. 

Trro.  Ramsden. 

29,  North  Andleg  Street,  Grosvenor  Square,  TF., 
December  6th. 


New  Material  for  Suppositories  and  Pessaries. 

Sir, — In  your  last  number  you  give  a  formula  for  supposi¬ 
tories  from  the  Canadian  Pharmaceutical  Journal,  contain¬ 
ing  glue  and  golden  syrup.  These  new  materials  may,  I  think, 
be  advantageously  represented  in  British  pharmacies  by  pure 
gelatine  and  glycerine.  Some  time  since  I  was  handed  the 
following  prescription: — • 

R.  Pessar.  Atropinrs  g r.  ^  in  sing, 
c.  Gelatin,  mittc  viij. 

One  to  be  used  ever}1-  night.  TV".  0.  P. 

This  is  an  “  obscure  ”  prescription.  It  might  have  been 
intended  for  an  “  especial  ”  druggist,  but  as  AY.  O.  P.  was  not 
“  formerly  surgeon,  royal  navy,”  and  the  “  Latinity”  was  easily 
to  be  comprehended,  I  ventured  to  dispense  it.  I  took  of 
Nelson’s  gelatine  1  drachm;  glycerine,  1  drachm;  water, 
1  oz.  ;  dissolved  by  heat ;  added  the  atropine,  and  poured  into 
moulds.  The  evaporation  will  leave  each  pessary  weighing 
about  1  drachm,  an  elegant  and  faithful  representative  of  the 
prescriber’s  idea,  stiff  enough  to  bo  handled,  and  readily  melt¬ 
ing  at  a  slight  increase  of  temperature. 

The  moulds  I  use  have  some  points  of  superiority,  especially 
when  gelatine  forms  the  body  of  the  pessary.  They  are  made 
in  this  wise :  cut  and  file  a  cork  to  the  required  size  of  the 
cone;  round  this,  twist  a  piece  of  waxed  paper;  cut  off  the 
unequal  edges,  and  stand  the  cup  thus  formed  with  its  twisted 
point  downwards  in  a  slightly-compressed  heap  of  linseed 
meal  or  chalk  AYhen  filling  these  moulds,  which  cost  little 
and  are  worth  much,  you  can  see  what  you  are  about,  can 
use  all  your  material,  can  make  the  pessaries  all  of  one  size, 
they  come  out  clean,  and,  when  cocoa  butter  is  used,  can  be 
dropped  into  water  to  hasten  the  cooling. 

AYm.  Matthews. 

Wigmore  Street,  December  6th,  1870. 

P.S. — I  hope  you  won’t  send  the  original  of  the  facsimile 
prescription  to  Mr.  Ince,  to  be  a  puzzle  to  future  candidates. 
If  you  do,  ask  him  to  put  it  in,  as  Mr.  Watson  Bradshaw 
would  say,  jpar  parenthese  ( vide  page  458,  in  a  lucid  para¬ 
graph,  twenty. one  lines  long  with  only  one  full-stop),  to  show 
what  a  prescription  ought  not  to  be. 


Physicians’  Prescriptions. 

Sir, — Having  observed  more  than  one  of  your  correspon¬ 
dents’  remarks  on  physicians’  prescriptions,  I  forward  the 
appended,  hoping  you  may  find  it  convenient  to  give  it  a 
place  in  your  next.  I  dispensed  it  some  years  ago,  and  had  I 
not  actually  seen  the  ‘“'author  ”  of  it,  I  would  not  have  taken 
it  in  hand,  it  seems  so  very  “ general .”  I  still  possess  the 
“  original.” 

R.  Podophyllin.  gr.  -J- 

Ext.  Coloc.  Co.  gr.  ij 
Ext.  Taraxac.  gr.  j 
Ext.  Anthem,  gr.  j 
Ext.  Hyoscy.  gr.  j 

M.  fiat  pil.  tal.  xviij.  Capiat  j  omni  nocte. 

R.  Ext.  Elaterii  gr.  g- 

Strychnin.  gr.  f- 
Iodid.  Potass.  5j 
Ferri  Tart.  5ij 
Sol.  Mur.  Morph.  5’j 
Acet.  Potass.  5iv 
Tinct.  Cal  umbos  5vj 
Arin.  Ipecac.  5hj 
Glycerin®  5iv 
Inf.  Calumbce  ad  5yj. 

M.  fiat  mist.,  cujus  capiat  coch.  magn.  j  bis  vel  ter  in  die. 

R.  Hydrarg.  Biniodid.  5ss 
tTng.  Cetacei  ad  3‘ij. 

M.  fiat  ung.  utend.  ut  dictum  nocte  et  mane. 

A  burgh  town  on  the  west  coast  of  Scotland  can  even  now 
boast  of  the  services  of  the  practitioner  who  tcrote  this  (I 
can’t  say  prescribed  it). 

*  Alex.  Fraser,  Chemist  and  Druggist. 

Largs,  N.P.  Dec.  3rd,  1870. 


A!  HOLESALE  DRUGGISTS*  ASSISTANTS’  SOCIETY. 

Sir, — Having  seen  in  page  388  of  your  Journal  a  request 
made  by  J.  Hart  for  some  information  regarding  aAAffiolesale 
Druggists’  Assistants’  Society  supposed  to  be  at  present  in 
course  of  formation,  I  have  carefully  watched  for  a  reply 
from  some  of  your  readers.  I  should' be  most  happy  to  join, 
in  such  a  Society  did  one  exist,  but  I  fear  from  the  fact  of  no- 
one  tendering  the  required  information  that  your  correspon¬ 
dent,  J .  Hart,  must  have  been  misinformed,  or  that  the  move¬ 
ment,  like  one  made  some  years  since  for  a  similar  purpose 
by  Mr.  O.  D.  Owen,  has  fallen  to  the  ground  for  want  of  suf¬ 
ficient  energy  on  the  part  of  its  promoters.  If  such  a  Soeietv 
is  actually  being  formed,  why  is  so  little  known  regarding  it  ?■ 
Dishopsgate  Street,  City,  P.  S.  Cosgrove. 

26th  November ,  1870. 


A  Point  of  Ernies. 

Sir, — In  reference  to  the  prescription  dispensed  by  “  Mag¬ 
nesia,”  you  remark  that  a  chemist  would  not  be  justified  in 
adding  “  ac.  sulph.  dil.”  to  dissolve  the  quinine,  so  as  to  make 
‘“a  mixture.”  Now,  I  beg  respectfully  to  differ  from  you  on 
this  point.  I  think  any  qualified  chemist  has  a  perfect  right 
to  use  his  discretion  in  properly  compounding  any  medical 
man’s  prescription ;  and,  in  the  case  in  point,  the  doctor  had 
evidently  forgotten  to  write  “  ac.  sulph.  dil.,”  or  he  did  not 
understand  chemistry.  I  have  frequently  compounded  a. 
similar  prescription  from  doctors  in  this  town,  and  they  al¬ 
ways  invariably  write  “ac.  sulph.  dil.”  Medical  men  require 
looking  after  as  well  as  “chemists.” 

Chemicus  of  Twenty  Years’  Standing. 


A  AYarning. 

Sir, — I  have  been  taken  in !  I  write  in  order  to  warn  my 
brethren  in  London  and  suburbs  against  the  same  paltry  ini- 
position.  A  man  came  into  my  shop,  and,  presenting  a  bill 
of  “De  Conder’s  Pills,”  inquired  if  I  kept  them  in  stock,  and 
being  told  that  I  did  not,  but  could  procure  them,  requested 
me  to  do  so,  and  stated  that  he  would  call  for  them  the  next 
evening.  I  obtained  the  pills,  but  need  hardly  add  that  the 
man  has  not  made  his  appearance  again.  I  should  not  have- 
troubled  you  in  this  small  matter,  but  I  found  that  three 
druggists  in  this  neighbourhood  had  received  similar  visits 
from  the  same  man,  and  I  have  no  doubt  many  others  as  well. 
Publishing  this  may  deter  the  gentleman  from  imposing  on 
others  in  the  same  way,  and  may  lead  them  to  request  him  to 
pay  before  they  obtain  them.  I  would  advise  that  he  should 
be  charged  at  least  Is.  2d.,  as  they  cost  that. 

B010,  D.,  December  7th,  1870.  S.  D. 

The  Phaeton  Pen. — AYe  have  received  from  Messrs.  Alac- 
niven  and  Cameron  a  box  of  the  above  pens. 

P£.  Pagner  and  TF.  Wright  (Boston). — The  letters  and 
stamps  have  been  handed  to  the  Secretary. 

“A  Student ”  and  TF.  II.  (Canterbury)  are  referred  to  the 
rule  requiring  the  name  and  address  of  correspondents. 

Colchicum. — They  may  be  obtained  in  London  of  Jack- 
son  and  Townson,  Griffin,  or  Howe;  at  Norwich,  of  Sutton; 
at  Newcastle,  of  Brady,  or  Mawson  and  Swan;  at  Manches¬ 
ter,  of  Mottershead. 

Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  F.  Adams  (Stoke-on-Trent),  Mr.  AY.  M.  Macnaughten 
(Dublin),  Mr.  M.  C.  Cooke,  Mr.  T.  AY.  Langricige  (Midhurst),. 
Mr.  H.  P.  Hoarder  (Plymouth),  Air.  S.  Newbury  (Dorking),. 
Air.  A.  F.  Girdler  (Shirley),  Air.  Twemlow  (Edgware  Road), 
Air.  J.  Statliers,  Air.  AY.  T.  Oldham  (AVisbech),  Air.  J.  E.  How¬ 
ard,  Air.  E.  C.  C.  Stanford  (Glasgow),  Air.  AY.  Row  (Exeter), 
Air.  AY.  AAL  Stoddart,  Air.  J.  Beedzler,  F.  R.  B.  (Aliddles- 
burgh)  F.  J.  B.,  G.  H.  B.,  “  Soda-AYatcr,”  T.  T.  (Islington), 
Air.  Hustwick  (Liverpool). 


The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  Dec.  3;  the  ‘Aledical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
Dec.  3  ;  the  ‘  Lancet,’  Dec.  3 ;  the  ‘  Aledical  Press  and  Circu¬ 
lar,’  Dec.  7 ;  ‘  Nature,’  Dec.  1 ;  the  ‘  Chemical  News,’  Dec.  2  ; 
‘  Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  Dec.  1 ;  ‘  Gardeners’  Chro¬ 
nicle,’  Dec.  3 ;  the  ‘  Grocer,’  Dec.  3 ;  the  ‘  English  Alechanic,’ 
Dec.  2 ;  the  ‘  Produce  Alarkets  Review,’  Dec.  3  ;  the  ‘  Cana¬ 
dian  Journal  of  Pharmacy’  for  November;  the  ‘Journal  of 
Alateria  Aledica’  for  November;  Ilardwicke’s  ‘Science  Gos¬ 
sip’  for  December;  the  ‘Food  Journal’  for  December; 
‘Transactions  of  the  Odontological  Society’  for  November; 
the  ‘Educational  Times’  lor  December. 


December  17,  1370.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


481 


INFUSIONS. 

BY  ALFRED  ALLCHIN. 

(Concluded from  page  422.) 

In  my  last  paper,  when  stating  that  Mr.  Deane 
had  calculated  the  cost  to  make  “fresh”  infusions 
to  be  about  T8,  I  omitted  to  state  that  that  sum  re¬ 
presented  the  annual  cost. 

In  April,  1856,  at  a  meeting  in  Edinburgh,  Mr. 
Stephenson,  at  the  request  of  his  partner,  Mr.  Ilo- 
bertson,  read  a  paper  in  which  he  strongly  advocated 
the  Alsop  method  of  preserving.  A  sample  of  in¬ 
fusion  of  senna  was  placed  on  the  table,  which  had 
been  bottled  21  years.  When  opened,  it  was  found 
to  possess  the  aroma  and  other  properties  of  the 
freshly  prepared  infusion.  Infusions  of  “  Orange,” 
“Chiretta,”  “Senega,”  and  “  Calumba,”  which  had 
been  bottled  many  months,  were  found  to  be  equally 
good. 

Mr.  Stephenson  stated  that  it  was  the  practice  in 
their  establishment  to  prepare  enough  of  each  infu¬ 
sion  to  last  two  or  three  months,  but  some  practical 
difficulties  had  been  met  with  in  the  mode  previously 
suggested.  He  expressed  his  opinion  that  the  bot¬ 
tles  used  should  be  filled  to  overflowing  with  hot  in¬ 
fusion,  and  then  tied  over  with  moistened  bladder 
gut  skin.* 

On  June  1st,  1859,  twelve  days  before  his  death, 
Mr.  Jacob  Bell  again  introduced  the  subject,  and 
doubtless  he  must  have  felt  very  keenly  the  desirabi¬ 
lity  of  coming  to  some  common  understanding  on 
this  matter.  It  was  in  all  probability  almost  the 
last  effort  of  his  life,  in  connection  with  our  Society. 
His  mind  was  evidently  free  from  prejudice,  for  both 
sides  of  the  question  were  fairly  stated. 

He  commenced  by  descanting  upon  the  damaging 
effect  likely  to  be  produced  on  the  minds  of  patients 
when  they  saw  their  mixtures  compounded  with 
fresh  infusion  at  one  establishment,  and  a  few  drams 
of  a  concentrated  preparation  made  up  with  water  at 
another ;  besides  the  probability  of  their  finding  a 
difference  in  taste,  appearance,  and  medical  pro¬ 
perties. 

The  inconvenience  of  waiting  an  hour,  or  even 
several  hours,  while  the  fresh  infusions  were  being 
made,  was  next  alluded  to.  The  comparative  merits 
of  concentrated  and  fresh  preparations  were  also  dis- 
«  cussed,  and  the  difficulty  of  surmounting  the  ques¬ 
tion  at  issue  as  long  as  there  was  no  sanctioned  au¬ 
thority  either  for  the  use  or  preparation  of  concen¬ 
trated  infusions  pointed  out.  The  same  mistrust 
and  doubt  formerly  existed  respecting  the  decoctions 
of  sarsaparilla,  till  the  attention  of  the  College  of 
Physicians  was  directed  to  the  subject,  who  then  in¬ 
troduced  a  concentrated  preparation  under  the  name 
of  fluid  extract.  Mr.  Bell  then  dwelt  upon  the  pro¬ 
priety  of  admitting  into  our  Pharmacopoeia  formulae 
lor  Liq.  Cinclion.  Taraxac.  and  similar  liquors,  and 
concluded  by  expressing  a  hope  that  the  question 
would  be  settled,  and  the  inconvenience  and  per¬ 
plexity  which  had  existed  for  so  many  years  might 
be  put  an  end  to. 

Mr.  Haselden  followed  Mr.  Bell,  and  first  alluded 
to  the  high  estimation  in  which  the  fresh  infusions 
were  held  by  medical  men  and  others.  He  expressed 
an  opinion  that  it  was  highly  desirable  that  prescrip¬ 
tions  should  be  dispensed  with  integrity, observing  that 
the  deposit  continually  occurring  in  all  concentrated 

*  Puabm.  Journ.  Yol.  XYIII.  p.  564. 

Third  Series,  No.  25. 


preparations,  created  a  suspicion  that  when  diluted 
they  did  not  alwa}Ts  represent  those  freshly  prepared. 
He  protested  strongly  against  the  concentrated  sys¬ 
tem  being  promulgated  by  pharmacists,  predicting 
that  if  we  were  constantly  inundating  medical  men 
and  others  with  these  preparations,  we  should  even¬ 
tually  have  all  medicines  prescribed  in  a  concentrated 
form,  and  a  teaspoonful  dose  administered  instead  of 
two  tablespoonfuls.  This  anticipation  is  rapidly 
being  realized,  for  we  not  unfrequently  hear  com¬ 
plaints  made  by  the  pharmacist,  who  feels  that  he 
has  been  deprived  of  his  legitimate  profits  by  this 
mode  of  prescribing.  Mr.  Haselden  concluded  by 
stating  that  infusions  would  keep  perfectly  good,  if 
from  two  scruples  to  a  dram  of  tincture  were  added 
to  each  ounce  of  the  freshly  prepared  liquid.  He 
was  quite  aware  that  the  propriety  of  introducing 
spirit  in  any  form  was  questionable,  but  still  as  in¬ 
fusions  were  generally  ordered  in  combination  with 
tinctures,  he  thought  the  matter  worth  consideration. 

Mr.  Waugh  said  there  was  no  excuse  for  using 
concentrated  preparations,  for  he  had  for  many 
years  adopted  the  plan  of  bottling,  as  recommended 
by  Alsop,  and  found  it  to  answer  perfectly. 

Mr.  T.  H.  Hills  said  it  had  occurred  to  him  that  a 
probable  way  of  overcoming  the  difficulty  would  be, 
if  possible,  to  shorten  the  time  for  making  these  pre¬ 
parations.  With  the  view  of  arriving  at  some  satis¬ 
factory  conclusions  he  had  tried  some  experiments 
with  a  French  cafetiere  of  simple  construction,  and 
the  result  proved  most  satisfactory.  He  thought 
that  if  further  experiments  were  made  in  this  direc¬ 
tion  it  would  probably  be  found  that  all  infusions 
might  be  made  by  a  uniform  process  that  would  not 
occupy  more  than  ten  minutes.  The  attention  of  the 
reader  is  particularly  called  to  these  last  observa¬ 
tions,  for  they  were  made  by  one  whose  experience 
is,  perhaps,  not  surpassed  by  any  other  pharmacist, 
and  whose  soundness  of  judgment  has  never  been 
questioned.  I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying,  that 
had  they  been  supported  by  evidence  such  as  that 
now  furnished  by  Mr.  Barnes,  they  would  have 
received  at  the  time  the  consideration  they  merited, 
and,  in  all  probabilitjq  some  speedier  steps  would 
have  been  made  towards  the  settlement  of  the  ques¬ 
tion. 

At  the  October  Evening  Meeting  the  opinion  of 
Mr.  Hills  was  supported  by  Mr.  Geldard,  of  Ply¬ 
mouth,  who  said,  that  if  full  advantage  were  taken 
of  the  process  of  displacement,  the  period  of  macera¬ 
tion  might  be  reduced  to  a  mere  fraction.  In  prac¬ 
tice  he  had  proved  it  to  be  so,  when  made  according 
to  a  plan,  which  he  described.*  The  dispenser,  if 
he  adopted  this  mode,  would  be  able  to  say  when  a 
prescription  containing  an  infusion  was  brought  to 
him,  that  it  would  be  ready  in  twenty  minutes,  arid 
have  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  he  was  giving 
the  patient  an  aromatic  medicine  instead  of  a  vapid, 
mawkish  liquid,  made  from  a  bottle  which  may  have 
been  on  the  shelf,  depositing  its  activity,  for  months. 

In  1866,  Mr.  Haseldenj-  advocated  the  principle 
adopted  in  the  preparation  of  the  now  called  Mist. 
Gent.  Co.  He  had  applied  tlie’same  process  to  casca- 
rilla,  calumba  and  orange,  and  obtained  equally  good 
results.  He  thought  an  extension  of  the  process 
would  meet  the  difficulties  with  regard  to  fresh  in¬ 
fusions,  because,  when  thus  made,  they  would  keep 


*  See  Pharm.  Journ.  2nd  Series,  Yol.  I.-,  p._263. 
f  Pharm.  Journ.  2nd  Series,  Yol.  VII.,  p.  572. 


4S2 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  17, 1870. 


perfectly  good  any  length  of  time,  and  it  would 
always  be  known  that  a  sound  preparation  was  being 
dispensed. 

No  general  remarks  of  any  importance  were  made 
after  this  until  Mr.  Barnes  again  introduced  the  sub¬ 
ject  at  the  November  Evening  Meeting  of  this  year.* 
His  paper  is  valuable,  inasmuch  as  he  gives,  I  think, 
very  good  reasons  for  assuming  that  the  time  now 
occupied  in  making  infusions  might  very  safely  be 
lessened.  Like  all  honest  men  having  the  direction 
of  a  dispensing  establishment,  he  is  most  anxious 
that  all  medicines  compounded  under  his  care  should 
possess  them  proper  medicinal  value.  He,  however, 
doubtless  sometimes  finds  much  inconvenience  arising 
from  the  length  of  time  now  occupied  in  preparing 
fresh  infusions,  and  suggests  the  propriety  of  shorten¬ 
ing  the  time  for  standing.  His  reasons  are  at  once 
apparent,  for  he  finds  most  of  them  when  so  made 
contain  the  same  amount  of  extractive  matter,  and 
appear,  in  every  respect,  equal  to  those  made  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  instructions  of  the  Pharmacopoeia.  In 
many  cases  the  time  was  reduced  to  one-half,  and  in 
some  to  a  quarter  of  that  officially  ordered.  The  re¬ 
sults,  I  am  aware,  are  not  sufficiently  conclusive  to 
satisfy  all  minds  upon  the  subject,  but  has  not  suf¬ 
ficient  been  done  to  stimulate  further  inquiry  ?  It  is 
a  matter  in  which  we  can  all  lend  a  helping  hand, 
and  I  trust,  as  opportunities  occur,  we  shall  do  so. 
Let  all  roots,  barks  and  leaves  be  reduced  to  a  state 
of  comminution  that  will  allow  them  to  pass 
through  a  sieve  having  eight  meshes  to  the  linear 
inch ;  be  careful  always  to  have  the  infusion -jug  hot, 
and  make  the  infusions  in  quantities  of  not  less  than 
a  pint ;  then  examine  the  results,  and  it  would  not 
surprise  me  if  it  should  be  found  that  the  time  for 
standing  can,  in  some  cases,  be  reduced  to  a  few 
minutes,  and  that  not  more  than  one  or  two  need 
exceed  half  an  hour. 

Dr.  Redwood  naturally  defends  the  Pharmacopoeia 
instructions ;  but  the  fact  chosen  as  an  illustration 
of  their  soundness  appears  to  me  an  unfortunate  one, 
and  might  fairly  be  claimed  by  Mr.  Barnes  in  sup¬ 
port  of  his  views.  Surely  if  men  of  such  vast  expe¬ 
rience  as  tea-tasters  find  that  all  the  essential  ele¬ 
ments  can  be  obtained  from  tea  by  a  seven  minutes’ 
maceration,  it  is  time  for  us  to  consider  the  propriety 
of  altering  our  notions  respecting  our  medicinal  in¬ 
fusions. 


BRISTOL  PHARMACOLOGY. 

BY  W.  W.  STODDART,  E.C.S.,  F.G.S. 

Twas  on  one  of  those  glorious  days  of  the  month  of 
August,  when  sunshine  and  fine  weather  were  doing 
their  utmost  to  tempt  the  sedentary,  that  the  author 
succumbed  to  their  influence,  and  wished  for  a  dose 
of  fresh  air,  with  the  exhilarating  pleasure  of  a  long 
walk  in  the  beautiful  environs  of  the  good  old  city  of 
Bristol.  People  were  from  home,  some  enjoying  the 
sea-breezes  of  Weston  or  Clevedon,  others  the  rocky 
cliffs  of  Ilfracombe  or  Tenby.  Physic  and  its  acces¬ 
sories  were  at  a  discount,  and  little  remained  to 
strengthen  the  resolve,  and  carry  out  the  wish,  for  a 
day  s  holiday  and  relief  from  the  cserulean  thoughts 
that  are  said  sometimes  to  haunt  the  too  zealous 
attendant  at  the  shrine  of  business. 

But  where  should  he  go  ?  Should  it  be  the  con¬ 
stitutional  mile  or  two,  that  horridly  mechanical 

...  T-  »«■  r.  ■  -  _ 

*  Phakm.  Journal,  3rd  Series,  Vol.  I.  p.  368. 


remedy  for  ennui  and  excuse  for  exercise?  That 
thought  was  no  sooner  born  than  killed.  What  then 
was  to  be  done  ?  The  idea  was  suggested  that  a 
most  interesting  line  of  study  might  be  afforded  by 
an  examination  of  the  locality  for  what  portion  of 
the  materia  medica  could  be  found  in  a  natural  state. 
So  interesting  and  profitable  did  this  investigation 
become,  that  the  author  was  induced  to  narrate  what 
he  observed  and  collected,  so  that  others  might  ex¬ 
perience  the  same  pleasure  in  various  parts  of  our 
highly  favoured  country. 

Bristol,  be  it  remembered,  is  a  veritable  epitome 
of  all  that  is  good  in  opportunities  for  the  study  of 
natural  history,  geology,  mineralogy,  or  archaeology. 
F ew,  if  any,  spots  in  the  world  can  be  found  to  excel 
it.  Fine  downs,  magnificent  cliffs,  contrasting  with 
low  marsh-lands ;  fine  woods,  abounding  in  ferns  and 
masses,  lichens  and  algae ;  ditches  of  fresh  or  brackish 
water  teeming  with  Diatomacea,  Desmidece  and 
other  endless  work  for  the  microscopist, — all  these 
offer  their  treasures  with  liberal  hand. 

The  mineralogist  would  be  enchanted  with  choice 
specimens  of  rocks  and  ores,  some  of  great  rarity. 
The  brilliant  pyrites  or  galena,  the  sober  calamine, 
the  chaste  alabaster,  the  sparkling  Gotliite  and  the 
delicate  celestine,  all  combine  to  form  a  striking  col¬ 
lection  for  the  cabinet. 

In  short  it  is  the  neighbourhood  in  which  such 
names  as  Bentley,  Berkeley,  Phillips,  Buckman, 
Broome,  Stephens  and  Tliwaites  have  revelled  and 
laboriously  acted  out  the  idea  of  an  old  poet,  though 
in  a  better  sense : — 

“Nec  tantum  segetes  alimcntaque  debita  dives 
Pascebantur  humus:  sic  itum  est  in  viscera  terroe : 
Quasque  recondiderat,  Stygiisque  admoverat  umbris, 
Effodiuntur  opes.” 

For  the  antiquarian,  also,  there  cannot  be  a  more 
interesting  spot.  Here  may  be  seen  the  enormously 
thick  walls  of  an  ancient  fortified  city  with  the  gate¬ 
way  still  extant,  although  built  in  the  reign  of 
William  Rufus.  Camps  of  the  old  Romans  and  ex¬ 
tensive  monasteries  are  everywhere  indicated.  Even 
the  remains  of  old  Bristol  castle  are  still  visible,  re¬ 
calling  to  the  memory  the  actual  building  in  which 
Stephen  was  kept  a  prisoner,  and  Henry  II.  received 
part  of  his  education. 

The  richness  of  the  locality  in  plants  and  mine¬ 
rals  is  due  to  the  variety  of  the  geological  forma¬ 
tions,  seven  of  winch  can  be  examined  and  easily 
studied  within  the  radius  of  a  very  few  miles. 

It  is  well  known  that  plants  occur  relatively  to 
the  strata  on  which  they  grow.  Thus  Arabis  stricta, 
Hutchinsia  petrcea  and  others  of  the  Crucifer  a  and 
Crassulaceee  choose  the  carboniferous  limestone ;  Epi- 
lobium  lanceolatum ,  Campanula  latifolia  and  C.  pa- 
tula  prefer  the  Pennant ;  Digitalis  purpurea  and  Hel- 
leborus  fcetidus  select  the  sandstone;  the  marsli-land 
favours  the  Caltha  palustris,  Thalictrum  minus  and 
Nasturtium  palustre. 

Some  of  the  land  is  actually  below  the  mean  sea 
level,  while  the  high  table -lands  and  hills  rise  to  an 
altitude  of  700  feet.  With  such  extreme  contrasts 
in  physical  configuration,  there  is  a  corresponding 
variety  of  scenery. 

Westward  the  delighted  observer  meets  with  the 
magnificent  gorge  of  Clifton,  rich  in  geological  trea¬ 
sures,  or  the  Nightingale  valley  with  its  sylvan  re¬ 
cesses.  To  the  east  the  Cotteswold  Hills,  with  the 
coast-line  of  an  ancient  sea  plainly  defined,  speak 
most  forcibly  of  prehistoric  times.  On  the  south  the 


December  17,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


483 


top  of  Dundry  Hill  unfolds  an  extensive  view  of  the 
Bristol  Channel,  hacked  by  the  mountainous  scenery 
of  Monmouthshire  and  the  Principality. 

All  around  spring — 

“  The  living  herbs,  profusely  wild 
O’er  all  the  deep  green  earth,  beyond  the  power 
Of  botanist  to  number  up  their  tribes.” 

Such  is  a  very  brief  and  inadequate  introduction 
to  a  neighbourhood  teeming  with  interest  and  beauty, 
which  few  other  places  in  our  native  country  can 
equal,  and  to  which  the  author  can  honestly  recom¬ 
mend  a  lengthened  visit. 

In  lieu  of  this  the  following  description  of  the 
pharmacological  treasures  found  in  this  locality  may 
prove  to  some  of  our  pharmaceutical  brethren  a 
source  of  pleasure,  if  not  of  instruction. 

(To  be  continued.) 


THE  CHOLERA  FUNGUS. 

BY  M.  C.  COOKE,  M.A. 

The  revival  of  this  subject,  after  some  months  of 
silence,  is  to  be  attributed  to  the  publication,  in  Cal¬ 
cutta,  of  the  first  report  on  the  microscopic  objects 
found  in  cholera  evacuations  by  Mr.  Timothy  Ri¬ 
chards  Lewis,  M.B.  It  will  be  remembered  by  our 
readers  that  certain  theories  .  have  been  promulgated 
regarding  the  cause  of  cholera,  and  mainly  that  of  its 
fungoid  origin,  as  advocated  by  Professor  Hallier,  of 
Jena.  In  order  to  test  the  value  of  this  theory,  it 
was  resolved  that  certain  Government  officers  should 
make  the  necessary  observations  and  experiments  in 
India,  and  report  results.  The  first  instalment  of 
such  report  is  now  before  us. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  epitomize  Dr.  Hallier’s 
theory  except  to  state  that,  from  his  examination  of 
cholera  evacuations,  he  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
cholera  was  produced  by  a  species  of  fungus  belong¬ 
ing  to  the  group  of  smuts  called  Ustilagines,  to  which 
the  common  smut  of  corn  and  grass,  and  the  more 
imposing  smut  of  maize,  belongs.  At  first,  Dr.  Hal¬ 
lier  referred  this  fungus  to  the  genus  Urocystis,  and 
considered  it  to  be  closely  allied  to  that  species 
which  attacks  the  lye  in  Europe,  and  which  he  be¬ 
lieved  was  parasitic  on  rice  in  India.  As  soon  as 
the  Professor’s  treatise  arrived  in  this  country  we 
made  bold  to  challenge  his  facts,  either  that  Urocys¬ 
tis  spores  would  cause  any  choleraic  disturbance  in 
the  human  subject,  or  that  any  species  of  Urocystis 
had  ever  been  found  as  a  parasite  on  the  rice-plant 
in  India.  Subsequently  the  Jena  Professor  shifted 
liis  ground,  and,  though  still  adhering  to  his  fungus 
theory,  renounced  Urocystis,  and  maintained  the 
“  cysts  ”  as  fungus  spores.  The  basis  for  the  theory, 
at  least  so  far  as  we  comprehend  it,  is,  that  bodies 
can  be  found  in  the  growing  tissue  of  rice-plants 
which  the  author  regards  as  identical  with  the  cysts 
found  in  cholera  evacuations  ;  hence  that  cholera  is 
generated  by  the  consumption  of  rice  in  a  diseased 
or  smutted  condition. 

Common  sense  naturally  inquires,  Are  the  “  cho¬ 
lera  cysts”  the  cause  of  cholera?  are  they  found 
under  any  other  circumstances  ?  what  are  they  ? 
are  they  found  in  choleraic  discharges  in  India  ?  are 
they  found  in  the  growing  rice-plant  ?  and  what  con¬ 
nection  is  there  between  rice-eating  and  cholera? 
To  answer  some  of  these  queries  Mr.  Lewis  has  I 


applied  himself  with  great  zeal,  ability,  and,  in  our 
opinion,  success. 

It  is  impossible,  even  -were  it  necessary,  to  follow 
the  experiments  in  detail,  and  to  give  all  the  reasons 
on  which  the  conclusions  are  based.  It  will  be 
enough  to  indicate  what  are  the  fair  deductions  to  be 
made  from  the  experiments  already  made.  The 
caution  contained  in  the  following  paragraph  cannot 
be  too  strongly  insisted  on,  and  will  serve  as  intro¬ 
duction  to  the  “results  — “In  spite  of  more  than 
ordinary  care,  very  different  forms  of  life  will  make 
their  appearance  in  substances  which  are  derived 
from  the  same  source  under  conditions  which  seem 
to  be  identical,  and  that  too  in  very  simple  mix¬ 
tures.  Consequently,  the  greatest  caution  must  be 
exercised  in  estimating  the  importance,  or  otherwise, 
of  any  peculiar  manifestations  of  vitality  which  may 
be  observed  in  substances  associated  with  disease.” 
Had  this  caution  been  kept  in  view  by  some  of  those 
who  have  experimented  on  the  cultivation  of  muce- 
dinous  fungi,  for  instance,  it  is  probable  that  we 
should  have  been  spared  some  few  assumptions  which 
have  obtained  currency  as  facts. 

The  “results,”  as  indicated  in  this  first  report, 
are,  “  That  no  ‘  cysts  ’  exist  in  choleraic  discharges 
which  are  not  found  under  other  conditions.”  That 
is  to  say,  the  cholera  cysts  figured  by  Professor 
Hallier  are  not  always  obtainable  from  cholera  dis¬ 
charges,  are  not  confined  to  cholera,  nor  even  to  dis¬ 
eased  conditions  of  the  intestines,  but  may  be  culti¬ 
vated  from  the  stool  of  perfectly  healthy  persons. 

“  That  cysts  or  sporangia  of  fungi  are  but  very 
rarely  found  under  any  circumstances  in  alvine  dis¬ 
charges.” 

“  That  no  special  fungus  has  been  developed  in 
cholera  stools,  the  fungus  described  by  Hallier  being 
certainly  not  confined  to  such  stools.” 

The  experiments  instituted  to  test  the  observation 
as  to  the  inoculability  of  rice-plants  have  as  yet 
not  been  satisfactory,  consequently  no  conclusions 
have  been  arrived  at  on  the  matter. 

“  That  the  still  and  active  conditions  of  the  ob¬ 
served  animalcula  are  not  peculiar  to  this  disease, 
but  may  be  developed  in  nitrogenous  material  even 
outside  the  body.” 

“  That  the  hakes  and  corpuscles  in  rice-water 
stools  do  not  consist  of  epithelium  nor  of  its  debris, 
but  that  then  formation  appears  to  depend  upon  the 
effusion  of  blood  plasma,  and  that  the  ‘  peculiar 
bodies  ’  of  Parkes,  found  therewith,  correspond  very 
closely  in  their  microscopic  and  chemical  characters, 
as  well  as  in  their  manifestations  of  vitality,  to  the 
corpuscles  which  are  known  to  form  in  such  fluid. 
These  are  generally,  to  a  greater  or  less  degree, 
associated  with  blood-cells,  even  when  the  presence 
of  such  is  not  suspected,  especially  as  the  disease 
tends  towards  a  fatal  termination,  when  the  latter 
have  been  frequently  seen  to  replace  the  former 
altogether.” 

“  That  no  sufficient  evidence  exists  for  consider¬ 
ing  that  vibriones,  and  such-like  organisms,  prevail 
to  a  greater  extent  in  the  discharges  from  persons 
affected  with  cholera  than  in  the  discharges  of  other 
persons,  diseased  or  healthy ;  but  that  the  vibriones, 
bacteria  and  monads  (micrococcus)  may  not  be  pecu¬ 
liar  in  their  nature,  for  these  do  vary,  may  not  be 
the  product  of  a  peculiar  combination  of  circum¬ 
stances,  and  able  to  give  origin  to  peculiar  pheno¬ 
mena  in  a  predisposed  person — is  ‘  not  proven. 

Hence  it  seems  pretty  clear  that  the  fundamental 


484 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  17, 1870. 


facts  (?)  of  tlie  Hallier  theory  are  considerably  shaken 
by  this  report,  and  we  shall  wait  patiently  in  the 
full  anticipation  that  future  observations  will  con¬ 
firm  and  strengthen  the  results  obtained  by  Mr. 
Lems,  and  destroy  the  whole  theory  of  the  fungoid 
origin  of  cholera.  It  is  scarcely  possible  that  such 
a  series  of  observations  could  have  been  carefully 
and  zealously  performed  without  affording  interest¬ 
ing  facts  in  the  conduct  and  development  of  “  low 
life.”  Many  such  will  be  found  recorded  in  these 
pages,  and  of  these  we  may  mention  the  observa¬ 
tions  on  Penicillium,  illustrated  by  Plate  XXI.  A 
preparation  set  aside  for  cultivation  exhibited  “  011 
the  fourth  day  tufts  of  Penicillium  of  two  varieties, 
P.  glaueum  and  P.  viride.  This  continued  until  the 
ninth  day,  when  a  few  of  the  filaments  springing  up 
in  the  midst  of  the  Penicillium  were  tipped  with  a 
dewdrop-like  dilatation  excessively  delicate,— a  mere 
distended  pellicle.  In  some  cases  they  seemed  to 
be  derived  from  the  same  filament  as  others  bear¬ 
ing  the  ordinary  branching  spores  of  Penicillium, 
but  of  this  I  could  not  be  positive.  This  kind  of 
fructification  increased  rapidly,  and  on  the  four¬ 
teenth  day  spores  had  undoubtedly  developed  within 
the  pellicle.”  This  example  of  the  production  of  a 
species  of  Mucor  from  Penicillium  corroborates  a 
similar  observation  of  our  own,  in  the  development 
of  a  new  and  delicate  species  of  Mucor  from  Peni¬ 
cillium  roseum,  as  detailed  elsewhere.  The  micro¬ 
scopical  student  will  find  in  the  excellent  figures 
with  which  this  report  is  copiously  illustrated,  and 
in  the  details  of  observations,  much  that  is  exceed¬ 
ingly  valuable.  It  is  a  misfortune  and  a  mistake 
not  to  publish  it  in  London  as  well  as  in  Calcutta. 


ON  THE  COMBINATIONS  OF  CARBONIC 
ANHYDRIDE  WITH  AMMONIA  AND  WATER. 

EY  EDWARD  DIVERS,  M.D. 

{Continued  from  page  44G.) 

“  Carbonate  of  Ammonia"  of  Commerce. 

It  will  be  more  convenient  to  defer  for  the  present 
the  consideration  of  the  manufacture  of  the  commercial 
carbonate. 

Form. — All  I  wish  to  point  out  under  this  heading  is 
that  the  variations  in  the  appearance  of  the  substance, 
whether  between  one  sample  and  another,  or  between 
different  layers  of  the  same  sample,  are  not  proofs  of 
any  material  difference  in  composition.  It  may  be  very 
compact  with  a  more  or  less  conchoidal  fracture,  or  in 
softer  cakes  of  prisms  arranged  uniformly  perpendi¬ 
cular  to  the  surface  of  deposition,  or  in  white  nearly 
opaque  layers,  and  yet  differ  no  more  in  composition 
than  two  samples  of  similar  appearance.  On  the  other 
hand,  similarity  in  appearance  is  no  proof  of  identity  in 
composition.  Some  of  the  evidence  I  have  on  this  point 
is  given  in  the  succeeding  paragraphs. 

Chemical  Composition.- — No  one  has  attributed  to  the 
commercial  carbonate  anything  like  an  unvarying  com¬ 
position,  but  it  seems  to  be  universally  accepted  that 
this  does  usually  approximate  pretty  closely  to  that 
expressed  by  the  formula— 

(C02)3(OH2)2(NH3)4, 

which  has  in  100  parts — 

Carbonic  anhydride  .  .  .  .  55-93 


Ammonia . 28-81 

Water . 15-26 


And  it  cannot  be  denied  that  in  the  main  the  pub¬ 
lished  analyses  of  it  indicate  that  such  is  its  approximate 
composition. 


The  following  table  contains  all  the  published  results 
of  analyses  that  I  have  come  across : — 


Date. 

Carb.  anby. 

Aram. 

Bergman* * * §  .... 

1774 

45* 

43- 

Dalton* . 

1813 

59- 

24-5 

Uref . 

1817 

54-5 

30-5 

Phillipsj  .... 

1819 

54-2 

29-3 

Thomson  §  .... 

1820 

55-70 

26-17 

John  Davy*  .  .  . 

1834 

54-58 

27-39 

Rose* . 

1840 

- - 

28-66 

))  . 

— — 

— 

30-70 

D  •  •  •  •  • 

— 

50*55 

— 

»  •  •  •  •  • 

— 

53-40 

— . 

D  . 

— 

56-23 

— 

Ure  || . 

1853 

55-89 

28-86 

Dalton  deduced  from  his  numbers  the  atomic  compo¬ 
sition  since  universally  adopted ;  and  if  those  numbers 
are  compared  with  those  ho  used  to  express  the  composi¬ 
tion  of  the  acid  carbonate,  they  are  found  to  agree 
closely  enough  with  the  calculated  numbers. 

I  have  analysed  several  samples  of  the  carbonate  at 
present  in  commerce,  and  have  found  that  it  is  very  uni¬ 
form  in  composition  with  one  special  exception,  and  that 
this  composition  is  no  longer  that  represented  by  the 
formula 

(C  02)3  (0  H2)2  (N  H3)4, 

but  by  that  expressed  by  the  simpler  formula, 
(C02)20H2(NH3)3. 

This  formula,  represented  by  the  symbols  of  the  old 
atomic  weights,  becomes  more  complex  than  the  other 
formula  similarly  represented  ;  thus, 

1st  formula,  old  notation  .  .  (C02)3(0H)2(NH3)2. 

2nd  formula,  old  notation  .  (U02)4(0H)2(NH3)3. 

This,  I  think,  had  some  influence  on  the  selection  of 
the  formula.  For  Ui'e’s  analysis,  which  both  here  and 
abroad  seems  to  have  been  the  first  which  enabled  che¬ 
mists  to  adopt  a  formula  for  the  commercial  carbonate, 
agrees  much  more  closely  with  the  second  formula  than 
with  the  first.  But  then  the  first  could  be  represented 
by  the  formula  of  an  ammonium  salt,  thus, 

2NH4  0,3  C02, 

while  the  second  could  not.  However,  the  results  of 
other  analyses  corresponded  more  nearly  with  the  for¬ 
mula  adopted,  and  so  strengthened  the  grounds  of  its 
selection. 

The  samples  I  have  analysed  wrere  purchased  at  inter¬ 
vals  over  a  period  of  two  years  or  more,  of  different 
firms  (though  not  of  the  manufacturers  direct),  at  diffe¬ 
rent  prices  and  of  different  qualities.  Small  fragments, 
quite  free  from  decomposed  portions,  were  broken  from 
the  inside  of  lumps  just  before  they  were  used  for  ana¬ 
lysis.  The  following  are  the  details  and  results  of  my 
analyses 

The  contents  of  one  of  the  7  lb.  jars  usually  made  up 
for  the  use  of  dispensing  chemists  was  found  to  consist  of 
fragments  of  a  cake  exhibiting  different  layers :  (a) ,  the 
outer  lajTer,  constituting  the  greater  thickness  of  the 
cake,  compact,  translucent,  imperfectly  crystalline  and 
of  conchoidal  fracture ;  (b),  a  much  thinner  layer,  friable, 
semi-opaque;  (e),  a  layer,  apparently  the  innermost  of 
the  cake,  hardly  2  millimetres  thick,  very  translucent, 
prismatically  crystalline 

I.  1-085  grms.  of  (a)  yielded,  with  hydrochloric  acid, 
•5952  grm.  of  carbonic  anhydride  to  soda-lime  ; 

II.  IT 64)0  grams  of  (a)  neutralized  a  volume  of  stan¬ 
dard  sulphuric  acid,  equivalent  to  -3783  gram  of  am¬ 
monia  ; 

*  Memoir  already  quoted. 

f  ‘  Annals  of  Philosophy,’  vol.  x.  p.  203. 

X  ‘  Quarterly  Journal  of  Literature,  Science  and  Art,’  vol. 
vii.  p.  294. 

§  ‘  A  System  of  Chemistry,’  vol.  ii.  p.  413,  sixth  edition. 

|  ‘  A  Dictionary  of  Arts,  Manufactures  and  Mines,’  fourth 
edition.  Art.  “  Carbonate  of  Ammonia.” 


December  17, 1«70.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


485 


III.  1*0904  grams  of  (a)  neutralized  a  volume  of  stan¬ 
dard  sulphuric  acid,  equivalent  to  '3570  gram  of  am¬ 
monia  ; 

IV.  1*1437  grams  of  (a)  yielded  with  hydrochloric 
acid  1*1680  grams  of  ammonium  chloride  =  *3715  gram 
of  ammonia  ; 

V.  *9063  gram  of  (6)  yielded,  with  hydrochloric  acid, 
•5006  gram  of  carbonic  anhydi'ide  to  soda-lime  ; 

VI.  P0538  grams  of  ( b )  neutralized  a  volume  of  stan¬ 
dard  sulphuric  acid,  equivalent  to  *3468  gram  of  am¬ 
monia  ; 

VII.  14405  grams  of  (5)  gave,  with  hydrochloric  acid, 
14957  grams  of  ammonium  chloride  =  4757  gram  of 
ammonia ; 

VIII.  -9870  gram  of  (c)  gave,  with  hydrochloric  acid, 
*5427  gram  of  carbonic  anhydride  to  soda- lime; 

IX.  ’2490  gram  of  (e)  neutralized  a  volume  of  stan¬ 
dard  sulphuric  acid,  equivalent  to  *3137  gram  of  am¬ 
monia  : 

A  sample  labelled  “  commercial,”  indistinctly  crystal¬ 
line,  of  the  rose-tint,  often  seen  in  carbonate  made  from 
gas-liquor : — 

X.  14635  grams  neutralized  a  volume  of  standard  sul¬ 
phuric  acid,  equivalent  to  *4663  gram  of  ammonia ; 

XI.  1-0574  grams  yielded,  with  hydrochloric  acid, 
•5775  gram  of  carbonic  anhydride  to  soda-lime : 

A  sample  purchased  from  the  same  firm  as  the  last, 
but  labelled  “pure,”  identical  in  appearance  with  the 
last : — 


XII.  1-5314  grams  neutralized  a  volume  of  standard 
sulphuric  acid,  equivalent  to  -4888  gram  of  ammonia  : 

A  sample  in  sealed  bottle,  labelled  “  from  volcanic  am¬ 
monia,”  beautifully  crystalline  and  translucent,  devoid 
of  colour,  in  thinner  cakes  than  usual : — 

XIII.  -9855  gram  neutralized  a  volume  of  standard 
sulphuric  acid,  equivalent  to  -3230  gram  of  ammonia  ; 

XIV.  -9790  gram  neutralized  a  volume  of  standard 
sulphuric  acid,  equivalent  to  -3205  gram  of  ammonia  : 

A  sample,  labelled  “optim,”  from  a  wholesale  drug¬ 
gist’s,  not  very  crystalline,  devoid  of  colour : — 

XV.  1-0704  grams  neutralized  a  volume  of  standard 
sulphuric  acid,  equivalent  to  *3392  gram  of  ammonia  : 

A  sample,  purchased  from  the  same  firm  as  the  last, 
labelled  with  a  well-known  maker’s  name,  in  two  closely- 
adherent  layers,  of  which  one  (a)  was  about  twice  as 
thick  as  the  other,  indistinctly  crystalline,  with  conchoidal 
fracture,  and  the  other  and  thinner  layer  (5)  highly  crys¬ 
talline  : — 

XVI.  1-0261  grams  of  («)  neutralized  a  volume  of 
standard  sulphuric  acid,  equivalent  to  -3230  gram  of 
ammonia ; 


XVII.  -9667  gram  neutralized  a  solution  of  standard 
sulphuric  acid,  equivalent  to  -2188  gram  of  ammonia ; 

XVIII.  1-0443  grams  gave,  with  hydrochloric  acid, 
•5785  gram  of  carbonic  anhydride  to  soda-lime,  and  -7250 
gram  of  ammonium  chloride,  =  *2306  gram  of  ammonia. 

These  results,  calculated  for  parts  per  cent.,  give  the 
following  numbers 


/ 


a 

i 

b 

c 


jn" 

(V  * 
\  VI  • 
(  VII 


/  VIII 
(IX., 
(X  .. 
(XI  .. 


Carb.  anhyd 

54*86 

•  *  •  • 

•  •  •  • 

55*24 

tii* 

54*98 
•  •  •  • 

54-62 


Amm. 

!  32*61 

.  32*74 

.  3248 

.*  32*91 

.  33*02 

33  05 
.  31*65 


XII 

XIII 

XIV 

XV 

XVI 


31*92 

32*78 

32*73 

31*68 

3.1*48 


(The  calculated  numbers  for  the  results  of  the  analyses 


XVII  and  XVIII,  are  entirely  different  from  the  others, 
and  -wall  bo  given  and  discussed  presently.) 

These  numbers  agree  in  the  closest  manner  with  the 
theoretical  numbers,  except  that  the  presence  of  1  or  2 
per  cent,  more  water  is  indicated  than  is  required  by  the 
formula.  Here  are  the  calculated  numbers  for  a  com¬ 
pound  of  the  formula, 

(C03)20H2(NH3)3, 

— (l^when  pure,  and  (2)  when  containing  2*5  per  cent, 
additional  water  (=  ^0Ho)  : — 


Carbonic  anhydride  . 

(1.) 

.  56*05 

(3.) 

54*65 

Ammonia . 

.  3248 

31*67 

Water  . 

.  11*47 

11*18 

Additional  water  . . . 

i  •  III! 

2*50 

100*00 

100*00 

It  will  be  seen,  by  comparing  the  numbers  deduced 
from  my  analyses  with  these  numbers,  that  all  the 
samples  examined  had  a  composition  lying*  between  that 
of  the  pure  compound,  and  one  with  2*5  per  cent,  addi¬ 
tional  water.  Another  slight  variation  is,  however,  ob¬ 
servable,  namely,  that  the  ammonia  very  slightly  exceeds 
the  calculated  quantity — in  the  extreme  cases  to  the  ex¬ 
tent  of  1  per  cent.  But  it  will  be  seen  that  these  varia¬ 
tions  from  the  calculated  composition  are  immaterial  so 
far  as  the  determination  of  the  atomic  composition  is 
concerned.  AVhcn  treating  of  the  products  of  the  dis¬ 
tillations  yielding  carbonates  of  ammonia,  and  of  the 
formation  of  the  commercial  carbonate,  I  shall  have  again 
to  refer  to  these  variations.  I  shall  then,  too,  have  to 
point  out  that  a  compound  of  the  composition  I  find  the 
carbonate  of  commerce  to  possess,  is  the  commonest 
among  these  products  of  distillation.  Rose  also  obtained 
and  described  carbonates  having  more  nearly  this  com¬ 
position  than  any  other.  For  one  of  these  he  deduced 
the  atomic  composition  expressed  by  the  formula — 

(C02)5(0H2)4(NH3), 

The  sample  to  which  he  gave  this  formula  yielded  him 
numbers  which  correspond  more  closely  with  those  cal¬ 
culated  for  a  compound  of  the  formula 

(C02),0H2(NH3)3 

with  5  per  cent,  of  additional  water  than  with  those  for 
his  formula. 

By  distilling*  the  half-acid  carbonate  which  crystallizes 
from  solution,  he  obtained  a  product  which  agrees  much 
more  closely  with  my  formula  for  the  carbonate  at  pre¬ 
sent  in  commerce,  with  8*5  per  cent,  additional  water 
than  with  his  formula — ■ 

(C02)5(0H2)5(NH3)s. 

Lastly,  he  obtained  another  compound  from  a  residue 
from  the  distillation  of  one  of  the  carbonates,  and  gave 
it  the  formula — 

(C  0.2)5  (O  H2)  12  (N  H3)3, 

and  this  compound  also  yielded  numbers  corresponding* 
much  more  closely  to  those  indicating  the  commercial 
carbonate  of  the  present  time,  associated  with  about  30 
per  cent,  of  water,  than  with  those  of  the  formula  given 
to  it  by  him. 

The  analysis  of  the  commercial  carbonate  made  by 
Urc  in  1817  corresponds  much  better  with  the  composi¬ 
tion  I  find  the  carbonate  at  present  to  have,  together 
with  4  per  cent,  additional  water,  than  with  that  attri¬ 
buted  to  it. 

It  is  of  some  interest  to  adduce  proofs,  other  than  ana¬ 
lytical,  that  the  carbonate  now  in  commerce  differs  from 
that  most  generally  in  commerce  formerly.  Firstly, 
Rose  found  on  distilling  the  ordinary  commercial  caibo- 
nate  at  a  very  gentle  heat  that  the  contents  of  the  retort 
gradually  liquefied.  I  have  repeated  his  experiment, 
with  the  utmost  care  to  proceed  as  slowly  as  possible, 
taking,  for  instance,  about  ninety  hours  continuous  am 
nearly  uniform  heating*  to  distil  about  250  grams,  and 


4S6 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  17, 1370. 


obtained  hardly  any  liquid  at  all ;  yet  the  products  of 
distillation  were  less  hydrated  than  those  he  obtained. 

Secondly,  as  I  have  already  pointed  out,  by  distilling 
the  carbonate  at  present  in  commerce  with  anhydrous 
calcium  chloride,  ammonium  carbamate  condenses.  Now 
this  allows  of  no  explanation,  unless  the  carbonate  is  ad¬ 
mitted  to  have  a  different  composition  from  what  it  used 
to  have.  The  reactions  in  the  two  cases  are  expressed' 
by  the  following  equations  : — 

2(C02)20H2(NH3)3  +  2Ca  Cl2 

To  form 
carbamate. 

_ /s, _ 

=  4NH4C1  +  2C03Ca  +  C02  +  C02  +  2NH3; 


Calc.  XVII.  XVIII.  Phillips. 
Carbonic  anhydride  . .  55’ 70  —  55’ 40  55’5 


Ammonia .  21-52  22’63  22'08  21J6 

Water .  2278  —  — 


100  00 

The  acid  carbonate,  it  will  be  remembered  can  easily 
be  obtained  in  the  above  form  by  distilling  the  ordinary 
form  of  it  very  slowly.  In  the  remarks  which  follow  on 
the  commercial  carbonate,  it  is  to  be  understood  that  the 
usual  variety  only  is  referred  to. 

(To  be  continued.) 


PLANTS  AS  MANUFACTURERS.  * 


(COo)3(OH2)2(NH3)4  +  2CaCL 
=  4NH4C1  +  2  C  03  Ca  +  CO“2. 

Thirdly,  the  commercial  carbonate  loses  by  exposure  a 
proportion  of  its  weight  corresponding  closely  with  that 
calculated,  as  due  to  carbamate,  from  the  formula  de¬ 
duced  from  my  analyses. 

Fourthly,  its  solubility  is  about  twice  as  great  as  that 
of  acid  carbonate,  and  of  this  it  contains  about  half  its 
weight,  according  to  the  formula  I  have  deduced  for  it. 

Fifthly,  its  saturated  solution  does  not  seem  as  if  it 
were  charged  with  carbonic  anhydride,  as  does  that  of 
the  half-acid  ammonium  carbonate. 

Commercial  Acid  Carbonate. — I  have  stated  that  I  have 
found  one  special  exception  to  the  uniformity  in  compo¬ 
sition  of  the  commercial  carbonate.  This  occurred  in  a 
crystalline  layer  intimately  imited  to  a  barely  crystalline 
layer  of  the  ordinary  composition.  I  have  already  given 
the  results  of  my  analyses  of  this  layer  of  exceptional 
composition.  Calculated  into  parts  per  cent,  they  give 
numbers  nearly  identical  with  those  of  the  acid  carbo¬ 
nate.  This  layer  differed  from  the  other,  and  the  ordi¬ 
nary  carbonate,  in  having  scarcely  any  smell  or  any  am- 
moniacal  taste ;  in  dissolving  only  slowly  in  the  mouth ; 
and  in  not  losing  its  translucency  by  exposure  to  the  air. 
The  occurrence  of  the  acid  carbonate  in  commerce  must 
be  very  rare,  because  its  difference  from  the  ordinary 
carbonate  is  so  striking  and  such  as  to  render  it  valueless 
for  most  of  the  purposes  of  pharmacy  and  medicine  for 
which  it  is  required.  So  far  as  I  am  aware,  this  occur¬ 
rence  has  only  once  before  been  pointed  out,  and  this  was 
done  nearly  fifty  years  ago  by  Phillips,*  who  published 
his  analysis  of  a  sample  which  Henry  and  ho  had 
examined.  Like  the  sample  I  have  examined,  this  was 
more  crystalline  than  usual.  It  must  not,  therefore,  be 
concluded,  however,  that  the  acid  carbonate  in  this  form 
is  essentially  more  crystalline  than  the  ordinary  carbo¬ 
nate  of  commerce ;  for  this  is  often  sent  out  by  the 
manufacturer  much  more  crystalline  than  the  layer  of 
the  acid  carbonate  I  have  described.  It  was  adherent  to 
about  twice  its  weight  of  the  ordinary  commercial  carbo¬ 
nate,  so  that  the  cake  as  a  whole  had,  therefore,  the 
mean  composition  indicated  for  it  by  the  ‘  British  Phar¬ 
macopoeia.’  Thus : — 


Atomic  wts.  Parts. 

Commer.  carb . )  ,  _ 

(C02)20H2(NH3)J  ••••  l£>7  or  2 

Acid  carbonate  .  79  0r  1 


Ammonia;  carbonas,  B.P.  ) 

(COi)3(OE,).(NHs)t..  j 


236  or  3 


Mhether  this  circumstance  was  accidental  or  intentional 
on  the  part  of  the  maker  I  do  not  pretend  to  say. 

The  details  of  the  analysis  of  this  layer  of  acid  carbo¬ 
nate  have  already  been  given.  I  have  reserved  till  now 
giving  the  calculated  numbers  per  cent.  With  them  I 
place  those  of  Phillips : — 


We  have  been  accustomed  to  admire  plants  for  their 
beauty,  to  love  them  for  their  sweetness,  and  to  prize 
them  for  the  value  of  their  products.  But  few  have  any 
clear  notions  concerning  the  arduousness  of  their  labours, 
or  the  importance  of  the  work  which  they  perform. 
The  life  of  plants  seems  to  us  a  life  of  ease,  a  season  of 
quiet  repose,  a  waiting  for  all  things  to  be  done  for  them. 
Such  views  are  wholly  mistaken.  No  life  is  more  fully 
occupied  than  that  of  a  plant. 

They  are  manufacturers,  it  is  true,  but  we  never 
hear  the  clink,  crash,  whirr,  or  deafening  din  of  then 
machinery  in  motion.  They  darken  the  heavens  with 
no  reeking  clouds  of  foul  smoke,  no  hissing  volumes  of 
spent  steam.  They  both  spin  and  weave,  but  no  rush  of 
spindles  or  sound  of  shuttles  is  heard.  They  pack  up 
millions  of  tons  of  goods  for  transportation  to  the  furthest 
ends  of  the  earth,  without  the  aid  of  hydraulic  pressure 
or  huge  packing-boxes.  They  lift  thousands  of  tons  of 
water  and  produce  from  the  earth  into  the  air  without 
the  help  of  cranes  or  lifting  tackle  of  any  kind.  This 
noiselessness  is  the  more  marvellous  when  we  remember 
that  there  is  no  division  of  labour  in  those  plant  facto¬ 
ries.  Each  does  all  its  own  work  for  itself.  Finishing- 
houses  are  unknown  in  these  factories ;  and  what  perfec¬ 
tion  of  finish  we  have  in  leaf  and  flower,  and  root  and 
branch,  timber  and  bark !  What  artist  could  meddle 
with  but  to  mar  the  finish  of  fine  fruit  and  glorious 
flowers.  In  design,  in  texture,  in  skill,  and  in  finish 
plants  are  far  in  advance  of  all  human  manufactures. 
No  skill  of  man  can  create  a  living  daisy ;  but  observe 
that  humble  plant,  spreading  its  few  simple  leaves  on 
the  ground ;  it  takes  a  few  atoms  of  earthy  matter,  and 
compounds  them  with  some  raindrops  and  a  sheathful  of 
sunbeams,  and  forthwith  the 

“  Wee,  modest,  crimson-tipped  flower  ” 
opens  its  eyes  to  gaze  upon  the  sun. 

The  basis  of  all  manufacture  is  raw  material.  With¬ 
out  this  nothing  can  be  made.  Whence  comes  the  raw 
material  of  plants  ?  They  are  rooted  to  one  spot,  and 
have  neither  carriers,  railways,  nor  fleets  of  merchant 
vessels  at  command.  How,  then,  do  they  get  the  raw 
material  to  keep  their  factories  going?  In  the  olden 
times  rocks  were  rent,  avalanches  rolled,  water  dashed 
and  leaped  with  wild  and  hurried  steps,  strata  were  de¬ 
nuded  and  upheaved,  volcanos  shot  out  flames  of  fire 
and  showered  forth  red-hot  ashes,  and  myriads  upon 
myriads  of  living  things  lived  and  died,  and  found 
graves  in  this  great  globe — the  earth — before  the  raw 
material  for  the  basement  floor  of  this  great  plant  ma¬ 
nufactory  was  provided.  And  now  plants  draw  their 
raw  material  from  the  earth,  from  the  waters  above, 
upon  and  under  the  earth,  and  from  the  invisible  air. 

The  wind  is  freighted  with  fresh  supplies  of  raw  ma¬ 
terial  for  plants,  the  clouds  are  their  water  carriers,  the 
lightning  their  swift-winged  messenger  to  announce 
their  wants  in  cloudland  or  across  the  earth  or  ocean, 
and  bring  back  tidings  of  coming  cargoes.  The  four  so- 
called  elements  of  the  ancients — earth,  air,  fire  and 


% 


*  “  ?n  ihe  Bicarbonate  of  Ammonia.”  *  Annals  of  Philo-  *  Abstracted  from  a  paper  by  Mr.  D.  T.  Fish,  published 
ophy,  vol.  xvm.  p.  110.  in  tlie  Gardenerj  Chronicle. 


December  17, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


4S7 


'water — are  laid  under  contribution  by  plants.  They  ab¬ 
sorb  and  utilize  matter  in  all  states  and  conditions, — solid, 
liquid,  gaseous,  visible  and  invisible,  clean  or  foul,  come 
•equally  welcome  to  plants.  We  hear  of  great  things 
being  done  by  the  use  of  waste.  Old  and  apparently 
iuseless  matters  are  torn  up  and  fined  down,  and  new 
products  spring  forth  as  if  by  magic.  Fortunes  have 
been  built  up  out  of  shoddy.  Plants  are  likewise  dis¬ 
tinguished  in  this  line.  Theirs  is  the  largest  shoddy 
factory  in  the  world.  They  are  Nature’s  universal  sca¬ 
vengers,  always  sweeping  up,  utilizing,  transforming, 
glorifying,  dirt,  shoddy,  waste,  and  converting  it  into 
products  of  the  highest  value.  Nothing  escapes  the 
•keen,  eager  search  of  plants.  They  question  the  winds 
in  their  hurried  courses,  and  case  them  of  their  loads. 
They  invite  the  dew  to  adorn  them  with  its  necklace  of 
pearls,  that  they  may  drink  in  its  nourishing  sweetness. 
‘They  tenderly,  firmly  hug  all  kinds  of  earth,  that  they 
may  take  all  they  need  for  themselves  out  of  it.  They 
run  up  into,  and  wave  themselves  about  in  the  air,  that 
they  may  feed  upon  its  carbon  and  ammonia.  In  one 
word,  their  field  for  the  supply  of  raw  material  is  the 
world;  and  having  done  their  best  to  empty  it,  they 
turn  their  pleading  flowers  and  inviting  leaves  towards 
the  sun,  and  proceed  to  do  their  utmost  to  absorb  all 
its  heat,  ’to  use  up  its  light,  to  exhaust  its  chemical 
forces,  and  empty  it  of  its  energia,  or  life-giving  powers. 
Such  is  the  baldest  possible  outline  of  some  of  the  chief 
sources  from  which  plants  draw  their  supplies  of  raw 
material. 

No  sooner  are  their  factories  furnished  with  these  than 
forthwith  they  hasten  to  convert  them  into  finished  pro¬ 
ducts.  But  to  this  end  motive  power  is  needed.  Rest 
Is  the  grave  of  production,  motion  its  life.  Plants  foxm 
no  exception  to  the  general  laws.  They  can  manufac¬ 
ture  nothing  without  moving  force,  and  that  force  is 
never  absent  unless  it  is  bound  in  the  iron  fetters  of 
frost,  or  arrested  by  the  colder  grasp  of  death.  True  we 
cannot  hear  the  rush  of  the  sap  ;  the  heat  that  quickens 
■falls  softly  on  leaf  and  flower.  Chemical  compositions 
or  decompositions  which  arc  incessantly  proceeding  in 
plant  factories  give  forth  no  sound.  The  lightning- 
plays  among  leaves  and  flowers  without  scorching  spot 
or  hissing  noise.  The  energia  of  the  sun  stimulates  the 
life  of  the  plant  to  the  utmost,  though  the  summons  to 
awake  is  unheard  by  mortal  ear.  But  is  there,  there¬ 
fore,  no  motion  F  Nay,  are  not  all  the  greatest  move¬ 
ments  in  Nature  silent  F  We  hear  not  the  stars  in  their 
flurried  courses.  The  daily  revolution  of  the  globe  gives 
forth  no  crashing  intonation. 

The  motive  powers  used  in  plant  factories  are  various, 
— heat,  light,  chemical  affinity,  and  life  are  probably  the 
chief.  It  is  impossible  to  dwell  upon  either  of  them. 
Life  and  heat  are  perhaps  the  most  important,  and  be¬ 
tween  them  they  do  an  amount  of  work  that  is  perfectly 
astounding.  We  know  little  of  either ;  possibly  they 
are  closely  related,  almost  synonymous.  The  sun  in  a 
secondary  sense  may  be  said  to  be  the  source  of  both, 
but  they  work  everywhere  to  produce  motion.  Be¬ 
tween  them  they  set  and  keep  all  the  fluids  of  plants  in 
perpetual  movement,  and  these  fluids  are  the  carriers  of 
nearly  all  that  is  needed  to  build  up  structure  and 
manufacture  produce.  Independently  of  the  force  ex¬ 
pended  on  production,  plants  perform  other  and  highly 
important  work.  They  pump  a  great  proportion  of  the 
water  of  the  world,  and  thus  enrich  and  fructify  by 
watering  the  earth.  The  sun  is  the  greatest,  strongest 
raiser  of  water.  But  the  sun  and  the  atmosphere  draw 
their  supplies  chiefly  from  the  surface  of  the  earth, 
rivers  and  oceans.  The  roots  of  trees  go  deeper  down 
for  their  water,  and  the  leaves  distribute  this  water  at  a 
high  elevation.  What  the  force  of  steam  is  to  your  fac¬ 
tories,  these  and  other  forces  are  to  plant  manufactories. 
They  pervade,  move,  quicken,  drive  the  entire  machi¬ 
nery  of  production.  Every  part  of  the  plant  is  set  to 
work  in  extending,  spinning,  weaving,  transforming, 


finishing  something.  The  designs  are  most  perfect,  the 
products  more  varied  than  can  be  enumerated  or  ima¬ 
gined.  Do  you  ask  what  plants  make  ?  Rather  inquire 
what  they  do  not  make.  They  make  fruit,  flowers,  corn, 
wine,  oil,  gum,  resin,  pitch,  timber,  cotton,  flax,  fibre, 
tea,  coffee,  starch,  rice,  spices,  acids,  perfumes,  and  me¬ 
dicines.  They  have  mainly  formed  the  tilth  of  o in¬ 
fields, — they  constitute  our  coal  measures.  And  all  these 
things  are  made  out  of  the  most  unlikely  elementary 
materials. 

Consider  the  lilies,  the  roses,  the  violets  in  their  sweet¬ 
ness  ;  the  orchids  in  their  gorgeous  colouring  and  mar¬ 
vellous  beauty  of  structure,  perfect  mimics  of  some  of 
the  most  exquisitely  and  elaborately  formed  insects.  Look 
at  the  oak-tree  in  its  strength,  and  the  tiniest  moss  in 
its  shrinking  weakness- ;  then  remember  that  a  few  mor¬ 
sels  of  solid  matter,  a  few  drops  of  water,  some  fleeting 
sunbeams  with  invisible  food  searched  out  of  the  air, 
have  formed  them  all.  These  are  brought  in  to  those 
marvellous  manufactories,  plants,  and  forthwith  duly 
delivered  is  all  this  beauty,  sweetness  and  glory.  The 
transforming  powers  of  plants  ai-e  beyond  comprehen¬ 
sion.  For  what  skill  of  man  could  compound  such  a 
varied  bouquet  of  sweet  odoux-s  from  such  crude  elemen- 
tary  matters  as  these  P 

Do  you  ask  if  over-production  is  ever  known  in  these 
plant  factories  F  Well,  sometimes,  though  it  is  not  the 
evil  that  it  is  among  us.  For  their  very  act  of }  reduction 
is  almost  as  serviceable  to  us  as  the  products  manufac¬ 
tured.  Incidentally,  as  it  were,  the  mere  working  of 
plants  fills  our  x-ivers  and  purifies  our  air.  Then  there 
is  no  waste  in  Natui-e :  “  Gather  up  the  fragments  that 
remain,  that  nothing  be  lost,”  is  her  constant  practice. 
What  is  not  needed  to-day  will  be  wanted  to-moiTOw. 
There  is  a  case  in  point.  Ages  ago  the  world  seemed  in 
danger  of  being  engulfed  beneath  the  debris  of  plants. 
The  strongest  forms  of  plant  life,  stimulated  by  a  hot 
steaming  atmosphere,  nished  up  as  if  by  magic.  They 
decayed  almost  as  rapidly.  Decomposition  added  fuel 
to  the  energy  of  growth.  The  living  fed  upon  the  dead. 
A  great  contest  raged  throughout  many  ages  between 
life  and  death.  Pi'oduction  and  destruction,  growth  and 
decay,  ran  a  neck-and-neck  race  for  the  mastery  of  the 
world,  and  production  won  the  race.  The  eai'th  groaned 
beneath  its  huge  load  of  caiboniferous  debris.  At  last 
its  back  bent  and  broke  with  the  sheer  weight,  possibly ; 
then  there  came  a  subsidence  or  overflow — a  hotpress 
of  fresh  strata  rolled  over — and  the  coal  measures  were 
formed.  And  now,  at  the  present  moment,  we  are  warm¬ 
ed  by  the  heat,  lighted  by  the  light,  and  derive  most  of 
our  wox-king  force  from  the  energy  of  primeval  suns. 
Had  we  seen  all  this,  wo  should  have  cried  out  what  a 
shameful  loss !  but  a  greater  than  man  said  “  Gather  up 
the  -fragments  ”  for  the  homes,  the  factoi-ies,  the  rail¬ 
ways,  the  steamships  of  my  great  family  in  the  nine¬ 
teenth  century,  and  all  succeeding  ages.  And  thus  it 
came  to  pass  that  we  filled  our  coal  cellai's  with  the  car¬ 
bon  of  the  old  woi'ld. 

{To  be  continued.) 

Colonial  Tobacco. — The  success  which  has  attended 
the  inti'oduction  of  tobacco  cultivation  into  some  of  our 
colonies  will  give  fresh  encouragement  to  those  who  are 
working  in  this  department  of  economic  botany.  We 
learn  from  Nature  that  samples  of  Latakia  tobacco  grown 
in  Jamaica  have  been  submitted  for  approval  in  London 
and  reported  upon  favourably,  while  in  India  the  seeds 
of  the  best  vai-ieties  ai-e  being  distributed  in  the  disti’icts 
most  suited  to  the  cultivation  of  the  plants.  Fi-om  Natal 
a  sample  has  just  been  l'eceived,  which,  in  the  opinion  of 
an  eminent  firm  of  tobacco-brokers  in  the  City,  is  a  very 
near  appi-oach  to  what  colonial  tobacco  should  be.  It  is 
of  good  substance  and  of  a  fair  light  brown  colour.  It 
carefully  packed,  it  would  pi-obably  fetch  the  price  of 
5d.  to  b\d.  per  lb.  in  bond,  and  meet  a  ready  sale  in  the 
London  market. 


488 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  17, 1570, 


The  Cost  of  Dimples. — Those  who  pay  fair  prices 
for  gcol  wines  should  he  alive  to  a  kind  of  imposition 
which  makes  them  pay  nearly  twice  the  nominal  price 
for  what  they  drink.  Six  bottles  of  brandy  or  wine  are 
popularly  supposed  to  make  a  gallon,  and  six  reputed 
quarts  do  fairly  make  up  the  gallon.  Mr.  A.  H.  Church 
has  been  at  the  pains  to  measure  the  contents  of  some 
reputed  quart  bottles  in  which  different  wines  and  brandy 
were  sent  out  by  a  respectable  house.  They  contained 
in  nearly  every  instance  less  than  two-thirds  of  the  full 
measure.  Port  at  6G*1.  a  dozen  was  really  sold  at  82s. 
full  measure.  Cognac  at  60s.  was  sold  at  the  rate  of  86s. 
full  measure.  Santo  was  sold  at  48s.  a  dozen  ;  the  bottle 
consisted  of  only  twenty-two  ounces,  instead  of  forty, 
and  the  cost  was,  therefore,  at  the  rate  of  87s.  Even  the 
20s.  Roussillon  bought  by  the  bottle  counts  up  to  30s.  a 
dozen.  The  kick  or  dimple  in  each  bottle  often  holds  as 
much  as  a  small  tumbler.  Evidently  dimples  are  a  con¬ 
siderable  and  probably  a  not  sufficiently  considered  item 
in  our  family  expenditure* — British  Medical  Journal. 

Monkey  Nuts. — The  pods  of  the  ground  nut 
(Arachis  hypogcca),  commonly  known  by  the  name  of 
‘•monkey  nuts,”  chiefly  used  for  the  expression  from  the 
seeds  of  a  light- coloured  bland  oil,  said  to  be  extensively 
used  for  mixing  with  olive  oil,  are  now  reported  to  be  used 
in  America  for  making  so-called  chocolate.  For  this  pur¬ 
pose  they  are  beaten  up  in  a  mortar  and  the  mass  com¬ 
pressed  into  cakes ;  and  it  is  said  to  form  a  most  agree¬ 
able  chocolate,  without  a  particle  of  true  cocoa.  The 
Americans  also  prepare  the  seeds  as  a  dessert  sweetmeat 
by  pai'ching  them  and  beating  them  up  with  sugar. — 
Nature. 

The  Manufacture  of  Grape  Sugar  from  Corn. 

— The  Boston  Journal  <f  Chemistry  says  that  large  fac¬ 
tories  have  been  established  in  New  Orleans,  Buffalo, 
and  Brooklyn,  for  making  grape  sugar  from  corn.  The 
latter  is  steeped  in  weak  soda  lye,  for  the  purpose  of 
softening  the  husk  and  gluten,  and  is  then  ground  wet 
and  run  through  revolving  sieves  to  separate  impurities. 
It  is  afterwards  made  to  flow  through  ways  or  troughs, 
in  which  the  starch  gradually  settles  as  a  white  powder. 
The  wash  water  is  run  into  a  large  cistern,  and  allowed 
to  ferment  and  produce  a  weak  vinegar.  The  starch 
from  the  troughs  is  put  wet  into  the  mash- tub,  and 
treated  with  water  containing  one  per  cent,  of  sulphuric 
acid,  for  eight  hours.  The  acid  is  neutralized  with  chalk 
or  carbonate  of  lime,  and  the  liquid  evaporated  to  get 
rid  of  the  gypsum ;  it  is  afterwards  further  evaporated  in 
vacuum  pans  and  run  into  barrels  ready  for  crystalliza¬ 
tion. — Nature. 

Sulphurous  Acid.— Dr.  Wilks  reports  that  I10  has 
used  sulphurous  acid  with  great  success  in  cases  of  ty¬ 
phoid  fever.  He  says  that  it  “  arrests  the  development 
of  the  fever  poison,  and  by  continuing  this  arrest  long 
enough  the  fever  is  exterminated.  Briefly,  it  is  an  anti¬ 
dote.” — British  Medical  Journal. 

Chilblains. — In  a  letter  to  the  Lancet ,  Dr.  Fergus 
says  “that  sulphurous  acid  is  a  remedy  that  has  a  sur¬ 
prising  effect  upon  chilblains,  ©specially  in  their  irritating 
tormenting  stage.  The  acid  should  be  applied  with  a 
camel-hair  brush,  or  what  is  better,  by  means  of  a  spray- 
producer.  One  application  by  the  latter  method  usually 
effects  a  cure. .  A  good  wash  for  hands  or  feet  affected  is 
sulphurous  acid,  three  parts ;  glycerine,  one  part ;  water, 
one  part. 

Pill  Knives.— Mr.  Carre,  of  Meaford,  writing  to  the 
Canadian  Bhannaceutical  Journal,  recommends  the  use  of 
a  tool  something  like  a  carpenter’s  chisel  for  reducing 
stiff  extracts  and  masses.  It  may  be  made  from  a 
stout  pill-knife,  by  cutting  the  round  part  of  the  end  to 
a  square  shape,  and  grinding  both  sides  to  an  edge.  This 
will  thoroughly  clean  the  slab  as  well  as  blend  the  mass 
most  effectually.  He  says  the  ipestle  and|  mortar  are 
nowhere'  beside  it. 


The  Use  of  Ammonia  in  Snake  Bites. — Mr.. 

F.  Gr.  Adye-Curran,  M.B.,  Assistant-Surgeon  to  the  83rd 
regiment,  reports  in  the  Lancet  a  case  in  which  the  am¬ 
monia  remedy  was  tried  without  success.  A  native 
butler  noticing  a  cobra  di  capello  to  emerge  from  a  rat- 
hole,  immediately  informed  his  master,  who  came  and 
fired  at  the  cobra,  wounding  it  in  the  neck,  but  not  kill¬ 
ing  it.  The  butler,  who  was  partially  intoxicated  at  the 
time,  seeing  the  cobra  trying  to  make  its  escape,  caught 
hold  of  the  reptile  by  the  tail,  when  it  turned  sharply 
round  and  bit  him  in  the  index  finger.  He  was  imme¬ 
diately  removed  to  the  hospital,  where  a  tourniquet  was 
placed  on  the  arm  and  wrist,  the  finger  freely  lanced 
and  ammonia  and  ipecacuanha  applied,  while  ammonia 
and  brandy  were  given  internally.  The  wound  was 
sucked  and  the  patient  kept  awake ;  but  in  spite  of  every 
effort  he  died  four  or  five  hours  after  being  bitten.  A 
curious  circumstance  in  connection  with  this  case  is  that 
the  patient  expressed  himself  as  feeling  no  pain,  and  the 
usual  symptoms  of  snake  poisoning  were  absent. 


HULL  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION.— ANNUAL 

SUPPER. 

The  Annual  Supper  of  the  Hull  Chemists’  Association 
was  held  on  Wednesday  evening,  December  7th;  about 
thirty-five  members  attended.  The  chair  was  occupied 
by  Mr.  J.  Baynes,  and  the  vice-chair  by  Mr.  Anthony- 
Smith. 

After  the  usual  loyal  and  local  toasts  had  been  drunk, 
Mr.  Preston  proposed  “  Success  to  the  Chemists  and 
Druggists’  Association,”  observing  that  the  members  of 
the  Association  numbered  more  this  year  than  last  year. 

The  Chairman,  in  replying,  stated  that  the  Society  had 
made  material  progress  during  the  past  fifteen  months,, 
and  he  had  hopes  that  it  would  bo  an  enduring  and  last¬ 
ing  Association. 


DRUG  MARKET  NOTES. 


The  old  and  esteemed  preparation  Compound  Ex¬ 
tract  or  Colocynth  may  shortly  have  to  find  a  sub¬ 
stitute,  for  at  the  present  time  the  officinal  cardamom: 
is  almost  entirely"  absent  from  commerce,  and  it  is 
seldom  that  a  parcel  of  true  Socotrine  aloes  is  now 
offered  for  sale. 


The  following  were  among  the  parcels  of  drugs, 
offered  for  sale  last  week : — 

Aloes, — Cape,  54  cases. 

Galls, — Turkey",  37  bales. 

Castor  Oil,  354  cases. 

Gum  Kowrie,  10  bags. 

Opium, — Turkey,  08  cases ;  Persian,  25. 

Otto  of  Roses,  17  vases ;  and  850  ounces. 
Ylang-ylang,  2  tins. 

Senna,  124  bales  ;  Alexandria,  04  cases ;  Bombay", 
10  bales;  Tinnevelly",  177  bales. 

Cliiretta,  120  bales. 

Sarsaparilla,  10  bales. 

Bark,  75  packages,  52  bales;  Peruvian,  33  serons ; 
Guayaquil,  5  serons ;  Crown,  105  packages ; 
Calisay'a,  27  serons. 

Ipecacuanha,  5  serons;  Cartliagena,  0  packages- 
Cutch,  11  cases. 

Aconite,  2  cases. 

Sandal  Wood,  3  tons. 

Matico,  7  bales. 

Rhubarb,  108  chests. 


December  17,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


4S9 


®|e  ^pijanitacmtical  J’ounntl. 

- + - . 

SATURDAY,  DECEMBER  17,  1870. 


Communications  for  this  Journal ,  and  books  for  review ,  etc ., 
* should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

Instructions  from  Members  and  Associates  respecting  the 
•transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Breh- 
ridge,  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  W.C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W.  Envelopes  endorsed  “  B harm.  Journ.” 


POISON  REGULATIONS. 

We  tliis  week  give  a  report  of  tlie  proceedings  at 
the  Council  Meeting  of  the  7tli  inst.  It  will  he  seen 
that  the  Committee  appointed  to  report  on  the  sub¬ 
ject,  recommended  that  poisons  should  be  kept  with 
some  distinctive  mark  in  addition  to  the  names'  of 
the  articles ;  also,  that  they  should  be  kept  in  a 
closet,  etc.,  specially  set  apart  for  them,  or  in  vessels 
distinguishable  by  the  touch,  or  in  vessels  closed  in  a 
manner  different  from  the  way  in  which  non-poison- 
ous  articles  are  kept.  On  the  motion  that  these  re¬ 
commendations  should  be  proposed  to  the  Annual 
Meeting,  an  amendment  was  moved  to  the  effect  that 
poison  regulations  were  not  necessary  under  existing 
circumstances.  This  amendment  was  lost,  as  well 
as  another  declaring  the  need  for  an  expression  of 
^opinion  by  the  country  trade  before  the  adoption  of 
any  regulations.  The  original  motion  was  then  put 
and  carried  by  a  majority  of  six  out  of  fourteen 
members  present. 

As  the  matter  now  stands,  therefore,  the  regula¬ 
tions  recommended  by  the  Committee  will  be  pre¬ 
sented  by  the  Council  to  the  Society  at  its  General 
meeting,  for  adoption  as  regulations  that  every  one 
in  the  trade  will  be  compelled  to  observe,  so  that  the 
poisons  in  his  stock  are  kept  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
-come  within  the  terms  of  the  regulations. 

In  connection  with  this  important  subject,  we  must 
also  call  attention  to  a  letter  from  Mr.  Hampson,  the 
terms  of  which  seem  to  suggest  the  possibility  of 
open  war  and  determined  resistance  to  the  action 
taken  by  the  Council.  From  the  neutral  ground  ne¬ 
cessarily  held  by  the  Editor  of  this  Journal,  it  would 
be  obviously  improper  to  comment  on  a  position  of 
such  gravity  any  further  than  to  express  the  hope 
that,  whatever  contest  may  be  deemed  indispensable, 
the  real  interests  of  Bliarmacv,  as  a  craft,  will  not 
be  lost  sight  of  or  damaged  in  the  endeavour  to  sup¬ 
port  any  view  less  catholic  in  character. 


THE  LANCET  AND  PHARMACEUTISTS’  CHARGES. 

Our  contemporary,  the  Lancet,  must,  we  think, 
by  this  time  have  become  aware  that  the  sentiments 
to  which  it  has  given  expression  in  reference  to  the 
charges  made  by  pharmaceutists  for  medicines  sup¬ 


plied  to  the  public,  do  not  find  acceptance  either 
with  the  leading  members  of  the  profession  or  with 
the  bulk  of  the  general  medical  practitioners  of  the 
country.  Indeed,  though  our  contemporary  has  re¬ 
turned  once  and  again  to  the  charge,  it  has  had  to 
disclaim  the  idea  that  druggists’  charges  are  gene¬ 
rally,  or  even  frequently  extortionate ;  and  it  has  only 
succeeded  in  making  the  unpleasant  impression  upon 
pharmaceutists  that  its  strictures  were  dictated  by 
a  sell-interested  clique,  seeking  to  gain  a  personal 
advantage  at  the  expense  of  the  dispenser,  and 
thinking  that  if  less  be  paid  for  physic,  there  will 
then  be  more  room  for  visits,  whilst  it  has  elicited 
from  the  medical  profession  itself  but  very  few  in¬ 
stances  of  exceptionally  high  charges, — even  then  the 
statements  have  been  unauthenticated  by  the  names 
of  the  writers,  and  pharmaceutists  themselves  have 
condemned  in  still  stronger  terms  the  charges  alleged 
to  have  been  made  in  those  instances,  as  altogether 
unusual  and  unjustifiable. 

But  in  the  face  of  the  document  published  in  last 
week’s  Journal,  setting  forth  for  general  adoption  by 
the  medical  profession  a  tariff  of  fees  which  should 
be  charged  by  the  profession  for  medicines,  the  stric¬ 
tures  of  our  contemporary  must  appear  very  impolitic 
indeed,  and  the  more  unjust,  since  the  charges  in 
that  tariff  are  altogether  higher  than  those  of  any 
leading  pharmaceutists.  This  document  describes 
the  scale  of  fees  to  be  such  that  the  humblest  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  profession  need  not  hesitate  to  make  it 
the  basis  of  his  charges, — a  rate  suggested,  indeed, 
rather  in  accordance  with  past  usage  than  from  any 
consideration  of  what  is  essential  to  maintain  the 
proper  status  of  the  profession, — due  regard  being 
had  to  the  diminished  value  of  money  and  the  in¬ 
crease  of  wealth  among  the  several  classes  of  the 
community,  considerations,  we  would  say,  that  should 
be  as  fairly  applied  to  the  pharmaceutical  as  to  the 
medical  profession. 

And  what  is  the  tariff  which  is  so  moderate  ?  It 
is  based  upon  house  rental  of  patients,  and  recog¬ 
nizes  three  classes,  those  who  pay  from  TTO  to  T'25, 
those  who  pay  from  £25  to  £50,  and  those  who 
pay  from  T50  to  LTOO  a  year.  Now,  although  it  is 
held  that  medical  men  should  be  paid  for  their 
advice,  “  drugs  ”  being  thrown  in  when  supplied 
by  medical  practitioners ;  yet  we  have  a  special 
scale  given  for  medicines  alone,  and  a  very  wide 
difference  is  observed  in  the  charges  suggested  where 
medicines  are  supplied  in  the  one  case  and  not  in 
the  other.  For  instance,  for  an  ordinary  visit  within 
the  postal  district,  including  medicines,  it  is  sug¬ 
gested  that  the  fees  should  be  respectively  for  the 
three  classes,  2s.  iSd.  to  5 s. ;  3s.  0 d.  to  7s. ;  and  5 s.  to 
10s.  G d. ;  for  visits,  exclusive  of  medicines,  for  the 
same  classes  respectively,  Is.  to  2s.  G d. ;  Is.  0 d.  to 
3s.  0 d. ;  2s.  (kl.  to  5s.,  that  is  to  say,  the  difference 
where  medicines  are  supplied  in  each  case  respec¬ 
tively,  from  Is.  G d.  to  2s.  G d. ;  2s.  to  3s.  Od. ;  2s.  0 d. 


490 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  17, 1370. 


to  os.  (‘id.  I11  fact  the  medicine  is  charged  as  much 

as  the  visit  and  more  than  chemists  now  charge, 
as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  table  we  published 
last  week. 

This  tariff  speaks  for  itself,  and  it  is  unnecessary 
to  point  out  that  the  charges  are  altogether  above 
those  made  by  pharmaceutists  furnishing  the  purest 
drugs,  and  specially  trained  to  the  most  accurate  and 
careful  dispensing.  AVe  do  say,  in  conclusion,  that 
the  mouth  of  the  Lancet  is  effectually  closed  upon 
this  question,  by  the  fact  of  these  charges  being 
sanctioned  by  a  body  of  medical  men  after  careful 
deliberation,  and  more  especially  by  the  commenda¬ 
tion  of  the  report  in  which  they  are  recommended 
by  the  organ  of  the  largest  medical  association  in 
the  United  Kingdom.  At  least,  those  who  live  in 
glass  houses  must  not  throw  stones. 

AYe  deprecate  the  discussion  of  this  subject  in  the 
spirit  that  has  been  manifested  by  some  writers,  and 
especially  regret  to  find  the  charge  of  extortion  again 
launched  against  druggists  indiscriminately  and 
anonymously  in  the  pages  of  the  Lancet,  as  is  done 
in  the  following  letter  which  appeared  there  last 
week ;  and  in  the  paragraph  referred  to,  which  has 
gone  the  round  of  the  papers  : — 

“  Sir, — The  accompanying  quotation  (the  substance  of 
which  is  stated  to  have  originally  appeared  in  the  Lancet) 
tends  strongly  to  confirm  the  opinion  that  druggists’ 
charges  are  frequently  so  exorbitant  that  one  of  two 
courses  must  be  adopted  in  order  to  afford  those  medical 
practitioners,  whose  patients  are  chiefly  of  the  working 
classes,  a  better  chance  of  getting  recompense  for  their 
services  by  preserving  to  their  comparatively  poor  pa¬ 
tients  much  of  the  money  now  extorted  from  them  in 
the  shape  of  enormous  charges  by  druggists  for  the  me¬ 
dicines  prescribed. 

“  That  the  case  of  overcharge  referred  to  in  the  Lancet 
is  far  from  being  a  solitary  one  is  quite  certain.  I  can 
adduce  others,  and  I  doubt  not  that  most  medical  prac¬ 
titioners,  who  know  the  original  price  of  drugs,  can  do 
so  also.  The  charges,  or  rather  over-charges,  may  not 
be,  as  a  rule,  so  great  as  in  the  example  recorded  by  your 
correspondent ;  but  I  know  that  they  are  very  frequently 
excessive,  and,  in  justice  to  medical  practitioners  and 
their  patients,  such  extortion  ought  to  be  brought  to  an 
end. 

“  To  remedy  the  evil,  one  of  two  courses,  as  I  have  al¬ 
ready  said,  seems  necessary — either  let  the  medical  prac¬ 
titioners  in  towns  unite  and  have  a  laboratory,  from 
which  their  patients  may  obtain  their  medicines  at  a 
price  merely  sufficient  to  cover  all  expenses  connected 
with  the  laboratory,  or  let  every  practitioner  supply  his 
own  patients  with  the  medicines  he  may  prescribe  for 
them.  Superfluous  professional  pride  must  bo  cast  aside. 

“  I  am,  Sir,  yours  truly, 

“Justice. 

“  Edinburgh,  Xov.  2 6th,  1870.” 

The  following  is  the  paragraph  referred  to  in  the 
above  letter : — 

“  Druggists  and  their  Charges. — A  medical  corre¬ 
spondent  of  the  Lancet  relates  that  not  long  ago  he  was 
informed  by  a  young  lady  for  whom  he  was  prescribing, 
and  who  had  been  some  little  time  under  his  care,  that 
she  could  no  longer  afford  to  take  the  medicine  ordered, 
as  she  was  charged  4s.  for  every  six  ounces  of  it.  Think¬ 
ing  there  must  be  some  mistake,  the  doctor  sent  for  the 
druggist  who  supplied  his  patient  with  the  compound, 


and  inquired  the  reason  of  the  exoroitant  charge.  Tho 
druggist  assured  him  it  was  the  usual  charge  made  by 
other  people  as  well  as  by  himself.  This,  however,  did 
not  satisfy  the  doctor,  who  put  on  his  hat,  went  straight 
to  the  nearest  druggist’s  shop,  and  returned  trium¬ 
phantly  with  a  bottleful  of  the  same  physic,  for  which 
ho  had  paid  only  1-9.  6d.  for  the  six  ounces,  or  at  the  rate 
of  9.9.  for  thirty-six  ounces  instead  of  £1.  49.  Unless  the 
first  druggist  had  tho  excuse  that  he  thought  the  modi- 
cino  prescribed  would  do  tho  young  lady  more  harm 
than  good,  and  therefore  put  difficulties  in  the  path,  his 
conduct  is  unjustifiable ;  but  the  case  shows  how  neces¬ 
sary  it  is  for  invalids  to  study  their  druggist’s  bills  in¬ 
stead  of,  as  at  present,  jumping  to  tho  conclusion  that 
the  more  disagreeable  the  taste  the  higher  should  be  tho 
charge  for  the  medicine.  Probably  by  taking  a  little 
trouble  in  selecting  an  honest  druggist,  the  same  physic 
may  be  obtained  cheap  and  nasty,  and  quite  as  effectual. 
-Fall  Mall  Gazette F 

Nothing  could  well  be  more  vague  and  unsatis¬ 
factory  than  these  quotations,  considering  the  nature 
of  the  imputation  they  convey.  As  a  contrast  to- 
them,  we  refer  to  the  letters  published  this  week  in 
our  correspondence  columns,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
as  a  remarkable  illustration  how  little  ground  there 
is  for  the  strictures  we  complain  of,  we  may  point 
out  that  complaints  have  reached  us  from  several 
quarters  of  the  unreasonably  low  prices  charged  by 
some  druggists  for  medicine.  Complaints  of  this, 
nature  have  actually  been  made  by  medical  men. 


YEAR-BOOK  OF  PHARMACY. 

The  members  of  the  British  Pharmaceutical  Con¬ 
ference  will  learn  with  pleasure  that  the  Year-Book 
is  completed,  and  that  as  soon  as  the  transactions, 
of  the  Association  are  in  type,  the  whole  volume 
will  be  ready  for  distribution.  AVe  are  enabled  to 
state  that  besides  ordinary  intelligence  relating  to 
English  and  Continental  Pharmacy,  several  papers 
have  been  contributed  by  Air.  John  Cargill  Brough, 
on  Chemical  Nomenclature  and  Notation,  and  on 
the  Anaesthetics.  An  attempt  has  been  made  to 
represent  the  present  state  of  American  Pharmacy ; 
an  elaborate  precis  on  the  Cinchonas,  and  the  or¬ 
ganic  bases  described  in  the  Montpellier  prize 
thesis  of  Lacote,  together  with  additional  trans¬ 
lations  from  the  French  and  German,  have  been 
added  by  Air.  Joseph  Ince.  The  autobiography  of 
Air.  Deane,  properly  belonging  to  next  year’s  record, 
has  been  republished  by  general  request. 


AVe  understand  that  the  Chair  of  Chemistry  at 
St.  Bartholomew’s  Hospital  lias  been  tilled  by  the 
election  of  Air.  AV.  H.  Bussell,  who  has  been  for 
some  time  Lecturer  on  Chemistry  at  St.  Alary’s 
Hospital  Aledical  School. 


AVe  notice  with  pleasure  that  active  measures  are 
being  taken  to  establish  a  local  Science  College  at 
Liverpool,  and  that  a  considerable  sum  has  already 
I  been  raised  for  carrying  out  the  project. 


December  17,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


491 


MEETING  OF  THE  COUNCIL, 

December  7  th ,  1870. 

MR.  SANDI'ORD,  PRESIDENT,  IN  THE  CHAIR. 

MR.  HASELDEN,  A'lCE-PRESIDENT. 

Present — Messrs.  Abraham,  Bottle,  Bourdas,  Brown, 
Deane,  Dymond,  Edwards,  Evans,  Groves,  Hills,  Savage, 
Stoddart,  Sutton  and  Woolley. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  con¬ 
firmed. 

Resolved  unanimously — That  Mr.  John  Williams,  of 
5,  New  Cavendish  Street,  be  elected  a  member  of  the 
Council  in  place  of  Mr.  Brady,  resigned. 

The  President  read  the  following  letter  : — 

“  Plough  Court ,  Lombard  Street ,  E.C. 

“  2nd  November ,  1870. 

“  My  dear  Sir, — I  find  myself  unable  at  present  to 
give  the  time  and  attention  necessary  for  the  right  dis¬ 
charge  of  the  duties  of  a  member  of  the  Council  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society,  and  therefore  I  beg  leave  to 
tender,  through  you,  my  resignation  of  the  position  to 
which  I  have  had  the  honour  of  being  elected. 

“  It  is  with  great  reluctance  and  sincere  regret  that  I 
feel  compelled  to  take  this  step. 

“  Had  I  fully  foreseen  what  membership  of  the  Council 
involves,  and  how  incompatible  it  would  bo  with  addi¬ 
tional  claims  on  my  time  and  attention,  which  have  re¬ 
cently  devolved  upon  me,  I  would  certainly  not  have 
allowed  myself  to  bo  nominated,  and  I  feel  that  an  apo¬ 
logy  is  due  from  me  in  having  thus  erred  in  consenting 
to  serve. 

“  If  I  can  be  of  use  until  the  vacancy  is  filled,  I  shall 
be  glad,  and  at  any  time  if  I  can  be  of  service  to  the 
Society,  in  the  prosperity  of  which  I  feel  a  deep  interest, 
it  will  afford  me  great  satisfaction. 

“  I  am,  my  dear  Sir,  yours  very  truly, 

“  Cornelius  Hanbury. 

“  George  Webb  Sandeord,  Esq.,  President, 
“Pharmaceutical  Society.” 

Whereupon  it  was 

Moved  by  Mr.  Deane,  seconded  by  Mr.  Hills,  and 
Resolved — That  this  Council  accept  with  great  regret 
the  resignation  of  Mr.  Cornelius  Hanbury,  and  trust 
that  at  some  future  time  he  may  again  occupy  a 
seat  at  the  Board. 

The  Report  of  the  Finance  Committee  was  presented, 
showing  on  the  General  Fund  account  a  balance  in  the 

Treasurer’s  hands  of . £853.  16s.  Ilf?. 

Submitting  for  payment  accounts 

amounting  to . £680.  6s.  10 d. 

On  the  Benevolent  Fund  account,  after 
purchase  of  £461.  12s.  Of?.  Consols,  a 
balance  of . £64.  18s.  Ilf/. 

Resolved — That  the  Report  be  received  and  adopted/md 
payments  made. 

On  the  Report  of  the  Special  Committee  appointed  to 
examine  the  apparatus  offered  by  Dr.  Redwood,  and  re¬ 
port  to  the  Council  as  to  its  condition  and  value  to  the 
Society,  it  was — 

Resolved — That  the  collection  of  apparatus  belonging 
to  Dr.  Redwood  and  offered  to  this  Society  be 
purchased  for  the  sum  of  £300. 

Resolved — That  the  recommendation  of  the  Special 
Committee  on  Dr.  Redwood’s  apparatus  that  certain 
apparatus  be  from  time  to  time  lent  to  Provincial 
Associations  be  referred  to  the  Library,  Museum, 
and  Laboratory  and  Provincial  Education  Com¬ 
mittees,  acting  conjointly,  for  consideration,  and  that 
in  the  event  of  the  Committee  being  of  opinion 


that  such  loans  could  be  made,  that  they  cause  a 
list  to  be  prepared  and  presented  with  their  Report 
to  the  Council  of  apparatus  they  recommend  for 
Ihe  purpose,  with  suggestions  as  to  rules  and  re¬ 
gulations  to  be  observed. 

Resolved — That  the  Report  of  the  Library,  Museum 
and  Laboratory  Committee  bo  received  and  adopted. 

Resolved — That  this  Council  authorizes  the  President 
and  Vice-President  to  arrange  for  the  delivery  of  a 
lecture  on  the  first  Wednesday  evening  in  February, 
1871,  in  the  Theatre  of  the  Society. 

Resolved — That  the  Report  and  recommendations  of 
the  House  Committee  bo  received  and  adopted. 

The  Report  of  the  Sale  and  Keeping  of  Poisons  Com¬ 
mittee,  recommending  the  following  Regulations  to  be 
submitted  to  the  Annual  Meeting,  was  presented : — 

Proposed  Regulations  as  to  the  Keeping  op 

Poisons. 

1.  In  the  keeping  of  poisons,  each  poison  shall  be  kept 
in  a  box,  bottle,  vessel,  or  package,  and  labelled,  in  ad¬ 
dition  to  the  name  of  the  article,  with  some  distinctive 
mark  indicating  that  it  is  poison. 

2.  In  the  keeping  of  poisons,  all,  or  any,  or  one  of 
the  following  systems  shall  also  be  used :  — 

I.  The  boxes,  bottles,  vessels,  or  packages,  containing 
poison  shall  be  kept  in  an  apartment,  cupboard, 
compartment,  or  drawer,  set  apart  for  dangerous 
articles. 

Or  if  not  so  kept  apart. 

II.  The  bottles  or  vessels,  used  in  any  shop  or  dispen¬ 
sary  to  contain  poison  shall  be  distinguishable  to 
the  touch,  and  shall  be  unlike  the  bottles  of 
vessels  used  to  contain  articles  which  are  not 
poisonous  or  dangerous,  in  the  same  shop  or  dis¬ 
pensary. 

Or  otherwise. 

III.  The  bottles  or  vessels  used  in  any  shop  or  dis¬ 
pensary  to  contain  poison  shall  be  tied  over, 
capped,  locked,  or  secured  in  a  manner  distin¬ 
guishable  from  the  way  in  which  ordinary  articles 
are  kept. 

Moved  by  Mr.  Dymond,  seconded  by  Mr.  Abraham, 

“  That  the  Report  and  recommendations  of  the  Sale 
and  Keeping  of  Poisons  Committee  as  to  the  Regu¬ 
lations  to  bo  proposed  to  the  Annual  Meeting  bo 
received  and  adopted.” 

Amendment — Moved  by  Mr.  Brown,  seconded  by  Mr. 
Woolley — 

“  That  as  the  law  already  provides  for  the  punish¬ 
ment  of  carelessness  and"  prescribes  due  labelling,  it 
is  undesirable  to  issue  regulations  for  the  keeping 
and  dispensing  of  poisons,  as  no  evidence  has  been 
adduced  showing  that  regulations  are  necessary,  the 
large  majority  of  chemists  already  observing  all 
needful  precautions,  and  considering  the  provisions 
for  improved  education  and  increased  responsibility, 
they  ought  not  to  be  subjected  to  any  further  re¬ 
strictions,  unless  it  may  bo  considered  desirable  in 
the  interests  of  the  public  to  apply  the  same  to  all 
dispensers  of  medicine,  including  surgeons,  etc., 
naval,  military  and  hospital  dispensers  and  others.” 

For  the  Amendment — 

Messrs.  Brown,  Bottle,  Savage  and  Woolley. 

Against — 

Messrs.  Abraham,  Bourdas,  Deane,  Dymond,  Ed¬ 
wards,  Groves,  Hasclden,  Hills,  Sandford  and  Stod¬ 
dart. 

The  Amendment  being  lost,  a  further  Amendment 
was  moved  by  Mr.  Woolley,  seconded  by  Mr.  Brown— 

“  That  before  adopting  any  regulations  for  the  keeping 
of  poisons  it  is  desirable  to  have  an  expression  ot 
opinion  from  Chemists  throughout  the  country,. 


492 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  17,  1870. 


irrespective  of  the  decision  of  the  annual  meeting, 
and  that  circulars  he  issued  asking-  if  such  regula¬ 
tions  are  desirable  or  not ;  one  month  to  he  allowed 
for  reply,  and  the  result  considered  at  the  February 
meeting  of  Council.” 

For  the  Amendment — 

Messrs.  Brown  and  Woolley. 

Against — 

Messrs.  Abraham,  Bourdas,  Deane,  Dymond,  Ed¬ 
wards,  Groves,  Haselden,  Hills,  Sandford  and  Stod- 
dart. 

Messrs.  Bottle  and  Savage  did  not  vote. 

The  Amendment  again  being  lost,  the  original  Motion 
was  put  as  a  substantive  Motion,  and  the  following  divi¬ 
sion  took  place : — 

For  the  Motion — 

Messrs.  Abraham,  Bourdas,  Deane,  Dymond,  Ed¬ 
wards,  Groves,  Haselden,  Hills,  Sandford  and  Stod- 
dart. 

Against — 

Messrs.  Bottle,  Brown,  Savage  and  Woolley. 

The  Motion  was  therefore  carried. 

Resolved — That  the  Report  and  recommendations  of 
the  Parliamentary  Committee  be  received  and 
adopted. 

Resolved — That  the  Registrar  be  instructed,  and  is 
hereby  authorized  to  remove  from  the  Register  of 
Chemists  and  Druggists,  the  name  of  Ambrose  Lloyd, 
of  16,  St.  Andrew’s  Road,  Southampton. 


BENEVOLENT  FUND. 

A  grant  of  £15  was  made  to  an  applicant  (Registered 
Chemist  and  Druggist)  at  Brighton,  for  assistance  from 
the  Benevolent  Fund. 


1870. 


REPORTS  OF  EXAMINERS. 

England  and  Wales. 

Candi-  Candi¬ 
dates  dates 

examined,  passed. 

November  16,  Major .  7  6 

,,  Minor  ....  23  19 

„  Preliminary 
Certificates  l  2  for  1 
approved  j  person 

December  2,  Modified ....  45  27 

75  52 

Scotland. 

November  22,  Minor  ....  2  l 

„  Modified. ...  2  2 

„  Preliminary.  7  7 

11  10 


Candi¬ 

dates 

failed. 

1 

4 


18 

23 

1 

0 

0 

1 


The  Secretary  presented  the  name  of  a  member  who 
Rad  paid  his  subscription  for  the  present  year  since  the 
-30th  April  last. 

Resolved — That  he  be  restored  to  membership  upon 
payment  of  a  fine  of  one  shilling. 

Resolved — That  the  following,  having  passed  the 
Minor  examination,  be  elected  Associates  of  the 
Society : — 

Ball,  George . Ormskirk. 

Glazier,  Walter  Henry _ London. 

Milton,  Thomas,  jun . Henley-on-Thames. 

Mountain,  Robert  . Harrogate. 

No-ad,  Joseph . Trowbridge. 

Riches,  William  James  . . .  .North  Walsham. 

Spring-all,  John  B . Norwich. 

Stubbs,  Tyson  . . . . Rye. 

West,  William . Leeds. 

Wright,  Thomas . Leicester. 


Applications  for  grants  having  been  received  from  the 
Leicester  Chemists’  Assistants  and  Apprentices’  Associa¬ 
tion,  and  from  the  Sheffield  Pharmaceutical  and  Che¬ 
mical  Association,  it  was 

Resolved — That  the  applications  for  aid  from  the  above 
Societies  be  referred  to  the  Standing  Committee  on 
Provincial  Education. 

Resolved — That  the  Journal  and  Transactions  of  the 
Society  be  forwarded  to  the  Norwich  Chemists’ 
Assistants’  Association  regularly  as  published. 


frolniuial  ferasiutians. 


MANCHESTER  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

An  Ordinary  Monthly  Meeting  was  held  on  Friday, 
December  2nd ;  Mr.  W.  S.  Brown,  President,  in  tbe 
chair.  Messrs.  Tysoe,  Lane,  Booth,  Mercer,  Dickenson, 
Clark  and  Carruthers  were  elected  Associates. 

Mr.  J.  T.  Slugg,  F.R.A.S.,  then  delivered  a  lecture 
on  “  Heat.”  The  lecturer  pointed  out  the  effects  of  heat 
upon  matter  of  every  kind,  and  how  necessary  it  was  to 
the  existence  of  both  animal  and  vegetable  life,  also  its 
power  in  inducing  chemical  action.  He  next  explained 
the  theory  that  heat  is  a  motion  of  the  molecules  of 
matter,  and  that  a  warm  body  is  one  the  molecules  of 
which  are  in  a  state  of  vibration,  communicating  the 
motion  to  the  surrounding  ether,  and  producing  the  sen¬ 
sation  of  heat  when  the  proper  nerve  is  struck ;  also  the 
striking  analogies  in  the  actions  of  light  and  heat.  Re¬ 
ference  was  then  made  to  the  effect  of  various  degrees  of 
heat  on  different  substances :  the  difference  in  their 
boiling-points ;  the  absorption  of  heat  accompanying 
liquefaction;  the  law  of  the  expansion  of  bodies  by  heat 
and  contraction  by  cold,  some  curious  illustrations  being- 
given  ;  and  the  exception  of  water  and  bismuth  to  the 
general  rule.  Heat  was  next  considered  as  the  great 
motive  power  in  all  kinds  of  work,  the  source  of  all 
force,  energy,  power,  put  forth  in  an  infinite  variety  of 
ways  and  for  an  infinite  variety  of  purposes.  The  ques¬ 
tion  is,  Whence  is  all  this  force  derived  F  Is  it  from 
one  common  origin,  or  is  it  from  many  sources  ?  The 
answer  is,  that  all  these  forces,  whether  muscular  or 
mechanical,  have  one  common  origin  in  the  Sun.  Seve¬ 
ral  calculations  were  given  that  had  been  made  as  to  the 
amount  of  light  and  heat  emitted  by  the  sun.  The  lec¬ 
turer  then  explained  the  dynamical  theory  of  heat,  that 
force  and  heat  are  convertible  in  definite  proportions, 
and  gave  several  illustrations.  Lastly,  he  alluded  to  the 
supposition  that  the  sun’s  heat  was  maintained  by  the 
impact  of  innumerable  small  bodies  with  which  it  comes 
into  collision. 

A  cordial  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  Mr.  Slugg  for 
his  interesting-  lecture. 


HULL  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Members  of  the  above  Association, 
on  Wednesday  evening,  December  7,  the  Chairman,  Mr. 
J.  Baynes,  in  the  name  of  the  subscribers,  presented  the 
Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Mr.  C.  B.  Bell,  with  a  testimo¬ 
nial.  In  doing  so,  he  said  that  that  gentleman  had 
spared  neither  time  nor  expense,  but  had  used  untiling 
efforts  and  energies  on  behalf  of  the  Society.  He  had 
acted  as  Secretary  and  as  Treasurer,  and  had  carefully 
husbanded  their  funds.  It  had  been  felt  that  such  va¬ 
luable  services  ought  to  be  acknowledged  in  some  tan¬ 
gible  shape,  and  on  behalf  of  a  large  number  of  sub¬ 
scribers,  he  had  to  beg  Mr.  Bell’s  acceptance  of  a  silver 
cup  and  salver.  The  salver  bore  the  following  inscrip¬ 
tion  : — “  Presented  to  Mr.  C.  B.  Bell  by  the  members  of 
tbe  Hull  Chemists’  Association,  as  a  mark  of  their  esteem, 
and  in  recognition  of  his  valuable  services  as  their 
Honorary  Secretary.” 


493 


December  17,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


The  Vice-Chairman  said  the  presentation  was  made 
by  almost  the  whole  Association  to  a  gentleman  who  had 
done  his  host  to  raise  the  status  of  the  trade  without  any 
consideration  on  his  part  of  time  and  labour. 

Mr.  C.  B.  Bell,  in  accepting  the  presentation,  said 
that  whatever  he  had  done  was  with  the  sole  desire  of 
furthering  the  interests  of  the  trade,  and  he  hoped  the 
chemists  and  druggists  would  prosper  still  more. 


SUNDERLAND  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Monthly  Meeting  of  the  above  Society  was  held 
on  Monday  evening,  in  the  rooms  at  60,  Fawcett  Street; 
Mr.  J.  J.  Nicholson  in  the  chair. 

Mr.  Cocicburn  read  a  paper  on  Cinchonas,  their  history 
and  uses,  describing  the  sources  of  the  plants,  their  me¬ 
thod  of  cultivation,  the  various  alkaloids  obtained  from 
them,  and  their  relative  value  and  medicinal  uses. 

In  a  discussion  concerning  the  storing  of  poisons,  a 
plan  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Nicholson,  and  seconded  by 
Mr.  Sharp,  by  which  a  distinctive  colour — as  red — was 
to  be  used  as  a  danger  signal,  and  placed  on  every  bottle, 
parcel,  or  cask  containing  poisonous  substances. 

Mr.  J.  Harhison  moved  an  amendment,  which  was 
seconded  by  Mr.  Sedgwick,  “  That  this  meeting  views 
with  apprehension  any  further  restriction  upon  the 
storing  and  sale  of  poisons,  placing  more  reliance  upon 
the  care  and  responsibility  of  individual  members  than 
on  mechanical  safeguards.”  This  amendment  was  car¬ 
ried  by  a  majority  of  thirteen  to  ten. 

Mr.  J.  Harrison  then  moved  “That  in  the  opinion  of 
this  Society  it  is  desirable  that  the  exemption  from  ser¬ 
vice  on  juries  enjoyed  by  Pharmaceutical  Chemists, 
should  be  extended  to  all  registered  chemists  and  drug¬ 
gists.”  He  asserted  that  the  Juries  Act,  viewed  in  con¬ 
junction  with  the  Pharmacy  Act  of  1868,  was  a  gross 
and  glaring  inj  ustice  to  the  whole  body  of  chemists  and 
druggists,  and  that  it  was  a  violation  of  every  principle 
of  justice  and  right.  He  contended  that,  as  chemists 
and  druggists  discharged  the  same  duties,  and  incurred 
the  same  responsibilities,  they  ought  also  to  enjoy  the 
same  privileges  as  Pharmaceutical  Chemists. 

The  motion  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Clarke. 

Mr.  Nicholson  then  moved  an  amendment  that  the 
law  ought  to  remain  as  it  is,  contending  that  the  exemp¬ 
tion  was  granted  to  Pharmaceutical  Chemists  as  a  reward 
for  their  educational  attainments. 

The  amendment,  which  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Sharp, 
was  lost  by  a  considerable  majority,  and.  the  original 
motion  was  then  put  and  carried. 

It  was  announced  that  the  next  meeting  of  the  Society 
would  be  held  on  January  16,  when  a  lecture  will  be  de¬ 
livered  by  Mr.  Aslin,  on  the  metals  connected  with  the 
industries  of  the  district. 


ASHTON  AND  DUKINFIELD  CHEMISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

The  Second  Annual  Meeting  of  this  Society  was  held 
in  the  Board  Room  of  the  Mechanics’  Institute,  on  Octo¬ 
ber  20 ;  Mr.  AV.  H.  AVaterliouse,  President,  in  the  chair. 

A  report  was  read  in  which  it  was  stated  that  the  last 
session  had  been  a  creditable  and  successful  one.  The 
average  attendance  at  the  monthly  meetings  had  been 
fair,  though  not  quite  so  good  as  might  be  wished.  It 
was  thought  that  with  a  little  effort  every  member  of  the 
trade  might  attend  at  the  convenient  hour  at  which  they 
were  fixed.  Members  were  urged  to  use  their  influence 
to  secure  the  attendance  of  those  who  had  not  hitherto 
been  present.  Already  a  better  and  more  united  feeling- 
had  resulted  from  these  monthly  social  gathering's.  Now 
that  the  Association  had  attained  the  age  of  two  years,  it 
might  be  considered  to  have  passed  through  some  of  the 
dangers  incident  to  a  state  of  infancy. 

A  special  meeting  was  held  last  session  for  the  purpose 


of  considering  the  propositions  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Council  as  to  the  sale  and  storing  of  poisons.  After 
lengthened  discussion,  in  which  careful  consideration  was 
given  to  the  subject,  some  vigorous  resolutions  were 
passed,  and  sent  to  the  Pharmaceutical  Council  and  to 
the  editors  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal  and  Chemist 
aud  Pruggtst,  and  the  Society  might  be  congratulated 
upon  having  taken  some  part  in  securing  the  postpone¬ 
ment  of  those  regulations  for  at  least  twelve  months. 

Twice  during  the  past  session  the  apprentices  and 
assistants  of  the  district  had  met  the  members  there  in 
social  intercoiu’so,  a  proceeding  which  in  the  interest  of 
employers  and  employed,  it  was  hoped  would  be  repeated 
during  the  next  session. 

Three  able  and  profitable  papers  had  been  contributed 
by  members  and  read  at  the  monthly  meetings,  (1) 
“  Pharmaceutical  Pioneers,”  by  Mr.  Bostoclc,  Vice-Pre- 
sident;  (2)  “ Longfellow’s  Poems,”  by  the  President; 
(3)  “Progress,”  by  Mr.  Avison. 

Perhaps  the  most  popular  work  in  which  this  Asso¬ 
ciation  had  been  engaged,  and  which  it  was  hoped  to  see 
repeated  year  by  year,  was  the  course  of  three  able  public 
lectures,  one  by  Air.  Slugg,  of  Alanchester,  on  “  Spec¬ 
trum  Analysis another  on  the  “  Elements  of  Chemistry,” 
by  Air.  J.  AV aterhouse ;  and  the  final  one  by  Air.  Sie- 
bold,  of  Alanchester,  on  “  Poisons.” 

The  two  former  of  these  lectures  were  profitable  to 
the  Institution,  the  last  one  resulted  in  a  small  loss  to  the 
funds.  It  is  hoped  that  at  any  future  lectures  this  Asso¬ 
ciation  may  organize,  every  member  will  do  his  utmost 
to  render  them  successful. 

The  retiring  officers  were  then  re-elected,  viz. : — Air. 
AV.  H.  AVaterhouse,  as  President ,  Air.  Bostock,  as  Vice- 
President,  Air.  Neal,  as  Treasurer ,  and  Air.  E.  Fisher,  as 
Hon.  Secretary. 


IprawcMnjjs  nf  Sriratife  Mfe. 

BRITISH  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Executive  Committee  of  the  British  Association 
met  in  the  Council  Chambers,  Edinburgh,  on  Saturday  ; 
Professor  Ciiristison,  one  of  the  Vice-Presidents  of  the 
Association,  in  the  chair.  A  remit  was  made  to  a  Sub- 
Committee  to  co-operate  with  the  Local  Secretary  and 
Treasurer  in  the  preparation  of  a  leet  of  gentlemen  to 
form  a  Local  Committee  for  making  the  requisite  ar¬ 
rangements  to  reeeive  the  British  Association  in  August 
next.  The  same  Committee  were  authorized  to  commu¬ 
nicate  with  the  several  public  bodies  in  Edinburgh, 
Leith  aud  Portobello,  and  to  invite  subscriptions  from 
them  to  the  fund  which  it  will  be  necessary  to  raise  for 
defraying  the  necessary  expenses.  Professor  Christison 
stated  that  the  Council  of  the  Royal  Society  had  agreed 
to  recommend  the  Society  to  subscribe  £100  towards  the 
fund,  and  a  hope  was  expressed  that  the  several  public 
bodies,  as  well  as  banks  and  insurance  offices,  would 
respond  liberally  to  the  appeal  to  be  made  to  them.  It 
is  understood  that  a  sum  of  not  less  than  £1500  will  be 
required  to  enable  the  Local  Committee  to  carry  out  the 
requisite  arrangements  in  a  manner  creditable  to  Edin¬ 
burgh. 

A1EETINGS  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 

Monday,  Medical  Society,  at  8  P.M.  _  _ 

London  Institution,  at  4  p.m. — “On  Chemical  Action’ 
(Educational  Course).  By  Professor  Odling. 

Tuesday,  Pathological  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

Wednesday,  Society  of  Arts,  at  8  p.m. — “On  a  Method  of 
Lighting  Towns,  Factories,  or  Private  Houses  by  means 
of  Vegetable  or  Mineral  Oils.”  By  A.  Silber. 
Thursday,  J Royal  Society,  at  8.30  p.m. 

London  Chemists’  Asssociation,  at  9.30  P.M. — -“On  Sulplio- 
carbolates.”  By  Air.  J.  Sands. 

Friday,  Qtiekett  Chib ,  at  8  p.m. 


491 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  17. 1870. 


pdmiiMttoij  nnir  fato  f  mwiiinp. 

Action  against  a  Druggist. 

Cooper  v.  Mercer. 

An  action  was  brought  in  the  Stoke  County  Court  on 
Thursday,  Dec.  1,  by  Josiah  Cooper,  a  plasterer,  residing 
at  Longton,  against  George  Mercer,  a  chemist  and  drug¬ 
gist,  of  the  same  place,  to  recover  £25  damages,  for  in¬ 
jury  sustained  by  him  through  the  defendant  giving  him 
a  packet  of  red  precipitate  powder  whilst  supplying  him 
with  scidlitz  powders. 

The  case  for  the  plaintiff  was  that  on  Saturday  evening, 
the  29th  May,  he  was  served  by  the  defendant  with  two 
■scidlitz  powders  in  four  small  packets,  two  wrapped  in 
white  paper  and  two  in  blue.  The  same  evening  his  wife 
mixed  him  a  draught  of  water  and  the  powder  contained 
in  one  of  each  of  the  blue  and  white  papers,  that  in  the 
white  paper  being  of  a  pink  colour.  He  drank  about 
three-fourths  of  the  mixture,  leaving  the  rest,  chiefly 
•sediment,  in  the  cup,  and  in  a  few  minutes  afterwards 
became  very  ill,  and  remained  so  all  night,  vomiting 
much,  and  being  in  great  pain.  Medical  assistance  was 
called  in,  and  it  was  found  that  the  sediment  in  the  cup 
was  of  a  poisonous  nature.  Plaintiff  said  that  defendant 
wrapped  the  four  packets  up  in  paper  before  giving  them 
to  him,  and  he  took  them  homo  so  wrapped  up.  He 
was  ill  and  unable  to  work  for  ten  days,  and  had  never 
been  quite  well  since.  He  had  never  taken  scidlitz 
■powders  before.  He  had  had  some  drink  a  day  or  two 
before,  and  they  were  recommended  to  him  by  defen¬ 
dant.  He  called  about  ten  days  afterwards  to  ask  for 
some  compensation,  which  defendant  refused  to  make. 
Plaintiff’s  wife  spoke  to  mixing  the  draught  taken  by 
plaintiff,  which,  she  said,  did  not  effervesce.  She  sent 
for  defendant  to  come  up  on  the  Sunday,  and  he  came  to 
the  plaintiffs  mother’s  house  next  door,  where  she  saw 
him  but  did  not  speak  to  him.  Plaintiff’s  mother  stated 
that  when  defendant  came  to  her  house,  he  told  her  there 
had  been  a  mistake ;  either  he  had  given  plaintiff  a 
wrong  powder,  or  plaintiff  had  picked  a  wrong  one  up. 
Air.  Dawes,  surgeon,  said  he  saw  plaintiff  about  noon  on 
.Sunday,  when  he  found  him  suffering  from  symptoms 
which  were  not  compatible  with  natural  disease.  The 
sediment  in  the  cup  was  shown  him,  and  he  perceived  it 
•consisted  of  red  oxide  of  mercury,  which  was  poisonous 
in  large  quantities,  and  would  produce  the  symptoms 
exhibited  by  plaintiff,  from  which  it  would  take  some 
time  to  recover.  Several  witnesses  were  called  to  prove 
that  plaintiff  was  sober  on  the  evening  he  got  the  powder. 

_  In  defence,  it  was  contended  that  plaintiff  had  caused 
his  own  injury,  or  contributed  to  it  by  his  own  negli¬ 
gence.  The  defendant  was  called  and  said  he  had  before 
sold  scidlitz  powders  to  the  plaintiff,  who  knew  their 
nature.  He  did  not  wrap  up  the  scidlitz  powders  in 
question,  but  gave  them,  at  his  request,  loose  to  plaintiff, 
who  wrapped  them  up  himself.  There  was  a  pile  of 
small  packets  of  red  precipitate  powders  on  the  counter 
wrapped  up  in  white  paper,  and  amongst  them  he  after¬ 
wards  found  a  small  packet  of  acid  in  white  paper; 
1m  believed  that  plaintiff,  who  told  him  ho  had  been 
drinking,  had.  put  it  there,  and  taken  up  a  precipitate 
powder  by.  mistake.  A  fortnight  afterwards,  plaintiff 
called  on  him,  and  proposed  to  make  the  matter  up  for 
.£1,  or  even  12s.,  but  he  declined.  Air.  Brough,  chemist, 
Longton,  spoke  to  plaintiff  having  frequently  bought 
scidlitz  powders  from  him. 

Upon  the  judge  expressing  an  opinion  adverse  to  the 
plaintiff  on  the  ground  of  negligence,  he  elected  to  be 
nonsuited. — Staffordshire  Sentinel ,  Dec.  3rd,  1870. 


Excise  Prosecution. 

On  Saturday  the  Brentford  magistrates  were  engaged 
some  time  in  hearing  a  summons  issued  at  the  instance 
of  the  Board  of  Inland  Revenue  against  William  Austin, 


a  bedridden  shoemaker,  residing  at  Isleworth,  for  selling- 
certain  pills  without  being  duly  licensed.  The  evidence 
showed  that  a  supervisor  of  Inland  Revenue,  on  Sep¬ 
tember  29th,  bought  of  defendant’s  wife  a  box  of  Dr. 
Alantle's  gout  pills  for  Is.  She  said  she  had  been  selling 
them  for  years,  and  refused  to  say  where  Dr.  Alantle 
lived.  There  was  a  Government  label  round  the  box, 
but  there  had  been  a  loss  of  duty.  Defendant’s  wife  ad¬ 
mitted  having  sold  the  pills  for  years,  and  said  she  did 
not  know  that  she  required  a  licence.  The  defendant 
was  fined  £5. 


Supplement  to  the  Pharmacopoeia  of  India;  or  a 
Catalogue  of  Indian  Synonyms  of  the  Alodicinal 
Plants,  Products,  Inorganic  and  Organic  Substances 
included  in  that  work,  with  Explanatory  and  Descrip¬ 
tive  Remarks,  etc.,  in  Fourteen  Languages.  By 
AIoodeen  Sheriff,  G.AI.AI.C.  Printed  and  published 
by  order  of  Government  at  the  request  of  the  Com¬ 
mittee  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  of  India.  8vo.  676  pp. 
Aladras.  1869. 

Although  bearing  date  1869,  this  volume  has  only  very 
recently  reached  this  country.  It  was  at  first  intended 
to  have  included  the  Indian  synonyms  in  the  new  Indian 
Pharmacopoeia  ;  but,  as  such  a  course  would  have  occa¬ 
sioned  considerable  delay,  the  work  was  published  with¬ 
out  them,  the  catalogue  was  somewhat  expanded,  and 
finally  issued  as  a  supplement.  The  table,  originally 
prepared  by  Air.  AIoodeen  Sheriff,  was  composed  of 
twelve  languages,  besides  the  Latin  and  English,  viz. 
Arabic,  Persian,  Hindustani,  Dukhni,  Tamil,  Telugu, 
Alalyalim,  Canarese,  Bengali,  Alahratti,  Guzratti  and 
Burmese,  and  the  synonyms  in  all  those  languages  were 
expressed  in  their  native  characters  as  well  as  in  English. 
This  Table  was,  in  1866,  referred  back  to  India  for  re¬ 
arrangement  in  paragraphs,  instead  of  the  tabular  form, 
and  for  the  addition  of  the  Cingalese  and  Sanskrit  syno¬ 
nyms.  It;  was  then  arranged  that  the  work  in  its  mo¬ 
dified  form  should  be  printed  at  Aladras,  under  the 
author's  own  supervision.  Encouraged  by  the  reception 
which  his  labours  acquired  at  the  hands  of  the  Com¬ 
mittee  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  of  India,  Air.  AIoodeen 
Sheriff  set  to  work  to  revise  his  Catalogue,  to  accom¬ 
plish  which  he  states,  “  I  have  repeated  the  examination 
of  medicines  as  before,  and  on  this  occasion  obtained 
several  supplies  of  them,  with  their  names,  from  the 
bazaars  of  Calcutta,  Hydeiabad  and  Bombay,  and  a  few 
other  places  beyond  Southern  India.  This  and  the  pre¬ 
vious  examinations  have  materially  assisted  me  in  re¬ 
moving  many  doubts  and  a  great  deal  of  confusion,  and 
in  finding  out  the  correct  names,  as  well  as  the  true 
nature  of  many  drugs  and  plants.  In  some  instances 
the  drugs  were  involved  in  such  a  confusion,  that  I  was 
not  able  to  clear  it  until  I  had  actually  raised  the  plants 
suspected  to  produce  them  from  seeds ;  and  in  a  few 
more,  the  only  way  I  found  to  reveal  the  true  nature  of 
them,  particularly  with  regard  to  their  medicinal  and 
other  properties,  was  to  take  them  internally  myself.” 

From  these  remarks  it  will  be  soon  that  Mr.  AIoodeen 
Sheriff  encountered  his  work  in  a  right  spirit,  and  the 
result  has  been  the  production  of  an  exceedingly  useful 
supplement  to  the  Pharmacopoeia,  valuable,  not  only  in 
India,  but  also  in  this  country. 

The  first  portion  of  the  volume  is  occupied  by  the 
catalogue  proper,  arranged  alphabetically,  with  the  Latin 
names ;  as,  for  instance,  Abelmoschus  esculentus,  W.  and 
A.  Then  follow  the  Oriental  synonyms,  written  first  in 
English  characters,  expressed  according  to  Sir  Win. 
Jones’s  method,  and  then  in  native  characters.  After¬ 
wards,  where  remarks  are  required,  these  are  given  in  a 
|  smaller  type.  Thei’e  are  708  articles  enumerated,  to 
which  a  list  of  synonyms  is  furnished. 

I  The  next  portion  of  the  work  is  taken  up  with  a  table 


December  17,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


495 


of  the  method  of  transliteration  adopted  for  expressing 
the  vernacular  synonyms  in  English  character. 

Finally,  the  Appendix  to  the  Supplement  and  the 
Indices  occupy  the  latter  half  of  the  volume.  The  in¬ 
formation  contained  in  the  thirty  pages  of  the  Appendix 
respecting  obscure  substances,  or  those  but  little  known, 
is  of  much  interest  and  value.  The  Indices  are  sixteen 
in  number ;  one  for  each  of  the  fourteen  languages,  one 
for  the  Latin  names,  and  one  for  the  English  names.  In 
some  of  the  Indices  the  native  characters,  as  in  the  body 
of  the  work,  follow  the  names  written  in  English  cha¬ 
racters.  This  brief  summary  of  what  the  book  contains 
will  give  some  notion  of  the  immense  labour  which  it 
has  entailed  upon  the  writer,  for  which  he  deserves  well 
of  the  medical  profession,  not  only  in  India,  but  in  this 
country,  and  also  of  all  who  are  interested  in  Materia 
Medica.  I  he  promotion,  by  which  the  Government 
recognized  his  services,  was  no  more  than  he  deserved. 

In  concluding  this  notice  we  give  our  author’s  remarks 
on  mfed-musli ,  which  stands  under  the  heading  of  As¬ 
paragus  ascexdexs,  Roxb.,  at  page  59. 

I  he  mfed-musli  of  Southern  India  is  the  dried  and 
■Splittcd  root  of  Asparagus  samien tosus.  It  occurs  in  thin 
and  long  pieces  like  strings,  curled  upon  itself  once  or 
twice,  varies  in  length  from  three  or  four  inches  to  a 


span  or  more,  of  pale  grey  or  dirty  white  colour,  and 
devoid  of  any  particular  taste  or  smell.  When  the  fresh 
root  is  splitted  or  torn  longitudinally  in  three  or  four 
pieces  and  dried,  it  acquires  the  above  condition.  Al¬ 
though  the  dried  root  is  often  used  by  native  practitioners, 
it  is  almost  useless  as  a  medicine  ;  but  when  fresh,  it  is 
a  nutrient  and  demulcent.  In  this  state  it  is  very  fleshy 
and  succulent,  about  a  foot  or  a  foot  and  a  half  in  length, 
generally  of  the  thickness  of  a  finger,  smooth  and  round, 
tapering  to.  a  very  narrow  and  long  point  at  both  ends, 
of  dull  white  or  pale  grey  colour,  no  smell,  and  taste 
slightly  demulcent. .  When  a  plant  is  dug  out  with  these 
roots,  it  has  a  very  singular  appearance,  as  though  a  great 
number  of  large  round  worms  were  attached  to  it,  and 
their  number  is  often  very  great,  amounting  sometimes 
to  about  a  hundred..  The  fresh  root  is  distinguished  in 
many  parts  of  India,  including  Southern  India,  as  sha- 
qoqul,  and  its  preserve,  which  is  generally  imported  from 
China,  is  named  inurabbahe-shaqaqul  or  sh aqaqul- ka niu- 
r  abb  ah.  The  above,  name  is  applied  in  Arabia,  Egypt 
and  Persia  to  some  similar  root,  which  is  considered  there 
to  be  the  wild  carrot  or  turnip.  From  its  description  in 
.some  books,  I  believe  it  to  be  a  species  of  Asparagus. 
Ihe  sufed-misli  of  all  other  parts  of  India  is  the  real 
diug  to  which  that  name  is  properly  applicable,  and  it 
is  the  root  of  Asparagus  ascendens.  It  is  also  procurable 
in.  Southern  India,  but  under  a  different  name,  which  is 
shaqarulc-hindi  or  Indian  Shaqaqul.  It  is  a  useful  medi¬ 
cine,  and  a  very  good  substitute  for  salep.  It  bears  the 
olio v  mg  characters :  — When  new  or  not  very  old,  this 
root  looks  like  a  thin,  cylindrical  piece  of  gum,  partially 
translucent ;  very  hard whitish  or  yellowish  grey ; 
“lom  one  to  two  or  three  inches  long,  generally  crooked, 
sometimes  bent  upon  itself,  and  occasionally  knotty;  and 
°*  an^  .muc9aginous  taste.  If  some  pieces  be 

caierally  examined,  one  of  their  ends  will  be  found  thin- 
nei  and  more  pointed  than  the  other,  indicating  their 
original  tapering  form.  A  few  pieces  are  also  flat  or 
eompiessed,  forming  a  kind  of  small  irregular  plates. 

en  the  root  is  very  old,  it  is  opaque  and  of  light 
brown  coiour.  With  regard  to  the  Jeali-musli,  it  is  cor- 
icc  }  the. root. of  Curculigo  orchidioides ,  as  is  mentioned 
nnd  described  m  several  books. 

Ihe  loots  or  rootlets  of  Rombax  malabdricus  bear  no 
vescmbW  whatever  to  any  of  the  varieties  of  the 
/utis  /.  When  dried,  they  are  as  nearly  useless  as  the 
oiied  root  of  Asparagus  sa  mien  tosus  A 

wii  i  m°  “very  well  “got  up;”  indeed  it  would 
susPec^0(l  that  it  was  printed  in  Madras,  no 
Email  praise  when  many  of  the  works  printed  in  India 
are  remembered.  1 


The  Chemists  axd  Druggists’  Almaxac  axd  Diary, 
1871*.  8vo.  114  pp.  Chemist  and  Druggist  Office. 

This  book  is  a  great  improvement  on  all  former  edi¬ 
tions,  and  is  more  than  ever  an  indispensable  counter 
companion  to  the  pharmacist.  The  diary  arrangement 
gives  a  page  to  a  week,  and  just  comfortable  room  for 
each  day’s  memoranda.  We  do  not  think,  however, 
that  this  part  of  the  work  will  bo  fully  developed  till  it 
attains  folio  magnitude ;  only  then  will  it  take  its  proper 
place  on  the  desk. 

The  literature  of  the  ‘  Almanac  ’  comprises  an  exhaus¬ 
tive  account  of  work  done  in  Pharmaceutical  Chemistry 
during  the  year  1870,  by  Professor  Attfield  ;  directions 
for  performing  the  Gravimetric  Tests  of  the  British 
Pharmacopoeia,  by  Mr.  Tilden ;  and  a  paper  on  Chemical 
Tests  for  Medicinal  Articles,  by  Mr.  Sidney  W.  Rich ; 
besides  much  information  on  legal  and  commercial  mat¬ 
ters,  and  innumerable  hints  of  groat  value  to  every  busi¬ 
ness  man  (most  of  them  of  especial  value  to  the  phar¬ 
macist)  pushed  into  every  spare  corner.  Dr.  Attfield’ s 
paper  omits  nothing  ;  from  hydrate  of  chloral  to  Bouil¬ 
lon’s  method  for  forming  pencils  of  any  brittle  caustic 
substance  by  incorporation  with  melted  gutta-percha  or 
paraffin, — everything  finds  appropriate  mention.  The 
notice  of  the  artificial  production  of  alizarine  is  very  in¬ 
teresting.  If  the  value  of  Mr.  Tilden’ s  contribution  be 
measured  by  its  length,  a  very  unfair  estimate  will  bo  the 
result.  In  very  little  space  a  remarkable  amount  of 
information  is  conveyed  on  apparatus,  manipulation, 
etc.,  and  of  such  character,  that  if  the  given  directions 
be  followed,  the  gravimetric  tests  of  the  Pharmacopoeia 
may  be  performed  by  any  pharmacist  for  himself.  The 
manufacturer  is  at  his  mercy.  In  twenty-nine  pages 
Mr.  Rich  makes  us  acquainted  with  every  needful  test 
for  ascertaining  the  presence  or  absence  of  adultera¬ 
tion  in  chemicals  and  other  articles  of  materia  medica. 
The  tests  given  are  not  simply  those  of  the  B.P. ;  a 
choice  is  offered.  Cinchona,  as  its  importance  demands, 
has  a  good  share  of  attention ;  and  Carles’  process  for 
estimating  the  quinine  value  of  barks  is  here  side  by  side 
with  the  official  one.  Together,  Messrs.  Tilden  and  Rich 
furnish  a  complete  system  of  the  qualitative  and  quan¬ 
titative  analysis  of  the  British  Pharmacopoeia. 

On  the  very  last  page,  side  by  side  with  the  weights 
and  measures,  is  a  scale  comparing  the  linear  measures 
of  the  English  and  the  metrical  system.  It  shows  clearly 

and  this  mode  of  illustration  cannot  be  too  strongly 
recommended — that  six  inches  are  just  equal  to  fifteen 
centimetres  and  two-fifths.  Wo  are  sorry  that  it  is  the 
only  notice  of  the  metrical  system  to  be  found  in  the 
book. 

There  is  one  feature  of  this  Almanac  which  we  cannot 
commend,  viz.  that  part  which  professes  to  be  a  “  Trade 
Directory.”  Possibly  we  may  not  understand  the  prin¬ 
ciple  upon  which  this  has  been  constructed,  but  it  seems 
very  curious  that  such  a  directory  should  contain  only 
four  names  under  the  head  of  “  Drysalters,”  one  name 
under  that  of  “  Comb-maker,  etc.”  The  lists  of  manufac¬ 
turing  chemists  and  wholesale  druggists  are  also  very 
meagre  and  imperfect.  It  is  a  pity  that  a  good  and  use¬ 
ful  work  should  bo  disfigured  by  anything  so  defective 
as  this. 

The  Almanac  deserves  success,  and  will  probably  find 
its  way  into  every  pharmacy. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  Dec.  10;  the  ‘Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
Dec.  10 ;  the  ‘  Lancet,’  Dec.  10 ;  the  ‘  Medical  Press  and  Cir¬ 
cular,’  Dec.  14;  ‘Nature,’  Dec.  8;  the  *  Chemical  News,’  Dee. 
9 ;  ‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  Dec.  8 ;  ‘  Gardeners’  Chro¬ 
nicle,’  Dec.  10;'  the  ‘  Grocer,’  Dec.  10  ;  the  ‘English  Mecha¬ 
nic,’  Dec.  9 ;  the  ‘  Produce  Markets  Review,’  Dec.  10 ;  the 
‘Philadelphia  Medical  and  Surgical  Reporter,’  Nos.  712  and 
715 ;  the  ‘  Rock,’  Dec.  9  ;  the  ‘  Eastern  Morning  News,’  Dec. 
8;  the  ‘  Maidstone  and  Kentish  Journal,’  Dec.  5. 


49G 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  17,  1870. 


|lof ts  aitir  Queries, 


In  order  to  facilitate  reference ,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  their  answers  in  each,  case  with,  the  title 
and  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

No  notice  can  he  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  answers  should  he  accompanied  hy  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

NOTICE. — To  prevent  delay ,  correspondents  are  re¬ 
quested  to  send  their  communications  to  the  Journal  Depart¬ 
ment,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  JF.C.,  and  not  to  the  Pub¬ 
lishers. 

[41.]— BATH  POWDER  and  [47]  SMALLPOCK- 
MARKS. — As  no  one  appears  to  liavo  sent  tlie  required  infor¬ 
mation  in  reply  to  the  above,  I  venture  to  say  that  the  oxide 
of  zinc,  plain  or  scented,  very  finely  sifted,  is  used  as  a  toilet 
powder  during  the  later  stages  of  eruptive  diseases.  I  have 
been  told  that  in  India  its  value  is  greater  than  in  this  coun¬ 
try,  the  marks  being  larger  in  the  warmer  climates. — T.  B. 
Langtiidge,  Midhurst. 

[42.] — CHILBLAINS. — Lnyoney  and  C.  Bennett  will  find 
this  receipt  of  some  use : — 

R.  Lin.  Belladonna  5>j 
„  Aconiti  5i 
Acid.  Carbolic.  o\.x 
Collodion  Plexile  ad  5!. 

Mix  and  apply  with  acamel’s-hair  brush.  The  above  is  for 
unbroken  chilblains ;  if  they  are  broken,  the  lin.  aconiti  is  to 
be  omitted. — A.  T.  Gikdlek. 

[4S.] — CRYSTALLINE  POMADE. — T.  Stokoe  (Clare) 
says,  “The  formula  given  in  Journal  for  December  10, 1870, 
is  correct,  but  to  obtain  the  crystalline  appearance  it  is  neces¬ 
sary  to  warm  the  bottles  (I  usually  do  so  by  immersing  them 
in  warm  water)  immediately  before  filling,  otherwise  a  thin, 
opaque  film  is  at  once  deposited.” 

E.  M.  sends  the  following: — 

Castor  Oil  §iv 
Olive  Oil  §iv 
Spermaceti  5vj* 

Mix  the  spermaceti  in  the  oils  with  a  gentle  heat. 

A  good  scent  for  the  same  is— 

Oil  of  Cassia  gtt.  xj 
„  Thyme  gtt.  iv 
„  Cloves  gtt.  xv 

„  Lavender  gtt.  xxx 
„  Lemon  gtt.  ij. 

A  similar  recipe  has  also  been  received  from  “  Beta  ” 
(York)  and  M.  if.  L egg  (Edgware  Road). 

[64.] — COLD  CREAM. — IE.  31.  S.  sends  the  following 
formula : — 

R.  Cctacei  5x 
Ceroe  Alb.  5x 
01.  Amygd.  Dulc.  oviij 
Aquae  Bullion t.  3iv 
Sodoe  Boracis  5j 
Otto  de  Rose  "'Hxlvel  q.  s. 

Mi  see  bene  secundum  artem. 


Add  3'j  ol.  amygdal.  to  the  form  given  in  last  week’s  Pn. 
J.,  and  leave  out  the  aqua  rosae,  and  you  will  get  a  cream 
that  will  keep  well. — F.  G.  Holmes,  Brill. 

A  formula  for  the  preparation  of  cold  cream  was  given, 
ante,  p.  340. 

In  the  formula  given  last  week,  p.  477,  for  Otto  de  Rose 
gtt.  ij,  read  gtt.  xij. 

[66.]— CEMENT  FOR  IN DI A- RUBBE R. — “  Vulcanite ” 
will  find  the  following  form  all  that  he  can  desire  : — 

R.  Bisulphide  of  Carbon  §iv 
Best  India-rubber  3] 

Isinglass  5ij 
Gutta  Percha  ^iss. 

Dissolve.  F.  R.  B. 


[68.] — POT  POURRI. — “  Iodi”  will  find  the  following  a 
good  receipt : — 

P.  Cinnamon, 

„  Cloves, 

„  Mace,  ana  5!'* 

,,  Orris  ^iv 
Ess.  Lemon, 

„  Verbena, 

„  Bergamot, 

01.  Lavand.  ana  rr\.xl.  Sigma. 

R.  Baccoe  Pimento,  coarsely  powdered,  37j 
P.  Cinnamom.  5ij 
Ol.  Lavand., 

Ess.  Ambergris, 

Mosch.,  ana  gtt.  xij. 

M.  '  Tolu. 


It.  Rad.  Iridis  Pulv.  Hj 
Rad.  Cal  am.  Arom., 

G.  Benzoes, 

Bay  Salt, 

G.  Storax,  ana  5iv 
Caryophylli  5j 
Mace  5ss 

Mosch.  Gran.  gr.  viij 
Ras.  Santal  Flav.  Mi 
Florum  Lavand.  Hij. 

M.  S.  A.  Tolu. 

[69.]— FRENCH  ESSENCES.— The  pomades  made  by 
enfieurage  are  generally  used  for  the  manufacture  of  essence 
in  the  proportion  of  4  parts  to  10  parts  of  alcohol  66  o.P. 
(•838),  the  pomades  being  rubbed  through  a  sieve  into  the 
alcohol. 

[70.] — DISPENSING.  ( J '.  S.  A.) — It  will  bo  impossible  to 
prepare  the  prescription  as  it  stands, — soften  the  ext.  bella¬ 
donna  in  a  mortar,  with  about  5j  of  boiling  water,  and  gra¬ 
dually  mix  the  lin.  camph. ;  it  will  separate  under  any  cir¬ 
cumstances.  I  do  not  consider  this  is  to  be  regarded  an  un¬ 
justifiable  addition,  as  the  adding  acid,  sulph.  dil.  to  a  mixture 
containing  quiniae  sulph.,  where  none  is  ordered,  most  cer¬ 
tainly  is. — A.  E.  T. 

3.  B.  Bead  (Peterborough)  says, — Rub  the  ext.  belladonnse 
in  a  mortar  with  a  few  drops  of  water  to  a  syrupy  consis¬ 
tence,  then  gradually  add  the  camph.  oil,  constantly  stirring 
all  the  time. 

If  L.  S.  A.  will  weigh  the  camphor  wanted  for  the  ol. 
camph.  and  beat  it  up  in  a  mortar  with  the  half  drm.  ext. 
belladon.  (use  the  alcoholic  extract),  then  rub  both  up  with 
two  ounces  olive  oil,  he  will  have  a  liniment  similar  to  the  one 
he  inquires  about. — ¥m.  Evans,  Liverpool. 

[72.]— COUGH  BALSAM.— 

Chlorodyn.  §j 
Syr.  Tolu, 

Scillm,  ana  §iv 
Antim.  Tart.  gr.  x 
Aq.  ad  3XX 
Dose  5j  vel  5ij. 

The  chlorodyne  is  made  according  to  Squire;  the  antim. 
tart,  to  be  dissolved  in  hot  water.  Tiie  above  is  celebrated  as 
the  universal. — F.  G. 

[73.]  — CHLORODA^NE. — In  answer  to  M.  P.  S.,  wishing 
for  a  form  for  a  soluble  chlorodyne,  I  beg  to  offer  him  the 
following : — 

R.  Morph.  Acet.  gr.  lxiv 
Acid.  Acet.  Dil.  *ss 
Acid.  Hydrocyan.  Sch.  3iss 
01.  Menth.  Pip.  5>j 
Chloroform, 
iEther.  Rect., 

Tinct.  Capsici,  ana  31’j 
Theriacce  ad  3*vj 

Dissolve  the  ol.  menth.  pip.  in  the  chloroform  and  ether, 
and  put  them  in  a  bottle  (wide  mouth)  capable  of  holding 
2  lb.,  and  which  you  have  first  graduated  with  a  label  to  1  lb. 
exact.  Add  the  rest,  all  but  the  treacle,  the  morphia  dissolved 
in  the  acid.  acet.  Make  the  treacle  hot  by  standing  it  in  a 
jug  immersed  in  boiling  water  for  about  half  an  hour.  Ihis 
causes  it  to  run  easily,  and  any  sediment  will  subside  and  be 
left  in  the  bottom  of  the  containing  vessel.  This  hot  treacle 


December  17,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


197 


must  be  added  to  the  other  ingredients  to  make  the  whole 
measure  1  lb.  It  must  be  added  carefully,  an  ounce  or  two 
at  a  time,  and  shaken  gently,  but  as  soon  as  it  begins  to 
cool,  cork  it  up  and  shake  weil  every  few  minutes  until  cold. 
— Wsi.  G.  Taplin. 

[74.] — TOILET  VINEGAR. — The  following  form  is  given 
by  Piesse : — 

Dried  Rose-leaves 

Spirit  of  Roses  triple  5X  (Otto  mix  ad  3j  S.  V.  R.) 

Dilute  Acetic  Acid  3*1. 

Macerate  in  a  closed  vessel  for  fourteen  days. 

I  prefer  this  one. 

Ess.  Bergamot  mxx 
,,  Ambergris  5iv 
,,  Vanilla  ”lxxx 
01.  Neroli  mxxx 
Acetic  Acid  mclx 
S.  V.  R.  Jvj. 

Mix.  Sigma. 


TF.  B.  S.  (Bridgnorth)  sends  the  following: — 

R.  Ess.  Bergamotte  5ij 
„  Ambragris  5iij 
01.  Neroli  5i'j 
Acid.  Acet.  Fort,  3[j 
Ess.  Vanilhe  5iiss 

„  Zingib.  (3j  to  Siij  of  Proof  Spirit)  3iij 
S.  V.  R.  3***vj. 

[76.]— GLYCERINE  JELLY. — T.  31.  (Worksop)  is  in¬ 
formed  that  neither  isinglass  nor  tragacanth  will  make  so 
bright  a  jelly  as  the  gelatine  such  as  is  used  for  culinary  pur¬ 
poses;  this,  in  sufficient  quantity  to  just  gelatinize  a  mixture 
of  1  pint  glycerine  and  2  pints  aq.  rosoe,  will  furnish  an  article 
in  every  way  satisfactory ;  a  drop  or  two  of  otto  of  rose  im¬ 
proves  it,  and  it  may  be  coloured  (if  desired)  with  liq.  cocci 
or  any  of  the  beautiful  colours  now  produced  from  aniline. — 
A.  E.  T. 

[77.]— DISPENSING  (“Exhibatur”).— With  2  ounces 
of  distilled  water  mix  the  acid,  phosph.  dil. ,  and  in  a  separate 
vessel  with  the  same  quantity  of  water,  mix  the  spt.  chloro- 
formi ;  let  stand  a  few  minutes,  then  mix  the  liquids :  dissolve 
the  ferri  et  quiniae  citras  in  the  remaining  water,  pour  the 
mixed  liquid  on  the  solution;  lastly  add  tinct.  nucis  vom. 
and  the  mixture  will  remain  bright.— S.  Harwood,  Stoke 
Newington. 

[78.]— COMPOSITION  FOR  CLEANING  BRASS.— 
R.  Rottenstone  3vbj 
Acid.  Sulph.  5ij 
01.  Olivae  Sec., 

Aquae,  ana  3iss. 

M.  S.  A.  Tolu. 

[79.]—  PASTILE  PAPER.— If  G.  E.  B.  will  try  the 
following,  he  will  find  it  answer : — 

Olibanum  5*ij 
Styrax  5''iij 
Benzoin  5vj 
Peruvian  Balsam  5iv 
Tolu  Balsam  5bj 
S.  V.  R.  5x. 

Macerate  for  twenty-eight  days  with  occasional  agitation, 
and  add — 

Saturated  Solution  Potassium  Nitrate  *j* 

Soak  the  paper  in  it  and  dry. — Sigma. 

[82.]— BLUE  COLOUR.— 

Cupri  Sulph.  5j 
Liq.  Ammon.  F.  §iv 
Aquas  Cong. 

— F.  G.  Holmes,  Brill. 

Similar  answer  has  been  received  from  “ Pestle  and  3Iortar  ” 
(Dorking),  T.  W.  C.  (Holbeach). 

[84.]— PEPPERMINT  CORDIAL.— 

R.  Ol.  Menth.  Pip.  Ang.  5iss 
Spt.  V.  R.  Oiv  (o.  m.) 

Sacchar.  Alb.  Hv 
Aqua)  Hvj 
Magnes.  Carb.  5’i 

M.  S.  A.  Tolu. 


[86.]— PICK  ME  UP.— 

Cardamoms  5  parts 
Carrawavs  2  parts 
Cochineal  2  parts 
Cinnamon  10  parts 
Raisins  80  parts 
Orange  Peel  56  parts 
Giuger  14  parts 
Gentian  Root  3  parts 
Wormwood  2  parts 
Quassia  1  part 
Alcohol  (’838)  750  parts 
Water  750  parts. 

Macerate  for  fourteen  days.  Filter.  Add  Syrup  200  parts. 

[87.] — GUM  COWRIE  is  one  of  those  commercial  misno¬ 
mers  so  common  in  City  circles  among  brokers  and  importers. 
It  is  not  a  gum  at  all,  but  a  fossil  resin,  used  for  varnish¬ 
making,  obtained  from  New  Zealand,  being  the  produce  of 
Dammara  australis.  In  New  Zealand  it  is  usually  written 
kauri.  Full  details  and  statistics  respecting  this  product 
will  be  found  in  a  paper  I  read  on  the  gums  and  resins  of 
commerce  before  the  Society  of  Arts  some  years  ago.  (See 
this  Journal,  and  in  a  paper  on  the  gums  and  resins  of  New 
Zealand  in  my  ‘Technologist,’  vol.  vi.  p.  475,  1866.) — P.  L. 
SlMMONDS. 


[88.]— EFFECT  OF  AMMONIA  UPON  BREAD.— 
Can  any  of  your  readers  inform  me  why  bread  should  turn 
yellow  when  exposed  to  the  fumes  of  ammonia  ?  Some  time 
ago  I  was  having  my  tea  in  a  room  in  which  the  boy  was 
breaking  up  a  cwt.  cask  of  ammonia,  and,  to  my  great  asto¬ 
nishment,  I  found  it  turn  the  bread  quite  yeilow. — A.  T. 
Girdlee. 

[89.]— SYRUP  OF  PHOSPHATE  OF  IRON. — 1F.3I.B. 
wishes  to  know  the  difference  between  Parrish’s  syr.  ferri 
phosph.  and  the  syr.  ferri  phosph.  B.P. 

[*#*  Parrish’s  is  doubtless  intended  for  the  syr.  ferri 
phosph.  co.,  or  chemical  food. — Ed.  Pii.  J.] 

[90.]— ARTIFICIAL  MANURES.— IF.  T.  Oldham  (Wis- 
beach)  wishes  to  be  told  of  a  good  work  on  the  manufacture 
and  analysis  of  artificial  manures. 

[91.] — MEDICINE  BASKETS. — D.  O.  J.  wishes  to  know 
where  he  can  obtain  an  improvement  on  the  two-lidded  square 
basket  generally  used  for  carrying  out  medicine,  which  will 
be  light,  durable  and  waterproof. 

[92.] — VARNISH. — “  Sigma  ”  would  be  glad  of  a  receipt 
for  a  flexible  varnish  to  cover  india-rubber  tubing  to  prevent 
the  escape  of  gas. 

[93.] — OVER-PROOF  SPIRIT. — Will  your  readers  oblige 
a  student  with  a  clear  definition  of  what  is  meant  by  spirit 
at  a  given  strength  over  proof? — say  56  or  60  degrees  over 
proof. — J  U  YENIS. 

[94..] — OIL  OF  YLANG-YLANG. — I  have  frequently 
seen  the  oil  of  ylang-ylang  quoted  upon  the  price-currents 
of  London  houses.  Can  any  of  your  readers  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  perfume  inform  me  if  such  is  a  genuine  pro¬ 
duct,  as  stated,  of  one  of  the  Orclddacece,  or  is  it  merely  a 
mixture  of  other  essential  oils  ? — A  Country  Druggist. 

[95.] — COVERING  FOR  PILLS. — F.  B.  B.  asks  for  the 
best  mode  of  applying  the  solution  of  tolu  for  covering  pills. 

[***  Pour  a  small  quantity  of  strong  solution  of  balsam  of 
tolu  into  a  plate,  and  roll  the  pills  in  it. — Ed.  Pii.  J.] 

[96,] — AERATED  POTASS  WATER.  —  In  making 
aerated  potass  water  according  to  the  B.P.,  I  find  that  when 
the  bottles  are  laid  by  for  a  couple  of  weeks,  a  black  deposit 
is  formed  on  the  cork.  Can  any  one  explain  or  give  me  a 
remedy  for  this? — Soda-water. 

[97.] — OZONIZED  ETHER.  —  X.  Q.  Z.  wishes  to  be 
informed  what  is  the  nature  of  this  preparation. 

[98.] — DISPENSING.  —  J.  B.  (Stamford)  asks  for  the 
best  method  of  preparing  the  following  prescription  : — 

R.  Quin.  Disulph.  gr.  xij 
Magnes.  Sulph.  5]j 
Alum.  Sulph.  3  ij 
Acid.  Sulph.  Arom.  5(j 
Tr.  Ergotae  3j 
Inf.  Caryoph.  ad  5  viij 
M.  Capt.  5j  ter  die. 

It  has  always  presented  a  dirty  appearance. 


498 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  17, 1S70. 


***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

The  Storage  of  Poisons  Question. 

Sir, — The  importance  of  the  subject  will,  I  trust,  be  a  suffi¬ 
cient  excuse  for  troubling  your  readers  with  a  few  observa¬ 
tions  upon  it.  I  have  not  yet  heard  the  result  of  the  discus¬ 
sion  which  took  place  at  the  meeting  of  the  Council  on  the 
7th  instant,  I  am  therefore  unacquainted  with  the  latest  ex- 
ression  of  its  opinion.  I  am  hopeful  that  the  Council  will 
e  inclined  merely  to  recommend  with  all  the  influence  of  its 
authority  some  well-considered  plan  for  the  voluntary  adop¬ 
tion  of  the  trade.  The  enforcement  of  regulations  for  the 
storing  of  poisons  by  the  hand  of  the  law,  will  not,  I  am  sure, 
be  tolerated ;  and  the  necessity  for  any  legal  interference,  I 
and  the  majority  have  yet  to  discover.  It  is  said  that  Go¬ 
vernment,  through  the  Privy  Council,  has  been  or  is  putting 
the  pressure  upon  the  Pharmaceutical  Council,  and  that  the 
proposed  legal  interference,  if  the  trade  permit  it,  will  be  in¬ 
troduced,  not  because  it  is  imperative  to  ensure  the  safety  of 
the  public,  but  mainly  as  a  result  of  the  bidding  of  the  powers 
that  be.  If  such  pressure  really  exists,  I  hope  the  Council 
will  wisely  and  manfully  stand  against  it,  rather  than  fetter 
the  trade  with  vexatious  restrictions.  If  the  Council  be  the. 
willing  servants  of  the  State,  and  are  disposed  to  yield,  I 
have  little  doubt  but  that  the  trade  will  put  itself  into  a  firm 
attitude  of  defence,  to  prevent  the  bartering  of  our  trade 
liberty.  The  educational  test  now  required,  along  with  the 
caution  and  care  resulting  from  an  ever-present  prudent  sell- 
interest,  to  say  nothing  of  the  penalties  of  judicial  action 
under  Lord  Campbell’s  Act,  are  enough  to  ensure  the  safety 
of  the  public.  If  Government,  however,  is  so  very  anxious  to 
experiment  in  the  direction  proposed,  let  it  bring  in  a  measure 
to  institute  certain  regulations  in  the  surgeries  of  medical 
men,  where  the  greater  part  of  the  dispensing  of  medicines 
is  done,  and  where  the  usual  safeguards  are  not  always  pre¬ 
sent.  I  do  not  say  that  this  is  at  all  necessary,  but  I  do  say 
that  to  attempt  to  saddle  the  chemist  with  restrictions,  and 
let  the  medical  man  go  free,  would  be  a  most  insulting,  foolish 
and  unfair  procedure.  If  the  chemists  of  Great  Britain  per¬ 
mit  themselves  to  be  placed  under  obnoxious  State  surveil¬ 
lance  and  restraint  in  the  mode  of  carrying  on  their  business 
— for  to  institute  regulations  for  the  storing  of  poisons  and 
not  have  them  carried  into  effect,  would  be  an  absurdity — in 
the  course  of  time  some  other  new  and  spurious  safeguard 
would  be  considered  necessary.  As  for  instance  the  inspection 
of  chemical  balances  and  scales  used  in  dispensing,  for  the 
danger  of  using  a  wrong  balance  is  almost  as  great  as  using 
the  contents  ot  a  wrong  bottle.  Let  us  take  warning  and 
prevent  the  first  wrong  step,  ancl  the  second  will  not  be  taken. 

Robert  Hampson. 

Manchester ,  Dec.  13  th,  1870. 


Obscure  Prescriptions. 

Sir, — The  correspondence  in  the  Journal  respecting  “  Ob¬ 
scure  Prescriptions,”  brings  to  my  mind  what  took  place  in 
my  locality  about  thirty  years  ago. 

A  physician,  at  that  time  living  near  Blackfriars  Bridge, 
used  to  give  advice  gratis,  but  compelled,  as  much  as  possible, 
all  his  patients  to  go  to  a  certain  chemist  to  have  his  pre¬ 
scriptions  dispensed. 

Particular  marks  were  put  upon  the  prescriptions  by  the 
privileged  chemist  every  time  he  dispensed  them,  so  that  the 
physician  might  know  whether  they  had  been  dispensed  each 
time  he  saw  them.  He  also  took  care  that  no  one  else  could 
dispense  them,  by  resorting  to  hieroglvphics. 

This  chemist  after  a  time  sold  his  business  to  another  for  a 
considerable  sum,  with  the  understanding  that  the  physician’s 
favours  would  be  continued,  but  from  some  cause  the  physician 
shortly  afterwards  transferred  them  to  a  surgeon-retailer. 

This  provoked  the  chemist.  He  had  circulars  printed, 
which  he  sent  very  freely  about  the  neighbourhood,  stating 
that  he  was  induced  to  purchase  the  business  by  the  hope  of 
having  the  physician’s  favours,  that  he  had  had  to  give  the 
physician  two  pounds  or  guineas  per  week  for  the  patronage, 


and  that  the  physician  called  regularly  every  Saturday  and 
never  left  without  the  money. 

London ,  December  12 th,  1870.  Tnos.  Kent, 


Druggists’  Charges. 

Doctor  Kidd  regrets  that  he  gave  a  moment’s  annoyance  to 
Mr.  Ramsden,  but  he  did  not  make  any  the  remotest  allusion 
to  Mr.  Ramsden.  Grosvenor  Square  was  given  chiefly  as 
showing  that  the  “cutting  down”  system  is  unhappily  com¬ 
mon  to  this  as  well  as  other  parts  of  London,  though  in  such 
rich  districts  there  could  not  be  much  excuse  for  it. 


Sir, — Mr.  Pollard,  of  Wavertree,  has  published  a  letter  in 
this  day’s  Journal,  stating  that  a  customer  of  his  has  had 
three  dozen  pills  dispensed,  at  a  first-class  chemist’s  at  Wol¬ 
verhampton,  for  8 d.  Will  you  allow  me  to  tell  him  that  he 
must  have  been  the  victim  of  a  falsehood. 

I  do  not  know  Mr.  Pollard,  but  should  fancy  he  has  had 
little  experience  in  such  cases,  or  he  would  be  very  well 
aware  that  it  is  a  very  common  practice  with  some  people  te 
have  a  prescription  dispensed,  and  then,  in  order  to  get  a 
reduction  in  the  price,  will  say  that  they  can  get  it  for  so 
much  less  at  some  distant  town.  I  never  believe  them,  for, 
some  years  ago,  I  took  the  trouble  to  ascertain  the  truth  of 
some  of  these  statements,  when  I  always  found  I  had  been, 
misinformed. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  some  chemists  are  cutting  the  dis¬ 
pensing  trade  very  much;  still,  it  does  not  do  to  believe 
every  exaggerated  case  that  a  strange  customer  will  tell  you, 
Mr.  Pollard  should  have  asked  his  customer  the  chemist’s 
name,  and  should  then  have  written  to  ascertain  the  truth, 
of  it  before  he  published  his  letter  in  the  Journal. 

W.  Y.  Brevitt,  Local  Secretary , 

Wolverhampton,  December  10 th,  1870. 

Sir, — I  have  read  with’  great  interest  the  various  letters' 
which  have  lately  appeared  relative  to  the  very  low  prices 
charged  by  some  chemists,  and  I  have  often  thought  what  a 
great  desideratum  would  be  conferred  upon  our  profession, 
could  all  in  a  town  agree  to  have  one  tariff.  The  other  day  I 
had  a  prescription  brought  to  my  shop  to  be  compounded,— it 
was  for  an  eight-ounce  mixture,  contained  eight  ingredients, 
including  one  ounce  of  tinct.  aurantii,  and  an  extraordinary 
large  quantity  of  bismuth,  trisnit.  I  thought  no  respectable 
chemist  would  charge  less  than  Is.  6d.,  which  amount  I  asked 
for  its  being  faithfully  dispensed;  but  this  morning,  Sir,  I 
had  the  gratification  of  being  informed  that  it  had  since  been 
made  up  in  this  town  by  a  Pharmaceutical  Chemist  and  a 
twenty  years’  member  of  our  Society,  and  his  charge  was 
Is.  2d.,  and  also  that  the  said  Pharmaceutical  Chemist  un- 
blushingly  sells  Is.  l|d.  patents  for  11(7.,  and  charges  5s.  tor 
Mrs.  Allen’s  Hair  Restorer.  Now,  Sir,  can  we  consistently 
complain  of  the  “cutting”  prices  charged  by  those  chemists 
who  have  never  been  educated  to  the  profession,  who  have 
either  been  doctors’  boys  or  dispensers  at  hospitals,  when 
such  things  as  these  are  done  by  an  old  member  of  our 
Society  ?  I  deeply  regret  to  see  it,  being  a  reflection  on  that 
Society  whose  object  and  aim  is  the  advance  of  pharmacy. 

“CONSISTENCT.” 


Sir, — The  following  advertisement  appeared  in  one  of  the 
leading  Bristol  daily  papers : — 

RUGGISTS  AND  THEIR  CHARGES.— Look  at  the 
Extract  from  t he  Lancet,  copied  into  the  Local  Papers. 
— one  man  charges  4s.  for  a  6-ounce  Bottle  of  Medicine,  an¬ 
other  Is.  6 d.  for  the  same.  I  charge,  on  an  average,  only  9c/. 
Can  it  be  possible  that  the  Public  will  still  submit  to  such  an 
enormous  imposition? — H.  Hodder,  11,  Broad  St.,  Bristol , 

It  surely  behoves  us  to  urge  on  the  Society  at  Bloomsbury 
Square  to  lay  down  a  list  of  prices,  whereby  we  may  all  keep 
as  near  the  standard  as  possible  without  laying  ourselves  open, 
to  be  insulted  by  such  “  black  sheep  ”  as  the  above. 

Bristol.  “Live  and  Let  Live.” 


Sir, — As  the  profits  on  medicine  have  been  so  freely  dis¬ 
cussed  in  the  pages  of  our  Journal,  owing  to  some  remarks, 
made  in  the  Lancet  respecting  our  charges,  perhaps  the  follow¬ 
ing  may  not  be  out  of  place,  to  show  that  our  profits  are  not 
so  enormous  as  are  generally  considered  by  those  who  only 
speak  from  hearsay,  and  not  from  experience. 

I  have  known  the  drug  business  just  thirty  years,  yet  I 
cannot  give  you  an  instance  of  a  man  retiring  on  a  coinpe- 


December  17, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


499 


lency  realized  out  of  a  retail  drug  trade,  although  he  may 
have  stuck  behind  the  counter  from  8  a.m.  to  10  p.m.,  and 
scarcely  taken  a  day’s  pleasure  from  year’s  end  to  year’s  end. 
In  a  town  in  which  I  resided  a  great  many  years,  I  could  see 
from  my  door  three  druggists  whose  returns  varied  from 
£800  to  £2000  per  annum ;  being  on  friendly  terms,  we  knew 
each  other’s  business  to  a  certain  extent.  One  had  married 
well,  which  rendered  him  to  some  extent  independent  of  his 
business ;  another  was  a  bachelor,  and  had  a  good  income  in¬ 
dependent  of  his  business ;  the  third  died  suddenly,  leaving  a 
wife  and  family;  he  had  the  best  business  of  the  four,  keep¬ 
ing  two  assistants  and  one  apprentice ;  yet  when  the  estate 
was  wound  up  and  all  debts  paid,  there  was  a  very  small 
balance  left.  Now  these  men  were  many  years  my  senior,  and 
had  been  in  business  for  upwards  of  twenty  years,  during 
which  time  neither  could  save  £500.  Though  my  returns 
were  about  £800  per  annum  from  a  general  drug  trade  in  a 
large  country  town,  my  profits  did  not  average  more  than 
£200  per  annum ;  what  could  I  save  out  of  that  after  paying 
the  expenses  for  carrying  on  the  business,  rent,  taxes,  house¬ 
keeping  and  bringing  up  a  family  ?  Had  it  not  been  for  an 
additional  income,  live  as  economically  as  I  could,  I  should 
•only  have  been  barely  able  to  pay  my  way. 

Thirty  years  since,  when  provisions  were  much  cheaper 
than  they  are  now,  we  charged  for  Oss  and  jjvj  mixtures,  2s.  Gel. ; 
draughts,  9s.  per  dozen  (we  never  get  a  prescription  now  for  a 
dozen  draughts  ;  Seidlitz  powders,  2s.  Gd.  per  box ;  single 
ones,  3d.  Compare  this  with  the  present  prices,  especially  a 
■Seidlitz  powder  retailed  for  Id.,  at  a  shop  not  a  mile  from  St. 
Paul’s.  I  wonder  if  Mr.  —  pays  his  rent  wTith  the  profits  ac¬ 
cruing  from  the  enormous  quantity  he  must  sell  ?  I  think 


these  facts  prove  that  the  present  profits  attached  to  the 
retail  drug  business  are  not  a  sufficient  remuneration  for  the 
time,  labour  and  capital  employed,  to  say  nothing  about  the 
responsibility  we  take  on  ourselves,  viz.  the  dispensing  of 
illegible  prescriptions,  without  having  a  licence  to  kill. 

December  8th,  1870.  “  A  Eetailee.” 


Sir, — There  have  been  several  inquiries  in  your  columns  for 
a  list  of  “dispensing  charges,”  and  as  the  one  adopted  by  the 
Manchester  Chemists’  Association  is  pretty  generally  followed 
in  a  tolerably  extensive  district,  I  beg  to  forward  you  a  copy 
for  publication,  as  one  that  may  be  considered  fairly  remune¬ 
rative  without  being  excessive,  and  may  give  an  idea  of  what 
is  practicable  in  a  neighbourhood  where  chemists  have  some 
little  confidence  in  each  other.  The  use  of  the  “  price  mark  ” 
is  strongly  recommended  in  all  cases,  as  in  the  event  of  a 
prescription  being  taken  to  another  shop,  the  second  dispenser 
at  once  sees  the  price  already  charged,  and  consequently  is 
able  to  obtain  the  same  without  being  afraid,  on  the  one 
hand,  of  charging  more  than  his  neighbour,  or,  on  the  other, 
of  underselling  him. 

If  the  price  mark  “  Mel  Boraeis,”  which  has  long  been 
used  in  Edinburgh,  and  more  recently  in  several  other  places, 
were  universally  adopted  throughout  the  country  as  the  mark 
for  dispensing  charges, ht  would  be  a  great  advantage,  for  then 
a  prescription  dispensed  in  various  parts  of  the  country  could 
always  be  charged  at  the  same  rate,  and  a  nearer  approach  to 
uniformity  might  thus  be  obtained. 

W.  Wilkinson. 

Clieetham  Sill,  December  13 th,  1870. 


List  of  Dispensing  Charges,  adopted  by  the  Manchester  Chemists'  and  Druggists'  Association,  and  recommended 

to  the  Trade  generally. 


Pills.* 


1 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12 

14 

16 

18 

20 

21 

30 

36 

48 

72 


>  .  6<2.  to  Is. 


1 


Is.  3d. 


Is.  6d. 


Drops.} 


ioz. 

a 
2 


n 

2 

3 

4 


Is.  9  d. 

2s.  0 d. 

2s.  6d. 

Gd.  per  doz.  and 
upwards. 


Powders. 


1 


6d.  to  Is. 


Is.  0 d. 

Is.  4d. 

12  and  upwards 
Is.  Gd.  to  2s.  doz. 

Powders  for 
Effervescing 
Mixtures,  Is.  doz. 


Lotion  Fotvders. 
one,  Gd.  to  Is. 
six,  2s. 

twelve,  3s.  Gd. 

3s.  doz.  for  more.7 


Mixtures.} 

Doses. 

1  oz. 

|  oz. 

1  or  2 
drms. 

s.  d. 

s.  d. 

s.  d. 

oz. 

1  0 

1  0 

1 

2 

1  0 

1  0 

2  „ 

1  0 

1  0 

1  2 

3  „ 

1  0 

1  2 

1  4 

4  „ 

1  2 

1  4 

1  6 

6  „ 

1  6 

1  9 

2  0 

8  „ 

1  8 

2  0 

2  6 

10  „ 

2  0 

2  6 

12  „ 

2  6 

3  0 

16  „ 

3  0 

3  6 

20  „ 

| 

3  6 

4  0 

Gargles 

and 

Injec¬ 

tions. 


s.  d. 


1  0 


2 

4 

6 

0 

3 


Ointments, 

•  1 

Electuaries, 

and 

Draughts. 

Suppositories. 

Pessaries  and 
Bougies. 

Confections. 

i 

s»  c?* 

s.  d. 

s.  d.  1 

1 

1  0 

1 

\  Gd. 

1 

} 10 

c  1  0 

2 

1  9 

2 

>  to  s. 

2 

5 

3 

2  6 

4 

Is.  0J. 

3 

j-  1  6 

} 16 

4 

3  0 

6 

Is.  9d. 

4 

5 

3  G 

12 

3s.  0 d. 

5 

}  20 

2  3 

6 

4  0 

6 

3  0 

1 

12 

4  0 

1 

Liniments. 


} 


1 

1 

2 

2 

3 


d. 

0 

4 

8 

2 

8 

6 


Lin,  aconiti,  Is.  .  per  oz. 
,,  belladonna?,  Is.  „ 
chloroformi,  Is. 
crotonis,  Is. 
potassii  iodidi 
cum  sapone,  8 d. 
sinapis  co.,  Is.  Gd. 


J5 


Trice  Marie 
MEL  BOEACIS. 

123  456789 10 
To  be  used  thus — “m/c,”  Is.  8 d., 
under  the  stamp  of  the  first 
Dispenser. 


*  S*ale  of  Prices  for  Pills. — The  higher  charge  to  be  made 
when  one,  two,  or  more  pills  are  ordered  alone ;  if  with  mix¬ 
ture,  etc.,  in  the  same  prescription,  the  lower  charge  to  be 
made. 

f  Mixtures,  etc. — Quinine  or  other  costly  ingredients,  or 
nn  extra  large  quantity  of  tincture,  to  be  subject  to  a  higher 
charge. 


X  “  Drops,”  including  concentrated  medicines  or  tinctures. 
Ordinary  bottles  and  pots  are  included  in  the  above  prices. 
The  uniform  adoption  of  the  price  mark  will  prove  advan. 
tageaus,  as  showing  to  subsequent  disponsers  the  charge 
already  made ;  when  charged  below  the  above  rates,  a  mark  x 
in  the  upper  left-hand  corner  will  denote  exceptional. 


500 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  17, 1570. 


Chloral  in  Sea  Sickness. 

Sir,-— I  have  taken  chloral  five  times  while  crossing  the 
Irish  Channel,  with  very  good  results. 

My  first  experiment  was  made  last  March,  when  50  grains 
took  me  from  Kingstown  to  Holyhead  as  sound  as  a  top.  On 
returning  a  few  days  later,  I  tried  60  grains ;  and  though  it 
was  very  stormy  I  was  as  unconscious  of  winds  and  waves  as 
an  unborn  babe,  not  waking  till  shaken  by  the  steward  at  the 
Kingstown  pier.  My  travelling  companions,  who  bad  had  five 
hours  of  misery,  said  they  would  have  given  ten  shillings  each 
for  such  a  magic  draught. 

On  crossing  from  Cork  to  Liverpool  to  attend  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Conference,  I  took  two  50  gr.  doses,  and  slept  the 
whole  way,  about  twenty  hours. 

I  would  propose  the  following  directions,  a  departure  from 
which  may  lead  to  bad  results : — 

If  a  smooth  passage  is  expected  take  nothing,  but  enjoy 
yourself. 

If  sea-sickness  is  feared,  take  a  good  dose  about  half  an 
hour  before  its  occurrence  is  expected ;  keep  warm,  go  to  bed, 
and  you  will  sleep. 

If  the  dose  is  delayed  until  nausea  is  felt,* the  stomach  will 
instantly  reject  the  chloral,  and  the  remedy  will  be  unsuc¬ 
cessful. 

At  this  eleventh  hour  I  would  suggest  the  following,  though 
I  have  never  tried  it.  Take  a  few  inhalations  of  chloroform, 
and  when  partially  insensible,  take  the  chloral,  which  would 
then,  I  think,  be  retained  until  sleep  ensued. 

J.  Hancock  Richardson. 

3,  Arundel  Terrace ,  Cork. 

Sir, — Allow  me  to  endorse  the  correctness  of  your  opinion, 
as  stated  in  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal  of  the  3rd  inst. 
in  reference  to  the  addition  of  acid,  sulph.  dil.  in  dispens¬ 
ing  the  formula  as  given  by  “  Magnesia,”  No.  22,  p.  437,  and 
also  as  a  consequence  to  protest  against  the  contrary  view 
put  forward  by  “Chemicus”  in  to-day’s  issue.  “Chemicus” 
does  not  seem  to  be  aware  that  medical  men  do  frequently 
prescribe  intentionally  quinice  sulph.,  without  the  customary 
addition  of  acid,  sulph.  dil.  An  eminent  provincial  surgeon 
once  informed  me  that  he  did  so  because  his  patients  experi¬ 
enced  considerably  less  nausea  when  so  given.  I  should  trust 
no  pharmaceutist  would,  on  reflection,  consent  to  such  an  in¬ 
fringement  of  a  medical  man’s  prescription  as  that  suggested 
by  “  Chemicus.” 

A  Major  Associate. 

Tunbridge  Wells,  Dec.  10 th,  1870. 


A  Point  or  Ethics. 

Sir, — In  your  last  week’s  issue,  a  letter  appeared,  signed  by 
“  Chemicus  of  Twenty  Years’  Standing,”  stating  that  when 
quinine  is  ordered  in  a  mixture,  and  no  “  acid  ”  prescribed  with 
it,  a  chemistwould  be  justified  in  adding  acid,  sulph.  dil. in  order 
to  dissolve  it.  On  this  point  I  must  differ  from  him. 

Many  medical  men  omit  the  e£  acid  ”  because  their  patients 
dislike  the  intense  bitterness  of  the  quinine ;  and  “  Chemicus  ” 
ought  to  be  aware  of  the  fact,  that  quinine  is  not  so  bitter 
when  undissolved  as  it  is  when  in  a  dissolved  state.  Surely 
the  members  of  the  medical  profession  are  not  so  forgetful  as 
“  Chemicus  ”  would  like  to  make  out. 

On  the  other  hand,  if  there  be  no  “acid”  prescribed  in  a 
quinine  mixture,  but  the  words  “ solve”  or  “ misce secundum 
artem”  added,  then  a  chemist  would  understand  that  it  was 
the  prescriber’s  intention  that  the  quinine  should  be  dissolved. 

Bath,  December  13 th,  1870.  H.  T.  TV. 


Irish  Pharmacy  Bill. 

Sir, — I  send  you  a  few  suggestions  regarding  the  proposed 
Pharmacy  Bill  for  Ireland. 

Instead  of  the  present  Bill,  let  a  Bill  be  framed  by  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society,  extending  the  English  and  Scotch 
Pharmacy  Act  to  Ireland,  but  so  modified  as  to  leave  out  all 
its  objectionable  features,  and  so  help  to  assimilate,  as  far  as 
practicable,  the  laws  of  the  three  kingdoms,  instead  of  having 
them  administered  by  two  separate  bodies. 

In  introducing  a  Bill  for  the  extension  of  the  Act  to  Ire¬ 
land,  I  would  suggest  the  following  modifications  of  that  for 
England  and  Scotland. 

1st.  That  no  one  be  permitted  to  take  apprentices  until 
they  have  passed  the  Preliminary  Examination. 

2nd.  That  no  person  be  permitted  to  be  employed  as  an 
assistant  who  has  not  passed  the  Minor  Examination. 


3rd.  That  no  person  be  permitted  to  keep  open  shop  for 
the  dispensing  of  physicians’  prescriptions  until  they  have- 
passed  the  Major  Examination. 

Let  it  be  further  arranged  that  apothecaries  be  permitted 
to  keep  open  shop  in  England  and  Scotland  for  the  dispensing 
of  physicians’  prescriptions,  and  that  Pharmaceutical  Che¬ 
mists  be  permitted  to  keep  open  shop  in  Ireland  for  the  same 
purpose,  but  those  by  examination  only.  In  this  way  the 
flock  of  Registered  Assistants  who  have  passed  the  Modified 
only,  those  who  have  passed  the  Minor  only,  and  Registered 
Chemists  and  Druggists  will  be  excluded. 

I  would  suggest  that  the  Chemists  and  Druggists  in  Ire¬ 
land  be  excluded  also,  as  they  are  a  comparatively  uneducated 
body  ( i.e .  with  regard  to  special  education),  and  have  never 
possessed  any  privileges  for  the  dispensing  of  prescriptions. 

William  M.  M‘Naughton. 

Dublin,  7th  December,  1870. 


“  Veritas ”  (Ealing)  and  C.  B.  (Sheffield)  are  referred  to 
the  rule  respecting  anonymous  communications. 

C.  B.  L.  (Towcester). — The  cEood  Journal’  is  published  by 
Messrs.  Johnson  and  Sons,  Castle  Street,  Holborn,  price  6d. 

M.  B.  S.  (Birmingham)  should  apply  to  the  Secretaries  of 
the  Chemical  Society,  Vernon  Harcourt,  Esq.,  and  W.  H. 
Perkins,  Esq.  See  Answers  to  Correspondents,  “  G.  A.”  ante, 

p.  180. 

» T.  B.  (Frodsham). — It  is  used  principally  in  the  manufac¬ 
ture  of  gas  burners. 

W.  A.  Tioelvetrees. — Nitro-Benzol  is  produced  on  a  large 
scale  by  the  addition  to  benzol  of  nitric  acid  or  a  mixture  of 
nitric  and  sulphuric  acids  in  a  small  stream,  so  regulated  as  to 
prevent  too  great  an  increase  in  the  temperature.  For  a  de¬ 
tailed  account  of  the  process,  see  Perkins’s  ‘  Cantor  Lectures 
on  Aniline,’  Reimann’s  ‘  Aniline  and  its  Derivatives’  (Long¬ 
mans),  or  any  standard  work  on  dyes. 

H.  (Salisbury). — The  ‘Homeopathic  Pharmacopoeia’  is  pub¬ 
lished  by  the  British  Homoeopathic  Society,  and  may  be  ob¬ 
tained  of  Messrs.  Turner,  Fleet  Street,  or  any  wholesale- 
homoeopathic  agent,  price  10s.  Qd. 

“ Justice.” — Inconsequence  of  the  writer  not  furnishing 
his  name  and  address,  we  are  unable  to  publish  the  letter  with 
the  above  signature,  containing  a  card  said  to  have  been  left 
at  the  door  of  a  medical  man  in  Islington. 

W.  G.  (Swansea). — The  opinion  of  pharmacists  is  un¬ 
doubtedly  in  favour  of  Fownes’  Manual. 

J.  T.  Freeman  (Great  Hadham). — The  letter  has  been 
forwarded  to  the  publishers. 

J.  Sands  (Campden)  and  J.  Barry  (Chester). — The  memo¬ 
randum  and  stamps  have  been  handed  to  the  Secretary. 

Ferri  Quince  Citr.,  B.P. — A  manufacturer  informs  us  that 
although  he  can  obtain  eight  grains  of  quinia  from  fifty 
grains  by  precipitation  with  ammonia  (the  precipitate  being 
dried  at  212°  F.),  from  small,  hard  scales,  such  as  druggists 
would  not  use,  he  cannot  obtain  more  than  7'6  grains  from 
the  large  scales  so  esteemed  for  dispensing.  He  therefore 
thinks  the  Pharmacopoeia  should  give  15  per  cent,  of  quinia 
as  the  minimum  quantity  recognized. 

J.  Otley  (Sheffield). — The  certificate  of  having  passed  the 
preliminary  examination  of  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons 
would  be  accepted. 

G.  J.  Bawland  (Liverpool). — A’ letter  has  been  received 
too  late  for  insertion,  in  consequence  of  its  having  been 
wrongly  sent  to  the  publishers. 

Erratum. — In  the  article  on  Sp.  iEtheris  Nitrosi,  p.  4G4, 
line  5  from  top,  for  56  per  cent,  read  56  o.  p. 

Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  Walker  (Maidenhead),  Mr.  R.W.  Giles',  (Clifton),  Messrs. 
A.  and  M.  Zimmermann,- Mr.  J.  H.  Brown  (Bolton),  Mr.  F.  B. 
Benger  (Manchester),  Mr.  Allen  (Clifton),  Mr.  D.  Hanbury, 
Mr.  A.  Barron  (Aberdeen),  Dr.  J.  De  Vrij,  Mr.  J.  E.  Howard, 
Mr.  I.  Bourdas,  Mr.  A.  H.  Mason  (Liverpool),  Mr.  E.  G.  T. 
Agnew  (Guernsey),  Mr.  Frank  Adams  (Stoke-on-Trent),  Mr. 
J.  Baynes  (Stamford),  Mr.  G.  B.  Clarke  (Woburn),  Messrs. 
Matyard  and  Sap  (Basingstoke),  Mr.  H.  P.  Hoarder  (Ply¬ 
mouth)  , Mr. Horncastle  (Sheffield),  H.H.H.,W.  G.  (Swansea)  r 
G.  A.  (Brighton),  T.  N.  (Glastonbury),  F.  C.,  Lucidus,  H.  B. 
(Scarborough),  P.  O.,  Mr.  Pendennis  (Redruth),  “Alpha,” 
W.  J.  P.  (Hawkhurst),  “A  Leech,”  S.  N.  (Dorchester),. 
“  Student.” 


December  2i,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


501 


PRACTICAL  NOTES 


Take  of 


ON  THE 

PREPARATIONS  OF  THE  BRITISH  PHARMACOPEIA. 


BY  CHARLES  R.  C.  TICHBORNE,  F.C.S.,  M.R.I.A. 
Chemist  to  the  Apothecaries'  Hall  of  Ireland,  etc. 

Acetum  Cantharidis  and  the  Vesicating  Prepa¬ 
rations  of  Cantharides. 


Tlie  vinegar  of  cantliarides  calls  for  very  few  re¬ 
marks.  If  made  strictly  according  to  the  Pharma¬ 
copoeia  the  result  is  a  very  pungent  liquid,  having  a 
brown  colour.  The  specitic  gravity  at  15°  C.  will 
range  from  l  Of‘0  to  100-2.  It  should  be  miscible 
with  water  in  all  proportions.  The  heat  employed 
in  the  maceration  is,  as  will  he  seen,  conducive  to 
the  solution  of  cantliaridine  (vide  remarks  upon  the 
solubility  of  cantliaridine). 

Taking  the  formula  of  the  Pharmacopoeia,  12  fluid 
ounces  are  got  by  percolation,  and  3£  ounces  b}^  pres¬ 
sure,  so  that  2  ounces  of  glacial  and  22f  ounces  of 
acetic  acid  are  consumed.  It  directs  that  powdered 
cantharides  should  be  used,  but  it  will  be  found  more 
convenient  that  the  flies  should  be  simply  bruised, 
particularly  when  making  large  quantities.  The 
substance  of  the  flies  is  easily  permeated  by  the  acid, 
whilst  the  structure  generally  gets  into  such  a  pulpy 
state  from  its  action,  that  it  is  difficult  to  manipulate 
with  large  quantities  of  powder. 

In  the  Pharmacopoeia  no  characteristics  or  tests 
are  given  for  what  used  to  be  called  the  “  prepara¬ 
tions”  in  the  edition  published  in  1804.  These  pre¬ 
parations  are  in  the  majority  of  cases  more  easily 
sophisticated  than  the  materia  medica,  and  are  fre¬ 
quently  the  vent  for  inferior  drugs.  The  point  is 
worth  consideration,  and  any  specific  or  general  cha¬ 
racter  which  can  be  applied  to  them  must  be  of  im¬ 
portance.  It  is  for  this  reason  that  I  have  given  the 
specific  gravity. 

The  relative  strength  of  the  present  preparation 
to  those  formerly  in  use  is  given : — 

Total  Crystal.  Acetic  Acid.  Cantha- 

lizable  Acid.  1-005)  '  (sp.  gr.  T044).  rides. 

Per  cent.  Per  cent.  Per  cent.  Per  cent. 

B.P  .  .  39  7  .  .  10  .  .  90  .  .  10 

L.P.  .  .  37-0  .  .  .  .  100  .  .  10 

Ed.  P.  .  43-75  .  .  25  .  .  75  .  .  17*5 


Dub.  P.  .  40-4  .  .  20 


(Sp.  gr.  (Eupborbium 
1-034.)  2-5  per  cent.) 
80  .  .  20 


The  Pharmacopoeia  has  the  following  note  in  con¬ 
nection  with  the  strength  of  these  preparations : — 
“  This  preparation  is  rather  stronger  than  the  acetum 
cantharidis  of  the  London  Pharmacopoeia ;  it  is  less 
active  than  the  preparations  ordered  under  the  same 
name  in  the  Edinburgh  and  Dublin  Pharmacopoeias 
in  fact,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  first  and  fourth  columns, 
these  two  preparations  are  almost  identical.  The 
percentage  of  flies  could  be  increased  with  great  ad¬ 
vantage. 

Liquor  Epispasticus. — It  is,  perhaps,  as  well  to 
consider  the  remainder  of  the  vesicating  preparations 
of  cantharides  in  tliis  place.  The  first  of  these  is 
the  liquor  epispasticus ;  this  term  having  been  sub¬ 
stituted  for  the  “  linimentum  cantharidis  ”  of  1804. 
In  the  present  formula  for  liquor  epispasticus,  there 
is  evidently  a  mistake.  Based  upon  a  valuable  idea, 
it  is  obvious  that  the  wrong  acid  has  been  specified. 
The  following  is  the  formula  : — 

Third  Series,  No.  20. 


Cantharides,  in  powder,  8  ounces 
Acetic  Acid,  4  fluid  ounces 
Ether,  a  sufficiency. 

“  Mix  the  cantharides  and  acetic  acid,  pack  them 
in  a  percolator,  and,  at  the  expiration  of  twenty-four 
hours,  pour  ether  over  the  contents  of  the  percolator, 
and  allow  it  to  pass  slowly  through  till  twenty  fluid 
ounces  are  obtained.” 

The  acid  directed  in  the  above  formula  is  the  or¬ 
dinary  acetic  acid,  having  a  specific  gravity  of  1*044, 
Now,  independently  of  the  want  of  solubility  of  can- 
tliaridine  in  cold  acid  of  that  gravity  ( vide  remarks 
on  solubility  of  cantliaridine,  p.  502),  two  parts  of 
acetic  acid  are  not  miscible  with  fourteen  parts  of 
ether  of  the  gravity  required  by  the  Pharmacopoeia. 

(These  are  the  proportions  that  would  be  used.) 

If  we  mix  them  in  the  above  proportions  we  get  a 
product  presenting  two  layers ;  the  lower  one  con¬ 
sists  almost  entirely  of  water,  and  is  about  one-half 
the  bulk  of  the  original  acid  employed ;  whilst  the 
upper  is  ether,  holding  in  solution  about  TV  of  a 
stronger  acid  than  that  originally  used ;  however, 
these  fluids  act  rather  differently  when  employed  for 
the  exhaustion  of  the  cantharides.  Obeying  strictly 
the  Pharmacopoeia,  we  find  that  on  passing  the  ether 
through  the  powdered  flies,  the  ether  extracts  the 
green  oil  and  other  ingredients  of  the  cantharides, 
the  latter  retaining  the  greater  part  of  the  water  pre¬ 
sent  in  the  acetic  acid.  The  result  is  an  ethereal 
tincture  saturated  with  water,  and  having  a  specific 
gravity  of  about  -770  at  15°  C.  About  14  ounces 
of  ether  are  consumed  to  produce  the  half-pint  of 
liniment.  If  the  residue  is  squeezed  a  considerable 
quantity  of  water  is  the  result,  and  on  drying  in  the 
air  until  the  whole  of  the  ether  lias  evaporated,  the 
flies  will  be  found  to  weigh  nearly  one  quarter  more 
from  the  water  absorbed,  instead  of  being  lighter  from 
the  loss  of  extractive.  A  process  of  separation  seems 
instituted  by  which  the  aqueous  portion  is  retained 
by  virtue  of  the  attraction  of  the  animal  matter. 

It  is  evident  that  glacial  acetic  acid  should  be 
used ;  if  tliis  is  done,  a  rapidly  vesicating  and  homo¬ 
geneous  fluid  is  obtained.  The  following  is  the  al¬ 
teration  that  we  venture  to  suggest : — 

Take  of 

Cantharides  in  powder  8  ounces. 

Glacial  Acetic  Acid  .  2  fluid  ounces. 

Ether . 28  ounces,  or  a  sufficiency. 

Piub  the  cantharides  in  a  mortar  with  the  glacial 
acetic  acid,  and  proceed  as  directed  in  the  Pharma¬ 
copoeia.  The  consumption  of  ether  will  be  found  to 
be  about  the  same  as  in  the  previously  mentioned 
formula,  namely  28  ounces,  the  specific  gravity  at 
15°  C.  being  ‘779;  in  this  instance  the  cantharides 
will  be  found  to  have  lost  considerably  hi  weight, 
for  on  exposure  to  the  air  for  a  short  time  until  the 
ether  had  evaporated,  they  were  found  to  weigh  only 
7  ounces. 

A  formula  for  vesicating  collodion  might  at  the 
same  time  be  introduced,  that  preparation  being 
more  extensively  used  than  the  vinegar  or  liniment. 
The  collodion  is  a  great  favourite  with  the  ophthal¬ 
mic  surgeons ;  it  is  easily  made  in  the  following 
manner : — 

Take  of — 

Blistering  Liquid,  10  fluid  ounces. 

(not  made  with  ordinary  acetic  acid.) 

Gun  Cotton,  \  of  an  ounce  or  a  sufficiency. 


502 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  24, 1S7U. 


Mix,  and  shake  them  occasionally  until  dissolved, 
and  add  more  gun  cotton  if  not  thick  enough.  This, 
in  fact,  resolves  itself  into  the  formula  published  by 
the  author  in  1862.* 

Before  considering  the  vesicating  preparation  fur¬ 
ther,  it  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  give  the  solubi¬ 
lity  of  cantliaridine  in  different  solvents,  bearing  in 
mind  the  fact  that  such  results  were  obtained  with 
the  crystallized  active  principle,  and  that  in  the  fly 
it  may  be,  and  probably  is,  considerably  modified  by 
the  other  ingredients. 

Action  of  Solvents  upon  Cantliaridine. 

Water. — Insoluble. 

Alcohol,  Ethylic  and  Metliylic.f — Fairly  soluble 
in  hot  fluids,  very  insoluble  hi  the  cold. 

Acetic  Ether. f — Soluble. 

Ether. f — Soluble  in  34  parts. 

Chloroform. — Very  soluble  in  the  cold.  (As  stated 
by  Proctor,  seems  the  best  solvent.) 

Bisulphide  of  Carbon. — Nearly  insoluble. 

Volatile  oils. — Mostly  solvents. 

Castor  and  fixed  oils. — Very  soluble. 

Fatty  matter  of  the  Fly. — Very  soluble. 

Sulphuric  Acid.f — Soluble.  Reprecipitated  by 

water. 

Glacial  Acetic  Acid. — Slowly  dissolved  in  the  cold, 
very  soluble  in  warm  acid.  A  saturated  solution  in 
glacial  acid  is  reprecipitated  by  water. 

Acetic  Acid  P044. — Scarcely  soluble.  Dissolves 
by  prolonged  boiling  and  crystallizes  out  on  cooling. 

Weak  Soda,  or  Potash  Solutions. — Nearly  inso¬ 
luble. 

Strong  Potash,  or  Soda. — Dissolves  easily  on 
warming  and  is  not  precipitated  on  diluting,  but  is 
precipitated  on  the  addition  of  acids. 

Ammonia. — It  is  stated  in  Watts’s  ‘  Dictionary,’ 
vol.  i.  p.  736,  that  “  ammonia  has  no  action  upon 
cantliaridine.”  This  statement  is  incorrect.  Weak 
ammonia  has  no  action  upon  it,  but  very  strong 
liquor  ammonia}  dissolves  it  easily  after  some  time, 
particularly  if  it  is  warmed,  without  a  loss  of  the 
ammonia. 

The  two  last  paragraphs  might  be  made  available 
for  the  concoction  of  good  formula},  whilst  the  reac¬ 
tions  observed  with  the  acetic  acids  bear  upon  the 
preparations  we  have  been  discussing. 


KALI-KUTKI. 

(Picrorh iza  It u rroa ) . 

BY  M.  C.  COOKE,  M.A. 

For  a  very  long  time  the  Kali-kutki  of  Northern 
India  was  believed  to  be  the  black  Hellebore,  and 
under  that  name  it  has  been  quoted,  over  and  over 
again,  by  one  author  after  another,  until  it  came  to 
be  accepted  as  fact.  It  is  some  years  since  we  first 
became  acquainted  with  this  drug,  and  from  that 
period  have  always  maintained  that  it  could  not  be 
the  root  of  black  Hellebore.  It  is  probable  that  the 
error  was  originated  by  Ainslie,  since  he  makes  the 
statement  in  his  ‘  Materia  Medica  ;  ’  but  upon  what 
evidence  the  assertion  was  first  made  it  is  scarcely 


*  Vide  Pharmaceutical  Journal,  2nd  ser.,  Vol.  Ill 
p.  506. 

f  Tlie  reactions  are  taken  from  these  published  observations 
of  others,  and  not  from  the  author’s  experience. 


possible  now  to  determine.  Enough  for  us  that  Kali- 
kutki  is  not  the  root  of  black  Hellebore. 

The  authors  of  the  Indian  Pharmacopoeia  seem  to 
have  been  of  opinion  that  there  were  two  distinct 
drugs  known  in  India,  the  Kootki  of  Northern  India, 
and  the  Kali-kutki  of  the  bazaars  of  the  South.  In 
the  Supplement  to  the  Pharmacopoeia  of  India,  Mr. 
Moodeen  Sheriff  has  disposed  of  this  opinion  in  a 
few  words,  for  he  states  that  “the  root  sold  in  the 
bazaars  of  Calcutta,  Hyderabad  and  Bombay,  under 
the  name  of  Kutki  is  identical  with  the  Kali-kutki 
and  Katuku-rogani,  or  “  Kada-groganie  ”  of  Southern 
India.  If  the  quantity  is  large,  it  varies  much  in 
size  and  appearance  in  each  specimen,  but  the  essen¬ 
tial  characters  are  invariably  the  same.” 

The  Kootki  of  the  Indian  Pharmacopoeia  was  there 
referred  to  Picrorhiza  Tturroa  of  Royle  ;*  and  tins  is 
confirmed  in  the  Supplement  by  Mr.  M.  Sheriff,  who 
affirms  his  belief  that  it  is  correctly  assigned.  There 
is  no  doubt  that  this  determination  may  be  relied 
upon  as  accurate. 

The  description  which  is  given  of  the  Picrorhiza 
iturroa}' is  as  follows: — (Nat.  Ord.  Scrophulariacea.) 
Root  tliick.  Stem  very  short.  Leaves  sub-radical 
oblong,  serrato-crenate,  narrowed  at  the  base  into 
the  short  petiole,  slightly  rugose,  smooth,  or  with  a 
few  scattered  hairs.  Peduncles  scapiform,  many- 
flowered,  aphyllous,  or  with  a  few  small  bracts* 
Flowers  sessile,  in  a  dense  spike,  bracts  lanceolate. 
Calyces  with  a  glandular  pubescence  2-2  £  lines 
long,  segments  lanceolate,  acute,  subequal.  Corolla 
shorter  than  the  calyx,  four- cleft  to  the  middle. 
Stamens  three  times  the  length  of  the  corolla.  Cap¬ 
sules  six  lines  long,  acuminate,  acute.  Testa  of  the 
seed  twice  as  long  as  the  seed  itself. 

To  this  description  we  may  add  that  portions  of 
dried  plants  from  time  to  time,  picked  out  from 
samples  of  the  Kutki,  corresponded  in  the  following 
particulars,  although  neither  flower  nor  fruit  has 
yet  been  found  under  those  circumstances  : — “  Stem 
from  2  to  4  inches  long ;  about  the  thickness  of  a 
large  goose- quill ;  curved  or  bent ;  rough  from  many 
thin  circular  or  semicircular  scales  ;  reddish-brown 
externally  and  black  internally ;  very  bitter  in  taste, 
occasionally  divided  into  two  stems  ;  generally  ter¬ 
minates  in  2  or  3  small  branches,  which  are  seldom 
longer  than  an  inch  ;  soft  and  swollen  when  soaked,  ! 
wliich  indicates  its  fleshy  condition  when  fresh ; 
leaves  when  moistened  and  opened,  are  obovatewith 
a  very  long,  narrow  and  tapering  base,  which  looks 
in  the  dry  state  like  a  petiole,  sessile,  serrate,  an- 
guli-nerved  and  glabrous.”!  There  can  be  no 
doubt  of  the  identity,  though  this  evidence  is  rather 
circumstantial  and  incomplete. 

The  native  names  which  are  given  for  this  drug 
are  as  follows : — Kliarbage  hindi,  Arabic  and  Per¬ 
sian;  Kutki,  Hindustani  and  Bengali;  Kali-kutki,  , 
Duklini  ;  Katuku-rogana,  Tamil ;  Katuka-rogani 
and  Katuku-roni,  Telugu ;  Katu-roliani,  Sanskrit ; 
and  Kalu-rana,  Cinglialese.  Of  course,  the  Kadaga- 
roganie  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  is  only  another  mode 
of  writing  the  Katuku-rogana  of  the  Tamils. 

This  drug,  as  we  have  usually  seen  it,  was  very 
much  broken  up,  so  that  it  consisted  of  fragments 
from  an  inch  to  two  or  three  inches  in  length.  Its 


*  Royle’s  £  Illustrations  of  the  Botany  of  the  Himalayas,’ 
p.  291,  plate  Ixxi. 

f  ‘Supplement  to  the  Pharmacopoeia  of  India’  (1869), 
p.  279. 


December  24, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


503 


more  complete  character  can  best  be  given  in  Mr. 
Moodeen  Sheriff’s  own  words : — 

“  Although  this  drug  is  commonly  known  as  a 
root,  it  consists  partly  of  the  root  and  partly  of  the 
stem;  therefore,  if  it  is  entire,  the  upper  portion 


(stem)  differs  from  the  lower  (root)  in  external  cha¬ 
racters.  The  upper  portion  is  about  two  or  three 
inches  long ;  very  rough,  from  thin  scales ;  brown  or 
reddish-brown  in  colour  if  the  scales  are  not  worn 
out,  but  paler  if  they  are  so  ;  in  the  latter  condition 
it  bears  circular  or  semicircular  marks  of  the  scales, 
which  occasionally  make  it  look  slightly  annulated  ; 
varies  in  thickness  from  one  to  three  goose-quills  ; 
beset  with  the  remains  of  leaves  ;  and  often  curved 
and  sometimes  bent  upon  itself.  The  lower  portion 
is  much  thinner,  varying  in  thickness  from  a  quill  of 
a  fowl  to  that  of  a  goose  ;  paler  in  colour,  being  ge¬ 
nerally  brownish-grey  or  brownish-white  ;  nearly  of 
the  same  length  as  the  upper  portion  ;  more  or  less 
compressed  ;  wrinkled  longitudinally ;  and  beset  with 
elevated  marks  of  rootlets.  There  is  no  difference 
between  the  colour  and  taste  of  the  internal  substance 
of  both  portions,  which  are  black  and  extremely  bitter, 
respectively.  The  root  is  generally  cylindrical,  but, 
from  having  the  upper  portion  much  thicker  than  the 
lower,  it  looks  tapering  sometimes.  It  is  very  light 
and  brittle,  and  easily  powdered.”  The  deep  black 
colour  and  short  waxy  fracture  of  the  inner  portion 
of  the  root  are  very  characteristic  features. 

This  is  strictly  an  Indian  drug.  The  localities 
given  for  the  plant  are  Gossain  Than,  Kumaon  and 
Kedarkonta.  It  has  been  said  to  occur  also  in  some 
mountains  near  Cliittoor,  in  Central  Carnatic,  but 
the  Himalayan  region  is  evidently  the  source  of  the 
bazaar  drug,  which  goes  down  to  Calcutta,  and 
thence  to  Madras  and  probably  to  Bombay.  Dr. 
Stewart  says  that  it  is  common  in  the  Punjab  Hima¬ 
laya,  at  from  5,500  to  14,000  feet.  Honigberger  de¬ 
clares  that  it  is  more  frequently  used  in  veterinary 
than  hi  human  medicine,  but  in  the  latter  its  root  is 
one  of  the  regular  febrifuges.  It  must  be  used  in 
considerable  quantity,  as  the  author  of  ‘Punjab 
Plants  ’  states  that  thirty- six  maunds  were  exposed 
for  sale  from  Kiillu  at  the  Rampur  fair  in  Bissaliir, 
in  1807.  Davies’  Trade  Report  gives  twenty  maunds 
of  Kutld  as  annually  exported  from  Peshawar  to 
Kabul.* 

The  reputed  purgative  properties  of  this  substance 
have  no  foundation  in  fact ;  its  great  use  lies  hi  its 


*  See  Dr.  J,  L.  Stewart’s  ‘  Punjab  Plants,’  p.  163.  La¬ 
hore,  I860. 


being  a  very  valuable  tonic,  in  which  respect  As¬ 
sistant-Surgeon  Moodeen  Sheriff  considers  it  equal 
to  gentian  and  colomba,  and  superior  to  chiretta. 
As  a  dose,  10  to  20  grains  as  a  tonic,  or  20  to  40  as  an 
antiperiodic,  are  recommended.  If  this  is  really  a 
just  appreciation  of  the  value  of  this  drug,  it  no  longer 
deserves  to  be  placed  amongst  the  “  non-ofticinal,” 
but  to  rank  with  the  officinal  substances  of  the  Indian 
Pharmacopoeia.  Further  than  this,  if  it  has  proved 
superior  to  chiretta  in  India,  why  should  it  not 
receive  a  fair  trial,  in  competition  with  gentian, 
colomba  and  chiretta,  hi  this  country  ?  Both  this 
and  the  Atees  root  ( Aconitum  lieterophyllum )  deserve 
a  full  and  fair  trial,  which  neither  of  them  have  yet 
obtained. 


for  Stabtnts. 


CHEMICAL  NOTES  TO  THE  PHARMACOPOEIA. 

BY  WILLIAM  A.  TILDEN,  B.SC.  LOND. 

DEMONSTRATOR  OF  PRACTICAL  CHEMISTRY  TO  THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 

Argenti  Oxidum. — Solution  of  nitrate  of  silver  is 
poured  into  lime-water,  the  latter  being  in  very 
slight  excess.  The  precipitated  oxide  is  allowed  to 
settle  and  washed  with  distilled  water  : — 

CaO  +  2AgN03  =  Ca2N03-f  Ag20. 

Lime-water  is  preferred,  in  this  case,  to  solution  of 
potash  or  of  soda.  "When  these  are  used  the  oxide 
is  apt  to  be  mixed  with  small  quantities  of  carbonate 
and  chloride,  and  also  retains  traces  of  the  alkali, 
which  it  is  very  difficult  to  remove  by  washing. 

Oxide  of  silver  is  a  very  powerful  agent  of  oxida¬ 
tion,  yielding  its  oxygen  so  readily  to  many  organic 
substances,  particularly  essential  oils,  as  to  give  rise 
to  active  combustion.  It  is  also  decomposed  by 
common  salt  and  all  chlorides,  and  by  many  other 
salts.  In  dispensing  it,  therefore,  these  facts  ought 
to  be  borne  in  mind. 

Argentum  purificatum. — Metallic  silver,  free  from 
copper  and  from  all  but  mere  traces  of  other  metals, 
is  obtained  by  dissolving  crude  silver  in  nitric  acid 
and  precipitating  the  whole  in  the  form  of  chloride 
by  the  addition  of  common  salt.  The  precipitate 
separated  from  the  solution  is  placed  in  a  dish, 
wetted  with  dilute  sulphuric  acid,  and  a  sheet  of  zinc 
laid  upon  it.  In  about  twenty-four  hours  the  decom¬ 
position  is  complete,  the  zinc  is  removed,  and  the  re¬ 
sidual  sponge  of  metallic  silver  digested  Avitli  dilute 
sulphuric  acid  and  finally  washed.  If  desired,  it  may 
then  be  melted  into  a  mass. 

[§  If  ammonia  be  added  in  excess  to  a  solution  of 
the  metal  in  nitric  acid,  the  resulting  fluid  exhibits 
neither  colour  nor  turbidity.]  This  test  indicates 
freedom  from  copper  and  lead. 

Bismuthi  Carbonas. — Dissolve  purified  bismuth 
in  slightly  diluted  nitric  acid,  and  add  this,  in  small 
quantities  at  a  time,  to  a  solution  of  carbonate  of 
ammonia.  Collect,  wash,  and  dry  the  precipitate  by 
a  gentle  heat. 

On  dissolving  the  bismuth  in  the  nitric  acid,  the 
following  reaction  occurs  : — 

Bi2  +  8  H  N  03  =  2  (Bi  3  N  03)  +  N2  02  +  4  H2 O. 
And  when  the  solution  of  this  nitrate  of  bismuth  is 


501 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  24, 1870. 


added  to  the  carbonate  of  ammonia,  brisk  efferves¬ 
cence  ensues  from  the  escape  of  carbonic  anhydride. 

Nitrate  of  Bismuth.  Ammon.  Sesquicarb.,  B.P. 

4  [Bi  3  N  03]  +  3  [(NH4)4  Os(CO,),] 

Nitrate  of  Ammonium.  Gas.  Carbonate  of  Bism.,  B.P. 

=  12  NH4N03  -}-  7  C02  +  2  (Bi0)2C03. 


The  formula  of  the  carbonate  of  bismuth  is  best 
written  as  shown  in  the  equation.  The  radicle  BiO 
is  univalent,  for  the  same  reasons  as  the  analogous 
compound  SbO.  [See  Antimon.  Tart.]  It  forms  a 
series  of  salts,  by  combining  with  acidulous  radicles. 
They  are  more  stable  than  the  normal  salts  of  bis¬ 
muth. 


Salts  of  Bismuth. 

Chloride  .  BiCl3 
Nitrate  .  .  Bi  3  N  03 
Carbonate .  Bi2  3  C03 
Oxide  .  .  Bi203  or 


Salts  of  Oxybismuthyl. 

(BiO)' Cl 
(BiO)'  N  03  B.P. 
(Bi0)'2C03  B.P. 
(BiO)oO. 


Some  of  them,  however,  may  be  viewed  as  contain¬ 
ing  (HO)  in  union  with  the  bismuth  instead  of  O. 
The  official  nitrate  would  thus  be  a  compound  inter¬ 
mediate  between  the  hydrate  and  the  nitrate. 


Hydrate. 

HO 


Bi 


HO 

(HO 


Intermediate  Compounds.  Nitrate. 


Bi 

(HO 

HO 

Bi 

(HO 

no3 

Bi- 

(NO 

NO 

(N03 

B.  F. 

INO, 

[no 

Carbonate  of  bismuth  is  a  white  powder  insoluble 
in  water,  but  soluble  with  effervescence  in  nitric  acid. 
The  nitric  acid  solution,  if  it  contain  not  too  much 
free  acid,  will  give  a  white  precipitate  of  subnitrate 
(hydrate-nitrate)  Oil  being  poured  into  water.  Tlii3 
precipitation  of  the  acid  solution  by  water  is  almost 
characteristic  of  bismuth.  Chloride  of  antimony, 
which  acts  in  a  similar  manner,  is  distinguished  by 
forming  by  sulphuretted  hydrogen  an  orange- coloured 
precipitate ;  bismuth  gives  a  black  sulphide. 

[§  The  nitric  acid  solution  of  carbonate  of  bismuth 
gives  no  precipitate  with  diluted  sulphuric  acid  nor 
with  solution  of  nitrate  of  silver.]  The  former  of  these 
tests  indicates  the  absence  of  carbonate  of  lead,  the 
latter  the  absence  of  oxychloride  of  bismuth. 

[§  Carbonate  of  bismuth  added  to  sulphuric  acid 
coloured  with  sulphate  of  indigo,  the  colour  of  the 
latter  is  not  discharged.]  Freedom  from  any  appre¬ 
ciable  quantity  of  nitrate  is  thus  ensured. 


Bismuthi  Subnitras. — Purified  bismuth  is  dis¬ 
solved  in  nitric  acid,  the  solution  reduced  by  evapo¬ 
ration,  and  then  poured  into  water.  The  precipitate 
which  forms  is  washed  once,  drained,  and  dried  by 
a  very  gentle  heat.  The  nitrate  formed  by  dissolv¬ 
ing  the  bismuth  in  nitric  acid  is  converted  into  hy¬ 
drate-nitrate  (see  Bism.  Carb.)  by  the  action  of  the 
water ;  thus — 

Bi  3  N  03  +  2  H2  O  =  Bi  N  03  (H  0)2  +  2  H  N  03. 

A  little  nitrate  of  bismuth  is  retained  in  solution, 
and,  if  the  washings  are  not  preserved,  is  lost. 

Subnitrate  of  bismuth  is  recognized  as  a  bismuth 
salt  by  the  reactions  described  in  connection  with  the 
carbonate.  It  is  also  liable  to  the  same  impurities. 
In  addition  it  has  been  found  to  be  extensively 
adulterated  with  phosphate  of  lime.  To  detect  this 
substance,  dissolve  a  portion  of  the  sample  in  dilute 
nitric  acid ;  precipitate  out  the  whole  of  the  bismuth 
by  a  stream  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen  ;  filter  the 
liquid,  and  heat  it  to  expel  excess  of  H2S.  Test  a 
small  portion  for  phosphoric  acid,  by  adding  a  slight 


excess  of  molybdate  of  ammonium  ;  a  yellow  preci¬ 
pitate  will  be  formed.  Test  another  portion  for  cal¬ 
cium,  by  neutralizing  by  ammonia,  then  adding 
acetic  acid  in  excess,  and  lastly  a  soluble  oxalate. 
A  white  precipitate  of  oxalate  of  calcium  will  be 
formed. 

Bismuthum  purificatum. — The  process  of  purifi¬ 
cation  recommended  in  the  Pharmacopoeia  consists 
in  fusing  commercial  bismuth  with  the  addition  of 
a  small  quantity  of  nitre.  Besides  being  very  waste¬ 
ful  of  the  bismuth,  this  method  is  inadequate  to  the 
removal  of  the  whole  of  the  impurities  usually  pre¬ 
sent.  Arsenic  and  lead  are  oxidized  and  carried  off 
in  the  scoria  ;  but  the  greater  part  of  the  copper 
which  exists  in  most  samples,  and  the  silver,  when 
that  metal  is  present,  are  left  in  the  fused  metal. 
Probably  the  only  method  by  which  pure  bismuth 
can  be  obtained  consists  in  dissolving  the  crude 
metal  in  nitric  acid,  precipitating  by  the  addition  of 
water,  and  washing  the  precipitate.  This  by  igni¬ 
tion  would  be  converted  into  the  oxide,  and  the  oxide 
into  the  metal,  by  heating  it  with  charcoal. 

Bismuth,  considering  it  as  a  metal  and  not  as  a 
metalloid,  is  a  very  fusible  substance.  Its  melting- 
point  is  a  little  over  500°  F. ;  specific  gravity  T8. 


PLANTS  AS  MANUFACTURERS. 

( Concluded  from  page  487.) 

Many  of  our  manufacturers  excel  in  the  art  of  pack¬ 
ing,  but  never  were  goods  so  well  or  so  closely  packed 
as  the  coal  measures.  Living  plants  are  likewise  most 
skilful  in  this  line.  All  their  products  aro  done  up  in 
handy  bundles  for  transportation  or  conveyance  to  the 
end  of  the  earth.  Fancy  the  trouble  it  would  have  been 
to  us  had  wheat  grains  been  the  size  of  quartern  loaves, 
peas  like  dumplings,  or  apples  big  as  pumpkins ! 

The  packages  of  plants  are  not  only  of  the  best  size, 
but  the  wrappers  are  mostly  air-  or  waterproof.  We  all 
know  the  importance  of  this  with  perishable  articles. 
Hams,  tongues,  meats,  and  sweets  can  only  be  preserved 
in  airproof  packages.  There  is  another  singular  pecu¬ 
liarity  about  the  packing  done  by  the  plants.  The 
entire  plant  is  often  stowed  away  within  a  single  portion 
of  it.  Annuals  are  packed  up  within  their  tiny  seeds, 
and  bulbous  plants  within  their  bulbs.  This  is  of  im¬ 
mense  importance  for  close  stowage  and  safe  distribu¬ 
tion.  This  arrangement  brings,  as  it  were,  the  genial 
climes  and  bright  suns  of  other  countries  to  cheer  and 
enliven  this.  What  would  many  of  our  winter  drawing¬ 
rooms  and  conservatories  be  without  the  sweetness  and 
the  beauty  of  good  Dutch  bulbs  ?  These  let  loose  before 
our  admiring  eyes  all  the  grandeur  and  the  fragrance 
born  of  John  Dutchman’s  summer.  In  the  same  way 
Cape  bulbs  and  orchids  bring  to  us,  ready  for  immediate 
use,  the  glories  of  the  tropical  sunlight  and  the  warm 
tints  painted  by  the  heat  of  such  climes. 

Finally,  plants  are  cleanly  manufacturers.  They 
make  little  or  no  dirt.  They  touch  decomposition  at  all 
points,  but  it  is  to  recompose  it.  They  absorb  foul 
odours,  but  they  are  no  longer  foul,  they  convert  them 
into  sweetness.  No  law  is  needed  to  make  plants  con¬ 
sume  their  own  smoke.  Tliey  make  none.  No  strin¬ 
gent  enactments  need  to  be  enforced  about  their  chemi¬ 
cal  processes ;  they  are  inoffensive.  No  scavengers  are 
required  to.  gather  up  their  rubbish, — they  are  their1  own 
scavengers.  True,  many  of  their  working  hands  (the 
leaves)  only  live  one  year,  and  then  seek  a  grave  upon 
or  within  the  earth.  But  these  speedily  disappear,  and 
are,  in  fact,  again  taken  into  the  factory  to  strengthen 
and  enlarge  it. 

The  penalty  exacted  from  most  great  centres  of 
manufacturing  industry  and  commercial  activity  is  an 


December  24, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


505 


excess  of  filth,  in  the  air  we  breathe,  the  water  we  drink, 
and  the  earth  we  live  on.  It  was  recently  stated  that 
Liverpool  invites  any  disease  that  may  be  in  the  air, 
and  that  its  foundations  are  tainted  with  disease.  The 
town  is  about  the  most  dangerous  to  live  in  of  any  in 
England,  the  rate  of  mortality  being  alarmingly  high. 
Doubtless  the  shipping,  the  tramps,  the  emigrants  are 
all  dangerous  at  times  to  health,  and  there  seem  to  be 
other  and  special  centres  of  contamination  and  pollution 
in  the  chemical  works,  and  the  immense  numbers  of 
bricks  burnt  in  clamps  round  the  suburbs.  I  think  I 
never  smelt  so  many  or  such  curious  odours  as  around 
Liverpool.  It  seems  as  if  King  Sulphur  had  been  shak¬ 
ing  himself  up,  and  his  fumes  almost  stifle  the  breath  of 
strangers.  Add  to  all  these  the  inevitable  pollutions 
arising  from  work,  traffic,  life  combustion,  respiration, 
decomposition,  all  fouling  great  towns  to  the  utmost  of 
their  capacity.  We  ourselves  die  daily,  and,  were  our  eyes 
set  to  a  finer  vision,  we  should  see  portions  of  every  one 
of  us  in  the  apparently  pure  air  of  a  room. 

Is  it  asked  what  all  this  has  to  do  with  the  manufac¬ 
turing  power  of  pimts  ?  It  has  everything  to  do  with 
it.  Plants  are  the  cleanliest  of  all  manufacturers,  but 
we  have  seen  that  they  are  also  shoddy  merchants. 
More,  they  are  chiefly  this,  they  deal  in  pollution,  and  it 
is  only  through  plants  that  the  great  problem  of  the 
day — “  What  shall  we  do  with  our  dirt  ?” — can  be 
solved.  There,  is  no  other  mode  of  extinguishing  dead 
matter  but  by  its  conversion  into  living  substance,  and 
plant  manufacturers  are  alone  equal  to  this  stupendous 
undertaking.  All  other  possible  means  have  been  tried 
and  failed.  We  have  sent  our  waste  up  into  the  air, 
and  it  has  returned  to  us  in  fevers  and  pestilences.  We 
have  turned  our  streams  of  reeking  sewage  into  rivers 
and  seas  until  our  great  drinking  cisterns  have  been 
poisoned  at  their  sources.  Then  the  more  sensible  cry 
arose,  “To  the  land  with  your  foul  waste!”  But  the 
earth  is  tolerably  full  of  graves  already,  and  if  we  turn 
it  into  a  great  dry- earth  closet  or  huge  sewage-sponge, 
there  is  great  danger  that  by-and-by  it  may  revolve 
round  the  sun  a  fever-stricken  world  of  pestilence  and 
death.  The  antidote  to  pollution  is  living  plants  ;  these 
absorb,  transform,  utilize,  and  annihilate  it.  They  weave 
these  elements  of  disease  and  death  up  into  the  very 
staff  of  life.  It  may  be  said  that  such  manufacturers  do 
not  thrive  in  towns.  The  few  there  are  refuse  to  grove. 
The  remedy  for  this  is,  more  of  them.  Send  100  brave 
soldiers  against  10,000,  and  no  courage  or  skill  can  save 
them  from  destruction.  It  is  just  so  in  their  case ;  pol¬ 
lutions  abound  in  all  directions,  and  you  send  out  against 
them  a  few  ragged  hosts  of  weakly  trees.  The  chief 
remedy  for  the  alarming  death-rate  is  more  trees  around 
the  suburbs,  all  the  open  spaces  in  the  centre  of  the  city 
filled  with  sweet  flowers.  Fight  fever  with  the  sweet 
incense  of  lovely  flowers,  annihilate  it  with  the  absorb¬ 
ing  force  of  fever- consuming  leaves. 

The  balance  of  parties,  or  rather  forces,  in  the  atmo¬ 
sphere  is  in  great  danger  of  being  upset.  A  tremendous 
run  is  made  in  these  centres  of  life  and  hives  of  industry 
for  oxygen.  We  neither  live  nor  work  without  it.  On 
the  other  hand,  whole  volumes  of  dead  carbon  and  other 
pollutions  are  thrown  into  the  atmosphere.  An  actual 
scarcity  of  the  former,  and  an  excess  of  the  latter,  means 
suffering  or  death  to  us  all.  How  shall  we  rally  to  the 
defence  of  the  atmospheric  constitution?  We  have  no 
choice  of  instruments,  we  have  but  one,  but  that  is  all- 
sufficient.  Plants  alone  can  drain  the  air  of  its  excess 
of  carbon,  and  return  to  it  a  pure  stream  of  oxygen. 
Every  leaf,  stem,  and  flower  is  employed  night  and  day 
in  restoring  the  atmospheric  balance  to  an  equilibrium ; 
and,  upon  the  whole,  they  have  done  their  work  per¬ 
fectly.  Here  and  there,  and  over  large  towns,  there  are 
certain  changes, — an  excess  of  foreign  matter,  dust,  etc. 
in  the  air;  but,  as  a  whole,  its  constituent  parts  are 
the  same.  To  rectify  these  partial  changes  which  are 
so  fatal  to  health,  we  must  plant  more  extensively. 


Girdle  each  city  round  with  a  wide  band  of  grand  trees 
and  green  parks.  Sentinel  the  streets  with  officers  (sa¬ 
nitary  trees)  at  regular  distances,  in  green  or  golden 
uniform,  that  will  rest  not  from  their  labours  day  or 
night,  nor  leave  for  an  instant  their  posts  of  danger  and 
of  duty  ;  enwreathe  the  houses,  homes,  workshops,  ware¬ 
houses,  mills  and  factories  with  garlands  of  leaves  and 
flowers ;  crowd  the  house-tops,  window-sills,  yards  and 
areas  with  objects  of  beauty  and  fragrance ;  let  flowers 
wave  down  to  us  a  joy  from  every  giddy  garret,  and 
send  up  a  symbol  of  trustful  hope  from  every  deep  dank 
cellar,  untii  they  cover  and  gladden  the  earth  as  the 
“waters  cover  the  channels  of  the  sea.” 

Plants  are  the  true  patron  saints  of  these  hardworking 
utilitarian  times.  Their  perfume  is  the  best  of  all 
antidotes  to  all  foul  odours.  Their  life  is  a  warfare  with 
elements  that  would  be  death  to  us.  They  gladden, 
purify,  and  ennoble  the  highways  and  byways  of  life, 
providing  for  rich  and  poor,  manufacturer  and  mill 
hand,  prince  and  peasant  alike,  those  grandest  preserva¬ 
tives  of  health,  a  clean  earth,  pure  air,  and  clear  water. 
The  ministrations  of  plants  to  man  are  constant.  They 
never  leave  nor  forsake  us.  They  meet  us  on  the  thres¬ 
hold  of  life,  they  abide  with  us  to  the  last.  None  are 
too  poor  to  enjoy  flowers,  none  so  rich  as  to  be  able  to 
dispense  with  them.  Through  plants  we  live,  move, 
and  have  our  being.  They  distil  for  us  the  breath  of 
our  life.  They  raise  our  water,  they  make  our  food. 
They  provide  our  clothing,  our  medicine  in  sickness, 
our  strength  in  manhood,  our  sweet  interpreters  in  love, 
our  solace  in  suffering,  our  transfigurators  at  death. 
Through  the  agency  of  plants  the  worlds  of  matter  and 
of  life  are  linked  together,  and  the  three  kingdoms— th© 
vegetable,  the  animal,  and  the  mineral — are  united  in 
bonds  closer  than  those  of  holy  matrimony.  They 
clothe  the  invisible  air,  and  the  wondrous  light,  heat, 
chemical  force,  and  energia  of  the  sun  with  bodies  of 
marvellous  symmetry,  beauty,  sweetness,  and  glory. 
The  Poet  Laureate  has  said  or  sung  that  “  Nature 
slopes  through  darkness  up  to  God.”  As  we  try  reve¬ 
rently  to  look  through  the  mist  that  hides  the  life  and 
the  woi'k  of  plants  from  our  eyes  the  veil  of  darkness  is 
partially  rent  asunder,  and  we  exclaim,  as  we  catch  a 
glimpse  of  the  wisdom  that  plans,  the  goodness  that 
guides,  and  the  power  that  governs  all,  that  Nature  is, 
in  deed  and  in  truth,  the  outer  fringe  of  the  glorious 
garment  of  God. 


ON  THE  COMBINATIONS  OF  CARBONIC 
ANHYDRIDE  WITH  AMMONIA  AND  WATER. 

BY  EDWARD  DIVERS,  M.D. 

[Continued  from  page  486.) 

Behaviour  on  Exposure. — Two  clean  lumps  of  the  com¬ 
pact  carbonate,  the  analysis  of  a  sample  of  which  is 
numbered  XII.  in  the  list  given  ante ,  p.  485,  weigh¬ 
ing  together  25  grams,  were  exposed  for  some  weeks 
at  a  mean  temperature  of  about  10°  C.,  and  then 
weighed.  They  were  found  to  have  lost  nearly  1 1  grams 
in  weight ;  they  were  opaque,  but  they  still  preserved 
their  shape  and  size.  They  could  be  lightly  handled 
without  soiling  the  fingers,  and  squeezed  pretty  firmly 
without  being  crushed.  They  were  found  to  be  fully 
changed  to  their  centre.  Their  loss  corresponded  to 
43  or  4-4  per  cent.  This  nearly  agrees  with  the  cal¬ 
culated  loss,  which  is  about  42  per  cent.,  if  the  amount 
of  acid  carbonate  in  the  sample  be  approximately  esti¬ 
mated  by  the  quantity  of  water  in  it,  according  to  the 
tables,  ante ,  p.  485.  The  calculated  loss  by  expo¬ 
sure  of  the  carbonate  formerly  in  commerce  of  the  tor- 
mula  (C03)3(0H2)2(NH3)4  is  only  33  per  cent.  A 
sample  of  commercial  carbonate  lost  by  24  hours  exp  o- 
sure,  according  to  Dalton,  50  per  cent,  of  its.  weight  : 

|  this  makes  it  probable  that  it  had  the  composition  I  find 
|  the  carbonate  to  have  at  present,  for  when  free  from  any 


50G 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  24,  1870. 


water  in  addition  to  that  in  the  formula,  this  is  just  its 
calculated  loss  by  exposure.  In  cold  moist  weather  the 
commercial  carbonate  appears  to  be  slightly  deliquescent, 
but  in  consequence  of  other  changes  it  is  difficult  to  de¬ 
cide  this  point  conclusively. 

Behaviour  when  Heated. — The  commercial  carbonate 
gets  moist  when  heated ;  it  is,  of  course,  gradually  dissi¬ 
pated.  The  products  of  its  distillation  will  be  after¬ 
wards  described. 

Behaviour  with  Water. — It  dissolves  in  four  parts  of 
water  at  15°,  according  to  my  experiments.  Perfectly 
clean  lumps  were  weighed  and  dropped  into  a  weighed, 
quantity  of  water  (fresh  boiled  and  cold)  in  a  stoppered 
bottle ;  the  bottle  was  kept  in  a  place  at  a  temperature 
always  very  near  15°,  and  was  often  agitated.  In  dif¬ 
ferent  experiments  varying  proportions  were  used.  On 
cooling  slightly  the  saturated  solution,  it  deposited  crys¬ 
tals  of  acid  carbonate.  Cooled  in  ice  the  deposit  of 
crystals  was  still  more  copious,  and  consisted  always  of 
acid  carbonate  ;  although  it  has  been  stated*  that  the 
half-acid  carbonate  then  crystallizes  out.  As  above  de¬ 
termined,  its  solubility  accords  with  that  of  the  acid 
carbonate  it  contains,  namely,  about  half  its  weight. 
The  solubility  of  the  carbonate  which  used  to  be  in  com¬ 
merce  has  been  variously  stated  as  lying  between  that  of 
1  in  2  of  water,  and  1  in  4  of  water ;  I  think  it  must 
Rave  been  less  than  this.  A  saturated  solution,  unlike 
one  of  the  acid  carbonate,  or  of  the  half-acid  carbonate, 
does  not  act  like  a  saturated  solution  of  carbonic  anhy¬ 
dride.  The  strongest  hot  solution  I  have  been  able  to 
make  is  that  of  1  in  1|-  of  water.  This  was  made  by 
■dropping  this  proportion  of  the  carbonate,  crushed  small, 
suddenly  into  the  hot  water  contained  in  a  wide-mouthed 
bottle  fitted  with  a  caoutchouc  stopper,  then  closing  the 
bottle  and  keeping  it  hot  in  the  water-bath  at  a  tem¬ 
perature  of  about  65°  C.  Only  a  little  carbonic  anhy¬ 
dride  was  lost.  When  made,  the  stopper  of  the  bottle 
containing  it  could  be  withdrawn  without  anything  more 
than  a  very  slight  escape  of  bubbles.  The  old  carbo¬ 
nate  of  commerce  is  stated  in  Berzelius’s  ‘  Lehrbuch’t 
to  be  soluble  in  twice  its  weight  of  water  at  49°  C. 

A  cold  saturated  solution  of  the  old  carbonate  was 
stated  by  Griffiths^  to  boil  at  a  temperature  of  82°  C. 
John  Davy  found  such  a  solution  to  decompose  at  a 
lower  temperature  than  this,  bubbles  beginning  to  ap¬ 
pear  at  49°  0.  I  have  tested  the  modern  carbonate,  and 
find  a  solution  of  it  of  1  in  4  begins  to  effervesce,  though 
only  slightly,  at  60°  C.,  effervesces  copiously  at  75°,  and 
continues  to  do  so  as  the  temperature  rises,  which  it  does 
rapidly.  At  85°,  or  a  little  below,  the  products  of  effer¬ 
vescence,  which  before  consisted  almost  entirely  of  car¬ 
bonic  anhydride,  contain  much  ammonia,  and  begin  to 
condense  on  the  neck  of  the  flask  or  retort.  At  100°  C. 
the  solution  has  given  off  all  the  carbonate  it  contained, 
and  is  nothing  but  water  (Griffiths).  I  have  just  stated 
that  the  cold  saturated  solution  differs  from  the  saturated 
solution  of  half-acid  carbonate,  in  not  behaving  like  a 
saturated  solution  of  carbonic  anhydride  ;  and  there  can 
be  no  doubt  that  this  fact,  and  that  of  the  point  of  inci¬ 
pient  effervescence  in  the  two  solutions  when  heated 
being-  different,  are  due  in  part  to  the  difference  in  the 
ratio  of  the  ammonia  to  the  carbonic  anhydride  in  them. 
The  following  experiment  shows  the  effect  of  dilution 
upon  the  production  of  effervescence.  Some  of  the  same 
solution  as  that  used  in  the  previous  experiment  was 
mixed  before  heating  with  an  equal  bulk  of  water 
(freshly  boiled  and  cooled),  and  then  did  not  begin  to 
effervesce  until  about  70°  C.,  was  only  in  full  effervescence 
at  80  C.  or  higher,  and  only  at  90°  C.  began  to  yield  pro¬ 
ducts  of  effervescence,  which  condensed  in  the  neck  of 


*  Pelouze  et  Fivhny.  ‘  Traite  de  Chimie,’  vol.  ii.  p.  483 
(1861).  v 
t  Vol.  iii.  p.  313. 

X  ‘Quarterly  Journal  of  Science’  (1826),  vol.  xviii.  p.  91. 
“  On  the  Boiling-points  of  Saturated  Solutions.” 


the  flask.  In  both  these  experiments  the  heat  was  applied 
by  a  water-bath.  Griffiths’  statement  must  not  be  sup¬ 
posed  to  be  so  much  at  variance  with  that  of  J.  Davy 
as  the  latter  seemed  to  consider  it ;  for  Griffiths  meant 
apparently  by  the  boiling-point  of  this  solution  the  point 
at  which  Jhe  products  of  the  effervescence  begin  to  bo 
such  as  undergo  condensation,  and  this  would  probably 
occur  with  the  old  carbonate  at  about  82°  C. 

The  action  of  a  saturated  solution  upon  more  commer¬ 
cial  carbonate  is  well  known  to  be  the  production  of  a 
sort  of  skeleton  of  the  pieces  of  carbonate,  consisting  of 
the  acid  carbonate.  I  have  only  to  add  that  by  prolonged 
digestion  I  have  found  the  particles  of  this  mealy  skele¬ 
ton  to  grow  into,  or  be  replaced  by,  transparent  crystals 
of  the  same  substance. 

I  have  examined  the  effects  of  heating  the  commercial 
carbonate  with  a  little  water,  and  have  found  that  bub¬ 
bles  of  carbonic  anhydride  escape  through  the  solution 
from  the  undissolved  lumps  at  a  lower  temperature  than 
they  escape  from  a  cold  saturated  solution  heated  alone. 
Thus,  from  about  40°-45°  C.  very  slight  effervescence 
was  visible,  due  probably  to  an  escape  of  the  air  en¬ 
tangled  in  the  pores  of  the  carbonate.  At  47°  decided 
effervescence  commenced;  this  became  copious  at  from 
54°-56°,  and  at  tins  temperature  crystals  began  to  form 
in  the  neck  of  the  flask.  (In  this  and  the  preceding  ex¬ 
periments  the  mouth  of  the  flask,  as  I  should  have  men¬ 
tioned  before,  was  loosely  closed  so  as  to  prevent  dif¬ 
fusion  of  the  vapours  given  off.)  Cooled  down  to  51°  the 
escape  of  bubbles  ceased.  Heated  again  and  kept  at 
from  56°-60°  effervescence  went  on  again,  the  condensa¬ 
tion  of  the  vapours  appeared  to  be  complete,  and  the 
lumps  which  had  originally  been  barely  covered  with 
water  disappeared  entirely  in  a  couple  of  hours.  During 
their  solution  they  seemed  to  dissolve  entire,  for  no  tem¬ 
porary  residue  of  acid  carbonate  or  any  loss  of  trans- 
lucency  in  the  lumps  was  seen.  The  products  of  the 
distillation  were  examined,  and  the  results  of  the  ex¬ 
amination  will  be  found  among  those  of  the  examination 
of  the  products  of  distillation.  The  solution  on  cooling- 
deposited  crystals  first  of  acid  carbonate,  and  then  of 
half-acid  carbonate,  determined  to  be  such  by  their 
form.  The  mother-liquor  was  a  very  concentrated  solu¬ 
tion  of  normal  carbonate,  with  a  very  little  acid  carbo¬ 
nate.  Tested  for  carbamate  the  result  was  negative. 
A  modification  of  this  treatment  of  water  with  the  com¬ 
mercial  carbonate,  by  which  the  three  ammonium  car¬ 
bonates  can  be  obtained,  has  been  several  times  referred 
to  in  this  paper. 

Behaviour  with  Alcohol. — It  is  well  known  that  recti¬ 
fied  spirit  dissolves  out  carbamate  from  the  commercial 
carbonate,  leaving  undissolved  the  acid  carbonate.  Hfine- 
feld,*  in  1836,  heated  the  commercial  carbonate  with 
spirit  of  90  per  cent.,  and  found  that  at  47'o°C.  some 
bubbles  began  to  rise  from  the  lumps,  that  this  pheno¬ 
menon  became  quite  evident  at  50°,  and  that  from  56° 
to  62°  there  was  copious  effervescence  of  nothing  but 
carbonic  anhydride.  Above  this  temperature  the  gases 
escaping  condensed  in  the  neck  of  the  retort  as  a  neutral 
compound,  and  the  distillate  which  now  formed  was  a 
neutral  solution.  I  have  repeated  the  experiment  of 
heating  the  carbonate  at  present  in  commerce  with  spirit 
of  about  90  per  cent.,  with  somewhat  modified  results. 
Of  the  products  of  distillation  I  shall  say  nothing  at 
present.  Minute  bubbles  began  to  escape  from  the 
lumps  at  41° ;  at  45°  there  was  very  evident  effervescence 
from  the  lumps  ;  at  50°  there  was  copious  effervescence 
with  a  simmering-  noise  ;  at  51°  the  products  of  the  effer¬ 
vescence  began  to  condense ;  while  at  53°  the  efferves¬ 
cence  was  exceedingly  great.  The  temperatures  ob¬ 
served  by  me  as  marking  the  stages  of  this  phenomenon 
are,  therefore,  lower  than  those  observed  by  Hiinefeld. 
The  heat  was  applied  by  means  of  a  water-bath,  and  the 
flask  was  loosely  closed  by  a  caoutchouc  stopper  to  pre- 


*  Journ.  fur  prakt.  Chemie,  vol.  vii.  p.  25. 


December  24,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


507 


Tent  diffusion.  On  keeping  the  spirit  for  some  hours  at 
52°,  effervescence  continued,  and  there  was  little  or  no 
loss  of  spirit ;  at  the  end  of  the  operation  the  neck  of  the 
flask  had  become  only  thinly  encrusted  with  the  pro¬ 
ducts  of  the  effervescence,  and  the  carbonate  had  only 
partly  dissolved.  The  lumps  on  removal  appeared  ex¬ 
ternally  to  he  hut  little  altered  in  structure.  Internally, 
too,  they  were  unchanged;  for  fragments  yielded  on 
.analysis  oUol  per  cent,  of  carbonic  anhydride,  and  32'22 
per  cent,  of  ammonia.  The  spirit  proved  to  he  a  little 
weaker  than  before,  dry  pearl-ash  separating  a  little 
water.  It  contained  a  little  ammonium  carbamate,  still 
less  ammonium  carbonate,  and  a  marked  though  small 
■quantity  of  ammonia.  Left  at  a  temperature  of  about 
0°  for  two  days,  it  did  not  crystallize. 

Behaviour  ivith  Ammonia. — Concentrated  ammonia- 
water  in  the  cold  dissolves  out  carbamate,  and  converts 
the  acid  carbonate  into  normal  carbonate,  either  by  re¬ 
moving  half  its  carbonic  anhydride,  or  by  combining 
with  it  an  atom  of  water.  The  commercial  carbonate 
digested  at  20°-2 5°  in  a  closed  vessel  with  a  saturated 
solution  of  ammonia,  as  already  described  in  the  case  of 
the  normal  and  acid  carbonates,  slowly  dissolves  in  ap¬ 
parently  unlimited  quantity,  and  the  solution  deposits 
on  cooling  crystals  of  ammonium  carbamate,  and  a  very 
little  normal  carbonate.  The  reaction  may  be  thus  re¬ 
presented  : — 

(C  02)2  0  H2  (N  H3)3  +  NH3 = 2  C  02  (N  H3)2  +  0  H, 

Behaviour  when  Heated  ivith  Anhydrous  Potassium  Car¬ 
bonate. — As  already  described,  the  gases  evolved  condense 
to  carbamate,  ammonia  escaping,  according  to  this  equa¬ 
tion  : — 

(C  02)2  0  H2  (N  H3)3  +  C03lv2 

Forming  carbamate. 

=  2C03KH  +  C02  +  2NII3  +  HN3. 

The  contents  of  the  retort  have  been  found,  in  accordance 
with  this  equation,  to  be  more  or  less  completely  acid 
potassium  carbonate.*  For  a  short  time  after  the  mix¬ 
ture  is  made,  ammonia  is  evolved  in  very  small  quantity 
at  ordinary  temperatures,  and  escapes  in  bubbles  through 
the  mercury  into  which  the  beak  of  the  retort  is  made 
to  dip,  but  this  is  probably  due  to  the  presence  of  a  little 
moisture.  It  is  only  at  from  50°-60°  that  a  material  re¬ 
action  is  set  up  ;  and  here  a  phenomenon  presents  itself 
which  is  of  considerable  interest.  Nothing  but  ammonia 
is  given  off,  and  by  maintaining  the  heat  at  60°,  this 
evolution  of  ammonia  can  be  nearly  or  quite  terminated 
before  any  carbamate-forming  gases  come  off.  It  is  not 
until  the  temperature  is  carried  to  65°  that  the  formation 
•of  carbamate  begins,  and  not  until  it  is  carried  on  to¬ 
wards  and  up  to  80°  that  the  whole  of  the  carbamate  is 
obtained.  Hence  the  reaction  occurs  distinctly  in  two 
stages,  according  to  the  following  equations : — 

1st  stage  :  (C02)20H2(NHA,  +  C03K2 

=  NH3  +  CG2(NH3)2,  2C03KH. 
or  =  NH3  +  C02(NH3)2,  CO3KH  +  CO3KH. 

2nd  stage:  COn(NH3)2,  C03KH 

=  CO;  +  2NH3  +  C03KH. 

s _ _  _ _ - 

To  form  carbamate. 

Further  proof  of  a  union  of  the  acid  potassium  car¬ 
bonate  with  ammonium  carbamate  is  afforded  by  the 
facts  that  on  distilling  the  commercial  carbonate  with 
•calcium  chloride,  the  components  of  the  carbamate  are 
•driven  off  at  a  temperature  of  52°-65°,  and  that  on  heat¬ 
ing  carbamate  alone,  it  is  converted  into  vapour  at  59° 
or  60° ;  whereas  in  the  present  case  the  carbamate  is  not 
formed  until  the  temperature  reaches  65°,  and  passes  on 
to  80°.  The  special  interest  of  this  point  is  its  bearing 


*  The  commercial  carbonate  of  ammonia  and  sodium  car¬ 
bonate  heated  together  have  been  used  as  a  source  of  ammonia 
and  bicarbonate  of  sodium. 


on  the  difficult  question  as  to  whether  the  commercial 
“  carbonate  of  ammonia  ”  is  a  double  salt  or  only  a  mix¬ 
ture  of  salts. 

Behaviour  when  heated  with  Anhydrous  Calcium  Chloride. 
— At  a  temperature  of  o0°-o2°,  the  mixture  evolves  gases, 
a  part  of  which  condenses  as  carbamate,  that  escaping 
being  carbonic  anhydride ;  from  this  temperature  up  to 
60°  or  so,  the  reaction  goes  on  steadily,  but  the  escape  of 
carbonic  anhydride  greatly  diminishes  ;  how  far  the  rate 
of  formation  of  carbamate  also  slackens  I  have  had  no 
means  of  determining.  The  residue  in  the  retort  consists 
of  unchanged  anhydrous  calcium  chloride,  of  calcium 
carbonate  and  ammonium  chloride. 

When  solid  calcium  chloride,  with  about  two  atoms 
of  water,  is  mixed  in  coarse  powder  with  the  commercial 
carbonate,  the  smell  of  ammonia  entirely  disappears ; 
and  soon  after  the  mixture  has  been  made  it  gets  warm, 
swells  up  considerably,  and  evolves  quantities  of  carbonic 
anhydride.  When  the  action  is  over,  on  heating  the 
mass  to  50°  or  above,  more  carbonic  anhydride  is  evolved. 
I  happened  in  one  case  to  be  so  fortunate  as  to  mix  the 
two  in  equivalent  proportions.  The  consequence  was 
that  nothing  was  given  off  but  carbonic  anhydride  and 
water.  The  residue  was  a  porous  mass  of  ammonium 
chloride  and  calcium  carbonate.  Treated  with  water,  a 
solution  was  obtained  which  gave  a  faint  precipitate  with 
solution  of  ammonium  carbonate  and  ammonia,  and  on 
the  other  hand  a  faint  opalescence  with  calcium  chloride. 
The  insoluble  matter  was  calcium  carbonate. 

{To  he  continued.) 


MALT  EXTRACT. 

BY  ALBERT  E.  EBERT. 

The  present  time  in  the  history  of  pharmacy  may 
rightly  be  styled  the  era  of  “  scientific  specialties.”  The 
latest  efforts  in  this  direction  are  malt  extracts.  Two 
classes  of  preparations,  under  this  title,  are  met  with  in 
the  market,  having  widely  different  properties ;  one  va¬ 
riety  may  be  classed  among  alcoholic  beverages ;  the 
other  is  purely  saccharine  in  nature.  To  the  first  belong 
the  preparations  of  Hoff  and  of  Koch,  the  latter  beai’ing 
the  name  of  Liebig.  Hoff’s  extract  has  obtained  a  ready 
sale  by  aid  of  extensive  advertising,  a  fact  which  is 
surprising,  after  the  exposures  made  by  Hager  and  Witt- 
stein.  These  chemists  determined  it  to  be  simply  a  good 
article  of  brewer  s  beer ,  having  an  alcoholic  strength  of 
about  3  per  cent.,  with  an  addition  of  marshmallow 
root,  coriander,  star-anise  and  grains  of  paradise,  sweet¬ 
ened  with  glycerine  or  sugar,  flavoured  with  the  oils  of 
lemon  and  orange,  and  coloured  with  burnt  sugar. 
Koch’s  preparation  purports  to  be  similar  to  Hoff’s,  with 
the  prominent  advantage,  well  set  forth  in  the  words  of 
the  proprietor  as  follows  : — “  Owing  to  the  facilities  we 
have  in  manufacturing  in  this  country,  we  are  enabled  to 
sell  Koch’s  extract  at  the  astonishingly  low  rate  of  $3.00 
per  dozen,  or  30  cents  for  a  single  bottle.”  He  magna¬ 
nimously  offers  to  suffering  humanity  lager  beer  at  only 
six  times  its  retail  value,  while  Hoff  charges  about  50  por 
cent,  more  for  the  same  article !  How  thankful  we  should 
be  for  his  fortunate  “  advantage,”  and  we  must  also  feel 
deeply  grateful  after  perusing  the  circular  which  accom¬ 
panies  this  great  medicine : — ‘  ‘  The  most  eminent  medi¬ 
cal  authorities  in  Europe,  as  well  as  in  this  country, 
agreo  that  this  new  tonic  is  the  best  dietetic  and  healing 
remedy  known  to  modern  science,  combining  both  the 
merits  of  a  nutritious  and  palatable  beverage,  and  the 
virtues  of  an  unfailing  medicine  for  general  diseases  of 
the  lungs,  the  chest  and  the  throat,  while  to  those,  in 
good  health  it  serves  as  a  pleasant  table  drink,  promoting 
their  digestion  and  restoring  and  invigorating  their  ap¬ 
petite — (for  what?).  This  malt  extract  offers  the  most 
beneficial  relief  to  the  sick  all  in  cases  where  the  stomach, 
the  lungs  or  the  throat  are  affected.” 

The  reader  will  say,  “  But  medical  men  do  not  recom¬ 
mend  such  nostrums.”  In  reply,  we  will  state  that  we 


50S 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  24, 1870, 


have  had  prescriptions  for  this  hcer  from  men  who  lay 
claim  to  a  scientific  training,  and  have  in  each  case  ad¬ 
vised  the  patient  or  messenger  to  procure  the  same  by 
the  gallon  at  some  saloon,  where  they  may  obtain  it  at 
first  cost. 

This  proves  the  truth  of  the  saying,  “There’s  some¬ 
thing  in  a  name  and  malt  extract  is  equally  as  good  a 
term  as  the  eelehrated  strengthening  tonic,  “  Stomach 
Bitters,”  whose  chief  advantage  is  the  quantity  of  alcohol 
hidden  by  the  high-sounding  titles,  and  made  into  a 
fancy  tippling  drink  by  the  aid  of  a  few  bitter  roots, 
herbs  and  spice3.  But  the  greatest  shame  of  all  is  the 
frequent  recommendations  and  endorsements  by  letters 
which  are  published  by  the  factors  of  these  vile  nos¬ 
trums,  and  scattered  broadcast  to  the  public  ;  and  these 
testimonials  are  frequently  from  men  who  occupy  pro¬ 
minent  positions  in  science, — yes,  even  teachers  in  medi¬ 
cal  colleges.  But,  alas !  wo  were  lately  astounded  by 
seeing  such  an  endorsement  from  a  gentleman  occupying 
the  chair  of  Pharmacy  in  the  St.  Louis  College  of  Phar¬ 
macy.  His  private  endorsement  might  have  been  over¬ 
looked,  but  when  he  attached  to  his  name  his  position  in 
the  College,  to  give  it  extra  weight,  he  gave  an  insult  to 
the  entire  organization  in  which  he  holds  the  office  of  a 
teacher ;  the  remedy  of  making  a  few  examples  by  ex- 
communication  would  go  far  towards  stopping  this  prosti¬ 
tution  of  our  profession  to  such  base  uses. 

Of  the  second  class  of  malt  extracts,  sometimes  called 
Liebig’s,  we  have  seen  two  samples  from  German  manu¬ 
facturers,  Ed.  Loeflund  and  Dr.  H.  E.  Linck,  both  of 
Stuttgart.  They  were  put  up  in  patent  medicine  style, 
each  claiming  originality  in  the  process  of  manufacture. 
This  point  is  questionable,  as  malt  extract  has  been 
officinal  in  the  London,  Edinburgh  and  Belgium  Phar¬ 
macopoeias,  and  in  long  use  in  Germany  under  the  name 
of  malt  sugar  ( Gersten-zucker ). 

Professor  Liebig  does  not  lay  any  claim  to  the  disco¬ 
very  or  introduction  of  this  preparation.  We  have 
heard  him,  during  his  lectures,  denounce  this  attach¬ 
ment  of  his  name  to  these  extracts,  it  having  been  done 
in  opposition  to  his  wishes  by  parties  who  hoped  to  in¬ 
crease  their  sales  by  this  seeming  endorsement  of  their 
articles.  We  have  lately  made  the  malt  extract  at  the 
urgent  request  of  physicians,  and  give  herewith  the  pro¬ 
cess,  so  that  pharmacists  may  prepare  it  themselves, 
instead  of  relying  upon  the  specialist  to  supply  it  at 
exorbitant  prices. 

Take  of  Barley  Malt,  kiln  dried,  10  lb.  av. 

Water,  q.  s. 

The  malt  can  be  obtained  at  the  malt-houses  or  brew¬ 
eries  by  the  bushel ;  reduce  it  by  means  of  the  drug  mill 
so  that  it  will  pass  through  a  No.  20  sieve,  and  add  to 
the  meal  a  sufficient  quantity  of  cold  water  to  form  with 
it  a  soft  dough ;  then  add  about  two  gallons  of  hot 
water,  and  apply  heat  so  as  to  raise  the  temperature  of 
the  mixture  to  150°,  or  not  to  exceed  158°.  Maintain 
this  temperature,  with  occasional  stirring,  for  several 
hours,  or  until  the  whole  of  the  starch  is  converted  (by 
moans  of  the  diastase  of  the  malt)  into  dextrine  and 
glucose.  _  The  absence  of  starch  can  be  ascertained  by 
the  application  of  tinct.  iodine  to  a  small  quantity  of  the 
liquor,  when,  if  the  starch  has  been  wholly  converted, 
no  blue  coloration  will  bo  evident.  Then  express  the 
liquor  rapidly,  and  pass  it  through  a  strainer.  This  is 
the  most  difficult  part  of  the  process,  as  it  speedily  clogs 
the  strainer.  This  can  be  averted  to  some  extent  by 
making  a  pulp  by  means  of  water  from  common  unsized 
paper,  or  filtering-paper,  and  mixing  this  pulp  with  the 
expressed  liquid  previous  to  straining.  The  perfectly 
clear  fluid  is  finally  to  be  evaporated,  by  means  of  a 
watei-bath,  to  the  consistence  of  a  thick  syrup,  having 
the  sp.  gr.  1-500,  or  approximately  one  pint,  weighing 
1^  lb.  av. 

This  extract  has  an  agreeably,  syrupy  taste,  and  con¬ 
tains,  besides  the  sugar  of  the  malt,  dextrine,  albumen, 


and  the  phosphates  of  the  grain.  In  very  hot  summer 
weather  it  is  liable  to  go  into  fermentation,  but  this 
can  be  prevented  by  the  addition  of  a  small  quantity  of 
glycerine. — The  Chicago  Tharmacist. 


Suicide  by  Carbolic  Acid. — An  inquest  was  held 
a  few  days  back  upon  the  body  of  a  servant  girl,  who  was 
found  by  her  master  lying-  dead  in  her  room.  It  ap¬ 
peared  from  the  evidence  that  she  had  been  in  depressed 
spirits,  and  suffering  from  pains  in  her  head,  and  had 
committed  suicide  by  drinking  a  quantity  of  carbolic 
acid,  which  had  been  obtained  for  disinfecting  purposes.. 
The  coroner,  Dr.  Lankester,  said  the  public  ought  to  be 
put  on  their  guard  respecting  this  compound. 

The  Royal  Society  Medals. — The  following  award 

of  medals  was  made  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Royal 
Society  on  Nov.  30tli : — The  Copley  medal  to  Mr.  James 
Prescott  Joule,  F.B.S.,  for  his  experimental  researches 
on  the  dynamical  theory  of  heat ;  a  Royal  Medal  to  Pro¬ 
fessor  W.  H.  Miller,  Foreign  Secretary  to  the  Society, 
for  his  researches  and  writings  on  mineralogy  and  crys¬ 
tallography,  and  his  scientific  labours  in  connection  with 
the  national  standard  of  weight ;  a  Royal  Medal  to  Mr. 
Thomas  Davidson,  F.R.S.,  for  his  work  on  the  recent 
and  fossil  brachiopoda  ;  and  the  Romford  Medal  to  M. 
Alfred  Olivier  des  Cloizeaux,  for  his  researches  in  mineral 
optics. 

Kow  to  Apply  Leeches. — A  correspondent  in  the 
Lancet  writes,  that  having  had  occasion  to  order  a 
mustard-poultice  for  a  patient,  it  became  requisite  to  put 
some  leeches  on  the  same  place.  He  was  told  that  they 
fastened  instantly,  filled  rapidly,  and  that  the  blood 
streamed  afterwards  into  bread-poultices  as  if  it  would 
never  stop.  Now,  whenever  he  orders  leeches,  he  always 
has  a  mustard-poultice  applied  first,  then  the  leeches 
(two  or  three  instead  of  half-a-dozen),  and  then  bread- 
poultices.  The  flow  of  blood  is,  however,  sometimes  so- 
much  greater  than  would  bo  thought  likely  or  possible, 
that  it  is  necessary  to  add  a  few  words  of  caution, — an 
adult  female  patient,  of  average  strength,  bled  to  faint¬ 
ing  from  only  two  leeches  applied  in  this  way. 

Origin  of  Malaria, — The  British  Medical  Journal  in 
noticing  a  book  by  Dr.  Taussig,  alludes  to  the  theory  of 
Dr.  Balestra,  who  considers  the  malaria  prevalent  at 
Rome  to  be  due  to  the  seeds  of  a  microscopic  alga  con¬ 
stantly  present  in  all  marshes,  for  whose  vegetation 
and  propagation  the  necessary  conditions  are  stagnant 
water,  a  high  temperature,  and  the  vicinity  of  decom¬ 
posing  vegetable  matter.  These  spores,  he  says,  can  be 
introduced  into  the  system  by  the  stomach,  lungs,  or 
skin,  but  when  brought  into  contact  with  a  solution  of 
either  sulphite  of  soda,  arsenic,  or  quinine,  they  lose  all 
power  of  vegetation,  and  undergo  a  change  of  structure. 

Almond  Powder  for  Preparing  Emulsions. — 

M.  Ch.  Meniere  suggests  the  following  means  of  facili¬ 
tating  the  dispensing  of  almond  emulsions  :  Make  an 
emulsion  of  almonds  blanched,  50  grams,  and  water,  then 
add  390  grams  of  sugar  in  powder,  and  evaporate  with  a 
gentle  heat  until  the  mixture  assumes  a  pasty  consis¬ 
tence  ;  spread  it  upon  plates,  dry  thoroughly  by  artificial 
heat,  and  reduce  it  to  powder,  adding  five  grams  of  pul¬ 
verized  tragacanth.  To  prepare  the  emulsions  of  the 
Codex,  take  of  the  powder  32-5  parts,  and  triturate  with 
orange-flower  water  10,  common  water  120  parts.  Ac¬ 
cording-  to  M.  Meniere,  an  emulsion  can  thus  be  speedily 
prepared,  and  leaves  nothing  to  be  desired. — Joarn.  de 
Fharmcicie  et  cle  Chimie. 

Syrup  cf  Iodide  of  Iron. — M.  Jeanncl  has  observed 

that  the  addition  of  7o1ou  part  of  tartaric  acid  renders 
syrup  of  iron  clear  when  it  has  decomposed,  at  the  same 
time  diminishing  notably  its  inky  taste. — Bull,  de  la  Soc* 
de  Bhann.  dc  Bordeaux. 


December  24,  1870.]  THE  Til  ARM  ACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


COD 


♦ 


SATURDAY,  DECEMBER  24,  1870. 


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

Instr’uctions  from  Members  and  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Breji- 
ridge,  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  W.C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W.  Envelopes  endorsed  “  Pharm.  Journ.” 


THE  PROPOSED  POISON  REGULATIONS. 

In  referring  last  week  to  the  decision  of  the  Coun¬ 
cil  to  submit  a  code  of  regulations  for  the  keeping  of 
Poisons  to  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Society  in 
May  next,  we  felt  constrained  to  express  a  hope 
that  the  prevailing  divergence  of  opinion  on  this  sub¬ 
ject  might  not  be  allowed  to  damage  the  real  in¬ 
terest  (by  which  we  meant  the  advancement)  of 
Pharmacy  as  a  craft.  The  letters  which  we  pub¬ 
lish  this  week  evidently  show  that  earnest  attention 
is  being  directed  to  the  subject.  •  Several  others, 
which  have  arrived  too  late  for  insertion  in  this 
number,  also  tell  the  same  story.  It  cannot  be 
denied  that  there  is  a  great  difference  of  opinion, 
and  it  will,  we  presume,  he  readily  admitted,  that 
both  parties  to  the  argument  are  honest,  the  one  in 
advocating,  the  other  in  deprecating,  any  action  in 
this  matter.  While  abstaining  from  comment  on 
the  arguments  brought  forward  by  our  correspon¬ 
dents,  it  seems  that,  in  furtherance  of  the  hope  we 
expressed  last  week,  it  is  our  duty  to  urge  upon 
members  of  the  trade,  for  the  sake  of  avoiding  that 
.mischance  which  struck  us  as  possible,  they  should, 
in  discussing  this  question,  carefully  dismiss  from 
their  minds  every  feeling  of  antagonism  and,  before 
the  Annual  Meeting,  very  carefully  consider  the 
proposition  put  to  them  by  the  Council, — a  Council 
consisting  of  practical  men,  whose  interests  and 
mode  of  conducting  business  are  identical  with 
those  of  chemists  and  druggists  in  all  parts  of  the 
•country. 

We  think,  too,  that  bejmnd  mere  consideration, 
there  is  ample  time  for  practical  trial  of  the  me¬ 
thods  proposed  for  storing  poisons,  and  that  such 
trial  would  enable  both  the  advocates  and  oppo¬ 
nents  of  regulations  to  speak  more  confidently  as 
to  the  advantages  or  inconveniences  attending 
those  methods  when  the  subject  comes  on  for 
discussion  in  May  next.  There  can  he  little  doubt 
that  there  is  a  demand  on  the  part  of  the  pub¬ 
lic  for  some  restrictions  and  that  the  officers  of 
the  Privy  Council  agree  with  and  support  that  de¬ 
mand:  moreover,  our  Council  considers  that  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society,  in  accepting  the  Phar¬ 


macy  Act  of  1868,  also  accepted  the  duty  of  pro¬ 
moting  public  safety  and  by  implication,  that  of 
making  regulations.  It  should  be  remembered,  too, 
that  the  Council  received  instructions  from  the 
meeting  of  1870  to  consider  this  subject  carefully, 
and  present  it  again  in  1871.  It  should  also  be 
borne  in  mind  that,  if  we  are  to  have  regulations,  no 
persons  can  be  so  well  qualified  to  determine  the 
nature  of  them  as  experienced  men  of  our  own  body. 

For  all  these  reasons,  tlierefoie,  we  say,  let  the 
Council  have  credit  for  honesty  and  independence, 
and  at  least  a  fair  hearing. 

Having  said  thus  much  in  the  hope  of  confining 
controversy  to  its  proper  limits,  we  will  conclude  by 
again  describing  in  detail  the  regulations  as  now 
proposed,  noting  also  the  alterations  that  have  been 
made  by  the  Committee,  in  the  hope  that  our  readers 
will  test  their  applicability. 

The  first  rule,  and  the  only  one  to  be  universal,  is 
that  every  poison  shall  be  marked  with  its  name, 
and  shall  bear,  beyond  that,  a  distinguishing  mark 
which  will  be  known  to  the  dispenser  as  indicative 
of  poison. 

The  alteration  here  is  that  the  word  “Poison,” 
which  it  was  feared  would  strike  terror  into  the  mind 
of  customers,  is  exchanged  for  any  mark  a  chemist 
may  choose  to  emplo}T,  intelligible  to  himself  and  his 
assistants — say,  a  triangle,  circle,  or  square. 

We  have  then  a  proposition  of  three  different  and 
alternative  modes  in  which  poisons  may  be  kept, 
and  it  should  be  distinctly  understood  the  Committee 
does  not  recommend  that  a  man  should  be  compelled 
to  select  one  of  those  three  and  apply  it  to  all  his 
poisons ;  such  a  course  would  be  obviously  impracti¬ 
cable.  A  chemist  may  apply  any  of  the  modes  as 
best  suited  to  his  convenience ;  the  first  to  one 
poison,  the  second  or  third  to  others. 

These  three  modes  of  keeping  poisons  have  not 
been  altered  in  substance,  but  are  now  stated  more 
clearly  than  formerly.  It  is  proposed  that  poisons 
shall  be  kept  either  in — 

(1.)  A  separate  compartment  for  dangerous 
articles ; 

or, 

(•>.)  Distinctive  bottles  or  vessels  ; 

or, 

(3.)  Bottles  or  vessels  so  tied  over  or  secured  that 
the}7-  cannot  be  opened  by  mere  unstopping 
as  the  ordinary  bottles  are. 

We  observe  that  the  proposal,  to  send  out  com¬ 
pounds,  intended  for  external  use  in  distinctive  bottles, 
when  they  contain  poisons,  lias  been  omitted  from 
the  new  code.  This  alteration  we  understand  was 
made  by  the  Committee  on  account  of  difficulties 
which  might  arise  as  to  procuring  or  keeping  in  stock 


510 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  24,  1870. 


at  all  times,  a  supply  of  such  bottles,  but  notwith¬ 
standing  this  omission,  we  hope  a  custom  so  salu¬ 
tary  and  now  so  widely  practised  among  druggists 
will  not  be  discontinued. 


THE  POOR-LAW  APOTHECARY-GENERAL  FOR 

IRELAND. 

In  reply  to  several  inquiries  that  have  been  made 
in  connection  with  the  above  subject,  we  give,  for  the 
benefit  of  our  readers,  all  the  essential  points  con¬ 
tained  in  the  general  order  of  the  Poor-Law  Com¬ 
missioners  for  Ireland;  any  further  information  would 
be  supplied  by  the  Commissioners  on  application 
by  an  intended  candidate  for  the  office,  addressed  to 
the  Chief  Clerk,  Dublin. 

The  salary  will  be  1-500  per  annum,  with  suitable 
apartments.  Although  this  officer  will  be  elected  by 
the  Guardians  of  the  Unions,  the  Commissioners  will 
have  the  power  to  discharge  liim. 

The  Poor-Law  Apothecary  will  have  to  give  se¬ 
curity  for  the  “  due  and  faithful  performance  of  his 
duties,”  in  an  amount  not  exceeding  L5000. 

The  qualifications  are — 

“  1.  He  shall  be  thirty  years  of  age  at  least. 

“2.  He  shall  be  a  Licentiate  of  the  Apothecaries’ 
Hall  of  Ireland. 

“  3.  He  shall  not,  while  holding  the  office  of  Poor- 
Law  Unions  Apothecary,  be  engaged  or  interested, 
either  directly  or  indirectly,  in  any  wholesale  or  re¬ 
tail  trade  of  drugs,  medicines,  or  medical  or  surgical 
appliances,  or  in  any  other  trade  or  profession  what¬ 
soever.” 

The  following  is  the  copy  of  the  mode  of  appoint¬ 
ment  : — 

“  On  or  before  the  1st  of  January,  in  the  year  1871,  all 
candidates  for  the  office  of  Poor-Law  Unions  Apothe¬ 
cary  shall  send  their  application  and  testimonials  to  iis 
the  said  Commissioners,  to  be  laid  before  the  Guardians 
of  each  of  the  said  Unions,  who  shall  proceed  at  the 
second  meeting  after  the  receipt  thereof  to  select  the 
candidate  of  their  choice  in  accordance  with  the  rules 
prescribed  for  the  appointment  of  officers  after  advertise¬ 
ment  in  the  General  Regulation  Order,  bearing  date  the 
19th  January,  1852,  and  shall  report  the  result  of  such 
selection  to  us  the  said  Commissioners,  and  the  candidate 
selected  by  a  majority  of  the  Unions  in  the  said  schedule 
shall  he  deemed  to  be  appointed  the  Poor-Law  Unions 
Apothecary,  and  if  no  candidate  shall  have  been  selected 
by  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of  Unions,  so  many 
ot  the  candidates  selected  by  the  greatest  number  of 
Unions  as  shall  together  have  been  selected  by  a  majority 
thereof,  shall  he  again  submitted  to  each  Union,  and  the 
same  process  shall  bo  repeated  until  one  candidate  shall 
have  been  selected  by  a  majority  of  all  the  Unions  named 
in  the  schedule.” 

There  are  about  ICO  Unions  in  Ireland,  and  they 
generally  have  weekly  meetings  of  the  Boards.  We 
believe  that  the  above  contains  all  the  necessary  in¬ 
formation  that  would  be  required  by  intended  can¬ 
didates.  There  are  other  officers  to  be  appointed, 


but  the  Commissioners  do  not  intend  to  open  this 
question  until  after  the  election  of  the  Apothecary, 
which  is  not  likely  to  be  finished  until  February, 
1871. 


THE  BRITISH  PH ARMACOPCEI A.  IN  CANADA. 

In  the  November  number  of  the  Canadian 
Pharmaceutical  Journal  there  is  a  curious  commen¬ 
tary  upon  the  statement  made  by  Mr.  Howden 
in  his  address  at  the  last  Evening  Meeting,  that 
wherever  he  went  in  the  United  States,  the  fact  that 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  of 
Great  Britain  secured  for  him  the  greatest  kindness 
and  the  fullest  information  from  every  pharmacist 
with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  The  Editor  of  that 
journal  says  that  a  letter  had  been  received  from  a 
correspondent  asking  for  information  concerning  the 
price  of  a  work  which  lie  understood  had  been  “  re¬ 
cently  published,  and  which,  under  the  general  title 
of  The  British  Pharmacopoeia,  at  once  did  away 
with  the  annoyance  so  often  realized  from  the  use 
of  the  different  authorities  representing  the  national 
colleges.”  The  writer  of  the  letter  stated  that  he 
“went  in  strongly  for  progress,”  and  that  as  he  con¬ 
sidered  the  publication  of  such  a  work  to  be  a  step 
in  the  right  direction,  he  meant  to  obtain  a  copy  of 
the  Pharmacopoeia  at  once,  so  as  to  be  fully  up  to 
the  times. 

Of  course  it  would  not  be  fair  to  take  such  phar¬ 
maceutical  Pip  Van  Winkleism  as  representing  the 
general  state  of  knowledge  in  the  colony  concerning 
our  national  Pharmacopoeia,  six  years  after  its  pub¬ 
lication  ;  neither,  on  the  other  hand,  must  it  be 
taken  for  granted  that  the  writer  of  the  letter  was  far 
behind  his  neighbours,  for  it  appears  that  he  is  a 
druggist  doing  a  good  business  in  a  flourishing  bor¬ 
der  town.  Doubtless  one  of  the  causes  of  such  a 
state  of  things  is  to  be  found  in  the  absence,  at 
present,  of  any  authoritative  direction  that  the  Bri¬ 
tish  Pharmacopoeia  is  the  standard  to  be  used ;  this 
evil  it  is  proposed  shall  be  remedied  in  the  projected 
Canadian  Pharmacy  Bill ;  but  another  cause  lies 
in  the  want  of  sufficient  opportunities  for  obtaining 
sound  pharmaceutical  education.  Besides  these, 
there  is  undoubtedly  another  cause,  viz.  the  strong 
influence  which  the  United  States  Pharmacy  exer¬ 
cises  upon  the  Canadians.  It  is  stated  that  if  a 
prescription  requiring  tinct.  arnicas  were  to  be  sent 
to  each  druggist  in  Ontario,  in  nearly  every  case  the 
United  States’  preparation  would  be  used.  There  is 
also  a  tendency  to  favour  the  fluid  extracts  or  con¬ 
centrated  remedies  of  that  country,  and  to  make  use 
of  the  ingenious  preparations  which  come  under  the 
category  of  “  Elegant  Pharmacy.” 

Whether  the  British  Pharmacopoeia  be  best  suited 
to  the  wants  of  Canadian  pharmacy,  or  whether 
Canada  would  be  better  off  with  a  Pharmacopoeia  ot 
her  own,  are  points  we  are  not  at  present  prepared 


December  24,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


511 


to  discuss ;  but  we  think  the  fact  with  which  we 
started  is  one  that  may  not  be  without  its  use  in 
toning  down  any  exaggerated  estimates  that  may 
have  been  formed  as  to  the  influence  of  English 
Pharmacy  in  America. 


PHARMACY  AND  THE  STATE. 

To  those  who  are  zealous  in  their  efforts  to  pro¬ 
mote  the  interest  of  British  Pharmacy  and  to  those 
who  have  laboured  at  this  work,  the  views  ex¬ 
pressed  in  the  following  quotation  will  be  at  once  a 
stimulus  and  a  reward.  It  is  with  great  pleasure  we 
record  this  acknowledgment  that  during  the  last 
thirty  years  the  Society  has  done  some  service,  and 
that  the  objects  for  which  it  was  formed  have  not 
only  been  to  some  extent  realized  but  also  appre¬ 
ciated. 

“The  Appendix  further  contains  Reports  on  a  subject 
of  great  practical  interest  to  the  public — the  examination 
of  chemists  and  druggists  prior  to  their  being  permitted 
to  commence  business.  The  report  on  the  London  ex¬ 
aminations  is  by  Dr.  Greenhow,  that  on  the  Edinburgh 
examinations  by  Dr.  Christison.  In  former  times  the 
business  of  a  chemist  and  druggist  was  subject  to  no 
kind  of  restriction,  and  was  even  frequently  added  on  to 
other  trades,  such  as  the  sale  of  groceries,  by  persons 
Avho  had  no  knowledge  whatever  of  the  characters  of 
drugs,  who  were  incapable  of  compounding  a  prescrip¬ 
tion,  and  who  sometimes  committed  homicide  by  misad¬ 
venture,  from  their  ignorance  of  the  dangerous  commo¬ 
dities  which  they  sold.  The  Pharmaceutical  Society 
strove  for  many  years  to  remedy'  these  evils ;  and  after 
carrying  on  for  some  time  a  system  of  voluntary  exami¬ 
nation,  at  last  succeeded  in  procuring  that  this  examina¬ 
tion  should  be  rendered  obligatory  upon  all  who  deal  in 
drugs.  It  is  now  so  conducted  as  to  assume  three  forms 
— the  major  and  minor  examinations,  which  are  intended 
to  be  permanent,  and  the  modified  examination,  which 
will  he  only  temporary.  The  major  examination  admits 
those  who  pass  it  to  be  registered  as  “pharmaceutical 
chemists ;  ”  the  minor,  as  “  chemists  and  druggists ;  ”  and 
the  modified  admits  those  to  be  chemists  and  druggists 
who  were  fairly  embarked  in  the  vocation  before  the 
provisions  of  the  Pharmacy  Act  became  binding.  The 
inspection  of  the  examinations  by  men  so  eminent  as 
Drs.  Greenhow  and  Christison  is  a  matter  for  which  the 
medical  department  of  the  Privy  Council  deserves  much 
commendation.  The  supply'  of  medicines  to  the  sick, 
once  regarded  as  a  proper  function  of  those  general  me¬ 
dical  practitioners  who  attend  the  great  bulk  of  the  com¬ 
munity,  has  now  been  very  generally  abandoned  by 
them,  not  only  in  great  cities,  but  also  in  provincial 
towns  and  rural  districts.  Indications  arc  not  wanting 
that  it  will  before  long  be  abandoned  altogether,  and 
that  medical  men  of  all  classes  will  limit  themselves  to 
prescribing  the  remedies  which  their  patients  require. 
A  few  years  ago  this  could  not  have  been  done  with 
safety,  but  now,  thanks  to  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
and  its  Act,  a  sick  man  will  find  almost  everywhere  a 
chemist  who  may  be  trusted  to  dispense  any  prescription, 
and  who  will  havo  under  his  hand,  save  in  exceptional 
cases,  the  preparations  necessary  for  the  purpose.  It  is 
not  needful  to  follow  the  two  inspectors  into  the  details 
of  their  reports,  but  we  have  pleasure  in  recording  the 
conclusion  of  Dr.  Greenhow,  “  that  the  examinations  arc 
of  such  sort,  and  are  conducted  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
constitute  a  sufficient  guarantee  to  the  public  ;  ”  and 
that  of  Dr.  Christison,  that  “  the  results  of  the  examina¬ 


tion  seem  to  me  [satisfactory  in  every  point  of  view." 
The  Pharmaceutical  Society  could  receive  no  more  flat¬ 
tering  testimony  to  the  character  and  value  of  its  la¬ 
bours.” — Times. 


Dr.  Henry  E.  Armstrong  lias  been  appointed 
Professor  of  Chemistry  at  the  London  Institution, 
an  office  once  held  by  Mr.  W.  It.  Grove,  Q.C., 
F.R.S.,  and  subsequently  by  Mr.  J.  Alfred  Wank- 
lyn.  Hr.  Armstrong  studied  chemistry  under  Pro¬ 
fessors  Hofmann,  Erankland  and  Kolbe,  and  has 
been  associated  with  Dr.  Frankland  and  the  late 
Dr.  Matthiessen  in  original  researches.  We  under¬ 
stand  that  this  appointment  is  connected  with  a  pro¬ 
ject  for  establishing  Practical  Chemistry  classes  hi 
the  laboratory  of  the  London  Institution. 


A  contribution  of  twenty  guineas  has  been  made 
to  the  Benevolent  Fund  by  the  Local  Committee  of 
the  Pharmaceutical  Conference  lately  held  at  Liver¬ 
pool,  out  of  the  surplus  of  the  local  fund  remaining 
after  the  expenses  incurred  had  been  paid. 


f  roraditjjs  of  fire  f |an«it«ttfial  j&orattg- 

EXAMINATION  IN  LONDON. 

December  ‘list,  1870. 

Present — Messrs.  Allchin,  Bird,  Carteighe,  Cracknell, 
Davenport,  Deane,  Edwards,  Gale,  Garle,  Hanbury, 
Haselden,  Ince  and  Southall. 

Dr.  Greenhow  was  also  present  on  behalf  of  the  Privy 
Council. 

Twenty  Candidates  presented  themselves  for  examina¬ 
tion,  ten  Major  and  ten  Minor;  the  following  passed  and 
were  duly  registered  : — 

MAJOR  (as  Pharmaceutical  Chemists). 

*  Skipper,  Edward . London. 

*Pick,  Richard  . Hull. 

*  Clark,  Walter  Beales . Leicester. 

*  Cross,  William  Go  wen  ....  Shrewsbury. 

*  Taylor,  John  William  _ Great  Grimsby. 

*Griffin,  Thomas  . Bromley. 

Thompson,  John  Thomas  .  .Richmond,  Yorks. 

MINOR  (as  Chemists  and  Druggists). 

*  Brown,  James . Bideford. 

*  Davenport,  Horace . London. 

Field,  Charles  . Netley. 

Morgan,  William  John  . . .  .Kinver,  Stourbridge. 
Stoakes,  Benjamin  Maiden.  .Boston. 

Sant,  George . Atherstone. 

Marks,  Benjamin . Plymouth. 

Spong,  Douglas  Morton  ....  Bedford. 

Skinner,  Kenneth  George 

Walrond . Christchurch. 

Biddle,  Charles  John  . Manchester. 

The  above  names  are  arranged  in  order  of  merit. 


*  Passed  with  honours. 


512 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  U,  1870. 


LIVERPOOL  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Fourth  General  Meeting  of  the  present  session 
-was  held  at  the  Royal  Institution,  December  8th ;  the 
President,  Mr.  John  Abraham,  in  the  chair. 

The  minutes  of  the  preceding  meeting  having  been 
read,  the  President  said  he  must  correct  the  statement 
that  he  said  he  had  always  obtained  15  fluid  ounces  of 
distilled  product  in  following  the  Pharmacopoeia  process 
for  spirit  of  nitrous  ether.  He  stated  the  contrary,  but 
suggested  that  the  fact  might  be  owing  to  imperfect 
condensation,  and  that  the  loss  might  perhaps  be  obvi¬ 
ated  by  putting  the  rectified  spirit  into  the  receiver  in¬ 
stead  of  adding  it  subsequently.  The  alteration  having- 
been  made,  the  minutes  were  confirmed. 

Mr.  S.  G.  Hilditcii  exhibited  four  samples  of  pro¬ 
ducts  taken  in  the  distillation  of  sp.  aether,  nitros.,  13.  Ph. : 

No.  1  being  taken  when  (working  on  four  times  the 
B.  Ph.  quantity)  two  gallons  had  distilled  over  which 
contained  50  per  cent,  of  nitrous  ether  (C.2H5N  02). 

No.  2,  when  two  gallons  six  pints  had  been  collected, 
which  contained  48  per  cent,  of  C2H5N02. 

No.  3.  A  fresh  receiver  was  then  adapted,  and  the 
distillation  continued  until  one  gallon  had  been  col¬ 
lected  ;  and  on  testing  this  with  chloride  of  calcium,  he 
could  not  get  any  separation  of  C2H5N02.  The  re¬ 
ceiver  was  again  changed,  and  heat  (steam)  being  in¬ 
creased,  the  distillation  was  continued  until  nothing- 
more  would  distil  over.  In  this  way  he  obtained  forty- 
eight  ounces  of  a  liquid  consisting  principally  of  spirit 
and  water,  having  a  very  disagreeable  smell. 

No.  4  represented  this  product. 

The  Secretary  then  read  a  letter  which  had  been  re¬ 
ceived  by  the  President. 

[The  letter  is  essentially  the  same  as  the  letter  from 
Messrs.  Fox  to  the  Editor,  already  printed  in  the  Journal, 
p.  479.] 

The  President  said  that  it  did  not  appear  that 
Messrs.  Fox  complained  that  he  had  said  anything 
which  was  not  correct,  but  they  objected  to  the  infe¬ 
rences  he  had  drawn  from  the  facts.  He  had,  however, 
nothing  to  withdraw.  They  had  sent  him  a  handbill,  in 
which  one  of  the  testimonials  referred  to  the  fact  that 
their  preparation  contained  only  50  per  cent,  of  cod- 
liver  oil ;  but  the  handbill  round  the  bottle  which  he 
had  exhibited  contained  no  such  statement,  and  ho  could 
not  but  think  that  if  they  had  wished  it  to  be  known 
that  “  palatable  cad-liver  oil  ”  contained  ouly  half  oil, 
the  rest  being  sugar  and  water  flavoured,  they  might 
have  taken  more  effectual  means  to  accomplish  their 
purpose.  Be  that  as  it  may,  he  had  contented  himself 
'with  showing  the  composition  of  the  mixture,  and  that 
the  label  was  so  put  on  the  bottle  as  to  conceal  the  fact 
from  all  but  careful  examination.  He  also  observed 
that  gentlemen  who  called  themselves  Fellows  of  the 
Chemical  Society,  who  professed  to  have  analysed  the 
oil,  gave  testimonials  which  did  not  convey  the  slightest 
idea  of  its  composition,  and  left  their  readers  to  infer 
that  it  had  been  made  palatable  by  some  unobjectionable 
process.  In  the  new  testimonials  which  Messrs.  Fox  had 
sent  with  their  letter,  he  observed  very  prominently  the 
name  of  a  gentleman  whom  he  could  not  refer  to  except 
in  terms  of  respect.  It  was  Dr.  A.  H.  Hassall,  who,  as 
a  commissioner  for  the  Lancet ,  had  done  so  much  to 
make  known  the  composition  of  important  articles  when 
their  names  failed  to  do  so.  He  says  that  flavouring- 
and  other  ingredients  have  been  added,  but  he  does  not 
tell  us  that  they  form  one-half  of  the  mixture.  His  (the 
President’s)  object  was  that  this  should  be  known  to 
those  who  sold  and  to  those  who  bought  it. 

Mr.  Edward  Davies,  F.C.S.,  heartily  agreed  with 
the  President,  and  showed  that  the  oil  was  not  and 
■could  not  be  a  combination.  He  said  that,  knowing  the 
whole  system  of  testimonial-giving  was  thoroughly  rotten, 


being  applied  wholesale  instead  of  confined  to  the  sample 
analysed,  he  was  glad  (as  an  analytical  chemist)  for  the 
sake  of  his  profession  that  this  practice  was  confined  to 
a  few  conspicuous  individuals. 

Mr.  T.  F.  Abraham  said  the  oil  professed  to  be 
patented. 

The  Secretary  stated  that  Messrs.  Fox  had  regis¬ 
tered  the  word  “palatable”  as  a  trade  mark,  but  this 
would  be  invalid  if  it  could  be  proved  that  any  one  else 
had  previously  applied  the  term. 

Mr.  Hilditcii  said  he  had  been  informed  by  legal 
gentlemen  that  many  of  those  patents  were  of  no  more 
value  than  the  paper  upon  which  they  were  written,  and 
gave  instances  where  so-called  patent  processes  were 
invalid. 

Mr.  Alfred  II.  Mason,  the  Honorary  Secretary, 
thought  the  oil  should  be  condemned  by  pharmaceutists 
as  an  inelegant  preparation,  a  decided  separation  being 
present,  and  no  combination ,  as  Messrs.  Fox  had  stated  in 
their  letter.  He  had  seen  a  short  time  ago  in  one  of  the 
New  York  medical  journals  a  formulary  for  cod-liver  oil 
cream.*  The  sample  exhibited  consisted  of  a  solution  of 
gum  tragacanth  (2  drachms  being  dissolved  in  16  ounces 
of  cold  water),  to  which  50  per  cent,  of  oil  was  added, 
flavoured  with  essence  of  lemon,  essence  of  almonds  and 
cassia,  sweetened  with  syrup  of  tolu.  This  mixture  did 
not  show  any  separation,  as  the  tragacanth  broke  up  the 
oil  into  such  minute  particles  that  it  was  held  in  suspen¬ 
sion,  and  it  thus  formed  an  elegant  emulsion  very  plea¬ 
sant  to  the  palate. 

Mr.  Bedford  fully  concurred  with  the  remarks  which 
had  been  made,  and  felt  that  there  was  not  anything  to 
withdraw  from  what  had  already  been  made  public  in 
the  report  of  the  proceedings  of  a  fonmer  meeting. 

Several  other  miscellaneous  communications  were 
made  by  Messrs.  Hilditch,  Tanner,  Davies,  T.  F.  Abra¬ 
ham,  Bedford,  and  Hallawell. 

Before  closing  the  meeting,  the  President  gave  a  very 
interesting  resume  of  a  paper  he  had  heard  read  the  pre¬ 
vious  evening  at  the  Pharmaceutical  Society’s  meeting 
by  Mr.  Howden,  on  “  The  State  of  Pharmacy  in  the 
United  States.” 


After  the  usual  votes  of  thanks  were  passed,  the  meet¬ 
ing  adjourned. 


THE  EXHIBITION  OF  CHEMICALS,  DRUGS, 
ETC.,  AT  THE  RECENT  MEETING  OF  THE 
AMERICAN  PHARMACEUTICAL  ASSOCIA¬ 
TION  AT  BALTIMORE. 

Our  space  will  not  permit  us  to  do  justice  to  this  at¬ 
tractive  feature  of  the  annual  gatherings  of  the  Associa¬ 
tion.  Though  the  exhibition  was  hardly  equal  in  variety 
and  extent  to  the  display  made  at  the  meeting  of  last 
year,  in  Chicago,  it  was  exceedingly  good,  and  the  arti¬ 
cles  were  arranged  with  most  excellent  taste,  so  that 
they  might  be  seen  to  the  best  advantage.  As  usual, 
Messrs.  Powers  and  Weightman,  of  Philadelphia,  made 
the  most  attractive  and  valuable  contribution,  many  of 
their  specimens  being  in  large  quantities,  a  single  vase 
containing  upwards  of  1000  dollai’s  worth  of  sulphate  of 
morphia.  Many  of  their  specimens  were  particularly 
remarked  on  account  of  their  superior  beauty. 

Messrs.  Charles  T.  White  and  Co.,  of  New  York,  also 
made  a  most  attractive  display.  This  house  is  rapidly 
gaining  a  national  reputation  for  the  purity  of  its  pro¬ 
ducts,  and  certainly  no  one  familiar  with  the  appearance 
of  fine  chemicals  could  view  their  collection  without 
being  struck  with  the  rare  beauty  of  almost  every  article. 
They  exhibited  upwards  of  forty  specimens,  among  them 
the  salts  of  morphia,  which  they  are  largely  manufac- 

*  I  have  since  found  that  the  article  referred  to  was  ex¬ 
tracted  from  a  letter  signed  “Emulsio,”  published  in  the 
Chemist  and  Druggist  for  April,  1870,  p.  121. — A.H.  Mason. 


December  24,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


513 


turing.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  they  were  invariably 
admired. 

Messrs.  Rosengarten  and  Sons,  Philadelphia,  exhibited 
a  case  of  fifty-six  specimens  of  chemicals  from  their  labo¬ 
ratory,  including  fine  crystals  of  the  hypophosphites  of 
lime,  soda,  and  potassa :  piperine,  permanganate  of 
potassa,  and  a  variety  of  salts  of  the  alkaloids. 

Messrs.  Schering  and  G-atz,  New  York,  exhibited  thirty- 
two  specimens,  mostly  of  rare  chemicals,  produced  by  E. 
Schering,  of  Berlin. 

Andrews  and  Thompson,  of  Baltimore,  exhibited  a 
variety  of  handsome  chemicals, — among  others  were  ses- 
quichloride  of  chromium,  scaled  salts  of  iron,  hypophos- 
phite  of  manganese,  and  phosphate  of  manganese ;  also 
a  living  specimen  of  the  Benno  plant. 

Messrs.  Thomsen  and  Block,  of  Baltimore,  contributed 
specimens  of  glacial  phosphoric  acid,  valerianate  of  zinc, 
carbolic  acid,  nineteen  varieties  of  fluid  extracts,  a  num¬ 
ber  of  essential  oils,  and  a  large  collection  of  materia 
medica  specimens. 

The  Baltimore  chemical  works  exhibited  specimens  of 
acetate  of  lead,  acetic  acid,  tine  crystals  of  the  iodide  and 
bromide  of  potassium,  and  many  other  chemicals. 

The  Baltimore  chrome  works  exhibited  extensive  spe¬ 
cimens  of  bichromate  of  potassa,  and  the  chrome  ore 
from  which  it  is  prepared. 

The  display  in  the  materia  medica  department  was 
large  and  varied. 

Messrs.  MTvosson  and  Robbins,  New  York,  exhibited 
a  very  extensive  collection  of  gums  and  gum-resins,  in 
the  whole  and  powdered  state. 

Messrs.  B.  0.  and  G-.  C.  Wilson  exhibited  specimens 
of  their  herbs,  pressed  and  impressed,  numbering  about 
sixty.  This  firm  have  gained  an  enviable  reputation  for 
the  quality  of  their  goods ;  their  herbs  are  deprived  of 
the  large  stalks,  and  only  the  leaves  and  leaf-stalks  are 
sent  out  of  their  establishment.  Their  specimens  were 
excellent  throughout. 

Robert  Shoemaker  and  Co.,  Philadelphia,  exhibited  an 
extensive  variety  of  powdered  drugs. 

Dr.  E.  R.  Squibb,  Brooklyn — Two  cases  of  rhubarb. 

PHARMACEUTICAL  AND  OTHER  SPECIMENS. 

Messrs.  Bullock  and  Crenshaw,  Philadelphia,  exhibited 
sugar-coated  pills  in  great  variety,  and  presenting-  the 
handsomest  appearance,  fully  sustaining  their  well-de¬ 
served  reputation. 

Messrs.  Mellor  and  Rittenhouse,  Philadelphia,  made 
an  extensive  display  of  fruit  essences,  solid  and  fluid 
extracts,  etc. 

Mr.  S.  Mason  MUollin,  Philadelphia,  exhibited  a 
variety  of  spread  plasters  of  excellent  quality,  and  also 
court  plaster,  Breed’s  gutta-percha  pessaries,  and  flavour¬ 
ing  extracts,  etc. 

Messrs.  Hance  Brothers  and  White,  Philadelphia — 
Solid  and  fluid  extracts  in  great  variety,  fruit  essences, 
and  sugar-coated  pills ;  also,  a  new  pattern  of  a  geared 
drug-mill  for  apothecaries’  use,  and  Hance’ s  percolator. 

Mr.  Robt.  Platzer,  Philadelphia,  exhibited  about  fifty 
specimens  of  essential  oils,  many  of  them  exceedingly 
rare  ;  also,  a  number  of  foreign  drugs. 

E.  Parrish  and  Son,  Philadelphia,  exhibited  various 
pharmaceutical  specimens,  and  also  apparatus. 

Mr.  W.  C.  Bakes  presented  a  new  style  of  pestle  and 
mortar  machine,  worked  by  hand  power ;  also,  various 
contrivances  for  facilitating  the  dispensing  and  preserva¬ 
tion  of  medicines. 

Mr.  Wm.  Warner,  Philadelphia,  exhibited  a  variety  of 
sugar-coated  pills. 

Dr.  W.  H.  Pile  exhibited  a  variety  of  hydrometers, 
burettes,  graduated  measures,  etc. 

Mr.  Charles  Shivers,  Philadelphia. — Samples  of  spread 
plasters  in  yard  rolls. 

Mr.  Henry  Troemner,  Philadelphia,  exhibited  his  im¬ 
proved  drug  mill  and  prescription  scales. 

Messrs.  Burroughs  Bros.,  Baltimore,  exhibited  a  most 


extensive  collection  of  fluid  extracts  of  their  own  manu¬ 
facture,  including  almost  two  hundred  specimens. 

Messrs.  Sharpe  and  Dohmo,  Baltimore,  made  a  credit¬ 
able  display  of  fluid  extracts,  syrups,  etc. 

Professor  J.  Farris  Moore,  Baltimore,  also  exhibited 
some  fine  specimens  of  fluid  extracts  and  other  pharma- 
ceutical  preparations. 

Mr.  N.  Hynson  Jennings,  of  Baltimore,  exhibited  a 
collection  of  specialities  and  toilet  articles. 

Messrs.  S.  Campbell  and  Co.,  Philadelphia,  exhibited 
fluid  extracts  made  by  direct  percolation,  without  evapo¬ 
ration  ;  also  a  variety  of  elixirs,  syrups,  and  toilet  per¬ 
fumes. 

Mr.  Geo.  S.  Dickey,  San  Francisco,  contributed  five 
samples  of  Monsel’s  salt,  in  scales,  granules,  and  powder. 

Messrs.  Hartman,  Laist  and  Co.,  Cincinnati,  exhibited 
specimens  of  pure,  inodorous  glycerine,  very  beautiful  in 
appearance ;  also,  fine  specimens  of  Epsom  and  Rochelle 
salts. 

John  Mathews,  New  York,  placed  on  exhibition  a 
magnificent  draught  stand  for  soda  water,  constructed  of 
mottled  marble,  with  silver  ornamentations. 

Glassware  and  shop  furniture,  in  tasty  and  beautiful 
styles,  and  druggists’  sundries,  were  exhibited  by  Messrs. 
J.  Quinlan,  New  York ;  Adams  and  Drexel,  Baltimore, 
and  Whitehall,  Tatum  and  Co.,  Philadelphia. 

Messrs.  Battley  and  Watts,  London,  England,  exhi¬ 
bited  samples  of  liquid  extracts,  prepared  by  the  pro¬ 
cesses  of  the  B.  Ph. 

Among  the  objects  of  great  interest  must  be  mentioned 
the  microscopic  specimens  exhibited  by  Dr.  F.  Hoffman, 
of  New  York.  The  specimens  were  mostly  illustrative 
of  the  materia  medica,  and  were  mounted  by  Mr.  C. 
Rodig,  of  Hamburg,  Germany. 

In  conclusion,  we  may  say  that  the  exhibition  was 
most  satisfactory,  and  reflected  great  credit  upon  the  ex¬ 
hibitors,  and  also  upon  the  members  of  the  local  Com¬ 
mittee  in  Baltimore,  who  had  made  such  ample  and 
excellent  provisions  for  the  occasion. — The  Chicago 
Pharmacist. 


LINNEAN  SOCIETY. 

At  the  meeting  held  Dec.  loth,  a  paper  was  read  on 
‘Sabadilla”  ( Asagrcea  officinalis,  Lindl.,  Sabadilla  officina- 
rum ,  Manclt.),  from  Caracas,  by  A.  Ernst.  The  writer 
remarked  that  it  does  not  appear  to  be  generally  known 
that  a  considerable  quantity  of  Sabadilla  is  exported  from 
Caracas  and  Venezuela,  amounting  to  from  3000  to  3500 
quintals  annually  ;  almost  the  whole  being  sent  to  Ham¬ 
burg.  The  plant  is  a  very  common  one  by  the  roadsides 
in  Caracas,  but  the  greatest  part  of  the  drug  comes  from 
the  hilly  regions  in  the  south,  where  it  grows  at  an  ele¬ 
vation  of  from  3500  to  4000  ft.  It  was  originally  dis¬ 
covered  in  the  Mexican  Andes,  and  is  not  known  else¬ 
where.  Although  not  mentioned  by  Humboldt,  it,  is, 
however,  apparently  indigenous  in  Venezuela.  It  flowers 
in  August  and  September,  while  Humboldt  was  there  in 
the  dry  season ;  and  it  is  besides  very  local  in  its  distri¬ 
bution.  The  writer  bases  his  belief  in  its  being  indige¬ 
nous  on  several  circumstances.  In  the  first  place  the 
spots  where  it  grows  are  the  most  unlikely  for  it  to  have 
been  planted;  and  it  has  no  special  means  of  easily 
spreading  its  seeds.  There  is  no  record  of  its  introduc¬ 
tion  ;  yet  it  was  known  long  before  the  seeds  were  first 
exported  by  German  druggists.  The  Caracasian  form 
differs  slightly  in  the  width  of  the  leaves  and  a  few  other 
characters  from  the  typical  A.  officinalis ,  of  Mexico,  and 
might  be  called  A.  caracasana ,  but  the  writers  did  not 
considerit  specifically  distinct.  The  bulbs  contain  nu¬ 
merous  raphides  of  oxalate  ot  lime. 

In  the  discussion  which  followed,  the  President  (Mr 
Bentham)  agreed  with  the  writer,  that  there  was  not 
sufficient  ground  fox-  forming-  the  Caracasian  Sabadilla 
into  a  distinct  species,  especially  as  Bindley  s  description 


314 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  24, 1870. 


was  drawn  from  dried,  specimens.  Mr.  Hanbury  com¬ 
plained  that  the  writer  had  not  accompanied  his  paper 
with  specimens  of  the  plant.  He  said  it  was  a  mistake 
to  suppose  that  pharmacologists  are  not  aware  that  the 
-drug-  is  exported  from  "Venezuela.  The  fact  is  mentioned 
by  Fliickiger,  of  Berne ;  while  Berg  and  Schmidt  even 
mention  the  difference  between  the  two  varieties. 


f itdKimtntanr  anir  fato  fratkimtijs. 

Sale  op  Patent  Medicines  without  Stamp  or 

Licence. 

On  Tuesday,  Dec.  13,  John  Marston,  jun.,  of  44,  Great 
Charles  Street,  Birmingham,  appeared  at  the  Derby 
Borough  Police  Court,  in  answer  to  a  summons  obtained 
by  the  excise  officer,  charging  him  with  selling  patent 
medicines  without  a  licence,  at  9,  Sitwell  Street,  Derby. 

The  officer  deposed  that  on  the  24th  of  September  he 
went  to  No.  9,  Sitwell  Street,  and  saw  a  brass  plate  on 
the  outside,  having  on  it  the  name  of  J.  W.  Hunter,  and 
on  an  inner  door  the  name  of  Dr.  Hunter.  When  ho 
■entered  the  room,  he  saw  a  person  named  Manning,  and 
.asked  for  a  box  of  red  pills.  Manning  left  the  room  and 
.shortly  afterwards  returned  with  the  box  of  pills  and  a 
book.  Witness  gave  him  2s.  9 cl.  for  the  pills,  which  were 
without  the  government  stamp. 

Thomas  Place,  supervisor,  Birmingham,  said  that  on 
the  7th  October,  he  called  at  the  establishment  of  Dr. 
Hunter,  in  Birmingham,  and  saw  the  defendant.  The 
riame  ot  J .  W .  Hunter  was  on  the  door.  The  defendant 
informed  him  that  his  father  had  bought  the  business  of 
Dr.  Hunter  some  years  ago,  and  that  he  had  re-bought 
it  of  his  father ;  and  he  also  stated  that  he  had  agents  in 
Nottingham  and  Derby,  and  that  his  Derby  agent  dis¬ 
pensed  his  medicines.  Defendant  informed  him  that  on 
purchasing  stamps  at  the  Birmingham  Stamp  Office,  he 
had  applied  tor  a  licence,  but  was  told  that  it  was  not 
the  time  for  granting  them,  and  that  he  should  receive 
notice  when  that  time  arrived.  He  had  not  applied  for 
a  licence,  however,  and  the  present  proceedings  had  been 
taken  in  consequence. 

.The  defendant,  who  stated  that  Manning  had  acted 
without  his  authority,  was  fined  £20,  the  full  penalty  for 
the  oflence,  which  the  magistrates  unanimously  decided 
not  to  mitigate. — Derby  Mercury. 

Poisoning  by  Arsenic  in  Ireland. 

An  inquest  was  held  on  Monday,  December  12th,  at 
Rahoon,  upon  the  body  of  Mr.  John  Holton.  It  was 
stated  in  evidence  by  his  wife  that  there  had  been  a 
■quarrel  between  her  and  the  deceased  on  Friday  while  at 
a  cattle  fair.  When  he  returned  home  he  was  retching 
very  much,  and  she  heard  him  say  that  he  had  taken  two 
doses,  of  poison.  She  thought  he  was  imder  the  influence 
•of  drink.  .  Medical  assistance  was  procured,  but  he  died 
the  following  day. 

Dr.  Colahan  stated  that  he  found  the  deceased  suffer¬ 
ing  from  the  effects  of  arsenic.  He  administered  the 
usual  antidotes  and  used  the  stomach-pump,  but  although 
the  deceased  was  relieved  considerably,  he  died  from 
arsenical  poisoning. 

George  Brokie  deposed  that  he  was  an  assistant  to  Mr. 
James  M‘Swinney,  who  kept  a  druggist’s  establishment 
as  'well  as  an  apothecary’s.  On  Friday  night,  a  person 
whom  he  knew  to  be  Holton,  the  deceased,  came  into  the 
shop  to  .  purchase  arsenic.  Upon  asking  him  what  he 
wanted  it  for,  he  replied  to  poison  rats.  Witness  said  he 
considered  him  perfectly  sober  and  sold  him  about  a 
drachm  of  pure  arsenic.  He  did  not  keep  a  book  for  the 
purpose  of  registering  the  sale  of  arsenic,  hut  a  couple  of 
hours  after  the  sale  he  entered  it  in  the  shop-blotter. 
The  packet  was  marked  “poison”  on  a  red  label  and 
“  arsenic  ”  on  the  shop  label.  He  cautioned  the  deceased 
to  be  careful  with  it. 

Henry  O’Reilly  said  he  was  an  assistant  in  the  esta¬ 


blishment  of  Mr.  Staunton.  Holton,  whom  ho  knew, 
came  into  the  shop,  he  thought  on  Friday  ;  when  witness 
began  to  quiz  him  about  feeding-bottles.  After  a  time, 
deceased,  who  was  perfectly  sober,  said  he  wanted  some 
arsenic  to  poison  rats.  Witness  said  ho  would  give  it  to 
him  if  he  would  promise  to  be  very  cautious,  and  he  told 
him  the  danger  attending  its  use.  He  could  not  say 
whether  he  sold  or  gave  it  to  him,  or  whether  ho  received 
any  money  or  not.  It  was  pure  arsenic,  not  mixed  in 
any  way  with  colouring-matter, — a  perfectly  white 
powder.  He  kept  no  register,  nor  did  he  enter  it  in  any 
book.  The  packet  was  marked  “  poison  ”  and  “  arsenic.” 

The  jury  returned  a  verdict  that  deceased  died  from 
the  effects  of  arsenic  administered  by  himself. — Galway 
Vindicator. 


©Mtuiiijr. 

December  8,  at  his  residence,  33,  Rue  Magnan,  Paris, 
aged  36,  Robert  John  Fowler.  Mr.  Fowler  was  born  at 
Gloucester,  and  entered  the  profession  of  pharmacy  by 
apprenticeship  to  Mr.  Harvey,  of  Leeds.  His  tastes  and 
pursuits  had  a  strong  bias  towards  experimental  science, 
and  photography  was  a  subject  to  which  he  devoted  much 
attention.  The  introduction  of  the  collodion  process 
produced  a  rapid  revolution  in  photography,  and  its  trade 
aspect  developed  proportionately,  so  that  Mr.  Fowler’s 
energies  were  concentrated  upon  the  new  department  of 
the  business  in  which  he  was  engaged.  In  the  year 
1860,  Mr.  Fowler  became  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Har¬ 
vey,  Reynolds  and  Fowler,  but  repeated  attacks  of  con¬ 
gestion  of  the  lungs  compelled  him  in  about  four  years 
to  relinquish  this  position  and  he  settled  in  Paris,  the  cli¬ 
mate  of  which  appeared  to  suit  him  much  better  than  that 
of  England.  He  soon  established  a  special  kind  of  busi¬ 
ness  as  commission  agent  in  matters  relating  to  chemistry, 
pharmacy  and  experimental  science,  acting  as  the  medium 
alike  of  importers  and  exporters.  During  the  Paris  Ex¬ 
hibition  of  1867,  he  was  the  representative  of  a  large 
number  of  English  exhibitors,  and  his  assistance  was 
greatly  appreciated  by  his  countrymen.  For  several 
years  Mr.  Fowler  held  the  post  of  Paris  correspondent 
of  the  British  Journal  of  Photography ,  his  letters  appearing 
almost  weekly,  and  often  giving  the  earliest  information 
about  discoveries  in  physical  science  generally,  as  well 
as  the  novelties  of  photography.  We  do  not  learn  that 
Mr.  Fowler's  life  was  shortened  by  the  effects  of  the 
siege.  The  mischief  tothelurgi  had  long  since  deve¬ 
loped  consumptive  symptoms  and  his  death  occurred 
after  a  short  and  rather  sudden  accession  of  illness.  He 
has  left  a  widow  and  one  or  more  young  children,  who  of 
course  are  still  shut  up  in  the  besieged  city. 

Elementary  Chemistry.  By  the  Rev.  II.  Martyn 

Hart,  M. A.  8vo,  pp.  287.  Cassell,  Potter  and  Galpin. 

We  begin  by  praise  because  we  intend  to  blame.  This 
i-pnall  volume  is  very  nicely  and  clearly  printed,  neatly 
got  up,  the  woodcuts  are  numerous  and  good,  and  the 
price  is  moderate.  The  author,  too,  has  evidently  taken 
pains  with  his  writing ;  he  is  probably  a  good  teacher, 
and  certainly  possesses  the  faculty  of  putting  in  a  clear 
and  intelligible  form  those  things  which  he  himself  un¬ 
derstands.  But  the  fault  we  have  to  find  is  that  he 
is  not  sufficiently  instructed  in  the  subject  upon  which 
he  professes  to  write. 

The  impression  we  have  derived  from  a  careful  exami¬ 
nation  of  the  little  book  before  us  is  this  :  it  is  an  abridg¬ 
ment,  imperfectly  effected,  of  Miller's  Chemistry.  It  is, 
in  fact,  just  such  an  epitome  as  a  student  reading  that 
work  would  compile  for  his  own  use.  But  not  only  is 
there  no  originality  displayed  in  the  manner  of  treating 
the  subject,  in  the  arrangement  of  the  matter,  or  in  the 
illustrations  made  use  of,  but  over  all  the  book  hangs 


December  24,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


515 


that  crude  and  superficial  air,  the  appearance  of  which 
lets  the  cat  out  of  the  hag-.  Added  to  this,  there  are 
oven  quite  early  in  its  pages  several  very  serious  mis¬ 
statements.  Not  to  cavil,  we  pass  over  the  Introduction, 
and  in  Chapter  II.  we  find,  succeeding  a  table  of  the 
elements,  the  following  passage : — “  The  numbers  in  the 
third  column  are  the  combining  weights ,  or,  as  they 
.are  sometimes  called,  the  equivalent  numbers  or  atomic 
weights .”  And  then  a  little  further  on : — “  It  is  to  be  re¬ 
membered  then,  that  the  equivalent  number  of  any  element 
signifies  the  relation  in  weight  which  the  atom  of  that 
element  bears  to  an  atom  of  hydrogen ;  and  since  chemi¬ 
cal  compounds  are  formed  by  the  imion  of  atoms,  the 
atomic  weight  will  also  represent  the  weight  in  which 
the  element  will  enter  into  combination.  Sometimes 
one,  two  or  many  atoms  enter  into  the  compound,  so  that 
whatever  may  be  the  quantity  of  the  element,  it  must 
always  be  a  multiple  of  the  atomic  weight ;  hence  the 
name  combining  weight.  And  it  very  frequently  happens 
that  one  element  in  a  compound  is  replaced  by  another, 
one  atom  taking  the  place  of  another,  the  weight  of  one 
atom  being  equivalent  to  the  weight  of  the  other ;  hence 
the  name  equivalent  number.”  Only  a  few  linos  lower 
down  we  are  told  that  “  a  salt  is  a  compound  of  an  acid 
.and  a  base.”  An  acid  is  a  body  possessing  a  sour  taste, 
and  “  is  now  defined  to  be  a  salt  of  hydrogen.”  “  A  base 
is  a  body  which  will  combine  with  an  acid  to  form  a  salt. 
The  alkalies  are  the  strongest  bases.  A  base  is  generally 
the  oxide  of  a  metal.”  What  a  curious  state  of  confu¬ 
sion  must  the  author’s  mind  have  been  in  when  he  penned 
these  sentences!  We  are  only  certain  of  this,  that  if  a 
boy  of  sixteen  presented  himself  at  the  London  University 
Matriculation  examination  in  such  a  condition  of  mental 
fog,  he  would  inevitably  be  “spun”  without  mercy. 
Now  that  the  teaching  of  science  to  boys  and  girls  is 
becoming  more  and  more  the  fashion,  it  behoves  us  to 
condemn  uncompromisingly  all  that  is  not  of  the  soundest 
and  clearest.  Let  those  schoolmasters  who  must  needs 
be  their  own  professors  bear  ever  in  mind  that  in  pro¬ 
portion  as  the  possession  of  practical  and  lucid  scientific 
ideas  is  of  greater  importance  than  ever  so  critical  an 
•acquaintance  with  dead  languages,  so  the  slightest  hazi¬ 
ness  in  this  department  of  mental  culture  is  more  per¬ 
nicious  than  any  number  of  imperfections  in  such  an  art 
as  Latin  versification. 


BOOKS  RECEIVED. 

Note-Book  op  Materia  Medica,  Pharmacology  and 
Therapeutics.  By  R.  E.  Scoresby-Jackson,  M.D., 
F.R.S.E.,  etc.  Second  Edition,  Revised,  Enlarged  and 
brought  down  to  the  Present  time,  by  Angus  Mac¬ 
donald,  M.A.,  formerly  Lecturer  on  Mat.  Med.  and 
Therapeutics  at  Surgeons’  Hall.  Edinburgh:  Maclachlan 
and  Stewart,  64,  South  Bridge.  London :  Simpkin,  Mar¬ 
shall  and  Co. 


Die  Pflanzenstopfe  in  Chemischer,  Physiologischer, 
Pharmacologischer  und  Toxicologischer  Hinsicht. 
Fur  Aerzte,  Apotheker,  Chemiker  und  Pharmakologen 
bcarbeitet  von  Dr.  Aug.  Husemann  und  Dr.  Theod.  Huse- 
mann.  Dritte  Lieferung  (Bogen  34-51).  Berlin.  1870. 
From  the  Editors,  through  Mr.  Nutt. 

Introduction  to  the  Study  of  Inorganic  Chemistry. 
By  William  Allen  Miller,  M.D.,  D.C.L.,  LL.D. 
London:  Longmans,  Green  and  Co.  1871.  From  the 
Publishers. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  Dec.  17 ;  the  ‘Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
Dec.  17 ;  the  ‘Lancet,’  Dec.  17;  the  ‘ Medical  Press  and  Cir¬ 
cular,’  Dec.  21 ;  ‘ Nature,’  Dec.  16 ;  the  ‘Chemical  News,’  Dec. 
16;  ‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  Dec.  15;  ‘Gardeners’  Chro¬ 
nicle,’ Dec.  17 ;  the  ‘Grocer,’  Dec.  17  ;  the  ‘English  Mecha¬ 
nic,’  Dec.  16 ;  the  ‘  Produce  Markets  Review,’  Dec.  17  ;  the 
‘  New  York  Druggists’  Circular’  for  December ;  the  ‘  Chicago 
Pharmacist’  for  December;  ‘Chesterfield  and  North  Derby¬ 
shire  Almanack,’  1871;  the  ‘Galway  Vindicator,’  Dec.  14. 


ftotw  itnir  frats. 

***  In  order  to  facilitate  reference ,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  their  answers  in  each  case  with  the  title 
and  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

NOTICE. — To  prevent  delay ,  correspo)idents  are  re¬ 
quested  to  send  their  communications  to  the  Journal  Depecrt- 
ment ,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square ,  JF.C.,  and  not  to  the  Pub¬ 
lishers. 

[63.]— GREEN  FLUID  FOR  SHOW-BOTTLES.— The 
following  gives  an  emerald  green :  — 

Cupri  Nitrat.  ^bj 
Acid.  Muriat.  §iv 
Acid.  Nitric.  §iv 
Aq.  Destil.  Cong.  ij. 

Misce  sec.  art.  W.  J.  P.,  Uawkhurst. 

[66.]— CEMENT  FOR  INDIA-RUBBER.— IT.  and  /S', 
send  the  following  : — 

India-rubber  5j 
Gutta  Percha  3iv 

Bisulphide  of  Carbon  5iv.  M. 

[68.]—  POT  POURRI.— In  reply  to  “  Iodi”  (Sudbury), 
U.  B.  (Scarborough)  sends  the  following: — 

Gum  Benzoin  §ij 
Cloves  Bj 
Styrax  Cal.  ^ss 
Cort.  Cinnam.  5ij 
Rad.  Iridis 

Roughly  powdered  together,  then  add — 

Musk  5ss 

Bay  Salt  Hij 

Ol.  Lavand.  gtt.  xx. 

Mix.  - 

R.  Lavender  Flowers  1  lb. 

Yellow  Sandal- wood  41b. 

Cloves  2  lb. 

Nutmegs  21b. 

Orange  Peel  2  lb. 

Lemon  Peel  2  lb. 

Cumin  Seeds  lib. 

Cinnamon  2  lb. 

Juniper  Berries  21b. 

Rose  Leaves  2  lb. 

Musk  9j.  G.  Heyward,  Croydon. 

[74.] — TOILET  VINEGAR. — In  reply  to  “Reciprocate” 
I  forward  you  the  following  recipe : — 

01.  Neroli, 

„  Cloves, 

„  Lemon, 

„  Bergamot, 

,,  Cedrat,  ana  5j 
Otto  Rose  gtt.  xx 
Gum  Benzoin  5v 
Balsam' Tolu  9j 
S.  V.  lb  Oiij. 

Digest  for  six  days  and  add — 

Acid.  Acet.  Glacial,  ^iss 
Ess.  Ambergris  gtt.  x 
,,  Musk  gtt.  x. 

After  twenty- four  hours,  add  aq.  destill.  and  filter. — H.B., 
Scarborough. 

[77.] — DISPENSING. — Can  any  of  your  readers  inform 
me  how  I  can  dispense  the  following  mixture  so  as  the  result 
shall  be,  without  filtering,  perfectly  clear  ?  It  has  been  dis¬ 
pensed  in  London,  and  every  time  a  clear  mixture  was  sent 
out.  I  have  dispensed  it  some  twenty  or  thirty  times,  and  it 
has  always  been  milky  ? 

R.  Acid.  Phosph.  Dil.  B.  P.  5bj 
Ferri  Cit.  c.  Quin.  5j 
Tinct.  Nucis  Vomica)  5j 
Sp.  Chloroformi  5vj 
Aq.  Destill,  ad  3yj. 

Ft.  mist.  One  tablespoonful  to  be  taken  m  halt  a  wine¬ 
glass  of  water,  at  eleven  and  five. — “  Exhibeatur.’ 

In  reply  to  “  Exhibeatur  ”  I  give  it  as  my  opinion  that  it 


516 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  24, 1870. 


is  not  possible  to  prepare  the  prescription  faithfully  and  pro¬ 
cure  a  clear  mixture  without  filtering.  Experiments  hastily 
made  in  the  course  of  business  show  that  on  the  addition  of 
the  acid,  phospli.  dil.  to  the  solution  of  ferri  cit.  quin.,  a 
deposit  of  ferri  phosph.  is  the  result,  and  on  further  adding 
the  other  ingredients  there  is  a  deposit  of  quinia.  I  have 
tried  Mr.  Harwood’s  method  of  dispensing  the  prescription, 
and  find  that,  as  by  any  other  method,  a  precipitate  is  slowly 
deposited.  Such  a  mixture  ought  certainly  not  to  be  filtered. 
— “Ego.” 

[82.]— COLOURS  FOR  CARBOYS.— The  following,  like 
the  green  sent  last  week,  do  not  contain  more  than  a  few 
grains  of  solid  matter  in  the  gallon : — 

BLUE. 

Liq.  Fer.  Perch.  Fort.  <Ax 
Potass.  Prus.  Flav.  gr.  x 
Acid.  Oxalic.  5'j 
Aq.  Cong,  i,  vel  q.s. 

BED. 

Liq.  Fer.  Perch.  Fort,  -^x 
Potass.  Sulphocyanid.  gr.  x 
Aq.  Cong,  i,  vel  q.s. 

H.  P.  Heaedee,  Plymouth. 

CEIMSOX. 

Iodi, 

Potassii  Iodidi,  ana  5ss 
Acidi  Hydrochlorici  5j 
Aqua)  ad  Cj.  M. 

GEEEX. 

Cupri  Sulph.  5j 
Potass.  Bichrom.  5ss 
Liq.  Amro.  Fort,  ^ij 
Aquae  ad  Cj.  Misce. 

Tried  and  found  good  by  T.  W.  C.,  Holbeach, 


BED. 

Liquid  magenta  dye  q.  s. 

This  is  a  good  colour,  stands  well,  and  can  be  easily  deep¬ 
ened  by  the  addition  of  a  little  more  magenta. — Pestle  akd 
Moetae. 

In  answer  to  31.’ s  inquiries  as  to  the  best  way  to  prepare 
colours  for  bottles,  I  beg  to  say,  if  he  wishes  for  a  perfectly 
clear  solution,  his  better  plan  is  to  use  a  weak  spirit,  say  30 
U.p.,  made  by  mixing  two  gallons  of  ordinary  alcohol  with 
three  gallons  of  distilled  water ;  but  if  this  is  too  expensive, 
then  use  distilled  water  alone  and  filter. 

Crimson. — Make  a  strong  decoction  of  red  poppy  petals, 
and  with  acid,  sulph.  dil.  to  the  required  shade. 

Blue. — Cupri  sulph.  2  parts;  acid,  sulph.  1  part. — G.  B. 
Claeice,  Woburn. 

[93.] — OYER-PROOF  SPIRIT. — The  term  proof  spirit 
■was  originally  applied  to  a  spirit  of  such  a  strength  that 
"when  gunpowder  was  wetted  with  it  and  the  mixture  lighted, 
the  spirit,  after  it  had  burned  away,  fired  the  gunpowder, — if 
it  failed  to  do  this  it  was  considered  tinder  proof.  At  the 
present  time,  however,  the  strength  of  spirit  is  known  by  tbe 
quantity  of  absolute  alcohol  it  contains,  as  indicated  by  its 
specific  gravity ;  the  proof  spirit  now  recognized  by  the 
Excise  is  of  a  sp.  gr.  -920  and  contains  57  per  cent,  by  volume 
of  real  alcohol.  And  when  a  spirit  of  a  certain  strength  is 
named,  such  as  56  or  60  degrees  over  proof,  it  means  that  to 
every  100  parts  of  such  spirit,  56  or  60  parts  of  water  are  to 
be  added  to  reduce  it  to  proof  strength. — J.  H.  Baldock, 
S.  Norwood.  _ 

Proof  spirit,  sp.  gr.  0-920  is  the  standard  by  which  the 
strength  ot  spirit  ot  wine  is  regulated  by  law  in  this  country ; 
hence,  it  spirit  ot  wine  be  stronger  and  therefore  lighter  than 
proof  spirit,  it  is  said  to  bo  so  much  per  cent.  “over- proof;” 
and  if  weaker  and  consequently  heavier,  so  much  per  cent. 
“  tinder- proof.” 

The  sense  in  which  the  Excise  use  the  term  per  cent,  is 
somewhat  peculiar  and  is  as  follows,  viz.: — 100  gallons  of 
spirit  ot  wine  at  56  per  cent,  over-proof  ( Spiritus  rectifica- 
tus  P.  B.  sp.  gr.  0-8382  at  60°  F.),  contain  as  much  alcohol 
as  156  gallons  of  proof  spirit,  i.  e.  100  gallons  require  to  be 
reduced  with  distilled  water  to  156  gallons  to  form  proof 
spirit;  100  volumes  of  spirit  of  wine  at  51  o.r.  are  diluted 


with  distilled  water  to  151  volumes;  and  100  volumes  at  60 
o.p.  are  diluted  to  160  volumes,  to  form  proof  spirit. 

A  spirit  of  wine  stated  to  be  10  per  cent,  “under- proof” 
signifies  that  100  volumes  contain  as  much  alcohol  as  90 
volumes  of  proof  spirit,  and  100  volumes  of  spirit  of  wine  at 
30  per  cent.  “  tinder-pvooi  ”  contain  the  same  quantity  of 
alcohol  as  70  volumes  of  proof  spirit  and  so  on. 

In  making  Spiritus  tenuior,  P.B.,  by  mixing  five  pints  of 
rectified  spirit  with  three  pints  of  distilled  water  and  well 
stirring  the  mixture,  eight  pints  of  proof  spirit  is  not  pro¬ 
duced,  owing  to  the  evolution  of  heat  and  contraction  of  thfr 
fluid. 

This  deficiency — of  about  4oz.  in  the  gallon — is  usually 
made  up  with  distilled  water,  and  must  be  borne  in  mind  in 
preparing  tinctures,  etc.,  containing  proof  spirit.  Spiritus 
tenuior  should  be  kept  ready  prepared  and  the  specific  gravity 
always  carefully  tested. — J.  Saundees  Seamax. 


[99.]— SHEET  LIGHTNING. — “Pestle  and  3Iortar” 
(Dorking)  wishes  for  a  recipe  for  making  sheet  lightning. 

[100.]— TOOTHACHE  TINCTURE. — “A  Beech  ”  would 
be  gl  id  of  a  recipe  for  a  good  toothache  tincture. 

[101.]— CHERRY  TOOTH-PASTE.— W.  L.  G.  (St. 
Austell)  would  feel  obliged  if  some  correspondent  would  give 
him  a  recipe  for  a  good  cherry  tooth-paste. 

[102.]— CIVET,  AMBERGRIS  AND  CASTOR. — F.  C. 
is  desirous  of  knowing  w-hence  w-e  derive  our  supplies  of  civet, 
ambergris  and  castor,  and  the  quantities  imported  during 
1869. 

[103.]— SEA-SICKNESS.— P.  Q.  would  feel  obliged  for 
a  formula  of  a  reliable  remedy  for  sea-sickness,  not  chloral 
hydrate. 

[104.] — COUGH  PILLS. — “  Pendennis”  wishes  for  a 
good  recipe  for  cough  pills. 

[105.]— BLACK  MIXTURE.— Will  any  of  your  readers 
supply  me  with  a  formula  for  black  mixture  for  scour  in 
cattle  ? — Pendennis. 

[106.] — 31.  P.  S.  would  be  glad  to  know  if  chloral,  hyd. 
anti  chloralis  anhydr.  are  the  same,  and  w-hether  both  names 
are  used. 

[107.] — ADDRESS. — R.  PE.  wishes  for  the  address  of  Dr. 
Natali,  an  Italian  physician,  living  at  Twickenham  in  the 
beginning  of  the  year  1869. 

[108.] — SUKKAR-UL-AUSHAR. — “  This  is  the  name  of 
the  Manna  or  saccharine  substance  produced  by  Calotropis 
procera,  or  some  other  species  allied  to  it,  in  Arabia  and 
Persia,  which  was  formerly  imported  into  India;  but  it  is. 
not  found  at  all  now  in  any  bazaar,  nor  is  it  ever  produced 
here,  as  far  as  my  knowledge  extends,  by  any  species  of 
Calotropis.”  So  says  the  ‘  Supplement  to  the  Indian  Phar¬ 
macopoeia,’  but  can  any  correspondent,  at  home  or  abroad, 
vouch  for  the  existence  of  such  a  substance  at  all,  from  per¬ 
sonal  experience,  and  not  from  books  ?  Has  any  one  ever  seen 
sugar  or  manna,  or  any  saccharine  substance,  obtained  from 
any  species  of  Calotropis  or  believed  to  have  been  obtained 
from  such  a  source  ?  If  so,  what  is  it  like?  w-hence  procurable? 
and  is  it  any  other  than  the  nidus  of  an  insect  ( Coleoptera ) 
which  frequents  the  Calotropis  1 — C. 

[109.]— TAMARISK  MANNA.— Many  a  time  and  oft  it 
has  been  asserted  in  books  that  a  species  of  Tamarix  yields 
manna.  It  is  said  to  be  accurately  described  by  Diodorus 
Siculus.  Some  say  it  is  produced  by  an  insect  and  is  found 
near  Sinai.  Others  allude  to  Persia,  and  others  that  it  is  ob¬ 
tained  plentifully  near  Jhang,  in  the  Punjab.  Can  any  cor¬ 
respondent  affirm,  upon  his  own  knowledge,  that  there  is  such 
a  substance  at  all  as  Tamarisk  manna  ?  because  I  begin  to 
doubt  w-hether  there  is  not  some  mistake,  and  whether  any 
manna  is  produced  on  Tamarisks. — C. 

[110.]— PATENT  MEDICINES.— A  table  was  published 
some  years  ago  in  one  of  the  scientific  journals,  giving  a  com¬ 
parison  of  the  composition  of  various  well-known  medicines, 
protected  by  letters-patent,  as  obtained  by  actual  analysis  ot 
a  sample,  with  the  composition  as  given  by  the  inventor  in 
his  specification.  I  am  desirous  of  finding  this  table. — R.  B.  P- 


December  21, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AXD  TRANSACTIONS. 


517 


*0*  A ro  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication ,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Proposed  Regulations  por  Storing  op  Poisons. 

In  regard  to  this  subject  there  is  evidently  still  almost  as  great 
a  divergence  between  the  position  taken  by  the  Council  and 
•that  held  by  the  country  members  as  there  was  before  the  last 
election  of  Council  took  place.  As  far  as  present  evidences 
go,  there  appears  little  prospect  of  an  agreement  being  arrived 
•at  by  the  time  the  Annual  Meeting  comes  round,  at  which 
the  subject  will  be  again  debated, — and,  it  is  earnestly  to  be 
desired,  debated  with  better  effect  than  at  the  meeting  in 
May  last. 

Mr.  Flux,  at  that  meeting,  said  “he  must  confess  there 
was,  in  his  opinion,  no  danger  of  a  mandamus  being  issued 
calling  upon  the  Society  to  pass  these  regulations ;  but, 
whether  the  public  would  not  consider  that  the  clause  did 
impose  an  obligation  to  pass  some  regulations,  and  that,  re¬ 
fusing  to  pass  any,  the  subject  was  remitted  back  to  the  pub¬ 
lic  to  be  dealt  with  as  Parliament  might  in  its  wisdom  think 
best,  was  a  matter  for  the  consideration  of  the  members.” 
And  the  members  at  the  meeting  practically  indicated  their 
willingness  to  take  the  consequences  of  the  rejection  rather 
than  submit  to  the  regulations  then  proposed.  If  the  Coun¬ 
cil  have  other  and  more  urgent  reasons  for  pushing  the 
•adoption  of  some  regulations,  the  members  do  not  appear  to 
be  made  sufficiently  aware  of  the  fact. 

A  clear  statement  of  the  reason  why  some  regulations 
must  be  adopted,  and  an  evident  desire  on  the  part  of  the 
Committee  and  the  Council  to  meet  as  far  as  possible  the 
•objections  which  were  raised  against  the  previous  code,  would 
do  much  to  remove  the  objections  which  I  have  reason  to 
believe  are  still  strongly  felt  by  many  of  my  provincial 
brethren. 

Comparing  the  code  as  at  present  proposed  with  that  pre¬ 
viously  discussed,  it  is  certainly  altered  for  the  better;  but 
comparing  it  with  the  remarks  which  were  made  at  the  dis¬ 
cussion  in  May  and  with  the  correspondence  that  has  been 
published  since  that  time,  I  think  it  might  have  been  modified 
still  further,  both  with  advantage  to  its  efficiency  and  to  the 
prospect  of  its  ultimate  adoption. 

The  main  objection  to  the  former  code  -was  that  it  was  im¬ 
practicable  to  put  restrictions  upon  the  mode  of  keeping  many 
•of  the  less  potent  preparations  of  cantharides,  belladonna, 
opium,  etc. ;  that  it  was  unreasonable  to  put  them  under  the 
same  regulations  which  were  requisite  for  tlie  safe  custody  of 
strychnine  and  hydrocyanic  acid,  and  futile  to  expect  good 
results  from  the  use  of  any  danger-signals  which  would  be  too 
common  from  their  extension  to  the  whole  of  the  numerous 
list  of  legal  poisons. 

It  may  be  that  the  Committee  do  not  feel  empowered  to 
select  a  short  list  of  very  dangerous  articles,  which  might  be 
kept  under  stringent  regulations ;  but,  if  so,  we  think  they 
would  do  well  to  make  it  fully  known  that  they  have  not  the 
power  of  making  two  sets  of  regulations  to  apply  to  the 
lirst  and  second  parts  of  the  schedule  respectively,  or  to  clas¬ 
sify  poisons  according  to  any  other  mode  which  might  be 
more  practicable  for  their  safe  keeping. 

Perhaps  the  publication  of  the  debates  in  Council  upon  the 
subject  would  show  that  these  points  have  been  fairly  con¬ 
sidered  and  for  good  reasons  laid  aside ;  but  the  Council  must 
not  wonder  at  the  continued  opposition  of  the  country  mem¬ 
bers,  so  long  as  they  give  them  no  evidence  that  their  sugges¬ 
tions  have  met  with  consideration  before  being  rejected. 

In  the  Journal  for  July  9,  1870,  Mr.  Wilkinson  rejoices 
that  the  immediate  danger  of  vexatious  restrictions  has  passed 
away ,  and  concludes  his  letter  by  saying,  “  If  we  must  have 
regulations  on  the  subject,  they  should  be  confined  to  a  few 
ot  the  more  deadly  and  dangerous  poisons  and  their  names 
■specified.” 

In  the  Journal  for  September  17,  1870,  I  protest  against 
making  the  poison  regulations  abortive  by  becoming  too 
common,  and  suggest,  as  a  means  of  avoiding  this,  that  “All 
poisons  intended  for  internal  use  as  medicines,  the  usual  adult 
dose  of  which  is  less  than  one  drachm,  shall  bear  a  label  im¬ 
mediately  under  the  name  of  the  article  stating  the  usual 


adult  dose ;  and  upon  such  articles  the  usual  adult  dose  of 
which  is  less  than,  say  5  grains,  there  shall  be  added  the  label 
‘  Poison,’  immediately  under  the  label  indicating  the  dose 
and  add,  that  if  a  poison-cupboard  or  other  additional  pre¬ 
caution  is  deemed  necessary,  it  should  only  apply  to  such 
poisons,  the  usual  adult  dose  of  Avhich  does  not  exceed  5 
grains ;  thus  liberating  the  tincture  and  Avine  of  opium,  etc., 
from  the  poison-cupboard,  and  liberating  paregoric  elixir 
and  syrup  of  poppies  from  any  restriction  regarding  their 
storage. 

In  the  number  for  October  8,  1870,  Mr.  Buclcett,  while 
declaring  his  preference  that  avc  should  restrict  our  efforts  for 
securing  public  safety  to  the  proper  education  of  all  Avho  sell 
and  dispense  poisons,  also  says,  “  Keeping  dangerous  articles 
in  one  particular  place,  such  as  a  cupboard,  is  a  precaution 
which,  I  think,  should  never  be  neglected,  though  the  articles 
so  treated  would  depend,  in  some  degree,  upon  the  class  of 
business  done.”  There  is  thus  evidently  a  Avillingness  on  the 
part  of  some  of  the  opponents  of  the  late  code  of  regulations 
to  accept  an  amended  code,  if  it  can  be  made  such  as  they 
have  suggested  Avould  be  practically  useful  and  not  exces¬ 
sively  burdensome;  and  while  I  wouid  urge  upon  the  Council 
to  prepare  for  submission  to  the  Annual  Meeting  such  a  code 
of  regulations  as  would  disarm  their  late  opponents,  I  Avould 
also  gladly  see  the  country  members  extend  yet  a  little  further 
their  Avillingness  to  submit  to  regulations  which  are  probably 
more  dreaded  in  anticipation  than  objectionable  in  actual 
practice ;  this,  hoAvever,  with  the  understanding  that  in  the 
meantime  the  Council  show  satisfactory  grounds  for  the 
opinion  which  they  seem  to  hold,  that  it  is  necessary  at  the 
present  time  to  add  some  further  regulations  to  those  in¬ 
herent  in  the  Act.  And  that  they  either  submit  a  further 
amended  code  of  regulations,  obviating,  as  far  as  possible, 
the  objectionable  features  Avhich,  I  think,  have  been  amply 
pointed  out  during  the  discussion  of  the  subject,  both  at  the 
meetings  of  the  Society  and  in  the  pages  of  the  Journal. 

11,  G-rey  Street,  Newcastle.  Barnard  Proctor. 


Sir, — It  appears  to  me  that  this  proposal  is  likely  again  to 
cause  much  ill-feeling  in  our  Society,  and  will  probably  lead 
to  a  distinct  fight  upon  the  question  at  the  next  election.  I 
think  every  well-wisher  to  the  Society  will  be  anxious  to  see 
this  avoided.  The  question  then  arises,  Avhat  steps  can  bo 
adopted  to  avoid  the  scandal  of  a  split  among  ourselves? 
Perhaps  the  first  amendment  moved  at  the  Council  Meeting 
by  Messrs.  Brown  and  Woolley,  Avould  command  the  adhe¬ 
sion  of  a  majority  of  the  Pharmaceutical  and  Registered  Che¬ 
mists;  but  certainly  their  second  proposal,  that  of  ascertain¬ 
ing  the  opinion  of  chemists  throughout  the  country  before 
taking  action,  would  command  almost  universal  support. 
What  I  Avould  therefore  propose  is  that  every  local  secretary 
should  at  once  ascertain  the  opinions  of  all  chemists  in  his 
district  and  forward  them  to  the  Council.  I  am  prepared  so 
to  act  here,  and  would  recommend,  Avhere  the  local  secretary 
declines  to  act,  that  some  other  member  or  registered  chemist 
does  the  work.  The  feeling  of  all  could  be  thus  obtained  in 
a  feAv  days,  and  would,  no  doubt,  determine  the  action  of  the 
Council. 

T.  W.  Gissing,  Local  Secretary. 

Wakefield,  Dec.  17 th,  1870. 


Sir, — The  Chairman  at  the  last  Annual  Meeting,  in  his 
opening  remarks  upon  the  question  of  “  Poison  Regulations,” 
used  the  folloAving  Avords : — “  I  fail  to  gather  from  all  the 
protests  Avhich  have  been  sent  up,  any  more  logical  objection 
to  them  than  that  of  perhaps  a  natural  dislike  to  being  com¬ 
pelled  to  submit  to  any  special  code.”  Does  it  not  strike  the 
reason  of  any  intelligent  person  that  the  real  repugnance 
to  these  absurd  regulations  is  based  upon  the  most  logical 
grounds  possible,  and  is  but  the  natural  expression  of  minds 
possessing  just  appreciation  of  their  own  intelligence  and 
responsibility  ? 

Allow  me  to  put  a  parallel  case  and  to  ask  what  Avould  be 
the  feeling  of  a  gentleman,  after  receiving  a  good  educa¬ 
tion,  Avalking  the  hospital,  going  through  the  usual  examina¬ 
tions  and  who  in  due  course  received  his  diploma  authorizing 
him  to  practise, — were  the  same  authorizing  body  to. come  to 
him  and  say,  “NoAAr,  Sir,  you  have  passed  our  examinations, 
you  are  fully  qualified  to  practise,  but  before  you  do  so,  avo 
must  remind  you  that  you  must  conform  to  our  regulations 
as  to  the  place  and  manner  of  keeping  your  knives  and  lancets, 
lest  you  should  by  mistake  use  the  Avrong  one.  Aou  must 


51S 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  21,1870. 


.also  have  each  of  those  instruments  distinctly  engraved  ‘dan¬ 
gerous,’  lest  you  should  by  chance  forget  the  fact.”  What, 
I  ask,  would  that  gentleman  say  ?  what  would  he  feel  ?  Me- 
thinks  I  see  the  smile  of  sarcastic  scorn  with  which  he  would 
view  his  interrogator,  while  with  difficulty  he  restrains  the 
utterance  of  an  epithet  not  over-complimentary.  Would  his 
objection  be  logical?  Would  not  his  indignation  be  pardon¬ 
able  as  well  as  reasonable? 

I  venture  to  think  this  is  veiy  much  the  position  into 
which  our  Council  seeks  to  put  us  by  adhering  to  these  would- 
be  “  Poison  Regulations,”  over  -which  we  had  so  warm  a  dis¬ 
cussion  at  the  last  Annual  Meeting,  the  amended  form  of 
which  you  have  published  in  this  week’s  Journal.  I  grieve, 
as  I  look  through  the  names  of  the  gentlemen  who  felt  it 
their  duty  (certainly  not  in  the  interests  of  their  electors) 
to  oppose  the  amendments  moved  by  Messrs.  Brown  and 
Woolley,  to  see  those  whose  judgment  in  most  cases  we  dare 
not  question,  who  yet,  under  the  mistaken  idea  that  because 
the  Council  at  the  time  of  the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy  Bill 
thought  proper  to  make  certain  unwise  engagements,  there¬ 
fore  the  present  Coimeil  is  bound  to  endorse  and  to  carry 
out  those  engagements,  notwithstanding  the  universal  ex¬ 
pression  of  dissent  by  the  whole  body  of  independent  chemists 
throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land.  Should  the 
Council  persist  in  enforcing  these  regulations,  it  will  be  our 
bounden  duty  to  rise  en  masse  against  so  unjustifiable  an 
act. 

The  reluctance  of  the  Council  to  solicit  a  cool  expression  of 
feeling  on  the  part  of  the  trade,  which  would  have  been  the 
result  of  adopting  Mr.  Woolley’s  second  amendment,  reminds 
one  irresistibly  of  the  similar  feeling  manifested  by  our 
neighbours  across  the  Channel;  is  it  possible  a  similar  feeling 
of  distrust  in  their  own  position  actuates  both  parties  ?  If 
so,  let  our  friends  at  Bloomsbury  Square  be  wise  and  face  the 
difficulty  and  act  upon  the  verdict  returned,  and  they  will 
have  no  cause  to  regret  the  step ;  but  supported  by  the  una¬ 
nimous  voice  of  the  trade,  they  will  be  in  a  position  to  ex¬ 
plain  to  the  Privy  Council  the  impracticability  of  carrying 
out  such  measures,  and  further  to  show  that  the  present 
educational  standard  required  by  law  is  a  far  more  powerful 
safeguard  than  any  penal  enactment  could  possibly  produce. 
On  the  other  hand,  should  these  gentlemen,  forgetting  their 
representative  position,  still  consider  themselves  pledged  to 
Government  to  carry  out  these  regulations,  then  in  the  face 
of  an  adverse  vote  but  one  constitutional  act  remains  open  to 
them. 

No  one  would  regret  more  than  myself  any  repetition  of 
the  excitement  exhibited  at  our  last  Annual  Meeting  upon 
this  question,  but  unless  the  Council  will  be  wise  in  time,  I 
fear  the  result  will  be  inevitable,  for  assuredly  the  trade  at 
large  will  not  quietly  submit  to  be  thus  unnecessarily  saddled 
with  a  burden  which  neither  the  promoters  nor  ourselves 
could  carry. 

Two  modes  of  action  present  themselves  at  the  present 
crisis.  The  first  rests  with  the  Council  itself,  viz.,  the  adop¬ 
tion  of  Mr.  Woolley’s  motion  at  the  next  meeting  of  the 
Council  to  the  effect  “  That  it  is  desirable  to  obtain  an  ex¬ 
pression  of  opinion  from  chemists  throughout  the  country 
whether  regulations  for  the  keeping  of  poisons  are  desirable 
or  not ;  the  same  to  be  obtained  by  circulars  issued  by  the 
Seci’etary  of  the  Society.”  The  second  -would  then  be  un¬ 
necessary  ;  but  in  the  event  of  the  Council  again  rejecting  it, 
I  venture  to  suggest  that  the  trade  would  be  compelled  in 
self-defence  to  take  the  matter  into  its  owrn  hands,  and  forth¬ 
with  have  petitions  against  the  regulations  signed  in  every 
town  and  duly  forwrarded  to  the  Council.  For  many  reasons 
the  former  -would  be  far  preferable,  eminently  so,  as  it  would 
at  once  prevent  the  unnecessary  excitement  which  must 
otherwise  arise. 

The  one  would  be  an  act  of  becoming  grace,  the  other  an 
act  of  hostile  necessity.  Edwin  B.  "VTzeb. 

G3,  Lupus  Street,  Belgravia  South, 

December  19  th,  1870. 


Sir,— I  had  a  slight  hope,  but  not  much  expectation,  that 
the  discussion  in  the  Council  on  the  7th  instant  would  have 
produced  a  different  result,  and  that  we  should  hear  no  more 
of  compulsory  regulations  ;  but  the  majority  seem  determined, 
if  possible,  to  force  them  upon  us.  They  certainly  cannot  be 
aware  of  the  full  scope  and  effect  of  the  proposed  measure,  or 
they  would  not  be  so  desirous  of  enforcing  its  adoption. 

I  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  if  the  “  Regulations  ”  last  pro¬ 


posed  become  law,  every  chemist  and  druggist  in  the  country 
will  be  at  the  mercy  of  the  Privy  Council,  and  liable  at  any¬ 
time  to  be  struck  off  the  Register,  and  compelled  to  discon¬ 
tinue  his  business  if  he  fail  to  observe  them.  The  first  clause 
in  the  Pharmacy  Act  says,  “  It  shall  be  unlawful  for  any 
person  to  sell  or  keep  open  shop  for  retailing  poisons,  or  to 
use  the  title  of  Chemist  and  Druggist,  unless  registered  under 
the  Act,  and  conform  to  such  regulations  as  to  the  keeping, 
dispensing  and  selling  of  such  poisons  as  may  from  time  to 
time  be  prescribed  by  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  with  the 
consent  of  the  Privy  Council.” 

Clause  15  says,  “  Any  person  who  shall  fail  to  conform 
to  any  regulation  as  to  the  keeping  or  selling  of  poisons 
made  in  pursuance  of  this  Act,  shall  be  liable  to  a  penalty 
of  £5.” 

Clause  26  says,  “  The  Privy  Council  may  direct  the  name 
of  any  person  who  is  convicted  of  any  offence  against  this 
Act,  which,  in  their  opinion,  renders  him  unfit  to  be  on  the 
Register  under  this  Act,  to  be  erased  from  such  Register, 
and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Registrar  to  erase  the  same 
accordingly.”  It  is  hardly  credible  that  any  one  seeing  the 
effects  of  these  provisions  would  voluntarily  subject  himself 
to  such  a  liability,  yet  that  is  what  our  Council  propose  to  do 
for  themselves  and  us. 

We  have  been  told  that  the  Council  are  bound  by  the  Act 
to  make  “  regulations,”  but  that  I  deny.  The  Act  nowhere 
says  that  the  Council  shall  make  regulations,  but  it  speaks  of 
regulations  that  may  “  be  prescribed  by  the  Pharcnaceutical 
Society.”  Now  the  word  “may”  is  only  used  in  the  Act 
some  six  or  seven  times  altogether,  and  in  every  other  case 
in  a  permissive  sense  only,  giving  power  to  do  something  that 
may  be  necessary  or  desirable,  but  certainly  not  directing  the 
thing  to  be  done ;  surely  if  this  be  so,  we  have  every  right  to 
conclude  the  -word  to  be  permissive  in  this  instance  likewise. 
But  granting  the  intention  to  have  been  that  the  Society 
should  prescribe  regulations,  I  contend  that  it  is  the  duty  of 
the  Council  to  strongly  resist  any  Governmental  pressure  on 
the  subject,  and  firmly  refuse  to  submit  either  themselves  or 
their  constituents  to  a  burden  which  they  alone,  of  all  the 
dealers  in  poisons,  are  required  to  bear. 

The  threat  that,  if  we  do  not  frame  regulations,  the  Privy 
Council  will  do  it  for  us,  does  not  alarm  me  in  the  least. 
They  have  not  the  power  to  do  so;  a  new  Act  of  Parliament 
would  be  required  for  the  purpose  ;  and  does  any  one  imagine 
it  possible  to  pass  an  Act  that  shall  apply  to  chemists  and 
druggists  only,  and  leave  every  other  dispenser  of  poisons  to 
keep  them  in  any  way  he  thinks  proper  ?  If  compulsory  re¬ 
gulations  are  made  at  all,  they  must  apply  to  every  dispenser 
of  poisons  and  not  to  us  alone. 

There  is  not  a  doubt  that  you  have  correctly  estimated  the- 
terms  of  Mr.  Hampson’s  letter,  and  that  “open  war  and  de¬ 
termined  resistance  to  the  action  of  the  Council  ”  is  intended ; 
if  the  Council  will  not  fight  our  battle  in  this  matter,  we- 
must  fight  the  Council,  and  I  have  no  fear  that  “  the  real  in¬ 
terests  of  Pharmacy,  as  a  craft,”  will  either  “  be  lost  sight 
of  or  damaged  ”  in  the  contest. 

W.  Wilkinson. 

CheetJiam  Hill,  December  19 th,  1870. 


Sir, — The  majority  of  the  Council  bas  elaborated  a  new 
edition  of  the  ‘Poison  Regulations,’  which  it  intends  to  propose 
for  adoption  at  the  next  Annual  Meeting,  and  we  have  now 
before  us  the  prospect  of  a  renewal  of  last  year’s  contest. 

It  is  much  to  be  hoped  that  the  leaders  of  the  opposition 
will  on  this  occasion  take  stronger  ground,  and  contend 
boldly — that  all  such  regulations,  however  wide  their  terms, 
are  objectionable  in  view  of  the  consequences  which  must  fol¬ 
low  their  adoption  in  a  compulsory  form ;  if  it  is  not  to  be  a 
mischievous  sham — both  a  snare  for  ourselves  and  a  delusion 
for  the  public — that  no  sufficient  proof  of  their  necessity  in 
the  past  has  been  afforded,  and  that  they  must,  under  exist¬ 
ing  circumstances,  become  daily  less  necessary.  Their  warmest 
advocates  recommend  them  only  on  the  ground  of  expedience. 
Holding  before  our  eyes  the  bugbear  of  the  Privy  Council, 
“  We  know,”  say  they  in  effect,  “  the  dose  is  nauseous;  but 
swallow  it  now  with  a  good  grace,  lest  by-and-by  you  get. 
one  still  more  unpleasant.”  The  valour  of  these  gentlemen 
is  too  largely  tempered  with  discretion.  If  we  are  true  to 
ourselves,  and  act  in  concert,  we  have  little  to  fear;  but  even 
should  their  most  terrible  prognostications  prove  well-founded, 
it  will  be  better  to  suffer  what  we  cannot  avoid,  after  a  man¬ 
ful  resistance,  than  commit  the  absurdity  of  fashioning 


December  24,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


510 


a  joke  for  our  own  shoulders,  leaving  free  those  of  the  whole 
body  of  general  practitioners,  which  has,  in  truth,  far  more 
to  answer  for  than  ourselves. 

Hampstead,  Dec.  19 th,  1870.  Charles  Eve. 


Sir, — I  rejoice  to  find  that  we  are  at  last  likely  to  obtain 
a  settlement  of  this  troublesome  question,  the  Council  having 
at  their  last  meeting  decided  upon  some  simple  regulations 
^hieh  they  will  propose  for  the  adoption  of  the  next  Annual 
Meeting  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  in  May.  The  last 
Annual  Meeting  remitted  this  subject  to  their  continued  at¬ 
tention.  We  may  rest  assured  that  a  Council  elected  so 
popularly  as  the  present,  and  composed  of  good  and  trusted 
elements,  will  not  have  based  their  present  conclusions  upon 
rash  or  unconsidered  grounds,  and  it  is  satisfactory  to  find 
that  they  were  confirmed  by  a  large  majority  of  the  Council. 

Nevertheless,  a  note  of  war  comes  from  Manchester  !  We 
may  possibly  expect  another  blast  from  Leeds.  These  cheer¬ 
ful  notes  will  be  useful  in  keeping  the  question  warm  until 
the  opportunity  of  settling  it  comes.  In  the  meantime  let 
us  hope  that  the  several  members  of  the  great  constituency 
in  whose  hands  the  decision  rests,  will  be  wise, — will  not 
allow  their  judgment  to  be  influenced  by  prejudice  or  par¬ 
tisanship,  but  will  calmly  and  reasonably  weigh  the  pro¬ 
posal  the  Council  has  made  with  so  much  care  and  delibera¬ 
tion. 

That  the  chemists  of  Great  Britain  must  submit  to  some 
regulations  for  the  storage  of  poisons  is  not  to  be  doubted. 
Those  who  are  acquainted  with  the  history  of  the  Pharmacy 
Act  of  1868  know  that  it  was  not  only  first  named  a  Poison 
Act,  but  that  no  Bill  would  have  been  submitted  to  Parlia¬ 
ment  at  that  time  but  for  the  acknowledged  necessity  of 
observing  further  precautions  in  the  use  and  keeping  of  poi¬ 
sons.  The  opportunity  was  adroitly  taken  to  introduce  into 
the  measure  security  for  the  higher  education  of  chemists, 
as  one  of  the  means  supposed  to  promote  the  object  in  view. 
The  gain  to  pharmacy  was,  and  will  yet  be,  immense.  But 
that  the  primary  object  was  the  protection  of  the  public  from 
accidental  and  other  poisoning,  there  cannot  be  a  doubt. 

The  Act,  however,  was  confessedly  incomplete  without 
additional  precautions  for  the  safe  keeping  of  poisons ;  and 
the  Privy  Council,  therefore,  discreetly  determined  to  lay 
upon  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  the  obligation  to  pro¬ 
vide  such  regulations  as  experience  of  the  exigencies  of 
the  trade  suggested.  The  Privy  Council,  urged  on  by  con¬ 
stant  articles  in  the  public  and  medical  journals,  do  now 
impress  upon  the  Pharmaceutical  Council  very  strongly  the 
necessity  for  its  action.  The  cry  for  some  regulations  has 
waxed  so  strong,  that  the  Privy  Council  may  propose  some 
Bill  to  Parliament,  should  the  present  proposal  be  rejected, 
and  that  Bill  might  be  most  objectionable  to  us.  The  Council 
of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  have,  therefore,  only  performed 
a  public  duty,  imposed  upon  them  alike  by  honour  and  in¬ 
terest  in  conforming  to  these  various  demands. 

In  spite,  however,  of  these  obligations,  the  glorious  liberty 
of  the  Englishman  to  do  as  he  pleases  with  his  own,  is  so 
strong  in  the  chemist,  that  certain  of  them  are  prepared  to 
defy  Councils,  National,  Privy  and  Pharmaceutical,  in  order 
to  maintain  his  unrestricted  liberty  with  his  poisons.  It  is, 
however,  a  fact  that,  to  the  limitations  of  law,  we  owe  our  truest 
freedom;  and,  in  the  observance  of  restraint,  we  find  our 
highest  interests  and  happiness.  In  this  case,  moreover,  the 
chemist  is  the  defendant ;  the  Government  and  the  public 
are  the  plaintiffs.  It  is  surely  in  the  interest  of  the  defen¬ 
dant,  that  he  should,  whilst  the  golden  opportunity  lasts, 
make  his  own  regulations. 

The  amended  regulations  which  the  Council  now  propose 
are  extremely  simple  and  will  inconvenience  nobody.  It  is 
admitted  that  most  chemists  in  Great  Britain  already  ob¬ 
serve  these  regulations  in  one  or  other  of  their  forms, — and 
thus  testify  that  such  regulations  are  necessary  and  practical 
in  their  character.  The  non -observers  are  those  who  seldom 
dispense  a  prescription  at  all,  but  vend  a  motley  variety  of 
medicines  and  drysalteries,  in  which  pills,  paint,  cream  of 
tartar,  arsenic,  sweets  and  laudanum  are  the  representatives. 
It  ever  there  was  any  class  of  men  who  ought  to  be  subject 
to  poison  regulations,  it  is  this.  Yet  even  to  them,  the 
proposed  poison  regulations  have  no  sting.  They  may,  if 
they  like,  keep  their  cask  of  arsenic  in  one  corner,  secured 
with  a  padlock  on  the  cover.  They  may  keep  their  carboy  of 
laudanum  under  the  counter  in  another  place,  but  capped 
with  leather,  or  distinguished  by  some  other  sign ;  and  all 


their  choice  and  other  deadly  poisons — strychnine,  aconitine, 
morphine  and  what  not  else — on  some  special  shelf  or  division 
in  the  shop,  and  thus  fulfil,  without  inconvenience,  the  regu¬ 
lations  proposed. 

One  much  paraded  objection  to  any  regulation  is  that  it 
would  necessitate  the  appointment  of  inspectors  to  enforce 
its  observance.  The  idea  is  chimerical,  were  the  regulations 
left  to  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society;  but  pos¬ 
sible,  if  enforced  by  special  Act  of  Parliament. 

The  observance  of  approved  regulations  in  the  keeping  of 
dangerous  poisons  would  have  this  value,  that  their  careful 
observance  would,  in  the  eye  of  the  law,  constitute  a  strong 
claim  to  favourable  consideration  in  case  of  accident.  It 
would  also  afford  to  the  chemist  a  sense  of  security  and  satis¬ 
faction  in  the  conduct  of  his  business  which  he  does  not  now 
possess.  And  as  to  the  argument  that  any  regulations  are 
unfair  which  do  not  equally  touch  the  dispensing  surgeon  and 
apothecary,  this  beneficial  result  would  follow  its  partial  ap¬ 
plication,  viz.  he  that  takes  the  physic  would  do  so  with 
much  greater  security  if  it  were  compounded  by  the  chemist, 
than  if  it  were  made  by  the  apothecary  who  observes  no  pre¬ 
caution  in  the  protection  of  his  clients  from  accident. 

A  Pharmaceutical  Chemist. 
(For  the  proposed  Poison  Regulations,  see  Pharmaceutical 
Journal,  Dec.  17th,  p.  491.) 


A  Point  oe  Ethics. 

Sir, — In  answer  to  two  of  your  correspondents,  relative  to 
the  prescription  dispensed  by  “Magnesia,”  No.  22,  p.437, 
allow  me  to  say  that  I  do  know  that  “  quinine”  undissolved 
is  “not  so”  bitter  as  in  “ solution,”  and  frequently  ordered 
so  by  medical  men  to  their  patients,  but  in  the  prescription 
alluded  to  the  deposit  was  something  more  than  “  undissolved 
quinine,”  and,  perhaps,  more  nauseous  to  a  weak  stomach. 
1  still  maintain  the  medical  man  in  this  instance  forgot  to 
add  ac.  sulph.  dil.  gtt.  xij,  having  so  frequently  compounded 
nearly  the  identical  prescription  not  only  for  one  person  but 
several. 

I  would  ask  your  correspondent,  D.  T.  W.,  of  Bath,  who 
thinks  that  medical  men  are  “not  so  forgetful”  as  I  wish  to 
make  them,  what  he  thinks  of  the  enclosed  prescriptions  that 
have  come  under  my  notice  from  “  eminent  medical  men,” 
and  whether  he  would  hive  compounded  them  (as  they  are 
written),  or  used  his  discretion  and  acted  up  to  the  best  of 
his  knowledge  ? — 

R.  Morph.  Mur.  gr.  i 

Ext.  Hyoscyam.  gr.  xij 
Ft.  Pil.  h.  s.  s. 

R.  Hydrarg.  Bichlorid.  gr.  xviij. 

Divid.  in  chart,  xij,  cap.  i  ter  in  dies. 

Those  are  not  solitary  cases ;  truly  they  do  require  looking 
after  as  well  as  chemists. 

Liverpool,  Dec.  17th,  1870.  Chemicus. 


Limits  of  the  Medicine  Stamp  Duties  Act. 

Sir, — Having  to  prepare  a  bottle  of  “  quinine  wine”  for  a 
customer,  I  went  to  a  respectable  confectioner’s  for  “  orange 
wine;”  it  was  old  and  not  at  all  palatable.  I  did  not  pur¬ 
chase  ;  he  then  recollected  he  had  j  ust  received  a  case  of 
“quinine  wine,”  and  opened  it  for  me.  On  reading  the  label 
and  enclosed  handbill,  I  advised  him  not  to  sell  any  until  I 
had  written  to  Somerset  House,  as  my  notion  was  that  it 
would  require  a  stamp,  and  make  it  nc cessary  that  he  should 
take  out  a  Patent  Medicine  Licence.  I  this  day  received  a 
very  courteous  reply,  stating  that  quinine  wine  is  not  re¬ 
garded  as  medicine  within  the  meaning  of  the  Medicine  Stamp 
Duty  Acts,  etc. 

Sheffield,  Dec.  1  bth,  1870.  Henry  Horncastle. 


The  Pharmacy  Act. 

Sir, — I  wish  to  inquire,  through  the  medium  of  your 
Journal  whether  the  Council  of  the  “Pharmaceutical  So¬ 
ciety  ”  have  not  acted  contrary  to  the  full  meaning  of  the 
‘  Pharmacy  Act  ’  in  refusing  to  admit  me  as  a  member  ? 
What  is  the  limit  of  the  discretionary  power,  and  are  they 
not  bound  to  a  just  reason  for  their  decision? 

Elizabeth  Leech,  Registered  Chemist  and  Druggist. 

JElm  Villa,  Broadwater,  Worthing,  Dec.  17 th,  1870. 


520 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  24, 1370. 


The  Alleged  Exorbitant  Charge  for  Dispensing. 

Sir, — I  have  been  waiting  to  see  if  the  editor  of  the  Lancet, 
in  answer  to  your  letter  of  the  30th  ult.,  would  “  make  more 
fully  known  the  facts  of  the  particular  overcharge  ”  which 
led  to  this  discussion.  His  only  reply  is  a  foot-note,  which 
says,  “our  correspondent  merely  relates  a  fact  regarding  the 
conduct  of  an  individual.”  The  public  and  the  daily  press 
have,  however,  taken  this  to  he  a  sample  of  the  “  extortionate 
charges  ”  of  chemists  generally,  and  we  have  cut  a  very  sorry 
figure  indeed  when  compared  with  “lawyers,  horsedealers 
and  brigands.”  But  as  the  Lancet  deigns  to  give  you  no  ex¬ 
planation,  I  now  venture  to  inform  you  that  the  “  druggist  ” 
who  charged  24s.  for  36  oz.  of  mixture,  as  narrated  by  “  Pre- 
scriber,”  is  a  medical  practitioner  keeping  an  open  shop. 
Comment  is  distasteful  and  unnecessary,  but  we  may  fairly 
complain  that  our  reputation  as  a  class  has  been  damaged  by 
an  anonymous  communication,  and  all  discussion  on  the  merits 
of  the  case  stifled.  The  letter  was  written  no  doubt  bond  fide, 
but  an  important  fact  was  unwittingly  omitted,  and  the  result 
is  an  injury  which  cannot  be  repaired.  I  venture  to  say  that  no 
chemist  in  the  kingdom  would  charge  more  than  2s.  for  this 
particular  6  oz.  mixture ;  the  more  universal  price  at  shops  of 
the  highest  respectability  would  be  Is.  6d.,  and  this  fact  may 
be  gathered  from  “  Prescriber’s”  own  words.  Having  written 
thus  much,  my  authority  may  be  demanded,  and  it  may,  per¬ 
haps,  save  time  if  I  say  that  the  prescription  was  brought  to 
me,  and  the  price  I  quoted  was  Is.  6 d. ;  the  bill  complained 
of  was  afterwards  put  into  my  hands,  and,  I  believe,  that  I  cha¬ 
racterized  the  charge  as  very  exceptionally  high  and  excessive. 

Wigmore  Street,  Dec.  19 th,  1870.  Wm.  Matthews. 


The  leading  dispensing  establishments,  both  in  town  and 
country,  have  prices  which  almost  correspond,  and,  takino-  a 
conscientious  view  of  such  prices,  I  don’t  think  they  will  be- 
found  at  all  exorbitant.  Good  houses  are  particular  in 
having  experienced  hands  that  can  do  their  work  well,  paying 
them  good  salaries  in  return,  and  are  most  careful  that  the 
drugs  used  are  pure  and  genuine,  consequently  they  ought  to 
have  a  fair  price  for  strictly  carrying  out  their  duties. 

In  Mr.  Robert  Howden's  very  elaborate  paper,  published 
in  the  Journal  of  Saturday  last,  we  are  informed  of  the  prices 
obtained  in  the  United  States  for  dispensing;  there  the 
pharmacist  generally  charges  about  sixpence  an  ounce  for 
medicines,  that  is,  three  shillings  for  a  six-ounce  mixture. 
These  prices  are  considerably  above  ours,  why  should  such 
be  the  case  ?  Is  pharmacy  more  of  a  profession  there  than 
in  England  ?  In  Ireland  the  apothecaries’  prices  are  also- 
above  ours;  but  I  don’t  think  the  same  complaints  are  heard 
tliei*e  as  we  hear  in  London  and  the  English  provinces.  In 
conclusion,  I  would  beg  to  suggest  that  upon  no  account 
ought  one  pharmacist  cut  below  another  in  dispensing  prices. 
Let  us  try  and  follow  each  other  as  much  as  possible.  This 
could  easily  be  done  by  having  one  recognized  private  mark, 
and  let  the  first  house  which  compounds  a  prescription  mark 
the  price  accordingly,  and  let  all  others  who  receive  it  after 
follow  that  price.  This  system  is  adopted  by  several  good 
houses,  and  is  found  to  be  of  great  service  when  the  mark  is 
known.  Some  use  the  words  “Mel  Boracis,”  others  some 
other  term  ;  but  if  we  had  one  special  mark  to  work  from,  the 
effect  would  be  most  beneficial.  It  would  put  a  stop  to  the 
impositions  which  we  so  often  find  customers  attempting. 

Neivcastle,  Dec.  14 >th,  1870.  John  Dowling  Allman. 


Remedy  for  the  Toothache. 

Sir, — In  the  Journal  of  the  10th,  page  466,  you  recommend 
carbolic  acid  to  be  applied  to  the  inside  of  the  tooth  when  the 
nerve  is  exposed.  May  I  be  allowed  to  suggest,  as  an  efficient 
improvement  and  addition,  which  I  have  found  very  effi¬ 
cacious  ?  viz.  equal  parts  of  collodion  and  Calvert’s  acid,  car¬ 
bolic.  applied  to  the  part  affected,  say  twice  a  week,  after 
nervous  sensibility  has  ceased,  then  mastic  and  chloroform 
applied  afterwards  on  cotton  wool,  have  given  permanent  relief. 

Sudbury,  Dec.  17 th,  1870.  J.  Barker. 


Druggists’  Charges. 

Sir, — Druggists’  charges  have  been  a  topic  for  some  time, 
and  although  many  letters  have  appeared,  it  does  not  seem 
that  they  have  led  to  any  definite  result. 

Several  of  your  correspondents  have  complained  of  the 
cutting  system  carried  on  in  some  neighbourhoods,  and 
naturally  ask  what  is  to  be  done  to  prevent  such  practice. 
They  say  prescriptions  are  frequently  handed  to  them  by 
persons  to  know  the  price,  who,  when  informed  on  that 
point,  reply  that  your  neighbour  Mr.  So-and-so  made  it 
up  for  half  the  amount.  I  have  had  a  good  many  years’ 
experience  in  some  of  the  first-class  dispensing  establish¬ 
ments,  both  in  London  and  country,  and  have  frequently  ex¬ 
perienced  remarks  of  the  same  kind,  and  have,  on  many  occa¬ 
sions,  found  that  such  statements  were  not  correct.  The 
remedy  in  a  case  of  dispute  is  simple.  Eirst  read  the  pre¬ 
scription,  then  state  the  cost,  and,  if  disputed,  don’t  give  way, 
but  leave  the  option  in  the  hand  of  the  customer.  If  informed 
that  some  other  house  has  compounded  it  at  a  much  lower 
price,  advise  that  it  be  taken  there.  As  to  the  truth  of  such 
a  statement,  you  can  judge  from  the  respectability  of  the 
house.  If  it  be  one  of  any  standing,  it  will  be  incorrect ;  if 
not,  don’t  waste  time  by  saying  that  drugs  supplied  there 
cannot  be  of  the  same  genuine  character  that  we  use.  If  this 
system  bo  carried  out,  it  will,  I  believe,  go  far  towards  put¬ 
ting  down  the  indiscriminate  and  mean  practice  of  cutting. 
It  is  well  known  that  a  cutting  house  does  not  compound 
many  prescriptions,  in  fact  but  few,  for  confidence  is  lost, 
and  it  is  often  found  that  a  prescription  comes  back  to  the 
house  from  which,  on  account  of  charge,  it  had  been  taken. 
This  I  have  several  times  experienced.  As  regards  fixing 
prices  for  dispensing  with  a  view  to  uniformity,  it  cannot  be 
done,  for  physicians  do  not  prescribe  alike;  some  write  very 
simple  and  inexpensive  prescriptions,  with  eight  doses  in 
the  eight-ounce  bottle,  then  the  usual  charge  will  answer. 
Others,  however,  write  for  sixteen  doses,  while  the  ingredients 
are  more  costly.  In  these  cases  discretion  and  prudence  must 
be  exercised.  Pepsine,  quinine  and  other  expensive  drugs  may 
be  in  large  proportion,  consequently  the  charge  must  be  ac¬ 
cording. 


Spiritus  TEtheris  Nitrosi. 

Sir, — In  the  report  of  the  Transactions  of  the  Liverpool 
Chemists’  Association,  appearing  in  the  Journal  of  the  10th 
instant,  in  the  discussion  upon  Spiritus  fEtheris  Nitrosi,  I  am 
reported  to  have  said,  “  I  could  not  understand  why  a  con¬ 
centrated  solution  could  not  be  made  ;”  such  a  remark  I  did 
not  make,  and  it  is  evidently  a  misunderstanding  on  the  part 
of  the  Secretary  taking  his  notes.  On  the  contrary,  I  con¬ 
demned  the  practice  of  wholesale  houses  supplying  the  article, 
not  only  because  I  found  it  impossible  to  obtain  a  solution, 
containing  80  per  cent,  of  pure  nitrous  ether  (which  would  be 
the  required  strength),  but  also,  because  it  is  impossible  to 
keep  a  concentrated  solution  without  its  soon  becoming 
strongly  acid. 

Absence  from  town  precluded  the  possibility  of  my  correct¬ 
ing  the  error  at  our  last  meeting,  I  shall  therefore  be  glad  if 
you  will  insert  this  in  your  next  issue. 

Dec.  14  th,  1870.  "  G.  J.  Bawl  and. 


Information  Wanted. 

Sir, — I  have  received  to-day  a  prescription  with  the  follow¬ 
ing  article  in  it — 

Mag.  Ferri  et  Quin.  Sulph.  5iiss. 

The  above  was  written  very  distinctly,  and  had  been  ob¬ 
tained  at  Messrs.  Hitchcocks,  of  Oxford ;  perhaps  they, 
through  your  columns,  would  give  some  information  as  to 
the  composition  of  the  article.  E.  B. 

L.  V.  D. — Persons  passing  the  Modified  Examination  are 
not  entitled  to  call  themselves,  or  be  addressed  as,  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Chemists.  Registered  Chemists  and  Druggists  may 
open  as  many  branch  establishments  of  their  business  as  they 
please. 

R.  Hall  (Camborne). — They  may  be  obtained  of  any  scien¬ 
tific  instrument  maker. 

Pharmaceutical  Chemist  (Northampton),  W.  P.  (Scar¬ 
borough),  31.  P.  S.  (Southport),  Bes  Facta  (Bristol),  are  re¬ 
ferred  to  the  rule  respecting  anonymous  communications. 

F.  Smith  (Torquay). — Arrangements  are  being  made  for 
the  issue  of  cases;  we  hope  to  be  able  to  publish  the  details 
in  our  next  number. 

In  consequence  of  press  of  matter,  we  are  obliged  to  omit 
answers  to  several  correspondents. 

Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  H.  Machon  (Saffron  Walden),  Mr.  J.  B.  Leslie  (Sheffield), 
Mr.  Barker  (Sudbury),  Mr.  Maleham  (Sheffield),  Mr.  H.  Hint 
(Cork),  Mr.  Gregory  (Stockton-on-Tees),  Mr.  Collier  (Shef¬ 
field  Moor),  Mr.  W.  A.  Thirlby,  Mr.  Fairlie  (Glasgow),  M. 
M.  (Ramsgate),  W.  L.  G.  (St.  Austell),  A.  (Carlisle),  S.  D.  Q-, 

“  Grey  Hairs,”  “Aliquis,”  “  Kapha,”  “Nemo.” 


December  31,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


521 


THE  TRADE  I  NT  LEECHES. 

BY  P.  L.  SIMMONDS. 

Although  the  commerce  in  leeches  in  this  country 
lias  largely  declined  of  late  years,  yet  the  demand 
elsewhere  for  this  small  red-blooded  aquatic  worm  is 
so  great  as  to  afford  employment  to  a  considerable 
number  of  persons  in  breeding,  catching,  and  selling 
them.  France,  which  used  to  be  the  great  empo¬ 
rium  for  much  of  the  trade,  has,  within  the  last  few 
months,  had  weightier  matters  to  attend  to  than  the 
collection  and  transit  of  leeches.  Hence  some  few 
particulars  and  statistics  of  the  trade,  as  it  did  exist, 
may  not  be  without  interest  at  the  present  time. 

Among  the  works  which  I  have  consulted  may 
be  named  ‘  Monographic  des  Hirudinees,’  par  Mo- 
quin-Tandon ;  ‘  Monographic  des  Sangsues  Medici- 
nales,’  par  Ch.  Fermond,  508  pp.,  Bailliere,  Paris, 
1851;  ‘Memoire  sur  rHirudiniculture,’  par  A.  Ph. 
Laurens,  1851 ;  ‘  Nouvelle  Monographic  des  Sang¬ 
sues  MedicinaleS',’  par  Dr.  Ebrard,  401  pp.,  Paris, 
Bailliere,  1857  ;  ‘  Le  Guide  pratique  des  Eleveurs  de 
Sangsues,’  par  L.  Vayson  ;  ‘  La  Production  des  Sang¬ 
sues,’  par  Jourdin  :  Paris,  Hacliette  et  Cie. 

The  commerce  in  leeches  may  be  looked  at  in  dif¬ 
ferent  points  of  view,  as  the  sale,  properly  so  called, 
the  importation,  export,  nature  of  the  commercial 
species  sold,  their  price,  falsification  and  transport, 
but  full  descriptions  on  all  these  would  take  up  too 
much  detail.  Fermond  enumerates  seven  varieties  of 
the  medicinal  leech ;  so  does  Dr.  Letlieb}r.  It  is  not 
necessary  to  give  the  specific  details  of  these  here.  In 
this  country  only  two  kinds  are  usually  reckoned  fit  for 
medicinal  purposes,  viz.  the  brown  leech  and  the  green 
leech  ;  the  former  found  sparingly  in  Great  Britain, 
but  abundantly  in  northern  and  central  Europe.  Dr. 
Letheby  says  the  Sanguisiuja  may  be  known  by  one 
or  both  of  two  characters  :  they  have  a  continuous 
longitudinal  stripe  of  a  yellow  or  orange  colour 
along  each  margin  or  side  of  the  body ;  and  se¬ 
condly,  when  the  abdomen  is  of  a  lighter  tint  there 
should  always  be  two  lateral  black  stripes,  one  run¬ 
ning  down  on  either  side.  Every  leech  that  does 
not  present  these,  which  may  be  called  generic  cha¬ 
racters,  should  be  rejected. 

A  communication  to  the  Societe  Zoologique  d’Ac- 
climatation  of  Paris  made  known  the  existence  in 
America  of  leeches  possessing  this  valuable  pro¬ 
perty,  that  they  leave  no  mark  on  the  skin  to  which 
they  are  applied,  so  that  they  must  act  not  by  biting 
but  by  suction.  This  curious  fact  is  put  beyond  a 
doubt  by  the  experiments  made  upon  himself  by 
Craveri,  a  learned  Italian.  M,  de  Filippi  lias  placed 
these  leeches  in  a  new  genus,  which  he  terms  Hccmcn- 
taria,  and  of  which  he  describes  three  species,  two 
belonging  to  Mexico  and  one  to  the  river  Amazon. 

The  following  is  the  annual  declared  value  of  the 
leeches  imported  into  this  country  in  the  last  seven¬ 
teen  years.  Formerly  the  largest  quantity  came 
from  Hamburg,  but  of  late  years  nearly  all  the  im¬ 
ports  were  from  France  : — 


1853  . 

.  £27,068 

1862 

.  .  £9,455 

1854  . 

.  17,238 

1863 

.  .  12,393 

1855  . 

.  16,477 

18(51 

.  .  9,028 

1856  . 

.  12,926 

1865 

.  .  13,314 

1857  . 

.  10,011 

1866 

.  .  12,866 

1858  . 

.  11,604 

1867 

.  .  8,999 

1859  . 

.  11,919 

1868 

>  .  8,876 

1860  . 

.  11,857 

1869 

.  .  7,067 

1861  . 

.  11,175 

Tiitud  Series,  No.  27.. 


This  is  the  foreign  import,  and  exclusive  of  any 
home  supply  obtained.  It  is  difficult  to  arrive  at 
numbers  in  such  an  article,  but  the  value  must  re¬ 
present  at  least  two  million  leeches  annually;  indeed, 
some  years  ago  it  was  stated  that  seven  or  eight 
millions  were  annually  imported. 

From  official  figures  we  find  that  the  import  of 
leeches  into  France  annually  from  1827  to  1836  was 
34,050,682  ;  and  from  1837  to  1846, 18,538,041.  The 
largest  quantity  was  57,491,000  in  1832  ;  the  official 
value  of  these  being  stated  at  1,724,730  francs.  In 
subsequent  years  the  imports  were  greatly  reduced, 
as  the  following  figures  will  show  : — 


1847  .  . 

.  .  11,790,840 

1848  .  . 

.  .  9,903,398 

1849  .  . 

.  .  11,112,000 

1850  .  . 

.  .  11,766,000 

1851  .  . 

.  .  13,058,500 

1852  .  . 

.  .  10,415,000 

Adding  the  home  collection  and  those  fraudulently 
imported,  the  leeches  annually  employed  in  France 
may  be  taken  at  30  millions ;  and  many  of  these 
serve  for  use  several  times.  According  to  L.  Busquet, 
these  30  millions  are  differently  made  up,  and  he 
considers  the  largest  portion  are  furnished  from  the 
native  marshes.  In  1851  (lie  states)  we  received 
13,058,500  and  exported  5,731,000,  and  therefore,  of 
the  imports  7,327,500  were  retained  for  consump¬ 
tion  ;  and  as  30  millions  are  .used,  the  home  supply 
must  have  been  22,672,500  leeches,  of  which  about 
a  third  were  furnished  by  the  department  of  the 
Gironde.  France  is  now  obliged  to  seek  leeches  from 
the  adjacent  countries,  Switzerland,  Belgium,  the 
Sardinian  States  and  Greece.  Spain  and  Portugal , 
which  used  to  export,  are  now  obliged  to  draw  sup¬ 
plies  from  abroad.  It  is  the  same  in  Italy.  Tuscany 
exports  some  leeches,  but  they  are  considered  of  an 
inferior  quality.  Bohemia,  which  used  to  furnish 
supplies,  now  possesses  only  exhausted  marshes. 
Hungary,  so  rich  in  leech  morasses,  commences  to  be 
impoverished  of  the  kinds  which  the  dealers  used  to 
send  as  far  as  the  frontiers  of  Prussia  and  Turkey, 
Poland  and  other  countries  in  the  north  of  Europe. 
Great  Britain,  which  used  to  be  rich  in  leeches,  is 
now  forced  to  draw  supplies  from  France,  Germany, 
and  Portugal.  It  is  by  Bordeaux,  Stettin,  Ham¬ 
burg  and  Lisbon  that  these  supplies  are  drawn. 
Hamburg  and  Stettin  each  send  about  150,000  per 
month. 

Turkey  still  supplies  leeches.  In  1845  the  ship¬ 
ments  from  Constantinople  were  120  tubs ;  in  1846, 
189  ;  and  in  1847,  108.  In  1857,  475  packages  and 
cases  of  leeches,  valued  at  287,000  piastres,  were 
shipped  from  Smyrna. 

The  price  has  varied  greatly  in  France.  For 
fifty  years,  according  to  Fee  (‘  Cours  d’Histoire  Na- 
turelle’),  they  were  sold  at  12  to  15  francs  the 
thousand ;  in  1815  they  were  double  that  price,  and 
they  gradually  advanced  to  150  and  200  francs.  In 
1849  and  1850  the  hospitals  at  Paris  bought  them 
at  160  francs  the  thousand,  but  in  1851  the  price 
rose  to  240  francs.  The  price  varies  according  to 
the  size,  quality  and  season.  In  1854  it  ranged 
from  150  to  190  francs  the  thousand.  If  with  Vay¬ 
son  we  take  the  mean  price  at  200  francs  the  thou¬ 
sand,  wre  a  rrive  at  the  gross  annual  value  of  £240,000 
for  leeches  in  France.  The  wholesale  merchants 
will  not,  however,  admit  that  the  sum  is  so  large. 

Leeches  are  found  to  a  great  extent  in  the  lakes 


522 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  si,  1870. 


of  the  north-west  district  of  Morocco,  called  the 
Ghaib.  They  are  shipped  in  the  first  instance  to 
Gibraltar.  In  1839  about  4  or  5  million  leeches, 
valued  at  nearly  <£6000  sterling,  were  shipped  from 
Morocco ;  and  in  the  same  year,  from  Tunis  to 
France,  leeches  valued  at  106,000  piastres.  In  1813 
their  value  seems  to  have  greatly  increased,  for  in 
that  year  611,000  leeches  (valued  at  TT889)  were  sent 
to  England  from  Morocco,  and  809,000,  value  <£6358, 
to  other  countries.  The  quantity  annually  shipped 
from  Tangier  is  said  to  be  from  15  to  18  millions. 
Spain  and  France  receive  the  greater  part.  The 
leech  fisheries  of  Kaissaireh  and  other  parts  of  the 
empire  of  Morocco  are  annually  disposed  of  by  the 
Government  to  the  highest  bidder.  The  right  to 
collect  leeches  in  these  marshes  was  at  first  obtained 
for  a  few  hundred  pounds,  but  now  purchasers  pay 
heavily  for  the  privilege.  In  1856,  Til, 000  was 
paid  for  the  monopoly  of  the  collection  and  export. 

Sixteen  to  seventeen  thousand  pounds’  weight  of 
leeches  are  obtained  there  annually.  There  was  long 
a  prejudice  in  France  against  the  leeches  of  Algeria, 
as  they  were  placed  in  the  category  of  dragon- 
leeches,  which  were  excluded  by  law  from  being 
used  in  the  civil  hospitals  of  France.  The  result, 
however,  of  experiments  made  in  Algeria  by  order 
of  Marshal  Vaillant,  and  subsequently  repeated  in 
France  under  the  eyes  of  many  members  of  the 
Academy  of  Sciences,  has  fully  established  the  fact 
that  the  African  leeches  are  fully  equal  to  any  ob¬ 
tained  in  Europe,  and  therefore  for  the  home  supply 
of  France  recourse  need  not  be  had  to  the  marshes 
of  Turkey  and  Hungary.  They  are  to  be  found 
plentiful  in  the  marshes  of  Taguin,  between  Boghas 
and  Traret,  and  a  large  commerce  might  be  carried 
on  in  them  with  profit.  Indeed,  in  the  year  1865, 
1,207,000  leeches  were  shipped  from  Algeria,  of 
which  379,000,  value  <£1516,  came  from  Stora,  Plii- 
lippeHlle,  and  11,923  from  Bona. 

The  rearing  of  leeches  in  great  natural  marshes, 
or  in  marshes  artificially  made,  forms  an  important 
branch  of  rural  economy  in  France.  M.  Becliade,  a 
farmer  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Bordeaux,  became 
a  millionaire  by  transforming  poor  marshes,  for 
which  he  could  hardly  pay  a  rent  of  300  francs,  into 
magnificent  enclosures  for  leeches,  now  let  for  25,000 
francs.  M.  Jourdin  (‘  La  Pisciculture  et  la  Produc¬ 
tion  des  Sangsues  ’)  refers  to  a  Parisian  capitalist 
who  embarked  in  this  species  of  industry,  with  the 
satisfactory  result  of  a  revenue  of  15  for  1,  that  is  to 
say,  a  leech  which  cost  25  centimes  produced  on  an 
average  15  leeches  a  year,  which  could  be  sold  at 
the  same  price,  or,  say  3  francs.  Deducting  at  the 
most  5  centimes  for  expenses,  there  remains  a  gain 
of  2  francs  25  centimes  when  the  operation  is  on  a 
large  scale.  It  is  therefore  credible  that  a  marsh  of 
18  hectares  should  let  for  25,000  francs,  and  that 
enormous  fortunes  should  have  been  made  by  this 
new  species  of  rural  economy,  which  is  alike  useful 
to  the  public  and  beneficial  to  the  private  interest  of 
those  by  whom  it  is  prosecuted. 

Lord  Desart  lately  let  a  piece  of  marsh  land  of 
about  10  acres  on  his  estate  near  Callan,  Wexford, 
to  a  company  of  Frenchmen,  who  immediately  fenced 
it  in,  and,  having  freely  irrigated  it  from  an  adjoin¬ 
ing  stream,  proceeded  to  sow  it  down  under  a  leech 
crop.  The  “  seed,”  if  we  may  so  express  it,  was 
contained  in  sacks,  each  holding  15,000  leeches, 
which  were  scattered  from  the  hand  just  as  corn  is 
sown.  Formerly,  after  becoming  apathetic  from  use, 


leeches  were  thrown  away,  and  new  ones  procured 
at  a  considerable  cost ;  now,  however,  when  no 
longer  fit  to  be  used,  they  are  planted  in  beds  in  the 
rivers  and  ponds  of  France,  and,  being  properly  fed, 
soon  resume  their  activity,  and  furnish  the  most 
beautiful  cocoons. 

Leeches  abound  in  India  and  Ceylon,  and  we 
may  3’et  get  them  even  from  those  distant  quarters. 
Dr.  Carter  read  a  paper  some  years  ago  before  the 
Bombay  Medical  and  Physical  Society  on  the 
leeches  of  western  India,  in  which  he  alluded  to  the 
Matlieran,  a  terrestrial  leech,  the  common  leech  be¬ 
ing  aquatic.  This  Matlieran  leech  is  about  three- 
quarters  of  an  inch  long  and  of  a  reddish-brown 
colour,  has  a  black  line  down  its  back,  is  covered 
with  black  spots,  and  has  ten  eyes  arranged  in  a 
circle,  with  a  smooth  lip.  The  common  leech,  on 
the  contrary,  is  olive-green  in  colour,  has  seven  lines 
down  the  back,  twelve  eyes  arranged  quadrilate- 
rally,  and  an  uneven  notched  lip. 

I11  Ceylon,  where  the  varieties  of  leeches  are  more 
numerous  than  in  any  part  of  the  world,  the  propa¬ 
gation  of  the  sort  used  in  phlebotomy  is  made  a  secret. 
In  India,  also,  the  leech  propagators  do  all  they 
can  to  keep  the  knowledge  to  themselves.  Major 
Blenkinson,  a  good  naturalist,  succeeded,  however, 
in  propagating  them  in  Scinde,  to  the  great  economy 
of  Government  in  supplying  the  hospitals.  Mr.  J. 
Sparkes  describes  the  plan,  Pharmaceutical  Jour¬ 
nal,  Vol.  YI.  p.  259. 

Dr.  Hooker,  in  his  4  Himalayan  Journal,’  says  that 
he  found  leeches  swarmed  in  incredible  profusion  in 
the  streams  and  damp  grass  and  among  the  bushes. 
“  They  got  into  my  hair  (he  adds),  hung  on  my  eye¬ 
lids,  and  crawled  up  my  legs  and  down  my  back.  I 
repeatedly  took  upwards  of  a  hundred  from  my  legs, 
where  the  small  ones  used  to  collect  in  clusters  on 
the  instep.  The  sores  which  they  produced  were 
not  healed  for  five  months  afterwards,  and  I  retain 
the  scars  to  the  present  day.” 


INTRODUCTION  OF  MAIZE  INTO  CHINA;* 

(Indian  Corn,  Zea  Mays,  L.) 

BY  H.  F.  HANCE,  TH.D.,  ETC.,  AND  W.  F.  MAYERS,  ESQ., 

F.R.G.S. 

With  Xotices  of  the  Plant  by  Chinese  Authors. 

I11  the  summer  of  1858,  and  therefore  shortly  be¬ 
fore  the  collections  of  Mr.  Charles  Wright  had  fur¬ 
nished  the  text  for  Asa  Gray’s  celebrated  essay  on 
the  connection  of  the  Japanese  and  Eastem-Ameri- 
can  Floras,  the  venerable  Professor  von  Martins,  of 
Munich,  in  a  letter  011  the  relations  of  the  Asiatic 
and  American  continents,  directed  my  attention  to 
the  inquiry  whether  there  was  any  extant  evidence 
of  maize  being  a  true  native  of  Japan,  adding  that 
Siebold  had  stated  it  to  be  delineated  in  the  arms  of 
that  empire. 

At  that  time  Japan  was  just  emerging  from  the 
position  of  a  terra  clausa  ;  no  very  comprehensive 
idea  of  the  precise  character  of  its  flora  and  its  connec¬ 
tion  with  that  of  other  countries,  based  011  modern  re¬ 
searches,  was  attainable,  and,  save  a  stray  specimen 
here  and  there,  its  vegetable  productions  scarcely 
existed  in  herbaria  except  amongst  the  rich  and  un¬ 
arranged  treasures  of  the  Leyden  Museum.  The 


*  Read  before  a  meeting  of  the  Linnean  Society. 


December  31,  1370.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


523 


query  excited  my  interest  at  the  time,  hut  partly 
from  Thunberg  noting  under  Zea  Mays  (FI.  Japon. 
37),  “  Colitur  prope  Nagasaki,  a  Cliinensibus  forsan 
piimum  in  regnum  hocce  illata,”  and  partly  owing  to 
the  incongruity  which  attached  in  my  mind  to  the 
notion  of  armorial  bearings  amongst  the  Japanese, — 
though  we  now  know  that  these  exist,  and  that  the 
feudal  retainers  of  the  powerful  chieftains  wear  their 
badges  precisely  as  did  those  of  the  mediaeval  barons, 
— the  subject  soon  escaped  my  memory.  Some 
months  back,  however,  my  attention  was  attracted 
by  an  advertisement  in  the  London  seedsmen’s  cata¬ 
logues  of  a  striped- leaved  form,  alleged  to  have  been 
introduced  from  Japan,  of  Zea  Guragua,  a  Chilian 
species  (and  probably  the  only  other  one  of  its 
genus)  described  about  eighty  years  ago  by  Molina  ; 
but  on  what  evidence  a  Japanese  origin  is  assigned 
to  this  variety  I  have  no  means  of  ascertaining. 
About  the  same  time  also  Mr.  A.  Ernst,  of  Caracas, 
wrote  to  me,  requesting  that  I  would,  if  possible,  as¬ 
certain  when  maize  was  first  known  in  this  country. 

In  the  ‘  Geographic  Botanique  ’  of  M.  Alph.  de 
Candolle  (ii.  912  sqq.)  the  distinguished  author  has 
given  a  very  complete  resume  of  what  was  known 
respecting  the  introduction  of  this  cereal,  and,  after 
a  careful  and  lucid  examination  of  all  the  data,  has 
expressed  his  unhesitating  conviction  that  it  was 
brought  from  America,  though  from  what  part  of 
that  continent  he  considers  very  doubtful,  inclining, 
however,  rather  in  favour  of  Mexico.  He  expresses, 
moreover,  a  desire  that  reliable  investigations  should 
be  made  as  to  Bonafous’  suspicion,  that  the  grain 
was  cultivated  in  China  prior  to  the  discovery  of 
America, 

The  question  whether,  in  common  with  Pliryma 
leptostachya,  Panax  quinquefolium,  Tipularia  dis¬ 
color,  and  some  other  plants,  maize  may  claim 
Asia  equally  with  America  as  its  native  country ;  or, 
failing  probable  grounds  for  such  an  opinion,  whether 
trustworthy  printed  evidence  exists  of  its  cultivation 
in  Asia  antecedent  to  the  second  discovery  of  the 
great  American  continent  at  the  close  of  the  fifteenth 
century, — is  evidently  of  the  highest  interest ;  and  the 
Chinese  nation  boasting  a  rich  historical  literature, 
and  in  matters  of  antiquity  having  perhaps  a  right 
to  look  on  Western  records  much  as  the  Saitic 
priests  are  represented  in  the  Timteus  to  have  re¬ 
garded  those  of  the  Greeks,  I  felt  convinced  that  the 
examination  of  native  works,  the  statements  in  which 
relative  to  the  sciences  of  observation  have  com¬ 
manded  the  respect  of  such  men  as  Arago,  Hum¬ 
boldt  and  Biot,  could  not  be  wholly  unproductive. 
I  am  not  myself  a  Chinese  scholar,  but  was  so  fortu¬ 
nate  as  to  enlist  in  this  inquiry  the  services  of  my 
friend  Mr.  W.  F.  Mayers,  H.B.M.  vice-consul  at  Can¬ 
ton,  one  of  the  most  accomplished  and  learned  of  sino¬ 
logues,  and  who  besides  enjoys  exceptional  advan¬ 
tages  from  being  on  amicable  terms  with  all  the 
high  native  officials  at  the  southern  capital.  This 
gentleman  had  the  kindness,  at  my  request,  to  make 
inquiries  of  his  Chinese  literary  acquaintances,  and 
to  undertake  and  execute  himself  a  thorough  exami¬ 
nation  of  all  the  works  treating  of  maize  to  which  he 
could  procure  access,  and  the  results  are  embodied 
in  the  accompanying  memoir,  the  interest  and  value 
of  which,  as  a  contribution  to  the  history  of  plants, 
all  botanists  will  acknowledge.  It  was,  through  the 
writer’s  liberality,  freely  placed  at  my  disposal,  and 
is  here  given  without  a  single  alteration. 

I  am  far  from  maintaining  that  the  evidence 


adduced  is  sufficient  to  establish  the  claims  of  Asia 
to  rank  as  a  native  country  of  this  cereal.  But,  for 
my  own  part,  I  am  much  disposed  to  coincide  in  a 
remark  made  to  me  by  Mr.  Mayers,  “  that  the  unhe¬ 
sitating  statement  of  the  Bun  Ts’ao,  as  to  its  origin 
in  the  countries  west  of  China,  goes  a  considerable 
way  towards  establishing  this  origin,  the  assertion 
being  so  unqualified  that  I  think  it  must  be  founded 
on  antecedent  evidence,  although  this  is  now  un- 
traceable.”  And  I  may  add  that,  in  my  judgment, 
the  remote  date  assigned  by  Chinese  records  to  its 
introduction,  and  the  circumstance  that  the  intro¬ 
ducer  is  unknown  are  irreconcilable  with  the  suppo¬ 
sition  that  it  was  brought  to  this  country  by  the  Por¬ 
tuguese,  their  first  arrival  here,  under  Fernand 
Perez  d’Andrada,  being,  I  believe,  in  1517,  and  the 
earliest  notice  of  maize  in  European  literature  dating- 
later  than  1530.  To  those,  finally,  who  would  urge 
the  conflicting  and  erroneous  opinions  of  the  early 
European  writers,  as  to  the  country  whence  maize 
found  its  way  to  the  West,  as  a  ground  for  regarding 
Chinese  statements  with  equal  distrust,  I  would 
answer  that  it  is  not  logical  to  apply  the  same  canons 
of  criticism  to  Western  and  Chinese  literature,  the 
latter  being,  at  the  period  in  question,  in  a  very  dif¬ 
ferent  and  comparatively  far  more  advanced  state  of 
development. 

Whampoa,  1867.  H.  F.  H. 

Ox  the  Introduction  of  Maize  into  China. 

In  answer  to  inquirers  on  this  subject  information 
has  been  sought  from  private  sources  and  from  the 
published  works  of  Chinese  authors.  The  following 
is  a  translation  of  a  memorandum  by  Mei  K’i-cliao,  the 
present  Intendant  of  the  Grain  Revenue  for  the 
Province  of  Kwang-tung. 

I.  Notes  on  Maize  ( Pao-ltu ). 

“  Pao-hu  is  identical  with  Yu  Slm-shu,  or  the 
jade-like  Shu  Millet.* * * §  The  Complete  Treatise 
concerning  Agriculturef  gives  also  the  name  of 
Yii-mi,  or  jade  rice.  The  plant  takes  its  name  from 
the  resemblance  of  the  stem  and  leaves  to  those  of 
the  Shu-shu,  or  millet  of  Sz’-ch’wan  (Barbadoes  mil¬ 
let),  compared  with  which,  however,  they  are  more 
fleshy  and  shorter.  They  also  resemble  the  I-i,  or 
Goix  lachryma.  From  its  lustrous  white  colour  it 
obtains  the  name  of  “jade-like.”  It  is  also  called 
Yu  Kao -Hang,  and  Yu-me,  or  jade  wheat.  Also* 
from  its  seed  having  been  brought  originally  from 
the  country  of  Si-fan,  J  it  is  likewise  called  Fan-me , 
or  Fan  wheat ;  and,  having  been  formerly  presented 
as  tribute,  it  is  also  called  imperial  wheat,  Yii-me.% 
Other  names  are  in  use,  such  as  Jung-shu,  or  western 
pulse  {Jung  designating  the  territories  to  the  west¬ 
ward  of  ancient  China),  and  Yu  Shu-sliu,  or  jade 
millet  of  Sz’ -clT wan.  The  variety  of  these  terms  is 
due  to  the  fact  that  the  seed  was  introduced  from 
abroad,  so  that  at  first  it  had  no  definite  name; 


*  For  note  respecting  this  plant  see  post,  p.  525. 

f  This  work,  entitled  £  Nung  Cheng  Ts’iian  Shu,  was  the 
production  of  Sii  Kwang-k’i,  an  enlightened  statesman  of 
the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  century,  noted  for  his  friend¬ 
ship  with  the  Romish  missionaries.  His  treatise,  above  re¬ 
ferred  to,  was  laid  before  the  Emperor  Wan-li  in  a.d.  1619. 

J  The  territory  to  the  N.W.  of  Tibet  has  been  known  to 
the  Chinese  from  the  earliest  times  by  the  name  of  Si-fan, 
which  has  now,  however,  disappeared  in  favour  of  that  of 
Inner  Mongolia.  The  Si-fan  (or  Western- alien)  territory 
borders  on  the  present  provinces  of  Sz’-ch’wan  and  Kan-su. 

§  See^>os£,  section  iv.  note,  p.  525. 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  ANI)  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  31, 1870 


521 


but,  as  it  can  be  used  as  farinaceous  food,  the  terms 
rice,  wheat,  millet  and  pulse  have  been  made  use 
of.* * * § *  The  names  Pao-ku  (sheathed  grain),  Su-mi 
(millet  rice),  and  Pao-su  (sheathed  millet),  are  the 
designations  current  in  the  southern  provinces. 

“The  stem  grows  to  a  height  of  3  or  4  feet  (42  to 
56  English  inches)  or  upwards.  At  each  joint  a 
sheath  is  put  forth,  growing  outwards  from  the  side 
of  the  stem,  in  shape  like  the  Tsung  fish. I  At  the 
extremity  of  the  sheath  a  beard  of  an  inch  or  more 
in  length  is  formed.  The  seeds  are  in  size  like  those 
of  the  Tz  plant, £  and  are  clustered  together,  enve¬ 
loped  in  several  layers  of  a  white  external  covering. 
It  flowers  about  the  end  of  summer. 

“  The  Pun  Ts’ao§  classes  this  plant  with  the 
cereals  (Ka),  remarking  that  its  grain  has  a  sweet 
flavour,  and  that  its  medicinal  qualities  are  aperient. 
In  poor  country  places  and  remote  districts  it  is  oc¬ 
casionally  used  as  food.  In  the  neigliboiuhood  of 
Peking  its  common  name  is  Yu-mi,  or  jade  rice. 

“  The  seeds  are  ground  into  flour  and  mixed  in 
the  proportion  of  one-tenth  or  one-fifth  with  wlieaten 
flour,  to  which  it  adds  whiteness  and  an  agreeable 
appearance  ;  but  no  one  uses  it  as  food  by  itself,  from 
fear  of  indigestion.  The  maize  grown  in  the  pro¬ 
vince  of  Kwang-tung  is  slightly  different,  having 
vellowisli  grains. 

“  It  is  said  that  maize  abounds  chiefly  in  the  pro¬ 
vinces  of  Yun-nan  and  Kwei-cliow,  where  tradition 
asserts  that  it  was  brought  from  Cochin-china  by  Ma 
Fu-po,|'  but  there  is  no  genuine  evidence  to  this 
effect,  and  confidence  must  not  be  rashly  placed  in 
the  tradition.  Examination  of  the  two  works  above 
quoted,  both  published  under  the  Ming  dynasty, 
elicits  only  that  the  seed  was  first  brought  from  Si- 
fan  ;  but  of  the  period  at  which  this  took  place  they 
say  not  a  word.  It  is  further  noted  that  this  grain 
was  heretofore  presented  as  tribute,  but  again  no 
date  is  assigned.  It  is  evident  that  its  introduction 
must  have  taken  place  at  a  very  early  period ;  as,  at 
the  tune  when  these  works  were  compiled,  no  infor¬ 
mation  could  be  procured.” 


*  The  writer  appears  in  this  passage  to  be  seeking  to  make 
clear  the  fact  that  the  maize  plant,  not  being  indigenous  to 
China,  has  no  authorized  appellation  sanctioned  by  the  uses 
of  antiquity,  and  that  hence  the  names  under  which  it  is 
known  are  merely  comparative  and  fluctuating,  according  to 
individual  or  local  choice,  although  the  obvious  characteristics 
of  the  plant  confine  the  selection  within  the  range  of  cereal 
species. 

t  Tsung-yii,  a  species  of  Scircena,  the  tapering  body  of 
which  resembles  in  some  degree  the  bract  of  the  maize 
plant. 

X  Tz  -shili,  an  aquatic  plant,  resembling  the  nelumbium, 
cultiv  ated  for  its  seeds,  which  are  used  in  medicine.  In  size 
and  farinaceous  appearance  they  are  not  unlike  those  of  the 
maize  plant.  [This  has  been  proved  on  further  investigation 
to  be  Euryale  ferox,  Sal.— H.  F.  II.] 

§  For  note  on  the  Pun  Ts’ao  and  extracts  respecting  maize, 
see  post. 

|!  Ma  I  u-po,  or  Ma  Tiiam,  the  celebrated  general  of 
Kwang  W  u  of  the  Eastern  Ham  dynasty,  a.d.  30.  It  is 
noteworthy  that  Chinese  history  records  an  expedition,  headed 
by  Ma  Yiian,  against  the  Si-fan  tribes,  in  a.d.  36,  prior  to 
the  campaign  in  Cochin-china,  with  which  his  name  is  most 
commonly  associated.  If  the  maize  plant  was  really  brought 
from  the  Si-fan  territories  to  the  Western  Provinces*5  of 
China,  as  the  native  records  assert,  it  may  well  have  been 
among  the  results  of  this  early  expedition ;  whilst  a  confusion 
in  the  popular  tradition  as  to  its  origin  is  also  not  unintelli¬ 
gible,  in  view  of  the  constant  connection  of  Ma  Yiiam’s  name 
with  his  famous  victories  in  Cochin-china. 


II.  Extract  from  the  Pun  Ts'ao,  or  Cyclojuedia  of 
Natural  History. 

[Note. — The  Pun  Ts'ao  Kang -mu  was  composed 
by  Li  Sliih-chen  during  the  latter  half  of  the  six¬ 
teenth  century,  but  was  not  published  until  after  his 
death,  having  been  laid  before  the  Emperor  Wan-li 
by  his  son  in  a.d.  1597.  It  remains  to  this  day  the 
standard  work  of  reference  among  the  Chinese  for 
all  subjects  relating  to  natural  history  and  medicine  ; 
but  the  text  of  the  original  has  been  largely  added 
to  and  reclassified  by  subsequent  editors.*  It  has 
proved  impossible  to  obtain  a  sight  of  an  ancient 
copy  of  this  work,  and  the  extract  translated  below 
is  taken  from  the  edition  of  1055,  from  which  all 
later  reprints  have  been  made.  The  original  plates 
are  transferred  to  each  edition,  whether  of  octavo  or 
duodecimo  size ;  and  a  specimen  from  two  of  such 


editions  is  annexed  hereto.  Plate  I.  reproduces  the 
engraving  of  the  maize  plant  in  the  larger  edition, 
and  Plate  II.  shows  the  same  drawing,  reduced  to  a 
smaller  scale.  Plate  III.  is  a  figure  of  the  Barbadoes 
millet  (for  note  respecting  which,  see  next  page).] 

“  Yu-sliu-sliu ,  common  name  Yii-lcao-liang . 

“  The  text  of  Li  Shih-clien  is  as  follows  :f — The 
seed  of  the  Yii-sJiu-sliu  came  from  the  lands  on  the 
West,  and  it  is  cultivated  by  but  few.  Its  stalk  and 


*  Notwithstanding  the  additions  to  or  reconstruction  of 
the  text  by  successive  editors,  the  words  of  the  original  are, 
in  accordance  with  invariable  rule,  both  scrupulously  pre¬ 
served  and  carefully  distinguished.  Thus,  in  the  modern 
editions  of  the  Pun  Ts’ao,  the  text  of  the  author  is  specifically 
quoted  at  the  head  of  subsequent  additions  or  commentaries, 
f  See  remarks  in  previous  note. 


December  31,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


525 


leaf  both  resemble  the  Shu-shu  (Barbadoes  millet), 
but  are  more  fleshy  and  shorter.  They  also  resemble 
the  Coix  lacliryma  ;  the  stalk  grows  to  a  height  of  3 


or  4  feet ;  it  flowers  in  the  sixth  or  seventh  month, 
producing  an  ear  like  that  of  the  Pi-me.  From  the 
heart  of  the  stalk  there  issues  a  sheath  in  shape  like 


the  Tsung  fish,  from  which  a  white  waving  beard 
grows  out.  After  a  time  the  sheath  opens  and  the 
grain  comes  forth.  The  grains  are  clustered  together, 
each  one  as  large  as  a  Tsung  (?)  [used  as  a  generic 
term  for  palms]  seed,  and  yellow  and  white  in  colour ; 
they  may  be  eaten  baked  or  roasted.  When  roasted, 
they  burst  into  a  white  flour-like  mass,  similar  in  ap¬ 
pearance  to  that  produced  when  rice  of  the  glutinous 
land  is  roasted.” 

III.  The  following  are  the  references  of  the  Pun 
Ts’ao  with  respect  to  the  Barbadoes  millet  ( Sorghum 
vulgare,  Pers.) : — 

“  The  plant  known  as  the  Shu-shu,  or  millet  of 
Sz’-cli’wan,  has  the  following  synonyms: — Lu-tsi, 
reed  grain ;  Lu-su,  reed  millet ;  Mu-tsi ,  wood  grain  ; 
Ti-liang ,  reed  millet ;  Kao-liang ,  tall  millet.  Li  Sliili- 
clien  observes:  ‘  The  Sz’-ch’wan millet  was  not  much 
known  in  former  times,  but  it  abounds  at  present  in 
the  northern  provinces.’  The  work  called  the  ‘ Kwang  - 
ya,'  gives  the  names  Ti-liang  and  Mu-tsi  (see  above), 


on  account  of  its  belonging  to  the  millet  tribe ;  but 
from  its  growth  to  a  height  like  that  of  the  reeds 
called  Lu  and  77,  it  has  become  popularly  known  by . 
the  various  names  given  above.  The  seed  was  first 
introduced  from  the  territory  of  Shu  (the  ancient 
name  of  the  present  province  of  Sz’-ch’wan,  on  the 
western  frontier  of  the  empire),  whence  it  is  called 
Sz’-ch’wan  millet.” 

I\ .  Apart  from  the  Pun  Ts’ao,  notices  upon  the 
present  subject  have  also  been  sought  in  the  lKe  Chili 
King-yuan,’  or  £  Mirror  of  Classified  Research,’  a 
vast  cyclopaedia  of  information  in  all  departments  of 
physical  study  practised  by  the  Chinese,  with  re¬ 
ferences  under  each  heading  to  antecedent  works. 
This  collection,  in  twenty-four  volumes,  was  pub¬ 
lished  in  1735  by  Chen  Yuan-lung.  It  contains  no 
reference  to  maize  under  the  name  of  Yii  Shu-shu; 
but  describes  the  plant  as  Yii-me  (imperial  wheat),* 
in  the  following  terms  :  — 

I  ii-me,  or  imperial  wheat,  originated  in  the  Si- 
fan  territory  (the  lands  beyond  the  western  frontier 
of  China  Proper),  and  its  ancient  name  was  Fan¬ 
nie,  or  ‘  wheat  of  the  foreign  lands  of  the  West.’ 
Having  been  offered  among  tribute,  it  has  received 
the  name  of  imperial  wheat.  In  its  stem  and  leaf  it 
is  the  congener  of  the  Tsi,  or  panicled  millet,  and,  in 
its  flower,  of  rice.  The  sheath  enclosing  the  ear  is 
like  a  closed  fist,  but  longer.  The  beard  resembles 
red  threads.  The  seed  is  like  the  grain  of  the  Tz 
plant,  but  large,  lustrous,  and  white.  The  flower 
blooms  at  the  top  of  the  plant,  and  the  seed  (ear?) 
grows  out  from  the  joints.” 

^  •  The  same  work  from  which  the  above  notice  is 
taken,  contains  a  quotation  from  a  historical  work 
called  ‘  Tu  Yang  Tsa  Pien ,’  or  ‘  Miscellanies  of  Tu- 
yang,’  throwing  light  on  the  practice  of  presenting 
new  species  of  plants  as  tribute  to  the  Emperor. 
The  extract  is  as  follows : — 

11  In  the  eighth  year  of  Yiian-ho,f  of  the  Tang 
dynasty,  Pi-me,  clear  green  wheat,  was  offered  as 
tribute  by  the  kingdom  of  Ta-clien.  In  size  it  was 
larger  than  the  wheat  of  China,  and  its  seeds,  both 
within  and  without,  were  of  a  clear  green  colour. 
Its  scent  was  like  that  of  the  non-glutinous  rice.” 

Canton.  °  W.  F.  M. 


CjrajJtcw  for  Jstifornts. 

CHEMICAL  NOTES  TO  THE  PHARMACOPOEIA. 

BY  WILLIAM  A.  TILDEX,  B.SC.  LOND. 

DEMONSTRATOR  OF  PRACTICAL  CHEMISTRY  TO  THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 

Borax. — The  principal  form  of  native  borax  is  the 
mineral  tinoal  from  India.  [§  It  is  also  made  arti¬ 
ficially  by  boiling  together  in  proper  proportions 
boracic  acid  and  carbonate  of  soda.]  The  boracic 
acid  is  derived  from  the  water  of  the  lagoons,  little 
lakes  formed  by  the  condensation  of  the  steam  of 
volcanic  origin,  which  issues  from  the  earth  in  seve¬ 
ral  districts,  particularly  at  Lardarello,  in  Tuscan}7". 
The  water  of  these  lagoons  is  evaporated  by  causing 
it  to  pass  slowly  down  an  inclined  and  terraced  roof 
heated  by  the  steam  and  vapours  which  issue  below. 

Borax  is  an  abnormal  salt,  the  constitution  of 


*  Sec  ante,  reference  from  note,  p.  523. 
f  The  reign  known  as  Yiian-ho  commenced  in  a.d.  8C6. 


526 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[December  31,  1870. 


which  cannot  be  expressed  by  any  simple  formula. 
It  may  be  noticed,  however,  that  it  contains  the  ele¬ 
ments  of  two  molecules  of  a  metaborate,  NaB02, 
with  boracic  anhydride  B203;  or,  since  it  is  probable 
that  part  of  its  water  is  constitutional,  it  may  be 
represented  as  an  acid  metaborate  with  water  of 
crystallization,  2  (NaB  02 H B  02)  9  PI2  O.  Normal 
boracic  acid  is  H3B03;  take  from  this  the  elements 
of  water,  H20,  and  metaboracic  acid  remains. 

Borax  presents  a  weak  alkaline  reaction  with  lit¬ 
mus  paper.  [§  A  hot  saturated  solution  when  aci¬ 
dulated  with  any  of  the  mineral  acids  lets  fall  as  it 
cools  a  scaly  crystalline  deposit  (boracic  acid  H3B03), 
the  solution  of  which  in  spirit  burns  with  a  green 
flame. 

The  boracic  acid  is  produced  thus : — 

Na2B407  +  H2S04  +  5  H20  =  Na2  S04  +  4  H3  B03. 

Boracic  acid  is  a  very  feeble  acid,  which  decom¬ 
poses  carbonates  but  slowly  in  the  cold;  it  reacts 
with  turmeric  as  alkalies  do.  Upon  this  fact  is 
founded  an  excellent  test  for  its  detection.  The 
borate  is  mixed  with  a  slight  excess  of  hydrochloric 
acid  and  a  piece  of  turmeric  paper  dipped  into  the 
solution.  Upon  drying  the  paper  it  appears  of  a 
reddish-brown  colour,  which  becomes  blue  on  mois¬ 
tening  it  with  weak  potash.  Boracic  acid  is  em¬ 
ployed  in  the  Pharmacopoeia  as  a  test  for  turmeric 
powder  in  rhubarb.  Borax  neutralizes  acids  to  the 
same  extent  as  an  amount  of  sodic  hydrate  or  carbo¬ 
nate  containing  the  same  quantity  of  sodium.  Thus 
Na2B4O710H2O  will  neutralize  H2C2042H20  ;  half 
a  gram-molecule,  or  191  grams,  will,  therefore,  neu¬ 
tralize  1000  cubic  centimetres  of  the  volumetric  so¬ 
lution  of  oxalic  acid. 

Bromum. —  [§  A  liquid  non-metallic  element  ob¬ 
tained  from  sea-water  and  from  some  saline  springs] ; 
also,  in  small  quantity  from  help,  the  ash  of  sea¬ 
weed.  From  whatever  source  it  is  obtained,  the 
same  principle  is  adopted  hi  its  preparation.  The 
liquids  from  which  the  most  easily  cry stalliz able 
salts  have  been  removed  are  made  to  receive  a  cur¬ 
rent  of  chlorine  gas.  Chlorine  lias  a  greater  affinity 
for  metals  than  that  possessed  by  bromine,  conse¬ 
quently  upon  such  treatment  the  bromides  present 
undergo  decomposition  and  the  bromine  is  set  free. 
Thus  if  bromide  of  magnesium  be  the  salt  operated 
upon,  as  is  usually  the  case,  the  reaction  proceeds 
thus : — 

Mg  Br2  +  Cl2  =  Mg  Cl2  +  Br2. 

Excess  of  chlorine  is  to  be  avoided  or  it  combines 
with  the  liberated  bromine.  The  liquors  wliicli  are 
now  brown  are  shaken  up  with  ether,  which  dissolves 
out  the  bromine,  and  rising  to  the  surface,  carries  it 
ivith  it.  Drawn  oft*  and  shaken  up  with  a  solution 
of  potash,  the  ether  gives  up  the  bromine  to  the 
potash,  which,  after  it  has  been  several  times  em¬ 
ployed  in  the  same  way,  becomes  finally  saturated 
with  bromine  and  neutralized.  On  evaporating  to 
dryness  the  solution  of  bromide  and  bromate  of  po¬ 
tassium  thus  obtained,  heating  the  residue  to  destroy 
traces  of  brominated  organic  compounds,  and  finally 
distilling  the  residual  bromide  of  potassium  with 
sulphuric  acid  and  black  oxide  of  manganese,  bro¬ 
mine  is  found  in  the  receiver. 

2KBr  +  Mn  02  +  3H2S04 
=  Br2  +  2KHSO,  -f  Mn S 04  +  2H20. 

[§  Bromine  is  a  dark  brownish-red,  very  volatile 
liquid,  with  a  strong  and  disagreeable  odour.  Its 


specific  gravity  is  2 '966.  Agitated  with  solution  of 
soda  in  such  proportion  that  the  fluid  remains  very 
slightly  alkaline,  it  forms  a  colourless  liquid : — 

(6 NaHO  -j-  3 Br2  =  5NaBr  -j-  NaBr03  -f-  3Ho0), 

Bromide.  Bromate. 

which,  if  coloured  by  the  further  addition  of  a  small 
quantity  of  the  bromine,  does  not  become  blue  on 
the  subsequent  addition  of  a  cold  solution  of  starch.] 
This  last  test  is  intended  to  indicate  that  the  bromine 
is  free  from  iodine,  but  it  is  quite  useless  for  this 
purpose,  and  founded  in  error.  If  iodine  were  present 
in  a  sample  of  bromine,  the  whole  of  it  would  be 
converted  into  iodate  wdiicli  would  not  be  decom¬ 
posed  by  the  addition  of  bromine. 

GNaHO  +  I  Br5 
=  5NaBr  +  NaI03  +  3H20. 

To  detect  iodine  in  bromine,  dissolve  the  sample 
in  weak  sulphurous  acid,  employed  in  such  propor¬ 
tion  as  to  produce  a  solution  almost,  but  not  quite, 
colourless.  The  whole  of  the  bromine  and  part  of 
the  iodine  will  thus  be  converted  into  liydracids,  a 
small  quantity  of  the  iodine  remaining  unchanged. 

Br2  +  H20  -f  S02H20  =  2HBr  +  H,S04, 
and — 

I2  +  H20  +  S02H20  =  2HI  +  H2S04. 

It  can  then  be  recognized  by  starch. 

The  boiling-point  of  bromine  is  145'4°,  not  117°  F>, 
as  stated  in  the  Pharmacopoeia. 

Bromine,  in  its  chemical  relations,  stands  inter¬ 
mediate  between  chlorine  and  iodine.  Its  atomic 
weight  80  is  very  nearly  the  mean  of  35  ‘5  and  127, 
which  are  those  of  chlorine  and  iodine  respectively. 
The  crystalline  form  of  the  chloride,  bromide,  and 
iodide  of  any  given  metal  is  the  same  in  nearly  all 
cases.  The  elements  themselves,  though  different  in 
many  characters,  resemble  each  other  closely  in  not 
a  few.  They  all  three  form  coloured  vapours,  with 
an  odour  which,  when  concentrated,  is  exceedingly 
irritating  and  corrosive,  but  when  feeble,  as  when 
the  vapour  is  diluted  largely  with  air,  reminds  of  the 
sea.  Chlorine  is  a  green  gas,  condensable  to  the 
liquid  state  ;  bromine  is  a  very  volatile  liquid  form¬ 
ing  a  brown  vapour ;  iodine  a  solid,  but  volatile  and 
producing  a  purple  vapour.  Each  combines  when 
in  the  gaseous  state  with  an  equal  volume  of  hy¬ 
drogen  to  form  a  colourless  gas,  which  is  very 
soluble  in  water,  and  forms  a  strongly  acid  solution. 


THE  COMBINATIONS  OF  CARBONIC 
ANHYDRIDE  WITH  AMMONIA  AND  WATER. 

BY  EDWARD  DIVERS,  M.D. 

( Concluded  from  page  507.) 

Products  of  the  Distillation  of  Sal-Ammoniac  with  ChalJc , 
with  Potassium  Carbonate  and  with  Sodium  Carbonate . 

Sal-Ammoniac  ivith  ChalJc. — I  have  already  stated  the 
collective  evidence  showing  that  when  ammonium  car¬ 
bamate  is  volatilized,  it  is  not  converted  into  vapour  of 
itself,  but  into  a  mixture  of  carbonic  anhydride  and  am¬ 
monia.  In  the  case  of  the  carbonates  of  ammonium,  the 
evidence  of  their  decomposition  into  these  gases  and 
water  when  heated  is  still  more  conclusive,  as  some  water 
is  always  obtained  in  the  free  state.  The  nature,  there¬ 
fore,  of  the  products  obtained  by  distilling  a  mixture  of 
sal-ammoniac  and  chalk  depends  upon  the  behaviour  of 


December  31, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


527 


n  mixture  of  water  vapour  and  ammonia  and  carbonic 
anhydride  gases ;  or,  to  go  a  step  further,  as  these  sub¬ 
stances  do  not  combine  with  each  other  until  their  tem¬ 
perature  is  much  below  the  condensing- point  of  steam, 
and  that,  therefore,  much  of  the  water  separates  from 
the  mixture  in  the  liquid  state,  the  nature  of  the  products 
depends  upon  the  reaction  of  equivalent  quantities  of 
moist  carbonic  anhydride  and  ammonia,  and  the  beha¬ 
viour  of  the  product  of  this  reaction  with  liquid  water. 

It  is  always  stated  that  the  products  of  the  distillation 
of  sal-ammoniac  and  chalk  are  the  substance 

(C  03)3  (0  H3)2  (N  H3)4, 

water  and  ammonia  gas ;  but  I  am  not  aware  of  the 
publication  of  any  investigations  on  which  this  state¬ 
ment  rests. 

_  It  would  naturally  be  made  on  theoretical  considera¬ 
tions,  based  on  the  ascertained  composition  of  the  car¬ 
bonate  as  it  appeared  in  commerce.  All  my  own  ex¬ 
periments  on  the  subject,  direct  and  indirect,  prove  it  to 
be  incorrect,  and  I  am  almost  fully  convinced  that  this 
statement  is  an  incorrect  one,  and  has  been  advanced 
upon  theoretical  grounds  only. 

In  the  distillation  of  a  mixture  of  chalk  and  sal- 
ammoniac  no  ammonia  escapes,  the  evolved  gases  entirely 
condensing.  The  carbonic  anhydride  and  the  ammonia 
■combine,  to  form  ammonium  carbamate,  while  the  water 
is  deposited  in  a  free  state.  The  carbamate  and  the 
water  very  slowly  combine  together.  On  redistilling 
these  products,  the  commercial  carbonate  and  free  am¬ 
monia  are  the  new  products  obtained,  unless  the  distilla¬ 
tion  is  carried  on  very  slowly  indeed.  So  that  it  is  in 
the  refining  process  that  the  commercial  carbonate  is  ob¬ 
tained,  and  not  in  the  primary  operation. 

Sal-ammoniac  with  Potassium  or  Sodium  Carbonate. — 
When  sal-ammoniac  is  distilled  with  either  of  these  car¬ 
bonates,  the  products  arc  the  same  as  when  chalk  is  used, 
•except  that  in  the  first  part  of  the  distillation  some  am¬ 
monia  escapes.  The  evolution  of  the  excess  of  ammonia 
is  due  to  the  unchanged  carbonate  of  potassium  or  so¬ 
dium  combining  with  some  of  the  carbonic  anhydride 
•and  water,  and  forming  acid  carbonate. 

Sal-ammoniac  and  Pearl-ash  distilled  with  Aqueous 
Alcohol. — When  pearl-ash,  with  fully  its  equivalent  of 
■sal-ammoniac,  is  distilled  with  aqueous  alcohol,  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  directions  of  the  London  Pharmacopoeia  for 
^preparing-  spiritus  ammoniae  aromaticus,  the  first  portions 
of  the  distillate  soon  deposit  crystals  in  the  receiver. 
By  allowing  a  sufficient  quantity  of  fluid  to  distil  over, 
these  crystals  redissolve.  The  distillate,  as  a  whole,  is  a 
solution  of  normal  carbonate.  The  crystals  deposited  by 
the  earliest  portions  of  the  distillate  are  very  minute ;  but 
on  letting  stand  some  of  the  earlier  portions  of  the  dis¬ 
tillate  of  such  a  strength  as  only  to  form  crystals  slowly, 
u  good  quantity  of  very  thin,  six-sided  tables  are  depo¬ 
sited,  which  both  by  their  appearance  and  behaviour  on 
•exposure  to  the  air,  prove  to  be  half-acid  carbonate. 
Acid  carbonate  is  also  formed.  The  mother-liquor  is 
basic,  or  contains  more  than  two  atoms  of  ammonia  to 
one  of  carbonic  anhydride. 

The  spiritus  ammonim  aromaticus  generally  proves  to 
contain  caustic  ammonia,  and  I  think — I  cannot  speak  with 
•certainty — not  unfrequently  much  less  carbonate  than  it  is 
intended  to  contain.  By  following  the  directions  in  the 
British  Pharmacopoeia,  to  use  solution  of  ammonia  and 
commercial  carbonate  instead  of  pearl-ash  and  sal-ammo¬ 
niac,  the  formation  of  a  spirit  containing  excess  of  am¬ 
monia  is  favoured,  but  to  only  a  small  extent.  The 
spirit  thus  obtained  is,  of  course,  equally  liable,  if  too 
strong  in  alcohol,  to  decompose  into  a  basic  solution  and 
half-acid  or  acid  carbonate,  as  I  ascertained  by  prepar¬ 
ing  it.  During  the  distillation  crystals  are  apt  to  deposit 
m  the  neck  of  the  retort,  but  they  arc  soon  dissolved 
again  as  the  process  goes  on.  The  effects  of  distilling 
the  commercial  caibonato  with  aqueous  alcohol  and  with 
water  will  be  described  presently. 


Products  of  the  Distillation  of  the  Normal ,  the  Acid, 
and  the  Half -acid  Carbonates  of  Ammonium. 

When  the  normal  carbonate  is  distilled  slowly  enough, 
the  products  are  carbamate  and  water,  and,  when  the 
acid  carbonate  is  similarly  distilled,  the  product  is  the 
acid  carbonate  again  ;  but  when  either  the  normal,  the 
acid,*  or  the  half-acid  carbonate  is  distilled  faster  than 
the  whole  of  the  products  of  distillation  can  condense  in 
the  receiver,  partial  condensation  takes  place  in  such  a 
way  that  the  carbonate  o  f  commerce  is  formed,  according  to 
the  respective  equations — 


2[CO*+  2  0H.,+  2NH3] 

=  (C  02)2  Cf H2  (N  H3)3  +30 IL  +  N  H3 
3[COo  +  OH„+NH3]  3 

=  (C  02)20  IL  (N  H3)3  +  20 II,  +  C  0., 

3  [3C0,  +  4  0H, +  4NH3] 

=  4  [(C  02)2  0 H,  (N H3)3]  +  8  0  Ho  +  C  0.,. 


Products  of  the  Slow  Distillation  of  the  Commercial 
Carbonate  of  Ammonia. 

On  distilling  the  commercial  carbonate  very  slowly,  a 
thin  film  of  liquid  first  condenses,  which  soon  becomes  a 
thin  layer  of  crystals,  probably  of  normal  carbonate. 
Next,  after  a  cessation  in  the  volatilization,  during  which 
the  temperature  rises  several  degrees,  some  moist  ammo¬ 
nium  carbamate  deposits.  (This  is  really  the  first  pro¬ 
duct  of  the  distillation,  the  normal  carbonate  being  only 
the  product  of  the  action  of  moisture — that  adhering  to 
the  carbonate  and  to  the  retort  and  that  in  the  air— on 
the  ammonia  and  carbonic  anhydride  into  which  some  of 
the  carbamate  of  the  commercial  salt  always  passes  when 
placed  in  a  fresh  volume  of  air.)  After  this,  slightly 
moist  commercial  cai’bonate  [(CO«)2OH2(NH3)3]  is  de¬ 
posited,  forming  the  great  bulk  of  the  product  s.  '  Lastly,  a 
very  thin  layer  of  moist  and  more  acid  carbonate  is 
formed  either  by  direct  condensation  or  else  by  the  ac¬ 
tion  of  water  and  carbonic  anhydride  on  the  superficial 
part  of  the  commercial  carbonate  already  deposited. 
When,  therefore,  the  commercial  carbonate  is  distilled 
very  slowly  indeed,  the  product  consists  principally  of 
the  same  substance  ;  by  a  more  rapid  distillation  the  pro¬ 
duct  consists  almost  entirely  of  it. 

Products  of  the  Distillation  of  the  Carbonate  formerly  in 
Commerce. — These  have  been  examined  by  Rose.  I  have 
not  succeeded  in  getting  a  carbonate  of  the  composition 
the  commercial  substance  used  to  have.  But  I  have 
already  shown  that  the  main  product  obtained  by  Rose 
had  the  composition  of  the  carbonate  at  present  in  com¬ 
merce  plus  water.  Unlike,  therefore,  the  present  car¬ 
bonate,  it  yielded  a  product  essentially  different  from 
itself  by  slow  distillation.  The  remote  part  of  the  de¬ 
posit  was  neutral. 

Commercial  Carbonate  distilled  with  enough  Water  to 
cover  it. — The  effects  of  this  distillation  carried  on  at  as 
low  a  heat  as  possible  have  been  already  described,  so 
far  as  the  changes  in  the  retort  are  concerned.  The  de¬ 
posit  was  formed  by  a  distilling-heat  of  about  53°  in  a 
very  warm  condenser.  It  was  moist  and  crystalline, 
and  appeared  qualitatively  to  be  slightly  ammoniacal 
acid-carbonate.  Analysis  proved  it  to  be  so.f 

Commercial  Carbonate  distilled  with  Spirit  of  90  per  cent. 
— Hiinefeld  ascertained  that  by  distilling  commercial 
carbonate  with  spirit,  a  deposit  condensed  which  was 
neutral  in  composition.  I  have  repeated  his  experiment 
and  have  partly  described  the  results. 

It  only  remains  to  add  here  that  the  deposit,  which  was 
crystalline  and  saturated  with  aqueous  alcohol,  proved 
to  be  ammonium  carbamate. 


*  The  formation  of  the  commercial  carbonate  from  the  acid- 
carbonate  in  this  way  was  patented  by  F.  Clarke  Hills  in  184(1. 

-j-  Grossage  patented,  in  1855,  the  production  of  the  acid- 
carbonate  and  a  residual  solution  of  the  normal  carbonate  by 
distilling  an  aqueous  solution  of  the  commercial  carbonate. 


528 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  31, 187D, 


SANTONIN,  AND  ITS  DETECTION  IN  THE 
URINE.* 

BY  WALTER  G.  SMITH,  M.B. 

Two  singular  effects  are  known  to  result  from  the  ad¬ 
ministration  of  santonin  in  moderate  doses,  viz.  visual 
derangements  and  a  peculiar  alteration  in  the  colour  of 
the  urine.  It  is  with  the  latter  phenomenon  that  the 
author  principally  deals,  hut  he  gives  personal  testimony 
to  the  effect  of  santonin  on  the  vision.  Three  hours 
after  taking  five  grains  of  pure  white  santonin  he  be¬ 
came  conscious,  while  reading,  of  a  yellowish  tint  on  the 
paper  and  a  yellow  haze  in  the  air.  His  own  hands, 
and  the  complexions  of  others,  appeared  of  a  sallow,  un¬ 
healthy  colour  ;  and  the  evening  sky,  which  was  really 
of  a  pale  lavender  colour,  seemed  to  he  light  green. 
Vision  was  not  perfectly  distinct  for  some  hours,  and 
was  accompanied  by  a  certain  vagueness  of  definition. 

Many  substances,  when  taken  into  the  stomach,  visibly 
affect  the  characters  of  the  urinary  secretion  in  their 
transit  through  the  system,  and  a  number  of  vegetable 
colouring  matters  seem  to  pass  unaltered  into  the  urine. 
Eor  example,  madder  communicates  a  red  tint  to  the 
urine,  and  under  the  use  of  senna  this  secretion  acquires 
the  property  of  being  reddened  by  ammonia.  When 
rhubarb  is  administered  it  tinges  the  urine  yellow  or 
red,  according  as  the  reaction  of  that  fluid  is  acid  or  al¬ 
kaline.  Carbolic  acid,  absorbed  by  the  stomach,  causes 
the  urine  to  become  greenish,  and  when  freely  applied 
to  the  skin  has  frequently  developed  a  smoky  or  even 
black  colour.  Since  the  isolation  of  santonin  by  Kahler, 
forty  years  ago,  it  has  almost  entirely  superseded  san- 
tonica,  and  within  the  last  twenty  years  has  been  largely 
and  increasingly  employed  as  a  safe  and  efficient  vermi¬ 
fuge.  Various  observers  have  noticed  that  the  mine  of 
persons  under  the  influence  of  santonin  is  tinged  of  a 
saffron-yellow  or  greenish  colour,  and  Giovanni  and 
Ambroise  state  that  it  often  induces  apparent  hematuria. 
The  urine  of  some  of  the  lower  animals,  c.  g.  rabbits,  is 
similarly  affected.  As  in  the  case  of  rhubarb,  the  shade 
of  colour  depends,  no  doubt,  on  the  reaction  of  the  urine, 
which  is  coloured  yellow  when  acid,  and  purplish-red 
when  alkaline. 

The  attention  of  the  author  was  drawn  to  the  subject 
by  a  case  in  which  a  boy  aged  five  was  given  four  grains 
of  white  santonin  on  the  evening  of  August  18th  last. 
Next  morning  the  urine,  which  had  been  kept  in  a  tall 
glass  vessel,  was  of  a  bright  pinkish-red.  On  the  even¬ 
ing  of  the  19th,  the  boy  took  another  four-grain  dose. 
The  urine  passed  soon  after  was  of  a  greenish-yellow 
colour.  A  few  drops  of  liq.  ammoniac  immediately  pro¬ 
duced  a  clear  red  tint.  The  author  then  made  a  series 
of  experiments  on  himself,  the  result  being-  that  he  found 
the  presence  of  santonin  in  the  urine  might  be  detected 
by  the  alkali  test  in  periods  varying  from  ten  to  fifty 
minutes  after  it  had  been  taken,  and  that  it  was  elimi¬ 
nated  in  from  thirty  to  fifty  hours. 

A  small  quantity  of  saliva  was  several  times  tested, 
but  always  with  negative  results.  It  is  stated  that  the 
serum  of  the  blood  is  coloured  yellow  by  a  large  dose. 
The  colour  of  the  urine  was  in  all  cases  greenish-yellow, 
sometimes  approaching  a  light  saffron  tint,  the  greenish 
hue  being  best  seen  by  looking  obliquely  across  the  sur¬ 
face  of  the  fluid.  It  resembled  the  urine  of  a  person 
slightly  jaundiced,  and,  like  it,  stained  linen  of  a  per¬ 
sistent  light  yellow.  In  two  other  respects  also  it  curi¬ 
ously  conformed  to  bilious  urine.  When  nitric  acid 
was  dropped  on  a  small  quantity,  a  distinct  purplish 
colour  was  brought  out,  which,  however,  was  evanescent. 
Again,  when  sulphuric  acid  was  added  drop  by  drop,  it 
developed  a  reddish-brown  colour,  changing  to  a  deeper 
brown.  No  such  effects  were  produced  on  the  urine, 
when  not  under  the  influence  of  santonin.  The  sul¬ 


*  Abstracted  from  a  paper  published  in  the  Dublin  Quar¬ 
terly  Journal  of  Science  for  November,  1870. 


phuric  acid  reaction  was  less  ambiguous  than  the  nitric- 
acid,  which  might  affect  the  colouring  matter  of  normal 
urine  somewhat  similarly.  These  reactions,  -viewed  in 
connection  with  the  altered  colour  of  the  urine,  show 
that  it  would  be  quite  possible,  from  a  hasty  examina¬ 
tion,  to  make  an  erroneous  diagnosis  of  bile  in  the  urine, 
and  point  to  a  possible  fallacy  in  regard  to  the  two  most 
common  clinical  tests  for  bile. 

The  alkali  test  for  the  detection  of  santonin  in  the 
urine  is  a  very  striking  one,  and  may  he  noticed  both  as 
to  its  character  and  its  sensitiveness.  It  simply  consists 
in  the  addition  of  an  alkali  to  the  urine,  when  a  fine 
cherry  red  or  crimson  colour  will  immediately  bo  deve¬ 
loped,  according  to  the  amount  of  santonin  present.  The- 
urine  will  respond  to  potash,  soda,  or  ammonia,  and  also 
to  lime  or  baryta  water.  If  a  globule  of  potassium  be 
dropped  on  the  urine,  a  bright-red  track  is  left  wherever 
the  burning  metal  skims  along  the  surface.  At  first 
ammonia  was  employed,  and  the  colour  is  well  brought 
out  by  pouring  a  few  drops  of  liquor  ammonke  down  the 
side  of  the  test-tube,  so  as  to  float  on  the  urine,  when 
the  red  zone  will  appear  sharply  marked  at  the  line  of 
junction  of  the  two  liquids.  But  potash  was  afterwards 
found  to  be  a  more  delicate  reagent,  and  is  better  suited 
for  general  us®.  The  rod  alkaline  fluid  is  not  bleached 
or  altered  by  boiling,  but  the  colour  is  at  once  destroyed 
by  any  acid,  even  carbonic  acid  gas.  The  subsequent 
addition  of  alkali  restores  the  colour  as  before ;  hence  it 
may  be  inferred  that  the  colouring  substance  is  not  im¬ 
paired  or  broken  up  by  acids.  Bicarbonate  of  sodium 
produced  no  immediate  change,  but  on  boiling  for  some 
time  the  reddish  tint  was  gradually  developed,  and  was 
discharged  by  continued  boiling.  Carbonate  of  sodium 
afforded  similar  results,  except  that  it  required  longer 
boiling  before  the  colour  was  discharged.  Phosphate  of 
sodium  gave  no  result.  The  red- coloured  stratum  soon 
subsides  to  the  lower  part  of  the  test-tube,  carried  down 
by  the  precipitated  phosphates.  Prolonged  exposure  to 
light  in  contact  with  excess  of  alkali  bleaches  out  the- 
colour,  and  chlorine  at  once  dissipates  it.  Considering 
the  sparing  solubility  of  santonin,  one  part  requiring 
5000  parts  of  water  at  17‘5°C.,  the  delicacy  of  the  test 
will  bo  apparent  when  it  is  stated  that  santonin  was  de¬ 
tected  in  the  urine  within  ten  minutes  after  4  grs.  were- 
taken,  and  within  an  hour  after  but  1  gr.  was  taken.  In 
one  experiment  the  urine  voided  twenty-four  hours  after 
the  dose  gave  a  decided  red  colour  with  liq.  potassm, 
even  when  diluted  with  three  parts  of  water. 

For  ordinary  doses  of  from  3  to  6  grs.  about  two  days 
are  required  for  elimination,  and  it  is  to  be  remarked 
that  the  urinary  coloration  and  reaction  to  the  alkali 
test  are  more  persistent  than  the  phenomena  connected 
with  vision. 

When  the  red  liquid  is  examined  with  the  spectroscope, 
the  red,  orange  and  yellow  rays  are  transmitted,  while- 
the  blue  end  of  the  spectrum  is  absorbed.  In  a  more- 
dilute  state  the  red  and  blue  rays  are  transmitted,  and 
the  centre  of  the  spectrum  is  stopped.  No  characteristic 
absorption  bands  are  produced.  In  order  to  determine 
the  nature  of  the  colouring  material  found  in  the  urine,, 
and  to  ascertain  its  behaviour  with  reagents  as  an  aid 
towards  its  isolation,  the  following  process  was  adopted 
at  the  suggestion  of  Dr.  Emerson  Reynolds  : — About  a, 
pint  of  urine,  passed  after  taking  4  grs.  of  santonin  the 
preceding  evening,  was  treated  with  neutral  acetate  of 
lead,  avoiding  excess,  and  then  filtered.  To  the  filtrate, 
neutralized  by  potash,  basic  acetate  of  lead  was  added  so 
long  as  any  precipitate  was  formed,  and  until  the  fluid 
became  colourless.  Neutralized,  filtered,  and  washed. 
The  yellow  precipitate  was  transferred  to  a  beaker,  and 
decomposed  by  the  cautious  addition  of  dilute  suphuric 
acid  ;  spirit  of  wine  was  added,  and  the  beaker  set  aside 
for  twenty-four  hours.  Filtered;  removed  excess  of 
sulphuric  acid  by  barytic  water,  and  filtered.  The  clear 
fluid  now  gave  the  pink  reaction  distinctly  with  potash, 
but  ammonia  had  no  longer  [any  effect.  The  colouring; 


December  31, 1370.]  THE  FII  ARM  ACE  UTI  CAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


529 


matter,  therefore,  was  evidently  set  free,  but  the  quan¬ 
tity  at  command  was  too  small  to  admit  of  a  more 
minute  examination.  The  red  alkaline  filtrate  gave  a 
bulky  precipitate  with  alum  ;  but  when  this  precipitate 
was  filtered  off,  neither  the  precipitate  nor  the  filtrate 
any  longer  afforded  a  trace  of  colour  with  potash.  The 
liberated  colouring  substance  does  not  seem  to  enter  into 
combination  with  nitrate  of  silver,  nor  is  it  visibly 
•  affected  by  corrosive  sublimate,  sulphocyanide  of  potas¬ 
sium,  chloride  of  gold,  or  bichromate  of  potassium.  With 
persalts  of  iron  it  gives  a  permanent  rich  brown  colour. 
From  these  experiments  it  may  be  gathered  that  the 
.  colouring  material  is  tolerably  stable,  that  it  combines 
with  basic  acetate  of  lead,  and  can  still  be  detected  in 
■  that  state  of  union  by  the  potash  test.  It  is  highly  pro¬ 
bable  that  the  colour-developing  substance  is  a  feeble 
acid  derived  from  the  intra-vascular  oxidation  of  the 
santonin,  and  in  support  of  suoh  a  view  an  experiment  of 
Mialhe  may  be  brought  forward. 

When  santonin,  in  powder,  is  submitted  to  boiling- 
nitric  acid,  a  product  is  obtained  which,  after  saturation, 
gives,  with  water,  a  greenish-yellow  solution,  analogous 
in  appearance  to  that  which  urine  assumes  under  the  in¬ 
fluence  of  santonin.  This  liquid,  when  treated  with  an 
alkaline  base,  immediately  developes  a  deep  orange-red 
coloration  similar  to  that  which  urine  secreted  after  the 
ingestion  of  santonin  assumes  with  alkalies.  This  expe¬ 
riment  has  been  repeated  on  the  white  and  yellow  forms 
of  santonin,  and  with  corresponding  results ;  yet,  though 
the  reddened  alkaline  fluid  gave  an  abundant  yellow 
precipitate  with  basic  acetate  of  lead,  neither  the  preci- 
.pitate  nor  its  filtrate  were  any  longer  coloured  by 
potash.  Neither  could  any  coloration  be  obtained  on 
decomposing  the  lead  precipitate  with  sulphuric  acid, 
and  testing  the  fluid  decanted  from  the  sulphate  of  lead 
with  potash.  If  in  these  respects  the  artificial  colouring 
matter  fails  in  its  analogy  to  the  natural  colouring  sub¬ 
stance  in  santonic  urine,  still  Mialhe’ s  experiment  may 
be  regarded  as  indicating  the  direction  in  which  to  seek 
for  the  cause  of  the  natural  phenomenon. 


PRODUCTS  OF  THE  ISLAND  OF  HAINAN. 

BY  11.  SWINHOE. 

The  visitor  from  China  is  specially  struck  with  the 
^abundance  of  the  cocoa-nut-tree — a  tree  not  found  in 
the  latitude  of  Canton — which  meets  the  eye  on  all  points 
of  the  island  coast.  In  spite  of  the  winter  monsoon,  it 
flourishes  best  in  the  north-east  corner  of  Hainan,  in  the 
■district  of  Wenechang.  Further  in  the  interior,  as  the 
ground  rises,  the  pine  ( Finns  sinensis )  appears,  and  in 
-some  spots  clumps  of  pine  and  tope-s  of  cocoa-nut  grow 
■side  by  side.  The  cocoa-nut  also  was  found  growing  on 
the  opposite  shore  of  the  Luichow  peninsula,  and  on  the 
small  island  of  Naochow,  off  the  right  of  the  peninsula, 
in  latitude  20°  45'.  The  cocoa-nut  is  not  known  in 
Formosa,  excepting  in  one  spot  at  the  foot  of  the  moun¬ 
tains,  about  twenty  miles  from  the  S.W.  coast,  where  a 
few  trees  flourish,  which  there  is  good  reason  to  believe 
were  introduced  by  the  Dutch.  The  areca  was  every¬ 
where  largely  cultivated,  as  it  is  also  in  South  China  and 
Formosa.  Fine  banyans  shaded  the  villages,  growing  to 
a  large  size.  I  observed  three  species — the  ordinary 
Ficus  nitida,  a  large-leaved  species  found  also  about 
Canton,  and  a  species  with  small  glabrous  leaf  and  yellow 
berry — all  equally  grand  and  umbrageous  trees.  On  the 
high-road  to  the  capital  and  about  the  city  itself  two 
peculiar  trees  presented  themselves — the  one  with  black 
pods,  ten  inches  long,  hanging  downwards  all  over  it ; 
the  other,  with  long  scimitar- shaped  pods,  twenty  inches 
long,  covered  with  an  ochreous  woolly  down.  Both 
these  were  new  to  me,  and  I  brought  home  specimens  of 
the  pods,  and  submitted  them  to  Mr.  Bennett,  of  the 
British  Museum,  who  pronounces  the  first  an  Ascle- 
piadeous  tree  of  an  unknown  species,  and  the  latter  a 


Spathodea ,  nearly  related  to  Spathodca  stipulata.  Other 
village  trees  not  often  seen  in  China  were  the  jack,  the 
breadfruit,  and  the  tamarind. 

In  the  mountain  forests  the  Liquidambar  fonnosana, 
of  Hance,  was  the  commonest  tree,  associated  with  noble 
fig-trees  of  great  variety  and  beauty.  Palms  also  were 
abundant ;  on  the  higher  ground  the  cocoa-nut  giving- 
place  to  fan-palms,  caryota,  phoenix,  etc.  The  under¬ 
growth  was  traversed  in  all  directions  by  rattans  and 
other  tangles  innumerable,  so  as  entirely  to  impede 
passage  through.  The  finest  woods  for  fragrance  and 
lor  sculpture  are  procured  from  the  mountains  of  Hainan ; 
and  Du  Halde,  in  his  ‘  Histoire  de  la  Chine,’  states  that 
the  Emperor  Kcenlung  had  some  carried  to  Pekin  at  im¬ 
mense  cost  to  decorate  a  palace  he  was  building  for  his 
sepulture.  The  most  precious  of  these  woods  is  the 
hwa-le ,  named  by  Europeans  rose  or  violet-wood  on  ac¬ 
count  of  its  odour,  which  the  Chinese  procure  by  barter 
with  the  hill  tribes.  Then  there  is  the  Icao-km ,  or  eagle 
wood,  a  very  hard  timber,  a  specimen  of  which  I  pro¬ 
cured  at  Hoitow,  and  brought  home  for  the  Kew  Museum. 
There  is  also  a  very  fine  and  incorruptible  yellow  wood, 
columns  of  which,  of  a  certain  thickness,  arc  priceless,  and 
said  to  be  reserved,  as  is  the  hwa-le,  for  the  service  of  the 
Emperor.  This  yellow  wood  is  much  used  in  the  island 
for  building  purposes,  but  I  noticed  that  its  bright  colour 
soon  fades  when  exposed  to  the  light.  One  tree  exudes 
an  abundance  of  a  gummy  matter,  which  is  brought 
down  in  large  lumps  to  the  west  coast,  and  thence  ex¬ 
ported  for  sizing  purposes.  Another  tree,  probably  the 
same  as  the  Aloexylum  Ayallochum  (Lourciro)  of  Cochin 
China,  yields  the  “  ching-heang,”  or  fragrant  wood,  so 
much  sought  after  by  the  Chinese  for  incense  and  for 
carving  into  ornaments.  This  is  proem-able  in  large 
quantities  in  Nychow  city  in  the  south  end  of  the  island, 
where  the  best  kinds  are  sold  for  about  Is.  an  ounce,  and 
the  coarser  kinds,  used  for  burning,  for  about  Gd.  a  pound. 
The  Chinese  did  not  know  the  tree,  and  could  give  no 
account  of  it,  but  Lourciro  says  that  it  is  only  the  de¬ 
cayed  parts  of  the  tree  that  are  so  highly  scented,  and  he 
attributes  it  to  a  disease.  In  the  south  also  they  have 
the  tree  which  yields  the  “dragon’s  blood,”  and  others 
with  sweet-scented  sap  used  for  incense. 

About  the  jungles  of  the  south  a  species  of  Alpinia , 
with  upright  flower,  lately  described  by  Dr.  Hance,  her 
Majesty’s  Vice-Consul  at  Whampoa,  as  A.  officinarum , 
grows  wild,  and  its  roots  yield  to  trade  the  valuable  drug 
g-alangal.  Its  berries,  which  are  also  used  as  a  drug  by 
the  Chinese,  and  were  described  and  figured  by  Mr. 
Daniel  Hanbury  in  1855,  are  infused  and  taken  by  the 
aborigines  as  a  substitute  for  tea.  The  tea-plant  is  cul¬ 
tivated  in  Hainan  by  the  Chinese,  and  a  very  coarse 
kind  of  tea  prepared  from  it;  but  whether  it  is  indige¬ 
nous  to  the  island  or  has  been  introduced,  I  was  not  able 
to  ascertain.  The  fruits  of  the  country  are  cocoa-nuts, 
areca  or  betel-nut,  mangoes,  indifferent  oranges,  limes, 
jackfruit,  breadfruit,  papaws,  lichees,  longans,  jamboos, 
carambolas,  bananas  and  tamarinds. — The  Field. 


Supposed  Suicide  by  Carbolic  Acid. — An  in¬ 
quest  was  held  lately  in  Liverpool  on  the  body  of 
George  Carey,  a  shipkeeper,  who  was  found,  apparently 
in  a  fit,  in  the  cabin  of  a  vessel  in  which  he  had  been  keep¬ 
ing  watch.  A  bottle  labelled  “  Carbolic  Acid  ”  was  on  the 
floor,  with  the  cork  drawn.  He  was  taken  to  the 
Southern  Hospital,  where  he  died.  His  breath  smelt 
strongly  of  carbolic  acid,  and  it  is  supposed  that  he  had 
taken  a  quantity  of  it  from  the  bottle  found  on  the  cabin 
floor.  No  cause  could  be  assigned  for  such  an  act,  ex¬ 
cept  that  he  had  been  fined  in  the  morning  for  losing  a 
tide  watch.  The  jury  returned  an  open  verdict. 

Effect  of  Coffee  upon  Iodine. — Hutet  mentions 
that  one  grain  of  iodine,  added  to  a  teaspoonful  of  strong 
infusion  of  coffee,  has  no  longer  any  taste  or  smell,  and 
does  hot  give  the  blue  tinge  to  starch. — Lancet. 


530 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  31,  1870, 


THE  COMPARATIVE  EFFICACY  OF  ANTISEPTICS. 

Dr.  F.  Grace  Calvert  has  performed  two  series  of  ex¬ 
periments  in  order  to  ascertain  the  comparative  powers 
of  various  substances  ordinarily  used  as  antiseptics.  The 
first  consisted  in  placing  in  bottles  (not  corked)  solu¬ 
tions  of  albumen  and  flour-paste.  To  these  ho  added 
various  proportions  of  some  of  the  substances  patronized 
at  the  present  time  as  antiseptics,  and  the  following  table 
shows  the  time  in  which  an  offensive  odour  became  sen¬ 
sible  at  a  temperature  from  70  to  80  degrees  F. 


Antiseptic  employed.  Per  cent,  of 

antiseptic. 

M‘DougaH's  disinfecting 

Albumen. 

Flour-paste. 

powder . 5 

Carbolic  disinfecting 

11  days 

25  days 

powder . 5 

Sound 

Sound 

Chi  or- Alum  (made  lately)  2 

9  days 

— 

Chloride  of  zinc  ...  2 

15  days 

— 

Chloride  of  lime  ...  5 

16  days 

14  days 

Permanganate  of  potash  5 

■ — 

— 

Tar  oil . 2 

11  days 

25  days 

Carbolic  acid  ....  2 

Sound 

Sound 

Cresylic  acid  ....  2 

Sound 

Sound 

None . — 

5  days 

7  days 

The  above  table  he  considers 

clearly  to  show  that  the 

only  true  antiseptics  are  carbolic  and  cresylic  acids  ;  and 
these  results  coincide  with  those  obtained  by  Mr.  William 
Crookes,  F.R.S.,  Dr.  Angus  Smith,  F.R.S.,  and  Dr. 
Sansom.  These  two  acids  continued  their  action  till  the  al¬ 
bumen  solution  and  paste  dried  up.  The  second  series  had 
the  object  of  ascertaining  which  of  the  undermentioned 
substances  is  most  active  in  destroying  germs,  and  preserv¬ 
ing  animal  substance.  At  the  bottom  of  wide-mouthed 
pint  bottles,  Dr.  Calvert  placed  a  known  quantity  of  each 
of  the  antiseptics,  suspending  over  them  by  a  thread  a 
piece  of  sound  meat ;  and,  by  daily  examination,  it  was 
easily  ascertained  when  the  meat  became  tainted  or  putrid. 


Antiseptic  used. 

Became  tainted. 

Putrid. 

Permanganate  of  potash  .  .  . 

.  2  days 

4  days 

Chlor-Alum . 

.  2  „ 

10  „ 

M‘Dougall’s  disinfecting  powder 

.  12  „ 

19  „ 

Chloride  of  lime . 

.  14  „ 

21  „ 

Tar  oil . 

.  16  „ 

25  „ 

Chloride  of  zinc . 

•  19  „ 

Carbolic  disinfecting  powder .  )  Did  not  become  tainted, 
Carbolic  acid  .  .  .  .  .  .  >  but  dried  up  and  be- 

Cresylic  acid . )  came  quite  hard. 


— British  Medical  Journal. 


DRUGGISTS’  CHARGES. 

The  British  Medical  Journal ,  in  commenting  on  this 
subject,  makes  the  following  remarks: — A  great  deal 
is  being  said  just  now  in  various  places  about  the  high 
charges  of  dispensing  chemists,  for  the  most  part 
very  unreasonably,  and  even  mischievously.  No  one 
pretends  to  believe  that  the  average  income  of  the 
class  of  pharmaceutical  chemists  from  their  business 
is  greater  than  that  of  other  classes  of  retailers.  It  is 
well  known  to  be  less  than  the  general  average  in  busi¬ 
nesses  demanding  a  far  less  onerous  training,  and  in 
which  it  is  by  no  means  so  important  that  a  highly  in¬ 
structed  and  conscientious  class  of  men  should  be  em¬ 
ployed,  and  that  they  should  be  conveniently  numerous 
and  widely  dispersed.  It  is  of  the  first  importance  that 
the  cheap  and  nasty  system  should  not  be  encouraged  in 
dispensing.  Every  one  knows  that  he  can  buy  a  hat  for 
nine  shillings  in  one  place,  and  for  twenty-four  shillings 
in  another.  He  will  not  expect  to  have  them  of  the 
same  quality,  unless  he  belong  to  the  deluded  race  of 
bargain-hunters.  A  man  can  put  up  with  a  bad  hat ; 
or  he  can  renew  his  purchase  more  frequently ;  but  the 
immediate  danger  which  he  will  suffer  from  stale  infu¬ 
sions  and  extemporized  makeshifts  of  the  cheaper  kinds 
for  the  most  costly  pharmacopoeial  preparations  is  not 


so  easily  estimated  or  repaired.  Lucky  if  he  escape 
without  plaster  of  Paris  in  his  sulphur-,  or  if  he  get  a 
tithe  of  quinine  in  his  crystals  of  quinine  and  iron.  The 
whole  question,  however,  does  not  lie  in  that  of  the  use 
of  inferior,  stale,  or  adulterated  materials.  The  price 
of  a  bottle  of  medicine  represents  many  things  besides 
the  ingredients  :  it  represents  skill,  responsibility,  cha¬ 
racter,  and  outward  and  material  guarantees  for  all 
these.  When  a  physician  writes  a  prescription,  the  ques¬ 
tion  is  frequently  asked,  “Where  shall  I  get  it  made 
up?”  There  are  two  usual  ways  of  answering  it ;  either 
to  say,  “  Go  to  any  respectable  chemist  in  your  neigh¬ 
bourhood;”  or,  if  it  be  a  prescription  involving  ma¬ 
terials  of  special  novelty,  delicacy,  or  difficulty  of  perfect 
preparation,  to  name  half-a-dozen  establishments  well 
known  for  their  perfect  arrangements,  either  of  which 
can  be  selected.  Then  the  importance  of  what  we  speak 
of  as  material  guarantees  is  at  once  seen.  There  are  in 
every  large  town  some  establishments  where  all  the 
arrangements  arc  obviously  made  so  as  to  secure  per¬ 
fection,  irrespective  of  cost.  There  are  others  where  the- 
special  labours  of  the  pharmaceutical  chemist  have  been 
such  as  to  inspire  special  confidence  in  his  dispensing. 
These  are  all  things  to  bo  paid  for.  Many  of  them  are 
costly  in  themselves ;  all  are  valuable  to  prescribers  and 
the  public,  and  have  a  fair  market- value.  Druggists  in 
poor  neighbourhoods  must  suit  their  prices  to  the 
pockets  of  their  customers.  They  are  helped  to  do  so 
by  smaller  shop-rents,  a  cheaper  way  of  living,  much 
less  exigence  and  expenditure  as  to  the  elegancies  of  dis¬ 
pensing,  and  by  consulting  economy  in  every  possible- 
way  in  laying  in  their  stock,  and  in  the  personnel  and  the 
arrangements  of  their  establishments.  With  all  this, 
they  may  resist  the  temptations  to  actual  inferiority;, 
but  it  is  perfectly  clear  that  the  more  costly  arrange¬ 
ments,  and  the  sole  regard  for  perfection  of  material  and 
method,  are  those  things  which  we  seek  to  secure  for  our 
patients,  and  which  they  have  the  greatest  interest  and 
desire  to  have,  where  they  can  afford  to  pay  for  them. 
We  are  not  all  concerned  to  defend  druggists  against 
charges  of  extortion,  or  to  uphold  a  system  of  unduly 
high  prices ;  but  we  feel  assured  that  the  danger  lies 
chiefly  in  the  other  direction.  AVe  have  more  to  guard 
against  in  the  interests  of  effectual  prescribing,  in  the 
interests  of  healing,  and  for  the  security  of  the  public 
and  ourselves,  in  dealing  with  cheap,  than  with  dear 
druggists.  Those  medical  practitioners  who  dispense, 
their  own  medicines  will  certainly  not  be  the  last  to. 
recognize  the  truth  of  this  proposition.  Those  who  pre¬ 
scribe  only  well  know  how  important  it  is  for  their 
patients  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  conscientious  and  well- 
educated  dispensers,  who  have  studied  their  business, 
and  charge  a  fair  price,  and  supply  fresh  and  honestly 
prepared  medicines,  without  that  single  eye  to  cheese¬ 
paring  which  is  characteristic  of  the  cutting  down  sys¬ 
tem  in  retail  businesses.  Above  all,  it  is  certain  that 
the  worst  evils  of  counter-practice  go  always  hand  in. 
hand  with  cheap  dispensing.  If  any  success  should  at¬ 
tend  an  attempt  to  reduce  dispensing  to  a  system  on 
which  it  could  yield  even  smaller  profits  than  it  now 
does  in  the  aggregate,  the  probable  results,  we  think, 
would  be  greatly  to  diminish  the  number  of  places  to 
which  we  could  confidently  allow  our  patients  to  apply 
for  their  medicines,  and  to  degrade  the  practice  of  phar¬ 
macy  to  an  injuriously  low  level.  This  would  be  both 
inconvenient  and  disastrous  to  all  concerned.  But  w  o 
do  not  expect  that  any  success  will  attend  so  ill-favoured 
and  unreasonable  a  proposition. 

The  Medical  Times  and  Gazette  remarks  that  “  The  con¬ 
troversy  which  has  been  going  on  for  some  time  past  in  the 
pages  of  two  of  our  contemporaries  is  amusing,  if  not  in¬ 
structive.  One  result,  however,  maybe  gathered  from  it — 
viz.  the  accusers  of  pharmaceutists  as  overchargcrs  know 
little  or  nothing  of  the  matter ;  and  the  pharmaceutists 
are  unnecessarily  irate  at  a  charge  brought  against  them, 
at  once  unfounded  and  absurd.” 


December  31,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


531 


®jje  pjannactutical  Jotmral. 

- + - 

SATURDAY,  DECEMBER  31,  1870. 


Communications  for  this  Journal,  and  boohs  for  review,  etc., 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

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

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W.  Envelopes  endorsed  “  Pharm.  Journ.” 


THE  PROPOSED  POISON  REGULATIONS. 

Our  correspondence  columns  are  again  crowded 
witli  letters  that  have  been  forwarded  on  this  sub¬ 
ject,  and  we  have  been  enabled  to  lay  before  our 
readers  the  following  important  communication  : — 

[Copy.] 

“ Medical  Department  of  the  Privy  Council  Office, 
u22>rd  December,  1870. 

“  Sir, 

“I  am  directed  by  my  Lords  of  Her  Majesty’s 
Council  to  request  that  you  will  call  the  attention  of 
your  Council  to  the  power  which  is,  by  the  Pharmacy 
Act,  1868,  given  to  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  to  make, 
with  the  consent  of  the  Privy  Council,  regulations  as  to 
the  keeping,  dispensing,  and  selling  of  poisons. 

“  My  Lords  believe  it  to  have  been  the  opinion  of  Par¬ 
liament  that  proper  regulations  in  this  matter  are  re¬ 
quired  for  the  protection  of  the  public,  and,  as  more  than 
two  years  have  elapsed  since  the  passing  of  the  Act 
without  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  having  proposed 
any  such  regulations,  my  Lords  think  it  right  to  inquire 
whether  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  intends,  within  any 
time  you  can  specify,  to  propose  such  regulations  to 
their  Lordships.  They  direct  me  therefore  to  request 
that  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  give  me,  at  your 
earliest  convenience,  the  information  required  by  their 
Lordships. 

“  I  am, 

“Sir, 

“Your  obedient  servant, 

“ The  Registrar,  <  “John  Simon. 

“  Pharmaceutical  Society .” 

Considering  tlie  near  approach  of  the  opening  of 
Parliament,  the  Importance  of  this  official  statement 
of  the  views  held  by  the  Privy  Council  will  be  appa¬ 
rent  to  our  readers. 

%  As  further  material  for  consideration  by  the 
readers  of  this  Journal  we  also  add  the  following 
extract  from  the  editorial  columns  of  the  Lancet  of 
last  week. 

“We  are  glad  to  observe  that  the  Council  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society  have  again  decided  to  recommend  to 
the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Society  for  its  adoption  cer¬ 
tain  specific  regulations  for  the  keeping  of  poisons.  It 
is  to  be  hoped  that  these,  or  similar  regulations,  will  be 
accepted  by  the  body  of  pharmaceutists  as  the  solution 
of  a  much-vexed  question.  In  the  discussions  which 
have  from  time  to  time  taken  place  on  the  subject  of  ac¬ 
cidental  poisoning,  public  opinion  has  expressed  itself  in 
unmistakable  terms  in  favour  of  the  enforcement  of 
precautionary  measures  of  the  nature  of  those  now  just 
formed  by  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society, 
and  which,  indeed,  are  identical  with  those  rejected  by 


the  Society  last  year.  The  public,  moreover,  will  not  be 
satisfied  until  some  regulations  of  the  kind  are  in  force. 

“  A  large  amount  of  new  blood  was  infused  into  the 
Council  last  year,  and  in  such  a  way  as  to  make  it  truly 
representative  of  the  different  interests  of  pharmaceu¬ 
tists  ;  and  it  is  this  Council  which  calls  upon  the  latter 
to  accept  certain  alternative  and  compulsory  plans  for 
keeping  poisons,  viz.  in  separate  “poison”  compart¬ 
ments  or  drawers,  or  in  bottles  of  a  distinctive  kind,  or 
in  vessels  secured  in  such  a  way  as  to  arrest  the  atten¬ 
tion  of  the  dispenser. 

“  It  is  with  regret  that  we  still  observe  in  a  few  persons- 
a  spirit  of  antagonism  to  the  acceptance  of  any  regulation 
whatsoever  for  the  keeping  of  poisons.  We  venture  to- 
hope,  however,  that  they  will  find  themselves  in  a  very 
small  minority  at  the  approaching  Annual  Meeting  of 
their  Society.  If  the  pharmaceutical  body"  allows  the- 
present  opportunity  of  legislating  for  themselves  in  the 
matter  of  the  keeping  of  poisons  (and  thereby  augment¬ 
ing  the  confidence  of  the  public  towards  themselves)  to 
slip,  they  may  find  the  tables  tinned  against  them,  and 
the  pressure  of  public  opinion  from  without  subjecting- 
them  to  enactments  of  a  still  more  stringent  and,  to 
them,  even  of  a  vexatious  character.” 


MISNOMERS. 

We  take  this  opportunity  of  protesting  against  an 
instance  of  tlie  abuse  of  names,  which  may  be  in 
itself  harmless,  though  it  is  none  the  less  a  violation 
of  the  principle  that  the  names  given  to  things- 
should  be  distinctive  and  not  liable  to  be  mistaken 
for  each  other.  We  refer  to  the  application  of  the 
term  “  Cliloralum  ”  to  a  solution  of  muriate  of  alu¬ 
mina  which  is  being  introduced  as  an  antiseptic  and 
disinfectant  by  Professor  Gamgee.  Without  wish¬ 
ing  in  any  degree  to  disparage  the  usefulness  of  this 
material,  we  cannot  omit  to  point  out  the  great 
similarity  between  the  name  given  to  it  and  the 
term  chloral — long  before  in  use — as  an  objection, 
which  makes  the  term  cliloralum  altogether  inappro¬ 
priate  and  inadmissible. 

There  is  the  more  reason  for  urging  this  objection,, 
since  the  use  of  a  hyphen  between  the  two  syllables 
would  obviate  the  difficulty,  especially  if  a  capital 
letter  were  used  for  the  initial  of  the  second  syllable.. 
We  therefore  suggest  that  it  would  be  advantageous 
to  the  prospects  of  this  material  if  its  name  were 
always  written  Clilor-Alum,  and  pronounced  in  sucli 
a  manner  as  not  to  be  confounded  with  chloral. 


PRESCRIPTIONS  FOR  PROVINCIAL  ASSOCIATIONS^ 

We  have  been  requested  by  Mr.  Joseph  Ince  to 
make  known  his  thankful  acknowledgment  of  the 
receipt  of  sixty  assorted  prescriptions,  contributed 
by  Mr.  Albert  Ebert,  of  Chicago,  and  we  willingly? 
comply  with  his  request. 

The  London  collection  is  now  finished,  but  870' 
still  remain  to  complete  the  provincial  series.  A 
few  words  of  explanation  may  be  of  service. 

Both  collections  (London  and  Provincial)  are 
under  the  direct  sanction  and  personal  approval  of 
the  Council  and  the  London  Board  of  Examiners. 


532 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  31,  1870. 


They  are  in  no  way  the  private  speculation  of  any 
individual  collector — being  in  fact  the  free  gift  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society.  Owing  to  the  pressure  of 
other  engagements  the  task  of  arrangement  lias  been 
abeyance  during  the  months  of  November  and 
December,  but  once  more  the  work  is  in  course  of 
active  progress. 

It  is  hoped  that  each  of  the  twelve  volumes  for¬ 
warded  to  the  Country  will  represent  a  small  library 
in  itself,  as  no  single  collection  will  contain  more 
than  a  divisional  assortment  of  recipes  kindly  for¬ 
warded.  The  books  have  been  bound  and  prepared 
by  the  Messrs.  Fisher,  who  supply  King’s  College, 
London,  and  many  artists’  firms :  the  insertion  of 
the  formulse  is  intrusted  to  skilful  hands.  Each 
separate  compilation  will  if  possible  illustrate  the 
Pharmacy  of  England,  America,  France  and  Ger¬ 
many.  Surely  when  the  vessel  is  so  near  the*  haven 
where  it  would  be,  none  will  hesitate  to  lend  a  help¬ 
ing  hand  in  order  that  it  should  pass  the  bar. 

An  easy  but  questionable  reputation  might  have 
been  gained  for  rapid  execution,  had  each  folio  been 
carelessly  filled  up,  but  this  has  been  resolutely 
avoided.  Mr.  Ince  asks  respectfully  but  earnestly, 
that  as  only  87(5  recipes  are  required,  he  may  be 
allowed  to  finish  the  original  design  in  all  its  in¬ 
tegrity.  The  last  report  is  as  follows  : — {December) 
I.  Chicago— ((50) II— (11)  III.  (6) IV.— (23) total  100. 

Aid  from  Italy  is  expected  daily. 

The  Examiners  require  a  student  to  recognize 
objects  constituting  what  is  termed  Materia  Medica, 
as  well  as  specimens  illustrative  of  Chemistry — he 
must  also  show  a  certain  familiar  acquaintance  with 
plants  dried  and  fresh.  To  acquire  this  practical 
knowledge  ample  facilities  are  provided— ran  attempt 
lias  of  late  been  made,  in  London  most  successfully, 
that  the  same  aid  may  be  within  the  reach  of  every 
learner  with  regard  to  accuracy  and  facility  in  under¬ 
standing  the  directions  of  the  Medical  Profession, 
How  large  a  share  these  Autograph  Formulae  have 
in  direct  teaching  can  scarcely  be  conceived. 


IMPORTS. 

We  venture  to  think  that  the  returns  of  the  Board 
of  Trade  for  1809,  as  published  in  our  columns  last 
week,  must  have  contained  much  that  was  interest¬ 
ing  to  pharmacists  generally,  many  of  whom,  like 
ourselves,  in  perusing  the  list  of  imports  officially 
called  ‘  other  articles,”  must  have  been  furnished 
with  material  for  thought  and  reflection.  The  im¬ 
port  of  ether  in  quantity  of  nearly  two  thousand 
three  hundred  gallons  (10,550  lb.)  much  impressed 
us. 

Although  we  have  little  doubt  that  a  considerable 
portion  of  this  ether  (manufactured  entirelv  from 
pure  alcohol)  was  exported  “  in  bond,”  or  in  other 
-words  was  consigned  to  the  various  depots  of  ship¬ 
ment  under  the  eye  of  the  Customs,  without  passing 


out  of  the  bonded  warehouses  in  which  it  was  landed 
for  reception  into  the  private  stores  of  the  owners ; 
— nevertheless  we  are  aware  that  a  large  quantity 
paid  the  duty  of  twenty-five  shillings  a  gallon,  and  was 
thereby  made  free  to  compete  with  the  ether  manu¬ 
factured  in  this  country  from  pure  spirit  of  wine. 

Now,  let  it  not  be  thought  that  we  purpose  writ¬ 
ing  against  competition  generally,  for  we  fully  ac¬ 
knowledge  that  notliing  can  surpass,  or  even  equal 
it,  for  bringing  prices  to  a  proper  average ;  but  we  do 
say  that  the  competition  produced  by  this  import  is 
not  fair,  inasmuch  as  the  advantages  of  the  parties 
concerned  are  unequal. 

On  the  Continent  alcohol  is  (in  quantity)  of  the 
market  value  of  fivepence  a  pound.  In  Great  Britain 
its  cost,  even  of  production,  is  ten  times  that  amount. 

Now,  as  feAv  processes  are  conducted  without  some 
loss  being  entailed  before  the  final  product  is  brought 
into  a  state  of  purity,  it  does  not  require  an  expert  to 
see  that  one  might  safely  class  such  a  volatile  body  as 
ether  among  those  manufactures  likely  to  be  con¬ 
ducted  with  considerable  losses. 

This  is  of  the  greatest  concern  to  the  operator  in 
this  country,  for,  although  he  may  take  immense 
pains  in  perfecting  his  apparatus  in  order  to  re¬ 
duce  his  loss  to  minimum,  he  is  still  at  a  dis¬ 
advantage  as  compared  with  the  Continental  ma¬ 
nufacturer  in  the  ratio  of  ten  to  one,  for  he  is  com¬ 
pelled  to  sustain  a  loss  upon  “  dut}r  paid  ”  spirit, 
while  the  other  has  the  boon  of  “  free  spirit."  The 
result  is  that  pure  ether  can  be  offered  in  quantity 
in  Germany  at  ninepence  a  pound,  a  rate  at  which 
ether  cannot  be  made  for  the  arts  from  methylated 
alcohol. 

If  asked  for  a  remedy,  we  should  suggest  that  either 
the  Legislature  grant  permission  to  make  ether  from 
pure  spirit,  previous  to  its  duty  being  paid,  or  upon 
which  a  “drawback”*  has  been  allowed,  in  laboratories 
under  Excise  supervision,  the  duty  being  finally  paid 
upon  the  product  perfected ;  or  to  put  a  somewhat 
higher  duty  than  the  present  upon  imported  ether, 
taking  as  a  precedent  the  extra  duty  of  fivepence 
per  gallon  proof  (10s.  5 cl.)  imposed  upon  foreign 
spirit,  as  compared  with  spirit  of  home  manufacture 
(10s.).  Such  an  arrangement  would  afford  a  protec¬ 
tion  to  our  manufacturers,  and  still  leave  room  for 
healthy  competition. 

While  we  write  upon  this  subject,  we  cannot  re¬ 
frain  touching  upon  a  kindred  one, — the  manufacture 
of  alcohol.  The  remarks  of  the  previous  case  are 
equally  applicable ;  but,  in  addition,  the  evil  in  the 
latter  is  greater  and  without  a  parallel  in  the  former, 
inasmuch  as  the  Excise  allow  anhydrous  ether  to  be 
freely  made  from  methylated  spirit,  but  will  not 
allow  anhydrous  alcohol  manufactured  from  the 
same  spirit  to  be  made  or  sold. 


*  A  refunding'  of  the  money  paid  as  duty,  such  as  is  prac¬ 
tised  when  spirit  is  methylated. 


December  si,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


533 


Until  most  recently,  alcohol  was  manufactured 
either  by  the  Pharmacopoeia  process  or  by  a  modifica¬ 
tion  of  it ;  now,  however,  its  production  has  been 
entirely  discontinued,  on  account  of  its  cost  being 
much  in  excess  of  the  market  value  of  imported 
alcohol  duty  paid. 

The  injustice  here  seems  to  us  to  he  the  levy  of  duty 
at  the  ordinary  rate  of  foreign  spirit  (ten  shillings 
and  fivepence  per  proof  gallon),  no  cognizance  being 
taken  of  the  home  manufacturer’s  loss  in  bringing  his 
alcohol  to  such  a  strength, — which  loss,  although 
probably  not  in  excess  of  that  of  his  competitor,  is 
upon  duty  paid  as  compared  with  free  spirit. 

Every  one  knows  that  our  legislators  care  but  little 
for  private  interests,  their  wish  being  to  serve  the 
public  only ;  all,  however,  will  agree  that  it  should 
be  no  less  their  perpetual  aim  to  offer  the  greatest 
advantages  in  their  power  to  the  arts. 

In  the  case  before  us  they  have  not  only  ignored 
the  home  manufacturer,  but  have  at  least  put  great 
restrictions  upon  that  important  branch  of  science, 
photography. 


Our  contemporary,  the  British  Medical  Journal, 
condemns  the  proposed  appointment  of  an  Apothe¬ 
cary-General  for  Ireland,  on  the  ground  that  such  a 
post  will  afford  opportunities  for  unlimited  jobbing 
and  will  leave  no  room  for  appeal.  It  is  suggested 
that  a  better  course  would  be  to  appoint  inspectors, 
who  should  see  that  the  contracts  are  properly  drawn 
out  for  medicines  and  drugs,  and  that  they  are  sup¬ 
plied  of  good  quality  and  at  a  fair  price. 


f  mailings  of  %  gl]nnnamttiral  jlocictir. 

EXAMINATION  IN  LONDON. 

December  23rd,  1870. 

Present — Messrs.  Allchin,  Bird,  Carteighe,  Cracknell, 
Davenport,  Deane,  Edwards,  Garle,  Hanbury,  Haselden, 
Ince  and  Southall. 

Twenty-three  Candidates  presented  themselves  for 
examination ;  the  following  passed  and  were  duly 
registered 

MINOR  (as  Chemists  and  Druggists). 

*  Hadley,  Thomas  . Hereford. 

^Freeman,  Ernest  . Stourbridge. 

*Pickering,  Samuel  Whaley  . .  Chester. 

*  Gower,  Alfred  John . Tonbridge. 

*  Fowler,  William  Ratcliffe ....  Ipswich. 

*Fegan,  John  . Exeter. 

Weaver,  Edwin  Thomas  . .  .  .London. 

Tebbutt,  Edwin . . Hemel  Hempstead. 

|  Braddock,  James  . Manchester. 

w  1  Marden,  George . .Fareham. 

Holmes,  Charles  Joseph  ....  Kingston. 

Woolstencroft,  Joseph  . North wdch. 

Griffin,  Alfred  William . Havant. 

Hannaford,  William . Peterborough. 

W atson,  Horace . Laceby. 

*  Passed  with  honours. 


David,  John  . Newport,  Mon. 

Burn,  Henry  . London. 

Butler,  William  Harsant  ....  Frome. 

The  above  names  are  arranged  in  order  of  merit. 

FIRST,  OR  PRELIMINARY  EXAMINATION. 

The  Certificate  of  Examination  of  the  undermentioned 
by  the  University  of  Cambridge  was  accepted  in  lieu  of 
the  Preliminary  Examination. 

Keeling,  Charles  James . Stafford. 


GLASGOAY  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

The  members  of  this  Association  inaugurated  their 
connection  with  Anderson’s  University  on  the  evening  of 
Wednesday  the  7th  inst.  ;  Mr.  T.  Davison,  President, 
presiding.  The  attendance  wras  very  large.  After  the 
ordinary  business  had  been  transacted,  Mr.  AY.  R. 
Kermath  submitted  his  motion,  of  wiiich  he  had  pre¬ 
viously  given  notice,  in  regard  to  the  compiling  of  a 
dispensing  price  list.  The  motion  was  seconded  by  Mr. 
David  P.  AYaliler,  and  carried  unanimously.  Twelve 
gentlemen  were  appointed  a  committee,  with  full  powders 
to  prepare  a  suitable  price  list  to  be  ready  for  distribu¬ 
tion  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Association.  A  new 
code  of  rules  was  then  discussed  and  agreed  upon. 

The  Fifth  Meeting  of  the  Session  was  held  in  Ander¬ 
son’s  University  on  AYednesday  evening  the  14th  inst. ; 
the  President  in  the  chair.  The  usual  business  having 
been  transacted,  Professor  Hennedy  delivered  the  second 
of  his  course  of  lectures  on  ‘  The  Histology  of  Plants,’ 
which  w'as  of  a  very  interesting  and  instructive  nature.. 
After  the  lecture  the  following  gentlemen  were  unani¬ 
mously  elected  honorary  members  of  the  Association, 
viz.  Drs.  A.  M.  Robertson  and  R.  C.  Moffat,  James 
M ‘Donald,  Esq.,  James  Taylor,  Esq.,  Robert  R.  Hatrick, 
Esq.,  and  Roger  Hennedy,  Esq.  A  paper  on  ‘  A^olume- 
trical  Analysis  ’  was  announced  for  next  meeting. 

The  Sixth  Meeting  of  the  Session  was  held  in  Ander¬ 
son’s  University,  December  21st.  In  the  absence  of  the 
President,  Mr.  Brodie,  ATce-President,  occupied  the 
chair.  The  minutes  of  last  meeting  having  been  read 
and  approved  of,  Mr.  Joseph  Duncan,  Ph.C.,  was  elected 
a  member. 

Mr.  James  L.  Macmillan  then  read  a  paper  on  “  Arolu- 
metrical  Analysis,”  which  he  treated  in  a  very  elaborate 
and  painstaking  manner.  In  course  of  his  remarks  he 
referred  to  the  great  need  for  every  chemist  being  able 
to  analyse  his  own  drugs  wrhen  required,  owing  partly 
to  the  fact  that  inferior  articles  wrere  often  sent  into  the 
market  for  sale,  and  partly  because  even  in  the  best 
regulated  houses  mistakes  occurred,  and  analysis  was 
often  the  most  convenient  way  of  getting  the  matter 
cleared  up.  He  explained  at  length  the  B.  Ph.  process, 
and  described  the  method  for  making  several  of  the  solu¬ 
tions,  also  the  apparatus  required.  After  performing- 
some  experiments  in  testing,  he  drew  attention  to  the 
value  of  the  burette,  and  concluded  by  urging  the 
younger  members  especially  to  practise  analysis  for 
themselves. 

In  course  of  a  short  discussion  which  followed,  Dr. 
Mofeat  recommended  Sutton’s  wrork  on  volumetrical 
analysis  as  being  less  complicated  than  that  of  the  B.  Ph. 
process,  and  better  suited  not  only  to  the  amateur  ana¬ 
lyst,  but  for  all  practical  purposes  in  the  laboratory. 

The  Chairman  complimented  Mr.  Macmillan  for  tho 
instructive  manner  in  wdiich  the  paper  had  been  de¬ 
livered,  and  proposed  a  vote  of  thanks  for  the  informa¬ 
tion  conveyed,  which  was  heartily  responded  to. 


534 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  31, 1870. 


SHEFFIELD  PHARMACEUTICAL  AND 
CHEMICAL  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Third  General  Monthly  Meeting  was  held  in  the 
Rooms,  Music  Hall,  on  Wednesday,  December  14tli;  Mr. 
Wilson,  the  President,  in  the  chair.  A  lecture  upon 
“  The  Laws  of  Heat  ”  was  given  by  an  honorary  member 
of  the  Society,  W.  Baker,  Esq.,  F.C.S.  It  was  of  a  very 
interesting  and  suggestive  nature,  illustrated  by  experi¬ 
ments,  and  elicited  much  applause.  The  following  is  a 
short  abstract : — 

Heat  is  only  known,  to  us  by  its  effects.  We  are 
familiar  with  the  sensation  of  heat ;  we  observe  that  it 
•causes  a  change  of  volume  in  matter,  that  it  renders 
bodies  luminous  and  so  forth.  Heat  may  be  conveniently 
studied  under  two  heads,  absorbed  heat  and  radiant  heat. 
Sensible  heat  is  measured  by  thermometers  ;  but  it  must 
be  borne  in  mind  that  what  we  really  observe  is  the  ex¬ 
pansion  of  a  liquid  or  gas  in  making  use  of  such  instru¬ 
ments,  and  the  requirements  for  a  good  thermometer  are 
not  easily  fulfilled.  Allowance  must  be  made  for  the 
expansion  of  the  glass  as  well  as  the  fluid  it  contains. 
The  meaning  of  21*2°  Fahr.  must  not  be  lost  sight  of ;  it 
is  really  the  temperature  at  which  water  boils  under  a 
barometric  pressure  of  29-90<5  at  London. 

The  dilatation  of  solids,  liquids  and  gases  was  noticed, 
.and  the  superiority  of  air  thermometers  shown  by  the 
fact  that  the  coefficient  of  expansion  of  all  gases  was 
practically  the  same ;  hence  all  air  thermometers  are 
comparable  one  with  another.  The  applications  of  a 
knowledge  of  these  laws  of  expansion  were  shown  to  be 
extremely  numerous  in  the  arts.  The  quantity  of  heat 
•was  measured  in  various  ways,  and  constituted  a  sepa¬ 
rate  chapter  on  heat  called  calorimetry.  The  combus¬ 
tion  of  a  weighed  quantity  of  fuel  under  water  by  means 
of  a  mixture  of  potassic  chlorate  was  shown  to  raise  a 
certain  bulk  of  water  so  many  degrees,  and  thus  furnish 
a  'practical  measure  of  its  calorific  value,— the  unit  of 
heat  being  1  lb.  of  water  raised  from  32°  to  33°  Fahr. 
The  change  of  specific  heat  upon  compression  was  noticed 
and  illustrated.  The  general  facts  attending  liquefaction 
and  solidification,  and  the  effects  of  heat,  stored  up  as  it 
were  in  a  liquid,  were  shown  to  have  important  effects 
upon  our  climate.  One  ton  of  water  upon  freezing  was 
.stated  to  give  out  sufficient  heat  to  raise  one  ton  of 
water  from  32°  to  174°  Fahr.  Development  of  heat  upon 
solidification  was  illustrated  by  the  sudden  crystalliza¬ 
tion  of  a  solution  of  sodic  sulphate,  which  had  been  pre¬ 
viously  cooled  in  a  flask ;  upon  removing  the  cork  the 
contents  became  a  mass  of  crystals  in  a  few  seconds,  and 
the  heat  could  be  observed  by  an  immersed  thermometer. 
Hope’s  experiment  upon  the  changes  of  density  of  water 
near  its  freezing-point  was  mentioned. 

The  phenomena  of  evaporation,  ebullition  and  the 
.spheroidal  condition  of  fluids  were  described.  Conduc¬ 
tivity  of  heat  in  metal  bars  was  illustrated  by  attaching 
light  balls  by  means  of  wax  to  the  bars  and  heating  the 
ends.  The  superior  conductivity  of  copper  over  iron  was 
thus  easily  perceived.  Finally,  the  general  laws  of  ra¬ 
diant  heat  were  enunciated,  and  the  effect  of  concen¬ 
trating  the  radiant  heat  from  a  hot  ball  upon  an  air 
thermometer,  shown  to  be  very  considerable  at  a  distance 
.of  many  feet. 

At  its  conclusion  a  cordial  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Baker 
was  proposed  by  Mr.  Wilson,  seconded  by  Mr.  Douu, 
and  carried  unanimously.  In  consequence  of  the  late¬ 
ness  of  the  hour  no  further  business  was  done. 


BRISTOL  PHARMACEUTICAL  ASSOCIATION. 

On  Friday,  December  16th,  the  second  monthly  lec¬ 
ture  of  the  current  session  in  connection  with  the  above 
Association  was  delivered  by  their  Professor  of  Che- 
mistry,  Thomas  Coomber,  Esq.,  F.C.S.  The  subject 


was  “Heat,”  and  the  following  notes  indicate  the  range 
and  order  of  the  phenomena  treated  of  by  the  lecturer. 

Introductory. — A  current  of  electricity  controls  the 
position  of  a  proximate  magnetic  needle.  Such  a  current 
is  established  by  the  addition  or  subtraction  of  heat  from 
two  different  metals  in  contact.  This  arrangement  used 
in  conjunction  with  the  magnetic  needle  becomes  there¬ 
fore  a  thermoscopc. 

(1.)  An  experimental  inquiry  into  the  nature  of  heat. 

(2.)  Observation  of  the  effects  of  heat  upon  matter. 
(a.)  Change  of  volume.  Experiments  to  study  this 
change  on  solid,  liquid  and  gaseous  bodies.  Thermo¬ 
meters.  The  Trevelyan  instrument.  Observation  of 
the  exceptional  deportment  of  water,  (b.)  Change  of 
temperature.  Experiment  to  illustrate  the  dissimilar 
capacities  of  different  bodies  for  heat,  (c.)  Change  of 
physical  condition.  Latent  heat  of  vapours  and  liquids. 
Effects  of  congelation. 

(3.)  Study  of  the  modes  by  which  heat  may  be  trans¬ 
mitted.  ( a .)  By  conduction.  Experiments  to  show  that 
dissimilar  bodies  conduct  heat  at  different  rates,  and  that 
liquids  are  sluggish  conductors.  ( b .)  By  convection. 
Experimental  illustrations  of  this  mode  of  transmitting 
heat,  (c.)  By  radiation.  It  may  be  shown  by  experi¬ 
ment  that  heat  travels  in  straight  lines,  that  the  angle 
of  reflection  is  equal  to  the  angle  of  incidence,  and  that 
dissimilar  surfaces  radiate  at  different  rates. 


Ilramhitrijs  jof  SrimMc  Sandies. 

SOCIETY  OF  ARTS.* 

On  Fermentation. 

BY  FROFESSOR  A.  W.  WILLIAMSON,  F.R.S. 

Lecture  IV. 

We  had  occasion  last  week  to  notice  the  effect  of  the 
atmosphere  on  processes  of  fermentation  in  several  in¬ 
stances.  I  mentioned,  among  other  things  bearing  on 
that  question,  an  experiment  of  Gay-Lussac,  in  which 
he  squeezed  some  very  ripe  berries  of  the  grape  under 
mercury,  and  kept  them,  with  due  precautions  for  the 
exclusion,  as  far  as  he  knew,  of  everything  except  the 
grape-juice ;  he  kept  this  expressed  juice  for  some  time 
quiescent,  and  then  introduced  a  bubble  of  air,  or  a 
bubble  of  oxygen,  the  active  substance  of  air,  but  he 
subjected  the  air  or  the  oxygen,  before  introducing  it 
into  this  juice,  to  various  strong  influences,  which  must 
have  destroyed  any  vital  organism  in  it ;  and  he  found 
that  the  mere  addition  of  the  air  to  the  quiescent  juice 
caused  a  process  of  fermentation  to  commence  and  a 
formation  of  organisms  to  begin,  that  they  developed 
themselves,  and  that  the  liquid  fermented  in  the  usual 
way.  The  fact  of  the  fermentation  commencing  is,  if 
we  bear  in  mind  the  general  results  of  M.  Pasteur’s  re¬ 
searches,  to  be  attributed  to  the  presence  in  the  mercury 
or  in  the  grape-juice,  or  somewhere  or  other  in  the  sub¬ 
stances  present,  of  bodies  which,  by  the  mere  access  of 
oxygen,  were  stimulated  so  as  to  developo  themselves 
into  these  little  vital  cells.  It  is  now  known,  I  may  say, 
that  there  are  in  mercury,  unless  it  is  purified  with  ex¬ 
traordinary  precautions,  always  present  some  such  or¬ 
ganisms,  capable  of  developing  themselves  under  such 
influences  ;  and  it  is  probable,  I  will  not  say  more  than 
that,  for  I  do  not  know,  that  in  the  grape-juice  there 
may  also  be  similar  germs  present.  The  functions  of 
oxygen  appear  from  that  experiment — which  has  since 
been  confirmed  by  other  observers — to  be  essential,  at 
all  events,  to  the  initiation  of  the  process,  and  there  is 
in  that  respect,  a  remarkable  analogy,  which  I  think  is 
interesting  to  recall  to  mind,  with  the  action  of  oxygen 


*  Cantor  Lectures. 


December  31,  1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


535 


on  other  bodies,  as  shown  by  an  experiment  made  by 
Humboldt  many  years  ago.  He  got  some  grains  of 
wheat  from  Egyptian  mummies,  which  had  been  so  long 
n,t  rest  that  they  were  not  inclined  to  grow,  in  fact,  they 
could  not  he  got  to  grow  in  the  ordinary  way.  How¬ 
ever,  he  stimulated  them  to  activity  by  immersing  them 
in  a  little  chlorine  "water.  It  is  well  known  to  chemists 
that  chlorine  in  the  presence  of  water  does  oxidize,  or 
cause  the  oxygen  to  separate  and  pass  over  to  common 
organic  substances  capable  of  combining  with  it.  Hum¬ 
boldt  actually  stimulated  these  sleepy  wheat  grains  to 
life,  so  that  they  grew  and  germinated,  and  their  de¬ 
scendants  are  still  in  existence,  by  the  mere  action  of 
oxygen  developed  in  that  way. 

In  the  processes  of  wine-making  and  wine-keeping, 
the  presence  of  air  is  one  of  the  most  important  matters 
which  have  to  be  considered,  and  there  has  prevailed, 
and  I  ought  to  say  there  still  prevails,  to  a  certain  ex- 
.tent,  a  difference  of  opinion  regarding  the  functions  of 
oxygen  in  these  pi'oeesses.  On  tlie  one  hand,  it  is  known, 
as  a  matter  of  fact,  that  processes  of  fermentation  are 
performed  under  conditions  such  as  that  air  has  access  to 
the  substance.  No  actual  wine  or  beer-making  has  yet 
been  pei'formed  on  a  large  scale  on  such  conditions  as  to 
exclude  oxygen.  On  the  other  hand,  the  experiments  of 
Gay-Lussac  established  cleai'ly  that  it  is  necessary.  In 
some  cases,  however-,  in  wine-making,  it  has  been  thought 
desirable  to  facilitate  the  access  of  air  to  the  substance ; 
while  other  wine-makers  think,  on  the  contrary,  that  in 
the  first  precess  as  little  air  should  be  present  as  pos¬ 
sible;  but  there  has  always  been  some.  The  juice  fii-st 
•expressed  from  the  grapes  has  been  very  carefully  exa¬ 
mined  with  regard  to  the  gases  contained  in  it.  If  air 
has  access  to  it,  it  is  always  necessary  to  know,  in  order 
to  judge  whether  the  air  acts  upon  it,  whether  the  air  is 
dissolved  by  it,  and  whethei',  if  dissolved  by  it,  it  is  still 
to  be  found  in  the  grape-juice  as  such,  or  whether  it  has 
undergone  combination.  Now,  every  case  of  the  exa¬ 
mination  of  must,  or  fresh  grape-juice,  wdiich  is  not  fer¬ 
mented,  has  shown  that  it  contains  a  considerable  quantity 
of  gas,  but  no  case  has  been  established  of  free  oxygen 
being  present  in  it.  Carbonic  acid  gas  is  present  in  it  in 
a.  considerable  quantity,  and  also  nitrogen,  in  proof  that 
air  had  had  access  to  it,  but  the  oxygen  which  was  taken 
■up  at  the  same  time  with  the  nitrogen  from  the  air,  was 
not  to  be  got  out  from  that  must  again.  It  had  been 
taken  up,  and  it  had  entered  into  combination  with  the 
substance,  so  that  all  the  oxygen  present  was  actually 
combined  chemically  with  it.  In  that  l’espect  a  good 
many  observations  have  been  made  by  various  chemists, 
but  I  ought  especially  to  quote  those  of  M.  Pasteur,  I 
which  are  exceedingly  careful  and  valuable.  He  has 
shown  that  this  substance  not  only  eats  oxygen,  but  di¬ 
gests  it.  The  oxygen  is  not  to  be  found  in  it  as  such. 
It  is  only  present  in  the  form  of  a  compound,  which  is 
formed  by  its  action  on  the  oi-ganic  matters  thei'e  present. 
Then,  when  the  wine-juice  has  been  expressed,  and  when 
it  has  been  allowed  to  remain  some  time  in  a  suitable 
place,  so  as  to  undergo  fermentation,  with  a  considerable 
variety  of  treatment  in  different  places  with  regard  to 
ail-,  for  in  some  places  it  is  thought  desirable  that  the 
fermentation  should  be  allowed  to  take  place  in  open 
vessels,  or  in  vessels  to  which  the  air  can  have  access  as 
freely  as  possible,  whereas  in  other  cases  special  care  is 
taken  to  cover  as  completely  as  possible  the  vessels  in 
which  the  feimentation  is  taking  place,  so  that  the  air 
may  have  as  little  access  as  possible  to  the  fermenting 
‘Substance, — and  I  believe  it  is  impossible  to  give  any  one 
general  rule  with  regard  to  the  best  process  for  all  cases 
ot  fermentation,  because  the  matei-ials  which  are  sub¬ 
jected  to  fermentation  vary  so  considerably ;  they  differ 
from  one  another  in  their  composition  so  materially,  and 
there  are  also  other  circumstances  which  are  different, — 
for  instance,  the  temperature,  which  has  an  important 
influence.  Not  only  is  the  temperatui-e  in  some  localities 
higher  than  in  others,  but  other  circumstances  are  also 


different,  and  it  would  not  be  right  to  say,  because  air  is 
found  to  be  perfectly  useless  in  some  well-established 
cases  during  fermentation,  that  for  that  reason,  it  ought 
to  be  excluded,  or  even  that  it  may  be  excluded,  in  all 
other  cases  of  apparently  similar  fermentation.  As  far 
as  a  general  rule  can  bo  laid  down  from  present  expe- 
l'icnce,  I  think  it  does  appear  certain  that  oxygen  plays 
no  part  in  the  pi’oeess  after  the  first  expression  of  the 
juice.  Once  the  fermentation  has  commenced,  it  appears 
to  go  on  as  well  if  air  is  excluded  from  the  substance  as 
if  air  has  access  to  it.  There  is,  however,  one  cii-cum- 
stance  which  is  considered  by  persons  of  considerable 
experience  to  be  important  in  this  matter,  and  which  I 
ought  therefore  to  mention,  viz.,  that  when  fermentation 
takes  place  at  a  low  temperature— -and  some  fermenta¬ 
tions  are,  with  great  care,  kept  at  a  low  tempei-ature — 
the  products  are  found  to  be  superior  if  the  whole  pi'oeess 
is  carried  on,  the  temperature  being  kept  exceedingly 
low,  and  in  those  cases  it  appears  that  an  open  vessel  is 
certainly  not  in  any  degree  detrimental.  It  is  cus¬ 
tomary,  in  fact,  to  use  an  open  tub  when  the  temperature 
is  low ;  and,  on  the  contrary,  it  is  usual  to  use  a  partially 
closed  vessel,  of  course  allowing  for  the  escape  of  car¬ 
bonic  acid,  when  the  temperature  is  comparatively  high. 
When  the  fii-st  vinous  fermentation  has  completed  itself, 
it  is  customary,  in  the  wine-gi’owing  countries,  to  put 
the  still  active  liquid  into  casks,  and  the  slower  precess  of 
fermentation  then  goes  on,  which  lasts  a  considerable  time. 
During  this  second  fennentation,  there  is  very  much  the 
same  kind  of  condition  present  as  in  the  first,  and  thei'e 
is  always  formed,  in  this  subsequent  fermentation,  a  con¬ 
siderable  quantity  of  deposit,  which  is  afterwards  x-e- 
moved  with  much  cax-e  ;  either  the  supernatant  liquid  is" 
carefully  decanted,  oi',  in  some  cases,  it  is  removed  by  a 
process  of  rough  filtration.  The  subsequent  treatment 
of  the  wine,  I  mean  the  keeping  of  it  in  casks  or  cellars, 
and  the  subsequent  keeping  in  bottles — and  these  two 
processes  of  keeping  it  in  casks  and  keeping  it  in  bottles 
are  quite  distinct, — ai’e  not  usually  considei'ed  as 
forming  part  of  the  process  of  wine-making.  It  appears, 
however,  from  the  investigations  of  M.  Pasteur,  that 
changes  take  place  in  the  composition  and  the  matci'ials 
by  these  processes,  which  really  are  as  essential  to  the 
composition  of  the  product  as  any  other  part  of  it,  and 
that  they  ought  to  be  considered  as  later  parts  of  the 
process  of  wine-making.  In  fact,  the  process  of  wine¬ 
keeping  is,  in  theory,  not  to  be  separated  from  the 
pi'oeess  of  wine-making,  the  keeping  being  a  pi-ocess 
making  it  more  perfect  than  it  was  when  first  turned 
out  of  the  fei-menting  vessels.  Common  expei'ience  cor¬ 
roborates  that  in  a  very  remarkable  way.  Everybody 
knows  the  difference  there  is  between  new  and  old  wine, 
and  the  changes  which  take  place  when  the  wine  is 
being  kept  constitute  certainly  one  of  the  most  important 
pai’ts  of  the  general  subject  of  wine-making.  Wine, 
when  its  fermentation  has  been  completed,  is.  found  to 
absorb  air  with  considerable  rapidity  and  avidity,  and 
when  endeavours  are  made  to  get  out  from  this  wine 
again  the  air  which  has  been  dissolved  in  it,  it  is  found 
that  some  kinds  of  wine  allow  it  to  go,  or  part  with  it 
again,  whilst  other  wines  do  not ;  and  in  this  respect,  a 
distinctive  test  is  found  between  the  qualities  of  the 
wine ;  for  by  obseiwing  this  difference  in  the  facility 
with  which  they  give  up  the  air  which  they  have  dis¬ 
solved,  and  by  comparing  that  with  the  qualities  of 
wines  in  each  case,  a  remarkable  generalization  has  been 
ari'ived  at.  In  this  matter  I  speak  upon  the  authority 
of  others,  for  I  have  not  confirmed  it  by  my  own  obser¬ 
vations.  But  all  that  I  do  know  fully  cori'oboratcs.it. 
The  rule  is  this,  that  whereas  low-class  wines,  which 
people  will  not  pUy  much  for,  give  up  again  almost  com¬ 
pletely  the  air,  which  they  have  dissolved,  superior  kinds 
of  wine  do  not  give  it  up  again,  they  only  give  up  the 
nitrogen,  and  hold  the  oxygen  fast.  The  oxygen,  which 
is  dissolved  in  both  cases,  is  hold  firmly,  or.  is  digested 
by  the  high-class  wines ;  but  it  is  not  digested,  but 


536 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  31,  1870, 


simply  eaten  "by  low-class  wino3.  Observations  have 
been  made  in  this  direction  by  a  great  many  observers, 
especially  Berthelot  and  Pasteur,  to  whom  we  owe  most 
decisive  results  in  this  respect. 

( To  be  continued.) 


MEETINGS  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 
Monday,  Medical  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

Wednesday,  Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Great  Britain,  at 
8.30  p.m. — Adjourned  Discussion  on  Mr.  Howden’s  paper, 
“  Notes  on  Pharmacy  in  America.” — “  Notes  on  Australian 
Opium.”  By  J.  S.  Ward. 


BOOK  RECEIVED. 

A  Labobatory  Text-Book  op  Peactical  Cgemistey, 
oe  Intkoduction  to  Qualitative  Analysis.  A  Guide 
to  the  Course  of  Practical  Instruction  given  in  the  Labora¬ 
tories  of  the  Royal  College  of  Chemistry.  By  W.  G. 
Valentin,  F.C.S.  London:  John  Churchill  and  Sons. 
1871. 


farliiinmitaig  anh  fato  fnrmMnp. 


Attempted  Poisoning  by  a  “Vermin  Killek.” 

At  the  Norfolk  winter  assizes  Hannah  Willmet  was 
charged  with  administering  poison  to  the  infant  child  of 
her  master.  It  appeared  that  her  master  had  purchased 
some  “  vermin  killer,”  which  he  had  carefully  put  away 
out  of  the  reach  of  his  children.  The  prisoner  obtained 
possession  of  this,  and  administered  some  of  it  to  the 
child.  She  confessed  to  putting  her  finger  into  the  mix¬ 
ture,  and  then  putting  it  into  the  child’s  mouth.  She 
said  that  she  wished  she  had  not  done  it,  but  that  if 
there  had  been  no  addition  to  the  family  she  would  have 
been  better  able  to  do  her  work.  The  infant’s  mouth 
was  wiped  by  its  mother  with  a  piece  of  rag,  which  was 
deeply  stained  with  blue. 

Mr.  Sutton,  analytical  chemist,  Norwich,  by  whom 
the  jar  of  vermin  killer  and  the  rag  had  been  examined, 
said  that  he  found  phosphorus  in  both.  The  mixture 
in  the  jar  consisted  of  phosphorus,  fat  and  malt  fiour, 
containing  about  one  part  in  forty  of  phosphorus. 

The  prisoner  was  found  guilty,  and  sentenced  to  six 
months’  imprisonment. 


Wo  regret  to  have  to  announce  the  death  of  Mr.  T.  W. 
Gissing,  Pharmaceutical  Chemist,  of  Wakefield,  which 
took  place  after  a  .few  days’  illness,  on  Wednesday,  the 
28th  inst.  Mr.  Gissing  was  one  of  the  gentlemen  nomi¬ 
nated  at  the  last  election  .of  Council,  and  a  letter  from 
his  pen  on  the  Poison  Question  appeared  in  this  Journal 
as  recently  as  last  week. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  Dec. 24;  the  ‘Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
Dec.  24;  the  ‘Lancet,’  Dec.  24;  the  ‘Medical  Press  and  Cir¬ 
cular,’  Dec.  28 ;  ‘  Nature,’  Dec.  22  ;  the  ‘Chemical  News,’  Dee. 
23 ;  ‘  J  ournal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  Dec.  22 ;  ‘  Gardeners’  Chro¬ 
nicle,’  Dec.  24 ;  the  ‘Grocer,’  Dec.  24  ;  the  ‘English  Mecha¬ 
nic,’  Dec.  23 ;  the  ‘  Produce  Markets  Review,’  Dec.  24 ;  the 
‘  Philadelphia  Medical  and  Surgical  Reporter,’  Nos.  716-718; 
‘  Vierteljahresschrift  fiir  Praktische  Pharmacie’  for  December; 
the  ‘  Food  Journal’  for  Januarv. 


Holts  anil  octettes. 

***  In  order  to  facilitate  reference ,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  their  answers  in  each  case  with  the  title 
and  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

NOTICE. — To  prevent  delay ,  correspondents  are  re¬ 
quested  to  send  their  communications  to  the  Journal  Depart¬ 
ment,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  JF.C.,  and  not  to  the  Pub¬ 
lishers. 

[63.]— GREEN  FLUID  FOR  SHOW-BOTTLES.— I 
beg  to  offer  a  good  form,  inexpensive  and  easily  made. 

Cupri  Sulph.  5b 

Rub  down  in  mortar  and  add  liq.  ammoniac  fort.,  q.  s.,  at 
once  a  very  dark  blue  will  be  produced ;  then  add  aqua  to  a 
suitable  colour.  Add  a  little  potass,  bic-hrom.  if  a  green  is  re¬ 
quired;  lastly  filter. — Chemicus. 

[75.] — DECAYED  TEETH. — 01.  Caryoph.  with  a  few 
drops  of  ac.  nitric,  pur.  Mix  well  and  apply  on  wool. — 
Chemicus. 

[77.] — DISPEN  SING. — It  is  impossible  for  “ JExhibeatur ” 
to  make  his  mixture  otherwise  than  milky,  but  he  will  find, 
on  allowing  it  to  stand  for  an  hour  or  two,  after  dispensing 
it  in  the  ordinary  way,  that  the  precipitate  will  re-dissolve 
and  it  will  become  quite  clear. — A,  Cartee. 

[102.]— CIVET,  AMBERGRIS  AND  CASTOR. — F.  C. 
will,  I  think,  find  in  Rimmel’s  ‘Book  of  Perfumes’  detailed 
information  about  civet  and  ambergris.  The  imports  of  these 
are  very  small ;  of  ambergris  in  some  years  none  at  all,  and 
in  others  about  a  hundred  ounces.  Castor  is  the  only  one  of  the 
three  enumerated  officially  in  the  Board  of  Trade  returns  of 
imports.  We  received  in  1869  24081b.,  valued  at  £742, 
nearly  all  from  the  Hudson’s  Bay  territories  in  North 
America. — P.  L.  S. 


[111.]— YLANG-YLANG.— “  mile,”  in  answer  to  “  Che- 
micus  ”  in  No.  22,  gave  an  excellent  recipe  for  a  lasting  per¬ 
fume  containing  “  ylang-ylang,”  the  composition  of  which  is 
greatly  desired  by  Alpha. 

[112.]— HORSE  AND  CATTLE  SPICE.— IT.  B.  (Scar¬ 
borough)  would  be  glad  of  a  good  recipe  for  horse  and  cattle 
spice  for  feeding  purposes. 

[113.] — DISPENSING.  —  Will  some  of  your  readers 
kindly  inform  me  the  best  mode  of  dispensing  the  following 
prescription,  and  if  it  is  possible  to  get  a  mixture  of  decent 
appearance  ? 

R.  Liq.  Hydrarg.  Pcrchlor.  3  i j 
Potassii  Iodid.  5'j 
Tinct.  Quince  Co.  5iss 
Syr.  Aurant.  3j 
Aquce  Dest.  ad  Svj. 

M.  ft.  mist.  S.  D. 

[114.]— ARECA  NUT  TOOTH-PASTE.  —  « Scilla” 
wmuld  be  glad  to  hear  of  a  good  formula  for  this  tooth-paste- 

[115.]— MARKING  INKS.— I  shall  be  glad  to  be  in¬ 
formed  of  the  best  method  of  preparing  and  using  aniline 
marking  ink,  and  to  know  whether  it  effectually  answers  the 
purpose.  Also  the  cause  of  carefully  prepared  silver  inks, 
making  holes  in  the  fabric,  this  being  sometimes  asserted. — 

Q. 

[116.] — DISPENSING. — I  wish  to  learn  the  correct  me¬ 
thod  of  dispensing  the  following  prescription,  and  also  what 
appearance  it  should  present : — 

R.  Ferri  Citrat.  5j 

Sp.  Ammon.  Ar.  5iv 
Potass.  Bromid.  5iv 
Aq.  ad  gij. 

M.  f.  guttoe. 

Capt.  coch.  j  min.  bis  die  ex  aq.  cyatho  vinario. 

I  suppose  it  is  unnecessary  to  remark  that  the  anvnomo - 
citrate  is  not  intended;  this  I  know  for  certainty,  as  the  pre- 
scriber  is,  I  understand,  in  the  habit  of  frequently  writing  a 
similar  prescription. — F.  G.  G. 


537 


December  31, 1870.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOUItXAL  AXD  T RAX S ACTI 0X3 . 


Comspttow. 


***  W°  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Proposed  Regulations  for  Storing  of  Poisons. 

Sir, — The  Council  having  determined  by  a  majority  of  10 
to  4  to  recommend  to  the  members  at  their  next  annual  meet¬ 
ing  the  adoption  of  the  proposed  regulations  for  the  storing 
■of  poisons,  it  now  remains  for  the  members  themselves  to 
give  expression  of  approval  or  otherwise  in  the  Journal  or  by 
letters  to  the  Secretary.  Messrs.  Vizer,  Wilkinson,  Eve  and 
others  have  already  done  so.  The  present  manifestation  is 
decidedly  against  the  compulsory  adoption  of  any  regula¬ 
tions;  and  believing,  as  I  do,  that  this  feeling  wilChe  found 
very  general  throughout  the  country  districts,  there  need  be 
no  unseemly  exhibition  at  the  annual  meeting  as  some  of 
your  correspondents  seem  to  imply;  but  a  simple  resolution, 
either  to  modify  or  negative  the  recommendation  of  the 
Council,  would,  no  doubt,  meet  with  the  support  it  deserved. 
There  seems  to  be  an  impression  that  the  Privy  Council  ex¬ 
pect  the  Council  to  take  some  action  respecting  the  storing 
of  poisons.  However,  I  cannot  think  that  either  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Council  or  the  Privy  Council  would  interpose  any 
obstacles  to  the  generally-expressed  opinion  of  the  members. 
I  concur  with  much  that  has  been  said  in  favour  of  non¬ 
interference  ;  the  educational  legislative  measures  already 
obtained  and  self-interest  are  sufficient  guarantees  to  ensure 
<every  precaution  being  taken  to  avoid  mistakes. 

Another  Pharmaceutical  Chemist. 


Sir, — I  am  sorry  to  see  from  the  report  of  the  proceedings 
-of  the  Council  that  the  majority  think  it  necessary  to  compel 
Pharmaceutical  Chemists  to  keep  poisons  in  certain  places 
set  apart  for  that  purpose  or 'in  distinctive  bottles,  and  I  want 
to  know  the  reason  why.  Have  auy  deaths  occurred  or  has 
■any  injury  to  health  been  recorded  in  Great  Britain  since 
January  1st,  1869.  which  would  have  been  prevented  by  any 
regulations  for  storing  poisons  ?  I  am  inclined  to  think  the 
Council  have  no  stand-point  lrom  ■which  to  start  their  pro¬ 
position. 

I  read  the  Journal  regularly  and  the  daily  papers,  and 
T  do  not  recollect  one  instance  within  the  last  two  years 
where  the  proposed  regulations  and  restrictions  would  have 
been  of  any  use.  If  before  the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy 
.and  Poisons  Bill  many  deaths  were  caused  through  the  neg¬ 
ligence  in  storing  and  carelessness  in  selling  poisons,  the  pre¬ 
sent  fact  that  such  accidents  have  been  reduced  to  a  mini¬ 
mum,  if  not  to  nil,  since  the  Act  came  into  force,  appears  to 
me  to  be  a  most  forcible  argument  to  “let  us  alone.”  We 
chemists  require  no  “hard  and  fast  line”  drawn  for  us  in 
this  matter.  If  we  find  the  bottles  containing  crystals  of 
“Citric  acid  and  sal  acetos.  hugging  each  other,  we  naturally 
-and  prudently  forbid  the  close  connection ;  we  do  not  keep 
our  tinct.  opii  bottle  by  the  side  of  haust.  nigr.,  decoct, 
sarsie  co.,  or  tinct.  myrrhae  co. ;  wo  do  not  store  strychnia, 
morphia  et  id  genus  omne  in  similar  bottles  and  on  the  same 
shelf  with  p.  antim.  co.,  hyd.  subchlorid.  and  antim.  tart.  In 
a  business  like  mine,  we  do  not  keep  our  penny  packets 
^pennyworths  we  are  obliged  to  sell)  of  precipitate,  red  and 
■white,  in  the  same  drawer  with  jalap  and  rhubarb,  or  Epsom 
salts  near  oxalic  acid,  or  sugar  of  lead  and  cream  of  tartar  in 
close  proximity.  We  know  better,  and  we  act  upon  our  know¬ 
ledge  and  experience,  because  it  is  our  interest  to  avoid  the 
penalties  which  must  fall  upon  the  careless  and  ignorant. 

I  am  one  of  those  who  think  we  owe  much  to  the  gentle¬ 
men  of  the  Council  who  devote  their  time  and  intellect  to  the 
management  of  our  affairs,  and  in  most  matters  connected 
■with  our  Society  are  well  fitted  to  lead  and  guide;  but  on  this 
subject  I  am  so  entirely  opposed  to  them,  that  I  have  ven¬ 
tured  to  intrude  my  opinions  on  your  notice. 

December  21s£,  i.870.  "  James  Slipper. 


Sir,— Will  you  allow  me  a  few  remarks  with  regard  to  the 
keeping  and  storing  of  poisons?  I  quite  agree  with  the  sen¬ 
timents  contained  in  Mr.  Hampson’s  letter.  I  presume  it  is 
the  feeling  of  the  majority  of  our  brethren  that  the  improved 
•education  now  demanded  is  a  sufficient  safeguard  to  the 


public,  and  that  each  chemist  should  be  guided  by  his  sense 
of  responsibility. 

In  my  own  case  I  have  always  used  precautionary  measures, 
and  did  so  many  years  before  the  Pharmacy  Bill  passed,  and 
I  am  sure  it  wras  the  usage  in  all  respectable  establishments 
in  my  locality. 

If  it  is  true  that  the  Government  are  putting  a  pressure  on 
the  Council  of  our  Society,  I  should  like  a  member  of  the 
former  to  visit  our  town,  containing  a  population  of  lialf-a- 
million,  where  fully  one-half  of  its  drug  retailers  are  surgeons ; 
it  would  show  him  (after  inspection)  the  folly  of  adding  or 
desiring  to  add  vexatious  restrictions  upon  properly-qualified 
men,  and  exempting  those  who  are  allowed  to  manage  their 
businesses  as  they  think  fit,  leaving  them  the  greater  part  of 
the  day  under  the  care  of  boys  and  girls,  who  cannot  be  ex¬ 
pected  to  adhere  to  the  requirements  of  the  Pharmacy  Act, 
or  feel  its  responsibility. 

I  am  justified  in  saying  that  mistakes  are  necessarily  nu¬ 
merous.  It  therefore  seems  to  me  odd  that  such  a  state  of 
matters  should  exist.  If  a  surgeon  or  doctor  wishes  to  be¬ 
come  a  druggist,  why  should  he  stand  exempt  from  our 
penalties  and  restrictions  ?  We  must  of  necessity  employ 
well-paid  assistants  to  take  charge  in  our  absence ;  should 
they  not  be  compelled  and  expected  to  do  so  likewise,  if  the 
public  are  to  be  protected?  Until  the  Privy  Council  begin 
to  use  the  right  end  of  the  rod,  it  seems  to  me  absurd  to  push 
the  matter  further  so  far  as  the  city  of  Glasgow  is  concerned. 

Glasgow,  December  21  st.  Pharmaceutist. 


Sir, — The  storing  of  poisons  being  again  an  object  of  dis¬ 
cussion,  allow  me  to  recommend  to  the  members  of  our  Society 
the  expediency  of  avoiding  any  very  loud  expression,  either 
of  assent  or  dissent,  to  any  proposals  put  before  them. 

Views  expressed  through  the  medium  of  the  Journal  or 
circulated  among  ourselves  as  a  body,  would  be  much  prefer¬ 
able  to  any  open  demonstration. 

The  public  is  often  slow  in  arriving  at  facts  where  legal 
questions  are  concerned,  and  might  feel  disposed  to  view 
those  who  support  measures  for  regulating  the  storage  of 
poisons  as  supporting  regulations  for  “incapables;”  at  the 
same  time  those  who  are  noisy  in  advocating  resistance  to 
any  regulations  whatever  might  be  thought  reckless. 

Chemists  have  certainly  some  claim  to  exemption  from 
forced  details  in  business  which  are  not  absolutely  necessary, 
for  what  with  the  Poison  Act,  the  Petroleum  Act  and  the 
Excise  supervision,  quite  sufficient  is  known  of  the  “  powers 
above.” 

To  ventilate  our  grievances  too  much  before  the  public 
would  be  a  confession  that  hitherto  all  our  rectitude  had  been 
a  matter  of  chance,  and  public  alarm  would  follow.  We  have 
some  anomalies  in  the  sale  of  poisons  which  our  customers 
cannot  at  present  comprehend,  and  to  attract  further  public 
attention  to  what  we  ourselves  at  present  confess  to  be  a 
chaotic  state  would  be  suicidal,  so  far  as  our  reputations  go. 
The  necessity  for  fresh  “leading-strings”  would  not  confirm 
our  supporters  in  an  opinion  that  we  were  capable  of  running 
alone. 

It  must  be  expected  that  opinions  will  diverge  here  as 
elsewhere,  but  the  less  they  diverge  into  public  notice,  the 
better  for  us. 

It  is  unfortunately  a  position  which  none  can  envy  us — 
that  of  being  repeatedly  told  that  we  cannot  manage  our  own 
professional  affairs  after  the  sacrifice  of  time  and.  money  in 
attempting  to  learn  how  so  to  do ;  but  if  we  let  our  friends 
outside  know  our  grief,  we  shall  be  only  extending  our  trou¬ 
bles  rather  than  settling  them. 

M.P.S.  (by  election). 

Drighton,  December  24 th,  1870. 


Sir, — The  regulations  for  storing  poisons,  scheduled  by  the 
recent  Pharmacy  Act,  1868,  are  now  so  much  simplified  that 
no  reasonable  person  can  complain  of  their  being  oppressive, 
or  unduly  interfering  with  the  dispatch  of  business  or  re¬ 
quirements  of  trade. 

I  would  suggest  that  each  individual  should  look  at  the 
question  from  a  broad  point  of  view,  and  not  as  affecting  any 
particular  branch,  adapting  the  regulations  to  the  best  of  his 
ability,  according  to  the  circumstance  of  each  case. 

What  can  be  easier  than  for  the  retail  chemist  who  has  a 
cupboard  in  the  shop  or  wareroom  where  he  probably  already 
keeps  strychnine,  aconite,  atropine,  can thar ides,  prussic  acid, 
etc.,  to  add  in  addition  to  th<j  name  of  the  article  in  the  vessel 


538 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  31,  1870, 


a  distinctive  label  such  as  I  have  enclosed,  with  the  word 
“  Toxicum t”  written  or  printed  legibly  on  a  plain  gummed 
label,  placed  on  a  larger  piece  of  pink  capping  paper,  showing 
a  border  beyond  which  must  strike  the  eye,  and  attach  a  band 
of  glass  paper  to  the  ends  of  it,  going  round  the  back  of  the 
bottle,  or  vessel,  just  above  the  bottom,  where  the  hand  would 
take  hold  when  required  for  use  ? 

Here  there  would  be  two  safeguards  at  once,  a  distinctive 
white  label  on  a  red  ground  in  front  to  catch  the  eye,  and  a 
rough  surface  detected  by  the  touch. 

These  precautions  may  be  adapted  to  large  or  small  pack¬ 
ages,  either  in  the  cupboard,  on  the  shop  shelves,  or  in  ware- 
rooms  ;  and  where  bottles  or  packages  are  not  in  every-day 
use,  an  additional  precaution  of  tying  over,  or  fastening  down 
by  a  simple  contrivance,  would  obviate  every  difficulty,  put  an 
end  to  this  unseemly  controversy,  and  meet  the  requirements 
of  a  wholesome  regulation. 

This  inexpensive  method  every  chemist  can  at  once  carry 
into  effect  for  himself,  by  the  aid  of  pen,  paper  and  gum  pot. 

I  trust  our  brethren  will  be  unanimous,  and  adopt  the  re¬ 
gulations  in  a  spirit  of  fairness;  for  captious  resistance  will 
inevitably  lead  to  further  legislation  on  the  subject  and  en¬ 
largement  of  the  schedule  of  poisonous  articles. 

A  Founder  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society. 

Dec.  2 ith,  1870. 


Sir, — As  this  poison  question  is  again  being  brought  pro¬ 
minently  forward,  I  should  like  to  be  permitted  to  state  in 
the  columns  of  the  Journal  my  own  personal  experience  in 
reference  to  this  subject  before  and  after  adopting  precau¬ 
tionary  measures  in  the  storing,  keeping  and  dispensing  of 
poisons. 

I  have  always  felt  one  of  the  greatest  drawbacks  to  the 
profession  of  pharmacy  to  be  the  possibility  of  some  very  seri¬ 
ous  mistake  being  made  in  the  dispensing  of  dangerous  drugs 
and  chemicals,  even  when  carried  out  by  thoroughly  qualified 
assistants.  This  always  pressed  heavily  and  unremittingly 
upon  my  mind  before  adopting  precautions.  But  some  six 
years  since  I  separated  the  most  dangerous  of  these  medi¬ 
cines, _  such  as  strychnine,  aconitine,  hydrocyanic  acid,  liq. 
arsenicalis,  and  placed  them  in  a  small  lock-up  case,  with  each 
article  distinctly  labelled  “poison;”  whilst  to  the  prepara¬ 
tions  of  opium,  morphia,  and  tr.  belladonnse  and  analogous 
drugs,  I  used  caps  of  india-rubber,  which  from  their  elasticity 
required  no  fastening,  and  marked  each  cap  with  the  word 
“  poison.”  I  can  with  truth  say  that  considerable  relief  accrued 
to  my  mind  from  a  conviction  that  an  additional  element  of 
security  against  mistakes  had  thus  been  introduced. 

Probably  most  of  my  brother  pharmacists  have  more  or  less 
felt  oppressed  by  our  great  responsibility,  especially  in  con¬ 
nection  with  the  dispensing  of  poisons ;  I  believe  this  simple 
precaution  would  relieve  them  as  it  has  done  me  from  a  con¬ 
siderable  part  of  this,  and  frequently  prevent  tjie  occurrence 
of  serious  mistakes;  whilst  at  the  same  time  it  would  meet 
the  wishes  of  the  Council,  to  whom  surely  some  deference  is 
due,  composed  as  it  is  of  some  of  the  leading  men  connected 
with  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  as  well  as  being  a  represen¬ 
tative  body. 

Of  the  other  alternate  proposals,  viz.  1st.  A  separate  com¬ 
partment  for  dangerous  articles,  it  is  evident  that  this  is  next 
to  impossible  in  a  great  many  small  shops  for  want  of  space. 
Or  2ndly.  Distinctive  bottles  or  vessels  would  involve  con¬ 
siderable  outlay,  which  wouldpress  heavily  in  businesses  where 
the  returns  are  small  and  inadequately  remunerative  for  the 
skill  and  labour  employed,  which  is  unfortunately  too  often 
the  case. 

Edinburgh,  Dec.  2 6th,  1870.  H.  C.  Baildon. 


Sir,  As  a  very  old  member  of  the  craft,  allow  me  to  say 
one  wrord  on  the. subject  now  agitating  it.  I  do  not  see  any- 
thing  very  hard  in  our  being  obliged  to  submit  to  such  simple 
regulations  as  were  last  set  forth  by  the  Council,  in  itself. 
But  I  do. see  something  very  hard,  very  unjust,  and  contrary 
to  the  spirit  of  tairplay,  so  much  loved  by  all  Englishmen,  and 
which  is  such  a  characteristic  of  English  legislation,  if  all 
persons  who  dispense  poisons  are  not  equally  compelled  to 
submit  to  the  same  regulations.  If  there  is  to  be  one  law  for 
one  class  of  her  Majesty’s  subjects,  and  another  law  for  an- 
other  class,  then  I  would  oppose  the  Council’s  action  through 
thick  and  thin. 

If  the  Council  will  only  seek  to  extend  their  regulations  to 


all  persons  alike,  without  fear  or  favour,  they  would  disarm 
a  great  deal  of  opposition. 

Manchester,  Dec.  27th.  A  Lover  of  Fairplay. 


Sir, — The  above  subject  is  of  so  much  importance  to  us  as 
a  body  that  I  will  not  offer  an  apology  for  asking  you  to 
grant  me  a  small  space  for  a  few  remarks,  which  I  hope  may 
be  regarded  as  relevant  to  its  discussion. 

The  whole  subject  appears  to  me  to  be  embraced  in  the  follow¬ 
ing  questions: — (1.)  Are  these  proposed  regulations  needed? 
(2.)  Underwhat  circumstances  is  it  sought  to  impose  that  which 
is  justly  regarded  as  an  unwise  interference  with  an  arrange¬ 
ment  which  has  hitherto  worked  well  ?  (3.)  If  we  adopt  the 

course  which  appears  favourable  to  our  parent  Society,  and 
reduce  ourselves  to  the  position  of  mere  automatons,  requiring 
no  thought  or  consideration  in  the  execution  of  our  duties,  shall 
we  under  this  proposed  new  order  of  things,  in  the  event  of 
error,  still  be  responsible  and  liable  to  damages  ?  Finally,  if 
these  regulations  eventually  come  into  force,  will  it  tend  to 
elevate  us  in  the  estimation  of  the  thinking  public  ? 

First,  I  will  endeavour  to  prove  that  they  are  not  needed. 
If  these  innovations  are  meant  to  prevent  poisoning  by  mis¬ 
adventure,  it  seems  to  argue  that  this  calamity  is  of  frequent 
occurrence ;  but  is  this  so  ?  I  think  not.  Indeed,  so  seldom 
does  it  happen  (and,  be  it  remembered,  that  we  have  no* 
means  of  sheltering  ourselves  behind  a  curtain  of  obscurity) r 
that  when  a  case  is  brought  before  us  we  stand  aghast,  and 
inquire,  How  did  it  occur?  Very  rarely  indeed  by  the  che¬ 
mist  in  compounding  his  prescriptions,  as  he  becomes,  by 
force  of  habit,  a  thoughtful  and  reflecting  man,  well  knowing 
his  great  responsibilities,  and  as  a  rule  is  most  conscien¬ 
tious  in  the  fulfilment  of  his  duties.  It  may  more  fre¬ 
quently  be  traced  to  the  unwise  parsimony  of  medical  men, 
who  order  liq.  strychnise  to  be  taken  in  five- drop  doses,  and 
thereby  make  the  uninformed  public  their  own  dispensers, 
with  what  result  I  need  not  say.  Facts  are  stronger  than 
theories.  Considering  the  number  of  potent  poisons  which 
many  of  us  have  daily  to  manipulate,  our  various  duties  in¬ 
terspersed  with  interruptions  which  often  annoy,  it  argues 
much  for  our  present  order  and  arrangements,  combined  with 
energy  and  concentration  of  mind,  that  a  less  number  of  acci¬ 
dents  could  not  occur,  unless  we  were  suddenly  to  arrive  at  a 
state  of  perfection ;  but,  as  this  condition  is  not  common  to* 
man,  I  take  it  that  we  are  not  likely  at  present  to  attain  this 
point. 

Secondly,  the  time  for  introducing  this  arbitrary  measure 
appears  most  unfavourable  and  inopportune.  If  chemists,  as 
a  whole,  were  less  competent  in  their  particular  sphere  than 
other  tradesmen  or  even  professional  men, — or  if  they,  being 
incompetent,  set  their  faces  rigidly  against  reform,  or  persis¬ 
tently  refused  any  measure  which  would  tend  to  increase  the 
public  confidence ;  or,  if  poisoning  by  misadventure  were  of 
more  frequent  occurrence  than  formerly, — there  might  be  a 
colouring  of  plausibility  for  thus  introducing  a  measure 
which,  to  say  the  least,  will  be  exceedingly  onerous  and  ex¬ 
cessively  distasteful.  But,  if  we  look  calmly  into  the  facts, 
we  shall  soon  perceive  the  very  opposite  of  that  which  I  pur¬ 
posely  placed  in  the  subjunctive  mood.  Who  were  most 
anxious  for  the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy  Bill  of  1868  ?  The 
chemists,  Sir.  Who  were  most  anxious  that  this  Bill  should  be 
complete  and  effective,  and  the  standard  of  education  such  as 
would  entitle  us  to  the  respect  of  all  ?  The  chemists.  To* 
whose  interest  is  it  that  all  our  plans  should  be  well  matured 
and  well  arranged,  promote  unity  of  action,  cohesion  and 
strength,  and  thereby  avoid  our  greatest  enemy — internal 
dissension  ?  I  say  again,  the  chemists.  While  I  believe  that 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society  are  especially  desirous  of  watch¬ 
ing  over  our  interests,  and  doing  all  in  their  power  for  our 
united  good,  I  do  hope  that  their  great  zeal  will  not  lead 
them  into  the  greatest  of  all  errors,  viz.  that  of  doing  too* 
much. 

Thirdly,  the  chemist  must  always  be  inevitably  responsible 
to  the  public  for  the  manner  in  which  he  conducts  his  most 
important  duties.  But,  may  I  ask,  is  it  wise  to  attempt  to 
introduce  any  measure  which  will  have  for  its  object  the* 
simplifying  (or  more  properly  mystifying)  of  our  present- 
arrangements,  and  which  will  necessitate  engrafting  a  new 
set  of  ideas  upon  our  dull  sensibilities?  If  this  plan  should 
be  enlarged  upon,  we  may  soon  find  that,  instead  of  labels  to 
our  bottles,  we  shall  have  to  learn  that  a  bottle  with  one  angle 
means  one  thing,  with  two  angles  another,  three  angles  an¬ 
other;  and  when  our  angles  are  exhausted,  w'e  shall  fly  to 


December  si,  1370.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


539 


colours  as  another  order  of  insignia,  until  the  public  will 
begin  to  doubt  whether  beings  with  such  peculiar  tendencies, 
and  grotesque  ideas,  are  quite  the  proper  persons  to  trust 
with  their  lives  ;  and  some  of  our  dear  friends,  who  envy  our 
wealth  because  of  our  overcharges,  will  not  forget  to  point 
out  to  their  patients,  who  pay  them  for  their  physic  as  well 
as  their  advice,  that  these  changes  have  been  considered  ne¬ 
cessary  by  the  authorities,  in  crder,  if  possible,  to  avoid  the 
many  and  fatal  blunders  into  which  we  are  so  constantly 
falling. 

Finally,  if  we  allow  this  measure  to  pass  without  raising 
our  voices  in  opposition,  and  showing  clearly  and  logically 
the  ground  of  our  objection,  our  moral  and  intellectual  force 
must  be  weak  indeed ;  and  the  public  will  not  be  slow  to 
learn  that  those  who  exhibit  such  inability  to  manage  their 
own  affairs  must  be  equally  incompetent  to  undertake,  and 
carry  on  successfully,  the  important  interests  of  others. 

Although  I  have  gone  over  this  subject  very  superficially, 
I  fear  you  will  regard  it  as  extremely  prolix  :  yet  I  beg  you 
will  accept  it,  with  all  its  faults,  as  an  earnest  conviction  of 
one  deeply  interested.  Nemo. 

Information  Wanted. 

Sir, — In  answer  to  JE.  B.,  p.  520  of  your  last  Journal, 
I  beg  to  state  that  magnes.  ferri  et  quince  sulph.  is  composed 
of  1  gr.  of  sulphate  of  quinine,  3  grs.  sulphate  of  iron,  and 
I6grs.  of  sulphate  of  magnesia  in  each  20  grs.  of  the  com¬ 
pound  salt.  G.  S. 

Renfrew ,  December  29 th,  1870. 

Sir, — We  perceive  in  the  Journal  of  the  21th  inst.  an  un¬ 
dated  and  anonymous  communication  wherein  our  name  is 
introduced  as  having  compounded  a  prescription  containing 
“Mag.  Ferri  et  Quin.  Sulph.”  and  evidently  treating  it  as  a 
nostrum  of  our  own. 

The  prescription  in  question  was  sent  to  us  a  short  time 
since  by  a  customer,  to  be  dispensed.  Not  having  the  fore¬ 
going  preparation,  we  wrote  to  our  firm  in  Bruton  Street, 
Berkeley  Square,  to  procure  it,  which  they  did,  at  the  Apo¬ 
thecaries’  Company  in  Berners  Street. 

We  now  beg  to  make  the  following  remarks:  some  indi¬ 
vidual  (evidently  “  E.  B.”)  went  to  our  establishment  in 
Bruton  Street,  last  week  (we  believe  on  the  21st),  and  asked 
if  they  had  a  preparation  of  magnetic  iron  and  quinine ;  he 
was  told  they  had  not ;  he  then  produced  the  identical  pre¬ 
scription  we  had  made  up  at  Oxford,  and  was  politely  told  it 
was  a  compound  of  the  sulphates  of  magnesia,  iron  and  qui¬ 
nine,  and  where  he  could  obtain  it ;  we  were  therefore  ex¬ 
tremely  surprised  to  see  his  uncalled-for  letter,  especially  as 
it  is  our  invariable  practice  to  give  every  information  which 
may  be  desired  of  us. 

It  is  evident  that  your  correspondent  has  a  sinister  motive 
in  view,  for  after  taking  the  trouble  to  translate  the  prescrip¬ 
tion  for  him,  which  he  was  unable  to  do,  and  to  tell  him  where 
he  could  procure  the  medicine,  it  is  too  bad  that  he  should 
-drag  our  names  in  such  an  invidious  manner  into  print. 

Oxford,  Dec.  27th,  1870.  Hitchcock  and  Sons. 

[*y*  The  letter  of  our  correspondent  E.  B.  was  inserted  at 
the  moment  of  going  to  press,  and  under  the  belief  that  it 
was  a  bond  fide  request  for  information.  We  do  not  now  per¬ 
ceive  that  it  was  otherwise,  or  that  there  was  any  intention 
to  annoy  Messrs.  Hitchcock. — Ed.  Ph.  Journ.] 


Pharmacy  in  Ireland. 

Sir, — In  their  efforts  to  secure  rights  analogous  to,  and  a 
basis  as  nearly  as  possible  resembling,  that  which  governs  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Great  Britain,  the  Chemists  and 
Druggists’  Association  of  Ireland  would  deem  it  a  favour  if 
the  members  of  that  Society,  individually  or  as  a  body,  if  oc¬ 
casion  require,  would  exercise  their  influence  with  members 
ot  Parliament  on  the  introduction  into  Parliament  of  the 
draft  Pharmacy  Act  of  the  Apothecaries’  Hall  Company  of 
Ireland.  We  look  on  the  said  Draft  Act,  as  at  present  com¬ 
piled,  as  unjust, — a  barrier  to  the  future  progress  of  our  Asso¬ 
ciation,  in  its  ultimate  working  a  monopoly,  and  in  no  way 
likely  to  supply  the  grievous  want  so  ably  filled  by  the  Phar- 
jnaceutical  Society  of  Great  Britain. 

The  importance  of  the  subject  to  us,  Sir,  will  be,  I  trust,  a 
sufficient  excuse  for  trespassing  so  much  on  your  valuable 
space. 

_  Henry  Flint. 

Laboratory,  108,  Patrick  Street,  Cork. 


A  Point  of  Ethics. 

Sir,— “  Chemicus ”  will  be  good  enough  to  remember  that 
the  point  at  issue  is  not  the  mode  of  dispensing  prescriptions 
containing  morphia,  etc. 

He  has  not  yet  disproved  the  assertion  that  acid,  sulph.  dil. 
is  not  to  be  added  to  a  mixture  containing  quinine  unless 
specified. 

There  are  eminent  medical  men  here  and  elsewhere  that 
frequently  specify  that  the  quinine  is  not  to  be  dissolved 
unless  specially  ordered. 

Bath,  Dec.  27th,  1870.  D.  T.  W. 


Sir, — With  reference  to  the  prescription  alluded  to  by 
“  Magnesia,”  I  see  that  “  Chemicus ”  still  adheres  to  his  asser¬ 
tion  that  the  medical  man  forgot  to  add  the  acid,  sulph.  dil., 
and  as  proof  is  wanting,  I  think  it  best  to  give  him  the  benefit 
of  the  doubt;  but  I  quite  agree  with  you  that  your  corre¬ 
spondents  were  not  justified  in  adding  acid,  sulph.  dil. 

If  such  was  allowable,  it  would  produce  a  rivalry  amongst 
dispensers,  as  to  who  could  supply  the  same  medicine  so  as 
to  present  the  most  elegant  appearance,  regardless  of  the 
wishes  of  the  prescriber  or  the  comfort  of  his  patients.  I 
quite  agree  with  “  Chemicus ”  that  a  dispenser  is  justified,  and 
in  duty  bound,  to  use  his  discretion  in  compounding  a  medical 
man’s  prescription  (for  medical  men,  like  ourselves,  are  often 
pressed  for  time,  and  a  slip  of  the  pen  might  be  productive  of 
serious  results) ;  but  he  has  no  business  to  touch  it  up  to  suit 
his  own  fancy,  and  if  any  alteration  be  necessary,  it  is  his 
duty  to  refer  to  the  medical  man.  About  a  month  ago  the 
following  prescription  was  handed  to  me  to  be  dispensed,  and 
was  supplied  accordingly : — 

R.  Potass®  Chlor.  3ij 
Quin®  Sulph.  gr.  viij 
Acid.  Sulph.  Dil.  5i 
Syr.  Limonis  5jj 
Aqu®  ad  ^viij 
M.  3j  Itis  horis. 

When  the  medicine  was  finished,  the  same  person  brought 
the  empty  bottle  and  presented  a  prescription  containing  the 
same  ingredients  as  the  above,  minus  the  acid,  sulph.  dil. 

It  immediately  occurred  to  me  that  the  acid  had  been  for¬ 
gotten,  especially  as  the  medical  man  sometimes  prescribed 
acid,  citric,  with  chlorate  of  potash  and  quinine,  but  as  I  had 
not  an  opportunity  of  referring  to  him,  I  felt  bound  to  dis¬ 
pense  the  prescription  as  ordered,  and  of  course  I  did  so. 

A  few  days  after  I  happened  to  mention  the  circumstance 
to  the  medical  man,  who  told  me  that  he  omitted  to  add  the 
acid,  as  his  patient  complained  of  the  medicine  causing  irri¬ 
tation  of  the  bowels,  and  that  the  omission  had  produced  a 
satisfactory  result. 

Imagine  the  annoyance  of  the  medical  man  and  the  dis¬ 
comfort  of  his  patient  if  I  had  presumed  to  act  upon  the 
suggestion  of  “  Chemicus  of  twenty  years'  standing.” 

Darlington,  Dec.  2 6th,  i.870.  J.  Swenden. 


Dispensing  Charges. 

Sir, — There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  plan  proposed  by 
“  W.  Wilkinson”  in  last  week’s  Journal  is  most  valuable, 
and  would  tend  to  lessen  the  great  evil  of  different  charges 
for  the  same  prescription  when  dispensed  at  different  shops; 
but  still  I  fancy  it  would  meet  but  half  the  difficulty.  I  have 
been  in  business  for  over  twenty  years,  and  in  a  town  of  about 
7000  inhabitants.  There  are  two  chemists  besides  myself; 
often  they  undersell  me  and  as  often  I  undersell  them,  not 
intentionally  on  my  part,  and  I  am  willing  to  believe  not  on 
theirs;  but  how  is  it  to  be  avoided?  For  all  trade  commu¬ 
nication  between  us  we  might  as  well  live  fifty  miles  apart ; 
and  I  see  no  chance  of  effecting  a  better  state  of  things  till 
all  in  a  town  or  district  will  agree  to  meet,  say  once  a  month, 
and,  sinking  all  petty  jealousies,  talk  over  business  matters  in 
an  amicable  and  friendly  spirit.  If  this  could  be  brought  about, 
I  am  sure  the  evils  so  often  complained  of  in  your  Journal 
would  be  much  lessened. 

Just  to  give  an  example  of  low  charges.  Some  time  since 
a  commercial  traveller  (in  the  drapery  line)  brought  me  a 
prescription  for  an  8  oz.  mixture,  and  on  calling  for  it  a  little 
time  afterwards,  put  down  a  shilling  on  the  counter.  I  said 
I  could  not  possibly  charge  less  than  Is.  6d.  for  it. .  “Oh,” 
said  he,  “I  never  pay  more  than  a  shilling.”  I  insisted  on 
the  fairness  of  my  charge,  and  the  result  has  been  that  from 


540 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [December  31,1970, 


that  time  I  have  dispensed  but  very  few  prescriptions  from 
the  hotel  at  which  he  was  staying  (the  leading  one  in  the 
town),  whereas  before  I  continually  did  so. 

Grey  Hairs. 

Bridport,  Dec.  Ylth,  1870. 


Sir, — The  price-mark  recommended  by  the  Manchester 
Chemists’  Association,  and  a  dozen  others  adopted  by  leading 
firms,  seem  to  have  two  defects,  "which  should  be  supplied 
previous  to  general  adoption.  There  is  no  “repeater,”  nor 
any  provision  for  expressing  the  cypher.  The  letter  “  W,” 
naturally  suggesting  the  idea  of  reduplication,  answers  well 
as  a  repeater,  and  the  cypher  may  be  expressed  by  any  letter 
not  otherwise  used. 

I  would,  however,  suggest  two  alternative  schemes.  There 
is  a  system  of  artificial  aid  to  memory,  somewhat  extensively 
known  in  schools,  which  makes  use  of  all  the  consonants. 
It  has  the  advantage  of  various  letters  to  express  figures 
above  five.  I  append  the  system. 


1 

t 

Consisting  mainly  of  one  stroke. 

2 

n 

„  „  two  „ 

3 

m 

„  „  three  ,, 

4 

r 

Fourth  letter  of  four,  which  has  four  letters. 

5 

1 

In  Roman  numerals  suggests  Jive  decads. 

6 

d 

Supposed  to  resemble  a  reversed  six. 

7 

cgkq 

The  “  K  ”  sounds. 

8 

bhv 

Consonants  in  “beehive.”  H  is  the  eighth 
letter  of  the  alphabet,  and  its  name  sug¬ 
gests  sound  of  eight. 

9 

pf 

Consonants  above  and  below  the  line. 

10 

7 

Has  a  toofold  connection  as  consonant  , 
and  vowel,  and  represents  two  figures.  j 

0 

S  X  z 

A  circular  figure,  represented  by  letters  sug-  : 
gesting  sound  of  circle,  cipher  and  zero. 

w 

Repeating  whatever  letter  has  preceded  it. 

The  Greek  method  of  notation  recommends  itself  by  its 
classic  use,  as  distinct  from  a  merely  fanciful  scheme,  and  its 
exposition  would  be  found  in  any  Greek  grammar.  It  is  to 
be  regretted,  for  the  sake  of  the  general  benefit  resulting 
from  its  study,  and  especially  because  it  is  the  language  par 
excellence  of  scientific  nomenclature,  that  all  chemists  are  not 
fairly  acquainted  with  the  Greek  language ;  it  would,  how¬ 
ever,  require  a  very  slight  effort  on  the  part  of  such  an  intel¬ 
ligent  class  to  acquire  a  dozen  characters.  If  desirable, 
shillings  might  be  expressed  by  capitals,  and  pence  by  small 
letters,  avoiding  the  intervening  strobe,  and  the  appearance 
to  the  public  of  a  price. 

Henry  II.  Pollard. 

Hyde,  I.  W.,  December  20th,  1870. 


Obscure  Prescriptions. 

Sir, — I  have  perused  with  peculiar  interest  the  correspond¬ 
ence  and  your  remarks  thereon  which  have  appeared  in  the 
late  numbers  of  the  Journal  respecting  the  obscure  writing 
of  physicians  and  surgeons.  Having  had  very  considerable 
experience — much  more  than  falls  to  the  lot  of  most  men — in 
a  large  dispensing  house  in  London,  I  can  with  some  autho¬ 
rity  bear  testimony  and  endorse  all  that  your  correspondent, 

“  M.P.S.  by  election ,”  has  advanced  with  reference  to  the 
slovenly  and  loose  manner  in  which  the  great  majority  of 
medical  men  are  in  the  habit  of  writing  their  prescriptions, 
which  in  justice  to  the  patient,  as  well  as  to  the  dispenser, 
ought  to  be  clearly  and  distinctly  written.  To  my  mind  it  is 
all  fiddle-faddle  about  the  “Latinity”  of  the  prescription;  it 
matters  not  to  the  patient  if  some  of  the  terminations  are 
written  a  when  they  should  be  ce,  or  if  there  should  be  one  or 
two  i’s.  It  is  not  as  if  every  prescription  written  was  to  be  sub¬ 
jected  to  the  criticism  of  an  Oxford  professor.  Any  one  can 
understand  what  is  meant  by  tinct.  belladon.  Never  mind  j 
the  termination ;  the  all-important  thing  to  be  observed  by 
the  writer  should  be  that  when  he  orders  tinct.  belladon.  it  is 
so  cleai’ly  inscribed  that  it  cannot  be  mistaken  for  anything 
else  by  the  dispenser.  With  respect  to  the  gross  blunders 
occasionally  made  by  even  the  most  eminent  medical  men, 

I  have  seen  very  many,  some  of  which  would  have  proved 
fatal  to  the  patient  at  the  first  dose  had  the  prescription  been  | 
dispensed  as  actually  written.  What  would  be  considered  | 
trifling  errors  or  omissions,  such  as  quantities  left  out,  vehicle *  1 


not  mentioned,  pills  no  number,  and  many  other  little  inac¬ 
curacies,  I  found  of  almost  daily  occurrence. 

A  few  words  respecting  the  possibility  of  a  case  occurring 
when  it  would  be  of  importance  the  patient  should  not  be 
cognizant  of  the  drugs  he  is  taking.  I  have  had  many  appli¬ 
cations  from  medical  men  to  suggest  some  means  by  which 
this  might  be  overcome.  As  an  instance,  a  lady  had  been 
taking  for  some  time  “liq.  Fowleri”  and  with  great  benefit 
unfortunately  one  day  she  pushed  the  question  as  to  what 
this  “Fowleri”  meant.  Very  reluctantly  I  told  her  it  was- 
a  preparation  of  arsenic;  nothing  could  persuade  her  after¬ 
wards  to  continue  its  use  from  the  fear  of  being  poi¬ 
soned,  as  some  one  had  told  her  that  arsenic  was  cumulative 
in  the  system.  In  another  instance,  a  gentleman  travelled 
some  sixty  miles  from  the  country  to  consult  a  medical  man 
in  London;  two  names  having  been  submitted  to  him  by  the 
local  apothecary,  he  called  on  me  and  asked  my  opinion  which 
of  the  two  I  considered  best.  They  both  happened  to  be  of 
equal  calibre,  so  I  told  him  he  could  not  do  wrong  in  consulting 
either,  the  one  in  the  City  and  the  other  at  the  West-End.  He 
returned  in  a  few  hours  and  presented  me  with  the  City  doc¬ 
tor’s  prescription,  at  the  same  time  observing  he  was  not  satis¬ 
fied.  He  desired  me  to  read  over  the  articles  prescribed  (he 
is  a  dabbler  in  physic) ;  having  done  so,  he  asked  my  opinion, 
what  should  I  consider  the  ailment  of  the  patient  ?  I  un¬ 
hesitatingly  told  him,  judging  from  the  general  run  of  pre- 
scribers,  it  might  be  for  a  slight  cold,  etc.,  as  it  would  induce 
perspiration,  etc.  (it  was  composed  of  pot.  nit.,  vin.  ipecac., 
liq.  amm.  acet.,  mist,  camph.  and  also  a  mild  aperient  pill,, 
h.  s.).  He  took  the  prescription  from  my  hand,  remarking 
he  was  sure  from  the  questions  asked,  the  doctor  knew  nothing 
of  what  he  was  about,  also  that  none  of  the  ingredients 
ordered  ever  suited  him;  at  the  same  time,  to  my  surprise, 
handing  me  another  prescription,  written  by  the  West-End 
doctor,  desiring  to  be  informed  what  he  had  ordered.  V  hen 
I  told  him  it  was  a  very  mild  dose  of  “  strychnine  ”  and  other 
things  he  would  not  hear  anything  more  about  it,  as  he  as¬ 
sured  me  lie  was  determined,  if  possible,  to  die  a  “  natural 
death.”  The  most  laughable  part  of  the  story  remains  to  be 
told;  he  then  asked  me  to  prescribe  something  for  him  :  this 
I  politely  declined,  telling  him  if  he  was  not  satisfied  with 
the  advice  of  two  eminent  doctors,  mine  would  be  of  no  ser¬ 
vice  to  him.  In  both  these  cases,  had  it  been  possible  to 
keep  from  them  what  drugs  they  were  taking,  both  might 
have  been  benefited.  It  must  not  be  supposed  I  could 
advocate  the  plan  adopted  by  Mr.  Bradshaw,  nothing  can 
warrant  such  practice  ;  a  patient  consults  a  doctor  and  pays 
his  guinea  for  the  prescription,— if  he  refuse  to  take  the  me¬ 
dicine  prescribed  because  he  objects  to  some  particular  in¬ 
gredient  or  otherwise,  it  is  his  own  business,  but  the  pre¬ 
scription  itself  ought  to  be  as  plainly  written  as  A  B  C, 
and  in  accordance  with  the  B.  P. 

W.  M. 

St.  Lawrence,  JRamsgate,  December,  1870. 


G.  TV.  Fox  and  Co.  (Birmingham).— We  have  just  received 
a  long  letter  from  these  gentlemen,  which  we  are  prevented 
from  inserting  by  the  pressure  on  our  correspondence  columns. 
It  will,  however,  receive  early  attention. 

II.  Machon  (Saffron  Walden).— A  still  must  be  paid  for 
unless  the  Inland  Revenue  authorities  give  exemption,  as 
they  have  sometimes  done,  when  it  has  been  shotfn  they  can 
do  so  without  risk  to  the  Revenue. 

Nemo  (Wolverhampton). — See  “Answers  to  Correspon¬ 
dents,”  G.  A.,  ante,  p.  180. 

Frank  Adams  (Stoke-on-Trent). — Yes. 

A.  (Carlisle). — 1.  No.  2.  No. 

Bolton. — 1.  No.  2.  No. 

“An  Old  Subscriber.” — Chemist  and  Druggist;  Member, 
1870. 

In  consequence  of  want  of  space,  we  are  obliged  to  postpone 
the  insertion  of  answers  to  several  correspondents. 


Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  Fairlie  (Glasgow),  Mr.  H.  B.  Brady  (Newcastle),  Dr.  de 
Vrij,  Mr.  A.  Carter,  Mr.  R.  Mountain  (Harrogate),  Mr.  H- 
A.  Thompson,  Mr.  M.  C.  Cooke,  Mr.  G.  Dymond  (Birmmg- 

1  ham),  Mr.  O.  Davies  Owen,  W.  B.  (Dudley),  G.  S.,  A.  H.  L., 
A.  P.  S.,  “Biondino”  (Scarborough),  “Pestle  and  Mortar 
(Dorking),  “Anxietas”  (Macclesfield),  Jestyn  ap  Gwrgan. 


January  7,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


MI 


CHLORAL. 

Hydrate — Alcoholate — Tests — Therapeutical 
Value — Pharmaceutical  Preparations.* * * § 

BY  ALFRED  H.  MASON. 

The  principal  object  of  this  paper  is  to  show  that 
the  hydrate  of  chloral  of  commerce  is  not  all  pure 
hydrate  of  chloral,  but  that  other  compounds  have 
been  put  upon  the  market.  I  have  examined 
samples,  obtained  from  different  sources,  varying 
very  seriously  in  the  proportion  of  chloroform  they 
produce  upon  decomposition  with  alkaline  reagents, 
and  I  feel  it  a  moral  duty  to  pharmaceutists  to  ad¬ 
vise  them  of  these  facts.  When  it  is  considered 
that  one  agent  alone  in  London  has  disposed  of 
twenty-two  thousand  pounds’  weight  f  during  the 
past  twelve  months,  it  is  certainly  high  time  for  us 
to  be  alive  to  the  necessity  of  dispensing  a  gua¬ 
ranteed  article. 

Chloral,  C2C]3HO,  is  formed  by  the  prolonged 
action  of  chlorine  upon  absolute  alcohol.  J  To  pre¬ 
pare  it,  the  current  of  chlorine  must  be  kept  up  as 
long  as  hydrochloric  acid  gas  continues  to  escape, 
and  the  product  is  to  be  agitated  with  three  times  its 
volume  of  concentrated  sulphuric  acid.  On  gently 
warming  this  mixture  in  a  water-batli,  the  impure 
chloral  separates  as  an  oily  liquid,  which  floats  on 
the  surface  of  the  acid ;  it  is  purified  by  distillation 
from  fresh  sulphuric  acid,  and  afterwards  from  a 
small  quantity  of  quicklime,  which  must  be  kept 
completely  covered  by  the  liquid  until  the  end  of  the 
operation.  The  chemical  reactions  which  take  place 
in  its  formation  were  described  in  a  valuable  paper 
by  Mr.  Henry  Sugden  Evans,  of  London,  last  session. 

Chloral  is  a  thin,  oily,  colourless  liquid,  of  pecu¬ 
liar  and  penetrating  odour,  which  excites  tears,  and 
it  has  but  little  taste. 

Liebreich  says,§  if  chloral  be  left  in  contact  with 
concentrated  sulphuric  acid,  it  is  transformed  into 
polymeric  insoluble  chloral ;  this  body  is  more  easily 
purified,  since  it  is  not  soluble  in  alkalies  or  acids, 
and  it  may  be  treated  a  long  time  with  these  sub¬ 
stances  without  decomposing.  Warm  this  insoluble 
chloral,  and  it  converts  itself  into  soluble  chloral. 
The  sp.  gr.  of  soluble  chloral  is  1*502.  By  degrees 
it  thickens,  and  is  sometimes  transformed  suddenly 
into  soluble  chloral  evolving  a  large  amount  of  heat. 

When  we  mix  anhydrous  chloral  with  water,  we 
obta  in  in  a  short  time  acicular  crystals  of  hydrate 
of  chloral,  this  body  being  distinguished  from  ordi¬ 
nary  chloral  by  containing  one  molecule  of  water. 
Its  formula  is  C2  Cl3  II 0 +  H2  O. 

This  method  is  the  one  alone  authorized  by  Dr. 
Liebreich,  of  Berlin,  ||  who  took  out  a  patent  in  July, 
1869,  for  the  sole  use  for  anaesthetic  purposes  of 
chloral,  hydrate  of  chloral,  and  trichloroacetic  acid, 
(CjHCls'Og). 

The  physiological  and  therapeutical  experiments 
made  by  Liebreich  led  to  the  introduction  of  this 
product  as  a  medicinal  agent,  and  since  he  has  pub- 

*  Read  at  a  meeting  of  the  Liverpool  Chemists’  Associa¬ 
tion,  held  December  22nd,  1870. 

t  Dais  includes  both  kinds  of  hydrate  of  chloral,  as  distin¬ 
guished  novo  by  the  agents  themselves, — guaranteed  and  un¬ 
guaranteed.  6 

X  Downes’  ‘  Manual  of  Chemistry,’  p.  813.  1868. 

§  ‘  L’ Hydrate  de  Chloral,’  O.  Liebreich,  1870,  p.  15. 

I  Idem. 

Third  Series,  No.  28. 


lislied  liis  formula,*  with  the  results  of  his  experi¬ 
ments,  I  think  we  should  fix  upon  his  method  as  the 
officinal  one.  The  superiority  of  the  hydrate  of 
chloral  manufactured  under  liis  supervision  I  shall 
prove  to  you  (i.  e.,  if  the  larger  proportion  o  f  chloro¬ 
form  produced  In/  alkaline  reagents  from  the  chloral 
compound  employed  is  to  be  the  test,  which  is,  I 
think,  self-evident).  He  tells  us  that  numerous  ex¬ 
periments  show  that  this  method  is  far  the  most 
trustworthy. 

Chloral  is  obtained  in  other  ways  ;  for  instance, 
by  the  method  of  Stiedeler,  from  starch,  by  distilla¬ 
tion  with  hydrochloric  acid  and  dioxide  of  manga¬ 
nese,  Jformic  acid,  carbonic  acid  and  other  bodies 
accompanying  it ;  but  Liebreich  states  he  has  made 
experiments  with  this  preparation  and  finds  it  is  not 
to  be  depended  upon  in  its  action,  from  the  great 
difficult}"  of  preventing  the  formation  of  other  com¬ 
pounds,  especially  chlorides  of  carbon,  which  serve 
to  contaminate  the  chloral  and  render  its  adminis¬ 
tration  dangerous. 

It  was  contended  by  M.  J.  Personnel  that  the 
hydrate  of  chloral  described  by  M.  Roussin  as  pure, 
was  nothing  more  than  a  compound  of  chloral  and 
alcohol.  Differences  being  observed  in  the  physical 
properties  of  the  preparation  made  by  Liebreich  and 
that  made  by  Roussin,  it  was  found  that  they  were 
two  entirely  distinct  compounds,  which  was  fully 
confirmed  by  an  appeal  to  analysis.  Theoretically, 
hydrate  of  chloral  should  contain  64*35  per  cent,  of 
chlorine.  M.  Personne  found  that  the  preparation 
he  had  made  contained  63*79  per  cent.,  whilst  a 
sample  of  that  made  by  M.  Roussin  yielded  only 
51*89  per  cent.  Following  this  indication,  Personne 
endeavoured  to  ascertain  by  experiments  whether 
the  hydrate  of  chloral  prepared  by  Roussin  did,  or 
did  not,  contain  alcohol.  The  results  were  very 
satisfactory  in  proving  the  presence  of  this  com¬ 
pound.  Further,  by  combining  anhydrous  chloral 
and  absolute  alcohol  in  proper  proportions,  Per¬ 
sonne  was  enabled  to  prepare  synthetically  a  sub¬ 
stance  having  properties  entirely  similar  to  those 
of  the  supposed  hydrate  of  chloral  prepared  by 
Roussin. 

It  is  this  preparation,  alcoholate  of  chloral,  repre¬ 
sented  by  C2C13H0  +  C2H60,  that  we  meet  with 
in  commerce,  also  hydrated  alcoholate  of  chloral, 
which  are  not  to  be  trusted  as  therapeutic  agents 
according  to  the  system  laid  down  by  Liebreich. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  Mr. 
John  Williams  suggested  that  an  alkaline  reagent 
would  show  the  percentage  of  chloroform  the  chloral 
preparation  would  produce.  Mr.  Charles  Umney 
has  also  made  some  very  valuable  experiments,  and 
instituted  what  is  now  known  to  pharmacists  as 
“  the  ammonia  process  ”  for  testing  hydrate  of 
chloral.  The  mode  of  operating,  and  the  results  of 
his  experiments,  are  published  in  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Journal. 

I  find  that  hydrate  of  chloral  is  insoluble  in  cold 
chloroform,  tetrachloride  of  carbon,  turpentine  and 
bisulphide  of  carbon,  but  on  the  application  of  heat, 
solution  is  effected.  The  hydrate  is,  however,  per¬ 
fectly  soluble  in  cold  water,  ether  (*735)  and  absolute 
alcohol  (*805) ;  after  the  application  of  heat,  and 
upon  cooling,  the  hydrate  separates  in  beautiful 
crystals,  generally  needles,  but  from  bisulphide  of 


#  <  L’Hydrate  de  Chloral.’  Oscar  Liebreich. 
f  Journal  de  Pharmacie  et  de  Chimie. 


542 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[January  7,  1871 


carbon  in  prisms.  True  hydrate  of  chloral  is  not 
acted  upon  by  nitrate  of  silver  or  by  acids. 

Alcoholate  of  chloral  is  perfectly  soluble  in  chloro¬ 
form,  ether,  tetrachloride  of  carbon,  absolute  alcohol, 
turpentine,  and  bisulphide  of  carbon,  and  upon  heat¬ 
ing  does  not  present  any  change,  nor  can  I  produce 
crystals  from  these  alcoholic  solutions.  Why,  I  do 
not  quite  understand.  In  cold  water  alcoholate  of 
chloral  is  nearly  insoluble  ;  and  I  venture  to  suggest 
this  as  a  simple  test  for  these  two  forms  of  chloral 
compound. 

If  twenty  grains  of  the  chloral  compound  is  soluble 
in  thirty  minims  of  cold  chloroform,  it  is  not  a  hy¬ 
drate  ;  on  the  other  hand,  if  the  same  quantity  of 
chloral  compound  is  insoluble  in  chloroform,  I  should 
consider  it  a  hydrate, — solubility  in  cold  chloroform 
and  partial  insolubility  in  cold  water  being  quite 
sufficient  test  to  lead  to  doubt ;  and  so  in  proportion 
to  the  solubility,  should  I  judge  the  probable  quantity 
of  chloroform  which  the  ammonia  process  would  yield. 

Now  if  the  theory  of  Liebreicli,  that  the  hydrate 
of  chloral  coming  in  contact  with  the  alkalies  in  the 
blood  evolves  chloroform  in  the  human  system,  be 
correct,  a  moment’s  glance  will  soon  convince  you 
of  tlxe  immense  superiority  of  samples  No.  1,  2  and 
3,  and  the  decided  obligation  that  pharmacists  should 


dispense  this  manufacture  only  until  it  can  be  shown 
that  hydrate  of  chloral  of  equal  composition  may  be 
procured  elsewhere. 

Therapeutical  Value. — If  we  review  the  pages  of 
the  medical  journals  for  the  therapeutical  effects  of 
hydrate  of  chloral,  we  shall  find  many  cases  where 
its  action  lias  been  attended  with  marvellous  results. 
There  does  seem  not  a  little  danger  of  its  being 
erected  into  a  kind  of  panacea  for  all  the  ills  that 
flesh  is  heir  to,  of  its  true  worth  and  fame  suffering 
from  too  indiscriminate  use,  and  from  the  adminis¬ 
tration  of  some  of  the  impure  compounds  which  are 
being  supplied.  Its  value,  however,  is  too  real  for 
actual  collapse  by  its  abuse  ;  but  its  repute  may  be, 
and  doubtless  has  been,  dangerously  compromised. 

We  find  it  employed  in  cases  of  “  maniacal  pa¬ 
roxysms,”  “  delirium  tremens,”  “  traumatic  tetanus,” 
chorea,  diarrhoea,  whooping  cough,  convulsions  -(epi¬ 
leptic  or  otherwise),  with  more  or  less  benefit;  it 
allays  vomiting,  and  prevents  sea-sickness  ;  in  puer¬ 
peral  mania  it  is  well  reported  of ;  in  fact,  as  a  sleep 
compeller  it  is,  in  a  veiy  large  number  of  cases,  un¬ 
rivalled  ;  for  while  in  power  opium  alone  can  be  com¬ 
pared  with  it,  there  is  this  superiority  to  opium,  that 
its  use  entails  no  unpleasant  after  symptoms,  no  head¬ 
ache,  no  nausea,  no  anorexia,  no  constipation,  whilst 


6 

£ 

® 

S 

cS 

m 

Manufacturers, 
or  by  whom  supplied. 

Boiling 

Point. 

Chloro¬ 

form 

Layer. 

Percentage  of  Chlo"  j 
roform  produced 
from  5'  0  grains  of 
the  chloral  com¬ 
pound. 

\ 

/ 

o5 

Centigr. 

Grains. 

1 

At 

97° 

240 

357 ’6  grains, 

Cj 

o 

or  71  p.c.  (71-5) 

Hydrate  of  Chloral, 

prepared  under 

o 

)  the  supervision  of 

CD 

L 

Dr.  Liehreich,  by 

Ti 

sr 

96-5° 

240 

357'6  grains, 

Dr.  Martius  and 
Dr.  P.  Mendels- 

o 

Ph 

or  71  p.c.  (7 1*5) 

sohn  Bartholdy, 

. 

3 

of  Berlin. 

'"S 

98° 

235 

351*7  grains, 

) 

?H 

or  70 p.c.  (70*3) 

vO 

- 

4 

Manufactured  by 

100-5° 

190 

283-1  grains, 

Messrs.  De  Hane  and 

or 57 p.c.  (56-6) 

Co.,  Hanover. — Cake. 

5 

From  Messrs.  T.  Mor- 

10T 

190 

283-1  grains, 

son  and  Son,  London. 

or  57  p.c.  (56-6) 

— Crystal. 

6 

Manufactured  by 

100° 

190 

283*1  grains, 

Messrs.  Dunn,  Squire 

or 57 p.c.  (5G-6) 

and  Co.,  London. 

— 

Cake. 

7 

Supplied  by  Messrs. 

100-5° 

190 

283-1  grains, 

Schoetensack  and  Co., 

or  57  p.  c.  (56-6) 

London. — Cake. 

8 

Manufactured  by 

105° 

185 

275*6  grains, 

Messrs.  De  Hane  and 

or  56  p.c.  (55'6) 

Co. — Crystal. 

£ 

Manufactured  by 

110° 

180 

268-2  grains, 

Messrs.  Gehe  and  Co., 

or  54 p.c.  (53-6) 

Dresden. — Crystal. 

General  Remarks. 


A  crystalline  cake,  white,  easily  powdered,  with  an  agree¬ 
able  melon  odour,  slightly  pungent.  Soluble  in  water, 
ether,  alcohol;  insoluble  in  chloroform,  carbon  fetra- 
chlor. ;  partially  soluble  in  turpentine,  and  bisulph. 
carbon  without  heat.  With  heat,  dissolves  and,  on 
cooling,  needle  crystals  are  formed,  except  in  the  case 
of  bisulph.  carb.,  which  seems,  as  it  were,  to  gelati¬ 
nize  it. 

A  white  powder.  Results  same  as  above. 


Bright  rhomboid  crystals,  melon  smell,  more  pungent. 


Results  as  above. 


Semi-transparent  crystalline  cake,  rather  hard,  slightly 
deliquescent,  much  more  pungent  smell,  caustic.  So¬ 
luble  in  water,  ether  (with  slight  effervescence),  alco¬ 
hol  ;  insoluble  in  chloroform,  carbon  tetracklor., 
bisulph.  carbon,  and  turpentine  (slightly),  without 
heat ;  with  heat,  soluble  in  all,  and  upon  cooling  crys¬ 
tallizes. 

Thin,  deliquescent,  colourless,  crystalline  plates  (in  ap¬ 
pearance  resembling  potass,  chlor.),  slightly  pungent, 
melon  smell.  Soluble  in  water  (with  argent,  nit.  shows 
slight  opalescence),  ether,  alcohol;  insoluble  in  chloro¬ 
form,  carb.  tetrachlor.,  turpentine,  bisulph.  carb.,  etc. 

Hard,  thick  flakes,  very  white,  pungent  melon  smell. 
Soluble  in  water,  ether  (but  soon  turbid),  carbon 
tetrachlor.  (on  heating  separated),  alcohol  (heat  no 
change) ;  insoluble  in  chloroform,  turpentine  (with  heat 
deposit  at  the  bottom  of  the  tube),  bisulph.  carb. ;  sepa¬ 
rates,  and  heat  will  not  combine. 

Hard  white  crystal  cakes,  very  pungent.  Soluble  in  water, 
alcohol,  ether  (with  slight  effervescence),  partly  soluble 
in  turpentine,  bisulph.  carb.;  insoluble  in  chloroform. 
On  the  application  of  heat,  when  cooled  the  ether  solu¬ 
tion  shows  fine  needle  crystals,  the  bisulph.  carb.  solu¬ 
tion  solidifies. 

A  white  crystalline  powder,  slightly  deliquescent.  So¬ 
luble  in  water,  ether,  alcohol;  insoluble  in  chloroform, 
carbon  tetrachlor.,  turpentine,  bisulph.  carbon. 


Transparent  needle  crystals,  caustic,  rather  deliquescent, 
slight  smell.  Very  soluble  in  chloroform,  ether,  carbon 
tetrachlor.  (crystals  formed  again  without  heat),  alco¬ 
hol,  turpentine  and  bisulph.  carbon  (crystallizes  at 
bottom) ,  partly  soluble  in  water. 


January  7,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


543 


the  sleep  it  produces  is  gentle,  calm  and  continued ;  at 
least,  this  is  the  general  rule,  but,  of  course  there  are 
exceptions,  and  medical  men  complain  that  its  ad¬ 
ministration  is  attended  with  uncertain  results,  and 
that  its  quality  is  not  so  good  as  it  was  when  first 
introduced,  and  can  anything  justify  these  assertions 
more  than  the  foregoing  results ;  but  even  with  true 
hydrate  of  chloral  we  must  expect  to  find  exceptional 
cases  so  long  as  human  beings  differ  so  greatly  in 
temperament,  constitution,  and  sensibility  to  the 
action  of  medicine. 

That  hydrate  of  chloral  ought  to  be  perfectly  pure 
when  used  in  medicine  is  unquestionable ;  the  sub¬ 
stitution  of  alcoholate  is  quite  sufficient  to  produce 
most  of  the  ill  effects  attributed  to  chloral.  In  fact, 
instead  of  being  a  hypnotic,  it  has  a  tendency  to  pro¬ 
duce  mental  excitement,  as  ordinary  stimulants. 

The  dose  of  hydrate  of  chloral  is  from  5  grains  to 
80  or  40  grains,  according  to  the  purpose  for  which 
it  is  required.  A  case  is  on  record  where  100  grains 
were  taken  accidentally  without  an}7  evil  results  ;  but 
I  am  informed  that  there  is  danger  in  continued 
small  doses.  Very  unexpected  results  have,  in  a  few 
instances,  occurred.  And  here  I  would  strongly 
caution  pharmaceutists  not  to  prescribe  its  use  them¬ 
selves,  or  supply  it  to  the  public  without  the  sanc¬ 
tion  of  a  medical  man. 

Hydrate  of  chloral  has  been  successfully  adminis¬ 
tered  as  an  antidote  to  strychnia. 

Hydrate  of  chloral  cannot,  in  consequence  of  its 
chemical  properties,  be  administered  in  the  shape  of 
pills  or  in  the  form  of  powder  ;  it  is,  therefore,  ne¬ 
cessary  almost  to  confine  its  use  to  solutions.  For 
dispensing  purposes,  Liebreicli  recommends  a  solu¬ 
tion  of  the  hydrate  in  its  own  weight  of  water.  In 
small  doses  it  can  be  given  without  the  addition  of 
a  corrective,  but  simply  dissolved  in  distilled  water. 

There  are  several  pharmaceutical  preparations  in 
which  the  hydrate  of  chloral  is  disguised,  or  its  taste 
modified,  in  various  ways.  Of  the  syrups  contain¬ 
ing  10  grains  of  Liebreicli’ s  hydrate  in  each  dram, 
one  made  with  syrup,  primi  virg.  is  used  in  Ame¬ 
rica  ;  it  is  most  palatable.  Another  is  made  with 
syr.  tolu ;  others  with  syr.  flor.  aurant.,  syrup,  cort. 
aurant.  (as  suggested  by  Liebreicli).  Another  is 
flavoured  with  almonds  (Ferris).  There  is  also  a 
draught  containing  half  dram  chloral,  with  syrup 
tolu,  tinct.  ginger  and  peppermint  water.  Lozenges 
containing  1  grain  hydrate  of  chloral  in  each  are 
manufactured  by  Messrs.  Meggeson  and  Co. 

Spiritus  chloralis  is  made  by  Savory  and  Moore. 
It  has  a  very  agreeable  taste  and  smell,  but  I  was  not 
able  to  obtain  any  deposit  upon  evaporating  a  little. 

Limousin’s  capsules  are  known  to  contain  alco¬ 
holate  of  chloral,  because  true  hydrate  cannot  be 
secured  in  a  gelatinous  envelope. 

In  prescribing  and  dispensing  hydrate  of  chloral, 
it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  no  corrective  with 
alkaline  reaction  can  be  employed  with  it,  because 
such  an  administration  would  bring  about  the  trans¬ 
formation  of  the  substance. 

In  concluding  this  paper,  I  must  add  that  I  have 
no  interest  whatever  in  putting  forward  the  claims 
of  Liebreicli’ s  manufacture,  further  than  a  feeling  of 
moral  duty  to  the  medical  profession,  pharmacists 
mid  the  public,  together  with  the  conviction  that 
other  manufactures  which  have  come  under  my  no¬ 
tice  do  not  attain  the  desired  standard.  It  appears 
that  the  importers  of  this  article  now  know  a  gua¬ 
ranteed  hydrate  of  chloral  and  an  unguaranteed 


hydrate  of  chloral.  There  is  a  guarantee  to  the  con¬ 
sumer,  which  is  the  protection  of  the  hydrate  manu¬ 
factured  under  Leibreich's  supervision  ;  this  is  a  re¬ 
gistered  trade  mark.  It  is  offered  in  three  forms — 
cake,  crystal  and  powder ;  but  the  action  of  the  cake 
is  more  to  be  relied  upon.  Each  product  should  be 
kept  in  well-stoppered  bottles.  The  large  quantity 
which  the  bottles  with  the  registered  trade  mark  con¬ 
tain  is,  I  think,  a  drawback  to  its  more  universal 
application ;  and  I  think,  if  the  agents  of  this  manu¬ 
facture  could  be  induced  to  supply  it  in  smaller 
bottles, — say  from  1  oz.  upwards, — with  the  registered 
label  on  each  bottle,  and  could  produce  it  at  a  cost 
more  in  proportion  with  the  competition,  they  would 
not  only  further  the  objects  of  the  discoverer  by 
more  satisfactory  and  uniform  results  being  pro¬ 
duced,  but  also  benefit  mankind  in  general. 


NOTE  ON  AUSTRALIAN  OPIUM.* 

BY  J.  S.  WARD. 

The  large  sum  paid  as  duty  on  all  opium  imported 
into  Australia  has  caused  the  experiment  of  growing 
poppies  for  the  production  of  opium  to  be  tried  for 
two  or  three  years  in  different  parts  of  the  colony  of 
Victoria  with  good  success.  The  product  has  been 
of  a  tolerably  uniform  quality,  and  the  samples  have 
yielded  variable  quantities  of  morphia. 

The  sample  of  which  I  shall  treat  was  sent  by 
Mr.  Francis,  a  Melbourne  pharmaceutist,  formerly 
with  Messrs.  J.  Bell  and  Co.,  338,  Oxford  Street,  to 
Mr.  T.  H.  Hills.  I  have  been  requested  by  the 
latter  gentleman  to  examine  it  and  lay  the  result 
before  this  meeting. 

But  before  going  into  particulars  as  to  its  quality, 
I  shall  read  an  extract  from  Mr.  Francis’  letter  re¬ 
ferring  to  the  cultivation  of  the  poppies  and  the  col¬ 
lection  of  this  opium : — 

“  The  poppies,  from  which  the  present  sample  was 
extracted,  were  grown  in  Gipps  Land,  a  vast  tract  of 
country  forming  the  south-east  portion  of  the  colony 
of  Victoria.  The  land  taken  up  was  one  quarter 
acre.  The  plants  were  placed  nine  inches  apart,  in 
rows  two  feet  six  inches  from  each  other.  They 
were  planted  in  July,  the  opium  was  extracted  in  the 
December  following.  Each  plant  attained  a  height 
of  from  five  to  six  feet,  the  number  of  capsules  on 
each  averaging  ten.  The  mode  of  gathering  was- 
as  follows: — The  capsules  were  nicked  in  the  after¬ 
noon  of  the  day  by  one  person,  another  following 
immediately  after,  gathering  the  drops  as  they  fell. 
The  liquor,  being  very  thick,  was  then  placed  in  tin 
dishes  and  exposed  to  the  sun  till  a  proper  con¬ 
sistence  was  attained.  The  gross  yield  of  opium 
from  the  quarter  acre  of  the  consistence  of  the  sample 
sent  was  14  lbs.  weight.  You  will  notice  that  the 
mode  of  collecting  is  somewhat  different  to  that 
spoken  of  by  Pereira,  and  it  was  found  better  to  col¬ 
lect  towards  evening  than  in  the  morning,  on  ac¬ 
count  of  the  heavy  morning  dews. 

“  I  have  seen  other  samples  of  opium  prepared  and 
grown  in  the  colony,  but  got  up  more  closely  to  re¬ 
semble  the  ordinary  article  of  commerce  ;  they  com¬ 
pared  very  unfavourably  with  the  one  sent. 

“  I  might,  perhaps,  mention  that  I  paid  52s.  per  lb. 
for  the  opium  ;  but  I  bought  it  rather  on  account  of 
its  novelty  than  for  any  other  reason.  I  have  not 

*  Read  at  the  Evening  Meeting  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society,  Jan.  4,  1871. 


511 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[January  ?,  1871. 


yet  used  it  in  business,  nor  tested  it,  so  as  to  arrive 
at  my  conclusions  as  to  its  commercial  value. 

“All  imported  opium  is  subject  to  a  duty  of  KU. 
per  lb.” 

This  opium,  when  first  received,  was  of  a  light 
brown  colour,  and  in  appearance  like  a  well-made 
hard  extract ;  but  on  keeping  became  like  other 
opiums,  much  harder  and  darker  ;  when  quite  diy,  it 
breaks  with  a  smooth  regular  fracture.  These  cha¬ 
racters  are  explained  by  its  being  a  pure  dried  juice. 

Its  odour,  which  is  very  fine  and  marked,  is  similar 
to  that  of  Smyrna  opium,  but  scarcely  so  powerful. 
Cold  water  takes  up  40  per  cent,  of  soluble  matter. 
A  tincture  made  according  to  the  Pharmacopoeia  is 
of  a  very  light  colour,  being  no  darker  than  the  tinc¬ 
ture  of  myrrh. 

The  most  important  character  of  this  sample  is  its 
richness  in  morphia.  On  submitting  it  to  quantita¬ 
tive  analysis  I  obtained  the  following  result: — 

Morphia . 9  per  cent. 

Narcotine . 4  ,,  ,, 

Meconic  Acid . 0  ,,  „ 

I  have  not  examined  it  for  any  other  alkaloids,  not 
1  laving  a  sufficient  quantity  of  the  sample  to  work 
on.  I  can  only  find  one  report  of  an  analysis  of  this 
opium,  namely,  by  Mr.  Bosisto,  of  Richmond,  who, 
in  a  paper  read  before  the  Royal  Society  at  Mel¬ 
bourne,  stated  that  it  contained  10  per  cent,  of  mor¬ 
phia  and  3  of  narcotine. 

By  these  characters,  it  will  be  seen  that  Gipps 
Land  opium  will  compare  favourably  with  the  best 
Smyrna ;  and  it  cannot,  I  think,  be  doubted  that  its 
more  extensive  cultivation  in  this  district  would  prove 
a  source  of  large  increase  to  the  revenue  of  the  co¬ 
lony,  and,  consequently,  of  great  advantage  to  its  in¬ 
habitants,  while,  at  the  same  time,  it  will  supply  us 
with  another  new  and  important  source  of  this  valu¬ 
able  drug. 


THE  NAMES  OF  THE  CINCHONA 
ALKALOIDS. 

BY  DR.  J.  E.  DE  VRIJ. 

In  No.  18,  of  October  29th,  1870,  of  this  Journal, 
I  found,  on  page  342,  an  article  upon  Java  cinchona 
bark,  abstracted  from  Herr  Jobst’s  paper  in  Neues 
Jahrbuch  fiir  Pharmacie,  xxxiv.  18,  which  induces 
me  to  make  a  few  remarks. 

If  anybody  not  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the 
•chemistry  of  the  cinchona  alkaloids,  in  reading  this 
paper,  compares  the  results  obtained  by  Professor 
( funning  and  by  Herr  Jobst,  he  will  very  probably  sup¬ 
pose  that  there  exists  much  discrepancy  between  the 
results  of  these  two  chemists ;  as  the  one  found  (for 
instance)  in  Java  Calisaya  bark  much  quinidine, 
whilst  the  other  found  therein  no  quinidine,  but  con- 
chinine,  etc.  The  cause  of  this  apparent  discrepancy 
is  that  Professor  Gunning,  like  the  majority  of  che¬ 
mists,  calls  the  alkaloid  discovered  by  Henry  and 
Dclondre,  and  later  admirably  well  described  by 
Pasteur,  quinidine  ;  whilst  Herr  Jobst  uses  for  this 
alkaloid  the  name  of  conchinine,  which  name  was 
given  to  it  about  two  years  ago  by  O.  Hesse.  If 
this  chemist  had  discovered  the  alkaloid  in  question, 
I  should  have  no  objection  to  the  name  ;  but  as  the 
name  quinidine  has,  since  it  has  been  confirmed  by 
the  investigations  of  Pasteur,  been  accepted  by  the 
majority  of  chemists,  and  particularly  by  Mr. 
Howard  in  his  celebrated  ‘  Quinology,’  I  consider  it 


in  the  interest  of  this  branch  of  science  not  to  alter 
the  name  which  it  has  now  borne  more  than  thirty 
years.  In  the  same  paper  Herr  J obst  uses  the  name 
of  quinidine  for  what  the  majority  of  chemists,  and 
also  Mr.  Howard  in  his  ‘  Quinology,’  call  cinclioni 
dine.  I  hope  that  the  Editor  of  this  Journal  will 
agree  with  me  on  this  topic,  and  for  the  convenience 
of  the  readers  always  use  the  names  of  quinidine 
and  cinchonidine,  as  they  have  been  used  since  1K4S 
by  Pasteur  and  the  majority  of  chemists. 

The  Hay ae,  December  10th,  1870. 


GLYCERINE  EXTRACTS  OF  PEP3INE  AND 
OTHER  FERMENTS.* 

Mr.  M.  Foster  reports,  in  Nature,  the  result  of  a 
repetition  of  some  experiments,  published  a  short 
time  ago  by  Yon  Yvittich  in  P fliiyefs  Archie,  upon 
the  isolation  of  pepsine  and  other  so-called  ferments 
by  means  of  concentrated  glycerine. 

After  washing  the  mucous  membrane  of  a  pig’s 
stomach,  it  was  freed  as  much  as  possible  from  water, 
minced,  bruised,  and  covered  with  pure  gRcerine. 
Having  stood  twenty-four  hours,  a  few  drops  of  the 
glycerine,  diluted  with  acidulated  water,  digested 
fibrin  rapidly.  This  process  was  repeated  four 
times,  each  resulting  extract  manifesting  strong 
peptic  powers.  Treated,  after  filtration,  with  an  ex¬ 
cess  of  alcohol,  these  extracts  gave  a  slight  precipi¬ 
tate,  which,  separated  by  filtration  and  redissolved 
in  acidulated  water,  was  strongly  peptic. 

Salivary  gland  and  pancreas  yielded  to  glycerine 
a  starch-converting  ferment,  and  a  “  laden  ”  pancreas 
gave  a  ferment  digesting  fibrin  in  an  alkaline  me¬ 
dium.  Ungerminated  barley  gave  up  a  non-proteid 
diastase  ;  almonds  a  ferment  acting  on  amygdalin. 

The  author  thinks  that  glycerine  offers  advan¬ 
tages  in  the  investigation  of  this  subject  not  pre¬ 
sented  by  any  other  medium,  as  the  extracts  remain 
unchanged  for  a  long  time,  while  the  tissues,  being 
little  altered  after  exhaustion  of  then-  ferment  by  re¬ 
peated  treatment  with  glycerine,  may  be  examined 
under  conditions  hitherto  impossible.  He  claims 
that  these  results  are  also  of  practical  value  in  the 
preparation  of  the  so-called  pepsin  for  medical  pur¬ 
poses  ;  as  by  glycerine  a  pure  palatable  peptic  liquid, 
apparently  keeping  any  length  of  time  and  certain  in 
its  action,  can  easily  be  obtained. 

IODOFORM. 

BY  J.  HENRY  CARSTENS,  M.D. 

Teriodide  of  formyl,  or  sesqui-iodide  of  carbon  as  it 
was  formerly  called,  has  a  chemical  composition  of 
CHI'}.  It  was  discovered  in  the  year  1822  by  Serullas, 
who  procured  it  by  adding-  chlorinated  lime  to  an  alco¬ 
holic  solution  of  iodide  of  potassium.  Claimed  by  Dumas 
to  bo  analogous  to  formic  acid,  the  iodine  taking  the 
place  of  the  oxygen  (also  chloroform  and  the  like  pre¬ 
parations)  . 

A  good  method  for  making  this  compound  is  given  by 
Wittstein.  Two  parts  of  carbonate  of  potash,  two  parts 
of  iodine,  one  part  of  alcohol,  and  five  of  water,  are 
mixed  in  a  retort,  which  is  then  heated  by  means  of  a 
water- bath  till  the  contents  are  perfectly  colourless. 
After  the  retort  has  cooled,  the  liquid  is  poured  into  a 
beaker  and  allowed  to  settle.  The  yellow  scaly  mass  is 
then  collected  on  a  filter,  washed  thoroughly  with  water, 


*  See  ante,  p.  403. 


January  7,  137' .] 


THE  FHATiMACEUTECAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


and  dried  between  filter-paper.  Reaction  (according1  to 
new  nomenclature)  : — G(K2CO.{)  +  161  +  2  (C2H5HO). 
Five  atoms  of  oxygen  of  the  carbonate  of  potash  join 
2(C2H5HO),  forming  2(HCH02)  +  3(H20)  +  2(CH); 
2(HCH02)  combines  with  K,  0  =  2  (K  C  H  03,  H2  O) ; 
10  K  +  101=  10  (KI) ;  while  6 1  and  the  2  (CH)  of  the 
alcohol  form  (2CHI3),  carbonic  acid  escaping. 

According  to  this,  the  gain  of  iodoform  would  be  38 
per  cent. ;  but  the  reaction  never  takes  place  so  com¬ 
pletely,  and  we  must  remember  that  all  these  changes 
take  place  at  once,  and  that  iodoform  is  very  volatile 
(must  never  bo  made  in  an  open  vessel) ;  the  alcohol  eva¬ 
porates,  and  must  be  used  in  larger  quantities ;  the  ex¬ 
cess  of  carb.  of  potash  does  not  retard,  but  seems  to 
increase  the  reaction. 

By  using  six  ounces  of  iodine  only  one  ounce  of  iodo¬ 
form  is  collected,  or  about  17  per  cent.  It  would  there¬ 
fore  be  very  expensive  if  we  could  not  make  use  of  the 
filtrate  for  making  iodide  of  potassium.  This  liquid 
contains,  besides  traces  of  iodoform,  the  balance  of  the 
iodine  as  iodate  of  potash  and  iodide  of  potassium,  and 
also  formate  and  carbonate  of  potash. 

Evaporate  this  solution  to  dryness  and  triturate  with 
one-eighth  of  its  weight  of  charcoal,  and  then  heat  to 
redness  for  a  short  time  in'  an  iron  crucible,  then  digest 
in  alcohol  and  filter ;  the  residue  is  carbonate  of  potash, 
while  the  filtered  solution  contains  the  iodide  of  potas¬ 
sium  ;  the  alcoholic  solution  is  evaporated  and  allowed 
to  ciystallize.  By  this  means  no  iodine  is  lost,  and  ter- 
iodide  of  formyl  ought  to  be  not  more  expensive  than 
iodine. 

Iodoform  appears  in  the  shape  of  yellow,  shining,  six- 
sided  scales,  with  a  spicy  odour  (like  saffron  or  iodine 
and  chloroform)  ;  is  volatile  at  ordinary  temperature. 
Almost  insoluble  in  water  (one  part  in  13,000),  but  more 
soluble  in  alcohol  (one  part  in  80).  If  it  be  used  in  a  mix¬ 
ture,  it  is  necessary  to  avoid  alcoholic  solution  of  potash, 
which  decomposes  it,  forming  formate  of  potash  and 
iodide  of  potassium  : — 

CHI3+  2(K,0)  =  ECHO,  +  3X1. 

Besides  the  well-known  effects  of  iodine  and  its  pre¬ 
paration,  iodoform  has  the  advantage  of  the  former  pre¬ 
paration  of  being  stronger  and  more  uniform  in  its  action 
on  the  system ;  that  is,  does  not  corrode,  nor  act  as  a 
local  irritant,  and  that,  therefore,  it  may  be  given  unin¬ 
terruptedly.  It  is  anodyne,  and,  consequently,  often 
useful  in  neuralgia ;  producing  also  a  local  and  partial 
anaesthesia  of  the  colon.  It  has  less  amesthetic  powers 
than  chloroform,  although  recommended  by  Eugenio 
Franchino  [Gaz.  /Sard.  28,  1858)  as  a  general  anaes¬ 
thetic  in  place  of  chloroform.  First  used  by  English 
physicians  in  form  of  ointment  for  exanthema ;  used  by 
Litchfield  in  porrigo  and  lepra ;  by  Glover  for  psoriasis, 
impetigo,  scabies,  etc. ;  also  recommended  for  croup  (in¬ 
ternally),  and  used  with  good  success  ( Monthly  Journal , 
Feb.,  1818).  On  the  recommendation  of  Moretin  and 
Mouzard  {l' Union,  1857),  used  as  a  local  anesthetic,  in 
the  form  of  suppositories,  in  the  prostate ;  it  also  seems 
to  relieve  tenesmus,  easing  defecation. 

Iodoform  has  lately  been  prominently  brought  to  the 
notice  of  physicians  in  the  United  States  as  a  remedy  for 
chronic  ulcers  (Proc.  Penn.  State  Med.  Soc.  1868),  ob¬ 
stinate  neuralgia,  scrofula,  strumous  ophthalmia,  con¬ 
sumption,  and  even  in  cancer  is  stated  to  have  relieved 
the  excruciating  pain  of  this  malignant  disease,  without 
seeming  to  arrest  the  same  ( Medical  and  Surgical  Reporter , 
Phil.,  vol.  xvi.  xvii.  xviii.).  It  is  also  a  valuable  dress¬ 
ing  in  chancre. 

It  is  best  administered  in  pill  form,  one  to  two  grains, 
three  times  a  day.  Quevenne’s  iron  may  often  be  ad¬ 
vantageously  added.  Externally  it  is  used  as  an  oint¬ 
ment,  one-half  to  one  drachm  of  iodoform  to  one  ounce 
ot  lard,  or  it  is  dissolved  in  hot  alcohol  and  glycerine 
added;  these  to  be  used  pro  re  nata. — Detroit  Rev.  of 
Medicine. 


APOMORPHIA.* 

Apomorphia,  a  very  curious  organic  base,  was  dis¬ 
covered  by  the  late  Dr.  Matthiessen  and  Mr.  C.  M.  A. 
Wright,  while  experimenting  in  the  laboratory  of  St. 
Bartholomew’s  Hospital,  in  April,  and  reported  on  to 
the  Clinical  Society  by  Dr.  Gee,  in  May,  1869. f  It  is 
obtained  by  submitting  the  chloride  of  morphia  for  several 
hours  to  the  action  of  strong  hydrochloric  acid  at  a  high 
temperature.  The  result  is  the  chloride  of  apomorphia, 
from  which  the  base  may  bo  obtained  without  difficulty  ; 
but  as  it  is  very  unstable,  the  salt  has  been  used.  Che¬ 
mically  the  base,  apomorphia,  differs  from  morphia  by 
containing  the  elements  of  a  molecule  of  water  less.  Its 
chloride  is  a  white  crystalline  powder,  soluble  in  thirty 
parts  of  cold,  and  in  much  less  of  warm  water.  As  a 
medicine  it  possesses  most  remarkable  emetic  powers, 
acting  rapidly  and  certainly.  Dr.  Gee  says,  “We  have 
never  yet  failed  to  produce  vomiting  when  we  wished  to 
do  so,  and  by  a  single  dose.”  The  salt  is  free  from  all 
local  irritant  properties,  and  can  therefore  be  used  hypo¬ 
dermically  ;  its  dose  is  very  small — one-fifth  of  a  grain 
by  the  mouth,  or  one-tenth  of  a  grain  hypodermically, 
acting  rapidly  and  freely;  and  its  action  is  not  accom¬ 
panied  or  followed  by  any  ill  effects.  “  The  vomiting,” 
Dr.  Gee  says,  “seems,  in  most  cases,  to  be  critical,  as  it 
were,  and  put  an  end  to  itself ;  there  is  no  subsequent 
nausea.” 

The  only  other  information  on  the  use  of  this  salt  is  a 
short  communication  from  Dr.  F.  M.  Pierce,  who  confirm  ; 
Dr.  Gee’s  statements.  He  says,  “It  is  the  most  speedy  and 
most  certain  emetic  known — the  tenth  of  a  grain  of  th  > 
chloride,  or  even  loss,  is  the  dose  required.  It  may  be 
given  safely  to  children,  and  acts  more  rapidly  when 
|  hypodermically  administered”  than  when  given  by  the 
mouth. 

Should  it  turn  out  that  the  drug  has  no  other  medi- 
cmal  value  than  as  an  emetic,  it  will  be  a  most  important 
addition  to  the  materia  mcdica.  is  o  other  emetic  can  be 
administered  hypodermically ;  and  all  others  are  bulky 
in  dose,  very  uncertain  in  action,  and  produce  distress¬ 
ing  nausea  and  depression. 


THE  KATIPO,  OS  POISON  SPIDES  OF  NEW 

ZEALAND. 

BY  DR.  WRIGHT. 

The  author,  in  a  paper  communicated  by  him  to  the 
Medical  Times  and  Gazette,  reports  the  case  of  a  man  who, 
while  employed  in  carrying  firewood  which  had  been 
stacked  in  some  sedge  or  coarse  grass,  was  bitten  by  a 
katipo  on  the  shoulder.  Within  an  hour,  upon  attempting 
to  eat  his  dinner,  he  found  that  he  could  not  open  hi  i 
mouth,  and  was  scarcely  able  to  articulate  in  consequence 
of  stiffness  about  the  jaws.  He  immediately  applied  to 
Dr.  Wright  for  medical  assistance,  but  was  scarcely  able 
to  make  himself  understood.  Upon  examination  of  the 
spot  the  surface  was  found  to  be  raised  to  an  extent  as 
large  round  as  a  teacup.  This  swelling  was  white,  and 
surrounded  by  a  halo  of  red  not  unlike  an  exaggerated 
wheal  of  the  nettle-rash.  He  complained  of  considerable 
pain  in  the  part.  During  the  examination  he  became 
faint  and  almost  pulseless,  his  countenance  and  body 
assumed  a  hue  of  extreme  pallor,  his  extremities  were 
cold  and  fiaccid,  his  respiration  almost  ceased,  and  there 
were  fears  that  he  was  about  to  expire.  Ammonia  wa  s 
applied  to  the  wound,  and  ammonia  and  water  combined 
with  brandy,  in  considerable  doses,  administered  ;  but  it 
was  upwards  of  two  hours  before  the  man  was  sufficiently 
recovered  to  return  home.  Several  days  elapsed  before 
I10  was  able  to  resume  work,  in  consequence  of  great 
lassitude  and  nervous  depression. 

*  Abstracted  from  a  series  of  papers  on  the  “Progress  ot 
Therapeutics,”  published  in  the  Medical  Times  and  Gazette. 

j-  Transactions  of  the  Clinical  Society ,  vol.  ii.  1869,  p.  16o. 


546 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[January  7,  1871. 


The  information  concerning  this  insect  which  the  au¬ 
thor  has  been  able  to  obtain  is  to  the  following-  effect : — 
The  katipo  is  a  small  spider,  from  half  to  three-quar¬ 
ters  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  measured  across  the  body 
and  legs.  There  are  said  to  be  two  kinds,  one  with  a 
dark  glossy  brown  or  black  spherical  body  and  compact 
legs,  found  amongst  dead  wood  in  gardens,  or  with  a 
slight  web  among  the  rafters  of  lofts  and  outbuildings ; 
the  other,  which  is  the  most  poisonous,  has  a  black  body 
with  a  vermilion  spot  upon  its  back,  and  inhabits  the 
sandy  beaches  of  the  seacoast,  taking  refuge  among  he 
driftwood  and  roots  of  sedge  or  rushes  found  there.  The 
author  considers  the  poison  to  be  of  a  narcotico -irritant 
nature,  similar  in  its  effects  to  those  recorded  as  follow- 
ng  the  bite  of  the  tarantula. 

In  corroboration  of  the  nature  of  the  accident,  an  ac¬ 
count  of  three  cases  of  katipo  bites  mot  with  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Chapman,  a  missionary  to  the  Maori  race  in  the  in¬ 
terior  of  New  Zealand,  is  appended.  In  one  case  a 
native  girl  was  bitten  near  the  beach,  and,  although 
ammonia  was  applied,  and  wine  and  other  nourishment 
given,  died  after  lingering  two  months.  In  the  second, 
a  boy  was  bitten  in  the  thigh,  and  did  not  recover  for 
nearly  six  months.  In  the  third  case  the  sufferer  was  a 
native  chief,  with  whom  the  missionary  was  travelling. 
We  give  the  account  of  it  in  his  own  words: — “We 
were  travelling  together  up  the  coast  from  Whatakane, 
and,  halting  to  dine,  he  seated  himself  upon  a  large  tuft 
of  sedge.  He  had  not  been  sitting  many  minutes  before 
he  sprang  upon  his  feet,  saying  he  had  been  badly  bitten 
by  a  katipo  on  the  upper  part  of  the  thigh.  I  directed 
him  to  lie  down ;  I  then  dissolved  some  carbonate  of 
soda  in  a  very  small  quantity  of  water,  and,  adding  to 
this  some  brandy  from  my  flask,  quickly  made  a  crucial 
incision  over  the  part  bitten,  squeezed  out  forcibly  the 
blood,  and  rubbed  in  this  antacid  solution,  keeping  up 
this  action  for  ten  minutes,  when  he  said  he  no  longer  felt 
the  pain.  He  remarked  on  rising,  ‘  Had  you  not  been 
with  me,  I  should  have  had  a  long  illness.’  Only  two 
or  three  minutes  could  have  elapsed  after  the  bite  before 
a  spot  about  the  size  of  the  top  of  the  little  finger 
appeared,  of  a  peculiar  white  colour,  in  strong  contrast 
with  the  dusky  shade  of  Toke’s  skin.  He  was  very 
careful  to  secure  all  the  blood  I  had  forced  out  of  the 
wound  I  had  made  by  absorbing  it  in  a  piece  of  rag  torn 
from  his  shirt.  This  relic,  now  so  doubly  sacred,  he 
carried  into  the  middle  of  a  swamp  close  by,  and  I  saw 
him  stamping  it  down  into  the  ground  very  violently,  to 
preserve  it  from  possible  desecration.” 


SWEET  TINCTURE  OF  RHUBARB. 

Take  of  Rhubarb,  bruised, 

Liquorice  Root,  bruised,  of  each  2  ounces. 
Aniseed,  bruised, 

Sugar,  of  each  1  ounce. 

Diluted  Alcohol,  2  pints. 

Macerate  for  fourteen  days,  express  and  filter. — New 
York  Druggists’  Circular. 


BOTANY  IN  MEDICAL  SCHOOLS. 

In  an  introductory  lecture,  delivered  by  Mr.  Leo 
Grindon  at  the  opening  of  the  current  session  of  the 
Manchester  School  of  Medicine,  the  lecturer,  alluding  to 
the  utility  of  a  knowledge  of  materia  medica,  remarked 
that  it  would  especially  ill  become  him  to  undervalue 
the  right  use  of  drugs,  since  the  germ  of  the  science  of 
botany  was  found  in  the  study  of  the  vegetable  portion 
of  the  materia  medica  by  the  pupils  of  Aristotle ;  and 
although  an  eminent  physiologist  and  lecturer  had  quite 
recently  expressed  his  opinion  that  both  chemistry  and 
botany  should  be  omitted  from  the  curriculum  of  study 
in  medical  schools,  he  could  not  but  exclaim,  God  forbid 
that  the  day  should  ever  come  when  it  should  be  said 


that  medicine  was  unfaithful  to  its  first  love,  and  that 
the  allegiance  of  more  than  2000  years  had  come  to  an 
end.  It  might  be  that  Professor  Huxley  objected  rather 
to  the  particular  portion  of  botany  to  which  the  student 
was  too  often  required  to  give  his  first  attention, — an 
attention  quite  as  frequently  repelled  by  it  as  allured. 
The  student  who  was  wishful  to  learn  howto  distinguish 
Dulcamara  from  Belladonna ,  and  to  possess  clear  notions 
of  the  general  aspect  of  deleterious  plants  as  contrasted 
with  harmless  ones,  could  not  be  expected  to  feel  either 
gratification  or  encouragement  in  minute  details  re¬ 
specting-  Phyllotaxy  and  Bothrenchgma.  To  the  student, 
botany  so  initiated  may  well  seem  a  useless  burden,  and 
he  (the  lecturer)  could  not  see  how  the  student  was 
helped  towards  the  practical  knowledge  of  pharmaceu¬ 
tical  and  poisonous  plants  by  being  saturated  with 
minute  vegetable  anatomy.  Vegetable  histology  was 
one  of  the  noblest  pastimes  of  every  true  botanist,  and  a 
large  acquaintance  with  it  was  one  of  the  special  orna¬ 
ments  of  his  profession,  but  to  commence  with  it  was  to 
enter  the  temple  through  the  roof  instead  of  the  portico. 
He  did  not  believe  that  Professor  Huxley  or  any  ono 
else  could  deem  it  superfluous  that  the  medical  student, 
in  addition  to  receiving  a  good  groundwork  of  structural 
botany,  with  its  complement  of  physiology,  should  be 
shown,  as  in  their  Manchester  school,  specimens,  or 
other  intelligible  illustrations  of  every  plant  mentioned 
in  the  Pharmacopoeia,  and  of  every  plant  the  name  of 
which  cropped  up  periodically  in  connection  with  deaths 
by  accidental  poisoning.  That  the  practical  department 
of  botany  involved  in  its  teaching  far  more  labour  and 
anxiety  of  preparation  than  was  needed  for  illustrations 
of  histology  might  account  for  the  preference  given  to 
the  latter ;  and  if  teachers  were  not  able  or  willing  to 
undertake  that  labour,  it  certainly  was  a  reasonable 
question, — had  not  botany  better  be  out  of  the  curri¬ 
culum  ? — Gardeners'  Chronicle. 


Tinted  Honey. — A  specimen  of  rose-coloured  honey 
has  been  presented  by  Messrs.  Fortnum  and  Mason  to 
the  Food  Department  of  the  South  Kensington  Museum. 
It  is  of  great  beauty  and  delicacy.  The  comb  is  virgin, 
the  wax  almost  white,  the  honey  limpid,  pure  and  of 
the  colour  of  pale  red  currant  jelly.  The  secret  of  its 
production  is  not  revealed,  except  that  it  is  the  result  of 
artificial  feeding.  The  Gardeners'  Chronicle,  after  allud¬ 
ing  to  the  various  opinions  held  as  to  the  change  which 
honey  undergoes  between  the  time  of  its  being  taken 
from  the  nectary  and  that  of  its  being  deposited  in  the 
comb,  remarks  that  honey  from  white  clover  has  a  green¬ 
ish-white  hue,  that  from  heather  a  rich  golden  yellow, 
and  no  doubt  other  colours  might  be  observed  according 
as  certain  flowers  are  in  particular  abundance.  It  is 
even  possible  that  feeding  the  bees  upon  currant  or  rasp¬ 
berry  jelly  or  jam  would  answer  the  purpose  equally 
well.  But  it  is  clear  that  this  step  in  the  refinement  of 
honey  being  reached,  we  shall  not  stop  here.  With  the 
help  of  the  chemist,  the  beekeeper  will  be  able  to  turn 
out,  in  a  few  weeks,  to  order,  honey  of  any  hue,  blue, 
pea-green,  orange,  or  apricot-coloured,  or  even, — by  a 
little  ingenious  manipulation  of  the  present  system  of 
hives,  which  will  allow  of  any  part  of  the  comb  being 
shut  off  or  made  accessible  to  the  bees  at  pleasure, — a 
parti-coloured  honey,  arranged  in  artistic  patterns  and 
devices. 

Wax-Varnish, — Benzine  will  dissolve  a  large  pro¬ 
portion  of  wax,  especially  when  heated  to  the  boiling- 
point,  which  can  be  easily  effected  without  danger  of 
explosion,  by  placing  a  bottle  containing  the  liquid  in 
water  heated  to  between  150°  to  200°  F.  The  solution, 
however,  will  deposit  a  cloudy  sediment  upon  cooling. 
Nevertheless,  it  can  be  readily  used  for  producing  wax 
paper,  or,  in  fact,  for  all  manipulations  where  the  object 
is  to  produce  a  thin  uniform  coating  of  wax  on  any 
foreign  substance.  The  benzine  evaporates  completely 


■January  7,  187L] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


547 


within  a  few  hours  without  leaving1  a  trace  of  smell  be¬ 
hind.  The  best  solvent,  however,  I  found  to  he  bisul¬ 
phide  of  carbon.  This  substance  readily  produces  a  con¬ 
centrated  clear  solution  of  wax,  even  without  the  aid  of 
heat,  and  evaporates  so  quickly,  that  wax  paper  pro¬ 
duced  by  its  aid  is  ready  tor  use  within  a  few  minutes 
after  being1  impregnated.  The  latter  manipulation 
•should  be  performed  quickly  and  on  both  sides  by  means 
of  a  soft  sponge.  This  solution  will  be  found  especially 
adapted  for  coating  gypsum  statuettes  and  other  similar 
work.  .  It  may  also  be  used  for  closing  up  small  cracks 
in  furniture  prior  to  being  varnished  or  painted,  as  also 
for  bedsteads  to  exclude  bed-bugs.  For  the  former  pur¬ 
pose  it  may  be  coloured  to  harmonize  with  the  furniture. 
The  use  of  this  “  Wax-Varnish  ”  will  be  found  very  con- 
venient,  especially  during  the  summer  months,  when  gas 
stoves  and  charcoal  furnaces  are  in  general  use,  which 
will  not  produce  the  uniform  heat  over  a  large  surface 
dhat  is  necessary  to  make  good  wax  paper  according  to 
idle  usual  plan. — Hermann  Koch ,  in  Druggists'  Circular. 

Test  for  Chloric  Acid,  by  M.  R.  Boettger. — 

Three  years  ago  M.  Braun  described  an  extremely  deli¬ 
cate  test  for  nitrates  and  nitric  acid  ;  it  depended  upon 
the  intense  red  coloration  produced  by  these  bodies 
upon  sulphate  of  aniline  dissolved  in  sulphuric  acid.  M. 
Boettger  suggests  the  same  reaction  for  the  detection  of 
chloric  acid  and  the  chlorates.  The  smallest  possible 
trace  of  a  chlorate  introduced  into  the  solution  of  sulphate 
of  aniline  in  sulphuric  acid  will  dcvelope  almost  instan¬ 
taneously  a  blue  colour  throughout  the  mass. — Journ.  cle 
Pharmacie  et  de  Cliimie. 


Flavour  for  Chloral  Hydrate.- — -A  correspondent 
•of  the  New  York  Druggists'  Circular  says  that  the  taste 
of  chloral  hydrate  may  be  successfully  disguised  by  the 
.addition  to  a  solution  of  the  chloral  of  a  little  simple 
syrup  and  a  few  drops  of  oil  of  sassafras. 

Tin-lined  'Water  Pipes. — In  an  article  upon  the 
subject  of  the  poisoning  of  water  by  pipes  used  for  do¬ 
mestic  purposes,  the  Boston  Journal  of  Chemistrg  warns 
its  readers  against  the  tin-lined  pipes  lately  introduced, 
which  it  asserts  are  dangerous  because  (1)  tin  by  itself 
is  often  more  readily  attacked  and  dissolved  by  water 
than  is  lead  ;  (2)  where  there  is  water  contact  between 
lead  and  tin,  both  metals  are  dissolved  with  increased 
rapidity.  It  adds  that  galvanized  pipe  is  just  as  dan¬ 
gerous,  for  in  this  case  salts  of  zinc  are  formed  and 
gradually  dissolved. — Food  Journal. 

Poisoning  by  a  Disinfectant. — A  fatal  mistake 
occurred  on  Monday,  December  26,  at  Winchmore  Hill. 
Mrs.  Gardiner,  of  Edmonton,  having  called  to  see  her 
.•sister,  Mrs.  Eaton,  whose  family  had  been  suffering  from 
•small-pox,  was  invited  to  partake  of  a  glass  of  rum. 
After  drinking  a  small  quantity  she  complained  of  the 
taste,  saying  that  it  was  very  hot.  Her  sister  then  tried 
-a  little  diluted  with  water.  Shortly  afterwards  both 
ladies  were  taken  seriously  ill,  when  it  was  found  that 
instead  of  rum,  they  had  been  drinking  a  disinfecting 
fluid  kept  in  the  house  by  order  of  the  doctor.  Mrs. 
Gardiner  lived  only  a  few  hours,  and  her  sister  lies  in  a 
very  dangerous  state. — Standard. 


Poisoning  by  Tincture  of  Squills.' — A  case  of 
poisoning  has  occurred  at  Penzance,  the  particulars  of 
which  are  as  follows : — The  wife  of  a  miner  being  ill  a 
messenger  was  sent  to  Mr.  Chenhalls’  surgery  for  some 
medicine.  While  preparing  it,  Mr.  Chenhalls  found  he 
had  not  sufficient  tincture  of  squills.  He  therefore 
.asked  the  messenger,  who  is  rather  deaf,  to  take  a  bottle 
to  a  chemist’s  and  have  it  filled  for  him.  Instead,  how- 
•cver,  of  returning  with  the  filled  bottle  to  Mr.  Chenhalls, 
•the  messenger  gave  it  to  the  patient’s  little  boy,  re¬ 
questing  him  to  tell  his  mother  to  take  the  same  quantity 
•as  before.  The  patient  did  so,  drinking  nearly  an  ounce 
of  the  tincture.  Mr.  Chenhalls,  finding  the  messenger 
did  not  return,  acted  promptly  when  he  discovered  the 
mistake,  but  nothing  could  prevent  death. — limes. 


^  Botanizing  in  Honolulu. — A  correspondent  in 
Honolulu,  after  making  a  botanical  tour  in  the  Ivaala 
range,  writes,  “  Botanizing  on  this  island  is  not  without 
considerable  danger.  Only  imagine  descending  a  steep 
decline  of  70°,  which  had  to  be  done  chiefly  by  swinging 
from  the  roots  of  one  tree  to  the  branches  of  the  next  one 
below,  and  that  at  the  height  of  2000  feet  above  the  deep 
gorge  beneath  our  feet.”  Nature,  however,  seems  in  all 
cases  to  provide  a  reward  for  her  admirers  who  volun¬ 
tarily  expose  themselves  to  such  dangers  for  the  purpose 
of  bringing  to  the  eye  of  science  her  numerous  hidden 
beauties,  for  the  writer  continues  to  say,  ho  was  not  a 
little  surprised  by  the  discovery  of  a  violet  with  splendid 
snow-white  waxy  flowers,  some  of  which  were  almost 
half  an  inch  in  diameter  and  exquisitely  perfumed.  He 
considers  it  probably  a  variety  of  Yiola  Chamissoniana , 
which  ho  found  in  its  ordinary  state  lower  down  in  the 
forest ;  but  the  pure  white  flowers,  stretching  out  their 
long  peduncles  above  the  surrounding  low  undergrowth 
and  luxuriating  in  the  full  sunshine  of  an  azure  blue 
sky,  far  exceed  in  beauty  those  of  V.  Chamissoniana , 
which  are  of  the  ordinary  violet  colour. — Nature. 

Poisoning  by  Mistake. — An  inquest  was  held  on 
Monday,  January  2,  in  Bell  Street,  Edgeware  Road,  upon 
the  body  of  a  child  two  days  old,  to  whom  a  dose  of 
laudanum  had  been  given  by  the  nurse  in  mistake  for 
castor  oil.  As  soon  as  the  error  v/as  discovered,  medical 
assistance  was  obtained,  but  the  child  died  twelve  hours 
afterwards.  A  verdict  of  death  from  misadventure  was 
returned. — Standard. 


THE  SALE  OF  POISONS  IN  CANADA. 

At  the  Toronto  Police  Court,  on  Friday,  November 
2o,  twenty-five  druggists  were  charged  with  having  sold 
poison  contrary  to  the  law.  The  Canadian  Pharmaceu- 
tical  Journal  has  the  following  editorial  remarks  con¬ 
cerning  this  prosecution  :  — 

“  Many  of  our  readers  will,  by  this  time,  have  learned 
of  the  recent  prosecution  of  a  number  of  our  city  drug¬ 
gists  for  alleged  infraction  of  the  law  regarding  the  sale 
of  poisons.  The  case  is  one  of  considerable  interest  t© 
all  classes  of  the  community,  and  to  druggists  especially 
so.  Nor  is  this  interest  of  a  purely  local  nature,  inas¬ 
much  as  the  statute  relates  to  all  parts  of  the  province, 
and  should  the  decision,  which  is  now  pending,  be 
rendei'ed  in  favour  of  the  prosecution,  it  is  probable  that 
druggists  in  other  cities  and  towns  would  soon  have  to 
suffer  a  like  humiliation  with  their  Toronto  brethren,  by 
becoming  a  prey  to  the  treachery  of  that  most  despicable 
of  creatures, — a  common  informer. 

“  Some  time  during  the  middle  of  last  month,  the  noto¬ 
rious  informer,  Mason,  accompanied  by  one  of  his  satel¬ 
lites,  made  a  circuit  of  the  drug  stores  of  the  city,  and 
from  twenty-five  of  these  establishments  succeeded  in 
obtaining,  by  virtue  of  various  artful  misrepresentations, 
quantities  of  laudanum  varying  from  forty  minims  to  an 
ounce.  Information  was  at  once  lodged  with  the  police 
magistrate,  and  the  offenders  were,  in  due  course,  brought 
before  that  functionary.  As  the  information  was  in  all 
cases  the  same,  it  was  proposed  to  try  one  as  a  test, 
which  was  accordingly  done.  From  the  evidence  of  the 
informer,  it  appears  that  the  laudanum  was  procured 
with  considerable  difficulty,  and  it  was  not  until  the  pur¬ 
chaser  gave  full  particulars  as  to  the  purpose  for  which 
he  wanted  it,  urging,  as  a  reason,  that  his  rest  had  for 
several  nights  been  broken,  that  the  druggist  consented 
to  let  him  have  the  quantity  required, — a  little  over  half 
an  ounce.  The  question  arose  as  to  whether  laudanum 
came  within  the  meaning  of  the  statute  in  being  ‘a 
deadly  poison.’  A  number  of  witnesses,  including  Pro¬ 
fessor  Croft  and  Dr.  Lizars,  were  examined,  but  all  agreed 
in  their  testimony  that  laudanum  could  not  be  so  regarded, 
and  could  not,  with  propriety,  be  classed  in  the  same 
category  with  arsenic,  corrosive  sublimate  and  strychnia. 
The  case  was  remanded  from,  day  to  day,  but  nothing 


STS 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[January  7, 187L 


contradictory  to  this  tv  as  elicited.  The  magistrate  de¬ 
clined  giving- judgment  when  the  evidence  was  concluded, 
and  although  nearly  three  weeks  have  elapsed,  the  de¬ 
cision  has  not  yet  been  rendered. 

“  It  is  not  for  us  to  say  what  the  end  of  the  case  may 
"be,  hut  from  the  evidence  taken,  we  certainly  think  that  the 
point  upon  which  the  case  appears  to  turn  is  clearly 
made  out,  and  that  laudanum  cannot  he  considered  a 
deadly  poison,  in  the  same  light  with  poisons  such  as 
strychnia  and  arsenic.  That  the  intent  of  the  law  is  to 
include  poisons  such  as  these,  and  these  only,  will  he  ap¬ 
parent  from  a  consideration  of  the  following  quotation 
from  the  Act  in  question : — 

“  ‘  No  apothecary,  chemist,  druggist,  vendor  of  me¬ 
dicine  or  other  person  shall  sell  or  deliver  any  arsenic, 
corrosive  sublimate,  strychnine,  or  other  poison,  mineral 
or  vegetable,  simple  or  composite,  commonly  known  as  a 
deadly  poison  (or  which  being-  incautiously  or  secretly 
administered  may  cause  immediate  death),  (o  any  person 
who  does  not  then  produce  and  deliver  a  certificate  or 
note  from  some  person  duly  licensed  to  practise  as  a 
physician  or  surgeon,  or  some  priest  or  minister  of  re¬ 
ligion,  resident  in  the  locality,  addressed  to  such  drug¬ 
gist,  etc.,  and  mentioning  the  name,  calling,  or  profes¬ 
sion  of  the  person  requiring  such  poison ;  and  stating 
the  put-pose  for  which  it  is  required,  and  that  it  ought  to 
he  sold  to  the  persons  requiring  the  same ;  and  such  cer¬ 
tificate  or  note  shall  he  kept  hy  the  persons  selling 
or  delivering  such  poison  as  his  justification  for  so 
doing.’ 

“  What  is  a  deadly  poison  ?  This  is  a  question  some¬ 
what  difficult  to  answer.  It  is  true  we  might  give  a 
general  definition  of  the  term,  which  might  convey  its 
commonly  understood  acceptance,  hut  this  definition 
might  ho  widely  incorrect.  Happily,  in  this  difficulty, 
the  framers  of  the  statute  have  plainly  indicated  what 
they,  at  least,  understood  hy  the  term ;  that  is — a  poi¬ 
son  ‘  which  being-  incautiously  or  secretly  administered 
may  cause  immediate  death.’  Certainly  laudanum  can¬ 
not  come  under  this  designation,  for  we  know  that  ‘  im¬ 
mediate  death’  has  never  been  known  to  result  from  its 
use,  even  in  the  most  enormous  quantities,  and  in  all 
cases  a  sufficient  time  elapses  for  the  exhibition  of  the 
proper  remedies.  Some  persons  have  endeavoured  to 
assign  a  wider  and  more  general  meaning  to  the  term  as 
used  in  the  Act.  Thus,  an  erudite  correspondent  of  the 
Globe  informs  the  readers  of  that  paper  that  a  deadly 
poison  is  one  ‘that  will  kill,’  £  or  produce  death  in  man.’ 
A  moment’s  reflection  shows  this  to  he  erroneous,  hut, 
assuming  it  to  he  correct,  we  might  find  hundreds  of  ar¬ 
ticles  in  a  druggist’s  stock  which  might  he  classed  under 
the  term.  The  mere  enumeration  of  these  would  he 
sufficient  to  show  their  character,  hut  let  us  go  to  fields 
less  promising  and  find  what  the  grocer  does  in  the 
‘  deadly  poison’  line.  Take  one  of  the  commoner  arti¬ 
cles  saltpetre — we  find  that  in  doses  of  one  ounce  it  will 
prove  fatal,  and  instances  of  such  a  termination  have 
been  recorded  (Wood  and  Bache)  ;  cream  of  tartar,  four 
or  five  teaspoonfuls  have  been  found  a  fatal  dose  for  an 
adult  (Taylor’s  •  Medical  Jurisprudence’) ;  essence  of 
ratafia,  a  teaspoonful  is  a  fatal  dose, — a  case  of  poisoning 
hy  this  quantity  is  reported  in  the  Lancet  in  1841  ;  cay¬ 
enne  pepper,  one  ounce  of  which  would  cause  death  as 
certainly  as  a  like  quantity  of  laudanum.  We  might 
enumerate  a  number  of  similar  instances,  or  might  allude 
to  alcoholic  liquors  which  are,  as  a  rule,  comparatively 
slow  in  their  action,  but  nevertheless  remarkably  sure  ; 
hut  think  we  have  adduced  sufficient  to  show  that  if  a 
deadly  poison  is  one  which  will  produce  death  in  man, 
and  that  such  is  the  meaning  of  the  term  as  used  in  the 
Act,  the  informer  Mason  need  not  in  future  confine  his 
attention  exclusively  to  druggists. 

“  We  d°  n<>t,  at  present,  intend  to  pursue  this  subject 
further,  hut  shall  postpone  our  remarks  until  a  legal  de¬ 
cision  has  been  given.  In  the  meantime,  we  do  not  wish 
it  to  he  understood  that  we  treat  the  matter  of  the  sale 


of  poisons,  with  undue  laxity ;  we  hold  to  quite  the  con¬ 
trary,  and  think  that  every  legal  obligation  compatible 
with  the  lawful  use  of  dangerous  substances,  should  he 
laid  down  and  enforced  with  the  utmost  rigour,  hut  we 
believe  that  the  present  law  is  altogether  insufficient  for 
tho  purpose  -for  which  it  was  intended,  as  demonstrated 
by  the  fact  that  for  over  ten  years  it  has  remained  a  dead 
letter  on  our  statute  hooks,  and  Avhen  it  is  ultimately  re¬ 
vived,  it  is  only  for  the  purpose  of  extorting  money  from 
oy.o  of  the  most  respectable  classes  of  the  community, 
and  placing  it  in  the  hands  of  one  whose  very  avocation 
is  a  by-word  and  a  disgrace. 

“  The  most  impracticable  and  pernicious  feature  of  the 
present  law  is  that  of  requiring  a  physician  or  minister’s, 
certificate  as  authority  for  the  sale  of  poison  (let  the  ren¬ 
dering-  of  the  word  he  what  it  may).  On  this  subject 
one  of  the  Globe  s  correspondents  very  sensibly  remarks, 

‘  Is  a  doctor  or  a  minister  any  belter  qualified  than  a 
druggist  to  determine  the  uses  to  which  a  person  may 
apply  poison  after  having  purchased  it  P  Or,  do  they 
keep  any  record  of  the  name,  occupation,  residence,  etc., 
of  those  to  whom  they  grant  these  certificates  P  I  be¬ 
lieve  the  answer— No  !  will  apply  to  both  these  ques¬ 
tions.  And  I  also  believe  that  there  is  no  druggist  in 
the  dominion  who  would  knowingly  and  willingly  contra¬ 
vene  the  law  as  it  now  exists,  if  he  could  avoid  it.  But 
the  thing  is  impossible  !  There  is  scarcely  any  article  in 
the  whole  Pharmacopoeia  which  can  strictly  bo  termed 
“innocuous,”  and  one-half  of  the  stock  usually  found  on 
the  shelves  of  a  drug-store  might  easily  be  termed  “  poi¬ 
sons.”  So  that  keeping  to  the  precise  letter  of  the  law, 
a  druggist  would  be  compelled  to  give  up  his  business, 
and  say  with  the  Moor,/4  Othello’s  occupation’s  gone,”  or 
by  infringing  it,  as  in  the  instance  now  on  trial,  place- 
himself  at  the  mercy  of  any  one  who  through  spite  or 
impeeuniosity  may  see  fit  to  visit  him  with  the  terrors  of 
the  law.’ 

“  The  druggist  is  the  party  with  whom  the  responsi¬ 
bility  of  the  sale  of  poisons  should  rest.  The  nature  of' 
his  calling  presupposes  an  intimate  knowledge  of  their 
properties  and  uses ;  of  these  matters  he  is  certainly  a 
better  judge  than  the  priest  or  minister.  His  standing 
in  the  community  is,  as  far  as  morality  is  concerned,  as- 
high  as  any.  Care  and  watchfulness  form  an  essential 
part  of  his  education,  and,  in  this  respect,  he  is  not  a 
whit  behind  the  physician.  We  are  not  unduly  sound¬ 
ing  the  praises  of  the  class  we  represent,  for  we  find  that 
others  entertain  an  equally  high  estimate  of  the  character 
of  the  profession.  On  this  subject  a  city  contemporary 
editorially  remarks :  ‘  As  a  rule  the  educated  druggist  is 
one  of  the  most  careful  of  traders.  A  high  sense  of  re- 
sponsibdity  governs  his  proceedings,  whether  dispensing 
or  retailing  his  goods.  Not  a  few  of  them  can  point  to 
occasions  on  which  even  the  physician’s  prescription  has- 
been  corrected,  and  a  catastrophe  arising  from  a  slip  of 
the  M.  D.’s  pen,  avoided  by  the  watchfulness  and  intel¬ 
ligence  of  the  dispenser.’  Let  the  druggist  be  allowed 
to  use  his  own  discretion  in  regard  to  the  sale  of  poisons, 
and  in  thus  assuming  the  guardianship  of  the  public 
safety,  we  are  sure  that  the  welfare  of  the  community 
will  not  suffer. 

“In  speaking  to  druggists  it  is  needless  for  us  to  re¬ 
mark  that  the  passing  of  the  proposed  Pharmacy  Act, 
as  amended  at  the  last  sitting  of  the  Legislature,  would 
prove  an  effectual  remedy  for  the  evils  and  inconveni¬ 
ences  with  which  both  druggist  and  j^eople  are  now  ha¬ 
rassed.  It  would  ensure  adequate  qualification  on  the 
part  of  those  engaged  in  selling  poisons,  and  at  the  same 
time  guarantee  all  that  the  law  can  ask  in  regard  to  their 
sale.  We  hope  that  druggists,  as  well  as  lovers  of  good 
order,  will  do  all  in  their  power  to  promote  the  passing 
of  this  measure,  by  representing  to  members  of  the 
House,  with  whom  they  may  have  influence,  the  truo 
state  of  affairs  and  the  great  necessity  for  putting  this, 
vexed  question  of  poisons  on  a  just  and  solid  basis.” 


January  7,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


510 


SATURDAY,  JANUARY  7,  1871. 


Communications  for  this  Journal ,  and  books  for  review ,  etc., 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editou,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

Instructions  from  Members  and  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Buem- 
kidge,  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  7 V. C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Ch lrchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W.  Envelopes  endorsed  “  I'harm.  Jo  urn.” 


THE  OPENING  YEAR. 

Though  the  present  number  is  neither  the  com¬ 
mencement  nor  the  conclusion  of  a  volume,  the  fact 
of  its  being  the  first  to  appear  this  year  will,  we 
hope,  be  received  as  a  sufficient  excuse  for  a  brief 
allusion  to  some  of  those  points  of  pharmaceutical 
interest  which  may  be  expected  to  constitute  for  us 
characteristic  features  of  the  year  now  opening. 

First,  in  regard  to  the  general  organization  of 
pharmacy,  as  a  business  in  which  the  interests  of 
the  public  demand  above  all  things  certified  compe¬ 
tence  in  those  who  practise  it,  we  may  expect  that 
measures  will  be  taken  to  secure  for  Ireland  the 
same  advantages  as  we  now  enjoy  in  other  parts  of 
the  United  Kingdom. 

In  the  matter  of  education,  which  is  now  engaging 
the  earnest  attention  of  all  classes  of  the  community, 
we  may  expect  that  pharmacists  will  be  no  excep¬ 
tion  ;  but  that  the  means  by  which  rising  members 
of  the  trade  may  acquire  that  thorough  knowledge 
■of  chemistry,  botany  and  the  materia  medica,  which 
is  as  essential  to  an  accomplished  pharmacist  as  the 
practical  training  gained  during  apprenticeship, 
may  be  developed  and  made  still  more  generally 
accessible  than  they  are  at  present. 

Within  the  year  now  opening  we  may  also  expect 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society  to  take  an  important 
step  in  reference  to  the  storing  of  poisons,  by  deciding 
whether  or  not  it  will  prescribe  regulations  for  that 
purpose.  In  this  respect  the  forthcoming  Annual 
Meeting  of  the  Society  will  probably  be  one  of 
•unusual  interest. 

The  alteration  of  the  laws  relating  to  patent 
medicine  stamps  and  licences,  will  probably  be  dealt 
with  during  this  year. 

Among  the  prominent  events  of  the  year,  the 
second  meeting  of  the  Conference,  north  of  the 
Tweed,  must  not  be  forgotten,  and  while  the  fact 
that  it  is  to  be  in  Edinburgh  will  be  an  earnest  of  its 
brilliancy  to  all  who  know  Scotland,  it  will  be  espe¬ 
cially  so  to  all  who  remember  the  success  of  the 
meeting  at  Dundee. 

Last,  but  not  least,  we  may  be  permitted  to  hope 
that  within  the  present  year  an}”  question  which 
may  remain  as  to  the  desirability  of  altering  this 


Journal  from  a  monthly  to  a  weekly  issue  may  be 
disposed  of.  We  ivill  also  take  this  opportunity  of 
addressing  ourselves  to  all  who  are  interested  in  the 
success  of  this  Journal,  as  the  property  of  the  Society 
and  the  organ  of  its  Council,  to  solicit  from  them 
such  individual  assistance  as  they  can  afford,  with 
the  object  of  rendering  it  a  worthy  representative  of 
British  pharmacy.  There  are  probably  few,  if  any 
journals  connected  with  pharmacy  which  enjoy  such 
advantages  as  this  one,  but  we  are  inclined  to  believe 
that  its  general  character  no  less  than  its  utility 
might  still  be  largely  enhanced  by  the  freer  co¬ 
operation  of  those  practically  engaged  in  the  busi¬ 
ness  of  pharmacy  throughout  the  country. 

We  desire  to  return  hearty  thanks  to  those  who 
have  spontaneously  come  forward  and  given  their 
help  by  contributing  information,  news  and  com¬ 
ments  on  matters  of  interest  to  the  trade.  AYe  hope 
such  contributions  will  still  continue,  and  that  they 
will  become  more  general  under  the  conviction  that 
they  may  tend  to  the  good  of  the  entire  body. 

Nor  must  we  forget  to  thank  some  grumblers  who 
have  favoured  us  with  complaints  which  we  have 
found  both  useful  and  beneficial  in  their  influence, 
for  we  fully  recognize  the  obligation  of  making  this 
J ournal  generally  acceptable  and  interesting,  while 
at  the  same  time  endeavouring  to  perform  the  duty 
of  elevating  and  leading  opinion  in  all  matters  with 
which  it  is  concerned. 

In  conclusion,  therefore,  we  ask  not  only  for  the 
assistance  of  all  who  approve  our  endeavours,  but 
also  for  the  complaints  of  those  who  disapprove  or 
are  unsatisfied,  and  if  these  requests  be  responded  to 
as  we  desire  they  may  be,  we  do  not  doubt  that  the 
new  year  will  be  as  prosperous  for  the  Journal  as 
we  hope  it  will  be  for  all  its  readers. 


DISPENSING  CHARGES  AND  ALLIANCES. 

AYe  think  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  would  lose 
influence  if  it  responded  to  the  suggestion  of  corre¬ 
spondents  by  promulgating  a  scale  of  dispensing 
charges.  AYe  by  no  means  underrate  the  import¬ 
ance  of  the  question  of  proper  remuneration,  but 
unless  we  were  prepared  to  advocate  uniformity  of 
price  (which  appears  to  us  eminently  calculated  to 
repress  the  best  kind  of  emulation),  we  must  leave 
the  actual  determination  of  prices  to  the  judgment 
and  good  sense  of  the  parties  concerned. 

Fixed  rates  are  not,  according  to  our  experience, 
adopted  b}r  other  trades,  and  the  difficulty  of  assess¬ 
ing  them  is  increased  by  the  semi-professional  nature 
of  dispensing  operations,  in  wliicli  personal  qualifi¬ 
cation  and  reputation  become  positive  elements  of 
market  value.  In  the  professions  there  is  still 
greater  elasticity,  and  we  see  that  one  barrister  will 
demand  a  hundred  guineas  for  services  which  an¬ 
other  would  willingly  render  for  ten,  without  conclud¬ 
ing  that  the  first  is  extortionate  or  the  other  unpro¬ 
fessional.  If  we  offer  any  advice  at  all  upon  this 


550 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[January  7,  1S'\ 


tender  topic,  it  will  be  to  recommend  our  readers  to 
follow  the  barrister’s  example,  to  be  a  little  more 
independent  of  the  conduct  of  others,  and  to  have 
more  confidence  in  right  principles  of  business, 
which  it  should  be  their  object  to  discover  and  to 
practise. 

But  while  we  hold  ourselves  apart  from  the  con¬ 
tentions  of  Mr.  A.  with  his  neighbour  Mr.  B.,  we  are 
thoroughly  cognizant  of  the  points  involved,  viz.  the 
honour  and  credit  as  well  as  the  pecuniary  interests 
of  Pharmacy ;  and  in  promotion  of  these  objects  we 
propose  to  divert  our  readers’  attention  from  a  per¬ 
sonal  to  a  general  discussion  upon  which  an  expres¬ 
sion  of  opinion  may  exercise  some  beneficial  effect : 
— we  have  in  view  the  alliances  more  or  less  overt 
between  members  of  tiro  medical  profession  and 
pharmaceutists. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  specify  the  many  forms 
under  which  Ihese  alliances  exist.  Some  have  re¬ 
cently  been  brought  to  view  in  the  correspondence 
columns  of  this  Journal,  and  have  elicited  the  dis¬ 
approval  of  the  medical  profession  as  well  as  of  our 
own  body.  Whatever  the  precise  character  of  the 
compact  may  be,  the  essential  feature  is  that  the 
doctor  hands  his  patients  over  to  a  particular  che¬ 
mist,  and  in  some  shape  or  other  receives  a  premium 
for  so  doing.  We  will  speak  only  of  the  more 
avowed  and,  to  our  thinking,  the  least  objectionable 
arrangement,  where  the  doctor  is  the  ostensible  pur¬ 
veyor  of  the  medicines,  the  chemist  acting  as  his  dis¬ 
penser  or  agent.  In  these  cases  the  doctor  receives 
the  full  remuneration  for  work  which  he  does  not  do, 
while  the  pharmaceutist  is  preposterously  underpaid 
for  the  work  which  he  does, — only  receiving,  in  fact, 
about  half  the  remuneration  to  which  he  is  fairly 
entitled  for  his  services. 

What  then  is  the  operation  of  arrangements  such 
as  these,  and  how  do  they  affect  the  interests  of 
pharmacy  collectively  and  of  individual  pharma¬ 
ceutists  ?  These  questions  deserve  the  thoughtful 
consideration  of  our  readers.  Obviously  the  effect 
is  to  lessen  the  remuneration  fairly  earned  by  phar¬ 
maceutical  labour,  in  order  that  the  lion’s  share  may 
be  appropriated  by  members  of  the  medical  profes¬ 
sion  to  whom  it  does  not  legitimately  belong,  thus 
realizing  that  interested  dream  of  the  Lancet,  which 
recently  aroused  so  much  pharmaceutical  indig¬ 
nation.  Why  is  it  then  that  pharmaceutists  will 
give  themselves  up  in  detail  to  that  which  they  repu¬ 
diate  in  gross  ?  W e  fear  that  it  is  because  they 
have  not  sufficient  esprit  de  corps  to  refrain  from 
snatching  a  selfish  advantage  at  the  general  ex¬ 
pense.  But  does  it  even  yield  a  selfish  advantage  ? 
M  e  think  not.  Speaking  with  competent  knowledge 
of  the  large  percentage  to  which  the  working  charges 
upon  dispensing  trade  amount,  we  state  our  delibe¬ 
rate  conviction  that  the  customary  prices  of  this  sort 
of  dispensing  do  not  pay ;  and  we  know  that  this  con¬ 
clusion  has  been  arrived  at  by  many  who  have  made 


the  experiment.  But  if  it  does  not  pay  in  itself,  it 
may  be  said  that  it  brings  other  business  which  does 
pay,  and  is  thus  indirectly  advantageous.  Assuming 
it  to  be  so,  we  are  directed  to  the  unfair  operation  of 
the  system  upon  neighbouring  chemists,  who  are 
compelled  to  see  their  own  legitimate  connection 
poached  upon  by  an  occult  competition  against 
which  there  is  no  defence,  and  we  can  imagine  the 
jealousies  which  may  and  do  arise  from  this  cause ; 
for  such  is  the  daily  experience  of  those  who  are 
brought  within  the  baleful  influence  of  these  combi¬ 
nations.  A  Nemesis  does,  however,  attend  them  ;  for 
the  faculty  as  a  body  have  a  reasonable  mistrust  of 
chemists  who  are  too  closely  identified  with  this  or  that 
individual  practitioner.  Of  course  medical  men  re¬ 
commend  those  pharmacies  in  which  they  have  most 
confidence,  and  it  is  quite  right  that  they  should  do 
so.  We  are  no  friends  to  artificial  restrictions,  and 
we  claim  a  reciprocal  freedom  for  our  members  who 
are  often  consulted  as  to  the  skill  and  reputation  of 
professional  men.  Provided  that  no  self-interest  un¬ 
derlies  these  recommendations,  the  public  is  bene¬ 
fited,  and  no  one  has  any  just  ground  of  complaint. 
Nor  would  we  interfere  with  medical  men  who  dis¬ 
pense  their  own  medicines,  which  is  often  a  matter 
of  necessity  to  meet  the  circumstances  of  a  scattered 
population.  We  do  not  expect  that  the  practice  of 
dispensing  will  be  altogether  given  up  by  the  medical 
profession ;  but  in  the  interest  of  pharmacy  we  de¬ 
sire  to  see  it  reduced  to  its  minimum,  and  we  think 
that  considerable  diminution  might  take  place  with¬ 
out  inconvenience  to  the  profession  or  to  the  public. 
Unfortunately  pharmaceutists  have  lent  themselves 
to  the  perpetuation  of  the  custom  by  these  very  al¬ 
liances  of  which  we  have  spoken,  and  by  means  of 
which  they  preserve  the  whole  profit  of  the  business 
to  the  doctor,  who,  being  anxious  to  relieve  himself 
from  this  irksome  duty,  would  otherwise  probably 
abandon  it  altogether. 

We  are  aware  that  in  the  foregoing  remarks  we 
have  only  reproduced  facts  already  familiarly  known 
to  our  readers.  It  has  not  been  our  object  to  ad¬ 
vance  anything  new,  but  to  invite  serious  reflection 
upon  an  old  abuse,  and  we  trust  that  a  laudable 
esprit  de  corps  will  bring  such  influence  to  bear  upon 
this  really  important  subject  as  will  serve  (not  sud¬ 
denly  but  surety)  to  put  an  end  to  a  custom  which  is 
injurious  to  pharmacy,  unjust  to  pharmaceutists  and 
a  fruitful  source  of  misunderstanding  and  jealousy. 


The  programme  of  the  London  Chemists’  Associa¬ 
tion  for  the  next  three  months  includes  papers  on 
the  following  subjects : — “  The  Preservation  of  Vege¬ 
table  Substances,”  by  Mr.  E.  Beyxox  ;  “  Belladonna 
and  its  preparations,”  by  Mr.  B.  Pick;  “Filtra¬ 
tion,”  by  Mr.  De  Putron  ;  “  Structural  Botany,”  by 
Mr.  J.  H.  Jessop;  and  “Phosphoric  Acid,”  by  Mr. 
G.  Brownen.  The  Annual  Dinner  will  take  place 
on  Thui  sday  next. 


January  7, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


551 


fmeAings  jof  tin  f  Ijarimtmitical  Sflcicto- 

PHAllMACE UTICAL  MEETING. 

Wednesday ,  January  4th,  1871. 

MR.  HASELDEN,  VICE-PRESIDENT,  IN  THE  CHAIR. 

The  Secretary  read  the  following  list  of  Donations 
to  the  Library  and  Museum : — 

Liebig’s  Familiar  Letters  on  Chemistry,  fourth  edi¬ 
tion  :  from  Mr.  Daniel  Hanbury, — On  Santonin  and  its 
Detection  in  the  Urine  :  from  Walter  G.  Smith,  M.B., — 
An  Address  on  certain  aspects  of  Medical  Reform  :  from 
Mr.  John  Jaap, — Journal  of  the  London  Institution, 
first  number :  from  the  Institution, — Large  specimen  of 
Arsenious  Acid,  manufactured  by  Messrs.  Drayton  and 
Co.,  of  Cornwall ;  also,  Two  Leaden  Bullets  found  in  a 
sample  of  Turkey  opium:  presented  by  Mr.  Slater,  of 
Romsey, — Specimen  of  the  bark  of  Cinchona  Pahudiana 
grown  in  the  Darjeeling  Plantations,  India,  and  offered 
for  sale  in  London  :  presented  by  Mr.  J.  E.  Howard, — 
Specimens  of  a  large  parcel  of  hark  obtained  from  Cin¬ 
chona  succirubra  and  ojficinalis  grown  in  Ceylon  and 
offered  for  sale  in  London :  presented  by  Messrs.  Jen¬ 
kins  and  Phillips,  Lime  Street,  City, — Specimens  of 
Pakoe  hi  dang ,  being  the  hairy  stipes  of  Ahophila  lurida 
of  Hasskarl  from  Java :  presented  by  Mr.  Hanbury. 

Professor  Atteield  drew  attention  to  a  large  pho¬ 
tograph  of  the  members  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical 
Association,  which  met  last  year  at  Chicago,  a  copy  of 
which  had  also  been  presented  to  the  British  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Conference.  It  was  sent  by  Mr.  Ebert,  with 
the  greeting  of  the  Chicago  College  of  Pharmacy. 

Mr.  Howden  remarked,  with  reference  to  the  photo¬ 
graph  sent  by  Mr.  Ebert,  that  one  of  the  leading  phar¬ 
macists  in  Chicago,  Mr.  Buck,  was  an  Englishman,  a 
native  of  Rochester,  and  a  member  by  examination  of 
the  Society. 

Mr.  IIanrury,  referring  to  the  specimens  of  Pahoe 
Tcidang ,  said  they  were  the  stipes  of  a  large  species  of 
fern,  covered  with  peculiar  golden-brown  hairs  that 
formed  a  very  pretty  object  under  the  microscope.  This 
hairy  substance  was  extensively  used  in  Java  and  the 
adjacent  parts  as  a  mechanical  styptic,  but  he  was  not 
aware  that  the  plant  possessed  any  active  medicinal  pro¬ 
perties. 


Pharmacy  in  America. — Adjourned  Piscussion. 

Mr.  Howden  said  there  were  one  or  two  points  of 
detail,  with  reference  to  pharmacy  in  America,  to  which 
he  might  allude  as  an  introduction  to  the  evening’s 
discussion.  First,  he  would  mention  a  very  ingenious 
and  pretty  device,  in  common  use  in  the  States,  for 
washing  soda-water  tumblers,  which,  owing  to  the  short¬ 
ness  of  the  hot  season  in  England,  might  not  be  worth 
while  to  introduce  here,  but  would  doubtless  find  its 
way  into  Continental  cities  and  warm  latitudes.  On 
almost  every  soda-water  counter  in  America  was  to  be 
seen  a  silver  or  plated  salver,  surrounded  by  perhaps  a 
dozen  inverted  tumblers,  upon  the  inside  of  each  of 
which  played  a  jet  of  water,  so  arranged  as  to  strike  the 
inside  of  the  glass  obliquely,  and  so  communicate  to  it  a 
rotary  motion,  it  being  balanced  on  the  centre.  The 
weight  of  the  tumbler  acts  on  the  stopcock  through 
which  the  jet  flows,  so  that  on  the  removal  of  the  glass 
there  is  no  escape.  Another  curious  thing  to  an  English¬ 
man,  in  connection  with  pharmacy  in  America,  was  that 
no  coin  of  any  kind  ever  passed  over  the  counter,  pay¬ 
ment  for  everything  being  made  in  bank-notes  or  green¬ 
backs.  ‘ 

When  visiting  the  College  of  Pharmacy  in  Philadel¬ 
phia,  he  heard  a  very  interesting  lecture  from  Professor 
Parish,  the  subject  being  “  Specific  Gravities.”  The 
lecturer  particularly  impressed  upon  the  students  the 


importance  of  taking  proper  precautions  in  ascertain¬ 
ing  specific  gravities, — the  fact  being  that  it  is  custo¬ 
mary  for  physicians  to  request  pharmacists  to  perform 
analyses  of  the  urine  of  patients  suffering  from  diabetes 
and  similar  diseases,  proper  fees  of  course  being  charged. 
Professor  Parish  also  called  his  attention  ik>  a  drug" 
extensively  used  in  America  for  coughs,  etc.,  which 
ho  thought  might  advantageously  be  introduced  inb> 
English  medicine,  viz.  Wild  Cherry  Bark,  or  Prumis 
Ytrginiana.  It  was  used  in  the  form  of  a  syrup,  many 
hundred  gallons  being  consumed,  and  its  advantages- 
were  that  it  combined  the  properties  of  a  pectoral  and 
tonic  medicine.  He  also  called  his  attention  to  syrup  of 
ipecacuanha  made  by  treating  the  powder  with  spirits  of 
wine,  distilling  off  the  superfluous  alcohol  until  the- 
residue  became  thick,  then  adding  acetic  acid  and  water, 
boiling,  and  adding  sugar  to  the  liquor  when  cool.  This- 
was  recommended  as  superior  to  ipecacuanha  wine. 
With  reference  to  the  subject  of  specific  gravities,  it- 
had  occurred  to  him  that,  whereas  the  specific  gravities- 
of  all  the  preparations  in  the  Pharmacopoeia  were  given 
at  a  temperature  of  60°,  it  would  be  very  difficult  to  test 
them  in  that  way  in  many  parts  of  the  world.  No 
doubt  60°  was  a  very  convenient  standard  in  England, 
but  now  that  the  art  of  pharmacy  was  extending  all 
over  the  world,  it  must  be  remembered  that  many  of 
their  brethren  were  placed  under  great  disadvantages  in 
that  respect,  as  he  had  had  opportunities  of  noticing  in 
America.  In  many  cities  there  the  temperature  was 
never  below  90°  in  the  summer;  while  at  a  place- 
called  Minniapolis,  to  which  it  was  usual  to  send  pa¬ 
tients  afflicted  with  phthisis,  the  thermometer  during 
the  winter  often  stood  as  low  as  4f5°  below  zero,  the- 
mercury  freezing  in  the  bulb.  Now  there  was  a 
growing  practice  in  the  States  of  bvy’.ng  drugs  not 
from  wholesale  dealers,  but  from  a  class  of  men  who 
might  be  called  brokers,  who  sold  by  sample  and. 
delivered  the  goods  in  small  original  packages  as  im¬ 
ported.  It  was  of  great  importance  to  the  chemists 
that  they  should  be  able  properly  to  test  the  purity  and 
strength  of  the  remedies  thus  furnished  them ;  and, 
therefore,  it  appeared  to  him  that  it  would  be  a  great 
boon  not  only  to  Americans,  but  also  to  chemists  in  the 
colonies  and  various  parts  of  the  world  if  tables  were 
issued  under  the  authority  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society, 
giving  the  specific  gravities  of  the  more  important  articles 
of  the  materia  rnedica  at  temperatures  ranging  from  32°  to 
100°.  Such  tables  might  bo  found  here  and  there,  but 
they  were  incomplete  and  without  authority.  In  con¬ 
clusion,  ho  desired  to  recommend  every  member  of  the- 
Society,  as  far  as  opportunity  allowed,  to  exercise  hospi¬ 
tality  towards  the  large  number  of  strangers  of  their 
own  profession  who  were  constantly  visiting  London. 
He  had  met  with  so  much  kindness  when  travelling' 
through  the  States  that  he  could  not  but  contrast  the 
two  national  characteristics  in  this  respect.  Not  that  an 
Englishman’s  heart  was  not  warm,  but  he  often  did  not 
take  proper  means  to  let  the  heat  radiate.  He  did  not  al¬ 
lude  to  knife-and-fork  hospitality,  but  to  a  readiness  te 
sacrifice  time,  and  take  a  little  trouble  to  show  a  stranger 
those  objects  in  London  which  would  be  most  interest¬ 
ing  to  him,  such  as  Kew  Gardens,  the  Botanic  Gardens,, 
and  their  own  Museum  and  Library.  If  this  were 
carried  out  more  extensively  both  by  the  individual  mem¬ 
bers  and  by  the  Society  itself,  he  believed  it  would  have 
the  effect  of  raising  up  a  number  of  friends  throughout 
the  world  to  remember  the  kindness  which  had  been 
shown  them  throughout  their  lives. 

Professor  Atteield  said  Mr.  Howden  was  perhaps  not 
aware  that  in  nearly  every  London  hospital  a  notice  was 
exhibited  informing  strangers  and  visitors  that  they  were- 
invited  to  inspect  the  arrangements,  and  that  if  they 
would  bo  good  enough  to  make  themselves  known  all 
possible  attention  would  be  offered  them.  In  their  own 
Institution  scarcely  a  week  passed,  and  sometimes  not  a 
day'  in  a  week,  in  which  some  stranger  was  not  shown 


552 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[January  7,  1871. 


everything-  he  desired  to  sec  by  one  of  the  officers.  Per¬ 
haps  as  much  had  not  been  done  as  might  be  in  pointing- 
out  the  objects  of  interest  in  the  metropolis,  but  it 
must  be  remembered  that  London  was  a  largo  city.  It 
might,  however,  be  desirable  that  such  a  notice  as  he 
had  described,  should  be  exhibited  in  the  hall,  so  that 
any  stranger  would  at  once  see  on  entering  that  he  would 
be  welcomed  and  that  every  attention  would  be  afforded. 

Mr.  Caiiteighe  desired  to  know  if  the  figures  given 
in  Mr.  Howden’s  address — as  printed,  with  regard  to 
the  salaries  paid  to  assistants — were  strictly  accurate,  be¬ 
cause,  although  £100  to  £250  as  a  maximum  seemed 
high  compared  to  what  was  paid  in  England,  yet  when 
the  different  circumstances  and  arrangements  were  taken 
into  account,  and  the  enormous  expense  of  rent,  food, 
-etc.,  he  did  not  think  assistants  in  America  had  much  to 
boast  of.  Again,  with  reference  to  the  practice  of  pre¬ 
scribing,  he  had  been  much  pleased  at  learning  that 
every  prescription  went  to  the  druggist,  who  received 
them  by  tens  and  hundreds  daily,  but  since  then  he  had 
seen  in  the  Medical  Times  an  abstract  from  a  paper  road 
before  the  King’s  County  Medical  Society  in  New 
York,  in  which  the  author  complained  much  in  the  same 
■strain  as  medical  men  did  in  England,  of  the  large 
amount  of  prescribing  done  by  druggists,  at  the  same 
time  acknowledging  that  a  certain  section  of  the  medical 
profession  were  in  the  habit  of  compounding  their  own 
drugs.  He  wished,  therefore,  to  ask  Mr.  Howden 
whether  it  was  not  possible  that  in  his  travels  ho  had  come 
in  contact  only  with  the  elite  of  the  pharmacists  and  of 
the  medical  profession,  and  so  obtained  an  impression 
v-hich  did  not  quite  adequately  represent  the  facts  with 
regard  to  the  majority  of  the  trade. 

Mr.  Howden  said  ho  had  taken  great  pains  to  esta¬ 
blish  the  accuracy  of  his  facts,  from  the  time  ho  entered  the 
States  until  lie  left.  In  every  place  he  visited  he  inquired, 
not  of  one  but  of  several  pharmacists  the  amounts  they 
paid  their  chief  clerks,  and  the  figures  were  those  quoted 
by  Mr.  Carteigho.  As  a  rule,  the  outside  limit  was  £200 
a  year  ;  but  in  Chicago,  and  one  or  two  large  and  wealthy 
■‘cities,  this  sum  might  be  exceeded.  With  reference  to 
the  other  question,  he  had  been  assured  most  emphati¬ 
cally  over  and  over  again,  without  a  dissentient  voice, 
that  pharmacists  had  nothing  to  do  with  dispensing  ;  that 
they  steadily  discountenanced  it.  At  the  same  time  it  was 
admitted  that  there  was  sometimes  a  difficulty  in  pre¬ 
venting  the  younger  men  from  prescribing  for  persons 
wTith  trifling  maladies  ;  but.  as  a  rule,  prescribing  was 
avoided  both  by  principals  and  assistants.  If  done  at  all, 
it  was  practised  by  the  less  prosperous  members  of  the 
trade,  who  carried  on  business  in  obscure  districts,  but 
they  were  not  countenanced  in  so  doing  by  the  more  re¬ 
spectable  members  of  the  profession.  On  the  other 
hand,  some  of  the  less  successful  members  of  the  medical 
profession  encroached  somewhat  upon  pharmacists’  pre¬ 
rogatives,  some  of  them  being  partners  in  drug  stores,  if 
they  did  not  keep  them  themselves.  Still  this  was  done 
on  a  very  small  scale  relatively,  and  generally  in  out¬ 
lying  districts,  where  civilization  had  not  yet  been  tho¬ 
roughly  established. 

Mr.  H anbury  asked  if  he  had  correctly  understood 
that  druggists  were  in  the  habit  of  keeping  original  pre¬ 
scriptions,  furnishing  the  patient  with  a  copy  if  he  re¬ 
quired  it  ?  He  did  not  think  such  a  practice  could  be 
followed  in  this  country. 

Mr.  Howden  said  it  had  been  the  practice  in  America 
from  the  earliest  times  for  the  chemist  to  retain  the  pre¬ 
scription,  but  not  to  furnish  a  copy ;  thus  the  first  per¬ 
son  who  dispensed  a  prescription  retained  a  sort  of  pro¬ 
prietorship  in  it.  This  was  one  of  the  points  on  which 
the  Americans  prided  themselves  on  being  ahead  of  the 
•old  country. 

Professor  Bentley  said  the  thanks  of  the  Society  were 
-due  to  Mr.  Howden  for  the  practical  details  and  interest¬ 
ing  information  lie  had  given  with  regard  to  pharmacy 
in  America.  Nothing  could  be  more  interesting  or  use¬ 


ful  than  for  gentlemen  who  had  travelled  to  come  for¬ 
ward  and  give  the  result  of  their  experience,  and  ho  be¬ 
lieved  that  high  as  Pharmacy  stood  in  this  country,  there 
was  much  to  be  learned  from  other  nations.  He  cor¬ 
dially  concurred  in  the  remarks  which  had  been  made 
with  regard  to  showing  hospitality  to  strangers,  but 
every  one  who  knew  that  Society  would  be  perfectly 
aware  that  immediately  on  entering  the  doors  and  asking 
for  the  Secretary  or  any  of  the  officers,  they  would  at 
once  meet  with  every  courtesy  and  attention.  In  times 
past  the  same  facilities  had  not  been  afforded.  Now,  how¬ 
ever,  the  doors  were  thrown  open,  and  they  expected 
that  every  pharmacist,  froth  whatever  country  lie  came, 
would  walk  in  and  make  himself  as  much  at  home  as 
might  be.  Perhaps,  however,  it  would  bo  well  if  a 
notice  were  inserted  in  the  Journal,  that  visitors  from 
abroad  would  have  the  entree,  and  that  every  facility 
would  be  given  to  pex-sons  desirous  of  information. 
There  was,  no  doubt,  much  to  be  learned  from  America 
in  the  way  of  new  remedies ;  for  instance,  podophyllum 
had  been  in  constant  U30  in  America  long  before  it  was 
introduced  to  this  country,  but  it  wars  now  becoming  ap¬ 
preciated,  and  had  been  included  in  the  Pharmacopoeia. 
The  same  with  regard  to  the  remedy  mentioned  by  Mr. 
Howden,  Trunin  Virr/iniana,  which  was  much  approved 
of  by  those  -who  had  tried  it,  particularly  the  Scotch 
physicians.  He  would  therefore  repeat  a  remark  which 
he  had  often  made  before,  that  it  was  very  desirable  in 
issuing  new  editions  of  the  Pharmacopoeia,  to  follow  the 
plan  adopted  in  America,  and  issue  a  “  secondary  list”  of 
now  remedies  which  had  not  yet  been  experimented  on 
and  thoroughly  approved.  By  this  means  new  remedies 
had  an  opportunity  of  being  tested ;  if  they  were  worth¬ 
less,  they  would  soon  be  thrown  on  one  side ;  if  they 
were  valuable,  they  would  take  their-  places  in  the  regu¬ 
lar  list  in  future.  He  wished  to  know  if  ho  had  corr-ectly 
understood  Mr.  Howden  that  it  was  the  practice  of  phy¬ 
sicians,  when  they  wished  to  test  the  urine  or  any  other 
secretion  of  their  patients,  to  hand  it  over  to  the  phar¬ 
macist  instead  of  doing  it  themselves. 

Mr.  Howden  said  he  inferred  from  the  minute  instruc¬ 
tions  given  to  the  students  that  this  was  the  practice.  It 
must  be  remembered  that  in  America  every  one  whs 
called  a  physician  who  practised  medicine,  many  not 
having  any  diploma  at  all. 

Professor  Bentley  said  he  did  not  think  any  compe¬ 
tent  physician  would  do  as  was  suggested. 

Professor  Attfield  said  that  during  the  past  four  or 
five  years  he  had  had  a  very  large  number  of  applica¬ 
tions  from  different  pharmacists  throughout  the  kingdom 
for  short  directions  which  would  enable  them  to  take 
the  specific  gravity  of  and  otherwise  chemically  test 
urine  for  medical  men,  so  that  it  was  evident  there 
was  demand  in  this  country  for  such  knowledge  on  the 
part  of  chemists.  This  had"  induced  him  to  write  a  short 
article,  which  was  published  in  the  ‘  Chemist’s  Almanac’ 
for  1870,  and  in  his  own  ‘  Manual  of  Chemistry,’  and  to  his 
knowledge  it  had  been  extensively  made  use  of.  It  was 
well  known  that  medical  men  hacl  not  always  the  oppor¬ 
tunities  of  testing  specimens  of  urine,  and  that  it  could 
be  more  quickly  done  by  instructing  the  patient  to  take 
it  to  a  neighbouring  chemist  than  by  themselves  taking 
home  the  specimen  and  testing  it  in  their  own  surgeries. 
With  regard  to  the  temperatures  at  which  specific  gravity 
was  taken,  there  could  be  no  doubt  that  a  table,  such  as 
Mr.  Howden  had  referred  to,  showing  the  specific  gravity 
of  official  articles  at  three  or  four  different  temperatures, 
would  be  very  useful.  Such  data  were  given  with  re¬ 
gard  to  certain  matters  in  several  works  on  chemistry,  and 
if  this  were  carried  out  for  most  of  the  official  articles  it 
would  be  one  of  the  most  useful  tables  that  could  be 
compiled.  This  work  could  be  well  undertaken  by  any 
young  pharmacist  who  was  anxious  to  distinguish  him¬ 
self,  and  it  might  well  form  the  subject  of  a  paper  at  any 
future  meeting.  Similar  work  had  been  done  by  an  as- 
j  sociate  of  that  Society  a  short  time  ago.  He  referred  to 


January  7, 1871.] 


TIIE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


r 

o  *y 


the  table  compiled  by  Mr.,  now  Dr.  Watts,  who  was 
then  an  associate,  which'showcd  the  strength  of  solntions 
of  phosphoric  acid  of  different  specific  gravities,  and  that 
table  had  since  been  introduced  into  nearly  all  the  text¬ 
books  of  chemistry  recently  published. 

Mr.  Howden  said  it  must  be  remembered  taking  spe¬ 
cific  gravity  was  not  entirely  an  intellectual  feat ;  it 
could  not  be  done  by  means  of  any  formula  of  propor¬ 
tion.  A  table  to  bo  useful  throughout  the  world  could 
only  be  arrived  at  by  actual  experiment,  and  frequent 
experiment  on  each  substance,  because  the  capacity  of 
the  bottle  altered  with  the  temperature,  and  no  formula 
could  meet  that. 

Professor  Attfield  said  a  much  greater  difficulty  was 
this,  that  whereas  the  expansion  of  all  gases  for  equal 
increments  or  decrements  of  temperature  was  the  same, 
the  expansion  of  liquids  varied  with  almost  every  sub¬ 
stance,  and  hence  the  experiment  would  have  to  be  per¬ 
formed  with  every  separate  liquid  included  in  the  table. 

The  Chairman  said  he  quite  concurred  with  what  had 
been  said  as  to  the  usefulness  of  such  a  table.  With 
regard  to  hospitality  and  attention  shov/n  to  foreign 
visitors,  he  did  not  think  Mr.  Howden  intended  to  con¬ 
vey  that  there  was  any  lack  on  the  part,  either  of  their 
Society  or  the  public  institutions  in  this  country,  but 
rather  that  sufficient  public  notice  was  not  given  of  their 
desires  in  that  respect.  Last  year  Professor  Soubeiran 
visited  the  institution,  attended  the  examinations  for  an 
hour  or  two,  and  afterwards  visited  the  Conversazione 
at  South  Kensington  Museum ;  and  it  was  constantly 
the  case  during  the  session,  that  they  had  visitors  at¬ 
tending  the  examinations  and  the  other  work  of  the 
institution.  He  thought,  however,  it  might  be  possible 
to  make  it  more  publicly  known  that  visitors  would  be 
welcomed. 


Note  on  Australian  Opium. 

The  Chairman  then  called  upon  Mr.  J.  S.  Ward  to 
read  a  paper  giving  the  results  of  an  examination  of  a 
specimen  of  Australian-grown  opium.  The  paper  will 
be  found  printed  in  extenso  at  p.  543. 

Mr.  Hanbury  said  ho  did  not  quite  catch  whether  the 
juice  which  exuded  after  the  scarification  of  the  capsules 
was  allowed  to  harden  on  them  before  it  was  collected. 
It  would  also  be  interesting  to  know  whether  the  cap¬ 
sules  were  scarified  longitudinally,  or  transversely  as 
was  done  in  Turkey. 

Mr.  Ward  said  he  had  no  information  beyond  that 
contained  in  the  letter  which  he  had  read;  but  as  it 
stated  that  a  person  followed  immediately  after  the  one 
nicking  to  collect  the  drops,  he  should  say  it  was  collected 
when  in  a  soft  state. 

Professor  Bentley  said  on  first  exuding,  the  liquid 
would  be  absolute  juice,  and  would  be,  he  should  ima¬ 
gine,  very  difficult  to  collect. 

The  Chairman  said  the  opium  question  was  very  in¬ 
teresting  just  at  present,  on  account  of  the  high  price  of 
the  article.  No  doubt  there  was  a  large  demand  for  its 
use  on  th  o  Continent,  and  anything  which  would  lead  to 
a  diminution  of  price  would  be  of  great  advantage  to 
every  on  e. 

Mr.  H  owden  said  one  reason  for  the  increase  of  price 
was  to  bo  found  in  the  enormous  consumption  in  the 
United  States,  there  being  one  firm  in  Philadelphia 
alone  which  could  sweep  the  whole  of  the  London  mar¬ 
ket.  With  reference  to  the  cultivation  of  opium  in 
Australia,  it  was  very  mueh  to  bo  desired  that  experi¬ 
ments  on  the  growth  of  plants  in  various  climates  and 
countries  should  be  encouraged,  but  the  results  should 
be  regarded  with  considerable  suspicion  until  the  medi¬ 
cinal  virtues  of  the  product  could  be  accurately  ascer¬ 
tained.  The  climatic  difference  in  the  growth  of  plants 
was  something  enormous,  and  in  some  cases  it  entirely 
altered  the  nature  of  the  production.  For  instance, 
henbane  and  belladonna  produced  very  valuable  reme¬ 
dies  when  grown  in  this  country,  but  in  the  United 


States  the  same  plants  had  no  medicinal  value  whatever. 
The  cereals  were,  of  all  plants  in  the  vegetable  king¬ 
dom,  those  which  boro  transplanting  with  the  least 
injury,  growing  with  wonderful  success  in  all  parts  of 
the  world ;  indeed,  it  is  well  known  that  corn  from 
Dantzic,  the  coast  of  Chili  and  Australia  was  absolutely 
better  than  that  grown  by  the  best  English  farmers. 
But  this,  however,  was  not  the  case  with  many  other 
plants,  and  in  the  matter  of  drugs  careful  experiment 
was  necessary  to  verify  the  results. 

The  Chairman  asked  if  the  consumption  of  opium  had 
increased  rapidly  in  the  United  States,  because  the 
price  had  gone  up  all  at  once,  and,  in  fact,  had  been 
higher  at  one  time  than  it  was  now  ? 

Mr.  Howden  said  large  portions  of  the  interior  of  the 
American  continent  were  perfectly  level,  so  that  you 
could  ride  for  hundreds  of  miles  over  land  as  fiat  as  the 
table.  The  nature  of  the  soil  was  most  prolific,  produc¬ 
ing  most  wonderfully  fine  root-crops  ;  but,  as  might  bo 
expected,  the  drainage  was  indifferent,  and  ho  had  been 
painfully  conscious  of  the  presence  of  sulphuretted  hy¬ 
drogen  gas,  not  in  particular  localities,  but  over  areas 
many  miles  in  extent.  This  naturally  produced  ague 
and  low  forms  of  fever,  and  from  some  occult  reason  it 
was  quite  certain  that  wherever  this  tendency  existed 
the  consumption  of  opium  kept  pace  with  it.  This  was 
seen  in  our  own  eastern  counties,  where  laudanum  and 
opium  were  used  to  a  much  greater  extent  than  in  the 
hilly  districts.  No  doubt  when  these  districts  become 
more  thoroughly  civilized,  and  better  systems  of  drain¬ 
age  were  adopted,  the  consumption  of  opium  might 
decrease. 

Professor  Bentley  said  there  was  really  not  much  in¬ 
formation  in  the  paper  on  the  most  important  point,  viz. 
whether  opium  could  be  profitably  cultivated  in  Aus¬ 
tralia  ?  Even  in  England  it  could  be  produced  sometimes 
of  very  fair  quality,  and  ho  believed  there  were  speci¬ 
mens  in  the  Museum  which  had  been  found  to  contain  10 
per  cent,  or  more  of  morphia.  The  point  was  not  whether 
a  particular  specimen  could  be  produced,  but  whether  on 
the  average  of  summers  there  was  such  an  amount  of 
light  and  heat  as  would  enable  the  cultivator  to  grow  it 
to  commercial  advantage.  The  question  raised  by  Mr. 
Howden  was  one  of  great  interest  and  importance,  viz. 
the  infiuenco  of  climate,  culture  and  soil  on  the  growth 
of  medicinal  plants  ;  and  he  did  not  know  anything  more 
likely  to  yield  useful  results  than  a  series  of  experiments 
on  this  subject ;  but  they  must  be  carried  out  with  the 
greatest  care  and  exactitude.  He  believed  that  much  of 
the  uncertainty  of  the  action  of  medicines,  in  consequence 
of  which  blame  had  sometimes  been  thrown  on  chemists 
in  times  past,  was  due  to  the  difference  in  the  plants 
supplied  to  them.  It  was  well  known  that  a  plant  grown 
in  one  district  would  differ  very  materially  in  its  proper¬ 
ties  from  those  grown  in  another. 

Mr.  Butt  asked  if  the  opium  were  analysed  in  a  dry 
state,  or  when  of  the  usual  consistence  of  Smyrna  opium, 
as  this  would  make  a  considerable  difference  in  the  per¬ 
centage  of  morphia. 

Mr.  Ward  said  he  analysed  it  towards  the  end  of 
August,  when  it  was  quite  soft. 

Mr.  Hardcastle  asked  if  it  had  ever  been  decided 
which  variety  of  the  poppy  was  best  for  opium-producing* 
purposes,  regard  being  had  to  quantity  or  quality  or 
both. 

Professor  Bentley  said  there  were  only  two  main 
varieties  used,  the  white  and  the  black,  and  opinions 
varied  as  to  which  was  the  best.  The  white  was  more 
largely  cultivated  in  some  districts,  but,  as  far  as  he 
knew,  careful  investigators  were  unable  to  find  any  ap¬ 
preciable  difference  between  the  two. 

Mr.  Umney  said  if  the  cultivation  of  the  poppy  could 
bo  carried  on  in  Australia  on  a  large  scale,  a  quarter 
of  an  acre  yielding  14  lb.  of  opium,  it  would  be  a  fine 
speculation,  as  the  land  would  realize  from  £70  to  £80 
per  acre. 


-554 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[January  7.  1&7I- 


Professor  Bentley  said  there  was  the  seed  in  addition, 
which  in  India  paid  all  the  expense  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  Carteighf.  said  he  was  sure  Mr.  Ward  would 
not  go  away  under  the  impression  that  the  criticisms 
passed  upon  his  paper  had  any  personal  hearing-,  since 
they  were  founded  on  the  lack  of  information  furnished 
hy  his  correspondent.  At  the  same  time,  it  could  not  he 
■denied  that  the  paper  lost  much  of  its  value  from  this 
cause,  and  Mr.  Ward  would  he  doing-  good  service  if  he 
would  obtain  from  Mr.  Francis  further  details,  which  no 
doubt  that  gentleman  would  be  happy  to  furnish. 

The  Chairman’  announced  that  on  February  1st  and 
March  1st  Dr.  Carpenter  would  give  two  lectures  on 
the  microscope. 

Yin'um  Ferhi. 

Professor  Attfield  said  he  proposed  at  the  next  avail¬ 
able  meeting  to  read  a  paper  on  “  Certain  Precautions 
to  be  Observed  in  Making  Wine  of  Iron.”  He  should 
he  glad  to  hear,  in  the  meantime,  from  any  one  who 
had  met  with  new  difficulties  in  preparing  this  article. 
It  was  well  known  that  during  the  last  year  or  two  malt 
liquors  had  had  a  very  small  quantity  of  solution  of  bi¬ 
sulphite  of  lime  added  to  them,  which  had  proved  service¬ 
able  in  preventing  alteration,  and  it  would  seem  that 
the  process  had  been  extended  to  wine,  especially  the 
cheaper  kinds  of  sherry.  The  consequence  was,  that 
when  this  was  used  for  making  wine  of  iron,  a  reduction 
•of  the  sulphite  took  place,  sulphuretted  hydrogen  was 
generated  and  the  sample  was  spoiled. 

Mr.  Butt  said  he  had  found  it  impossible  to  avoid  the 
disagreeable  sulphuretted  hydrogen  smell,  although  he 
had  tried  iron  wire,  iron  filings,  iron  borings,  and  differ¬ 
ent  samples  of  sherry. 

Mr.  Howden  inquired  if  the  sherry  had  been  taken 
from  the  wood  or  from  bottle,  because  it  was  known  that 
bisulphite  of  lime  was  used  to  a  great  extent  in  bottling 
both  wine  and  beer. 

Mr.  Butt  said  he  had  used  it  from  the  bottle  and  from 
the  wood,  and  both  low  and  high  priced  sherries,  and 
always  with  the  same  result.  It  appeared,  therefore,  that 
the  bisulphite  was  used  both  in  this  country  and  abroad. 
They  used  what  was  called  “the  sulphur  match”  in  this 
country,  to  bring  round  inferior  wdnes,  to  a  great  extent. 


LIVERPOOL  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Fifth  General  Meeting  of  this  Association  was 
held  at  the  Royal  Institution  on  Thursday  evening, 
December  22nd ;  the  President,  Mr.  John  Abraham, 
in  the  chair.  There  was  a  numerous  attendance.  The 
minutes  of  the  previous  meeting  were  read  and  confirmed. 
Mr.  Joseph  Roberts  was  elected  a  member.  Mr.  W.  T. 
■Case  was  elected  an  associate. 

Donations  of  the  Chicago  Pharmaceutist ,  New  York 
Druggists’  Circular ,  Pharmaceutical  Journal ,  were  an¬ 
nounced. 

The  Honorary  Secretary,  Mr.  Alfred  H.  Mason,  read 

paper  upon  “  Chloral  Hydrate,  Alcoholate,  Tests, 
Therapeutical  Value,  Pharmaceutical  Preparations.”  (See 
p.5U.) 

The  President  said  the  members  were  much  indebted 
to  the  author  for  the  paper  they  had  just  heard.  He 
did  not  know  that  there  was  so  much  difference  in  the 
samples  of  hydrate  of  chloral  which  were  offered  for 
sale;  he  confessed  he  felt  it  was  still  a  medicine  of 
which  little  was  known.  He  had  always  purchased  his 
supplies  from  the  first  houses,  without  reference  to  price, 
and  thought  he  was  getting  the  right  thing. 

Dr.  Nevins,  Lecturer  on  Materia  Medica,  etc.  at  the 
Royal  Infirmary  School  of  Medicine,  Honorary  Member 
of  the  Association,  said,  that  lately  he  had  found  that  in 


administering  hydrate  of  chloral,  in  any  form,  it  pro¬ 
duces  unpleasant  results  upon  the  patients,  nausea,  head¬ 
ache,  sickness,  and  sometimes  vomiting.  When  the 
hydrate  was  first  introduced  none  of  these  symptoms 
were  present;  but  ho  thought  the  paper  they  had  just 
heard  woidd  somewhat  explain  this.  He  drew  attention 
to  the  fact  that  the  administration  of  hydrate  of  chloral 
in  many  cases  caused  great  languor  and  depression.  He 
found  it  necessary  to  guard  against  too  long  continued 
doses,  as  sometimes,  quite  unexpectedly,  unfavourable 
symptoms  presented  themselves.  Of  course  the  effects 
of  hydrate  of  chloral  differed  like  those  of  any  other 
medicine,  with  different  constitutions.  He  also  called 
attention  to  the  large  quantity  of  caustic  alkali  used  to 
set  free  the  chloroform,  and  said  he  thought  it  impos¬ 
sible  that  as  much  alkali  would  be  found  in  the  blood  of 
a  patient. 

Mr.  Edward  Davies,  F.C.S.,  said  the  subject  was  one 
of  great  importance,  and  he  was  very  much  struck  with 
the  serious  differences  between  the  salts  examined,  which 
had  been  laid  before  them.  Theoretically  the  products 
of  decomposition  of  the  alcoholate  would  be  very  different 
from  the  hydrate  of  chloral.  He  urged  that  in  order  to 
obtain  a  good  result  one  article  alone  should  be  used  in 
dispensing.  He  thought  they  were  much  indebted  to 
Mr.  Mason  for  bringing  forward  proof  that  there  was  a 
great  deal  of  alcoholate  of  chloral  in  the  market.  The 
two  preparations  should  not  be  indiscriminately  used  for 
the  same  class  of  cases.  If  any  one  wanted  to  ascertain 
whether  alcoholate  of  chloral  was  a  good  remedy  in 
other  cases,  well  and  good,  but  he  thought  it  very  pro¬ 
bable  that  medical  practitioners  were  now  using  alco¬ 
holate  where  formerly  they  used  hydrate  of  chloral,  and 
because  they  found  ill  effects  where  formerly  they  found 
benefit,  they  were  apt  to  decry  the  hydrate  of  chloral. 

The  President  spoke  of  the  manufacture  of  chloral, 
and  much  doubted  whether  any  was  made  in  this  country. 
He  believed  it  was  all  imported  from  abroad,  principally 
from  Germany. 

Mr.  A.  H.  Mason  said  some  crude  hydrate  of  chloral 
had  been  recrystallized  here,  as  he  had  been  furnished 
with  a  small  sample,  but  not  sufficient  to  carry  through 
the  course  of  his  experiments.  Messrs.  Dunn,  Squire, 
and  Co.  advertised  in  the  medical  papers  that  they  were 
manufacturers,  and  they  had  kindly  supplied  him  with 
samples  of  the  crude  and  cake  hydrate  of  chloral,  of 
which  he  had  already  spoken. 

A  short  discussion  followed,  in  which  several  members 
took  part. 

The  President  moved  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Mason 
for  his  interesting  and  instructive  paper,  which  was 
seconded,  in  very  complimentary  terms,  by  Dr.  Nevins, 
and  carried  unanimously. 

Mr.  Mason  acknowledged  the  vote,  and  the  meeting- 
adjourned. 


ONTARIO  COLLEGE  OF  PHARMACY. 

At  the  regular  November  Meeting  of  this  Society,  an 
informal  conversation  took  place  upon  the  criminal  pro¬ 
secution  of  nearly  all  the  Toronto  druggists  for  selling 
laudanum  contrary  to  the  “Poisons  Act.”  Eventually 
it  was  resolved  to  adjourn  the  meeting  until  after  the 
magistrate’s  decision. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  the  President  said  that, 
although  the  magistrate’s  decision  had  been  twice  post¬ 
poned,  it  had  been  thought  best  to  call  the  members 
together,  as  the  Ontario  Legislature  had  assembled,  and 
it  would  be  advisable  to  take  action  with  regard  to  the 
proposed  Pharmacy  Bill. 

After  discussion,  it  was  decided  that  as  most  of  the 
members  of  the  Society  were  non-resident  in  Toronto, 


January:,  1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


m*  a*  ^ 

D‘OJ 


the  Society  could  do  nothing-  with  respect  to  the  prose¬ 
cution,  hut  must  leave  it  for  the  druggists  of  Toronto  to 
deal  with  as  they  might  think  best. 

Mr.  R.  W.  Elliott  said  the  Pharmacy  Bill  was 
crowded  out  last  session,  partly  through  a  press  of  rail¬ 
way  business  and  partly  through  the  supineness  of  the 
gentleman  who  had  charge  of  it.  It  was  for  the  meet¬ 
ing  to  say  whether  it  would  be  advisable  to  place  it  in 
other  hands. 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  confer  with  the  Attor¬ 
ney-General,  and  take  such  action  as  they  might  deem 
best  for  obtaining  the  desired  legislation. 


PHOTOGRAPHIC  SOCIETY  OF  LONDON. 

December  13,  1870. 

On  Xylonite,  a  Material  aeplicaele  to  Photo¬ 
graphic  Purposes. 

BY  DANIEL  SFILL. 

The  name  “Xylonite”  is  taken  from  the  Greek  word 
aidon,  “wood,”  and  the  material  upon  which  this  name 
has  been  bestowed  is  derived  from  wood  or  woody  fibres. 
These  are  converted,  by  the  action  of  mixed  nitric  and 
.sulphuric  acids,  into  a  rough  form  of  xyloidine,  which, 
being  subsequently  dissolved  into  a  species  of  collodion, 
constitutes  the  base  of  a  further  manufacture. 

The  material  was  first  introduced  to  the  notice  of  the 
public,  at  the  International  Exhibition  of  1862,  by  Mr. 
Alexander  Parkes,  of  Birmingham,  at  which  time  it  had 
not  yet  become  an  article  of  commerce ;  subsequently 
it  was  manufactured  on  a  commercial  scale,  and  intro¬ 
duced  to  the  world  for  a  short  time  under  the  name  of 
“Parkesine”  (named  after  the  inventor).  The  manu¬ 
facture  having  been  much  improved,  and  the  patented 
solvents  and  machinery  almost  entirely  remodelled,  it 
was  considered  advisable  that  the  name  should  also  be 
changed,  and  “Xylonite,”  as  being  more  appropriate  for 
■a  derivative  of  xyloidine,  was  adopted. 

The  soluble  base  of  this  manufacture  may  be  made 
from  any  wood  or  woody  fibre,  or  fibre-producing  grasses, 
■old  rags,  waste  from  cotton  or  flax  mills,  old  rope,  starch, 
Esparto  grass,  “half-stuff”  of  the  paper-makers,  etc., 
but  preferably  using  waste  fibrous  material  from  cotton 
•and  flax  mills.  Either  of  these  substances  which  may  be 
chosen  should  be  first  freed  from  all  extraneous  matter 
by  boiling  with  alkali  or  soap  and  water,  well  washed, 
•and  dried,  so  as  to  leave  nothing  but  a  nearly  pure  fibre 
for  the  subsequent  treatment.  A  bath  composed  of  one 
part,  by  weight,  of  concentrated  nitric  acid,  four  parts  of 
concentrated  sulphuric  acid,  and  one  of  water,  having- 
been  prepared  and  cooled  to  about  70°  or  80°  F.,  a  weighed 
quantity  of  the  purified  vegetable  fibres  is  then  immersed 
therein  for  a  period  of  from  one  to  fifteen  minutes  or 
longer,  according  to  the  degree  of  solubility  required. 
The  next  step  is  to  remove  the  uncombined  acids  as 
quickly  as  possible,  either  by  draining  or  pressure  (the 
latter  preferred),  and  then  wash  quickly  in  a  copious 
•supply  of  water  until  the  last  washings  are  neutral  to 
test-paper.  If  the  fibre  should  at  this  stage  retain  any 
colouring-matter  (which  is  not  unfrequently  the  case),  it 
may  be  submitted  to  the  action  of  any  of  the  ordinary 
bleaching  agents  without  injury  to  the  chemical  condi¬ 
tion  of  the  xyloidine,  which,  after  it  has  been  carefully 
•dried  at  a  low  temperature  or  by  pressure  (the  latter 
being  preferred),  will  be  ready  for  dissolving.  The  sol¬ 
vents  commonly  employed  in  the  preparation  of  photo - 
.graphic  collodion  are  too  expensive  to  permit  of  their 
use  in  the  xylonite  manufacture.  The  volatile  solvents 
mostly  used  are  wood-spirit,  alcohol,  aldehyde,  mineral 
naphtha,  benzole,  and  other  hydrocarbons ;  and  the  non¬ 
volatile  or  fixed  solvents  are  oil  and  camphor,  or  natural 
•camphor- oil,  linseed,  castor,  and  other  vegetable  oils. 
I  he  introduction  of  these  fixed  solvents  is  an  important 
improvement  and  economy  in  the  manufacture  of  xylo¬ 


nite,  obviating  much  loss  by  evaporation  and  inconve¬ 
nience  arising  from  contraction  of  the  material.  To 
prepare  these  solvents,  take,  say,  100  parts  of  castor-oil 
and  heat  to  about  250°  or  300°  F.,  then  dissolve  therein 
about  50  parts  of  camphor ;  while  in  the  heated  condition 
add  the  xyloidine,  which  readily  dissolves  into  a  stiff 
paste,  and  is  then  ready  for  a  subsequent  process.  The 
condition  of  xylonite  may  be  varied  from  the  flexibility 
of  morocco  leather  to  the  hardness  of  ivory  or  stone  by 
the  judicious  combination  of  xyloidine,  oil,  and  pigments. 

Practically  it  is  not  necessary  to  dry  the  xyloidine 
thoroughly  before  dissolving  it ;  pressure  alone  will  re¬ 
move  90  per  cent,  of  its  moisture  ;  in  this  state  it  is  quite 
uninflammable,  even  when  held  in  contact  with  fire,  and 
yet  will  readily  dissolve  in  the  before-mentioned  solvents. 
Five  parts  of  solvent  will  reduce  one  part  of  xyloidine 
into  a  stiff  paste  by  stirring  alone;  but  to  blend  the 
materials  more  perfectly  the  mixture  is  masticated  or 
ground  between  rollers  until  the  incorporation  is  com¬ 
pleted  ;  it  is  next  removed  into  a  strong  vessel  having  a 
perforated  bottom  covered  with  a  finely- woven  wire 
sieve,  which  vessel  is  then  placed  beneath  the  piston  of  a 
powerful  press,  and  the  paste  is  thereby  forced  through 
the  sieve,  in  order  to  strain  it  from  all  mechanical  impu¬ 
rities  or  undissolved  particles  of  xyloidine.  This  purified 
xyloidine  is  next  removed,  weighed,  and  the  requisite 
quantity  of  oil  or  pigments  added  thereto,  and  then 
passed  to  a  heated  masticator  or  grinding-rolls,  or  into  a 
retort  provided  with  mechanical  stirrers,  which,  for  vola¬ 
tile  solvents,  are  enclosed  in  an  air-tight  casing,  the  latter 
being  in  connection  with  a  condenser  and  vacuum  appa¬ 
ratus  during  the  process  of  mastication  or  agitation. 
The  volatile  solvents  are  evaporated  by  the  heat  and 
vacuum,  and  conveyed  away  to  a  condenser  for  future 
use.  When  non-volatile  solvents  are  used,  the  last- 
named  apparatus  is  not  required,  heat  and  mastication 
being  sufficient.  When  the  paste  is  masticated  into  a 
very  stiff  condition,  it  is  removed  into  a  powerful  calen¬ 
dering-machine,  where  it  is  rolled  into  sheets  of  any 
required  thickness,  after  which  it  is  placed  in  a  season¬ 
ing-room  heated  to  100-120°  F.  for  periods  varying  from 
fifteen  to  thirty  days,  when  it  is  ready  for  use. 

When  preparing  hard  compounds  with  the  non-volatile 
solvents  it  is  necessaiy  to  use  oxidized  oil,  such  as  lin¬ 
seed-oil,  which  will  dry  and  become  hard  in  the  process 
of  seasoning.  The  flexible  kinds  are  prepared  with 
cotton-seed-oil  or  castor-oil,  which  will  not  become  hard. 
For  coating  or  waterproofing  fabrics,  the  paste  may  be 
applied  in  a  semifluid  condition  with  an  ordinary  india- 
rubber  spreading-knife  or  machine,  or  it  may  be  applied 
in  a  very  stiff  paste  by  the  aid  of  calender-rolls. 

In  preparing  non-actinic  sheets  for  photographic  pur¬ 
poses,  no  pigments  are  used,  but  semitransparent  colours 
only,  such  as  wTill  arrest  the  passage  of  the  chemical  rays, 
and  furnish  a  material  suitable  for  windows  of  the  dark¬ 
room  in  place  of  the  ordinary  yellow  glass,  but  of  suffi¬ 
cient  depth  of  colour  to  arrest  all  the  actinic  rays  of  sun¬ 
light.  In  this  state  the  sheets  are  flexible,  durable  and 
light.  Spread  upon  fabrics  it  forms  a  waterproof  mate¬ 
rial,  useful  for  photographic  field-tents,  giving  the  ope¬ 
rator  an  abundance  of  light  of  perfectly  non-actinic 
quality,  thus  having  a  “dark”  room  combined  with  a 
considerable  amount  of  light  for  personal  comfort,  and 
avoiding  the  use  of  yellow  glass  windows  altogether. 
The  applications  for  the  material  outside  the  photographic 
world  are  almost  innumerable ;  a  few  of  them  may  be 
instanced,  viz.  insulation  and  protection  of  telegraph- 
wire,  coating  fabrics  for  waterproof  garments,  making- 
artificial  leather  for  furniture-covering  and  book-binding, 
writing-tablets,  substitutes  for  ivory,  bone,  horn,  tor¬ 
toiseshell,  hard  woods,  marble,  etc.,  knife-handles,  fric¬ 
tion  and  gear-wheels,  also  bearings  for  machinery, 
spinner's  bosses,  billiard-balls,  pianoforte  keys,  walking- 
stick  and  umbrella  handles,  etc. 

It  may  be  turned  in  a  lathe  or  wrought  by  the  cabinet¬ 
maker’s  or  brass-finisher’s  tools ;  can  be  embossed  or 


550 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[January  7,  1S71. 


moulded  "by  heat  and  pressure,  and  may  be  polished  like 
ivory,  wood  or  stone.  It  is  unaffected  by  atmospheric 
influences,  heat,  water,  or  grease. 

The  low  combustibility  of  the  xyloidine  may  be  de¬ 
monstrated  by  firing  a  portion  on  a  plate,  when  it  will 
burn  slowly,  leaving  a  considerable  amount  of  carbona¬ 
ceous  residue. 


mortem  examination  of  the  body,  and  was  of  opinion  that 
death  had  resulted  from  the  diseased  state  of  the  liver 
and  heart.  He  did  not  detect  the  smell  of  laudanum  or 
any  other  poison.  Had  she  taken  the  quantity  stated  to 
have  been  procured  on  the  day  of  her  death,  he  believed 
ho  should  have  detected  it. 

The  jury  returned  a  verdict  of  “Death  from  natural 
causes.” —  JVoodbridgc  Reporter. 


MEETINGS  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 

Monday  . Medical  Society,  at  9  r.M. 

Tuesday  . Royal  Medical  and  Chirurgical ,  at  8.30  p.m. 

Photographic  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

"Wednesday  Microscopical  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

Thubsday  ...Royal  Society,  at  8.30  p.m. 

Linnean  Society,  at  8.30  p.m. 

Feiday  . Qnelcett  Club,  at  8  p.m. 

Satueday  ...Royal  Botanic  Society,  at  3.45  p.m. 


BOOK  RECEIVED. 

The  Halp-Yeaely  Absxeact  op  the  Medical  Sci¬ 
ences;  being  a  Digest  of  British  and  Continental  Medi¬ 
cines.  Edited  by  William  Domett  Stone,  M.D.  Vol. 
LII.  London  :  J.  and  A.  Churchill.  1871. 


lladianuntimr  aO  SEato 


Adulteration  op  Lard. 

In  a  late  trial  at  Liverpool  in  which  the  plaintiff 
sought  to  recover  the  price  of  some  lard  which  the  de¬ 
fendant  had  returned  as  unfit  for  food,  evidence  for  the 
defence  was  given  by  an  analytical  chemist  that  some  of 
the  bladders  ho  had  analysed  contained  a  mixture  of 
lard,  mutton  fat,  rape  oil  and  water,  the  latter  in  the 
proportion  of  19  per  cent.  The  Court  ordered  the  plain¬ 
tiff  to  take  back  the  lard  without  payment. — • Food 
Journal. 

The  Sale  op  Laudanum. 

At  an  inquest  held  at  Woodbridge  on  the  body  of  a 
young  woman,  whose  death  was  reported  to  have  been 
caused  by  laudanum,  evidence  was  given  to  the  following 
effect : — 

Harriett  Thompson,  a  child  aged  twelve  yenrs.  said 
that  the  previous  morning  the  deceased  had  called  her 
and  asked  her  to  go  to  Mr.  Betts’s,  the  chemist.  She 
gave  her  sixpence,  a  piece  of  paper  and  a  small  bottle. 
A  young-  man  at  the  chemist's  filled  the  bottle  with 
something  brown.  There  was  a  paper  with  printing  on 
it  stuck  on  the  bottle.  She  could  not  read.  She  had 
often  been  to  Mr.  Betts’s  for  the  same  kind  of  stuff, 
sometimes  every  day. 

James  Hartridgc,  apprentice  to  Mr.  Betts,  said  he 
remembered  a  little  child  coming  to  the  shop  with  a 
phial  labelled  “  Laudanum.”  She  asked  for  sixpenny- 
worth,  which  quantity  ho  put  into  the  phial.  It  was 
also  labelled  “Poison.”  He  took  the  laudanum  out  of 
the  bottle  from  which  they  usually  supplied  people  of 
that  description.  He  had  been  with  Mr.  Betts  only 
three  months,  and  could  not  say  the  strength  of  the 
laudanum  supplied.  He  had  once  or  twice  previously 
supplied  the  same  child  with  laudanum.  She  had  told 
him  it  was  for  Mr.  Disbury. 

John  Betts,  pharmaceutical  chemist,  said  that  on  the 
previous  Saturday  the  deceased  had  been  supplied  by 
him  witli  fourpennyworth  of  laudanum.  He  had,  oil 
several  occasions  supplied  her  with  sixpennyworth  at  a 
time,  on  the  plea  that  she  wanted  it  to  ease  the  pain 
from  which  her  mother,  who  was  bedridden,  was  suffer¬ 
ing.  The  laudanum  supplied  was  half  the  strength  of 
the  London  Pharmacopoeia.  It  was  not  necessary  to 
register  the  sale  of  laudanum  of  that  strength. 

Mr.  Marshall,  surgeon,  said  that  he  had  made  a  post 


THOMAS  WALLER  GISSING. 

On.  Decemeer  28,  1870,  jet  at.  41. 

Our  last  number  informed  our  readers  of  the  sudden 
removal  by  death  of  a  pharmacist  known  and  esteemed 
by  many  of  them,  one  whose  life  and  character  were  dis¬ 
tinguished  by  qualities  which  claim  from  his  professional 
brethren  a  more  detailed  record.  Such  men  as  the  late 
Mr.  Gissing  are,  in  a  sense,  the  natural  outcome  of  the 
calling  of  pharmacy,  which,  by  introducing  physical  or 
natural  history  science  to  a  congenial  mind,  often  sup¬ 
plies  the  needed  motive  for  action— action  directed  by 
the  strong  common  sense  belonging  to  trade  in  its  best 
aspect,  and  when  united  to  a  capability  of  enthusiasm, 
soon  associating  kindred  spirits  with  itself.  It  is  from 
those  social  aggregations  that  wo  reap  the  fruit  of  pro¬ 
gress,  for  man  resembles  the  single  palm-tree  that  bears 
no  fruit  when  standing  isolated  from  its  fellows. 

Thomas  Waller  Gissing  was  born  at  Halesworth,  in 
Suffolk,  on  August  2,  1829,  and  there  ho  received  his 
education.  Ho  was  apprenticed  to  a  chemist  and  drug¬ 
gist  at  Ipswich,  and  afterwards  held  situations  as  an  as¬ 
sistant  in  Leicester,  Worcester  and  Salisbury.  During 
a  largo  portion  of  this  period,  Mr.  Gissing  was  engaged 
in  the  business  of  Messrs.  Whitfield  and  Son,  of  Wor¬ 
cester,  and  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal  furnishes  evi¬ 
dence  of  his  active  interest  in  botany  at  this  time,  as  he 
established  at  Worcester  a  flourishing  branch  of  the 
Phytological  Club,  which  had  its  head- quarters  at  17, 
Bloomsbury  Square. 

In  the  year  1856,  Mr.  Gissing  succeeded  to  the  busi¬ 
ness  of  Mr.  M.  B.  Flick,  at  Wakefield,  and  how  he  spent 
the  subsequent  period  is  recorded  by  the  7Fa  Icefield  Free 
Press ,  as  follows  : — ‘ “  We  know  of  no  tradesman  who  in 
the  short  space  of  fourteen  years  has  done  as  much  for 
the  public,  or  done  it  so  well,  or  gained  such  a  position 
in  the  esteem  of  the  town,  or  who  has  so  -well  deserved 
the  respect  of  all  classes  in  the  borough,  as  Mr.  Gissing.” 

Amidst  the  claims  of  a  business  which  demanded  close 
personal  attention,  he  found  much  time  for  his  favourite 
pursuit  of  field-botany,  and  published  two  small  works 
upon  the  local  Flora,  entitled  ‘  The  Ferns  of  Wakefield 
and  Neighbourhood,’  and  ‘Materials  for  a  Flora  of 
Wakefield.’  He  was  an  early  riser,  and  often  did  a  day’s 
work  before  some  men  left  their  beds. 

In  1857  he  was  placed  upon  the  Committee  of  the  Me¬ 
chanics’  Institution,  and  was  at  once  recognized  as  one 
of  its  most  energetic  and  intelligent  members,  subse¬ 
quently  taking  the  post  of  Honorary  Librarian.  lie 
was  a  Member  of  Council  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
the  Secretary  of  the  Wakefield  Book  Society,  and  an 
earnest  working  member  of  the  Microscopical  Society. 
The  Industrial  and  Fine  Art  Exhibition,  held  in  Wake¬ 
field  in  1865,  enjoyed  a  remarkable  success,  which  was 
due  to  the  well-directed  efforts  of  a  small  band  of  volun¬ 
tary  workers  accustomed  to  co-operate,  and  of  these, 
none  was  more  active  than  Mr.  Gissing.  The  Lancas- 
tcrian  School,  the  Clayton  Hospital  and  School  of  Art 
were  institutions  in  the  management  of  which  ho  occu¬ 
pied  a  leading  position.  Mr.  Gissing  took  a  lively  in¬ 
terest  in  politics  on  the  Liberal  side,  and  was  a  member 
of  the  Town  Council ;  his  last  public  act,  on  December 


January  7, 1371.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


557 


16,  being  to  vote  for  the  establishment  of  a  School  Board 
in  the  borough. 

Mr.  Hissing  was  Local  Secretary  of  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society,  and  was  ever  watchful  of  the  interests  of 
his  profession,  giving  a  zealous  co-operation  in  promoting 
measures  aimed  at  by  the  Society.  His  conduct  in  this 
position  combined  loyalty  to  the  Society  with  indepen¬ 
dence  of  thought.  It  is  not  generally  known  that  when 
the  Pharmacy  Act  of  1868  was  passing  through  Parlia¬ 
ment,  Mr.  Hissing  discovered  that  in  the  Bill  first  pre¬ 
sented,  two-thirds  of  the  members  of  Council  were  to  be 
drawn  from  London,  only  seven  members  being  allotted 
to  the  rest  of  Great  Britain.  He  energetically  pointed 
this  out  in  a  quarter  where  his  remonstrances  received 
full  sympathy,  and  an  appeal  being  promptly  made  to 
the  Local  Secretaries  throughout  the  kingdom,  their 
opinions  showed  such  unanimity  that  the  Council  re¬ 
moved  the  obnoxious  clause.  It  can  hardly  be  doubted 
that  had  Mr.  Hissing’s  life  been  spared,  he  would  before 
long  have  been  elected  on  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society.  He  was  nominated  at  the  elections  of 
1869  and  1870,  and  was  almost  successful  on  each  occa¬ 
sion. 

For  a  few  years  Mr.  Hissing  had  suffered  from  what 
he  believed  to  be  chronic  inflammation  of  the  windpipe, 
which  caused  him  considerable  inconvenience  and  pain, 
especially  in  winter.  An  attack  of  cold  confined  him  to 
the  house  for  a  few  days,  but  his  illness  became  suddenly 
alarming  to  his  family,  and  he  died  on  Wednesday 
morning,  December  28th.  He  leaves  a  widow  and  five 
children,  between  thirteen  and  four  years  of  age. 

The  funeral  took  place  at  the  borough  cemetery,  when 
the  Corporation,  the  members  of  the  various  committees 
to  which  Mr.  Hissing-  belonged,  and  a  large  number  of 
his  fellow-townsmen  testified,  by  their  presence,  their 
esteem  for  his  memory. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  Dec.  31 ;  the  ‘  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
Dec.  31;  the  ‘Lancet,’  Dec.  31;  the  ‘Medical  Press  and  Cir¬ 
cular,’  Jan.  4;  ‘Nature,’  Dec.  29;  the ‘Chemical  News,’  Dec. 
30:  ‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  Dec.  29;  ‘  Gardeners’  Chro¬ 
nicle,’ Dec.  31 :  the  ‘  Grocer,’  Dec.  31  ;  the  ‘English  Mecha¬ 
nic,’  Dec.  30;  the  ‘Journal  of  Applied  Sconce’  for  January; 
the  ‘Canadian  Pharmaceutical  Journal ’  for  December ;  the 
‘  Woodbridge  Reporter,’  Dec.  30;  ‘Wakefield  Free  Press,’ 
Dec.  31 ;  ‘  Transactions  of  the  Odontological  Society  ’  for 
December;  the  ‘Educational  Times’  for  January. 


Holts  anil  f  tterits. 


***  In  order  to  facilitate  reference,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  their  ansicers  in  each  case  with  the  title 
and  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  ansicers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

[34.] — AQ.  CAMPH. — C.  77.  gives  the  following  formula 
for  a  preparation  that  will  serve  for  making  aq.  camph.  ex¬ 
temporaneously  : — 

Camphor  1  oz. 

S.  V.  R.  (56  per  cent.)  26  oz. 

Dilute  with  15  parts  of  water  to  make  camphor  mixture. 
IV  Owing  to  the  presence  of  spirit  in  camphor  water  so 
prepared,  it  would  not  be,  strictly  speaking,  aqua  camphora), 

B.  P.-Ed.  Pir.  Joukx.] 

[56.]—  HAIR-WASH. 

R.  Glycerini  5'j 
Tinet.  Myrrh.  §  j 
Eau  de  Cologne  §j 
Tinct.  Cantharid.  yss 
Ao.  Deslillat.  ^xxiv. 

M.  "  II.  Q.  S. 


[93.] — PROOF-SPIRIT  should  not  be  made  as  directed 
by  one  of  your  correspondents,  by  adding  to  100  parts  of 
spirit  at  56  over  proof  58  parts  of  water,  notwithstanding 
such  a  statement  is  to  be  found  in  standard  works  on  phar¬ 
macy.  A  mixture  in  such  proportions  would  be  2‘9  over 
proof.  'When  a  spirit  is  said  to  be  56  or  60  degrees  over 
proof  it  means  that  to  100  parts  of  such  spirit  sufficient 
water  should  be  added  to  make  the  product  measure,  when 
the  contraction  in  volume  has  taken  place,  158  or  160  parts  at 
60°  F.  The  contraction  in  volume  in  mixing  alcohol  and 
water  is  not  constant,  but  varies  considerably  when  different 
proportions  are  taken.  The  maximum  contraction  is  almost 
attained  in  making  proof-spirit,  in  which  case  it  is  2|  per 
cent.  The  British  Pharmacopoeia  indicates  that  to  5  parts  of 
alcohol,  -838  (58  overproof)  3  parts  of  water  should  be  added 
(100:  80).  On  no  account  should  a  further  addition  of  water 
be  made  in  making  proof-spirit  according  to  these  directions, 
as  another  of  your  correspondents  says  is  usually  done  in  the 
proportion  of  4  oz.  to  the  gallon,  or  the  spirit  will  be  2-3 
under  proof. — Chas.  Umney. 

[101.]— CHERRY  TOOTH-PASTE. 

Alum.  Pulv.  5ss 
Pu.lv.  Iridis  ^iss 

,,  Cretce  ^iss 

„  Pot.  Bitart,  ^iss 

„  Oss.  Sepite  jiss 
,,  Cocci  5j 

01.  Caryophyll.  gtt.  xv 
01.  Amygdal.  Ess.  gtt.  xx 
Glycerini  q.  s. 

Mix.  Allow  it  to  stand  in  the  mortar  till  the  effervescence 
ceases,  occasionally  stirring. — A.  A. 

R.  Sapon.  Gall.  5i 
Quinae  Sulph.  9ij 
Greta)  Proecip.  §xvj 
Magnesia;  §vij 
Camphor.  gijss 
Ess.  Bergamot  y^xxx 
Ol.  Caryoph.  wixxxvj 
Otto  de  Rose  rqxxxx 
Ol.  Neroli  rqxxx 
Liq.  Cochineal,  q.  s. 

M.  H.  Q.  S. 

[104.]— COUGH  PILLS. 

li.  Zinci  Oxydi  xlviij 
Ext.  Conii  xlviij. 

M.  Divide  in  pil.  xxiv.  Dose,  1  night  and  morning. — 
H.Q.  S. 

R.  Pulv.  Ipecac., 

„  Scilloe,  ana  gr.  xij 
Ext.  Conii, 

,,  Taraxaci,  ana  3j. 

M.  ft.  mist.  Divide  in  pil.  xij.  Signa,  j  omni  nocte  su- 
mend. — A.  H.  E. 


[117.]— WATCH  OIL. — “  Virtu'''  will  be  glad  of  informa¬ 
tion  as  to  the  best  oil  for  the  works  of  a  watch,  and  also 
clocks. 

[118.] — STILL. — Can  any  one  recommend  a  perfect  prac¬ 
tical  still  for  counter  use  with  a  Liebig’s  condenser,  giving 
maker’s  name? — Biondino. 

[119.]— WHITE  LIQUID  GLUE— Would  any  reader 
give  me  a  formula  for  making  white  liquid  glue?  I  have 
tried  to  prepare  it  with  sulphate  of  zinc  and  hydrochloric 
acid,  but  it  does  not  answer. — Pestle  and  Mortar. 

[120.]— EMBOSSING  STAMP.— Can  any  reader  inform 
me  where  I  can  procure  an  embossing  stamp  the  same  as 
illustrated  in  Maws’  Catalogue,  p.  120,  and  price?  I  under¬ 
stand  Maws  are  unable  to  supply  them  on  account  of  the  war. 
— A.  H.  Hale. 

[121.]— SYRUPUS  CROCE— Will  some  one  kindly  give 
me  a  really  good  formula  for  syr.  croei  which  will  keep  in 
good  condition  ? — R.  J.  C. 

[122.]— PERFUMED  LIQUID  AMMONIA. — B.  J.  C. 
wishes  for  a  good  formula  for  perfumed  liquid  ammonia  for 
filling  smelling-bottles. 

O  O 


558 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [January  7. 18; i. 


***  JVo  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  JKhatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Proposed  Regulations  for  Storing  op  Poisons. 

Sir, — What  ever  eoukl  have  moved  the  Lords  of  her  Ma¬ 
jesty’s  Privy  Council  to  make  the  interesting  inquiry  touch¬ 
ing  the  keeping,  dispensing  and  selling  of  poisons?  Surely 
they  are  confounding  the  serious  loss  of  life  which  has  occurred 
recently  through  railway  negligence  with  accidental  poison¬ 
ing.  I  cannot  otherwise  understand  their  anxiety  at  this 
holiday  time,  seeing  that  no  death  for  a  very  long  period  has 
been  reported  as  arising  out  of  a  chemist’s  neglect  or  inadver¬ 
tence.  It  certainly  may  help  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society  in  their  high  aims  of  compelling  the  use  of 
curious  cupboards  and  funny  bottles  with  poison !  poison ! 
poison  !  staring  you  in  the  face,  till  you  are  so  familiar  with 
the  word  that  its  influence  will  be  lost. 

After  the  many  powerful  letters  which  have  appeared  in 
the  Journal,  showing  the  absurdity  and  folly  of  poison  regu¬ 
lations,  I  feel  it  is  of  no  use  to  argue  any  more  upon  the 
subject,  but  be  present  at  the  next  General  Meeting  of  the 
Society,  there  make  your  voice  heard,  resolved  to  vote  only 
for  members  of  the  Council  who  will  pledge  themselves  to 
resist  the  proposed  offensive  regulations,  proclaiming  us  to 
society  as  wholly  incompetent  for  the  responsibility  which 
our  profession  involves ! 

Kilburn,  Jan.  2nd,  1871.  John  Eeaton. 


Sir, — By  the  publication  of  Dr.  Simon’s  letter  from  the 
Medical  Department  of  the  Privy  Council,  the  kind  of  pres¬ 
sure — which  to  the  outside  world  has  apparently  put  to  flight 
the  sagacity  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Council — is  exhibited  to 
the  members  themselves.  Whether  this  mighty  and  porten¬ 
tous  missive  be  a  genuinely  unsolicited  production,  to  be 
held  in  terrorem  over  the  heads  of  refractory  members  I  do 
not  know.  We  have,  however,  now  the  issue  placed  before 
us,  and  if  we  rouse  ourselves  I  do  not  fear  the  result.  The 
position  of  those  opposed  to  compulsory  dispensing  poison 
regulations,  with  their  concomitant  corps  of  inspectors,  is,  I 
believe,  sufficiently  unassailable  to  withstand,  not  only  most 
searching  criticism,  but  even  parliamentary  discussion  if  this 
undesirable  ordeal  be  brought  about.  We  have  simply  at 
this  particular  crisis  to  face  the  difficulty  which  the  injudi¬ 
cious  action  of  the  Council  has  produced,  and  defeat  any 
further  attempt  at  Governmental  trade  restriction.  The 
Pharmaceutical  Council  seems  to  think  itself  bound,  either 
by  coercive  influence  or  by  an  imaginary  sense  of  obligation, 
to  move  in  this  matter ;  yet  if  the  Pharmacy  Act  be  con¬ 
sulted,  it  will  be  found  that  the  introduction  of  additional 
regulations  is  perfectly  optional,  and  in  no  way  obligatory. 

The  settlement  of  this  question,  if  no  fairer  mode  be  pro¬ 
posed,  will  be  made  at  the  next  May  meetmg  by  those  who 
are  able  to  attend  to  give  their  votes,  but  how  many  are  there 
who  cannot  possibly  be  present  to  resist  or  approve?  Any¬ 
thing  like  a  majority  of  the  members,  however  anxious  they 
may  be  to  vote,  will  not  be  present.  Hence  how  flagrantly 
unjust  is  this  process  of  arriving  at  a  decision!  Is  it  really 
needtul  for  us  to  make  a  humble  and  dutiful  pilgrimage  to 
Bloomsbury  Square,  at  a  sacrifice  of  time  and  money,  to 
record  our  votes  ?  The  well-to-do  magnates  of  the  trade  may 
be  able  to  afford  the  time  and  money,  but  there  are  many 
whose  voice  in  this  matter  is  worthy  of  being  heard  who, 
simply  from  economic  reasons,  will  not  be  able  to  attend. 
The  voting  in  London  in  May,  if  it  takes  place,  will  not  give 
a  just  reflex  of  the  opinions  of  the  members.  The  greater 
the  distance  from  London,  the  fewer  the  votes  that  will  be 
recorded.  What  objection  is  there  to  the  issuing  of  voting- 
papers  to  every  member  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  so 
that  every  member  may  be  enabled  to  exercise  his  rightful 
influence  in  the  settlement  of  the  vexed  question?  By  this 
means,  and  by  this  alone,  is  it  possible  to  obtain  the  opinion 
of  the  members.  If  the  Council  honestly  desire,  as  in  duty 
bound  they  should,  to  elicit  the  opinions  of  the  whole  of 
the  members,  and  if  they  do  not  wrongfully  wish  to  carry 
with  a  high  hand  their  unwise  resolve  as  to  the  compulsory 
poison  regulations,  spite  of  protest  and  threatening  discord, 


they  will  at  their  next  meeting  at  once  decide  to  use  voting- 
papers  instead  of  the  arbitrary  decision  of  an  annual  meeting. 
Manchester,  Jan.  3rd,  1871.  Robt.  Hampson. 


Sir, — The  keeping  and  storing  of  poisons  is  now  a  matter 
of  much  importance,  indeed  it  is  perhaps  one  of  the  subjects 
that  interests  and  concerns  the  whole  trade  more  than  any 
other.  Therefore  I  trust  a  few  further  remarks  on  this  con¬ 
troversy  may  not  be  unacceptable.  In  the  first  place  I  will 
say,  it  is  with  sincere  regret  that  I  find  there  are  such  dis¬ 
sensions  on  this  matter;  and  although  much  has  been  written 
and  said,  we  are  still  in  a  state  of  unsettlement  from  so  many 
entertaining  such  different  and  tenacious  opinions. 

The  Journal  of  Dec.  21st  contains  some  very  elaborate  let¬ 
ters  concerning  the  matter,  the  writers  of  which  are  well 
known  for  their  many  contributions  to  the  Journal;  butr 
strange  to  observe,  each  one  holds  widely  different  opinions. 

Mr.  Edwin  B.  Yizer’s  letter  occupies  a  good  space,  but  I 
must  frankly  remark  that  it  seems  more  eloquent  than  logical  ; 
and  in  my  opinion,  his  views,  instead  of  leading  to  anything 
of  service,  are  most  inconsistent,  or,  if  I  might  use  a  political 
phrase,  they  are  perhaps  ultra-radical. 

I  do  not  wish  to  review  his  letter  as  a  critic  would  do, 
but  what  I  wish  to  point  out  is  the  error  he  labours  under  in 
desiring  to  take  up  so  much  of  the  Journal  in  putting  forth 
ideas  that  are  not  at  all  compatible  with  the  subject. 

He  says,  “Allow  me  to  put  a  parallel  case,  and  to  ask  wliab 
would  be  the  feeling  of  a  gentleman  after  receiving  a  good 
education,  walking  the  hospital,  going  through  the  usual  ex¬ 
amination,  and  who  in  due  course  received  his  diploma  autho¬ 
rizing  him  to  practise,  were  the  same  authorizing  body  to- 
come  to  him  and  say,  ‘Now,  Sir,  you  have  passed  our  ex¬ 
aminations,  you  are  fully  qualified  to  practise,  but  before  you 
do  so,  we  must  remind  you  that  you  must  conform  to  our 
regulations  as  to  the  place  and  manner  of  keeping  your  knives 
and  lancets,  lest  you  should  by  mistake  use  the  wrong  one. 
You  must  also  have  each  of  these  instruments  distinctly  en¬ 
graved  “dangerous,”  lest  you  should  by  chance  forget  the 
fact.’  ”  I  glean  from  this  that  Mr.  Vizer  does  not  deem  it 
expedient  that  any  act  or  rule  is  necessary  to  guide  or  con¬ 
trol  those  who  pass  an  examination,  and,  if  he  had  the  ruling, 
he  would  annihilate  it  in  toto.  But  he  must  either  forget,  or 
he  has  not  been  aware,  that  all  who  keep  open  shops  for  the 
dispensing  and  compounding  of  medicines,  are  unfortunately 
not  individuals  of  his  ability  and  qualifications. 

Many  indeed,  although  registered  as  dispensing  chemists, 
have  never  passed  examinations,  and  I  presume  this  is  one  of 
the  special  reasons  which  actuate  the  Council  in  urging  the 
necessity  of  a  law,  to  act  as  a  preventive,  as  far  as  possible, 
of  the  deplorable  accidents  which  have  so  frequently  happened, 
and  which  must  necessarily  raise  the  indignation  of  the  publie 
against  pharmacists  in  general. 

How  Mr.  Vizer  can  offer  the  keeping  of  a  surgeon’s  knives 
or  lancets  as  a  parallel  case  with  that  of  storing  virulent  poi¬ 
sons  seems  to  me  ridiculously  absurd.  I  cannot  perceive  any 
similarity  whatever.  If  the  surgeon  should  use  the  wrong 
knife  or  lancet,  in  all  probability  the  harm  would  be  but 
little;  but  if  the  pharmacist  should  use  the  wrong  powder, 
such  as  strychnine  for  sugar,  the  mischief  is  irreparable.  The 
majority  of  the  trade,  too,  will  admit.  I  think,  that  there  can¬ 
not  be  a  doubt  as  to  the  actual  necessity  of  an  Act  for  the 
storing  and  safe  keeping  of  poisons.  I  know  there  is  a  sort 
of  jealousy  entertained  by  some  parties,  as  this  Act  doe3  not 
apply  to  surgeons,  but  why  should  such  envy  exist  ?  Sur¬ 
geons  are  not  ruled  by  the  Pharmaceutical  Society.  They 
have  an  Act  of  their  own  to  practise  under,  and  they  con¬ 
sider  themselves  quite  apart  from  the  pharmacist.  It  also 
must  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  surgery  is  quite  a  different 
kind  of  place  to  the  pharmaceutical  establishment.  We  may 
find  two  or  three  poisons  in  the  former,  Avhile  in  the  latter  we 
have  (or  should  have)  all  that  the  “  Materia  Medica,”  or 
Pharmacopoeia,  contains.  Besides,  the  dispensing  in  the 
private  surgery  is  totally  different  from  that  of  the  pharma¬ 
ceutical  establishment. 

Therefore,  as  to  having  an  Act  for  keeping  and  storing  of 
poisons,  I  emphatically  say  it  is  necessary.  I  feel  confident, 
too,  that  if  something  is  definitely  fixed  upon,  the  change  will 
benefit  the  whole  trade.  I  might  add  that,  as  far  as  I  can 
perceive,  the  law  now  in  use  has  raised  us  considerably  in  the 
estimation  of  the  public,  for  when  they  are  assured  that  we 
have  such  precautions  they  feel  a  perfect  safety  in  receiving 
medicines  dispensed  by  us. 


January  7,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


550 


The  present  arrangement  of  keeping  poisons  in  a  separate 
apartment  or  cupboard  is,  no  doubt,  to  a  great  extent,  a 
satisfactory  precaution ;  but  it  must  have  an  improvement, 
as  the  dangers  are  equally  bad  as,  if  not  worse  than,  that  of 
mixing  them  with  the  usual  drugs. 

We  have  had  several  suggestions  on  this  point.  A  very 
useful  and  practical  one  came  from  Mr.  Proctor.  He  recom¬ 
mended  “that  all  poisons  intended  for  internal  use  as  medi¬ 
cines,  the  usual  adult  dose  of  which  is  less  than  one  drachm, 
shall  bear  a  label  immediately  under  the  name  of  the  article, 
stating  the  usual  adult  dose;  and  upon  such  articles  the 
usual  adult  dose  of  which  is  less  than,  say  5  grains,  there 
shall  be  added  the  label  ‘Poison!’  immediately  under  the 
label  indicating  the  dose.”  He  also  suggests,  “  that  if  a 
pobon-cupboard  or  other  additional  precaution  be  deemed 
necessary,  it  should  only  apply  to  such  poisons  the  adult 
dose  of  which  does  not  exceed  5  grains,  thus  liberating  the 
tincture  and  wine  of  opium,  etc.,  from  the  poison- cupboard, 
and  liberating  paregoric  elixir  and  syrup  of  poppies  from  any 
restriction  regarding  their  storage.” 

In  the  many  suggestions  we  have  had,  this  seems  to  be  the 
one  that  is  the  most  useful,  and  the  one  which  should  be 
specially  laid  before  the  Council  for  their  consideration  at  the 
next  discussion  on  this  very  important  subject. 

What  can  be  a  safer  guide  to  the  dispenser,  than  to  have 
the  bottle  distinctly  labelled  with  the  dose,  and  the  word 
•“  poison”  placed  as  prominently  as  suggested  by  him  ? 

The  doses  of  medicines  are  very  apt  to  escape  the  memory  of 
the  most  careful ;  but  having  it  constantly  before  him  is  of 
the  utmost  importance.  He  knows  then  that  the  quantity  he 
pui  s  in  a  mixture  is  safe. 

To  this  very  useful  suggestion  I  would  wish  to  add  another. 
In  the  keeping  of  the  cupboard,  one  very  necessary  thing 
ought  to  be  attended  to,  that  is,  the  bottles  which  contain 
powders  of  a  similar  appearance,  ought  to  be  of  a  different 
•character.  For  instance,  strychnine,  morphia  and  emetic 
tartar,  ought  to  be  more  conspicuous  than  those  less  danger¬ 
ous.  The  same  rule  should  also  apply  to  liquids ;  Seheele’s 
liydrocA’anic  acid  ought  to  be  in  a  different- coloured  bottle 
from  that  of  the  acid  of  the  B.  P.  strength. 

To  arrive  at  some  definite  result  respecting  this  most  im¬ 
portant  and  very  necessary  Act,  we  must  put  aside  antagonism 
and  petty  prejudices,  and  ask  ourselves  whether  the  rules  are 
so  very  troublesome  that  we  cannot  carry  them  out.  We 
must  do  our  utmost  to  assist  the  Council  as  much  as  possible, 
and  let  us  bear  in  mind  that  they  are  a  body  of  practical  and 
intelligent  men,  anxious  to  promote  our  Avelfare  and  raise  us 
to  something  higher  than  we  have  hitherto  been.  I  had 
commenced  this  letter  early  last  Aveek,  Avith  the  intention  of 
submitting  it  to  you  for  insertion  in  last  week’s  Journal,  but 
Christmas  festivities  interfered  with  my  finishing  it.  I  trust, 
hoAvever,  it  is  not  too  late  to  point  out  to  Mr.  Vizer  the  mis¬ 
take  he  has  made. 

January  3rd,  1871.  JonN  Dowling  Allman. 


Infusions. 

Sir, — I  have  only  noiv  seen  Mr.  Allchin’s  paper  on  Infu¬ 
sions,  Avhich  appeared  in  your  Journal  of  the  17th  inst.  I 
hope  you  will  allow  me  space  for  a  few  words  on  this  subject, 
and  they  shall  be  as  few  as  possible,  for  the  matter  lies  (as  I 
conceive)  in  a  nutshell. 

It  seems  to  be  generally  agreed  by  several  Avriters  on  the 
subject  in  your  Journal,  that  fresh  infusions  are  to  be  pre¬ 
ferred  to  those  of  a  concentrated  form.  I  think  if  this  be 
conceded,  it  can  only  be  when  those  infusions  really  are  made 
fresh  daily ;  at  least,  one  can  only  be  sure  of  it  then.  I  know 
very  well  what  frequently  happens  when  freshly  made  infusions 
are  bottled  and  put  on  one  side  till  they  are  wanted.  They 
may  be,  and  no  doubt  are,  very  good  sometimes,  Avhen  Avanted 
a  day  or  tAvo  afterwards ;  but  I  knoAvthey  are  very  often  kept 
in  that  way  too  long,  and  sometimes  until  they  are  unfit  for 
use,  and  there  is  so  great  a  temptation  to  use  them  (no  con¬ 
centrated  infusion,  perhaps,  being  at  hand)  when  they  are, 
at  all  eA’ents,  in  a  partly  decomposed  state.  Surely  a  care- 
iully  prepared  concentrated  infusion  must  be  better  than  that. 

I  know  it  is  all  very  well  in  theory  to  talk  of  using  none 
but  treshly-made  infusions,  but  it  cannot  always  be,  save  in 
houses  doing  a  large  dispensing  business.  They  can  and 
they  do,  no  doubt,  make  those  fresh  infusions  every  morning 
Avhich  are  likely  to  be  wanted  during  the  day,  and  their  large 
daily  consumption  of  such  warrants  them  and  repays  them 
for  so  doing ;  but  chemists  in  general  cannot  do  this.  It 


would  be  a  great  loss  to  them  wTere  they  to  make  fresh  infusions 
daily  and  throw  away  those  not  used,  and  so  in  self-defence 
they  must  use  concentrated  infusions.  I  say  in  self-defence, 
and  thus  it  is  so.  A  person,  for  instance,  takes  a  prescription 
to  one  of  the  large  dispensing  houses,  and  has  a  mixture 
made  up  containing  some  ordinary  infusion.  The  mixture  is 
made  at  once,  and  the  customer  takes  it  away  Avith  him. 
Some  day,  when  again  wanting  that  mixture,  he  takes  the 
prescription  to  some  other  chemist,  Avho  tells  him  it  will  take 
an  hour  or  so  to  prepare.  The  customer  is,  of  course,  very 
much  surprised,  and  probably  all  the  explanation  in  the  Avorld 
will  fail  to  convince  him  but  that  this  chemist  is  “a  muff,” 
and  though  he  may  consent  to  ha\'e  his  mixture  made  there 
then,  he  determines  not  to  go  to  that  shop  again.  So  it  is  to 
meet  this,  or  rather  to  prevent  this,  chemists,  not  doing  a 
dispensing  business  which  will  Avarrant  them  in  keeping  fresh 
infusions  ready,  must  use  concentrated  infusions  to  enable 
them  to  compete  Avith  the  larger  houses. 

There  can  be  no  doubt,  I  think,  that  infusions  can  be  so 
prepared  as  to  contain  all  the  extractive  matter  of  the  ma¬ 
terial  employed  in  a  concentrated  form.  Medical  practitioners 
as  a  rule  use  them  in  the  concentrated  form,  and  find  them 
answer  admirably ;  and  if  vegetable  extracts  are  to  be  be¬ 
lieved  in  at  all,  I  cannot  see  Avhy  they  should  be  prescribed 
Avithout  hesitation  in  pills,  etc.,  and  a  concentrated  infusion, 
which  is,  of  course,  not  nearly  so  concentrated  a  preparation 
as  an  extract,  should  be  objected  to.  For  my  own  part  I  be¬ 
lieve  the  best  plan  AArould  be  to  recognize  concentrated  infusions 
at  once  in  our  Pharmacopoeia.  They  are  partially  so,  I  knoAv, 
by  the  introduction  of  the  formula;  for  ext.  cinchona;  liq.,  ext. 
Pareirse  liq.,  etc.,  but  I  venture  to  think  if  concentrated  in¬ 
fusions  generally  Avere  recognized  there,  it  would  put  an  end 
to  much  uncertainty  in  the  matter ;  it  would  lead  to  move 
uniformity  in  dispensing,  and  it  would,  on  the  whole,  be 
more  satisfactory  alike  to  the  prescriber,  to  the  dispenser  and 
to  the  patient. 

Henby  Ayscough  Thompson. 

22,  7 Vorship  St.,  Finsbury  Sq.,  London,  F.C. 

27 th  December,  1870. 


Pbescbibing  and  Dispensing. 

Sir, — I  presume  the  time  is  approaching  Avhen  medical 
men  will  no  more  be  their  own  dispensers  than  architects 
their  oaatl  builders.  The  anomalous  position  of  prescribers 
and  pharmacists  is  doomed,  but  good  service  may  yet  be  done 
in  clearing  the  way. 

Are  medical  men  gainers  by  dispensing  ?  I  doubt  it  much. 
Dispensing  implies  a  stock  of  medicine  and  implements,  the 
value  of  A\diich  is  money  sunk ; — it  often  implies  the  salary 
of  an  assistant;  it  always  implies  employment  inconsistent 
with  the  duties  of  a  prescriber.  Again,  it  deprives  medical 
men  of  the  support  of  pharmacists,  and  gives  them  opposing 
interests.  Who  loses  most  by  this  false  position  ?  Surely 
prescribers.  Medical  men  can  doubtless  do  much  for  che¬ 
mists,  but  chemists  can  do  more  for  medical  men.  What 
chemist,  possessing  in  any  degree  the  confidence  of  the  public, 
does  not  knoAV  that  scarcely  a  day  passes  Avhen  he  could  not 
transfer  an  applicant  to  the  doctor?  Make  it  his  interest  to 
do  so, — or  rather  make  it  unfair  that  he  should  do  otherAvise 
— and  the  desired  revolution  would  soon  be  effected.  The 
practice  arising  from  this  altogether  new  class  of  patients 
would  more  than  compensate  prescribers  for  loss  of  profit  on 
medicine. 

These  things  Avill  doubtless  for  some  time  be  said  and  re¬ 
said  with  more  or  less  force  before  all  that  is  included  in  the 
new  position  of  pharmacy,  as  a  recognized  and  legalized 
branch  of  the  medical  profession,  is  understood  and  appre¬ 
ciated.  A  slow  crystallization  is  howeArer  going  on,  which. 
Avill  gradually  assign  to  the  treaters  of  disease  and  the  pre¬ 
parers  of  remedies  their  due  form  and  position.  When  the 
process  shall  have  been  completed,  the  substantial  benefits  of 
the  change,  to  both  parties,  will  be  too  apparent  to  leaAre  an 
atom  of  regret  for  the  “  good  old  times  ”  that  will  have  come 
to  an  end.  T.  M. 

Glastonbury.  - 

A  Point  of  Ethics. 

Sir, — The  only  way  to  settle  the  matter  in  dispute  relative 
to  the  prescription  dispensed  by  “Magnesia”  Avould  be  tor 
him  to  ask  the  medical  man  if  he  intended  to  add  “  ac.  sulph. 
dil.”  to  the  mixture.  In  all  my  experience  in  different  toAvns, 
extending  over  thirty- six  years,  I  never  kneAV  a  doctor  ”  but 


560 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [January  7,  is?! 


one  ”  to  order  quinine  in  a  mixture  without  adding  a  little 
ac.  sulph.  dil.,  “or  other  acids,”  to  dissolve  it,  excepting  in 
the  case  of  “inf.  rosae  c.  quina  ”  or  “'pills.”  D.  T.  W.  will 
he  kind  enough  to  remember  that  ho  charged  me  with  wish¬ 
ing  to  make  the  medical  men  appear  more  forgetful  than 
they  are,  therefore  I  gave  him  the  two  prescriptions  to  in¬ 
spect,  and  those  “not  solitary  cases.” 

Liverpool,  Dec.  31$£,  1870.  Chemicus. 


Lists  of  Drugs. 

Sir, — If  any  of  your  readers,  especially  among  wholesale 
druggists,  could  furnish  me  with  two  or  three  stock-books, — 
I  mean  manuscript-priced  inventories  of  drugs, — dating  from 
the  early  part  of  the  present  century,  say  1800  to  1825, 
I  should  feel  much  indebted  to  them.  I  have  some  lists  of  the 
previous  century. 

Clapham  Common,  S.W.,  Daniel  Hanbury. 

4 th  January. 


Dispensing  Charges. 

Sir, — I  had  the  following  prescription  brought  me  this 
afternoon  to  dispense.  It  was  marked  on  the  side  thus : — 


R.  Tinct.  Camph.  Comp.,  2 

Syr.  Scillte,  ana  5SS  1 

Acid.  Sulph.  Dil.  5hj  1 

Tinct.  Digitalis  5j  1 

Aquae  (jviss  5 

A  tablespoonful  thrice  a  day. 


As  it  was  for  a  working  man,  I  thought  I  would  be  very 
reasonable  in  my  charge,  and  only  asked  Is.  He  told  me  he 
could  get  it  made  up  in  Newcastle  for  5cl.  I  refused  to  make 
it  for  that  money,  so  he  paid  the  shilling,  but  most  likely  will 
go  to  the  “cheap  man”  next  time. 

Chester-le-Street,  Dec.  28 th,  1870.  A.  P.  S. 


Mag.  Ferri  et  Quin.  Sulph. 

Sir, — Mv  intention  in  writing  to  your  Journal  was  to  oh- 
tain  information,  and  certainly  not  to  annoy  Messrs.  Hitch¬ 
cocks.  In  explanation  I  will  state  the  facts. 

The  porter  of  a  chemist  brought  the  prescription,  and 
asked  for  the  article,  which  he  said  he  was  told  was  kept  hero 
(Apothecaries’  Hall,  Blackfriars).  Hence  the  mistake.  I 
did  not  go  to  Bruton  Street,  nor  did  I  send  any  one  else ;  but 
the  same  prescription  has  been  brought  to  me  by  another 
chemist,  also  with  a  request  for  the  article,  within  the  last 
few  days. 

I  am  obliged  to  G.  S.  for  the  formula  for  the  drug,  which 
I  am  since  informed  was  to  be  seen  in  a  late  number  of  the 
Lancet. 

December  31s£,  1870.  E.  B. 


Fox's  Palatable  Oils. — Messrs.  Fox,  in  the  letter  that 
they  have  forwarded,  express  their  opinion  that  the  “Liver¬ 
pool  Chemists’  Association  has  stepped  beyond  its  province, 
and  made  remarks  without  regard  to  their  accuracy  and 
without  a  sufficient  knowledge  of  the  matter  they  ivere  hand¬ 
ling.”  They  dispute  the  remarks  made  by  the  President  at 
the  meeting  on  the  8th  December,  and  add  that,  since  they 
depend  more  particularly  upon  the  medical  profession  to 
recommend  their  preparations,  they  had  only  sent  to  medical 
men  the  circulars  stating  what  proportion  of  oil  was  con¬ 
tained  in  those  preparations.  They  also  state  that  they  hold 
two  patents  for  these  preparations,  and  that  they  consider 
the  decided  separation  of  the  oil  from  the  other  ingredients 
as  a  recommendation,  inasmuch  as  it  enables  medical  men  to 
perceive  with  ease  the  actual  amount  of  oil.  They  prefer 
that  their  preparations  should  be  in  this  respect  excluded 
from  what  is  termed  “  elegant  ”  pharmacy. 

Inquirer. — No. 

S.  AT.  (Dorchester). — Colenso’s  Arithmetic. 

Nemo. — Consult  the  papers  on  Liquor  Taraxaci,  by  Bentley 
(Pharm.  Journ.  2nd  ser.  i.  402)  and  Squire  (Brande’s  ‘Ma¬ 
teria  Medica  ’).  The  difference  in  the  appearance  of  the  spe¬ 
cimens  is  probably  due  to  their  having  been  prepared  at 
different  seasons  of  the  year.  We  should  prefer  the  darker 
for  dispensing  purposes. 

D.  D. — We  think  our  correspondent  might  perhaps  obtain 
a  better  result  by  using  a  calico  filter  instead  of  a  paper  one.  I 


“  Guaco.” — The  iodine  will  be  in  a  free  state.  The  alkalies 
present  arc  not  in  a  condition  to  combine  with  it.  The  plants 
mentioned  contain  sulphur. 

“  Find  ex." — We  do  not  think  that  formula;  for  proprietary 
medicines  are  to  be  obtained  through  the  medium  of  the  Notes 
and  Queries  columns. 

J.  F.  (Cromer). — The  following  is  the  formula  for  a  syrup 
of  lactate  of  iron  proposed  by  M.  Cap : — • 

R.  Lactate  of  Iron,  1  drm. 

White  Sugar,  12^  oz. 

Boiling  Distilled  Water,  6^  fl.  oz. 

Rub  the  salt  to  powder  with  half  an  ounce  of  the  sugar,  and 
dissolve  the  mixture  quickly  in  the  boiling  water.  Pour  the 
solution  into  a  matrass  placed  on  a  sand-bath,  and  add  to  it 
the  rest  of  the  sugar  in  small  pieces.  When  the  sugar  is  dis¬ 
solved,  filter  the  syrup,  and  as  soon  as  cold  transfer  it  to  well- 
stoppered  bottles.  This  syrup  has  a  very  light  amber  colour, 
and  contains  about  four  grains  of  the  salt  to  the  fluid  ounce. 
Dose  from  two  to  four  fluid  drachms. 

J.  T.  Greenwood  (Louth). — Distil  a  known  quantity  with 
caustic  lime  and  as  much  water  as  may  be  necessary,  collect¬ 
ing  the  distillate  bv  careful  condensation;  then  determine  the 
ammonia  by  titration  with  a  standard  acid,  or  by  adding  a 
slight  excess  of  hydrochloric  acid,  and  evaporating  to  dryness, 
so  as  to  weigh  the  chloride  of  ammonium. 

John  Gregory  (Stockton-on-Tees). — Theindicat ions  afforded 
by  the  tests  you  refer  to  are  scarcely  to  be  relied  upon  unless 
the  operator  has  a  large  empirical  familiarity  with  the  results 
produced  under  various  conditions.  Probably  the  oil  referred 
to  was  mixed  with  some  substance  that  resinified  on  exposure 
to  the  atmosphere.  This  admixture  might  bo  accidental  or 
otherwise,  and  in  either  case  the  presence  of  a  very  small 
amount  of  such  substance  might  be  sufficient  to  give  rise  to 
the  rose  tint  observed, — so  that  this  result  could  not  alone  bo 
relied  upon  as  indicating  inferiority  or  adulteration  of  the 
sample  in  question. 

“  Anxietas.” — We  have  given  full  consideration  to  your 
suggestion,  but  we  do  not  regard  this  J ournal  as  the  proper 
medium  for  giving  such  educational  aid  as  that  referred  to. 
Moreover,  the  plan  proposed  is  so  admirably  carried  out  in 
another  journal,  that  we  should  be  in  no  small  degree  poach¬ 
ing  upon  its  preserves,  if  we  were  to  adopt  the  same  course. 
At  the  same  time,  weave  much  obliged  for  the  suggestion,  and 
will  take  this  opportunity  of  saying  that  we  should  be  very 
glad  if  members  of  the  trade  would  more  generally  commu¬ 
nicate  their  opinions  and  wishes  in  regard  to  such  matters  as 
it  is  the  province  of  this  Journal  to  deal  with.  In  many  cases 
that  would  be  a  means  of  rendering  good  service  to  the  gene¬ 
ral  interests  of  pharmacy  and  of  our  Societ}'. 

“ Inquirer — We  cannot  furnish  you  with  the  address 
asked  for. 

“  Veritas." — We  are  unable  to  give  the  information  con¬ 
cerning  the  proprietary  medicine  referred  to. 

A  Student  (Harwich). — See  Pharm.  Journ.  o.  s.  Vol.  XII. 
for  full  information  on  the  subject. 

TV.  A.  Thirlby. — In  order  to  promote  oxidation  and  facili¬ 
tate  solution  of  the  iron. 

C.  J.  Cann  (Greenwich). — Prussiate  of  potash  is  exempt 
from  being  included  in  the  words  “cyanide  of  potassium  and 
all  metallic  cyanides,”  partly  because  it  is  not  a  cyanide  but 
a  ferrocyanide,  chiefly,  however,  because  it  is,  as  a  matter  of 
fact,  not  a  poisonous  substance. 

J.  D.  Leslie  (Sheffield)  who  expresses  his  dissent  from  our 
Answers  to  Correspondents  in  No.  19  and  20,  will  find  in  the 
foregoing  answer  a  solution  of  his  difficulty. 

G.  Wellborn. — (1.)  See  Ure’s  ‘Dictionary,’  art.  “Yeast, 
Artificial.”  (2.)  The  rise  of  temperature,  in  the  one  case,  and 
the  fall  of  temperature  in  the  other,  are  due  respectively  to 
the  facts  that  heat  is  evolved  in  the  one  case,  while  it  is 
rendered  latent  in  the  other.  In  the  former  case  there  is 
reason  to  believe  that  something  like  chemical  combination 
takes  place,  resulting  in  the  production  of  a  hydn  ted  salt, 
while  in  the  latter  case  the  change  is  merely  physical,  or  the 
heat  rendered  latent  in  the  liquefaction  of  the  salt  exceeds  in 
amount  any  heat  that  may  be  evolved  as  a  result  of  chemical 
combination  between  the  salt  and  water. 

S.  D. — Hooper’s  ‘  Medical  Dictionary’  and  Maync’s  ‘Me¬ 
dical  Vocabulary  ’  (Churchills) . 

Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  A.  II.  Hale  (Ramsgate),  Mr.  H.  B.  Brady  (Newcastle), 
Mr.  C.  R.  C.  Tichborne  (Dublin),  P.  L.  Simmonds,  A  Stranger, 
“A.  P.  S.,”  “M.  P.  S.” 


January  14, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


561 


“ANDREW  BOORDE, 
of  pijfjsgclje  Doctor.” 

In  all  Mr.  luce’s  ‘  Century  of  Old  Books,’ — we 
speak  with  reservation,  in  tliat  we  are  only  partially 
acquainted  even  with  their  titles  as  yet, — there  may 
possibly  not  be  found  one  more  edifying  and  amusing 
than  a  volume  recently  issued  by  the  Early  English 
Text  Society,  containing  a  reprint  of  some  of  the 
principal  works  of  Dr.  Andrew  Boorde.*  But  apart 
from  general  interest  or  antiquarian  value,  this  book 
lias  a  peculiar  claim  on  the  notice  of  those  to  whom 
familiarity  with  medicines  and  dietary  in  the  nine¬ 
teenth  century  affords  common  meeting  ground  with 
an  exponent  of  the  theory  and  practice  of  the  six¬ 
teenth  in  the  same  particulars. 

Of  Andrew  Boorde  himself  not  much  is  known. 
Some  of  our  readers  may  perhaps  not  even  recog¬ 
nize  liis  name,  others  probably  will  know  nothing 
more  than  the  ill-natured  tradition  that  he  was 
a  court  physician  in  Henry  the  Eighth’s  time, 
in  whose  wandering  habits  and  strange  modes  of 
pursuing  his  avocation  the  word  “  Merry  Andrew,” 
as  applied  to  the  odd  being,  half  mountebank  half 
quack  doctor,  still  sometimes  seen  at  a  country  fair, 
had  its  origin.  Mr.  Furnivall  tells  us  something 
more,  but  not  half  as  much  as  we  should  like  to 
know. 

We  gather  from  the  summary  prefacing  the  re¬ 
prints,  that  he  was  bom  some  time  before  the  year 
1490,  that  he  was  brought  up  at  Oxford,  and  ad¬ 
mitted,  whilst  still  under  age,  as  a  Carthusian 
monk.  He  appears  to  have  been  “  dispensed  ”  of 
his  vows  in  1521,  in  order  to  be  made  Suffragan 
Bishop  of  Chichester,  and  to  have  made  use  of  his 
liberation  by  going  abroad  to  study  medicine.  During 
succeeding  years  lie  made  several  foreign  pilgri¬ 
mages,  extending  his  travels  much  further  than  was 
common  in  those  days,  (to  all  the  universities  and 
approved  schools  within  the  precinct  of  Christen¬ 
dom,  he  himself  says,)  and  in  1530  we  find  him  prac¬ 
tising  and  studying  medicine  at  Glasgow.  After 
his  last  Continental  tour  Boorde  settled  at  Win¬ 
chester,  and  probably  spent  the  remainder  of  liis 
days  partly  in  that  city,  where  he  had  amassed  some 
property,  and  partly  in  London.  His  end  could 
hardly  have  been  a  happy  one.  Accused  by  liis 
enemies  of  immorality,  he  was  imprisoned  in  the 
Eleet,  and  the  last  information  we  have  concerning 
him  is  found  in  his  will,  dated  from  his  place  of 
confinement,  April  25,  1549. 

Mr.  Furnivall’s  first  quotations  are  from  the  ‘  Bre- 
uyary.’  Their  phraseology  is  delightfully  quaint, 
and  they  serve  to  give  us  an  idea  both  of  Boorde’ s 
theories  as  to  the  origin  of  various  distempers  and 


*  The  First  Boke  of  the  Introduction  of  Knowledge 
made  by  Andrew  Borde  of  Physyche  Doctor  (1547). — A 
Compendyous  Regyment  or  A  Dyetary  of  Helth  made 
in  Mountpyllier,  compyled  by  Andrewe  Boorde  of  Phy¬ 
syche  Doctour  (1542). — Barnes  in  the  Defence  of  the 
Bkrds  :  aTreatyse  made,  answerynge  the  Treatyse  of  Doctor 
Borde  upon  Berdes  (1542  or  3). 

Edited,  with  a  Life  of  Andrew  Boorde  and  large  Extracts 
from  his  Breuyary,  by  F.  J.  Furnivall,  M.A.,  Trin.  Hall, 
Camb. 

Lon  don  :  Published  for  the  Early  English  Text  Society, 
N.  Trubner  and  Co.  1870. 

Third  Series,  No.  29. 


his  actual  practice  as  a  physician.  The  specimens 
selected  by  the  editor  generally  refer  to  psychological 
disorders,  and  the  treatment  in  these  cases  is  based 
upon  hygiene  rather  than  medicine.  Still  there  are 
a  number  of  sections  devoted  to  material  ills,  such  as 
itch,  palsy,  asthma,  stone,  chilblains,  excoriations, 
and  sundry  cutaneous  affections,  of  which  the  follow¬ 
ing  may  be  taken  as  a  specimen  : — 

Boorde  s  treatment  of  Itch  : — A  good  pair  of  Nails. 

“  11  The  .292.  Chapitre  doth  shewe  of  Itchynge.  Prurigo 
is  the  latin  word.  In  Engtyshe  it  is  named  itching  of  a  mans 
body,  skyn,  or  fleshe, 

H  The  cause  of  this  impedimente. 

H  This  impediment  doth  come  of  corrupcion  of  euyll 
bloud,  the  which  wolde  be  out  of  the  fleshe  ;  it  may  also 
come  of  fleume  myxt  with  corrupt  bloud,  the  which  doth 
putrifie  the  fleshe  and  so  consequently  the  skyn. 

A  remedy. 

This  I  do  aduertise  euery  man  for  this  matter  to  ordeyne 
or  prepare  a  good  payre  of  nayles  to  crache  and  clawe  and  to 
rent  &  teare  the  skynne  and  the  fleshe,  that  the  corrupt 
bloud  maye  runne  out  of  the  fleshe  ;  and  vse  than  purgacions 
and  stuphes  &  sweates ;  and  beware,  reuerberate  not  the 
cause  inwarde  with  no  oyntment,  nor  clawe  not  the  skyn 
with  fyshye  fyngers,  but  washe  the  handes  to  bedwarde.”  — 
P.  97. 

Or  tlie  following : — 

Boorde's  treatment  of  Palsy. 

“  Fyrst,  vse  a  good  dyet,  and  eate  no  contagious 
meates ;  and  yf  nede  be  vse  clysters,  and  anoynt  the  body 
with  the  oyles  of  Laury  and  Camomyll ;  but  whether  the 
Palsy  be  vniuersal  or  perticuler,  I  do  anoynte  the  body  with 
the  oyle  of  Turpentine  compounde  wTith  Aqua  Vite,  and  vse 
frications  or  rubbynges  with  the  handes,  as  one  wolde  rub 
with  grece  an  olde  payre  of  Botes,  not  hurtynge  the  skyn  nor 
the  pacient.  And  I  do  gyue  the  pacient  Treacle  with  the 
pouder  of  Peper  or  els  Mitridatum  with  Peper ;  or  els  take  of 
Diatriapiperion.  And  if  one  wyll,  he  may  rub  the  pacient 
with  the  rotes  of  Lylyes,  brayed  or  stamped ;  after  that  use 
dry  stuphes  as  the  pacient  is  able  to  abyde.  Or  els,  take 
a  Foxe,  with  the  skynne  and  all  the  body  quartered,  and 
with  the  herte,  lyuer  and  lunges,  and  the  fatnes  of  the  in- 
tray  les,  stones  and  kidnes,  sethe  it  longe  in  runnynge  water 
with  Calamynt  and  Balme  and  Carawayes,  and  bath  the 
pacient  in  the  water  of  it ;  and  the  smell  of  a  Foxe  is  good 
for  the  Palsy.’’ — P.  99. 

He  does  not  approve  of  sending  for  tlie  “  duly 
qualified  medical  man  ’  ’  for  small  ailments,  but  trusts 
much  to  nature.  For  instance,  speaking  ot  some 
affection  of  tlie  eyes,  lie  says, — 

“  I  myght  here  shewe  of  many  salubriouse  medecines,  but 
the  best  medecine  that  I  knowe  is  to  lette  the  matter  alone, 
and  medle  nat  with  it,  but  were  before  the  eyes  a  pece  of 
blacke  sarcenet  and  eate  neyther  garlycke  nor  onyons  nor 
drynke  no  wynes  nor  stronge  ale,  and  it  will  were  away.’’ 

P.  101. 

He  lias,  nevertheless,  a  genuine  belief  in  physic 
properly  administered,  and  his  prescriptions  often 
show  a  definiteness  of  purpose  which,  if  we  may 
judge  by  samples  we  have  recently  had  to  print 
in  our  pages,  the  modern  prescriber  might  at  times 
imitate  with  advantage. 

The  ‘  First  Boke  of  the  Introduction  ot  Know¬ 
ledge’  hardly  concerns  us,  and  though  highly  enter¬ 
taining,  we  must  pass  it  by  with  tlie  editor  s  l-emaiL, 
that  “It  is  the  original  of  Murrays  and  all  other 


562 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [January  14, 1871. 


English  Handbooks  of  Europe.”  A  good  deal  of  it 
is  in  verse,  and  it  seeks  to  inform  its  readers  on 
matters  of  Continental  travel,  with  some  foreshadow¬ 
ing  even  of  the  polyglot  phrases  of  the  modern  tourist’s 
guide. 

The  “  Dyetary  of  Helth”  is  a  complete  system  of 
regimen,  not  only  as  its  title  would  impart,  for  peo¬ 
ple  already  sound  in  body,  but  for  those  afflicted 
with  disorders  of  divers  sorts.  It  begins  by  direct¬ 
ing  how  and  where  a  man  should  build  his  house ; 
how  order  his  household  so  as  to  live  in  quiet¬ 
ness  ;  how  the  head  of  a  house  should  exercise  lxim- 
self  for  the  health  of  his  soul  and  bodv;  and  how 
order  himself  in  sleeping,  in  watching  and  in  appa¬ 
rel.  Surfeiting  is  shown  to  do  much  harm  to  nature, 
but  “  abstynence  is  the  cliyfest  medyson  of  all  medy- 
sons.”  A  number  of  chapters  are  devoted  to  the 
consideration  of  the  virtues  of  various  forms  of  diet, 
whether  meat  or  drink,  and  many  of  the  conclusions 
would  startle  the  modern  physiological  chemist ;  then 
follow  dissertations  on  roots,  herbs,  fruits  and  spices. 
We  quote  the  following  as  a  contribution  to  thera¬ 
peutics  : — 

“  Pennyryall  doth  purge  melancoly  and  doth  comforte  the 
stomacke  &  the  spyrites  of  man.  Isope  (hyssop)  clenseth 
viscus  fleume,  &  is  good  for  the  breste  and  for  the  lunges. 
Roosmary  is  good  for  palses,  and  for  the  fallynge  syckenes, 
and  for  the  cowghe,  and  good  agaynst  colde.  Roses  be  a 
eordyall,  and  doth  comforte  the  herte  &  the  brayne.’’ 

The  diet  of  men  should  differ  according  to  their 
temperaments,  the  sanguine,  the  phlegmatic,  the  cho¬ 
leric,  and  the  melancholy,  will  each  find  a  chapter 
for  liis  guidance.  In  times  of  epidemics  and  pesti¬ 
lence  an  additional  precaution  is  needed  in  the 
form  of  fumigation,  and  a  formula  for  a  sort  of  in¬ 
cense  is  given.  Then  follow  the  diets  for  gouty  and 
leprous  patients,  for  the  stone,  colic,  fever,  dropsy, 
ague,  and  the  like.  And  lastly, 

“  The  xl.  Chapytre  doth  shewe  an  order  or  a  fasshyon 
how  a  sycke  man  shulde  be  ordered,  And  how  a  sycke  man 
shuld  be  vsed  that  is  lykely  to  dye.v 

We  would  gladly  dwell  on  the  curious  glimpse 
this  book  affords  us  of  the  practice  of  medicine  in 
the  time  of  the  Tudors.  In  Mr.  FurnivalTs  estimate 
of  his  author  every  thoughtful  student  will  concur. 
“  I  think,”  says  he,  “  the  reader  will  find  Andrew 
Boorde  worth  knowing,  a  man  at  times  of  great 
seriousness  and  earnestness,  yet  withal  of  a  pleasant 
humour ;  reproving  liis  countiymen’s  vices  and  ridi¬ 
culing  their  follies;  exhorting  them  to  prepare  for 
their  latter  end  and  yet  to  enliven  their  present  days 
by  honest  mirth.  A  man  eager  to  search  out  and 
know  the  truth  of  things,  restless  in  that  search, 
wandering  far  and  often  to  see  for  himself.  Yet  a 
man  bound  by  many  superstitions  of  the  time,  though 
free  from  many.  *  *  *  Sound  at  the  core,  a 

pleasant  companion  in  many  of  England’s  most 
memorable  days,  worthy,  with  all  his  faults,  of  re¬ 
spect  and  regard  from  our  Victorian  time.”  But 
our  space  at  present  permits  no  more  than  to  thank 
Mr.  Furnivall  and  the  Early  English  Text  Society 
for  the  results  of  their  labour,  and  to  bestow  a  pass¬ 
ing  word  of  admiration  upon  Mr.  W.  H.  Hooper’s 
masterly  reproductions  of  the  droll  wood- cuts  that 
adorned  the  original  works. 

H.  B.  Brady. 


METHYLATED  SPIRIT. 

BY  P.  L.  SIMMOXDS. 

It  is  curious  to  trace  the  progress  that  has  been 
made  in  the  use  of  methylated  spirit  since  it  was 
first  introduced  about  fifteen  or  sixteen  years  ago,  as 
given  in  the  detailed  reports  of  the  Commissioners  of 
Inland  Revenue.  The  high  price  of  duty-paid  spirit 
in  this  country  not  only  repressed  scientific  research, 
but  seriously  interfered  with  trade,  by  compelling 
manufacturers  to  resort  to  cheaper  and  inferior  sub¬ 
stitutes  for  spirits,  which  injured  the  character  of 
the  goods,  and,  in  some  instances,  made  it  doubtful 
whether  the  manufacturers  in  this  country  could 
much  longer  compete  with  those  on  the  Continent, 
where  the  duty  on  spirit  is  inconsiderable. 

In  the  year  1853,  a  gentleman  who  had  obtained 
a  patent  for  an  artificial  lubricant  as  a  substitute  for 
sperm  oil,  applied  to  the  Lords  of  the  Treasury  to  be 
allowed  to  use  spirit  in  the  manufacture  of  his  lubri¬ 
cant,  duty  free,  or  at  least  at  a  reduced  rate.  After 
a  careful  examination  of  his  invention,  it  was  found 
that  the  spirit  was  rendered  unfit  for  drinking,  and 
that  it  could  not  by  any  process  be  restored  to  its 
original  purity.  A  mixture  of  10  per  cent,  of  puri¬ 
fied  wood  naphtha  with  spirit  of  wine  effects  the  ob¬ 
ject.  An  Act  was  consequently  passed  in  1855 
allowing  such  a  mixture  to  be  used  duty  free. 
Although  there  was  good  reason  to  believe  that  the 
methylated  spirit  would  be  so  unpalatable  that  it 
would  effectually  repel  ordinary  drinkers,  yet  as  it 
was  not,  in  a  peculiar  degree,  pernicious  to  health, 
it  was  impossible  to  predict  what  might  be  the  result 
if  such  a  means  of  intoxication  at  a  cheap  rate  were 
readily  accessible  to  habitual  drunkards.  It  was, 
therefore,  deemed  necessary  to  impose  such  condi¬ 
tions  on  the  use  of  methylated  spirit  as  would  guard 
against  its  possible  perversion  to  purposes  for  which 
it  was  not  intended.  Persons  who  wished  to  use  tliis 
spirit  were  required  to  make  a  written  application  to 
the  Board,  and  to  engage  under  bond  that  it  should 
be  properly  applied.  They  were  then  furnished  with 
forms  of  requisition,  by  means  of  which  they  could 
at  pleasure  obtain  such  quantities  as  they  might  re¬ 
quire,  not  being  less  than  ten  gallons  at  a  time. 
These  regulations  still  apply  in  cases  in  which  the 
spirit  is  required  to  be  used  in  quantities  greater 
than  can  be  met  by  supplies  not  exceeding  one 
gallon  at  a  time,  but  by  Act  31  &  32  Viet.  c.  121,  the 
minimum  quantity  that  may  be  supplied  at  one  time 
is  reduced  to  5  gallons. 

The  following  are  the  principal  purposes  to  which 
the  spirit  was  at  first  applied : — Making  furniture 
polish,  varnishes  and  lacquers ;  dissolving  resins  for 
hat  manufacturers  ;  manufacturing  hyposperm  oil, 
chloroform,  sulphuric,  nitric  and  chloric  ethers, 
sweet  spirit  of  nitre,  fulminating  powder  and  transpa¬ 
rent  soaps ;  extracting  vegetable  alkaloids,  such  as 
quinine,  morphine,  etc. ;  making  soap  liniment  and 
extracts  required  in  veterinary  medicines ;  pre¬ 
paring  gold-beaters’  skin,  floating  mariners’  com¬ 
passes  and  filling  spirit-levels  ;  preserving  objects  of 
natural  history,  and  in  chemical  and  anatomical 
researches. 

It  was  not  at  first  allowed  to  be  adopted  as  a  source 
of  heat  or  light  for  domestic  purposes.  In  order, 
however,  to  accommodate  a  large  class  of  work¬ 
people,  known  as  French  polishers,  the  spirit  was 
permitted  to  be  sold  in  smaller  quantities  than  those 


January  14, 187L] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


563 


prescribed  by  the  Act,  oil  condition  that  a  certain 
proportion  of  shellac  or  other  resin  was  dissolved  in 
it,  so  as  to  make  the  preparation  which  is  technically 
termed  “polish,”  from  its  being  employed  to  com¬ 
plete  the  polishing  of  the  goods.  There  cannot  be  a 
doubt  that  tliis  measure  has  been  very  beneficial 
in  its  operation. 

Besides  the  direct  encouragement  which  it  has 
given  to  scientific  research  and  to  manufacturing  in¬ 
dustry,  it  has  materially  lessened  the  demoralizing 
practice  of  illicit  distillation  which  was  carried  on 
(in  London  at  least)  principally  for  the  supply  of 
persons  who  use  spirits  as  a  solvent  for  gum  resins, 
or  in  the  manufacture  of  ethers  or  spirits  of  nitre. 

In  1861,  sufficient  experience  having  been  gained 
to  warrant  the  conclusion  that  there  was  no  danger 
of  the  preparation  being  converted  into  a  beverage, 
some  of  the  restrictions  on  its  sale  and  use  were  re¬ 
moved.  In  July  of  that  year  an  Act  was  passed 
which  enabled  any  one  (other  than  persons  dealing 
in  excisable  liquors)  to  obtain  a  licence  for  retailing 
methylated  spirit  in  quantities  not  exceeding  one 
gallon  at  a  time,  and  removing,  in  respect  to  the 
small  quantities  sold  under  such  licence,  the  re¬ 
strictions  which  confined  its  use  to  the  various  pro¬ 
cesses  connected  with  the  arts  and  manufactures. 

It  may  now  be  purchased  in  small  quantities  for 
domestic  use,  and  is  largely  consumed  in  a  great 
variety  of  appliances  to  luxury  and  comfort,  from 
the  spirit  lamp  on  the  breakfast  table  to  the  singeing 
apparatus  in  the  stable.  The  duty  on  the  retail 
licence  which  was  first  fixed  at  <£2.  2s.,  was  in  1807 
(by  the  30  &  31  Viet.  c.  90)  reduced  to  10s. 

Methylated  spirit  has  found  an  extensive  applica¬ 
tion  in  the  preparation  of  the  brilliant  new  dyes 
which  were  introduced  about  ten  years  ago.  The 
French  had  long  been  in  the  habit  of  using  alcohol 
in  dyeing,  but  the  high  duty  on  spirit  in  this  country 
formerly  acted  as  a  complete  prohibition  of  their  use 
for  this  purpose,  and  enabled  the  French  to  maintain 
an  undoubted  superiority. 

In  1863  the  high  price  of  turpentine,  caused  by  the 
war  in  America,  led  to  an  attempt  to  use  rum  as  a 
substitute  for  it  in  paint.  As  it  was  represented 
that  the  metliylation  of  rum  for  that  purpose  would 
be  a  great  boon  to  the  West  Indian  colonies,  by 
affording  an  outlet  to  inferior  produce,  which  was 
scarcely  saleable  as  beverage,  the  authority  of  Par¬ 
liament  was  obtained  for  allowing  the  mixture  of  rum 
in  bonded  warehouses  with  wood  naphtha.  The  ex¬ 
pectation  of  its  utility  as  a  substitute  was  not  real¬ 
ized.  The  same  Act  legalized  the  exportation  of 
methylated  spirit. 

Up  to  the  year  1866  the  consumption  of  methy¬ 
lated  spirit  had,  by  an  almost  regular  progression, 
continued  to  increase,  rising  from  218,103  gallons  in 
1856  to  1,070,897  gallons  in  1865.  The  fraudulent 
practice  of  making  a  compound  of  methylated  spirit, 
wlhcli  under  the  pretence  of  being  used  as  a  medi¬ 
cine,  was  in  reality  sold  as  a  stimulant  in  the  place 
of  ordinary  spirits,  although  not  extensively  prevail¬ 
ing,  had,  in  186(5,  become  an  increasing  practice,  and 
from  every  point  of  view,  it  appeared  most  desirable 
that  it  should  be  suppressed.  It  was  also  intimately 
connected  with  the  application  of  methylated  spirit 
to  purposes  for  which  it  was  never  intended,  though 
not  expressly  prohibited,  namely,  the  preparation  of 
tinctures  and  of  medicines  for  internal  use,  an  appli¬ 
cation  of  that  spirit  which  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  considered  highly  objectionable. 


It  was  therefore  necessary  to  resort  to  legislation, 
and  to  prohibit  entirely  the  use  of  methylated  spirit 
in  any  preparation  which  could  be  used  internally  as 
a  medicine.  Sulphuric  ether  and  chloroform,  on  ac¬ 
count  of  their  being  used  extensively  in  arts  and  ma¬ 
nufactures,  were  excepted  from  the  prohibition  above 
specified.  Methylated  spirit  may  also  still  be  em¬ 
ployed  as  a  solvent  or  agent  in  the  production  of 
medicines,  provided  no  spirit  or  derivative  thereof 
shall  remain  after  the  completion  of  the  process.  In 
addition  to  this  prohibition,  it  has  been  found  advis¬ 
able  to  impose  a  legal  restraint  upon  any  alteration 
in  the  character  of  the  compound  known  as  “  finish,” 
except  by  the  introduction  of  more  resin  or  colouring 
matter. 

The  object  is  to  prevent  “  finish,”  which  may  be 
procured  in  unlimited  quantity  by  the  general  public 
without  certificate  or  a  compliance  with  any  forms, 
being  applied  to  other  than  its  legitimate  purposes, 
that  of  a  polish  for  furniture. 

Attempts  have  at  times  been  made  to  purify  and 
render  drinkable  the  methylated  spirit,  but  appa¬ 
rently  without  success.  The  presence  of  the  re¬ 
quired  portion  of  gum-resin  in  finish  was  considered 
to  be  a  sufficient  safeguard  to  the  revenue,  but  there 
is  no  doubt  that  large  quantities  of  finish  were  turned 
to  improper  account,  either  by  covering  the  nauseous 
flavour  with  aromatics  or  by  distillation  with  acids, 
which  effected  a  conversion  into  potable  ethers. 

As  an  additional  security  to  the  revenue  therefore, 
as  well  as  to  ensure  the  using  of  the  finish  for  none 
but  the  approved  purposes  in  the  arts,  a  provision  in 
the  law  was  made  to  the  preceding  effect.  Tliis 
legislation  has  checked  consumption  to  a  consider¬ 
able  extent,  by  confining  it  to  legitimate  purposes. 
In  the  year  ending  March  1866,  1,070,897  gallons 
were  used;  1867,  1,031,214;  1868,  854,844;  1869, 
885,957.  Tliis  decline  probably  represents  the  ex¬ 
tent  to  which  this  spirit  was  applied  either  to  frau¬ 
dulent  purposes,  or  to  those  such  as  the  preparation 
of  medicines  for  internal  use  to  which  its  application 
was  undesirable. 

The  increase  in  the  last  year  may  be  fairly  con¬ 
sidered  as  representing  the  natural  growth  of  a  legi¬ 
timate  consumption.  The  number  of  licences  granted 
to  makers  in  1869  was  only  6  in  England,  2  in  Scot¬ 
land,  and  1  in  Ireland.  The  retailers  who  had 
licences,  however,  numbered  991  in  England,  148  in 
Scotland,  and  41  in  Ireland. 


Cjjajtta  for  j&fttiitttts. 

CHEMICAL  NOTES  TO  THE  PHARMACOPOEIA. 

BY  WILLIAM  A.  TILDEN,  B.SC.  LOND. 

DEMONSTRATOR  OF  PRACTICAL  CHEMISTRY  TO  THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 

Cadmii  Iodidum. —  [§  It  may  be  formed  by  direct 
combination  of  iodine  and  cadmium  in  the  presence 
of  water.]  Cadmium  is  a  metal  which  accompanies 
zinc  in  its  ores,  and  resembles  it  in  many  respects, 
very  closely,  but  is  more  volatile.  It  is  also  distin¬ 
guished  by  giving  a  yellow  sulphide  when  sulphu¬ 
retted  hydrogen  is  passed  into  any  of  its  acid  solu¬ 
tions,  and  this  yellow  precipitate  is  not  soluble  in 
sulphide  of  ammonium.  The  latter  character  sepa¬ 
rates  it  from  the  sulphide  of  arsenic,  which  is  of  a 
similar  colour.  [§  Iodide  of  cadmium,  in  addition 
to  the  preceding  reactions,  gives  a  white  gelatinous 


5G1 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [January  14, 187?. 


precipitate  with  excess  of  solution  of  potash,  the  fil¬ 
trate  from  which  is  unaffected  by  sulphide  of  ammo¬ 
nium.]  If  any  zinc  compound  were  present  the  fil¬ 
trate  would  retain  it,  and  would  give  white  sulphide 
of  zinc  on  the  addition  of  sulphide  of  ammonium. 
[§  Ten  grains  dissolved  in  water  and  nitrate  of  silver 
added  in  excess,  give  a  precipitate  which,  when 
washed  with  water  and  afterwards  with  half  an  ounce 
of  solution  of  ammonia  and  dried,  weighs  12'5  grains.] 
The  precipitate  is,  of  course,  iodide  of  silver,  and  the 
object  of  washing  it  with  ammonia  is  to  remove  ad¬ 
hering  traces  of  the  cadmium  salt.  It  should  he  re¬ 
membered  that  the  precipitate  is  not  absolutely  in¬ 
soluble  in  ammonia.  Since  Cdl2  is  the  formula  of 
iodide  of  cadmium,  it  will  yield  2  molecules  of  AgT. 
266  parts  of  iodide  of  cadmium  give  then  170  parts 
of  iodide  of  silver;  10  grains  will  therefore  yield, 
theoretically,  12 ’84  grains. 

Calcii  Chloridum. —  [§  It  may  be  formed  by  neu¬ 
tralizing  hydrochloric  acid  with  carbonate  of  lime, 
adding  a  little  solution  of  chlorinated  lime  and  slaked 
lime  to  the  solution,  filtering,  evaporating  until  it 
becomes  solid,  and  finally  drying  the  salt  at  about 
490°.] 

The  object  of  this  process  is  to  remove  from  the 
salt  ferric  oxide  and  alumina,  which  are  very  com¬ 
monly  present.  When  thus  prepared,  the  product 
answers  to  the  Pharmacopoeia  test.  [§  The  aqueous 
solution  is  not  precipitated  by  the  addition  of  lime- 
water.] 

C alcis  Carbonas  prjecipitata. — Solutions  of  chlo¬ 
ride  of  calcium  and  carbonate  of  soda  are  mixed  to¬ 
gether,  the  precipitate  collected,  well  washed  and 
dried  at  212Q  : — 


CaC%+  Na2C03  =  Ca  C03  +  2NaCl. 

See  Creta  Prceparata. 

C alcis  Hydras. — The  operation  of  slaking  lime  is 
familiar  to  every  one.  In  operating  upon  small 
quantities  hot  water  is  best.  Slaked  lime  should 
not  be  exposed  to  the  air  for  any  length  of  time,  as 
it  absorbs  carbonic  anhydride,  becoming  converted 
into  carbonate. 

Very  pure  lime,  free  from  the  alumina,  iron,  silica 
and  alkaline  chlorides  commonly  present  in  the  or¬ 
dinary  kind,  is  now  prepared  commercially  from 
marble,  and  can  be  procured  at  a  cheap  rate. 

Calcis  Phosphas. — Bone  ash  is  digested  in  di¬ 
luted  hydrochloric  acid,  and  the  filtered  liquid  mixed 
with  solution  of  ammonia  in  slight  excess.  The  pre¬ 
cipitated  phosphate  is  to  be  thoroughly  washed  'with 
hot  water.  Bone  ash  is  composed  of : — 

Cas2P04 


CaHP04 
CaCOs 
MgHP04w 
CaF*.  }tiaces- 


Tricalcic  phosphate 
Monocalcic  phosphate 
Calcic  carbonate  .  . 

Magnesic  phosphate 
Calcic  fluoride  .  . 

Mixed  with  particles  of  carbonaceous  matter.  Wher 
treated  with  hydrochloric  acid,  all  dissolve  except  tin 
particles  of  carbon  and  sandy  matters  that  are  gene 
rally  present.  On  filtering  the  solution  and  adding 
ammonia,  the  chloride  of  calcium,  which  was  formec 
by  the  solution  of  the  carbonate,  supplies  calciun 
to  the  monocalcic  phosphate,  and  thus  a  precipitate 
composed  chiefly  of  Ca3  2  P04,  is  produced.  For  de 
tection  of  phosphate  o±  lime,  see  Bism.  Subxitras. 

Calx. — See  Calcis  Hydras. 

Calx  Chlorata. —  [§  A  product  obtained  by  ex¬ 
posing  slaked  lime  to  the  action  of  chlorine  gas  as 


long  as  the  latter  is  absorbed.  It  possesses  bleach¬ 
ing  and  disinfecting  properties.]  This  compound  is 
very  commonly  represented  as  a  mixture  of  hypo¬ 
chlorite  and  chloride  of  calcium — 


2  CaO  +  2  Cl2  =  Ca  2  CIO  +  CaCL. 

Hypochlorite.  Chloride. 


Many  of  its  characters,  however,  indicate  that  this 
view  cannot  be  correct.  Thus,  it  is  not  so  soluble 
in  water  as  it  should  be  on  such  a  supposition  ;  it  is 
not  particularly  deliquescent,  and  yields  but  a  small 
amount  of  chloride  of  calcium  when  treated  with 
spirit.  It  is  more  probably  a  compound  intermediate 
between  the  chloride  and  hypochlorite,  the  constitu¬ 
tion  of  which  may  be  represented  by  the  following 
formulae :  — 


Ca" 


Cl 

Cl 


Chloride 
of  Calcium. 


Ca"-fC1 
| (CIO)' 

Calx 

Chlorata. 


Ca" 


(CIO)' 

(CIO)' 


Hypochlorite 
of  Calcium. 


[§  The  solution  evolves  chlorine  copiousty  upon  the 
addition  of  oxalic  acid,  and  deposits  at  the  same  time 
oxalate  of  lime.] 

CaCICIO  +  H2C204=  CaC204  +  H20  +  Cl2. 

[§  1  gram  mixed  with  3  grams  of  iodide  of  potas¬ 
sium,  and  dissolved  in  4  fluid  ounces  of  water,  pro¬ 
duces,  when  acidulated  with  2  fluid  drams  of  hydro¬ 
chloric  acid,  a  reddish  solution,  which  requires  for 
the  discharge  of  its  colour  at  least  85  cubic  centi¬ 
metres  of  the  volumetric  solution  of  hyposulphite 
of  soda,  corresponding  to  30  per  cent,  of  chlorine 
liberated  by  the  hydrochloric  acid.]  The  action  of 
the  hydrochloric  acid  on  the  chlorinated  lime  is 
this : — 


Ca  Cl  Cl  O  +  2  H  Cl  =  Ca  Cl2  +  H2  0  +  CL, 

and  each  atom  of  chlorine  thus  produced  liberates 
an  atom  of  iodine  from  the  iodide  of  potassium. 
When  that  salt  is  present,  therefore,  in  sufficient 
quantity,  part  of  it  is  decomposed,  and  not  chlorine, 
but  iodine,  is  set  free — 

CaCICIO  -f  2  HC1  +  2  KI 
=  CaCla-F  H20  +  2KC1  +  I2. 

The  amount  of  iodine  is  then  determined  by  the  em¬ 
ployment  of  the  solution  of  hyposulphite  of  soda. 
This  is  made  by  dissolving  1  molecule  (248  grams) 
of  the  crystallized  salt  in  water,  and  making  the  so¬ 
lution  measure  10,000  cubic  centimetres.  This  quan¬ 
tity  would  therefore  be  sufficient  to  decolorize  1 
atom,  or  127  grams,  of  iodine. 

2  Na2  S2  03  5  H20  -f-  I2 

Hyposulphite.  Iodine. 

=  2NaI  +  Na2S406+  5H20. 

Iodide.  Tetrathionate 
of  Sodium. 

If  85  cubic  centimetres  are  necessary  to  decolorize 
the  iodine  set  free  by  1  gram  of  the  calx  chlorata, 
this  indicates  L0795  gram  of  iodine,  and  conse¬ 
quently  an  equivalent  quantity,  or  '30175  of  Cl,— 

10,000  :  85  :  :  35*5  grams  of  chlorine, 

equivalent  to  127  grams  of  iodine:  '30175  gram,  the 
chlorine  available  from  1  gram  of  calx  chlorata. 

Since  1  gram  yields  '30175  of  Cl,  100  grams  yield 
30T75.  Tins  is  the  same  as  saying  30  per  cent. 


January  14, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


565 


THE  EXTRACTION  OF  THE  POISONOUS  PRINCIPLE 
OF  THE  TUTU  PLANT  (CORIARIA  RUSCIFOLIA). 

BY  W.  SKEY, 

Analyst  to  the  Gcoloyical  Survey  of  New  Zealand. 

A  great  many  experiments  have,  from  time  to  time, 
been  made  upon  the  Tutu  plant,  with  the  object  of  ex¬ 
tracting  the  formidable  poison  known  by  sad  experience 
to  exist  therein  ;  but,  as  is  well  known,  these  attempts 
have  been  always  unsuccessful,  and  have,  besides,  com¬ 
pletely  failed  to  discover  anything  at  all  definite  as  to 
the  chemical  or  physical  character  of  the  poison. 

Among  these  experiments  is  a  series  I  made  while 
connected  with  the  Geological  Survey  Department  of 
Otago,  a  notice  of  which  appeared  in  the  “Jurors’  Re¬ 
port  for  the  New  Zealand  Exhibition  of  1865,’,’  the  only 
result,  however,  being  to  prepare  the  way  for  future 
inquiry,  which  was  promised  at  the  time. 

The  Tutu  plant  does  not  grow  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Wellington  in  any  quantity,  hence  I  have  been  greatly 
delayed  in  fulfilling  my  promise,  much  against  my  will ; 
but  recently  a  large  quantity  of  the  seed  of  this  plant 
has  been  kindly  presented  to  the  Survey,  for  this  par¬ 
ticular  purpose,  by  Mr.  H.  H.  Travers,  and  upon  this  I 
at  once  commenced  operations. 

The  plan  I  adopted  was  to  separate,  as  well  as  I  could, 
all  the  more  immediate  proximate  constituents  of  the 
seed  (in  which  the  poison  is  known  to  exist),  and  to  test 
each  likely  one  by  itself,  in  its  effects  upon  the  animal 
economy. 

First,  I  extracted  a  portion  of  the  finely-ground  seed 
with  cold  water,  and  another  portion  with  weakly  acidi¬ 
fied  water,  and  treated  them  separately  by  a  new  process, 
now  much  in  vogue,  for  the  separation  of  alkaloids 
(Rogers  and  Girwood),  all  the  evaporations  being  con¬ 
ducted  at  a  temperature  not  exceeding  90°  F. 

The  residuum  from  these  processes  was  very  small, 
and  gave  no  indications  of  the  presence  of  alkaloids  to 
the  proper  tests  ;  it  consisted  almost  wholly  of  gummy 
matters. 

The  result  seemed  to  dispose  of  all  that  was  soluble  in 
water  or  weak  acids,  and,  to  a  certain  extent,  impugned 
the  correctness  of  the  general  idea  that  this  poison  is  of 
the  nature  of  an  alkaloid. 

The  part  of  the  seed  insoluble  in  these  reagents  was 
next  examined. 

Alcohol  was  passed  through  this  repeatedly  and  the 
extract  evaporated,  when  a  large  quantity  of  a  greenish- 
red  coloured  substance  discovered  itself.  This,  treated 
with  ether,  separated  into  two  parts,  one  a  green-coloured 
oil,  soluble  therein,  the  other  a  resinous  substance  quite 
insoluble  in  this  menstruum. 

The  resinoid  substance  was  reserved  for  after-examina¬ 
tion,  and  the  oil  at  once  tested  in  regard  to  its  effects  on 
the  animal  economy. 

For  this  purpose  I  administered  about  five  minims  of 
it  to  a  full-grown  cat,  after  a  twelve  hours’  fast ;  the  oil 
acted  as  an  emetic  in  a  short  time,  and  the  greater  por¬ 
tion  of  it  was  vomited.  In  half  an  hour,  however,  the 
animal  showed  signs  of  uneasiness,  and  convulsive 
twitches  of  the  ears  and  eyes,  together  with  a  forward 
jerking  of  the  head,  took;  place,  also  much  frothing  of 
the  mouth,  culminating  in  a  convulsive  fit,  in  about  one 
hour  after  the  dose  was  administered.  After  a  little 
while  this  fit  passed  off,  only  the  twitches  and  forward 
jerkings  continuing ;  but  a  second  very  severe  fit,  of 
short  duration,  occurred  in  about  one  hour  afterwards, 
after  which  the  cat  gradually  rallied.  These  symptoms 
agreed  generally  with  those  exhibited  by  cattle  and  sheep 
when  poisoned  by  this  plant. 

Although  I  have  made  but  one  experiment,  I  think  it 
will  be  allowed  that  the  result  of  this  has  fairly  proved 
that  the  poison  of  the  seed,  and  so,  by  a  very  proper 
inference,  the  poison  of  the  plant  generally — since  I  find 
an  oily  substance  throughout  it  —exists  in  this  oil,  if  it  is 
not  the  oil  itself.  It  therefore  now  only  remains  to  be 


ascertained  whether  this  oil  is  a  single  proximate  sub¬ 
stance  or  a  mixture  or  compound  of  such,  and  if  the 
latter,  which  is,  or  which  are,  the  active  ones  concerned 
in  the  production  of  these  phenomena  I  have  described. 
Unfortunately,  I  had  not  sufficient  of  the  oil  to  allow 
me  to  test  this  properly,  but  I  am  in  hopes  of  having  it 
shortly,  as  I  have  been  promised  a  large  quantity  of  these 
seeds  from  Taranaki. 

The  following  are  the  characteristics  of  this  oil,  as 
ascertained  up  to  the  present  time. 

Somewhat  viscid  at  common  temperature,  but  flowing 
freely  at  a  little  above  this ;  colour,  pale  green ;  reaction, 
acid ;  taste,  bland ;  burns  away  readily  with  much 
flame  ;  scarcely  volatile  without  decomposition ;  soluble 
in  ether,  alcohol,  chloroform,  and  strong  acetic  acid ; 
insoluble  in  hydrochloric  or  nitric  acid ;  also  insoluble  in 
water ;  does  not  dry  when  long  exposed  to  the  air. 

When  boiled  with  solutions  of  the  caustic  alkalies 
there  is  much  frothing,  but  only  a  portion  of  the  oil  dis¬ 
solves,  even  when  the  boiling  is  continued  for  many 
hours  ;  the  portion  dissolved  was  found  to  be  saponified. 
The  whole  of  the  oil  is,  however,  soluble  in  a  cold  alco¬ 
holic  solution  of  potash,  without  yielding  a  precipitate 
when  admixed  with  water  ;  hence  it  is  probable  that  all 
the  acid  portion  of  the  oil  is  really  saponifiable, — that 
which  was  unsaponifiable,  in  the  first  instance,  being  a 
product  of  the  metamorphosis  of  a  portion  of  the  normal 
oil  by  the  process  employed. 

When  the  oil  is  heated  to.  the  decomposing-point,  a 
substance  is  given  off'  having  the  pungent  odour  of 
acrolein,  a  substance  characteristic  of  the  presence  of 
glycerine,  or  oxide  of  lipyle,  the  base  of  common  fatty 
bodies. 

Heated  with  caustic  alkalies,  either  in  the  wet  or  the 
dry  way,  there  are  no  alkaline  vapours  evolved,  but  in 
the  latter  case  an  odorous  oil  forms,  probably  oenanthylic 
acid. 

From  the  reaction  of  this  oil,  here  described,  it  evi¬ 
dently  belongs  to  the  series  of  non-drying  fixed  oils ;  in 
its  solubility  in  alcohol  or  acetic  acid,  it  bears  a  remark¬ 
able  resemblance  to  castor  oil,  the  only  other  fixed  oil 
which  I  find  to  be  wholly  soluble  in  acetic  acid.  Now, 
castor  oil,  it  will  be  remembered,  is  a  very  peculiar  oil. 
It  does  not  contain  any  of  the  acids  of  the  common  oils 
or  fats,  but  in  place  of  them,  two  very  singular  acids, 
quite  peculiar,  I  believe,  to  this  variety  of  oil;  hence 
I  conceive  the  acid  part  of  this  oil  of  Tutu  to  be  also 
quite  distinct  from  the  ordinary  fatty  acids  ;  to  be,  in 
all  probability,  peculiar  to  it ;  and  to  one  or  more  ot 
these  acids  I  should  ascribe  the  poisonous  effects  of  the 
oil. 

If  further  experiments  should  confirm  the  correctness 
of  the  views  here  stated,  this  case  will,  I  conceive,  be¬ 
come  invested  with  an  interest  beyond  that  immediately 
under  our  notice,  since  it  will  offer  another  instance  in 
which  a  non-nitrogenous  oily  principle  is  proved  to  affect 
the  system  like  a  neurotic  poison,  this  class  of  poisons 
being  almost  always  alkaloids,  or  at  least  nitrogenous 
substances. 

Now  it  will  be  remembered  there  are  several  poisonous 
plants  in  Europe  which  have,  hitherto,  refused  to  yield 
any  pure  poisonous  principle  to  chemical  processes,  but 
then  these  processes  have  been,  as  a  general  rule,  I 
believe,  especially  for  the  detection  of  alkaloids.  With 
this  case  to  point,  therefore,  it  does  seem  in  the  highest 
degree  probable  that,  in  some  of  these  cases,  at  least, 
the  poisonous  effects  may  be  due  to  a  non-nitrogenous 
oil,  not  yet  isolated  or  examined.  In  view  of  this  I 
have  recommended  the  subject  for  examination  to  a 
friend  of  mine  residing  in  England,  so  that  I  expect 
in  a  few  months  to  hear  something  more  of  this,  or  else 
to  have  selections  of  seeds,  etc.,  from  the  plants  I  have 
named  in  my  letter,  so  that  I  can  inquire  into  this  sub¬ 
ject  myself.*  _ 

*  Since  this  paper  was  read,  I  learn  ironi  the  Chemical 
Neivs  (vul.  xx.  p.  70)  that  M.  Van  Ankum  his  discovered 


5GG 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [January  H,  1871. 


With  regard  to  antidotes  for  administration  to  animals, 
etc.,  poisoned  with  the  Tutu  plant,  I  should  he  inclined 
to  think  that,  in  addition  to  emetics  and  purgatives,  very 
dilute  acids  would  ho  beneficial,  since,  by  preventing- 
saponification  of  the  oil,  they  would  tend  to  keep  it  in¬ 
soluble  and  therefore  inert. 

As  being  somewhat  related  to  the  subject,  I  may  state 
that  the  seed  of  the  Karaka-tree  {Cory nocarpus  leevigata ), 
which  is  also  of  a  poisonous  nature,  has  refused,  in  a 
similar  manner,  to  yield  any  alkaloid  to  my  processes, 
but  it  gives  up  an  oil  to  alcohol,  which  resembles  the 
above  in  some  of  its  reactions.  It  seems  to  exercise  a 
specific  effect  upon  the  animal  economy  when  adminis¬ 
tered  in  small  doses,  inducing  at  first  great  uneasiness, 
and  afterwards  restless,  unwilling  sleep,  with  sudden 
starting.  Unfortunately  I  had  not  sufficient  of  it  to  get 
any  decisive  results. 

This  oil  is  also  soluble  in  alcohol,  acetic  acid,  ether 
and  in  hydrochloric  acid. 

It  is  very  bitter,  and  feebly  soluble  in  water. 

In  one  important  respect  it  differs  from  the  oil  of 
Tutu.  It  evolves  ammonia  when  boiled  with  potash, 
thus,  in  regard  to  its  composition,  allying  itself  to  the 
alkaloids,  though  in  its  reactions  apparently  distinct. — 
Chemical  News. 


IMPROVED  METHOD  OF  PRODUCING  HYDROGEN 

GAS. 

MM.  Tessie  du  Motay  and  Marechal,  who  have  lately 
discovered  a  mode  of  obtaining  cheap  oxygen  for  illumi¬ 
nating  and  medical  purposes  from  the  manganates  of 
soda,  have  sought  a  more  practical  and  economical  me¬ 
thod  of  producing  hydrogen  by  the  decomposition  of 
water  by  means  of  carbon,  and  they  have  discovered  the 
following  method,  which  has  given  the  most  extraordi¬ 
nary  results.  Alkaline  and  earthy  alkaline  hydrates, 
such  as  the  hydrate  of  potash,  soda,  strontium,  baryta, 
chalk,  etc.,  mixed  with  charcoal,  coke,  anthracite,  pit 
coal,  peat,  etc.,  and  heated  to  a  red  heat,  are  decomposed 
into  carbonic  acid  and  hydrogen,  without  further  loss  of 
heat  than  that  due  to  the  production  of  the  carbonic  acid 
and  hydrogen.  The  hydrates  of  potash,  soda,  etc.,  and 
more  especially  the  hydrates  of  chalk  or  lime,  decom¬ 
posed  by  the  coal  into  hydrogen  and  carbonic  acid,  can 
be  used  indefinitely  in  this  process,  provided  they  are 
moistened  each  time  with  water,  so  as  to  reproduce  the 
decomposed  hydrates.  In  this  operation,  the  hydrogen 
gas  is  generated  without  any  special  production  of 
steam,  and  may  thus  be  produced  without  any  other 
generating  apparatus  than  the  retorts  themselves. 
These  retorts,  not  being  exposed  to  the  direct  action  of 
the  steam,  are  not  subject  to  any  interior  alteration  or 
damage.  It  follows,  therefore,  that  the  hydrogen  gas 
produced  by  the  decomposition  of  the  above-named  hy¬ 
drates  by  means  of  carbon  can  be  generated  at  a  very 
small  cost,  and  with  the  same  facility  as  carburetted 
hydrogens  from  the  distillation  of  pit- coal  or  rather  or¬ 
ganic  hydro-carbon  matter.  These  alkaline  and  earthy 
alkaline  hydrates  may  be  mixed  with  the  different  mine¬ 
ral  or  vegetable  combustibles,  either  in  a  definite  che¬ 
mical  proportion,  or  without  a  fixed  or  determinate  pro¬ 
portion,  and  in  any  suitable  distilling  or  heating  appa¬ 
ratus,  in  order  to  produce,  when  heated  to  a  red  heat, 
hydrogen  gas  for  illuminating  and  heating  purposes. 
The  advantage  of  the  production  of  hydrogen  as  cheaply 
as  oxygen,  which  has  been  obtained,  is  likely  to  create  a 
revolution  in  many  industries,  and  especially  in  metal- 
]urgy.  A  cheap  method  of  producing  a  great  heat  in 
order  to  reduce  metals,  such  as  platinum,  gold,  silver, 
and  iron,  has  long  been  sought  for  in  Europe,  where  the 

the  poisonous  principle  of  the  Cicuta  virosa  to  be  an  essen¬ 
tial  oil,  of  formula  C10HS,  but  “could  not  find  any  alkaloid 
in  this  plant  at  all.  ’  This  was  one  of  the  plants  especially 
selected  for  examination  in  the  communication  alluded  to. 


oxyhydric  blowpipe  is  now  used  to  melt  the  platinum  in 
a  calcium  crucible.  By  this  discovery  it  becomes  possi¬ 
ble  to  obtain  an  immense  heat  which  could  be  regulated 
by  a  simple  tap.  Enamellers  and  porcelain  makers  may 
thus  get  rid  of  one  of  their  greatest  troubles. — Journal 
of  the  Society  of  Arts. 


PHARMACEUTICAL  NOTES. 

BY  ALBERT  E.  EBERT. 

On  several  occasions  we  have  been  requested  by  phy¬ 
sicians  to  prepare  pills  from  the  oil  of  yellow  sandal¬ 
wood,  each  containing  from  five  to  ten  drops.  This  we 
accomplished  to  the  satisfaction  of  both  prescriber  and 
patient,  by  the  following  method : — 

Take  of  Oil  of  Yellow  Sandal  Wood, 

Yellow  Wax,  each  half  a  troy  ounce. 

Melt  the  wax  in  a  capsule  and  weigh  into  it  the  oil  ot 
sandal  wood  ;  mix  and  stir  until  cold,  then  roll  out  the 
mass,  and  divide  it  into  80  pills,  by  means  of  the  pill- 
machine  or  pill-tile,  in  the  same  manner  as  an  ordi¬ 
nary  mass,  and  sprinkle  with  marshmallow-root  powder. 
Each  pill  contains  three  grains,  or  about  five  drops  of 
the  oil.  The  excipient  is  unobjectionable,  as  it  is  readily 
soluble  in  the  juices  of  the  stomach.  In  the  same  man¬ 
ner  we  have  made  pills  of  the  oils  of  cubebs,  black  pepper 
and  fleabane. 

Tincture  of  Calabar  bean  is  frequently  prescribed,  and 
there  is  considerable  variation  in  its  strength  as  dispensed 
by  different  pharmacists.  We  have  been  accustomed  to 
prepare  the  tincture,  using  one  part  of  bean  to  ten  of 
liquid,  the  menstruum  consisting  of  alcohol,  three  parts, 
and  water,  one  part.  The  bean,  previously  reduced  to  a 
fine  powder,  is  macerated  for  several  days  with  the  water, 
the  alcohol  is  then  added,  and  the  whole  is  allowed  to 
macerate  eight  days  longer.  Finally,  the  mixture  is 
thrown  upon  a  filter,  and  when  the  liquid  has  ceased  to 
pass,  pour  upon  the  residue  sufficiency  of  the  alcoholic 
menstruum  to  make  up  the  original  measure.  It  is  dif¬ 
ficult,  by  means  of  the  mortar  and  pestle,  to  reduce  the 
whole  of  the  calabar  bean  to  the  requisite  degree  of  fine¬ 
ness  ;  besides,  by  this  means  much  waste  of  the  valuable 
material  must  occur.  To  avoid  these  difficulties,  we 
have  resorted  to  the  goodwife’s  sanctum  and  appropriated 
that  piece  of  apparatus  so  indispensable  to  a  cup  of  good 
coffee,  namely,  the  coffee  mill,  which  we  have  found  to 
answer  to  a  charm  the  purpose  of  reducing  the  Calabar 
bean  without  incurring  loss  and  without  waste  of  time. 
We  can  heartily  recommend  the  purchase  of  such  a  mill 
for  use  in  reducing  small  quantities  of  many  hard  drugs, 
as  stramonium  and  colchicum  seed,  etc. 

Extract  of  Calabar  bean  is  quoted  by  certain  manu¬ 
facturers  of  pharmacal  preparations  at  $1.25  per  ounce. 
Having  had  some  demand  for  the  article  we  undertook 
to  prepare  the  article,  and  after  thoroughly  exhausting 
the  bean,  upon  evaporation  of  the  solution,  were  sur¬ 
prised  to  find  the  yield  of  extract  to  be  but  a  trifle  over 
one  troy  ounce  from  sixteen  troy  ounces  of  the  bean. 
We  find  that  other  manipulators  have  obtained  even 
smaller  results.  The  query  naturally  arises,  how  can 
any  manufacturer  find  it  profitable  to  furnish  the  extract 
at  $1.25  per  ounce,  when  it  requires  one  pound  of  ma¬ 
terial,  costing  $4  to  obtain  that  quantity,  to  say  nothing 
of  the  cost  of  menstruum,  labour,  etc.  ? 

The  dose  of  the  tincture,  as  usually  prescribed,  is  fif¬ 
teen  drops ;  that  would  indicate  the  dose  of  the  extract 
to  be  about  one-twentieth  of  a  grain. 

Lard  is  an  article  constantly  required  in  galenical 
pharmacy,  and  upon  its  purity  and  freedom  from  ran¬ 
cidity  depends,  in  great  measure,  the  preparation  of  such 
ointments  and  cerates  as  will  be  creditable  to  the  careful 
dispenser.  Lard  of  the  requisite  quality  is  within  the 
reach  of  all  who  will  take  the  trouble  to  render  it  from 
the  “leaf  lard,”  which,  in  the  proper  season,  is  always 


567 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


-January  14,  1871.] 


obtainable.  The  difficulty  in  the  way  is  the  preservation 
of  a  sufficient  supply  from  season  to  season  without  its 
becoming  rancid.  Many  suggestions  have  been  made 
by  different  writers,  having  in  view  the  preservation  of 
lard,  by  such  means  as  the  addition  of  gum  resins,  bal¬ 
sams,  or  solutions  of  the  same,  etc.,  but  all  are  liable  to 
some  objection.  The  best  and  simplest  method  of  ac¬ 
complishing  the  desired  end  that  has  come  under  our 
notice  is  that  followed  in  the  Apothecaries’  Hall,  at 
•Glasgow,  Scotland,  where  the  freshly-prepared  lard  is 
tilled  into  bladders,  which  are  afterwards  tied  at  their 
necks  and  suspended  in  a  cool  cellar. 

Savin  Cerate. — This  excellent  irritant  cerate  is  but 
little  used  at  present ;  indeed,  so  seldom  is  it  prescribed, 
that  the  dispenser  is  apt  to  find  to  his  dismay  his  stock 
on  hand,  injured  by  exposure  and  age.  It  is  preferable, 
therefore,  to  prepare  this  cerate  extemporaneously,  when 
required,  and  this  can  be  readily  done  by  keeping  for 
the  purpose  the  oleo-resin  of  savin,  prepared  by  ex¬ 
hausting  the  leaves  with  ether,  and  evaporating  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  U.  S.  P.  formula  for  the  cerate.  By  weighing 
the  oleo-resin,  and  ascertaining  the  proportionate  amount 
appropriate  to  each  ounce  of  cerate,  the  two  may  be 
mixed  whenever  required. 

Ointment  of  Iodide  of  Sulphur. — The  direction  of  the 
Pharmacopoeia  “  to  reduce  the  iodide  of  sulphur  to  a 
tine  powder,  with  a  little  of  the  lard,”  has  not  proved 
practicable  in  our  hands,  as  by  the  process  we  have  failed 
to  reduce  the  iodide  to  the  fine  state  of  division  essential 
to  a  good  ointment.  Several  modifications  have  been 
proposed,  as  triturating  with  small  quantities  of  alcohol, 
ether,  chloroform,  and  bisulphide  of  carbon ;  but  these 
substances  have  little  solvent  action  on  the  iodide ;  the 
use  of  the  iodide  of  potassium  has  also  been  suggested, 
but  this  decomposes  the  iodide  and  hence  is  objection¬ 
able.  Oil  of  turpentine  has  been  used,  but  we  have 
found  the  best  success  attending  the  use  of  the  oil  of 
lavender  as  a  solvent — a  few  drops  being  sufficient,  and 
there  can  be  no  reasonable  objection  to  this  addition. 

To  secure  dispatch  in  the  mixing  of  extracts  with 
'ointments  and  cerates,  we  keep  such  extracts  as  bella¬ 
donna,  stramonium,  opium  and  arnica,  in  a  fluid  condi¬ 
tion,  by  means  of  equal  parts  of  water  and  glycerin. 
The  diluted  glycerin  is  added  to  its  own  weight  of  ex¬ 
tract,  and  when  the  latter  is  prescribed  in  combination 
with  a  cerate,  it,  of  course,  is  only  necessary  to  substi- 
iute  for  the  extract  double  its  weight  of  the  liquefied 
•article. 

It  is  of  frequent  occurrence  that  prescribers  direct 
large  quantities  of  watery  or  alcoholic  solutions  to  be 
mixed  with  ointments  or  cerates.  The  best  means  of  in¬ 
corporating  the  greatest  possible  quantity  is  to  melt  the 
fatty  matter  and  stir  in  the  solution. 

Tannic  acid  is  seldom  found  in  the  matter  of  such 
purity  as  to  form  a  clear  solution.  To  facilitate  the  dis¬ 
pensing  of  solutions  of  this  acid,  we  are  accustomed  to 
keep  on  hand  a  clear  standard  solution,  preserved  by 
glycerin.  It  is  prepared  by  dissolving  the  tannin  in  a 
•small  quantity  of  water,  filtering  the  solution,  adding  a 
’weight  of  glycerin  equal  to  that  of  tannic  acid  employed, 
and  evaporating  the  fluid  to  such  an  extent  that  each 
part  of  tannin  is  represented  by  two  parts  by  weight  of 
the  solution. 

Suppositories. — When  moulds  of  block  tin  are  used, 
the  main  point  necessary  to  secure  success  is  to  have  the 
moulds  thoroughly  chilled  by  ice  before  the  addition  of 
the  melted  material ;  when  this  is  observed,  there  is  no 
difficulty  in  removing  the  suppositories  with  ease  and 
within  a  few  minutes. 

Rose  W 'iter. — When  this  is  propared  from  the  oil  by 
rubbing  with  magnesia  and  adding  water,  a  certain  loss 
of  oil  occurs  (absorbed  by  the  magnesia)  and  the  result¬ 
ing  water  will  not  give  clear  solutions  with  nitrate  of 
silver,  owing  to  the  solution  of  a  minute  quantity  of  the 
carbonate  of  magnesia,  or  of  saline  matters  contaminating 
Ihe  latter,  or  both.  A  better  method,  and  which,  of 


course,  yields  a  pure  product,  is  to  drop  the  oil  into  boil¬ 
ing  distilled  water  and  incorporate  by  agitation.  Other 
medicated  waters  may  be  prepared  in  a  similar  manner. 
— The  Chicago  Pharmacist. 


BROMIDE  OF  POTASSIUM.  * 

In  1826  M.  Barthez  and  MM.  Andral  and  Fournet 
published  the  results  of  researches  made  by  them  into 
the  physiological  and  therapeutical  action  of  bromine  and 
of  the  bromide  of  potassium. f  They  reported  that  bro¬ 
mine  possessed  the  power  of  rapidly  removing  pain  in 
joints  affected  by  chronic  arthritis,  and  of  lessening  the 
swelling,  immobility  and  deformity.  M.  Pourche,  of 
Montpellier,  also  had  found  the  bromide  of  service  in  the 
treatment  of  bronchocele,  and  in  scrofulous  affections.  £ 
MM.  Puche,  Huette  and  Rames  attributed  to  this  salt 
an  anaesthetic  action  ;  and  M.  Thielmann,  a  Russian  phy¬ 
sician,  asserted  that  it  exercises  a  marked  sedative  action 
upon  the  organs  of  generation.  In  1836  it  was  intro¬ 
duced  into  the  London  Pharmacopoeia  in  consequence  of 
the  great  success  that  had  followed  its  use  by  Dr.  Wil¬ 
liams,  of  St.  Thomas’s  Hospital,  in  cases  of  enlarged 
spleen.  It  did  not  prove  equally  useful  in  the  hands  of 
other  practitioners.  The  observations  of  M.  Thielmann 
and  others  bore  but  little  fruit  till  they  fell  under  the 
notice  of  Sir  Charles  Locock  and  led  him  to  try  the  bro¬ 
mide  of  potassium  in  cases  of  “  hysterical  epilepsy.”  In 
1857  Sir  Charles  stated  to  the  Medical  and  Chirurgical 
Society  that  he  had  given  the  drug,  in  ten-grain  doses, 
in  fourteen  or  fifteen  cases  of  epilepsy,  and  that  the  drug 
had  proved  eminently  useful.  §  Since  then  the  bromide  has 
become  a  very  “fashionable”  medicine,  and  in  consequence 
has  been  misused  and  overrated,  and  credited  with  reco¬ 
veries  with  which  it  had  in  reality  no  other  relation  than 
one  of  time.  As  a  consequence  of  this,  the  pendulum  of 
opinion  has  in  some  minds  swung  to  the  opposite  ex¬ 
treme  ;  and  there  are  to  be  found  those  who  doubt  whe¬ 
ther  the  drug  possesses  any  real  remedial  powers  at  all. 
There  can,  however,  be  no  doubt  that  when  “  mixed  with 
brains”  it  is  a  medicine  of  very  real  and  great  value. 

Its  mode  of  action  can  hardly  yet  be  defined  with  clear¬ 
ness  and  certainty.  Many  observers  have  reported  on  it, 
but  their  conclusions  have  in  several  cases  been  perplex- 
ingly  contradictory.  At  present  the  conclusions  arrived 
at  by  Dr.  Robert  Amory||  seem  most  satisfactorily  to  ex¬ 
plain  its  therapeutical  properties.  He  considers,  from 
his  experiments,  that  the  effects  of  the  drug  are  produced 
by  its  direct  action  on  the  blood-vessels,  or  the  vaso-motor 
system  which  controls  the  action  of  those  vessels,  and 
that  this  action  can  account  for  and  explain  all  the  phy¬ 
siological  and  therapeutical  actions  of  the  drug.  He  re¬ 
ports  that  the  bromide  is  easily  absorbed  by  the  mucous 
membranes  and  by  the  skin,  provided  that  the  water  in 
which  it  is  dissolved  is  below  the  temperature  of  75° 
Fahrenheit ;  that  its  elimination  is  conducted  by  the  skin 
and  kidneys,  and  that  in  therapeutical  doses  it  is  not 
eliminated  by  the  intestines  or  the  lungs  ;  that  it  passes 
out  of  the  skin  without  decomposition ;  that  the  larger 
the  doses  the  more  intense  and  enduring  is  the  action  on 
the  vaso-motor  system;  and  that  its  action  upon  the 
general  nervous  system  is  secondary  to  and  dependent 
upon  that  of  the  vaso-motor  nerves.  Dr.  Russell  Rey¬ 
nolds  also,  in  a  valuable  and  instructive  paper  on  “  The 
Therapeutic  Usesof  Bromide  of  Potassium,”**  records  his 
opinion  that  the  specific  action  of  the  drug  “  is  exorcised 
on  the  system  of  vaso-motor  nerves,  and  that  it  acts  upon 
that  system  as  a  sedative.” 


*  Abstracted  from  a  series  of  papers  on  the  Progress  of 
Therapeutical  Science  in  the  Medical  Times  and  Gazette. 
f  Journal  de  Chim.  Med.,  etc.,  t.  v.  p.  214. 

£  Ibid.,  t.  iv.  p.  591. 

§  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,  vol.  i.  p.  525,  1857. 

||  American  Journal  of  Medical  Sciences,  1869. 

**  Practitioner,  vol.  i.  pp.  5-17. 


56S 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [January  H,  187T 


As  a  medicine,  the  highest  value  of  the  bromide  lies 
in  its  remedial  powers  over  epilepsy.  On  this  point  the 
general  experience  of  the  profession  agrees  pretty  closely 
with  that  of  Dr.  R.  Reynolds,  who  asserts  that,  in  the 
vast  majority  of  cases  it  is  of  signal  service,  and  that, 
while  it  absolutely  cures  very  many  cases,  it  rarely  fails 
to  diminish  notably  the  number  of  attacks  where  it  does 
not  cure. 

In  many  disorders  producing  or  accompanied  by  men¬ 
tal  disturbance  or  sleeplessness  the  drug  renders  very 
great  service. 

In  delirium  tremens  it  has  also  proved  of  great  ser¬ 
vice,  calming  the  delirium,  producing  sleep,  and  remov¬ 
ing  delusions. 

The  bromide  of  potassium  possesses  yet  further  this 
advantage,  that  it  can  be  given  without  any  danger 
whatever.  Certain  inconveniences  and  discomforts  may 
attend  its  exhibition,  but  no  dangers.  Thus,  it  not  in¬ 
frequently  excites  acne  or  acneiform  eruptions  on  the 
face  or  other  parts ;  but,  en  revanche ,  acne  of  long  stand¬ 
ing  has  sometimes  entirely  disappeared  during  its  exhi¬ 
bition.  In  full  doses,  very  rarely  in  moderate  doses,  the 
drug  may  induce  redness  of  the  palate,  epigastric  heat, 
oedema  of  the  lining  membrane  of  the  mouth,  and  sali¬ 
vation,  drowsiness,  confusion  of  mind,  depression,  failure 
of  memory  in  a  remarkable  degree,  and  weakness  of  the 
arms  and  legs ;  but  all  these  evils  entirely  disappear  on 
the  discontinuance  of  the  drug.  No  permanent  ill-effects 
have  ever  been  observed  to  follow  its  employment. 


Vegetable  Wax  in  Japan. — From  the  notes  of  a 
short  tour  through  the  eastern  parts  of  the  provinces  of 
Echigo,  Iwashiro  and  Uzea,  made  in  June  and  July  of  the 
present  year  by  one  of  H.M.’s  Consuls  in  Japan,  wo  ex¬ 
tract  the  following  : — “  In  passing  through  Yazawa  and 
some  other  villages,  we  found  hemp,  said  to  be  of  good 
quality,  grown  in  frequent  localities  on  the  way,  and  vege¬ 
table  wax  trees  in  abundance.  I  was  informed  at  Tsugawa 
that  the  extraction  of  lacquer  from  the  same  tree  is  pro¬ 
hibited  there,  the  tree  being  reserved  for  the  production 
of  wax.  As  the  lacquer  is  obtained  by  making  incisions 
in  the  bark  of  the  tree  while  young,  the  result  of  which 
is  the  death  of  the  tree  before  coming  to  full  maturity, 
both  products  can  hardly  be  obtained  from  the  same 
tree.  This  appears  to  be  the  reason  for  the  prohibition. 
At  Yonezawa,  on  the  other  hand,  the  extraction  of 
lacquer  from  the  tree  is  permitted,  the  result  of  which  is, 
that  little  vegetable  wax  is  produced  there.  I  observed 
that  many  of  the  trees  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Tsugawa 
had  been  injured,  apparently,  by  the  severity  of  last 
winter.”  The  trees  here  alluded  to  are  those  belonging 
to  the  genus  Hints , — the  most  important  wax-producing 
species  in  Japan  being  It.  succcdanea ,  L.,  the  bulk  of  the 
varnish  being  yielded  by  It.  vernicifera ,  Dec.  The  wax  is 
obtained  from  the  small  fruits,  while  the  varnish  is  pro¬ 
cured  by  tapping  the  trees.  The  species  met  with  at 
Tsugawa  must  have  been  It.  suecedanea ,  as  this  species 
yields  both  wax  and  varnish.  Several  other  species  also 
yield  varnish  more  or  less  in  China  and  Japan.  Little 
is  known  about  the  preparations  of  this  varnish  as  used 
in  the  ancient  lacquer- work  of  the  Japanese;  and  it  is 
said  that  the  modern  workers  in  this  article  in  Japan  have 
themselves  lost  the  secret  of  its  preparation. — Nature. 

_  Petroleum. — The  year’s  business  in  refined  American 
oil  has  been  on  a  most  enormous  scale,  the  exports  from 
the  United  States  up  to  the  16th  of  December,  1870, 
reaching  the  total  of  3,251,374  barrels,  against  2,496,046 
barrels  for  the  w'hole  oi  1869,  although  the  shipments  of 
1869  were  in  oxcess  of  any  former  year.  It  would  thus 
appear  that  the  supply  is  almost  inexhaustible ;  and  as 
the  value  of  the  year’s  shipments  is  about  £8,000,000,  it 
will  be  seen  how  important  a  part  petroleum  plays  in 
the  world’s  commerce.  It  is  deplorable  that  the  Act  of 
1868  should,  as  it  most  undoubtedly  does,  seriously  in¬ 
terfere  with  the  growth  of  the  trade  in  this  eountrv. 


The  dealers  of  the  United  Kingdom  are  harassed  by 
laws  that  have  no  parallel  either  in  America  or  the  great 
consuming  countries  of  the  Continent.  Meantime,  the 
English  public  continue  to  pay  higher  prices  than  the 
inhabitants  of  more  distant  countries,  who  are  not  forced 
to  import  a  special  article,  while  the  really  dangerous 
petroleum  spirit,  or  benzoline,  is  still  admitted  into  our 
ports  in  growing  quantities.  The  range  during  the  past 
twelve  months  was  from  Is.  od.  per  gallon  to  Is.  1  id. ; 
and  closing  prices  arc  Is.  G\d.  for  contract  quality,  and 
Is.  0>\d.  to  Is.  6 'Id.  for  fine. — Messrs.  Phillips  and  Mibb’s 
‘  Trade  Peport  for  1870.’ 


APOTHECARY- GENERAL  (IRELAND). 

Our  readers  will  bo  well  satisfied  to  leam  that,  at  the 
last  moment,  even  after  the  date  of  the  appointment  had 
been  fixed,  the  Commissioners,  who,  as  we  hinted  last 
week,  had  changed  their  minds,  communicated  to  the 
conference  of  the  Poor-Law  Guardians  of  the  North  and. 
South  Dublin  Unions,  held  on  Friday,  Jan.  6th,  that 
they  would  not  press  this  appointment  in  its  present 
form.  The  suggestion  of  inspection  which  we  proposed 
will  probably  be  adopted.  They  do  not  appear  to  con¬ 
sider  now  that  the  qualification  of  apothecary  will  be  a 
sine  qua  non,  as  it  might  have  the  effect  of  excluding 
eminently  qualified  individuals  from  competition.  If 
the  principle  of  inspection  be  adopted,  there  can  hardly 
be  less  than  four  inspectors,  one  for  each  province,  con¬ 
sidering  that  the  number  of  dispensary  stations  and 
workhouses  in  Ireland  is  over  twelve  hundred.  The- 
Commissioners  add  that  the  subject  will  probably  bo 
brought  before  Parliament.  We  counsel  the  Poor-law 
medical  officers  of  Ireland  to  see  that  their  county  repre¬ 
sentatives  bring  their  claims  not  only  for  the  holding  of' 
the  appointment,  but  also  for  assisting  in  the  appointing; 
of  these  inspectors,  before  the  members  of  Parliament 
for  each  county.  In  this  first  step  towards  promotion  in 
Irish  Poor-Law  service,  [they  may  rely  on  the  political 
co-operation  of  both  the  British  Medical  Association  and 
the  Poor-Law  Medical  Officers’  Association  of  England. 
— British  Medical  Journal. 


DRUG  MARKET  NOTES. 


The  following  were  among  the  parcels  of  drugs- 
offered  for  sale  last  week : — 

Aloes, — Cape,  149  cases ;  Barbadoes,  54  kegs ; 
Socotrine,  45  boxes ;  East  Indian,  23  packages. 
Castor  Oil,  498  cases. 

Senna, — Tinnevelly,  90  bales  ;  Alexandrian,  20 
bales. 

Galls, — Bussorah,  04  sacks;  Turkey,  173  bags. 
Talca  Gum,  31  bales. 

Nux  Vomica,  180  bags. 

Cardamoms, — Malabar,  0  cases ;  Madras,  3  cases. 
Ipecacuanha,  13  serons;  Cartliagena,  0  barrels. 
Canella  Alba,  20  cases. 

Cascarilla  Bark,  50  sacks. 

Colocyntli,  Turkey,  20  packages. 

Bark, — Soft  Columbian,  107  serons;  Calisaya, 
08  serons ;  Pitayo,  31  serons ;  Crown  and  Cartha- 
gena,  80  serons. 

Jalap,  42  bales  and  2  bags. 

Gum  Benjamin,  90  cases. 

Ergot  of  ltye,  0  cases. 

Tonquin  Beans,  0  bags. 

China  Vermilion,  9  boxes. 

Squills,  20  bags. 

Calabar  Beans,  1  barrel. 

Chamomile  Flowers,  20  bales. 

Senega  Boot,  7  bales. 


.January  l!,  1671.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


569 


SATURDAY,  JANUARY  14,  1871. 


Communications  for  this  Journal,  ancl  boohs  for  revieiv ,  etc., 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

Instructions  from  Members  and  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Brem- 
kidg-e,  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  7 V.C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W.  Envelopes  endorsed  “  Bharm.  Journ.” 


THE  YEAR-BOOK  OF  PHARMACY. 

We  are  glad  to  be  able  to  announce  that  the 
*  Year-Book  of  Pharmacy’  for  1870  is  now  ready  for 
delivery.  It  forms  a  handsome  octavo  volume  of 
■about  600  pages,  containing  a  large  quantity  of  in¬ 
formation  that  cannot  fail  to  be  interesting  and  use¬ 
ful  to  every  pharmacist. 

With  respect  to  the  delivery  of  the  Year-Book,  the 
following  card  is  being  issued  to  metropolitan  mem¬ 
bers,  and  to  the  residents  in  towns  which  contri¬ 
bute  less  than  three  names  to  the  roll  of  the  Con¬ 
ference  : — 

“  On  signing  this  card,  and  presenting  it  to  Messrs. 
■J.  and  A.  Churchill,  publishers,  11,  New  Burlington 
■Street,  London,  W.,  you  will  he  supplied  with  one  copy 
of  the  ‘  Year-Book  of  Pharmacy  and  Transactions  of  the 
British  Pharmaceutical  Conference,  1870.’  If  you  wish 
the  book  to  be  forwarded,  please  to  send  with  the  card 
full  directions  as  to  route,  and  also  enclose  to  Messrs. 
Churchill  stamps  in  prepayment  of  carriage.  It  can 
be  sent  by  pest  for  7 \d. 

“  Gentlemen  joining  the  Conference  before  June  30, 
1871,  and  paying  the  yearly  subscription  (os.  by  cash, 
P.O.O. ,  or  stamps,  to  the  London  General  Secretary, 
Professor  Attpield,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  W.C.)  will 
be  entitled  to  a  copy.  Price  to  non-subscribers,  7 s.  6<7.” 

To  all  other  towns  the  volumes  will  be  consigned, 
chiefly  through  the  courtesy  of  wholesale  houses,  to 
the  care  of  the  local  secretary,  who  will  forward  them 
to  the  members.  The  local  secretaries  are  those 
gentlemen  who  formerly  were  local  treasurers,  and 
who  have  done  so  much  to  promote  the  success  of  the 
Conference.  They  have  been  relieved  of  the  labour 
of  collecting  subscriptions  by  the  appointment  of  a 
paid  assistant  to  the  London  Secretary,  and  by  the 
necessity,  in  view  of  the  issue  of  the  Year-Book,  of 
direct  relations  being  established  between  the  finan¬ 
cial  officer  and  each  member.  According  to  a  regu¬ 
lation  of  the  committee,  the  work  is  to  be  supplied 
only  to  members  who  have  paid  the  annual  sub¬ 
scription.  Considering  the  resources  of  the  Con¬ 
ference,  this  rule  is  clearly  indispensable. 

We  hope  that  the  Executive  of  the  British  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Conference  will  have  the  active  assist¬ 
ance  of  every  person  who  desires  the  well-being  of 
Pharmacy,  in  their  efforts  to  supply  a  want  long  felt 
in  this  country,  and  hi  which  England  stands  almost 
alone,  namely,  the  annual  issue  of  such  a  Year- 
Book. 


THE  CHEMISTS’  BALL. 

This  annual  gathering,  which  resembles  in  its 
pleasant  associations  the  meetings  of  the  British 
Pharmaceutical  Conference,  is  announced  to  take 
place  on  Wednesday,  the  25tli  of  January.  The  list 
of  stewards,  growing  year  by  year,  presents  on  this 
occasion  a  most  imposing  array  of  well-known 
names,  and  includes  among  others  the  President, 
Vice-President,  Treasurer  and  Professors  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society,  a  sufficient  testimony  to 
the  propriety  and  good  taste  which  have  charac¬ 
terized  all  previous  reunions,  and  a  guarantee  of  the 
success  of  this  year’s  assembly.  The  Committee  are 
exerting  themselves  most  laudably  in  making  the 
necessary  arrangements,  and  the  Lord  Mayor,  him¬ 
self  a  druggist,  has  consented  to  be  Patron.  Tickets, 
Lady’s,  10$.  6 d. ;  Gentleman’s,  17$.  6(7.,  including 
supper,  wine  and  refreshments,  may  be  obtained  of 
any  member  of  the  Committee,  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Billing,  Hon.  Treasurer,  143,  New  Bond  Street,  W., 
and  Mr.  T.  D.  Watson,  Hon.  Sec.,  40,  Halton  Boad, 
Canonbury  Square,  N. 


SALE  OF  POISONS  ACT  IN  IRELAND. 

The  first  case  of  prosecution  under  this  Act  seems 
to  have  taken  place  in  Galway,  in  connection  with 
the  death  of  a  Mr.  Holton.  From  the  Daily  Ex¬ 
press  correspondent,  it  would  seem  that  the  magis¬ 
trates  of  the  Galway  Petty  Session  inflicted  penal¬ 
ties  in  two  cases. 

Messrs.  Staunton  and  M‘Swiney,  two  well-known 
and  respectable  apothecaries,  were  each  separately 
summoned  for  selling  poison  without  registering  it 
in  a  book  which  should  have  been  kept  for  this  pur¬ 
pose.  The  occurrence  which  was  the  occasion  of 
these  summonses,  was  one  in  which  a  rich  farmer  of 
Galway,  named  Holton,  having  had  some  family 
misunderstanding,  purchased  poison  from  the  apo¬ 
thecaries  above  named,  and  having  drunk  it,  was 
found  dead  next  day.*  The  police  under  the  direc¬ 
tion  of  F.  W.  Cullen,  Sub-inspector,  issued  sum¬ 
monses,  and  the  defendants  were  each  fined  os.  and 
costs.  Mr.  Green,  one  of  the  magistrates  present, 
expressed  his  opinion  that  a  heavier  penalty  should 
be  imposed. 

POOR-LAW  UNIONS  APOTHECARY  FOR  IRELAND. 

It  is  not  the  intention  of  the  Poor-Law  Commis¬ 
sioners  to  proceed  with  the  Union  Apothecary  Order 
in  its  present  shape.  This  is  due  to  the  opposition 
of  about  one-tliird  of  the  Guardians.  Of  the  103 
unions  in  Ireland,  45,  including  the  North  Dublin, 
South  Dublin,  Cork  and  Belfast,  had  passed  resolu¬ 
tions  adverse  to  the  arrangement  proposed ;  nearly 
the  same  number  had  expressed  themselves  in 
favour  of  it,  and  the  remainder  had  accepted  it 

without  expressing  any  opinion.  _ _ 

*  See  ante,  p.  514. 


570 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[January  '4, 1671. 


It  liad  been  suggested  that  the  limitation  requiring 
the  qualification  of  an  apothecary  in  the  manager  of 
the  general  depot  was  unnecessary,  and  had  the 
effect  of  excluding  eminently  qualified  individuals 
from  competition.  The  general  feeling  is,  that  such 
a  man  should  be  an  analytical  chemist  of  position, 
possessing  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  manufac¬ 
turing  and  manipulating  of  drugs  and  chemicals. 

The  Commissioners  have  stated  that  they  in¬ 
tend  producing  another  scheme,  as  every  one  has 
acknowledged  the  desirability  of  some  action  being 
taken  in  this  matter. 


MEDICINES  FOR  THE  IRISH  UNIONS. 

The  following  is  the  text  of  the  letter  issued  by  the 
Poor  Law  Commissioners  of  Ireland,  revoking  then- 
previous  sealed  order  for  the  appointment  of  an  Apo¬ 
thecary-General  to  the  Poor  Law  Unions  of  Ireland* 
in  whose  hands  were  to  be  concentrated  the  whole  of 
the  contracts  for  drugs  and  medical  necessaries 
throughout  Ireland : — 

“  rOOR  LAW  UNIONS  APOTHECARY. 

“  Poor  Law  Commission  Office,  Dublin, 

“  oth  January ,  187b 

“  Sir, — Adverting  to  their  recent  order  for  the  appoint¬ 
ment  of  a  poor  law  unions  apothecary,  the  Commissioners 
for  Administering-  the  Laws  for  Relief  of  the  Poor  in  Ire¬ 
land  desire  to  inform  the  guardians  that  the  time  having 
now  arrived  for  taking  the  first  steps  in  execution  of  the 
order,  they  have  determined  not  to  proceed  with  it  in  its 
present  shape.  So  much  complaint  has  been  made  of  the 
quality  of  the  medicines  supplied  for  use  in  workhouses 
and  dispensaries  that  the  Commissioners  anticipated  a 
general  acquiescence  on  the  parts  of  the  Boards  of  Guar¬ 
dians  in  the  adoption  of  an  arrangement  which  appeared 
eminently  calculated  to  secure  good  and  reliable  medi¬ 
cines  in  future  for  the  treatment  of  the  sick  poor.  Of 
the  163  unions  in  Ireland,  however,  45,  including  North 
Dublin,  South  Dublin,  Cork,  and  Belfast,  have  passed 
resolutions  adverse  to  the  arrangement  proposed,  nearly 
the  same  number  have  expressed  themselves  in  favour  of 
it,  and  the  remainder  have  accepted  it  without  expressing 
any  opinion.  Under  these  circumstances  it  is  not  the  in¬ 
tention  of  the  Commissioners  to  force  the  adoption  of  this 
arrangement  upon  so  many  unions  adverse  to  the  princi¬ 
ple  involved.  Suggestions  have  been  made  which,  in  the 
event  of  their  issuing  an  amended  order,  it  will  be  the 
duty  of  the  Commissioners  in  the  meantime  to  consider. 
For  example,  the  mode  of  appointment  laid  down  in  the 
order  is  objected  to,  and  a  competitive  examination  of 
candidates  suggested  instead ;  but  in  the  present  state  of 
the  law  the  Commissioners  do  not  feel  themselves  to  be 
authorized  to  withdraw  the  direct  appointment  from  the 
Boards  of  Guardians  of  the  unions  united  for  that  pur¬ 
pose,  though  jmssiblv  some  different  mode  of  making  it 
may  be  adopted.  It  has  also  been  suggested  that  the 
limitation  requiring  the  qualification  of  ‘apothecary’  in 
the  manager  of  the  general  depot  was  unnecessary,  and 
had  the  effect  of  excluding  eminently  qualified  individuals 
from  competition ;  this  point  will  also  receive  attention  in 
the  preparation  of  any  amended  order.  The  application 
of  the  co-operative  principle  to  the  poor  law  unions 
which  would  have  been  effected  by  this  order  in  regard 
to  drugs  was  probably  not  contemplated  in  the  Irish  Poor 
Law  Act  of  1838 ;  and  although  that  Act  contains  powers 
enabling  Boards  of  Guardians  to  purchase  supplies  in 
common,  and  to  appoint  a  common  officer  for  the  pur¬ 
pose,  it  may  be  found  desirable  to  bring  the  subject 


under  the  consideration  of  Parliament  before  any  further 
steps  are  taken. 

“  By  order  of  the  Commissioners. 

“  B.  Banks,  Chief  Clerk. 

“  To  the  Clerk  of  each  Union.” 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  withdrawal  is  not  un¬ 
conditional,  and  it  has  been  resolved  by  the  guar¬ 
dians  to  appoint  a  “Vigilance  Committee”  to  watch 
whatever  steps  the  Commissioners  may  take  in  the 
matter,  whether  by  sealed  orders  or  seeking  addi¬ 
tional  legislation.  It  seems  to  be  the  intention  of 
the  Commissioners  to  lay  the  future  appointment 
(probably  inspectional)  open  to  analytical  chemists 
and  pharmacists  of  repute. 


The  executor  of  the  late  Mr.  Cole,  of  Hamp¬ 
stead,  has  written  to  say  that  it  will  be  his  duty  to 
pay  over  to  the  Benevolent  Fund  of  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society  a  bequest  of  nineteen  guineas  out  of 
that  gentleman’s  estate. 


It  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  page  57 1  that  Mr. 
John  Carr,  of  171,  High  Holborn,  has  been  chosen 
by  the  Council  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the 
resignation  of  Mr.  Cornelius  Hanbury. 


The  necessity  of  examining  drugs  supplied  to 
workhouse  dispensaries  is  illustrated  by  Dr.  Leeper, 
of  Keady,  who  states  that  he  has  been  supplied  with 
train  -oil  for  cod-liver  oil ;  opium  so  impure  as  to  be 
almost  useless;  muriated  tincture  of  iron  unfit  for 
use ;  spirits  of  wine,  which  should  be  50  over-proof, 
not  quite  10  over-proof;  tinctures  which  mouldered, 
and  ointments  unfit  for  use.  The  British  Medical 
Journal,  after  the  above  statement,  adds,  “  There  is 
at  present  no  inspection  in  England  any  more  than 
in  Ireland,  and  it  will  be  eminently  necessary  to 
provide  it  in  the  new  metropolitan  dispensaries. 
We  suggest  this  subject  to  the  attention  of  the  Poor 
Law  Board.” 

The  third  volume  of  the  Chicago  Pharmacist 
having  been  completed,  it  is  announced  that  an 
alteration  will  be  effected  in  its  future  appearance, 
by  the  use  of  “  solid  ”  instead  of  “  leaded  ”  type,  and 
the  omission  of  the  “  prices  current.”  It  is  calcu¬ 
lated  that  these  changes  will  give  room  for  about 
one-tliird  more  matter,  without  increasing  the  size  of 
the  Journal. 

We  are  glad  to  notice  that  the  suggestion  that  a 
hyphen  should  be  used  to  separate  the  syllables  in 
the  name  of  the  new  disinfectant,  Clilor-alum,  was 
adopted  last  week  in  the  columns  of  the  Lancet. 

We  learn  from  Nature  that  the  cultivation  of  cin¬ 
chona  has  so  fully  succeeded  in  the  Neilglierry  liills, 
in  India,  that  the  first  shipment  of  bark  from  a  pri¬ 
vate  plantation,  to  the  extent  of  4000  lb.,  is  taking 
place. 


January  14, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


571 


®r;ms!trtions  of  tjjt  llarnuimtftcal  5wwtj. 


MEETING  OF  THE  COUNCIL, 

January  4 th,  1871. 

MR.  SANDEORD,  PRESIDENT,  IX  THE  CHAIR. 

MR.  HASELDEX,  VICE-PRESIDENT. 

Present — Messrs.  Bourdas,  Dymond,  Evans,  Hills, 
Savage  and  Williams. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  con¬ 
firmed. 

The  President  reported  that  arrangements  had  been 
made  with  Dr.  Carpenter  for  the  delivery  of  two  lectures 
on  the  Microscope  and  its  Revelations,  on  Wednesday, 
the  1st  February,  and  Wednesday,  the  1st  March,  instead 
of  the  usual  evening  discussions  on  those  dates. 

Mr.  Cornelius  Hanbury’s  Successor. 

Resolved  unanimously — That  Mr.  John  Carr,  of  171, 
High  Holborn,  he  elected  a  Member  of  this  Council, 
in  place  of  Mr.  Hanbury  resigned. 

The  following  letter  having  been  read : — 

“  14,  George  Street ,  Croydon ,  January  2nd,  1870. 

“Sir, — Mr.  Charles  Coles,  late  of  1,  King’s  College 
Road,  South  Hampstead,  deceased,  by  his  will,  left  a 
legacy  of  £19.  19s.  to  the  Benevolent  Fund  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society  of  Great  Britain.  I  am  the  acting 
executor  under  his  will ;  as  soon  as  I  have  realized  the 
estate,  I  shall  have  pleasure  in  sending  you  a  cheque  for 
the  amount. 

“  Yours  faithfully, 

“  Wm.  F.  Coles. 

“  To  E.  Bremridge,  Esq.” 

It  was  resolved — That  this  Council  desire  to  express 
their  condolence  with  the  relatives  of  the  late  Mr. 
Charles  Coles,  of  Hampstead,  who  was  for  many 
years  an  active  member  of  the  Society,  and  wish  at 
the  same  time  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  his 
executor’s  letter  announcing  a  legacy  of  nineteen 
guineas  bequeathed  by  him  to  the  Benevolent  Fund. 

The  following  letter  was  also  read : — 

“  Liverpool,  21  st  December,  1870. 

“  My  dear  Sir, — In  compliance  with  a  resolution  of 
the  Local  Committee  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Conference, 
recently  held  in  Liverpool,  I  have  the  pleasure  of  for¬ 
warding  to  you  a  cheque  for  twenty  guineas  (being  a 
portion  of  the  surplus  of  the  Local  Fund  remaining  over 
and  above  the  expenses  incurred),  to  be  applied  to  the 
Benevolent  Fund  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society. 

“  Yours  faithfully, 

“John  Shaw, 

“  Treasurer. 

“  To  E.  Bremridge,  Esq.,  Secretary, 

Pharmaceutical  Society,  London 

Resolved — That  the  best  thanks  of  the  Council  are  due 
and  hereby  tendered  to  the  Local  Committee  at 
Liverpool  of  the  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference 
for  1870,  for  their  donation  of  twenty  guineas  to  the 
Benevolent  Fund  of  this  Society. 

The  Report  and  recommendations  of  the  Finance 
Committee  were  received  and  adopted. 

Resolved — That  the  Report  and  recommendations  of 
the  Parliamentary  Committee  be  received  and 
adopted. 

Resolved — That  the  Registrar  be  directed,  and  is 
hereby  authorized,  to  erase  from  the  Register  of 
Chemists  and  Druggists  the  name  of  Edward  Moore, 
of  Chippenham. 

Resolved — That  the  Registrar  be  requested  to  give 


the  Society’s  Solicitors  the  necessary  instructions  to 
proceed  against  Edward  Charles  Whisk en,  of  Welsh¬ 
pool,  for  continuing  to  use  the  title  of  Chemist  and 
Druggist,  and  retail  poisons,  his  name  having  been 
erased  from  the  Register. 

The  Report  of  the  Library,  Museum  and  Lai  oratory 
Committee  was  read  and  received. 

The  following  letter  was  read : — 

[Copy.] 

“  Medical  Department  of  the  Privy  Council  Office, 
“23 rd  December ,  1870. 

“  Sir, — I  am  directed  by  my  Lords  of  her  Majesty’s 
Council  to  request  that  you  will  call  the  attention  of 
your  Council  to  the  power  which  is,  by  the  Pharmacy 
Act,  1868,  given  to  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  to  make, 
with  the  consent  of  the  Privy  Council,  regulations  as  to 
the  keeping,  dispensing,  and  selling  of  poisons. 

“  My  Lords  believe  it  to  have  been  the  opinion  of  Par¬ 
liament  that  proper  regulations  in  this  matter  are  re¬ 
quired  for  the  protection  of  the  public,  and,  as  more  than 
two  years  have  elapsed  since  the  passing  of  the  Act 
without  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  having  proposed 
any  such  regulations,  my  Lords  think  it  right  to  inquire 
whether  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  intends,  within  any 
time  you  can  specify,  to  propose  such  regulations  to 
their  Lordships.  They  direct  me,  therefore,  to  request 
that  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  give  me,  at  your 
earliest  convenience,  the  information  required  by  their 
Lordships. 

“  I  am,  Sir, 

“  Your  obedient  servant, 

“  John  Simon. 

“  The  Registrar,  Pharmaceutical  Society .” 

Resolved — That  the  letter  from  the  Medical  Officer  of 
the  Privy  Council,  addressed  to  the  Registrar  re¬ 
specting  the  storing  of  poisons,  be  received  and 
entered  on  the  Minutes,  with  the  Registrar’s  reply 
thereto. 


REPORT  OF  THE  BOARD  OF  EXAMINERS. 


December,  1870. 


England  and  Wales. 


December  21,  Major 


Minor 


» 


23, 


Candi-  Candi¬ 
dates  dates 
examined,  passed. 

.  .  10  7 

.  10  10 

.  23  18 


Candi¬ 

dates 

failed. 

3 

0 

5 


43  35  8 

Preliminary  Examination. — 1  Certificate  approved. 


Resolved — That  the  following,  being  duly  registered 
as  Pharmaceutical  Chemists,  be  respectively  granted 
a  Diploma  stamped  with  the  seal  of  the  Society : — 

Chase,  Thomas,  jun . London. 

Clark,  Walter  Beales . Leicester. 

Cross,  William  Gowen . Shrewsbury. 

Griffin,  Thomas  . Bromley. 

Haydon,  William  Frederic ....  Blandford. 

Ingham,  John  . Upper  Tooting _ 

Mason,  Philip  Henry . Norwich. 

Metcalfe,  Edmund  Henry  ....  Richmond. 

Paton,  James . Edinburgh. 

Pick,  Richard  . Hull. 

Robinson,  James  . Darlington. 

Skipper,  Edward  . London.  _ 

Taylor,  John  William . Great  Grimsby.- 

Thompson,  John  Thomas  ....  Richmond. 

Young,  Joseph . Leicester. 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[Jam:  ary  1 1 ,  1871 


Z72 


Resolved — That  the  following',  being  duly  registered  as 
Pharmaceutical  Chemists,  be  elected  Members  :  — 

Barton,  Henry . St.  Ives. 

Chase,  Thomas,  jun . London. 

Clarke,  Walter  Beales . Leicester. 

Conder,  George . London. 

Ingham,  John . Upper  Tooting. 

Jones,  Hugh  Lloyd . Victoria,  British  Co¬ 

lumbia. 

Machin,  Frederick  John . Iluyton. 

Manby,  Walter  Edward . Southampton. 

Metcalfe,  Edmund  Henry  _ Richmond. 

Moss,  John  . London. 

Pick,  Richard  . Northallerton. 

Pilley,  Henry  Thomas . Boston. 

Strickland,  George  Hodgson  . .  Yarm. 

Thompson,  John  Thomas  _ Richmond. 

Webb,  Edward  Alfred . Redstone  Manor, 

Redhill. 

Resolved — That  the  following  registered  Chemists 
and  Druggists  be  elected  Members  of  the  Society  : — 

TOWN-.  NAME. 

Barnsley . Billington,  Frederick. 

Barrow-in-Furness  ....  Sansom,  Edwin. 

Bettws-y-Coed . Jones,  Owen  Lloyd. 

Bridport  . Coppock,  Henry  Jones. 

Brighton  . Leech,  William. 

Bristol  . Townsend,  Charles. 

Evesham  . Pumphrey,  John. 

Hawkhurst . Stainburn,  Joseph. 

Ilford . Beal,  Edmund  John. 

Largs . Fraser,  Alexander. 

Leeds . Exley,  George. 

Newcastle-on-Tyne _ Welch,  Thomas. 

Portsea  . Liddiard,  William. 

Shildon . Veitch,  Tho  nas  D. 

Swansea . Layng,  Thomas  B. 

Tonbridge . Gower,  Alfred. 

LTsk . Jones,  David  Lewis. 

Resolved — That  the  following,  having  passed  their  re¬ 
spective  examinations,  be  elected  “Associates  in 
business” : — 

MINOR. 

Durrant,  George  Reynolds _ Hertford. 

Fisher,  Richard . Preston. 

Eeightley,  Joseph . Tunstall. 

MODIFIED. 

Foulds,  Astley  Cooper . Nuneaton. 

Frobisher,  Frederick  . Birmingham. 

Graham,  Monkhouse  . Middlesborough-on- 

Tees. 

Herron,  Archibald  J ames  ....  Margate. 

Lucas,  William . Manchester. 

Moody,  Alfred . Landport. 

P attinson, .  Michael  Hind . Carlisle. 

Rees,  David  . Llanidloes. 

Williams,  John . Birmingham. 

Williams,  William  . Llanfyllin. 

Resolved— That  the  following,  having  passed  their 
1  espectiv  e  examinations,  be  elected  Associates  : — 

MINOR. 

Vtyon,  John . . . Liverpool, 

Collishaw,  John  . . . Nottingham. 

Brewis,  1  homas  . . . Rothbury. 

Darby,  Samuel  Aldred  . Reading. 

David,  John  . Newport,  Mon. 

Dawson,  William  Powell  ....  Homcastle. 

Field,  Charles  . . Netley. 

Fowler,  William  Ratcliffe  . . . .  Ipswich. 

Rieveley,  Charles ............  Birkenhead. 


Skinner,  Kenneth  G.  W . Christchurch. 

Stoakes,  Benjamin  Maidens  . .  Boston. 

Sweetman,  Robert  . Warwick. 

MODIFIED. 

Allsop,  George  Walter  . Birmingham. 

Argue,  James  . Yeovil. 

Biggleston,  Edwin  Radford  . .  Exeter. 

Bond,  Edward  . Reading. 

Bond,  John  . Okehampton. 

Chapman,  Josiah  Thomas  . . .  .Hulme. 

Clement,  John  Radford  . Ashton-under-Lyne. 

Day,  J ohn  Charles  Thomas  .  . .  Clifton. 

Harvey,  Henry . Wakefield. 

Owen,  Robert  Henry  . Rhyl. 

Passingham,  George  William . .  London. 

Philpots,  George  Payne . Leyton  Green. 

Pratt,  Thomas  Henry . Newbury. 

Richardson,  Alexander  . London. 

Simms,  Robert  John  . Burnham. 

Snell,  Charles  Henry  . Plymouth. 

Wavell,  Edward  . London. 

Wigginton,  Henry  Becher ....  Liverpool. 

Wilson,  Clement  Fisher . Bury. 

The  following  were  appointed  Local  Secretaries  to  the 
Socictv : — 

Bideford . Thomas  Hogg. 

Belfast  . Oswald  A.  Reade. 

Frome . Win.  B.  Harvey. 

Resolved — That  Mr.  L.  S.  Hughes  be  re-appointed 
Collector  for  London  and  suburbs  for  the  ensuing 
year. 

A  member  having  paid  the  arrears  of  his  subscription, 
together  with  the  usual  fine  imposed,  was  restored  to 
Membership. 


ftobhttiai  feittsartums. 

NOTTINGHAM  AND  NOTTS  CHEMISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

The  Second  General  Meeting  of  this  Society  was  held 
on  Friday  evening,  Nov.  11th;  the  President,  Mr.  Ather¬ 
ton,  in  the  chair. 

Various  donations  to  the  Library  and  Museum  were 
announced  and  a  vote  of  thanks  recorded  to  the  respec¬ 
tive  donors. 

Five  new  Associates  were  proposed,  after  which  Mr. 
Mayfield  read  his  Introductory  Address  to  the  students 
of  the  Pharmacy  and  Materia  Medica  Class. 


The  Third  General  Meeting  of  the  Association  was 
held  in  the  rooms  of  the  Society  on  Friday  evening,  the 
16th  Dec.,  the  chair  being  filled  by  Mr.  Fitz  Hugh,  the 
Vice-President. 

Members  only  were  invited,  many  of  whom  were 
present.  The  election  of  the  five  candidates  proposed  at 
the  last  meeting  was  unanimously  carried. 

Mr.  W.  H.  Parker  proposed  certain  suggestions  for 
tho  immediate  formation  of  a  museum,  which  was  at 
once  agreed  to  by  the  following  gentleman  undertaking 
to  supply  specimens  as  under : — 


Barks . 

Seeds  and  Fruits  .  . 

Leaves . 

Gums  and  Gum  Resins 
Some  dried  specimens 

Afterwards  Mr.  Potts  exhibited  and  explained  various 
pharmaceutical  novelties. 


Mr.  Fitz  Hugh. 

W.  H.  Parker. 
White. 
Mayfield. 

J.  S.  Jenkins. 


J? 


January  14, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


573 


MANCHESTER  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

The  Third  ordinary  Monthly  Meeting'  of  the  Session 
was  held  in  the  Memorial  Hall,  Albert  Square,  on 
Friday  evening,  January  6th.  Tea  was  served  at  seven 
o’cloek,  after  which  the  chair  was  taken  by  Mr.  W.  S. 
Brown,  the  President. 

The  following  donations  were  acknowledged : — The 
Pharmaceutical  Journal ,  weekly,  from  the  Society ;  the 
Pharmacist ,  from  the  Chicago  College  of  Pharmacy, 
U.S. ;  Dr.  Thorpe’s  ‘  Chemical  Problems,’  from  the 

Author. 

Mr.  Louis  Siebold,  Lecturer  on  Pharmacy  in  Owens 
College,  then  delivered  an  interesting  address  on  the 
subject  of  “Pharmaceutical  Examinations.”  A  resolu¬ 
tion  "was  afterwards  passed,  requesting  Mr.  Siebold  to 
prepare  his  lecture  for  publication  in  a  substantial  form. 

A  paper  by  Mr.  Hampson  “  On  the  Importance  of 
some  Knowledge  of  Anatomy  and  Physiology  to  the 
Pharmacist,”  was  announced  for  the  February  Meet¬ 
ing. 


SOCIETY  OF  ARTS. 

On  Fermentation. 

BY  PROFESSOR  A.  W.  WILLIAMSON,  F.R.S. 

Lecture  IV. — continued. 

In  the  process  of  making  wine,  there  are  a  consider¬ 
able  number  of  operations  which  arc  occasionally  con¬ 
sidered  rather  extraneous  to  normal  wine-making,  and 
are  by  many  persons  classed  amongst  frauds.  Materials 
are  sometimes  used  in  aid  of  the  natural  constituents  of 
the  grape-juice,  materials  which  contribute  to  the  quality 
of  the  product ;  some  of  them  by  adding  materials  to  it, 
but  others  simply  removing  from  the  substances  bodies 
which  are  not  wanted  in  it.  And  I  must  say  that  it 
does  appear  to  me  a  great  error  to  object  to  the  intro¬ 
duction  of  any  new  conditions  which  may  be  found  to 
effect  an  improvement  in  the  product.  I  do  not  think  it 
is  reasonable  to  suppose,  because  wine  is  only  known  by 
the  vulgar  as  fermented  grape-juice,  that  for  that  reason 
nothing  but  grape-juice  ought  ever  to  be  used  in  the 
manufacture.  I  think  it  would  be  desirable — in  fact,  it 
ought  to  be  almost  compulsory — that  persons  should  state 
what  materials  are  present  in  substances  which  they  sell 
to  the  public ;  but,  I  think,  with  that  safeguard,  it  would 
be  right  to  leave  manufacturers  perfectly  free  to  employ 
whatever  materials  they  might  find  most  conducive  to 
the  elaboration  of  their  products.  In  some  countries, 
grape-juice  is  exceedingly  rich  in  acid  and  poor  in  sugar 
(and  I  think  a  good  deal  of  wine  is  rather  of  that  class), 
and  wine-makers  in  such  districts  find  that  their  stuff 
is  more  drinkable  if  some  of  the  acid  present  in  it  can 
be  removed  before  it  is  sent  out.  They  therefore  put 
into  the  must,  in  fermenting  the  wine,  some  chalk,  and 
the  lime  which  is  present  in  the  chalk  combines  with 
the  tartaric  acid  and  takes  it  out  of  the  liquid.  Thus, 
the  sour  liquid  is  rendered  less  sour,  and  certainly 
that  is  not,  in  any  degree,  or  to  any  extent  whatever,  a 
fraudulent  admixture.  Nothing  is  added,  but  only  an 
unpleasant  substance  is  taken  from  it.  It  also  happens 
iu  precisely  the  same  districts,  that  from  the  paucity  of 
sugar  which  is  present  in  the  grape-juice,  the  wine  is  too 
weak  in  alcohol ;  and  that  to  meet  the  requirements  of 
consumers,  many  wine-makers  now  add  sugar  in  the 
process.  Now  sugar  is  one  of  the  natural  and  proper 
constituents  ol  grape-juice,  and  if  the  grapes  contain  too 
little  of  it,  it  does  seem  quite  proper  and  desirable  that 


more  should  be  added.  However,  in  the  subsequent 
making  of  wine,  there  are  several  other  processes  which 
are  less  natural  than  these,  and  about  which  some  greater 
difference  of  opinion  may  possibly  prevail;  and  one  of 
the  commonest,  not  only  amongst  wine-makers,  but  also 
amongst  wine-consumers,  is  the  process  of  fining.  In 
order  to  establish  the  effect  and  the  meaning  of  this  pro¬ 
cess,  I  think  we  must  trace  back  the  history  of  wine  from 
the  time  in  which  it  is  first  put  into  casks  by  those  who 
produce  it  to  the  time  at  which  it  gets  into  the  hands  of 
consumers.  It  is  customary — I  cannot  say  whether  it  is 
universal  or  not,  but  I  believe  it  to  be  so  almost — to  put 
new  wine  into  now  casks ;  and  in  the  better  districts  oak 
casks  are  used.  New  wood  is  far  more  porous  than  old 
wood  when  used  for  such  a  purpose ;  and  of  course  the 
wine,  when  put  into  the  cask,  sinks  into  the  wood,  so 
that  the  outer  surface  is  moistened,  and  allows  some  of 
the  water  and  alcohol,  and  the  various  volatile  materials- 
to  evaporate.  In  fact,  the  wine  diminishes  during  the- 
first  year  of  keeping  in  wood  very  rapidly,  by  a  process 
of  evaporation.  But  this  is  not  all.  Whilst  the  water 
and  alcohols  are  evaporating  from  the  outer  surface,  air 
is  dissolved  by  the  liquid  which  is  in  the  wood.  Air 
actually  diffuses  itself  through  the  wet  wood  into  the 
body  of  the  wine  in  the  cask ;  and  what  is  more  than  this,, 
the  water  and  alcohol  which  go  out  are  replaced  by  some¬ 
thing.  The  cask  does  not  collapse,  nor  is  there  a  vacuum 
produced  above  the  liquid.  The  wood  is  always  suffi¬ 
ciently  leaky  for  air  to  come  into  it,  and  there  is  always 
a  space  left  above  the  wine.  Wine-makers  arc,  there¬ 
fore,  in  the  habit  of  filling  up  their  wine-casks  periodi¬ 
cally.  In  some  districts  in  France,  they  are  filled 
up  in  the  first  year  three  times,  at  three  different 
periods ;  and,  in  the  second  year,  they  are  filled  up  only 
twice,  but  only  at  perfectly  definite  periods  or  seasons, 
which  have  been  found,  for  those  particular  wines,  to  be 
most  advantageous.  But  each  time  the  wine,  if  exa¬ 
mined  carefully,  is  found  to  have  undergone,  not  only 
what  we  chemists  should  call  a  process  of  concentration, 
the  solid  substances  dissolved  in  the  liquid  of  course 
always  remaining  behind,  the  proportion  of  liquid  being- 
diminished,  but,  at  the  same  time,  it  has  undergone 
other  changes,  that  is,  there  is  a  deposit  formed  from  it. 
Some  of  the  bodies  present  in  it,  either  by  themselves 
or  by  forming  compounds  with  others  added  to  them, 
form  a  sediment,  and  in  the  wine-growing  districts  it 
is  customary,  and  I  have  no  doubt  necessary,  to  de¬ 
cant  the  wine  and  pour  it  off  carefully  from  the  de¬ 
posit  many  times,  for  the  presence  of  the  deposit,  if 
continued  in  the  wine,  would  be  injurious  to  the  future 
changes  which  it  has  to  undergo.  When  this  comes 
into  the  hands  of  the  consumer,  there  is  suspended  in 
the  substance  of  the  wine  some  of  this  deposit, — some 
solid  particles  which  might  be  got  to  settle  down,  but 
which  could  not  easily  be  removed  completely  by  any 
process  of  mere  subsidence,  and  the  processes  of  fining, 
which  are  exceedingly  various,  have  for  their  object  the 
more  complete  removal  of  these  solid  particles  by  form¬ 
ing  compounds  with  them.  In  some  cases,  the  process 
consists  in  forming  what  I  might  call  a  sort  of  mordant, 
or  something  like  a  process  of  dyeing,  in  which  a  gela¬ 
tinous  compound  is  formed  in  the  body  of  the  liquid, 
which  carries  down  with  it  a  good  deal  of  colouring- 
matter,  which  it  encloses,  and  which  does,  while  going- 
down,  take  with  it  a  number  of  little  filaments  and  cells 
which  were  floating  in  the  liquid,  and  which  were  so  ex¬ 
ceedingly  light  that  they  would  not  have  settled  and 
could  not  have  been  removed  otherwise.  This  point  is 
particularly  important  in  relation  to  a  process  which  I 
shall  presently  mention.  In  some  cases,  it  has  been 
thought  the  wine  contained  too  much  albuminous  matter. 
The  theory  of  fermentation  which  was  held  for  a  long¬ 
time,  and  which  we  considered  at  one  of  our  previous 
meetings,  consisted  in  attributing  the  process  to  the  de¬ 
composition  of  the  albuminous  matter  which  is  present 
in  the  fermenting  liquid.  It  was  supposed  that  there. 


574 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[January  14,  1871. 


was  too  much  of  this  albuminous  matter  present,  and 
that  it  remained  and  was  inclined  to  do  further  work. 
One  process  which  has  been  adopted  to  a  considerable 
extent  in  the  champagne  districts,  where  that  was  sup¬ 
posed  to  occur,  consisted  in  adding  tannin,  a  substance 
which  I  have  already  spoken  of,  which  carries  down  a 
good  many  albuminous  bodies,  forming  a  precipitate  with 
them,  and  with  these  no  doubt  carries  down  the  solids 
which  may  be  in  suspension.  Then  another  process, 
which  really  bears  a  considerable  resemblance  to  this  one 
in  principle,  although  not  in  form,  is  that  of  sulphuring, 
using  sulphur  in  the  casks,  which,  of  course,  you  would 
understand  at  once,  exerts  an  antiseptic  action.  It  is,  in 
fact,  a  process  which  consists  in  producing  a  material 
which  is,  in  plain  English,  a  poison  to  any  germs  which 
may  happen  to  be  present,  whose  action  must  consist,  as 
far  as  it  goes,  in  arresting  the  vitality, — in  stopping  any 
work  which  they  were  doing.  M.  Berthelot,  who  has 
made  many  accurate  experiments  regarding  the  compo¬ 
sition  of  wine  and  the  changes  which  it  undergoes,  sub¬ 
jected  some  wine  to  the  action  of  a  known  quantity  of 
air,  and  by  examining  the  wine  afterwards  he  was  led 
to  the  conclusion  that  air  is  an  unmixed  evil  to  wine 
when  once  it  is  fully  made.  There  are  certainly  many 
general  observations  which  everybody  must  have  had 
occasion  to  make  which  agree  with  that.  If  wo  open  a 
bottle  of  wine  and  use  half  of  it,  especially  if  we  leave  a 
bottle  of  light  wine  open  for  some  little  time,  everybody 
knows  that  it  deteriorates  in  quality,  and  becomes  flat, 
or  even  sour.  In  a  great  many  cases,  it  is  found  that 
there  is  a  development  on  the  surface  of  the  wine,  and 
if  you  were  to  examine  it  carefully  you  would  easily 
see,  especially  in  light  French  or  German  wines,  a 
pellicle — in  fact,  the  vinegar  cells ;  and  their  presence 
must  have  the  effect  of  promoting  the  oxidation  of  the 
wine.  M.  Berthelot’ s  experiments  confirm  the  general 
observation,  which  everybody  makes  more  or  less  defi¬ 
nitely,  that  air  is  noxious  to  wine  when  present  in  any 
quantity.  But  M.  Pasteur  has  arrived  at  precisely  the 
opposite  result.  I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  he  says  air 
cannot  do  harm,  but  that  what  is  hurtful  in  air  is  the 
excess  of  it,  or  the  too  rapid  rate  of  its  action.  He  lays 
down  the  principle  that  every  ripening  of  wine,  or  the 
process  by  which  young  and  crude  wine  is  changed  into 
good  old  wine,  consists  in  a  process  of  slow  oxidation; 
that  is  its  very  essence,  and  that  without  that,  a  crude 
young  wine  cannot  be  mellowed  or  transformed  into  a 
good  old  wine.  The  evidence  which  he  gives  for  his 
conclusion  is  exceedingly  simple,  and  I  must  say  it 
appears  to  me  exceedingly  conclusive.  He  has,  for  the 
purpose  of  keeping  wine  with  air,  and  for  the  purpose 
•of  keeping  it  without  air,  resorted  to  appliances  which 
.are  far  more  effectual  than  those  generally  resorted  to 
in  common  life.  You  may  be  aware  that  a  cork,  even 
what  we  should  consider  a  good  cork,  does  not  com¬ 
pletely  prevent  the  communication  of  external  air  with 
liquids  in  a  bottle.  I  do  not  suppose  many  people  can 
know  how  much  air  passes  in  and  through  a  cork, 
but  the  quantity  is  very  great.  M.  Pasteur  sealed  up 
some  young  green  wine,  by  putting  it  into  a  glass 
vessel,  and  then  he  melted  up  the  neck,  so  that  he  had 
no  air  present  with  it.  He  then  kept  it  for  a  consider¬ 
able  time,  and  he  found  that  this  wine,  even  after  years’ 
keeping,  was  as  green  and  as  young  as  at  first ;  that 
wine  kept  under  conditions  such  as  that  air  could  have 
no  access  to  it  did  not  undergo,  to  any  extent,  the 
■change  which  was  wanting,  and  that  it  did  not  im¬ 
prove  by  keeping.  He  then  sealed  up,  in  a  similar 
vessel,  some  wine  with  air,  and  he  subjected  the  wine, 
with  a  known  quantity  of  air,  to  various  influences 
which  were  calculated  to  accelerate  the  action  of  the  air 
upon  it,  and  amongst  these  I  ought  specially  to  mention 
that  of  light.  He  took  some  small  vessels  made  of 
perfectly  clear  glass,  and  sealed  up  his  wine,  various 
qualities  of  it,  in  these  little  vessels  with  air,  and  then 
exposed  them  to  the  sunshine  in  the  south  of  France. 


He  found  that  the  oxygen  of  the  air  was  totally  dis¬ 
solved,  and  that,  when  he  examined  the  air,  the  oxygen 
had  gone,  but  he  found  that  his  wine  then  did  pass  over 
rapidly  into  a  state  exceedingly  like  that  into  which  it 
passes  by  the  ordinary  process  of  keeping  in  bottle.  It 
lost  its  harshness,  and  became  like  old  wine,  which  it 
resembled  very  greatly  in  its  quality,  and  also  in  its  com¬ 
position  the  older  kind  of  wines.  At  the  same  time,  he 
found  that  there  was  formed  in  such  quality  of  wine  a 
considerable  amount  of  deposit,  and  his  explanation  of 
the  way  in  which  oxygen  acts  so  as  to  improve  the 
quality  of  the  wine,  is  this,  that  it  serves  gradually  to 
take  away  from  the  wine  various  substances  which  are 
present  in  it,  and  that  the  deposit  is  due  to  an  oxidation 
of  the  colouring  matters  present,  which  have  an  unplea¬ 
sant,  astringent,  harsh  taste,  and  it  also  consists  in  acting 
upon  the  alcohol  of  the  wine  and  upon  the  various  or¬ 
ganic  liquids  in  it  in  a  similar  manner.  This  result  is 
certainly  one  of  very  great  importance ;  for  if  the  process 
of  improving  wine  requires  the  action  of  oxygen,  and  if, 
on  the  other  hand,  the  action  of  oxygen  may  do  much 
harm, — I  mean  if  all  the  good  has  to  come  from  the 
oxygen,  and  if  all  the  worst  evils  come  from  oxygen, — and 
that  really  is  the  position  in  which  the  question  stands 
upon  our  present  evidence,  it  must  be  of  the  greatest  im¬ 
portance  to  ascertain  what  are  the  conditions  under 
which  the  beneficial  action  can  be  exercised,  and  what 
are  those  under  which  its  detrimental  influence  occurs. 
In  that  respect,  both  of  the  observers  I  have  mentioned, 
and  others  also,  have  established  some  remarkable  facts, 
but  in  order  to  appreciate  them  duly,  it  will  be  neces¬ 
sary  for  you  to  know  something  of  the  general  character 
of  compounds  to  which  I  must  now  make  allusion.  When 
we  were  examining  the  process  of  oxidation,  I  spoke  to 
you  of  alcohol  as  a  substance  eminently  capable  of  under¬ 
going  oxidation,  and  showed  you  how  readily  it  could 
be  burnt  to  a  much  smaller  extent  than  that  to  which 
we  are  in  the  habit  of  burning  it.  I  had  to  mention 
ordinary  acetic  acid  as  being  a  product  of  a  shorter  com¬ 
bustion.  Here  is  a  vinegar-plant  which  is  oxidizing 
under  alcohol,  and  there  is  an  intermediate  body  which 
I  have  not  yet  spoken  to  you  about  specially.  Here 
in  this,  I  have  some  of  it  dissolved  in  alcohol.  It  is  a 
substance  which,  in  the  strong  state  in  which  I  have  it 
here,  has  rather  a  sickly  odour,  and  it  was  named  by 
Liebig,  to  whom  we  owe  some  of  the  first  and  most 
accurate  facts  in  relation  to  it,  aldehyde,  a  name  serving 
to  recall  one  of  the  most  important  facts  about  it,  viz. 
that  it  is  alcohol  from  which  hydrogen  has  been  taken 
away.  If  you  were  to  take  away  from  alcohol  some 
of  its  hydrogen,  you  would  have  aldehyde, — it  is  al¬ 
cohol  minus  one-third  of  hydrogen,  and  it  is,  there¬ 
fore,  alcohol  de-hydrogenized,  and  that  is  the  origin  of 
the  term.  When  wines  are  undergoing  very  slow  oxi¬ 
dation,  it  appears  that  aldehyde  and  other  bodies  analo¬ 
gous  to  it  are  formed.  A  great  deal  of  evidence  has 
been  adduced  of  this,  but  I  ought  to  mention  that  as 
yet  one  link  in  the  chain  of  evidence  is  wanting,  which 
chemists  are  always  anxious  to  get  in  proof  of  their 
conclusions,  that  is,  the  substance  itself,  in  a  pure  state, 
has  not  been  obtained  from  wine.  Still,  the  proof  is  so 
far  conclusive  that  we  are  prepared  to  admit  it  pro¬ 
visionally'.  One  fact  which  I  mentioned  to  yrou  just 
now  is  very  remarkable,  as  part  of  the  evidence,  viz. 
that  wines  which  are  particularly  good,  either  byr  keep¬ 
ing  or  byr  their  own  composition,  combine  with  oxy'gen 
which  is  dissolved  in  them.  Now,  aldehy'de  is  particu¬ 
larly  greedy  of  oxy'gen.  If  y'ou  were  to  dissolve  in 
the  aldehy'de  in  this  bottle  some  air,  and  if  you  were  to 
try  to  get  the  air  out  of  the  alcohol  again,  you  would 
find  that  yrou  could  get  the  nitrogen  of  the  air  out 
again  completely  if  yrou  went  properly  to  work,  but 
you  could  not  get  the  oxy'gen  out.  The  oxy'gen  is  laid 
hold  of  and  digested  so  rapidly  by  the  aldehy'de  that  it 
is  no  longer  to  be  recovered,  after  even  a  very  short  in¬ 
terval  of  time. 


January  14,1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


I  might  show  you  one  case  of  the  avidity  with  which 
this  aldehyde  absorbs  oxygen.  On  putting  into  a  glass 
a  solution  of  nitrate  of  silver,  and  then  adding  a  little 
ammonia,  we  should  find,  on  pouring  into  it  a  little  of 
this  aldehyde  dissolved  in  oxygen,  there  would  he  a 
deposit  of  metallic  silver  around  the  inside  of  the  glass. 
This  is  a  very  common  and  easy  way  of  ascertaining 
whether  in  a  mixture  any  body  of  this  class  is  present. 
The  ammonia  liberates  the  oxide  of  silver  from  the 
nitrate,  and  the  aldehyde  acts  by  taking  away  the  oxygen 
and  precipitating  the  silver,  and  in  this  way  we  get  evi¬ 
dence  of  the  greediness  with  which  aldehyde  takes  up 
oxygen.  There  are  several  other  interesting  reactions 
of  this  aldehyde,  and  amongst  them  I  ought  specially  to 
mention  one  which  was  discovered  some  few  years  ago 
by  some  very  distinguished  Itatian  chemists,  the  action 
of  which  is  most  exact  and  clear  for  l’emoving  aldehydes 
from  any  substance  in  which  they  are  present ;  that  is, 
their  combination  with  alkaline  bisulphites.  This  com¬ 
mon  aldehyde,  and  every  body  of  the  same  class,  com¬ 
bines  with  bisulphite,  and  forms  very  definite  crystalline 
compounds,  by  which  they  are  very  easily  detected  and 
removed. 

When  we  oxidize  alcohol  very  slowly  and  gradually, 
we  are. able  to  get  aldehyde  formed  from  it ;  and,  in  the 
ordinary  process  of  keeping  wine,  when  it  undergoes 
that  slow  oxidization  which  Pasteur  affirms  to  bo  the 
proper  process,  aldehydes  are  proved  to  be  present  in  it ; 
but,  together  with  them,  there  are  a  considerable  number 
of  other  bodies,  which  wre  are  in  the  habit  of  calling 
others.  I  have  spoken  to  you  already  about  some  ethers  ; 
for  instance,  the  compound  which  sulphuric  acid  forms 
with  alcohol,  that  is  a  kind  of  ether,  although  it  is  not 
one  of  the  bodies  we  are  commonly  in  the  habit  of  so 
describing.  Ethers  represent  a  class  of  bodies  which 
are  certainly  amongst  the  most  pleasant  of  chemistry. 

I  have  a  good  many  here  ;  one  is  the  commonest  of  all ; 
it  is  the  ether  which  is,  I  believe,  present,  to  judge  by 
the  flavour  at  any  rate,  in  the  celebrated  Lachryma 
Christi.  It  is  a  body  which  I  might  describe  as  a  salt. 
It  is  a  salt  formed  whenever  hydric  acetate,  the  hy¬ 
drogen  salt  of  acetic  acid,  is  present  for  a  sufficiently  long 
time  in  alcohol.  Whilst  the  alcohol  of  the  wine  is  be¬ 
coming  oxidized,  and  whilst  aldehydes  are  being  formed 
from  it,  there  is  also  formed  some  acetic  acid,  and  also 
probably  some  valerianic  acid,  butyric  acid  and  others 
analogous,  which  are  formed  by  the  oxidation  of  the 
bodies  present  with  the  alcohol.  All  these  acids,  while 
undergoing  the  process  by  which  they  are  formed,  com¬ 
bine  with  the  alcohol  and  bodies  like  it  and  form  these 
■ethers ;  and  it  has  been  already  shown  that,  at  all  events, 
in  some  cases  the  aroma  of  the  wine  is  dependent  upon 
the  presence  of  bodies  of  this  kind.  One  of  the  most 
remarkable  processes  of  manufacture  of  bodies  of  the 
kind  which  has  been  successfully  performed  of  late,  is 
the  process  of  preparing  artificial  ether,  for  the  purpose 
of  imparting  to  alcoholic  liquids  the  same  flavour,  aroma, 
or  bouquet  which  they  are  found  to  possess  when  made 
from  the  same  natural  substance ;  for  instance,  oil  of 
brandy  is  got  from  the  skins  and  seeds  of  the  grape 
which  are  left  when  the  grape-juice  has  been  pressed 
out.  They  are  fermented,  and  a  quantity  of  alcohol  and 
aromatic  substances  are  formed  by  the  fermentation, 
and  this  forms  the  so-called  oil  of  brandy,  which  is  used 
for  making  brandy  artificially ;  that  is,  common  corn 
spirit  is  flavoured  with  it,  and  sold  as  genuine  cognac. 
In  like  manner,  various  kinds  of  these  acids  have  been 
made,  and  there  is  now  in  Germany  a  manufactory  for 
making  butyric  acid  on  a  large  scale  from  sugar ;  it  is 
then  made  into  this  ether,  which  is  a  very  fragrant  sub¬ 
stance,  and  then  in  small  quantities  it  is  used  for  flavour¬ 
ing  various  alcoholic  liquids,  in  imitation  of  natural  pro¬ 
ducts  which  naturally  would  possess  the  same  substance 
or  a  similar  one  in  them. 

{To  be  continued.) 


MEETINGS  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 

Monday  . Medical  Society,  at  9  p.m. 

Wednesday. ..Society  of  Arts,  at  8  p.m. — “How  Meat 
is  Preserved.”  By  R.  Jones. 
Thursday  ...Poyal  Society,  at  8.30  p.m. 

Linnean  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

Chemical  Society,  at  8  P.M. 

Jloyal  Institution,  at  8  p.m. — Lecture  by 
Hr.  Odling. 


parliamentary  anir  fate  fnrmlriitjjs. 

Supposed  Mistake. 

At  an  inquest  upon  the  body  of  Bartholomew  Hodg- 
kinson,  a  joiner,  living  at  Preston,  a  certain  amount  of 
doubt  arose  as  to  the  composition  of  a  pill  that  had  been 
administered  to  him. 

The  wife  stated  that  deceased  had  met  with  an  accident 
while  at  his  work  by  which  his  leg  was  broken.  Mr. 
Lund,  of  Manchester,  attended  him  but  prescribed  no 
medicine.  The  only  medicine  he  took  was  prescribed  by 
Dr.  Haldan.  On  the  night  before  his  death  he  took  a 
pill  and  went  to  sleep  and  never  woke  afterwards. 

Dr.  Haldan  said  that  he  attended  the  deceased,  who 
was  suffering  from  a  compound  fracture  of  the  leg.  He 
considered  it  a  case  of  very  great  danger.  At  the  end  of 
a  fortnight  the  pulse  had  risen  to  144.  On  the  sugges¬ 
tion  of  Dr.  Spence  a  pill  was  given  to  the  deceased,  con¬ 
taining  sulphate  of  quinine.  Twelve  pills  were  ordered, 
one  to  be  given  every  four  hours.  He  died  the  next 
morning,  but  the  pill  could  not  have  had  any  effect  one 
way  or  the  other. 

Thomas  Sharpies,  assistant  to  Dr.  Haldan,  said  that 
the  -pills  were  made,  according  to  the  prescription,  of 
quinine  and  extract  of  gentian.  There  was  about  a 
grain  and  a  third  of  quinine  in  each  pill. 

A  juryman  said  it  would  be  advisable  to  have  the  pills 
analysed. 

The  coroner  said  that  he  should  not  like  to  incur  the 
expense  of  an  analysis  unless  they  thought  one  essentially 
necessary". 

A  juryman  said  that  although  he  had  not  the  least 
doubt  of  the  doctor’s  fidelity",  he  thought  that  the  pills 
might  have  been  mixed  improperly  but  at  the  same  time 
not  purposely". 

At  first  there  were  eight  jurymen  in  favour  of  an 
analysis  to  four  against,  but  after  considerable  discussion 
a  verdict  was  returned  to  the  effect  that  the  death  had 
beeffcaused  by-  the  accident. — The  Preston  Herald. 


Poisonous  Confectionery. 

Several  traders  have  been  brought  up  at  the  Southern 
Divisional  Court,  Dublin,  on  a  charge  of  having  used 
poisonous  ingredients  in  the  preparation  of  various 
sweetmeats.  Sugarsticks  of  a  yellow  colour  were  found 
to  contain  chromate  of  lead ;  lozenges  were  coloured  with 
vermilion  (bisulphide  of  mercury),  and  other  articles 
were  adulterated  with  from  10  to  12  per  cent,  of  terra 
alba,  a  form  of  fuller’s  earth,  most  injurious  to  chil¬ 
dren.  Dr.  Cameron,  the  city  analyst,  who  had  experi¬ 
mented  on  the  different  articles  mentioned,  suggested 
the  employ’ment  of  saffron  and  cochineal,  both  harmless 
substances,  instead  of  the  hurtful  chrome  and  vermilion. 
The  traders  were  fined,  and  had  to  pay"  all  costs. — Medi¬ 
cal  Times  and  Gazette. 


Lead  Poisoning. — The  fact  that  metallic  ice-pitchers 
corrode  very  rapidly,  especially  the  solder  of  the  joints, 
having  been  noticed  by"  Mr.  S.  Dana  Hayes,  of  Massa¬ 
chusetts,  he  was  induced  to  investigate  the  cause,  when 
he  found  that  such  corrosion  was  due  to  the  action  ot 
alkalies  upon  the  sides  of  the  vessel, — generally"  made  ot 
Britannia  metal,  German  silver  and  copper, — by  which  a 
galvanic  action  was  set  up  and  the  lead  in  the  solder  de¬ 
composed. —  American  Chemist . 


576 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[January  14,  1S71, 


Introduction  to  the  Study  of  Inorganic  Chemistry. 

By  William  Allen  Miller,  M.D.,  D.C.L.  Long¬ 
mans,  Green  and  Co.  1871. 

A  Laboratory  Text-Book  of  Practical  Chemistry. 

By  William  G.  Valentin,  F.C.S.  John  Churchill 

and  Sons.  1871. 

We  are  really  gratified  in  being  able  to  announce  and 
welcome  these  two  hooks.  They  come  to  us  most  oppor¬ 
tunely,  for  they  fulfil,  almost  as  perfectly  as  if  they  had 
been  compiled  in  that  design,  the  desire  which  we  have 
already  expressed  in  the  columns  of  this  Journal.  It 
has  often  appeared  to  us  that  the  usual  text-books  set 
before  young  students  of  chemistry  introduce  far  too 
much  of  technicality  into  their  language  and  mode  of 
handling  the  subject  at  the  commencement ;  a  character 
more  progressive  seemed  to  us  desirable.  The  little  in¬ 
troductory  treatise  now  before  us,  the  work  of  the  late 
much-lamented  Professor  Miller,  relieves  us  of  a  difficulty 
we  have  often  been  placed  in  when  requested  to  recom¬ 
mend  an  elementary  book.  The  opening  chapter,  de¬ 
scribing  the  scope  and  aim  of  chemistry,  is  very  good ; 
but  our  readers  will  gain  a  better  idea  of  the  style  and 
plan  of  the  work  from  the  following  extracts  out  of  the 
short  preface,  than  from  a  description  of  our  own : — 
“  This  book  is  written  expressly  for  beginners.  In 
order  that  they  should  really  understand  the  statements 
which  it  contains,  it  will  be  necessary  for  them  to  begin 
at  the  beginning,  and  to  go  straight  through  it.  Among 
other  reasons  for  adopting  this  course,  it  is  to  be  noted 
that  it  is  impossible  to  avoid  the  use  of  technical  terms 
in  discussing  a  scientific  subject ;  since  we  often  have  to 
deal  with  matters  for  which  no  expressions  are  in  use  in 
ordinary  language. 

“  The  student  is  strongly  advised  never  to  omit  the  per¬ 
formance  of  any  experiment  which  he  has  the  means  of 
making.  No  useful  knowledge  of  chemistry  can  be  ac¬ 
quired  by  any  one  unless  he  constantly  makes  experi¬ 
ments  as  he  proceeds  with  the  study.” 

In  this  last  remark  we  concur  heartily.  In  order  to 
indicate  the  methods  adopted,  detailed  directions  for  up¬ 
wards  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  experiments,  mostly  of  a 
simple  nature,  are  dispersed  through  the  book ;  but  of 
course  an  intelligent  lad,  as  he  makes  progress,  will  de¬ 
vise  many  others  for  himself. 

It  is  a  question  which  may  occur  to  some  people,  whe¬ 
ther  it  is  advisable  to  commence  so  early  the  employ¬ 
ment  of  chemical  notation.  We  are,  however,  of  opinion 
that  it  is  decidedly  an  advantage  to  use  it,  in  a  simple 
form,  from  the  very  first ;  by  doing  so,  the  precision 
which  ought  to  characterize  all  scientific  work  is  con¬ 
stantly  impressed  upon  the  mind. 

To  render  it  complete,  there  should  have  been  added 
at  the  end  of  each  chapter  a  series  of  questions.  We 
hope  this  will  be  thought  of  in  a  future  edition. 

We  have  much  pleasure  in  cordially  commending  this 
little  volume  to  all  who  desire  to  acquire  a  solid  ground¬ 
work  of  general  principles. 

Those  who  wish  to  go  a  step  further,  and  not  only  to 
master  the  fundamental  principles,  but  to  gain  also  an 
acquaintance  with  some  of  the  details  of  laboratory  prac¬ 
tice,  will  do  well  to  choose  Mr.  Valentin’s  ‘  Text-Book’ 
as  their  guide.  It  forms  a  fitting  sequel  to  that  of  Pro¬ 
fessor  Miller.  The  idea  upon  which  it  is  based  is  the 
same.  The  arrangement  of  the  book,  too,  is  similar ; 
but  the  student  is  led  further.  He  is  taught,  not  only 
to  make  experiments,  but  to  draw  from  them  correct  in¬ 
ferences  ;  and  from  the  facts  which  he  thus  learns,  and  the 
conclusions  flowing  from  them,  he  is  introduced  to  theory. 

Mr.  Valentin,  of  course,  makes  exclusive  use  of  the 
system  of  notation  introduced  by  Dr.  Erankland  and 
founded  upon  the  notion  of  quantivalence  or  atomicity. 
This  system  is  easily  intelligible.  The  atom  of  any  given 
element  is  found  by  experiment  to  be  capable  of  com¬ 


bining  with  a  certain  number  of  atoms  of  hydrogen  or 
of  any  other  element,  chlorine  for  instance,  which  can 
replace  hydrogen  atom  for  atom.  Although  this  number 
is  apparently  variable  for  almost  all  the  elements,  yet  in 
each  case  there  is  a  maximum  point  at  which  the  atom 
which  forms,  as  it  were,  the  nucleus,  is  saturated.  Thus- 
oxygen  is  certainly  a  dyad,  because  it  combines  with- 
either  two  atoms  of  hydrogen,  or  with  one  of  hydrogen 
and  one  of  the  monad  potassium,  or  with  two  atoms  of 
potassium.  In  caustic  potash  the  hydrogen  and  potas¬ 
sium  are  held  together  by  the  intervention  of  the  oxygen. 
The  potassium  and  hydrogen  alone  have  no  power  to 
unite.  In  water  the  two  atoms  of  hydrogen  are  linked 
by  the  same  agency.  When  such  an  atom  as  that  of 
oxygen,  which  is  multivalent,  is  supplied  with  a  number 
of  monad  or  univalent  atoms  or  their  representatives,, 
which  are  insufficient  to  satisfy  its  combining  capacities, 
the  resulting  group  is  unsaturated.  It  has  a  tendency 
to  combine  with  other  bodies  wffiich  may  complete  its 
saturation.  Thus  although  ammonia,  NH3,  is  capable 
of  existing  alone,  it  nevertheless  has  a  tendency  to  com¬ 
bine  with  hydrochloric  acid  or  some  other  body  which  is 
capable  of  completing  the  molecule.  This  is  explained 
by  saying  that  nitrogen  is  quinquevalent,  and  therefore 
is  not  satisfied  with  three  atoms  of  hydrogen.  Dr. 
Frankland  distinguishes  by  thick  typo,  the  element 
which  in  any  compound  possesses  the  greatest  number 
of  what  he  calls  bonds,  that  is,  units  of  combining  power. 
This  same  element  is  also,  as  a  rule,  placed  first  in  the 
formula.  Thus  water  is  written  OH2.  Carbonic  an¬ 
hydride,  which  contains  the  quadrivalent  element  car¬ 
bon,  with  the  bivalent  oxygen,  is  C02.  Trihydric 
phosphate,  or  common  phosphoric  acid,  is,  by  the  same 
rule,:  PO(IIO)3  or  POHo3.  Dr.  Frankland’ s  formuke 
are  therefore  all  constitutional  formula!,  that  is,  they 
pretend  to  express  not  only  the  relative  proportions  of 
the  elements  in  a  compound,  or  even  the  number  of  atoms 
in  the  molecule  of  that  compound,  but  the  actual  order 
in  which  its  constituent  parts  are  fitted  together.  Though 
it  must  be  admitted  there  is  already  considerable  founda¬ 
tion  for  such  a  system,  it  ought  in  the  present  unsatis¬ 
factory  state  of  the  science  to  be  used  with  due  caution 
and,  we  think,  alternatively  with  one  less  pretentious. 
Whilst  we  fully  admit  the  value  of  constitutional  for¬ 
mulae  as  helps  to  teaching  we  have  no  sympathy  with 
any  of  the  graphic  systems  which  have  been  introduced, 
and  we  are  glad  to  perceive  that  Mr.  V alentin  accords 
to  them  quite  a  subordinate  position  in  his  pages.  Wo 
cannot  help  commending  very  highly  the  arrangement 
as  well  as  the  details  of  this  manual,  and  the  author’s 
expressed  desire  to  lead  his  pupils  “to  generalize  and  to 
systematize,”  seems  to  be  very  successfully  carried  out. 
In  the  part  devoted  to  qualitative  analysis,  the  methods 
recommended  are,  we  believe,  both  practical  and  accurate. 
A  number  of  well-devised  questions  follow  each  chapter. 

In  conclusion,  we  here  record  our  conviction  that  Mr. 
Valentin’s  Text-Book  is  the  best  laboratory  guide  to 
practical  chemistry  at  present  in  existence. 


BOOK  RECEIVED. 

Year-Book  of  Pharmacy:  comprising  Abstracts  of  Papers 
relating  to  Pharmacy,  Materia  Medica,  Therapeutics  and 
Chemistry,  contributed  to  British  and  Foreign  Journals, 
from  July  1, 1869,  to  June  30,  1870,  with  the  Proceedings 
of  the  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference  at  the  Seventh 
Annual  Meeting,  held  at  Liverpool,  September,  1870. 

The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  Jan.  7 ;  the  ‘Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
Jan.  7;  the  ‘ Lancet,’ Jan.  7;  the  ‘Medical  Press  and  Cir¬ 
cular,’  Jan.  11 ;  ‘Nature,’  Jan.  5;  the  ‘Chemical  News,’  Jan. 
6;  ‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  Jan.  5  ;  ‘  Gardeners’  Chro¬ 
nicle,’  Jan.  7;  the  ‘Grocer,’  Jan.  7  ;  the  ‘English  Mecha¬ 
nic,’  Jan.  6;  the  ‘  Chemists  and  Druggists’  Advocate’  for  De¬ 
cember;  the  ‘  Chicago  Pharmacist  ’  for  December ;  the  ‘  Flo¬ 
rist  and  Pomologist  ’  for  Januaiw;  the  ‘Milk  Journal’  tor 
January ;  the  ‘  J  ouxnal  of  the  London  Institution’  for  J  an  miry.. 


577 


January  14,  1871 .] 


THE  rnATniACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


|totes  aitir 


***  In  order  to  facilitate  reference,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  their  answers  in  each  case  with  the  title 
■and  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

Xo  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications, 
jill  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
■and  address  of  the  writer. 

NOTICE. — To  prevent  delay ,  correspondents  are  re¬ 
quested  to  send  their  communications  to  the  Journal  Depart¬ 
ment,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  W.C.,  and  not  to  the  Pub- 
■  dishers. 

[6.]— ESSENCE  OF  COFFEE.— This  is  a  highly  con¬ 
centrated  infusion  of  coffee,  prepared  by  percolation  with 
boiling  water,  and  then  quickly  evaporated  to  about  one- 
third  or  one-fourth  of  its  bulk.  Sometimes  it  is  mixed  with 
.a  thick  aqueous  extract  of  chicory  and  syrup  of  burnt  sugar, 
.so  as  to  give  the  whole  the  consistence  of  treacle.  The  pro¬ 
portions  of  the  dry  ingredients  used  should  be — • 

Coffee . 4  parts. 

Chicory . 2  ., 

Burnt  Sugar  ....  1  part. 

It  should  be  kept  in  well-corked  bottles  in  a  cool  place. — 
(Cooley. 

[81.] — SAkRUP  OF  TAMARINDS. — In  answer  to  your 
correspondent  “  Iledicus,”  I  beg  to  furnish  the  following 
recipe  for  a  syrup  of  tamarinds : — 

Tamarinds . 100  parts. 

Sugar .  500  „ 

Orange-Flower  Water  .  .  G  „ 

Boil  the  tamarinds  for  some  time  with  a  sufficiency  of 
water ;  add  the  sugar  to  the  resulting  decoction,  and  clarify 
the  syrup  with  the  white  of  an  egg.  The  orange-flower  water 

should  be  added  when  the  syrup  is  cool. — Alembic. 

[92.]— FLEXIBLE  YARNISH. 

India-rubber  (cut  small),  1J  oz. 

Chloroform,  Ether  (washed),  or  Bisulphuret  of 
Carbon,  1  pint. 

Digest  in  the  cold  until  the  solution  is  complete.  It  dries 
as  soon  as  it  is  laid  on.  Pure  gutta-percha  may  be  substi- 
.  luted  for  india-rubber. — X.  Q.  Z. 

[101.]—  CHERRY"  TOOTH-PASTE.— A  very  good  cherry 
tooth-paste  is  made  as  follows.  It  has  the  advantage  of  not 
fermenting : — 

R.  Lap.  Pumicis  Levig., 

P.  Iridis,  ana  3ij 
P.  Myrrh.  3ss 
Mellis  §iv 

Lake  Liquor  to  colour. 

When  mixed,  add — 

01.  Caryoph.  5iss 
Ess.  Limonis  5iss 

Otto  Rosas  gtt.  viij.  S.  D. 

[104.]— COUGH  PILLS. 

R.  Antim.  P.  Tart.  gr.  iss 
Ext.  Ilyoscy.  gr.  xviij 
Morph.  Mur.  gr.  ^ 

Pulv.  Glycyr.  q.  s.  ft.  pil.  xij. 

Capt.  j  nocte  maneque. — W.  W. 

[117.] — WATCH  OIL. — 01.  Amygdal.  Dule.  is  the  best 
for  either  purpose. — W.  W. 

[120.]— EMBOSSING  STAMP. — A.  H.  Hale  can  pro¬ 
cure  the  kind  of  Press  he  requires  from  any  of  my  establish¬ 
ments. — W.  Matiiee.. 

[121.]  SYRUPUS  CROCI. 

R.  Croci  Stig.  5j 
Aq.  Bullient.  lb.  j 
Sacch.  Alb.  lb.  ij. 

M.  Infuse  the  saffron  in  the  water  for  some  time  in  a 
warm  place,  then  add  the  sugar,  and  slowly  simmer  for  a 
lime,  then  strain.  If  to  be  kept,  add  a  little  S.  V.  R. — W.  W. 


[122.]— PERFUMED  LIQUID  AMMONIA. 

R.  Otto  Rosoe  gtt.  ij 
01.  Lavand.  gtt.  xx 
„  Verbeme  gtt.  ij 
„  Limonis  gtt.  xx 
„  Caryoph., 

Ess.  Moschi,  ana  gtt.  x 
,,  Jasmin,  gtt.  vj 
S.  Y.  R.  ^ss 

Liq.  Amm.  Fort.  giij.  MediCINA. 

R.  01.  Lavand.  Ang., 

Ess.  Bergamot, 

Ess.  Limonis,  ana  5j 
Caryophyll.  5ss 
Camphor  §ss 
Amm  minted  Alcohol  5 xij 
M.  Macerate  for  a  week,  and  filter. — W.  W. 


B.  Ess.  Ambergris, 

Ess.  Musk,  ana  ^ss 
Otto  of  Rose  ivlxx 
Oil  Lavend.  3j 
Ammoniated  Alcohol  §x 
M.,  et  adde — 

Liq.  Ammon.  Fortis  §x. — W.  W. 


[123.]— ARNICA  CERATE.— M.  P.  S.  would  be  glad  of 
the  proper  form  (if  there  is  one)  for  making  “Arnica  Cerate.” 

[124.]— AFRICAN  SAFFRON. — Can  any  one  give  in¬ 
formation  as  to  the  source  of  the  so-called  African  saffron  ? — 

X.  Q.  Z. 

[125.]— SCIENTIFIC  LIBRARY. — “A  Stranger"  would 
feel  obliged  to  any  one  who  could  kindly  inform  him  of  a 
good  library  containing  scientific  and  other  works,  and  chiefly 
opeu  at  nights  for  reading. 

[126.] — TEETOTALLERS’  SYRUP. — Can  any  reader  in¬ 
form  me  what  is  the  composition  of  the  “syrup”  used  by 
teetotallers? — W.  B. 

[127.] — BURLING  INK. — Can  any  one  favour  me  with 
a  recipe  for  “  Burling  ”  ink  ?  It  must  be  blue-black,  and  a 
great  portion  of  the  colouring  matter  in  a  dissolved  state. 
Such  an  ink  is  used  by  clothmakers  for  marking  any  portion 
of  cotton  in  the  cloth  that  has  failed  to  take  the  dye  properly  ? 
— CoNIA. 

[128.]— AMANDINE. — J.  P.  would  thank  any  of  our 
readers  who  wrnuld  furnish  him  with  a  good  recipe  for  making 
amand  ine  for  whitening  the  hands  and  preserving  them  from 
chapping. 

[129.] — TALCA  GUM. — Will  any  reader  kindly  give  me 
some  information  concerning  the  source  from  which  talca  gum 
is  obtained? — Student. 

[130.]— GERMAN  YEAST.—  G.  IF.  would  be  thankful 
for  good  directions  for  the  manufacture  of  German  yeast. 

[131.]— MOUTH  WASH. — H.  W.  G.  would  be  thankful 
for  a  recipe  for  a  good  wash  for  the  mouth,  to  be  used  as  a 
remedy  for  soft  and  spongy  gums. 

[132].— COUGH  BALLS  FOR  HORSES. — “A  Hemler,, 
is  in  want  of  a  good  formula  for  making  cough  balls  for  horses. 

[133.]— CAMPHOR  BALLS.— I  should  be  glad  to  learn 
of  a  good  recipe  for  preparing  camphor  balls  for  chapped 
hands. — Rusticus. 

[134.]— BEESWAX. — Will  any  reader  advise  me  as  to 
the  best  method  to  be  adopted  in  the  refining  and  colouring 
of  crude  beeswax  ? — J ulius. 

[135.]— ESSENCE  OF  JARGONELLE  PEA  LI. — AT.  31. 
wishes  to  be  supplied  with  a  formula  for  the  preparation  ot 
the  artificial  essence  of  jargonelle  pear. 

[136.] — DISPENSING.— I  should  be  glad  to  knowhow 
the  enclosed  prescription  should  be  dispensed  and  sent  out. 
I  have  dispensed  it  several  times,  but  never  to  my  satisfaction. 

R  Potassa)  Chloratis  5iv 
Tinct.  Ferri  5iv 
Aquae  ad  ^iij .  M. 

“  One  teaspoonful  in  water  three  times  daily.” 

1  1  “Sigma.” 

[#^*  The  quantity  of  water  ordered  is  not  sufficient  to  dis¬ 
solve  the  chlorate  of  potash  completely. — Ed.  Pn.  J.] 


578 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [January  u,  1871 


***  JSro  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  ivriter  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Pjroposed  Regulations  for  Storing  of  Poisons. 

Sir, — In  the  discussion  on  this  subject  several  important 
points  have  not  been  touched  upon ;  and,  as  it  is  now  evident 
that  the  Privy  Council  intend  something  to  be  done,  and  that 
within  a  reasonable  time,  it  would  be  wise  on  our  parts  to 
attend  to  it  early,  so  as  to  prevent  any  further  interference. 

On  a  previous  occasion,  June,  1869,  I  advocated  voluntary 
measures,  but  the  time  is  now  past  for  anything  of  that  sort, 
and  something  compulsory  must  be  agreed  upon. 

In  my  opinion  we  can  easily  gratify  the  public,  without 
any  inconvenience  or  much  expense  to  ourselves,  and  it  will  be 
obviously  to  our  interests  to  do  so.  It  is  more  as  a  placebo 
to  satisfy  the  wishes  of  our  customers,  who  seem  to  have 
made  up  their  minds  about  having  some  regulations  of  this 
kind,  than  for  any  other  reason  that  further  legislation  is 
needed. 

The  Pharmacy  Act,  1868,  always  appeared  to  me  to  expect 
further  action  by  the  Society ;  and  I  think  we  are  under  cer¬ 
tain  moral,  if  not  legal  obligations,  to  bring  forward  some 
scheme  to  be  universally  adopted. 

There  would  be  really  very  little  difficulty  in  the  matter  if 
the  regulations  were  confined  to  Part  I.,  and  to  the  sending  out 
of  poisonous  applications  in  blue  bottles  or  bottles  covered  with 
blue  paper.*  As  to  the  argument  that  such  precautions  are 
not  necessary,  and  that  they  ought,  if  compulsory,  to  apply 
equally  to  medical  men,  I  attach  very  little  weight  to  it,  be¬ 
cause  every  one  who  has  had  experience  in  the  best  dispen¬ 
sing  houses  knows  that  similar  arrangements  are  there  carried 
out,  and  also  that  medical  men  can,  in  many  cases,  avoid  in¬ 
quiry  into  their  mistakes. 

Good  bold  labels,  and  a  separate  compartment  for  all 
articles  in  Part  I.,  and  labelling  lin.  aconit.  and  belladon.  for 
outward  use  to  distinguish  them  from  the  tinctures,  appear 
to  me  the  measures  best  adapted  to  retailers;  but  to  extend 
these  precautions  to  articles  in  Part  II.  is  only  to  bring  ridicule 
on  the  Society  and  the  whole  trade.  Let  us  all  make  up  our 
minds  to  carry  out  fully  some  well-considered  method,  and, 
by  sinking  private  feelings  for  the  general  good  that  would 
follow,  we  shall  please  the  public  and  advance  our  interests 
as  dispensers. 

There  is  a  growing  feeling  amongst  the  educated  classes 
that  medicines  are  better  prepared  by  the  chemist  than  the 
surgeon.  If  we  can  keep  pace  with  the  demands  of  the  en¬ 
lightened  portion  of  the  community  for  genuine  medicines 
skilfully  prepared,  we  can  well  afford  to  leave  medical  men 
free  to  do  as  they  like. 

Sandoivn,  I.  W.  George  Brown. 


Sir, — Although  I  cannot  speak  on  the  above  subject  from 
large  practical  experience,  I  have  given  some  attention  to  the 
consideration  of  its  bearings,  both  on  the  trade  and  the  public, 
and  am  not  at  all  surprised  at  the  objections  expressed  in  the 
Journal  to  the  proposals  of  the  Council.  It  is  quite  true,  as 
“  Nemo  ”  observes  in  the  number  for  Dec.  31,  that  cases  of 
poisoning  by  “  misadventure  seldom  ”  occur.  But  this  does 
not,  I  think,  show  (as  he  seems  to  argue)  that  precautionary 
measures  are  not  therefore  requisite  and  advisable.  The 
question  is  not  whether  such  cases  “seldom”  occur,  but  whether 
they  occur  at  all;  whether  anything  can  be  done  to  prevent 
them.  To  my  mind  the  question  shapes  itself  thus :  Has 
everything  been  done  that  can  be  done  to  prevent  accidental 
poisoning  by  chemists  ?  If  not,  then  it  is  clearly  a  duty  of 
the  Legislature  (and  intermediately  of  the  Council)  to  supply 
this  deficiency.  This  is  attempted  in  the  present  simple  regu¬ 
lations,  to  which,  I  think,  no  chemist  can  reasonably  object. 
They  are  not  an  infallible  remedy  against  mistakes,  but  a  fur¬ 
ther  effort  (in  addition  to  qualification)  to  prevent  them, — 
another  link  in  the  circle  of  duty  which  we  owe,  as  a  public 
body,  to  society. 

*  As  stated  by  the  Editor  in  a  recent  number,  this  last  is 
very  important,  for  it  will  be  found  on  examination  that  most 
of  the  accidents  occur  through  mistakes  or  neglect  of  patients 
or  attendants. 


“Prevention  is”  always  “better  than  cure,”  but  in  cases 
of  poisoning  prevention  is  too  frequently  the  only  cure.  The 
fatal  draught  once  swallowed,  no  power,  perhaps,  can  avert 
the  sad  results, — the  loss,  it  may  be,  of  a  valuable  life,  and 
the  ruin  of  the  chemist,  or  at  least  the  sacrifice,  on  his  part, 
of  a  large  sum  of  money,  to  say  nothing  of  reputation.  In 
how  many  cases  would  such  results  have  been  prevented  bv 
the  rigid  adoption  of  a  few  simple  precautions  like  those  now 
proposed?  Let  me  select  three  “sample  cases,”  in  each  of 
which,  I  believe,  these  precautions  would  have  proved  effec¬ 
tual.  They  are  all  recorded  in  the  Pharmaceutical  Jour¬ 
nal  for  J uly,  1869,  and  each  proved  fatal.  In  the  first  of 
these,  which  resulted  in  the  death  of  Mr.  F.  Grattan  Guin¬ 
ness,  it  is  next  to  certain  that,  had  these  compulsory  precau¬ 
tions  been  in  existence,  the  porter  would  not  have  filled  the 
carbonate  of  ammonia  bottle  with  cyanide  of  potassium.  It 
is  distinctly  stated  that  “  the  jar  had  no  label  to  it.”  It  is 
true  the  assistant  should  have  discovered  the  substitution, 
but  the  porter’s  error  was  the  original  cause  of  the  accident, 
and  would  have  been  entirely  met  by  the  precautions  now 
proposed.  It  was  asserted  at  the  inquiry  that  the  rules  of 
the  establishment  had,  in  this  case,  been  departed  from,  and. 
this  fact  clearly  shows  the  advantage  of  uniform  and  com¬ 
pulsory  regulations  over  these  privately  adopted.  The  former 
are  far  less  likely  to  be  neglected  than  the  latter.  To 
the  second  case  referred  to,  which  involved  the  death  of 
Essex  T.  Williams,  surgeon,  a  similar  line  of  remark  is  ap¬ 
plicable.  Had  the  strychnia  sent  out  by  the  “  wholesale 
house  in  Bristol,”  in  mistake  for  acetate  of  morphia,  been 
originally  prominently  distinguished,  it  is  hardly  possible  to 
suppose  that  it  would  have  been  supplied  in  error  for  the  latter 
substance.  The  third  case,  in  which  strychnia  was  substituted 
for  sugar,  still  more  strikingly  exhibits  the  value  of  precau¬ 
tionary  measures.  A  chemist,  who  had  on  the  very  day  of 
the  accident,  entered  on  a  business,  dispensed  strychnia  for 
saccharum.  The  chemist  who  had  sold  the  business  alleged 
that  the  labels  had  been  mistaken,  adding,  “  It  was  not  cus¬ 
tomary  for  chemists  to  label  their  bottles  ‘  Poison  ’  in  addition 
to  the  ordinary  label  as  to  the  contents.”  It  is  clear  enough 
that  this  mistake  would  not  have  occurred  had  the  bottle 
containing  strychnia  been  in  some  way  distinguished  from, 
the  rest.  A  parallel  case  to  the  above,  in  which  strych¬ 
nia  also  proved  fatal,  is  recorded  at  page  728  of  the  Pharm. 
Journal  (Yol.  XI.).  In  this  case  a  surgeon  dispensed  the 
medicine.  It  was,  however,  stated  on  the  inquiry  that  the 
surgeon  “  was  not  aware  that  there  was  any  strychnia  in  a 
crystalline  form  in  his  surgery,”  and  that  “  the  bottle  con¬ 
taining  the  poison  was  not  properly  labelled.”  The  above 
cases  (and,  did  time  and  space  permit,  others  equally  in  point 
might  be  cited)  show  that  poisoning  by  “misadventure”  does 
not  occur  so  “  seldom”  as  could  be  wished,  but  quite  often, 
enough  to  render  some  restrictions  necessary.  Practically 
they  suggest  that  the  same  or  similar  regulations  should  be 
applied  to  wholesale  druggists  and  surgeons,  as  to  dispensing 
chemists. 

Such  cases  also  furnish  a  reply  to  the  observation  of 
“  Pharmaceutist  ”  (page  537),  “  that  the  improved  education 
now  demanded  is  a  sufficient  safeguard  to  the  public.”  Such 
a  remark  is  altogether  beside  the  question.  If  only  educated, 
pharmaceutists  and  scientific  men  had  the  handling  of  poisons, 
restriction  might  be  less  necessary,  but  as  we  see  in  the  case 
of  Mr.  Guinness,  and  as  every  one  in  the  trade  knows,  these 
substances  are  constantly  being  manipulated  by  apprentices  or 
porters,  who  are  for  the  most  part  imperfectly  educated,  and 
the  same  remark  will  apply,  probably,  even  to  not  a  few  as¬ 
sistants.  The  fact  is,  the  qualification  of  the  principals  in 
Messrs.  Oldham’s  establishment  was  far  less  capable  of  pre¬ 
venting  the  accident  above  referred  to,  than  a  few  simple- 
rules,  regarded  by  all  as  compulsory,  would  have  been.  The 
same  observation  will  apply  in  the  case  of  mistakes  which 
have  occurred  in  other  houses  of  the  highest  standing  in  the 
trade.  Clearly  enough  qualification  may  have  nothing  to  do 
with  the  matter.  In  neither  of  the  above  cases,  where  the 
principals  made  the  blunder,  was  any  question  whatever 
raised  respecting  qualification.  The  present  regulations  are 
designed  to  meet  sources  of  error  against  which  no  degree  of 
qualification  could  render  a  man  absolutely  secure,  either  as 
regards  himself,  or  especially  as  regards  those  in  his  employ. 
Education  and  a  sense  of  responsibility,  so  far  from  render¬ 
ing  us  independent  of  rules,  teach  us  to  frame  good  ones,  and 
willingly  and  rigidly  to  abide  by  them. 

Let  me  ask,  in  conclusion,  how  would  these  regulations,  it 
adopted,  practically  affect  the  trade?  Do  not  the  alternatives. 


January  14, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


579 


now  offered  and  the  suppression  of  the  restriction  touching 
liniments  and  angular  bottles,  so  simplify  them,  as  to  render 
them  generally  applicable  ?  The  trade  may,  I  imagine,  be  di¬ 
vided,  as  regards  this  question,  into  three  sections.  First,  there 
are  houses  probably  where  these  or  similar  regulations  for 
storing  poisons  are  already  in  force ;  this,  we  may  presume,  is 
the  case  in  our  principal  metropolitan  and  provincial  dispensing 
establishments,  and  here  no  material  difficulty  would  be  ex¬ 
perienced.  There  is  a  second  class  who  have  virtually  em¬ 
bodied  these  regulations  in  certain  precautionary  measures  of 
their  own,  and  such  would  willingly  conform  to  those  officially 
proposed.  A  third  section  still  remains,  not,  I  think,  the  most 
numerous,  and  certainly  not  the  most  influential,  who  have  not 
adopted  precautions  of  any  kind  in  keeping  poisons,  but  who 
(as  Mr.. Slipper  naively  observes),  “  If  they  find  the  bottles 
containing  crystals  of  citric  acid  and  sal.  acetos.  huggingeach 
other,  naturally  and  prudently  (!)  forbid  the  close  connection.” 
Such  chemists  “know  better”  than  to  be  bound  by  a  “hard 
and  fast  line.”  They  act  upon  their  knowledge  and  experience. 
Perhaps  the  instances  given  above  will  serve  to  show  that  the 
laisses  faire  policy,  which  this  section  of  the  trade  so  strongly 
advocates,  is  directly  subversive  of  its  own  interests,  as  weil 
as  of  the  interests  of  the  public,  and  help  to  explain  the  reason 
why  the  Council  thiuk  it  necessary  to  compel  chemists  to 
keep  poisons  in  certain  places  or  in  distinctive  bottles.  From 
this  section  of  the  trade  opposition  must  be  expected,  and 
ought  to  be  vigorously  met.  But  by  a  free  and  full  discussion 
of  the  matter  in  the  pages  of  the  J ournal,  it  may  be  hoped 
that  many  who  at  first  opposed  these  regulations,  will  be  led 
to  see  the  advisability  of  adopting  them. 

Objections  have  been  raised  to  the  compulsory  nature  of 
the  proposed  regulations,  but  to  be  generally  effective,  I  hold 
that  they  must  be  compulsory.  This  is  evident  from  the 
existence  of  a  section  in  the  trade  opposed  to  them  (and  which 
would  still  exist  if  reduced  to  a  minority),  and  also  from  the 
fact  that  their  effectiveness  must  largely  depend  on  their 
faithful  application  by  apprentices,  assistants,  or  porters,  on 
whom  rules  legally  binding,  would  naturally  have  a  greater 
hold  than  regulations  merely  recommended  by  the  Society  or 
enjoined  by  their  employers.  It  might,  perhaps,  greatly 
facilitate  the  adoption  of  the  present  regulations,  if  the  So¬ 
ciety  could  devise  and  authorize  a  label  to  be  stamped,  “  The 
Pharmaceutical  Poison  Label,”  and  bearing  the  word  “poison” 
in  the  centre  in  distinctive  type;  such  label,  exhibiting  some 
bold  device  which  would  be  at  once  recognized,  to  be  made 
both  in  paper  and  metal;  the  latter  form  with  holes  for  nails 
or  string,  to  enable  it  to  be  conveniently  affixed  to  casks  or 
jars.  If  made  in  different  sizes,  the  smallest  bottle  or  pot  or 
preparation  of  any  kind,  could  easily  have  one  attached.  The 
value  of  one  uniform  safeguard  label,  universally  understood 
and  recognized  throughout  the  trade,  will  be  at  once  evident 
to  all.  I  have  said  above  that  the  proposed  regulations 
should  apply  to  wholesale  druggists  and  surgeons  as  well  as 
to  chemists.  Nor  do  I  see  why  they  should  not  or  cannot; 
but  if  their  extension  to  medical  men  and  the  wholesale  trade 
involve  any  practical  difficulty,  this  is  certainly  no  reason  why 
chemists  should  reject  them.  Shall  we  refuse  to  adopt  a 
course  suggested  by  prudence  and  warranted  by  reason  and 
experience,  merely  because  our  neighbours  won’t  ?  Let  us 
set  them  a  good  example. 

January  7th,  1871.  M.  P.  S. 

P.S.  The  use  of  the  label  above  suggested,  would  probably 
be  considered  to  meet  the  requirements  of  the  second  alterna¬ 
tive  regulation,  applicable  to  articles  which  cannot  be  conve¬ 
niently  kept  apart,  especially  if  the  label  were  made  of  sand¬ 
paper  or  other  rough  material,  so  as  to  be  distinguishable  by 
the  touch.  In  the  case  of  metal,  a  few  holes  punched  in  it 
would  answer  this  purpose.  Let  me  add,  that  it  is  quite 
possible  that  many  chemists  whose  own  arrangements  are  excel¬ 
lent,  may,  nevertheless  object  to  compulsory  regulations,  but 
surely  they  are  inconsistent  with  their  own  practice  in  doing 
so.  I  have  just  read  Mr.  Allman’s  letter  in  to-day’s  Journal 
•and  would  here  endorse  his  excellent  remarks  (as  also  those 
of  “A  Pharmaceutical  Chemist  ”  in  the  N  umber  for  December 
24th).  Mr.  Vizer’s  reference  to  the  “  knives  and  lancets”  is 
a  pure  absurdity.  It  is,  however,  important  as  touching  Mr. 
Proctor’s  suggestion,  that  the  regulations  should  be  as  simple 
as  possible,  otherwise  they  will  be  evaded.  A  rule  too  com¬ 
plex  to  be  undeviatingly  observed  is  worse  than  none.  This 
question  deserves,  in  my  opinion,  far  more  serious  and  dis¬ 
passionate  treatment  than  it  has  received  in  the  letters  of  Mr. 
Beaton,  Mr.  Hampson,  Mr.  Yizer  and  other  correspondents. 


Sir,— In  common  with  the  majority  of  your  readers,  I  have 
taken  great  interest  in  the  discussion  that  has  been  kept  up 
\\  it h  so  much  spirit  and,  in  the  main,  with  such  good  sense, 

.  ''  c  uow  stand  in  a  different  position  respecting  the  ques- 
tion ;  the  Council  are  not  to  have  it  all  their  own  wav. 
Much  as  l  respect  several  individuals  of  that  body,  I  should 
feel  wanting  in  honesty  did  I  not  express  my  convictions  upon 
the  great  topic.  I  have  hitherto  deferred  doing  so,  but  the 
letters  of  Messrs.  Beaton,  Hampson  and  Allman  have  brought 
me  to  bearings;  the  two  former  gentlemen  fairly  represent 
the  gist  of  the  whole  affair,  and  advocate  the  dignity  of  our 
profession  (if  it  be  ever  destined  to  such  honorary  title). 

Presuming  the  object  of  Government  to  be  the  protection 
of  the  lives  and  health  of  her  Majesty’s  subjects,  there  is 
ample  scope  for  such  benevolent  intentions  : — ■ 

1st.  By  commencing  a  system  of  practical  sanitary  reform. 

2nd.  By  regulating  the  supply  and  quality  of  poisonous 
compounds  by  publicans  and  others. 

3rd.  By  placing  under  strict  surveillance  unscrupulous  and 
irresponsible  railway  directors,  who  sacrifice  human  life  and 
limb  with  so  much  sangfroid. 

4th.  To  try  and  get  hold  of  the  fact  (if  it  exists)  that  people 
can  be  made  moral,  careful  and  intelligent  by  Acts  of  Parlia¬ 
ment  for  the  prevention  of  such  as  the  three  cases  of  poison¬ 
ing  recorded  in  last  week’s  Journal. 

I  can  but  repeat  what  has  already  been  shrewdly  advanced, 
that  the  intelligent  chemist  does  not  need  legal  intervention 
to  keep  him  in  the  knowledge  of  the  substances  he  makes  and 
handles,  any  more  than  the  accomplished  surgeon  requires 
watching  as  to  how  he  operates  with  his  knives  and  lancets, 
— the  idea  is  preposterous  and  impertinent. 

Mr.  Allman’s  letter  being  chiefly  personal,  does  not  admit 
of  remark,  further  than  the  acknowledgment  that  as  a  speci¬ 
men  of  special  pleading,  it  deserves  the  palm. 

R.  Goodwin  Mumbray. 


Pharmacy  in  Brighton. 

Why  do  not  the  Pharmaceutical  Chemists  here  study  more 
the  interests  of  their  assistants,  since  the  examinations  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  have  become  so  rigid  ?  In  this  town, 
where  we  have  more  than  fifty  chemists  in  business  and,  on 
an  average,  two  assistants  in  each  shop,  there  is  not  either  a 
school  of  pharmacy  or  any  place  where  we  can  receive  in¬ 
struction.  Why  does  not  the  Pharmaceutical  Council  ap¬ 
point  Local  Secretaries,  not  merely  for  the  purpose  of  con¬ 
ducting  a  preliminary  examination  (which  is  of  no  use  to  as¬ 
sistants),  but  also  that  they  might  exert  themselves — particu¬ 
larly  in  a  town  like  Brighton — to  establish,  with  the  help  of 
their  brother  pharmaceutists,  a  school,  or  at  least  some  place 
where  assistants  could  meet  for  the  purpose  of  instruction 
in  the  several  branches  of  the  profession?  It  is  not  every  as¬ 
sistant  who  has  money  to  repair  to  the  great  metropolis,  and 
give  his  whole  time  to  a  pharmaceutical  education;  whereas 
at  home  he  might  get  away  one  evening  in  the  week  and  pay 
a  fee  for  a  course  of  lectures.  I  am  sure  if  our  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Chemists  were  to  exert  themselves  to  establish  a  school 
of  pharmacy,  it  would  be  strongly  supported  by  the  assis¬ 
tants  in  general. 

A.  Henley  Attwater,  Jun. 


Wholesale  Druggists’  Assistants’  Society. 

Sir, — Concerning  my  abortive  attempt  to  get  the  assistants 
in  the  wholesale  drug  trade  to  form  themselves  into  a  Mu¬ 
tual  Improvement  Association,  allow  me  to  remark  that  it 
took  place  as  far  back  as  the  spring  of  1867,  and  was  prompted 
principally  by  seeing  the  rapid  improvement  which  had  for 
years  been  going  forward  in  the  ranks  of  the  assistants  in  the 
retail  trade,  while  the  assistants  in  the  wholesale  trade  were 
gradually  sinking  in  the  social  scale,  if  we  may  judge  from 
the  fact  that  their  employers  found  it  necessary  to  look  about 
for  some  means  of  protection  against  their  delinquency.  I 
need  hardly  allude  to  the  difference  which  has  always  existed 
in  the  position  of  the  wholesale  and  the  retail  druggists’ 
assistant.  While  the  latter  are  men  who  have  passed  through 
a  regular  apprenticeship,  and  for  the  most  part  reside  with 
their  employers,  having  access  to  the  various  works  and 
journals  appertaining  to  their  calling  and  time  to  study 
them  during  the  intervals  of  business,  the  great  bulk  of  the 
former  have  never  had  an  opportunity  of  pursuing  any  course 
of  study;  and,  being  engaged  at  business  dming  fewer  hours 


5S0 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [January  H,  1371. 


of  the  clay,  they  are  constantly  employed  at  set  duties,  which 
allow  them  no  time  for  reading  during  those  hours.  After 
business  hours  few,  at  present,  have  the  means  of  acquiring  that 
knowledge,  which  would  be  so  easily  attainable  if  there  were 
a  reading-room  and  library  to  which  they  could  resort  at  any 
hour  which  suited  their  convenience.  The  periodical  trade 
literature  would  cost  but  a  trifle  annually,  and  I  know  by 
past  experience  that  the  nucleus  of  a  library  is  soon  formed 
by  donations  from  authors,  publishers  and  employers,  added 
to  subscriptions  got  up  among  the  members.  It  is  also  known 
that  several  of  the  employes  in  the  trade  are  men  whose 
attainments  are  such  as  would  not  fail  to  be  most  useful  in 
the  enlightenment  of  their  less  favoured  brethren,  could  the}’ 
be  prevailed  upon  to  join  in  the  exposition  of  the  useful  trade 
and  scientific  knowledge  which  they  possess. 

Having  communicated  my  idea  of  the  desirableness  of  such 
an  institution  to  three  acquaintances  holding  a  similar  posi¬ 
tion  in  the  trade  to  my  own,  it  was  determined  that  each  of 
us  should  submit  the  following  to  his  own  private  circle  as 
the  primary  objects  of  a  proposed  Society,  but  our  personal 
canvass  was  so  very  unsuccessful  that  the  matter  was  aban¬ 
doned  after  the  second  meeting  at  my  private  residence. 

1st.  To  enroll  any  member  of  the  wholesale  drug  trade  who 
had  been  employed  in  any  drug  house  for  a  period  of  five  years 
as  an  associate  of  the  Society,  and  to  provide,  in  return  for  a 
small  monthly  subscription,  a  meeting  and  reading-room,  to 
which  every  associate  would  have  access  at  any  time. 

2nd.  To  institute  a  series  of  readings  by  those  members  of 
the  Society  able  and  willing  to  contribute  articles  of  trade 
interest. 

3rd.  To  facilitate  the  acquirement  of  trade  knowledge  by 
opening  a  register,  in  which  any  member  might  request  the 
advice  and  information  of  the  other  members  on  any  subject 
connected  with  the  trade. 

4th.  To  keep  a  record  of  all  vacancies  occurring  in  the 
trade,  and  to  furnish  employers  with  a  ready  means  of  at 
once  selecting  servants  suitable  to  their  wants. 

oth.  To  undertake  to  expose  and  prosecute  any  dishonesty 
on  the  part  of  any  of  its  members. 

I  may  set  down  the  failure  of  the  movement — (1.)  To  the 
difficulty  of  getting  a  sufficient  number  of  co-operators  to 
promote  it,  by  throwing  in  their  energies  and  the  small  ad¬ 
vance  of  cash  (a  few  shillings  each  at  most)  necessary  to  set 
it  going.  (2.)  An  expression  of  fear  that  employers  would 
misconstrue  the  aims  of  such  an  undertaking  (3.)  An  appa¬ 
rent  feeling  of  rivalry  between  the  men  of  the  various  whole¬ 
sale  houses. 

In  making  the  above  hurried  jottings  of  what  was  a  private 
effort  to  do  good,  I  write  in  the  hope  that  some  one  may  now 
come  forward  with  sufficient  energy  to  ensure  the  success 
of  so  desirable  an  institution. 

88,  Campbell  Road,  Bow,  O.  Davies  Owes. 

21th  Dec.  1870. 


Deuggists’  Chaeges. 

Sir, — Having  seen  much  in  the  Journal  lately  concerning 
the  above,  I  beg  to  lay  before  your  readers  the  state  of  things 
not  many  miles  distant  from  Hull.  Two  cases  have  recently 
come  under  my  notice  I  think  worth  making  known.  In  the 
first,  a  3  oz.  bottle  of  drops  was  dispensed  at  a  chemist’s,  and 
charged  2s.  6d.  On  taking  the  prescription  to  a  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Chemist  by  Examination,  the  patient  was  asked  what 
had  been  the  former  charge.  The  reply  was  2s.  6 d.  To 
which  the  pharmacist  replied,  “  Oh!  but  we  will  let  you  have 
it  for  9 d.”  There  can  only  be  one  inference  drawn  from  this, 
either  that  the  chemist  was  actually  a  loser  by  the  transaction 
or  that  the  patient  was  the  sufferer.  The  second  case  was  that 
of  an  8  and  6  oz.  mixture,  dispensed  and  charged  respectively 
2s.  and  Is.  8 d.  The  lady  looked  rather  astonished,  and  was 
asked  if  she  had  paid  less,  the  answer  being  that  she  had  been 
charged  9 d.  each,  but  on  going  the  second  time  was  informed 
that  they  could  not  make  them  up  again  for  the  same  price ; 
the  charge  must  be  Is.  9 d.  the  two.  The  lady  added  that 
she  did  not  mind  giving  more  for  them,  providing  they  did 
her  more  good  than  the  last,  which  had  not  done  her  any 
good.  This  was  not  to  be  wondered  at,  seeing  that  the  bare 
retail  price  of  the  ingredients  came  to  about  2s.  6d.  for  both 
bottles.  If  this  state  of  things  continue,  I  see  no  chance 
whatever  of  the  rising  generation  of  young  chemists  making 
a  living.  One  oe  the  Rising  Geneeation. 


Obscuee  Peesceiptions. 

Sir, — The  following  enigmatical  recipe  was  brought,  some 
years  ago,  to  a  shop  in  a  country  town  within  fifty  mile3  of 
London,  to  be  “  made  up.”  I  secured  the  original,  of  which 
I  give  a  copy  verbatim  et  literatim : — 

Oil  of  koors  ham 
Oil  of  hope  ham  An 
Oil  of  Anni  seed 
Oil  of  St.  eppes. 

The  above  recipe  was  distinctly  and  carefully  written,  but 
except  the  aniseed,  we  were  unable  to  identify  the  ingredients. 
If  “  hope  ham  An  ”  mean  opium,  the  “  oil  ”  is  still  perplexing 
the  other  ingredients  seem  quite  apocryphal.  The  purpose 
of  this  mixture  was  to  mix  with  food  for  cattle ;  the  propor¬ 
tions  being  left  to  the  judgment  of  the  chemist,  and  it  was 
judiciously  compounded  accordingly ;  not,  however,  without 
a  shrewd  suspicion  that  it  was  designed  to  excite  in  certain 
specimens  of  the  equine  race  an  unnatural  taste  for  “  Chaff,” 
to  the  possible  advantage  of  some  preternaturally  clever,  but 
not  overscrupulous  “Johnny.” 

January  6th,  1871.  F.  D. 


The  Libeaet. 

Sir, — I  have  of  late  frequently  heard  the  question  asked  by 
students  at  Bloomsbury  Square,  if  it  were  not  possible  for  the 
Library  to  be  kept  open  an  hour  or  two  longer.  If  it  were 
closed  at  eight  o’clock,  instead  of  six  o’clock,  as  at  present,  I 
think  it  would  meet  the  approval  of  the  students  generally 
many  of  whom  would  gladly  avail  themselves  of  the  advan¬ 
tages  there  offered,  which  they  cannot  obtain  elsewhere.  I 
would  ask  the  Council,  on  their  behalf,  to  take  the  matter  into 
consideration. 

I  would  also  invite  the  opinion  of  gentlemen  interested  in 
the  Monthly  Evening  Meetings,  respecting  the  time  fixed  for 
their  commencement,  whether  or  not  it  is  the  most  conve¬ 
nient  for  the  majority  of  members  and  others  ?  I  know  many 
gentlemen  state  they  should  attend  much  oftener,  but  being 
compelled  to  be  home  at  a  certain  time,  they  are  generally 
under  the  necessity  of  leaving  before  the  conclusion  of  the- 
meeting. 

Dec.  12th,  1870.  Student. 

[*##  Formerly  the  library  was  kept  open  as  our  correspon¬ 
dent  recommends,  but  this  arrangement  was  given  up  in  con¬ 
sequence  of  the  small  number  of  readers  using  it  in  those  hours. 
We  would  recommend  “  Student  ”  to  forward  any  suggestions 
he  may  have  to  make  on  the  subject  to  the  Council. — Ed.  Ph. 
Jouen.] 


“  Indoctus”  (Bolton). — Cooley’s  ‘  Cyclopaedia  of  Practical 
Receipts  ’  may  be  obtained  through  any  bookseller. 

G.  R. — The  label  sent  would  require  to  be  stamped.  Every 
reference  to  dose  and  medical  treatment  must  be  omitted. 

D.  Y.  N.  (Barnsley). — We  do  not  undertake  to  give  advice 
as  to  the  study  of  midwifery.  Our  correspondent  had  better 
apply  to  the  editor  of  one  of  the  medical  journals. 

We  have  received,  enclosed  in  a  note  from  Southampton, 
the  initials  to  which  appear  to  be  H.  M.,  a  contrivance  by 
which  a  simple  india-rubber  band  is  used  to  secure  the  stopper 
of  a  poison-bottle  after  it  is  withdrawn,  and  so  to  attract  the 
attention  of  the  dispenser. 

T.  C.  (Sheffield  Moor). — We  are  obliged  for  your  communi¬ 
cation,  but,  as  it  stands,  it  would  appear  too  much  like  an  ad¬ 
vertisement  of  a  particular  maker’s  preparation. 

“ Alpha’s  ”  wants  will  probably  be  supplied  by  the  pump, 
unless  he  is  joking. 

“  31edicina.” — The  question  as  it  stands  is  too  vague  for 
insertion. 

Messrs.  Coates  and  Wallcer. — The  letter  and  stamps  hav  e 
been  handed  to  the  publishers.  To  secure  insertion,  all  adver¬ 
tisements  should  be  sent  direct  to  Messrs.  J .  and  A.  Churchill, 
New  Burlington  Street. 


Communications,  Lettees,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  A.W.  Bennett,  Messrs.  Cox  and  Co.  (Brighton),  Mr.  J.Ince, 
Mr.  H.  J.  Owen,  Mr.  S.  R.  Atkins  (Salisbury),  Mr.  J.  M‘Canr, 
Mr.  W.  W.  Stoddart  (Bristol),  “Conia”  (Leeds),  “  R- 
doctus,”  “  F.  D.,”  “  M.  P.  S.,”  “  S.  D.  ”  (Bow),  “  H.”  (Heck- 
mondwike),  «  W.  F.  C.”  (Buckley),  “E.  F.”  (Folkestone). 


January  21, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


581 


PRESCRIPTIONS  FOR  PROVINCIAL 
ASSOCIATIONS. 

BY  JOSEPH  INCE. 


Some  misunderstanding  seems  to  prevail  in  the 
minds  of  students  relative  to  this  matter ;  they  fear 
that  the  introduction  of  foreign  formulae  in  each  as¬ 
sorted  volume,  may  suggest  eventually  a  catch  ex¬ 
amination  question,  or  prove  a  trap  to  snare.  Let 
me  then  say  precisely  what  is  the  intention  of  this 
second  (Provincial)  collection.  Two-thirds  of  each 
compilation  are  filled  with  general  recipes,  the  read¬ 
ing  of  which  will  facilitate  the  knowledge  of  auto¬ 
graph  prescriptions — the  remaining  third  consists  on 
purpose  of  specimens  of  pharmacy  other  than  En¬ 
glish — these  serve  as  reference,  or  as  things  of  lite¬ 
rary  curiosity  and  may  prevent  a  pharmacist  from 
sinldng  his  existence  in  his  immediate  surroundings. 

During  the  past  week  the  following  collections  have 
been  forwarded.  I.  (10),  II.  (38),  III.  (9),  A.  W. 
Gerrard,  Guy’s  Hospital.  From  Preston  a  collection 
of  twenty  years  by  Tlios.  Dawson  has  arrived. 

Amongst  those  received  are  some  which  seem  to 
indicate  a  pharmacy  differing  from  our  own. 


I. 


It  Extrait  de  Belladone,  deux  gros 
Unguent  Napolitain,  un  gros 
Graise  fraiche,  une  once 
Tinture  de  Benzoin,  un  gros. 

M. 

Dec.  3,  1868.  G.  M. 

Suppose  the  plan  of  direct  teaching  be  adopted, 
then  how  tliis  ordinary  French  ordonnance  rises  into 
importance!  What  is  a  gros?  is  Unguent  Napoli¬ 
tain,  correct  ?  is  Graise  the  correct  spelling  ?  how  in 
French  would  you  write  Tr.  Benzoin  ?  what,  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  Coclex  is  the  composition  of  Ext.  Bella¬ 
donna,  Onguent  Napolitain,  and  Teinture  de  Ben¬ 
zoin  ? 


II. 


Donner  a  1’ enfant  une  cuilleree  a  bouche  de  la  potion 
suivante  de  4  en  4  heures. 

It  Sel  de  Seignette,  30  grammes 
Eau  de  Laurier  cerise,  4  grammes 
Sirop  d’Ecorce  d’ orange,  30  grammes 
Eau  pure,  150  grammes. 

Le  14  juin  1860. 


Victor  de  Meric. 


Make  this  also  teach  its  own  lesson — what  is  the 
correct  English  version  of  the  directions  which  are 
as  common  as  kora  somni  sumendus  ?  What  is  Sel 
de  Seignette,  and  what  are  the  respective  English 
values  of  30,  4,  and  150  grammes  ?  Why  does  the 
prescriber  say  le  14  juin  instead  of  June  the  four¬ 
teenth  ? 


From  America  we  get  many  pharmacal  illustra¬ 
tions,  some  including  very  recent  remedial  agents,  as 
for  instance 


Sulpho-carbolate  Zinc,  5ij 
Water,  §iv 

M.  Two  tsaspoonfuls  to  a  pint  of  water. 
Sig.  for  external  use. 


Americax  Pencil  Prescription. 

It  Ext.  Monesice  5j 

„  Nucis  Vomic.  gr.  iv. 

M.  ft.  pil.  No.  XX. 

Another. 

P.  01.  Eri  geronii  *j 
S.  Take  twenty  drops  four  times  a  day. 

D.  W.  C. 

A  third. 

Tinct.  Gelsemin,  5iij- 
S.  Fifteen  drops  three  times  a  day. 

Gillette. 

It  Gelsemin,  gr.  iv 
Lupulin,  gr.  xxxij 
M.  ft.  chart.  No.  16. 

Sig.  Dose,  1  three  times  a  day.  Ray. 

Now  let  us  ask,  though  we  are  all  familiar  with 
Ext.  Monesise,  what  are  01.  Erigeronii,  Gelsemin 
and  its  Tincture  ? 

German  Prescription. 

It  Tincturm  Aurantiar. 

„  Chime  Comp. 

„  MaPat.  Ferri 

„  Gentianae 
„  CLamomi 

aa  unc.  semisse. 

M.  D.  Sig.  mane  et  vesperi  cochlear,  capt. 

Jt  Bromi  Puri  jij 

Kali  Hydrobromici  ^ss 
Liniment.  Opodeldoc  ^iv 

Misce,  fiat  lege  artis  linimentum  consistentiae  Balsami 
Opodeldoc.  Detur  ad  vitr.  epist.  vitreo  bene  claus. 

S.  Bromine  Liniment. 

Sept.  19,  1855.  Dr.  Oscar  Prieger. 


This  leads  me  once  more  to  offer  a  needful  expla¬ 
nation.  The  arranged  Prescription-books  when  com¬ 
pleted  are  designed  to  answer  two  purposes  :  the  first 
— the  essential  one,  to  present  a  number  of  varied 
formulae  sufficient  as  far  as  one  volume  is  concerned, 
to  render  a  certain  familiarity  with  medical  instruc¬ 
tions  possible.  One  book  cannot  suffice,  but  it  may 
form  the  commencement  of  a  more  extended  series  to 
be  extended  indefinitely  hereafter  by  individual  ex¬ 
ertion  ;  still  this  single  folio  will  be  manifestly  better 
than  none,  while  want  of  variety  will,  it  is  hoped, 
not  be  amongst  the  number  of  its  defects.  Here  are 
a  few  examples  in  illustration : — the  contractions 
often  incorrect  are  copied  from  the  originals. 


ft  Lupulin  gr.  iv 

Pulv.  Camphorae  gr.  x 
Gelsemin  gr.  xxiij. 

M.  ft.  chart.  No.  20.  Sig.  Dose,  1  three  times  a  day. 


It  Syrupi  Wahoo  5ss 

,,  Pini  Palustris  giiiss 
Brom.  Ammo.  5ij 
Mur.  Ammo.  5ss 
Chlorate  Potass.  5ss. 

M.  S.  A.  Sig.  One  teaspoonful  as  required. 

3.30. 69.  Dr.  Hildreth. 


It  Podophyllin  gr.  iij 

Ext.  Colchic.  Rad.  Acet.  gr.  ij 
,,  Hyoscyami  gr.  v. 

M.  ft.  Fills  No.  8.  Sig.  Take  j  every 
until  bowels  act  freely. 


three  hours. 
Ray. 


Not  the  least  curious  are  the  Pencil  Prescriptions 
mostly  written  on  the  druggist’s  counter :  these  are 
retained  by  the  pharmacist  invariably,  as  also  many 
others. 

Third  Series,  No.  30. 


It  Atropke  Sulph.  Neutral,  gr.  ij 
Aquae  Destill.  §ss. 

M.  S,  A.  Sig.  Eye  Drops. 

4 . 3 . 69.  Dr.  Hildreth. 


582 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [January  zi,  1871. 


JI  Macrotin  3j 

Caulophyllin  3ij 
Ferri  Per.  Hydrogen  5j. 

M.  ft.  Pills  No.  60.  Sig.  Dose,  1  tliree  times  a  day 
after  eating. 

Ray. 

Jk  Tinct.  Rad.  Phytolacca?, 

„  Guaiaci,  aa  ^j. 

Misce.  Sig.  1  teaspoonful  in  milk  three  times  a  day 
after  meals. 

Hamill. 

In  Sciatica  and  Chronic  Rheumatism. 


This  is  dispensed  by  P.  L.  Milleman,  Graduate, 
Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy: — 

Ij*  Tinct.  Belladonna), 

Syr.  Simplicis, 

.  Aquae,  aa  £jj. 

Misce.  Sig.  Teaspoonful  every  hour  or  two. — R. 


Chicago. 


Jib  Pulv.  Rad.  Rhei  Chin., 
Sulphur  Praecip., 

Salis  Seignette, 

Elaeosach.  Foeniculi,  aa  ^ss. 
Al.  ft.  pulv.  det.  ad  scatul. 


Jb  Panes  azymos  No.  vj. 

Dr.  Felix  Schoon. 


P>  Veratrise  pur.  3ij 
01.  Olivae  5ij 
Ung.  Sperm,  jiij. 
Alt.  ft.  ung. 

Jf  01.  Caryoph.  5ij 
Ung.  Sperm.  5iij. 

M.  ft.  ung. 


Dr.  Turnbull. 


Dragees  of  Corrosive  Sublimate  gr.  -L 
No.  100. 

Sig.  Take  1  three  times  daily. 

Dunstex. 

Tliis  was  prescribed  for  the  wife  of  a  very  cele¬ 
brated  preacher : — 

Jib  Ac.  Hydrocyanici  dil.  5j 
Liq.  Morph.  Acet.  5iij 
Bismuth.  Subnit.  5ij 
Syr.  Limon.  5yj 
Aq.  ad  5vj. 

M.  ft.  M.  Cap.  5SS  4tis  horis. 

Y.  Pettigrew. 

IJs  Limaille  dc  Fer  10  grammes,  divisees  en 
30  paquets 

Jf  Shop  de  Quinquina  J  pint 

Jib  Oxide  de  Zinc  4  grammes 
Axonge  30  grammes 
Jb  Douce  Amere  un  paquet. 

A.  P. 

Jit  R.  Laricis  jiij 

Sp.  .Ether.  Nitr.  5ij 
Yin.  Ipecac.  5j 
Aqua?  Camph.  gviiss. 

Ft.  mist.  Sumat  coch.  ij  magna  ter  die. 

March  29 . 67.  Sir  Hv.  Cooper. 

Tinct.  Gentian.  Co.  |j 
Liq.  Taraxaci  5iiss 
Sp.  Ammon.  Arom.  3SS. 

M.  Sumatr  coch.  mediimi  bis  die  ex  aqua)  cyatho. 

IJo  Pil.  Hydrarg., 

Hydrarg.  Chlorid.,  aa  gr.  iss 
Ext.  Colocynth.  Co.  gr.  iij 
01.  Month.  Pip.  mj. 

M.  ft.  pilula  pro  re  nata  sumenda.  Mitte  vj. 

Jany .  14,  1858.  Dr.  Williams. 


Characteristic  recipe  of  Sir  Charles  Locock  : — 

Jf  Liquoris  Cinchona?  (Battley)  5ij 
Sp.  Ammonite  Succinata)  3ij 
Misturie  Camphor  ae  ^niss 
Tinct.  Hyoscyami  5iiss. 

M.  Sumat  cochlear,  max.  j  ex  aqua,  prime  mane  et 
hora  4  p.m. 

Camphor  ae, 

Extracti  Aconiti,  aa  gr.  ij. 

M.  ft.  pilula  omni  nocte  sumenda.  Mitte  iv. 

JShov.  16,  1857.  C.  L. 


A  short  formula  of  Erasmus  Wilson  : — 

J£>  Ung.  Hyd.  Nitr.  Ox., 

Ung.  Odorat.  aa  ^j. 

M.  ft.  pomatum.  A  little  to  be  well  rubbed  among 
the  roots  of  the  hair  night  and  morning. 

E.  Wilson. 

Jit  Quinas  Disulph.  3j 
Syr.  Aurantii  5j 
Infus.  Rosa)  Co.  ad  5viij. 

AI.  Capiat  cochl.  j  mag.  ter  in  die  ex  aqua.  11.4.7. 

April  11 . 70.  B.  Shillitoe. 

Characteristic  formula  of  Humphry  Sandwith  : — 

Jk  Soda)  Sesquicarbon.  5ij 
Magnes.  Bicarbon.  3iv 
Infus.  Aurantii  Comp.  -viiss 
Spt.  iEth.  Nitr., 

Syr.  Aurantii  aa  5ij. 

Ft.  mist.  Sumat  cochl.  ij  4 . 9  hora  cum  Pulv.  Acido. 

Jb  Acidi  Citrici  3iv. 

Dividend,  in  pulveres  viij  in  aqua  solvend. 

March  14,  1865.  jj  S. 


J^  Tinct.  Opii  Camph.  *j 
—  Scilla)  5iij 
—  Digitalis  5j 
Infus.  Roste  ^xss 
Alagnes.  Sulph.  3j» 

Fiat.  M.  duo  cochl.  magna  sumatur  pro  re  nata. 

July  24,  1831.  Middleton. 

Jib  Liq.  Taraxaci  ^xj 
Tinct.  Nucis  Vomic., 

Aqua?  Laurocerasi,  aa  5iv. 

Sign.  A  tablespoonful  three  times  a  day  in  a  wine¬ 
glass  of  cold  water,  adding  one  of  the  powders. 

Jib  Potassa)  Bicarb.  5ss. 

—  Nitratis  gr.  v. 

M.  Mitte  xx. 

Sig.  The  Powders. 

March  31,  1860.  J.  R.  Martin. 

Jf  Potassa)  Chlorat.  5ij 
Syrup.  Aurantii  5iij 
Acid.  Hydrochlorici  d.  5ij 
Syrup.  Sennte  jiij 
Tinct.  Gentiame  C.  ^iss 
Aquae  Destill,  acl  *vi. 

hi.  ft.  Mistura.  Signa : 

A  tablespoonful  in  a  wincglassful  of  water,  night  and 
morning. 

June  16,  1870.  Wm.  Fergusson. 

Observe  the  German  writing  of  the  following  : — 

R>  Aqua)  Oxymuriatici  5ss 
—  Destill.  §iv 
Syrup.  Rubi  Ida)i, 

—  Citr.,  aa  5iij. 

M.  D.  S.  to  be  taken  every  two  hours  half  a  tea¬ 
spoonful. 


January  21, 1871.3  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


583 


Here  is  the  characteristic  formula  of  Dr.  Wil¬ 
liams,  presented  by  Mr.  Charles  Savory  : — 

Jb  01.  Morrhuae  pur.  3viij. 

Sumatr  coclil.  min.  (augend,  ad  amplum)  bis  die  c.  Mist. 
Scquentis  cochl.  amplo. 

14  Acid.  Phosphor,  dil.  5ij 
Ferri  Sulphatis 
Quina)  Disulph.  au  gr.  viij 
Sp.  Myrist.  3s  s 
Syrup  3] 

Aqua)  ad  5 viij.  M 
II  Morphiio  Acet.  gr.  j 
Etheris  Chlorici  3] 

Mist.  Acacia)  ^ij.  M 

Sumr  cochl.  min.  urgent,  tusse. 

If.  Aceti  Cantharid.  3) 

Sp.  Camphorse  £ss. 

M.  fiat  Linimentum  pectori  applicand. 

Oct.  6,  1857.  C.  J.  B.  W. 

The  second  object  contemplated  is  to  show  the 
practice  of  other  countries,  and  in  what  different 
ways  nations  not  our  own  exercise  the  healing  art. 
For  surely  the  aspiration  of  our  students  ranges 
higher  than  the  passing  an  examination.  Let  it 
however,  for  the  third  time  repeated,  be  clearly  un¬ 
derstood  that  these  sometimes  strangely  written,  re¬ 
condite  formulae  are  not  meant  to  perplex  the  young 
pharmacist,  nor  do  they,  as  far  as  his  examination  is 
concerned,  in  the  least  influence  the  chances  of  his 
success. 

Let  me  conclude  by  outlining  an  idea  which 
one  day  may  be  realized.  I  propose  the  sub¬ 
sidiary  direct  teaching  of  practical  pharmacy  by 
means  of  autograph  prescriptions  precisely  in  the 
same  manner  as  Oliver  taught  botany.  His  system 
is  too  well  known  to  need  description.  He  takes  an 
actual  flower,  and  from  it  and  on  it  demonstrates  its 
parts,  indeed  its  whole  ldstory — why  can  we  not  from 
actual  pharmacy  obtain  the  same  result  ?  As  far  as 
my  light  goes,  Oliver  has  revolutionized  the  study  of 
botany ;  has  made  its  commencement  not  a  work  of 
drudgery  but  pleasure,  for  in  the  case  of  many 
modern  treatises  the  introductory  chapters  should  be 
drafted  into  the  Appendix.  Pharmacy  seems  cap¬ 
able  of  being  aided  by  the  same  sensible  mode  as  by 
the  one  which  Oliver,  following  the  track  of  his  pre¬ 
decessors  adopted.  Let  a  student  take  this  charac¬ 
teristic  formula  of  the  late  Dr.  Bright. 

If.  Liquor.  Calcis  lb.  ss. 

.Sumat  cochl.  mag.  ij,  more  exposito. 
lf>  Bismuth!  Trisnitrat.  9j 

Acidi  Hydrocyan.  (Scheele)  «iviij. 

Soda)  Sesquicarb.  9iiss 
Tinct.  Card.  Comp.  5ij 
Mucilaginis  ^ss 
Infus.  Aurant.  ad  ^iv.  M. 

Fiat  Mist,  cujus  sumat  partem  quartam  ter  die.  Appli- 
cetur  Empl.  Cantharidis  scob.  cord. 

R.  B. 

Then  let  him  set  himself  the  following  short  ex¬ 
amination,  giving  his  answers  aloud  for  liis  viva  voce, 
or  writing  them  in  full. 

1.  Write  out  Prescription  in  correct  Latin,  with 
full  terminations — give  the  construction  of  its  nouns, 
verbs  and  adjectives. 

2.  What  is  liquor  calcis — how  made — what  its 
use — wliat  is  its  pharmaceutical  history  ? 

3.  Bismutlii  trisnitrat. — wliat  is  its  chemical  and 
pharmaceutical  history  ?  Describe  the  metal.  What 
is  the  moot  point  of  contention  respecting  its  prepa¬ 


ration  as  indicated  in  the  British  Pharmacopoeia  and 
the  formula  adopted  by  private  manufacturers  ? 

4.  Hydrocyanic  acid — how  made  ?  why  called 
Sclieele’s  ?  Official  strength  and  chemical  history, 
therapeutical  applications  internal  and  external. 

So  we  might  proceed,  but  space  is  valuable,  and 
enough  has  been  said  already  to  mark  out  the  idea. 

Any  student  who,  in  the  quiet  of  his  own  room, 
can  faithfully  go  through  this  ordeal  will  be  effec¬ 
tually  saved  from  the  slightest  anxiety  with  regard 
to  one  part  of  his  examination.  Fifty  formulse, 
arranged  by  an  intelligent  tutor,  with  due  regard  to 
distinctive  handwriting,  working  out  in  detail  this 
rude  sketch,  would  be  an  educational  gain.  Print,  or 
still  better,  lithograph  facsimile,  would  materially 
assist. 

Meanwhile,  when  there  are  so  many  candidates 
for  our  examinations,  nearly  three  hundred  having 
presented  themselves  the  first  week  in  January,  let 
us  on  our  side  as  a  Societ}'-  representing  Pharmacy 
meet  them  honourably ;  let  us  not  ask  these  young 
aspirants  to  make  bricks  without  straw ;  rather  let  us 
give  them  every  facility  for  acquiring  knowledge — 
and  this,  if  help  be  not  denied,  will  be  the  New 
Year’s  gift  of  London  to  the  Country. 


THE  PRESENCE  OE  MANGANESE  DT 
BEECH-NUTS. 

BY  DR.  J.  E.  DE  VRIJ. 

In  the  introductory  address  of  the  chairman  of  the 
last  Pharmaceutical  Conference*  at  Liverpool,  my 
attention  was  fixed  by  the  following  sentence : — “  By 
some  authors  it  has  been  denied  that  plants  absorb 
from  the  earth  such  metals  as  are  not  absolutely 
essential  to  their  nutrition.  Experiments,  however, 
afford  strong  evidence  to  the  contrary.  Mr.  R.  Waring- 
ton  (Journ.  Chem.  Soc.  1805)  found  in  the  ashes  of 
the  beech  and  birch  0T93  per  cent,  of  manganese.” 

This  quotation  of  Warington’s  investigation  in¬ 
duces  me  to  mention  the  fact  observed  by  myself 
more  than  twenty  years  ago.  As  at  that  time- 
the  investigation  of  the  ashes  of  plants  occupied 
a  great  many  chemists,  I  also  analysed  some  ashes. 
Amongst  them  were  the  ashes  of  beech-nuts  collected 
by  me  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Giessen,  in  Germany. 
As  there  exists  a  great  quantity  of  manganese  ore  in 
that  vicinity,  the  presence  of  a  relatively  large  quantity 
of  manganese  in  these  ashes  seemed  to  me  quite 
natural.  In  1847,  being  at  the  meeting  of  the  Bri¬ 
tish  Association  at  Oxford,  I  visited  the  beautiful 
park  of  Blenheim,  and  collected  there  on  that  occa¬ 
sion  some  unripe  beecli-nuts.  After  returning  home, 
I  analysed  their  ashes  and  found  also  in  these,  al¬ 
though  grown  in  a  very  different  soil,  the  presence  of 
a  relatively  large  amount  of  manganese.  A  third  ana¬ 
lysis  of  the  ashes  of  beech-nuts,  collected  in  the  wood 
of  the  Hague,  confirmed  the  same  fact.  As  I  was 
accustomed  to  use  the  ashes  of  beech- nuts  in  my 
lectures  to  demonstrate  the  reagents  for  manganese, 
tliis  fact  has  been  fixed  in  my  memory. 


To  Camphorate  Blisters. — M.  Deschamps  d’ Aval- 
Ion  has  suggested,  when  it  is  desirable  to  camphorate  a 
blister,  this  may  be  readily  accomplished  by  dropping  on 
its  surface  a  few  drops  of  a  saturated  solution  of  camphor 
in  chloroform,  made  by  adding  two  parts  of  the  latter  to 
four  of  the  former. — Journal  de  Pharmacie. 


*  Piiarm.  Journal,  Sept.  17,  1870,  p.  234. 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [January  21, 1871. 


SSI 


PREPARATIONS  OF  CONIUM;  THEIR  CHARAC¬ 
TERS  AND  MEDICINAL  VALUE.* 

By  John  Harley,  M.D. 

In  an  able  and  exhaustive  paper  in  the  December 
number  of  the  Practitioner  for  December,  Dr.  Hailey 
records  the  results  of  a  continuation  of  his  researches 
upon  the  comparative  value  of  the  different  preparations 
of  Conium. f  Although  written  principally  for  the  infor¬ 
mation  of  the  medical  practitioner,  it  has  considerable 
interest  for  the  pharmacist. 

Dr.  Harley  is  of  opinion  that  the  only  reliable  test  of 
the  amount  of  active  principle  in  a  preparation  of  hem¬ 
lock  is  physiological  action,  the  alkaloid  being  so  subtle 
and  unstable  that  chemical  reagents  used  for  the  quan¬ 
titative  determination  of  conia,  when  combined  with  the 
ordinary  constituents  of  vegetable  infusions,  give  most 
fallacious  results.  He  says  that  any  one  acquainted 
with  the  physiological  effects  of  conia  may  easily  deter¬ 
mine  its  amount  by  subjecting  a  nervous  system  of 
known  power  to  its  action,  an  experiment  for  which  an 
hour  will  suffice. 

Schroff  has  recently  stated'];  (1)  that  the  unripe  fruit 
of  one-year  conium  plants  contains  the  smallest  amount 
of  conia;  (2)  that  the  unripe  fruit  of  biennial  plants 
contains  the  most  conia,  especially  when  the  develop¬ 
ment  of  the  fruit  is  advanced  and  near  ripening ;  (3)  that 
the  perfectly  ripe  fruit,  produced  only  by  the  biennial 
plants,  stands  in  point  of  efficacy  between  these  two. 
Dr.  Harley  says  that  he  does  not  quite  agree  with  all 
these  particulars.  He  has  found  that  conia  stands  to  the 
ripe  and  unripe  fruit  pretty  much  in  the  same  relation 
as  opium  does  to  the  ripe  and  unripe  fruit  of  the  poppy. 
It  abounds  in  the  green  pericarp,  but  gradually  decreases 
as  this  becomes  dry  and  brown.  As  to  the  statement 
that  only  biennial  plants  produce  perfectly  ripe  fruit,  he 
says  that  for  four  years  he  has  kept  up  a  little  plantation 
of  annual  hemlock  plants  derived  from  the  self-sown  seed 
of  a  previous  generation  of  annual  plants. 

The  following  were  the  preparations  used  in  the  expe¬ 
riments  : — 

Preparations  of  the  Green  Fruit. 

1.  Tincture. — Two  samples  were  used ;  one  distin¬ 
guished  as  “London,”  prepared  by  macerating  the  fresh 
undried  crushed  annual  fruit  in  proof- spirit,  and  perco¬ 
lating  (3VJ  yielded  ^xxvj  of  tincture) ;  the  other  was 
made  from  dried  American  fruit  according  to  the  direc¬ 
tions  and  in  the  proportions  ordered  in  the  B.  P. 

2.  Extract. — Prepared  by  evaporating  the  tinctures  to 
dryness  over  a  water-bath,  1000  grain  measures  yielding 
20  grains  of  bright  yellowish- brown  brittle  extract, 
which  became  soft  on  exposure,  from  absorption  of  about 
15  per  cent,  of  water,  and  formed  a  translucent  extract 
of  the  colour  of  Cape  aloes.  Treated  with  excess  of 
potash,  it  assumed  a  gamboge  colour,  and  evolved  a 
powerful  odour  of  conia. 

3.  Fluid  Extract. — Prepared  by  Dr.  Squibb,  of  Brook- 
lyn,  New  York ;  a  rich  brown  spirituous  fluid  of  sp.  gr. 
0-992,  one  minim  representing  one  grain  of  the  green 
undried  fruit.  1000  grain  measures  yielded  98  grains  of 
extract,  possessing  the  same  physical  characters  as  the 
preceding. 

Preparations  of  the  Fresh  and  Flowering  Plant. 

4.  Succus  Conii,  B.  P. — The  author  calls  attention  to 
"the  variability  of  this  preparation  according  to  the  quan¬ 
tity  of  water  contained  in  the  plants.  The  colour,  vary¬ 
ing  from  that  of  pale  sherry  to  dark  Marsala  wine,  is  an 
evidence  of  its  strength,  succus  as  dark  as  the  latter  be¬ 


*  Abstracted  from  a  paper  by  Dr.  Harley,  published  in  the 
Practitioner  for  December,  1870. 

f  See  Pharm.  J ourn.,  2nd  ser.,  Vol.  VIII.  pp.  413.  452 
672,  601,  710;  IX.  471.  *  ’ 

X  Wochenblat.  der  K.  K.  Gesellschaft  der  Aerzte  in  Wien 
1870,  No.  1 ;  and  Pharm.  Journ.  No.  18,  p.  348. 


ing  three  times  as  strong  as  the  palest  variety.  Two 
preparations  were  used ;  one  intermediate  in  depth  and 
colour,  prepared  from  year  to  year  by  Mr.  Buckle  ;  the 
other,  darker  and  stronger,  prepared  in  the  unusually 
dry  season  of  1865  by  Messrs.  Allen  and  Hanbury. 

5.  Extractum  Conii ,  B.  P. — The  author  says  that  6 
grains,  the  maximum  dose  of  this  preparation,  cannot 
possibly  contain  more  than  0-084  of  a  grain  of  conia,  a 
quantity  insufficient  to  produce  hemlock  effects  in  a  child 
two  years  old ;  while  60  grains  at  least  of  the  freshly- 
prepared  extract  are  required  to  produce  slight  effects  in 
the  active,  and  15  to  20  on  the  most  enfeebled  adult. 

6.  Tincture. — Prepared  by  Mr.  Deane,  of  Clapham, 
from  half-blown  plants  gathered  in  the  last  week  in 
June,  1869,  by  exhausting  32  ounces  (avoird.)  of  the 
herb,  previously  crushed  in  a  mill,  with  rectified  spirit 
until  53  ounces  of  tincture  were  obtained  (=  nearly 
5  drachms  of  the  fresh  plant  in  f*j).  Of  a  grass-green 
tinge  at  first,  but  became  brownish  on  keeping ;  sp.  gr. 
•940;  1000  grain- measures  yielded  36  grains  of  light 
yellowish-brown  extract,  which  absorbed  15  per  cent,  of 
water.  During  evaporation  a  quantity  of  green  resin 
separated. 

I Preparations  of  the  Pried  Plant. 

7.  Tincture. — Prepared  by  Mr.  Deane  from  similar 
plants  to  the  preceding,  dried  in  the  open  air,  and  used 
as  soon  as  dry  (16  ounces  of  the  fresh  herb  yielded 
4  ounces  of  the  dry).  In  this  preparation  the  directions 
of  the  P.  L.,  1851,  were  followed,  i.  e.  2$  ounces  (avoird.) 
to  20  fluid  ounces  of  rectified  spirit.  It  retains  a  bright 
green  tinge.  A  quantity  of  vivid  emerald-green  resin 
separated  on  evaporation.  Sp.  gr.  -940 ;  1000  grain- 
measures  yielded  32  grains  of  extract,  possessing  the 
same  general  characters  as  the  preceding,  but  more  deli¬ 
quescent,  absorbing  25  per  cent,  of  water. 

8.  Fluid  Extract. — Prepared  by  Messrs.  Clarke,  Beas- 
dale,  Bell  and  Co.,  of  York,  from  herbs  gathered  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  York,  at  Midsummer,  in  the  excep¬ 
tionally  hot  and  dry  season  of  1868.  The  roughly- 
ground  leaves  being  exhausted  by  percolation  of  proof- 
spirit,  the  spirit  was  distilled  off,  and  the  extract  evapo¬ 
rated  until  one  fluid  drachm  equalled  one  drachm  of  the 
dry  leaves  (  —  j  ounce  of  fresh  herb).  This  is  a  dark 
yellowish-brown  watery  fluid  of  a  rank  hemlock  odour, 
depositing  much  greenish-brown  resin  on  the  sides  of 
the  bottle.  1000  grain-measures  yielded  195  grains  of 
bright,  orange-brown,  brittle  extract,  rapidly  absorbing 
water  to  the  extent  of  19  per  cent. 

9.  Benzoate  of  Conia.- — The  author  had  had  furnished 
to  him  by  a  member  of  a  City  firm  of  druggists  a  solu¬ 
tion  labelled  “  Benzoate  of  Conia ;  one  drachm  contains 
two  grains.  Dose,  five  to  twenty  drops;”  and  also 
samples  of  the  solid  substance.  Failing  to  obtain  from 
it  any  physiological  effects,  even  when  the  dose  was  in¬ 
creased  to  20  grains  of  the  solid  substance,  he  was  in¬ 
duced  to  give  it  a  thorough  examination,  which  led  him 
to  the  conclusion  that  the  so-called  benzoate  of  conia 
was  an  impure  benzoate  of  soda,  devoid  of  a  trace  of 
conia. 

A  neutral  benzoate  of  conia  is  obtained  by  mixing 
equal  proportions  of  solutions  of  conia  and  benzoic  acid 
in  dilute  spirit,  evaporating  to  dryness  and  preserving 
over  sulphuric  acid.  The  result  is  a  clear  bright  amber- 
coloured  body  of  the  consistence  of  soft  extract,  with  a 
faint  conia  odour,  a  bitter  taste  dovoid  of  acridity,  and 
forming  with  water  an  odourless  solution.  This  sub¬ 
stance  and  its  aqueous  solution,  even  -when  a  thousand 
times  diluted,  evolves  the  odour  of  conia  when  super¬ 
saturated  with  potash ;  and  this  occurs  in  the  presence 
of  large  quantities  of  either  benzoic  acid  or  benzoate  ot 
soda,  showing  that  these  bodies  do  not  interfere  with 
the  nasal  test  for  conia.  Heated  in  a  test-tube  the  ben¬ 
zoate  runs,  volatilizes  and  decomposes  with  evolution 
of  white  fumes,  in  which  the  odour  of  benzoic  acid  is 
masked  by  the  more  powerful  one  of  conia. 


January  21, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


585' 


An  acid  benzoate  was  formed  by  the  addition  of  two 
equivalents  of  the  acid  to  one  of  conia.  It  resembled  the 
preceding  in  its  reactions,  but  was  colouidess,  odourless, 
and  less  soluble  in  water.  Attempts  to  combine  more  of 
the  acid,  so  as  to  produce  a  dry  salt,  failed. 

The  following  are  the  results  of  the  experiments  so  far 
as  they  show  the  relative  strength  of  the  preparations. 
The  drug  was  administered  to  persons  familiar  with  the 
intoxicating  effects  of  hemlock,  and  the  doses  were  given 
as  nearly  as  possible  under  similar  conditions.  The 
strength  of  the  preparation  was  inferred  by  the  extent  of 
physiological  action  induced  upon  a  system  of  known 
power. 

1.  The  first  experiment  was  made  with  Extractum 
Conii,  B.  P.,  and  Succus  Conii,  B.  P.  (Buckle’s).  The 
relative  value  was — gr.  xx  extract  =  f*3ij  succus. 

2.  Extractum  Conii,  B.  P.  (prepared  by  Bell  and  Co. 
in  1867—8)  and  Succus  Conii,  B.  P.  (Buckle’s). — gr.  xl 
extract  =  f^iv  succus ;  gr.  lx  extract  =  f5yj  succus. 

3.  Extractum  Conii,  B.  P.,  Succus  Conii,  B.  P.,  and 
Tincture  of  Green  Fruit  (American,  -ivss  fruit  yielding 
fjjx). — gr.  xlv.  extract  =  5ivss  succus  =  in.  80  tincture. 

4.  Succus  Conii,  B.  P.  (Buckle’s,  1866)  and  Tincture  of 
the  Green  Fruit  (London  3V  in  -xx) . — jiv  succus  =  moO 
tincture. 

10.  Extractum  Conii,  B.  P.  (Bell’s,  1868),  Succus 
Conii,  B.  P. — gr.  40  extract  =  f5iv  succus. 

11.  Succus  Conii,  B.  P.  (Buckle’s,  1867;  the  plant 
yielded  75  per  cent,  of  juice)  and  Succus  Conii,  B.  P. 
(Allen  and  Hanbury’s,  1865;  the  plant  yielded  about 
35  per  cent,  of  juice). — 5ix  of  Buckle’s  =  5iij  of  Allen 
and  Hanbury’s. 

12.  Extract  of  the  Green  Fruit  (American)  Tincture  of 
the  Green  Fruit  (American),  and  Succus  Conii  (Buckle’s, 
1867). — gr.  iij  extract  =  f5iv  tincture  =5iv  succus. 

13.  Succus  Conii,  B.  P.  (Buckle’s,  1860)  and  Extract 
of  the  Green  Fruit  (London).)  — 5ivss  succus  =  gr.  iij 
extract. 

14.  Squibb’s  Fluid  Extract,  Tincture  of  the  Green 
Fruit  (London),  Succus  Conii,  B.  P.  (Buckle,  1866), 
Deane’s  Tincture  of  the  Fresh  Plant,  Deane’s  Tincture 
of  the  Dry  Plant,  and  Clarke  and  Co.’s  Fluid  Extract. — 
111  50  Squibb’s  fluid  extract  =  5iss  tincture  green  fruit  = 
f5v  succus  =  5iijss  to  5iv  Deane’s  tincture  fresh  plant  = 
fjj  Deane’s  tincture  dry  plant  =  5iijss  Clarke’ sfluid  ex¬ 
tract. 

15.  Squibb’s  Fluid  Extract,  Succus  Conii,  B.  P. 
(Buckle’s,  1867),  Succus  Conii,  B.  P.  (Allen  and  Han¬ 
bury’s,  1865),  Tincture  of  the  Green  Fruit  (London), 
Deane’s  Tincture  of  the  Fresh  Plant  and  Neutral  Ben¬ 
zoate  of  Conia. — 5j  Squibb’s  fluid  extract  =  5yj  pale 
succus  =  5ij  dark  succus  =  5iss  tincture  green  fruit  =  5iv 
tincture  fresh  plant  =  f  gr.  neutral  benzoate. 

16.  Results  similar  to  14. 

17.  Results  similar  to  14,  15  and  16. 

18.  Succus  Conii,  B.  P.  (Buckle’s,  1867)  and  Benzoate 
of  Conia. — 5yj  succus  =gr.  \  benzoate. 

The  author  draws  the  following  conclusions  from  his 
experiments : — 

That  the  superiority  of  the  green  fruit  over  every 
other  part  of  the  plant,  as  the  basis  of  the  tincture  and 
extract,  is  clear  and  decided.  He  considers  the  Pharma¬ 
copoeia  extract  to  be  a  scandal  to  the  present  state  of 
medical  knowledge,  and  that  as  soon  as  possible  a 
spirituous  extract  of  thej  green  fruit  should  take  its 
place. 

That  although  the  variability  in  strength  of  the  succus 
is  a  drawback,  this  might  be  in  great  measure  removed 
by  the  cultivation  of  the  plant  for  medicinal  use.  At 
present  the  wild  plant  is  gathered  as  soon  as  it  makes 
the  least  show  of  flowering  instead  of  being  allowed  to 
remain  until  the  fruit  begins  to  form. 

Another  grievance  is  the  expensiveness  of  the  succus. 
With  the  following  remarks  on  this  point  Dr.  Harley 
concludes  his  paper: — “This  is  a  discredit  to  pharmacy, 
for  hemlock  is  the  rankest  of  our  native  weeds,  and  by 


an  abundant  yield  of  juice  would  well  repay  the  room 
required  for  its  growth ;  cultivation  it  requires  none. 
If  our  pharmaceutists  remain  blind  to  their  interests, 
medical  men  must  help  themselves,  and  annually  rear  a 
dozen  plants  in  some  waste  spot  of  their  garden.  These 
will  yield  them  a  pound  of  green  fruit,  from  which,  with 
a  very  little  trouble,  may  be  made  a  tincture  stronger 
than  any  juice  that  can  be  produced,  and  an  extract,  of 
which  three  grains  would  produce  decided  effects  in  most 
persons. 


SAPONACEOUS  PLANTS. 

BY  P.  L.  SIMMONDS. 


Many  plants  in  different  countries  furnish  useful  sub¬ 
stitutes  for  soap  to  the  natives,  where  there  are  no  con¬ 
veniences  or  materials  for  manufacturing  the  ordinary 
soap  of  commerce.  Prominent  among  these  are  the 
soap  worts,  tropical  plants  belonging  to  the  genus  Sa¬ 
pindus.  The  Hindoos  use  the  pulp  of  the  fruit  of  Sapindus 
detergens  for  washing  linen.  Several  of  the  species  are 
used  for  the  same  purpose  instead  of  soap,  owing  to  the 
presence  of  the  vegetable  principle  called  saponine.  The 
root  and  bark  also  of  some  species  are  said  to  be  sapo¬ 
naceous.  The  capsule  of  Sapindus  emarginatus  has  a  de¬ 
tergent  quality  when  bruised,  forming  suds  if  agitated 
in  hot  water.  The  natives  of  India  used  this  as  a  soap 
for  washing  the  hair,  silk,  etc.  The  berries  of  Sapindus 
laurifolius ,  another  Indian  species,  are  also  saponaceous. 
The  name  of  the  genus  Sapindus  is  merely  altered  from 
Sapo-indicust  Indian  soap,  the  aril  which  surrounds  the 
seed  of  S.  Saponaria  being  used  as  soap  in  South  America. 
According  to  Browne,  the  seed-vessels  are  very  acrid ; 
they  lather  freely  in  water,  and  will  cleanse  more  linen 
than  thirty  times  their  weight  of  soap,  but  in  time  they 
corrode  or  burn  the  linen.  This  assertion,  however,  re¬ 
quires  confirmation.  Humboldt  tells  us  that  proceeding 
along  the  river  Carenicuar,  in  the  Gulf  of  Cariaco,  he 
saw  the  native  Indian  women  washing  their  linen  with  the 
fruit  of  this  tree,  there  called  the  Para  para.  Saponaceous 
berries  are  also  used  in  Java  for  washing.  The  fresh 
bark  of  the  root  Monnina  polgstachia  (R.  and  P.),  called 
Yalhoi ,  pounded  and  moulded  into  balls,  is  used  by  the 
Peruvians  in  place  of  soap. 

Saponine  exists  in  many  other  seeds  and  roots — in  the 
legumes  of  Acacia  concinna ,  in  which  a  considerable 
trade  is  carried  on  in  some  parts  of  India,  and  in  the 
root  of  Vaccaria  vulgaris ,  Agrostemma  Githago ,  and  Ana- 
gal  Us  arvensis.  It  also  occurs  in  various  species  of 
Dianthus  and  Lychnis,  and  in  the  bark  of  Silene  infiata. 
Gypsophila  struthium  is  used  by  the  Spaniards  for  scour¬ 
ing  instead  of  soap.  The  bruised  leaves  of  Saponaria 
officinalis ,  a  native  of  England,  forms  a  lather  which 
much  resembles  that  of  soap,  and  is  similarly  efficacious 
in  removing  grease  spots.  The  bark  of  Quillaia  sapo¬ 
naria  of  Central  America  answers  the  same  purpose,  and 
is  used  as  a  detergent  by  wool  dyers.  It  has  been  even 
imported  largely  into  Franco,  Belgium,  etc.,  and  sold  in 
the  shops  as  a  cheap  substitute  for  soap.  The  fruit  of 
the  Bromelia  Pinguin  has  also  been  found  useful  as  a  soap 
substitute. 

A  vegetable  soap  was  prepared  some  years  ago  in 
Jamaica  from  the  leaves  of  the  American  aloe  ( Agave 
Americana),  which  was  found  as  detergent  as  Castile 
soap  for  washing  .linen,  and  had  the  superior  quality  of 
mixing  and  forming  a  lather  with  salt  water  as  woil  as 
fresh.  Dr.  Robinson,  the  naturalist,  thus  describes  the 
process  he  adopted  in  1767,  and  for  which  ho  was 
awarded  a  grant  by  the  House  of  Assembly  of  Jamaica : — 
The  lower  leaves  of  the  Curaca  or  Coratoe  ( Agave 
Karatn)  were  pressed  between  heavy  rollers  to  express 
the  juice,  which,  after  being  strained  through  a  hair¬ 
cloth,  was  merely  inspissated  by  the  action  of  ^  the  sun, 
or  a  slow  fire,  and  cast  into  balls  or  cakes.  The  only 
precaution  deemed  necessary  was  to  prevent  the  mixture 
of  any  unctuous  materials,  which  destroyed  the  efficacy 


586 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[January  21, 1871. 


of  the  soap.  Another  vegetable  soap,  which  has  been 
found  excellent  for  washing  silk,  etc.,  may  be  thus  ob¬ 
tained  : — To  one  part  of  the  cake  add  one  and  a  half 
part  of  the  before-named  Agave  Karatn,  macerated  in  one 
part  of  boiling  water  for  twenty-four  hours,  and  with 
the  extract  from  this  decoction  mix  4  per  cent  of  rosin. 

In  Peru,  the  leaves  of  the  Maguey  Agave  are  used 
instead  of  soap  ;  the  clothes  are  wetted,  and  then  beaten 
with  a  leaf  which  has  been  crushed  ;  a  thick  white  froth 
is  produced,  and  after  rinsing  the  clothes  are  quite  clean. 
The  pulpy  matter  contained  in  the  hard  kernel  of  a  tree 
called  locally  Del  Jahoncillo ,  is  also  used  there  for  the  same 
purpose.  On  being  mixed  with  water,  it  produces  a 
white  froth.  In  Brazil,  soap  is  made  from  the  ashes  of 
the  bassena  or  broom  'plant  (Si  da  lanceolata ),  which 
abounds  with  alkali.  There  are  also  some  barks  and 
pods  of  native  plants  used  for  soaps  in  China.  The  soap 
plant  (Amole)  of  California,  Phalangium  pomeridianum ,  is 
stated  by  Mr.  Edwin  Bryant  to  be  exceedingly  useful. 
The  bulbous  root,  which  is  the  saponaceous  portion,  re¬ 
sembles  the  onion,  but  possesses  the  quality  of  cleansing 
linen  equal  to  any  olive  soap  manufactured. 

From  a  l  apsr  read  before  the  Boston  Society  of  Na¬ 
tural  Histoiy,  it  appears  that  this  soap  plant  grows  all 
over  California.  The  leaves  make  their  appearance 
about  the  middle  of  November,  or  about  six  weeks  after 
the  rainy  season  has  fairly  set  in  ;  the  plants  never  grow 
more  than  a  foot  high,  and  the  leaves  and  stalk  drop 
entirely  off  in  May,  though  the  bulbs  remain  in  the 
ground  all  the  summer  without  decaying.  It  is  used  to 
wash  with,  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  and,  by  those 
who  know  its  virtues,  it  is  preferred  to  the  best  of  soap. 
The  method  of  using  it  is  merely  to  strip  off  the  husk, 
dip  the  clothes  into  the  water,  and  rub  the  bulb  on  them. 
It  makes  a  thick  lather,  and  smells  not  unlike  brown 
.soap. 

At  St.  Nicholas,  one  of  the  Cape  Verde  Islands,  they 
make  a  soap  from  the  oil  of  the  Jatropha  Cur  can  seeds, 
and  the  ashes  of  the  burnt  papaw-dree  leaf.  The  oil  and 
ashes  are  mixed  in  an  iron  pot  heated  over  a  fire,  and 
stirred  until  properly  blended.  When  cool  it  is  rolled 
up  into  balls  about  the  size  of  a  six  pound  shot,  looking 
much  like  our  mottled  soap,  and  producing  a  very  good 
lather. — The  Journal  of  Applied  Science. 


PHYSOSTIGMA  VENENOSUM.* 

The  Physostigma  venenosum ,  or  ordeal  bean  of  Old 
Calabar,  has  of  late  been  used  medicinally.  Its  peculiar 
and  powerful  poisonous  properties  were  long  ago  made 
known  by  Drs.  Christison  and  Balfour,  but  we  owe  the 
fuller  knowledge  we  now  possess  of  its  powers  to  the 
elaborate  investigations  of  Dr.  Fraser  of  Edinburgh,  Dr. 
Robertson  and  other  observers.  The  active  principles  of 
the  bean  quickly  enter  the  blood  and  gradually  produce 
general  paralysis,  which  is  due,  according  to  Dr.  Fraser, 
to .  changes  effected  in  the  spinal  cord.  In  an  animal 
poisoned  by  the  bean  the  reflex  functions  of  the  cord  are 
■destroyed — “  It  acts  on  the  spinal  cord  by  destroying  its 
power  of  conducting  impressions.”  This  results  “  in 
muscular  paralysis,  gradually  extending  to  the  respira¬ 
tory  apparatus,  and  producing  death  by  asphyxia ;  and 
in  a  rapid  paralysis  of  the  heart,  causing  death  by  syn¬ 
cope.  It  also  causes  paralysis  of  muscular  fibre,  striped 
and  unstriped.”  The  knowledge  obtained  by  these  in¬ 
vestigations  led  to  the  employment  of  the  bean  as  a 
remedy  in  tetanus,  and  a  considerable  number  of  cases 
have  been  treated  by  it.  Dr.  Fraser  has  a  high  opinion 
of  its  value,  and  has  reported  twelve  cases  of  tetanus 
treated  by  it,  of  which  nine  recovered.  Many  other  cases 
of  its  administration  in  this  disease  have  been  repoi’ted 
in  the  various  medical  journals,  English  and  foreign,  and 


*  Abstracted  from  a  series  of  papers  on  the  “  Progress  of 
Therapeutics,”  published  in  the  Medical  Times  and  Gazette. 


in  not  a  few  of  these  instances  the  patients  have  un¬ 
doubtedly  recovered  ;  but  the  results,  on  the  whole,  have 
scarcely  supported  Dr.  Fraser’s  estimate  of  the  remedial 
value  of  the  drug,  while  in  some  cases  it  has  been  sus¬ 
pected  of  doing  harm  rather  than  good,  and  of  increasing 
the  patient’ s  danger  by  its  paralysing  action.  *  It  has  been 
observed,  too,  that  in  most  of  the  cases  of  recovery  the 
disease  lasted  about  a  month,  just  as  in  cases  successfully 
treated  with  atropia,  hydrate  of  chloral,  and  other  reme¬ 
dies.  The  physostigma  has  been  employed  in  other  ma¬ 
ladies.  It  is  indisputably  a  weapon  of  great  power,  and 
must  be  used  with  great  care  and  watchfulness  :  at  the 
same  time,  in  such  a  disease  as  tetanus,  it  must,  as  Dr. 
Fraser  has  insisted,  be  employed  early.  The  Pharmaco¬ 
poeia  contains  two  preparations,  the  powder  and  an  ex¬ 
tract  ;  the  first  may  be  given  by  the  mouth,  in  doses  of 
from  one  to  four  grains  for  an  adult ;  the  extract,  subcu¬ 
taneously,  in  doses  of  one-tenth  to  one-third  of  a  grain 
and  more,  the  dosage  being  regulated  by  the  effects. 

The  physostigma  has  also  the  peculiar  properties  of 
causing  very  rapidly  contraction  of  the  iris,  and  altering 
the  power  of  accommodation  of  the  lens,  and  it  has  been 
largely  used  and  proved  of  great  value  in  ophthalmic 
practice.  Its  action  on  the  iris  was  first  pointed  out  by 
Dr.  Fraser,  f  and  first  made  use  of  by  Dr.  Argyll  Robert¬ 
son.  j;  A  very  interesting  communication  on  the  subject, 
by  Mr.  J.  Soelberg  Wells,  containing  a  description  by 
Mr.  Bowman  of  the  effects  of  a  solution  of  the  bean  on 
his  own  eya,  was  published  in  the  Medical  Times  and 
Gazette  in  1863. §  It  may  be  applied  by  touching  the 
inside  of  the  eyelid  with  a  solution,  one  minim  of  which 
equals  four  grains  of  the  bean,  or  by  placing  within  a 
minute  portion  of  paper  which  has  been  saturated  with 
a  strong  solution. 


GLYCERINE  SOLUTIONS  OF  PEPSIN  AND  OTHER 

SUBSTANCES. 

BY  LIONEL  S.  BEALE. 

In  Nature  of  December  29th,  Professor  M.  Foster  calls 
attention  to  the  method  of  making  glycerine  extract  of 
pepsin  pursued  by  Von  Wittich,  and  remarks  with 
reason  that  the  means  hitherto  adopted  for  preparing 
pepsin  for  medical  purposes  are  clumsy  and  inefficient. 
There  is,  however,  one  exception,  a  mode  of  preparation 
which  has  long  been  in  use,  and  which  is  by  no  means 
inefficient.  This  will  be  found  to  possess  some  practical 
advantages  over  the  process  of  extracting  the  fresh  mu¬ 
cous  membrane  with  glycerine,  while  from  it  the  glyce¬ 
rine  solution  can  be  prepared  quite  as  pure  and  clear, 
and  as  strong  as  by  maceration. 

As  long  ago  as  1858  (‘  Archives  of  Medicine,’  vol.  i.  pp. 
269-316)  I  described  a  method  of  obtaining  the  active 
digestive  material  from  the  pig’s  stomach,  which  answers 
perfectly,  and  has  been  employed  in  practice  ever  since. 
It  simply  consists  in  quickly  drying  the  mucus  expressed 
from  the  stomach  glands  upon  glass  plates.  ||  The  dried 
mucus  is  then  powdered  and  kept  in  stoppered  bottles. 
It  retains  its  properties  for  years.  Eight-tenths  of  a 
grain  will  dissolve  one  hundred  grains  of  coagulated  white 
of  egg. 

Now,  from  this  powder  is  easily  prepared  by  solution 
in  distilled  water  a  perfectly  clear  and  colourless  diges¬ 
tive  fluid  of  great  activity,  which  can  he  readily  filtered. 


*  Mr.  Holtko  use’s  case,  Clinical  Society’s  Transactions , 
vol.  ii. ;  and  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,  1869. 

f  “  On  the  Characters,  Actions,  and  Therapeutic  Uses  of 
the  Ordeal  Bean  of  Calabar.”  Graduation  Thesis.  August, 

1862.  J Edinburgh  Medical  and  Surgical  Journal,  1863. 

J  J Edinburgh  Medical  and  Surgical  Journal,  1863. 

§  “  On  the  Effects  of  the  Solution  of  the  Calabar  Bean  on 
the  Pupil,”  etc.  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,  vol.  i.  p-  500, 

1863. 

||  This  pepsin  is  prepared  for  medical  purposes  by  Messrs. 
Bullock  and  Reynolds,  3,  Hanover  Street,  Hanover  Square. 


January  21, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


5S7 


Some  years  ago  I  found  great  advantage  from  subject¬ 
ing  tissues  to  the  action  of  a  very  small  quantity  of  this 
solution  in  glycerine,  and  keeping  the  whole  at  the  tem¬ 
perature  of  100°  for  some  hours.  By  this  process  the 
elements  of  the  tissue  were  softened,  and  could  be  dis¬ 
sected  from  one  another  readily  for  examination  under 
:the  highest  magnifying  powers. 

No  doubt  there  is  much  to  be  learnt  concerning  the 
nature  of  the  action  of  such  substances  upon  tissues  by  the 
use  of  glycerine  solutions.  For  microscopical  work  gly¬ 
cerine  is  of  more  use  than  any  other  medium.  Not  only 
may  various  substances  be  removed  from  tissues,  but 
others  maybe  introduced,  and  the  tissue  subjected  to  the 
notion  of  various  reagents  without  destroying  it.  In 
fact,  the  action  may  be  regulated  with  the  greatest 
nicety.  Nearly  all  the  tests  required  in  microscopical 
examination  may  be  dissolved  in  glycerine  (£  How  to 
Work  with  the  Microscope,’  p.  297,  1867)  and  tissues  of 
th*  most  delicate  character  may  be  preserved  in  it,  and 
will  retain  their  microscopic  characters  for  years,  if  care 
be  taken  to  obtain  the  best  and  strongest  glycerine . — Nature. 


THE  SALE  OF  POISONS  BY  DRUGGISTS. 

THE  LAW  IN  THE  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK. 

BY  FRANCIS  TILLOU,  ESQ.,  COUNSELLOR-AT-LAW. 

The  sale  of  poison  by  druggists  is  regulated  in  the 
'State  of  New  York  by  statute. 

By  the  Revised  Statutes,  vol.  ii.  p.  649,  sec.  23,  it  is 
'enacted  that  “  Every  apothecary,  druggist,  or  other  per¬ 
son  who  shall  sell  and  deliver  any  arsenic,  corrosive  sub¬ 
limate,  prussic  acid,  or  any  other  substance  or  liquid 
usually  denominated  poisonous,  without  having  the  word 
‘poison’  written  or  printed  upon  a  label  attached  to  the 
phial,  box,  or  parcel  in  which  the  same  is  sold,  or  who 
shall  sell  and  deliver  any  tartar  emetic  without  having 
the  true  name  thereof  written  or  printed  upon  a  label 
attached  to  the  phial,  box,  or  parcel  containing  the  same, 
shall  upon  conviction  be  adjudged  guilty  of  a  misde¬ 
meanour,  and  shall  be  punished  by  a  line  not  exceeding 
one  hundred  dollars.” 

By  an  Act  to  regulate  the  sale  of  poisons,  chapter  442 
of  the  laws  of  1860,  passed  April  16,  1860,  it  was  enacted 
"by  the  first  section  of  said  Act,  “  that  no  person  should 
-sell  or  give  any  poison  or  poisonous  substance,  without 
recording,  in  a  book  to  be  kept  for  that  purpose,  the  name 
of  the  person  receiving  said  poison,  his  or  her  residence 
(together  with  the  name  and  residence  of  some  person  as 
witness  to  such  sale),  excepting  upon  the  written  order 
or  prescription  of  some  regularly  authorized  practising 
physician,  whose  name  must  be  attached  to  such  order. 
-Such  book  to  be  kept  open  for  inspection.” 

But  by  an  Act  passed  1862,  chapter  273  of  the  ses¬ 
sion  laws  of  1862,  the  above  first  section  of  the  Act  of 
1860  was  amended  by  leaving  out  the  requisition  for  the 
name  of  a  witness  to  the  sale. 

By  the  second  section  of  the  Act  of  I860  it  is  further 
enacted  that  no  person  shall  sell,  give  or  dispose  of  any 
poison  or  poisonous  substance,  except  upon  the  order  or 
proscription  of  a  regularly  authorized  practising  phy¬ 
sician,  without  attaching  to  the  phial,  box,  or  parcel  con¬ 
taining  such  poisonous  substance,  a  label  with  the  name 
and  residence  of  such  person,  and  the  word  “poison”  all 
printed  upon  it  with  red  ink,  together  with  the  name  of 
such  poison,  written  or  printed  thereon  in  plain  and 
legible  characters. 

By  the  third  section  of  the  Act  of  1860,  it  was  further 
•enacted,  “  That  the  above  provisions  should  apply  to  the 
following  poisonous  substances,  excepting  when  sold  in 
wholesale  quantities  of  one  pound  or  over,  viz.  arsenic  and 
its  various  preparations,  oxalic  acid,  corrosive  sublimate, 
•chloroform,  sugar  of  lead,  tartar  emetic,  opium  and  its 
preparations,  oil  of  bitter  almonds,  cyanurets  of  potas¬ 
sium,  mercury,  silver,  and  zinc,  deadly  nightshade,  hen¬ 
bane,  poison  hemlock,  prussic  acid,  aconite  and  its  various 


preparations,  atropia  and  its  salts,  cantharides,  croton 
oil,  datura  and  its  salts,  delphinia  and  its  salts,  digitalis 
and  its  various  preparations,  nux  vomica  and  its  prepara¬ 
tions,  elaterium,  ergot  and  its  preparations,  veratria  and 
its  salts,  cannabis  and  its  preparations.” 

By  the  Amendatory  Act  of  1862  this  third  section  of 
the  Act  of  1860  was  repealed. 

By  the  fourth  section  of  said  Act  of  1860,  it  is  enacted 
that  any  person  infringing  any  of  the  provisions  of  said 
Act  shall,  upon  conviction,  be  deemed  guilty  of  a  misde¬ 
meanour,  and  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  not  exceeding 
fifty  dollars. 

By  the  fifth  section  of  said  Act  of  1860,  it  is  further 
enacted  that  said  Act  shall  only  apply  to  incorporated 
cities  and  villages  having  a  population  of  one  thousand 
inhabitants  and  upwards  in  this  State. 

By  chapter  478  of  the  laws  of  1869,  an  Act  regulating 
the  preparation  of  medical  prescriptions  was  passed  May 
1,  1869. 

By  the  first  section  of  this  Act  of  1869,  it  is  enacted 
that  no  person  employed  or  in  attendance  at  any  drug 
store  or  apothecary  shop  shall  prepare  a  medical  prescrip¬ 
tion,  unless  he  has  served  two  years’  apprenticeship  in  a 
drug  store,  or  is  a  graduate  of  a  medical  college  or  a  col¬ 
lege  of  pharmacy,  except  under  the  direct  supervision  of 
some  person  possessing  some  one  of  the  before-mentioned 
qualifications ;  nor  shall  any  one  having  permanent 
charge  as  proprietor  or  otherwise  of  any  store  at  which 
drugs  are  sold  by  retail,  or  at  which  medical  prescriptions 
are  put  up  for  sale  or  use,  permit  the  putting  up  or  pre¬ 
paration  thereof  therein  by  any  person,  unless  such  per¬ 
son  has  served  two  years  as  apprentice  in  a  retail  drug 
store,  or  is  a  graduate  of  a  medical  college  or  a  college  of 
pharmacy. 

And  by  the  second  section  of  the  same  Act,  it  is  pro¬ 
vided  that  any  person  violating  the  provisions  of  said 
Act  shall  be  guilty  of  a  misdemeanour,  and  shall  be 
punished  by  a  fine  not  exceeding  one  hundred  dollars,  or 
by  imprisonment  not  to  exceed  six  months  in  the  county 
jail ;  and  in  case  of  death  ensuing  from  such  violation, 
the  person  offending  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  felony, 
and  be  punished  by  a  fine  not  less  than  one  thousand 
dollars,  nor  more  than  five  thousand  dollars,  or  by  im¬ 
prisonment  in  State  prison  for  a  term  of  not  less  than 
two  years,  nor  more  than  four  years,  or  by  both  fine  and 
imprisonment,  in  the  discretion  of  the  court. 

By  statute  every  man  who  by  his  culpable  negligence 
causes  the  death  of  another,  although  without  any  intent 
to  kill,  is  guilty  of  manslaughter.  (2  R.  S.  662,  sec.  19.) 

The  foregoing  seem  to  be  all  the  existing  statutory 
provisions  on  the  subject. 

A  druggist  who  negligently  sells  a  poison,  labelled  as 
a  harmless  drug,  and  thereby  causes  the  death  of  a  per¬ 
son  to  whom  it  is  administered,  is  guilty  of  manslaughter. 

So  highly  does  the  law  value  human  life  that  it  admits 
of  no  justification  wherever  life  has  been  lost,  and  the 
carelessness  or  negligence  of  one  person  has  contributed 
to  the  death  of  another. 

And  this  rule  applies  not  only  when  the  death  of  one 
is  occasioned  by  the  negligent  act  of  another,  but  where 
it  is  caused  by  the  negligent  omission  of  a  duty  to  that 
other. 

Besides  the  penalties  imposed  by  statute,  there  is  also 
a  common  law  liability  of  the  druggist  for  damages  sus¬ 
tained  by  his  negligence. 

All  persons  who  deal  with  deadly  poisons  are  held  to 
a  strict  accountability  for  their  use. 

The  highest  degree  of  care  known  amongst  practical 
men  must  be  used  to  prevent  injury  from  the  use  of  such 
poisons. 

And  one  who  sells  poison  labelled  as  an  innocent  drug 
is  liable  in  damages  to  any  person  injured  thereby,  no 
matter  through  how  many  hands  it  may  have  passed. 

A  druggist  is  undoubtedly  held  to  a  special  degree  of 
responsibility  for  the  erroneous  use  of  poisons  correspond¬ 
ing  with  his  superior  knowledge  of  the  business. 


588 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [January  21, 1871. 


Affixing  a  false  label  to  a  poison,  and  sending-  it  into 
market  in  that  condition  so  as  thereby  to  mislead  others 
and  endanger  human  life,  is  an  unlawful  act  for  which 
the  party  guilty  of  the  act  is  responsible,  whether  he  did 
it  wilfully  or  negligently,  and  to  entitle  the  aggrieved 
party  to  his  action  in  such  case  no  privity  is  necessary 
except  such  as  is  created  by  the  unlawful  act  and  conse¬ 
quential  injury.  Privity  of  contract  in  such  case  is  out 
of  the  question.  For  a  duty  violated  by  a  druggist  giving 
a  false  label  is  a  duty  not  created  by  contract,  but  by 
law,  every  one  being  under  an  obligation  to  abstain  from 
acts  tending  naturallv  and  probably  to  endanger  human 
life. 

The  injury  is  not  rendered  too  remote  to  sustain  a  re¬ 
covery  because  separated  from  the  unlawful  act  by  in¬ 
tervening  events,  however  numerous  or  of  whatever  kind, 
provided  they  are  the  natural  and  probable  consequences 
of  the  act. 

And  when  the  unlawful  act  is  in  its  nature  likely  to 
produce  the  events  which  follow,  as,  for  instance,  a  pa¬ 
tient  taking  a  poison  instead  of  some  harmless  or  different 
prescription  than  that  intended,  by  reason  of  a  false  label 
of  a  druggist,  the  author  of  it  may  be  treated  as  having- 
caused  the  succeeding  events,  though  they  consisted  of 
the  acts  of  third  persons.  For  the  false  label  is  a  con¬ 
tinuing  authority  or  direction  by  the  druggist  for  the  use 
of  the  poison,  and  he  is  bound  to  indemnify  against  the 
acts  which  it  was  likely  to  cause  -when  sold  in  that  con¬ 
dition. 

The  foregoing  propositions  seem  to  be  fully  sustained 
by  the  case  of  Thomas  r.  Winchester,  in  the  Court  of 
Appeals. 

That  was  an  action  brought  to  recover  damages  for 
negligently  putting  up,  labelling-,  and  selling  as  and  for 
the  “Extract  of  Dandelion”  a  jar  of  the  “Extract  of 
Belladonna,”  by  means  of  which  the  plaintiff’s  wife, 
Mrs.  Thomas,  being  sick,  a  dose  of  dandelion  was  pre¬ 
scribed  by  a  physician,  and  a  portion  of  the  contents  of 
the  jar  of  belladonna  -was  administered  as  and  for  the 
extract  of  dandelion,  etc. 

The  facts  of  the  case,  briefly,  were  as  follows : — 

The  defendant,  Winchester,  was  engaged  at  108,  John 
Street,  New  York,  in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  certain 
vegetable  extracts  for  medicinal  purposes,  and  in  the 
purchase  and  sale  of  others. 

The  extracts  manufactured  by  him  were  put  up  in  jars 
for  sale,  and  those  he  purchased  were  put  up  by  him  in 
like  manner. 

The  jars  containing  extracts  manufactured  by  himself 
and  those  containing  extracts  purchased  by  him  from 
others,  were  labelled  alike — both  were  labelled  as  “  pre¬ 
pared  by  A.  Gilbert,”  a  person  in  the  employ  of  de¬ 
fendant. 

The  jar  in  question  was  labelled  “  I  lb.  Dandelion,  pre¬ 
pared  by  j1.  Gilbert ,  No.  108,  John  Street ,  N.Y.  and  in 
fact  contained  belladonna,  and  not  dandelion. 

The  jar  was  sold  by  defendant  to  a  wholesale  druggist 
in  New  York,  as  and  for  the  extract  of  dandelion.  Dr. 
Foord,  a  physician  and  druggist  at  Cazenovia,  Madison 
county,  N.  Y.,  pm-chased  the  article  from  the  New  York 
druggist,  as  and  for  the  extract  of  dandelion. 

Mrs.  Thomas  being  ill,  her  physician  prescribed  a  dose 
of1  dandelion.  Her  husband  purchased  what  was  be¬ 
lieved  to  be  the  medicine  prescribed,  at  the  store  of  Dr. 
Foord.  J  he  medicine  was  taken  from  the  jar  in  ques¬ 
tion  and  administered  to  Mrs.  Thomas,  who  was  thereby 
made  dangerously  ill,  and  the  action  was  brought  against 
Winchester  and  Gilbert  to  recover  damages. 

It  appeared  that  the  extract  in  the  jar  in  question  was 
not  manufactured  by  defendant  himself,  but  was  pur¬ 
chased  by  him  from  another  manufacturer  or  dealer,  but 
labelled  with  Gilbert  s  labels,  which  labels  were  paid  for 
by  Winchester,  and  used  in  his  business  with  his  know¬ 
ledge  and  assent. 

It  was  objected,  among  other  questions,  that  the  action 
could  not  bo  sustained,  as  the  defendant  was  the  remote- 


vendor  of  the  article  in  question,  and  there  was  no  con¬ 
nection,  transaction,  or  privity  between  defendant  and 
the  plaintiff. 

A  verdict  was  rendered  against  the  defendant  Win¬ 
chester  ;  the  defendant  Gilbert  being  acquitted  by  direc¬ 
tion  of  the  Court. 

The  defendant  Winchester  appealed  to  Court  of  Ap¬ 
peals,  and  it  was  there  held  that  a  dealer  in  drugs  and 
medicines,  who  carelessly  labels  a  deadly  poison  as  a 
harmless  medicine,  and  sends  it  so  labelled  into  market, 
is  liable  to  all  persons  who,  without  fault  on  their  part, 
are  injured  by  using  it  as  such  medicine  in  consequence 
of  the  false  label.  That  the  liability  of  the  dealer,  in 
such  case,  arises,  not  out  of  any  contract  or  direct  privity 
between  him  and  the  person  injured,  but  out  of  the  duty 
which  the  law  imposes  upon  him  to  avoid  acts  in  their 
nature  dangerous  to  the  lives  of  others.  He  is  liable, 
therefore,  though  the  poisonous  drug  with  such  label 
may  have  passed  through  many  intermediate  sales  before 
it  reaches  the  hands  of  the  person  injured.  That  where 
such  negligent  act  is  done  by  an  agent,  the  principal  is 
liable  for  the  injury  caused  thereby. 

Although  the  defendant  Gilbert  was  acquitted  by  the 
jury  under  direction  of  the  Court,  and  judgment  rendered 
against  the  defendant  Winchester  alone  for  damages, 
Judge  Ruggles,  in  delivering  the  opinion  of  the  Court  of 
Appeals,  said  that  “  Gilbert,  the  defendant’s  agent,  would 
have  been  punishable  for  manslaughter,  if  Mrs.  Thomas, 
had  died  in  consequence  of  taking  the  falsely  labelled 
medicine.”  (2  R.  S.  662,  §  17;  Tessymond’s  Case; 
1  Lewin’s  Crown  Cases,  169  ;  Regina  v.  Swindall ;  2 
Car.  &  Ker.  232.) 

“  Although  the  defendant  Winchester  may  not  be  an¬ 
swerable  criminally  for  the  negligence  of  his  agent,  there- 
can  be  no  doubt  of  his  liability  in  a  civil  action,  in  which 
the  act  of  the  agent  is  to  be  regarded  as  the  act  of  the 
principal.” 

See  the  case  fully  reported  in  6  New  York  (2  Selden) 
Reports,  page  397,  and  the  numerous  authorities  there; 
cited  and  referred  to. 

The  law  regulating  the  sale  of  poison  by  druggists 
might  be  amended  in  this  respect : — 

Druggists  should  be  required,  in  addition  to  the  label 
of  poison  and  the  name  of  the  poison,  to  name  also  the 
antidote  to  such  poison,  and  give  brief  directions  for  ad¬ 
ministering  the  antidote.  This  should  be  printed  or 
written  plainly  and  legibly,  so  that  in  cases  of  poison  be¬ 
ing  taken  by  accident  or  design,  an  antidote  could  bo 
quickly  administered  without  the  delay  of  getting  a  phy¬ 
sician  ;  and  no  doubt  many  lives  could  thereby  be  saved. 

The  law  of  1860  seems  to  be  defective  in  limiting  its 
application  to  incorporated  cities  and  villages  having  a 
population  of  one  thousand  inhabitants  and  upwards. 

It  might  with  advantage  be  made  general  in  its  appli¬ 
cation  throughout  the  State. — Medical  Record. 


SPIRITUS  AMMONITE  AROMATICUS. 

The  following  are  the  results  of  the  analyses  of  six 
samples  of  the  above  preparation,  obtained  from  different 
druggists,  published  in  the  Practitioner  :  — 


Nos. 

Per  cent.  Alcohol 
by  weight  in 
volume. 

Per  cent,  of  Am¬ 
monia  by  weight 
in  volume. 

Brit.  Pharm. 

62-6 

2-6 

I. 

63*1 

2-0 

II. 

53-7 

1-4 

III. 

52-4 

1-5 

IY. 

52-2 

1-3 

Y. 

51-4 

1-2 

YI. 

48-1 

1-5 

January  21, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


5S9 


SATURDAY,  JANUARY  21,  1871. 


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

Instructions  from  Members  and  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Rrbm;- 
bidge,  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  W.C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W.  Envelopes  endorsed  “  Bharm.  Journ.” 


PRESCRIPTIONS. 

The  principal  practical  part  of  a  pharmacist’s 
duty  being  the  compounding  of  recipes  emanating 
from  men  supposed  to  know  better  than  himself  the 
therapeutical  effects  of  the  drugs  employed,  it  would 
be  presumptuous  in  the  face  of  such  a  supposition 
for  the  pharmacist  to  add,  alter,  or  subtract  one  iota 
from  the  prescriptions  presented  to  him.  And  the 
grand  basis  of  all  social  well-being  in  every  relation¬ 
ship  of  life  consisting  in  sincerity,  how  much  more 
must  it  be  self-evident  that  in  life-and-death  cases 
between  patient,  physician  and  prescriber,  all  should 
be  actuated  by  the  sincerest  motives  for  the  mutual 
good  of  each.  Yet  the  pharmacist  is  often  obliged 
to  act  as  a  check  on  the  physician’s  involuntary 
mistakes,  or  occasional  posological  errors.  One  of 
the  great  sources  of  doubt  and  uneasiness  to  the 
most  sincere  and  intelligent  dispensers  is  the  omis¬ 
sion  of  terminations.  Admitting  the  general  public 
not  to  understand  Latin,  why  mutilate  it,  rendering 
it  more  unintelligible  to  them  and  more  puzzling 
to  the  dispenser.  What  can  be  more  ambiguous  than 
the  everyday  pot.  clilor.  or  sodie  sulpli.  of  or¬ 
dinary  prescription-writers?  It  is  true  that  habit, 
experience,  and  above  all,  a  knowledge,  not  only  of 
the  properties  of  medicines,  but  of  their  therapeutical 
uses,  enable  the  dispenser  in  99  cases  out  of  100  to 
skim  over  the  difficulty,  s«arcely  noticing  it.  But 
frequently  the  ambiguity  and  consequent  responsi¬ 
bility  become  much  greater. 

Tins  lax  and  undignified  habit  of  abbreviating 
nearly  every  word  has  caused,  and  causes,  innume¬ 
rable  mistakes.  Why  should,  for  instance,  the  dis¬ 
penser  use  chlorate  of  potassium  in  a  gargle  where 
pot.  clilor.  is  ordered?  Common  salt  dissolved  in 
water  is  a  frequent  domestic  remedy  for  sore-tliroat, 
why  should  not  chloride  of  potassium  be  equally  effi¬ 
cacious?  and  why  might  not  the  physician  wish  to  try 
it  ?  A  dispenser  takes  an  unwarrantable  amount  of 
responsibility  in  selecting  one  salt  in  preference  to 
the  other.  And  the  physician  has  no  right  to  throw 
■a  shadow  of  that  sort  of  responsibility  on  the  drug¬ 
gist’s  shoulders.  Moreover,  these  tilings  occur  so 
often  that  people  are  content  to  lie  prone  in  statu 


quo,  without  ever  trying  in  the  least  to  improve  the 
situation. 

The  habit  of  writing  Latin  prescriptions  must  be 
considered,  on  the  whole,  an  advantageous  one ;  for 
in  countries  where  the  vernacular  is  used  as  a  me¬ 
dium  of  understanding  between  doctor  and  druggist, 
the  tendency  to  revert  to  old-fashioned  and  even 
quite  obsolete  terms,  causes  quite  as  much  misap¬ 
prehension  as  abbreviated  Latin  does  here.  This  is 
evidently  done  for  exactly  the  same  reason  as  ob¬ 
scure  Latin  is  even  openly  sanctioned  by  some 
members  of  the  profession,  in  order  to  prevent  the 
patient  from  feeling  nervous  at  the  exhibition  of 
opium  or  calomel.  But  sick  people’s  faculties  are 
often  miraculously  sharpened  by  curiosity,  and  ex¬ 
perience  proves  that  such  awful  names  as  Sirop 
de  Karabe  or  protochloride  of  hydrargyrum,  though 
even  cautiously  pronounced  and  declared  safe  and 
reliable  medicines  by  the  urbane  chemist,  will  frighten 
nervous  people  ten  times  more  than  the  names  of 
drugs  familiar  to  the  ears  of  all  intelligent  persons. 

Needless  mysticism  is  the  greatest  fault  of  all, 
for  it  necessarily  causes  more  mistakes  at  the  dis¬ 
penser’s  hands  than  is  warranted  by  an  increased 
privacy  of  inter-communication.  An  eminent  En¬ 
glish  practitioner,  whose  prescriptions  are  to  be 
found  all  over  the  Continent,  always  writes  Syr.  C.  for 
simple  syrup, — an  anything  but  orthodox  synonym, 
syrupus  communis  being  used  to  designate  treacle 
in  the  Prussian  Pharmacopoeia.*  Could  not  a  great 
amount  of  good  be  done  to  the  pharmaceutical  com¬ 
munity  at  large  if  a  few  “  sincere  ”  dispensers  in  the 
large  houses  in  town  and  country  would  quietly  note 
any  of  these  peculiarities  and  have  them  periodically 
published  ? 


THE  QUALITY  OF  DRUGS. 

It  is  announced  in  the  Practitioner  for  January 
that,  in  consequence  of  complaints  made  by  medi¬ 
cal  men  as  to  the  varying  qualities  of  drugs,  even 
when  obtained  from  the  most  respectable  shops,  it  is 
intended  to  commence  an  extensive  examination  of 
preparations  of  food  and  medicine,  the  results  of 
which  will  be  published  in  that  journal.  As  a  com¬ 
mencement,  the  results  of  a  series  of  analyses  of 
samples  of  sp.  ammonke  aromaticus  are  given.  Ac¬ 
cording  to  the  British  Pharmacopoeia  this  prepara¬ 
tion  should  contain  02 '0  per  cent,  of  alcohol  by  weight 
in  volume,  and  2G  per  cent,  of  ammonia  by  weight 
in  volume.  The  quantities  in  the  six  specimens 
analysed  ranged  from  03' 1  to  48 T  percent,  of  al¬ 
cohol  and  from  2'0  to  15  per  cent,  of  ammonia. 

It  is  unfortunate  that  this  preparation  should 
have  been  selected  for  the  purpose  of  introducing 
the  examinations  contemplated  by  our  contempo¬ 
rary,  for  it  is  one  in  reference  to  which  there  are 

*  “  Syrupus  communis — Gemeiner  Syrup.  Nonnisi  sy¬ 
rupus  in  depurando  saccliaro  Indico  obtentus  adliibeatur/' 
— Fh.  Borussica,  p.  193. 


590 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [January  :i,  1371. 


great  differences  of  practice.  Several  of  our  oldest 
and  most  respectable  establishments  liave  their  own 
formulae  for  this  preparation,  and  they  find  it  requi¬ 
site  to  follow  those  formulae  in  order  to  meet  the  de¬ 
mands  of  their  customers.  It  is  therefore  by  no 
means  a  legitimate  inference  that  a  deviation  from 
the  Pharmacopoeia  in  the  sal  volatile  bought  at  a 
shop  of  credit  is  to  be  regarded  as  indicating  inferio¬ 
rity.  This  is  not  a  matter  of  quality  or  of  price, 
and  before  any  one  can  j  ustly  assert  that  particular 
druggists  improperly  make  use  of  preparations  which 
do  not  conform  to  the  Pharmacopoeia,  the  examiner 
must  be  careful  to  make  sure  that  he  obtains  from 
the  vendors  such  preparations  as  they  would  use  in 
dispensing  and  not  for  ordinary  sale.  There  may  be, 
without  any  impropriety,  a  great  difference  in  this 
respect,  not  at  all  inconsistent  with  due  adherence  to 
the  Pharmacopoeia  in  all  cases  of  dispensing. 


The  Melbourne  Argus  announces  that,  attention 
having  been  drawn  of  late  to  the  evil  results  which 
follow  the  making  up  of  medical  prescriptions  by 
druggists  not  sufficiently  qualified,  steps  have  been 
taken  by  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Victoria  to 
secure  the  passing  of  a  Pharmacy  Bill  during  the 
next  session  of  Parliament.  At  a  meeting  of  che¬ 
mists  and  druggists  recently  held  in  Melbourne,  it 
was  decided  that  a  Bill  should  be  sketched  out  by 
the  Council  of  the  Society,  and  that  the  Govern¬ 
ment  should  be  asked  to  draft  it  and  adopt  it.  The 
object  of  the  Bill  will  be  to  prevent,  in  future,  any 
but  thoroughly  competent  men  from  acting  as  che¬ 
mists  and  druggists. 


In  Dr.  Lankester’s  Annual  Report  of  Inquests 
held  by  him  in  1868-9,  he  calls  attention  to  the  fact 
that  poison  ranks  third  in  frequency  among  the 
means  of  suicide.  It  appears  also  that  a  consider¬ 
able  change  has  taken  place  in  the  selection  of 
poisons  by  intending  suicides.  He  says  that  cyanide 
of  potassium,  which  is  used  in  enormous  quantities 
by  photographers,  and  may  be  purchased  without 
difficulty,  has  been  the  poison  most  frequently 
used  during  the  last  seven  years.  Oxalic  acid, 
which  stands  next,  is  used  by  shoemakers,  saddlers, 
and  harness-makers.  The  use  of  opium  for  the  pur¬ 
poses  of  suicide  is  on  the  decline,  owing  to  the 
difficulty  of  procuring  a  sufficient  quantity  of  that 
drug.  The  same  remark  applies  to  hydrocyanic 
acid.  Then  comes  oil  of  bitter  almonds,  rarely,  if 
er,  the  cause  of  accidental  poisoning.  Next  sul¬ 
phuric  and  hydrochloric  acids,  employed  by  metal- 
woikeis  and  brass -finishers.  Vermin  powders  and 
preparations  of  strychnine  stand  lowest  on  the  list, 
only  two  cases  of  poisoning  by  these  agents  having 
been  recorded  during  the  last  seven  years. 


irmaxtums  of  %  flaniramtirtal  Sorietg. 


EXAMINATION  IN  LONDON. 

January  18  th,  1871. 

Present — Messrs.  Allchin,  Bird,  Carteighe,  Cracknell, 
Davenport,  Deane,  Edwards,  Gale,  Garle,  Ilanbury, 
Haselden,  Ince  and  Southall. 

FIRST,  OR  PRELIMINARY  EXAMINATION. 

Two  hundred  and  ninety-eight  Candidates  were  exa¬ 
mined  ;  the  following  two  hundred  and  ten  passed,  and 
were  registered  as 


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APPRENTICES  OR  STUDENTS. 

King,  Horatio  Alfred . Norwich. 

Hilston,  David  P . Lanark. 

Wright,  Alfred . .  Stowinarket. 

Davies,  David  . Merthyr  Tydvil. 

Dunn,  Henry . Shipley. 

Green,  Thomas . Belfast. 

Ken  die,  Frederic  Wellesley . . .  .London. 

Knight,  John  Tomlinson . Nottingham. 

f  Frank,  John . Whitby. 

<  Maddock,  William  Thomas ....  London. 

(  Ridgley,  Thomas . Newport,  I.  W, 

Harrison,  William  Westr  op  ..Wisbeach. 

Beardsley,  James . Nottingham. 

Wylde,  James  Harold . Manchester. 

Hargrave,  Spencer  . Manchester. 

Price,  David . Merthyr  Tydvil. 

Wright,  Thomas  David  . Lancaster. 

Mellor,  Thomas . Bury. 

Prince,  George  Frederic . Oxford. 

Dawson,  Theophilus  M.  F . Hull. 

{Baxter,  Thomas  Moore  . Wisbeach. 

Davidson,  James  Bruce  . Ellon. 

Reddish,  Augustus  . Patricroft. 

(  Barclay,  John  . London. 

(  Jessop,  John  Arthur . Willenhall. 

Long,  Theophilus  H.  B . Brighton. 

( Banks,  William  Orton . Levenshulme. 

Davies,  John . Llanelty. 

Lloyd,  Llewellyn . Oxford. 

Shepherd,  Alexander  Moir  ....  Aberdeen. 

Smart,  Charles  Frederic . Littlchampton. 

(  Auld,  J ame3 . . . Ellon. 

\  Oxley,  Herbert  Lister . Leeds. 

Thomson,  James  . Ellon. 

Elliman,  Frank  Samuel  . London. 

Fortnam,  Frederic  Henry  . . . .  Willenhall. 

(Bond,  Frederick  William  ....  Yarburgh. 

Colley,  John . Ripon. 

Challinor,  Samuel  MacMillan . .  Bolton. 
j  Jenkins,  Thomas  Morgan  . . .  .Merthyr  Tydvil. 

\  Low,  James  . Ellon. 

[Brunt,  Francis . Ashby-de-la-Zouch. 

Fentiman,  Charles  James  . . .  .London. 

J  Larder,  Herbert  . Horncastle. 

|  Taylor,  George . Brinsley. 

Wheeler,  Albert  . Southsea. 

fiWorfolk,  George  William  ....  Leeds. 

SCoxon,  William  Arthur  . Birmingham. 

Crowther,  William  Charles  .  .Tickhill. 

Nicholl,  Isaac  Waugh . Belfast. 

Yates,  Ebenezer  . Manchester. 

/  Goyne,  William  Stephens  ....  Redruth. 

\  Landon,  Charles  Edwin . Stourport. 

j  Pain,  Arthur . . ,  Bury  St.  Edmunds.. 

\  Price,  Charles  William  . Abergavenny. 

Ewing,  Gordon  Clunes  . Yarmouth. 


January  21, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


591 


ce 

o*  \ 


•d/ 

s  ' 
a* 

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/  Davies,  David  . Newcastle  Emlyn. 

Goss,  Walter  Herbert . Barnstaple. 

Herbert,  J ohn . Kingston-on-Thames. 

Herring,  Augustus  . London. 

Jones,  Charles  William  . Ashby-de-la-Zouch. 

Joss,  George  . Aberdeen. 

Newton,  Thornton  A.  C . Devonport. 

Owen  Phillip . Carmarthen. 

Robinson,  Herbert  . London. 

Troake,  Marler  Hamilton  ....  Kingsbridge, 

Green,  James  Wiles . Wisbeach. 

Bowling,  John  Henry . Pembroke  Dock. 

('•Almgill,  John  . Bedale. 

Bailey,  Richard  J  ohn  . Spalding, 

Chitty,  Frederick . Titchfield. 

Dyer,  Henry  Edmund . Wallingford. 

Hall,  Edwin . Weston-super-Mare. 

Knight,  William . Nottingham. 

Pearce,  Frank  T . London. 

Phillips,  John  Edwards . Cheltenham. 

Plant,  Frank  George  . Ashton-under-Lyne. 

Strickland,  Augustus  James  .  .London. 


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*3  j  Blaymire,  Thomas  Croskell  . .  Kendal. 

I"  (  Lewis,  Edward  . . Tenby. 

Dale,  George  Edgar . Colchester. 

Delcock,  Joseph  Austin  . Ripon. 

Osborn,  William  Henry . Tewkesbury. 

Parker,  John  Wortley . Barnstaple. 

Stephens,  Stephen  . Llandilo. 

Turner,  Francis  J ames  . Doncaster. 

S  Snowdon,  Anthony . Manchester. 

Stamford,  Frederick . St.  Austell. 

Wedge,  George  Daller  . Alresford. 

.Wilks,  Maurice  . Leeds. 

SCowgill,  Brian  Horatio  . Manchester. 

Greasley,  John . Borrowash, 

Hesford,  Everit  . Manchester. 

Simpson,  Robert  George . Stowmarket. 

Frost,  John  . Abergavenny. 

Davies,  Richard  Morgan,  jun... Carmarthen. 
Gossling,  William  Richard ....  Wimborne. 

Hinds,  Howell  David . Pontardulais. 

Irving,  Thomas  Stableforth  . .  Spalding, 

Keeble,  Sam  Henry . .  Leeds. 

Rose,  George  William . Spilsby. 

Sibson,  William  . Carlisle. 

k  Smith,  Richard  Fox . Barton-on-Humber. 

Burd,  Frederick  John . Liverpool. 

j  l  Cavenagh,  John  . Dublin. 

§.  <  Evans,  Thomas  Mould  . Derby. 

w  [  Portway,  John  Bernard . Bury  St.  Edmunds. 


ca 

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Greensill,  William  Joseph 

....  Birmingham. 

"i  ^ 

Brookes,  Alfred  . 

go 

Collier,  Arthur  Thomas  . . 

Jamieson,  Wallace  . 

Pybus,  John  Alfred ...... 

Corbett,  Matthew  David . . 

•3  ( 

Hunter,  Frederick  Neish 

....  Durham. 

t 

Pain,  Edwin . 

W  ( 

Summers,,  Frank  . 

If 

Wardle,  Thomas  . . 

Huggett,  Sydney . 

Sparshott,  Harry . 

Hugo,  Richard . 

Jaques,  John  Charles  . . . . 

Hookes,  Robert . 

Lilley,  John  Henry . 

1 

Grimble,  Albert  . 

CJ* 

W 

Morgan,  William . 

. . . .  Swansea, 

Norton,  Thomas  . . 

Smart,  Robert  Henry  .... 

Stacey,  William  Henry  . . 

Vigis,  Joseph  Lewis . 

Clegg,  Edmund . 

1  f 

Litchfield,  John  . 

Si 

Wade,  James  Henry  . . . . 

\ 

Burrows,  Charles  William 

....  Alfreton. 

i  j 

Green  well,  William . 

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SBreadner,  Charles  Gibson  ....  Manchester. 

Capes,  John  H.  C . York. 

Colling,  Robert . Stockton-on-Tees. 

/  Bridges,  Ashley  Colston . Cleobury  Mortimer. 

Collier,  William  James  . Reading. 

Cookson,  William . Eastbourne. 

Haller,  Frederick  William  . . .  .Hull. 

Hardwick,  Stewart  . Sleaford. 

Lloyd,  John  Jenkin . Llanelly. 

Pickard,  Henry . Barnstaple. 

Prebble,  John  George . Folkestone. 

Saville,  William  . Leeds. 

Shaw,  Stephen . London. 

Thompson,  Thomas . Darlington. 

Willson,  Alfred . Landport. 

,  Wright,  Bentley  Warren  ....  Grantham. 

j  Fraser,  Alexander . Forres. 

(  Marsden,  William . Manchester. 

Alcock,  Joseph  Pitman  . Worcester. 

('Babb,  James . Taunton. 

Bolton,  Charles  Alfred . Nottingham. 

Dodge,  William  . Stockport. 

Gibbs,  Henry  . Aylesbury. 

Iredale,  Thomas  . Leeds. 

Montille,  Louis  Leonce  . Mauritius. 

Norton,  Charles  . Plymouth. 

Williams,  Robert . Llangefni. 


Hammond,  Henry  . . . Bradford,  Yorks. 

Matcham,  Edward  . Norwich. 

Bunn,  Robert  Edward . Ipswich. 

Butler,  George . Darlaston. 

Crewe,  Joseph  Edward  . Ashton-under-Lyne. 

Culley,  Frederick  John  . Exeter 

Ireland,  William  Henry . Topsham. 

Mackenzie,  James . Perth. 

Peacock,  Percy . London. 

Re  veil,  John . . . Plymouth. 

Roberts,  David . Rhyl. 

Staning,  Walter  . . . Hull. 

Stott,  Charles  Thomas . Sowerby  Bridge. 

Whitehouse,  Thomas  Arthur  . .  London. 


rs. 


cd 

53 

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cd 

53 

O* 

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/  Chapman,  Frederick  . London. 

\  Knight,  James  West  . St.  Ives,  Hunts. 

j  Laycock,  John  . Skipton. 

\  Rogers,  William  . . . Bilston. 

Beaton,  William  . Fraserburgh. 

Burnett,  William  George  . . .  .Hull. 

Cattell,  Thomas  Bellamy  ....  Coventry. 

Clark,  Matthew  Gunning  . .  .  .London. 

Colley,  Walter . Birmingham. 

Cooke,  Isaac . Liverpool. 

Cowley,  Henry  Williamson  .  .Nottingham. 

Harro'ld,  Thomas  Kilburn _ Northampton, 

Irwin,  Thomas . Aldershot. 

James,  Isaac  Rowland . Aberystwith. 

Kiddle,  Isaac . Taunton. 

Knight,  Lindsey . Cheltenham. 

Lawe,  James  Henry  . Plymouth. 

Martlew,  Thomas . Carlisle. 

Milton,  William  Edwin . Chew  Magna. 

Rees,  Samuel  Lawrence . Hayle. 

Squirrell,  John  Newton . Manchester. 

Turner,  Joseph  Kitchen . Whitehaven. 

Welcher,  Robert  Mitchell  ....  Chattei'is. 

Whitefoot,  Thomas . Ludlow. 

Wilson,  Thomas  . Blackheath. 

^ Wright,  John  Henry  . Leeds. 


592 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[January  21,  1871. 


The  following  is  a  list  of  the  towns  in  which  the  exa¬ 
minations  were  held,  with  the  number  of  candidates  an¬ 
nexed  : — 


Aberdeen  .  5 

Abingdon  . 1 

Altrincham . .  1 

Andover .  1 

Ashton-under-Lyne  3 

Ashby- de-la-Zouch.  2 

Aylesbury .  1 

Barnstaple . .  4 

Bath  . 1 

Belfast  .  3 

Bewdley .  2 

Birmingham .  8 

Bolton .  1 

Boston .  3 

Bradford . . . .  3 

Bridgnorth .  1 

Brighton .  1 

Bristol . 4 

Bury  St.  Edmund's.  2 

Cambridge .  1 

Cardigan .  2 

Carlisle  . .  4 

Carmarthen  .  4 

Carnarvon .  2 

Cheltenham  .  1 

Chesterfield  . ..  1 

Colchester  ........  1 

Coventry  .  3 

Darlington .  2 

Derby . . .  2 

Devonport  . . 1 

Doncaster  . .  5 

Dorking . 1 

Dover .  4 

Dublin  .  1 

Dudley  .  1 

Durham  ....... .....  3 

Ellon  . 4 

Evesham . 1 

Exeter . .  2 

Farnham  . 2 

Flint  _  1 

Forres .  1 

Frome... .  1 

Grantham  .  1 

Halifax  . . 1 

Hartlepool .  1 

Hereford..........  1 

Holywell  . 1 

Horncastle .  3 

Huddersfield .  2 

Hull  . 9 

Huntingdon  .......  1 

Ipswich  ............  1 

Kendal  . 1 

Kidderminster  ....  1 

King’s  Lynn .  2 


Lanark  .  1 

Lancaster  .  2 

Leeds  . 11 

Leighton  Buzzard. .  1 

Lewes .  1 

Lincoln  . 2 

Liverpool  .  4 

London  . 37 

Manchester  . 16 

Merthyr  Tydfil  ....  6 

Newark  . 1 

Newcastle-on-Tyne  2 
Newport  (I.  of  W-)  1 

Northampton .  4 

Norwich . . .  3 

Nottingham  .  9 

Oxford  .  2 

Pembroke  Dock ....  2 

Perth  .  1 

Peterborough .  3 

Plymouth  . .  3 

Poole  . 4 

Portsmouth . 2 

Reading  . . . .  1 

Richmond  .  1 

Rinon  . . . . .  2 

X 

Ruthin  . 1 

St.  Austell  . .  1 

St.  Ives  (Cornwall)  1 

Scarborough .  1 

Sheffield .  1 

Sleaford  . . .  1 

Southampton .  1 

South  Shields .  2 

Stafford  .  1 

Stamford  .  5 

Stockport  . 4 

Stockton-on-Tees  . .  2 
Stoke-on-Trent  ....  1 

Stourbridge  .  2 

Stowmarket  ......  2 

Swansea .  5 

Taunton . . 5 

Tenby . .  1 

Tewkesbury  .  1 

Thirsk . 1 

Tiverton . .  1 

Torquay  . .  1 

Truro .  1 

Wallingford  .  1 

Warrington  .  1 

!  Wednesbury .  3 

Whitehaven  .  1 

Winchester  ......  1 

Wolverhampton  . .  2 
Worcester  .........  1 

York  . . 1 


provinciam  per  vim  tentassent,  quod  iEduos,  quod 
Ambarros,  quod  Allobrogas  vexassent,  memoriam  de- 
ponere  posse  ? 

3.  Fiat  haustus,  quarta  quaque  hora  eapiendus.  Ut 
effectus  sudorificus  augeatur,  adde  singulis  haustibus 
antimonii  potassio-tartratis  grani  quartam  partem. 

4.  Rosse  prius  divuls;e  aquam  superinfunde,  dein 
acidum  immisce.  Macera  per  horas  duas,  et  liquorem 
cola;  deniaue  saccharum  adjice. 

5.  Give  the  genitive  and  dative  endings,  singular 
number,  of  nouns  of  the  fifth  declension,  and  state  the 
gender  to  which  they  belong. 

6.  Decline  idem ,  the  same. 

7.  In  what  case  do  you  put  a  noun  of  time  when  it 
answers  to  “  how  long”  ?  Give  an  example  in  Latin. 

8.  State  to  which  conjugation  each  of  the  following 
verbs  belongs,  and  give  the  second  person  singular, 
present  tense,  indicative  mood :  debeo,  repurgo,  scribo , 
and  audio. 

9.  What  case  does  esse  take  after  it  ?  Give  an 
example. 

ARITHMETIC. 

10.  Multiply  2710432  by  375. 

11.  If  I  gave  £187.  3 s.  3 d.  for  25  cwt.  3  qrs.  141b. 
of  Senna,  what  did  I  pay  per  lb.  ? 

12.  Reduce  of  -[f  of§£  to  a  single  fraction. 

13.  Add  5f,  6 and  4|  together. 

14.  What  is  the  difference  between  three-tenths  of 
an  unit  and  64  ten-thousandth  parts  of  an  unit  ? 

ENGLISH. 

15.  Into  how  many  parts  is  English  grammar 
divided  ?  Name  them. 

16.  How  many  articles  are  there,  and  where  are  they 
used  ? 

17.  How  do  nouns'  ending  in  ch  form  the  plural, 
also  nouns  ending  in  ch  sounding  Jc  ?  Illustrate  by 
examples. 

18.  Give  the  past  tense  and  past  participle  of  the 
following  irregular  verbs  :  fly,  hew,  drink,  slay,  and 
speak. 

19.  Correct  the  following:  If  she  were  the  wittier, 
he  were  the  wisest  of  all. 

20.  Write  from  15  to  25  lines  upon  one  only  of  the 
following  subjects : — 

a.  The  importance  of  early  mental  cultivation. 

b.  The  advantages  of  having  good  companions. 

c.  The  blessings  of  peace. 


Certificates  presented  by  the  undermentioned  were 
accepted  in  lieu  of  this  Examination : — 

Richards,  James  Griffiths  ....  Newport,  Mon. 

Saveli,  Edward  Pearce . Southampton. 

West,  John  Leaver . .  . .  Ashby-de-la-Zouch. 

Wright,  Conrad  William  ....  Tewkesbury. 

Four  Candidates  presented  themselves  for  the  Major 
Examination,  and  Sixteen  for  the  Minor  ;  the  following 
passed,  and  were  duly  registered  : — 


The  Questions  for  Examination  were  as  follows 
Time  allowed :  Three  Horn’s. 

LATIN. 

Translate  into  English  two  at  least  of  the  following  sen¬ 
tences  : 

1.  Flumen  est  Arar,  quod  per  fines  vEduorum  et 
Sequanorum  in  Rhodanum  influit  incredibili  lenitate, 
ita  ut  oculis,  in  utram  partem  fluat,  judicari  non  possit : 
id  Helvetii,  ratibus  ac  lintribus  junctis,  transibant. 

2.  Quod  si  veteris  contumeliae  oblivisci  vellet ;  num 
etiam  recentium  injuriarum,  quod  eo  invito,  iter  per 


MAJOR  (as  Pharmaceutical  Chemists). 

*  Diaper,  Albert . Bury  St.  Edmunds. 

*  Reinhardt,  William  Tynedale.. Leeds. 

Sherburn,  Thomas  . Harrogate. 

Sandiland,  Robert  Burgess,  jun. Bicester. 

MOTOR  (as  Chemists  and  Druggists). 

*  Catterns,  Heneage  Parker  ....  London. 

*  Troake,  Marler  Hamilton  ....  Kingsbridge. 

*  Hughes,  Evan  Grismond . Llandilo. 


*  Passed  with  honours. 


January  21, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


593 


*  Humphry,  Horatio  . Southampton. 

*Brown,  James  . Ampthill. 

Overton,  Charles  Arthur . Horncastle. 

Smith,  John  Francis  . Scarborough. 

Chi  tty,  Frederick . . Titchfield. 

Parker,  J ohn  Samuel  . Peterborough. 

•s  .(  Jones,  Alfred . Northampton. 

J"  (  Watmough,  George  Capes  . . .  .Caistor. 

Atkinson,  David  . London. 

Francis,  William . Carmarthen. 

Arundel,  Matthew  Henry  . ...  .Penge. 

Coles,  Samuel  J  ohn . Liverpool. 


The  above  names  are  arranged  in  order  of  merit. 


fwMtml  franmifrits. 


THE  SHEFFIELD  PHARMACEUTICAL  AND 
CHEMICAL  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Second  Annual  Meeting  was  held  on  Wednesday 
evening,  January  11th,  in  the  Rooms,  Music  Hall;  Mr. 
Wilson,  the  President,  in  the  chair. 

The  Secretary  read  the  following  Report : — 

“  In  presenting  the  Second  Annual  Report,  the  Coun¬ 
cil  have  great  pleasure  in  being  able  to  offer  their  con¬ 
gratulations  upon  the  prosperous  condition  of  the  Asso¬ 
ciation.  The  number  of  Members  and  Associates  shows 
a  slight  increase  upon  that  of  last  year,  the  losses  by 
resignations  and  death  having  been  replaced  by  new 
Members  ;  and  we  have  every  reason  to  believe  that  the 
third  year  will  be  commenced  by  a  considerable  addition 
to  our  numbers. 

“  The  Council  desire  to  acknowledge  the  services  Mr. 
Ward  has  rendered  to  the  Association  by  gratuitously 
giving  a  course  of  chemical  lectures  (prepared  at  great 
expense  of  time)  to  the  students  during  the  Summer  Ses¬ 
sion.  An  attempt  was  also  made  to  form  a  botanical 
class,  but  proved  unsuccessful.  At  the  ordinary  monthly 
meetings  lectures  have  been  given  upon — 

“  ‘  The  Detection  of  Poisons,’  by  W.  Baker,  Esq., 

F.C.S. 

“  ‘  Nitrous  Oxide,  or  Laughing  Gas,’  by  Dr.  Har¬ 
rison,  F.C.S. 

“The  Winter  Session  was  inaugurated  with  an  ad¬ 
dress  by  Dr.  J.  C.  Hall,  Oct.  19th,  since  which  the  fol¬ 
lowing  lectures  have  been  given  : — • 

“‘The  Nightshades,’  by  Dr.  Griffiths. 

“  ‘  The  Laws  of  Heat,’  by  W.  Baker,  Esq.,  F.C.S. 

“  ‘  The  Dangerous  Gases  of  Coal  Mines,’  by  Mr.  Brad- 
well,  an  Associate  of  the  Society. 

“  It  was  decided  to  hold  fortnightly  meetings,  trusting 
that  Associates  would  be  induced  to  read  short  ‘  Papers,’ 
and  to  give  opportunity  for  discussion ;  but,  from  un¬ 
avoidable  causes,  they  have  not  been  carried  out. 

“  A  Latin  Class,  conducted  by  Mr.  Fox,  and  a  Che¬ 
mical  Class,  by  Mr.  Allen,  have  been  organized,  and  are 
now  in  active  operation ;  the  number  in  each  being  about 
twelve. 

“  Prizes  have  been  offered  by  members  of  the  Council, 
for  which  the  students  are  invited  to  compete  at  the  end 
of  the  course.  Strenuous  efforts  have  been  made  by  the 
Council  to  extend  the  usefulness  of  the  Association,  by 
throwing  open  these  classes  to  the  Assistants  and  Ap¬ 
prentices  of  neighbouring  towns ;  and,  with  that  object, 
deputations  of  the  Council  visited  Rotherham  and  Ches¬ 
terfield,  and  canvassed  all  the  chemists  and  druggists  in 
those  places. 

“Notwithstanding  adverse  circumstances,  their  success 
was  such  as  to  augur  well  for  the  future  of  the  Associa¬ 
tion  ;  and  the  Council  have  every  confidence  that  Shef¬ 
field  will  become  the  centre  of  pharmaceutical  education 
for  the  district. 

“  The  Council  are  indebted  to  Mr.  James  Allport, 


General  Manager  of  the  Midland  Railway  Company,  for 
allowing  the  Chesterfield  students  to  travel  to  and  fro  at 
reduced  fares. 

“  The  Library  now  contains  many  valuable  works  for 
study  and  reference ;  seventeen  volumes  have  recently 
been  purchased.  The  Pharmaceutical  Journal,  the 
gift  of  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  and 
the  Lancet  are  now  weekly  placed  upon  the  table  of  the 
reading-room. 

“  Valuable  donations  to  the  Library  and  Museum  have 
been  received  from  the  President,  Mr.  E.  Wilson,  of  a 
large  Smee’s  galvanic  battery ;  from  Mr.  Nathaniel 
Booth,  Rotherham,  of  thirty-seven  volumes  of  the  Lancet 
and  seven  volumes  of  Bell’s  ‘  Surgery  ;’  and  from  Messrs. 
Cubley  and  Preston  of  a  small  cabinet  of  mineral  speci¬ 
mens. 

“  The  Council,  in  retiring  from  office,  solicit  for  their 
successors  the  support  of  the  masters,  not  only  in  con¬ 
tributing  to  the  funds  of  the  Association,  but  by  giving 
every  facility  for  their  assistants  and  apprentices  to 
attend  the  classes  and  reading-room. 

“  They  look  back  upon  the  operations  of  the  past  as 
very  successful  ;  they  see  an  increasing  desire  on  the 
part  of  the  students  to  avail  themselves  of  the  advan¬ 
tages  the  Society  offers ;  and  they  have  every  confidence 
that  the  educational  department  will  be  placed  upon  a 
firm  basis.” 

Balance  Sheet. 


General  Account. 

Dr.  £.  s.  d. 

By  Balance  from  1869  .  10  19  2 

,,  55  Members,  at  10s . 27  10  0 

,,  44  Associates  at  2 s.  6d . 5  10  0 

„  Mr.  Wilkinson’s  subscription  ....  110 

„  Balance  from  Dinner . 0  7  0 

„  Bank  Interest . 100 


46  7  2 

Cr. 

To  Rent,  Gas,  Coal,  Advertising,  Printing, 

etc .  30  19  0$ 

,,  Bank  Commission . Oil 

„  Secretary’s  Petty  Cash . 2  17  5 

„  Balance  in  hand . 12  9  7$ 


46  7  2 

Furnishing,  Museum  and  Library  Account. 

Dr. 


By  Balance  from  1869  .  30  10  10J 

„  Mr.  Watson’s  Donation . 110 


Cr. 

To  Books,  etc . 

,,  Balance  in  hand  .  .  . 


31  11  10$ 

8  0  3 

23  11  7$ 


Microscope  Account. 

Dr. 

By  Balance  from  1869 . . 

Cr. 

To  Lamp  Glasses . 

,,  Balance  in  hand  .  . . 


Total  Balance  in  hand. 

By  General  Account . 

„  Museum  ,,  . 

„  Microscope  ,,  . 


31  11  10$ 

4  18  4 

0  2  6 
4  15  10 

4  18  4 

12  9  7$ 

23  11  7$ 

4  15  10 

40  17  1 


*  Passed  with  honours. 


Mr.  Barber  proposed,  and  Mr.  Cubley  seconded,  that 


594 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [January  21, 1871. 


the  Report,  as  now  read,  be  confirmed.  Carried  unani¬ 
mously. 

The  following  officers  were  elected  for  the  ensuing 
year  : — President :  Mr.  J.  T.  Dobb.  Vice-Presidents : 
Mr.  G.  B.  Cocking  and  Mr.  Horncastle.  Treasurer :  Mr. 
Radley.  Secretary  :  Mr.  H.  W.  Maleham.  Auditors  : 
Mr.  Crawshaw  and  Mr.  Priestley.  Council :  Messrs. 
Cubley,  Hill,  Huddlestone,  Hudson,  Preston,  Ward,  and 
W  ilson. 

Mr.  Cocking  proposed,  and  Mr.  Wilson  seconded, 
That  Rule  12  shall  be  altered,  and  read  as  follows: — 
u  That  the  ordinary  monthly  meetings  for  the  transac¬ 
tion  of  business  be  held  on  the  first  Thursday  in  every 
month.”  Carried. 

Messrs.  Newham  and  Strain  were  elected  Members, 
and  Messrs.  Jervis,  Thwaites,  Wood,  Birch  (Chester¬ 
field),  Aldred  (Chesterfield),  and  Hesk  (Rotherham), 
Associates. 

Cordial  votes  of  thanks  to  the  retiring  President,  and 
•each  of  the  other  officers,  for  their  services  during  the 
past  year,  concluded  the  business  of  the  meeting. 


HALIFAX  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

The  Annual  Meeting  of  the  members  of  the  above 
Association  was  held  last  month,  but  with  only  a  mode¬ 
rate  attendance.  After  supper  the  Secretary  commenced 
the  business  of  the  evening  by  reading  the  report,  viz. 

“  The  usual  meetings  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  were 
mostly  occupied  in  the  consideration  of  the  intention  of 
the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  to  introduce 
very  stringent  regulations  in  the  storage  and  sale  of 
j)oisons.  These  were  unanimously  disapproved  of,  and 
your  Committee,  in  conjunction  with  many  others,  pro¬ 
tested  against  them.  These  protests  and  agitations  re¬ 
sulted  in  the  defeat  of  the  intended  plan,  and  in  such  a 
change  in  the  Council  of  the  Society  unequalled  in  its 
history. 

“  Two  valuable  papers  have  been  read  during  the  year : 
one  on  Materia  Medica,  by  Mr.  Shaw,  and  the  other  on 
the  proposed  Poison  Regulations,  by  Mr.  Brook.  It  is  a 
subject  of  regret  with  your  Committee  that  the  number 
of  papers  have  been  so  few  ;  the  chief  cause  of  this  is  the 
slender  attendance  at  the  meetings,  whilst  the  apathy  of 
a  great  number  of  members  gives  no  encouragement  to 
those  who  are  able  and  willing  to  undertake  the  prepara¬ 
tion  of  an  elaborate  paper. 

“  During  the  year  the  Committee  have  succeeded  in 
establishing  a  class  in  botany.  The  procuring  of  a  suit¬ 
able  teacher  was  a  matter  of  some  difficulty  which  has 
been  so  well  overcome,  that  the  pupils  express  great  con¬ 
fidence  and  satisfaction  with  the  tutor.  The  Committee 
have  decided  to  offer  for  competition  a  prize,  to  be  awarded 
at  the  examination  next  month.  An  effort  has  been 
made  to  form  a  class  in  materia  medica,  which  only  failed 
through  the  want  of  a  suitable  teacher.  The  classes  in 
•chemistry  and  Latin  have  this  year  improved  in  numbers 
and  in  regularity  of  attendance,  and  there  is  every  rea¬ 
son  to  believe  that  at  the  examination  in  the  ensuing 
spring,  the  young  men  will  distinguish  themselves.  It 
is  to  be  deeply  regretted  that  there  are  many  young  men 
v  ho  do  not  avail  themselves  of  these  great  advantages, 
.a  neglect  which  will  seriously  imperil  their  interests  in 
the  future,  and  which  now  prevents  them  being  as  reli¬ 
able  and  useful  in  daily  duties  as  they  otherwise  would 
be.  Your  Committee  earnestly  hope  that  this  last  con¬ 
sideration  will  have  its  weight  with  the  members,  and 
that  they  will  insist  upon  every  one  of  their  youn^  men 
attending  these  classes.  Whilst  the  Committee  have  done 
their  utmost  to  complete  a  thorough  system  of  technical 
education,  so  that  the  future  members  of  the  trade  will 
be  men  of  undoubted  stamp,  they  have  not  left  untouched 
some  of  the  grievances  of  the  present  members  of  the 
trade,  and  have  succeeded  in  shortening  the  hours  of 


business.  A  more  uniform  rate  of  retail  charges  has  also 
received  a  large  amount  of  attention,  but  the  near  ap¬ 
proach  of  the  Annual  Meeting  compelled  its  postpone¬ 
ment  till  next  year.” 

Mr.  Jessop  proposed  and  Mr.  Bhook  seconded  that  the 
report  as  read  be  adopted.  Carried. 

Mr.  Shaw  proposed,  and  Mr.  Fakr  seconded,  that  Mr. 
Stott  be  the  President  for  the  ensuing  year. 

Mr.  Stott  in  reply  thanked  them  for  the  honour  they 
had  conferred  upon  him.  He  regretted  that  the  con¬ 
tinued  indisposition  of  their  late  President  prevented 
him  from  any  longer  occupying  that  position.  He  must 
express  his  great  surprise  that  numbers  of  the  members 
were  simply  content  with  their  names  being  on  the  list, 
and  very  rarely  attending  any  of  the  meetings.  If 
there  were  larger  attendance,  and  more  earnestness  dis¬ 
played  by  the  members,  the  Committee  would  possess 
greater  influence  in  the  removal  of  many  trade  griev¬ 
ances,  and  in  advancing  the  education  of  their  youths. 
During  the  year  the  principal  novelty  in  medicine  had 
been  the  discovery  of  the  usefulness  of  chloral  hydrate, 
on  which  he  commented,  as  also  on  the  various  papers 
read  before  the  Pharmaceutical  Conference  at  Liverpool, 
and  expressed  his  approval  of  the  desire  of  the  Associa¬ 
tion,  that  the  names  of  Preparations  should  be  truthful. 
With  respect  to  patent  medicines,  he  thought  the  trade 
was  glutted  with  quackery,  and  he  would  rather  see  a 
diminution  than  an  increase  in  that  direction.  He  hoped 
a  plan  for  regulation  of  poisons  would  bo  framed  that 
would  protect  the  public  and  be  acceptable  to  the  trade. 
Mr.  Stott  concluded  his  remarks  by  stating  that  the  Com¬ 
mittee  should  gladly  have  his  assistance  in  furthering 
their  efforts  in  the  spread  of  technical  education  amongst 
their  young  men. 

Mr.  Hebden,  Hon.  Sec.,  regretted  that  his  numerous 
engagements  prevented  him  any  longer  filling  the  above 
post.  He  had  great  pleasure  in  moving  that  Mr.  Brook 
be  his  successor,  which  was  carried  unanimously,  as  well 
as  the  election  of  Mr.  J.  Brierley  as  Treasurer. 

The  question  as  to  how  an  increased  interest  and  at¬ 
tendance  at  the  monthly  meetings  could  be  brought 
about,  after  a  long  discussion,  ended  in  the  following 
motion  being  carried : — “  That  in  the  absence  of  pressing 
business  at  our  meetings,  each  member  in  turn  be  ex¬ 
pected  to  introduce  matters  of  special  interest  to  the 
trade,  sufficient  notice  being  given  to  prepare  for  such 
meeting.” 

A  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Dyer  for  two  years’  services 
as  President,  to  Mr.  Hebden,  as  Hon.  Sec.,  and  to  the 
President,  brought  the  evening’s  proceedings  to  a  close. 

First  Monthly  Meeting,  held  January  12,  1871 ;  Mr. 
Jessop,  Vice-President,  in  the  chair. 

Mr.  Hebden  introduced  the  subject  of  the  late  exami¬ 
nation  of  the  Botany  Class,  and  presented  the  Report  of 
the  Examiner,  Dr.  Dougall.  The  Report  stated  there 
were  six  questions  given,  valued  at  65  marks.  Only  one 
youth  answered  the  six  with  any  degree  of  correctness, 
gaining  for  himself  32  marks  ;  the  next  highest  number 
being  29.  Mr.  Hebden  thought  the  students  had  hardly 
come  up  to  the  mark  the  Association  could  have  wished, 
and  advised  that  the  prize  offered  to  the  successful  pupil 
should  be  reduced  in  value  to  that  originally  intended. 

Mr.  Fare  agreed  with  the  last  speaker,  and  suggested 
a  more  valuable  one  next  Session. 

Eventually  Mr.  Jessop  moved,  and  Mr.  J.  B.  Brierley 
seconded,  “  That  a  prize  of  not  less  value  than  5s. ,  in  the 
form  of  a  scientific  work,  be  presented  to  Wm.  Ferrand, 
the  successful  pupil. 

The  question  of  forming  a  Materia  Medica  Class  then 
engaged  the  attention  of  the  members. 

Mr.  Hebden  informed  the  meeting  that  Dr.  Dougall 
had  very  handsomely  offered  his  services  to  conduct  it, 
if  a  sufficient  number  of  members  could  be  obtained. 
Several  gentlemen  expressed  a  strong  desire  that  such  a 
class  should  be  formed,  deeming  it  of  more  importance 


January  21, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


595 


than  botany,  and  as  Dr.  Synnott  and  Mr.  Shaw  have  both 
kindly  offered  valuable  prizes  in  connection  with  it, 
the  latter  gentleman  having  also  volunteered  to  conduct 
an  examination,  it  is  thought  a  good  class  may  be  formed 
next  Session. 

The  Treasurer  presented  a  cash  statement  showing  a 
balance  in  favour  of  the  Association  of  £4.  5s.  3 cl.,  which 
was  ordered  to  be  entered  on  the  minutes  of  the  Associa¬ 
tion.  A  vote  of  thanks  to  Dr.  Dougall  for  his  kindness 
in  conducting  the  examination  of  the  the  students  in 
botany  ended  the  meeting. 


GLASGOW  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

Seventeenth  Session. 

The  Seventh  Meeting  of  the  Session  was  held  in 
Anderson’s  University  on  Wednesday  evening  the  11th 
inst. ;  Mr.  T.  Davison,  President,  in  the  chair.  The 
Secretary  announced  receipt  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Journal  and  Chicago  Pharmacist  as  donations.  Messrs. 
James  Dickie,  Crocket,  Brodie,  M‘Auley  and  Wallace 
were  elected  members. 

R.  Carter  Moffat,  Esq.,  Ph.D.,  F.R.S.S.A.  (honorary 
member),  then  delivered  a  highly  interesting  lecture  on 
“  The  Detection  of  Alum  in  Bread.”  He  first  explained 
some  of  the  many  processes  recommended  by  chemists 
for  this  purpose,  stating  that  for  many  years  it  was  one 
of  the  most  difficult  problems  to  solve.  He  then  went 
on  to  say,  that  some  months  ago  he  had  been  engaged, 
professionally,  to  report  as  to  whether  alum  was  really 
present  in  some  breads,  as  alleged.  His  attention  was 
thus  drawn  to  the  untrustworthiness  of  some  of  the  tests 
and  the  awkwardness  of  others,  and  he  endeavoured  to 
Temedy  the  matter  if  possible.  After  performing  nearly 
two  hundred  experiments,  however,  the  matter  seemed 
to  him  as  far  from  solution  as  ever.  At  length  he  came 
upon  the  process  known  as  Mr.  Horsley’s,  of  Cheltenham, 
which  recommends  that  a  piece  of  bread  be  placed  in 
vinegar  for  a  short  time,  the  vinegar  then  to  be  strained 
off,  and  a  little  ammonia  added  to  the  clear  liquor,  to 
neutralize  the  acid ;  an  alcoholic  solution  of  logwood 
was  then  to  be  added,  which,  it  was  stated,  gave  the 
liquor  a  blue  coloration  when  alum  was  present.  Four¬ 
teen  loaves,  besides  some  samples  of  flour,  had  been  given 
"him  for  analysis ;  and,  according  to  Mr.  Horsley’s  pro¬ 
cess,  every  one  of  these  contained  alum.  But  on  experi¬ 
menting  further  he  (the  lecturer)  found  that  the  blue 
coloration  was  produced  when  no  alum  was  present, 
which  led  him  to  the  discovery  that  by  far  the  most  re¬ 
liable  test  for  detecting  the  presence  or  non-presence  of 
alum  in  bread  or  flour,  was  the  simple  alcoholic  solution 
of  logwood,  without  any  of  the  burning,  boiling,  or  other 
processes.  He  used  120  grains  of  ordinary  chip  log¬ 
wood,  and  digested  it  for  eighteen  hours  in  8  ounces  of 
methylated  spirit  and  filtered  it.  When  the  solution  is 
brought  in  contact  with  bread  or  flour  free  from  alu¬ 
minum,  a  pale  yellow  or  straw  colour  is  produced,  but 
if  aluminum  be  present  the  colour  turns  out  a  dark  red. 
With  this  test  he  had  found  that  only  one  of  the  fourteen 
loaves  contained  alum,  showing  that  this  substance  was 
not  so  extensively  used  for  whitening  bread  as  had  been 
.given  out  by  many  chemists  and  others.  The  lecturer 
performed  some  experiments  in  illustration  of  his  sub¬ 
ject,  and  at  the  conclusion  was  awarded  a  hearty  vote  of 
thanks. 

The  proposed  poison  regulations  were  then  considered, 
and  in  course  of  a  short  discussion — in  which  the  feeling 
semed  to  prevail  that  chemists  generally  could  not  object 
to  regulations  of  some  kind  being  made  in  regard  to  the 
keeping  of  poisons— it  was  thought  advisable  to  oppose 
them  becoming  law  in  their  present  form,  until  such 
time  as  the  Government  should  see  fit  to  place  the  same 
restrictions  upon  surgeons  and  others  who  keep  open 
khop  for  the  dispensing  of  medicines.  A  member  stated 
ihat  he  thought  if  the  druggists  would  agree  to  the 


regulations  independent  of  the  surgeons  altogether,  the 
public  would  have  greater  confidence  in  going  to  the 
chemist  for  their  drugs  ;  but  the  idea  was  repudiated  by 
most  of  the  members,  on  the  ground  that  surgeons  who 
had  shops  never  allowed  their  prescriptions  to  be  dis¬ 
pensed  elsewhere  if  they  could  avoid  it ;  and  further, 
because  in  many  of  the  large  towns  in  Scotland  surgeons 
had  the  cream  of  the  drug  business  in  their  own  hands  ; 
in  Glasgow,  particularly  fully  two-thirds  of  the  drug 
retailers  being  medical  practitioners  who,  it  was  under¬ 
stood,  would  be  entirely  exempt  from  the  restrictions. 
The  President  and  Secretary  were  instructed  to  commu¬ 
nicate  with  some  of  the  other  associations,  to  ascertain 
what  action  was  being  taken  by  them  in  the  matter,  and 
also  to  write  to  the  medical  department  of  the  Privy 
Council,  explaining  the  position  in  which  the  Glasgow 
chemists  will  be  placed  in  the  event  of  the  regulations, 
as  at  present  proposed,  becoming  law.  The  discussion 
was  then  adjourned  till  next  meeting. 


|}rambrap  af  Stimtifit  Satieties. 

SOCIETY  OF  ARTS. 

On  Fermentation. 

BY  PROFESSOR  A.  W.  WILLIAMSON,  F.R.S. 

Lecture  IV. — continued. 

Amongst  the  processes  which  arc  detrimental  to  the 
quality  of  wine,  I  have  already  mentioned  the  excess  of 
air  having  access  to  it.  That  is  the  one  which  is  most 
known,  and  against  which  people  least  need  to  be  cau¬ 
tioned,  but  it  has  been  found  by  wine-growers  and  wine¬ 
makers,  especially  in  the  case  of  higher-class  wines,  like 
those  of  Burgundy  and  some  other  districts,  are  liable  to 
particular  maladies  which  produce  evils,  each  one  quite 
peculiar  and  different  from  the  others.  Amongst  these 
maladies,  the  first  and  simplest  of  all,  is  acetification,  or 
the  transformation  of  the  alcohol  into  acetic  acid.  That 
is  one  which  is  so  well  known  now,  and  so  well  under¬ 
stood,  that,  I  think,  wine-growers  are  well  able  to  guard 
against  it  with  tolerable  completeness.  By  the  use  of 
a  microscope,  these  little  acetic  cells  on  the  surface  of 
the  liquid  would  at  once  be  seen,  and  you  would  know, 
of  course,  that  there  would  then  be  a  tendency  in  the 
wine  to  pass  over  into  acetic  acid,  and  that,  unless  those 
cells  are  removed,  or  if  they  are  present,  unless  oxygen 
be  excluded, — because  the  presence  of  the  cells  does  not 
of  itself  make  the  wine  into  vinegar,  it  is  necessary 
that  they  should  be  present  with  a  continuous  supply 
of  air, — so  that  if  they  are  removed,  or  if  you  prevent  a 
supply  of  air,  that  malady  is  arrested  or  cured.  But 
there  is  another  malady  which  is  well  known,  and  fre¬ 
quently  spoken  of  amongst  wine-growers  as  the  “  turn¬ 
ing.”  of  wine.  It  is  a  process  which  is,  in  its  general 
features,  something  analogous  to  acetification,  but  che¬ 
mically  it  is  very  different.  When  the  wine  is  put  into 
casks,  it  begins  to  give  off  gas,  and  in  French  they  call 
it  la  pousse ;  it  pushes  out  the  ends  of  the  casks,  and, 
if  a  hole  were  made,  the  wine  would  be  ejected  with 
considerable  force.  M.  Pasteur  has  examined  not  only 
the  wine  itself  when  undergoing  this  process,  but  also 
the  deposit,  the  little  solid  particles  which  are  pre¬ 
sent  in  it,  and  he  has  found  two  things  which  are 
correlative  to  one  another, — in  the  first  place,  that 
there  is  always  present  in  wine  which  is  suffering 
from  this  malady  certain  little  films,  which  can  be  seen 
quite  distinctly  by  the  microscope,  and  which  are  dif¬ 
ferent  from  any  particles  found  under  any  other  con¬ 
ditions,  and  which  he  therefore  believes  to  be  little 
organic  bodies,  just  as  much  as  in  the  alcoholic  fer¬ 
ment  or  acetic  ferment,  and  he  calls  them  the  ferment 
of  the  turning  or  la  pousse.  That  is  one  fact  which  is 
established.  These  little  particles  are  compared  in  their 
structure  to  little  bamboos,  as  they  consist  of  little  straight 
joints  one  at  the  end  of  the  other,  the  length  being  con- 


590 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [January  21, 1871. 


siderably  greater  than  the  diameter  ;  they  are  not  little 
spherical  matters,  like  the  wine  ferment,  and  their  dia¬ 
meter  is  exceedingly  small,  being  about  the  one-thou¬ 
sandth  part  of  a  millimetre.  That  is  one  fact  which  M. 
Pasteur  has  established,  and  the  other  is  this,  that  while 
this  process  is  going  on,  lactic  acid  is  present ;  and  his 
explanation  of  the  malady  consists  in  attributing  it  to 
the  presence  of  this  particular  parasite  in  the  wine,  which 
is  transforming  the  materials  of  it  into  lactic  acid,  with 
no  doubt  some  other  product,  at  the  same  time.  Another 
malady  which  not  unfrequently  occurs  in  wine,  is  ropi¬ 
ness  ;  and  it  is  said  that  wine  suffering  acutely  from  this 
malady  might  almost  be  mistaken  for  oil,  when  poured 
from  one  vessel  to  another,  so  thickly  does  it  flow.  That 
peculiarity  is  attributed  solely  to  the  presence  in  it  of  a 
number  of  little  films  peculiar  to  it ;  but  they  are  very 
different  to  the  eye,  and  very  different  also  in  their  func¬ 
tions  from  the  films  which  constitute  the  active  agency 
of  the  process  I  have  just  mentioned,  that  of  turning. 
These  little  films  are  like  little  strings  of  beads,  little 
spherical  particles,  a  great  number  of  them  joined  end 
to  end.  The  particular  nature  of  the  transformation 
which  the  wine  undergoes  has  not  been  investigated, 
but,  as  far  as  M.  Pasteur’s  observations  go,  and  they  are 
very  numerous  and  accurate,  these  little  strings  of  beads 
are  really  active  agents  in  that  particular  transformation 
which  constitutes  ropiness,  and  which  destroys  wine ; 
for,  if  it  cannot  be  arrested,  the  wine  ceases  to  be  drink¬ 
able,  and  becomes  worthless.  The  fourth  malady,  which 
is  also  one  of  frequent  occurrence,  is  one  which  produces 
a  bitterness,  and  it  is  said  that  this  malady  is  one  to 
which  wine  is  subject  in  its  youth  and  also  in  its  old  age ; 
that  it  sometimes  occurs  when  wine  is  two  or  three  years 
old,  and  sometimes,  though  in  a  less  acute  form,  when  it 
is  very  old.  Here,  also,  a  particular  parasite  is  present, 
little  organized  particles,  which  have  been  minutely  de¬ 
scribed  and  depicted,  and  they  are  found  in  various  states, 
some  differing  very  much  from  the  others.  Some  pic¬ 
tures  of  the  parasites  which  constitute  the  bitter  ferment 
are  like  little  branches  with  a  number  of  little  knobs  or 
warts  upon  them,  and  some  of  them  are  clear  and  trans¬ 
parent,  whilst  others  are  coated  with  an  incrustation. 
M.  Pasteur,  however,  has  already  shown  that  the  little 
knobs  or  warts  upon  them,  and  the  incrustation  which 
frequently  occurs,  are  nothing  else  than  foreign  matter 
deposited  upon  them,  that  when  the  parasite  dies  it  is 
liable  to  be  encrusted,  but  that  in  a  pure  state  it  is  clear 
and  transparent.  This  parasite,  when  it  occurs  in  young 
wine,  renders  it  completely  worthless,  but  when  it  occurs 
in  old  wine,  it  only  gives  such  an  amount  of  bitterness 
as  is  not  fatal  to  the  wine,  and  is,  to  a  certain  extent, 
exceedingly  common,  so  that  it  is  considered  almost  a. 
natural  accompaniment  of  old  wine.  Amongst  the  re¬ 
medies  for  these  processes  is  sulphurous  acid,  which,  of 
course,  would  destroy  parasites  when  they  are  present. 
AV e  can  quite  understand  that  wine  which  has  got  germs 
of  these  little  organic  beings  present  in  it  is  liable  to  un¬ 
dergo  these  injurious  changes  if  the  germs  are  allowed 
to  develope  themselves,  but  that  it  would  be  free  from  all 
such  tendency  if,  by  any  poisonous  material,  the  little 
germs  or  organisms  were  destroyed.  We  can  also  un¬ 
derstand  that  any  mechanical  process  of  filtration,  or  of 
forming  in  the  liquid  a  gelatinous  mass  which  will  sub¬ 
side  and  carry  down  with  it  any  fine  particles  which  may 
be  present  in  suspension,  but  which  are  too  light  to  settle 
of  themselves,  would  effect  the  same  object;  and  it  is 
quite  •  intelligible,  that  if  Pasteur’s  view  is  correct,  that 
these  little  solid  particles  are  the  active  agents  of  those 
transformations,  the  processes  which  have  commonly 
been  in  use  for  preventing  the  detriment  of  wine  by  such 
changes  should  be  effectual ;  we  can  quite  see  why  they 
ought  and  indeed  must  be  effectual,  but,  at  the  same 
time,  we  cannot  help  seeing  that  they  would  be  very 
liable  to  be  incomplete.  Of  course,  it  is  a  matter  of 
chance  whether,  if  you  form  a  precipitate  in.  the  liquid, 
the  little  light  particles  would  all  happen  to  be  caught 


by  some  of  this  precipitate  when  going  down.  We 
should  expect  that  any  such  process  would  be  efficacious 
in  diminishing  the  evil,  but  not  in  arresting  it  com¬ 
pletely,  and  I  believe  that  is  exactly  what  is  found  by 

expeiiencc.  ( To  be  continued.) 


MEETINGS  FOR  TI1E  ENSUING  WEEK. 

Monday  . Medical  Society,  at  9  p.m. 

London  Institution,  at  4  p.m. — “  On  the  First 
Principles  of  Biology.”  By  Prof.  Huxley. 

Tuesday  . Loyal  Medical  and  Ghirurgical  Society,  at 

8.30  p.m. 

Wednesday... Society  of  Arts,  at  8  p.m. — “New  Paper¬ 
making  Materials  and  the  Pi'ogress  of  the 
Paper  Manufacture.”  By  P.  L.  Simmonds. 
London  Institution,  at  7  p.m. — Conversazione. 
“  On  Dust  and  Disease.”  By  Prof.  Tyndall. 

Thursday . Loyal  Society,  at  8.30  p.m. 

London  Institution,  at  7.30.  p.m. — “  On  the 
Action,  Nature,  and  Detection  of  Poisons.” 
By  F.  S.  Barff. 

London  Chemists’  Association,  at  9.30  p.m. — 
“Preservation  of  Vegetable  Substances.” 
By  E.  Beynon. 

Friday  . Loyal  Institution,  at  8  p.m. — Lecture  by 

Professor  Odling. 

QueJcett  Club,  at  8  p.m. 

Saturday . Loyal  Lotanic  Society,  at  3.45  p.m. 


farlramtntag  mri  fstto  f  roactags. 

A  Druggist  acting  as  an  Accoucheur. 

At  an  inquest,  held  on  Wednesday  last,  before  the 
Brighton  Borough  Coroner,  to  inquire  into  the  death  of 
a  young  woman  shortly  after  her  confinement,  evidence 
was  given  gravely  implicating  William  Henry  Funnell, 
a  chemist  and  druggist. 

The  deceased,  it  appeared,  had  made  an  arrangement 
with  Mr.  Funnell  to  attend  her  during  her  confinement, 
it  being  alleged  that  he  represented  to  her  that  he  had 
been  in  the  habit  of  attending  night  cases  and  cases  of 
emergency  for  Mr.  Tuke,  surgeon,  with  whom  he  formerly 
lived  as  dispenser.  When  the  time  came,  symptoms  of 
unusual  difficulty  set  in,  with  which  he  was  evidently 
quite  incompetent  to  cope.  After  the  lapse  of  some  time 
he  called  in  skilled  assistance,  and  the  delivery  was 
effected,  but  the  patient  died  half  an  hour  afterwards 
from  exhaustion. 

Medical  evidence  was  given  to  the  effect  that  although 
the  case  was  an  unusual  one,  it  was  one  that  a  skilled 
practitioner  would  have  recognized  and  treated  accord¬ 
ingly.  Mr.  Tuke  denied  that  Mr.  Funnell  was  justified 
in  saying  that  he  attended  his  night  cases.  He  said  that 
Mr.  Funnell  did  attend  several  labours  for  him,  in  cases  of 
emergency,  while  acting  as  his  dispenser,  but  he  inva¬ 
riably  saw  the  cases  afterwards  himself,  and  Mr.  Funnell 
always  referred  to  him  if  any  symptoms  appeared  which 
he  could  not  understand. 

The  jury  returned  a  verdict  that  the  deceased  had 
died  through  not  having  had  proper  medical  attendance 
until  too  late,  and  requested  the  coroner  to  censure  Mr. 
Funnell  for  his  conduct  in  the  matter. 

This  the  coroner  did,  telling  him  that  the  only  reason 
why  the  jury  refrained  from  sending  him  for  trial  on  a 
charge  of  manslaughter  was  that  the  case  was  an  unusual 
one,  and  that  he  had  devoted  a  great  deal  of  time  to  it. 
If  the  jury  had  been  a  severe,  instead  of  a  very  kindly 
and  lenient  one,  he  would  have  been  committed  for  trial 
on  the  criminal  charge,  and  thus  put  in  a  position  of  great 
peril.  —Brighton  Daily  News. 

Singular  Case  of  Poisoning  by  Arsenic. 

An  inquiry  has  just  taken  place  into  a  supposed  case 
of  poisoning  by  arsenic,  which  resulted  in  a  farmer 
named  Knowles,  living  at  Tipp’s  End,  Up  well,  near 
Wisbeach,  being  committed  for  trial  for  the  manslaughter 


January  31, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


597 


■of  the  child  of  a  labourer.  According  to  the  evidence, 
the  prisoner  had  prepared  a  little  more  than  a  peck  of 
-wheat  with  arsenic  for  sowing.  This  he  mixed  with 
two  bushels  of  clean  wheat  and  sent  the  whole  to  a  mill 
to  be  ground.  After  it  had  been  groimd  a  small  quan¬ 
tity  of  Knowles’s  grist  remained  in  the  mill  and  was 
mixed  with  other  grist.  The  result  was  that  several 
persons,  after  partaking  of  food  prepared  w-ith  this  flour 
wrere  seized  with  violent  pains  and  sickness ;  all,  with 
the  exception  of  the  child,  however,  recovering.  Arsenic 
was  discovered  in  the  stomach  of  deceased  and  in  some 
•of  the  food  that  remained.  Medical  evidence  showed 
that  the  child  was  suffering  from  bronchitis,  but  that  its 
death  was  accelerated  by  the  poison. — Daily  News. 


Uttoto. 

Year-Book  of  Pharmacy  and  Transactions  of 

the  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference,  1870. 

Churchill  and  Sons. 

The  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference  have  under¬ 
taken  a  very  useful  duty  in  the  compilation  of  this  work. 
At  the  present  time,  when  the  art  of  Pharmacy  is  every¬ 
where  making  such  rapid  strides,  it  is  more  than  ever 
necessary  that  the  English  pharmacist  should  be  fully 
acquainted  with  the  labours  of  his  fellows  both  at  home 
and  abroad.  But  the  whole  record  of  pharmaceutical 
progress  is  of  necessity  distributed  through  a  host  of 
periodicals,  issued  in  different  countries  and  printed  in 
■different  languages. 

To  compile  from  these  scattered  sources  an  annual 
report,  which  shall  include  in  one  volume  a  summary  of 
all  pharmaceutical  papers,  processes,  preparations  and 
formulae  published  throughout  the  world  during  each 
year,  is  the  task  which  the  Conference  has  undertaken  ; 
and  every  one  of  our  readers  will  at  once  recognize  its 
importance  and  value.  At  the  present  time  no  work  of 
the  kind  exists  in  this  country.  ‘  The  Year-Book  of 
Pharmacy,’  which  wras  started  some  five  or  six  years  ago, 
has  ceased  to  exist.  The  Conference  have  adopted  the 
title  and  general  scheme  of  that  publication,  but  with 
much  greater  chance  of  success ;  and  the  executive 
members  deserve  great  credit  for  the  judgment  and  zeal 
with  which  they  have  commenced  their  new  enterprise. 

The  present  volume  includes  nearly  six  hundred  octavo 
pages,  but  of  this  number  one-half  is  devoted  to  the  Pro¬ 
ceedings  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Conference  at  the  Liver¬ 
pool  meeting.  Of  this  portion  of  the  work  we  need  say 
little,  except  that  the  papers  contributed  to  that  meeting, 
which  are  here  printed  in  full,  display  a  large  amount 
of  scientific  ability  on  the  part  of  the  members,  and  con¬ 
stitute  a  most  important  addition  to  Pharmaceutical 
literature.  The  Year-Book  proper  contains  a  large  num¬ 
ber  of  excellent  abstracts  from  many  important  papers 
bearing  on  Pharmacy  which  have  been  published  either  at 
home  or  abroad  during  the  past  year.  While  the  advance¬ 
ment  in  the  science  of  Pharmacy  is  thus  recorded,  the 
practical  utility  of  the  volume  is  enhanced  by  numerous 
useful  formulae,  which  have  been  collected  from  various 
sources.  Every  one  wrill  regret  to  learn  that  the  delay 
which  has  occurred  in  the  publication  of  this  book  has 
been  due  to  the  serious  illness  of  its  talented  and  kindly 
•editor,  Mr.  J.  C.  Brough.  It  is,  no  doubt,  to  this  cause 
that  we  must  also  attribute  some  of  the  defects  which  are 
noticeable  in  the  v-ork.  The  arrangement  of  the  matter, 
especially  bears  evidence  of  great  haste,  and  is  certainly 
not  well  done.  The  first  section  deals  exclusively  writh 
American  Pharmacy  and  recipes.  The  second  section  is 
devoted  to  English  and  Continental  Pharmacy ;  yet  it 
includes  a  long  list  of  syrups  for  American  diinks  copied 
trom  an  American  Journal,  and  much  further  on  in  the 
book  many  very  characteristic  American  formula}  are  to 
be  found.  An  abstract,  entitled  “Turpentine  as  an  Anti¬ 
dote  to  Phosphorus,”  occurs  in  the  Materia  Medica  sec¬ 
tion  (pape  90)  ;  another,  headed  “  Poisoning  by  Phos¬ 


phorus, — Turpentine  the  Antidote,”  is  placed  among 
things  which  “  do  not  admit  of  classification,”  and  may 
be  found  at  page  283.  No  reference  is  made  from  one 
to  the  other,  and  even  in  the  Index  they  are  not  brought 
together.  It  is  unnecessary  to  quote  further  instances  of 
what  occurs  frequently  throughout  the  volume. 

The  present  work  brings  together  so  much  matter  of 
real  scientific  and  practical  value  in  a  convenient  com¬ 
pass,  that  it  wall  be  an  undoubted  acquisition  to  every 
pharmaceutical  library ;  nevertheless,  it  can  scarcely  be 
said,  that  the  full  programme  of  the  Conference  has  been 
realized.  We  shall  hope  to  see  succeeding  volumes 
present  a  still  more  perfect  record  of  English  and  foreign 
pharmacy.  Experience  wall  probably  lead  to  a  more 
judicious  selection  of  material.  Many  papers  relating 
strictly  to  Pharmaceutical  subjects  seem  to  have  been 
overlooked,  while  some  of  the  matter  included  wrould 
have  been  considerably  improved  by  curtailment.  A 
celebrated  author  has  compared  our  modern  periodical 
literature  to  an  inch  of  soap  beaten  into  a  hogshead  of 
lather.  It  should  be  the  business  of  a  Year-Book  to  pre¬ 
sent  the  soap  in  its  solid  form.  At  the  same  time, 
however,  that  we  candidly  criticize  what  we  conceive  to 
be  the  weak  points  of  the  present  volume,  we  cordially 
recognize  the  ability  which  has  been  displayed  in  an 
arduous  task,  and  wre  confidently  predict  a  useful  career 
for  the  Year-Book  of  Pharmacy. 


BOOK  RECEIVED. 

On  a  Localized  Outbreak  of  Typhoid  Fever  in 
Islington  during  the  Months  of  July  and  August,  1870, 
traced  to  the  use  of  Impure  Milk.  By  Edward  Ballard, 
M.D.  London  :  J.  and  A.  Churchill.  1870. 


CHARLES  GUSTAVUS  BISCHOF. 


This  wrell-laiow'n  German  chemist  and  geologist  died 
at  Bonn  on  the  30th  of  November.  He  was  born  near 
Nuremberg,  in  Bavaria,  on  the  18th  of  January,  1792, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  University  of  Erlangen, 
where  he  applied  himself  at  first  to  the  study  of  mathe¬ 
matics  and  astronomy,  but  subsequently  abandoning 
this  branch  of  science,  he  turned  his  attention  to  che¬ 
mistry,  becoming  one  of  the  most  distinguished  pupils  of 
Professor  Hildebrandt.  In  18 19  he  wais  appointed  Professor 
of  Chemistry  and  Technology  in  the  University  of  Bonn. 
An  enthusiastic  geologist,  Dr.  Bischof  sought  to  discover 
in  molecular  action  certain  geological  phenomena.  His 
most  important  works  are  ‘  Physico-Statistical  Descrip¬ 
tions  of  the  Fichtelgebirge  Mountain,’  published  in 
1817:  ‘  The  Mineral  Springs  of  Volcanic  Origin  in 
France  and  Germany,  and  the  Mineral  Springs  of  Rois- 
dorf,’  and  a  ‘  Treatise  on  the  Interior  Heat  of  the  Ter¬ 
restrial  Globe.’  The  latter  w-ork,  which  appeared  at 
Leipsic  in  1837,  was  “  crowned  ”  by  the  Scientific  Society 
of  Holland.  Dr.  Bischof  wras  a  constant  contributor  to 
various  scientific  journals.  His  memoir  on  the  ‘  Mode 
of  Preventing  Explosions  in  Coal  Mines,’  published  in 
1840,  gained  the  prize  of  the  Academy  of  Brussels.  Of 
his  other  works  the  best  known  are  ‘  Popular  Letters  to 
a  Lady  on  the  Natural  Sciences,’  2  vols.,  Pforzheim  and 
Bonn,  1840  and  1849;  and  ‘Elements  of  Chemical  and 
Physical  Geology,’  Bonn,  1847-50,  a  revised  edition  of 
which  was  published  in  English  by  the  Cavendish  So¬ 
ciety .—Times. _  _ 

The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  Jan.  14;  the  ‘Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
Jan.  14;  the  ‘Lancet,’  Jan.  14;  the  ‘Medical  Press  and  Cir¬ 
cular,’  Jan.  18  ;  ‘  Nature,’  Jan.  12 ;  the  ‘  Chemical  News,’  J  an. 
13;  ‘  Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  Jan.  12  ;  ‘Gardeners’ 
Chronicle,’  Jan.  14;  the  ‘Grocer,’  Jan.  14;  the  ‘English 
Mechanic,’  Jan.  13 ;  the  ‘  Chemist  and  Druggist  ’  for  January ; 
the ‘Doctor’  for  January;  the  ‘New  York  Druggists’  Cir¬ 
cular’  for  January;  the  ‘Brighton  Daily  News  ’  tor  Jan.  11. 


598 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [January  21, 1871. 


Dotes  ani)  <!j 


[129.] — TALCA  GUM  is  a  variety  of  acacia  gum.  It 
consists  of  the  siftings  left  from  the  finer  sorts. — J.  C. 


***  In  order  to  facilitate  reference,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  their  answers  in  each  case  with  the  title 
and  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

NOTICE. — To  prevent  delay ,  correspondents  are  re¬ 
quested  to  send  their  communications  to  the  Journal  Depart¬ 
ment,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  TV.C.,  and  not  to  the  Pub¬ 
lishers. 

[57.] — FLORIDA  WATER. — As  no  other  correspondent 
seems  to  have  furnished  “Nemo”  (Sudbury)  with  a  recipe 
for  preparing  Florida  water,  I  send  you  the  following  from  an 
American  source : — 

R.  01.  Lavandula?, 

01.  Bergamot, 

01.  Limonis,  of  each  2  drachms 
Tinctur®  Curcuma;, 

01.  Neroli,  each  1  drachm 
01.  Melliss®,  30  drops 
01.  Rosa;,  10  drops 

Alcohol,  2  pints.  Lector. 

[94]  and  [lll.]-YLANG  YLANG.— The  essence  of 
Ihlang-Ihlang  is  distilled  from  the  flowers  of  the  Unona  odo - 
ratissima,  a  large  tree  which  grows  in  the  Philippine  Islands, 
the  Straits  of  Malacca,  and  the  Indian  Archipelago.  Ihlang- 
Ihlang  (improperly  spelt  Ylang-Ylang  by  the  Spanish  resi¬ 
dents)  is  the  native  Tagal  name  this  tree  bears  in  the  Philip¬ 
pine  Islands.  The  Malays  call  it  ICanonga,  and  it  is  found 
described  under  that  name  in  the  works  of  Rumphius,  an 
eminent  botanist  of  the  seventeenth  century,  who  says  that 
the  smell  of  the  flowers  is  so  powerful  that  it  scents  the  air 
for  miles  around.  The  flowers  are  flosculent  and  drooping, 
and  of  a  greenish-yellow  colour.  They  were  first  distilled  by 
a  chemist  at  Manilla,  and  yielded  an  essence  of  an  exquisite 
odour,  somewhat  partaking  of  the  jasmin  and  lilac,  but  still 
having  a  flavour  sui  generis.  This  essence  is  now  largely 
manufactured,  and  used  by  the  leading  perfumers  either  pure 
or  in  compounds.  It  is  made  principally  at  Manilla  and 
Singapore.  The  former  is  the  finest,  and  costs  when  pure 
about  £2  per  ounce. — E.  Rimmel. 

[123.] — ARNICA  CERATE. — The  British  Homoeopathic 
Pharmacopoeia  gives  the  following : — 

Spermaceti,  3  oz. 

White  Wax,  6  oz. 

Olive  Oil,  14  fl.  oz. 

Add  1  drachm  of  medicated  tincture  to  every  9  drachms  of 
cerate  and  stir  briskly  until  cold. — T.  W.  Romans,  Wakefield, 
January  14  th,  1871. 

[125.]— SCIENTIFIC  LIBRARY".  —  “  Stranger  ”  will 
have  his  wants  supplied  by  the  Educational  Reading-room 
of  the  South  Kensington  Museum ;  open  on  Monday,  Tuesday 
and  Saturday  from  10  a.m.  till  10  p.m. — Delta. 

[128.]— AMANDINE. 

R.  01.  Amygdal.  Dulc.  Hiij 
Syrup.  Simplicis  3]j 
Sapon.  Mollis  Alb.  ^ss 
01.  Lavand.  Ang., 

„  Bergam.  Opt.,  ana  *ss 
_  ,  »  Caryoph.  3ij 

Rub  the  syrup  and  soap  together  in  a  perfectly  clean  mortar 
until  the  mixture  is  homogeneous.  Mix  the  perfume  with  the 
oil  and  add  very  gradually,  stirring  briskly  until  thoroughly 
incorporated. 


The  following  recipe  will  be  found  easier  to  make  and  much 
more  efficacious  for  the  purpose  intended : — 

R.  Mel.  Ang.  Opt.  £iv 
Ovi  Vitell.  No.  ij 
Pulv.  Iridis  ^iss 
01.  Amygdal.  Dulc.  oiv 
Otto  Rosae  gtt.  xij. 

Mix  the  first  three  ingredients  until  they  are  a  perfectly 
smooth  paste,  and  add  the  oil  (first  mixed  with  the  otto) 
slowly  until  the  whole  is  combined. — H.  A.  Williamson. 


[130.] — GERMAN  YEAST. — Place  ordinary  beer  yeast 
in  a  close  canvas  bag,  and  gently  and  gradually  squeeze  out 
the  moisture  in  a  screw-press  until  the  remaining  matter 
acquires  the  consistence  of  clay  or  soft  cheese.  In  this  stato 
it  must  be  preserved  in  close  vessels  or  wrapped  in  waxed 
cloths. — M.  N. 

[131.]— MOUTH  WASH. 

R.  Rad.  Krameri®, 

Gum.  Myrrh.  Opt.,  ana  51] 

Caryophylli  Olei  5i 
Sp.  Yini  Rect.  Oij 

Macerate  fourteen  days  and  filter. — H.  A.  Williamson. 

[133.]— CAMPHOR  CAKE. 

R.  Gum.  Camphor®  ^ss 

Cer®  Alb®, 

Cetacei,  ana  5j 
01.  Amygdal.  Dulc. 

Dissolve  the  camphor  in  the  oil  previously  warmed.  Melt 
the  wax  and  spermaceti  in  a  water-bath ;  stir  the  whole  to¬ 
gether  until  nearly  cold  and  pour  into  moulds. 

H.  A.  Williamson. 


In  answer  to  “  1 lusticus  ”  we  give  the  following  formula? 
from  the  New  York  Druggists’  Circular  for  the  present 
month : — 

(1.)  Take  of  Spermaceti, 

White  Wax  (pure),  each  2  oz. 

Almond  or  Olive  Oil,  ^pint. 

Melt  them  together  by  a  gentle  heat  and  add — • 

Camphor,  cut  small,  1  oz. 

Stir  the  mixture  until  it  is  dissolved  and  then  pour  it  into 
slightly-warmed  moulds,  which  may  be  ounce  gallipots  or 
egg-cups  with  smooth  bottoms.  Hemispherical  cakes  will 
thus  be  formed. 


(2.)  Take  of  Clarified  Suet,  1  lb. 

Spermaceti,  3  oz. 

White  Wax,  2  oz. 

Camphor,  1  oz. 

Stir  the  mixture  until  it  is  dissolved  and  pour  it  into  moulds- 
as  in  the  preceding. 

Whiteness  is  a  recommendation  to  camphor  balls,  therefore- 
;he  materials  used  should  be  as  free  from  colour  as  possible- 
They  may  be  perfumed  according  to  fancy. 


[137.]— HAIR  DYE.— I  should  be  glad  to  be  informed  of 
a  good  recipe  for  hair-dye,  or  if  some  one  will  say  what  is- 
used  instead  of  ammon.  hydrosulph.  as  application  No.  1- 
— H. 

[138.]— SYR.  FERRI  ET  CALCIS  SUPERPHOSPH- 
— Will  any  of  the  readers  of  the  Journal  oblige  me  with  the- 
formula  for  syr.  ferri  et  calcis  superphosph.  ? — Iodi. 

[*#*  See  Mr.  Gale’s  paper  on  the  “  Syrup  of  Superphos¬ 
phate  of  Iron,”  etc.,  Puaem.  Jotjbn.,  2nd  ser.  Yol.  I.  p.  497- 
— Ed.  Ph.  Journ.] 

[139.]— SP.  AMMONITE  AROMATICUS.— I  have  somc- 
sp.  ammon.,  B.  P.,  received  in  September  from  a  wholesale 
house  in  town,  two  Winchesters  of  which  were  not  touched: 
until  this  wTeek.  On  the  sides  of  each  are  deposited  some- 
very  pretty  crystals  about  the  size  of  oxalic  acid,  I  suppose 
owing  to  the  severe  cold.  I  shall  be  glad  to  hear  if  any  other 
of  your  readers  have  observed  the  same  in  their  sp.  amm.  ar- 
B.  P.,  and  if  it  is  reduced  in  strength  below  the  Pharma¬ 
copoeia  standard. — Iodi. 

[*#*  The  ci-ystals  were  probably  carbonate  of  ammonia, 
and  would  redissolve  on  shaking  and  rise  of  temperature. 
Ed.  Ph.  Journ.] 

[140.]— CHLORAL  H  YE  RATE  LOZENGES.— “  A 
Bookworm  ”  would  be  glad  to  receive  a  formula  for  making 
chloral  hydrate  lozenges. 

[141.]— SP.  CHLORAL  HYDRATE. — “  A  Bookworm 
also  asks  for  a  formula  for  sp.  chloral  hydrate. 


January  21, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


599 


***  A To  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Proposed  Regulations  for  Storing  of  Poisons. 

Sir, — The  all-absorbing  topic  with  chemists  appears  to  be 
the  storing  of  poisons,  and  many  of  your  correspondents  write 
with  some  warmth  upon  the  subject,  feeling  that  their  ar¬ 
rangements  are  being  unnecessarily  interfered  with.  Looking 
at  the  subject  from  all  sides,  I  think  the  difficulty  might  soon 
be  got  over.  No  doubt  those  that  are  in  a  smaller  way  of 
business  have  comparatively  as  much  convenience  for  storing 
as  those  who  keep  laudanum,  arsenic,  etc.,  in  large  quanti¬ 
ties.  The  subject  will  be  again  brought  forward,  and  tho¬ 
roughly  discussed  at  the  General  Meeting.  It  is  very  na¬ 
tural  that  a  superior  body  of  men  should  look  with  a  deal  of 
jealousy  at  being  forced  into  anything ;  but  it  must  not  be 
forgotten  that  the  Pharmaceutical  Council  are  under  an  obli¬ 
gation  to  the  Privy  Council,  consequent  on  the  passing  of  the 
recent  Pharmacy  Act,  to  make  some  arrangements  for  the 
safe  keeping  and  storing  of  poisons.  Not  that  they  think 
our  body  careless,  but  that  the  general  public  should  know, 
as  a  rule,  every  precaution  is  taken  to  prevent  accidental 
poisoning  or  otherwise.  The  Council  have  the  matter  left  to 
them  in  a  measure,  and  have  invited  opinions  and  discussion 
from  the  whole  body  of  chemists,  and  have  postponed  the 
subject  for  a  considerable  time.  I  think  it  would  be  a  great 
pity  if,  when  the  Privy  Council  call  upon  the  Pharmaceutical 
Council  for  their  plan,  they  had  to  say  that  the  chemists,  as  a 
body,  could  agree  to  no  plan.  It  then  might  be  taken  from  their 
hands  to  those  that  did  not  know  our  requirements  so  well, 
and  some  regulations  adopted  which  we  might  find  rather 
troublesome  of  application.  I  think  I  may  say,  during  my 
short  experience,  I  recognize  our  body  merging  into  a  more 
homogeneous  mass,  and  our  opinions  and  feelings  getting 
more  in  unison,  and  that  our  trade  prices  and  seemingly 
troublesome  poison  regulations  will  disappear  by  being  tho¬ 
roughly  discussed  and  ventilated. 

W.  Donaldson  Boon. 

King's  Dynn,  January  16th,  1871. 


Sir, — May  I  be  permitted  to  supplement  the  various  sug¬ 
gestions  for  distinguishing  poisonous  articles  by  adding 
another?  viz.,  that  such  things  should  be  put  into  bottles 
rendered  opaque,  and  that  the  labels  should  be  hidden  from 
view  by  a  covering  which  must  be  lifted  to  enable  the  seeker 
to  find  the  article ;  thus  he  would  be  compelled  to  read  the 
label  before  using  the  substance,  and  a  mistake  would,  under 
such  circumstances,  be  highly  blameable.  All  drawers,  casks, 
boxes  and  parcels  may  be  easily  included  in  this  system. 

January  14  th,  1871.  Rus. 


Sir, — In  speaking  of  the  above,  I  think  some  little  regard 
•ought,  to  be  paid  to  the  feelings  of  others.  In  M.  P.  S.’s 
letter  in  your  Journal  of  the  14th  he  is  (I  should  hope)  un¬ 
thinkingly  stirring  up  old  grievances,  which  must  indeed  be 
most  painful,  both  to  Messrs.  Oldham  and  the  unfortunate 
"“assistant”  (in  Mr.  Guinness’s  case).  Surely  they  have  both 
suffered  enough  from  their  own  feelings,  without  being  again 
.reminded  of  their  misfortune  through  the  medium  of  the  only 
.paper  that  has  a  circulation  amongst  nearly  all  the  chemists 
in  Great  Britain  and  many  abroad.  Remarks  might,  I 
think,  have  been  made  just  as  striking  without  speaking  of 
.past  and  nearly  forgotten  misfortunes. 

I  am  in  no  way  connected  with  “  Messrs.  Oldham  ”  or  the 
“assistant,”  but  have  a  little  feeling  for  them.  31.  P.  S. 
also  remarks  that  “apprentices”  and  “porters”  are,  as  a 
rule,  uneducated.  Now  I  think  most  of  your  readers  will 
agree  with  me  that  the  former  are,  as  a  rule,  well  educated, 
and  the  latter  are,  in  many  instances,  better  up  in  chemistry 
than  many  of  those  who  are  in  a  better  position  in  the  trade 
(this  I  know. from  experience),  therefore  they  are  competent 
•to  handle  poisons.  Fair  Play. 

Brighton,  January  Vjth,  1870. 


Pharmaceutical  Ethics. 

Sir,' — I  have  read  with  much  satisfaction  your  leading 
article  of  last  Saturday  on  “  Dispensing  Charges  and  Al¬ 
liances,”  and  with  your  permission  I  will  briefly  express  my 
views  on  the  two  matters  therein  discussed. 

1st.  Dispensing  Charges. — That  the  average  charge  for 
dispensing  is.  too  low,  I  confidently  assert,  when  we  consider 
the  pre-requisite  education  of  a  qualified  dispenser,  to  which 
must  be  added  the  care,  responsibility  and  the  inevitable 
anxiety  involved  in  our  calling. 

F urther,  there  has,  under  the  strain  of  competition,  been  a 
growing  tendency  during  the  last  few  years  to  reduce  still 
lower  these  charges. 

Unhappily,  there  are  men'kimongst  us  possessing  not  an 
atom  of  that  esprit  de  corps  so  essential  to  maintain  and  ad¬ 
vance  the  respectability  of  pharmacy;  willing  to  transact 
business  on  any  terms,  and  sell  at  any  prices,  so  long  as  the 
barest  modicum  of  profits  has  been  secured.  The  right  course 
for  wiser  and  better  men  to  adopt  towards  such  is  simply  to 
ignore  them,  but,  unfortunately,  the  necessary  courage  so 
to  do  does  not  always  exist, — the  result  is  a  depreciation  of 
prices  all  round. 

The  plan  I  would  advise  my  brother  pharmaceutists  to 
pursue  is  simply  to  fix  their  own  scale  of  charges  at  what 
they  deem  an  honourable  range,  and  steadily  hold _  thereto, 
through  evil  and  through  good  report. 

I  am  convinced  that  any  attempt  to  bind  by  any  local  re¬ 
strictive  regulations  the  black  sheep  amongst  us  would  be 
utterly  useless.  I  would,  however,  suggest  the  possibility  of 
a  modified  course  of  action  being  feasible,  namely,  that  the 
pharmaceutists  of  any  city  or  town  anxious  to  advance  the 
status  of  their  business  might  most  advantageously  meet  now 
and  then  for  conference  on  trade  questions,  and  thus  agree  to 
adopt,  as  far  as  practicable,  a  uniform  standard  of  prices. 

Even  here  some  degree  of  latitude  must  be  accorded  to  the 
varying  circumstances  of  different  localities.  An  East  End 
chemist  may  be  actuated  by  as  pure  and  laudable  principles  as 
his  West  End  brother,  and  yet  find  Belgravian  prices  will 
not  acclimatize  amongst  his  supporters;  the  parallel  holds 
true  in  many  a  large  provincial  towrn. 

The  true  solution  of  this  difficulty  is  the  oue  indicated  in 
your  article, — a  higher  but  elastic  scale  of  charges. 

2nd.  Alliances. — Whilst  the  former  question  affects  two 
parties — the  general  public  and  ourselves,  this  affects  also  the 
medical  profession. 

These  alliances  may  be  broadly  divided  into  two  classes ; 
the  one  demands  and  deserves  unmitigated  condemnation ;  I 
refer  to  the  arrangement  between  a  medical  man  and  a  par¬ 
ticular  chemist,  by  which,  for  a  consideration,  the  prescrip¬ 
tions  of  the  former  invariably  find  their  way  to  the  establish¬ 
ment  of  the  latter. 

With  regard  to  dispensing  for  medical  men,  the  course  of 
action  is  not  so  clearly  defined,  although  I  heartily  accept  the 
gist  of  your  remarks. 

Nothing  can  be  more  heart-breaking  than  the  scale  of  re¬ 
muneration  (?)  for  dispensing  between  some  chemists  and 
their  professional  patrons,  and  where  this  work  has  been  done 
by  a  competently  trained  and  adequately  paid  staff,  that  it  is 
unremunerative  labour  there  can  be  no  doubt. 

Why,  Sir,  I  have  known  a  man  as  worthy  and  assiduous 
in  his  business  as  any  man  I  ever  knew,  giving  a  surgeon 
credit  for  a  four  years’  dispensing  at  a  scale  of  charges  that 
completely  reversed  the  conditions  of  obligation,  and  yet  such 
were  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  whilst  wanting  the  money 
he  was  afraid  to  ask  for  it. 

A  clearer  mutual  recognition  of  the  ground  respectively 
occupied  by  the  profession  and  pharmaceutists  would  lead  to 
a  better  understanding  of  each  other.  The  former  should  be 
paid  for  professional  service  only,  the  latter  for  physic. 

If  medical  men  really  desire  to  see  pharmacy  advance  its 
status  without  encroaching  on  professional  ground,  such  a 
line  of  action  would  greatly  facilitate  it. 

Hoping  this  expression  of  opinion  may  tend  to  elicit  fuller 
discussion  of  such  vital  questions. 

Salisbury,  Jan.  llUi,  1871.  S.  R.  Atkins. 

Sir, — I  have  read  with  considerable  interest  the  article  in 
last  week’s  Journal  on  “Dispensing  Charges  and  Alliances,” 
and  quite  agree  with  you  that  perfect  uniformity  of  prices  for 
dispensing  is  neither  practicable  nor  desirable. 

On  the  second  point  referred  to,  viz.  “  Alliances,”  I  will, 
with  your  permission,  offer  a  few  remarks ;  and,  as  I  have 


GOO 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[January  21, 1871. 


done  a  considerable  amount  of  contract  dispensing,  perhaps  I 
cannot  do  better  than  give  a  little  of  my  own  experience. 

Some  years  ago,  I  entered  into  an  engagement  with  a 
medical  firm  to  do  their  dispensing,  which  still  continues, 
and  I  am  not  aware  that  I  am  taking  any  undue  advantage 
of  my  brethren ;  I  am  on  friendly  terms  with  all  of  them  that 
are  likely  to  be  affected  by  it.  I  have  reason  to  believe  that 
if  I  were  to  discontinue  the  contract,  two  or  three  of  my  im¬ 
mediate  neighbours  would  be  willing  to  take  it.  But  sup¬ 
posing  none  of  us  would  have  it,  -would  the  dispensing  fall 
to  us  in  the  regular  way  of  prescriptions  ?  No ;  the  firm 
would  at  once  do  as  they  did  formerly,  employ  a  dispenser 
in  their  own  surgery, — although  they  assure  me  they  would 
only  be  too  glad  to  give  up  dispensing  altogether.  But  the 
custom  of  the  town  would  not  admit  of  it.  They  believe,  and 
so  do  I,  that  my  supplying  the  medicines  instead  of  them 
is  a  step  in  the  right,  and  not  in  the  wrong,  direction.  It 
familiarizes  the  public  with  the  practice,  and  induces  the  be¬ 
lief  that  the  chemist,  and  not  the  medical  man,  is  the  proper 
person  to  apply  to  for  medicines.  I  find  that  through  such 
arrangements  we  often  get  opportunity  of  dispensing  on  our 
own  account,  which  would  not  fall  to  us  if  the  prescribers 
sent  the  medicines  from  their  own  surgeries.  Eor  instance, 
the  patients  will  frequently  say,  “  So-and-so  is  not  my  che¬ 
mist;  can't  I  get  my  medicines  elsewhere?”  and  the  reply 
is,  “  Certainly  you  can,”  and  a  prescription  is  at  once  given, 
which,  of  course,  the  patients  have  to  pay  for  in  the  regular 
way.  Altogether,  from  one  cause  or  other,  I  feel  sure  that  a 
very  large  number  of  prescriptions  are  given  to  the  patients 
to  get  prepared  where  they  may  think  proper,  that  "would  not 
be  given  them  at  all  if  the  medicines  were  sent  out  by  the 
doctors  themselves. 

I  have  recently  had  an  interview  with  a  chemist  in  a  neigh¬ 
bouring  town, — a  gentleman  who  occupies  a  high  position  in 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society, — in  reference  to  contract  dispen¬ 
sing.  I  have  given  him  a  full  account  of  the  whole  matter  as 
far  as  concerns  myself ;  and  he  is  of  opinion  that  such 
alliances  are  desirable  in  the  interests  of  pharmacy,  as  at  pre¬ 
sent  constituted  in  this  country. 

Of  course,  we  all  know  that  it  would  be  better  to  have  the 
supply  of  medicines  entirely  in  our  own  hands  ;  at  the  same 
time,  we  are  equally  certain  that  at  present  we  cannot  have 
it  so.  E.  E. 


Spiritus  Chloralis. 

Sir, — In  a  paper  read  before  the  Liverpool  Chemists’  Asso¬ 
ciation  by  Mr.  A.  H.  Mason,  and  reported  in  your  last  num¬ 
ber,  occurs  the  following  passage,  which  may  lead  to  erroneous 
conclusions : — 

“  Spiritus  chloralis  is  made  by  Savory  and  Moore.  It  has 
a  very  agreeable  taste  and  smeli,  but  I  was  not  able  to  obtain 
any  deposit  upon  evaporating  a  little.” 

A  deduction  likely  to  be  drawn  from  this  would  be  that 
the  spiritus  chloralis  does  not  contain  the  pure  German  hy¬ 
drate,  which  it  does  in  the  proportion  of  ten  grains  in  the 
fluid  drachm. 

We  know  chloral  hydrate  easily  crystallizes  from  some 
simple  menstruums,  such  as  spirit  or  water,  but  our  prepara¬ 
tion,  as  we  state  on  the  label,  is  a  compound  spirit,  and  the 
presence  of  volatile  oils,  glycerine,  etc.,  in  it  prevents  the 
crystallization  of  the  chloral. 

If  the  alkaline  tests  are  applied  to  the  spiritus  chloralis,  the 
chloroform  will  be  seen  forming  and  settling  in  a  layer  at  the 
bottom,  and  if  the  alcohol  present  be  estimated  for  what  is 
dissolved  again,  or  the  alcohol  carefully  driven  off  at  a  very 
low  temperature,  the  chloral  may  be  estimated  as  chloroform. 

Savory  and  Moore. 

143,  Neiv  Bond  Street ,  Jan.  7th,  1871. 

[***  We  can  only  suppose  the  deduction  feared  by  our  cor¬ 
respondents  to  be  possible  in  the  case  of  persons  ignorant  of 
the  fact  that  chloral  hydrate  is  volatile  below  the  boiling- 
point  of  water.  We  may  state,  however,  that  the  sample  of 
their  spiritus  chloralis  sent  here  evidently  contained  a  consi¬ 
derable  amount  of  chloral,  and  on  treatment  with  alkalies  it 
yielded  a  quantity  of  chloroform  corresponding  with  the  spe¬ 
cified  strength  of  the  preparation. — Ed.  Ph.  Jouen.] 


The  Payment  of  Assistants. 

Sir, — I  have  watched  with  deep  interest  the  controversies 
carried  on  by  our  different  pharmaceutical  brethren  upon  the 
questions  of  obscure  prescriptions,  druggists’  charges,  the  stor¬ 
ing  and  keeping  of  poisons,  and  a  multitude  of  other  items,  but 
there  is  one  which  has  failed  to  attract  attention.  I  am  sure 
I  speak  the  minds  of  my  fellow-assistants  when  I  say  that  our 
average  salaries  are  less  than  those  of  any  other  class  of  assist¬ 
ants,  without  taking  into  consideration  our  extra  outlay  for 
study,  books,  etc.  According  to  the  present  requirements  of 
our  Society,  it  would  be  vain  for  any  one  who  wished  to  revel 
in  the  mysteries  of  our  profession  to  make  the  attempt  unless 
he  could  command  at  least  £100  for  premium,  and  he  must 
also  allot  a  similar  sum  for  books,  studies,  clothes,  etc.  When 
he  has  terminated  this  monotonous  stage  of  his  life,  and 
passed  his  examination,  he  rests  with  the  comfortable  assur¬ 
ance  that  his  title  will  now  secure  to  him  a  fair  remunera¬ 
tion;  but  he  finds  that,  while  Pharmaceutical  Chemists 
would  undoubtedly  prefer  his  services,  they  cannot  see  their 
way  clear  to  give  more  than  £40  and  a  free  kit,  as  there 
are  unqualified  assistants  that  suit  them  equally  well.  He 
then  sees  his  folly  in  wasting  money  which  in  many  in¬ 
stances  would  give  him  a  fair  start  in  life.  In  support  of  my 
argument,  and  by  way  of  conclusion,  I  may  mention  that  I 
had  occasion  to  visit  one  of  our  wealthy  midland  towns  some 
twelve  months  ago.  During  my  conversation  with  a  friend 
of  mine,  it  transpired  that  a  Mr.  I.  required  an  assistant. 
Being  at  the  time  disengaged,  I  ventured  to  call  upon  him ; 
and,  after  several  questions  having  passed  between  us,  as  is 
customary,  he  asked  me  what  salary  I  should  require.  I  told 
him  that  my  last  stipend  was  £30,  and  that  I  did  not  care 
to  engage  under  that  sum  (being  then  twenty-four  years  of 
age).  He  seemed  completely  bewildered,  and,  after  duly  star¬ 
ing  me  in  the  face,  exclaimed,  “  What,  £30 !  Then  you  must 
have  had  some  considerable  experience.”  As  I  did  not  care 
to  engage  for  much  less,  and  as  these  terms  did  not  seem  at 
all  compatible,  I  retraced  my  steps,  quite  shocked,  I  can  assure 
you.  I  omitted  to  mention  that  the  gentleman  in  question 
was  a  member  by  examination,  as  set  forth  by  divers  di¬ 
plomas  exhibited  in  the  windows. 

Jamiary  7th,  1871.  Euissem. 


A  Suggestion. 

Sir, — I  shall  feel  obliged  by  your  kindly  allowing  me, 
through  the  medium  of  your  Journal,  to  suggest  that  whole¬ 
sale  druggists  should  not  supply  citrate  of  magnesia,  glycerine, 
cochia  pills,  “  et  hoe  genus  omne,”  to  any  but  those  who  are 
duly  registered  as  chemists. 

A  brisk  trade  in  these  articles  is  carried  on  bv  hucksters  in 
every  village,  to  the  injury  of  the  legitimate  chemist.  They 
manage  things  better  in  France,  where  the  pharmacien  holds 
his  proper  position  as  determined  by  law. 

D.  Carroll,  LL.B.,  Registered  Chemist  (Exam.). 

Cerne  Alias. 


JR.  G.  (Slough). — We  believe  it  is  the  custom  in  such  cases 
to  use  the  sp.  chloroformi,  B.  P. 

It.  J.  S. — We  are  unable  to  furnish  you  with  the  address 
applied  for. 

W.  C.  Tryon  (Portsea). — The  black  colour  is  the  result  of  a 
decomposition,  of  which  an  explanation  will  be  found  in  any 
elementary  work  on  chemistry. 

S.  Dean  and  G.  31. — It  may  easily  be  obtained  from  any 
new  or  second-hand  bookseller. 

“  Xenophon  ”  has  omitted  to  furnish  his  name. 

W.  G.  (Wimborne). — Bentley’s  ‘Manual  of  Botany’ 
(Churchills)  and  Henfrey’s  ‘  Elementary  Course  of  Botany  ’ 
(Van  Yoorst). 

*%*  In  answer  to  several  correspondents,  we  are  able  to 
announce  that  arrangements  have  been  made  for  the  issue  of 
reading- cases,  in  sizes  suited  for  holding  three  months’  and 
six  months’  numbers  of  the  Pharmaceutical"' Journal. 
Particulars  will  be  announced  next  week. 


Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  W.  W.  Stoddart  (Bristol),  Mr.  W.  D.  Boon  (Lynn),  Mr. 
H.  A.  Williamson  (Scarborough),  Mr.  P.  L.  Simmonds,  Soda- 
water,”  “  Justitia,”  R.  J.  S.  (Alfreton),  M.  S.  P.  (Swindon), 
G.  M. 


January  28,  1371. ] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


G01 


BRISTOL  PHARMACOLOGY. 

BY  W.  W.  STODDART,  F.C.S.,  F.G.S. 

( Continued  from  page  483.) 
PHANEROGAM!  A. 

Class  I.  Dicotyledones. — Subclass  I.  Thalami- 

FLOR.E. 

Nat.  Orel.  Ranunculacile. 

Only  two  plants  of  this  Order  are  named  in  tlie 
British  Pharmacopoeia,  viz.  Podophyllum  and  Aconi- 
tum,  the  latter  being  the  only  British  plant,  and 
therefore  admissible  in  the  present  paper.  In  former 
times  many  more  were  made  officinal,  as  Ranunculus, 
Delphinium,  and  Ilelleborus. 

Aconitum  Napdhis  (Linn.) 

This  beautiful  but  deadly  plant,  although  originally 
an  escape  from  the  gardens,  is  in  many  places  seen 
to  grow  thoroughly  wild  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Bristol.  It  may  be  gathered  at  Ashton,  in  the  Leigh 
Woods,  at  Dundry,  and  at  Sliireliampton.  Near  the 
yillage  of  Stapleton  is  Frome  Glen,  a  lonely  and  pic¬ 
turesque  spot,  where  the  river  cuts  its  wray  through 
the  new  red  sandstone  and  furnishes  a  luxuriant 
habitat  for  a  long  list  of  plants.  The  banks  in  many 
parts  of  the  glen  are  completely  hidden  by  Ferns  and 
Mosses. 

The  rare  Asplenium  lanceolatum  hangs  from  the 
rocky  beds  with  its  elegant  fronds  and  scaly  racliis. 
The  Lcistrea  dilatata  grows  to  a  very  large  size,  a 
giant  among  its  sisters  Cystopteris,  Polypodium,  As- 
pidium,  Athyrium  and  Ophioglossum.  In  one  part 
of  the  river  the  bank  for  twenty  or  thirty  yards,  and 
eight  or  ten  feet  high,  is  literally  covered  by  tresses 
of  FontinaUs  antipyretica,  a  Moss  with  stems  fre¬ 
quently  two  feet  in  length. 

A  small  wood  near  this  spot  is  a  favorite  resort  of 
the  author,  and  many  delightful  early  mornings  have 
been  spent  in  it  among  the  Anemone  and  Hyacinth, 
the  stately  Alder,  and  the  pretty  little  Chrysosple- 
nium.  In  their  midst  may  be  gathered  the  Aconite, 
growing  luxuriantly,  and  often  nearly  a  yard  in 
height.  Its  dark  green,  deepfy  cut  leaves  show  off 
the  curious  dark  purple  flowers.  The  petals  are 
small  and  concealed  within  the  calyx,  which  in  this 
plant  is  the  most  conspicuous  part  of  the  flowrer. 
The  upper  sepal  is  much  longer  than  the  other, 
and  shaped  like  a  helmet,  affording,  as  it  were,  a 
protection  from  the  rain.  This  singularly-shaped 
sepal  gives  lise  to  its  English  name  Monkshood,  from 
a  fancied  resemblance  to  the  hood  of  a  monk’s  cowl. 
Indeed,  the  plant  has  had  all  kinds  of  epithets  given 
to  it,  as  helmet  flower,  wolf’s  bane,  friar’s  cap,  storm 
hat,  and  blue  rocket. 

Every  part  of  the  plant  is  probably  poisonous  to 
all  annuals,  although  Linnaeus  said  that  horses  may 
eat  the  dried  herb  with  impunity.  In  the  B.  P.  the 
leaves  are  used  for  making  extract,  while  the  roots 
are  used  for  the  preparation  of  the  tincture,  liniment, 
and  the  fearful  alkaloid  aconitin. 

Being  a  native  of  Italy  and  Greece,  the  virulent 
properties  of  the  aconite  were  well  known  to  the  an¬ 
cients.  Theophrastus  was  the  first  to  mention  the 
word  aconite  (Hist.  Plant,  vol.  ix.  p.  16),  but  his  de¬ 
scription  does  not  agree  well  with  that  of  Aconitum 
fW ipcllus ,  and  it  may  therefore  be  a  matter  of  doubt 
whether  he  alludes  to  the  same  plant. 

Third  Series,  No.  31. 


Dioscorides  and  Ovid  often  mention  aconite  as  a 
well-known  poison.  The  latter  in  his  description  of 
the  supposed  Iron  age,  tells  of  its  use  in  ridding  a 
family  of  a  troublesome  relative. 

“  Lurida  terribiles  miscent  aconita  novercse.” 

At  the  present  day  its  administration  is  regarded 
with  the  greatest  caution  and  infinitesimal  dose. 

The  poisonous  alkaloid  aconitin  is  found  in  all 
parts  of  the  plant,  leaves,  roots  and  seeds. 

The  roots  are  tapering  and  resemble  those  of  many 
other  vegetables ;  indeed,  the  specific  name  Napellus 
is  derived  from  the  similarity  of  the  root  to  that  of 
the  wild  turnip  (Napus). 

Aconitin  (C30  H47  N  07)  exists  in  combination  with 
aconitic  acid  (06H60G).  This  acid  is  remarkable  as 
being  produced  from  citric  acid  when  distilled  at  a 
high  temperature  ;  water,  acetone  and  carbonic  oxide 
are  given  off,  and  aconitic  acid  left. 

C6H307  -  H20  =  C6H606 

Citric  acid.  Aconitic  acid. 

The  B.  P.  process  for  the  extraction  of  aconitin  is 
similar  to  that  of  Dr.  Headland  or  that  of  M.  Stas. 
The  alkaloid  is  first  precipitated  by  an  alkali,  and 
afterwards  dissolved  out  by  ether.  The  student  may 
easily  prepare  it  for  himself.  To  get  a  profitable  re¬ 
sult,  it  ought  to  be  remembered  that  the  smallest 
proportion  of  water  must  be  employed  before  the  ad¬ 
dition  of  the  ether,  or  the  result  will  be  materially 
affected,  and  lessened. 

Mr.  Morson  also  extracted  another  alkaloid  from 
aconite,  which  he  named  napellin.  The  period  wdien 
the  roots  contain  the  largest  proportion  of  aconitin  is 
when  after  flow'ering  the  leaves  have  just  died  off. 

Analyses  of  the  roots  gathered  at  Frome  Glen 
gave  the  following  results,  with  the  ether  process  : — 

1  lb.  av.  of  fresh  root  before  flowering  yielded  3T1  gr. 
1  lb.  av.  „  after  „  „  7-97  „ 

1  lb.  av.  dried  root  bought  in  London  „  3P98  „ 

The  alkaloid  thus  produced  when  quite  dry  and 
powdered  had  a  slightly  brown  colour,  and  possessed 
all  the  well-known  qualities  of  aconitin  mentioned  in 
the  B.  P. 

Nitric  acid  dissolved  it  without  change  of  colour. 
Oxide  of  chromium  was  formed  by  the  addition  of 
sulphuric  acid  and  bichromate  of  potassium.  It  was 
precipitated  by  tannic  acid,  terchloricle  of  gold  and 
iodine. 

The  difference  between  samples  of  aconitin  is 
something  inexplicable,  except  on  the  ground  of 
adulteration.  Delpliinin  and  chalk  have  been  men¬ 
tioned  as  adulterating  agents. 

Aconitin  is  so  deadly  a  poison,  that  Dr.  Pereira 
was  accustomed  to  say  it  could  not  be  administered 
with  safety,  and  that  in  one  case  an  old  lady  was 
nearly  killed  by  one-fiftieth  of  a  grain.  Dr.  G.  Bird 
mentions  an  instance  in  which  a  gentleman  swal¬ 
lowed  two  grains  and  a  half ; — a  sample  of  the  extent 
to  which  adulteration  has  been  carried. 

Two  well-authenticated  cases  of  poisoning  have 
occurred  hi  Bristol.  One  at  a  convent,  where  an  in¬ 
mate  had  given  to  her,  by  mistake,  forty  minims  of 
Fleming’s  tincture.  Death  ensued  about  four  hours 
afterwards. 

In  the  other  case,  a  gentleman  who  had  aconite- 
root  used  with  roast  beef  instead  of  horse-radish.  Mr. 
Herapatli,  who  was  the  chemist  employed  in  the 


602 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [January  28,  1871. 


investigation,  calculated  that  one -twentieth  of  a 
grain  of  pure  aconitin  had  been  swallowed. 

The  proportion  of  aconitin  in  the  leaves  is  very 
variable,  so  that  the  extractum  aconiti  must  he  also 
uncertain  and  not  be  depended  on. 

When  making  the  extract,  beautiful  little  octa¬ 
hedral  crystals  are  often  seen ;  these  are  aconitate 
of  calcium. 

Nat.  Ord.  Papaveeaceje. 

The  plants  in  this  well-known  Order  are  all  her¬ 
baceous,  and  exude  a  milky  juice  having  strong  nar¬ 
cotic  properties.  One  genus,  Chelidonium,  contain¬ 
ing  an  alkaloid  clielidonia,  is  not  officinal,  although 
Dr.  Williams  recommended  its  use,  Its  yellow  juice 
is  a  popular  remedy  in  the  country  for  warts  and 
corns.  In  the  B.  P.  only  two  species  of  Papaveracea 
are  named,  both  of  which  occur  plentifully  in  the 
environs  of  Bristol. 

Papaver  somniferum  (Linn.). 

This  plant  is  a  native  of  Southern  Europe  and  the 
shores  of  the  Levant,  hut  was  probably  introduced 
into  England  as  a  garden  flower.  Through  the 
agency  of  birds  and  wind,  the  seeds  have  been 
scattered  till,  in  a  few  places,  the  poppy  may  he 
considered  as  wild. 

The  only  locality  near  Bristol,  where  Papaver 
somniferum  can  he  said  to  grow  in  a  wild  state,  is  on 
the  sandy  shore  of  the  Severn,  near  Westbury  and 
Aust,  upon  the  limestone  beds  of  lias.  The  poppy 
likes  a  calcareous  soil ;  the  ashes  of  the  seeds  con¬ 
tain  an  unusual  amount  of  lime,  often  nearly  35  per 
cent.  Here,  however,  the  plants  do  not  attain  a  very 
large  size,  the  capsules  rarely  exceeding  the  size  of 
a  walnut,  the  whole  plant  reaching  the  height  of  12 
or  14  inches.  The  flowers  are  handsome,  usually 
white,  with  blue  or  purple  veins.  The  leaves  are 
glabrous  and  their  peculiar  bluish- green  colour  at 
once  arrests  the  attention  of  the  botanist. 

The  Poppy  has  been  known  as  a  narcotic  from  a 
very  early  period.  Homer,  who  lived  about  nine 
hundred  years  before  Christ,  speaks  of  the  poppy  as 
a  favourite  garden  plant,  II.  viii.  306  : — 

MrjKOiu  S’  u)s  erepoxre  uapi]  fid\ev,  ??  t"  ivl  KTjTrcp 
Kapivw  fipiOopLewt]. 

Virgil  was  evidently  familiar  with  its  appearance, 
when  he  says  (iEn.  ix.  430)  : — 

“  Lassove  papavera  collo, 

Demiscre  caput,  pluvia  cum  forte  gravantur.” 

Poppy  juice  (prjKwviov)  was  the  subject  of  a  dis¬ 
pute  between  Diagoras  and  Hippocrates  ;  the  former 
condemning  its  use,  while  the  latter  extolled  it. 

The  seeds  of  the  poppy  are  used  in  Eastern  countries 
by  the  confectioners  and  for  sprinkling  over  cakes. 
They  are  very  oily,  and,  when  burnt,  give  off  a  dis¬ 
agreeable  odour  of  fried  bacon. 

Horace  in  his  £  Art  of  Poetry,’  speaks  of  a  distaste¬ 
ful  flavour  given  to  honey  by  the  addition  of  poppies 
or  more  probably  poppy-seeds  : — 

“  Sarclo  cum  mclle  papaver  offendunt.” 

The  seeds  contain  40  per  cent,  of  a  pale  sweet  oil. 
The  cake  remaining  after  pressure  is  highly  nutri¬ 
tious  as  a  cattle-food,  containing  7  per  cent,  of  ni¬ 
trogen  and  6*3  per  cent,  of  phosphates  of  calcium  and 


potassium.  The  black  variety  is  sold  under  the 
name  of  maw  seed,  and  used  as  a  medicine  for  cana¬ 
ries.  They  are  favourite  objects  for  the  binocular 
microscope,  the  surface  being  covered  with  hexagonal 
reticulations. 

Poppy  oil  is  often  used  for  the  adulteration  of 
olive  oil,  and  may  be  detected  by  the  “  beading  ” 
which  appears  when  the  oil  is  shaken,  or  still  better 
by  a  solution  of  nitrate  of  mercury.  The  specific 
gravity  of  poppy  oil  is  '024,  while  that  of  olive  oil  is 
•910. 

The  soluble  matter  or  juice  of  the  poppy  is  the 
most  valuable  agent.  In  China  and  Turkey  it  is 
considered  indispensable.  The  Turk  cannot  do 
without  his  masli-allali,  and  the  Tartar  can  subsist  a 
long  time  without  food,  when  taking  a  long  journey, 
by  making  use  of  a  few  opium  lozenges. 

The  B.  P.  orders  the  capsules  to  be  gathered  be¬ 
fore  being  ripe.  If  M.  Buchner’s  opinion  be  correct 
that  the  ripe  capsules  are  the  most  narcotic,  it  would 
follow  that  the  latter  state  would  he  the  most  de¬ 
sirable  when  making  extr.  papav. 

The  Bristol  market  is  supplied  from  Westbury,  in 
Wiltshire,  where  poppies  are  cultivated  in  large 
quantities. 

The  capsules  of  the  wild  plants  from  the  Severn 
banks  gave  the  dark  red  tint  with  FeC]3,  and  an 
orange  tint  with  N  03,  indicating  meconic  acid  and 
morphia.  They  yielded  an  extract  which  produced 
P3  per  cent,  of  morphia. 

Mr.  Groves  says  that  in  the  ripe  capsule  there  is 
a  larger  proportion  of  codein  than  in  opium.  The 
poppy  capsule  is  a  most  instructive  study  for  the 
student  of  structural  botany.  All  true  poppies  have 
a  one-celled  ovary,  although  at  first  sight  this  state¬ 
ment  may  seem  an  erroneous  one.  On  cutting  a 
transverse  section  of  one  of  the  dried  capsules,  the 
placentation  or  attachment  of  the  ovule  is  seen  to  he 
on  the  surface  of  the  dissepiments  (or  vertical  plates), 
and  are,  therefore,  parietal ,  and  not  axial,  as  in  the 
Foxglove  or  Orange.  The  dissepiments  do  not  reach 
the  centre  of  the  capsule  so  as  to  make  a  multicellular 
ovary.  Well  may  the  poppy  plant  be  prolific,  for 
each  capsule  contains  more  than  32,000  seeds. 

On  the  top'of  the  capsule  is  the  well-known  cap  or 
coronet,  which  is  formed  by  the  remains  of  sessile 
stigmas.  Under  this  are  small  openings  through 
which  the  seeds  escape  when  the  capsule  reaches 
maturity. 

The  microscopic  structure  of  the  poppy  capsule  is 
very  wonderful,  and  will  amply  repay  any  trouble 
taken  in  its  examination.  The  knowledge  is  espe¬ 
cially  necessary  for  the  detection  of  a  very  common 
adulteration  of  pulv.  opii,  where  the  quality  is  low¬ 
ered  by  an  admixture  of  the  powdered  capsules. 

The  outer  surface  (epicarp)  is  characterized  by 
well-marked  angular  cells,  with  stomata,  and  strongly 
resembling  a  section  of  small  fossil  astreiform  corals, 
and  have  broad,  well-marked,  cell-walls. 

The  inner  surface  (endocarp)  is  strangely  different, 
although  penetrated  by  the  same  stomata.  The  cells 
are  very  irregular  and  elongated  ;  the  thick  walls 
have  a  beaded  structure. 

The  dissepiments  themselves  have  cells  again 
completely  different  from  either.  They  have  the 
same  size  and  general  form  as  the  endocarpal  ones, 
but  instead  of  the  beaded  configuration,  they  have 
carinated  walls,  with  two  series  of  pore-like  dots, 
and,  of  course,  devoid  of  stomata.  Their  appearance 
under  a  half-inch  objective  resembles,  in  an  extra- 


January  28,  1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


G03 


ordinary  degree,  the  little  Fenestella,  so  frequently 
found  fossil  in  the  carboniferous  limestone. 

An  excellent  object  for  the  low-power  binocular 
is  a  transverse  section  of  the  dissepiment,  showing 
the  spermopliore  "with  the  seed  attached. 

Very  few  of  the  articles  of  our  materia  medica 
can  vie  with  the  poppy  and  its  products  in  profit 
and  interest  either  to  the  chemist,  botanist  or  micro  - 

scopist.  Papaver  Rliceas  (Linn.). 

This  richly- coloured  plant,  the  pest  of  our  corn¬ 
fields,  is  more  especially  abundant  on  the  new  red 
sandstone  strata.  It  occurs  more  frequently  in  the 
South  than  the  North  of  England.  The  capsules 
differ  from  those  of  P.  somniferum  in  shape.  They 
resemble  the  schoolboys’  whip-top,  with  ten  or  more 
stigmatal  rays  in  the  coronet. 

It  is  remarkable  for  its  splendid  red  colour,  which 
probably  is  the  only  useful  property  it  possesses. 
The  P.  Rliceas  is  often  confounded  by  the  tyro  with 
P.  clubium  and  P.  Aryemone,  but  may  be  distin¬ 
guished  from  the  former  by  the  shape  of  its  capsule 
being  globular  and  by  the  spreading  bristles  on  the 
flower-stalk.  From  the  latter  it  is  instantly  known 
by  the  smoothness  of  the  capsule. 

The  colour  of  the  petals  of  P.  Rliceas  is  usually 
described  as  scarlet,  but  is  in  reality  an  exceedingly 
rich  crimson.  Treated  by  Riffard’s  process  ( Journ . 
de  Pharm.  vol.  xii.  p.  412),  viz.  by  the  action  of  ether 
and  alcohol,  the  petals  yielded  a  dark  red  colouring 
matter,  which  is  deliquescent,  insoluble  in  ether,  but 
soluble  in  alcohol  and  water. 

Acids  partially  destroy  and  chlorine  quite  decolo¬ 
rizes  the  red  pigment.  It  is  readily  distinguished 
from  the  colouring  matter  of  the  rose  and  cabbage 
by  becoming  nearly  black  by  alkalies,  instead  of  the 
usual  blue  or  green.  The  petals  yield  about  40  per 
cent,  of  Riffard’s  product. 

According  to  Meier  ( Report .  Pliarm.  (3)  vol.  xli. 
p.  325)  the  red  colouring  matter  of  P.  Rliceas  consists 
of  what  he  calls  rlioeadic  and  papaveric  acids.  The 
former  differs  from  the  latter  by  being  precipitable 
by  acetate  of  lead.  Most  likely,  however,  the  true 
red  colour  has  yet  to  be  isolated. 

In  Bristol  the  syrup  is  much  used  as  a  popular 
remedy  for  measles,  under  the  name  of  oil  of  kermes. 

(To  he  continued.) 


KAFUR  KACHRI. 

(Heclycliiiini  spicatum ) . 

BY  M.  C.  COOKE,  M.A. 

Many  articles  employed  in  Oriental  medicine  are 
still  involved  in  great  obscurity,  so  that  it  is  impos¬ 
sible  to  state  with  any  certainty  whence  they  are 
originally  derived,  or  what  plants  yield  them.  This 
seems  to  be  pre-eminently  the  case  with  the  products 
of  Scitaminaceous  plants.  What  can  be  more  ob¬ 
scure  than  the  sources  of  the  different  kinds  of  Ze- 
rumbet  and  Zedoary?  and  the  Galangals  are  not 
satisfactorily  determined,  whilst  Cardamoms  were 
in  a  deplorable  condition  until  Mr.  1).  Hanbury  ex¬ 
erted  himself  to  clear  away  some  of  the  mystery 
which  enshrouded  them.  Then  there  are  other  and 
minor  products,  undoubtedly  belonging  to  the  same 
Order  of  which  we  know  exceedingly  little,  and 
doubt  much.  This  is  the  case  with  the  species  of 
Curcuma  which  afford  a  starch  of  the  nature  of 


arrowroot.  Who  can  identify,  with  any  certaintyr 
the  sources  of  the  Curcuma  arrow-roots  of  India  ? 

The  Kafur-Jeachri  of  the  bazaars  of  India  is  one 
of  the  substances  which  seem  to  be  involved  in 
the  least  obscurity;  and  though  it  is  not  of  any 
great  importance,  a  brief  account  of  it  may  not  be 
the  less  acceptable.  The  native  names  have  been 
verified  by  Mr.  Moodeen  Sheriff,  and  may  be  relied 
upon.  He  gives  Kafur-kachri,  or  Kapur-kachri,  as 
the  Hindustani  name,  the  latter  being  also  applied 
in  Bengal  and  the  Dukhan  to  the  same  substance. 
Vilayati-kachur  is  another  Dukhani  synonym;  and 
the  Tamil  and  Telugu  names  are  respectively 
Shimai-kich-chilik-kizhangu,  and  Sima-kiclicliili- 
gaddalu,  meaning  “  Europe  or  Foreign  Long  Ze- 
doarv.” 

On  reference  to  the  Indian  Pharmacopoeia,  we 
find  it  stated  that  this  is  the  Sitruttee  of  the  bazaars, 
aivl  was  considered  by  Dr.  Ro}de  to  be  very  pro¬ 
bably  the  Sittarittee,  or  Lesser  Galangal  of  Ainslie. 
The  Supplement  to  the  Pharmacopoeia  sets  this 
question  at  rest,  for  it  is  declared  that  Sittarittie 
and  Sutruttee,  which  are  used  in  some  works  sy¬ 
nonymously  with  Kafur-kachri  as  the  Hindustani 
names  of  this  root,  are  incorrect,  because  they  be¬ 
long  as  Tamil  names  to  the  Lesser  Galangal,  which 
is  the  product  of  a  different  plant.  We  may  here¬ 
after  endeavour  to  clear  up  some  of  the  doubts  re¬ 
garding  the  Galangals,  so  that  it  will  be  unnecessary 
to  refer  to  them  here. 

There  is  no  reasonable  ground  for  doubt  that  the 
Kafur-kachri  is  the  root,  or  rhizome,  of  Hedychium 
spicatum  (Smith),  figured  and  described  in  the  ‘  Bo¬ 
tanical  Magazine’  (plate  2300),  which  is  a  native  of 
the  Himalayas. 

The  root  when  entire  is  reddish-brown,  marked 
with  white  rings,  bearing  considerable  resemblance 
to  the  true  Sit-ruttee  or  Lesser  Galangal,  whence, 
perhaps,  the  confusion  of  names.  It  differs,  how¬ 
ever,  from  Galangal  in  being  very  white  and  friable, 
internally  starchy  in  structure,  fragrant,  and  slightly 
warm  or  aromatic  in  taste,  but  not  peppery  or  pun¬ 
gent.  In  smell,  taste  and  internal  colour,  as  well  as 
medicinal  properties,  it  resembles  the  Long  Zedoary ; 
but  neither  in  smell  nor  structure  can  the  two  be  con¬ 
founded  after  having  been  seen  together.  The  pecu¬ 
liar,  strong  aromatic  odour  of  the  Kafur-kachri  is,  at 
any  time,  almost  of  itself  sufficient  to  identify  this 
drug ;  it  is  an  odour  never  to  be  forgotten,  and  not  to  be 
confounded  with  any  other.  The  starchy  character 
of  the  substance  of  the  root  is  so  characteristic,  that 
it  cannot  escape  notice ;  the  interior  may  be  scraped 
away  with  a  knife,  or  pounded  into  a  white  flour,  as 
if  it  were  nothing  else  but  pure  starch.  Indeed,  a 
little  of  this  substance  scraped  with  a  penknife  upon 
a  slip  of  glass,  in  a 
drop  of  water,  and 
submitted  to  the  mi¬ 
croscope,  seems  to 
consist  as  absolutely 
of  starch  granules 
as  many  prepared 
starches.  The  pro¬ 
portion  of  foreign 
matter  is  exceed¬ 
ingly  small.  The 
granules  partake  of 
the  character  of  Cur¬ 
cuma  arrow-root,  ex- 

cex)t  that  they  are  Starch  of  Hedychium  spicatum. 


604 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [January  28, 1871. 


somewhat  smaller;  that  is,  they  are  ovate  or  elliptical, 
rather  regular  in  outline,  hut  flattened,  so  that  when 
seen  sideways,  they  are  lenticular,  with  rounded  ends. 
At  first  a  mounting  of  this  starch  seems  to  consist  of 
two  kinds  of  starch  mixed  together,  but  a  few  moments’ 
examination  soon  proves  that  the  narrow  granules 
are  only  the  broad  ones  set  on  edge. 

The  only  form  in  which  this  drug  is  found  in  the 
bazaars  is  in  circular  slices,  a  hue  or  a  line  and  a 
half  in  thickness,  and  about  the  size  of  a  “  fourpenny 
piece,”  very  white  and  friable  internally,  with  a  red¬ 
dish-brown  edge,  and  fragrant.  Insects  seem  to 


have  a  great  partiality  for  it,  especially  weevils,  as 
the  bottles  will  soon  testify,  in  which  specimens  are 
preserved,  by  the  quantity  of  powder  on  the  bottom. 

The  value  of  this  drug  as  a  remedial  agent  is  pro¬ 
bably  very  small.  The  great  quantity  of  starch  it 
contains  would  place  it,  perhaps,  on  an  equality 
with  other  starchy  rhizomes ;  but  its  properties  as 
an  aromatic  stimulant  would  be  surpassed  by  other 
common  substances,  and  the  merit  it  is  supposed  to 
possess  as  a  tonic  may  be  almost  imaginary. 

Dr.  Stewart  gives  some  additional  uses  for  the 
plant  in  his  recent  work,  and  the  range  of  growth 
which  he  found  it  to  extend  in  the  Himalayas.  His 
observations  are  : — This  plant  is  not  uncommon  in 
parts  of  the  Punjab  Himalayas  up  to  near  the  Jhe- 
lam  at  least,  at  from  3500  to  7500  feet.  Its  large 
broad  leaves  are  twisted  and  made  into  coarse  mats 
for  sleeping  on,  etc.  The  tuberous  roots  have,  as 
“  wild  ginger,”  been  tried  by  Europeans  as  a  pre¬ 
serve,  but  without  success.  In  Garliwal  I  was  told 
they  are  used  in  washing  the  newly  married ;  and 
Madden  states  that  they  are  pounded  with  tobacco 
for  the  hookah.  They  are  officinal  under  the  above 
names,  being  considered  tonic  and  stimulant.  Honig- 
berger  is  apparently  in  error  in  stating  that  they 
are  only  used  in  veterinary  medicine.  Cayley  men¬ 
tions  that  there  is  some  import  from  the  south  of 
Le,  and  export  from  the  latter  to  Yarkand  of  Kachur , 
which  is  probably  this,  but  may  be  tekia  kachur,  or 
nar  kuchar,  said  to  be  the  produce  of  Curcuma  Ze- 
rumbet.  Davies’  trade  report  gives  25  maunds  of 
Kachur  as  annually  exported  via  Peshawur  to 
Affghanistan.* 


*  Stewart’s ‘Punjab  Plants,’ pp.  239.  Lahore,  1869. 


CHINESE  NATIVE  OPIUM. 

In  confirmation  of  the  remarks  recently  published 
in  the  Journal  on  the  extensive  production  and  con¬ 
sumption  of  native  opium  in  China,  the  following  de 
tails  may  be  given.  They  are  from  a  detailed  report  of 
an  inland  journey  made  by  Mr.  Moss  at  the  expense 
of  the  Hongkong  Chamber  of  Commerce,  presented 
to  the  Chamber  in  November,  1870.  The  informa¬ 
tion  is  therefore  recent,  and  may  also  be  considered 
authentic.  It  is  not  likely  to  see  the  light  in  the 
official  British  consular  reports  for  some  time  to  come. 
Although  all  the  foreign  opium  which  is  smoked  in 
the  country  pierced  by  the  West  River  is  smuggled, 
and  there  is  no  means  for  estimating,  even  approxi¬ 
mately,  the  quantity  actually  imported,  it  is  impos¬ 
sible  to  arrive  at  any  other  conclusion  than  that 
in  proportion  to  the  consumption  of  the  native  drug 
it  is  trifling  and  unimportant.  In  the  opium  shops 
of  Wucliaupu,  and  in  all  the  towns  to  the  westward, 
the  foreign  drug  is  rarely  asked  for,  and  that  from 
Yunnan  is  exclusively  smoked.  What  little  foreign 
is  used  is  Bengal,  brought  ball  by  ball  up  the  river 
to  Wucliau,  and  overland  to  the  towns  beyond  from 
Vakpoi.  Its  price  in  the  first  week  in  July  at  the 
former  city  was  5  dollars  per  catty,  or  about  15 
dollars  per  ball.  At  Tsunchaupu  in  June  the  price 
was  dollars  5.10  per  catty,  and  at  Hwangchau  a 
little  over  5  dollars,  or  about  (500  dollars  per  chest. 
The  prepared  drug  was  to  be  obtained  at  from  4 
mace  8  candareens  to  5  mace  5  candareens  per  tael 
weight,  the  average  being  about  5  mace  per  tael. 
Yunnan  opium,  on  the  other  hand,  was  being  retailed 
at  from  3  mace  6  candareens  to  4  mace  per  tael  weight, 
according  to  its  purity  and  quality.  A  common  land 
was  purchasable  at  3  mace.  The  raw  drug  is  in 
round  flat  casks,  about  6  inches  hi  diameter  by  about 
2  inches  thick,  weighing  from  12  to  20  taels,  and 
more  or  less  adulterated  with  gritty,  earthy  matter. 
It  was  sold  at  from  18  to  20  taels  per  100  taels 
weight ;  and  old  drug  in  the  first  week  of  July  was 
selling  at  Wucliaupu  at  12^  taels.  These  rates  were 
considered  high.  In  the  previous  year  the  drug  had 
been  as  low  as  15  taels  per  100  taels  weight.  From 
15  to  20  taels  per  100  taels  weight  is  equivalent  to 
335  to  446  dollars  per  picul  (133|  lb.). 

Although  it  is  smuggled  into  the  country,  and  the 
very  heavy  exactions  it  is  subjected  to  are  evaded, 
the  price  of  the  Indian  production,  as  compared 
with  that  of  the  native-grown  commodity,  is  so  high 
as  practically  to  exclude  it  from  consumption ;  and 
inquiry  leads  to  the  conclusion  that,  unless  its  price 
be  reduced  to  approach  closely  to  that  of  the  latter, 
its  superior  quality,  stronger  flavour  and  greater 
narcotic  power  will  fail  to  obtain  for  it  an  increased 
demand.  It  does  not  appear  that  foreign  opium  has 
ever  been  smoked  in  these  regions  by  the  bulk  of  the 
people ;  and  if  the  statements  of  old  smokers  and 
of  shopkeepers  are  to  be  credited, — and  there  seems 
to  be  no  reason  for  discrediting  them, — it  cannot  but 
be  believed  that  for  at  least  two  generations  native- 
grown  opimn  only,  from  the  province  of  Yunnan, 
has  been  almost  solely  consumed.  There  is  no  tiling 
to  show  that  its  use  has  increased :  on  the  contrary, 
it  is  obvious  that  the  opposite  must  have  been  the 
case  from  the  destruction  of  large  cities,  the  diminu¬ 
tion  of  the  population  generally  over  the  country, 
consequent  on  the  Taeping  rebellion,  and  horn  the 
state  of  warfare  which  has  existed  during  the  past 
fifteen  years  and  longer  in  the  Yunnan  Province, 


January  28,  1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


605 


and  which  is  reported  to  have  devastated  it.  Consi¬ 
dering  the  proximity  of  this  portion  of  the  empire  to 
Canton,  it  is  a  significant  fact  that  foreign  opium 
has  not  entered  into  general  use ;  and  there  can  be 
no  doubt  that  in  the  habituated  taste  of  the  native 
smokers  the  foreign  drug  lias  had  to  contend  against 
an  influence  nearly,  if  not  quite,  as  powerful  as  its 
own  high  cost. 

The  imputations  which  have  been  directed  against 
the  foreign  trade  in  this  article,  in  so  far  as  it  has 
affected  this  part  of  China,  are  disproved  most  con¬ 
vincingly  by  a  journey  up  the  West  River.  In  no 
city,  town  or  market  village  he  enters  will  the  tra¬ 
veller  find  the  foreign  opium  consumed  by  the  inha¬ 
bitants  ;  and  in  Kwangse,  in  only  a  few  shops  of  the 
largest  cities,  will  he  succeed  in  meeting  with  it  at 
all.  The  further  he  pushes  inquiry  the  more  firmly 
will  he  entertain  the  conviction  that  opium-smoking 
has  been  a  habit  common  over  the  country  from  a 
period  anterior  to  the  present  century,  and  that  the 
supply  has  been  met  by  native  production.  To  im¬ 
pute  its  introduction  into  this  portion  of  the  country  to 
the  foreign  opium  trade  is  to  assert  what  will  appear 
to  be  positively  contradicted  by  facts. 


SYNTHESIS  OF  ALKALOIDS. 

It  has  just  been  announced  by  Dr.  Hugo  Scliiff, 
of  Florence,  that  he  has  succeeded  in  obtaining  by 
synthesis  a  product  which  possesses  the  characteristic 
properties  contained  in  the  active  principle  of  hem¬ 
lock  ( Gonium  maculatum),  in  fact  identical  with  the 
alkaloid  conia.  When  alcoholic  ammonia  acts  upon 
butyraldeliyd,  at  a  temperature  not  above  100°  C., 
twro  bases  are  produced,  one  of  vilich,  dibutyraldine, 
is  represented  by  the  following  formula  : — 

CsH17NO  =  2C4HsO  +  NH3-H20. 

V - - r  N  _ , _ / 

Dibutyraldine.  Butyraldeliyd. 

By  the  dry  distillation  of  dibutyraldine,  there  is 
obtained,  among  other  products,  a  final  one,  which 
is  the  alkaloid  in  question.  The  following  is  the 
reaction  that  takes  place : — 

c8h17no  =  h2o  +  csh15n. 

Dibutyraldine.  Conia. 

— Journal  of  Botany. 


PODOPHYLLIN.* * * * § ** 

Podophyllin,  or  the  podophylh  resina — a  new  pur¬ 
gative  introduced  into  the  British  Pharmacopoeia — comes 
to  us  from  the  United  States,  where  it  has  for  many 
years  been  largely  used,  and  is  obtained,  by  the  action 
of  rectified  spirit,  from  the  dried  rhizoma  of  the  American 
may-apple,  or  mandrake  (th e  Podophyllum  pelt  alum).  It 
has  a  well-established  repute  as  a  purgative,  and,  from 
the  character  of  the  motions  produced  by  it,  has  been 
called  “  vegetable  mercury.”  When  the  proper  dose  for 
a  patient  has  been  found,  it  acts  very  efficiently,  but 
different  constitutions  require  different  doses;  a  grain 
dose  is  rarely  required,  in  many  cases  a  sixth  of  a  grain 
acts  gently  and  efficiently,  while  others  may  require  a 
dose  of  half  a  grain,  though  in  not  a  few  such  a  quantity 


*  Abstracted  from  a  series  of  papers  on  the  “  Progress  of 
Therapeutics,”  published  in  the  Medical  Times  and  (dazette. 


would  act  violently.  Authorities  are  not  in  accord  as  to 
its  action.  By  many  it  is  considered  to  bo  a  powerful 
cholagogue,  largely  increasing  the  quantity  of  bile 
poured  into  the  intestines ;  but  while  some  assert  that  it 
excites  increased  secretion  of  bile,  others  say  that  its 
action  as  a  cholagogue  is  only  due  to  its  stimulating  the 
gall  bladder  to  contract  and  expel  its  contents  into  the 
bowels.  And  again,  others  deny  that  it  increases  either 
the  secretion  or  the  excretion  of  bile.  Dr.  Anstie,  who 
experimented  wdth  it  on  dogs  and  rats,  came  to  the  con¬ 
clusion  that  it  has  no  special  action  on  the  liver ;  and 
the  Committee  of  the  British  Medical  Association  ap¬ 
pointed  to  investigate  the  action  of  podophyllin  on  the 
liver  reported  that  doses  varying  from  two  to  eight 
grains,  wdien  given  to  dogs,  diminished  the  solid  consti¬ 
tuents  of  the  bile,  whether  they  produced  purgation  or 
not ;  and  that  doses  which  produced  purgation  lessened 
both  the  fluid  and  the  solid  constituents.  *  It  is  difficult, 
however,  not  to  believe  the  strong  evidence  given  in  its 
favour  as  a  useful  and  powerful  cholagogue  in  man — in 
conditions  of  disorder  or  disease,  at  any  rate.  American 
physicians  of  scientific  repute  hold  it  in  great  esteem  as 
a  cholagogue  and  general  eliminative.  Dr.  Gardner 
says,  f  “I  know  no  other  substance  wdiich  so  certainly 
produced  bilious  evacuations  wdien  the  liver  is  full  of 
bile,”  and  specially  speaks  of  its  value  in  jaundice,  in 
the  torpid  liver  of  those  who  have  resided  in  tropical 
climates,  in  gout,  and  in  the  constipation  wdiich  often 
besets  patients  in  phthisis.  Dr.  Ramskill,  after  an 
extensive  employment  of  it,  reports,  “As  a  cholagogue, 
it  stands  pre-eminent  and  alone — far  before  mercury  or 
any  other  drug  that  I  ever  administered.  ...  In  very 
small  doses  it  will  procure  an  abundant  flow  of  bile,  mid 
often  induce  its  discharge  by  vomiting,  before,  or  even 
sometimes  without  any  purging.”  Dr.  Sydney  Ringer  § 
recommends  it  in  the  obstinate  constipation  which  often 
follow’s  an  attack  of  diarrhoea  in  hand- fed  infants.  He 
uses  an  alcoholic  solution  of  the  resin,  containing  one 
grain  to  the  drachm  of  alcohol,  and  of  this  one  or  two 
drops  are  given.  It  may  be  considered  as  having  ac¬ 
quired  a  well-established  reputation.  In  America  ||  it 
has  been  found,  in  small  repeated  doses,  of  great  value 
as  a  deobstruent  in  scrofula,  rheumatism,  syphilis  and 
other  chronic  diseases ;  and  in  England  Dr.  Marston,  *  * 
of  the  Royal  Artillery,  and  Dr.  R.  S.  Sisson,  have  em¬ 
ployed  it  in  secondary  syphilis  as  a  substitute  for  mer¬ 
cury,  with  marked  success. 

Its  action  as  a  purgative  is  rather  uncertain,  and  is 
apt  to  be  attended  with  griping,  to  prevent  which  it  may 
be  combined  with  small  doses  of  henbane,  belladonna,  or 
cannabis  indica ;  and  its  action  is  rendered  more  certain 
by  giving  compound  colocynth  or  rhubarb  pill,  soap,  or 
ipecacuanha  with  it. 


THE  GUAVA. 

The  guava  is  a  tree  which  grows  in  tropical  countries, 
and  it  is  found  principally  in  the  West  Indies.  It  is  of 
the  genus  termed  by  botanists,  Psidium ,  and  is  of  twro 
sorts,  the  P.  pomiferum  and  P.  pyriferum.  The  plant 
does  not  attain  any  considerable  size,  being  generally 
about  fifteen  feet  high,  and  it  is  of  very  delicate  forma¬ 
tion.  The  bark  is  quite  thin,  and  of  a  light  brown 
colour.  It  peels  off  in  small  portions  when  exposed  to 
the  sun ;  to  prevent  this,  the  trees  are  usually  planted 
beneath  others  of  a  larger  growdh  and  hardier  nature. 
The  leaves  are  of  an  elliptic,  lanceolate  form.  They  are 
very  distinctly  marked  by  the  fibres  of  which  they  are 


*  British  Medical  Journal,  vol.  i.  p.  419,  1869.  Practi¬ 
tioner,  J une,  1869,  p.  355. 

f  Lancet,  vol.  i.  pp.  209  and  286, 1862. 

j  Lancet,  loc.  cit. 

§  ‘  Handbook  of  Therapeutics, ’  1869,  p.  304. 

||  Rankin’s  ‘Abstract,’  vol.  xxxv.  p.  243,  1862. 

**  Lancet,  January,  1864. 


■006 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [January  28,  1871. 


composed  ;  they  are  of  a  dark  green  colour,  and  measure 
about  inches.  The  flowers  resemble  those  of  the 
orange,  and  emit  a  strong  perfume  ;  the  fruit  is  about 
the  size  of  a  small  lemon ;  it  is  almost  of  the  same  shape 
and  colour.  The  interior  consists  of  a  red  pulpy  sub¬ 
stance,  containing  an  innumerable  quantity  of  small 
seeds  somewhat  larger  than  those  of  the  fig.  The  rind 
of  the  fruit  is  of  the  consistency  of  that  of  an  apple.  Of 
this  fruit  the  West  Indians  make  several  kinds  of  pre¬ 
serves, — the  guava  jelly,  stewed  guava,  quake  pear,  and 
marmalade ;  the  most  lucrative  is  the  guava  jelly ;  the 
fruit  is  often  eaten  in  its  raw  condition.  The  negroes 
are  so  fond  of  it  that  they  are  very  wary  and  diligent  in 
guarding  the  trees  from  robbery  when  they  are  bearing 
fruit. 

The  guava  jelly  is  obtained  by  boiling  the  guavas 
with  sugar  and  spices;  and,  after  expressing  the  juice 
through  a  cloth,  it  is  left  to  cool.  Of  course  it  undergoes 
minor  processes,  which  I  omit,  they  being  inappropriate 
to  the  object  of  this  paper. 

The  jelly  is  frequently  bottled,  but  oftener  it  is  put 
into  small  cylindrical  boxes  made  of  laminated  pine 
board.  A  great  quantity  of  this  comfit  is  manufactured 
in  Cuba,  where  it  is  termed  “  Jalea  de  guayaba,”  which 
is  exported  to  the  United  States  and  Europe.  Notwith¬ 
standing-  that  a  good  deal  is  made  in  the  smaller  islands, 
they  import  quite  a  quantity  of  the  Cuban  jelly. 

After  the  juice  has  been  expressed  from  the  guava, 
there  remain  the  skins  and  the  pulp  containing  the 
seeds ;  the  latter  is  stewed  and  bottled,  and  it  constitutes 
the  stewed  guava.  This  is  generally  partaken  of  with 
milk. 

The  skins  are  converted  into  the  delicacy  termed 
“  quake  pear,”  by  a  process  varying  slightly  from  the 
foregoing. 

The  guava  marmalade  is  not  frequently  made.  It 
consists  of  the  guava  grated  and  prepared  in  a  peculiar 
manner. 

Of  the  before-mentioned  preserves,  the  marmalade  is 
preferred  by  most  connoisseurs.  The  small  seeds  in  the 
stewed  guava  are  very  objectionable,  the  more  so  if  one 
is  subject  to  toothache,  as  they  get  into  the  cavities  of 
decayed  teeth,  causing  a  great  deal  of  suffering. 

The  natives  of  the  West  Indies  are  great  herbalists ; 
they  convert  almost  any  plant  into  medicine  of  some 
kind  or  other,  and  they  have  discovered  several  medici¬ 
nal  properties  in  the  guava-tree  and  its  complementary 
portions ;  what  they  are,  I  cannot  pretend  to  say. 

There  is  no  distinction  made  between  the  name  of  the 
tree  and  that  of  the  fruit  in  English,  both  being  guava ; 
the  French  term  the  tree  goyavier ,  and  the  fruit  goyavc. 
Their  respective  terms  in  the  Creole  patois  are  gyan- 
baum  and  gyan. — Druggists'  Circular  and  Chemical  Ga¬ 
zette. 


CHEMICAL  EXAMINATION  OF  CONDENSED 

MILK.* 

The  British  Medical  Journal  reports  the  following  re¬ 
sult  of  an  analysis  of  the  contents  of  a  tin  of  Newnham’s 
Condensed  Milk : — 


Water  .  .  . 

.  .  .  19-0 

Caseine  .  . 

.  .  .  10-0 

Ash  .... 

Fat  ) 

Milk-Sugar  > 

•  .  .  690 

Cane-Sugar  ) 

100-0 

The  water  was  determined  by  drying  at  212°  F.  The 
caseine  was  determined  directly,  the  result  being  verified 
by  the  employment  of  Wanklyn,  Chapman  and  Smith’s 
ammonia  process.  The  ash  was  determined  by  ignition. 
There  appeared  to  be  about  as  much  fat  as  caseine. 
From  the  analysis  it  follows  that  the  degree  of  condensa- 


*  See  ante ,  No.  6,  p.  89. 


tion  of  Newnham’s  Condensed  Milk  is  between  three  and 
four ;  that  is  to  say,  one  pound  of  the  condensed  milk 
contains  the  solid  constituents  of  from  three  to  four 
pounds  of  fresh  milk. 


ANALYSIS  OF  MILK. 

In  making  examinations  of  milk  for  sanitary  or  com¬ 
mercial  purposes,  it  is  customary  to  use  determinations 
of  specific  gravity  as  indices  of  the  strength  of  milk.  It 
is,  however,  recognized  that  owing  to  the  circumstance 
of  cream  being  lighter  than  water,  whilst  skimmed  milk 
is  heavier,  the  indication  of  strength  afforded  by  a 
determination  of  specific  gravity  is  not  very  precise. 
Obviously,  if,  in  addition  to  the  specific  gravity,  the  per¬ 
centage  of  cream  were  taken,  a  connection  could  be  ap¬ 
plied  so  as  to  rectify  the  indication  of  strength  derived 
from  specific  gravity.  In  the  course  of  an  examination 
of  milk  undertaken  for  the  Milk  Journal ,  the  observation 
was  made  that  there  is  another  source  of  inaccuracy 
hitherto  quite  unsuspected.  Skimmed  milk  consists 
mainly  of  water,  caseine  milk,  sugar  and  a  small  quan¬ 
tity  of  mineral  salts.  Now,  the  exact  molecular  condi¬ 
tion  of  the  caseine  influences  the  specific  gravity  of  milk. 
In  other  words,  samples  of  milk  of  the  same  strength 
will  vary  in  specific  gravity  according  to  the  exact  mole¬ 
cular  condition  of  the  caseine.  Especially  are  these 
changes  in  condition  brought  out  if  milk  be  kept  for  a 
while.  This  is  illustrated  by  the  following  examples. 

We  do  not  intend  on  this  occasion  to  enter  fully  into 
the  subject  of  milk  analysis,  but  we  may  state  that  plans 
commonly  adopted  are  of  little  worth.  We  have  had  to 
notice  the  untrustworthiness  of  specific  gravity  determi¬ 
nations  of  milk, — that  is  to  say,  the  danger  of  judging  of 
the  strength  of  milk  by  its  specific  gravity.  To  be  of 
any  value  at  all,  the  specific  gravity  determination  must 
be  made  whilst  the  sample  of  milk  is  very  fresh.  After 
milk  has  been  kept  for  two  or  three  days,  even  in  a  closed 
vessel,  its  specific  gravity  falls  in  a  very  remarkable 
manner.  The  following  examples  exhibit  this  in  an  ex¬ 
treme  form.  The  specimens  of  milk  had  been  kept  in 
corked  bottles  for  four  days : — 

Sp.  gr.  at  Percentage  of  Percentage 
60°  F.  Solids  dry,  at  212°  F.  of  Ash. 

Sample  a  .  1-0004  .  .  i  1*34  .  .  0-94 

„  b  .  0-9960  .  .  10-48  .  .  0-75 

„  c  .  1-0184  .  .  8-92  .  .  0-66 

Showing  that  the  highest  specific  gravity  sometimes  ac¬ 
companies  the  lowest  percentage  of  solids.  The  reason 
of  this  want  of  correspondence  between  specific  gravity 
and  solid  contents  we  have  already  explained.  Mean¬ 
while,  in  judging  of  the  strength  of  milk,  it  is  proposed 
to  adhere  to  the  method  of  evaporating  to  drjmess  in  the 
water-bath,  and  weighing  the  residue. — Milk  Journal. 


THE  HEAT  DEVELOPED  IN  THE  COMBINATION 
OF  ACIDS  AND  BASES.* 

BY  THOMAS  ANDREWS,  M.D.,  F.R.S.,  HON.  F.R.S.E., 
Vice-President  of  Queen's  College ,  Belfast. 

In  a  paper  communicated  to  the  Royal  Irish  Academy 
in  1841,  I  gave  an  account  of  a  large  number  of  experi¬ 
ments  on  the  heat  disengaged  when  acids  and  bases, 
taken  in  the  state  of  dilute  solution,  enter  into  combina¬ 
tion,  and  when  bases,  insoluble  in  water,  are  dissolved  in 
dilute  acids.  The  following  general  conclusions  or  laws 
were  deduced  from  those  experiments : — 

Law  1.- — The  heat  developed  in  the  union  of  acids  and 
bases  is  determined  by  the  base  and  not  by  the  acid,  the 
same  base  producing,  when  combined  with  an  equivalent 
of  different  acids,  nearly  the  same  quantity  of  heat ;  but 
different  bases,  different  quantities. 

*  From  the  ‘  Transactions  of  the  Royal  Society  of  Edin¬ 
burgh,’  Session  1869-70. 


•January  28,  1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


007 


Law  2. — When  a  neutral  is  converted  into  an  acid 
salt,  by  combining  with  one  or  more  atoms  of  acid,  no 
change  of  temperature  occurs. 

Law  3. — When  a  neutral  is  converted  into  a  basic  salt, 
by  combining  with  an  additional  proportion  of  base,  the 
•combination  is  accompanied  with  evolution  of  heat.* * * § * 

Three  years  later  I  laid  before  the  Royal  Society  of 
London  the  results  of  an  experimental  investigation  of 
the  heat  developed  when  one  base  is  substituted  for 
another  in  chemical  compounds.  The  law  deduced  from 
this  inquiry  is  implicitly  involved  in  the  foregoing,  of 
which  it  may  indeed  be  regarded  as  a  necessary  conse¬ 
quence.  It  was  enunciated  in  the  following  terms  : — 

Law  4. — When  one  base  displaces  another  from  any 
of  its  neutral  combinations,  the  heat  evolved  or  abstracted 
is  always  the  same,  whatever  the  acid  element  may  be, 
provided  the  bases  are  the  same.fi 

Finally,  the  law  of  metallic  substitutions,  first  an¬ 
nounced  in  the  ‘  Philosophical  Magazine  ’  for  August, 
1844,  was  thus  stated  in  a  paper  published  in  the  ‘  Philo¬ 
sophical  Transactions’  for  1848. 

Laxo  5. — When  an  equivalent  of  one  and  the  same 
metal  replaces  another  in  a  solution  of  any  of  its  salts  of 
the  same  order,  the  heat  developed  is  always  the  same ; 
•but  a  change  in  either  of  the  metals  produces  a  different 
•development  of  heat. 

In  1845  a  paper  appeared  by  Graham  on  the  heat  dis¬ 
engaged  in  combinations,  the  second  part  of  which  refers 
to  the  heat  produced  when  hydrate  of  potash  is  neutra¬ 
lized  by  different  acids.  fi  The  results  arrived  at  by  this 
•distinguished  chemist  exhibit  a  close  agreement  with 
those  contained  in  my  first  communication  to  the  Royal 
Irish  Academy. 

The  concluding  part  of  the  elaborate  memoir  of  MM. 
Tavre  and  Silbermann  on  the  heat  disengaged  in  chemi- 
•cal  actions  is  chiefly  devoted  to  the  same  subject.  A 
large  number  of  experiments  are  described,  which  are 
nearly  a  repetition  of  those  I  had  previously  published. 
Their  results  bear  a  general  resemblance  to  those  given 
by  myself  in  1841,  but  they  widely  differ  in  the  details. 
The  authors  of  this  able  memoir  fully  recognize  the  ac- 
•curacy  of  my  fourth  law,  which  asserts  the  equality  of 
thermal  effect  when  one  base  is  substituted  for  another. 
■“  M.  Andrews,”  they  observe,  “  avait  en  effet  etabli  que, 
quel  que  soit  l’acide  d’un  sel,  la  quantite  de  chaleur  de- 
gagee  par  la  substitution  d’une  base  a  une  autre  pour 
former  un  nouveau  sel  est  la  meme,  lorsque  l’on  con- 
sidere  les  deux  memes  bases.”  § 

In  a  preceding  paragraph  of  the  same  memoir,  the 
authors  object  to  what  they  conceive  to  be  my  first  law, 
and  state  that  it  is  not  in  accordance  with  the  results  of 
their  investigations.  As  the  question  is  one  of  some  im¬ 
portance,  I  may  perhaps  be  permitted  to  quote  the  passage 
in  the  original  language.  “  Ses  conclusions,  savoir :  que 
la  chaleur  degagee  par  I  equivalent  d’une  meme  base 
combinee  aux  divers  acides  est  la  meme,  ne  s’accordent 
pas  avec  les  resultats  de  nos  recherches,  et  ne  nous  pa- 
raissent  pas  pouvoir  etre  admises.”  No  doubt,  through 
inadvertence,  MM.  Favre  and  Silbermann  have  here 
given  an  inaccurate  statement  of  my  first  law.  It  did 
not  declare  that  precisely  the  same  amount  of  heat  is 
disengaged  by  all  the  acids  in  combining  with  the  same 
base,  but  that  the  heat  is  determined  by  the  base,  “  the 
same  base  producing,  when  combined  with  an  equivalent 
of  different  acids,  nearly  the  same  quantity  of  heat.”  A 
comparison  of  the  results  of  MM.  Favre  and  Silbermann 
with  those  in  my  original  memoir  will  show  that  I  had 
fully  recognized  and  described  the  deviations  from  the 
other  acids,  exhibited,  on  the  one  hand,  in  excess,  by 


*  ‘Transactions  of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy,’  vol.  xix. 
j).  228. 

t  ‘  Philosophical  Transactions  ’  for  1844,  p.  21. 

X  ‘Memoirs  of  the  Chemical  Society,’  vol.  ii.  p.  51. 

§  ‘Annales  de  Chimie  et  de  Physique,’  3me  scrie.  xxxvii. 
p.497  (1853). 


sulphuric  acid,  and  on  the  other,  in  deficiency,  by  tar¬ 
taric,  citric  and  succinic  acids.  “If  we  refer,”  I  re¬ 
marked,  in  the  original  memoir  of  1841,  “to  the  first, 
second  and  fourth  tables,  as  being  the  most  extensive, 
from  the  large  number  of  soluble  compounds  formed  by 
potash,  soda  and  ammonia,  it  will  be  observed  that  sul¬ 
phuric  acid  developes  from  0-8°  to  nearly  1°  more  than 
the  mean  heat  given  by  the  other  acids  ;  while  tartaric, 
citric  and  succinic  acids  fall  from  0-4°  to  O’ 55°  short  of 
the  same.  A  minute  investigation  of  the  influence  of 
the  disturbing  sources  of  heat  will  no  doubt  discover  the 
causes  of  these  discrepancies.  The  high  numbers  for 
sulphuric  acid  are  probably  connected  with  that  acid’s 
well-known  property  of  developing  much  heat  when 
combining  with  successive  atoms  of  water.  All  the 
other  acids  dcvelopo  nearly  the  same  amount  of  heat  in 
combining  with  the  same  base,  the  greatest  divergences 
from  the  mean  quantity  being,  in  the  case  of  potash, 
+  (P240  and  —  0T3°;  in  that  of  soda,  -f-  026°  and 
—  0T4°;  and  in  that  of  ammonia,  -fi-  0T7°  and  —  (P050. 
These  differences  are  almost  within  the  limits  of  the 
errors  of  experiment.”* 

But  although  there  is  a  superficial  agreement  between 
my  original  results  and  those  of  MM.  Favre  and  Silber¬ 
mann,  they  will  be  found,  when  examined  closely,  to 
differ  widely  in  detail  and  on  points  of  great  importance. 
I  had  found  that  oxalic  acid  disengages  almost  exactly 
the  same  amount  of  heat  in  combining  with  the  soluble 
bases  as  hydrochloric,  nitric  and  many  other  mineral 
acids,  and  this  observation  I  have  always  regarded  as 
one  of  the  main  foimdations  of  Law  1.  MM.  Favre  and 
Silbermann,  on  the  contrary,  have  inferred  from  their 
experiments  that  “the  following  organic  acids — oxalic, 
formic,  valeric  and  citric — disengage  sensibly  the  same 
quantity  of  heat,  but  it  is  less  ( plus  faible)  than  that 
given  by  the  foregoing  mineral  acids” — among  which 
they  enumerate  the  nitric  and  hydrochloric.  According 
to  my  experiments,  no  distinction  of  this  kind  can  be 
admitted  between  acids  derived  from  the  mineral  and 
organic  kingdom,  inasmuch  as  oxalic  acid  developes  at 
least  as  much  heat  in  combining  with  the  bases  as  hy¬ 
drochloric,  nitric  and  several  other  strong  mineral  acids. 

The  experiments  to  be  described  in  this  paper  were 
made  some  years  ago,  but  their  publication  has  been 
deferred  from  accidental  circumstances.  I  have,  how¬ 
ever,  recently  repeated  a  few  of  the  more  important 
of  them,  with  a  slightly  modified  form  of  apparatus. 
The  solutions  were  taken  in  so  dilute  a  state  that  the 
heat  disengaged  never  exceeded  3,5°C.  A  standard 
solution  of  sulphuric  acid  was  prepared  and  carefully 
analysed,  by  precipitating  a  given  weight  with  a  soluble 
salt  of  barium,  and  weighing  the  sulphate  of  barium. 
The  strength  of  the  alkaline  solutions  was  adjusted 
with  great  care  by  means  of  this  standard  acid.  The 
same  solution  of  each  alkali  was  employed  in  all  the 
experiments,  and  the  quantity  used  in  each  experiment 
was  determined  by  careful  weighing.  The  acid  solution 
was  of  such  a  strength  that,  after  being  mixed  with  the 
alkali,  an  excess  of  two  or  three  per  cent,  of  acid  was 
present.  The  alkaline  solution  was  contained  in  a  light 
glass  vessel,  in  which  a  large  platinum  crucible  holding 
the  acid  was  carefully  floated.  By  giving  a  rapid  rota¬ 
tion,  by  means  of  a  light  stirrer,  to  the  acid  solution  in 
the  platinum  crucible,  a  perfect  equilibrium  of  tempera¬ 
ture  was  soon  established  between  the  two  liquids.  The 
initial  temperature  of  the  solutions  was  usually  about 
1-5°  below  that  of  the  air,  and  the  final  temperature  of 
the  mixture  about  1*5°  above  it.  The  corrections  for  the 
heating  and  cooling  action  of  the  surrounding  medium 
were  determined  with  great  care.  The  mechanical  process 
of  adding  the  acid  to  the  alkaline  solution  produced  no 
change  of  temperature,  and  as  the  heat  disengaged  in 
the  combination  raised  the  liquid  almost  instantly  to  the 


*  ‘  Transactions  of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy,’  vol.  xix . 
p.  249. 


60S 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [January  28,  1871. 


maximum  temperature,  tlic  whole  correction  required 
was  for  cooling.  The  first  temperature  was  read  one 
minute  after  the  addition  of  the  acid  to  the  alkaline 
solution,  the  mixture  being-  stirred  during  the  whole  of 
that  time.  If  5  represents  the  correction,  and  e  the  ex¬ 
cess  of  temperature  above  the  air  in  Centigrade  degrees, 
the  value  of  5  will  be  given  by  the  following  expres¬ 
sion  : — 

5  —  e  X  0-012°. 

As  a  proof  of  the  accuracy  of  the  method  of  mixture 
adopted  in  this  inquiry,  I  may  mention  that,  being  de¬ 
sirous  to  know  whether  the  dilute  acids  employed  in 
these  experiments  produced  any  change  of  temperature 
when  mixed  with  water,  I  made  the  experiment  with 
nitric  acid  by  the  ’method  just  described,  substituting 
water  for  the  alkaline  solution,  with  the  unexpected  re¬ 
sult  of  a  fall  of  0-01°.  On  varying  the  conditions  of  the 
observation,  so  as  to  obtain  a  larger  effect,  it  was  ascer¬ 
tained  not  only  that  a  diminution  of  temperature  had 
actually  occurred,  but  that  the  observed  fall  represented 
approximately  its  true  amount.  When  hydrochloric 
acid  of  equivalent  strength  was  diluted  to  the  same  ex¬ 
tent,  an  elevation  of  temperature  of  0-05°  was  produced. 

The  accuracy  of  experiments  of  this  kind,  where  the 
whole  thermal  effect  observed  amounts  only  to  2°  or  3°, 
depends  greatly  on  the  thermometer  employed.  Unless 
its  indications  are  perfectly  trustworthy  in  every  part  of 
the  scale,  the  labour  of  the  inquirer  will  only  end  in 
disappointment.  I  have  therefore  taken  every  precau¬ 
tion  to  secure  this  important  object.  The  tube  of  the 
thermometer  was  calibrated  and  divided  with  care,  ac  - 
cording  to  an  arbitrary  scale,  by  means  of  a  dividing- 
instrument  contrived  for  the  purpose,  and  provided  with 
a  short  screw  of  great  accuracy  made  by  Troughton  and 
Simms.  The  divisions,  etched  finely  on  the  glass,  cor¬ 
respond  to  about  0-05°  C.,  and  the  readings  could  be 
made  with  certainty  to  less  than  0-01°.  The  division  of 
the  scale,  corresponding  to  0°,  was  determined  from  time 
to  time  in  the  usual  way ;  and  another  point,  about 
30°  C.,  was  fixed  by  comparison  with  four  other  ther¬ 
mometers  similarly  constructed,  whose  scales  extended 
from  the  freezing  to  the  boiling-point  of  water.  The 
readings  of  these  four  instruments,  when  reduced  to 
degrees,  rarely  differed  from  each  other  within  the  limits 
to  which  they  could  be  read,  or  0-02°.  The  reservoir  of 
the  thermometer  used  in  these  experiments  -was  75  milli¬ 
metres  long,  and,  when  immersed  in  the  liquid,  occupied 
nearly  its  entire  depth. 

As  some  uncertainty  always  exists  -with  regard  to  the 
thermal  equivalent  of  glass  vessels,  I  made  tw*o  sets  of 
comparative  experiments — one  with  a  thickly-varnished 
copper  vessel,  and  the  other  with  a  vessel  of  platinum. 
The  mean  result  of  these  experiments  coincided  almost 
exactly  with  the  result  obtained  when  the  glass  vessel 
was  employed. 

The  weight  of  the  glass  vessel  which  contained  the 
alkaline  solution  was  58  grammes,  and  corresponded 
thermally  to  11-4  grammes  of  the  solutions  formed.  The 
thermal  equivalent  of  the  reservoir  of  the  thermometer 
and  of  the  stirrer  was  0-9  gramme.  The  alkaline  solu¬ 
tion  weighed  160  grammes,  and  contained  the  equivalent 
of  1-738  gramme  of  S03.  The  acid  solution  weighed 
42-5  grammes.  Hence  the  entire  thermal  value  of  the 
apparatus,  in  terms  of  the  solution  formed  was 


Solution .  202-5 

Glass  vessel . 11-4 

Thermometer  and  stirrer .  .  0-9 


214*8  grammes. 

A  correction  (additive)  of  Jy  -was  made  to  the  direct 
readings  for  the  mercury  in  the  stem  of  the  thermo¬ 
meter.  The  results  are  given  to  thousandths  of  a  de¬ 
gree,  but  this  apparent  minuteness  is  due  to  the  reduc¬ 
tion  of  the  indications  of  the  arbitrary  scale  to  degrees. 

The  following  table  gives  the  mean  results  of  the  new 


experiments,  the  acids  being  arranged  in  the  order  of 
their  thermal  action : — 


Acid. 

Potash. 

Soda. 

Ammonia. 

Sulphuric  acid  .  . 

.  3-378° 

3-353° 

2-976° 

Oxalic  acid  .  .  . 

.  3*058° 

3-040° 

2-648° 

Hydrochloric  acid  . 

.  3-021° 

2-982° 

2-623° 

Nitric  acid  .  .  . 

.  2*993° 

2*929° 

2*566° 

Acetic  acid  .  .  . 

.  2-852° 

2*832° 

2-492° 

Tartaric  acid  .  . 

.  2-732° 

2*710° 

2*376° 

It  is  interesting  to  observe  how  closely  the  results  in 
the  three  vertical  columns  agree  relatively  with  one 
another.  The  acids  follow  in  the  same  order  under  each 
base,  and  even  the  differences  in  the  amount  of  heat  dis¬ 
engaged  by  the  several  acids  in  combining  with  the  dif¬ 
ferent  bases  approximate  in  many  cases  closely  to  one 
another.  Thus  the  heat  given  out  when  sulphuric  acid 
combines  with  potash  exceeds  that  given  out  when 
oxalic  acid  combines  with  the  same  base  by  0-320°,  the 
corresponding  differences  in  the  case  of  soda  and  am¬ 
monia  being  0-313°  and  0*328°.  If,  in  like  manner,  we 
compare  the  differences  between  the  heat  disengaged  by 
the  acetic  and  tartaric  acids,  we  fall  upon  the  numbers 
0-120°,  0-122°,  and  0*116°.  Even  in  the  case  of  oxalic, 
hydrochloric  and  nitric  acids,  which  disengage  so  nearly 
the  same  amount  of  heat,  the  same  order  is  observed  with 
the  three  bases.  It  must  bo  particularly  remarked  that  the 
o^ilic  acid  disengages  from  0-022°  to  0-058°  more  heat  in 
combining  with  these  bases  than  the  hydrochloric  acid, 
and  from  0-065°  to  0-111°  more  than  the  nitric  acid. 
The  conclusion  of  MM.  Favre  and  Silbermann,  that 
the  organic  acids  (oxalic,  formic,  acetic,  etc.)  disengage 
sensibly  less  heat  than  the  mineral  acids,  is  thus  entirely 
disproved ;  and  the  original  results  recorded  in  my  work 
of  1841,  according  to  which  oxalic  acid  disengages  at 
least  as  much  heat  as  nitric,  phosphoric,  arsenic,  hydro¬ 
chloric,  hydriodic,  boracic  and  other  mineral  acids  (with 
the  exception  of  the  sulphuric  acid)  are  fully  confirmed. 
Tartaric,  citric  and  succinic  acids,  it  is  true  (as  was  also 
shown  in  the  same  work),  give  out  about  -Jyth  less  heat 
than  the  average  of  the  other  acids,  but  acetic  and  for¬ 
mic  acids  fall  scarcely  A^th  below  the  mean,  and  oxalic 
acid  is  always  above  it.  These  results,  in  all  their  main 
features,  are  fully  corroborated  by  the  experiments  re¬ 
corded  in  this  paper,  which  were  performed  -with  a  more 
perfect  apparatus  and  a  more  exact  thermometer  than  I 
had  at  my  command  in  my  earlier  investigations.  A 
reference  to  the  same  paper  will  show  that  while  acids, 
differing  so  widely  from  one  another  as  oxalic,  phos¬ 
phoric,  arsenic,  nitric,  hydrochloric  and  boracic  acids 
scarcely  present  any  sensible  difference  in  the  quantities 
of  heat  which  they  disengage  in  combining  with  the 
bases  ;  and  wrhile  of  the  other  acids  examined  sulphuric 
acid  (and  probably  also  sulphurous  acid)  presents  an 
extreme  deviation  of  about  -|th  above  the  mean,  and  the 
tartaric  acid  group  a  deviation  of  about  ^th  below  it, 
the  bases,  on  the  contrary  (and  the  subsequent  researches 
of  Favre  and  Silbermann  have  confirmed  this  result), 
differ  altogether  in  thermal  power  from  one  another. 
Thus,  equivalents  of  the  oxides  of  magnesium  and  of 
silver  give  out  4-1°  and  1-8°  of  heat  respectively  in  com¬ 
bining  with  nitric  acid,  the  former  oxide  having  there¬ 
fore  2*3  times  the  thermal  power  of  the  latter.  Yet,  as 
is  well  known,  both  these  bases  fully  saturate  the  acid, 
and  the  resulting  solutions  are  even  neutral  to  test- 
paper.  For  these  reasons  I  have  no  doubt  whatever 
that  the  first  law,  as  enunciated  in  1841,  is  the  expres¬ 
sion  of  a  true  physical  law*,  and  that  in  the  combination 
of  acids  and  bases  in  presence  of  w*ater  the  heat  dis¬ 
engaged  is  determined  by  the  base  and  not  by  the  acid. 
It  is  true  that  in  this,  as  in  similar  physical  inquiries, 
experimental  results  cannot  immediately  be  obtained 
free  from  complication  or  disturbing  influences.  The 
same  remark  applies  to  the  experimental  proof  of  the 
groat  law  discovered  by  Dulong  and  Petit,  wdiich  con¬ 
nects  the  specific  heats  and  atomic  weights  of  the  ele- 


January  23,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


GOO 


mentary  bodies,  and  also  to  that  of  the  remarkable 
relations  discovered  by  Kopp  between  the  composition 
nnd  boiling-points  of  many  organic  liquids.  We  have 
already  seen  an  illustration  of  one  of  these  disturbing 
influences  in  the  fact  that  dilute  nitric  acid,  when  mixed 
with  water,  gives  a  slight  fall  of  temperature,  hydro¬ 
chloric  acid  a  rise  ;  and  the  differences  of  specific  heat  in 
the  solutions  formed  will,  to  a  small  extent,  modify  the 
results.  But  the  cause  of  the  higher  thermal  power  of 
sulphuric  acid  I  have  not  been  able  to  discover,  and 
future  researches  must  decide  whether  it  depends  upon 
.some  disturbing  cause,  or  (which  is  less  probable)  upon 
its  possessing  an  exceptionally  high  thermal  power. 
One  condition  is,  however,  essential,  or  Law  1  will  not 
apply.  The  acid  and  base  must  be  capable  of  combining 
when  brought  into  contact,  and  of  forming  a  stable  com¬ 
pound.  In  the  paper  so  often  referred  to,  I  showed  that 
hydrocyanic  acid  and  potash,  which  fail  to  fulfil  this 
condition,  do  not  disengage  the  normal  amount  of  heat 
when  mixed ;  and  the  same  observation  will  doubtless 
be  found  to  apply  to  a  large  number  of  metallic  oxides 
which  form  unstable  compounds  with,  and  imperfectly 
neutralizes  the  bases. 

As  regards  the  experimental  proofs  of  the  other  laws, 
even  those  of  the  fourth  law,  the  truth  of  'which  is  ad¬ 
mitted  by  MM.  Favre  and  Silbermann,  they  are  only 
approximative,  and  here  also  we  meet  occasionally  with 
peculiar  and  imexpected  results.  Thus,  a  slight  fall  of 
temperature  occurs,  as  Hess  showed  long  ago,  in  the 
conversion  of  the  neutral  sulphate  of  potash  into  the 
acid  salt ;  and  I  found,  as,  indeed,  might  have  been  ex¬ 
pected  from  their  alkaline  reaction,  that  in  the  conver¬ 
sion  of  the  ordinary  phosphates  and  arseniates  into 
sup  or  salts  a  disengagement  of  heat  occurs,  amounting  to 
about  one- seventh  of  that  disengaged  in  the  formation  of 
the  salts  themselves.  In  other  cases  results,  at  first 
view  startling  and  apparently  anomalous,  will  be  found 
to  be  strictly  in  accordance  with  the  general  principles 
already  laid  down.  In  the  formation  of  double  salts 
there  is  no  disengagement  of  heat,  a  principle  announced 
in  1811,  and  which  ought  perhaps  to  be  enunciated  as  a 
distinct  law,  although  it  is  implicitly  involved  in  Law  2. 
Again,  if  tribasic  phosphoric  acid  or  arsenic  acid  is 
added  in  fractional  portions  to  a  solution  of  potash  till 
the  subsalts  are  formed,  the  heat  disengaged  on  each  ad¬ 
dition  of  acid  corresponds  to  the  amount  of  acid  added ; 
but  after  this  point  has  been  reached  the  disengagement 
of  heat  follows  a  different  law.  Pyrophosphoric  acid,  on 
the  other  hand,  behaves  in  the  same  way  as  nitric  and 
most  other  acids  when  added  in  successive  portions  to 
solutions  of  potash  or  soda,  equal  increments  of  heat  be¬ 
ing  evolved  for  equal  additions  of  acid  till  the  pyrophos¬ 
phate  of  potash  or  soda  is  formed.* 

Appendix. 

In  the  following  tables  I  have  given  the  results,  de¬ 
scribed  in  this  communication  and  those  of  1841  in  a 
form  which  admits  of  comparison  with  one  another,  and 
with  those  of  MM.  Favre  and  Silbermann.  I  have  also 
added  a  few  determinations  recently  made  by  M.  Thom¬ 
sen,  of  Copenhagen. f  It  will  be  seen  that  the.  original 
experiments  of  1841  exhibit,  on  the  whole,  a  fair  agree¬ 
ment  with  those  now  communicated  to  the  Society. 
From  the  small  scale  on  which  they  were  performed  (the 
whole  weight  of  the  solutions  after  mixture  being  less 
than  30  grammes),  the  imperfect  form  of  the  apparatus, 
and  the  uncertainty  of  the  thermometric  indications,  I 
have  indeed  been  surprised  to  find  them  so  near  the 
truth.  The  results  of  MM.  Favre  and  Silbermann  do 
not  exhibit  the  precision  which  might  have  been  ex- 


*  ‘Transactions  of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy,’  vol.  xix.  pp. 
245-248.  The  observations  of  Graham  confirm  the  statement 
that  no  heat  is  evolved  in  the  formation  of  any  double  salt. 
*  Memoirs  of  the  Chemical  Society,’  vol.  i.  p.  83. 
t  Poggendorff’s  ‘Annalen,’  cxxxviii.  p.  78. 


pcctcd  from  the  high  character  of  those  experimentalists, 
and  from  the  accuracy  of  other  parts  of  their  great  work. 
The  mercurial  calorimeter  employed  by  them  appears  to 
have  been  little  adapted  to  its  purpose ;  but  after  mak¬ 
ing  due  allowance  for  its  imperfections,  I  am  at  a  loss  to 
account  for  the  serious  errors  into  which  they  have 
fallen.  M.  Thomsen’s  experiments  have  evidently  been 
made  with  care,  and  his  results  agree  comparatively 
with  my  own ;  but  the  absolute  amount  of  heat  obtained 
by  him  falls  far  short  of  what  I  have  foimd.  It  is,  in¬ 
deed,  much  easier  to  obtain  results  relatively  than  abso¬ 
lutely  correct.  The  numbers  given  in  this  paper  will,  I 
believe,  be  found  rarely  to  differ  relatively  more  than 
2jjoth  from  the  truth,  but  they  may  hereafter  require  a 
small  correction  in  respect  of  their  absolute  value.  That 
correction  can,  however,  be  scarcely  more  than  J^th  of  the 
whole  amount,  and  I  have  little  doubt  that  the  number, 
for  example,  given  by  Thomsen  to  express  the  heat  dis¬ 
engaged  in  the  combination  of  soda  with  nitric  acid  will 
prove  to  be  as  far  below  the  true  number  as  that  given 
by  MM.  Favre  and  Silbermann  is  above  it. 

Table  I. — Potash. 


Acid. 

Andrews, 

1841. 

Favre  and 
Silbermann. 

Andrews, 

1870. 

Sulphuric  .  .  . 

Nitric  .... 
Hydrochloric  .  . 

Oxalic  .... 
Acetic  .... 
Tartaric  .... 

16,330 

15,076 

14,634 

14,771 

14,257 

13,612 

16,083 

15,510 

15,656 

14,156 

13,973 

13,425 

16,701 

14,800 

14,940 

15,124 

13,805 

13,508 

Table  II. — Soda. 


Acid. 

Andrews, 

1841. 

Favre  and 
Silbermann. 

Andrews, 

1870. 

Thomsen. 

Sulphuric .  . 

Nitric  .  .  . 

Hydrochloric 
Oxalic  .  .  . 

Acetic  .  .  . 

Tartaric  .  . 

16,483 

14,288 

14,926 

14,796 

14,046 

13,135 

15,810 

15,283 

15,128 

13,752 

13,600 

13,651 

16,580 

14,480 

14,744 

15,032 

14,000 

13,400 

15,689 

13,617 

13,740 

•  • 

•  • 

•  • 

Table  III. — Ammonia. 


Acid  1  Andrews, 

AC1CU  1841. 

Favre  and 
Silbermann. 

Andrews, 

1870. 

Sulphuric  .  .  . 

Nitric  .... 
Hydrochloric  .  . 

Oxalic  .... 
Acetic  .... 
Tartaric  .... 

14,135 

12,440 

12,440 

12,684 

12,195 

11,400 

14,690 

13,676 

13,536 

12,649 

•• 

14,710 

12,683 

12,964 

13,088 

12,316 

11,744 

Preserved  Meat.— There  has  lately  been  a  trial  of 
preserved  meat  from  Rosario,  in  the  Argentine  Republic, 
with,  it  is  stated,  satisfactory  results.  Preservation  was 
effected  by  immersion  in  bisulphite  of  lime,  according  to 
the  process  of  Messrs.  Medlock  and  Bailey,  of  Wolver¬ 
hampton  ;  and  the  meat  was  sealed  up  in  a  cask,  in  the 
presence  of  the  British  Consul  at  Rosario,  on  August  10th 
last,  and  brought  by  him  to  England  in  a  recent  steamer. 
It  had,  therefore,  been  kept  four  months,  and  had  made 
a  passage  across  the  Line. — Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts. 

Glycerine  Inhalation  in  Cronp.  Dr.  Stehbergei, 
of  Mannheim,  reports  that  he  has  successfully  used,  inha¬ 
lation  of  glycerine,  through  Siegle’s  apparatus,  in  the 
early  stages  of  croup.  The  glycerine,  if  pure,  is  used  un¬ 
mixed;  if  not  pure,  it  is  diluted  with  a  little  water. 
British  Medical  Journal. 


610 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[J anuary  28,  1871 


THE  CHEMISTS’  BALL. 

On  Wednesday  evening-  this  social  gathering,  which 
now  seems  firmly  established  as  an  annual  one,  was  held 
in  Willis’s  Rooms,  St.  James’s.  The  Ball  was  a  com¬ 
plete  success.  There  were  upwards  of  four  hundred 
persons  present,  and  on  no  former  occasion  has  the  as¬ 
sembly  been  graced  by  the  presence  of  so  many  ladies. 
Amongst  the  many  guests  there  were  the  Lord  Mayor 
and  Miss  Dakin;  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  was  re¬ 
presented  by  the  President  and  Vice-President ;  the 
Auditors  of  the  Society  by  Mr.  Barron ;  the  Council  by 
Mr.  T.  B.  Groves  and  Mr.  Bourdas;  the  Examiners  by 
Mr.  Allchin  and  Mr.  M.  Carteighe;  the  Educational  De¬ 
partment  by  Professor  Attfield  and  Mr.  W.  A.  Tilden ; 
and  the  other  officials  by  the  Secretary,  Mr.  R.  Brem- 
ridge  and  Mr.  Flux.  The  Supper,  which  was  an  ele¬ 
gant  one,  was  served  in  three  rooms,  and  the  Committee 
must  have  been  much  gratified  with  the  extremely  plea¬ 
sant  manner  in  which  everything  connected  with  the 
Ball  passed  off'. 

In  proposing  the  toast  of  the  evening,  the  Lord  Mayor 
said  he  was  much  gratified  in  having  been  asked  to  pre¬ 
side  on  this  occasion,  which  he  believed  to  be  the  fifth  of 
the  kind,  and  which  was  such  an  evident  success.  As 
the  enjoyment  of  privileges  always  entailed  duties,  so 
the  position  which  he  then  held  involved  the  duty  of 
observing  the  usual  rule  of  this  gathering,  and  pro¬ 
posing  the  one  toast  which  was  customary,  viz.  “  Success 
to  the  Chemists’  Ball.”  In  doing  so,  he  felt  how  much 
satisfaction  was  to  be  realized  in  the  performance  of  duties, 
and  he  desired  to  take  the  opportunity  of  expressing  his 
approval  of  such  a  gathering  ;  for  independent  of  the  plea¬ 
sure  it  afforded  to  all  who  took  part  in  it,  it  was  calculated 
to  be  eminently  useful  when  regarded  as  an  annual  rally- 
ing-point  of  the  members  of  our  most  important  profes¬ 
sion.  He  was  glad  also  to  learn  that  yet  another  object 
was  served,  and  that  the  surplus  proceeds  of  the  Ball  flowed 
“heaven-directed”  to  the  poor.  Though  he  was  pre¬ 
cluded  by  usage  from  adding  to  the  one  toast  he  now  pro¬ 
posed,  he  could  not,  while  surrounded  by  so  much  youth 
and  beauty,  abstain  from  making  some  reference  to 
the  presence  of  those  without  whom  we  should  not  be 
able  to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  the  evening,  any  more 
than  we  could  dispense  with  their  good  offices  in  other 
matters.  For  this  reason  he  would  ask  them  to  add 
three  cheers  to  the  toast  of  “  Success  to  the  Chemists’ 
Ball.” 

After  the  cheering  had  subsided,  Mr.  Watson  rose, 
and  in  a  few  words  proposed  that  they  should  still 
further  depart  from  the  usual  custom  and  show  the 
appreciation  of  their  presence  there  that  evening  by 
drinking  to  the  health  of  the  Lord  Mayor  and  Miss 
Dakin. 

After  the  toast  had  been  honoured  and  the  cheers 
giyen,  the  dancing  was  resumed  and  kept  up  with  great 
spirit  until  a  very  late  hour. 


How  to  Fasten  Rubber  to  Wood  and  Metal. — 

As  rubber  plates  and  rings  are  now-a-days  almost  ex¬ 
clusively  used  for  making  connections  between  steam 
and  other  pipes  and  apparatus,  much  annoyance  is  often 
experienced  by  the  impossibility  or  imperfectness  of  an 
air-tight  connection.  This  is  obviated  entirely  by  em¬ 
ploying  a  cement  which  fastens  alike  well  to  the  rubber 
and  to  the  metal  or  wood.  Such  cement  is  prepared  by 
a  solution  of  shellac  in  ammonia.  This  is  best  made  by 
soaking  pulverized  gum  shellac  in  ten  times  its  weight 
of  strong  ammonia,  when  a  slimy  mass  is  obtained, 
which,  in  three  to  four  weeks,  will  become  liquid  with¬ 
out  the  use  of  hot  water.  This  softens  the  rubber,  and 
becomes,  after  volatilization  of  ammonia,  hard  and  im¬ 
permeable  to  gases  and  fluids. — Druggists'  Circular  and 
Chemical  Gazette . 


ANNUAL  DINNER  OF  THE  SHEFFIELD  PHARMA¬ 
CEUTICAL  AND  CHEMICAL  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Annual  Dinner,  in  connection  with  the  above 
Association,  was  held  at  Mr.  Armfield’s,  Adelphi  Hotel, 
on  Thursday  evening,  the  company  numbering  between 
forty  and  fifty.  The  chair  was  occupied  by  the  Presi¬ 
dent,  Mr.  J.  T.  Dorr,  and  the  vice-chair  by  the  Ex- 
President,  Mr.  Wilson. 

The  usual  loyal  and  patriotic  toasts  having  been  pro¬ 
posed  and  honoured,  Dr.  Hall  gave  the  toast  of  the 
evening,  “Success  to  the  Sheffield  Pharmaceutical  and 
Chemical  Association,”  and,  in  the  course  of  his  remarks, 
congratulated  the  Association  upon  its  prosperous  con¬ 
dition.  He  alluded  in  graceful  terms  to  the  relationship 
which  existed  between  the  medical  and  pharmaceutical 
professions,  how  dependent  one  was  upon  the  other,  and 
at  some  length  reviewed  the  sections  of  tho  Annual 
Report,  which  had  been  distributed  that  evening. 

Several  other  toasts  were  proposed  and  duly  honoiu-cd, 
after  which  the  Chairman,  in  proposing  the  “  Continued 
Success  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Great  Britain,” 
said,  What  is  the  sphere  of  labour  of  our  Sheffield  Phar¬ 
maceutical  and  Chemical  Association  in  its  connection 
with  the  parent  Society  F  To  my  mind  the  efforts  of 
your  Association  should  be  devoted  to  extending  and 
establishing  the  Library  and  Museum,  to  maintain  and 
uphold,  as  far  as  our  funds  permit,  our  Latin,  botanical 
and  chemical  classes,  with  the  regular  course  of  lectures.. 
In  the  future  looms  a  laboratory  for  practical  chemistry,, 
with  an  established  teacher.  With  the  support  and  ap¬ 
proval  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  these  forces  might 
be  so  utilized  and  brought  to  bear  upon  the  education 
of  those  in  this  neighbourhood  who  are  studying  for 
the  profession,  as  to  be  a  great  advantage  to  them. 
Sheffield  is  in  the  midst  of  a  large  and  populous  district,, 
and  could  be  made  tho  centre  of  a  district.  The  exa¬ 
miners  of  our  Local  Association  might  give  certificates 
of  competency  in  the  examinations,  and  thus  save  the 
expense  and  time  occupied  in  journeys  to  London  for 
such  a  purpose.  I  do  hope  the  day  is  not  far  distant 
when  these  desires  will  be  realized,  and  that  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society  will  give  us  all  the  moral  and  mate¬ 
rial  support  in  their  power. 


Veratrum  Viride  an  Antidote  to  Opium.- — E.  H. 

Sholl,  M.D.,  of  Alabama,  communicates  to  the  Phila¬ 
delphia  Medical  and  Surgical  Reporter  a  case  of  poisoning 
by  morphia,  which  was  cured  by  veratrum.  The  patient, 
a  negro  boy,  aged  fifteen  years,  had  typhoid  fever,  and 
took  an  overdose  of  morphia,  which  had  been  prescribed 
for  hiccup.  It  was  followed  by  stertorous  breathing,, 
contracted  pupils,  and  so  forth.  His  mouth  was  prized 
open,  and  gtt.  xviij  Norwood’s  tincture  poured  in,  “  with 
two  ounces  of  brandy.”  In  one  hour  every  symptom  of 
poisoning  had  vanished. 

Quinquina  Chocolate. — Dr.  Houze,  in  Les  Mondcs  of 
June  last,  says,  he  has  succeeded  in  preparing  an  extract 
of  Peruvian  bark,  so  as  to  possess  no  unpleasant  bitter 
taste,  and  this  is  mixed  with  pure  chocolate  paste,  so  as 
to  form  readily -portable,  and,  at  the  same  time,  an 
agreeable,  dietetic  medicine.  This  preparation  is  (thus 
it  was  stated  at  a  meeting  of  the  Central  Imperial  So¬ 
ciety'  of  Agriculture)  considered  superior  to  the  sulphate 
of  quinine. 

Chloride  of  Zinc  in  Rods. — Dr.  Kobner,  of  Breslau, 

describes  ( Berlin .  Klin.  Wochenschr .,  no.  47,  1870)  a 
method  of  making  solid  rods  of  chloride  of  zinc.  Two 
parts  of  the  chloride  are  fused  with  one  part  of  nitrate  of 
potash  and  formed  into  rods,  which  are  kept  in  tinfoil  in 
a  well-stoppered  bottle.  They  will  last  for  a  week. 
The  combination  forms,  sayrs  Dr.  Kobner,  an  excellent 
caustic,  holding  a  place  midway  between  nitrate  of  silver 
and  caustic  potash. — British  Medical  Journal . 


January  28,  1871.3  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


Gil 


Jljarnraceutrcitl  journal. 

■ - ♦ - 

SATURDAY,  JANUARY  28,  1871. 


Communications  for  this  Journal, and  boohs  for  review,  etc., 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

Instructions  from  'Members  and  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Brem- 
EIDGE,  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  1V.C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street ,  London,  IV.  Envelopes  endorsed  “  Bharm.  Journ.” 


PHARMACY  IN  IRELAND. 

It  is  probable  that  among  the  various  matters 
claiming  the  attention  of  our  legislators  in  the  ap¬ 
proaching  Parliamentary  Session,  the  Pharmacy 
Bill  for  Ireland,  proposed  by  the  Governor  and 
Company  of  the  Apothecaries’  Hall,  Dublin,  will 
have  a  place.  The  Bill  has  been  already  printed  in 
this  Journal,'*'  and  doubtless  has  been- read  by  many 
interested.  It  does  not  seem  to  have  been  regarded 
with  much  favour  by  the  chemists  and  druggists 
of  Ireland ;  but  although  an  expression  of  opinion 
was  invited,  and  a  portion  of  our  space  offered  for 
the  discussion  of  the  subject,  only  three  letters  have, 
up  the  present  time,  been  received.  Certainly  it 
seems  desirable  that  those  whom  the  question  most 
affects  should  not  rest  contented  with  merely  protest¬ 
ing,  but  that  before  the  time  arrives  for  the  discussion 
of  the  Bill  in  Parliament  they  should  decide  among 
themselves  what  course  they  ought  to  take. 

That  the  state  of  affairs  with  regard  to  the  practice 
of  pharmacy  in  Ireland  is  anomalous  has  long  been 
admitted.  A  chemist  and  druggist  is  allowed  to  vend 
drugs  to  any  extent,  but  is  absolutely  prohibited, 
imder  fear  of  a  heavy  penalty,  from  making  up  a 
single  prescription.  That  portion  of  the  business  is 
confined  to  members  of  the  Apothecaries’  Hall,  who 
are  also  permitted  to  sell  drugs. 

The  law,  as  it  at  present  stands,  simply  creates  a 
monopoly  which  cannot  be  defended  on  the  ground 
that  it  favours  the  educated  pharmacist,  for  a  man, 
however  well  qualified  to  practise  that  calling,  is  not 
allowed  to  do  so  in  Ireland  unless  he  is  a  member 
of  the  particular  body  mentioned.  He  may  have 
passed  the  examination  of  the  Pharmaceutical  So¬ 
ciety  of  Great  Britain  and  hold  a  diploma  certifying 
that  he  is  competent  to  dispense  a  prescription  in 
England,  Scotland,  or  Wales,  but  let  him  cross  the 
St.  George’s  Channel  and  set  his  foot  in  Ireland, 
and  his  diploma  is  of  no  avail.  Surely  that  skill 
which  is  accounted  sufficient  in  England  would  be 


*  No.  21,  p.  405. 


equal  to  satisfying  the  requirements  of  the  Irish 
public. 

There  is  no  reason  why  the  law  concerning  phar¬ 
macy  should  not  be  assimilated  in  the  three  king¬ 
doms.  In  doing  this,  it  would  be  necessary  to  guard 
against  the  privilege  of  dispensing  being  accorded  to 
any  but  those  who  are  competent  fully  and  conscien¬ 
tiously  to  carry  out  a  prescriber’s  wishes.  But  this 
should  be  done  with  consideration.  Men  who  have 
been  many  years  in  business,  and  who  have  a  good 
practical  knowledge  of  it,  could  hardly  be  expected 
to  enter  upon  a  curriculum  of  chemistry,  botany  and 
materia  medica.  Any  examination  that  may  be  in¬ 
stituted  should  be  capable  of  being  modified  to 
meet  these  and  similar  cases  in  Ireland  ;  and  per¬ 
sons  who  have  once  satisfied  the  requirements  of  the 
English  law  ought  to  be  allowed  to  practise  there 
without  any  further  examination. 


POISON  REGULATIONS. 

Our  readers  will  perceive  that  we  have  again  some 
long  communications  on  tliis  subject,  which  deserve 
attention  as  representing  various  views.  We  have 
also  during  the  last  few  weeks  published  some  in¬ 
formation  as  to  the  state  of  opinion  and  law  in  Ca¬ 
nada  and  the  State  of  New  York  respecting  the  sale 
of  poisons.  The  present  Journal  contains  a  num¬ 
ber  of  recent  cases  of  poisoning,  illustrating  some  of 
the  modes  in  which  accidents  happen.  Both  these 
and  the  papers  above  referred  to  afford  matter  for 
reflection,  though  they  cannot  be  expected  to  deter¬ 
mine  the  regulation  question.  In  regard  to  that,  it 
appears  there  are  some  who  maintain  there  should 
be  regulations,  some  who  maintain  there  should  not 
be  any,  and  others  who  declare  they  will  not  have 
them.  Which  of  these  three  views  is  to  rule  the 
action  of  the  Society  is  clearly  a  matter  for  decision 
by  vote,  and  meanwhile  we  endeavour  to  fulfil  our 
part  by  furnishing  all  available  information  on  the 
subject. 

An  amusing  instance  of  popular  posology  occurred 
this  week  in  the  report  of  a  case  of  poisoning  given 
by  one  of  the  London  daily  newspapers.  It  was 
there  stated  that  death  arose  from  an  overdose’  of 
opium,  “  the  deceased  having  taken  a  drachm  and  a 
half,  whereas  the  full  dose  was  only  a  drachm.” 


A  crowded  audience  assembled  in  the  theatre 
of  the  London  Institution  on  the  occasion  of  the 
Conversazione  on  Wednesday  evening  last,  to  hear 
Professor  Tyndall  lecture  on  “Dust  and  Disease.” 
The  discourse,  which  "was  a  very  eloquent  one, 
was  a  repetition,  with  some  variations,  of  his  cele¬ 
brated  lecture  on  the  same  subject  at  the  lloyal 
Institution. 


612 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[January  2S,  1371. 


DISPENSING  IN  SURGERIES. 

In  calling  tlie  attention  of  our  readers  to  tlie  re¬ 
port,  in  another  column,  of  a  case  of  poisoning  by 
an  overdose  of  morphia,  we  wish  to  say  that  any 
remark  that  may  he  made  will  not  he  intended  to 
apply  to  particular  individuals.  If  the  method  of 
dispensing  adopted  in  Mr.  Dex  Bean’s  surgery  had 
been  singular  and  unusual,  probably  we  should  have 
abstained  from  comment;  but  as,  on  the  contrary, 
we  believe  it  to  be  typical  of  what  might  be  met  with 
in  hundreds  of  surgeries  throughout  the  country, 
and  these  belonging  to  members  of  a  body  which, 
at  times,  is  inclined  to  be  rather  exigent  in  its  de¬ 
mands  upon  pharmacists,  we  are  tempted  to  call  at¬ 
tention  to  some  of  the  facts  of  the  case. 

A  child  being  ill,  a  medical  gentleman  who  was 
called  in,  prescribed  for  it  a  mixture  of  solution  of 
tartarized  antimony,  hydrate  of  chloral,  and  colour¬ 
ing  matter.  This  mixture  was  supplied  from  his 
-own  surgery.  A  teaspoonful  having  been  admi¬ 
nistered  the  child  fell  into  a  deep  sleep,  only  dis¬ 
turbed  by  convulsions  until  its  death.  We  do  not 
think  we  shall  be  charged  with  unfairness  if  we  say 
that  here,  in  the  ordinary  course,  there  would  have 
been  an  end  of  the  affair.  But  it  happened  that  the 
father,  who  is  a  chemist  and  druggist,  recognized  the 
appearance  of  narcotism  in  the  child ;  and  after  its 
■death  he  obtained  an  analysis  of  the  portion  of  the 
mixture  which  remained,  the  result  being  that  it  was 
found  that  antimony  which  was  ordered  was  absent, 
while  morphia,  which  had  not  been  ordered,  was 
present. 

As  to  the  state  of  things  which  would  allow  of 
such  a  result.  The  prescription  was  left  to  be  dis¬ 
pensed  by  a  pupil  who  had  been  under  tuition  one 
year  and  three-quarters.  Now  we  doubt  whether 
there  are  many  respectable  pharmacies  in  which  an 
apprentice  in  so  early  a  stage  would  be  entrusted 
with  the  responsible  work  of  compounding  prescrip¬ 
tions,  certainly  not  without  vigilant  supervision. 
But  what  are  the  facts  with  regard  to  this  young 
man?  What  is  Mr.  Dex  Bean’s  own  evidence  on 
this  point  ?  The  drugs  were  left  to  be  compounded 
by  his  assistant,  John  Simeon  Dyson.  No  other 
person  was  authorized,  or  even  able  to  compound 
the  medicine.  He  had  not  interfered  with  the  dis¬ 
pensing  department  for  the  last  twelve  months.  He 
•could  not  say  where  the  bottle  containing  chloral 
was  kept  exactly.  Mr.  Dyson  had  had  one  and 
three-quarter  years’  practice  in  dispensing.  He  had 
dispensed,  without  supervision,  sixteen  months.” 
Again,  in  answer  to  the  question,  “  How  many  pre¬ 
scriptions  has  the  young  man  Dyson  made  up?” 
the  answer  was,  “  Several  thousands.”  And  again, 
in  answer  to  a  question  from  the  foreman  of  the  jury 
as  to  the  qualifications  required  in  a  dispenser,  Mr. 
Dex  Bean  replied  that  dispensing  was  merely 
mechanical,  and  he  did  not  think  that  previous 
education  had  much  to  do  with  it. 


So  that  this  young  man,  when  he  had  only 
had  five  months’  experience,  was  left  to  make  up 
his  employer’s  prescriptions  without  any  super¬ 
vision,  since  which  time  he  has  prepared  several 
thousands !  Such  statements  carry  in  them  tlie 
strongest  possible  condemnation  of  a  system  under 
which  it  is  possible  for  them  to  be  made.  The 
inference  to  be  drawn  from  the  occurrence  by  every 
candid  mind,  amongst  medical  men  and  pharmacists, 
must  be,  that  it  is  their  duty  to  do  all  in  their  power 
to  hasten  the  time  when  dispensing  as  well  as  pre¬ 
scribing  shall  be  performed  only  by  men  specially 
trained  to  each  calling. 


At  the  Evening  Meeting  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  on  Wednesday  next,  a  Lecture  will  be  de¬ 
livered  by  Dr.  Caupenteu,  the  subject  being  “  Tlie 
Microscope  and  its  Revelations.” 


The  British  Medical  Journal,  referring  to  the 
paper  by  Mr.  Ince  in  our  last  number,  expresses  an 
opinion  that  while  the  object  is  a  good  one,  it  is  worth 
considering  how  far  it  accords  with  proper  reticence 
and  courtesy.  It  thinks  that  before  putting  such 
documents  to  a  public  use  the  permission  of  the 
writers  should  be  asked,  and  if  this  were  not  pos¬ 
sible,  the  signatures  should  be  erased. 


tnrosafiTO  uf  lire  f  titwiratM  Sotitlg. 

EXAMINATION  IN  EDINBURGH. 

January  17  th,  1871. 

Present — Messrs.  Ainslie,  Aitken,  Baildon,  Brown, 
Buchanan,  Kemp,  Mackay  and  Young. 

Twenty-four  Candidates  were  examined,  eleven  for 
the  First  or  Preliminary  Examination,  eight  for  the 
Minor,  and  five  for  the  Modified ;  the  following  passed 
and  were  duly  registered  : — 

FIRST,  or  PRELIMINARY  (as  Apprentices  or 


Students) . 

Anderson,  David  Smith . Musselburgh. 

Bray,  William . . . Dumfries. 

Chislett,  Charles  . Edinburgh. 

Galloway,  George,  jun . Inverness. 

Gardner,  William  . .  ....  Inverkei thing. 

M‘Leish,  Stewart  Munn . Uddingston. 

Meldrum,  David  . Edinburgh. 

Moffat,  Alexander  Dryden  ....  Glasgow. 

Russell,  James  Bryce  . Glasgow. 

Sharp,  Robert  Henry . Portobello. 

MINOR  (as  Chemists  and  Druggists). 

Gallow^av,  George,  jun . Inverness. 

Giles,  William . Aberdeen. 

M‘Naught,  Archibald . Greenock. 

Macpherson,  Richard  . Greenock. 

Veitch,  John  Wilson  . Dunse. 

MODIFIED  (as  Chemists  and  Druggists). 

Ewing,  James  . Edinburgh. 

Robinson,  Jonathan  Scott  ....  Rhyl. 

Savage,  James  . Bradford. 

Stephen,  John  . Aberdeen. 


January  28,  1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


613 


BRISTOL  PHARMACEUTICAL  ASSOCIATION. 

On  Friday,  the  13th  instant,  the  Third  Monthly  Lec¬ 
ture  of  the  Session  was  delivered  at  the  Philosophical 
Institution,  by  Herr  Leipner.  The  subject  was  “  The 
Pharmacist  in  Germany.” 

The  lecturer  drew  a  hasty  sketch  of  the  history  of 
pharmacy  from  its  birth  in  the  dim  ages,  burdened  and 
half-smothered  with  the  myths  of  alchemy,  through  the 
time  of  its  childhood,  bolstered  and  protected  by  the 
operations  of  guilds  and  municipalities,  to  the  dawning 
of  the  present  century,  when  the  period  of  its  maturity  as 
a  living,  independent  branch  of  science  was  reached. 

The  social  position  of  the  pharmacist  dining  these 
times  he  showed  to  have  been  pretty  much  as  might 
have  been  expected  from  the  varying  amount  of  credit 
with  which  the  art  was  practised.  The  enthusiast,  the 
quack  and  the  tradesman,  each  in  turn,  claimed  him 
for  his  own ;  but,  in  proportion  as  his  art  had  struggled 
through  the  disadvantages  that  at  different  periods  sur¬ 
rounded  it,  and  he  had  become  the  qualified  practitioner  of 
a  liberal  calling,  his  own  status  in  society  had  advanced. 

In  drawing  his  present  position,  and  the  circumstances 
that  now  surrounded  him,  the  lecturer  found  it  necessary 
to  give  an  outline  of  the  educational  system  of  the  Ger¬ 
mans.  It  appeared  that  every  child  of  Germany  was  by 
law  compelled  to  be  educated  in  one  of  three  grades  of 
school,  either  in  the  first  or  elementary  school,  the  course 
of  study  in  which  embraced  only  the  elementary  subjects  ; 
or  in  the  second,  the  ‘  ‘  real’  ’  school,  which,  in  addition  to  tin) 
above,  included  French,  English,  chemistry,  physics,  alge¬ 
bra,  mathematics,  Latin,  drawing,  and  more  history,  natu¬ 
ral  history,  geography  and  arithmetic  than  taught  in  the 
elementary  schools ;  or  in  the  third,  the  gymnasium, 
which  gives  a  purely  classical  education.  From  the 
sixth  to  the  tenth  year  all  children  attend  an  elementary 
school,  after  which  they  may  enter  either  a  real  school 
or  a  gymnasium. 

The  class  from  which  the  pharmacist  most  usually 
sprang  generally  affected  the  “  real  ”  school ;  hence,  in 
commencing  his  special  studies,  the  young  pharmacist 
started  with  an  already  acquired  knowledge  of  the  ele¬ 
ments  of  natural  science  and  chemistry.  At  this  period 
of  his  career  he  entered  a  pharmaceutical  college,  where 
he  devoted  himself  to  the  sciences  especially  required  in 
his  future  duties  for  a  period  of  two  to  three  years,  and 
from  which  he  was  required  to  emerge  by  the  process  of 
an  examination  creditably  passed.  He  then,  for  a  defi¬ 
nite  time,  entered  the  shop  of  some  established  pharma¬ 
cist  ;  after  which  he  was  considered  qualified  to  become 
a  master  pharmacist  upon  his  own  account. 

The  number  of  establishments  in  a  district  was,  by  the 
municipal  law  of  that  district,  limited  ;  but  the  pharma¬ 
cist  was  not  allowed  to  take  extreme  advantage  of  this 
apparent  monopoly,  for  the  prices  for  dispensed  medicines, 
and  to  a  great  extent  for  drugs  also,  were  regulated  by 
the  authorities.  The  restrictions,  therefore,  upon  perfect 
freedom  of  trade,  which  were  so  generally  swept  away  at 
the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  were  thus  seen  not 
to  have  been  removed  from  the  pharmacist,  who  always 
was,  and  still  is,  regarded  as  one  of  the  servants  of  the 
State. 

In  a  money  point  of  view,  perhaps,  his  remuneration 
might  be  deemed  to  be  inadequate  to  his  responsibilities  ; 
but  he  undoubtedly  received  more  consideration  from 
society  than  his  comrade  in  England,  and  this,  the  lec¬ 
turer  thought,  was  mainly  due  to  his  higher  scientific 
attainments. 

I  he  following  were  a  few  of  the  many  opinions  quoted 
by  the  lecturer:  — 

Professor  Wackenrodcr,  of  Jena,  thus  defines  the  posi¬ 
tion  of  an  apothecary  (1851),  “  The  German  apothecaries 
ai<j  indirect  S01'vants  of  the  State,  therefore  unsalaried 
and  independent,  who,  under  State  supervision,  by  spe¬ 


cial  permission  practise  an  art,  but  enjoy  the  same  right 
of  property  as  every  other  citizen  of  the  State.” 

Dr.  Carl  Muller,  Professor  at  Halle,  says,  “  In  the 
present  condition  of  German  pharmacy  one  might  well 
consider  apothecaries  as  half  State-institutions,  the  phar¬ 
macist  himself,  however,  as  a  servant  of  the  State,  occu¬ 
pying  an  independent  position,  being  a  servant  at  his 
own  risk,  who  does  not  cost  the  State  anything,  but  who, 
nevertheless,  gives  to  the  State  what  can  be  required  of 
a  servant  of  the  State.” 

Again,  Buchner  writes,  “The  objects  of  pharmacies 
prove  that  they  are  not  free  trades,  but  medical  institu¬ 
tions,  which  have  to  subserve  the  general  weal,  and 
therefore  cannot  be  managed  ad  libitum ,  but  according 
to  definite  and  general  Government  Institutions.  The 
pharmacist  cannot,  therefore,  be  classed  among  the  free 
tradespeople,  nor  among  artisans  or  manufacturers  or 
merchants,  but  in  his  functions  occupies  a  position  by 
the  side  of  the  physician  among  the  functionaries  of  the 
public  weal.  In  the  free  trades  the  egotistic  principle  is 
the  ruling  one.  The  tradesman  always  cares  directly  for 
himself  and  his  own  advantage ;  according  to  natural 
right  he  knows  no  other  duties  than  those  of  every  citi¬ 
zen  of  the  State.  The  farmer  may  cultivate  his  field  or 
let  it  lie  fallow,  just  as  he  pleases  or  his  sense  of  the  ad¬ 
vantages  may  dictate ;  the  mechanic,  the  manufacturer 
produces  his  goods  according  to  his  own  ideas,  and  directs 
his  efforts  into  the  channel  of  free-trade  speculations. 
In  like  manner  the  merchant  may  open  or  shuf  his  busi¬ 
ness,  give  up  keeping  any  merchandise  he  pleases,  or 
keep  any  article  in  various  qualities,  and  sell  it  at  differ¬ 
ent  prices,  as  demand  and  luxury  may  dictate.  The  free 
tradesman  therefore  cares .  for  others  only  indirectly,  be¬ 
ing  directly  only  mindful  of  his  own  advantage.  The 
servant  of  the  State,  however,  the  medical  man,  the 
pharmacist,  in  short,  every  one  serving  the  State,  cares 
directly  for  the  nation,  and  the  State,  indirectly  only  for 
himself  and  his  family ;  for  he  must  always  act  as  the 
State  and  the  public  good  may  dictate,  must  sacrifice  his 
comforts,  private  advantages,  nay,  even  his  life,  for  the 
public  welfare.  He  receives  from  the  State  definite  in¬ 
structions,  and  must  solemnly  subscribe  to  such  instruc¬ 
tions.” 


|)  mailings  of  JMcnMc  SMeties. 

LINNEAN  SOCIETY. 

January  19th,  Mr.  Daniel  Hanbtjry,  F.R.S.,  F.L.S., 
read  some  “Historical  Notes  on  the  Radix  Galanga  of 
Pharmacy.”  The  drug  known  as  Galangal  has  been  an 
object  of  trade  for  many  centuries  between  Europe  and 
the  East.  It  is  a  stimulant  and  pungent  aromatic  of  the 
nature  of  ginger,  which  it  might  be  used  to  replace  ;  but 
the  many  virtues  ascribed  to  it  by  the  ancients  must  be 
ignored.  It  was  apparently  unknown  to  the  Greeks  and 
Romans ;  its  introduction  into  Europe  was  due  to  the 
Arabians,  in  whose  writings  it  is  frequently  mentioned, 
being  an  ingredient  of  the  compound  medicines  then  in 
use.  This  is  as  early  as  the  tenth  and  eleventh  centuries  ; 
in  the  fifteenth  century  it  was  already  in  common  use  in 
Europe.  In  1563,  it  was  first  pointed  out  that  there  arc 
two  kinds  of  Galangal,  the  smaller  kind  or  Radix  Galangm 
mi / 1 oris,  obtained  from  China,  and  the  larger  kind  from 
Java.  The  latter,  the  Alpinia  Galanga ,  Willd.,  is  not 
known  in  Europe ;  the  former,  named  by  Dr.  Hance 
Alpinia  officinarum ,  is  alone  seen  in  European  commerce. 
It  is  used,  to  a  considerable  extent,  in  the  East  as  a  sub¬ 
stitute  for  ginger.  Considerable  quantities  are  annually 
sold  in  London,  but  entirely  for  shipment  to  the  Conti¬ 
nent,  a  large  quantity  being  consumed  in  Russia.  It  is 
used  by  brewers,  and  'also  for  the  purpose  of  giving  an 
aromatic  flavour  to  vinegar.  By  the  Tartars  it  is  used 
as  a  tea,  and  in  some  places  as  a  cattle  medicine.  During 
last  year  2300  cwt.  were  exported  from  China. 


<514 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [January  28, 1871. 


SOCIETY  OF  ARTS. 

On  Fermentation. 

BY  PROFESSOR  A.  W.  "WILLIAMSON,  F.R.S. 

Lecture  IV. — concluded. 

M.  Pasteur  has  introduced  a  process  which,  I  ga¬ 
ther  from  his  statements,  has  already  been  adopted 
by  a  considerable  number  of  wine-growers  and  mer¬ 
chants,  which  goes  to  the  root  of  the  matter  in  such 
-a  way  as  to  leave  nothing  to  chance,  for  he  has  pro¬ 
ceeded  upon  the  knowledge  previously  acquired  by  his 
accurate  and  masterly  experiments,  regarding  the  nature 
of  all  these  little  organisms,  and  the  conditions  which 
.are  favourable  to  their  development,  and  which  are  de¬ 
structive  of  them.  He  finds  that  when  wine  is  heated 
to  near  the  boiling-point,  in  any  vessel  in  which  it  may 
be  enclosed,  and  left  in  that  vessel  to  cool,  it  may  then 
be  kept  (provided  the  vessel  be  not  opened)  for  any  length 
of  time  without  undergoing  any  of  these  deleterious 
changes.  He  finds  also  that  so  high  a  temperature  as 
that  I  have  named  is  not  absolutely  necessary,  but  that 
even  if  wine,  which  on  keeping  would  be  subject  to  the 
malady  of  acetification  or  ropiness,  be  heated  to  a  tem¬ 
perature  of  G0°  Centigrade  (that  is,  about  140°  in  the 
elumsy  and  inconvenient  scale  which  is  still,  I  am  sorry 
to  say,  in  common  use  in  this  country),  it  will  kill  these 
organisms  completely ;  and  the  experiment  is  so  easily 
performed  that  any  of  you  may  do  it  with  a  very  mode- 
pate  amount  of  care.  You  ought  to  perform  the  experi¬ 
ment  with  several  bottles  at  the  same  time,  and  to  keep 
some  similar  bottles  in  the  original  state,  in  order  to. 
observe  the  difference.  In  the  month  of  September,  when 
I  last  saw  M.  Pasteur,  he  gave  me  several  bottles  of  wine, 
some  of  which  were  in  their  original  state,  whilst  the 
-others  had,  after  bottling,  been  heated  to  a  temperature 
of  60°,  or  a  little  more.  I  have  not  yet  opened  any  of 
them,  but  I  have  some  of  each  sort  here,  and  we  will 
presently  see  what  has  been  the  result  of  the  treatment. 
I  ought  to  say  that  they  have  not  been  kept  with  proper 
precautions,  for,  on  opening  the  case,  I  found  that  it  had 
been  left  in  such  a  position  that  the  bottles  had  been 
standing  with  their  necks  upwards,  which  is  not  very 
favourable  to  the  preservation  of  the  wine.  The  experi¬ 
ment  is  so  simple,  that  it  is  worth  while  for  everybody 
to  perform  it.  You  should  take  some  light  wine,  which 
you  have  reason  to  believe  will  not  keep  well ;  the  bot¬ 
tles  should  not  be  too  tightly  corked,  and  there  should 
be  a  little  space  left  below  the  cork.  You  put  several  of 
these  bottles  into  a  vessel  of  water,  cautiously  if  the  water 
be  warm,  to  avoid  breaking  them,  and  with  them  'one 
bottle  full  of  water,  uncorked,  you  then  warm  the  whole 
very  gradually,  until  you  find,  by  inserting  a  thermo¬ 
meter  into  the  open  bottle  of  water,  that  the  temperature 
is  up  to  140°  Fahrenheit;  you  then  allow  the  whole  to 
cool  slowly.  The  corks  are  generally  lifted  a  little  by 
the  expansion  of  the  liquid  and  air  within  the  bottles, 
and  will  require  to  be  struck  in  again  to  their  proper 
place.  The  same  operation  is  performed  on  a  large  scale 
by  wine-growers  and  merchants  in  France,  in  casks,  and 
.several  contrivances  have  been  described  for  the  purpose. 
'The  simplest  of  all  is  to  put  a  cask,  with  its  bung  up¬ 
wards,  into  any  convenient  vessel  of  water,  so  placing  it 
that  the  top  of  the  cask  is  just  above  the  water.  The 
water  surrounding  the  cask  is  then  warmed  gradually  until 
it  is  found,  by  lifting  the  bung  and  inserting  a  thermo¬ 
meter,  that  the  wine  is  of  a  temperature  60°  or  70°  Centi¬ 
grade.  The  bung  is  then  closed,  and  the  whole  allowed 
to  cool.  Another  form  of  apparatus  has  been  figured  in 
■ft  late  book  of  M.  Pasteur’s  on  acetification,  which  con¬ 
sists  of  a  cask  with  one  of  its  ends  removed,  and  replaced 
by  a  sort  of  double  bottom  of  metal.  This  cask  is  then 
put  on  the  fire,  so  that  the  water  in  the  false  bottom  may 
be  heated,  and  raise  the  temperature  of  the  wine  in  the 
.cask  above,  without  danger  of  burning  it.  M.  Pasteur 
recommends  that  when  the  wine  has  reached  the  right 


temperature  it  should  be  allowed  to  run,  while  still  hot, 
into  the  cask  into  which  it  is  to  be  kept,  so  that  any  little 
germs  which  may  be  present  there  may  bo  as  much 
heated  as  the  wine  which  comes  in  contact  with  them. 
He  heats  the  wine  in  this  operation  to  about  65°  or  703, 
but  he  says  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  even  50°  is 
sufficient.  Upon  all  occasions  on  which  it  has  been  tested 
it  has  been  found  that  the  little  parasites  which  are  pre¬ 
sent,  and  which  are  the  seeds  of  the  maladies  of  which 
we  have  been  speaking — and,  no  doubt,  other  organisms 
— are  changed  in  such  a  manner  as  to  be  practically  dead. 
Whether  they  are  susceptible  of  being  revived  is  an¬ 
other  thing.  It  is  not  known,  and  it  is  not  affirmed  that 
there  are  no  germs  which  might  not,  by  contact  with 
oxygen,  be  afterwards  brought  into  life ;  but  practically 
there  are  no  organisms  in  the  wine,  after  that  tempera¬ 
ture  has  been  applied  to  it,  capable  of  growing  in  the 
closed  vessel  in  which  it  is  kept.  M.  Pasteur  says  that 
if  the  wine  were,  after  that  treatment,  bottled,  he  would 
expect  that  some  bottles  would  contain  wine  which  would 
spoil,  whereas  the  greater  number  probably  would  not, 
the  reason  being  that  the  wine,  on  its  passage  from  the 
cask  to  the  bottle,  would  be  liable  to  get  some  little 
germs  from  the  air  which  possibly  might  retain  some 
vitality,  which  would  be  stimulated  by  the  oxygen. 
Therefore,  all  he  affirms  is,  that  when  the  wine  is  kept 
in  the  same  vessel  in  which  it  was  heated,  it  undergoes 
no  further  change  whatever. 

With  regard  to  the  ordinary  process  of  aerating  wine 
by  keeping  it  in  bottles,  1  should  like  to  show  you  an 
experiment  which  illustrates,  in  a  very  simple  way,  what 
is  a  very  familiar  well-known  fact.  Every  one  who  has 
had  occasion  to  keep  wine  knows  what  an  immense  dif¬ 
ference  there  is  if  you  keep  a  bottle  standing  upwards  or 
lying  down.  The  difference  is  of  this  kind.  If  it  stands 
upwards,  the  cork  is  dry,  and  air  has  access  at  a  very 
rapid  rate  to  the  contents  of  the  bottle,  and  the  wine  gets 
oxidized  and  spoilt ;  whereas,  when  the  bottle  is  left 
lying  down,  the  cork  is  wet,  and  the  air  has  access  much 
less  rapidly, — in  fact,  only  at  such  a  low  rate  as  is  suit¬ 
able  for  mellowing  and  improving  the  wine.  I  have  hero 
a  couple  of  glass  tubes,  both  open  at  one  end,  and  closed 
at  the  upper  end  by  a  porous  substance,  which  I  may  call 
a  cork  —it  is,  in  fact,  a  cork  made  of  plaster  of  Paris,  a 
particularly  porous  substance, — one  cork  being  wetted, 
so  that  the  pores  are  full  of  water,  whilst  the  other  has 
been  carefully  kept  dry,  and  this  one  is  covered  for  the 
present  with  a  little  cap  to  prevent  the  access  of  the  air. 
Here,  in  another  vessel,  is  a  mixture  which  is  giving  off 
hydrogen  gas,  which  is  passing  upwards  into  these  two 
tubes,  one  with  a  wet  cork  and  one  with  a  dry  one.  After 
a  minute  or  two,  both  tubes  will  be  full  of  pretty  nearly 
pure  hydrogen,  and  then  we  will  remove  them,  and  put 
the  lower  ends  into  this  jar  containing  a  coloured  liquid. 
Most  of  you  know  that  this  porous  substance  allows  hy¬ 
drogen  to  pass  through  it  more  rapidly  even  than  the  air 
which  is  now  outside  passes  in,  and  therefore  as  the  hy¬ 
drogen  passes  out  of  these  tubes  more  rapidly  than  the 
air  comes  in,  the  liquid  will  be  sucked  up  in  the  tubes, 
and  we  shall  have  a  measure  of  the  rate  at  which  our 
gas  passes  through  the  wet  cork  and  the  dry  cork,  by 
noticing  the  difference  in  the  rise  of  the  liquid  in  the 
two  tubes.  If  it  passes  quicker  through  the  dry  cork 
than  the  wet  one,  we  shall  find  that  the  liquid  will  rise 
more  rapidly  in  that  tube,  and  I  think  you  will  find  that 
the  difference  will  be  very  great  indeed.  They  aro  now 
both  standing  in  the  coloured  liquid,  and  already  there 
is  a  perceptible  rise  in  the  tube  with  the  dry  plug ;  but 
in  the  other  one  I  cannot  yet  see  the  liquid  at  all.  So  it 
is  in  the  simple  case  of  a  wine  bottle.  If  the  cork  of  a 
bottle  is  wetted,  so  as  to  allow  an  exceedingly  slow  diffu¬ 
sion  of  air  through  the  contents,  the  wine  gets  very  slowly 
oxidized,  and  undergoes  only  that  gradual  transformation 
which  is  wanted ;  whereas,  in  the  other  case,  it  is  turneu 
sour  and  spoilt  by  too  rapid  oxidation. 

I  could  gladly  "have  entered  upon  many  other  facts  and 


January  28,  1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


G15 


considerations  which  belong  to  this  subject,  hut  one  must 
stop  somewhere.  I  cannot,  however,  part  from  you  with¬ 
out  expressing  my  very  strong  sense  of  the  debt  which 
we  owe  to  that  great  investigator  whom  I  have  already 
quoted  so  many  times.  I  think  there  are  few  precedents 
of  research  so  fruitful  as  those  of  M.  Pasteur,  if  we  con¬ 
sider,  not  only  the  theoretical  importance,  I  mean  with 
regard  to  our  knowledge  of  the  processes  of  life,  and  the 
origin  of  life,  of  his  investigations  regarding  germs  in 
the  air,  and  these  processes  of  fermentation ;  but  if  we 
take  into  account  also  the  fact  that  he  has  succeeded  in 
working  out  one  of  the  most  complete  practical  applica¬ 
tions  of  it  in  a  process  like  wine-making  and  keeping, — 
we  cannot  refrain  from  admiring  the  truly  perfect  adap¬ 
tation  of  the  highest  science  to  a  useful  purpose.  I  will 
now  proceed  to  open  these  two  sets  of  bottles,  some  of 
which  have  been  heated  and  some  not,  and  I  hope  the 
result  will  be  satisfactory. 

The  samples  of  wine  were  then  tasted  by  the  audience, 
the  difference  being  most  remarkable,  not  only  in  taste, 
but  also  in  colour  and  general  appearance. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  lecture,  Mr.  Foster,  the  secre¬ 
tary,  proposed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Professor  Williamson, 
which  was  carried  with  acclamation,  and  suitably  ac¬ 
knowledged. 


LONDON  INSTITUTION. 

On  Wednesday  evening,  Professor  Tyndall  delivered 
his  interesting  lecture  on  “Dust  and  Disease,”  in  the 
theatre  of  the  London  Institution,  Finsbury  Circus.  The 
theatre  was  filled  with  an  audience  of  ladies  and  gentle¬ 
men,  who  seemed  quite  absorbed  in  the  interesting  ex¬ 
periments  and  the  important  facts  brought  under  their 
notice.  As  the  lecture  is  a  repetition,  with  some  slight 
variations,  of  the  one  which  was  delivered  some  time  ago 
by  the  learned  professor  at  the  Royal  Institution,  it  would 
he  superfluous  to  enter  into  a  repetition  of  details,  but  it 
may  be  generally  stated  that  the  object  of  the  paper  was 
to  show  that  “  dust”  existed  in  abundance  in  the  atmo¬ 
sphere;  that,  mixed  with  this  “dust”  were  “germs” 
which  were  the  origin  of  vegetable  and  even  animal  ex¬ 
istence;  that  these  were  most  injurious  to  health,  and 
“that  it  was  now  becoming  an  object  with  surgeons,  and 
especially  with  Mr.  Lister,  of  Edinburgh,  to  endeavour 
to  prevent  the  entrance  of  these  germs  into  the  human 
body,  in  which,  if  they  once  got  a  lodgment,  they  pro¬ 
duced  fermentation  and  putrefaction.  The  air  could  be 
purified  by  strong  heat,  by  chemical  processes,  and  by 
filtration.  The  application  of  the  latter  method  had  al¬ 
ready  been  productive  of  much  good  in  certain  trades. 
The  lecturer  was  greatly  applauded  at  the  conclusion  of 
his  lecture,  which  lasted  over  an  hour. — Daily  News. 


MEETINGS  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 

Monday  . Medical  Society,  at  9  p.m. 

London  Institution,  at  4  p.m. — “The  First 
Principles  of  Biology  ”  (Educational 
Course).  By  Prof.  Huxley. 

Tuesday  . Loyal  Institution,  at  3  p.m. — “The  Nutri¬ 

tion  of  Animals.”  Professor  Foster. 

Wednesday. ..Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Great  Britain,  at 
8.30  p.m.  “  The  Microscope  and  its  Reve¬ 
lations.”  Dr.  Carpenter. 

Society  of  Arts,  at  8  p.m. 

Thursday . Loyal  Society,  at  8.30  p.m. 

Loyal  Institution,  at  3  p.m. — “Davy’s  Dis¬ 
coveries  in  Chemistry.”  Professor  Odling. 

London  Institution,  at  7.30  p.m. — “  The  Ac¬ 
tion,  Nature  and  Detection  of  Poisons.” 
F.  S.  Barff. 

Linnean  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

Chemical  Society ,  at  8  p.m. 

Friday  . Loyal  Institution,  at  9  p.m. — “Some  Ex¬ 

periments  on  Successive  Polarization  of 
Light  made  by  Sir  C.  Wheatstone.”  W. 
Spottiswoode. 


f arliwittsqr  anh  ITato  $ ramWitp. 

Death  from  an  Overdose  of  Morphia. 

On  Wednesday,  January  18th,  an  inquest  was  held  at 
Mossley  on  the  body  of  a  child  eleven  months  old,  the 
daughter  of  Mr.  Henry  Jones,  chemist  and  druggist. 
On  the  15th  of  December  the  child,  being  unwell,  was 
seen  by  Mr.  Dex  Bean,  surgeon,  of  Mossley,  who  inti¬ 
mated  his  intention  of  prescribing  for  it,  and  that  a  mix¬ 
ture  would  be  supplied  from  his  surgery.  Upon  return¬ 
ing  home  that  gentleman,  following  his  usual  custom, 
wrote  out  a  prescription  in  a  book  kept  for  the  purpose. 
The  ingredients  ordered  were  two  drachms  of  solution  of 
tartarized  antimony  with  syrup  of  hydrate  of  chloral, 
and  colouring  matter.  This  prescription  was  left  to  be 
compounded  by  his  pupil,  Mr.  John  Simeon  Dyson,  who 
had  been  employed  in  the  surgery  a  year  and  three- 
quarters.  Upon  receiving  the  mixture,  Mrs.  Jones  gave 
a  teaspoonful  of  it  to  the  child,  who  five  minutes  after¬ 
wards  fell  into  a  deep  sleep.  Mr.  Bean,  calling  in  the 
afternoon,  noticed  that  the  child  was  breathing  very 
heavily,  and  had  it  removed  from  the  cradle  where  it 
had  been  placed,  when  Mr.  Jones,  who  was  present,  imme¬ 
diately  exclaimed  that  the  child  was  narcotized.  It  ap¬ 
peared  to  be  perfectly  comatose  ;  remedies  were  applied 
without  effect ;  convulsions  followed,  and  the  child  died 
the  following  morning.  After  the  death,  Mr.  Bean  and 
Mr.  Jones  experimented  upon  a  cat  with  some  of  the  con¬ 
tents  of  the  bottle.  The  cat  was  not  affected  until  nearly 
an  hour  afterwards ;  it  then  became  almost  motionless, 
lying  on  the  floor,  discharging  saliva  from  its  mouth, 
and  there  appeared  to  be  a  contraction  of  the  pupils  of 
the  cat’s  eyes.  The  animal  recovered,  however,  and  Mr. 
Jones’s  suspicions  being  somewhat  allayed,  the  child  was 
buried.  After  the  burial  he  obtained  an  analysis  of  the 
contents  of  the  bottle,  upon  the  receipt  of  which  he  com¬ 
municated  with  the  coroner,  and  the  body  was  exhumed. 

At  the  inquest  Mr.  Bean,  in  his  evidence,  stated  that 
in  the  surgery  he  kept  a  solution  of  hydrochlorate  of 
morphia.  The  quantity  of  morphia  he  always  used  him¬ 
self  and  directed  Mr.  Dyson  to  use  was  four  grains  to  an 
ounce  of  water.  The  drugs  were  left  to  be  compounded 
by  his  assistant,  Mr.  Dyson.  No  other  person  was 
authorized,  or  even  able  to  compound  the  medicine.  He 
had  not  interfered  with  the  dispensing  department  for 
the  last  twelve  months.  He  could  not  say  where  the 
bottle  containing  chloral  was  kept  exactly.  Mr.  Dyson 
had  had  one  and  three-quarter  years’  experience  in  dis¬ 
pensing.  The  solution  of  morphia  was  kept  in  a  violet- 
blue  glass  bottle  with  glass  stopper.  The  solution  of 
antimony  was  kept  in  a  white  flint-glass  ounce  bottle.  In 
answer  to  questions  put  to  the  witness  by  a  solicitor  who 
was  present  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Dyson,  he  said  that  Mr. 
Dyson  had  made  up  thousands  of  prescriptions,  and  had 
exhibited  such  an  amount  of  knowledge  of  his  profes¬ 
sion  as  to  cause  no  fear.  He  had  often  examined  him  as 
to  his  knowledge  of  the  drugs  he  dispensed.  Mr.  Dyson 
had  made  them  up  without  supervision  for  sixteen  months. 
He  considered  the  art  of  dispensing  to  be  merely  mecha¬ 
nical,  and  that  the  previous  education  of  a  person  would 
not  have  much  to  do  with  it. 

Mr.  Edward  Davies,  F.C.S.,  of  the  Royal  Institution, 
Liverpool,  described  the  result  of  an  analysis  made  of 
the  contents  of  the  bottle.  He  found  chloral,  morphia, 
sugar  and  some  colouring  matter,  which  he  believed  to 
be  cochineal.  He  tested  for  antimony,  but  found  none. 
On  one  occasion,  when  making  experiments,  he  gave 
three  grains  of  sulphate  of  morphia  to  a  cat,  and  it  pro¬ 
duced  no  perceptible  effect  upon  it.  He  could  not.  say 
exactly  how  small  a  quantity  of  morphia  would  kill  a 
child ;  but  as  the  result  of  reading  he  should  say  that 
one-eighth  of  a  grain  would  be  sufficient.  In  the  mix¬ 
ture  he  analysed  there  would  be  about  one-fifteenth  of  a 
grain  in  each  spoonful.  The  effects  of  a  dose  would 
depend,  in  a  great  measure  on  the  idiosyncrasy  of  the 
recipient. 


GIG 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[January  28,  1871. 


Mr.  Bean,  after  hearing  this  evidence,  said  that  he 
thought  the  comatose  state  had  been  produced  by  the 
morphia. 

In  consequence  of  Mr.  Bean  expressing  an  opinion 
that  it  would  be  difficult,  from  the  decomposition  of  the 
body,  to  ascertain  the  actual  cause  of  death,  the  jury 
decided  not  to  order  a  post-mortem  examination,  and  re¬ 
turned  a  verdict  that  the  death  occurred  from  misadven¬ 
ture,  to  which  they  added  an  expression  of  regret  that 
the  investigation  had  not  taken  place  sooner. — The  Old¬ 
ham  Chronicle . 

Seizure  of  Worthless  Tea  in  Dublin. 

Some  time  since,  in  the  London  papers,  there  appeared 
an  account  of  a  vessel  landing  in  that  port,  having  on 
board  a  cargo  of  what  is  termed  “  lye  tea.”  The  cargo 
was  condemned  in  London,  but  it  seems  to  have  found  its 
way  to  Dublin,  for  in  the  Southern  Divisional  Court  Mr. 
Norwood  and  J.  0.  Byrne  applied  for  an  order  that  some 
unsound  tea  should  be  destroyed.  It  was  sold  by  auction 
in  the  Commercial  Buildings,  but  the  purchaser  had  it 
examined  by  the  City  analyst.  The  tea  was  found  to  be 
utterly  worthless  and  useless.  The  Public  Etealth  Com¬ 
mittee  were  apprehensive  lest  this  kind  of  tea  should 
get  into  circulation.  Mr.  Barton  made  an  order  for  its 
destruction. 

Sale  of  Petroleum  without  a  Licence. 

At  Sheffield,  on  Monday  the  16th  inst.,  Mr.  John  T. 
Dobb,  druggist,  appeared  in  answer  to  a  summons 
charging  him  with  selling  petroleum  without  having  a 
licence.  In  September,  1869,  Mr.  Dobb  applied  at  the 
town  clerk’s  office  for  two  licences  for  the  sale  of  petro¬ 
leum  at  his  shops  in  West  Bar  and  Meadow  Street 
respectively.  Mr.  Dobb  was  not  satisfied  with  the  li¬ 
cences  granted  and  desired  to  be  allowed  to  sell  two 
hundred  gallons ;  this  permission  the  Gfeneral  Purposes 
Committee  of  the  Town  Council  would  not  grant.  Mr. 
Dobb  declined  to  take  the  licences  for  forty  gallons,  and 
since  last  September  has  been  selling  petroleum  without 
holding  a  licence  at  all.  He  was  fined  £1  and  costs. — 
Grocer. 


into  a  comatose  state,  and  died  within  forty- two  hours. 
A  verdict  in  accordance  with  the  evidence  was  returned. 
— Standard. 


Supposed  Death  from  Subcutaneous  Injection  of 

Morphia. 

An  inquest  has  been  held  at  Manchester  on  the  body 
of  Mr.  Sutcliffe,  late  Physician’s- Assistant  at  the  Royal 
Infirmary,  who  was  found  dead.  As  it  was  generally 
reported  that  he  was  in  the  habit  of  using  morphia  by 
subcutaneous  injection,  a  post-mortem  examination  was 
made. 

Dr.  Buckley  deposed  that  there  was  no  morbid  disease 
sufficient  to  cause  death.  The  liver  and  kidneys  were 
diseased ;  the  other  organs  were  in  a  healthy  state,  but 
congested.  There  was  also  congestion  of  the  membranes 
of  the  brain.  He  found  no  traces  of  morphia  in  the  sto¬ 
mach.  He  understood  that  deceased  had  been  in  the 
habit  of  taking  subcutaneous  doses  of  morphia,  and  a 
dose  acting  on  a  depressed  system  might  be  fatal.  A 
solution  of  morphia  and  a  morphia  syringe  had  been 
found  in  the  deceased’s  room.  The  latter  article  might 
have  been  used,  though  he  did  not  think  it  had.  Prom 
what  he  knew  of  deceased,  he  did  not  think  he  would 
have  intentionally  taken  an  overdose  of  morphia. 

The  jury  returned  a  verdict  of  “  Death  from  toxaemia, 
aggravated  by  a  dose  of  morphia  taken  as  medicine  to 
produce  sleep.” — Medical  Times  and  Gazette. 


Death  from  an  Overdose  of  Opium. 

An  inquest  was  held  recently  at  Mitcheldean  on  the 
body  of  Mrs.  Masson,  the  wife  of  a  surgeon.  It  appeared 
from  the  evidence  that  the  deceased  had  suffered  severely 
from  neuralgia,  and  frequently  took  opium  to  relieve  the 
pain.  On  the  occurrence  of  the  last  attack  she  seems  to 
have  taken  an  overdose.  Two  hours  afterwards  she  fell 


On  a  Localized  Outbreak  of  Typhoid  Fever  in- 

Islington  during  the  Months  of  July  and  August 

1870,  traced  to  the  Use  of  Impure  Milk.  By  Edward 

Ballard,  M.D.  London:  Churchills. 

This  interesting  Report  of  Dr.  Ballard’s,  read  origi¬ 
nally  before  the  Association  of  Medical  Officers  of  Health, 
and  which  has  since  appeared  in  a  more  or  less  complete 
form  in  several  of  the  medical  journals,  has  now  been 
printed  and  published,  in  a  pamphlet  form,  for  that  asso¬ 
ciation,  in  compliance  with  a  resolution  passed,  after  the 
paper  was  read,  by  the  members  present.  The  subject 
of  the  paper,  although  at  the  first  glance  purely  medical, 
is  really  one  of  such  wide-spread  interest,  treated  in  so 
masterly  a  manner,  that  we  gladly  take  the  opportunity 
of  its  publication  in  a  separate  form  to  give  a  brief 
resume  of  it,  referring  those  of  our  readers  who  may 
desire  fuller  details  to  the  pamphlet  itself. 

A  serious  outbreak  of  typhoid  fever  having  occurred 
within  a  limited  area  in  the  parish  of  Islington,  which 
is  under  the  sanitary  supervision  of  Dr.  Ballard,  he  was 
induced  to  make  a  thorough  investigation  for  the  causes 
which  led  to  so  startling  an  event.  In  the  course  of  his 
inquiries  he  found  that  between  July  3rd  and  September 
10th,  168  individuals,  living  in  sixty-seven  houses  in 
this  district,  had  suffered  more  or  less  severe  attacks  of 
typhoid  fever,  of  whom  twenty-six  died.  The  area  of 
the  district  in  which  these  cases  occurred  is  described  as 
being  the  third  part  of  the  segment  of  a  little  more  than 
half  a  circle,  the  radius  of  which  is  a  quarter  of  a  mile, 
formed  by  the  North  London  Railway  passing  through 
it.  Within  the  same  period,  in  the  whole  of  the  rest  of 
the  parish  (consisting  of  3127  acres)  there  were  twenty 
fatal  cases. 

To  the  inquiry,  how  did  the  disease  originate  ?  four 
different  answers  were  suggested.  These  were — (1)  some 
alterations  made  in  the  railway  cutting  by  which  an  ex¬ 
tensive  surface  of  fresh  earth  had  been  exposed,  and,  it 
was  alleged,  several  old  sewers  and  drains  had  been  cut 
across ;  (2)  the  smell  proceeding  from  the  dung-shoot  in 
a  large  yard  where  several  hundred  horses  were  kept  ; 
(3)  various  local  causes  existing  in  the  several  houses 
invaded  by  the  fever ;  and  (4)  the  milk  supplied  by  a 
tradesman  in  the  neighbourhood. 

Careful  investigations,  based  upon  the  first  three  sug¬ 
gestions  were  made;  but  it  was  found  that  although 
they  might  possibly  have  been  sufficient  to  account  for  a 
small  proportion  of  the  cases,  yet  that  neither  indivi¬ 
dually  nor  collectively  were  they  sufficient  to  explain  the 
large  number  that  had  occurred. 

The  fourth  suggestion,  that  the  disease  had  its  origin 
in  the  supply  of  milk  by  a  certain  tradesman,  was  made 
under  the  following  circumstances : — A  lady,  in  whose 
family  fever  had  occurred,  was  informed  that  four 
families  of  her  acquaintance  were  also  suffering  from  it. 
She  remembered  that  she  herself  had,  some  little  time 
before,  changed  her  milkman,  and  had  likewise  induced 
these  friends  of  hers  to  adopt  the  same  tradesman.  She 
formed  her  conclusions  accordingly,  and  imparted  them 
to  her  medical  attendant.  It  happened  that  that  gentle¬ 
man  had  attended  the  family  of  this  very  milkman.  He 
made  some  cautious  inquiries,  and  found  that  out  of 
eleven  families,  members  of  which  were  under  his  care 
for  typhoid  fever,  ten  of  them  were  supplied  with  milk 
from  the  same  source.  This  discovery  being  communi¬ 
cated  to  Dr.  Ballard,  led  to  further  inquiries,  resulting 
in  the  establishment  of  an  evident  connection  between 
the  cases  of  fever  which  had  occurred,  and  the  supply  of 
milk  from  this  particular  daily. 

We  have  not  space  here  to  reproduce  the  evidence 


January  28, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


G17 


which  led  to  this  conviction,  hut  will  content  ourselves 
with  quoting1  a  description  of  how  the  typhoid  “  picked 
out,  as  it  were,  the  customers  of  this  dairy  in  particular 
streets  and  rows  of  houses.  Thus,  in  one  long  road,  and 
a  street  issuing  from  it,  at  a  distance  of  a  mile  or  more 
from  the  dairy,  it  supplied  three  families ;  of  these,  two 
had  typhoid.  It  supplied  two  families  in  a  street  with 
about  thirty  houses ;  one  suffered  from  typhoid,  in  the 
other  died  an  old  lady  from  ‘  choleraic  diarrhoea.’  It 
supplied  four  families  in  a  new  neighbourhood  of  about 
seventy  houses ;  three  of  these  families  had  typhoid.  It 
supplied  four  families  in  a  crescent  with  twenty-five 
houses  ;  all  four  had  typhoid  (in  one  only  a  single  mild 
case  occurred).  It  supplied  four  families  in  a  row  of 
nine  houses ;  typhoid  occurred  in  two  of  them,  and  in 
the  other  two,  cases  of  a  mild  febrile  character  (not 
■enumerated)  occurred.  It  supplied  four  families  in  two 
■opposite  rows  of  houses,  altogether  about  sixty-seven ; 
three  of  them  had  typhoid  happen  in  them.  It  supplied 
four  families  in  a  square  with  fifty-nine  houses ;  all  four 
had  cases  of  typhoid  happen  in  them,  etc.  And  these 
were,  so  far  as  I  can  ascertain,  the  only  cases  in  these 
several  localities.” 

It  is  curious  to  notice  how  in  families  that  were  at¬ 
tacked,  women  and  children,  as  those  who  ordinarily 
consume  most  milk,  were  the  first  to  suffer. 

“  Thus,  in  the  family  living  at  the  cowyard,  the 
daughter,  while  engaged  as  a  nurse  in  a  situation,  alone 
got  the  dairy  milk  with  regularity,  and  she  was  the  first 
attacked ;  the  second  case  in  this  house  (her  mother)  was 
a  month  later.  In  a  family  consisting  of  the  father  and 
mother,  who  never  took  any  milk  at  any  time,  two  ser¬ 
vants  and  four  children,  all  had  typhoid,  except  the 
father  and  mother,  the  children  commencing.  In  another 
family,  consisting  of  mother,  two  servants,  three  girls 
and  a  hoy  of  seventeen,  one  of  the  girls  and  the  hoy  took 
milk  porridge  daily  at  breakfast ;  the  other  girls,  with 
the  mother,  took  little  milk  comparatively.  The  ser¬ 
vants,  complaining  that  the  beer  was  sour,  asked  per¬ 
mission  to  have  milk  instead  of  beer.  The  girl  and  boy 
who  ate  porridge  and  the  two  servants  were  alone  at¬ 
tacked.  In  another  family,  where  a  daughter  aged 
eighteen  and  a  son  aged  five  years  were  attacked,  the 
daughter,  I  was  told,  was  a  great  drinker  of  milk,  and 
she  was  attacked  a  fortnight  before  the  son.  In  a  house 
■occupied  by  several  families,  using  one  privy,  and  where 
the  drain-smells  from  an  over-filled  cesspool  were  very 
■offensive,  only  one  elderly  man  and  woman  were  attacked. 
They  alone  drank  milk  from  the  dairy;  the  other  families, 
being  poor,  had  never  any  milk  at  all  and  altogether 
■escaped.  In  another  family,  the  only  person  attacked 
was  a  young  girl,  who,  being  in  delicate  health,  took 
more  milk  than  all  the  rest  of  the  family.  Mr.  Clifton 
■also  told  me  of  a  case  of  typhoid,  which  is  not  enumerated 
here,  in  the  person  of  a  young  lady  whose  family  was 
supplied  by  some  other  purveyor,  but  who  fancied  to 
drink  daily  a  glass  of  milk  from  the  dairy  in  question. 
No  one  else  in  the  house  ever  took  this  milk,  and  she 
alone  suffered.” 

It  is  very  significant  that  those  families  who  lived  in 
houses  in  which  local  causes  of  fever  existed  were  the 
first  to  suffer. 

And  now  having  discovered  the  vehicle  by  which  the 
fever  was  spread,  and  having  narrowed  the  limits  of  the 
search,  Dr.  Ballard  set  to  work  with  fresh  zeal.  By  a 
process  of  exclusion  he  eliminated  many  possible  and 
probable  causes,  and  at  length  was  led  to  the  conclusion 
that  the  source  of  all  the  mischief  lay  in  an  underground 
water-tank.  Upon  this  tank  being  exposed,  it  appeared 
that  the  wood  of  which  it  was  made  had  rotted ;  and  that 
by  various  rat  burrows  it  was  brought  into  connection 
with  two  drains,  so  that  it  was  possible  that  under  cer¬ 
tain  circumstances  the  sewage  ran  into  the  tank.  The 
•chief  difficulty  that  now  arose  was  the  assertion  that  this 
water  was  never  used  to  mix  with  the  milk,  but  only  for 
the  horses,  washing  the  cans,  and  general  cleaning  pur¬ 


poses.  Even  supposing  this  to  have  been  the  case,  there 
would  be  a  small  quantity  of  the  foul  water  left  in  the 
cans  after  washing,  and  considering  the  small  admixture 
of  sewage  that  will  poison  a  well,  and  the  fact  that  milk 
is  a  substance  which  has  remarkable  relations  to  chemi¬ 
cal  ferments,  the  author  is  disposed  to  think  that  suffi¬ 
cient  of  the  poison  would  have  existed  in  it  to  accoimt 
for  what  occurred.  But  we  think  that  it  is  hardly  neces¬ 
sary  to  fall  back  upon  so  slight  a  cause,  as  although  the 
statement  of  the  family,  “that  if  ever  any  water  was 
added  it  was  from  the  tap,”  might  be  true  as  to  the  rule, 
there  may  have  been  exceptions  to  it  in  practice,  and  the 
pump  connected  with  the  tank  was  so  situated  that  it 
could  not  be  seen  from  the  master’s  house.  At  any  rate, 
we  do  not  see  in  what  other  way  the  following  fact, 
ascertained  since  the  reading  of  the  paper  is  to  be  ac¬ 
counted  for,  as  the  drainings  of  the  cans  would  have 
been  as  likely  to  affect  one  sort  of  milk  as  the  other. 

“  In  a  street  of  about  fifty  villa  residences,  two  of  the 
houses  only  were  supplied  from  the  dairy.  In  only  one 
of  these  did  typhoid  occur.  The  family  consisted  of  the 
father  and  mother  ;  three  boys,  aged  two,  four1  and  five 
years ;  a  baby,  aged  ten  months ;  two  servants  and  a 
governess.  Two  kinds  of  milk  were  supplied  to  the 
house  from  the  dairy — namely,  ordinary  milk  at  four- 
pence  per  quart,  and  ‘  babies’  milk  ’  at  fivepence.  Only 
the  baby  got  the  latter.  It  was  better  than  the  ordinary 
milk,  as  ‘  it  threw  up  more  cream.’  It  kept  well.  The 
master  of  the  house,  on  one  occasion  before  the  outbreak, 
had  the  curiosity  to  examine  the  ordinary  milk  with  the 
sp.  gr.  galactometer,  and  following  the  directions  accom¬ 
panying  the  instrument,  inferred  that  one-foui'th  of  the 
bulk  was  added  water.  The  youngest  boy  took  most 
milk,  but  all  three  boys  had  bread  and  milk  for  break¬ 
fast.  The  boys  and  the  mother  were  ill  in  the  country, 
whither  the  family  had  gone  for  their  summer  trip. 
The  youngest  boy  was  the  first  attacked,  on  July  17, 
and  was  taken  out  of  town  the  next  day.  The  baby  re¬ 
mained  well,  as  also  did  the  father,  the  governess  and 
one  servant.  Of  all  the  family,  one  servant  only  re¬ 
mained  at  home  and  continued  to  use  the  milk.  She 
was  taken  ill  about  August  1  and  had  a  sharp  attack  of 
typhoid.  At  the  other  house  in  this  street,  the  part  of 
the  family  at  home  during  June,  July  and  August  was 
the  father,  mother  and  one  servant.  At  this  house 
nothing  but  ‘  babies’  milk  ’  was  taken  in,  the  extra 
price  being  habitually  paid.  No  fever  occurred  at  this 
house.” 

With  this  quotation  we  close,  having  given  a  brief 
outline  of  the  subject  of  the  pamphlet,  but  again  recom¬ 
mending  those  of  our  readers  who  wish  for  further  details 
to  obtain  it,  and  read  it  for  themselves. 

BOOKS  RECEIVED. 

Method  and  Medicine.  An  Essay.  By  Balthazar  W. 

Foster,  M.D.  London :  Churchills.  1870. 

A  Manual  of  Structural  Botany,  for  the  Use  of  Classes, 

Schools,  and  Private  Students.  By  M.  C.  Cooke,  M.A. 

With  upwards  of  200  Illustrations.  Third  Edition.  Lon¬ 
don  :  Robert  Hardwicke. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  Jan.  21 ;  the  ‘  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
Jan.  21;  the  ‘Lancet,’  Jan.  21;  the  ‘Medical  Press  and  Cir¬ 
cular,’ Jan.  25 ;  ‘  Nature,’  Jan.  19 ;  the ‘Chemical  News,’ Jan. 
20;  ‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  Jan.  19  ;  ‘Gardeners’ 
Chronicle,’  Jan.  21;  the  ‘Grocer,’  Jan.  21;  the  ‘Produce 
Markets  Review,’  Jan.  21 ;  the  ‘  English  Mechanic,’  Jan.  20; 
the  ‘  Photographic  Journal  ’  for  January;  the  ‘  Chemists  and 
Druggists’  Advocate’  for  January;  ‘Transactions  of  the 
Odontological  Society’  for  January;  ‘Proceedings  of  the 
National  Association  for  the  Promotion  of  Social  Science,’ 
Jan.  12;  the  ‘  Manchester  Courier,’  Jan.  19;  the  ‘Manchester 
Examiner,’ Jan.  19;  the  ‘Ashton  Standard,’  Jan.  21;  the 
‘Oldham  Chronicle,’  Jan.  12. 


618 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [January  28,  1871. 


flute  aifo  Queries* 


***  In  order  to  facilitate  reference ,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  their  anstvers  in  each  case  ivith  the  title 
and  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

NOTICE. — To  prevent  delay,  correspondents  are  re¬ 
quested  to  send  their  communications  to  the  Journal  Depart¬ 
ment,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  IV.  C.,  and  not  to  the  ^Pub¬ 
lishers. 

[99.] — SHEET  LIGHTNIN G. — “  Pestle  and  Mortar ” 
can  prepare  “Sheet  Lightning”  by  following  the  directions 
of  the  B.  P.  for  the  preparation  of  pyroxylin,  substituting 
paper  for  the  cotton,  and  immersing  it  for  a  little  longer  time 
in  the  mixed  acids.  The  best  paper  I  have  been  able  to  pro¬ 
cure  for  the  purpose  is  Swedish  filtering-paper,  but  should 
prefer  a  thinner  paper,  somewhat  resembling  “cigarette” 
paper,  if  able  to  obtain  it  sufficiently  large.  For  blue  fire, 
soak  afterwards  in  a  weak  solution  of  chloride  of  copper ;  for 
red,  use  chloride  of  strontium. — H.  J.  Bacon. 

[115.] — MARKIN G-INK. — I  have  found  the  written  por¬ 
tion  sometimes  destroyed,  and  have  attributed  it  to  want  of 
care  in  heating  the  fabric,  supposing  the  destruction  to  be 
caused  by  the  letters  on  becoming  dark  rapidly  absorbing 
heat,  and  thus  charring  before  the  white  and  unwritten  part 
becomes  discoloured.  Perhaps  also  the  effect  may  be  height¬ 
ened  by  the  evolution  of  oxygen  gas  arising  from  the  decom¬ 
position. — H.  J.  Bacon. 

[124.] — AFRICAN  SAFFRON. — In  answer  to  X.  Q.  Z. 
as  to  the  source  of  the  so-called  African  saffron,  I  beg  to  in¬ 
form  him  that  a  correspondent  of  the  Neio  York  Druggists’ 
Circular  lately  suggested  that  it  might  possibly  be  derived 
from  the  Lyperea  crocea,  a  South  African  plant,  which  is 
said  to  closely  resemble  saffron.  But  at  a  recent  meeting  of 
the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy,  reported  in  the  Chi¬ 
cago  Pharmacist  for  December,  a  sample  of  this  so-called 
African  saffron  was  exhibited  by  Professor  Maisch,  obtained 
from  the  Chicago  market,  which  upon  examination  proved  to 
be  Carthamus  tinctorius  (Safflower)  in  a  broken  and  dis¬ 
coloured  condition. — F.  R.  B.  P. 

[131.] — MOUTH  WASH. — An  excellent  astringent  lotion 
for  the  mouth  can  be  made  as  follows : — 

R.  Boracis  5iss 
Mel.  Ang.  5yj 
Tinct.  Pyrethri  ^ss 
Tinct.  Myrrhoe  5iij 
Aq.  FI.  Aurant.  §ij 
Aq.  Ros®  ad  *vi. 

“  Give  and  Take.” 


3.  IV.  G.  will  find  the  following  a  first-class  remedy : — 

P.  Aluminis  M 

S.v.  R.5j  \ 

Tr.  Myrrh®  Simp,  ad  5'j- 

To  be  used  with  a  camel-hair  brush  after  meals. — H.  H.  Read. 


R.  Borax, 

Alum, 

Bay  Salt,  each  5j 
Sp.  Camph., 

Tinct.  Myrrh,  each  3j 
Sp.  Armoraci®  5'j. 

M.  Shake  occasionally  for  a  day  or  two,  then  filter.  A  tea- 
spoonful  in  a  wine-glassful  of  water,  to  rinse  the  mouth  after 
cleaning  the  teeth,  or  at  any  time. — W.  W. 

[132.]— COUGH  BALLS  FOR  HORSES. 

R.  Antim.  Tart., 

Digitalis,  ana  5ss 

Pot.  Nitrat.  5iss 

Picis  Liquid®,  q.s.  ft.  Bol. 

Omni  Nocte. — W.  W. 


R.  Rad.  Scill®  2  dr. 

Gum.  Ammoniac!  4  dr. 

Ipecacuanh®, 

Opii,  ana  4  dr. 

Piraent®  1  oz. 

Bals.  Sulphur.  4  oz. 

Sapon.  Castil.  2  oz. 

Theriac®  q.s. 

Ft.  mass®  pro  Bol.  no.  vj. 

One  twice  a  day.  W.  W. 


R.  Pulv.  Scill®  5vj 

Gum.  Ammoniac.  ^ij  5\j 
Gum.  Opii  5iij 
01.  Anisi  5j 

Mix  and  divide  in  six  balls.  M.  S.  P. 


The  following  is  a  good  form : 

R.  Antim.  Sulphurat.  5i(j 

Camphor  5j 
Sulph.  Flor.  5ij 
Antim.  Tart.  5j 
Sapo  Mollis,  q.s. 

Ft.  bol. 

One  every  night  or  every  other  night. — R.  Rogers. 

[133.]— CAMPHOR  BALLS. 

R.  Cetacei  5hj 

Cer®  Alb®  5iy 
01.  Amygd. 

Rad.  Anchus®,  si  opus  sit. 

Melt,  then  add — 

Camphor.  (Pulv.)  5iij 

Pour  into  small  gallipots,  so  as  to  form  hemispherical  cakes. 

W.  W. 


R.  Cocoa-nut  Oil,  8  oz. 

White  Wax,  3  oz. 

Camphor,  1J  oz. 

Melt  the  oil  and  wax  together,  and  add  the  camphor  pre¬ 
viously  pulverized. — S.  D. 

[135.]— ESSENCE  OF  JARGONELLE  PEAR.— Ace¬ 
tate  of  Amylene  is  sold  under  this  name.  It  is  made  by  dis¬ 
tilling  a  mixture  of  1  part  oil  of  grain,  2  pot.  acet.,  1  oil  of 
vitriol.  Wash  the  diluted  liquid  with  alkaline  water,  agitate 
with  chloride  of  calcium,  and  re-distil  from  litharge. — W.  W- 

[136.]— DISPENSING  (Sigma). 

R  Potass®  Chloratis  5iv 
Tinct.  Ferri  5iv 
Aqu®  ad  iij.  M. 

“  One  teaspoonful  in  water  three  times  daily.” 

It  is  impossible  with  that  quantity  of  water  to  dissolve 
more  than  two-thirds  of  the  chlorate  of  potash.  Even  boil¬ 
ing  the  chlorate  of  potash  with  the  solution  will  not  suffice, 
as  it  immediately  re-erystallizes  on  cooling. — Henry  H. 
Read. 

[*#*  The  chlorate  of  potash  should  be  rubbed  down  with 
the  water,  and  a  “shake-the-bottle”  label  affixed. — Ed.  Ph.  J.] 


[142.]— CRIMSON  MARKING-INK.— Can  any  of  your 
readers  give  a  formula  for  a  good  stable  “crimson  marking- 
ink?”  I  know  the  formula  in  Pharmaceutical  Journal 
(Second  Series,  Yol.  V.  p.  188),  but  it  has  the  disadvantage  of 
degenerating  in  colour,  in  the  course  of  a  few  weeks,  to  a  dull 
brown  shade. — R.  G.  H. 

[143.] — DISPENSING. — I  received  to-day  the  following 
to  dispense : — 

R.  Collodion 

Chloroform,  pur.,  ana  5u* 

M.  Paint  the  irritable  parts  every  night  with  a  camel-hair 
brush. 

Can  any  of  your  readers  inform  me  how  I  am  to  dispense  it, 
so  as  to  produce  the  result  required  ?  I  have  my  experience 
of  it,  and  so  also  had  some  one  else,  for  it  had  been  dispensed 
before  somehow. — “  Yiator.” 

[145.]— GINGER  ALE  (AERATED).— Can  any  one  give 
me  a  good  recipe  for  making  the  above  ? — Soda-water. 


January  28,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


CIO 


doraspni)  eittc. 


***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication ,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Proposed  Regulations  for  Storing  oe  Poisons. 

Sir, — The  storm  of  opposition  which  the  proposed  regula¬ 
tions  for  the  keeping  of  poisons  have  evoked  seems  to  have 
been  noticed  with  amazement  by  the  medical  journals,  and 
will  probably  excite  the  surprise  and  contempt  of  the  House 
of  Commons  if  the  subject  should  come  before  them.  That 
anything  so  simple  and  easy  as  an  enactment  which  amounts 
to  this,  that  certain  deadly  poisons  named  in  a  schedule,  by 
the  careless  use  and  sale  of  which  accidents  have  continually 
happened  to  human  life,  should  be  either  kept  separately  in 
the  way  most  convenient  to  the  dealer,  or,  if  not,  marked  dis¬ 
tinctly  from  other  things,  should  be  so  obstinately  resisted, 
— will  be  one  of  the  curiosities  of  pharmaceutical  literature 
when  the  question  is  settled.  The  Council,  too,  are  unreason¬ 
ably  assailed,  as  if  they  wished  to  force  these  regulations 
upon  the  trade  against  their  will,  in  utter  forgetfulness  appa¬ 
rently  that  they  were  ordered  to  prepare  them  by  the  last 
annual  meeting,  and  that  the  next  will  no  doubt  demand 
obedience  to  those  directions. 

We  hear  it  vaunted  loudly  by  some  that  such  scientific 
men  as  chemists  should  be  above  legal  restraint,  but  the 
gentlemen  who  make  this  assertion  forget  that  there  are  a 
very  large  number  of  chemists  and  druggists  placed  upon  the 
register  who  have  never  been  examined  at  all,  and  who  have 
equal  right  with  themselves  to  sell  and  use  the  objectionable 
articles.  The  Council  have  been  obliged  by  law  to  give  this 
privilege  to  thousands,  merely  because  they  had  kept  open 
shop  for  the  making  up  of  prescriptions  before  the  passing  of 
the  Act.  Very  many  of  these,  there  is  reason  to  fear,  are 
both  careless  in  the  way  they  carry  on  their  business,  and 
very  ill-qualified  to  conduct  it  rightly.  And  those  who  so 
loudly  put  themselves  forth  as  the  types  of  the  legal  sellers  of 
poisons  should  know  that  they  are  a  minority,  and  a  small 
one,  of  those  to  whom  the  regulations  will  apply.  Mr.  Vizer 
writes  as  though  he  had  quite  set  the  matter  at  rest  with  his 
typical  surgeon  and  his  lancets,  etc.,  but,  so  far  as  argument 
in  his  letter  goes,  it  is  sufficient  to  say  that  if  it  were  possible 
to  show  that  in  consequence  of  the  negligence  of  medical  men 
human  life  had  been  sacrificed  until  a  cry  of  reprobation  and 
alarm  arose  from  every  quarter,  that  it  was  sacrificed  now 
and  might  probably  be  so  in  time  to  come,  then  it  would  be 
the  duty  of  the  Legislature  to  regulate  the  use  of  lancets,  etc., 
in  the  hands  of  surgeons,  whatsoever  examinations  they 
might  have  passed,  and  although  they  might  have  half-a- 
dozen  letters  of  distinction  appended  to  their  names. 

Some  of  your  correspondents  are  indignant  because  the 
restrictions  do  not  apply  to  medical  men,  but  we  have  nothing 
to  do  with  medical  men  ;  we  have  to  regulate  our  own  affairs, 
and  if  we  have  the  good  sense  to  do  this  properly  we  shall 
not  have  them  to  regulate  ours. 

Mr.  Proctor,  whose  name  always  carries  deserved  weight 
with  it,  says  that  the  only  fault  of  the  regulation  is  that  it 
does  not  provide  for  the  different  grades  of  caution  which  the 
articles  may  require,  so  that  morphia,  etc.,  may  be  shut  up 
in  a  cupboard,  while  such  a  thing  is  impracticable  for  syrup 
of  poppies,  etc.  ;  but  I  maintain  that  this  variety  is  the  very 
thing  which  is  given.  You  may  seclude  the  most  dangerous 
articles  as  closely  as  you  please,  whilst  a  different  bottle  or  a 
capped  one,  or  one  with  a  mark  upon  it,  will  suffice  for  those 
which  are  mingled  with  the  others,  A  more  weighty  objec¬ 
tion — and  the  only  weighty  one  that  I  can  find — is  this,  that 
you  introduce  the  thin  edge  of  the  wedge,  which  will  lead  to 
inspection  and  annoyance  from  public  officers. 

But  those  proposed  will  no  more  introduce  the  wedge  than 
the  last  regulations  did.  Wo  are  living  already  under  regu¬ 
lations  as  to  how  we  shall  sell  poison,  and  neither  the  Privy 
Council  nor  any  one  else  can  set  on  foot  inspection  without 
an  Act  of  Parliament,  a  thing  wholly  unlikely  as  long  as  we 
act  up  to  the  requirements  of  the  Act  we  have  already.  But 
if,  indeed,  we  refuse  to  do  this,  the  Privy  Council  (backed  by 
the.  Government)  will  most  assuredly  take  the  work  into 
their  own  hands ;  and  can  any  one  who  has  observed  the 
iemper  of  Parliament,  the  press,  the  medical  profession  and 


the  current  of  public  opinion,  doubt  how  it  will  be  done  ?  Does 
any  one  who  has  marked  the  career  of  former  Poison  Bills  sup¬ 
pose  that  such  an  Act  as  we  should  have  would  be  content 
with  the  few  articles  in  schedules  A  and  B  ?  or  that  it  would 
leave  us  the  freedom  which  the  present  regulations  afford  ? 
We  may  well  dread  inspectors,  indeed,  if  the  matter  passes 
into  the  hands  of  a  committee  of  the  House  of  Commons. 
Look  at  the  Petroleum  Act.  Suppose  the  dealers  in  this 
should  say,  We  are  men  of  considerable  experience  in  busi¬ 
ness,  we  have  much  property  at  stake,  we  know  best  how  to 
manage  our  own  affairs,  and  these  regulations  are  very  trouble¬ 
some  and  have  caused  many  of  us  inconvenience  and  loss. 
Would  not  the  reply  be  something  of  this  kind  ?  Very  pro¬ 
bably  they  may,  but  do  you  suppose  Ave  pass  Acts  of  Parlia¬ 
ment  to  please  petroleum  dealers?  We  have  to  consider 
what  is  best  for  the  public  and  Avhat  regulations  ensure  safety 
to  them.  If  those  we  ha\'e  ordered  are  what  you  practise,  so 
much  the  better ;  if  not,  you  had  better  conform  to  them 
without  delay.  And  if  the  legal  restrictions  pinched  us  pretty 
sharply,  as  no  doubt  they  Avould,  should  we  get  any  to  pity 
us  ?  Would  they  not  say  you  have  only  yourselves  to  thank, 
they  serve  you  right ;  you  had  the  extraordinary  opportunity 
afforded  you  of  making  rules  to  suit  yourselves,  and  you 
were  guilty  of  most  extraordinary  folly  in  refusing  to  do  so. 

It  is,  of  course,  in  the  power  of  the  next  Annual  Meeting 
to  talk  great  things  and  refuse  to  accept  any  regulations  at 
all,  and  the  Council  will  then  probably  transmit  the  answer 
to  their  Lordships  and  hand  the  matter  over  to  them ;  but  if 
the  advocates  of  this  proceeding  imagine  that  thus  poison 
regulations  will  come  to  an  end,  no  greater  mistake  will  ever 
have  been  made.  If  anything  is  certain  it  is  this,  that  Avhether 
Ave  like  it  or  no,  the  Privy  Council  are  determined  that  the  in¬ 
tention  of  the  Legislature  shall  be  fully  carried  out,  and  that 
either  with  our  consent  or  against  it,  poison  regulations  shall 
be  made.  Opifex. 


Sir, — The  precipitate  publication  of  Mr.  Simon’s  letter 
having  failed  to  produce  the  effect  doubtless  intended  (viz., 
that  of  silencing  our  opposition)  by  those  A\dio  were  in  such 
a  terrible  hurry  to  publish  it  to  the  members  before  it  was 
even  known  officially  to  the  Council,  it  seems  now  to  be  the 
cue  of  the  “  regulation  ”  advocates  (who,  by  the  way,  mostly 
write  anonymously)  to  say  that  when  the  Pharmacy  Act  was 
passed,  it  Avas  an  understanding  with  the  Government  that 
the  Society  should  make  some  regulations  on  the  subject,  and 
thus  endeavour  to  convince  us  that  Ave  are  morally  bound  to 
make  a  yoke  for  our  oavu  necks  and  a  rod  for  our  own  backs, 
now  they  find  that  threats  of  governmental  interference  do 
not  alarm  us.  This  appeal  to  our  moral  sense  is  being  pressed 
rather  strongly  into  the  service,  but  only  to  meet  the  same 
fate  as  the  threat  of  parliamentary  compulsion.  If  ever  there 
were  any  understanding  of  the  sort,  it  was  kept  remarkably 
secret  and  made  known  only  to  a  very  select  few ;  the  great 
bulk  of  the  trade  being  certainly  totally  unacquainted  Avith  any 
such  arrangement,  and  are  not,  and  will  not,  be  compelled 
to  acknowledge  as  a  duty  that  of  Avhich  they  had  no  cogni¬ 
zance. 

In  the  Journal  of  December  24th  there  is  a  letter  signed 
“  Pharmaceutical  Chemist  ”  Avhich  contains  some  extraordi¬ 
nary  statements.  I  always  understood,  as  did  most  other 
people,  and  it  was  always  so  stated  by  the  Pharmaceutical 
Council  both  in  the  Journal  and  elsewhere,  that  their  primary 
object  in  promoting  the  Act  Avas  to  secure  the  higher  educa¬ 
tion  of  chemists,  and  that  the  poison  clauses  were  introduced 
entirely  against  their  Avish  in  consequence  of  the  action  of 
other  parties,  Avhereas  his  statement  Avould  make  it  appear 
that  the  facts  are  exactly  contrary.  The  preamble  of  the  Act 
says  “  It  is  expedient  for  the  safety  of  the  public  .  .  .  that 
chemists  and  druggists  should  possess  a  competent  knoAvledge 
of  their  business  .  .  .  and  should  be  duly  examined  as  to  their 
practical  knowledge;”  and  there  is  not  one  Avord  in  the  Act 
to  bear  out  his  assertion  that  “opportunity  was  adroitly  taken 
to  introduce  into  the  measure  security  for  the  higher  educa¬ 
tion  of  chemists,”  but  exactly  the  contrary ;  nor  can  I  admit 
that  “  the  primary  object  Avas  the  protection  of  the  public 
from  accidental  and  other  poisoning”  by  means  of  poison 
schedules  and  regulations,  as  he  Avould  have  us  to  belieAre. 

As  to  the  cry  for  some  regulations,  haAring  waxed  strong, 
the  only  outcry  has  been  a  I’cav  articles  in  a  newspaper  or 
two  and  in  the  medical  journals  (of  course) ;  but  that  the 
public  haA'e  made  any  demand  in  the  matter  I  utterly  deny, 
aid  challenge  “  Pharmaceutical  Chemist”  to  give  a  single 


620 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [January  28,  1871. 


instance  of  any  sucli  demand,  except  from  newspaper  writers 
and  official  persons. 

With  regard  to  the  question  of  inspection,  I  would  ask,  are 
the  proposed  regulations  intended  to  be  observed  or  not  ?  If 
not,  it  is  useless  making  them ;  but  if  they  are  to  be  enforced, 
what  other  means  is  there  but  that  of  inspectors,  unless  we 
are  to  suffer  the  visits  of  a  common  informer  like  our  Ca¬ 
nadian  brethren  (see  Pharm.  J ourn.  of  Jan.  7 th)  whose  case  I 
commend  to  the  consideration  of  all  those  desirous  of  adding 
to  the  annoyances  Ave  are  already  subjected  to  ? 

W.  Wilkinson. 

Cheetham  Hill,  January  24 th,  1871. 


More  Fetters. 

Sir, — Time  was  when  the  greater  included  the  less.  The 
Pharmacy  Act  secured  for  the  public  of  the  future  an  edu¬ 
cated  body  of  chemists.  In  so  doing,  it  provided  the  best 
possible  guarantee  against  mistakes  dangerous  to  life ;  but,  no 
sooner  has  it  become  the  law  of  the  land,  than  a  cry  arises 
for  more  poison  regulations.  “  Allow  me  to  suggest  more 
fetters,”  exclaims  the  medical  officer  of  the  Privy  Council. 
“By  all  means  !”  reply  half  the  chemists  of  the  country. 

As  a  humble  unit  of  the  other  half,  I  ask  leave  to  protest 
against  the  encumbrance,  as  altogether  supererogatory,  and 
a  most  strange  instance  of  a  requisition  outliving  the  circum¬ 
stances  that  gave  it  birth.  The  thing  required  is  done ;  it 
was  comprehended  in  the  larger  action  already  accomplished. 
To  puzzle  our  heads  about  more  poison  regulations  now,  is  to 
imitate  the  philosopher  who,  after  providing  a  most  ample 
entrance  hole  for  the  cat,  was  uneasy  until  he  had  contrived 
a  small  one  for  the  kitten. 

The  public  will  be  as  safe  with  properly  qualified  chemists 
as  they  are  with  properly  qualified  medical  men,  whose  dis¬ 
pensing  arrangements,  by  the  way,  are  so  much  less  complete 
and  precautionary. 

I  trust,  therefore,  the  many  reasonable  objections  to  further 
restrictions  will  be  represented  with  such  force  and  persis¬ 
tency,  that  neither  the  Privy  Council  nor  Parliament  will 
wish  to  interfere  with  the  method  adopted  by  each  examined 
and  certified  chemist,  in  performing  the  responsible  duties  of 
his  profession. 

Glastonbury.  T.  Mathew. 

A  Dangerous  Prescription. 

Sir, — I  had  this  morning  brought  to  me  a  prescription,  of 
which  the  following  is  a  verbatim  copy : — 

R.  Tinct.  Camph.  Co.  5vj 

Acid.  Hydrocyan.  Scheele’s  5ij 
Glycerini  ^j 
Aquae  ad  ^vj. 

Sumat  3ss  4tis  horis. 

It  was  for  an  old  and  regular  customer;  the  medicine  was 
wanted  at  once ;  and  it  was  impossible  at  the  time  to  com¬ 
municate  with  the  prescriber.  What  ought  I  to  have  done 
under  the  circumstances  ? 

I  am  not  sure  that  I  did  the  right  thing,  but  I  used  as 
much  of  Scheele’s  acid  a3  I  dare,  viz.  minims  20,  and  altered 
the  prescription  to  that  effect. 

It  makes  one  shudder  to  think  what  would  have  been  the 
effect  if  this  prescription  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  a  raw 
apprentice. 

In  the  course  of  twenty  years’  experience  in  a  fair  dis¬ 
pensing  business,  I  can  call  to  mind  many  cases  where  the 
prescriber  has  been  at  fault.  Sigma. 

JPendleton,  January  20 th,  1871. 


York  Chemists’  Association. 

Sir, — In  looking  through  Mr.  Schacht’s  excellent  paper  on 
“  The  Local  Means  of  Pharmaceutical  Education,”  I  find 
mention  of  the  “  York  Chemists’  Association.”  My  reason 
for  thus  troubling  you  is  to  ask,  Is  there  such  an  Association, 
and  (if  there  is)  Avhat  are  its  objects  ? 

I  believe  there  formerly  was  one  (hence  Mr.  Schacht’s 
statement),  but  I  think  it  is  now  extinct.  If  I  should  be 
mistaken  in  this  supposition  it  is  only  natural,  as  it  has  kept 
itself  so  very,  very  quiet  since  the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy 
Act,  that  it  is  the  only  conclusion  one  could  arrive  at.  Per¬ 
haps  some  of  j-our  readers  can  inform  me ;  if  they  will,  they 
aa  ill  oblige 

Bootham,  Tori',  Jan.  2 3rd ,  1871.  Excelsior. 


Chloral. 

Sir, — As'  you  have  published  in  your  paper  an  article 
written  by  Mr.  Mason,  containing  remarks  about  the  chloral- 
hydrate  manufactured  by  us,  which  is  calculated  to  injure  our 
reputation  considerably,  Ave  request  you  to  insert  at  the  same 
place  in  your  paper  the  enclosed  analysis  of  our  chloral- 
hydrate,  which  will  at  once  demonstrate  the  incorrectness,  to 
use  no  other  expression,  of  Mr.  Mason’s  statement. 

We  shall  send  you  a  full  refutation  of  the  statement  con¬ 
tained  in  the  above  article  as  soon  as  we  have  received  the 
papers  to  which  reference  is  made  by  Mr.  Mason,  but  in  the 
meantime  request  you  to  publish  this  letter  at  once,  as  a 
longer  silence  might  increase  the  mischief  already  done. 

Hanover,  January  20 th,  1871.  E.  De  Haen  and  Co. 

[*■-.£*  We  willingly  insert  Messrs.  De  Haen’s  letter,  and 
shall  give  due  attention  to  the  result  of  analysis  which  they 
have  forwarded,  and  any  further  communication  on  the  sub¬ 
ject.  The  paper  they  refer  to  was  published  entirely  on  the 
author’s  responsibility  as  a  statement  of  experimental  re¬ 
sults  ;  and,  as  the  question  raised  is  one  of  great  importance-,, 
we  shall  be  glad  to  make  known  such  additional  data  as  may 
be  useful  for  deciding  the  relative  value  of  the  chloral  hydrate- 
of  various  makers, — always  providing  that  such  data  have 
direct  reference  to  those  points  of  interest  with  which  pharma¬ 
cists  are  properly  concerned. — Ed.  Pharm.  Journ.] 

Dispensing  Alliances. 

Sir, — Without  entering  on  the  question  as  to  whether  the 
prescriber  is  entitled  to  the  lion’s  share  of  remuneration,  or 
as  to  the  relative  status,  expense  of  education,  etc.,  of  medical 
men  and  pharmaceutists, — I  will  simply  state  the  understand¬ 
ing  subsisting  between  myself  and  my  brother,  who  is  a  che¬ 
mist  residing  near  me. 

He  dispenses  my  prescriptions  at  the  usual  “surgeon’s 
prices,”  for  which  I  pay  him  punctually  every  quarter,  so  my 
patients  have  but  one  account  to  meet,  and  that  only  at 
Christmas. 

I  have  no  interest  in  what  are  called  “  family  articles,” — • 
such  as  castor  oil,  cod-liver  oil,  linseed  meal,  extract  of  meat, 
etc. ;  these  being  paid  for  in  the  usual  way. 

You  will  observe  that,  under  this  arrangement,  all  “  trade 
risks”  are  borne  by  the  medical  practitioner.  And  I  can 
safely  affirm  that  during  the  past  two  years  I  have  attended 
numerous  cases  wherein  I  see  no  chance  of  being  repaid 
for  my  outlay  in  medicines,  much  less  for  professional  at¬ 
tendance  ;  not  to  mention  such  trifles  as  a  world-wide  ex¬ 
perience  and  a  modest  skill  of  twenty  years’  standing  and 
cultivation. 

Nevertheless,  I  for  one  regard  this  arrangement  as  “'a 
step  in  the  right  direction,”  viz.  towards  laws  which  shall 
prohibit  the  practice  of  dispensing  drugs  by  medical  men,  and 
of  prescribing  on  the  part  of  pharmaceutists. 

For,  when  once  dispensing  is  confined  to  pharmaceutists,  I 
believe  it  will  result  in  great  convenience  to  the  public,  both 
in  town  and  in  country  places.  Under  such  a  system,  a  che¬ 
mist  or  a  person  possessing  technical  knoAvledge,  would  be  re¬ 
quired  in  every  large  village,  wherein  he  would  probably  com¬ 
bine  the  duties  of  postmaster,  telegraphist,  etc. 

John  Hudson,  L.R.C.P.  Lond.,  etc. 

75,  Mostyn  Road,  S.W.,  January  Z&th. 

J.  S.  (Edinburgh). — Attfield’s  c  Chemistry,’  p.  573. 

A  Minor  Associate. — The  iodine  combines  with  the  strych¬ 
nia  to  form  hydriodate.  London  West-end  houses  would 
charge  from  8s.  to  10s. 

F.  A.  H. — See  the  list  of  manufacturers  of  scientific  appa¬ 
ratus  given  in  answer  to  a  correspondent  at  p.  480. 

“  Donato  Commasi.” — We  have  received  a  communication 
in  which  reference  is  made  to  some  directions  for  the  prepa¬ 
ration  of  charpie,  etc.,  which  have  not  come  to  hand. 


Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  H.  Allman,  Mr.  S.  Robinson,  Mr.  W.  Smith,  Mr.  J.  Hud¬ 
son,  Mr.  R.  T.  Hudson,  Mr.  C.  A.  Bell,  Mr.  W.  R.  Dennis. 
Mr.  E.  Davies,  Mr.  Hustwick,  J.  H.  W.,  W.  A.,  W.  Gr.,  J-  B., 
A.  P.  S.,  C.  E.  M.,  T.  M.,  N.  H.  M.,  “Pestle  and  Mortar,” 
“Inquirer,”  “Octavius,”  “Alveolus,”  “Carolus,”  “  Oli- 
vina,”  “Delta,”  “Moderation,”  “Excelsior.” 


February  4, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


G21 


THE  QUALITY  OF  CHLORAL  HYDRATE. 

BY  B.  H.  TAUL,  PH.D. 

Considering  the  importance  of  the  question  that 
lias  been  raised  as  to  this  preparation  and  as  to  the 
substitution  for  it  of  another  compound  of  chloral — 
the  alcoholate — possessing  therapeutic  properties 
different  from  those  of  true  chloral  hydrate,  it 
seemed  to  me  worth  while  to  make  an  examination 
of  some  samples  as  they  are  met  with  in  the  market 
and  in  use  by  dispensers. 

The  data  given  by  Mr.  Mason  in  the  paper  read 
by  him  before  the  Liverpool  Chemists’  Association 
on  the  22nd  December,  and  subsequently  published 
in  this  Journal,  would  appear  to  indicate  at  least  the 
existence  of  a  very  great  dissimilarity  in  the  chloral 
preparations  manufactured  by  different  firms  ;  for 
even  on  the  assumption  that  the  samples  referred  to 
by  Mr.  Mason  were  all  choral  hydrate,  the  data  he 
gives  as  the  results  of  his  anatyses  would  indicate 
an  inferiority  of  some  samples  to  the  extent  of  20 
per  cent,  as  compared  with  others,  besides  at  the 
same  time  suggesting  the  possibility  that  some  of 
these  samples  might  consist  of  chloral  alcoholate. 

For  the  objects  necessary  to  be  kept  in  view  in 
this  Journal,  it  does  not  appear  to  me  either  requi¬ 
site  or  desirable  that,  in  considering  the  question  as 
to  the  quality  of  chloral  preparations,  there  should 
be  any  reference  by  name  either  to  the  particular 
makers  or  dealers  from  whom  certain  samples  have 
been  obtained.  The  great  point  is  to  ascertain 
whether  any  such  variation  in  quality  as  that  pointed 


to  by  Mr.  Mason’s  results  does  really  prevail,  so  as 
to  be  of  practical  importance  in  regard  to  the  medi¬ 
cinal  use  of  this  drug.  I  shall,  therefore,  abstain 
from  any  mention  of  names  either  of  the  manufac¬ 
turer  or  others  from  whom  I  have  obtained  samples 
for  examination,  and  will  content  myself  with  stating 
my  results  merely  in  reference  to  numbers  and  to  the 
characters  of  the  preparations  operated  upon. 

Adopting  the  ammonia  test  originally  suggested 
by  Mr.  Williams,  and  since  worked  out  in  detail  by 
Mr.  Umney,  I  have  applied  it  to  the  examination 
of  twelve  samples  of  chloral  preparations  which  were 
obtained  from  various  sources,  and  were  all  furnished 
to  me  as  being  chloral  hydrate  representing  the 
supply  now  in  the  market. 

Each  of  these  samples  was  treated  in  the  manner 
described  by  Mr.  Umney,  a  somewhat  smaller  quan¬ 
tity,  however,  being  taken  for  the  experiment. 

According  to  the  composition  of  pure  chloral  hy¬ 
drate,  100  grains  of  it  should  yield  in  this  way  7 2 ’2 
grains  of  chloroform,  or  72‘2  per  cent,  by  weight. 
That  quality  of  chloroform  having  the  density  of  1 ‘49 7 
would  be  in  volume  48'2  grain-measures,  so  that  100 
grains  of  pure  chloral  hydrate  should  yield  by  decom¬ 
position  with  ammonia,  that  measure  of  cliloroform. 

In  like  manner  100  grains  of  the  compound  of 
chloral  with  alcohol  would  by  decomposition  with 
ammonia  yield  6F75  grains  of  chloroform,  or  6175 
per  cent,  by  weight,  this  being  in  volume  4l‘2 
grain-measures. 

The  following  are  the  results  I  have  obtained  for 
100  grains  of  each  preparation  examined  : — 


No.  of 
Sample. 

! 

Characters. 

Volume  of 
Chloroform 
obtained. 

Grain- 

measures. 

Equal  to 
Grains 
weight. 

Percentage 

of 

Chloroform 
by  weight. 

1. 

White  amorphous  dry  lumps . 

46T 

691 

6910 

2. 

Hard  transparent  fragments  of  crystals . 

48-0 

71-8 

71-86 

3. 

Thin  translucent  crystalline  cake . 

48-0 

71-8 

71-86 

4. 

White  opaque  cake,  apparently  not  quite  dry,  especially  at  one 
surface . 

42-0 

62-8 

62-87 

5. 

Very  small  crystals,  aggregated  into  translucent  lumps,  with  a  slightly 
moist  appearance . 

47-0 

70-3 

70-36 

6. 

White  semitranslucent  cake,  with  slightly  moist  appearance  .  .  . 

48-0 

71-8 

71-86 

ry 

i . 

Translucent  crystalline  cake,  consisting  of  small  scaly  crystals,  moist 
and  greasy  to  the  touch . 

47-5 

711 

71-10 

8. 

Large  tabular  crystals,  like  chlorate  of  potash . 

44- 0 

64-8 

64-86 

9. 

Translucent  lumps,  consisting  of  scaly  crystals,  slightly  moist  to  the 
touch . 

45-0 

673 

67-36 

10. 

Small  acicular  crystals,  apparently  breaking  up  into  scales  when 
rubbed  in  the  hand,  slightly  moist  to  the  touch . 

47-0 

70-3 

70-30 

11. 

White  opaque  lumps,  resembling  effloresced  carbonate  of  ammonia, 
with  distinct  crystalline  fracture,  translucent  at  the  interior  and 
greasy  to  the  touch . 

46  5 

694 

69-40 

12. 

Chloral  alcoholate* . 

37-5 

56T 

56"13 

13. 

Pure  chloral  alcoholate . 

41-2 

61-7 

61-76 

14. 

Pure  chloral  hydrate . . . 

48-2 

722 

72-20 

*  For  tlie  specimens  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  John  Williams. 


These  results  differ  widely  from  those  reported  by 
Mr.  Mason,  and  it  will  be  seen  that,  so  far  as  the 
samples  I  have  obtained  represent  the  chloral  pre¬ 
parations  of  commerce,  there  does  not  seem  to  be  a 
very  great  difference  of  quality  if  the  yield  of  cliloro- 
lorm  be  taken  as  a  criterion. 

To  a  certain  extent  I  believe  this  may  be  done ; 
but  at  the  same  time,  on  looking  over  the  results 
Third  Series,  No.  32. 


given  in  the  table,  it  will  be  seen  that  those  samples 
which  consisted  of  crystals  almost  invariably  gave  the 
largest  amount  of  chloroform. 

This  fact,  together  with  the  more  definite  cha¬ 
racter  of  the  crystallized  chloral  hydrate,  as  com¬ 
pared  with  the  cake,  induces  me  to  suggest  that, 
for  dispensing  purposes,  the  material  should  a  - 
ways  be  used  in  the  state  of  crystal.  1  do  no 


G22 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[February  1, 1871. 


believe  that  the  difference  in  price  would  he  any¬ 
thing  worth  regarding  as  an  obstacle  to  that  prac¬ 
tice  ;  but  in  making  this  suggestion  it  is  neces¬ 
sary  to  particularize  the  kind  of  crystal  to  which  I 
refer,  for  there  are  several  kinds  of  crystallized  or 
crystalline  chloral  preparations.  That  which  I  be¬ 
lieve  to  be  the  purest,  presents  commonly  the  appear¬ 
ance  of  ordinary  alum  broken  into  fragments  about 
the  size  of  grains  of  paradise  (in  one  instance  I  have 
met  with  very  definitely  formed  crystals  resembling 
sulphate  of  potash)  ;  the  fragments  are  perfectly 
transparent,  free  from  powder,  possessing  very  little 
odour,  and  when  turned  out  upon  the  hand  they  feel 
dry  and  do  not  become  moist  by  exposure. 

This  appears  to  be  the  form  in  which  chloral  hy¬ 
drate  is  most  definite  and  uniform,  and,  therefore, 
best  suited  for  dispensing  purposes,  quite  indepen¬ 
dently  of  its  being  obtained  from  any  particular  maker. 

But  there  are  several  other  varieties  of  crystals  : 
sometimes  the  preparation  is  in  the  form  of  minute 
acicular  crystals,  like  chloride  of  ammonium  ;  some¬ 
times  it  has  the  appearance  of  chlorate  of  iiotash,  and 
sometimes  it  is  in  definite  needle-shaped  crystals, 
like  oxalate  of  ammonia.  Very  frequently  these 
crystals  are  more  or  less  moist  in  appearance,  and 
on  exposure  this  character  becomes  more  marked. 
The  definite  needle-shaped  crystals  last  mentioned 
are,  I  believe,  characteristic  of  the  alcoholate.  I 
have  only  met  with  one  sample  of  this  kind  in  com¬ 
merce,  and  have  not  yet  obtained  a  sufficient  quantity 
of  it  for  analysis.  As  regards  the  other  acicular  and 
tabular  crystals,  however,  they  appear  to  be  decidedly 
inferior  to  that  form  of  crystallized  chloral  hydrate 
described  above,  and  they  do  not  seem  to  be  very 
much  preferable  to  the  cake. 

Still  none  of  the  samples  give  results  at  all  ap¬ 
proximating  to  those  which  would  be  obtained  from 


alcoholate,  nor  does  it  appear  that  any  of  the  samples 
examined  contained  less  than  87  per  cent,  of  chloral 
hydrate.  In  the  case  of  that  sample  which  gave  the 
lowest  result,  there  was  a  copious  separation  of  a 
flocculent  liumus-like  substance  between  the  chloro¬ 
form  and  the  supernatant  liquid,  and  that  obscured  the 
true  volume  of  the  chloroform  layer.  The  same  deposit 
was  found  to  some  extent  in  testing  other  samples. 

According  to  the  analysis  made  by  Mr.  Eugene 
De  Haen,  and  referred  to  last  week  in  the  letter  from 
Messrs.  De  Haen,  the  choral  hydrate  they  make 
gives  the  following  results  : — 


Boiling- 

point. 

Chloroform 

Layer 

(after  the  List 
of  Mr.  Mason). 

Quantity  of 

Chloroform  pro¬ 
duced  from  500 
grains  of  the 
Chloral  com¬ 
pound  byweight. 

General  Re¬ 
marks. 

i 

Centigr. 

1)7° 

Grain- 

measures 

240 

353  grains, 
or 

71  per  cent. 

A  crystal¬ 
line  cake 
(crystal)  so¬ 
luble  in  wa¬ 
ter,  ether, 
alcohol;  in¬ 
soluble  in 
chloroform, 
etc. ;  has  all 
attributes  of 
a  really  che¬ 
mically  pure 
chloral-hy¬ 
drate. 

_  i 

Since  writing  the  above  Messrs.  Domeier  have 
forwarded  a  letter,  which  appears  in  the  Correspon¬ 
dence  columns,  and  the  results  of  two  analyses  by 
Dr.  Versmann,  which  are  as  follow  : — 


Samples. 

Boiling-point. 

Chloro¬ 

form 

layers, 

grain- 

measures. 

Quantity  of 
Chloroform 
from  500 
grains  hydrate 
by  weight. 

Corresponding 
to  percentage 
of  pure 
chloral  hy¬ 
drate. 

General  Remarks. 

Crystals  .  . 

96°  to  97°  C. 

235  gl’S. 

35  7 ’8  grs. 
or 

70'3  p.  c. 

97  43  p.  c. 

Fine  white  crystals,  slightly  deliques¬ 
cent,  dissolved  very  freely  in  water,  dis¬ 
solves  in  alcohol,  ether,  etc.,  not  quite 
insoluble  in  chloroform. 

Cake  .  .  . 

96°  to  97°  C. 

232  gl’S. 

347-3  gi-s. 
or 

69’4  p.  c. 

9G-20  p.  c. 

White  opaque  cake,  not  quite  dry, 
readily  soluble  in  water,  alcohol,  ether, 
etc.,  not  quite  insoluble  in  chloroform. 
Both  begin  to  solidify  after  having  been 
melted  at  49°  C. ;  specific  gravity  of  liquid 
at  that  temperature  is  1-610. 

.  samples  are  pure  chloral  hydrate,  which  have  by  exposure  to  air  attracted  some  moisture,  which 

is  the  cause  of  the  deficiencies  in  the  percentage. 

Aftei  decomposition  with  ammonia  and  separation  of  chloroform,  no  crystals  of  iodoform  could  be  ob¬ 
tained  from  the  solution,  proving  the  absence  of  any  alcohol. 

In  reference  to  Mr.  Abraham’s  remarks  on  the 
ammonia  test  as  reported  in  the  proceedings  of  the 
Liverpool  Chemists  Association,  I  may  remark  that 
caie  must  be  taken  to  ensure  completion  of  the  re- 
action  befoie  reading  off  the  volume  of  chloroform. 
Of  com  se  the  temperature  to  which  the  tubes  have 
to  be  heated  must  be  regulated  by  the  nature  of  the 
pioduct.  A  temperature  of  100°  F.  maintained  for 
three  or  four  hours  is  quite  enough.  Meanwhile,  the 
tubes  should  be  well  shaken.  If  these  precautions 
be  not  observed,  probably  very  little  chloroform  may 


be  produced,  or  it  may  happen  that  the  chloroform- 
layer  appears  to  be  much  larger  than  it  ought  to  be. 
In  such  cases  it  will  be  found  that  after  some  hours 
rest,  crystals  separate  from  the  chloroform.  This 
latter  circumstance  is  due  to  incomplete  decomposi¬ 
tion  of  the  chloral  hydrate  and  its  solution  in  the 
chloroform  produced,  apparently  with  increase  of 
volume.  On  heating  a  tube  in  this  condition,  the 
recommencement  of  the  reaction  will  be  at  once  ap¬ 
parent,  and  after  cooling,  the  chloroform  layer  wi  U 
be  found  reduced  to  its  true  volume. 


February  4, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS 


623 


CHEMICAL  NOTES  TO  THE  PHARMACOPOEIA. 

BY  WILLIAM  A.  TILDEX,  B.SC.  LOND. 

DEMONSTRATOR  OF  PRACTICAL  CHEMISTRY  TO  THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 


necessary,  but  prevents  irregularities  in  the  decom¬ 
position. 

The  foregoing  explanation  of  the  reaction  is  ren¬ 
dered  probable  by  what  we  know  of  chloral.  This 
body  in  the  form  of  hydrate  is  now  familiar  to  every 
one.  It  is  made  by  passing  dry  chlorine  gas  into 
absolute  alcohol. 


Cerii  Oxalas. — CeC204  3H20. 

[§  A  salt  which  may  be  obtained  as  a  precipitate 
by  adding  solution  of  oxalate  of  ammonia  to  a  solu¬ 
ble  salt  of  cerium.]  The  chloride  may  be  employed. 

[§  A  white  granular  powder,  insoluble  in  water, 
decomposed  at  a  dull  red  heat  into  a  reddish-brown 
powder  (a  mixture  of  CeO  and  Ce203),  which  dis¬ 
solves  completely  and  without  effervescence  in  boil¬ 
ing  hydrochloric  acid,  and  the  resulting  solution  gives 
with  solution  of  sulphate  of  potash  a  white  crystal¬ 
line  precipitate  (of  double  sulphate  of  cerium  and 
potassium).  If  the  salt  be  boiled  with  solution  of 
potash  and  filtered,  the  filtrate  is  not  affected  by 
solution  of  chloride  of  ammonium  (showing  the  ab¬ 
sence  of  alumina)  ;  but  when  supersaturated  with 
acetic  acid  it  gives  with  chloride  of  calcium  a  white 
precipitate  (oxalate  of  calcium)  which  is  soluble  in 
hydrochloric  acid.  Ten  grains  when  incinerated  lose 
52  grains  in  weight.]  That  is,  a  residue  of  oxide 
weighing  4*8  grains  is  left.  If  it  consisted  solely  of 
cerous  oxide  Ce  O,  the  residue  would  weigh  4'G  grains, 
but  a  small  quantity  of  peroxide  is  always  formed ; 
thus  the  slight  increase  in  weight  is  accounted  for. 

Chlorofoiimum. — C  H  Cl3. 

Into  a  capacious  still  is  introduced  a  quantity  of 
rectified  spirit  diluted  with  much  water.  Heat  is 
applied,  and  when  the  temperature  reaches  100°  F., 
a  mixture  of  slaked  lime  and  chlorinated  lime  is 
added.  When  the  mixture  commences  to  froth,  the 
fire  is  removed,  and  in  a  short  time  the  process  is 
complete.  There  is  no  necessity  for  continuing  the 
application  of  heat  any  length  of  time,  as  the  whole 
of  the  chloroform  comes  over  at  the  commencement. 

The  product  is  purified  by  washing  it  first  with 
water,  then  with  strong  sulphuric  acid ;  finally  it  is 
dried  and  purified  from  traces  of  acid  by  redistilling 
it  from  a  mixture  of  chloride  of  calcium  and  dry 
slaked  lime. 

Chlorinated  lime  is  an  agent  capable  of  acting  by 
supplying  either  oxygen  or  chlorine.  Thus  it  may 
split  in  a  manner  represented  by  either  of  the  two 
folio  whig  equations  — 

CaC10Cl=CaC]2  +  O. 

or  Ca  Cl  0  Cl=Ca  0  +  CL. 

In  the  production  of  chloroform  it  acts  both  ways. 
First  the  alcohol  is  believed  to  lose  hydrogen  and 
become  converted  into  aldehyd. 

C2H60  +  0=C2'H40  +  H20. 

Then  the  aldehyd  is  acted  upon  by  the  chlorine  from 
another  portion  giving  chloral,  which  in  its  turn  is 
decomposed  by  the  lime  into  chloroform  and  calcic 
formate. 

C?H40+  3C12  =  C2HC130  +  3HC1. 

Aldehyd.  Chloral. 

2  CoHCl80  +  Ca2 HO  =  Ca2CH02  +  2CHC13. 

Chloral.  Formate  of  “  Chloroform. 

Calcium. 

The  chloroform  distils  over,  the  formate  remains 
mixed  with  the  excess  of  lime  and  water  in  the  re¬ 
tort.  The  slaked  lime  employed  is  not  absolutely 


C2H6  0  +  4  Cl2  =  C2  H  Cl  3  O  +  5  H  Cl. 

Alcohol.  Chloral. 

When  treated  by  alkalies  it  breaks  up  as  shown  in 
the  equation  already  given.  Ammonia  is  employed 
when  it  is  desired  to  test  it  quantitatively.  By  the 
amount  of  chloroform  produced,  the  proportion  of 
real  chloral  present  can  easily  be  calculated. 

The  sulphuric  acid  employed  to  purify  chloroform 
must  be  free  from  all  traces  of  oxides  of  nitrogen ; 
for  it  has  been  shown  that  the  apparently  sponta¬ 
neous  decomposition  to  which  chloroform  is  some¬ 
times  subject  is  to  be  attributed  to  contamination  of 
this  kind. 

The  best  indication  that  chloroform  is  free  from 
noxious  impurities  is  that  it  evaporates  from  the 
hand  without  leaving  a  residue  or  odour  of  any  kind. 
Admixture  of  spirit  would  be  indicated  by  the  specific 
gravity . 

Chloroform  is  still  sometimes  called  percliloride  of 
formyl,  in  accordance  with  the  supposition  that  it  is 
a  chloride  of  an  assumed  radicle  (C  H/",  formyl,  the 
existence  of  which  is  doubtful.  All  the  different 
views  which  may  be  held  respecting  the  constitution 
of  chloroform  in  reality  amount  to  one  and  the  same 
thing ;  in  this  bod}'  we  have  an  atom  of  quadrivalent 
carbon  united  with  and  saturated  by  the  four  univa¬ 
lent  atoms,  one  of  hydrogen  and  three  of  chlorine. 

By  dissolving  chloroform  in  spirit  of  wine  acidu¬ 
lated  with  hydrochloric  acid,  to  which  a  few  drops  of 
percliloride  of  platinum  have  been  added,  and  digest¬ 
ing  the  mixture  upon  granulated  zinc  in  a  flask  to 
which  a  Liebig’s  condenser  is  attached,  dicliloride  of 
methylene  is  gradually  produced,  and  distils  over. 

CHClg  +  H2=  CH2C12  +  HC1. 

Dicliloride  of  methylene  has  been  tried  with  some 
success  as  an  anaesthetic,  but  its  production  in  quan¬ 
tity  is  uncertain  and  difficult. 

By  submitting  chloroform  to  the  action  of  excess 
of  chlorine,  a  liquid,  tetrachloride  (formerly  called 
bichloride)  of  carbon,  C  Cl4.  is  produced. 

These  bodies  form  part  of  a  series  which  well  illus¬ 
trates  the  law  of  “  substitution;”  for  they  may  all  be 
formed  simultaneously  by  the  action  of  chlorine  upon 
marsh  gas, — the  atoms  of  hydrogen  in  that  body 
being  one  after  the  other  replaced  by  equivalent 
chlorine  atoms. 


Marsh  gas  or  methyl  hydride  .  . 

Methyl  chloride  or  methyl- hydro¬ 
chloric  ether . 

Methylene  dicliloride 

Chloroform . 

Carbon  tetrachloride . 


C 

HHHH 

C 

HIIHC? 

C 

Ithcici 

c 

HCICICI 

c 

cicicTci 


G2I 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  4, 1871. 


THE  ADULTERATION  OF  SAFFRON. 

BY  JOHN  INGHAM. 

Notwithstanding  the  recent  remarks  that  have 
been  made  by  different  writers  upon  the  adultera¬ 
tion  of  saffron,  there  seems  to  be  no  improvement  in 
the  article  as  met  with  in  commerce. 

I  hope  that  this  additional  exposure  of  the  enor¬ 
mous  extent  to  which  the  adulteration  is  practised, 
may  be  a  step  towards  putting  a  stop  to  it,  by  con¬ 
centrating  the  attention  of  the  trade  more  fully  upon 
the  subject. 

Towards  the  close  of  last  year  I  ordered  a  small 
quantity  of  crocus  sativus  opt.  from  one  of  the  oldest 
drug  firms  in  London,  a  house  whose  drugs  generally 
are  to  be  relied  upon  for  purity  as  much  as  those  of 
any  other  firm ;  yet  the  saffron  supplied  at  the  rate 
of  506’.  per  lb.  contained  from  forty  to  forty-five  per 
cent,  of  impurity.  Bearing  in  mind  Mr.  Daniel 
Hanbuiy’s  remarks  on  this  article,  I  determined  to 
examine  what  I  had.  On  close  scrutiny  with  the 
naked  eye  I  could  see  it  had  much  foreign  matter 
attached  to  it ;  on  applying  a  little  H  Cl  brisk  effer¬ 
vescence  immediately  commenced. 

In  order  to  ascertain  to  what  extent  the  fraud 
had  been  carried  and  what  was  the  adulterant,  I 
took  1  drachm  of  the  saffron  and  washed  it  two  or 
three  times  with  water  in  a  beaker,  mixed  the  wash¬ 
ings,  allowed  the  precipitate  to  deposit,  and  decanted 
off  the  clear  liquid.  The  sediment,  when  dried  till 
it  ceased  to  lose  weight,  weighed  twenty-seven  grains. 
Surprised  to  find  so  large  an  amount,  I  thought  that 
some  heavier  adulterant  than  carbonate  of  calcium, 
perhaps  sulphate  of  barium,  might  have  been  em¬ 
ployed  also.  On  treatment  with  H  Cl,  brisk  effer¬ 
vescence  ensued,  and  the  greater  part  was  dissolved. 
This  portion  was  easily  proved  to  be  nothing  more 
than  carbonate  of  calcium.  The  portion  insoluble  in 
H  Cl  was  equally  so  in  aqua  regia.  I  endeavoured 
to  treat  in  the  usual  manner  for  insoluble  sulphates 
as  also  for  silica,  but  was  unable,  with  the  means  at 
any  command,  to  obtain  sufficient  heat  to  fuse  it 
when  mixed  with  a  proper  flux.  From  its  appear¬ 
ance  to  the  eye  I  think  it  is  only  sand.  The  quan¬ 
tity  compared  with  the  chalk  was  small,  it  may  pro¬ 
bably  have  been  a  mechanical  impurity  in  the  latter. 
After  such  a  result  I  hardly  anticipated  finding  that 
there  was  a  still  greater  sophistication,  yet  I  felt 
curious  to  continue  my  investigation  a  step  further. 

Placing  a  small  portion  upon  the  surface  of  some 
hot  water,  I  soon  perceived  some  yellowish  portions, 
which  I  had  previously  taken  for  stamens,  unfolding 
themselves,  looking  very  like  ligulate  florets ;  in  my 
readiness  to  believe,  I  nearly  mistook  them  for  such  ; 
they  were,  however,  only  stamens.  These  consti¬ 
tuted  fully  1  per  cent.  I  do  not  know  the  origin  of 
this  saffron,  but  I  should  think  it  is  a  very  bad  speci¬ 
men  of  the  worst  Alicante  Mr.  Hanbury  examined, 
k  rom  the  immense  time  and  labour  requisite  for  the 
gathering  ol .  saffron,  it  must  of  necessity  always  be 
a  costly  article ;  and  so  long  as  there  is  a  ready 
market  lor  such  qualities  as  have  lately  been  selling, 
doubtless  the  supply  will  be  kept  up,  and  be  very 
profitable  to  those  primarily  concerned. 

The  remedy  is  chiefly  in  our  own  hands;  if  we 
refuse  to  use,  or  have  anything  to  do  with  such  quali¬ 
ties,  it  will  soon  be  found  more  remunerative  to  sup¬ 
ply  a  genuine  article,  even  if  a  higher  price  must  be 
charged.  I  am  no  advocate  for  cheapness  if  any 
advantage  is  to  be  gamed  by  higher  prices ;  yet,  in 


conclusion,  I  cannot  help  reiterating  what  has  often 
been  said  before,  that  a  drug  so  costly  and  of  so 
little  therapeutical  value  should  be,  as  soon  as  possible, 
ordered  much  less  than  it  is  in  our  Pharmacopoeia, 
or  be  altogether  expunged  from  it. 


THE  COMPOSITION  OF  THE  FERRIC 
IODATES. 

BY  CHICHESTER  A.  BELL,  M.B. 

The  ferric  biniodate  having  been  recently  proposed 
as  an  addition  to  our  list  of  medicines,  and  success¬ 
fully  employed  by  many  physicians  in  Dublin,  it 
appeared  desirable  to  investigate  the  chemistry  of  a 
substance  which  seems  destined  to  come  into  more 
general  use.  The  compound  hitherto  employed, 
however,  is  both  expensive  and  tedious  to  prepare, 
and  is,  moreover,  liable  to  decomposition,  although 
very  much  more  stable  than  the  ferrous  iodide  as  a 
substitute  for  which  it  was  introduced.  'With  the 
view,  therefore,  of  devising  a  more  simple  and  rapid 
mode  of  preparing  it,  or  of  finding  some  similar  and 
equally  efficacious  compound,  a  few  experiments 
were  undertaken,  and  with  the  following  results : — 

There  appear  to  exist,  at  least  three  well-defined 
compounds  of  ferric  oxide  and  iodic  anhydride.  One 
of  these,  the  biniodate,  is  formed  by  precipitating  a 
solution  of  iron  alum  by  one  of  potassic  or  sodic 
iodate  added  in  excess.  This  is  the  compound  re¬ 
cently  proposed  for  use  in  medicine,  and  to  it  the 
formula  Fe203,  2I205,  8H20  has  been  correctly  as¬ 
signed.  When  first  precipitated  it  is  of  a  yellow  or 
yellowish- brown  colour;  but  it  soon  becomes  darker 
on  exposure  to  air,  at  the  same  time  evolving  an 
odour  of  iodine.  If  now  to  a  solution  of  ferrous  iodide 
one  of  potassic  chlorate  be  added,  and  then  an  ex¬ 
cess  of  strong  nitric  acid,  upon  heating  the  mixture 
a  fine  yellow  precipitate  is  produced.  The  forma¬ 
tion  of  this  substance  is  often  remarkable,  the  iodine 
which  was  at  first  set  free  disappearing  suddenly 
when  the  yellow  precipitate  appears.  The  compo¬ 
sition  of  this  precipitate  corresponds  to  the  formula 
Fe2  03,  3 12  05  or  Fe'"  3 1 03.  It  is,  therefore,  a  normal 
iodate.  It  contains  904  per  cent,  of  iron  and  05-57 
per  cent,  of  iodine,  while  the  percentages  of  iron 
and  iodine  in  the  crystallized  ferrous  iodide  of 
the  Pharmacopoeia  are  about  15  and  07.  It  is 
scarcely  soluble  in  cold  water  and  dissolves  with 
difficulty  even  in  strong  nitric  acid.  Like  other 
iodates  it  is  readily  attacked  by  warm  moderately 
dilute  li3rdrochloric  acid,  chlorine  gas  being  pro¬ 
duced.  Boiling  water  takes  up  from  it  both  ferric 
oxide  and  iodic  anhydride,  a  basic  salt  remaining 
undissolved.  It  is  destitute  of  both  flavour  and 
odour.  It  possesses  the  advantage  over  the  pre¬ 
ceding  compound  of  being  anhydrous  and  perfectly 
stable.  The  most  suitable  proportions  for  its  prepa¬ 
ration  seem  to  be,  2  parts  iodine  converted  in  the 
usual  manner  into  ferrous  iodide  in  solution  in  5  or 
0  parts  water,  2  parts  potassic  chlorate  dissolved  in 
a  small  amount  of  hot  water,  and  1|  parts  strong 
nitric  acid. 

When  only  a  small  quantity  of  nitric  acid  is 
added  and  the  mixture  heated  to  boiling,  a  con¬ 
siderable  amount  of  iodine  escapes,  while  a  deep  red 
precipitate  is  formed.  The  composition  of  this  pre¬ 
cipitate,  when  dried  at  212°  F.,  appears  to  be  nor¬ 
mally  Fe203,  I205.  It  soon,  however,  decomposes, 
even  during  washing,  and  the  proportion  ot  iodic 


February  4, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


625 


anhydride  is  accordingly  liable  to  vary.  Prepared 
with  a  larger  quantity  of  nitric  acid  its  colour  is 
lighter,  while  it  contains  a  greater  percentage  of 
iodic  anhydride.  When  the  amount  of  acid  is  not 
quite  sufficient  to  cause  the  formation  of  the  normal 
salt,  the  resulting  precipitate  is  probably  a  mixture 
of  normal  and  basic  iodates.  Digestion  with  warm 
dilute  nitric  acid  converts  any  of  these  basic  mix¬ 
tures  into  the  neutral  compound. 

Of  these  three  ferric  iodates  the  normal  compound 
would  seem  the  best  suited  for  medical  use  in  conse¬ 
quence  of  its  great  stability.  The  iodates  as  a  class 
undoubtedly  require  further  examination. 


THE  APPLICATION  OF  DISINFECTANTS. 

Now  that  smallpox,  fever  and  other  contagious  dis¬ 
eases  are  prevalent  amongst  us,  the  knowledge  of  how 
to  apply  the  substances  which  are  used  as  disinfectants 
is  of  much  importance.  The  chemist,  as  the  vendor,  is 
often  consulted  as  to  the  best  way  of  using  a  certain  dis¬ 
infectant,  and  having  ascertained  the  purpose  for  which 
it  is  required,  should  be  able  to  give  a  judicious  and 
ready  reply. 

First  among  disinfectants  is  carbolic  acid.  Its  uni¬ 
versal  adaptability,  its  extensive  use  in  most  of  the  me¬ 
tropolitan  hospitals,  and  during  the  cattle  plague,  en¬ 
title  it  to  this  rank.  It  has  advantages  which  no  other 
disinfectant  can  boast  of,  being  capable  of  application 
either  as  a  fluid  or  as  a  vapour;  the  fluid  not  injuring 
the  fabric  to  which  it  is  applied,  and  the  vapour  when 
breathed  being  comparatively  harmless. 

There  are  several  ways  of  applying  this  substance. 
In  solution,  a  good  strength  is  one  part  of  the  crystal¬ 
lized  acid  to  thirty  of  water.  This  is  suitable  for  sprink¬ 
ling  the  floor,  clothing,  bedding,  etc.  A  very  good  way 
of  using  it  is  to  keep  clothes  continually  wetted  with  it, 
and  suspend  them  in  the  room.  For  pouring  down 
drains  and  the  immersion  of  linen  and  other  infected 
articles,  one  in  fifty  is  strong  enough.  As  vapour  it  may 
be  evolved  by  keeping  a  solution  of  the  first  strength 
constantly  evaporating ;  or  another  more  simple  and 
effectual  method  is  to  make  a  fire-shovel  hot  and  pour 
upon  it  a  little  of  the  strong  solution  at  regular  inter¬ 
vals.  The  patient  and  those  in  attendance  should 
likewise  wash  with  carbolizcd  soap. 

Manganate  and  permanganate  of  potash  are  valuable 
as  disinfectants  and  deodorizers  on  account  of  their  oxi¬ 
dizing  powers  in  the  presence  of  organic  matter.  The 
Pharmacopoeia  solution  of  the  permanganate  is  strong- 
enough  for  all  the  purposes  to  which  it  can  be  applied. 
If  the  patient  drinks  much  water,  a  few  drops  of  this 
solution  in  each  glassful  will  do  good.  As  a  wash  for 
the  mouth,  one  drachm  to  an  ounce  is  a  suitable  strength. 
All  utensils  for  the  reception  of  evacuations  should  be 
charged  with  this  solution.  For  sprinkling  the  floors, 
clothing  and  bedding,  and  pouring  down  drains,  two 
drams  to  the  ounce  should  be  used.  A  weaker  solution 
is  very  useful  for  rinsing  the  hands. 

Chlorinated  lime  is  a  substance  so  well  known,  and  its 
application  so  simple,  that  most  persons  are  instructed 
m  its  use ;  its  cheapness  recommends  it  to  the  poorer 
classes,  and,  I  believe,  its  use  is  generally  appreciated 
by  them.  In  places  where  it  is  strewn,  it  should  bo 
renewed  every  twenty-four  hours,  as  by  that  time  it 
generally  loses  its  freshness.  A  portion  of  it  placed  in 
a  pail  of  water  for  the  washing  of  floors  is  a  wise  precau¬ 
tion  at  all  times. 

Sulphurous  acid  gas  is  liberated  by  burning  sulphur. 
It  is  a  powerful  destroyer  of  the  germs  of  contagion,  but 
owing  to  its  deleterious  and  suffocating  odoiu-  it  cannot 
be  introduced  in  any  quantity  to  the  room  of  a  sick 
person  ;  nevertheless,  it  is  very  useful. 

Mr.  [Star tin,  the  senior  surgeon  to  the  Hospital  for 


Diseases  of  the  Skin,  Blackfriars,  in  a  communication  to 
the  British  Medical  Journal,  recommends  the  following- 
method  of  fumigation  to  be  used  for  the  purpose  of 
preventing  the  spread  of  contagious  diseases.  For  dis¬ 
infecting  beds  and  bedding,  a  warming-pan  or  some 
other  suitable  utensil,  containing  a  few  live  embers, 
upon  which  a  teaspoonful  or  two  of  flowers  of  sulphur 
has  been  thrown,  should  be  passed  to  and  fro  between 
the  sheets  until  the  combustion  of  the  sulphur  is  com¬ 
plete.  After  a  few  minutes  the  patient  may  enter  the 
bed..  Should  the  fumes  prove  too  stimulating  for  his 
respiratory  organs,  they  may  be  intercepted  by  holding 
a  loosely  folded  damp  handkerchief  before  the  mouth 
until  they  have  subsided.  To  disinfect  clothing  it  should 
be  lightly  sponged  or  sprinkled  with  water  containing 
well-mingled  milk  of  sulphur,  in  the  proportion  of  a 
teaspoonful  to  a  pint  of  water,  and  then  ironed  with  a 
flat  iron,  heated  to  a  temperature  sufficient  to  volatilize 
the  sulphur  without  burning  the  clothing.  This  process 
should  be  repeated  according  to  the  extent  and  duration 
of  the  infection. 


Dr.  Walter  Fergus,  writing  to  the  same  journal,  says 
that  ho  has  found  the  readiest  method  of'  developing- 
sulphurous  acid  fumes  to  be  by  igniting  two  parts  of 
flowers  of  sulphur  and  one  of  powdered  charcoal  on  any 
incombustible  surface,  such  as  a  saucer  or  a  bit  of  tin. 
He  says  also  that  sulphurous  acid  is  not  so  much  an 
irritant  as  it  has  the  appearance  of  being.  An  atmo¬ 
sphere  highly  charged  with  it  may  bo  breathed  with 
very  small  inconvenience,  which  soon  passes  off.  Dr. 
Fergus  has  used  it  with  benefit  in  cases  of  the  affection 
known  as  “  hay-fever.” 

A  correspondent  says,  in  reference  to  the  above 
method,  that  it  is  open  to  several  objections.  He  much 
questions  whether  a  patient  could  remain  in  the  room 
after  the  burning  of  two  teaspoonfuls  of  sulphur ;  under 
any  circumstances  it  would  produce  a  most  irritating- 
cough,  even  if  the  wot  handkerchief  were  applied  to  the 
mouth,  as  there  is  a  limit  to  the  absorption  of  this  gas 
by  moisture.  The  hot  cinders  are  not  necessary  for  its 
ignition,  the  sulphur  will  readily  take  fire,  and  burn  on 
the  application  of  a  lucifer  match. 

The  disinfecting  properties  of  chlorine  are  well  known. 
It  can  be  eliminated  by  the  action  of  hydrochloric  acid 
on  chlorinated  lime,  or  sulphuric  acid  on  peroxide  of 
manganese  and  salt.  From  its  poisonous  properties  it  is 
open  to  the  same  objections  as  sulphurous  acid ;  the  same 
rules  may  be  observed  for  its  application. 

In  bonclusion,  we  give  the  following  list  of  precau¬ 
tions  adopted  in  a  recent  case  of  typhus  fever.  When 
the  medical  attendant  discovered  the  nature  of  the  case, 
he  ordered  immediate  disinfection  with  carbolic  acid 
and Condy’s  fluids.  The  room  in  which  the  patient  lay  was 
stripped  of  the  whole  of  its  furniture,  leaving  nothing 
that  was  not  required  for  the  use  of  the  patient.  The 
floor  was  then  washed  with  a  solution  of  chlorinated 
lime,  and  afterwards  well  sprinkled  with  solution  of  car¬ 
bolic  acid  one  to  thirty.  Cloths  kept  wet  with  this 
solution  were  suspended  in  the  room,  and  the  bedding  was 
lightly  sprinkled.  Three  times  a  day,  at  regular  inter¬ 
vals,  a  drachm  of  the  strong  acid  was  poured  upon  a  hot 
fire-shovel  and  moved  about  the  room.  All  clothing, 
bedding,  etc.,  when  removed  from  the  patient,  was  im¬ 
mersed  in  a  solution  of  the  acid  one  to  fifty.  He  was 
washed  with  carbolizcd  soap.  All  utensils  for  the  recep¬ 
tion  of  evacuations  were  kept  charged  with  Condy’s 
fluids ;  a  weaker  solution  of  the  same  was  used  as  a 
gargle.  This  plan  -was  strictly  followed  for  three  days, 
when  the  patient  sank  and  died.  As  soon  as  possible 
after  death  the  fireplace  and  windows  were  securely 
closed,  and  a  tablcspoontul  of  sulphur  placed  in  a  vessel 
and  ignited.  The  door  -was  then  closed,  and  the  room 
loft  in  this  condition  three  hours,  after  which  the  win¬ 
dows  were  opened  from  the  exterior.  Soon  afterwards 
the  remains  were  placet  in  a  shell  containing  charcoal. 
The  paper  was  then  stripped  from  the  walls,  and  the 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  4, 1871. 


sulphur  process  again  repeated.  The  room  was  kept 
closed  in  this  condition  for  two  days,  when  the  body 
was  removed. 

As  destroyers  of  atmospherical  germs  of  contagion, 
sulphurous  acid  and  chlorine  are  perhaps  the  best 
agents  ;  but,  in  consequence  of  their  irritating  effects, 
their  application  is  much  restricted  in  the  sick-chamber. 


THE  SALTS  OF  CERIUM  AND  OF  LITHI A.* 

The  salts  of  cerium  were  first  introduced  as  remedial 
agents  by  the  late  Sir  J.  Y.  Simpson,  f  and  the  oxalate 
was  admitted  into  the  second  edition  of  the  British  Phar¬ 
macopoeia.  Sir  J.  Y.  Simpson  considered  them  to  pos¬ 
sess  sedative  and  tonic  properties,  which  make  them  use¬ 
ful  substitutes  for  bismuth,  hydrocyanic  acid  and  nitrate 
of  silver.  He  used  them  with  marked  advantage  in 
“chronic  intestinal  eruption,”  in  irritable  dyspepsia, 
attended  with  gastrodynia,  pyrosis,  and  chronic  vomiting, 
and  in  the  vomiting  of  pregnancy.  In  epilepsy  and 
other  allied  convulsive  diseases  in  which  the  nitrate  of 
silver  has  been  frequently  employed,  the  salts  of  cerium 
possess  the  advantage  over  the  nitrate  of  silver,  that 
they  may  be  persevered  with  without  any  fear  of  dis¬ 
colouring  the  skin.  The  oxalate  has  obtained  a  great 
reputation  as  a  remedy  in  obstinate  vomiting,  especially 
in  the  vomiting  of  pregnancy. 

The  remedy  possesses  the  great  advantages  of  small¬ 
ness  of  dose  (gr.  iij-v)  and  freedom  from  taste  and 
smell. 

Lithia  and  its  salts  were  also  introduced  into  the 
British  Pharmacopoeia  of  1864.  More  than  thirty  years 
ago,  Mr.  Ure  and  some  other  authorities  called  attention 
to  the  remarkable  solvent  powers  which  the  carbonate  of 
lithia  possessed  over  uric  acid  calculi — powers  which 
much  exceed  those  possessed  by  the  other  alkaline  car¬ 
bonates, — and  suggested  the  injection  of  solutions  of  the 
carbonate  of  lithia  into  the  bladder,  with  the  object  of 
dissolving  calculi  formed  wholly  or  in  part  of  uric  acid. 
But  it  was  Dr.  Garrod  who  introduced  the  lithia  salts 
into  medical  practice.  Extending  the  experiments  of 
Mr.  Ure,  etc.,  he  found  that  the  carbonate  of  lithia  could 
completely  remove  gouty  deposits  of  urate  of  soda  from 
cartilages  incrusted  by  them,  while  carbonate  of  potash 
acted  less  strongly  on  them,  and  carbonate  of  soda  left 
them  unaltered.  This  encouraged  him  to  make  trial  of 
the  lithia  salts  clinically,  and  with  highly  satisfactory 
results.  He  found  them  of  great  value  for  keeping  uric 
acid  in  solution  during  its  passage  through  the  urinary 
organs,  and  for  preventing  its  deposition  in  the  struc¬ 
tures  of  the  body ;  it  seems,  also,  that  they  may  be  of 
service  in  removing  gouty  concretions  when  formed. 
The  carbonate  is  a  much  more  powerful  diuretic  than 
the  salts  of  potash  or  soda,  and  may  be  given  with  great 
advantage,  as  a  prophylactic,  in  chronic  gout,  calculus, 
etc.  Its  dose  is  from  three  to  six  grains,  and  is  best 
given  in  a  state  of  free  dilution.  The  value  of  the  lithia 
salts,  especially  the  carbonate,  has  been  widely  recog¬ 
nized.  The  lithia  springs  of  Baden  Baden  J  have  gained 
a  considerable  reputation,  and  Professor  Roscoe  has 
found  lithium  in  the  thermal  waters  of  Bath.  Dr.  Gar- 
rod  has  stated  that  he  has  known  a  few,  but  a  very  few, 
instances  “  in  which  the  long- continued  use  of  the  drug 
has  appeared  to  cause  symptoms  referable  to  the  nervous 
system,  as  shaking  or  trembling  of  one  hand,  which  has 
disappeared  on  the  omission  of  the  remedy.”  § 

*  Abstracted  from  a  series  of  papers  on  the  “  Progress  of 
Therapeutics,”  published  in  the  Medical  Times  and  Gazette. 

f  Monthly  Journal  of  Medicine,  December,  1854;  “Ob¬ 
stetric  Memoirs,”  etc.,  p.  313,  1855;  and  Medical  Times 
and  Gazette,  vol.  ii.  p.  280,  1859. 

X  Dr.  Althaus,  ‘  On  the  Lithia  Springs  of  Baden  Baden,’ 
Medical  Times  and  Gazette,  vol.  ii.  1861. 

§  ‘Essentials  of  Materia  Medica,’  third  edition,  p.  105, 
1868. 


THE  USE  OF  PREPARATIONS  OF  CARBOLIC  ACID 
IN  SMALL-POX  EPIDEMICS. 

Although  carbolic  acid  is  not  a  preservative  enabling 
us  to  dispense  with  vaccination,  it  is  nevertheless  a  dis¬ 
infecting  agent  which  it  is  advisable  to  employ  as  a  pro¬ 
phylactic.  In  a  hygienic  point  of  view  it  is  thought 
worth  while  to  call  attention  to  two  new  preparations, 
or  rather  two  different  forms  of  the  same  preparation, 
which  are  due  to  MM.  Dubarth  and  Rolle. 

The  best  method  of  employing  carbolic  acid  as  a  dis¬ 
infectant,  according  to  M.  Dubarth,  is  to  mix  it  with  a 
coarse  powder,  which  being  saturated  with  it  so  divides 
the  acid  as  to  present  the  largest  possible  surface  for 
evaporation.  For  this  purpose  powdered  brick  affords 
an  excellent  vehicle,  at  once  convenient  and  easy  in  its 
use. 

The  following  is  the  manner  in  which  he  prepares  this 
mixture,  to  which  he  has  given  the  name  of  “  Dubarth’ s 
Disinfectant.” 

Powdered  Brick  ....  5  kil. 

Carbolic  Acid .  250  gr. 

Dissolve  the  acid  in  a  sufficient  quantity  of  alcohol  and 
then  mix.  A  thin  layer  of  this  powder  spread  upon  a 
plate,  frequently  stirred  and  slightly  damped,  produces 
at  the  ordinary  temperature  a  much  larger  quantity  of 
antimiasmatic  vapours  than  would  be  given  off  by  any 
solution  of  carbolic  acid.  It  is  superior  to  the  solutions 
of  permanganate  of  potash,  its  effects  being  more  con¬ 
stant  and  more  certain. 

The  following  is  the  method  proposed  by  M.  Rolle  for 
making  carbolicizcd  cigarettes  : — 

Powdered  Plaster . 100 

Carbolic  Acid . 20 

Dissolve  the  carbolic  acid  with  a  sufficient  quantity  of 
alcohol,  and  sprinkle  with  this  solution  the  granulated 
plaster.  Stir  with  a  spatula  in  order  to  secure  an  equal 
distribution  of  the  active  substance,  then  introduce  the 
granules  into  the  hollow  portion  of  a  quill,  of  which  the 
ends  are  closed  with  a  little  wadding,  as  is  done  in  the 
case  of  camphor  cigarettes. 

As  an  agent  in  the  treatment  of  confirmed  small-pox, 
carbolic  acid  has  been  largely  experimented  with  since 
the  first  trials  by  M.  Chauflard,  with  results  proportionate 
to  the  gravity  of  the  evil.  Professor  Godefroy,  of  Rennes, 
has  had  three  cases  of  small-pox,  in  which  he  has  ob¬ 
tained  such  satisfactory  results  by  the  use  of  it,  that  he 
has  published  the  particulars  in  the  Revue  cle  Therapeu- 
tique  Medico-  Chirurgicale. 

The  first  was  the  case  of  an  unvaccinated  adult,  suffer¬ 
ing  from  semiconfluent  small-pox.  The  prescription 
ordered  was — 

Mixture  of  Acacia  (Potion  gommeuse, 

Fr.  Codex) . 125  grammes. 

Crystallized  Carbolic  Acid  ....  1  „ 

Two  tablespoonfuls  to  be  taken  every  two  hours. 

The  following  lotion  was  to  be  applied  every  hour  to 
the  face  and  hands  : — 

Crystallized  Carbolic  Acid  .  5  grammes. 

Distilled  Water  .  .  .  .500  ,, 

There  was  no  suppuration. 

The  second  case  was  that  of  a  confluent  variolic  erup¬ 
tion.  The  same  treatment  was  adopted.  There  was  no 
suppuration. 

The  third  case  was  an  infant  of  eighteen  months.  The 
eruption  was  moderate.  Without  ceasing  to  suck,  this 
child  took  a  teaspoonful  of  a  solution  of  30  centigrammes. 
The  hands  were  bathed  with  a  lotion  made  according  to 
the  formula  previously  given.  It  recovered. 

It  is  well  to  remark  that  these  three  cases  were  too 
slight  to  decide  in  favour  of  the  efficacy  of  carbolic  acid ; 
but  they  at  least  prove  that  the  acid  can  be  administered 
without  inconvenience. — Echo  Medical  et  Pharmaccutique 
Relge . 


.February  4,  137 1.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


027 


DR.  LANKESTER’S  REPORT  FOR  1870. 

It  appears  from  an  analysis  contained  in  this  Report 
that  in  cases  of  suicide,  women,  as  a  rule,  prefer  taking- 
poison  and  drowning-  themselves.  Of  twenty-three 
cases  of  female  suicide  in  1868-9,  six  were  from  poison 
and  ten  from  drowning.  Men,  on  the  other  hand,  adopt 
the  more  violent  methods,  such  as  cutting  their  throats, 
hanging,  jumping  out  of  windows,  etc. 

With  regard  to  poisons,  the  third  on  the  list  of  means 
of  suicide  in  proportion  to  their  frequency,  it  will  he  seen 
“that  during  the  past  seven  years  the  most  frequent 
deaths  have  arisen  from  cyanide  of  potassium.  This  is  a 
most  deadly  and  certain  poison.  It  can  he  bought  of 
almost  any  druggist  or  seller  of  photographic  chemicals, 
without  any  questions  being  asked.  It  is  used  in  im¬ 
mense  quantities  by  photographers,  and  every  amateur 
photographer  possesses  a  certain  quantity  in  his  stores. 
It  is  well  known  in  families  where  it  is  sold  and  used  as 
a  poison.  It  is  in  this  way  the  most  readily  accessible, 
and  perhaps  the  best  known  of  all  poisons,  as  it  is  gene¬ 
rally  labelled,  when  sold,  as  ‘poison.’  On  this  account 
it  seems  to  offer  a  terrible  temptation  to  those  inclined  to 
commit  suicide.  Thus  the  word  ‘  poison  ’  only  acts  as 
a  preventive  of  accidental  poisoning,  for  persons  disposed 
to  commit  suicide  might  know  nothing  of  the  properties 
•of  a  substance  unless  it  was  thus  labelled.  In  a  recent 
case  of  poisoning  by  Calvert’s  carbolic  acid,  used  for  dis¬ 
infecting  purposes,  the  bottle  containing  it  not  being- 
labelled  ‘poison,’  the  mistress  of  a  family  told  her  ser¬ 
vant  she  must  bo  very  careful  of  the  acid  as  it  was  a 
strong  poison.  The  consequence  was  that  the  girl  got 
up  in  the  night  and  swallowed  a  quantity  of  the  carbolic 
acid,  and  was  found  dead  the  next  morning.  Labelling- 
poisons  ‘poison’  will  not  prevent  suicide,  nor  will  any 
restriction  on  the  sale  of  poisons  prevent  suicide.  The 
only  restriction  that  can  be  of  any  service  is  on  the  sale 
of  poisons,  which  may  easily  be  administered  to  other 
persons  on  account  of  the  small  bulk  or  absence  of  any 
physical  property,  and  which  can  be  easily  employed  for 
the  purposes  of  murder.  There  is  no  doubt  that  writing- 
the  word  ‘  poison  ’  frequently  prevents  accidental  poi¬ 
soning,  but  I  am  of  opinion  that  nothing  will  prevent 
this  amongst  ignorant  and  careless  people  but  the  send¬ 
ing  out  of  poisonous  substances  in  bottles  or  boxes  that 
should  at  once  be  recognized  by  the  sight  and  feeling  as 
devoted  to  the  reception  of  poisons  alone. 

“  The  next  most  frequent  agent  used  in  suicidal  poi¬ 
soning  is  oxalic  acid.  This  is  used  by  saddlers  and 
harness-makers,  shoemakers,  and  also  for  certain  house¬ 
hold  purposes.  Just  as  photographers  and  their  wives 
and  families  poison  themselves  by  cyanide  of  potassium, 
so  shoemakers  and  saddlers  and  their  wives  and  families 
poison  themselves  with  oxalic  acid.  It  is  seldom  taken 
•by  mistake  or  used  for  purposes  of  murder ;  it  is  usually 
sold  with  the  word  ‘  poison  ’  written  on  it,  and  is  well- 
known  as  a  tolerably  efficacious  poison.  I  say  tolerably, 
because  I  believe  cases  of  recovery  from  oxalic  acid 
poisoning  are  much  more  frequent  than  from  cyanide  of 
potassium. 

“After  these  two  instances  come  the  preparation  of 
opium.  These  cases  are  not  so  numerous  as  formerly, 
and  even  my  tables  seem  to  point  to  a  decrease.  The 
facility  of  obtaining  cyanide  of  potassium  and  oxalic 
-acid  may  explain  this.  The  chemist  and  druggist  is 
very  careful  over  the  sale  of  laudanum,  selling  it  only 
in  small  quantities,  and  then  only  to  persons  whom  he 
supposes  are  not  going  to  misuse  it.  But  in  the  great 
majority  of  cases  where  persons  take  laudanum  for 
suicidal  purposes,  they  have  bought  it  in  small  quantities 
•and  added  them  tog-ether,  and  thus  have  taken  sufficient 
to  effect  their  object.  But  a  large  number  of  the  cases 
of  poisoning  by  opium  or  its  preparations  arise  in  drug¬ 
gists’  shops  and  medical  men’s  dispensaries,  to  which 
servants  or  others  desirous  of  committing  suicide  have 
access. 

“  This  is  more  so  the  case  with  hydrocyanic  or  prussic 


acid.  In  nearly  every  instance  of  suicide  by  poisoning 
with  this  agent,  it  has  occurred  with  medical  men,  drug¬ 
gists,  or  their  families  and  servants.  It  may  be  bought, 
but  great  precautions  are  taken  in  the  sale,  and  its  sale 
and  use  is  almost  entirely  confined  to  chemists  who 
make,  it,  druggists  who  sell  it  and  medical  men  who  em¬ 
ploy  it. 

“Poisoning  by  oil  of  bitter  almonds  comes  next.  It 
is  used  as  a  scent  and  also  employed  to  flavour  food. 
The  few  cases  which  have  occurred  during  the  last  seven 
years  are  principally  amongst  servants  and  courtesans. 
It  is  easily  procured  in  druggists’  shops.  It  should, 
however,  be  known  that  the  essential  oil  of  bitter 
almonds  is  not  a  poison,  and  it  is  only  when  it  is  im¬ 
pure  and  contains  hydrocyanic  or  prussic  acid  that  it 
acts  as  a  poison.  I  have  never  held,  that  I  recollect, 
an  inquest  in  a  case  of  accidental  poisoning  from  oil  of 
bitter  almonds,  as  it  is  never  taken  in  sufficient  quantity 
when  used  as  an  article  of  diet.  It  is,  however,  an  un¬ 
pleasant  fact  to  know  that  you  may  be  taking  a  dose  of 
hydrocyanic  when  eating  a  custard  at  dinner. 

“  Following  oil  of  bitter  almonds  in  the  number  of 
their  victims  arc  sulphuric  and  hydrochloric  acids. 
These  articles  are  known  in  commerce  as  oil  of  vitriol 
and  spirit  of  salt,  and  are  used  for  various  purposes  and 
by  various  workers.  They  are  known  to  be  poisonous, 
but  they  are  generally  known  also  to  kill  by  their-  caustic 
action  on  the  flesh  of  the  body.  The  death  which  follows 
the  swallowing  either  of  them  is  most  agonizing  and 
cruel,  the  victim  frequently  not  dying  for  some  hours, 
or  even  days,  after  taking  them.  They  are  employed 
by  persons  who  are  too  poor  or  too  ignorant  to  have 
recourse  to  anything  else.  The  drunken  brass-finisher, 
or  his  wife,  or  any  other  artisan  who  works  at  his  busi¬ 
ness  with  these  materials,  in  the  moment  of  frenzy, 
seize  on  one  or  other  of  these  acids  which  may  be  nearest 
to  them,  and  thus  finish  their  existence  by  one  of  the 
most  painful  deaths  that  man  can  die. 

“  The  last  substance  mentioned  is  strychnia.  It  is 
contained  in  powders  sold  for  the  destruction  of  vermin. 
In  the  two  cases  recorded  the  strychnia  has  been  taken 
in  this  way.” 


POISONING  BY  BATTLE’S  VERMIN  KILLER. 

We  have  been  favoured  by  a  correspondent  with  the 
following  account  of  a  case  of  poisoning  by  Battle’s  Ver¬ 
min  Killer,  that  has  come  under  his  notice : — Jan.  7,  1870, 
12.30.  I  was  called  to  Mrs.  — ,  who  I  was  told  was  dying. 
On  arriving  I  found  her  in  tetanic  convulsions  and  quite 
asphyxiated.  She  recovered  from  the  convulsions  just 
after  my  arrival,  when  her  father  told  me  she  had  taken 
a  3 cl.  packet  of  Battle’s  Vermin  Killer.  She  gave  me 
the  key  of  her  box,  where  I  found  one  empty  and  an¬ 
other  full  packet  of  the  above  poison.  She  said  she  had 
taken  it  thirty  minutes  before.  I  immediately  ordered 
her  a  mustard  emetic,  and  hastened  back  for  antidotes. 
On  arriving  again  in  about  five  minutes,  I  found  she  had 
vomited  a  quantity  of  green  fluid,  and  that  another 
convulsion  was  just  commencing.  I  gave  her  a  few 
whiffs  of  chloroform,  which  relieved  it,  and  then  another 
emetic  mixed  in  strong  coffee.  About  12.45  I  adminis¬ 
tered  “  jij  of  chloral  hydr.”  in  a  little  starch  as  an  in¬ 
jection,  after  which  she  had  “  no  more  convulsions ”  and 
slept,  waking  up  every  hour  till  5  next  morning.  On 
seeing  her  about  9  she  said  she  had  only  a  little  pain  in 
her  legs,  and  felt  rather  languid.  The  next  day  she  was 
out  of  bed,  sat  up,  and  is  now  perfectly  recovered. 


COUGH  REMEDIES. 

As  at  this  season  of  the  year,  and  more  especially  the 
present  year,  succeeding  to  the  great  and  long-continued 
heat  of  last  summer  and  autumn,  coughs,  colds  and 
catarrhs,  and  all  of  this  class  of  affections  of  the  bron¬ 
chial  membrane  of  the  air-passages  arc  prevailing  to  an 


028 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS 


[February  4, 1871 


unusual  extent,  it  will  be  found  convenient  to  be  able  to 
turn  readily  to  a  well-established  formula  that  may 
afford  relief  to  persons  thus  affected,  and  perhaps  have 
the  good  fortune  to  make  a  cure.  Therefore,  to  that 
end — 

1.  Take  Syrup  of  Squills, 

Syrup  of  Ipecacuanha, 

Camphorated  Tinct.  of  Opium,  of  each,  1  oz. 
M.  Dose,  a  teaspoonful  for  an  adult  every  three 
hours. 

It  promotes  expectoration  and  causes  relaxation. 

2.  Take  Syruppof  Wild  Cherry  Bark,  3  fl.  oz. 

Syrup  of  Tolu,  1  11.  oz. 

Prussic  Acid,  diluted,  16  minims. 

M.  Dose  for  an  adult,  a  dessert-spoonful  every  three 
hours.  Tonic  and  sedative,  and  is  highly  useful  in  con¬ 
sumption. 

3.  Take  Syrup  of  Gum  Arabic,  4  fl.  oz. 

Muriate  of  Morphia,  1  gr. 

Oil  of  Sassafras,  1  drop. 

M.  Dose,  a  teaspoonful  every  throe  hours. 

This  is  like  Dr.  Jackson’s  well-known  11  Pectoral 
Syrup.” 

4.  Take  Powdered  Ext.  of  Liquorice, 

Powdered  Gum  Arabic,  of  each,  2  drms. 

Hot  Water,  4  fl.  oz. 

Make  a  mixture  and  add — 

Spirit  of  Nitrous  Ether,  1  fl.  drm. 

Antimonial  Wine,  2  fl.  drms. 

Tincture  of  Opium,  40  minims. 

M.  A  tablespoonful  for  a  dose. 

This  is  an  excellent  remedy  in  the  early  stages  of  ca¬ 
tarrh  ;  it  is  the  well-known  Brown  Mixture,  or  the 
“mistura  glycyrrhizao  composita”  of  the  U.  S.  Pharma¬ 
copoeia. 

5.  Take  Decoction  of  Senega,  4  fl.  oz. 

Syrup  of  Ipecac.  1  fl.  oz. 

Syrup  of  Squills,  \  fl.  oz. 

Tartrate  of  Antimony,  1  gr. 

M.  A  teaspoonful  for  children  two  years  of  age  and 
over.  This  is  often  given  in  croup. 

6.  Take  Gum  Ammoniac, 

Ext.  of  Liquorice,  of  each,  2  drms. 

Vinegar  of  Squills,  \  fl.  oz. 

Fennel  Water,  5|  fl.  oz. 

M.  Dose,  a  teaspoonful  for  an  adult  every  two  hours. 

A  stimulating  expectorant  in  chronic  bronchitis  and 
catarrh. 

7.  Take  Muriate  of  Ammonia,  ^  oz. 

Powdered  Gum  Arabic,  2  drms. 

Powdered  Ext.  of  Liquorice,  3  drms. 

Water,  64  11.  oz. 

Spirits  of  Nitrous  Ether,  1J  fl.  drm. 

Vinegar  of  Squills,  3  fl.  drms. 

M.  A  dessert-spoonful  every  two  hours. 

_  A  stimulating  expectorant  and  alterative,  and  may  be 
given  in  the  advanced  stage  of  bronchial  disease. 

8.  Take  Copaiba, 

Balsam  of  Tolu, 

Powdered  Gum  Arabic,  of  each,  |  oz. 

Water,  6  oz. 

Aromatic  Sulph.  Acid,  20  minims. 

Make  a  mixture  by  well  rubbing  together. 

Dose,  a  tablespoonful.  Given  in  chronic  catarrh  and 
bronchitis. 

9.  Take  Hypophosphite  of  Lime,  6  drms. 

Hypophosphite  of  Soda, 

Hypophosphite  of  Potash,  of  each,  2  drms. 


Dissolve,  strain  and  add— 

Hot  Water,  10  fl.  oz. 

Sugar,  14  fl.  oz. 

Dissolve,  with  a  mild  heat,  strain  and  add — 
Orange-flower  Water,  fl.  oz. 

M.  Dose,  a  teaspoonful  every  three  hours. 

The  hypophosphites  are  recommended  by  Dr.  Church¬ 
ill  in  phthisis  and  bronchitic  consumption. — The  Mew 
York  Druggists’  Circular. 


Eye  Seed. — A  correspondent  in  the  Gardeners’  Chro¬ 
nicle,  says  that  some  years  ago,  being  on  a  tour  in  North 
Wales,  he  saw  a  plant — which  some  of  his  friends  who 
were  with  him  knew  as  Clary,  and  others  as  Wild  Sage- 
— growing  plentifully  in  the  ruins  of  Denbigh  Castle. 
The  man  who  was  in  charge  of  the  ruins  gathered  some 
of  the  berries,  and  recommended  them  to  the  party  as  a 
wonderful  cure  for  eye  disease.  His  mixed  Welsh  and 
English  was  difficult  to  understand,  but  the  point  ap¬ 
peared  to  be  that  the  seed  was  good  for  checking  inflam¬ 
mation,  and  might  bo  placed  whole  under  the  eyelids 
without  doing  harm.  The  plants  appeared  to  agree  with 
the  description  in  Loudon’s  ‘  Encyclopaedia  of  Plants’  of 
the  wild  Clary,  the  Salvia  Verhenaca  ;  they  were  labiate, 
about  a  foot  high,  and  the  flowers  were  of  a  bluish  pur¬ 
ple.  The  time  of  the  year  was  about  the  beginning  of 
July. 

Female  Pharmaceutists  in  Holland. — Accord¬ 
ing  to  the  editor  of  the  Bit  arm  aceutische  Zeitung ,  at  the 
examination  for  pharmaceutical  assistants  recently  held 
in  Amsterdam,  nine  female  candidates  made  application, 
five  of  whom  had  been  educated  there  at  the  industrial 
school.  The  commission  of  examination  was  fully  satis¬ 
fied  of  their  capability.  The  Bharmaceutical  Weeklg  of 
Holland  reiterates  the  views  expressed  on  a  former  oc¬ 
casion,  that  these  girls  (Meisjes)  are  not  adapted  for 
city  pharmacies,  but  that  in  the  country,  where  the  pre¬ 
scription  business  is  naturally  limited  to  certain  hours, 
and  where  they  could  find  time  for  improvement  in 
domestic  duties,  they  might  become  useful  and  valuable 
assistants. — American  Journal  of  Bharmacg. 

Chloride  of  Lsime  as  a  Cargo. — The  National 

Company’s  steamship  'England,’  which  sailed  for  New 
York  on  the  12th  instant,  put  back  into  Queenstown 
under  the  following  circumstances.  During  a  gale  several 
barrels  of  chloride  of  lime,  which  formed  part  of  the 
cargo,  burst,  the  fumes  arising  from  which  compelled 
the  firemen  to  leave  the  stokehole.  With  considerable 
difficulty,  the  men  employed  in  the  duty  being  nearly 
suffocated,  five  barrels  were  got  on  deck  and  thrown 
overboard.  It  was  then  deemed  prudent  for  the  safety 
of  the  passengers  that  the  vessel  should  not  continue  her 
voyage.  Several  bucketfuls  of  rats  were  found  dead 
from  the  effects  of  the  lime. — Standard. 

Examination  of  the  Eark  of  Coprosma  gran- 
difolia  for  Alkaloids.— Mr.  Skey,  analyst  to  the 
Geological  Survey  of  New  Zealand,  reports  that  he  has 
examined  a  specimen  of  the  Coprosma  grandifolia  and 
found  that  alkaloids  generally,  and  those  of  the  quinia 
group  particularly,  are  cither  entirely  absent,  or  present 
only  in  so  minute  a  quantity  that  the  bark  has  no  value 
as  a  drug  on  that  account.  The  bark  examined  was 
bright  yellow  on  its  inner  surface,  very  bitter  and  had  a 
slightly  hot,  pungent  flavour.  Mr.  Skey  considers  it 
the  bitterest  of  any  of  the  barks  of  that  family  that  he 
had  seen.  The  method  adopted  for  the  examination  was 
as  follows : — A  decoction  of  200  grammes  of  the  pulverized 
bark  in  weak  hydrochloric  acid  was  slowly  evaporated 
to  half  an  ounce  and  then  filtered.  The  filtrate  yielded 
no  precipitate  with  sulphocyanide  of  mercury,  sulpho- 
cyanido  of  zinc  or  tannic  acid.  These  reagents  give  dense- 
precipitates  in  a  very  weak  decoction  of  the  common  grey 
bark. — Chan  ic  tl  Mews. 


February  4, 18-1.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS 


G29 


SATURDAY,  FEBRUARY  4,  1S71. 


Communications  for  this  Journal ,  and  bool's  for  review ,  etc., 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

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

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  TV.  Envelopes  indorsed  “  Pharm.  Jour/i.” 


THE  BETTS  SUITS. 

The  present  number  contains  a  report  of  the  pro¬ 
ceedings  before  the  Lord  Chancellor  upon  the  Ap¬ 
peal  presented  by  Mr.  Betts  for  a  reversal  of  the 
decision  given  by  Vice-Chancellor  James.  Mr.  Betts 
has  again  failed,  and  it  may  now,  we  hope,  be  anti¬ 
cipated  that  the  last  has  been  heard  of  his  remark¬ 
able  pretensions. 

As  upon  the  former  occasion  the  case  was  not 
■disposed  of  upon  the  general  question  whether  if 
Mr.  Betts  had  proved  an  infinitesimal  and  innocent 
infringement,  he  would  have  been  entitled  to  an  in¬ 
junction  and  damages,  or  in  short  would  have  been 
justified  in  filing  his  twen^-five  Bills.  The  Plain¬ 
tiff’s  counsel,  in  fact,  failed  to  establish  any  case  of 
infringement,  and  the  Lord  Chancellor  upon  that 
ground  rejected  the  application.  It  will  be  well  for 
the  result  of  the  case  not  to  he  misunderstood  in 
these  respects,  because  nothing  has  happened  in  the 
course  of  the  proceedings  to  encourage  a  retailer  in 
knowingly  dealing  in,  or  using  even  to  the  most 
limited  extent,  any  article  made  in  infringement  of 
patent  or  other  protected  rights. 

The  judgment  of  the  Vice-Chancellor  (Third 
Series,  Vol.  I.  p.  32)  evidently  discouraged  suits 
against  innocent  persons  until  after  reasonable  warn¬ 
ing  given  to  them,  followed  by  continued  infringe¬ 
ment  of  rights ;  the  judgment  of  the  Lord  Chan¬ 
cellor  is  not  at  variance  with  those  views,  and,  in¬ 
deed,  remarks  (not  reported)  made  by  liis  Lordship 
dining  the  arguments  were  in  accord  with  the  Vice- 
Chancellor’s  expressions  on  the  subject. 

The  course  of  the  contest  illustrates  the  advantage 
resulting  from  mutual  help  ;  it  is  impossible  to  keep 
cut  of  view  the  probabilities  that  a  wealthy  experi¬ 
enced  and  resolute  litigant  such  as  Mr.  Betts  might 
have  had  an  easy  victory  against  the  twenty-five 
(and  possibly  more)  Defendants,  had  each  been  left 
unaided.  Upon  the  actual  result  we  may  once  more 
congratulate  the  Defence  Committee  and  all  parties 
interested. 


Some  light  was  thrown  upon  a  development  of  the 
pernicious  system  of  “  coaching,”  adopted  by  some 
teachers  in  preparing  pupils  for  certain  examinations, 
by  a  case  that  came  before  the  magistrate  at  Bow 
Street  on  Friday  last.  Charles  Gerrard,  described 
as  a  teacher,  living  in  Lincoln's  Inn  Fields,  together 
with  another  man,  were  charged  with  inciting  a  per¬ 
son  in  the  employ  of  Messrs.  Hivington,  the  printers, 
to  steal  an  early  proof  of  one  of  the  examination  pa¬ 
pers  of  the  Apothecaries  Hall.  It  appeared  that  the 
prisoners  had  been  for  some  time  trying  to  obtain  a 
copy,  and  at  length,  by  arrangement  with  the  police, 
the  proof- puller  was  allowed  to  supply  them  with 
two  copies,  for  which  he  received  ten  pounds.  A 
detective  then  immediately  arrested  the  prisoners, 
while  the  proofs  were  in  their  hands.  They  were 
both  committed  for  trial. 


It  is  announced  by  the  Committee  of  Publication 
of  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy  that  an  Index 
to  the  forty-two  published  volumes  of  that  journal  is 
being  prepared,  and  that  it  will  be  published  if  a 
sufficient  number  of  subscribers  can  be  obtained 
within  six  months. 


Mr.  Jarez  Hogg  has  been  appointed  Surgeon  to 
the  Royal  Westminster  Ophthalmic  Hospital,  in 
succession  to  Mr.  Hancock,  Vice-President  and 
Examiner  of  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons. 


The  Catalogue  of  the  Class  of  the  Philadelphia 
College  of  Pharmacy  for  the  Forty-ninth  Session, 
1870-71,  numbers  one  hundred  and  ninety- eight 
names. 


It  is  interesting  to  note  that  in  a  recent  case  the 
use  of  a  poison  label  nearly  contributed  to  produce 
the  result  it  was  intended  to  avert.  A  woman, 
wishing  to  commit  suicide,  drank  a  considerable 
quantity  of  a  lotion  from  a  bottle  which  was  labelled 
poison,  in  the  hope  of  effecting  her  object.  As  it 
happened,  however,  the  lotion  was  a  very  harmless 
one,  a  quart  of  which  would  not  have  hurt  her,  and 
so  the  desired  result  was  not  obtained. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the 
British  Pharmaceutical  Conference,  the  Secretaries 
stated  that  the  financial  position  of  the  Conference 
was  such  as  to  warrant  them  in  providing  for  the 
production  of  a  Year-Book  for  1871.  The  Committee 
of  Publication  were  accordingly  instructed  to  make 
arrangements  for  its  issue.  Mr.  Charles  H.  Wood, 
F.C.S.,  was  elected  Editor.  A  vote  of  thanks  was 
ordered  to  be  conveyed  to  Mr.  Joseph  Ince  for  his 
services  in  editing,  at  a  short  notice  and  much  per¬ 
sonal  inconvenience,  the  Year-Book  for  1870. 


G30 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  4, 1871. 


^nrmMngs  af  gltaimteutital  Sraefg* 


MEETING  AT  EDINBURGH. 

The  Second  Meeting  of  the  present  Session  of  the 
North  British  Branch  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  was 
held  at  Edinburgh  on  Monday,  23rd  January ;  Mr.  W. 
Aitkex,  President,  in  the  chair. 

Professor  Balfour  deliyered  a  lecture  on  ipecacuanha 
root  {Cephaelis  Ipecacuanha).  He  referred  to  it  as  a  valu¬ 
able  remedy  in  disorders  of  the  mucous  membrane,  of  the 
bronchial  tubes,  etc.,  but  more  especially  in  dysentery. 
In  India  it  formed,  when  combined  with  opium,  as  valu¬ 
able  a  remedy  in  cases  of  dysentery  as  quinine  in  fevers. 
He  stated  that,  owing  to  the  careless  manner  in  which 
the  natives  collected  the  root,  the  plant  was  rapidly  de¬ 
creasing  in  Brazil,  and  that  the  British  Government 
were  now  taking  active  steps  to  have  it  introduced  and 
cultivated  in  India.  For  this  purpose  a  great  number 
of  young  plants  are  being  propagated  at  the  Royal 
Botanic  Garden  under  the  care  of  Mr.  M‘Nab.  There 
are  evidently  two  varieties  of  the  plant ;  one  has  been 
growing  in  the  garden  for  at  least  forty  years,  while 
the  other  was  only  sent  to  the  garden  in  a  living  state 
about  a  year  ago  by  Dr.  Gunning,  from  the  neighbour¬ 
hood  of  Rio  Janeiro.  The  old  plant  is  that  which  was 
described  and  figured  by  Sir  William  Hooker  in  the 
Botanical  Magazine ,  as  having  been  sent  to  him  from 
Mr.  Makoy,  Liege.  The  leaves  of  this  plant  are  more 
leathery  in  their  texture ;  their  form  more  elliptical  or 
oval ;  their  apex  less  pointed  and  their  edges  wavy ; 
there  are  fewer  hairs  on  the  surface  and  the  stem  is 
more  shrubby  than  in  Dr.  Gunning’s  recently-imported 
plant.  It  also  flowers  readily  after  a  year’s  cultivation 
from  slips  and  the  style  is  short.  The  Rio  de  Janeiro  plant 
has  not  yet  produced  flowers  at  the  garden,  and  there¬ 
fore  a  full  description  cannot  yet  be  given.  The  Pro¬ 
fessor  then  gave  a  history  of  the  ipecacuan  plant  from 
its  earliest  mention  by  Michael  Trestram,  who  called  it 
Igpecaya  or  Pigaya,  up  to  the  present  time.  He  de¬ 
scribed  the  mode  in  which  the  root  was  collected  and 
dried.  The  gatherers  of  the  poaya  (the  name  applied 
by  the  natives  to  all  roots  used  as  ipecacuan)  are  called 
poayeros,  and  a  skilled  poayero  can  gather  in  the  course 
of  a  day  about  thirty  pounds  of  root.  Under  the  name 
Ipecacuan  many  plants  arc  mentioned  belonging  to  dif¬ 
ferent  genera,  or  even  to  different  natural  orders.  All 
of  them,  however,  agree  in  possessing  more  or  less  emetic 
qualities.  A  figure  of  the  ipecacuan  plant  was  given  by 
Piso  in  the  ‘  Travels  in  Brazil,’  undertaken  by  himseif 
and  Marcgrave,  but  it  was  not  such  as  to  enable  botanists 
to  determine  the  genus  and  species.  At  that  time  all 
annular  emetic  roots  got  the  name  of  ipecacuan,  and  the 
different  kinds  were  distinguished  by  their  colour :  thus 
we  had  brown,  grey,  red,  black  and  white  ipecacuan. 
The  first  accurate  scientific  description  of  it  was  by 
Brotero,  in  the  Linnean  Society’s  ‘Transactions’  for 
1800,  and  subsequently  a  full  account  was  published  by 
Achille  Richard  in  his  thesis  on  the  ‘  Natural  History  of 
Ipecacuan.’  Professor  Balfour  gave  a  full  botanical 
description  of  the  true  ipecacuan  plant  and  showed  its 
relation  to  other  plants  in  the  same  natural  order.  He 
also  gave  descriptions  of  the  following  plants,  used  in 
different  parts  of  the  world  as  ipecacuan : — Psychotria 
emctica  (striated  ipecacuan),  Pichardsonia  scahra  (white 
ipecacuan),  Ionidmm  ipecacuanha  (false  Brazilian  ipeca¬ 
cuan),  Manettta  cordifoha,  Euphorbia  ipecacuanha ,  Polygala 
poaya  and  Ty  lop  her  a  asmatica. 

The  lecture  was  illustrated  by  a  beautiful  series  of 
large  water-coloured  drawings,  executed  by  Mrs.  Bal¬ 
four,  of  the  various  plants  referred  to  and  their  struc¬ 
ture  ;  by  sections  under  microscopes,  prepared  bv  Mr. 
Sadler;  by  dried  specimens  from  the  University" Her¬ 
barium,  and  by  living  plants  from  the  Roval  Botanic 
Garden. 


On  the  motion  of  the  President,  seconded  by  Dr.  A. 
M ‘Donald,  a  cordial  vote  of  thanks  was  given  to  Pro¬ 
fessor  Balfour  for  his  interesting  and  instructive  lecture. 


|tol)mcial  Shmsattions. 


LEEDS  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Second  Meeting  of  the  Session  was  held  on  Mon¬ 
day  evening,  November  14th,  1870  ;  Mr.  William  Smee- 
tox  in  the  chair. 

Messrs.  George  William  Highmoor,  Thomas  Edward 
Parkinson,  and  George  William  Roberts  were  duly 
elected  Associates  of  the  Society. 

A  vote  of  thanks  was  unanimously  passed  to  Messrs. 
Southall,  Son  and  Dymond,  of  Birmingham,  for  their 
valuable  present  to  the  Association  of  a  box  containing, 
specimens  of  the  organic  constituents  mentioned  in  the 
British  Pharmacopoeia . 

After  an  alteration  of  Rule  number  4,  Mr.  Edward 
Thompson  was  elected  Vice-President. 

Mr.  Smeetox,  the  President,  then  favoured  the  meet¬ 
ing  with  an  address.  He  strongly  urged  and  inculcated 
upon  Associates  the  duty  of  acquiring  information,  and 
of  laying  in  a  solid  stock  of  knowledge,  so  as  to  be  able 
to  pass  their  examination  with  credit.  Several  phases 
of  education  were  touched  upon,  and  after  a  free  conver¬ 
sation  a  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  the  chairman. 


The  Third  Meeting  of  the  Session  was  held  on  Thurs¬ 
day  evening,  December  22nd,  1870;  Mr.  E.  Thompson, 
the  Vice-President,  in  the  chair. 

Mr.  Samuel  Jefferson,  F.C.S.,  was  duly  elected  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  Association,  and  Messrs.  George  Iredale  and 
Frederick  Plint  were  elected  Associates. 

The  paper  of  the  evening,  on  “The  History  of  a 
Fungus,”  was  then  read  by  Mr.  James  Abbott.  The 
lecturer  explained  the  views  of  botanists  and  mycologists' 
with  regard  to  the  cell-formation  and  reproductive  cha¬ 
racteristics  of  fungi,  and  then  proceeded  to  enlarge 
upon  the  latest  accepted  theory  of  botanists  on  the  for¬ 
mation  of  ergot  in  rye.  The  medicinal  and  poisonous 
properties  of  ergot  were  also  remarked  upon.  The  lec¬ 
ture  was  amply  illustrated  by  diagrams  and  specimens, 
and  after  an  animated  discussion  a  vote  of  thanks  was 
passed  to  Mr.  Abbott  for  his  highly  useful  discourse. 

The  Fourth  .Meeting  of  the  Session  was  held  on  Wed¬ 
nesday  evening,  January  2oth.  Owing  to  the  absence  of 
the  President  and  the  Vice-President,  Mr.  Johx  Day 
was  called  to  the  chair. 

Mr.  John  Henry  Wright  was  elected  an  Associate. 

The  Secretary  then  introduced  the  subject,  “Dis¬ 
pensing;  or,  Who  ought  to  do  it?”  The  reader  of  the 
paper  first  endeavoured  to  define  the  terms  dispensing 
and  medicine,  and  then  assumed  that  two  classes  only 
could  be  supposed  equal  to  the  duties  of  dispensing,  viz. 
the  medical  and  pharmaceutical  professions.  He  after¬ 
wards  entered  into  certain  abstract  and  practical  argu¬ 
ments  to  prove  that  chemists  were  better  qualified  to 
dispense  than  surgeons.  The  Secretary  also  brought 
forward  facts  and  arguments  to  prove  that  the  public 
interest  and  safety  would  be  materially  advantaged  by 
placing  the  dispensing  of  the  whole  country  in  the 
hands  of  the  chemists.  During  a  friendly  discussion,  it 
was  proposed  to  appoint  a  deputation  from  the  Associa¬ 
tion  to  wait  upon  the  officers  of  the  Leeds  Medical 
School,  to  point  out  to  those  gentlemen  the  desirableness 
of  dispensing  duties  being  performed  in  the  future  by 
chemists  and  druggists  alone. 

It  was  ultimately  proposed  by  Mr.  E.  Browx,  seconded 
by  Mr.  E.  F.  Atkinson,  supported  by  Mr.  Crosby,  and 
carried,  that  the  Secretary  be  desired  to  lay  the  subject  be¬ 
fore  the  Committee,  and  that  the  Committee  be  requested? 
to  report  upon  the  matter  at  the  next  monthly  meeting. 


February  4, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


631 


LIVERPOOL  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Sixth  General  Meeting  was  held  at  the  Royal 
Institution,  on  Thursday  evening,  January  19th;  the 
President,  Mr.  John  Abraham,  in  the  chair. 

Several  donations  to  the  Library  and  Museum  were 
announced. 

Mr.  John  Shaw  announced  that  he  had  been  authorized 
by  the  Local  Committee  of  the  British  Pharmaceutical 
Conference  to  place  £32.  15s.  4 d.  (the  balance  of  the 
fund  raised  to  entertain  their  pharmaceutical  brethren 
in  September  last)  to  the  funds  of  the  Association. 

Mr.  Edward  Davies,  F.C.S.,  drew  attention  to  the 
case  of  accidental  poisoning  at  Mossley,  and  detailed  the 
result  of  his  analysis  of  the  medicine  administered  to  the 
child,  the  detection  of  morphia,  etc.  He  also  made  some 
remarks  upon  the  evidence  given  at  the  inquest,  and  the 
experience  of  the  physician’s  assistant  as  a  dispenser. 

The  Secretary  called  attention  to  the  report,  pub¬ 
lished  in  the  Lancet  of  14th  January,  of  Dr.  Lankester 
upon  the  inquests  held  in  Great  Britain  in  1868-69  upon 
suicidal  cases,  and  thought  regulations  for  the  storing  of 
poisons  by  chemists  could  not  prevent  such  cases  of 
poisoning  as  those  mentioned. 

Mr.  Thomas  F.  Abrahams  stated  that  the  results  of 
Mr.  Mason’s  experiments,  as  detailed  by  him  in  his 
paper,  read  at  the  last  meeting,  induced  him  to  make  a 
few  experiments,  which  he  described. 

The  first  trial  was  with  some  of  Liebreich’s  chloral. 
The  percentage  of  chloroform  produced  was  by  weight  71. 

The  second  was  with  some  of  the  crystal  chloral 
(Sample  No.  5).  The  quantity  of  chloroform  produced 
was  so  small  that  he  did  not  estimate  it. 

The  third  was  with  the  same  chloral  (crystal),  and  the 
quantity  of  chloroform  produced  was  by  weight  about 
70  per  cent. 

The  fourth  trial  was  made  with  samples  of  Liebreich’s 
and  the  crystals  simultaneously.  The  same  quantities 
were  used.  The  tubes  were  of  about  the  same  diameter 
(possibly  a  matter  of  some  importance),  and  were  placed 
in  the  same  jug  at  the  same  time. 

The  quantities  of  chloroform  produced  were,  as  nearly 
as  possible,  identical,  viz.  70  to  71  per  cent,  by  weight. 

The  chloroform  layer  from  Liebreich’s  chloral  deposited 
a  white  crystalline  mass.  That  from  the  crystals  did  not 
deposit,  but  was  more  deeply  coloured. 

The  conclusions  he  drew  from  these  experiments  were, 
that  the  crystal  chloral,  as  far  as  this  mode  of  testing 
shows,  is  quite  equal  to  Liebreich’s,  and  that  the  instruc¬ 
tions  given  by  Mr.  Umney  are  insufficient,  in  that  they 
do  not  prescribe  the  temperature  of  the  water  into  which 
the  tubes  are  to  be  plunged. 

He  intended,  however,  to  make  a  further  trial,  and 
use  more  care  in  the  manipulation. 

A  discussion  followed,  in  which  Messrs.  Davies,  Abra¬ 
ham,  and  the  Secretary  took  part. 

Mr.  Alexander  Fraser  read  an  interesting  and  prac¬ 
tical  paper,  giving  the  results  of  his  experiments  with 
some  officinal  and  non- officinal  remedies,  concentrated 
infusions,  etc.  He  condemned  the  practice  of  those  who 
would,  by  private  judgment,  substitute  cheaper  medicines 
for  officinal  ones ;  and  illustrated  several  common  in¬ 
stances  where  this  is  done. 

A  short  discussion  followed. 

A  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  the  author,  and  the 
members  adjourned. 


BRADFORD  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Annual  Meeting  was  held  at  the  Freemasons’ 
Rooms,  Salem  Street,  on  Tuesday  evening,  January  24th ; 
Mr.  M.  Rogerson,  the  President,  in  the  chair. 

The  Secretary,  Mr.  H.  G.  Rogerson,  gave  the  Re¬ 
port  : — 

“The  present  meeting  signalizes  the  close  of  the 
second  year  of  the  Society’s  existence,  a  year  which, 
though  not  one  of  marked  activity,  can  nevertheless 


scarcely  be  said  to  have  been  barren  of  desirable  results. 
The  roll  of  the  Society’s  members  shows,  unfortu¬ 
nately,  a  decrease  in  their  numbers,  four  having  re¬ 
signed,  and  there  being  no  counterbalance  to  their  loss 
in  newly-acquired  members.  That  of  the  Associates, 
from  removal  from  town  and  other  inevitable  causes, 
gives  a  defection  as  compared  with  last  year  of  thirteen, 
but  the  accession  of  nine  new  Associates  goes  far  to' 
compensate  for  their  loss. 

“  The  Preliminary  Examination  of  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society  has  been  passed  by  five  of  the  students,  the- 
Modified  by  two,  and  the  Minor  and  Major  each  by  one. 

“  During  the  year  a  course  of  lectures  on  botany  wras- 
delivered  by  Mr.  Louis  Miall,  the  attendance  at  which, 
though  at  first  satisfactory,  fell  off  materially  before  the 
termination  of  the  series. 

“  The  Council  determined  in  October  last  to  discontinue 
the  employment  of  a  special  lecturer  on  chemistry,  and  to 
lighten  their  expenditure  by  transferring  the  students  to' 
the  chemistry  class  of  the  Philosophical  Society,  a  course 
upon  wrhich  they  may  be  congratulated,  since  from  some 
influence  or  other  the  number  attending  that  class  has- 
dwindled  dowm  to  eleven. 

“  In  April  last  the  Society  was  instrumental  in  record¬ 
ing  the  objections  held  by  the  chemists  of  Bradford,  in 
common  writh  those  of  most  other  towns,  against  the 
regulations  for  the  storing  of  poisons  then  proposed  to- 
be  submifted  for  the  sanction  of  the  Legislature. 

“A  sum  of  £16.  7s.  6d.  wras  subscribed  through  the 
Society’s  agency  in  October  last  for  the  relief  of  the- 
sick  and  wrounded  in  war. 

“Dr.  Parkinson  was  the  Society’s  delegate  at  the 
recent  Pharmaceutical  Conference, — Mr.  Rimmington, 
nominated  as  his  colleague,  being  unable  to  attend  that 
assembly. 

“It  is  hoped  that  the  present  year  may  wdtness  a 
larger  attendance  at  the  general  meetings  than  hereto¬ 
fore,  there  being  many  manifest  advantages,  apart  from 
the  actual  transaction  of  business,  in  frequent  gather¬ 
ings  of  members  of  the  trade.  For  may  not  such  meet¬ 
ings  tend  to  smooth  down  prejudices,  and  prove  a  potent 
means  of  causing  sentiments  of  friendship  and  brother¬ 
hood  to  supersede  the  feelings  of  petty  rivalry  that  un¬ 
deniably  have  too  often  had  a  cherished  existence.’’ 

The  Report  having  been  adopted,  the  following  officers 
of  the  Society  were  elected : — President :  Mr.  F.  M.  Rim¬ 
mington.  Vice-President :  Mr.  Joseph  Hick.  Treasurer  : 
Mr.  Thomas  Harrison.  Secretary  :  Mr.  W.  Newrsholme 
Council :  Messrs.  Boll,  Cockshot,  Parkinson,  Ph.D. 
Whitehouse. 


GLASGOW  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

The  Eighth  Meeting  of  the  Session  wras  held  in  An¬ 
derson’s  University,  on  Wednesday  evening  last,  the 
25th  January  ;  Mr.  T.  Davison,  President,  in  the  chair. 
The  large  hall  was  filled  in  every  part. 

Messrs.  Thomas  Hart  (Govan),  John  Dunlop,  W. 
Halley,  A.  Miller,  and  M ‘Donald  were  elected  members. 

Mr.  J.  Fergus  Wilson  afterwards  brought  forward 
the  motion  of  which  he  had  previously  given  notice,  on 
“  Early  Closing.” 

Mr.  Fairlie  seconded  the  motion,  on  the  condition 
that  the  appointment  of  the  committee  be  postponed  till 
after  the  festival,  which  was  unanimously  agreed  to. 

Dr.  Mofeatt  made  some  remarks  on  the  properties- 
and  uses  of  the  new  antiseptic,  “  Chlor-alum,”  which 
were  highly  appreciated  by  the  members. 

Mr.  W.  Crocket  was  appointed  Treasurer  in  room  of 
Mr.  Cassells,  who  has  been  obliged  to  leave  the  city. 

The  discussion  on  the  proposed  poison  regulations, 
which  wras  adjourned  at  last  meeting,  wras  then  proceeded 
wdth. 

The  President  read  a  copy  of  a  letter  he  had  sent  to- 


032 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[February  1,  18?1. 


tho  Medical  Department  of  the  Privy  Council,  with  the 
reply  from  Mr.  Simon,  of  which  the  following-  are 
copies : — 

“ 71,  St.  Vincent  Street,  Glasgow , 

“  16 tli  January ,  1871. 

“Sir, — As  President  of  the  Glasgow  Chemists  and 
Druggists’  Association,  permit  me  to  direct  the  attention 
of  the  Right  Hon.  the  Lords  of  her  Majesty’s  Privy 
Council  as  to  the  keeping,  dispensing  and  selling 
poisons. 

“  Glasgow,  with  a  population  of  over  500,000  inha¬ 
bitants,  has  about  sixty  pharmaceutical  chemists  and 
chemists  and  druggists,  and  about  120  physicians  and 
surgeons,  who  keep  open  shop  for  the  retailing,  dispen¬ 
sing,  and  compounding  of  persons. 

“The  proposed  regulations  for  the  keeping  of  poisons 
will  only  apply  to  the  sixty  pharmaceutical  chemists  and 
chemists  and  druggists,  the  120  physicians  and  surgeons 
who  keep  open  shop  being  exempt  from  the  operation 
•of  the  Pharmacy  Act,  1868,  by  the  Amended  Act,  lltli 
August,  1869. 

“As  the  regulations  for  keeping,  dispensing,  and  sell¬ 
ing  of  poisons  are  required  for  the  protection  of  the 
public,  may  I  hereby  suggest  that  the  Right  Hon.  the 
Lords  of  her  Majesty’s  Privy  Council  co-operate  with 
the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  and  obtain  a 
Pill  that  will  include  under  the  Pharmacy  Act  physi¬ 
cians,  surgeons,  hospital  infirmaries,  dispensaries,  and  all 
who  keep  open  shop  for  the  selling,  dispensing  and 
compounding  of  poisons. 

“The  opposition  to  compulsory  regulations  by  che¬ 
mists  and  druggists  throughout  the  country  is  almost 
entirely  owing  to  the  liberty  granted  to  physicians,  etc., 
who  keep  open  shop  to  act  as  they  think  proper. 

“  I  am,  Sir, 

“  Your  obedient  servant, 

“Thomas  Davison. 

“John  Simon,  Esq.,  F.R.S.,  D.C.L., 

“  Medical  Department ,  Privy  Council  Office, 

“8,  Richmond  Terrace,  Whitehall ,  S.  W 

(Reply) 

“Medical  Department  of  the  Privy  Council  Office, 
“  January  24th,  1871. 

“  Sir, 

“lam  directed  by  the  Lords  of  her  Majesty’s  Coun¬ 
cil  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  suggesting 
the  propriety  of  extending  the  operation  of  the  Pharmacy 
Act,  so  far  as  concerns  regulations  to  be  made  under  it 
as  to  the  keeping,  selling,  etc.  of  poisons  to  physicians, 
surgeons  and  others,  who  keep  open  shop  for  the  sale 
and  dispensing  of  poisons. 

“  My  Lords  direct  me  to  say  that  should  an  opportu¬ 
nity  occur  for  such  legislation  as  you  propose,  your  sug¬ 
gestion  shall  have  the  most  careful  consideration. 

“  I  am,  Sir, 

“  Your  obedient  Servant, 

“John  Simon. 

“  T.  Davison,  Esq. 

“  71,  St.  Vincent  Street, 

“  Glasgow.’’ 

The  President,  after  reading  the  letters,  said  he  would 
leave  it  to  the  members  to  decide  what  further  steps 
should  be  taken. 

Mr.  John  M'Millan  said  ho  thought  from  the  tone  of 
Mr.  Simon  s  reply,  the  Privy  Council  were  not  going  to 
be  so  pressing  in  their  demands  for  regulations  as  was  at 
first  anticipated ;  he  thought  it  was  a  few  of  the  members 
ot  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  who  were  anxious  that 
some  action  should  be  taken  in  the  matter,  but  he  said  it 
was  unjust  to  make  the  regulations  compulsory  upon 
chemists  who,  in  the  groat  majority  of  cases,  gave  their 
whole  attention  to  business,  while  physicians  and  others 
who  had  shops,  and  who  gave  little  or  no  attention  to  the 


dispensing  part  of  their  business,  should  bo  entirely  ex¬ 
empt.  It  had  always  been  his  opinion  that  surgeons 
who  had  shops  would  be  exempt  from  the  regulations, 
although  some  chemists  maintained  the  contrary,  and 
the  fact  that  no  reference  was  made  to  that  point  in  Mr. 
Simon’s  letter,  he  thought  confirmed  his  opinions.  He 
would  advocate  that  the  regulations  in  their  present  form 
be  opposed. 

Mr.  Kermath  said  he  looked  upon  the  whole  affair  as 
a  good  farce.  How  were  the  regulations  to  be  made 
compulsory  F  There  has  been  no  mention  of  how  they 
were  to  be  enforced,  whether  by  the  aid  of  inspectors,  or 
if  that  duty  was  to  devolve  upon  the  local  secretaries ; 
and  further,  was  there  to  be  a  punishment  or  fine  put  upon 
those  who  did  not  comply  with  them  F  Those  are  things 
which  ought  to  be  inquired  into,  and  until  they  were 
satisfactorily  cleared  up,  all  compulsory  regulations  op¬ 
posed.  For  his  own  part  he  took  every  precaution,  hav¬ 
ing  Silverlock’s  label  attached  to  every  poison  in  his 
establishment,  and  he  kept  the  more  dangerous  poisons 
at  the  back  of  other  bottles  on  a  high  shelf  where  it  was 
impossible  for  an  assistant  to  reach  them  without  know¬ 
ing  what  he  was  about ;  and  from  what  he  had  seen 
among  the  chemists  of  Scotland,  there  was  far  more  care 
taken  with  poisons  by  them,  than  by  many  physicians 
who  had  shops,  and  who  left  them  from  day  to  day  in 
the  hands  of  youths  or  girls. 

Mr.  Paterson  said  he  thought  the  regulations  should 
be  opposed  in  their  present  form,  but  the  memorial 
should  be  got  up  in  a  different  manner  from  the  one  sent 
up  to  the  Council  last  year.  He  thought  it  did  not  re¬ 
ceive  the  attention  it  would  have  got  had  it  emanated 
from  the  whole  trade  instead  of  from  the  Association 
only ;  he  therefore  suggested  that  if  a  memorial  be 
drawn  up,  an  opportunity  be  given  to  all  chemists  hi 
and  around  Glasgow  to  sign  it  for  themselves. 

After  several  other  members  had  expressed  their  opi¬ 
nion,  Mr.  J.  M.  Fairlie  (Hon.  Secretary)  moved  “That 
a  committee  be  appointed  to  draw  up  a  strong  memorial 
against  the  regulations  in  their  present  form,  together 
with  a  statement  of  objections,  to  be  presented  to  the 
Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  at  their  Annual 
Meeting  in  May  next,  and  that  an  opportunity  be  given 
to  all  chemists  wishing  to  sign  the  memorial  before  that 
time.” 

Mr.  F airlie  said  that  the  great  argument  in  favour  of 
the  regulations  was,  that  they  were  for  the  protection  of 
the  public  ;  but  if  so,  why  arc  chemists  and  druggists 
only  required  to  adopt  them  F  Some  say,  “  Why  do 
chemists  wish  to  interfere  with  medical  men  F  We  have 
nothing  to  do  with  them ;  we  have  only  to  regulate  our 
own  affairs.”  This  is  all  very  true  ;  I  do  not  think  there 
is  a  druggist  in  the  kingdom  who  would  interfere  with 
a  medical  man  in  the  performance  of  his  professional 
duties ;  what  we  want  is  that  when  a  medical  man 
becomes  a  druggist,  when  he  opens  a  shop  for  tho  sale 
and  compounding  of  drugs,  that  he  shall  be  under  the 
same  restrictions  as  ourselves.  There  is  no  unbiassed 
medical  practitioner  who  keeps  open  shop  that  could 
object  to  being  put  upon  the  same  footing,  in  this  re¬ 
spect,  as  the  druggist ;  and  it  seems  to  me  to  be  tho  fault 
of  tho  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  that  they 
have  not  asked  the  co-operation  of  the  medical  depart¬ 
ment  of  Her  Majesty’s  Council  to  get  the  regulations 
made  so  as  to  put  all  who  keep  open  shop  for  the  dis¬ 
pensing  of  medicines  in  the  same  position.  Mr.  Simon’s 
reply  says,  that  “  should  an  opportunity  occur,”  etc. 
I  think  we  ought  to  do  all  we  can  to  put  the  opportunity 
in  their  way,  by  getting  the  regulations  rejected  in  May 
next.  There  are  to  be  no  voting-papers  allowed ;  but  if 
every  association  or  every  town  in  the  kingdom  would 
endeavour  to  send  up  one  or  two  members,  there  would 
be  no  doubt  the  Lancet's  hope,  that  we  should  be  in  a 
minority,  would  be  reversed.  The  responsibility  will 
then  lie  with  the  Privy  Council,  or  probably  with  Par¬ 
liament  itself,  and  there  is  no  doubt  but  that  we  shall 


February  4, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


G33 


receive  every  justice  at  the  hands  of  the  representatives 
of  the  people. 

Mr.  J.  F.  Wilson  asked  if  medical  men  who  had  shops 
would  he  allowed  to  sign  the  memorial,  as  he  was  sure 
that  the  medical  gentlemen  whom  he  believed  he  repre¬ 
sented  would  gladly  do  so. 

The  President  stated  there  could  he  no  objection  to 
him  signing  it  as  a  druggist,  as  the  memorial  was  ex¬ 
pected  to  come  from  druggists  only. 

Mr.  M‘Millan  seconded  the  motion,  which  was  unani¬ 
mously  agreed  to,  and  an  influential  committee  afterwards 
appointed  to  carry  it  out. 


BRITISH  PHARMACEUTICAL  CONFERENCE. 

Meeting  of  Executive  Committee.  - 
February  1st,  1871. 

Distribution  of  the  Year-Book  for  1870. — The  Secretaries 
reported  that  early  copies  of  the  Year-Book  had  been  sent 
for  review  to  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal  and  Chemist 
and  Druggist  on  the  12th  of  January,  and  that  since  that 
date  books  had  been  issued  to  members  as  fast  as  parcels 
had  come  in  from  the  binders.  The  whole  of  the  edition 
(2000)  had  not  yet  been  received,  the  printers  express¬ 
ing  their  “  regret  that  the  volumes  had  not  been  com¬ 
pleted  more  rapidly  sufficient,  however,  had  come  to 
hand  to  enablo  the  secretaries  to  post  the  last  batch  of 
orders  for  delivery  to  the  publishers  on  January  31st.  The 
local  secretaries  of  the  Conference  had  kindly  under¬ 
taken  to  deliver  members’  copies  in  the  respective  towns 
and  districts,  and  the  London  wholesale  houses  had 
courteously  accepted  secretaries’  parcels  for  enclosure ; 
still  delay  on  the  part  of  the  binders,  and  the  difficulty  of 
getting  in  all  the  subscriptions,  had  caused  much  incon¬ 
venience.  The  Secretaries  were  instructed  to  make 
direct  application  for  subscriptions  in  September  this 
year  and  in  future,  and  to  take  steps  for  obtaining  an  in¬ 
creased  number  of  members,  with  the  especial  object  of 
securing  sufficient  funds  to  admit  of  the  next  annual 
volume  being  sent  post-free  direct  to  every  subscriber. 

A  Year-Book  for  1871. — The  Secretaries  stated  that 
the  financial  position  of  the  Conference  was  such  as  to 
warrant  the  executive  in  providing  for  the  production  of 
a  Year-Book  for  1871.  A  resolution  was  thereupon  pro¬ 
posed  by  Mr.  Carteigiie,  seconded  by  Mr.  Williams, 
and  carried, — 

“  That  the  Committee  of  Publication  be  instructed  to 
make  arrangements  for  the  issue  of  a  Year-Book  of 
Pharmacy  for  1871.” 

Appointment  of  Editor.— Three  applications  for  the 
Editorship  having  been  read,  and  ballots  taken,  the 
Chairman  announced  that  Mr.  C.  H.  Wood  was  the  suc¬ 
cessful  candidate.  The  following  resolution  was  passed : — 

‘‘That  Mr.  Charles  H.  Wood,  F.C.S.,  be  now  elected 
Editor  of  the  Year-Book  of  Pharmacy.  That  the  manu¬ 
script  of  the  Year-Book  bo  placed  in  the  hands  of  the 
Committee  on  or  before  July  31st,  1871.” 

Presentation  Copies  of  the  Year-Book. — Daniel  Hanbury, 
F.R.S.,  and  Professor  Attfield  were  appointed  a  Sub- 
Committee  to  revise  the  list  of  persons,  presented  with 
gratis  copies  of  the  publications  of  the  Conference. 

Recognition  of  the  labours  of  Mr.  Joseph  luce ,  Vice- 
President  of  the  Conference. — Proposed  by  Mr.  Hanbury, 
seconded  by  Mr.  Matthews,  and  carried  unanimously, — 

“  That  the  cordial  thanks  of  the  Executive  Committee 
of  the  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference  be  conveyed 
to  All'.  Joseph  Ince  for  his  valuable  services  in  editing, 
at  a  very  brief  notice  and  at  much  personal  inconve¬ 
nience,  the  Year-Book  of  Pharmacy  for  1870.” 

Election  of  Members. — Several  new  members  were 
elected,  a  list  of  whom  will  bo  given  next  week. 


Candidates  for  Membership. — Gentlemen  sending  in 
their  names  to  the  London  Secretary,  Professor  Attfield, 
17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  W.C.,  and  enclosing  the  sub¬ 
scription,  os.,  and  7 \d.  for  postage  (in  stamps,  or  Post- 
Office  Order,  payable  to  John  Attfield  at  the  Blooms¬ 
bury  Office),  will  receive  by  return  of  post  a  copy  of  the 
Year-Book. 


ROYAL  INSTITUTION. 

On  Friday  evening,  January  20,  Professor  Tyndall 
delivered  a  lecture  at  the  Royal  Institution  upon  the 
“  Scattering  of  Light,”  which  was,  in  point  of  fact,  a 
discourse  upon  domestic  water  supply.  The  Professor 
commenced  by  exhibiting  the  impurities  of  London  air, 
the  motes  of  a  sunbeam,  by  the  light  of  the  electric 
lamp,  and  explained  to  his  audience  that  what  they  saw 
was  not  air,  but  suspended  particles,  capable  of  being- 
dissipated  or  removed,  and  that,  when  so  removed,  the 
track  of  the  beam  through  the  air  itself  would  be  invi¬ 
sible.  He  next  related  that  ho  h?xl  accompanied  the 
eclipse  expedition  to  Oran,  and  that  on  his  return, 
having  been  disappointed  as  regards  the  special  object 
of  his  journey,  he  had  sought  to  turn  his  opportunities 
to  account  by  investigating  the  causes  of  the  varying 
tints  presented  by  sea  water.  After  paying  a  warm 
tribute  to  the  zeal  and  kindliness  with  which  his  wishes 
had  been  furthered  by  the  captain  and  officers  of  Her 
Majesty’s  ship  ‘  Urgent,’  he  described  the  way  in  which 
a  series  of  nineteen  bottles  had  been  filled  between 
Gibraltar  and  Spithead,  and  the  results  of  an  examina¬ 
tion  of  them  by  the  electric  light.  The  bottles  were 
themselves  on  the  table,  but  were  not  placed  in  the 
beam  before  the  audience,  since  the  original  differences 
among  them  had  been  diminished  by  subsidence.  The 
general  tendency  of  the  examination  was  to  show  that 
the  yellowish  water  of  coasts  and  harbours  held  in  sus¬ 
pension  a  large  quantity  of  particles ;  that  the  particles 
in  the  green  water  were  less  abundant  and  in  finer  divi¬ 
sion  ;  and  that  the  blue  water  of  the  deep  ocean  was 
comparatively  free.  Professor  Tyndall  explained,  the 
blue  or  even  blue-black  of  the  depths,  by  displaying  the 
prismatic  spectrum  on  the  screen,  and  by  quenching  it, 
at  first  partially  and  with  regard  to  certain  colours,  and 
afterwards  absolutely,  by  a  succession  of  cells  of  in¬ 
creasing  thickness,  containing  a  solution  of  permanganate 
of  potash,  or  of  sulphate  of  copper.  He  said  that  when 
a  beam  of  light  entered  the  sea,  the  heat  rays  were  ab¬ 
sorbed  by  the  surface,  the  red  rays  by  a  very  superficial 
layer  of  water,  the  green  rays  next,  and  ultimately  the 
blue.  If,  however,  the  light  encountered  particles,  these 
would  reflect  the  green  rays  to  an  observer ;  while,  in 
the  absence  of  particles,  the  green  rays  would  continue 
their  course  till  they  were  wholly  quenched.  Water  of 
great  depth  and  absolute  purity  would  thus  appear 
entirely  black,  like  a  sea  of  ink,  and  would  reflect  no 
light  beyond  a  glimmer  from  its  surface.  The  Professor 
exhibited  a  white  dinner-plate,  to  which  a  rope  was 
attached,  and  which  he  was  in  the  habit  of  having  cast 
overboard  and  towed  from  the  ‘  Urgent,’  and  which 
always  appeared  green,  and  he  also  described  the  ap¬ 
pearances  seen  on  looking  down  the  screw-well  of  the 
ship,  where  the  water  was  seen  by  turns  green — with 
the  screw-blades  as  a  background — and  then  dark  blue, 
with  the  ocean  depths  for  a  background.  The  white 
plate,  which  appeared  as  a  green  object  when  towed 
under  water,  would,  he  said,  if  ground  to  powder  and 
scattered  cause  the  portion  in  which  this  powder  was 
suspended  to  return  a  general  green  reflection.  Having 
in  this  way  established  that  the  visibility  of  the  track  of 
a  beam  through  water  depended  upon  particles  by  which 
the  light  was  reflected,  Professor  Tyndall  next  placed 
before  the  electric  lamp  a  succession  of  nine  bottles,  con¬ 
taining  samples  of  the  water  supplied  to  their  customers 
by  the  various  London  water  companies.  The  turbidity 
revealed  was  in  every  case  sufficient  to  make  the  audi- 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[February  1,  18?1. 


<33  J 


cncc  regard  water  as  a  very  undesirable  beverage.  That 
•of  the  Lambeth  Company  displayed  pre-eminence  of  a 
bad  kind;  that  of  the  Kent  Company  was  by  far  the 
clearest;  the  West  Middlesex  Company  stood  second  in 
order  of  merit,  and  among  the  rest  there  was  little  to 
choose.  With  a  reticence  more  eloquent  than  words, 
the  lecturer  avoided  expressing  opinions  about  the  dirt 
that  he  exhibited ;  and  he  also  expressly  mentioned  that 
pellucidity  was  no  proof  of  the  absence  of  soluble  im¬ 
purities.  He  also  showed  that  to  cleanse  water  from 
suspended  dirt  was  a  very  difficult  matter ;  and  exhibited 
four  specimens  of  distilled  water,  a  specimen  once  filtered 
by  Mr.  Lipscombo,  a  specimen  that  had  gone  through  a 
silicated  carbon  filter,  and  a  specimen  four  times  filtered 
through  bibulous  paper  in  the  Royal  Institution  La¬ 
boratory.  These  were  clear  when  compared  with  the 
water  of  the  companies,  but  the  track  of  the  beam  was 
plainly  visible  in  all.  A  specimen  of  water  from  the 
Lake  of  GeneAra  was  then  exhibited  in  illustration  of 
great  natural  purity,  and  here  a  faint  blue  line  only  could 
be  seen.  This  brought  Professor  Tyndall  to  the  practi¬ 
cal  conclusion  at  which  he  had  been  aiming,  namely,  to 
an  account  of  the  water  supply  yielded  by  the  English 
chalk  formations.  He  characterized  this  as  being  of  the 
greatest  attainable  purity,  inexhaustible  in  quantity,  and 
•easily  accessible  for  the  supply  of  the  Metropolis.  He 
described  its  natural  hardness  as  being  such  as  to  render 
it  unfit  for  domestic  use,  but  explained  that  by  Clark’s 
process  this  hardness  could  be  entirely  removed  at  the 
central  works,  and  that  the  water  might  bo  delivered  in 
London  at  a  uniform  temperature,  free  from  organic  im¬ 
purity  or  suspended  particles,  and  so  soft  as  to  be  per¬ 
fectly  adapted  for  all  household  purposes.  He  described 
Clark’s  process,  and  illustrated  it  before  the  audience, 
and  finally  showed  actual  results  by  producing  a  bottle 
of  water  from  Canterbury,  derived  from  the  chalk,  and 
softened  in  the  manner  described.  By  the  side  of  this 
was  a  similar  bottle  containing  the  water  supplied  to  the 
Institution,  and  the  two  were  illuminated  together  by 
way  of  contrast.  The  difference  was  like  that  between 
pea-soup  and  crystal.  Professor  Tyndall  then  read  a 
portion  of  the  report  made  some  years  ago  by  the  late 
Professors  Graham  and  Miller,  'and  by  Professor  Hof¬ 
mann,  upon  the  admirable  qualities  of  this  chalk-water, 
when  artificially  softened,  upon  its  fitness  for  the  supply 
of  the  Metropolis,  and  upon  the  impolicy  of  allowing  it 
do  pass  into  private  hands,  and  concluded  by  saying  that 
every  word  that  he  had  read  ho  desired  fully  and  cor¬ 
dially  to  endorse. — Times. 


PHILADELPHIA  COLLEGE  OF  PHARMACY. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  College  was  held  on  Monday, 
Dec.  5,  to  receive  the  report  of  the  Committee  appointed 
to  consider  the  business  interests  of  the  American  Jour¬ 
nal  of  Pharmacy.  The  following  recommendations  of 
the  Committee  were,  after  consideration,  adopted  (1) 
That  the  business  pertaining  to  the  journal  shall  be  trans¬ 
acted  at  the  College  building ;  (2)  that  the  journal  shall 
be  published  monthly  ;  (3)  that  a  business  editor  be  ap¬ 
pointed  to  attend  to  the  advertisements,  the  distribution 
and  the  accounts ;  and  (4)  that  the  treasurer  of  the  pub¬ 
lishing  committee  be  authorized  to  draw  on  the  treasurer 
•ot  the  College  for  the  prime  cost  of  the  journals  supplied 
to  members. 


On  Tuesday,  Dec.  27,  the  ordinary  meeting  of  the 
College  was  held.  The  following  communication  was 
xead : — 

TO  THE  PHILADELPHIA  COLLEGE  OF  PHARMACY. 

Fellow  Members, — It  is  now  thirty-four  years  since 
my  connection  with  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy 
.as  a  contributor  commenced,  and  about  twenty-five  years 
ns  co-editor  and  editor. 

During  this  period  time  and  labour  have  been  freely 


gh'en  to  make  the  work  a  continuous  record  of  the  pro¬ 
gress  of  pharmacy  at  homo  and  abroad.  For  many  years 
it  was  a  labour  of  love,  and  despite  the  great  sacrifice  of 
time  occasioned  by  contributing  to  its  pages,  the  labour 
was  cheerfully  given.  Of  latter  years  a  change  has  oc¬ 
curred  in  this  respect :  the  work  has  been  continued  re¬ 
gularly  as  a  matter  of  duty,  but  it  has  ceased  to  be  a 
pleasure.  Under  these  circumstances,  I  desire  to  carry 
out  an  intention  entertained  for  several  years,  and  with¬ 
draw  from  the  editorship. 

In  order  to  give  the  College  time  to  select  a  successor, 
I  haA'e  deemed  it  best  to  offer  this  my  resignation  at  this 
meeting,  to  take  effect  at  the  annual  meeting  in  March, 
when  the  .stated  time  for  electing  an  editor  arrives. 

Meamvhile  e\rery  effort  will  be  made  to  introduce  the 
new  order  of  things  adopted  at  the  special  meeting  of  the 
present  month,  and  to  start  the  journal  as  a  monthly  in 
its  three  first  numbers,  hoping  that  the  College  will  then 
be  ready  to  release  me  from  further  duty. 

I  need  hardly  say  that  it  has  required  some  effort  on 
my  part  to  thus  voluntarily  resign  a  position  fraught 
with  so  many  pleasant  memories,  and  which  has  brought 
me  in  contact  with  a  large  number  of  professional  bre¬ 
thren  beyond  the  pale  of  our  College,  yet  after  deliberate 
consideration  I  beliec’e  duty  to  myself  requires  the  step 
to  be  taken,  not  doubting  that  under  the  auspices  of  a 
new  editor  the  Publishing  Committee  will  be  able  to  re¬ 
port  a  flourishing  condition  of  the  journal  at  the  end  of 
the  coming  year. 

Respectfully, 

December  27th ,  1870.  William  Proctor,  Jun. 

The  resignation  of  Mr.  Proctor  caused  great  regret 
among  the  members.  A  Committee  was  appointed  to 
report  to  the  next  meeting  the  name  of  a  suitable  person 
to  succeed  him  in  the  office  of  editor. 

Frames  for  the  engraving  of  Jacob  Bell  and  the  pho¬ 
tograph  of  the  Plough  Court  Laboratory,  received  from 
Mr.  Daniel  Hanbury,  were  presented  by  Mr.  W.  Proc¬ 
ter,  jun. 


MEETINGS  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 

Monday  . Medical  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

London  Institution,  at  4  p.m. — “The  First 
Principles  of  Biology  ”  (Educational 
Course).  By  Prof.  Huxley. 

Tuesday  . Eoyal  Institution,  at  3  p.m. — “The  Nutri¬ 

tion  of  Animals.”  By  Professor  Foster. 

Wednesday  ...Society  of  Arts,  at  8  p.m. — “'Ornamentation 
considered  as  a  ‘  High  Art.’  ”  By  Dr. 
Christopher  Dresser. 

Microscopical  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

Thursday . Royal  Society,  at  8.30  p.m. 

Royal  Institution,  at  3  p.m. — “Davy’s  Dis¬ 
coveries  in  Chemistry.”  By  Professor 
Odling. 

London  Institution,  at  7.30  p.m. — “  The  Ac¬ 
tion,  Nature  and  Detection  of  Poisons.” 
By  F.  S.  Barff. 

London  Chemists’  Association,  at  9.30  p.m.— 
“  Remarks  on  Structural  Botany.”  By 
J.  H.  Jessop. 

Friday  . Royal  Institution,  at  9  p.m. — “Fallacies 

connected  with  Ships  and  Guns.”  By 
E.  J.  Reed. 

Quekett  Club,  at  8  p.m. 

Saturday . Royal  Botanic  Society,  at  3.45  p.m. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  Jan.  28  ;  the  ‘  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
Jan.  28;  the  ‘Lancet,’  Jan.  28;  the  ‘Medical  Press  and  Cir¬ 
cular,’  Feb.  1 ;  ‘  Nature,’  Jan.  26 ;  the  ‘  Chemical  News,’  Jan. 
27;  ‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  Jan.  26  ;  ‘Gardeners’ 
Chronicle,’  Jan.  28;  the  ‘Grocer,’  Jan.  28;  the  ‘Produce 
Markets  Review,’  Jan.  28 ;  the  ‘  English  Mechanic,’  Jan.  27 ; 
the  ‘American  Journal  of  Pharmacy’  for  January;  the 
‘Western  Gazette,’  Jan.  27;  the  ‘Macclesfield  Courier,’ 
Jan.  28. 


February  4, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


G35 


IMiamcnfatrjr  anir  fato  ItomMngs. 

THE  BETTS  SUITS. 

Lord  Chancellor’s  Court,  30 th  January,  1871. 

Betts  v.  Willmott. 

This  was  an  appeal  by  the  plaintiff  against  a  decree 
dismissing  his  bill  with  costs,  made  by  the  Vice-Chan¬ 
cellor  James,  on  the  28th  June,  1870,  reported  in  the 
Pharmaceutical  Journal,  3rd  series,  Vol.  I.  p.  32. 

The  plaintiff  had,  by  an  order  of  the  Lord  Chancellor 
dated  3rd  August,  1870,  become  bound  in  the  suits  Betts 
v.  Potts,  v.  Cleaver ,  v.  Field,  v.  Brooks,  v.  Foster ,  v.  Pratt , 
v.  Stevenson ,  v.  Smith,  v.  Hall,  v.  Hart ,  v.  Ellis,  y.  Warin, 
v.  Cooper  and  v.  Preston  to  abide  the  result  of  the  appeal 
in  Betts  v.  Willmott. 

Mr.  Willcock,  Q.C.,  Mr.  Grove,  Q.C.,  and  Mr.  Everitt 
appeared  in  support  of  the  appeal — Mr.  Kay,  Q.C.,  Mr. 
Eddis,  Q.C.,  and  Mr.  Langley,  for  the  respondent. 

The  Lord  Chancellor,  at  the  close  of  the  appellant’s 
case,  and  without  calling  upon  the  respondent’s  counsel, 
delivered  judgment. 

Mr.  Kay,  I  think,  not  having  heard  you,  the  case 
lias  been  established  by  Mr.  Betts,  upon  whom  the  onus 
is  thrown,  that  you  are  making  an  indirect  use  of  his 
invention,  but  he  is  bound  to  prove  two  things,  one  of 
which,  it  appears  to  me  (not  having  heard  your  argu¬ 
ment  upon  it),  he  has  proved,  namely,  that  there  is  a  use 
■of  his  invention.  But  the  question  is,  whether  it  is  an 
unauthorized  use.  It  appears  to  me,  the  onus  being- 
thrown  on  Mr.  Betts  to  prove  that  he  has  not  discharged 
liimself  of  it,  he  has  to  show  that  this  thing  you  are 
using  is  not  manufactured  by  him.  That  he  attempted 
to  do,  in  the  first  instance,  by  an  affidavit  in  which  he 
says  it  has  not  his  private  mark. 

Mr.  Kay. — He  does  not  even  swear  that,  my  Lord. 

The  Lord  Chancellor. — I  took  that  rather  from  the 
Vice-Chancellor’s  judgment.  Therefore  he  says,  priinu 
facie,  “I  did  not  make  this,”  but  what  turns  out  upon 
cross-examination  is  this.  He  says,  when  cross-ex  - 
-amined,  that  he  is  not  only  the  manufacturer  of  this 
article  in  England,  but  that  it  is  manufactured  abroad 
by  him  in  two  different  manufactories.  It  appears  he 
bought  up,  at  Paris,  a  business  where  the  article  was 
manufactured  in  the  name  of  Espinasse,  and  he  con¬ 
tinued  afterwards  to  carry  on  the  business  there,  through 
the  medium  of  Espinasse,  who  was  acting  as  his  paid 
■agent,  and  therefore,  for  all  purposes,  Espinasse  is  the 
plaintiff  in  the  suit.  Being  cross-examined  further  as 
to  what  is  the  actual  condition  of  the  thing  so  manu¬ 
factured  by  him,  and  having  made  the  admission  that 
there  is  a  manufacture  of  this  article  in  Paris,  he  thus 
continues  in  his  cross-examination,  “I  cannot  answer 
whether  the  capsules  A.  B.  and  C.,  mentioned  in  the 
same  affidavit,  are  or  have  ever  been  in  my  possession.  If 
they  are,  my  solicitor  lias  them.  I  cannot  now  produce 
the  Exhibit  numbered  210.  The  eleven  bottles  now 
produced  and  marked  as  Exhibits  263,  201,”  (and  a 
number  of  others)  “are  the  several  bottles  I  rely  on 
in  eleven  of  my  several  suits.  I  don’t  know  whether 
the  Exhibit  No.  210,  did  or  not  correspond,  in  external 
appearance,  with  these  eleven.  The  exhibits  numbered 
201  and  207  being  infringements,  I  have  no  doubt  No. 

210  did  correspond,  in  external  appearance,  with  them, 
hut  I  cannot  compare  them  with  a  thing  which  is  not 
present.  After  examining  the  capsules  on  the  eleven  Ex¬ 
hibits,  and  those  on  the  Exhibits  numbered  respectively 

211  and  401,  I  cannot  say  by  whom  those  capsules 
were  manufactured.”  Then  he  is  asked,  “Will  you 
pledge  your  oath  whether  those  capsules  were  or  not 
manufactured  by  your  house  of  Espinasse?”  Answer, 
”  I  believe  they  are  infringements,  and  that  they  arc 
Tiot  of  the  house  of  Espinasse.  I  found  this  my  belief 
on  this,  that  Rimmel’s  dies,  in  Paris,  do  not  correspond, 
R3  I  have  been  informed,  with  the  stampings  on  those, 


but  I  will  not  swear  that  they  do  not  correspond  exactly.” 
Then  a  little  lower  down  he  says  this,  “I  do  not  know 
whether  it  is  the  fact  that  Dupre’s  capsules  supplied  to 
Rinnnel  boro  Dupre’s  name  upon  them,”  and  at  line  52, 
he  says,  “  I  will  not  swear  that  each  of  the  capsules  on 
the  eleven  Exhibits,  and  on  those  numbered  211  and  401, 
was  not  made  by  my  house  of  Espinasse,  or  that  they 
were  not  sold  and  delivered  by  that  house  to  Eugene 
Rimmcl.”  That  is  the  part  which,  to  my  mind,  creates 
the  great  difficulty  in  the  plaintiff’s  case.  Unluckily 
210  itself  has  been  lost,  but  we  cannot  help  that,  and  we 
cannot,  therefore,  deal  with  that  specially.  He  will  not 
pledge  himself  to  say  that  there  is  any  real  distinction 
between  210  and  the  others  which  arc  exhibited.  As  to 
those  others  which  are  made  Exhibits,  ho  says,  “  1  have 
sworn  that  they  were  not  manufactured  by  me,  but  I 
will  not  take  upon  myself  to  say  that  they  were  not 
manufactured  by  my  house  in  Paris,  or  were  not  sold  by 
that  house  to  Rimmel.” 

That  being  so,  the  onus,  I  apprehend,  being  on  the 
plaintiff  to  show  that  not  merely  is  the  thing  made  his 
own  patented  article,  but  that  it  has  been  unlawfully 
sold,  he  must  be  prepared  to  swear  distinctly  that  it  is 
not  manufactured  by  him  or  his  agents.  Take  this  case. 
Supposing  he  had  three  houses  of  manufacture, — one  in 
the  north  of  England,  one  in  the  west  of  England,  and 
one  in  London.  I  apprehend  it  would  be  his  duty  in 
making  out  his  case  before  a  jury  to  come  forward  and 
prove  not  only  by  his  London  agent  that  the  article  was 
of  the  same  description  as  the  patented  article,  but  ho 
would  have  to  show  it  was  not  made  by  himself ;  and, 
for  that  purpose,  he  would  have  to  call  persons  who  had 
the  control  of  his  house  in  the  north,  also  of  his  house 
in  London,  and  also  of  his  house  in  the  west,  to 
prove  that  no  such  articles  were  made  by  them. 
As  things  of  a  similar  description  are  sold  by  millions, 
and  are  sold  for  the  purpose  of  being  distributed  in 
every  shop  throughout  the  whole  length  and  breadth 
of  the  land,  it  would  be  extremely  improbable — not 
impossible,  but  a  matter  of  considerable  difficulty — for 
the  persons  who,  from  time  to  time,  purchased  not  the 
capsules  themselves  brut  the  bottles  covered  with  the 
capsules,  not  being  buyers  of  capsules  wholesale,  but 
purchasers  as  part  of  their  stock  in  trade  of  a  variety  of 
bottles  at  a  time,  sometimes  one  bottle  of  one  article,  and 
sometimes  twenty  bottles  of  another  article, — it  would  be 
impossible  for  them  to  go  round  to  the  whole  trade  and 
trace  these  bottles  through  the  variety  of  persons  into 
whose  possession  they  might  have  got,  in  order  to  show 
that  they  could  be  traced  up  to  the  plaintiff’s  manufac¬ 
tory,  without  the  Court  in  the  least  requiring  it  in  the 
first  instance ;  there  should  be  the  plaintiff’s  oath.  If  he 
takes  that  oath,  and  throws  the  onus  on  the  defendants, 
they  must  meet  it  as  best  they  may,  but  the  oath  of  the 
plaintiff  would  be  required  to  show  that  he  had  not  manu¬ 
factured  that  thing  which  had  got  into  the  hands  of  the 
particular  defendant  who  is  brought  before  the  Court. 
This  plaintiff  discharged  that  duty  in  the  first  instance  by 
saying,  “I  did  not  manufacture  that  particular  thing ;  ” 
but  on  cross-examination  he  says,  “  when  I  made  that 
affidavit  I  did  not  intend  to  describe  it  in  that  way  as 
not  having  come  out  of  my  manufactory  in  France,  and 
I  will  not  swear  that  now.'”  The  Vice-Chancellor’s  ob¬ 
servations  are  certainly  somewhat  strong  upon  this  gen¬ 
tleman,  and  I  do  not  know  quite  that  I  should  myself 
make  the  same  strong  observations,  because  the  gentleman 
may  possibly  have  had  in  his  mind  that  view  of  the  law 
which  has  been  submitted  by  his  counsel ;  and  I  quite 
agree  with  Mr.  Grove  that  an  argument  might  have 
been  presented  on  that  point,  although  I  do  not  remem¬ 
ber  such  a  point  having  been  brought  before  the  Court 
before,  or  that  the  circumstances  ever  occurred  which 
could  give  rise  to  such  an  argument ;  the  point  is  this 
supposing  a  man  to  have  a  patent  in  Franco  and  a  pa¬ 
tent  in  Belgium  and  a  patent  in  England,  and  he  esta¬ 
blishes  manufactories  in  each  place  for  the  manufacture 


036 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  4, 1871. 


of  his  patented  article,  then  it  is  said  that  if  he  sells  the 
patented  article  in  France,  it  is  for  the  French  market, 
and  it  does  not  justify  a  person  buying  the  article  in 
France  and  bringing  it  over  to  England,  and  he  cannot 
be  allowed  to  use  that  article  so  made  in  France  in 
England.  Then  Mr.  Grove  put  the  case  of  his  having- 
assigned  his  English  patent  (sold  it  to  somebody),  and 
continuing  the  manufacture  in  France,  and  said,  would 
not  the  importer  of  any  article  sold  in  Franco  come 
within  the  doctrine  of  Caldwell  v.  Vanvlissingen  ? 

No  doubt  in  the  case  so  put  he  would,  because  the 
licence  to  sell,  which  vested  originally  in  the  patentee, 
would  then  be  vested  in  his  assignee,  and  therefore  no 
licence  in  England  given  by  the  original  patentee  after 
a  sale  could  authorize  the  making  of  the  article ;  so  of 
course,  in  exactly  the  same  way,  no  sale  at  all  by  the 
original  patentee  in  France,  who  is  also  the  original 
patentee  in  England,  could  defeat  the  rights  of  the 
original  patentee  in  England,  or  defeat  the  rights  of  a 
person  purchasing  from  him  in  France.  In  other 
words,  it  comes  almost  within  the  doctrine  of  leave  and 
licence,  and  leave  and  licence  would  not  be  effectual  in 
such  a  case  ;  and  is  it  any  more  effectual  in  the  other  case, 
where  a  man  carries  on  the  three  manufactories  him¬ 
self,  and  himself  disposes  of  the  article  abroad  ?  I  appre¬ 
hend  if  he  disposes  of  the  article  abroad,  unless  it  can  be 
shown,  not  that  there  is  some  clear  injunction  to  his 
agents  or  the  like,  but  that  there  is  some  clear  commu¬ 
nication  to  the  party  to  whom  the  article  is  sold,  the 
person  who  has  the  sole  right  of  vending  in  England,  if 
he  chooses  to  sell  the  goods  in  France,  or  Belgium,  or 
England,  or  in  any  other  quarter  of  the  globe,  the  per¬ 
sons  who  purchase  of  him  transfers  with  the  goods 
necessarily  the  licence  to  use  the  goods  which  he  has  so 
sold.  When  a  man  has  purchased  an  article  he  intends 
to  have  the  control  of  it,  and  there  must  be  some  clear 
and  explicit  agreement  to  the  contrary  proved  as  against 
the  purchaser  of  the  article  to  justify  the  vendor  in  say¬ 
ing,  I  have  not  given  you  my  licence  for  the  sale  of  the 
article.  He  cannot  prevent  the  purchaser  using  it  wher¬ 
ever  ho  pleases  as  against  the  person  with  regard  to 
whom  he  is  entitled  to  use  it.  He  cannot  use  it  against 
his  assignee  without  a  previous  assignment  of  the  patent, 
because  no  previous  assignment  of  the  patent  would 
confer  that  right ;  but  he  can  use  it  against  the  person 
who  himself  is  the  owner  and  proprietor,  and  has  the 
power  of  conferring  a  complete  right  on  him  by  the  sale 
of  the  article.  If  this  gentleman  is  unable  to  show  that 
these  things  which  he  charges  the  defendant  with  hav¬ 
ing  used  arc  not  used  unlawfully, — if  he  cannot  show 
that  to  be  the  case,  I  apprehend  that,  without  establishing 
that  he  has  not  himself  sold  the  very  article  the  use  of 
which  he  now  seeks  to  prohibit,  he  cannot  succeed  by 
way  of  injunction  in  this  Court  any  more  than  he  would 
in  an  action  at  law.  Therefore  on  that  ground,  although 
I  do  not  quite  follow  the  reasoning  of  the  Vice-Chan¬ 
cellor  on  the  subject,  the  decision  being  right,  the  peti¬ 
tion  of  appeal  will  have  to  be  dismissed  with  costs. 


Deaths  Supposed  to  Result  from  Excessive 
Doses  of  Chloral  Hydrate. 

An  inquest  has  been  held  at  South  Petherton  to  in¬ 
quire  into  the  circumstances  attending-  the  death  of  Mrs. 
Masters,  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  J.  P.  Masters. 

It  appeared  from  the  evidence  that  the  deceased  had 
for  seven  years  suffered  from  violent  hysterical  attacks, 
for  which  she  had  at  one  time  been  recommended  the 
use  of  stimulants.  In  consequence,  however,  of  their 
effect  upon  her,  under  the  advice  of  Dr.  Norris  these  had 
been  given  up,  and  that  gentleman  prescribed  for  hcr 
draughts  containing  30  to  40  grains  of  chloral.  This 
offended  Mrs.  Masters  very  much,  and  eventually  she 
went  to  consult  Mr.  Sanders,  chemist,  of  Ilminster. 

In  his  evidence  Mr.  Sanders  said  he  was  asked  by  Mr. 


Masters  to  prescribe  for  deceased  when  she  would  not 
take  the  draughts  which  Mr.  Norris  sent  her.  He  did 
so,  and,  knowing  of  a  similar  case  at  Ilminister,  in  which 
chloral  was  used  by  Dr.  Mules  with  success,  put  up 
draughts  for  her,  containing  30  to  36  grains  of  that  me¬ 
dicine.  He  had  been  told  by  Mr.  Masters  that  she  could 
not  bear  any  preparation  of  opium.  He  had  made  up 
these  draughts  within  the  last  two  or  three  months. 
He  had  put  up,  perhaps,  four-and-twenty.  He  under¬ 
stood  that  deceased  did  not  take  these  draughts  at  the 
same  time  that  she  was  taking  those  of  Dr.  Norris. 

Occasionally  deceased  would  take  Mr.  Sanders’s 
draughts  in  the  morning  instead  of  at  night.  As  she 
became  very  fond  of  the  draughts,  they  wei-e  carefully 
guarded.  This  greatly  excited  her,  and  she  insisted 
upon  having  them,  and  occasionally  would  take  one  of 
Mr.  Sanders’s  draughts  after  taking  one  of  Dr.  Norris’s. 
On  Tuesday,  the  8th  January,  upon  going  to  bed  she 
took  one  of  Dr.  Norris’s  draughts.  About  midnight  she 
awoke,  and  asked  for  another.  At  first  it  was  refused, 
but  she  became  so  violent  that  it  was  given  to  pacify 
her.  She  afterwards  had  a  third,  which  caused  sickness, 
and  a  fourth.  On  Wednesday  she  had  three  more,  fol¬ 
lowed  by  much  sickness  ;  and  on  the  Thursday  morning-, 
her  husband,  having  left  her  for  a  short  time,  found  her 
dead  upon  his  return.  As  Dr.  Norris  said  that  he 
could  not  state  positively  the  cause  of  death,  a  post-mortem 
examination  was  ordered. 

Upon  the  resumption  of  the  inquiry,  Dr.  Norris  read  a 
report  of  an  analysis  of  the  stomach  and  other  portions  of 
the  body,  made  by  Mr.  Stoddart,  chemist,  of  Bristol. 
Mr.  Stoddart  commented  on  the  fact  that  decomposition 
had  not  taken  place,  although  more  than  a  week  had 
elapsed  since  death.  This  he  attributed  to  the  effects  of 
chloroform,  a  small  quantity  of  which  he  found  in  the 
tissues.  Dr.  Norris  said  he  commenced  giving  Mrs. 
Masters  chloral  in  the  summer  of  1870,  after  ascertaining 
that  various  other  sedatives  did  not  suit  her.  The 
draughts  he  gave  consisted  of  40  grains.  Ho  had  ad¬ 
ministered  chloral  extensively  for  two  years  past.  If 
sufficient  time  was  allowed  for  it  to  pass  off  it  could  not 
do  any  harm,  as  it  did  not  remain  in  the  system.  On 
Monday,  9th  instant,  he  sent  Mrs.  Masters  a  mixture  of 
six  doses,  each  dose  of  which  contained  10  grains  of 
chloral.  If  given  in  small  quantities,  chloral  eased  pain 
but  did  not  induce  sleep.  According  to  the  evidence 
given  by  Mr.  Masters,  deceased  had  taken  260  grains  of 
chloral  within  thirty-five  hours  of  her  death,  112  grains 
of  which  had  been  administered  within  twelve  hours  of 
death.  His  opinion  was  that  on  the  nights  of  January 
10th  and  11th  she  must  have  taken  excessive  doses  of 
chloral,  which  prevented  any  chance  of  rallying  from  the 
prostrating  effects  of  excessive  vomiting  on  the  morning- 
of  her  decease,  and  probably  produced  syncope,  from 
which  he  believed  deceased  died. 

The  jury,  after  a  long  consultation,  returned  a  verdict, 
“  That  the  deceased  died  from  syncope  produced  by  ex¬ 
cessive  vomiting,  of  the  cause  of  which  there  is  not  suffi¬ 
cient  evidence  to  satisfy  the  jury.” — The  Western  Gazette. 

On  Monday  last  an  inquest  was  held  at  Whittlebury, 
Northamptonshire,  to  inquire  into  the  death  of  the 
Rev.  L.  Froome,  rector  of  that  village.  The  deceased 
had  gone  to  bed  on  the  previous  Thursday  evening 
apparently  in  good  health  and  spirits,  and  on  the  following¬ 
morning  had  been  found  dead  in  his  bed.  He  had  been 
accustomed  for  some  time  past  to  take  opiates  in  conse¬ 
quence  of  suffering  from  sleeplessness.  Latterly  he  had 
used  chloral  hydrate.  It  appeared  from  the  evidence 
that  he  had  taken  an  overdose  of  this  drug,  which  had 
resulted  in  his  death.  The.  jury  returned  a  verdict, 
“  That  the  deceased  came  by  his  death  by  inadvertently 
taking  too  large  a  dose  of  a  medicine  called  chloral 
hydrate. —  Times. 


February  4, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


C37 


* **  In  order  to  facilitate  reference,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  their  answers  in  each,  case  ivith  the  title 
and  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

NOTICE. — To  prevent  delay ,  correspondents  are  re¬ 
quested  to  send  their  communications  to  the  Journal  Depart¬ 
ment,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  W.C.,  and  not  to  the  Pub¬ 
lishers. 

[72.] — COUGH  BALSAM. 

R.  Morphias  Mur.  gr.  xij 
Sp.  iEther.  Nit.  Jij 
Tr.  Opii.  Carnph.  gviij 
Vin,  Antirn.  Tart.  *ij 
Sp.  Ammon.  Co.  §vii'i 
Syr.  Papav.  Alb.  *xij 
Oxymel.  Scillae  *iv 
Vin.  Ipecac,  ^ij 
Aq.  Purse  46  oz. 

Extract.  Belladonnse,  gr.  45. 

M.  Adult  dose  5ij  ex  aqua. 

[114.]— ARECA-NUT  TOOTH-PASTE. 

R.  Prepared  Charcoal  yj 
Prepared  Chalk  §iij 
Areca-Nut  Powder  5j 
Honey,  q.  s. 

Otto  of  Rose  11^ xx 
Oil  Neroli  «\xxx 
Ess.  Ambergris  "lx 
Oil  Rose  Geranium  n\x. 

M. 

[128.] — AMANDINE. — In  answer  to  J.  P.  the  following 
recipe  for  amandine  is  furnished  by  “  Rusticus — 

Bitter  Almonds  (blanched),  4  oz. 

Beat  them  in  a  mortar,  with  a  small  quantity  of  water,  to  a 
smooth  paste  and  add — 

Orris  Root,  in  fine  powder, 

Soap,  in  fine  powder,  each  1  oz. 

Glycerole  of  Starch,  2  oz. 

Clarified  Honey,  1  oz. 

Oil  of  Bitter  Almonds,  5  drops 
Oil  of  Lavender,  ^  fl.  drm. 

Oil  of  Bergamot,  1  fl.  drm. 

Tincture  of  Cochineal,  q.  s.  to  colour. 

Mix.  - - 

Blanch  12  oz.  of  bitter  almonds  and  beat  them  in  a  mortar 
with  a  small  quantity  of  rose  or  other  water  to  a  smooth 
paste;  then  add  7  oz.  of  rice  flour,  3oz.  of  bean  flour,  1  oz. 
of  orris  powder,  and  when  perfectly  mixed,  ^  oz.  of  carbonate 
of  potash,  dissolved  in  rose  water;  again  beat  together  and 
add  3  oz.  of  spirituous  essence  of  jessamine,  2  drops  of  oil  of 
rhodium  and  one  of  neroli. — Beasley. 


Take  of  Fine  Pale  Honey  (or  strong  syrup)  4  oz. 

White  Soft  Soap  made  from  Lard  and  Potash,  2  oz. 

Mix  them  thoroughly  in  a  Wedgwood  mortar,  adding,  if 
necessary,  two  or  three  teaspoonfuls  of  solution  of  potash, 
«o  as  to  produce  a  thoroughly  homogeneous  paste. 

To  this  add  and  rub  in  by  degrees  and  very  gradually, — - 

Oil  of  Almonds  3]r  lbs. 

Previously  mixed  and  scented  with 

Essential  Oil  of  Almonds, 

Essence  of  Bergamot,  of  each,  3  drms. 

Oil  of  Cloves, 

Balsam  of  Peru,  of  each,  1^  drm., 

and  continue  the  trituration  until  the  whole  assumes  the  ap¬ 
pearance  of  a  rich  transparent  jelly.  Finally,  put  the  paste 
into  pots  or  wide-mouthed  bottles. 

[Note. — The  balsam  ought  to  be  triturated  with  a  little  of 
the  almond  oil,  warm,  before  adding  it  to  the  rest,  and  after 
all  the  scents  are  added,  the  oil  should  be  allowed  to  settle  for 
two  or  three  days  and  the  clear  portion  only  used.] 

In  using,  a  lump  of  amandine  the  size  of  a  large  pea  is 


rubbed  with  a  few  drops  of  warm  water,  and  the  rich  white 
lather  applied  to  the  hands,  lace,  neck,  etc.  In  a  short  time 
the  skin  may  be  wiped  with  a  soft  napkin. 

Amandine  may  be  glycerinated  by  adding  one  ounce  of  the 
best  glycerine  for  every  pound  of  oii  to  be  used. 

[132.]— COUGH  BALLS  FOR  HORSES. 

R.  Gum.  Ammoniaci  3 viij 
Pulv.  Scillte  ^ivss 
Gum.  Opii  gij  5ij 
Gum.  Camphora3  31VSS 
Potassi  Nitratis  3'ij. 

M.  Glob.  5’j  ana.  Delta. 

[134.]  —  BEESWAX. — The  ordinary  process  for  refining 
crude  beeswax  is  to  melt  the  wax  with  about  five  per  cent,  of 
water  in  a  bright  copper  or  stoneware  boiler.  When  the 
whole  is  perfectly  liquid  and  has  boiled  for  some  minutes,  oil 
of  vitriol,  in  the  proportion  of  five  or  six  fluid  ounces  to  every 
cwt.  of  wax,  is  sprinkled  over  the  whole  surface  of  the  wax. 
Great  care  is  required  during  this  operation,  as  the  wax 
froths  up  and  will  run  over  the  sides  of  the  vessel  if  not  care¬ 
fully  watched.  The  wax  is  then  covered  over  and  left  to 
settle  until  cool  enough  for  moulding,  Avhen  it  is  gently 
skimmed  off  with  a  hot  ladle,  care  being  taken  not  to  disturb 
the  sediment.  When  no  more  can  be  drawn  off,  the  impu¬ 
rities  (mostly  bees)  are  scraped  from  its  under  side,  and  the 
scraped  cake  remelted  and  strained  through  canvas  into  a 
mould.  When  wax  has  a  poor  colour  it  is  sometimes  im¬ 
proved  by  dissolving  a  small  quantity  of  roll  annatto  in  the 
melted  wax,  according  to  the  shade  required.- — Cooley. 

[137.]— HAIR  DYE.— 

No.  1. 

R.  Arg.  Nit.  Cryst.  5j 
Gum.  Acacias  5j 
Aq.  Destil.  gij. 

M.  S.  A. 

No.  2. 

Acid.  Pyrogallic.  gr.  iv 
Aq.  Destil.  ?ii. 

E.  Astin. 


The  following  is  a  good  recipe  for  hair  dye  : — ■ 

No.  1  solution. 

E.  Acid.  Gallic,  gr.  x 

Sp.  iEther.  Nit.  5iss 
Aq.  Dost,  ad  yj 

Dissolve  the  gallic  acid  in  sp.  asth.  nit.  and  add  the  water. 

No.  2  solution. 

R.  Argent.  Nit.  Cryst.  5ss 

Burnt  Umber  gr.  ij 
Liq.  Vol.  C.C.  0.  *ss. 

M. 

I  have  seen  this  used  in  several  cases  and  answer  well. — 
Fbedekick  Waeyefokd. 


r146.]_]7LAVOURED  CASTOR  OIL.— Will  any  reader 
be  kind  enough  to  give  me  a  good  form  tor  making  orange- 
or  lemon-flavoured  castor-oil  ? — W.  Smith. 

[147.]— OSTEO-STOPPING  FOR  TEETH.—' 11  Alveo¬ 
lus''’  will  feel  obliged  to  any  gentleman  who  can  give  him  a 
formula  for  a  good  osteo- stopping  for  teeth. 

[148.]— TEETH-  STOPPING.— T.  II.  (Notts)  wishes  to 
be  informed  of  a  good  and  cheap  formula  for  an  amalgam  for 
stopping  teeth. 

[149.] — FRANKINCENSE. — I  have  been  asked  for  frank¬ 
incense,  described  as  being  in  dry  chips,  similar  to,  but  darker 
than  yellow  sandal-wood.  Can  any  of  your  readers  kindly 
inform  me  what  substance  wras  intended? — N.  H.  M. 

[150.] — WHITE  FELT  CORN  PLAISTERS.— if.  P.  S. 
would  be  glad  if  any  reader  could  give  him  the  formula  for 
the  preparation  used  in  making  the  above. 

[151.]— LIME  JUICE  AND  GLYCERINE. — A.  C. 
wTould  feel  greatly  obliged  to  any  reader  who  would  kindly 
give  a  recipe  for  making  lime  juice  and  glycerine  for  the 
hair. 

[152.]— FUMIGATING  PAPERS. —  Will  any  corre¬ 
spondent  kindly  give  us  a  recipe  for  making  tobacco  papers 
for  fumigating  purposes. — Enquieees. 


Delta. 


Delta. 


038 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  4, 1871. 


***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith . 

Storage  of  Poisons. 

Sir, — I  am  not  surprised  at  tlie  number  of  letters  you  con¬ 
tinue  to  receive  upon  this  subject,  for  it  is  one  of  the  utmost 
importance,  and  our  conduct  in  this  matter  will  undoubtedly 
have  very  great  inlluence  upon  our  future  status  and  welfare. 

In  the  letter  from  the  Medical  Department  of  the  Privy 
Council  to  the  Registrar,  there  occurs  this  passage,  “My 
Lords  believe  it  to  have  been  the  opinion  of  Parliament  that 
proper  regulations  in  this  matter  are  required  for  the  protec¬ 
tion  of  the  public.”  These  are  serious  and  weighty  words, 
and  the  whole  tendency  of  modern  legislation  on  matters 
connected  with  health  being  towards  State  supervision  and 
control,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  before  long  some  action 
will  be  taken  in  this  matter,  and  it  would  be  neither  grateful 
nor  wise  of  us  to  oppose  it, — ungrateful  because  ave  have 
already  received  privileges  in  connection  with  this  subject, 
and  impolitic  because  our  opposition  would  most  assuredly  be 
unsuccessful, — and,  if  compulsory  enactments  are  to  be  made, 
it  were  surely  better  that  they  were  framed  by  ourselves,  ac¬ 
quainted  with  all  the  bearings  and  difficulties  of  the  question, 
than  to  have  an  Act  forced  upon  us  by  others  comparatively 
ignorant  of  the  subject. 

And  I  would  ask  what  are  the  special  difficulties  in  the 
matter  ?  What  hardship  can  there  possibly  be  in  compelling 
the  less  careful  to  adopt  those  simple  and  necessary  precautions 
which  prudent  pharmacists  have  already  voluntarily  esta¬ 
blished  ?  To  the  skilful  and  careful  they  are  no  impediment, 
while  to  those  who  are  not  so,  they  act  as  a  safeguard  and 
check;  even  the  occasional  visit  of  an  inspector,  although  to 
a  certain  extent  unpleasant,  can  have  no  terrors  for  those  who 
respect  the  law  and  cairy  out  its  provisions.  Schools,  work¬ 
shops  and  factories  are  inspected,  and  any  medical  man  who 
takes  a  lunatic  patient  into  his  house,  is  subjected  to  a  monthly 
examination  of  his  premises  ten  times  more  inquisitorial  and 
unpleasant  than  any  we  shall  have  to  endure. 

After  long  and  careful  consideration  of  the  subject,  I  am 
convinced  that  some  compulsory  regulations  must  be  pro¬ 
posed  by  ourselves,  or  they  will  be  forced  upon  us  by  the 
Government,  and  that,  though  there  may  be  some  difficulties, 
there  will  be  also  some  advantages  arising  from  State  super¬ 
vision  and  recognition. 

In  conclusion,  I  would  suggest  that  the  matter  be  put  into 
the  hands  of  a  Committee  of  six  or  seven  gentlemen,  ap¬ 
pointed  by  the  Council  or  by  a  general  meeting  of  the  mem¬ 
bers  convened  for  that  purpose. 

January ,  1871.  Frederick  Andrews. 


Sir, — Since  the  commencement  of  the  correspondence  on 
“  The  Storing  of  Poisons,”  we  have  been  favoured  with  the 
views  ot  many  writers  as  to  the  merits  and  demerits  of  the 
proposed  regulations,  a  very  small  majority  being  against 
compulsory  legislation.  Now,  judging  from  the  letters  of 
this  majority,  it  seems  to  me  that  their  principal  objection  to 
the  proposed  movement  is,  because  it  is  compulsory;  they 
do  not  like  the  idea  of  being  compelled  to  do  now  what  they 
should  have  done  voluntarily  perhaps  years  ago,  and  strongly 
object  to  having  any  measure  pushed  down  their  throats  as  it 
were.  I  am  glad  to  see  some  of  your  correspondents  take  an 
opposite  view  of  the  case ;  and  one  at  least  there  is  who  speaks 
as  emphatically  in  favour  of  the  compulsory  idea  as  any  of  the 
objectors  do  against  it. 

.  After  reading  this  mass  of  correspondence,  I  do  not  feel  my 
ideas  particularly  enlightened  as  to  the  demerits  of  regula¬ 
tions;  and  I  remain  much  as  before,  impressed  with  the  ne¬ 
cessity,  or  rather  desirability,  of  some  such  measure.  I  would 
that  it.  be  lett  to  the  Council  to  recommend  most 
strongly,  and  with  all  the  force  of  their  influence,  the  adop¬ 
tion  of  such  a  measure ;  and  if  afterwards  this  is  found  insuf¬ 
ficient,  then  to  make  it  compulsory ;  and  when  made  compul¬ 
sory  on  us,  common-sense  demands  that  it  should  be  equally 
binding.on  dispensing  surgeons,  as  it  is  in  their  surgeries  that 
most  ot  the  accidents  from  careless  dispensing  take  place. 


Indeed,  so  lately  as  the  20th  of  this  month  a  case  is  reported 
in  the  Liverpool  Daily  Courier,  where  death  resulted  from 
the  use  of  morphia  instead  of  another  drug,  the  medicine 
being  compounded  by  a  youth  whose  experience  of  the  nature 
and  properties  of  drugs  was  limited  to  a  year  and  three- 
quarters  ;  and  had  one  of  the  precautions  recommended  by  the 
Council  been  adopted,  the  child’s  life  would  in  all  probability 
have  been  saved.  In  these  proposed  regulations  I  see  no¬ 
thing  to  call  forth  such  emphatic  protests  against  their  use. 
Were  we  tied  down  to  an}-  one  of  the  three,  the  case  would  be- 
different;  but  such  a  very  wide  latitude  of  choice  is  allowed, 
that  I  can  hardly  conceive  anything  but  downright  obstinacy 
refusing  to  adopt  them.  For  my  own  part,  I  have  used  a 
similar  plan  for  some  years  past  without  any  inconvenience  ;. 
for  instance,  tr.  opii,  ac.  oxalic,  with  one  or  two  others  of  a 
like  class  and  in  frequent  use,  are  relegated  to  a  part  of  the- 
shop  where  there  is  no  possibility  of  their  being  taken  in 
mistake  for  others,  being  also  marked  “Poison.”  Atropia, 
strychnia  and  other  powerful  poisons  are  under  lock  and  key; 
liq.  arsenical.,  corrosive  sublimate  and  arsenic  occupy  their 
usual  places  on  the  shelves,  but  securely  capped,  with  a  large  red 
paper  star,  as  well  as  “Poison,”  pasted  on  the  bottles,  so  that 
there  is  no  chance  of  danger  in  that  quarter,  while  some  are- 
in  octagonal  and  coloured  bottles ;  so  here  are  all  three  plans 
in  use. 

One  consideration  seems  to  have  been  lost  sight  of  by 
all  your  correspondents.  Were  these  regulations  made  014 
behalf  of  principals  alone  they  might,  to  a  greater  extent, 
be  thought  unnecessary,  as,  from  constant  familiarity  and 
the  most  moderate  exercise  of  prudence,  we  are  able,  generally 
speaking,  to  avoid  error;  but  most  of  us  employ  assistance 
in  the  conduct  of  business  ;  some  have  apprentices  and 
assistants  constantly,  and  others  as  a  temporary  relief;  and 
it  is  almost  impossible  that  they  will  have  the  same  familiarity 
with  the  arrangements  of  the  shop,  and  the  same  prudential 
motives  to  guide  them.  To  me  it  seems  useless  to  say  that 
the  improved  education  of  the  druggist  is  the  best  safeguard  ; 
at  present  it  is  not,  further  than  he  himself  is  concerned. 
When  all  druggists  and  their  assistants  shall  be  examined 
pharmaceutical  chemists,  and  when  no  apprentices  or  pupils- 
are  taken, — which,  of  course,  is  an  absurdity, — then  it  may  be. 
To  a  druggist  who  thinks  he  is  being  hoaxed  when  asked  for 
“  seed  lac;”  to  another  who  confesses  his  ignorance  as  to  ammo¬ 
nia  alum,  and,  though  he  may  see  it  daily,  says  he  has  none;  and 
to  another  who  advertises  “  oatmeal  soap  and  all  other  French 
chemicals”  (these  have  all  come  under  my  own  notice  re¬ 
cently), — such  regulations  may  be  needful.  Taking  into  con¬ 
sideration  the  little  inconvenience  such  a  measure  would  be 
to  ourselves, — nay,  the  convenience  it  would  be,  if  taken  in  a 
right  spirit, — and  the  satisfaction  that  would  be  afforded  to 
the  public  mind,  I  intend  to  give  it  my  hearty  support. 

T.  H.  Hustwick. 

Liverpool,  January  2oth,  1871. 

[*#*  We  do  not  suppose  our  correspondent  is  singular 
in  practising  some  such  precautions  as  those  he  mentions 
indeed,  we  should  rather  expect  to  find  them  adopted,  accord¬ 
ing  to  circumstances,  in  all  well-regulated  establishments,  and 
by  all  pharmacists  who  have  received  an  education  such  as 
would  ensure  their  competency  and  a  due  sense  of  their  re¬ 
sponsibilities. — Ed.  Puarm.  Journ.] 


Sir, — I  have  read  with  pleasure  the  correspondence  which 
has  been  going  on  in  your  columns  for  some  time  respecting 
the  “  compulsory”  keeping  of  poisons.  It  is  very  creditable 
that  it  has  been  conducted  in  so  fair  a  manner.  Some  of  the 
letters  have  been  very  ably  written,  and  all  of  them  have 
shown  that  the  writers  are  really  in  earnest.  On  calmly  re¬ 
viewing  the  correspondence,  I  think  it  must  be  confessed  that 
the  opponents  of  compulsion  have  the  best  of  it;  cui  bono,  I 
would  ask?  I  cannot  see  that  its  advocates  have  yet  ad¬ 
vanced  sufficient  reason  for  compulsion.  What  are  the  facts  ? 
How  many  deaths  have  occurred  through  the  carelessness  of 
chemists  during  the  last  twelve  months  or  during  even  the  last 
twelve  years?  Of  the  few  accidental  poisonings  which  have 
occurred,  the  majority  have  been  caused  by  medical  men  who 
dispense,  or  rather  send  out  their  own  medicine.  I  cannot 
but  think  that  the  “protection  of  the  public,  like  many  other 
cries  of  the  present  day,  has  been  pushed  a  little  too  far  and 
become  stale. 

The  general  public  have  become  so  familiarized  with  that 
awful  word  “  Poison,”  that  already  it  has  lost  more  than  halt 
its  power  as  a  caution.  There  never  was  a  greater  mistake 


February  4, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  039 


than  compelling  us  to  mark  “Poison”  on  sueli  articles  as 
paregoric,  syr.  poppies,  infants’  preservative,  et  id  genus  omne. 
The  Committee  of  Pharmacy  have  attempted  too  much,  and 
have  defeated  their  object, — “  the  safety  of  the  public.”  One 
is  reminded  of  Shakspeare’s 

“Vaulting  ambition,  which  overleaps  itself, 

And  falls  on  t’other  side.” 

Personally  I  am  decidedly  opposed  to  any  compulsion 
whatever.  We  have  quite  enough  with  the  patent  medicine 
licence,  spirit  licence,  methylated-spirit  licence  and  petroleum 
licence  without  inviting  a  set  of  inspectors  to  visit  us  at  un¬ 
seasonable  hours.  I  am  vain  enough  to  think  that  I  can 
manage  my  own  business  without  the  intervention  of  the 
Council,  and  charitable  enough  to  suppose  that  the  great  ma¬ 
jority  of  my  brethren  can  do  the  same.  Few  have  been  con¬ 
nected  with  the  Society  longer  than  I  have ;  and  no  one  has 
a  greater  respect  for  the  Council,  several  of  whom  are  per¬ 
sonally  known  to  me.  I  have  always  been  taught  to  respect 
those  who  are  “  set  in  authority  over  us,”  and  know  the  truth 
and  value  of  what  Mr.  Bagnet  says,  viz.  that  “  discipline  must 
be  maintained;”  still  there  is  a  limit  beyond  which  it  would 
be  unwise  to  proceed,  and  I  would  advise  the  Council  to 
pause  in  time.  Let  them  ascertain  the  real  feeling  of  the 
members  by  sending  out  voting-papers  to  every  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Chemist  in  the  kingdom.  I  shall  be  perfectly  content  to 
abide  by  the  result,  whatever  it  may  be ;  but  I  do  not  feel  in¬ 
clined  to  put  myself  to  considerable  expense  and  much  incon¬ 
venience  at  the  simple  dictation  of  the  Council.  I  have 
hitherto  been  content  to  be  a  very  silent  member  indeed,  but 
it  is  the  last  strain,  etc.,  and  I  think  it  behoves  all  who  have 
an  opinion  on  this  subject,  to  boldly  give  expression  to  it 
before  the  annual  meeting. 

January  30th,  1871.  Sydney  Taylor. 


Sir, — Is  your  correspondent,  who  shields  himself  in  the 
obscurity  of  “  Opifex ,”  a  bond  fide  chemist? 

I  am  tempted  to  make  this  inquiry  from  the  total  want 
of  respect  and  consideration  he  has  shown  for  our  brethren, 
charging  “very  many  with  carelessness  in  the  way  they 
carry  on  their  business,  and  as  very  ill-qualified  to  conduct 
it  rightly,”  and  then  sneering  at  our  friend  Mr.  Vizer’s 
analogy  to  the  surgeon  and  his  lancets,  passing  by  his  power¬ 
ful  arguments  against  poison  regulations  and  fixing  upon 
the  weak  point  of  his  letter.  I  certainly  regret  Mr.  Vizer 
•did  not  apply  a  more  forcible  comparison;  for  instance,  sup¬ 
pose  the  Council  of  the  Royal  College  of  Physicians,  in  con¬ 
cert  with  the  Privy  Council,  proposed  to  make  it  imperative 
that  every  person  who  died  under  the  treatment  of  a  general 
practitioner  should  be  subject  to  an  inquest  held  by  a  medical 
tribunal, — the  profession  would  to  a  man  vehemently  resist 
such  a  scandal  upon  their  qualification. 

“  Opifex  ”  speaks  too  of  tbe  amazement  expressed  by  the 
medical  journals  at  our  opposition  and  the  probability  of  our 
exciting  the  contempt  of  the  House  of  Commons,  and  goes 
on  to  say  if  we  continue  to  resist  the  proposed  simple  enact¬ 
ment  “  we  shall  be  one  of  the  curiosities  of  pharmaceutical 
literature,”  but  what  our  opposition  has  to  do  with  literature 
I  cannot  comprehend.  I  have  conversed  with  many  medical 
men  upon  this  subject,  and  they  have  all  expressed  surprise 
that  any  chemist  should  be  willing  to  place  such  a  yoke  upon 
his  neck ;  and  as  to  the  House  of  Commons,  it  is  all  a  phan¬ 
tom. 

"When  the  Council  first  introduced  the  subject,  in  Yol.  XI. 
second  series.  No.  7,  p.  377,  there  was  no  mention  of  the  Privy 
Council  nor  House  of  Commons,  who  have  more  important 
duties  than  troubling  themselves  about  poison  cupboards. 

I  hope  in  future  those  who  write  upon  this  subject  will 
subscribe  their  names,  that  we  may  know  who  would  yoke 
us  to  their  bondage,  and  those  whom  we  may  honour  as  the 
champions  of  our  liberty.  John  Beaton. 

Kilburn,  January  30th,  1871. 


Sir, — The  case  reported  in  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal 
last  week  is  worth  notice,  especially  by  one  who  shelters  him¬ 
self  under  the  common-place  signature  M.  P.  8. 

A  Mr.  Jones,  chemist,  druggist  and  stationer,  of  Mossley, 
Lancashire,  sent  for  a  medical  man  to  attend  his  infant 
daughter.  The  medicine  prescribed  was  compounded  by  a 
lad  employed  in  the  surgery,  who  substituted  morphia  for 
some  other  remedy.  The  first  dose  proved  fatal.  Surely,  if 
educated  and  experienced  pharmacists  are  to  be  coerced  by 


law,  subjected  to  the  decisions  of  country  magistrates  or  the 
tender  mercies  of  common  informers,  other  dispensers  of 
medicine,  whether  in  public  or  private  establishments,  should 
be  included  in  the  same  regulations. 

As  regards  blunders,  inadvertencies  and  acts  of  careless¬ 
ness,  I  am  confident  that  they  take  place  in  our  shops  less 
frequently  than  elsewhere.  Physicians  themselves  are  not 
exempt  from  occasional  errors,  proof  of  which  I  have  in  my 
possession — several  letters  from  eminent  men  thanking  me 
for  the  judgment  shown  in  dispensing  prescriptions,  which, 
had  they  been  made  up  literally  must  have  killed  the  patient. 
I  write  this  after  an  experience  of  more  than  thirty  years, 
and  hope  that  31.  P.  S.  will,  before  again  addressing  you, 
obtain  a  little  more  of  that  in  which  he  acknowledges  himself 
so  deficient.  R.  Goodwin  Mumbray. 

Uichmond,  S.TF. 


Sir, — It  appeal’s  to  me  that  the  weak  point  in  the  proposed 
poison  regulations  is  the  fact  that  they  apply  to  many  com¬ 
paratively  mild  preparations  a  system  suited  only  for  really 
dangerous  articles.  What  can  be  more  absurd  than  to  place 
liq.  ergo  toe  and  tinct.  canthar.  under  such  stringent  rules? 
How  could  crude  opium  or  ergot  possibly  be  mistaken  for 
any  other  drug  ? 

If  the  first  regulation  be  applied  to  all  poisons,  and  the 
second  only  to  those  which  are  really  dangerous,  I  venture 
to  think  the  difficulties  of  the  subject  might  be  met. 

Jan.  30th,  1871.  “Provincial.” 


CnLORAL  Hydrate. 

Sir, — Messrs.  E.  De  Haen  and  Co.,  of  Hanover,  justly  com¬ 
plained,  in  a  note  you  published  last  week,  of  certain  state¬ 
ments  in  Mr.  Mason’s  paper  of  January  7th,  on  chloral 
hydrate,  which  would  make  it  appear  that  samples  obtained 
by  him  as  Messrs.  De  Haen’s  chloral  hydrate  were  in  reality 
chloral  alcoholate. 

Such  statements,  groundless  and  unjustifiable  as  they  are, 
are  calculated  to  do  serious  injury;  and  as  the  matter  has 
now  been  fully  investigated,  we,  as  Messrs.  De  Haen’s  agents 
here,  beg  to  hand  you  a  copy  of  Dr.  Versmann’s  analysis  of 
the  article  in  question. 

The  analysis  proves  that  the  compound  manufactured  by 
Messrs.  E.  De  Haen  and  Co.  and  brought  into  the  English 
market  by  us,  is  good  chloral  hydrate  and  nothing  else;  it  is 
not  chloral  alcoholate. 

There  is  no  doubt  Mr.  Mason  wishes  to  show,  and  he 
plainly  states  so,  that  from  a  variety  of  samples  representing 
different  manufactures,  the  product  of  one  particular  firm 
only  is  to  be  relied  upon,  and  that  all  the  other  manufac¬ 
turers  offer  the  alcoholate  under  the  name  of  the  hydrate. 

This  is  a  very  grave  accusation,  because  the  alcoholate  is 
not  a  mere  impurity  or  bye-product  in  the  manufacture  ot 
the  hydrate;  it  must  be  made  on  purpose,  and  the  manu¬ 
facturer  selling  it  under  the  name  of  hydrate,  must  do  so 
with  the  knowledge  of  committing  a  fraud, — and  Messrs.  E. 
De  Haen,  amongst  other  manufacturers,  are  accused  of  this 
fraud. 

We  must  here  be  satisfied  with  proving  the  utter  absence 
of  truth  in  Mr.  Mason’s  analysis  as  far  as  Messrs.  E.  De 
Haen  and  Co.  are  concerned,  and  we  do  so 

1.  By  producing  Dr.  Versmann’s  detailed  examination  of 

samples  representing  large  quantities. 

2.  By  an  extract  of  a  letter  received  from  Mr.  Umney,  who 

writes  : — “  I  have  on  several  occasions  during  the  past 
year  examined  specimens  of  hydrate  of  chloral  as  con¬ 
signed  to  you  by  Messrs.  E.  Do  Haen  and  Co.,  and 
have  always  found  them  to  be  hydrate,  and  never  al¬ 
coholate,  of  chloral.” 

3.  By  Mr.  Mason’s  own  conflicting  evidence.  He  states 
our  cake  yields  57  per  cent,  of  chloroform,  our  crystals 
5G  per  cent.  Both  cake  and  crystals  are  therefore  re¬ 
presented  as  inferior  to  alcoholate ;  but  by  the  solubility 
in  water  and  insolubility  in  chloroform,  he  shows  them 
to  be  hydrates.  His  own  statements  contradict  each 
other,  and  prove  how  much  value  may  be  attached  to 
his  analysis. 

4.  By  Mr.  Mason’s  own  confession.  In  answer  to  our  in¬ 
quiry  how  the  samples  had  been  obtained  he  writes: 
“  I  had  the  verbal  declaration  that  this  was  De  Haen  s 
manufacture  (I  am  morally  certain  of  this),  but  much 
to  my  surprise,  I  learn  this  morning  that  the  manu¬ 
facturer  of  the  cake  is  Saame,  of  Gottingen. 


040 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[February  4, 1871. 


This  statement  of  facts  will,  we  trust,  suffice  to  demonstrate 
how  unsuccessful  and  untrustworthy  Mr.  Mason’s  attempt 
at  scientific  investigation  is,  and  as  by  the  reprinting  in  your 
Journal  of  Mr.  Mason’s  paper  serious  injury  may  have  been 
done,  we  request,  in  justice  to  the  house  we  represent  and  to 
ourselves,  the  insertion  of  this  letter  and  enclosed  analysis  of 
Dr.  Versmann.  Domeier  and  Co. 

“London,  JE I.C.,  January  30th,  1871. 

“  Gentlemen, — I  beg  to  submit  to  you  the  result  of  my 
examination  of  samples  of  chloral  hydrate  manufactured  by 
Messrs.  Dc  Haen  and  Co.  of  Hanover,  and  received  from  you 
for  analysis. 

“  I  selected  these  samples  from  a  large  stock  at  your  ware¬ 
house;  they  fairly  represent  about4cwt.  of  chloral  hydrate  in 
crystals,  put  up  in  1-lb.  bottles,  and  16  cwt.  in  cakes,  put  up 
in  jars  of  about  12  to  14  lb.  each. 

“The  object  of  this  examination  was  not  only  to  determine 
the  degree  of  purity  of  the  articles,  but  especially  to  prove 
the  presence  or  absence  of  chloral  alcoholate. 

“  I  have  compressed  the  results  of  my  examination  in  the 
subjoined  table,*  and  I  feel  justified  in  stating  that  the  chemical 
reactions  and  physical  properties  of  the  samples  unmistak¬ 
ably  prove  both  the  crystals  and  the  cake  to  be  genuine  and 
good  marketable  chloral  hydrate,  not  inferior  to  the  product 
of  any  other  manufacturer,  and  perfectly  free  from  chloral 
alcoholate. 

“  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  gentlemen, 

“  Your  obedient  servant, 

“Fred.  Versmann. 

“  Messrs.  Domeier  and  Co., 

“47,  Basinghall  Street .” 

The  Sale  oe  Drugs  by  Grocers,  etc. 

Sir, — I  was  very  glad  to  see  your  correspondent,  Mr. 
Carroll,  bring  before  the  notice  of  the  trade  the  great  injury 
done  to  legitimate  chemists  by  hucksters  selling  popular  me¬ 
dicines.  Some  months  ago  you  kindly  inserted  a  letter  of 
mine  on  the  same  subject;  this  was  written  in  the  hope  that 
other  correspondents  would  take  the  matter  up,  and  agitate 
until  something  definite  was  decided  on  by  the  Councd. 

This  evil  has  been  considerably  increased  since  the  pass¬ 
ing  of  the  Pharmacy  Act;  before  that  date  the  grocer  or 
smaller  shopkeeper  had  a  certain  vague  notion  that  it  was 
wrong  to  sell  medicines,  but  now,  thanks  to  the  smaller 
wholesale  houses  and  registered  chemists,  unworthy  of  the 
name,  they  are  sufficiently  well-informed  to  know  that  they 
may  retail  any  drug  or  chemical  compound  under  the  sun,  so 
long  as  it  is  not  of  a  poisonous  nature ;  and,  moreover,  as 
these  persons  on  an  average  sell  their  articles  at  50  per  cent, 
less  than  the  respectable  chemist,  they  are  compelled  to  buy 
the  vilest  trash  imaginable.  Many  of  them  still  continue  to 
sell  laudanum,  anodyne  cordial,  infants’  mixture,  etc.,  articles 
which  formerly  contained  veritable  opium;  but  now  the 
large-hearted  wholesale  dealer  in  his  kindly  endeavour  to 
shield  his  innocent  customers  from  the  consequence  of  legal 
action,  omits  that  essential  drug  and  compounds  his  tinct. 
opii  from  caramel  and  a  small  portion  of  catechu,  his  anodyne 
from  treacle-and-water  flavoured  with  some  essential  oil,  his 
mixture  from  chalk  and  English  rhubarb ;  these  articles,  from 
the  large  part  played  by  that  necessary  and  cheap  ingredient 
oxy.  cum  hydro,  bear  a  very  nice  profit,  which  of  course  is  a 
great  incentive  to  the  manufacturer  to  push  this  branch  of  his 
business.  The  sp.  cether.  nit.,  of  which  a  large  quantity  is  re¬ 
tailed  at  2d.  per  oz.  by  these  people,  would  probably  require 
the  services  of  a  very  high-class  chemist  to  analyse,  or,  per¬ 
haps,  it  would  be  imperative  to  invent  a  new  hydrometer  to 
take  the  specific  gravity. 

>  Another  consequence  deducible  from  this  great  imperfec¬ 
tion  in  the  Pharmacy  Act  is,  that  herbalists,  Coffinites,  etc., 
who  were  formerly  content  to  keep  within  the  bounds  of  their 
proper  businesses,  have  now  branched  out  into  selling  castor 
oil,  sweet  nitre,  magnesia,  etc.,  knowing  they  can  do  so  with 
impunity. 

In  the  face  of  this  grievance,  one  is  apt  to  ask  the  perti¬ 
nent  question,  What  is  the  actual  advantage  of  paying  a 
large  premium,  passing  a  long  apprenticeship,  expending  a 
large  amount  of  time  and  money  in  books,  lectures,  etc., 
and  ultimately  making  a  debut  as  a  full-fledged  pharmaceutist  ? 
He  can  dispense  physicians’  prescriptions,  certainly,  but  unfor¬ 
tunately,  with  the  majority  of  English  chemists," this  hardly 

*  The  results  are  given  on  p.  62. 


pays  rent  and  taxes;  he  can  also  sell  poisons,  but  here,  again, 
the  average  sum  total  taken  in  poisonous  articles,  forms  but 
a  small  portion  of  the  day’s  receipts ;  it  appears,  therefore 
that  the  major  portion  of  an  ordinary  country  chemist’s 
business  is  still  open  to  the  competition  of  the  world,  our 
boasted  Pharmacy  Act  notwithstanding. 

Mr.  Carroll  truly  observes,  “  They  manage  things  better  in 
France,  where  the  pharmacien  holds  his  proper  position  as 
determined  by  law.”  There,  a  paternal  government  recog¬ 
nizing  the  fact  that  a  pharmacien  must  undergo  a  laborious 
and  expensive  course  of  training  before  being  qualified  for  his 
post,  a  circumstance  unconnected  with  any  other  trade,  en¬ 
deavours  to  protect  him  as  much  as  possible  from  undue  com¬ 
petition;  in  fact,  puts  the  hen-coop  over  the  chickens  to  pre¬ 
vent  the  fox  preying  on  them. 

The  remedy  for  this  grievance  is  very  simple,  and  would  be 
easily  applied,  viz.  make  it  penal  for  any  person,  not  being  a 
registered  chemist,  to  sell  any  medicine  intended  for  internal 
or  external  use,  a  law  at  present  in  force  in  every  country  in 
Europe  except  our  own. 

I  trust  some  of  your  many  able  correspondents  will  give 
this  subject  the  consideration  it  deserves. 

A  Country  M.  P.  S. 

Sheffield,  January  20th,  1871. 

P.S.  I  was  much  amused  to-day  by  seeing  in  a  grocer’s 
window  a  large  box,  the  label  printed  in  bold  black  type,  an¬ 
nouncing  the  contents  to  be  “Aunty  Billy’s  Pills.”  Had  the 
late  A.  Ward  been  a  member  of  this  pill-mongering  firm, 
surely  he  would  have  added  “  this  is  rote  sarcastical.” 


J.  North  (Reading). — The  Pharmaceutical  Society  cannot 
be  made  a  medium  for  the  transaction  of  bookselling  busi¬ 
ness. 

J.  Thomas. — We  are  much  obliged  to  our  correspondent 
for  the  enclosure. 

Gr.  C. — We  do  not  know  of  any  method  for  the  artificial 
production  of  the  oil. 

M.  P.  S.  Gr.  J3. — Cresylic  acid  is,  like  carbolic  acid,  a  con- 
stituent  of  the  coal-tar  from  gas-works;  and  we  believe  it 
may  be  obtained  from  any  maker  of  carbolic  acid. 

“ Inquirer”  (Barnstaple). — We  think  that  the  “Balm”' 
label  would  render  the  article  liable  to  duty;  the  other  label, 
which  simply  gives  the  dose  of  a  pharmaeopoeial  preparation, 
without  reference  to  the  treatment  of  any  disease,  would  not. 

TV.  A.  (Hammersmith). — We  think  that  No.  1  would  come 
under  the  decision  of  the  revenue  authorities,  that  the  words 
“  Cough  Lozenge  ”  do  not  involve  the  payment  of  duty ;  but 
that  the  introduction  of  the  other  lines  in  No.  2  and  No.  3, 
mentioning  the  diseases  for  which  the  article  is  recommended, 
and  the  dose,  would  render  it  liable.  You  had  better  com¬ 
municate  with  the  Revenue  authorities  at  Somerset  House. 

Carolus  and  Q.  are  referred  to  the  paper  by  Mr.  Gale,  in 
which  the  subject  is  fully  treated  of,  already  published  in  the- 
Pharm.  Journ.  2nd  ser.  Yol.  I.  p.  497. 

Chloral  Hydrate. — At  the  moment  of  going  to  press  wo 
have  received  a  letter  from  Messrs.  Schsetensack,  in  which  they 
complain  that  the  results  contained  in  Mr.  Mason’s  paper, 
and  relating  to  the  chloral  hydrate,  which  they  import, 
do  not  correctly  represent  its  quality.  They  also  state  that 
they  have  submitted  their  chloral  hydrate  to  analysis,  and 
that  they  purpose  communicating  the  results  to  the  Journal. 
We  shall  be  happy  to  do  anything  in  our  power  for  giving 
publicity  to  any  well-founded  reclamation,  but  the  letter  sent 
by  Messrs.  Schsetensack  for  publication  has  reached  us  too 
late  for  insertion. — Ed.  Pharm.  J ourn. 

Meal  Worms  and  Insects. — To.  J.  G.  O. — The  ravages  in 
your  packet  of  Embden  groats  have  been  made  by  the  Tene~ 
brio  molitor,  Linn.,  a  small  beetle,  whose  larva  is  known  as- 
the  meal-worm.  Westwood  says  it  frequents  bakehouses, 
corn-mills,  granaries,  ship-biscuit  stores,  and  similar  places, 
and  does  much  damage  by  devouring  meal,  bran,  flour,  and 
occasionally  cloth  and  wood. — J.  A. 


Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  Agnew,  Mr.  C.  R.  C.  Titchborne,  Mr.  G.  H.  Cockerell, 
Mr.  J.  North,  Mr.  S.  Kellam  (Galveston),  Mr.  J.  Robbins,  Mr. 
T.  Hopkinson,  Mr.  F.  Warnford,  Mr.  J.  S.  P.  Rowe,  Mr.  S. 
Hallam,  Mr.  J.  D.  Allman,  Mr.  T.  C.  Jones,  Mr.  G.  V.  Druce, 
Mr.  H.  J.  Church,  Mr.  R.  G.  Mumbray,  Mr.  G.  Morgan, 
Mr.  J.  B.  Bayley,  Mr.  J.  Wain,  N.  C.,  J.  T.  N.,  A.  P.  S., 
H.  W.  T.,  I.  S.  W.  T.,  S.,  “A  City  Pharmacist,”  “  Senega, 7 
“  Provincial,”  “  Sarum,”  George  Oldham. 


February  11, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


641 


THE  MICROSCOPE  AND  ITS 
REVELATIONS.* 

BY  W.  B.  CARPENTER,  M.D.,  F.R.S.,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S. 

The  modern  microscope  may,  I  think,  he  regarded 
under  three  aspects — as  an  instrument  of  scientific 
discovery,  as  an  educational  instrument,  and  as  an 
instrument  for  affording  an  almost  endless  amount 
of  rational  recreation.  I  do  not  intend  this  evening 
to  enlarge  upon  the  first  of  these  uses,  because,  as  I 
understand,  the  object  with  which  I  was  asked  to 
bring  the  subject  before  you  was  that  I  might  spe¬ 
cially  dilate  upon  the  educational  advantages,  and 
the  use  of  the  instrument  as  a  means  of  rational 
recreation.  I  hold  it  extremely  important  that  every 
young  man  should  learn,  not  only  how  to  work  but 
how  to  pla}r.  I  think  that  to  find  a  means  of  con¬ 
stant  and  attractive  recreation,  and  especially  one 
which  combines  the  double  character  of  quiet  work 
at  home  and  occupation  for  any  amount  of  time, 
and,  on  the  other  hand,  which  will  occasionally  give 
a  zest  and  interest  to  a  walk  abroad,  is  to  find  that 
which  is  one  of  the  very  best  appliances  that  any 
home  can  have.  I  have  found  it  so  myself  from  my 
own  boyhood,  for  I  may  say  that  the  modern  micro¬ 
scope  and  I  have  grown  up  together.  It  was  just 
about  as  I  was  entering  on  my  own  educational 
course  that  that  remarkable  improvement  was  effected 
which  I  shall  presently  describe  to  you  as  the  acliro- 
matization  of  the  microscope.  It  was  the  introduc¬ 
tion  of  the  achromatic  principle,  which  had  already 
been  applied  to  the  microscope,  which  converted  it 
from  a  mere  scientific  toy,  for  really  it  was  very  little 
better,  into  an  instrument  quite  on  a  par  with  the 
most  costly  and  elaborate  telescope,  as  a  means  of 
scientific  research.  As  I  have  said,  the  microscope 
and  I  have,  in  some  sense,  grown  up  together ;  and 
it  is  an  instrument,  from  my  own  experiences  of  its 
uses,  in  all  its  aspects  most  precious  in  my  eyes.  It 
is  known  to  most  of  you  that  I  have  made  certain 
branches  of  microscopic  research  the  main  study  of 
my  own  life,  and  I  have  also  felt  its  advantages  in 
the  education  of  my  own  children  so  highly,  that  I 
do  not  think  there  is  any  single  means  of  education 
that,  on  the  whole,  I  estimate  so  much.  It  gives 
that  special  training  which  none  of  our  ordinary 
studies  do  give,  that  is,  the  development  of  habits 
of  careful  and  accurate  observation,  and  in  addition 
to  that,  the  habit  of  reasoning  upon  observation. 
Those  two  directions  of  the  mind,  the  training  and 
discipline  of  the  observing  powers,  and  with  that 
the  teaming  and  discipline  of  the  power  of  reason¬ 
ing  upon  observation.  I  think  distinguish  scientific 
study,  rightly  pursued,  from  all  our  ordinary  means 
of  educational  discipline  ;  as,  for  instance,  the  study 
of  classics  or  mathematics,  which  latter  reasons  en¬ 
tirely  on  abstractions,  and  is  confined  to  reasoning 
of  a  particular  kind,  limited  in  a  narrow  groove,  as 
it  were.  Here,  however,  we  have  a  training  of  the 
faculties  of  discerning  the  probable,  the  improbable, 
the  certain  and  the  uncertain, — in  fact,  all  that  kind 
of  discipline  which,  in  the  ordinary  walks  of  life,  is  so 
extremely  valuable.  Thus,  as  I  have  said,  to  those 
young  people  who  have  been  trained  in  tins  habit, 
who  have  learnt  the  value  of  it,  and  who  desire  a 
rational  occupation  of  their  spare  time,  and  something 
which  shall  give  an  attraction  to  the  ordinary  work 
of  life,  nothing  can  be  superior  to  the  microscope. 

*  Delivered  at  the  Evening  Meeting  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  of  Great  Britain,  February  1,  1871. 

Third  Series,  No.  33. 


These  are  the  reasons,  therefore,  for  which  I  ad¬ 
vocate,  and  have  often  advocated,  the  use  of  the 
microscope,  especially  here,  where  I  know  there  are 
a  large  number  of  young  men  who  are  closely  con¬ 
fined  during  the  day  in  business  avocations,  and  who 
yet  have  more  or  less  time  to  spare  in  the  evening, 
one  great  advantage  of  microscopic  study  being,  that 
it  may  be  carried  on  as  well  by  lamplight  as  b}r 
daylight,  with  the  exception  of  certain  advantages 
which  daylight  has ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  lamp¬ 
light  has  its  advantages,  and  for  much  of  my  own 
study  I  prefer  it,  because  it  is  more  manageable,  and 
can  be  easily  adjusted  to  exactly  what  is  required. 

A  few  words,  in  the  first  place,  upon  the  micro¬ 
scope  itself.  I  shall  not  dwell  upon  its  general 
philosophical  principles,  presuming  that  you  are  ac¬ 
quainted  with  the  general  construction  of  the  ordi¬ 
nary  microscope.  All  that  I  shall  endeavour  to 
explain  to  you  is  the  great  improvements  to  which  I 
have  referred  under  the  term  acliromatization. 
Achromatic  means  destroying  colour.  It  does  not 
mean  that  the  microscope  does  not  show  the  colour 
of  the  objects  submitted  to  it,  but  that  it  does  not 
show  any  false  colours,  or  any  which  do  not  be¬ 
long  to  the  object.  The  old  microscope  was  con¬ 
structed  in  this  manner : — The  object-glass  screwed 
at  the  lower  ends  of  the  tube,  and  then  an  eye-piece 
at  the  upper  end,  that  eye-piece  consisting  of  two  or 
more  lenses.  Now,  the  object-glass  of  the  old  micro¬ 
scope  was  a  simple  lens,  an  ordinary  double  concave 
lens  ;  but  the  simple  lens  was  employed  as  an  ob¬ 
ject-glass,  and  a  compound  microscope  gives  ex¬ 
tremely  false  effects.  In  the  first  place,  the  spheri¬ 
cal  curvature  of  its'two  surfaces  does  not  bring  the 
rays  of  the  central  part  and  the  spherical,  or  out¬ 
side  part  of  the  lens  to  the  same  focus ;  and  there¬ 
fore,  if  the  lens  have  a  large  aperture,  you  have  a 
great  amount  of  what  is  called  spherical  aberration  ; 
that  is,  the  rays  that  come  through  the  central  part 
and  the  rays  that  come  through  the  spherical  por¬ 
tion  do  not  meet  in  the  same  focus.  Therefore,  if 
you  focus  it  for  one,  all  the  other  rays  produce  a  sort 
of  foggy  effect.  Then,  besides  that  spherical  aberra¬ 
tion,  every  such  lens  actsas  a  prism  in  dispersing  the 
colour,  producing  that  kind  of  effect  which  you  see 
with  any  ordinary  prism,  or  with  the  cut-glass 
prisms  on  a  chandelier,  which  are  so  cut  for  the  ex¬ 
press  purpose  of  producing  prismatic  refractions. 
Therefore,  every  object  seen  through  such  a  micro¬ 
scope  had  fringes  of  colour  produced  by  the  disper¬ 
sion  of  the  coloured  raj^s.  In  order  to  reduce  this  to 
the  minimum  amount,  it  was  necessaryffo  contract 
the  aperture,  and  accordingly  the  object-glass  of  the 
old  microscope  had  an  extremely  narrow  aperture  ; 
it  was  brought  down  to  merely  the  central  portion 
of  the  lens  ;  and  even  with  that,  although  the  spheri¬ 
cal  aberration  could  be  considerably  reduced,  yet 
there  was  always  achromatic  aberration,  and  the 
greater  in  proportion  to  the  power.  Tins  defect  had 
long  previously  been  corrected  in  telescopic  lenses. 
The  large  object-glass  of  telescopes  was  constructed 
by  the  union  of  hint  and  coarse  glass,  and  the 
corners  were  ground  in  such  a  manner  as  to  cor¬ 
rect  almost  entirely  both  the  spherical  aberration 
and  the  achromatic.  But  it  was  considered  quite 
chimerical  to  attempt  to  apply  the  same  principle  to 
lenses  so  small  as  the  object-glass  of  a  microscope. 
It  was  considered  that  the  manipulative  skill  of 
those  who  had  to  grind  these  glasses  was  never 
likely  to  succeed  in  producing  combinations  \v Inch 


642 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  11, 1871. 


should  answer  the  same  purpose  with  microscopes 
which  these  large  lenses  do  with  the  telescope,  the 
principle  of  construction  in  the  two  instruments  be¬ 
ing  the  reverse  of  each  other  in  this  respect.  The 
power  of  the  telescope  is  gained  by  a  long  tube  and 
an  object-glass  with  a  long  focus,  and  to  get  a  very 
powerful  telescope  you  require  a  very  large  lens,  the 
limit  there  being  the  size  of  the  flint  glass  that  can 
be  produced  of  sufficiently  good  quality.  I  believe 
at  the  present  time  object-glasses  for  telescopes  are 
being  made  twenty-five  inches  in  diameter,  and  that 
is  the  largest  yet  produced.  On  the  other  hand,  in 
the  microscope  the  power  is  gained  by  diminishing 
the  focal  length  of  the  lens,  and,  in  diminishing  the 
length,  the  lenses  themselves  must  be  made  upon  a 
more  minute  scale.  I  shall  not  go  through  the  suc¬ 
cessive  steps  of  the  process  by  which  these  powers 
were  obtained,  but  it  is  interesting  to  mark  that 
men  of  science  in  different  countries  were  at  work 
about  the  same  time,  in  conjunction  with  mechani¬ 
cians  of  skill  in  glass  grinding,  in  producing  achro¬ 
matic  lenses  for  the  microscope.  Dr.  Goring,  in 
London,  within  my  own  recollection,  set  Mr.  Tully, 
who  at  that  time  was  a  celebrated  maker  of  tele¬ 
scopic  lenses,  to  work  upon  what  would  now  be 
called  a  very  low  power  for  the  microscope ;  and  I 
remember  very  well  hearing  at  the  time  that  Mr. 
Tully,  after  long  and  numerous  trials,  succeeded  in 
producing  what  we  should  now  call  a  very  inferior 
lens ;  and  that,  upon  Dr.  Goring  asking  what  he  had 
to  pay  for  it,  Mr.  Tully  said  he  could  not  estimate 
his  time,  at  the  very  least,  at  less  than  £50.  Lenses 
far  superior  to  that  can  iioav  be  bought  for  about  15s. 
At  the  same  time  Professor  Secclii,  in  Italy,  and 
M.  Chevalier,  in  Paris,  were  at  work  on  the  subject, 
and  they  produced  achromatic  lenses  of  higher 
power  than  those  of  Mr.  Tully.  Not  long  after  that, 
a  most  estimable  man,  not  long  since  deceased,  Mr. 
Joseph  Jackson  Lister,  applied  very  considerable 
mathematical  powers  to  the  investigation  of  the  means 
of  combining  these  lenses.  It  was  soon  found  that 
the  telescope  plan  did  not  answer  at  all  for  the  mi¬ 
croscope  ;  that  is,  the  plan  of  having  the  flint  glass 
concave  between  two  convex  lenses  of  crown,  was 
not  effective  for  the  microscope,  but  a  much  better 
effect  was  produced  by  combining  two  or  three  pairs 
of  lenses, — a  flint  concave  and  a  crown  convex, — 
and  that  is  the  mode  of  construction  which  since 
that  time  has  been  adopted.  Dr.  Bentley  has  kindly 
lent  me  a  diagram,  showing  the  plan  of  construction 
adopted  in  object-glasses  at  the  present  time.  Here 
are  three  pairs,  concave  of  flint  and  convex  of 
crown.  The  different  curves  are  ground  with  very 
great  care  and  accuracy,  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
correct  both  the  spherical  and  the  achromatic  aberra¬ 
tion,  that  is,  to  bring  the  rays  of  the  central  and 
peripheral  parts  of  the  lens  to  The  same  focus,  and 
thus  correct  the  spherical  aberration  and  prevent 
any  foggy  appearance,  and,  at  the  same  time,  pre¬ 
vent  any  achromatic  aberration,  so  that  there  shall 
be  no  false  colours  in  any  part  of  the  object,  and 
especially  at  its  edges.  There  are  different  plans  of 
combination.  Some  makers  put  a  single  lens  in 
front,  and  a  combination  of  three  behind.  There  are 
different  combinations  for  different  powers,  and  dif¬ 
ferent  makers  have  their  different  methods,  but  they 
all  go  on  the  same  principle;  and  at  the  present 
time  the  most  extraordinary  accuracy  in  workman- 
slnp  has  succeeded  in  producing  lenses  of  a  degree  of 
minuteness  that  can  scarcely  be  conceived.  Messrs. 


Powell  and  Leyland  have  produced  a  combination 
lens  of  only  a  fiftieth  part  of  an  inch  focus.  I  sup¬ 
pose  the  largest  of  the  three  does  not  exceed  in  size 
an  ordinary  pin’s  head,  whilst  the  smallest  must  be 
scarcely  larger  than  a  pin’s  point,  certainly  not 
larger  than  a  pin  hole  in  a  piece  of  paper.  The 
practical  skill  which  our  mechanics  have  acquired 
has  enabled  them  gradually  to  cheapen  the  construc¬ 
tion,  and  this  is  a  matter  of  great  importance  to 
those  who  desire  to  use  the  instrument  as  one  of 
recreation  and  education.  I  may  take  some  little 
credit  to  myself  for  having  promoted  this  object,  for 
in  the  year  1851,  after  the  Great  Exhibition,  I  in¬ 
duced  the  Society  of  Arts  to  offer  a  prize  for  a  three- 
guinea  achromatic  microscope.  I  was  laughed  at  ex¬ 
cessive^  for  thinking  that  an  achromatic  microscope 
could  be  made  for  three  guineas,  all  the  London 
makers  saying  it  was  entirely  out  of  the  question. 
The  few  first-rate  makers  then  in  the  trade  would 
have  considered  it  lowering  their  reputation  to  con¬ 
descend  to  anything  of  the  kind.  There  were,  how¬ 
ever,  second-rate,  or  perhaps,  3rou  may  say,  third- 
rate  makers,  who  thought  it  worth  their  while  to  see 
what  could  be  done.  A  jury  was  appointed  by  the 
Society  of  Arts,  of  which  I  was  a  member,  and  we 
selected  a  microscope  made  by  Mr.  Field,  of  Bir¬ 
mingham,  a  well-known  Manufacturing  optician,  and 
he  informed  me  five  or  six  years  ago  that  over 
two  thousand  of  these  microscopes  had  been  sold; 
and  I  dare  say  since  that  time  more  than  double  the 
number  have  been  disposed  of.  That  was  the  be¬ 
ginning  of  an  improvement  which  has  gone  on  con¬ 
tinuously  since ;  and  makers  both  in  London  and  the 
country  are  continually  bringing  under  my  notice 
microscopes,  and  especially  achromatic  microscopes, 
of  cheaper  construction  and  offered  at  lower  prices. 
They  are  uoav  beginning  to  feel  AAdiat  I  have  been 
preaching  for  a  long  time,  that  the  best  lenses  for 
ordinary  use  are  not  those  Avliicli  serve  best  to  dis¬ 
play  Avliat  are  called  test  objects.  I  have  some¬ 
times  likened  the  difference  betAveen  these  instru¬ 
ments  to  that  between  an  ordinary  roadster  and  a 
racehorse.  You  do  not  use  a  thoroughbred  race¬ 
horse  for  ordinary  every-day  Avork,  and,  on  the  other 
hand,  a  roadster  has  qualities  AA’liicli,  though  they  do 
not  enable  him  to  run  races,  make  him  a  Arery  useful 
animal.  It  is  just  the  same  Avitli  regard  to  these 
different  qualities  of  lenses.  There  are  certain 
achromatic  combinations  Avliich  are  very  costly,  as 
they  require  a  marvellous  precision  and  finish,  and 
Avliich,  therefore,  it  is  impossible  to  make  cheap. 
On  the  other  hand,  there  are  some  combinations  of 
Avhat  is  called  a  much  lower  angle  of  aperture  which 
are  really  best  for  ordinary  use,  which  give  the  best 
vieAV  of  an  object,  and  Avliich  can  be  made  at  much 
less  expense  than  the  others.  Very  recently  there 
have  been  imported  into  this  country  from  Berlin  a 
series  of  achromatic  lenses  of  different  poAvers  at 
most  extraordinarily  Ioav  prices.  They  are  knoAyn 
as  Giinlacli’s  lenses ;  and,  having  examined  se¬ 
veral  of  them,  I  liaAre  been  really  astonished  at 
the  excellence  of  the  work  that  is  produced  in  com¬ 
parison  Avitli  the  price.  For  example,  a  lens  of 
about  one-tliird  of  an  inch  focus,  costing  18^.,  is 
quite  equal  to  a  lens  AAdiich  I  gave  one  of  our  best 
makers  four  guineas  for  a  feAv  years  since.  You 
may  iioav  have  a  microscope  for  £5  Avliich  I  should 
have  been  most  thankful  in  my  earlier  days  to  have 
given  £20  for, — I  mean  Avitli  regard  to  its  applica¬ 
bility  to  working  purposes. 


February  ll,  1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


643 


In  the  instrument  itself  there  have  been  various 
improvements.  One  of  those  I  have  now  before  me 
is  a  very  excellent  example  of  the  ordinary  pattern 
of  a  student’s  microscope, — one  which  is  capable  of 
having  various  appliances  added  to  it,  which  make 
it  a  very  useful  instrument.  There  are  two  plans  of 
construction  which  I  think  it  well  to  mention,  be¬ 
cause  I  very  much  hope  that  the  direction  that  mi¬ 
croscope-makers  will  take  is  that  exemplified  in  one 
of  these,  and  which  I  maintain  to  be  the  right  one, 
— most  instruments  up  to  the  present  time  being  con¬ 
structed  on  what  1  consider  a  wrong  principle, 
mechanically  and  practically.  In  this  microscope, 
which  is  constructed  on  what  is  called  the  Loss 
model, — it  having  been  produced  by  Mr.  l!oss,  I  be¬ 
lieve  the  grandfather  of  the  gentleman  lately  dead, — 
the  body  or  tube  of  the  microscope  is  fixed  at  the 
bottom  into  an  arm ;  then  there  is  a  transverse  arm 
that  is  supported  upon  a  rack  stem.  Now  I  appre¬ 
hend  a  very  great  object  in  all  microscopes  is  to  ob¬ 
tain  steadiness  in  the  object ;  that  is,  that  when  you 
look  through  the  microscope  the  object  shall  not 
seem  to  dance.  The  reason  of  this  dancing  is  that 
the  eye-piece  has  a  tremulous  motion  which  the 
object  itself  has  not.  If  the  whole  microscope  moves 
together,  and  the  motion  is  equal  in  every  part,  you 
have  no  apparent  motion  of  the  object.  For  instance, 
during  the  last  three  years,  during  each  summer  of 
which  I  have  been  using  the  microscope  on  board 
ship,  I  fixed  my  instrument  well  down  to  the  table, 
if  the  sliip  was  rolling  much,  holding  the  leg  of  the 
table  between  my  knees,  and  so  fixing  myself  se¬ 
curely  ;  and  during  the  whole  of  the  time  this  instru¬ 
ment  has  been  my  companion,  and  I  have  found  so 
extremely  little  tremulous  motion,  even  under  the 
most  trying  circumstances,  when  the  steamer  has 
been  going  at  full  speed  against  a  head  sea,  that  I 
hardly  perceived  any  of  that  objectionable  motion  in 
the  object,  the  microscope  and  my  eye  going  together. 
If  there  is  no  motion  of  any  one  part  upon  the  other, 
the  object  will  remain  stationary ;  but  if  the  eye¬ 
piece  moves  more  than  the  object  itself,  then  the  ob¬ 
ject  will  appear  to  dance.  Now  my  friend  and  col¬ 
league  Dr.  Wyville  Thomson  had  with  him  a 
microscope  constructed  on  the  Ross  model,  and  I 
found  that  I  could  work  with  my  instrument  under 
these  trying  circumstances  with  a  power  about  four 
times  that  which  he  could ;  that  is  to  say,  the  tre¬ 
mulousness  of  mine  with  a  quarter-inch  focus,  which 
is  a  high  magnifying  power,  was  not  greater  than  he 
found  with  a  lens  of  one  inch  focus.  This  was  the 
practical  proof  of  the  superiority  of  the  one  method 
of  construction  over  the  other,  and  I  think  all  who 
have  any  knowledge  of  mechanics  will  see  at  once 
the  superiority  of  this  model.  All  metal- work  has  a 
certain  elasticity  about  it,  especially  a  drawn  tube 
such  as  that  of  which  the  microscope  body  is  made  ; 
the  consequence  is,  that  when  the  centre  of  move¬ 
ment  is  at  the  bottom  of  the  tube,  from  which 
springs  the  rack  upon  which  is  placed  the  object- 
glass,  there  is  the  whole  length  of  the  tube  to 
vibrate  backwards  and  forwards.  On  the  other 
hand,  in  this  plan,  which  was  devised  by  the  late 
Mr.  Jackson,  of  Spitalfields,  the  body  is  supported 
on  a  solid  limb  about  the  middle  of  its  length,  and  a 
solid  limb  is  carried  down  which  supports  the  stage  ; 
and  the  body  being  thus  supported  about  the  middle, 
the  vibration  is  equally  distributed,  so  that  there  is 
practically  hardly  any  vibration  at  all.  My  convic¬ 
tion  is  very  strong,  that  if  it  had  not  been  that  early 


|  microscope  makers  had  got  up  their  patterns  on 
this  model  of  Mr.  Ross’s,  they  would  soon  have 
abandoned  it ;  but  we  know  that  when  manufactu¬ 
rers  once  get  a  stock  of  patterns  they  are  loth  to 
change  them,  and  I  am  afraid  I  shall  not  five  to  see 
this  improved  plan  brought  into  general  use.  Messrs. 
Smith  and  Beck,  however,  have  adopted  Mr.  Jaok- 
son’s  model,  and  some  of  the  makers  who  have  been 
educated  in  their  workshop  have  followed.  I  hope  I 
shall  not  be  considered  to  be  dealing  unfairly  by 
other  makers  if  I  mention  that  the  maker  of  this  in¬ 
strument,  Mr.  Crouch,  also  makes  a  student’s  micro¬ 
scope  on  the  same  plan,  about  the  same  size  as  this 
Ross  model,  which  I  consider  much  superior,  the 
body  being  supported  in  this  more  stable  manner. 
I  mention  this  with  the  more  confidence,  because  I 
know  his  instruments  are  now  coming  into  general 
credit.  My  friend  Professor  Michael  Foster,  of 
Cambridge,  lately  of  University  College,  who  is  now 
organizing  a  physiological  laboratory  there,  has  in¬ 
formed  me  that  lie  finds  Crouch’s  microscope  a  most 
satisfactory  instrument.  I  am  speaking  now  merely 
of  the  plan  of  construction,  which  I  consider  far 
superior,  and  I  hope  in  time  all  makers  will  adopt 
it. 

The  other  great  improvement  which  the  micro¬ 
scope  has  more  recently  sustained  is  the  introduction 
of  the  binocular  principle,  which  is  simply  the  adap¬ 
tation  of  the  principle  of  the  stereoscope.  I  shall 
not  go  into  the  history  of  the  manner  in  which  this 
was  worked  out,  though  it  is  very  curious  and  inter¬ 
esting,  and  I  have  been  a  party  to  it  from  the  very 
commencement,  having  in  my  possession  one  of  the 
first  to  which  it  was  successfully  applied.  We  all  in 
England  now  use  the  plan  devised  by  my  friend  Mr. 
Wenham,  and  for  those  who,  like  myself,  work  with 
lower  powers,  and  who  are  in  the  habit  of  looking 
much  more  at  opaque  solid  objects  than  flat  transpa¬ 
rent  ones,  the  binocular  is  a  comfort  I  can  scarcely 
describe.  The  difference  in  the  fatigue  which  it  pro¬ 
duces,  not  only  of  visual  but  of  mental  fatigue,  would 
surprise  you,  perhaps,  but  it  is  easily  accounted  for. 
When  one  has  to  estimate  the  form  of  a  solid  object 
with  an  ordinary  single-bodied  microscope,  it  is  ne¬ 
cessary  to  focus  it  up  and  down,  in  order  to  form  by 
that  means  an  idea  of  the  projection  of  one  part  and 
the  sinking  in  of  another.  The  binocular  gives  you 
that  unmistakable  representation  immediately  ;  you 
have  not  to  think  about  it  at  all, — you  cannot  help 
seeing  it,  any  more  than  I  can  help  seeing  that  this  in¬ 
strument  before  me  is  a  solid  form.  I  therefore  always 
strongly  recommend  a  binocular  microscope  to  those 
who  are  really  desirous  of  possessing  a  good  instru¬ 
ment  ;  and  the  cost  is  now  so  very  much  reduced, 
that  it  is  really  far  better  to  incur  it  at  the  begin¬ 
ning,  and  to  add  the  objectives  gradually,  if  your 
means  are  limited,  than  to  begin  with  an  ordinary 
single-tube  microscope  and  have  to  change  it  at  a 
subsequent  time.  The  value  of  the  binocular  is  now 
becoming  more  and  more  appreciated.  Several  of 
my  scientific  friends  who  use  the  instrument  merely 
as  a  means  of  research,  rather  laughed  at  me  for 
my  enthusiasm  about  it,  and  said  they  did  not  find 
any  particular  benefit  in  it,  but  one  after  the  other 
they  are  gradually  coming  to  the  same  view.  For 
instance,  last  night  Mr.  George  Busk  was  at  my 
house,  when  he  said  he  had  lately  had  an  opportu¬ 
nity  of  working  with  the  binocular,  and  had  come  to 
the  conclusion  that  he  could  not  do  without  it. 

Thus  much  must,  I  think,  suffice  with  regard  to 


C44 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[February  11,  1871 


the  instrument  itself.  I  would  advise  those  who 
may  be  thinking  of  beginning  microscopic  inquiry  to 
be  satisfied  with  lower  powers  in  the  first  instance. 
Learn  to  use  them  well  with  any  ordinary  objects 
you  may  pick  up,  as,  for  instance,  the  different  parts 
of  a  fly  or  a  plant  simply  laid  upon  a  black  or  white 
ground,  as  the  case  may  be,  light  coloured  objects 
being  best  seen  on  a  black  ground,  and  dark  objects 
on  a  light  ground.  Lay  these  objects  in  this  way 
on  a  black  or  white  ground  and  study  the  characters 
of  the  different  parts,  the  management  of  the  light 
and  the  mode  of  using  the  instrument,  before  you 
attempt  to  deal  with  higher  powers.  By  this  means 
you  will  save  yourself  a  great  deal  of  trouble  and 
be  going  through  a  very  valuable  education.  The 
lower  powers  are  now  made  specially  with  educa¬ 
tional  microscopes ;  in  fact,  it  was  a  special  point 
which  I  insisted  on  with  the  Society  of  Arts  micro¬ 
scope,  that  there  should  be  a  lower  power  of  this 
kind,  and  I  recommend  all  those  who  are  commencing 
the  study  to  begin  with  learning  the  use  of  them. 
You  will  find  it  wonderful  how  many  plain  ordinary 
objects,  that  come  under  your  cognizance  every  day, 
may  be  seen  in  quite  a  new  aspect,  even  by  the  use 
of  these  low  powers. 

We  will  now  begin  the  exposition  of  the  use  of  the 
microscope,  by  speaking  of  one  of  the  most  familiar 
of  all  objects, — a  piece  of  chalk.  I  thought  I  could 
not  do  better  than  introduce  this  to  you  in  its  na¬ 
tural  history  aspect,  because  it  is  one  you  are  all 
familiar  with  in  its  common  every-day  appearance. 
It  will,  perhaps,  interest  you  rather  more  when  I  con¬ 
nect  it  with  the  work  upon  which  I  am  myself  en¬ 
gaged.  For  example,  in  this  little  box  upon  the  table 
is  a  piece  of  what  we  may  call  modern  chalk,  which 
is  now  being  formed  on  the  bed  of  the  Atlantic.  This 
was  brought  up  a  year  and  a  half  ago  from  a  depth 
of  nearly  three  miles,  2435  fathoms.  We  brought  up 
about  14  cwt.  of  tliis  in  our  largest  deep  dredges ; 
and  I  venture  to  say  that  any  of  you  looking  at  this 
would  see  no  difference  at  all  between  it  and  an 
ordinary  piece  of  chalk,  except  that  it  is  a  little 
browner,  but  still  many  vaiieties  of  common  chalk 
are  quite  as  brown  as  this.  The  microscope  lias 
shown  that  chalk  is  coinmonly  composed  of  the  re¬ 
mains  of  minute  shells ;  sometimes  the  shells  are 
found  in  great  abundance,  perfect  as  we  find  in  this 
globigerina  mud,  as  we  call  it.  These  shells  are  so 
small  that  they  could  scarcely  be  seen  by  the  naked 
eye, — a  single  shell  on  a  black  ground  would  appear 
as  the  merest  white  point,  and  thousands  of  them 
would  be  required  to  weigh  a  grain;  yet  the  aggre¬ 
gation  of  these,  that  is  now  going  on  at  the  bottom 
of  the  Atlantic,  is  forming  an  immense  area  of  chalky 
deposit,  the  thickness  of  which  we  do  not  know. 
We  know,  however,  the  thickness  of  that  which  has 
been  raised  in  the  chalk  cliffs  of  Dover,  for  example, 
and  in  the  centre  of  Europe  generally,  which  is 
several  thousand  feet  in  many  instances ;  and  you 
may,  therefore,  conceive  what  a  vast  lapse  of  time 
must  have  been  required  for  the  accumulation  of 
such  a  deposit.  We  believe  that  the  Globigerina, 
now  living  on  the  bed  of  the  Atlantic,  are  the  lineal 
descendants  of  those  which  formed  the  chalk  in 
England  and  Europe  generally,  but  that,  when  that 
was  under  water,  it  is  very  probable  that  there  was 
dry  land  in  what  is  now  the  bed  of  the  Atlantic.  We 
know,  geologically,  that  there  is  every  probability 
that  oscillations  have  existed  in  past  times,  such  as 
we  know  to  be  going  on  at  the  present  very  slowly. 


Mr.  Darwin,  many  years  ago,  first  brought  himself 
the  high  reputation  which  now  attaches  to  liis  name, 
quite  irrespective  of  the  peculiar  theories  called 
Darwinism,  by  the  observations  that  he  made 
during  the  voyage  of  the  ‘  Beagle  ’  on  the  coral 
formations  of  the  Southern  seas,  when  he  showed 
that  there  are  great  areas  of  subsidence  over  which 
the  bottom  of  the  ocean  is  sinldng  very  gradually, 
and,  on  the  other  hand,  that  there  are  areas  of  eleva¬ 
tion,  where  very  recently  coral  ridges  have  been 
brought  up  above  the  surface  of  the  ocean,  forming 
cliffs.  The  great  mass  of  the  continent  of  Europe, 
having  the  form  of  chalk,  must  have  been  lifted 
up  in  that  manner ;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  there 
is  every  probability  that  at  the  same  time  the  bed 
of  the  Atlantic  was  going  down,  and  that  these  little 
Globigerina  gradually  migrated  from  one  part  to  an¬ 
other  ;  and  that,  therefore,  those  now  covering  the 
bed  of  the  Atlantic  are  the  lineal  descendants  of 
those  who  lived  in  Europe  during  the  chalk  period ; 
there  is  no  difference  whatever  between  them.  We 
found  from  particular  specimens  of  chalk,  for  it  is 
not  all  chalk  that  shows  the  perfect  shells,  just  the 
same  differences  that  you  will  find  in  different  speci¬ 
mens  of  old  chalk.  The  larger  part  of  both  consists 
of  granules  of  extreme  minuteness,  requiring  high 
powers  of  the  microscope  to  study  them  fully ;  they 
have  been  termed  coccoliths  and  coccosplieres.  My 
friend  Mr.  Huxley  first  discovered  the  coccoliths  in 
an  examination  of  the  soundings  taken  for  the  first 
Atlantic  cable ;  they  were  afterwards  recognized  by 
Mr.  Sorby  in  the  chalk,  and  they  were  also  found  by 
Dr.  Walllch ;  so  that  we  have  this  correspondence, 
not  merely  in  the  Globigerina,  but  also  in  these 
curious  little  bodies  which  seem  to  be  related  to  that 
very  widely-diffused  animal  substance  that  you  have 
heard  a  great  deal  about  lately  under  the  name  of 
protoplasm.  I  see  in  the  last  number  of  Vanity 
Fair,  which  contains  a  most  characteristic  likeness 
of  Professor  Huxley, — caricatured  certainly,  but  still 
showing  at  once  his  great  power  and  good  humour  in 
a  most  remarkable  manner, — a  statement  that  he  in¬ 
vented  protoplasm.  Of  course,  nothing  can  be  more 
ridiculous  than  such  a  statement,  for  protoplasm  had 
been  talked  of  for  twenty  years  before  Professor 
Huxley  mentioned  it,  and  he  himself  would  be  the 
first  to  disclaim  any  such  appropriation ;  but  it  is  a 
remarkable  fact  that  just  at  the  time  when  I  was 
out  on  the  first  of  my  deep-sea  expeditions,  Professor 
Huxley,  in  a  communication  to  the  British  Asso¬ 
ciation  at  Norwich,  referred  to  an  examination  he 
had  made  of  some  of  the  soundings  made  for  the 
Atlantic  cable,  in  which  he  found  that  these  cocco¬ 
liths  and  coccosplieres  were  diffused  through  a  layer 
of  protoplasm  that  does  not  belong  to  the  Globi¬ 
gerina,  and  this  I  have  been  myself  able  to  confirm, 
and  to  ascertain  that  this  mud  which  we  brought 
up  is,  so  to  speak,  a  living  mass.  The  wTiole  of  it  is 
alive ;  not  that  it  is  merely  a  collection  or  aggrega¬ 
tion  of  individuals  of  the  Globigerina,  but  that  the 
peculiar  tenacity  which  we  observed  in  this  mud. 
its  stickiness  and  the  difficulty  we  found  in  passing 
it  through  a  sieve,  all  corresponded  with  his  view, 
that  the  whole  of  the  mud  is  a  mass  of  protoplasm, 
through  which  the  Globigerina  are  distributed,  and 
to  which  these  minute  bodies  belong.  A  very  emi¬ 
nent  observer  in  France,  Dr.  Ecker,  has  lately  come 
to  a  conclusion  of  a  similar  kind,  by  liis  own  ex¬ 
amination  of  tliis  very  material,  that  this  is  a 
general  characteristic  of  the  chalk  both  of  eld  and 


February  ll,  1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


645 


recent  formation ;  they  correspond  precisely  in  all 
tlieir  particulars. 

With  regard  to  the  other  animals  that  are  found 
imbedded  in  it,  those  fossils  which  give  the  par¬ 
ticular  geological  character  to  the  epoch,  it  is  not  my 
intention  to  say  anything  more  than  merely  to  men¬ 
tion  that  whilst  a  great  number  of  these  have  un¬ 
doubtedly  become  extinct,  of  those  which  flourished 
during  the  cretaceous  period  when  the  great  chalk 
deposits  of  Europe  were  being  formed,  we  have 
found  a  considerable  number,  and  the  researches  of 
our  American  friends  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  are  add¬ 
ing  largely  to  the  number  of  forms  which  exist  in 
the  old  chalk  deposit,  so  that  we  believe  these  to  be 
the  descendants,  though  modified  in  the  lapse  of 
time,  of  those  which  flourished  during  that  period. 
There  is  some  discussion  at  present  going  on  as  to 
how  far  my  friend  Dr.  Wy  ville  Thomson  was  right  in 
his  assertion,  that  we  may  be  considered  as  still 
living  in  the  cretaceous  period.  He  enunciated  that 
doctrine  on  the  basis  I  have  mentioned  to  you,  that 
there  is  every  probability  that  this  great  chalk  forma¬ 
tion  going  on  in  the  bed  of  the  Atlantic  is  continuous 
with  that  which  formed  the  Dover  clifl's  and  the 
great  chalk  deposits  of  central  Europe,  and  that  a 
large  proportion  of  the  animals  that  are  now  found 
in  their  deposit  may  be  regarded  as  the  descendants 
of  those  which  flourished  during  the  cretaceous 
period.  But  as  Sir  Charles  Lyell  has  very  justly 
pointed  out  in  his  recent  book,  ‘  The  Students’ 
Manual  of  Geology,’  the  termination  of  what  we  are 
accustomed  to  call  the  geological  cretaceous  period 
was  marked  by  the  disappearance  of  so  many  types 
of  winch  the  fossil  remains  are  found  in  the 'old 
chalk,  that  geologically  it  must  be  considered  as  the 
conclusion  of  that  period.  This  is  really  very  much 
a  question  of  words  after  all,  like  the  question  which 
I  remember  some  twenty  years  ago  agitated  our  law 
courts,  arising  out  of  a  claim  to  very  valuable  pro¬ 
perty  which  had  been  purchased  with  a  view  to 
making  paraffine  oil,  and  the  question  was  whether 
a  certain  substance  was  or  was  not  coal.  Almost  all 
the  chemists  and  geologists  in  England  and  a  great 
many  mineralogists  were  carried  down  to  Edinburgh 
to  give  evidence  on  the  subject,  but  the  difficulty  was 
to  define  what  was  coal.  And  so  the  difficulty  here 
is  to  define  what  is  meant  by  a  geological  period. 
All  I  care  about  is  to  have  it  admitted  that  this  mo¬ 
dern  chalk  deposit  is  not  a  mere  repetition  of  the  old 
chalk,  but  is  a  continuation  of  it  on  a  different  area  ; 
many  of  the  animals  having  migrated  into  that  area, 
while  on  the  other  hand,  many  no  doubt  have  died 
out. 

Now  I  am  anxious  to  show  you  what  is  the  nature 
of  the  animalcules  of  which  tliis  Globigerina  is  an 
example,  because  among  the  many  efforts  of  modern 
microscopic  study  I  do  not  know  anything  more  re¬ 
markable  or  more  important  in  its  general  bearing 
on  physiological  doctrines  than  the  proper  apprecia¬ 
tion  of  the  nature  of  their — I  can  scarcely  call  it 
structure  or  organization,  for  it  is  a  remarkable  fact 
that  they  have  nothing  that  can  be  called  organiza¬ 
tion  or  structure.  In  some  way  they  make  these 
beautiful  shells,  but  the  soft  body  of  the  animal  that 
makes  them  is  apparently  destitute  entirely  of  any¬ 
thing  that  can  be  called  organization.  That  I  shall 
now’  explain  to  you.  On  the  wall  are  some  drawings 
of  these  creatures,  and  amongst  them  you  see  some 
remarkably  regular  forms.  Here  is  a  piece  of  num- 
mulitic  limestone,  of  which  the  pyramids  of  Egypt 


are  built,  and  you  notice  the  regular  manner  in  which 
the  nummulites  or  small  discs,  so  called  from  being 
in  appearance  like  small  pieces  of  money,  are  ar¬ 
ranged,  the  -whole  surface  being  divided  regularly 
into  chambers,  which  are  grouped  in  a  spiral  start¬ 
ing  from  a  centre.  We  find  several  forms  of  that 
kind  here,  in  the  Cristellaria,  the  shells  of  which  are 
formed  of  sand.  The  creatures  have  not  the  power 
of  exuding  a  shelly  substance  from  their  bodies,  but 
they  make  a  calcareous  shell  by  gluing  together 
grains  of  sand,  and  building  them  up  with  extreme 
regularity  in  their  spiral  forms.  They  are  very  much 
like  a  nautilus ;  and  I  remember  the  time  when  they 
were  universally  reputed  to  be  minute  nautili,  and 
were  always  so  arranged,  as  for  instance,  in  Cuvier’s 
‘  Animal  Kingdom,’  under  the  Cephalopods.  But  an 
eminent  French  naturalist,  "who,  if  my  impression 
is  correct,  was  a  pliarmacien,  residing  somewhere  on 
the  seacoast  of  Brittany,  M.  de  Jardin,  applied 
liimself  to  the  study  of  these  bodies,  and  after 
some  time  he  came  to  a  conclusion,  which  has  been 
since  confirmed  by  the  most  careful  and  prolonged 
scrutiny.  He  degraded  these  animals  at  once  from 
being  amongst  the  highest  of  the  invertebrate  sub- 
kingdom,  the  Cephalopods,  of  which  the  nautilus 
stands  at  the  top  (the  highest  organization  below 
fishes),  down  to  the  very  lowest,  and  he  was  perfectly 
right  in  so  doing.  He  found  that  the  body  of  these 
animals  consists  of  nothing  but  a  soft  jelly-like  sub¬ 
stance,  which  we  now  call  protoplasm.  He  called  it 
sarcode,  which  was  a  very  good  name,  meaning 
something  which  is  like  flesh  and  answers  the  pur¬ 
pose,  but  is  not  flesh — a  sort  of  rudimentary  flesh. 
The  word  protoplasm  wras  first  invented  by  the  bo¬ 
tanists,  and  we  now  know  that  the  sarcode  of  De 
Jardin  and  the  protoplasm  of  the  botanists  are  the 
same  thing  exactly.  Tliis  sarcode  itself  can  be  ob¬ 
tained  when  we  have  the  fresh  animals  by  just  dis¬ 
solving  the  shell  in  acid,  and  we  then  get  the  sarcode 
body;  here  are  representations  of  them  seen  both 
as  opaque  and  as  transparent  objects.  You  see  it 
has  nothing  like  a  structure  or  organization,  but  con¬ 
sists  of  separate  little  balls,  so  to  speak,  or  segments 
progressively  increasing.  The  original  animal  was 
the  smallest  of  these  segments,  and  it  formed  one 
chamber  or  shell ;  then  by  a  gradually  growing-up 
process  which  I  shall  describe,  it  has  formed  another 
segment,  which  in  its  turn  formed  a  shell  around  it ; 
then  another  larger  segment,  and  so  on.  We  find  gene¬ 
rally,  from  eight  to  twelve  or  more  of  these  segments 
in  one  Globigerina.  Then  any  further  increase  will 
take  place  in  such  a  manner  that  the  bud  will  sepa¬ 
rate  and  give  rise  to  a  new  and  distinct  individual. 
That,  however,  is  not  necessarily  so,  for  I  shall  pre¬ 
sently  show  you  that  in  a  remarkable  fossil  which 
has  been  discovered  within  the  last  few  years  in 
Canada,  the  Eozoon  Canadense,  which  is  the  earliest 
of  which  we  have  any  knowledge,  the  extension 
takes  place  continuously  by  what  is  called  continuous 
germination,  the  difference  being  just  that  between 
a  plant  and  a  tree.  A  plant  has  a  limited  growth. 
It  does  not  increase  by  budding  beyond  a  certain 
extent,  and  an  annual  plant  dies  at  the  end  of  the 
year,  and  there  is  an  end  of  it,  as  an  individual, 
though  its  seed  may  spring  up  again.  On  the  other 
hand,  a  tree  goes  on  putting  out  fresh  buds  every 
year;  old  parts  gradually  die  away,  but  new  and 
fresh  parts  come  into  existence  by  this  extension 
from  the  original  primordial  stock.  In  the  same  way 
it  is  (piite  conceivable,  as  you  will  at  once  see,  that 


646 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  n,  1371. 


the  bottom  of  the  ocean  might  be  covered  with  one 
continuous  mass  of  shell-deposit,  produced  by  this 
protoplasm  or  sarcode,  which  is  covering  it  at  the 
present  time ;  whilst  on  the  other  hand,  this  little 
Globigerina ,  instead  of  producing  one  continuous  ex¬ 
tension,  produces  an  enormous  aggregate  of  what  we 
are  accustomed  to  call  separate  individuals  ;  simply 
because  when  a  certain  number  is  reached,  the  next 
bud  is  detached  and  begins  a  new  shell,  instead  of 
going  on  in  connection  with  the  old  one. 

Our  best  knowledge  of  the  nature  of  these  animals 
is  derived  from  the  study  of  some  of  the  fresli-water 
forms,  which  are  within  the  reach  of  every  one. 
The  Hampstead  ponds  are  full  of  them.  They  were 
formerly  called  Protei,  from  the  extraordinary  va¬ 
riety  of  shapes  which  they  present  while  being 
observed,  but  they  are  now  called  Amoeba.  And 
we  need  not  even  go  up  to  the  Hampstead  ponds 
for  a  specimen,  for  there  is  a  very  interesting  paper 
in  the  last  number  of  the  Quarterly  Microscopic 
Journal,  by  an  Italian  priest  residing  in  London, 
who,  following  up  some  observations  made  in  Ger¬ 
many,  has  found  that  these  Amoeba  are  almost 
universally  present,  not  only  amongst  the  stems  of 
aquatic  plants,  etc.,  but  that  even  on  pulling  out  a 
bit  of  moss  from  a  damp  wall  and  shaking  it  in 
water,  some  of  these  Amoeba  are  detached.  It  is  a 
new  and  rather  peculiar  type,  varying  a  little  from 
the  ordinary  forms,  but  affording  a  most  ready  means 
of  study  within  the  reach  of  every  one.  Sometimes 
even  you  may  find  a  bit  of  moss  between  the  paving- 
stones  in  a  back  street  which  will  afford  you  speci¬ 
mens  for  examination. 

This  Amoeba  I  hold  to  be  one  of  the  most  inter¬ 
esting  of  all  microscopic  objects,  because  it  presents 
us  with  the  phenomena  of  life  in  the  most  elementary 
form  possible.  It  is  a  little  bit  of  animated  jelly, 
changing  its  form  continually,  and  having  nothing 
that  can  be  considered  an  organization  save  this,  that 
the  outside  of  it  is  a  little  more  dense  than  the  inside. 
There  is  no  skin,  no  definite  membrane,  but  the  ex¬ 
terior  surface  is  like  stiff  jelly,  while  the  interior  is 
more  like  thin  jelly;  in  fact,  it  is  almost  liquid. 
One  of  the  most  curious  phenomena  connected  with 
it  is  the  continual  movement  of  particles  in  the  in¬ 
terior.  If  you  have  some  of  these  under  the  field  of 
the  microscope,  you  observe  a  continual  agitation  of 
the  particles  in  the  interior ;  this  agitation  will  then 
appear  to  proceed  in  a  certain  direction,  and  will 
elongate  itself  into  a  sort  of  finger-like  process,  into 
which  the  body  will  appear  to  be  drawn  :  then,  per¬ 
haps,  another  will  shoot  out  in  another  part,  and 
gradually  the  body  will  follow  and  be  drawn  into 
that  and  so  on ;  and  in  this  manner  it  will  gradually 
travel  over  the  field  of  the  microscope.  It  is  by 
means  of  this  movement  that  the  creature  gets  its 
food.  It  comes  in  contact  with  some  particle  that 
may  serve  as  nourishment  to  it ;  this  particle  pene¬ 
trates  the  substance  of  the  body  through  any  part  of 
the  exterior,  and  this  proves  distinctly  that  there  is 
no  membrane.  A  mouth  extemporizes  itself  any¬ 
where,  the  particle  is  taken  in,  and  when  inside  it 
becomes  subject  to  this  continual  current  that  is 
moving  about  it.  It  thus  undergoes  a  land  of  diges¬ 
tion,  and  if  there  is  any  hard  part  left  in  tins  particle, 
after  a  time  it  works  its  way  out  through  the  surface 
again  and  is  left  behind.  The  body  moves  away 
from  it  and  it  gets  out  through  the  last  edge  of  the 
surface-film  and  is  thus  extruded,  so  that  an  anus  is 
extemporized  as  well  as  a  mouth.  In  this  manner 


this  creature  is  continually  travelling  here  and  there, 
taking  in  articles  which  it  has  the  power  of  appro¬ 
priating,  and  thus,  without  anything  that  can  be 
called  organs,  it  performs  all  the  functions  of  life. 
It  takes  in  food  without  a  mouth,  it  digests  it  with¬ 
out  anything  which  can  be  called  a  stomach,  and  it 
gets  rid  of  inappropriate  matter  without  anything 
which  can  be  called  intestines  or  an  anus.  It  moves 
without  muscles  or  a  nervous  system,  and  it  propa¬ 
gates  itself  by  subdivision.  Indeed,  there  is  some 
reason  to  think  that  it  goes  through  a  very  curious 
process  of  conjugation :  two  little  bodies  meeting 
together,  become  fused  into  a  mass  which  is  the 
commencement  of  a  new  set  of  generations.  Upon 
that  point,  however,  further  observations  are  veiy 
much  wanted — and  observation  extends  over  several 
months — to  see  whether  a  winter  change  takes  place 
in  them  as  it  does  in  many  animalcules,  a  prepara¬ 
tion  for  a  sort  of  torpid  condition,  which  shall  give 
place  to  renewed  activity  in  the  spring.  This  is  a 
point  on  which  any  one  with  sufficient  perseverance, 
who  will  devote  liimself  to  this  branch  of  the  inquiry, 
may  really  do  very  good  scientific  work,  and  at  the 
same  time  he  cannot  fail  to  interest  liimself  exceed¬ 
ingly. 

This  is  the  simplest  and  most  elementary  form  of 
life ;  and  I  shall  surprise  you,  perhaps,  when  I  tell 
you  that  there  are  certain  corpuscles  floating  about 
in  the  blood-vessels,  the  white  or  colourless  cor¬ 
puscles,  which  extremely  resemble  these  Amoeba. 
If  you  draw  a  drop  of  blood  and  put  it  under  a  suffi¬ 
ciently  high  power  of  the  microscope,  and  by  a  little 
application  of  heat  keep  it  at  about  the  temperature 
of  the  body,  covering  it  with  glass  so  as  to  prevent 
evaporation  (not,  however,  pressing  too  much  upon 
it),  you  will  find  in  the  midst  of  the  red  corpuscles, 
— which  you  know  are  disposed  to  run  together  in 
piles,  like  pieces  of  money, — in  the  clear  spaces  left 
between,  you  will  find  what  are  known  as  the  white 
or  colourless  corpuscles  of  the  blood,  and  if  you  ob¬ 
serve  them  attentive^  you  will  see  the  same  kind  of 
movement  in  the  interior,  and  the  same  changes  of 
form  as  are  noticed  in  Amoeba.  They  put  out 
finger-like  processes  in  one  direction  and  then  in 
another,  though  they  do  not  move  so  much  over  the 
field  of  the  microscope  as  the  Amoeba.  They  are, 
however,  essentially  organisms  of  the  same  character. 
Wliat  their  purpose  is  I  do  not  purpose  now  to  dis¬ 
cuss,  but  merely  mention  the  fact. 

In  the  Hampstead  ponds  and  many  other  collec¬ 
tions  of  water  you  will  find  some  other  forms  wliich 
are  known  as  “  sun  animalcules.”  These  are  much 
more  stationary,  and  get  their  food  in  a  different 
way  to  the  Amoeba.  They  send  out  long,  straight 
extensions,  and  we  do  not  find  the  interior  soft  liquid 
passing  into  digitations,  but  they  send  out  these 
rays,  wliich  frequently  are  glutinous  on  the  surface, 
and  they  entangle  minute  animalcules  which  come 
in  their  way,  just  as  an  insect  is  entangled  in  a 
spider’s  web.  The  other  rays  bend  towards  the  one 
which  has  got  hold  of  anything  and  coalesce  with 
it;  there  is  a  kind  of  attraction  amongst  them,  and 
some  of  the  body,  perhaps,  will  extend  itself  towards 
it,  in  the  manner  represented  in  this  diagram.  A 
film  is  sent  out  wliich  completely  invests  the  ani¬ 
malcule,  and  in  this  way  it  is  gradually  drawn  into 
the  body,  where  it  is  subjected  to  the  digestive  pro¬ 
cess.  This  is  a  very  beautiful  and  curious  animal- 
cule,  if  you  have  an  opportunity  of  observing  it  witn 
a  sufficiently  high  power.  It  does  not  move  from 


.February  ll,  1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


647 


jplace  to  place,  but  remains  perfectly  stationary  under 
the  microscope  ;  but  you  will  see  the  constant  action 
■  of  these  long  processes,  and  the  continual  circulation 
of  little  granules  inside,  which  seem  to  move  along 
one  side  and  then  back  along  the  other.  Sometimes 
.two  processes  meet,  and  the  granules  pass  along  the 
one  and  back  along  the  other. 

Both  these  are  freshwater  forms,  which  there  is  no 
difficulty  in  procuring,  if  you  persevere  in  your 
search ;  but  I  will  now  proceed  briefly  to  indicate 
some  of  the  marine  forms  and  show  you  wherein  the 
difference  consists.  The  marine  forms,  such  as  that 
which  forms  the  GlobU/erina- shell,  live  by  putting 
out  threads  of  extreme  delicacy  through  minute  aper¬ 
tures  in  their  shells.  This  Ghbujerina- shell  is 
studded  all  over  with  extremely  minute  apertures, 
about  the  sdoo  or  e  o\»o  part  of  an  inch  in  diameter ; 
in  some  of  the  Nummiilites  the  diameter  is  less  than 
inch,  yet  through  these  there  pass  out  these 
exceedingly  delicate  threads,  which  extend  them¬ 
selves  around  the  shell.  I  have  lately  succeeded  in 
getting  some  of  these  types  with  the  threads  ex¬ 
tended,  and  I  have  been  able  to  mount  them  as  pre¬ 
parations,  and  very  beautiful  objects  they  make. 
These  threads  form  a  sort  of  animated  spider’s  web  ; 
they  cannot  take  in  anything  large,  as  you  see,  by 
the  fact  that  they  come  out  of  these  minute  aper¬ 
tures,  but  they  extend,  and  then  they  coalesce  with 
•one  another  sometimes,  which  shows  that  there  is  no 
membrane  upon  them ;  they  are  simply  nervous 
threads,  like  those  spun  from  a  spider’s  web.  They 
coalesce  occasionally  into  a  mass,  which  forms  a 
fresh  centre  of  departure,  and  in  this  way  particles 
of  extreme  minuteness  are  continually  being  en- 
irapped.  But  what  is  more,  and  I  believe  that  is  the 
usual  mode  of  nourishment,  it  presents  a  very  large 
and  extended  surface  of  sarcode,  which  is,  I  believe, 
always  absorbing  from  the  sea- water  the  protoplasm 
which  is  diffused  through  it,  in  a  very  dilute  condi¬ 
tion.  For  our  researches,  of  which  I  gave  an  account 
to  the  Royal  Society  last  year  (and  chemical  re¬ 
search  has  also  tended  to  prove  the  same  tiling),  in¬ 
dicate  that  the  whole  mass  of  sea-water  is  to  be  con¬ 
sidered  as  a  sort  of  very  weak  broth ;  that  is  to  say, 
in  every  gallon  of  sea-water  there  is  so  much  proto¬ 
plasm  diffused,  and  that  protoplasm  is  the  result 
of  the  surface  life  of  animals  and  plants.  For  in¬ 
stance,  take  the  great  Sargassa  Sea,  which  lies  in 
the  inner  circle  of  the  Gulf  Stream,  the  circle  around 
which  the  Gulf  Stream  curves  :  in  that  sea  there  is 
an  immense  amount  of  floating  seaweed,  which  is 
always  giving  oft'  to  the  water  this  sort  of  gelatinous 
exudation;  and  whereas  it  was  formerly  supposed 
that  the  organic  matter,  which  my  friend  Dr. 
Franklaiul  found  in  the  water  around  our  own 
•coasts,  was  merely  the  result  of  the  washing  down 
ol  the  organic  matter  in  rivers,  and  from  the  shore- 
life  of  shells,  crabs,  and  so  on, — we  find  that  water 
brought  up  from  the  greatest  depths  in  mid-ocean 
contains  just  the  same  proportion  of  organic  matter 
as  the  surface  water  near  to  our  own  shores.  There 
is  evidence,  therefore,  of  the  universal  diffusion  of 
elementary  organic  matter,  so  to  speak,  throughout 
the  ocean.  At  the  bottom  of  the  ocean  no  vegeta¬ 
tion  can  exist,  because  there  is  no  light,  none,  at 
least,  that  can  produce  vegetation,  and  we  find  no 
evidence  of  vegetative  action ;  and  you  all  know,  I 
presume,  that  these  organic  compounds  all  begin  in 
the  first  instance  with  vegetative  life  ;  and,  therefore, 
cur  belief  is  that  it  is  the  vegetative  and  animated 


life  on  the  surface  which  is  constantly  giving  off  to 
the  sea  this  protoplasmic  substance  that  is  thus 
diffused  through  it,  and  becomes  the  food  of  the 
immense  mass  of  life  at  the  bottom,  which  again 
supports  animals  of  much  higher  organization. 
For  instance,  at  these  great  depths  we  found  star¬ 
fish  of  very  high  forms,  which  had  their  stomachs 
filled  with  Globicj crime.  Given  Globigeruus,  anything 
else  can  live;  but  how  do  the  Globigerince  live?  Our 
theory  is,  that  they  and  all  other  animals  of  that 
kind  living  at  great  depths  are  supported  by  this 
wonderful  protoplasmic  substance  present  in  the 
water  in  contact  with  it,  which  it  is  constantly  ab  ¬ 
sorbing  and  turning  into  sarcode. 

I  may  here  just  refer  to  the  diagrams  on  the  wall, 
which  represent  some  of  the  more  remarkable  forms 
we  have  met  with,  composed  of  sand  grains  glued 
together  and  arranged  in  many  cases,  as  you  see, 
with  the  most  extraordinary  regularity  and  finish. 
One,  you  see,  is  in  a  tri-radiate  form,  the  rays  being 
always  straight ;  but  sometimes  there  are  four,  and 
sometimes  one  is  aborted.  These  are  formed  of  sand 
cemented  together  with  phosphate  of  iron.  I  have 
dissolved  several  of  them  in  a  rather  strong  solution 
of  nitric  acid  to  separate  the  sand  grains ;  and  my 
friend  Professor  Williamson  has  been  kind  enough 
to  determine  that  the  solution  contains  phosphoric 
acid  and  iron.  One  of  these  affords  a  very  interest¬ 
ing  illustration  of  a  fossil  type,  which  I  worked  at 
two  or  three  years  ago  in  conjunction  with  Mr. 
Brady,  of  Newcastle,  with  reference  to  which  we 
contributed  a  paper  to  the  ‘  Philosophical  Transac¬ 
tions.’  It  is  one  of  the  large  fossil  foraminifera,  the 
larger  forms  of  which,  approaching  the  size  of  a 
small  cricket  ball,  are  found  not  only  in  the  green¬ 
sand  near  Cambridge,  but  also  in  the  Isle  of  Wight. 
My  friend  Mr.  Brady  had  in  his  possession  some 
remarkable  fossils  of  the  same  kind,  although  grow¬ 
ing  on  a  different  plan,  wliicli  were  brought  by  the 
late  Mr.  Loftus  from  the  neighbourhood  of  Persia  ; 
they  are  now  deposited  in  the  Museum  at  Newcastle. 
These,  though  framed  on  a  different  geometrical 
plan — one  being  built  up  of  concentric  spheres,  while 
the  other  is  a  spiral  winding  round  a  long  axis — are 
essentially  the  same  in  their  structure,  and  are  built 
up  of  sand  grains,  as  represented  in  the  diagram. 
Mr.  Brady’s  Loftusia  would  be  just  the  same  if,  in¬ 
stead  of  being  a  flat  spire,  it  was  elongated.  Some 
of  the  specimens  I  have  myself  examined  have  been 
two  and  a  half  inches  long,  and  there  is  one  in  the 
British  Museum  nearly  three  inches.  This  will  give 
you  some  idea  of  the  enormous  size  these  creatures 
attained  in  former  periods. 

Now,  in  conclusion,  I  will  briefly  direct  your  at¬ 
tention  to  an  example  of  foraminiferal  structure, 
which  is  probably  the  most  interesting  of  any  yet 
revealed  to  us,  viz.  the  very  wonderful  Eozouti  Cana- 
dense,  of  which  I  have  a  very  beautiful  specimen  in 
my  hand.  This  is  found  in  what  are  called  the 
Laurentian  rocks,  in  Canada.  The  Laurentian  for¬ 
mation  is  the  earliest  kind  of  stratified  rocks  at  pre¬ 
sent  known.  I  say  at  present,  because  Sir  William 
Logan,  by  whom  it  has  been  examined  and  de¬ 
scribed,  says  it  contains  pebbles  of  older  rocks,  and 
that  he  does  not  at  all  despair  of  discovering  some 
older  state  of  stratified  rocks.  At  present,  however, 
it  is  the  oldest  known,  just  as  the  Silurian  strata  of 
Sir  Roderick  Murchison  were  twenty  or  twenty-five 
years  ago.  Of  the  relative  position  of  these  Lauren¬ 
tian  rocks  you  may  judge  when  I  tell  you  that  they 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  11, 1871\ 


G4S 


are  about  as  far  belcnv  the  Silurian  in  geological 
order,  and  certainly  in  the  time  that  must  have 
elapsed  between  their  formation,  as  the  Silurian 
rocks  are  below  the  present  time.  The  oldest  pre¬ 
viously  known  would  come  about  the  middle  of  the 
series.  And  when  we  consider  that  the  older  strata 
below  are  much  harder,  and  must  have  taken  a 
much  longer  time  to  form,  the  probability  is  that 
the  lapse  of  time  between  the  two  must  have  been 
many  times  as  great.  The  structure  of  this  forma¬ 
tion  is  that  which  is  known  as  serpentine  limestone. 
Serpentine  is  a  silicate  of  magnesia,  and  limestone 
is  carbonate  of  lime.  Serpentine  marble  is  com¬ 
posed  of  a  series  of  alternate  laminae  of  carbonate  of 
lime  and  green  serpentine.  The  existence  of  this 
regular  structure  and  this  alternation  of  carbonate  of 
lime  and  of  serpentine  impressed  upon  Sir  William 
Logan  the  belief  that  it  had  an  organic  origin ;  but 
for  a  long  time  no  specimens  were  found  that  yielded 
any  evidence  of  this  origin.  About  six  or  seven 
years  ago,  however,  specimens  were  found  which 
were  examined  by  my  Mend  Dr.  Dawson,  Principal 
of  M‘Gill  College,  Montreal,  a  most  excellent  micro  - 
scopist  and  palaeontologist.  He  had  a  knowledge  of 
my  own  researches  in  foraminifera,  and  was  well 
acquainted  with  the  treatise  which  I  published  on 
this  subject  some  years  ago,  and  I  had  chanced  to 
send  him  a  year  or  two  previously  some  of  my  own 
sections  and  microscopic  objects,  which  happened  to 
be  just  what  was  required  to  give  him  the  clue  to 
the  interpretation  of  these  stratifications.  In  mak¬ 
ing  sections  of  this  stratum,  he  found  distinct  evi¬ 
dence  in  the  calcareous  layers  of  shelly  structure. 
Here  is  a  diagram,  showing  what  the  structure 
would  be  if  it  were  possible  to  dissolve  out  the  ser¬ 
pentine,  and  leave  only  the  calcareous  layers.  It 
has  just  the  appearance  of  nummulites,  with  curious 
extensions  into  the  solid  layers  between  them,  and 
these  extensions  are  filled  with  prolongations  of 
internal  serpentine.  In  another  diagram  you  see 
the  ramifications  of  the  serpentine  which  occupies 
these  extensions.  This  is  an  ideal  drawing,  be¬ 
cause  we  cannot  dissolve  away  the  serpentine  and 
leave  the  carbonate  of  lime,  but  we  can  dissolve 
the  carbonate  of  lime  very  easily  and  leave  the 
serpentine.  We  thus  get  an  internal  cast  or 
mould,  showing  the  or'ginal  form  of  the  body  which 
filled  it. 

The  key  to  all  this  is  furnished  by  the  discovery 
which  was  made  some  years  ago  by  Professor 
Ehrenberg,  that  the  greensands  of  various  geolo¬ 
gical  periods  are  distinctly  composed,  in  great  part, 
of  the  internal  casts  of  foraminifera.  There,  for 
instance,  is  the  bod}r  of  a  Globigerina.  Supposing 
that  body,  when  dead  and  decaying,  becomes  entirely 
replaced  by  a  green  silicate ;  then  dissolve  away 
the  Globigerina,  and  you  will  get  a  little  mass 
exactly  resembling  the  Globigerina  in  green  silicate. 
That  is  exactly  lvhat  is  found  in  the  green  sand¬ 
stone,  and  that  process  is  going  on  at  the  present 
time.  The  examination  of  dredgings  in  different 
parts  has  shown  that  this  process  is  going  on  at  the 
bottom  of  the  sea  at  the  present  time.  Only  a  few 
months  ago  my  friend  Captain  Spratt,  who  executed 
some  years  ago  important  dredgings  in  the  Aegean 
Sea,  placed  in  my  hand  some  foraminiferous  sand, 
and  certainly  the  indications  I  saw  in  it  led  me  to 
suspect  that  this  change  had  taken  place  in  many 
foraminifera.  I  put  them  into  very  dilute  acid,  and 
got  a  most  perfect  and  beautiful  series  of  internal 


casts,  exactly  corresponding  with  various  forms 
which  have  already  been  found  in  the  greensand. 
That  gives  the  clue  to  the  interpretation  of  this  forma¬ 
tion.  We  have  a  calcareous  shell  in  the  living  state, 
with  all  the  cavities  filled  with  sarcode,  and  one 
chamber  budding  off  from  another  continuously,  not 
like  the  Globigerina,  having  a  certain  regular  plan 
and  then  ceasing,  but  growing  by  continuous  exten¬ 
sion  as  corals  do  in  making  a  coral  reef.  This 
chamber  is  filled  with  serpentine,  which  extends  also 
into  the  minute  peculiar  cells  which  form  what  I 
call  the  nummuline  layer.  When  we  dissolve  away 
the  carbonate  of  lime,  wre  leave  here  a  set  of  little 
needles  of  serpentine,  standing  up  side  by  side,  or 
sometimes  passing  off  into  a  brusli-like  form;  and 
sometimes  a  smooth  layer  is  formed  by  the  smooth 
ends  of  the  little  fasciculi  of  silicate,  just  like  the 
pile  of  velvet.  But  in  particular  parts  we  find  that 
a  number  of  these  tubes  run  together  and  form 
pencil-like  brushes  that  exactly  correspond  with 
what  have  been  found  in  recent  shells  of  the  same- 
kind.  There  is,  in  fact,  no  point  in  the  structure 
of  this  Eozodn,  which  is  so  called,  as  indicating  the 
dawn  of  life,  which  does  not  find  its  parallel  in 
recent  foraminifera.  Having  examined  into  the 
matter,  I  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  Dr. 
Dawson  was  perfectly  right  in  the  view  he  had 
taken  of  the  subject,  and  I  was  able,  by  having 
thinner  and  more  perfect  sections  than  he  had,  soon 
to  determine  the  question  of  this  nummuline  layer,, 
which  completed  the  proof  which  was  already  all 
but  perfect  in  my  estimation.  Still  there  are  certain 
gentlemen  who,  from  time  to  time,  renew  the  discus¬ 
sion  upon  the  matter  when  I  am  not  present  to' 
reply  to  them,  as  was  lately  done  at  the  Liverpool 
meeting  of  the  British  Association.  Yet  I  venture 
to  say  that  all  the  most  eminent  scientific  autho¬ 
rities  are  fully  satisfied  with  the  view  that  was  origi¬ 
nally  put  forward  by  Dr.  Dawson,  and  supported  by 
myself,  also  by  Mr.  Parker,  Mr.  Hymer  Jones,  Mr. 
Brady,  and  all  those  who  have  most  carefully  ex¬ 
amined  it,  and  who  are  considered  authorities  on 
foraminiferous  structure,  and  these  views  I  have  no- 
question  whatever  will  ultimately  prevail.  I  may 
say,  also,  that  those  gentlemen  who  are  the  best 
authorities  on  the  microscop' c  structure  of  minerals 
are  entirely  at  one  with  us.  Mr.  Sorby,  of  Sheffield, 
who  is  by  far  the  highest  authority  upon  certain 
points  of  mineral  structure,  Mr.  David  Forbes,  who 
is  a  great  authority  on  the  microscopic  structure  of 
minerals,  and  Mr.  Maskelyne, — all  say  that  this  can¬ 
not  be  a  mineral;  that  there  is  nothing  that  can 
account  for  the  peculiar  character  that  this  structure 
shows  that  we  know  anything  of  in  mineralogy,  and 
there  are  certain  facts  which  are  quite  inconsistent. 
I  may  just  mention  one  of  them,  because  I  find  it 
most  satisfactory  to  any  one  who  knows  anything  at 
all  about  the  structure  of  minerals.  It  is  this,  that 
the  Eozoon-rock  shows,  as  many  of  them  do,  recent 
and  fossil,  distinct  planes  of  crystalline  cleavage. 
This  has  been  long  known.  The  spines  of  the 
Cidaris  have  a  distinct  crystalline  axis ;  in  fact,  there 
is  sometimes  great  difficulty  in  sawing  them  across, 
because  the  least  turn  of  the  saw  will  cause  it  to 
splinter  off  by  crystalline  cleavage.  It  has  never 
happened  to  myself,  but  I  am  informed  that  many  of 
the  bags  of  gall-nuts  which  are  sent  over  from  the  Le¬ 
vant  very  often  contain  a  number  of  the  curious  large 
club-shaped  fossil  spines  of  the  Cidaris,  being  put  in 
fraudulently  to  add  to  the  weight.  Any  of  you  who- 


February  ll,  1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


619 


come  across  any  of  these  curious  fossils  will  find 
that  you  can  cleave  them  in  the  proper  direction, 
like  a  piece  of  calcareous  spar ;  yet,  nevertheless, 
they  have  a  most  beautiful  and  elaborate  organic 
structure.  The  existence  of  crystallization  has  led 
many  persons  into  the  mistake  of  thinking  that  the 
structure  of  tills  rock  cannot  possibly  be  organic. 
There  can,  however,  be  no  greater  mistake,  for  we 
are  constantly  finding  crystalline  structure  in  recent 
us  well  as  fossil  calcareous  organisms,  and  these 
large  spines  of  the  fossil  Cidaris  cleave  very  readily. 
The  point  is  this :  it  is  maintained  by  Messrs.  King 
and  Rowney  that  this  beautiful  arborescent  struc¬ 
ture,  which  is  a  magnified  view  of  what  would  fill 
these  canals, — that  tliis,  which  we  get  by  dissolving 
away  the  carbonate  of  lime,  consists  of  mere  mineral 
infiltrations.  Now,  the  fact  that  was  first  pointed  out 
to  me  by  Mr.  Jordan,  I  have  found  most  particularly 
satisfactory  to  every  gentleman  who  has  gone  into 
the  question,  and  who  is  enough  of  a  mineralogist 
.to  appreciate  its  importance.  It  is  this,  that  these 
ramifications  pass  across  the  planes  of  cleavage, 
which  they  would  not  do  if  they  were  mineral  infil¬ 
trations.  I  believe  every  mineralogist  will  at  once 
say  that  that  is  perfectly  conclusive  against  their 
being  by  any  possibility  mere  inorganic  infiltrations ; 
that  nothing  but  organic  structure  could  in  this 
manner  produce  a  ramification  of  one  mineral  in  the 
interior  of  another,  a  ramification  of  serpentine  in 
the  interior  of  carbonate  of  lime  passing  against  its 
crystalline  plane. 

Tliis  cursory  notice  of  tliis  remarkable  rock,  for  it 
covers  hundreds  of  square  miles  in  the  Laurentian 
district,  must  conclude  the  little  sketch  I  have  en¬ 
deavoured  to  give  you  this  evening  of  the  chief  points 
of  interest  with  regard  to  the  structure  of  the  fora- 
minifera,  but  I  may  just  mention  one  little  incident 
which  may  give  it  a  special  interest  for  you,  if,  as  I 
hope,  I  may  be  successful  in  inoculating  some  of 
you  with  a  taste  for  microscopic  study.  If  any  of 
you  are  disposed  to  begin  the  study  of  the  foramini¬ 
fera,  and  will  get  the  sponge  merchants  to  give  you 
the  sand  that  they  shake  out  of  the  sponges  when 
these  come  over,  you  will  find  an  immense  variety  of 
foraminifera,  which  will  give  you  plenty  of  occupa¬ 
tion  ;  and  there  is  nothing  more  easy  to  begin  upon 
than  this  sponge  sand.  The  incident  I  am  about  to 
relate  I  do  not  mention  with  any  view  to  the  cut 
bono  /  or  with  an  idea  of  helping  you  to  raise  your¬ 
selves  in  life,  because  I  do  not  think  raising  oneself 
in  fife  is  at  all  the  first  object  in  existence ;  I  think 
the  cultivation  of  one’s  own  powers  is  the  first  ob¬ 
ject.  However,  to  my  tale.  Some  }rears  ago,  when 
I  was  first  paying  attention  to  this  subject,  a  friend 
asked  me  if  I  knew  Mr.  A.  B.,  who  was  at  work  on 
the  same  subject.  I  had  not  heard  of  Mr.  A.  B.,  who 
was  a  hard-working  general  practitioner,  who  had 
what  is  known  as  a  guinea  midwifery  practice  in  a 
suburb  of  London.  However,  I  called  on  this  gen¬ 
tleman,  and  found  him  an  enthusiastic  student  of 
natural  history,  but  at  the  same  time  he  was  tho¬ 
roughly  and  honestly  devoted  to  liis  profession.  I 
found  that  he  had  made  a  large  collection  of  fora¬ 
minifera  in  the  manner  I  have  mentioned,  by  get¬ 
ting  the  sponge  merchants  to  allow  him  to  shake  out 
the  sand  winch  the  sponges  generally  contain ;  and  he 
had  also  gone  down  to  Ratcliff  Highway,  and  got  the 
wholesale  dealers  in  shells  to  allow  him  to  scrape  off 
some  of  the  foraminifera  which  attach  themselves 
fo  the  large  foliated  shells  of  the  East  Indian  seas,  and 


winch  often  afford  some  very  curious  types.  In  tliis 
way  he  had  been  working  most  patiently,  employing 
every  spare  five  minutes  of  his  time  ;  but  I  found  he 
had  been  working  on  what  I  considered  an  entirely 
wrong  basis.  That  is  to  say,  he  was  following  the 
then  most  recent  authority,  that  of  D’Orbignv,  who 
was  malting  every  different  form  a  species.  Here, 
for  instance,  are  two  varieties  represented,  which  are 
now  classed  as  the  same  species,  but  which  were 
then  called  distinct  genera.  We  have  now  a  perfect 
gradation  from  one  to  the  other,  so  that  it  is  impos¬ 
sible  to  draw  a  line  between  them.  I  invited  him  to 
spend  an  evening  with  me,  and  go  through  one  type, 
and  at  the  close  of  our  interview  he  acknowledged  that 
he  had  been  working  on  a  wrong  plan,  and  said  he 
should  in  future  follow  out  the  ideas  I  had  given 
him.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  one  of  my  most 
valued  and  esteemed  coUaborateurs ;  and  not  only  has 
lie  worked  in  the  most  successful  manner  upon  this 
particular  group,  but  he  has  followed  another  study 
requiring  great  devotion  and  care,  and  great  dex¬ 
terity  of  manipulation.  He  has  since,  through  the 
valuable  series  of  observations  which  he  has  com¬ 
municated  to  scientific  societies,  been  elected,  and  on 
his  very  first  application,  a  Fellow  of  the  Royal 
Society, — a  distinction  of  very  high  value,  because 
only  fifteen  are  elected  every  year  from  forty- five  or 
fifty  candidates  ;  and  in  the  first  or  second  year 
afterwards  he  received  the  gold  medal,  one  of  the 
highest  honours  the  Royal  Society  can  bestow.  I 
am  glad  also  to  be  able  to  say  that  that  scientific  dis¬ 
tinction,  instead  of  injuring  him  in  his  profession, 
has  been  of  essential  service  to  him.  I  mention  tliis 
to  show  you  how,  from  a  very  humble  beginning,  a 
man  may,  by  simply  employing  odds  and  ends  of 
time, — for  my  friend  ncvpr  had  an  idle  five  minutes 
in  the  day, — attain  to  a  high  position  in  science. 
There  is  no  position  in  life  in  which  this  study  may 
not  be  pursued  ;  and  it  affords  an  object  of  interest, 
which  is  one  of  the  greatest  comforts  to  any  man  of 
active  and  busy  life, — the  comfort  of  turning  to 
something  which  forms  a  quiet  occupation  at  once 
engaging  the  eye  and  the  mind  without  any  effort, 
and  which  tends  more  than  anything  else  to  distract 
one  from  the  cares  and  fatigues  of  this  busy  London 
life,  which  all  of  us  more  or  less  are  engaged  in.  I 
can  assure  you,  from  my  own  experience,  that  micro¬ 
scopic  study  is  for  this  purpose  the  best  kind  of  re¬ 
creation  I  am  acquainted  with. 


Over-doses  of  Chloral  Hydrate. — “The  Medical 
Times  and  Gazette  mentions  several  cases  which  tend  to 
show  that  chloral  hydrate  may  prove  fatal  when  admi¬ 
nistered  in  too  large  a  dose.  One,  taken  from  the  New 
York  Journal  of  Psychological  Medicine ,  was  that  of  a 
lady,  exceedingly  nervous,  who  had  been  subjected  un- 
availingly  to  a  great  variety  of  treatment.  At  last 
chloral  hydrate  was  given  in  six  cumulative  doses  of 
thirty  grains  each.  The  sleep  so  induced,  although  every 
effort  was  made  to  arouse  her,  ended  in  death.  The 
cerebral  vessels  were  enormously  congested.  The  patient 
had  previously  been  taking  bromide  of  potassium.  In 
one  of  our  metropolitan  hospitals  a  fatal  issue  has  fol¬ 
lowed  the  administration  of  a  large  dose  of  chloral ;  but 
here  the  patient  was  in  an  exhausted  state  from  a  severe 
operation.  In  Philadelphia  a  woman  swallowed  an 
enormous  quantity  of  the  drug  (460  grains  it  is  believed). 
The  symptoms  were  very  severe,  but  remedies  being 
applied  promptly  she  recovered. 


650 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  11,  i87i. 


DR.  RICHARDSON  ON  CHLORAL  HYDRATE. 

Dr.  Richardson,  in  his  lecture  on  Tuesday  last,  opened 
with  a  short  and  special  series  of  observations  on  the  re¬ 
cent  fatal  or  assumed  fatal  -cases  from  the  use  of  the 
hydrate  of  chloral,  and  discussed  certain  important  ques¬ 
tions  in  respect  to  the  action  and  the  effects  of  chloral,  on 
which  he  had  recently  been  consulted  by  members  of  the 
medical  profession.  To  a  first  question  whether  the 
practice  of  taking'  the  hydrate  without  medical  advice  or 
direction  was  becoming  at  all  general  amongst  the  public, 
he  gave  a  direct  affirmative  answer.  He  held  that,  in 
professional  hands,  now  that  its  action  is  better  under¬ 
stood  and  the  novelty  of  its  application  has  worn  off,  the 
employment  of  the  hydrate  is  less  than  it  was  some 
months  ago  ;  while  the  practice  of  resorting  to  it  by  the 
public  is  on  the  increase,  and  a  new  class  of  cases  is 
thereby  becoming  known,  marked  by  particular  symp¬ 
toms  and  assuming,  in  some  instances,  a  serious  cha¬ 
racter. 

As  showing  the  extent  to  which  the  hydrate  is  now 
employed,  Dr.  Richardson  said  he  had  been  able  to  esti¬ 
mate  that  nearly  50  tons  of  the  agent  had  been  used  in 
England  in  the  last  eighteen  months. 

On  the  question,  what  is  a  dangerous  and  what  a  fatal 
dose  of  the  hydrate,  the  lecturer  computed  that  120 
grains  was  a  dangerous  and  180  grains  a  fatal  dose  ;  he 
cited  a  case  of  recovery' from  a  dose  of  120  grains,  but 
the  symptoms  were  very  prolonged  and  the  risk  great. 

Another  question  related  to  the  quantity  of  the  hy¬ 
drate  that  might  be  given  in  small  and  repeated  doses 
during  a  limited  time,  say  of  twenty-four  hours.  The 
answrer  to  this  was,  that  an  adult  person  could  not  de¬ 
compose  and  eliminate  more  than  from  five  to  seven 
grains  of  the  hydrate  per  hour,  and  that  it  was  therefore 
not  prudent  to  administer  more  than  120  grains  in  the 
time  suggested,  viz.  twenty-four  hours.  On  a  fourth 
question,  whether  the  frequent  administration  of  hydrate 
of  chloral  lessened  or  increased  the  danger  of  administra¬ 
tion,  the  argument  ran  to  the  effect  that  frequency  of 
administration,  while  it  might  increase  the  confidence  of 
those  who  took  the  drug,  in  respect  to  its  safety,  actually 
increased  the  danger.  To  use  a  technical  phrase,  there 
was  danger  by  frequent  repetition  of  “  accumulation,” 
while  the  power  of  the  body  to  dispose  of  the  agent  by 
diffusion,  decomposition  and  elimination,  became  sensibly 
reduced.  A  striking  contrast  was  here  struck  between 
the  actions  of  opium  and  hydrate  of  chloral,  by  which  it 
■was  shown  that  the  latter  cannot,  like  the  former,  he 
gradually  increased  except  in  the  most  limited  degree, 
without  immediate  danger.  Three  other  questions  were 
noticed  at  length,  having  reference  to  the  symptoms  and 
pathological  conditions  incident  to  the  prolonged  use  of 
the  hydrate ;  the  chemical  tests  for  it  in  the  tissues  in 
cases  of  poisoning  by  it,  and  the  post-mortem  appearances 
in  cases  where  it  proved  fatal  after  administration  in 
many  successive  doses.  These  points,  which  excited 
much  interest  in  an  audience,  composed  almost  exclu¬ 
sively  of  medical  men,  are  of  less  moment  to  our  own 
readers  than  the  subjects  we  have  briefly  noticed  above. 

It  will  be  recollected  that  Dr.  Richardson  was  the  first 
physician  in  England  who  experimented  and  reported 
on  the  action  ot  chloral  hydrate,  after  Liebreich’s  dis¬ 
covery  of  its  properties,  his  report  having  been  prepared 
at  the.  request  of  the  biological  section  of  the  British  As¬ 
sociation  for  the  Advancement  of  Science,  and  read  at 
the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Association  at  Exeter,  in 
1869. 


SUNDERLAND  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Annual  Dinner  of  the  above  Society  was  held  on 
Wednesday  evening,  Jan.  25th,  at  the'Crown  and  Sceptre 
Hotel,  and  was  numerously  attended  by  the  members. 
The  chair  was  occupied  by  the  President,  W.  Thomp¬ 
son,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Harrison  Thompson  filled  the  vice¬ 
chair. 


As  the  meeting  was  intended  to  partake  more  of  a 
social  than  a  business  character,  the  only  toast  proposed 
was  by  the  Chairman,  who  said  he  ought  not  to  let  that 
opportunity  pass  of  publicly  thanking  Messrs.  Nicholson 
and  Sharp,  and  the  other  gentlemen,  whether  present 
or  absent,  who  had  devoted  a  considerable  amount  of' 
time  and  labour  to  getting  up  lectures  and  readings,  and 
arranging  the  business  of  the  society,  not  forgetting 
their  Treasurer,  Mr.  Robinson,  whose  duties  were,  per¬ 
haps,  the  most  onerous  of  all.  These  gentlemen  re¬ 
sponded,  speaking  hopefully  of  the  progress  of  the- 
society,  Mr.  Sharp  stating  that  the  last  meeting  had 
been  undoubtedly  the  best  attended  and  most  successful 
of  any  that  had  been  held. 


LEICESTER  CHEMISTS’  ASSISTANTS  AND 
APPRENTICES’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Annual  Supper  of  the  members  of  this  Association 
was  held  at  the  Wellington  Hotel,  Granby  Street,  on 
Thursday  night  last.  The  chair  was  occupied  by  Mr.. 
J.  W.  Clark,  the  vice- chair  being  filled  by  Mr.  F.  Par¬ 
sons.  After  the  usual  toasts, 

Mr.  Nettleshif  proposed  the  toast  of  the  evening, 
“  Success  to  the  Chemists’  Assistants  and  Apprentices' 
Association.”  Ho  was  pleased  to  think  that  the  young 
men  of  this  town  had  formed  themselves  into  a  Society 
for  the  advancement  of  their  knowledge  in  chemistry 
and  pharmacy.  Thirty  or  forty  years  ago,  persons  en¬ 
gaged  in  those  pursuits  had  to  rely  mainly  upon  their 
own  resources  to  attain  a  certain  degree  of  learning,  hut 
at  the  present  time  similar  societies  to  theirs  were  in¬ 
strumental  in  enabling  young  men  to  successfully  pass 
the  examinations  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society.  He 
believed  there  was  no  kingdom  in  the  world  where  che¬ 
mistry  and  pharmacy  were  so  satisfactorily  carried  on  as 
in  Great  Britain,  and  expressed  his  belief  that  unfounded 
prejudices  which  had  existed  in  the  public  mind  respect¬ 
ing  chemists’  inefficiency  in  the  admixture  of  medicines- 
would,  ere  long,  cease  to  exist.  He  hoped  the  society 
would  continue  to  flourish,  and  requested  them,  in  con¬ 
nection  with  the  toast,  to  drink  to  the  health  of  Mr. 
Young,  the  President. 

Mr.  Young,  in  responding,  said  few  associations  could 
boast  of  greater  success  than  the  one  of  which  they  were 
celebrating  the  anniversary  that  night.  Since  their  last 
annual  meeting  fourteen  or  fifteen  members  of  the  so¬ 
ciety  had,  in  different  grades,  passed  examinations  of 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society. 

The  Vice-President  then  gave  “Prosperity  to  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Great  Britain.”  He  thought 
they  would  all  admit  that  they  had  received  great  be¬ 
nefit  from  that  Society,  and  would  readily  acknowledge 
the  influence  it  had  exercised  in  promoting  the  welfare 
of  the  chemists  and  druggists  throughout  the  United 
Kingdom. 

Mr.  Clark  responded.  He  said  he  considered  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  had  conferred  a  vast  amount  of 
good  upon  the  chemists  and  druggists  of  Great  Britain, 
and  thought  it  highly  probable  that  it  would  eventually 
raise  their  position  to  one  of  considerable  importance. 

Mr.  Young  then  proposed  “The  Honorary  Members,” 
associating  with  the  toast  the  name  of  Mr.  Clark,  their 
chairman  upon  that  occasion. 

In  responding,  the  Chairman  remarked  that  two 
generations  ago  there  were  but  three  chemists  in  the 
town  of  Leicester,  while  at  the  present  time  their  num¬ 
ber  exceeded  forty.  He  hoped  the  Association  would 
increase  in  prosperity  and  usefulness. 

Several  other  toasts  were  given  and  responded  to,  in¬ 
cluding  “The  Committee,”  “The  Chairman,”  “The 
President,  Mr.  Young,”  and  “The  Local  Secretary  of 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  Mr.  T.  Cooper.” 


February  ll,  1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


G51 


Cj it  J’ounntl. 


SATURDAY,  FEBRUARY  11,  1S71. 


Communications  for  this  Journal,  and  boohs  for  review, etc., 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

Instructions  from  Members  and  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Brem- 
ridge,  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  JF.C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  IF.  Envelopes  indorsed  “  Eh  arm.  Journ.” 


THE  PROPOSED  POISON  REGULATIONS. 

We  are  glad  to  call  attention  to  the  circular  just 
issued  to  the  members  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
by  its  Council,  a  copy  of  which  will  be  found  in  the 
minutes  published  this  week- — because  it  is  of  great 
importance  that  the  whole  question  should  be  tho¬ 
roughly  ventilated  before  the  Annual  Meeting,  that 
the  members  generally  should  know  what  regula¬ 
tions  they  are  asked  to  enact,  and  that  the  Council 
and  its  present  position  on  the  question  should  he 
fairly  understood.  Much  misconception  has  un¬ 
doubtedly  existed  both  as  to  the  regulations  them¬ 
selves  and  as  to  the  motives  urging  the  Council  to 
propose  them.  Men  who  take  the  responsibility  of 
public  duties  must  be  content  occasionally  to  bear 
the  shade  of  displeasure,  but  we  think  it  natural 
that  the  Council  should  endeavour,  as  they  do  in 
tills  circular,  to  cast  off  the  imputation  of  having,  in 
mere  servile  deference  to  the  Privy,  Council,  sacri¬ 
ficed  the  liberty  of  the  body  to  which  they  belong. 
It  would  be  extraordinary  that  they  should  do  so, 
seeing  their  daily  avocations  are  similar  to  those  of 
chemists  generally,  and  whatever  would  affect  or 
annoy  the  one  would  act  in  like  manner  on  the 
other. 


CHLORAL  HYDRATE. 

Dr.  Richardson’s  remarks  on  the  use  of  chloral 
hydrate,  given  on  the  preceding  page,  will  doubtless 
be  read  with  great  interest,  and  they  are  calculated 
to  serve  as  a  wholesome  warning  against  the  abuse 
of  this  valuable  agent. 

We  may  take  the  opportunity  of  stating  that  the 
low  results  sometimes  obtained  in  testing  chloral 
hydrate  appear  to  be,  in  a  great  measure  at  least, 
due  to  the  moist  condition  of  the  samples.  The  hy¬ 
drate  is  exceedingly  hygroscopic,  especially  when  in 
the  form  of  amorphous  cake,  and  this  circumstance 
seems  to  be  an  additional  reason  why  the  hard, 
rhomboid al  crystals  should  be  preferred  for  dis¬ 
pensing.  It  appears  to  be  doubtful  whether  the 

*  See  page  653. 


alcoliolate  is  being,  to  any  large  extent,  if  at  allr 
used  in  the  place  of  the  hydrate. 

We  have  received  from  Messrs.  Schcetensack — 
too  late  for  insertion — a  letter  containing  the  results 
of  an  analysis  of  the  chloral  hydrate  manufactured 
by  Saame,  of  Gottingen,  and  a  copy  of  a  certificate 
signed  b,y  Professor  Wohler,  that  the  material  ana¬ 
lysed  gave  the  due  yield  of  chloroform.  We  have 
also  found  this  to  be  the  case  with  specimens  of 
chloral  hydrate  stated  to  be  of  Saame’s  manufacture, 
and  with  samples  obtained  direct  from  Messrs.  Dr 
Haen,  through  their  agents,  Domeier  and  Co.  But 
by  exposure  to  the  air  and  absorption  of  moisture, 
there  will  often  be  a  very  large  reduction  in  the 
amount  of  chloroform  obtained  in  testing. 


Mr.  W.  Beynon,  who  for  nearly  two  years  has 
filled  the  office  of  Honorary  Secretary  to  the  London 
Chemists’  Association,  has,  much  to  the  regret  of 
the  members,  sent  in  his  resignation,  in  consequence 
of  not  having  sufficient  spare  time  to  attend  to  its 
duties.  Mr.  J.  H.  jEssop.lias  been  appointed  as  his 
successor. 


The  death  of  Dr.  Sheridan  Muspratt  is  an¬ 
nounced  as  having  taken  place  on  Friday  last,  at 
his  residence,  The  Hollies,  Stoney croft,  West  Derby, 
after  a  lingering  illness.  The  deceased  gentleman 
was  fifty  years  of  age. 


Her  Majesty  has  directed  that  a  pension  on  the 
Civil  List  of  T100  per  annum  should  be  given  to 
Dr.  Stenhouse,  “in  consideration  of  his  scientific 
attainments.” 


It  is  announced  that  in  connection  with  the  Milk 
Journal  a  laboratory  is  to  be  fitted  up  and  placed 
under  the  charge  of  Mr.  J.  A.  Wanklyn,  for  the  in¬ 
stitution  of  original  researches  into  the  best  methods 
of  testing  milk. 


The  Liverpool  Chemists’  Association  held  its 
eleventh  Conversazione,  on  Thursday,  the  2nd  inst.r 
at  the  Royal  Institution,  Colquitt  Street.  It  was 
very  numerously  attended.  In  the  course  of  the1 
evening  Professor  Roscoe  delivered  a  very  interest¬ 
ing  lecture,  illustrated  by  experiments,  on  “  Solar 
Chemistry.” 

We  observe  that  it  is  stated  in  the  Canadian. 
Journal  of  Pharmacy  for  January,  which  we  have 
just  received,  that  the  prosecution  of  the  twenty-five 
Toronto  druggists  for  the  illegal  sale  of  poisons-  has 
resulted  in  a  conviction,  and  a  fine  of  twenty-five 
dollars  each  and  costs.  It  is  intended  to  carry  the 
matter  before  a  higher  Court. 

*  See  ante,  No.  28,  p.  547. 


<352 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [.February  11,  is?i. 


€ransarfi(ms  0f  %  gljannaxMnil  Sxxktg. 

MEETING  OF  TPIE  COUNCIL, 

February  1st,  1871. 

Mil.  SANDFORD,  PRESIDENT,  IN  THE  CHAIR. 

MR.  HASELDEN,  VICE-PRESIDENT. 

Present — Messrs.  Atherton,  Bottle,  Bourdas,  Carr, 
Deane,  Dymond,  Edwards,  Evans,  Groves,  Hills,  Savage, 
Stoddart,  Sutton,  Williams  and  Woolley. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  con¬ 
joined. 

The  Lot  for  the  next  Council  having  been  taken  in  the 
usual  manner,  the  following  were  declared  to  go  out  of 
■office,  hut  are  eligible  for  re-election : — * 

Abraham,  John,  87,  Bold  Street,  Liverpool. 

Atherton,  John  Henry,  Long  Row,  Nottingham. 
Bourdas,  Isaiah,  7,  Pont  Street,  Belgrave  Square, 
London,  S.W. 

Brown,  William  Scott,  113,  Market  Street,  Manchester. 
■Carr,  John,  171,  High  Holborn,  London,  W.C. 

Deane,  Henry,  Clapham  Common,  Surrey. 

Dymond,  George,  17,  Bull  Street,  Birmingham. 

Evans,  Henry  Sugden,  60,  Bartholomew  Close,  London, 
E.C. 

Haselden,  Adolphus  F.,  18,  Conduit  Street,  Bond  Street, 
London,  W. 

Hills,  Thomas  Hyde,  338,  Oxford  Street,  London,  W. 
Mackay,  John,  119,  George  Street,  Edinburgh. 
Sandford,  George  Webb,  47,  Piccadilly,  London,  W. 
Williams,  John,  5,  New  Cavendish  Street,  London,  W. 
Woolley,  George  Stephen,  69,  Market  Street,  Man¬ 
chester. 

The  following  Members  were  declared  to  remain  in 
office  for  the  ensuing  year  : — 

Bottle,  Alexander,  37,  Town  wall  Street,  Dover. 
Edwards,  George,  Dartford. 

Groves,  Thomas  B.,  Weymouth. 

Reynolds,  Richard,  13,  Brig-gate,  Leeds. 

Savage,  William  Dawson,  30,  Upper  Bedford  Street, 
Brighton. 

Stoddart,  William  Walter,  9,  North  Street,  Bristol. 
Sutton,  Francis,  9,  Bank  Plain,  Norwich. 

The  Report  and  recommendations  of  the  Finance  Com¬ 
mittee  were  received  and  adopted. 

In  pursuance  of  notice  given  last  month,  it  was  moved 
by  Mr.  Haselden,  seconded  by  Mr.  Savage,  and 

Resolved  unanimously — That  an  honorarium  of  one 
hundred  pounds  (one  year’s  salary)  be  presented  to 
Mr.  John  Barnard,  as  a  recognition  of  his  services 
in  connection  with  the  Journal  during  a  period  of 
fifteen  years. 

The  Report  of  the  Benevolent  Fund  Committee  was 
received  and  adopted,  and  a  grant  of  £5  was  made  to  a 
Registered  Chemist  and  Druggist,  late  of  Leicester. 

The  Report  and  recommendations  of  the  Library,  Mu¬ 
seum  and  Laboratory  Committees  of  the  5th  and  31st 
of  J anuary  were  received  and  adopted. 

In  reference  to  the  recommendation  of  the  Library, 
Museum  and  Laboratory  Committee  of  December  8th, 
“  That  the  publication  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Evening 
Meetings  be  deferred  to  the  week  following  that  in 
which  the  meeting  is  held,”  it  was 

Resolved — That  the  Report  of  Evening  Meetings  be 
published  in  the  Journal  of  the  following  wgek,  so 
as  to  allow  of  sufficient  time  for  correction. 


*  Bye-laws,  sect.  5,  clause  3  : — “  Any  person  qualified  to 
vote  desirous  of  nominating  any  Member  for  election  as  a 
Member  of  the  Council  or  as  an  Auditor,  shall  give  notice  in 
writing  with  the  name  and  address  of  the  nominee,  and  if  for 
the  Council,  disclosing  whether  such  nominee  be  or  not  a 
Pharmaceutical  Chemist,  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Society,  on 
or  before  the  24th  day  of  March  in  every  year.” 


Library,  Museum  and  Laboratory  and  Provincial 
Education  Committee  (acting  conjointly). 

The  Committee  reported  that  certain  apparatus  belong¬ 
ing  to  the  Society  might  be  lent  to  Provincial  Associa¬ 
tions,  and  a  list  of  such  apparatus  was  presented. 

The  Committee  also  presented  a  Code  of  Rules  to  be 
observed  in  the  loan  of  such  Apparatus,  and  recommended 
that  it  should  be  published  with  a  list  of  the  Apparatus 
in  the  Journal,  and  printed  in  a  separate  form  for  circula¬ 
tion. 

Resolved — That  the  Report  and  recommendations  of 
the  Committee  for  the  loan  of  Apparatus  be  received 
and  adopted. 

Provincial  Education  Committee. 

The  Committee  reported  that  they  had  considered  the 
applications  of  the  Leicester  Chemists’  Assistants  and 
Apprentices’  Association  and  the  Sheffield  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  and  Chemical  Association,  and  recommend  that 
Books,  Diagrams,  or  other  educational  matter,  to  the 
value  of  £10,  be  granted  to  the  Leicester  Association, 
such  materials  to  be  considered  the  property  of  the 
Society,  and  to  be  held  under  guarantee,  in  accordance 
with  the  Regulations  of  the  Standing  Provincial  Educa¬ 
tion  Committee,  the  Leicester  Association  to  furnish  a 
list  of  the  requirements  costing  the  sum  proposed. 

The  Committee  also  recommend  that  the  Sheffield 
Association  be  informed  that  the  Council  express  their 
willingness  to  assist  in  the  collection  of  a  Library, 
Diagrams,  Apparatus,  or  other  material  in  aid  of  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Education,  but  that  they  do  not  recommend 
at  present,  in  the  case  of  towns  possessing  the  educa¬ 
tional  advantages  of  Sheffield,  that  grants  of  money  be 
given  in  aid  of  Lecture  or  Students’  Fees. 

Resolved — That  the  Report  and  Recommendations  of 
the  Provincial  Education  Committee  be  received 
and  adopted. 

Resolved — That  any  Association  to  whom  grants  on 
trust  are  made  by  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  shall 
give  as  guarantors  the  names  of  three  resident 
Pharmaceutical  Chemists  or  members  of  the  Society 
in  business,  or  such  other  names  as  may  be  satisfac¬ 
tory  to  the  Council. 


Poison  Regulations. 

Further  Correspondence  with  the  Privy  Council 
[Copy.] 

“  Medical  Department  of  the  Privy  Ciu  icil  Office , 

“ January  17th,  1871. 

“  Sir, — I  am  directed  by  the  Lords  of  Her  Majesty’s 
Council  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  cf  your  letter  of  the 
20th  ult.,  enclosing  a  copy  of  some  Regulations  agreed 
to  by  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  and 
proposed  to  be  submitted  to  the  next  Annual  Meeting  of 
the  Society. 

“  My  Lords,  in'eonsidering  the  regulations  in  regard  to 
the  keeping  of  poisons,  direct  me  to  say  that  they  are  of 
opinion  that  some  regulations  as  to  the  sale  and  dispensing 
of  poisons  are  absolutely  necessary  for  the  public  safety, 
and  they  therefore  hope  that  your  Society  will,  with  the 
least  possible  delay,  frame  regulations  on  that  subject, 
so  that  their  Lordships  may  be  able  to  give  their  con¬ 
sent  to  a  complete  body  of  regulations  (such  as  the 
statute  contemplates)  in  regard  to  the  keeping,  selling 
and  dispensing  of  poisons. 

“  I  am,  Sir, 

“  Your  obedient  servant, 

“(Signed)  John  Simon.” 

“  Medical  Department  of  the  Privy  Council  Office , 

“  8,  Bichmond  Terrace ,  Whitehall,  S.  W» 

“  January  21,  1871. 

“  Dear  Sir, 

“  There  are  some  alterations  which  the  medical  officer 
thinks  should  be  made  in  the  proposed  regulations  as  to 


February  11,1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


653 


the  keeping  of  poisons,  and  a3  it  would  apparently  be 
well  that  you  should  be  in  possession  of  his  views  on 
these  matters  before  the  next  meeting  of  your  Council, 
he  would  bo  glad  to  have  an  opportunity  of  conferring 
with  you  some  day  next  week,  and  would  suggest  Tues¬ 
day  next,  the  24th,  at  3  o’clock.  Please  let  me  know 
whether  you  can  come. 

“Yours  faithfully, 

“  W.  Rotton. 

“  The  Registrar  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society.” 

In  compliance  with  this  request  the  Registrar  reported 
that  he  had,  accompanied  by  the  President,  attended  at 
the  Privy  Council  Office. 

The  alterations  which  Mr.  Simon  considered  necessary 
in  the  regulations  as  to  the  keeping  of  poisons  were  merely 
verbal,  calculated  to  make  their  meaning  more  clear ;  but 
he  most  urgently  desired  that  the  ^regulations  as  to  the 
dispensing  of  poisons,  which  he  deemed  of  vital  importance 
to  the  public  safety,'  should  be  restored. 

The  following  is  the  form  in  which  Mr.  Simon  thought 
the  regulations  should  be  remodelled : — 

Proposed  Regulations  as  to  the  Keeping  and  Dispensing  of 

Poisons. 

1.  In  the  keeping  of  poisons  each  bottle,  vessel,  box 
or  package  containing  a  poison  shall  be  labelled  with 
the  name  of  the  article,  and  also  with  some  distinctive 
mark  indicating  that  it  is  poison. 

2.  Also  in  the  keeping  of  poisons,  each  poison  shall 
be  kept  on  one  or  other  of  the  following  systems,  viz. 

(a)  in  a  bottle  or  vessel  tied  over,  capped,  locked  or 
otherwise  secured  in  a  manner  different  from  that 
in  which  bottles  or  vessels  containing  ordinary 
articles  are  secured  in  the  same  warehouse,  shop 
or  dispensary ;  or 

(b)  in  a  bottle  or  vessel  readily  distinguishable  by 
touch  from  the  bottles  or  vessels  in  which  ordi¬ 
nary  articles  are  kept  in  the  same  warehouse,  shop 
or  dispensary ;  or 

(e)  in  a  bottle,  vessel,  box  or  package  kept  in  a 
room  or  cupboard  set  apart  for  dangerous  articles. 

3.  All  liniments,  embrocations,  and  lotions  containing 
oison  shall  be  sent  out  in  bottles  readily  distinguishable 
y  touch  from  ordinary  medicine  bottles,  and  there  shall 

also  be  affixed  to  each  such  bottle  (in  addition  to  the 
name  of  the  article,  and  to  any  particular  instructions 
for  its  use)  a  label  giving  notice  that  the  contents  of  the 
bottle  are  not  to  be  taken  internally. 

Resolved — That  the  proposed  Regulations  as  to  the 
keeping  and  dispensing  of  Poisons  now  presented  be 
received  and  entered  on  the  minutes. 

Moved  by  Mr.  Sutton,  seconded  by  Mr.  Woolley, 

That  the  discussion  on  the  second  letter  of  Mr.  Simon, 
and  upon  the  proposed  Poison  Regulations  gene¬ 
rally,  be  postponed  to  the  1st  of  March. 

For  the  motion  (5) — 

Messrs.  Atherton,  Carr,  Savage,  Sutton  and  Woolley. 

Against  (10) — 

Messrs.  Bourdas,  Deane,  Dymond,  Edwards,  Evans, 
Groves,  Haselden,  Hills,  Sandford  and  Williams. 

The  motion  was  therefore  lost. 

Moved  by  Mr.  Dymond,  seconded  by  Mr.  Deane, 

That  though  the  adoption  of  the  proposed  Regulations 
for  the  Keeping,  Sale,  and  Dispensing  of  Poisons 
rests  with  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society,  yet  inasmuch  as  they  will  affect  a  large 
number  of  the  members  to  whom  it  will  be  imprac¬ 
ticable  to  attend  that  meeting,  and  as  it  is  necessary 
that  the  subject  should,  if  possible,  obtain  a  final 
settlement,  it  is  desirable  that  the  Regulations,  as 
now  submitted  by  the  Council,  be  sent  to  each 
Member  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  together 
with  a  statement  of  the  reasons  which  have  induced 
the  Council  to  suggest  them. 


For  the  Motion  (11) — 

Messrs.  Bottle,  Bourdas,  Deane,  Dymond,  Edwards, 
Evans,  Groves,  Haselden,  Hills,  Sandford  and 
Stoddart. 

Against  (2)  — 

Messrs.  Sutton  and  Woolley. 

The  Motion  was  therefore  carried. 

In  pursuance  of  the  above  resolution,  a  statement  of' 
reasons  was  submitted  to  the  Council,  and  a  Committee, 
consisting  of  the  President,  Vice-President,  Messrs. 
Deane,  Dymond  and  Edwards,  was  appointed  to  revise 
and  issue  it. 

The  Committee  subsequently  met  and  instructed  the 
Secretary  to  send  a  Copy  of  the  following  Circular  to- 
each  Member  of  the  Society  and  to  each  Associate  of  the 
Society  in  business : — 

A  Statement  of  the  Reasons  which  have  Induced  the  Council 

to  Suggest  Regulations  regarding  the  Keeping ,  Dispen¬ 
sing  and  Selling  of  Poisons. 

The  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  feeling  it 
to  be  of  primary  importance  that  the  question  of  the- 
adoption  of  regulations  for  the  keeping  and  dispensing 
of  poisons  should  receive  early  and  definite  settlement, 
earnestly  desire  to  call  the  serious  attention  of  the  mem¬ 
bers  generally  to  it,  with  a  view  to  its  receiving  their 
final  judgment  at  the  ensuing  Annual  Meeting  in  May. 

The  course  of  legislation  on  the  subject  of  poisons  is 
one  which  many  members  of  the  Council  have,  in  their 
official  capacity,  carefully  watched  for  many  years. 
Prior  to  the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy  Act  of  1868  at¬ 
tempts  had  been  made  in  Parliament  at  various  times  to- 
enforce  regulations  for  the  sale  of  poisons  (of  which  the 
Act  regulating  the  sale  of  arsenic  is  an  illustration),  and 
it  is  due  to  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  to 
say  that,  but  for  their  vigilance,  measures  which  would 
have  proved  most  injurious  to  the  true  interests  of  che¬ 
mists,  and  of  the  public,  would  in  all  probability  have 
passed  the  Houses  of  Parliament  and  become  law.  The 
desire  of  the  Council  has  always  been,  whilst,  on  the  one 
hand,  conscious  of  the  just  claims  of  the  public  on  those 
who  are  the  responsible  dealers  in  dangerous  poisons,  on 
the  other  hand,  to  restrict  legislation  on  this  subject  to- 
those  moderate  and  practical  measures  which  they  knew 
to  be  in  accordance  with  the  exigencies  of  the  trade. 
They  venture  to  think  that  their  efforts  in  this  direction 
have  not  been  devoid  of  success. 

The  history  of  the  Pharmacy  Act  of  1868  is  well 
known.  When,  in  1865,  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society,  encouraged  by  public  opinion  (but  more- 
especially  by  the  opinion  of  the  medical  profession),  that 
dispensers  of  medicine  should  be  an  educated  class  of 
men,  introduced  their  “  Bill  to  regulate  the  Qualifica¬ 
tions  of  Chemists  and  Druggists,”  it  contained  no  allu¬ 
sion  to  poisons  whatever.  There  is  every  reason  to 
believe  that  Bill  would  have  passed  had  not  a  second, 
emanating  from  the  United  Society  of  Chemists  and 
Druggists,  led  the  Government  to  infer  that  we  were 
not  agreed  as  to  the  best  course  to  pursue.  In  the  Bill 
of  the  United  Society  poison  clauses  were  prominently 
introduced,  and  a  Committee  of  the  House  of  Commons- 
reported  that  it  was  desirable  to  legislate  on  that  subject. 

The  Council,  therefore,  were  compelled  to  accept  the- 
regulation  of  the  sale  of  poisons  as  one  basis  of  future- 
legislation,  or  forego  their  efforts  to  extend  the  Phar¬ 
macy  Act.  They  drafted  a  Bill  accordingly,  for  which 
they  obtained  the  approval  of  Government,  but,  owing 
to  the  great  pressure  of  public  business,  could  not 
get  it  introduced  as  a  Government  measure.  Fortu¬ 
nately,  Earl  Granville  took  charge  of  this  Bill,  passed 
it  readily  through  the  House  of  Lords,  and  Mr.  Head- 
lam  ably  stood  sponsor  for  it  in  the  Commons.  There,, 
however,  a  much  more  severe  treatment  was  in  store  for 
it.  Propositions  were  made  to  render  the  poison  clauses 
so  restrictive  that,  had  they  passed  into  law,  the  trade  ot 
a  chemist  and  druggist  would  have  become  almost  im- 


654 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  11, 1871. 


possible.  These  propositions  were  watched  and  com¬ 
bated  from  day  to  day  by  the  Council,  and  the  Act  of 
1868  was  the  result.  In  that  Act  great  privileges  were 
■accorded  to,  and  great  confidence  reposed  in,  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society,  to  which,  on  the  urgent  representa¬ 
tion  of  the  Council,  that  the  Society  itself  was  the  only 
competent  judge  of  what  would  be  practicable  and 
adapted  to  the  various  exigencies  of  trade  in  all  parts 
of  the  kingdom,  the  Legislature  committed  the  duty 
of  arranging  the  detailed  conditions  for  keeping,  dis¬ 
pensing,  and  selling  poisons. 

Hence  there  was  a  tacit  understanding  between  the 
Council  and  the  Government  that  the  Pharmaceutical 
Council  should  frame  a  code  of  regulations  to  be  ap¬ 
proved  by  the  Privy  Council.  It  became  the  duty  of 
the  Society  to  do  that  which  in  its  wisdom  should  be 
consistent  with  this  understanding, — to  frame  a  series  of 
regulations  for  the  keeping,  sale,  and  dispensing  of  poi¬ 
sons  which  should  be  practicable  and  easy  of  application 
to  chemists  and  druggists,  and,  at  the  same  time,  satisfy 
the  demands  of  Parliament  and.  the  public. 

In  doing  this,  the  Council  felt  it  would  be  impossible 
to  prepare  regulations  which  would  not  interfere,  more 
or  less,  with  the  existing  arrangements  of  many  che¬ 
mists.  But  they  thought  if  regulations  could  be 
framed  which  would  be  neither  onerous  nor  impracti¬ 
cable,  every  chemist  would  feel  it  his  duty  to  submit  to 
some  inconvenience,  if  necessary,  to  promote  the  public 
■safety,  for  the  sake  of  unanimity,  the  general  good,  and 
the  satisfaction  of  the  Government. 

In  framing  resolutions,  the  Council  have  been  most 
solicitous  not  to  interfere  prematurely  with  the  subject, 
•or  to  encumber  chemists  generally  with  any  burdensome 
restrictions  in  the  conduct  of  their  responsible  duties  ; 
but  at  the  commencement  of  1870  they  felt  the  subject 
could  not  be  delayed,  and  at  that  time  proposed  a  series 
of  regulations  for  the  “keeping,  selling,  and  dispensing 
of  poisons.”  That  scheme  was  presented  to  the  Annual 
Meeting  in  May  last.  It  obtained  much  attention  pre¬ 
viously  to  and  at  that  meeting,  and  though  an  amend¬ 
ment  was  moved  directly  negativing  the  proposal,  a 
resolution  was  unanimously  passed  in  the  following 
terms  : — “  That  the  subject  be  taken  into  consideration 
by  the  incoming  Council,  and  that  a  further  report  be 


made  to  the  next  Annual  Meeting.” 

During  the  interval  which  has  elapsed  since  that  time, 
the  subject  has  obtained  the  frequent  and  anxious  atten¬ 
tion  of  the  Council.  They  have  carefully  observed  the 
current  of  opinion  on  the  subject  amongst  the  members 
of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  as  shown  in  the  perio¬ 
dical  correspondence  upon  it,  and  in  the  memorials 
which  have  been  received  from  various  Pharmaceutical 
Associations  in  the  country.  They  have  also  watched 
the  expression  of  opinion  in  the  press,  and  have  been 
fully  informed  of  the  views  entertained  by  the  Privy 
Council  and  by  members  of  the  Legislature.  Consider¬ 
ing  also  the  obligations  which  the  passing  of  the  Phar¬ 
macy  Act  of  1868  has  imposed  upon  them,  they  believe 
it  their  duty  still  to  propose  the  same  rules  for  the  keep¬ 
ing  of  poisons  (though  in  a  simplified  form)  which  they 
proposed  last  year,  as  those  which  appear  to  afford  on 
the  whole  the  most  scope  and  simplicity,  and  which  are 
best  suited  to  the  various  necessities  of  chemists  in  busi¬ 
ness.  They,  however,  omitted  the  third  proposed  regu¬ 
lation  for  the  “  dispensing  of  poisons,” — not  because  they 
•considered  it  inappropriate,  but  in  the  endeavour  to  meet 
the  views  of  members  of  the  Society  by  disencumbering 
the  proposed  regulations  of  what  seemed  to  be  the  least 
important  of  them. 

Since  the  meeting  of  Council  at  which  these  amended 
regulations  were  agreed  upon,  the  Registrar  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society  has  received  two  communications 
from  the  Privy  Council,  of  which  no  member  of  the 
Council  had  any  previous  cognizance.  The  first  of  these 
expressed  a  desire  to  know  whether  the  Pharmaceutical 
.Society  intended  within  any  specified  time  to  propose 


such  regulations  as  Parliament,  in  the  opinion  of  the 
Privy  Council,  required.  The  reply  of  the  Registrar  to 
this  inquiry,  enclosing  the  proposed  amended  regula¬ 
tions,  produced  another  letter  from  the  Privy  Council 
expressing  the  opinion  that  some  regulation  as  to  the 
sale  and  dispensing  of  poisons,  “  such  as  the  State  contcm- 
plated,”  were  absolutely  necessary  for  the  public  safety, 
as  well  as  those  for  the  keeping  of  poisons.  ( Vide  ‘  Minutes 
of  Council,’  February  1st,  1871.) 

This  letter  has  induced  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society  to  reconsider  the  whole  question,  and  the 
decision  at  which  they  have  arrived  is  that  it  will  be  in¬ 
cumbent  on  them  to  present  to  the  Annual  Meeting  in 
May  next  for  its  approval,  regulations  as  to  the  dispensing , 
as  well  as  keeping  of  poisons. 

In  this  decision  the  Council  have  not  been  unmindful 
of  the  objections  which  have  been  raised,  which,  how¬ 
ever,  have  been  directed  more  to  the  imposition  of  any 
regulations  at  all,  than  to  the  impracticability  of  those 
particularly  which  the  Council  propose.  The  language 
in  which  the  regulations  are  couched  is  so  simple  that  it 
would  appear  almost  superfluous  to  explain  further,  but 
the  Council  have  been  struck  by  the  erroneous  interpre¬ 
tations  which  have  from  time  to  time  been  given.  No¬ 
tably,  it  has  been  stated  over  and  over  again,  that  it 
would  be  impossible  to  keep  all  poisons  in  one  cupboard. 
The  regulations  do  not  contemplate  anything  of  the 
sort.  A  chemist  may  adopt  the  separate  system  for  one, 
or  as  many  poisons  as  he  pleases ;  he  may  keep  others 
on  the  ordinary  shelves  of  the  shop,  provided  either  that 
the  bottles  or  vessels  containing  them  be  distinguished 
by  some  peculiarity  of  shape,  roughened  surface,  or 
leather  or  other  cap.  It  is  admitted  that  very  many, 
probably  most,  chemists  in  Great  Britain,  already  adopt 
them  in  some  or  all  of  their  forms.  So  far,  their  im¬ 
portance  and  value  are  admitted.  It  appears  to  the 
Council  one  of  the  strongest  arguments  in  their  favour, 
that  so  many  actually  feel  it  to  be  a  duty  as  well  as  a 
necessity  to  adopt  them.  Some  of  the  objections  raised 
are  such  as  the  Council  find  it  difficult  to  take  cogni¬ 
zance  of;  but  with  reference  to  the  obligations  which 
the  regulations  would  impose,  they  venture  to  say  that 
no  vexatious  proceedings  will  be  adopted  to  inquire  into 
their  observance.  They  believe  some  practical  advan¬ 
tages  will  follow  the  adoption  of  them,  in  the  lessening 
of  anxiety  in  the  conduct  of  so  responsible  a  business, 
and  in  the  probable  mitigation  of  penalties  in  case  of 
accidents.  They  think  it  not  unreasonable  that  in  pri¬ 
vate  and  public  dispensaries  the  same  regulations  as  to 
the  keeping  and  dispensing  of  poisons  should  be  en¬ 
forced,  but  the  necessity  of  their  observance  by  chemists 
is  not  affected  thereby,  whilst  it  is  well  known  that  the 
great  bulk  of  poisonous  drugs  is  deposited  with,  and  is 
used  by,  the  chemist.  The  Council  are  not  without  sym¬ 
pathy  with  those  who  feel  objections  to  the  imposition 
of  any  restrictions,  however  slight,  in  the  conduct  of 
any  portion  of  their  business ;  but,  for  the  reasons  before 
stated,  they  believe  that  the  concessions  which  chemists 
are  now  asked  to  make  are  such  as  it  would  be  wise  and 
prudent  for  them  to  yield,  whilst  there  is  every  reason 
to  believe  that  the  regulations  now  framed  will  fully 
satisfy  the  requirements  of  the  Legislature. 


REPORTS  OF  THE  BOARDS  OF  EXAMINERS. 

January ,  1871. 

England  and  Wales. 


1) 


2,  Preliminary .  298 


Candi- 

Candi- 

Candi- 

dates 

dates 

dates 

examined. 

passed. 

failed. 

4 

4 

0 

, .  16 

15 

1 

, .  298 

210 

88 

318 

229 

89 

Preliminary  Examination. — 4  Certificates  approved. 


February  11, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


655 


- - -  - 

Scotland. 

Candi-  Candi-  Candi- 
dates  dates  dates 
examined,  passed,  failed. 

.  8  5  3 

5  4  1 

.  11  10  1 

24  19  5 


Resolved — That  the  following,  being  duly  registered 
as  Pharmaceutical  Chemists,  be  respectively  granted 
a  Diploma  stamped  with  the  seal  of  the  Society : — 

Diaper,  Albert  . Bury  St.  Edmund’s. 

Reinhardt,  William  Tynedale . .  Leeds. 

Sandiland,  Robert  Burgess,  jun.  Bicester. 

Sherburn,  Thomas  . Harrogate. 

Resolved — That  the  following,  being  duly  registered 
as  Pharmaceutical  Chemists,  be  elected  Members : — 

Butter  worth,  Albert  . Bradford. 

Cross,  William  Gowen,  jun.  .  .Shrewsbury. 

Griffin,  Thomas  . Boro’  Fen,  Peter¬ 

borough. 

Peck,  Frederick  Hamilton  . . .  .London. 

Perry,  William  Henry  . Birmingham. 

Raffle,  William . . South  Shields. 

Reinhardt,  William  Tynedale... Leeds. 

Robinson,  James  . Darlington. 

Sandiland,  Robert  Burgess,  jun.  Bicester. 

Scruby,  William  Yuli . London. 

Shaw,  Henry  Woolhouse  . . .  .Doncaster. 

Skipper,  Edward . London. 


Resolved — That  the  following,  having  passed  their 
respective  examinations,  be  elected  Associates  : — 

MINOR. 

Arundel,  Matthew  Henry 

Bannard,  Henry  . 

Brown,  James  . 

Coles,  Samuel  John . 

Freeman,  Ernest . 

Galloway,  George,  jun.  . 

Hadley,  Thomas  . 

Jones,  Alfred . 

Macpherson,  Richard  . .  . 

Overton,  Charles  Arthur. 

Sant,  George . 

Slater,  Jonathan  . 

Smith,  John  Francis  . .  . 

Strachan,  Alexander  .... 

Wright,  Joseph . 

MODIFIED. 

Bowler,  William  Samuel . Ashbourne. 

Collett,  Charles  Benjamin  ....  London. 

Morris,  John  Cape  Bevan  ....  Brecon. 

Moule,  William  . Bristol. 

Sugden,  Joseph  William . High  Harrogate. 

Yoxall,  Henry . Belfast. 

Resolved — That  the  following  be  appointed  Local  Se- 
taries  to  the  Society : — • 

Aberdare . T.  W.  Evans  vice  J.  Jones,  resigned. 

Wakefield  . . .  .John  Taylor  „  T.  W.  Gissing,  dead. 
Gt.  Yarmouth . .  John  Jas.  O  wles ,,  W.  S.  Poll,  resigned. 


PHARMACEUTICAL  MEETING. 


January  17,  Minor  .... 
„  „  Modified  . . 

„  „  Preliminary 


Penge. 

Brackley. 

Bideford. 

Brentford. 

Stoui'bridge. 

Inverness. 

Hereford. 

Northampton. 

Greenock. 

Horncastle. 

Atherstone. 

Keswick. 

Scarborough. 

Aberdeen. 

Knutsford. 


Resolved — That  the  following  Registered  Chemists 
and  Druggists  be  elected  Members  of  this  So¬ 
ciety  : — 


Arnold,  Spencer  . Tunbridge  Wells. 

Ellis,  William . Burnham. 

F erneley,  Charles . . W orcester. 

Lewis,  Thomas  Hopkin  . London. 

MacGeorge,  William  . London. 

Pipe,  Walter . London. 

Rutter,  Edmund  Yates . London. 

Tully,  John  . East  Grinstead. 

Watson,  Gilbert  Pickering  . . .  .Norwich. 

Williams,  William  . Tenby. 

Wovenden,  Henry  . .  .Sale. 

Resolved — That  the  following,  having  passed  their 
respective  examinations,  be  elected  “  Associates  in 


Business” :  *— 

MINOR. 

Brooks,  Frederick . 

Budden,  William . 

James,  John . 

Osborne,  James . 

Part,  Edward  James  . . 

. .  Hastings. 

. .  Liverpool. 

. .  Liverpool. 

. .  Ashbourne. 

,  . .  Greenwich. 

MODIFIED. 

Cottrill,  John  White  . 

Hughes,  Jacob . 

Light,  John  Henry . 

Oldham,  Gervase . 

-Palethorpe,  William  . 

Parnell,  James . 

Preston,  Alfred  Prince . . 

Pughe,  Rice  Owen  . 

Rainforth,  Richard  . 

Rogers,  Henry  Frost  . . 

.Smith,  Allen . 

. .  London. 

, . .  Llanelly. 

. .  Macclesfield. 

. .  Wiveliscombe. 

,  .  .Pwllheli. 

,  . .  Sheffield. 

Wednesday ,  February  hst. 

MR.  G.  W.  SANDFORD,  PRESIDENT,  IN  THE  CHAIR. 

The  first  of  two  Lectures  on  the  Microscope  and  its 
Revelations  was  delivered  by  W.  B.  Carpenter,  M.D., 
F.R.S.,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.,  which  will  be  found  printed  at 
p.  641.  At  the  close  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  lecturer  was 
passed  unanimously. 


MEETING  AT  EDINBURGH. 

The  Third  Meeting  of  the  present  Session  of  the  North 
British  Branch  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  was  held 
in  St.  George’s  Hall  on  Friday  Evening,  3rd  February ; 
Mr.  Aitken,  President,  in  the  chair. 

Professor  Archer  made  the  following  communication 
on  “  Isinglass  ”  : — 

In  commencing  this  paper  I  beg  it  to  be  understood 
that  in  this,  and  similar  efforts,  my  object  is  not  to  pro¬ 
duce  original  matter  for  the  instruction  of  the  senior 
members  of  this  Association,  but  to  draw  the  attention 
of  the  juniors  to  those  subjects  of  interest  in  which  their 
profession  abounds,  and  which  simply  require  to  be  pre¬ 
sented  to  their  notice,  to  be  appreciated  as  steps  in  the 
acquisition  of  that  knowledge  which  is  to  become  the 
foundation  for  their  future  success  in  life. 

Last  winter  I  called  attention  to  a  series  of  animal 
substances  which  hold  a  very  interesting  position  in  the 
history  of  pharmacy ;  but  I  purposely  left  out  the  im¬ 
portant  subject  of  my  present  paper,  because  it  was  im¬ 
possible  to  do  justice  to  it  in  the  general  summary  which 
I  then  presented  to  your  notice. 

Isinglass,  under  its  Greek  name,  Ichthyocolla  (from 
ixOvs  a  fish,  and  u6\\a  glue)  was  known  in  the  tune  of 
Dioscorides,  who,  however,  says  but  little  about  it. 
Pliny,  who  wrote  about  fifty  years  later,  that  is,  at  the 
commencement  of  the  Christian  era,  describes  it  as  the 
production  of  a  fish  called  ichthyocolla.  In  this  he  v  as 
doubtless  mistaken,  and  he  evidently  knew  little  of  its 


056 


THE  PHARMACEUTICxVL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  11, 1371. 


history,  for  he  says,  “  Ichthyocolla  is  the  name  of  a  fish 
with  a  glutinous  slcin ;  the  glue  which  is  made  from  it 
is  also  known  by  the  same  name.”  He  further  says, 
“That  of  Pontus  is  highly  esteemed,  it  is  white,  free 
from  scales,  and  dissolves  with  the  greatest  rapidity.” 
This  proves  incontestably,  first,  that  the  Greeks  ob¬ 
tained  it  from  the  Black  and  Caspian  Seas,  as  the 
Russians  do  at  the  present  day  ;  and,  secondly,  that, 
besides  this  imported  isinglass,  the  Romans  had  found 
that  certain  fish-skins  yielded  an  inferior  but  still  use¬ 
ful  kind  of  fish-glue. 

Isinglass  (supposed  to  be  derived  from  Hausenhlase , 
or  sturgeon’s  bladder)  is  generally  understood  to  be  the 
air-bladders  of  certain  fishes  carefully  prepared  by  dry¬ 
ing  ;  but  it  is  the  gelatine  which  these  organs  contain  in 
such  abundance  and  purity  which  is  the  valuable  part  for 
food  purposes ;  and  this  is  obtainable,  though  less  easily, 
and  of  less  purity  from  the  skin,  the  membranes  of  the 
stomach  and  other  integuments  of  the  same,  and  many 
other  kinds  of  fish.  This  particular  kind  of  gelatine  has 
two  principal  uses  ;  first,  as  an  article  of  food,  and  se¬ 
condly,  as  a  means  of  clarifying  various  preparations, 
especially  fermented  liquors ;  to  these  may  be  added  its 
use  as  a  cementing  material,  which,  however,  is  not 
very  important. 

As  an  article  of  food  only  the  finer  kinds  of  Russian 
isinglass  are  generally  used ;  these  are  obtained  from 
various  species  of  the  genus  Acipenser  (Family,  Sturio- 
nidee),  viz. : — 

Acipenser  Huso  (Linn.).  The  Beluga. 

A.  Guldenstadtii  (Brandt  and  Ratzeburg).  The  Os- 
seter. 

A.  Rulhenius  (Linn.).  The  Sterlet. 

A.  stcllatus  (Pallas).  The  Sewruga. 

These  arc  all  natives  of  the  Caspian  and  Black  Seas, 
and  are  chiefly  caught  in  the  rivers  flowing  into  these 
seas,  the  Y olga  especially.  The  more  common  species  of 
Acipenser ,  A.  sturio ,  the  sturgeon  which  is  found  widely 
distributed  not'  only  in  the  rivers  of  Europe  but  also  in 
those  of  North  Amci*ica,  has  not  been  used  for  obtaining 
isinglass,  because,  I  presume,  it  is  never  found  in  great 
numbers  in  the  European  rivers.  Professor  Owen  in 
1851  called  the  attention.. of  the  Canadians  to  the  fact 
that  the  sturgeon  abounds  in  the  large  rivers  of  North 
America,  and  suggested  the  utilization  of  their  isinglass, 
which  has  been  since  collected,  although  not  in  very 
great  quantities. 

One  other  fish  is  known  to  be  taken  by  the  Russian 
isinglass  traders,  namely,  the  Silurus  cjlanis ,  a  large  fish 
which  is  supposed  to  yield  the  Samovy  isinglass  of 
commerce. 

The  preparation  of  isinglass,  whether  for  the  purposes 
of  food  or  otherwise,  is  the  same.  I  will  therefore  say  a 
few  words  upon  the  process  employed  by  the  fishers. 
The  air-bladders,  when  removed  from  the  fishes,  are 
usually  slit  open  or  turned  inside  out,  well  washed,  and  the 
inner  membrane,  which  has  a  silvery  lustre  and  greater 
consistency  than  the  outer  one,  is  stripped  off  to  form 
the  finest  qualities,  or  left  on  as  the  case  may  be.  The 
air-bags  are  then  carefully  dried  in  various  ways ;  thus, 
by  some  curers  they  are  slit  open  and  spread  out  to  dry, 
by  others  they  are  stretched  between  pegs  giving  the 
staple  form,  as  seen  by  these  specimens,  whilst  others 
told  the  opened  sheets  so  as  to  form  these  specimens  of 
book-isinglass.  The  Brazilian  and  Indian  methods,  pro¬ 
bably  from  the  fact  that  drying  is  a  much  easier  process 
in  those  warm  climates,  are  of  a  much  more  simple  cha¬ 
racter. 

Of  Brazilian  there  are  two  kinds,  lump  and  pipe.  The 
lump  is  the  collapsed  air-bladder,  flattened  and  dried ; 
the  pipe  kind  appears  to  have  been  dried  with  air  in  it, 
so  as  to  distend  it  and  allow  the  inner  membrane  to  dry 
thoroughly. 

There  are  three  kinds  of  Indian ;  lump,  leaf  and  pipe. 

When  isinglass  is  imported  it  lias  to  be  prepared  for 
use  by  first  softening  it  by  moisture,  then  rolling  it 


into  thin  sheets  between  powerful  metal  rollers,  after 
which  it  is  cut  into  fine  shreds.  Before  these  mechanical 
appliances  were  thought  of,  it  was  rudely  prepared  by 
cutting  it  into  pieces  and  then  pulling  these  pieces  into 
small  shreds  by  the  fingers,  or  cutting  into  thin  pieces 
by  knives. 

As  a  clarifying  material  its  use  is  very  extensive 
amongst  brewers ;  it  is  also  used  in  clearing  some  kinds- 
of  wine  and  other  liquids,  but  its  exact  operation  is 
not  quite  understood.  By  some  it  is  believed  that  as 
the  gelatine  dissolves  in  the  liquids  to  be  cleared,  it 
spreads  in  thin,  net-like  films,  which  gradually  sink  and 
carry  down  with  them  the  suspended  impurities.  Others 
believe  that  the  thin  shreds  of  the  isinglass  contain  net- 
like  membranes,  which  as  the  gelatine  dissolves  out,  are 
left  expanded  in  the  fluid,  and,  as  they  sink,  carry 
down  the  impurities  as  in  the  other  case.  The  latter  is 
most  likely  the  mode  by  which  it  operates,  because  it  is 
quite  certain  that  a  solution  of  the  pure  gelatine  of  isin¬ 
glass  will  not  produce  the  same  effect,  neither  some- 
kinds  of  fish-sounds,  prepared  as  isinglass,  which  are 
from  time  to  time  tried  for  this  purpose. 

Of  the  substances  allied  to  isinglass  which  are  found 
in  commerce  I  may  mention  the — 

Cod-sounds,  which  are  the  air-bladders  of  the  cod* 
they  are  salted  and  not  usually  dried,  and  are  only 
used  for  food ;  they  come  to  us  from  the  cod-fisherics- 
of  our  own  country  and  Newfoundland. 

Fish -maws,  which  are  the  stomachs  of  certain  fishes 
caught  on  the  shores  of  India  and  the  Indian 
islands ;  they  are  dried  and  form  an  important 
article  of  commerce  to  China,  Japan  and  other 
Eastern  countries.  We  have  no  reliable  informa¬ 
tion  as  to  the  fishes  which  yield  them. 

Sharks’  fins  and  skin,  in  consequence  of  the  large 
amount  of  gelatine  they  contain,  also  form  an  im- 
poi’tant  trade  with  the  same  nations. 

Yisiaga,  the  curious  article  I  now  show  you,  forms 
one  of  the  greatest  delicacies  of  the  Russian  cuisine. 
It  consists  of  the  long  tendons  which  lie  along  the 
vertebral  column  of  the  various  species  of  sturgeon, 
from  which  it  is  separated,  dried  over  lines,  and  tied 
up  in  bundles  for  sale.  When  used,  it  is  soaked 
until  soft,  cut  into  lengths  of  about  an  inch,  and 
made  with  rice  and  some  condiments  into  very  deli¬ 
cious  pies,  which,  however,  from  their  costliness, 
are  only  found  at  the  tables  of  the  wealthy. 

On  the  table  I  have  placed  specimens  of  Indian  and 
Siamese  fish-maws,  shark’s  skin  and  fins,  viziaga,  and 
the  following  kinds  of  isinglass : — 


Russian. 

Beluga  Leaf,  from  Acipenser  Huso. 
Astracan  Leaf,  from  ditto. 

Short  Staple,  fi-om  A.  Gnldenstadtii. 
Siberian  Purse. 


from  Silurus  glanis. 


Probably  from  Silurus  Parkerii - 


o 

O. 


Samovy  Leaf,  | 

Samovy  Book,  j 
Long  Staple. 

Short  Staple. 

Rolled. 

Cut. 

Brazilian. 

Block  or  Cake, 

Lump, 

Purse, 

Tongue  or  Pipe, 

Rolled  and  Cut. 

Guiana  and  West  Indian. 

Gilbacker  lump  (British  Guiana),  from  Silurus- 
Parkerii. 

Ditto,  cut. 

French  Guiana  lump,  from  the  Mach oi ran. 

West  Indian  lump,  from  Silurus  felis. 

North  American. 

Hudson’s  Bay  Purse. 


February  ll,  1871.]  THE  PHARMACEU  TICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


Canadian  Leaf. 

New  York  Ribbon,  Rom  the  refuse  of  various 
species. 

5.  East  Indian.  Supposed  to  be  produced  by  several 
species  of  the  genus  Polgncmus . 

Cake  and  Purse. 

Bombay  Purse. 

Penang  Leaf  and  Purse. 

Manilla. 

Madras,  from  a  fish  like  mullet,  put  up  as  “Long 
Staple.” 

Large  as  this  series  is,  it  by  no  means  comprises  all  of 
the  varieties  of  this  interesting  material.  What  I  have 
shown  will,  howevei’,  give  you  some  idea  of  its  import¬ 
ance,  and  still  more  of  the  importance  that  you,  who 
have  daily  to  do  with  these  things,  should  make  your¬ 
selves  intimately  acquainted  with  such  subjects  not 
merely  in  their  more  common  features,  but  in  their-  most 
minute  details, — not  only  because  knowledge  gives  power, 
but  in  your  case  you  will  find  it  will  give  pecuniary 
reward  also,  for  we  are  rapidly  coming  to  the  point 
when  want  of  knowledge  will  bring  want  of  business, 
whilst  its  possession  will  be  certain  to  secure  patronage 
to  the  pharmaceutical  chemist. 

There  is  one  book  I  must  commend  to  all  of  you, — I 
mean  Pereira’s  ‘  Materia  Mediea.’  It  has  given  me 
more  pleasure  than  any  half-dozen  novels  I  ever  read. 
It  has  given  me  immense  information,  and  it  has  been 
my  great  aid  to  this  and  other  papers.  It  ought  to  be  the 
aim  of  every  young  pharmaceutist  to  possess  it,  and 
his  greatest  pleasure  to  study  it ;  and  when  such  is  the 
case  the  profession  of  pharmacy  is  certain  to  take  its 
proper  place  amongst  the  learned  professions  of  this  and 
other  countries. 

At  the  close  of  the  paper  a  cordial  vote  of  thanks  was 
proposed  by  the  Chairman  to  Professor  Archer,  seconded 
by  Mr.  Blanshard,  and  carried  with  acclamation. 


LONDON  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

At  the  Meeting  on  Thursday,  February  2,  Mr.  Cox 
occupied  the  chair,  several  ordinary  members  were 
elected,  and  Mr.  J.  B.  Hurst,  of  Louth,  and  Mr.  W.  H. 
Pullen,  of  Leamington,  were  elected  corresponding 
members. 

A  communication  from  Mr.  Button,  of  Rangoon,  con¬ 
taining  notes  on  “  Indian  Pharmacy  ”  was  read,  it  was 
-considered  desirable  to  bring  the  matter  forward  again 
for  discussion. 

Mr.  BeynOn  then  read  a  paper  on  “  The  Preservation 
of  Vegetable  Substances.”  He  said  the  preservation  of 
vegetable  and  animal  substances  had,  of  late  years,  at¬ 
tracted  a  great  deal  of  attention,  more  especially  the 
preservation  of  such  as  are  used  for  food,  which,  of  all 
•others,  are  most  prone  to  decomposition.  The  keeping 
of  vegetable  substances  was  of  greater  interest  to  the 
pharmacist,  deriving,  as  he  does,  so  many  of  his  medi¬ 
cines  from  the  vegetable  kingdom ;  upon  the  storing  of 
them  more  care  should  be  bestowed,  as  many,  if  not 
dried  or  preserved  in  a  proper  manner,  lost  their  medi¬ 
cinal  properties.  Mr.  Beynon  first  spoke  of  the  pre¬ 
servation  of  the  lower  orders  of  plants,  as  the  A  Igee,  Fungi , 
Liclienes ,  and  Filices ,  mentioning  those  which  are  used, 
■as  food,  and  detailing  also  the  best  way  of  making  speci¬ 
mens  of  them  for  the  herbarium ;  he  then  proceeded  to 
speak  of  the  preservation  of  different  parts  of  plants,  as 
their  leaves,  fruits,  seeds,  etc.,  giving  the  different 
methods  by  which  ordinary  articles  of  food  as  corn- seed, 
potatoes,  etc.  are  kept  from  deteriorating.  The  keeping 
of  Digitalis,  Co  mum ,  and  other  medicinal  plants,  and  the 
preparations  made  from  them  also  received  attention ; 
the  bottling  of  fruits  was  fully  described,  and  then-  pre¬ 
paration  for  the  purpose  of  illustrating  structural  botany. 

.  After  an  interesting  discussion,  a  vote  of  thanks  was 
•given  to  Mr.  Beynon  for  his  instructive  paper,  and  much 


G57 


regret  was  expressed  at  his  resignation  of  the  Secretary¬ 
ship  of  the  Association,  which  office  he  has  held  for 
nearly  two  years. 

Mr.  Jessop  was  elected  Secretary,  pro  tcm. 

A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  the  chairman  concluded  the 
business  of  the  evening. 


prlraimtarji  nni>  fata  fntfwimtp. 


Alleged  Poisoning  by  a  Cough  Mixture. 

On  Monday,  January  23rd,  Mr.  John  Dale,  chemist 
and  druggist,  of  Great  King  Street,  Macclesfield,  was 
brought  before  the  Glossop  magistrates,  charged  with 
the  manslaughter  of  Matilda  Rowbotham. 

The  facts  were  that  the  defendant  had  sold  several 
bottles  of  “  Loxham's  Cough  Mixture  ”  to  the  mother  of 
the  deceased,  who  retailed  them  at  her  shop.  On  the 
previous  Thursday  Mr.  Dale  called  and  saw  that  the 
little  girl  was  suffering  from  hooping  cough,  and  recom¬ 
mended  a  little  of  the  cough  mixture  to  be  mixed  with 
water  and  given  occasionally. 

The  mother,  upon  cross-examination,  admitted  she  had 
not  followed  Mr.  Dale’s  directions,  but  had  given  the 
whole  three  spoonfuls  between  two  o’clock  in  the  after¬ 
noon  and  twelve  o’clock  at  night.  She  further  admitted 
that  the  child  might  have  got  to  the  medicine  in  her  ab¬ 
sence.  The  child  was  nine  years  old. 

James  Rhodes,  M.D.,  proved  having  analysed  the  sto¬ 
mach.  The  child  had  died  from  a  narcotic  poison.  In 
cross-examination  he  said  that  by  morphine  he  meant 
laudanum ;  sulphuric  acid  might  produce  morphia  in  its 
action  on  laudanum.  The  directions  on  the  bottle,  if 
followed,  would  not  be  dangerous. 

For  the  defence  it  was  urged  that  all  intelligent  per¬ 
sons  were  aware  that  medicine  improperly  administered 
would  often  prove  one  of  the  strongest  poisons.  One  of 
“  Dover’s  Powders  ”  was  useful,  two  might  possibly  be 
injurious.  Reference  was  made  to  Lord  Lyndhurst’s 
judgment  in  the  case  of  Reg.  v.  Webb ,  where  it  was 
clearly  laid  down  that  to  be  manslaughter  the  medicine 
must  be  violent  and  dangerous,  and  administered  by  a 
person  totally  ignorant.  Another  point  fatal  to  the  pro¬ 
secution  was,  that  the  mother  had  not  followed  the  di¬ 
rections  of  Mr.  Dale. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  evidence,  the  magistrates 
decided  upon  dismissing  the  charge.  As,  however,  Mr. 
Dale  has  been  committed  for  trial  upon  the  coroner’s 
warrant  consequent  upon  an  inquest,  he  will  have  to 
appear  at  the  assizes,  but  it  is  thought  that  the  grand 
jury  will  not  find  a  true  bill. — ■ Macclesfield  Courier. 


Poisoning  by  Home-made  Lime-water. 

At  an  inquest  held  at  Birmingham,  it  was  shown  that 
a  patient  having  been  directed,  among  other  things,  to 
take  a  certain  amount  of  lime-water  every  day,  but  not 
being  told  whether  to  buy  it  or  make  it  himself,  straight¬ 
way  procured  some  lime,  mixed  a  lump  with  water, 
stirred  it  and  drank  the  thick  mixture.  A  few  hours 
afterwards  acute  symptoms  of  gastritis  set  in,  resulting- 
in  death.  A  verdict  was  returned  by  the  jury  to  that 
effect. 

The  Medical  Times  and  Gazette ,  in  commenting  upon  this 
case,  says  that  the  lesson  to  be  drawn  from  it  is  this, 
always  to  take  for  granted  the  complete  ignorance  of 
patients  concerning  the  nature  and  properties  of  drugs, 
and  never  recommend  them  to  be  their  own  chemists, 
but  tell  them  to  apply  to  those  whose  legitimate  business 
it  is  to  supply  them. 


Attempted  Suicide  by  Sugar  of  Lead. 

Last  week,  a  well-dressed  man,  named  Thomas  Gee, 
was  charged  at  the  Mansion-House  with  attempting  to 

O 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[February  11,1871 


G5R 


commit  suicide.  The  prisoner  was  seen  by  a  police 
officer  on  Southwark  Bridge,  apparently  in  great  dis¬ 
tress.  While  the  officer  was  watching  him,  prisoner 
took  a  small  packet  from  his  pocket  and  put  a  portion 
of  the  contents  into  his  mouth;  then,  seeing  the  con¬ 
stable  coming  towards  him  he  ran  away.  Upon  being 
caught  he  said,  in  answer  to  a  question,  that  he  had 
swallowed  some  sugar  of  lead.  He  was  taken  to  a  pri¬ 
vate  surgery,  but  refused  an  emetic,  and  was  then  con¬ 
veyed  to  St.  Bartholomew’s  Hospital,  where  one  was 
given  him.  Evidence  was  given  that  he  was  suffering 
under  a  monomania,  and  ho  was  delivered  over  to  the 
care  of  his  friends. — Times. 


Holes  itnii  detents. 


***  In  order  to  facilitate  reference,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  their  answers  in  each  case  with  the  title 
ancl  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

NOTICE. — To  prevent  delay ,  corresqoondents  arc  re¬ 
quested  to  send  their  communications  to  the  Journal  Depart¬ 
ment,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square ,  W.C.,  and  not  to  the  Bub- 
Ushers. 


©Mtanr. 


At  Carlisle,  on  the  29th  of  January,  aged  70,  Mr. 
James  Parker  Harrison,  the  oldest  member  of  the 
trade  in  that  City,  having  been  in  business  for  forty- 
seven  j  eai  s.^  Mr.  Harrison  became  a  member  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  in  1842,  and  acted  as  Local 
Secretary  until  1864,  when  the  infirmities  of  age  led 
him  to  relinquish  that  office. 


[146.] — ORANGE-FLAYOURED  CASTOR  OIL. 

01.  Auvant.  5j 

01.  Ricini  Jiv.  M.  F.  C.  S. 

[151.]— LIME  JUICE  AND  GLYCERINE. 

01.  Amygd.  *ij 
01.  Limon.  5'.j 
Pot.  Carb.  5ij 
Glycerini  5] 

Aq.  Calcis  ^xij.  M.  F.  C.  S. 


MEETINGS  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 

Monday  . Medical  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

London  Institution,  at  4  p.m. — “  The  First 
Principles  of  Biology  ”  (Educational 
Course).  By  Prof.  Huxley. 

Tuesday  . Loyal  Institution,  at  3  p.m. — “The  Nutri¬ 

tion  of  Animals.”  By  Professor  Foster. 

Loyal  Medical  and  Chirurgical  Society,  at 
8.30  p.m. 

Photographic  Society,  at  8  p.m. — Annual 
Meeting. 

M  EDNESDAY  ...Society  of  Arts,  at  8  p.m. — “The  Commerci 
ot  India.”  By  Dadabhai  Naoroii. 

Thursday . Loyal  Society,  at  8.30  p.m. 

Loyal  Institution,  at  3  p.m. — “Davy’s  Dis¬ 
coveries  in  Chemistry.”  By  Prof.  Odling. 

London  Institution,  at  7.30  p.m. — “  The  Ac¬ 
tion,  N ature  and  Detection  of  Poisons.” 
By  F.  S.  BarfF. 

Linnean  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

Chemical  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

Friday  . Loyal  Institution,  at  9  p.m.— “  The  Wolf- 

Rock  Lighthouse.”  Mr.  Douglass. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received  .-—The  ‘  Britisl 
Medical  Journal,’  Feb.  4;  the  ‘Medical  Times  and  Gazette, 
^  i  1 ’  7 ’tV  c  ‘Lancet,’  Feb.  4;  the  ‘Medical  Press  and  Cir 
cular,  Feb.  8;  ‘Nature,’  Feb.  2;  the  ‘Chemical  News,’  Feb 
3 ;  Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  Feb.  2  ;  ‘  Gardeners 
Chronicle,  leb.  4;  the  ‘Grocer,’  Feb.  4;  the  ‘Product 
Markets  Review,’  Feb.  4;  the  ‘English  Mechanic,’  Feb.  3; 
the  Florist  and  Pomologist  ’  for  February;  the  ‘Food 
Journal  for  February;  the  ‘Milk  Journal’  for  February 
the  ‘Journal  of  the  London  Institution’  for  February;  the 
Brewers  Guardian  ’  for  February ;  the  ‘  Doctor  ’  for  Fe- 
bruary ;  Evans,  Leschers  and  Evans’  ‘  Price  Current  ’  foi 
February;  the  ‘Liverpool  Daily  Post,’  Feb.  3;  ‘Bristol 
limes,  leb.  4;  ‘Leicester  Chronicle,’  Feb.  4. 


at  Post. — A  sad  case  was  mentioned  at 

the  last  meeting  of  the  Bethnal  Green  Board  of  Guar- 
dians.  One  of  the. dispensers  of  the  parish,  Mr.  Evans, 
while  performing  the  duties  now  made  so  perilous  by 
the  outbreak  of  smallpox  in  the  East  End,  was  seized 
with  the  malady,  and  after  eighteen  days’  suffering  ex¬ 
pired.  His  wife,  worn  out  by  tending  him,  took  the 
disease,  and  is  now  lying  ill  in  a  wretched  state  of  desti¬ 
tution.  If  ever  there  was  a  case  deserving  of  commisera¬ 
tion  this  is  one,  for  the  unfortunate  Evans  died  at  the 
post  of  duty  as  truly  as  any  soldier.  The  guardians, 
much  to  their  credit,  have  started  a  subscription  for  the 
doubly  desolate  widow,  and  have  voted  her  £25  out  of 
the  rates,  a  sum,  however,  which  cannot  be  paid  without 
permission  from  the  Boor  Law  Board. — Pastern  Post 


R.  01.  Amygd.  Dulc.  ^iijss 

Liq.  Calcis  5ijss 
Ess.  Bergam.  gtt.  xx 
Otto  gtt.  iij. 

Is  a  good  form  for  what  is  usuallyretailed  as  “  lime-mice 
and  glycerine.” 

Another  form  is — 

R.  01.  Amygd.  Dulc.  *j 

Liq.  Calcis  5iij. 

Which  makes  both  a  thicker  and  whiter  preparation;  but 
owing  to  the  small  proportion  of  ol.  contained  therein,  it  will 
of  necessity  dry  more  quickly  on  the  hair,  and  thereby  not 
be  so  beneficial  as  the  former  one.— W.  B.  S.,42,  DUgh  StreeL 
Bridgnorth. 


[153.]— REGISTERED  LABELS. — I  wish  to  ascertain 
the  conditions  which  afford  security  for  registered  labels  and 
registered  trade-marks.  I  believe  a  registered  label  is  secure 
only  against  an  exact  imitation.  What  may  be  a  trade-mark  ? 
Can  any  word  in  ordinary  use  be  a  trade-mark?  e.g.,  anti¬ 
septic  ?  It  ‘  antiseptic  ’  were  registered  as  a  trade-mark,  would 
that  prohibit  its  use  by  another  for  the  same  purpose,  say 
‘  antiseptic  lotion  ’  ?  and  would  this  prohibit  the  use  of  anti¬ 
septic  toash,  for  instance  ?  Further,  if  an  antiseptic  lotion 
label  were  registered  by  one  person,  would  that  prohibit- 
another  from  using  ‘  antiseptic  ’  as  a  trade-mark  ? — Octavius. 

[154.] — ESS.  SEC  ALE. — Supposing  “Ess.  Secale”  is 
ordered  in  a  prescription,  what  should  be  used  ?— A.  P.  S. 

[*#*  We  believe  it  is  the  custom  in[London  to  use  the  fluid 
extract  of  ergot  of  the  B.  P. — Ed.  Pharm.  Journ.] 

[155.] — GUM  ACROIDES. — Will  any  correspondent 
favour  me  with  information  as  to  the  source,  uses  and  value 
of  gum  acroides  ?— G.  Y.  Druce. 

[156.]— WHITE  OILS. — Will  any  of  the  readers  of  the 
J ournal  give  me  a  formula  for  the  above,  possessing  a  uniform 
consistence  and  retaining  the  same  ? — J.  T.  N. 

[157.]— SUBACETATE  OF  COPPER. — “  Sarum”  would 
be  much  obliged  if  any  of  the  readers  of  the  Journal  can  fur¬ 
nish  him  with  a  formula  for  preparing  an  alkaline  solution, 
of  subacetate  of  copper  (verdigris),  similar  to  the  officinal 
liquor  plumbi  subacetatis. 

[*#*  The  question,  as  it  stands,  is  rather  vague.  Will  our 
correspondent  define  more  clearly  his  requirements  ? — Ed. 
Pharm.  Journ.] 

[158.]— BROWN  HAIR  DYE.— Will  any  reader  kindly 
give  a  good  recipe  for  the  above  ? — Student. 

[159.] — ANISEED  CORDIAL. — “  Pimpinella  Anisuni ” 
will  feel  obliged  to  any  gentleman  who  can  give  him  a  good, 
formula  for  aniseed  cordial. 


February  11, 1971.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


G59 


tomptiitittc. 

***  N~o  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

The  Proposed  Poison  Regulations. 

Sir, — As  a  sequel  to  a  case  of  incompetent  dispensing  and 
consequent  poisoning  in  a  medical  surgeiy,  perhaps  the  follow¬ 
ing  will  prove  that  Mr.  Bean  is  not  the  only  medical  gentleman 
who  considers  that  “  dispensing  is  merely  mechanical,  and 
that  previous  education  has  not  much  to  do  with  it/’  Some 
time  ago  a  shop-boy  in  my  employ  requested  that  he  might 

leave,  as  Dr.  - - had  offered  him  more  wages  if  he  would 

come  to  him.  His  request  was  granted,  and  shortly  after  I 
was  informed  by  my  assistant  that  the  boy’s  mother  had 

called  to  say  she  was  sorry  for  taking  him  away,  but  Dr. - 

thought  he  would  be  very  useful  in  his  surgery  after  being 
eighteen  months  with  a  chemist,  the  boy  being  the  only  dis¬ 
penser  hi  the  establishment,  according  to  her  statement. 

Now,  Sir,  in  the  face  of  such  glaring  facts  of  incompetent 
dispensing  in  medical  surgeries,  can  it  be  possible  that  H.M.’s 
Privy  Council  will  close  its  eyes  against  such  a  reckless  sys¬ 
tem,  the  extent  and  result  of  which  can  never  be  known  in 
this  world,  and  insist  upon  enacting  further  legislative  mea¬ 
sures  upon  the  liberty  of  a  body  for  whom  they  have  done 
quite  enough,  whilst  illiterate  shop-boys  and  coachmen  are 
allowed  to  pass  observation  and  dispense  with  impunity? 

Then  again,  what  is  a  poison?  Nearly  all  our  preparations 
are  poisonous  only  in  overdoses ;  if  so,  how  is  the  line  to  be 
drawn  ?  Must  our  cellars  be  converted  into  poison  stores 
and  our  shelves  into  an  array  of  empty  show-bottles  ?  The 
inevitable  consequence  would  be  that  our  dispensing  counters 
would  become  daily  crowded  with  an  indiscriminate  mixture 
of  bottles,  etc.,  owing  to  the  want  of  an  opportunity  of  re¬ 
turning  them  to  their  dismal  cells  below,  and  mistakes  and 
confusion  would  be  the  order  of  the  day.  As  regards  the 
subject  of  inspection  mooted  by  some  of  your  correspondents, 
what  man  of  education  and  social  standing,  with  an  atom  of 
professional  pride,  would  submit  to  such  humiliation  and  the 
stigma  of  utter  incompetency  to  manage  his  own  affairs  ? 

If  we  are  to  be  placed  on  a  par  with,  and  subject  to  the 
crusade  against  betting-houses  and  the  notorious  houses  of 
the  Haymarket,  the  sooner  we  abandon  our  profession  the 
better.  To  a  non-professional  looker-on  these  proceedings 
would  imply  that  poisoning  the  public  must  be  a  profitable 
traffic,  which  required  to  be  put  down  by  force  of  law.  Are 
we  supposed  to  be  so  ignorant  with  regard  to  our  personal 
interests  and  welfare  that  we  cannot  be  entrusted  with  the 
arrangements  best  suited  to  the  requirements  of  our  indivi¬ 
dual  establishments  ?  Are  we  so  callous  to  the  result  of  care¬ 
less  dispensing  that  we  cannot  realize  the  horrors  thereof 
and  the  inevitable  ruin  it  may  entail  upoffius  ?  Why  this  great 
outcry  against  poisons  at  the  present  moment  ? — we  have 
killed  neither  a  lord  nor  a  bishop ! 

The  majority  of  your  anonymous  advocates — (by  the  way, 
why  anonymous  ?  Are  they  ashamed  of  showing  a  bold  front, 
and  proving  that  they  are  none  other  than  dispensing  che¬ 
mists?) — have  written  their  “thema,”  with  a  “free  accom¬ 
paniment  ”  which  detracts  from  a  beauty  it  never  possessed ; 
and  the  force  of  the  composition  is  lost  owing  to  the  absence 
of  harmonious  facts.  For  instance,  that  “accidents  have 
continually  happened  to  human  life,”  etc.,  are  inadmissible 
false  alarms,  which  cannot  be  substantiated.  Since  the  Phar¬ 
macy  Act  was  passed  nearly  three  years  ago,  we  have  never 
enjoyed  greater  immunity  from  fatal  mistakes, — a  fact  that 
commends  itself  as  the  most  forcible  argument.  Why  not 
leave  well  alone,  and  allow  the  Act,  after  advancing  un¬ 
trammelled  so  far,  to  accomplish  that  for  which  it  was  origi¬ 
nally  intended,  namely,  to  provide  dispensers  of  education 
with  a  store  of  knowledge  equal  to  the  requirements  of  their 
profession?  We  have  allowed  the  outward,  visible  sign  to 
-engross  our  attention  too  long.  If  we  would  but  spend 
the  time  we  waste  in  studying  bottles,  labels,  etc.,  in  making 
ourselves  better  acquainted  with  the  various  preparations  we 
use,  and  never  allow  them  to  pass  through  our  hands  with¬ 
out  proper  recognition,  poisoning  would  become  a  thing  of 
the  past,  and  we  should  then  have  accomplished  what  the 
.storing  of  poisons  can  never  attain. 

London,  Jan.  31st,  1871.  T.  C.  Jones. 


.  — I  venture  again  to  make  a  few  remarks  on  the  keep¬ 

ing  and  storing  ot  poisons.  In  my  former  letter,  you  kindly 
inserted,  I  mentioned  the  fact  that  in  Glasgow  nearly  two- 
thirds  ot  our  drug  retailers  are  surgeons  and  doctors,  who 
keep  open  shop  for  the  retailing  and  dispensing  of  poisons. 
It  has  been  a  custom  to  in  dee  the  shop  a  stepping-stone  to 
success  in  their  profession  among  the  poorer  classes,  who 
(trom  economy,  1  presume)  find  a  boy  at  a  salary  of  four  or 
.e  shillings  a  week  sufficiently  qualified  to  dispense,  ma¬ 
nipulate  and  take  charge  ot  the  shop  during  the  greater  jiart 
ot  the  day,  while  the  employer  is  visiting.  Xour  article  of 
the  present  week  on  dispensing  in  surgeries,  illustrates  a  case 
very  much  to  the  point.  I  am  convinced  if  the  father  of  that 
unfortunate  child  had  not  been  able  to  recognize  the  appear¬ 
ance  ot  narcotism,  the  medical  man  would  assuredly  have 
taken  advantage  of  the  old  refuge,  “  unfavourable  symp¬ 
toms  set  in,  the  child  buried  out  of  sight,  the  apprentice 
would  begin  anew  dispensing  his  thousand  prescriptions  until 
the  next  ’cute  father  turned  up.  Is  it  not  very  natural  to 
expect  such  cases  to  happen  here  ?  I  am  certain  I  speak  for 
my  brethren  that  we  have  no  objection  to  a  reasonable  ar¬ 
rangement  for  the  storing  of  poisons,  and  also  that  we  bear 
no  antipathy  to  surgeon-druggists.  What  we  want  is  simply 
fair-play.  I  would  suggest  that  all  surgeons  and  doctors 
who  keep  open  shops  should  be  placed  on  the  same  restrictive 
platform  with  us,  and  also  that  they  should  be  compelled  to 
employ  a  properly  qualified  anti  examined  assistant. 

If.  F.  S.  (p.  578)  observes  on  my  former  letter  that  quali¬ 
fication  is  no  protection  to  the  public.  I  am  astonished  he 
should  place  so  little  favour  on  education,  as  he  must  know 
that  the  great  aim  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  has  been 
the  advancement  of  pharmaceutical  knowledge,  so  that  we 
may  be  more  fully  able  to  guard  against  mistakes,  and  that 
we  should  be  led  to  feel  that  our  privileges  had  given  us 
greater  responsibility.  I  hope  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
will  let  no  opportunity  slip  so  as  to  bring  all  dispensers  of 
medicine  into  the  fold.  I  think  that  this  should  have  formed 
a  most  important  part  of  the  Bill  at  the  outset. 

Glasgow,  February  bth,  1871.  Pharmaceutist. 

Sir, — Allow  me  to  commend  to  the  consideration  of  our 
worthy  Council,  in  re  the  storing  of  poison  question,  the  fol¬ 
lowing  quotation  from  the  works  of  Dr.  B.  Franklin : — 

“  Perhaps,  in  general,  it  would  be  better  if  Government 
meddled  no  further  with  trade  than  to  protect  it  and  let  it 
take  its  course.  Most  of  the  statutes  or  acts,  edicts,  arrests 
and  placarts  of  parliaments,  princes  and  states  ”  (and  I  may 
add  Councils  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society)  “  for  regulating, 
directing,  or  restraining  of  trade,  have,  we  think,  been  either 
political  blunders  or  jobs  obtained  by  artful  men  for  private 
advantage  under  pretence  of  public  good.  When  Colbert 
assembled  some  of  the  wise  old  merchants  of  France,  and 
desired  their  advice  and  opinion  how  he  could  best  serve  and 
promote  commerce,  then*  answer,  after  consultation,  was  in 
three  words,  Laisser  nous  faire — ‘  Let  us  alone.’  It  is  said 
by  a  very  solid  writer  of  the  same  nation,  that  he  is  well  ad¬ 
vanced  in  the  science  of  politics  who  knows  the  full  force  of 
that  maxim,  jpas  trop  gouverner,  ‘not  to  govern  too  much;’ 
which,  perhaps,  would  be  of  more  use  when  applied  to  trade 
than  in  any  other  public  concern.” 

I  will  not,  Sir,  impair  the  force  of  the  foregoing  quotation 
by  any  observation  of  my  own.  A  Founder. 

36,  Sloane  Square,  S.W.,  February  6th,  1871. 


Sir, — If  the  discussion  upon  the  “  poisons  storing  regula¬ 
tions  ”  should  not  result  in  the  withdrawal  of  the  proposed 
regulations  or  in  the  adoption  of  some  definite  policy,  it  will, 
at  least,  have  formed  a  most  instructive  medium  for  the  ex¬ 
pression  of  trade  opinions,  embracing  as  it  does  so  many 
phases  of  practical  interest  to  the  chemist  and  druggist.  I 
shall  not  follow  your  correspondents  through  the  details  of 
the  question,  for,  opposing  the  scheme,  as  I  do  in  toto,  it  will 
be  unnecessary  for  me  to  depart  from  the  question  as  to  the 
expediency  of  the  proposed  legislation.  After  years  of  per¬ 
severing  agitation,  conducted  with  praiseworthy  energy, 
mainly  by  our  metropolitan  brethren  ( palmam  qui  meruit 
ferat),  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  successfully  carried  the 
present  Pharmacy  Act.  The  result  is  that  the  educational 
test  is  compulsory  for  every  future  chemist  and  druggist. 
The  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  nominally  assisted 
by  the  Privy  Council,  frame  regulations  for  conducting  the 
examinations.  If  the  present  curriculum  has  not  enough  ot 
the  practical  character  in  it  to  give  a  good  trade  education 


G60 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  11,  wi. 


whereby  the  public  may  be  protected,  by  all  means  let  the 
Council  make  it  more  practical,  and  members  and  students 
will  cheerfully  assist  in  carrying  out  the  alterations  deemed 
necessary.  But  I  cannot  conceive  any  managing  body  or 
Council,  after  having  successfully  pursued  a  steadily  increas¬ 
ing  and  popular  mode  of  improving  the  qualification  and 
status  of  the  chemist  and  druggist,  stultifying  their  previous 
exertions  by  wishing  to  force  the  adoption  of  an  obnoxious, 
unnecessary  and  arbitrary  scheme  of  shop -arrangement  for 
tlie  storing  of  poisons.  Moral,  or  rather  educational,  im¬ 
provement  has  already  answered  admirably ;  why  then  sup¬ 
plement  it  by  force  ?  The  responsibility  of  the  trade  being 
established,  why  may  not  their  discretionary  power  be  safely 
trusted  f  And  even  in  cases  where  there  is  an  absence  of  ave¬ 
rage  care  and  observation,  restrictive  legislation  will  not  supply 
the  wanting  necessities.  Again,  just  as  a  growing  feeling  of 
confidence  is  springing  up  in  the  public  mind  towards  the 
long. despised  chemist  and  druggist,  ought  it  to  be  disturbed 
or  checked  ?  for,  as  regards  poisons  generally,  my  opinion  is 
that  a  great  error  lias  been  committed  in  making  the  word 
poison  so  common,  that  the  absurdity  of  its  use  in  many  cases 
brings  it  into  contempt.  The  majority  of  people  have  no 
just  conception  of  the  varying  potency  of  poisons  ;  and  as  the 
yellow  primrose  was  to  Wordsworth’s  idiot  hero,  so  to  the 
public  generally  is  the  word  poison,  whether  it  be  applied  to 
aconite  liniment  or  paregoric  elixir. 

If  the  probabilities  of  the  origin  of  all  the  railway  accidents 
that  have  ever  occurred,  were  compelled,  by  legislative  enact¬ 
ment,  to  be  kept  constantly  before  railway  officials  and  means 
adopted  for  the  prevention  of  a  repetition  of  one  and  all  of 
such  accidents,  and  the  red  danger-signal  constantly  displayed 
to  show  not  merely  actual  danger,  but  the  caution  necessary 
to  prevent  probable  danger,  would  railway  accidents  cease  ? 
Would  not  one  moiety  of  the  protected  public  always  travel 
in  fear  and  trembling,  seeing  death  or  injury  in  every  crimson 
flash  of  the  signal ;  while  another  moiety  would  regard  the  pre¬ 
cautions  with  such  contempt  as  would  probably  even  create  a 
victim  to  a  system  which  an  over-cautious  policy  had  intro¬ 
duced?  Let  moderation  guide  the  Council.  All  over- drawn 
or  over-cautious  measures  are  failures.  We  may  easily,  like 
a  modern  Frankenstein,  raise  a  monster  in  this  word  poison 
which  cannot  be  subdued.  And  whose  soothing  eloquence 
shall  restore  to  a  disturbed  public  that  peace  of  ignorance 
and  confidence  which  a  poison  agitation  of  possible  dangers 
shall  have  destroyed?  Our  Council  need  not  fall  into  any 
error  of  this  kind ;  they  have  abundant  means  of  letting  the 
subject  drop.  Not  the  least  is,  that  a  Parliament  overtaxed 
with  necessary  national  legislation,  will  not  lament  the 
absence  of  a  measure  which  would  cause  their  time  to  be 
wasted  upon  unnecessary  legislation  concerning  chemists’ 
shop-fittings. 

A  COUNTRY  PHARMACEUTICAL  CHEMIST. 


A  Reclamation. 

Sir, — -In  your  Journal  of  the  21st  inst.  there  is  a  letter 
signed  “Fair  Play,”  Brighton,  in  which  my  name  is  intro¬ 
duced  in  connection  with  a  poisoning  case  which  occurred  in 
an  establishment  I  was  formerly  managing  partner  of.  I 
therefore  wish  to  let  it  be  known,  through  your  Journal,  as  an 
answer  to  all  communications  on  the  same  subject,  that  I  re¬ 
tired  from  the  business  some  time  before  the  occurrence  took 
place,  nor  was  I  in  any  way  connected  with  it,  neither  was 
any  one  of  the  name  of  Oldham  a  partner  in  the  house. 

George  Oldham. 

1,  Upper  Mount  Street,  Dublin. 


Druggists’  Charges. 

Sir, — As  tending  to  throw  some  light  upon  the  present 
state  of  trade  ethics  in  our  locality,  we  enclose  an  advertise¬ 
ment  cut  from  our  local  papers  for  the  benefit  of  your  readers. 
It  emanates  from  a  “Pharmaceutical”  Chemist  in  this 
city : 

DRU G GISTS  AND  THEIR  CHARGES.— Look  at  the 
Extract  from  the  Lancet  copied  into  the  Local  Papers. 
One  man  charges  4s.  for  a  6  oz.  Bottle  of  Medicine,  another 
Is.  Qd.  for  the  same.  I  charge,  on  an  average  only  9d.  Can 
it  be  possible  that  the  public  will  still  submit  to  such  an 
enormous  imposition  ? 

If  worth  an  insertion  in  the  Journal  please  put  it  in,  and 
oblige  I.  and  I.  W. 

Jan.Zlst,  1871. 


Chloric  Ether  and  Chloroform  Discovery. 

Detur  Digniori! 

Sir, — I  think  it  will  interest  those  who  are  still  desirous  to 
trace  the  original  discovery  of  chloric  ether  and  chloroform, 
to  say  that  there  is  not  much  in  this  alleged  use  of  chloric 
ether  by  Sir  W.  Lawrence ;  the  great  credit  is  due  to  Mr. 
Waldie,  the  chemist,  as  recently  shown  in  a  pamphlet  by  his 
brother,  who  was  decidedly  the  person  who  explained  its  use, 
and,  in  a  long  acquaintanceship  with  the  late  Sir  J.  Simpson, 
induced  the  latter  to  adopt  it  long  before  Sir  W.  Lawrence. 
It  is  most  unfair  the  manner  in  which  that  pamphlet  has 
been  treated  by  certain  medical  journals,  as  poor  Waldie  was 
only  a  “common  chemist,”  not  a  baronet. 

Dr.  Formby,  of  Liverpool,  and  the  eminent  French  phy¬ 
sician  Flourens,  both  had  adopted  these  agents  before  any  one 
else,  but  Waldie  was  the  chemist  who  supplied  Formby,  and 
urged  it  on  Simpson ;  without  Waldie  (the  brother)  we  should 
never  have  heard  perhaps  of  chloroform  as  a  medicinal  agent, 
for  it  lay  forgotten  amongst  Liebig’s  discoveries. 

C.  E. 

P.S.  In  an  American  Dispensatory,  Wood  and  Bache’s,  this 
curious  phrase  occurs  many  years  before  even  Waldie,  “in 
affections  characterized  by  difficult  respiration,  chloroform 
may  be  used  by  inhalation,”  but  the  operation  was  apparently 
lost. 


M.  P.  S.  complains  that  many  persons  have  been  registered 
as  chemists  and  druggists  who  were  in  business  previous  to 
the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy  Act,  1868,  and  are  quite  incom¬ 
petent  to  perform  the  duties  of  such.  This  must  necessarily 
be  the  case,  and  until  the  transition  stage  has  passed,  such 
cases  as  he  refers  to  can  only  be  remedied  by  reporting  them 
to  the  Secretary,  who  will  lay  the  matter  before  the  Council 
of  the  Society,  and  if  upon  investigation  any  deception  has 
been  practised,  the  registrar  will  be  ordered  to  strike  them 
off  the  register.  Our  correspondent  will  notice  that  several 
such  cases  have  occurred,  and  he  had  better  communicate 
with  the  Secretary,  if  he  thinks  he  can  make  out  a  clear  case 
against  the  parties  of  whom  he  complains. 

The  Position  of  Pharmacists. — A  correspondent  in  Cardiff 
sends  us  the  card  of  a  neighbour  who  combines  the  trades  of 
tailor,  draper  and  stationer  with  that  of  chemist  and  druggist, 
and  inquires  whether  this  is  an  instance  of  attempting  to 
elevate  the  trade.  It  is  unfortunate  but,  perhaps,  unavoid¬ 
able  that  in  some  obscure  localities  such  heterogeneous  com¬ 
binations  are  matter  of  necessity  to  some  extent.  We  hope 
the  advertiser  is  at  any  rate  qualified  to  act  as  a  pharmacist, 
and  in  that  case  we  do  not  object  to  his  being  also  a  tailor 
and  draper,  if  he  likes  it. — Ed.  Ph.  J. 

J.  Wain  (Ripley). — You  can  come  up  for  examination  at 
any  time,  even  before  you  are  apprenticed. 

Messrs.  Peal  and  Son. — The  advertisement  and  stamps 
have  been  forwarded  to  the  publishers. 

“  Atistria”  has  forgotten  to  forward  his  name  and  address. 

“  Young  Apprentice.” — Dies  is  nominative,  die  ablative. 
Each  is  correct,  according  to  the  ellipsis  intended.  In  the  case 
cited,  the  latter  would  be  preferable. 


NOTICE. 

We  have  this  week  received  several  letters  enclosing  adver¬ 
tisements  and  stamps.  In  order  to  prevent  loss  of  time,  we 
beg  to  call  our  correspondents’  attention  to  the  notice  pub¬ 
lished  every  week  in  this  Journal,  that  communications  for 
this  Journal,  and  books  for  review,  etc.,  should  be  addressed 
to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square;  instructions  from 
Members  and  Associates  respecting  the  transmission  of  the 
Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Bremridge,  Secretary,  17, 
Bloomsbury  Square,  W.C.;  advertisements  to  Messrs. 
Churchill,  New  Burlington  Street,  London,  W.  Envelopes 
indorsed  “Pharm.  Jourp.” 

—  -^7-  ■■■  .... 

Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  J.  R.  Jackson,  Mr.  J.  Barnard,  Mr.  J.  J.  Thomas,  Mr. 
H.  J.  Woolley,  Mr.  H.  Humphrey,  Mr.  J.  T.  Sandell,  Pro¬ 
fessor  Gamgee,  Mr.  G.  Sant,  Mr.  J.  Agnew,  Mr.  Miller,  Mr. 
F.  Barrett,  Mr.  R.  Corner,  Mr.  A.  Uttley,  Mr.  H.  M.  Davies, 
Manchester  Chemists  and  Druggists’  Association,  A.  M.  P-, 
J.  T.,  F.  C.  S.,  W.  B.  S.,  M.  P.  S.,  J.  T.  B.,  T.  W.,  W.  J.,. 

I  “  Veritas,”  Chemist’s  Assistant,  Student,  An  Assistant. 


February  18, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


GG1 


BRISTOL  PHARMACOLOGY. 

BY  W.  W.  STODDART,  F.C.S.,  F.G.S. 

( Continued  from  pag  e  003.) 

Nat.  Order.  Crucifers. 

Tliis  Order  of  plants  is  a  remarkable  group,  botli 
for  chemical  and  botanical  characteristics. 

They  all  contain  nitrogen  and  sulphur  in  large 
quantities,  and  when  decaying  give  off  most  offensive 
odours.  In  certain  conditions  all  form  peculiar  com¬ 
pounds  of  sulphocyanic  acid  with  peculiar  radicals ; 
nevertheless,  none  are  poisonous,  and  a  great  num¬ 
ber  are  used  for  food. 

The  floral  type  is  peculiarly  cruciform,  the  calyx 
having  four  sepals,  and  the  corolla  four  petals.  With 
a  few  exceptions  the  crucifers  produce  a  bivalved  pod 
or  siliqua,  which  is  usually  two-celled. 

The  plants  of  this  Order  are  easily  distinguished 
l>3r  the  tetradynamous  stamens,  or  while  numbering 
six,  four  are  long  and  two  short. 

Cochlear ia  Armor acia  (Linn.). 

This  well-known  auxiliary  to  the  roast  beef  of  old 
England  is  found  wild  on  the  banks  of  the  river 
Avon,  between  Bristol  and  Keynsliam,  and  also  at 
Stapleton,  near  the  Frome. 

It  is  distinguished  from  all  the  other  species  of 
Cochlearia  bv  the  elongated  form  and  large  size  of 
the  leaves.  As  before  mentioned,  its  long  tapering 
root  has  been  mistaken  for  that  of  the  aconite,  but 
may  easily  be  recognized  by  its  light  colour  and 
pungent  odour.  The  fresh  root  is  the  only  part  of 
the  plant  used  in  the  B.  P.,  as  an  ingredient  in  the 
Sp.  Armor.  Co. 

What  is  usually  termed  the  root  includes  not  only 
the  root  proper,  but  also  the  rhizome  or  underground 
stem,  for  the  latter  produces  buds,  and  multiplies 
with  great  rapidity  beneath  the  surface  of  the  ground. 

To  the  chemist,  horseradish  is  exceedingly  in¬ 
teresting,  because  it  contains  4  per  cent,  of  a  power¬ 
fully  pungent  oil,  which  is  generally  regarded  as  a 
salt  of  the  radical  allyl  (C3H5),  although  Hofmann 
has-  stated  it  to  be  the  salt  of  another  radical,  butyl 
or  tetryl  (C4H#).  By  most  authors,  however,  the  oil 
of  horseradish  is  considered  as  the  sulpliocyanate  of 
allyl  (CSHSC NS). 

It  is  a  very  singular  fact  that  the  cruciferous 
plants  produce  compounds  of  sulphur  and  allyl  that 
are  so  well  known  in  the  genus  Allium,  plants  so  dis¬ 
similar  in  habit  and  construction  as  to  be  in  both 
exogenous  and  endogenous  divisions  of  the  vegetable 
kingdom. 

In  every  part  of  the  world  the  garlic  flavour  seems 
to  be  a  favourite.  The  Israelites  of  old  regretted 
the  loss  of  their  leeks  and  onions.  The  Englishman 
likes  the  addition  of  a  shallot,  mustard,  or  horse¬ 
radish  to  his  beefsteak.  The  Spaniard  selects  the 
onion,  and  the  Asiatic  assafoetida. 

Even  the  Brazilian  has  chosen  the  petiveria  and 
sequieria,  both  of  which  have  an  alliaceous  flavour. 

The  whole  of  these  owe  their  smell  and  taste  to 
allyl,  which  in  the  onion  tribe  exists  as  a  sulphide. 

For  the  purpose  of  experimentally  examining  the 
oil  of  horseradish,  the  author  scraped  three  ounces 
of  the  fresh  root,  and  placed  it  in  a  glass  retort  with 
three  ounces  of  distilled  water ;  a  distillate  was  ob¬ 
tained,  containing  about  half  a  drachm  of  a  yellow¬ 
ish  oil,  which  smelt  strongly  of  horseradish,  irritated 
the  eyes,  and  was  so  extremely  pungent  that  the 

Third  Series,  No.  34. 


tongue  was  nearly  blistered.  The  product  was  then 
placed  in  a  small  retort  with  chloride  of  calcium, 
and  again  distilled  at  a  Ioav  temperature.  About 
half  a  drachm  of  a  nearly  colourless  oil  was  obtained, 
perfectly  soluble  in  alcohol.  The  addition  of  am¬ 
monia  immediately  threw  down  crystals  of  tliiosin- 
namine.  So  strong  was  the  odour  of  the  oil,  that 
it  could  be  detected  all  over  the  house.  The  oil  is 
heavier  than  water,  thus  differing  from  the  oil  of 
garlic,  which  is  lighter,  and  is  not  acted  upon  by 
alkalies. 

8  inapis  nigra  (Linn.). 

This  plant  occurs  very  commonly  throughout  the 
district  on  liedgebanks,  and  waste  places.  In  Ben- 
tham’s  ‘  English  Flora’  the  mustard  plant  is  de¬ 
scribed  as  Brassica,  following  the  classification  of 
Boissier. 

Sinapis  nigra  is  distinguished  from  S.  alba  by 
being  nearly  smooth.  The  pod  is  without  the  long 
flattened  beak.  It  is  the  most  plentiful  source  of 
flour  of  mustard,  although  both  species  are  used. 
The  seeds  of  8.  nigra  are  much  more  pungent  than 
those  of  8.  alba,  and  differ  entirely  in  chemical 
composition. 

In  manufacturing  flour  of  mustard,  the  seeds,  after 
being  crushed  and  pounded  in  mortars,  are  subjected 
to  several  siftings.  Four  qualities  are  supplied  to 
the  trade,  viz.  seconds,  fine,  superfine,  and  double 
superfine, — the  last  being  the  purest,  but  seldom 
kept  by  the  grocer.  No  article  is  more  adulterated 
or  lowered  than  flour  of  mustard,  and  seldom  at  the 
dinner  table  can  this  condiment  be  had  with  even  a 
moderately  pungent  taste.  Some  of  the  witnesses 
before  the  Parliamentary  Committee  plainly  stated 
that  the  adulterants  used  were  flour  of  wheat,  tur¬ 
meric,  capsicum,  black  pepper,  potato  starch,  plaster 
of  Paris,  charlock,  pea  flour,  radish,  rape,  linseed 
meal  and  yellow  ochre  !  !  !  In  short,  if  the  micro- 
scopist  wants  a  little  experience  in  the  detection  of 
adulterants,  he  cannot  do  better  than  get  a  few 
samples  of  so-called  mustard. 

The  most  valuable  constituents  of  black  mustard 
seeds  are  the  fixed  oil,  myrosin,  and  myronate  of 
potassium. 

When  subjected  to  pressure,  the  seeds  yield  about 
23  per  cent,  of  a  yellowish -hr o wn  oil,  which  does  not 
easily  turn  rancid,  and  has  a  sp.  gr.  ‘910.  It  is 
soluble  in  four  parts  of  ether  and  1000  parts  of 
alcohol.  Generally  the  oil  is  obtained  from  the 
dressings  of  the  mustard  seeds. 

The  most  important  product  is  the  essential  oil 
mentioned  in  the  Pharmacopoeia,  and  which,  singu¬ 
larly  enough,  does  not  exist  in  the  seeds  at  all,  but 
is  produced  by  the  action  of  water  on  the  myrosin 
and  myronate  of  potassium. 

Myrosin  is  a  nitrogenous  ferment,  and  performs 
the  part  in  mustard  that  synaptase  does  in  the 
almond.  It  may  be  easily  prepared  by  exhausting 
with  cold  water,  evaporating  to  the  consistence  of  a 
syrup,  and  precipitating  by  alcohol.  Like  albumen 
myrosin  is  coagulable  by  heat. 

Myronate  of  potassium  (K,  C10HlgNS2O10),  when 
crystallized  from  water,  appears  as  anhydrous 
rhombic  prisms,  but  when  from  alcohol  as  very  beau¬ 
tiful  little  tufts  radiating  from  the  centre.  To  obtain 
tliis  salt,  the  seeds  arc  exhausted  with  twice  their 
weight  of  alcohol.  The  pressed  residue  is  then 
mixed  with  three  times  its  weight  of  cold  water,  and 
left  for  twenty -four  hours,  pressed  and  filtered,  lhe 


GG  2 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  18, 1871. 


aqueous  solution  must  be  evaporated  nearly  to  dry¬ 
ness,  with  the  addition  of  a  small  portion  ot  baiium 
carbonate,  and  boiled  with  a  large  quantity  of  alco¬ 
hol.  On  distilling  off  the  alcohol  the  myronate  crys¬ 
tallizes.  About  90  grains  are  produced  from  2  lbs. 
of  seed.  With  a  little  solution  of  myrosin  these 
crystals  yield  the  oil  of  mustard,  which  is  the  sulplio- 
cyanate  of  allyl. 

We  may  now  easily  understand  the  chemical 
changes  that  take  place  when  table  mustard,  or  a 
mustard  poultice  is  prepared.  The  water  dissolves 
the  myrosin,  sets  it  at  liberty  to  act  on  the  myronate 
of  potassium,  and  from  its  decomposition  is  produced 
the  essential  oil,  acid  potassium  sulphate,  and 
glucose. 

K,C10H19NSsO10=C3H?CNS  +  C6H12  06+KHS0. 

Myronate  of  Potassium.  01.  Sinapis.  Glucose.  Acid  Sul' 

phate  of  Potassium. 

Alcohol,  acids,  potassium  carbonate,  or  heat  prevent 
this  change,  so  that  the  popular  notion  of  preparing 
mustard  for  the  table,  or  as  a  poultice,  with  vinegar 
or  boiling  water  is  a  great  mistake.  Cold  water  and 
time  for  maceration  are  the  true  scientific  and  best 
method.  When  making  the  French  preparation 
with  vinegar,  the  oil  must  first  be  developed  with 
cold  water,  and  then  the  vinegar  added,  because 
when  the  oil  is  once  formed,  acids  do  not  alter  its  pro¬ 
perties. 

The  natural  connection  between  the  mustards  and 
the  garlics  has  been  mentioned,  and  is  easily  ex¬ 
plained  by  a  chemical  experiment,  the  object  of 
which  is  to  convert  the  oil  of  mustard  (sulphocya- 
nate  of  allyl)  into  oil  of  garlic  (sulpiride  of  allyl). 
This  is  accomplished  by  heating  the  former  to  a 
temperature  of  250°  for  some  hours  in  a  sealed  tube 
with  dipotassic  sulphide  (K2  S) : — 

2  (C3H5CNS)  +  K2S=  (C3H5)2  S  +  2  (KCNS). 

Oil  of  Mustard.  Oil  of  Garlic.  Potassic  Sul- 

phocyanide. 

The  well-known  pungent  smell  of  the  volatile  oil  is 
made  use  of,  to  detect  the  adulteration  of  oil-cake 
with  mustard-cake,  and  sold  as  food  for  cattle.  A 
little  of  the  suspected  cake  is  stirred  with  a  little  luke¬ 
warm  water,  and  placed  aside  for  a  few  hours.  If  a 
very  small  percentage  of  mustard  be  used,  it  will 
soon  become  apparent  by  the  peculiar  odour  of  oil  of 
mustard. 

Sinapis  alba  (Linn.). 

This  species  is  found  in  the  same  locality,  and  in 
somewhat  greater  abundance  than  that  already  de¬ 
scribed,  from  which  it  differs  by  the  pinnatifid  leaves 
and  bristly  pods. 

It  also  differs  essentially  in  its  chemical  composi¬ 
tion.  The  seeds  of  the  white  mustard  contain  no 
myronate  of  potassium,  and  therefore  cannot  produce 
any  volatile  oil.  They,  however,  contain  a  larger 
proportion  of  the  nitrogenous  ferment  myrosin,  which 
explains  the  reason  why  a  mixture  of  black  and 
white  seeds  produces  a  better  flour  for  dietetic  use 
than  the  black  alone,  viz.  by  furnishing  a  more 
plentiful  supply  of  myrosin  for  the  decomposition  of 
the  myronic  acid  in  the  black. 

Instead  of  the  myronate  of  potassium,  the  white 
mustard-seeds  contain  a  cry stalliz able  compound 
called  sulphocyanate  of  sinapin.  It  may  be  pro¬ 
cured  by  exhausting  the  seeds,  first  with  ether  and 
then  with  hot  alcohol.  The  greater  part  of  the  alco¬ 
hol  is  distilled  off1,  when  prismatic  crystals  separate. 


Sulphocyanate  of  sinapin  (C16H23N05,CNHS)  is 
inodorous  and  bitter.  It  is  coloured  yellow  by  am¬ 
monia,  strychnine,  morphine,  quinine  and  nicotine, 
but  not  narcotine  or  salicine.  It  is  reddened  by 
nitric  acid  and  persalts  of  iron.  This  explains  the 
curious  circumstance  that  percliloride  of  iron  red¬ 
dens  an  infusion  of  white  but  not  of  black  mustard. 
The  slightly  pungent  taste  of  white  mustard  is 
caused  by  the  action  of  the  myrosin  moistened  with 
water  upon  the  sulpliocyanide  of  sinapin,  forming  an 
acrid  but  not  a  volatile  principle. 

When  acted  upon  by  alkalies,  the  sinapin  salt  is 
converted  into  another  base,  sincalin  (C5H18NO), 
potassic  sinapate,  and  potassium  sulphocyanate. 

CJ6H23N05,CNHS  +  3KH0 

Sulphocy.  Sinapin. 

=  CuH10K2O5  +  C5H,3NO  +  CNKS  +  2H2O. 

Potass.  Sinap.  Sincalin.  Pot.  Sulphocy. 

On  pressure,  the  seeds  of  the  white  mustard  will 
yield  sometimes  as  much  as  30  per  cent,  of  fixed  oil. 

The  microscopic  structure  of  the  mustard-seed  is 
extremely  interesting,  especially  in  the  case  of  the 
white,  which  is  essentially  different  from  the  black. 

The  seeds  of  both  have  a  husk,  built  up  with 
three  layers  of  cells,  or  tunics.  The  exterior  tunic 
consists  of  a  transparent  series  of  hexagonal  cells 
inch  broad  and  ^  inch  long,  and  united  to  each 
other  by  a  corrugated  cell-wall.  In  the  centre  of 
each  is  an  aperture  surrounded  by  an  elastic  spiral 
fibre,  from  which  a  long  tube  passes  from  the  exte¬ 
rior  to  the  interior.  When  wetted  with  water  this 
elastic  apparatus  springs  forward,  projecting  from 
the  surface  like  the  schoolboy’s  “Jack  in  the  box,’ 
carrying  with  it  the  tube,  from  which  flows  a  muci¬ 
laginous  fluid.  It  is  distinctly  different  from  the 
well-known  spirals  of  the  Gollomia,  but  rather  re¬ 
sembles  the  cushion-springs  of  the  upholsterer, 
covered  with  an  exceedingly  fine  membrane.  The 
best  method  of  viewing  it  under  the  microscope  is 
by  the  aid  of  polarized  light  and  a  blue  selenite 
stage.  This  curious  compound  cell  is  totally  absent 
in  the  black  mustard- seeds. 

The  middle  tunic  is  a  single  layer  of  very  small 
cells,  averaging  only  inch,  and  filled  with  the 
colouring  matter.*  The  internal  coat  of  the  husk 
consists  of  a  layer  of  cells  about  -nho  i11  diame¬ 
ter,  and  irregular  in  shape  and  size.  The  seed  itself 
is  formed  of  minute  cells,  which  contain  a  large 
quantity  of  fixed  oils. 

Neither  iodine  nor  polarized  light  indicate  the  pre¬ 
sence  of  starch  in  any  part  of  the  mustard-seeds,  so 
that  an  admixture  of  wheat  or  other  flour  may  be 
readily  detected. 

Nat.  Order.  Linacea. 

This  small  Order,  although  only  numbering  three 
genera,  and  all  insignificant  in  size,  yet  have  played 
no  small  part  hi  the  history  of  mankind.  All  are 
famous  for  yielding  an  abundance  of  useful  products. 
Only  one  species  is  made  use  of  in  our  materia 
medica. 

Linum  usitatissimum  (Linn.). 

As  its  specific  name  denotes,  the  flax  plant  is 
most  valuable  for  many  purposes.  It  has  furnished 
our  garments  from  the  earliest  period.  It  is  the 
chief  ingredient  hi  our  pahits,  the  best  application 
for  a  burn,  and  a  most  excellent  food  for  our  cattle 
when  other  fodder  is  scarce.  To  it  the  surgeon  owes 


February  18, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


G63 


his  lint,  the  printer  his  paper,  the  navy  its  ropes, 
and  the  housewife  her  linen ;  and,  after  serving 
every  useful  purpose,  and  passing  into  the  rag-bag, 
these  invaluable  fibres  go — 

“  Into  the  paper-mill,  and  from  its  jaws 
Stainless  and  smooth  emerge.  Happy  shall  bo 
Its  renovation,  if  on  its  fair  page 
Wisdom  and  Truth  their  hallow’d  lineaments 
Trace  for  posterity.  So  shall  its  end 
Be  better  than  its  birth.” 

Indeed,  so  indispensable  has  the  success  of  the  flax 
crop  been  considered,  that  its  failure  has  been  fre¬ 
quently  described  as  a  national  calamity,  and  is 
mentioned  by  Moses  as  one  of  the  Egyptian  punish¬ 
ments. 

Hardly  an  author  can  be  mentioned  who  does  not 
in  some  way  or  other  speak  of  this  lowly  plant. 

Virgil  describes  the  flax  crops,  with  the  other  pro¬ 
fitable  speculations  of  the  husbandman : — 

“  Urit  enim  lini  campum  seges,  urit  avenoe.’ 

Horace  tells  of  the  benefit  derived  from  straining  his 
Massican  wine  through  the  linen  filter : — 

“  ut  ilia 

Integrum  perdunt  lino  vitiata  saporem.” 

The  products  of  this  humble  plant,  familiar  as 
they  are  to  every  apprentice,  most  commonly  are 
allowed  to  pass  by  without  the  slightest  thought 
about  their  hidden  interest.  To  the  student  the  tow, 
the  linseed  oil,  the  linseed  and  the  linseed  meal  are 
among  the  wonders  of  nature. 

Specimens  of  the  Linuin  usitcitissimum  may  be 
collected  at  Henbury,  Keynsham,  Ashton,  and  seve¬ 
ral  other  places  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Bristol. 

The  microscopic  structure  of  the  seeds  and  stem 
of  the  flax  plant  must  not  be  passed  over,  because  its 
knowledge  is  very  necessary  to  the  analyst,  who  is 
often  called  upon  to  defeat  the  schemes  of  the  adul¬ 
terator  of  oil  cake,  linseed  meal,  or  various  fabrics. 

When  the  stem  of  the  flax  plant  is  soaked  in 
water  the  fibres  of  the  inner  bark,  or  liber,  may  be 
separated  for  examination.  From  these  is  produced 
our  tow.  When  a  few  fibres  are  examined  by  the 
microscope  they  are  seen  to  consist  of  long  cells  of 
ceflulin  from  to  Woo  inc]l  in  diameter.  These 
may  be  used  for  experimental  observations  on  the 
chemical  properties  of  cellulin  (CjgH^Oj.).  When 
tow  is  boiled  with  diluted  sulphuric  acid,  it  is  parti¬ 
ally  converted  into  dextrine  and  grape  sugar : — 

c19h3„  013  +  H2O  =  2(C6H10Os)  +  csh12o, 

Cellulin.  Dextrin.  Grape  Sugar. 


When  acted  upon  by  nitric  acid  or  alkalies,  oxalic 
acid  is  formed : — 


ClsHs0Ols  +  027  =  9  (C2H20,)  +  0H2O. 

Cellulin.  Oxalic  Acid. 


When  strong  nitric  and  sulphuric  acids  are  mixed 
with  flax  fibres,  pyroxylin  is  produced,  as  in  the 
B.P.:— 


C13H30 015  +  G HN 03  =  C13H24,  ON 02,  015  +  6 H20. 

Cellulin,  Nitric  Acid.  Pyroxylin. 


The  tow  that  is  most  generally  used  is  not  derived 
from  flax,  but  hemp,  a  member  of  the  nettle  family. 
It  differs  materially  in  its  properties.  When  ex¬ 
amined  under  a  high  power  the  fibres,  from  to 
inch  in  diameter,  are  seen  to  be  formed  of 
bundles  of  cells,  pointed  at  each  end,  closely  fitted 
to  each  other  and  cemented  together  by  a  peculiar 


resin.  Till  prepared  by  boiling  with  strong  nitro- 
hydrochloric  acid  the  fibres  are  opaque,  but  when 
cleansed  are  very  beautiful  objects  for  polarized 
light.  Hemp  cells  show  traces  of  transverse  striae, 
while  those  of  true  flax  are  longitudinal.  Flax  is 
not  coloured  by  nitric  acid,  while  hemp  is  reddened. 
When  the  tow  derived  from  hemp  is  placed  in  a  solu¬ 
tion  of  chlorinated  lime  it  turns  yellow  ;  when  well 
washed  with  water  and  immersed  in  sodic  sulphite, 
the  yellow  tint  is  changed  into  a  very  beautiful  crim¬ 
son.  This  is  not  the  case  with  flax,  but  is  due  to 
the  presence  of  the  hemp  resin. 

When  a  section  of  the  flax  seed  (linseed)  is  placed 
under  the  [microscope  four  distinct  coats  may  be 
seen. 

The  external  layer  is  composed  of  hexagonal  cells, 
measuring  about  hicli.  These  give  the  polish 
and  colour  to  the  seeds,  and  are  filled  with  mucila  ge; 
when  acted  upon  by  ’warm  water  these  cells  swell 
and  burst.  The  mucilage  is  slightly  acid,  and  turns 
a  ray  of  polarized  light  to  the  left ;  when  acted  upon 
by  iodine  with  sulphuric  acid,  or  zincic  chloride,  it 
is  not  coloured,  like  the  mucilage  from  many  other 
plants.  It  consists  chiefly  of  Arabic  acid  (C12H22  Oiih 
which  is  soluble  in  water,  and  bassorin  (Ci2H20O10), 
which  is  insoluble  unless  when  mixed  with  an  al¬ 
kali. 

The  next  coat  is  a  layer  of  rounded  cells  about 
inch  in  diameter  and  filled  with  granular  con¬ 
tents.  The  third  layer  is  built  up  with  long,  narrow 
cells,  about  -gfuo  hicli  in  diameter,  crossing  each 
other  at  right  angles,  as  if  for  the  purpose  of  making 
a  tough  envelope  for  the  seed. 

The  fourth  and  internal  layer  is  composed  of  irre¬ 
gular  cells,  smaller  than  the  others,  and  filled  with  a 
kind  of  resin,  which  readily  escapes  from  the  cells 
when  cut. 

The  seed  itself  consists  of  very  small  cells,  averag¬ 
ing  inch,  and  filled  with  oil  and  starch. 

The  seeds  yield  about  one-fifth  their  weight  of  oil, 
having  a  sp.  gr.  ’9395.  Pure  linseed  oil  dissolves 
in  five  times  its  weight  of  alcohol  when  boiling  and 
forty  when  cold.  It  solidifies  at  — 17°  0.,  takes  fire 
with  fuming  nitric  acid,  and  when  heated  for  some 
time  at  a  high  temperature,  becomes  converted  into 
a  dark  sticky  mass,  which  is  so  viscid  that  it  may 
be  used  as  birdlime. 

Linseed  oil  is  a  typical  example  of  what  is  called 
a  drying  oil.  By  exposure  to  the  atmosphere  it 
suffers  oxidation  and  becomes  resinified.  Linseed 
oil  probably  owes  this  property  to  the  presence  of 
linolein.  When  saponified  the  linolein  becomes 
converted  into  linoleic  acid  (CIGH23  02).  When 
boiled  with  lead  or  manganese  a  margarate  and 
linoleate  of  the  metal  are  formed,  and  the  drying 
quality  increased.  The  residue,  after  the  removal 
of  the  oil  by  pressure,  is  sold  as  oil  cake,  and  when 
ground,  as  linseed  meal.  Both  these  are  terribly 
adulterated  with  sand,  clay,  twigs,  sawdust  and  re¬ 
fuse  from  other  seeds,  and  which  can  only  be  de¬ 
tected  and  exposed  by  the  assistance  of  a  micro¬ 
scope. 

(To  be  continued.) 


Cowhage, — Mr.  J.  Weichselbaum,  of  Savannah,  in  a 
communication  to  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy , 
says  that  the  irritation  of  the  skin  caused  by  contact 
with  the  leguminous  pods  of  Mucuna  pruriens  (Cownage), 
may  he  instantaneously  removed  by  the  application  of 
camphor  liniment. 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  18, 1871 


664 


DECOMPOSITION  OF  ACETATE  OF 
MORPHIA  IN  SOLUTION.* * * § 

BY  JOHN  M.  MAISCH. 

That  aqueous  solutions  of  the  salts  of  most  offici¬ 
nal  alkaloids  cannot  be  kept  for  indefinite  periods  is 
well  known  to  all  pharmacists.  "Whether  distilled 
water,  or  boiled  and  filtered  hydrant  water — the 
Litter  containing  but  traces  of  foreign  matter — be 
used  for  such  solutions,  whitish  floccules  usually 
make  their  appearance  after  some  time,  and  gradually 
assume  a  soft  gelatinous  consistence,  with  the  appear¬ 
ance  of  algaceous  growth.  In  the  few  instances  in 
which  the  writer  assayed  such  altered  solutions  of 
the  sulphates  of  quinia  and  of  morphia,  a  diminution 
of  the  amount  of  alkaloid  has  not  been  observed,  and 
the  appearance  of  this  foreign  bodjr  was  therefore 
rather  attributed  to  accidental  organic  impurities  in 
1  lie  water,  and  this  belief  was  strengthened  by  the 
fact  that  the  bulk  of  these  fiocks  varies  in  solutions 
made  at  different  times,  and  after  some  time  appa- 
rently  does  not  increase,  and  that  the  presence  of  an 
excess  of  sulphuric  acid  prevents  such  a  formation 
or  at  least  diminishes  its  amount. 

It  is  also  well  known  that  a  neutral  solution  of 
acetate  of  ammonia  gradually  deposits  flocks,  and 
that  the  liquid  then  assumes  an  alkaline  reaction. 
This  was  first  observed  by  Horst, f  who  attributes 
this  decomposition  of  aqueous  solutions  of  acetate 
and  succinate  of  ammonia  to  the  light,  and  recom¬ 
mends  to  keep  them  in  a  dark  place;  if  ammonia 
was  replaced  by  potash  or  soda,  this  decomposition 
did  not  take  place.  I  am  not  aware  that  the  amount 
of  ammonia  has  ever  been  estimated  in  the  fresh 
i  ohition  and  after  the  decomposition  has  taken  place. 

A  solution  of  acetate  of  morphia  is  very  prone  to 
change ;  it  soon  acquires  a  brown-yellowish  colour, 
and  deposits  a  brown  matter.  A  decomposition  was 
already  observed  by  E.  Merck  in  1837,' J  when  expe¬ 
rimenting  about  the  best  process  for  obtaining  this 
salt  dry,  in  a  neutral  condition ;  he  states  that  the 
evaporation  of  its  solution  must  be  hastened  at  a 
low  temperature  by  a  current  of  air  or  other  means, 
since  it  is  decomposed  at  too  slow  an  evaporation. 
But  the  nature  of  this  decomposition  is  not  stated. 

Some  months  ago,  Dr.  Wm.  T.  Taylor,  of  this  city, 
informed  me  that  lie  prefers  to  use  a  solution  of  this 
salt  for  hypodermic  injection,  and  that  he  had  re¬ 
peatedly  observed  the  separation  in  the  liquid  of  one 
or  more  crystals,  after  keeping  it  on  hand  for  some 
time.§  A  careful  examination  of  a  crystal  proved  it 
to  be  pure  morphia,  entirely  free  from  acetic  or  other 
acid;  with  nitric  and  iodic  acids,  and  with  sesqui- 
cliloride  of  iron,  it  showed  the  reactions  characteristic 
for  morphia ;  it  had  an  alkaline  reaction  to  test 
papers,  and  neither  acetic,  carbonic  nor  any  mineral 
acid  could  be  discovered  by  the  appropriate  tests; 
heated  upon  platinum  foil  it  was  consumed  without 
leaving  any  residue. 

The  liquid  had  deposited  a  considerable  quantity 
ot  a  brown  matter,  and  was  of  a  pale  brownish 
colour.  It  was  neutral  to  test  paper,  but  with  pure 

*  Read  before  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy,  Dec. 
20,  1870.  J 

T  Archiv  d.  Pharm.  1823.  Buchner’s  ‘  Repertorium,’  vol. 
xviii.  p.  481. 

X  Archiv  d.  Pharm.  vol.  xxiv.  p.  46.  Buchner’s  Repert. 
vol.  lxiv.  p.  265. 

§  Mr.  W.  Martindale  has  already  drawn  attention  to  this 
in  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal,  2nd  series,  vol.  xi.  p.480. 
• — Ed.  Pharm.  Journ. 


sesquicliloride  of  iron  acquired  a  reddish  tint,  which 
disappeared  on  the  addition  of  muriatic  acid.  Acidu¬ 
lated  with  nitric  acid,  iodoliydrargyrate  of  potassiimi 
occasioned  a  turbidity.  Evidently  a  minute  portion 
of  acetate  of  morphia  remained  still  in  solution. 

To  the  kindness  of  Dr.  Taylor  I  am  indebted  for 
the  specimen  upon  the  table,  which  was  originally  a 
solution  of  8  grains  acetate  of  morphia  in  half  an 
ounce  of  distilled  water.  By  accident,  it  had  been 
set  aside,  and  was  lost  sight  of  for  several  months. 
On  examining  it,  the  deposit  and  the  change  in  colour 
of  the  solution,  mentioned  before,  were  observed,  and 
a  single  crystal  reaching  from  the  surface  of  the 
liquid  diagonally  through  the  solution  to  the  bottom 
of  the  vial  on  the  opposite  side. 

The  gradual  decomposition  of  acetic  acid  hi  crude 
vinegar  is  well  known,  and  it  is  possible  that  the 
changes  noticed  above  are  of  the  same  or  a  similar 
nature.  At  any  rate  it  is  very  evident  that  acetic 
acid,  in  contact  with  organic  bodies,  is  very  liable  to 
undergo  decomposition,  and  since  an  organic  body 
in  such  a  condition  is  apt  to  predispose  others,  with 
which  it  may  be  in  direct  contact,  to  similar  changes, 
it  is  a  question  of  great  moment  whether  the  addition 
of  acetic  acid  to  our  officinal  fluid  extracts  of  ergot 
and  of  ipecacuanha  may  not  lie  more  detrimental 
than  useful. — American  Journal  of  Pharmacy. 


©jajicrs  fat 

CHEMICAL  NOTES  TO  THE  PHARMACOPOEIA. 

BY  WILLIAM  A.  TILDEX,  B.SC.  LOND. 

DEMONSTRATOR  OF  PRACTICAL  CHEMISTRY  TO  THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 

Greta  Pileparata. — Chalk  is  a  native  carbonate 
of  lime  found  in  beds  of  considerable  extent  in  the 
south  of  England.  It  consists  almost  exclusively  of 
the  remains  of  microscopic  foraminiferous  and  other 
shells ;  it  therefore  contains  numerous  chemical  im¬ 
purities,  of  which  the  most  abundant  is  silica.  Mag¬ 
nesia,  alumina,  iron  and  phosphates  may  also  be 
present.  Precipitated  chalk,  however,  possesses  a 
distinctly  crystalline  structure,  and  if  carefully  pre¬ 
pared,  is  chemically  pure. 

Cupri  Sulphas. —  [§  CuS  045H20.  May  be  ob¬ 
tained  by  heating  sulphuric  acid  and  copper  together, 
dissolving  the  soluble  product  in  hot  water,  and 
evaporating  the  solution  until  crystallization,  takes 
place  on  cooling.]  In  this  process  half  of  the  sul¬ 
phuric  acid  is  decomposed,  with  evolution  of  sul¬ 
phurous  anhydride. 

Cu  -f-  2 H2 S 04  =  CuS04  +  S02  +  2H20. 

A  more  economical  plan,  and  one  commonly  adopted, 
consists  in  oxidizing  the  copper  by  heating  it  in  a 
reverberatory  furnace,  before  submitting  it  to  the  ac¬ 
tion  of  the  sulphuric  acid.  The  black  oxide  of  copper 
thus  formed  dissolves  easily  without  evolution  of 
gas. 

CuO  +  H2S04=:  CuS 04  +  H20. 

Like  many  other  sulphates,  this  salt  is  strongly 
acid  to  test  paper.  Heated  to  about  390°  F.  it  be¬ 
comes  white  and  anhydrous ;  in  this  state  it  is  em¬ 
ployed  as  a  test  for  water  in  absolute  alcohol.  Con¬ 
tact  with  moisture  causes  it  to  reassume  a  blue  colour. 

[§  The  aqueous  solution  gives  with  chloride  of 
barium  a  white  precipitate  (Ba  S04)  insoluble  in  by- 


February  18,1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


CG5 


drochloric  acid ;  and  a  maroon-red  precipitate  (ferro- 
cyanide  of  copper  (Cu2  Fe  C6N6)  with  yellow  prussiate 
of  potash.]  Much  of  the  blue  vitriol  of  commerce 
contains  a  considerable  amount  of  sulphate  of  iron ; 
to  detect  it  the  test  given  in  the  Pharmacopoeia  may 
be  employed.  It  is  first  mixed  with  chlorine  water, 
to  convert  the  ferrous  into  ferric  salt,  and  then  am¬ 
monia  is  added  in  excess.  If  iron  is  present  in  any 
notable  quantity,  it  makes  its  appearance  as  a  brown 
precipitate  floating  in  the  deep-blue  liquid.  Minute 
quantities  may,  however,  easily  be  overlooked. 

.Emplastrum  Plumb i. — Oxide  of  lead  (litharge)  in 
fine  powder  is  boiled  for  some  hours  with  olive  oil 
and  water,  the  latter  being  supplied  as  it  evaporates. 
The  Pharmacopoeia  gives  no  directions  as  to  what  is 
to  be  done  with  the  solution  of  glycerine,  which  is 
mixed  up  with  the  plaster  at  the  end  of  the  process ; 
most  of  it  is  usually  squeezed  out  and  rejected.  The 
reaction  which  takes  place  is  an  interesting  one. 
Olive  oil  is  a  mixture  of  a  fluid  fat,  olein,  and  a  solid, 
usually  called  margarine.  Since  the  olein  forms  the 
chief  bulk  of  the  oil,  we  will  consider  the  action  of 
the  hydrated  plumbic  oxide  upon  that  only. 


2(C3H53C13H3302)  +  3(Pb0,H20) 

Oleiu  or  Hydrated 

Trioleate  of  Glyceryl.  Oxide  of  Lead. 

=  2(C3H5  3  HO)  +  3(Pb2C13HR302) 

Glycerine  Lead  Plaster 

or  Hydrate  of  Glyceryl.  or  Oleate  of  Lead. 

This  decomposition  it  will  be  seen,  notwithstand¬ 
ing  the  complex  character  of  the  radicles  involved,  is 
really  a  very  simple  one,  being  a  double  decomposi¬ 
tion  analogous  to  that  by  which,  for  instance,  ferric 
hydrate  is  produced  from  a  ferric  salt. 


2(GF013)  + 

Oleate  of  Glyceryl. 

=2(G1'"3H0)  + 

Hydrate  of  Glyceiyl. 

.  Fe2  3  S  04  + 

Ferric  Sulphate. 

=  Fe2OHO  + 

Ferric  Hydrate. 


3(Pb2HO) 

Hydrate  of  Lead. 

3(Pb012). 

Oleate  of  Lead. 

ONaHO 

Hydrate  of  Sodium. 

3Na2S04. 

Sulphate  of  Sc  d'um. 


The  process  of  saponification  is  similar.  A  fat 
boiled  with  a  solution  of  caustic  alkali  yields  a  soap 
and  glycerine. 


Gl"/01s 

Olein  or 

OU*te  of  Glyceryl. 

=Gl,w3HO 

Glycerine  or 
Hydrate  of  Glyeeryl. 


+ 

+ 


3  Nall  O 

Hydrate  of  Sodium. 

3  Na  01. 

Hard  Soap 
or  Oleate  of  Sodium. 


Ferri  Arsen ias. — See  Acklam  Arseniosum. 

Ferri  Caebonas  Saccharata. —  [§  Carbonate  of 
iron,  FeC03,  mixed  with  peroxide  of  iron  and 
sugar.] 

Hot  solutions  of  carbonate  of  ammonia  and  sul¬ 
phate  of  iron  are  mixed  together,  and  the  resulting 
precipitate  after  the  effervescence  is  over,  is  collected 
and  washed  with  boiling  water.  The  mother  liquor 
having  been,  as  far  as  possible,  squeezed  out,  it  is 
then  mixed  with  sugar  and  dried  over  a  water-batli. 

The  white  precipitate  which  is  first  formed  is 
probably  the  ferrous  carbonate — 

(N  H4)2  C  03  +  Fe  S  04  =  (N  H4)2  S  04  +  Fe  C  03  ; 
but  it  very  soon  becomes  green,  carbonic  acid  gas 
escaping.  Its  constitution  is  then  probably  analo¬ 
gous  to  that  of  carbonate  of  zinc  : — 

3  Fe C 03  +  2H2G 

becoming  Fe  C03  2  [Fe  (H  0),]  +  2  C  02. 


Subsequently,  upon  exposure  to  the  air,  oxygen  is 
absorbed,  and  a  brown  hydrated  ferric  oxide  is  pro¬ 
duced.  To  retard  this  change  as  much  as  possible, 
it  is  advisable  to  employ  solutions  more  concen¬ 
trated  than  those  ordered  by  the  Pharmacopoeia.  I 
have  found  it  a  good  plan  to  throw  into  the  hot  solu¬ 
tion  of  the  carbonate  the  powdered  ferrous  sulphate 
in  the  solid  state,  and  to  keep  the  mixture  nearly 
boiling  for  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour.  In  this  way 
a  very  dense  precipitate  is  produced  which  does 
not  so  rapidly  undergo  oxidation. 

The  product  should  be  grey,  not  brown,  in  colour, 
and  should  effervesce  when  introduced  into  an  acid. 

[§  2  grams  dissolved  in  excess  of  hydrochloric 
acid  and  diluted  with  water,  continue  to  give  a  blue 
precipitate  with  the  red  prussiate  of  potash,  until  at 
least  22*  cubic  centimetres  of  the  volumetric  solu¬ 
tion  of  bichromate  of  potash  have  been  added.] 

The  action  of  bichromate  of  potash  on  an  acid  so¬ 
lution  of  a  ferrous  salt  is  shown  in  the  following 
equation : — 

6  Fe  Cl2  +  14HC1  +  IC2Cr207 
—  3Fe„Cl6“+  2  K  Cl  +  Cr2Cl6  +  7H20. 

Every  molecule  of  red  chromate,  weighing  295 
grams,  will  convert  into  a  ferric  salt  six  molecules  of 
any  ferrous  salt;  and,  at  the  end  of  the  reaction,  the 
solution  will  no  longer  give  a  blue  precipitate  with 
red  prussiate  of  potash.  Now,  20,000  c.  c.  of  the 
volumetric  solution  contain  one  molecule  of  the  red 
chromate.  If,  therefore,  22  c.  c.  of  solution  were 
used  in  an  experiment,  this  quantity  would  indicate 
the  presence  of  ’7650  gram  of  ferrous  carbonate  in 
the  2  grams  of  saccharated  carbonate.  For 

G  Molecules 
of  Fe  C03. 

20,000  :  22  :  :  000  :  ‘7056 

This  amount  represents  38'28  per  cent.,  which  is 
about  the  average  in  good  samples.  By  calculation 
from  the  proportions  of  the  ingredients,  it  should 
contain  45*5  per  cent,  of  FeCOs. 


GINSENG. 

BY  JOHN  E.  JACKSON. 

The  history  and  uses  of  the  Ginseng  of  the  Cliinese 
are  so  well  known,  and  are  likewise  so  interesting,  that 
some  additional  interest  may  be  given  to  the  subject 
to  learn  how  the  trade  in  tins  article  fluctuates  in 
Cliina.  The  importations  to  Canton  have  of  late 
very  much  declined,  large  quantities  being  now  sent 
to  Hongkong,  where  a  process  of  clarification  has 
been  established.  The  roots  are  also  imported  and 
exported  free  of  duty,  while  in  Canton  an  import 
duty  is  first  levied,  and  in  addition  to  this  a  coast 
trade  duty,  if  re-exported  to  other  provinces.  Of 
true  Ginseng  the  produce  of  Panax  Schinsciuj,  Nees, 
three  kinds  are  known  in  Chinese  commerce — Man¬ 
churian,  Corean,  and  Japanese.  The  first  of  these 
is  the  finest,  but  is  scarce,  being  in  fact  an  Imperial 
monopoly,  so  that  the  very  best  sorts  are  not  seen  in 
the  markets.  American  Ginseng,  P.  quinquefolium , 
L.,  appears  still  to  be  taken  into  Cliina,  but  it  is 
little  appreciated  by  the  Chinese.  In  America  it  is 
not  employed  as  a  medicine,  and  is  considered  to 
have  no  otlnr  properties  than  a  simple  demulcent. 


*  The  Pharmacopoeia  runn  ier  ccrrccie  l. 


GOG 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  18, 1871. 


LIQUID  PEPSIN  AND  SACCHARATED  PEPSIN. 

BY  E.  SCHEFFER. 

In  my  essay  upon  liquid  pepsin  (. Amer .  Journ.  Pharm ., 
March,  1870)  doubts  were  expressed  about  the  durability 
of  the  preparation  during-  warm  weather.  Subsequently, 
as  the  weather  became  warmer,  I  found  that  a  mould 
was  forming-  in  the  liquid,  the  quicker  the  less  perfectly 
the  mucus  was  separated  from  it,  and  also  when  the 
bottle  containing  it  was  from  time  to  time  opened,  so 
that  the  air  could  come  in  contact  with  it. 

To  satisfy  myself  I  filtered  a  fresh  prepared  liquid 
repeatedly,  until  it  had  become  perfectly  clear,  filled 
several  vials  with  it,  corked  them  tight  and  sealed  them, 
with  the  exception  of  one  which  was  only  covered  with 
paper,  and  set  them  aside.  When,  after  about  six  weeks, 
I  looked  at  them,  I  found  the  vial  tied  up  with  paper 
only,  almost  entirely  filled  with  a  fucoid  vegetation, 
and  of  the  others  some  had  mould  on  the  cork,  while  a 
few  kept  entirely  clear  and  free  of  mould. 

Upon  these  results  I  thought  it  expedient  to  increase 
the  quantity  of  glycerin  in  the  preparation  to  50  per 
cent.,  without  changing  the  proportion  of  mucous  mem¬ 
brane  or  muriatic  acid.  The  resulting  preparation  stood 
the  test  better  during  summer,  but  in  a  few  cases  a  little 
mould  was  also  noticed  on  the  cork,  although  never  in 
the  liquid  itself.  In  all  cases,  however,  care  must  be 
taken  to  have  the  mucus  entirely  removed  from  the 
liquid  pepsin,  and  the  sooner  it  can  be  and  is  removed, 
the  better  the  product  will  be. 

Finding  it  not  as  easy  to  get  stomachs  in  summer  as 
I  anticipated,  and  particularly  to  get  a  preparation  of 
pepsin  free  of  acid,  as  in  some  cases  the  physicians  wish 
to  have,  I  endeavoured  to  make  a  dry  pepsin,  which, 
while  available  for  the  dispensing  in  the  form  of  powder, 
would  serve  for  the  preparation  of  the  liquid  pepsin. 

Of  the  different  formulas  given  in  divers  books  treat¬ 
ing  upon  organic  and  physiological  chemistry,  I  found 
the  one  by  which  the  pepsin  is  precipitated  by  alcohol 
the  least  suitable,  as  the  pepsin  obtained  in  this  way 
had,  after  being  dried,  lost  its  solvent  power  on  al¬ 
bumen. 

After  having  precipitated  the  pepsin  and  freed  it  of 
water  as  much  as  possible,  by  means  of  a  press,  it  is 
mixed  in  the  damp  state  with  a  weighed  portion  of  sugar 
of  milk,  and  rubbed  in  a  mortar  until  it  has  become  dry. 
By  weighing  the  mixture  again  the  quantity  of  exsiccated 
pepsin  is  ascertained,  and  sufficient  milk-sugar  is  added 
to  reduce  to  such  strength,  that  one  grain  of  the  saccha- 
ratecl  pepsin ,  as  I  call  it,  shall  dissolve  twelve  grains  of 
coagulated  albumen.  This  strength  seemed  to  me  the 
most  suitable,  as  one  grain  is  equal  to  one  teaspoonful  of 
my  liquid  pepsin,  which  dose  is  found  by  physicians 
sufficient  in  most  cases. 

The  pepsin  dried  without  addition  of  an  inert  sub¬ 
stance  could  not  be  dispensed,  unless  it  be  in  solution, 
as  in  that  state  it  cannot  be  made  into  powder.  When 
taken  out  of  the  press  and  dried  between  bibulous  paper, 
it  is  a  very  tough  substance,  resembling  parchment 
paper  when  dried  in  thin  layers,  while  in  thick  pieces  it 
looks  more  like  sole-leather;  it  has  a  yellowish  or  greyish 
brown  colour.  In  water  it  swells  up  considerably,  and 
after  some  time  disintegrates  itself  to  white  flakes,  which 
float  at  first  and  then  settle.  Although  easily  soluble 
when  freshly  precipitated,  it  dissolves,  after  being  dried, 
very  little  in  cold  water,  more  in  water  of  80°,  but  very 
quickly  by  addition  of  a  little  acid.  It  is  therefore 
necessary,  when  saccharated  pepsin  is  prescribed  in 
solution,  to  add  a  little  acid,  hydrochloric  or  lactic.  To 
make  liquid  pepsin  from  the  dry  saccharated  pepsin,  I 
pi-opose  the  following  formula  : — 

Jk  Sacch.  Pepsin,  64  grs. 

Water,  5  fl.  oz. 

Hydrochloric  Acid,  1  fl.  drm. 


Shake  in  a  bottle  until  the  milk-sugar  and  pepsin  arc 
completely  dissolved,  then  add  glycerin  3  fl.  oz.  and 
filter.  A  colourless  liquid  is  formed,  of  which  1  fl.  oz. 
dissolves  lj  drms.  of  coagulated  albumen. 

As  the  normal  gastric  juice  of  man  and  animals  con¬ 
tains  chloride  of  sodium,  I  tried  to  ascertain  if  the  ad¬ 
dition  of  a  little  table  salt  to  a  solution  of  unmixed 
pepsin  in  acidulated  water  would  accelerate  the  solution 
of  coagulated  albumen ;  the  result  was,  that  pepsin  with 
chloride  of  sodium  dissolved  albumen  much  quicker  than 
without  it.  I  therefore  mention  here  that  chloride  of 
sodium  is  added  to  the  saccharated  pepsin. 

As  for  the  strength  of  saccharated  pepsin,  compared 
with  the  other  dry  pepsins  in  use  here,  it  was  found 
that  1  part  of  it  equalled  about  3|-  parts  of  Boudault’s, 
8  to  9  parts  of  Grimault’s,  12  parts  of  Hawley’s,  and  at 
least  40  parts  of  Houghton’s.  During  a  period  of  from 
throe  to  four  hours,  10  grains  of  saccharated  pepsin  in  1 
fluid  ounce  of  water,  acidulated  with  10  drops  of  muria¬ 
tic  acid,  and  kept  at  a  temperature  of  100°  to  105°  F., 
dissolved  120  grains  of  coagulated  albumen.  Under 
idcntical  conditions,  60  grains  of  Boudault’s  pepsin* 
dissolved  the  same  amount;  40  grains  of  Boudault’s 
pepsin  dissolved  the  same  amount ;  30  grains  of  Bou¬ 
dault’s  pepsin  did  not  quite  dissolve  it ;  60  grains  of 
Grimault’s  pepsin  dissolved  but  84  grains;  60  grains  of 
Hawley’s  pepsin  dissolved  but  60  grains.  With  Hough¬ 
ton’s  pepsin,  most  of  the  little  cubes  into  which  the 
coagulated  albumen  was  cut  had  not  even  lost  their 
sharp  angles  and  corners. 

To  substantiate  the  assertion  made  in  my  essay  on 
liquid  pepsin  (. Amer .  Journ.  of  Pharm.,  March,  1870)  that 
wine  of  pepsin  and  all  other  preparations  of  pepsin  con¬ 
taining  alcohol  were  devoid  of  digestive  power,  I  made 
the  following  experiments : — Two  equal  quantities  of 
dry  pepsin  were  dissolved  in  acidulated  water,  and  to 
one  of  them,  after  solution,  one-third  of  alcohol  was 
added.  The  same  amount  of  coagulated  albumen  was 
put  into  each  bottle.  By  the  time  that  the  albumen 
in  the  vial  without  alcohol  was  entirely  dissolved,  the 
albumen  in  the  other  one  was  not  acted  upon,  and  the 
little  cubes  had  retained  their  shape.  Dry  pepsin,  preci¬ 
pitated  with  alcohol  from  its  solution,  was  dissolved  in 
acidulated  water  and  coagulated  albumen  added  to  it ;  a 
solution  of  my  dry  pepsin  was  likewise  made,  and  the 
same  quantity  of  albumen  added.  The  pepsin  made 
with  alcohol  did  not  seem  to  act  at  all  on  the  albumen, 
which  appeared  to  be  exactly  the  same  in  shape  and 
bulk  as  when  it  was  put  in,  when  my  pejxsin  had  dis¬ 
solved  the  albumen  entirely. 

It  seemed  to  me  of  importance  to  find  if  pepsin  made 
from  calf  rennet  was  identical  with  that  made  from  the 
hog.  I  therefore  prepared  liquid  pepsin  from  rennet  in 
exactly  the  same  way  and  the  same  proportions  as  from 
the  mucous  membrane  of  the  hog’s  stomach.  When  com¬ 
pared  with  liquid  pepsin  as  to  its  digestive  strength,  it 
was  found  that  pork  pepsin  dissolved  about  one-third 
more  of  coagulated  albumen  than  calf  pepsin  in  the  same 
time.  With  *dry  pepsin  made  from  rennet  I  obtained 
the  same  result.  By  experimenting  with  lean  beef  meat 
the  difference  was  still  more  in  favour  of  the  pork 
pepsin,  as  a  certain  quantity  of  beef  was  dissolved  by 
this,  while  the  calf  pepsin  had  loosened  the  fibres  and 
softened  the  meat,  but  the  bulk  was  not  appreciably 
diminished. — Amer.  Journ.  Pharm. 


*  The  Boudault’s  pepsin  I  had  used  for  experiments  last 
winter  must  have  been  adulterated  or  spoiled,  as  I  recollect 
right  well  that  it  was  a  damp,  sticky  powder  of  somewhat 
different  colour  from  the  one  I  used  this  time;  therefore  its 
strength,  compared  with  the  liquid  pepsin,  was  found  so 
much  less  than  in  the  present  experiment. 


February  18, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


GG7 


THE  MICROSCOPE  IN  PHARMACY. 

Dr.  Hale  (. American  Journal  of  Microscopy),  in  speak¬ 
ing  of  the  value  of  the  mici’oscope  to  the  pharmacist, 
says  that  the  deterioration  to  which  many  drugs  are  sub¬ 
ject  by  being  long  kept  may,  in  a  great  number  of  in¬ 
stances,  be  traced  to  the  agency  of  animalcula.  In 
speaking  of  fimgi  he  remarks  : — 

Unless  the  preserved  substance  can  be  kept  absolutely 
free  from  moisture,  its  surface,  and  even  its  deepest  in¬ 
terior,  will  become  infected  with  fungi  that  more  or  less 
rapidly  destroy  the  integrity  of  its  tissues,  until  the  pre¬ 
paration  made  therefrom  is  useless  as  a  medicinal  agent. 
The  leaves  of  Atropa  Belladonna ,  the  seeds  of  the  Conium 
maculatum ,  and  various  other  powerful  narcotic  and 
poisonous  substances  are  probably  rendered  inert  by  the 
destructive  process  set  up  in  their  interior  by  fungi  which 
obtain  access  to  them. 

These  injurious  changes  are  not  discoverable  to  the 
•unaided  vision.  It  is  notorious  that  the  most  carefully 
prepared  tinctures  and  extracts  of  certain  drugs  are 
sometimes  devoid  of  medicinal  power.  It  has  been  sup¬ 
posed  that  certain  volatile  constituents  escape  from  the 
substances  from  which  such  tinctures  are  prepared ;  but 
of  this  we  have  no  certain  proof.  Why  is  it  that  the 
leaves  of  Belladonna  may  in  some  instances  be  kept  for 
years,  and  at  the  end  of  that  period  bo  capable  of  yield¬ 
ing  a  l’eliable  preparation,  while  other  specimens,  when 
kept  only  a  few  months,  are  worthless  ?  It  must  be 
because  of  some  destructive  process  going  on  in  the  sub¬ 
stance,  which  cannot  be  discovered  with  the  naked  eve. 

In  some  of  my  experiments  with  the  microscope,  I 
have  been  able  to  detect  the  utter  worthlessness  of  the 
leaves  of  Belladonna  and  Digitalis.  In  place  of  the 
healthy  tissue,  a  mass  of  fungi  appeared  to  monopolize 
the  place.  A  thin  section  of  the  root  of  aconite,  placed 
under  a  low  magnifying  power,  has  revealed  the  pre¬ 
sence  of  such  a  quantity  of  fungi  as  to  render  the  speci¬ 
men  worthless  for  the  pharmacist.  In  other  cases  the 
substance  of  the  root  examined  would  bo  found  destroyed 
by  some  insect,  which  had  left  only  the  debris  of  the 
tissue  it  had  digested  or  destroyed  in  its  migrations. 
The  pharmacist  should  first  learn  to  recognize  the 
natural  healthy  appearance,  under  the  microscope,  of  all 
the  vegetable  substances  ho  works  upon ;  then  he  should 
subject  a  specimen  of  every  substance  he  prepares  to  a 
careful  examination,  and  if  he  discovers  the  presence  of 
vegetable  or  animal  parasites,  such  substance  should  be 
rejected.  The  world  is  Hooded  with  inert  medicinal 
preparations.  Doubtless  many  such  preparations  are 
made  worthless  by  improper  methods  of  manufacture ; 
but  it  is  my  opinion  that  in  many  instances  their  worth¬ 
lessness  is  due  to  the  fact  that  the  substances  used  have 
been  injured  by  certain  agencies  which  could  have  been 
discovered  by  the  intelligent  use  of  the  microscope. 


THE  DOSE  OF  CHLORAL  HYDRATE. 

The  editor  of  the  Practitioner  for  February  makes  the 
following  remarks  concerning  large  doses  of  chloral  hy¬ 
drate  : — 

Two  remarkable  instances  of  very  large  doses  of  chloral 
hydrate  being  taken  with  only  transient  effect  have  come 
under  our  notice  within  the  last  two  months,  and,  singu¬ 
larly  enough,  in  the  same  house.  A  lady  was  attacked 
with  acute  mania ;  sleep  could  only  be  procured  by  chloral 
hydrate  and  a  mixture  was  provided,  of  which  four  table¬ 
spoonfuls  (containing  30  grains)  were  to  be  taken  every 
night.  Against  the  plainest  orders,  the  attendants  gave 
four  times  this  quantity  (containing  120  grains)  one  night. 
Continuous  sleep  for  twelve  hours  followed,  but  no  evil 
■effects  occurred.  Singularly  enough,  the  husband  of  the 
lady  was  attacked  with  delirium  tremens,  and  took,  by  mis¬ 
take,  either  150  or  1 80  grains  of  chloral  hydrate.  He  slept 
continuously  for  about  twenty-four  houi's,  and  even  after 
this  could  only  very  gradually  be  roused — falling  asleep 
in  walking,  and  even  on  horseback.  But  his  delirium 
tremens  was  cured. 


On  the  other  hand,  we  must  never  forget  that  some 
patients  are  much  more  sensitive;  as  e.g.  the  patient 
mentioned  by  Dr.  Reynolds  in  the  Practitioner  some 
time  ago,  who  nearly  died  from  a  dose  of  50  grains.  It 
is  never  safe  to  commence  with  doses  of  more  than  30 
grains. 


SOLUTION  OF  SANTONINE. 

BY  JOHN  HARLEY,  M.D. 

In  a  short  article  in  the  Practitioner  for  February,  Dr. 
Harley  calls  attention  to  the  insolubility  of  santonine, 
which  considerably  impairs  its  utility  as  a  vermifuge. 
Water  cold  or  warm  takes  up  the  merest  trace.  Chloro¬ 
form,  absolute  alcohol,  the  strongest  acetic  acid,  turpen¬ 
tine,  hot  olive  oil,  and  hot  glycerine  are  the  only  simple 
fluids  that  dissolve  any  appreciable  quantity.  It  sepa¬ 
rates  from  the  oil  and  glycerine  on  cooling ;  water  added 
to  the  other  solvents  produces  the  same  result. 

Having  investigated  the  subject,  Dr.  Harley  found, 
after  a  good  deal  of  trouble,  that  a  useful  solution  might 
be  obtained  by  means  of  carbonate  of  soda.  The  follow¬ 
ing  is  the  formula : — 

U  Santonini,  in  pulvere,  gr.  xij 
Sodte  Bicarbonatis  gr.  xx 
Aquae  Dcstillatae  giij. 

Put  the  soda  and  water  into  a  flask,  keep  the  fluid  near 
the  boiling-point,  and  add  the  santonine  about  two  grains 
at  a  time  until  the  whole  has  dissolved.  Solution  is 
effected  in  about  half  an  hour,  during  which  time  the 
water  is  reduced  to  5  i  j ,  or  if  not,  may  be  reduced  to  that 
bulk,  when  gj  will  contain  a  full  dose — six  grains  of 
santonine. 

The  solution  is  bright  and  permanent,  strongly  alkaline, 
free  from  odour  and,  except  that  of  carbonate  of  soda, 
taste.  Carefully  neutralized  with  acetic  acid,  an  equally 
bright  and  permanent  solution  is  formed.  Both  may  be 
diluted  to  any  extent  with  hot  or  cold  water  without  im¬ 
pairing  the  solution  of  the  santonine.  The  whole  or 
nearly  the  whole  of  the  santonine  is  precipitated  in  its 
original  form  of  colourless  rectangular  plates,  with  be¬ 
velled  edges,  immediately  by  mineral  acids,  and  after 
some  hours  by  excess  of  acetic  acid. 

Mixed  with  acid  urine,  sp.  g.  1017'5,  containing  excess 
of  uric  acid,  and  kept  for  several  hours  at  100°  F.,  no 
turbidity  is  produced,  unless  in  the  case  of  the  alkaline 
solution  and  an  excess  of  phosphates  in  the  urine,  when 
a  slight  cloudiness  may  occur  from  the  separation  of  the 
latter.  This  proves  that  excess  of  uric  acid  falls  to  cause 
a  deposition  of  santonine. 

In  cases  where  powders  are  objected  to,  a  pleasant 
mixture  may  be  made  by  adding  a  little  syrup  and  fla¬ 
vouring  water  to  the  solution  of  santonine. 


SPIRITUS  SALIS  DULCIS. 

In  reply  to  a  correspondent  in  Newhaven,  asking  for 
a  formula  for  Spiritus  Salis  Dulcis ,  as  used  many  years 
ago,  the  editor  of  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy 
says : — It  is  a  sweet  spirit  of  (common)  salt,  just  as 
sweet  spirit  of  nitre  is  of  saltpetre.  Each  was  originally 
made  by  distilling  the  respective  salts  with  sulphuiic  acid 
and  alcohol.  This  name  was  officinal  in  the  Edinburgh 
Pharmacopoeia  of  1722,  and  applied  to  a  spirit  of  hydro¬ 
chloric  ether  obtained  by  distilling  a  mixture  of  one  part 
of  muriatic  acid  and  three  parts  of  alcohol,  after  digesting 
the  mixture  for  several  days,  and  redistilling  the  product 
one  or  more  times,  until  free  from  acid.  This  is  probably 
what  was  used  under  that  name. 

In  the  Prussian  Pharm.  of  1847,  a  sort  of  spirit  of 
chloric  ether,  under  the  name  Spiritus  Alt  her  is  Chloral  i,  is 
made  by  distilling  16  parts  of  chloride  of  sodium,  6  parts 
of  binoxide  of  manganese,  12  parts  of  sulphuric  acid,  and 
48  parts  of  stronger  alcohol,  sp.  gr.  -813.  The  acid  and 
alcohol  are  to  be  carefully  mixed  and  poured  on  the  salt 
and  oxide,  previously  placed  in  a  large  retort,  and  the 


CG  8 


TIIE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  is,  1371. 


whole  mixed ;  a  well-refrigerated  receiver  being  adapted, 
forty-two  parts  of  distillate  are  obtained  by  means  of  a 
sand-bath  heat.  To  free  the  product  from  acidity,  it  is 
shaken  with  about  half  a  part  of  calcined  magnesia  till 
neutral  and  then  redistilled.  Sp.  gr.  ‘815  to  -820.  This 
product  has  also  been  called  Spiritus  Salt's  Dalcis. 

The  French  use  a  preparation  called  Esprit  de  Scl  dul- 
cife,  which  is  a  simple  mixture  of  1  part  of  muriatic  acid 
and  3  parts  of  alcohol.— American  Journal  of  Pharmacy. 


PHARMACEUTICAL  INFELICITIES  IN  ENGLAND. 

Under  the  above  title,  the  following  editorial  note 
appears  in  the  Chicago  Pharmacist  for  January  : — 

Our  city  and  country  are  not  the  only  places  where 
physicians  and  apothecaries  sometimes  disagree,  as  we 
learn  in  perusing  our  foreign  exchanges.  A  bitter  wordy 
strife,  instigated  by  the  attacks  of  the  Lancet ,  has  been 
waged  for  some  time  between  these  highly  respectable 
and  scientific  bodies,  and,  as  usual  in  such  cases,  some 
tender  spots  have  been  bared  on  either  side.  The  phy¬ 
sicians  are  incensed  at  the  extent  to  which  counter-pre¬ 
scribing-  is  carried  on  by  pharmaceutical  chemists,  and 
incidentally  aver  that  the  charges  upon  their  prescrip¬ 
tions  are  extortionate. 

We  must  acknowledge  that  on  the  first  ground  the 
physicians  have  just  cause  of  complaint.  The  system  of 
combining  the  vocations  of  prescriber  and  dispenser  can 
scarcely  be  said  to  exist  in  this  country.  It  is  con¬ 
demned.  by  our  pharmaceutical  associations,  and  no 
member  can  indulge  in  such  a  practice  without  violation 
of  the  ethical  code. 

We  regard  this  as  eminently  just  and  proper;  and 
however  much  our  English  brethren  may  exceed  us  in 
some  respects,  they  are  certainly  far  behind  in  this. 

The  discussion  has  naturally  brought  forward  some  of 
the  shortcomings  of  certain  doctors  of  fair  repute,  and  it 
seems  that  they  are  fully  up  to  the  standard  allotted  to 
quackery  in  our  own  community.  We  allude  to  the 
practice  of  certain  so-called  physicians  who,  from  private 
motives,  well  understood  by  the  favoured  but  equally 
unscrupulous  apothecary,  designate  preparations  by 
secret  names  or  hieroglyphics,  which  to  the  uninitiated 
are  about  as  intelligible  as  so  much  Chinese. 

A  certain  Watson  Bradshaw  having  indited  such  a 
prescription,  which  went  astray,  a  copy  of  it  was  sent  to 
the  London  Pharmaceutical  Journal  for  publication 
and  elucidation.  The  latter  request  could  not  be  com¬ 
plied  with  of  course,  but  its  publication  called  forth  a 
note  from  the  prescriber,  correcting  the  “  false  Lati- 
nities”  which  the  published  formula  ascribed  to  him. 
This  the  editors  allowed  to  pass  unnoticed,  whereat  the 
critical  Bradshaw  waxed  wroth,  and  demanded  an  apo¬ 
logy  or  satisfaction.  The  editors  kindly  granted  him  the 
latter  by  publishing  a  facsimile  of  the  original  prescrip¬ 
tion.  .  The  writing  is  itself  a  curiosity,  and  scarcely 
more  intelligible  than  the  ingredients  of  his  prescription. 
The  eminent  Bradshaw  has  now  no  cause  of  complaint, 
since  full  justice  has  been  rendered  him — a  justice  which 
he  doubtless  enjoys,  as  did  a  certain  Shy  lock  in  urging 
his  rapacious  claim. 


Bleaching-  Sponges. — Sponges  can  be  bleached  by 
first  soaking  them  in  hydrochloric  acid,  diluted  with  Im¬ 
parts  water,  until  no  more  carbonic  acid  is  given  off; 
then  wash  in  pure  water,  and  afterwards  leave  in  a  bath 
composed  of  2  lb.  hyposulphite  of  soda,  12  lb.  water, 
and  2  lb.  hydrochloric  acid.  If  the  sponge  be  afterwards 
dipped  in  glycerine  and  well  pressed,  to  remove  excess 
of  liquid,  it  remains  elastic,  and  can  be  used  for  mat¬ 
tresses,  cushions,  and  general  upholstery.  Sponge  mat¬ 
tresses  prepared  in  this  way  are  now  finding  great 
favour.  It  is,  of  course,  not  necessary  to  bleach  the 
sponge  where  it  is  intended  to  be  used  for  such  purposes. 
— Journal  of  Applied  Chemistry. 


Pills  of  Sulphate  of  Quinine. — In  order  to  ensure- 

the  solubility  of  quinine  when  made  into  pills,  M.  Cazac 
{Iiev.  Med.  de  Toulouse)  proposes  to  mix  the  sulphate  with 
tartaric  acid.  This  had  already  been  recommended,  but 
the  quantity  of  acid  proposed  -was  too  large.  M.  Cazac 
uses  one  part  of  tartaric  acid  to  five  of  sulphate  of  qui¬ 
nine,  making  up  the  pills  with  conserve  of  dog-rose. — 
British  Medical  Journal. 

Parasite  on  theI»emon. — At  a  recent  meeting  of  the 
Scientific  Committee  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society, 
Mr.  Alfred  Smee  exhibited  some  lemons  from  Sicily 
which  had  been  attacked  by  a  species  of  coccus ,  quite  dis¬ 
tinct  from  the  well-knowui  coccus  of  the  orange,  and 
apparently  an  undescribed  species.  It  -was  stated  that 
nearly  the  whole  of  the  lemon  crop  in  Sicily  is  attacked 
by  this  parasite,  -which  renders  it  almost  valueless  for 
the  English  market.  Although  the  juice  is  not  much 
affected,  the  skin  is  completely  spoiled,  and  rendered 
uncrystallizablo.  The  root  appears  to  be  at  the  same 
time  attacked  by  a  fungus. — Nature. 

Eucalyptus  Lteaves. — The  Rev.  M.  J.  Berkeley  men¬ 
tions  in  the  Gardeners'  Chronicle,  on  the  authority  of  a  letter 
received  from  Cannes,  that  Dr.  Gimbert  has  introduced 
a  newr  method  of  dressing  v'ounds  by  using  eucalyptus 
leaves  in  the  X'lnco  of  lint.  The  leaves,  which  have  a 
“catty”  smell,  are  merely  laid  on  the  wounds.  The 
balsamic  nature  of  them  not  only  cures,  but  after  a  few 
hours  all  the  unpleasant  odour  of  the  matter  ceases. 

Incompatibility  of  Quinine  and  Veratrum  Vi- 
ride. — Dr.  Bradly,  of  .Marys,  Ohio,  reports  that  w-hen  a 
patient  is  under  the  influence  of  Veratrum  id  ride,  it  is 
highly  dangerous  to  administer  quinine.  The  effects- 
are  most  alarming,  immediate  sinking  and  irregularity 
of  the  pulse,  which  in  some  instances  reaches  collapse. 
He  ran  great  risk  of  losing  three  patients  before  he  be¬ 
came  aw-are  of  the  actual  cause. — Medical  and  Surgical 
Reporter. 


DRUG  MARKET  NOTES. 

The  following  are  a  few  of  the  principal  parcels  of 
drugs  offered  for  sale  lately : — 

Rhubarb,  107  chests;  China,  80  cases. 
Cantharides,  2  cases. 

Nutmeg  Oil,  9  cases. 

Musk, — Tonquin,  77  caddies;  Grain,  4  caddies. 
Musk  Skins,  1  package. 

Squills,  54  bags. 

Ergot  of  Eye,  5  barrels. 

Bark, — Calisaya,  94  serous ;  Soft  Columbian,. 
280  serons  ;  lied,  7  cases ;  Yellow,  50  serous ;  Bitayo, 
52  bales  ;  Crown,  27  serons. 

Castor  Oil,  250  cases ;  Italian,  20  cases. 

Jalap,  10  bales. 

Honey,  Chilian,  89  casks. 

Cod-Liver  Oil, — Newfoundland,  88  casks;  Nor- 
wegian,  57  casks. 

Patchouli  Leaves,  «C  bales. 

Blackboy  Gum,  30  casks. 

Japan  Wax,  324  boxes. 

Orris  lloot,  1  cask. 

Aloes, — Cape,  40  cases;  East  Indian,  29  cases, 
7  boxes. 

Cardamoms, — Malabar,  32  cases. 

Ipecacuanha,  10  serons  and  1  case ;  Cartlragena, 
6  barrels. 

Chiretta,  75  bales. 

Cassia  Fistula,  8  cases  and  47  bags. 

Canella  Alba,  15  packages. 

Camphor, — China,  115  cases. 

Ambergris,  7  tins  and  54  oz. 

Turmeric — Madras,  320  bags. 


Tebruary  18,1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


GG9 


♦ 


SATURDAY,  FEBRUARY  IS,  1871. 


Communications  for  this  Journal,  and  boohs  for  review, etc., 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

Instructions  from  Members  and  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Brem- 
jridge,  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  TT.C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
. Street ,  London,  IF.  Envelopes  indorsed  “  Pharm.  Journ .” 


THE  REGISTER  FOR  1871. 

The  Register  of  Chemises  and  Druggists  for  the 
present  year  having  been  just  issued,  we  take  the 
•opportunity  of  calling  our  readers’  attention  to  some 
points  in  connection  with  its  compilation. 

The  Register  contains  about  five  hundred  new 
names,  most  of  which  are  those  of  persons  who  have 
passed  the  Modified  Examination.  Although  every 
care  lias  been  taken  to  make  the  list  as  perfect  and 
complete  as  possible,  some  errors  still  occur  in  it, 
The  correction  of  which  must  rest  with  the  persons 
registered  or  those  acquainted  with  them.  Many 
names  are  registered  at  addresses  which  were  cor¬ 
rect  at  the  time  registration  was  effected,  but  of  the 
incorrectness  of  which  at  the  present  time  proofs  are 
of  frequent  occurrence.  This  defect  arises  princi¬ 
pally  from  the  neglect  of  registered  persons  to  ap¬ 
prise  the  Registrar  of  any  change  of  address.  This 
is  the  more  important  from  the  difficulties  that  may 
arise  from  such  neglect.  Clause  10  of  the  Pharmacy 
Act,  1808,  enacts  that,  “  to  enable  the  Registrar  duly 
“  to  perform  the  duties  imposed  upon  him,  it  shall 
“  he  lawful  for  the  Registrar  to  write  a  letter  to  any 
■“registered  person  addressed  to  liim  according  to  his 
“  address  on  the  Register,  to  inquire  ivlietlier  he  has 
“  ceased  to  carry  on  business  or  has  changed  his  resi- 
■“  deuce,  such  letter  to  be  forwarded  by  post  as  a 
“  registered  letter,  according  to  the  Post  Office  regu- 
■“  lations  for  the  time  being,  and  if  no  answer  shall 
■“  be  returned  to  such  letter  within  the  period  of  six 
'“  months  from  the  sending  of  the  letter,  a  second  of 
“similar  purport  shall  be  sent  in  like  manner,  and 
■“if  no  answer  be  given  thereto  within  three  months 
“from  the  date  thereof,  it  shall  be  lawful  to  erase 
the  name  of  such  person  from  the  Register.''  As 
by  the  same  Act  it  is  provided  that  the  Register 
shall  be  sufficient  evidence  in  all  courts  of  law,  and 
that  the  absence  of  the  name  of  any  person  from 
such  printed  Register  shall  be  deemed  evidence, 
until  the  contrary  is  proved,  that  such  person  is  not 
registered  according  to  the  provisions  of  the  Phar¬ 
macy  Act,  and  as  a  copy  of  the  Register  is  supplied 
for  that  purpose  to  all  the  principal  law  courts  in  the 


kingdom, — it  will  be  seen  how  important  it  is  that 
each  person  registered  should  secure  the  correctness 
of  the  entry  relating  to  himself. 

Another  cause  of  error  is  that  arising  from  unre¬ 
ported  deaths.  Notice  of  the  deaths  of  registered 
persons  should  be  given  by  the  Registrars  of  Deaths 
in  the  district  in  which  they  occur.  The  neglect  of 
this  duty,  however,  is  very  frequent,  and  the  Regis¬ 
trar  has  to  rely  upon  the  local  secretaries  or  private 
sources  for  this  information. 


The  current  number  of  the  Chemist  ami  Druggist 
contains  a  Pharmaceutical  Sermon,  in  which  Mr. 
Joseph  Ince,  taking  his  text  from  Ecclesiasticus 
xxxviii.  1-4,  defends  himself  against  the  criticism  of 
our  contemporary  the  British  Medical  Journal  in  re¬ 
ference  to  the  publication  of  prescriptions  with  the 
names  of  their  authors.  In  quoting  the  opinion  ex¬ 
pressed  by  that  journal,  we  did  not  presume  to  offer 
an  opinion  as  to  whether  it  is  right  or  wrong  or  ne¬ 
cessary  to  so  publish  names,  for  if  it  be  an  offence  to 
do  so,  we  must  confess  to  being  in  some  degree  parti- 
cipes  criminis,  and  we  now  refer  to  the  matter  again 
chiefly  because  Mr.  Ince  appears  to  imply  some  cen¬ 
sure  for  having  inserted  a  brief  statement  of  the  ob¬ 
jection  raised  by  the  British  Medical  Journal,  though 
we  think  he  will  perceive  on  reflection  that,  as  a 
representative  of  the  medical  profession,  its  opinion 
on  the  point  is  entitled  not  only  to  consideration, 
but  also  to  publicity  in  our  columns. 

In  the  House  of  Commons,  on  Monday  night,  Mr. 
Bruce  said,  in  answer  to  a  question  put  by  Lord 
Eustace  Cecil,  that  it  was  not  the  intention  of  the 
Government  to  propose  legislation  concerning  the 
adulteration  of  food  and  drugs  this  session.  On 
Wednesday  Mr.  Muntz  gave  notice  of  his  intention 
to  bring  in  a  Bill  to  amend  the  law  for  the  preven¬ 
tion  or  adulteration  of  food  and  drink  and  of  drugs. 


Professor  Franklanb  has  accepted  office  as  Presi¬ 
dent  of  the  Chemical  Society  for  the  ensuing  session. 

At  a  preliminary  meeting  held  at  King’s  College, 
it  was  decided  that  a  fund  should  be  raised  for  a 
memorial  to  the  late  Dr.  Miller,  who,  for  thirty 
years,  laboured  in  connection  with  the  College.  It 
was  also  resolved  that  a  Committee  should  be  formed 
for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  subscriptions  and  carry¬ 
ing  out  the  necessary  measures. 

The  Canadian  Pharmacy  Bill,  which,  in  conse¬ 
quence  of  the  press  of  business,  was  “discharged” 
last  session,  has  been  again  brought  before  the  Ca¬ 
nadian  Legislature.  It  has  been  read  a  first  and 
second  time,  and  referred  to  a  select  committee. 
From  the  discussion  which  took  place  at  the  meeting 
of  the  Ontario  College  of  Pharmacy,  it  would  appear 
that  the  principal  obstacle  in  the  way  of  the  passing 


670 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  is,  1871. 


of  tlie  Bill  was  a  clause  proposing  regulations  con¬ 
cerning  the  sale  of  proprietary  medicines.  This  was 
ordered  to  he  withdrawn.  It  is  curious  to  notice 
that  the  same  confusion  in  the  use  of  the  term 


Irabmcial  fenmtiira. 


NORWICH  CHEMISTS’  ASSISTANTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 


“patent  medicine”  exists  in  Canada  as  in  this 
country,  in  its  application  to  secret  nostrums, 
whereas  the  essence  of  a  patent  medicine  is,  that 
the  formula  shall  he  known  and  deposited  with  the 
proper  authorities. 

The  proposed  typographical  changes  in  the  Ch  icago 
Pharmacist  have  been  effected  in  the  first  number  of 
the  fourth  volume,  just  received.  Notwithstanding 
the  increased  quantity  of  matter,  the  journal,  in  its 
new  form,  has  a  decidedly  handsome  appearance. 


The  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy  announces 
that  proof  sheets  of  the  volume  containing  the  Pro¬ 
ceedings  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Associa¬ 
tion  at  the  Baltimore  meeting  have  been  received, 
and  that  its  publication  may  be  expected  very  shortly. 

The  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Philadelphia  College 
of  Pharmacy  is  to  be  held  on  Monday,  March  27. 


transactions  of 


EXAMINATION  IN  LONDON. 


February  1  Oth,  1871. 

Present — Messrs.  Allchin,  Bird,  Carteighe,  Cracknell, 
Davenport,  Deane,  Edwards,  Gale,  Garle,  Haselden  and 
Ince. 

Dr.  Grecnhow  was  also  present,  on  behalf  of  the  Privy 
Council. 

MODIFIED  EXAMINATION. 


Forty-two  Candidates  presented  themselves  for  exa¬ 
mination  ;  the  following  passed  and  were  registered  as 

CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS. 


Banbury,  William  Walter  . . 

Batty,  Thomas . 

Brunton,  William  Walker  . . 

Burton,  Joseph . 

Cadby,  Samuel  Kittle . 

Crisswell,  Frederick . 

Davies,  Samuel . 

Evans,  Daniel  Ogilvie . 

Field,  Henry . 

Fox,  George  Clement . 

Gibson,  Reuben  Leonard  . . 
Graves,  Joseph  Waddington 

James,  David  Owen . 

Johnson,  Arthur  . 

Kiddle,  James  . 

Kimber,  James . 

Legg,  Matthew  Henry 

Logan,  Francis . . . 

Mason,  Thomas  . 

Mitchell,  Charles  Edward  . . 

Palmer,  Henry  James . 

Phillips,  Thomas  Madocks  . . 

Roberts,  Janies . 

Sirett,  Henry  . 

Smith,  Joseph  . 

Smith,  Lucius  Jeffreston 

Strachan,  Binny  . 

Toy,  George  Bentley  . 

Watts,  Walter . . . 


....  Burford. 

....  York. 

....  London. 

. . . .  Southampton. 

....  Margate. 

....  Seaforth. 

. . . .  Liverpool. 

....  Halstead. 

. . . .  Brighton. 

. .  . .  London. 

. .  . .  Loughborough. 

....  Reading. 

. .  .  .Newport,  Pembroke. 

. . . .  Rotherham. 

....  Bristol. 

. .  .  .Stamford-in-the-Vale. 
. .  . .  London. 

. . . .  Pembroke  Dock. 

. . .  .Nottingham. 

. .  .  .Tunbridge  Wells. 

. . . .  Hulme. 

. . . .  Haverfordwest. 

. . .  .New  Brighton. 

. .  . .  Buckingham. 

. .  . .  Kilnhurst. 
....Wortley,  Sheffield. 

. .  . .  Wimborne. 

. , . .  London. 

. . .  .  Peterborough. 


A  General  Meeting  of  the  above  Society  was  held  on 
Wednesday,  January  25 ;  the  Vice -President,  Mr.  E. 
Nuthall,  in  the  chair. 

The  Chairman  said,  before  proceeding  to  the  business' 
of  the  meeting,  as  specified  by  the  public  notice,  he 
thought  it  would  he  well  briefly  to  review  the  progress, 
of  the  Society  since  their  last  meeting. 

In  the  first  place  they  had  been  favoured  by  Mr.  Sutton 
with  two  excellent  lectures  on  Chemistry — lectures  that, 
although  adapted  to  the  requirements  of  the  juvenile' 
members,  had  been  highly  instructive  to  all,  and  tho¬ 
roughly  illustrated  by  most  interesting  experiments. 

For  information  respecting  the  library  and  museum, 
he  would  refer  them  to  their  treasurer,  Mr.  Butler,  who- 
had  been  aci  ing-  as  secretary,  merely  noticing  the  great 
obligation  that  the  Society  was  under  to  Thomas  Hyde 
Hills,  Esq.,  for  supplying  them  with  the  nucleus  of  a 
library. 

With  the  exception  of  a  fortnight  at  Christmas,  the 
four  weekly  classes  had  been  regularly  held,  and  he  only 
regretted  that  the  attendance  had  not  been  regular  as- 
wTell,  for  with  the  exception  of  the  Latin  class,  the  num¬ 
ber  of  students  had  fallen  off'  considerably.  This  was  a 
circumstance  greatly  to  be  regretted,  not  only  because  it 
showed  an  indifference  to  their  own  interests,  but  also 
to  those  of  the  Society,  for  it  could  only  be  discouraging 
to  those  who  promoted  the  design  and  had  been  taking 
the  duty  of  conducting  the  affairs  of  the  Association,  to 
find  that  their  primary  object,  viz.  the  diffusion  of  the 
knowledge  so  essential  to  the  status  of  a  chemist,  was- 
passed  over,  and  almost  entirely  neglected  by  the  ma¬ 
jority  of  members.  Ho  wished  that  all  those  who  had 
not  passed  their  examinations  would  set  to  work  and 
strive  to  rival  the  success  of  one  amongst  them,  Mr. 
King,  who  had  just  been  placed  first  on  the  list  of  those 
who  had  that  month  passed  the  Preliminary. 

Before  proceeding  to  the  election  of  the  new  council¬ 
lors,  he  could  not  help  expressing  regret  at  the  great  loss- 
they  had  experienced  in  the  resignation  (through  change 
of  situation)  of  two  such  useful  members  as  Messrs. 
Lincoln  and  Perkins.  Of  the  latter,  with  whose  courtesy 
and  constant  attention  to  the  affairs  of  the  Society  they 
were  all  so  well  acquainted,  he  could  not  speak  too 
highly.  Besides,  he  had  a  further  claim  upon  their 
thanks,  in  the  fact  that  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  sug¬ 
gest  the  formation  of  such  an  Association. 

Mr.  Butler  rose  to  propose  a  vote  of  thanks  to  their 
late  Secretary,  Mr.  Perkins ;  in  so  doing,  he  observed  how 
much  he  regretted  the  loss  of  that  gentleman’s  valuable 
services,  from  which  the  Society  had  so  greatly  benefited 
since  its  formation.  He  had  himself  been  called  upon  to 
work  much  with  Mr.  Perkins  in  the  business  of  the  Society, 
and  had  always  noticed  how  heartily  he  had  entered  into, 
the  vai-ious  duties  incumbent  upon  him,  which,  as  might 
be  imagined,  were  not  always  of  a  trifling  character. 

Mr.  Martin,  in  seconding  the  vote,  begged  heartily 
to  concur  with  Mr.  Butler’s  remarks,  and  hoped  that  an 
expression  of  the  feeling  of  the  meeting  would  be  con¬ 
veyed  to  Mr.  Perkins.  The  vote  -was  then  carried  with 
applause. 

Mr.  Butler  stated  that  he  would  communicate  the 
result  of  the  meeting  to  Mr.  Perkins.  In  reference  to 
the  library  and  museum,  the  Council  had  selected  a  Sub- 
Committee  to  make  all  the  necessary  arrangements  for 
the  carrying  out  of  their  original  plan,  and  they  hoped 
shortly  to  be  able  to  show  a  beginning  in  the  museum, 
as  the  requisite  furniture  was  already  ordered.  In  the 
collection  of  specimens  all  members  could,  and  he  trusted 
would  aid;  the  Museum  Committee  would  be  glad  to 
receive  any  good  crystals,  or  characteristic  specimens  of 
organic  materia  medica.  They  also  desired  to  show  the 


February  18, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


671 


various  adulterants.  With  regard  to  the  donation  they 
had  received  from  Thomas  Hyde  Hills,  Esq.,  part  of  the 
looks  purchased  with  the  above  donation  of  £5  would 
he  to  hand  in  a  few  days,  and  would  then  be  allowed 
to  circulate.  Mr.  Hills  had  also  kindly  presented  to 
them  copies  of  the  portraits  of  the  late  Mr.  Jacob  Bell, 
Dr.  Pereira,  and  Mr.  William  Allen.  The  grant  from 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  of  which  they  had  already 
heard  was  in  part  disposed  of  in  purchase  of  those 
diagrams  now  of  so  much  service  to  the  botanical  class. 
They  intended  shortly  to  expend  the  remainder  in  the 
purchase  of  chemical  diagrams.  He  had  been  re¬ 
quested  to  notice  the  falling  off  in  the  attendance  at  the 
various  classes.  It  had  caused  him  much  pain  and  sur¬ 
prise  that  those  for  whose  benefit  they  were  carried  on 
should  not  have  more  earnestly  availed  themselves  of 
then  advantages.  It  was  quite  unnecessary  to  enlarge 
upon  these  advantages,  under  the  present  system  of  com¬ 
pulsory  examination,  but  he  would  remind  them  that 
they  were  throwing  cold  water  on  the  efforts  of  those 
gentlemen  who  had  so  kindly  given  up  much  of  their 
time,  not  only  for  the  actual  delivery  of  the  lectures,  but 
for  their  preparation.  He  trusted  that  those  present 
would  incite  the  habitual  absentees,  and  that  in  the 
future  there  would  be  a  marked  improvement. 

The  Chairman  stated  that  Mr.  Butler  had  consented 
to  act  as  Financial  Secretary. 

Mr.  Grimditch  was  elected  Secretary. 

The  meeting  closed  with  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the 
Chairman. 


LIVERPOOL  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Eleventh  Conversasione  of  the  Liverpool  Chemists’ 
Association  was  held  on  Thursday  evening,  February  3, 
at  the  Royal  Institution,  Colquitt  Street,  and  was  very 
numerously  attended.  The  entire  building  was  thrown 
open  to  the  company,  and  the  many  objects  of  interest 
in  the  collections  connected  with  the  institution  were 
supplemented  by  others  lent  for  exhibition  on  this  occa¬ 
sion  by  various  private  gentlemen  and  public  societies. 

Mr.  Albert  H.  Samuel,  several  times  during  the 
evening,  explained  and  illustrated  experimentally  Tyn¬ 
dall’s  theory  of  the  blue  colour  of  the  sky.  He  prefaced 
his  explanatory  remarks  by  shortly  noting  the  fatal  ob¬ 
jections  to  the  other  theories  previously  accepted,  and 
then  proceeded  to  explain  that  all  space  is  filled  with  an 
extremely  subtle  and  elastic  medium  to  which  the  name 
“ether”  is  given.  He  then  defined  light  as  the  result  of 
an  infinitely  rapid  vibratory  motion  of  the  molecules  of 
luminous  bodies,  such  as  those  of  the  sun.  These  vibra¬ 
tions  give  to  the  ether  a  wave-like  motion,  which  strik¬ 
ing  on  the  retina  of  the  eye  produces  a  certain  sensation 
which  we  call  light.  The  waves  of  ether  are  of  different 
lengths  and  amplitudes.  The  greater  the  amplitude  the 
more  intense  the  light.  It  is  the  difference  in  the  length 
of  the  waves,  which  gives  us  the  impression  of  different 
colours,  blue  being-  caused  by  the  shortest  waves,  and  red 
by  the  longest.  The  long  red  waves  have  also  a  much 
greater  amplitude  or  depth  than  the  short  blue  waves, 
and  are  thereby  enabled  to  roll  over  or  pass  by  small 
obstacles  which  would  interrupt  and  throw  back  the 
short  and  shallow  blue  waves.  He  then  stated  that  our 
atmosphere  is  supposed  to  be  filled  with  countless  mil¬ 
lions.  of  excessively  minute  particles,  in  a  state  of  sus¬ 
pension,  and  that  the  long  deep  red  waves  roll  or  pass 
over  these  small  particles,  but  the  short  shallow  blue 
waves  ,  are  stopped  by  them,  and  thrown  back  or  scat¬ 
tered  into  space,  to  which  they  communicate  the  blue 
appearance  which  we  call  sky.  He  then  proceeded  to 
demonstrate  this  theory  by  drawing  the  attention  of  his 
audience  to  a  large  glass  vessel  of  water  in  which  he 
had  suspended,  by  means  of  an  alcoholic  solution  of  gum 
mastic,  an  infinite  number  of  minute  particles  of  the 
gum. 

On  bringing  the  powerful  light  of  a  magnesium  lamp 


to  bear  on  the  particles,  the  water  at  once  assumed  the 
characteristic  blue  appearance  of  the  sky, — the  water 
representing  the  ether,  and  the  suspended  particles  of 
gum,  the  infinitely  minute  particles  floating  in  our  at¬ 
mosphere. 

In  the  course  of  the  evening  the  company  assembled 
in  the  Lecture  Theatre,  to  listen  to  an  address  by  Pro¬ 
fessor  Roscoe,  illustrated  by  experiments  on  “Solar 
Chemistry.” 

Mr.  Abraham,  who  occupied  the  chair,  in  introducing 
the  lecturer,  reminded  the  audience  that  fifty  years  ago 
the  institution  in  which  they  were  assembled  was  opened 
by  William  Roscoe,  the  most  distinguished  ornament  to 
literature  the  town  had  produced.  Professor  Roscoe, 
however,  might  be  introduced  upon  his  own  merits. 

Professor  Roscoe,  after  thanking  the  meeting  for  the 
flattering  manner  in  which  it  received  him,  and  the  Pre¬ 
sident  for  the  kind  way  in  which  he  spoke  of  his  honoured 
grandfather,  said, — The  science  of  astronomy  was  most 
important.  The  sun  had,  from  the  earliest  times,  at¬ 
tracted  attention,  and  even  worship  ;  but  very  little  had 
been  known  concerning  it  until  within  the  last  few 
years.  Recently,  however,  this  knowledge  had  increased. 
Now  we  know  something,  not  only  of  its  physical  con¬ 
stitution,  but  of  its  chemical  composition ;  that  the  sun 
contains  substances  found  on  the  earth  ;  that  iron,  mag¬ 
nesium,  and  many  other  elements  are  present  in  the 
solar  atmosphere.  When  it  was  remembered  that  the 
sun  was  91,000,000  miles  distant  from  the  earth,  it 
seemed  a  marvel  that  such  information  could  be  obtained. 
Light  and  heat  form  the  only  medium  of  communication 
between  this  world  and  the  sun.  It  was  by  examining 
the  light  emitted  by  the  sun  that  the  composition  of  the 
solar  mass  could  be  ascertained.  White  light  is  a  com¬ 
pound,  whereas  coloured  light  is  a  simple  phenomenon. 
If  light  were  of  only  one  colour,  or  monochromatic, 
colour  would  not  be  seen  at  all,  but  would  appear  as 
different  degrees  of  shade.  With  the  aid  of  the  spectro¬ 
scope,  the  professor  illustrated  the  different  character¬ 
istics  of  the  solar  rays.  The  glowing  vapours  of  the 
gases  were  beautifully  shown,  also  the  broken  spectrum 
caused  by  throwing  lithium  through  the  prisms,  and 
the  effect  of  thallium.  He  next  volatilized  several  metals, 
such  as  silver,  copper,  cadmium,  tin  and  sodium,  and 
showed  the  lines  produced  by  each,  observing  that,  how¬ 
ever  distant  a  light  might  be,  it  could  Jbe  ascertained 
what  metal  produced  it.  He  then  said  that  there  were 
blue  and  orange-coloured  stars,  showing  a  different  kind 
of  light,  and  the  linos  produced  by  them  were  different 
from  those  produced  by  the  sun ;  while  those  produced 
by  the  planets  and  the  moon,  being  from  borrowed  light, 
were  the  same,  showing  that  these  stars  were  self-lumi¬ 
nous.  Kirchhoff  came  to  the  conclusion  that  metallic 
vapours  existed  in  the  solar  atmosphere,  and  that  certain 
lines  in  the  solar  spectrum  were  due  to  the  presence  of 
metals  in  it.  Since  Kirchhoff’s  discovery,  their  know¬ 
ledge  of  the  sun  had  greatly  increased.  The  lecturer 
next  proceeded  to  explain  a  few  of  the  phenomena  at¬ 
tending  a  total  eclipse  of  the  sun.  He  said  they  were 
most  marvellous  and  difficult  of  explanation.  By  means 
of  diagrams  he  illustrated  the  red  prominences  observed 
during  a  total  eclipse.  The  Himalaya  expedition  in 
1860,  proved  that  these  protuberances  belong  to  the  sun. 
They  consist  of  glowing  masses  of  hydrogen,  many  of 
which  are  supposed  to  extend  80,000  or  90,000  miles, 
and  move  with  wonderful  rapidity'.  Speaking  of  the 
oorona  or  white  halo  of  light  seen  outside  the  sun  during 
a  total  eclipse,  the  irregular  form  of  which  extended  into 
space,  he  said  the  result  of  the  recent  eclipse  expedition 
was,  on  the  whole,  satisfactory' ;  for  in  spite  of  bad 
weather,  accidents  and  mishaps,  the  corona  had  been 
run  down  at  last,  and  it  was  pretty'  well  known  what  it 
was.  If,  however,  the  astronomers  had  been  favoured 
with  fine  weather  an  important  series  of  observations 
would  have  been  made  at  Syracuse.  Some  of  them  went 
up  Mount  Etna,  and  saw  nothing.  About  half  an  hour 


672 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  18,  is?i. 


"before  tlie  eclipse  a  snowstorm  set  in  ;  half  an  hour  after 
the  eclipse  was  over  the  weather  was  most  beautiful,  the 
sun  shining  forth  in  all  his  brilliancy.  There  was  no 
doubt  that  the  corona  did  belong-  to  the  sun.  The  light 
from  the  corona  gave  a  spectrum  containing  bright  lines, 
one  of  which  was  observed  by  an  American  astronomer 
during  the  eclipse  last  year.  This  line  does  not  coincide 
with  any  of  those  found  in  the  spectra  of  other  known 
elementary  substances.  A  similar  bright  line  is,  how¬ 
ever,  found  in  the  spectrum  of  the  auroral-borealis. 
Whether  they  were  connected  could  not  be  said  at  pre¬ 
sent  ;  that  is  a  point  for  future  observers  to  clear  up.  It 
had  been  enough  for  them,  during  the  last  eclipse,  to  fix 
the  corona  as  an  absolute  entity,  and  show  that  it  was 
not  merely  something  produced  in  the  eyes  of  the  ob¬ 
servers  by  irradiation  of  any  glare,  but  a  portion  of  the 
solar  body.  Professor  Roscoe  concluded  his  lecture  by 
thanking  his  audience  for  the  attention  with  which  they 
had  listened  to  him,  and  resumed  his  seat  amid  loud 
applause. 

A  cordial  vote  of  thanks  was  presented  to  the  Pro¬ 
fessor  for  his  lecture. 

Later  in  the  evening,  Mr.  Edward  Davies,  F.C.S., 
Vice-President  of  the  Association,  gave  a  short  but  in¬ 
structive  lecture,  with  experiments,  upon  modern  explo¬ 
sive  compounds,  including  the  different  kinds  of  gun¬ 
powder,  gun-cotton,  nitro -glycerine,  dynamite,  picrate 
of  potash,  j^ercussion  shells,  time  fuses,  and  percussion 
fuses. 


MANCHESTER  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

An  Ordinary  Monthly  Meeting  was  held  in  the  Memo¬ 
rial  Hall,  Albert  Square,  on  Friday  afternoon,  February 
■3rd ;  Mr.  G.  S.  Woolley  in  the  chair. 

Messrs.  Berry,  Eckcrsley  and  Warton,  all  of  Oldham, 
-were  elected  members  ;  and  Messrs.  AVoodcock,  Spence- 
ley  and  Bowsfield,  associates. 

A  donation  of  three  guineas,  to  form  a  prize  in  one  of 
the  classes  selected  by  the  Council,  was  announced  from 
a  member,  Mr.  T.  G.  Gibbons,  and  a  resolution  convey¬ 
ing  the  best  thanks  of  the  Association  to  Mr.  Gibbons 
was  carried  with  acclamation. 

Mr.  Robert  Hampsox  then  read  a  paper  “  On  the  Im¬ 
portance  of  Some  Knowledge  of  Anatomy  and  Physiology 
to  the  Pharmacist.”  The  following  is  a  brief  abstract : — 
The  pharmacist  is  expected  to  be  fully  alive  to  the 
requirements  of  the  physician,  and  conversant  with  the 
modus  operandi  of  remedial  agents.  The  production  of 
pharmaceutical  preparations  suited  to  the  varied  mani¬ 
festations  of  disease  necessitates  some  knowledge  of  the 
construction  and  functions  of  the  human  organism. 
Such  knowledge  would  greatly  tend  to  impress  upon  the 
dispenser  the  absolute  importance  of  accuracy  in  com¬ 
pounding  medicines,  and  the  danger  and  disadvantage  of 
using  adulterated  drugs,  or  drugs  not  reaching  the  official 
standard  of  potency.  The  deiinition  of  a  poison,  and 
the  perils  of  an  excessive  dose,  and  the  necessity  for  the 
use  of  all  suitable  safeguards  to  prevent  error  or  disas¬ 
trous  misadventure,  would  assist  in  putting  to  flight 
the  mistaken  notion,  that  the  rigid  machinery  of  law,  its 
penalties  and  needless  rude  encroachments  are  required 
to  ensure  the  safety  of  those  who  deal  with  us. 

It  might  be  argued  by  some  that  this  kind  of  know- 
ledge  'would  extend  the  practice  of  prescribing  by  drug- 
gists  ,  he  (Mr.  Hampton)  entertained  an  opposite  opinion, 
founded  on  the  conviction  that  this  particular  informa¬ 
tion  v  hich  re%  eals  to  us  that  our  bodies  are  indeed 
feai fully  and  wonderfully  made,”  has  a  tendency  to 
prevent,  rather  than  foster  the  rash  assumption  of  duties 
foreign  to  our  special  business. 

Mr.  Hampson  illustrated  his  subject  by  some  remarks 
on  the  minute  anatomy  of  the  skin  and  mucous  mem¬ 
brane,  and  their  use  in  the  animal  economy,  and  also  on 


the  various  methods  of  introducing  medicines  into  the 
circulation. 

In  conclusion  he  advocated  that  a  short  introductory 
course  of  lectures,  embracing  a  clear  outline  of  anatomy 
and  physiology  be  given  to  pharmaceutical  students. 

A  cordial  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  Mr.  Hampson 
for  his  interesting  paper. 

Some  discussion  then  took  place  on  the  latest  phase  of 
the  poison  regulations  question,  and  a  resolution  pro¬ 
posed  by  Mr.  Siebold  and  seconded  by  Mr.  Mumbray, 
was  carried,  “  That  the  consideration  of  this  subject  be 
referred  to  the  Council  of  this  Association,  and  that  they 
be  requested  to  take  action  thereon.” 

The  Secretary  called  attention  to  a  copy  of  the  Year- 
Book  issued  by  the  Pharmaceutical  Conference,  which 
he  had  placed  upon  the  table,  and  reminded  those  pre¬ 
sent  that  all  apprentices  and  assistants,  as  well  as  men 
in  business,  were,  on  payment  of  the  annual  subscription 
of  os.,  eligible  for  election  as  members  of  the  Conference, 
by  which  they  would  be  entitled  to  a  copy  of  this  valu¬ 
able  work. 

A  paper  on  Dispensing,  by  Mr.  Halliday,  was  an¬ 
nounced  for  the  March  meeting, 


BRISTOL  PHARMACEUTICAL  ASSOCIATION. 

A  General  Meeting  of  the  Association  was  held  on 
Friday,  February  10th,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  into 
consideration  the  subject  of  the  proposed  “  Regulations 
for  the  Storing  of  Poisons.” 

The  President,  Mr.  Stoddart,  briefly  introduced  the 
subject,  pointing  out  that  the  poison  clauses  in  the  Phar¬ 
macy  Acts  were  really  all  that  the  public  and  the  Govern¬ 
ment  cared  about,  and  that  they  had  shown  a  remark¬ 
able  confidence  in  the  pharmaceutical  body  in  trusting 
to  their  hands  the  carrying  out  of  their  provisions.  He 
thought  the  pharmacists  were  bound  in  honour  to  fulfil 
the  implied  pledge  to  adopt  some  compulsory  regulations 
as  to  the  storing  of  poisons,  and  that  those  suggested  by 
the  Council  wore  sufficiently  elastic  to  be  easily  applied 
to  all  kinds  of  pharmaceutical  businesses. 

Mr.  Giles  said  he  had  endeavoured  to  approach  the 
subject  with  a  perfectly  unbiassed  mind.  He  had  hither¬ 
to  identified  himself  with  neither  side  in  this  controversy, 
feeling  a  good  deal  disposed  to  trust  the  judgment  of  the 
Council,  and  to  follow  their  leading.  Looking  at  the 
question  in  the  abstract,  and  having  regard  to  the  history 
of  the  sad  cases  of  accident  that  all  present  would  recol¬ 
lect,  he  thought  the  public  had  a  distinct  right  to  some 
security  against  such  accidents  beyond  those  provided 
by  the  best  professional  education ;  and  this  view  natu¬ 
rally  issued  in  the  imposition  of  compulsory  precau¬ 
tionary  regulations.  Those  that  had  been  put  forth  by 
the  Council,  with  the  concurrence  of  the  Privy  Council, 
he  considered,  were  very  sensible  and  very  easy  of  appli¬ 
cation,  and  their  adoption  would,  he  was  sure,  act  as  a 
great  relief  to  many  an  anxious  dispenser.  Moreover, 
by  thus  offering  a  further  pledge  of  safety  to  the  public, 
the  pharmaceutical  body  would  be  adopting  the  course 
most  calculated  gradually  to  draw  the  bulk  of  dispensing 
into  their  own  hands.  Mr.  Giles  then  read  a  circular  he 
had  that  day  received  from  Mr.  Bremridge,  which  de¬ 
tailed  the  history  of  the  Council’s  action  in  the  matter, 
and  explained  its  present  intentions,  and  ho  concluded 
by  declaring  that  ho  utterly  failed  to  discover  any 
ground  for  objection  to  the  course  it  had  taken. 

Mr.  Boucher  (Ferris  and  Co.)  confessed  he  felt  no 
very  great  faith  in  the  efficacy  of  “compulsory  regula¬ 
tions,”  as  he  thought  most  establishments  already  prac¬ 
tised  such  precautions  as  were  best  adapted  to  then’  own 
particular  circumstances ;  and  looking  at  the  exceeding 
infrequency  of  accidents  in  the  houses  of  pharmacists,  he 
did  not  think  they  were  required.  But  as  something  of 
the  kind  appeared  to  be  demanded  by  a  portion  of  the 
public,  and  by  the  Privy  Council,  he  would  by  no  means 
oppose  them. 

Mr.  Schacht  said  he  had  always  noticed  that  those 


February  18, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


67$ 


who  had  the  largest  experience  in  dispensing  were 
amongst  the  most  anxious  to  avail  themseves  of  all 
possible  precautions,  whether  mechanical  or  moral, 
against  accidents.  He  was  desirous  to  do  so  also  ;  and, 
indeed,  with  Mr.  Boucher,  believed  there  were  but  few 
pharmacists  throughout  the  country  who  not  only  felt 
as  earnestly  upon  the  matter  as  he  did  himself,  but 
who  would  have  approved  these  “  regulations”  warmly, 
had  they  only  been  presented  as  “recommendations.” 
He  believed  that  what  had  produced  the  show  of  op¬ 
position  to  them  was  the  fear  that,  as  the  existing 
legal  power  to  enforce  their  observance  was  mani¬ 
festly  insufficient,  the  adoption  of  them  as  compulsory 
would  bo  tantamount  to  a  pledge  to  support  some 
further  legal  enactments,  which,  to  be  efficacious,  must 
of  necessity  be  inquisitorial.  This  view  had  presented 
itself  strongly  to  his  own  mind,  though  ho  had  never 
before  publicly  expressed  it,  and  had  made  him  regard 
the  whole  business,  highly  as  he  approved  the  substance 
of  the  regulations,  with  a  good  deal  of  distrust.  He 
could  not  endure  the  notion  of  inspection,  and  yet  with¬ 
out  it  he  could  not  see  how  these  “  regulations  ”  could 
be  rendered  compulsory.  There  was  a  sentence  in  the 
circular  the  meeting  had  just  heard  read,  which  he  in¬ 
terpreted  as  a  disclaimer  on  the  part  of  the  Council  of 
any  intention  to  push  what  legal  power  they  possessed 
to  a  vexatious  issue ;  he  should  not,  therefore,  press 
upon  the  Association  a  resolution  he  had  prepared,  re¬ 
questing  definite  information  from  the  Council  upon  this 
very  point ;  but  he  thought  all  the  more  that  “  compul- 
pulsory  regulations,”  which  were  not  be  enforced,  had 
better  be  called  by  their  proper  name — “recommenda¬ 
tions.” 

After  a  general  discussion  of  a  conversational  character, 
in  which  the  details  of  the  proposed  regulations  were  con¬ 
sidered,  it  appeared  to  be  the  feeling  of  the  meeting  that 
it  was  desirable  that  the  agitation  upon  the  subject  of  poi¬ 
son  regulations  should  be  set  at  rest,  by  accepting  the  pro¬ 
position  of  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society, 
which  appeared  to  satisfy  the  requirements  of  the  Privy 
Council.  The  following  resolution  was  therefore  pro¬ 
posed  by  Mr.  Giles,  seconded  by  Mr.  Boucher,  and 
carried  without  a  division : — “  That  this  meeting  ap¬ 
proves  of  the  regulations  proposed  by  the  Council  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society,  in  concert  with  the  Privy  Coun¬ 
cil,  for  the  keeping  and  dispensing  of  poisons,  and  autho¬ 
rizes  the  Council  of  this  Association  to  take  measures  at 
their  discretion  for  supporting  the  action  of  the  Council 
of  the  Society  at  the  Annual  Meeting  in  May  next.” 


HULL  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

At  the  usual  monthly  meeting  of  the  Hull  Chemists’ 
Association,  the  proposed  poison  regulations  were  dis¬ 
cussed,  when  it  was  unanimously  resolved,  “That  the 
attempt  to  enforce  uniformity  throughout  the  kingdom 
in  the  keeping  and  storing  of  poisons  by  chemists,  would, 
if  successful,  be  likely  in  the  first  instance  to  result  in 
greatly  increased  risk  by  disarranging  existing  plans, 
without  any  probable  ultimate  benefit  to  either  the  pub¬ 
lic  or  the  trade,  and  such  proposed  regulations  arc  in  the 
opinion  of  this  meeting  unnecessary.” 


CHEMICAL  SOCIETY. 

At  the  Meeting  of  the  Chemical  Society  on  the  2nd  of 
Eebruary,  Professor  Frankland,  P.R.S.,  read  a  paper 
on  “The  Development  of  Fungi  in  Potable  Water.” 
He  first  alluded  to  Mr.  Heisch’s  experiments  on  waters 
contaminated  with  sewaqe  matter.  The  addition  of 
sugar  gave  rise  to  a  kind  of  fermentation,  and  a  rich 
fungoid  growth  made  its  appearance.  Professor  Frank- 
land,  in  repeating  those  experiments,  has  arrived,  with 
one  or  two  exceptions,  at  the  same  result.  But  lie  also 


met  with  some  reactions  which  were  at  first  difficult  to 
explain.  On  the  26th  of  November  last,  he  collected  at 
Mr.  Hope’s  irrigation  farm  at  Romford,  a  sample  of 
effluent  water  from  one  of  the  drain  outfalls.  This, 
water  consisted  of  Romford  sewage,  which  had  percolated 
through  four  or  five  feet  of  loose  gravelly  soil  to  the  tile- 
drains  below.  It  was  clear,  but  still  contained  much 
unoxidized  sewage,  as  was  shown  by  the  following  results,, 
obtained  upon  analysis  : — 

100-000  parts  contained — 


Total  solid  impurity  in  solution  . 

85-600 

Organic  carbon . 

0-844 

Organic  nitrogen . 

0-233 

Ammonia . 

0-040 

Nitrogen  as  nitrates  and  nitrites  . 

1-143 

Total  combined  nitrogen  .  .  . 

1-419 

Chlorine . 

9-300 

Temporary  hardness . 

27-950 

Permanent  ,,  . 

20-600 

Total  „  . 

48*550 

The  proportion  of  organic  carbon  was  three  times, 
and  that  of  organic  nitrogen  ten  times,  as  great  as  that 
found  in  unpolluted  water,  whilst  the  comparatively 
large  proportion  of  ammonia  showed  that  the  oxidation 
of  organic  matter  was  still  incomplete.  Nevertheless,, 
this  water,  mixed  with  the  proper  proportion  of  sugar, 
and  maintained  at  a  temperature  of  about  70°  F.,  re¬ 
mained  perfectly  transparent  for  weeks.  The  result  of 
the  next  experiment  was  still  more  remarkable.  Two 
samples  of  the  Grand  Junction  Company’s  water  were 
mixed  with  sugar  in  the  usual  way.  One  of  them  was. 
drawn  from  a  foul,  uncovered  cistern  over  and  within  a 
water-closet ;  the  other  from  a  clean  slate  cistern,  and 
filtered  through  30  or  40  lbs.  of  animal  charcoal.  The 
water  from  the  foul  cistern  remained  transparent  for 
weeks,  whilst  that  drawn  from  the  clear  cistern  through 
animal  charcoal  soon  became  turbid,  and  in  three  days- 
produced  abundant  fungoid  growths.  To  test  Mr. 
Heisch’s  statement  that  filtration  through  well- airccl 
animal  charcoal  prevented  these  growths  even  in  foul 
water,  Professor  Frankland  passed  a  rapid  current  of  air 
through  the  filter  for  about  fifteen  minutes,  and  left  it 
exposed  to  air  for  six  hours.  The  result,  however,  was 
the  same;  Grand  Junction  water  drawn  through  it  im¬ 
mediately  after  aeration,  when  mixed  with  sugar,  be¬ 
haved  exactly  as  before.  These  experiments  seem  to 
indicate  that  the  presence  of  a  phosphate  was  in  some 
way  connected  with  the  production  of  the  fungoid 
growths  and  other  living  organisms,  for  it  is  known 
that  water  dissolves  traces  of  calcic  phosphate  from 
animal  charcoal,  and  this  supposition  was  strengthened 
when  Professor  Frankland  found  that  the  effluent  water 
from  the  sewage  farm  at  Romford  contained  no  detect¬ 
able  trace  of  phosphoric  acid,  the  plants  and  poor  soil  of 
this  newly- cultivated  farm  having,  doubtless,  removed 
all  phosphates  from  the  percolating  sewage.  The  hy¬ 
pothesis  of  the  dependence  of  fungoid  and  other  growths 
upon  the  presence  of  phosphates  was  further  supported 
by  the  results  of  the  following  experiments  : — 

A  sample  of  the  Grand  Junction  Company’s  water- 
mixed  with  sugar  remained  perfectly  clear  for  twelve- 
days  ;  minute  quantities  of  ammonic  nitrate  and  sodic 
phosphate  were  then  added ;  three  days  later,  it  swarmed 
with  very  active  vibrios  and  cells  with  bright  nuclei ; 
subsequently  very  luxuriant  branched  fungoid  threads 
were  developed,  the  mixture  emitting  a  strong  ferment 
odour,  which,  a  few  days  later,  became  horribly  offen¬ 


sive. 

A  sample  of  the  Southwark  Company’s  water  mixed 
with  sugar  remained  for  nineteen  days  perfectly  clear  ; 
small  quantities  of  ammonic  nitrate  and  sodic  phosphate 
were  then  added.  In  a  few  days  it  was  crowded  with 
vibrios  and  monads :  later  it  was  found  to  contain  the 
characteristic  mycelial  fibres. 

The  usual  proportion  of  sugar  was  added  to  a  sample 


<374 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  18, 1871. 


of  water  collected  at  the  Cemoy  Springs  near  Cirencester ; 
it  remained  clear  for  eight  days  and  was  then  mixed 
with  traces  of  amnionic  nitrate  and  sodic  phosphate ;  it 
continued  turbid,  and  soon  became  filled  with  swarms  of 
vibrios  and  fine  branching  tubular  fungoid  threads ;  the 
water  subsequently  became  brownish  and  emitted  a  very 
offensive  odour. 

These  experiments  show  that  potable  waters,  which 
stand  the  sugar  test  perfectly,  become  entirely  changed 
in  their  behaviour  with  this  test  when  mixed  with  traces 
of  amnionic  nitrate  and  sodic  phosphate ;  and  the  fol¬ 
lowing  experiments  prove  that  it  is  the  phosphoric  salt 
which  alters  their  behaviour  in  this  respect : — 

A  sample  of  the  Lambeth  Company’s  water,  mixed 
with  sugar,  remained  perfectly  clear  for  nineteen  days  : 
amnionic  nitrate  was  then  added ;  after  the  lapse  of 
several  weeks  the  clearness  of  the  sample  had  not  been 
disturbed. 

Canterbury  deep  well-water,  softened  by  Clark’s  pro¬ 
cess,  remained  perfectly  clear  during  twenty-three  days 
after  admixture  with  sugar ;  traces  of  nitrate  of  am¬ 
monia  were  then  added.  After  the  lapse  of  two  months, 
it  was  perfectly  transparent  and  unchanged. 

Thus  it  is  evident  that  the  addition  of  minute  traces 
of  a  phosphate,  either  as  sodic  phosphate,  white  of  egg, 
or  animal  charcoal,  at  once  determines  these  fungoid 
growths  in  saccharine  water,  which  before  exhibited  no 
tendency  to  develope  them. 

The  next  question  to  be  determined  was,  are  the 
germs  of  these  organisms  contained  only  in  the  waters 
which  develope  fungoid  growths,  or  are  they  present  in 
the  atmosphere  ?  The  answer  was  given  by  the  following 
experiment : — 

Small  quantities  of  potassic  chloride,  amnionic  nitrate, 
sodic  phosphate  and  sugar  were  dissolved  in  distilled 
■water,  previously  boiled  for  many  hours  with  caustic 
soda  and  potassic  permanganate,  and  afterwards  again 
distilled.  Just  before  solution  the  solid  ingredients 
were  strongly  heated  in  a  platinum  spoon  over  the  flame 
of  a  spirit-lamp ;  the  potassic  chloride  and  sodic  phos¬ 
phate  to  redness,  the  amnionic  nitrate  until  a  consider¬ 
able  proportion  had  decomposed  into  nitrous  oxide  and 
water,  the  sugar  until,  after  melting,  it  began  to  turn 
brown.  This  solution  was  placed  in  a  stoppered  bottle. 
After  a  few  days’  exposure  to  a  temperature  varying 
between  60°  and  70°  F.,  a  magnificent  mycelium  of  the 
characteristic  description  began  to  grow,  soon  followed 
by  several  others.  The  liquid  was  also  crowded  with 
very  minute  moving  organisms,  probably  monads.  A 
specimen  of  real  sewer  fungus  was  found  to  be  very 
similar  in  appearance,  but  more  transparent  and  some- 
what  smaller. 

It  is  thus  evident  that  the  purest  water  which  can  be 
obtained  in  contact  with  the  air  yields  splendid  crops  of 
this  sewage  mycelium,  if  it  be  supplied  with  the  neces¬ 
sary  soil,  and  further,  that  the  sugar  and  salts  just  named 
contain  all  the  elements  necessary  for  its  development. 
Phosphorus  is  essential,  for,  in  a  solution  made  at  the 
same  time,  exposed  to  the  same  conditions  and  containing 
the  same  substances,  minus  tlic  sodic  phosphate ,  no  trace 
of  mycelium  or  of  any  other  organism  made  its  appear¬ 
ance  during  nine  weeks. 

The  presence  of  germs  in  a  sample  of  water  is  therefore 
insufficient  in  itself  to  produce  Mr.  Heisch’s  reaction 
when  sugar  is  added.  A  short  (probably  a  momentary) 
■contact  with  air  is  sufficient  to  impregnate  any  sample 
•of  water  with  the  necessary  germs,  which  develope  on 
the  addition  of  sugar  only  in  the  presence  of  a  phosphate. 
The  reaction  is,  in  fact,  an  exceedingly  delicate  test  for 
phosphoric  acid.  It  would  probably  defy  the  powers  of 
the  most  expert  chemist  to  detect,  in  two  ounces  of  water, 
the  phosphoric  acid  introduced  by  the  addition  of  a  single 
drop  of  a  dilute  solution  of  albumen ;  yet  these  atmo¬ 
spheric  germs  find  it  out,  appropriate  it,  and  by  their 
growth,  reveal  its  presence. 

Professor  Frankland  then  described  some  experiments 


in  which  water,  sugar,  sewage  matter  and  the  necessary 
salts,  were  kept  in  dark  or  obscure  places  at  the  tem¬ 
perature  of  the  body.  He  found  that  these  conditions 
were  favourable  for  the  development  of  bacteria,  vibrios 
and  similar  organisms,  but  unfavourable  for  fungoid 
growth. 

As  the  result  of  his  experiments,  Professor  Frankland 
has  arrived  at  the  following  conclusions : — 

1.  Potable  water  mixed  with  sewage,  urine,  albumen 
and  certain  other  matters,  or  brought  into  contact  with 
animal  charcoal,  subsequently  develope  fungoid  growths 
when  small  quantities  of  sugar  are  dissolved  in  them  and 
they  are  exposed  to  a  summer  temperature. 

2.  The  germs  of  these  organisms  are  present  in  the 
atmosphere,  and  every  water  contains  them  after  momen¬ 
tary  contact  with  the  air. 

3.  The  development  of  these  germs  cannot  take  place 
without  the  presence  of  phosphoric  acid,  or  a  phosphate 
or  phosphorus  in  some  form  of  combination.  Water, 
however  much  contaminated,  if  free  from  phosphorus, 
does  not  produce  them.  A  German  philosopher  has 
said  “  ohne  Phosphor  hem  Gedanhe."  The  above  experi¬ 
ments  warrant  the  alteration  of  this  dictum  to  “  ohne 
Phosphor  (jar  Icein  LebenP 


ONTARIO  COLLEGE  OF  PHARMACY. 

At  the  Ordinary  Monthly  Meeting,  held  on  the  13th 
of  January,  the  Legislative  Committee  reported  that 
they  had  interviewed  the  Hon.  Attorney- General  and 
several  other  members  of  the  Legislature,  and  that  there 
seemed  to  be  a  general  opinion  in  favour  of  the  Bill, 
with  the  exception  of  Clause  27,  into  which  a  provision 
has  been  introduced  for  regulating  the  sale  of  proprietary 
medicines  that  has  caused  great  opposition. 

Mr.  Elliott  thought  that  a  modification  of  the  clause 
was  advisable ;  yet  there  ought  to  be  some  provision  to 
prevent  the  putting  up  of  laudanum  and  other  dangerous 
drugs  under  other  names,  and  scattering  them  broadcast 
over  the  country.  This,  he  thought,  might  he  done 
without  interfering  with  the  sale  of  legitimate  patent 
medicines. 

Mr.  Makgach  moved  an  amendment,  authorizing  the 
Committee  on  Legislation  to  withdraw  the  clause,  as  he 
felt  convinced  that  an  attempt  to  carry  it  would  imperil 
the  Bill  itself.  It  would  be  better  to  get  the  Act  first, 
and,  at  some  future  time,  a  well-digested  scheme  for 
protecting  the  public  from  dangerous  secret  remedies 
might  be  introduced. 

Mr.  Milled,  in  supporting  the  amendment,  said  that 
it  was  certainly  a  very  arbitrary  proceeding  to  compel 
every  proprietor  of  a  patent  medicine  to  send  the  for¬ 
mula  to  the  Registrar.  He  felt  sure  that  it  could  never 
be  carried  out. 

The  amendment  was  carried. 

During  a  discussion  on  the  Poison  Schedule,  which  is 
similar  to  that  in  the  English  Act,  Mr..  Millek  said  that 
paregoric,  being  an  article  of  such  common  use,  ought  to 
be  made  an  exception  to  the  articles  in  Class  2. 

This  suggestion  was  adopted,  and  a  committee  in¬ 
structed  to  carry  out  these  alterations  when  the  Bill 
again  came  before  the  Legislature. 


MEETINGS  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 

Monday  . Medical  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

London  Institution,  at  4  p.m. — “The  First 
Principles  of  Biology  ”  (Educational 
Course).  By  Prof.  Huxley. 

Tuesday  . Loyal  Institution,  at  3  p.m. — “The  Nutri¬ 

tion  of  Animals.”  By  Professor  Foster. 

Wednesday  ...Society  of  Arts,  at  8  p.m. — “Water  Meters.” 
By  Frederick  E.  Bodkin. 

Thuksday . Loyal  Society,  at  8.30  p.m. 

Loyal  Institution,  at  3  p.m. — “Davy’s  Dis¬ 
coveries  in  Chemistry.”  By  Prof.  0  tiling. 


G75 


February  is,  1871.]  TIIE  PHARMACEUTICAL  J 0 UREAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


Thursday . London  Institution,  at  7.30  p.m. — ‘-'The  Ac¬ 

tion,  Nature  and  Detection  of  Poisons.” 
By  F.  S.  Barff. 

London  Chemists'  Association,  at  9.30  p.m. 
“Filtration.”  By  Mr.  De  Putron. 

Friday  . Loyal  Institution,  at  9  p.m. — “  The  Latest 

Scientific  Researches  in  the  Mediterranean 
and  Straits  of  Gibraltar.”  By  Dr.  W.  B. 
Carpenter. 

Quekett  Club,  at  8  p.m. 


Overdose  of  Chloral  Hydrate. 

An  inquest  lias  been  held  at  Wrington,  Somerset,  to 
inquire  into  the  death  of  Mr.  Edward  Ratheram.  It 
appeared  from  the  evidence  that  the  deceased  gentleman 
had  been  placed  under  the  care  of  Dr.  Barnes,  in  conse¬ 
quence  of  his  addictedness  to  opium.  Visiting-  Bristol 
with  the  Doctor,  he  took  the  opportunity  of  purchasing- 
secretly  an  8-oz.  bottle  of  chloral  hydrate.  A  day  or 
•  two  afterwards  he  was  observed  to  be  under  the  influence 
of  an  opiate.  Being-  questioned,  he  produced  a  bottle 
containing  about  an  ounce  of  chloral  hydrate,  largely 
diluted  with  water.  The  bottle  was  not  marked  “  poison,” 
but  a  printed  label  was  attached,  giving-  directions  for 
nse.  In  the  evening  he  took  his  supper  in  bed,  appa¬ 
rently  quite  well ;  the  next  morning  he  was  found  lying- 
on  the  floor.  Medical  assistance  -was  obtained,  but  Mr. 
Ratheram  died  shortly  after.  The  medical  evidence  was 
to  the  effect  that  death  had  been  occasioned  by  an  over¬ 
dose  of  chloral  hydrate,  and  the  jury  found  accordingly, 
adding,  that  they  believed  it  to  have  been  taken  in  igno¬ 
rance  of  its  strength,  and  that  in  their  opinion  narcotic 
poisons,  when  sold  to  non-professionals,  should  be  la¬ 
belled  “Poison.” — Saturday  Bristol  Times. 


DR.  F.  A.  G.  MIQUEL. 

Intelligence  has  been  received  of  the  death  of  Dr. 
F.  A.  G.  Miquel,  Professor  of  Botany  in  the  University 
of  Utrecht,  and  Director  of  the  Botanic  Gardens  at 
Leyden.  Professor  Miquel  has  occupied  high  rank 
among-  systematic  botanists  for  many  years.  His  nume¬ 
rous  publications  have  been  principally  devoted  to  the 
elucidation  of  the  plants  of  the  Dutch  possessions  in  the 
Indian  Archipelago  and  of  the  flora  of  Japan  and  New 
Holland.  Besides  these  undertakings,  for  which  Pro¬ 
fessor  Miquel  possessed  special  advantages,  he  produced 
several  monographs  of  particular  families,  such  as  the 
Figs,  Peppers,  Cycads,  Casuarinas,  etc.  The  work  by 
which  he  will  be  best  remembered  is  his  1  Annales  Musei 
Botanici  Lugduno-Batavi,’  in  four  folio  volumes,  with 
splendid  illustrations.  He  was  one  of  the  Foreign  Mem¬ 
bers  of  the  Linnean  Society  of  London. 

Petroleum  Accident.— A  Mr.  Smith,  ironmonger, 
of  Keighley,  while  engaged  lately  in  filling  a  thirty-five 
gallon  cask,  which  had  contained  petroleum,  with  olive 
oil,  incautiously  placed  a  lighted  lamp  upon  it.  An  ex¬ 
plosion  immediately  ensued,  which  blew  out  the  plate- 
glass  front  and  some  of  the  windows  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  street.  Mr.  Smith  was  slightly  burned  about  the 
face  and  head. — Grocer. 

The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘  British 
Medical  Journal,’  Feb.  11 ;  the  ‘  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
Feb.  11;  the  ‘Lancet,’  Feb.  11;  the  ‘Medical  Press  and  Cir¬ 
cular,’  Feb.  16  ;  ‘Nature,’  Feb.  9;  the  ‘  Chemical  News,’  Feb. 
10  ;  ‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  Feb.  9  ;  ‘Gardeners’ 
Chronicle,’  Feb.  11 ;  the  ‘  Grocer,’  Feb.  11 ;  the  ‘  Chemist  and 
Druggist’  for  February ;  the  ‘  American  J ournal  of  Pharmacy’ 
for  February;  the  ‘New  York  Druggists’  Circular’  for 
February;  the  ‘Chicago  Pharmacist’  for  January;  the 
Canadian  Pharmaceutical  Journal  ’  for  January ;  the  ‘  J our- 
ual  of  Materia  Medica’  for  January. 


Hfetcs  aitir  Queries. 

***  In  order  to  facilitate  reference,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  their  answers  in  each  case  with  the  title 
and  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

Bo  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

NOTICE. — To  prevent  delay ,  correspondents  are  re¬ 
quested  to  send  their  communications  to  the  Journal  Depart¬ 
ment,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square ,  W.C.,  and  not  to  the  Bub- 
lishers. 

[160.] — LIQUOR  QLINI2E  AMMON. — Will  any  corre¬ 
spondent  be  kind  enough  to  inform  me  how  liquor  quin, 
ammon.  is  prepared? — S.  C. 

[*#*  The  following  has  already  been  published  in  this 
Journal,  1st  ser.  Vol.  XIII.  p.  314: — 

R.  Quinge  Disulph.  gr.  xxxij 
Spirit.  Tenuior.  ^iiiss 
Liquor.  Ammoniae  ~ss. 

— Ed.  Pharm.  Jourx.] 

[161.]— TINCTURE  OF  MYRRH  AND  BORAX.— 
Can  any  of  your  readers  tell  me  what  is  usually  sold  under 
this  name  ?  The  formula  given  in  Squire’s  ‘  Companion  ’ 
seems  to  dissolve  only  a  very  small  proportion  of  borax.  I 
have  tried  equal  parts  of  tinct.  myrrh,  and  glycerin,  boracis, 
which  make  a  tolerably  clear  mixture,  but  I  should  be  glad 
to  know  what  others  use. — Provincial. 

[###  The  following  is  the  formula  given  by  Piesse: — 


Spirits  of  Wine  ...  1  quart. 

Borax . 1  oz. 

Honey . 1  oz. 

Gum  Myrrh  .  .  .  .  1  oz. 

Red  Sanders  Wood  .  .  1  oz. 


Rub  the  honey  and  borax  well  together  in  a  mortar,  then 
gradually  add  the  spirit — which  should  not  be  stronger  than 
•920,  i.  e.  proof  spirit — the  myrrh  and  sanders-wood,  and  ma¬ 
cerate  fourteen  days.— Ed.  Pharm.  J ourn.] 

[162.] — ANILINE  SULPHATE. — Will  any  reader  oblige 
me  with  a  formula  for  the  manufacture  of  aniline  sulphate  ? 
— J.  T.  Sandell. 

[163.]— ACIDUM  CARBOLICUM  AROMAT.— “  Coun¬ 
try  Druggist"  wishes  to  know  what  “acid,  carbolic,  aro- 
mat.”  is,  used  for  inhaling. 

[164.]— THE  LOGWOOD  BREAD  TEST.  —  I  have 
tested  various  samples  of  bread  with  the  “  methylated  alco¬ 
holic  infusion  of  logwood  ”  test  given  in  your  J  ournal,  amongst 
them  one  called  aerated  bread,  which,  on  standing,  turned  of 
a  bluish- green  colour.  Will  any  one  be  kind  enough  to  ex¬ 
plain  what  it  is  due  to  ?  The  other  samples  showed  their 
freedom  from  alum  by  turning  of  a  yellowish-straw  colour. — 
Filius  Neminis,  Manchester. 

[165.] — PILL  COVERING. — Will  any  reader  kindly  in¬ 
form  me  the  way  to  send  out  pills  with  a  “  tasteless  white 
covering”  ? — S.  R. 

[166.] — BLACK  INK. — J.  T.  B.  and  “  Scribe  ”  would  be 
glad  of  a  good  recipe  fur  black  ink  which  would  not  corrode 
steel  pens. 

[167.] — LEMONADE. — A.  Z.  wishes  for  a  good  formula  for 
making  lemonade  (aerated). 

[168.] — FRAGRANT  ESSENCE. —  G.  H.  B.  would  be 
glad  if  any  reader  could  give  a  good  formula  for  the  above. — 
Geo.  Harvie. 

[169.]— CORN  PLASTER. — M.  B.  S.  wishes  for  a  for¬ 
mula  for  Corn  Piaster  (not  containing  verdigris)  to  spread  on 
linen. 

[170.]— BALSAM  OF  LIQUORICE. — Will  any  reader 
kindly  favour  me  with  a  recipe  for  the  above  ? — Z.  Z. 

[171.]— BOTANICAL  SPECIMENS.— Will  any  corre¬ 
spondent  favour  me  with  the  best  methods  of  drying  and  pre¬ 
serving  botanical  specimens  ? — Herbarius. 


f  arlirawntoi;  smij  fate  frant&ings. 


676 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  18, 1871 


***  JVo  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication  >  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Poison  Regulations. 

Sir, — My  physical  inability  during  the  past  three  months 
to  attend  the  meetings  of  the  Council  has  not  diminished  my 
interest  in  the  changing  phases  of  the  proposed  regulations 
for  keeping  and  dispensing  poisons.  The  publication  in  the 
Pharmaceutical  Journal  of  the  11th  inst.  of  Restate¬ 
ment  of  reasons  which  have  induced  the  Council  to  suggest 
regulations,”  hearing  the  endorsement  of  eleven  members  of 
Council,  compels  me  in  this  way  to  record  my  dissent  from 
those  “reasons,”  a  feeling  which  I  cannot  doubt  is  shared  by 
many  others  of  the  ten  remaining  members  of  the  Council. 

On  general  grounds,  the  “reasons”  appear  to  me  as  being 
framed  upon  a  basis,  suitable  perhaps  for  the  excuse  of  party 
measures,  but  inconsistent  with  the  representative  character 
of  the  Council.  The  historical  notice  of  the  Pharmacy  Bill 
(No.  1)  of  1865  may  be  satisfactory  to  those  who  are  respon¬ 
sible  for  that  expensive  failure,  but  the  allusion  to  the  United 
Society  of  Chemists  and  Druggists  as  the  cause  of  its  failure 
is  a  very  doubtful  piece  of  good  faith  towards  a  body  of  men 
who  were  thought  powerful  enough  to  be  parties  to  a  treaty 
in  1868,  and  who  maintained  an  unselfish  fidelity  not  yet 
fully  recognized,  and  certainly  not  rewarded. 

The  recommendations  of  the  committee  of  the  House  of 
Commons  in  1835  (instigated  by  the  United  Society)  are 
taken  as  the  origin  of  present  restrictions  on  the  sale  of 
poisons,  reserving  the  fact  recorded  by  the  “reasons”  that 
‘prior  to  the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy  Act  of  1868  attempts 
had  been  made  in  Parliament  at  various  times  to  enforce 
regulations  for  the  sale  of  poisons.”  Surely  this  fact,  used 
in  the  preceding  paragraph  as  one  of  the  “reasons”  for  pre¬ 
sent  action,  might  fairly  be  supposed  to  have  influenced  the 
promoters  of  Bill  No.  2  in  1865.  The  opponents  of  the  regu¬ 
lations  are  perfectly  aware  of  the  tendency  of  modern  legisla¬ 
tion  as  relating  to  the  liberty  of  the  subject,  it  being  clear 
that  the  tide  has  turned  against  that  doctrine  of  laissez  faire, 
which  somewhat  illogically  received  an  impetus  from  the 
removal  of  fiscal  burdens  upon  commerce  and  manufactures. 
We  all  know  that  such  changes  of  policy  tend  towards  an 
opposite  extreme,  and  that  unreasoning  panic  constantly 
follows  a  state  of  blind  security.  In  connection  with  the 
present  phase  of  advancing  civilization,  it  is  proper  that  the 
old  ducal  right,  “a  man  may  do  as  he  likes  with  his  own,” 
should  give  way  when  that  wish  is  exercised  to  the  damage 
of  his  fellow-men.  But  society  must  apply  its  restrictions 
with  some  fairness,  and  show  cause  for  the  burdens  which  it 
imposes  upon  any  class.  The  restrictions  placed  upon  the 
sale  of  poisons  was  accepted  by  our  body  as  a  general  mea¬ 
sure  which  was  not  unreasonable  But  where  is  the  evidence 
making  a  case  for  immediate  and  the  most  oppressive  form 
of  interference  in  the  keeping  of  poisons  P  We  all  know 
that  in  years  gone  by  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  tincture 
of  rhubarb  and  tincture  of  opium  to  stand  shoulder  to 
shoulder,  and  that  several  mistakes  happened  as  a  conse¬ 
quence.  The  Pharmaceutical  Society  may  point  to  its  influ¬ 
ence  during  a  quarter  of  a  century  as  having  changed  this 
state  of  things,  and  may  assert  that  hardly  any  mistakes  now 
occur  which  would  be  prevented  by  the  proposed  regulations. 

In  the  5th  paragraph  of  the  “  reasons,”  it  is  stated  that 
there  was  “a  tacit  understanding  between  the  Council  and 
the  Government,  that  the  Pharmaceutical  Council  should 
frame  a  code  of  regulations  to  be  approved  by  the  Privy 
Council.”  This  is  a  point  of  the  deepest  importance,  and  1 
ask  my  fellow-members  to  observe  it  closely.  “Tacit  under¬ 
standing  ’  is  something  to  be  pondered  over.  “  Secret  treaty” 
is  the  modern  phrase,  and  we  now  ask  who  had  any  power  of 
making  either  “  tacit  understandings,”  or  “secret  treaties”? 
The  authors  of  the  “reasons”  seem  to  have  undertaken  a  task 
which  will  require  them  to  show  more  “reasons.”  If  the 
“understandings”  ot  1868  were  something  additional  and  be¬ 
yond  the  Society’s  Bill,  why  were  they  not  acknowledged  ? 
If  “  tacit,”  who  were  to  be  kept  in  the  dark  except  the  So¬ 
ciety  itselt,  which  conferred  the  only  representative  powers 
possessed  by  its  mouthpiece  ?  A  little  study  of  the  negotia¬ 
tions  of  1868,  by  the  dim  light  vouchsafed  to  us  by  those  con- ! 


cerned,  will  show  what  probably  happened.  Mr.  Simon,  the 
medical  officer  of  the  Privy  Council,  constituted  a  new  power 
in  the  State,  and  found  a  Bill  to  regulate  pharmacy  intro¬ 
duced  into  Parliament  without  its  promoters  having  thought 
of  obtaining  his  sanction.  The  reasonable  character  of  that 
Bill,  its  respect  for  the  recommendations  of  the  Committee  of 
the  House  of  Commons  of  1865,  and  its  united  support  by  all 
chemists,  gave  it  a  good  prospect  of  viability.  In  the  nature 
of  things,  Mr.  Simon  desired  to  impress  upon  the  Bill  those 
finishing  touches  which  would  show  the  hand  of  a  master. 
Schedule  A.  was  divided  into  two  .sections,  and  opium  and  its 
long  train  of  preparations  were  added..  The  powers  of  con¬ 
firmation  previously  vested  by  the  Act  of  1852  in  one  of  her 
Majesty’s  Principal  Secretaries  of  State,  -were  transferred  to 
the  Privy  Council,  whilst  clause  26  gave  that  body  the  power 
of  removing  from  the  Register  any  person  who  was  convicted 
of  an  offence  under  the  Act.  The  existence  of  clause  26  is  by 
no  means  to  be  overlooked  by  those  who  are  now  asked  to  run 
a  thousand  new  risks  of  conviction  and  its  consequences.  I 
doubt  whether  for  cruel  and  irresponsible  power,  a  more  ob¬ 
noxious  clause  can  be  found  in  the  legislation  of  the  past  ten 
years.  Whether  Mr.  Simon  is  likely  to  use  such  an  arbitrary 
right  is  no  part  of  the  question  whether  it  ought  to  exist,  or 
of  the  much  more  practical  one  whether  the  danger  should  be 
widely  extended. 

During  the  various  modifications  of  clause  1,  as  shown  by 
copies  of  the  Bill  of  different  dates,  its  promoters  finally  ac¬ 
cepted  the  requirement  to  “  conform  to  such  regulations  as  to 
the  keeping,  dispensing  and  selling  of  such  poisons,  as  may 
from  time  to  time  be  prescribed  by  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
with  the  consent  of  the  Privy  Council.”  Now,  this  clause, 
so  far  as  referring  to  a  power  of  revising  Schedule  A.,  “  from 
time  to  time,”  was  what  any  sensible  man  would  have  antici¬ 
pated  as  requisite,  whilst  the  distinctly  permissive  right  to 
regulate  “keeping  and  dispensing”  also  appeared  to  be  a 
proof  of  not  unwise  forethought  for  the  future.  The  pretence 
which  has  been  made  that  “may”  when  in  an  Act  of  Parlia¬ 
ment  means  “must,”  is  sufficiently  answered  by  the  opinion 
of  the  Society’s  solicitor,  distinctly  denying  the  prospect  of  a 
threatened  mandamus.  Were  it  needful  to  bring  any  other 
argument  on  this  point,  we  have  only  to  compare  the  language 
of  the  Act  when  compulsion  is  directed,  thus,  clause  9,  “The 
Council  shall  with  all  convenient  speed,  etc.,  make  orders 
for  regulating  the  Register.” 

Before  leaving  this  notice  of  the  birth  of  the  Act  of  1868,, 
it  is  proper  to  reflect  upon  Mr.  Sandford’s  position.  The 
difficulties  in  the  way  of  the  Bill,  consequent  upon  Mr. 
Simon’s  demands,  must  have  caused  him  great  anxiety,  and 
increased  those  laborious  exertions  for  which  the  Society  has 
already  expressed  its  gratitude.  This  was  the  second  time 
that  Mr.  Sandford  had  taken  charge  of  a  Pharmacy  Bill,  and 
a  risk  of  failure  upon  this  occasion  might  well  appear  dis¬ 
heartening,  whilst  success  was  an  object  to  satisfy  the  highest 
ambition  of  a  pharmacist.  Does  not  this  supply  the  clue  to 
the  ‘  tacit' understanding”  now  vaguely  acknowledged.  Does 
not  this  make  it  probable  that  Mr.  Sandford  has  been  per¬ 
sonally  entangled  in  his  relations  with  Mr.  Simon  ? 

But,  if  answering  these  probabilities  in  the  affirmative, 
what  is  the  inference  as  concerns  the  Soeiety  ?  Simply  that 
Mr.  Sandford  is  not  the  free  agent  that  the  President  ot  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  ought  to  be.  If  the  present  proposals 
are  the  necessary  result  of  any  “  tacit  understanding”  made 
in  1868,  the  Society  will  soon  express  its  opinion  as  to  those 
who  were  parties  to  such  compact.  Any  time  within  the 
past  thirty  years,  the  trade  would  have  been  roused  from  one 
end  of  the  kingdom  to  the  other,  rather  than  accept  Govern¬ 
ment  inspection,  with  a  host  of  pitfalls  such  as  Schedule  A. 
would  bring. 

Amongst  the  “  reasons,”  I  find  the  “expression  of  opinion  in 
the  press”  put  forward  by  the  Council.  '1  his  is  not  the  first 
time  that  this  argument  lias  been  used  ;  and,  if  I  am  correct, 
those  who  have  put  such  an  argument  in  the  mouth  ot  the 
Council,  without  the  justification  of  facts,  owe  an  explanation, 
which  it  will  not  be  very  easy  to  give.  The  Lancet  has  pub¬ 
lished  two  articles,  and  the  Pall  Mall  Gazette  one  article, 
favouring  the  regulations.  As  these  articles  were  imme¬ 
diately  reproduced  in  the  leader  column  of  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Journal,  and  as  no  others  have  been  seen  there, 
we  have  only  three  to  deal  with.  I  have  the  best  authority 
for  asserting  that  these  three  articles  were  produced  by 
gentlemen  officially  connected  with  the  Pharmaceutical  So¬ 
ciety,  and  they  "were  re-imported  as  an  evidence  ot  popular 
feeling ! 


677 


February  18, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


Leaving  the  “reasons,”  after  the  foregoing  explanation  of 
my  grounds  for  dissent,  I  will  merely  add  a  formal  protest 
against  the  unusual  conduct  of  a  majority  of  the  Council  in 
delegating  to  a  committee  the  revision  and  issue  of  such  a 
document,  which  had  not  been  seen  until  the  Council  met. 

One  view  of  the  issue  of  the  “reasons”  is  very  satisfactory. 
A  majority  of  the  Council,  after  this  lengthy  explanation,  will 
hardly  repeat  the  not  very  flattering  resolution  lately  passed, 
telling  the  constituency  that  it  had  not  understood  the  question 
when  it  previously  passed  an  opinion  upon  it ;  moreover,  as 
the  Council  adopts  the  post  as  the  proper  means  of  commu¬ 
nicating  its  ideas  to  its  constituents,  it  may  certainly  be  ex¬ 
pected  to  recognize  the  same  medium  for  receiving  the  verdict 
which  it  invites.  The  settlement  of  the  question  at  the 
Annual  Meeting  by  the  voting-papers  of  all  members,  is  of 
the  first  necessity  to  the  welfare  of  the  Society,  and  as  the 
regulation*  would  press  with  most  unequal  force  upon  diffe¬ 
rent  sections  of  the  country,  justice  requires  that  all  should 
have  the  same  opportunity  of  recording  their  opinions. 

I  hold  evidence  that  the  promoters  of  the  regulations  are 
totally  ignorant  whether  their  adoption  would  be  followed  by 
Government  inspection  without  a  fresh  Act  of  Parliament, 
or  whether  that  would  be  necessary.  They  ask  the  Society 
to  take  the  first  and  irrevocable  step,  and  afterwards  they 
will  inquire  about  the  second. 

Richard  Reynolds. 

Southport.  February  14 th,  1871. 

Sir, — While  we  search  in  vain  through  the  statement  re¬ 
cently  placed  before  us  for  any  but  the  old  time-worn  and 
threadbare  arguments,  one  fact  stands  out  with  an  alarming 
prominence,  little  intended  by  the  authors  of  the  paper, — the 
fact  that  we  are  at  this  moment,  so  far  as  the  Society  at  large 
can  be  bound  by  the  acts  of  its  representatives,  as  ready  to  give 
way  to  pressure  from  above,  as  to  resist  it  from  below,  under 
the  irresponsible  government  of  the  medical  officer  to  the 
Privy  Council ;  and  we  may  well  inquire,  in  the  light  of  its 
immediate  change  of  policy  in  regard  to  “  the  dispensing  of 
poisons,”  what  value  can  be  attached  to  the  promise  of  the 
Councfl,  that,  in  the  event  of  the  regulations  being  passed, 
“  no  vexatious  proceedings  will  be  adopted  to  inquire  into  their 
observance”  ?  What  guarantee  have  we  against  another 
change,  equally  sudden,  should  the  autocratic  Mr.  Simon,  by 
another  letter,  choose  to  bring  the  Council  to  a  proper  sense  of 
its  position?  This  very  promise,  indeed,  puts  the  Council  on 
the  horns  of  a  dilemma ;  either  the  regulations  will  not  be  en¬ 
forced,  in  which  case  faith  will  not  be  kept  with  the  Govern¬ 
ment;  or  if  they  are,  then  the  Council  must  be  seeking  to 
throw  dust  in  the  eyes  of  its  constituents,  for  no  ingenuity  can 
devise  a  means  of  enforcement  which  will  not  be  vexatious  ! 

Hampstead,  February  \2>th,  1871.  Charles  Eve. 

Sir, — Having  already  written  twice  upon  the  subject  of 
poison  regulations,  I  had  not  intended  addressing  you  again ; 
but  am  so  much  taken  by  surprise  at  the  report  of  last  Coun¬ 
cil  meeting,  and  the  circular  resulting  from  it,  that  I  could 
not  feel  justified  in  allowing  the  matter  to  pass  over  un¬ 
noticed. 

Is  it  not  remarkable  that  at  the  December  meeting  of 
Council,  when  Messrs.  Woolley  and  Brown  proposed  that  the 
opinion  of  the  members  of  the  trade  relative  to  this  question 
should  be  asked  by  circular,  a  majority  of  the  Council 
then  present  objected  to  the  chemists  generally  being  commu¬ 
nicated  with ;  and  that  we  now  have  a  circular  drawn  up  by 
a  committee  consisting  of  the  very  men  who  opposed  this 
proceeding  in  December  last  ? 

Is  it  forgotten  that  Messrs.  Woolley  and  Brown  were 
elected  by  a  larger  number  of  votes  than  any  other  members 
of  Council,  and  that  these  votes  came  principally  from  pro¬ 
vincial  members — members  who  felt  they  ought  to  be  better 
represented  on  the  Council  than  had  previously  been  the 
case — who  felt  also  that  their  representatives  had  only  asked  a 
bare  measure  of  justice  in  moving  that  the  chemists  through¬ 
out  the  country  should  be  asked  to  say  whether  or  not  they 
thought  these  poison  regulations  desirable  ?  I  said  it  was  a 
measure  of  bare  justice,  and  I  reiterate  the  statement,  be¬ 
cause  the  regulations,  if  adopted,  would  affect  the  arrange¬ 
ments  of  some  thousands  of  chemists,  outside  our  Society,  who, 
but  for  this  proceeding,  would  have  no  opportunity  of  influ¬ 
encing  the  legislation  under  which  they  would  be  governed. 

Did  the  Council  deem  it  a  duty  to  represent  the  interests 
of  our  Society  only,  without  regard  to  the  outsiders  ?  Had 
it  been  so,  Mr.  W  oolley’s  query  might  at  least  have  been  sent 


to  the  provincial  members  of  the  Society,  who,  though  not 
debarred  by  bye-laws,  are  prevented  by  other  circumstances 
from  attending  the  annual  meeting.  Or  was  it  thought, 
notwithstanding  all  the  correspondence  which  has  taken  place 
upon  this  question,  that  the  country  members  had  given  no 
consideration  to,  nor  felt  any7  interest  in  it  ?  No !  I  can 
come  to  but  one  conclusion,  that  the  Council  knew  and 
remembered  all  the  circumstances  of  the«case,  and,  knowing 
them,  did  not  dare  to  ask  the  simple  question  as  put  by  Mr. 
Woolley,  because  they  knew  that  the  replies  would  cut  away 
the  ground  upon  which  they  intended  to  carry  out  their 
foregone  conclusion.  And  now  we  receive  a  circular  from 
them,  not  asking  if  further  regulations  are  desirable,  and,  if 
so,  to  what  extent  that  may  be  the  case,  or  of  what  nature 
such  regulations  should  be,  but  telling  us  what  regulations 
are  to  be  proposed:  making  an  elaborate  statement,  calcu¬ 
lated — probably  intended — to  stop  further  opposition  by  inti¬ 
midation,  and  apparently  bribing  us  into  submission  to  the 
proposed  regulations  by  the  statement  that  “  they  venture  to 
say7,”  though  they  do  not  give  us  any  reason  to  believe,  “  that 
no  vexatious  proceedings  will  be  adopted  to  inquire  into  their 
observance.” 

I  believe  every  man  of  common  sense  would  rather  a  law 
were  not  made,  than  that  it  should  be  made  not  to  be  enforced  ; 
and  now  that  we  have  received  from  the  Council  the  code  of 
regulations  which  it  proposes  to  submit  to  the  meeting  in 
May,  and  the  reasons  why  it  is  thought  we  should  adopt 
them,  I  think  we  cannot  do  better  than  give  the  reasons  why 
we  think  such  regulations  should  not  be  adopted. 

Personally,  I  have  given  much  attention  to  the  matter,  and 
have  come  to  the  following  conclusions  : — 

1.  That  it  is  not  desirable  to  make  any  regulations  which 
are  not  very  simple  and  easily  adopted,  perfectly  definite  and 
free  from  all  ambiguity7,  practically  useful  as  a  protection  to 
dispenser  and  patient. 

It  is  imperative  that  any  regulations  to  be  adopted  must.be 
simple,  because,  if  not  so,  they  will  not  be  practically  carried 
out.  They  must  be  definite,  that  the  chemist  may7  know  pre¬ 
cisely  what  is  expected  of  him.  They  must  be  free  from  am¬ 
biguity,  that,  in  the  event  of  an  accident  happening,  a  coro¬ 
ner’s  jury  may  have  no  difficulty  in  deciding  whether  or  not 
the  regulations  have  been  complied  with.  They  must  be 
practically  useful,  that  they  may  not  be  submitted  to  as  a 
hardship,  but  practised  willingly  for  the  sake  of  the  advan¬ 
tage  to  be  derived  from  them. 

2.  That  if  any  distinctive  mark  is  adopted  to  indicate  a 
poison,  that  mark  ought  to  be  definite,  and  it  should  not  be 
left  to  the  option  of  each  individual  to  select  his  own  mark  or 
marks ;  otherwise  there  will  constantly  be  room  to  dispute 
whether  or  not  a  bottle  bears  a  distinctive  mark. 

3.  That  it  is  not  desirable  to  use  for  the  less  dangerous 
poisons  (such  as  tinct.  opii  ammon.,  empl.  belladonna!  or 
ung.  sabime)  any  danger-signal  or  label  which  is  intended  to 
act  as  a  caution  in  the  use  of  the  more,  dangerous  poisons 
(such  as  morphia,  strychnia  or  hydrocyTanic  acid). 

Turning  now  to  the  details  ot  the  proposed  code,  the  first 
regulation  is  objectionable. 

A.  Because  if  a  distinctive  mark  be  adopted,  it  is.  to  apply 
to  all  poisons,  whether  very  dangerous  or  comparatively  tree 
from  danger. 

B.  Because,  if  a  number  of  distinctive  marks  may  be 
adopted,  it  is  not  free  from  ambiguity  upon  that  point. 

C.  And  because  it  does  not  define  a  distinctive  mark  or 
marks  which  should  be  used. 

It  is  not  desirable  to  have  alternative  regulations,  because 
their  adoption  increases  the  chance  of  the  danger-signal  being 
entirely  overlooked,  while  increasing  the  chance  of  censure 
from  a  coroner’s  jury  or  the  public  press,  if  they  see  that  some 
precautions  have  not  been  taken,  which,  according  to  the  code 
of  regulations  might,  and  they'  will  say  ought,  to  have  been 
adopted. 

And  there  are  many  articles  in  the  poison  schedule,  to  the 
keeping  of  which  it  is  not  desirable  that  any  ot  the  three 
alternative  regulations  should  be  required  to  apply,  such  as 
svrup  of  poppies,  sundry  ointments,  plasters,  etc. 

'  There  is  only  a  fraction  of  one  of  the  regulations  which  it 
would  be  desirable  to  put  in  force  with  regard  to  all  the  poi¬ 
sons  in  the  schedule,  and  that  is  “that  each  poison  shall,  bo 
labelled  with  its  name.”  And  no  schedule  can  be  a  satisfac¬ 
tory  basis  for  regulations  which  does  not  enumerate  every 
poison  distinctly  to  which  the  regulations  are  to  apply  .  due 
loose  way  in  which  are  included  “all  poisonous  yegetabe 
alkaloids,”  “  all  metallic  cyanides,”  and  “preparations  ot  A. 


678 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  is,  1871. 


Y.  or  Z.”  is  sufficient  to  make  the  schedule  a  subject  of  fre¬ 
quent  contention. 

It  would  be  much  more  to  the  purpose  if  the  same  trouble 
were  taken  to  devise  regulations  for  the  sale  of  vermin-killers, 
with  which  accidents  frequently  occur,  instead  of  regulating 
the  keeping  and  dispensing  of  medicines,  which  have  not 
been  a  fruitful  source  of  danger.  I  cannot  call  to  mind  a 
single  death  within  ten  years  resulting  from  a  mistake  on  the 
part  of  a  pharmacist  in  Newcastle,  but  we  have  had  two 
deaths  from  vermin-killers  within  the  last  ten  days. 

It  is  almost  unnecessary  to  inquire  of  what  use  can  it  be  to 
put  lotions  in  “danger  bottles”  when  prepared  in  a  phar¬ 
macy,  and  allowing  them  to  be  put  in  “  safe  bottles”  when 
prepared  in  a  surgery  ?  For  a  danger  bottle  to  be  any  use, 
its  use  should  be  general.  So  long  as  three-fourths  of  the 
dispensing  is  done  in  surgeries  and  public  dispensaries,  where 
poison  regultions  are  not  respected,  it  is  futile  to  expect  that 
poison  bottles  used  in  the  other  fourth  will  gain  public  respect 
as  a  caution. 

No  one  need  suppose  that  the  Privy  Council  or  the  Legis¬ 
lature  would  wish  to  enforce  any  regulations  which  were  not 
calculated  to  be  of  practical  advantage  to  the  public.  Nor 
can  it  be  supposed  that  they  wish  to  see  nominally  adopted  a 
code  of  regulations  which  are  not  to  be  enforced.  Our  policy, 
therefore,  should  be  to  inform  them  that  our  experience  has 
shown  us  the  undesirability  of  attempting  to  lay  down  strict 
rules. 

I  trust  that  at  the  Annual  Meeting  the  Society  will  express 
its  conviction  that  it  is  not  desirable  to  add  any  regulations 
for  the  keeping,  dispensng  or  selling  of  poisons,  till  expe¬ 
rience  has  shown  that  those  already  contained  in  the  Act  do 
not  afford  as  much  protection  against  errors  on  the  part  of 
pharmaceutists  as  the  public  have  a  right  to  expect. 

Grey  Street ,  Newcastle.  Barnard  S.  Proctor. 


Sir, — I  am  sorry  to  see  so  many  unnecessary  and  really 
frivolous  objections  to  the  proposed  regulations  for  the  storing 
and  keeping  of  poisons,  etc.  That  compulsion  is  repugnant 
to  the  feelings  of  Englishmen — the  scientific  especially — I  am 
willing  to  allow ;  yet  I  hardly  take  this  matter  in  a  eompul- 
sory  light,  as  the  plan  emanating  from  the  Council,  originates 
with  ourselves. 

It  is  quite  clear  we  are  expected  to  adopt  something  of  the 
kind,  therefore  is  it  not  far  better  to  frame  our  own,  rather 
than  have  to  submit  nolentes  volentes  to  regulations  proposed 
by  those  who  are  entirely  ignorant  of  the  working  details  of 
our  business  ?  The  regulations  suggested  by  our  Council  are 
comprehensive  and  practicable,  and  from  the  choice  they  offer, 
are  such  as  I  think  no  “reasonable”  man  can  object  to.  I 
would,  however,  propose,  that  instead  of  using  a  label,  “  Not 
to  be  taken  internally,”  we  should  prefer,  “  For  outward  use 
only,”  because  if  the  word  “not”  became  obliterated  or  torn 
off,  the  effect  would  be  exactly  reversed;  the  word  ‘poison’ 
could  be  added  if  desirable. 

I  think  as  a  rule  we  are  not  sufficiently  discreet  in  the  ar¬ 
rangement  of  our  stocks,  and  although  it  may  seem  absurd  to 
be  “  over-careful,”  yet  it  is  a  pardonable  weakness,  if  such  it 
may  be  called.  Whether  the  medical  profession  are  required 
or  not  to  use  the  same  precautions,  matters  little  to  us ;  we 
have  quite  enough  to  do  without  interfering  with  them.  In 
my  opinion,  if  we  were  to  act  more  charitably  towards  them 
than  we  do,  there  would  not  be  half  the  rancour  existing  be¬ 
tween  us  that  there  now  is.  I  have  never  found  any  difficulty 
in  the  matter ;  always  striving  to  do  my  best  to  oblige  them, 
I  am  bound  to  say,  those  I  know  are  not  behind  in  endea¬ 
vouring  to  assist  me.  If  we  are  continually  trying  to  find 
out  points  that  are  seemingly  objectionable  to  us,  and  bandy¬ 
ing  them  about,  is  it  likely,  I  ask,  they  will  look  upon  us 
other  than  as  enemies  ?  whereas  we  should  try  and  cement 
more  closely  the  two  professions  that  are  so  nearly  related  to 
each  other.  Again,  we  have  plenty  of  topics  to  discuss,  such 
as  education,  provincial  classes  and  lectures,  provincial 
unity,  earlier  closing  and  less  Sunday  work, — these  affect  us 
far  more  closely  than  arguments  about  surgeons  and  doctors. 
Meanwhile,  let  us  calmly  consider  the  “  poison  regulations,” 
so  that  after  the  annual  meeting  the  world  may  be  favoured 
with  a  report  of  business-like  and  amicable  re-union,  instead 
of,  as  last  year,  an  assemblage  of  chemists  which  reminded 
one  very  forcibly  of  a  zoological  exhibition. 

In  conclusion,  let  us  bear  in  mind  that  the  Council  is  com¬ 
posed  of  gentlemen  representing  almost  every  kind  of  our 
business, — that  they  have  studied  well  to  regard  our  various 


interests,  and  that  they  are  requested  by  the  Privy  Council 
to  move  in  this  matter ;  therefore  instead  of  putting  difficul¬ 
ties  in  their  way,  let  us  rather  assist  them  cheerfully  by  ac¬ 
cepting  what  they  have  taken  such  pains  to  offer,  and  thus 
show  our  gratitude  and  confidence  in  them. 

Alfred  W.  Smith. 

93  and  94,  Nigh  Street,  Rye,  Sussex. 


Sir, — In  digesting  many  of  the  plans  suggested  on  the 
above  subject,  the  most  urgent,  in  my  estimation,  has  been 
overlooked,  viz.  the  great  importance  of  assistants  faithfully 
carrying  out  such  regulations. 

In  every  case  where  I  have  been  enabled  to  get  at  the 
truth,  the  accident  has  arisen  from  neglect  of  this  simple 
duty ;  it  was  palpably  so  in  the  instance  referred  to  by  Mr. 
Oldham  in  your  last  impression.  Had  the  excellent  regula¬ 
tions  of  that  well-known  establishment  been  [carried  out  by 
the  assistant,  I  can  affirm  from  personal  knowledge  that  an 
accident  would  have  been  impossible. 

If  we  are  to  be  under  a  penalty  for  non-performance  of 
“  proposed  regulations,”  should  not  the  same  be  equally  bind¬ 
ing  on  assistants  ? 

Happily,  the  careless  are  not  numerous  among  us.  I  have 
pleasure  in  knowing  many  who  use  every  care,  and  do  their 
best  to  carry  out  established  rules,  but  not  one  of  us  is  ex¬ 
empt  from  coming  across  a  careless  one  now  and  again.  It  is 
to  these  my  remarks  apply. 

In  regard  to  the  “  particular  bottle  ”  to  be  used  in  dispen¬ 
sing  liniments,  etc.,  what  is  to  prevent  its  being  afterwards 
used  for  tincture  of  rhubarb,  or  more  frequently  for  gin,  etc.  P 
In  this  case  it  might  cause  that  which  we  wish  to  avoid, — 
forgetting  that  a  second  particular  bottle  containing  some 
deadly  poison  was  placed  in  the  same  cupboard, — the  con¬ 
tents  of  one  are  administered  for  the  other,  the  fatal  mistake 
is  made,  and  the  fond  mother,  weeping  over  her  lifeless  child, 
tells  you  she  did  not  read  the  label  because  she  knew  it  was 
in  that  “  particular -shaped  bottle.”  The  careful  need  no 
caution.  In  giving  a  distinctive  bottle,  you  offer  an  induce¬ 
ment  for  the  careless  to  become  more  so. 

How  often  do  we  hear  of  “  Burnett’s  fluid”  being  mistaken 
for  something  else?  It  is  in  a  “particular  bottle.”  Shall 
we  be  liable  to  a  penalty  for  using  the  “particular  bottle” 
for  any  other  than  its  legitimate  use?  If  so,  pray  include 
publicans,  oilmen,  and  all  who  may  make  use  of  it  otherwise. 

The  label  is  desirable,  and  is  in  daily  use  in  all  respectable 
dispensing  establishments  without  compulsion. 

Nothing  is  poison  if  administered  in  proper  doses.  What 
A  calls  poison  B  does  not.  It  is  very  essential  that  we  be  in¬ 
formed  what  is  considered  poison  by  the  Council. 

London.  Tnos.  J.  W.  Tipping. 


Sir, — May  I  also  beg  a  small  space  for  a  few  words  on  the 
subject  of  “compulsory  legislation  for  the  storing  of  poisons  ?” 
I  should  like  to  ask  a  question  or  two. 

Will  it  protect  the  public  ? 

Experience  so  far  does  not  prove  the  assumption.  Bid 
space  allow,  I  could  quote  cases  where  the  most  stringent 
regulations  utterly  collapsed. 

Is  our  experience  of  what  legislation  has  done  for  us  so 
agreeable  and  beneficial  that  we  are  anxious  to  have  more  of 
the  same  sort  ? 

If  the  proposed  regulations  pass  the  annual  meeting  (in 
the  enforced  absence  of  most  country  members,  who,  it  seems, 
will  therefore  not  be  allowed  to  vote),  how  are  they  to  be 
compulsory  ? 

Is  the  present  Act  compulsory  ? 

I  suppose  it  is  considered  so.  Yet  I  know  a  pharmacist 
who  told  me  he  had  never  yet  kept  a  “  poison  book,”  nor  did 
he  intend  to  do  so.  Of  course  he  is  liable  to  action  for 
damages  in  case  of  accident ;  but  so,  I  suppose,  we  shall  ail 
be  even  if  we  comply  with  the  most  elaborate  code  of  regu¬ 
lations  that  can  be  devised.  After  fulfilling  the  letter  of  the 
law  in  that  respect,  we  shall  be  still  subject  to  all  its  pains 
and  penalties  (that  is,  in  the  case  of  any  dispenser  or  seller  of 
poisons  who  is  thought  able  to  pay). 

If  it  were  proposed  to  draw  up  a  series  of  regulations,  and 
then  acquit  a  dispenser  or  retailer  of  blame  because  he  had 
fulfilled  them,  very  little  opposition  would  be  offered  by  any 
who  had  to  submit  to  them. 

Seventeen  years’  experience  in  my  own  case  goes  to  prove 
that  where  responsibility  is  felt  by  each  individual,  and  no 
faith  placed  in  either  loose  caps,  stopper  guards,  or  other 


February  13, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


G79 


mechanical  safeguards,  there  are  less  mistakes  (and  no  fata¬ 
lities)  than  in  other  places  where  stringent  and  burdensome 
regulations  are  imposed  upon  the  assistants. 

I  would  then  say  to  the  Council,  advise  by  all  means,  but 
compel  by  no  means.  Recollect  that  you  now  represent  the 
whole  trade  (not  our  Society  only),  and  you  are  in  duty 
bound  to  show  the  Privy  Council  how  unsatisfactory  such 
piecemeal  and  tinkering  legislation  as  has  been  indulged  in 
on  the  subject  of  “poisons”  is  and  must  be,  if  not  to  all,  at 
least  to  a  large  majority. 

Liverpool.  Alfred  Utley. 

Sir, — With  regard  to  the  third  regulation  proposed  by  the 
Council,  that  “  all  poisons  be  sent  out  in  bottles,  readily  dis¬ 
tinguishable  by  touch  from  ordinary  medicine  bottles,”  I  think 
a  clause  should  be  inserted  making  it  illegal  to  sell  in  poison- 
bottles  anything  which  has  to  be  taken  internally. 

Poison  bottles  are  of  no  use  if  one  sells  medicines  in  them, 
and  the  public  will  bring  such  bottles  for  syr.  rhei,  spt.  aeth. 
nitr.,  etc. 

I  respectfully  suggest  the  above  for  the  consideration  of  the 
Council. 

Sheffield.  Edward  Barbee. 


Sir, — Respecting  the  “keeping  and  dispensing  of  poisons,” 
I  think  the  chemists,  as  a  body  of  men,  ought  not  to  inter¬ 
fere  with  the  proceedings  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society ;  but 
rather  support  its  efforts  in  trying  to  promote  our  interest. 
The  simple  regulations  set  forth  by  the  Council  cannot  in  any 
way  inconvenience  us,  as  such  regulations  already  exist  or 
ought  to  exist  in  our  establishments;  and  as  for  thinking 
them  compulsory,  why  we  had  better  be  compelled  (if  such  is 
the  case)  by  our  own  Council,  which,  does  so  for  our  best,  than 
by  the  Medical  Council  or  by  others,  who  would  only  be  too 
glad  to  interfere,  if  but  an  opportunity  be  allowed.  There  is 
one  thing  which  I  hope  will  be  the  issue  of  this  subject,  viz. 
that  the  regulations  will  apply  to  the  medical  men  who  keep 
open  shop  as  well  as  to  the  chemists,  and  then  I  do  not  see 
how  we  can  have  any  objection  to  them.  I  made  use  of  the 
words  “own  Council,”  because  I  feel  that  the  interest  and 
promotion  of  the  profession  rests  with  the  Society,  with  which 
our  children  and  grandchildren  will  ultimately  have  to  do  in 
some  shape  or  other,  if  they  mean  to  follow  the  profession, 
therefore  we  ought  to  do  our  best  to  uphold  and  support  the 
Society.  I  have,  at  present,  nothing  whatever  to  do  with  the 
Society,  but  I  shall  certainly  take  the  first  opportunity  to 
send  my  name  in  for  election,  and  I  would  urge  upon  us  all 
to  do  the  same,  that  we  may  all  be  under  the  same  standard. 

730,  Old  Kent  Hoad,  S.F.  J.  S.  S. 


Sir, — I  have  read  the  statement  which  the  Secretary  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  has  issued  by  order  of  the  Council, 
and  have  given  it  my  most  serious  attention  ;  but  I  am  bound 
to  say  that  I  cannot  see  any  sufficient  reason  why  the  Council 
should  still  persist  in  proposing  regulations  regarding  the 
keeping,  dispensing  and  selling  of  poisons. 

With  reference  to  the  keeping  and  dispensing  of  powerful 
remedies, — for  I  prefer  this  designation, — the  chemists’  own 
material  interest,  saying  nothing  of  those  moral  considera¬ 
tions  which  I  believe  to  be  the  primary  object  of  a  vast  majo¬ 
rity  of  our  members,  gives  more  security  than  any  which 
legislation  can  provide. 

Then,  with  regard  to  the  sale  of  poisons.  This  question 
I  consider  has  been  most  satisfactorily  settled  by  law.  The 
Arsenic  Act  was  very  important  and  proper,  having  quite 
a  different  bearing  to  the  keeping  and  dispensing  of  powerful 
remedies.  The  public  had  a  right  to  such  restriction,  as  a 
means  of  thwarting  criminal  intention,  and  of  checking  evil- 
disposed  persons  in  their  path,  through  fear  of  leaving  foot¬ 
prints  behind. 

After  forty  years’  responsible  practice,  with  its  experience, 
I  come  to  the  conclusion  that  to  present  to  our  customers’ 
eyes  emblems  of  death  is  unwise,  but  that  they  should  rather 
be  taught  that  many  of  our  medicines  are  powerful  and  im¬ 
portant  agents  in  the  cure  and  alleviation  of  human  diseases, 
requiring  the  most  careful  attention,  for  which  we  cannot, 
reasonably  speaking,  be  paid  too  much. 

I  have  been  connected  with  the  Society  from  its  founda¬ 
tion,  and  feel  proud  of  the  position  it  has  attained,  and  I  fer¬ 
vently  hope  the  Council,  seeing  the  pain  these  poison  regula¬ 
tions  are  occasioning  a  vast  majority  of  its  members,  will  re¬ 
trace  its  steps,  and  report  at  the  next  general  meeting  “that 


it  is  of  opinion  it  is  unnecessary  to  propose  any  regulations 
for  the  storing,  keeping  and  dispensing  of  poisons,  believing 
that  the  rapid  advancement  pharmacy  is  making  in  this 
country  will  be  the  best  public  security.” 

Kilburn,  February  13 th,  1871.  John  Beaton. 

Sir, — The  explanations  which  the  Council  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society  have  given  of  the  proposed  regulations  for  the 
keeping  and  dispensing  of  poisons,  will  do  much  to  make  them 
acceptable  to  the  chemists  generally.  I,  for  one,  must  acknow¬ 
ledge  my  dulness  of  intellect  in  thinking  that  by  adopting 
any  one  of  the  proposed  systems,  it  would  apply  to  all  poisons, 
and  not  as  is  now  explained  by  the  Council,  that  some  of  the 
poisons  could  be  kept  in  a  closet  set  apart  for  dangerous 
articles,  and  another  portion  of  them  on  the  shelves  amongst 
the  other  bottles,  provided  the  bottles  or  vessels  containing 
poisons  are  either  capped  or  tied  over  or  rendered  readily  dis¬ 
tinguishable  to  the  touch.  The  delay  of  twelve  months  has 
not  been  wasted,  but  during  that  time  the  proposed  regu¬ 
lations  have  been  so  much  improved  that  they  can  now  be 
carried  out  in  any  shop  with  very  little  trouble  or  expense, 
and  need  not  interfere  with  the  present  arrangement  of  the 
bottles.  The  regulation  relating  to  the  dispensing  of  poisons 
is  very  simple.  There  will  be  no  necessity  to  have  specially- 
made  bottles  to  send  out  liniments,  lotions  and  embrocations 
in.  Any  bottle  will  meet  the  requirements  of  the  regulations, 
if  a  piece  of  glass  or  sand-paper  or  other  roughened  material 
is  pasted  on  the  side  or  back  of  the  bottle.  But  to  make  this 
clause  thoroughly  effectual,  I  think  another  is  rendered  neces¬ 
sary,  prohibiting  the  sending  out  of  medicines  intended  for 
internal  use  in  the  distinctive  bottles  used  for  internal  reme¬ 
dies.  Without  some  such  regulation  the  distinctive  bottle 
will  be  used  for  some  internal  remedy,  and,  probably,  one 
day  we  shall  find  that  the  regulation  has  caused  to  be  done 
the  very  thing  it  was  intended  to  prevent,  by  the  liniment 
being  taken  instead  of  the  simple  remedy  from  a  family  recipe. 
As  I  expressed  in  my  letter  (which  was  allowed  to  appear  in  the 
number  of  the  Journal  for  March  last)  an  opinion  that  the 
corrugated  bottle  was  best  adapted  for  general  use,  I  will 
again  point  out  its  easy  application  to  all  classes  of  trade.  If 
an  ordinary  medicine  bottle  wras  taken  to  a  chemist  to  have 
a  liniment  put  into  it,  all  that  would  have  to  be  done  would 
be  to  stick  a  piece  of  roughened  paper  on  its  side  or  back,  and 
it  would  be  converted  into  a  distinctive  bottle ;  then,  if  a 
bottle  so  converted  was  taken  for  medicine  for  internal  use, 
it  would  only  be  necessary  to  scrape  off  the  roughened 
surface,  and  it  again  becomes  an  ordinary  medicine  bottle. 
Many  chemists  object  to  being  trammelled  with  regulations 
whilst  the  surgeon  is  free  to  keep  and  dispense  his  jjoisons  as 
he  likes.  I  believe  there  is  even  greater  need  for  the  regula¬ 
tions  to  be  applied  to  the  surgery  than  the  shop.  But  I  trust 
this  necessity  will  soon  disappear  by  the  surgeon  handing 
over  the  dispensing  to  the  chemist.  Anyhow,  the  public  will 
learn  that  there  is  greater  safety  in  getting  their  medicine 
dispensed  where  every  precaution  is  taken  to  prevent  accidents 
than  where  no  system  whatever  is  adopted,  and  where  even 
most  deadly  poisons  may  occasionally  be  found  in  bottles 
without  labels  of  any  kind  on  them. 

Fochdale,  February  14 th,  1871.  Ralph  Robinson. 

Sir, — In  reading  the  various  letters  which  have  appeared 
in  your  Journal  on  the  proposed  poison  regulations,  I  have 
regretted  that  most  of  them  were  not  so  conciliatory  as  they 
might  have  been,  as  it  is  very  evident  that  the  Council  have  sim¬ 
ply  a  sincere  desire  to  promote  the  general  welfare  of  the  trade, 
and  are  ready  to  take  into  their  consideration  every  reasonable 
objection  which  may  be  pointed  out  to  them.  I  am  opposed 
to  regulations  for  the  storing  of  poisons,  not,  however,  as  it 
affects  dispensing  chemists,  but  on  account  of  the  difficulty 
which  some  must  experience  in  those  parts  where  they  deal 
largely  in  poisonous  drugs  and  chemicals  for  manufacturing, 
etc.,  purposes.  I  have  no  doubt,  however,  that  the  Council  will 
try  to  meet  this  difficulty  to  the  best  of  their  ability.  If,  as  Mr. 
Jones  states  in  his  letter,  “  we  never  allow  preparations  to  pass 
through  our  hands  without  proper  recognition,  poisoning 
would  become  a  thing  of  the  past,  and  we  should  then  have 
accomplished  wThat  the  storing  of  poisons  can  never  attain.” 

In  conclusion,  I  would  briefly  state  that  what  seems  the 
most  unpleasant  part  in  this  matter  of  legislation  is,  that 
public  dispensaries  and  surgeries,  etc.  should  be  exempt  from 
it.  I  hope  in  the  meantime  that  the  subject  will  be  tho¬ 
roughly  ventilated  before  the  Annual  Meeting. 

Manchester,  February  14 th,  1871.  E.  A\  alsh. 


GSO 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  18, 1871. 


Sir, — I  had  hoped,  probably  with  the  generality  of  your 
readers,  that  the  proposed  regulations  for  the  keeping  of 
poisons  would  have  been  accepted  as  sufficient  by  the  Privy 
Council.  Our  hope,  however,  has  proved  fallacious.  The 
Society  is  asked  to  frame  regulations  also  for  the  dispensing 
of  poisons. 

I  would,  with  all  due  deference,  ask  the  Council  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  as  to  whether  they  have  not  unne¬ 
cessarily  yielded  to  pressure  from  her  Majesty’s  Privy  Coun¬ 
cil  ?  To  honour  the  powers  that  be  is  perfectly  right ;  but 
have  they  ever  sought  a  conference  with  that  body,  so  that 
the  subject  might  for  once  be  seen  by  them  from  other  stand¬ 
points  than  from  those  of  physicians,  surgeons  and  the  pre¬ 
sumably  alarmed  and  endangered  public  ?  In  short,  have 
endeavours  been  made  to  get  the  Medical  Department  to 
look  at  the  question  from  the  chemist’s  point  of  view  ?  I  am 
aware  that  the  President  and  the  Secretary  of  the  Society 
had  an  interview  with  Mr.  Simon  about  three  weeks  ago,  but 
it  was  at  that  gentleman’s  own  request,  and  respected  verbal 
alterations, — not  (apparently)  a  review  of  the  entire  subject. 
(Phakh.  Journ.  p.  652-3.) 

The  proposed  regulations  for  the  dispensing  of  poisons  are 
certainly  not  very  onerous,  but  the  clause  “  that  there  shall 
be  affixed  to  each  such  bottle  (of  poisonous  lotion,  etc.)  a 
label  giving  notice  that  the  contents  of  the  bottle  are  not  to 
be  taken  internally,”  is  not  altogether  free  from  objection. 

Cases  often  occur  in  which,  from  the  absence  of  directions, 
the  dispenser  is  at  a  loss  to  determine  whether  the  lotion,  so- 
called,  is  really  such,  an  injection  or  a  mouth-wash.  Under 
such  circumstances,  the  label  “for  external  use  only  ”  is  evi¬ 
dently  inappropriate ;  “  not  to  be  taken  internally,”  would 
lead  many  patients  to  question  whether  the  compound  was 
for  internal  use  at  all;  while  the  uneuphonious  “not  to  be 
drunk,”  or  “not  to  be  swallowed,”  might  induce  the  opposite 
error,  and  cause  a  lotion  to  be  employed  as  a  gargle.  The 
somewhat  vague  direction  “'not  to  be  taken”  is  the  only  one 
universally  applicable. 

Oxford,  February  15 tli,  1871.  John  Throssell. 


Sir, — Having  received  the  statement  of  the  Council  re¬ 
specting  the  poison  regulations,  we  think,  before  we  can  come 
to  a  right  decision  on  the  subject,  the  Council  should  state— 
1st.  The  name  of  every  drug,  chemical,  or  preparation  that 
they  propose  to  call  a  poison,  and  which  would  be  affected  by 
the  regulations. 

2nd.  The  machinery  by  which  they  propose  to  enforce 
them.  Yines  and  Froom. 


Sir, — In  common  with  the  rest  of  the  trade,  I  have  re¬ 
ceived  from  Mr.  Bremridge  “A  statement  of  the  reasons 
which  have  induced  the  Council  to  suggest  regulations  re¬ 
garding  the  keeping,  dispensing  and  selling  of  poisons,”  and 
I  find  one  sentence  which,  for  unpleasant  vagueness,  might 
well  compare  with  the  guarantee  given  by  Messrs.  Dodson 
and  Fogg  (on  receiving  Mrs.  Bardell’s  undertaking  for  the 
costs  in  Bardell  v.  Pickwick)  that  it  was  “only  a  matter  of 
form.”  The  sentence,  or  rather  part  of  a  sentence,  to  which 
I  allude  is  this: — “But,  with  reference  to  the  obligations 
which  the  regulations  would  impose,  they  venture  to  say  that 
no  vexatious  proceedings  will  be  adopted  to  inquire  into  their 
observance.” 

Now,  with  all  due  respect  to  the  Council,  can  anything 
be  more  ambiguous  or  unsatisfactory  than  this  ? 

I  think  few  men  would  be  foolish  enough  in  any  business 
negotiation  to  take  such  an  assertion  as  a  guarantee.  Would 
anyone,  on  giving  an  acknowledgment  for  money  due,  believe 
his  creditor  if  he  told  him  that  “no  vexatious  proceedings  ” 
should  result  if  he  did  not  meet  his  engagement  ?  To  me 
the  two  cases  appear  similar. 

If  it  is  necessary  for  the  public  safety,  etc.,  that  these 
regulations  should  become  law,  is  it  not  also  necessary  that 
when  law  they  should  be  conformed  to  ? 

If  we  assent  to  the  passing  of  such  an  Act,  we  ought  to  do 
so  with  our  eyes  open  to  the  unpleasant  consequences  in  the 
way  of  supervision  which  might,  and  in  all  probability  would, 
result  from  such  a  measure,  and  not  allow  the  bait  to  be 
sugared  with  specious  promises  which  the  Council  itself,  if 
it  had  the  wish,  would  not  have  the  power  to  keep. 

Edwin  A.  Lewis. 

3,  Mornington  Street,  Morning  ton  Crescent,  N.W., 
February  loth,  1871. 


Sir, — Whilst  I  must  submit  to  the  multitude  of  not-overwisc 
Councillors,  Privy  and  Pharmaceutical,  I  cannot  but  protest 
against  their  meddling,  irritating  restrictions  upon  chemists, 
a  class  of  men  careful  beyond  cavil,  whilst  “Knockemorf”  is 
licensed  to  kill  without  let  or  hindrance.  Why  are  not 
surgeries  to  have  “  poison  ”  bottles  and  three-cornered  dispen¬ 
sing  ones  ?  Perhaps  our  Council  will  tell  me  into  what  shaped 
glass  I  am  to  dispense  the  following  recipe,  received  to-day: — 

R.  Tr.  Opii  5j 

Zinci  Sulph.  gr.  x 

Glycerini  §ss 

Aq.  Camph.  ad  5vj.  M. 

It  may  be  an  injection,  skin-  or  head-lotion,  or  cough  mix¬ 
ture.  Being  sedative  and  expectorant,  am  I  to  be  made  the 
scapegoat  of  an  antagonistic  surgeon  or  the  tool  of  any  pre¬ 
scribing  informer  ?  The  word  “  poison  ”  is  become  as  nought, 
the  public  sees  and  hears  so  much  of  it ;  and  so  does 
Wetlierby,  February  14 th,  1871.  Jas.  Houlton. 


Wholesale  Druggists’  Assistants’  Association. 

Sir, — The  remarks  of  Mr.  Davies  Owen  in  your  Journal  of 
the  14th  inst.,  are  so  severe  upon  wholesale  assistants  that  it 
makes  it  necessary  to  place  the  matter  in  its  right  light.  The 
picture  of  retail  assistants  advancing  and  wholesale  ones 
gradually  sinking  in  the  social  scale,  judging  from  the  steps 
taken  by  employers  to  prevent  dishonesty,  would  be  a  sad 
one  were  it  correct ;  but  the  mere  fact  of  employers  combining 
to  form  a  trade  protection  society,  to  prevent  robberies  and 
prosecute  thieves  and  receivers  of  stolen  goods,  is  no  impu- 
tation  upon  assistants,  as  it  is  well  known  that  porters  aud 
others  of  a  similar  grade  are  the  parties  most  liable  to  the 
operations  of  the  Society. 

The  next  statement  of  Mr.  Owen’s,  that  the  retail  trade 
pass  a  regular  apprenticeship,  reside  with  their  employers 
and  have  access  to  various  works  and  journals,  while  the 
bulk  of  the  wholesale  men  have  not  these  opportunities,  is  also 
incorrect,  inasmuch  as  they  serve  a  similar  apprenticeship 
(and  some  of  them  a  more  practical  one  than  the  present 
generation  have  served),  and  many  of  them  have  been  assist¬ 
ants  a  few  years  in  the  retail,  who  have  taken  situations  in  the 
wholesale  to  perfect  themselves  in  their  business. 

Another  idea,  that  members  of  the  proposed  society  should 
discuss  matters  of  trade  interest,  would  simply  amount  to 
wholesale  houses  having  their  trade  secrets  made  common 
property.  I  think  that  the  kind  of  society  proposed  by  Mr. 
Owen  is  not  felt  to  be  a  want,  or  it  would  have  been  supported 
before.  Justitia. 

London,  January  1  Gth,  1870. 

J.  T.  (Lewisham). — The  law  is  vague  in  regard  to  the  ques¬ 
tion.  but  probably  it  may  be  regarded  as  not  prohibitory  of 
such  prescribing,  though  in  the  event  of  any  mischance,  the 
punishment  would  be  more  severe  than  in  the  case  of  a  duly 
qualified  medical  man.  As  a  point  of  ethics,  however,  there 
can  be  no  doubt  that  counter- prescribing  by  druggists  should 
at  least  be  restricted  within  the  narrowest  limits  possible. 

“  Tolu.” — We  do  not  consider  the  negative  result  satisfac¬ 
tory  evidence,  neither  are  we  able  to  answer  the  question  put. 

PL.  J.  Woolley  (Islington). — The  formula  has  been  given 
recently.  See  p.  377  of  the  present  volume,  and  the  corre¬ 
spondence  concerning  it  on  pp.  397  and  419. 

“  Veritas.” — The  mention  of  emp.  hydrarg.  is  evidently  an 
error,  and,  as  you  suggest,  emp.  opii  should  be  in  its  place. 

“A  Student  ”  (Sheffield). — There  is  no  danger. 

F.  L.  Cove. — Probably  Piesse’s  ‘  Art  of  Perfumery.’ 

Messrs.  Saivyer  and  Bird. — The  advertisement  has  been 
handed  to  the  publisher. 

C.  J.  Bell. — Your  letter  has  been  given  to  the  Secretary. 

A.  P.  S.,  Amicus  and  A  Member  have  omitted  to  forward 
their  names. 

We  have  received  a  letter  from  Messrs.  Domeier  and  Co., 
stating  that  they  only  execute  for  De  Haen  and  Co.,  or  the 
other  houses  they  represent,  such  orders  as  are  given  by 
manufacturing  chemists  and  wholesale  druggists. 


Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  A.  W.  Bennett,  Mr.  T.  J.  W.  Tipping,  Mr.  J.  S.  Parker, 
Mr.  W.  Hills,  Mr.  G-.  Harvie,  Mr.  J.  Ash,  Mr.  Padwick- 
Mr.  Siebold,  Mr.  E.  Walsh,  Mr.  Smith,  Mr.  Gray,  Mr.  P.  L. 
Simmonds,  Mr.  C.  H.  Wood,  S.  R.,  “A  Countrv  Druggist,' 
“Spes,”  A.  P.  S, 


681 


February  25,  1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


JEW’S  EAR. 

(Hi rneola  Auricula-  J mice.) 


BY  M.  C.  COOKE,  M.A. 

Notwithstanding  Mr.  Simmonds’s  interesting  hook 
on  that  subject,  there  are  still  some  chapters  in  the 
history  of  the  “  Curiosities  of  Food”  unwritten,  espe¬ 
cially  those  relating  to  vegetable  diet.  So  peculiar 
are  the  tastes  of  the  Chinese,  that  we  are  ready  to 
believe  it  possible  for  them  to  relish  anything  what¬ 
ever,  provided  it  can  be  manipulated  in  any  way  so 
as  to  be  capable  of  mastication.  All  kinds  of  gela¬ 
tinous  substances,  whether  birds’  nests,  sea  slugs, 
shark  fins,  seaweeds,  and  even  gelatinous  fungi  are 
pressed  into  the  service  of  the  Chinese  gastronomist. 
To  the  latter  belongs  the  subject  of  the  present 
notice. 

Old  Elder  stumps  in  this  country  are  frequently 
inhabited  by  a  singularly  flabby-looking  fungus,  to 
which  the  name  of  “  Jew’s-ear”  has  been  given,  on 
account  of  its  fancied  resemblance  to  a  human  ear. 
Our  figure  represents  a  small  specimen,  with  a  sec- 


Hirneola  Auricula- Jiidce. 


tion  beside  it,  and  one  of  the  elliptical  spores.  This 
fungus  belongs  to  the  Tremellini,  an  order  of  fungi 
that  are  characteristically  gelatinous.  The  scien¬ 
tific  name  is  recorded  above.  There  is  but  one 
British  species  of  the  genus,  and  that  is  widely 
distributed ;  it  is  found  again  in  the  United  States, 
and  amongst  the  islands  of  the  South  Seas.  The 
fungus  itself  is  thin,  concave,  flexuous  and  blackish, 
folded  and  veined  everywhere,  with  the  under  surface 
velvety,  and  of  a  cinereous-olive.  When  dry  it  has 
a  horny  texture,  and  shrinks  very  much,  but  it  will 
swell  out  again  nearly  to  its  natural  size  and  form  if 
immersed  in  water,  even  after  the  lapse  of  many 
years.  The  size  varies  from  one  to  three  inches  in 
diameter,  and  sometimes  two  or  three  individuals  are 
confluent. 

It  seems  never  to  have  entered  into  the  heads  of 
Englishmen,  not  even  professed  mycopliagists,  that 
this  leathery-looking  “Jew’s-ear”  could  be  converted 
into  food.  There  was  exhibited  in  the  Indian  De¬ 
partment  of  the  Exhibition  of  1862  a  bottle  of  dried 
fungi,  sent  from  China,  b}1-  way  of  Singapore,  which 
consisted  wholly  of  this  species,,  identified  by  us  at 
the  time,  and  as  such  inserted  in  the  catalogue.  By 
reference  also  to  the  catalogue  of  the  French  Colo¬ 
nies  for  the  same  Exhibition  (at  p.  109),  we  find 
enumerated  from  Tahiti  “  Champignons  dits  oreilles 
de  rats,  Exidia  Auricula-  Judce — Taria  eriore.”  In 
a  note  it  is  stated  that  tills  fungus  is  very  common  at 
Tahiti  and  the  neighbouring  islands,  and  is  in  great 
esteem  in  China,  to  which  country  it  is  largely  ex¬ 
ported.  In  the  fifth  volume  of  Seemann’s  ‘  Journal  of 
Third  Series,  No.  35. 


Botany’  (p.  263),  is  a  paragraph  stating  that  Mr. 
Brander,  a  well-known  merchant,  residing  at  Tahiti, 
had  furnished  the  following  information  about  an 
edible  fungus,  of  which  quantities  were  often  sent  to 
Sydney;  lie  says,  “What  is  called  ‘fungus’  in  our 
export  list,  is  an  article  of  commerce  found  in  the 
islands  of  the  South  Pacific,  principally  the  Society 
and  Leeward  Islands,  on  decayed  trees.  The  Tahi¬ 
tians  call  it  ‘  Teria  iore’  ( i .  e.  rat’s  ear),  from  a  cer¬ 
tain  resemblance  of  the  shape  of  the  plant  to  the  ear 
of  a  rat.  The  fungus  first  began  to  be  collected  in 
1863,  and  fetches  in  China,  where  it  is  much  esteemed 
and  made  into  soups,  from  eighteen  to  twenty  cents 
per  pound.”  In  a  subsequent  number  of  the  same 
journal  (vi.  p.  339),  this  fungus  was  referred  without 
doubt  to  the  present  species. 

This  was  almost  all  that  could  be  collected  of 
information  about  the  Jew’s-ear,  until  very  re¬ 
cently,  when  vre  heard  of  it  again  in  a  rather  unex¬ 
pected  quarter.  From  the  Reports  of  the  United 
States  Department  of  Agriculture,  we  gather  that 
“  the  Bulletin  (California)  announces  the  arrival  at 
San  Francisco  of  a  brig  from  Tahiti,  with  about 
thirty  thousand  pounds  of  fungus  gathered  on  the 
trees  in  the  southern  part  of  the  Society  Islands,  and 
packed  in  bags  woven  from  slips  of  Booroa  bark,  the 
same  wood  from  which  the  orange  crates  are  made. 
This  fungus  is  in  appearance  like  very  thin  and  dirty 
india-rubber,  and  is  to  be  shipped  to  China  for  use 
in  making  ‘  soup’  in  the  Celestial  kingdom.  The 
value  is  about  twelve  and  a  half  cents  per  pound  at 
the  islands,  and  about  one  hundred  thousand  pounds 
are  produced  there  annually.”* 

It  is  very  clear  that  all  these  statements  refer  to 
the  same  thing,  the  Hi  rneola  Auricula- Judce^  of 
Fries,  which  we  allow  to  ripen,  and  rot  upon  Elder 
stumps  and  Elms,  but  which  is  an  article  of  commerce 
in  the  South  Seas,  and  is  collected  there  after  the 
rate  of  100,000  lb.  a  year.  The  only  market  for 
this  strange  product  seems  to  be  China,  and  the  sam¬ 
ple  sent  from  thence  to  the  Exhibition  of  1862  was 
in  all  probability,  not  indigenous,  but  derived,  in  the 
way  of  trade,  from  Tahiti.  The  observation  that  fit 
was  not  collected  there  till  1863,  as  mentioned  by 
Mr.  Brander,  might  be  an  error  of  date  for  1861,  or, 
it  might  not  have  been  collected  as  a  regular  article 
of  commerce  until  1863.  At  any  rate,  it  was  most 
certainly  exhibited  in  London  in  1862,  from  China 
and  Tahiti,  as  will  be  seen  by  reference 'to  the  Cata¬ 
logues  of  India,  and  the  French  Colonies. 

At  one  time  this  fungus  had  a  reputation  for  the 
cure  of  sore  throats,  and  also  as  a  topical  astringent. 
Its  faculty  of  absorbing  and  holding  water  like  a 
sponge  has  resulted  in  its  use  as  a  medium  for  apply¬ 
ing  eyewater  to  weak  or  diseased  eyes,  and  similar 
purposes.  Of  late  years  it  is  seldom,  perhaps  never, 
to  be  met  with  in  the  herbalists’  shops,  and,  in  Eng¬ 
land  at  least,  its  reputation  and  “  occupation’s  gone.” 
Old  Gerarde  writes  thus  of  it,  “  the  fungous  excres¬ 
cence  of  the  Elder,  commonly  called  a  Jewes  eare, 
is  much  used  against  the  inflammations  and  all  other 
sorenesses  of  the  throat,  being  boyled  in  milke, 
steeped  in  beere,  vinegar,  or  any  other  convenient 
liquor.”  A  rude  figure  is  given  under  the  name  of 
Auricula  Judas,  which  name  is  applied  to  it  also  by 
Lobel,  but  the  fungus  is  not  figured  by  him. 


*  Monthly  Report' of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  of  the 
Jnited  States,  January  1869,  p.  28.  0<r.  r  or 

t  Cooke’ s  ‘Handbook  of  British  Fungi,  p.  349,  tig.  Cl. 


C82 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  25,  1871. 


CASTOR-OIL  SOAP. 

BY  F.  M.  EIMMINGTON. 

It  is  somewhat  remarkable  that  our  present  En¬ 
glish  pharmacy  has  no  pure  medicinal  soap  possess¬ 
ing  any  characteristic  property  or  medicinal  activity. 
The  ordinary  Castile  soap,  being  that  which  is  com¬ 
monly  used  for  that  ordered  by  the  Pharmacopoeia, 
can  scarcely  be  considered  a  satisfactory  article 
when  we  consider  its  composition  and  the  mode  of 
its  manufacture.  Having  recently  had  occasion  to 
direct  my  attention  to  this  subject,  it  occurred  to  me 
that  castor-oil  offered  some  advantages,  and  would 
yield  a  soap  possessing  qualities  very  desirable  in  an 
article  which  so  frequently  formed  the  medium  or 
adjunct  for  administering  other  active  remedies.  On 
putting  this  idea  into  practice,  I  found  that  a  soap 
prepared  from  this  oil  has  rather  marked  qualities, 
but  my  opportunities  do  not  afford  me  the  means  of 
properly  testing  its  medicinal  properties.  I  believe 
it  will  be  found  that  it  has  sufficient  aperient  power 
to  relax  the  bowels  when  taken  consecutively  for 
several  days,  but  I  believe  its  greatest  value  will  be 
found  as  an  adjunct  to  other  aperients.  This  at 
least  is  the  result  I  have  arrived  at.  It  is,  of  course, 
well  known  that  the  purgative  principle  of  castor  oil 
has  been  ascribed  by  Soubeiran  to  the  existence  of 
a  supposed  oleo-resin,  and  that  the  ricinoleic  acid  is 
extremely  acrid.  I  find  when  the  oil  is  saponified 
that  this  acrid  principle  is  either  entirely  or  par¬ 
tially  liberated,  and  does  not  continue  masked  as  it 
is  in  the  oil  in  its  natural  state,  nor  neutralized,  as 
might  be  expected,  by  the  alkali.  It  is  to  this  fact,  I 
tliink,  we  must  look  for  any  active  property  this  soap 
may  possess ;  and  here  I  must  leave  the  matter  for 
the  further  investigation  of  the  medical  and  pharma¬ 
ceutical  professions.  The  physical  properties  of  the 
soap  are  in  its  favour  for  use  in  medicine.  It  has  a 
clean  yellowish- white  colour,  is  free  from  smell ;  it 
soon  becomes  dry,  hard  and  is  easily  powdered ;  it  has 
no  tendency  to  soften  or  deliquesce  on  exposure  to 
the  air.  In  proof  spirit  it  makes  a  perfectly  clear 
and  colourless  solution,  with  only  little  sediment. 
I  shall  forward  a  specimen  to  the  Society  for  the 
inspection  of  those  who  may  feel  interested. 


MAGNIFICENT  FLUORESCENCE  OF 
PEPPERMINT  OIL. 

BY  PEOFESSOE  FLUCKIGEE. 

50  to  70  drops  of  peppermint  oil  shaken  with  one 
drop  of  nitric  acid,  about  1'2  sp.  gr.,  turn  faintly 
yellowish,  brownish,  and,  after  an  hour  or  two,  ex¬ 
hibit  a  most  beautiful  blue-violet,  or  greenisli-blue 
colour,  when  examined  in  transparent  light.  When 
observed  in  reflected  light,  the  liquid  is  of  a  copper 
colour,  and  not  transparent.  If  the  mixture  is 
warmed,  the  green  or  blue  coloration  takes  place 
speedily ;  it  may  also  be  immediately  provoked  by 
adding  a  greater  amount  of  nitric  acid,  say  1  drop 
to  19,  or  9  drops  of  the  essential  oil. 

Bisulphide  of  carbon  contributes  in  no  way  to  im- 
piove  the  test.  All  the  various  specimens  of  pepper¬ 
mint  oil  at  my  command  show  the  same  behaviour, 
but  the  blue  or  greenish-blue  hue  exhibits  very  ap¬ 
preciable  differences,  which  ought  to  be  further  ex¬ 
amined  by  chemists  possessing  authentic  specimens 


of  the  oil  under  notice.  A  very  old  specimen  of  an 
originally  excellent  English  oil,  however,  was  no 
longer  coloured. 

The  colour  which  peppermint  oil  thus  acquires  is 
remarkable  on  account  of  its  persistencjq  for  it  lasts 
a  week  or  two,  at  least  in  cold.  Yet,  unfortunately, 
it  appears  not  capable  of  being  applied  as  a  true 
test ;  an  admixture  of  5  per  cent,  of  oil  of  turpentine, 
for  instance,  does  not  at  all  prevent  peppermint  oil 
from  assuming  the  blue  or  green  colour;  on  the 
other  hand,  I  have  not  as  yet  met  with  any  other 
oil  partaking  of  the  same  behaviour;  carven,  the 
the  more  volatile  portion  of  caraway-oil,  also  ac¬ 
quires  a  slight  similar  fluorescence,  but  by  no  means 
comparable  to  the  above-described  as  regards  purity 
and  intensity  of  colour. 

Peppermint  oil,  which  has  become  coloured  in 
this  way,  is  quickly  decolorized  if  shaken  with  car¬ 
bonate  of  calcium ;  granulated  zinc  likewise  causes 
it  slowly  to  turn  brownish.  Spectroscopic  examina¬ 
tion  of  the  coloured  oil  furnishes  no  phenomena  of 
particular  interest.  Chromic  acid,  dissolved  in  chlo¬ 
roform,  does  not  perform  the  same  reaction  as  nitric 
acid. 

Berne ,  January  1871. 


CYTISIN. 

An  article,  by  Dr.  William  Marine,  “  On  the 
Action  and  Production  of  Cytisin,”  appears  in  a 
recent  number  of  the  ‘  Transactions  of  the  Academy 
of  Gottingen.’  Cytisin  was  first  separated  by  the 
writer,  in  conjunction  with  Professor  Aug.  Huse- 
mann,  from  the  unripe  pods  and  ripe  seeds  of  Cytisus 
Laburnum,  Linn.,  as  a  strongly  alkaline  vegetable- 
base,  easily  crystallizable,  and  forming  single  and 
double  salts,  readily  soluble  in  water  and  alcohol, 
but  not  in  ether.  The  following  observations  sup¬ 
plement  those  already  published  in  the  ‘  Zeitsclmft 
fur  Cliemie,’  8tli  Jahrg.  p.  161,  and  Husemann’s 
‘  Neues  Jalirbuch  fur  Pharmacie,’  xxxi.  pp.  1-21. 

1.  Action  of  Cytisin  upon  Animals. — The  poisonous 
action  of  cytisin,  the  pure  alkali  as  well  as  the  very 
easily  crystallizable  nitric  salt,  extends  to  animals 
of  every  type.  This  was  established  by  experiments 
on  animals  belonging  to  the  various  classes  of  Pro¬ 
tozoa,  Coelenterata,  Echinodermata,  Vermes,  Crus¬ 
tacea,  Arachnoidea,  Myriapoda,  Insecta,  Mollusca, 
Pisces,  Amphibia,  Iteptilia,  Aves,  and  Mammalia. 
The  poisonous  action  takes  effect  by  application  to 
all  parts  of  the  system,  except  the  outer  skin.  A 
very  small  dose  is  fatal  to  all  the  higher  animals. 
For  frogs  a  dose  of  ,002-,004  gramme  was  sufficient ; 
for  young  pigeons  -003  gr. ;  for  owls  '001  gr. ;  for  jays 
•0015  gr. ;  for  cats  ‘OS-OS  gr. ;  for  dogs  *06-T  gr. ; 
for  rabbits  '05--08  gr.,  and  for  kids  •3-4-  gr.,  by  sub¬ 
cutaneous  application;  or  by  injection,  for  cats 
‘015  gr. ;  for  dogs  ,025-,05  gr.,  and  for  rabbits 
•01-015  gr.  of  cytisin  nitrate.  Usually  the  poison 
acts  in  the  first  place  by  exciting,  the  excitation  soon 
passing  away,  and  giving  place  to  a  depression  or  com¬ 
plete  paralysis,  with  a  rapidity  in  proportion  to  the 
amount  of  the  dose.  The  function  of  the  cerebrum 
is  not  directly  affected ;  no  narcotic  action,  properly 
speaking,  is  exhibited  with  the  lower  animals.  The 
spinal  cord  and  the  motor  nerves  are  at  first  excited, 
a  more  or  less  complete  paralysis  following,  which 
commences  in  the  peripheric  ends  of  the  motor  nerves. 
The  voluntary  muscles  may  be  completely  excited 


683 


February  23,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


by  an  induction- current  after  entire  paralysis  of 
their  motor  nerves,  and  even  when  direct  mechanical 
and  chemical  irritation  produces  no  contraction. 
The  sensible  nerves  are  injured  in  their  action  only 
very  late  by  cytisin.  A  change  in  the  respiration 
is,  with  all  the  higher  animals,  one  of  the  first  symp¬ 
toms  of  poisoning  by  cytisin.  It  is  at  first  accele¬ 
rated,  then  becomes  retarded,  and  is  finally  com¬ 
pletely  suspended  by  paralysis  of  the  nerves.  The 
vaso-motor  system  of  nerves  is  excited  by  cytisin. 
The  ganglionic  central-organ,  which  lies  in  the 
heart  and  occasions  its  contraction,  is  at  first  excited, 
and  then  becomes  weaker  and  possibly  paralysed. 
With  dogs,  cats,  and  rabbits,  and  generally  also 
with  birds,  salivation  arises  during  the  poisoning. 
With  birds,  and  many  mammalia,  cytisin  occa¬ 
sions  vomiting  by  all  modes  of  application.  It  ex¬ 
cites,  both  after  introduction  into  the  stomach  and 
intestines,  as  well  as  after  subcutaneous  application, 
increased,  often  powerful,  peristaltic  action.  In  no 
mode  of  application  does  cytisin  exercise  any  con¬ 
stant  action  on  the  pupil.  The  temperature  of  the 
body  is  only  slightly  increased,  quite  at  the  com¬ 
mencement  of  the  poisoning,  but  sinks  steadily  till 
death.  The  elimination  of  the  cytisin  introduced 
into  the  body  takes  place  especially  through  the 
nerves,  unless  by  vomiting.  Recovery  from  poi¬ 
soning  by  cytisin  can  generally  be  effected  when  it  is 
possible  to  maintain  the  respiration  for  a  sufficient 
length  of  time.  Death  is  always  the  result  of 
asphyxia.  The  exact  chemical  proof  of  poisoning 
by  cytisin  is  extremely  difficult.  Comparative  ex¬ 
periments  with  aqueous  and  alcoholic  extracts  of 
the  seeds,  ripe  and  unripe  pods,  flowers,  leaves,  bark, 
and  roots,  prove  the  poisonous  nature  of  all  these 
parts,  and  that  cytisin  is  the  sole  poisonous  agent 
in  them. 

2.  The  Occurrence  of  Cytisin. — The  supposed  labur- 
nin-acid  of  Mr.  Scott  Gray,  is  a  mixture  of  inorganic 
and  organic  acids.  The  pois onous  properties  observed 
by  him  were  due  to  the  presence  of  a  small  quantity 
of  cytisin,  and  the  alleged  narcotic  action  is  alto¬ 
gether  erroneous.  Cytisin  is  also  present  in  the 
black  seed-pod.  About  500  grammes  of  the  separated 
pods  was  found  to  contain  a  proportionately  large 
amount  of  cytisin.  The  fat  oil  extracted  from  the 
seeds  by  ether,  of  a  clear  yellow  colour  and  agree¬ 
able  flavour,  is  not  poisonous.  Cytisin  had  been 
already  found  by  the  writer  and  Professor  Huse- 
mann  in  three  other  species  besides  Cytisus  Labur¬ 
num,  viz.  C.  alpinus,  supinus,  and  elongatus.  During 
the  previous  year,  the  writer  had  examined,  in  refer¬ 
ence  to  the  presence  in  them  of  cytisin,  and  their 
poisonous  properties,  several  other  species.  C.  Wel- 
deni,sessilifolius,capitatus,  and  hirsutus  gave  positive 
results,  both  by  chemical  analysis  and  experimenting 
on  frogs.  With  C.  nigricans,  on  the  other  hand,  no 
poisonous  substance  could  be  obtained  from  the  pods, 
seeds,  or  bark.  This  circumstance  is  of  special  in¬ 
terest,  since  this  species  is  separated  by  English  bo¬ 
tanists,  following  Grisebacli,  into  a  distinct  subgenus. 
Of  the  three  subgenera  of  Grisebacli,  Laburnum, 
Eucytisus,  and  Lembotropis,  the  first  (including  C.  La¬ 
burnum,  fragrans,  and  sessilifolius )  and  the  second 
(including  C .  capitatus ,  supinus,  elongatus,  and  hir¬ 
sutus)  are  poisonous ;  while  the  third,  including 
C.  nigricans,  appears  to  be  harmless.  Dr.  Marine 
promises  a  further  contribution,  with  reference  to  the 
poisonous  effects  of  cytisin  on  the  human  body. 


EMULSION  OF  ALMONDS. 

BY  H.  r.  REYNOLDS. 

The  officinal  emulsion  of  the  U.  S.  P.  forms  an 
elegant  and  suitable  vehicle  for  the  administration 
of  many  pungent  or  acrid  medicines,  but  no  apothe¬ 
cary  cares  to  spend  time  for  its  extempore  prepara¬ 
tion,  and  of  course  it  cannot  be  kept  on  hand  on  ac¬ 
count  of  the  readiness  'with  which  it  ferments. 

Experimenting  recently,  by  request  of  a  physician, 
for  a  satisfactory  vehicle  for  chloral  hydrate,  I  found 
the  emulsion  of  almonds  peculiarly  adapted  to  the 
purpose,  both  by  reason  of  its  agreeable  taste  and  its 
thick  consistency  almost  completely  obscuring  the 
pungency  of  the  drug.  Chloral  is  now  so  largely 
administered  in  that  class  of  diseases  accompanied 
by  an  irritated  and  sensitive  condition  of  the  mouth 
and  throat  that  this  seemed  a  point  gained.  And  it 
may  not  be  amiss  to  state  here  that  syrupus  acacia, 
slightly  flavoured  with  orange-flower  water  and 
essential  oil  of  almonds,  is  a  very  agreeable  vehicle 
for  the  chloral. 

Finding  I  should  be  called  upon  to  provide  the 
emulsion  for  tliis  purpose,  it  became  desirable  to  have 
it  on  hand  in  a  convenient  and  permanent  form.  I 
therefore  contrived  a  preparation  which  I  call  a 
“  Concentrated  Emulsion  of  Almonds,”  and  which  is 
prepared  as  follows  : — 

Jb  Sweet  Almonds  (blanched) 

Sugar, 

Glycerin  (“  C.  P.”),  each  1  oz. 

Powd.  Gum  Arabic,  1  drm. 

Water,  2  oz. 

Rub  to  a  uniform  paste,  strain  through  muslin  and 
evaporate  by  a  heat  not  exceeding  150°  F.,  to  the  con¬ 
sistency  of  a  fresh  solid  extract.  Preserve  in  wide- 
mouth  bottles  of  size  for  convenient  use.  It  may  be 
flavoured  to  suit;  I  have  preferred  orange-flower 
water  and  oil  of  almonds.  When  emulsion  of  almonds 
is  prescribed,  it  is  readily  prepared  as  follows : — 

P>  Concentrated  Emulsion,  2  drm. 

Water,  sufficient  to  make  1  oz.  of  mixture. 

Mix  thoroughly. 

It  immediately  assumes  the  milky  hue  and  con¬ 
sistence  of  the  officinal  article,  and  cannot  be  dis¬ 
tinguished  from  it,  while  it  keeps  'without  change  and 
without  drying.  The  idea  may  not  be  new  to  all 
your  readers,  but  certainly  is  original  so  far  as  I  am 
concerned,  and  I  shall  be  happy  if  the  suggestion 
proves  useful  to  any  of  them,  as  it  can  hardly  fail 
to  do. — American  Journal  of  Pharmacy . 


DETECTION  OF  ALCOHOL  IN  CHLOROFORM  AND 
CHLORAL  HYDRATE. 

A.  Lieben,  in  the  Annul,  der  Chem.  xmd  Pharm.,  1870, 
Suppl.  Bd.  viii.  2,  describes  a  method  of  dedecting  ethyl 
alcohol  by  the  formation  of  iodoform.  In  the  simple 
case  when  the  presence  of  alcohol  in  a  watery  solution 
has  to  be  determined,  the  sample  is  warmed  in  a  test 
tube,  a  few  drops  of  an  iodinized  potassium  iodide  solu¬ 
tion  are  added,  and  afterwards  a  few  drops  of  potassium 
hydrate  solution.  If  the  quantity  of  alcohol  is  not  too 
small,  a  turbidity  results  by  the  formation  of  microscopi¬ 
cally  small  yellow  crystals  of  iodoform. 

Hager  finds  this  reaction  very  accurate,  and  states 
that  it  detects  alcohol  in  liquids  containing  but  a  0'0  0 
after  about  one  day’s  standing.  The  crystals  are  re¬ 
markable  and  beautiful  by  the  variety  of  their  star¬ 
shaped  arrangement.  Hager  suggests  the  following 


(38 4s  the  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  25,  1871. 


modus  operand i : — The  reagents  used  are  solution  of  po¬ 
tassium  iodide  in  5-5  times  its  weight  of  distilled  water 
and  over-saturated  with  free  iodine  ;  2,  a  solution  of  po¬ 
tassium  hydrate  of  about  10  per  cent,  strength.  To  the 
liquid  to  he  examined  5-6  drops  of  the  latter  solution  are 
added.  After  warming  to  about  50°  C.,  so  much  of  the 
potassium  iodide  solution  is  added  drop  by  drop  that  its 
colour,  after  gentle  agitation,  remains  yellowish-brown  ; 
then  the  liquid  is  carefully  discoloured  by  the  addition 
of  a  few  drops  of  the  potassium  hydrate  solution.  When 
set  aside  the  iodoform  crystals  deposit,  and  are  recognized 
under  the  microscope. 

The  process  is  obvious :  it  is  effected  not  alone  by 
ethyl  alcohol,  but  by  a  number  of  different  substances, 
among  which  are  aldehyde,  acetone,  gum,  sugar,  lactic 
r.c'.d,  methyl  alcohol,  propyl  alcohol,  and  many  volatile 
oils.  The  formation  of  iodoform  does  not  take  place  with 
amyl  alcohol,  ether,  ethyl  chloride,  chloroform,  chloral 
hydrate,  glycerin,  phenol,  and  by  acetic,  benzoic,  butyric, 
citric,  formic,  oxalic,  succinic,  valerianic  and  tartaric  acids. 

The  following  test  is,  according  to  Hager,  superior  to 
any  for  the  detection  of  alcohol  in  chloroform  and  chloral 
hydrate : — 

Chloroform. — To  determine  the  presence  of  alcohol  in 
chloroform,  2  vols.  chloroform  are  mixed  with  5  to  10 
vols.  of  water,  of  about  50°  C.  The  liquid,  after  some 
shaking,  is  poured  on  a  filter  previously  completely  sa¬ 
turated  with  water.  The  filtrate  is  then  examined  as 
described  above.  After  twelve  to  twenty-four  hours’  de¬ 
positing,  the  sediment  is  examined  under  the  microscope. 

Chloral  Hydrate. — Chloral  forms  with  ethyl  alcohol 
chloral  alcoholate,  corresponding  to  chloral  hydrate  in 
its  chemical  and  physiological  properties.  Since  the 
equivalent  weight  of  ethyl  alcohol  is  five  times  greater 
than  that  of  water,  it  is  of  considerable  pecuniary  ad¬ 
vantage  to  the  manufacturer  to  bring  the  chloral  alco¬ 
holate  into  the  market  instead  of  the  hydrate ;  besides, 
the  former  crystallizes  finer  and  more  solid. 

The  examination  is  made  with  a  solution  of  the  sample 
in  distilled  water,  in  the  above  given  mode.  When  dis¬ 
coloring  the  iodinized  liquid,  each  drop  of  the  potassium 
hydrate  solution  produces  turbidity,  which,  however, 
disappears  on  gentle  agitation.  If  the  sample  contains 
alcoholate,  the  liquid  remains  more  or  less  turbid,  or 
deposits  iodoform  crystals  after  a  time,  although  this  is 
partly  soluble  in  the  presence  of  chloral.  Of  some  com¬ 
mercial  samples  examined  by  Hager,  Schcring’s  chloral 
hydrate  was  the  only  one  entirely  free  from  alcoholate. 
— Charm.  Centr.  H.  1870,  no.  18. 

More  recently  Schering  calls  attention  to  some  more 
distinctions  between  chloral  hydrate  and  chloral  alcoho¬ 
late  ;  when  warmed  in  a  test  tube  in  twice  their  bulk  of 
water,  the  hydrate,  as  is  known,  dissolves  readily,  but  the 
alcoholate  melts  without  solution,  and  on  cooling  con¬ 
geals  under  the  water.  Sulphuric  acid,  when  warmed 
with  chloral  hydrate,  remains  colourless,  whilst  it  turns 
brown  with  the  alcoholate.  When  warmed  in  nitric 
acid  of  1‘2  sp.  gr.,  chloral  hydrate  gives  none  or  but  a 
very  slight  reaction,  whilst  with  the  alcoholate  a  vehe¬ 
ment  reaction  ensues  under  evolution  of  nitrous  oxide 
gas. — Journ.  P harm,  from  Charm.  Centr.  H. 

THE  SO-CALLED  “OLIVES”  OE  SOUTHERN 

CHINA. 

BY  H.  F.  HANCE,  P1LD.,  ETC. 

In  his  excellent  “Notes  on  Chinese  Materia  Medica,” 
Mr.  D.  Hanbury  refers  to  certain  fruits  known  to  fo¬ 
reigners  resident  in  this  country  by  the  name  of  Chinese 
Olives  ;  and  he  suggests  the  desirableness  of  more  precise 
information  being  obtained  in  regard  to  them.  Of  those 
which  Mr.  Hanbury  mentions  as  sold  at  Foochow  and 
tShang-hae,  I  have  no  knowledge  at  all ;  and  the  follow¬ 
ing  observations  relate  exclusively  to  the  fruit  vended 
everywhere  in  the  south  of  Kwang-tung  province,  of 
which  there  are  two  kinds, — the  U-lam ,  or  Black,  and 


the  Cak-lam  or  White  Olive, — produced  respectively  by 
Canarium  Cimela ,  Konig,  and  C.  album ,  Rasuschel. 

On  these  two  plants  and  a  third  Cochinchinose  spe¬ 
cies,  occurring  also  throughout  the  Moluccas,  Loureiro 
founded  his  genus  Cimela  * * * §  which,  by  the  consent  of  all 
subsequent  botanists,  was  merged  in  Canarium ,  until 
again  distinguished  by  the  late  Professor  Blume,  who 
considered  it  a  “  genus  optimo  jure  dignum  esse  quod 
restituatur.”fi  The  only  characters,  however,  by  which  it 
differs  from  C.  commune  and  its  allies  consist  in  the  thin 
foliaceous  not  fleshy  cotyledons,  and  in  the  insertion  of 
the  stamens  at  the  base  instead  of  the  margin  of  the  disk ; 
distinctive  marks  which  Dr.  Hooker  very  naturally  re¬ 
gards  as  of  merely  sectional  value.  J 

Both  the  white  and  black  Olives  are  a  good  deal 
grown  around  Whampoa,  whilst  I  have  seen  none  in  the 
immediate  neighbourhood  of  Canton,  or  in  Hongkong, 
and  their  cultivation  is  therefore  apparently  local :  I 
can  gain  no  intelligence  of  their  occurrence  in  a  wild 
state.  They  are  trees  from  twenty  to  thirty  feet  high, 
with  a  whitish  trunk,  and  a  close  round  crown  of  foliage,  § 
which  in  hot  sunny  days  exhales  a  grateful  balsamic 
odour ;  in  which  respect,  as  well  as  in  general  aspect, 
they  resemble  our  common  walnut.  The  two  species, 
though  perfectly  distinct,  are  singularly  alike,  so  much 
so,  indeed,  that  even  now,  after  having  made  them  an 
object  of  special  study,  I  am  quite  tumble,  in  the  ab¬ 
sence  of  fruit,  to  tell  one  from  the  other  at  a  few  feet 
distance.  Blume  gives  the  following  differential  cha¬ 
racters  : — 

Canarium  Cimela;  foliolis  9-11  oblongis  acutis  inmqui- 
lateris  glabris,  racemis  lateralibus  simplicibus. 

Canarium  album  ;  foliolis  11-13  ovato-lanceolatis  supra 
glabris  subtus  scabris,  racemis  confertis  subtermina- 
libus. 

These  are,  however,  never  quite  accurate,  nor  by  any 
means  sufficient  for  the  discrimination  of  the  two  species  ; 
and,  in  their  place,  I  propose  the  following,  drawn  up 
after  a  careful  comparative  examination  of  living  speci¬ 
mens  of  each  tree. 

Canarium  Cimela ;  petiolo  petiolulisque  viridibus,  fo¬ 
liolis  4-5-jugis  cum  impari  oblongo-lanceolatis  3-6  poll, 
longis  2|-3rf  poll,  latis  venulis  elevato-reticulatis,  race¬ 
mis  plus  minus  compositis,  drupis  pedicellis  clavato-in- 
crassatis  5-7  lin.  longis  suffultis  fusiformibus  utrinque 
obtusis  subtrigonis  20  lin.  longis  immaturis  glauco-viri- 
dibus  maturis  purpureo-nigris  laevibus,  putamine  obtuse 
fusiformi  lse vi. || 

Canarium  album  ;  petiolo  petiolulisque  alutaceis,  foliolis 
5-6-jugis  cum  impari  oblongo-lanceolatis  2^—4  poll, 
longis  12-16  lin.  latis  venulis  supra  non  prominulo-reti- 
culatis,  racemis  simplicibus,  drupis  sessilibus  ovoideis 
15  lin.  longis  immaturis  flavido- viridibus  maturis  sor- 
dide  flavidis  valde  rugosis,  putamine-  acute  fusiformi  ru- 
guloso. 

I  should  remark  that,  when  dried,  the  leaves  of  both 
species  have  the  veinlets  prominent,  but  the  network  is 
much  closer  and  finer  in  those  of  the  white  olive. 

As  regards  the  mode  of  using  these  fruits,  the  follow¬ 
ing  is  the  information  I  have  myself  gathered,  from 
personal  observation  and  inquiry  of  the  natives : — The 
white  olive  is  either  eaten  fresh,  in  which  state  its 
strongly  resinous  flavour  renders  it  disagreeable  to  the 


*  FI.  Cochinch,  ed.  Willd.  vol.  ii.  p.  494. 

f  Mus.  Bot.  Lugd.-Bat.  vol.  i.  p.  220. 

j  Gen.  Plant,  vol.  i.  325.  The  fores  longc  pedicellati,  as¬ 
signed  as  a  character  in  this  work,  do  not  occur  in  C.  album. 

§  The  name  by  which  these  trees  are  properly  known  to 
J  foreigners,  and  their  dense  tufted  foliage,  recall  to  mind  the 
Homeric — 

"H8e  5’  e7rl  Kparbs  \iyevos  Tarv^>v\\ os  ’EA.a/77. 

Odyss.  xiii.  p.  346. 

j|  The  three  very  slightly  elevated  bands,  scarcely  conspi¬ 
cuous,  are  represented  far  too  prominently  in  Kouig’s  figure 
(Ann.  Bot.  vol.  i.  pi.  7,  fig.  1.  g.). 


February  26, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


685 


European  palate,  or  is  placed,  when  quite  ripe,  in  tubs 
tilled  with  salt,  stirred  about  continually,  and,  after  the 
lapse  of  a  day  taken  out  and  dried.  In  this  state  it  is 
hawked  about  in  great  abundance,  and  tastes  much  as 
the  European  olive  might  be  expected  to  do,  if  removed 
from  the  brine  in  which  it  is  kept  and  allowed  to  dry, 
with  an  appreciable  soupgon  of  turpentine  superadded. 
I  have  been  told  it  is  regarded  as  a  preventive  of  sea¬ 
sickness.  The  black  olive  is  never  eaten  raw,  but  only 
after  having  been  steeped  for  a  few  moments  in  boiling 
water.  Thus  prepared  (and  packed  in  jars,  with  the 
addition  of  a  little  salt,  when  desh-ed  to  be  preserved),  it 
is  of  a  fine  purplish-red  colour,  like  well-made  fresh 
pickled  cabbage,  and  has  some  resemblance  in  taste  to 
freshly  pickled  mango,  a  flavour  to  me  not  unpleasant, 
but  do  gustibus  non  est  disputandum.  This  fruit  is  held 
in  much  higher  esteem  than  the  other,  and  it  is  usual  to 
keep  a  strict  watch  over  it  as  it  ripens  to  prevent  depre¬ 
dation.  I  have  seen  a  man  who  was  found  luxuriating 
in  the  umbrageous  coma  of  a  tree  to  which  he  could  lay 
no  claim,  with  a  basket  full  of  the  fruit  in  his  possession, 
tied  “spread-eagle”  fashion  to  the  trunk  for  nearly  a 
day,  the  monotony  of  his  durance  being  varied  by  perio¬ 
dical  flagellations. 

Loureiro  thus  describes  the  reputed  qualities  of  the 
two  olives : 

C.  album.  Drupao  muria  conditce  olivis  Europaois 
similes  sunt  colore,  et  quodammodo  etiam  forma  et  sa- 
pore;  sunt  autem  saluberrimm,  ita  ut  medici  non  eas 
denegent  asgrotis,  oxperientia  docti  digestionem  et  appe- 
titum  cibi  promove  re. 

C.  Pimela.  Drupee  muria  conditse  frequenter  appo- 
nuntur  mensis,  non  minus  sapidae  quam  olivae,  sed  sto- 
macho  graves. 

For  the  following  notice  of  these  trees,  extracted  and 
translated  from  a  description  of  the  ‘Memorabilia  of 
Kwangtung,’  published  in  1801,  I  am  indebted  to  my 
friend  Mr.  W.  F.  Mayers,  H.M.’s  Acting  Consul  for 
Che-foo. 

“  The  Tiieh  Chung  Kien  Wen  states  as  follows  : — Of 
the  Ian  there  are  two  species,  the  black  and  the  white. 
Of  both  the  tree  grows  high  and  perfectly  straight, 
usually  with  the  trunk  quite  devoid  of  branches  except 
at  the  summit,  where  it  throws  out  its  crown.  There 
are  male  and  female  [trees],  the  male  having  flowers 
[only]  and  the  female  fruit.  The  males  are  properly 
called  Lang-hung  [t.  e.  male  or  ‘sir’  Canarium ),  and  do 
not  produce  fruit,  but  if  brought  in  contact  with  tho 
female  the  fruit  forms.  The  fruit  resembles  that  of  the 
Two  (Jujube,  or  Chinese  Date),  about  an  inch  or  more  in 
length,  and  is  devoid  of  angles.  The  earliest  growth 
hangs  downward,  those  grown  later  point  upwards. 
The  fruit  is  ripe  in  the  eighth  or  ninth  month,  when  the 
cultivators  mount  the  tree  by  means  of  ladders,  and 
knock  the  fruit  down  with  sticks.  Another  way  is  to 
make  an  incision  of  about  an  inch  [in  width]  in  the 
trunk,  on  its  east  side  and  to  rub  in  some  coarse  salt, 
which  causes  the  fruit  on  the  east  side  to  fall  down 
spontaneously ;  and  similarly  on  the  three  remaining 
sides  of  the  tree.  The  white  Ian,  if  not  eaten  until  after 
the  Peh  Lu  period  (8th  September),  does  not  cause  sick¬ 
ness.  Its  qualities  are  heating.  When  eaten,  the  taper¬ 
ing  points  at  either  end  should  be  removed.  On  first 
being  chewed,  the  flavour  is  bitter  and  astringent,  but 
after  a  time  the  flavour  develops  itself  and  turns  sweet. 
The  colour  is  white.  When  boiled  in  water  at  a  high 
temperature  the  colour  changes  to  a  pale  green,  and  its 
fragrance  becomes  as  that  of  the  Ian  ( Epidendron  ?),  so 
that  it  sweetens  the  breath.  Of  the  black  Ian ,  the  fruit 
is  larger,  and  the  flesh  has  greater  substance.  Its  quali¬ 
ties  are  mild,  and  its  flavour  astringent,  with  a  slightly 
sweet  taste.  It  should  be  boiled  in  tepid  water  until  it 
becomes  soft  and  the  purple  skin  puff's  out,  when  it  is  fit 
to  eat.  If  the  water  bo  cold,  it  will  emit  a  gummy  exu¬ 
dation  ;  and  if  too  hot,  the  flesh  will  harden,  so  that  it  is 
important  to  use  tepid  water  only.  In  tho  southern 


portion  of  the  Pwan-yli  district  tho  black  Ian  is  largely 
grown,  and  the  fruit,  after  being  deprived  of  its  stone, 
is  cooked  and  preserved  with  brine  as  an  article  of  mer¬ 
chandise,  which  has  a  sale  far  and  near.” 

The  stones  of  some  species  of  Canarium  are  beauti¬ 
fully  and  elaborately  carved  by  the  Chinese ;  and,  when 
set  in  gold,  or  separated  by  gold  filigree  beads,  form  ex¬ 
ceedingly  handsome  brooches  or  bracelets.  These  are 
popularly  supposed  by  foreigners,  and  even  by  many 
Chinese,  to  be  cut  out  of  peach-stones ;  though  a  very 
cursory  inspection  will  show  that  this  is  a  fallacy.  Amoy 
is  renowned  for  this  kind  of  work,  and,  so  highly  is  it 
esteemed,  that  some  beads  I  purchased  on  the  spot,  to 
have  made  into  a  bracelet,  cost  me  a  dollar  (4s.  3d.)  each; 
a  very  large  sum,  when  the  slight  remuneration  in  China 
for  skilled  labour  and  the  cost  6f  native  living  are  borne 
in  mind.  These  stones,  so  far  as  I  can  judge  from  the 
sculptured  specimens,  seem  too  large  to  be  the  produce 
of  Canarium  Pimela.  They  may  either  belong  to  a  dis¬ 
tinct  species,  or  to  one  of  those  alluded  to  by  Mr.  Han  - 
bury,  respecting  all  of  which  I  may,  perhaps,  hereafter 
succeed  in  gaining  some  reliable  information. — Journal 
of  Botany. 


PREPARATION  OF  COLOURED  CEMENTS  THAT 
WILL  HARDEN  IN  A  SHORT  TIME. 

BY  PROFESSOR  BOETTGER. 

If  finely-pulverized  chalk  is  stirred  into  a  solution  of 
soda-water  glass  of  33°  B.,  until  the  mixture  becomes 
thick  and  plastic,  a  cement  is  obtained  which  will  harden 
in  between  six  and  eight  hours,  possessing  an  extraordi¬ 
nary  durability,  and  alike  applicable  for  domestic  and 
industiial  purposes. 

If  any  of  the  following  substances  be  employed  besides 
chalk,  differently-coloured  cements  of  the  same  general 
character  are  obtained. 

1.  Finely  pulverized,  or,  better  still,  levigated  stibnite 
(grey  antimony  or  black  sulphide  of  antimony),  will 
produce  a  dark  cement,  which,  after  burnishing  with  an 
agate,  will  present  a  metallic  appearance. 

2.  Pulverized  cast-iron,  a  grey  cement. 

3.  Zinc  dust  (so-called  zinc  grey),  an  exceedingly 
hard  grey  cement,  which,  after  burnishing,  will  exhibit 
the  white  and  brilliant  appearance  of  metallic  zinc. 
This  cement  may  be  employed  |o  advantage  in  mending- 
ornaments  and  vessels  of  zinc,  sticking  alike  well  to 
metals,  stone  and  wood. 

4.  Carbonate  of  copper,  a  light  green  cement. 

5.  Sesquioxide  of  chromium,  a  dark  green  cement. 

6.  Thenard’s  blue  (cobalt  blue),  a  blue  cement. 

7.  Minium,  an  orange-coloured  cement. 

8.  Vermilion,  a  splendid  red  cement. 

9.  Cai-mine  red,  a  violet  cement. 

— The  New  York  Druggists'  Circular. 


Turpentine  as  an  Antidote  to  Phosphorus. — 

Personne’s  statement  that  turpentine  acts  as  an  antidote 
to  phosphorus,  by  preventing  its  oxidation  at  the  ex¬ 
pense  of  the  oxygen  in  the  blood,  having  been  called  in 
question  by  Vigier  and  Currie,  Kohler  and  Schimpf 
have  repeated  Personnel  experiments,  and  report  the 
following  results  in  the  Berliner  Med.  Wochensciirift : — 
(1.)  Commercial  oil  of  turpentine  is  a  good  antidote  to 
poisoning  by  phosphorus ;  there  is  no  fatty  degenera¬ 
tion  of  the  tissues,  nor  is  there  any  free  jdiosphorus  in 
the  urine  or  fxeces  of  animals  experimented  on.  (2.) 
Phosphorus  and  turpentine  oil  form  in  the  stomach  a 
compound  resembling  spermaceti,  jin  dogs  this  was 
found  to  be  readily  excreted,  or  the  phosphorus  passed 
away  slowly  oxidized  in  the  urine. —  Wiener  Medizin. 
Woe  lunsch  rift. 


686 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  25, 1871 


Californian  Acorns. — Considerable  discussion  took 
place  in  the  Times  last  autumn  as  to  whether  acorns  were 
suitable  for  employment  as  food  for  cattle ;  and  the  evi¬ 
dence  adduced  certainly  favoured  a  negative  view.  Dr. 
Robert  Brown,  however,  tells  us  that  those  produced  in 
California  by  several  species  of  oak  form  an  important 
article  of  food.  “  The  acorns  of  California  are  mostly 
large,  and  the  trees  in  general  pr'oduce  abundantly, 
though  in  some  years  there  is  a  great  scarcity,  and  much 
misery  ensues  among  the  poorer  natives.  The  acorns 
are  gathered  by  the  squaws,  and  are  preserved  in  various 
methods.  The  most  common  plan  is  to  build  a  basket 
with  twigs  and  rushes  in  an  oak-tree  and  keep  the  acorns 
there.  The  acorns  are  prepared  for  eating  by  grinding 
them  and  boiling  them  with  water  into  a  thick  paste,  or 
by  baking  them  into  bread.  The  oven  is  a  hole  in  the 
ground  about  eighteen  inches  cubic.  Red-hot  stones  are 
placed  in  the  bottom,  a  little  dry  sand  or  loam  is  placed 
over  them,  and  next  comes  a  layer  of  dry  leaves.  The 
dough  or  paste  is  poured  into  the  hole  until  it  is  two  or 
three  inches  deep ;  then  comes  another  layer  of  leaves, 
more  sand,  red-hot  stones,  and  finally  dirt.  At  the  end 
of  five  or  six  hours  the  oven  has  cooled  down,  and  the 
bread  is  taken  out,  an  irregular  mass,  nearly  black  in 
colour,  not  at  all  agreeable  to  the  eye  or  to  the  palate, 
and  mixed  with  leaves  and  dirt.” — Nature. 

Geranium  dissectum. — The  Geraniacece ,  taken  as  a 
whole,  are  by  no  means  noted  for  their  economic  proper¬ 
ties.  In  Tasmania,  however,  a  form  of  the  common 
Geranium  dissectum  having  a  thick  rootstock  is  employed 
by  the  aborigines,  who  are  in  the  habit  of  digging  up 
the  large,  fleshy  roots  and  roasting  them  for  food.  About 
Launceston  it  is  called  “native  carrot,”  and  is  common 
throughout  the  colony.  The  typical  form  of  G.  dissectum 
is  generally  diffused  over  the  temperate  regions  of  the 
northern  hemisphere  in  the  Old  World,  where  it  is  an¬ 
nual.  In  the  Eastern  United  States  a  biennial  or  annual 
form,  G.  carolinianum ,  takes  its  place,  the  typical  G.  dis¬ 
sectum  being  only  known  as  an  introduced  weed;  al¬ 
though  connecting-links  between  the  two  may  readily 
be  detected.  West  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  the  stock 
often  appears  to  be  perennial,  and  it  cannot  then  be  dis¬ 
tinguished  from  some  of  the  Australian  forms. — Nature. 


DRUG  MARKET  NOTES. 


The  annual  official'  statement  of  the  imports  of 
drugs,  etc.,  is  not  yet  issued  by  the  Board  of  Trade ; 
but  from  the  commercial  returns  published  of  the 
imports,  deliveries  and  stocks  in  the  docks  and 
various  other  London  warehouses,  a  fair  estimate 
may  be  formed  of  the  activity  of  the  trade  in  the 
Metropolis  of  the  principal  articles. 

Aloes. — The  imports  last  year  were  3408  cases, 
29  kegs  and  588  gourds,  and  there  were  delivered  for 
home  use  and  export  3092  cases,  83  kegs  and  747 
gourds.  This  is  about  400  cases  and  170  gourds 
less  than  in  1869. 

Aniseed,  Star. — The  imports  were  195  chests  and 
the  deliveries  226  chests,  being  250  less  than  were 
delivered  in  the  previous  year.  The  stock  is  small, 
compared  with  former  years. 

Arrowroot. — The  imports  were  7560  casks  and 
14,157  boxes  and  tins,  the  deliveries  9740  casks  and 
13,540  boxes  and  tins,  being  rather  higher  than 
1869,  but  about  the  average  of  previous  years.  The 
stock  in  the  docks,  etc.,  is  10,346  cases  and  20,000 
boxes  and  tins,  which  is  rather  below  the  average 
stock  of  previous  years. 

Balsam. — Under  this  general  head  the  imports  of 
the  year  are  given  at  1244  casks,  etc. ;  the  deliveries 
at  1528  and  the  stock  539  casks. 


Bark,  Medicinal.— Imports  536  casks  and  cases 
and  23,203  serons,  etc.;  deliveries  430  casks  and 
cases  and  18,953  serons,  which  is  about  the  average 
of  the  previous  two  years;  stock  465  casks  and 
8629  serons,  which  is  double  the  stock  at  the  close 
of  1869. 

Beeswax  and  Vegetable  Wax. — Imports  594  bales 
and  serons,  2824  casks  and  cases  and  4186  cakes ; 
deliveries  381  bales,  3783  cases  and  3881  cakes, 
which  is  about  the  average  of  the  two  previous  years. 
The  stock  is  almost  much  the  same  as  in  the  close 
of  1869. 

Camphor. — Imports  8371  packages  against  15,237 
in  1869  ;  deliveries  6432  against  12,037  in  1869  ; 
stock  also  large,  8460  packages. 

Cardamoms. — 548  chests  ;  deliveries  605 ;  stock 
48.  All  much  below  the  figures  of  1869. 

Cocculus  Indicus. — Imports  1967  bags,  etc. ;  de¬ 
liveries  1546;  stock  2216.  There  is  a  large,  in¬ 
creasing  consumption  of  this  drug,  of  which  in  1866 
only  103  chests  were  taken. 

Colombo  Hoot. — Imports  674  packages;  deliveries 
531 ;  stock  2065  packages. 

Cubebs. — Imports  723  bags;  deliveries  1075; 
stock  1806. 

Gums. — 

Ammoniacum. — Imports  261  packages  ;  delive¬ 
ries  230 ;  stock  208. 

Asafoetida. — Imports  559  packages  ;  deliveries 
499;  stock  111. 

Benjamin. — Imports  1738  packages  ;  deliveries 
1445  ;  stock  1641. 

Galbanum. — No  imports  ;  stock  7  cases. 

Gamboge. — Imports  373  packages  ;  deliveries 
328  ;  stock  163. 

Guaiacum. — Imports  100  packages ;  deliveries 
171 ;  stock  7. 

Kino. — Imports  87  packages  ;  deliveries  55 ; 
stock  127. 

Myrrh,  East  India. — Imports  376  packages; 
deliveries  263  ;  stock  247. 

Tragacanth. — Imports  164  packages ;  deliveries 
86  ;  stock  146. 

Ipecacuanha. — Imports  695  casks  and  bags ;  de¬ 
liveries  609  ;  stock  356. 

Jalap. — Imports  740  bales;  deliveries  485  ;  stock 
447. 

Nux  Vomica. — Imports  5273  packages;  deliveries 
4213  ;  stock  3535. 

Oil,  Castor. — Imports  41  casks,  1212  cases  and 
35,704  duppers  and  tins;  deliveries  36  casks,  1894 
cases  and  40,906  duppers  and  tins ;  stock  on  hand 
30  casks,  681  cases  and  19,484  duppers  and  tins. 
The  trade  hi  castor  oil  keeps  steady,  the  annual  pro¬ 
portions  not  varying  much. 

Oil  of  Aniseed. — Imports  203  cases ;  deliveries 
382  ;  stock  58  cases. 

Oil  of  Cassia. — Imports  109  cases ;  deliveries 
281 ;  stock  412. 

Opium. — Stock  467  chests,  etc.,  which  is  higher 
than  in  any  of  tl*e  previous  four  years :  no  particulars 
of  imports  or  deliveries. 

Khubarb. — Imports  2217  chests;  deliveries  2006  ; 
stock  1889. 

Sarsaparilla. — Imports  2213  bales;  deliveries 2 150; 
stock  694  bales. 

Senna. — Imports  2209  bales,  etc.;  deliveries  2275; 
stock  1090. 

Turmeric. — Imports  1771  tons;  deliveries  1628; 
stock  1912  tons. 


February  25,  1371.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


6S7 


Joitntd. 


SATURDAY,  FEBRUARY  25,  1871. 


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


for  tliey  leave  altogether  unprovided  for  the  sale  of 
spurious  and  counterfeit  articles ;  they  would  involve 
the  necessity  of  proving  an  admixture  to  be  injurious, 
and  they  afford  an  opportunity  for  all  lands  of  eva¬ 
sion  being  practised  by  unscrupulous  persons  willing 
to  avail  themselves  of  the  plea  that  they  did  not 
know  they  were  selling  adulterated  articles  or  that 
the  admixtures  would  be  injurious. 


Instructions  from  Members  and  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Brem- 
ridge,  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  TV.C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  Mew  Burlington 
Street,  London,  JF.  Envelopes  indorsed  u  JPharm.  Journ.” 


ADULTERATION. 


THE  PROPOSED  POISON  REGULATIONS. 

The  British  Medical  Journal,  in  commenting  on 
tills  subject,  remarks  that  Mr.  Simon  has  “  wisely 
insisted  on  the  introduction  of”  regulations*  as  to 
the  kind  of  bottles  to  be  used  for  lotions,  etc.,  con¬ 
taining  poison ;  and  it  then  proceeds  to  censure  the 
action  of  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 


Ever  since  the  time  when  Accum  startled  the 
world  by  the  publication  of  his  work  entitled  ‘  Death 
in  the  Pot,’  the  subject  of  adulteration  has  excited 
great  popular  interest,  and  at  times  inordinate 
alarm.  Attempts  have  been  made  to  obtain  protec¬ 
tion  against  the  practice  of  adulteration  by  the 
formation  of  supply  associations,  but  these  and 
other  less  respectable  projects  arising  out  of  the 
•dread  of  being  poisoned  by  our  daily  meat  and 
drink  were  short-lived  and  unsuccessful.  Few  sub¬ 
jects  have  been  more  mercilessly  encumbered  with 
nonsense  and  exaggeration  in  the  statements  put 
forward,  and  it  is  mainly  owing  to  this  circumstance 
that  there  has  been  great  difficulty  in  devising  and 
Instituting  any  thorough  and  efficient  measures  for 
dealing  with  adulteration.  On  the  other  hand,  it 
is  with  many  still  a  question  whether  adulteration 
is  really  practised  at  all  or  to  any  great  extent.  In 
saying  this  much  it  is,  however,  necessary  to  guard 
ourselves  against  the  imputation  of  in  any  degree 
•apologizing  for  adulteration,  and  it  is  the  more 
necessary  to  do  so  since  this  Journal  is  the  or¬ 
gan  of  a  class  of  traders  to  whom  the  provisions 
of  Adulteration  Bills  are  intended  to  apply,  and 
for  whom  we  confess  to  tliink  that  there  would 
be  less  possibility  of  an  admissible  excuse  being 
made  than  for  dealers  in  food  or  drink. 

But  at  the  same  time  we  protest  against  the  ab¬ 
surdities  perpetrated  by  popular  writers  and  by 
legislators  who  deal  with  the  subject  of  adulteration, 
and  we  believe  it  would  scarcely  be  possible  to 
imagine  any  evidence  more  strongly  in  favour  of 
this  view  than  is  afforded  by  the  Draft  Bill  pub¬ 
lished  in  another  part  of  this  week’s  Journal.  We 
have  not  space  at  present  to  do  more  than  refer  to  the 
strange  limitation  of  the  provisions  in  the  Bill  to  the 
■admixture  of  food,  drink  and  drugs  with  ingredients 
other  than  they  profess  to  be,  to  the  sale  of  articles 
containing  ingredients  injurious  to  health,  and  to  the 
-case  of  such  adulteration  being  practised  with  the 
knowledge  of  the  seller.  The  features  of  the  Bill 
are,  we  believe,  alone  sufficient  to  prove  fatal  to  it, 


in  a  manner  which  we  do  not  think  is  merited.  But 
at  the  same  time  wre  tliink  it  right  to  extract  the 
remarks  of  our  contemporary  for  the  purpose  of 
illustrating  the  views  held  in  certain  quarters,  and 
since  it  is  desirable  at  the  present  moment  that 
Members  of  the  Society,  as  well  as  the  trade  gene- 
rally,  should  have  before  them  all  information  re¬ 
garding  this  question. 

“  In  these  regulations  Mr.  Simon  has  very  wisely  in¬ 
sisted  on  the  introduction  of  the  third  series.  With  the 
perfectly  characteristic  selfishness  which  is  common  to  all 
corporations,  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
had  omitted  them.  They  wished  to  protect  the  chemist, 
but  were  willing  to  leave  the  door  as  widely  open  as  ever 
to  all  the  calamities  which  spring  from  carelessness  or 
ignorance  of  persons  dealing  with  medicines  once  dis¬ 
pensed,  although  well  knowing  that  this  is  a  sadly  fertile 
source  of  accidental  poisoning.  Such  a  course  is  pecu¬ 
liarly  shocking  to  the  conscience  ;  and  it  is  well  that  the 
Privy  Council  retained  its  power  of  guarding  the  public 
safety,  which  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
were  perfectly  walling  to  throw  overboard,  apparently 
regardless  of  the  sacrifice  of  life,  provided  that  they  could 
make  a  show  of  activity  and  save  their  privileges,  while 
they  conciliated  their  constituents.  In  this  their  conduct 
seems  to  us  deserving  of  very  severe  and  enduring  cen¬ 
sure.  It  will  be  satisfactory  to  the  medical  profession 
and  to  the  public  to  learn  of  any  mitigating  circumstance. 
These  regulations,  however,  are  likely  to  meet  with  serious 
opposition  from  chemists  who  wash  to  pursue  their  busi¬ 
ness  without  regulations,  and  are  unwilling  to  recognize 
any  moral  duty  of  the  many  to  submit  to  precautionary 
measures  which  the  few  already  voluntarily  adopt.  We 
may  wram  these  gentlemen  that  prolonged  opposition 
will  end  in  more  complete  restriction.  The  adoption  of 
such  precautions  was  part  of  the  parliamentary  under¬ 
standing  on  which  they  were  secured  a  monopoly  of  the 
pharmaceutical  trade ;  and  the  public  safety  demands 
them.  The  weakness  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society’s 
action  in  this  matter  lies  in  the  anomalous  and  composite 
character  of  the  Society.  It  is  at  once  a  trade-union 
society,  aiming  at  the  protection  of  trade  interests,  and 
a  governmental  regulating  body,  empowered  to  make 
binding  regulations  in  the  interest  of  the  public  ;  a  school 
at  wdiich  teaching  is  carried  on  for  profit,  and  an  ex¬ 
amining  body  which  gives  diplomas  to  its  own  pupils, 
and  enjoys  a  monopoly  of  that  business  in  England. 
This  fourfold  capacity  includes  doubly  conflicting  duties ; 
and  it  is  obviously  only  by  the  utmost  discretion,  and  a 
willingness  properly  to  abandon  the  exclusive  considera- 


*  Sec  ante,  p.  5G3. 


683 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  25,  1871. 


tion  of  trade  interests  where  they  conflict  with  public 
safety  and  welfare,  that  this  Society  can  he  allowed  to 
hold  in  its  custody,  duties  and  privileges  which  have  very 
rarely  been  consigned  to  one  body.  An  obstinate  resist¬ 
ance  to  the  demands  of  the  Privy  Council  must  lead  to 
the  recasting  of  the  pharmaceutical  monopoly,  under 
conditions  which  will  ensure  that  attention  to  public 
safety  which  is  at  present  intrusted  to  the  good  sense  and 
good  feeling  of  the  members  of  the  Pharmaceutical  So¬ 
ciety/’  _ 

CHLORAL  HYDRATE. 

We  have  received  communications  upon  this  sub¬ 
ject  from  Messrs.  Doaieier  and  Co.,  Messrs.  Gehe 
and  Co.,  Messrs.  Schcetensack,  Mr.  W.  S.  Squire, 
and  Mr.  A.  H.  Mason,  but  are  unable  to  insert  them 
this  week  in  consequence  of  the  great  pressure  upon 
our  space  consequent  upon  the  discussion  of  the 
Poison  Regulations. 


THE  CHEMISTS’  BALL. 

We  had  occasion,  in  a  recent  number,  to  refer  to 
the  success  of  the  Chemists’  Ball  as  a  social  gather¬ 
ing,  and  we  are  glad  now  to  be  able  to  report  that 
the  financial  result  lias  also  proved  very  satisfactory. 
The  Committee,  after  paying  all  expenses,  have 
been  enabled,  from  the  surplus,  to  make  a  donation 
of  Twenty  Guineas  to  the  Benevolent  Fund,  as  they 
did  last  year.  They  have,  moreover,  by  a  unani¬ 
mous  vote,  determined  to  present  a  testimonial  to 
Mr.  T.  Donald  Watson,  in  recognition  of  his  exer¬ 
tions  as  Secretary  to  the  Ball  Committee  since  the 
first  institution  of  that  successful,  and,  we  hope,  now 
firmly  established  annual  gathering.  The  testimonial 
is  to  be  of  the  value  of  twenty  guineas,  and  is  to  be 
purchased  by  a  Committee  of  Selection. 


The  second  reading  of  the  Bill  to  Amend  the 
Law  for  the  Prevention  of  Adulteration  of  F ood  and 
Drink  and  of  Drugs,  which  will  be  found  printed  at 
p.  694,  is  fixed  for  the  22nd  of  March. 


We  have  received  from  the  Paris  Societe  d’Accli- 
matation  a  circular  bearing  the  signature  of  Dr.  J. 
Leon  Soubeiran,  and  stating  that  at  a  meeting  of 
the  Council  of  that  Society,  on  the  27th  January,  a 
resolution  was  passed  to  the  effect  that  the  names 
of  the  sovereigns  and  princes  of  the  German  states 
engaged  in  the  war  with  France  should  be  erased 
from  the  list  of  patrons  of  the  Society.  This  step 
is  stated  to  have  been  taken,  in  consequence  of 
the  opinion  that  the  bombardment  of  Paris  has  been 
earned  on  by  the  German  armies  in  such  a  manner 
as  to  constitute  an  act  contrary  to  the  law  of  nations, 
and  the  fundamental  notions  of  humanity. 


It  is  announced  in  Nature  that  the  Royal  Com¬ 
mission  on  Scientific  Instruction  and  the  Advance¬ 
ment  ot  Science  is  now  in  full  work,  and  meeting 
two  or  three  times  a  week. 


fnmmfiiras  of  %  f Iponitmrtiral  jMctir. 


EXAMINATION  IN  LONDON. 

February  1 5th,  1871. 

Present — Messrs.  Allchin,  Bird,  Carteighe,  Cracknellr 
Davenport,  Deane,  Edwards,  Gale,  Garle,  Hanbury, 
Haselden,  Ince  and  Southall. 

Dr.  Groenhow  was  also  present,  on  behalf  of  the  Privy 
Council. 

Four  candidates  presented  themselves  for  the  Major 
Examination,  and  twenty-six  for  the  Minor ;  the  follow¬ 
ing  passed,  and  were  declared  to  bo  duly  qualified  to  be 
registered : — 

MAJOR  (as  Pharmaceutical  Chemists). 


Appleby,  Calvert . East  Retford. 

Masson,  George  . London. 

Storey,  Edward  Henry  . London. 

MINOR  (as  Chemists  and  Druggists). 

* Wilson,  John  Herbert  . Lee,  Kent. 

^Savory,  Harry  Banting . Painswick. 

*Peters,  David . Llandilo. 

*  Jones,  Hugh  Ellis . Swansea. 

*Pearce,  Frank  Tring- . London. 

*Dresser,  James  . . York. 

*Hackett,  John  Henry  . Lincoln. 

*Maddock,  William  Thomas  . .  London. 

*Iredale,  Thomas . Leeds. 

■3  f  *M‘Neil,  James  Norton . Macclesfield. 

g  \  *  Martin,  William  Thomas  ....  Lewes. 

^Humphreys,  John . Staines. 

Richards,  James  Griffith  . . .  .Newport,  Mon. 
Margetson,  James  Francis  ...Norwich. 

Richardson,  Thomas  II . Norwich. 

Dowson,  Joseph . London. 

Young,  John  Rymer . Warrington. 

Lord,  Frederick . Boston. 

Edey,  George . Rochester. 

Crofts,  Henry  Baptiste . Cranbrook. 

Watson,  Samuel . .  ...  .Belper. 

Connor,  Thomas  Haigh . Wakefield. 


Thompson,  George  Alfred ....  Tunbridge. 

The  above  names  are  arrange  d  in  order  of  merit 


FIRST  OR  PRELIMINARY  EXAMINATION. 

Certificates  presented  by  the  undermentioned  were 
accepted  in  lieu  of  this  Examination  : — 


Flinders,  Matthew  Tom . London. 

Worsley-Benison,  Henry 

Worsley  Seymoui'  . Reading. 


nririnral  fensittfioro. 


NOTTINGHAM  AND  NOTTS  CHEMISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

The  Fourth  General  Meeting  of  this  Society  was  held 
at  Britannia  Chambers  on  Friday  evening,  January  21st ; 
the  President,  Mr.  Atherton,  in  the  chair. 

The  minutes  of  the  previous  meeting  were  read  and 
confirmed. 

Mr.  Atherton  expressed  his  hearty  thanks  for  the 
vote  of  condolence  passed  at  the  previous  meeting. 

The  Hon.  Secretary  announced  that  the  ‘  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Journal’  had  been  received  during  the  month, 
as  also  a  number  of  specimens  of  argal,  etc.  from  Messrs. 
Matthews,  of  Bristol,  and  a  vote  of  thanks  was  recorded 
to  the  respective  donors. 

The  proposed  Poison  Regulations  were  then  con- 


*  Passed  with  Honours. 


February  25,  1371.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


689 


sidered,  and  after  considerable  discussion  and  the  read¬ 
ing  of  a  letter,  expressing  the  opinion  of  an  individual 
member,  the  following  resolution  was  passed : — “  That 
this  Society  views  with  regret  the  decision  arrived  at  by 
the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  to  recommend 
to  the  notice  of  their  Annual  Meeting  the  institution  of 
Compulsory  Poison  Regulations.” 

The  formation  of  the  Museum  was  then  brought  for¬ 
ward,  and  Mr.  Atherton  agreed  to  supply  specimens  of 
chemicals,  and  Mr.  Rayner  the  various  roots.  A  fund  for 
the  furtherance  of  the  same  object  was  then  formed,  and 
contributions  to  the  amount  of  £3.  5s.  were  promised. 


The  Annual  Supper  of  this  Society  was  held  at  the 
Maypole  Hotel  on  Tuesday  evening,  the  7th  of  February ; 
the  President,  Mr.  J.  H.  Atherton,  in  the  chair,  the 
vice-chair  being  occupied  by  Mr.  Fitz  Hugh,  the  Yice- 
President. 

After  the  usual  loyal  toasts  and  that  of  the  medical 
profession,  Mr.  W.  H.  Parker  expressed  the  pleasure  it 
gave  him  to  propose  “  The  Pharmaceutical  Society  and 
Council.”  As  the  governing  body  of  the  profession,  it 
commanded  their  respect,  and  they  would  all  wish  to 
contribute  to  its  prosperity.  They  could  readily  sympa¬ 
thize  with  the  Council  in  the  many  difficult  matters  they 
were  called  upon  to  decide ;  and,  perhaps,  never  had  a 
more  particular  subject  been  brought  before  them  than 
that  of  the  proposed  Compulsory  Poison  Regulations. 
It  was  unnecessary  for  him  to  say  how  much  he  was  op¬ 
posed  to  any  compulsory  measures.  A  thorough  change 
had  been  wrought  in  the  constitution  of  the  Council  by 
those  regulations,  and  he  thought  the  new  Council  must 
have  some  very  good  reasons  for  now  recommending 
that  which  many  of  them  formerly  objected  to.  Under 
any  circumstances  he  objected  to  the  compulsion,  but  he 
hoped  the  discussion  by  the  Council  and  members  at  the 
Annual  Meeting  would  result  in  the  adoption  of  a 
thoroughly  practical  measure,  free  from  anything  ob¬ 
jectionable  to  the  members  generally.  There  was  one 
other  subject  which  he  (Mr.  Parker)  wished  to  mention. 
The  income  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  must  be  some¬ 
thing  like  £7000  or  £8000  a  year,  a  considerable  portion 
of  which  was  gathered  from  the  provinces,  and  he  would 
like  to  see  a  portion  of  this  money  applied  freely  to  the 
various  provincial  associations  requiring  aid  for  pro¬ 
moting  the  educational  object  for  which  they  were  esta¬ 
blished.  As  before  observed,  a  large  portion  had  been 
drawn  from  the  provinces,  and  he  thought  it  only  right 
that  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  who  are  unable  to  edu¬ 
cate  the  number  of  students  at  the  present  time  requir¬ 
ing  instruction,  should  make  some  sort  of  return  in  aid¬ 
ing  those  societies  that  acted  as  so  many  feeders  of  the 
parent  Society,  which  eventually  reaped  a  corresponding 
benefit  from  their  efficiency  and  extension.  Nottingham 
had  the  honour  of  being  represented  in  the  person  of 
their  worthy  President,  Mr.  Atherton,  and  he  thought 
they  might  rely  on  his  efforts  to  do  what  he  could  to 
promote  the  welfare  of  such  societies,  and  in  calling 
upon  them  to  respond  to  the  toast,  he  begged  to  couple 
therewith  the  name  of  Mr.  Atherton. 

Mr.  Athertox,  in  responding,  expressed  the  pleasure 
Re  felt  in  being  associated  with  such  a  body  of  men  as 
the  present  Council ;  and  assured  them  that  whatever 
might  be  the  differences  of  opinion  on  particular  ques¬ 
tions,  they  might  take  it  for  granted  that  the  truest  and 
best  interests  of  pharmaceutists  and  chemists  generally 
throughout  the  country  would  be  safe  in  such  hands. 
After  referring  at  some  length  to  the  questions  affecting 
the  welfare  of  their  body,  and  in  special  reference  to  the 
remarks  of  Mr.  Parker,  Mr.  Atherton  explained  the  posi¬ 
tion  of  the  Council  in  reference  to  the  proposed  poison 
regulations,  and  deprecated  the  action  of  the  Privy 
Council  in  the  matter.  Personally  he  objected  to  the 
principle  of  compulsion,  and  thought  that  a  code  of  sim¬ 
ple  regulations  coming  as  a  recommendation  from  the 
Council  would  have  answered  every  purpose,  would  have 


been  favourably  received  by  the  trade  and  generally 
adopted.  The  onus  of  any  one  neglecting  these  or  other 
suitable  precautions  would  be  thrown  upon  the  indi¬ 
vidual,  and  their  responsibility  would  neither  be  increased 
nor  diminished  if  the  regulations  were  to  be  compulsory. 
The  majority  of  the  Council  were  in  favour  of  the  resolu¬ 
tions  being  adopted,  and  their  opinions  were  entitled  to 
respect,  but  in  a  matter  of  such  importance,  and  in  the 
face  of  so  much  opposition  to  any  interference  with  the 
freedom  of  the  trade,  he  thought  that  the  Council  would 
do  well  to  take  the  opinion  of  the  chemists  throughout 
the  country  before  the  final  decision  was  taken  at  the 
annual  meeting  in  May.  Another  point  for  their  con¬ 
sideration  was  the  one-sided  nature  of  these  proposed 
regulations.  They  did  not  apply  to  surgeons  or  dispen¬ 
saries,  but  simply  to  chemists ;  he  would  like  to  know, 
if  chemists  were  compelled  to  submit  to  compulsory  re¬ 
gulations,  why  should  not  the  same  principle  be  applied 
to  all  who  dealt  in  and  made  use  of  the  articles  proposed 
to  bo  scheduled  P  In  conclusion,  he  thought  that  if  the 
matter  were  properly  represented  to  the  Privy  Council, 
some  other  arrangement  might  be  arrived  at,  more  satis¬ 
factory  to  the  majority. 

The  President  proposed  the  toast  of  the  evening, 
“  Success  to  the  Nottingham  and  Notts  Chemists’  Asso¬ 
ciation,”  and  referred  to  the  advantages  offered  to  those 
who  choose  to  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunities,  and 
to  the  moral  obligation  of  all  the  chemists  within  the 
influence  of  the  Society  to  support  it  in  every  possible 
way,  after  congratulating  the  members  upon  the  success 
which  had  attended  their  efforts  during  the  past  session, 
expressed  his  gratification  that  the  Council  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society  had  intimated  their  readiness  to  assist 
such  Societies  by  grants  of  money,  books,  or  apparatus, 
according  to  the  wants  of  each  case. 

The  other  toasts  proposed  were,  the  President,  Mr. 
Atherton ;  the  Vice-President,  Mr.  Fitzhugh,  and  Coun¬ 
cil;  the  Treasurer,  Mr.  Rayner;  the  Hon.  Secretary, 
Mr.  Mayfield ;  the  Lecturers  to  the  Society,  Mr.  Elder 
and  Mr.  Mayfield ;  the  Ladies.  After  having  enjoyed 
a  most  agreeable  evening,  the  meeting  separated, 


SHEFFIELD  PHARMACEUTICAL  AND 
CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

A  Meeting  of  this  Association  was  held  on  Wednesday, 
February  8th,  when  A.  H.  Allen,  Esq.,  F.C.S.,  Chemi¬ 
cal  Lecturer  to  the  Association,  delivered  an  interesting 
lecture  upon  “Our  Weights  and  Measures,  with  some 
Proposed  Alterations  and  Improvements.” 

The  President,  Mr.  Dohb,  occupied  the  chair,  and 
there  was  a  moderate  attendance. 

The  lecturer  said  that  measures  of  length  had  first 
been  taken  from  the  various  parts  of  the  human  body, 
and  we  thence  had  the  foot,  the  cubit,  the  span,  the 
hand’s-breadth,  the  inch,  and  the  nail ;  but  such  standards 
were  highly  unsatisfactory,  varying  as  they  did  in  differ¬ 
ent  individuals  and  nations.  Until  recently,  the  English 
inch  was  defined  to  be  the  length  of  three  barleycorns, 
taken  from  the  middle  of  the  ear,  and  placed  in  contact 
end  to  end ;  now,  however,  the  inch  bore  a  relation  to 
the  length  of  a  pendulum  vibrating  seconds.  In  esta¬ 
blishing  a  standard  of  length  it  was  desirable  that  it 
should  be  readily  reproducible  on  an  accurate  mathe¬ 
matical  basis,  in  the  event  of  all  reliable  copies  being 
lost  or  destroyed,  and  there  would  be  a  much  better 
chance  of  its  universal  acceptance,  if  it  were  not  localized. 
The  most  philosophical  system  at  present  established 
was  that  of  the  French,  who  took  as  their  standard  the 
length  of  a  line  passing  through  Paris,  and  extending 
from  the  Equator  to  the  Pole,  and  then  diriding  this  by 
10,000,000  they  obtained  the  “metre,”  equal  to  about 
thirty-nine  of  our  inches. 

Professor  Piazzi  Smyth,  who  had  carefully  taken  the 
dimensions  of  the  Great  Pyramid,  had  found  that  the 
height  bore  to  twice  the  base  the  ratio  3*14159,  or  the 


C90 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  23, 137 


same  as  the  diameter  of  a  'circle  bears  to  the  circum¬ 
ference.  The  capacity  of  the  stone  trough  in  the  in¬ 
terior,  usually  called  the  “sarcophagus,”  was  exactly 
four  British  quarters  of  wheat.  Its  length  was  about  50 
English  inches,  and  exactly  Too 0*0 oooth.  of  the  earth’s 
diameter.  The  diameter  of  the  earth  measured  500,500,000 
inches,  so  that  if  the  inch  were  increased  in  length  by 
-j-Jy-jjth  part  (an  amount  quite  inappreciable)  it  would 
be  exactly  ^th  of  the  length  of  the  sarcophagus,  and 
go 00^ ooooth  of  the  diameter  of  the  earth.  Such  an  in¬ 
crease  would  make  a  cubic  foot  of  water  weigh  exactly 
1000  ounces,  instead  of  being  supposed  to  do  so,  as  at 
present.  Mr.  Allen  was  firmly  impressed  with  the 
superiority  of  a  decimal  system  of  weights  and  measures, 
but  he  thought  it  would  be  easier  and  better  to  “patch  ” 
our  present  system  than  to  adopt  the  French.  The 
alterations  he  advocated  would  not  be  very  extensive, 
and  therefore  the  more  likely  to  be  taken  up.  He  would 
propose  to  make  the  pound  avoirdupois  (weighing  7000 
grains)  a  measure  as  well  as  a  weight,  and  it  was  already 
used  by  druggists  in  the  form  of  the  sixteen-ounce 
bottle.  He  then  proposed  a  new  weight  and  measure  of 
-Jj  lb.,  which  was  about  the  capacity  of  a  wineglass,  and 
for  which  he  suggested  the  name  “  verre”  (the  French 
for  glass)  or  “ver.”  A  weight  and  measure  Ac  of  this, 
equal  to  70  grains,  to  be  called  a  “newdrachm”  (in  one 
word),  and  which  was  sufficiently  near  in  value  to  the 
preseDt  drachm  to  bo  at  once  substituted  in  the  majority 
of  cases.  A  weight  and  measure  ^th  of  this  would  be 
equal  to  7  grains,  and  therefore  called  a  “septem.” 

A  gallon  of  water  weighs  10  lb.,  so,  if  this  were  made 
a  weight  as  well  as  a  measure,  no  further  change  in  it 
would  be  necessary.  A  weight  and  measure  equal  to  10 
gallons  would  weigh  1001b.,  and  might  be  called  a 
“hundredweight”  and  abbreviated  as  “hwt.”  The 
manifest  absurdity  of  calling  the  present  weight  of  1 12  lb. 
a  “  hundredweight  ”  would  facilitate  the  change  pro¬ 
posed.  A  weight  and  measure  equal  to  20  hwt.,  and 
weighing  2000  lb.,  would  replace  the  present  ton  of 
2240  lb.  It  might  be  called  a  “  tone,”  or,  still  better,  a 
“newton,” — a  name  indicating  its  parentage,  and  re¬ 
calling  to  mind  the  great  discoverer  of  gravitation.  Our 
system  of  weights  and  measure  would  then  stand  thus  : — 


7  Grains  = 

10  Septems  = 

10  Newdrachms  = 

10  Vers  = 

10  Pounds  = 

10  Gallons  = 

20  Hundredweights  = 


1  Septem,  S. 

1  Newdrachm,  Nd.  = 
1  Ver,  V. 

1  Pound,  lb.  or  P. 

1  Gallon,  G. 

1  Hundredweight, Hwt. 
1  Newton,  Nt. 


=  1  lb 

lOOO 

=  To  lb* 

-  lib. 
=  10  lb. 

=  1001b. 
=2000  lb. 


Of  course  the  half-gallon  bottle,  or  “  Winchester 
quart,”  could  still  be  used,  and  it  would  be  convenient 
to  have  a  |-lb.  measure  of  the  capacity  of  an  ordinary 
tumbler  (8  oz.),  which  might  be  called  a  “beaker,” 
“rummer,”  or  “tumbler.”  The  smaller  weights  would 
scarcely  be  employed  except  by  chemists  and  druggists, 
and  could  at  any  time  be  expressed  in  decimals  of  a 
pound.  The  change  to  such  a  system  would  take  place 
with  infinitely  less  opposition  and  dislike  than  if  the 
French  system  were  adopted. 

The  proceedings  concluded  with  a  cordial  vote  of 
thanks  to  the  lecturer. 


MANCHESTER  CHEMISTS’  ASSISTANTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

The  Ordinary  \\  eekly  Meeting  of  this  Association  was 
held  in  the  Council  Room,  Mitre  Chambers,  on  Thursday 
evening,  February  9th.  The  minutes  of  the  previous 
meeting  having  been  affirmed,  a  paper  was  read  by 
Mr.  Binns  upon  ‘The  Medicinal  Use  of  Vegetables  and 
their  Preparations.’  The  author  said  that  he  had  lost 
faith  in  the  present  system  of  administration  of  vege¬ 
tables  and  their  preparations  as  curative  agents,  on 
these  grounds : — that  every  plant,  or  part  of  a  plant, 


which  is  medicinally  useful,  owes  its  active  properties 
and  action  on  the  human  frame  to  one  or  to  several  sub¬ 
stances  formed  in,  and  generally  peculiar  to  that  plant, 
of  which  they  are  said  to  form  the  active  principle ;  that 
science  is  almost  dumb  as  to  the  mode  of  formation  of 
those  active  principles  and  their  ultimate  cause ;  and  the 
results  of  all  published  investigation  point  to  then-  un¬ 
certainty  in  quantity.  What  is  the  cause  of  the  medi¬ 
cinal  influence  of  various  plants  on  the  human  frame  ? 
Taking  into  consideration  the  undisputed  fact,  that  one 
species  of  plant  produces  a  different  kind  of  effect  on  the 
human  frame  from  another  species,  we  are  led  to  the 
conclusion  that  these  effects  are  due  not  to  any  substance 
or  substances  which  the  several  species  possess  in  com¬ 
mon,  such  as  vegetable  fibre,  starch,  etc.,  but  to  some 
substance  which  occurs  in,  and  is  generally  confined  to, 
each  individual  species.  This  inference  is  borne  out  by 
the  results  of  chemical  investigations  into  the  compo¬ 
sition  of  the  matter  of  plants ;  thus  nux  vomica  seeds 
are  found  to  contain  a  principle  to  which  has  been  given 
the  name  of  strychnia ;  atropia  has  been  found,  and 
found  only  in  the  belladonna  plant.  Now  the  physical 
action  of  these  principles  has  been  ascertained  by  expe¬ 
riment  to  be  mainly  and  practically  the  same  as  that  of 
the  plants  themselves,  and  on  account  of  this  the  name 
‘  active  principles  ’  has  been  assigned  to  them. 

He  then  gave  an  account  of  the  growth  of  a  plant,  and 
argued  that  just  as  one  man  cannot,  by  reason  of  his 
very  nature,  deposit  fat  or  flesh  or  bone  in  large  quan¬ 
tities,  but  forms  an  extra  amount  of  muscle,  while 
another  man,  fed  on  the  same  food,  developes  bone  to  an 
alarming  extent,  to  the  consequent  diminishment  of  his 
muscular  fibre, — the  same  cause  operated  in  the  vege¬ 
table  kingdom,  in  varying  the  proportions  of  body  and 
active  principle  in  each  individual  plant.  Considering 
the  vegetable  fibre,  etc.,  to  correspond  to  the  bone  and 
flesh  of  animals  and  the  active  principles,  etc.,  to  the 
blood  and  muscular  fibre,  facts  point  to  the  inference 
that  the  proportion  between  them  is  regulated  by  the 
organic  quality  or  nature  of  the  seed  from  which  the  plant 
sprang.  If  this  be  the  case,  then  the  weight  of  a  plan 
has  no  relation  to  the  amount  of  active  and  peculiar 
principles  which  it  contains.  But  the  British  Pharma- 
copoeia  assumes  virtually  that  the  amount  is  exactly  the- 
same  in  each  of  several  plants  of  the  same  weight. 

Mr.  Binns  then  read  the  following  results  of  various  ex¬ 
periments  on  the  composition  of  the  substance  of  plants : — 

Miller’s  ‘Organic  Chemistry’  tells  us  that  the  ’com¬ 
position  of  opium  varies  greatly  even  when  it  is  not 
adulterated ;  also,  that  morphia  is  its  principal  sedative 
constituent,  and  its  salt,  the  meconate,  forms  from  one- 
seventh  to  one-sixteenth  of  its  weight,”  which  certainly 
leaves  a  wide  margin  for  variation. 

Thomson,  in  his  ‘Materia  Medica,’  states  “  There  is  one 
disadvantage  in  prescribing  opium,  that  is,  we  can  never 
rely  upon  the  strength  of  the  specimen.”  Analyses  of 
various  kinds  of  opium  yielded  the  following  results  to 
various  operations : — 


Percentage 

Sample.  of  Morphia, 

Smyrna . About  8. 

Egyptian . 5. 

Algerian . About  6^. 

English . Irregular. 

French  and  German  .  .  16  to  20. 

Indian . 3*21-10-5. 

Chinese . 2-5. 


Cinchona  barks  subjected  to  analysis  with  the  view  of 
ascertaining  the  amount  of  quinine  and  cinchonine  con¬ 
tained,  gave  the  following  : — 

Sample.  Quinine.  Cinchonine, 

Best  Calisaya  .  .  .  3 ’8 

Middle  „  ...  2*5 

Carthagena  .  .  .  1’04  .  .  1’35 

Best  Red  Bark  .  .  2'65  .  .  1’5L 


February  25, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


G91 


This  shows  a  variation  of  50  per  cent,  of  the  whole 
quantity  of  quinine  contained  in  yellow  harks ;  and  that 
a  doctor  in  ordering  tinct.  cinchona)  flav.,  thinking  to 
produce  an  effect  represented  by  1J,  may  he  deceived, 
and  obtain  instead  an  effect  represented  by*l. 

Under  the  head  of  aconitina  Royle  states  that  “  both  the 
juice  and  tincture  of  aconite  are  occasionally  given  with¬ 
out  any  effect  at  all ;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  several 
cases  of  poisoning  by  small  quantities  of  the  tincture 
have  occurred.  These  different  results  are  probably 
dependent  upon  variations  in  the  amount  of  active  prin¬ 
ciple  in  the  root  used.  This  is  the  alkaloid  aconitina, 
which  is  the  only  preparation  of  the  drug  which  is  con¬ 
stant  in  strength.”  Again,  in  speaking  of  conium ,  he 
states  that  “  some  preparations  of  conium  contain  no 
conia,  either  from  defective  preparation  or  subsequent 
change,  and  this  accounts  for  the  discrepant  statements 
concerning  the  efficacy  of  conium  as  a  medicine.”  Ought 
he  not  rather  to  say  that  the  reason  lies  in  the  uncertain 
quantity  of  conia  in  the  plant  ? 

An  analysis  of  euphorbium,  given  in  Pereira’s  ‘  Ma¬ 
teria  Medica,’  shows  as  a  result  of  one  experiment  60-8 
per  cent,  of  resin,  as  of  another  43*77.  An  analysis  of 
croton  oil  yielded  to  Brandens  17  per  cent,  of  fixed  oil  and 
crotonic  acid,  to  Miers  60  per  cent.,  and  Pelletier  50  per 
cent. 

Pereira  also  states  that  the  red  veins  of  rhubarb  are 
the  seat  of  the  astringent  properties,  and  it  is  undeniable 
that  these  vary  in  quantity. 

Foxglove  has  been  the  subject  of  repeated  investiga¬ 
tions,  but  until  recently  with  no  satisfactory  results. 
From  1000  grs.  of  the  leaves,  Henry  obtained  140  to 
150  grs.  of  digitaline. 

Scammony  analysed  by  Marquart  gives  the  following 

results : — 

Aleppo  Scammony,  per  cent,  of  Resin.  81*25 — 32*5 

Antioch  „  ,,  .  18*5  —  8*5 

Smyrna  ,,  „  .6  — 37 

The  percentage  of  resin  in  jalap  as  found  by  Mar- 
quart  varied  from  12*08  to  13*33. 

Aloes  analysed  by  different  persons  gave : — 

I.  II.  III. 

Per  cent,  of  Resin  .  .  6*25  42  35 

,,  Aloesin  .  .  81*25  52  60 

The  author  considered  that  all  the  extracts,  tinctures, 
decoctions,  etc.,  contained  in  the  Pharmacopoeia  of  1867 
were  but  shams  unless  it  were  a  known  and  proved 
fact  that  all  vegetables,  their  leaves,  roots,  barks,  etc., 
contain  a  constant  and  fixed  percentage  of  active  prin¬ 
ciples,  whereas  he  thought  he  had  proved  the  very  re¬ 
verse  to  be  the  case.  Now,  are  we  going  to  continue  in 
a  blind  adherence  to  a  system  which,  at  the  least,  is 
open  to  grave  doubts ;  or  shall  we  discard  it  ?  As  a 
remedy  for  this  uncertainty,  he  recommended  that  all 
present  should  do  their  best  to  pave  the  way  towards  the 
use  of  the  active  principles  from  which  the  drugs  derive 
their  healing  properties  instead  of  tinctures,  etc. 


LIVERPOOL  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Seventh  General  Meeting  of  the  Session  was  held 
at  the  Royal  Institution,  on  Thursday  evening,  the  16th 
inst. ;  the  President,  Mr.  John  Abraham,  in  the  chair. 

Mr.  A.  W.  Wilson  and  Mr.  I.  L.  Benson  were  elected 
members,  and  Mr.  A.  Brownrigg  was  elected  an  associate. 

Several  donations  to  the  Library  were  announced. 

Mr.  Thomas  F.  Abraham  stated,  that  in  accordance 
with  his  promise  at  the  last  meeting,  he  had  repeated 
his  experiments  upon  the  crystal  hydrate  of  chloral,  sup¬ 
plied  by  Messrs.  Morson  and  Son,  and  again  obtained 
from  70  to  72  per  cent,  of  chloroform.*  He  had  also 

*  Since  this  meeting,  I  have  voluntarily  gone  into  this 
analysis  with  Mr.  T.  F.  Abraham,  and  have  much  pleasure 
in  confirming  his  results. — A.  H.  Mason. 


tested  it  in  comparison  with  the  cake  chloral  hydrate, 
bearing  Liebreich’s  guarantee,  and  found  no  difference 
whatever ;  ho  therefore  thought  that  Mr.  Mason’s  report 
was  incorrect.  He  had  also  examined  a  portion  of  cake 
hydrate  of  chloral,  formerly  supplied  by  Messrs.  Morson 
and  Son,  which  also  produced  from  70  to  72  per  cent, 
of  chloroform. 

The  President  said  that  the  publication  of  the  paper 
read  by  Mr.  Mason  on  the  22nd  December  last,  had  at¬ 
tracted  much  attention,  and  it  was  his  opinion  that  Mr. 
Mason’s  statements  were  inaccurate.  The  question  had 
been  taken  up  by  Dr.  Paul,  and  the  results  of  his  experi¬ 
ments  showed  differences  in  the  character  of  the  chloral 
in  the  market  of  only  moderate  extent. 

Mr.  Mason  said,  that  in  reading  the  paper  in  question, 
he  distinctly  stated  that  sample  No.  9  only  was  an 
alcoholate  of  chloral ;  those  samples  which  did  not  yield 
the  legitimate  percentage  of  chloroform,  upon  his  applica¬ 
tion  of  the  ammonia  test ,  he  considered  were  hydrated 
alcoholates,  or  mixtures  of  hydrate  and  alcoholate  of 
chloral.  Duplicate  samples  of  the  chloral  salts  which  he 
had  experimented  upon  had  been  sent  for  analysis  to  an 
arbitrator  agreed  on  b}r  some  of  those  interested;  the 
results  of  his  experiments  were  to  raise  the  chloroform 
percentage  in  some  cases,  and  reduce  it  in  others,  but 
the  relative  value  of  the  samples,  appeared  in  the  same 
order  as  arranged  by  himself.*  Referring  to  Dr.  Paul’s 
paper,  Mr.  Mason  said  it  should  be  borne  in  mind 
that  the  samples  Dr.  Paul  reported  upon  were  samples 
supplied  from  different  sources  since  the  publication  of 
his  paper.  The  samples  he  experimented  upon  were 
samples  met  with  in  the  ordinary  routine  of  business,  in 
November  and  December  last.  He  should  be  sorry  if 
true  and  pure  articles  had  been  injured  by  his  experi¬ 
ments,  and  with  the  assistance  of  several  friends,  was 
doing  all  he  could  to  endeavour  to  arrive  at  the  truth, 
and  should  he  be  proved  erroneous,  he  should  feel  it  a 
duty  to  state  the  same  for  the  benefit  of  all  those  in¬ 
terested  therein. 

The  President  alluded  to  the  death  of  Dr.  Sheridan 
Muspratt,  and  regretted  that  an  eminent  chemist  had 
been  taken  from  amongst  us.  He  would  not  attempt  to 
determine  his  position  as  a  man  of  science,  but  he  noticed 
an  admirable  trait  in  his  character,  supplied  by  the 
preface  to  his  ‘  Dictionary  of  Chemistry,’  in  his  acknow¬ 
ledgment  of  the  valuable  assistance  rendered  to  him  by 
a  member  of  the  Coimcil  of  this  Association,  Mr.  Martin 
Murphy,  F.C.S. 

Mr.  Charles  Blood  then  read  the  paper  for  the 
evening  upon  the  ‘Year-Book  of  Pharmacy,  1871,’  in 
which  he  gave  a  resume  of  each  of  the  principal 
articles  contained  in  the  volume  lately  issued  by  the 
British  Pharmaceutical  Conference,  and  urged  all  those 
who  had  not  yet  joined  that  Society  to  do  so  at  once  and 
obtain  the  book  for  themselves. 

The  President  said  the  members  would  all  feel  in¬ 
debted  to  Mr.  Blood  for  his  interesting  criticism  of  the 
Year-Book ;  he  thought  the  work  would  prove  a  valu¬ 
able  adjunct  to  progress  in  pharmaceutical  knowledge, 
and  did  not  doubt  that  each  year  the  work  would  be  im¬ 
proved. 

Mr.  Alfred  E.  Tanner  said  he  had  noticed  some  dis¬ 
crepancies  in  the  formula)  given;  for  instance,  in  the 
formula  for  Smith’s  chlorodyne,  p.  29,  it  is  printed 
“Theriacoe  ad  f^iv ;”  this  should  be  3V  according  to 
formula  published  by  Mr.  Smith  in  the  Pharmaceutical 
Journal,  which  gives  twenty  grains  of  morphia  in  five 
fluid  ounces. 

A  vote  of  thanks  was  cordially  voted  to  Mr.  Blood, 
who  in  reply  stated  that  his  object  had  been  simply  to 
bring  the  book  before  the  notice  of  those  who  were  not 
members  of  the  Conference,  and  he  trusted  all  present 
would  be  induced  to  join  its  ranks. 


*  There  is  an  obvious  inconsistency  between  these  two 
statements. — Ed.  Pharm.  Joubn. 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  2»,  1871. 


092 


CHESTER  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

At  a  Meeting-  of  the  Chester  Chemists’  Association’ 
held  on  Monday  last,  the  proposed  regulations  for  the 
keeping,  dispensing  and  selling  of  poisons  were  dis¬ 
cussed,  and  the  following  resolution  in  reference  thereto 
was  adopted: — 

“  That,  taking  into  consideration  the  public  safety,  as 
well  as  our  own  protection,  the  regulations  for  the 
storing,  dispensing  and  selling  of  poisons,  recommended 
by  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  be  adopted 
by  the  members  of  this  Association ;  and  that  the  Secre¬ 
tary  be  requested  to  forward  a  copy  of  this  resolution  to 
the  Secretary  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society.  This 
Meeting  also  begs  to  recommend  that  no  medicine  for  in¬ 
ternal  use  shall,  under  any  circumstances,  be  sent  out  in 
poison  bottles.” 


PHILADELPHIA  COLLEGE  OF  PHARMACY. 

After  several  years’  intermission,  the  Pharmaceutical 
Meetings  in  connection  with  this  Institution  have  been 
resumed.  On  the  18th  of  October  last  a  meeting  was 
held,  the  object  of  which  was  to  consider  the  best  mode 
of  conducting  the  future  meetings.  The  Registrar  was 
authorized  to  publish  notice  of  meetings  in  the  Public 
Ledger  ;  also  to  give  wide  circulation  to  cards  of  invitation. 
A  committee,  consisting  of  Israel  J.  Graham,  Professor 
Maisch  and  Dr.  Pile,  was  appointed  to  draw  up  a  plan 
and  submit  the  same  to  the  next  meeting. 

At  this  meeting  Professor  Maisch  exhibited  a  specimen 
of  the  so-called  African  saffron,  obtained  from  Chicago. 
Upon  examination  this  proved  to  be  Carthamus,  safflower 
(C.  tinctorial),  much  broken  and  discoloured.  Also  a 
sample  of  gum  sennaar,  a  species  of  Acacia,  at  about 
two-thirds  of  the  price  of  gum  arabic.  It  comes  into  com¬ 
merce  via  Trieste,  from  a  port  on  the  Red  Sea.  Externally 
it  resembles  a  good  quality  of  true  gum  arabic,  forming  a 
mucilage  which  is  not  so  bland  as  that  produced  from  true 
gum.  It  may  be  distinguished  from  the  Acacia  vera  by 
the  following  characters  :  — A  mucilage  from  true  gum 
mixed  with  Goulard’s  Extract  produces  slight  opa¬ 
lescence.  A  mucilage  from  gum  sennaar  filters  slowly 
with  milkiness  ;  the  addition  of  liquor  ammonia}  to  the 
filtrate  of  true  gum  produces  in  twenty-four  hours  a 
slight  opalescence ;  added  to  the  filtrate  from  gum  sen¬ 
naar,  a  gelatinous  mass  is  formed  in  the  same  space  of 
time. 


At  the  Meeting  on  November  15th,  the  order  of  busi¬ 
ness  was  as  at  meetings  generally.  The  Committee  ap¬ 
pointed  at  last  meeting  reported  the  following  sugges¬ 
tions  : — 

1.  As  it  is  of  primary  importance  that  a  general  in¬ 
terest  should  be  felt  or  created  in  the  attendance  of  these 
meetings,  the  Committee  would  recommend  that  an 
earnest  invitation  be  extended  to  the  members  of  the 
College,  and.  all  others  who  may  desire  to  participate  in 
the  proceedings ;  to  produce  at  each  of  our  meetings 
either  written  or  oral  contributions  on  subjects  pertain¬ 
ing  to  chemistry  or  pharmacy,  or  the  commercial  rela¬ 
tion  of  drugs.  .  Upon  the  conclusion  of  such  communica¬ 
tions,  the  presiding  officer  of  the  meeting  to  call  for  any 
remarks  that  may  be  elicited  by  the  subject  thus  intro¬ 
duced. 

2.  That  there  should  be  appointed  annually  a  Stand¬ 
ing  Committee,  consisting  of  three  members,  whose  duty 
it  should  be  to  propose  subjects  for  discussion  at  any  of 
our  meetings,  whenever  there  shall  be  a  lack  of  material 
voluntarily  contributed  by  members. 

_  3.  That  a  box  or  other  suitable  arrangement  be  pro¬ 
vided  for  _  the  reception  of  written  queries,  anonymous 
or  otherwise,  which  members  may  desire  to  propound, 


relating  to  any  subject  connected  with  the  shop  or  la¬ 
boratory  ;  which  queries  may  be  taken  up  for  discussion 
either  at  the  meeting  in  which  they  are  proposed  or  at  a 
subsequent  meeting. 

4.  That  this  Committee  be  requested  to  obtain,  from 
time  to  time,  the  services  of  any  who  may  favour  the 
meeting  with  lectures  suited  to  the  occasion. 

These  recommendations  were  adopted.  The  Com¬ 
mittee  appointed  for  the  ensuing  year  was  Charles 
Bullock,  Dr.  Pile  and  Professor  Maisch. 

Dr.  Bridges  exhibited  a  specimen  of  marked  glass  cut 
by  a  new  process,  in  which  sand  is  blown  with  great 
force  against  the  glass,  certain  portions  of  which  is  pro¬ 
tected  by  wire  of  different  shape,  or  by  gauze  or  lace,  the 
figure  of  which  is  left  on  the  smooth  glass  surface,  while 
the  meshes  are  etched  by  the  attrition  of  the  sand. 
Wherever  the  sand  strikes,  the  impression  made  re¬ 
sembles  ground  glass.  This  process  will  probably  super¬ 
sede  ground  glass  in  many  of  its  uses. 

Dr.  Pile  exhibited  a  sample  of  insoluble  gun  cotton, 
made  in  the  form  of  gun  wad,  being  very  explosive. 

Dr.  Bridges  explained  the  principle  of  the  spectro¬ 
scope,  its  discovery  and  the  wonderful  results  obtained 
by  its  use.  Although  this  species  of  chemical  investiga¬ 
tion  is  but  in  its  infancy,  the  results  so  far  obtained  are 
marvellous,  the  minutest  quantity  of  a  substance  being 
detected  by  an  undeniable  and  never-failing  colour. 
After  a  very  interesting  exhibition  of  spectroscopes  by 
the  Professor,  assisted  by  Mr.  Bullock,  the  meeting 
adjourned.  - 

At  the  Meeting  held  on  December  20th,  among  other 
things,  Dr.  Pile  propounded  and  solved  the  following- 
problems  : — 

1.  To  reduce  alcohol  of  given  strength  to  proof. 

2.  To  reduce  alcohol  to  any  required  strength. 

3.  To  make  any  required  quantity  of  either  of  the 
above. 

Answer  to  Problem  1. — Ascertain  the  percentage  of  the 
alcohol  used,  and  to  every  50  parts,  by  measure,  add 
water  sufficient  to  make  the  whole  number  of  parts 
equal  to  the  percentage.  For  example,  if  the  alcohol  be 
85  per  cent.,  then  to  50  ounces  add  water  sufficient  to 
make  85  ounces. 

Answer  to  Problem  2. — To  as  many  parts  of  the  given 
alcohol  as  are  indicated  by  the  percentage  required  add 
sufficient  water  to  make  the  number  of  parts  of  the  mix¬ 
ture  equal  to  the  percentage  of  the  given  alcohol.  For 
example,  if  it  is  desired  to  make  an  alcohol  of  30  per 
cent,  from  an  alcohol  of  95  per  cent.,  take  30  parts  of 
the  alcohol,  add  water  sufficient  to  make  95  parts  of  the 
mixture. 

Note. — In  the  first  example  we  do  not  add  to  the  50 
ounces  of  alcohol  35  ounces  of  water,  but  sufficient  to 
make  85  ounces  of  the  mixture.  This  is  owing  to  the 
condensation  occurring  where  alcohol  and  water  are 
mixed. 

Answer  to  Problem  3-. — Make  the  following  proposition : 
As  the  percentage  of  the  alcohol  given  is  to  that  of  the 
alcohol  required,  so  is  the  quantity  desired  to  the  quan¬ 
tity  of  the  alcohol  to  be  taken ;  and  to  this  quantity  of 
alcohol  water  sufficient  must  be  added  to  make  up  the 
required  quantity.  For  example,  suppose  80  oimces  of 
alcohol,  of  75  per  cent.,  is  desired  to  be  made  from  95 
per  cent,  alcohol, — as  95  :  75  :  :  80.  This  gives  63  3-19 
ounces  of  95  per  cent,  alcohol  to  be  taken ;  to  this  add 
water  sufficient  to  make  80  ounces. 

Alcohol  =  89-49  per  cent,  by  volume. 

Dilute  „  =  46-  „  ,, 

Strong  „  =  94-65  „  „ 

Mr.  Bullock  exhibited  a  specimen  of  anhydrous  alu¬ 
mina,  found  in  large  masses  weighing  many  pounds. 
Specific  gravity,  3*60  ;  next  to  the  diamond,  the  hardest 
substance  in  nature.  Surface  studded  with  crystals  of 
sapphire. 

Professor  Maisch  read  a  paper  “  On  the  Precipitation 


February  2o,  1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


G93 


of  Quinia  by  Iodide  of  Potassium  from  an  Acid  Solu¬ 
tion.”  Also  a  paper  entitled  “  Decomposition  of  Acetate 
of  Morphia  in  Solution.”* 

Professor  Bridges  made  some  remarks  on  the  vinegar 

plant. 

Professor  Parrish  read  a  paper  (illustrated  with  dia¬ 
grams)  upon  “Petroleum,  its  Mode  of  Kectification  and 
Refinement,  together  with  its  Commercial  History,” 
speaking  of  the  immense  use  during  the  last  few  years, 
almost  superseding  other  illuminating  oils  of  commerce, 
and  exposing  some  of  the  immense  frauds  practised 
during  the  coal-oil  rage. 

Several  specimens  of  petroleum  and  its  derivatives,  in 
their  different  stages  of  refinement,  were  exhibited. 


MONTREAL  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

At  a  late  Meeting  of  the  members  of  the  above  Asso¬ 
ciation  a  draft  petition,  to  be  presented  to  the  Dean  and 
Faculty  of  Medicine,  relative  to  the  percentage  system, 
was  submitted  for  adoption.  The  Association  finds  that 
the  practice  which  obtains  favour  with  certain  members 
of  the  medical  profession,  of  sending  their  prescriptions 
for  mere  pecuniary  considerations  to  a  particular  drug¬ 
gist,  is  so  serious  a  drawback  to  the  trade  and  unfair  to 
the  public,  that  it  should  be  represented  to  the  Faculty. 
The  junior  members  of  the  Association  naturally  argue 
that  unless  they  happen  to  be  so  fortunate  as  to  be  able 
to  fee  some  of  the  leading1  physicians  in  order  to  obtain 
their  influence,  their  chances  of  advancement  are  small. 

The  report  of  the  Committee  on  the  matter  was  favour¬ 
ably  received,  and  will  be  finally  discussed  at  the  next 
meeting. 

The  above  Association  is  now  called  “  The  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Association  of  the  Province  of  Quebec,”  and  has 
received  a  charter  from  the  Government.  The  Associa¬ 
tion  has  a  staff  of  professors,  and  classes  on  botany, 
chemistry  and  materia  medica,  etc. 


CHEMICAL  SOCIETY. 

At  the  Meeting  of  the  Chemical  Society  on  Fe¬ 
bruary  2nd,  a  discussion  took  place  on  Professor  Frank  - 
land’s  paper  on  the  “Development  of  Fungi  in  Potable 
Water.” 

The  President,  Professor  Williamson,  after  having 
expressed  the  thanks  of  the  Society  to  Professor  Frank - 
land  for  his  communication,  asked  whether  he  had  taken 
into  account  the  phosphoric  acid  present  in  the  sugar. 

Professor  Frankland  said  he  thought  the  phosphoric 
acid  would  have  been  excluded  by  the  crystallization  of 
the  sugar. 

Dr.  Heisch  was  glad  that  his  statements  had  been 
confirmed  by  Dr.  Frankland’s  experiments,  but  in  two 
important  points  the  results  obtained  were  diametrically 
opposed  to  his  own.  The  first  was  that  water  retained 
organic  germs  after  filtration  through  animal  charcoal. 
During  the  last  three  years  he  had  investigated  large 
quantities  of  water,  and  on  no  single  occasion  had  he 
found  fungoid  growth  in  such  water  after  it  had  been 
passed  through  a  charcoal  filter.  The  other  point  was 
that  while  Dr.  Frankland  had  said  that  the  cellular  for¬ 
mations  obtained  from  white  of  egg  in  sugar  solution 
were  very  similar  to  the  sewage  fungi,  he  had  found 
them  easily  distinguishable.  The  sewage  fungus  was 
very  small,  perfectly  spherical,  transparent  and  generally 
grouped  in  grape-like  bunches.  Its  development  and 
decay  is  very  rapid.  Six  hours  after  the  mixture  of  the 
sewage  matter  with  the  sugar  solution  the  spherical 
cells  will  appear  ;  in  six  hours  more  they  will  grow  into 
mycelia,  and  a  short  time  afterwards  the  whole  vegeta¬ 
tion  disappears, — the  whole  growth  being  accompanied 
by  the  odour  of  butyric  acid,  which  is  wanted  during 


*  Pharm.  J ourn 3rd  Series,  Yol  I.  p.  661. 


the  development  of  fungi  from  the  white]  of  egg.  The 
latter,  too,  have  a  different  appearance  from  the  sewage 
fungi. 

Mr.  Bell  remarked  that  samples  of  sewage  water 
kept  for  some  time  would  purify  themselves  by  a  process 
of  natural  decay.  Of  seven  samples  that  he  had  obtained 
from  Dr.  Frankland,  four,  which  had  been  obtained  in 
1869,  did  not  become  turbid  when  submitted  to  the  sugar 
test ;  while  three  that  had  been  obtained  in  October  and 
November  last  became  turbid.  He  had  some  doubt  as- 
to  the  cause  of  the  turbidity.  Shortly  after  Dr.  Heisch 
read  his  paper,  a  sample  of  water  taken  from  a  well  in 
Drury  Lane  was  brought  for  examination.  Some  sugar 
was  added  to  a  portion  of  the  water  and  in  about  twelve 
hours  the  water  became  turbid.  When  examined  micro¬ 
scopically  it  was  found  to  be  alive  with  the  little  creatures 
he  had  been  in  the  habit  of  seeing  in  vegetable  extracts. 
He  at  once  inferred  that  these  organisms,  and  not  the 
fungoid  development,  caused  the  turbidity.  As  the 
result  of  various  experiments  with  phosphates,  he  found 
that  when  calcic  phosphate  was  present  bacteria  were 
largely  developed.  He  had  also  passed  water  through 
animal  charcoal,  and  in  every  instance  ba«  terian  bodies 
were  produced  in  the  water  on  the  addition  of  sugar. 
Pure  water,  into  which  ignited  charcoal  had  been  in¬ 
troduced,  might  be  kept  a  considerable  length  of  time 
without  developing  any  organisms  on  the  addition  of 
sugar. 

Dr.  Voelcker  said,  in  confirmation  of  the  statement 
that  sewage  easily  undergoes  alteration,  that  a  jar  of 
sewage  having  been  left  for  some  months  loosely  covered 
lost  nearly  all  its  ammonia,  whilst  its  nitric  acid  had  in¬ 
creased.  He  also  said  that  iron  sponge  far  surpasses 
charcoal  for  filtering  purposes ;  water  filtered  through  it 
would  stand  Dr.  Heisch’s  test  perfectly.  Spongy  iron 
is  obtained  by  calcining  with  charcoal  the  residues  from 
burnt  copper  pyrites. 

Mr.  Warington  said  that  probably  the  spongy  iron 
purified  the  water  by  removing  the  phosphates  that 
would  be  retained  by  the  hydrated  ferric  oxide  with 
which  the  sponge  is  largely  crusted.  He  also  called 
attention  to  the  fact  that  fresh  animal  charcoal  gives  up 
some  of  its  phosphates  to  the  percolating  water,  which 
was  not  the  case  with  charcoal  that  had  been  in  use  some 
time.  This  he  thought  might  help  to  explain  the  dif¬ 
ference  in  the  results  obtained  by  Dr.  Frankland  and 
Dr.  Heisch. 

Dr.  Dupre  asked  Dr.  Frankland  whether  he  had 
boiled  the  sugar  solutions  ?  He  himself  had  obtained 
no  fungoid  vegetation  when  this  had  been  done. 

Dr.  Frankland  said  usually  they  were  not  boiled,  but 
that  in  one  experiment  the  sugar  had  been  burnt  to 
caramel,  the  water  previously  heated  with  caustic  soda 
and  potassic  permanganate,  all  the  salts  added  to  it  being 
heated  to  a  high  temperature,  and  in  that  experiment 
more  splendid  fungi  were  obtained  than  in  any  other. 
The  discrepancy  between  his  observation  as  to  the  effi¬ 
ciency  of  charcoal,  and  those  of  Dr.  Heisch,  seemed  to  bo 
explained  by  Mr.  Warington’ s  remark.  As  to  the  two 
kinds  of  cells,  he  did  not  consider  them  identical,  but  yet 
they  were  similar.  He  had  not  paid  any  attention  to 
the  odour  of  butyric  acid  during  the  development  of  the 
sewage  fungi.  In  reply  to  Mr.  Bell,  he  said  the  samples 
of  effluent  water  had  been  examined  a  day  or  two  after 
collection.  With  reference  to  Dr.  Yoelcker’s  remark,  he 
said  that  the  quick  disappearance  of  the  ammonia  in 
sewage  and  sewage  water  had  often  been  noticed  by 
himself. 


MEETINGS  FOE  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 

Monday  . Medical  Society ,  at  8  p.m. 

London  Institution,  at  4  p.m. — “  The  First 
Principles  of  •  Biology  ”  (Educational. 
Course).  By  Prof.  Huxley. 

Tuesday  . Loyal  Institution,  at  3  p.m. — “The  Nutri¬ 

tion  of  Animals.”  By  Professor  Foster. 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[February  25,  1871. 


U94 


Wednesday  ...Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Great  JBritain,  at 
8.30  p.m.  “  The  Microscope  and  its  Reve¬ 
lations.”  By  Dr.  W.  B.  Carpenter. 

Society  of  Arts,  at  8  p.m. — “The  Principles 
of  School  Organization  and  Instruction  as 
Advocated  by  the  Society  of  Arts.”  By 
Rev.  W.  H.  Brookfield,  M.A. 

Hoyal  Medical  and  Chirurgical  Society,  at 
8  p.m.  Annual  Meeting. 

Thursday . Hoyal  Society,  at  8.30  p.m. 

Hoyal  Institution,  at  3  p.m. — “Davy’s  Dis¬ 
coveries  in  Chemistry.”  By  Prof.  Odling. 

Linnean  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

Chemical  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

London  Institution,  at  7.30  p.m. — “  The  Ac¬ 
tion,  Nature  and  Detection  of  Poisons.” 
By  F.  S.  Barff. 

Friday  . Hoyal  Institution,  at  9  p.m. — “  The  Latest 

Scientific  Researches  in  the  Mediterranean 
and  Straits  of  Gibraltar.”  By  Dr.  W.  B. 
Carpenter. 

parliamentary  anh  fate  fmttbinjjs. 


A  BILL  TO  AMEND  THE  LAW  FOR  THE  PRE¬ 
VENTION  OF  ADULTERATION  OF  FOOD 
AND  DRINK  AND  OF  DRUGS. 


Whereas  the  practice  of  adulterating  articles  of  food 
and  drink  and  drugs  for  sale,  in  fraud  of  Her  Majesty’s 
.subjects,  and  to  the  great  hurt  of  their  health  and  danger 
to  their  lives,  requires  to  be  repressed  by  more  effectual 
laws  than  those  which  are  now  in  force  for  that  purpose  : 

Be  it  therefore  enacted  by  the  Queen’s  Most  Excellent 
Majesty,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the 
Lords  Spiritual  and  Temporal  and  Commons,  in  this 
present  Parliament  assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of 
the  same,  as  follows : — 

1.  Every  person  who  shall  wilfully  admix,  and  every 
person  who  shall  order  any  other  person  or  persons  to  ad¬ 
mix,  with  any  article  of  food  or  drink,  any  injurious  or  poi¬ 
sonous  ingredient  or  material  to  adulterate  the  same  for 
;sale,  and  every  person  who  shall  wilfully  admix,  and  every 
person  who  shall  order  any  other  person  or  persons  to 
admix,  any  ingredient  or  material  with  any  drug  to 
adulterate  the  same  for  sale,  shall  for  the  first  offence 
forfeit  and  pay  a  penalty  not  exceeding  £50,  together 
with  the  costs  attending  such  conviction,  and  for  the 
second  offence  shall  be  guilty  of  a  misdemeanour,  and 
be  imprisoned  for  a  period  not  exceeding  six  calendar 
months,  with  hard  labour. 

2.  Every  person  who  shall  sell  any  article  of  food  or 
drink  with  which  to  the  knowledge  of  such  person  any 
ingredient  or  material  injurious  to  the  health  of  persons 
eating  or  drinking  such  article  has  been  mixed,  and 

e.ry  person  who  shall  sell  as  pure  and  adulterated  any 
.article  of  food  or  drink,  or  any  drug  which  is  adulterated 
oi  not  pure,  shall  tor  every  such  offence,  on  a  summary 
conviction  of  the  same  before  two  justices  of  the  peace 
at  petty.  sessions  in  England,  and  in  Scotland  before 
tvo  justices  of  the  peace  in  the  justices  of  the  peace 
court,  or  before  the  sheriff  substitute  of  the  county,  or 
before  justices,  at  petty  sessions  or  a  divisional  justice  in 
Ireland,  forfeit  and  pay  a  penalty  not  exceeding  £20, 
together  with  such  costs  attending  such  conviction  as  to 
the  said  justices  shall  seem  reasonable ;  and  if  any  per¬ 
son  so  convicted  shall  afterwards  commit  the  like  offence, 
^  be  lawful  for  such  justices  of  the  peace  to  cause 
such  offender  s  name,  place  of  abode,  and  offence  to  be 
published,  at  the  expense  of  such  offender,  in  such  news- 

paper  or  m  such  other  manner  as  to  the  said  justices 
shall  seem  desirable. 


3.  And  be  it  enacted  that  the  Pharmacy  Act,  1868 
and  the  Act  23  &  24  Viet.  c.  84,  for  preventing  th 
.adulteration  of  articles  of  food  and  drink,  shall  be  deeme( 
to  be  incorporated  in  this  Act. 

4.  Any  purchaser  of  any  article  of  food  or  drink  o: 
■drugs  in  any  district,  county,  city,  or  borough  when 


there  is  a  public  analyst  appointed  shall  be  entitled,  on 
payment  to  such  analyst  of  a  sum  not  exceeding  10s. 
to  have  any  such  article  analysed,  and  to  receive  from 
such  analyst  a  certificate  of  the  result  of  his  analysis, 
specifying  whether,  in  his  opinion,  such  article  is  adul¬ 
terated,  and  also  whether,  if  it  be  an  article  of  food  or 
drink,  it  is  so  adulterated  as  to  be  injurious  to  the  health 
of  persons  eating  or  drinking  the  same. 

5.  Any  person  who  has  been  convicted  of  any  offence 
punishable  by  this  Act  by  any  justices  may  appeal  to 
the  next  general  or  quarter  sessions  of  the  peace  which 
shall  be  held  for  the  city,  county,  town,  or  place  wherein 
such  judgment  or  conviction  shall  have  been  made,  or  in 
the  case  of  the  conviction  having  been  before  a  sheriff 
substitute  in  Scotland,  then  the  appeal  shall  be  to  the 
sheriff  of  the  county,  provided  that  such  person  enter 
into,  a  recognizance  within  two  days  next  after  such  con¬ 
viction,  with  two  sufficient  securities,  conditioned  to  try 
such  appeal,  and  to  be  forthcoming  to  abide  the  judg¬ 
ment  and  determination  of  the  Court  at  such  general  or 
quarter  sessions,  or  shei’iff,  and  to  pay  such  costs  as 
shall  be  by  such  Court  awarded ;  and  the  justices  before 
whom  such  conviction  shall  be  had  are  hereby  em¬ 
powered  and  required  to  take  such  recognizance  ;  and  the 
Court  at  such  general  or  quarter  sessions,  or  sheriff,  are 
hereby  authorized  and  required  to  hear  and  finally  de¬ 
termine  the  matter  of  every  such  appeal,  and  may  award 
such  costs  to  the  party  appealing  or  appealed  against  as 
they  shall  think  proper. 

6.  If  any  such  conviction  or  judgment  or  order  of  for¬ 
feiture  shall  happen  to  be  made  within  six  days  before 
any  general  or  quarter  sessions  of  the  peace  shall  be  held 
for  the  city,  county,  town,  or  place  wherein  such  con¬ 
viction  shall  have  been  made,  the  person  who  shall  think 
himself  aggrieved  by  any  such  conviction  may,  on  en¬ 
tering  into  a  recognizance  in  manner  and  for  the  pur¬ 
poses  before  directed,  be  at  liberty  to  appeal  cither  to 
the  then  next  or  next  following  general  or  quarter  ses¬ 
sions  of  the  peace  which  shall  be  held  for  any  such  city, 
county*  town,  or  place  wherein  any  such  conviction  shall 
have  been  made,  on  giving  six  days’  notice  to  the  com¬ 
plainant  of  his  intention  to  appeal. 

7..  Any  person  who  shall  have  been  convicted  by  any 
justices  or  sheriff  substitute  of  any  offence  punishable 
by  this  Act,  in  respect  of  the  selling  of  any  article  of 
food  or  drink  or  drugs  which  shall  have  been  manufac¬ 
tured  according  to  any  process  patented  before  the  pass¬ 
ing  of  this  Act,  either  by  the  patentee  or  owner  of  the 
patent,,  or  by  any  person  carrying  on  his  business  or 
otherwise  claiming  under  him  during  the  continuance  of 
such  patent,. may,  instead  of  appealing  to  the  general  or 
quarter  sessions  of  the  peace  or  sheriff  of  the  county, 
apply  in  writing  within  five  days  after  such  conviction 
to  the  justices  or  sheriff  substitute,  to  state  and  sign  a 
case  for  the  opinion  of  one  of  the  superior  courts  of 
law  thereon,  in  like  manner  as  under  the  statute  of  the 
20.  &  21  years  of  her  Majesty,  c.  43,  he  might  have  ap¬ 
plied  to  the  justices  to  state  and  sign  a  case,  and  there¬ 
upon.  all  such  proceedings  shall  take  place  upon  and  in 
relation  to  such  application,  and  all  such  2)rovisions 
shall  be  applicable  thereto,  as  would  have  taken  placo 
upon  and  in  relation  thereto,  and  been  applicable  thereto, 
under  the  provisions  of  the  said  last-mentioned  Act ;  and 
in  Scotland,  for  the  purposes  of  such  appeal,  the  justices 
or  shei'iff  substitute  may  state  and  sign  a  case  for  the 
opinion  of  the  Court  of  Session,  in  like  manner  as  the 
justices  in  England  and  Ireland  may,  for  the  opinion 
of  the  superior  courts  of  law  under  the  said  Act,  and 
the  Court  of  Session  shall  have  in  relation  thereto  the 
like  powers  as  the  superior  courts  have  under  the 
said  Act,  and  all  the  other  provisions  of  the  said  Act 
shall  be  applicable  to  such  appeals. 

8.  In  England  the  provisions  in  the  Nuisances  Removal 
Act  for  England,  1855,  as  to  procedure,  and  the  provi¬ 
sions  of  the  Act  of  the  11  &  12  years  of  the  reign  of 
her  present  Majesty,  intituled  “  An  Act  to  Facilitate  the 


February  25,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


G95 


Performance  of  the  Duties  of  Justices  of  the  Peace  and 
of  Sessions  within  England  and  Wales  with  respect  to 
Summary  Convictions  and  Orders,”  and  in  Scotland  the 
ordinary  rules  regulating  the  procedure  of  justices  of  the 
peace  so  far  as  the  same  are  respectively  applicable,  shall 
extend  and  apply  to  cases  arising  under  this  Act  in 
England  or  Scotland  ;  and  all  moneys  arising;  from  pe¬ 
nalties  under  this  Act  in  any  county,  city,  district,  or  bo¬ 
rough  where  there  are  analysts  appointed  under  this  Act 
shall,  when  paid  or  recovered,  he  paid  in  England  and 
Ireland  to  the  vestry,  district  hoard,  commissioners, 
county  treasurer,  or  town  council  for  such  county,  city, 
district,  or  borough  respectively,  to  he  applied  for  the 
-general  purposes  of  such  vestry,  district  hoard,  commis¬ 
sioners,  county,  city,  or  borough  respectively,  and  to  the 
collector  of  rogue  money  for  each  county  in  Scotland. 

9.  All  proceedings  under  this  Act  in  Ireland  as  to  com¬ 
pelling  the  appearance  of  any  such  person  or  of  any 
witness,  and  as  to  the  hearing  and  determination  of  such 
complaints,  and  as  to  the  making  and  executing  of  such 
orders,  and  as  to  the  applications  of  fines,  amerciaments, 
and  forfeited  recognizances  imposed  or  levied  under  this 
Act  at  petty  sessions,  shall  he  subject  in  all  respects  to 
the  provisions  of  the  “Petty  Sessions  (Ireland)  Act, 
1851,”  as  the  same  is  amended  by  the  “  Petty  Sessions 
Clerk  (Ireland)  Act,  1858  ”  (when  the  case  shall  be  heard 
in  any  petty  sessions  district),  and  to  the  provisions  of 
the  Acts  relating  to  the  divisional  police  offices  (when 
the  case  shall  be  heard  in  the  police  district  of  Dublin 
metropolis),  so  far  as  the  said  provisions  shall  be  con¬ 
sistent  with  any  special  provisions  of  this  Act ;  and  when 
any  fine  or  penalty  is  imposed  at  any  of  the  divisional 
police  offices  of  Dublin  metropolis,  or  by  the  justices  in 
any  corporate  town,  under  the  provisions  of  this  Act, 
such  fines  and  penalties  shall  be  paid  over  to  the  same 
purposes  and  appropriated  and  applied  in  the  same  manner 
as  is  now  by  law  authorized  in  respect  of  fines  and  pe¬ 
nalties  imposed  at  such  divisional  police  offices,  or  by 
the  justices  in  any  such  corporate  town  respectively. 

10.  In  Ireland  any  person  who  has  been  convicted  of 
any  offence  punishable  by  this  Act  may  appeal  to  the 
next  court  of  quarter  sessions  to  be  held  in  the  same 
division  of  the  county  where  the  order  shall  be  made  by 
any  justice  or  justices  in  any  petty  sessions  district,  or 
to  the  recorder  at  his  next  sessions  where  the  order  shall 
be  made  by  the  divisional  justices  in  the  police  district  of 
Dublin  metropolis,  or  to  the  recorder  of  any  corporate  or 
borough  town  when  the  order  shall  be  made  by  any  jus¬ 
tice  or  justices  in  such  corporate  or  borough  town  (unless 
when  any  such  sessions  shall  commence  within  seven 
days  from  the  date  of  any  such  order,  in  which  case,  if 
the  appellant  sees  fit,  the  appeal  may  be  made  to  the 
next  succeeding  sessions  to  be  held  for  such  division  or 
town) ;  and  it  shall  be  lawful  for  such  court  of.  quarter 
sessions  or  recorder,  as  the  case  may  be,  to  decide  such 
appeal,  if  made  in  such  form  and  manner,  and  with  such 
notices  as  are  required  by  the  Petty  Sessions  Acts  . re¬ 
spectively  hereinbefore  mentioned  as  to  appeals  against 
orders  made  by  justices  at  petty  sessions;  and. all  the 
provisions  of  the  said  Petty  Sessions  Acts  respectively  as 
to  making  appeals  and  as  to  executing  the  orders  made 
on  appeal,  or  the  original  orders  where  the  appeals  shall 
not  be  duly  prosecuted,  shall  also  apply  to  any  appeal  or 
like  order  to  be  made  under  the  provisions  of  this  Act. 

11.  The  expense  of  executing  this  Act  shall  be  borne, 
in  the  city  of  London  and  the  liberties  thereof,  out  of  the 
consolidated  rates  raised  by  the  commissioners  of  sewers 
of  the  city  of  London  and  the  liberties  thereof,  and  in  the 
rest  of  the  metropolis  out  of  any  rates  or  funds  applic¬ 
able  to  the  purposes  of  the  Act  for  the  better  local  man¬ 
agement  of  the  metropolis,  and  in  counties  out  of  the 
county  rate,  and  in  boroughs  out  of  the  borough  fimd,  or 
out  of  the  rogue  money  in  counties  in  Scotland. 

12.  Nothing  in  this  Act  contained  shall  be  held  to  affect 
the  power  of  proceeding  by  indictment,  or  to  take  away 
any  other  remedy  against  any  offender  under  this  Act. 


A  Child  Poisoned  by  Mistake. 

The  following  paragraph  appeared  under  the  above 
heading  in  the  Manchester  Guardian,  Feb.  18th,  1871  : — 

“  Yesterday,  the  City  coroner  (Mr.  E.  Herford)  held 
an  inquest  touching  the  death  of  Florence  Adelaide  Live- 
sey,  1 1  months  old,  daughter  of  Mr.  Gf.  Livesey,  engraver, 
Bradshaw  Street,  City  Road,  Hulme.  The  mother  of 
the  child  said  she  had  been  in  the  habit  of  giving  the 
deceased  child  “  infants’  preservative,”  to  induce  sleep. 
She  kept  the  bottle  beside  another  containing  liniment 
for  a  rash  on  the  child’s  chest.  The  liniment  was  got 
from  a  chemists’  firm  named  Wild  and  Fox.*  On  Wed¬ 
nesday  night  her  husband  handed  her  the  liniment 
bottle  instead  of  the  sleeping  cordial,  and  the  mistake 
was  not  noticed  until  it  was  too  late  to  save  the  child. 
The  liniment  bottle  was  not  labelled  ‘  poison.’  The  jury 
returned  a  verdict  of  ‘  Accidental  Death,’  and  censured 
the  chemists  for  not  putting  a  poison  label  o  n  the  bottle.” 

This  was  supplemented  by  the  following  letter  :  — 

“  Poisonous  Medicines. 

“  To  the  Editor  of  the  Manchester  Guardian. 

“  Sir, — As  one  of  the  jurymen  on  the  inquest  on  the 
child  who  was  poisoned,  I  beg  to  correct  your  report.  It 
was  not  a  chemist,  but  a  medical  man,  who  supplied  the 
liniment  to  the  parents,  and  who  was  censured  by  name 
by  the  jury,  because  that  liniment,  with  which  the  child 
was  poisoned,  was  not  labelled  poison  in  the  way  that 
all  chemists  would  do; — had  it  been  done,  the  poor 
child  might  in  all  human  probability  have  been  now 
living. — I  am,  etc.  “Thos.  Norris. 

“  100a,  Clopton  Street,  Feb.  20,  1871.” 


A  Druggist  Fined  for  Selling  Methylated  Spirit 
without  a  Licence. 

On  Monday,  at  the  Huddersfield  Police  Court,  Robert 
Robinson,  Chemist  and  Druggist,  Lockwood,  was  fined 
£12.  10s.  for  selling  methylated  spirit  without  having  a 
licence.  The  supervisor  of  excise,  who  attended  to  pro¬ 
secute,  stated  that  the  defendant  had  been  served  with 
ample  notice  that  he  was  not  entitled  to  sell  the  spirit 
without  having  a  licence. — Leeds  Mercury. 


Suicide  by  Carbolic  Acid. 


An  inquest  has  been  held  at  Liverpool  upon  the  body 
of  John  Perkins,  a  brushmaker,  forty  years  of  age.  The 
deceased  had  lately  been  in  low  spirits  and  rambled  in 
his  talk.  On  the  evening  of  his  death  he  went  to  *bed 
after  supper.  His  landlady  hearing  the  sound  of  a  fall 
in  his  room,  went  upstairs  and  found  him  lying  on  the 
floor  in  a  dying  state.  There  was  a  very  strong  smell 
of  carbolic  acid.  She  found  a  half-pint  bottle  with  a 
little  in  it  on  the  table,  and  a  tumbler  smelling  very 
strongly  of  the  acid.  Medical  assistance  was  called  in, 
but  the  man  was  dead  when  it  arrived. 

The  bottle,  which  was  produced,  was  labelled  “  car¬ 
bolic  acid,”  but  not  “poison.” 

Dr.  Bligh  said  tha  t  he  was  of  opinion  that  the  deceased 
died  from  poisoning  by  carbolic  acid.  The  small  portion 
left  in  the  bottle  was  a  mixture  of  carbolic  acid,  glycerine 
and  water,  with  impurities. 

The  jury  returned  a  verdict  of  “  Suicide  during  tem¬ 
porary  insanity.” — Liverpool  Courier. 


Suicide  by  Morphia. 

An  inquest  has  been  held  at  the  German  Hospital 
concerning  the  death  of  Frederick  Meyer,  aged  nineteen. 


*  On  referring  to  the  Register,  we  find  that  this  is  a  mis- 
atement.  Messrs.  Wild  and  Fox  are  not  on  the  Register 
t  Chemists  and  Druggists,  but  are,  we  presume,  the  pro- 
rietors  of  an  open  surgery. — Ed.  Pharm.  Journ. 


696 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  25,  187K 


A  police-officer  stated  that  he  found  the  deceased 
lying  on  the  grass  in  a  field  near  the  Brampton  Road, 
South  Hackney.  He  then  appeared  very  ill.  There 
was  a  bottle  labelled  “Morphia,  Poison,”  close  to  his 
right  hand.  Upon  witness  lifting  him  up  he  said,  “  My 
name  is  Frederick  Meyer  and  I  am  a  German.  I  have 
taken  poison.  I  have  been  two  years  in  England  and  I 
am  nineteen  years  old.  I  am  a  chemist.  I  will  not  tell 
who  my  family  are.”  He  was  removed  to  the  German 
Hospital,  where  he  died  two  hours  afterwards. 

Dr.  Blaister  said  that  the  deceased  had  taken  244 
grains  of  morphia.  One  grain  would  be  sufficient  to  cause 
death. 

The  jury  returned  a  verdict  of  “  Suicide  while  in  a  state 
of  temporary  insanity.” 


©Mhtiirir. 


JAMES  SHERIDAN  MUSPRATT. 

James  Sheridan  Muspratt,  F.R.S.E.,  whose  death  we 
have  previously  recorded,  was  born  in  Dublin  in  1821. 
He  early  evinced  a  taste  for  chemistry,  and  at  thirteen 
years  of  age,  having  travelled  through  part  of  France 
and  Germany,  he  entered  the  Andersonian  University  of 
Glasgow,  where,  for  nine  months,  he  studied  in  the  labo¬ 
ratory  of  Professor  Graham,  whom  he  afterwards  fol¬ 
lowed  to  London.  Before  he  reached  the  age  of  seven¬ 
teen  he  was  entrusted  with  the  chemical  department  of  a 
large  manufactory  in  Manchester,  and  published  a  paper 
on  chloride  of  lime,  which  attracted  considerable  atten¬ 
tion.  Proceeding-  to  America,  he  entered  into  a  trading 
partnership  which  was  not  successful.  Afterwards  he 
went  to  Giessen,  where  he  remained  two  years  under  Lie¬ 
big.  He  then  published  a  paper  upon  the  sulphites,  which 
appeared  in  Liebig  and  Wohler’s  ‘Annalen,’  and  shortly 
after  he  obtained  the  degree  of  Ph.D.  In  conjunction 
with  Professor  Hofmann,  he  prepared  toluidine  and 
nitraniline,  two  important  organic  bases.  He  also  edited 
Plattner’s  ‘  Treatise  on  the  Blowpipe.’  In  1845  he  left 
Giessen  and  visited  various  parts  of  Germany,  in  order  to 
become  personally  acquainted  with  her  distinguished  men. 
In  1847  he  returned  to  Giessen,  and  spent  four  months 
in  its  laboratory,  discovering  several  remarkable  bodies 
produced  from  the  sulphocyanides  of  ethyle  and  methyle. 
A  paper  on  this  subject  was  printed  in  Liebig’s  ‘  Annalen,’ 
as  well  as  in  the  Chemical  Society’s  Transactions.  In 
1848  he  produced  a  paper  on  the  Selenites  ;  in  1849  he 
published  some  very  interesting  remarks  in  Liebig’s 
‘Annalen,’  on  the  Blowpipe  Reactions  of  Strontia  and 
Baryta.  In  1851  appeared  his  paper  on  “Carmufellic 
Acid,”  a  new  acid  from  cloves,  published  in  the  proceed¬ 
ings  of  the  Royal  Society,  and  in  the  ‘Philosophical 
Magazine.’  But  the  most  important  act  of  his  life  was 
the  foundation  of  a  College  of  Chemistry  in  Liverpool, 
students  from  which  are  now  occupying  prominent  posts 
or  professorships  in  various  parts  of  the  globe.  In  1854 
a  Glasgow  publisher  engaged  Dr.  Muspratt  to  write  a 
Dictionary  of  Chemistry,  which  has  commanded  a  large 
sale  in  England,  America,  Germany  and  France.  He 
was  elected  a  Fellow  of  the  Royal  Societies  of  Edin¬ 
burgh  and  Dublin,  and  a  member  of  the  Societe  d’En- 
couragement  in  France ;  and  the  oldest  university  in 
America  conferred  upon  him  the  honorary  degree  of 
M.D.  He  has  lately  published  some  treatises  on  the 
chalybeate  springs  of  Buxton  and  other  English  water¬ 
ing-places. 

On  his  return  from  Germany  in  1848,  Dr.  Muspratt 
married  Miss  Susan  Cushman,  the  celebrated  actress, 
who  died  in  1859.  He  was  the  scientific  director  of  the 
extensive  chemical  works  at  Flint,  belonging  to  Messrs. 
Muspratt  Brothers,  of  which  firm  he  was  a  member. 
He  died  after  a  lingering  illness,  at  the  comparatively 
early  age  of  fifty. 


gloks  anfr  Entries, 

***  In  order  to  facilitate  reference ,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  their  ansivers  in  each  case  with  the  title 
and  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  ansivers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

NOTICE. — To  prevent  delay ,  correspondents  are  re¬ 
quested  to  send  their  communications  to  the  Journal  Depart- 
merit ,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square ,  JF.C.,  and  not  to  the  Bub- 
lishers. 

[146.]— FLAVOURED  CASTOR- OIL.  — In  answer  to 
W.  Smith,  the  following,  amongst  other  forms,  is  found  to  be 
the  best  by  “  Delta  ”  : — 

Heat  5  lb.  of  finest  Italian  castor-oil  for  half  an  hour  over 
a  slow  fire  till  thoroughly  liquefied,  then  beat  up  the  whites  of 
ten  eggs  and  add  to  the  oil,  and  when  well  mixed  stir  in  20  oz_ 
of  lump  sugar  dissolved  in  12  oz.  of  water,  and  stir  again ; 
lastly,  add  1  oz.  of  starch-powder  dissolved  in  20  oz.  of  boil¬ 
ing  water.  The  mixture  must  then  be  kept  stirred  briskly 
with  a  “whisk”  (such  as  is  used  in  culinary)  till  quite  cold. 
Lastly,  add  flavour  to  taste,  and  shake  in  large  jar  for  an 
hour.  Care  must  be  taken  that  the  above  quantity  at  least 
is  used  at  one  time,  or  the  operation  will  fail. — Delta. 

[155.] — GUM  ACROIDES. — Under  this  name  I  remem¬ 
ber  obtaining  specimens  from  the  late  Mr.  Keating,  of 
St.  Paul’s  Churchyard,  of  one  of  the  Xanthorrlioea  resins  of 
Australia,  which  there  pass  under  the  name  of  Black  Boy,  or 
Grass -tree  resins.  The  particular  species  yielding  the  gum 
acroides  is,  I  believe,  X.  hastilis.  It  is  darker  than  gam¬ 
boge,  less  uniform  in  appearance,  and  not  entirely  soluble  in 
alcohol.  It  contains  benzoic  and  cinnamic  acids.  It  has 
been  used  medicinally  to  unite  the  edges  of  wounds,  and  in 
the  form  of  tincture  with  opium  in  dysentery  and  diarrhoea, 
and  it  forms  the  base  of  a  cement,  being  much  used  by  the 
aborigines  of  Australia  to  fix  their  spear-heads.  It  is  also 
used,  I  believe,  for  varnish  purposes.  Mr.  Druce  will  find 
further  information  respecting  it  in  a  paper  of  mine  on  the 
gums  and  resins  of  commerce  read  before  the  Society  of  Arts 
in  November,  1855,  and  published  in  extenso  in  then- journal, 
vol.  iv.  p.  18.  I  can  also  let  Mr.  Druce  have  a  specimen  from 
my  collection  as  shown  in  the  New  South  Wales  Department 
of  the  Paris  Exhibition. — P.  L.  Simmonds. 


Gum  acroides,  or  acaroides,  is  a  resin  obtained  from  dif¬ 
ferent  species  of  the  Liliaceous  genus  Xanthorrlioea,  or  Grass- 
trees.  X.  hastilis  yields  a  large  quantity.  The  trees  are 
very  common  in  New  Zealand.  The  resin  is  also  known  as 
“  Black-boy  gum,”  “  Botany  Bay  kino,”  “  Grass-tree  gum,” 
etc. — J.  C. 

[171.]— BOTANICAL  SPECIMENS.— Good  directions 
how  to  dry  plants  as  botanical  specimens  will  be  found  in 
Oliver’s  ‘  Lessons  in  Elementary  Botany,’  p.  287.  They  are, 
however,  too  long  to  be  inserted  in  the  Puakm.  J oubn. — H. 

“  Herbarius”  requires  only  three  mahogany  boards,  demy 
size,  half  a  ream  of  Bentall’s  paper,  and  a  56  lb.  weight  or  a 
press. — W  ETHEBB  Y. 


[172.]— CRYSTAL  VARNISH. — “Pater”  would  be  glad 
of  a  form  for  crystal  varnish  for  coating  negatives  to  preserve 
them  while  printing. 

[173.]— UNITED  STATES.— Could  any  reader  of  the 
Phaehaceutical  Joubnal  give  me  any  information  as  to 
whether  they  have  to  pass  an  examination  before  they  can 
commence  business  in  America  or  not  ?  If  so,  where  in¬ 
formation  can  be  obtained  as  regards  any  such  examination. 
— Guillaume,  A.P.S. 

[174.]— GRAIN  MUSK. — “  Bercontator  ”  would  be  glad 
to  receive  some  information  on  the  method  used  by  the  whole¬ 
sale  drug  trade  to  “  grain  ”  musk. 

[175.]— ESSENCE  OF  MU SK. — “  Bercontator  ”  would 
feel  greatly  obliged  for  a  practical  formula  for  the  preparation 
of  a  standard  essence  of  musk  from  the  pod  musk,  i.  e.  the 
pod  and  its  contents,  with  a  description  of  the  process  and 
solvents  employed  by  manufacturing  perfumers  in  preparing 
the  same. 


February  25,  1871.]  THE  P  HARM  ACE  UTIC  AL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


GO  7 


toasjrontaa. 


***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Poison  Regulations. 

Sir, — You  may  imagine  that  I  have  watched  very  closely 
the  correspondence  appearing  from  week  to  week  on  the 
poison  regulations,  but  until  the  publication  in  your  last 
issue  of  a  letter  from  Mr.  Reynolds  I  had  determined  to  take 
no  part  therein.  That  letter  however  reflects  so  seriously 
on  the  Council  (of  which  he  is  a  member)  in  their  late  pro¬ 
ceedings,  and  personally  on  me  as  President,  that  I  cannot 
longer  remain  silent. 

That  Mr.  Reynolds  should  deem  me  unfit  to  hold  the  office 
•of  President  will  astonish  no  one  who  reads  his  imputation 
on  the  manner  in  which  the  duties  of  the  Council  have  been 
performed,  and  his  insinuation  that  a  certain  deficiency  in 
myself  has  been  the  cause  of  mischief. 

My  present  occupation  of  the  chair  was  certainly  not  of  my 
own  seeking,  and  I  should  have  vacated  it  ere  this,  had  not 
the  agitation  on  these  very  regulations  assumed  such  a  nature 
that  my  withdrawal  would  have  seemed  a  desertion  of  duty, 
and  a  bequest  of  trouble  to  a  successor  who  might  have  been 
less  acquainted  with  the  difficulties  of  the  question.  Had 
popularity  been  my  sole  object,  I  should  wisely  have  declined 
to  resume  the  Presidency  in  J une  last ;  my  success  had  then 
quite  “ satisfied”  my  “highest  ambition,”  and  the  body  of 
the  trade  had  most  handsomely,  as  Mr.  Reynolds’s  letter  re¬ 
minds  me,  “expressed  their  gratitude.” 

But  when  Mr.  Reynolds  suggests  that  my  personal  entan¬ 
glement  with  Mr.  Simon  has  brought  the  Council  into  a  false 
position,  I  feel  bound  to  assure  him,  and  all  who  may  share 
his  opinion,  that  he  is  utterly  mistaken.  If  ever  there  was 
entanglement  between  us,  it  was  of  an  entirely  different  na¬ 
ture  to  the  one  now  implied.  Of  all  opponents  to  the  restric¬ 
tive  clauses  which  the  Privy  Council  sought  to  import  into 
the  Pharmacy  Bill,  I  was  (as  Mr.  Simon  has  said  and  would 
doubtless  say  again,  although  we  may  have  forgiven  past  dif¬ 
ferences)  the  most  “  obstinate.” 

There  is  one  point  of  the  Act  existing  as  proof  of  this, 
which  Mr.  Reynolds  entirely  misinterprets — the  division  of 
the  schedule  of  poisons  into  two  parts.  After  our  Bill  had 
passed  the  Lords,  it  was  proposed  in  the  Commons  to  apply 
all  the  formalities  of  the  “  Arsenic  Act”  to  every  poison  in 
the  schedule.  In  a  long  conference  at  the  Privy  Council 
office  between  Lord  Robert  Montagu,  Mr.  Headlam,  Mr. 
Simon,  and  myself,  I  successfully  opposed  that  proposition. 

Immediately  after,  notices  of  equally  objectionable  amend¬ 
ments  were  put  on  the  paper  of  the  House  by  Mr.  Lowe ; 
one  of  them  even  went  so  far  as  to  prohibit  the  sale  of  more 
than  one' “ medicinal  dose”  of  any  poison  without  the  order 
in  writing  of  a  legally  qualified  medical  practitioner. 

These  amendments  were  discussed  in  the  House,  and,  result¬ 
ing  therefrom,  a  conference  took  place  between  Lord  Elcho, 
Mr.  Lowe,  Mr.  Simon,  Mr.  Hills  and  myself,  which  ended  in 
the  compromise  set  down  in  the  17th  section;  the  division  of 
the  schedule  into  tivo  parts,  in  order  to  liberate  the  articles 
in  more  common  use  from  the  restrictions  applied  to  those  in 
Tart  I. ;  and  the  provision  that  vendors  should  comply  with 
such  regulations  as  might  from  time  to  time  be  made  by  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society,  etc. 

Thus  arose  the  “  tacit  understanding  ”  which  Mr.  Reynolds 
now  seeks  to  stigmatise  as  a  “  secret  treaty ,”  and  which  may 
perhaps  grow  in  his  imagination,  as  it  is  “  pondered  over,” 
into  a  “  conspiracy ;”  it  is  so  easy  to  advance  step  by  step 
when  one  is  predisposed  to  go  in  a  certain  direction. 

The  “tacit  understanding”  is  that  duty  implied  in  the 
words  of  the  first  section,  nothing  more.  The  remedy,  on  the 
Society  failing  in  its  duty,  rests  with  the  House  of  Commons, 
which  was,  and  may  still  be,  in  the  mind  to  pass  a  more 
stringent  measure. 

And  here  let  me  draw  attention  to  Mr.  Reynolds’s  compa¬ 
rison  of  the  style  of  the  1st  and  that  of  the  9th  section.  I  hold 
the  two  occasions  to  be  entirely  dissimilar :  the  latter  refer  to 
a  register  which  was  wanted  for  immediate  use, — indeed  the 
Act  could  not  be  started  without  it, — and  the  order  was  that 
the  Council  “  shall  with  all  convenient  speed  ”  proceed  to 
establish  it. 


As  to  the  first  section,  the  expression  is  not  tb°*  tne  Coun¬ 
cil  “may  make  regulations,”  but  tha<  persons  registered 
under  the  Act  shall  comrlr  *rlth  such  regulations  as  may 
from  time  to  time  be  made.  This  surely  implies  not  simply  a 
power  to  make,  but  an  expectation  that  regulations  will  be  made. 

Speaking  of  this  “expectation”  reminds  me  of  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  passages  in  Mr.  Reynolds’s  remarkable  letter.  He 
there  charges  some  “ gentlemen  officially  connected  with  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society”  with  suborning  evidence  to  suit  the 
purposes  of  the  Council.  I  can  form  no  idea  of  the  persons  to 
whom  he  alludes,  and  although  he  talks  of  having  “  the  best 
authority”  for  this  assertion,  I  feel  pretty  confident  he  has 
been  “  gammoned.”  The  editors  of  the  Pall  Mall  and  Lancet 
will  probably  give  us  some  enlightenment  on  the  point. 

I  read  another  article,  couched  in  rather  strong  terms,  in 
the  British  Medical  Journal  of  last  week;  perhaps  Mr. 
Reynolds  will  attribute  that  to  the  same  source  ? 

Mr.  Reynolds  chooses  to  call  the  Pharmacy  Bill  of  1865  an 
“  expensive  failure.”  It  certainly  was  not  expensive ;  and, 
although  it  failed  to  pass,  it  paved  the  way  for  the  Act  of 
1868,  and  I  cannot  in  any  way  admit  that  we  have  shown 
want  of  good  faith  in  mentioning  the  obstruction  which  cer¬ 
tain  Chemists  and  Druggists  caused  to  that  Bill,  or  in  our 
bearing  towards  them  since. 

The  assertion  in  the  “statement  of  reasons”  that  the  Bill 
“No.  2”  was  the  first  Pharmacy  Bill  containing  Poison 
clauses  is  perfectly  true.  The  Society  had  always  previously 
held,  that  although  the  education  of  the  vendors  should  be  an 
imperative  condition  of  any  Poison  Bill,  yet  the  provisions 
for  their  education,  and  the  regulations  for  the  trade  in  poisons 
should  be  contained  in  two  distinct  Acts  of  Parliament. 

Mr.  Reynolds  takes  exception  to  the  conduct  of  the  Council 
in  delegating  to  a  committee  the  “  revision  and  issue  of  the 
statement  of  reasons.”  I  can  only  tell  him  the  paper  so  com¬ 
mitted  was  carefully  read  over  and  approved  by  the  Council, 
and  the  Committee  had  no  power  to  alter  it,  beyond  making 
the  verbal  changes  rendered  necessary  by  the  discussion  of 
the  morning. 

And  now,  Sir,  although  my  letter  may  already  appear  too 
long,  I  must  add  a  word  or  two  on  the  “representative”  cha¬ 
racter  of  our  Council.  Admitting  fully  that  we  are  but  de¬ 
legates,  I  hold  that  we  are  delegated  to  sit  in  Council,  and 
there  to  exercise  our  judgment ;  frequently ,  and  in  such  cases 
as  this  especially,  to  promote  action  on  the  part  of  the  So¬ 
ciety  when  that  action  tends  to  the  common  good ;  and  that 
in  the  matter  of  these  regulations  the  Society  icill  act  for 
itself,  not  by  its  delegates.  It  will  be  a  bad  day  for  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society  when  its  Council  is  deprived  of  the  right  of 
private  judgment,  and  when  the  members  of  the  Society  cease 
to  respect  themselves  in  the  persons  of  their  representatives  ! 

Piccadilly,  Feb.  21  st,  1871.  George  W.  Sandeord. 


The  Journal,  the  Council  and  the  Poison 
Regulations. 

Sir, — In  retiring  from  the  Council  a  few  months  ago  I 
hoped  to  have  been  able  to  leave  entirely,  or  at  least  for  a 
considerable  time,  the  troubled  arena  of  pharmaceutical  politics  ; 
and  were  it  not  for  a  matter  in  which  the  honour  and  indepen¬ 
dence  of  the  “Journal”  is  concerned,  I  should  even  now  have 
allowed  my  views  on  recent  events  to  have  remained  unex¬ 
pressed. 

Does  the  Council  need  to  be  reminded  that  the  “Journal” 
is  the  property  of  the  Society,  and  that,  so  far  as  they  have 
control  over  it,  such  power  is  only  held  in  trust  for  the  So¬ 
ciety  ?  If  they  recognize  this  fact,  I  would  ask  how  they  can 
justify  the  employment  of  its  official  portions  for  purposes 
of  partisan  warfare  ?  I  put  it  thus  pointedly,  for  no  one  who 
has  closely  followed  the  tone  of  the  leading  articles  relating  to 
the  “Poison  Regulations”  can  fail  to  see  where  the  Editor 
ceases  to  speak  for  himself,  and  becomes,  under  pressure,  the 
mere  mouthpiece  of  a  party  who  chance  to  be  in  power. 

It  happens  that  a  majority  of  the  present  Council  favour 
the  imposition  upon  the  whole  trade  of  certain  “  poison  regu¬ 
lations,”  and  an  attitude  of  obsequious  obedicnco  to  the  me¬ 
dical  officer  of  the  Privy  Council ;  whilst  an  influential  mino¬ 
rity,  backed  by  the  sense  of  the  members  at  large,  as  ascer¬ 
tained  at  the  last  Anniversary  Meeting,  desire  independence 
of  action  within  the  limits  of  distinct  (not  imaginary)  obliga¬ 
tions.  Now,  if  the  majority  of  the  Council,  without  any  know¬ 
ledge  of  the  feeling  of  their  constituents,  endeavoured  only  to 
crush  the  opinion  of  the  minority  by  insisting  that  their 
particular  views  should  be  advocated  in  a  manner  not  open 


698 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  [February  25,  1871 


to  those  wim  differ  from  them,  it  might  be  regarded  simply 
as  an  instance  of  very  L<v<3  taste ;  but  to  take  such  action  in 
the  face  of  the  decision  of  a  general  meeting  of  the  members 
of  the  Society  (the  proprietors  of  the  Journal),  is  an  exhibi¬ 
tion  of  tyranny  in  the  use  of  temporary  power,  that  needs  a 
worse  name  than  discourtesy. 

I  possibly  feel  this  the  more  strongly  as  I  had  the  misfor¬ 
tune  to  belong  to  that  minority  of  the  Council  who,  holding 
with  the  late  Jacob  Bell  that  “  the  only  practicable  safeguard 
to  the  public  is  the  proper  qualification  of  all  persons  who 
administer  or  deal  in  poisonous  substances ,”  have  objected  to 
the  imposition  of  regulations  the  inconvenience  of  which  to 
the  trade  as  a  compulsory  enactment  their  vei’y  authors 
acknowledge,  whilst  not  even  their  authors  have  ventured  to 
predict  that  any  real  advantage  to  the  public  would  follow 
their  adoption.  Would  it  not  have  been  more  dignified  if  the 
leading  articles,  instead  of  reproducing,  without  contradiction 
or  explanation,  paragraphs  from  other  periodicals  either  false 
in  fact  or  false  in  the  impression  they  are  intended  to  convey 
to  the  public  mind,  had  been  devoted  to  upholding  the  posi¬ 
tion  of  the  Society  and  vindicating  its  honour?  But  the 
honour  of  the  body  is  sacrificed,  because  it  suits  the  purpose 
of  a  portion  of  the  Council  that  the  members  should  be 
frightened.  In  Mr.  Bell’s  days  chemists  looked  to  the 
“  Journal”  for  their  defence  against  all  outside  enemies,  and 
they  were  never  disappointed.  It  is  a  painful  reflection  that 
now  they  are  compelled  to  band  themselves  into  associations 
for  defence,  not  so  much  against  the  outside  public  as  against 
the  acts  of  their  own  Council. 

There  were  many  methods  open  to  the  Council  of  explain¬ 
ing  its  attitude  of  antagonism  to  the  ascertained  opinon  of 
its  constituents,  if  explanation  had  been  the  object  sought. 
Obviously,  the  right  method  would  have  been  to  have  invited 
the  presence  of  reporters  at  the  Council  meetings  when  these 
matters  were  discussed,  but  it  seems  that  that  is  much  too 
liberal  a  measure  for  the  present  body.  Still  there  were  many 
others,  such  as,  for  instance,  the  circular  which  has  beenrecently 
issued  to  the  members.  This  particular  document  may  not 
be  very  effective — it  would  be  odd  indeed  if  three  foolscap 
pages  of  weak  excuses  did  not  carry  their  own  condemna¬ 
tion,  yet  it  has  an  interesting  phase  in  the  light  it  sheds  on 
the  authorship  of  at  least  one  of  the  anonymous  letters  that 
have  appeared  in  the  Journal — but  its  issue  is  no  outrage 
on  the  independence  of  the  periodical  which  represents,  or 
ought  to  represent,  the  Society  at  large. 

Will  you  allow  me  to  add  a  few  words  touching  the  pro¬ 
posed  regulations  ?  One  of  your  correspondents  ridicules  the 
notion  of  police,  or  indeed  of  any  inspection  of  pharmacies, 
under  the  impression  apparently  that  “  inspection  ”  is  a  bug¬ 
bear  invented  by  objectors,  and  that  it  is  a  step  which  has  never 
been  entertained  by  the  official  mind.  Does  he  forget  that  Lord 
Derby’s  Bill,  which  passed  the  House  of  Lords,  provided  for 
the  appointment  of  examining  inspectors ;  and  that  in  Mr. 
Walpole’s  Bill,  also  a  Government  measure,  the  principle  of 
police  inspection  was  a  prominent  feature  ?  Can  anybody 
suppose  the  chance  of  such  interference  to  be  less  now  that 
we  are  unfortunately  under  the  guardianship  of  the  Privy 
Council  than  when,  as  heretofore,  directly  responsible  to  the 
Government  in  the  person  of  the  Home  Secretary  ?  If  there 
be  such  an  one,  let  him  study  the  way  the  Privy  Council  (or 
their  medical  officer)  used  their  newly-found  powers  when 
the  Bye-laws  and  the  Board  of  Examiners  were  matters  under 
consideration.  Surely  it  is  humiliation  enough  that  our 
Council  were  then  compelled  to  rescind  previous  resolutions, 
and.  to  enact  laws  referring  to  the  internal  eaonomy  of  the 
Society  which  they  did  not  approve,  in  order  to  save  its  whole 
machinery  from  being  brought  to  a  dead-lock  by  that  body. 
If  he.  wishes  to  know  something  of  the  Privy  Council  and 
their  ideas  of  inspection,  he  might  further  study  with  advan¬ 
tage  their  relation  to  the  medical  profession  in  the  matter  of  the 
vaccinatum  Acts ;  and  if  he  desires  to  estimate  the  efficiency 
of  their  system  as  affecting  public  safety,  he  may  find  his  data 
m  the  weekly  mortality  rates,  or  in  a  recent  speech  in  the 
House  of  Commons  by  the  IMember  for  "Westminster 

One  \\ord  more,  and  I  have  done,  and  that  on  a  subject 
which  forbodes  ill  in  its  present  aspect,  namely,  the  want  of 
unity  which  seems  to  exist  between  “town"  and  “countrv” 
interests,  arising  chiefly  from  want  of  knowledge  of  the  various 
conditions  of  business.  This  was  very  manifest  at  the  last 
anniversary  meeting,  not  so  much  perhaps  in  respect  to  the 
“poison”  question  as  in  some  others  that  were  then  dis¬ 
cussed.  Apart  from  principle,  and  the  certainty  of  a  system  of 


inspection  to  follow,  it  can  make  little  practical  difference  to 
the  leading  London  chemist  what  regulations  are  made  touch¬ 
ing  storage.  He  need  hardly  keep  half  the  substances  known 
as  poisons,  and  his  stock  can  be  renewed  at  a  few  minutes’ 
notice  from  his  druggist  or  manufacturer ;  but  it  is  a  very 
different  thing  to  men  holding  a  similar  position  in  small  or 
middle-sized  towns,  and  I  am  assured  by  some  so  situated 
that  they  find  it  almost  impracticable  to  carry  out  faithfully 
even  the  regulations  already  in  force  under  the  Act. 

The  imposition  of  an  irrevocable  code  of  restrictions,  whilst 
the  present  difference  of  opinion  exists  as  to  their  general 
practicability,  would  be  an  act  of  great  injustice  ;  but  let  the 
Council  of  the  Society  recommend  any  well-considered  scheme 
for  voluntary  adoption,  and  every  chemist  will  give  effect  to 
it  to  the  extent  of  his  power.  If  this  course  were  taken,  no 
Parliament  would  sanction  interference  until  it  could  be 
shown  to  be  inefficient;  and  until  then  any  compulsory  legis¬ 
lation  on  the  part  of  our  own  body  is  premature.  Let  town 
and  country  members  pull  together  heartily,  and  we  need  fear 
little  from  outside. 

Newcastle-on-Tyne,  Henby  B.  Beady. 

Feb.  20th,  1871.  ___ 

Poison  Regulations. 

Sir, — Much  has  been  written  in  our  Journal  about  the 
storing  and  dispensing  of  poisons ;  truly,  it  is  a  question  of 
great  importance  to  the  trade,  should  the  recommendations 
of  Council  be  adopted,  they  will  entail  more  and  “  quite  un¬ 
necessary”  labour.  Surely  our  labours  are  more  than  suffi¬ 
cient  for  our  remuneration.  I  do  think  the  law,  as  it  at  pre¬ 
sent  stands,  is  quite  sufficient  to  guard  the  public  against  any 
mistakes.  I  should  like  statistics  to  be  produced  for  the  last 
twenty  years  of  poisoning  and  suicides,  and  I  dare  be  bound 
that  a  very  small  percentage  has  arisen  from  the  carelessness 
of  chemists. 

As  to  the  poison-closet,  is  it  not  likely  to  lead  to  more  ac¬ 
cidents,  especially  where  young  men  are  kept ;  for  instance, 
one  is  preparing  a  prescription  containing  three  active  poi¬ 
sons,  belladonna,  aconite  and  morphia;  he  goes  to  this  closet 
and  takes  out  those  three  bottles,  compounds  his  prescription, 
and  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten  leaves  those  poisonous  bottles  on 
the  counter :  thisjnight  lead  to  very  serious  results ;  whereas, 
were  those  bottles  on  the  shelves  as  at  present  (of  course, 
marked  “poison”),  he  would  take  one  down,  and  replace  it 
when  done  with.  Indeed,  my  opinion  is  that  all  the  arrange¬ 
ments  for  storing  and  dispensing  medicines  ought  to  be  left 
entirely  in  the  hands  of  chemists  themselves.  Surely,  we  as- 
a  body  of  responsible  agents  will  and  do  take  every  precau¬ 
tion  to  guard  against  mistakes. 

Chemists  in  every  town  ought  to  petition  Parliament  not 
to  legislate  in  this  most  important  matter,  till  the  present  law 
is  found  to  be  inadequate.  Of  course,  it  is  of  great  importance 
to  us  to  guard  against  mistakes,  knowing  the  penalty,  the  for¬ 
feiture  of  our  reputation,  and  perhaps  the  ruin  of  our  families. 
This  is  more  binding  than  closets  or  curious  capped  bottles,  ctc- 

In  conclusion,  I  hope  the  chemists  in  every  town  will  be¬ 
stir  themselves  and  ask  their  representatives  in  Parliament 
to  oppose  such  an  absurd  system  in  drug  shops  as  poison- 
closets.  Why,  the  whole  shop  might  be  placed  in  it,  their 
name  being  “legion.” 

Liverpool.  _  Pestle. 

Sir, — It  was  my  intention  to  have  written  some  strictures 
upon  the  “statement”  of  reasons  sent  out  by  the  Society, 
but  some  of  your  correspondents — prominentlv  Mr.  Reynolds 
— have  so  clearly  demonstrated  its  inconsistency,  and  so  ex¬ 
haustively  treated  the  entire  subject,  that  nothing  remains 
for  me  but  to  enter  my  protest,  along  with  my  brother  drug¬ 
gists,  against  any  further  restrictions  being  placed  upon  our 
trade,  but  more  especially  against  the  position  taken  by  the 
Pharmaceutical  Council  in  reference  to  this  question.  Had 
there  been  any  real  desire  to  “protect  the  public,”  the  pro¬ 
posed  regulations  must  necessarily  have  extended  to  all 
places  where  poisons  were  stored,  and  consequently  to  the 
dispensaries  of  public  institutions,  as  well  as  to  the  “'surge¬ 
ries”  of  all  medical  men.  It  is  by  no  means  difficult  to 
prove  that  the  public  safety  would  have  been  much  better 
conserved  by  a  strict  surveillance  of  the  last-named  establish¬ 
ments  than  by  any  trade  restrictions  placed  upon  chemists 
and  druggists.  It  is  a  notorious  fact  that  the  dispensing  of 
medical  practitioners  is  often  carried  on  in  the  most  fla¬ 
grantly  careless  manner,  and,  so  far  as  the  poor  dispenser  is, 


February  25,  1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


GOD 


concerned,  under  the  greatest  possible  difficulties.  The  entire 
“stock  in  trade”  of  a  surgeon  in  what  is  termed  a  good  prac¬ 
tice  will  often  not  exceed  five  pounds  sterling,  whilst  the 
heterogeneous  character  of  the  storing  bottles  would  utterly 
appal  the  “public”  were  it  admitted  to  a  private  seance. 
The  most  dangerous  drugs  or  compounds  may  be  seen  stand¬ 
ing  side  by  side  with  the  most  harmless,  both  of  them  bear¬ 
ing  a  dirty  paper  label,  illegibly  written,  and  only  distinguish¬ 
able  upon  the  minutest  inspection.  The  morphia  or  strych¬ 
nine  will  be  dispensed  by  a  neophyte  in  the  shape  of  an 
errand-boy.  Yet,  forsooth,  these  “establishments”  are  to 
be  exempt  from  any  supervision,  whilst  the  well-conducted 
and  expensively- fitted  shop  or  dispensary  of  the  chemist, 
where  neatness,  order,  cleanliness,  and  everything  that  is 
calculated  to  ensure  the  public  against  accident  is  strictly 
observed,  must  be  periodically  invaded  by  some  officious  Mr. 
Bumble.  At  whose  instigation,  I  wonder,  or  for  whose  be¬ 
hoof  are  those  changes  to  be  made  ?  To  my  mind,  it  seems 
something  very  like  an  “understanding”  somewhere  or  other, 
which  should  be  most  vigorously  protested  against  by  the 
trade,  and  that,  too,  in  good  time.  I  should  much  like  to 
see  our  Council  change  their  position,  and,  instead  of  any 
“understandings”  with  the  Medical  Council,  trying  only  to 
fulfil  their  trust  by  seeking  to  advance  the  practice  of  phar¬ 
macy,  and  to  protect  the  interests  of  our  trade. 

Chemist. 

[***  Whatever  may  be  the  proper  view  to  take  as  to  the 
proposed  regulations,  we  cannot  agree  with  the  opinion  that 
they  should  not  be  adopted  because  medical  men  neglect  them. 
That  argument,  at  least,  appears  to  be  fallacious. — Ed. 
Pharm.  Journ.] 


Sir, — So  many  opinions  have  been  expressed  in  your 
Journal  for  and  against  regulations  for  the  storage  and  dis¬ 
pensing  of  poisons  that  I  almost  blush  to  add  to  the  corre¬ 
spondence,  but  the  time  seems  to  have  arrived  for  inquiring, 
“  What  is  it  all  about  ?” 

We  have  had  proposals,  counter  proposals,  appeals  to  com¬ 
mon  sense,  and  appeals  to  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society.  We  have  “  caught  the  ear”  of  the  Council.  A  docu¬ 
ment  is  forwarded  to  us,  setting  forth  the  absolute  necessity 
of  passing  poison  regulations ;  and  what  is  more,  it  assures 
us  that  the  regulations,  only  passed,  can  become  a  dead  letter. 
Is  there  any  necessity  to  doubt  the  word  of  our  Council  after 
such  a  manifesto  ?  Is  it  not  apparent  that  the  whole  affair 
has  been  a  practical  joke,  Mr.  Simon  and  our  Council  shaking 
their  sides  with  laughter  while  we  have  been  shaking  with 
apprehension.  At  least,  no  other  conclusion  can  be  drawn  by 

M.P.S.  by  Election. 

Brighton,  February  8th,  1871. 

Sir, — Are  pharmaceutical  chemists  considered  capable  of 
managing  their  own  businesses,  and  is  it  intended  to  exempt 
“examined  members”  from  the  proposed  restrictions  regard¬ 
ing  the  storage  of  poisons  (thus  placing  them  on  an  equal 
footing  with  surgeons)  ?  If  not,  of  what  earthly  use  is  our 
Society,  and  for  what  purpose  has  our  time  and  money  been 
spent?  I  protest  against  interference  on  the  part  of  a 
clique,  who  always  want  something  to  do,  feeling  convinced 
if  personal  considerations  fail  to  ensure  carefulness  every¬ 
thing  else  must.  Edward  Beers  Eord. 

Rontypool,  Feb.  20th,  1871. 


Sir, — May  I  ask  why  chemists  and  druggists  are  picked 
out  by  Government  for  surveillance  by  the  Privy  Council 
while  oilmen,  etc.,  though  selling  equally  dangerous  poisons 
unlabelled  and  without  a  caution,  are  permitted  to  go  scot 
free?  George  Eade. 

72,  Gosioell  Road,  February  1  Oth,  1871. 


Sir, — Permit  me,  as  an  old  hand,  to  suggest  to  the  Council 
the  propriety  of  sending  a  printed  paper  to  each  chemist  in 
the  kingdom,  through  the  respective  secretaries,  to  solicit 
their  ideas  relative  to  the  using  and  storing  of  poisons  ;  also 
to  ascertain,  as  far  as  practicable,  the  number  of  deaths 
known  to  each,  traceable  to  chemists. 

I  believe  if  this  was  done,  the  Council  and  also  Government 
would  be  satisfied  to  leave  us  alone,  and  not  burden  us  with 
rules  and  regulations,  which,  in  the  end,  would  produce  more 
loss  of  life  than  there  is  under  the  present  circumstances. 

Cheltenham,  February  17th,  1871.  JonN  Finch. 


The  Application  of  Disinfectants. 

Sir, — A  few  days  since  a  Darmstadt  physician  called  on 
me,  and  said  that  he  had  just  arrived  from  Germany,  in  con¬ 
sequence  of  his  brother  having  been  seized  with  typhoid  fever. 
The  patient,  a  clerk  in  a  City  house,  occupied  good  apart¬ 
ments,  and  his  medical  attendant  desired  that  he  should  not 
be  removed.  The  inmates  objected  to  having  their  dwelling 
rendered  uninhabitable  by  strongly-smelling  disinfectants, 
and  insisted  on  the  use  of  an  odourless  disinfectant,  or  the 
removal  of  the  patient.  Under  these  circumstances  I  was 
asked  to  suggest  what  might  be  done.  Chlor-alum  was 
placed  in  cloths  and  in  dishes  in  the  room ;  it  was  diffused  as 
a  spray,  and  employed  in  the  chamber  utensils.  The  patient 
died,  and  the  bedding  and  other  articles  were  dipped  in  chlor- 
alum,  then  washed  out  in  pure  water,  and  lastly  boiled  and 
washed  with  soap  and  water. 

My  reason  for  publishing  these  details  is  to  draw  attention 
to  the  fact  that  the  agents  mentioned  in  your  recent  article,* 
with  the  exception  of  Condy’s  lluid,  which  is  firmly  be¬ 
lieved  by  some  good  authorities  not  to  be  a  fever -poison 
destroyer,  could  not  have  been  used,  and  are  often  not  used, 
when  on  sanitary  grounds  the  application  of  a  disinfectant  is 
of  paramount  importance. 

Since  you  have  furnished  a  statement  of  the  methods 
adopted  in  using  carbolic  acid,  chloride  of  lime,  sulphurous 
acid,  and  other  disinfectants,  it  may  not  be  uninteresting  to 
your  readers  to  have,  in  a  few  words,  the  rules  which  may  be 
laid  down  for  the  employment  of  chloride  of  aluminium  and 
its  compounds. 

We  all  know  the  importance  of  clearing  a  sick-room  of 
superabundant  furniture  and  trappings.  If  to  light  muslin 
curtains  over  the  doors,  windows  and  bed,  cotton-wool  or 
wadding,  treated  with  chlor-alum,  be  pinned,  antiseptic  air- 
filters  of  great  value  are  readily  improvised. 

A  slight  modification  of  Dr.  Siegle’s  inhaler,  made  by 
Messrs.  Krohne  and  Sesemann,  of  Duke  Street,  Manchester 
Square,  affords  a  means  for  purifying  every  particle  of  air  in 
a  chamber  by  volatilizing  a  solution  of  one  part  of  chlor-alum 
to  twenty  of  water. 

In  the  chamber  commode  and  utensils  some  chlor-alum 
solution,  or  a  powder  which  contains  30  per  cent,  of  chloride 
of  aluminium,  will  be  of  the  greatest  advantage.  The  late 
Mr.  Francis  Taylor,  of  Hornsey,  Hampshire,  was  the  first  to 
use  chlor-alum  powder  in  earth- closets,  and  wrote  me  repeat¬ 
edly  concerning  the  great  efficacy  of  the  material.  He  had 
long  been  seeking  an  agent  for  this  purpose,  and  his  un¬ 
timely  death  prevented  the  fulfilment  of  a  kind  wish  he  had 
expressed  of  paying  London  a  visit,  with  a  view  to  discuss 
with  me  the  whole  subject  of  the  disinfection  of  the  excreta 
of  the  sick,  and  the  application  of  the  earth-closet  system. 

Dr.  Septimus  Gibbon  was  the  first  to  draw  attention  to  the 
fact  that  chlor-alum  acted  under  certain  circumstances  very 
actively  on  vegetable  fibres,  and  lie  was  led  to  doubt  its 
applicability  to  the  disinfection  of  clothing.  I  have  sought 
information  from  Manchester  people,  and  was  astonished  to 
find  that  drying  wet  clothes  before  a  fire,  and  manyr  other 
simple  expedients  commonly  resorted  to,  rotted  the  cotton 
fibre.  This  rotting  is  the  bane  of  the  bleacher.  From  the 
fact  that  we  had  used  cotton-filters  for  months  without  injury 
to  their  structure,  I  was  led  to  try  some  experiments,  and  I 
find  chlor-alum  the  most  harmless  of  disinfectants  for  clothes 
and  bedding.  The  following  rules  must  be  attended  to,  viz.: 

A  solution  of  1  part  of  chlor-alum  (which  is  a  30  per  cent, 
solution  of  chloride  of  aluminium)  in  20,  30,  or  even  40  parts 
of  water  should  be  used  in  which  to  steep  the  articles  to  be 
disinfected.  The  longer  they  steep,  the  better ;  but  a  few 
minutes  of  complete  submersion  suffice.  A  golden  maxim 
in  disinfection  is  that  liquid  contact  is  more  effectual  for  de¬ 
struction  than  dry  contact  between  fever  germs  and  the  dis¬ 
infectant.  The  clothes  thus  steeped  are  allowed  to  drip,  or 
the  liquid  wrung  out  of  them.  They  are  then  placed  in  pure 
water,  and,  having  been  well  steeped,  may  be  placed  again  in 
pure  water.  Warm  water  washed  the  chlor-alum  out  most 
rapidly.  After  this,  the  articles  may  be  boiled  and  washed 
as  usual.  The  most  delicate  fabrics  can  be  treated  in  this 
way,  and  not  a  particle  of  contagious  matter  can  escape  attack. 

Chlor-alum,  being  odourless  and  harmless,  can  be  used  in 
the  sick-room  wdthout  danger  or  inconvenience. 

John  Gamgee. 

1,  Great  Winchester  Street  Buildings,  F.C. 


*  See  ante,  page  625. 


700 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[February  25,  1871. 


Poisonous  Confectionery. 

Sir, — In  your  Journal  of  the  14th  ult., you  reporta  case 
in  which  two  tradesmen  at  Dublin  were  fined  for  selling  poison¬ 
ous  confectionery.  I  regret  to  say  this  practice  is  not  con¬ 
fined  to  that  city.  A  short  time  since  I  purchased  some  com¬ 
fits  of  a  most  respectable  tradesman  in  Oxford  Street,  and  my 
suspicions  being  aroused  by  the  brilliant  colours  of  some  of 
the  sweets,  I  examined  them  and  found  that  chromate  of 
lead,  vermilion  and  other  metallic  poisons  had  been  used  in 
their  manufacture. 

On  complaining  to  the  vendor,  he  expressed  his  regret,  fur¬ 
nished  me  with  the  address  of  the  manufacturers,  and  said  he 
would  at  once  close  his  account  with  them,  although  he  had 
been  a  customer  for  many  years. 

Wishing  to  do  my  utmost  to  repress  an  evil  so  pernicious  to 
the  health  of  children,  I  addressed  to  the  firm  the  following 
letter : — • 

“  January  2 6th,  1871. 

“  Gentlemen, — I  recently  purchased  some  comfits  for  my 
children  from  Mr.  — ,  but  having  some  suspicion  of  their  ap¬ 
pearance,  I  have  examined  them,  and  find  the  colouring- 
matter  to  be  chromate  of  lead,  vermilion  and  other  metallic 
ingredients  of  a  poisonous  character.  On  complaining  to  Mr. 
— ,  he  has  given  me  your  names  as  the  manufacturers.  Should 
you  be  indifferent  of  the  consequences  likely  to  arise  (espe¬ 
cially  to  very  young  and  delicate  children)  from  swallowing 
such  noxious  compounds,  I  would  remind  you  that  by  using 
such  colouring  matters  in  your  manufacture, '  you  render 
yourselves  liable  to  a  penalty.  If  you  refer  to  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Journal  of  January  14th,  you  will  find  the  report 
of  a  case  just  decided  in  Dubiin,  where  two  tradesmen  were 
fined  for  using  similar  ingredients  in  confectionery. 

“  After  this  intimation  I  hope  you  will  see  the  policy,  if 
not  influenced  by  better  motives,  to  at  once  discontinue  this 
objectionable  practice  ;  but  should  I  find  at  a  future  examina¬ 
tion  that  these  poisonous  compounds  are  still  used  by  you,  I 
shall  consider  it  my  duty,  in  every  possible  way,  to  aid  in  the 
suppression  of  an  evil,  the  extent  of  which  we  can  hardly 
estimate. 

“  I  am,  gentlemen,  your  obedient  servant, 

“  J.  Eobbins.” 

To  which  I  received  the  accompanying  reply : — 

“London,  January  27th,  1871. 

“  Sir, — In  reply  to  your  letter  respecting  colours  used  in 
our  trade,  we  beg  to  say  that  the  public  have  it  entirely  in 
their  own  hands ;  for  example,  in  an  article  called  barley- 
sugar,  there  is  not  a  particle  of  colour  in  it  ;  how  much  more 
wholesome  to  have  that  and  several  others  without  these 
glaring  colours !  which,  we  are  informed  must  contain  more 
or  less  of  some  chemical,  which,  if  not  prejudicial,  at  least 
has  a  tendency  that  way.  We  have  our  colours  from 

Messrs. - ,  who  are  perfectly  aware  that  any  deleterious 

compound  would  be  injurious  to  us,  if  it  made  children  ill 
(for  our  trade  lies  to  a  great  extent  amongst  the  youngsters) ; 
we,  therefore,  always  impress  upon  them  to  let  us  have  our 
colours  as  free  from  these  noxious  ingredients  as  possible. 

“If  you  can  suggest  to  Messrs.  -  what  to  send  us 

(that  will  answer  our  purpose),  for  we  are  only  too  anxious 
ourselves  that  the  articles  should  not  only  please,  but  be  bene¬ 
ficial  to  children’s  health,  though,  perhaps,  not  to  their  teeth. 
No  one  can  have  eaten  many  more  of  these  goods  than  our¬ 
selves,  and  yet  our  health  is  in  first-rate  condition. 

“We  heartily  wish  the  public  would  have  all  white  goods, 
it  would  be  a  valuable  boon  to  us,  but  we  fear  they  will  not. 

“We  are,  Sir,  yours  respectfully, 

“  Mr.  Eobbins.”  - — 

#  My  remonstrance  with  the  vendor  may,  I  think,  be  con¬ 
sidered  satisfactory.  So  much  can  hardly  be  said  with  regard 
to  the  manufacturers,  who  it  would  appear  are  determined  to 
supply  a  demand  only  maintained  by  the  ignorance  of  the 
public. 

J anuary  30th,  1871.  J.  Eobbins. 


The  Microscope  and  its  Eevelations. 

Sir,— Deferring  to  Dr.  Carpenter’s  able  lecture  on  the 
above  subject,  wherein  he  states,  “If  any  of  you  are  disposed 
to  begin  the  study  of  the  foraminifera,  and  will  get  the  sponge 
merchants  to  give  you  tlie  sand  that  they  shake  out  of  their 
sponges,  when  these  come  over,  you  will  find  an  immense 
variety  of  foraminifera,  which  will  give  you  plenty  of  occupa¬ 
tion;  and  there  is  nothing  more  easy  to  begin  upon  than  this 
sponge  sand.” 


I  beg  to  inform  those  readers  of  your  Journal  who  are  in¬ 
terested  in  this  valuable  and  instructive  study  that  I  will  give 
them  as  much  sand  as  they  desire  on  application,  or  will  send 
by  post  on  receipt  of  stamps  to  pay  postage. 

It  is  a  matter  of  considerable  pleasure  to  be  able  to  assist 
in  such  a  study.  Fredk.  Hoyenden. 

93  and  95,  City  Load,  "Finsbury  Square,  F.C. 


York  Chemists’  Association. 

Sir, — In  reply  to  the  inquiries  of  your  correspondent 
“Excelsior,”  of  January  28th,  1871,  I  may  inform  him  that 
the  York  Chemists’  Association  is  still  in  existence,  with  its 
President,  Secretary  and  Treasurer  and  members.  Amongst 
its  members  are  some  of  the  best  and  ablest  Pharmaceutical 
Chemists  of  this  city,  who,  from  their  experience  and  know¬ 
ledge,  are  well  able  to  superintend  classes  of  Materia  Medica 
Chemistry  and  Botany  for  the  advancement  of  pharmaceutical 
education  among  the  assistants  and  apprentices  connected 
with  the  trade.  It  has  been  said  we  English  live  in  an  age 
of  wind-bags  and  are  all  going  away  into  wind  and  tongue. 
I  am  sorry  to  say  that,  in  my  opinion,  the  York  Chemists’ 
Association  is  no  exception  to  this  rule.  Nearly  two  years 
ago  the  same  question  now  asked  respecting  this  Association 
was  brought  before  the  members,  who,  I  believe,  talked  of 
doing  something  to  advance  the  education  of  those  under 
their  charge,  seeing  that  the  examination  had  become  com¬ 
pulsory  ;  but  it  ended  in  talk,  for  the  second  winter  has  nearly 
gone  by  and  nothing  has  been  done  as  yet.  Circulars  were 
sent  out  convening  a  meeting  of  the  Association  a  short 
time  ago,  at  which  the  attendance  of  the  members  was  par¬ 
ticularly  requested.  Let  us  hope  they  are  going  to  bestir 
themselves. 

The  York  Chemists’  Association  might  be  made  the  means 
of  doing  a  great  amount  of  good  among  the  young  men  con¬ 
nected  with  the  trade.  I  believe  they  are  not  far  behind 
other  provincial  towns  in  the  knowledge  they  possess  of  their 
business,  yet  there  is  always  something  more  to  learn. 

York,  February  7th,  1871.  An  Assistant. 


“  Senega  ”  (Nottingham). — Alkalies,  or  any  substances  con¬ 
taining  caustic  or  carbonated  alkalies,  would  be  incompatible 
with  chloral  hydrate. 

“ Dolore”  should  apply  to  the  Eegistrar. 

J.  W.  Lasham. — We  should  not  think  you  were  liable  to 
pay  duty  for  a  still  which  is  kept  for  the  purpose  of  show  as 
you  describe. 

A.  Plummer  (Hereford). — We  do  not  know  of  such  a  work. 

“Galen.”— The  formula  has  been  recently  printed  in  this 
Journal,  2nd  Series,  Yol.  XI.  p.  663. 

A.  P.  S. — A  description  of  the  principal  characteristics  of 
the  Natural  Orders  mentioned  is  required.  There  is  no  par¬ 
ticular  reference  to  the  work  mentioned  by  you. 

3.  3.  Pollard  (Eyde). — (1.)  The  Lectures  on  Fermenta¬ 
tion  are  concluded.  (2.)  The  name  is  not  on  the  Eegister  at 
the  address  stated. 

A.  P.  S.  (Swindon). — The  question  as  it  stands  is  too  vague 
for  the  Notes  and  Queries  column. 

“Amicus.” — “  Croco,”  without  the  accent,  is  the  correct 
form. 

Owing  to  want  of  space  we  are  unable  to  answer  several 
inquiries. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  J oumal,’  Feb.  18 ;  the  ‘  Medical  Times  and  Gazette/ 
Feb.  18 ;  the  ‘  Lancet,’  Feb.  18 ;  the  £  Medical  Press  and  Cir¬ 
cular,’  Feb.  23 ;  ‘  Nature/  Feb.  16 ;  the  ‘  Chemical  News,’  Feb. 
17  ;  ‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts/  Feb.  16;  ‘Gardeners’ 
Chronicle,’  Feb.  18 ;  the  ‘  Grocer/  Feb.  18 ;  the  ‘  Chemists  and 
Druggists’  Advocate  ’  for  February ;  ‘  Produce  Markets’  Ee- 
view/  Feb.  18;  the  ‘English  Mechanic/  Feb.  18;  ‘Philadel¬ 
phia  Medical  and  Surgical  Eeporter,’  Nos.  719-724. 


Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  E.  B.  Yizer,  Mr.  E.  Bannister,  Mr.  Bothwell,  Mr.  T.  H. 
Taylor,  Mr.  Mr.  J.  Finch,  Mr.  Wright,  Mr.  C.  Cooke,  Mr.  E. 
Eeynolds,  Mr.  Laxom,  Mr.  Carteighe,  Mr.  C.  Ekin,  Mr.  J  ones, 
Mr.  E.  Mumbray,  Mr.  E.  Eaynor,  Mr.  H.  Hogg,  Mr.  S, 
Dean,  Mr.  T.  Gregory,  H.  D.,  j.  R.  M.,  W.  P.,  J.  P.,  A.  P., 
A.  P.  S.,  “  Fairplay,”  “  Chemist,”  “  Podophylhn,”  “  Beta,” 
“American,”  “Forceps,”  “Medicina,”  “  Lux.” 


March  ±,  1871.] 


THE  P HARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


701 


CHLORAL  HYDRATE  AND  CHLORAL 
ALCOHOLATE. 

C2  CI3  H  0,  H2  O.— C2  Cl3  H  O,  C2  Hc  O. 

BY  DR.  F.  VERS  MANN. 

The  sale  and  use  of  chloral  hydrate  has  of  late  so 
largely  increased,  that  it  becomes  necessary  to  be 
quite  certain  of  the  quality  of  the  articles,  and  of  the 
exactness  of  the  method  of  testing  it.  In  analysing 
a  great  many  samples,  from,  I  believe,  almost  every 
maker,  I  was  naturally  led  to  inquire  into  the  phy¬ 
sical  properties  of  the  hydrate,  and  also  of  the 
chloral  alcoholate  which  may  possibly  be  met  with 
in  the  market  as  a  substitute  for  the  former. 

Dr.  Paul,  in  his  article  in  this  Journal  of  4th 
ult.,  has  drawn  attention  to  the  difference  in  the 
crystalline  forms  in  which  the  hydrate  is  sold ;  this 
is,  no  doubt,  owing  to  the  different  solvents  employed 
for  recrystallization.  Thus,  a  concentrated  aqueous 
solution,  placed  under  the  air-pump,  gives  rhomboid 
crystals,  ether  gives  small  hard  crystals,  acetone 
fine  needles,  warm  benzole  supersaturated  deposits 
on  cooling  also  fine  needles ;  whereas  a  solution  in 
benzole,  allowed  gradually  to  evaporate,  deposits 
large  crystals  sometimes  £  in.  long.  Bisulphide  of 
carbon  in  same  manner  yields  either  fine  needles  or 
large  crystals.  A  saturated  alcoholic  solution  gives 
beautiful  long  feathery  crystals.  I  obtained  some 
14  in.  long,  which  have  all  the  appearance  of  the 
alcoholate,  and  which  were  found  to  be  so.  This  is 
remarkable,  and  may  possibly  account  for  the  fact  of 
one  sample,  obtained  as  hydrate,  being  pure  alcohol¬ 
ate,  as  the  manufacturer  may  have  recrystallized 
the  impure  hydrate  from  alcohol  without  being 
aware  of  the  change  produced. 

The  hydrate  is  extremely  hygroscopic,  the  more 
so  the  smaller  the  crystals  are.  10  grains  of  fine 
needles  left  in  an  open  vessel  became  quite  fluid  in 
a  day,  whereas  the  same  quantity  of  hard  crystals 
became  only  opaque,  and  again  transparent  the  fol¬ 
lowing  day.  But  in  both  forms  the  compound  is  so 
volatile  at  ordinary  temperature,  that  the  first  had 
completely  evaporated  after  five  days,  carrying  away 
with  it  the  moisture  absorbed,  and  the  last  in  eight 
days. 

The  hydrate  is  extremely  soluble  in  water,  100 
parts  of  water  dissolve  as  much  as  360  parts  of  dry 
crystals ;  the  alcoholate  is  also  soluble  in  water,  but 
to  a  much  smaller  extent,  and  much  slower. 

In  fact,  the  two  may  be  readily  distinguished  in 
the  following  manner : — Take  a  pretty  wide  beaker- 
glass,  6  or  8  in.  high,  full  of  water,  drop  a  few  crys¬ 
tals  into  it :  the  hydrate  sinks  down  at  once,  and  is 
almost  dissolved  before  it  reaches  the  bottom.  With 
the  alcoholate  the  larger  crystals  only  will  sink  to 
the  bottom,  and  lie  there  for  several  minutes  before 
they  gradually  and  very  slowly  disappear ;  but  small 
crystals  or  fragments  of  crystals  will  float  on  the 
surface  of  the  water,  and  as  soon  as  they  are  at¬ 
tacked  by  the  water,  the  slight  current  of  the  saline 
solution  sinking  down  occasions  sufficient  disturb¬ 
ance  to  apparently  impart  life  to  the  solid  particles, 
— they  begin  to  spin  round  and  round,  and  dart  from 
one  side  of  the  beaker  to  the  other,  until  the  very 
last  solid  particle  has  disappeared.  This  is  not  only 
a  very  pretty  and  amusing  sight,  but  it  is  really  a 
distinctive  mark  between  the  hydrate  and  the  alco¬ 
holate.  Slightly  tepid  water  makes  the  action  even 
more  violent. 

The  specific  gravities  of  solutions  in  water  of  the 

Third  Series,  No.  36. 


two  compounds  also  show  a  great  difference,  as  will 
be  seen  by  the  following  figures  : — 

Temp.  15'5°  C.  (G0°  F.)  Hydrate.  Alcoholate. 

20  per  cent,  solution .  .  .  1085  1072 

15  „  „  ...  1062  1050 

10  „  „  ...  1040  1028 

5  „  „  ...  1019  1007 

The  specific  gravity  of  the  two  substances  in  the 
liquid  state  is  another  criterion,  that  of  the  hydrate 
being  1610  at  49°  C.  (120°  F.),  and  of  the  alcoholate 
1143  at  40°  C.  (104°  F.) 

I  do  not  attach  any  value  to  the  boiling-point  as  a 
test  for  purity,  and  for  this  reason.  Both  hydrate 
and  alcoholate  at  that  temperature  begin  to  decom¬ 
pose  into  chloral  and  water  or  alcohol  respectively, 
and  it  is  sometimes  extremely  difficult  to  take  cor¬ 
rect  observations.  I  have  had  undoubtedly  good 
samples  of  hydrate  commencing  to  boil  only  above 
100°  C.,  and  of  alcoholate  commencing  to  boil  at 
80°  C. 

So  far  I  have  treated  the  two  substances  sepa¬ 
rately,  but  if  the  alcoholate  really  should  be  intro¬ 
duced  as  an  adulterant,  the  direct  proof  of  alcohol 
will  become  necessary.  For  this  purpose  Lieben’s 
method  is  the  best,  who  converts  the  alcohol  into 
iodoform,  and  detects  minute  quantities. 

All  the  samples  I  have  hitherto  had  occasion  to 
test  were  true  chloral  hydrate,  with  the  exception  of 
one  ;  but  they  varied  very  much  in  the  percentage  of 
moisture,  and  for  this  reason  it  is  necessary  to  have 
a  ready  and  accurate  method  of  determining  the 
percentage  of  true  hydrate  in  a  sample. 

We  now  know  only  the  ammonia  test.  Tliis  me¬ 
thod,  if  properly  carried  out,  is  sufficiently  exact  to 
decide  between  hydrate  and  alcoholate,  where  the 
percentage  of  the  resulting  chloroform  differs  as 
much  as  72*2  and  61*76 ;  but  it  cannot  claim  analv- 
tical  accuracy. 

The  column  of  ammonium  formiate  solution  al¬ 
ways  takes  up  some  chloroform,  and  the  chloroform 
layer  is  never  free  from  water;  chloroform  is  dis¬ 
solved  while  it  separates  from  the  ammonia,  and 
its  true  percentage  invariably  decreases. 

It  has  also  been  suggested  that  during  the  twelve 
hours  contact  of  the  ammonia  and  chloroform,  the 
last  might  be  further  decomposed  into  hydrochloric 
and  formic  acid ;  but  this  I  find  not  to  be  the  case. 
Experiments  made  with  chloroform  and  ammonia 
and  with  chloroform  and  pure  water  gave  in  both 
cases  a  loss  of  chloroform  amounting  to  0*2  c.  c.,  the 
same  well-stoppered  tubes  being  used  as  in  the  analy¬ 
sis  of  hydrate,  of  which  always  10  grammes  were 
taken.  It  is  evident,  therefore,  the  decrease  in 
chloroform  is  not  owing  to  the  action  of  ammonia, 
but  to  its  solubility  in  water. 

Tliis  and  the  length  of  time  required  for  the  am¬ 
monia  test  are  certain  drawbacks ;  and  I  have  tried 
another  plan,  which  is  both  more  accurate  and  more 
expeditious. 

I  take  advantage  of  the  facility  with  which  the 
chloral  hydrate  and  the  chloral  alcoholate  are  de¬ 
composed  by  strong  sulphuric  acid  with  separation 
of  chloral,  which,  in  a  graduated  tube,  may  be  read 
off  and  the  percentage  of  hydrate  calculated. 

I  take  about  equal  parts  by  weight,  i.  e.  10 
grammes  of  the  hydrate  and  from  5  to  6  c.  c.  of  sul¬ 
phuric  acid ;  the  quantity  of  the  acid  is  of  no  conse¬ 
quence  within  certain  limits ;  5  parts  of  hydrate  and 
one  part  of  acid  do  not  separate  chloral,  even  when 


702 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  4, 1871. 


heated.  And  again,  a  great  excess  of  acid,  such  as 
5  parts  of  acid  and  1  part  of  hydrate,  does  not  give 
a  satisfactory  result ;  neither  the  chloral  nor  the  acid 
becomes  clear,  perhaps  because  of  the  formation  of 
chloralide. 

But  as  the  result  of  a  series  of  experiments,  I 
find  that  about  equal  proportions  by  weight  act  very 
satisfactorily.  The  acid  after  combination  with  the 
water  of  the  hydrate  and  the  resulting  chloral  are 
not  so  widely  different  in  their  specific  gravities  as 
to  immediately  separate;  [I,  therefore,  prefer  to 
warm  the  mixture  to  expedite  the  separation. 

In  a  graduated  tube  provided  with  a  well-ground 
glass  stopper  and  graduated  into  0T  c.  c.,  I  introduce 
from  5  to  6  c.  c.  of  sulphuric  acid,  and  heat  it  by 
placing  the  tube  into  a  vessel  of  water  of  about 
00°  C.  (140°  F.) ;  I  then  add  10  grammes  of  chloral 
hydrate,  shake  well,  so  as  to  cover  all  the  hydrate 
with  the  acid,  and  put  the  tube  back  into  the  hot 
water.  The  decomposition  is  instantaneous,  and 
the  two  liquids  separate  very  distinctly ;  the  cliloral 
floating  at  the  top  may  be  read  off  as  soon  as  the 
tube  lias  cooled  down  to  the  proper  temperature. 
After  an  hour  or  so  the  two  liquids  begin  to  mix 
again,  and  in  about  twelve  hours  the  chloral  is 
changed  into  metachloral,  a  substance  of  exactly  the 
same  chemical  composition  as  chloral,  but  solid  and 
absolutely  insoluble  in  water  and  alcohol. 

I  find  the  previous  heating  of  the  acid  most  con¬ 
venient,  because,  just  as  in  the  combination  of 
cliloral  and  water  very  considerable  heat  is  evolved, 
so  in  the  taking  away  of  the  water  by  sulphuric  acid 
an  immense  amount  of  heat  is  absorbed,  and  the 
cold  produced  is  so  considerable  as  to  seriously  in¬ 
terfere  with  the  separation  of  the  chloral.  Deter¬ 
minations  until  numerous  samples,  both  with  the 
ammonia  test  and  the  sulphuric  acid  test,  always 
gave  a  somewhat  higher  result  with  the  last,  which 
is  more  correct. 

For  this  reason,  and  also  because  the  whole  opera¬ 
tion  may  be  completed  in  a  few  minutes,  I  prefer  it 
to  the  ammonia  test.  In  a  subsequent  paper  I  in¬ 
tend  publishing  the  corresponding  results  of  the  two 
methods. 


THE  DEVELOPMENT  OP  ERGOT. 

BY  M.  C.  COOKE,  M.A. 

There  is  probably  no  article  in  the  whole  range  of 
Materia  Medica,  concerning  which  more  has  been 
written  than  ergot.  This  is  a  very  rough  guess,  and 
would  exclude  even  the  cinchonas  from  the  first 
place,  so  that  the  guess  may  hardly  stand  the  test. 
At  any  rate,  a  great  deal  has  been  written  about 
ergot,  much  of  which  is  now  forgotten.  A  curious 
and  startling  catalogue  might  be  compiled  of  the 
titles  of  books,  memoirs  and  communications  on  this 
almost  threadbare  topic.  Yet,  in  the  face  of  this,  we 
are  seated,  in  a  deliberate  mood,  to  add  another 
chapter  to  the  long  story  of  ergot.  Tliis  chapter  is 
intended  to  be  devoted  wholly  to  one  phase  of  the 
subject,  which  is,  the  “natural  history,”  or  plant- 
development  of  the  fungus. 

We  will  say  nothing  of  the  difference  of  opinion 
as  to  the  ergot  itself  being  a  transformation  of  the 
germen,  or  a  parasite  of  the  germen,  but  start  at 
once  with  the  Secale  cor  nut  am,  as  the  first  stage. 
In  tliis  condition  it  is  called  by  botanists  a  sclerotium, 
and  this  particular  one  is  Sclerotium  clavus.  What 


is  to  be  understood  by  a  Sclerotium  ?  is  a  very  natu¬ 
ral  question  to  suggest  itself.  It  will  not  do  to  pass 
it  as  a  generic  name,  since  it  has  no  value  as  a 
genus,  and  even  were  it  not  so,  the  answer  would  be 
insufficient.  Fungi  are  known  to  be  developed  in 
the  majority  of  instances,  from  certain  root-like  fila¬ 
ments  called  mycelia.  Sometimes  these  filaments 
are  very  much  compacted,  and  in  the  present,  and 
some  allied  instances,  assume  the  form  of  a  compact 
cellular  mass  called  a  sclerotium.  So  that  a  sclero¬ 
tium  is,  in  fact,  a  compact  mycelium,  a  sort  of  bul¬ 
bous  mycelium,  of  variable  shape.  Such  is  ergot. 
Whether  produced  on  wheat,  rye  or  the  grasses, 
this  sclerotium  differs  very  little  in  form,  being  horn¬ 
shaped,  whilst  other  lands  of  sclerotium  are  spherical, 
discoid  or  irregular. 

The  earliest  condition  of  this  species  is  manifested 
by  the  presence  of  a  thick  gummy  matter  on  the 
spikes  of  corn  or  grass,  and  this  contains  granules. 
During  the  growth  of  the  sclerotium  it  is  invested 
by  a  coating  described  in  detail  by  Professor  Quekett, 
in  a  memoir  devoted  by  liim  to  this  subject.  What 
the  relation  is  between  the  gummy  matter  and  the 
sclerotium  and  its  coating  is  uncertain,  unless  it  be 
accepted  that  the  sclerotium  is  developed  ultimately 
from  the  base  of  a  spermogone,  which,  in  the  first 
instance,  exuded  spermatia  in  the  aforesaid  gummy 
mass.  The  coating  was  considered  a  distinct  fungus, 
parasitic  on  the  ergot,  by  Quekett,  and  called  by 
him  Ergotetia  abortifaciens ,  whilst  Berkeley  retained 
it  in  Oidium,  with  the  same  specific  name.  It  is 
now  regarded  as  the  spermatiferous  condition  of  the 
complete  fungus.  Quekett  described  tliis  coating  as 
consisting  of  minute  bodies,  which  are  seen,  sepa¬ 
rated  from  each  other,  when  they  are  removed  from 
the  ergot,  but  when  viewed  in  their  natural  situation 
they  are  occasionally  united  by  their  extremities 
forming  short  moniliform  filaments,  technically 
“  Sporidia  (spermatia)  elliptical,  moniliform,  finally 
separating,  transparent,  and  containing  seldom  more 
than  one,  two,  or  three  well-defined  (greenish) 
granules.”  * 

Another  view  taken  of  the  relations  of  the  sclero¬ 
tium  with  other  fungi  is,  that  the  species  of  Fusarium, 
described  by  Nees,  under  the  name  of  Fusarium 
heterosporium,  produces,  in  its  supposed  spindle- 
shaped  spores,  the  spermatia,  and  that  the  simple 
bodies  produced  on  the  sclerotium  (the  Ergotetia  of 
Quekett,  and  Oidium  of  Berkeley)  are  the  conidia  of 
the  fungus  ultimately  developed  from  the  ergot. 
Never  having  had  the  opportunity  of  watcliing  the 
growth  of  the  ergot  carefully,  we  shall  not  venture 
an  opinion  on  the  identity  of  all  the  bodies  supposed 
to  be  connected  with  the  reproduction  of  this  species, 
and  called  by  numerous  names. 

The  ultimate  stage  consists  in  the  growth  of  little 
stalked  bodies  with  rounded  heads  from  and  upon 
the  sclerotium.  If  ergot  of  rye,  wheat,  etc.,  be  slightly 
covered  with  soil  in  spring  (March  or  April),  and 
kept  moderately  moist  with  rain  water,  in  the  course 
of  time  a  crop  of  these  stalked  bodies  will  be  pro¬ 
duced,  but  patience  is  quite  necessary,  for  six  months 
may  be  required  for  their  growth.  These  are  the 
Cordyceps  purpurea,  or  Claviceps  purpurea,  by  which 
name  the  whole  of  the  forms  of  this  polymorphous 
fungus  should  be  called.  Hence  we  have  the  stroma, 
or  compact  mycelium  (sclerotium),  conidia,  spermatia, 


*  E.  J.  Quekett,  "  On  Ergot  of  Rye,”  etc.  Linn.  Trans, 
yol.  xviii.  p.  453. 


March  4, 1971.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


703 


ancl  finally  the  ascophores  containing  the  sporidia, 
and  all  appertaining  to  Claviceps  purpurea,  Tulasne. 

The  ascophores,  or  stalked  bodies  with  globose 
purplish  heads,  are  minute  and 
delicate,  several  of  them  being 
often  produced  upon  the  same 
sclerotiuin.  The  globose  head  is 
the  fruit-bearing  portion.  Nu¬ 
merous  cells,  with  distinct  walls 
(perithecia)  are  immersed  in  the 
substance  of  the  head.  Each  of 
these  cells  contains  a  mass  of 
long,  narrow,  cylindrical,  trans¬ 
parent  sacs  termed  asci,  which 
are  thickened  at  their  apices. 

Each  ascus  enclosed  eight  hair¬ 
like  sporidia,  flexuous  and  deli¬ 
cate,  slightly  attenuated  towards  each  end.  This  is 
the  final  and  highest  development  which  the  fungus 
attains.  A  closely  allied  species  is  found  on  the 
sclerotium  of  reeds,  and  another  on  the  sclerotium 
of  Eleocharis , — the  latter,  as  far  as  we  are  aware, 
never  having  been  found,  except  as  a  sclerotium,  in 
Britain. 

This  is  a  brief  and  rapid  survey  of  the  stages  in 
the  history  of  ergot.  It  would  be  an  interesting 
and  probably  instructive  experiment,  for  those  who 
are  only  acquainted  with  Secede  cornutum  as  one  of 
the  articles  of  materia  medica,  just  to  follow  the  plan 
we  have  indicated,  and  try  the  cultivation  of  the 
sclerotium.  It  is  possible  that  the  examination  of 
the  fresh  condition  of  the  Claviceps ,  under  the  micro¬ 
scope,  may  reveal  a  phase  of  vegetable  life  before 
unknown  to  them.  Even  as  a  mere  curiosity,  and 
nothing  more,  the  labour  is  but  little  that  is  required 
to  grow  the  ergot-fungus,  and,  should  this  be  suc¬ 
cessful,  an  effort  might  be  made  to  develope  the  kin¬ 
dred  species  from  the  ergot  which  is  so  common  on 
Eleocharis , — the  success  of  the  latter  effort  would 
add  a  third  species  of  Claviceps  to  the  British  list, 
and  tills  would  be  some  reward  for  the  trouble  ex¬ 
pended. 


THE  TESTS  FOR  CHLORAL  HYDRATE. 

BY  C.  H.  WOOD,  F.C.S. 

Having  had  occasion  during  the  last  few  months 
to  examine  a  number  of  samples  of  chloral  hydrate, 
I  have  made  a  great  many  trials  of  the  ammonia 
test  described  by  Mr.  Umney.  This  method  pos¬ 
sesses  the  apparent  advantage  of  simplicity ;  but, 
to  ensure  accuracy,  several  precautions  which  are 
somewhat  tedious,  must  be  carefully  observed.  Dr. 
Paul,  in  the  paper  recently  published  by  him,  has 
shown  that,  unless  the  mixture  be  warmed  for  a  con¬ 
siderable  time  and  frequently  shaken,  a  result  either 
too  high  or  too  low  may  be  obtained.  That  exactly 
confirms  my  own  experience.  Moreover,  the  large 
quantity  of  material  required  for  each  operation,  and 
the  length  of  time  (about  12  hours)  which  must  elapse 
before  the  results  are  obtained,  constitute  consider¬ 
able  inconveniences.  I  have  therefore  had  recourse 
to  another  method  for  determining  the  yield  of  chlo¬ 
roform,  which  appears  to  me  to  possess  several  ad¬ 
vantages.  A  hundred  grains  of  the  chloral  hydrate 
to  be  tested  are  introduced  into  a  4-oz.  flask  and 
dissolved  in  an  ounce  of  water.  Thirty  grains  of 
dry  hydrate  of  lime  are  then  added,  and  a  cork,  fur¬ 


nished  with  a  long  piece  of  glass  tube,  is  fitted  to 
the  mouth  of  the  flask.  This  tube  is  bent  over  just 
above  the  cork,  so  as  to  slant  down  and  form  a  con¬ 
denser.  It  is  surrounded  with  wret  blotting-paper 
during  the  experiment.  The  extremity  of  the  tube 
is  somewhat  drawn  out,  so  as  to  enter  a  graduated 
tube,  which  serves  as  a  receiver.  A  gentle  heat  is 
then  applied  to  the  flask  and  the  chloroform  slowly 
distilled  over.  After  a  few  minutes  the  heat  is  in¬ 
creased,  so  as  to  keep  the  mixture  boiling,  and  con¬ 
tinued  until  about  100  grain  measures  have  been 
collected  in  the  receiver.  By  this  means  the  steam 
thoroughly  displaces  and  sweeps  over  the  last  traces 
of  chloroform.  It  is  only  necessary  to  read  off  the 
volume  of  the  chloroform  obtained.  Before  taking 
the  final  reading,  it  is  advisable  to  keep  the  tube  in 
a  vessel  of  water  exactly  at  00°  F.  A  few  drops  of 
liq.  potassae  poured  into  the  tube  destroys  the  menis¬ 
cus  of  the  chloroform,  and  enables  the  operator  to 
read  off  very  accurately.  The  whole  process  does 
not  occupy  a  quarter  of  an  hour ;  and,  as  far  as  my 
experience  goes,  the  results  obtained  are  very  trust¬ 
worthy.  If  a  larger  quantity  of  lime  be  employed 
than  the  amount  indicated,  some  inconvenience  is 
experienced  from  the  frothing  of  the  mixture,  but 
this  is  easily  avoided.  Milk  of  lime  appears  to  ex¬ 
ercise  no  sensible  action  on  chloroform.  I  have 
made  several  experiments  in  which  known  volumes 
of  chloroform  have  been  taken  in  the  place  of  the 
chloral  hydrate,  and  in  every  case  I  have  obtained 
the  proper  amount  back  within  about  a  single  grain 
measure.  The  tube  which  I  employ  as  a  receiver 
was  carefully  graduated  for  the  purpose.  It  is  about 
ten  inches  long  and  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in  internal 
diameter.  It  was  graduated  by  introducing  a  few 
drops  of  liq.  potassae,  and  then  running  in  pure 
chloroform  at  fi0°  from  an  accurate  burette,  marking 
the  tube  with  a  file  after  every  addition  of  ten  grains 

Five  such  marks  are  a]1  iaL^' 
tixc  lourtli  ancl  tiitli 


measurement, 
quired.  The 


uiuicu.  xuc  space  .  .  ,  ,  , 

mark  may  be  easily  divided  afterwards  into  ten  equal 

parts. 

For  the  recognition  of  alcoliolate  in  chloral  hy¬ 
drate  I  have  always  employed  Lieben’s  test  tor 
alcohol,  which  answers  the  purpose  easily  and  satis¬ 
factorily.  It  is  best  applied  to  the  aqueous  portion 
of  the  distillate  accompanying  the  chloroform.  If 
this  supernatant  layer  be  decanted  into  a  test  tube 
and  warmed  with  2  or  3  grams  of  iodine  and  a  slight 
excess  of  liq.  potassoe,  a  crystalline  precipitate  of 
iodoform  will  gradually  form  when  only  minute  traces 
of  spirit  be  present. 

As  far  as  my  experience  goes,  the  alcoliolate  is 
not,  if  it  ever  has  been,  an  article  of  commerce. 

For  several  reasons  it  is  desirable  to  take  the  yield 
of  chloroform  as  a  criterion  of  the  quality  of  chloral ; 
nevertheless  it  does  not  appear  to  me  necessary  to 
resort  to  this  quantitative  reaction  in  the  ordinary 
examination  of  trade  samples. 

The  following  simple  tests,  which  are  quickly  and 
easily  performed,  constitute  a  sufficient  guarantee  of 
the  purity  of  commercial  chloral  hydrate  : — 

1.  A  small  portion  heated  on  platinum  foil  should 
entirely  volatilize  without  leaving  any  visible  residue. 

2.  Twenty  grains  dissolved  in  a  drachm  of  distilled 
water  should  form  a  perfectly  bright  and  clear  liquid 
A  drop  of  nitrate  of  silver  solution  added  should 
produce  no  turbidity. 

3.  A  drachm  introduced  into  a  test-tube  furnished 
|  with  a  cork,  through  which  passes  a  thermometer  and 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  t,  1871. 


701 


a  small  outlet  tube,  should  boil,  on  the  application 
of  heat,  without  the  temperature  rising  above  212°F. 

The  boiling-point  is  a  very  important  character  of 
chloral  hydrate,  and  should  never  be  neglected,  even 
when  the  chloroform  test  is  also  employed.  It  will 
at  once  distinguish  between  the  hydrate  and  alcolio- 
late.  Moreover,  some  samples  of  hydrate,  in  which 
no  alcohol  can  be  detected,  nevertheless  boil  at  too 
high  a  temperature.  This  is  probably  due  to  the 
presence  of  some  chlorine  substitution-products  other 
than  chloral.  A  recent  editorial  article  in  this 
Journal  ascribes  the  low  yield  of  chloroform  some¬ 
times  obtained,  to  the  moist  condition  of  the  samples. 
No  doubt  a  slight  excess  of  water  is  frequently  pre¬ 
sent,  and  forms  a  very  unobjectionable  constituent. 
But  while  an  excess  of  moisture  would  diminish  the 
percentage  of  chloroform,  it  would  not  raise  the  boil¬ 
ing-point  above  212°  F.  It  is  on  tins  account  that  I 
regard  the  boiling-point  as  being  in  some  respects  a 
better  and  simpler  test  for  ordinary  use  than  de¬ 
termining  the  chloroform. 


SPIRITITS  AMMONIJE  AROMATICUS, 

ITS  PREPARATION  AND  COMPOSITION. 

BY  WILLIAM  MARTINDALE,  E.C.S. 

The  attention  of  the  trade  having  been  called  to 
this  preparation  by  a  medical  contemporary,  in  an 
article  in  which  it  complains  that  samples  purchased 
at  several  chemists,  were  notably  deficient  in  am¬ 
monia  and  spirit, — by  way  of  testing  the  correctness 
of  its  results,  I  have  been  led  to  perform  the  follow¬ 
ing  experiments : — 

(1.)  Having  powdered  8  oz.  of  carbonate  of  am¬ 
monia,  dissolve  it  in  10  oz.  of  water  by  means  of  4 
fluid  ounces  of  strong  solution  of  ammonia,  sp.  gr. 

' '  jbb  'This  will  form  a  clear  solution,  but  on  the 
ac  c  i  ion  o  o  ^i‘  rectified  spirit,  and  the  es¬ 

sential  oils,  such  a .  precipitation  taxes  place  of 
ammonia  salts  that  it  forms  a  complete  magma  of 
the  whole  fluid,  llie  product  of  the  Pharmacopoeia 
process  would  resemble  this,  if  it  contained  all  the 
ammonia,  carbonic  acid  and  spirit  ordered  to  be 
used.  (2.)  Let  the  experiment  be  repeated,  using  2 
pints  of  water  in  place  of  10  oz.,  making  a  solution  of 
the  carbonate  in  the  water  and  strong  solution  of  am¬ 
monia,  as  before,  first.  It  will  now  be  found,  that  on 
the  addition  of  the  spirit,  a  bright  and  clear  mixture 
is  formed ;  but  when  the  fluid  has  been  allowed  to 
stand,  a  quantity  of  minute  acicular  prisms,  crystals 
of  normal  ammonium  carbonate  (?),  will  have  depo¬ 
sited.  And  again  (3),  let  the  Pharmacopoeia  quan¬ 
tities  be  taken,  i.e.  the  same  as  above,  but  using 
3  pmts  of  water.  Having  dissolved  the  essential 
oils  in  the  spirit  previous  to  the  addition  of  the  solu¬ 
tion  of  ammonia  salts,  it  will  be  found  that  a  milky, 
opaque  mixture  is  formed,  due  to  the  separation  of  the 
oils,  the  spirit  not  beiug  then  strong  enough  to  hold 
tnem  m  solution,— but  there  will  be  no  crystalline 
ueposit  at  ordinary  temperatures.  On  proceeding 
to  distil  the  mixture,  in  the  first  portion  of  the  dis¬ 
tillate  there  is  always  a  more  or  less  quantity  of 
crystalline  formation  noticed  in  the  receiver,  but 
map  as  the  process  is  continued,  is  redissolved. 
Having  obtained  the  required  quantity, — 7  pints  of 
distillate,— upon  examination  of  wliat  remains  in 
the  still,  upwards  of  two  pints  of  fluid,  that  will  still 
be  found  to  contain  a  quantity  of  ammonia,  in  fact, 


an  equal  volume  of  it  will  be  found  to  contain  about 
one-tliird  as  much  as  there  is  in  the  distillate.  And 
if,  especially  on  a  large  scale,  tlie  process  be  not  care¬ 
fully  conducted,  this  liquid,  on  cooling,  may  sometimes 
contain  a  quantity  of  mixed  salts  of  ammonia,  not 
held  in  solution.  It  is,  in  fact,  found  to  be  impos¬ 
sible  to  have  the  distillate  to  contain  more  than 
about  17  per  cent,  of  ammonia  without  its  being 
deficient  in  carbonic  acid.  To  quote  Dr.  Divers*: — 
“  By  following  the  directions  in  the  British  Pharma¬ 
copoeia  to  use,  solution  of  ammonia  and  commercial 
carbonate  instead  of  pearlasli  and  sal-ammoniac, 
the  formation  of  a  spirit  containing  excess  of  am¬ 
monia  is  favoured,  but  to  only  a  small  extent.  The 
spirit  thus  obtained  is,  of  course,  equally  liable,  if  too 
strong  in  alcohol,  to  decompose  into  a  basic  solution 
and  lialf-acid  or  acid  carbonate,  as  I  ascertained  by 
preparing  it.”  He  previously  states  that  it  not  un- 
frequently  proves  to  contain  much  less  carbonate 
than  it  is  intended  to  contain. 


TEST  FOR  ARSENIC. 

A  new  and  very  delicate  test  for  arsenic  has  been 
discovered  by  Bettendorff.  Its  sensibility  is  so  great, 
that  it  is  said  to  be  capable  of  detecting  one  part  of 
arsenic  in  a  million  parts  of  solution,  and  the  pre¬ 
sence  of  antimony  does  not  affect  it.  In  order  to 
apply  this  test,  the  arsenious  or  arsenic  liquid  is 
mixed  with  hydrochloric  acid  until  fumes  are  appa¬ 
rent;  thereupon  stannous  chloride  is  added,  which 
produces  a  basic  precipitate,  containing  the  greater 
part  of  the  arsenic  as  metal,  mixed  with  stannic 
oxide. 


ARTIFICIAL  INDIA-RUBBER. 

Prof.  Sonnenschein  has  discovered  that  an  elastic  mass 
resembling  caoutchouc  may  be  obtained  by  combining 
tungstate  of  soda  with  certain  organic  substances.  If 
tungstic  acid  or  tungstate  of  soda  be  added  to  glue,  and 
afterward  muriatic  acid,  a  compound  of  tungstic  acid 
glue  is  precipitated  which  is  so  elastic  at  85-105°  F., 
that  it  can  be  drawn  out  into  very  thin  fibres.  On 
cooling,  the  mass  becomes  very  solid  and  brittle. .  It 
is  proposed  to  employ  this  substance  in  place  of  the 
costly  albumen  for  mordanting  cotton,  especially  for 
aniline  colours. 

The  same  material  has  been  used  in  tanning  leather; 
but  this  became  hard  as  stone,  and  consequently  unsuit¬ 
able  for  ordinary  purposes.  By  adding  tungstate  of 
soda,  and  muriatic  acid  to  a  solution  of  gelatine,  and 
heating  the  precipitate,  a  substance  is  obtained  which 
may  be  used  as  a  putty  or  cement  in  many  cases.— 
Mamcfacturer' s  Review. 


USE  OF  THEINE  AS  A  THERAPEUTIC  AGENT. 

BY  LEWIS  THOMPSON,  M.R.C.S. 

I  wish  to  direct  the  attention  of  the  medical  profession 
to  the  use  of  a  valuable  agent  which  has  hitherto  escaped 
notice,  although  its  powers  are  most  unquestionable,  and 
its  cost  price  very  trivial.  The  article  to  which  I  allude 
is  theine,  a  substance  existing  in  tea  and  coffee,  and,  as 
I. believe,  in  many  other  vegetable  products.  As  a  me¬ 
dicine,  theine  is  powerfully  tonic  and  stimulant,  and  ap¬ 
pears  to  possess  the  tonic  virtues  of  the  disulphate  of 
quinia  united  to  the  stimulating  power  of  wine,  but  with 
this  difference,  that  the  stimulus  from  theine  is  not  fol¬ 
lowed  by  depression,  as  in  the  case  of  wine  and  alcohol. 

Theine  seems  to  act  chiefly  on  the  great  sympathetic 

*  Divers  on  the  Combinations  of  Carbonic  Anhydride  with 
Ammonia  and  Water. 


March  4, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


705 


or  ganglionic  system  of  nerves,  and  but  slightly  on  the 
brain.  I  have  used  it  in  doses  of  from  1  to  5  grains, 
with  very  marked  advantage  in  the  low  stage  of  typhoid 
fevers,  confluent  small-pox,  and  that  form  of  mortifica¬ 
tion  of  the  toes  which  is  so  singularly  fatal  to  old  people. 
But,  in  addition  to  this,  different  medical  friends  of  mine 
have  found  it  useful  in  hemicrania,  neuralgia,  and  what 
has  been  called  relapsing  fever ;  and  in  the  case  of  an 
overdose  of  opium,  it  appeared  to  relieve  the  narcotic 
symptoms  speedily.  With  regard  to  the  cost  of  this 
medicine,  I  have  discovered  that  in  the  ordinary  process 
of  roasting  coffee  the  whole  of  the  theine  is  driven  off 
before  the  torrification  of  the  coffee  is  completed,  and 
this  theine  may  be  cheaply  collected  by  making  the  axis 
of  the  coffee- roaster  tubular.  If,  instead  of  a  solid  axis, 
we  employ  at  one  end  of  the  roaster  a  tube  passing  away 
to  the  distance  of  about  three  feet,  the  theine  is  condensed 
in  this  tube  by  the  refrigerating  power  of  the  atmosphere, 
and  may  afterwards  be  easily  dissolved  out  by  a  little 
water,  and  purified  in  the  manner  about  to  be  indicated. 
As  the  result  of  much  experience,  I  have  obtained,  on  an 
average,  75  grains  of  theine  from  the  roasting  of  one 
pound  of  raw  coffee ;  and  when  we  reflect  that  in  Great 
Britain  alone  there  arc  more  than  13,000  tons  of  coffee 
roasted  annually,  we  see  that  about  140  tons  of  theine 
are  wasted  and  lost  every  year  by  sheer  ignorance.  It 
may,  perhaps,  be  thought  that  the  saving  of  the  theine 
will  damage  the  flavour  of  the  coffee,  but  from  experi¬ 
ence  I  know  that  it  has  no  such  effect ;  and,  in  point  of 
fact,  it  is  an  advantage  to  the  flavour  of  the  coffee  to 
make  both  the  axes  of  the  roaster  tubular,  and  to  cause 
a  gentle  current  of  air  to  pass  through  the  apparatus 
during  the  roasting  of  the  coffee,  so  as  to  expel  the  em- 
pyreumatic  products  as  they  are  formed.  I  will  now 
relate  the  fact  upon  which  the  purification  of  theine  de¬ 
pends;  and  when  this  is  once  clearly  understood,  the 
manufacture  of  theine  from  either  tea  or  coffee  becomes 
an  extremely  simple  matter.  Theine  is  absolutely  inso¬ 
luble  in  a  concentrated  solution  of  the  carbonate  of 
potash,  and  thus  we  may  precipitate  it  from  its  adrnix- 
ture  with  sugar,  mucilage  and  vegetable  extract.  If, 
then,  by  means  of  the  subacetate  of  lead,  we  have  re¬ 
moved  from  a  vegetable  infusion  the  tannin,  malic  acid, 
etc.,  we  have  only  to  evaporate  the  filtered  solution  to  a 
small  bulk,  and  add  to  it  its  own  weight  of  dry  carbo¬ 
nate  of  potash,  and  the  whole  of  the  theine  becomes  at 
once  insoluble  ;  so  that,  having  collected  this  insoluble 
product,  and  boiled  it  in  rectified  spirit  of  wine,  we  have 
a  solution  of  pure  theine,  which,  after  distilling  off  the 
spirit,  furnishes  crystals  fit  for  immediate  use.  In  con¬ 
clusion,  I  will  merely  mention  a  distinctive  test  for 
theine,  sufficiently  delicate  to  detect  the  one-thousandth 
of  a  grain  of  that  substance.  Dissolve  the  theine  in  a 
small  quantity  of  water,  and  pass  through  this  a  stream 
of  euchlorine,  then  allow  the  fluid  to  evaporate  at  a  steam 
heat;  a  blood-coloured  substance  will  remain,  which,  on 
the  application  of  a  few  drops  of  cold  water,  forms  a 
beautiful  scarlet  solution  like  red  ink.  It  is,  I  appre¬ 
hend,  almost  unnecessary  for  mo  to  say  that  euchlorine 
gas  is  formed  by  the  action  of  hydrochloric  acid  upon 
the  chlorate  of  potash. 

I  ought,  perhaps,  to  add  that  theine,  collected  as  a 
■waste  product  from  coffee,  and  purified  by  myself,  has 
cost  me  les3  than  threepence  per  ounce  troy. — Medical 
Times  and  Gazette. 


AMERICAN  DRUGS. 

BY  C.  LEWIS  DIEIIL. 

To  write  an  article  upon  a  subject  that  has  not  been 
completely  investigated  is,  perhaps,  the  most  unsatis¬ 
factory  task  imaginable,  and  this  appears  to  be  allotted 
to  me  in  the  present  paper.  When  I  accepted  query 
23,  for  1863,  I  had  no  idea  of  the  difficulties  to  be  en¬ 
countered  in  its  proper  solution.  Apart  from  those  of  a 


purely  personal  character,  I  have  met  with  the  greatest 
difficulties  in  obtaining  answers  to  inquiries  from  par¬ 
ties  who  could,  if  inclined,  have  given  the  desired 
information.  Yet  some  little  information  has  been 
obtained,  which,  however  meagre,  I  propose  to  give  in 
the  following. 

My  sources  of  information  are  various.  In  some  few 
instances  I  have  received  responses  from  those  directly 
or  indirectly  engaged  in  the  collection  of  indigenous 
drugs ;  but  generally  I  have  been  obliged  to  depend 
upon  that  obtainable  from  "wholesale  dealers,  to  whom 
consignments  had  been  made  by  parties  doing  business 
with  them. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  our  Louisville  wholesale 
druggists  depend  upon  the  New  York  markets  for  their 
supplies  of  indigenous  drugs,  many  of  which  abound  and 
frequently  are  collected  in  our  immediate  neighbourhood. 
Our  retail  dealers  are  supplied  "with  limited  quantities 
by  several  gatherers  living  among  the  range  of  hills  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  New  Albany,  Ind.,  known  as 
“the  Knobs.”  Formerly  there  was  a  lively  trade  in 
indigenous  drugs  in  New  Albany ;  but  such  is  not  now 
the  case,  and  the  drugs  gathered  in  its  neighbourhood 
find  their  markets  no  further  than  our  city.  Our  imme¬ 
diate  neighbourhood,  on  the  Kentucky  side,  also  contri¬ 
butes  to  our  supplies  through  a  few  small  gatherers, 
chiefly  Germans ;  but  taken  altogether,  our  home  sup¬ 
plies  far  from  meet  the  demand  of  our  retail  trade,  and 
generally  bring  better  prices  than  those  obtained  from  a 
distance. 

The  drugs  principally  collected  in  our  neighbourhood 
— of  which  the  largest  part  among  the  Knobs  near  New 
Albany — are  :  Podophyllum ,  Leptandra,  Caulophyllum, 
lobelia ,  Cimicifuga,  Gelsemium,  Ulmus ,  Stillingia,  Xantho- 
xylnm ,  Phytolacca ,  Asarum  canadensis ,  Cornus  Jlorida , 
Pan  ax,  Aralia  nudicaulis,  Aralia  raccmosa,  Sambucus, 
Qatar ia ,  Mentha  piperita,  Iledeoma,  etc.,  and  limited 
quantities  of  Serpentaria ,  Spigelia  and  Senega.  These 
abound  also,  and  are  collected,  in  the  counties  of  Shelby, 
Monroe,  Brown  and  Morgan ;  and  one  of  our  principal 
establishments  has  lately  negotiated  for  a  full  line  of  in¬ 
digenous  drugs  from  Pembroke,  Kentucky. 

My  information  seems  to  indicate  that  the  mountainous 
regions  of  Kentucky,  especially  Eastern  Kentucky,  con¬ 
tribute  largely  to  the  supplies  of  our  Western  dealers 
in  indigenous  drugs.  F rom  East  Tennessee  and  Western 
Georgia  large  quantities  may  be,  and  undoubtedly  are, 
obtained.  Several  years  ago  I  had  offers  from  a  party 
in  Chattanooga  of  quite  a  line  of  indigenous  drugs. 
Where  they  find  their  market  I  am  unable  to  say,  but 
incline  to  the  belief  that  the.  principal  collections  reach 
New  York  by  way  of  Savannah,  Ga.  In  many  of  the 
Southern  States  this  branch  of  trade  appears  to  attract 
considerable  attention  since  the  war,  mainly  in  moun¬ 
tainous  and  swampy  sections.  In  the  neighbourhood  of 
Walhalla,  South  Carolina,  quite  a  brisk  industry  has 
sprung  up,  an  1  large  shipments  are  made  from  there  to 
New  York,  through  the  agency  of  Charleston  firms. 
The  drugs  collected  there  may  be  enumerated  in  the 
following : — • 

Panax,  Senega ,  Cypripedium,  Liatris  spicata,  Spigelia , 
Sanguinaria,  Aralia  nudicaulis,  Aralia  raccmosa,  Asclepias 
syriaca,  Asclepias  tuberosa,  Ritmex,  Podophyllum,  llcpat i ca , 
j Rhus,  Rubies  villosus ,  Cimicifuga,  Marrubium,  Stillingia, 
Spiraea  ulmaria,  Aletris,  Oonvallaria  Polygonatum,  Tussi- 
lago  Farfara,  Phytolacca,  Ulmus,  Goodyerapubcsccns,Frascra 
carolinen sis,  Arum,  Solidago  odora ,  etc. 

Occasionally  consignments  of  Senega,  Serpentaria  and 
Spigelia  reach  our  markets  from  Arkansas  direct. 
Several  years  ago  I  purchased  several  bales  of  Senega 
and  Spigelia,  consigned  to  one  of  our  wholesale  houses 
from  Ozark,  Arkansas.  It  proved  to  be  a  poor  invest¬ 
ment,  as  the  interior  of  the  bales  consisted  largely  of 
stems,  and  had  to  bo  garbled.  The  drug-gatherers  of 
the  Southern  States  being  generally  small  farmers  and 
negroes,  .make  no  regular  profession  ot  it,  and  only 


706 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  4, 1871. 


collect  as  their  time  permits ;  hence  the  difference  in 
the  yield  of  these  drugs  between  one  year  and  another. 
They  are  disposed  of  by  them  to  the  nearest  country 
storekeeper,  who  on  his  part  consigns  them  to  the  whole¬ 
sale  dealer  with  whom  he  may  happen  to  do  business. 
I  am  told  by  reliable  informants  that  the  drugs  collected 
in  the  Red  River  districts  seldom  reach  our  markets  ex¬ 
cept  by  way  of  New  Orleans  and  New  York,  and  that 
when  they  do  reach  us  direct,  they  are  generally  inferior 
in  quality.  One  of  our  principal  wholesale  drug-houses 
buys  its  supplies  of  indigenous  drugs  exclusively  from 
a  New  York  firm,  and  nearly  all  of  the  others  de¬ 
pend  upon  the  same  firm  when  they  cannot  obtain  bar¬ 
gains  nearer  home.  When  first  making  inquiries 
regarding  the  collection  of  indigenous  drugs,  I  met  with 
the  invariable  response,  “  Inquire  in  New  York.” 

Regarding  the  method  of  collecting  and  preparing  the 
drugs  for  market,  I  can  give  you  but  little  direct  in¬ 
formation.  I  have  before  me  a  circular  addressed  to 
drug-gatherers  by  one  of  our  principal  Western  dealers 
in  indigenous  drugs,  from  which  I  extract  the  follow¬ 
ing:— 

“  Most  medicinal  roots  are  perennial  (that  is,  the  roots 
continue  more  than  two  years,  whether  the  leaves  con¬ 
tinue  or  not),  and  should  be  gathered  any  time  between 
maturity  or  decay  of  the  leaves  or  flowers,  in  the  summer 
or  fall,  and  the  vegetating  of  the  succeeding  spring. 
Biennial  roots,  or  those  that  live  but  two  years  (like 
burdock  and  yellow  dock),  should  be  collected  of  the 
growth  of  one  year, — any  time  between  September  and 
the  time  they  commence  running  up  to  seed  in  the  fol¬ 
lowing  spring. 

“  Barks  should  be  gathered  as  soon  after  they  will 
peel  in  the  spring  as  possible  and  all  the  moss  carefully 
removed.  It  is  usually  best  to  fell  the  tree  and  remove 
the  moss  while  the  bark  is  on  the  tree. 

“  Leaves  and  herbs  should  be  collected  just  before  they 
mature  and  before  they  begin  to  fade  ;  the  stems  and 
stalks  rejected,  as  when  dry  they  are  a  hard,  woody 
substance,  nearly  inert. 

“  Flowers  when  they  first  open  ;  and 

“  Seeds  just  before  they  are  quite  ripe,  as  they,  like 
leaves  and  flowers,  ripen  after  being  gathered. 

“  Roots  should  be  thoroughly  cleansed  from  dirt  and 
foreign  substances,  and  if  large,  like  Indian  turnip,  etc., 
sliced. 

“  All  the  above  articles  should  be  dried ;  the  sooner 
the  better.  For  the  first  few  days  it  is  best  to  expose 
them  to  the  sun  and  air,  avoiding  any  dew  or  dampness ; 
then  spread  around  on  floor  and  shelves,  watching  them 
to  see  that  they  do  not  heat  by  being  piled  too  thick,  till 
nearly  dry.  Most  roots  require  from  three  to  six  weeks 
to  dry  sufficiently  to  be  safe. 

“  For  shipping,  it  is  best  to  pack  them  hard  in  coffee- 
sacks  or  large  gunnies  and  burlaps;  the  next  best  is 
good  flour-barrels.” 

These  circulars  appear  to  be  distributed  with  great 
circumspection  among  herb -gatherers  and  country  stores 
throughout  the  Southern  and  Western  States,  and  in  all 
probability  serve  as  a  guide  to  the  gatherers.  The  few 
gatherers  with  whom  I  have  been  able  to  converse  per¬ 
sonally,  proved  very  slow  to  give  information,  but  from 
their  conversation  I  judge  that  they  preserve  their  col¬ 
lections  on  the  general  principles  above  specified. 

It  is  a  matter  of  sincere  regret  with  me  that  I  have 
been  unable  to  do  more  than  the  foregoing  towards  the 
solution  of  this  question ;  but  I  feel  sufficient  interest  in 
it  not  to  let  the  matter  rest  where  it  now  stands,  and  shall 
do  all  in  my  power  to  give  a  better  answer  at  the  next 
meeting  of  the  Association. — Proceedings  of  the  American 
Pharmaceutical  Association ,  1870. 


Cure  for  Corns. — A  slice  of  lemon,  secured  by  a 
strip  of  cloth  to  the  part  affected,  will  generally  have  a 
beneficial  effect. — New  York  Druggists'  Circular. 


-  -  -  -  ■  ■  ■  -  ■  ■  ■  ■  —  -1  - 

BHANG-  AND  OPIUM-EATING  IN  INDIA.* 

The  saying  that  every  race  finds  out  for  itself  some 
stimulant— alcohol  for  Northern  Europe,  coffee  for 
Arabia,  bhang  for  India,  opium  for  China — is  trite 
enough  and,  on  the  whole,  true  enough.  In  India, 
where  the  common  hemp  plant  ( Cannabis  sutiva)  grows 
freely  and  acquires  properties  unknown  here,  its  use  as 
a  stimulant  and  narcotic  is  of  high  antiquity.  It  is  pre¬ 
pared  in  various  modes,  and  is  swallowed  or  smoked — as 
churrus  (the  concrete  resinous  juice  of  the  plant),  as 
gunjah  (the  dried  plant  retaining  its  resinous  juice)  and 
as  bhang  (the  larger  leaves  and  capsules  without  the 
stalks).  So  different  are  the  effects  of  these  from  those 
produced  by  the  home-grown  plant,  that  it  has  been 
customary  to  speak  of  the  Indian  variety  as  Cannabis 
indica,  as  if  the  species  were  different ;  but  it  is  not  so. 
The  name  “  bhang  ”  is  also  given  to  a  narcotic  liquor 
prepared  from  the  hemp,  which  in  this  form  is  largely 
consumed.  Fi’om  it  is  prepared  a  sweetmeat  called  ma- 
joom,  which  also  contains  ghee  and  sugar.  The  bhang¬ 
drinking  is  had  recourse  to  because  alcoholic  beverages 
are  forbidden  by  both  the  Hindu  and  Mohammedan  re¬ 
ligions,  and  gunjah- smoking  is  used  for  a  like  purpose. 
Gunjah  is  never  smoked  alone,  but  is  kneaded  with 
tobacco  in  the  palm  of  the  hand,  and  when  lighted  in 
the  pipe  the  smoke  is  inhaled  in  long  whiffs.  As  usual, 
under  such  circumstances,  a  speedy  renewal  of  the  dose 
is  necessary  to  prevent  subsequent  depression,  and  so 
the  hemp-eater,  like  the  opium-eater,  soon  becomes  con¬ 
firmed  in  the  use,  or  rather  the  abuse,  of  the  drug. 
Whilst  it  lasts,  the  intoxication  produced  by  hemp  is  of 
a  pleasant  kind — a  feeling  of  lightness  and  as  if  the 
spirit  was  no  longer  connected  with  the  dull  body,  is 
common.  It  was  the  drug  employed  by  tho  Old  Man  of 
the  Mountains  to  give  his  followers  a  foretaste  of  Para¬ 
dise,  and  thus  secure  their  infallible  obedience.  As 
his  orders  usually  were  for  the  murder  of  some  offender 
in  cool  blood,  his  followers,  in  course  of  time,  acquired 
the  name  of  Haschischi,  modified  into  our  modem  word 
assassins. 

The  effect  of  the  drug  on  the  constitution  is  marked, 
but  not  so  great  as  that  of  opium.  The  gunjah-smoker 
is  dry  and  rickety  in  his  appearance,  his  eyes  sunken, 
his  cheeks  flattened,  and  of  a  generally  faded  look. 
These  effects  are  in  a  great  measure  obviated  or,  at 
least,  mitigated  by  the  use  of  a  diet  containing  an  abun¬ 
dance  of  fat;  but  a  hemp-eater  or  smoker  is  never 
stout.  Dr.  Chevers  tells  us  that  in  practice  he  has 
found  that  an  opium-smoker,  when  sick,  must  have  his 
dose,  or  he  dies,  but  that  the  gunjah-smoker  may  have 
his  drug  cut  off  with  impunity,  except  in  cases  where 
every  means  of  alleviating  pain  is  necessary.  In  con¬ 
nection  with  this  subject,  it  may  be  interesting  to  note 
that  long  ago  this  substance,  in  the  form  of  majoom, 
was  used  as  a  kind  of  anaesthetic,  especially  in  making 
eunuchs  and  in  circumcision. 

One  would  have  expected  that,  in  a  country  like  India, 
the  intoxication  produced  by  the  drug  would  frequently 
have  been  seized  upon  by  the  criminal  classes  for  the  pur¬ 
pose  of  robbery  ;  but  this  does  not  seem  to  be  often  the 
case,  although  in  a  former  article  we  pointed  out  that 
the  drug  was  occasionally  mixed  with  datura  for  that 
purpose.  As  a  result  of  the  prolonged  and  continuous 
use  of  the  drug,  complete  loss  of  speech  is  sometimes 
noted,  but  is  not  very  common.  Much  more  frequent,  as 
a  result  of  the  practice,  is  the  insane  condition  in  which 
the  individual  is  prompted  to  acts  of  savage  violence. 
A  few  days’  quiet  generally  ends  in  restoring  the  mental 


*  ‘  A  Manual  of  Medical  J urisprudence  for  India,  including 
the  Outline  of  a  History  of  Crime  against  the  Person  in  In¬ 
dia.’  By  Norman  Chevers,  M.D.,  Surgeon-Major  H.M. 
Bengal  Army,  Principal  of  the  Calcutta  Medical  College, 
Professor  of  Medicine  and  Senior  Physician  in  the  College 
Hospital,  etc.  Calcutta :  Thacker,  Spink  and  Co.  Pp.  861. 


^larch  4,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


707 


faculties,  but  many  become  permanently  insane.  It  is 
in  the  intoxication  produced  by  hemp  that  running 
a-muck  seems  most  frequent, — not  that  it  follows  that 
hemp  is  the  cause  of  the  violence,  but  the  native,  ex¬ 
cited  by  some  wrong,  real  or  imaginary,  fortifies  his 
determination  to  be  revenged  by  a  dose  of  gunjah  or 
bhang. 

Opium  eating  and  smoking  are  very  prevalent  in 
many  parts  of  India;  but  the  drug  does  not  seem  to 
be  very  often  used  as  a  poison,  except  in  those  parts 
where  it  is  produced  in  abundance.  But  it  would  seem 
to  have  been  very  extensively  employed  for  the  destruc¬ 
tion  of  female  children.  To  this  end,  it  was  either  in¬ 
troduced  into  the  infant’s  mouth  or  the  mother’s  nipples 
were  anointed  with  it ;  so  that  it  was  insensibly  taken 
in  with  the  milk.  Drugging  older  children,  by  their 
nurses,  to  keep  them  quiet,  is  common  enough,  and 
opium  is  used  for  this  purpose  also.  Opium-eating 
seems  to  be  most  pi’e  valent  among  the  Rajpoots ;  with 
them,  eating  opium  together  is  the  most  sacred  pledge 
of  friendship ;  and  upon  festivals  and  high  days  the 
•chiefs  solemnly  partake  of  it  in  company.  The  practice 
was  encouraged,  because  opium  was  supposed  to  strengthen 
"their  courage  in  warfare,  and  to  increase  their  aptitude 
for  business.  Finally,  it  would  seem  that  in  certain 
parts  nux  vomica  is  eaten  to  the  extent  of  as  much  as 
"twenty  grains  a  day,  in  the  same  way  as  opium,  and  the 
hakeems  give  it  to  supersede  the  use  of  opium.  — Medical 
Times  and  Gazette. 


ADULTERATION  OF  “GOLDEN  SYRUP.” 

A  paragraph  having  gone  the  rounds  of  the  American 
papers  stating  that  the  substance  retailed  as  golden  syrup 
contains  no  sugar  at  all,  but  that  it  is  produced  by  the  ac¬ 
tion  of  strong  sulphuric  acid  upon  starch,  and  mentioning 
tannic  acid  as  a  test  to  show  the  difference  between  it 
and  cane-sugar,  Dr.  C.  E.  Chandler  has  published  the 
following  remarks  upon  the  subject  in  the  American  Che¬ 
mist  : — 

Genuine  “  golden  syrup  ”  is  the  liquor  drained  from 
the  crystallized  sugar  of  the  sugar-house,  after  all  the 
sugar  that  can  be  profitably  extracted  from  raw  sugar 
has  been  separated.  This  syrup  still  contains  a  con¬ 
siderable  quantity  of  crystallizable  sugar,  which  cannot 
be  profitably  extracted,  together  with  uncrystallizable 
sugar,  colouring  matter,  and  the  substances  which  give 
to  syrup  its  peculiar  agreeable  flavour,  but  whose  exact 
mature  is  not  known. 

The  adulteration  complained  of  is  the  dilution  of  this 
pure  sugar-house  syrup  with  syrup  made  from  starch,  or 
the  entire  substitution  of  starch  syrup  for  sugar-house 
syrup.  We  have  no  fault  to  find  with  this  portion  of 
the  statement,  but  the  test  with  tannic  acid  or  strong  tea 
is  totally  fallacious.  It  is  simply  a  test  for  iron,  which 
is  much  more  likely  to  occur  in  genuine  sugar-house 
syrup  than  in  the  starch  syrup  complained  of.  The  raw 
sugar  is  manufactured  in  iron  vessels ;  the  tanks,  pipes, 
•coal-filters,  moulds,  and  often  the  vacuum- pans  in  the 
sugar-house  are  made  of  iron,  and  as  the  solutions  take 
up  small  portions  of  this  metal,  the  syrup  often,  though 
not  always,  contains  iron.  The  refiner  is  careful  to  pre¬ 
sent,  as  far  as  possible,  the  introduction  of  iron  into  the 
sugars  and  syrups,  not  because  it  is  in  any  way  injurious, 
Lut  simply  because  if  it  occurs  in  the  sugar  to  any  ex- 
lent,  it  produces  a  dark  colour  when  used  in  tea,  which 
consumers  dislike.  As  syrup  is  not  used  in  tea,  there  is 
mo  real  objection  to  a  small  proportion  of  iron  ;  in  fact, 
as  iron  is  a  good  tonic,  its  presence  is  perhaps  desirable. 
The  starch- sugar  which  we  have  seen  manufactured  on 
a  large  scale  in  Europe,  would  not  be  as  likely  to  con¬ 
tain  iron.  This  test,  therefore,  is  simply  a  test  for  iron, 
and  not  a  test  for  adulterated  syrup ;  in  fact,  guided  by 
this  false  test,  one  would  be  likely  to  reject  pure  sugar- 
house  syrup,  and  select  the  starch  syrup  instead. 


SYRUPUS  CROCI. 

Mr.  G.  W.  Kennedy,  of  Potts ville,  Pennsylvania, 
having  been  called  upon  to  make  considerable  quantities 
of  syrup  of  saffron,  gives  in  the  American  Journal 
Pharmacy,  as  the  result  of  his  experience,  a  formula  which, 
in  his  opinion,  yields  a  very  fine  preparation.  He  says, 
“  As  commonly  prepared,  it  is  apt  to  ferment,  and  be¬ 
come  worthless;  during  the  summer  months  I  have 
found  it  to  ferment  with  ease.  This  is  entirely  obviated 
by  substituting  glycerin  for  sugar.  I  have  some  in  my 
store  which  I  made  eight  months  ago,  and  it  is  as  perfect 
as  when  first  made.  It  is  known  that  the  medical  pro¬ 
perties  of  saffron  are  due  to  the  volatile  oil ;  and  in  order 
to  obtain  this  we  must  guard  against  heat  in  the  prepa¬ 
ration  of  the  syrup,  and  make  it  cold,  as  when  heat  is 
used  it  drives  off  part  of  the  volatile  oil.  The  next  point 
is  to  use  something  that  will  dissolve  the  volatile  oil  from 
the  saffron,  and  for  that  purpose  I  have  used  glycerin, 
and  find  it  to  work  admirably. 

u  Take  of  true  Saffron  ^ss 
Glycerin  £ij 
Water  ^vj. 

“  Let  the  above  macerate  for  seven  days,  filter  into  a 
pint  bottle  and  add  water  through  the  filter  q.  s.  to  make 
5viij,  then  add  sugar  14  oz.  av.  and  dissolve  cold  by  fre¬ 
quent  agitation.  The  result  is  a  beautiful  thick,  dark 
orange-coloured  syrup.” 


SPURIOUS  QUININE. 

In  the  last  number  of  the  American  Journal  of  Phar¬ 
maci/,  Mr.  Charles  Bullock,  of  Philadelphia,  announced 
the  discovery  of  an  intended  fraud  in  the  vending  of  a 
spurious  preparation.  He  says  that  there  has  lately  been 
offered  in  the  market  there  what  purported  to  be  about 
five  thousand  ounces  of  sulphate  of  quinine  of  the  manu¬ 
facture  of  Pelletier,  Delondre  ct  Levaillant,  of  Paris. 
The  bottles  in  which  it  was  contained  bore  the  label  and 
the  corks  the  seal  of  that  firm. 

An  examination  of  the  so-called  sulphate  of  quinine, 
which  was  offered  at  about  the  market  price  of  quinine, 
showed  that  it  contained  scarcely  a  trace  of  quinine,  but 
consisted  entirely  of  muriate  of  cinchonine  mixed  with 
small  quantities  of  the  other  associated  alkaloids  of  the 
bark. 

The  first  impression  was  that  old  bottles  from  which 
the  labels  had  not  been  removed  had  been  used  to  per¬ 
petrate  the  fraud ;  but  a  more  careful  examination  and 
comparison  with  a  known  genuine  package  led  to  the 
belief  that  the  whole  transaction — bottle,  label,  seal,  and 
circular  accompanying  each  bottle — was  a  counterfeit. 

It  is  somewhat  amusing  to  read  that  the  original  cir¬ 
cular  issued  by  the  firm,  a  counterfeit  copy  of  which  ac¬ 
companied  each  bottle  of  the  spurious  quinine,  contains 
a  ready  method  for  discovering  the  fraud,  viz.  “  1  gramme 
of  sulphate  of  quinine,  4  grammes  of  ether,  and  2  grammes 
of  aq.  ammoniac  should  form  a  clear  solution.” 


EAMEELA. 

As  met  with  in  commerce,  kameela  is  a  powder  of  a 
dark  brick-red  colour,  having,  when  recent,  a  peculiar, 
heavy  odour,  increasing  on  being  rubbed  between  the 
fingers,  but  which  diminishes  with  age.  In  the  mouth 
it  is  gritty,  and  has  a  somewhat  acrid  taste.  When  ex¬ 
posed  to  a  temperature  of  between  200°  and  212°  F.,  it 
undergoes  no  apparent  alteration ;  when  a  small  portion 
is  dropped  into  the  flame,  it  flashes  up  instantaneously. 
Its  best  solvents  are  ether,  alcohol  and  solutions  of  alka¬ 
lies,  from  which  it  is  precipitated  by  water  or  acid  in  the 
fonn  of  a  resinous  substance.  It  has  been  analysed  by 
several  chemists,  and  found  to  consist  of  albumen,  cellu¬ 
lose,  volatile  oil,  volatile  colouring  matter,  ashes  and 
water;  but  chiefly  of  a  resinous  colouring  substance,  which. 


708 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  4, 1871. 


constitutes  over  three-fourths  of  it.  It  almost  always 
contains  from  6  to  10  per  cent,  of  sand,  and  1  to  2  per 
cent,  sesquioxide  of  iron ;  more  than  these  amounts  of 
foreign  matter  depreciates  its  value.  Kameela  are  the 
glands  that  cover  the  capsules  of  a  small  tree  or  arbores¬ 
cent  shrub  found  in  the  hilly  parts  of  India,  along  the 
base  of  the  Himalaya  mountains,  and  growing  from  15 
to  30  feet  high.  Its  name  is  MaUotus  jihilijynnensis, 
formerly  known  as  Eottlcra  tinctoria. 

The  article  has  been  known  as  a  remedy  for  tapeworm 
among  European  and  American  physicians  for  only  a  few 
years,  though  long  known  and  employed  for  this  purpose 
in  India.  Dr.  C.  Mackinnon,  a  surgeon  in  the  English 
army  in  India,  first  made  its  properties  known  to  the 
profession,  he  having  been  almost  invariably  successful 
with  it.  Other  practitioners  since  have  employed  it  with 
equal  success.  In  doses  of  from  2  to  4  drachms  it  purges, 
often  with  griping  or  nausea  and  vomiting,  and  pro¬ 
ducing  from  four  to  ten  or  fifteen  stools.  The  worm  is 
usually  expelled  entire,  but  often  without  the  head,  in 
the  third  or  fourth  stool,  after  3  drachms  of  the  powder 
have  been  administered.  A  strong  alcoholic  tincture 
acts  more  mildly  and  with  more  uniform  effects.  The 
dose  of  the  powder  for  an  adult  is  from  2|  to  3  drachms, 
given  in  mucilage,  syrup,  or  other  vehicle ;  of  the  tinc¬ 
ture,  made  in  the  proportion  of  3  ounces  to  half  a  pint  of 
alcohol,  half  a  fluid  ounce.  The  dose  to  be  repeated  if 
necessary. 

Tannin  will  dissolve  in  water  without  the  help  of  any 
agent.  A  few  drops  of  alcohol,  however,  generally  help 
to  make  the  fluid  clearer.  The  tannin  is  not  impaired 
by  it. — Manufacturer  and  Builder. 


OINTMENT  OF  MERCURIC  NITRATE. 

The  following  remarks  upon  the  preparation  of  this 
ointment  have  been  furnished  to  the  Pharmacist  by  Mr. 
Charles  Fredigke,  of  Chicago  : — 

Being  in  need  of  some  of  this  ointment,  I  prepared  a 
quantity  according  to  Mr.  Rother’s  formula,  which  ap¬ 
peared  in  the  Pharmacist  for  July  last  ;*  but  when  effer¬ 
vescence  ceased,  and  the  liquid  only  boiled,  even  under 
increased  heat  (as  the  formula  reads),  it  turned  rapidly 
to  a  dark  brown  colour,  and  after  stiffening,  and  the  ad¬ 
dition  of  the  mercurial  solution,  the  ointment  appeared 
of  the  colour  of  raw  umber.  On  making  a  second  trial 
the  effervescence  was  allowed  to  go  on  very  slowly,  con¬ 
fining  it  to  the  centre  of  the  liquid  till  it  ceased,  'it  had 
then  a  reddish-brown  appearance — lemon-yellow  at  the 
edge.  At  this  stage  it  was  kept  at  a  temperature  be¬ 
tween  185°  and  190°  F.,  as  indicated  by  a  thermometer, 
and  was  briskly  stirred  with  a  wooden  spatula,  to  ensure 
the  complete  liberation  of  nitrous  acid  fumes,  and  the  re¬ 
action  ot  the  acid  on  the  lard.  The  result  was  a  most 
excellent  ointment,  both  in  colour  and  consistence. 

The  patient  and  scientific  research  of  Mr.  Rother  upon 
the  reactions  occurring  in  the  preparation  of  this  oint¬ 
ment,  and  the  practical  results  he  deduced  from  them 
entitle  him  to  the  thanks  of  the  pharmaceutical  profes¬ 
sion  at  large  ;  for  I  think  that  the  reduction  to  a  definite 
result  of  that  which  was  formerly  left  to  mortifying 
failures  or  mere  chance,  is  of  importance  to  every  prac¬ 
tical  member  of  our  profession. 


THE  CHEMISTS’  DEFENCE  ASSOCIATION. 

At  a  Public  Meeting  held  in  the  Memorial  Hall,  Albert 
Square,  Manch.ester,  on  AVednesday  evening*,  February 
22nd,  18/1,  to  consider  the  proposed  compulsory  poison 
regulations,  and  the  advisability  of  forming  an  Associa¬ 
tion  ot  Chemists,  for  the  purpose  of  resisting  their  enact¬ 
ment  ,  on  the  motion  ot  Mr.  Jabez  Waterhouse,  seconded 
by  Mr.  Robert  Hampson,  Mr.  W.  S.  Brown  was  called 
to  the  chair,  and  the  following  resolutions  were  unani¬ 
mously  passed : — 


Moved  by  Mr.  Robert  Hampson,  Manchester ;  seconded 
by  Mr.  Bostock,  Ashton-under-Lync, — 

“  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  meeting,  the  action  of  the 
majority  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Council,  in  proposing 
compulsory  regulations  for  the  storing  and  dispensing  of' 
poisons,  is  prejudicial  to  the  true  interests  of  the  trade, 
uncalled  for  by  the  public,  and  ought  to  be  strenuously 
resisted.” 

Moved  by  Mr.  Kay,  Stockport ;  seconded  by  Mr.  E. 
Fisher,  Ashton-under-Lyne,-— 

“  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  meeting,  that  if  the 
Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  realty  desire  to 
ascertain  the  opinion  of  the  whole  of  the  members  on 
the  proposed  compulsory  poison  regulations,  and  not 
merely  that  of  a  section  who  attend  the  annual  meeting 
in  May,  they  will  make  arrangements  for  voting  by  the 
use  of  proxy  papers.” 

Moved  by  Mr.  Jabez  Waterhouse,  Ashton-under- 
Lyne  ;  seconded  by  Mr.  Hunt,  Manchester, — 

“  That  an  Association  be  formed,  to  be  called  1  The 
Chemists’  Defence  Association,’  having  for  its  objects : — 

1st.  To  organize  an  opposition,  and  to  adopt  all  suit¬ 
able  means  to  prevent  a  dominant  section  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Council,  influenced  by  the  Medical  Department  of 
the  Privy  Council,  from  enacting  compulsory  regulations- 
for  the  keeping  and  dispensing  of  poisons,  such  being 
unnecessary  in  the  interests  of  the  public,  and  from  the 
vagueness  of  their  character,  and  indefinite  scope  of  ap¬ 
plication,  are  certain  to  prove  most  vexatious  and  ob¬ 
jectionable  to  the  members  of  the  trade. 

“  2nd.  To  protest  against  the  assumption  that  further 
regulations  for  keeping  and  dispensing  poisons  are  needed 
to  be  applied  to  chemists : — the  only  true  safeguards,  viz. 
improved  education,  and  adequate  responsibility,  being- 
secured  by  the  provisions  of  the  Pharmacy  Act,  1868,. 
which  have  already  produced  considerable  effects,  and 
will,  if  allowed  fair  operation,  speedily  accomplish  all  that 
is  required;  and  the  attempt  to  apply  further  impera¬ 
tive  regulations  to  chemists,  whilst  surgeons,  veterinary 
surgeons,  hospital  dispensaries,  etc.,  are  excepted,  would 
expose  the  public  to  greater  danger  from  varying  cus¬ 
toms,  than  if  no  such  unwise  attempt  had  been  made. 

“  3rd.  To  influence  the  forthcoming  election  of  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  Council,  and  to  secure  a  more  adequate  re¬ 
presentation  of  the  widely  expressed  views  of  the  trade 
on  this  important  question.” 

Moved  by  Mr.  Councillor  Scott,  Rochdale ;  seconded 
by  Mr.  Barnaby,  Manchester, — 

“That  an  Hon.  Secretary,  Treasurer,  an  Executive 
Committee  consisting  of  twelve  members  of  the  Associa¬ 
tion — four  to  form  a  quorum, — and  a  General  Committee- 
with  power  to  add  to  their  number,  be  appointed.” 

Moved  by  Mr.  Mumbray ;  seconded  by  Mr.  T.  S. 
J  ohnson, — 

“  That  the  Hon.  Secretary  be  Mr.  Robert  Hampson ; 
the  Treasurer  be  Mr.  Geo.  Woolley;  and  the  Executive 
Committee  be  Messrs.  W.  S.  Brown,  Benger,  Barnaby, 
Hughes,  Halliday,  Kay,  Reynolds,  F.C.S.,  Robinson, 
Slugg,  F.R.A.S.,  Jabez  Waterhouse,  Woolley  and  Wil¬ 
kinson. 

Moved  by  Mr.  Benger,  Manchester;  seconded  by  Aider- 
man  Taylor,  Rochdale, — 

“  That  the  officers  be  empowered  to  adopt  all  suitable 
means  by  correspondence,  the  issue  of  circulars  and 
other  agencies,  to  organize  an  effective  opposition  to  the 
proposed  compulsory  poison  regulations,  and  that  con¬ 
tributions  to  the  fimds  be  solicited ;  that  the  Committee 
be  empowered  to  employ  such  legal  and  other  paid 
agency  as  the}-  may  judge  necessary,  and  also  to  or¬ 
ganize  branch  associations  and  other  means  to  give  effect 
to  their  action.” 

Moved  by  Mr.  Fisher,  Ashton-under-Lyne ;  seconded' 
by  Mr.  Gill,  Pendleton, — 

“  That  every  contributor  of  2s.  6d.  and  upwards  be  a 
member  of  this  Association.” 


*  Pharmaceutical  Jourxal,  3rd  series,  Vtl.  I.  p.  107. 


.March  4, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


709 


Cjje  |lljitnn;it£utintl  Journal. 

- ♦ - 

SATURDAY,  MARCH  4,  1S71. 


Communications  for  this  Journal,  and  boohs  for  review, etc., 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

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

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  TP.  Envelopes  indorsed  11  Fhartn.  Journ .” 


CHLORAL  HYDRATE. 

We  have  no  hesitation  in  expressing  the  opinion 
that  in  regard  to  purity,  all  articles  of  the  materia 
medica  should  he,  like  C.esar’s  wife,  above  suspicion ; 
and  holding  this  opinion,  it  is  with  great  pleasure 
we  find  it  to  be  our  duty  to  vindicate  the  character 
of  an  important  therapeutic  agent,  which  has  been 
well  described  by  a  leading  medical  journal  as  one 
of  the  first  contributions  of  pure  chemistry  to  our 
materia  medica.  We  are  the  more  ready  to  perform 
that  cljity,  since  the  first  specific  impeachment  of  the 
drug  was  published  in  the  pages  of  this  Journal. 
.Although  we  have,  in  consequence,  been  overwhelmed 
with  reclamations,  and  are  now  in  a  position  to  say 
that  there  was  not  really  any  foundation  for  the 
alarm  and  distrust  which  the  statements  in  that 
article  were  calculated  to  excite,  we  nevertheless  do 
not  think  it  necessary  to  offer  any  apology  for  having 
given  publicity  to  the  article  now  referred  to,  for  the 
simple  reasons  that  we  regard  it  as  much  a  duty  to 
expose  the  sale  of  inferior  drugs  as  it  is  to  defend 
the  members  of  our  craft  against  unfounded  imputa¬ 
tions,  and  that  the  paper  was  published  in  good  faith, 
as  one  bearing  on  its  face  evidence  of  its  being  im¬ 
portant  to  both  pharmacists  and  medical  men,  as 
well  as  to  the  general  public. 

The  letter  which  appears  this  week  from  Mr. 
Mason*  sufficiently  establishes  the  fact — already  evi¬ 
dent  otherwise — that  his  experiments  were  affected  by 
some  source  of  error  that  invalidated  his  results.  On 
general  grounds  this  is  satisfactory ;  and  we  have  now 
only  to  express  our  regret  for  any  temporary  inconve¬ 
nience  or  prejudice  that  may  have  been  experienced 
by  individual  dealers  in  chloral  hydrate.  We  have 
endeavoured  in  that  respect  to  do  all  in  our  power 
towards  correcting  the  erroneous  impression  con¬ 
veyed  by  the  paper  immediately  the  error  was  pointed 
out,  and  we  hope  in  this  way  to  have  satisfied  all 
reasonable  expectation.  But  we  cannot  undertake 
to  occupy  our  space  with  the  lengthy  communications 
we  have  received  from  some  sources,  and  indeed 
■could  not  do  so  without  affording  ground  for  the 
charge  of  inserting  trade  advertisements  out  of  their 
proper  x>laces.  We  have  therefore  made  an  abstract 

*  See  page  719. 


from  the  various  communications  to  which  we  re¬ 
ferred  last  week,  and  publish  them  in  the  corre¬ 
spondence  column.*  To  conclude  this  matter,  we  may 
add  here  that  there  is  abundant  reason  to  believe 
that  chloral  hydrate,  as  now  supplied  for  medicinal 
use,  is  generally  of  good  quality;  and  that  in 
regard  to  the  chloral  alcoliolate,  we  have  only  met 
with  one  sample  of  it,  and  do  not  believe  that  it  is 
to  any  extent,  if  at  all,  substituted  for  the  hydrate. 


spiritus  ammonia:  aromaticus. 

Our  contemporary  the  Practitioner,  in  further 
alluding  to  the  subject  of  the  analyses  of  some  sam¬ 
ples  of  the  above  preparation  which  were  published 
in  its  columns  and  copied  into  these,  is  not  pleased 
with  our  remarks  upon  them,  contained  in  our  issue 
of  the  21st  ult.  The  writer  of  the  article  hi  question 
states,  there  “  surely  can  be  no  excuse  whatever  for 
the  chemist  who  sells  as  sp.  ammoniae  co.  a  prepara¬ 
tion  which  contains  only  half,  or  less  than  a  half, 
the  proper  quantity  of  ammonia,  and  only  from 
three-fourths  to  four-fifths  the  proper  amount  of  al¬ 
cohol.”  Having  had  our  attention  thus  pointedly 
drawn  to  the  subject,  we  have  taken  the  trouble  to  go 
more  into  detail,  and  to  examine  his  results  carefully. 
In  reply  to  him  we  might,  in  the  first  place,  with¬ 
out  being  accused  of  having  a  disposition  to  quibble, 
with  justice,  object  that  the  samples  were,  according 
to  his  statement,  “taken  at  random  from  six  different 
chemists’  shops, ”f  as  sp>.  ammoniae  comp.,  which  is 
not  official  in  the  British  Pharmacopoeia,  and  was 
only  once  so  in  the  London  Pharmacopoeia — that  of 
1787.  It  was  then  prepared  by  a  different  process 
to  the  present  official  one,  which  ought  to  contain 
the  ammonia  in  solution  as  the  normal  ammonium 
carbonate.  In  the  older  preparation  two  drachms 
of  each  of  the  essential  oils  of  lemon  and  of  nutmeg 
were  directed  to  be  mixed — not  distilled — with  two 
Xnnts  of  spirit  of  ammonia,  this  latter  preparation 
being  prepared  by  the  double  decomposition  of  sal 
ammoniac  and  potashes  dissolved  in  proof  spirit, 
and  a  certain  quantity  distilled.  It  would,  there¬ 
fore,  contain  the  ammonia  in  solution  as  a  mixture 
of  the  normal  and  acid  carbonates.  Sp.  ammoniae 
coni}),  thus  made  would  also  contain  a  less  x>ercentage 
of  alcohol  than  the  present  spiritus  ammoniae  aro¬ 
maticus.  There  are  pharmacists  who  keep  both  the 
above  x>reparations,  and  if  sp.  ammoniae  comp,  is  pre¬ 
scribed — as  it  often  is — sp.  ammoniae  comp,  is  dis¬ 
pensed.  They  would  no  more  think  of  substituting 
the  new  for  the  old  preparation  than  they  would 
pilula  ferri  carbonatis  for  pilula  ferri  composita. 

*  See  page  720. 

f  One  of  these,  where,  according  to  the  published  analyses, 
the  worst  sample  was  purchased, — that  of  44,  Southampton 
Row,  Bloomsbury, — is  an  open  surgery.  No  such  name  as 
John  F.  Staines  appears  on  the  Register  of  Chemists  and 
Druggists  at  this  address ;  nor  yet  does  it  appear  on  the  Me¬ 
dical  Register,  although  the  facia  states  that  the  proprietor  is 
a  surgeon. 


710 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


In  the  second  place,  the  writer  doubts  from  his 
own  inquiries,  “  whether  any  section  of  the  public 
has  the  slightest  objection  to  the  official  sal  volatile.” 
On  this  point  we  may  inform  him  that  there  is  a 
section — we  forbear  to  mention  it,  further  than  to 
state  that  it  is  the  one  which  has  the  most  refined 
taste, — which  we  know  has  a  great  preference  for  it 
when  flavoured  with  a  substance  which  is  not  in  the 
official  formula.  The  following  case,  which  came 
under  our  notice  some  years  ago,  illustrates  how  ma¬ 
terially  the  tastes  of  some  persons  differ  with  respect 
to  that  preparation.  An  English  family  having  been 
travelling  in  Scotland,  on  their  arrival  in  the  North 
of  England,  applied  to  a  pharmacist  for  a  supply 
of  sal  volatile, — had  he  any  which  he  could  recom¬ 
mend?  Yes;  his  was  So-and-so’s  make,  mentioning 
a  noted  Edinburgh  house.  “Just  what  we  did  not 
want,”  said  the  gentleman;  “  we  have  been  in  Scot¬ 
land  during  the  last  month,  and  have  not  been  able 
to  obtain  any  but  that  of  Edinburgh  make,  (that  of 
P.  E.  contained  oil  of  rosemary,)  and  my  wife  does 
not  like  it ;  we  felt  sure  we  should  be  able  to  obtain 
some  of  English  manufacture  here.”  No  sale  was 
effected.  As  traders,  pharmacists  find  it  necessary 
to  study  the  tastes  of  their  customers. 

Lastly,  our  contemporary  does  not  publish  the  de¬ 
tails  of  the  analyses.  The  writer  assumes  that  Spi- 
ritus  Ammonise  Aromaticus  prepared  by  the  official 
process  would  contain  all  the  ammonia  directed  to  be 
employed  in  its  manufacture,  nay — he  erroneously 
assumes  even  more,  as  the  quantity  of  ammonia  he 
states  it  ought  to  contain  should  be  2'6  per  cent,  by 
weight  in  volume.  By  a  careful  calculation,*  we  find 
that  supposing  the  whole  of  the  ammonia  (NH3) 
ordered  in  the  formula  were  contained  in  the  seven 
pints  of  distillate,  which  is  the  resulting  yield  of 
the  official  quantities,  it  would  only  contain  2*473 
per  cent,  by  weight  in  any  given  volume. 

The  compilers  of  the  1864  edition  of  the  British 
Pharmacopoeia,  who  introduced  the  present  process 
for  the  manufacture  of  spiritus  ammonias  aromaticus, 
tried  “  to  ensure  the  formation  of  a  neutral  carbo¬ 
nate  of  ammonia  ”f  in  solution  in  that  preparation. 
But  this  neutral  “  carbonate  is  insoluble  in  alcohol” 
(absolute),  and  “  an  aqueous  solution  of  it  is  precipi¬ 
tated  by  alcohol,  the  precipitate  being  acid  carbo¬ 
nate  or  intermediate  in  composition  to  that  and 
the  normal  carbonate. If  to  the  aqueous  solution 
rectified  spirit  be  added,  as  in  Mr.  Martindale’s  ex¬ 
periment  (2),  p.  704,  the  crystalline  formation  is 
most  probably  the  normal  carbonate  itself. 

With  these  remarks  we  will  leave  the  matter  with 
the  members  of  the  medical  profession :  we  trust 
that  in  future,  when  they  censure  us  for  sliortcom- 


*  See  p.  704. 

f  Dr.  Garrod’s  ‘Materia  Medica  and  Therapeutics.’  3rd 
edit.  p.  47. 

t  Divers  on  the  Combinations  of  Carbonic  Anhvdride  with 
Ammonia  and  Water. 


[March  4, 1871. 


ings,  they  will  clearly  establish  their  case,  and  hold 
the  balance  of  justice  fairly,  so  that  no  trader  shall 
meet  with  such  an  unmerited  share  of  obloquy  as  our 
contemporary  has  dealt  out. 


THE  CALENDAR  FOR  1871. 

Following  closely  upon  the  issue  of  the  Register,, 
referred  to  last  week,  the  Calendar  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society  for  the  present  year  is  now  ready. 
It  contains  a  list  of  all  persons  who  are  connected 
with  the  Society,  corrected  up  to  a  recent  date.  It 
is  gratifying  to  notice  the  increase  in  the  length  of 
some  of  these  lists,  notably  in  that  of  the  Chemists 
and  Druggists  who  are  Members  of  the  Society, 
where  it  amounts  to  nearly  two  hundred  names 
beyond  last  year.  There  is  also  a  considerable  aug¬ 
mentation  in  the  numbers  of  the  Associates,  both  of 
those  who  are  and  those  who  are  not  in  business  and 
of  the  Registered  Apprentices. 

Besides  these  lists  the  Calendar  contains  the 
Charter,  Bye-laws  and  Pharmacy  Acts,  the  Regu¬ 
lations  of  the  Board  of  Examiners,  the  Examination 
Papers  for  the  past  year,  and  much  useful  informa¬ 
tion  concerning  the  School  of  Pharmacy  at  Blooms¬ 
bury  Square.  This  is  followed  by  a  list  of  Donors 
and  Subscribers  to  the  Benevolent  Fund,  giving  the 
number  of  votes  to  which  each  is  entitled.  In  the 
Appendix  are  printed  remarks  on,  and  extracts 
from,  several  Acts  of  Parliament,  Regulations  and 
General  Orders,  in  which.  Chemists  and  Druggists 
may  be  interested,  such  as  the  Medicine  Stamp  and 
Licence  Acts,  the  Petroleum  Act,  the  Act  to  Regu¬ 
late  the  Sale  of  Poisons  in  Ireland,  the  Regulations 
as  to  Navy  Dispensers,  etc.  Altogether  the  Calendar 
will  doubtless  be  very  useful  to  those  for  whose  con¬ 
venience  it  is  issued  by  the  Council. 


OPIUM  CULTIVATION. 

The  question  of  opium  cultivation  is  just  now 
exciting  considerable  interest.  The  reports  from 
different  sources  (some  of  which  have  been  printed 
in  this  Journal)  that  it  is  being  attempted  on  a  large 
scale  hi  many  parts  of  the  world,  and  notably  in 
China,  have  not  only  raised  the  hopes  of  those  by 
whom  it  is  largely  used  that  the  present  price  may 
be  materially  reduced,  but  they  have  also  awakened 
the  anxiety  of  statesmen  as  to  the  permanence  of 
the  revenue  at  present  derived  from  it  in  Lidia. 
We  give  the  gist  of  some  remarks  upon  the  subject 
from  a  leading  article  in  the  Times  of  Monday  .last. 

As  a  tax  not  open  to  the  objection  of  being  levied 
on  an  article  of  prime  necessity,  the  profit  made  by 
opium  sales  is  the  most  defensible  form  of  Indian 
taxation,  though  there  is  more  than  one  other  point 
of  view  from  which  it  cannot  be  regarded  with  satis¬ 
faction  ;  but  apart  from  the  moral  arguments  which 
may  be  urged  against  it,  Mr.  Grant  Duff's  budget 


March  4, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


711 


supplies  a  notable  proof  of  its  speculative  character. 
The  anticipated  surplus  of  1870-71  is  chiefly  due  to 
the  fact  that  “  opium  has  come  to  the  rescue,”  having 
realized  1113  instead  of  975  rupees  per  chest. 

However  grateful  we  may  be  for  tliis  relief,  we 
cannot  forget  that  opium  has  before  now  deserted  us 
with  equal  fickleness  in  the  hour  of  need,  and  that 
it  is,  in  fact,  the  most  precarious  and  unstable  of  all 
financial  resources. 


Our  contemporary  Nature  states  that  at  Cambridge 
it  is  proposed  to  increase  the  stipend  of  the  Pro¬ 
fessor  of  Chemistry  from  1300  to  1500  per  annum. 
It  is  also  proposed  to  appoint  a  Demonstrator  of 
Chemistry  at  1150  per  annum. 


The  British  Medical  Journal ,  in  a  report  of  a 
chemical  examination  of  samples  of  chloral  hydrate, 
expresses  disapproval  of  the  practice  of  stating  the 
dose  upon  labels  attached  to  chloral  hydrate.  It 
says,  “  In  some  cases  this  is  done  in  such  a  way  as 
to  suggest  the  idea  that  it  is  intended  for  amateurs 
and  as  a  facility  for  self-treatment.  Considering  the 
possibility  that  there  is,  to  say  the  least,  of  this  me¬ 
dicine  being  misused,  and  the  number  of  fatal  cases 
which  have  lately  occurred  where  over- doses  of 
chloral  hydrate  are  suspected  of  being  the  cause  of 
death,  this  is  a  point  on  which  it  is  scarcely  possible 
to  lay  too  much  stress.” 


The  trustees  of  the  British  Museum  have  ap¬ 
pointed  Mr.  W.  Carruthers,  F.L.S.,  F.G.S.,  to  the 
Keepersliip  of  the  Botanical  Department,  recently 
vacated  by  the  resignation  of  Mr.  J.  J.  Bennett, 
F.R.S.  Mr.  Carruthers,  who  has  been  Senior  As¬ 
sistant  in  the  Department  several  years,  is  well 
known  to  botanists  by  Ills  contributions  towards  the 
study  of  Fossil  Botany. 


The  method  of  watering  the  streets  with  a  solution 
of  the  chlorides  of  sodium,  calcium  and  aluminium, 
as  proposed  by  Mr.  Cooper,  appears  to  have  been 
successfully  earned  out  in  Westminster,  and  is  now 
being  adopted  in  St.  Luke’s,  Finsbury,  and  several 
provincial  towns. 


The  following  is  the  list  of  officers  and  council  of 
the  Royal  Microscopical  Society  for  the  current  year : 
—President,  W.  R.  Parker,  F.R.S. ;  Vice-Presidents, 
Charles  Brooke,  F.R.S.,  J.  E.  Gray,  F.R.S.,  J. 
Millar,  F.  H.  Windham  ;  Treasurer,  Richard  Mes- 
tayer;  Secretaries,  Henry  J.  Slack,  Jabez  Hogg; 
Council:  R.  Braithwaite,  M.D.,  John  Berney, 
James  Glaisher,  F.R.S.,  W.  J.  Gray,  M.D.,  Henry 
Lawson,  M.D.,  Henry  Lee,  James  Murie,  M.D., 
G.  W.  Royston  Pigott,  M.D.,  J.  W.  Stephenson, 
Charles  Stewart,  Charles  Tyler,  T.  C.  White; 
Assistant-Secretary,  Walter  W.  Reeves. 


In  a  communication  to  the  British  Medical  Journal r 
Dr.  Lionel  Beale  says : — 

“You  have  twice  directed  attention  of  your  readers  to 
some  unphilosophical  remarks  which  the  Professor  of 
Natural  Philosophy  in  the  Royal  Institution  of  Great 
Britain,  the  successor  of  Faraday,  has  thought  fit  to 
make  in  a  book  ho  has  recently  published.  It  may  be 
important  the  profession  should  know,  and  it  is  desirable 
the  fact  should  be  recorded,  that  ‘  tolerance,’  and  of  a 
particular  kind,  has  been  extended  both  by  Dr.  Tyndall 
and  Mr.  Huxley  to  one  among  many  who,  as  the  former 
observes,  foolishly  (!)  try  to  support  or  oppose  the  fiery- 
cloud-origination  hypothesis.  Dr.  Tyndall  says,  ‘  Both 
Mr.  Huxley  and  myself  have  long  practised,  and  shall,  I 
trust,  continue  to  practise  tolerance’  with  reference  to 
one  conspicuous  member  ‘  of  the  class  of  microscopists, 
ignorant  alike  of  philosophy  and  biology,  a  Doctor  of 
Medicine,  lately  Professor  in  a  London  College  famous 
for  its  orthodoxy’ !  (‘Use  and  Limit  of  the  Imagination 
in  Science,’  p.  49.)  Let  us  not  attempt  to  restrict  in  any 
way  the  liberty  accorded  to  ‘  privileged  spirits.’  As  Dr. 
Tyndall  observes,  freedom  to  them  is  of  paramount  im¬ 
portance.  They  must  have  liberty  to  speak  openly ; 
and,  if  they  tolerate  the  ‘weaker  brethren,’  all  may  be 
thankful.  What  would  have  happened  if  Dr.  Tyndall 
and  Mr.  Huxley  had  not  practised  tolerance,  and  what 
would  happen  were  they  not  to  continue  to  practise  tole¬ 
rance,  with  reference  to  the  ‘  Professor  in  a  London  Col¬ 
lege  famous  for  its  orthodoxy’  ?  ” 

The  Chester  Courant  in  a  recent  issue  calls  atten¬ 
tion  to  the  unnecessarily  late  work  which  lias  to  be 
done  by  druggists,  and  suggests  that,  in  order  to  give 
more  time  for  study  to  young  men  preparing  for  their 
examinations,  the  public  should  endeavour  to  send 
all  orders  during  the  proper  hours  of  business,  and 
that  only  exceptionally  urgent  medicines  should  be 
applied  for  after  the  shops  are  closed  or  on  Sunday. 


f ranaattim  tfet  f  larnmentol  Sorittg. 

EXAMINATION  IN  EDINBURGH. 

February  21  st,  1871. 

Present — Messrs.  Aitken,  Baildon,  Brown,  Buchanarq 
Kemp,  Mackay  and  Young. 

Twelve  candidates  were  examined, — six  for  the  First 
or  Preliminary  Examination,  two  for  the  Minor,  one  for 
the  Major,  and  three  for  the  Modified;  the  following 
passed,  and  were  declared  to  be  duly  qualified  to  bo 
registered : — - 

FIRST,  or  PRELIMINARY  (as  Apprentices  or 

Students) . 

Brown,  Robert . Leith. 

Kemp,  John . Inverness. 

Lawler,  Hugh  . Edinburgh. 

Wood,  James  . Edinburgh. 

MINOR  (as  Chemists  and  Druggists). 

Wilson,  Thomas  Davison  . Sunderland. 

Kemp,  John . Inverness. 

These  names  are  arranged  in  order  of  merit. 

MAJOR  (as  a  Pharmaceutical  Chemist). 

Strachan,  Alexander  . Aberdeen. 

MODIFIED  (as  Chemists  and  Druggists). 

Harcus,  John  . . North  Shields. 

Matheson,  James . Dornoch. 

Stothard,  Thomas  . North  Shields. 

These  names  are  arranged  in  order  of  merit. 


712 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  1,  1S71 


LEICESTER  CHEMISTS’  ASSISTANTS’  AND 
APPRENTICES’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Half-yearly  Meeting  of  the  above  Association 
was  held  at  their  Rooms,  4,  Halford  Street,  on  Friday, 
February  3rd,  1871  ;  the  President,  Mr.  Joseph  Young, 
in  the  chair.  After  the  usual  preliminary  business  of 
the  evening  had  been  transacted,  the  President  called 
upon  Mr.  S.  H.  Cadoux  (Hon.  Sec.),  to  read  the  follow¬ 
ing  Report : — 

“  The  Committee  of  the  above  Association,  in  present¬ 
ing  their  Half-yearly  Report  for  the  Session  ending 
February  3rd,  1871,  have  the  privilege  of  stating  that 
the  conclusion  of  this,  its  Third  Session,  still  finds  the 
Association  in  a  very  flourishing  condition.  Your  Com¬ 
mittee  have  met  with  the  most  encouraging  assistance 
from  the  honorary  members,  the  list  of  which  now  in¬ 
cludes  every  leading  principal  in  the  town.  The  Com¬ 
mittee  have  also  advantageously  secured  the  present 
rooms,  concerning  which  very  general  satisfaction  has 
been  expressed. 

“During  the  Session  forty- nine  meetings  have  been 
held  (exclusive  of  the  usual  half-yearly  examinations), 
as  follows  : — For  Botany  7,  Arithmetic  9,  Latin  9,  Ma¬ 
teria  Medica  and  Pharmacy  9,  and  Chemistry  1 1 ;  the 
remaining  four  evenings  being  occupied  by  the  reading 
of  papers  and  lectures  by  as  many  honorary  members. 
The  attendance  has  been  throughout  very  fair  ;  the  Che¬ 
mistry  and  Materia  Medica  classes  have  secured  the 
largest  attendances,  Latin  and  Botany  next.  Arith¬ 
metic  having  failed  to  maintain  the  original  interest 
taken  in  it,  your  Committee  recommend  to  the  officers 
of  the  ensuing  Session  its  discontinuance,  thus  comply¬ 
ing  with  the  suggestion  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Com¬ 
mittee  for  Provincial  Education. 

“  During  the  Session  two  members  have  obtained  the 
Major,  one  member  the  Minor  qualification  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society,  and  one  member  has  success¬ 
fully  passed  the  “Modified”  Examination:  thus  in  the 
short  space  of  one  year  making  fifteen  pharmaceutical 
examinations  which  have  been  passed  by  eleven  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  Association,  viz. : — 2  Major,  4  Minor,  3  Mo¬ 
dified,  and  6  Preliminary.  Such  a  result  for  so  small  an 
Association  the  Committee  believe  to  bo  without  a 
parallel. 

“Finally,  your  Committee  express  their  belief  that 
the  Annual  Supper  (held  on  the  2nd  instant),  tends  not 
only  to  promote  the  interest  of  the  honorary  members  of 
your  Association,  but  is  greatly  conducive  to  that  good 
feeling  among  principals  and  their  assistants  which,  for 
the  interest  of  future  pharmacy,  it  is  desirable  to  main¬ 
tain.” 

After  the  reading  of  the  Hon.  Treasurer’s  Report, 
which  showed  a  balance  in  hand  of  £4.  7  s.  10J<7.,  the 
meeting  proceeded  to  ballot  for  the  Committee  to  serve 
during  the  ensuing  half-year. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  elected : — Messrs.  W.  P. 
Clark  (P.C.),  President;  Hy.  Cooper  (P.C.),  Vice-Presi¬ 
dent  ;  Jos.  Young,  (P.C.),  lion.  Treasurer ;  T.  Wright 
(A.P.S.),  Hon.  Secretary;  S.  H.  Cadoux,  W.  E.  Hill 
(A.P.S.),  and  T.  Miller. 

A  programme  of  classes,  lectures,  etc.,  to  be  held  in 
connection  with  the  Association  during  the  next  half- 
year  has  been  issued. 


SCARBOROUGH  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

A  Meeting  of  the  Association  was  held  on  Monday, 
Feb.  20th ;  the  President,  Mr.  G.  Porrett,  in  the  chair. 
A  majority  of  the.members  were  present,  the  special  ob¬ 
ject  being  to  consider  the  proposed  compulsory  regula¬ 
tions  for  storing  and  dispensing  poisons,  which  were 
ireely  discussed,  and  the  following  resolution  passed : — 
“That this  Association  unanimously  and  emphatically 


condemns  the  action  of  those  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Council  who  wish  to  impose  on  the  trade  restrictions 
which  are  altogether  unfair  and  unnecessary,  believing 
that  the  tests  of  competency  now  required  are  sufficiently 
adapted  to  secure  the  safety  of  the  public.” 

It  was  also  resolved,  “  That  concerted  action  be  taken 
with  other  Associations  to  secure  the  withdrawal  or  re¬ 
jection  of  the  proposed  obnoxious  regulations.” 


MEETING  OF  CHEMISTS  AT  BARNSTAPLE. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Chemists  of  this  town  it  was  re¬ 
solved  that  the  proposed  second  and  third  poison  regula¬ 
tions  are  impracticable,  delusive  and  unnecessary,  and 
that  the  third  especially  (while  an  excellent  regulation  in 
the  dispensing  of  prescriptions)  would  totally  fail  in  its 
object,  and  could  not  possibly  be  adhered  to  in  many 
poor  districts. 

As  the  sale  of  poisons  is  now  restricted  to  chemists 
whose  status  and  education  will  be  continually  improv¬ 
ing,  it  was  suggested  that  as  personal  responsibility  will 
still  rest  on  each  individual,  the  following  regulations 
will  be  all  that  can  be  reasonably  required : — 

1.  In  the  keeping  of  poisons  each  bottle,  vessel,  box, 
or  package  containing  a  poison  shall  be  labelled  with 
the  name  of  the  article,  and  also  with  some  distinctive 
mark  indicating  that  it  is  poison,  and  shall  be  kept  in  a 
cupboard,  drawer,  box,  or  shelf  set  apart  for  dangerous 
articles. 

2.  All  liniments,  embrocations  and  lotions  contain¬ 
ing  poison  shall  be  sent  out  in  bottles  with  a  label  on 
green  or  red  paper,  giving  notice  that  the  contents  of 
the  bottle  are  not  to  be  taken. 

These  regulations  to  be  enforced  after  the  1st  of 
January,  1872. 


SUNDERLAND  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Monthly  Meeting  of  the  above  Society  was  held 
on  Monday  evening,  Feb.  13th,  on  which  occasion  a  lec¬ 
ture  was  delivered  on  “  Heat”  by  Mr.  J.  Harrison, to  a 
numerous  audience  of  members  and  associates.  After 
the  lecture  it  was  announced  that  Dr.  Donkin,  lecturer 
on  medical  jurisprudence  to  the  University  of  Durham, 
had  kindly  promised  to  deliver  a  lecture  in  May,  on 
“Arsenic;”  and  with  the  usual  votes  of  thanks  the 
meeting  separated. 


pmtop  if  Bmdi&t  Soxirtiw. 

BRITISH  PHARMACEUTICAL  CONFERENCE. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  duly  elected  to  mem¬ 
bership  at  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Executive  Com¬ 
mittee  : — 

Ayrc,  H.  M.,  Warwick. 

Beal,  E.  J.,  Ilford. 

Borland,  J.,  7,  King  Street,  Kilmarnock. 

Burn,  Mr.,  138,  Coronation  Street,  Sunderland. 
Canning,  W.,  14,  Bath  Street,  Newgate  Street,  E.C. 
Carran,  T.,  Peel,  Isle  of  Man. 

Chapman,  Mr.,  Hendon  Road,  Sunderland. 

Church,  Professor  A.  H.,  Royal  Agricultural  College, 
Cirencester. 

Cockcroft,  A.,  Richmond,  Yorkshire. 

Colchester,  William,  jun.,  2,  Crown  Street,  Hoxton 
Square,  N. 

Curtis,  H.,  Lewes. 

Daniel,  S.,  30,  Market  Place,  Reading. 

Davenport,  J.  T.,  33,  Great  Russell  Street,  W.C. 
Davies,  T.  M.,  1,  Eversfield  Place,  St.  Leonard’s. 
Glazier,  W.  H.,  95,  Edgware  Road,  W. 

Goodwin,  J.,  Lower  Clapton,  E. 

Gunn,  D.,  9,  Sheldon  Street,  Bishop’s  Road,  W. 
Harvie,  G.,  Helensburgh. 


March  4,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


713 


Hay,  D.,  Nelson-in-Marsden,  Burnley. 

Hunter,  H.,  Layport  Street,  Alnwick. 

Ingham,  J.,  Upper  Tooting,  S.W. 

Johnson,  M.,  Huyton,  near  Liverpool. 

Knowles,  W.  H.  H.,  Upper  Bridge,  Holmfirth. 

Lake,  R.,  17,  Bloomsbiuy  Square,  W.C. 

Luff,  W.,  jun.,  Oxford. 

Mason,  J.  H.,  Workington. 

Metcalfe,  W.  C.,  Burneston,  Bedale. 

Mills,  W.,  Sydney,  New  South  Wales. 

Moore,  R.,  Post-Office,  Dale  Street,  Ossett. 

Nashill,  T.,  Holmcside,  Sunderland. 

Owen,  R.  J.,  53,  Bath  Buildings,  St.  Mary  Charter- 
house,  E.C. 

Parker,  J.  S.,  Messrs.  Stir/ton  and  Sons,  Peterborough. 
Pennington,  T.,  14,  Bolton  Street,  Bury,  Lancashire. 
Phillips,  G-.  W.,  43,  Leather  Lane,  E.C. 

Pick,  R.,  South  Parade,  Northallerton. 

Potter,  H.,  Sutton,  Surrey. 

Priestly,  J.,  Beech  Street,  Sunderland. 

Pritchard,  J.,  67,  Chorlton  Road,  Manchester. 
Robinson,  J.,  2,  North  Gate,  Darlington. 

Sargent,  D.,  222,  Albany  Road,  Camberwell,  S.E. 
Savory,  H.  B.,  Painswick,  Gloucestershire. 

Skidmore,  J.,  Chilworth  Street,  Paddington,  W. 
Smith,  W.  H.,  County  Hospital,  Brighton. 

Spence,  P.,  Pendleton  Alum  Works,  Manchester. 
Squire,  A.,  1,  Bush  Lane,  E.C. 

Squire,  A.  P.,  1,  Bush  Lane,  E.C. 

Steel,  F.  W.,  283,  Liverpool  Road,  Islington,  N. 
Steward,  J.,  High  Street,  Brierley  Hill. 

Sykes,  T.  H.,  Lord  Street,  Southport. 

Thompson,  H.,  Moor  Street,  Sunderland. 

Thompson,  W.,  87,  High  Street  East,  Sunderland. 
Truman,  H.  V.,  Anglesido  Villas,  Streatham,  S.W. 
Watling,  A.,  59,  Camberwell  New  Road,  S.E. 

Weaver,  E.,  29,  Chapel  Street,  Belgrave  Square,  S.W. 
While,  W.  J.,  45,  Westbourne  Road,  Bayswater,  W. 
Windsor,  G.,  Torpoint,  Devonport. 

Wink,  J.  A.,  17,  North  Bridge,  Edinburgh. 

Candidates  for  Membership . — Gentlemen  sending  in 
their  names  to  the  London  Secretary,  Professor  Attfield, 
17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  W.C.,  and  enclosing  the  sub¬ 
scription,  5s.,  and  7^d  for  postage  (in  stamps  or  P.O.O. 
payable  to  John  Attfield,  at  the  Bloomsbury  Office),  will 
receive,  by  return  of  post,  a  copy  of  the  ‘  Year-Book.’ 
The  price  of  the  volume  to  non-members  is  7s.  6d. 


VACANCIES  AND  APPOINTMENTS  IN  CONNEC¬ 
TION  WITH  PHARMACY. 

The  Editor  will  be  glad  to  receive  early  notice  of  any 
vacancies  of  pharmaceutical  offices  connected  with  public 
institutions,  and  likewise  of  appointments  that  are  made, — 
in  order  that  they  may  be  published  regularly  in  the  Journal. 

VACANCY. 

The  office  of  Dispenser  at  the  Great  Northern  Hospital,  N. 
Candidates  are  requested  to  send  their  applications,  with 
copies  of  testimonials,  to  Mr.  George  Reicl,  Secretary,  40, 
Great  Coram  Street,  W.  C. 


MEETINGS  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 

Monday  . Medical  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

London  Institution,  at  4  p.m. — “  On  Astro- 
nomy.”  By  Mr.  R.  Proctor. 

Tuesday  Royal  Institution,  at  3  p.m. — “The  Nutri- 
tion  of  Animals.”  By  Professor  Foster. 
Wednesday  ...Society  of  Arts,  at  8  p.m. — “The  Cultivation 
and  Uses  of  Sugar  Beet  in  England.”  By 
Dr.  Augustus  Voelcker. 

Royal  Microscopical  Society,  at  8  P.M. 

Thursday . Royal  Society,  at  8.30  p.m. 

London  Chemists’  Association,  at  9.30  p.m. 
“  Remarks  on  Structural  Botany.”  By  Mr. 
J.  H.  Jessop. 


Thursday . Royal  Institution,  at  3  p.m. — “Davy’s  Dis¬ 

coveries  in  Chemistry.”  By  Prof.  Odling. 

Friday  . Quekett  Club,  at  8  p.m. 

Saturday  ...Royal  Botanic  Society,  at  3.45  p.m. 


Iurliimtcntiirjr  anil  ibfo  f  ramMitgs. 


Suicide  py  Prussic  Acid. 

An  inquest  has  been  held  at  Falmouth  to  inquire  into 
the  death  of  a  young  woman  named  Mary  Pitts,  who  had 
been  found  dead  in  a  room  where  she  had  been  lodging 
a  few  days. 

Mr.  Mitchell,  chemist,  Market  Strand,  identified  the 
deceased  as  having  called  at  his  shop  to  purchase  some 
chloroform  for  a  toothache,  after  which  she  wished  to  be 
supplied  with  a  small  quantity  of  prussic  acid,  stating' 
she  used  it  for  the  purpose  of  cleaning  her  jewellery. 
He  informed  her  of  its  deadly  nature,  and  she  replied 
that  she  had  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  it  in  London,  as 
she  had  a  brother  practising  there  as  a  physician.  Being- 
thrown  off  his  guard  by  her  manner,  he  supplied  her 
with  half  an  ounce.  Witness  produced  his  register  which 
she  had  signed,  calling  herself  “Isabella  Vaughan,”  and 
identified  the  bottle  that  had  contained  the  poison  as 
having  been  supplied  by  him.  The  next  day  she  again 
called  and  said  that  while  cleaning  her  jewellery  she  had 
accidentally  broken  the  bottle,  and  he  believing  her 
statement,  supplied  her  with  another  half  ounce. 

Dr.  Guppy  said  that  upon  being  called  in,  he  found 
the  deceased  cold  and  stiff,  and  judged  she  had  been 
dead  several  hours.  Fie  picked  up  pieces  of  paper 
from  the  floor,  which  on  being  placed  together  formed 
the  label  that  had  been  removed  from  the  bottle.  In 
reply  to  a  juror,  he  said  that  deceased  could  not  have 
lived  more  than  two  minutes  after  taking  the  poison. 
He  thought  she  was  pregnant. 

The  jury  returned  a  verdict  that  the  deceased  died 
from  the  effects  of  poison,  but  as  to  the  state  of  her  mind 
at  the  time  there  was  no  evidence  to  prove. 


Case  of  Poisoning  by  Chloral  Hydrate. 

In  a  report  of  the  case  of  death  from  an  overdose  of 
chloral  noticed  in  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal,  p.  636, 
furnished  to  the  British  Medical  Journal  by  Messrs.  W.  J. 
Hunt  and  R.  W.  Watkins,  they  state  that  the  deceased 
first  had  the  prescription  (which  had  been  sent  to  him  by 
a  relative)  dispensed  by  a  chemist,  but  afterwards  procured 
from  him  the  chloral  alone  in  ounce-bottles.  The  che¬ 
mist,  Mr.  Tite,  thinking  he  was  taking  larger  doses  than 
was  safe,  cautioned  him  as  to  the  use  of  it,  and  showed 
him  an  article  in  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal  describ¬ 
ing  the  ill  effects  of  an  overdose,  loss  of  power  in  the 
lower  extremities  being  the  most  prominent  one.  He 
informed  Mr.  Tite  that  on  one  occasion,  after  taking  three 
doses  in  one  night,  he  had  felt  that  effect  in  the  morning, 
having  fallen  down  twice  on  getting  out  of  bed.  Mr. 
Tite  estimated  that  on  that  occasion  he  had  taken 
seventy-five  grains.  He  subsequently  procured  a  copy 
of  that  number  of  the  Journal,  and  in  it  there  happened 
to  be  an  advertisement  of  hydrate  of  chloral  from  a 
wholesale  house.  This,  it  would  seem,  induced  him  to 
obtain  from  that  firm  a  box  containing  sixteen  ounce- 
bottles  of  hydrate  of  chloral,  half  of  which  he  had  ex¬ 
pressed  his  intention  of  sending  to  a  relation.  The 
housekeeper  had  often  seen  him  dissolving  the  chloral 
in  water,  in  a  half-pint  bottle  (labelled  “  Chloral  Hy¬ 
drate,  1870  ”),  from  which  he  was  in  the  habit  of  taking 
a  wincglassful  at  bedtime ;  but  she  did  not  know  the 
quantity  of  chloral  dissolved  each  time.  She  had  seen 
him  take  a  dose  from  the  bottle  the  night  before  his 
death.  On  January  17th,  he  had  purchased  from  Mr. 


714 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  4, 1871. 


Tite  an  ounce  of  chloral ;  and  the  supply  from  London 
had  arrived  subsequently  to  that  date.  After  his  death, 
fifteen  of  the  bottles  were  found  full,  and  one  empty ; 
about  two  ounces  of  the  solution  remaining  in  the  bottle 
above  mentioned,  on  the  table  in  his  bedroom.  From 
this  we  conclude  that,  in  the  ten  days  between  the  17th 
and  27th  of  January,  he  had  taken  fourteen  drachms  of 
•chloral — presuming  that  the  solution  in  the  bottle  con¬ 
tained  an  ounce  to  the  half- pint.  If,  however,  it  con¬ 
tained  half  an  ounce  only,  the  bottle  must  have  been 
four  .times  filled ;  and  he  had,  therefore,  taken  fifteen 
•drachms  in  the  ten  days.  He  was  constantly  in  the 
habit  of  “doctoring  himself,”  and,  among  other  things, 
frequently  took  carbonate  of  soda,  as  much  as  eighty 
grains  at  one  dose — purchasing  it  from  Mr.  Tite  by  the 
half-pound.  His  housekeeper  was  not  aware  whether 
he  had  taken  any  on  the  night  before  his  death;  and  we 
are,  therefore,  unable  to  ascertain  whether  any  decom¬ 
position  of  the  chloral  had  taken  place. 


Action  for  Poisoning  a  Dog. 

A  case  of  considerable  interest  to  sportsmen  occupied 
Mr.  Baron  Cleasby  the  whole  of  Monday  at  the  Warwick 
Assizes.  The  plaintiff,  the  Rev.  James  Finch,  curate  in 
charge  of  Burmanton,  near  Shipston-on- Stour,  Warwick¬ 
shire,  sued  the  gamekeeper  of  Mr.  Thomas  Wright,  of 
Tidmington  House,  Worcestershire,  to  recover  £50,  the 
value  of  a  favourite  Pomeranian  dog  of  the  plaintiff’s, 
alleged  to  have  been  poisoned  by  the  defendant.  The 
case  for  the  plaintiff  was,  that  the  defendant  placed 
strychnine  in  rabbits’  paunches,  and  left  them  about  the 
coverts,  and  that  the  dog,  which  the  defendant  had 
threatened  to  destroy,  was  poisoned  by  the  strychnine. 
The  latter  fact  was  conclusively  established  by  an  analy¬ 
sis  of  the  dog’s  stomach.  The  jury  found  a  verdict  for 
the  plaintiff,  with  £10  damages. — Daily  News. 


Poisoning  of  a  Child  by  Caustic. 

An  inquest  has  been  held  in  Leeds  to  inquire  into  the 
circumstances  attending  the  death  of  Frederick  William 
Day,  fourteen  months  old.  The  child  had  been  taken  to 
Mr.  Holmes’s  surgery,  in  Beckett  Street,  in  consequence 
of  its  having  a  slight  ulceration  under  its  tongue.  Mr. 
Holmes,  having  instructed  his  assistant,  Mr.  Jenkinson, 
to  apply  some  caustic  to  the  part  affected,  he  took  a 
piece,  wrapped  it  in  paper,  and,  holding  it  in  his  right 
hand,  applied  it  to  the  ulcerated  part  of  the  tongue. 
Whilst  he  had  his  fingers  in  the  child’s  mouth  it  sud- 
denly  threw  back  its  head,  and  its  gums,  coming  in  con¬ 
tact  with  the  caustic,  knocked  it  out  of  the  operator’s 
fingers,  and  it  slipped  down  the  child’s  throat,  its  death 
following  a  few  hours  afterwards.  A  post-mortem  exami¬ 
nation  was  made  by  Mr.  Scattergood,  who  found  that  the 
death  had  been  caused  by  caustic.  Evidence  was  given 
that  caustic  was  sometimes  applied  in  the  way  it  was  in 
this  case,  but  that  it  was  safer  to  apply  it  in  a  holder.  The 
jury  returned  a  verdict  that  the  child  had  been  acciden¬ 
tally  poisoned,  but  expressed  an  opinion  that  the  mode 
employed  was  not  a  safe  way  of  applying  caustic  when 
it  was  to  be  used  inside  a  person’s  mouth. — Leeds  Mer¬ 
cury. 

[***  H  is  n°f  stated  in  the  report  what  caustic  was 
used,  but  we  suppose  it  to  have  been  nitrate  of  silver.— 
Ed.  Pharm.  Jo  urn.] 


Case  of  Alleged  Poisoning. 

On  Monday,  at  the  Town  Hall,  Newnham,  William 
Masson,  a  Licentiate  of  the  College  of  Physicians  of  Edin¬ 
burgh,  and  Edward  Henry  Coleman,  an  apothecary  of 
Mitcheldean,  were  charged  with  feloniously  killing  and 
slaying  Ann  Masson,  wife  of  the  said  William  Masson. 

In  J anuary  last  an  inquest  was  held  at  the  residence 


of  Dr.  Masson,  at  Mitcheldean,  on  the  body  of  Mrs. 
Masson.  The  husband  then  stated  that  his  wife  had 
access  to  his  surgery,  and  took  two  drachms  of  lauda¬ 
num  while  suffering  from  neuralgia.  He  called  in  an 
apothecary  named  Coleman  (the  other  prisoner),  who 
administered  hot  brandy-and-water.  Mrs.  Masson  fell 
back  in  a  comatose  state  and  died  in  forty -three  hours 
afterwards.  Suspicions  were  aroused  with  regard  to 
the  conduct  of  Masson,  and  hence  the  present  pro¬ 
ceedings. 

Mr.  Charles  Whatmough,  a  surgeon,  was  called  in  to 
see  Mrs.  Masson  on  Saturday  night,  the  14th  of  January, 
and  found  her  in  a  perfectly  helpless  state  of  coma.  Dr. 
Masson  said  she  had  taken  about  two  drachms  of  opium 
from  a  bottle  in  the  surgery,  having  wasted  a  portion  on 
the  counter  ;  that  he  had  prepared  an  emetic  of  sulphate 
of  zinc  and  mustard,  which  she  refused  to  take  ;  and  that 
she  had  taken  a  hot  glass  of  brandy-and-water.  Witness 
gave  it  as  an  opinion  that,  prior  to  the  comatose  state, 
death  might  have  been  prevented  or  retarded  by  scientific 
means. 

Mr.  Fitzherbert  Jones,  a  surgeon,  was  also  called  to 
see  deceased  a  few  hours  before  her  death.  He  knew  of 
no  medical  authority  that  recommended  hot  brandy-and- 
water  for  poisoning  by  opium. 

Thomas  Buchanan  Washbourn,  M.D.,  was  of  opinion 
that  death  might  have  been  prevented  or  considerably 
retarded  by  scientific  means.  The  usual  means  would 
have  been  to  administer  an  emetic  or  to  use  the  stomach 
pump,  which  might  certainly  have  been  done  with 
effect  before  the  patient  was  in  a  comatose  state.  The 
stomach  pump  might  have  been  used  with  effect  after 
stupor  had  commenced.  Cold  affusions  and  moving  about 
would  retard  comatose  symptoms.  The  sleepiness  men¬ 
tioned  in  the  evidence  before  the  coroner  by  the  prisoner 
Coleman  he  should  have  considered  as  the  commence¬ 
ment  of  stupor.  He  considered  that  brandy-and-water 
would,  under  such  circumstances,  lend  an  additional 
force  to  the  narcotic  influence  of  the  poison.  Death 
would  be  accelerated  according  to  the  quantity  of  alco¬ 
hol  taken. 

Margaret  Maclough  said  that  Dr.  Masson  married 
her  sister,  who  was  then  a  servant  living  at  Guy’s 
Hospital.  Her  sister  died  on  Sunday  morning,  the  17th 
of  January,  after  drinking  laudanum  from  a  bottle.  She 
spoke  to  the  frequency  of  quarrels  between  the  Doctor 
and  her  sister.  After  her  death  Dr.  Masson  told  her  not 
to  say  that  her  sister  had  not  taken  poison  purposely, 
and  promised  her  money  and  her  sister’s  clothes,  caution¬ 
ing  her  that  if  she  said  anything  her  sister’s  body  would 
be  cut  in  pieces  and  bulled  in  the  cross  roads.  That 
frightened  her  so  that  she  did  not  say  anything  about  it 
until  questioned  by  a  policeman  in  London.  She  was 
quite  certain  they  had  quarrelled  on  the  day  the  poison 
was  taken. 

Witnesses  were  called  for  the  defence,  whose  evidence 
contradicted  the  statement  of  the  girl  as  to  the  terms  on 
which  the  prisoner  and  deceased  lived  together. 

The  Bench  eventually  committed  both  prisoners  for 
trial,  refusing  to  accept  bail  in  the  case  of  Dr.  Masson. — 
Standard. 


Poisoning  by  Carbolic  Acid. 

On  Monday  last,  a  police  officer  named  Jefford,  who 
has  lately  been  acting  as  inspector  at  the  Dale  Street 
Police  Court,  Liverpool,  called  a  man  named  Thompson, 
whom  he  asked  to  fetch  him  a  pint  of  beer.  Thompson 
said  he  had  no  bottle,  and  Jefford  then  took  one  from  a 
cupboard  in  the  passage  and  gave  it  to  him.  Thompson 
then  brought  the  beer,  and  placed  the  bottle  at  the  back 
of  some  boxes  which  were  close  to  the  cupboard  from 
which  the  bottle  was  taken.  Having  done  so,  he  was 
going  along  the  passage,  when  ho  heard  Jefford  call  out 
that  he  had  taken  something  wrong,  and  he  was  expec¬ 
torating  violently.  Thompson  hurried  back,  and  found 


March  4, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS 


715 


that  Jefford  had  not  taken  the  beer,  but  that  ho  had  be¬ 
gun  to  drink  from  a  bottle  which  contained  carbolic  acid, 
which  had  been  placed  by  some  one  at  the  top  of  the 
boxes.  Jefford  was  at  once  removed  to  the  Royal  In¬ 
firmary,  where  he  became  insensible,  and  after  lingering 
five  hours  died. — Standard. 


Attempted  Suicide  by  Oxalic  Acid. 

A  young  woman  was  brought  up  at  the  Greenwich 
Tolice  Court  on  Tuesday,  charged  with  attempting  to 
commit  suicide.  It  appeared  she  had  been  found  at 
her  master’s  house,  suffering  from  the  effects  of  having 
swallowed  a  quantity  of  oxalic  acid,  which  she  said  she 
had  purchased  of  a  neighbouring  chemist.  She  was  re¬ 
manded  for  a  week. 

HOUSE  OF  COMMONS. 

Adulteration  oe  Wines. 

On  Thursday,  Feb.  23,  Sir  J.  Lawrence  asked  the  Chan¬ 
cellor  of  the  Exchequer  if  his  attention  had  been  called 
to  a  statement  that  a  recent  test  of  sherry  wines,  described 
as  of  superior  quality,  had  shown  that  they  were  adul¬ 
terated  with  an  acid  highly  injurious  to  health ;  whether 
it  was  true  that  the  adulteration  had  been  made  in  the 
docks,  with  the  knowledge  of  the  officers  of  Customs;  and 
whether  the  officers  of  Customs  had  received  instructions 
4o  afford  every  facility  for  the  adulteration  of  wines  in 
bond,  provided  the  owners  declared  such  adulteration  to 
he  for  the  purpose  of  fortifying  the  wine. 

The  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  said  that  he  had 
made  inquiry  and  had  been  informed  that  no  adultera¬ 
tion  had  been  carried  on  with  the  cognizance  or  permis¬ 
sion  of  the  officers  of  Customs.  Orders  were  not  given 
to  tolerate  any  adulteration  whatever,  but  that  persons 
having  wines  in  bond  should  be  permitted  to  fortify  those 
wines,  that  being  absolutely  necessary  for  their  preserva¬ 
tion.  They  were  also  allowed  in  the  event  of  the  wines 
becoming  “  cloudy,”  to  use  some  means  of  refining  them ; 
hut  the  officers  are  strictly  forbidden  to  allow  any  adul¬ 
teration  whatever. 

Sir  J.  Lawrence  gave  notice  that  he  would  move  for  a 
return  of  the  quantity  of  Hamburg  and  other  spirits 
used  in  the  docks  for  fortifying  wines. 


Opium  Cultivation  in  India. 

Mr.  Grant  Duff  brought  forward  the  Indian  Budget 
on  Friday,  Feb.  24.  In  the  course  of  his  speech  he  said 
concerning  the  Indian  finances,  that  the  one  great  fact  of 
the  year  1870-71,  just  drawing  to  a  close,  was  that  opium 
had  come  to  the  rescue.  When  Sir  Richard  Temple  made 
his  statement  in  April  last,  nothing  could  be  much  more 
gloomy  than  the  prospect  of  the  opium  revenue  for  the 
financial  year  which  had  just  begun.  From  almost  all 
quarters  came  prophecies  of  evil,  the  prophecies  from 
China  being  the  gloomiest  of  all.  Her  Majesty’s  late 
representative  at  Pekin  even  went  to  Calcutta  to  confer 
with  the  Governor-General  about  the  increased  growth 
of  the  poppy  in  China.  Owing  to  some  unknown  cause, 
all  these  anticipations  had  been  falsified.  Sir  Richard 
Temple  took  the  price  of  the  chest  of  Bengal  opium  for 
the  year  at  975  rupees,  whereas  the  average  by  the  latest 
advices  had  been  1113  rupees.  In  spite,  however,  of  the 
favourable  results  of  this  year,  he  thought  it  necessary 
that  the  opium  revenue  should  be  watched  with  extreme 
care.  Considering  the  enormous  extent  of  country,  even 
in  Asia  alone,  where  the  poppy  can  be  grown  with  fair 
success,  it  was  too  much  to  hope  that  the  Indian  drug 
will  continue  to  be  so  distinctly  preferred  by  those  who  can 
buy  it  as  to  enable  us  to  lighten  by  many  millions  year 
after  year  the  price  which  India  pays  for  civilized  govern¬ 
ment;  for  whatever  might  be  said  against  the  opium 
revenue,  it  should  not  be  forgotten  that  hardly  any  of  it 


comes  out  of  the  pockets  of  our  Indian  fellow-subjects, 
and  if  it  were  done  away  with,  India  would  not  be 
lightened  of  an  impost,  but  robbed  of  a  splendid  estate. 
He  said  also  that  the  sudden  death  of  Dr.  Anderson  had 
not  prevented  them  continuing  the  arrangements  that 
gentleman  had  made  for  naturalizing  the  ipecacuanha 
plant  in  India. 

Mr.  Cave  said  that  in  Bengal  opium  was  a  Govern¬ 
ment  monopoly.  Government  not  only  taxed  it,  but 
they  grew,  manufactured  and  sold  it.  This  opium  re¬ 
venue  had  an  ugly  look  in  more  ways  than  one,  for  wc 
charged  so  high  for  the  drug  that  we  had  fostered  its 
growth  not  only  in  China,  where  at  present  it  had  found 
no  suitable  soil,  but  in  Persia,  where  he  understood  it 
was  nearly  as  good  as  in  India,  so  that  we  might  possibly 
lose  this  source  of  revenue  without  having  the  credit  of 
giving  it  up  for  conscience’  sake. 

Mr.  W.  Fowler  maintained  the  opinion  he  expressed 
a  year  ago  about  the  opium  revenue.  It  had  been  justly 
compared  to  a  revenue  derived  from  an  enormous  distil¬ 
lery  carried  on  at  the  public  expense.  Such  a  thing 
would  not  be  tolerated  for  a  moment,  and  yet  we  talked 
of  the  opium  revenue  as  perfectly  innocent.  In  his 
opinion  it  was  an  immoral  thing  for  the  Government  to 
have  a  hand  in,  and  the  sooner  they  got  rid  of  it  the 
better. 


BOOKS  RECEIVED. 

Dr.  Dobell’s  Reports  on  the  Progress  of  Practical 
and  Scientific  Medicine  in  Different  Parts  of 
the  World.  Vol.  II.  June,  1869,  to  June,  1870.  Lon¬ 
don  :  Longmans  and  Co.  From  the  Publishers. 

Uebersicht  der  Cinchonen  von  H.  A.  Weddell. 
Deutsch  bearbeitet  von  Dr.  F.  A.  Fluckiger.  Scliaff- 
hausen  und  Berlin.  1871.  From  Dr.  Fliickiger. 


©Mtarg. 


COUNT  CYPRIAN  WOLLOIVICZ. 

On  the  20th  of  February,  Staff  Assistant-Surgeon  Count 
"Wollowicz  died  at  Netley,  after  a  prolonged  illness,  in 
the  thirty- second  year  of  his  age.  The  deceased  gentle¬ 
man  belonged  to  a  distinguished  Polish  family,  and  took 
an  active  part  in  the  unsuccessful  attempt  to  re-establish 
the  independence  of  his  native  country.  Upon  the  failure 
of  that  attempt,  he  studied  medicine  at  Berlin  and 
Munich,  taking  in  1862  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Modi- 
cine  at  Munich  University.  After  visiting  France, 
Spain  and  Italy,  he  eventually  came  to  England,  where 
he  became  naturalized.  In  1867  he  entered  her  Ma¬ 
jesty’s  service  as  Assistant  Staff-Surgeon,  having  taken 
the  second  place  among  forty-four  competitors  in  the 
combined  Chelsea  and  Netley  examinations.  Ho  after¬ 
wards  served  in  the  Abyssinian  campaign,  where,  it  is 
supposed,  he  contracted  the  disease  which  ultimately 
proved  fatal  to  him.  Upon  his  return  he  went  again  to 
Netley,  where  he  was  associated  with  Professor  Parkes, 
F.R.S.,  in  a  course  of  experiments  on  the  influence  of 
wine  and  alcohol  on  the  human  body,  which  formed  the 
subject  of  two  papers  read  before  the  Royal  Society  and 
abstract®  of  which  have  been  published  in  recent  num¬ 
bers  of  this  Journal. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received : — The  ‘  British 
Medical  Journal,’  Feb.  25  ;  the  ‘  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
Feb.  25 ;  the  ‘  Lancet,’  Feb.  25 ;  the  ‘  Medical  Press  and  Cir¬ 
cular,’  March  1 ;  ‘Nature,’  Feb. 23;  the ‘Chemical News,’  Feb. 
24  ;  ‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  Feb.  23;  ‘Gardeners’ 
Chronicle,’  Feb.  25 ;  the  ‘  Grocer,’  Feb.  25 ;  ‘  Produce  Markets’ 
Review,’  Feb.  25;  the  ‘English  Mechanic,’  Feb.  24;  the 
‘Journal  of  Applied  Science’  for  March;  the  ‘Doctor’  for 
March;  the  ‘Brewers’  Guardian’  for  March;  the ‘Educa¬ 
tional  Times’  for  March;  the  ‘Falmouth  and  Penrhyn 
Times ;’  the  ‘  Chester  Chronicle.’ 


710 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  4,  1871. 


ffota  itnir  $wus. 

***  In  order  to  facilitate  reference ,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  their  answers  in  each  case  with  the  title 
and  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

NOTICE. — To  prevent  delay,  correspondents  are  re¬ 
quested  to  send  their  communications  to  the  Journal  Depart¬ 
ment,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  W.C.,  and  not  to  the  Pub¬ 
lishers. 

[151.]— LIME  JUICE  AND  GLYCERINE.— Most 
preparations  bearing  the  above  name  are  merely  emul¬ 
sions  of  almond  or  olive  oil,  with  lime  water  or  saccha- 
rated  solution  of  lime,  variously  perfumed,  and  with  or  with¬ 
out  the  addition  of  glyceidne.  A  really  “  elegant  ”  and  useful 
dressing  for  the  hair  may  be  prepared  as  follows.  It  cer¬ 
tainly  has  a  more  just  claim  to  the  above  title  than  most 
lotions. 

R.  White  Wax  ^ss 

Oil  of  Sweet  Almonds  Sviij. 

Incorporate  by  heat  of  a  water-bath,  and  add  gradually  S.  A. 
Glycerine  ^j 

Lime  or  Lemon  Juice,  or  J 
Citric  Acid  gr.  xxxiii  )  >  3 j 

Water  $j  )  ) 

Rectified  Spirit  of  Wine  §ss 

Water  5ij 

Ess.  Lemons  5ij 

Essential  Oil  of  Almonds  gtt.  v. 

Eked  Barrett. 


In  reply  to  A.  C.,  for  a  recipe  for  Lime  Juice  and  Glyce¬ 
rine,  I  think  the  following  will  be  found  a  very  good  one,  and 
will  not  separate,  as  the  one  F.  C.  S.  has  given : — 

R.  01.  Amygdalae  ^iss 
01.  Ricini  5ij 
Liq.  Calcis  3iiss 
Otto  Rosoe  q.  s. 

Shake  well. — J.  S.  Parker,  Peterborough. 


R.  Cerce  Alb., 

Cetacei,  ana  5ij 
01.  Amygd.  gviij 
Succ.  Limettse  3vj 
Glycer.  Boracis  3'j 
Ess.  Limon.  ^ss 
Ess.  Bcrgam.  5ij 

Melt  the  wax  and  spermaceti,  add  the  oil  and  perfume,  then 
shake  till  cold  with  the  lime  juice  and  glycerine  previously 
warmed. — Alfred  Utley. 

[172.]— CRYSTAL  VARNISH  FOR  NEGATIVES  can 
be  made  by  dissolving  2^  lb.  White  Shellac,  \  lb.  Mastic,  and 
5-  oz.  Camphor,  in  1  gall,  hot  Alcohol,  64  o.P.,  and  filtering. 
As  a  practical  photographer,  I  find  it  does  not  pay  to  make 
in  small  quantities  on  account  of  waste. — Arthur  Elsden. 


[176.]— ROSE  EMOLLIENT. — F.  K.  would  like  to  be 
supplied  with  a  recipe  for  preparing  Rose  Emollient. 

[177.] — SALAD  DRESSING. — Will  any  reader  kindly 
favour  me  with  a  good  recipe  for  the  above,  which  will  not 
separate  ? — Medicina. 

[178.] — SUGAR  OF  LEAD. — Will  any  of  our  readers 
let  me  know  the  cheapest  process  for  the  manufacture  of 
sugar  of  lead  on  the  large  scale? — Chemicus. 

[179.]— MOSS  ROSE  PERFUME. — “  Beta  ”  would  be 
glad  if  any  one  would  furnish  him  with  a  good  formula  for 
inexpensive  “  Moss  Rose  ”  perfume. 

[180.] — C0P1 ING  INK. — C.  W.  J.  would  be  glad  if  any 
correspondent  would  give  a  good  form  for  copying  ink. 

[181.] — WHITE  SEALING-WAX. — C.  W.  J.  also  asks 
for  a  form  for  making  white  sealing-wax  for  spirit  merchants’ 
use. 

[182.] — NINE  OILS. — “  Bastions ”  wishes  for  a  formula. 


Cffraspnimut. 


***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

The  Proposed  Poison  Regulations. 

Sir, — Kindly  permit  me,  as  a  member  of  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society, — not  as  a  member  of  the  Council, — and  in  as  few 
words  as  possible,  to  place  before  the  readers  of  this  Journal 
and  the  members  generally,  some  remarks  relative  to  the 
adoption  or  otherwise  at  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  proposed 
regulations  as  to  the  keeping  and  dispensing  of  poisons. 

In  the  first  place,  the  present  Council  was  bound  by  a  re¬ 
solution  passed  at  the  last  Annual  Meeting,  to  take  the  sub¬ 
ject  into  consideration,  and  make  a  further  report  at  the  next 
Annual  Meeting,  so  that  under  any  circumstances,  at  the 
risk  even  of  opposition  from  every  side,  the  Council  is  in  a 
manner  compelled  to  do  this,  and,  as  far  as  I  see,  cannot  do  less. 
Granted  that  regulations  must  be  submitted,  it  is  still  open 
for  any  or  every  member  of  Council  to  vote  against  their  adop¬ 
tion,  although  obliged  by  the  resolution  of  the  last  Annual 
Meeting  to  bring  them  forward  in  some  shape  or  other. 

Secondly,  I  am  aware  that  it  would  be  more  than  inconve¬ 
nient  to  a  very  large  number  of  gentlemen,  both  provincial 
and  metropolitan,  to  leave  their  businesses,  to  attend  the 
Annual  Meeting  in  order  to  vote  either  for  or  against  regu¬ 
lations. 

Lastly,  I  would  suggest  to  the  members  generally,  who  de¬ 
sire  to  support  or  oppose  the  or  any  regulations,  that  they 
should,  amongst  themselves,  make  arrangements  for  sending 
from  every  town  in  the  kingdom,  as  many  representatives  as- 
possible  and  convenient,  so  that  the  expression  of  opinion  and 
feeling  either  for  or  against  shall  be  such  that  the  Council 
may  be  able,  with  reason  and  justice,  to  set  before  the  Privy 
Council  how  great  and  general  throughout  the  trade  is  the 
opposition  to,  or  approval  of,  as  the  case  may  be,  any  inter¬ 
ference  with  the  mode  in  which  any  one  thinks  proper  to 
arrange  his  shop  or  conduct  bis  business. 

I  may  venture,  perhaps,  to  add  that  any  supposition  that 
there  is  a  desire  to  inllict  either  a  hardship  or  an  annoyance 
is  doubtless  a  misconception;  whatever  the  Annual  Meeting 
may  decide  upon,  the  Council  of  the  Society,  at  least,  as  I 
understand  the  matter,  is  bound  to  receive. 

A.  F.  Haselden. 


Sir. — Probably  it  will  be  for  the  benefit  of  the  Society  that 
Mr.  Sandford  has  terminated  the  attitude  of  watching  to 
which  he  alludes,  and  has  descended  into  the  are  naof  discus¬ 
sion  ;  and  it  is  much  fairer  that  we  should  meet  upon  such 
conditions. 

There  is  internal  evidence  that  a  large  part  of  the  support 
given  to  the  regulations  has  been  given  by  the  elected  repre¬ 
sentatives  of  the  Society  writing  anonymously,  and  it  is  im¬ 
possible  to  overlook  the  evil  results  of  this  substitute  for  ade¬ 
quate  publicity  to  the  discussions  of  the  Council.  If  gentle¬ 
men  successfully  oppose  the  admission  of  reporters  to  its 
meetings,  they  may  be  said  to  write  their  own  condemnation 
when  using  the  correspondence  columns  of  the  Journal  for 
stating  their  opinions ;  but,  at  the  least,  it  would  be  decorous 
to  do  this  openly. 

I  must  hold  those  who  exclude  reporters  from  our  meet¬ 
ings  as  being  the  cause  of  my  having  twice  to  address  you. 
I  conceive  that  the  members  of  the  present  Council  risk  being 
charged  with  a  grave  dereliction  of  duty  by  permitting  the 
existing  rights  and  privileges  of  the  trade  to  be  grievously 
shorn  whilst  in  their  custody ;  and,  in  a  discussion  of  the  whole 
question,  it  would  have  been  for  the  general  advantage  could 
members  of  the  Council  have  obtained  categorical  replies  to 
the  closest  questions  respecting  past  negotiations  with  Mr. 
Simon,  etc. 

But  the  opportunity  of  eliciting  such  information  for  public 
benefit  is  denied  us,  and,  as  a  consequence,  the  present  method 
is  the  alternative.  Our  representative  duty  of  vigilance  re¬ 
mains  the  same,  and  Mr.  Sandford  must  blame  himself  and 
those  colleagues  who  join  him  in  excluding  reporters,  if  he 
dislikes  the  only  method  left  open  for  directing  attention  to- 
points  bearing  on  the  whole  question. 

The  position  of  the  Society  is  unprecedented.  Like  Paris,, 
it  finds  that  its  defences  no  longer  present  their  front  to  its 


March  4, 1S?1.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


717 


enemies,  but  the  official  armament  is  brought  to  threaten 
itself.  At  such  a  time,  I  cannot  feel  justified  in  a  complaisant 
assumption  that  the  action  of  a  section  of  my  colleagues  is 
necessarily  right,  and  if  the  negotiations  of  1868  are  ad¬ 
vanced  as  the  groundwork  of  the  present  regulations,  I  claim 
the  right  of  considering  those  negotiations,  and  the  situa¬ 
tions  of  their  participants,  as  matters  of  public  interest.  The 
Act  of  1868  has  been  read  by  pharmacists  all  over  the  king¬ 
dom,  who  can  find  in  clause  1  no  warrant  for  the  inflexible 
course  insisted  upon  by  Mr.  Simon,  Mr.  Sandford  and  their 
supporters,  as  being  without  any  alternative.  If  the  terms  of 
the  asserted  contract  in  clause  1  are  considered,  one  of  their 
essential  principles  is  that  the  Society  is  the  best  judge  of 
what  regulations  are  desirable  and  proper,  and  it  follows  that 
it  should  decide  this  question  without  external  pressure  or 
threats.  The  objections  made  to  the  present  proposals  are 
not  against  their  object,  but  are,  firstly,  to  their  construction 
and  details,  and,  secondly,  to  the  Government  inspection  and 
penal  consequences  which  their  adoption  would  entail. 

Now,  the  Society  is  bound  to  regard  these  practical  consi¬ 
derations  quite  as  much  as  the  literal  interpretation  of  a 
dozen  permissive  words  in  an  Act  of  Parliament. 

The  rights  of  chemists  existed  before  1868,  and  were  not  all 
bartered  away  then;  whilst  it  is  unquestionable  that  the 
evils  that  would  follow  the  adoption  of  the  present  scheme 
would,  from  a  State  point  of  view,  be  infinitely  worse  than 
those  which  it  sought  to  remedy. 

The  grotesque  nature  of  Schedule  A  when  adopted  as  a 
basis  for  storing  remedies,  and  the  wild  uncertainty  existing 
as  to  its  boundaries,  would  lead  to  one  of  two  things,  either 
the  cruel  penalties  of  the  Act  would  be  inflicted  for  merely 
technical  breaches  of  the  law,  or  the  regulations  would  be¬ 
come  a  dead  letter,  and  disregard  of  other  portions  of  the  Act 
would  be  fostered. 

There  is  one  passage  in  the  “ Statement  of  Reasons”  which 
perhaps  deserves  a  bad  pre-eminence  over  all  others.  It  is 
that  where  the  majority  leave  the  policy  which  the  Chemist 
and  Druggist  describes  when  it  says  the  Council  “  has  suffi¬ 
cient  reason  left  to  know  that  it  may  still  hope  for  victory  if 
it  can  only  succeed  in  frightening  its  opponents.”  The  appeal 
to  fear  is  for  the  moment  laid  aside,  and  the  already  alarmed 
brother  is  soothed  by  this  assurance,  “  they  (the  Council)  ven¬ 
ture  to  say  that  no  vexatious  proceedings  will  he  adopted  to 
inquire  into  their  observance .”  Well  might  Mr.  Schaelit 
suggest  at  a  meeting  at  Bristol  that  he  thought  “  compulsory 
regulations,  which  were  not  to  be  enforced,  had  better  be 
called  by  their  proper  names,  ‘recommendations.’  ” 

Here  is  a  declaration — (is  it  based  on  a  “  tacit  understand¬ 
ing  between  the  Council  and  the  Government”  ?) — solemnly 
put  forward  in  the  name  of  the  Council.  I  cannot  help  ask¬ 
ing,  What  does  this  mean?  As  eleven  gentlemen  endorsed 
the  assertion,  will  not  one  of  them  tell  us  what  are  the 
grounds  for  so  remarkable  a  promise?  It  is  inconsistent 
with  what  we  thought  to  be  the  opinions  of  some  of  ££  the 
eleven”  when  studying  their  anonymously-expressed  views, 
to  which  I  have  already  alluded. 

Under  the  nom  de  plume  hitherto  used  by  a  gentleman  be¬ 
longing  to  “  the  eleven,”  I  lately  read  the  following  : — “  A 
more  weighty  objection,  and  the  only  weighty  one  that  I  can 
find,  is  this,  that  you  introduce  the  thin  edge  of  the  wedge, 
which  will  lead  to  inspection  and  annoyance  from  public 
officers .” 

Are  not  ££  inspection  and  annoyance  ”  to  be  considered 
vexations  to  a  well-regulated  mind  and  shop? 

As  our  representatives  give  us  two  divergent  statements, 
which  are  we  to  accept  ? 

On  the  personal  relations  of  the  question  to  Mr.  Sandford, 
I  submit  that  I  have  not  exceeded  either  right  or  propriety, 
and  have  kept  strictly  to  the  matter  in  hand. 

Mr.  Sandford’s  services  to  the  Society  have  become  a  part 
of  its  history,  and  I  need  not  here  enlarge  upon  them,  but 
my  reply  to  the  suggestion  of  inability  to  recognize  these,  is 
a  reference  to  a  certain  meeting  at  Norwich,  which  will  show 
who  was  the  mover  of  the  resolution  ultimately  developed 
into  a  lasting  testimony  of  the  grateful  feelings  of  our  body. 

Mr.  Sandford’s  remarks  upon  the  question  of  leaders  in  the 
Lancet  and  Dali  Mall  Gazette  are  rather  Palmerstonian  in 
style,  but  do  not  rebut  anything  that  I  stated,  and  as  the 
former  of  these  journals  has  produced  another  article  on  the 
subject  without  giving  us  the  threatened  information  about 
the  earlier  ones,  I  fear  our  further  curiosity  will  be  disap¬ 
pointed. 

With  reference  to  the  article  from  the  Dritish  Medical 


Journal,  I  have  asked  a  friend  to  give  notice  of  a  motion  on 
the  subjeot  at  the  April  Meeting  of  the  Council. 

I  am  sure  that  many  members  of  the  Executive  of  the 
British  Medical  Association  would  not  approve  of  the  lan¬ 
guage  used  by  their  official  organ.  Whether  the  mode  of 
advocacy  of  the  Regulations  by  certain  medical  journals  will 
make  them  more  palatable  to  those  for  whom  they  have  been 
prepared  is  somewhat  doubtful,  but  the  unblushing  effrontery 
with  which  these  writers  ignore  any  idea  of  the  experiment 
extending  to  themselves  is  quite  amusing. 

Probably  no  error  ever  developed  into  a  system  without 
having,  as  a  basis,  some  half-truth.  So  it  is  m  the  present 
case.  Give  us,  by  a  uniformity  of  arrangement,  any  better 
security  against  that  chance  of  error  which  belongs  to  every¬ 
thing  human,  and  we  should  all  accept  it  gladly.  But  it 
happens  that  the  conditions  and  consequences  attached  to  the 
regulations  have  convinced  the  judgment  of  competent  and 
unbiassed  persons  in  every  quarter,  that  the  remedy  is  worse 
than  the  disease. 

A  few  persons  holding  this  opinion  have  been  induced  to 
acquiesce  in  what  they  take  to  be  the  necessity  of  the  case, 
their  j  udgment  yielding  to  the  threats  which  have  been  made, 
whilst  in  some  quarters  we  have  seen  extreme  sensitiveness, 
lest  it  should  be  supposed  that  individuals  refused  to  adopt 
every  suggestion  that  could  be  made  for  giving  security 
against  error. 

More  moral  courage  than  this  is  requisite ;  and  if  we  are 
true  to  ourselves  and  to  our  profession,  we  have  nothing  to 
fear. 

In  past  years  we  have  had  to  tell  Parliament  that  its 
Poison  Bills  and  Bills  for  the  Prevention  of  Accidental 
Poisoning  were  delusive  in  their  promised  security,  and  im¬ 
practicable  in  their  working,  and  having  a  good  conscience, 
we  cared  not  if  ignorant  people  charged  us  with  indifference. 

We  are  again  put  through  a  similar  trial  of  our  moral 
courage,  although  with  aggravated  circumstances. 

If  the  opposition  to  the  regulations  arose  from  selfishness 
and  ignorance,  should  we  find  the  line  of  demarcation  between 
the  pros  and  cons  such  as  it  is  at  present  ? 

Let  the  lists  of  those  who  have  declared  their  opinions 
during  the  past  two  years  answer  this  question. 

Richard  Reynolds. 

Leeds,  February  28 th,  1871. 

Sir, — In  the  early  part  of  last  July  (I  think)  you  inserted 
a  letter  from  me,  which  was  found  fault  with  by  one  or  two 
of  your  correspondents,  because  my  name  and  address  did 
not  appear,  although,  of  course,  both  had  been  sent  to  the 
editor,  though  not  for  publication. 

C£  Quot  homines,  tot  sententise.”  The  arguments  advanced 
on  both  sides  received  my  candid  consideration.  There  was, 
however,  just  this  simple  fact,  I  wrote  to  condemn  systems 
and  practices,  and  to  point  out  what  appeared  to  me  as  exist¬ 
ing  evils;  but  knowing  that  these  were  tolerably  widespread, 
I  did  not  wish  to  draw  attention  to  any  particular  place,  nor 
to  particular  individuals.  And  as  then,  so  on  the  present 
occasion,  the  observations  offered  must  stand  on  their  own 
merits.  My  motives  in  writing  are  certainly  of  an  unselfish 
character. 

The  following  remarks  are  elicited  by  a  circular  received 
from  the  Secretary  with  reference  to  the  storing  and  dispen¬ 
sing  of  poisons. 

Now,  I  certainly  thought  the  Council  had  taken  great 
pains  in  making  these  proposed  rules  as  little  objectionable 
as  possible,  and  was  greatly  surprised  to  find  such  an  amount 
of  opposition  called  forth  by  them.  I  hope  to  be  pardoned 
for  saying  that  personally  I  do  not  see  any  reason  for  this 
determined  antagonism,  nor  have  I  been  able  to  perceive 
much  logical  force  in  the  arguments  made  use  of  to  support  it. 

One  of  the  stereotyped  cries  seems  to  be  that  hospitals  and 
dispensaries  required  to  be  placed  under  regulation  as  much 
or  more  than  the  establishments  of  chemists  and  druggists. 
Now,  were  this  anything  to  do  with  the  matter  under  consi¬ 
deration,  I  might  be  able  to  say  something  upon  the  subject, 
having  been  several  years  chief  dispenser  at  one  of  the  Lon¬ 
don  hospitals,  besides  being  engaged  at  different  times  both 
in  private  and  public  dispensaries. 

However,  it  seems  to  me  that  at  present  there  are  two 
points  for  deliberation,  and  two  only. 

Has  the  Government  any  right  to  impose  regulations  upon 
us  ?  Are  the  regulations  proposed,,  or  any  regulations,  ne¬ 
cessary  ? 

The  first  question  I  do  not  feel  disposed  to  argue.  But  as 


718 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  4, 1871. 


regards  tlie  second,  I  am  disposed  to  think  that  some  such 
regulations  as  those  recommended  by  the  Council  ave  neces¬ 
sary,  and  that  it  is  to  our  own  interest  to  adopt  such.  They 
can  (if  carried  out  in  a  right  spirit)  be  so  arranged  as  to 
adapt  themselves  to  the  varied  requirements  of  either  large  or 
small  establishments,  and  the  country  will,  sooner  or  later, 
demand  some  such  concessions  at  our  hands. 

Pew  who  know  anything  of  trade  arrangements  generally 
will  dispute  the  fact  that  practices  such  as  the  following  are 
rather  the  rule  than  the  exception : — Bottles  and  packages 
containing  poisons,  interspersed  among  others  containing 
innocuous  substances  and  non-poisonous  preparations,  and 
without  any  mark  of  distinction,  beyond  the  ordinary  label, 
to  point  out  the  dangerous  contents.  And  whilst,  on  the  one 
hand,  the  occurrence  of  comparatively  so  small  a  number  of 
fatal  accidents  from  misadventure  may  be  taken  to  indicate 
the  general  care  and  attention  paid  to  our  duties,  a  careful 
inquiry  into  the  causes  of  these  fatal  cases  when  they  do  occur 
generally  points,  on  the  other  band,  to  some  little  laxity 
in  the  arrangement  or  storing  of  goods,  or  to  the  want  of 
some  striking  distinction  in  the  bottles  in  which  poisonous 
applications  and  non-poisonous  medicines  have  been  sent  out. 

Reflecting  upon  this  sort  of  thing,  I  some  time  since 
adopted  a  plan  almost  identical  with  that  proposed  by  the 
Council,  and  the  arrangement  has  certainly  added  much  to 
my  comfort  and  peace  of  mind,  for  just  before  doing  this  a 
mistake  occurred  in  my  own  shop  (from  want  of  this),  which 
would,  in  all  probability,  have  proved  a  fatal  one  had  not  the 
suspicions  of  the  patient  been  aroused  by  noticing  some  dif¬ 
ference  in  the  medicine. 

I  am  quite  as  great  an  advocate  for  sending  out  liniments, 
lotions,  etc.  in  poison-bottles;  and  this,  not  only  because  I 
believe  it  may  bo  often  a  means  of  preventing  persons  from 
getting  hold  of  the  wrong  bottle,  but  because  in  two  or  three 
cases  of  fatal  poisoning  well  known  to  me,  the  accident  has 
arisen  through  the  bottle  being  sent  for  a  repetition  of  medi¬ 
cine,  and  instead  of  this  a  poisonous  lotion  had  been  dis¬ 
pensed. 

It  is  true  that  persons  will  bring  these  bottles  for  sweet 
nitre,  castor  oil,  etc.,  but  we  never  find  they  object  to  ex¬ 
change  them  for  others,  and  we  are  rather  the  gainers  than 
otherwise  by  so  doing.  Of  course,  if  we  be  expected  when  a 
customer  comes  for  two-pennyworth  of  laudanum  and  opo¬ 
deldoc  to  give  a  poison-bottle  in  place  of  any  old  dirty  bottle 
they  may  bring,  we  should  be  rather  losers  by  the  transac¬ 
tions.  It  will  require  some  little  consideration  how  to  meet 
such  cases.  Probably  a  small  strip  of  glass  paper  gummed  to 
the  bottle  would  answer  all  requirements. 

There  seems  to  be  no  difficulty  in  understanding  the  mean¬ 
ing  wished  to  be  conveyed  by  the  Council  in  the  following : — 
“  But  with  reference  to  the  obligations  which  the  regulations 
would  impose,  they  venture  to  say  that  no  vexatious  proceed¬ 
ings  will  be  adopted  to  inquire  into  their  observance.”  Of 
course,  should  any  accident  occur,  it  would  most  likely  go 
much  harder  with  those  who  shall  not  have  complied  with 
the  regulations,  and  very  justly  so. 

It  is  much  to  be  desired  that,  instead  of  the  Council  meet¬ 
ing  with  vexatious  opposition,  they  may  have  the  support  of 
the  trade  generally ;  for,  although  it  may  be  true  that  no 
amount  of  regulations  will  altogether  prevent  accidents  hap¬ 
pening,  still  they  must  have  a  tendency  in  that  direction,  and 
the  public  will,  I  am  sure,  rightly  value  this  guarantee  from 
us  that  nothing  is  left  undone  by  the  trade  that  may  conduce 
to  their  safety.  And  I  most  earnestly  hope  the  Council  will 
not  by  any  pressure  sought  to  be  brought  to  bear  upon  them 
shrink  from  doing  what  they  have,  I  think,  wisely  concluded 
to  be  their  duty. 

One  wno  has  known  the  Drug  Trade 
MOKE  THAN  THIRTY  YEARS. 


ShV  ^our  numerous  correspondents  show  that  the  poison 
question  is  a  very  vexatious  one.  It  appears  to  me  that 
every  M.P.S.  has  some  good  arrangement  of  his  own,  and 
no  other  w  ill  suit  him  as  well  as  the  one  he  adopts  for  his  own 
establishment.  This  is  the  case  with  me :  my  plan  is  to  keep 
acid,  hydrocyanic.,  etc.,  in  a  distinct  place,  and  for  the  ordinary 
shop  bottles  containing  per.  ant.  tart.,  tr.  camp,  co.,  tr.  nucis 
vomicae,  etc.,  I  use,  in  addition  to  the  ordinary  label,  one 
of  Silverlock’s  registered  labels,  and  this  simple  plan  is  in  all 
points  better  for  my  purpose  than  any  I  have  seen  recom¬ 
mended.  It  is  very  plain  any  uniform  system  will  disturb 
every  plan  now  adopted,  and  be  very  likely  to  produce  that 


confusion  and  those  mistakes  sought  to  be  avoided.  In  re¬ 
ference  to  dispensing  bottles  containing  outward  applications, 
the  application  of  sand-paper  appears  to  me  the  best  plan,  if  any 
is  necessary,  as  the  sign  can  be  removed  in  case  the  bottle  be 
used  for  anything  else.  The  proposed  particular-shaped 
bottle  may  be  used  for  anything,  and  create  rather  than  pre¬ 
vent  accidents.  It  will  be  a  great  annoyance  to  have  one’s 
premises  open  to  inspection,  and  this,  I  amsure,  every  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  trade  ought  to  protest  against. 

February  2 Qth,  1871.  M.  P.  S. 


Sir, — That  Mr.  Brady,  Mr.  Reynolds  and  others  are  op¬ 
posed  to  the  poison  regulations  may  be  taken  as  sufficient 
evidence  of  the  reasonableness  of  the  opposition,  and  ought,  I 
think,  to  make  every  one  interested  in  the  question  pause 
before  exchanging  the  liberty  he  now  possesses  of  conducting 
his  business  in  the  way  most  agreeable  to  himself  for  a  sys¬ 
tem  by  which  he  will  be  bound  to  conform  to  certain  fixed 
rules. 

The  main  argument  of  those  who  advocate  the  change  is, 
that  unless  we  acquiesce  now,  we  shall,  by-and-by,  be  com¬ 
pelled  to  submit  to  a  more  irksome  code. 

Such  an  argument  is  most  humiliating,  and  is  suited  to 
any  obstinate  or  tyrannical  official  who  cares  only  for  the 
carrying  out  of  some  pet  scheme. 

If  on  the  merits  of  the  question  we  believe  the  regulations 
unnecessary,  let  it  be  so  avowed,  and  steps  taken,  as  on  former 
occasions,  to  resist  any  Government  interference. 

That  part  of  the  scheme  which  has  reference  to  the  storing 
or  keeping  of  poisons  I  consider  the  most  objectionable,  in¬ 
asmuch  as  it  partakes  in  so  great  a  degree  of  an  inquisitorial 
character. 

We  do  not  admit  that  the  public  suffers  by  the  existing 
method  of  keeping  poisons.  What,  then,  has  the  public,  or 
Government  on  the  part  of  the  public,  to  do  with  our  mode 
of  keeping  them  ?  It  may  have  a  right  to  say  how,  or  on 
what  conditions,  it  will  receive  them,  or  under  what  restric¬ 
tions  they  shall  be  circulated,  but  as  to  the  keeping  of  poisons 
I  submit  that  no  case  has  been  made  out  which  would  justify 
so  objectionable  an  interference.  * 

Bishopwearmouth,  Sunderland.  John  R.  Thompson. 

February  27th,  1871. 


Sir, — In  view  of  the  approaching  Annual  Meeting  of  our 
Society,  when,  if  the  logomachy  be  eager,— 

“  Collecti  flores  tunicis 
Cecidere  remissis.” 

— it  should  also  be  dignified  and  moderate;  and  having  givera 
a  careful  and  dispassionate  consideration  to  the  Council’s; 
“  statement,”  I  think  that  reticence  or  neutrality  would  be- 
untimely. 

It  is  an  axiom  in  military  science,  that  no  fortress  is 
stronger  than  its  weakest  point.  Now  the  “  statement  ”  pos¬ 
sesses  one  feature  of  weakness.  The  resolution  authorizing 
its  issue  had  not  an  unanimous  adoption ;  hence  its  intrinsic 
importance  and  influence  are  materially  diminished. 

Touching  the  proposed  regulation, — any  code  would  neces¬ 
sitate  for  its  effectuation,  a  multitude  of  contributive  and  sub¬ 
sidiary  conditions;  which,  while  recognizing  professional 
status  and  requirement,  should  not  unduly  interfere  with  or 
impede  trade  interests  and  convenience.  The  new  Pharmacy 
Act,  by  raising  the  standard  of  qualification,  insured  to  the 
public  a  security  that  no  mere  classified  inventory  of  poison- 
bottles  would  have  effected.  For,  without  this  pharmaceu¬ 
tical  curriculum, 

“  ’Tis  still  to  be 

Senseless  to  feel  and  with  seal’d  eyes  to  see.” 

Notwithstanding,  no  well-affected  chemist  will  ignore  those 
precautions  which  prudence  and  discretion  dictate  as  proper 
and  desirable  safeguards. 

Leeds ,  February  28 th,  1871.  Clement  Pierson. 


Sir, — Surely  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
cannot  be  so  ill  advised  as  to  persist  in  their  attempt  to  force 
the  obnoxious  poison  regulations  on  the  trade,  now  ren¬ 
dered  doubly  offensive  by  the  addition  of  a  clause  to  regulate 
the  dispensing  of  poisons.  The  opposition  already  mani¬ 
fested  does  not,  I  believe,  represent  one-tenth  of  that  which 
exists.  Many,  like  myself,  have  been  waiting  in  the  hope  of 
seeing  some  formal  announcement  that  the  Council  hadi 


March  4, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


710 


reconsidered  their  decision,  and  withdrawn  the  project.  I 
would  warn  every  chemist  and  druggist,  ere  it  is  too  late,  not 
to  come  under  the  rule  of  Mr.  Simon  and  his  medical  col¬ 
leagues.  If  they  want  to  know  how  it  will  fare  with  them 
should  such  an  unfortunate  event  ever  happen,  they  have 
only  to  look  at  the  tyrannical  and  despotic  manner  in  which 
Mr.  Simon  rules  over  boards  of  guardians  in  the  matter  of 
the  Compulsory  Vaccination  Acts.  All  their  individuality  of 
action  is  gone,  and  they  are  mere  tools  in  his  hands.  A b  uno 
disce  omnes. 

As  to  the  remarks  of  the  British  Medical  Journal,  quoted 
on  page  687  of  your  last  number,  they  are  so  insulting  to  us 
as  a  body  that  I  think  the  Council  ought  immediately  to 
publish  an  indignant  remonstrance,  and  let  the  accredited 
organs  of  the  medical  profession  know,  in  unmistakable 
terms,  that  we  neither  covet  their  praises  nor  fear  their 
censure. 

Harroto  Boad,  W.,  Feb.  28 th,  1871.  Wm.  Young. 


Sir, — In  your  editorial  footnote  appended  to  my  letter  of 
last  week,  you  exercise  a  freedom  of  inference  which  I  ven¬ 
ture  to  assert  is  not  warranted  by  any  of  my  remarks.  I 
never  said  the  regulations  “should  not  be  adopted,  because 
medical  men  neglected  them,”  and  no  part  of  my  letter  will 
bear  any  such  construction.  What  I  said,  and  what  I  now 
reiterate,  is,  that  the  proposed  regulations  evince  a  disregard 
for  the  public  safety,  and  that  the  position  of  our  Council,  in 
reference  to  them,  shows  a  want  of  good  faith  towards  the 
trade  and  its  interests. 

The  position  I  take  is  that,  so  far  as  chemists  are  con¬ 
cerned,  these  regulations  are  not  required,  inasmuch  as  every 
precaution  is  already  adopted ;  and  that  to  disturb  the  syste¬ 
matic  arrangements  now  in  use,  and  which  are  especially 
adapted  to  the  requirements  of  each  individual  establish¬ 
ment,  will  be  fraught  with  stupendous  difficulties  to  the 
trade,  and  positive  danger  to  the  public.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  so-called  surgeries  of  medical  men  are,  as  a  rule,  so  ill 
fitted,  so  ill  kept,  and  so  scantily-provided  with  anything  like 
safeguards  against  accidents,  that  coercion  might  very  advan¬ 
tageously  be  applied  to  them  in  the  interests  of  society. 
How  very  absurd,  then,  or  even  something  worse,  must 
appear  the  attempt  to  legislate  for  the  former  whilst  over¬ 
looking  the  latter !  Chemists  will  do  well  to  remember  that 
the  whole  scope  and  tendency  of  the  “poison  clauses”  of  the 
last  Pharmacy  Act  have  not  been  towards  the  preventing  of 
poisoning,  but  was  directed  mainly  against  counter-prescrib¬ 
ing.  They  will  also  do  well  to  remember  who  were  the 
instigators  of  these  clauses. 

Chemist. 

Our  correspondent  errs  in  supposing  we  attributed 
to  him  any  enunciation  of  the  argument  we  spoke  of  as  fal¬ 
lacious.  But  since  two-thirds  of  his  letter  was  devoted  to 
comments  on  the  need  for  poison  regulations  in  surgeries,  and 
on  the  injustice  of  surgeries  being  exempted  from  the  appli¬ 
cation  of  the  proposed  regulations,  it  seemed  to  us  a  fitting 
opportunity  to  refer  to  these  opinions  as  being — whether 
right  or  wrong — altogether  foreign  to  the  discussion  of  the 
present  pharmaceutical  question,  for  we  believe  that  will  be 
an  advantage  if  the  discussion  be  kept  within  its  proper 
limits. — Ed.  Pharm.  Journ.] 


Sir, — Though  much  has  been  said  about  voting-papers 
in  the  matter  of  the  new  poison  regulations,  I  have  not 
heard  anything  of  our  power  of  voting  by  “proxy,”  a 
form  of  which  I  here  enclose,  and  which,  it  appears  to  me, 
should  give  me  that  proper  and  legal  influence  on  the  deci¬ 
sion  of  the  meeting  which  is  my  right ;  because,  though  . . 
intend  to  be  at  the  Annual  Meeting,  yet  it  may  be  so  ful 
that  I  cannot  get  in ;  and  when  I  get  there,  if  there  is  any¬ 
thing  like  a  repetition  of  the  uproar  which  we  had  last  year, 
it  will  be  a  disgrace  to  us  as  debaters. 

Now,  what  could  be  more  simple  than  one  page  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Journal  filled  with  a  form  of  proxy, 
which  Journal,  being  posted,  as  it  is,  to  all  members,  each 
one  would  be  at  liberty  to  stamp  with  a  Id.  Inland  Revenue 
(a  receipt  stamp),  name  his  proxy,  and  return  it  to  the 
Secretary  at  a  cost  of  l^d.  ?  So  that  there  could  be  a  ful 
debate,  and  a  clear  expression  of  the  feeling  of  the  members ; 
and  if  the  votes  were  registered  according  to  the  number  o 
proxies,  a  peaceable  and  gentlemanly  solution  of  the  diffi¬ 
culty  could  be  arrived  at,  which  would  not  put  the  country 


members  to  the  great  expense  and  trouble  of  a  journey  to 
town. 

A  resolution  in  accordance  with  this  plan  was  passed  last 
night  at  the  General  Meeting  of  Chemists  in  Manchester ; 
and  if  you  would  be  good  enough  to  print  along  with  this  a 
brm  of  proxy  suitable  for  the  case,  a  full  and  timely  conside¬ 
ration  can  be  taken  of  its  utility. 

7,  Lower  Hillgate,  Stockport,  Thomas  Kay. 

February  23rd,  1871. 

[*#*  Voting  in  the  manner  suggested  by  our  correspondent 
would  be  invalid,  since  the  Charter  of  Incorporation  specified, 
“  That  at  all  general  meetings  and  meetings  of  the  Council, 
he  majority  of  the  Members  present  having  a  right  to  vote 
liereat  respectively,  shall  decide  upon  the  matters  propounded 
;o  such  meetings,  the  person  presiding  therein  having,  in 
case  of  an  equality  of  numbers,  a  second  or  casting  vote.” — 
Ed.  Pharm.  Journ.] 


Hydrate  or  Chloral. 

Sir, — Since  the  publication  of  the  paper  upon  chloral,  etc., 
in  your  issue  of  the  7th  ultimo,  I  have  found  some  of  the  data 
;here  given  to  be  inaccurate ;  I  therefore  wish  to  made  this 
statement  public  in  justice  to  all  of  those  interested. 

My  analyses  were  conducted  in  good  faith;  but  at  that 
line,  as  at  present,  the  mode  of  testing  hydrate  of  chloral  was 
only  imperfectly  understood ;  therefore,  I  was  liable  to  inao*- 
curacies  which  I  have  since  discovered  by  repeated  experi¬ 
ments  upon  some  of  the  identical  samples. 

In  using  the  ammonia  test,  I  would  suggest  that  half  the 
quantity  of  hydrate  of  chloral  (viz.  250  grains)  be  treated  ex¬ 
actly  as  prescribed  by  Mr.  Umney;  immediately  the  ammo¬ 
nia  is  added,  well  secure  the  aperture  of  the  tube,  agitate  the 
liquid  freely  and  immerse  the  tube  in  warm  water  (the  tem¬ 
perature  not  to  exceed  100°  F.) ;  when  quite  cold,  read  the 
chloroform  layer ;  in  this  way  coinciding  results  may  be  ob¬ 
tained. 

My  paper  upon  this  subject  has  called  attention  to  a  most 
important  question ;  already  some  makers  have  been  im¬ 
proving  their  manufacture,  and  I  do  not  doubt  great  good 
will  accrue  to  all  from  ventilation  of  the  subject. 

I  wish  to  thank  those  who  have  so  kindly  assisted  my  en¬ 
deavour  to  arrive  at  truth  in  this  matter. 

Alered  H.  Mason. 

Liverpool,  February  22nd,  1871. 


Sir, — Mr.  Mason  hints  that  in  several  of  the  samples  re¬ 
ferred  to  in  his  paper,  alcoholate  was  substituted  for  hydrate  of 
chloral;  yet  this  can  hardly  be  correct, tfor  while  he  states  that 
alcoholate  is  soluble  in  cold  chloroform,  he  admits  that  all 
those  samples  were  insoluble  in  that  menstruum.  What,  then, 
is  this  body  possessing  such  a  definite  composition  as  always 
to  yield  identical  analytical  results  ?  Clearly  not  hydrate  of 
chloral,  for  it  only  yields  57  per  cent,  of  chloroform,  and  as 
clearly  not  alcoholate,  because  it  is  insoluble  in  cold  chloro¬ 
form.  I  hope  that  Mr.  Mason  is  following  up  his  inquiries, 
and  that  we  shall  shortly  learn  the  true  nature  of  this  hitherto 
unknown  compound.* 

The  subject  was  evidently  of  so  much  interest  that  I  have 
been  induced  to  make  some  experiments  on  my  own  account, 
the  results  of  which  1  propose  to  lay  before  your  readers. 
After  making  several  trials,  I  have  come  to  the  conclusion 
that  caustic  potash  is,  on  the  whole,  more  trustworthy  as  a 
means  of  separating  the  chloroform  than  caustic  ammonia. 
It  does  not  require  the  application  of  heat,  and  I  have,  at  all 
events,  been  able  to  obtain  more  constant  results  in  this  way. 
Thinking  that  the  sample  obtained  by  Mr.  Mason  from  my 
firm  might  possibly  have  been  exceptional,  I  have  examined 
samples  taken  out  of  five  different  batches ;  they  were  all  in 
cake  (the  only  form  in  which  I  have  yet  made  hydrate  of 
chloral)  and  perfectly  dry.  I  may  mention  here  that  I  have 
frequently  seen  it  stated  that  hydrate  of  chloral  is  deliques¬ 
cent,  and  this  statement  is  repeated  in  an  editorial  article  in 
the  Pharm.  Journ.  of  February  11.  According  to  my  ex¬ 
perience,  pure  hydrate  of  chloral  is  not  in  any  way  deliques¬ 
cent.  I  have  frequently  found  that  the  hydrate  made  at  our 
works  has  become  damp,  and  even  run  to  a  liquid  after  long 
exposure,  but  I  have  rejected  it  as  an  impure  article  when  it 


*  Mr.  Mason’s  letter  will  probably  be  the  best  answer  to 
this  question. — Ed.  Pharm.  Journ. 


720 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  4,  1871. 


possesses  this  property ;  and  I  have  generally  found  that  re¬ 
distillation  of  a  deliquescent  article  (rejecting  the  last  portions 
that  come  over)  produces  a  perfectly  non-deliquescent  cake. 
I  have  not  as  yet  been  able  to  determine  the  precise  cause  of 
this  deliquescence,  but  I  consider  it  to  be  due  to  some  im¬ 
purity  of  a  higher  boiling-point  than  the  pure  hydrate.  At 
any  rate  I  have  always  found  that  the  last  portions  which 
come  over  are  the  most  prone  to  absorb  moisture. 

The  following  table  will  speak  for  itself: — 

Theoretical  quantity  of  chloroform  from  pure  hydrate 
chloral ,  72'20  per  cent. 

Theoretical  quantity  of  chloroform  from  pure  alcohol  ate 
chloral,  6T75  per  cent. 


Boiling 

point. 

Chloro¬ 

form 

present. 

Dunn,  Squire  and  Co.  ...  A  cake  . 

>)  >)  »  •  •  •  B  })  • 

)>  »  »  •  •  •  c  ,,  • 

33  33  33  ...  D  ,,  * 

33  .33  33  ...  E  „  . 

Yon  Martius  and  Mendelsohn  crystal  . 

„  „  powder  . 

„  ,,  cake  .  . 

De  Haen . cake  .  . 

Saame .  „  .  . 

97° 

97° 

96o 

97° 

97° 

97° 

96° 

97o 

97° 

96° 

70- 5 

69- 5 

71- 5 
71-0 

70- 5 

71- 0 
7P5 
70-5 
70-0 
70.5 

I  gather  from  these  results  that  there  is  little  or  no  prac¬ 
tical  difference  in  quality  of  the  principal  makes  of  hydrate  of 
chloral,  and  that  the  alarm  caused  by  Mr.  Mason’s  paper  is 
entirely  unfounded. 

That  Mr.  Mason  conducted  his  experiments  with  care  I 
can  well  believe,  but  if  so,  there  must  have  been  some 
error.  As  he  does  not  describe  his  method  in  detail,  I 
am  unable  to  criticize  it ;  but  it  is  at  least  remarkable  that 
it  gave  perfectly  satisfactory  results  in  the  case  of  the  so- 
called  guaranteed  article  which  he  has  taken  under  his  pro¬ 
tection,  while  it  failed  altogether  when  applied  to  the  other 
makes.  As  he  has  raised  the  question  of  the  fraudulent  sub¬ 
stitution  of  alcoholate  for  hydrate,  I  thought  it  worth  while 
to  inquire  how  far  such  a  case  was  probable.  I  have 
therefore  prepared  some  considerable  quantity  of  the  alcoho¬ 
late  as  an  experiment,  and  I  find  that  it  is  somewhat  more 
costly  to  make  than  the  hydrate.  The  process  employed 
for  preparing  hydrate  of  chloral  must  effectually  remove  every 
trace  of  alcohol  from  it ;  and  even  if  this  were  not  necessarily 
the  case,  the  interest  of  the  manufacturer  would  lead  him  to 
supply  the  hydrate  rather  than  the  alcoholate. 

W.  Stevens  Squire,  Ph.D. 

Langthorne  Chemical  Works,  Stratford,  Feb.  14 th,  1871. 

In  further  reference  to  this  subject,  Messrs.  Domeier 
and  Co.  desire  to  state  that  the  sample,  No.  8,  examined 
by  Mr.  Mason,  as  representing  the  manufacture  of  Messrs. 
De  Haen,  has  been  foimd  on  re-examination  to  yield  64’37 
per  cent,  of  chloroform,  whereas  Mr.  Mason’s  original  result 
indicated  a  yield  of  only  55'6.  They  add  that  the  result 
of  this  discussion  clearly  shows  that  the  manufacture  of  Messrs. 
De  Haen  is  really  what  it  is  represented  to  be,  pure  hydrate 
of  chloral,  and  they  express  their  gratitude  to  Mr.  Mason 
for  having  assisted  to  establish  this  fact. 

Messrs.  Schoetensack  desire  to  state  that  the  chloral  hydrate 
manufactured  by  Saame,  of  Gottingen,  has  been  examined  for 
them  by  Mr.  K.  Muller,  who  objects  to  the  ammonia  test, 
and  adopted  in  preference  treatment  with  solution  of  caustic 
potash  (without  heat).  In  this  way  he  has  found  the  chloral 
hydrate  made  by  Saame  to  yield  71'4  to7l‘9  per  cent,  of  chlo¬ 
roform.  These  results,  as  we  have  already  stated,  have  been 
certified  by  Professor  Wohler. 

Messrs.  Gehe  and  Co.,  of  Dresden,  object  to  Mr.  Mason’s 
result  (No.  9)  as  not  possessing  any  value  until  he  has  shown 
from  what  stock,  and  in  what  manner  the  sample  in  question 

was  obtained.  - . 

Irish  Pharmacy. 

Sir,— Some  time  ago  you  called  attention  to  the  change 
proposed  to  be  effected  in  the  law  regulating  pharmacy  in 
Ireland,  and  invited  correspondents  interested  in  the  matter 
to  express  their  opinions  thereon.  As  an  Irish  apothecary 
who  confines  himself,  like  many  others,  exclusively  to  the 
business  of  the  pharmaceutical  chemist,  I  wish  as  briefly  as 
possible  to  express  my  opinion  of  the  proposed  change.  As 


you  state  in  your  article  of  January  28th,  “a  chemist  and 
druggist  is  allowed  to  vend  drugs  to  any  extent,  but  is  abso¬ 
lutely  prohibited,  under  fear  of  a  heavy  penalty,  from  making 
up  a  single  prescription.”  This  has  been  the  law  for  nearly  a 
century ;  and  I  met  the  difficulty  at  once,  in  common  with 
many  others,  by  becoming  an  apothecary  before  commencing 
business.  Some  gentlemen  who  had  been  in  business  for 
years,  I  have  known  to  attend  their  classes  and  obtain  the 
necessary  qualification. 

I  believe  that  the  apothecaries  would  have  no  objection 
whatever  to  admit  the  pharmaceutical  chemists  (by  examina¬ 
tion)  to  all  the  privileges,  as  regards  pharmacy,  which  thev 
themselves  enjoy,  and  I  -would  wish  to  see  a  pharmaceutical 
society  for  Ireland;  but  I  decidedly  do  object  to  any  altera¬ 
tion  in  the  law  by  which  an  inferior  class  of  men  would  be 
permitted  to  dispense  medicine  in  this  country.  The  drug¬ 
gists  at  present  in  existence  have  no  right  to  complain ;  they 
entered  the  trade  with  all  the  advantages  and  disadvantages 
it  at  present  possesses,  and  they  cannot  reasonably  expect  to 
be  placed  on  a  footing  with  men  who  have  spent  much  time 
and  money  in  procuring  the  necessary  qualification. 

The  medical  men  in  Ireland  have  gradually  given  up  com  - 
pounding  their  own  prescriptions,  owing  in  a  great  measure 
to  the  efficiency  of  the  apothecaries ;  but  I  believe  that  the 
inevitable  result  of  a  radical  change,  by  which  druggists, 
under  a  modified  examination,  might  be  admitted  to  perform 
the  duties  of  dispensers,  would  be  to  force  the  profession  to 
compound  their  own  prescriptions,  lest  they  might  be  taken 
by  their  patients  to  incompetent  persons. 

In  England  all  your  recent  endeavours  have  been  to  raise 
the  status  of  the  druggist,  and  I  have  gladly  seen  the  different 
steps  taken  by  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  in  this  direction, 
but  I  would  earnestly  deprecate  the  retrograde  movement 
contemplated  in  this  country. 

The  great  difference  between  the  two  countries  is,  that 
while  in  England  any  person  so  disposed  could  sell  drugs  and 
compound  medicines,  in  Ireland,  while  any  incompetent  per¬ 
son  might  do  the  former  he  could  not  do  the  latter.  This,  I 
think,  most  persons  will  admit  to  be  an  advantage  to  the^ 
people  of  this  country. 

In  conclusion,  I  would  wish  to  see  a  Bill  passed  by  which 
the  Irish  apothecary,  or  pharmaceutical  chemist  if  you  will, 
should — without  studying  medicine  or  surgery — be  compelled 
to  be  thoroughly  well  educated  in  botany,  chemistry,  materia 
medica  and  all  things  relating  to  his  business.  To  this,  I 
think,  no  English  chemist  or  Irish  druggist  ought  to  object. 

_  Aliquis. 


F.  Faynor  (Durham). — Modified  Examination. — Candi¬ 
dates  will  be  required  to  read  autograph  prescriptions,  trans¬ 
late  them  into  English,  render  a  correct  translation  of  the 
directions  for  use,  and  detect  unusual  doses.  To  weigh,  mea¬ 
sure,  and  compound  medicines,  write  the  directions  in  suitable 
language,  finish  and  properly  direct  each  package.  To  recog¬ 
nize  the  Pharmacopoeia  chemicals  in  frequent  demand,  and 
specimens  of  roots,  barks,  leaves,  fruits,  resins,  and  gums  in 
ordinary  use ;  the  following  plants,  either  in  a  fresh  or  dried 
state,  or  from  plates : — belladonna,  stramonium,  hyoscyamus, 
conium,  aconitum,  digitalis,  and  sabina;  also  to  estimate  the 
quality  of  each  specimen  submitted  and  its  freedom  from 
adulteration.  To  recognize  the  preparations  of  the  Pharma¬ 
copoeia  which  are  not  of  a  definite  chemical  nature,  such  as 
extracts,  tinctures,  and  powders,  and  give  the  proportions  of 
the  more  active  ingredients. 

Capability  of  passing  this  examination  would  proba¬ 
bly  be  acquired  better  and  more  readily  by  cultivating  the  or¬ 
dinary  faculties  of  observation  than  by  any  kind  of  books. 
For  that  the  every-day  experience  of  a  well-regulated  pharmacy 
ought  to  afford  ample  opportunity. — Ed.  Pharm.  Jotjrn.] 

Lux. — Yes. 

W.  Lea  (Dorchester). — Recipes  for  making  Brilliantine 
will  be  found  on  p.  437. 

W.  W.  (Exeter). — Passing  the  Minor  Examination  is  suffi¬ 
cient  qualification  for  entering  business  on  your  own  account 
as  a  Chemist  and  Druggist,  but  not  as  a  Pharmaceutical 
Chemist. 


Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  J.  Ince,  Mr.  W.  Southall,  Mr.  C.  A.  Staples,  Mr.  J.  Noad, 
Mr.  W.  Hills,  Mr.  W.  Hartley,  Mr.  J.  Birt,  Mr.  C.  Ekin,  Mr. 
C.  Pierson,  G.  W.,  F.  O.,  H.  R.  H.,  W.  H.  P.,  E.  W.,  “  A 
Medical  Assistant,”  “  Conservo,”  “Iodi,”  “Did  Student, 
“Farina,”  “  Sincarf.” 


March  11, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


721 


THE  MICROSCOPE  AND  ITS 
REVELATIONS.* 

BY  W.  B.  CARPENTER,  M.D.,  F.R.S.,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S. 

When  I  last  had  the  pleasure  of  addressing  you, 

I  directed  your  attention  to  some  of  those  lowest  and 
simplest  forms  of  Animal  life  which  have  of  late 
years  been  very  much  the  subject  of  observation 
amongst  Naturalists,  and  the  study  of  which  has 
added,  I  tliink  I  may  say,  a  great  deal  to  the  science 
of  General  Physiology,  because  it  has  led  us  to  per¬ 
ceive  that  some  of  the  most  important  functions  of 
life  in  the  higher  animals  are  really  performed  by 
the  protoplasmic  substance  which  enters  very  largely 
into  the  composition  of  their  bodies,  and  which,  as  it 
were,  prepares  the  material  that  is  turned  to  higher 
account  in  the  more  complicated  structure  of  those 
organisms  that  we  are  accustomed  to  call  superior. 
Let  me  dwell  for  a  moment  on  what  we  mean  by 
superior  and  inferior  organisms.  By  superior  we 
mean  those  in  which  there  is  the  greatest  division  of 
labour,  in  which  the  work  is  most  highly  specialized, 
in  which  there  is  a  particular  apparatus  for  each 
function,  and  hi  which  that  apparatus  is  carried  to 
its  highest  degree  of  perfection.  Why  do  we  call 
the  hand  a  superior  instrument  to  the  corresponding 
extremity  of  any  of  the  lower  animals,  even  the 
most  highly  organized  apes?  Because  it  is  much 
more  highly  specialized.  We  do  not  use  it  for  sup¬ 
port  or  progression ;  it  is  entirely  used  with  us  for 
prehension,  for  laying  hold  of  things.  We  can  op¬ 
pose  the  thumb  to  every  individual  finger,  but  an 
ape  cannot ;  he  can  only  take  hold  with  his  whole 
hand,  and  he  uses  his  anterior  as  well  as  his  poste¬ 
rior  extremities  for  support  and  progression.  That 
is  one  instance  of  what  we  mean  by  specialization. 
I  showed  you  on  the  last  occasion  that  a  simple  par¬ 
ticle  of  annual  jelly  lays  hold  of  food  by  drawing  it 
in  to  itself  without  a  mouth,  and  extemporizes,  so  to 
speak,  a  stomach ;  that  without  any  proper  mouth, 
and  without  any  proper  stomach,  it  performs  the 
function  of  digestion  ;  that  the  material  imbedded  in 
it  is  dissolved  by  its  means,  and  converted  into  the 
same  protoplasm ;  that  it  has  also  in  itself  the 
power  of  motion ;  and  again,  that  if  it  has  any  power 
of  feeling,  this  must  be  diffused  throughout  the  same 
protoplasm.  But  this  protoplasm  in  us  is  simply 
the  preparative  material  for  all  that  wonderful  me¬ 
chanism  which,  with  us,  as  in  all  higher  animals,  is 
made  subservient  to  those  much  more  highly  spe¬ 
cialized  and  complicated  functions  which  man  is 
capable  of  performing,  and  which  all  minister  in  the 
end  to  the  maintenance  of  his  conscious  life,  his  in¬ 
tellectual  power,  his  moral  feeling  and  so  on. 

This  evening  it  is  my  purpose  to  carry  you  into 
a  slightly  different  field — into  that  domain  of  life  in 
which  we  have  active  motion,  and  in  which  we  have 
again  the  curious  phenomena  of  motion  in  plants ; — 
to  carry  you,  in  fact,  into  the  domain  which  has  been 
the  field  of  great  perplexity  to  naturalists,  but  which 
is  gradually  becoming,  by  the  careful  study  which  has 
been  bestowed  upon  it,  more  and  better  understood. 

"When  I  began  to  devote  myself  to  the  application 
of  the  microscope  to  the  study  of  the  lower  forms  of 
plants  and  animals,  it  was  believed,  with  very  few 
exceptions,  that  everything  which  has  motion  must 
be  an  Animal.  An  old  observer,  Vaucher,  of  Geneva, 

*  Lecture  delivered  at  the  Evening  Meeting  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society  of  Great  Britain,  March  1,  1871.  See 
ante,  p.  641. 

Third  Series,  No.  37. 


had  directed  attention  to  the  fact  that  little  particles 
issue  from  some  of  those  green  threads  that  you  see 
in  running  streams,  the  Conferva,  which  particles,  he 
said,  were  animals  in  a  very  early  stage  of  existence, 
and  that  they  then  returned  again  to  the  form  of 
plants.  He  said  they  were  animals,  because  they 
had  the  power  of  motion.  He  watched  them  very 
carefully  with  the  imperfect  instrument  he  had,  and 
he  found  that  the  motion  gradually  subsided ;  they 
settled  down,  and  then  began  to  develope  into  un¬ 
doubted  plants.  Here  is  a  diagram  of  one  of  the 
plants  which  Vaucher  observed;  it  is  known  as 
Vaucher ia  clavata, — the  club-shaped  Vaucher ia, — 
from  the  tendency  of  its  ends  to  swell  into  these 
club-shaped  masses.  It  is  just  one  of  those  green, 
thread-like  plants  that  you  will  see  in  running 
streams,  very  often  attached,  for  instance,  to  the 
stones  where  water  is  running  over  a  mill-dam. 
When  it  is  in  its  ordinary  growing  condition  it  is 
simply  a  filament ;  but  when  it  is  going  to  put  forth 
one  of  those  curious  buds,  so  to  speak,  it  swells  into 
a  knob,  and  there  is  an  accumulation  of  green  mat¬ 
ter  in  the  extremity.  This  separates  itself  from  the 
green  matter  in  the  tube,  and  by-and-by  it  is  seen 
that  this  green  knob  has  a  distinct  envelope  of  a 
greater  thickness  than  the  proper  wall  of  the  tube. 
Then  the  covering  bursts,  and  from  the  interior  of  the 
tube  there  issues  forth  this  body,  which  is  known 
by  the  name  of  the  zoospore.  The  term  spore  is 
given  to  the  reproductive  particles  of  the  lower 
plants  as  distinguished  from  the  seeds  of  the 
higher.  The  seeds,  you  know,  contain  with  the 
germ  or  embryo  a  store  of  nourishment,  laid  up 
either  in  the  cotyledons  when  fleshy,  as  in  the  pea 
or  bean,  or  in  the  albumen  when  the  seed  is  albumi¬ 
nous,  as  in  wheat  and  many  other  plants.  In  either 
case  that  store  is  applied  to  the  nutrition  of  the  em¬ 
bryo  before  it  is  sufficiently  developed  to  obtain  its 
own  nourishment,  to  get  its  own  bread,  as  it  were. 
Now,  hi  the  cryptogamic  tribes  generally  we  find 
that  these  minute  particles  are  launched  forth  upon 
the  world  with  a  power  of  getting  their  own  bread 
at  a  much  earlier  period,  and  therefore  there  is  not 
in  them  the  same  store  of  nourishment  that  is  sup¬ 
plied  to  the  higher  plants.  The  word  spore  is  ap¬ 
plied  to  tilings  really  very  different,  of  which  I  shall 
give  you  an  illustration  by-and-by.  You  are  not 
to  suppose  that  the  spore  always  represents  the  seed 
of  the  higher  plants.  In  this  case  the  spore  is  a 
sort  of  little  bud,  and  it  is  called  a  zoospore,  from 
the  fact  of  its  having  a  power  of  motion  very  much 
like  animal  motion, — zoon  meaning  animal,  and 
zoospore,  a  spore  endowed  with  power  of  motion 
like  an  animal.  This  little  bud,  with  a  rather  thick 
casing,  issues  forth  from  the  end  of  the  tube,  which 
bursts  and  gives  it  out.  Then  it  takes  a  spheri¬ 
cal  form,  and  then,  after  a  little  time,  it  is  seen  to 
be  in  active  motion,  and  this  active  motion  is  given 
to  it  by  the  vibration  of  a  fringe  of  minute  liair-like 
processes,  which  are  termed  cilia.  These  are  the 
active  agents  of  movement  in  the  lower  plants,  in 
the  lower  animals,  and  in  various  parts  of  our  own 
bodies.  (For  instance,  the  whole  surface  of  the  re¬ 
spiratory  tract,  as  it  is  called,  all  the  mucous  mem¬ 
brane  of  the  air-passages  down  to  the  air-cells  of  the 
lungs,  is  covered  with  these  cilia.)  By  the  action  of 
these  cilia  forming  this  fringe,  this  little  particle  is 
carried  about  in  the  wrater,  and  thus  the  large  num¬ 
ber  that  issue  from  the  various  filaments  of  the  plant 
are  dispersed,  and  carried  to  new  localities.  Alter  a 


709 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  11, 1871. 


time  the  ciliary  motion  ceases,  and  then  the  hud 
settles  down,  and  begins  to  extend  itself  into  fila¬ 
ments,  and  thus  becomes  a  plant  like  that  from 
which  it  proceeded. 

This  is  not  the  result  of  a  true  generative  process, 
as  the  seed  is  ;  it  is  more  like  a  bud.  There  are  va¬ 
rious  plants  that  throw  off  buds  by  the  process  that 
we  call  gemmation ;  and  this  is  a  process  of  gemma¬ 
tion  or  budding,  not  a  process  of  true  sexual  genera¬ 
tion.  The  Vauclieria  was  observed  in  the  last  cen¬ 
tury  by  Vaucher,  and  he  ascribed  this  power  of  mo¬ 
tion  to  animal  life,  and  considered  that  here  was  a 
curious  passage  from  vegetable  to  animal,  and  then 
back  again  from  animal  to  vegetable.  That,  how¬ 
ever,  we  now  understand  not  to  be  the  case.  This 
ciliary  motion  is  not  a  phenomenon  at  all  peculiar 
to  animals :  there  is  no  question  that  a  very  large 
number  of  bodies  that  have  been  described  as  ani¬ 
malcules  are  truly  plants,  and  the  tendency  now  is 
continually  to  carry  into  the  Vegetable  kingdom  ad¬ 
ditional  tribes  of  these  bodies  that  have  been  called 
animalcules,  rather  than  to  extend  the  Animal  king¬ 
dom  to  comprehend  those  new  and  varied  forms  that 
are  continually  being  discovered. 

You  may  ask  me  what  is  the  difference  between 
an  Animal  and  a  Plant,  and  we  may  well  stop  a  mo¬ 
ment  to  notice  what  I  believe  to  be  the  true  physio¬ 
logical  distinction  between  them;  namely,  that  the 
Animal  is  essentially  dependent  upon  previous  plant 
life  for  its  nutrition,  having  no  power  of  living  upon 
the  elementary  substances  contained  in  the  air,  the 
water,  or  the  soil.  It  has  no  power  to  combine  these 
with  itself,  but  is  dependent  entirely  on  organic  com¬ 
pounds  which  have  been  previously  prepared  and 
combined  by  the  plant.  On  the  other  hand,  that  the 
Plant  has  the  power,  especially,  and  indeed  almost 
solely,  under  the  influence  of  light,  of  decomposing 
the  carbonic  acid  of  the  air,  of  uniting  the  carbon 
which  it  obtains  from  the  air  with  the  oxygen  and 
hydrogen  of  water,  and  also  of  decomposing  the  am¬ 
monia  of  the  air  and  of  the  soil  (for  the  air  always 
contains  a  small  quantity  of  ammonia),  and  of 
uniting  the  nitrogen  of  that  ammonia  with  the  oxy¬ 
gen,  hydrogen  and  carbon  that  it  obtains  from  the 
air  and  water,  to  form  nitrogenous  compounds.  Thus 
the  plant  is  continually  manufacturing,  so  to  speak, 
these  compounds,  and  the  animal  is  continually  de¬ 
stroying  them,  and  returning  them  to  the  inorganic 
kingdom,  because  the  whole  life  of  the  animal  is  one 
of  decomposition.  The  animal  is  constantly  giving 
back  to  the  mineral  kingdom — in  the  carbonic  acid  of 
respiration,  and  in  the  production  of  urea  and  similar 
compounds  in  the  urine,  which  decompose  into  car¬ 
bonate  of  ammonia — the  very  same  component  ele¬ 
ments  which  it  has  obtained  from  the  vegetable  king¬ 
dom,  and  which  the  vegetable  has  taken  from  the 
mineral.  Tins  is  represented  here  in  a  circular  dia¬ 
gram,  where  you  see  the  Vegetable  kingdom  drawing 
its  materials  from  the  Mineral  kingdom,  combining 
them  into  organic  compounds,  and  then  imparting 
them  to  the  Animal  kingdom,  which  in  its  turn  from  < 
the  decompositions  which  are  always  going  on  in  its  : 
body,  returns  them  to  the  Mineral  kingdom.  That  < 
is  the  physiological. distinction,  and  that,  I  believe,  is  i 
the  only  one  on  which  we  can  rest  with  any  degree  i 
of  satisfaction ;  and  even  this  does  not  always  hold  < 
good,  for  there  is  one  veiy  limited  tribe  of  plants, 
which  a  chemist  would  say  ought  really  to  be  placed  ■ 
in  the  animal  kingdom,  and  yet  the  resemblance  to  ! 
undoubted  vegetables  is  so  close  that  it  would  be  a  : 


.  breach  of  all  natural  arrangement  to  separate  them. 

I  allude  to  the  group  of  Fungi.  None  of  you  would 
i  feel  that  there  was  a  fitness  in  describing  a  mush¬ 
room  as  an  animal,  and  yet  as  regards  nutrition  it  is 
an  animal.  The  group  of  fungi  is  a  group  living 
upon  organic  compounds  previously  prepared,  and 
light  is  not  essential  to  them  ;  many  thrive  best  in 
darkness.  In  fact,  in  the  common  mushroom  it  is 
only  the  fructification,  the  upward  extension  of  a 
growth  that  is  taking  place  under  ground,  that  ap¬ 
pears  above  the  soil.  The  real  nutritive  life  hi  the 
mushroom  is  performed  beneath  the  ground  ;  what  it 
pushes  up  is  simply  the  fructification.  In  the  early 
stage  of  the  mushroom — what  is  known  as  the  mush¬ 
room  spawn,  when  it  is  laid  down  to  produce  the 
mushroom — the  growth  of  what  is  called  a  byssus,  a 
long  filamentous  growth,  takes  place  best  in  dark¬ 
ness.  In  old  cellars  where  vine  lias  been  laid  down  a 
long  time,  there  is  often  a  most  extraordinary  fungous 
growth ;  and  underneath  paving-stones,  again,  there 
is  often  a  fungous  growth,  which  has  been  known  to 
lift  up  the  stones ;  and  all  that  takes  place  in  dark¬ 
ness.  There  is  no  question  that  fungi  as  a  rule 
thrive  best  in  darkness  up  to  the  time  when  they  put 
forth  their  fructification,  and  that  they  appropriate, 
and  have  a  most  peculiar  power  of  appropriating,  de¬ 
composing  organic  matter,  supplied  either  by  the  vege¬ 
table  or  the  animal  kingdom.  You  all  know  the  ap¬ 
pearance  of  the  growth  of  mould,  which  often  takes 
place  on  preserves,  on  chemical  preparations,  ex¬ 
tracts,  and  so  forth;  and  the  mould  that  produces 
the  blueness  of  Stilton  cheese.  All  these  cases  show 
you  the  readiness  with  which  mould  developes  itself 
on  substances  which  are  either  decaying  or  ready  to 
decay.  And  this  mould,  produced  from  germs  of 
fungi  sown  as  it  were  upon  such  substances,  helps 
their  decay.  This  is  a  very  important  and  very  in¬ 
teresting  point,  upon  which  I  wish  to  fix  your  atten¬ 
tion  for  a  few  minutes,  viz.  this  peculiar  habit  of  the 
fungi,  and  the  changes  to  which  it  leads.  We  have 
heard  a  great  deal  lately  about  disease  germs,  but  I 
venture  to  say  that  Professor  Tyndall’s  lecture,  al¬ 
though  extremely  interesting,  and  although  present¬ 
ing  to  the  eye,  and,  so  to  speak,  demonstrating  their 
presence  by  the  beam  of  electric  light  which  he  was 
able  to  send  through  an  atmosphere  containing  such 
germs,  really  added  nothing  to  the  knowledge  pre¬ 
viously  possessed  by  naturalists,  because  we  all  knew 
perfectly  well  that  the  air  is  loaded  with  these  germs 
of  fimgi.  If  you  take  a  puff-ball  and  press  it  be¬ 
tween  your  finger  and  thumb,  you  will  see  the  fine 
dust  that  issues  forth,  and  which  is  carried  by  the 
winds  into  eveiy  quarter ;  for  a  puff-ball  consists  of  a 
number  of  germs  or  sporules  which  is  really  scarcely 
capable  of  being  expressed  in  figures.  If  we  mea¬ 
sure  these,  and  then  consider  the  size  of  the  whole 
mass  of  a  large  puff-ball,  with  reference  to  the  size 
of  any  one  of  these  minute  particles,  we  can  form  an 
approximate  calculation  of  the  number  of  particles 
contained  in  it,  and  it  is  something  almost  incon¬ 
ceivable  by  any  effort  of  our  imagination,  and  almost 
incapable  of  being  expressed  in  figures,  like  the  great 
distances  of  the  stars.  Tlius  you  see  that  these  par¬ 
ticles  must  be  continually  being  diffused  through  the 
atmosphere  in  every  direction.  That  is  onty  one 
case  out  of  multitudes. 

Now,  with  regard  to  the  demonstration  of  this  uni¬ 
versal  diffusion,  many  years  ago  a  friend  of  mine  in 
Bristol  made  the  following  experiment,  which  I 
mentioned  to  Dr.  Tyndall,  and  which  he  was  very 


March  11, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


723 


glad  to  hear  of,  as  it  offered  a  complete  demonstra¬ 
tion,  by  a  different  process,  of  the  facts  which  he  was 
wishing  to  prove.  The  gentleman  I  refer  to,  Dr. 
Brittan,  at  a  time  when  cholera  was  prevalent,  em¬ 
ployed  a  man  to  blow  with  a  pair  of  bellows  for 
several  hours  in  a  room  in  a  low  dirty  neighbour¬ 
hood.  The  bellows  were  connected  with  a  siphon, 
and  the  bend  of  the  siphon  was  immersed  in  a  freez¬ 
ing  mixture.  The  air  had  moisture  in  it,  which  was 
condensed  as  it  passed  through  the  cold  tube,  and 
carried  down  with  it  the  floating  particles  contained 
in  the  air.  Dr.  Brittan  sent  me  a  specimen  of  this 
to  examine,  and  the  fluid  was  quite  brown  with  the 
quantity  of  sporules  of  fungi  which  it  contained. 
Yet  this  was  simply  the  natural  moisture  of  the  air 
condensed.  To  give  another  illustration.  About 
the  same  time  my  friend  Mr.  John  Marshall  was  led 
to  pay  a  great  deal  of  attention  to  the  prevalence  of 
smut  and  rust  in  wheat.  It  was  a  year  after  a  very 
bad  season,  when  there  had  been  a  great  deal  of  un¬ 
healthiness  in  the  wheat  grains,  and  there  was  a 
large  quantity  of  bad  bread  sold,  especially  among 
the  poorer  classes.  It  was  at  a  time  when  there  was 
an  epidemic  of  cholera,  and  there  was  a  notion  that 
this  disease  was  due  to  the  presence  of  these  germs 
of  fungi.  Mr.  Marshall  formed  the  idea  that  the  pre¬ 
sence  of  these  germs  in  the  evacuations  was  simply 
due  to  the  patients  having  eaten  bad  bread,  and  he 
examined  through  the  microscope  a  great  many  spe¬ 
cimens  of  tliis  inferior  bread.  He  found  that  all  the 
inferior  bakers  were  selling  bread  that  contained  a 
quantity  of  these  sporules  of  fungi.  Then  he  got  a 
number  of  samples  of  flour,  and  found  that  whilst 
the  inferior  flour  contained  an  enormous  quantity, 
even  the  best  flour,  with  a  very  few  exceptions,  con- 
tamed  some.  Then  he  traced  it  further  back  to 
the  wheat  grains.  He  got  a  number  of  samples 
from  different  dealers,  and  found  that  almost  every 
gram  had  entangled  amongst  the  hairs  at  the  point 
of  the  gram  two  or  three  or  more  sporules  of  fungi. 
That  shows  the  universality  of  them  diffusion,  and  it 
added  great  strength  to  an  opinion  I  had  been  pre¬ 
viously  led  to  entertain,  that  the  prevalence  of  these 
diseases  in  particular  years  depends  upon  the  gene¬ 
ral  unhealthy  condition  of  the  grain,  predisposing  it 
to  decomposition ;  and  that  the  sporules  alighting 
upon  a  healthy  surface  will  not  grow,  whilst  again, 
alighting  upon  a  grain  already  unhealthy,  the  fluids 
of  which  are  prone  to  decomposition,  the  sporules 
find  an  appropriate  bed,  and  begin  to  vegetate,  and 
then  their  increase  spoils  the  whole  grain  very  ra¬ 
pidly.  Take  again  the  case  of  a  disease  that  many 
of  you  have  heard  a  great  deal  about — diphtheria. 
One  of  the  first  signs  of  diphtheria  is  almost  invariably 
the  presence  of  the  diphtheritic  crust,  as  it  is  called, 
upon  the  fauces ;  and  that  diphtheritic  crust,  when 
examined  with  the  microscope,  is  found  to  be  almost 
entirely  a  fungous  growth.  But  I  do  not  believe  at 
all  that  the  fungous  growth  is  the  origin  or  essence 
of  the  disease.  It  is  simply  this,  that  there  is  a  pe¬ 
culiar  unhealthy  secretion  thrown  out,  which  be¬ 
comes  the  nidus,  the  bed  for  the  development  of 
these  fungous  germs,  which  are  constantly  floating 
about.  In  the  same  way  with  the  vine  disease  and 
the  potato  disease.  I  do  not  believe  in  either  case 
that  the  fungus  is  the  first  cause  of  the  disease,  but 
that  in  both  instances  it  is  a  predisposition  to  an  un¬ 
healthy  condition  of  the  plant,  in  consequence  of  bad 
cultivation,  forcing  cultivation  especially,  which  gives 
to  the  fungus  its  power  of  development.  Tliis  pecu¬ 


liar  power  that  fungi  have  of  decomposing  organic 
substances  is  again  manifested  in  the  phenomena 
of  ordinary  fermentation.  Ordinary  yeast,  which  is 
a  substance  familiar  to  you  all,  is  a  mass  of  vegetation. 
This  discovery  was  made  about  twenty-five  years  ago, 
I  think ;  and  I  had  the  pleasure  of  being  the  first 
to  satisfy  Professor  Liebig,  (who  was  at  that  time  in 
England,  and  who  scouted  the  idea  that  fungi  had 
anything  to  do  with  vegetation,)  that  these  were  un¬ 
questionably  organic  bodies,  and  thus  led  him  to  be 
more  tolerant  in  his  views  and  in  liis  expressions 
with  regard  to  those  who  maintained,  as  is  now  uni¬ 
versally  admitted,  that  it  is  the  presence  of  these 
fungi,  and  their  peculiar  power  of  inducing  decom¬ 
position,  which  is  really  the  cause  of  fermentation. 
If  you  can  shut  out  these  fungi,  for  example,  in  the 
treatment  of  an  abscess  communicating  with  the 
air,  or  of  a  compound  fracture,  (and  tliis  is  one  of  the 
greatest  improvements  of  modern  surgery,) — if  you 
can  shut  out  these,  by  the  use  of  carbolic  acid  or 
other  means  ;  if  you  can  filter  the  air  of  these 
germs  of  fungi,  and  protect  the  cavity  of  the  abscess 
or  the  compound  fracture,  like  an  entirely  internal 
cavity,  instead  of  allowing  it  to  communicate  with 
the  air, — you  then  promote  very  considerably  indeed 
the  patient’s  welfare,  and  give  him  a  very  much 
better  chance  of  recovery.  You  thus  see  how  one 
thing  leads  on  to  another,  and  how  important  im¬ 
provements  in  medical  practice  arise  out  of  a  know¬ 
ledge  of  the  conditions  of  these  low  forms  of  vegetation. 

Yeast  is  composed  of  a  mass  of  cells  which, 
during  the  process  of  fermentation,  grow  from  single 
cells,  putting  out  little  buds,  until  a  single  cell  grows 
to  four,  five  or  six.  By  the  time  that  they  have 
formed  these  little  groups  of  five  or  six  cells,  the  fer¬ 
mentation  has  advanced  sufficiently  far,  and  it  is 
stopped ;  but,  if  it  were  allowed  to  go  on,  it  would 
then  put  forth  a  fructification,  and  become  a  regular 
well-known  form  of  fungus,  very  much  like  that 
wliicli  you  find  in  old  vinegar.  Again  :  there  are 
other  forms  of  fungi  which  grow  in  the  silkworm, 
and  constitute  one  form  of  silkworm  disease,  which 
has  been  extremely  fatal  in  silk-growing  countries ; 
in  fact,  it  is  said  that  it  has  produced  losses  to  the 
extent  of  thirty  or  forty  millions  sterling,  and  yet 
all  tliis  arises  from  a  minute  fungus,  which  is  deve¬ 
loped  in  the  interior  of  the  body  of  the  animal. 

I  have  dwelt  upon  this  subject  of  the  peculiarity 
of  Fungi  in  relation  to  the  general  doctrine  of  the 
distinction  between  animal  and  vegetable  life,  be¬ 
cause  it  is  a  subject  of  great  interest  at  the  present 
time,  and  has  an  important  relation  to  those  duties 
of  medical  men  with  which  you  are  likely  to  become 
very  familiar. 

I  return  now  to  the  point  from  which  we  started, 
the  active  motion  that  we  find  hi  many  of  the  lower 
Plants.  Tliis  motion  you  may  see  extremely  well  if 
you  happen  to  be  anywhere  on  the  seacoast,  and 
take  up  what  you  find  growing  there  on  the  shore, 
those  long,  green  seaweeds  called  Ulvcc ;  some  of 
them  narrowed  very  much  like  blades  of  grass,  and 
some  having  large,  extended  surfaces.  In  the  sum¬ 
mer  time  }rou  will  be  almost  sure  to  find  some  of 
these  white  at  the  ends  and  over  a  very  considerable 
portion  of  the  edge,  perhaps  for  a  third  of  its  length. 
That  white  portion  is  the  part  of  the  frond  which  has 
discharged  its  zoospores.  All  that  white  portion 
was  once  green.  The  green  cells  were  then  filled 
with  green  matter  congregated  into  little  masses, 
and  by  the  rupture  of  the  cell  tlie}r  escaped  in  the 


724 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


{[March  11,  1871. 


form  of  zoospores.  If  you  take  a  piece  of  this  sea¬ 
weed,  and  put  just  the  edge  where  the  green  and 
white  join  under  the  microscope,  you  will  see  the 
spectacle  that  astonished  me  some  thirty  years  ago, 
when  I  believe  no  one  else  in  this  country  had  ob¬ 
served  it.  An  eminent  Swedish  naturalist  had 
observed  it,  but  I  believe  I  was  the  first  to  see  that 
very  wonderful  spectacle  in  England.  It  was  really 
like  a  swarm  of  bees, — the  multitude  of  these  minute 
particles  that  had  issued  forth  in  active  motion  from 
the  cells,  and  were  issuing  forth,  for  I  saw  them  ac¬ 
tually  coming  out  from  the  cells  just  on  the  border  of 
the  white  or  empty  portion.  That  is  one  of  the  most 
familiar  phenomena  that  may  be  observed  on  the 
seacoast,  and  there  are  many  fresli-water  Conferva 
which  show  you  precisely  the  same. 

This  motion,  then,  is  a  very  common  phenomenon 
amongst  the  lower  Plants  ;  and  when  we  once  come 
to  appreciate  that,  we  see  that  it  is  really  the  key  to 
the  interpretation  of  a  great  many  other  phenomena 
which  had  been  previously  wrongly  viewed.  For 
instance,  I  have  here  a  representation  of  a  favourite 
object  with  microscopists,  which  was  called,  long 
after  I  began  the  study,  the  globe  animalcule,  or 
Volvox  globcita.  They  are  some  of  the  most  beautiful 
things  that  can  be  seen  under  the  microscope,  and 
consist  of  globular  bodies,  rolling  on  and  on,  turning 
on  their  axes,  swimming  through  the  water,  and 
studded  all  over  with  beautiful  little  green  points  ; 
and  they  very  commonly  have  in  their  interior  other 
green  globular  masses.  It  may  surprise  you  to  be 
told  that  this  is  unquestionably  a  Plant.  We  can 
now  trace  those  as  the  highest,  the  most  specialized 
forms  of  a  tribe  of  plants  which  shows  itself  in 
various  grades  of  simplicity,  from  the  single  little 
green  cells  with  one  or  two  vibrating  filaments,  by 
the  agitation  of  which  it  moves,  up  to  a  form  as 
complicated  as  the  one  here  represented.  Here  are 
diagrams  of  some  of  the  less  complicated  forms,  but 
you  will  easily  see  that  they  differ  only  in  form  and 
not  in  essential  organization,  because  it  is  the  single 
cell  and  its  vibrating  filament  which  is  the  essence 
of  the  whole  thing  in  every  case.  We  find  that 
these  spheres  in  the  interior  are  younger  bodies  of 
the  same  kind.  One  of  these  little  cells  buds  by  the 
process  of  cell-multiplication,  and  forms  a  little  group 
or  cluster ;  that  group  becomes  a  larger  mass,  and  that 
mass,  still  with  the  cells  closely  packed  together, 
forms  a  sphere  winch  may  often  be  seen  revolving 
in  the  interior  of  the  parent  sphere.  This,  again,  is 
not  a  process  of  sexual  generation,  but  of  gemma¬ 
tion.  There  is  a  distinct  process  of  sexual  genera¬ 
tion,  into  which  time  does  not  permit  of  my  entering 
to-night.  .  The  parent  sphere  bursts  and  sets  free 
the  contained  globes  ;  and  each  of  these  is  changed, 
by  the  formation  of  a  sort  of  glassy,  transparent 
sphere,  winch  developes  itself  between  the  separate 
green  cells,  from  a  green  opaque  sphere  into  a  large 
transparent  sphere.  Here  are  representations  of  a 
number  of  different  forms  of  this  low  tribe  of  plants, 
all  distinguished  by  their  red  or  green  colour.  You 
may  ask  how  do  we  know  that  they  are  plants  ? 
W  e  find  that  they  decompose  carbonic  acid  under 
the  influence  of  sunlight.  The  great  distinction 
which  separates  them  from  the  Animalcules  which 
they  much  resemble,  is  that  all  true  Animalcules  feed 
upon  other  animalcules  or  upon  plants.  By  this 
distinction  we  can  draw  the  line  pretty  sharply  except 
in  such  perplexing  cases  as  that  of  the  fungi,  which 
seem  to  unite  the  attributes  of  both  kingdoms. 


To  give  you  an  illustration  of  the  dependence  of 
one  kingdom  upon  the  other,  I  may  mention  a  cir¬ 
cumstance  that  happened  to  myself  some  twenty-five 
years  ago.  I  was  then  living  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Stoke  Newington,  and  attached  to  the  house  in 
which  I  was  residing  there  was  a  cistern  that  I 
could  look  in  upon  from  my  staircase  window;  it 
was  quite  open  at  the  top  and  was  filled  with  rain 
water.  This  cistern  had  become  foul  from  leaves 
dropping  into  it,  and  early  in  the  summer  it  had 
been  cleaned  out.  A  short  time  afterwards  it  was 
filled  by  a  heavy  thunderstorm,  and  in  a  few  days, 
going  up  and  down  stairs,  I  noticed  that  it  had  a  green 
scum  upon  the  surface,  and  that  this  green  scum 
came  to  the  surface  when  the  sun  was  shining  upon 
it,  but  that  at  other  times  it  was  not  to  be  seen. 
On  examining  some  of  this,  I  found  it  to  consist  of 
minute  separate  cells,  with  a  couple  of  little  tails,  so 
to  speak,  which  were  long  cilia,  and  these  were  in  ac¬ 
tive  motion.  Now  at  that  time  the  doctrine  of  Eliren- 
berg  had  undisputed  sway,  and  not  one  of  us  young 
naturalists  would  venture  to  question  the  dicta  of  so 
great  a  man.  I  myself,  however,  in  my  own  mind 
had  come  to  entertain  a  very  strong  opinion,  indeed, 
that  these  must  be  Plants,  notwithstanding  their 
active  motion.  And  a  very  curious  circumstance 
followed,  which  illustrated  the  relation  of  the  Vege¬ 
table  to  the  Animal  kingdom  remarkably  well.  There 
soon  appeared  in  the  cistern  a  quantity  of  Wheel 
Animalcules,  creatures  of  extremely  high  organiza¬ 
tion  in  comparison  with  some  of  the  lower  forms. 
They  fed  most  greedily  upon  these  little  plants ;  and 
it  wras,  in  fact,  a  great  amusement  to  myself  and 
friends  to  take  out  a  few  of  these  wheel  animalcules, 
keep  them  in  pure  water  for  a  day  or  two,  to  starve 
them,  and  then  to  put  in  a  drop  of  water  from  the 
scum  of  the  cistern  loaded  with  these  green  cells. 
The  eagerness  with  which  they  gulped  it  down  was 
something  only  to  be  paralleled  in  recent  times  by 
the  eagerness  of  the  starving  population  of  Paris 
when  food  was  supplied  to  them.  Here  then  you 
see,  first  the  Inorganic  material, — the  water, — con¬ 
tained  in  a  clean  cistern,  filled  up  at  once  by  a  sudden 
shower ;  from  the  oxygen  and  hydrogen  of  the  water, 
and  from  the  carbonic  acid  of  the  air,  and  from  the 
minute  quantity  of  nitrogen  contained  in  the  am¬ 
monia  which  is  always  found  in  rain  water,  the 
plant  manufactured  its  materials,  so  to  speak.  The 
germ  of  the  Plant,  conveyed  no  doubt  by  the  wind, 
or  brought  down  by  the  rain,  manufactured  the  ma¬ 
terials,  and  developed  into  this  enormous  mass  of 
vegetation.  When  that  mass  of  vegetation  had  been 
produced,  then  the  Wheel  Animalcules,  also  brought 
by  the  wind, — for  they  are  capable  of  being  dried  up 
completely,  not  only  the  eggs  but  the  wheel  ani¬ 
malcules  themselves  being  capable  of  surviving  the 
most  complete  desiccation, — dropped  into  the  cistern, 
and  found  such  a  copious  store  of  food  and  also  of 
warmth,  that  they  developed  themselves  very  rapidly, 
and  both  by  gemmation  and  by  the  production  of 
eggs  would  multiply  at  an  extraordinary  rate  After 
a  time,  in  fact,  they  seem  to  have  killed  out  the 
plants  upon  which  they  lived,  for  I  found  that  both 
plants  and  animalcules  underwent  a  rapid  diminu¬ 
tion,  so  that  in  about  a  month  afterwards  they  were 
scarcely  to  be  found. 

Before  leaving  this  last  tribe  of  plants  I  would 
mention  to  you  that  we  now  include  in  that  group  of 
lowest  plants,  the  Protopliytes,  tlios'e  very  beautiful 
forms  which  are  known  as  the  Diatomacece.  These 


March  11, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


725 


diatoms  are  distinguished  as  having  a  siliceous  en¬ 
velope  ;  they  form,  cell  by  cell,  a  deposit  of  silex, 
which  often  has  markings  of  the  most  extraordinary 
beauty;  and  the  variety  of  these  diatoms,  and  the 
extraordinary  beauty  and  delicacy  of  then’  organiza¬ 
tion,  make  them  favourite  objects  of  study  with 
microscopists.  Then  again,  there  is  one  point  in 
their  structure  which  has  been  of  very  great  value 
to  microscopists,  viz.  that  they  furnish  some  of  our 
very  best  test  objects.  Now  the  finding  of  a  really 
good  test  object  is  a  matter  of  very  great  importance 
in  the  breeding,  if  I  may  use  the  expression,  of  the 
best  object-glasses  ;  for  our  manufacturers  set  them¬ 
selves  to  the  improvement  of  object-glasses,  just  as 
breeders  do  to  the  improvement  of  racehorses  or  prize 
oxen  or  pigs.  Their  object  is  to  produce  the  best 
glasses,  just  as  a  man  tries  to  fatten  a  prize  ox  in  the 
shortest  possible  space  of  time.  The  manufacturers 
of  microscopes  set  themselves  to  make  lenses  that 
shall  show  certain  test  diatoms  either  better  than  any 
other  lenses  or  with  a  lower  magnifying  power. 
Now,  there  is  one  thing  that  I  must  put  you  on  your 
guard  against,  and  that  is  the  tendency  to  produc¬ 
ing  diatom-resolvers,  so  to  speak, — lenses  that  shall 
best  resolve  diatoms ;  but  this  deteriorates  to  a  certain 
degree  from  the  production  of  lenses  that  are  most 
useful  in  actual  physiological  research.  This  is  a 
doctrine  I  have  been  preaching  for  many  years, 
and  I  now  find  it  is  generally  accepted, — that  the 
lenses  which  are  best  for  resolving  diatoms  in  virtue 
of  their  wide  angle  of  aperture  are  not,  generally 
speaking,  the  best  for  ordinary  physiological  work. 
Therefore,  if  you  are  going  in  for  a  microscope  and 
for  getting  the  higher  class  of  lenses,  you  should 
always  consider  what  you  want;  if  you  are  going 
to  study  these  diatoms,  then  you  must  get  lenses  of 
particular  qualities,  just  as  if  you  want  to  hunt  or 
ride  races  you  must  have  horses  that  are  of  different 
qualities  from  those  you  would  use  as  ordinary 
carnage  horses.  This  is  a  point  not  sufficiently  un¬ 
derstood,  and  there  is  a  great  tendency  amongst  our 
makers  to  meet  the  wishes  of  those  who  desire  these 
special  lenses  to  resolve  special  diatoms,  and  to 
work  them  up  so  as  to  get  out  of  a  particular  power 
results  that  really  ought  not  to  be  expected  from  it. 
Every  power,  in  my  opinion,  has  its  own  particular 
attributes,  and  to  attempt  to  make  a  lower  power  do 
the  work  of  a  higher  is  a  great  mistake.  Every 
power  should  be  adapted  to  do  the  best  work  of  its 
kind,  to  do  in  the  best  manner  the  work  for  which  it 
is  properly  suited.  That  null  be  found  to  be  the 
case  with  well- corrected  lenses  of  comparatively  small 
angle  of  aperture.  I  mean  small  in  comparison 
with  the  very  wide  angles  that  are  now  sought  in 
powers  from  a  quarter  of  an  inch  upwards. — I  make 
these  remarks  because  I  really  hope  and  believe  that 
some  of  you  will  make  the  microscope  an  object  of 
interest  in  that  kind  of  recreation  which  we  all  of 
us  require  after  the  fatigues  of  business ;  and,  as  I 
said  in  the  last  lecture,  I  cannot  imagine  anything 
more  grateful  to  the  mind,  and  really  more  interest¬ 
ing  to  those  who  will  acquire  the  knowdedge  requi¬ 
site  to  give  it  that  interest.  These  lenses  of  a  mo¬ 
derate  angle  of  aperture  may  be  obtained  at  very 
much  lower  cost  than  these  special  lenses  that  are 
manufactured  with  the  express  view  of  resolving 
diatoms. — I  have  placed  several  specimens  of  these 
extremely  beautiful  forms  under  the  microscope  up¬ 
stairs.  I  will  allude  to  them  more  particularly  pre¬ 
sently,  but  I  may  say  there  is  no  doubt  whatever 


they  are  plants.  They  have  all  the  attributes  of 
plants,  for  if  we  just  take  away  this  curious  siliceous 
envelope,  we  have  simply  a  vegetable  cell. 

There  is  one  very  curious  and  interesting  thing 
about  them,  namely,  the  fact  of  their  conjugation. 
This  was  discovered  by  my  friend  Mr.  Thwaites, 
whom  I  have  the  pleasure  of  reckoning  one  of  my 
own  early  pupils,  and  who  is  now  curator  of  the 
Botanic  Gardens  in  Ceylon.  It'  was  very  much  in 
consequence  of  my  recommendation  that  he  devoted 
himself  with  a  microscope  that  we  should  scarcely 
look  at,  so  poor  was'it,  certainly  inferior  to  one  which 
you  can  now  get  for  T3  or  T4,  to  the  study  of  the 
lower  tribes  of  plants  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Bristol. 
He  was  rewarded  by  the  discovery  of  this  very  cu¬ 
rious  phenomenon,  which  is  termed  conjugation.  I 
will  show  you  what  this  means  in  some  other  tribes 
of  plants.  There  is  one  of  these  filamentous  Con  ferva. 
Two  filaments  of  this,  lying  side  by  side,  put  out 
little  projections,  these  unite  together,  and  the  green 
matter  passes  entirely  from  the  cells  of  one  tube  into 
those  of  the  other,  and  then,  after  a  time,  it  all  aggre¬ 
gates  together  and  forms  this  green  mass  which  is 
liberated  at  last  by  the  bursting  of  the  cell  that  en¬ 
closes  it.  These,  I  believe,  are  true  sexual  products, 
and  this  conjugation  I  regard  as  the  lowest  form  of  a 
true  generative  process,  the  reunion  of  the  contents 
of  two  cells.  Here  there  is  very  little  difference 
between  the  male  and  the  female.  You  can  scarcely 
see  which  is  the  male  and  which  is  the  female. 
Sometimes  the  process  takes  place  in  a  little  bridge 
between  the  two ;  each  discharges  its  contents  into 
the  little  bridge,  and  there  does  not  seem  to  be  any 
definite  difference  between  the  one  and  the  other. 
But  then,  on  going  a  little  higher,  we  find  that  what 
is  discharged  from  the  cell  that  empties  itself  com¬ 
pletely  is  not  mere  simple  green  matter,  but  is  com¬ 
posed  of  little  minute  filaments,  similar  to  the  sper¬ 
matozoa  of  animals.  These  little  green  filaments 
are  called  antherozoids,  and  they  take  the  place  and 
perform  the  function  of  the  pollen  liberated  from  the 
anthers  of  flowering  plants.  They  are  called  an¬ 
therozoids,  because  they  are  so  much  like  the  sper¬ 
matozoa  of  animals,  -zoid  being  the  termination  ex¬ 
pressing  likeness  to  an  animal.  That  mode  of  con¬ 
jugation  leads  us  towards  the  true  sexuality  of  the 
higher  Cryptogamia  ;  but  the  conjugation  of  Dia¬ 
toms  is  essentially  similar  to  that  of  the  conjugating 
Conferva.  The  variety  in  the  forms  of  diatoms  is  very 
great,  but  their  conjugation  is  always  the  result  of  the 
meeting  or  reunion  of  two  cells ;  and  sometimes  the 
contents  of  one  are  entirely  discharged  into  the 
other,  and  sometimes  the  contents  of  both  cells  are 
discharged  and  mix  with  each  other,  and  then  a 
new  envelope  forms  around  it.  That  discovery  was 
a  most  important  one  in  fixing  our  ideas  as  to  the  real 
character  of  these  bodies,  by  shoving  that  they  were 
as  truly  Vegetable  as  these  filamentous  Conferva , 
about  the  vegetable  nature  of  which  there  is  no 
question  whatever. 

Now  I  will  take  you  to  a  higher  form  of  vegeta¬ 
tion,  the  Ferns,  to  show  you  what  has  been  the 
remarkable  result  of  microscopic  study  in  throwing 
an  entirely  new  light  upon  the  sexuality  of  the 
Cryptogamia.  You  all  know  that  from  the  time  of 
Linnaeus  the  sexuality  of  flowering  plants  has  been 
admitted,  and  that  the  pollen  performs  the  function 
of  the  male,  and  that  the  apparatus  containing  the 
ovules  is  essentially  the  female  part  of  the  organiza¬ 
tion.  But  as  to  the  Cryptogamia,  the  lower  tribe  of 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  11, 1-871. 


plants,  including  ferns,  mosses,  seaweeds,  and  so  on, 
there  was  no  knowledge  at  the  time  of  Linnseus 
what  their  true  generative  process  was.  It  was  per¬ 
fectly  well  known  that  they  had  a  fructification.  I 
suppose  most  of  you  know  by  ordinary  observation 
those  long  stalks  of  the  mosses  that  grow  upon 
walls.  For  instance,  in  the  autumn  you  will  see 
these  mosses  bearing  long  stalks  with  beautiful  little 
urns  at  the  top,  and  these  urns  contain  a  number  of 
little  bodies,  which  are  known  as  the  sporules  of  the 
moss.  So,  again,  you  are  acquainted,  no  doubt, 
with  the  so-called  fructification  at  the  back  of  a 
fern-leaf,  consisting  of  spots  or  ridges  of  a  brown,  or 
in  their  early  stage  yellow  hue.  They  are  made 
up  of  minute  spherical,  or  pear-shaped  bodies,  com¬ 
posed  of  two  halves,  that  are  carried  apart  when 
they  burst  by  the  elastic  ring  that  extends  them,  and 
they  thus  set  free  the  little  sporules  that  they  con¬ 
tain.  If  you  take  a  fern-leaf  in  fructification,  put  it 
upon  a  piece  of  white  paper,  and  leave  it  for  a  day 
or  two,  you  will  find  the  paper  covered  with  an  ex¬ 
cessively  fine  brown  dust.  If  you  examine  this  with 
a  microscope,  you  will  find  that  it  is  composed  of 
very  minute  particles,  rounded  or  angular,  which 
are  known  as  sporules,  and  every  one  of  these  may 
produce  a  new  fern.  But,  although  all  this  was 
known,  it  was  not  known  how  these  sporules  origi¬ 
nated,  or  whether  there  was  anything  in  the  ferns  or 
mosses  at  all  comparable  to  the  sexual  processes  of 
the  higher  plants.  That  discovery  was  made  by 
Suminski,  a  Polish  count,  about  twenty-five  years 
ago,  although  it  had  been  partly  made  before.  That 
was  the  origin  of  all  our  improved  knowledge  of  the 
C ryptogamia  ;  and  I  will  now  show  you  what  is  the 
real  generative  process  in  the  ferns.  That  spore  is 
a  bud.  The  whole  of  tills  apparatus  that  we  call 
the  fructification  of  a  fern  is  a  process  for  producing 
gemma,  or  buds;  and  the  real  sexual  generation 
takes  place  in  a  very  early  stage  of  the  growth  and  de¬ 
velopment  of  these  gemmce.  If  you  sow  some  of  these 
sporules  upon  a  bed  of  damp  earth  in  a  hothouse, 
where  the  surface  of  the  garden  pot  is  always  kept 
moist  by  the  dampness  of  the  atmosphere,  and  at  the 
same  time  properly  warm,  you  will  find  after  a  time 
that  the  surface  of  the  mould  is  covered  with  very 
minute  green  particles ;  and  if,  when  they  be  grown 
a  little  larger,  you  take  them  up,  and  submit  them 
to  the  microscope,  you  will  find  that  they  are  little, 
flat,  leafy  bodies,  with  rootlets  passing  down  into 
the  soil.  If  you  have  not  access  to  a  greenhouse  or 
hothouse,  there  is  another  very  simple  mode  by 
which  you  may  perform  this  very  interesting  experi¬ 
ment.  If  you  take  a  bit  of  porous  sandstone,  put  it 
in  a  saucer  of  water,  and  sow  the  sporules  of  fern 
upon  it,  and  then  cover  it  over  with  a  bell-glass  and 
keep  it  in  a  warm  place, — for  nothing  is  needed  but 
water  and  air  to  supply  the  materials  for  the  deve¬ 
lopment  of  these  little  bodies, — they  will  grow  into 
the  minute  leafy  expansions  represented  on  this 
diagram.  When  these  are  carefully  examined  in 
the  microscope,  it  is  found  that  there  are  two  kinds 
of  bodies  in  them,  quite  distinct  from  the  ordinary 
cells.  One  kind  consists  of  little  chimney-like  bodies, 
at  the  bottom  of  each  of  wliicli  is  a  green  cell ;  and 
if  we  look  down  at  the  tube  from  above  we  see  it  is 
bounded  by  four  cells.  In  other  parts  we  see  little 
rounded  or  globular  groups  of  cells,  every  one  of 
which  contains,  coiled  up  within  it,  a  little  spiral 
filament,  which  is  set  free  by  the  bursting  of  the 
cell,  and  then  it  is  exactly  like  the  spermatozoon  of 


a  mammal.  Every  one  of  these  clusters  sets  free  a 
number  of  these  antlierozoids,  which  move  about  on 
the  leafy  expansion  until  they  make  their  way  into 
the  aperture  of  one  of  these  cliimney-like  bodies, 
and,  reaching  the  bottom,  they  come  in  contact  with 
the  green  cell,  and  dissolve  away,  as  it  were,  upon 
it.  Their  substance  becomes  incorporated  with  the 
substance  of  the  green  cell,  which  at  that  time  has 
no  definite  cell  membrane ;  but  after  this  incorpora¬ 
tion  has  taken  place  the  cell  is  invested  with  a  mem¬ 
brane,  and  becomes  the  true  primordial  cell  of  a 
new  fern,  which  is  progressively  developed  from 
it.  That  is  the  process  which  takes  place  in  these 
little  minute  green  leafy  bodies  that  had  previously 
escaped  notice  almost  entirely.  Here  are  represen¬ 
tations  of  the  various  stages  through  which  it  passes, 
and  the  leafy  expansion  to  which  I  have  already 
directed  your  attention  ha's  exactly  the  function  of 
the  cotyledons  in  a  common  plant ;  it  absorbs  nutri¬ 
ment,  and  supplies  it  to  the  young  embryo,  until  it 
has  developed  a  rootlet  capable  of  penetrating  the 
soil,  and  a  young  leaf  extended  to  the  air. 

You  see,  then,  what  a  curious  history  is  here 
opened  to  us  by  this  minute  examination ;  and  the 
same  history  has  been  traced  out  in  the  Mosses,  and 
in  the  tribe  of  plants  humbler  than  the  mosses,  the 
Liverworts.  The  same  again  in  the  seaweeds,  the 
common  Fucus  vesiculosus,  so  plentiful  on  our  coasts. 
The  green  and  yellow  swellings  found  upon  these 
contain  cells  which  again  contain  these  anthero- 
zoids,  and  other  cells  that  contain  the  primordial 
embryo  cells ;  and  there  is  in  all  a  true  sexual  re¬ 
production.  There  is  some  uncertainty  about  the 
Lichens  and  Fungi,  but  there  can  be  no  reasonable 
doubt  that  the  same  process  does  take  place  in  some 
stage  or  other  of  their  growth,  as  it  has  been  traced 
in  all  other  C ryptogamia. 

These  are  a  few  scattered  notes  of  some  of  the  phe¬ 
nomena  of  the  humbler  kind  of  vegetation,  which  I 
thought  it  would  be  most  interesting  to  you  to  be 
made  acquainted  with ;  and  I  will  conclude  with 
noticing  one  or  two  forms  of  Animal  life.  It  is  im¬ 
possible  for  me  to  go  into  the  general  subject  of 
Animalcules  in  this  lecture,  because  our  time  is 
already  expired,  and  I  wish  you  to  have  an  opportu¬ 
nity  of  examining  for  yourselves  some  microscopic 
objects  wliicli  I  have  placed  in  the  library.  But  I 
wish  to  direct  your  attention,  in  connection  with  the 
last  lecture,  to  one  tribe  of  these  lower  forms  of  ani¬ 
mal  life,  the  Polyeystina,  wliicli  are  closely  akin  to 
the  Foraminifera  on  which  I  before  spoke  to  you,  but 
which  differ  in  this  respect,  that  these  little  masses 
of  animal  jelly,  which  are  the  constituent  parts  of 
these  creatures,  the  Polyeystina,  have  the  power  of 
secreting  silex,  just  like  the  Diatoms  among  plants. 
All  the  skeletons  of  the  Foraminifera  are  com¬ 
posed  of  carbonate  of  lime,  except  where  they  build 
themselves  up  skeletons  with  sand;  but  the  Po¬ 
lyeystina,  wliicli  are  generally  speaking  animals 
floating  on  the  surface  of  the  sea,  form  the  most  beau¬ 
tiful  skeletons  it  is  possible  to  conceive,  of  silex  or 
flint.  There  are  a  great  number  of  these  living  at 
the  present  time  on  the  surface  of  our  seas,  and  m 
the  Adriatic  they  seem  to  be  especially  abundant ; 
but  some  of  our  best  illustrations  of  tins  group  are 
obtained  from  fossil  deposits,  and  especially  from 
one  in  Barbadoes.  The  island  of  Barbadoes  is 
chiefly  made  up  of  two  rocks,  one  a  converted  coral, 
a  coral  limestone,  and  the  other  a  sandstone,  which 
is  entirely,  or  almost  entirely,  composed  of  these  Poly- 


March  11, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


727 


eystina.  To  prepare  tliem,  all  that  is  necessary  is  to 
boil  them  for  a  short  time  in  soda  to  dissolve  away 
the  cement,  which  more  easily  dissolves  than  the 
shells  themselves ;  and  then  it  is  found  that  the  whole 
mass  that  remains  is  a  mass  of  extremely  beautiful 
-siliceous  shells.  Upstairs  there  are  placed  in  the 
microscope  two  examples  of  these,  one  an  ordinary 
group,  which  I  obtained  by  the  process  I  have  just 
described,  and  the  other  is  a  selected  specimen. 
You  must  not  suppose  that  the  beautiful  circles  you 
see  there  occur  in  nature  ;  they  are  picked  out  bty  the 
delicate  fingers  of  cliildren,  and  arranged  in  rows,  so 
as  to  constitute,  so  to  speak,  a  show  object. — After 
briefly  describing  the  various  specimens  arranged  in 
the  library  under  the  microscopes,  Dr.  Carpenter 
concluded  his  lecture  by  expressing  a  hope  that  he 
liad  succeeded  in  inoculating  some  of  liis  hearers  at 
any  rate  with  a  taste  for  what  he  was  confident  would 
prove  both  an  interesting  and  valuable  pursuit,  minis¬ 
tering,  at  the  same  time,  to  recreation  and  mental  im¬ 
provement. 

IV  A  (. ACHILLEA  MO  S  CHAT  A). 

BY  DR.  A.  V.  PLANTA-REICIIEXAU. 

The  plant  is  known  in  Switzerland  as  forest  lady’s 
herb  ( Wildfriiitlein- Kraut ),  and  has  been  used  there  for 
centuries  as  a  stomachic,  tonic,  etc. 

The  author  collected  the  herb  before  flowering  without 
the  root.  It  was,  in  the  form  of  a  coarse  powder,  dis¬ 
tilled  with  steam  until  volatile  oil  ceased  to  come  over, 
and  the  aqueous  decoction  evaporated  to  the  consistency 
of  an  extract.  The  herb  thus  exhausted  with  water  was 
dried  and  extracted  with  alcohol  until  it  ceased  to  impart 
to  it  a  bitter  taste  ;  most  of  the  alcohol  was  distilled  off'. 

Iva  Oil. — The  crude  volatile  oil  is  bluish-green,  of  a 
peculiar,  not  disagreeable  odour,  and  a  taste  reminding 
of  peppermint.  It  commences  to  boil  at  170°  C. ;  the 
greatest  portion  distils  between  180°  and  210°  C. ;  the 
distillate  between  230°  and  260°  C.  is  brown  and  has  the 
■odour  of  wormwood.  A  dark  brown  soft  resin  is  left 
behind,  which  is  not  bitter ;  insoluble  in  absolute  alcohol, 
but  readily  soluble  in  ether  and  oil  of  turpentine.  The 
rectified  oil  was  of  a  faint  yellowish  colour,  an  agreeable 
refreshing  odour,  and  a  warm  bitter  taste,  reminding  of 
peppermint.  Its  composition  is  C4sH40O4;  the  author 
names  this  ivaol. 

Ivdin. — The  dark  green  alcoholic  liquid  was  precipi¬ 
tated  by  alcobolic  solution  of  acetate  of  lead ;  the  filtrate 
was  treated  with  sulphuretted  hydrogen  and  the  filtrate 
evaporated;  the  residue  was  washed  with  acetic  acid 
until  the  washings  were  colourless,  afterwards  with 
water,  until  it  floated  upon  it.  It  was  then  repeatedly 
dissolved  in  alcohol  and  evaporated,  to  remove  acetic 
acid,  then  treated  with  animal  charcoal  and  the  alcohol 
evaporated.  I  vain  =  C43H4206  has  the  consistency  of 
Venice  turpentine,  is  of  a  yellow  colour,  insoluble  in 
water,  and  in  alcoholic  solution  has  a  persistently  bitter 
taste. 

Achillcina. — The  aqueous  extract  was  triturated  with 
•alcohol  until  it  ceased  to  become  coloured ;  the  alcohol 
was  distilled  off  and  the  residue  precipitated  by  water. 
The  precipitate  having  been  washed  with  water,  the 
aqueous  liquid  was  agitated  with  plumbic  hydrate  to  re¬ 
move  acids.  The  filtrate  was  freed  from  lead,  evaporated 
and  alternately  dissolved  in  absolute  alcohol  and  in  water, 
and  evaporated  until  the  achilleina  yielded  clear  solu¬ 
tions  with  both  liquids.  Thus  prepared,  it  has  an  alka¬ 
line  reaction,  is  brown  red,  amorphous,  friable,  very  hy¬ 
groscopic,  readily  soluble  in  water,  with  more  difficulty 
in  absolute  alcohol,  insoluble  in  ether ;  its  odour  is  pe¬ 
culiar,  its  taste  very  bitter  but  not  disagreeable.  The 
author  isolated  also  the  bitter  principle  from  Achillea 
Millefolium ,  which  had  been  obtained  by  Zanoa  in  a  not 
.entirely  pure  state,  and  found  it  to  be  identical  with  achil¬ 


leina.  Composition  =  C40  H3s  N2  O30.  The  salts  have  not 
been  investigated. 

Moschatina. — The  precipitate  obtained  by  water,  in 
the  concentrated  alcoholic  residue,  was  taken  up  by  ab¬ 
solute  alcohol,  evaporated  to  dryness  and  treated  with 
water  until  the  mass  became  pulverizable  under  water. 
It  is  of  an  aromatic  bitter  taste,  little  hygroscopic,  barely 
soluble  in  water,  fuses  under  water  upon  the  water-bath, 
and  separates  from  its  solution  in  hot  water  in  a  pulveru¬ 
lent  condition.  Composition  ==C42H27N014. 

_  Achillelin. — On  boiling  achillcina  for  several  days  with 
diluted  acids,  sugar  is  formed,  together  with  a  volatile 
aromatic  principle  and  probably  ammonia,  and  a  dark- 
brown  powder  separates  which  is  not  bitter ;  insoluble  in 
water,  sparingly  in  alcohol,  and  in  this  solution  has  an 
aromatic  taste.  Composition  =  C22H1-N08. 

The  author  also  obtained  stearic  acid  on  cooling  the 
tincture  of  iva,  concentrated  by  distillation. 

The  aqueous  solution  of  the  ashes  contained  very  little 
sulphate  of  lime  and  magnesia,  but  considerable  alkalies 
and  chlorine.  Nitric  acid  dissolves  from  the  residue  car¬ 
bonates,  much  lime,  also  phosphoric  acid  and  little  mag¬ 
nesia.  The  undissolved  portion  consisted  of  charcoal 
and  much  silica. — Annalen  cler  Chcmie  unel  Pharmacic , 
August ,  1870. 


BEECH-NUT  OIL. 

In  an  article  on  the  products  obtained  from  the  com¬ 
mon  beech  ( Tagus  sylvatica ),  Dr.  Wetherbec  alludes  to 
the  oil  obtained  from  the  nuts,  and  gives  the  following 
particulars  in  regard  to  it : — At  60  degrees  Fahrenheit, 
it  has  a  specific  gravity  of  0-9225,  and  at  29  degrees  it 
becomes  solid.  One  thousand  parts  of  alcohol  of  90  per 
cent,  will  dissolve  four  parts  of  the  oil,  but  it  is  com¬ 
pletely  insoluble  in  water.  Its  composition  is  carbon, 
79*77 ;  hydrogen,  10-57,  and  oxygen,  9-12,  wfith  a  trace 
of  extracline  matter,  etc.,  in  each  one  hundred  parts. 
Like  other  expressed  oils,  it  produces  acrolein,  or  the 
hydrated  oxide  of  acryl,  by  destructive  distillation  at  a 
high  temperature.  By  treatment  with  nitric  acid,  it  also, 
like  other  nut  oils,  yields  elaidin  or  elaidic  acid,  in  com¬ 
bination  oxide  of  glyceryle,  and  in  about  103  minutes, 
by  this  process,  in  converted  into  a  bluish-green  solid. 
The  soap  made  from  this  oil  is  of  a  dirty  grey  colour, 
becoming  yellow  by  exposure  to  the  air,  and  having  a 
slightly  characteristic  odour  of  the  oil.  It  is  somewhat 
greasy  and  pasty,  and  for  these  reasons  is  less  valuable 
to  the  soap-maker  than  many  other  kinds  of  vegetable 
oils,  though  in  France  it  is  extensively  used  for  this  pur- 
pose.  Three  pounds  of  the  oil  will  make  five  and  a 
quarter  pounds  of  soap,  as  taken  from  the  frame,  which 
in  two  or  three  months,  by  drying,  will  lose  a  consider¬ 
able  portion  of  its  weight. 

Beech-nut  oil,  however,  is  most  valuable  for  culinary 
and  lighting  purposes,  for  the  former  of  which  it  is  con¬ 
sidered  very  wholesome  and  palatable,  and  to  a  great 
extent  takes  the  place  of  butter  and  lard  among  the 
French  and  German  inhabitants  of  certain  districts. .  It 
burns  well,  giving  a  good  light,  is  free  from  smoke. 

When  properly  refined  it  is  good  for  lubricating  deli¬ 
cate  machinery,  such  as  clocks,  etc.,  and  for  the  prepa¬ 
ration  of  hair-oils,  pomatums,  liniments,  ointments,  and 
for  many  other  purposes  it  is  not  inferior  to  most  of  the 
vegetable  fatty  oils. — Canadian  Pharmaceutical  Journal. 


Incompatibility  of  Digitalis  with  Sulphate  cf 
Quinine. — A  physician  having  ordered  a  mixture  con¬ 
taining  the  syrup  of  digitalis  of  the  French  Codex  and 
acid  sulphate  of  quinine,  observed  a  precipitate  at  the 
bottom  of  the  bottle.  Supposing  that  some  mistake  had 
been  made,  he  took  it  back  to  the  apothecary,  when  it 
was  found  that  the  ingredients  were  incompatible  with 
one  another,  the  tannin  in  the  digitalis  combining  with 
the  quinine  and  forming  an  insoluble  tannatc. — Journal 
ds  Pnarmacie  ct  de  Chimie. 


728 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  11, 1871; 


REPORT  ON  COMMERCIAL  SPECIMENS  OF 
BISMUTHI  SUBNITRAS. 


The  Practitioner  for  March  contains  a  report  of  the 
analyses  of  six  samples  of  bismuthi  subnitras,  which 
yielded  the  following-  results 


No. 

Oxide  of 
Bismuth. 

Arsenic. 

Chlorides. 

Sulphates. 

Per  cent. 

I. 

81-33 

None 

Traces 

Minute  traces 

II. 

78-51 

None 

None 

Traces 

III. 

79-28 

None 

Traces 

Traces 

IV. 

82-12 

None 

Traces 

Traces 

V. 

81-80 

None 

Strong  traces 

Slight  traces 

VI. 

82-37 

None 

Very'  strong 
traces 

Traces 

The  amount  of  oxide  of  bismuth  contained  in  the  pure 
subnitrate  is  76  3  per  cent. ;  but  much  depends  upon  the 
amount  of  washing  and  the  temperature  maintained 
during  precipitation.  These  may  cause  the  quantity  of 
oxide  of  bismuth  contained  in  this  salt  to  vary  from  76 
to  84  per  cent.  The  only  impurities  detected  in  the 
samples  examined  were  traces  of  chlorides  and  sulphates 
and  very  minute  traces  of  iron.  All  were  specially  ex¬ 
amined  for  arsenic,  but  no  trace  was  found  in  any  of 
them. 


ANNUAL  FESTIVAL  OF  THE  GLASGOW  CHEMISTS 
AND  DRUGGISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

On  Tuesday'  Evening,  28th  February',  the  Annual 
Soiree  and  Musical  Reunion  of  the  Glasgow  Chemists  and 
Druggists’  Association  was  held  in  the  Trades’  Hall, 
Glassford  Street.  Between  five  and  six  hundred  persons 
sat  down  to  tea.  Mr.  James  MacDonald  (of  the  Glasgow 
Apothecaries’  Company')  occupied  the  chair;  and  among 
the  gentlemen  on  the  platform  were  Messrs.  Aitken  and 
Ainslie,  Edinburgh ;  Drs.  T.  D.  Buchanan,  A.  M.  Ro- 
bertson,  R.  Carter  Moffat,  etc.,  and  Messrs.  William 
Greig,  James  Taylor,  Thomas  Davison,  A.  Kinninmont, 
T.  D.  Moffat,  J.  M.  Fairlie,  R.  T.  Dim,  D.  B.  Ker,  Ro¬ 
bert  Brodie,  etc.  Letters  of  apology  were  received  from 
Messrs.  Fraser,  Brown,  Murdoch,  Hatrick,  Jaap,  Currie, 
Hart,  etc. 

The  Chairman  in  his  opening  address  expressed  the 
high  gratification  it  gave  him  to  preside  over  such  a 
brilliant  assemblage  as  that  met  that  night.  He  had  at 
first  some  misgivings  as  to  whether  he  should  accept  the 
honour  conferred  upon  him  by  the  Committee  in  asking 
him  to  be  their  chairman  on  such  an  important  occasion, 
and  he  had  done  so  ultimately  on  the  condition  that  no 
speech  would  be  required  of  him.  He  could  not,  however, 
sit  down  without  saying  how  pleased  he  was  to  know 
that  the  trade  (he  should  rather  say  profession)  to  which 
they  belonged  now  occupied  such  an  important  position 
not  only  in  this  city'  but  in  the  kingdom.  He  was  also 
glad  to  be  able  to  affirm  that  the  local  Association  (under 
whose  auspices  they  were  met  there  that  night)  had  suffi¬ 
cient  energy  in  its  Council  and  Members  to  make  Glas¬ 
gow  one  of  the  first  pharmaceutical  cities  in  the  country', 
as  it  was  already'  one  of  the  first  in  commerce ;  but  of 
course  energy  and  perseverance  would  be  almost  useless 
without  support  and  encouragement  from  one  and  all 
connected  with  the  profession.  He  therefore  advised  all, 
the  young  men  in  the  trade  especially,  who  had  not  yret 
joined  the  Association,  to  enrol  themselves  in  its  ranks  as 
soon  as  possible,  that  the  labours  of  the  working  mem¬ 
bers  to  advance  the  education  of  the  assistants  and  ap¬ 
prentices  may  be  crowned  with  success.  In  further  re¬ 
ferring-  to  the  great  good  the  Society  had  already  done 
he  said  he  was  authorized  by'  the  firm  with  which  he  was 
connected  to  state  that  it  was  their  intention  to  hand 
over  to  tho  Council  of  the  Association  another  £-3  (in  ad¬ 
dition  to  throe  guineas  already  subscribed  to  the  funds 


of  the  Society)  to  be  distributed  among  the  members  in. 
prizes  or  in  whatever  way  the  Council  may  decide.  After 
some  further  remarks  about  education,  poison  regula¬ 
tions,  and  early'  closing, — concerning  which  he  said  he 
hoped  before  long  to  see  every  doctor’s  and  druggist’s 
shop  in  the  city'  shutting  at  8  o’clock,  and  a  great  deal 
of  the  Sunday'  labour  curtailed, — Mr.  MacDonald  con¬ 
cluded  a  short  but  pithy'  address  by'  quoting  a  piece  from 
‘  Horace,’  and  giving  the  translation,  resuming  his  seat 
amid  great  applause. 

An  excellent  concert  was  afterwards  sustained  by'  Miss. 
Isa  Robertson,  Mr.  Falconer,  Mr.  Robert  Fraser,  and  a 
glee  party',  and  several  Scotch  readings  given  by'  Messrs. 
Wright  and  Weir. 

Short  addresses  were  also  given  by'  Messrs.  Aitken, 
Ainslie,  and  Paterson,  and  Dr.  Moffat,  and  “  Auld  Lang 
Syne”  by  the  audience  brought  this  part  of  the  proceed¬ 
ings  to  a  close. 

The  Annual  Full  Dress  Assembly  was  held  immedi¬ 
ately  after  the  soiree,  in  which  upwards  of  fifty  couples 
took  part,  and  was  witnessed  by'  nearly'  three  hundred 
spectators. 

Altogether  the  Festival  was  one  of  the  most  success¬ 
ful  ever  held  in  connection  with  the  Chemists’  Asso¬ 
ciation. 


DRUG  MARKET  NOTES. 


Tlie  following  were  among  the  parcels  offered  for 
sale  in  the  drug  market  last  week : — 

Sarsaparilla, — Honduras,  329  bales  ;  Mexican,  80- 
bales. 

Jamaica  Beeswax,  60  barrels. 

West  India  Tamarinds,  41  barrels. 

Nux  Vomica,  16  pockets  and  2  bags. 

Senna, — Tinnivelly,  284  bales;  Alexandria,  4T 
bales. 

Aloes, — Cape,  118  cgses ;  East  India,  10  kegs,  7 

cases. 

Cardamoms, — 10  cases,  21  packages;  Malabar, 49 
cases. 

Blue  Galls,  75  sacks. 

Castor  Oil, — East  Indian,  100  cases ;  Italian,  50; 
cases. 

Bark, — Calisaya,  122  serons  ;  Columbian,  272 
serous ;  Crown,  79  bales;  Bed,  37  bales;  Cartha- 
gena,  15  bales ;  Pitayo,  90  bales ;  Peruvian,  72: 
serons. 

Indian  Bael,  11  barrels. 

Gum  Sandrac,  33  casks. 

Otto  Boses,  8  tins. 

Ambergris,  8  tins,  50  ounces. 

Ergot  of  Bye,  11  bags,  4  cases. 

Cassia  Fistula,  92  bales,  35  bags. 

Bhatania  Boot,  35  bales. 

Antimony  Begulus,  47  blocks. 

Kamala,  2  bags. 

Matico,  12  bales. 

Bhubarb,  136  cases,  31  chests. 

Cantliarides,  1  case. 

Turmeric,  Madras,  111  bags  and  100  pockets. 
Cubebs,  137  bags. 

Cajaputa  Oil,  101  cases. 

Pepper  Oil,  1  case. 

Macassar  Oil,  2  cases. 

Citronelle  Oil,  78  cases. 

Solid  Glucose,  18  cases. 

Oil  Patchouli,  10  cases. 

Cascarilla  Bark,  360  sacks. 


March  11, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


729 


%\t  ^Ijanuateutol  iounutl. 

- ♦ - 

SATURDAY,  MARCS  11,  1S71. 


Communications  for  this  Journal,  and  boohs  for  review,  etc., 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  1 7,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

Instructions  from  Members  and  dissociates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Brem- 
jridge,  Secretary ,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  JF.C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street ,  London ,  IF.  Envelopes  indorsed  “  Eharm.  Journ.” 


OUR  MONTHLY  EVENING  MEETINGS. 

Our  readers  will  have  noticed  with  pleasure  the 
report,  in  our  issue  of  the  25th  ult.,  of  the  proceed¬ 
ings  of  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy.  After 
several  j^ears’  intermission,  the  pharmaceutical  meet¬ 
ings  in  connection  with  that  celebrated  institution 
have  been  resumed,  and  we  hope  to  be  able,  in  due. 
time,  to  congratulate  the  College  on  the  success  of 
its  fresh  endeavours  to  stimulate  research  and  foster 
esprit  tie  corps  amongst  its  members.  Our  confreres 
have  set  about  their  task  in  a  thoroughly  busi¬ 
ness-like  manner,  and  no  apology  is  needed  for 
introducing  here  the  main  features  of  the  scheme 
by  which  they  hope  to  render  their  meetings  both 
profitable  and  interesting.  At  the  first  meeting,  on 
the  18th  October,  1870,  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  draw  up  a  plan,  and  at  the  succeeding  meeting 
in  November  it  reported  the  following  suggestions : — 

1.  As  it  is  of  primary  importance  that  a  general  in¬ 
terest  should  be  felt  or  created  in  the  attendance  of  these 
meetings,  the  Committee  would  recommend  that  an 
•earnest  invitation  be  extended  to  the  members  of  the 
College,  and  all  others  who  may  desire  to  participate  in 
the  proceedings,  to  produce  at  each  of  our  meetings 
•either  written  or  oral  contributions  on  subjects  pertain¬ 
ing  to  chemistry  or  pharmacy,  or  the  commercial  rela¬ 
tion  of  drugs.  Upon  the  conclusion  of  such  communi¬ 
cations,  the  presiding  officer  of  the  meeting  to  call  for 
any  remarks  that  may  be  elicited  by  the  subject  thus 
introduced. 

2.  That  there  should  be  appointed  annually  a  Stand¬ 
ing  Committee,  consisting  of  three  membors,  whose  duty 
it  should  be  to  propose  subjects  for  discussion  at  any  of 
our  meetings,  whenever  there  shall  be  a  lack  of  material 
voluntarily  contributed  by  members. 

3.  That  a  box  or  other  suitable  arrangement  be  pro¬ 
vided  for  the  reception  of  written  queries,  anonymous 
•or  otherwise,  which  members  may  desire  to  propound, 
relating  to  any  subject  connected  with  the  shop  or  labo¬ 
ratory;  which  queries  may  be  taken  up  for  discussion 
either  at  the  meeting  in  which  they  are  proposed  or  at  a 
subsequent  meeting. 

>  4.  That  this  Committee  be  requested  to  obtain,  from 
time  to  time,  the  services  of  any  who  may  favour  the 
meeting  with  lectures  suited  to  the  occasion. 

These  recommendations  were  adopted,  and  Mr. 
Charles  Bullock,  Dr.  Pile  and  Professor  Maisch 
appointed  the  Committee  for  the  ensuing  year.  We 
reproduce  the  recommendations  in  extenso,  because  it 
.seems  to  us  that  some  such  plan  is  urgently  re¬ 


quired  by  our  own  Society,  if  the  monthly  meetings 
are  to  be  rescued  from  the  miserable  condition  into 
which  they  have  sunk  of  late  years. 

Notwithstanding  the  “poisonous  ”  atmosphere  just 
now  overhanging,  we  are  congratulating  ourselves 
that,  after  thirty  years  of  up-hill  work,  we  have 
grown  into  the  most  powerful  independent  body  of 
pharmaceutists  perhaps  in  the  world ;  and  yet  of 
the  few  members  who  attend  our  meetings,  there  is 
scarcely  one  but  feels  humiliated  at  the  want  of 
interest  exhibited  by  councillors,  examiners,  mem¬ 
bers,  associates  and  apprentices  in  a  part  of  our 
voluntary  curriculum  which  should  be  a  source  of 
profit  and  delight  to  old  and  young. 

Our  contemporary  the  Chemist  and  Druggist,  ever 
ready  to  point  out  weak  points  in  our  official  system, 
has  censured  us  in  terms  which,  though  severe,  are 
well  merited ;  and  it  grieved  us  not  a  little  to  note 
that  Dr.  Carpenter’s  lectures  on  the  Microscope, 
recently  delivered,  were,  comparatively  speaking, 
but  poorly  attended  even  by  associates  and  students. 

These  meetings  require  infused  into  them  the 
same  vitality  that  now  exists  in  the  examining,  edu¬ 
cational  and  administrative  departments  of  the  So¬ 
ciety.  But  how  is  tliis  to  be  accomplished  ?  In  our 
judgment,  by  following  some  such  plan  as  is  pro¬ 
posed  at  Philadelphia. 

The  most  important  recommendation  we  take  to 
be  the  appointment  annually  of  a  standing  com¬ 
mittee,  whose  business  and  pleasure  it  should  be  to 
cater  for  their  brethren  and  sustain  the  high  cha¬ 
racter  of  the  Society  and  British  Pharmacy. 

As  at  present  conducted,  it  seems  optional  to  any 
person,  however  ignorant  or  learned,  to  extract  a  roll 
of  manuscript  from  his  coat  pocket,  and,  without  any 
notice  or  guarantee  that  it  is  suitable  matter,  to  read 
a  paper  which  may  occupy  one  or  more  pages  of  this 
Journal,  and  which  may  perhaps  deal  in  generalities 
on  the  purity  or  impurity  of  the  drugs  we  sell,  with¬ 
out  embracing  a  particle  of  experimental  evidence  to 
justify  any  assumption  whatever.  It  is  true  the 
Bye-laws  provide  “  that  all  communications  intended 
to  be  made  shall  be  submitted  to  the  President,  or, 
in  liis  absence,  to  the  Vice-President  or  Chairman  of 
the  meeting,  for  his  sanction,  and  without  such 
sanction  no  subject  shall  be  introduced;”  but  in 
practice  it  has  seldom  been  enforced,  because  it  was 
supposed  that  its  observance  might  increase  the  diffi¬ 
culties  of  securing  good  and  suitable  communications. 

\V  e  would  suggest,  with  all  respect  to  the  Council, 
that  this  Bye-law  should  be  carried  out  in  its  integ¬ 
rity  ;  and  that,  along  with  the  President,  a  com¬ 
mittee  of  two,  not  holding  seats  at  the  Council, 
should  be  annually  associated,  to  whom  all  papers 
should  be  forwarded,  and  by  whom  they  should  be 
read  before  the  meeting,  and  approved,  abridged  or 
declined  as  required.  Once  secure  good  papers  on 
strictly  pharmaceutical  subjects,  and  there  will  be 
no  lack  of  listeners. 


730 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  11, 1871. 


Perhaps  it  would  be  exacting  to  expect  tlie  regular 
attendance  of  all  tlie  Councillors,  members  of  the 
Board  of  Examiners,  and  the  great  majority  of  me¬ 
tropolitan  members,  many  of  whom  possess  a  fund  of 
practical  knowledge  of  chemistry  and  pharmacy  which 
will  probably  die  with  them,  and  the  exposition  of 
which  would  awaken  in  many  a  rising  pharmacist’s 
breast  a  feeling  of  intense  gratitude.  But  we  feel  that 
it  is  incumbent  on  them  to  arouse  themselves,  and  re¬ 
member  that  there  is  still  ample  opportunity  for 
continuing  the  educational  scheme,  commenced  in 
1841,  on  a  higher  platform,  and  that  a  large  number 
of  assistants,  well  grounded  in  theoretical  knowledge, 
are  still  more  or  less  deficient  in  that  sound  practical 
knowledge  which  has  made  the  world-wide  repute  of 
some  of  our  senior  members. 

Let  each  of  our  readers  then  manfully  help  the 
Society  in  this  matter,  by  active  work  and  frequent 
attendance,  where  possible  ;  it  is  a  duty  he  owes  alike 
to  the  Society,  and,  in  the  elegant  language  of  Mr. 
Schacht,  “to  our  common  Mistress  Pharmacy.” 


SCIENTIFIC  HOBBIES. 

At  the  risk  of  being  accused  of  making  a  trite  ob- 
;  orvation,  we  are  inclined  to  repeat  at  this  time  what 
lias,  in  different  forms,  often  been  said  before,  that 
the  man  who  can  lift  himself  out  of  the  routine  and 
drudgery  of  his  calling,  and  look  upon  it  as  some¬ 
thing  more  than  the  mere  means  of  obtaining  a  sub¬ 
sistence,  will  find  that  in  so  doing  he  makes  it  much 
more  tolerable.  Moreover,  he  will  secure  a  sub¬ 
stantial  benefit  by  his  increased  skill  in  his  craft. 
Of  no  calling  is  this  more  true  than  of  pharmacy, 
lie  who  only  sees  a  cause  for  annoyance  in  the  un¬ 
expected  turbidity  of  a  mixture,  or  the  unusual  ap¬ 
pearance  of  a  drug,  knows  nothing  of  the  pleasure 
which  is  experienced  in  bringing  the  results  of  a 
favourite  study  to  assist  in  unravelling  the  mystery, 
to  say  nothing  of  the  additional  profit  of  being  able 
to  do  so.  We  need  only  allude  to  the  articles,  by 
Mr.  Stoddart,  on  Bristol  Pharmacology,  which  are 
now  appearing  in  the  columns  of  this  Journal,  as  an 
illustration  of  the  way  in  which  thg_  subjects  of  daily 
business  may  be  used  for  obtaining  a  considerable 
amount  of  healthy  recreation. 

In  the  art  of  pharmacy  there  is  much  that  is  purely 
scientific,  and  its  followers  may  well  be  proud  of 
some  who  are  to  be  found  in  their  ranks.  This  is 
iall3r  recognized  in  the  world  of  science,  which  is  not 
at  all  disposed  to  look  upon  as  presumption,  the  am¬ 
bition  of  pharmacists  to  take  rank  as  scientific  men, 
nor  like  another  Jove  to  resent  the  encroachment 
upon  its  prerogative — 

“  Maturate  fugam,  regique  koec  dicite  vestro : 

Non  illi  imperium  polagi,  saevumque  tridentem, 

Sed  milii  sorte  datum.” 

On  the  contrary,  it  has  shown  itself  ready  to  en¬ 


courage  them,  and  to  accord  them  what  honours  may 
fairly  be  their  due. 

But  many  will  be  ready  to  say,  that  there  is  a  long 
step  between  scientific  studies  and  the  weighing  out 
of  pennyworths  of  carbonate  of  soda,  or  perhaps  the 
grinding  of  paints.  This  is  true ;  but  to  such  we 
would  recommend  the  consideration  of  the  remarks 
of  Dr.  Carpenter,  in  the  first  of  the  two  lectures 
which  have  just  been  delivered  by  him  on  the  micro¬ 
scope  and  its  revelations.  He  says,  “  I  hold  it 
“  extremely  important  that  every  young  man  should 
“  learn  not  only  how  to  work,  but  how  to  play.  I 
“  think  that  to  find  a  means  of  constant  and  attrac- 
“  tive  recreation,  and  especially  one  which  combines 
“  the  double  character  of  quiet  work  at  home,  and, 
“  on  the  other  hand,  gives  a  zest  and  interest  to  a 
“  walk  abroad,  is  to  find  that  which  is  one  of  the 
“  very  best  appliances  that  any  home  can  have.” 
Or,  again,  where  he  speaks  of  “  one  of  the  greatest 
“  comforts  to  any  man  of  busy  life,  the  comfort  of 
“  turning  to  something  which  forms  a  quiet  occupa- 
“  tion,”  as  tending  more  than  anything  else  to  dis¬ 
tract  one  from  the  cares  and  fatigues  of  a  busy  life. 
This  may  seem  to  some  far-fetched,  but  those  who 
have  tried  it  know  well  that  there  is  a  considerable 
amount  of  truth  in  the  proverbial  paradox,  that  “  a 
“  change  of  work  is  as  good  as  a  rest.” 

The  particular  study  advocated  by  Dr.  Carpenter 
is  one  in  point.  Although  it  might  have  been  ex¬ 
pected  by  a  few  that  the  lectures  would  have  had  a 
rather  more  special  bearing  upon  the  application  of 
the  microscope  to  the  purposes  of  pharmacy,  still  all 
who  heard  or  have  read  them  must  feel  convinced 
that  the  pharmacist  who  is  a  skilled  microscopist 
stands  upon  a  vantage  ground  when  compared  with 
his  unskilled  brethren.  And  this  is  true  of  almost 
any  study  in  respect  to  pharmacy.  The  man  who 
looks  beyond  the  drudgery  is  in  a  fair  way  to  lift 
himself  above  it.  He  will,  besides,  experience  that 
higher  pleasure,  so  eloquently  expressed  in  the 
address  delivered  at  the  opening  of  our  present  ses¬ 
sion,  when  it  was  asked,  “  Is  there  so  great  a  dif- 
“  ference  between  a  thing  of  beauty  and  a  thing  of 
“  truth,  that  one  is  a  joy  for  ever,  and  the  other 
“  may  become  a  weariness  in  a  paltry  lifetime  ?” 


THE  MILK  JOURNAL. 

We  have  already  referred  to  the  establishment  of 
a  laboratory  in  connection  with  the  Milk  Journal. 
From  the  number  of  that  journal  which  has  just 
issued,  it  would  seem  that  considerable  activity  pre¬ 
vails  in  that  quarter,  and  that  a  kind  of  crusade  has 
been  entered  upon  against  the  dishonest  milkman. 
Country  companies  which  add  to  their  profits  by  the 
questionable  process  of  slamming;  workhouses  sup¬ 
plied  with  milk  consisting  half  of  milk  and  half 
water;  and  a  whole  multitude  of  private  malefac- 


March  11, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


731 


tors  (whose  names  and  addresses  are  not  withheld) 
figure  on  the  black  list.  Out  of  50  dealers  in  milk , 
it  appears,  according  to  our  contemporary,  that  13 
dealt  honestly,  8  doubtfully  and  29  dishonestly. 

The  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy,  established 
in  1821,  having  now  reached  its  fiftieth  anniversary, 
it  was  intended  to  celebrate,  on  the  23rd  ult.,  its 
“semi-centennial,”  by  a  social  reunion  within  its 
walls  of  such  of  its  original  members  as  are  now 
Hving,  the  former  professors,  the  graduates  and  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  college,  and  the  pharmacists  throughout 
the  city  not  connected  with  the  institution.  Imita¬ 
tions  have  also  been  issued  to  members  of  the  pro¬ 
fession  in  other  cities.  The  progress  of  the  college 
dining  the  fifty  years  of  its  existence  may  be  inferred 
from  the  fact  that  the  number  of  students  in  its 
School  of  Pharmacy,  which  in  1821  was  thirty,  has 
steadily  increased,  until  this  year  it  amounts  to  one 
hundred  and  ninety-eight.  The  original  college 
building,  having  become  too  contracted  for  the  grow¬ 
ing  wants,  was  disposed  of  and  the  present  substan¬ 
tial  building  erected,  which  contains  lecture  rooms, 
college  hall,  library,  etc.,  together  with  a  laboratory 
fitted  up  with  all  the  modern  appliances  for  practical 
instruction  in  pharmacy  and  chemistry.  One  feature 
of  the  proposed  meeting  was  to  be  the  exhibition  of 
preparations  and  apparatus  in  use  fifty  years  ago, 
side  by  side  with  those  of  the  present  day. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Chicago  College  of 
Pharmacy  have  recently  elected  Mr.  C.  C.  Tichborne, 
of  Dublin,  an  honorary  member  of  their  College  in 
“  consideration  and  appreciation  of  his  assiduous 
“  and  valuable  labour  to  promote  the  advancement  of 
“  scientific  pharmacy.”  Tliis  is  the  second  similar 
recognition  that  that  gentlemen  has  received  from 
America  within  the  last  twelve  months. 

fnmsactwiis  of  f|t  ppnmtmttol  Sotiefg. 

MEETING  OF  THE  COUNCIL, 

March  lstf,  1871. 


The  Report  and  Recommendations  of  the  Finance 
Committee  were  received  and  adopted. 

The  Financial  Statement  of  the  North  British  Branch 
of  the  Society  for  the  year  1870  was  presented,  show¬ 
ing  a  balance  due  to  Mr.  Mackay,  the  Hon.  Sec.,  of 
£55.  65.  6d. 

'  The  several  items  of  the  account  having  been  con¬ 
sidered  and  explained  by  Mr.  Mackay,  it  was 

Resolved — That  the  Treasurer  be  requested  to  pay  the 
balance  due ;  and  also  to  advance  the  further  sum 
of  £100  on  account  of  current  expenses  for  the  year 
1871. 

The  Auditors’  Report  on  the  Financial  Statement  of 
the  affairs  of  the  Society  for  the  year  1870  was  received 
and  adopted. 

Resolved — That  the  Annual  General  Meeting  of  the 
Society  be  held  on  Wednesday,  the  17th  of  May 
next,  at  noon  precisely. 

Resolved — That  a  Conversazione  be  held  on  Wed¬ 
nesday,  the  17th  May,  and  that  the  Secretary  be 
instructed  to  ask  for  permission  to  hold  it  at  the 
South  Kensington  Museum.* 

On  the  Report  and  Recommendation  of  the  Benevo¬ 
lent  Fund  Committee,  a  grant  of  £12  was  made  to  a. 
member  in  Sussex. 

The  Secretary  reported  that  he  had  received  from  the 
Committee  of  the  Chemists’  Ball  a  subscription  of  Twenty 
Guineas  to  the  Benevolent  Fund. 

Resolved — That  the  thanks  of  this  Council  be  given  to 
the  Committee  of  the  Chemists’  Ball  for  their  sub¬ 
scription  of  Twenty  Guineas. 

Applications  for  grants  to  the  following  Provincial 
Associations  were  received  :  — 

Ashton  and  Dukinfield  Chemists’  Association. 

The  York  Chemists’  Association. 

The  Nottingham  and  Notts  Chemists’  Association. 

The  consideration  otf  these  applications  was  referred 
to  the  Provincial  Education  Committee. 

Resolved — That  the  Conditions  under  which  grants  in 
aid  of  Pharmaceutical  Education  in  the  Provinces- 
are  made  be  committed  to  the  Provincial  Education 
Committee  for  their  revision. 

REPORTS  OF  THE  BOARDS  OF  EXAMINERS. 

February ,  1871. 

Exgland  and  Wales. 

Candi-  Candi-  Candi¬ 
dates  dates  dates 
examined,  passed,  failed. 

February  10,  Modified .  42  29  13 

,,  15  Major .  4  3  1 

,,  ,,  Minor .  26  23  3 


MR.  SANDFORD,  PRESIDENT,  IN  THE  CHAIR. 

MR.  HASELDEN,  VICE-PRESIDENT. 

Present — Messrs.  Abraham,  Atherton,  Bottle,  Bourdas, 
Carr,  Dymond,  Groves,  Hills,  Mackay,  Savage,  Stoddart, 
Sutton  and  Williams. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  con¬ 
firmed. 

The  following  letter  was  read  and  ordered  to  be  en¬ 
tered  on  the  minutes : — 

“  338,  Oxford  Street ,  TF. 

“  February  4 th,  1871. 

“  To  the  President  and  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical 

Society. 

“  Gentlemen, — I  beg  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  a 
cheque  for  £100,  together  with  a  Copy  of  Resolution 
voted  at  your  meeting  on  Wednesday,  and  beg  that  you 
will  accept  my  best  thanks  for  your  gift,  rendered  more 
gratifying  by  the  kind  expressions  which  accompany  it. 

“  Behove  me  to  remain,  gentlemen, 

“  Yours  faithfully  and  obliged, 

“John  Barnard.” 


72 

55 

17 

Preliminary. — 2  Certificates  approved. 
Scotland. 

Candi- 

Candi- 

Candi- 

dates 

dates 

dates 

examined. 

passed. 

failed. 

ebruary  21,  Major . 

.  1 

1 

0 

„  ,,  Minor . 

.  2 

2 

0 

,,  ,,  Modified  . .  . . 

.  3 

3 

0 

„  „  Preliminary 

.  6 

4 

2 

12 

10 

2 

The  Registrar  presented  a  Statement  as  to  Members, 
Associates,  and  Apprentices  of  the  Society  for  the  year- 
1870,  details  of  which  will  appear  in  the  Annual  Report,, 
together  with  an  analysis  of  the  Examinations. 

*  Since  the  meeting  of  Council,  the  Secretary  has  applied 
for  and  obtained  permission  to  hold  the  Conversazione  at 
the  South  Kensington  Museum  on  the  above-named  date. 
Arrangements  will  therefore  be  made  accordingly. 


732 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  11,  1871. 


Two  Pharmaceutical  Chemists  having1  paid  their  ar¬ 
rears  and  their  subscriptions  for  the  current  year,  were 
restored  to  Membership. 

Resolved— That  the  following1,  being-  duly  registered 
as  Pharmaceutical  Chemists,  he  respectively  granted 
a  Diploma  stamped  with  the  seal  of  the  Society : — 


Appleby,  Calvert  . East  Retford. 

Masson,  George . London. 

Storey,  Edward  Henry _ _ _  London. 

Strachan,  Alexander . Aberdeen. 


Resolved — That  the  following,  being  duly  registered 
as  Pharmaceutical  Chemists,  he  elected  Members  : — 

Appleby,  Calvert  . East  Retford. 

Barnes,  Edwin  . Durham. 

Brown,  Joseph  Frederick  . . .  .Dover. 

Cooper,  Henry  . Leicester. 

Franklin,  Alfred  . ;  Fareham. 

Lasham,  John  William . Romford. 

Masson,  George . London. 

Rooke,  James  Henry . London. 

Storey,  Edward  Henry . London. 

Strachan,  Alexander . Aberdeen. 

Yates,  Samuel  Pearce  . London. 

Young,  Joseph  . . Leicester. 


Resolved— That  the  following  registered  Chemists  and 
Druggists  he  elected  Members  of  the  Society  :  — 
Arrowsmith,  Geo.  Wm.  Thos... Reading. 

Bagnall,  William  Henry . Lancaster. 

Bailey,  Henry  . Buckhurst  Hill. 

Crook,  Edward . Windsor. 

Edwards,  Edward . Lower  Clapton,  E. 

Fairlie,  James  Mitchell  . Glasgow. 

Fenwick,  John . Glasgow. 

■Gregory,  William  . Weymouth. 

Hamilton,  James . Glasgow. 

Harrower,  Peter  . Glasgow. 

Harvey,  Joseph  Smith . Penzance. 

Iley,  William  Henry  ........  Old  Shildon. 

McMillan,  John  . Glasgow. 

Millidge,  Thomas  Edward  ....  Tonbridge. 

Palmer,  George  Dudley . Notting  Hill,  W. 

Rose,  Alexander  . Glasgow. 

Scott,  Walter  . Dublin. 

Young,  John  Clarkson  . Warrington. 


Resolved — That  the  following,  having  passed  their 
respective  examinations,  be  elected  “Associates  in 
Business”  : — 

MINOR. 

Iredale,  Thomas  . Leeds. 

Speakman,  Isaac  . Runcorn. 


MODIFIED. 


Batty,  Thomas . York. 

•Conway,  John  Jones  . Flint. 

Davies,  George . Reading. 

Legg,  Matthew  Henry  . London. 

Moyle,  Joseph  . Hammersmith. 

Pointon,  George  . Birmingham. 


Resolved— That  the  following,  having  passed  their 
respective  examinations,  be  elected  Associates  : — 

MINOR. 

Atkinson,  David  . North  Shields. 

Beard,  James  Collins  . London. 

Butler,  William  Harsant  ....  Frome. 

'Connor,  Thomas  Haigh  . Wakefield. 

Crofts,  Henry  Baptiste  . Cranbrook. 

Davenport,  Horace  . London. 

Holmes,  Charles  Joseph . Kingston. 

Humphreys,  J ohn  . Staines. 

Jones,  Hugh  Ellis  . Swansea. 


Morgan,  William  John  . Kinver. 

Parker,  John  Samuel  . Peterborough. 

Spong,  Douglas  Morton . Bedford. 


Watmough,  George  Capes  ....  Caistor. 
MODIFIED. 

Br unton,  William  Walker  . .  .  .London. 

Doughty,  Thomas  . London. 

Evans,  Daniel  Ogilvie . Halstead. 

Field,  Henry . Brighton. 

Foden,  Joel  . Altrincham. 

Gibson,  Reuben  Leonard  ....  Loughborough. 

Graves,  Joseph  W . Reading. 

Humphry,  Horatio  . Southampton. 

Mason,  Thomas  . Nottingham. 

Robinson,  Jonathan  Scott  ....  Rhyl. 

Savage,  James  . Bradford. 

Stevens,  Edmund  Matthew  . .  London. 

Swain,  James  . New  Wandsworth. 

Williams,  William  Jones  ....  London. 


PHARMACEUTICAL  MEETING. 

Wednesday ,  March  1  st,  1871. 

MU.  G.  W.  SANDFORD,  PRESIDENT,  IN  THE  CHAIR. 

The  second  of  two  Lectures  on  the  Microscope  and  its 
Revelations  was  delivered  by  W.  B.  Carpenter,  M.D., 
F.R.S.,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.,  which  null  he  found  printed  at 
page  721. 

At  the  close  the  Chairman  proposed  a  cordial  vote  of 
thanks  to  Dr.  Carpenter  for  his  interesting  lecture, 
which  was  carried  unanimously. 

Many  of  the  audience  then  adjourned  to  the  Library, 
where  a  beautiful  series  of  microscopes  and  microscopical 
objects  had  been  provided  for  their  inspection  by  the 
kindness  of  the  lecturer. 


taliraml  fwimtimw. 


GLASGOW  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

The  Ninth  Meeting  of  the  Session  was  held  in  Ander¬ 
son’s  University  on  the  8th  of  February;  Mr.  T. 
Davison,  President,  in  the  chair.  Mr.  William  Greig 
(of  the  New  Apothecaries’  Company)  and  Mr.  Robert 
Stewart  were  elected  members. 

The  business  of  the  evening  was  the  delivery  of  a 
lecture  on  “Nitrous  Oxide,”  by  Dr.  R.  Carter  Moffat, 
who  treated  his  subject  in  his  usual  interesting1  and  in¬ 
structive  manner.  In  the  course  of  the  lecture  he  took 
occasion  to  exhibit  and  explain  the  new  anaesthetic  ap¬ 
paratus,  and  at  the  conclusion  performed  a  successful 
experiment  with  the  gas  upon  one  of  the  members  who 
volunteered  his  services.  A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was 
afterwards  awarded  the  lecturer. 


The  Tenth  Meeting  of  the  Session  was  held  in  Ander¬ 
son’s  University  on  the  22nd  of  February ;  the  President 
presiding.  Messrs.  Charles  C.  Loftus,  Robert  Gibson 
and  Andrew  Millar  were  elected  members. 

After  a  few  introductory  remarks  by  the  Chairman, 
Mr.  A.  Kinninmont  (Local  Secretary  to  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society,  and  who  has  been  absent  from  the  meet¬ 
ings  for  some  time  through  indisposition)  wa3  called 
upon,  and  delivered  a  brief  but  practical  address  to  the 
members  generally.  He  touched  first  upon  the  poison 
regulations,  stating  that,  in  his  opinion,  all  compulsory 
regulations  should  be  opposed,  as  he  always  believed 
that  the  education  of  the  individual  was  a  sufficient 
guarantee  for  the  protection  of  the  public.  He  also  re¬ 
ferred  to  the  position  of  the  Glasgow  chemists  should 
the  regulations  become  law,  and  stated  that  he  thought 
one  reason  why  surgeons,  etc.  who  kept  open  shop  were 
not  distinctly  included  with  chemists  to  be  under  the 


March  11,1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


738: 


same  restrictions  was,  that  Glasgow  was  entirely  excep¬ 
tional  in  this  respect ;  that  in  large  towns  in  England 
there  was  no  such  thing  as  a  medical  practitioner  having 
a  regular  drug  business.  He  might  have  a  surgery  for 
dispensing  his  own  prescriptions,  hut  they  had  no  open 
retail  drug  shop  as  in  Glasgow  ;  and  he  said  he  had  had 
the  greatest  difficulty,  when  in  England,  in  making  the 
chemists  there  understand  that  a  surgeon  coulddrive  about 
in  his  carriage  attending  to  his  practice,  and  having  one, 
two,  or  more  retail  drug  shops  attended  to  by  druggists’ 
assistants  at  the  same  time.  He  therefore  believed  that 
in  the  Pharmaceutical  and  Privy  Councils  especially  the 
position  of  the  Glasgow  chemists  was  not  understood, 
and  he  thought  it  would  be  worth  our  while  to  invite 
some  of  the  members  of  these  bodies  to  come  and  see  for 
themselves.  Ho  trusted,  however,  that  Glasgow  would 
be  well  represented  at  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Coun¬ 
cil  in  May  next,  and  that  no  effort  would  bo  lost  to  have 
the  obnoxious  regulations  thrown  out  till,  at  least,  there 
is  more  cause  for  them  than  at  present. 

Mr.  Kinninmont  then  explained  at  length  the  steps  to 
be  taken  in  gaining  admission  as  members  or  associates 
of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  and  urged  upon  all  most 
strongly  to  lose  no  time  in  having  themselves  enrolled, 
and  that  those  who  had  examinations  to  pass,  •  should 
also  get  them  over  as  soon  as  possible.  He  thought  it 
was  high  time  Glasgow  was  speaking  up  for  representa¬ 
tion  in  the  Council ;  he  thought  if  we  put  forth  a  claim  for 
such,  we  would  receive  the  support  of  the  pharmaceutists 
of  Edinburgh  and  other  provincial  towns  ;  but  we  must 
also  have  a  strong  force  of  our  own  to  push  the  claim 
forward,  and  that  force  can  only  have  weight  by  being 
members  of  the  Society;  he  therefore  hoped  that  the 
Glasgow  chemists  would  not  be  content  with  simple  re¬ 
gistration  as  chemists  and  druggists. 

Several  other  members  spoke  in  regal'd  to  the  poison 
regulations,  and  expressing  their  appreciation  of  Mr. 
Kinninmont’s  remarks. 

The  Secretary  afterwards  drew  the  attention  of  the 
members  to  the  fact,  that  the  British  Pharmaceutical 
Conference  would  meet  in  Edinburgh  next  August, 
showing  them  the  handsome  volume  issued  by  the  Con¬ 
ference,  ‘  The  Year  Book  of  Pharmacy,’  which  was  to  be 
a  yearly  publication,  and  which  was  sent  free  to  every 
member,  on  payment  of  his  annual  subscription  of  five 
shillings.  Several  orders  were  afterwards  handed  in  for 
the  ‘  Year  Book,’  and  six  gentlemen  (druggists  in  busi¬ 
ness  before  the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy  Act  1868)  gave 
in  their  names  to  be  proposed  as  members  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society. 


OLDHAM  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’  AS¬ 
SISTANTS  AND  APPRENTICES’  ASSOCIA¬ 
TION. 

The  First  Annual  Meeting  of  the  above  Association 
was  held  last  month,  when  there  was  a  good  attendance. 
The  business  of  the  evening  commenced  by  the  reading 
of  the  Secretary’s  Report,  'which  was  as  follows  : — • 

This  being  the  first  Annual  Report  of  this  Association, 
it  gives  the  Committee  great  pleasure  in  having  to  lay 
before  you  a  favourable  and  encouraging  one  of  the 
transactions  of  this  Association. 

During  the  past  year  the  Association  has  been  some¬ 
what  prosperous  (though  we  may  say  it  is  yet  in  its 
infancy),  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  before  another  year 
has  passed,  we  may  be  on  a  level  with  many  other 
societies  in  Great  Britain,  and  that  the  young  men  of 
this  town  will  do  their  utmost  to  gain  that  position,  as 
there  is  no  doubt  it  all  lies  with  them  as  to  the  future 
success  of  this  Association. 

The  Latin  class  that  was  formed  in  April  last  (under 
the  able  tutorship  of  the  Rev.  A.  Peaton)  has  been  very 
fairly  attended,  as  three-fourths  of  the  members  has  been 
the  average  attendance. 


The  numerous  presentations  which  the  Association 
has  received  since  its  formation  have  greatly  surpassed 
our  utmost  expectations,  viz. : — 

One  handsome  show-case,  containing  in  ground  stop¬ 
pered  bottles  seventy  specimens  of  various  drugs  of  the 
British  Pharmacopoeia : 

One  Materia  Medica  cabinet,  adapted  for  the  Major 
Examination  : 

Three  books,  viz.  Lescher’s  ‘Elements  of  Pharmacy/ 
Fownes’  ‘Chemistry,’  and  Royle’s  ‘Materia  Medica.’ 
The  Pharmaceutical  Journal  (by  the  kind  permis¬ 
sion  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Council)  has  also  been  sent 
regularly  as  published.  These  have  all  been  thankfully 
received  and  duly  acknowledged.  We  have  likewise  re¬ 
ceived  several  donations  from  various  gentlemen  in  the 
trade,  which  have  been  a  great  auxiliary,  in  this  our 
first  year’s  undertaking,  of  placing  a  balance  in  the 
Treasurer’s  hand. 

We  have  a  bright  prospect  before  us,  and  we  hope  the 
opportunities  derived  from  the  Association  may  not 
be  lacking  in  their  good  results,  but  that  our  next  report 
may  contain  some  of  the  names  of  members  of  the  Asso¬ 
ciation  having  passed  their  respective  examinations. 

The  Treasurer’s  financial  statement  was  then  read, 
showing  a  balance  in  hand  of  8.$. 

The  report  having  been  confirmed,  the  following 
officers  were  elected  for  the  ensuing  year: — President: 
Mr.  Taylor.  Vice-President :  Mr.  Radcliffe.  Treasurer : 
Mr.  Hurst.  Secretary :  Mr.  Rhodes. 

Votes  of  thanks  having  been  passed  to  the  retiring 
officers,  the  business  of  the  meeting  was  brought  to  a 
close. 


LEEDS  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Monthly  Meeting  of  this  Association  was  held 
on  March  1st,  1871,  when  the  President,  Mr.  Smee- 
ton,  introduced  the  subject  of  the  proposed  poison 
regulations.  He  stated  that  his  opinions  had  not  al¬ 
tered  since  last  year,  when  it  "was  decided  to  oppose 
these  regulations  on  the  ground  that  the  best  security 
was  the  better  education  of  chemists,  and  that  he  felt  as 
great  a  repugnance  as  others  to  the  inspection  of  an 
official  as  to  the  way  in  which  he  conducted  his  business. 
He  admitted  that,  in  the  main,  these  regulations  were- 
not  oppressive ;  and  had  they  been  sent  down  as  recom¬ 
mendations,  would  probably  have  been  adopted,  so  far 
as  was  possible.  He  deprecated  entirely  bringing  to  the 
consideration  of  the  subject  anything  like  a  foregone 
conclusion,  founded  upon  proceedings  taken  elsewhere  ; 
and  strongly  urged  the  consideration  of  the  subject  in  a 
calm  and  unprejudiced  manner.  He  admitted  that  the 
Council  had  not,  in  the  past,  shown  anxiety  to  legislate 
on  the  poison  question,  and  had  repeatedly  prevented 
unwise  and  hurtful  regulations ;  and  he  concluded  that 
its  present  action  was  owing  to  pressure  from  the  officer 
of  the  Privy  Council.  He  thought  that  something  might 
yet  be  drawn  up  by  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  which  would  satisfy  the  Privy  Council  and  be 
acceptable  to  the  trade;  and  quoted  from  Mr.  Brady’s 
letter  of  July,  1864,  wherein  he  said,  “The  public  will 
have  precautions  against  accidents  adopted ;  let  them  be 
of  our  own  choosing,  rather  than  left  to  the  selection  of 
a  Parliamentary  Committee.  Were  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  acting  officially,  as  the  body  governing,  not  only 
the  interests  of  its  own  members,  but  those  also  of  the 
nation  at  large,  so  far  as  pharmacy  is  concerned,  to  issue 
a  series  of  simple  and  reasonable  regulations  with  respect 
to  the  storing  and  dispensing  of  poisonous  substances,  it 
would  require  no  other  authority  to  ensure  their  general 
adoption,”  etc.  The  general  custom  of  the  trade  showed 
that  regulations  Similar  to  those  before  them  were  in  use, 
more  or  less ;  and  on  the  assumption  that  compulsory 
measures  were  certain,  it  was  better  to  choose  them  rather- 
than  have  them  decided  for  the  trade  by  those  less  con¬ 
versant  with  the  matter.  The  regulations  themselves. 


734 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  11, 1871. 


•were  next  considered.  No  great  objection  was  taken  to 
Nos.  1  and  2,  but  Mr.  Smeeton  thought  there  were  many 
difficulties  in  No.  3,  which  would  almost  render  its  work¬ 
ing  impracticable.  Ho  concluded  by  saying  that,  though 
personally  he  could  comply  with  the  requirements,  yet 
he  would  not  like  to  force  such  a  measure  on  the  trade, 
oxcept  it  was  done  to  prevent  a  severer  and  more  op¬ 
pressive  measure. 

Mr.  R.  Reynolds  took  the  opportunity  of  again  meet¬ 
ing  his  friends  to  say  a  few  words  on  a  personal  matter. 
Being  unable,  since  November,  to  fulfil  his  representa¬ 
tive  duties  by  attending  the  meetings  of  the  Council  of 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  he  had  consulted  his  medical 
attendants,  and  also  private  friends,  as  to  the  desirability 
of  resigning  his  seat,  but  had  been  dissuaded  from  such 
a  step  ;  and  now  he  had  reason  to  hope  that  he  could 
.shortly  resume  these  duties.  He  regretted  much  the 
difference  of  opinion  within  the  trade,  due  to  divergent 
views  on  the  policy  of  the  proposed  poison  regulations. 
It  was  especially  inj  urious  that  their  energies  were  thus 
withdrawn  from  the  subject  of  improving  the  local 
means  of  education.  However,  the  responsibility  of 
self-government  made  it  impossible  to  be  indifferent  on 
so  vital  a  question  ;  and  all  must  feel  that,  in  approach¬ 
ing  it,  they  owred  obligations  to  their  profession  and  to 
the  labours  of  those  who  had  defended  and  consolidated 
its  rights  and  privileges  during  a  period  of  thirty  years. 
The  present  contention  was  not  as  to  the  object,  but  the 
means  and  consequences.  He  (Mr.  Reynolds)  had  felt  it 
his  duty  elsewhere  to  express  strongly  his  views  upon 
the  details  of  the  proposed  scheme,  which  had  been  most 
ably  analysed  by  Mr.  Barnard  Proctor,  and  also  to  indi¬ 
cate  the  probable  consequence  of  its  acceptance.  As  to 
the  charge  of  ignorant  selfishness  made  against  the 
opponents  of  the  regulations  by  certain  medical  journals, 
the  members  of  the  Leeds  Chemists’  Association  could 
afford  to  disregard  them,  and  to  point  to  their  voluntary 
action  during  several  years  as  the  best  confutation  of 
.such  a  slander. 

Mr.  Thompson  remarked  that  these  regulations  could 
only  be  enforced  by  penalties  and  also  police  supervision, 
for  it  wTas  not  to  be  supposed  that  a  new  staff  of  officials 
would  be  organized  for  the  purpose ;  but  that  the  present 
guardians  of  the  peace  would  be  empowered  to  see  that 
these  laws,  like  all  others,  were  properly  obeyed.  Mr. 
Thompson  then  moved  the  first  resolution  : — 

“  That  this  meeting  would  have  received  with  appro¬ 
bation  a  well-considered  plan  for  storing  powerful  reme¬ 
dies,  if  recommended  for  voluntary  adoption ;  but  is  of 
opinion  that  the  proposed  compulsory  regulations  for  the 
storing  and  dispensing  of  poisons  are  ill-judged  and  un¬ 
just  to  those  to  whom  they  would  apply,  and  that  they 
ought  to  be  resisted.” 

Mr.  Edward  Brown,  in  seconding  the  resolution,  re¬ 
marked  that  it  seemed  to  him  to  be  an  insult  to  the 
trade,  within  twelve  months  after  such  an  expression  of 
opinion  as  emanated  from  the  trade  last  year,  that  an¬ 
other  set  of  compulsory  regulations  should  be  attempted 
to  be  enforced. 

The  resolution  was  heartily  carried. 

Mr.  Edwin  Yewdall  then  moved,  and  Mr.  Samuel 
Taylor  seconded,  the  next  resolution,  which  was  car¬ 
ried 

“  It  is  of  the  greatest  importance  that  at  the  Annual 
Meeting  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  to  be  held  in 
May  next,  the  vote  of  every  member  of  the  Society  re¬ 
specting  the  proposed  compulsory  regulations  for  the 
keeping  and  storing  of  poisons  should  be  taken  through 
the  post  by  voting-papers,  and  not  merely  by  a  show  of 
hands  of  those  present ;  and  that  due  regard  be  given  to 
the  expressed  opinion  of  all  registered  chemists  and 
druggists.” 

Mr.  Edwin  Yewdall,  after  stating  that  it  would  be  of 
no  avail  to  organize  a  Defence  Association  after  we  were 
once  really  saddled  with  the  compulsory  regulations,  pro¬ 
posed  the  third  resolution  : — 


“  That  this  meeting  hears  -with  satisfaction  of  the  or¬ 
ganization  of  a  Chemists’  Defence  Association,  and 
approves  of  its  objects.” 

Mr.  Samuel  Taylor  seconded  its  adoption,  which  was 
unanimously  carried. 

It  was  then  proposed  by  Mr.  E.  Yewdall,  seconded 
by  Mr.  R.  Reynolds,  and  carried  with  acclamation  : — 

“  That  the  thanks  of  this  meeting  be  presented  to  the 
President,  Mr.  William  Smeeton,  for  his  conduct  in  the 
chair.” 

The  meeting  then  concluded,  when  several  present 
joined  the  “  Chemists’  Defence  Association.” 


MANCHESTER  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

An  Ordinary  Monthly  Meeting  was  held  in  the  Me¬ 
morial  Hall  on  Friday  evening,  March  3rd ;  the  Presi¬ 
dent,  Mr.  W.  S.  Brown,  in  the  chair. 

The  Chairman  announced  that  the  consideration  of  the 
subject  referred  to  the  Council  at  the  last  meeting  had 
resulted  in  the  formation  of  a  “  Chemists’  Defence  Asso¬ 
ciation,”  particulars  of  which  would  shortly  be  in  the 
hands  of  every  chemist  in  the  kingdom. 

Mr.  W.  J.  Halliday  then  read  a  very  interesting 
paper  on  “  Dispensing,”  in  which  he  gave  a  number  of 
valuable  practical  hints  on  the  subject. 

[We  propose  printing  this  paper  in  extenso  in  the  next 
number  of  this  Journal.] 

A  discussion  followed  in  which  many  members  took 
part.  Opinions  were  expressed  that  prescribes  should 
ruiderline  any  unusually  large  dose,  to  indicate  to  the 
dispenser  that  it  waas  not  an  oversight,  and  thus  relieve 
him  from  doubt.  That,  if  any  part  of  the  prescription, 
either  the  formula  or  directions,  admitted  of  a  double 
reading,  the  first  dispenser  should  make  a  marginal 
note  for  the  guidance  of  those  who  followed  him,  that 
uniformity  might  be  secured.  That  dispensers  should 
accustom  themselves  to  calculate  the  doses  of  all  active 
ingredients  in  a  prescription  before  they  commenced  dis¬ 
pensing  it.  That  where  practicable,  the  dispensing  of 
powerful  medicines  should  be  “checked”  by  a  second 
person. 

“A  case  containing  a  great  variety  of  labels  for 
“  poisons  ”  and  “  outward  applications  ”  was  exhibited 
by  Mr.  H.  Silverlock,  of  London. 


HramMnjP  at  .Scientific  Societies. 

LONDON  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  result  of  the  discussions  on  “  Poison  Regulations,” 
held  at  the  end  of  last  year,  resulted  in  the  following 
resolution  being  almost  unanimously  carried : — 

“That  the  propositions  recommended  for  adoption  by 
the  ‘Jsale  and  Keeping  of  Poisons  Committee,’  and  pub¬ 
lished  in  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal  of  December  17, 
1870,  be  accepted  as  satisfactory  by  this  Association.” 

An  opinion  was  generally  expressed  that  the  system 
marked  II.  is  to  be  preferred;  it  was  considered  also  that 
Clause  III.  in  the  old  propositions,  regarding  the  sale 
and  dispensing  of  medicines,  ought  not  to  be  omitted 
from  whatever  regulations  are  introduced. 

Thursday,  Feb.  9,  1871 ;  the  President  in  the  chair. 

Mr.  Pick  read  a  paper  on  “  Belladonna  and  its  Pre¬ 
parations.”  He  gave  an  interesting  history  of  the  plant 
from  the  earliest  writers,  and  of  its  medical  value  being 
discovered  by  Lugus,  in  the  year  1532,  and  an  accurate 
botanical  description,  stating  that  it  belonged  to  the 
Natural  Order  Atropacece ;  some  botanists  classified  it 
under  Solanceee,  but  the  plants  included  in  this  Order 
(. Atropacece )  were  separated  from  Solanacece,  and  formed 
into  a  distinct  class  under  that  name  by  Miers,  the  chief 
distinguishing  character  being  the  different  aestivation 


March  11,  1871-3 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS 


735 


of  the  corolla.  The  generic  name  Atropa  was  taken 
from  Atropa,  one  of  the  Fates,  who  was  supposed  to  cut 
the  thread  of  life.  Its  chemical  constituents  were  treated 
upon  at  some  length,  as  also  its  therapeutic  properties, 
which,  he  said,  extended  more  or  less  over  the  whole 
human  body,  but  more  especially  the  face  and  head, 
dilating  the  pupil  of  the  eye.  Its  effects  on  the  throat 
were  very  marked,  it  was  used  successfully  in  scarlet 
fever,  small  doses  acting  as  a  preventive.  The  officinal 
parts  of  the  plant,  both  dried  and  fresh,  next  received 
attention,  and  its  cultivation  and  collection  in  Britain 
and  Germany.  After  a  few  remarks  on  the  extract, 
tincture,  etc.,  and  their  preparation,  he  concluded  with 
the  active  principle  atropia,  the  sulphate  of  atropia,  and 
Pseudotoxin. 

A  long  and  interesting  discussion  followed,  bearing  very 
much  on  the  uncertainty  of  the  strength  of  the  extract 
and  the  advisability  of  making  emp.  bellad.  from  a  root 
.extract. 


MEETINGS  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 

Monday  . Medical  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

London  Institution,  at  4  p.m. — “On  Astro¬ 
nomy.”  By  Mr.  It.  Proctor. 

Tuesday  . Loyal  Institution,  at  3  p.m. — “The  Nutri¬ 

tion  of  Animals.”  By  Professor  Foster. 

Loyal  Medical  and  Chirurgical  Society,  at 
8.30  p.m. 

Photographic  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

Wednesday. ..Society  of  Arts,  at  8  p.m. — “The  Different 
Methods  of  Extracting  Sugar  from  Beet¬ 
root  and  Cane.”  By  Mr.  F.  Kohn. 

London  Institution,  at  6.30  p.m. — Conver¬ 
sazione.  “  Stained  Glass  aesthetically  con¬ 
sidered  with  reference  to  Modern  Art.” 
By  Mr.  H.  Holiday. 

TnuESPAY . Loyal  Society,  at  8.30  p.m. 

Linnean  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

Loyal  Institution,  at  3  p.m. — “Davy’s  Dis¬ 
coveries  in  Chemistry.”  By  Prof.  Odling. 

Friday  . Loyal  Institution,  at 9 p.m. — “The  Eclipse.” 

By  Mr.  Lockyer. 


adiijnwntitrjr  attir  fhto  frwttiimp. 


Death  resulting  from  an  Excessive  Dose  of 
Chloral  Hydrate. 

The  La)icet  of  the  18th  inst.  contains  a  report  by 
Dr.  Norris  of  a  case  of  overdose  of  chloral  hydrate, 
which  appears  to  be  the  same  as  that  already  recorded 
in  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal,  p.  636.  As  any  ad¬ 
ditional  information  as  to  this  now  extensively -used  drug 
is  of  importance,  we  extract  the  following  particulars : — 
_  The  deceased,  wh«  appears  to  have  been  a  victim  to 
dipsomania,  when  opposed  in  her  desire  for  stimulants, 
was  very  violent.  No  sedative  seemed  to  produce  any 
effect  but  chloral  hydrate,  and  for  months  previous  to 
her  decease  she  was  supplied  almost  every  evening  with 
a  draught  containing  from  twenty  to  forty  grains.  After 
some  time,  Dr.  Norris  was  astonished  to  hear  that  his 
patient  had  been  taking,  in  addition  to  the  draughts 
supplied  by  himself,  others  which  she  had  obtained  from 
a  druggist,  containing  from  thirty  to  thirty-six  grains. 
The  following  list  gives  the  quantity  of  chloral  hydrate 
taken  by  the  deceased  during  the  last  nine  days  of  her 
life,  the  asterisks  denoting  the  draughts  supplied  by  the 
I  druggist,  which  Dr.  Norris  had  no  knowledge  until 
after  his  patient’s  decease  : — 

On  the  3rd  of  January,  after  10  oz.  of  Townsend’s 
sarsaparilla,  she  had  36  grs.  of  chloral ;  on  the  4th, 
26  grs.*  ;  5th,  30  grs. ;  5th,  36  grs.*  ;  6th,  30  grs. ;  6th, 
36  grs.*  ;  7th,  30  grs. ;  7th,  36  grs.*  ;  8th,  20  grs. ;  8th, 
40  grs. ;  8th,  36  grs.*  ;  9th,  10  grs. ;  9th,  30  grs.  ;  9th, 
36  grs.*  ;  10th,  10  grs. ;  10th,  40  grs. ;  10th,  108  grs.*  ; 


11th,  40  grs.;  11th,  72  grs.*  Thu3  making  a  total  of 
712  grs.  within  nine,  days,  the  last  260  grains  of  which, 
had  been  taken  within  thirty-five  hours. 

A  hundred  and  thirty  hours  after  death  the  stomach 
and  contents,  together  with  portions  of  the  lung,  liver, 
heart,  kidney  and  spleen,  were  submitted  to  Mr.  Stod- 
dart,  of  Bristol,  for  analysis.  His  report  was  as  fol¬ 
lows  : — 

“  The  first  thing  that  struck  me  was  the  very  extraor¬ 
dinary  way  in  which  the  several  portions  were  pre¬ 
served.  Evon  now,  although  more  than  a  wreek  has 
elapsed  since  death,  yet  not  the  slightest  sign  of  decom¬ 
position  has  taken  place,  nor  any  unpleasant  odour. 
This  doubtless  is  the  effect  of  chloroform  in  the  tissues. 
Part  of  the  gruel-like  contents  of  the  stomach  was 
treated  with  caustic  soda,  and  distilled  at  160°  F.,  and 
the  vapour  passed  through  a  red-hot  glass  tube.  Chlo¬ 
rine  and  hydrochloric  acid  were  produced,  which  red¬ 
dened  litmus  paper.  Iodide  of  potassium  and  starch 
were  coloured  blue,  and  then  decolorized.  Solution  of 
nitrate  of  silver  threw  down  the  chloride. 

“  Another  portion  was  placed  in  a  small  alembic,  with 
a  mixture  of  potash  and  soda,  and  distilled  at  160°  F.  by 
means  of  a  water-bath,  and  the  head  of  the  exit  tube 
immersed  in  pure  distilled  water  contained  in  a  small 
Clark’s  receiver.  In  a  few  minutes  small  drops  of  chlo¬ 
roform  were  slowly  deposited  at  the  bottom  of  the  water. 
These  were  pure  chloroform.  The  smell  of  chloroform 
was  perceptible  in  the  alembic  the  day  after.  I  tested 
for  all  the  poisons  that  were  probable,  but  without  any 
success. 

“There  seems,  therefore,  no  doubt  that  an  excess  of 
chloral  must  have  been  taken,  and  the  resultant  chloro¬ 
form  was  so  disseminated  through  the  tissues  that  they 
were  completely  preserved.  I  should  mention  that  the 
contents  of  the  stomach  had  no  perceptible  smell  of 
chloroform  till  after  the  addition  of  an  alkali.” 

In  a  subsequent  letter,  Mr.  Stoddart  adds : — “  I  found 
the  most  (chloroform)  in  the  liver  and  contents  of  the 
stomach,  but  could  not  separate  any  from  the  other 
parts ;  nor  could  I  from  the  heart,  which  seemed  to  have 
lost  any  blood  contained  in  it.” 

Dr.  Norris  considers  that  tho  mode  of  death  supports 
the  opinion  of  Dr.  B.  W.  Richardson  that,  in  such  cases, 
dangerous  decomposition  of  the  blood  may  occur  before 
coma  is  produced,  and  that  the  repetition  of  considerable 
doses  of  chloral  at  short  intervals  would  be  followed  by 
the  formation  of  formiate  of  soda  in  the  blood,  by  which 
its  coagulating  power  would  be  much  diminished ;  and 
that  in  such  cases  the  symptoms  would  be  similar  to 
those  induced  by  loss  of  blood. 


Poisoning  by  Carbolic  Acid. 

An  inquest  has  been  held  at  the  Whitechapel  District 
Schools,  Forest  Gate,  touching  the  death  of  two  children, 
inmates  of  the  schools.  It  appears  that  it  was  the  duty 
of  a  nurse  to  disinfect  the  lavatory  every  evening  by 
means  of  carbolic  acid,  and  then  carry  what  acid  re¬ 
mained  to  the  boys’  side  of  the  building.  On  Friday 
evening,  after  using  the  acid  as  usual,  she  left  the  re¬ 
mainder  in  a  vessel  in  the  lavatory.  On  the  following 
morning  the  two  children  came  downstairs  a  little  before 
seven  o’clock,  and,  seeing  the  vessel  in  the  lavatory, 
each  drank  from  it,  and  directly  fell  down  insensible. 
Medical  aid  was  promptly  obtained,  but  to  no  purpose. 
The  jury  returned  a  verdict  of  “Accidental  poisoning.” 
— Standard. 


HOUSE  OF  COMMONS. 

On  Monday,  March  6,  Sir  J.  Lawrence  gave  notice 
that  on  Thursday  he  should  ask  the  Chancellor  of  the 
Exchequer  whether  the  Board  of  Customs  had  allowed 
15  instead  of  10  per  cent,  of  spirits  to  be  mixed  with 
wines  in  bond  for  the  purpose  of  fortifying  them. 


786 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  11, 1871. 


A  Manual  of  Structural  Botany  :  for  the  uses  of 

Classes,  Schools,  and  Private  Students.  By  M.  C. 

Cooke.  With  upwards  of  200  Illustrations,  by  Ruffle. 

Third  Edition.  London:  Robert  Hard  wicke.  Price  Is. 

We  are  glad  to  welcome  the  appearance  of  a  new  edi¬ 
tion  of  this  useful  little  manual ;  it  is  too  well  known  to 
require  any  lengthened  notice.  Having  originally  been 
prepared  for  use  in  classes  organized  by  the  Science  and 
Art  Department,  it  has  somewhat  of  a  special  character, 
and  this  has  doubtless  prevented  the  author  giving  full 
scope  to  his  own  ideas  of  the  best  mode  of  teaching 
structural  botany.  Though  the  book  has  been  called  a 
collection  of  “  dry  bones,”  yet  it  is  a  most  philosophical 
and  well-proportioned  skeleton,  forming  the  best  arranged 
note-book  with  which  we  are  acquainted. 

The  book  is  divided  into  forty  sections,  corresponding 
to  the  number  of  lessons  required  by  the  Department  to 
be  given  in  their  classes.  Pages  1-19  are  taken  up  with 
the  chemistry  of  the  subject,  the  nomenclature  of  which 
has  been  brought  up  to  the  present  day.  Four  sections 
are  taken  up  with  a  description  of  cellular  and  vascular 
tissue,  cell  development  and  contents,  and  of  the  epidermis 
and  its  appendages.  Next  we  have  the  structure,  form, 
and  modifications  of  roots,  and  of  the  ascending  axis  of 
exogens,  endogens  and  acrogens,  followed  by  chapters 
on  the  structure,  parts,  form  and  arrangement  of  leaves, 
and  their  appendages,  flowers,  ovules,  fruits  and  seeds. 
These  sections  are  followed  by  others  devoted  to  the  sub¬ 
jects  of  germination,  vital  action,  the  reproduction  of 
algae,  lichens,  mosses  and  ferns,  vegetable  phenomena, 
epiphytes  and  parasites,  galls  and  excrescences.  The 
last  section  contains  very  useful  hints  and  models  for  the 
botanical  description  of  plants. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  author’s  manner  of  dealing 
with  the  subject,  we  will  give  his  chapter  on 

Subterranean  Stems. 

“Under  the  name  of  subterranean  stems  we  have 
included  also  those  which  are  prostrate  and  not  strictly 
subterranean. 

“  The  majority  of  forms  to  be  described  in  this  section 
are  properly  designated  as  roots. 

“  It  must  be  remembered  that  roots  do  not  possess  scales 
(modified  leaves)  or  buds  (rudimentary  leaves)  or  nodes 
(whence  buds  are  developed). 

“The  Rhizome  ( rhiza , 

Gr.  a  root),  or  root- 
stock,  is  a  thick,  pro¬ 
cumbent  stem,  partly, 
and  sometimes  entirely 
under  the  surface  of 
the  soil.  It  develops 
roots  from  its  under¬ 
side,  and  leaves  from 
its  upper.  Its  surface 
generally  bears  the 
scars  left  by  the  fall¬ 
ing  away  of  old  leaves. 

(Fig.  44.)  Ex.  Iris. 

‘  ‘  The  Flagellum  (Lat. 
a  young  twig),  or  run¬ 
ner,  is  a  long,  slender, 
procumbent  branch, 
which  develops  a 
leaf-bud  from  its  up¬ 
per  surface,  and  roots 
from  its  under,  at 
each  node.  Each  ve¬ 
getating  node  be¬ 
comes  a  perfect  plant 
(Fig.  45).  Ex.  Straw¬ 
berry. 

“The  Soboles  (Lat.  Fig.  43. 


Fig.  44. 


a  shoot,  or 
young  branch) 
is  a  creeping 
underground 
stem,  or  branch, 
which  emits 
roots  from  its 
under  -  surface 
and  leaves  from 
its  upper.  It 
thus  resembles 
a  rhizome,  but  lg' 

is  much  more  slender,  and  subterranean  in  its  character. 
(Fig.  46.)  Ex.  Couch  grass. 

“  The  Tuber  (Lat.  a  knob)  is  a  thick¬ 
ened  portion  of  an  underground  stem 
or  branch,  which  serves  as  a  depository 
for  starch,  and  other  nutritious  secre¬ 
tions  for  the  service  of  the  plant.  (Fig. 

47).  Ex.  Potato. 

“A  scalv  modification  of  the  tuber 
exists  in  the  species  of  Maranta  which 
yields  arrowroot. 

“  Bulbs  are  scaly  modifications  of 
leaf-buds  developed  upon  a  flatfish 
disk,  from  the  under  surface  of  which 
roots  are  directed  downwards.  (Fig. 

48.)  Ex.  Onion. 


Fig.  47. 


“  The  Pseudo-bulbs 
of  orchids  are  thicken¬ 
ings  of  the  base  of  the 
stem  by  the  deposit  of 
bassorine  ;  they  are 
produced  above  the 
surface,  and  are  of  a 
green  colour. 

“  Conns  ( hormos ,  Gr. 
a  stem)  are  also  ex¬ 
pansions  of  the  base 
of  the  stem,  differing 
from  bulbs  in  •  being- 
solid  and  not  scaly, 
and  from  pseudo-bulbs 
in  being  subterranean, 
and  consequently  not  green.  Corms  also  contain  starch 
and  other  nutritious  secretions.  Some  botanists  consider 
them  as  buds.  (Fig.  49.)  Ex.  Meadow  saffron. 

“  Bulbs,  pseudo-bulbs,  and  corms  are  confined  to  endo¬ 
genous  plants.” 


Fig.  48. 


Fig.  49. 


For  a  beginner,  the  book  will  prove  itself  a  very 
valuable  aid ;  for  the  advanced  student,  a  friendly  re¬ 
membrancer  of  byegone  studies,  and  in  either  case  a 
worthy  companion  to  the  larger  works  of  Professors 
Bentley,  Balfour,  and  Henslow,  whilst  its  small  size 
renders  it  a  pocket  companion  for  perusal  during  those 
odd  fragments  of  time  which  play  no  inconsiderable  part 
in  a  successful  life. 

The  arrangement,  illustrations,  and  type  are  good,  and 
we  wish  the  book  long-continued  success. 


Dbitortr. 


We  regret  to  have  to  announce  the  death  of  Mr.  John 
Chapman,  Pharmaceutical  Chemist,  of  Tring.  The  de¬ 
ceased  gentleman  entered  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
in  1853,  and  has  for  many  years  been  a  verjr  useful 
member,  ready  at  all  times  to  do  all  in  his  power  to 
further  the  interests  of  that  body  and  its  Benevolent 
Fund.  He  died  suddenly  on  the  28th  of  February  last, 
at  the  age  of  sixty.  _ 

On  February  21st,  1871,  Mr.  Frederick  Henry 
Garner,  of  Aylesbury,  aged  twenty.  Mr.  Garner  had 
but  recently  entered  as  a  student  at  the  School  of  Phar¬ 
macy,  Bloomsbury  Square. 


March  11,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


737 


r  — 

Hotcs  ;mii  grants. 


***  In  order  to  facilitate  reference ,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  their  ansivers  in  each  case  with  the  title 
and  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

[137.] — HA.IR  DYE. — A  correspondent  sends  from  Mi¬ 
chigan  the  following  recipes  to  the  New  York  Druggists7 
Circular : — 

Potassae  Permang.  Jj 
Aq.  Destill.  gxvj. 

I.  Acid.  Pyrogallic.  5j 

Aq.  Coloniensis  5ij  (?  Eau  de  Cologne). 

Aq.  Destill.  57. 

II.  Argenti  Nit.  5ij 
Aq.  Destill.  £iv. 


I.  Pulv.  Gallae  5^j 
Aq.  Fontan.  gij. 

Boil  and  strain. 

II.  Argenti  Nitr.  5ij 

Aq.  Destill,  gij,  5ij  (5xviij) 

Aq.  Ammon.  5j. 

[156.]— WHITE  OILS. 

R.  01.  Terebinthinae 
01.  Lini  3vij 
Sp.  Camph.  5ss 
Sp.  iEth.  Nit.  51' 

Tr.  Opii  jj 
Mellis  ^ij. 

M.  S.  A.  J.  Ash,  Birmingham ♦ 

In  reply  to  J".  T.  N.,  inquiring  for  a  recipe  for  white  oils, 
I  think  the  following  will  be  found  a  very  good  one : — 

R.  01.  Terebinthinae  3 yj 

Liq.  Yol.  C.C.  *vj 
01.  Rapae  5vj 
01.  Origani  5iv 
Lin.  Sapon.  *ij 

Misce.  J.  S.  Parker,  Peterborough. 

■J.  T.  N.  will  find  the  following  to  be  what  he  requires: — 

R.  01.  Terebinthinae, 

Liq.  Yol.  C.C.,  ana  ^xij 
01.  Rapae  ad  fexl. 

Misce. 

[159.] — ANISEED  CORDIAL. — For  want  of  a  better 
formula,  I  have  made  the  following,  and  should  be  very  glad 
if  any  one  can  improve  upon  it : — 

R.  01.  Anisi  5ss 
Sacch.  Alb.  ^ij 
Syr.  Simp,  ^iij^ 

Sp.  Yin.  Rect.  Oviij 
Aq.  Dest.  ^xxx. 

The  oil  to  be  well  rubbed  with  the  sugar;  add  the  water 
gradually;  mix  the  remaining  ingredients,  and  filter. — S.  D. 

[160.] — S.  C.  will  find  a  form  for  liq.  quinae  ammon.,  in 
Squire’s  ‘  Compendium,’  similar  to  the  one  given  in  the 
Journal,  only  Squire  orders  rectified  spirit. — Iodi. 

[***  We  believe  the  following  is  also  used  by  some 

houses : — 

Quinae  Disulphatis  gr.  j 
Sp.  Ammoniae  Aromatici  5j. 

Misce. — Ed.  Pharm.  Journ.] 

[161.]— TINCTURE  OF  MYRRH  AND  BORAX.— 
R.  Gum.  Myrrhoe  3 ij 
Rad.  Krameriae  *ss 
Spt.  Yini  Rect.  ^xxiv. 

■Stet  dies  xiv,  dein  cola  et  adde : 

Sodae  Bibor.  ^iij 
Aq.  Ferventis  3yj 
Glycerini  ^xij 

Perfume  q.  s.  si  opus  sit. — E.  H. 


[166.]— BLACK  INK. 

R.  Gallae  Contus.  lb.j 
Ferri  Sulph.  5iv 
Cupri  Sulph.  §ss 
Hyd.  Perchlor.  9ss 
Sacchar.  Fuse.  §iij 
Gum.  Acaciae  oiv 
Aquae  Pluvial.  Cong,  j 
Sp.  Yini  Meth.  $j 
Misce  secundum  artem. — E.  H. 

The  fault  of  most  black  ink  is  too  much  iron,  turning 
the  writing  brown  from  oxidation.  To  remedy  this,  acid 
(generally  vinegar  or  an  acid  salt,  as  alum)  is  added,  which 
corrodes  the  pens.  The  iron  should  only  be  in  sufficient  quan¬ 
tity  to  strike  a  black  colour.  The  following  will  be  found 
a  convenient  and  excellent  formula: — Boil  1  part  of  gra¬ 
nular  powdered  galls  with  20  parts  of  distilled  water  in  a 
glass  flask  for  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes ;  then  add  1  part 
sulphate  of  iron,  dissolved  in  2  parts  of  distilled  water,  and  I 
part  of  mucilage  of  acacia  ;  shake  all  together.  It  is  ready 
for  immediate  use,  but  improves  by  keeping.  It  is  better  not 
strained,  but  poured  off  as  wanted.  A  few  drops  of  carbolic 
acid  may  be  added  to  preserve  it,  if  required  to  be  kept  long. 
— W.  B. 

[179.].— ESSENCE  OF  MOSS  ROSE.— 

R.  Otto  Rosae  5iss 

Ess.  Ambergris  [jiiss 
„  Moschi  gj 
Sp.  Yini  Rect.  ^xv 
Aq.  Rosae  Cone. 

— Alpha. 

COLD  CREAM. 

Take  White  Wax. 

Spermaceti,  of  each,  1  oz. 

Oil  of  Almonds,  5  pint. 

Melt,  pour  the  mixture  into  a  Wedge  wood  mortar  which  has 
been  heated  by  being  immersed  in  hot  water;  add  gradually — 
Rose  Water,  4  fl.  oz. 

and  stir  until  an  emulsion  is  formed,  and  afterwards  until  the 
whole  is  nearly  cold.  Put  in  pots.  [It  may  be  perfumed 
with  bergamot  or  lavender.] 


[183.]— TINCTURE  OF  HOLBECK.— Required  a  prac¬ 
tical  formula  for  tincture  of  holbeck,  with  dose. — Y. 

[184.]—  BLACK  KID  REVIVER.— F.  W.  would  esteem 
it  a  favour  if  any  reader  would  oblige  him  with  a  recipe  for 
black  kid  reviver. 

[185.] — T  AC  AM  AH  AC. — Can  any  reader  of  the  Pharm. 
Journ.  give  me  any  information  respecting  “  Tacamahac,” 
and  favour  me  with  a  form  for  a  preparation  of  it  used  for 
wounds  P — All  Saints. 

[*#*  Tacamahac,  or  tacamahaca,  is  a  resinous  substance,  ob¬ 
tained  from  various  sources,  partially  soluble  in  alcohol,  com¬ 
pletely  so  iu  ether  and  the  fixed  oils.  It  was  formerly  highly 
esteemed  as  an  internal  remedy,  but  is  now  employed  medi¬ 
cinally  only  in  ointments  and  plasters,  and  that  to  but  a  small 
extent.  Its  properties  are  analogous  to  those  of  the  turpentines. 
It  is  sometimes  used  in  incense. — Ed.  Pharm.  Journ.] 

[186.]— BAKING-POWDER.  —  “  Farina  ”  would  feel 
obliged  to  any  reader  for  a  form  for  good  baking-powder. 

[187.]— LOTION  FOR  THE  SKIN.— Will  any  corre¬ 
spondent  kindly  give  m£  a  recipe  for  a  good  and  harmless 
lotion  for  roughness  of  the  skin,  pimples,  etc.  P — Alpha. 

[188.] — WATERPROOFING. — Will  any  correspondent 
kindly  give  me  a  recipe  for  waterproofing  ? — G.  B. 

[189.]— ESSENCE  OF  VANILLA. — Iodi  wishes  to  know 
the  usual  strength  of  essence  of  vanilla  sent  out  by  the  whole¬ 
sale  houses. 

[***  We  think  our  correspondent  will  find  the  information 
he  asks  for  in  ‘  Cooley’s  ‘  Dictionary  of  Practical  Receipts.’ — 
Ed.  Pharm.  Journ.] 


738 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  11, 1S7I. 


CtfrmjKmtocc. 


.  ***  No  notice  can  be  ta/cen  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

The  Proposed  Poison  Regulations. 

Sir,  After  tlic  very  voluminous  correspondence  that  has 
for  some  time  filled  the  columns  of  the  Journal,  from  writers 
of  every  degree  of  ability  and  every  shade  of  opinion,  I  feel  it 
is  scarcely  possible  to  bring  forward  any  new  idea  or  any 
fresh  argument  on  the  subject.  But  as  there  appears  a  de¬ 
sire  on  the  part  of  the  Council  to  learn  the  general  sentiment 
of  the  members  of  the  trade,  I  venture,  at  the  risk  of  only 
telling  an  oft-told  tale  and  repeating  what  has  already  been 
said  better  by  others. 

After  reading  nearly  all  that  has  appeared,  and  reviewing 
the  origin  and  progress  of  this  vexed  question,  I  confess  to 
feeling  some  sympathy  for  the  Council,  under  the  very  trying 
circumstances  in  which  they  have  been  placed,  and  the  an¬ 
noyance  they  have  endured ;  still  this  is  only  matter  for  sym¬ 
pathy,  but  the  subject  is  one  involving  a  great  public  interest, 
and  ought  not,  therefore,  to  be  disposed  of  on  sentimental 
grounds. 

After  all  that  has  been  stated  on  both  sides,  including 
" secret  treaties”  and  “tacit  understandings,”  the  question 
resolves  itself  into  one  of  expediency,  and  the  proposition 
certainly  involves  in  it  police  interference  prospectively,  and 
pains  and  penalties  for  any  infringement. 

It  has  been  said  the  regulations  are  necessary,  because  a 
large  number  of  those  in  business  are  not  properly  educated 
men ;  by  this,  I  suppose,  is  meant  not  systematically  educated, 
which  may  be  admitted;  and  I  would  say  further  that  to  these 
the  regulations  would  .  be  a  stumbling-block  and  a  rock  of 
offence,  making  confusion  worse  confounded.  On  the  other 
hand,  to  the  properly-trained  and  systematically-educated 
man,  they  are  quite  unnecessary.  His  own  knowledge  and 
understanding  will  supply  him  with  regulations  that  will 
meet  his  own  requirements  far  better.  Now,  the  first  of  these 
two  classes  is  fast  passing  away,— a  few  years  and  they  will 
be  amongst  the  things  that  have  passed  into  oblivion. 

Is  it,  therefore,  wise  or  expedient  to  put  upon  us  a  yoke 
that  will  gall  us  in  perpetuity,  in  order  to  remedy  an  evil 
that  is  only  transitory,  and  will  soon  come  to  an  end  ?  Phar¬ 
macy  in  England  has  not  yet  attained  to  the  dignity  of  a  pro¬ 
fession  nor  the  position  of  an  exact  science,  and  until  the  old 
leaven  has.  exhausted  itself,  it  will  not.  A  n  honourable  career, 
I  believe,  is  open  to  it,  but  the  time  has  not  yet  arrived,  and 
it  will  never  do  to  stifle  the  new-born  life  out  of  it  by  oppres¬ 
sive  legislation.  r 

As  regulations  recommended  for  adoption  by  the  Society, 
there  is  little  doubt  but  they  would  be  followed  by  all  respectable 
men,  and  those  who  are  obstinate  enough  to  refuse,  must  be 
left  to  their  own  fate.  There  is,  perhaps,  one  exception  will 
be  taken  to  this,  and  that  is  the  dispensing  clause. 

Bradford,  March  7th,  1871.  F.  M.  Rimmington. 


Sir,— In  the  last  issue  of  our  Journal  you  make  the  rerna: 
(p.  699)  “whatever  may  be  the  proper  view  to  take  as  to  t] 
proposed  regulations,  we  cannot  agree  with  the  opinion  tk 
they  should  not  be  adopted  because  medical  men  negle 
them.  That  argument,  at  least,  appears  to  be  fallacious.” 

aou,  Sir,  as  representing  the  majority  of  the  Counc 
surely  Jo  not  understand  the  position  of  chemists  in  Sco 
land.  Y\  e  do  not  wish  to  meddle  with  medical  men  as  sue 
but  when  they  become  druggists  by  keeping  open  shop,  th< 
we  claim  to  have  them  under  regulations  as  well  as  the  oth 

fhe  ^  ofthe  pTb™’  “  SUCh  MgUkti0M  “>  re<iuired  f 
If  you  or  any  of  the  Council  will  visit  our  city — a  citv 
no  mean  importance— I  will  show  you  the  actual  fact  th 
medical  men  do  become  druggists.  What  do  you  call  a  pe 
son  with  the  following  over  his  door  : _ _  ^ 

“  Chemist  and  Druggist,”  Apothecary  Hall, 

Dr.  A.  B.,  Surgeon  ?  01  Hr.  C.  D.,  Surgeon  ? 


Such  is  the  rule  here,  not  the  exception.  Their  shops  for 
style  and  appearance,  will  bear  comparison  with  any  in  the 
kingdom.  J 


There  is  no  fallacy  in  such  hard  facts,  and  I  maintain  that 
when  a  medical  man  keeps  an  open  shop  and  retails  Hol¬ 
loway’s  pills  and  every  other  quack  medicine,  he  is  to  all 
intents  and  purposes  a  druggist.  Scotland  has  only  one  re¬ 
presentative  at  the  Council  Board;  I  think  now  he  should  be 
supported  by  another  from  Glasgow',  that  we,  north  of  the 
Tweed,  may  not  be  misunderstood. 

If  the  article  reproduced  from  the  British  Medical  Journal 
wdtkout  a  word  of  comment  against  it,  is  intended  to  make 
us  comply  with  the  regulations,  never  was  a  greater  mistake 
made..  It  will  only  arouse  within  us  a  firmer  determination 
to  reject  the  regulations,  regardless  of  the  threat  that  “an 
obstinate  resistance  to  the  demands  of  the  Privy  Council 
must  lead  to  the  recasting  of  the  Pharmaceutical  monopoly.” 

Let  the  Privy  Council  first  prove  that  poison  regulations 
are  required  for  the  safety  of  the  public,  and  next  let  the 
British  Medical  Journal  prove  that  “wre  wish  to  be  pro¬ 
tected,  and  are  willing  to  leave  the  door  as  widely  open  as 
ever  to  all  the  calamities  which  spring  from  carelessness  or 
ignorance  of  persons  dealing  with  medicines,”  and  “  are  re¬ 
gardless  of  the  sacrifice  of  life.” 

If,  Sir,  we  had  a  monopoly  of  our  business  and  there  were 
no  open  surgeries,  I  wonder  how  many  lives  would  be  sacri¬ 
ficed  by  our  carelessness  in  dispensing;  the  cases  wdiich  have 
occurred  lately  certainly  prove  less  lives  would  be  lost. 

A  member  of  a  late  ministry  once  said  the  chemists  in 
Scotland  were  the  most  intelligent  class  in  the  community, 
and  he  would  oppose  their  exemption  from  juries  on  that- 
ground.  If  such  an  opinion  is  held  concerning  us,  surely  we 
shall  be  heard  in  any  future  legislation  concerning  our  and 
the  public  interests.  Thomas  Davison. 

Glasgow,  ls£  March,  1871. 


Sir, — I  fully  agree  with  the  remarks  in  the  letter  of  this  day’s 
Journal  written  by  Mr.  Clement  Pierson,  of  Leeds,  relative  to 
the  “Poison  Regulations;”  they  are  most  pertinent  to  the 
question  at  issue.  If  the  status  the  passing  of  the  New  Phar¬ 
macy  Act  has  given  us  will  not  secure  that  due  and  proper  pre¬ 
caution  so  indispensably  requisite  for  the  public  safety,  sure  I 
am  that  nothing  Government  can  put  upon  us  in  the  way  of 
coercion  will  effect  that  end. 

J.  Barker. 

37,  Market  Mill,  Sudbury,  March  4>th,  1871. 


Sir, — “A  house  divided  against  itself  cannot  stand,”  and 
if  we  members  persist  in  dividing  ourselves  into  two  camps, 
how  is  our  Society  to  prosper,  and  in  what  light  shall  we- 
appear  in  the  eyes  of  the  Privy  Council  ? 

Let  us  first  agree  among  ourselves  as  to  the  best  methods; 
of  conducting  our  own  affairs,  and  then  we  shall  command 
the  respect  of  Government  and  be  trusted  with  the  responsi¬ 
bility  of  making  any  regulations  where  the  public  well-being 
is  concerned. 

All  well-wishers  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  must  regret 
the  wide  controversy  on  the  proposed  “poison  regulations,”  and 
I  have  looked  in  vain,  hoping  for  some  abler  pen  than  mine  ta 
propose  some  middle  course  in  which  the  extremes  mighf  shake- 
hands  and  unitedly  appear  in  a  strong  position  before  the  Go¬ 
vernment,  -who  will  certainly  take  action  in  this  matter  if  we 
do  not,  or  succeed  in  showing  good  cause  to  the  contrary. 
The  whole  case  seems  to  resolve  itself  into  the  fact,  that,  at 
the  time  the  Pharmacy  Bill  of  1868  was  planned,  certain  re¬ 
gulations  were  deemed  necessary  for  the  safety  of  the  public 
in  the  matter  of  storing  and  retailing  poisons,  and  the  said 
regulations  were  very  much  left  to  the  arrangement  of  the; 
Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society. 

Nearly  three  years  having  elapsed,  the  Privy  Council  look 
for  a  fulfilment  of  the  then  implied  conditions  from  the  Coun¬ 
cil  of  our  Society. 

.  Now  the  reply  of  the  Council  appears  to  me  to  be  palpable-, 
viz. : — 

The  wise  and  careful  provisions  of  the  Pharmacy  Act  of 
1868,  as  a  whole,  for  the  protection  of  the  public  and  further 
regulation  of  the  dispensing  of  poisons  in  question,  have  worked 
so  efficiently  and  been  so  faithfully  observed  by  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  body,  that  the  necessity  for  any  more  stringent 
imposition  of  any  particular  clause  of  that  Act  than  is  now 
generally  observed,  would  be  superfluous,  for  each  individual 
member  has  voluntarily  undertaken,  and  has  earned  out  such- 
precautions  and  regulations  as  his  own  particular  case  seemed 
especially  to  demand  ;  so  that  now,  to  introduce  farther  altera¬ 
tion  would  destroy,  in  many  cases,  great  aids  to  security  which 


March  11,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


739 


at  present  exist,  without  increasing  such  security  as  is  aimed 
at  in  a  general  way. 

The  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  would,  there¬ 
fore,  submit  to  the  Honourable  Privy  Council,  with  the  una¬ 
nimous  opinion  of  the  whole  Pharmaceutical  body  in  general 
meeting  assembled,  that  the  regulations,  now  in  general  use, 
are  efficient,  and  any  further  regulations  for  the  proposed 
purpose  would  not  have  any  tendency  to  promote  the  welfare 
of  her  Majesty’s  subjects. 

The  proof  of  this  position  is  the  fact,  that  accidents  to  the 
public  arising  from  the  improper  storing  and  retailing  of 
poisons  by  Pharmaceutical  Chemists  and  Registered  Chemists 
and  Druggists,  are  now  almost  unknown,  and  that  the  danger 
is  therefore  already  reduced  to  the  lowest  point  attainable  by 
any  regulations. 

Hampstead,  March  7th,  1871.  Walter  Biggs. 


Sir, — Education  is,  we  are  told  by  those  opposed  to  this 
proposal,  the  one  safeguard  against  poison  accidents,  apparently 
forgetting  that  a  careless  man,  although  he  may  have  received 
the  best  of  educations,  would  remain  careless.  We  do  not 
expect  universal  education  to  make  policemen  magistrates, 
and  judges  useless  members  of  society.  Daily  experience, 
unfortunately,  shows  that  the  worst  criminals  are  too  fre¬ 
quently  well  educated ;  failure  in  one  case  is  good  reason  for 
doubt  in  another. 

But  are  we,  as  a  body,  educated  ?  The  Pharmacy  Act,  it 
is  true,  will  in  future  compel  all  who  enter  business  on  their 
own  account  to  pa;  s  two  examinations,  but  there  are  many 
engaged  in  pharma<  y  who  will  never  become  the  owners  of 
a  business;  consequently,  we  have  no  guarantee  for  their 
intelligence.  Out  of  London  I  only  know  one  establishment 
in  which  no  apprentices  are  employed;  in  the  majority  there 
are  no  assistants,  and  in  these,  as  a  rule,  the  principal  is 
seldom  present,  consequently,  all  the  work  is  done  by  the  ap¬ 
prentices,  and  I  know  many  of  them  when  their  indentures 
or  agreements  are  signed  are  quite  ignorant  of  Latin.  I 
know  pharmaceutical  chemists  who  receive  as  apprentices  lads 
whose  knowledge  of  English  consists  of  not  more  than  six 
words.  Surely  it  cannot  be  said  that  in  those  cases  education 
is  a  sufficient  precaution.  The  Act  has  nothing  in  it  to  pre¬ 
vent  a  continuance  of  this  state  of  things. 

When  I  find  your  correspondents,  one  after  another  and 
week  after  week,  asserting  that  every  shop  has  now  some  re¬ 
gulation  or  another  in  use,  I  begin  to  doubt  my  own  eyes  and 
memory.  I  have,  during  my  little  experience  of  the  trade,  been 
engaged  in  some  six  or  seven  different  situations,  including  a 
surgery  and  a  workhouse  infirmary,  but  have  never  known 
regulations  or  precautions  whatever.  I  know  where  drawers 
were  labelled  in  alphabetical  order, — acacia,  alumen,  arsenic, 
etc.,  next  one  another  in  a  row;  bottles  were  arranged  so  that 
one  shelf  should  hold  white  powders,  another  dark  ones,  thus 
arsenic  and  calcined  magnesia  (in  one  case  the  heavy),  can- 
tharides  andpowderedcubebs,  etc.,  were  next-door  neighours, 
liquids  in  the  same  order;  these  arrangements  remain  the 
same  to-day.  There  are  several  on  the  Register  who  are  well 
known  to  consider  the  pharmacy  branch  of  their  trade  as  of 
far  less  importance  than  the  wine,  spirit,  beer  and  porter 
branch,  and  in  their  shops  everything  is  made  to  give  place  to 
the  drinkables,  the  young  men  having  to  leave  bottles  of  mix¬ 
tures  partly  prepared,  to  serve  glasses  of  grog,  etc. 

My  experience  (for  I  write  what  I  know  to  be  true)  thus 
tells  me  that  regulations  for  the  keeping  of  poisons  are  ne¬ 
cessary,  because  of  the  want  of  education  and  the  general 
neglect  of  any  precautions. 

The  fact  that  frequent  recommendations  and  fearfully 
narrow  escapes  have  failed  to  convince  many  of  the  necessity 
of  adopting  any  precautions  is,  I  think,  sufficient  to  prove 
that  nothing  short  of  stern  compulsion  will  secure  the  general 
adoption  of  any  rules  that  may  be  proposed. 

Many  object  to  the  proposed  regulations  because  they 
would  include  all  the  articles  named  in  Schedule  “A.”  Sec¬ 
tion  1  of  Act  declares  the  word  “  poison  ”  to  mean  the  whole 
of  those  articles.  Any  regulations  which  may  be  proposed 
for  the  “keeping  of  poisons,”  must,  therefore  (unless  we 
have  a  new  Act),  apply  to  the  whole  list. 

I  hope  the  Council  will  persevere  and  succeed. 

March  7th,  1871.  D.  W.  John. 


1  Sir, — I  am  one  of  those  ■who  think  that  compulsory  regu¬ 
lations  as  to  the  safe  keeping  of  poisons  are  quite  unne¬ 
cessary.  Many  abler  pens  than  mine  have  written  on  that 


point,  therefore  I  will  say  nothing.  But  I  wish  to  ask  a 
question  or  two  relative  to  the  third  clause  in  the  proposed 
regulations,  which  says,  “All  liniments,  embrocations  and 
lotions  containing  poison,  shall  be  sent  out  in  bottles  readily 
distinguishable  by  touch  from  ordinary  medicine  bottles.” 

M  ill  a  particular-shaped  bottle  be  required,  or  can  a  piece 
of  sand-paper  be  affixed  to  any  ordinary  bottle? 

.  -J-s  the  rule  to  apply  to  the  sale  of  laudanum,  and  such  ar¬ 
ticles,  or  only  to  the  dispensing  of  prescriptions  ? 

If  it  only  applies  to  dispensing,  I  think  it  is  quite  unneces- 
s ary,  for  as  far  as  my  experience  goes, — and  I  have  seen  a 
good  deal  ot  dispensing,— it  is  already  carried  out  in  dispens¬ 
ing  establishments,  medicines  for  external  and  internal  use 
being  put  in  different  shaped  bottles.  If  it  is  intended  to 
aPPU  to  the  sale  of  such  articles  as  laudanum,  I  venture  to 
say  it  will  be  impossible  to  carry  it  out  in  many  shops.  In 
the  neighbourhood  in  which  I  live  the  sale  of  laudanum  and 
opium  is  of  hourly  occurrence,  and  we  could  not  give  a  poison 
bottle  when  a  customer  came  for  a  pennyworth  or  a  half¬ 
pennyworth  of  it;  and  I  am  certain,  in  the  majority  of  in¬ 
stances,  the  customer  would  not  buy  one. 

Even  supposing  all  the  poisons  mentioned  in  the  schedule 
were  sent  out  in  poison-bottles,  people  could  not  be  prevented 
using  the  bottles  for  other  purposes  when  they  had  got  them. 
Many  people  would  take  a  fancy  to  the  bottles,  and  make  use 
of  them  for  gin,  vinegar,  hair  o'il,  etc.,  and  would  use  them  in 
spite  of  any  Act  of  Parliament,  even  if  you  could  get  Parlia¬ 
ment  to  pass  such  an  Act,  which  is  very  improbable,  and 
then  what  security  would  there  be  in  “  poison  ”  bottles  ? 

If  laudanum  lias  to  be  sent  out  in  poison  bottles,  how  is 
opium  to  be  sent  out  ?  The  sale  of  it  is  quite  common  in 
many  districts,  and  it  is  usually  sold  in  paper  or  pill-boxes ; 
and  it  would  be  absurd  to  place  such  restrictions  on  lauda¬ 
num  and  leave  opium  alone.  Perhaps  a  particular  shaped 
box  would  be  required,  or  one  covered  with  sand-paper. 

Again,  what  is  the  use  of  applying  such  regulations  to  the 
poisons  in  the  schedule  when  oil  of  vitriol,  spirit  of  salt,  aqua¬ 
fortis  and  a  host  of  other  dangerous  things,  can  be  sold  by 
any  person,  in  any  quantity,  without  any  restriction  what¬ 
ever  ? 

Perhaps  some  supporter  of  the  regulations  will  answer  the 
above  questions.  Associate  in  Business. 


Sir, — I  think,  before  voting  for  or  against  the  Poison  Bill, 
we  ought  to  know  what  is  a  poison.  What  is  more  absurd 
than  to  tell  the  public  that  camphorated  chloroform,  parego¬ 
ric,  syrup  of  poppies,  cough  lozenges,  morphia  lozenges,  etc., 
are  poisons  according  to  the  Pharmacy  Act  ?  The  line  must 
be  re-drawn,  and  it  must  include  all  trades  and  professions, 
whether  wholesale  or  retail. 

When  the  word  poison  has  been  decided  or  clearly  defined, 
then  the  feeling  of  the  trade  ought  to  be  taken  before  the 
Society  does  anything  in  the  matter. 

What  does  the  Society  tell  the  public? 

“That  all  chemists  shall  be  examined,  to  show  that  they 
are  educated  and  qualified  to  dispense  medicines,  etc.,  and 
that  they  are  the  only  persons  to  sell  poisons  (under  certain 
restrictions).  They  shall  label  the  said  poisons  distinctly. 
The  said  label  shall  have  the  name  and  address  of  the  seller 
on  it.”  In  the  next  place,  if  the  Society  does  not  protect 
the  chemists  in  their  legitimate  business,  why  take  then'  fees 
and  yearly  subscriptions  ?  It  is  only  fair  that  the  chemists 
should  have  something  in  return  for  their  money. 

What  chemist,  with  regard  to  his  own  safety,  does  not 
keep  all  virulent  poisons  away  from  other  drugs,  and  have 
them  distinctly  labelled,  not  only  while  in  stock,  but  when 
sent  out,  either  as  a  prescription  or  recipe,  and  use  blue 
bottles  for  lotions  and  poisonous  applications  ? 

If  chemists  are  qualified  by  their  examination,  why  impose 
these  restrictions,  which  are  not  imposed  on  the  grocer,  oil¬ 
man  or  drysalter,  who  sell  more  poisons  than  all  the  chemists 
in  London  ? 

Cases  of  accidental  poisoning  by  chemists  are  very  rare,  in 
fact,  scarcely  known,  considering  the  number  of  prescriptions 
they  dispense.  As  a  rule  poisoning  is  attempted,  or  occurs 
through  the  poison  having  been  sold  by  mistake  by  those  who 
are  not  able  to  distinguish  arsenic  from  carbonate  of  soda, 
much  less  give  an  antidote  in  case  of  emergency. 

Lastly,  as  there  is  no  law  to  compel  a  pharmaceutical  che¬ 
mist  or  chemist  and  druggist  to  be  members  of  the  Society,  I 
hear  that  several  of  my  friends  intend  to  discontinue  their  sub- 
I  scriptions  unless  the  Society  looks  better  after  their  interests 


740 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  11, 1871, 


as  the  Society  are  compelled  by  law  to  place  all  pharmaceu¬ 
tical  chemists,  chemists  and  druggists,  and  associates  on  the 
Register,  which  Register  shall  be  admit  ted  in  all  courts  of  law. 

An  Associate  of  ’53  by  Examination. 


A  “  City  Pharmacist  ”  writes  to  protest  against  submitting 
to  an  innovation  “  useless,  foreign  and  tyrannical,”  to  express 
his  “confidence in  Messrs.  Brown,  Bottle,  Savage  and  Woolley,” 
and  to  suggest  that  “  the  opinion  of  every  chemist  be  taken 
by  vote.”  In  such  case  he  believes  the  majority  would  pro¬ 
nounce  against  any  “  further  interference  ”  with  the  trade. 

Sir, — To-day  a  gentleman  handed  me  a  prescription  as 
follows :  — 

R.  Tr.  Gentian.  Co.  f^iiiss 
Acid.  Hydrochlor.  Dil. 

„  Nitric,  dil.  aa  f3ii. 

M.  ft.  Guttae. 

Inquiring  my  charge  for  the  same,  on  my  replying  2s.  6d., 
he  withdrew  the  prescription  from  my  hand,  saying,  “  the 
charges  in  this  town  were  exorbitant  and  out  of  all  propor¬ 
tion  ;  the  mixture  only  contained  gentian  and  hydrochloric 
acid,  which  would  not  cost  more  here  than  at  Tunbridge 
Wells  and  other  places,  where  he  had  paid  Is.  6d.  for  it.” 

I  politely  hinted  that  I  thought  such  a  charge  would  not  be 
made  at  Tunbridge  Wells,  but  he  assured  me  the  prescription 
had  been  dispensed  there  several  times  at  that  price. 

Now  I  do  think  at  the  present  time,  when  we  are  about 
taking  upon  ourselves  increased  duties  as  a  protection  to  the 
public,  such  miserable  charges  should  be  abandoned,  for  surely 
no  one  conversant  with  our  business  will  contend  that  Is.  6d. 
is  a  sufficient  remuneration  for  the  above  prescription ;  and 
any  man  charging  this  price  does  not  act  fairly  either  to 
himself  or  his  brother  chemists. 

I  should  like  to  add  a  few  words  respecting  the  proposed 
regulations  for  keeping  and  dispensing  poisons.  I  have  read 
a  great  deal  the  last  few  weeks  about  the  supposed  hardships 
and  annoyances  to  which  the  trade  will  be  subjected,  in  case 
the  proposed  regulations  become  law.  Now  I  feel  sure  a  can¬ 
did  consideration  of  what  they  entail,  when  carried  into  prac¬ 
tice,  would  strip  them  of  half  their  terrors. 

All  will  admit  that  at  the  present  time  more  precautions 
arc  taken  against  accidents  in  the  better-class  dispensing 
businesses  than  in  mixed  country  businesses ;  and  although 
this  partly  arises  from  the  supposed  greater  difficulty  in  car¬ 
rying  them  out  in  the  latter  cases,  I  feel  persuaded  the  will 
to  do,  together  with  a  little  ingenuity  in  the  doing,  would 
overcome  all  obstacles,  and  I  speak  with  a  practical  know¬ 
ledge  of  that  class  of  business. 

Could  not  the  casks  in  the  warehouse  containing  arsenic, 
sheep  dipping,  etc.,  be  provided  with  lids  and  secured  by  a 
padlock  ?  Also  the  acid,  hydrocyan.,  the  various  alkaloids  and 
their  solutions,  and  the  more  potent  poisons,  be  consigned  to 
a  cupboard,  the  key  of  which  should  be  in  charge  of  the  prin¬ 
cipal,  and  only  opened  in  his  presence,  or  by  his  permission, 
instead  of,  as  is  too  often  the  case  at  present,  these  things 
standing  side  by  side  with  innocent  preparations,  probably  on 
a  shelf  at  the  back  of  other  bottles,  with  every  chance  of  a 
mistake  being  made  by  a  young  apprentice.  Then  again,  the 
laudanum  bottle  may  be  transferred  from  its  vicinity  to  the 
Tr.  Rhei  to  some  corner,  besides  being  rendered  distinctive 
by  a  strip  of  sand  paper  or  leather  cap.  Surely  such  precau¬ 
tions  as  these  are  not  very  onerous,  and  their  observance 
must  impress  the  mind  of  the  apprentice  with  an  idea  of  the 
potency  of  the  articles  he  is  using.  If  therefore  it  be  once  ad¬ 
mitted  that  these  regulations  will  be  found  practicable,  I  think 
we  may  dismiss  any  fears  as  to  vexatious  proceedings  likely 
to  be  adopted  to  inquire  into  their  observance,  for  the  law 
has  no  terrors  to  those  who  carry  out  its  provisions. 

It  has  been  strongly  insisted  upon  by  some  that  there  is 
more  need  of  these  restrictions  being  placed  upon  public  and 
private  dispensaries  than  upon  us ;  now  this  I  fully  endorse, 
but  surely  we  should  be  able,  with  a  much  better  grace,  to 
ask  that  they  should  be  extended  to  meet  these  cases,  when 
we  could  point  to  our  own  observance  of  them.  A  few  acci- 
cidents  like  the  one  at  Manchester,  reported  in  a  recent 
journal,  would  then  add  considerably  to  the  force  of  our  ar¬ 
gument.  I  much  regret  to  see  so  much  personal  ill-feeling 
imported  into  the  discussion,  as  it  only  tends  to  make  it  more 
difficult  to  come  to  an  agreement.  I  would  like  to  see  those 
who  are  in  favour  of  the  regulations  speak  out,  and  so 

strengthen  the  hands  of  the  Council,  who  I  am  sure  have  onlv 

*  I 


the  interests  of  the  trade  at  heart,  and  more  especially  as  the 
same  restrictions  will  fall  upon  them  as  upon  us.  I  would 
also  suggest  that  local  secretaries  should  call  together  the 
members  of  the  trade  in  their  districts,  to  talk  over  the  sub¬ 
ject  in  a  friendly  way,  which  would  do  much,  I  believe,  to 
smooth  many  difficulties,  and  would  certainly  tend  to  promote 
a  better  feeling  between  chemists  in  the  same  town,  and  allay 
much  of  the  present  trade  jealousy.  W.  H.  P.  ' 


A  Child  Poisoned  by  Mistake  at  Manchester. 
Sir, — In  justice  to  Mr.  "Wild  allow  me  to  state  that  he 
(Mr.  Wild)  has  for  some  time  retired  from  practice,  and  con¬ 
sequently  lie  was  not  “  the  man  censured  by  the  jury.”  The 
practice  belongs  entirely  to  Dr.  Fox,  who  works  exces¬ 
sively  hard,  and,  to  my  thinking,  should  not  have  been  rated 
for  the  pardonable  omission  of  his  dispenser.  I  know  the 
class  of  patients  Dr.  Fox  has  to  deal  with,  and  I  must  say  I 
never  met  with  a  more  careless  set  in  the  course  of  my  exist¬ 
ence.  The  surgery  is  not  an  open  one. 

Herts,  February  2oth.  A  Medical  Assistant. 

“  Chemicus  ”  and  II.  P.  3.  are  referred  to  the  rule  as  to 
anonymous  communications. 

“  BoetisI — Dr.  Hassall’s  is  the  famous  work  on  food  adul- 
teration,  but  we  do  not  recommend  it. 

J.  S.  JR. — The  substance  of  your  letter  has  already  appeared 
in  this  Journal  more  than  once. 

M.  P.  S. — It  would  be  legal  if  the  proprietor  of  the  busi¬ 
ness  be  a  Registered  Chemist  and  Druggist  within  the  mean¬ 
ing  of  the  Pharmacy  Act. 

W.  F.  C. — See  the  letter  on  this  subject  from  the  Medical 
Officer  of  the  Privy  Council,  Phaem.  Jotjrn.  2ndser.  Vol.  X_ 
p.  567. 

W.  J—  Phaem.  Jouen.  1st  ser.  Vol.  II.  p.  649 ;  Yol.  IX. 
p.  511. 

A  Member. — No. 

“  Podophyllin.” — We  cannot  assist  our  correspondent. 

W.  Boyers  (Maidstone). — As  a  memorial  addressed  to  the- 
Council,  the  document  of  which  copy  is  forwarded  cannot  be 
published  before  it  appears  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Council 
meeting. 

T.  Padwick. — Oleate  of  soda. 

F.  O. — We  cannot  undertake  to  teach  our  correspondents 
the  first  principles  of  chemistry  and  mathematics,  and  would 
recommend  the  careful  study  of  an  elementary  work  on  either 
subject. 

“  Spes.” — We  think  if  our  correspondent  would  carefully 
study  the  relative  value  of  grammes  and  cubic  centimetres,  as 
compared  with  grains  and  grain-measures,  the  apparent  dis¬ 
crepancy  in  the  Pharmacopoeia  would  be  clear  to  him. 

“  Rumex.” — Epsom  salt  and  salt  of  lemons  are  the  correct 
terms. 

G.  W. — You  will  find  a  formula  for  syr.  ferri  bromidi  in 
Phaem.  Journ.  2nd  ser.  Yol.  XI.  p.  744,  and  one  for  vinum 
pepsinse,  1st  ser.  Vol.  XVIII.  p.  197,  or  2nd  ser.  Yol.  VI. 
p.  192. 

W.  P. — You  will  find  what  you  require  in  Ure’s  ‘  Dictionary 
of  the  Arts,’  under  the  head  “  Silvering.” 

3.  D. — (1.)  For  liniments  it  is;  but  not  for  any  prepara¬ 
tion  for  internal  use  by  man  or  beast.  (2.)  You  should  give 
notice  to  the  Registrar  to  make  the  alteration  in  the  Regis¬ 
ter,  for  which  no  fee  is  charged. 

J.  P. — We  should  think  Bonjean’s  preparation, — an  infu¬ 
sion  made  with  water  and  evaporated  to  a  soft  extract. 

The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  March  4;  the  ‘  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
March  4;  the  ‘Lancet,’  March  4;  the  ‘Medical  Press  and  Cir¬ 
cular,’  March  8;  ‘Nature,’  March  2;  the  ‘Chemical  News,’ 
March  3  ;  ‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  March  2;  ‘Gar¬ 
deners’  Chronicle,’  March  4 ;  the  ‘  Grocer,’  March  4 ;  ‘  Produce 
Markets’  Review,’  March  4;  the  ‘English  Mechanic,’  March 
3;  Messrs.  Longman’s  ‘Notes  on  Books’  for  February;  the 
‘New  Lebanon  Journal  of  Materia  Medica’for  February; 
the  ‘  Food  Journal  ’  for  March ;  the  ‘  Brewers’  Guardian  ’  for 
March. 


Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  C.  Pierson,  Mr.  D.  Hanbury,  Mr.  J.  A.  Forster,  Mr.  P. 
L.  Simmonds,  Mr.  A.  H.  Mason,  Mr.  G.  Edward,  Mr.  D.  O- 
Evans,  Mr.  W.  G.  Scruby,  Mr.  A.  W.  Gerrard,  Mr.  A.  Girdler, 
W.  F.  C.,  A.  B.  N.,  E.  Y.,  J.  C.  B.  M.,  T.  D.  M.,  “AIL 
Saints,”  “  Alpha,”  “  One  in  a  Fix,”  “  Quercus.” 


March  18, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


741 


DISPENSING.* 

BY  W.  J.  HALLIDAY. 

There  are  in  Lancashire  many  large  ancl  impor¬ 
tant  towns  where  little  or  no  dispensing  is  done  by 
the  druggist,  the  medical  practitioners  dispensing 
their  own  medicines,  and  also  such  prescriptions  of 
consulting  physicians  or  surgeons  as  may  come  into 
their  hands.  The  latter  practice  is  very  objection¬ 
able,  and  it  is-  time  the  Pharmaceutical  Council 
should  use  its  influence  to  alter  the  system.  Under 
these  circumstances,  how  is  an  apprentice  to  learn 
dispensing  ?  After  he  has  fulfilled  liis  term,  and  ob¬ 
tained  a  situation  as  assistant,  he  finds  he  has  to 
commence  learning  what  he  should  have  had  the  op¬ 
portunity  of  being  taught  during  his  apprenticeship. 

Mr.  Ince’s  remarks,  made  nearly  twenty  years 
ago,  are  applicable  to  the  present  time: — “The 
young  beginner  was  apprenticed  to  a  chemist  be¬ 
cause  his  parents  thought  it  such  a  nice  clean  busi¬ 
ness  ;  contrarywise,  the  tyro  found  himself  imme¬ 
diately  smothered  up  to  his  eyes  in  white,  red  and 
blue  paint,  not  unlike  the  clown  at  Astley’s,  happy 
to  present  himself  to  society  not  too  redolent  of  var¬ 
nish,  and,  having  escaped  the  oil-can  on  the  one 
side  and  the  blaeklead  on  the  other,  allow  a  compre¬ 
hensive  apron  to  cover  all  deficiencies  for  seven  long 
years.  He  then  comes  to  London.’’ 

At  the  Pharmaceutical  Conference  held  at  Liver¬ 
pool  last  year,  the  President  stated  “  that  the  educa¬ 
tion  of  the  present  day  was  too  superficial,  the 
simple  fact  being  that  pupils  neglected  to  leam  how 
to  spell.  In  the  Crimean  war  many  dispensers  were 
thrown  out  because  of  their  inability  to  spell  even 
one-syllable  words.  Few  persons  who  had  not  given 
special  attention  to  this  subject  would  credit  the  ex¬ 
tent  of  the  evil.  He  had  examined  a  class  of  five 
boys  supposed  to  be  prepared  for  the  preliminary 
examination,  and,  upon  dictating  a  sentence  of 
words  of  one  syllable,  none  of  the  boys  made  less 
than  three  mistakes  in  the  spelling.” 

Take  an  example  of  such  an  assistant  in  a  new 
situation,  where  a  prescription  is  given  into  his 
hands  to  dispense  by  an  impatient  customer.  Say — 
Mellis  aj 
Potass.  Chlor.  5j 
Acid.  Hydroclil.  Dil.  jij 
Inf.  Rosae  ad  §viij. 

The  probability  is  he  will  overlook  the  infusion, 
and  commence  operations  by  weighing  and  measur¬ 
ing  the  other  ingredients,  and  then,  inquiring  for  the 
concentrated  infusion,  when  told  it  is  the  custom  to 
prepare  fresh  infusions,  he  is  somewhat  nonplussed ; 
and  if  the  customer  is  waiting,  and  of  an  irascible 
turn  of  mind,  he  will  not  find  it  a  very  agreeable 
duty  to  have  to  explain  the  cause  of  delay.  And 
now  for  the  infusion.  If  he  has  had  no  experience 
in  preparing  it,  he  will  probably  throw  in  the  petals 
without  separation ;  ancl  when  the  medicine  is  pre¬ 
pared,  in  what  style  will  he  write  and  affix  the 
label  ?  for  often  much  depends  on  the  external  neat¬ 
ness  of  a  bottle  of  medicine. 

I  remember  a  case  in  point.  A  lady  had  a  pre¬ 
scription  dispensed,  not  at  her  regular  chemist’s,  but 
at  a  first-class  London  house.  In  a  short  time  she 
returned  with  the  bottle,  saying  she  had  been  accus- 
tomedto  having  her  medicines  delivered  with  clean 
labels. 

*  Read  at  a  meeting  of  the  Manchester  Chemists  and 
Druggists’  Association,  March  3,  1871. 

Third  Series,  No.  38. 


Take  another  example,  a  young  man  who  has 
had  five  years’  experience  in  a  house  where  dispen¬ 
sing  is  part  of  the  ordinary  daily  business.  He 
would  read  through  the  prescription  carefully  and 
intelligently,  notice  the  infusion,  tell  the  customer 
at  once  how  long  it  would  require  for  preparation. 
After  making  the  infusion,  he  would  copy  the  pre¬ 
scription,  write  the  label,  etc.,  and  have  all  in  trim 
for  finishing  off  when  the  infusion  was  ready.  The 
former  instance  is  not  unusual ;  and  I  believe  phar¬ 
macists,  as  a  rule,  prefer  assistants  from  parts  of 
the  country  where  at  least  a  moderate  share  of  dis¬ 
pensing  is  done. 

In  the  towns  referred  to,  the  druggists  make  better 
way  in  the  world  and  secure  the  reward  of  their 
labour  earlier  than  those  whose  business  is  princi¬ 
pally  dispensing ;  their  returns  are  much  larger,  and 
the  variety  and  extent  of  stock  kept  would  astonish 
a  West-End  chemist  who  has  had  no  experience  in 
country  trade. 

Since  the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy  Act,  it  is 
imperative  that  every  young  man  must  pass  two 
examinations  before  commencing  business.  It  has 
been  proposed  that  the  Preliminary  should  be  passed 
before  the  youth  is  articled,  which  is  a  very  good 
suggestion.  In  the  second,  or  Minor  examination, 
there  is  a  pharmacy  bench,  where  each  candidate  is 
examined  practically  in  dispensing  ;  and  to  pass 
he  should  be  well  up  in  that  department,  which  is 
of  the  utmost  importance  for  the  future  welfare  of 
pharmacists.  I  would,  therefore,  suggest  to  this 
Society  the  advantage  of  having  a  dispensing-coun¬ 
ter,  where  associates  might  obtain  a  knowledge  of 
dispensing.  There  need  be  little  expense  about  the 
medicines  or  apparatus  required.  A  knowledge  of 
Continental  pharmacy  might  be  obtained  in  this 
manner. 

I  will  very  briefly  call  your  attention  to  a  few  in¬ 
stances  of  dispensing,  commencing  with  mixtures. 
A  slight  difference  in  colour  is  often  immediately 
noticed  by  the  patient,  and  requires  an  explanation. 
To  prevent  this,  it  is  very  needful  to  have  everything 
scrupulously  clean  about  a  dispensing- counter.  A 
good  flow  of  water  is  generally  more  useful  than  a 
fluffy  towel  in  cleaning  a  measure  or  mortar,  and  it 
is  my  rule,  where  practicable,  to  rinse  a  bottle  before 
dispensing  a  mixture.  It  is  well  known  that  gallic 
acid  and  water  should  be  a  colourless  mixture,  but 
by  carelessness  in  the  use  of  scales,  measure  or 
mortar  not  properly  cleaned,  it  may  become  coloured ; 
and  one  containing  iron  may  be  spoiled  if  any  tinc¬ 
ture  containing  tannin  comes  into  contact. 

Where  practicable,  perfect  solution  of  soluble  salts 
should  be  made,  for  even  in  the  simplest  form  of 
mixture  containing  potass,  bicarb.,  syr.  aurantii  et 
aqiue,  I  have  seen  the  bottle  wrapped  up  for  deli¬ 
very  with  the  potash  undissolved  and  the  syrup 
unmixed. 

The  other  day,  I  dispensed  a  mixture  containing 

Potass.  Bromid.  5yj 

Tinct.  Aurant.  *iij. 

When  the  medicine  required  to  be  repeated,  half  of 
the  bromide  remained  in  the  bottle. 

In  mixtures  containing  potassse  bicarb,  and  acid, 
citric,  or  other  effervescing  salts,  the  effervescence 
should  be  effected  first  before  the  tinctures  or  syrups 
are  added,  and  in  as  little  water  as  possible  to  form 
the  solution  ;  if  so,  the  saturation  is  completed  more 
rapidly  than  by  adding  all  the  water,  besides  pre- 


742 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  18,  1871. 


venting  an  explosion  from  excess  of  carbonic  acid 
when  the  cork  is  drawn. 

The  dispensing  of  pills  is  not  very  popular,  yet 
their  use  is  extending ;  not  so  much  in  the  old  way 
of  an  aperient  to  accompany  a  mixture,  but  in  usurp¬ 
ing  the  place  of  mixtures  altogether.  A  few  pills 
sometimes  contain  several  alkaloids  requiring  great 
care  in  manipulation,  and,  like  all  other  pills,  should 
be  of  uniform  size  and  shape.  In  dispensing  pills 
containing  extract,  nucis  vomicae,  strychnia  or  other 
powerful  ingredients,  an  excellent  plan  is  to  add  a 
few  grains  of  sugar  of  milk  to  pulverize  the  extract, 
or  subdivide  the  alkaloid  before  mixing  with  the 
excipient,  by  which  means  more  equal  division  of 
the  active  ingredient  is  obtained.  When  pills  are 
repeated,  they  should  be  dispensed  the  same  size  as 
before,  the  ‘  q.  s.’  required  should  be  noted  for  refe¬ 
rence.  Minute  pills,  containing  one-eighth  or  one- 
fourth  of  a  grain  of  alkaloid  might  be  increased  with 
advantage  to  a  standard  size  of  one  grain  by  the 
addition  of  sugar  of  milk. 

Powders  should  be  weighed,  and  not  guessed  by 
what  has  been  termed  the  rule  of  thumb. 

Liniments  and  lotions  require  no  special  notice ; 
but  in  dispensing  liniment,  clilorof.  or  camphor®  it 
is  needful  to  have  dry  bottles,  as  the  least  addition 
of  spirit  or  water  prevents  a  bright  liniment. 

Most  of  the  formulae  in  the  B.  P.  are  prepared  to  a 
definite  quantity  of  twenty  ounces,  but  in  the  prepa¬ 
ration  of  linjm.  camph.  comp,  the  old  formula  has 
been  copied.  Thus, — 

Campliorae  £ijss 
01.  Lavand.  5j 
Liq.  Ammon.  Fort.  W 
Spt.  Vini  3xv, 

forming  liniment.  5xxijss,  as  camphor  in  solution, 
equals  its  weight. 

fit  Hydrarg.  Percliloridi  gr.  ij 
Hydrarg.  Subchloridi  gr.  xx 
Aquae  Calcis  ^ij. 

A  lotion  prepared  from  this  prescription  may  be 
dispensed  of  two  colours.  If  the  calomel  is  mixed 
first,  and  a  solution  of  sublimate,  often  kept  for 
convenience,  added  last,  a  black  deposit — black 
oxide  of  mercury — is  formed;  but  if  the  sublimate 
is  dissolved  in  the  lime  water,  and  the  calomel 
added  afterwards,  the  red  oxide  is  deposited. 

Ointments  are  often  prepared  on  a  slab ;  in  most 
cases  a  mortar  answers  better.  I  passed  through 
Clerkenwell  some  years  ago,  and  observed  an  abortive 
attempt  made  to  prepare  about  2  lb.  of  ung.  sulph.  co. 
on  a  slab,  the  hellebore  and  sulphur  were  in  dis¬ 
tinct  lumps,  and  the  lard  frigid.  How  much  more 
satisfactory  had  the  powders  been  mixed  in  a 
mortar,  and  melted  lard  added  ! 

An  ointment  from  this  formula  is  more  frequently 
dispensed  by  mixing ;  but  a  better  plan  is  to  melt 
the  lard,  add  the  oil,  and  when  nearly  cold  stir  in 
the  precipitate : — 

Hyd.  Nit.  Ox.  Lev.  3ij 
Adipis, 

01.  Amygd.  aa.  ^j. 

Expressed  oil  of  mace  and  other  fatty  substances 
mix  much  better  with  lotions  if  previously  melted 
than  if  rubbed  cold. 

Ung.  potassii  iodidi,  ung.  hydrarg.  percliloridi  are 
best  prepared  if  the  salts  are  dissolved  in  a  little 
water  in  a  test-tube,  and  ung.  camphor®  can  be  pre¬ 


pared  perfectly  smooth  if  the  camphor  is  dissolved 
by  a  gentle  heat  in  the  lard. 

I  should  like  to  caution  young  men  against  com¬ 
mencing  business  too  early  in  life.  They  had  much 
better  gain  experience  in  London,  or  some  other 
large  town,  and,  if  possible,  obtain  a  knowledge  of 
Continental  pharmacy  in  France  or  Germany;  and 
a  term  of  engagement  in  the  marble  palaces  called 
drug  stores  in  the  great  continent  of  America  might 
not  prove  useless. 


SPIRITUS  AMMONIA  AROMATICUS. 

BY  JOHN  T.  MILLER. 

In  the  last  number  but  one  of  the  Journal  there  is 
an  article  on  spiritus  ammonise  aromaticus,  in  which 
it  is  stated  that  this  preparation  “  ought  to  contain 
the  ammonia  in  solution  as  the  normal  ammonium 
carbonate.”  That  the  authors  of  the  official  process 
entertained  the  same  notion  may  be  inferred  from 
the  construction  of  the  formula. 

Some  time  back,  I  noticed  while  distilling  this 
spirit  that  ebullition  was  preceded  by  considerable 
effervescence.  This  fact  led  me  to  examine  the  com¬ 
position  of  the  distillate,  which  proved  to  be,  as  I 
had  suspected,  strongly  basic, — a  result  which  sub¬ 
sequent  experience  showed  to  be  invariable.  In¬ 
deed,  so  large  is  the  excess  of  base  in  sp.  amnion, 
aromat.  B.P.,  that  we  shall  not  be  far  wrong  in 
regarding  it  as  a  solution  of 

2NH4HO  +  (NH4)2COj. 

Variations  in  the  composition  of  the  product,  but 
not,  probably,  to  any  great  amount,  may  be  expected 
to  attend  different  conditions  of  manufacture. 

The  statement  of  Dr.  Divers,  that  by  following  the 
directions  in  the  British  Pharmacopoeia,  “  the  forma¬ 
tion  of  a  spirit  containing  excess  of  ammonia  is 
favoured  but  to  only  a  small  extent,”  falls  so  short 
of  the  mark,  that  I  can  hardly  imagine  it  to  be 
founded  on  actual  analysis. 

The  writer  in  the  J ournal  goes  on  to  remark  that 
in  the  older  preparation — sp.  ammoniac  comp. — the 
essential  oils  were  mixed  with  spirit  of  ammonia, 
“  this  latter  preparation  being  prepared  by  the 
double  decomposition  of  sal  ammoniac  and  potashes 
dissolved  in  proof  spirit,  and  a  certain  quantity  dis¬ 
tilled.  It  would,  therefore,  contain  the  ammonia  in 
solution  as  a  mixture  of  the  normal  and  acid  carbo¬ 
nate.” 

I  venture  to  say,  however,  that  this  argument  is 
fallacious,  and  that  the  spirit  in  question  contains 
basic  ammonium  carbonate. 

I  would  refer  those  interested  in  the  matter  to  a 
paper  of  mine  in  the  number  of  the  Journal  for 
January,  1867. 


Dangerous  Drugs.  —  Women  will  meddle  with 
dangerous  drugs,  notwithstanding  the  fatal  consequences 
that  have  so  often  resulted  from  their  recklessness.  Be¬ 
cause  a  child  was  cross,  a  Liverpool  midwife,  named 
Margaret  Cunningham,  gave  it  five  drops  of  laudanum, 
which  effectually  stopped  its  cries,  for  the  infant  died. 
It  is  a  pity  women  like  Cunningham  cannot  find  some 
better  mode  of  quieting  children  than  poisoning  them. 
At  an  inquest  the  jury  returned  a  verdict  that  the  de¬ 
ceased  had  died  from  an  overdose  of  laudanum  “  unskil¬ 
fully  administered,”  and  the  coroner  cautioned  the 
woman. — Liverpool  Courier. 


3Iarch  18, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


743 


tf&ajltcra  for  Stotoitts. 

CHEMICAL  NOTES  TO  THE  PHARMACOPOEIA. 

BY  WILLIAM  A.  TILDEN,  B.SC.  LOND. 

DEMONSTRATOR  OF  PRACTICAL  CHEMISTRY  TO  THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 

Ferri  et  Ammonl®  Citras. — Solution  of  persul¬ 
phate  of  iron  is  precipitated  by  pouring  it  into  an 
excess  of  solution  of  ammonia — 

Fe23S04  +  6  NH4HO 
=  Fe2  6  H  O  -f-  3  (NH4)2S04. 

The  ferric  hydrate  thus  thrown  down  is  collected  on 
a  calico  filter,  and  washed  with  distilled  water  until 
the  filtered  liquid  gives  no  indication  of  sulphate  of 
ammonium  when  tested  by  solution  of  chloride  of 
barium.  The  hydrated  oxide  of  iron  is  then  dis¬ 
solved  in  a  solution  of  citric  acid,  and  ammonia 
added  in  slight  excess.  The  filtered  liquid,  evapo¬ 
rated  by  a  very  gentle  heat  to  a  syrupy  consistence, 
and  spread  thinly  on  plates,  forms  scales  which 
should  readily  shake  off  on  drying. 

There  are  several  little  points  in  this  process 
which  are  deserving  of  attention,  as  students  often 
fail  to  obtain  a  satisfactory  product.  In  the  first 
place  it  is  essential  to  pour  the  solution  of  iron  into 
the  solution  of  ammonia,  not  vice  versa.  The  object 
of  this  device  is  that  the  ferric  sulphate,  by  coming 
into  the  presence  of  considerable  excess  of  ammonia, 
may  really  undergo  the  decomposition  expressed  in 
the  equation  above  ;  that  is,  that  it  may  be  trans¬ 
formed  into  pure  ferric  hydrate.  If  the  ammonia  is 
poured  into  the  solution  of  iron,  the  ferric  sulphate 
undergoes  a  decomposition  which  is  incomplete,  for 
the  precipitate  contains  a  very  appreciable  quantity 
of  sulphate,  carried  down  in  the  form  of  an  insoluble 
oxysulpliate  of  iron.  The  composition  of  the  preci¬ 
pitate  is,  of  course,  very  variable,  but  the  general 
nature  of  the  change  is  shown  by  this  equation — 

Fe23S04  +  4  N H4 H O 

=  Fe2 S  04 4 H 0  +  2  (NH4)2S04. 

Hydrate  of  iron  mixed  with  such  impurity,  when 
dissolved  in  citric  acid  and  ammonia,  furnishes  a 
granular  semi-crystalline  product,  not  the  usual  bril¬ 
liant  scales.  The  proportion  of  citric  acid  must  also 
be  adhered  to,  or  the  solution,  on  evaporation,  will 
often  become  turbid  and  yield  a  compound  only  par¬ 
tially  soluble  in  water. 

Several  combinations  of  citric  and  tartaric  acid  with 
peroxide  of  iron  have  been  employed  for  a  long 
time  in  medicine.  They  are,  however,  inferior  to 
the  ammonio- citrate  in  richness  and  brilliancy  of 
colour,  and  in  solubility.  Nevertheless,  it  is  ob¬ 
viously  improper  to  substitute  this,  or  any  other 
salt,  when  ferri  citras  or  ferri  tartras  is  ordered  in  a 
prescription.  Any  little  difficulty  in  effecting  solu¬ 
tion,  if  it  should  occur  (which  is,  however,  unlikely), 
may  be  got  over  as  recommended  by  a  correspon¬ 
dent  of  tliis  Journal  (“Notes  and  Queries,”  p.  437), 
by  warming  the  salt  with  distilled  water  in  a  test- 
tube. 

[§  Heated  with  solution  of  potash,  it  evolves  am¬ 
monia  and  deposits  peroxide  of  iron.  The  alkaline 
solution  from  which  the  iron  has  separated  does  not, 
when  slightly  supersaturated  with  acetic  acid,  give 
any  crystalline  deposit.  When  incinerated  with  ex¬ 
posure  to  air,  it  leaves  not  less  than  27  iier  cent,  of 


peroxide  of  iron,  which  is  not  alkaline  to  litmus.] 
The  former  of  these  tests  serves  to  detect  the  fraud 
when  tartaric  has  been  substituted  for  citric  acid, 
and  the  latter  shows  that  the  preparation  contains 
no  potash. 

Ferri  et  Quinle  Citras. — Solution  of  persulphate 
of  iron  is  precipitated  by  excess  of  solution  of  am¬ 
monia,  and  the  washed  precipitate  is  dissolved  in 
solution  of  citric  acid,  employing  the  same  precau¬ 
tions  as  in  making  ferri  et  ammoniae  citras.  Similarly, 
sulphate  of  quinine,  previously  dissolved  in  a  little 
dilute  sulphuric  acid,  is  mixed  with  solution  of  am¬ 
monia  in  excess,  and  the  precipitated  hydrate  of  qui¬ 
nine  collected  and  washed.  It  is  then  dissolved  in  the 
solution  of  citrate  of  iron  already  prepared.  A  little 
ammonia  is  then  added  to  the  solution,  not,  however, 
sufficient  to  precipitate  the  quinine,  but  leaving  the 
solution  slightly  acid.  Finally,  the  liquid  is  evapo¬ 
rated  down  to  a  consistence  suitable  for  scaling  on 
plates. 

[§  Thin  scales,  of  a  greenish  golden-yellow  colour, 
somewhat  deliquescent  and  entirely  soluble  in  cold 
water.  The  solution  is  very  slightly  acid,  and  is 
precipitated  reddish-brown  by  solution  of  soda  (a 
mixture  of  the  hydrates  of  iron  and  quinine),  white 
by  solution  of  ammonia  (hydrate  of  quinine),  blue 
by  the  yellow  and  red  prussiates  of  potash,  and 
greyish- black  by  tannic  acid.] 

This  compound  contains  both  ferrous  and  ferric 
salt,  since  it  gives  a  deep  blue  precipitate  with  red 
as  well  as  with  yellow  prussiate  of  potash.  Part  of' 
the  citric  acid,  in  fact,  reduces  some  of  the  iron  to  the- 
ferrous  state,  becoming  itself  converted  into  a  mix¬ 
ture  of  acids  which  have  not  been  closely  examined. 
Without  this  reduction  the  scales  are  not  of  the  usual 
greenish-golden  colour.  The  addition  of  a  very  small 
quantity  of  potash  is  said  to  favour  it,  though  tliis  is 
not  recognized  by  the  Pharmacopoeia,  and  is  pre¬ 
cluded  by  the  test  there  given.  [§  When  burned 
with  exposure  to  ah*,  it  leaves  a  residue  which,  when 
moistened  with  water,  is  not  alkaline  to  test-paper.] 
It  should  contain  16  per  cent,  of  quinia,  unmixed 
with  cinclionia  and  quinidia.  [§  50  grains,  dissolved 
in  a  fluid  ounce  of  water  and  treated  with  a  slight 
excess  of  ammonia,  give  a  white  precipitate,  which, 
when  collected  on  a  filter  and  dried,  weighs  8  grains. 
The  precipitate  is  almost  entirely  soluble  in  pure 
ether,  and,  when  burned,  leaves  but  a  minute  re¬ 
sidue.]  This  quantitative  test  as  indicated  in  the 
Pharmacopoeia  is  defective,  because  it  does  not  give 
sufficient  detail.  No  mention  is  made  of  washing 
the  precipitate,  nor  of  the  temperature  at  which  it 
should  be  dried.  Both  these  points  should  be  clearly 
defined,  or  very  untrustworthy  results  will  be  arrived 
at.  The  temperature  at  which  hydrate  of  quinine 
gives  up  the  whole  of  its  combined  water,  and  be¬ 
comes  anhydrous,  C20H24N2O2,  is  about  260°  F. ; 
the  precipitate  should  be  dried  at  tliis  temperature. 

From  recent  analyses  of  the  commercial  salt  sup¬ 
plied  by  different  makers,  it  appears  that  the  amount 
of  quinia  introduced  varies  very  considerably,  in  some 
cases  not  exceeding  one-fourth  of  the  official  propor¬ 
tion.  As  stated  already,  great  injustice  may  be  done 
in  such  analyses  unless  conducted  with  due  precau¬ 
tions. 

Ferri  Iodidum, —  [§  Iodide  of  Iron,  Fel2,  with 
about  18  per  cent,  of  water  of  crystallization  and 
a  little  oxide  of  iron.] 

Iron  wire,  iodine  and  distilled  water  are  digested 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS 


[March  18, 1871 


741 


together  till  the  colour  of  the  iodine  has  disappeared ; 
the  solution  is  then  filtered  into  a  clean  iron  dish, 
and  rapidly  evaporated  till  a  drop  removed  on  the 
end  of  an  iron  wire  solidifies  on  cooling.  It  is  then 
poured  out  upon  a  porcelain  dish,  and,  when  solid, 
broken  up  and  put  into  a  bottle. 

Ferrous  iodide  forms  a  greenish  solution,  which 
gives  the  usual  reaction  of  ferrous  salts  with  red 
prussiate  of  potash,  resulting  in  the  formation  of  a 
deep  blue  precipitate. 

3FeI2  -f  K6Fe2CyI2 
=  6KI  -{-  Fef,3Fe2Cyl2. 

Iodide  of  iron  is  a  deliquescent  substance  and 
soon  absorbs  oxygen  from  the  air,  giving  a  brown 
mixture  of  iodine  and  a  ferric  hydrate -iodide,  which 
is  insoluble  in  water.  In  tliis  state,  particularly  if 
it  shows  signs  of  containing  uncombined  iodine,  it  is 
unfit  for  use  in  medicine,  but  should  be  digested 
with  water  and  iron  wire,  and  when  the  brown  colour 
of  the  liquid  has  disappeared,  filtered,  and  once  more 
evaporated  to  dryness. 

The  syrup  is  an  important  preparation.  In 
making  it,  it  is  essential  to  follow  closely  the  in¬ 
structions  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  and  to  employ  the 
purest  sugar. 


BISMUTHI  SUBCARBONAS. 

BY  T.  P.  BLUNT. 

It  may  not  be  generally  known  that  the  commer¬ 
cial  “  subcarbonate  of  bismuth”  (Bismutlii  Carb. 
P.  B.)  contains  an  appreciable  quantity  of  silver,  in 
the  form  of  chloride. 

I  have  been  in  the  habit  for  some  time  of  prepar¬ 
ing  liq.  bismutlii  by  the  solution  of  the  above  salt  in 
nitric  acid,  and  though  samples  from  various  sources 
have  been  used,  there  has  always  appeared  a  heavy 
and  very  finely  divided  sediment,  which  passed  with 
readiness  through  a  filter,  and  could  only  be  removed 
by  subsidence  and  decantation ;  as  this  proved  a  source 
of  some  annoyance,  I  determined  to  ascertain  the 
nature  of  the  insoluble  matter,  when  it  was  found  as 
above  stated,  to  consist  of  chloride  of  silver. 

The  amount  was  ascertained  as  follows : — 

1000  grains  of  the  subcarbonate  of  bismuth  were 
dissolved  in  nitric  acid,  the  sediment  allowed  to  sub¬ 
side,  and  the  supernatant  fluid  decanted  off  as  closely 
as  possible,  the  residue  was  washed  with  nitric  acid 
by  decantation,  and  a  large  excess  of  strong  am¬ 
monia  was  then  gradually  added,  the  precipitated 
oxide  of  bismuth  was  thrown  on  a  filter  and  re¬ 
peatedly  washed  with  ammonia  water. 

To  the  filtrate  a  slight  excess  of  nitric  acid  was 
added,  the  precipitate  collected  on  a  filter  in  the 
usual  way,  dried,  ignited  in  a  porcelain  capsule, 
treated  with  nitro-liydrocliloric  acid,  and  again  gently 
ignited;  it  weighed  13  grains,  representing  0’98 
grain  metallic  silver,  or  about  0T  per  cent.  This 
proportion  is  obviously  of  no  importance  from  a  the¬ 
rapeutic  point  of  view ;  it  might,  however,  be  worth 
while  for  large  makers  to  separate  it  in  the  course  of 
manufacture,  as  might  readily  be  done  by  some  such 
process  as  that  given  above,  without  any  loss  of 
bismuth. 


THE  PRECIPITATION  OF  QUINIA  BY 
IODIDE  OF  POTASSIUM  FROM  ACID 
SOLUTIONS.* 

BY  J.  M.  MAISCH. 

Some  time  ago  the  following  prescription  was 
received : — 

fb  Quinise  Sulpliatis  gr.  xv 
Potassi  Iodidi  5i 
Tinct.  Ferri  Chloridi  5i 
Aquoe  $iv 
Syrupi  Zingib.  51. 

M. 

The  quinia  salt  was  dissolved  in  the  tincture  of 
iron,  the  potassium  iodide  in  the  •water,  and  the  so¬ 
lutions  mixed ;  a  brown  precipitate  was  at  once 
formed.  The  quinia  salt  was  now  dissolved  in  the 
water  with  the  addition  of  a  little  dilute  sulphuric 
acid,  the  iodide  added,  and  after  solution  had  taken 
place,  the  tincture  of  iron ;  the  same  result  was  pro¬ 
duced. 

It  was  now  supposed  that  the  iodide  might  contain 
some  iodate,  that  on  the  addition  of  an  acid,  iodine 
was  liberated,  which,  with  the  excess  of  iodide,  •would 
form  biniodide  of  potassium,  and  that  the  precipita¬ 
tion  occurred  in  consequence  of  the  presence  of  tliis 
compound.  But  when  the  solution  of  the  iodide 
(Atkinson  and  Biggar’s)  was  acidulated  with  muri¬ 
atic  acid,  a  reddish  colour  was  not  produced,  nor 
would  starch  paste  brought  in  contact  with  the  liquid 
acquire  a  blue  colour ;  iodic  acid  was  therefore  not 
present. 

Righini  stated  ( Journal  cle  Chim.  Med.  vol.  xiii.  p. 
110)  that  bisulphate  of  quinia  produces  with  iodide 
of  potassium  a  red  pulverulent  precipitate. 

A  considerable  quantity  of  iodide  of  potassium  -was 
dissolved  in  a  solution  of  one  part  of  sulphate  of 
quinia  in  twenty  of  water,  the  solution  of  the  latter 
salt  having  been  effected  with  just  enough  dilute 
sulphuric  acid.  A  white  precipitate  was  the  result, 
doubtless  owing  to  the  presence  of  some  quinidia  in 
the  quinia  salt ;  for  a  solution  of  one  part  of  quinia 
sulphate  in  forty  of  water,  effected  until  a  sufficient 
quantity  of  sulphuric  acid,  remained  clear  011  the  ad¬ 
dition  of  iodide  of  potassium  in  substance.  When  a 
considerable  excess  of  pure  sulphuric  or  muriatic 
acid  was  used  for  dissolving  the  quinia,  the  addition 
of  solution  of  potassium  iodide  occasioned  110  turbidity 
or  sediment ;  therefore  the  observation  of  Righini  is 
not  correct  as  far  as  it  relates  to  neutral  potassium 
iodide. 

A  solution  of  sulphate  of  quinia  (T40)  with  just 
sufficient  acid  was  prepared,  iodide  of  potassium 
added,  and  then  solution  of  citrate  of  iron ;  a  white 
turbidity  with  the  gradual  production  of  a  bright  red 
precipitate  was  the  result. 

The  same  quinia  solution  was  made,  except  that  a 
considerable  excess  of  dilute  sulphuric  acid  was  used ; 
after  the  solution  of  iodide  of  potassium  had  been 
effected,  every  drop  of  the  solution  of  iron  citrate 
occasioned  a  brownish-wliite  precipitate,  which  ra¬ 
pidly  changed  through  various  shades  into  deep 
brown.  If  the  order  of  mixing  was  reversed,  the 
potassium  iodide  yielded  with  dilute  sulphuric  acid 
a  colourless  solution,  which  became  turbid  and  turned 
brown  with  the  iron  citrate,  and  now  yielded  with 

*  Read  before  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy,  at 
the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting,  Dec.  20,  1870. 


March  18, 1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


745 


solution  of  quinia  a  darker  coloured  precipitate, 
changing  more  readily. 

If  an  aqueous  solution,  or  the  tincture  of  sesqui- 
cliloride  of  iron,  diluted  with  water  so  that  the  iron 
colour  can  scarcely  be  perceived,  is  mixed  with  solu¬ 
tion  of  potassium  iodide,  an  iodine  colour  is  at  once 
produced,  doubtless  owing  to  the  formation  of  ferric 
iodide:  Fe2Clg+3  KI=Fe2I,,+3KCl.  But  since  in 
a  mixture  of  solutions  of  different  salts  the  acid  and 
bases  interchange  in  part,  provided  an  insoluble 
compound  be  not  formed,  a  mixture  of  the  two  solu¬ 
tions  must  contain  Fe2Cl3,  Fe2I3,  KI  and  KC1;  the 
third  equivalent  of  iodine  in  Fe2 13  being  but  loosely 
combined,  we  have  in  the  above  mixture  practically 
KI2,  and  obtain  with  it  in  quinia  solutions  the  same 
precipitate  which  we  observe  on  the  addition  of 
Lugol’s  solution. 

The  appearance  of  the  red  or  brown  precipitate 
which,  according  to  Rigliini,  contains  quinia,  liydri- 
odic  acid  and  iodine,  depends  therefore  on  the  pre¬ 
sence  of  KI2,  or  if  KI  be  used,  on  the  presence  of 
some  other  compound  producing  the  former. 

The  precipitate  obtained  in  putting  up  the  above 
prescription,  after  having  been  well  washed  with 
water,  forms  a  brown  powder  having  a  slight  odour 
of  iodine,  which  is  slowly  evolved.  When  the  pre¬ 
cipitate  is  treated  with  ammonia,  it  changes  to  a  dull 
cinnabar  colour ;  dissolved  in  acids,  it  jffelds  a  copi¬ 
ous  precipitate  with  iodohydrargyrate  of  potassium. 
Heated  upon  platinum  foil,  it  decomposes,  leaving  a 
bulky  charcoal,  which  is  burned  with  difficulty  with¬ 
out  leaving  any  residue  behind.  The  precipitate 
therefore  contains,  beside  the  elements  of  quinia, 
only  iodine. — American  Journal  of  Pharmacy. 


THE  BOTANICAL  STUDENT’S  DREAM. 

“  Riclentem  dicere  verum 
Quid  vetat  ?” 

It  was  the  middle  of  February',  and  I  hoped  to  pass 
the  Minor  Examination  in  May.  I  had  devoted  my 
winter  evenings  to  botany,  and  was  endeavouring  to 
create  out  of  Bentley  and  my  own  inner  consciousness  a 
correct  idea  of  a  plant.  It  was  my  off-duty  night,  and, 
after  a  good  spell  of  reading,  I  found  that  my  notions, 
instead  of  clearing  up,  became  more  and  more  confused 
and  complicated.  Suddenly  it  came  into  my  head  that  I 
was  a  primordial  utricle,  and  how  to  get  out  of  my  cell, 
notwithstanding  its  walls  were  but  cellulose,  was  more 
than  I  could  accomplish.  But  no,  that  was  not  it ;  a 
painful  sensation  across  the  chest  made  it  evident  that  I 
was  a  cell  myself,  and  that  the  hour-glass  constrictive, 
preparatory  to  a  division  into  two  cells,  was  taking 
place.  Though  painful,  this  did  not  otherwise  distress 
me,  when  I  heard  a  rushing  noise — (was  it  a  cytoblast  F) 
—and,  presto  !  the  perfect  image  of  my  thoughts, — my 
ideal  plant  was  full  in  view  before  me.  Alas  !  what  a 
Frankenstein  had  I  brought  to  life,  or  to  death  in  life ! 
No  old  oak  wild  and  gnarled,  worn  with  the  storms  of 
five  hundred  winters,  ever  looked  so  weird  and  ghostly 
to  the  belated  traveller  as  he  passed  it  in  the  thickening 
twilight  as  did  my  unfortunate  creation.  Its  arms  were 
stretched  out  as  if  to  seize  upon  its  author,  but  the  cell 
division  being  now  completed,  I  slid  easily  out  of  the 
way.  .  I  saw  what  a  frightful  abortion  I  had  produced. 
Was  it  an  exogen  with  the  wrong  side  out,  or  an  endo- 
gen  with  the  wrong  side  in  ?  The  fibro- vascular  bundles 
were  rattling  loose  like  old  bones,  and  the  bark  of  the 
trunk,  where  there  was  any,  was  altogether  unlike  bark. 
Surely  the  liber  must  have  got  outside  the  epidermis, 
owing  to  its  being  made  out  of  a  book.  The  petioles 
were  at  the  wrong  ends  of  the  leaves,  and  the  peduncles 
had  no  work  to  do.  The  lacteals  were  leaky,  and  my 


nose  assured  mo  they  were  distilling  assafoctida ;  but  if 
so,  why  were  they  in  the  stem  ?  The  conversion  of  the 
elements  of  leaves  into  flowers  was  going  on  badly ; 
some  had  got  as  far  as  stamens,  and  were  intended  to  be 
hypogynous  when  the  ovary  arrived.  The  process  had 
followed  the  too  frequent  example  of  higher  organiza¬ 
tions,  and  become  a  case  of  cryptogamy.  There  were 
old  carpels  hanging  about,  which  ought  to  have  dehisced 
long  ago, — septicidally  probably,  suicidally  most  likely. 
The  seeds  were  all  loose,  so  I  supposed  the  dissepiments 
did  not  fit,  or  the  placentation  was  not  correct.  There 
were  spines  in  abundance, — naturally  enough  in  this  case, 
for  the  development  of  the  leaf-buds  had  proceeded  upon 
false  principles.  Involucres,  bracts,  spathes  and  glumes 
werq  stuck  about  here  and  there,  looking  as  out  of  place 
as  bills  upon  a  lamp  post. 

One  thought  pleased  me  at  last — the  roots  were  hidden 
out  of  sight.  Consequently,  whether  they  were  true 
roots  or  adventitious  I  did  not  care  ;  whether  rachis  or 
underground  stem,  whether  bulb,  corm  or  tuber,  it 
mattered  not ;  and,  as  long  as  my  own  medulla  was  safe, 
it  was  a  toss  up  whether  there  should  be  any  in  the  root 
or  not. 

To  complete  my  confusion,  I  now  saw  approach  the 
venerable  but  slightly  aquiline  form  of  the  examiner  in 
botany,  and  on  his  coming  the  miserable  spectre  I  had 
raised  fell  to  pieces  like  a  disarticulated  skeleton.  He 
saw  my  embarrassment,  and,  picking  up  one  of  the  frag¬ 
ments,  asked  mo,  in  a  gentle  voice,  “What  is  prosen- 
chyma  ?'  I  hesitated.  I,  who  had  been  using  it — alas  ! 
too  freely,  from  a  book  mind,  as  I  afterwards  remem¬ 
bered.  I  was  brimful  of  hard  and  uncomfortable  words 
as  good  companions  to  each  other  as  teasel  heads  or 
thorn-apples,  which  nevertheless  kept  shifting  about  as 
in  a  kaleidoscope ;  but  this  one  ivould  not  come  into  the- 
field  of  view.  I  answered  at  a  venture,  “  Protoplasm P 
He  gave  me  just  one  look,  stem  but  full  of  pity,  and 
the  expected  collapse  took  place. 

It  might  have  been  a  few  minutes  or  a  few  hours 
afterwards  that  I  saw  a  graceful  maiden,  with  a  golden 
glory  round  her  head,  walking  towards  me.  “  Youthful 
student,”  she  said,  “I  know  your  troubles,  and  am  come 
to  help  you.  My  name  is  Clytie.  The  sun  whom  I  fol¬ 
low  has  risen,  and  I  will  take  you  to  the  fields  where 
grow  the  anemones  and  primroses  and  the  yellow  daffo¬ 
dils.  We  will  follow  his  course  till  night,  and  before  he 
sets,  you  will  learn  more  of  the  glories  of  flower-land 
than  books  will  ever  teach  you.”  So  we  went  forth 
with  the  sun,  and  picked  the  earliest  blossoms  wet  with 
dew.  As  he  got  high  others  unfolded,  and  the  green  leaves 
overhead  and  the  grass  below,  the  leafy  hedgerows  and 
mossy  banks,  all  had  something  to  tell  and  something  that 
could  be  remembered.  And  the  bees  entered  the  flowers, 
to  show  us  where  were  the  nectaries,  and  got  covered  with 
pollen-grains,  till  they  were  as  dusty  as  millers.  We 
saw,  too,  the  colchicum  leaves,  like  bundles  of  spear¬ 
heads,  in  the  meadows ;  and  the  feathery  hemlock,  with 
its  livid  stems,  lurking  by  the  hedges  ;  the  viscid  hen¬ 
bane  on  the  chalky  upland  ;  the  dark  green  belladonna  ; 
the  dandelion,  despised  among  herbs  yet  honoured  phar¬ 
maceutically,  its  seed-heads  a  botanical  study ;  the  tall 
foxglove,  with  its  cups  for  the  fairy  folk  ;  and  the  male- 
fern,  with  its  crown  of  unfolding  fronds,  a  model  of 
graceful  beauty ;  and  the  sycamore  seeds  springing  up 
in  the  shade  where  grass  did  not  grow,  taught  the  secret 
of  cotyledons,  and  other  lessons  were  quickly  learned. 
And  the  odours  were  crushed  out  under-foot, — the 
allium,  fine  but  somewhat  high  ;  the  wild  thyme,  fresh 
and  sweet  ;  whilst  the  scent  of  the  anthoxanthum, 
sweetest  in  death,  was  borne  far  away  down  the  wind. 
And  so,  as  the  sun  westered,  the  world  of  flowers  had 
acquired  a  new  meaning ;  and  my  spoils  grew  heavy, 
and — but  the  fate  that  befalls  walking  philosophers  and 
star-gazers  in  general  befell  me.  Whether  it  was  a 
stump  or  a  bramble  I  do  not  know,  but  my  forehead 
came  into  sharp  contact  with — the  ground,  I  was  about 


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746 


[March  18, 1871. 


to  say ;  but  no,  it  was  the  corner  of  that  ‘Bentley’  lying 
on  the  table.  And  so  I  awoke. 

Moral. 

If  you  want  to  learn  botany,  do  not  begin  by  study¬ 
ing  an  advanced  work  on  the  subject,  and  by  cramming 
yourself  with  names  and  details  that,  if  you  have  a  good 
memory,  may  enable  you  to  pass  your  examination,  but 
which,  unless  you  have  struck  the  keynote  of  your  work, 
will  very  probably  be  soon  afterwards  forgotten,  or  re¬ 
duced  to  the  state  of  jumble  portrayed  above. 

Instead  of  this,  provide  yourself  with  a  pocket  lens 
and  a  sharp  penknife  ;  take  an  early  walk  into  the  coun¬ 
try,  and  bring  back  a  few  common  flowers,  pulling  them 
up  by  the  roots.  A  buttercup  will  do  excellently  well 
to  begin  with,  as  it  is  a  representative  of  the  first  Natural 
Order,  and  is  a  good  plant  to  work  upon.  Examine  it 
carefully  by  the  aid  of  a  simple  elementary  work,  such 
as  Oliver’s  ‘  Lessons  in  Botany,’ — a  cheap  book, — and  by 
the  time  you  have  got  through  a  few  common  plants  and 
a  few  chapters  of  your  book,  you  will  begin  to  take  an 
interest  in  your  subject,  and  will  be  glad  to  turn  to  the 
pages  of  ‘Bentley’  for  further  and  necessary  knowledge, 
—a  book  which,  if  taken  up  first-hand  is  “worse  than 
Greek  ”  to  many.  By  pursuing  this  course,  you  will  be 
learning  at  the  same  time  both  systematic  and  struc¬ 
tural  botany,*  and,  as  far  as  the  mere  examination  goes, 
you  will  gladden  the  heart  of  your  examiner  by  showing 
him  that  you  practically  understand  your  subject,  and 
that,  even  if  your  knowledge  be  limited,  it  is  sound. 
Beyond  this,  however,  and  what  is  of  far  more  impor¬ 
tance,  you  will  obtain  some  real  insight  into  botany, 
which  will  not  be  merely  ornamental,  but  will  be  of 
direct  personal  utility  as  long  as  you  follow  the  pharma¬ 
ceutical  profession. 

William  Southall. 


EEPORT  ON  THE  CULTIVATION  OF  CINCHONA  AT 
DARJEELING  FOR  THE  HALF-YEAR  ENDING 
SEPTEMBER  30,  1870. 

FROM  C.  B.  CLARKE,  ESQ.,  M.A., 

Officiating  Superintendent ,  Botanic  Garden ,  and  in  charge 
of  Cinchona  Cultivation  in  Bengal ,  to  the  Officiating 
Secretary  to  the  Government  of  Bengal ,  General  Depart¬ 
ment. 

The  season  has  been  unusually  wet,  the  rainfall 
having  already  (25th  October)  amounted  at  the  inspection 
bungalow  to  200  inches,  whereas  the  total  fall  for  the  year 
averages  180  inches  only.  The  health  of  the  plantations 
of  C.  succirubra  and  C.  calisaya  has  remained  good,  and 
their  growth  satisfactory,  though  somewhat  less  than 
that  of  the  preceding  year.  But  C.  officinalis  has  suffered 
more  than  during  previous  rainy  seasons,  and  all  hope 
must  be  abandoned  that  this  species  can  be  grown  to  an 
economic  profit  at  Rungbee. 

Taking  the  plantation  called  the  5th  in  the  tabular 
report,  which  represents  best  the  present  centre  of  the 
plantations,  it  will  appear  that  the  average  growth  of 
the  measured  plants  of  C.  calisaya  for  the  half-year  has 
been  36  inches,  and  that  of  C.  succirubra  22  inches.  The 
latter,  from  accidental  circumstances  in  choice  of  the 
plants  measured,  is  too  low,  and  does  not  represent 
fairly  the  growth  of  plants  of  that  age  in  that  part  of  the 


*  To  any  one  desiring  to  pursue  English  botany  further,  I 
should^  recommend  Bentham’s  ‘Handbook  of  the  British 
I  lora.  There  are  pharmacists  among  us,  men  of  our  own 
order,  who  are  specially  qualified  to  write  an  introductory 
treatise  on  botany  more  immediately  applicable  to  the  wants 
ot  pharmaceutical  students.  Oliver’s  instructions  are  too 
limited  in  their  range;  his  work  might  be  amplified  to  great 
advantage  in  our  particular  direction.  Whoever  (and  names 
rise  instinctively  to  the  mind)  deigned  to  contribute  such  a 
manual  would  confer  an  incalculable  benefit  on  many  a  per¬ 
plexed  student,  and  effectually  prepare  him  for  the  full  enjoy¬ 
ment  of  more  advanced  abstract  compendiums. 


plantation.  The  best  plants  of  C.  succirubra  and  C.  cali¬ 
saya  have,  within  three  years  of  planting  out,  surpassed 
20  feet  in  height.  No  measurement  is  given  of  C.  offi¬ 
cinalis  ;  it  may  be  said  generally  of  the  older  plants 
that  some  40  per  cent,  perished  during  the  last  six 
months,  and  that  those  which  survived  did  not  grow. 
The  number  of  plants  of  C.  officinalis  has  been  by  estima¬ 
tion  reduced  from  930,704  on  31st  of  March,  1870,  to 
440,000  on  30th  of  September,  1870,  but  it  would  be 
best,  in  any  calculations  regarding  these  plantations,  to 
write  off  these  440,000  at  once  ;  for,  though  some  of 
them  may  survive  for  years,  there  is  no  probability  that 
any  profitable  result  will  ever  be  derived  from  them. 

Throughout  the  C.  officinalis  plantation,  below  4500 
feet  level,  C.  succirubra  was  planted  in  1869  in  order  to 
utilize  the  area^  kept  clean  at  considerable  expense. 
These  young  C.  succirubra  promise  exceedingly  well. 

The  164,615  plants  of  C.  succirubra  planted  out  during 
the  early  part  of  the  six  months  under  report  were  re¬ 
quired  to  fill  up  the  1000  acres  of  that  species  as  designed 
by  Dr.  T.  Anderson.  The  33,101  plants  of  C.  officinalis 
were  put  out  at  a  higher  level  (5000  feet)  than  before  as 
an  experiment. 

By  far  the  greater  portion  of  the  coolie  labour  is 
spent  in  scouring  the  young  plantations  during  the  rains. 
In  order  to  ensure  a  sufficient  supply  of  labour  at  this 
period,  it  is  necessary  (as  in  the  surrounding  tea  planta¬ 
tions)  to  maintain  the  coolies  during  the  year,  so  that 
during  the  cold  weather  it  has  been  difficult  to  devise 
sufficient  employment  for  them.  The  cold  weather  is 
the  best  time  for  planting  out ;  and  in  accordance  with 
Dr.  T.  Anderson’s  advice,  it  is  proposed,  during  the  en¬ 
suing  cold  season,  to  employ  them  in  planting  out  C. 
succirubra  in  a  rough  way  on  some  portions  of  the  re¬ 
serve,  which  are  at  too  high  a  level  for  C.  calisaya  to 
thrive  upon.  And  it  is  for  this  purpose  that  a  con¬ 
siderable  quantity  of  C.  succirubra  seed  has  been  raised, 
put  down  at  500,000  (including  some  stock  raised  by 
cuttings). 

C.  calisaya  has  set  its  seed  very  favourably  during  the 
last  two  months.  This  seed  should  ripen  in  the  course 
of  next  spring :  and  it  is  hoped  that  in  future  the  quan¬ 
tity  of  seed  produced  will  be  sufficient  to  enable  the  ex¬ 
tension  of  C.  calisaya  in  any  quantity  that  may  be  thought 
desirable. 

Rungbee ,  near  Darjeeling , 

October  25th,  1870. 


NOTE  ON  AROMATIC  SULPHURIC  ACID  (U.S.). 

BY  JOIIX  W.  EHRMAH. 

Every  dispenser  is  acquainted  with  the  objections 
which  may  be  brought  up  to  the  present  officinal  for¬ 
mula  for  aromatic  sulphuric  acid.  As  the  committee  on 
revision  of  the  pharmacopoeia  is  now  in  session,  it  is 
to  be  hoped  that  the  formula  under  consideration  may 
be  modified,  and  with  it  several  others  of  a  like  nature. 

The  aromatic  sulphuric  acid  is  used  most  extensively 
as  a  solvent  for  sulphate  of  quinia,  in  prescription, 
usually  with  watery  or  syrupy  vehicles.  When  pre¬ 
scribed  alone  for  the  medicinal  effects  of  the  acid,  it  is 
not  unfrequently  diluted  in  order  to  modify  its  taste, 
and,  avoiding  the  use  of  drops,  to  render  its  administra¬ 
tion  more  convenient. 

Now,  when  the  elixir  of  vitriol  is  associated  in  this 
manner  with  watery  fluids,  the  colouring  and  extractive 
matter  becoming  insoluble  in  the  menstruum,  precipi¬ 
tates,  and  the  result  is  a  muddy  mixture  instead  of  the 
clear  solution  we  should  otherwise  obtain.  But  the 
elixir  of  vitriol,  even  undiluted,  is  constantly  undergoing 
change,  with  the  continual  deposition  of  a  bulky  preci¬ 
pitate,  so  that  it  can  be  dispensed  in  a  bright  condition 
only  by  frequent  filtration.  This,  of  course  is  exceed¬ 
ingly  annoying,  and  it  is  a  reproach  to  the  progress  of 
pharmacy  that  the  formula  has  been  so  long  retained 
without  material  change.  The  old  method  of  preparing 


March  18,  1871.3 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


747 


it  by  exhausting  the  powders  with  the  mixed  alcohol 
and  acid  is  preferable  to  that  now  employed,  as  it  gives 
a  preparation  less  prone  to  deposit  by  standing.  The 
other  objections,  however,  apply  to  this  with  equal 
force ;  for  the  ingredients  afford  to  the  menstruum  prin¬ 
ciples  which  must  of  necessity  separate  upon  dilution. 

In  revising  this  formula  we  should  keep  in  view  the 
fact  that  the  resulting  preparation  should  be  miscible 
-with  water  without  precipitation,  hence  aromatics  of  an 
-oleo-resinous  nature  cannot  be  used. 

The  following  formula  we  have  used  for  some  time, 
-and  have  found  entirely  satisfactory : — 

Take  of  Sulphuric  Acid,  3  troy  oz. 

Fluid  Extract  of  Orange  Peel,  1  fl.  oz. 

Red  Rose  Leaves,  2  drchs. 

Boiling  Water,  1  fl.  oz. 

Alcohol,  a  sufficient  quantity. 

Add  the  acid  gradually  to  half  a  pint  of  alcohol,  and  pour 
the  boiling  water  upon  the  rose  leaves ;  when  both  liquids 
have  become  cool  unite  them,  add  the  fluid  extract  and 
•sufficient  alcohol  to  make  up  the  measure  of  eighteen 
fluid  ounces.  Mix  thoroughly  and  filter. 

Elixir  of  vitriol,  thus  prepared,  has  a  pleasant  aro¬ 
matic  odour  and  flavour,  and  the  beautiful  red  colour 
of  the  rose  leaves,  heightened  by  the  presence  of  the 
acid.  It  is  miscible  with  water  without  turbidity,  and  a 
specimen,  after  long  keeping,  has  deposited  but  a  trace 
of  sediment. — The  Chicago  Pharmacist. 


WEST  INDIAN  MEDICINAL  PLANTS. 

Many  plants  not  ordinarily  recognized  possess  almost 
magical  powers  in  the  relief  and  cure  of  diseases,  and 
are  worth  further  investigation,  and  many  that  were 
only  a  few  years  ago  considered  of  no  value,  are  again 
brought  into  use  in  the  West  Indies.  I  will  here  allude 
to  but  two.  The  little  herb  ( Verbena  officinalis )  generally 
known  in  the  Bahamas  by  the  name  of  blue  flower,  is 
acknowledged  to  possess  some  medicinal  qualities. 

The  Spanish  name  yerba  sacra,  holy  herb,  is  assumed 
in  consequence  of  its  acknowledged  and  undeniable  vir¬ 
tues  ;  it  has  been  in  use  in  the  West  Indies  as  a  remedy 
from  time  immemorial. 

The  vervain  possesses  diaphoretic,  diuretic,  laxative, 
anthelmintic,  and  antiseptic  powers.  For  children  it  is 
one  of  the  best  preventives  against  worms.  By  making 
a  decoction  or  infusion  of  the  leaves  once  or  twice  a  week, 
and  giving  this  instead  of  their  ordinary  drink  for 
breakfast,  it  will  keep  the  bowels  regular,  the  skin  free 
•and  moist,  and  they  will  not  then  be  so  frequently 
troubled  with  those  obnoxious  companions.  If  this  plan 
were  generally  adopted,  we  should  hear  less  of  children 
dying  suddenly  or  being  attacked  with  convulsions. 

The  expressed  j  uice  of  the  whole  plant  also  serves  as 
a  gentle  purgative,  by  taking  a  tablespoonful  for  an  adult 
every  hour  till  it  operates.  Externally  applied,  the  juice 
is  found  to  be  of  no  little  value  in  healing  fresh  cuts  and 
wounds,  where  no  proud  flesh  exists.  But  it  developes 
its  qualities  in  a  most  marvellous  manner  in  the  cure  of 
fevers,  especially  those  of  the  putrid  kind,  such  as  yellow 
fever,  black  vomit,  etc.,  cleansing  and  purifying  the 
system  so  completely  and  in  such  a  short  time,  and  in  many 
instances  where  all  other  remedies  have  failed  to  per¬ 
form  a  cure,  as  would  astonish  the  most  sceptical  and 
unbelieving. 

Dr.  A.  Jackson,  a  physician  of  Nassau,  Bahamas,  states 
that  he  has  used  it  extensively  in  his  practice  for  many 
years  and  with  success.  He  cites  numbers  of  cases,  and 
one  of  putrid  fever  was  cured  in  eight  days,  the  principal 
ingredient  being  Verbena.  Mr.  Kenneth  Matheson, 
British  Vice-Consul  at  Bolivia,  in  a  letter  to  the  Governor 
of  the  Bahamas,  dated  April,  1853,  states  that  the  plant 
was  proved  to  be  “  a  cure  for  yellow  fever  and  black 
vomit,  and  that  it  was  successfully  used  in  restoring  to 
perfect  health  many  persons  afflicted  with  that  disease 
who  had  been  declared  by  several  medical  practitioners 


to  be  in  a  hopeless  state.  The  medical  men  likewise  have 
adopted  the  same  remedy  with  perfect  success.”  He 
then  continues  to  say,  “  that  in  Jamaica  it  was  also 
proved  to  be  a  remedy  of  great  value  in  t{iis  disease, 
having  been  tried  and  found  as  successful.” 

Another  plant,  called  locally  the  Bitter  Bush  ( Eupa - 
torium  sp.),  is  stated  in  Jamaica  to  be  a  remedy  for 
cholera. 

The  class  of  plants  arranged  under  the  head  “  Eupa- 
torium  ”  is  as  varied  and  extensive  as  the  surface  over 
which  they  are  scattered, — species  of  it  being  found  in 
every  climate  and  situation  throughout  the  known  world. 
Whether  they  all  possess  similar  principles  is  a  question 
to  be  decided  only  by  time  and  inquiry.  There  are 
many  species  described  as  indigenous  to  Jamaica  and 
the  other  West  India  Islands,  namely : — 

Eupatovium  parviflorum  ;  diffusion  ;  macrophyllum  ;  vil- 
losum  ;  nervosum;  cor  difolium  ;  montanum  ;  rigidum  ;  ma- 
cranthum  ;  Pa  lea  ;  trifidum  ;  conyzoides  ;  atriplicifolium  ; 
repandum  ;  sinuatum  ;  obtusifolium ;  cotinifolium ;  tri- 
plincrvc  ;  ivcefolium  ;  stcediadi folium  ;  myosotifolium  ;  spi- 
catum  ;  furcation  ;  cubense  ;  sophiafolium. 

Of  these,  only  three  have  been  a3  yet  applied  as  a  re¬ 
medy  in  cholera.  Two,  which  appear  to  be  E.  nervosum 
and  E.  villosum  in  St.  Catherine’s  and  the  neighbouring 
parishes,  and  E.  rigidum  on  the  north  side  of  the  island. 

In  collecting  the  plant,  the  best  mode  of  proceeding  is 
to  gather  it  after  the  dew  has  disappeared ;  and  as  soon 
as  a  sufficient  quantity  has  been  collected  and  brought 
in,  and  whilst  fresh,  cut  the  small  branches,  with  the 
leaves  on,  in  lengths  of  8  or  10  inches, — put  them  in 
straight  lengths,  then  tie  them  up  in  bundles  of  half  a 
pound  and  pack  them  close  in  a  clean  box.  When  the 
bush  is  allowed  to  remain  for  a  few  hours  the  leaves 
become  dry  and  crumble  into  dust  when  handled.  The 
name  of  Bitter  Bush  is  applied  indiscriminately  in  St. 
Catherine’s  and  some  other  parishes  in  Jamaica  to  several 
species  of  Eupatorium ,  and  in  St.  Ann’s  and  other  parts 
Christmas  Bush  is  in  like  manner  applied  to  the  same 
plant. 

These  several  species  of  Eupatorium ,  variously  called 
Bitter  Bush  and  Christmas  Bush,  have  been  used  in  all 
stages  of  cholera  with  invariable  success. 

The  Eupatorium  leaves  none  of  those  dangerous  per¬ 
manent  unpleasant  symptoms  produced  by  opium,  lead, 
zinc,  calomel,  or  by  the  saline  treatment  alone.  Sup¬ 
pression  of  urine  never  occurs,  but,  on  the  contrary,  when 
that  painful  and  dangerous  symptom  takes  place  after 
the  use  of  other  remedies,  a  dose  or  two  of  the  decoction 
immediately  relieves  the  patient.  It  is  a  remedy  at  every 
man’s  door  in  the  tropics,  and  requires  no  other  prepara¬ 
tion  than  is  necessary  to  make  any  other  bush  tea.  Boijt 
two  drachms  of  the  bush  in  a  pint  of  water  into  a  strong- 
decoction,  let  it  get  quite  cold,  and,  in  case  of  cholera, 
give  a  small  teacupful  (two  or  three  ounces)  every  half- 
hour  until  the  symptoms  are  checked  ;  then  extend  the 
time  (according  to  the  severity  of  the  symptoms)  to  every 
hour  or  second  hour  until  the  symptoms  are  entirely 
abated. 

In  simple  diarrhoea  give  the  same  quantity  every  hour 
or  second  hour,  according  to  severity  of  the  attack, 
— but  seldom  more  than  one  or  at  most  two  doses  are 
required. 

It  is,  perhaps,  as  well  to  give  a  caution  against  the 
use  of  the  decoction  as  a  preventive.  The  Eupatorium 
is  a  remedy  in  the  existing  disease,  but  the  use  of  it  as 
a  preventive  will  be  more  injurious  than  otherwise. 

P.  L.  S. 


Death  from  Vaccination. — In  Liverpool  a  death 
has  followed  as  the  result  of  vaccination.  It  appealed 
that  the  deceased  had  vaccinated  himself  from  the  arm 
of  a  friend,  who  was  a  chemist  and  druggist,  and  died 
about  ten  days  afterwards  of  pyaemia.  Medical  evidence 
was  given  to  the  effect  that  the  deceased  was  in  a  very  unfit 
state  for  vaccination,  as  he  was  suffering  from  diabetes. 


748 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  18, 1871 . 


THE  DIFFERENCE  BETWEEN  SPECIES  AND  RACE. 

In  the  review  of  a  work  by  M.  Quatrefages,  entitled, 

1  Charles  Darwin  et  ses  Precurseurs  Frangais,’  which  re¬ 
cently  appeared  in  the  Gardeners’  Chronicle ,  a  resume  is 
given  of  the  arguments  of  that  celebrated  naturalist, 
from  which  we  abstract  the  following  particulars. 

As  the  result  of  an  examination  of  the  doctrine  of 
Darwin,  M.  Quatrefages  considers  that  it  resolves  itself 
into  a  simple  and  clear  notion,  which  may  be  represented 
in  the  following  formula : — All  the  actual  and  present 
animal  and  vegetable  species  descend  by  way  of  succes¬ 
sive  transformations  from  three  or  four  original  types, 
and  probably  from  one  solitary  primitive  archetype. 
Thus  explained,  he  thinks  Darwinism  has  in  it  nothing- 
very  new,  and  that  the  admirers  of  Darwin  have  not  done 
justice  to  those  who  have  preceded  him  in  this  path  of 
speculation,  such  as  De  Maillet,  Robinet,  Buffon,  Geof- 
froy  and  Isidore  Saint-Hilaire,  Bory  de  Saint  Vincent, 
and  M.  Naudin. 

The  “general  exposition  of  Darwinism”  which  fol¬ 
lows  is  probably  more  in  accord  with  the  real  views  of 
Darwin,  especially  in  reference  to  the  doctrine  of  natural 
selection,  than  the  writings  of  professed  admirers  and 
champions  of  the  school. 

M.  Quatrefages  is  at  issue  writh  Mr.  Darwin  on  the 
subject  of  the  transmutation  of  species,  whilst  he  believes 
in  their  variability.  All  Nature  manifests  correlation, 
and  all  the  extinct  species  of  animals  range  themselves 
side  by  side,  or  in  the  vicinity  of  species  at  present  ex¬ 
isting.  To  find  place  for  all  the  fossil  animals  yet  dis¬ 
covered,  it  has  not  been  necessary  to  create  one  single 
additional  class.  The  extinct  and  the  living  species  ap¬ 
pear  as  the  integral  parts  of  one  system  of  creation.  The 
embryonic  structure  of  animals  tends  to  the  same  con¬ 
clusion.  The  second  part  of  the  book  deals  with  the 
nature  of  the  proofs  invoked.  The  author  finds  that  in 
all  the  writers  quoted  personal  conviction  takes  the  place 
of  logical  argument.  Modern  science  requires  more  than 
this,  and  only  accepts  as  proofs  well-defined  facts,  and 
such  as  have  been  subjected  to  vigorous  criticism.  M. 
Quatrefages  contends  that  the  notions  of  Darwinism  are 
opposed  to  the  observed  and  ascertained  laws  of  creation, 
and  to  the  facts  brought  to  our  view  by  Paleontology, 
and  says  that  Lamarck,  in  setting  out  from  an  assump¬ 
tion  of  spontaneous  generation  has,  at  all  events,  a  logical 
basis  on  which  to  rest  his  theory  ;  but  Darwin,  in  refus¬ 
ing  this  doctrine,  and  in  leaving  out  of  sight  the  origin 
of  his  primordial  being,  is  obliged  to  admit  that  some 
unknown  cause  has  played  the  part  of  a  creative  power 
on  this  globe,  and  that  only  for  once,  during  a  limited 
time,  and  in  only  one  manner.  To  produce  for  once  an 
archetype,  and  to  remain  inoperative  for  ever  after,  is 
contrary  to  all  human  experience  and  belief. 

M.  Quatrefages  afterwards  enters  upon  the  questions 
of  species  and  races  of  hybridation  and  cross-breeding 
( 'metissage ).  He  says  the  two  first  terms  are  often  con¬ 
founded.  He  quotes  Isidore  Saint-Hilaire,  who,  after  a 
learned  examination  of  the  opinions  of  the  most  eminent 
botanists  and  geologists,  says : — “  Such  is  species  and 
such  is  race,  not  only  for  the  schools  into  which  na¬ 
turalists  are  divided,  but  for  all.  The  gravity  of  their 
differences  respecting  the  origin  and  the  anterior  phases 
of  the  existence  of  species  does  not  hinder  them  from 
proceeding  to  the  distinction  and  determination  of  spe¬ 
cies  and  race  in  the  same  way.  So  long  as  the  question 
is  only  concerning  the  actual  state  of  organized  beings, 
all  naturalists  think  the  same,  or  at  least  act  as  if  they 
thought  the  same.” 

M.  Quatrefages  thinks  these  words  exactly  define  the 
question.  “  they  teach  us  that  schools  exist  only  when 
wre  take  a  position  outside  of  time  and  place  accessible  to 
observation,  and  that  they  are  effaced  as  soon  as  we  enter 
on  reality.  In  the  presence  of  what  is,  it  is  no  longer 
possible  to  argue  about  what  might  be.”  Our  author 
cites  the  definitions  of  between  twenty  and  thirty  lead¬ 


ing  naturalists,  from  the  times  of  Ray  to  the  present,, 
and  finds  that  “  when  they  would  define  species  they 
have  all  been  constrained  to  include,  in  their  formulas 
the  two  ideas  of  resemblance  and  of  descent.”  Vogt 
fix-st  comprehended  in  his  definition  of  species  the  notion 
of  the  phenomenon  of  geneagencsis  ;  more  recent  works, 
and  especially  those  of  Darwin,  have  shown  the  great 
importance  of  polymorphism. 

This  is  illustrated  by  the  changes  undergone  in  a  cycle 
of  generations  of  a  Medusa ,  through  the  whole  of  which 
it  remains  fundamentally  the  same.  Similar  facts  lead¬ 
ing  to  the  same  result  have  been  traced  out  in  the 
vegetable  kingdom. 

“The  species,”  then,  according  to  M.  Quatrefages,  “is 
the  collective  amount  of  individuals  more  or  less  resem¬ 
bling  each  other,  which  are  descended,  or  can  be  looked 
upon  as  descended,  from  one  primitive  pair  by  an  unin¬ 
terrupted  and  natural  succession  of  families. 

“  The  variety  is  an  individual,  or  a  collection  of  indi¬ 
viduals,  belonging  to  the  same  sexual  generation,  which 
is  distinguished  from  other  representatives  of  the  same 
species  by  one  or  more  exceptional  characteristics. 

“  The  race  is  the  totality  of  individuals  belonging  to  a 
single  species  having  received,  and  transmitting  by  way 
of  generation,  the  characters  of  a  primitive  variety. 

“  Thus  the  species  is  the  point  of  departure.  In  the- 
midst  of  the  individuals  which  compose  the  species  ap¬ 
pears  the  variety,  and  when  the  characters  of  the  variety 
become  hereditary  they  form  a  race.  These  are  the  re¬ 
lations  which  for  all  naturalists  reign  between  these 
three  terms,  and  which  it  is  necessary  to  have  constantly 
before  the  mind  in  the  study  of  the  questions  which 
occupy  us.” 

Hence  it  follows  that  the  notion  of  resemblance,  which 
is  very  much  attenuated  in  the  species,  becomes  of  abso¬ 
lute  importance  in  the  race. 

The  union  of  individuals  of  different  species  is  very 
rarely  productive.  It  is  quite  otherwise  with  the  union 
of  individuals  of  the  same  species  but  of  different 
races. 

M.  Quatrefages  considers  both  Lamarck  and  Darwin 
confound  the  ideas  of  species  and  of  race.  He  says  that 
Darwin,  in  order  to  sustain  his  theory,  should  have 
proved  that  crossing  between  races  is  not  always  pos¬ 
sible  ;  and  that  crossing  between  species  can  give  rise  to^ 
hybrid  races.  This  he  is  so  far  from  being  able  to  do, 
that  his  works  are  a  storehouse  of  observations  tending 
to  prove  the  direct  contrary. 

The  power  which  man  possesses  of  creating  and  modi¬ 
fying  races  both  in  the  animal  and  vegetable  -world,  is 
very  great.  Beginning  with,  the  egg,  he  can,  by  the 
simple  application  of  heat  in  different  ways,  evolve  ab¬ 
normal  productions,  and  by  altering  the  surrounding  cir¬ 
cumstances  of  life,  and  by  carefully  crossing  only  with 
those  possessing  like  peculiarities,  he  can  produce  races 
so  unlike  the  species  that  they  would  certainly  be  set 
down,  at  first  sight,  as  altogether  different  species.  Thus, 
fi’om  one  species  of  pigeon  (as  Mr.  Darwin  believes)  he 
has  succeeded  in  raising  150  races,  but  they  are  all, 
nevei'theless,  one  species,  and  propagate  freely  among, 
themselves.  The  dog,  also,  in  like  manner,  has  vailed, 
under  his  hand  into  180  races,  and  it  is  familiar  to  eveiy 
one  how  wonderful  the  triumph  of  human  art  has  been, 
in  the  vegetable  kingdom.  But  man  has  never  yet  suc¬ 
ceeded  in  producing  one  species,  self-maintaining,  cap¬ 
able  of  continued  fertility  within  itself,  and  unfruitful  in 
crossing  with  other  species. 

The  advocates  of  Darwinism  say  that,  if  man  can  do 
so  much,  Nature,  having  all  time  at  her  disposal,  can  do 
much  more,  and  M.  Quatrefages  admits  that  the  argu- 
nxent  is  plausible,  but  denies  its  correctness.  He  shows 
that  man  can  do  many  things  which  Nature  cannot,  and 
that  in  the  natural  state  of  things  we  do  not  find  such 
phenomena  as  occur  under  the  hand  of  man.  In  fact,  if 
thei'e  is  anything  which  must  strike  an  observer  in  the 
organized  world  it  is  the  order  and  the  constancy  which- 


March  18, 1871. 3 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


74D 


we  see  reigning  for  ages.  The  cause  of  all  this  is  simple 
and  unique.  If  the  unions  between  wild  species  were  in 
all  senses  and  indefinitely  fruitful,  as  they  are  among 
our  doves  and  in  our  stables,  what  would  happen  ?  The 
harriers  between  species,  between  genera,  would  be  taken 
away.  Crossing  would  take  place  in  all  directions ; 
everywhere  would  appear  intermediate  types,  every¬ 
where  the  actual  distinctions  would  gradually  become 
■effaced  and  disappear.  It  is  impossible  to  imagine  where 
the  confusion  would  stay  its  course.  It  would  become  a 
•chaos  of  misformed  creatures,  such  as  the  Babylonians 
dreamt  of,  and  such  as  Lucretius  described. 

The  same  observations  apply  to  past  geological  ages 
as  well  as  to  the  present.  All  things  being  alike  in 
•other  respects,  fossil  species  are  as  well  defined  and  as 
•distinct  as  those  of  the  present  era. 

Everything  leads  us  to  the  conclusion  that  the  laws  of 
the  organic  world  have  not  changed  since  the  beginning. 
To  admit  the  contrary  is  to  oppose  to  all  that  we  know 
concerning  the  present  and  the  past  of  our  globe,  the 
possible,  the  unknown,  or,  in  other  words,  hypothesis, 
having  for  its  foundation  our  very  ignorance. 

On  this  account  M.  Quatrcfages  declines  to  believe  in 
the  origin  of  species  by  gradual  transformation,  and,  in 
the  name  of  science,  feels  compelled  to  combat  Darwinism 
as  much  as  the  hypothesis  of  Lamarck. 


GLYCYRRHIZIN.* 

BY  JOSEPH  M.  HIIISH. 

The  mode  of  preparing  glycyrrhizin,  mentioned  in 
fhe  last  Dispensatory,  of  precipitating  the  same  from  a 
•cold  infusion,  I  found  highly  impracticable,  on  account  of 
the  slight  solubility  of  the  same  in  cold  water.  Ber¬ 
zelius’s  method  of  preparing  it  from  sulphate  of  glycyr¬ 
rhizin  gave  but  a  dark- coloured  product,  difficult  to 
purify,  while  Vogel’s  method  of  preparing  a  plumbate 
of  glycyrrhizin,  and  subsequent  decomposition  with 
hydric  sulphuret,  is  rather  laborious.  The  best  practical 
process  appeared  to  be  the  preparation  from  an  infusion 
made  with  boiling  water  of  acetate  of  glycyrrhizin,  which 
upon  evaporation  to  dryness  is  dissolved  in  alcohol, 
when  the  acetic  acid  is  neutralized  with  soda,  the  new 
salt  crystallizing  out,  while  the  glycyrrhizin  remains  in 
solution.  Another  method,  giving  good  results,  I  found 
to  be  the  preparation  of  an  alcoholic  extract  by  percola¬ 
tion,  which  I  heated  to  the  boiling-point,  filtered  off  from 
the  product  produced,  when  I  evaporated  nearly  to  dry¬ 
ness,  redissolved  in  alcohol,  from  which  solution  it  re¬ 
mained  behind  almost  pure  upon  evaporation. 

Experimenting  with  this  product  in  regard  to  its  re¬ 
lation  to  masking  bitterness,  I  found  one  part  to  cover 
up  the  bitter  taste  of  four  parts  of  Epsom  salts,  a  slight 
addition  of  the  latter  being  plainly  perceptible,  although 
by  no  means  as  disagreeable  as  when  tasted  alone.  .Of 
an  alcoholic  extract  of  coffee,  an  amount  representing 
twenty  parts  of  coffee,  lost  its  bitter  taste  upon  the  addi¬ 
tion  of  the  glycyrrhizin.  A  number  of  other  experi¬ 
ments  of  similar  kind  were  made,  but  your  reporter  re¬ 
spectfully  expresses  his  doubts  about  the  mathematical 
reliability  of  results,  arrived  at  by  taste  alone,  and  con¬ 
fines,  therefore,  his  remarks  to  the  modus  operandi  of  the 
glycyrrhizin. 

Taste  being  an  effect  upon  the  nerves  of  sensation  (of 
taste),  the  change  of  taste  can  be  produced  either  by  a 
•chemical  change  of  a  substance,  or  by  a  peculiar  local 
affection  of  the  nerves  of  taste.  The  first  case,  as  might 
have  been  anticipated,  with  Epsom  salts,  does  not  occur, 
the  glycyrrhizin  not  affecting  the  sulphate  of  magnesia 
in  any  way. 

*  Paper  read  at  the  Meeting  of  the  American  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Association  in  answer  to  the  query,  “  What  is.  the  easiest 
and  most  practicable  method  of  isolating  glycyrrhizin  ;  to 
what  extent  does  it  possess  the  power  of  masking  bitterness; 
and  what  is  its  mode  of  action  ?” 


The  second  supposition  then  lay  near,  namely,  that 
the  nerves  were  rendered  insensible  to  the  bitter  taste. 
This  might  be  done  by  an  organic  change  of  nerve 
matter,  or  by  the  interposition  of  a  foreign  body  between 
the  nerves  and  the  bitter  substance.  To  ascertain  the 
former  lay  beyond  the  facility  of  your  reporter,  and  I 
made,  therefore,  the  best  of  the  last  supposition,  which 
seems  to  give  a  true  solution  of  the  problem.  When 
glycyrrhizin  or  liquorice  dissolves  upon  the  tongue,  the 
latter  soon  becomes  furred,  coated,  this  coat  being  a 
coagulum  of  the  albumen  of  the  saliva  with  the  glycyr¬ 
rhizin.  A  few  tests  convinced  me  that  even  a  weak 
solution  of  albumen  coagulates  readily  with  glycyrrhizin, 
and  I  took  the  artificial  coating  of  the  nerves  produced 
by  the  albuminous  coagulum  of  glycyrrhizin  to  be  the 
true  cause  of  its  masking  bitterness.  If  this  was  true, 
other  substances,  which  readily  coagulate  albumen, 
should  produce  the  same  result. 

With  this  idea  I  tried  a  solution  of  carbolic  acid  with 
various  bitter  substances,  and  in  each  case  the  bitterness 
was  annihilated  if  the  quantity  of  carbolic  solution  was 
sufficient.  But  while  glycyrrhizin  and  its  compounds 
are  sweet,  this  is  not  the  case  with  carbolic  acid,  the 
taste  of  which  replaced  that  of  the  bitter  substance  with 
which  it  was  mixed,  this  taste  being  in  itself  not  agree¬ 
able.  To  remedy  this  evil,  carbolate  of  glycerin  was 
tried  with  marked  success.  Epsom  salts,  coffee,  ab¬ 
sinthe,  etc.,  lost  their  bitter  taste  when  mixed  with  a 
sufficiency  of  caiholic  glycerin. — Proc,  Atner.  Pharm. 
Assoc.,  1870. 


NEW  METHOD  0E  DISTINGUISHING  VEGETABLE 

FIBRES. 

Dr.  Isidor  Walz  gives,  in  the  Manufacturer  s  Review, 
a  summary  of  M.  Vetillard’s  method  of  distinguishing 
the  fibres  of  linen,  hemp,  cotton,  jute,  China  grass,  New 
Zealand  flax,  which  is  of  such  easy  execution  that  we 
print  the  whole  of  it. 

If  a  woven  or  spun  fibre  is  to  be  examined,  it  must 
first  be  disintegrated  into  the  single  fibres,  and  any 
colour  or  finish  must  be  removed  as  completely  as  pos¬ 
sible.  Ver-tical  and  longitudinal  microscopic  sections 
are  next  made.  These  are  rendered  transparent  by  gly¬ 
cerine  or  chloride  of  calcium,  and  treated  with  tincture 
of  iodine,  made  by  simply  dissolving  iodine,  in  a  solution 
of  iodide  of  potassium.  The  excess  of  this  tincture  is 
removed,  a  drop  of  dilute  sulphuric  acid  added,  and  the 
sections  examined  by  the  aid  of  the  microscope. 

Linen  Fibre. — Bundles  of  smaller  fibres,  with  a.  fine 
canal  in  the  centre,  long,  uniformly  thick,,  and  pointed 
at  tho  ends.  Longitudinal  section :  the  fibres  are  co¬ 
loured  blue,  the  canal  yellow.  Cross  section:  regular 
polygons,  loosely  connected,  coloured  blue;  centres 
yellow. 

Hemp. — Fibres  aggravated ;  each  fibre  covered  with  a 
thin  skin,  coloured  yellow.  They  are  thick  and  less 
uniform,  them  tho  linen  fibres.  J?he  ends  ure  thick,  cind 
of  the  shape  of  spatulas,  and  become  blue  or  greenish- 
blue  with  iodine.  Cross  section:  irregular  polygons, 
firmly  connected :  rim  yellow,  the  mass  blue,  the  centre 

colourless.  .  ... 

Cotton. — Longitudinal  section:  single  fibres,  spirally 
wound  on  their  own  axis,  with  a  central  canal  and  broad 
ends ;  coloured  blue  by  iodine.  The  cross  sections  are 
rounded  in  the  shape  of  kidneys  and  colouied  blue,  with 
yellow  spots  interspersed. 

China  Grass. — Longitudinal  section:  fibres,  separated 
lengthwise,  of  varying  thickness.  The  interior  canal  is 
often  filled  with  a  yellow  granular  substance,  which  is 
coloured  brown  by  iodine.  The  fibre  is  turned  blue  by 
iodine.  Cross  section  :  irregular,  with  re-entrant  angles, 
and  little  cohesion.  The  fibres  are  stouter  than  a 
other  fibres,  and  are  turned  blue  by  iodine. 

Jute. — Fibres  strongly  coherent,  the  ends  undulatmg, 
and  difficult  to  separate.  Central  canal  wide,  empty, 


750 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  18,  1871, 


and  gently  rounded  at  the  ends ;  coloured  yellow.  Cross 
section :  polygons  strongly  coherent  and  regular,  much 
like  those  of  hemp,  hut  the  central  opening  is  larger; 
coloured  yellow,  darker  at  the  rim. 

Kciv  Zealand  Flax. — Bundles  of  cells  of  the  leaves, 
easily  separated  with  a  needle  into  stiff  little  fibres,  pro¬ 
vided  with  a  canal  of  uniform  width.  The  sides  are 
rolled  inwards;  coloured  yellow.  The  cross  section 
resembles  that  of  jute,  but  the  corners  of  the  polygons 
are  rounded  off.  They  are  coloured  yellow  by  iodine 
tincture. — Journal  of  Applied  Chemistry. 


MEETING  IN  NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE. 

A  Meeting  of  chemists  and  druggists  was  held  in  the 
lecture-room  of  the  College  of  Medicine,  Newcastle,  on 
March  13th,  to  consider  the  poison  regulations  as  pro- 
jiosed  by  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  and 
other  business.  Mr.  J.  W.  Swan,  having  been  called  to 
the  chair,  opened  the  proceedings  by  saying  it  would 
be  desirable  to  discuss,  in  a  conversational  manner,  the 
merits  of  the  proposed  regulations  before  passing  any 
formal  resolution  upon  the  subject.  He  remarked  that 
if  the  regulations  were  adopted,  and  we  were  to  practise 
a  minimum  of  what  would  then  be  required,  the  re¬ 
quirement  would  be  that  all  vessels  containing  poison 
should  be  distinguished  in  some  exceedingly  slight  man¬ 
ner  from  those  which  contained  non-poisonous  substances. 
One  great  objection  to  a  compulsory  measure  was,  that 
the  enforced  precaution  to  be  general  must  of  neces¬ 
sity  be  slight,  probably  much  less  stringent  than  the 
precautionary  measures  which  would  otherwise  have 
1  icon  voluntarily  adopted.  As  to  special  forms  of  poison 
bottles,  as  a  particular  pattern  was  not,  and  cannot  be, 
universally  adopted,  the  connection  between  a  particular 
form  of  bottle  and  its  contents,  being  invariably  of  a 
poisonous  nature,  could  not  by  any  possibility  take  hold 
of  the  public  mind.  Such  bottles  would,  by  the  public, 
be  put  to  all  the  natural  uses  of  bottles  in  general,  and 
at  last  be  used  quite  indiscriminately.  It  appeared  to 
him  they  had  two  or  three  courses  to  pursue  in  the 
matter.  One  was  not  to  do  anything  at  all ;  another 
was  to  support  the  Council  in  carrying  out  these  com¬ 
pulsory  regulations.  Another  course  was  to  recommend 
some  modification  of  the  regulations ;  but  if  they  wished 
to  be  left  to  themselves  in  the  management  of  poisons,  to 
use  their  own  judgment,  then  the  obvious  course  for 
them  to  pursue  was  to  oppose  the  new  regulations. 

Mr.  Biiady  explained  the  present  position  of  the 
question  as  between  the  Privy  Council,  the  Council  of 
the  Society  and  the  members ;  and  reviewed  some  of  the 
reasons  which  might  be  given  against  the  enactment  of 
the  regulations  brought  forward  by  the  Council,  con¬ 
demning  any  increase  to  the  present  compulsory  code  as 
probably  entirely  unnecessary  and  certainly  premature. 

Mr.  R.  H.  Brockett  supported  the  remarks  of  the 
previous  speakers ;  and  after  some  further  observations 
from  the  meeting,  which  expressed  itself  as  being 
strongly  opposed  to  the  regulations,  he  moved  the  fol¬ 
lowing  resolution,  -which  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Glover 
and  carried  unanimously : — 

“  Considering  the  great  diversity  of  arrangements  ne¬ 
cessary  in  different  pharmaceutical  establishments,  this 
meeting  thinks  it  impracticable  to  draw  up  any  code  of 
regulations  for  the  keeping  of  poisons  which  it  would 
be  desirable  to  enforce  alike  in  all.” 

The  Chairman  said  he  did  not  see  the  necessity  for 
compulsory  regulations,  for  practically  no  serious  danger 
to  the  public  at  present  existed. 

Various  gentlemen  present  having  expressed  their 
conviction  that  the  number  of  cases  of  poisoning  which 
were  sought  to  be  prevented  by  the  proposed  regula¬ 
tions  was  very  small,  and  likely  to  become  gradually  less 
under  the  operation  of  the  Pharmacy  Act,  and  that  any 
compulsory  derangement  of  existing  precautions  would 
result  in  a  present,  if  not  a  permanent,  increase  of 
danger.  Mr.  R.  Elliott  moved — 


“  That  it  is  not  desirable  to  attempt  any  additions  to 
the  compulsory  regulations  for  the  keeping  and  selling 
of  poisons  already  contained  in  the  Pharmacy  Act,  till 
experience  has  shown  that  the  latter  do  not  afford  all 
reasonable  protection  against  errors  on  the  part  of  phar¬ 
macists. 

The  resolution,  having  been  seconded  by  Mr.  Wilkin¬ 
son,  was  carried  unanimously. 

Mr.  B.  S.  Proctor  said  that  remarks  having  fallen 
from  Mr.  Brady  and  other  gentlemen  that  it  might  bo 
desirable  for  the  Council  to  submit  a  code  of  regulations 
which  they  could  recommend  for  voluntary  adoption 
wherever  practicable,  he  would  suggest  that  the  addition 
of  a  label  stating  the  dose  was  the  most  desirable  addition 
to  the  name  of  the  article,  as  a  means  of  promoting  an 
intelligent  caution  in  the  handling  of  dangerous  drugs. 
He  said  he  had  taken  so  prominent  a  part  in  the  dis¬ 
cussion  of  the  question  in  the  Journal,  that  he  would 
not  now  move  any  resolution  upon  the  subject ;  his 
desire  being  rather  to  elicit  the  expression  of  opinion 
from  others  than  to  advocate  his  own.  He  had  already 
advocated  this  proposition,  and  now  would  only  add  that 
he  considered  it  eminently  useful,  practical  and  simple, 
and  calculated  to  encourage  a  thoughtful  attention  to  the 
labels ;  in  this  respect  contrasting  with  many  distinctive 
marks  or  stoppers  which  had  been  proposed,  which  he 
thought  likely  to  encourage  the  habit  of  knowing  the 
bottle  by  its  stopper  or  its  general  appearance,  thus 
withdrawing  part  of  the  attention  which  should  be  con¬ 
centrated  upon  the  label.  If  the  meeting  agreed  with 
him  in  this  respect,  he  would  be  glad  to  see  a  resolution 
proposed  embodying  the  suggestion. 

A  general  conversation  ensued,  after  which  it  was 
moved  by  Mr.  T.  E.  Watson,  seconded  by  Mr.  J.  C. 
Ritson,  and  carried  unanimously, — 

“  That  the  following  be  suggested  to  the  Coimcil  of 
the  Pharmaceutical  Societv  as  a  suitable  basis  for  regu- 
lations  to  be  recommended  for  voluntary  adoption : — • 

11  In  the  keeping  of  Poisons. 

“1.  That  all  poisons  should  be  labelled  with  their 
name. 

“  2.  That  poisons  which  are  used  internally  should 
also  bear  a  label  stating  their  usual  adult  dose. 

“3.  That  poisons  which  are  not  used  internally 
should  bear  a  label  with  the  words  ‘  not  for  internal 
use.’ 

“  In  the  sale  of  Poisons. 

“  4.  That  the  above  regulations  should  be  observed 
in  cases  of  ordinary  sale,  though  not  necessarily  in 
dispensing.” 

Mr.  Greenwell,  M.P.S.,  moved  and  Mr.  Alfred 
Brady,  M.P.S.,  seconded  the  following  resolution — 

“  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  meeting  reporters  should 
be  admitted  to  the  meetings  of  the  Council  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society,  with  the  view  of  affording  to  the 
members  of  the  Society  fuller  information  respecting 
the  management  of  its  affairs.” 

The  Chairman  remarked  that  though  the  whole  body 
of  chemists  and  druggists,  now  being  in  some  measure- 
under  the  control  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  had  a 
right  to  criticize  its  management,  he  was  glad  to  see  thatr 
this  resolution  was  moved  and  seconded  by  members  of 
the  Society. 

The  Chairman  said  a  meeting  which  had  been  so 
unanimous  in  its  resolutions  could  not  close  more  appro¬ 
priately  than  by  all  the  gentlemen  present  contributing 
to  defray  the  expenses  incurred  by  those  who  had  taken 
the  trouble  of  drawing  attention  to  the  important  ques¬ 
tion  they  had  just  been  discussing. 

In  response  to  this  invitation  fourteen  gentlemen  sub¬ 
scribed  to  the  defence  fund  and  towards  the  expenses  of 
the  meeting. 

On  the  motion  of  Mr.  Glover,  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the 
Chairman  was  carried  by  acclamation. 


March  18, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


751 


C|e  |llj;tnu;ttcutita(  Journal. 

- ♦ - 

SATURDAY,  MARCH:  18,  1S71. 


Communications  for  this  Journal ,  and  boohs  for  review, etc., 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

Instructions  from  Members  and  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Brem- 
ridge,  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  TF.C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  7U.  Envelopes  indorsed  “  Bharm.  Journ 


BUSINESS. 

Business  lias  been  defined  as  “  tlie  art  of  transfer¬ 
ring  money  from  other  people’s  pockets  to  one’s  own,” 
and  in  these  days  of  “free”  trade  there  is  much  reason 
for  regarding  the  definition  as  very  generally  apt  and 
truthful ;  but  it  is  at  the  same  time  obvious  that  the 
principle  it  involves  necessitates  some  limitation  in 
the  exercise  of  the  art.  Without  attempting  to  de¬ 
fine  precisely  the  limits  of  legitimacy,  it  is  easy  to 
perceive  in  certain  forms  of  business  various  degrees 
of  shadiness  that  show  they  are  very  near  those 
limits,  if  they  are  not  outside  them. 

We  have  been  led  to  these  remarks  by  two  circum¬ 
stances  that  have  quite  recently  come  under  our 
notice.  The  first  is  a  very  singular  advertisement 
appearing  in  some  of  the  daily  papers  headed  “  ex¬ 
traction  of  silver  from  sea-water,”  and  announcing 
that  the  advertiser  requires  twenty  subscribers  of 
<£10  each,  to  enable  him  to  carry  out  his  invention 
for  that  purpose.  In  return  he  proposes  to  give  each 
subscriber  “  a  free  licence  to  use  his  patent  for  forty 
years  or  life,”  and  for  an  additional  <£25  to  provide 
him  with  an  instrument  “  of  limited  dimensions,”  to 
which  silver  is  to  adhere  on  passing  it  through  the 
sea-water.  It  is  added  that  an  ordinary  seaman  can 
work  the  apparatus  without  being  able  in  any  way 
to  deceive  the  proprietor,  also  that  “  not  more  than 
one  subscription  will  be  given  to  one  person,  and  not 
more  than  twenty  will  be  taken-.” 

We  are  unable  to  say  what  has  been  the  result  of 
tills  remarkable  “  silver- extracting  enterprise,”  and 
therefore  we  can  only  leave  our  readers  to  speculate 
on  tliis  point  as  they  may  feel  inclined. 

The  other  illustration  of  modern  business  to  which 
we  have  referred,  is  afforded  by  out  contemporary 
the  Chemist  and  Druggist.  It  will  be  remembered 
that  in  January  last  an  editorial  article  appeared  in 
that  journal  on  the  vexed  subject  of  poison  regula¬ 
tions,  which  we  do  not  hesitate  to  say  excited  con¬ 
siderable  astonishment,  and  in  certain  quarters  the 
most  poignant  horror.  For  our  own  part  we  must 
confess  to  having  been  amazed  to  see  our  contem¬ 
porary  assuring  its  esteemed  friends  that  although 
feeling  its  position  acutely  there  was  no  help  for  it — 
that  although  believing  from  its  antecedents  that  its 


place  is  most  properly  in  opposition,  and  while  trying 
always  to  be  on  the  right  side,  it  could,  in  the  matter 
of  Poison  Regulations,  only  advocate  the  same  views 
as  those  enunciated  by  the  majority  of  the  Council, 
and  denounce  the  opposition  to  them  as  weak,  the 
sentiment  on  which  it  was  based  as  an  error,  the 
objections  as  illogical,  irrelevant  or  absurd. 

We  have  never  yet  been  able  to  decide,  in  our  own 
mind,  how  far  Christmas  festivities  were  to  be  held 
responsible  for  that  article ;  but  in  any  case  the  suc¬ 
ceeding  number  bore  evidence  that  he  had  seen  the 
error  of  his  way — the  process  of  conversion  had 
evidently  set  in,  and  awakening  penitence  was  in¬ 
dicated  by  an  article  ridiculing  the  circular  issued 
by  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society.  This 
month,  to  judge  from  the  symptoms  manifested,  we 
may  assume  that  a  “state  of  grace”  has  been  at¬ 
tained,  and  we  cannot  illustrate  this  better  than 
by  the  following  juxtaposition  of  an  extract  from 
the  article  of  January  with  one  from  a  circular  just 
issued  by  our  contemporary : — 

January  14  th. 

“  To  state  the  case  thus — 
and  we  have  endeavoured  to 
state  it  fairly — seems  to  us 
sufficient  to  prove  the  weak¬ 
ness  of  the  opposition.  The 
sentiment  on  which  the  re¬ 
sistance  is  based,  which  is  a 
conception  that  the  Council 
is  arrogating-  to  itself  tyran¬ 
nical  powers,  is  simply  an 
error.  The  Council  sug¬ 
gest  these  regulations,  and 
asks  the  trade — shall  they 
be  enacted  or  not  ?  Grant¬ 
ing  that,  neither  the  second, 
third,  nor  fourth  objection 
which  we  have  mentioned  is 
logical ;  that  the  best  drug¬ 
gists  already  adopt  some 
such  plan,  surely  argues  its 
wisdom  ;  whether  the  risk 
of  accidental  poisoning  by 
the  druggists  would  be 
diminished  at  all  is  the 
point,  not  whether  it  would 
be  removed  altogether ;  and 
the  final  argument  that 
doctors  would  not  be  sub¬ 
ject  to  these  regulations,  is 
unanswerable,  purely  for 
the  reason  that  it  is  quite 
beside  the  question.” 

But  it  will  be  asked,  wliat  lias  this  to  do  with 
tlie  subject  of  this  article  ?  To  answer  this  question, 
we  must  refer  to  another  document  issued  by  our 
contemporary,  together  with  the  circular  above  men¬ 
tioned, — not  generally,  however,  but  only  to  a  select 
portion  of  the  trade, — the  non-subscribers  to  the  Che¬ 
mist  and  Druggist.  In  this  supplementary  manifesto- 
the  virtues  of  our  contemporary  are  modestly  narrated, 
and  a  cordial  invitation  given  to  come  within  the  fold. 

Light  now  falls  on  the  affair.  Since  January, 
our  contemporary  had  not  only  been  converted,  but, 
looking  down  from  a  dangerous  eminence, — like  that 


March. 

“  We  say  that  the  Council 
of  the  Pharmaceutical  So¬ 
ciety,  by  its  action  in  this 
matter,  has  shown  itself  un¬ 
worthy  to  occupy  the  posi¬ 
tion  which  has  been  dele¬ 
gated  to  it,  because  unable 
to  appreciate  the  broad 
view  of  the  responsibilities 
and  duties  which  now  be¬ 
long  to  that  position,  and 
which  could  not  be  attached 
to  it  when  the  Council  was 
merely  the  governing  body 
of  a  private  society.” 


752 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  19,  1871 . 


whence  Count  Bismarck  was  lately  represented  as 
pointing  to  kingdoms  and  principalities, — had  per¬ 
ceived  that  among  the  thirteen  thousand  registered 
Chemists  and  Druggists  of  Great  Britain,  there  was 
outside  the  circle  of  its  subscribers  a  margin  in 
which  a  stroke  of  business  might,  perhaps,  be  done 
by  means  of  the  poison  regulations. 

The  whole  transaction  may  be  depicted  by  a 
slightly- altered  rendering  of  a  verse  from  a  familiar 
pre-TuppERiAN  source  of  infantile  morals  : — 

How  doth  the  little  C.  and  D. 

On  poisons  seek  for  voters ; 

And  scatter  stamps  through  all  the  trade, 

In  hopes  of  further  orders  ! 


THE  ONTARIO  PHARMACY  BILL. 

On  Monday,  February  0,  the  Bill  for  regulating 
the  practice  of  Pharmacy  in  the  province  of  Ontario 
was  read  a  third  time  in  the  Legislative  Assembly 
and  passed.  According  to  our  latest  advices,  it  was 
only  awaiting  the  signature  of  the  Lieutenant-Go¬ 
vernor  to  become  law. 

The  Bill  met  with  considerable  opposition  during 
its  passage  through  Committee,  and  clause  4  was 
struck  out ;  but  it  was  restored  in  the  full  house, 
after  the  Committee  had  made  their  report. 

The  following  is  a  resume  of  the  Bill : — 

Clause  1  declares  that  after  the  1st  July,  1871,  it 
shall  be  unlawful  for  any  person  to  keep  open  shop 
for  compounding  medicines  or  retailing  poisons,  or 
selling  any  of  the  articles  named  in  a  schedule  at¬ 
tached  to  the  Act ;  or  to  assume  the  title  “  chemist  and 
druggist,”  “  druggist,”  “  pharmacist,”  “  apothecary,” 

dispensing  chemist  or  druggist,”  unless  such  per¬ 
son  be  registered  under  the  Act  or  has  taken  out  a 
certificate  under  the  21st  section,  which  provides  that 
parties  registered  shall  receive  a  certificate  stating 
the  time  during  which  they  may  carry  on  business. 
This  term  extends  from  year  to  year,  and  the  certifi¬ 
cate  must  be  procured  annually  from  the  Registrar. 

The  second  and  third  clauses  have  reference  to  the 
articles  which  are  to  be  deemed  poisons  within  the 
meaning  of  the  Act.  We  intend  to  give  these  par¬ 
ticulars  next  week. 

The  fourth  clause  relates  to  the  formation  of  the 
Ontario  College  of  Pharmacy.  Persons  engaged  in 
business,  as  principals  or  assistants,  at  the  time  of 
the  passing  of  the  Act,  or  who  have  carried  on  the 
business  for  three  years,  or  who  have  served  an  ap¬ 
prenticeship  of  three  years  and  acted  as  assistants 
one  year,  are,  upon  payment  of  a  fee  of  four  dollars, 
to  be  enrolled  as  members.  Clerks,  assistants  and 
apprentices  lacking  the  above  qualifications,  or  not 
wishing  to  become  full  members,  may  upon  the  pay¬ 
ment  of  a  fee  of  two  dollars  be  enrolled  as  associates. 
An  associate  may  subsequently  become  a  member  by 
passing  such  examination  as  may  be  prescribed  by 
the  Council. 


macy  a  body  politic  and  corporate.  A  provisional 
Council  and  Registrar  are  appointed  to  hold  office 
until  the  first  election  in  October,  who  have  the 
power  to  grant  certificates  of  competency  to  conduct 
the  business  of  a  chemist  and  druggist,  and  to  be 
registered  under  the  Act.  The  election  of  the  first 
Council  is  to  take  place  in  October  next,  and  the 
persons  qualified  to  vote  at  that  election  are  those 
who  at  the  time  of  the  passing  of  the  Act  were  ac¬ 
tually  engaged  in  business.  Subsequent  elections 
arc  to  take  place  in  July  of  each  year,  and  the  per¬ 
sons  qualified  to  vote  at  such  elections  are  to  be  the 
members  of  the  College. 

The  Council  are  to  hold  two  sittings  every  3Tear 
for  the  purpose  of  granting  certificates  of  competency. 
Persons  desirous  of  being  examined  have  to  give 
notice  to  the  Registrar,  and  pay  a  fee  of  four  dollars. 
Persons  passing  the  examination  satisfactorily  to  the 
majority  of  the  examiners  are  to  be  entered  upon 
the  roll  of  Registered  Chemists  and  Druggists,  and 
become  members  of  the  College.  The  examination 
may  be  conducted  by  the  Council  or  by  examiners 
appointed  by  them.  The  Council  have  the  power  to 
prescribe  the  subjects  upon  which  candidates  are  to 
be  examined. 

The  fifteenth  clause  directs  that  the  Registrar  is 
to  keep  a  correct  list  of  persons  registered  under  the 
Act,  and  publish  annually  a  list  of  persons  qualified 
to  keep  open  shop  as  pharmaceutical  chemists. 

The  seventeenth  defines  the  qualifications  which 
are  to  entitle  a  person  to  be  registered  as  a  phar¬ 
maceutical  chemist.  These  are  identical  with  those 
necessary  for  membership,  and  an  annual  subscrip¬ 
tion  of  four  dollars.  Non-payment  of  the  subscrip¬ 
tion  is  followed  by  the  withdrawal  of  all  privileges. 

According  to  clause  20,  the  title  of  “Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Chemist”  may  not  be  assumed  by  any  other 
than  those  registered  under  the  Act,  and  none  but 
such  persons  or  their  servants  are  authorized  to  dis¬ 
pense  the  prescriptions  of  medical  practitioners. 
The  certificates  of  qualification  are  to  be  displayed 
conspicuously  in  the  places  of  business. 

The  rights  and  privileges  at  present  enjoyed  by 
physicians  and  surgeons  are  reserved  by  the  Act, 
and  it  provides  that  any  physician  or  surgeon  may 
be  registered  as  a  Pharmaceutical  Chemist  without 
undergoing  any  examination. 


The 


sixth  clause  constitutes  the  College  of  Phar- 


According  to  the  financial  statement  made  to  the 
Indian  Legislative  Council  at  Calcutta  last  week  by 
Sir  Richard  Temple,  the  revenue  to  be  derived 
from  opium  in  the  ensuing  year  is  estimated  at 
£8,000,000. 


The  Medical  Act  (1858)  Amendment  Bill,  No.  1, 
brought  in  by  Dr.  Lush,  and  No.  2,  brought  in  by 
Dr.  Brady,  have  been  read  a  first  tune  in  the 
House  of  Commons.  Their  second  reading  is  set 
down  for  June  14. 


March  18, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


753 


fraitsariiims  of  t|c  f  |anra«afitsl  j=toict]r. 


ftoMndnl  ®ransaofioits. 


BOTANICAL  PRIZE  FOR  1872. 

A  Silver  Council  Medal  is  offered  for  the  best  Herba¬ 
rium,  collected  in  any  part  of  the  United  Kingdom 
between  the  first  day  of  May,  1871,  and  the  first  day  of 
June,  1872;  and  should  there  he  more  than  one  collec¬ 
tion  possessing  such  an  amount  of  merit  as  to  entitle  the 
collector  to  reward,  a  second  prize,  consisting  of  a  Bronze 
Medal,  and  also  Certificates  of  Honour  and  Merit,  wall 
be  given  at  the  discretion  of  the  Council.  In  the  event 
of  none  of  the  collections  possessing  such  an  amount  of 
merit  as  to  warrant  the  Council  in  awarding  Medals  or 
Certificates,  none  will  be  given. 

The  collections  to  consist  of  Flowering  plants  and 
Ferns,  arranged  according  to  the  Natural  System  of  De 
Candolle,  or  any  other  natural  method  in  common  use, 
and  to  he  accompanied  by  lists,  arranged  according  to 
the  same  method,  with  the  species  numbered. 

The  collector  to  follow  some  work  on  British  Botany 
(such  as  that  of  Bahington,  Hooker,  or  Bentham),  and 
to  state  the  work  which  he  adopts.  The  name  of  each 
plant,  its  habitat,  and  the  date  of  collection,  to  be  stated 
on  the  paper  on  which  it  is  preserved. 

Each  collection  to  be  accompanied  by  a  note,  contain¬ 
ing  a  declaration,  signed  by  the  collector,  and  certified 
by  his  employer,  or  a  Pharmaceutical  Chemist  to  whom 
the  collector  is  known,  to  the  following  effect : — The 
plants  which  accompany  this  note  were  collected  by 
myself,  between  the  first  day  of  May,  1871,  and  the 
first  day  of  June,  1872,  and  were  named  and  arranged 
without  any  assistance  but  that  derived  from  books. 

In  estimating  the  merits  of  the  collections,  not  only 
will  the  number  of  species  be  taken  into  account,  but 
also  their  rarity  or  otherwise,  and  the  manner  in  which 
they  are  preserved ;  and  should  a  specimen  be  wrongly 
named,  it  will  be  erased  from  the  list. 

The  collections  to  be  forwarded  to  the  Secretary  of 
the  Society,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  on  or  before  the  first 
day  of  July,  1872,  indorsed  “Herbarium  for  Competi¬ 
tion  for  the  Botanical  Prizes.”  After  the  announcement 
of  the  award,  they  will  be  retained  one  month,  under  the 
care  of  the  Curator  of  the  Museum,  for  the  inspection  of 
persons  connected  with  the  Society,  and  then  returned 
to  the  collectors,  if  required. 

No  candidate  wall  be  allowed  to  compete,  unless  he  be 
an  Associate,  Registered  Apprentice,  or  a  Student  of  the 
Society,  or  if  his  age  exceed  twenty-one  years. 


FREE  ADMISSIONS  TO  THE  ROYAL  BOTANIC 
SOCIETY’S  GARDENS,  REGENT’S  PARK. 


The  following  pupils  of  the  class  of  Botany  and  Ma¬ 
teria  Medica,  in  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  after  exa¬ 
mination  by  Professor  Bentley,  have  had  free  admission 
given  to  them,  at  his  request,  by  the  Secretary  of  the 
Royal  Botanic  Society  : — • 


Mr, 

» 

33 

33 

33 


33 

33 


33 

33 


Chas.  Alexander  Blake. 
Wm.  Milner  Burgess. 
Henry  Churchill. 
Walter  Cole. 

Herbert  E.  Constance. 
Horace  Davenport. 
Chas.  Joseph  Holmes. 
N.  W.  Holmes. 

G.  B.  Howarth 
Thomas  Iredale. 


Mr 


33 


33 

33 


.  F.  W.  Kendle. 

W.  T.  Maddock. 
Charles  A.  Overton. 
Charles  Pretty. 

Harry  Savory. 

Charles  T.  Ward. 
Herbert  Charles  Webb. 
Wm.  Henry  White. 
Alexander  Wood. 


Harold  Woolley. 

The  above  names  are  arranged  in  alphabetical  order. 

These  orders  will  admit  to  the  Gardens  upon  ordinary 
days  in  the  months  of  March,  April,  August  and  Septem¬ 
ber,  from  9  a.m.  till  1  p.m.  ;  and  in  May,  June  and  July, 
from  7  a.m.  till  1  p.m.  Such  admissions,  therefore,  give 
every  facility  to  those  who  possess  them  of  making 
themselves  practically  acquainted  with  plants. 


NOTTINGHAM  xYND  NOTTS  CHEMISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

The  Fifth  General  Meeting  of  the  Society  was  held 
at  Britannia  Chambers,  on  Friday  evening,  24th  ult.  ;  the 
President,  Mr.  Atherton,  in  the  chair. 

The  meeting  was  well  attended  by  the  members  and 
Associates. 

The  minutes  of  the  previous  meeting  were  read  and 
confirmed. 

The  Secretary  announced  that  the  Pharmaceutical 
Journal  Rad  been  received  regularly  during  the  month, 
as  also  a  number  of  old  works  on  pharmacy  and  allied 
subjects,  from  Dr.  Wright,  and,  through  the  kindness  of 
1.  Hyde  Hills,  Esq.,  portraits  respectively  of  the  late 
Dr.  Pereira,  Mr.  Jacob  Bell  and  Mr.  W.  Allen.  A 
cordial  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  to  the  several  donors. 
A  variety  of  interesting  objects  were  exhibited  and  ex¬ 
plained  ;  conspicuous  amongst  which  was  Sieboid’s 
collection  of  dried  plants. 

The  President  then  called  upon  Mr.  Elder,  M.B.,  for 
his  promised  paper  on  “  Our  Foods.” 

Mr.  Elder  responded,  and  explained  in  a  very  lucid 
manner  the  physiological  action  of  our  foods,  commencing 
with  the  action  of  the  salivary  glands  and  the  nature  of 
the  changes  which  take  place  in  the  mouth  with  the  con¬ 
sequent  production  of  ptialine ;  he  next  proceeded  to 
divide  the  foods  into  four  classes, — albuminous,  oleagi¬ 
nous,  saccharine  and  mineral, — following  with  the  com¬ 
position  of  each  class,  their  respective  utility  and  the 
amount  of  carbon  and  nitrogen  by  which  their  value  as 
heat  or  flesh-producers  is  estimated  ;  the  importance  of 
the  mineral  constituents  for  the  proper  formation  of 
blood,  and  the  effect  produced  upon  the  blood  when  not 
taken  in  proper  quantities. 

A  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Elder  for  his  interesting  paper 
was  unanimously  carried. 

Mr.  W.  H.  Parker  brought  forward  the  objects  of 
the  Defence  Association  just  established  in  Manchester, 
and  expressed  his  approval  of  their  proceedings. 

Mr.  Atherton  also  was  in  favour  of  the  defence,  con¬ 
sidering  as  he  did  that  the  regulations  about  to  be- 
brought  forward  in  May  are  objectionable ;  that  phar¬ 
macists  already  do  their  best  for  the  public  safety,  and, 
therefore,  he  thought  compulsory  measures  quite  unne¬ 
cessary,  as  by  that  means  the  liberty  of  the  subject  would 
be  interfered  with,  and  the  status  of  the  chemist  detracted 
from  or  lowered  thereby.  Admitting  that  accidents  had 
happened,  he  was  convinced  that  the  frequency  had 
been  much  diminished  since  the  improvement  in  the  edu¬ 
cation  of  the  chemist.  He  also  mentioned  the  fact  that 
in  Glasgow  and  many  other  Scotch  towns,  the  number  of 
open  surgeries  and  chemists’  establishments  was  about 
equal ;  the  former  would  be  exempt  from  the  regula¬ 
tions,  and  he  wished  to  know  if  the  proprietors  of  these 
surgeries  were  better  acquainted  with  the  art  of  phar¬ 
macy  than  ourselves,  and,  if  not,  why  the  exemption  r 
He  considered  this  fact  a  weak  point  in  the  regulations* 
but  a  strong  one  for  the  defence. 


LIVERPOOL  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Eighth  General  Meeting  was  held  at  the  Royal 
Institution,  on  Thursday  evening,  the  2nd  instant ;  Ed¬ 
ward  Davies,  Esq.,  F.C.S.  (Vice-President),  in  the 
chair. 

Mr.  Alfred  Coughtrey  was  elected  a  member. 

A  short  discussion  took  place  upon  the  “Proposed 
Poison  Regulations,”  and  it  was  moved  by  Mr.  Red  ford,. 
and  seconded  by  Mr.  Shaw,  “That  the  Secretary  be  in¬ 
structed  to  call  a  meeting  of  the  chemists  and  druggists 
of  Liverpool,  to  consider  the  proposed  compulsory  re¬ 
gulations  for  the  keeping,  storing  and  dispensing  of 
poisons.” 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  IS,  1871. 


754 


The  paper  for  the  evening  was  read  by  Mr.  "VV.  Keith, 
npon  “Permanent  Photographic  Printing.” 

After  describing  the  autotype,  Woodbury-type  and 
heliotype  processes,  Mr.  Keith  showed  practically  the 
development  of  the  picture  in  the  carbon  process  by  the 
nse  of  hot  water  only.  The  paper  was  illustrated  by 
specimens  of  various  processes,  as  well  as  the  instruments 
used.  He  drew  particular  attention  to  the  heliotype 
process  of  Messrs.  Edwards  and  Kidd  as  being  the  latest, 
and  supplying  a  want  long  felt  of  a  means  of  applying 
photography  to  book  illustration,  the  pictures  which  he 
exhibited  having  been  printed  in  printing-ink  at  an 
ordinary  press,  with  a  margin  so  as  to  obviate  the  neces¬ 
sity  of  mounting,  and  ready  to  bind  up  with  printed 
matter. 

A  discussion  followed,  in  which  the  Chairman,  Messrs. 
Hallawell,  Houghton  and  Bird  took  part ;  and,  upon 
the  motion  of  the  Chairman,  seconded  by  Mr.  Redford, 
an  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  Mr.  Keith 
for  his  very  interesting  and  instructive  paper. 


SUNDERLAND  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Monthly  Meeting  was  held  on  Tuesday,  March.7th ; 
Mr.  H.  Thompson  in  the  chair. 

Mr.  Sharpe  introduced  a  motion  on  prices.  He  com- 
pared  the  chemists  of  the  present  day  unfavourably  with 
those  of  older  times  in  the  profits  they  obtained  on  their 
articles,  and  moved  that  a  committee  be  formed  to  draw 
out  a  list  of  prices  on  the  basis  of  that  so  successfully 
carried  out  in  Edinburgh  and  other  places. 

Mr.  Sidgwick  referred  to  the  cost  of  education  and  ap¬ 
prenticeship,  and  drew  attention  to  the  manner  in  which 
dispensary  prescriptions  were  carried  about  the  town 
until  some  chemist  was  found  who  would  dispense  them 
for  less  money  than  the  others. 

Mr.  J.  Harrison  admitted  that  Mr.  Sharpe  had  shown 
that  an  evil  does  exist,  but  contended  that  he  had  not 
.suggested  an  effectual  remedy ;  that  the  Society  had 
neither  the  right  nor  the  power  to  impose  conditions  on 
those  who  were  outside  its  pale,  and  that  it  was  useless 
attempting  to  enforce  uniformity  in  practice  until  there 
was  unity  in  principle. 

Mr.  Robinson  thought  Mr.  Sharpe’s  plan  quite  prac¬ 
ticable,  if  there  were  as  much  good  feeling  among  the 
chemists  and  druggists  as  among  the  solicitors,  who,  by 
the  moral  power  of  their  Law  Society,  were  able  to  pre¬ 
vent  any  individual  member  from  injuring  the  others  by 
undercharging. 

Mr.  Nicholson  agreed  with  Mr.  Sharp’s  proposal  in 
principle,  but  was  doubtful  as  to  their  power  to  carry  it 
out  in  a  town  like  Sunderland,  where  the  dispensing  and 
higher  branches  of  a  chemist’s  business  formed  so  small, 
and  the  mixed  retail  so  large  a  proportion  of  their  re¬ 
turns.  The  success  of  a  plan  in  Edinburgh  was  no  evi¬ 
dence  that  it  was  adapted  to  Sunderland,  where  the  con¬ 
ditions  were  so  essentially  different. 

Mr.  Sharp  replied,  and  proposed  that  a  Committee  be 
appointed  to  adopt  some  feasible  arrangement  on  the  sub¬ 
ject,  which  proposition  was  carried  by  a  large  majority. 

Mr.  Harrison  gave  notice  that,  at  the  Annual  Meet- 
ing,  in  April,  he  would  propose : — (1.)  That  the  ordinary 
meetings  of  this  Society  be  held  on  Tuesday  evenings  in¬ 
stead  of  Mondays.  (2.)  That  a  petition  be  forwarded  to 
the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  on 
the  subject  of  the  Juries  Act.  (3.)  That  a  petition  be 
also  forwarded  against  the  poisons  regulations. 


SHEFFIELD  PHARMACEUTICAL  AND 
CHEMICAL  ASSOCIATION. 

The  usual  Monthly  Lecture  in  connection  with  this 
Association  was  delivered  at  the  Music  Hall,  on  Wed¬ 
nesday  evening  last,  by  H.  C.  Sorby,  Esq.,  F.R.S. — 
subject,  “  Blow-pipe  Chemistry.”  Mr.  G.  B.  Cocking. 


Vice-President,  occupied  the  chair.  Mr.  Sowerby  com¬ 
menced  his  lecture  by  explaining  the  methods  adopted 
to  obtain  blow- pipe  beads  enclosing  various  crystals, 
which,  independent  of  their  connection  with  chemistry 
and  mineralogy,  were  of  extreme  beauty  merely  as  mi¬ 
croscopical  objects.  His  own  method  differed  materially 
from  those  described  by  Emerson,  Rose,  Ross,  and  other 
authors,  he  using  borax  as  the  solvent,  and,  if  requisite, 
adding  various  reagents,  so  as  to  produce,  as  it  were, 
precipitates  of  characteristic  crystalline  form.  By  this 
means  transparent,  glass-like  beads  were  obtained,  con¬ 
taining  perfect  crystals  of  the  substances  added.  The 
beautiful  forms  in  which  the  following  and  other  che¬ 
mical  substances  crystallized  were  described,  viz.  borate 
of  magnesia,  first  as  thin  prisms,  then,  by  the  deposit  of 
smaller  crystals,  giving  rise  to  objects  very  much  like  a 
handle  with  a  brush  at  each  end;  borate  of  zirconia, 
as  small  prisms  with  a  simple  cross  at  each  end  after¬ 
wards  becoming  more  complicated ;  molybdate  of  zir¬ 
conia,  which  are  so  delicate  that  their  own  weight  would 
probably  break  them,  if  in  an  aqueous  solution,  but 
being  supported  in  solid  borax,  like  insects  enclosed  in 
amber,  they  are  secure  from  all  injury,  and  become  ex¬ 
tremely  elegant  and  beautiful  objects ;  tungstate  of 
lime,  molybdate  of  strontia,  phosphate  of  lime  or  soda, 
titanic,  columbic,  and  molybdic  acids,  etc.  The  me¬ 
thod  of  preparing  and  mounting  these  objects  for  perma¬ 
nent  use  was  explained  ;  this  being  to  enclose  them  in  a 
cell  with  Canada  balsam,  by  which  means  the  moisture 
of  the  atmosphere  which  causes  the  borax  to  become 
hydrated  and  opaque  was  excluded,  the  alteration  then 
taking  place  so  slowly  that  the  lecturer  had  not  re¬ 
marked  any  change  after  a  period  of  six  months.  The 
full  beauty  of  these  specimens  can  only  be  seen  with  a 
binocular  microscope ;  and  few  objects  are  better  fitted  to 
show  the  advantage  of  that  kind  of  instrument,  for  the 
crystals  then  stand  out  in  perfect  relief,  and  are  seen  to 
be  equally  complicated  in  all  directions,  though  not  in 
each  case  alike,  as  those  formed  on  the  surface  of  the 
bead  differ  very  materially  from  those  in  the  interior, 
and  in  both  positions,  though  the  type  is  constant,  the 
forms  vary  very  considerably.  As  illustrating  the  scien¬ 
tific  value  of  microscopic  blow- pipe  chemistry,  Mr. 
Sorby  related  the  following  fact: — Mr.  Maskelyne,  of 
the  British  Museum,  had  obtained  from  a  new  rare 
mineral  in  a  meteorite  a  very  small  quantity  of  a  sub¬ 
stance  which  much  resembled  the  earth  zirconia.  If  it 
had  been  so,  the  fact  would  have  been  very  interesting, 
since  hitherto  there  has  been  no  evidence  of  the  occur¬ 
rence  of  that  substance  beyond  our  own  globe.  The 
amount  of  material  was,  however,  too  small  to  enable 
Mr.  Maskelyne  to  decide  the  question  by  the  usual  me¬ 
thods  of  chemistry ;  he  therefore  placed  about  one-half 
of  the  entire  quantity  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Sorby,  and, 
though  this  was  no  more  than  1- 100th  of  a  grain,  he 
succeeded  in  proving  that  it  was  titanic  acid,  a  substance 
which  had  previously  been  detected  in  meteorites  and 
not  zirconia. 


GLASGOW  CHEMISTS’  AND  DRUGGISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

The  Eleventh  Meeting  of  the  Session  was  held  in 
Anderson’s  University,  204,  George  Street,  on  the  8th 
instant ;  Mr.  T.  Davison,  President,  presiding. 

Messrs.  A.  Jamieson  and  Robert  Walker  were  elected 
members. 

After  the  regular  preliminary  business,  Mr.  Clark, 
who  was  introduced  by  the  Chairman,  delivered  a  paper 
on  “  Botanizing,  or  some  hints  in  the  Collecting  of  Bo¬ 
tanical  Specimens.” 

Mr.  Clark  said  he  found  his  subject  was  naturally 
divided  into  two  parts,  namely,  “  Collecting  ”  and  “  Dry¬ 
ing,”  and  as  his  remarks  on  the  former  required  the  full 
time  allowed  for  the  reading  of  his  paper,  he  would 


March  18,  1871 .] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


M  ** 

/oo 


reserve  the  latter  part  till  some  future  night.  He  then 
described  the  first  steps  the  botanist  required  to  take  in 
beginning  the  collection  of  plants,  and  explained  the  use 
of  the  necessary  apparatus,  viz.  the  digger,  vasculum, 
and  pocket-glass,  and  after  mentioning  the  proper  time 
for  collecting  plants  in  fit  condition  for  the  botanist’s 
i  purpose,  and  giving  some  hints  on  the  selection  of  plants 
for  beginners,  he  described  the  different  parts  of  a  flower 
■as  calyx,  corolla,  stamens,  and  pistil ;  and  in  referring 
to  the  fruit,  begged  to  explain  what  was  a  popular  error, 
viz.,  that  the  soft  part  of  such  fruits  as  the  strawberry, 
apple,  orange,  etc.,  was  not  in  reality  fruit,  but  merely 
a  soft  covering  or  protector  of  the  fruit  proper.  He  then 
referred  to  the  uses  of  botany  in  the  arts  and  medicine, 
and  made  particular  reference  to  the  value  of  a  thorough 
understanding  of  its  principles  to  the  chemist,  and  that 
these  principles  could  only  be  well  grounded  in  the 
earlier  years  of  one’s  apprenticeship  ;  he  also  referred  to 
the  selecting  of  poisonous  from  non-poisonous  plants, 
showing  how  a  traveller  who  had  a  knowledge  of  botany 
could  not  be  at  a  loss  for  food,  in  an  emergency.  He 
then  drew  attention  to  the  specific  and  generic  names  of 
plants,  recommending  the  ‘  Clydesdale  Flora,’  by  Pro¬ 
fessor  Hennedy,  as  the  best  text-book  for  this  district, 
and  mentioning  some  spots  in  the  neighbourhood  well 
adapted  for  the  study  of  the  science.  Mr.  Clark’s  paper 
was  listened  to  with  marked  attention,  and  was  rendered 
all  the  more  interesting  by  being  illustrated  with  dia¬ 
grams  and  natural  flowers. 

The  Report  of  the  Soiree  Committee  was  then  brought 
forward  by  the  Secretary,  showing  a  balance  of  cash  of 
.£1.  6s.  6d.,  and,  on  the  motion  of  the  President,  this  sum 
was  ordered  to  be  added  to  the  funds  of  the  Associa¬ 
tion. 

Mr.  Paterson,  in  proposing  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the 
Committee,  referred  to  the  promise  made  by  Mr.  Mac¬ 
donald  to  give  a  donation  of  other  £0  to  the  Society, 
and  also  read  a  communication  he  had  had  from  Messrs. 
Evans,  Sons,  and  Co.,  Liverpool,  authorizing  him  to  pre¬ 
sent  to  the  Association  one  of  their  five  guinea  cabinets 
ef  Materia  Medica. 

On  the  motion  of  the  President,  seconded  by  Mr. 
Paterson,  the  Secretary  was  instructed  to  convey  to 
these  gentlemen  the  best  thanks  of  the  Association  for 
their  handsome  donations,  which  was  agreed  to  by  accla¬ 
mation. 

An  address  by  Dr.  Black  was  announced  for  next 
meeting. 


HALIFAX  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

Mr.  Stott,  President,  in  the  chair. 

The  business  of  the  meeting  commenced  with  the  pre¬ 
sentation  of  prizes  to  the  successful  students  in  the 
botany  class.  All  the  pupils  being  present,  Mr.  Stott 
addressed  them,  saying  it  had  fallen  to  his  lot  to  present 
these  first  prizes  of  the  Association,  and  the  pleasure  he 
had  in  doing  so,  though  great,  would  have  been  far 
greater  if  he  could  have  congratulated  them  on  the 
result  of  the  examination.  He  found,  however,  that  the 
most  successful  had  reached  little  more  than  half  the 
number  of  marks  attainable.  He  pointed  out  the  im¬ 
portance  of  these  local  classes,  and  thought  they  would 
become  more  numerous,  as  the  number  of  young  men 
who  presented  themselves  at  Bloomsbury  Square  for  the 
purpose  of  study  kept  steadily  increasing.  He  bade  the 
students  go  on  in  their  career,  and  take  advantage  of  every 
opportunity  to  increase  their  store  of  knowledge,  till  they 
were  able  and  competent  to  fulfil  the  duties  of  their 
future  calling. 

Mr.  Shaw  thought  the  President  had  been  rather  too 
hard  upon  the  class.  Having  gone  over  the  same 
ground  as  the  students,  he  could  make  great  allowance 


for  their  comparatively  slight  success.  Botany  was  not 
such  an  interesting  science  as  some  others,  and,  unless 
there  was  a  special  liking,  and  an  intuitive  reception  of 
its  laws  and  principles,  he  could  quite  understand  it 
might  prove  a  little  dry  and  tedious  at  the  commence¬ 
ment.  The  neighbourhood,  too,  was  not  the  best  for 
botanizing.  Some  twenty  miles  off  was  a  better  ground, 
where  they  might  collect  many  specimens,  and,  with 
Bentham  for  reference,  would  find  employment  for  many 
evenings  of  study.  He  pointed  out  to  them  the  scholar¬ 
ships  in  connection  with  Bloomsbury  Square,  and  hoped 
the  seeds  now  being  sown  would  in  time  bear  fruit. 

After  a  few  words  from  Mr.  Farr, 

Mr.  Hebden  stated  that  it  was  the  intention  of  the 
Association  to  commence  a  class  for  materia  medica,  and 
that  an  examination  would  be  held,  and  prizes  offered, 
as  well  as  in  Latin  and  chemistry. 

The  President  then  drew  the  attention  of  the  meet¬ 
ing  to  the  proposed  regulations  of  the  Council  with 
respect  to  poisons,  and  whilst  for  his  own  part  he  could 
not  support  them,  he  should  be  glad  to  hear  the  views  of 
the  members  generally. 

Mr.’ Dyer,  believing  there  was  no  halfway  of  meet¬ 
ing  the  Council  on  this  question,  had  come  to  the  con¬ 
clusion  that  they  should  be  opposed,  and  was  glad  that 
Manchester  had  moved  in  the  matter,  and  the  Defence 
Committee,  he  thought,  should  be  supported.  He  could 
not  but  feci  it  to  be  an  insult,  and  degrading  to  a  che¬ 
mist,  to  have  these  regulations  forced  upon  him,  and  his 
shop  to  be  inspected  by  a  surgeon. 

Mr.  Shaw  could  not  support  them.  From  the  tone  of 
the  medical  journals,  he  thought  he  could  perceive  a 
strong  animus  against  our  body  at  large,  and  an  evident 
desire  to  fetter  us  with  restrictions,  whilst  their  own 
surgeries  should  be  exempt.  The  Privy  Council,  in  con¬ 
junction  with  the  Pharmaceutical  Council,  having  the 
power  of  increasing  .the  schedule  of  poisons,  might  prove 
a  serious  source  of  annoyance  under  the  proposed  regu¬ 
lations.  From  the  ignorance  displayed  by  those  in  autho¬ 
rity  with  respect  to  the  poison  schedules  in  the  Act  of 
1868,  he  dreaded  being  placed  any  further  under  their 
jurisdiction. 

Mr.  Hebden  would  have  been  glad  if  the  members 
would  have  approached  this  question  with  an  earnest 
desire  to  improve  the  regulations,  rather  than  throwing 
them  overboard  altogether.  A  mild  inspection,  in  his 
idea,  was  not  so  frightful  as  had  been  stated.  He 
thought,  in  the  long-run,  it  would  even  prove  beneficial 
in  many  respects.  He  felt  sure,  if  rejected,  stronger 
and  firmer  ones  would  be  brought  forward,  perhaps  in 
the  midst  of  a  panic  on  the  part  of  the  public,  when 
reason  would  be  lost  sight  of,  and  we  should  be  com¬ 
pelled  to  accept  such  as  the  Privy  Council  demanded. 

After  a  few  words  from  Mr.  Farr  against  the  propo¬ 
sition,  and  Mr.  Wood  supporting  the  views  of  Mr. 
Hebden, 

Mr.  Brook  agreed  with  Mr.  Shaw,  that  the  Medical 
Council  had  a  great  deal  to  do  with  it ;  in  fact,  he  looked 
upon  it  as  an  attempt  on  the  part  of  that  body  to 
create  a  vast  monopoly  of  their  interests.  Inspection 
by  surgeons  first,  then  they  would  try  to  put  down 
counter-prescribing.  See  what  a  power  for  annoyance 
would  be  created  and  placed  in  their  hands  by  inspec¬ 
tion,  and  couple  that  with  the  26th  clause  of  the  Act  of 
1868.  He  advocated  a  strenuous  opposition  to  the  regu¬ 
lations. 

Mr.  J.  B.  Brierly  and  Mr.  Jessop  strongly  con¬ 
demned  them  as  insulting  and  degrading. 

The  following  resolution  was  carried  unanimously : — 

“  That,  in  the  opinion  of  this  meeting,  the  proposition 
of  the  Council  for  compulsory  regulations  in  the  dispen¬ 
sing  and  storage  of  poisons  is  uncalled  for  by  the  public, 
inimical  to  the  true  interests  of  the  trade,  and  ought  to 
be  most  strenuously  opposed  and  resisted.” 


756 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  18,  1871. 


Ipromhittijs  of  Scientific  Societies. 

LONDON  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

At  the  Meeting  on  Thursday,  February  23rd,  1871 ; 
Mr.  Peal  in  the  chair, 

Mr.  De  Putron  read  a  paper  on  “Filtration.”  Com¬ 
mencing  with  the  important  filtration  of  water,  he  de¬ 
scribed  several  modes  and  mediums.  He  considered  animal 
charcoal  to  he  the  best  and  cheapest  of  all  for  household 
purposes,  hut  it  was  not  a  sufficient  purifier  for  medical 
or  chemical  use,  as  it  did  not  entirely  remove  lead  and 
lime.  Silicated  carbon  was  a  valuable  improvement. 
Speaking  of  the  indispensable  paper  filter,  he  said  care 
should  be  taken  to  fold  it  with  a  sharp  end,  as  the  flow 
of  liquid  from  an  acute  point  was  much  more  rapid  than 
from  an  obtuse  angle.  Bibulous  paper  first  became 
charged  with  the  fluid,  it  was  then  forced  through  by 
the  pressure  of  the  remainder,  therefore  as  the  capillary 
passages  are  more  open  when  the  paper  is  dry,  the  first 
of  the  liquid  passes  through  quickly,  hut  was  not  so 
bright  as  when  the  pores  of  the  paper  had  closed,  so  it 
should  he  refiltered.  To  keep  a  continual  flow,  and  to 
prevent  the  paper  giving  way,  a  good  plan  was  to  throw 
in  some  small  pieces  of  blotting-paper,  tow,  or  any  similar 
light  substance,  so  as  to  separate  the  viscid  sediment ;  the 
funnel  should  he  kept  quite  full.  If  percolators  were  pro¬ 
perly  packed,  it  was  not  necessary  to  filter  the  tinctures. 

He  noticed  an  excellent  filter  funnel  made  by  Messrs. 
Bailey,  of  Salford,  which  was  so  constructed  that  the 
liquid  passed  through  a  layer  of  sand  at  the  top  of  the 
neck ;  also  one  invented  by  Mr.  Schacht,  upon  the  prin¬ 
ciple  of  causing  a  vacuum,  and  employing  the  conse¬ 
quent  pressure  of  atmosphere  for  forcing  the  liquid 
through  the  filtering  medium.  After  describing  the  best 
methods  of  filtering  and  clarifying  several  pharmaceuti¬ 
cal  preparations,  he  concluded  with  that  of  oils. 


MEETINGS  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 

MONDAY  . Medical  Society,  at  8  P.M. 

London  Institution,  at  4  p.m. — “  On  Astro¬ 
nomy.”  By  Mr.  R.  Proctor. 

Tuesday  . Loyal  Institution,  at  3  p.m. — “The  Nutri¬ 

tion  of  Animals.”  By  Professor  Foster. 

Wednesday...  Society  of  Arts,  at  8  p.m— “Drill,  the  Com¬ 
plement  of  the  present  School  Teaching.” 
By  Major-General  Eardley  Wilmot. 

Thursday . Loyal  Society,  at  8.30  p.m. 

Loyal  Institution,  at  3  p.m. — “Davy’s  Dis¬ 
coveries  in  Chemistry.”  By  Prof.  Odling. 

London  Chemists'  Association,  at  9.30. — 
“Phosphoric  Acid.”  By  Mr.  G.  Brownen. 

Friday  . Loyal  Institution ,  at  9  p.m. — “  The  Eclipse.” 

By  Mr.  Lockyer. 

Quekett  Club,  at  8  p.m. 

Saturday  ...Loyal  Lotanic  Society,  at  3.45  p.m. 


farlisittttttoi  anir  Sato  f  rotuiiiitp. 

Charge  of  Poisoning. 

At  the  Leicester  Police  Court,  on  Thursday,  March  9, 
a  case  of  poisoning’  of  a  very  unusual  character  was  in¬ 
vestigated.  T wo  young  J ews,  named  Heyman  Balsam 
and  Simon  Ettel,  were  charged  with  having,  on  the 
18th  of  February,  administered  poison  to  three  young 
girls,  named  Amelia  Westhury,  Mary  Jane  Faulkes  and 
Sarah  Bale.  According  to  the  evidence  it  appeared  that 
the  prisoners  and  the  girls  worked  together  for  a  tailor. 
On  the  18th  of  February  the  prisoners,  who  were  about 
to  leave  their  employer,  asked  all  the  girls  working  in 
the  room  to  go  to  a  public-house  and  have  some  ale  at 
their  expense.  The  girls,  to  the  number  of  fourteen, 
went  with  the  prisoners.  They  had  one  gallon  of  ale, 
and  when  that  was  drunk  Balsam  called  for  another 
half  gallon  and  a  clean  glass.  These  having  been 
brought,  the  prisoners  turned  their  backs  to  the  girls  for 
a  short  time,  Ettel  holding  the  glass.  When  they  turned 


round  again,  Balsam  filled  the  glass  with  ale,  and 
handed  it  to  the  girl  Westhury,  saying,  “Drink  our 
healths,  and  you’ll  remember  us  leaving  you  as  long  as 
you  live.”  She  drank,  and  was  setting  the  glass  down 
when  Balsam  told  her  to  pass  it  on.  Both  the  other 
girls  then  drank,  and  they  all  three  immediately  became 
very  ill.  Medical  assistance  was  obtained  and  an  emetic 
given,  and  they  were  afterwards  conveyed  to  the  infir¬ 
mary.  A  portion  of  the  vomit  was  sent  to  Professor 
Attfield  for  analysis. 

Professor  Attfield  said  that  he  had  received  a  six- 
ounce  bottle,  sealed  and  tied  down.  He  examined  the 
contents  of  the  bottle,  according  to  his  instructions, 
for  opium  and  nux  vomica.  He  found  no  opium,  and 
but  a  slight  trace  of  strychnine.  He  examined  the 
remainder  for  cantharidcs,  but  found  none.  He  after¬ 
wards  received  another  bottle,  with  instructions  to  search 
for  aconite,  which  he  did,  and  found  distinct  evidence- 
of  its  presence.  The  prisoners  were  committed  for  trial 
at  the  assizes. — Leicester  Advertiser. 


Poisoning  by  Laudanum. 

An  inquest  was  held  recently  at  Leicester  upon  the 
body  of  a  young  woman  named  Wykes.  It  appeared 
that  as  the  deceased,  who  was  a  servant,  did  not  come 
down  at  her  usual  time  in  the  morning,  the  door  of  her 
room  was  forced  open,  when  she  was  found  lying  dead 
on  the  floor.  A  small  empty  bottle  was  on  the  window 
sill,  which  was  labelled  “Laudanum,  Poison.”  Deceased 
had  been  in  the  habit  of  using  laudanum  for  the  tooth¬ 
ache.  There  had  been  some  little  unpleasantness  be¬ 
tween  deceased  and  her  employers,  and  it  is  probable 
that  she  expected  to  lose  her  situation. 

Mr.  Bowman,  surgeon,  who  had  been  called  in,  said 
ho  had  no  doubt  that  the  death  was  caused  by  an  over¬ 
dose  of  laudanum.  The  bottle  was  a  half-ounce  one,  and 
if  half  full  and  the  laudanum  good,  it  would  be  sufficient 
to  destroy  life  in  a  person  unused  to  taking  it. 

Mr.  Berridge,  druggist,  said  he  knew  deceased  by  her 
coming  to  his  shop.  She  had  been  in  the  habit  of  coming 
there  occasionally  to  obtain  a  pennyworth  of  laudanum 
for  the  toothache  and  neuralgia.  The  last  time  was 
about  three  weeks  previously,  when  she  had  a  penny¬ 
worth  of  laudanum.  The  bottle  produced  had  his  label 
on  it,  and  was  the  one  she  was  in  the  habit  of  bringing.  A 
pennyworth  of  laudanum  would  about  half  fill  the  bottle. 

The  jury  returned  a  verdict  “  That  deceased  died  from 
taking  laudanum,  but  that  there  is  not  sufficient  evi¬ 
dence  to  show  what  her  state  of  mind  was  at  the  time.” 
— Leicester  Advertiser. 


Died,  on  the  2nd  of  March,  in  his  forty-sixth  year, 
after  a  short  illness,  Dr.  J.  B.  Henkel,  Professor  of 
Pharmacy  in  the  University  of  Tubingen.  Dr.  Henkel 
was  author  of  llandhuch  dcr  Pharmacognosie ,  Tiihingen, 
1SG7,  and  of  an  illustrated  work  on  Pharmaceutical 
Botany  (Tiihingen,  1862),  as  well  as  of  many  separate 
papers  on  pharmacological  subjects. 

On  the  10th  March,  at  Hull,  after  a  long  and  painful 
illness,  Mr.  Thomas  Toogood,  Chemist  and  Druggist, 
aged  65  years.  Mr.  Toogood  held  the  office  of  aldennan 
until  a  few  weeks  since,  and  was  for  many  years  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  Hull  corporation. 


On  March  12th,  1871,  after  a  few'  days’  illness,  Mr. 
John  Tuck,  114,  St.  Aldate’s,  Oxford.  The  deceased 
gentleman  was  a  zealous  worker  in  the  cause  of  phar¬ 
macy,  and  did  everything  in  his  power  to  forward  the 
interest  of  the  Society.  He  became  a  life  member  in 
1863,  and  was  but  recently  appointed  Local  Secretary 
for  Oxford.  Mr.  Tuck  was  also  Local  Secretary  for  the 
British  Pharmaceutical  Conference. 


March  18, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS 


757 


|lotes  anJdr  units. 

***  In  order  to  facilitate  reference ,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  tlieir  answers  in  each  case  with  the  title 
and  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
AU  queries  or  anstvers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

NOTICE. — To  prevent  delay ,  correspondents  are  re¬ 
quested  to  send  their  communications  to  the  Journal  Depart¬ 
ment, ,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  W.C.,  and  not  to  the  Pub¬ 
lishers. 

[82.]— COLOURS  FOR  CARBOYS.— May  I  be  per- 
Knitted  to  place  on  record  my  experience  in  the  use  of  the 
formula  given  for  the  above  in  the  Number  for  Dec.  24th,  in 
the  hope  that  it  may  be  useful  to  others  ? 

The  red,  made  strictly  as  directed  by  Mr.  Hearder,  gave  a 
very  satisfactory  result  (at  the  time),  but  a  month’s  exposure 
in  the  window  brought  about  rapid  fading,  and  rendered  ne¬ 
cessary  the  substitution  of  another  colour. 

The  blue,  made  also  according  to  Mr.  Hearder’s  formula, 
was  very  intense,  so  much  so  that  about  half  the  contents  of 
the  carboy  had  to  be  replaced  by  distilled  water. 

It  proved,  however,  even  more  evanescent  than  the  red; 
numerous  flocks  being  soon  deposited  at  the  bottom,  leaving 
the  upper  part  of  the  liquid  almost  colourless. 

I  have  substituted  a  formula  from  Beasley,  and  would  only 
note  that  the  quantity  of  nitrate  of  copper  there  ordered  is 
largely  in  excess  of  that  actually  required.  I  speak  advisedly 
when  I  say  that  one-tenth  of  the  given  weight  would  still  err 
on  the  side  of  superfluity. 

Without  wishing  to  seem  ungracious  to  the  contributors  of 
formulae,  wrould  it  not  be  well  that  some  trial  should  be  made 
of  their  working  before  publication,  or  that  the  user  should 
be  warned  of  his  entrance  upon  wholly  untrodden  ffelds  ? 

J.  F.  Brown. 

[177.]— SALAD  DRESSING.— In  reply  to  “  Medicina,” 
YTolk  of  Eggs  two 
Table  Salt  5  oz. 

Salad  Oil  4  oz. 

Mustard  oz. 

Best  Vinegar  6  oz. 

Isinglass  1  dram 

Soluble — Cayenne  10  grains. 

Quercus. 


[190.] — BRONZONETTE. — “  Ignorant ”  wishes  to  hear  of 
a  good  receipt  for  an  article  called  “  Bronzonette,”  which  an¬ 
swers  admirably  for  bronzing  busts  and  ornaments  of  various 
kinds.  The  fluid  he  has  been  using  lately  emits  the  disagree¬ 
able  smell  of  common  naphtha. 

[101.]— SOLVENT  FOR  WHITE  SHELLAC.— Will 
any  reader  kindly  inform  me  what  is  the  best  and  cheapest 
solvent  for  white  shellac  ? — E.  M.  A. 

[192.] — OXYGEN  GAS. — Can  any  correspondent  favour 
me  with  a  cheap  method  for  producing  pure  oxygen  gas  for 

inhaling? — J.  D.  M. 

[193.]— LIQUOR  OPII  SEDATIVUS.— I  should  be  very 
glad  if  any  reader  of  the  Pharmaceutical  J ournal  could 
inform  me  how  to  make  “  Liq.  Opii  Sedativus.” — Arthur  T. 

Girdler. 

[194.]— MIST.  AMMONIACI  CONC. — A.  T.  Girdler 
wishes  to  be  furnished  with  a  formula  for  making  mist,  am- 
moniaci  cone.,  for  preparing  the  mist,  ammoniaci  of  the  Phar¬ 
macopoeia. 

[195.] — COAL  GAS. — Can  any  of  my  fellow- readers  de.- 
vise  a  plan  whereby  to  use  up  a  quantity  of  coal  gas,  except¬ 
ing  for  illuminating  or  for  a  gas  engine  ?  I  want  to  turn  it 
into  some  practical  use. — One  in  a  Fix. 

[196.]— MUSTARD  LEAVES.— Will  any  reader  kindly 
favour  me  with  the  best  formula  for  preparing  the  above  ?— 
W.  Y.  Scruby. 

[197.]— WHITE  CEMENT. — J.  B.  would  be  glad  if  any 
reader  could  give  a  good  formula  for  white  cement,  suitable 
for  joining  Spa  ornaments  to  metallic  mountings. 


Cmtspitot. 

***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

The  Proposed  Poison  Regulations. 

Sir, — Forty  years  ago,  I  have  myself  sent  out  pound 
parcels  of  arsenic  and  cream  of  tartar,  of  “  ox- vomit,”  white 
hellebore,  linseed  meal  and  rottenstone  in  the  same  butter- 
basket,  with  frequently  no  other  than  a  written  label,  and 
sometimes,  I  fear,  if  in  a  hurry,  not  even  that.  I  did  it  be¬ 
cause  it  was  the  custom ;  because  I  was  told  to  do  so  ;  and 
because  I  knew  no  better.  It  will  be  supposed,  therefore, 
that  I  am  not  individually  hostile  to  poison  regulations. 
But  have  wre  made  no  advance  since  1831  ?  One  would 
think,  to  judge  by  the  stir  made  about  poison  legislation, 
that  wre  had  not ;  that  things  continued  now  as  they  were 
then. 

I  think  a  line  between  public  and  private  acts  maybe  suffi¬ 
ciently  easily  drawn.  I  think  the  public  have  no  right  to 
interfere  with  a  man  who  only  plays  in  private  with  edge 
tools  for  his  own  amusement  and  at  his  own  risk;  but  if  he 
throws  them  about  to  the  manifest  danger  of  others,  he 
should  be  restrained  from  doing  so ;  i.  e.  I  think  the  public 
have  no  business  to  determine  for  me  in  what  manner  I  shall 
keep  the  articles  I  deal  in,  while  I  acknowledge  that  it  has 
every  right  to  prevent  my  scattering  them  abroad  to  its  own 
great  danger  and  probable  detriment.  I  object  on  principle 
to  all  excise  or  police  interference  whatever  with  me  in  the 
management  of  my  private  affairs.  I  consider  a  line  of  argu¬ 
ment,  based  upon  hopes  or  promises  of  leniency  in  carrying 
out  a  law,  a  line  to  be  ashamed  of  taking  one’s  stand  upon. 
And  I  claim  that  my  house,  and  shop  too,  be  what  unhappily 
an  Englishman’s  house  too  often  is  not ,  my  “  castle.”  If  a 
cry  of  murder  alarms,  a  charge  of  cruelty  be  made,  or  reason¬ 
able  suspicion  of  gross  immorality,  of  knowingly  secreting 
from  justice  vicious  characters,  stoien  goods,  or  highly  explo¬ 
sive  compounds  exist,  storm  it,  and,  if  proved,  sack  it,  if  you 
will ;  but  otherwise  I  hold  that  the  said  public,  and  its  myr¬ 
midons  of  the  law,  have  no  right  to  enter  but  by  my  permission. 
And  I  hold,  also,  that  laws  should  be  impartial,  and  aim  at 
the  public  good  solely  and  exclusively.  Therefore,  if  you 
exempt  one  man  from  all  control  over  his  mode  of  conduct¬ 
ing  a  confessedly  dangerous  trade,  solely  because  he  is  en¬ 
abled — cheaply  enough  perhaps — to  add  surgeon  or  physician 
to  his  name,  and  fine  another  for  the  very  same  act,  jrou  are 
not  impartial,  you  do  not  legislate  for  the  public  benefit 
solely,  nor  even  chiefly, — for  you  make  the  knowing  better 
than  others  the  excuse  for  recklessness,  whilst  supposed  igno¬ 
rance  aggravates  the  offence, — but  for  that  of  certain  indi¬ 
viduals,  or  to  gratify  the  animus  of  a  certain  class.  It  is 
palpably  most  unjust  that  A.  B.  and  C.  D.,  both  in  the  same 
street,  both  dealing  openly  in  hair-oil,  red  precipitate,  lauda¬ 
num,  quack  medicines  and  vermin-killers  should  have  a  dif¬ 
ference  made  between  them,  the  one  having  his  trade  ham¬ 
pered  wfith  restrictions  which  are  acknowledged  to  be  unne¬ 
cessary,  by  the  very  fact  that  it  is  not  sought  to  apply  them 
to  the  other.  I  say,  too,  that  both  public  dispensaries  of 
every  kind,  and  those  of  private  surgeons,  should  alike  come 
under  the  same  surveillance.  And  if  the  medical  profession 
deny  this,  they  transparently  betray  that  they  seek  not  legis¬ 
lation  solely  for  the  public  good,  but  for  the  sake  either  of 
some  special  benefit  to  themselves  or  the  gratification  of  some 
party  spleen,  though  I  by  no  means  assert  that,  as  a  body, 
they  do  either.  Still,  this  is  a  crucial  test. 

Having  said  thus  much  in  opposition  to  the  principle  of 
such  legislation,  I  will  now  add  that  I  most  cordially  approve 
of  the  terms  of  all  the  proposed  regulations,  provided  they 
come  forth  with  no  stronger  enforcement  than  the  recommen¬ 
dation  of  the  Council  of  our  Society.  This  ought  to  be 
enough,  and  it  would  be  enough  with  all  the  well-disposed 
among  its  members,  who  most  likely — indeed,  it  seems  to  be 
admitted  on  all  hands  that  they  do  so — adopt  them  already. 
To  the  evil-disposed,  such  legislation  is  rather  a  gain  than 
otherwise  in  the  long-run.  By  the  exercise  of  his  wits  he 
soon  learns  to  evade  the  penalties  of  a  new  Act,  and  the 
honourably-minded  man  neither  will  nor  can  compete  with 
him  in  doing  so.  It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  legislation 
for  repression  is  not  legislation  for  elevation.  No  one  pre- 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  18, 1871 


5S 


tends  that  the  pharmaceutical  body  will  be  cleansed,  raised 
or  “educated”  by  such  proposed  enactments ;  and  it  seems  to 
me  that  the  Council  propose  to  cast  a  stigma  upon  them¬ 
selves  and  upon  those  whom  they  represent,  which  at  present 
only  here  and  there  an  isolated  individual  besides  is  found 


rabid  enough  to  do. 

BrecJcfield  Hoad  North,  Liverpool, 
March  1  Ith,  1871. 


Thomas  Lowe. 


Sir, — As  a  member  and  well-wisher  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society,  I  cannot  help  sympathizing  with,  and  feeling  every 
confidence  in,  the  Council  in  their  desire  to  bring  in  the  pro¬ 
posed  Bill ;  but  at  the  same  time  it  appears  to  me,  since 
examinations  are  compulsory,  and  education  has  ever  been 
recognized  as  a  public  safeguard  against  cases  of  poisoning, 
the  proposed  compulsory  regulations  are  quite  unnecessary, 
and  would  rather  impress  the  public  mind  with  doubt  as  to 
our  capability  of  managing  our  businesses,  and  lead  them  to 
ignore  the  fact  of  educational  status,  instead  of  increasing 
their  confidence  that  every  member  of  the  trade  would  make 
such  precautionary  arrangements  as  his  class  of  business, 
shop  and  warehouse  accommodation  and  staff  would  suggest. 
It  is  not  so  much  to  the  “  regulations”  themselves  that  I 
object,  as  to  the  fact  of  making  them  compulsory, — from  what 
I  can  learn,  those  or  similar  arrangements  being  at  present 
adopted  in  almost  every  dispensing  establishment. 

Further,  these  “regulations”  would  be  incomplete  unless 
they  applied  to  all  other  dispensaries  besides  those  of  chemists, 
such  as  surgeons’,  apothecaries’,  hospitals’,  and  infirmaries’, 
which  need  reform  much  more  than  our  own. 

With  regard  to  the  regulations  themselves.  To  the  first 
clause  I  cannot  raise  the  slightest  objection,  as  it  is  just  what 
is  at  present  almost  universally  adopted.  To  the  second 
clause  my  objection  is  the  classification  of  “poisons,”  as  some 
persons  would  include  henbane,  digitalis,  colchicum,  etc., 
under  this  head,  while  others  would  not ;  if  the  list  of 
“poisons”  contained  in  the  former  Act  is  to  include  all 
that  are  to  come  under  the  new  one,  such  outside  drugs 
and  preparations  must  be  considered  as  non-poisonous, 
and  consequently  require  no  precautions  as  to  storage  and 
dispensing.  I  cannot  see  why  “white”  and  “red  precipi¬ 
tate,”  “  oil  of  vitriol,”  “spirit  of  salts,”  “sugar  of  lead,”  and 
many  other  (I  will  call  them)  commercial  articles,  as  also 
many  essential  oils,  which  have  caused  more  accidents  than 
those  which  come  under  the  list,  should  be  excluded.  With 
regard  to  (B)  of  clause  2,  using  a  bottle  or  vessel  such  as  de¬ 
scribed  would  make  the  dispenser  a  mere  machine;  and  then 
would  arise  the  difficulty  of  distinguishing  between  various 
poisons,  corrosive  sublimate  being  distinguished  while  calomel 
would  not, — thus  depending  on  the  sense  of  touch,  rather 
than  that  of  sight.  This  plan  alone  would,  I  believe,  cause 
more  errors  than  already  occur.  (C)  of  clause  2  greatly 
meets  the  requirements,  provided  all  poisons  (I  mean  such  as 
are  not  in  the  last  Act)  were  so  included,  which  would  be  a 
matter  of  some  difficulty,  considering  their  number.  Clause  3 
is  such  as  might  be  adopted  with  much  advantage  and  secu¬ 
rity.  On  the  whole  I  consider  the  already  existing  arrange¬ 
ments  most  satisfactory,  and  that  chemists  themselves  are 
the  best  persons  to  regulate  the  keeping  and  dispensing  poi¬ 
sons  according  to  their  own  judgment,  and  as  best  suited  to 
their  individual  requirements. 

Finding  that  it  has  been  the  desire  of  the  Council  to  ascer¬ 
tain  each  member’s  individual  opinion  is  my  apology  for 
troubling  you  on  this  occasion. 


placed  before  Mr.  Simon  a  protest  numerously  signed  by  the 
trade  against  any  further  pharmaceutical  legislation,  espe¬ 
cially  of  a  restrictive  character ;  and  also  a  statement,  that 
any  interference  with  the  individual  freedom  and  responsibi¬ 
lity  of  the  chemist  and  druggist  would  be  encountered  with 
the  unanimous  opposition  of  the  trade.  It  is  more  than  pro¬ 
bable  that  the  question  would  then  have  dropped,  and  with 
it  would  also  have  died  the  no  little  ill-feeling  that  lias  arisen. 

In  the  statement  of  reasons  issued  by  the  Council  is  men¬ 
tioned  “  the  great  privileges  accorded  to,  and  confidence 
reposed  in  the  Pharmaceutical  Society;  to  which,  on  the 
urgent  representation  of  the  Council,  that  the  Society  itself 
was  the  only  judge  of  what  would  be  practicable  and  adapted 
to  the  exigencies  of  trade  in  all  parts  of  the  kingdom,”  etc. 
Are  we  to  deduce  from  the  above  that  the  Council  desire  that 
the  majority  of  the  2000  members  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  who  elected  them  should  arrogate  to  themselves  so 
immense  a  superiority  over  their  10,000  brethren  who  have 
been  contemptuously  called  “outsiders”?  If  so,  the  lan¬ 
guage  is  certainly  worthy  of  the  notorious  Mr.  Chollop,  who, 
speaking  of  his  brother  Yankees,  said,  “We  are  the  intellect 
and  virtue  of  the  airth,  the  cream  of  human  natur’,  and  the 
flower  of  moral  force.” 

Does  it  not  occur  to  the  Council  that  strength  has  been 
given  them,  and  consolidation  to  the  whole  of  the  trade,  by 
the  ready  adhesion  of  these  “outsiders”  to  the  government 
of  a  Council  which  they  do  not  elect  ?  Has  it  never  occurred 
to  the  Council  that  in  event  of  any  further  parliamentary 
pharmacy  the  10,000  “outsiders”  may  have  accorded  to  them 
a  voice  in  the  pharmaceutical  franchise  ?  In  these  days  of 
reform,  Parliament  would  scarcely  refuse  so  reasonable  a 
request,  and  the  status  of  the  select  few  who  now  have  the 
management  might  be  somewhat  altered. 

After  carefully  considering  the  transactions  of  the  Council 
upon  this  question,  my  opinion  is  that,  notwithstanding  their 
specious  statement  of  reasons,  they  could  have  shelved  the 
subject  had  they  wished  to  do  so.  The  eloquence  of  our  Pre¬ 
sident,  which  could  dissuade  even  the  sturdy  Mr.  Lowe  from 
pressing  his  objectionable  amendments,  might,  combined  with 
the  support  of  the  trade,  have  convinced  Mr.  Simon  that  the 
Pharmacy  Act  had  provided  all  that  was  necessary  for  the 
public  safety. 

The  energetic  proprietors  of  a  popular  contemporary  have 
now  also  taken  the  question  in  hand.  Let  us  hope  that  their 
efforts,  and  those  of  the  Council,  will  not  cause  us  to  say,  in 
the  language  of  the  lamented  Artemus,  “We  are  governed 
too  much.” 

A  Country  Pharmaceutical  Chemist. 


41,  High  Street,  Exeter, 
March  13  tli,  1871. 


JonN  H.  Lake. 


Sir, — In  the  Journal 
nion  that  there  was 


no 


of  the  11th  ult. 
necessity  for 


,  I  expressed  my  opi- 
restrictive  legislation 
With  your  permission,  I  will 


upon  the  matter  of  poisons 
make  a  few  other  remarks. 

The  errors  of  judgment  made  by  the  Council  are  now  be¬ 
ginning  to  bear  fruit,  more  particularly  that  very  foolish  one 
whereby  they  refused  to  take  the  sense  of  the  trade  through¬ 
out  the  country  upon  this  subject.  Upon  a  question  of  this 
importance,  whereby  the  liberty  of  the  trade  is  so  much 
threatened,  it  must  have  occurred  to  the  Council  that  a 
strong  current  of  opinion  would  manifest  itself  in  opposition 
to  the  scheme  they  suggested.  The  Council 


might 


have 


Sir, — After  so  recently  troubling  you  with  my  views  upon, 
the  “poison  regulations,”  I  should  not  again  have  thrust 
myself  into  the  arena  of  conflict,  had  it  not  been  for  the  ap¬ 
pearance  of  Mr.  D.  W.  John’s  letter  in  your  last  impression. 

My  object  on  the  present  occasion,  is  to  endeavour  to  draw 
the  earnest  attention  of  all  parties  to  that  letter;  and  at  the 
same  time  to  say  that  I  can,  from  personal  experience  and 
ample  information,  fully  endorse  every  statement  made  therein 
as  to  the  existing  condition  of  things  in  not  a  few  establish¬ 
ments,  and  I  am  fully  persuaded  the  picture  he  has  drawn  is 
not  too  highly  coloured. 

I  also  agree  with  him  as  to  the  educational  bearing.  Edu¬ 
cation  will  not  always  make  a  man  careful,  nor  will  it  per  se 
prevent  misadventure. 

In  two  or  three  of  the  most  distressing  cases  of  accidental 
poisoning  which  have  occurred  within  my  memory,  no  at-^ 
tempt  was  made  to  explain  the  disasters  by  the  want  of 
proper  educational  acquirements,  for  the  contrary  was  well 
known  to  be  the  truth  of  the  case. 

Then  again,  as  Mr.  John  truly  observes,  in  the  majority  of 
businesses  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  there  shall  be  ap¬ 
prentices  and  young  assistants  employed,  and  it  seems  to  me 
that  the  “  poison  regulations”  may  be  a  safeguard.  That  they 
can  be  “  a  delusion  and  a  snare,”  or  the  means  of  “  making 
confusion  worse  confounded,”  is  I  believe  perfectly  absurd  to 


imagine. 


Quoting  from  Mr.  John’s  letter,  I  say,  “The  fact  that  fre¬ 
quent  recommendations  and  fearfully  narrow  escapes  have 
failed  to  convince  many  of  the  necessity  of  adopting  any  pre¬ 
cautions  is,  I  think,  sufficient  to  prove  that  nothing  short  of 
stern  compulsion  will  secure  the  general  adoption  of  any  rules 
that  may  be  proposed.” 

And  for  the  same  reasons  it  appears  to  me  quite  a  faiC3  to- 


March  18, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


759 


ask  men  who  will  take  no  pains  for  the  establishment  of  pro¬ 
per  arrangements,  whether  or  not  they  object  to  being  made 
to  do  so  by  compulsory  regulations. 

One  thing,  however,  seems  imperative,  and  that  is,  that  if 
medical  men  will  keep  open  shops  for  the  sale  of  drugs,  they 
should  be  liable  to  similar  coercive  regulations.  Certainly, 
the  public  safety  seems  to  require  it  quite  as  much  in  the  one 
ease  as  in  the  other. 

One  who  has  Known  the  Drug  Trade 

MORE  THAN  THIRTY  YEARS. 


Sir, — Having  carefully  and  regularly  perused  the  very  vo¬ 
luminous  correspondence  regarding  the  poison  regulation 
question  appearing  in  your  valuable  journal  from  week  to 
week,  it  has  occurred  to  me  as  somewhat  strange  that  wre  have 
been  favoured  with  so  few  editorial  remarks  on  this  very 
important  subject,  the  more  so  from  the  fact  of  the  Journal 
being  the  property  of  the  Society,  under  whose  auspices  the 
regulations  emanate. 

I  am  certain  that  such  would  have  been  gratefully  received, 
and  might  have  tended  to  soothe  the  fears  of  those  who  con¬ 
sider  they  are  about  to  be  bridled  with  something  of  a  very 
stringent  nature,  and  put  aright  the  vaunters  of  such  frivo¬ 
lous  excuses  as  we  have  seen  in  those  pages  since  the  regula¬ 
tions  were  mooted, — such  as  infringement  of  trade  rights, 
•compulsory  education,  on  toxicological  etiquette,  etc  , — from 
members  of  the  trade  throughout  the  country. 

There  is  one  particular  point  about  which  I  would  like  to 
clearly  understand,  viz.  do  the  Pharmaceutical  Council  intend 
using  their  influence  with  the  Medical  Department  of  the 
Privy  Council  to  extend  the  poison  regulations  to  those  who, 
under  present  circumstances,  will  be  exempt  by  virtue  of  being 
under  the  wing  of  the  medical  profession  ?  Surely,  if  the 
public  safety  demand  a  greater  safeguard  than  exists  at  pre¬ 
sent  from  us,  as  examined  druggists,  the  Privy  Coimcil  cannot 
possibly  object  to  a  measure  to  include  medical  men,  whose 
shops  for  the  retailing  of  everything  constituting  the  business 
of  a  chemist  and  druggist  are  in  many  cases  their  chief  source 
■of  income, — as  is  the  case  in  this  city,  where  there  are  three 
retail  shopkeeping  surgeons  to  every  druggist. 

And  I  tell  you,  Sir,  that  on  those  grounds  particularly,  the 
regulations  will  be  strongly  opposed  from  this  district. 

In  the  Chemists  and  Druggists’  Association  of  this  city,  of 
which  I  have  the  honour  to  be  a  member,  there  has  scarcely 
been  a  single  murmur  against  the  poison  regulations  as  issued 
by  the  Pharmaceutical  Council,  except  that  they  are  not  uni¬ 
versally  adapted  for  the  object  in  view. 

A  Registered  Assistant. 

Glasgoiv ,  March  7th,  1871. 

[*#*  Our  correspondent  is  referred  to  leaders  at  pp.  92 
and  489  of  the  present  volume,  also  to  the  statement  of  reasons 
issued  by  the  Council. — Ed.  Pharm.  Journ.] 


The  ‘Chemist  and  Druggist’  and  the  Poisons 
Regulations. 

Sir, — I  enclose  you  a  circular  I  received  this  morning.  I 
can  scarcely  express  the  astonishment  I  felt  when  I  read  its 
purport.  And  so  we  are  to  have  a  Red  Republic  in  phar¬ 
macy,  I  thought !  Sir,  I  trust  the  pharmacists  of  this  coun¬ 
try  will  repudiate  this  scandalous  and  barefaced  intermeddling 
busybodyism.  What  right  has  the  Chemist  and  Druggist 
to  call  for  a  plebiscite  of  the  trade  ?  But  I  suppose  it  is  a 
good  stroke  of  business ;  and  smells  strongly  of  the  shop — 
shoppy.  F.  m.  Rimmington. 


Dispensing  Reform  and  Poison  Restrictions. 

.  Sir, — I  must  say  wonders  never  cease.  It  certainly  is  asto¬ 
nishing  the  amount  of  wisdom  put  forth  and  maintained  by 
the  promoters  of  Pharmacy  Acts  and  amendments.  If  these 
people  think  they  are  going  to  elevate  the  trade  by  making 
stringent  and  oppressive  laws,  with  respect  to  the  selling, 
keeping  and  storing  of  poisons,  the  names  of  which  are  given 
m  the  schedules  (each  reformer  having  his  pet  scheme  as  to 
the  kind  of  poison,  the  locality  and  the  kind  of  bottle  and 
label),  they  are  much  mistaken.  Any  man  who  has  his  reason 
would,  for  his  own  sake,  take  the  amount  of  precaution 
necessary  in  these  things.  But  if  a  man  is  careless,  no  Act  of 
I  arliament  will  make  him  careful ;  it  may  punish  him  when 


he  has  made  a  mistake.  And,  again,  these  reformers  must 
know,  if  they  are  or  have  been  at  all  connected  with  the 
trade,  that  the  sale  of  most  of  the  poisons  mentioned  in  the 
schedules  is  very  small,  and  the  amount  of  profit  so  small  that 
it  would  not  pay  for  the  least  possible  alteration,  i.  e.  dis¬ 
tinguishing  bottles,  cupboards,  partitions,  etc. 

I  think  we,  who  have  spent  our  time  and  money  in  passing 
the  examination,  should  have  a  little  more  justice  done  us  by 
these  reformers.  Would  it  not  be  far  better  for  them  to  try 
to  enlighten  the  conscience  of  those  men  who  charge  for  dis¬ 
pensing  the  following  prescription  for  pills  at  one  shilling  per 
dozen : — 

R.  Pepsin.  Porci  gr.  vj 
Eerri  Redact,  gr.  j 
Sol.  -Ether.  Phosphori  -mil 
Pulv.  Rhei  gr.  j 
Pulv.  Capsici  gr.  j 
Mucilaginis  q.  s.  fiat  pilula. 

The  twelve  pills  would  contain  72  grains  of  pig-pepsin. 
What  profit  would  there  be  for  the  dispenser  who  faithfully 
prepares  these  pills  at  a  shilling  per  dozen?  At  the  same 
establishment  the  charge  for  eight-ounce  mixtures,  one  table¬ 
spoonful.  doses,  is  the  enormous  sum  of  eightpence ;  and  also 
one  shilling  was  charged  for  the  following  : — 

R.  Chlorodyne,  C.  B.’s,  5hj 
Aq.  ad  Jviij 
St.  3j,  omni  nocte. 

This  has  been  done  by  one  who  has  been  in  business,  I  be¬ 
lieve,  over  forty  years,  in  one  of  the  best  situations  in  a  large 
manufacturing  town, — one  who  stands  amongst  the  “  foun¬ 
ders,”  a  “  member  ”  of  the  ££  Society  ”  and  the  ££  Conference,” 
and  a  local  secretary.  Such  line  of  conduct  might  have  been 
passed  over  had  he  been££  hard-pushed,”  or  a  young  man  just 
“  commencing.”  But  it  is  far  from  it.  I  should  blush  to 
give  the  name  of  the  town  in  which  I  reside,  though  it  might 
be  said  to  be  justice  to  the  trade  to  do  so.  I  refrain  for  pity’s 
sake. 

Now,  with  respect  to  the  poison  question.  I  will  give  you 
a  rule  which,  if  observed,  is  the  only  way  to  prevent  poison¬ 
ing  by  accident.  1st.  Have  every  bottle  or  parcel  distinctly 
labelled.  2nd.  That  the  bottle  or  parcel  contain  the  article 
indicated  by  the  label.  3rd.  In  dispensing,  keep  the  mind 
upon  the  work ;  look  at  and  read  every  label  before  taking 
out  the  stopper ;  examine  every  weight  before  putting  it  into 
the  scale  pan;  and  in  measuring,  let  nothing  else  but  the 
quantity  and  article  occupy  your  mind.  4tli.  Do  everything 
by  system.  5th.  Do  nothing  by  “use.”  6th.  Use  best 
articles,  and  charge  according  to  the  class  of  customer.  If 
first-class,  charge  accordingly.  If  you  have  mostly  poor 
people,  adapt  your  charges  to  their  circumstances ;  but  never 
charge  less  than  cost  price,  for  that  is  dishonest  to  yourself 
and  fellow- dispenser.  If  your  customer  is  too  poor  to  pay 
you,  give  him  a  bottle  or  two  of  medicine,  for  if  he  cannot 
pay  for  his  medicine  he  will  not  be  able  to  pay  the  doctor. 
But,  instead  of  the  poor,  it  is  those  that  are  able  to  pay  who, 
in  an  extra  prescription,  are  charged  under  cost  price,  in 
order  to  “catch,”  or  are  afraid  lest  it  should  give  an  offence. 

I  think  it  would  be  much  better  for  our  pharmacy  re¬ 
formers  to  look  at  these  rules  with  their  minds  unprejudiced. 
They  would  find  it  much  better  than  their  distinguishing 
bottles,  separate  cupboards  and  partitions  scheme. 

Now  a  word  of  common  sense  to  our  Council  and  phar¬ 
macy  reformers.  We  are  in  the  trade,  and  have  a  right  to 
live  by  it.  I  would  say,  then, — Do  not  oppress  the  trade  with 
a  lot  of  measures  unnecessary  and  unprofitable.  Do  all  you 
can  to  protect  our  interests,  and  to  obtain  for  us  the  "sole 
right  to  deal  in  drugs,  and  to  sell  castor  oil,  salts,  senna,  and 
all  those  things  which  are  the  chief  source  of  revenue  to  us. 
Do  all  you  can  to  keep  the  sale  of  such  articles  from  those 
who  do. them  for  a  grocer’s  profit,  for  it  is  well  known  we 
cannot  live  upon  2}  per  cent,  on  our  small  returns ;  we  should 
not  have  the  pleasure  of  paying  much  income-tax.  Try  to 
do  something  to  regulate  the  present  system  of  so-called 
“  wholesale  druggists  ”  in  large  towns.  Many  inquiries  are 
made,  What  do  you  charge  for  so  much  of  so-and-so  ?  When 
the  price  is  mentioned,  their  reply  is,  “  Oh !  we  pay  so  much 
at  the  wholesale  druggists.”  Attention  is  required  to  this 
far  more  than  to  poisons. 

A  Pharmaceutical  Chemist 
by  Examination. 


760 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  18, 1871. 


Dispensing  Prices. 

Sir, — If  it  will  not  be  encroaching  on  your  valuable  space 
with  what,  I  ara  sorry  to  say,  has  become  a  thing  of  frequent 
occurrence,  I  should  like  to  add  another  example  of  that  per¬ 
nicious  and  despicable  system  of  undercharging. 

A  few  days  since,  a  person,  whose  outward  appearance  cer¬ 
tainly  bespoke  respectability,  brought  the  following  prescrip¬ 
tion,  and  desired  to  know  what  we  should  charge  for  dispens¬ 
ing  it : — 

R.  Quinias  Sulph.  9j 
Acid.  Nit.  Dil.  5ij 
Acid.  Hydrochlor.  Dil.  5j 
Sp.  iEtli.  Chlor.  5j 
Aquae  Dest.  ad  ^xij- 

M.  ft.  mist.  Sumat  coch.  amp.  ij  bis  die. 

2s.  3d.,  including  bottle,  was  the  price  mentioned,  which  was, 
if  anything,  insufficient,  considering  the  amount  of  quinine, 
besides  the  fact  of  there  being  sufficient  to  last  the  patient 
six  days.  She  then  said  that  she  never  paid  more  than 
Is.  8d.  for  it,  and  had  had  it  for  that  amount  at  a  chemist’s 
in  the  north-west  of  London,  at  the  same  time  stressing  the 
fact  that  his  establishment  was  on  a  large  scale.  On  refer¬ 
ring  to  the  Register,  I  find  that  he  is  a  Pharmaceutical  Che¬ 
mist  by  Examination,  and  also  a  member  of  the  Society, 
and  his  shop  is  in  one  of  the  most  fashionable  districts  of 
London.  It  seems  to  me  that  notwithstanding  all  our  boasted 
education  and  strenuous  measures  to  improve  the  trade,  the 
modern  chemists  forget  the  proverb  “Live  and  let  live,”  and 
try  as  far  as  possible  to  injure  themselves  and  the  trade  in 
general.  ______  Grumbler. 

Sir, — The  following  prescriptions  were  brought  to  me  some 
time  since  to  be  dispensed : — 

R.  Quin.  Disulph.  3ij 

Sp.  iEth.  Chlor.  Destii.  5'j 
Tinct.  Eerri  Sesqui chlor.  5iij 
Mist.  Camph.  ad  ^vj 

Ft.  mist.  Capiat  coch.  ampli  bis  terve  die. 

Aug.  7th,  1866.  T.  W.  G. 

When  I  told  the  person  wdiat  I  thought  a  reasonable  charge 
was,  I  was  indeed  almost  insulted,  for  I  was  told  that  at  every 
place  in  London  where  it  had  been  dispensed  they  had  only 
charged  Is.  6d.  Can  anybody  tell  me  what  wras  used  instead  ? 

R.  Codeiae  gr.  j§ 

Ext.  Nucis  Vom.  gr.  j 
Ext.  Calumbae  gr.  ij. 

Ft.  pil.  et  rep.  ad  xxiv,  cap.  ij  ter  die. 

This,  I  was  told,  was  charged  the  usual  price  for  two  dozen 
pills,  viz.  Is.  Codeia  cost  26s.  per  oz. ;  what  could  have  been 
used  in  this  case?  These  pills  have  been  taken  regularly 
since  the  beginning  of  March  last  year  until  the  end  of  July. 
Is  not  the  dose  of  nux  vomica  rather  strong  ? 

Video. 


Pharmacy  in  Ireland. 

Sir, — I  have  read  with  great  pleasure  the  letter  of  your  cor¬ 
respondent  “  Aliquis”  on  the  above  subject,  and  I  believe  his 
opinions  to  be  those  of  the  majority  of  the  respectable  apo¬ 
thecaries  in  this  country. 

I  hope  that  the  few  letters  which  have  so  far  been  published 
will  show  the  leaders  of  the  “Pharmaceutical  Society”  the 
real  position  of  the  druggists  of  Ireland,  which  (judging  from 
some  of  the  articles  which  have  appeared  in  the  Journal)  I 
think  they  have  unfortunately  misunderstood,  considering 
them  analogous  to  the  chemists  and  druggists  of  England  and 
Scotland. 

I  may  here  say  that  the  reason  why  the  druggists  have  not 
expressed  their  opinions  in  the  Journal,  as  invited,  is  that 
they  scarcely  ever  see  it,  the  matter  therein  contained  being 
entirely  foreign  to  their  line  of  business. 

With  regard  to  the  complaint  that  the  apothecaries  have 
an  undue  monopoly,  it  would  be  a  very  similar  case  if,  in 
seventy  years’  time,  the  grocers  of  England  were  to  complain 
that  while  they  (the  grocers)  were  allowed  to  sell  drugs, 
such  as  castor  oil,  etc.,  they  were  not  allowed  to  compound 
medicines  under  a  heavy  penalty.  Of  course  the  answer  would 
be  that  the  privilege  was  theirs  on  passing  the  necessary 
examination;  and  this  is  the  case  with  regard  to  the  Irish 
druggists,  with  this  exception,  that  in  England  the  examina¬ 
tion  is  confined  to  subjects  necessary  for  the  proper  discharg¬ 


ing  of  their  duties  as  dispensing  chemists,  while  in  Ireland 
unfortunately  it  is  not  so ;  and  this,  together  with  the  assi¬ 
milation  of  the  laws  which  govern  the  two  countries,  would 
seem  to  be  the  principal  advantages  gained  bv  making  a 
change  in  the  present  system  ;  for,  so  long  as  a  sufficient  num¬ 
ber  of  gentlemen  think  their  remuneration  as  apothecaries  a 
sufficient  reward  for  the  high  education  required  of  them,  I  do 
not  see  any  other  ground  on  which  to  complain  of  their  mono¬ 
polizing  the  dispensing  part  of  the  profession.  Of  course,  if 
they  abused  that  monopoly  by  charging  exorbitant  prices, 
etc.  there  would  be  more  ground  for  complaint;  but  this 
is  not  the  case. 

In  conclusion,  I  think  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  might 
with  advantage  frame  a  "Bill  similar  to  the  one  proposed  by 
the  Apothecaries’  Hall,  omitting  the  Modified  Examination 
for  druggists,  which  was  necessary  in  England  to  protect 
existing  interests,  but  is  not  so  in  Ireland.  Such  a  Bill  will 
be  far  less  likely  to  meet  with  opposition  from  the  apotheca¬ 
ries,  in  the  face  of  which  it  is  scarcely  possible  that  any  mea¬ 
sure  on  the  subject  could  become  law. 

Oswald  A.  Readk, 

Belfast.  _______  Local  Secretary. 

Exemption  prom  Serving  on  Juries. 

Sir, — As  according  to  the  present  Act  of  Parliament  phar¬ 
maceutical  chemists  only  are  exempted  from  serving  on  juries, 
and  as  the  same  duties  and  obligations  devolve  on  chemists 
and  druggists,  I  think  it  only  just  that  the  same  privilege 
should  be  extended  to  the  whole  of  the  trade. 

Such  a  measure  would  tend  to  remove  any  existing  jea¬ 
lousies  between  the  two  departments,  and  they  would  be 
enabled  to  act  more  in  concert  for  the  general  welfare. 

A  short  Act  could  easily  be  introduced  to  Parliament  for 
the  purpose. 

7,  Wheeler  Street,  Birmingham,  James  A.  Foster. 
2nd  hlarch ,  1871. 


Louisa  Blumbley. — We  are  of  opinion  that  clause  16  of 
the  Pharmacy  Act,  1868,  which  creates  exceptions,  must  be 
strictly  construed  in  favour  of  the  public,  so  that  the  widow 
of  a  deceased  chemist  and  druggist  will  not  stand  in  any  more 
favoured  position  than  any  descendant,  ancestor,  or  collateral 
relative  of  a  deceased  chemist  and  druggist  would  stand  in. 
In  short,  that  no  relative  of  a  chemist  and  druggist  can  claim 
any  special  exemption  in  right  of  the  relationship,  and  the 
only  persons  who  can  claim  the  special  exemption  are  those 
who  stand  in  the  position  of  trust  as  defined  in  the  statute. 

W.  Hartley. — No. 

“Tonic”  (Watford). — You  will  find  the  information  you 
require  concerning  quinine  wine  given  in  a  letter  printed  on 
p.  519  of  the  present  volume. 

“  Omega  ”  will  find  the  formula  for  Dr.  Coffin’s  composi¬ 
tion  powder  on  p.  457  of  the  present  volume. 

C.  E.  W. — The  formula  for  Easton’s  syrup  has  been  already 
given  in  the  present  volume,  p.  377.  See  also  the  corre¬ 
spondence  respecting  it  on  pp.  397  and  419. 

T.  W.  (Scarborough). — We  are  informed  that  the  third 
edition  of  Attfield’s  ‘  Chemistry  ’  is  now  being  printed,  but 
that  it  is  intended  chiefly  for  American  circulation,  being, 
adapted  to  the  United  States’  Pharmacopoeia. 

“  Aroma.” — The  ‘  J ournal  of  the  Society  of  Arts  ’  is  pub¬ 
lished  by  Messrs.  Bell  and  Daldy,  York  Street,  Covent  Garden. 

We  are  compelled  to  defer  the  publication  of  several 
letters  until  next  week. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received : — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  March  11 ;  the  ‘Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
March  11 ;  the  ‘  Lancet,’  March  11 ;  the  ‘  Medical  Press  and 
Circular,’  March  16 ;  ‘  Nature,’  March 9;  the  ‘Chemical  News,’ 
March  10;  ‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  March  9;  ‘Gar¬ 
deners’ Chronicle,’  March  11;  the  ‘Grocer,’  Marchll;  ‘Produce 
Markets  Review,’  March  11;  the  ‘  English  Mechanic/  March 
10 ;  the  ‘  Chemist  and  Druggist  ’  for  March ;  the  ‘  New  York 
Druggists’  Circular  ’  for  February. 

Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  T.  P.  Blunt,  Mr.  T.  A.  Reeve,  Mr.  J.  Barker,  Mr.  F.  B. 
Benger,  Mr.  D.  H.  Warwick,  Mr.  M.  C.  Cooke,  Mr.  F.  Coles, 
Mr.  S.  Dean,  Mr.  Cohen,  Mr.  D.  Anderson,  Mr.  W.  Lee, 
Dr.  Steele,  Mr.  W.  W.  Stoddart,  “  Alpha,”  “  Nil  sine  Lahore,” 
“Vincit  Amor  Patriae,”  “Senega,”  “Apprentice,”  C.  W~ 
A.  0.  Z.,  T.  E.  R.,  J.  H. 


March  25,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


SYRUP  OF  PHOSPHATE  OF  IROH 

AND  OTHER  SYRUPS  CONTAINING 
PHOSPHORIC  ACID. 

BY  MICHAEL  CARTEIGHE. 

Of  tlie  numerous  preparations  of  iron  at  the  dis¬ 
posal  of  the  practitioner  few  have  in  late  years  ac¬ 
quired  more  favour  than  the  syrup  of  the  phosphate. 
First  introduced  to  the  notice  of  the  profession  by 
Mr.  Greenish* * * § *  in  a  form  more  or  less  opaque,  it  was 
not  until  about  ten  years  ago  that  it  came  into  very 
general  use.  About  this  time  Gale  and  Schweitzer 
each  read  a  paperf  at  one  of  the  evening  meetings 
of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  detailing  processes 
for  the  preparation  of  this  syrup  in  a  form  which 
should  remain  perfectly  bright  and  free  from  deposit. 
Gale’s  process  was  introduced  into  the  British  Phar¬ 
macopoeia  of  1867,  and  since  the  publication  of  that 
volume  the  demand  for  this  medicine  has  vastly  in¬ 
creased.  Its  tendency  to  darken  in  colour  after  hav¬ 
ing  been  kept  for  some  tune  was  soon  noticed,  and 
Umneyl  made  some  experiments  with  the  view  of 
preventing  or  retarding  this  change,  but  the  results 
were  not  practically  satisfactory.  T.  B.  Groves§ 
afterwards  examined  a  very  old  specimen  in  his 
possession,  and  determined  the  chemical  composition 
of  the  precipitate,  which  is  formed  on  long  standing. 
He  describes  this  precipitate  as  being  essentially  a 
compound  of  iron  with  phosphoric  acid,  correspond¬ 
ing  to  the  octocalcic  phosphate  of  Warington.  The 
dark  colour  he  thinks  due  to  the  production  of 
caramel  by  the  action  of  the  phosphoric  acid  and 
iron  salt  upon  the  sugar.  He  also  prepared  several 
specimens  with  a  stronger  acid,  made  by  himself 
from  amorphous  phosphorus,  and  found  that  these 
kept  somewhat  better  than  when  made  according  to 
the  B.  P. 

The  necessity  of  keeping  the  syrup  recently  pre¬ 
pared  induced  me  to  try  a  few  experiments  with  a 
stronger  acid,  and  to  devise  a  shorter  process  than 
that  of  the  B.  P.  This  has  doubtless  already  sug¬ 
gested  itself  to,  and  been  practically  tested  by,  other 
chemists,  but,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  it  has  not  hitherto 
been  published.  It  is  as  follows  : — 

SYRUP  OF  PHOSPHATE  OF  IRON. 

Phosphate  of  Iron . 96  grs. 

Water . 9  fl.  drms. 

Syrupy  Phosphoric  Acid,  sp.  gr.  1*500  7  fl.  drms. 

Syrup . 10  fl.  oz. 

Rub  the  phosphate  of  iron  with  the  water  in  a  glass 
mortar,  add  the  phosphoric  acid  and  filter  the  mixture 
into  the  syrup. 

As  thus  prepared,  it  contains  the  same  proportion 
of  iron,  about  2  minims  less  of  the  dilute  acid  (25 
instead  of  27),  and  rather  more  sugar  than  when 
prepared  according  to  the  Pharmacopoeia. 

The  phosphate  of  iron  is  made  by  the  B.  P.  pro¬ 
cess,  and  dried  at  a  temperature  not  exceeding  100° 
F.  The  specimens  I  have  found  in  the  ordinary 
course  of  trade  are  not  readily  soluble  in  the  acid. 
This  want  of  solubility  is,  I  believe,  due  to  the 
length  of  time  they  have  been  kept  before  sale. 


*  Phaem.  Jouex.  Vol.  X.  p.  534. 

t  Phaem.  Jouen.  2nd  series,  Yol.  I.  p.  497. 

X  Phaem.  Johett.  2nd  series,  Yol.  YIII.  p.  129. 

§  Phaem.  Jotten.  Yol.  XI.  p.  138. 

Third  Series,  No.  39. 


761 


I  have  obtained  the  best  results  with  phosphate 
only  a  few  days  old,  and  find  it  advantageous  to 
make  as  much  as  is  required  frequently. 

Syrupy  phosphoric  acid  of  sp.  gr.  1*500  may  now 
be  obtained  of  any  manufacturing  chemist,  and  ac¬ 
cording  to  Dr.  Watts’s  table,*  contains  about  50  per 
cent,  of  P205.  It  is  made  by  the  action  of  nitric 
acid  on  phosphorus,  the  excess  of  acid  being  driven 
off  in  a  platinum  vessel. 

Manganese  is  sometimes  prescribed  with  or  with¬ 
out  iron,  and  according  to  Pereira,  the  former  is  a 
useful  adjunct  to  ferruginous  preparations,  and  oc¬ 
casionally  a  desirable  substitute  for  them. 

SYRUP  OF  PHOSPHATE  OF  MANGANESE 

May  be  prepared  in  a  similar  manner  with  the 
following  ingredients : — 

Phosphate  of  Manganese . 96  grs. 

Water . 9  fl.  drms. 

Syrupy  Phosphoric  Acid,  sp.  gr.  1*500  7  fl.  drms. 

Syrup . 10  fl.  oz. 

Strength — 1  grain  phosphate  of  manganese  and 
acid  equal  to  about  25  minims  of  the  dilute  phosphoric 
acicl  in  each  fluid  drachm. 

The  phosphate  of  manganese  is  made  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  phosphate  of  iron,  substituting  sul¬ 
phate  of  manganese  for  the  ferrous  sulphate. 

SYRUP  OF  PHOSPHATE  OF  IRON  WITH 
MANGANESE. 

Phosphate  of  Iron . 72  grs. 

Phosphate  of  Manganese . 48  grs. 

Water . 8  fl.  drms. 

Syrupy  Phosphoric  Acid . 8  fl.  drms. 

Syrup . 10  fl.  oz. 

Rub  the  powders  with  the  water,  add  the  acid  and  filter 
into  the  syrup. 

Each  fluid  drachm  contains  \-grain  phosphate  of 
iron,  \-grain  phosphate  of  manganese  and  acid  equal 
to  about  30  minims  of  the  dilute  phosphoric  acid,  B.P. 

The  tendency  of  modern  practitioners  of  medi¬ 
cine  to  encourage  the  exhibition  of.  substances  which 
may  assist  in  the  formation  of  bone,  etc.,  has  led  to 
the  introduction  of  the — 

SYRUP  OF  PHOSPHATE  OF  IRON  AND  LIME. 


Take  of  Phosphate  of  Iron . 96  grs. 

Phosphate  of  Lime . 192  grs. 

Water . 8  fl.  drms. 

Syrupy  Phosphoric  Acid,  sp.  gr. 

1-500  8  fl.  drms. 

Syrup . .  .  .  .  10  fl.  oz. 


Mix  the  powders  with  the  water  in  a  glass  mortar,  add 
the  acid  and  filter  into  the  syrup. 

Each  fluid  drachm  contains  1  grain  of  phosphate 
of  iron,  2  grains  of  phosphate  of  lime,  and  an  amount 
of  acid  equal  to  about  30  minims  of  the  dilute 
phosphoric  acid,  B.  P. 

The  phosphate  of  lime  is  made  by  precipitation 
from  solutions  of  chloride  of  calcium  and  phosphate 
of  soda,  and  dried  at  100°  F.,  and  should  not  be  kept 
too  long  before  use.  That  made  from  bone  ash,  as 
the  Pharmacopoeia  directs,  is  much  less  readily 
soluble. 

The  following  formulae  may  be  useful  as  an  appen¬ 
dix: 


*  Phaem.  Jouen.  2nd  series,  Yol.  YII.  p.  191. 


762 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  25, 1871. 


SYRUP  OF  PHOSPHATE  OF  ZINC. 


Phosphate  of  Zinc . 192  grs. 

Water . 11  fl.  drms. 

Syrupy  Phosphoric  Acid,  sp.  gr.  1-500  5  fl.  drms. 

Syrup . 10  fl.  oz. 


Rub  the  phosphate  with  the  water,  add  the  acid  and 
filter  into  the  syrup. 

Each  Jiuul  drachm  contains  2  grains  of  zinc 
phosphate  and  about  18  minims  of  dilute  phosphoric 
acid. 

SYRUP  OF  PHOSPHATE  OF  QUININE. 

Take  of  Phosphate  of  Quinia*  ....  96  grs. 

Water . 13^  fl.  drms. 

Syrupy  Phosphoric  Acid,  sp.  gr. 

1-500  2^  fl.  drms. 

Syrup . 10  fl.  oz. 

Mix  the  acid  with  the  water,  add  the  quinia  and  filter 
into  the  syrup. 

Each  fluid  drachm  contains  1  grain  of  phosphate 
of  quinine  and  acid  equal  to  about  10  minims  of  the 
dilute  phosphoric  acid. 

SYRUP  OF  PHOSPHATE  OF  IRON  WITH 
QUININE. 

Take  of  Phosphate  of  Iron . 192  grs. 

Phosphate  of  Quinia*  ....  96  grs. 

Water . 7  fl.  drms. 

Syrupy  Phosphoric  Acid,  sp.  gr. 

1-500  .  9  fl.  drms. 

Syrup . 10  fl.  oz. 

Rub  the  powders  with  the  water,  add  the  acid  and  filter 
into  the  syrup. 

Each  fluid  drachm  contains  2  grains  of  phosphate 
of  iron  and  1  grain  of  phosphate  of  quinine. 

SYRUP  OF  PHOSPHATE  OF  IRON,  QUININE 
AND  STRYCHNINE. 

Easton’s  Syrup. 

Take  of  Phosphate  of  Iron . 192  grs. 

Phosphate  of  Quinia*  ....  96  grs. 

Strychnia  (in  crystals)  ...  3  grs. 

Water  . . 7  fl.  drms. 

Syrupy  Phosphoric  Acid,  sp.  gr. 

1*500 .  9  fl.  drms. 

Syrup . 10  fl.  oz. 

Rub  the  phosphate  of  iron  with  5  drachms  of  the  water 
in  a  glass  mortar,  dissolve  the  strychnia  and  quinia  in 
the  acid,  previously  mixed  with  the  remaining  2  drachms 
of  water ;  mix  and  filter  into  the  syrup. 

Each  fluid  drachm  con  tains  2  grains  of  phosphate 
of  iron,  1  grain  of  phosphate  of  quinine  and  Apid 
part  of  a  grain  of  strychnine. 

SYRUP  OF  PHOSPHATE  OF  IRON  AND 
STRYCHNINE 

May  be  prepared  in  the  same  manner  as  the  last, 
omitting  the  phosphate  of  quinine. 

I  am  conscious  of  the  objections  which  may  be 
urged  against  the  prescribing  of  these  compound 
preparations,  but  in  the  face  of  the  constant  and 
increasing  demand  for  many,  it  appears  to  me  futile 
to  attempt  to  discourage  them  by  declining  to  pub¬ 
lish  form uke.  Such  a  course  tends  to  perplex  both 
the  medical  profession  and  pharmacists  and  to  the 
introduction  of  quasi-secret  remedies  of  unknown, 
and  possibly  of  uncertain,  strength. 

172,  New  Bond  Street,  JV. 

*  The  same  weight  of  quinia,  prepared  by  precipitating  an 
acidulated  solution  ot  the  disulphate  by  solution  of  ammonia, 
collecting,  washing  and  drying  at  100®  F.,  may  be  used,  in 
the  absence  of  the  phosphate. 


NOTE  ON  OPIUM  CULTURE. 

BY  GEORGE  W.  KENNEDY. 

In  a  letter  to  the  editor  of  the  American  Journal  of 
Pharmacy ,  the  author  informs  him  that  he  has  procured 
poppy  seed  from  abroad,  and  supplied  it  to  a  friend 
in  Illinois,  with  the  view  of  trying  an  experiment  in 
opium  culture.  The  seeds  were  planted  in  rows  two 
and  a  half  feet  apart,  in  well-manured,  rather  dry  soil 
and  in  moist  soil.  The  seed  sown  in  the  wet  soil  failed. 
The  plants  received  good  garden  culture,  and  attained  a 
height  of  three  feet.  After  the  petals  had  fallen,  and 
the  capsule  attained  some  size,  horizontal  incisions  were 
made  around  the  capsules  in  the  afternoon,  and  the  exu¬ 
dation  removed  in  the  morning  and  dried  in  the  sun. 
Some  of  the  capsules  failed  to  yield  any  juice,  owing  to 
the  wound  being  too  deep,  and  the  juice  passing  into  the 
cavity  of  the  capsule.  The  yield  of  opium  was  small, 
many  of  the  plants  being  imperfect.  Mr.  Kennedy 
made  a  partial  examination  of  it,  and  detected  meconic 
acid ;  and  when  treated  by  Mohr’s  process,  with  subse¬ 
quent  crystallization  of  the  precipitate  from  alcohol, 
yielded  8-75  per  cent,  of  morphia  crystals,  which  gave 
the  proper  reactions  with  nitric  acid  and  chloride  of  iron. 

Mr.  Kennedy  hopes  to  make  a  more  successful  experi¬ 
ment  next  year. 


SULPHO-CARBOLATE  OF  ZINC. 

In  a  letter  to  the  editor  of  the  American  Journal  of 
Pharmacy ,  Dr.  A.  B.  Lyons,  of  Detroit,  recommends  the 
following  process  for  the  preparation  of  sulpho-carbolatc 
of  zinc  as  simple,  economical  and  satisfactory : — A  crude 
sulpho- carbolic  acid  is  first  prepared  in  the  usual  way, 
by  heating  together  sulphuric  and  carbolic  acids — seven¬ 
teen  parts  of  the  former  to  sixteen  of  the  latter.  This  is 
diluted  with  ten  times  its  volume  of  water,  and  saturated 
with  carbonate  of  lead.  Into  the  filtered  solution  of 
sulpho-carbolate  of  lead  is  introduced  a  quantity  of  pure 
granulated  zinc,  equal  in  weight  to  the  carbolic  acid  em¬ 
ployed.  At  the  end  of  twenty-four  hours  the  solution 
will  usually  be  found  free  from  lead,  giving  no  precipi¬ 
tate  with  sulphuric  acid  or  potassium  iodide.  When 
quite  freed  from  lead,  as  indicated  by  these  tests,  the 
solution  is  decanted,  heated  to  boiling,  filtered  and  eva¬ 
porated  to  a  small  bulk  to  crystallize ;  or  the  evaporation 
is  carried  to  complete  dryness,  the  salt  being  obtained  in 
the  granular  form.  The  salt  procured  in  this  way  is  of 
necessity  free  from  sulphate,  and  yields  fine  large  colour¬ 
less  crystals,  without  any  empyreumatic  odour. 


BORAX. 

The  New  York  Druggists’  Circular  states  that  it  may 
not  be  generally  known  how  very  valuable  borax  is 
in  various  purposes  of  household  use.  We  find  it 
the  very  best  cockroach  exterminator  yet  discovered. 
One  half-pound,  costing  but  fifty  cents,  has  completely 
cleared  a  large  house  formerly  swarming  with  them,  so 
that  the  appearance  of  one  in  a  month  is  quite  a  novelty. 
The  various  exterminating  powders  puffed  and  adver¬ 
tised  have  been  found  not  fully  effective,  tending  rather 
to  make  the  roaches  crazy  than  to  kill  them.  There  is 
something  peculiar,  either  in  the  smell  or  touch  of  borax, 
which  is  certain  death  to  them.  They  will  flee  in  terror 
from  it,  and  never  appear  again  where  it  has  once  been 
placed.  It  is  also  a  great  advantage  that  borax  is  per¬ 
fectly  harmless  to  human  beings ;  hence  no  danger  from 
poisoning.  It  is  also  valuable  for  laundry  purposes. 
The  washerwomen  of  Holland  and  Belgium,  so  pro¬ 
verbially  clean,  and  who  get  their  linen  so  beautifully 
white,  use  refined  borax  as  washing-powder  instead  of 
soda,  in  the  proportion  of  a  large  handful  of  borax  pow¬ 
der  to  ten  gallons  of  water.  They  save  soap  nearly  one- 
half.  All  the  large  washing  establishments  adopt  the 
same  mode.  For  laces,  cambrics,  etc.,  an  extra  quantity 
of  the  powder  is  used ;  and  for  crinolines  (requiring  to 


March  25,1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


763 


be  made  stiff)  a  stronger  solution  is  necessary.  Borax, 
being  a  neutral  salt,  does  not  in  the  slightest  degree  in¬ 
jure  the  texture  of  linen.  Its  effect  is  to  soften  the 
hardest  water,  and  therefore  it  should  be. kept  on  the 
toilet  table.  As  a  way  of  cleaning  the  hair,  nothing  is 
better  than  a  solution  of  borax  in  water. 


SOLVENT  POWERS  OF  GLYCERINE. 


The  following  table  of  the  solubilities  of  various 
chemicals  in  one  hundred  parts  of  glycerine  is  given  by 
Klever  ( Phann .  Zeitsch.  f.  Huss.) 


Arscnious  Acid . 20 

Arsenic  Acid . 20 

Benzoic  Acid . 10 

Boracic  Acid . 10 

Oxalic  Acid . 15 

Tannic  Acid . 50 

Alum . 40 

Carbonate  of  Ammonia  ....  20 

Muriate  of  Ammonia . 20 

Tartarated  Antimony . 5 ‘50 

Atropia . 3 

Sulphate  of  Atropia . 33 

Chloride  of  Barium . 10 

Brucia . 2  "25 

Sulphide  of  Calcium . 5 

Cinchonia . 0‘50 

Sulphate  of  Cinchonia . 6-70 

Acetate  of  Copper . 10 

Sulphate  of  Copper . 30 

Tartarated  Iron . 8 

Lactate  of  Iron . 10 

Sulphate  of  Iron . 25  ^ 

Perchloride  of  Mercury  ....  7*50 

Cyanide  of  Mercury . 27 

Iodine . 1’00 

Morphia . .  •  0-45 

Acetate  of  Morphia . 20 

Muriate  of  Morphia . 20 

Phosphorus . 0‘20 

Acetate  of  Lead . 20 

Arseniate  of  Potash . 50 

Chlorate  of  Potash . 3-50 

Bromide  of  Potassium . 25 

Cyanide  of  Potassium . 32 

Iodide  of  Potassium . 40 

Quinia . 0*50 

Tannate  of  Quinia . 0*25 

Arseniate  of  Soda . 50 

Bicarbonate  of  Soda . 8 

Borate  of  Soda . 60 

Carbonate  of  Soda . 98 

Chlorate  of  Soda . 20 

Sulphur . 0-10 

Strychnia . 0-25 

Nitrate  of  Strychnia . 4 

Sulphate  of  Strychnia . 22-50 

Urea . 50 

Veratria . 1 

Chloride  of  Zinc . 50 

Iodide  of  Zinc . 40 

Sulphate  of  Zinc . 35 


Burns  and  Scalds. — Dr.  S.  B.  Judkin,  in  a  com¬ 
munication  to  the  Journal  of  Materia  Medica,  says  that  he 
has  successfully  treated  many  cases  of  bums  and.  scalds 
by  dissolving  white-lead  in  linseed- oil  to  the  consistency 
of  milk,  and  applying  it  over  the  entire  bum  or  scald 
every  five  minutes  with  a  soft  feather.  He  has  used  it  a 
great  many  times  during  fifteen  years  of  practice,  and 
found  it  to  give  relief  sooner,  and  to  be  more  permanent 
in  its  effects,  than  any  other  preparation. 


THE 

PROPOSED  POISON  REGULATIONS. 


MEETING  OF  CHEMISTS  IN  NOTTINGHAM. 

A  General  Meeting  of  the  Chemists  of  the  town  and 
district,  was  held  in  the  rooms  of  the  Nottingham  and 
Notts  Chemists’  Association,  on  Friday,  the  10th  of 
March ;  Mr.  J.  H.  Atherton,  the  President  of  the'  so¬ 
ciety,  in  the  chair. 

The  meeting  was  well  attended  and  unanimous  in  its 
expression. 

The  following  resolutions  were  adopted  : — 

Proposed  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Parker,  seconded  by  Mr.  T. 
B.  Fletcher, — 

“  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  Meeting,  the  proposed  in¬ 
stitution  of  compulsory  regulations  for  the  keeping  and 
dispensing  of  poisons  is  unwise,  and  an  unnecessary  in¬ 
terference  with  the  freedom  and  independence  ot  the 
trade.” 

Proposed  by  Mr.  Fitz-Hugh,  seconded  by  Mr.  May- 
field, — 

“  That  the  importance  of  the  proposed  measure  de¬ 
mands  that  the  opinion  of  members  of  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society  should  be  taken,  before  the  Annual  Meeting 
in  May.  This  Meeting  would  urge  the  Council  to  issue 
with  the  voting-papers  a  form,  to  be  filled  up  by  each 
member,  requesting  his  opinion,  4  Ay  ’  or  4  No,  on  the 
subject,  in  order  to  ascertain  definitely  the  views  of  the 
trctd©**  * 

Proposed  by  Mr.  Blankney,  Arnold,  seconded  by 
Mr.  F.  White, — 

44  That  this  Meeting  approves  of  the  objects  of  the  De¬ 
fence  Association,  and  hereby  agrees  to  support  its 
efforts.” 

Proposed  by  Mr.  Oakland,  seconded  by  Mr.  Lewis, 

44  That  the  resolutions  arrived  at  by  this  Meeting  be 
printed  and  circulated  throughout  the  town  and  neigh¬ 
bourhood.” 


MEETING  OF  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS 
AT  HULL. 

On  Wednesday  evening,  the  15th  inst.,  a  large  and 
influential  Meeting  of  Chemists  and  Druggists  of  Hull 
and  neighbourhood  was  held  at  the  Cross  Keys  Hotel, 
Market  Place,  to  take  into  consideration  the  proposed 
poison  regulations.  On  the  motion  of  Mr.  Gales,  se¬ 
conded  by  Mr.  Smith,  the  President  of  the  Hull  Che¬ 
mists’  Association  (Mr.  Baynes)  was  called  upon  to 
preside. 

The  Chairman  in  opening  the  proceedings  said  they 
were  called  together,  as  they  were  doubtless  well  aware, 
for  a  most  important  purpose,  the  consideration  of  a 
question  which  was  of  vital  importance .  to  the  trade 
generally.  The  Hull  Chemists  Association  had.  pre¬ 
viously  taken  action  and  placed  on  record  their  opinion  on 
the  matter.  It  had,  however,  been  thought  fit,  under  the 
present  circumstances  of  the  case,  to  call  a  meeting  of  the 
trade ;  and  as  some  persons  must  take  the  initiative,  he  and 
the  Secretary  (Mr.  Bell)  had  chosen  to  do  so.  The  meeting 
was  one  of  the  entire  trade,  and  every  gentleman  would 
be  at  liberty  to  express  his  opinions  on  the  proposed 
regulations.  He  trusted  the  gentlemen  would  speak 
with  calmness,  good  temper  and  with  as  much  brevity 
as  was  consistent  with  what  the  speaker  desired  to  say. 
The  poison  regulations,  unless  their  enactment  was  de¬ 
feated,  were  about  to  be  made  the  means  of  placing  the 
chemists  under  very  stringent  regulations,  which  were 
not  intended  to  apply  to  any  other  class  of  dealers  m 
medicines.  The  action  which  their  committee  had  pre¬ 
viously  taken  was,  he  was  informed,  to  the  utter  con¬ 
demnation  of  the  scheme  proposed  by  the  Council,  and  he 
had  very  little  doubt  the  result  of  their  present  meeting 
would  show  that  they  rightly  judged  the  general  feeling 


764 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  25, 1871. 


of  the  trade.  Certain  resolutions  had  been  prepared  for 
the  meeting,  but  they  had  only  been  drawn  for  the  pur¬ 
pose  of  facilitating  business,  and  would  be  open  for  dis¬ 
cussion.  A  memorial  would  be  read,  but  the  meeting 
would  be  at  liberty  to  mar  or  amend  it  as  they  thought 
fit.  Personally  he  had  no  very  strong  objections  to  the 
poison  regulations,  so  long  as  he  was  allowed  to  do  as  he 
liked  about  them,  but  he  should  strongly  object  to  their 
being  forced  on  him  by  law.  At  present  he  was  allowed, 
and  did  make  such  arrangements  as  he  thought  would 
conduce  to  the  safety  of  his  customers,  and  he  had  no 
doubt  every  other  chemist  in  the  district  did  the  same. 
With  regard  to  the  suggestion  of  Dr.  Simon  as  to  angu¬ 
lar  bottles,  it  was  merely  one  of  his  crotchets.  Some 
gentlemen  had  an  idea  that  they  could  prevent  cases  of 
poisoning ;  he  thought  the  chemists  might  congratulate 
themselves  that  of  late  years  the  cases  of  poisoning  had 
been  very  few.  Some  of  the  cases  occurred  where  rules  as 
stringent  as  those  to  be  imposed  had  been  in  operation. 
The  Chairman  concluded  by  referring  to  the  memorial, 
which  he  read,  and  expressing  his  belief  that  nearly  the 
whole  of  the  seventy  or  eighty  chemists  in  the  town 
would  sign  it.  The  memorial  is  as  follows : — “  The 
undersigned  chemists  and  druggists  of  Hull  having  had 
their  attention  drawn  to  the  proposed  poison  regulations 
which  the  Council  intend  bringing  before  the  Annual 
Meeting  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  in  May  next, 
with  a  view  to  their  adoption,  hereby  desire  to  record 
their  dissent  from  the  said  propositions,  and  respectfully 
urge  upon  the  Council  the  danger  and  impolicy  of  par¬ 
tial  legislation  on  the  subject  of  poisons ;  and  your  me¬ 
morialists  further  desire  to  impress  on  the  Council  in  the 
strongest  manner  that,  in  their  opinion,  no  regulations 
can  be  deemed  satisfactory  to  the  trade  which  do  not 
apply  alike  to  surgeons,  veterinary  surgeons,  hospitals 
and  dispensaries  (by  whom,  by  far,  the  greater  portion 
of  medicine  is  supplied),  as  well  as  to  chemists.  The 
third  regulation  is  very  objectionable,  and  has  a  direct 
tendency  to  favour  the  conclusion  that  any  medicine  not 
in  a  “danger  bottle”  is  necessarily  harmless,  and  it 
would  probably  lead  to  serious  accidents.  It  is  very 
questionable,  in  the  opinion  of  your  memorialists,  whether 
any  regulations,  capable  of  universal  application,  can  be 
devised  which  are  likely  to  press  with  such  constant 
force  on  the  minds  of  chemists  and  druggists  as  that  of 
the  tremendous  responsibility  now  existing.” 

Mr.  A.  Pickering  then  moved  the  following  resolu¬ 
tion  : — “  That  this  meeting,  whilst  fully  recognizing  the 
duty  of  every  pharmaceutical  chemist  and  chemist  and 
druggist  to  take  all  due  precautions  against  mistakes 
and  accidents,  and  securing  the  safety  of  the  public  when 
dealing  with  poisons  or  dangerous  articles,  does  not  con¬ 
sider  the  enforced  adoption  of  the  proposed  regulations 
for  keeping  and  dispensing  poisons  to  be  either  necessary 
or  desirable  ;  and  that  a  memorial  be  prepared  and  pre¬ 
sented  to  the  Council,  objecting  to  the  proposed  poison 
regulations.”  He  observed  that,  in  the  first  place,  he 
considered  the  regulations  proposed  by  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society  were  absurd ;  in  the  second  place,  imprac¬ 
ticable  ;  in  the  next  place,  an  unnecessary  interference 
with  business;  and,  lastly,  they  were  regulations  that 
could  not  be  carried  out.  All  chemists  and  druggists 
knew  the  injurious  effect  which  a  case  of  poisoning  had 
upon  a  person’s  business,  and  he  believed  the  great  ma¬ 
jority  of  chemists  used  every  ordinary  care  to  prevent 
accidents.  During  an  experience  extending  over  twenty 
years,  he  had  never  had  a  single  case  of  poisoning  or 
anything  approaching  to  a  serious  mistake,  in  his  shop. 
I  he  ordinary  precautions  which  most  chemists  exercised 
were  used,  viz.  labelling  poisons  and  articles  for  exter¬ 
nal  application  as  such.  He  was  persuaded  that  no  re¬ 
gulations  could  be  made  which  would  prevent  persons 
from  committing  suicide  who  had  once  allowed  such  an 
idea  to  obtain  possession  of  their  minds.  With  regard 
to  the  dispensing  of  poisons,  generally  speaking,  the 
principal  of  a  business  kept  a  very  strict  eye  upon 


everything  poisonous ;  and  he  was  not  aware  that  any 
alteration  in  the  shape  of  bottles,  or  the  assignment  of  a 
particular  place  in  the  shop  for  them,  would  have  any 
influence  at  all  in  the  prevention  of  accidents.  The 
idea  of  keeping  all  poisons  under  lock  and  key  was  quite 
incompatible  with  trade.  Barrels  of  arsenic,  casks  of 
sheep- dipping,  and  other  articles  largely  used,  could  not 
be  so  stored.  He  really  did  not  see  how  any  regulations 
could  be  so  universally  applicable  as  to  prevent  accidents 
of  the  nature  in  question.  He  considered  the  best  means 
to  prevent  accidents  was  to  have  those  connected  with 
them  possessing  a  sufficient  knowledge  of  the  properties 
of  the  articles  dealt  in.  If  left  in  the  hands  of  those 
educated  for  the  business,  he  had  very  little  doubt  but 
that  all  ordinary  care  would  be  exercised,  and  as  few 
accidents  take  place  as  was  within  the  bounds  of  possi¬ 
bility. 

Mr.  C.  B.  Bell  seconded  the  resolution,  and,  in  doing 
so,  trusted  the  meeting  would  pardon  him  if  he  made 
any  mistake,  for  he  should  endeavour  to  be  as  brief  as 
possible.  At  the  last  Annual  Meeting,  held  in  May, 
they  would  remember  that  these  poison  regulations  came 
on  for  discussion,  and  that,  after  a  very  stormy  meet¬ 
ing,  they  were  voted  against;  and  a  resolution  was 
passed  that  the  incoming  Council  should  consider  them 
during  the  ensuing  year,  and  report  on  them  to  the  next 
Annual  Meeting.  Last  December  a  letter  from  Mr. 
Simon,  calling  -the  attention  of  the  Council  to  them,  was 
brought  forward.  On  the  1st  of  February  they  came  on 
for  discussion  again,  when  ten  of  the  Council  voted  in 
favour  of  the  compulsory  poison  regulations,  and  four 
against  them.  A  resolution  was  moved,  “  That  the  sense 
of  the  members  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  should  be 
taken  on  the  regulations,”  but  that  proposal  was  outvoted. 
Personally  he  had  strong  objections  to  the  regulations; 
and  he  agreed  with  Mr.  Pickering  that,  though  many  of 
them  might  endeavour  to  carry  them  out,  it  was  incom¬ 
patible  to  do  so  entirely.  He  considered  that,  if  passed, 
the  regulations  would  act  very  injuriously  on  their 
trade.  Take,  for  instance,  the  town  of  Glasgow.  If  the 
regulations  became  law,  they  would  press  heavily  on 
sixty  pharmaceutical  chemists  and  chemists  and  drug¬ 
gists,  but  they  would  not  touch  the  hundred  and  twenty 
physicians,  etc.  keeping  open  chemists’  shops.  That 
was  a  piece  of  inconsistency  in  legislating  which  ought 
not  to  exist.  At  the  last  Annual  Meeting  a  beautiful 
elegy  was  preached  by  one  of  the  Council,  who  asked 
them  to  put  themselves  out  of  the  pale  of  the  Society  for 
a  short  time,  and  inquire  of  themselves  what  their  feel¬ 
ings  would  be  if  they  had  a  friend  or  dear  child  poisoned 
by  mistake  ;  he  asked  what  must  have  been  the  feelings  of 
that  poor  chemist  in  Lancashire,  who,  a  few  weeks  ago, 
lost  his  child  by  poison  administered  through  the  mistake 
of  a  surgeon’s  dispenser?  That  was  another  reason 
why  they  should  oppose  the  proposed  regulations.  He 
had  the  honour  of  voting  against  them  last  year,  and  he 
trusted  every  member  would  endeavour  to  be  present 
and  oppose  them  next  May. 

At  the  suggestion  of  one  of  the  gentlemen  present, 
Mr.  Bell  read  the  proposed  regulations. 

Mr.  Gales  observed  that  they  all  agreed  that  the 
regulations,  if  passed,  would  be  a  grievance  inflicted 
upon  the  trade ;  they  all  felt  they  had  grounds  for  com¬ 
plaint  against  those  parties  who  were  introducing  the 
regulations,  and  endeavouring  to  make  them  law.  In 
remedying  any  grievance,  or  in  counteracting  the  effect 
of  any  mis-legislation,  it  was  necessary,  in  the  first  place, 
to  draw  a  correct  diagnosis,  and  to  ascertain  the  cause 
from  whence  the  evil  sprang ;  he  took  it  that  it  arose 
from  the  chemists  and  druggists  of  Great  Britain  having 
incautiously  committed  the  governing  power  to  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society.  His  views  had  been  before  the  trade 
from  the  commencement  of  the  agitation  of  the  rights  of 
chemists  and  druggists.  Those  gentlemen  who  possessed 
copies  of  the  Chemist  and  Druggist  would  be  able  to  place 
their  fingers  on  articles  he  had  written  in  that  periodical, 


March  25,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


765 


in  which  he  had  deprecated  the  continuance  of  the 
governing  power  in  the  hands  of  any  section  so  small 
as  the  Pharmaceutical  Society.  He  did  not  find  fault 
with  them  availing  themselves  of  the  privilege ;  they 
were  in  perfect  order,  they  having  a  right  by  law,  as 
the  governing  body,  to  pursue  what  course  they  thought 
proper.  The  chemists  and  druggists  had  pledged  them¬ 
selves  to  abide  by  any  regulations  which  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society  should  pass,  therefore  it  was  not  so 
much  against  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  as  against 
themselves  they  ought  to  complain,  in  having  put  con¬ 
fidence  in  man.  They  had  an  opportunity  some  years 
ago,  when  the  Bill  was  before  the  House,  of  resisting  it, 
and  they  had  the  power  in  their  own  hands.  As  non- 
pharmaceutical  chemists,  as  they  were  often  called, 
although  many  of  them  understood  pharmacy  and  prac¬ 
tised  it  as  much  as  some,  the  present  was  only  the  first 
instalment  arising  from  such  a  course  of  procedure.  He 
would  object  to  memorializing  the  Pharmaceutical  So¬ 
ciety,  as  they  had  taken  no  notice  of  the  registered  che¬ 
mists  ;  they  were  governed  without  being  consulted,  they 
were  not  represented  on  the  Council,  although  they  had 
a  claim  to  have  seven  out  of  twenty-one,  and  he  ques¬ 
tioned  whether  there  was  one  registered  chemist  on 
the  Council.  It  was  contrary  to  British  liberty  and  to 
British  legislation  that  men  who  were  not  represented 
should  be  legislated  for,  without  being  consulted  in  the 
slightest  degree,  and  asked  to  submit  to  any  law  they 
wished  to  make.  He  objected  to  the  resolution  proposed, 
as  their  remedy  was  in  the  House  of  Commons ;  he  should 
propose  that  a  memorial  against  the  regulations  be  drawn 
up  and  sent  to  the  Privy  Council. 

Mr.  Atcester  seconded  the  amendment. 

The  Chairman-  said  he  did  not  see  how  they  could 
approach  the  House  of  Commons  on  the  subject;  no 
doubt  the  Medical  Council  had  moved  in  the  matter 
through  Mr.  Simon,  and  it  was  with  the  Council  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  we  had  to  remonstrate,  but  he 
did  not  care  what  course  was  adopted  so  long  as  the  pro¬ 
posals  were  upset. 

The  amendment  was  then  put,  and  only  three  hands 
held  up  for  it,  it  was  declared  lost.  The  original  motion 
was  then  put  and  carried. 

Mr.  Myers  proposed  “  That  whilst  chemists  generally 
would  doubtless  welcome,  and,  as  far  as  possible,  adopt 
any  suggestions  tending  to  lessen  the  risk  of  accident, 
this  meeting  is  of  opinion  it  is  practically  impossible  to 
lay  down  any  rigid  rule  applicable  to  all  establishments 
alike,  with  respect  to  the  keeping,  selling  and  dispensing 
of  poisons,  and  the  enactment  of  such  a  law  would  seri¬ 
ously  trammel  and  increase  the  responsibility  of  che¬ 
mists  and  druggists  without  leading  to  greater  safety  on 
the  part  of  the  public.” 

Mr.  II ollin  gs worth  seconded  the  resolution,  which 
was  earnestly  supported  by  Mr.  A.  Smith  and  carried. 

Mr.  Smith  moved  “That  this  meeting  considers  it 
would  be  an  act  of  great  injustice  and  severity  to  the 
chemists  and  druggists  of  England  and  Scotland  should 
the  proposed  regulations  be  enforced  upon  them,  whilst 
surgeons,  veterinary  surgeons,  and  dispensaries  are  ex¬ 
empted,  and  would  expose  the  public  to  greater  danger 
from  varying  customs,  than  if  no  such  unwise  attempt 
been  made.”  This  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Barlow,  sup¬ 
ported  by  Mr.  Gales,  and  carried  unanimously. 

Mr.  Earle  proposed  the  following  resolution:  “That 
this  meeting  deeply  regrets  that  the  Council  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society  had  not  decided  to  take  the  sense  of 
the  trade  prior  to  the  Annual  Meeting,  as  suggested  by 
Messrs.  Woolley  and  Brown,”  which  was  seconded  by 
Mr.  Akester,  and  carried  unanimously. 

Mr.  Stan  in  g  moved  “  That  assistance  be  given  to  the 
Defence  Association  by  subscribing  to  its  funds,”  which 
was  seconded  by  Mr.  Smith. 

Mr.  Gales  objected  to  the  subscriptions  being  sent  to 
the  Association  at  Manchester,  and  moved  an  amend¬ 
ment,  that  they  be  sent  to  the  United  Society  of  Che¬ 


mists  and  Druggists,  which,  not  finding  a  seconder,  the 
original  motion  was  put  and  carried. 

A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  the  Chairman  closed  the 
meeting. 


MEETING  IN  LIVERPOOL. 

A  Meeting  of  the  Chemists  and  Druggists  of  Liverpool 
was  held  at  the  Royal  Institution  on  Thursday  evening, 
the  16th  instant, — 

“  To  consider  the  proposed  compulsory  regulations  for 
the  keeping,  storing  and  dispensing  of  poisons.” 

It  was  moved  by  Mr.  Abraham,  and  seconded  by  Mr. 
Alered  E.  Tanner,  that  Mr.  Edward  Davies,  F.C.S., 
take  the  chair. 

The  Chairman  said  he  had  been  invited  to  preside, 
not  being  affected  in  any  way  by  the  question  for  dis¬ 
cussion,  and,  therefore,  unbiassed  in  his  opinions.  The 
meeting,  though  called  by  the  Council  of  the  Chemists’ 
Association,  was  not  connected  therewith,  but  the  reso¬ 
lution  would  be  the  voice  of  the  chemists  and  druggists 
of  Liverpool. 

The  Secretary  read  the  circular  convening  the  meet¬ 
ing  ;  the  proposed  compulsory  poison  regulations  ;  and 
several  letters  of  apology  from  those  not  able  to  attend, 
each  of  which  expressed  strong  protests  against  legis¬ 
lative  interference. 

Mr.  Redford  said  that  he  had  taken  the  course  which 
had  resulted  in  the  present  meeting  being  convened 
from  a  sense  of  duty,  but  he  thought  it  must  be  a  matter  of 
deep  regret  to  all  who  sympathized  with  him  that  they 
should  be  compelled  to  take  up  a  position  of  seeming  oppo¬ 
sition  to  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  and  to 
the  proposed  “  poison  regulations.”  He  thought  this  was 
a  false  and  painful  position  to  be  placed  in,  and  he  shrank 
from  the  unpleasant  but  pretty  certain  fate  of  being 
misunderstood  by  the  Society,  by  the  public  and  the 
Legislature.  He  therefore  felt  it  necessary  to  protest 
against  inferences  that  might  possibly  be  drawn  by  any 
parties,  that  in  wishing  to  make  a  stand  against  aggres¬ 
sion  upon  the  rights  and  liberties  of  the  trade,  he  and 
those  who  felt  with  him  were  actuated  by  any  feelings 
of  hostility  to  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  or  were  op¬ 
posed  to  the  voluntary  adoption  of  wise  poison  regula¬ 
tions.  It  would  be  gratuitous  to  commend  the  Society, 
and  idle  to  attack  it,  as  the  legal  guardian  of  our  trade 
qualifications,  whose  imprimatur  was  indispensable  to 
the  status  of  all  who  should  enter  the  profession.  But 
an  attitude  of  defence  now  was  justifiable,  and,  he  main¬ 
tained,  must  be  assumed.  It  was  said  that  ten  thousand 
of  the  trade  were  “  outsiders,”  and  were  unrepresented, 
and  so  without  voice  in  the  Society’s  counsels.  This 
large  body  of  Englishmen  had  feelings,  opinions  and 
rights  which,  if  hurt,  ignored,  or  invaded  must  drive 
them  into  a  position  of  defence.  The  qualifications  of 
the  Council  for  framing  “poison  regulations,”  and  the 
weight  of  their  recommendation,  were  probably  indis¬ 
putable.  Perhaps  the  “  regulations  ”  were  unexception¬ 
able  ;  without  conceding  that,  however,  he  thought  that 
was  not  the  question  now.  He  would  not  dissuade  any 
man  from  adopting  safeguards  which  commended  them¬ 
selves  to  that  man’s  judgment,  but  he  contended  strongly 
for  freedom.  “  Lot  our  judgments,”  he  said,  “  be  free 
and  unfettered ;  throw  on  us  all  the  responsibility  you 
can  heap,  and  compel  us  to  pass  crucial  educational 
tests  of  the  severest  examinations  of  any  college  in  Chris¬ 
tendom,  but  spare  us  the  ignominy  of  being  compelled  in 
addition  to  adopt  artificial  material  expedients  to  obtain 
an  imaginary  immunity  from  accidents,  which  it  has 
been  one  great  aim  of  our  education  to  secure, 'and  which 
that  education  is  the  only  good  and  safe  means  of  secur- 

ing.”  , 

He  said  he  believed  that,  as  a  body,  the  chemists  and 
druggists  of  the  country  did  not  need  this  compulsory 
measure,  and  that  it  was  impossible  to  prove  the  preamb  e 


766 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  25,  1871. 


of  such  an  enactment,  because,  when  the  vast  amount 
of  dispensing  done  was  taken  into  consideration,  the  ratio 
of  accidents  was  infinitesimal.  He  thought,  further,  that 
it  would  he  unconstitutional  and  essentially  tyrannical 
for  the  few  individuals  constituting  the  Annual  Meeting 
of  the  Society  to  coerce  and  injure,  as  virtually  they 
would  have  the  power  to  do,  the  whole  trade ;  that  the 
policy  of  compulsion  was  unworthy  of  the  Society,  after 
the  recent  legislation  on  the  subject  of  poisons  and 
educational  tests,  such  a  policy  being  retrograde,  tacitly 
discrediting  education,  and  provocative  of  ill-feeling, 
opposition  and  perhaps  schism,  and  would,  if  persisted 
in,  result  in  imperfect  and  disappointing  results.  Looking 
ahead, '"he  must  warn  them  of  what  they  might  fairly  infer 
from  this  attempt  in  the  shape  of  consequences, — inspec¬ 
tion  with  all  its  repugnance, — and  after  that,  perhaps, 
under  pressure  from  the  medical  officer  of  the  Privy 
Council,  curtailment  of  other  rights. 

The  absurd  exemption  from  the  coercive  operation  of 
the  proposed  “regulations”  of  doctors’  shops  and  dis¬ 
pensaries  was  then  referred  to,  and  the  confusion  likely 
so  to  arise  was  pointed  out.  The  formation  of  a  Defence 
Association  he  thought  most  opportune,  and  deserv¬ 
ing  of  general  support,  as  well  as  the  issue  of  non¬ 
officialvoting-papers  to  the  whole  trade  from  the  Chemist 
and  Druggist  office,  by  which  he  hoped  all  would  express 
their  opinion.  He  begged  to  move  the  following  resolu¬ 
tion  : — 

“  This  meeting,  having  fully  taken  into  consideration 
the  proposed  compulsory  regulations  for  the  keeping  and 
dispensing  of  “poisons,”  strongly  protests  against  such 
regulations  being  passed  at  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  to  be  held  in  May  next,  and 
further  hopes  that  the  members  present  at  the  said 
Annual  Meeting  will  unanimously  reject  the  same.” 

Mr.  Shaw,  in  seconding  the  resolution,  observed  that 
its  construction  implied  that  the  meeting  had  well  consi¬ 
dered  the  proposed  regulations,  otherwise  he  should  have 
been  tempted  to  dispense  with  any  further  argument 
pro  or  con.,  seeing  that  the  subject  had  already  been  de¬ 
bated  almost  to  the  death  during  the  past  year.  He 
then  briefly  alluded  to  the  Pharmacy  Bills  introduced 
into  Parliament  during  the  last  five  or  six  years,  calling 
special  attention  to  the  fact  of  the  absence  of  any  stated 
or  implied  interference  with  chemists  and  druggists  in 
the  keeping  and  dispensing  of  poisons  in  the  drafts  of 
the  Bills  submitted  to  the  country  in  1867  and  1868,  and 
published  in  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal  in  May, 
1867,  and  in  the  March  and  June  numbers,  1868.  He 
strongly  insisted  that  there  was  no  evidence  before  the 
country  at  the  present  time  proving  the  necessity  for 
legal  enforcement  of  such  regulations,  and  pointed  out  the 
circumstances  attending  the  introduction  of  the  Arsenic 
Act,  the  Adulteration  of  Food  and  Drink  Act,  the  Pe¬ 
troleum  and  Nitro-glycerine  Acts,  in  justification  of  their 
enactment.  Education  and  a  guaranteed  competency  by 
means  of  an  examination,  combined  with  personal  re¬ 
sponsibility,  had  always  been  considered  the  most  effec¬ 
tive  protection  against  accidents  by  poisoning ;  and  he 
considered  that  such  compulsory  regulations  in  the  pre¬ 
sent  and  prospectively  more  improved  state  of  education 
amongst  chemists  and  druggists,  were  totally  uncalled 
^or'.  next  alluded  to  the  fact  that  such  proposed 
legislation,  applying  only  to  chemists  and  druggists,  was 
partial,  invidious  and  must  prove  mischievous  by  en¬ 
tirely  exempting  surgeons,  apothecaries  and  veterinary 
surgeons  from  its  operation,  whether  occupying  private 
surgeries  or  keeping  open  retail  shops,  as  was  done  in 
many  parts  of  the  country,  especially  in  Glasgow.  The 
public  dispensaries  were  also  to  be  exempted  from  the 
observance  of  the  regulations,  notwithstanding  that  up¬ 
wards  of  200,000  packages  and  bottles  of  medicine  were 
sent  out  by  the  Liverpool  dispensaries  alone,  to  the 
lowest  class  of  the  population,  during  the  past  year.  It 
had  been  said  that  the  adoption  of  the  regulations  would 
throw  the  whole  of  the  dispensing  into  the  hands  of 


chemists.  He  did  not  believe  that,  but  thought  that,  if 
the  surgeons  and  others  were  included,  it  would  more 
probably  have  that  effect.  One  of  the  proposed  regula¬ 
tions  was  intended  to  “  educate  ”  the  public  by  means  of 
the  sense  of  touch,  as  to  when  a  bottle  contained  poison 
and  when  it  did  not ;  and  he  thought  that  confusion  and 
danger  were  sure  to  be  the  consequence,  especially  bear¬ 
ing  in  mind  the  exemptions  already  alluded  to.  Some  of 
the  words  used  in  the  clauses  of  the  proposed  regula¬ 
tions  were  very  ambiguous  and  indefinite,  a  circumstance 
much  to  be  deprecated  in  any  Act  of  Parliament,  more 
especially  where  consequences  of  the  most  serious  cha¬ 
racter  were  involved.  For  instance,  the  word  “poison,” 
of  course,  embraced  all  the  substances  named  or  implied 
in  Schedule  (A),  as  arsenic,  belladonna,  strychnia,  pare¬ 
goric  and  ferrocyanide  of  potassium,  though  the  latter, 
according  to  Fownes,  “has  no  poisonous  properties.” 
But  the  term  “  poison,”  in  the  keeping  and  dispensing 
of  poisons,  could  not  possibly  be  restricted  to  the  articles 
embraced  in  Schedule  (A).  The  term  “  ordinary  arti¬ 
cles”  was  intended  to  represent  such  articles  as  acetic, 
citric  and  tartaric  acids,  cream  of  tartar,  sugar  of  milk, 
magnesia,  subchloride  of  mercury,  etc.  etc. ;  but  it  must 
not  be  forgotten  that  it  also  included  carbolic  acid,  the 
corrosive  acids,  sugar  of  lead,  barytic  and  cupreous  salts, 
biniodide.  of  mercury, — some  of  these  being  most  viru¬ 
lent  poisons,  but  not  legally  requiring  any  particular  re¬ 
gulations  as  to  keeping  and  dispensing  them.  The 
word  “  dangerous”  he  looked  upon  as  indefinite  and  ob¬ 
jectionable,  from  the  fact  that  the  Pharmacy  Act  did  not 
comprehend  and  define  what  articles  were  dangerous, 
and  the  Council,  with  ingenious  reticence,  did  not  con¬ 
descend  to  point  them  out.  Allusion  was  then  made  to 
the  late  Jacob  Bell,  Esq.,  who  commanded  the  highest 
respect  for  his  sound  business  sense,  and  whose  opinion 
on  all  matters  relating  to  pharmacy  was  highly  valued. 
In  the  year  1857  Mr.  Bell  said,  “  The  provisions  regard¬ 
ing  the  sale  of  medicines  in  square  bottles  of  a  particular 
coloured  glass,  with  the  word  1  poison  ’  moulded  on  them, 
was  one  of  those  visionary  ideas  it  was  curious  to  see  in 
print ;  and  he  had  published  the  Bill  entire  ”  (Sale  of 
Poisons,  etc.,  Bill  of  that  year)  “in  last  month’s  Journal, 
as  it  would  be  a  literary  curiosity  to  be  referred  to  in 
future.”  Also,  “that  no  Act  of  Parliament  could  make 
them  more  careful  than  they  were  obliged  to  be  for 
their  own  reputation.”  Mr.  Shaw  then  remarked  there 
was  one  member  of  the  Council  who  at  present  enjoyed 
a  prominent  and  deservedly  popular  position  in  the  So¬ 
ciety, — he  alluded  to  Mr.  Ince  ;  and  that  gentleman  had 
just  communicated  his  views  on  this  vexed  question,  and 
he  would  beg  to  read  a  short  letter  written  to  the  editor, 
and  inserted  in  the  Chemist  and  Druggist ,  published  the 
day  before. 

Mr.  Abraham  at  this  point  rose  and  objected  to  Mr. 
Shaw  reading  Mr.  Ince’s  letter,  without  he  also  read 
Mr.  Groves’  on  the  other  side  of  the  question. 

Mr.  Shaw  said  he  had  not  the  least  objection  to  Mr. 
Abraham  reading  Mr.  Groves’  letter,  if  he  thought  it 
desirable  to  do  so ;  but  he  would  content  himself  by 
reading  that  from  Mr.  Ince. 

Suggestions  were  then  made  that  the  pith  of  Mr. 
Ince’s  letter  might  be  given,  to  which  Mr.  Shaw  replied 
that  the  letter  was  pithy  from  beginning  to  end,  and 
that,  if  he  gave  the  pith,  he  must  give  the  whole ;  how¬ 
ever,  as  the  time  was  limited,  he  contented  himself  with 
reading  the  latter  portion  of  it,  and  concluded  by  second¬ 
ing  the  resolution. 

Mr.  Abraham  said  that  he  agreed  with  many  of  the 
statements  of  the  preceding  speakers,  and  he  had  in¬ 
tended  to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  proposition  for 
these  regulations  was  not  to  he  found  in  any  Bill  at  the 
time,  of  its  introduction  by  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society.  He  himself  had  no  confidence  in  such  pro¬ 
visions  in  a  compulsory  sense,  and  he  was  not  aware  that 
any  other  member  of  the  Council  had.  The  provisions  of 
the  Act  were  introduced  during  the  passage  of  the  Bill 


March  25,  1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


767 


through  Parliament,  and  the  discussion  upon  them  would 
he  found  in  the  Pharm.  Journ.  1868-9,  pp.  58  ct  seq.  It 
would  there  he  found  that  the  struggle  was,  not  as  to 
the  question  whether  compulsory  regulations  were  to  he 
made, — upon  which  point  both  parties  in  the  State  ap¬ 
peared  to  he  agreed, — hut  as  to  the  question  who  should 
make  them.  The  present  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer 
(Mr.  Lowe)  and  the  present  Home  Secretary  (Mr.  Bruce) 
were  of  opinion  that  the  Privy  Council  should  he  em¬ 
powered  to  make  them,  hut  Mr.  Headlam  said  that  the 
nohle  Duke  at  the  head  of  the  Privy  Council  (the  Duke 
of  Marlborough)  had  introduced  the  words  “Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society,  with  the  consent  of  the  Privy  Council,” 
as  the  proper  persons,  and  he  supported  that  view.  So 
also  did  Lord  Robert  Montagu  and  others  ;  Mr. 
Alderman  Lusk  saying  “that  he  had  no  fear  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  not  doing  their  duty.”  The 
Act  passed,  and  the  Privy  Council,  possessing  a  co-ordi¬ 
nate  authority,  called  on  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  to 
make  the  regulations  contemplated  by  it.  Mr.  Abra- 
Iiam  quoted  the  speech  of  the  late  President  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society,  Mr.  Sugden  Evans,  in  intro¬ 
ducing  the  recommendations  of  the  Council  at  the  last 
Annual  Meeting,  to  show  that  the  Council  did  so  as  a 
duty  imposed  on  the  Society  by  Parliament,  and  not  ex 
proprio  motu.  The  meeting  referred  the  propositions 
hack,  with  instructions  to  make  a  further  report.  Accord¬ 
ingly,  the  Council  having  again  considered  the  subject, 
its  propositions  will  come  before  the  general  meeting  of 
the  members  on  the  17th  of  next  month,  in  Bloomsbury 
Square.  By  that  meeting,  and  not  by  the  Council,  the 
matter  will  be  determined,  and  the  question  was,  what 
duty,  good  faith  and  prudence  required  them  to  do.  No 
power  existed  to  take  any  authoritative  vote,  except 
from  the  members  then  present.  It  was  not  to  be  as¬ 
sumed,  however,  that  they  could  have  all  their  own  way, 
and  that  the  matter  would  end  there.  He  had  shown 
them  that  both  parties  in  Parliament  required  regulations 
do  be  made,  and  the  Privy  Council  had,  in  the  letter  of 
January  1 7th,  expressed  the  opinion  that  some  such  re¬ 
gulations  wrere  absolutely  necessary  for  the  public  safety. 
These  being  the  facts,  what  would  follow  the  rejection  of 
all  regulations  ?  Was  it  not  almost  certain  that  Govern¬ 
ment  would  seek  new  powers,  and  that  another  hand 
than  their  own  would  frame  the  regulations,  and  seeing 
how  unwilling  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  were  to  adopt 
them,  that  their  adoption  would  be  enforced  by  inspec¬ 
tion  ?  And  who  would  the  inspectors  be  ?  The  Privy 
'Council  was  empowered  to  appoint  a  visitor  to  watoh 
the  examinations  of  the  Society,  and  had  appointed  not 
a  pharmacien,  but  a  medical  man.  He  believed  that  if 
all  regulations  were  rejected  by  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society,  the  result  would  be  that  they  would  be  forced 
upon  them,  and  that  a  medical  man  would  be  authorized 
to  come  behind  every  one  of  their  counters.  On  the 
other  hand,  what  was  it  they  were  afraid  of  ?  He  could 
not  conceive  any  difficulty  in  observing  the  regulations. 
He  observed  them  himself,  but  if  it  could  be  shown  that  in 
•any  shop  in  the  kingdom  they  could  not  be  easily  observed, 
they  ought  not  to  pass  without  amendment ;  and  he  did 
think  that  the  regulation  with  respect  to  dispensing  re¬ 
quired  amendment.  No  power  but  Parliament  could 
authorize  inspectors  to  visit  them ;  if  they  acted  in  har¬ 
mony  with  the  Privy  Council,  he  believed  that  no  at¬ 
tempt  would  be  made  to  do  anything  of  the  sort,  but  if 
they  set  at  defiance  the  expressed  wishes  of  Parliament 
and  of  the  Privy  Council,  he  had  already  intimated  what 
he  thought  would  follow.  If  he  thought  that  there  was 
the  least  prospect  of  their  being  able  to  influence  the 
Privy  Council  he  would  be  glad  to  join  in  representing 
the  objections  which  were  so  strongly  entertained. 

Mr.  Charles  Symes,  Ph.D.,  moved  an  amendment. 
He  said, — Last  year  I  voted  against  them  as  a  compul¬ 
sory  measure.  As  being  new  and  untried,  we  could  not 
tell  how  they  would  work ;  now  we  have  had  oppor¬ 
tunity  for  a  twelvemonth’s  trial,  and  no  one  who  has 


adopted  them  unbiassed  can  say  they  are  impracticable ; 
indeed,  it  is  admitted  by  all  that  they  are  good,  but 
should  emanate  as  a  recommendation  from  the  Council 
and  be  left  for  voluntary  adoption.  For  twelve  months 
they  have  been  precisely  in  this  position ;  and  now  let 
me  ask,  have  one-half  of  the  chemists  throughout  the 
country  given  them  a  trial  ?  Nay,  I  venture  to  say,  not 
50  per  cent,  have  ever  read  them  carefully  through,  or 
thought  about  them  other  than  as  an  oppressive  measure, 
which,  if  passed  into  law,  would  rob  them  of  their 
liberty.  What  then  becomes  of  the  voluntary  system  ? 
Many  improvements  have  been  suggested,  but  all  fall 
short  of  effectiveness  and  simplicity  compared  with  the 
original  regulations ;  to  get  at  any  proper  idea  of  the 
remedy  we  must  first  ascertain  the  cause.  You  speak  of 
education  as  the  only  remedy  (no  one  is  a  stronger  advo¬ 
cate  for  education  than  myself) ;  but  let  me  ask  you, 
gentlemen,  do  not  educated  men  make  mistakes  ?  The 
true  cause  of  90  per  cent,  of  the  accidents  (so  called)  is 
not  ignorance  but  preoccupation  of  the  mind ;  the  per¬ 
sons  who  commit  them  are  thinking  of  something  else ; 
and  anything  which  brings  a  man  back  to  a  remem¬ 
brance  of  what  he  is  doing  must  be,  to  a  great  extent, 
an  important  and  effectual  remedy.  But,  gentlemen, 
this  is  a  question  in  which  principle  and  honour  are  in¬ 
volved  ;  it  is  a  fact  which  it  is  impossible  for  any  can¬ 
did  man,  who  would  take  the  trouble  to  inquire  into 
the  matter  to  deny,  that  it  was  part  and  parcel  of 
our  arrangement  with  the  Government  at  the  passing  of 
the  Act,  that  some  compulsory  regulations  should  be 
adopted.  We  have  made  a  bargain  (a  bad  one,  if  you 
like  to  think  it  so)  as  binding  as  any  between  man 
and  man ;  let  us  then  in  all  fairness  as  honourable  and 
honest  men  carry  it  out.  Some  jealousy  exists  on  ac¬ 
count  of  the  exemption  of  dispensing  medical  men. 
I  should  be  very  sorry  to  associate  the  dispensing  of 
the  surgery  with  that  of  the  pharmacy;  the  public 
know  something  of  the  difference  even  now;  but  the 
fact  of  this  law  not  applying  to  the  surgery,  and  that 
medicines  and  lotions  were  sent  from  it  in  similar 
bottles,  would  only  serve  to  make  more  vivid  that  line  of 
demarcation  which  already  faintly  exists  in  the  public 
mind  and  would  be  of  considerable  benefit  to  us.  Air. 
Symes  then  moved  the  following  amendment: — “That 
this  meeting  approves  of  the  proposed  poison  regula¬ 
tions  as  suggested  by  the  Pharmaceutical  Council.” 

Mr.  Wright  said  that  for  the  sake  of  seeing  how 
many  would  support  it,  he  would  second  the  amend¬ 
ment,  though  he  should  vote  against  it. 

Mr.  Sumner  said  that  whenever  this  question  had 
been  discussed,  it  was  always  necessary  to  fall  back 
upon  education,  and  that  was  the  only  safeguard.  He 
did  not  for  one  moment  suppose  that  the  Government 
would  pass  any  law  making  such  regulations  compul¬ 
sory  ;*  they  had  altered  their  opinions  since  last  session, 
and  he  thought  they  would  settle  this  matter  much  in 
the  same  way  as  they  had  the  control  of  the  railways, 
and  conclude  that  no  man  was  more  competent  to  take 
charge  of  his  poisons  than  the  qualified  pharmacist  him¬ 
self.  It  appeared  to  him  that  the  Pharmaceutical  Council 
thought  it  better  to  teach  the  hand,  and  leave  the  head 
to  Act  of  Parliament  for  protection,  in  case  of  a  mistake 
being  made. 

The  resolution  was  supported  by  Messrs.  Ball,  Jones, 
Holt,  Wright,  and  was  carried  by  a  large  majority. 

Three  votes  only  were  accorded  for  the  amendment. 

The  Secretary  was  requested  to  send  a  copy  of  the 
resolution  to  the  President  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society, 
to  be  read  at  the  Annual  Meeting  in  May  next. 

Mr.  Hampson,  of  Manchester, who  attended  as  a  dele¬ 
gate  from  the  “  Chemists’  Defence  Association,”  being- 
called  upon,  urged  the  importance  of  united  action ;  in¬ 
vited  those  present  to  join  the  association,  and  several 
members  were  enrolled. 

A  vote  of  thanks  was  unanimously  passed  to  the 
Chairman  and  the  procecdiugs  terminated. 


768 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  25,  1871. 


MEETING  OF  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS  IN 

LONDON.  . 

A  Meeting  of  Chemists  and  Druggists,  which  had  been 
convened  by  a  circular,  for  the  purpose  of  discussing  the 
proposed  Poison  Regulations  in  anticipation  of  the  Annual 
Meeting  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  and  considering 
what  steps  were  desirable  in  reference  to  them,  was  held 
on  Monday  last,  March  20,  at  the  Freemasons’  Tavern, 
Great  Queen  Street. 

On  the  proposition  of  Mr.  Vizer,  seconded  by  Mr. 
Bland,  the  chair  was  taken  by  Mr.  S.  C.  Betty. 

The  Chairman,  having  read  the  circular  calling  the 
meeting,  said  the  object  of  the  meeting  was  to  consider 
the  compulsory  regulations  submitted  by  and  through 
the  Pharmaceutical  Council,  and  to  determine  what  ac¬ 
tion  should  be  taken  in  reference  to  them.  On  previous 
occasions  it  had  been  the  salutary  custom  of  the  pharma¬ 
ceutical  body  to  pay  all  deference  to,  and  acquiesce  in 
any  proposals  or  resolutions  emanating  from  its  Council, 
which  had  thus  been  practically  acknowledged  to  be  not 
simply  a  body  of  delegates,  but  of  gentlemen  elected  to 
sit  in  council,  and  to  initiate  those  measures  which  their 
professional  experience  dictated  as  requisite  for  promoting 
the  good- working  of  pharmaceutical  institutions ;  but 
these  sympathizing  and  co-acting  conditions  were  liable  to 
become  developed  into  mistrust  and  opposition  by  wThat 
was  open  to  the  suspicion  of  being  a  foreign  element  in 
their  governing  body.  In  such  a  case,  questions  would 
arise  of  vital  importance  to  the  wmll-being  of  pharma¬ 
cists,  forcing  themselves  upon  their  most  serious  con¬ 
sideration, — such  an  occasion  he  believed  was  the  pre¬ 
sent  one.  And  whilst  giving  all  credit  to  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Council  for  a  desire  to  do  what  it  considered  a 
duty  urged  upon  it,  perhaps  by  a  feeling  of  conviction, 
certainly  by  a  chivalrous  sentiment  of  plighted  honour, 
they  were  fain  to  raise  a  wider  issue,  and  now  when  the 
Council  challenged  a  verdict,  to  argue  this  question,  not 
in  the  light  of  a  compact  to  which  they  were  no  parties, 
but  as  one  between  chemists  and  druggists,  on  whom  these 
compulsory  regulations  would  fall,  and  the  public  in 
whose  interests  they  were  proposed.  The  resolutions  of¬ 
fered  for  acceptance  would,  from  their  nature,  elicit  such 
practical  arguments  and  illustrations  as  a  knowledge  of 
every-day  business  would  suggest.  He  would  anticipate 
them  but  briefly.  They  might  labour  at  the  onset  under 
the  disadvantage  of  appearing  to  advocate  a  narrow  or  a 
selfish  policy.  The  exhaustive  debate  that  must  ensue  on 
this  question,  would,  he  doubted  not,  entirely  dispel  such  a 
notion.  Every  speaker  wrould  be  able  to  state  that  he  now 
adopts  some  plan  in  the  storing  of  poisons,  which,  being 
voluntary,  must,  in  his  case,  be  practical  and  effective.  An 
argument  had  been  deduced  from  this  practice.  It  was 
said  that  a  custom  so  prevalent  must  have  some  merit  to 
recommend  it ;  it  was  instigated  by  a  motive  to  do  what  is 
morally  right,  and  we  cannot  logically  object  to  a  law  that 
only  puts  such  a  moral  obligation  in  a  substantive  form. 
But  they  pleaded  to  be  as  diligent  in  the  discharge  of  their 
public  duties  as  is  any  other  body  in  the  State ;  that  penal 
laws  should  be  enacted  to  meet  conditions  of  a  proved  ne¬ 
cessity  ;  above  all,  that  unless  they  are  consonant  with  the 
public  feeling  of  what  is  right  and  just,  by  being  indis¬ 
criminate  in  their  operation,  such  laws  degenerate  into 
dilettante  legislation  ;  and,  in  view  of  attempts  at  such 
legislation,  it  was  their  duty  to  defend,  as  best  they  could, 
the  interests  and  social  rights  of  the  trade.  Their  suc¬ 
cessors  would  otherwise  censure  those  who  consented  to 
Or  promoted  the  Pharmacy  Act  of  1868,  justly  upbraiding 
them  that  they  left  this  sting  coiled  up  in  the  provisions 
of  the  Bill.  At  the  time  of  the  passing  of  the  Act, 
chemists  and  druggists  thought,  after  the  numerous 
hostile  motions  (and  some  had  no  other  object  than  to 
render  its  operation  impossible,  and  thus  strangle  the 
Bill)  had  been  defeated  by  formal  voting  at  the  time 
they  were  proposed,  that  all  the  contemplated  statute- 
Rafeguards  which  could,  consistently  with  the  scope  of  the 


Bill,  be  imposed  upon  us,  had  been  exhausted :  otherwise* 
attempts  would  have  been  directed  to  obtain  some  miti¬ 
gation  of  those  cumulative  penalties  that  would  attach  to 
other  and  undefined  regulations.  They  behoved  the- 
essence  and  the  intention  of  the  Pharmacy  Act  to  be 
educational ;  they  did  not  assert  that  accidents  could  bo 
wholly  avoided  solely  by  a  previous  technical  education, 
but  they  did  assert  that  the  thorough  theoretical  and 
practical  training  now  demanded,  begot  an  intimate  ac¬ 
quaintance  with  the  nature  of  their  trade  articles,  and  en¬ 
abled  them,  so  far  as  human  foresight  and  intelligence 
permit,  to  be  the  guardians  of  the  public  safety.  The 
present  law  permitted  the  shirking  of  no  obligation  at¬ 
tached  to  their  calling.  They  invited  all  aid  in  recom¬ 
mendations  which  they  might  systematize,  and  they  were 
confident  that  the  discussion  and  decision  of  this  ques¬ 
tion  would  prove  how  little  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
was  unmindful  of  its  duty  to  public  demands  or  to  the 
great  body  of  chemists  and  druggists. 

The  first  resolution  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Collins, 
seconded  by  Mr.  Urwick,  “  That  in  the  opinion  of  this 
meeting  the  advanced  educational  qualification  of  che¬ 
mists  and  druggists  as  provided  by  the  Pharmacy  Act  of 
1868,  together  with  their  personal  and  legal  responsibili¬ 
ties,  render  any  ‘  compulsory’  regulations  for  the  storing 
and  dispensing  of  poisons  unnecessary  and  undesirable 
and,  as  a  protection  to  the  public,  illusory.  And  this 
meeting  affirms  that,  whilst  it  would  regard  any  well- 
digested  ‘recommendations’  upon  the  subject  with  at¬ 
tention  and  respect,  it  pledges  itself  to  oppose  most 
strenuously  the  proposed  ‘compulsory’  regulations  of 
the  Pharmaceutical  Council.” 

Mr.  J.  R.  Collins,  in  presenting  the  resolution  for 
acceptance,  said  that  it  had  been  most  carefully  drafted 
so  as  to  embody  objections  to  compulsory  poison  regula¬ 
tions  which  must  be  patent  to  all  who  are  engaged  in 
the  trade.  Time  was  when  the  qualifications  of  che¬ 
mists  and  druggists  might  with  justice  be  challenged ; 
when  many,  if  not  most,  of  those  calling  themselves 
chemists  knew  but  little  of  chemistry,  or  of  the  nature 
and  properties  of  the  drugs  they  were  daily  compound¬ 
ing.  Among  such  a  class  of  men  “regulations”  might 
have  been  useful ;  but  for  thirty  years  many  present,  and 
many  now  no  more,  had  laboured  to  improve  the  tech¬ 
nical  education  of  their  brethren,  till  at  length,  in  1868, 
what  had  been  voluntary  effort  was  rendered  compul¬ 
sory  by  the  Pharmacy  Act,  which  provided  that  no  per¬ 
son  should,  for  the  future,  carry  on  the  business  of  a 
chemist  and  druggist  without  having  given  evidence  of 
fitness  to  the  satisfaction  of  competent  examiners.  Surely 
this  was  the  best  kind  of  protection,  both  for  themselves 
and  those  who  employed  them.  For  ill-informed  men 
mechanical  contrivances  might  be  necessary,  but  scarcely 
for  the  educated  and  well-informed.  Mind  must  be  supe¬ 
rior  to  matter ;  and  sand-paper,  angular  bottles,  fluted  or 
plain,  could  not  compare  as  a  protection  to  educated  in¬ 
telligence.  To  enact  that  poisons  of  all  kinds  should  be 
sent  out  in  particular  bottles  must  end  in  confusion,  as  no 
legislation  could  prevent  these  poison  bottles  from  being- 
used  for  different  purposes.  The  resolution  affirmed 
compulsory  regulations  to  be  unnecessary  ;  upon  those 
who  affirmed  the  contrary  must  the  burden  of  proof  rest. 
Was  the  Council  prepared  to  say  they  were  necessary  ? 
Did  not  its  “Reasons”  rather  show  that  it  was  im¬ 
pelled  to  take  action  by  the  provisions  of  some  “  secret 
treaty”  of  which  they  knew  nothing,  and  therefore  could 
not  be  bound  by  ?  They  were  free  to  repudiate  condi¬ 
tions  which  had  not  been  communicated  to  them.  The 
assumption  that  Clause  1  of  the  Pharmacy  Act  com¬ 
mitted  them  to  accept  compulsory  regulations  for  the 
“  keeping,  dispensing  and  selling  poisons  ”  was  a  delu¬ 
sion  ;  it  merely  enacted  that,  should  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  think  such  regulations  necessary,  the  Privy 
Council  was  authorized  to  render  such  regulations  com¬ 
pulsory  and  legally  binding  upon  all  concerned.  From 
the  nature  of  their  business  they  were  habitually  careful* 


March  C5, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


769 


and  needed  neither  whip  nor  spur  to  keep  them  straight ; 
the  liability  to  compensate  the  victims  of  carelessness  was 
a  terrible  reality,  which  was  always  staring  them  in  the 
face.  It  was  marvellous  how  seldom  mistakes  occurred 
among  them,  showing  how  close  wras  the  supervision 
-exercised  in  their  vocation.  He  thought  the  Council 
guilty  of  a  moral  cowardice  in  countenancing  for  a 
moment  the  idea  that  any  other  safeguard  for  the  public 
was  necessary  ;  and,  how  much  soever  they  might  regret 
it,  they  must  endeavour  to  make  such  an  impression 
upon  the  Council  by  the  rustication  of  the  advocates  of 
-compulsion  as  would  place  that  body  more  en  rapport 
with  the  sentiments  and  interests  of  its  constituents 
than  it  appeared  to  he  at  present.  It  was  most  insulting 
to  them,  as  educated  men,  to  he  told  that  they  could  not 
he  trusted  to  manage  the  details  of  their  business,  and 
that,  in  the  interests  of  society,  they  must  he  hound  by 
a  chain  of  regulations  enforced  by  penalties ;  that  they 
should  he  subjected  to  inspection,  whilst  apothecaries, 
who  probably  supplied  three-fourths  of  the  compounded 
medicines  consumed  by  the  public,  were  to  be  let  alone, 
presumably  as  being  more  trustworthy  than  themselves. 
He  emphatically  protested  against  such  assertions  or 
assumptions,  and  without  egotism  claimed  for  himself 
.and  his  craft  that  they  were  second  to  none  in  the 
practice  of  their  art.  They  did  not  profess  to  be  phy¬ 
siologists,  anatomists,  or  physicians,  but  as  pharma¬ 
cists  they  would  yield  precedence  to  none.  He  trusted 
he  had  succeeded  in  establishing  the  propositions  laid 
down  in  the  resolution  ;  and  if  so,  he  would  ask  most 
earnestly  those  present  to  give  effect  to  their  approval  by 
attending  the  Annual  Meeting  in  May,  recording  their 
votes  in  favour  of  the  foes  to  compulsion,  and  most  reso¬ 
lutely  negativing  root  and  branch  the  compulsory  regu¬ 
lations  which  were  sought  to  be  imposed  on  them.  There 
were  ten  thousand  chemists  and  druggists  who  would  be 
•equally  affected  with  themselves  by  these  regulations,  but 
—  not  possessing  the  franchise — were  unable  to  protect 
themselves  as  they  were.  As  the  mover  of  the  resolution 
in  1868  which  reconciled  the  differences  between  phar¬ 
maceutical  chemists  and  chemists  and  druggists,  and  re¬ 
sulted  in  the  Pharmacy  Act,  he  felt  specially  bound  to 
regard  the  position  of  those  who  had  no  votes ;  those  who 
elect  the  Council  should  consider  themselves  as  exercis¬ 
ing  an  important  trust,  and  vote  only  for  those  candi¬ 
dates  who  on  this  question  represented  their  views,  and 
if  both  town  and  country  were  united,  they  would  not  fail 
to  set  this  vexatious  question  at  rest  once  and  for  all. 

Mr.  Urwick,  in  seconding  the  resolution,  said  the  re¬ 
gulations  were  uncalled  for,  and  had  never  been  sug¬ 
gested  as  necessary.  If  what  Mr.  Reynolds  had  stated 
was  true  that  some  of  the  articles  on  the  subject  were 
written  by  members  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Council,  such 
conduct  was  disreputable.  Chemists  and  druggists  were 
qualified  by  education  to  conduct  their  own  businesses 
without  the  interference  of  Downing  Street.  Every 
person  had  his  own  wray  of  conducting  his  business,  and 
what  was  safe  for  one  might  be  unsafe  for  another.  He 
considered  that  self-interest  was  the  strongest  possible 
motive  for  carefulness.  The  Council  in  their  “Reasons” 
.said  that  similar  precautions  to  those  recommended  were 
probably  adopted  already,  and  it  was  asked  why  should 
they  be  objected  to  ?  But  he  would  ask  if  such  were 
the  case,  where  was  the  necessity  for  interference  ?  As 
to  the  statement  that  if  adopted  they  would  not  be  en¬ 
forced,  that  was  mere  child’s  play.  He  considered  that 
as  a  body,  they  were  bound  to  set  their  faces  against  com¬ 
pulsory  regulations. 

Mr.  Page  supported  the  resolution. 

Mr.  Bland,  speaking  of  the  use  of  particular-shaped 
bottles,  said  there  was  no  connection  between  the  shape 
of  such  bottles  and  their  contents.  They  were  already 
used  by  perfumers  and  others,  and  he  considered  it  would 
be  impossible  to  educate  the  public  to  their  use. 

Mr.  Fitch  said  that  a  customer  coming  for  a  small 
-quantity  of  laudanum  to  a  chemist  and  druggist,  and 


being  told  that  he  must  pay  for  a  poison-bottle,  would 
go  to  the  apothecary  where  he  could  get  it  without  such 
restriction.  It  had  been  said  that  the  Pharmacy  Act 
would  give  them  a  monopoly  of  the  sale  of  poisons,  but 
it  had  not  been  put  in  force.  He  knew  of  a  barber’s 
shop  where  a  large  quantity  of  cantharides  was  dis¬ 
played  in  the  window  and  marked  for  sale  at  Gel.  per 
ounce. 

Mr.  Lewis  said  that  he  had  recently  purchased  for 
2d.  at  an  oilshop,  an  ounce  of  oxalic  acid,  which  was  sold 
without  name  or  label. 

Mr.  Vizer  wished  it  to  be  distinctly  understood  that 
the  meeting  had  not  been  called  to  load  the  Council 
with  abuse,  but  calmly  to  discuss  this  very  important 
question.  As  in  days  gone  by  the  members  of  the 
Society  by  examination  had  voluntarily  expressed  their 
willingness  to  give  up  privileges,  which  had  cost  time' and 
money,  for  the  benefit  of  the  trade  at  large  ;  so  now  they 
desired  to  raise  their  voices  to  protect  the  privileges 
which  they  enjoyed  for  the  benefit  of  future  generations. 
The  first  words  uttered  by  the  President  at  the  last 
Annual  Meeting  were  to  this  effect : — “  That  the  avowed 
objects  of  the  founders  of  the  Society  were  the  ameliora¬ 
tion  of  the  condition,  and  the  elevation  of  the  character, 
of  those  professing  pharmacy ;  and  the  means  suggested 
for  carrying  out  these  objects  were,  first,  to  unite  the 
whole  of  the  chemists  and  druggists  into  one  body ;  and, 
secondly,  to  organize  a  system  of  education,  and  claim 
for  the  qualifications  thus  obtained  certain  privileges.” 
It  seemed  to  him  another  clause  might  have  been 
well  added,  viz.  having  brought  the  whole  body  of  che¬ 
mists  and  druggists  under  their  paternal  wing,  to 
strip  them  of  every  vestige  of  self-respect  and  moral 
responsibility,  and  to  convert  them  into  mere  machines 
driven  by  “  official  ”  power.  They  were  told  by  the  Coun¬ 
cil  that  if  they  would  acquiesce  in  these  regulations  “  no 
vexatious  proceedings  would  be  adopted  to  inquire  into 
their  observance.”  If  ever  a  Council  betrayed  weakness, 
it  had  been  exhibited  in  such  puerile  utterances  as  these, 
— to  tell  us  with  one  breath  the  resolutions  must  be  abso¬ 
lutely  compulsory,  and  with  the  next  that  although 
compulsory,  nobody  would  desire  to  ascertain  how  far 
they  were  really  carried  out.  What  was  that  but  to 
hamper  and  increase  risk  of  accident  to  those  desirous  of 
obeying  and  faithfully  carrying  out  the  law ;  whilst 
those  who  disregarded  all  precautions  now  (if  such 
there  be)  would  snap  their  fingers  at  these  most  compul¬ 
sory  regulations,  and  would  go  about  their  daily  busi¬ 
ness  unfettered,  and  far  less  liable  to  accident  than  the 
man  whose  mind  was  full  of  rules  and  laws  to  be  observed 
at  his  peril  F  For  his  own  part,  if  these  regulations  were 
forced  upon  them,  he  would  hold  up  both  hands  for  their 
being  carried  out  under  the  strictest  surveillance.  The 
sale  of  poisons  by  grocers  and  oilmen  was  but  an  illus¬ 
tration  of  the  point ;  the  first  clause  of  the  Act  restricted 
sale  of  such  articles  to  chemists.  Why  was  it,  then,  they 
found  them  sold  without  let  or  hindrance  by  grocers, 
but  that  the  Pharmacy  Act  was  not  enforced  ?  He  con¬ 
sidered  it  the  absolute  duty  of  the  Pharmaceutical  So¬ 
ciety  to  use  means  for  preventing  this  disregard  to  law. 
They  were  told  that  should  they  meet  with  an  accident, 
the  law  would  regard  them  tenderly,  whilst  the  utmost 
rigour  of  the  law  would  fall  upon  the  disobedient ;  he 
presumed,  the  law  considered  we  paid  annually  dearly 
enough  by  the  constant  extra  anxiety.  Again,  they  were 
told  the  public  -was  clamorous  for  protection.  This  he 
distinctly  denied  as  an  untruth;  that  certain  medical 
journals  had  contained  unwarrantable  articles  he  would 
admit,  and  considered  it  most  unjust  that  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Journal  should  reprint  such  without  one  word 
of  comment  in  defence  of  their  interest,  but  further  than 
the  columns  of  such  not  one  word  was  heard ;  and,  after 
an  experience  of  over  twenty  years,  he  could  positively  as¬ 
sert  he  had  hardly  once  been  seriously  asked  by  the  public 
what  precautions  he  used  to  protect  them  from  danger 
Mr.  Yizer  then  referred  to  the  answer  of  Jacob  Bell  to 


770 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  25,  1871. 


Parliamentary  Committee,  “That  he  would  never  put 
up  a  fence  unless  it  were  strong  enough  to  hear  leaning 
against;”  and  a  remark  of  Mr.  Squire,  that  it  was 
transferring  a  man’s  brains  from  his  head  to  his  fingers. 
He  also  alluded  to  a  letter  from  Mr.  Ince  in  the  Chemist 
and  Druggist^  where  it  was  said, — 

“That  any  pressure  from  without  should  admire 
“  and  seek  to  hind  on  others  mechanical  substitutes 
“  for  intelligence  excites  no  surprise ;  but  that  educated 
“  men  should  endeavour  to  be  chained  up  as  dan- 
“  gerous  individuals,  and  should  provide  their  own 
“  fetters,  seems  an  attitude  at  once  humiliating  and 
“  unaccountable.” 

In  the  event  of  the  regulations  being  made  compulsory 
at  the  Annual  Meeting,  Mr.  Ince  suggested  the  pro¬ 
posal  of  the  following  resolution  : — 

“  That  our  educational  system  be  discontinued,  hav- 
“  ing  proved  ineffective  either  as  regards  the  training 
“  of  pharmacists  or  the  consequent  safety  of  the  pub¬ 
lic,  and  that  the  commanding  premises  situate  in 
“  Bloomsbury  Square  be  put  up  to  auction.” 

He  concluded  by  stating  that  common  sense  asserted 
the  supremacy  of  a  properly-educated  mind  stored  with 
real  solid  acquaintance  with  the  nature  and  proper¬ 
ties  of  the  substances  with  which  it  deals,  over  any 
mere  mechanical  arrangements  that  could  by  any  possi¬ 
bility  be  devised  ;  and  he  believed  that  had  the  Council 
met  the  very  first  suggestion  of  Dr.  Simon  with  a 
straightforward  explanation  of  facts,  showing  the  im¬ 
proving  educational  status  of  the  chemist,  and  the  in¬ 
creasing  desire  and  willingness  on  their  part  to  adopt 
any  practical  suggestion,  the  rarity  of  accidents,  and 
the  natural  repugnance  with  which  such  regulations 
wore  viewed  by  an  intelligent  body  of  men,  whose  quali¬ 
fication  their  own  diploma  certified, — had  they  thus 
acted  the  present  meeting  had  never  been  needed. 

The  resolution  was  then  put  and  carried  unanimously. 
The  second  resolution  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Quiller, 
seconded  by  Mr.  Wade,  “  That  an  Association  be  formed, 
to  be  called  ‘  The  Metropolitan  Chemists’  Defence  Asso¬ 
ciation,’  instituted  to  protect  the  London  trade  from 
‘  compulsory  regulations  for  storing  and  dispensing  of 
poisons ;’  and  to  co-operate  with  Pi’ovincial  Associations 
formed  for  the  same  purpose.” 

Mr.  Quiller  believed  that  both  the  Privy  Council  and 
the  Pharmaceutical  Council  meant  to  do  good.  But  poi¬ 
soning  had  not  increased  lately,  and  during  the  last  ten 
years  had  been  extremely  rare.  Neither  was  there  any 
popular  feeling  on  the  question.  He  found  by  reference 
to  the  Calendar  that  already  they  were  subject  to  eight 
Acts,  and  these  were  enough  without  any  fresh  enact¬ 
ments.  He  referred  to  a  case  recently  reported  in  the 
Pharmaceutical  J ournal,  which  he  thought  would  not 
have  occurred  previous  to  the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy 
Act,  as  no  chemist  would  have  ventured  to  supply  so 
large  a  quantity  of  prussic  acid  to  a  stranger.  But  now 
he  had  only  to  produce  his  book  and  show  that  he  had 
complied  with  the  law.  The  organization  proposed  was 
not  meant  to  be  a  permanent  one.  He  for  one  would 
not  lend  his  influence  to  assist  in  opposing  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society.  He  had  a  great  respect  for  it  and  the 
Council,  and  he  believed  that  to  them  they  were  much 
indebted  for  the  position  they  now  enjoyed.  But  it  was 
simply  meant  to  keep  a  watch  upon  this  present  subject, 
and  he  thought  they  might  do  good  service  by  uniting 
together  to  secure  the  election  of  good  representative 
men  to  sit  on  the  Council. 

Mr.  Wade,  in  seconding  the  resolution,  referred  to 
the  feeling  manifested  last  year  at  the  Annual  Meeting 
against  any  such  regulations,  the  wishes  of  which  meet¬ 
ing  he  said  the  Council  had  not  carried  out.  Never  was 
there  so  strong  opinion  in  the  trade  upon  any  question 
as  upon  this  one  throughout  the  country.  Manchester, 
Norwich,  Maidstone,  Newcastle,  and  other  places  were 
organizing  opposition,  and  London  ought  not  to  be  be¬ 
hind.  It  was  not  intended  to  throw  any  slight  upon  the 


Pharmaceutical  Society,  but  to  secure  the  placing  of  such 
men  upon  the  Council  as  would  put  on  one  side  for  ever 
all  such  restrictions  upon  their  business. 

The  resolution  was  carried  unanimously. 

The  third  resolution  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Patterson, 
seconded  by  Mr.  D’Aubney,  and  carried  unanimously, 
“  That  an  Honorary  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  an  Execu¬ 
tive  Committee  consisting  of  twelve  members  of  the  As¬ 
sociation — four  to  form  a  quorum, — and  a  general  Com¬ 
mittee,  with  power  to  add  to  their  number,  be  appointed.” 

The  fourth  resolution  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Bland, 
seconded  by  Mr.  King,  and  carried  unanimously,  “That 
Mr.  Yizer  be  appointed  Hon.  Secretary,  Mr.  S.  C.  Betty, 
Treasurer,  and  the  following  gentlemen  members  of  the 
Executive  Committee,  Messrs.  J.  R.  Collins,  John  Wade, 
W.  W.  Urwick,  J.  Beddard,  Henry  King,  J.  Bland,  W. 
H.  Froom,  Geo.  Pattison,  Thos.  D’Aubney,  J.  Owen,  S. 
Greenish,  and  C.  R.  Quiller.” 

The  fifth  resolution  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Lynch, 
seconded  by  Mr.  Cawdell,  and  carried  unanimously, 
“That  every  subscriber  of  2s.  6d.  and  upwards  be  a 
member  of  this  Association. 

The  sixth  resolution  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Yizer, 
seconded  by  Mr.  Bland,  and  carried  unanimously, 
“That  the  Executive  Committee  be  requested  to  make- 
choice  of  such  gentlemen  as  they  may  consider  would 
represent  the  correct  feeling  of  the  trade  and  its  general 
requirements.  And  this  meeting  pledges  itself  to  sup¬ 
port  their  candidature  at  the  forthcoming  election  for  the- 
Pharmaceutical  Council.” 

Mr.  Yizer  stated  it  was  very  important  at  all  times  in 
electing  a  new  Council  to  bear  in  mind  that  a  consider¬ 
able  number  of  the  gentlemen  should  be  resident  in  Lon¬ 
don.  Through  a  strange  coincidence,  the  result  of  the- 
ballot,  by  which  seven  old  members  are  annually  chosen 
to  remain,  had  this  time  not  left  one  London  member  ’y 
and  as  the  greater  part  of  the  real  business  of  the  Society 
was  conducted  at  the  Committee  meetings  which  met 
frequently,  it  was  of  the  utmost  consequence  that  a  suffi¬ 
cient  number  should  be  elected  who  were  within  easy 
access  of  Bloomsbury  Square.  He  hoped  therefore  that 
members  of  the  Society  would  not  omit  to  support  the- 
gentlemen  whose  election  would  be  advocated  by  this 
Association  in  concert  with  Provincial  Associations ;  the- 
list  would  comprise  a  due  proportion  of  London  and 
country  representatives. 

A  gentleman  present  rose  and  asked  why  the  papers- 
issued  by  the  proprietors  of  the  Chemist  and  Druggist, 
asking  for  the  opinion  of  the  recipients  as  to  the  pro¬ 
posed  poison  regulations,  had  been  sent  to  medical  men  ? 
He  thought  that  it  was  a  question  that  concerned  che¬ 
mists  and  druggists  alone. 

The  Chairman  said  he  was  authorized  to  state  that 
such  was  not  the  case.  The  issue  had  been  confined  to- 
persons  on  the  Register  of  Chemists  and  Druggists. 

The  gentleman  replied  that  he  knew  of  instances  in. 
which  they  had  been  received  by  medical  men. 

At  the  close  of  the  meeting,  several  gentlemen  came 
forward  and  paid  in  contributions  towards  the  funds  of 
the  proposed  organization. 


The  Bunya-Bunya  ( Araucaria  Bidivilh ’),  a  native 
of  the  northern  district  of  New  South  Wales,  is  of  con¬ 
siderable  interest,  as  being  the  only  hereditary  personal 
property  possessed  by  the  natives,  who  greedily  devour  - 
the  fruit,  either  raw,  or  roasted  and  made  into  cakes. 
This  fruit  is  only  plentiful  every  third  year ;  and  at  the 
proper  season  the  aborigines  assemble  in  considerable 
numbers  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  it.  Each  tribe  has 
its  own  set  of  trees,  and  each  family  its  particular  indi¬ 
viduals  among  them ;  and  these  are  handed  down  from 
generation  to  generation.  The  right  of  ownership  is 
almost  universally  respected ;  but  occasional  depreda¬ 
tions  occur,  when  a  fight  ensues,  the  sympathies  of  the 
bystanders  going  with  the  lawful  proprietor. — Nature. 


March  25,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


771 


%\)t  |1ljannnxeutit;tl  Jounutl. 

- ♦ - 

SATURDAY,  MARCH  25,  1871. 


Communications  for  this  Journal,  and  boohs  for  review,  etc., 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

Instructions  from  Members  and  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Brem- 
ridge,  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  JF.C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  W.  Envelopes  indorsed  “  Pharrn.  Journ .” 


THE  PROPOSED  POISON  REGULATIONS. 

The  foregoing  pages  of  our  present  number,  toge¬ 
ther  with  some  reports  published  in  previous  num¬ 
bers,  will  afford  sufficient  evidence  of  a  very  general 
response  to  the  circular  of  the  Council  calling  the 
serious  attention  of  the  members  to  this  question  as 
one  demanding  early  and  definite  settlement.  The 
Pharmaceutical  vox  pop  uli  is  at  length  making  itself 
heard,  and  we  may  gather  from  the  resolutions  passed 
at  the  various  meetings,  that  British  pharmacists 
are  to  a  large  extent  resolved  to  oppose  the  applica¬ 
tion  of  compulsory  regulations.  We  consider  it  un¬ 
necessary  to  enter  upon  any  discussion  of  the  reasons 
which  have  been  advanced  either  for  this  opposition, 
or  in  favour  of  the  proposed  regulations  being 
adopted,  for  the  arguments,  on  both  sides,  have  been 
worn  threadbare,  and  they  may  be  fully  studied  in 
our  correspondence  columns. 

But  we  would  especially  urge  upon  our  readers 
the  desirability  of  putting  an  end  to  the  state  of  dis¬ 
quiet  prevailing  in  regard  to  the  matter  of  poison 
regulations,  inasmuch  as  we  consider  it  is  a  state 
fraught  with  possible  danger  to  the  best  interests  of 
the  craft,  one  already  showing  signs  of  incipient 
disunion  and  anarchy. 

As  regards  the  action  of  those  concerned,  it  seems 
to  us  the  case  is  very  simple,  and  that  much  of  the 
argument  we  have  heard  is  superfluous.  The  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society,  having  been  by  law  constituted 
the  body  to  prescribe  regulations,  with  the  consent 
of  the  Privy  Council,  it  is  obviously  the  duty  of  its 
members  individually  to  exercise,  at  the  coming 
meeting,  the  power  they  have  of  deciding  the  ques¬ 
tion,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  Charter. 
To  fail  in  doing  this  would,  we  consider,  indicate  an 
inadequate  appreciation  of  the  privileges  belonging 
to  members  of  the  Society.  In  like  manner  we  can¬ 
not  attach  much  weight  to  the  complaint  that  a 
large  portion  of  the  trade  may  be  legislated  for,  and 
subjected  to  compulsory  regulations  by,  a  body  con¬ 
sisting  only  of  a  much  smaller  number,  for  this  com¬ 
plaint  is  urged  with  an  assumption  that  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society,  as  a  body,  is  in  favour  of  the 
proposed  regulations,  or  that  its  members  will  neglect 
to  exercise  their  power  of  self-government ;  wliile, 
at  the  same  time,  it  is  still  more  seriously  invalidated 


by  the  circumstance  that  those  who  complain  thus 
fail  to  avail  themselves  of  that  power  to  influence 
the  action  of  the  governing  body  which  is  open  to  all 
registered  chemists  and  druggists.  Such  reticence, 
in  either  case,  might  well  be  construed  as  indicative 
of  indifference  to  the  general  interests  of  the  trade, 
or  even  as  a  practical  disbelief  in  the  objections  to 
any  measure  complained  of. 

We  feel  the  more  called  upon  to  dwell  on  this 
point  since  there  is  one  feature  of  the  meetings  that 
have  been  held  which  we  look  upon  with  much 
satisfaction,  as  showing  that  progress  has  been  made 
towards  the  establishment  of  a  creditable  esprit  de 
corps  among  all  classes  of  pharmacists.  We  refer 
to  the  almost  unanimous  expression  of  respect  for 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society  and  for  its  Council,  and 
to  the  candid  recognition  of  its  good  intent  and 
of  the  service  which  it  has  rendered  to  the  trade 
generally. 

Although  these  meetings  have  represented  a  cer¬ 
tain  degree  of  antagonism,  it  has  not  been  of  an  un¬ 
wholesome  nature,  and  we  have  had  no  exhibitions  of 
stump  oratory  or  abuse,  neither  has  there  been  any 
opportunity  afforded  for  parasitic  attempts  to  make 
trade  grievances  or  difference  of  opinion  amongst 
members  of  the  trade  a  battening  ground  for  the 
promotion  of  sordid  individual  interests. 

We  trust  that  the  good  feeling  thus  manifested 
will  become  even  still  more  apparent,  and  that,  by 
the  time  when  the  Annual  Meeting  takes  place,  all 
who  take  a  hearty  interest  in  the  question  now  so 
prominent,  will  have  resolved  to  avoid  the  re¬ 
proach  of  unseemly  contention — that  in  place  of 
joining  with  the  medical  journals  in  censure  of  our 
Society  and  its  Council,  they  will  devise  means  of 
supporting  the  view  they  take  to  be  the  right  one,  by  a 
peaceful  exercise  of  their  privileges  in  a  way  calcu¬ 
lated  to  command  respect  as  well  as  the  confidence  of 
the  public  in  the  propriety  of  British  pharmacists 
being,  as  a  body,  entrusted  to  provide  for  its  safety  in 
regard  to  the  sale,  storing  and  dispensing  of  poisons, 
or  medicines  of  dangerous  potency. 


DISPENSING. 

We  have  much  pleasure  in  drawing  the  attention 
of  our  readers  to  the  remarks  upon  dispensing,  by 
Mr.  W.  J.  Halliday,  in  our  issue  of  last  week. 
Our  younger  friends  in  particular  may  peruse  some 
of  them  with  profit,  especially  those  parts  drawing 
their  notice  to  care  in  dispensing,  cleanliness  in  the 
matter  of  labels,  bottles,  etc.,  the  weighing  of  pow¬ 
ders,  and  the  best  mode  of  proceeding  in  mixing 
ointments,  essential  oils,  etc. ;  but  there  is  a  great 
deal  more  to  be  learnt,  as  the  paper  explains,  than 
mere  manipulation,  although  dispensing  has  occa¬ 
sionally  been  spoken  of  as  a  mere  mechanical  ope¬ 
ration.  Mr.  Halliday  points  very  clearly  to  the 
fact  that  the  art  of  dispensing  prescriptions  is  not 


772 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  25,  1871. 


born  with  a  youth,  and  that  there  is  no  royal  road 
thereto  ;  on  the  contrary,  that  it  requires  much  care, 
tuition,  practice,  and  discrimination, — that  not  only 
the  desire,  but  also  the  actual  opportunity,  of  prac¬ 
tising  and  perfecting  it  are  necessary.  We  go 
further  than  this,  in  thinking  that,  to  make  a  tho¬ 
roughly  good  dispenser,  it  is  necessary  that  he 
should  have  some  opportunity  of  seeing,  not  only 
how  dispensing  is  practised  in  different  localities, 
but  also  the  systems  adopted  at  different  establish¬ 
ments  in  the  same  locality ;  and  here  Mr.  Halli- 
day’s  caution  to  young  mem  not  to  commence  business 
too  soon  comes  in  with  good  force.  But  even  this 
is  not  all,  for  the  mode  of  prescribing,  and  the  reme¬ 
dies  employed,  are  constantly  varying ;  the  formulae 
of  prescriptions  used  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago  are 
nearty  obsolete  now,  and  so  a  similar  change  may 
follow  in  another  quarter.  Thus,  he  who  was  a 
pupil  years  ago,  finds  himself  a  pupil  once  more  with 
regard  to  the  material  upon  which  he  operates. 
It  is  not  our  intention  to  specify  now  these  particular 
substances  or  forms  of  medicines  ;  sufficient  has 
been  stated  to  show  the  land  of  training  a  good  dis¬ 
penser  requires,  and  the  material  of  which  he  should 
be  made.  However,  it  is  not  to  be  expected  we  can 
all  be  A  1  dispensers,  neither  is  it  needful  that  it 
should  be  so.  But  it  is  desirable  that  the  time 
should  come  when  all  dispensing  should  be  per¬ 
formed  by  those  educated  and  trained  for  the  pur¬ 
pose  ;  and  whether  the  prescriptions  in  particular 
towns  or  districts  be  few  or  many,  or  not  even  one  a 
week,  taking  an  extreme  case,  it  is  still  desirable 
that  the  one  should  be  dispensed  with  as  much  care 
— for  it  may  be  a  most  important  one — as  though 
there  were  from  ten  to  twenty  per  diem.  This  is 
only  one  part  of  the  duties  of  a  pharmaceutist, 
to  this  only  at  present  do  we  desire  to  point  our 
observations. 

We  have  reserved  for  the  last  that  portion  of 
our  correspondent’s  communication  which  is  sur¬ 
rounded  with  the  greatest  amount  of  difficulty. 
Thus  far  we  have  sailed  with  him  in  still  waters. 
The  difficulty  is  this :  how  are  our  apprentices  to 
learn  the  art  and  practice  of  dispensing  in  those 
places  where  there  is  none  to  be  done,  or  rather 
where  it  is  monopolized  by  the  apothecary  ?  Well, 
we  confess  this  is  a  very  difficult  question — ahnost  a 
poser.  Our  correspondent  offered  two  suggestions  : 
one,  that  the  Pharmaceutical  Societ}^  should  use  its 
influence  to  alter  the  system  of  dispensing  by  apothe¬ 
caries,  or,  in  other  words,  to  obtain  the  dispensing 
in  its  entirety  for  the  chemists.  Now,  without  de¬ 
siring  to  throw  one  drop  of  cold  water  upon  this  sug¬ 
gestion,  we  think  he  can  scarcely  recognize  the  full 
difficulty  of  the  task.  We  conceive  that  to  accom¬ 
plish  this  the  apothecary  must  be  somewhat  raised 
in  his  position,  so  as  to  be  able  to  live  without  dis¬ 
pensing,  and  the  public  convenience  also  consulted ; 
in  some  places,  especially  poor  ones,  the  inhabitants 


with  large  families  can  hardly  do  without  the  apo¬ 
thecary  and  his  annual,  ofttimes  small  and  some¬ 
times  unpaid  account.  Our  correspondent’s  second 
suggestion  is  that  the  Manchester  Chemists  and 
Druggists’  Association  should  establish  a  dispensing 
counter  where  associates  might  obtain  the  required 
knowledge.  We  think  such  a  course  would  not  be 
necessary  in  London,  as  pupils  attending  Blooms¬ 
bury  Square  have  already  many  advantages,  and 
London  is,  per  se,  the  very  place  where  junior  assist¬ 
ants  of  every  standard  may,  if  so  disposed,  find 
situations  to  suit  them.  Help,  when  required, 
should  be  given,  and  we  tliink  freely  given,  where 
it  can  be  done  advantageously  and  fairly.  We 
are  now  entering  upon  more  delicate  ground  still. 
The  pharmaceutist  who  takes  an  apprentice  'should 
have  within  his  reach  the  means  of  teaching  him 
the  business,  not  the  preliminary  education, — he 
should  have  gained  that  at  school, — but  the  actual 
business.  There  are  many  things  to  be  taught 
besides  dispensing,  and  at  a  very  small  outlay. 
Upon  a  future  occasion  our  attention  may  be  turned 
in  the  direction  of  those  other  points,  and  not 
dispensing.  Upon  this  but  a  few  words  more. 
We  have,  in  Our  experience,  known  small  establish¬ 
ments  where  the  dispensing  formed  but  a  minute 
portion  of  the  business,  and  where  the  opportunities 
of  acquiring  practical  dispensing  knowledge  were 
very  limited.  The  following  plan  was  adopted: — 
Pharmacopoeia  pill-masses  were  dispensed,  and  the 
ingredients  mixed  in  small  quantities,  as  if  from  a 
prescription,  divided,  put  up  and  directed  in  due 
course,  though  never  sent  out ;  imaginary  mixtures 
and  lotions  after  the  same  process ;  plasters  were 
spread  upon  brown  paper,  and  without  shapes. 
When  cold,  the  plaster  was  recovered,  and  worked 
over  and  over  again,  until  the  tyro  could  spread  a 
good  plaster,  with  a  steady  hand  and  straight  eye, 
without  a  shape.  An  intelligent  industrious  youth 
with  practical  business  habits,  will  make  himself  a 
good  dispenser,  but  he  must  be  content  to  become  so 
by  degrees.  We  prefer,  as  we  believe  many  others 
do,  a  well-trained  country  youth,  pliable  and  not 
wedded  to  preconceived  ideas.  Such  a  junior  will, 
with  perseverance  and  good  guidance,  make  a  first- 
rate  assistant,  not  merely  able  to  dispense,  but  also 
to  attend  to  his  employer’s  interests  in  every  depart¬ 
ment  of  the  shop  or  pharmacy. 


PHARMACEUTICAL  LEGISLATION  IN  AMERICA. 

In  continuation  of  our  resume  of  the  Ontario 
Pharmacy  Bill,  we  now1  give  the  substance  of  the 
two  clauses  relating  to  the  sale  of  poisons.  In  a  sche¬ 
dule  attached  to  the  Act,  these  are  divided  into  two 
classes.  The  first  class  is  subject  to  j>recisely  the 
same  regulations  as  apply  to  the  sale  of  poisons  con¬ 
tained  in  part  1  of  Schedule  A  of  the  English  Phar¬ 
macy  Act.  This  class  includes  hydrocyanic  acid, 


March  25,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


773 


aconite  and  compounds  thereof,  tartrate  of  antimony, 
arsenic  and  compounds  thereof,  corrosive  sublimate, 
digitaline,  ergot,  Indian  hemp,  morphia  and  its  salts 
and  solutions,  strychnine  and  nux  vomica,  savin  and 
preparations,  veratria,  and  oil  of  cedar.  The  second 
class  includes  those  articles  which  can  be  sold  with¬ 
out  restriction  by  registered  druggists,  but  cannot  be 
sold  by  any  other.  They  are  oxalic  acid,  belladonna 
and  compounds  thereof,  Calabar  beans,  cantliarides, 
chloroform  and  ether,  conium  and  preparations 
thereof,  croton  oil  and  seeds,  cyanide  of  potassium, 
eupliorbium,  elaterium,  Goulard’s  extract,  hyoscy- 
amus  and  preparations,  hellebore,  iodine,  opium  and 
its  preparations  (not  including  paregoric),  podophyl- 
lin,  iodide  and  bromide  of  potassium,  St.  Ignatius’s 
bean,  santonine,  scammony,  stramonium  and  pre¬ 
parations,  valerian,  verdigris,  sulphate  of  zinc,  ace¬ 
tate  of  lead,  and  pink  root.  The  Council  of  the 
Ontario  College  of  Pharmacy  is  empowered  to  add 
to  the  number  of  the  above  poisons,  and  from  time  to 
time  to  declare,  by  resolution,  that  any  other  article 
ought  to  be  deemed  a  poison  within  the  meaning  of 
the  Act.  Such  resolution,  subject  to  the  approval  of 
the  Lieutenant-Governor,  to  take  effect  one  month 
after  it  shall  have  been  advertised,  together  with  the 
Lieutenant-Governor’s  approval,  in  the  Ontario 
Gazette. 

Compounds  mentioned  in  the  British  Pharma¬ 
copoeia  are  to  be  dispensed  according  to  the  formula 
directed  hi  the  latest  edition  of  that  work,  unless  the 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  shall  select 
another  standard,  or  distinct  instructions  are  given 
to  the  contrary. 

A  clause  allowing  chemists  and  druggists  to  sell 
wines  and  spirits,  and  another  exempting  them  from 
penalties  for  selling  adulterated  drugs  were  struck 
out  while  the  Bill  was  hi  committee. 

In  various  parts  of  the  United  States,  there  is 
considerable  agitation  just  now  in  reference  to  the 
enactment  of  laws  regulating  the  practice  of  phar¬ 
macy  and  the  sale  of  poisons. 

We  read  in  a  New  York  contemporary,  under  the 
heading  “  The  Murdering  Drug  Clerks,”  that  a  Bill 
has  been  introduced  into  the  Legislature  for  the  pur¬ 
pose  of  shielding  the  “  public  from  the  ignorant  drug 
“  clerks,  who  manage  from  time  to  time  to  kill  some 
“  miserable  patient  of  a  neighbouring  physician  by 
“mistaking  a  poisonous  drug  for  a  gentle  physic 
“  powder.”  The  Bill  refers  only  to  New  York  city, 
and  directs  the  mayor  and  commonalty  to  appoint 
two  skilled  pharmaceutists,  two  practical  drug¬ 
gists  and  two  regular  physicians  as  an  examining 
board  for  the  examination  and  licensing  of  all  per¬ 
sons  now  or  hereafter  to  be  employed  by  any  drug¬ 
gist  or  keeper  of  drug  stores.  It  enacts  that,  thirty 
days  after  the  organization  of  such  board,  it  shall  be 
illegal  to  employ  any  person  as  a  clerk  in  a  drug 
store  who  lias  not  passed  an  examination  and  re¬ 
ceived  a  certilicate  of  competency.  It  is  also  made 


illegal  for  any  other  than  a  prescription-clerk  to 
make  up  prescriptions.  The  penalties  proposed  for 
the  infringement  of  the  provisions  of  this  Bill  are 
a  fine  of  not  less  than  five  hundred  dollars,  or  six 
months’  imprisonment,  or  both,  at  the  discretion  of 
the  Court.  This  Bill,  which  we  are  told  will  un¬ 
doubtedly  become  law,  does  not  appear  to  deal  with 
the  qualification  of  principals,  but  only  of  the  per¬ 
sons  employed  by  them. 

In  New  Jersey  a  Bill  has  been  brought  forward, 
which  has  met  with  strong  opposition  on  the  part  of 
some  physicians,  from  its  requiring  all  to  pass  an 
examination  who  shall  hereafter  open  apothecaries’ 
stores  ;  the  physicians  claiming  that  they  should  be 
exempt  and  at  liberty  to  open  as  many  stores  as 
they  please. 


Sfiitimdrotw  at  %  f  |srmaaatoai  jtetrij. 

EXAMINATION  IN  LONDON. 

March  1 5th  and  17 th,  1871. 

Present  (15th) — Messrs.  Allchin,  Bird,  Carteighe,. 
Cracknell,  Davenport,  Deane,  Edwards,  Gale,  Garle,. 
Hanbury,  Haselden,  Ince  and  Southall. 

Dr.  Greenhow  was  also  present,  on  behalf  of  the 
Privy  Council. 

(17th) — Messrs.  All  chin,  Bird,  Cracknell,  Davenport, 
Deane,  Edwards,  Gale,  Garle,  Hanbury,  Haselden  and 
Ince. 

Five  candidates  presented  themselves  for  the  Major 
Examination  and  thirty-four  for  the  Minor  ;  the  follow¬ 
ing  twenty-four  passed,  and  were  declared  to  be  duly 
qualified  to  be  registered : — 

MAJOR  (as  a  Pharmaceutical  Chemist). 

Scott,  Walter  . Elgin. 

MINOR  (as  Chemists  and  Druggists). 

*Howorth,  George  Buxton  . Chertsey. 

*Hulme,  Richard  Gleave . Hammersmith. 

*  Ground,  William  Davie . Grantham. 

*Clarke,  George  Ernest . Stowmarket. 

* Hetherington,  Martin  Luther  ..Highbury. 
Holmes,  Nathaniel  Wheatcroft  . .  Grantham. 

Jaques,  William  . Beverley. 

Maddison,  Henry  Gildon  . London. 

Hill,  William  . Louth. 

§  I  Bothamley,  Richard  Broughton.  .Guildford. 

&  \  Wrighton,  Charles  Edward  ....  Birmingham. 

Woolley,  Harold  . Manchester. 

Miller,  Nathaniel . Preston. 

Guy,  Frederick . . Louth. 

■a  j  Bird,  Matthew  Mitchell . Lynn. 

(g*  (  Constance,  Herbert  Edward  ....  London. 

Earee,  Edwin  Thomas . Staines. 

White,  William  Henry  . London. 

H  (  Jasper,  Frederick  William . Penzance. 

\  Wilkins,  George . Stratford-on-Avon. 

Farrow,  Charles  Henry  . Diss. 

Churchman,  James  . London. 

Pound,  Henry  William  . London. 

The  above  names  are  arranged  in  order  of  merit. 

FIRST,  OR  PRELIMINARY  EXAMINATION. 

Certificates  presented  by  the  undermentioned  were 
accepted  in  lieu  of  this  Examination  : — 


Beall,  Samuel  Smart  . .  Cambridge. 

Evans,  Thomas . Salford. 

Harrington,  Arthur  Lewis . Rocliford. 

Kingzett,  Nathan  Izod  . Birmingham. 


*  Passed  with  Honours. 


774 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  25,  1871. 


rolmraal  fnnsattiras. 


BRISTOL  PHARMACEUTICAL  ASSOCIATION. 

A  General  Meeting  of  the  Association  was  held  on 
Friday,  March  10th ;  Mr.  Stoddart,  President  in  the 
chair. 

The  minutes  of  the  previous  meeting  were  read  and 
confirmed. 

The  President  exhibited  and  handed  to  the  Honorary 
Secretary  for  present  custody,  the  Book  of  Prescriptions, 
collected  by  Joseph  Ince,  Esq.,  and  presented  by  that 
gentleman  to  the  Bristol  Pharmaceutical  Association; 
and  a  resolution  was  immediately  adopted  requesting  the 
Honorary  Secretary  to  acknowledge  its  receipt  and  to 
convey  the  best  thanks  of  the,  Association  to  Mr.  Ince 
for  his  handsome  and  valuable  gift. 

The  subject  of  the  death  of  the  late  Dr.  Symonds  was 
introduced  by  Mr.  Giles,  and  the  following  resolution 
was  unanimously  adopted,  the  members  and  associates 
all  rising  in  token  of  their  assent  to  the  expressions  of 
respect  it  contained.  Resolved, — 

“  That  the  Bristol  Pharmaceutical  Association  desires 
to  express  its  sense  of  the  public  loss  occasioned  by  the 
death  of  the  late  Dr.  Symonds,  and  particularly  to  ac¬ 
knowledge  the  respect  and  reverence  in  which  his  me¬ 
mory  is  held  by  the  pharmacists  of  the  city  in  which 
his  long  and  distinguished  professional  career  was  pur¬ 
sued.” 

It  was  also  resolved, — 

“  That  the  Hon.  Sec.  be  requested  to  communicate  the 
preceding  resolution  to  John  Addington  Symonds,  Esq., 
accompanied  by  an  expression  of  respectful  sympathy  in 
the  personal  affliction  which  has  fallen  upon  himself  and 
his  family.” 

A  lecture  was  then  delivered  by  Mr.  ¥m.  Lant  Car- 
renter,  Esq.,  B.Sc.,  upon  “  Respiration  Chemically  and 
Physiologically  considered.”  At  its  conclusion,  a  cordial 
vote  of  thanks  to  the  lecturer  was  carried  by  accla¬ 
mation. 


MANCHESTER  CHEMISTS’  ASSISTANTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

An  unusally  well-attended  Meeting  was  held  in  the 
Council  Room,  Mitre  Chambers,  on  Thursday  evening, 
March  16th,  to  discuss  the  “poison  regulations”  ques¬ 
tion. 

The  President,  who  was  in  the  chair,  after  making  a 
few  preliminary  remarks,  called  upon  the  Secretary  (Mr. 
B.  H.  Cowgill)  to  read  a  short  paper  he  had  prepared 
upon  this  important  subject.  He  showed  at  some  length 
how  disadvantageous,  to  by  far  the  greater  number  of 
chemists,  any  such  compulsory  regulations  for  the  keep¬ 
ing  and  dispensing  of  poisons,  as  those  recommended  by 
Mr.  Simon,  would  necessarily  become.  He  did  not  think 
that  however  severe  the  regulations  might  be  made,  they 
would  in  any  way  diminish  the  number  of  accidents 
which  occur  under  the  present  system ;  that  number 
being  so  very  small  in  proportion  to  the  prescriptions 
dispensed  and  the  amount  of  business  done  with  those 
dangerous  drugs,  the  “poisons.”  He  was  of  opinion 
that  the  great  responsibility  necessarily  felt  by  each  in¬ 
dividual  chemist,  and  the  great  precautions  taken,  as  a 
rule,  in  the  keeping  and  dispensing  of  poisons,  was  of 
far  greater  importance  and  much  more  weight  than  any¬ 
thing  which  would  be  embodied  in  any  “  compulsory 
measures.” 

Mr.  Clark  said  he  should  like  to  be  informed  what 
was  the  good  of  all  future  chemists  being  obliged  to  edu¬ 
cate  themselves  to  pass  examinations,  which  examinations 
are  considered  to  be  the  test  as  to  their  capability  of  be¬ 
coming  chemists,  if  such  regulations  as  those  previously 
mentioned  are  to  be  imposed  upon  them. 

The  Secretary  was  also  supported  in  his  views  by  Mr. 
Harrison,  Mr.  Lane,  Mr.  Yeats  and  others. 


The  following  resolutions  were  then  put  to  the  meet¬ 
ing  and  passed  unanimously : — 

First  resolution,  moved  by  Mr.  Midgley,  seconded  by 
Mr.  Yeats. 

“  That  this  meeting  is  of  opinion  that  any  compulsory 
regulations  for  the  keeping  and  dispensing  of  poisons  arc 
entirely  unnecessary,  either  as  a  safeguard  for  the  che¬ 
mist  or  in  the  interests  of  the  public.” 

Second  resolution,  moved  by  Mr.  Lane,  seconded  by 
Mr.  Clark. 

“  That  this  meeting  is  of  opinion  that  the  standard  of 
efficiency  required  by  the  Pharmacy  Act,  1868,  is  a  suf¬ 
ficient  guarantee  as  to  the  fitness  of  a  chemist  in  the 
keeping  and  dispensing  of  any  poisonous  drugs  required 
in  the  transaction  of  his  business. 

Third  resolution,  moved  by  Mr.  Harrison,  seconded 
by  Mr.  Allcock. 

“  That  this  meeting  is  of  opinion  that,  should  any  such 
regulations  be  enforced,  they  would  be  most  offensive 
and  objectionable  to  members  of  the  trade  generally.” 

Fourth  resolution,  moved  by  Mr.  Lane,  seconded  by 
Mr.  Midgley. 

“  That  a  special  fund  be  raised  in  connection  with  this 
Association,  to  be  called  the  Defence  Fund, — the  proceeds 
of  which,  after  paying  any  incidental  expenses,  shall  be 
handed  over  to  the  Chemists  and  Druggists’  Defence  As¬ 
sociation  to  aid  them  in  their  object.” 

The  Secretary  proposed,  which  met  with  the  entire 
approval  of  the  meeting,  “  That  the  above  resolutions  bo 
formed  into  a  petition  and  signed  by  the  chemists’  as¬ 
sistants  of  Manchester  as  an  expression  of  their  views 
upon  this  subject ;  that  Mr.  W.  S.  Brown  be  invited  to 
present  the  same  at  the  Council  Meeting  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society.” 

The  proceedings  then  terminated. 


UromMnp  MtnMt  j&Kittits. 

QUEKETT  MICROSCOPICAL  CLUB. 

The  Annual  Conversazione  of  this  Club  took  place  at 
University  College,  on  Friday  evening,  and  was  very 
largely  attended,  as  it  usually  is.  The  objects  provided 
by  the  club  for  the  entertainment  of  its  guests,  com¬ 
prised  all  the  optical  novelties  of  the  year,  and  the 
members  as  well  as  the  leading  opticians  did  all  in  their 
power  to  exhibit  objects  worthy  of  the  position  the  Club 
claims  in  the  encouragement  of  microscopical  science. 
Photography  was  on  this,  as  at  the  last  Annual  Soiree, 
well  represented.  A  large  and  interesting  series  of  pho¬ 
tographs  of  Indian  temples  and  scenery  was  kindly  lent 
by  the  India  Office,  also  frames  of  photographs  were  lent 
by  Mr.  J.  Yan  Voorst,  Mr.  John  Foster,  Mr.  E.  Kiddle 
and  Mr.  A.  Shapcott.  Mr.  Apps  exhibited,  at  frequent 
intervals,  the  marvellous  electrical  effects  produced  by 
means  of  his  well-known  induction  coil. 

In  the  midst  of  so  many  attractions  it  is  difficult  to 
single  out  for  especial  mention  any  one  feature  of  interest, 
but  that  which  seemed  possessed,  at  this  time,  of  surpass¬ 
ing  interest  was  an  exhibition  on  the  screen  by  the  oxy- 
hydrogen  light  Qf  a  series  of  transparent  photographs 
illustrative  of  the  scenery  of  the  late  lamentable  Franco- 
Prussian  War,  contributed  by  the  London  Stereoscopic 
Company,  with  an  explanatory  lecture  by  Mr.  James 
Martin,  and  which  commanded  crowded  audiences  all 
the  evening. 


®bitarjr. 

We  regret  to  have  to  record  the  death  of  Mr.  Robert 
Westwood,  of  16,  Newgate  Street,  London,  aged  seventy- 
three.  Mr.  Westwood  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Society,  and  for  the  last  seven  years  has  been  annually 
elected  one  of  the  auditors. 


Maroh  25,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


775 


VACANCIES  AND  APPOINTMENTS  IN  CONNEC¬ 
TION  WITH  PHARMACY. 

The  Editor  will  he  glad  to  receive  early  notice  of  any 
vacancies  of  pharmaceutical  offices  connected  with  public 
institutions,  and  likewise  of  appointments  that  are  made , — 
in  order  that  they  maybe  published  regidarlyin  the  Journal. 

APPOINTMENT. 

Mr.  Robert  R.  Welborn,  Associate  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society,  to  the  office  of  Dispenser  at  the  Dispensary  of  the 
St.  George’s  Union,  Mount  Street.  There  were  six  candi¬ 
dates,  amongst  whom  was  a  medical  officer  of  the  Leeds  Dis¬ 
pensary. 

VACANCIES. 

The  office  of  Dispenser  at  the  Leicester  Provident  Dis¬ 
pensary.  For  particulars,  see  advertisement  in  last  week’s 
Journal. 

Compounders  of  Medicines  required  for  the  Convict  Service. 
For  particulars,  see  Advertising  Sheet,  p.  18. 


MEETINGS  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 


Monday  . Medical  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

March  27.  London  Institution,  at  4  p.m. — “  On  Astro¬ 
nomy.”  By  Mr.  R.  Proctor. 

Tuesday  . Loyal  Institution,  at  3  p.m. — “The  Nutri- 

March  28.  tion  of  Animals.”  By  Professor  Foster. 

Loyal  Medical  and  Chirurgical  Society,  at 
8.30  p.m. 

Wednesday...  Society  of  Arts,  at  8  p.m. — “Woman’s  Work, 

March  29.  with  Special  Reference  to  Industrial  Em¬ 

ployments.”  By  Miss  Emily  Faithfull. 

Thursday . Loyal  Society,  at  8.30  p.m. 

March  30.  Loyal  Institution,  at  3  p.m. — “Davy’s  Dis¬ 
coveries  in  Chemistry.”  By  Prof.  Odling. 

London  Institution,  at  7.30  p.m. — “  Economic 
Botany.”  By  Professor  Bentley. 

Friday  . Loyal  Institution,  at  9  p.m. — “  Solar  Myths.” 

March  31.  By  Professor  Max  Muller. 


prlmtntwi  aith  framWnp. 

Poisoning  by  Prussic  Acid. 

On  Thursday,  February  9th,  Dr.  Lankester  held  an  ad¬ 
journed  inquiry  into  the  death  of  Mr.  Lorenzo  Adolphus 
Staunton,  who  was  discovered,  on  the  morning  of  his 
intended  marriage,  dead  from  the  effects  of  poison.  The 
deceased  was  bookkeeper  at  a  mercantile  house  in  Great 
St.  Helen’s,  and  on  the  evening  previous  to  his  death 
was  in  good  health  and  in  high  spirits  about  his  mar¬ 
riage,  which  was  to  be  celebrated  next  day.  In  the 
morning,  breakfast  was  taken  up  to  his  bedroom,  ac¬ 
cording  to  custom,  by  the  servant,  who  noticed  a  bottle 
beside  the  bed,  since  found  to  contain  prussic  acid. 
Shortly  afterwards,  a  jeweller  called  with  some  orna¬ 
ments  ordered  by  the  deceased  for  his  bride,  and  when 
the  servant  went  upstairs  to  inform  him  she  discovered 
that  he  was  dead.  The  post-mortem  examination  made 
by  l)r.  Vans  Christian  Clarke  proved  that  the  cause  of 
death  was  prussic  acid.  It  was  also  shown  that  deceased 
suffered  from  a  cough,  for  which  he  was  in  the  habit  of 
taking  diluted  prussic  acid  and  ammonia  in  seltzer 
water,  and  also  that  he  was  suffering  from  consumption. 
The  contents  of  the  stomach  were  analysed  by  Professor 
F.  Rogers,  who  stated  that  it  contained  prussic  acid,  and 
that  there  was  enough  to  cause  death.  A  letter  written 
by  deceased  to  his  mother  on  the  morning  of  his  death, 
spoke  of  his  joyous  anticipation  of  wedded  life.  It  was 
also  shown  that  deceased  was  in  the  receipt  of  nearly 
-£400  a  year.  The  jury  found  that  death  was  caused  by 
an  overdose  of  prussic  acid  taken  by  deceased  for  medi¬ 
cinal  purposes,  and  arose  from  misadventure. —  Times. 


Attempted  Suicide  by  Carbolic  Acid. 

At  Westminster,  on  Monday  last,  Maria  Norman,  aged 
fifty,  was  charged  with  attempting  to  commit  suicide  by 
taking  a  large  quantity  of  carbolic  acid.  It  appeared 


that  the  prisoner  was  found  on  the  previous  Tuesday 
insensible.  She  was  conveyed  to  Westminster  Hospital, 
where  she  said  she  had  taken  some  carbolic  acid. 

Mr.  F.  Wallace,  the  house  physician  at  Westminster 
Hospital,  said  there  were  severe  excoriations  in  the 
mouth,  lips  and  throat  of  the  defendant,  produced  by 
carbolic  acid.  He  could  not  tell  how  much  had  been 
taken,  or  how  much  would  destroy  lifo,  as  there  was 
only  one  instance  of  suicide  by  this  acid,  and  that  in  a 
lunatic  asylum.  *  He  administered  olive  oil  as  an  aperient 
and  to  produce  reaction.  Carbolic  acid  was  an  irritant, 
not  a  narcotic,  and  he  had  great  difficulty  to  prevent  the 
closing  of  the  windpipe,  as  it  produced  great  irritation 
of  the  mucous  membrane.  The  prisoner  had  suffered 
from  bronchitis  since,  but  was  now  out  of  danger. 

The  prisoner  was  remanded  for  a  week. — Times. 


A  Chemist  Fined  for  Selling  a  Tooth-powder 
without  a  Licence. 

At  Richmond,  on  Wednesday,  the  8  th  inst.,  Mr. 
Lloyd,  chemist,  was  summoned  by  the  Excise  autho¬ 
rities,  under  42  Geo.  III.  c.  56,  for  selling  patent  medi¬ 
cines  without  a  licence.  The  defendant  admitted  the 
sale,  but  submitted  that  the  article  (a box  of  “Rowland’s 
Odonto  ”)  was  not  a  patent  medicine  within  the  mean¬ 
ing  of  the  Act,  but  a  tooth-powder.  He  was  further 
summoned  under  24  &  25  Yict.  c.  91,  for  selling  me¬ 
thylated  spirits  without  a  licence.  He  contended  that 
he  had  a  right  to  sell  methylated  spirits  for  mixing  with 
varnish,  or  for  similar  purposes.  The  Bench  held  that 
all  tooth-powders  came  within  the  meaning  of  the  Act 
as  patent  medicines,  and  they  fined  the  defendant  in 
the  mitigated  penalty  of  £17.  10s. — Medical  Times  and 
Gazette. 


HOUSE  OF  COMMONS. 

Wines  in  Bond. — March  16^A. — Sir  J.  Lawrence 
asked  the  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  whether  the 
Board  of  Customs  had  been  authorized  to  sanction  the 
admixture  with  wanes  in  bond  of  tannin,  ether  and 
other  chemical  preparations,  provided  the  owners  de¬ 
clared  that  such  a  mixture  was  necessary  for  fining  and 
flavouring  the  wines. 

The  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  said  there  was  no 
such  authority. 

The  Metric  System. — March  21  st. — Mr.  J.  B.  Smith 
obtained  leave  to  bring  in  a  Bill  to  establish  the  metric 
system  of  weights  and  measures.  The  second  reading 
was  fixed  for  the  18th  of  April. 


Adulteration  of  Food,  etc.,  Bill. — March  22nd. — 
This  Bill  was  read  a  second  time,  with  the  understand¬ 
ing,  suggested  by  Mr.  Muntz,  that  the  discussion  upon 
it  should  be  taken  on  the  motion  for  going  into  Com¬ 
mittee.  That  stage  was  fixed  for  the  18th  of  April. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received : — The  £  British 
Medical  Journal,’  March  18  ;  the  ‘Medical Times  and  Gazette,’ 
March  18 ;  the  ‘  Lancet,’  March  18 ;  the  ‘  Medical  Press  and 
Circular,’  March 23;  ‘Nature,’  March  16;  the  ‘Chemical  News,’ 
March  17  ;  ‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  March  16  ;  ‘  Gar¬ 
deners’  Chronicle,’  March  18;  the  ‘ Grocer,’  March  18;  ‘Produce 
Markets  Review,’  March  18 ;  the  ‘  English  Mechanic,’  March 
17  ;  the  ‘American  Chemist’  for  March;  the  ‘Chicago  Phar¬ 
macist’  for  February;  the  ‘American  Journal  of  Pharmacy  ’ 
for  March;  the  ‘  New  York  Druggists’  Circular  ’  for  March  ; 
the  ‘Doctor’  for  March;  the  ‘Brewer’s  Guardian,’  March 
15;  the  ‘Journal  of  the  Royal  Institution;’  the  ‘  Photographic 
Journal’  for  March;  Draft  of  a  proposed  Law  for  Regulating 
the  Practice  of  Pharmacy  and  the  Sale  of  Poisons  in  the 
State  of  Illinois,  from  Mr.  Ebert;  the  ‘  Portsmouth  Times,’ 
March  18  ;  the  ‘  Newcastle  Evening  Telegraph,’  March  20. 


*  See,  however,  another  case,  reported  ante,  p.  608. 


776 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  25,  1871. 


CfltrfSjMttimttt. 

***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication ,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

The  Proposed  Poison  Regulations. 

Sir, — It  will  be  a  matter  much  to  be  deplored  if  the  negli¬ 
gence  of  a  careless  few  should  necessitate  the  infliction  on 
the  careful  many  of  the  observance  of  possibly  irksome  ab¬ 
stract  rules,  which,  so  far  from  being  in  their  case  a  deside¬ 
ratum,  may  prove  in  many  instances  a  positive  detriment. 
No  doubt  in  hundreds  and  thousands  of  well-regulated  esta¬ 
blishments  throughout  the  kingdom  the  rules  that  therein 
obtain — though  possibly  varying  considerably,  being  adapted 
to  the  special  requirements  of  each — are  in  practice  far  supe¬ 
rior  to  any  fixed  rules  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  can  frame  for  the  observance  of  all. 

I  believe  that  no  code  of  rules  will  ever  prove  a  perfect,  or, 
indeed,  any  material  safeguard.  Improved  education,  and 
firmness  in  coroners’  and  common  juries,  in  declaring  every 
man  tried  by  them,  in  cases  of  gross  carelessness,  guilty  of 
manslaughter,  are  likely  to  prove  infinitely  greater  safe¬ 
guards.  The  laxity  of  juries  in  cases  such  as  I  refer  to,  is  a 
great  scandal,  and  fraught  with  ill  consequences.  Some  few 
years  since  a  druggist’s  assistant,  while  engaged  in  dispensing 
a  6-oz.  mixture,  one  of  the  ingredients  of  which  was  Scheele’s 
acid,  was  called  upon  to  supply  an  ounce  of  castor  oil 
in  a  6-oz.  bottle  brought  by  the  customer.  He  weighed 
the  oil  into  the  bottle  into  which  he  had  put  the  quantum  of 
prussic  acid.  The  result  was  that  the  patient  got  no  acid  in 
his  medicine,  and  the  customer  who  swallowed  the  oil  was 
killed.  And  what  was  the  further  result?  Was  the  as¬ 
sistant  sentenced  to  six  or  twelve  months’  imprisonment,  as 
he  ought  to  have  been?  Not  a  bit  of  it.  The  trial  in  some 
of  its  incidents  resembled  that  celebrated  one  of  Bardell  v. 
Pickwick,  and  proved  that  fiction  to  be  no  exaggeration  of 
actual  fact.  The  counsel  for  the  prisoner  deeply  sympathized 
with  his  “  unfortunate  ”  client,  who,  according  to  him,  ought 
never  to  have  been  placed  at  that  bar;  but  in  his  place  ought 
to  have  stood  his  employer,  who  stored  prussic  acid  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  render  such  an  accident  possible.  Having 
elicited  the  fact  that  the  castor-oil  bottle  stood  upon  a  shelf 
within  two  yards  of  the  poison  (he  took  no  heed  of  the 
further  fact  that  the  prussic  acid  was  kept  in  a  locked  cup¬ 
board),  he  denounced  the  reckless  conduct  of  the  employer  in 
no  measured  terms,  whom,  when  in  the  witness-box,  he  brow¬ 
beat  in  a  most  brutal  manner ;  but  he  thereby  succeeded  in 
securing  the  acquittal  of  his  client.  A  slight  additional  re¬ 
sult  of  his  forensic  eloquence — to  him,  doubtless,  of  no  im¬ 
port  whatever — was  the  commercial  ruin  of  the  truly  unfortu¬ 
nate  employer. 

It  is  obvious  that  the  regulations  proposed  by  the  Council 
could  not  prevent  such  an  accident  as  the  above.  What 
could  ?  Simply  sufficient  education  on  the  part  of  the  dis¬ 
penser.  Education  enough  to  teach  him  that  the  prussic  acid 
was  the  last  instead  of  the  first  ingredient  that  should  have 
been  put  into  the  mixture,  and  sufficient  conscientiousness  to 
observe  the  obligation. 

Assuming  it  to  be  true  that,  unless  the  Council  do  some¬ 
thing  in  the  matter,  more  rigorous  measures  will  be  insisted 
on  by  the  Medical  Department  of  the  Privy  Council,  the 
question  comes  what  is  best  to  be  done  ?  And  when  it  has 
been  made  patent  that  some  druggists  are  so  scandalously 
reckless,  as  to  keep  cyanide  of  potassium  in  gallon  stone  jars, 
without  any  label  at  all  being  on  them  ;  and  while,  as  I  hap- 
pen  to  know,  another  is  anxious  to  get  into  business  for  him¬ 
self,  who  actually  is  ignorant  that  muriatic  acid  is  syno- 
nymous  with  hydrochloric  acid,  one  can  hardly  deny  that 
there  is  necessity  for  something  to  be  done.  Are  the  regula¬ 
tions  pioposed  by  the  Council  unexceptionable  or  desirable  ? 
Assuredly  not. 

Accidents  having  occurred  from  the  reckless  administering 
of  medicines  to  patients  during  the  night,  perhaps  in  the  dark, 
or  when  “  a  light  ”  was  burning  which  only  made  “  darkness 
visible,”  it  was  a  sensible  suggestion  to  send  out  lotions  and 
embiocations,  especially  when  accompanied  by  draughts  or 
mixtuies,  in  bottles  as  dissimilar  in  shape  and  to  the  touch, 
to  the  bottles  which  contained  the  latter  as  possible.  But’ 
unless  it  is  intended  to  legislate  for  blind  dispensers  or  for 


dispensing  to  be  carried  on  in  the  dark,  I  think  it  would  be  an 
absurdity  to  insist  on  druggists  dispensing  any  medicines 
from  such  bottles,  however  advisable  it  may  be  to  dispense 
some  of  them  into  such. 

The  very  regulation  must  be  framed  on  the  belief  or  sup¬ 
position  that  druggistsdo  not  infrequently  substitute,  by  mis¬ 
take,  the  contents  of  one  bottle  for  another,  when  dealing  with 
more  or  less  potent  articles,  kept  in  bottles  similar  to  those  in 
which  they  may  keep  morphia,  ant.  pot.  tart.,  strychnine, 
veratria,  etc.  And  if,  unfortunately,  this  be  the  case,  how 
much  more  frequently  must  it  occur  with  non»poisonous 
articles,  especially  liquids, — say,  tinct.  sennse  for  tinct.  rhei, 
tinct.  aconiti  for  tinct.  arnicae,  tinct.  capsici  for  tinct.  can- 
tharidis,vin.colchici  for  vin.  ipecac.,  etc. !  If  such  blunders  do 
now  occur,  they  would  be  likely  to  be  increased  fourfold,  by  a 
certain  number  of  articles  being  kept  in  bottles,  “readily  dis¬ 
tinguishable  by  touch,”  by  inducing  a  laxity  and  carelessness 
with  all  others,  which  otherwise  would  not  be  likely  to  obtain. 

The  blind  and  purblind  should  have  no  place  behind  a  drug¬ 
gist’s  counter;  all  persons  there  should  be  especially  enjoined 
to  make  the  utmost  use  of  their  eyes, — that  those  members 
should  not  only  inform  the  brain  of  what  is  required,  but  that 
the  brain  should,  through  their  medium,  direct  the  hands. 

The  whole  of  regulations  2,  (A)  and  (B)  as  well  as  (C), 
would  be  likely  to  tend  to  more  blunders  than  they  would 
prevent.  If  a  goodly  number  of  bottles  are  to  be  treated  as 
proposed,  they  would  frequently,  especially  in  establishments 
where  much  business  is  done,  be  left  “  untied  over,”  or  “  un¬ 
capped,”  or  “  unlocked,”  or  left  out  of  “  the  cupboard.” 

Allow  me  to  suggest  a  much  more  simple,  and  likely  to 
prove  a  more  efficacious  code  of  regulations.  I  would  premise 
that  all  bottles  and  even  drawers,  should  as  a  rule,  be  kept  in 
alphabetical  order.  Exceptions,  the  tinct.  opii  to  be  kept  in 
a  cupboard  with  bottles  totally  dissimilar  in  size  and  appear¬ 
ance,  or  on  a  shelf  with  colourless  liquids,  as  spirits  or  waters, 
or  with  dry  articles,  or  with  articles  for  outward  application 
only. 

The  liq.  plumbi  bottle  not  to  be  placed  on  the  same  shelf 
with  liq.  plumbi  dil.  Arsenic,  if  kept  in  a  drawer,  not  to  be 
allowed  loose  in  it,  but  either  tied  up  in  paper  and  labelled, 
or  in  a  labelled  bottle  in  the  drawer,  and  no  other  article  to 
be  kept  in  such  drawer.  If  kept  in  a  bottle,  not  to  be  al¬ 
lowed  to  stand  on  the  ordinary  shelves,  but  kept  in  a  cup¬ 
board  or  locker,  with  bottles  and  substances  totally  dissimilar- 
That  strychnia,  veratria  and  atropia  be  kept  in  a  locked  cup¬ 
board  out  of  the  shop,  and  set  apart  for  dangerous  articles- 
That  certain  articles — to  be  enumerated — be  distinctly  la¬ 
belled  “Poison,”  the  least  potent  of  them  with  a  black  printed 
label,  the  more  potent  with  a  red  printed  label,  and  the  most 
potent  ones  with  a  red  printed  label,  with  the  addition  of  a 
death’s  head  and  cross  bones. 

If  such  simple  rules  as  these  I  indicate  had  been  univer¬ 
sally  adopted,  I  believe  scarcely  any,  if  any,  of  the  sad  acci¬ 
dents  occurring  by  substituting  one  article  for  another  would 
have  occurred.  “  Some  distinctive  mark  indicating  that  it  is 
poison  ”  is  very  vague,  and  scarcely  less  absurd,  than  the  pro¬ 
position  of  one  of  your  correspondents  who  proposed  to  stick 
a  triangle  on  poisons,  the  apex  to  be  up  or  down  (I  forget 
which,  and  so  would  many  if  the  proposal  were  in  operation),, 
according  to  their  greater  or  less  potency. 

Southampton,  14 th  March,  1871.  Rob.  Ciiipperfielp. 


Sir, — I  have  hesitated  to  add  to  the  extended  correspon¬ 
dence  with  reference  to  the  proposed  regulations  for  keeping 
and  dispensing  poisons,  but,  feeling  that  it  is  decidedly  un¬ 
wise  to  make  them  compulsory,  I  am  induced  to  trouble  you 
with  this  note.  Unanimity  shotdd  be  secured  if  possible.  I 
am  sorry  to  see  so  much  divergence  of  opinion  on  this  sub¬ 
ject,  and  can  only  attribute  it  to  want  of  clear  understanding 
of  the  necessities  of  the  case.  The  interests  of  both  sides  are 
really  the  same,  and  both,  doubtless,  are  only  seeking  the 
best  interests  of  all.  I  am  sure  all  who  are  fit  to  be  in  the 
business  recognize  the  absolute  need  of  careful  regulations  in 
their  establishments.  In  fact,  most  of  your  correspondents 
seem  to  think  that  the  proposed  regulations  are  in  general 
use.  I  hope  some  united  plan  of  action  may  be  arrived  at, 
and  should  be  glad  to  see  such  regulations  as  may  be  deemed 
really  necessary  issued  as  recommendations  only,  backed  by 
all  the  weight  of  experience.  I  feel  sure  that  there  would  be 
no  further  need  to  attempt  compulsion.  If,  however,  there 
should  be  any  obvious  and  extensive  neglect  of  wise  precau¬ 
tion,  then  in  two  or  three  years  the  subject  can  be  dealt  with 


March  25,  1871.]  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


777 


as  may  then  appear  best.  Owing  principally  to  the  wise 
action  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  the  condition  of  things 
is  vastly  improved,  and  progress  is  by  no  means  stayed.  The 
Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  elected  by  the  free 
votes  of  members,  are  fully  qualified  to  regulate  all  matters 
connected  with  the  business,  without  any  interference  by 
outsiders,  medical  or  other. 

Education  and  self-interest  are,  in  my  opinion,  quite  suffi¬ 
cient  to  lead  to  the  adoption  of  wise  recommendations.  But 
if  laws  are  to  be  made,  they  should  be  absolute,  and  must 
affect  all  alike.  It  is  worse  than  useless  to  make  laws  with 
no  provision  for  carrying  them  out.  I  have  been  much  sur¬ 
prised  to  see  it  stated  that  allusion  to  dispensaries,  etc.  is  not 
appropriate  here.  I  presume  the  safety  of  the  public  is  the 
object  to  be  secured.  Assuredly,  then,  wherever  poisons  are 
kept  and  dispensed,  the  same  laws  should  apply.  I  was  sur¬ 
prised  at  the  character  of  the  remarks  quoted  from  the  British 
Medical  Journal.  There  is  such  an  imputation  of  unworthy 
motives,  and  use  of  threatening  language,  as  is  quite  un¬ 
worthy  of  any  honourable  journal. 

I  append  my  name,  as  I  think  it  best  that  the  names  of 
your  correspondents  should  be  given. 

Pendleton,  March  15th,  1871.  Samuel  Gill. 


Sir, — I  believe  that  poison  regulations  are  certain  to  be 
enforced  upon  us,  and  that  the  regulations  proposed  by  the 
Pharmaceutical  Council  are  such  as  should  be  adopted  in 
every  well-conducted  pharmacy.  I  do  not  believe  that  the 
better  education  of  chemists  is  the  best  security  against  mis¬ 
takes  :  note  the  strychnine  poisoning  case  at  Liverpool  and 
the  cyanide  of  potassium  case  at  Dublin.  There  was  no  want 
of  education  in  either  establishment, — might  there  not  have 
been  better  regulations  ? 

I  hope  the  Council  will  succeed  in  making  their  proposed 
regulations  compulsory.  I  am  satisfied  chemists  would  feel 
more  secure  against  the  carelessness  which  it  cannot  be 
■doubted  exists,  more  or  less,  where  apprentices  are  employed. 
March  IGth,  1871.  Wm.  Houghton. 


Sir, — I  am  induced  to  take  up  my  pen,  and  reply  to  the 
letter  signed  W.  H.  P.  in  your  last  week’s  Journal,  inas¬ 
much  as  he  makes  a  statement  that  might  be  challenged  by 
hundreds  of  chemists  in  the  provincial  towns.  He  writes, 
“All  will  admit  that  at  the  present  time  more  precautions 
are  taken  against  accidents  in  the  better- class’,  dispensing 
businesses.”  Now  I  for  one  do  not  admit  it;  and  in  looking 
over  the  record  of  disasters,  i.  e.  mistakes  which,  have  occurred 
during  the  last  twenty  years,  the  greater  number  will  be  found 
to  have  taken  place  in  the  so-called  better  dispensing  businesses, 
and  not  in  the  unfortunate  mixed  country  businesses,  where 
we  should  be  willing  to  accept  Is.  Gd.  for  the  drops  as  recipe 
with  which  his  letter  is  headed.  If  we  all  could  find  a  better- 
class  dispensing  business,  and  get  2s.  Gd.  for  Jiij  of  tr.  gent, 
co.,  we  might  then  try  our  hand  at  country  legislation,  and 
suggest  a  plan  for  ending  the  great  poison-storing  question, 
especially  if  a  cupboard  three  feet  square  would  contain  all 
the  poisons  we  required  in  stock.  It  is  simply  nonsense  to 
talk  about  consigning  poisonous  acids  and  alkaloids  to  a  cup¬ 
board  ;  and,  presuming  arsenic  would  come  within  this  cate- 
tory,  what  kind  of  a  cupboard  would  be  required  where  half 
a  ton  is  kept  in  stock,  and  must  the  master  always  remain  at 
home  to  unlock  this  treasury  of  death  ?  The  thing  is  simply 
preposterous.  Why  all  this  ado  about  the  storing  of  poisons  ? 
Has  the  business  care  and  vigilance  so  depreciated,  or  has  the 
number  of  poison  cases  so  increased  as  to  call  for  this  change  ? 
Why  not  include  guns,  pistols,  and  rope  ?  For  there  are 
more  deaths  from  their  abuse  than  all  the  poisons  put  toge¬ 
ther.  The  sconer  this  outcry  is  hushed,  and  the  Council  at 
some  different  work,  the  better.  We  may,  I  think,  safely 
leave  the  matter  in  the  hands  of  individual  chemists,  for  the 
law  and  self-interest  guard  the  matter  sufficiently. 

I  am  free  to  confess  that  I  am  exceedingly  jealous  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Council,  and  it  seems  clear  that  unless  they 
■are  resisted  they  will  throw  then’  silken  web  around  the  hun¬ 
dreds  of  unsuspecting  country  chemists,  and  finally  bind 
them  hand  and  foot.  Country  chemists  who  are  not  favoured 
with  better-class  dispensing  businesses  had  better  look  out 
are  it  be  too  late,  and  the  Council  had  better  look  more  to 
the  interests  of  the  general  trade  than  try  and  toady  favour 
with  the  Privy  Council. 

Sleaford ,  March  1  Gth,  1871.  Geo.  Weston. 


Sir, — Having  taken  as  much  interest  in  trade  matters  for 
years  past  as  most  of  my  fraternity,  and  perhaps  more  on  the 
poison  question,  I  may  venture  to  express  my  opinions  upon 
the  reasons  "why  the  Council  have  been  induced  to  suggest 
regulations  concerning  the  keeping  and  dispensing  of  poisons 
after  giving  them  my  earnest  consideration. 

I  am  quite  willing  to  admit  that,  by  the  decision  of  the 
members  at  the  last  Annual  Meeting,  the  Council  was  bound 
to  consider  the  subject,  but  their  decision  should  have  been 
arrived  at  by  ascertaining  the  sentiments  of  those  who  had 
sent  them  to  the  Board  to  represent  their  requirements. 
The  “  Reasons”  reveal  many  things  not  creditable  to  a  body 
representative  of  chemists  and  druggists. 

IV  hen  we  read  that  in  1865,  t:  the  Council,  encouraged  by 
public  opinion  (but  more  especially  by  the  opinion  of  the 
medical  profession)  ”,  it  sounds  reasonable,  as  the  Council  at 
that  time  was  a  select  few,  representing  a  small  section  of  the 
trade  intimately  associated  with  the  medical  profession  ;  but 
in  1871  the  Council,  being  no  longer  only  the  executive  of  a 
society,  but  the  governing  head  and  constituted  protector 
of  all  registered  chemists,  should  receive  its  encourage¬ 
ment,  not  from  the  public,  not  from  the  medical  authori¬ 
ties,  but  from  its  own  constituents.  When  will  the  Council 
comprehend  that  its  duties  are  no  longer  to  legislate  so 
that  the  Society  may  be  enriched  and  exalted,  but  to  se¬ 
cure  the  advancement  and  benefit  of  every  chemist  on  the 
register  ? 

In  writing  history,  even  of  trade  progress,  it  is  well  to  be 
accurate;  and  I  endorse  Mr.  Reynolds’s  remark,  that  allu¬ 
sion  to  the  United  Society  was  uncalled  for.  Before  the  Bill 
of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  was  made  known,  that  of  the 
United  Society  had  been  suggested  by  our  energetic  Man¬ 
chester  brethren;  and  it  "was  the  existence  of  that  Bill,  even 
more  than  the  opinion  of  the  medical  profession,  which  com¬ 
pelled  the  Council  to  legislate.  The  promoters  of  the  United 
Society’s  Bill  have  no  desire  to  shirk  the  responsibility  of 
having  defeated  the  Pharmaceutists’  Bill,  but  rather  to  take 
credit  for  comprehending  that  Government  would  not  sanc¬ 
tion  any  Pharmacy  Act  which  did  not  include  a  Poison  Bill 
also. 

Experience  at  that  time  had  not  taught  the  Council  that, 
although  in  league  with  the  medical  authorities,  the  outsiders 
were  too  strong  for  it ;  but  this  it  discovered  in  the  end,  and 
was  compelled  to  accept  the  tactics  of  its  opponents ;  and 
yet  it  has  already  forgotten  that  salutary  lesson,  and  is 
again  attempting  to  yoke  all  members  of  the  trade  to  its 
restrictions,  when  all  they  ask  is  to  be  left  alone.  When  de¬ 
feated  it  talked  of  uniting  the  whole  trade,  and  so  accepted 
the  policy  of  its  opponents,  by  whose  efforts  we  became  a 
corporate  body.  Yet,  no  sooner  was  that  happy  result  of 
their  combination  achieved,  than,  forgetful  of  its  obliga¬ 
tions,  it  returns  to  its  former  policy,  is  influenced  by  the 
opinion  of  the  medical  profession,  and  makes  tacit  under¬ 
standings  with  Government  medical  officers,  without  consi¬ 
dering  how  far  its  constituents  desire  it.  It  is  with  much 
regret  that  those  who  laboured  hard  and  long  in  opposition 
to  the  old  Council  see  the  reformed  government  acting  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  create  fresh  factions,  and  give  en¬ 
couragement  to  agitators  and  the  formation  of  new  societies, 
when  there  was  an  opportunity  to  cement  the  whole  trade 
under  a  liberal  and  consistent  government. 

If  proper  representative  men  were  chosen,  we  should  not 
behold  the  lamentable  spectacle  of  a  Society  divided  against 
itself,  but,  by  judicious  conduct,  they  might  bring  the  whole 
of  the  trade  to  their  support. 

We  want  on  the  Council  men  who  will  take  a  broad  and 
liberal  view  of  all  sections, — men,  not  influenced  by  the  me¬ 
dical  profession,  but.  having  a  clear  understanding  of  what 
a  shop  in  the  country  is  like  as  well  as  a  pharmacy  in 
town;  who  know  that  the  regulations  suited  for  the  one 
would  be  totally  inapplicable  to  the  other,  and  that — even 
if  suitable  to  both — interference  of  any  kind  would  be  in¬ 
tolerable. 

It  is  easy  enough  to  classify  all  under  the  head  of  chemist 
and  druggist,  but  what  a  diversity  of  character  there  is 
among  them !  The  pharmaceutist  in  a  rich  neighbourhood ; 
the  prescribing  chemist  in  a  poor  district ;  the  retail  druggist 
in  a  mixed  locality ;  large  sellers  of  chemicals;  those  who  in¬ 
clude  seeds,  oils,  confectionery,  etc., — all  are  chemists,  but 
the  regulations  suitable  to  one  would  be  utterly  impracticable 
to  all  the  others ;  and  yet  we  are  threatened  with  compulsory 
rules  for  one  and  all !  There  is  but  one  remedy.  The  ques¬ 
tion  at  the  Annual  Meeting  must  be  handed  over  to  the  new 


778 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  25,  1871. 


Council,  and  the  Society  will  have  the  opportunity  of  placing 
on  the  Council  fourteen  men  who  will  determine  not  to  have 
our  liberties  infringed. 

March  18th,  1871.  John  Wade. 


Sir, — The  question  of  the  proposed  new  regulations  as  to 
poisons  has  been  well  discussed  in  the  J ournal,  but  as  I  felt 
it  my  duty  strongly  to  oppose  all  coercive  measures  at  the 
meeting  of  Liverpool  chemists  on  the  16th  inst.,  as  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  I  wish  to  give  a  few 
reasons  for  thus  differing  from  the  Council. 

Firstly. — The  Pharmaceutical  Society  was  formed  expressly 
to  oppose  all  compulsory  legislation  from  without.  At  its 
formation  it  completely  succeeded  in  defeating  very  similar 
oppressive  measures  to  those  now  threatened,  and  up  to  the 
passing  of  the  Poisons  Bill  it  effectually  protected  the  trade 
from  this  class  of  legislation.  The  Poisons  Bill  was  thrust 
upon  it  by  the  non-pharmaceutists,  backed  by  the  Govern¬ 
ment,  and  now  there  is  strong  evidence  that  the  Council  is 
about  to  leave  dependence  upon  its  first  principles,  viz.  im¬ 
proved  education  and  status,  with  self-control  and  govern¬ 
ment,  and  to  adopt  or  accept  a  course  of  obnoxious  inter¬ 
ference  and  control,  which,  however  mild  at  first,  will  cer¬ 
tainly  prepare  the  way  for  future  tyrannical  interference, 
until  all  self-government  is  destroyed,  and  the  calling  is 
degraded. 

Secondly. — The  mechanical  arrangement  of  bottles,  and  all 
similar  distinctions,  as  every  chemist  must  know,  will  utterly 
fail  to  add  any  efficient  protection  against  accidental  errors. 
Before  the  end  of  a  busy  day,  or  even  during  a  few  hours  of 
active  and  pressing  business,  any  possible  arrangement  of 
bottles,  caps,  or  cupboards  will  be  utterly  broken  into  and 
destroyed,  and  all  safeguards  from  such  a  system  will  entirely 
break  down.  Even  the  poison  bottle,  when  once  in  the 
hands  of  the  public,  will  be  used  freely  for  all  purposes ; 
servant's,  nurses,  and  juniors  will  be  quite  accustomed  to 
drink  the  contents  of  such  bottles,  and  the  poison  bottle 
which  came  in  a  few  days  ago  from  the  chemist  with  deadly 
contents  will  be  as  much,  if  not  more,  likely  to  be  taken  in 
mistake  for  the  vinegar  or  linseed  tea,  simply  because  the 
shape  of  the  bottles  rather  than  the  labels  is  to  be  trusted  to. 

Thirdly. — If  some  slight  protection  can  be  proved  to  be 
thus  afforded,  even  this  does  not  justify  the  infliction  of  a 
degrading  and  insulting  system  of  legislation  which  will 
expose  chemists,  above  all  other  class  of  men,  to  pains,  penal¬ 
ties  and  oppression,  and  make  it  impossible  to  conduct  the 
business  lawfully.  My  own  business  is  not  so  difficult  as 
many,  but  I  have  found  it  impossible  in  every  instance  of 
urgency  fully  to  carry  out  the  present  Poison  Bill,  and  the 
poison  book  is  most  obnoxious  to  many  customers ;  but  should 
any  chemist,  in  any  hasty  or  forgetful  moment,  send  out  an 
article  which,  from  the  carelessness  of  the  public,  afterw'ards 
causes  the  death  of  a  valuable  life,  the  outraged  feelings 
against  him  for  any  trivial  omission  will  know  no  bounds, 
and  the  whole  trade  may  prepare  for  still  further  oppressive 
law's. 

Lastly. — Such  legislation  is  un-English,  and  belongs  only 
to  despotic  governments.  If  the  Pharmaceutical  Council 
cannot  or  will  not  any  longer  protect  us,  the  chemists  of  the 
United  Kingdom  must  and  will  rise  up,  and  tell  the  Privy 
Council  and  the  House  of  Commons  that  we  are  doing  all  we 
can  to  protect  life  and  health,  but  we  will  not  be  hampered 
and  degraded  by  oppressive  enactments.  If  this  is  done, 
there  is  no  fear  whatever  that  the  House  of  Commons  will 
ever  attempt  such  tyranny,  while  the  House  of  Lords  has 
already  decided  that  the  chemist  himself  must  know  better 
how  to  arrange  his  bottles  than  they  can  tell  him. 

As  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Society  I  beg  a  small  space 
in  the  Journal. 

Oxton,  20th  March,  1871.  Joseph  Ball. 


Sir,  Minute  legislation  is  always  burdensome  and  vexa¬ 
tious,  and  often  futile.  We  have  an  illustration  of  this  in  the 
late  Cab  Act.  I  was  astonished  when  a  cabman  placed  in 
my  hands  a  small  pamphlet  containing  a  number  of  regula¬ 
tions  he  was  to  observe  in  his  daily  avocation.  On  my  re¬ 
marking  the  perplexing  complexity  of  these  regulations,  and 
asking  him  what  he  intended  doing,  his  reply  was  character¬ 
istic,  “Take  no  notice  and  go  on  as  usual.”  I  fear  if  phar¬ 
maceutical  legislation  becomes  microscopical,  we  shall  have, 
in  sheer  self-defence,  to  “  take  no  notice  and  go  on  as  usual.” 


It  is  hard  enough  to  have  to  carry  in  our  memory  the  Phar¬ 
macopoeia  without  having  a  cabinet  lawyer  in  addition. 

We  were  told,  before  the  passing  of  the  Poison  Act,  that 
our  business  would  be  increased  at  least  one-third,  but  I 
think  the  majority  of  us,  if  candid,  would  confess  that  the 
reverse  is  the  case.  We  are  now  told,  if  we  will  suffer  a 
strait-waistcoat  to  be  placed  on  our  internal  arrangements 
and  movements,  it  wall  not  bo  so  in  reality.  For  my  part,  I 
believe  it  will  be  as  stringent  as  the  enforcement  of  the 
Poison  Act,  and  ten  times  more  worrying.  All  legislation 
ought  to  be  based  on  broad  principles,  not  minute  and  tire¬ 
some  regulations.  Whatever  regulations  are  made  ought  to 
be  within  the  easy  obedience  of  struggling  tradesmen  as  well 
as  the  fops  of  pharmacy.  Take  the  poison  cupboard  recom¬ 
mended  in  the  Lancet.  Many  of  us  could  not  find  room  for 
such  an  apparatus  in  our  shops  if  we  wished,  and  the  expense 
of  it  to  some  of  us  wrould  be  irksome,  nay,  impossible.  Such 
complicated  gear  is  likely,  by  constant  working,  to  get  out 
of  order,  and  while  it  is  being  repaired,  where  are  the  poisons 
to  be  placed  ?  A  cupboard  is  at  all  times  stuffy  and  incon¬ 
venient.  Poisons  are  far  better  on  a  shelf  by  themselves, 
where  they  can  be  plainly  seen.  As  the  labelling  every  poi¬ 
sonous  article  sold  “  poison,”  is  considered  sufficient  for  the 
public  safety,  surely  the  same  regulation  ought  to  be  suffi¬ 
cient  for  our  safety  in  selling  and  dispensing.  In  legislating 
for  us,  our  legislators  must  remember  we  are  thinkers  and 
not  automata. 

Bottles  of  a  peculiar  form  or  colour  for  poisons  would  be 
troublesome  to  the  pharmacopolist  and  burdensome  to  the 
public.  The  word  “poison”  on  any  bottle,  whatever  its 
shape  or  colour,  ought  to  be  a  sufficient  safeguard. 

I  fear  this  pother  about  poisons,  if  carried  too  far,  will 
lead  to  a  reaction.  Wealthy  chemists  will  be  having  two 
shops,  the  poison  shop  and  the  safe  shop.  All  diseases, 
doubtless,  can  be  cured  without  the  use  of  any  poison,  and 
the  public  will  naturally  ask,  “  Why  should  we  take  a  poison 
to  kill  a  disease,  and  thus  run  the  risk  of  being  killed  our¬ 
selves  ?” 

Were  a  surgeon  to  announce  that  he  cured  disease  without 
any  poison,  I  have  no  doubt  he  would  soon  obtain  a  large 
practice,  for  the  public  are  becoming  uneasy  at  having  to 
take  medicine  which  requires  such  careful  manipulation,  and 
may,  through  misadventure,  give  them  their  death-blow. 
March  21st,  1871.  E.  K.  C. 


Sir, — If  asked  to  vote  on  the  poison  question,  I  really 
could  not  do  so,  I  should  be  obliged  to  remain  neutral;  such 
is  the  position,  I  am  sure,  of  hundreds  besides  myself. 

If  the  question  were  merely  the  introduction  of  measures, 
voluntary  or  not,  conducive  to  safety,  there  would  be  no  dif¬ 
ficulty  in  deciding  what  to  do. 

The  proposed  regulations,  in  themselves,  are  not  so  much 
objected  to,  from  what  I  can  make  out  of  the  correspondence 
on  the  matter  and  the  opinion  of  numerous  pharmacists  (em¬ 
ployers  and  assistants)  as  to  the  consequences  which  would 
result  from  their  adoption. 

The  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  should,  I  think, 
take  chemists  generally  more  into  its  confidence,  and  tell 
them  more  about  the  matter  than  it  has.  Is  it  afraid  of,  or 
does  it  despise,  the  opinions  of  the  many  thousands  not  con¬ 
nected  with  the  Society  ? 

As  all  chemists  really  now  constitute  one  body,  the  body 
as  a  whole  should  be  consulted;  if  it  is,  all  will  be  knit 
together  in  one  bond  of  fellowship,  and  forgetting  bygones, 
all  will  work  together  for  good  and  be  one  united  society. 

What  will  the  adoption  of  the  regulations  lead  to  ?  seems 
to  be  the  question :  to  the  appointment  of  inspectors  to  see 
that  they  are  carried  out,  is  the  reply  that  comes  from  most. 
The  Council  has  not  enlightened  us  on  this  point.  We  must 
not  take  a  leap  in  the  dark.  If  there  are  to  be  inspectors, 
who  will  they  be  ?  A  decided  objection  is  made  to  the  in¬ 
specting  business,  but  I  do  not  stick  at  this  myself.  Who- 
will  the  inspectors  be?  Will  the  Council  appoint  them? 
Many,  I  dare  say,  would  not  object  much  to  have  their 
arrangements  overlooked  by  a  brother  pharmacist,  who, 
knowing  more  about  the  profession  or  trade,  would  of  course- 
be  the  best  judge  of  matters  and  understand  any  difficulty 
that  may  arise ;  but  if  medical  men  are  to  be  the  inspectors,  I 
would  most  decidedly  oppose,  in  every  way,  the  adoption  of’ 
the  regulations  at  the  very  outset. 

Another  objection  is  that  the  regulations  at  present  are- 
not  intended  to  apply  to  other  than  pharmaceutical  and 
registered  chemists.  You,  Sir,  have  said  that  this  is  no 


March  25,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


770 


argument  against  their  adoption,  and  the  Chemist  and  Drug¬ 
gist  has  said  that  if  chemists  (proper)  adopt  them,  medical 
shopkeepers  will  be  left  out  in  the  cold.  But  a  friend  reminds 
me  that  the  public  may  take  this  sense  of  the  matter :  Oh, 
you  see  that  these  men  are  not  to  be  trusted ;  the  Govern¬ 
ment  is  even  obliged  to  make  laws  to  compel  them  to  conduct 
their  business  with  more  care.  Go  tq  So-and-so,  who  is  con¬ 
sidered  properly  qualified  and  competent  to  prepare  medicines 
without  being  so  looked  after.  We  are  told  that  probably 
Government  will  see  that  the  regulations  are  enforced  in  all 
shops  or  dispensaries,  by  whoever  kept,  but  of  this  we  wish 
to  be  assured. 

I  have  remarked  that  the  Council  has  not  taken  care  to 
consult  the  opinions  of  the  whole  body  as  it  should.  Although 
I  do  not  question  the  result  of  the  Annual  Meeting  in  May 
next,  yet  it  will  be  a  farce  if  the  voice  of  the  meeting,  which 
is  to  be  held  in  the  small  theatre  of  the  Society,  is  taken  as 
representing  that  of  many  thousands  who  cannot  possibly  be 
present  at  it.  The  Council  should,  if  it  wishes  to  better  the 
unfortunate  position  it  is  in,  retrieve  its  character  and  fulfil 
the  bright  hopes  formed  of  it  at  the  commencement  of  its 
term  of  office,  engage  a  larger  room  for  the  meeting,  and 
invite  all  chemists,  whether  connected  with  the  Society  or 
not,  to  attend  and  express  their  opinions.  This  is  the  more 
necessary  as  the  Council  itself  is  divided  in  opinion,  and  from 
the  fact  that  two  eminent  pharmacists,  who  have  just  retired 
from  it,  express  themselves  so  unequivocally  against  the 
adoption  of  any  regulations  whatever.  The  Council  would 
thus  in  a  great  measure  relieve  themselves  of  the  heavy  re¬ 
sponsibility  of  allowing  regulations  to  become  law  without 
consulting  the  wishes  of  chemists  generally. 

You  will  gather,  Sir,  from  some  of  my  preceding  remarks 
that  I  do  not  object  to  the  regulations  themselves,  and  I 
would  remind  those  that  do,  and  argue  that  few  mistakes 
occur,  to  remember  that  there  are  hundreds  committed  of 
which  we  hear  nothing.  The  object  of  regulations  is  not 
only  the  prevention  of  fatal  mistakes,  but  the  prevention  of 
mistakes  of  any  kind  as  far  as  is  possible.  I  am  convinced 
that  many  are  made  (it  may  be  by  ignorant  pharmacists, 
and  there  will  be  none,  of  course,  in  a  few  years)  which  could 
be  prevented  by  a  few  simple  rules. 

Many  already,  since  the  agitation  on  the  subject,  have  “  set 
their  house  in  order.”  Laws  are  not  made  for  good  men; 
regulations  are  not  for  those  who  adopt  precautions,  but  for 
those  who  have  none  and  who  almost  criminally  despise  all 
law  and  order. 

With  regard  to  the  compulsory  adoption  of  regulations, 
and  the  perhaps  consequent  necessity  of  seeing  that  they  are 
enforced,  I  beg  to  suggest  the  following  feasible  plan,  which 
I  have  brought  forward  elsewhere,  and  which,  if  carried  out, 
would  answer  every  purpose,  and  almost  do  away  with  the 
necessity  of  framing  any  special  regulations : — “  To  each 
district  let  a  pharmacist  (not  a  resident  in  the  district)  be 
appointed,  who  shall  inspect  the  arrangements  of  every  phar¬ 
macy  in  it,  and  who  shall,  if  he  considers  that  arrangements 
conducive  to  safety  are  carried  out,  give  a  certificate  signifying 
that  such  is  the  case.” 

This  I  firmly  believe  would  satisfy  all, — the  Privy  Council 
and  its  medical  officer  and  the  public,  whose  attention  has 
unfortunately  been  drawn  to  the  matter.  Mr.  Reynolds’ 
assertion  has  not  been  refuted  yet. 

“When  a  new  pharmacy  is  opened,  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  to  be  communicated  with,  and  some  one  appointed 
to  see  that  suitable  arrangements  have  been  made.” 

Such  inspection,  or  certificate,  might  last  for  all  time ;  con¬ 
venient  and  proper  arrangements  once  made  are  not  likely 
to  be  done  away  with.  But  if  an  inspection  took  place  at 
stated  intervals,  say  once  in  five  or  ten  years,  no  conscientious 
man,  I  think,  would  take  it  either  as  a  hardship  or  a  trouble¬ 
some  interfertmce. 

Should  you  deem  this  letter  "worthy  of  insertion  in  the 
Journal,  I  may  be  bold  enough  to  address  another  to  you 
upon  other  features  in  the  poison  question.  E.  B. 

Sir, — As  regulations  for  the  keeping  and  dispensing  of  sub¬ 
stances,  so-called  poison,  if  enforced,  must  be  as  simple  as 
possible  to  ensure  their  general  adoption,  let  me  suggest  for 
■consideration  whether  the  following  will  not  meet  the  case. 
Let  there  be  no  restriction  as  to  shape  of  bottles,  sand¬ 
papering,  colour  of  labels  or  poison  closet ;  but  strictly  enforce 
that  all  vessels  containing  dangerous  remedies  be  distinguished 
by  a  round  label  (on  any  ground,  gold,  or  painted  any  colour, 
as  may  suit  the  taste  of  the  chemist),  with  “for  internal  or 


external  use”  so  expressed  above  the  name;  and  if  for  in¬ 
ternal  use,  the  minimum  and  maximum  dose  expressed  below. 
These  labels  to  be  in  use  for  stand  vessels. 

For  dispensing  in  bulk,  the  same  form  of  label  to  bo  sent 
out  with  the  necessary  directions,  and  if  required,  “  Poison  — 
care,”  be  printed  on  the  labels  in  addition  to  the  directions 
for  use. 

In  the  hope  that  some  conclusion  may  be  come  to,  satis¬ 
factory  to  all  parties,  I  remain,  A  Founder. 

36,  Sloane  Square,  S.W.,  March  20th,  1871. 

1.  For  Outward  Application  only. 

2.  Not  to  be  taken  Internally. 

3.  Not  por  Internal  Use. 

Sir, — -As  I  expect  at  our  Annual  Meeting  a  precautionary 
label  will  be  recommended  for  general  adoption  for  all  lini¬ 
ments,  etc.  containing  poison,  I  beg  to  state  that  I  consider 
No.  1  of  the  above  by  far  the  best.  Outward  remedies  are 
often  but  partly  used,  the  remainder  put  aside  for  another 
time,  and  if  the  word  not  become  defaced,  the  label  might 
lead  to  the  mischief  it  was  intended  to  avert;  but  no  such 
result  could  possibly  attend  No.  1,  which  I  have  used  for 
years  and  which  answers  remarkably  well. 

Thomas  Kent. 

226,  Blaclcfriars  Road,  London,  S.E. 

March  21  st,  1871. 


Poison  Bands  v.  Poison  Bottles. 

Sir, — Of  the  three  clauses  (Pharm.  Journ.,  Feb.  11th, 
1871,  page  653)  that  are  proposed  to  regulate  the  safe  keep¬ 
ing  and  dispensing  of  poisons,  the  last  seems  to  create  by  far 
the  greatest  opposition. 

Every  experienced  pharmacist  knows  that  neither  tri-, 
quadr-,  nor  pentangular  bottles,  blue,  “actinic”  nor  any  other 
coloured  glass,  rough,  smooth  nor  parti- coloured  labels,  are  of 
the  slightest  use  in  dispensing  unless  uniformly  adopted  by 
each  and  every  member  of  the  whole  trade  ;  and  consequently 
no  suggestion  can  ever  find  favour  with  all  classes,  unless  it 
is  inexpensive  as  well  as  intelligible. 

Of  the  “  thousand  and  one  ”  suggestions  that  have  been 
made  to  effect  the  above  purpose,  1  do  not  remember  one 
that  bears  favoui’able  comparison  with  the  simple  and  inex¬ 
pensive  plan  originated  by  Mr.  Jos.  Goddard,  of  this  town, 
viz.  that  a  solution  of  red  sealing-wax  in  methylated  spirit 
(=the  red  varnish  of  the  electrician)  be  painted  round  the 
neck  and  over  the  stopper’s  head  of  the  shop  or  dispensing 
bottle  containing  any  poison ;  and  for  dispensing  “  external 
applications”  a  band  of  blue  paper  (about  one-third  the 
height  of  the  bottle)  be  pasted  round  its  lower  part,  on  which 
band  the  following  label  (in  black  letters  on  a  red  ground) 
should  be  printed  or  gummed  : — 

The  Blue  paper  on  this  Bottle 
is  to  show  that  its  contents  are 

NOT  TO  BE  TAKEN. 

Specimens  of  Mr.  Goddard’s  suggestion  have  for  some 
years  been  exhibited  in  the  poison  bottle  section  of  the 
Society’s  Museum. 

It  is  not  every  one  that  can  find  the  room,  if  they  can  the 
means,  to  add  a  series  of  poison  bottles  to  the  arrangements 
of  the  shop ;  but  what  druggist  is  there,  worthy  the  name, 
who  has  not  an  abundance  of  seidlitz  paper  in  his  drawer  ? 

The  method  suggested  in  no  wise  interferes  with  the  usual 
position  of  the  direction  label,  nor  with  the  dispatch  of  busi¬ 
ness,  since  it  only  requires  the  demand  to  raise  a  host  of 
neatly-printed  “poison-bands,”  ready  cut  and  gummed  if 
required.  The  present  difficulty  also  with  which  we  have  to 
contend,  viz.  the  use  of  poison  bottles  bythc  public  for  im¬ 
proper  purposes,  would  be  avoided,  a  wash  being  all  that  is 
necessary  to  convert  the  dangerous  into  the  usual  white 
or  flint-glass  bottle. 

Finally,  this  suggestion  has  the  twofold  advantage  of  be¬ 
ing,  not  only  “  distinguishable  to  the  touch,”  but  appeals  at 
the  same  time  to  the  sight  of  the  patient,  who,  with  these 
precautions  before  him,  if  he  still  persists  in  di’inking  his 
liniment,  and  rubbing  in  the  mixture,  stands  in  need  to  have 
his  cranium  “examined  by  two  duly  qualified  medical  men.” 

16,  Gallowtree  Gate,  Leicester,  Jos.  Young,  P.C. 
March  Uth,  1871. 


780 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[March  25,  1871. 


Clause  16,  Pharmacy  Act  1868. 

Sir, — If  jour  interpretation,  as  I  understand  it,  of  clause  16 
of  the  Pharmacy  Act  of  1868  is  correct,  viz.,  that  neither  the 
widow  nor  any  other  unqualified  person  can  legally  continue 
the  business  of  a  deceased  chemist  (even  if  managed  by  a 
properly  qualified  man)  except  as  a  trustee,  in  which  case 
it  can  only  be  for  a  limited  period,  I  would  ask  why  the 
Pharmaceutical  Council  takes  no  action  in  the  ease  of  co¬ 
operative  stores  retailing  and  dispensing  poisons,  where 
neither  trusteeship  nor  any  other  qualification  obtains  ? 

The  case  may  be  put  thus,  either  co-operative  stores  are 
illegally  constituted,  or  they  are  not.  If  they  are,  then  the 
Council  is  bound  to  prevent  any  violation  of  the  Pharmacy 
Act ;  but  if  they  are  not?  then  the  Pharmacy  Act  is  a  mere 
sham,  and  not  worth  the  paper  on  which  it  is  printed,  since 
any  man  or  woman,  or  any  association  of  them,  or  any  rela¬ 
tive  of  a  deceased  chemist,  can  keep  “  open  shop  for  the  retail¬ 
ing  and  dispensing  poisons,”  exactly  as  the  co-operative  stores 
are  now  doing,  i.  e.,  by  employing,  as  dispenser,  a  registered 
chemist  and  druggist. 

It  seems  to  me  that  clauses  1  and  15,  taken  in  conjunction 
with  clause  16,  are  quite  sufficient  to  prevent  any  irregular 
associations  from  practically  evading  the  law,  and  I  think 
the  Council  ought  to  put  in  force  the  powers  intrusted  to 
them  to  this  end,  or  give  some  valid  and  sufficient  reason  for 
permitting  what  appears  to  be,  not  only  a  gross  violation  of 
the  spirit  and  letter  of  the  Pharmacy  Act,  but  also  very 
damaging  to  the  interests  of  legally  qualified  men. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  these  societies  are,  in  fact, 
“  open  shops  kept,”  by  certain  persons  not  on  the  register, 
for  the  “  retailing,  dispensing  and  compounding  of  poisons,” 
in  defiance  of  the  1st  clause  of  the  Act  of  1868. 

Torquay ,  March  21s7,  1871.  Edward  Smith. 


Dispensing  in  Surgeries. 

Sir, — The  instance  quoted  by  Mr.  T.  C.  Jones  (in  last 
month’s  Journal),  of  a  medical  man  inducing  a  boy,  by  the 
offer  of  higher  salary,  to  leave. his  employer  is  not  a  solitary 
one.  I  experienced  the  same  treatment  myself  a  few  months 
since. 

In  my  case  the  inexperienced  boy  was  not  to  take  charge 
of  a  surgery  merely.  The  medical  gentleman  (although 
the  place  was  well  supplied  with  druggists)  was  starting  a  re¬ 
gular  drug-shop,  for  the  sale  and  dispensing  of  the  medicines. 
He  has  a  large  out-door  practice,  and  during  his  necessary 
absence  on  his  professional  rounds  this  mere  boy  (who  had 
been  with  me  some  twelve  months,  running  messages  and 
occasionally  entrusted  with  the  sale  of  hair  oil,  logwood  and 
some  of  the  rough  drugs)  is  left  in  charge  of  the  establish¬ 
ment,  and,  assisted  by  a  youth  of  even  less  experience,  com¬ 
pounds  the  patients’  prescriptions,  sells  patent  medicines,  and 
dispenses  drugs  and  poisons  to  the  villagers. 

Of  course,  when  a  surgeon  or  doctor  keeps  open  shop  his 
patients  have  no  alternative,  but  must  get  their  medicines 
compounded  there,  be  the  assistant  competent  or  incompetent. 
Should  a  serious  mistake  ever  happen,  it  will  be  very  difficult 
to  prove  that  it  was  not  “unfavourable  symptoms  set  in.” 
How  different  would  be  the  position  of  the  regular  druggist 
under  similar  circumstances ! 

Cases  of  the  above  kind  show  the  absurdity  of  imposing  re¬ 
strictions  (“for  the  safety  of  the  public”)  on  a  portion  of 
the  drug  sellers  only. 

A  Country  Druggist. 

Bathgate,  N.B.,  February  loth,  1871. 


An  Advertisement. 

Sir,— The  fate  of  a  house  divided  against  itself  would  cer¬ 
tainly  fall  on  chemists,  if  many  of  them  could  advertise  as 
follows : — 

Easy  instructions  forwarded  to  pre¬ 
pare  AN  ESSENCE  OF  SARSAPARILLA  for  Is. 
pint,  equal  to  that  sold  at  4s.  6(7.  or  more.  Infallible  restorer 
of  Broken-down  Health  and  Blood  Purifier.  Free  for  14 
stamps. — Registered  Chemist. 

The  Council,  I  presume,  has  no  power  to  interfere  in  such 
a  case,  but  it  is  as  well  the  profession  should  be  made  aware 
of  this  peculiar  phase  of  self-destruction.  Avalon. 


Adulteration  oe  Food,  etc.,  Bill. 

Sir, — As  the  Bill  on  the  adulteration  of  food  and  drugs 
may  probably  be  passed,  it  will  be  advisable  that  the  answers 
to  the  following  questions  be  well  known : — 

Who  are  eligible  for  election  as  analysts  ? 

What  person  or  persons  have  the  power  of  appointing 
the  analyst  ? 

Are  the  existing  analysts  known  as  the  “  county  ”  analysts 
to  have  the  work  in  this  Bill  ? 

May  not  the  examined  pharmaceutists  compete  for  the 
appointment  under  the  Act  ? 

Old  Student. 


The  Case  oe  Poisoning  at  Falmouth. 

Sir, — In  your  report  of  “  Suicide  by  Prussic  Acid,”  in 
Journal  No.  36,  date  March  4th,  Mr.  Mitchell  is  stated  to 
have  produced  his  register  signed  “Isabella  Yaughan  ( alias 
Mary  Pitts)”  as  the  purchaser  of  the  poison.  It  is  not  stated 
who  witnessed  her  signature.  Had  the  Pharmacy  Act  been 
complied  with  in  the  production  of  the  witness,  would  the 
fatal  results  have  followed  ?  Or  was  the  purchaser  known  to 
the  vendor  ? 

March  8th,  1871.  J.  Barker. 


Dispensing. 

Sir, — I  was  much  pleased  to  read  the  paper  on  “  Dispen¬ 
sing”  in  your  last  number,  and  I  hope  that  the  subject  will 
often  be  brought  into  the  columns  of  your  valuable  Journal. 
It  is  a  most  important  and  essential  qualification  of  every 
young  man  who  is  connected  with  pharmacy.  But  it  docs 
not  seem  to  meet  with  the  attention  its  importance  demands, 
especially  in  the  matter  of  apprentices.  A  great  many,  after 
spending  a  term  of  several  years  with  a  chemist,  seem  to 
know  comparatively  nothing  of  the  practical  part  of  dispen. 
sing,  and  generally  have  to  gain  their  knowledge  in  that 
department  from  experience  in  after  situations,  when  they 
are  supposed  to  be  practically  acquainted  with  all  the 
branches  of  their  business.  When  I  left  my  first  master,  and 
went  to  a  situation  where  dispensing  formed  a  large  part  of 
the  work,  I  was  at  a  loss  in  many  respects ;  and  I  may  say, 
without  exaggeration,  that  I  learnt  more  practical  lessons 
that  would  stand  by  me  in  after  life  during  my  first  six 
months  there  than  I  did  the  whole  of  my  previous  term. 
And  this  is  not  a  solitary  case,  but  many  such  could  be  found 
daily,  and  shows  a  want  of  attention  in  this  respect  on  the 
part  of  the  masters.  But  it  should  be  a  duty  incumbent 
on  every  master  to  qualify  his  apprentice  as  much  for  prac¬ 
tical  dispensing  as  for  the  ordinary  routine  of  a  chemist’s 
business ;  and  I  hope  we  shall  often  have  a  paper  or  a 
few  suggestions  from  those  who  are  competent  to  give  them,, 
and  they  will,  I  am  sure,  prove  of  great  benefit,  especially  tO' 
your  youthful  readers  and  subscribers. 

Allow  me,  Sir,  in  conclusion,  to  say  a  few  words  on  the 
almost  worn-out  “poison”  topic.  I  believe  that,  to  a  great 
extent,  the  restrictions  which  many  wish  to  put  upon  us  are 
unnecessary  and  superfluous.  After  the  examinations  which 
persons  are  obliged  to  pass  before  they  can  enter  into  busi¬ 
ness,  which  must  ensure  a  practical  knowledge  of  all  articles 
they  have  to  deal  with,  every  man  would  take  what  precau¬ 
tions  he  thought  necessary  for  preserving  his  own  reputation 
and  the  safety  of  the  public.  Notwithstanding  the  stringent 
rules  already  adopted,  you  can  scarcely  take  up  a  paper  but 
you  read  some  case  of  poisoning  or  of  suicide.  And  is  the 
fault  the  chemists  and  druggists’ ?  Decidedly  not ;  and  no¬ 
thing  that  the  law  can  do  will  effectually  remove  it.  If  a 
man  or  woman  has  really  made  up  his  or  her  mind  to  get  a 
poisonous  article  they  will  do  so,  no  matter  what  burden  is 
laid  upon  the  chemist,  and  nothing  in  the  shape  of  coercion 
or  law  will  do  anything  to  mitigate  the  evil.  It  lies  with 
those  who  wish  to  procure  it ;  and  as  long,  Sir,  as  there  are 
people  who  contemplate  self-destruction,  or  the  destruction 
of  others,  so  long  will  the  evil  last. 

George  G.  Jeferies. 

51,  Old  MarJcet  Street,  Bristol, 

March  21  st,  1871. 


Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  J.  Doubell,  Mr.  J.  L.  Roberts,  Mr.  "W.  B.  Orton,  Mr. 
W.  W.  Stoddart,  Mr.  C.  B.  Allen,  Mr.  C.  R.  C.  Titchborne, 
Mr.  E.  Fox,  W.  H.  H.,  G.  W. 


April  1, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


781 


WATER  ANALYSIS. 

the  estimation  of  organic  matter  and 

NITRATES  IN  POTABLE  WATERS  * 

BY  CHARLES  EKIN,  F.C.S., 

PRESIDENT  OF  THE  BATH  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

Whilst  referring  for  details  to  the  several  me¬ 
moirs  that  treat  of  the  subject,  I  propose  to  pass 
briefly  in  review  the  various  methods  now  or  lately 
in  use  for  the  estimation  of  organic  matter  in  potable 
waters,  and  then  to  make  a  few  remarks  on  the  value 
to  be  attached  to  the  presence  of  nitric  acid. 

The  old  process  of  incineration,  so  far  as  the  loss 
of  weight  bears  any  proportion  to  the  amount  of  or¬ 
ganic  matter,  is  now  universally  discarded,  and  no 
doubt  rightly  so,  at  the  same  time  one  is  much  helped 
in  forming  a  judgment  of  the  wholesomeness  of  a 
water  by  heating  to  redness  the  residue  obtained  by 
evaporation.  If  it  blackens  or  has  a  decided  empy- 
reumatic  odour,  there  cannot  be  much  doubt  as  to 
its  character. 

The  permanganate  test,  though  not  by  any  means 
to  be  relied  upon  by  itself,  sometimes  gives  valuable 
confirmatory  evidence.  The  deoxidation  may,  how¬ 
ever,  be  due  to  the  presence  of  a  proto-salt  of  iron  or 
of  alkaline  nitrites.  If  the  latter,  the  bleaching 
takes  place  in  a  very  few  seconds,  and  it  can  con¬ 
sequently  be  at  once  distinguished  and  measured 
separately  from  the  reducing  effect  occasioned  by 
organic  matter,  which  is  always  gradual.  I  find 
iron  to  be  frequently  present  in  waters  which  have 
passed  through  iron  mains,  and  when  we  consider 
also  how  widely- distributed  this  metal  is,  it  is  mani¬ 
fest  that  we  must  be  very  careful  to  ascertain  its 
absence  before  we  attribute  any  bleaching  of  the 
permanganate  to  organic  matter.  All  the  strata, 
and  therefore  the  springs  in  and  about  Bath,  contain 
very  appreciable  quantities  of  iron ;  and  where  this 
is  the  case,  the  permanganate  test  is  almost  useless. 
Yet,  notwithstanding  this,  Dr.  Letheby,  relying  upon 
this  method  alone,  undertakes  to  speak  authorita¬ 
tively  upon  the  purity  of  waters,  as  in  the  case  of  the 
samples  sent  up  to  him  by  the  Bath  Corporation  a 
year  or  two  ago. 

Frankland  and  Armstrongs  method — although  hi 
the  hands  of  such  excellent  chemists  as  themselves 
it  may  yield  good  results — is  altogether  too  elaborate 
and  troublesome  to  come  much  into  use,  especially 
as  the  alternative  process  of  AVanklyn  offers  so  many 
advantages.  The  details  of  this  latter  process,  which 
is  now  generally  acknowledged  to  be  the  best  yet  de¬ 
vised,  has  been  so  thoroughly  explained  in  AVanklyn 
and  Chapman’s  little  treatise  that  I  need  not  take  up 
your  time  by  dwelling  on  it  here.  Having  had  a 
tolerably  extensive  experience  in  working  it,  I  can 
thoroughly  indorse  all  that  has  been  said  in  its 
favour  as  an  improvement  upon  the  older  methods ; 
but  I  hope  the  da}'-  is  not  far  distant  when  this  even 
will  be  replaced  by  a  process  yet  more  satisfactory. 

Where  sewage  is  present  in  a  water,  it  is  invari¬ 
ably  accompanied  by  an  abnormal  quantity  of  chlo¬ 
rine,  but  the  reverse  by  no  means  holds  good.  I 
find  that  the  quantity  of  soluble  chlorides  varies  so 
much  in  different  strata,  that  the  estimation  of  chlo¬ 
rine  is  quite  useless  as  a  comparative  test  between 
different  waters ;  but  it  is  certainly  valuable  when 

*  This  paper  was  read  at  a  meeting  of  the  Bath  Che¬ 
mists’  Association,  February  3rd. 

Third  Series,  No.  40. 


it  is  wished  to  examine  the  same  water  at  different 
times.  Thus,  the  Birmingham  water  last  autumn 
was  regarded  with  more  than  suspicion  when  it  was 
found  that  the  chlorine  had  increased  in  it  from 
1*41  parts  in  100,000,  in  May,  to  7T4  parts  in 
100,000,  in  August. 

Last  autumn,  too,  the  Bristol  supply,  generally  so 
good,  was  found  to  be  offensive,  and  to  contain  a 
good  deal  of  ammonia,  and  Mr.  Stoddart  was  re¬ 
quested  to  investigate  the  cause.  Finding  that  the 
quantity  of  chlorine  in  the  water  had  not  increased 
above  its  normal  rate,  he  was  enabled  at  once  to  say 
that  there  was  no  contamination  by  sewage ;  and  it 
was  then  found  that,  owing  to  the  lowness  of  the 
water,  and  the  exceptional  summer,  there  was  pre¬ 
sent  in  the  reservoir  a  large  accumulation  of  decom¬ 
posing  diatoms,  which  had,  no  doubt,  given  rise  to 
the  impurity. 

Of  the  fermentation  test  by  means  of  sugar  I  have 
had  no  experience,  but  I  am  not  sanguine  that  it 
will  be  found  of  much  practical  use. 

The  oxygen  of  atmospheric  air  is  soluble  in  water 
in  the  proportion  of  one  part  to  two  of  nitrogen ;  and 
if  a  less  proportion  than  this  is  found,  it  may  fairly 
be  concluded  that  it  has  been  used  up  in  oxidating 
sewage  or  other  organic  matter  present  in  the  water. 

The  estimation  of  the  proportion  of  oxygen  to 
nitrogen,  in  conjunction  with  Wanklyn’s  plan,  sel¬ 
dom  leaves  any  doubt  as  to  the  character  of  a  water. 

It  has  always  been  supposed  that,  with  the  excep¬ 
tion  of  the  small  proportion  of  nitric  acid  present  in 
rain  water,  the  nitric  acid  to  be  found  in  spring-  and 
well-waters  is  to  be  referred  to  the  oxidation  of  sew¬ 
age  in  some  shape  or  other,  but  I  have  ascertained 
that  this  is  by  no  means  the  case.  In  a  paper  read 
before  the  Chemical  Society  last  month,  I  showed 
that  the  result  of  several  analyses  of  rocks  and 
fossils  collected  in  this  neighbourhood  was  to  prove 
that  they  all  contained  nitric  acid  in  greater  or  less 
quantity.  Thus,  grey  chalk  marl  contained  IT  part 
of  combined  nitrogen  in  1,000,000 ;  Bath  oolite,  T3 
parts;  fossils  from  the  greensand,  2'23  parts ;  fossils 
from  the  lias,  3'6  parts ;  fossils  from  the  fuller’s 
earth  nearly  3  parts,  and  inferior  oolite  rock,  which 
is  almost  entirely  made  of  fossils,  7'6  parts. 

Although  it  is  surprising  that  such  soluble  salts 
as  nitrates,  which  probably  resulted  from  the  oxida¬ 
tion  of  organic  beings  that  existed  countless  ages 
ago,  should  still  be  found  in  the  different  strata,  it  is 
not  entirely  without  parallel.  In  one  of  the  very 
first  formations  in  which  evidence  of  organic  life  is 
found,  namely,  in  the  Caithness  Flags,  Sir  Roderick 
Murchison  says  that  the  bitumen  found  there  is  un¬ 
doubtedly  due  to  the  numerous  fishes  of  the  period, 
and  this  bitumen,  when  analysed  by  Dr.  Hofmann, 
yielded  30  per  cent,  of  organic  matter  and  ammonia. 
We  find,  too,  from  Watts’s  ‘Dictionary  of  Che¬ 
mistry,’  that  such  substances  as  fossil  teeth  still 
contain  a  large  proportion  of  their  original  organic 
matter. 

Thus  Rhinoceros  teeth  contained  .  23-03  per  cent. 
Elephas  primig.enius  .  .  .  15  6  „ 

Cave  Bear .  23 *45  „ 

Fish,  Acrodus . 2T7  „ 

Fish  from  the  Chalk  .  .  .  ’54  ,, 

If  then  organic  matter  even  can  exist  as  Such, 
through  indefinite  time,  we  shall  cease  to  wonder 
that  salts,  the  result  of  the  oxidation  of  organic 
matter,  should  also  be  found. 


7S2 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  1, 1871. 


The  springs  rising  at  the  junction  of  the  Great 
Oolite  with  the  fuller’s  earth  at  the  north-east  side 
of  Hampton  Down,  contain  as  much  as  ’05  grain 
nitric  acid  per  gallon,  and  yet  the  land  is  never 
manured,  a  few  sheep  only  grazing  on  it,  and  there 
is  not  a  house  or  any  drainage  near  it. 

Again,  the  Monkswood  spring,  about  four  miles  from 
Bath,  which  is  going  to  form  part  of  our  new  supply, 
contains  as  much  as  1'28  grains  per  gallon,  but  if  you 
will  carefully  go  over  the  ground  for  a  mile  or  two 
all  round  as  I  have  done  (and  the  spring,  from  its 
splendid  volume  and  picturesque  surroundings,  will 
well  repay  a  visit) ,  you  will  fail  to  find  any  sufficient 
source  of  contamination.  The  spring,  like  all  those 
that  have  percolated  through  the  inferior  Oolite, 
contains  more  nitrates  than  those  which  rise  above 
that  stratum,  and  this  is  easily  to  be  accounted  for, 
from  the  stratum  being  so  very  fossiliferous. 

According  to  the  reports  of  the  Registrar-General, 
in  the  Times,  Professor  Frankland  regards  the  amount 
of  nitrates  in  a  water  as  necessarily  the  result  of 
the  oxidation  of  sewage  matter;  and  from  the  ni¬ 
trates  present  he  actually  calculates  how  great  “  the 
previous  sewage  contamination”  has  been. 

We  have  seen,  however,  that  nitrates  may  be  pre¬ 
sent  in  a  water  in  very  appreciable  quantities  with¬ 
out  there  having  been  any  sewage  contamination  at 
all,  and  consequently  the  term  “previous  sewage 
contamination”  is,  to  say  the  least,  very  misleading. 


THE  CULTIVATION  OF  OPIUM  IN  CHINA. 

BY  JOHN  E.  JACKSON,  A.L.S., 

CURATOR  OF  THE  MUSEUM,  KEW. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  to  what  extent  the  culti¬ 
vation  of  the  poppy  for  the  production  of  opium 
varies  in  different  districts  of  China.  From  time  to 
time  its  growth  has  been  forbidden  by  proclamations 
from  the  Emperor,  the  penalty  for  growing  it  being 
death.  Small  quantities  have  been  nevertheless 
constantly  grown ;  for  instance,  ten  years  ago  all 
the  opium  that  was  produced  in  Szechuen  was 
grown  in  small  patches  of  gardens,  ostensibly  for  the 
amusement  of  the  owners,  but  specially  for  the  value 
of  the  crop.  It  is  a  fact  that,  though  the  proclama¬ 
tion  is  still  in  effect,  the  executive  authorities  have 
found  it  necessary  to  take  no  official  cognizance  of 
the  existence  of  the  plants ;  and  it  is  significant  of 
the  impotence  or  the  venality  of  the  Chinese  autho¬ 
rities,  or  the  discord  between  the  imperial  and  pro¬ 
vincial  governments,  that  the  white  poppy  fields 
may  be  seen  on  the  most  conspicuous  places  on  the 
great  river  route  while  the  cultivation  of  it  is  nomi¬ 
nally  punishable  with  death.  That  the  cultivation 
ot  opium  in  China  is  actually  increasing  cannot  be 
denied,  though  it  is  still,  in  some  districts,  planted 
with  great  secrecy  ;  small  patches  of  land  under  its 
cultivation  being  hidden  by  fields  of  tall  millet,  and 
when  so  situated  are  quite  safe  from  any  interference 
from  revenue  officers. 

Notwithstanding  the  increase  in  the  production  of 
Chinese  opium,  and  the  consequent  decrease  during 
the  past  year  or  two  of  the  importation  into  China 
of  the  Indian  drug,  the  question  still  remains  whe¬ 
ther  the  native  will  drive  the  Indian  produce  out  of  the 
market,  or  depress  the  latter  so  much  as  to  seriously 
affect  its  importation  and  price.  In  point  of  strength 
or  flavour  the  Indian  is  far  superior  to  the  Chinese, 


the  latter  averaging  40  per  cent,  less  in  price.  It  is 
its  cheapness  that  is  one  of  its  chief  recommenda¬ 
tions  in  the  Chinese  market,  and,  being  purchased 
at  such  a  reduced  price,  it  is  often  mixed  with  the 
Indian  drug. 

With  regard  to  the  conditions  under  which  Indian 
opium  now  enters  the  Chinese  market,  the  following 
notes  contained  in  a  recent  report  on  the  subject  will 
better  explain  them  than  any  words  of  our  own  : — 

“  Mahva  opium  is  cultivated  by  native  growers  in 
the  province  of  Malwa  and  the  adjacent  and  cen¬ 
tral  provinces  of  India, — the  land  upon  which  the 
crops  are  grown  paying  to  the  Government  the  cus¬ 
tomary  ground-rent.  The  farmers,  upon  gathering 
in  their  crops,  offer  the  juice  of  the  poppy  daily  upon 
the  nearest  country  markets,  and  it  is  there  pur¬ 
chased  by  other  natives  (who  may  be  denominated 
packers),  who,  in  their  turn,  pack  the  drug  in  balls, 
and  thus  prepare  it  for  transmission  to  Bomba}”. 
These  packers  then  sell  the  opium,  thus  prepared,  to 
other  native  merchants,  who  purchase  it  especially 
for  sale  upon  the  market  of  Bombay,  where  export¬ 
ing  and  foreign  merchants  buy  it  for  shipment  to 
Cliina,  etc.  The  importing  Bombay  merchant,  be¬ 
fore  attempting  to  take  the  drug  to  Bombay  from  the 
hand  of  the  packer,  has  first  to  procure  a  pass  from 
the  Government  treasury,  costing  COO  rupees  per 
chest,  which  pass  frees  the  opium  from  further  taxa¬ 
tion  in  transitu ,  certifying  that  the  drug  has  paid  its 
duty.  Upon  reaching  the  market  in  Bombay,  as 
aforesaid,  it  is  purchased  by  the  exporting  mer¬ 
chants,  who,  before  operating,  naturally  base  their 
calculations  on  the  China  demand  and  quotations ; 
and  thus  the  market  in  Bombay,  and  necessarily 
throughout  the  producing  districts,  is  governed  by 
the  market  of  China.  The  quantity  placed  under 
cultivation  by  the  growers  is  also  almost  entirely  de¬ 
pendent  upon  the  demand,  both  of  the  present  as  well 
as  of  the  preceding  season ;  and  thus  the  crops 
usually  range  from  35,000  to  50,000  chests  per 
annum.  No  opium  is  allowed  by  the  English  Go¬ 
vernment  to  be  reimported  into  India.  It  may  be  as 
well  here  to  state  that,  during  the  past  three  or  four 
years,  the  demand  for  China  having  decreased,  the 
cultivation  in  India  has  been  lessened  in  like  de¬ 
gree. 

“  Of  the  Bengal  drug  there  are  two  descriptions, 
— one,  called  Patna  (produced  in  the  province  of 
Behar),  and  the  other  Benares,  from  the  province  of 
that  name,  where  it  is  grown.  Both  descriptions  are 
cultivated  entirely  by  the  Government  itself,  which 
employs  men  for  the  special  purpose  of  cultivating 
the  poppy,  collecting  the  juice,  inspecting  and  pack¬ 
ing  it  into  balls.  The  drug  is  supposed  to  cost  the 
Government,  laid  down  in  Calcutta,  400  rupees  per 
chest.  On  arrival  of  the  drug  into  the  Government 
godowns  at  Calcutta,  it  is  sold  by  public  auction,  in 
lots  of  five  chests,  to  the  highest  bidder.  On  the  fall 
of  the  hammer,  the  buyer  has  always  the  option  of 
there  and  then  securing  as  many  succeeding  lots  as 
he  visiles  at  the  same  rate  as  the  lot  he  has  just 
bought.  The  purchaser  of  any  parcels  has  to  pay, 
on  the  fall  of  the  hammer,  bargain  money  at  the 
rate  of  Rs.  50.100  per  chest,  and  the  balance  of 
purchase  money  within  a  fortnight.  It  is  not  com¬ 
pulsory,  however,  to  take  immediate  delivery  of  the 
opium,  as  the  Government  allow  it  to  remain,  free  of 
warehouse  charge,  for  an  indefinite  period. 

“  These  auctions  take  place  once  every  month,  a 
limit  of  400  rupees  per  chest  being  placed  on  the 


April  1,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


783 


drug ;  therefore,  all  it  realizes  over  and  above  this 
price  goes  towards  increasing  the  revenue,  and  is 
a  profit  to  the  Government.  The  crop  is  appor¬ 
tioned  in  equal  quantities  to  each  month  for  public 
competition,  and  its  extent  is,  in  a  great  measure, 
regulated  by  the  demand,  as  in  the  case  of  Malwa. 
No  private  individuals  are  allowed  to  store  opium 
in  these  godowns  ;  all  so  found  is  looked  upon  as 
smuggled,  and  confiscated.  When  a  buyer  wishes 
to  export  his  purchases,  they  are  shipped  for  him  by 
the  Government  agent,  and  delivery  cannot  be  taken 
in  Calcutta.” 

About  fifty  years  ago,  when  Patna  opium  had 
been  introduced  and  had  made  some  way  in  Sze- 
chuen  and  the  neighbouring  provinces,  it  fetched 
double  its  weight  in  silver,  and  the  people  smoked  it 
cut  in  slices  and  rolled  up  in  paper  like  a  cigar.  At 
the  present  time  there  seems  little  doubt  but  that  its 
consumption  is  increasing  rapidly,  more  especially 
among  the  labouring  classes.  It  is  said  that  already 
eight  men  out  of  every  ten  smoke  it,  and  quite  one- 
lialf  of  the  women.  Irrespective  of  the  moral  bear¬ 
ings  of  the  subject,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  if  a 
general  and  open  system  of  poppy  cultivation  -were 
allowed  in  China,  it  would  become  a  higlily  remune¬ 
rative  branch  of  agriculture. 


ftjjauto  for  Stutunts. 


CHEMICAL  NOTES  TO  THE  PHARMACOPEIA. 

BY  WILLIAM  A.  TILDEX,  B.SC.  LOXD. 

DEMONSTRATOR  OF  PRACTICAL  CHEMISTRY  TO  THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 

Ferre  Oxidum  Magneticum. —  [§  Magnetic  oxide 
of  iron,  Fe304,  combined  with  about  20  per  cent,  of 
water  of  hydration  and  containing  some  peroxide  of 
iron.] 

Sulphate  of  iron  is  dissolved  in  water  and  mixed 
with  solution  of  persulphate  of  iron  [free  from  nitric 
acid]  and  the  mixture  is  precipitated,  boiling,  by  so¬ 
lution  of  soda.  The  precipitate,  at  first  brown,  be¬ 
comes  black  on  standing,  and  is  collected,  washed 
thoroughly  and  dried  at  a  gentle  heat. 

The  iron  salts  must  be  employed  in  such  propor¬ 
tion  as  to  contain  one  atom  of  iron  in  the  ferrous 
state,  and  two  atoms  in  the  ferric  state.  Thus,  if 
solution  of  persulphate  of  iron  be  not  ready,  a  quan¬ 
tity  of  sulphate  may  be  divided  into  three  equal 
parts,  and  two  of  them  boiled  with  sufficient  sul¬ 
phuric  and  nitric  acids  to  convert  them  into  ferric 
salt.  Excess  of  nitric  acid  must  be  driven  off  by 
evaporation. 

The  reaction  is  as  follows : — 

FeS04  +  2NaHO)  _  f  Fe2  HO  +  Na2S04 
Fe23  S04  -f  GNaHOj  “  (Fe26HO  +  3Na2S04 

=  Fe304  +  4 H20  +  4Na2S04. 

This  compound  may  be  regarded  as  a  kind  of  salt 
in  which  the  iron  fulfils  both  the  basylous  and  acidu¬ 
lous  function  Fe"  (Fe'"204).  This  view  of  its  consti¬ 
tution  is  countenanced  by  the  fact  that  ferric  hydrate 
acts  towards  metallic  iron  as  an  acid ;  freshly  pre¬ 
pared  and  boiled  with  iron  filings,  it  evolves  hydro¬ 
gen  and  gives  rise  to  the  production  of  magnetic 
oxide : — 


Ferrous  oxide . FeO 

Ferric  oxide . 


Ferrous  ferrite . Fe304 

Magnetic  oxide  of  iron  is  an  important  and  abun¬ 
dant  ore  of  iron  ;  it  forms  the  loadstone. 

The  magnetic  oxide  of  iron,  dissolved  in  acids, 
forms  solutions  which  give  the  reactions  both  of  a 
ferrous  and  of  a  ferric  salt.  Thus  a  dark  blue  pre¬ 
cipitate  forms  with  yellow  as  well  as  with  the  red 
prussiate  of  potash.  The  latter  is  Turnbull’s  blue 
(see  Ferri  Iodidum)  ;  the  former  is  Prussian  blue, 
a  ferric  ferrocyanide : — 

2  (Fe2Cl6)  +  3(K4FeCy6) 

=  12KC1  +  F  e4  (Fe  Cy6)  3. 

[§  Two  grams  dissolved  in  hydrochloric  acid  con¬ 
tinue  to  give  a  blue  precipitate  with  the  red  prussiate 
of  potash  until  8'3  c.  c.  of  the  volumetric  solution  of 
bichromate  of  potash  have  been  added.]  This 
amount  corresponds  to  very  nearly  9,  or  more  pre¬ 
cisely  8  965  per  cent.,  of  ferrous  oxide.  The  calcu¬ 
lation  is  precisely  similar  to  that  explained  under 
ferri  carb.  sacch. : — 

G  FeO. 

20000  :  8*3  ::  =  432  :  T793 
and  2  :  100  :  :  T793  :  8‘965. 


PHARMACY  IN  PARIS  DURING  THE 
INSURRECTION. 

The  advantages  possessed  by  iron  revolving  shut¬ 
ters  have  generally  been  admitted,  but  few,  I  think, 
ever  found,  them  more  useful  than  did  the  shop¬ 
keepers  and  pharmacists  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
the  Place  Vendome  on  Wednesday  last.  Since  the 
horrors  of  the  siege,  Paris  had  been  gradually  sliding 
into  the  old  grooves ;  strangers  reappeared,  letters 
and  telegrams  seemed  no  longer  a  strange  and  new 
pleasure,  and  commerce  had  reinstated  herself.  It 
was  unfortunately  but  the  lull  before  the  storm. 
Three  days  before,  the  Place  Vendome  had  been  oc¬ 
cupied  by  the  insurgent  battalions  of  the  National 
Guard,  the  pretending  friends  of  order,  who,  at  the 
approach  of  a  peaceful  unarmed  deputation  headed 
by  the  journalist  Henri  de  Pene,  discharged  more 
than  500  shots  into  the  crowd,  killing  over  twenty 
and  wounding  about  sixty  persons.  In  an  instant 
the  pavement  wTas  red  with  blood,  and  the  dead  and 
dying  were  carried  into  the  neighbouring  pharmacies, 
to  receive  what  attentions  could  be  given  to  them, 
awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  surgeons.  Ambulance 
stretchers  were  soon  procured,  and  mournful  proces¬ 
sions,  headed  by  men  bearing  large  white  flags  with 
the  Geneva  cross,  traversed  the  streets  of  Paris, 
exciting  the  hate  and  loathing  with  which  all  orderly 
citizens  regard  the  resumption  of  a  new  reign  of 
terror  at  the  hands  of  the  Belleville  insurgents. 
All  business,  excepting  the  mournful  duty  of  stanch¬ 
ing  death-wounds,  is  over  for  the  present  in  this 
usually  gay  quarter  of  Paris.  Half-a-dozen  blood¬ 
stained  mattresses  piled  in  a  comer  of  nearly  every 
pharmacy  tell  their  own  sad  tale,  and  the  once 
white  marble  floors  are  variegated  and  slippery  as 
the  pavement  of  the  Piazza  San  Marco,  at  Venice,  on 
a  rainy  day.  All  the  shops  are  closed,  and  peremp¬ 
tory  commands  to  shut  all  windows  fronting  the 
street  are  issued  in  loud  tones,  accompanied  by  me¬ 
naces  from  loaded  cliassepots.  In  comparison  with 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS 


[April  1,  1871 


781 


tliis,  tlie  siege  was  quite  enviable ;  then,  at  all  events, 
shops  were  open,  and  one  could  walk  about  the  cen¬ 
tral  parts  of  the  city  in  perfect  safety. 

And  then  a  certain  amount  of  business  was  done, 
— business  of  the  pathetic  kind.  Wives,  sisters  and 
sweethearts  came  and  bought  pocket  pharmacies, 
little  stocks  of  lint  and  plaster,  percliloride  of  iron, 
etc.  for  their  dear  friends  about  to  start  for  the  fields 
of  battle.  Many  a  tear  was  shed  over  the  purchase, 
many  a  wish  uttered  that  those  dear  to  them  should 
never  require  the  sad  appliances  of  modern  civilization 
to  heal  the  wounds  caused  by  the  destructive  engines 
of  modern  barbarity.  Alas  !  how  many  hopes  have 
been  scattered  to  the  wind  !  How  many  pale,  weep¬ 
ing  figures,  clothed  in  black,  are  daily  to  be  seen 
carrying  in  pious  hands  wreaths  of  “immortelles,” 
to  deck  the  rude  crosses  that  lie  thick  at  Montre- 
tout  and  for  miles  around.  The  past  was  dreadful 
enough,  gilded  over  by  a  coating  of  patriotism  ;  the 
present  is  doubly  fearful, — brother  against  brother, 
and  no  canopy  of  glory,  but  one  reeking  shroud  of 
vengeance,  hatred  and  bloodshed. 

The  siege,  b}^  provoking  the  appetite,  instigated 
curious  researches  among  the  edibles  generally  found 
in  pharmacies.  As  long  as  a  few  tins  of  concen¬ 
trated  milk  remained,  we  fared  luxuriously  on  arrow- 
root  puddings  and  oatmeal  gruel ;  in  fact,  a  tolerable 
pharmaceutical  dinner,  save  the  monotony,  was  daily 
procurable,  and  consisted  of  a  soup  of  Liebig’s  ex¬ 
tract,  thickened  with  tapioca  or  pearl-barley.  A 
hors  iV oeuvre  of  anchovy-paste  or  olives  ;  then  a 
piece  de  resistance ,  such  as  curried  horseflesh,  or  a 
cat’s  thigh  strong  with  garlic,  a  salad  of  mustard  and 
young  flax,  which  we  grew  in  boxes  in  the  cellars,  a 
dessert  of  Jordan  almonds  and  conserve  of  hips,  and 
a  strong  cup  of  coffee  with  which  to  wash  all  down. 
When  the  bread  became  almost  uneatable,  Hard’s 
food  was  brought  into  requisition, — the  dough  was 
cleanly  made  in  a  large  pestle  and  mortar,  with  a  due 
proportion  of  bicarbonate  of  soda  and  hydrochloric 
acid,  and  baked  into  light  little  loaves,  or  rather  cakes, 
of  surpassing  delicacy  of  flavour.  Our  distaste  for 
horseflesh  induced  us  to  invent  sundry  bouquets,  the 
success  of  which  was  so  great  in  imparting  a  really 
pleasant  flavour  to  the  insipid  meat,  that  I  am  sure 
no  cordon  bleu  should  ignore  their  utility.  The 
favourite  consisted  of  a  clove  of  garlic  and  a  pinch  of 
peppercorns,  corianders,  cloves,  parsley-seed,  dried 
thyme  and  ginger,  bruised  together  and  tied  in  a 
piece  of  muslin. 

The  only  article  for  which  an  extraordinary  de¬ 
mand  existed  was  extract  of  meat.  Tonics  were 
much  taken,  and  resulted  in  several  new  specialities, 
rather  more  ingenious  than  tasty,  such  as  a  com¬ 
bined  essence  of  calisaya  and  Liebig  prepared  with 
Cognac ! 

Ernest  J.  T.  Agnew. 

232,  Rue  de  Rivoli,  March  22nd,  1871. 

HERMODACTYLS. 

BY  M.  C.  COOKE,  M.A. 

It  might  be  supposed  that  all  had  been  written 
and  said  about  liermodactyls  that  could  be  said, 
and  that  the  subject  had  been  settled  for  ever.  Such 
was  my  own  impression  until  lately,  when  the  notion 
entered  my  head  that  the  microscope  might  reveal 
something  more,  and  this  appeal  to  the  microscope 
has  unsettled  the  question  again.  Hermodactyls  are 


eminently  starchy  products,  and,  should  it  be  found 
that  there  is  any  peculiarity  about  the  starch  granule 
sufficiently  positive  to  throw  doubt  upon  the  gene¬ 
rally  accepted  notions  regarding  hermodactyls,  then 
it  needs  no  apology  to  reopen  the  subject. 

The  conclusion  which  seems  to  be  accepted  is, 
that  hermodactyls  consist  of  the  conns  of  one  or 
more  species  of  Golchicum,  one  of  them  being  Colchi- 
cum  variegatum.  On  referring  to  Pereira  we  find 
two  kinds  of  hermodactyls  described  from  specimens 
communicated  by  the  late  Dr.  Hoyle,  one  of  these 
being  the  tasteless  hermodactyl  and  the  other  the 
bitter  hermodactyl.  The  opinion  which  seems  to 
have  prevailed  lias  been  that  these  are  only  forms  or 
conditions  of  the  same  drug ;  and  that  they  are  two 
quite  distinct  sorts  of  hermodactyls  produced  by  very 
different  plants  has  never  been  supposed.  That  such, 
however,  really  is  the  case  is  the  object  of  this  com¬ 
munication. 

In  order  that  the  subject  may  be  fairly  before  us, 
we  give  the  characters  from  Pereira : — 

1.  “Tasteless  Hermodactyl;  Soorinjun  Sheeran 
(i.  e.  sweet  sorinjan),  Hoyle. — In  their  general  form 
these  cormi  resemble  those  of  Golchicum  autumnale. 
They  are  flattened,  cordate,  hollowed  out  or  grooved 
on  one  side,  convex  on  the  other.  At  their  lower 
part  (forming  the  base  of  the  heart)  is  a  mark  or 
disk  for  the  insertion  of  the  root  fibres.  Their  size 
varies ;  the  specimens  I  have  examined  were  from 
f  to  H  inches  in  length  or  height,  1  to  H  inches  in 
breadth,  and  about  ^  an  inch  in  depth.  They  have 
been  deprived  of  their  coats,  are  externally  dirty 
yellow  or  brownish,  internally  white,  easily  broken, 
farinaceous,  opaque,  odourless,  tasteless  or  nearly 
so,  and  worm-eaten.  They  agree  precisely  with  her¬ 
modactyls  furnished  me  by  Professor  Guibourt. 
They  are  readily  distinguished  from  the  cormi  of 
Golchicum  autumnale  by  the  following  characters, 
which  are  correctly  stated  by  Geoffroy : — They  are 
not  rugose,  are  white  internally,  are  moderately 
hard,  easily  broken,  and  form  a  whitish  powder; 
whereas  the  dried  cormi  of  Golchicum  autumnale  are 
rugose,  softer,  and  have  a  reddish  or  greyish  tint 
both  internally  and  externally.” 

Tliis  is  an  accurate  description  of  the  tasteless 
hermodactyls,  the 
starch  granules  of 
which  are  very  much 
like,  almost  identical 
with,  those  of  Gol¬ 
chicum  autumnale  ; 
that  is,  the  gra¬ 
nules  are  compound, 
either  binate  or  tri- 
nate,  two  or  three 
granules  being  fused 
together  into  one 
mass  of  an  elliptical 
or  triangular,  and 
rarely  when  four  are 
united,  into  a  quad¬ 
rangular  form.  It  is  not  at  all  uncommon  to  find 
mixed  up  with  these  conns  in  the  bazaars  of  India 
Singhara  nuts  ( Trapa  bispinosa ),  which  are  very 
similar  in  size  and  form,  but  more  distinctly  trian¬ 
gular.  The  starch  of  these  is  simple,  with  a  distinct 
crack  or  fissure  in  the  centre. 

2.  “Bitter  Hermodactyls;  Soorinjan  tulkh  (i.  e. 
bitter  sorinjan),  Hoyle. — The  cormi  of  this  variety 
are  distinguished  from  the  preceding  by  their  bitter 


April  1, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


7S5 


taste,  their  smaller  size,  and  by  having  externally 
a  striped  or  reticulated  appearance.  Their  colour 

for  the  most  part  is 
darker;  in  some  spe¬ 
cimens  it  is  blackish. 
One  cormus  is  ovate 
cordate ;  1  inch  in 
height  or  length,  f  of 
an  inch  broad,  and 
about  of  an  inch 
thick,  grooved  or  hol¬ 
lowed  on  one  side, 
convex  on  the  other ; 
of  a  brownish  yellow 
colour,  semi-trans¬ 
parent,  has  a  horny 
appearance,  and  is 
marked  by  longitu¬ 
dinal  stripes,  indicating  a  laminated  structure.  A 
second  is  opaque,  amylaceous,  reticulated  exter¬ 
nally,  white  internally,  less  flattened,  and  of  a  re¬ 
markable  shape,  the  concave  or  hollow  side  of  the 
cormus  being  continued  half  an  inch  below  the 
mark  for  the  attachment  of  the  root  fibres.  The 
other  cormi  are  of  the  size  and  shape  of  a  large 
orange-pip,  but  flattened  or  grooved  on  one  side ; 
some  of  them  are  worm-eaten,  and  one  is  blackish- 
brown  externals.” 

Whatever  these  specimens  may  have  been,  the 
description  does  not  agree  with  the  Soorinjan  tulkh 
received  from  Bombay :  the  conns  are  larger  than 
those  of  Soorinjan  shereen,  are  split,  and  laid  open, 
yellowish,  more  horny,  quite  bitter  to  the  taste,  and 
the  starch  is  simple,  elliptical  or  oblong,  sometimes 

ovate,  and  nearly  of  the 
same  size  as  the  gra¬ 
nules  of  Trap  a  bispii- 
nosa,  but  there  is  no  in¬ 
dication  of  hilum,  crack, 
or  fissure  of  any  kind. 
The  starch  does  not 
therefore  bear  the 
slightest  resemblance 
to  that  of  Colcliicum 
autumnale,  or  that  of 
the  tasteless  lienno- 
dactyls,  so  that,  al- 
Fig.  3.— Starch- granules  of  the  though  I  have  not  the 
Bitter  Hermodactyls.  slightest  doubt  that  the 


Fig.  2. — Starch-granules  of 
Trapa  bispinosa. 


tasteless  hermodactyls  are  correctly  referred  to  a 
species  of  Colcliicum ,  and  probably  Colcliicum  va¬ 
riegation,  I  do  not  believe  that  the  Soorinjan  tulkh 
of  the  bazaars  of  Bombay  are  the  produce  of  a  spe¬ 
cies  of  Colcliicum  at  all.  It  is  clear  that  they  are 
entirely  distinct  from  Soorinjan  shereen. 

I  have  no  doubt  whatever  that  there  are  two  de¬ 
finite  vegetable  products  known  in  India  under  the 
name  of  hermodactyls,  and  that  they  are  the  produce 
of  very  different  plants  and  should  be  treated  as  dis¬ 
tinct  drugs.  The  character  of  the  starch  is  quite 
sufficient  to  justify  this  conclusion.  At  present  I  am 
without  any  evidence  as  to  the  place  of  production, 
or  the  plant  which  yields  the  Soorinjan  tulkh,  but  it 
is  probably  the  most  active  drug  of  the  two,  since  the 
tasteless  hermodactyls  seem  to  be  about  as  starchy, 
tasteless,  and  inert,  as  fragments  of  dried  potato. 
From  the  figures  above  given  it  will  be  observed 
that  the  starch  of  the  bitter  hermodactyls  is  nearly 
of  the  same  size  as  in  the  Singhara  nuts,  but  with¬ 
out  the  characteristic  fissure  ;  and  that  the  starch  of 


the  tasteless  hermodactyls  is  nearly  identical  with 
that  of  Colcliicum  autumnale.  These  facts,  revealed 
by  the  microscope,  again  partly  revive  the  question, 
What  are  hermodactyls?”  or,  at  least,  if  we  as¬ 
sume  that  the  source  of  tasteless  hermodactyls  is 
settled,  the  inquiry  assumes  the  more  definite  shape, 
“  What  is  the  source  of  bitter  hermodactyls  ?  ” 

THE  DIGESTIVE  POWER  OF  COMMERCIAL 

PEPSINS. 

BY  J.  S.  HAWLEY,  M.D. 

The  following  remarks  upon  an  article  entitled  “  Li¬ 
quid  Pepsin  and  Saccharated  Pepsin,”  wRich  has  been 
leprinted  in  this  Journal*  from  the  American  Journal  of 
Pharmacy,  appear  in  the  March  number  of  that  iour- 
nal : — 

In  a  recent  number  of  your  journal  an  article  appeared 
by  E.  Scheffer,  of  Louisville,  Ky.,  which  not  only  im¬ 
peaches  my  veracity,  but  is  likely  to  do  me  serious  harm 
pecuniarily. 

This  article  contains  an  account  of  an  experiment  to 
test  the  digestive  power  of  several  varieties  of  pepsin, 
among  others  one  made  by  the  author  of  the  article  and 
one  made  by  myself. 

Of  Mr.  Scheffer’s  pepsin  I  have  no  knowledge,  and  am 
not  disposed  at  present  to  question  his  statements  con¬ 
cerning  it.  But  in  respect  to  the  other  varieties,  I  have 
made  frequent  tests  of  their  strength,  some  of  wdiich  I 
have  published.  To  vindicate  the  truth  of  my  statements 
I  have  performed  a  digestive  test,  following  the  method 
pursued  by  Mr.  Scheffer,  and  wdll  thank  you  to  do  me 
the  justice  to  give  it  a  place  in  your  journal.  In  d<oing 
this,  I  wish  it  to  he  understood  that  no  unfavourable  re¬ 
flections  are  intended  towards  Mr.  Scheffer.  On  the 
contrary,  his  article  hears  intrinsic  evidence  of  candour 
and  scientific  accuracy.  It  is  my  belief  that  he  unfortu¬ 
nately  procured  a  damaged  sample  of  my  pepsin,  as  he 
admits  he  did  of  Boudault’s  on  a  former  occasion. 

My  ohly  object  in  this  communication  is  to  set  myself 
right  before  the  professions  of  medicine  and  pharmacy. 

In  this  test  the  same  varieties  of  pepsin  are  used,  and 
the  same  method  pursued,  as  by  Mr.  Scheffer,  except 
drying  the  residue,  wRich  has  been  done  to  secure  greater 
accuracy  of  result. 

In  each  of  four  suitable  bottles  were  placed  sixty 
grains  of  coagulated  albumen  (white  of  egg),  one  fluid 
ounce  of  water,  five  drops  of  muriatic  acid,  and  five 
grains  of  Boudault’s,  Grimault’s,  Houghton’s,  and  Haw¬ 
ley’s  pepsin  respectively. 

These  were  kept  in  the  same  water-bath,  at  a  tempe¬ 
rature  of  98°  to  102°  F.,  and  frequently  agitated  during 
the  space  of  four  hours.  At  the  end  of  this  time  the  un¬ 
digested  portions  w7ere  removed  and  drained  or  moisture. 

The  following  appearances  wrere  presented  by  the 
residua  respectively : — 

That  digested  in  Houghton’s  pepsin  appeared  un¬ 
altered  in  form,  colour  and  quantity,  and  soon  became 
dry  as  before  digestion. 

That  digested  in  Grimault’s  had  lost  something  of  its 
opacity,  the  angles  were  rounded,  the  quantity  sensibly 
diminished,  and  presented  an  appearance  of  increased 
softness  and  moisture. 

That  digested  in  Boudault’s  possessed  a  slightly  trans¬ 
lucent  appearance,  the  angles  of  the  remaining  pieces 
entirely  destroyed  and  the  quantity  decidedly  diminished, 
wet  and  inclined  to  remain  so. 

That  digested  in  Hawley’s  pepsin  had  become  nearly 
translucent  and  amorphous,  the  quantity  much  more 
diminished  than  the  last  and  very  wet,  evidently  consi¬ 
derable  peptone  adhering  to  the  undigested  portion. 

These  residua,  together  with  sixty  grains  of  coagu¬ 
lated  albumen,  which  had  been  subjected  to  no  cliges- 


*  Pdabji.  Joitkx.  ante,  p.  G66. 


786 


THE  PHAEMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  1, 1671. 


tion,  were  placed  separately  upon  clean  earthen  plates 
and  desiccated  to  dryness. 

This  desiccation  was  employed  to  avoid  the  difference 
of  weight  due  to  the  difference  of  capacity  for  retaining 
water  possessed  hy  substances  in  different  stages  of 
digestion. 

After  complete  desiccation,  the  residua  weighed  as 
follows : — 

The  albumen  which  had  undergone  no  diges¬ 
tion  weighed . grs. 

That  digested  in  Houghton’s . 7^ 

Grimault’s . 5 

Boudault’s . 2 

Hawley’s . 1 

Now,  since  it  appears  that  one  grain  of  dry  is  equal  to 
eight  grains  of  fresh  coagulated  albumen,  it  follows 
that — 

Houghton’s  pepsin  is  entirely  negative  or  di¬ 
gested  nothing. 


>5 


» 


>5 


Grimault’s  digested 


V 


V 


8* 

10f 

24 

6o 

44 
Ho 
52 
0  U 


grs. 


Boudault’s 
Hawley’s 

One  grain  of  Grimauit’s  pepsin  digested 
„  Boudault’s  „ 

„  Hawley’s  „ 

Grimault’s  digested  of  the  albumen 
Boudault’s 
Hawley’s 

This  last  comparison  between  Boudault’s  and  Haw¬ 
ley’s  pepsin  agrees,  within  a  very  small  fraction,  with 
my  digestive  test  upon  fresh  beef,  made  more  than  a 
year  ago,  and  published  in  my  circular.  This  circum¬ 
stance  is  somewhat  corroborative  of  the  correctness  of 
both  tests. 


20  grs. 
44 
52 
4 


1) 


PHARMACEUTIC  NOTES. 


BY  C.  LEWIS  DIEHL. 


Blue  Bill  is  one  of  the  simple  preparations  of  our 
Pharmacopoeia  that  is  seldom  prepared  by  the  apothe¬ 
cary  ;  in  fact,  its  preparation  is  the  exception  and  its 
purchase  appears  to  be  the  rule.  There  are  numerous 
reasons  why  it  is  not  generally  prepared  by'  dispensers, 
first  and  foremost  among  which  may  be  mentioned  the 
labour  attending  the  extinguishment  of  mercury.  Quite 
a  number  of  processes  for  facilitating  this  have  been  from 
time  to  time  recommended,  but  none  seemed  to  me  so 
simple  as  one  recommended  some  time  ago  by  a  waiter 
in  one  of  our  pharmaceutic  journals,  which  consists  in 
agitating  the  mercury  with  a  small  proportion  of  tincture 
of  tolu,  and  then  incorporating  it  with  the  proper  ingre¬ 
dients.  Another  reason  appears  to  be  that  blue-mass, 
when  made  strictly  according  to  the  Pharmacopoeia,  soon 
becomes  hard  and  unmanageable.  Manufacturers,  taking 
advantage  of  this,  aim  to  produce  a  blue-mass  which, 
while  corresponding  in  mercurial  strength  to  the  officinal 
article,  will  retain  its  plastic  condition,  and  thus  they 
create  a  demand  for  their  particular  manufacture. 

While  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  blue-mass  on  a 
considerable  scale,  I  soon  found  it  necessary  to  change 
the  ingredients  in  order  to  obtain  a  more  plastic  mass, 
and  succeeded  very  well,  with  but  one  objection,  namely, 
that  the  mass  was  liable  to  become  somewhat  tough,  and 
consequently  more  or  less  diflicult  to  roll  out.  In  other 
respects  the  mass  left  nothing  to  be  desired.  By  ex¬ 
periments  lately  made,  I  believe  to  have  overcome  this 
difficulty ;  but  I  cannot  say  as  yet  that  my  experiments 
with  tincture  of  tolu  warrant  the  assertion  that  it  affords 
a  rapid  and  convenient  medium  for  extinguishing  mer¬ 
cury,  without  the  application  of  more  manual  labour 
than  is  likely  to  be  bestowed  upon  the  object. 

When  one  ounce  of  mercury  is  briskly  agitated  with 
half  a  fluid  drachm  of  tincture  of  tolu,  contained  in  a 
two-ounce  vial,  it  soon  becomes  divided  into  globules, 


and  in  perhaps  one  or  two  minutes  these  globules  will 
be  scarcely  visible,  as  such,  to  the  naked  eye.  Occasional 
brisk  agitation  for  twenty  to  thirty  minutes,  however,  is 
necessary  to  so  far  extinguish  the  mercury  as  to  render 
globules  invisible  through  a  lens  of  moderate  power. 
After  the  mercury  is  so  far  extinguished,  it  would  appear 
an  easy  matter  to  mix  it  with  syrup,  honey  or  any  other 
desirable  fluid  that,  in  the  manufacture  of  blue-mass  on 
a  large  scale,  is  employed  as  an  extinguishing  medium ; 
but  this  I  have  found  not  to  bo  the  case,  for  when  the 
mixture  is  stirred  into  the  remaining  ingredients  for 
blue-mass,  globules  of  mercury  abundantly  form,  and 
delay  the  completion  of  the  process  considerably.  This 
is  probably  owing  to  the  action  of  the  syrup  or  honey, 
etc.  upon  the  tolu  coatings  of  the  minutely-divided 
mercury,  by  which  a  portion  of  mercurial  surface  be¬ 
comes  exposed,  and  unites  with  another  in  a  similar 
condition. 

However,  something  is  gained  by  the  use  of  tincture 
of  tolu,  for  I  have  prepared  blue-mass  in  less  than  an 
hour, — twenty  to  thirty  minutes  of  which  being  consumed 
in  briskly  rubbing  the  mixture  to  entirely  remove  glo¬ 
bular  mercury. 

If  it  w'ere  practicable  to  keep  blue-mass  in  the  form 
of  three-grain  pills,  as  provided  by  the  formula  of  our 
Pharmacopoeia,  there  would  be  no  necessity  for  a  change 
in  its  ingredients.  This  not  being  the  case,  the  formula 
should  be  so  altered  as  to  ensure  a  mass  that  will  keep 
its  soft  consistence  for  a  reasonable  period.  It  may  be 
contended  that  the  ingredients  entering  its  composition 
are  necessary  to  its  remedial  properties,  for  some  autho¬ 
rities  maintain  that  blue-mass  owes  its  virtues  to  the 
metal  in  an  oxidized  condition,  and  the  question  may 
then  arise,  “  Bo  the  ingredients  of  the  officinal  blue-mass 
specif  daily  tend  to  promote  this  oxidation  ?”  It  is  reason¬ 
able  to  suppose  that  such  is  not  the  case,  for  otherwise 
much  of  the  blue-mass  of  commerce,  in  every  other 
respect  properly  prepared,  would  be  found  ineffective. 
I  venture  to  doubt  that  either  powdered  liquorice  root 
or  the  components  of  confection  of  rose  are  essential  to 
the  effectiveness  of  blue-mass,  and  propose  for  its  prepa¬ 
ration  the  following  formula  : — 

Take  of  Mercury, 

Finely- powdered  Marshmallow'  root,  each  1 
troy  oz. 

Syrup, 

Glycerine,  each  240  grs. 

Tincture  of  Tolu,  30  minims. 

Introduce  the  mercury  into  a  two-ounce  vial  containing 
the  tincture  of  tolu,  and  agitate  briskly,  at  short  intervals, 
for  thirty  minutes,  or  until  the  mercury  shall  have  be¬ 
come  entirely  extinguished ;  then  weigh  the  syrup  and 
glycerine  into  the  vial,  agitate  briskly,  and  immediately 
incorporate  with  the  powdered  marshmallow,  rubbing 
the  mass  until  any  globules  of  mercury  formed  shall 
have  entirely  disappeared. 

Blue-mass  is  formed  in  this  manner  with  less  labour, 
in  a  shorter  time,  and  of  a  better  consistence,  than  by 
any  other  process  known  to  me.  While  the  mass  is 
decidedly  firm,  it  will  remain  plastic  for  a  long  time, 
and  can  be  rolled  into  pills  that  will  keep  their  shape 
perfectly.  After  the  addition  of  the  liquid  mixture  to 
the  powdered  marshmallow,  the  mass  retains  a  very 
soft  consistence  for  a  considerable  time,  requiring  less 
laborious  mixing  than  when  confection  of  rose  is  used. 

Regarding  the  use  of  tincture  of  tolu  in  the  formation 
of  blue-mass  no  decided  opinion  is  offered,  as  I  am  still 
engaged  with  experiments,  and  hope  in  the  next  issue 
of  the  Bharmacist  to  present  some  more  satisfactory 
results. 

In  connection  with  this  subject,  I  would  offer  a  few 
hints  regarding  other  pill-masses  that  may  be  familiar 
to  some  but  new  to  others. 

Quinia  pills  are  dispensed  by  me  preferably,  by  form¬ 
ing  the  mass  with  the  aid  of  glycerine,  and  rolling  the 


April  1,  1871-] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


787 


pills  in  sifted  arrowroot.  A  beautiful  white  pill  is 
formed,  which,  by  fastidious  persons,  is  preferred  to 
pills  rolled  in  liquorice  powder  or  lycopodium.  Some 
authors  object  to  the  use  of  glycerine ,  on  account  of 
technical  difficulties,  but  I  have  always  found  it  the 
most  convenient  excipient  for  general  pill-making, 
having  seldom  to  resort  to  any  other.  Then  its  ten¬ 
dency  to  prevent  the  pills  from  becoming  hard  will 
.fully  compensate  any  additional  labour  that  may  now 
•and  then  attend  its  use. 

Several  of  our  physicians  prescribe  sulph.  quinia  witli 
tartaric  acid,  according  to  a  formula  published  some 
years  ago.  Quinia  pills  so  formed  may  possess  some 
advantage  over  the  simple  quinine  pills,  being  probably 
more  readily  dissolved  and  assimilated.  The  following 
is  the  formula : — 

Take  of  Sulphate  of  Quinia,  30  grs. 

Tartaric  Acid,  4  grs. 

Water,  1  drop. 

Mix,  and  make  pills  of  the  required  quantity. 

The  single  drop  of  water  is  sufficient  to  form  30  grs. 
of  quinia  into  a  plastic  mass,  which  must,  however,  be 
Tolled  into  pills  rapidly,  else  it  becomes  hard  and  more 
water  is  required. 

These  pills,  like  the  preceding,  should  preferably  be 
rolled  in  sifted  arrowroot ;  in  fact,  all  pills  composed  of 
colourless  substances  should  be  rolled  in  this  powder,  as 
it,  apart  from  other  considerations,  necessitates  the  ut¬ 
most  cleanliness. 

Carbolic  acid  in  pills  is  occasionally  prescribed.  I  have 
never  met  with  any  particular  formula,  and  suggest  the 
following  as  convenient  and  satisfactory  :• — 

Take  of  Carbolic  Acid,  1  part 

Powdered  Elm  Bark,  3  parts 
Gum  Arabic,  1  part 
Tragacanth  Paste,  a  sufficiency. 

Mix,  and  make  pills  of  the  required  size,  which  may 
bo  coated  with  tolu  or  silver  leaf. 

Muriate  of  Ammonia,  when  required  in  form  of  pills, 
•demands  very  careful  handling,  on  account  of  its  ready 
solubility.  By  adding  about  ten  per  cent,  of  powdered 
-gum  arabic,  and  sufficient  tragacanth  paste  to  simply 
moisten,  pills  are  readily  formed  by  the  aid  of  glycerine. 

Ammonio-ferric  Alum  is  sometimes  required  in  the 
form  of  pills.  A  handsome  pill  is  produced  by  adding 
about  one-eighth  part  of  powd.  gum  arabic,  and.  making 
the  mass  with  glycerine,  being  careful  to  avoid  an  ex¬ 
cess. — The  Chicago  Pharmacist. 


QUINIA,  AND  SOME  ANALOGOUS  SUBSTANCES  IN 
PRESCRIPTIONS  AS  TONICS  AND  EFFICACIOUS 
ANTIPERIODICS. 

BY  J.  B.  R.  BURNELL,  M.D. 

The  object  of  what  follows  (a  part  of  which  has  before 
appeared  in  the  Medical  and  Surgical  Reporter ,  Oct.  1869) 
is  not  to  allude  to  medicine  of  agreeable  taste  any  more 
than  to  speak  of  certain  combinations  as  more  efficacious 
■antiperiodics  than  quinia  sulphate  alone.  Nevertheless, 
-.a  knowledge  of  means  of  disguising  any  disagreeable 
taste — whenever  this  is  possible  without  damage  to  re¬ 
medial  power — is  and  ought  to  be  admitted  as  important, 
:a  palatable  remedy  being  essential  in  a  great  many  cases 
To  comfort,  in  not  a  few  to  a  cure.  And,  having  noticed 
several  accounts  of  formuke  intended  to  conceal  the 
bitterness  of  quinia,  I  am  induced  to  make  some  state¬ 
ments-— conclusions  which  I  think  can  be  relied  upon, 
being  arrived  at  by  some  years  of  observation  and  many 
•experiments  made  with  care. 

Ext.  glycyrrhizm  alone  (better  with  a  little  tannic 
■acid)  answers  a  good  purpose  with  many  patients,  but  a 
large  proportion  is  usually  required  (5  grs.  may  be  used 
for  each  grain  of  quinia  sulphate  or  2  grs.  of  cinchonia 


sulphate),  and  I  find  the  taste  of  the  extract  is  more  often 
objected  to  than  that  of  some  other  things  that  may  be 
used  ;  hence  the  importance  of  a  knowledge,  if  possible, 
of  a  variety  of  substances  to  be  employed  to  destroy  the 
bitterness. 

Tannic  acid  used  in  large  proportion  with  quinia  sul¬ 
phate — less  for  cinchonia  sulphate  or  the  alkaloid  quinia 
— conceals  the  bitteimess,  and  the  fact  may  be  well  known 
to  the  profession  generally,  or  the  majority;  but  it  is 
probably  not  generally  known  that  a  slightly  bitter  taste 
of  tannate  of  quinia — more  properly  a  minute  portion  of 
precipitated  quinine — -will  be  perceived,  though  not 
until  about  half  a  minute  after  swallowing  the  mixture. 
The  same  is  perceived,  to  some  extent,  in  the  case  of  any 
other  combination  by  which  the  bitterness  of  quinia  or 
cinchonia  is  disguised,  but  is  probably  more  distinct  with 
the  tannic  acid  mixture ;  to  prevent  this  it  is  only  neces 
sary  to  rinse  the  mouth  with  water,  or  with  cold  tea, 
which  is  better. 

In  the  first  place,  however,  it  is  important  to  know 
whether  the  medical  properties  of  a  remedy  are  at  all  im¬ 
paired  by  the  substance  used  to  disguise  its  taste;  and 
there  is  evidence  that  there  are  many  practitioners  who 
would  be  unwilling  to  depend  upon  quinia  sulphate  com¬ 
bined  with  tannic  acid  in  large  proportion  as  an  anti- 
periodic. 

Quinia  in  the  form  of  tannate  in  solution  (or  rather,  in 
mixture)  I  have  used  for  several  years  (in  over  a  thou¬ 
sand  cases),  and  believe  it  to  be  in  no  case  less,  often¬ 
times  more,  efficient  as  an  antiperiodic  than  sulphate  of 
quinia  alone. 

Without  the  aid  of  any  other  substance  8  grains  of 
tannic  acid  will  bo  required  to  entirely  cover  the  taste  of 
1 0  grains  of  quinia  sulphate ;  it  is  better,  however,  to 
use  less,  and  in  combination  with  aromatics  unless  an 
astringent  be  indicated.  But  the  roughness  of  tannic 
acid  is  unpleasant  to  many  persons.  To  prevent  this, 
add  sugar  in  abundance  and  a  little  aromatic.  But  if 
sick  stomach  should  be  present  much  sugar  cannot  be 
retained  or  wrill  be  refused  (true  at  least  in  the  majority 
of  cases),  and  this  will  be  a  trouble ;  and  if  to  the  same 
person  the  taste  of  tannic  acid  should  bo  very  unplea¬ 
sant,  there  will  be  another  trouble,  and  the  difficulty  wi  1 
bo  increased.  Now  in  this  case,  as  well  as  the  case  of  a 
patient  who  for  any  other  reason  objects  both  to  sweet 
medicine  and  tannic  acid,  if,  wdiile  employing  but  little 
sugar,  we  use  rather  less  tannic  acid  and  a  large  instead 
of  a  small  quantity  of  aromatic,  and  dilute  the  dose  suf¬ 
ficiently— though  unnecessary  to  dilute  very  largely— 
we  shail  generally  succeed.  Though  in  regard  to  quinia 
sulphate  directly,  a  small  quantity  of  aromatic,  however 
used,  can  accomplish  nothing,  and  the  effect  of  a  large 
quantity,  when  employed  alone,  is  too  trivial  to  make  it 
useful,  the  same  (large  quantity) “will  nevertheless  assist 
much  in  disguising  it,  provided  a  certain  proportion  ot 
tannic  acid  be  present. 

Some  persons  who  sweeten  quinine,  expecting  by  this 
means  to  somewhat  diminish  the  bitter  taste,  only  add  to 
the  trouble,  for  the  bitterness  is  increased  by  the  addi¬ 
tion  of  sugar  without  any  other  substance,  or  at  least  is 
not  lessened  in  the  slightest  degree,  and  is  caused  to  bo 
perceived  for  a  much  longer  time  for  the  reason  probably 
that  it  imparts  an  adhesive  property  to  the  solution 
which,  consequently,  remains  longer  on  the  organs  of 
taste  and  penetrates. 

Cinchona,  though  containing  the  alkaloids  and  not 
usually  requiring  tannic  acid — a  fact  readily  accounted 
for  from  the  presence  of  cincho-tannic  acid— will  be  suf¬ 
ficiently  disguisod  by  the  use  of  sugar,  cinnamon  and 
orange.  Tr.  cinchome  comp.,  already  containing  aurantu 
cort.”  will  require  only  sugar  and  cinnamon.  For  tr. 
gentianm  comp,  tannic  acid  and  sugar  may  be  used, 
though  the  addition  of  syr.  sarsaparilla  comp,  or  ext. 
sars.  11.  co.  will  greatly  improve  it,  or  either  of  the  last 
two  named  with  an  aromatic  alone  can  be  employed.  A 
palatable  and  efficient  elixir  of  cinchona  may  be  tound  in 


78S 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  1,  1S7T. 


Parrish’s  ‘Pharmacy.’  The  following  recipes  will  he 
adequate  to  the  end  proposed  : — 

p.  Tr.  Cinehonrc  Comp,  f  5v 
Tr.  Calumbse  f  5iij 
Spt.  Lavandula)  Comp. 

Tr.  Cinnamomi,  an  f  51‘j 

Syr.  Aurantii  f  ^ss 

Ext.  Grlyeyrrhizae  33s.  M. 

P-  Tr.  Gentianeo  Comp. 

Tr.  Cinchona)  Comp,  an  f  5  ;s 
Ac.  Tannici  gr.  ij. 

Syr.  Sarsaparilla)  Co.  f  3b  M. 

p.  Tr.„Cinchon.  Co.  f^ss 
Ferri  et  Potass.  Tart.  5j 
Spt.  Cinnamomi  f  5ss. 

Curasao  f  51] 

Sacch.  Alb.  5ij 

Aquae  f^iij.  M. 

The  fer.  et  potass,  tart,  here  serves  a  twofold  purpose, 
since  it  helps  materially  to  conceal  the  bitterness.  The 
following  formula)  will  generally  prove  efficacious  as 
tonics  or  antiperiodics,  and  not  unpalatable  to  the  ma¬ 
jority  of  persons,  and  may  be  varied  somewhat  according 
to  the  case  and  the  taste  of  the  patient. 

ft.  Quinise  Sulphatis  gr.  xv 
Cinchoniae  ,,  gr.  x 
Acidi  Tannici  gr.  x 
Syrupi 

Syr.  Aurantii  Cort.  a  a  f  3yj 

01.  Aurantii 

01.  Sassafras,  a  a  gtt.  iij 

Aquae  Cinnamomi  f  *ij  Misce. 

ft.  Quinice  Sulph.  gr.  xv 
Cinchoniae  ,,  gr.  viij 
Ac.  Tannici  gr.  v 
Ext.  Sarsapar.  FI.  Co.  f  5iij 
Syr.  Sarsapar.  Co.  f  ^iss. 

Aquae  f  3b  M. 

p.  Ouiniae  Sulph.  gr.  xx 

Liq.  Totassae  Arsenitis  m.  xx 
Acidi  Tannici  gr.  xij 
Syr.  Aurantii  Cort.  f  5vi 
Aq.  Menth.  Pip.  f  -iij. 

M.  S.  f  5j  ter  die.  As  an  antiperiodic  f^ss-f^ij. 

ft.  Quiniao  Sulph.  gr.  xx 
Cinchoniae  Sulph.  gr.  xv. 

Ac.  Tannici  gr.  vi 

Syr.  Sarsapar.  Comp,  f  ^iiiss 

01.  Anisi  m.  vi 

Tr.  Cinnamomi  f  3iij. 

M.  S.  f  5j  ter  die.  As  an  antiperiodic  f^ss-i. 

To  prevent  the  slightly  bitter  taste  which  begins  to  be 
perceived  about  half  a  minute  after  swallowing  the  dose, 
rinse  the  mouth  with  water,  or  with  cold  tea,  which  is 
better. 

Coffee  (if  a  good  article)  in  strong  decoction,  or  pre¬ 
pared  by  displacement  or  in  powder,  while  it  adds  to  the 
antiperiodic  effect,  disguises  the  taste  of  a  large  proj)or- 
tion  of  the  sulphates  of  quinia  and  cinchonia  and  like 
bitters,  as  well  as  some  other  remedies,  not  impairing 
the  medical  properties,  and  though  not  new  it  seems  not 
to  be  generally  known.  It  is,  perhaps,  generally  known 
to  have  been  much  used  to  conceal  the  taste  of  senna  and 
magnesia  sulphate,  and  in  regard  to  quinia,  AVarin°- 
mentions  the  fact  on  page  229,  ‘Practical  Therapeutics/ 
He  says,  “  Co  flee  is  of  importance  as  a  means  of  disguis- 
ing  the  taste  of  nauseous  medicines,  particularly  quinine, 
senna  and  epsom  salts.”  It  is  to  be  remembered,  how¬ 
ever,  that  a  weak  preparation  will  not  do. 

ft  Coffee  \  teacupful,  Water  Oiss. 

Use  no  milk  with  it  unless  a  very  small  quantity  only  is 


desired  to  flavour ;  with  or  without  sugar  according  to 
taste. 

In  relation  to  this  subject  there  is  an  important  fact 
to  be  borne  in  mind.  The  quinia  or  cinchonia  sulphate 
should  be  put  in  the  coffee  in  form  of  powder.  If  dis¬ 
solved  first  with  an  acid,  a  decided  bitterness  will  be  per¬ 
ceived.  So,  in  the  case  of  anything  employed  to  conceal 
the  taste  of  quinia  sulphate  and  like  bitters,  use  the 
bitter  in  powder,  avoiding  an  acid  or  (with  a  few  excep¬ 
tions)  any  perfect  solution. 

Cocoa  or  chocolate,  if  the  quinia  sulphate  is  not  in 
large  proportion,  conceals  the  taste  to  a  great  extent, 
provided  it  be  used  of  a  sufficient  strength,  as  in  the  solid, 
or  semi-fluid  state.  For  cinchonia  sulphate  it  will  do 
better,  since  the  taste  of  this  substance  is  not  so  diffieidt 
to  cover. 

A  decoction — five  minutes  boiling — of  a  certain  strength 
(a  weak  preparation  will  not  answer)  of  a  mixture  of 
green  and  black  teas  (I  have  not  succeeded  so  well  with 
either  alone,  yet  there  can  be  no  reason  why  one  wilL 
,not  do),  after  standing  with  the  leaves  for  eight  hours* 
disguises  the  taste  of  quinia  and  cinchonia  sulphates, 
though  not  in  so  large  proportion  as  coffee.  For  this 
purpose : 

If.  These  V.  gr.  xxv, — These  N.  gr.  xxxiv,  Aq.  f  giij. 

— American  Journal  of  Tharmacy. 


THE  FOOD  PRODUCTS  OF  ST.  PETERSBURG. 

In  a  Report  on  the  Food  Products  of  St.  Petersburg 
to  the  Lords  of  the  Committee  of  Council  on  Education, 
Mr.  Andrew  Murray  has  given  some  very  interesting 
information,  the  result  of  inquiries  having  special  re¬ 
lation  to  the  Food  Department  of  the  South  Kensington 
Museum  and  its  requirements. 

At  the  Industrial  or  Agronomic  Museum  in  St.  Peters¬ 
burg  he  found  some  curious  specimens  of  what  may  be- 
called  abnormal  food,  only  eaten  on  occasions  of  great 
scarcity,  as  lichens  and  sawdust  cakes  from  the  north,, 
and  different  kinds  of  clay  from  central  Russia ;  but  the 
normal  food  was  not  represented.  M.  de  Solsky,  the 
gentleman  in  charge  of  the  museum,  was  engaged  in 
making  a  collection,  and  not  only  gave  Mr.  Murray 
every  assistance  in  his  power,  but  insisted  on  being  him¬ 
self  allowed  to  supply  a  set  of  specimens  gratuitously  to> 
the  South  Kensington  Museum. 

The  breads  resolve  themselves  practically  into  different 
modifications  of  three  chief  kinds  :  tschernoi-chleb,  black 
bread,  made  of  rye  ;  kalatsch,  white  bread,  made  of  wheat, 
of  which  the  best  kind  comes  from  Moscow ;  and  saika, 
white  bread  enriched  with  raisins  or  other  accessories, 
equivalent  to  our  buns  or  Scotch  “  cookies.” 

Ices  are  made  in  great  perfection  in  St.  Petersburg. 
Those  met  with  in  London  are  all  in  common  use  there. 
In  addition,  there  are  some  others.  One,  a  very  good 
kind,  is  made  from,  or  flavoured  by,  the  hazel  nut.  An¬ 
other,  still  better,  is  a  water  ice,  made  from  the  fruit  of 
the  elueva  ”  or  cranberry  (gathered  after  the  berry  has. 
been  touched  by  frost),  sweetened  and  slightly  flavoured, 
by  vanilla.  In  Russia  this  is  much  used  for  invalids, 
and  Mr.  Murray  thinks  it  worthy  of  introduction  into 
this  country,  or,  if  already  in  use,  of  being  more  gene¬ 
rally  known  and  adopted,  not  only  for  the  sick-room,, 
where  its  refreshing  coolness  and  slightly  subacid  flavour 
are  inexpressibly  grateful  to  the  fevered  .palate,  but 
simply  and  selfishly  for  the  gastronome.  The  cranberry  is. 
also  put  to  another  use  in  Russia.  During  the  summer 
months  a  great  traffic  in  beverages  is  carried  on  in  the 
principal  streets.  Boys  with  large  glass  ewers,  holding 
about  half  a  gallon  of  some  coloured  liquid,  haimt  the 
corners  of  streets  or  porticos  of  buildings.  The  most 
common  is  a  rose-coloured  drink,  which  owes  its  colour 
and  its  virtue  to  the  elueva.  The  other  drinks  are  le¬ 
monades  and  similar  concoctions. 

►St.  Petersburg  is  well  supplied  with  fresh  vegetables^ 


April  1,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


789 


The  great  vegetable  staple  of  the  country,  however,  is 
the  cabbage,  which  grows  in  great  perfection,  fine,  large, 
.solid,  white  and  crisp.  It  supplies  a  chief  portion  of  the 
subsistence  of  the  people  all  the  year  round.  At  the 
beginning  of  winter  every  family  lays  in  a  store.  At 
that  time  the  plants  are  cut  down,  and  chopped  up  or 
shred  into  thin  slices.  These  being  packed  in  barrels 
with  vinegar  and  salt,  a  kind  of  fermentation  takes  place, 
"the  cabbage  becoming  a  kind  of  sour  crout.  This  is 
made  with  meat  into  a  cabbage  broth  called  “shtshi,” 
which  is  the  most  characteristic  national  dish  in  Russia, 
and  forms  the  daily  food  of  the  mass  of  the  people. 
Meat  is  about  half  the  price  in  St.  Petersburg  that 
it  is  in  England,  and  much  more  freely  used.  For  40 
kopecks  (about  Is.)  Mr.  Murray  bad  a  plate  of  shtshi, 
with  three  large  pieces  of  meat  in  it,  sufficient  for  any 
average  Englishman  to  have  made  a  copious  dinner 
from.  The  shtshi  is  of  various  degrees  of  excellence. 
When  the  fermentation  goes  too  far,  it  becomes  rather 
“high;”  this,  however,  is  considered  a  blemish.  It 
also  is  made  to  assume  various  shapes,  such  as  green 
pea  and  similar  soups,  but  the  subacid  flavour  is  always 
more  or  less  pronounced.  As  the  shtshi  is  generally 
composed  of  very  strong  rich  bouillon,  with  only  a  mode¬ 
rate  amount  of  cabbage,  the  effect  is  agreeable.  A  small 
•dish  of  sour  cream,  beautifully  white  and  thick,  is  placed 
on  the  table,  in  order  that  the  guest  may  suit  the  acidity 
to  his  taste.  Another  little  dish  is  sometimes  placed 
alongside  the  sour  cream,  and  used  as  a  substitute  for 
bread.  It  consists  of  a  small  plateful  of  fried  or  roasted 
•groats,  which  are  eaten  with  a  spoon  alternately  with 
the  shtshi.  Garlic  is  used,  if  at  all,  in  moderation,  and 
its  flavour  is  not  allowed  to  obtrude  itself. 

Fungi  constitute  another  food-product  which  figures 
largely  in  the  consumption  of  the  upper  classes  of  St. 
Petersburg.  All  the  chief  species  used  in  this  country 
•also  occur  in  greater  abundance  in  Russia,  and  are 
greatly  prized  there.  The  true  mushroom  ( Agaricus  cam- 
pcstris ),  the  morel  and  the  Agaricus  deliciosus ,  are  the  most 
generally  used,  but  a  great  many  others  are  freely  eaten. 

Leaving  the  vegetables,  and  turning  to  the  products 
which  vegetarians  look  upon  as  a  transition  between 
them  and  flesh,  milk  and  its  phases,  it  appears  that  the 
preparations  of  milk  and  curd  are  more  various  than  in 
this  country.  In  cheese  Russia  is  making  great  progress. 
A  kind  is  now  made  so  like  gruyere  that  it  is  impossible 
to  distinguish  it  from  it,  and  it  is  sold  as  gruyere.  A 
second  variety  in  the  same  direction,  called  mesch- 
tschersky,  is  not  unfrequently  passed  off  under  the  same 
name.  Sour  cream  is  a  favourite  accessory  to  many 
dishes.  Its  use  with  shtshi  has  already  been  alluded  to. 
It  is  used  with  pork  as  we  use  apple  sauce,  and  the  Ger¬ 
mans  sour  crout. 

Mr.  Murray  found  the  pork  to  be  very  free  from 
trichina3,  a  result  which  he  attributes  to  the  precautions 
taken  by  the  Government  to  prevent  the  spread  or  in¬ 
troduction  of  diseased  meat.  The  mutton  in  Russia  is 
much  inferior  to  our  own,  as  it  is  in  all  the  plains  of  the 
North  of  Europe.  The  beef  and  veal  appear  to  be  of 
medium  quality. 

We  can  but  hurriedly  notice  the  fishes  used  as  food  in 
Russia.  The  principal  of  these  is  the  sterlet,  a  small 
species  of  sturgeon,  tasting  something  like  an  eel,  and 
esteemed  a  great  delicacy.  It  is  taken  in  immense  num¬ 
bers  near  the  mouth  of  the  Volga  at  certain  seasons  of 
'the  year.  There  is  also  the  sturgeon,  from  which  is 
prepared  caviare,  pronounced  by  experts  to  be  the 
greatest  delicacy  in  existence.  This  only  applies  to  it 
in  its  fresh  state,  when  its  green  pellets  of  roe,  as  large 
as  swan  shot,  are  seen  floating  in  a  rich  gelatinous  men¬ 
struum,  which  disappears  in  the  dried  or  preserved  state. 
Another  fish,  called  the  “  sclmepel,”  is  cured  and  smoked, 
and  tastes  something  between  a  fresh  salmon  trout  and 
a  kippered  herring.  Mr.  Murray  discusses  at  some 
length  the  possibility  of  naturalizing  these  and  other 
•fishes  in  the  British  waters. 


Lastly,  the  drinks  of  Russia  are  treated  of.  The  water 
of  St.  Petersburg  is  said  not  to  be  altogether  whole¬ 
some,  at  least  to  those  unaccustomed  to  it.  New-comers 
who  use  it  freely  usually  suffer  from  diarrhoea.  It  does 
not  always  affect  strangers  immediately,  six  months 
elapsing  sometimes  before  the  effects  show  themselves ; 
these  gradually  wear  off'  as  the  stranger  becomes  accli¬ 
matized. 

Coffee  is  generally  prepared  by  the  ladies  of  the  house¬ 
hold  and  not  trusted  to  the  servants.  The  material 
is  the  same  as  elsewhere  and  the  product  is  of  good 
quality. 

The  tea  is  very  different  from  that  used  in  England. 
The  strong  black  high-flavoured  Congou,  from  the  south 
of  China,  which  is  most  generally  drunk  here,  is  almost 
unknown  in  Russia.  When  by  accident  a  Russian  has 
it,  such  as  by  present  from  an  English  friend,  he  does 
not  know  how  to  use  it ;  so  that  the  Englishman  who 
wants  what  he  would  call  a  good  cup  of  tea  in  Russia, 
must  take  his  tea  with  him  and  make  it  himself.  The 
kind  used  is  the  light  delicate-flavoured  tea  from  the 
north  of  China.  However  strong  the  infusion  might  be 
made,  it  would  be  impossible  to  make  from  it  one  as  dark 
and  black  as  ours.  At  the  strongest  theirs  never  seems 
to  get  beyond  a  light  amber  colour.  A  cup  of  tea  of  the 
colour  of  senna  or  coffee  would  revolt  them.  Hence,  when 
they  have  English  Congou  they  regulate  the  strength 
of  the  infusion  by  the  colour  they  are  accustomed  to  see 
in  their  own,  a  standard  which,  to  speak  mildly,  does 
not  produce  strong  tea.  But  their  tea  has  merits  not 
possessed  by  ours.  Coming  from  the  colder  districts  and 
more  mountainous  regions  of  northern  China,  it  has  not 
the  strong  aroma  of  that  from  the  less  elevated  and 
hotter  slopes  of  the  south,  but  it  has  in  its  place  a  pecu¬ 
liar  delicacy  and  refinement  of  flavour.  Mr.  Murray  is 
inclined  to  think  that  this  tea  must  differ  also  in  chemi¬ 
cal  properties  and  physiological  effects,  as  the  last  meal 
of  the  Russian  is  generally  a  cup  of  tea,  a  custom  that 
could  hardly  be  carried  out  with  impunity  if  our  variety 
were  used. 

Of  the  native  fermented  drinks,  there  is  first  a  poor 
beer  called  “  guass,”  manufactured  from  the  remains  of 
rye  used  in  making  bread ;  it  has  a  muddy  appearance 
and  very  much  the  taste  and  strength  of  what  is  known, 
to  housewives  as  “treacle  beer.”  Hydromel  is  a  fer¬ 
mented  mixture  of  honey  and  water.  It  is  an  undecided 
suppose  flat  and  ungingered  ginger  beer  might  be. 
beverage  of  a  mild  character,  not  unlike  what  one  might 

Vodka  is  a  kind  of  whisky  or  spirit  of  wine  distilled 
from  rye  and  usually  much  diluted.  The  word  is  also 
employed  in  a  general  sense.  To  take  a  vodka  means  also 
to  take  a  dram,  and  is  applied  to  all  kinds  of  liqueurs. 
The  practice  of  the  Russian  is  to  take  a  vodka  before 
dinner,  and  by  way  of  a  whet  a  mouthful  or  two  of 
caviare  and  bread,  or  sardines,  or  something  of  that  sort. 
These  materials  are  provided  for  the  guests  to  avail 
themselves  of  before  sitting  down  to  dinner ;  a  custom 
not  without  its  ludicrous  side,  as  we  are  told  that  before 
now  strangers  have  mistaken  the  “whet”  for  the  dinner 
and  acted  accordingly. 

With  regard  to  the  wines,  it  is  well  known  that  the 
Crimea,  Bessarabia  and  the  Caucasus  are  becoming  great 
wine  countries.  Great  care  has  been  taken  to  procure 
the  best  vinos  from  France  and  Germany,  and  skilled 
labour  has  been  introduced  to  instruct  the  natives  in  the 
manufacture.  But  the  result  at  first  was  not  encou¬ 
raging.  The  vines  lost  their  special  qualities  by  the 
transfer ;  the  grapes  had  not  the  same  taste,  and,  as 
might  be  expected,  the  wine  was  not  the  same  either. 
By  perseverance  and  continued  experiment,  a  process  of 
selection  and  elimination  being  adopted,  it  was  found 
that,  although  they  could  not  obtain  the  old  well-known 
wines,  they  could  produce  some  well  worth  drinking, 
and  the  wines  of  these  countries  are  gradually  acquiring 
a  character  of  their  own. 


790 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  1, 1871. 


TINCTURE  OF  NUX  VOMICA  (U.S.). 

BY  J.  B.  MOORE. 

The  tough  and  corneous  character  of  nux  vomica,  and 
the  obstacle  this  offers  to  the  solution  of  its  active  con¬ 
stituents,  render  it  one  of  the  most  difficult  substances  in 
the  materia  mcdica  to  exhaust  with  a  limited  quantity  of 
menstruum.  It  is,  therefore,  important  that  the  greatest 
care  be  exercised  in  the  preparation  of  the  tincture  and 
all  the  pharmaceutical  preparations  of  the  drug. 

The  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia  directs  fine  powder,  No.  60, 
to  be  employed  in  making  the  tincture,  and  gives  the 
following  directions  for  its  preparation: — “Mix  the 
powder  with  a  pint  of  alcohol,  and  digest  for  twenty- 
four  hours,  in  a  closo  vessel,  with  a  gentle  heat ;  then 
transfer  the  mixture  to  a  cylindrical  percolator,  and  gra¬ 
dually  pour  alcohol  upon  it  until  two  pints  of  tincture 
are  obtained.” 

Having,  in  common  with  many  of  my  brethren  in  the 
profession,  had  frequent  difficulty  in  thoroughly  ex¬ 
hausting  the  drug  and  obtaining  a  satisfactory  prepara¬ 
tion  when  complying  with  the  above  directions,  I  was 
induced  about  two  years  ago  to  institute  a  series  of  ex¬ 
periments,  with  the  view  of  so  amending  the  officinal  for¬ 
mula  and  process,  that  a  more  uniform  and  reliable  tinc¬ 
ture  might  be  made ;  and,  after  many  experiments  with 
various  modes  of  manipulation,  and  with  powders  of  dif¬ 
ferent  degrees  of  fineness,  I  became  convinced  that  a 
liner  powder  than  is  directed  in  the  officinal  formula 
was  necessary  to  ensure  the  perfect  exhaustion  of  the 
drug,  and  that  some  change  in  the  process  was  also  re¬ 
quired.  As  the  result  of  my  efforts,  I  offer  the  follow¬ 
ing  modification  of  the  officinal  process,  as  affording  the 
most  satisfactory  results : — - 

Pulv.  Nux  Vomica,  No.  80,  ^viij  troy 
Alcohol  a  sufficient  quantity. 

Mix  the  powder  with  1|  pint  of  alcohol,  and  digest  for 
twenty-four  hours,  in  a  close  vessel,  at  a  temperature  of 
120°,  with  occasional  agitation;  then  strain  through 
muslin  with  strong  expression,  and  rub  the  residue 
through  a  No.  20  sieve ;  then  pack  it  firmly  in  a  glass 
cylindrical  percolator,  and  gradually  pour  upon  it  the 
expressed  liquid,  and,  when  it  has  all  been  absorbed, 
continue  the  percolation  with  alcohol  until  2  pints  of 
tincture  are  obtained. 

Instead  of  digesting  the  drug  with  only  a  pint  of 
alcohol,  as  directed  by  the  Pharmacopoeia,  I  use  a  pint 
and  a  half,  as  it  is  desirable  to  secure  the  solvent  action 
of  as  much  of  the  menstruum  as  is  possible  during  the 
digestion. 

I  also  direct  the  mixture  to  be  expressed  at  the  com¬ 
pletion  of  the  digestion,  as  the  residue  can  then  be  pro¬ 
perly  packed  for  percolation.  This  is  of  paramount  im¬ 
portance  to  the  success  of  the  operation,  and  is  much 
better  than  pouring  the  mixture  into  the  percolator  and 
allowing  it  to  settle  and  adjust  itself,  as  in  the  officinal 
formula,  because  in  doing  so  the  homogeneous  condition 
of  the  mass  is  disturbed  by  the  partial  separation  of  the 
finer  and  coarser  particles. 

The  residuum  should  be  packed  so  firmly  in  the  per¬ 
colator  that,  when  percolation  commences,  the  tincture 
will  not  pass  at  a  faster  rate  than  from  five  to  eight  drops 
per  minute. 

If  the  above  directions  arc  carefully  complied  with,  a 
good  and  reliable  preparation  will  result.  When  the 
process  is  completed,  the  dregs  in  the  percolator  will  be 
found  to  be  tasteless,  or  nearly  so. 

The  almost  insuperable  difficulties  attending  the  re¬ 
duction  of  nux  vomica  to  a  very  fine  powder,  with  the 
facilities  afforded  by  any  ordinary  retail  drug  store,  for¬ 
bid  the  idea  of  any  pharmacist  attempting  to  powder  the 
drug  for  himself ;  consequently,  nearly  all  are  compelled 
to  rely  upon  the  wholesale  market"  for  their  supply. 
Therefore,  I  think  that  our  wholesale  druggists  should 
keep  constantly  on  hand  nux  vomica  in  very  fine  powder. 
I  presume  it  is  quite  a  difficult  matter  to  reduce  it  to  so 


fine  a  state  of  division,  even  by  the  aid  of  the  appliances 
of  the  best  arranged  drug-powdering  establishments ;  yet, 
by  proper  treatment,  it  can  be  done. 

At  the  time  I  was  engaged  with  my  experiments  I 
found  it  impossible  to  obtain  any  powdered  nux  vomica 
in  this  market  that  even  came  up  to  the  requirements  off 
the  Pharmacopoeia ;  and  to  procure  the  very  fine  (No. 
80)  powder  I  desired,  I  was  obliged  to  send  to  Dr.  Squibb, 
in  Brooklyn. 

There  was  but  one  or  two  of  our  wholesale  drug  houses 
that  had  any  powder  finer  than  from  No.  30  to  No.  40. 
Now,  as  pharmacists  have  to  depend  almost  exclusively 
upon  the  commercial  powder  to  prepare  their  tincture- 
from,  this  would  seem  to  indicate  that  it  is  nearly  all 
made  from  powder  entirely  too  coarse,  and  must  neces¬ 
sarily  often  bo  of  very  deficient  strength.  To  this  cause 
may  be  attributed  the  frequent  failure  of  physicians  in  de¬ 
riving  the  desired  therapeutic  effects  from  the  adminis¬ 
tration  of  the  tincture.  It  is  not  uncommon  to  hear 
medical  men  remark  that  they  have  lost  confidence  in 
the  virtues  of  tincture  of  nux  vomica,  and  many  have- 
ceased  to  employ  it  in  their  practice.  But  I  believe  that 
if  it  be  carefully  and  properly  prepared,  it  is  as  efficient 
and  reliable  a  preparation  of  the  drug  as  any  that  is. 
made. — Amer.  Journ.  Pharm. 


'Will  Snake-Poison  Kill  a  Snake  ?— Dr.  Fayrer, 
in  India,  has  been  experimenting  to  cori-cct  the  popular- 
error  that  a  snake  cannot  kill  a  snake.  He  took  a  young 
and  very  lively  cobra,  fourteen  inches  long,  and  which 
was  bitten  in  the  muscular  part  of  the  body  by  a  krait 
forty-eight  inches  long.  The  krait  had  not  bitten  for 
some  days  before.  From  a  detailed  report  by  Dr.  Fayrer, 
it  appears  that  the  cobra  was  bitten  at  12.50  p.m.  At 
1  p.m.  it  was  very  sluggish,  at  1.3  p.m.  so  sluggish  that 
it  moved  with  difficulty,  could  be  easily  handled,  and 
made  no  effort  at  resistance.  At  1.20  it  was  apparently 
dying,  and  its  movements  were  scarcely  perceptible,  and 
at  1.22  it  died,  thirty-two  minutes  after  the  attack. 
Dr.  Fayrer  has  found  that  the  water-snakes  of  India  are 
deadly  poisonous.  In  the  Bay  of  Bengal  they  swarm, 
and  it  is  noted  as  ominous  that  lately  it  was  proposed  to- 
erect  a  sea-bathing  establishment  for  Calcutta  at  Bar  war, 
under  the  assurance  that  there  were  no  sharks.  It  is  re¬ 
marked  that  sharks  need  not  be  noticed  when  a  bather 
may  have  deadly  water-snakes  swimming  after  him. — 
Nature. 

Tuba  Roots. — The  roots  of  a  plant  known  in  Borneo 
by  the  name  of  Tuba  or  Tooba,  are  reported  to  be  much 
valued  in  that  country  for  destroying  vermin  on  plants, 
or  animals.  They  are  thrown  into  water  and  allowed 
to  stand  a  short  time,  after  which  the  plants  or  animals 
are  washed  with  the  water.  Europeans  who  have  used 
it  say  that  its  effects  are  sure  and  instant,  and  that 
while  fatal  to  insect  life,  it  does  not  in  the  least  degree 
injure  the  plants  or  animals  to  which  it  is  applied.  The 
roots  are  used  when  fresh,  and  evidently  lose  their  pro¬ 
perties  by  drying,  as  a  decoction  which  had  been  pre¬ 
pared  from  some  roots  received  in  the  dry  state  has  been 
applied  to  some  plants  infested  with  vermin  without  the 
slightest  effect.  The  roots  are  also  constantly  used  by 
the  natives  for  poisoning  fish  in  streams  and  pools*. 
The  plant -is  said  to  be  leguminous. — The  Gardeners 
Chronicle. 

Test  for  Silver-Plating. — In  the  January  number 

of  Polytechnisches  Journal  von  Dingier  is  a  simple  process, 
by  Professor  Bcettger  for  testing  the  genuineness  of 
silver-plating  on  metals,  which  maybe  of  value  to  many. 
The  metallic  surface  is  carefully  cleaned,  and  a  drop  of 
a  cold  saturated  solution  of  bichromate  of  potash  in 
nitric  acid  is  placed  upon  it,  and  immediately  washed  off 
with  cold  water.  If  the  surface  is  silver,  a  blood-red' 
spot  of  chromate  of  silver  is  formed,  whereas  on  German- 
silver  or  Britannia  metal  the  stain  is  brown  or  black. — 
Athenantm . 


April  1,1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


791 


®Ije  Jpjwnuttcufhl  J’ounwL 


SATURDAY,  APRIL  1,  1S71. 


Communications  for  this  Journal ,  and  boohs  for  review ,  etc., 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

Instructions  from  Members  and  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Brem- 
ridge,  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  JF.C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  IF.  Envelopes  indorsed  “  Bharm.  Jo  urn." 


MR.  MUNTZ’S  ADULTERATION  BILL. 

Mr.  Muntz’s  Adulteration  Bill  lias  now  been  read 
a  second  time,  and  the  discussion  on  its  merits  is  to 
take  place  when  the  Bill  goes  into  Committee.  The 
provisions  of  the  Bill  are  probably  known  to  our 
readers,  as  it  was  published  in  a  recent  number  of 
this  Journal.  It  will  be  remembered  that  Mr. 
Muntz  intends  to  deal  with  the  adulteration  of  food, 
drink  and  drugs,  and  proposes  to  incorporate  in  his 
Bill  the  Adulteration  Act  of  1800,  and  those  portions 
of  the  Pharmacy  Act  of  1868  which  deal  with  the  adul¬ 
teration  of  drugs.  The  question  of  the  adulteration 
of  food  and  drink  will,  doubtless,  be  discussed  in  the 
columns  of  other  periodicals  directly  interested  in 
the  subject ;  we,  therefore,  intend  to  remark  more 
particularly  on  the  regulations  for  suppressing  the 
sophistication  of  drugs  and  the  nature  of  the  penal¬ 
ties  to  be  enforced  for  infringements  of  the  law. 

In  the  Bill  are  recognized  two  classes  of  offenders, 
namely,  those  who  wilfully  admix  or  who  cause  to 
be  admixed  any  ingredient  or  material  with  any 
drug  to  adulterate  the  same  for  sale,  and  those  who 
sell  any  drug  which  is  adulterated  or  not  pure.  The 
first  class  of  offenders  are  for  a  first  offence  liable  to 
a  penalty  not  exceeding  £50,  and  for  a  second  to  be 
imprisoned  for  not  more  than  six  months  with  hard 
labour.  The  penalty  for  a  first  offence  in  the  second 
class  is  a  fine  not  exceeding  .£20,  and  for  a  second 
offence,  in  addition  to  the  fine,  the  justices  may  cause 
the  offender’s  name,  address  and  offence  to  be  pub¬ 
lished  in  tiie  newspapers. 

The  provisions  of  this  Bill  are  certainly  not  founded 
on  simple  justice,  for  while  the  adulterator  or  seller 
of  food  or  drink  cannot  be  convicted,  unless  it  be 
proved  that  he  is  aware  of  the  adulteration,  the 
vendor  of  drugs  has  no  such  leniency  extended  to 
him,  as  in  his  case  the  onus  of  proof  that  he  had  no 
knowledge  of  the  adulteration  rests  not  with  the 
plaintiff  but  with  the  defendant.  Why  there  should 
be  tills  difference  is  not  for  us  to  say,  and  probably 
the  framers  of  the  Bill  could  not  give  a  very  satisfac¬ 
tory  reply  to  the  question,  but  we  think  no  distinc¬ 
tion  ought  to  be  made  between  such  offences,  as  they 
are  all  equally  bad,  and  consequently  deserve  a  like 
punishment. 

It  is  hoped  that  when  the  clauses  in  the  Bill  are 


discussed,  attention  will  be  drawn  to  the  fact  that  by 
far  the  greater  portion  of  the  drugs  used  in  this 
country  are  imported,  and  that  to  check  adulteration 
at  its  source,  it  is  certainly  the  duty  of  the  pro¬ 
moters  of  the  Bill  to  take  steps  to  prohibit  the  im¬ 
portation  of  all  adulterated  drugs,  and  thus  give  fa¬ 
cilities  to  those  dealing  in  drugs  to  comply  with  the 
law.  We  hope  that  this  will  be  insisted  on  by  those 
anxious  to  deal  justice  all  round,  and  it  is  the  more 
necessary  that  this  all-important  tiling  should  be 
done,  because  very  many  druggists  have  neither  the 
appliances  nor  the  skill  to  test  the  genuineness  of 
the  drugs  they  purchase.  It  will,  doubtless,  be  said 
that  the  examination  of  drugs  on  importation  would 
cause  a  great  deal  of  labour  and  much  inconvenience  ; 
we  are  aware  it  would,  but  in  America  the  machinery 
has  been  devised  for  such  a  purpose,  and,  doubtless, 
such  a  thing  could  be  performed  equally  well  in 
this  country.  However,  of  this  we  are  certain,  that 
if  adulterated  drugs  are  allowed  to  be  imported  with¬ 
out  hindrance,  and  Mr.  Muntz’s  Bill  becomes  law, 
it  will  require  only  a  few  convictions  either  to  make 
the  law  a  dead-letter,  or  to  cause  the  chemists  and 
druggists  of  the  United  Kingdom  to  take  a  proper 
view  of  their  position,  when  their  numbers  and  in¬ 
fluence  will  certainly  cause  the  legislature  to  pay 
respect  to  and  redress  their  grievances. 

We  are  by  no  means  advocates  of  adulteration, 
but  would  gladly  do  all  in  our  power  to  assist  in  its 
suppression ;  at  the  same  time  it  is  our  duty  to  point 
out  one  of  the  gravest  defects  of  the  Adulteration 
Bill  now  before  the  House  of  Commons,  and  we  are 
sure  that  if  this  defect  be  not  remedied  the  Bill  will 
in  practice  be  found  unworkable. 


PHARMACEUTICAL  LEGISLATION  IN  ILLINOIS, 

Among  the  proposals  for  legislation  affecting  the 
practice  of  pharmacy  on  the  American  continent  now 
under  discussion  is  one  that  has  been  prepared  by 
the  pharmacists  of  Chicago.  The  Board  of  Health 
of  that  city  having  made  an  attempt  to  limit  the  sale 
of  poisons  and  regulate  the  dispensing  of  medicines, 
failed  from  not  having  the  necessary  powers.  Con¬ 
sequently  the  draft  of  a  proposed  law  for  regulating, 
the  practice  of  pharmacy  and  the  sale  of  poisons  in 
the  State  of  Illinois  has  been  drawn  up,  and  is  now 
before  the  State  Legislature  for  adoption.  Its  prin¬ 
cipal  provisions  are — 

That  on  and  after  the  1st  of  August,  1871,  it  shall 
be  unlawful  for  any  but  a  registered  pharmacist  or  a 
registered  assistant  in  his  employ,  or  an  aid  or  ap¬ 
prentice  under  the  immediate  supervision  of  a  regis¬ 
tered  pharmacist  or  assistant,  to  retail,  compound 
or  dispense  medicines  or  poisons. 

The  persons  entitled  to  registration  under  the  Bill 
would  be  (1)  “  graduates  in  pharmacy,”  who  have  had 
four  years’  experience  in  a  store  where  the  prescrip¬ 
tions  of  medical  practitioners  are  compounded  and 


792 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  1,  1871. 


possess  satisfactory  credentials  of  tlieir  attainments 
from  a  regularly  incorporated  college  or  school  of 
pharmacy;  (2)  “  practising  pharmacists,”  who  at  or 
prior  to  the  passing  of  the  Act  have  kept  or  continue 
to  keep  open  stores  for  the  dispensing  of  prescriptions 
and  the  sale  of  drugs  and  medicines;  (3)  “prac¬ 
tising  assistants  in  pharmacy,”  of  not  less  than 
eighteen  years  of  age,  who  at  or  prior  to  the  passing 
•of  the  Act  shall  have  been  employed  in  the  com¬ 
pounding  of  prescriptions  of  medical  practitioners, 
and  who  shall  furnish  satisfactory  evidence  of  their 
attainments  and  competency  to  the  Board  of  Phar¬ 
macy.  Afterwards  none  are  to  be  deemed  qualified 
for  registration  under  the  Act  but  “  graduates  in 
pharmacy”  and  persons  who  have  had  four  years’ 
•experience  in  a  store  where  prescriptions  were  com¬ 
pounded,  and  shall  pass  an  examination  before  the 
Board  of  Pharmacy. 

The  Board  of  Pharmacy  is  to  consist  of  three 
pharmacists,  chosen  by  the  Governor  of  the  State 
from  twelve  gentlemen  to  be  nominated  by  the  incor¬ 
porated  colleges  of  pharmacy  in  Illinois.  This  Board 
is  to  appoint  two  examiners  in  each  town  when  ne¬ 
cessary,  for  the  purpose  of  examining  candidates  for 
registration  as  assistant  pharmacists.  Certain  fees 
are  to  be  paid,  and  any  balance  remaining  after  the 
expenses  of  carrying  out  the  Act  is  to  be  paid  in 
•equal  amounts  to  the  library  fund  of  the  colleges  of 
pharmacy  in  the  State. 

A  registrar  is  to  be  appointed,  who  is  to  prepare 
annually  a  list  of  persons  entitled  to  be  registered,  a 
copy  of  which  he  is  to  send  free  to  every  registered 
pharmacist  in  the  State.  A  registered  pharmacist, 
upon  changing  his  place  of  business,  is  to  forward  a 
notice  of  the  same,  together  with  a  fee  of  one  dollar, 
to  the  Board,  that  the  necessary  alteration  may  be 
made.  Once  a  year  every  pharmacist  is  to  notify 
whether  he  still  practises  pharmacy  at  his  registered 
place  of  business,  and  to  send  a  fee  of  one  dollar, 
that  his  name  may  be  inserted  in  the  register  for  the 
ensuing  year.  The  names  of  persons  who  do  not 
•comply  with  this  regulation,  are,  after  one  letter  of 
inquiry  from  the  Registrar,  to  be  omitted  from  the 
register. 

There  are  three  schedules  of  poisons  attached  to 
the  Act,  which  are  as  follows  : — 

Schedule  A. — Aconite  and  its  preparations ;  arsenic  and 
its  preparations  ;  corrosive  sublimate  ;  cyanide  of  potas¬ 
sium  ;  hydrocyanic  acid ;  nux  vomica  and  its  prepara¬ 
tions  ;  opium  and  its  preparations, — excepting  pareg'oric 
and  all  preparations  containing  two  grains  or  less  of 
opium  in  one  ounce  ;  strychnia  and  all  poisonous  vege¬ 
table  alkaloids  and  their  salts  ;  essential  oil  of  bitter  al¬ 
monds,  of  pennyroyal,  of  savine,  of  tansy,  and  of  rue. 

Schedule  B.  Oxalic  acid ;  sugar  of  lead  ;  sulphate  of 
zinc  ;  white  precipitate ;  red  precipitate ;  tartar  emetic. 

Schedule  C. — Belladonna  and  its  preparations  ;  cantha- 
rides  and  the  tincture ;  chloroform ;  cotton  root  and  its 
preparations  ;  croton  oil ;  digitalis  and  its  preparations  ; 
ergot  and  its  prepai’ations  ;  henbane  and  its  prepara¬ 
tions  ;  chloral  (hydrate) ;  poison  hemlock  or  conium ;  all 
mineral  acids. 


A  penalty  of  fifty  dollars  is  to  he  inflicted  upon 
unregistered  persons  keeping  open  shop  for  retailing 
or  dispensing  medicines  or  poisons,  but  provision  is 
made  that  in  rural  districts  retail  dealers  may  be 
licensed  by  the  Board  to  sell  the  usual  medicines 
and  the  poisons  included  in  Schedules  B  and  C. 
Neither  of  the  poisons  in  the  three  schedules  is  to  be 
sold  to  any  person  who  appears  unduly  excited  or 
intoxicated ;  or  to  a  child  of  less  than  twelve  years 
of  age,  or  until  inquiry  has  been  made  of  the  pur¬ 
pose  for  which  it  is  required.  Poisons  in  Schedules 
A  and  B  are  to  be  labelled  with  the  name  of  the  ar¬ 
ticle,  the  word  “poison,”  and  the  name  and  address 
of  the  seller.  Besides  this,  an  entry  is  to  be  made 
in  a  book  of  the  sale  of  poisons  in  Schedule  A,  stat¬ 
ing  the  date,  name  and  address  of  purchaser,  name 
and  quantity  of  article  and  the  purpose  for  which  it  is 
stated  to  be  required. 

The  dispensing  of  physicians’  prescriptions  is  ex¬ 
empted  from  the  provisions  relating  to  the  sale  of 
poison.  It  is,  however,  provided  that  all  prescrip¬ 
tions  shall  be  numbered  and  filed,  and  preserved  for 
at  least  five  years ;  but  a  copy  is  to  be  furnished  if 
demanded  by  the  writer  or  the  purchaser,  for  which 
no  fee  is  to  be  charged. 

Another  Bill  has  been  framed  in  Illinois,  in  refer¬ 
ence  to  the  vending  of  proprietary  medicines,  re¬ 
quiring  that  a  statement  of  the  ingredients  of  all  such 
preparations  should  be  filed  in  the  office  of  the  clerk 
of  each  county  in  which  they  are  sold.  The  Phar¬ 
macist ,  referring  to  this  Bill,  expresses  an  opinion 
that  it  would  not  be  enforced  if  passed,  and  that  it 
would  be  better  to  require  the  formula  to  be  plainly 
printed  upon  each  bottle  or  package  offered  for  sale, 
and  to  provide  a  severe  punishment  for  those  who 
do  not  prepare  their  nostrums  in  strict  accordance 
with  the  printed  formula. 


In  a  letter  to  the  Lancet,  Mr.  M.  C.  Furnell, 
F.R.C.S.,  Professor  of  Physiology  at  the  Madras 
Medical  College,  and  formerly  a  student  in  the 
Laboratory  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  has  made 
another  contribution  to  the  history  of  anaesthetics. 
He  says  that  in  1847,  he,  being  then  a  pupil  at 
St.  Bartholomew’s,  was  trying  the  effects  of  sul¬ 
phuric  ether,  when  he  was  led  by  accident  to  try 
chloric  ether,  and  found  its  effect  in  producing  in¬ 
sensibility  to  be  the  same,  wliile  it  was  free  from  the 
disagreeable  taste  of  sulphuric  ether.  At  Mr.  Jacob 
Bell’s  recommendation  he  brought  it  under  the 
notice  of  Mr.  Holmes  Coote,  who  was  then  Mr. 
Lawrence’s  assistant;  and  upon  Mr.  Furnell’s  as¬ 
surance  that  he  had  tried  it  on  himself,  and  that  it 
was  perfectly  safe,  it  was  administered  to  a  patient 
who  was  to  be  operated  on  that  very  day.  Its  suc¬ 
cess  was  so  decided  that  Mr.  Lawrence  subse¬ 
quently  administered  it  to  a  lady  who  could  not 
take  sulphuric  ether. 


April  1,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


793^ 


We  wish  to  remind  our  readers  that  the  evening 
meeting  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  for  April  will 
be  held  on  Wednesday  next.  The  papers  to  be  read 
are,  “  Alterations  in  the  Pharmacopoeia  Nomen¬ 
clature,"  by  Professor  Attfield ;  “Note  on  Vinum 
Ferri,”  by  Professor  Attfield  ;  and  “  A  Concentrated 
Form  of  Mistura  Ferri  Composita,”  by  Mr.  C.  A. 
Staples.  The  chair  will  be  taken  at  half-past  eight 
precisely. 

General  Sir  E.  Sabine  having  expressed  his  in¬ 
tention  of  resigning  the  office  of  President  of  the 
Royal  Society  at  the  next  Annual  Meeting,  the 
Council  have  selected  Mr.  George  Biddell  Airy, 
the  Astronomer- Royal,  for  nomination  to  the  office. 
Mr.  Airy  has  expressed  his  willingness  to  accept 
office. 

The  first  Report  of  the  Rojml  Commission  was 
issued  on  Wednesday.  It  recommends  the  consoli¬ 
dation  of  the  School  of  Mines  and  the  College  of 
Chemistry  as  a  Science  School,  to  be  governed  by  a 
Council  of  Professors.  It  is  proposed  that  mathe¬ 
matics  be  added  to  the  courses  of  instruction,  and 
laboratories  and  assistance  for  giving  practical  in¬ 
structions  in  physics,  chemistry  and  biology  be  pro¬ 
vided.  The  Commission  recommends  that  the 
Science  School  should  be  accommodated  in  the 
buildings,  now  nearly  completed,  at  South  Kensing¬ 
ton,  for  the  projected  School  of  Naval  Architecture 
and  Science. 

At  the  semi-centennial  meeting  of  the  Philadelphia 
College  of  Pharmacy  a  gold  watch  was  presented  to 
Mr.  Procter,  the  retiring  editor  of  the  American 
Journal  of  Pharmacy,  by  the  members,  as  a  token  of 
their  appreciation  of  the  services  rendered  by  him 
to  Pharmacy  during  his  twenty-five  years’  editorship 
of  that  Journal. 

According  to  the  Worcestershire  Chronicle,  it 
having  been  found  by  a  Board  of  Guardians  that 
the  wine  ordered  for  the  patients  did  not  reach  them, 
a  resolution  was  passed  to  mix  an  ounce  of  bark 
with  each  gallon  of  port  wine  intended  for  the 
patients,  in  the  hope  that  it  would  thus  be  rendered 
unpalatable. 

We  learn  from  our  contemporary  Nature,  that 
Mr.  Herbert  M‘Leod,  of  the  College  of  Chemistry, 
has  been  appointed  Professor  of  Chemistry  and 
Experimental  Physics  at  the  Indian  Engineering 
College. 


LIVERPOOL  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 


The  Ninth  General  Meeting  of  the  present  Session 
was  held  at  the  Royal  Institution,  on  Thursday  evening, 
March  16th ;  the  President,  Mr.  John  Abraham,  in  the 
chair. 

The  President  handed  to  the  Honorarv  Secretary  a 
Book  of  MS.  Prescriptions,  collected  and  arranged  by 


Joseph  Ince,  Esq.,  F.L.S.,  etc.,  of  London,  and  presented 
by  him  to  the  library  of  the  Liverpool  Chemists’  Asso¬ 
ciation.  He  said  the  Association  would  feel  much  in¬ 
debted  to  Mr.  Ince  for  his  valuable  present,  which  he 
trusted  students  in  pharmacy  would  take  advantage  of. 
He  also  suggested  that  it  would  be  of  service  to  em¬ 
ployers,  to  test  assistants  before  engaging  them.  The 
Council  were  desirous  that  the  members  should  have  op- 
tunity  to  avail  themselves  of  the  benefit  to  be  derived 
from  the  collection  ;  and,  in  order  to  accomplish  this, 
they  had  adopted  a  resolution,  which  he  called  upon  the 
Secretary  to  read : — • 

“  That  application  for  the  book  be  made  to  the  Libra¬ 
rian  m  writing,  that  no  Member  or  Associate  be  allowed 
to  keep  it  longer  than  three  days  without  being  liable  to 
a  fine  of  twopence  per  day.  The  written  application  ta 
be  given  up  when  the  book  is  returned.” 

The  President  also  handed  to  the  Secretary  a  copy  of 
Bentley’s  ‘Manual  of  Botany,’  2nd  edition,  1370,  which 
the  author  had  requested  him  to  present  to  the  Associa¬ 
tion. 

The  Secretary  announced  donations  of  the  New  York 
Druggists'  Circular,  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal,  etc., 
to  the  Library ;  and  a  specimen  of  fresh  nutmeg  fruit, 
with  leaves,  etc.,  to  the  Museum,  from  Mr.  Richard 
Evans. 

Unanimous  votes  of  thanks  were  accorded  to  the 
donors  for  their  valuable  contributions. 

The  paper  for  the  evening  was  read  by  Mr.  James 
Blair,  on  “  The  Chemistry  of  Calico  Printing,”  No.  I. 
The  author  very  ably  showed  the  various  processes  from 
the  first  stages,  describing  in  detail  the  chemical  compo¬ 
sition  and  combinations  of  the  aniline  salts,  etc.,  used  to- 
produce  the  various  colours. 

The  paper  wras  practically  illustrated  with  numerous 
drawings  and  photographs  of  the  machinery  employed 
specimens  of  cloth,  showing  the  various  stages  of  bleach¬ 
ing  and  printing,  from  the  raw  or  grey  cloth  to  the 
finished  pattern  of  many  colours  and  intricate  design. 

xi  short  discussion  followed,  and  upon  the  motion  of 
Mr.  Davies,  supported  by  Mr.  Garnett  and  the  Presi¬ 
dent,  a  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  to  Mr.  Blair,  for  his. 
valuable  paper. 


BRADFORD  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

At  a  General  Meeting  of  this  Society,  held  on  Friday, 
the  24th  inst. ;  Mr.  Rimmington,  President,  in  the  chair, 
the  following  resolution  was  moved  by  Mr.  Joseph 
Hicks,  seconded  by  Mr.  G.  H.  Whitehouse  and  unani¬ 
mously  adopted,  after  a  free  discussion  of  the  proposed 
regulations  for  storing  and  dispensing  of  poisons,  and 
ordered  to  bo  forwarded  to  the  Council  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society : — 

“That  this  meeting,  while  wishing  to  give  every  rea¬ 
sonable  support  to  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  in  its  efforts  to  promote  the  interests  and  the 
progress  of  pharmacy,  views  with  regret  the  decision  of 
the  Council  to  again  submit  the  regulations  for  storing 
and  dispensing  of  poisons  to  the  Annual  Meeting  in 
May,  believing  that  the  education  now  required  now  of 
all  who  enter  the  business  is  the  best  guarantee  of  safety 
to  the  public.” 

In  acknowledgment  of  the  handsome  volume  of  auto¬ 
graph  prescriptions  recently  received  from  the  parent 
Society,  the  following  resolution  was  moved  by  Mr.  J. 
Hicks,  seconded  by  Mr.  F.  Bell,  and  unanimously 
adopted : — 

“That  the  best  thanks  of  the  meeting  be  conveyed  to 
the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  for  the  pre¬ 
sentation  of  the  Book  of  Autograph  Prescriptions.” 

A  similar  resolution  to  the  last  wras  also  adopted,  and, 
ordered  to  be  forwarded  to  Mr.  Ince,  for  his  kindness  in 
compiling  the  collection. 

Mr.  H.  G.  Rogerson  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy 
in  the  Council. 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  1, 1871. 


794 


IpMimimtp  nf  Scientific  Srariics. 

CHEMICAL  SOCIETY. 

At  the  Meeting  of  this  Society  on  March  2,  a  paper  was 
read  on  “  The  Distillation  and  Boiling-point  of  Glyce¬ 
rine,’  ’  "by  Mr.  Thomas  Bolus. 

It  is  well  known  that  when  glycerine,  subjected  to  the 
ordinary  atmospheric  pressure,  is  heated  so  much  as  to 
cause  ebullition,  it  is  more  or  less  rapidly  decomposed 
hy  repeated  distillations.  This  decomposition  may  be, 
however,  entirely  prevented  by  a  reduction  of  the  pressure 
in  the  apparatus  employed  to  12-50  mm.  The  boiling- 
point  of  glycerine  was  determined  by  effecting  the  dis¬ 
tillation  in  a  long-necked  flask,  having  a  supplementary 
neck  attached  at  right  angles  to  the  principal  one.  In 
the  principal  neck,  the  thermometer  was  fixed  by  the  aid 
of  a  caoutchouc  cork,  while  the  smaller  neck  was  con¬ 
nected  in  a  similar  manner  with  a  two-necked  receiver. 
The  glycerine,  together  with  a  few  fragments  of  tobacco- 
pipe  (this  latter  being  required  to  prevent  the  bumping 
which  would  otherwise  occur),  being  placed  in  the  retort- 
flask,  the  receiver  was  connected  with  a  Sprcngel’s  mer¬ 
curial  pump  and  a  manometer,  the  caoutchouc  joints 
being  made  air-tight  with  glycerine  in  the  usual  way. 
Unless  the  glycerine  distilled  had  been  dehydrated  by 
previous  distillation  in  a  vacuum,  the  first  portion  of  the 
distillate  consisted  principally  of  water;  afterwards, 
when  the  glycerine  in  a  pure  state  came  over,  the  tem¬ 
perature  indicated  by  the  thermometer  was  179 '5°  C. 
At  (this  time  the  pressure  on  the  liquid  was  12*5  mm.,  a 
pressure  nearly  corresponding  to  the  tension  of  aqueous 
vapour-  at  the  temperature  of  the  receiver.  A  deter¬ 
mination  of  the  carbon  and  hydrogen  in  the  glycerine 
distilled  as  above  was  made ;  the  oxidant  employed  being- 
copper  oxide,  followed  by  oxygen  gas  (I.),  0-4281  grm. 
COo  and  0-3439  grm.  H20. 


Theory. 

Found. 

✓ - 

* - - ^ 

I. 

cs  .  .  . 

.  .  36 

39-1 

38-9 

Hg  . 

.  .  8 

8-7 

8-9 

Og  .  . 

.  .  48 

52-2 

92 

100-0 

Under  a  pressure  of  50  mm.,  glycerine  distils  without 
change  at  about  210°  C.  Glycerine,  dehydrated  by  dis¬ 
tillation,  absorbs  water  from  the  atmosphere  to  the  ex- 
dent  of  about  50  per  cent,  of  its  weight.  The  amount 
absorbed  is,  as  might  he  expected,  very  variable. 

On  March  16,  Mr.  C.  Houghton  Gill  read  some  notes 
■“  On  the  Examination  of  Glucose-containing  Sugars.” 
Those  engaged  in  the  examination  of  low  sugars  and 
molasses  have  frequently  had  to  complain  of  obtaining 
quite  unintelligible  results.  It  is  well  known  that  the 
solution  of  the  sugary  body  is  decolorized  and  clarified 
by  the  addition  of  basic  lead  acetate  befoi-e  submitting 
it  to  optical  examination;  hut  Mr.  Gill  finds  that  the 
power  of  invert  sugar  to  rotate  a  ray  of  polarized  light 
is  so  greatly  altered  by  the  presence  of  this  reagent,  that 
the  results  obtained  by  the  so-called  polarization  of 
syrups  containing  much  invert  sugar  are  worthless  when 
the  clarification  has  been  effected  in  the  ordinary  way. 
The  alteration  of  rotatory  power  of  pure  invert  sugar  by 
basic  lead  acetate  is  shown  by  the  following  experi¬ 
ments  : — 

15  c.c.  of  a  solution  of  invert  sugar  made  up  to  50  c.c. 
by  water,  observed  with  a  Soliel’s  saccharometer*  in 
tube  of  20,  read  -  28-25  at  24°  C. 

15  c.c.  of  a  solution  of  invert  sugar  with  water  and  2  c.c. 
of  saturated  solution  of  basic  lead  acetate,  observed 
with  a  Sohel’ s  saccharometer  in  tube  of  20,  read 
-  24-7  at  24°  C. 


The  readings  of  this  instrument  x  - — —  =  angular  de* 

grees.  100 


15  c.c.  of  a  solution  of  basic  acetate  solution  alone,  ob¬ 
served  with  a  Soliel’ s  saccharometer  in  tube  of  20, 
read  +  57  at  25°  C. 

These  results  have  been  confirmed  by  many  other 
observations. 

The  alteration  producing  this  reversal  of  rotatory 
power  takes  place  only  on  the  levulose  of  the  liquid ;  the 
dextrose  suffers  no  change  of  optical  properties. 

A  solution  of  pure  dextrose  prepared  from  invert  sugar, 
and  reading  60-3,  made  up  to  2  vols.  by  strong  solu¬ 
tion  of  basic  lead  acetate,  read  30-5. 

A  solution  of  nearly  pure  levulose  prepared  by  Dubrun- 
faut’s  method,  and  reading  — 44  at  20°  C.,  made  up 
to  2  vols.  by  solution  of  basic  lead  acetate,  read  fl-  6 
at  20°  C. 

The  alteration  of  the  rotatory  power  of  levulose  is  not 
permanent.  On  removal  of  the  lead,  or  on  acidifying 
the  liquid,  the  original  rotatory  power  is  restorod.  The 
alteration  is  not  due  to  the  alkalinity  of  the  lead  solution 
as  regards  alkalinity  alone,  for  weak  soda  or  ammonia 
produce  no  such  change  till  they  begin  to  decompose  and 
destroy  the  sugar.  It  is  probable  that  a  soluble  lead 
compound  of  levulose  possessed  of  dextro-rotatory  power 
is  formed. 

Now,  when  a  sugar  solution  containing  invert  sugar  is 
clarified  by  basic  lead  acetate,  the  invert  sugar  loses,  in 
part  or  in  whole,  its  levo-rotatory  power,  and  the  first 
direct  reading  is  too  high.  When  the  liquid  is  acidified 
and  inverted  by  heat,  the  original  invert  sugar  has  its 
true  levo-rotatory  power  restored  and  added  to  that  of 
the  invert  sugar  proceeding  from  the  cane-sugar,  thus 
producing  a  greater  “  difference”  in  the  readings  than 
that  due  to  the  cane-sugar  alone,  and  consequently  lead¬ 
ing  to  too  high  a  result. 

The  remedy  for  this  difficulty  is  to  remove  the  lead  and 
acidify  the  liquid  before  making  the  first  reading.  For 
this  purpose  Mr.  Gill  uses  a  strong  solution  of  sulphuric 
dioxide,  which  possesses  the  advantages  of  removing  the 
lead  and  bleaching  the  liquid  at  the  same  time,  while  it 
is  incapable  of  inverting  cane-sugar  in  the  cold  even  in 
twenty-four  hours.  The  decolorizing  effect  is  so  great 
that  even  the  worst  treacles  give  liquids  of  a  pale  straw 
colour  when  thus  treated,  and,  moreover,  “  inversion  ” 
can  afterwards  be  performed  without  any  fear  of  spoiling 
the  colour,  whereas  by  the  ordinary  method  the  liquid 
frequently  becomes  too  red  to  allow  of  optical  examina¬ 
tion. 

Another  error  also  arises  from  the  use  of  the  lead-salt 
as  a  clarifier  for  those  sugar  solutions  in  which  glucose 
is  to  he  estimated  by  the  use  of  Fehling’s  copper  solu¬ 
tion.  The  presence  of  lead  here  leads  to  a  result  much 
too  low,  since  it  also  becomes  partly  reduced,  and  thereby 
necessitates  the  use  of  a  greater  volume  of  the  saccha¬ 
rine  solution  which  is  called  on  to  reduce  lead  as  well  as 
the  known  amount  of  copper.  Sulphuric  dioxide  serves 
to  remove  the  load,  while  excess  of  the  reagent  exerts  no 
other  action  on  the  copper  solution  than  that  of  facilita¬ 
ting  the  subsidence  of  the  cuprous  oxide. 

As  illustrating  the  extent  of  the  error  which  may  he 
introduced  by  the  presence  of  lead,  tho  following  experi¬ 
ment,  selected  from  many  others,  may  be  taken  (solu¬ 
tions  of  invert  sugar  of  the  same  strength  used  in  each 
case) : — 

Volume  required  to  precipitate  cuprous  oxide  from  10 
c.c.  of  Fehling’s  liquid — 

(19  Free  from  foreign  bodies,  10  c.c. 

(2.)  Containing  10  per  cent,  of  its  volume  of  solution  of 
basic  lead  acetate,  17  c.c. 


PHILADELPHIA  COLLEGE  OF  PHARMACY. 

At  the  Meeting  held  January  17th,  Dr.  Pile  continued 
his  problems  on  alcoholic  menstrua,  for  ascertaining 
the  strength  of  and  preparing  alcohols  of  different  per¬ 
centage  from  a  definite  strength  alcohol. 

1.  To  reduce  alcohol  to  any  desired  strength. 


April  1, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


795 


2.  To  make  a  definite  quantity  of  any  desired  strength 
from  a  stronger  alcohol. 

3.  To  make  a  mixture  of  any  desired  strength  by 
mixing  a  stronger  and  a  weaker  alcohol. 

4.  To  make  a  definite  quantity  of  any  desired  strength 
by  mixing  a  stronger  and  weaker  alcohol. 

Answer  to  Problem  1. — Multiply  the  quantity  of  the  al¬ 
cohol  (either  in  fluid  ounces  or  in  gallons)  by. its  per¬ 
centage  strength  (Tralle’s  alcoholometer)  and  divide  by 
the  required  per  cent. :  the  quotient  gives  the  quantity 
to  which  the  alcohol  must  he  diluted. 

Answer  to  Problem  2. — Multiply  the  required  amount 
by  the  required  per  cent.,  and  divide  by  the  per  cent,  of 
the  given  alcohol ;  the  quotient  gives  the  quantity  to 
which  the  alcohol  must  be  made  up  by  the  addition  of 
water. 

Answer  to  Problem  3.— Subtract  the  percentage  of  the 
weaker  alcohol  from  the  required  per  cent.,  the  difference 
indicates  the  quantity  of  the  stronger  alcohol  to  be  used. 
Next,  subtract  the  required  per  cent,  from  that  of  the 
stronger  alcohol :  the  result  indicates  the  quantity  of  the 
weaker  alcohol  to  be  used.  Mix  the  two  results  to¬ 
gether,  and  as  the  contraction  will  be  more  or  less,  add 
.sufficient  water  to  make  the  mixture  equal  to  the  quan¬ 
tity  of  the  two  liquids  before  mixing.  For  example,  it 
is  desired  to  prepare  an  alcohol  of  60  per  cent,  by  mixing 
an  alcohol  of  90  per  cent,  and  one  of  40  per  cent. 

(  40  =  20  of  the  90  per  cent,  alcohol. 

60  I  90  = 


55 


55 


.  =30  „  40 

Add  water  sufficient  to  make  50  parts. 

Answer  to  Problem  4.— Ascertain  the  quantity  of  each 
•alcohol  to  be  mixed  (by  Prob.  3).  The  proportion  which 
the  required  amount  bears  to  the  quantity  thus  shown 
will  indicate  the  relative  proportion  of  each  alcohol  to  be 
used.  Thus,  if  30  parts  were  required  to  be  made  from 
the  two  liquids  given  in  the  previous  example,  as  30  is 
to  3-5ths  of  the  mixture,  then  3-5ths  of  each  alcohol 
must  be  taken,  or  12  parts  of  the  90  per  cent,  alcohol 
and  18  parts  of  the  40  per  cent,  alcohol,  adding  sufficient 
water  to  make  30  parts. 

These  rules  comprise  most  cases  which  are  likely  to 
occur  in  preparing  solutions  of  alcohol  in  water,  and  are 
interesting  problems  in  pharmaceutical  arithmetic. 

Dr.  Pile  described  a  package  of  saffron  coming  under 
his  notice  in  which  covering  nearly  half  an  inch  of  the 
on  tire  surface  was  a  mass  of  small  worms  ;  in  the  centre 
was  a  mass  (about  a  quarter  of  the  whole)  of  small 
specks,  which  proved  upon  examination  to  be  excrement 
of  the  worms. 

Professor  Maiscii  spoke  of  a  sample  of  adulterated 
saffron  with  about  10  per  cent,  of  carbonate  of  lime  fixed 
to  the  saffron  with  some  saccharine  matter.  A  sample 
was  also  observed  in  Switzerland  containing  3  or  4  per 
cent,  of  the  same  adulteration.  Mr.  Hanbury,  °f  London, 
about  the  same  time  examined  a  specimen  containing  15 
■or  16  per  cent,  of  the  same  material  fixed  to  the  stigmas. 
These  specimens  had  no  suspicious  appearance  until 
placed  under  the  lens  of  an  ordinary  magnifying  glass, 
when  the  fraud  was  easily  detected.  By  throwing  the 
suspected  samples  into  water,  the  carbonate  of  lime  will 
fall  to  the  bottom  of  the  vessel,  while  the  saffron  will 
float.  Prof.  Maisch  also  spoke  of  a  sample,  of  frequent 
adulteration, — carthamus  and  calendula  having  been 
dyed  with  a  solution  of  true  saffron.  This  sample  also 
contained  a  large  quantity  of  the  styles  of  crocus. 

Mr.  M‘Boring  spoke  of  the  difficulty  of  filtering  a 
tincture  of  senega  after  having  been  evaporated  prepa¬ 
ratory  to  making  compound  syrup  of  squill,  owing  to 
the  large  quantity  of  pectin  contained  in  the  senega. 
The  question  was  asked,  whether  bicarbonate  of  potash 
interfered  with  the  tartar  emetic. 

Prof.  Maisch  replied  that  he  did  not  think  there  was 
any  change  in  tartar  emetic,  the  bicarbonate  only  neu¬ 
tralizing  any  excess  of  acid  that  may  exist  in  the  prepa¬ 
ration. 

Dr.  Pile  inquired  for  a  practical  test  for  glycerine, 


one  that  may  be  employed  without  delay  and  with 
little  preparation,  one  to  be  proof  against  the  ordinary 
and  most  common  adulterations. 

Mr.  Remington,  who  has  been  making  some  experi¬ 
ments  in  this  direction,  gave  as  his  experience,  after  the 
examination  of  several  (eight  or  ten)  specimens  of  the 
most  prominent  makers,  that  a  glycerine  which  is  not 
discoloured  by  nitrate  of  silver  in  solution  was  generally 
pure  ;  the  nitrate  will  in  five  minutes  show  a  discolori- 
zation  should  impurity  exist.  He  considers  that  sul¬ 
phuric  acid  is  not  thoroughly  reliable  ;  there  is  a  possi- 
liility  that  the  bottle  in  which  it  is  kept  contained  straw, 
cork,  or  some  organic  matter,  upon  which  the  acid  would 
immediately  act,  and  possibly  condemn  a  pure  glycerine 
in  this  way.  Trommer’s  test  may  also  be  applied  to 
glycerine,  and  is  entirely  reliable  in  determining  the  pre¬ 
sence  of  sugar. 

Mr.  Shoemaker  produced  a  circular  on  “  iEtherlidon 
Chloral,”  used  in  Berlin  as  a  substitute  for  chloroform, 
without  unpleasant  result. 

Prof.  Maisch  gave  the  results  of  his  experiments  with 
hydrate  of  chloral  of  different  makes  generally  known 
as  German.  The  experiments  were  made  with  a  view 
to  overcome,  if  possible,  the  disagreeable  pungency  found 
on  opening  almost  every  vial  of  this  salt.  The  pun¬ 
gency  is  probably  due  to  an  excess  of  hydrochloric  acid. 
Attempts  were  made  to  neutralize  this  with  carbonate  of 
ammonia.  This  seemed  to  overcome  the  unpleasantness 
for  a  short  time ;  when,  however,  the  bottle  was  again 
unstoppered  the  hydrate  chloral  possessed  the  same 
qualities. 

A  sample  of  crystallized  hydrate  of  chloral  was  ex¬ 
hibited.  This  preparation  is  more  permanent  and  may 
be  crystallized  from  bisulphide  of  carbon.  The  chloral 
fuses  by  heating  the  bisulphide  to  about  60°  or  65°.  On 
cooling,  the  entire  solution  is  filled  with  crystals.  The 
following  process  was  detailed: — Take  a  half-gallon  re¬ 
tort,  with  capacious  neck ;  into  this  place  1  lb.  bisulphide 
of  carbon  and  5  oz.  of  commercial  hydrate  of  chloral  ; 
stop  the  neck  of  retort  with  a  small  piece  of  cotton,  to 
prevent  waste  of  bisulphide ;  place  the  bulb  of  retort  in 
hot  water ;  the  chloral  will  first  fuse ;  agitate  the  retort 
until  entirely  dissolved ;  set  aside  to  crystallize ;  by 
keeping  the  neck  of  retort  cool  during  process  the  vapour 
of  the  bisulphide  when  condensed  will  flow  back  into 
retort ;  by  careful  use  the  bisulphide  will  serve  for  seve¬ 
ral  operations.  Allow  the  crystalline  mass  to  remain 
several  hours  in  retort,  when,  with  a  glass  rod,  the 
crystals  can  be  removed,  dried,  and  are  ready  for  use. 
The  solution  drawn  off  still  contains  chloral,  which  will 
in  time  crystallize.  The  crystals  are  long,  needle-shaped, 
sometimes  reaching  2  or  3  inches  in  length.  In  this 
form  chloral  is  possessed  of  little  or  no  pungency,  and 
is  far  preferable  for  dispensing  purposes. .  By  placing 
aqua  ammonite  near  chloral  as  met  with  in  commerce, 
dense  white  clouds  arc  formed,  indicative  of  hydrochloric 
acid.  _ _ 

At  the  Meeting  held  February  21st,  1871,  a  communi¬ 
cation  from  Mr.  Charles  Bullock  was  read,  as  fol¬ 
lows  : — 

A  disaster,  occasioned  by  the  breaking  oi  large 
show-bottles  from  freezing,  during  the  late  cold  weather, 
led  to  experiments  to  determine  the  congealing-point 
of  mixtures  of  glycerine  with  water,  with  results  as  follows. 
Common  glycerine,  sp.  gr.  1*250=29°  B.,  was  used  : 

i  pint  glycerine  in  1  gall,  of  water  congeals  at  .  30^  I. 
i  l  . .  •  24  F . 

”  ”  i  „  .  18°  F. 

b  ”  ”  !  ”  ”  .  10°  F. 

3  ^  ^  l  „  remains  fluid  at  o  l . 

Prof.  Maisch  spoke  of  a  combination  of  oil  of  winter- 
green  and  sesquichloride  of  iron  as  forming  a  very  beau¬ 
tiful  colouring  material  for  show-bottles.  Prot.  1  rooter 
thought  this  combination  was  not  permanent  enough,  as 
it  soon  lost  its  brilliancy  by  exposure  to  the  sunlight. 


796 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  1,  1871. 


Prof.  Procter  mentioned  an  article,  by  Mr.  Wharton, 
of  Nashville,  Tenn.,  recommending  the  use  of  carbonate 
of  magnesia  in  making  syrup  of  senega  and  comp,  syrup 
of  squills.  The  magnesia  is  used  similarly  to  the  pro¬ 
cess  for  the  officinal  waters,  and  is  said  to  entirely  over¬ 
come  the  objectional  cloudiness  generally  found  in  this 
preparation,  forming,  probably,  a  pectate  of  magnesia. 

Mr.  England  said  he  had  no  difficulty  in  making  a 
clear  preparation,  by  percolating  the  senega  with  diluted 
alcohol  first,  then  using  water,  evaporating  the  watery 
solution,  mixing  with  the  tincture  first  obtained,  boiling, 
evaporating  and  allowing  to  settle,  filtering  and  adding 
the  sugar. 

Mr.  M‘ Intyre  had  used  glycerine  and  carbonate  of 
magnesia ;  the  glycerine  to  prevent  the  extract  formed 
by  evaporating  from  becoming  too  hard  and  unmanage¬ 
able.  This  preparation  was  pronounced  to  be  very  satis¬ 
factory. 

Prof.  Procter  spoke  of  the  original  formulae  for  comp, 
syrup  of  squills,  as  invented  by  Dr.  Cox,  which  consisted 
of  a  watery  extract  evaporated  to  syrupy  consistence 
and  combined  with  honey. 

Mr.  Gailard  had  used  with  success  carbonate  of  mag¬ 
nesia  in  the  preparation  of  tinct.  nux  vomica,  which  ob¬ 
viates  any  cloudiness  from  fixed  oil. 

Prof.  Maisch  made  some  further  remarks  upon  the 
crystallization  of  chloral  hydrate  from  bisulphide  of  car¬ 
bon.  Not  being  able  to  entirely  free  the  crystals  from 
the  unpleasant  taste  and  smell  of  the  solvent,  alcohol 
was  experimented  with.  One  half-pint  was  used,  and  dis¬ 
solved  17|  ounces  of  chloral  as  fast  as  it  was  added,  the 
mixture  measuring  18  fluid  ounces.  Prof.  Maisch  could 
not  report  finally  on  this  process  until  the  next  meeting. 
Chloral,  does  not  evaporate  as  fast  as  is  generally  sup¬ 
posed. 

Mr.  Shinn  exhibited  two  lemons  which  had  been 
wrapped  in  tinfoil  since  November.  On  examination 
one  of  them  had  undergone  partial  decomposition,  while 
the  other  remained  fresh,  having  the  characteristic 
odour.  They  could  be  bought  when  plentiful  at  15  c.  a 
dozen,  and  kept  in  this  way  for  a  great  length  of  time.* 

Prof.  Maisch  exhibited  some  seeds  of  strychnos,  with 
structure  similar  to  that  of  nux  vomica,  which  came  as 
ballast  from  the  East  Indies,  and  were  bought  by  a 
New  York  drug  house.  It  was  supposed  to  be  from 
the  Strychnos  Tiente  ;  the  fruit  of  which  was  about  the 
size  of  a  cherry,  having  six  large  seeds.  No  experiments 
were  made  towards  obtaining  strychnia  from  this  species. 

Mr.  England  suggested  a  plan  for  preparing  fluid 
extract  of  vanilla,  by  using  powdered  quartz  in  connec¬ 
tion  with  sugar.  This  was  thrown  into  a  bottle  closely 
corked  and  boiled.  By  this  means  the  aroma  of  the 
vanilla  is  retained,  and  the  bean  entirely  exhausted. 

Prof.  Procter  spoke  of  purifying  residuary  alcohol, 
and  the  difficulty  in  overcoming  the  odour  of  some  sub¬ 
stances — buchu,  or  cubebs,  for  instance.  He  mixed  al¬ 
cohol  recovered  from  many  different  preparations,  added 
20  grs.  permanganate  of  potash  per  gallon  in  *ij  of 
water,  and  after  a  day’s  contact  distilled ;  he  could  not 
destroy  odour  of  buchu. 

Prof.  Maisch  exhibited  a  specimen  of  cherry  grown  as 
an  ornamental  tree  in  some  Southern  cities,  but  native  of 
West  Indian  Islands  and  Panama.  This  plant  has  a 
very  strong  odour  of  hydrocyanic  acid.  The  leaves  have 
the  margin  entire,  which  was  rare  in  the  cherry  family. 
He  said  it  was  the  Prumis  or  Cerasus  occidentalism  It 
could  be  used  in  making  cherry-laurel  water,  and  for 
preparing  an  oil  similar  to  oil  of  sweet  almonds,  which 
is  almost  entirely  derived  from  peach  kernels. 

Some  remarks  were  made  on  a  recent  law-suit  con¬ 
cerning  a  lot  of  adulterated  assafoetida,  which  was  pur¬ 
chased  by  a  wholesale  house.  Upon  being  examined  it 
was  found  to  be  largely  adulterated  with  gypsum.  From 
this  fact  the  parties  refused  to  take  it.  The  law  was  re¬ 


*  This  is  E.  Baudriment’s  method;  see  ante,  p.  4. 


sorted  to,  and  after  a  thorough  examination  it  was  found 
to  contain  in  some  specimens  as  high  as  60  per  cent,  of 
sulphate  of  lime ;  the  case  containing  the  best  article, 
when  examined,  proved  to  be  composed  of  27  per  cent- 
of  the  same  material.  The  case  was  decided  for  the  de¬ 
fendants,  the  jury  pronouncing  the  assafoetida  unmer¬ 
chantable. 

Prof.  Maisch  exhibited  a  specimen  of  Tampico  jalap, 
which  comes  into  this  market  very  rarely, — then  only  as 
a  materia  medica  specimen. 

Mr.  England  recommended  the  use  of  butter  in 
making  citrine  ointment,  being  careful  to  free  the  butter 
from  salt. 


MEETINGS  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 


Monday  . Medical  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

April  3.  London  Institution,  at  4  p.m. — “On  Astro¬ 

nomy.”  By  Mr.  R.  Proctor. 

Wednesday  ...Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Great  Britain,  at 
April  5.  8.30  p  m. — “Alterations  in  Pharmacopoeia 


Nomenclature  necessitated  by  the  Advance¬ 
ment  of  Chemistry.”  By  Prof.  Attpield. 
— “Note  on  Yinum  Eerri.”  By  Prof. 
Attfield. — “  A  Concentrated  Form  of  Mis- 
tura  Ferri  Composita.”  By  Mr.  C.  A. 
Staples. 

Thursday . Linnean  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

April  6.  Chemical  Society, at  8  p.m. — “'On  c  Burnt  Iron’ 

and  c  Burnt  Steel.’  ”  By  W.  Mattieu  Wil¬ 
liams. — “  On  the  Formation  of  Sulplio- 
acids.”  By  H.  E.  Armstrong. 

London  Institution,  at  7.30  p.m. — “  Economic 
Botany.”  By  Professor  Bentley. 
Saturday  ...Loyal  Botanic  Society,  at  3.45  p.m. 


fsdramcntonr  tuvh  fate  f raraMittp. 


A  BILL  TO  ESTABLISH  THE  METRIC  SYSTEM 
OF  WEIGHTS  AND  MEASURES. 

Whereas  it  is  desirable  that  the  weights  and  measures 
of  the  United  Kingdom  should  be  decimalized,  and  made 
to  correspond  with  those  of  other  countries. 

And  whereas  the  use  of  metric  weights  and  measures 
is  now  legal,  but  no  provision  has  been  made  for  pro¬ 
curing  the  standards  of  said  metric  weights  and  measures,, 
and  for  verifying  and  stamping  those  in  use  under  the- 
said  Act. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Queen’s  most  excellent  Majesty, 
by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Lords  Spiritual 
and  Temporal,  and  Commons  in  this  present  Parlia¬ 
ment  assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  as 
follows 

1 .  From  and  after  the  expiration  of  -  years  after 

the  passing  of  this  Act,  the  length  of  the  metre  to  be 
prepared  under  the  authority  of  the  Privy  Council  for 
Trade,  verified  by  comparison  with  the  original  standard 
in  Paris,  having  the  words  and  figures  “  Standard  Metre, 
1871,”  engraved  upon  it,  and  kept  in  the  custody  of  the 
Warden  of  the  Standards,  shall  be  and  is  hereby  declared 
to  be  the  unit  or  only  standard  measure  of  lineal  exten¬ 
sion,  wherefrom  or  whereby  all  other  measures  of  ex¬ 
tension  whatsoever,  whether  the  same  be  lineal,  super¬ 
ficial  or  of  capacity,  shall  be  derived,  computed  and  as¬ 
certained,  and  all  such  measures  shall  be  taken  in  decimal 
multiples  or  decimal  parts  of  their  respective  units. 

2.  The  unit  of  the  measure  of  surface  shall  be  the 
square  of  ten  metres,  which  shall  be  and  is  hereby  deno¬ 
minated  the  “  are.” 

3.  The  unit  of  the  measure  of  capacity,  as  well  tor 
liquids  as  for  dry  goods,  shall  be  the  cube  of  a  tenth  of 
the  metre,  and  the  same  shall  be  and  is  hereby  denomi¬ 
nated  the  “litre.” 

4.  The  unit  of  weight  shall  be  and  is  hereby  denomi¬ 
nated  the  “gram.”  A  thousand  grams  shall  be  and  is 
hereby  denominated  the  “  kilogram.”  A  standard  of  the 

V  O 


April  1,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


797 


kilogram  shall  be  prepared  under  the  authority  of  the 
Privy  Council  for  Trade,  verified  by  comparison  with 
the  original  standards  in  Paris,  and  have  the  words 
“Standard  Kilogram,  1871,”  engraved  upon  it,  and  the 
same  shall  be  kept  in  the  custody  of  the  Warden  of  the 
Standards. 

5.  For  the  more  convenient  use  of  metric  weights  and 
measures,  it  shall  he  lawful  to  take  the  double  and  the 
half  of  all  the  said  units,  and  their  decimal  multiples  and 
•decimal  parts. 

6.  The  said  weights  and  measures  hereby  established 
shall  he  and  are  hereby  denominated  the  standard  metric 
weights  and  measures,  as  shown  in  the  table  hereto  an¬ 
nexed. 

7.  Copies  and  models  of  the  same  standard  metre  and 
kilogram  shall  he  sent  to  the  Lords  Mayors  of  London 
and  Dublin,  to  the  Lord  Provost  of  Edinburgh,  and  to 
all  counties,  shires,  stewartries,  ridings,  divisions,  cities, 
towns,  liberties  and  places  in  which  by  law  copies  and 
models  of  the  standard  imperial  weights  and  measures 
are  required  to  be  kept,  and  to  such  other  places  and 
persons  as  the  President  of  the  Committee  of  the  Privy 
Council  for  Trade  may  from  time  to  time  direct. 

8.  All  judges,  magistrates  and  other  person  or  persons 
who  now  are  or  shall  hereafter  he  authorized  by  law  to 
order  or  provide  copies  of  the  present  imperial  standard 
weights  and  measures  shall  at  all  times  hereafter  have 
like  power  and  authority  in  every  respect  to  order  or 
provide  copies  of  the  standard  metric  weights  and  mea¬ 
sures,  and  to  charge  the  expenses  thereof  upon  the  fund 
or  funds,  money  or  moneys,  that  would  have  been  liable 
in  case  it  had  been  copies  of  imperial  weights  and  mea¬ 
sures  that  had  been  ordered  or  provided. 

9.  All  and  every  the  provisions  and  provision  which 
are  by  law  in  force  with  respect  to  the  inspection,  verifi¬ 
cation,  reverification,  stamping,  counterfeiting  and  modes 
of  conviction,  with  the  penalty  or  penalties  relating 
thereto,  of  the  present  imperial  standard  weights  and 
measures,  shall  apply  to  and  be  in  force  with  regard  to 
the  standard  metric  weights  and  measures  in  every  re¬ 
spect  as  if  the  said  standard  metric  weights  and  measures 
were  comprised  in  and  designated  by  the  imperial  weights 
and  measures  in  the  Acts  relating  to  such  inspection, 
verification,  reverification,  stamping,  counterfeiting  and 
modes  of  conviction,  and  the  penalty  or  penalties  re¬ 
lating  thereto  as  aforesaid. 

10.  From  and  after  the  expiration  of - years  from 

the  passing  of  this  Act,  the  imperial  and  all  local  or 
•customary  weights  and  measures  shall  be  abolished,  and 
every  person  who  shall  sell  by  any  denomination  of 
weights  and  measures  other  than  those  of  the  standard 
metric  weights  and  measures,  or  such  decimal  multiples 
or  decimal  parts  thereof  as  are  authorized  by  this  Act, 
shall,  on  conviction,  be  liable  to  a  penalty  not  exceeding 
the  sum  of  40a-.  for  every  such  sale. 

11.  F  'rom  and  after  the  expiration  of -  years  after 

the  passing  of  this  Act,  if  any  person  or  persons  shall 
print,  or  if  the  clerk  of  any  market  or  other  person  shall 
make  any  return,  price  list,  price  current,  or  any  journal 
or  other  paper  containing  price  list  or  price  current  in 
which  the  denomination  of  weights  and  measures  quoted 
or  referred  to  shall  denote  or  imply  a  greater  or  less 
weight  or  measure  than  is  denoted  or  implied  by  the 
same  denomination  of  the  metric  weights  and  measures 
under  and  according  to  the  provisions  of  this  Act,  such 
person  or  persons  or  clerk  of  the  market  shall  forfeit  and 
pay  any  sum  not  exceeding  10s.  for  every  copy  of  every 
such  return,  price  list,  price  current,  journal,  or  other 
paper  which  he  or  they  shall  publish. 

12.  As  soon  as  conveniently  may  be  after  the  passing 
of  this  Act,  accurate  tables  shall  be  prepared  and  pub¬ 
lished,  under  the  authority  of  the  Committee  of  Privy 
Council  for  Trade,  showing  the  proportions  between  the 
imperial  weights  and  measures  hei’etofore  in  use  and  the 
standard  metric  weights  and  measures  hereby  esta¬ 
blished,  with  such  other  conversions  of  weights  and 


measures  as  the  said  Committee  of  the  Privy  Council  for 
Trade  may  deem  necessary,  and  after  the  publication  of 
such  tables  all  future  payments  to  be  made  shall  be  re¬ 
gulated  according  to  such  tables. 

13.  And  whereas  the  weights  and  measures  by  which 
the  rates  and.  duties  of  the  customs  and  excise  and  other 
her  Majesty’s  revenue  have  been  heretofore  collected  are 
different  from  the  metric  weights  and  measures  directed 
by  this  Act  to  be  used :  It  is  hereby  enacted,  that  so 
soon  as  conveniently  may  be  after  the  passing  of  this 
Act,  accurate  tables  shail  be  prepared  and  published 
under  the  direction  of  the  said  Committee  of  the  Privy 
Council  for  Trade,  in  order  that  the  several  rates  and 
duties  of  customs  and  excise  and  other  her  Majesty’s 
revenue  may  be  adjusted  and  made  payable  according  to 
the  respective  quantities  of  the  standard  metric  weights 
and  measures  directed  by  this  Act  to  be  used,  and  "that 

on  the  expiration  of  -  years  after  the  passing  of 

this  Act  the  several  rates  and*  duties  thereafter  to  be  col¬ 
lected  by  any  of  the  officers  of  her  Majesty’s  customs  or 
excise  or  other  her  Majesty’s  revenues  shall  be  collected 
and  taken  according  to  the  calculations  in  the  tables  to 
be  prepared  as  aforesaid. 

14.  From  and  after  the  passing  of  this  Act,  and  until 
the  use  of  the  metric  weights  and  measures  shall  be 
made  compulsory,  the  said  metric  weights  and  measures 
shall  be  deemed  and  taken  to  be  legal  weights  and  mea¬ 
sures,  and  as  such  may  be  used  for  all  purposes  whatso¬ 
ever. 

15.  As  soon  as  conveniently  may  be  after  the  passing 
of  this  Act,  the  metric  standards  to  be  provided  under 
this  Act  shall  be  placed  in  the  custody  of  the  Warden  of 
the  Standards,  and  the  Committee  of  the  Privy  Council 
for  Trade  shall  cause  the  metric  weights  and  measures 
in  use  under  the  present  Act  to  be  verified  and  stamped 
in  the  same  manner  as  the  imperial  weights  and  mea¬ 
sures  are  now  required  to  be. 

16.  From  and  after  the  passing  of  this  Act  the  “  Me¬ 
tric  Weights  and  Measures  Act,  1864,”  shall  be  and  is 
hereby  repealed. 

Table  of  Standard  Metric  Weights  and  Measures. 

Measures  of  Length. 


Systematic  Names. 

Metres. 

Value. 

Myriametre  . 

# 

10,000 

Ten  thousand  metres. 

Kilometre 

1,000 

One  thousand  metres. 

Hectometre  . 

100 

One  hundred  metres. 

Dekametre  . 

10 

Ten  metres. 

Metre  .  .  . 

• 

1 

Unit  of  measure  of 
length. 

Decimetre  . 

# 

•1 

The  tenth  of  a  metre. 

Centimetre  . 

• 

•01 

The  hundredth  of  a 
metre. 

Millimetre  . 

*001  The  thousandth  of  a 
metre. 

Measure  of  Surface. 

Square  Metres. 

Hectare  .  . 

• 

10,000 

One  hundred  ares,  ten 
thousand  square 

metres. 

Are  .  .  . 

• 

100 

Unit  of  measure  of  sur¬ 
face. 

Centiare  . 

• 

1  One  hundredth  of  th'e 

are. 

Measure  of  Capacity. 

Cubic  Decimetres. 

Kilolitre  .  . 

# 

1,000 

One  thousand  litres. 

Hectolitre 

100 

One  hundred  litres. 

Dekalitre 

10 

Ten  litres. 

Litre  .  . 

• 

1 

Unit  of  measure  of 
capacity. 

Decilitre  .  . 

•1 

The  tenth  of  a  litre. 

Centilitre 

• 

•01 

The  hundredth  of  a 
litre. 

798 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  1, 187  L 


Measure  of  Weight. 


Millier  or  ton  . 

Grams. 

1,000,000 

One  thousand  kilo¬ 

Quintal  .  .  . 

100,000 

grams,  the  weight  of 
the  cubic  metre  of 
water  and  of  the  ton. 
One  hundred  kilo¬ 

Myriagram  .  . 

10,000 

grams. 

Ten  kilograms. 

Kilogram  .  . 

1,000 

One  thousand  grams. 

Hectogram  .  . 

100 

One  hundred  grams. 

Dekagram  .  . 

10 

Ten  grams. 

Gram  .... 

1 

Unit  of  weight. 

Decigram  .  . 

•1 

The  tenth  of  a  gram. 

Centigram  .  . 

•01 

The  hundredth  of  a 

Milligram  . 

•001 

gram. 

The  thousandth  of  a 

gram. 


Adulterated  Tea. 

At  the  Shropshire  Quarter  Sessions,  the  report  pre¬ 
sented  by  the  analyst  committee  stated  that  a  number  of 
samples  of  tea,  etc.  had  been  submitted  to  Dr.  Johnson 
and  Mr.  Blunt  for  analysis.  The  former  reported  that 
he  had  analysed  fifteen  samples  of  tea  and  seven  of 
flour;  and  the  latter  twelve  samples  of  tea.  In  four 
samples  of  tea  a  few  grains  of  iron  were  detected  by  the 
use  of  the  magnet,  hut  in  such  insignificant  quantities 
as  not  to  call  for  proceedings  against  the  vendors.  The 
remaining  samples  of  tea  were  of  a  fair  average  charac¬ 
ter.  In  seven  samples  of  flour  which  had  been  analysed 
no  adulteration  was  found. — Grocer. 


Death  prom  ax  Overdose  of  Laudanum. 

At  Salford,  an  inquest  has  been  held  upon  a  child 
seventeen  days  old.  On  Sunday  the  child  became  un¬ 
well,  and  continued  so  until  the  next  day,  when  its 
mother  administered  three  drops  of  laudanum.  For  a 
time  it  appeared  benefited,  but  subsequently  relapsed, 
and  died  the  same  night.  Verdict,  “  Died  from  the 
effects  of  an  overdose  of  opium.” — Medical  Times. 


Deaths  from  Overdose  of  Chloral  Hydrate. 

An  adjourned  inquest  was  held  last  week  to  inquire 
into  the  death  of  Mr.  Raphael  Mendola,  surgeon,  of  Vic¬ 
toria  Park.  After  hearing  the  evidence  of  Dr.  Letheby, 
who  had  analysed  the  contents  of  the  stomach,  the  jury 
returned  a  verdict  “  That  death  had  resulted  from  a  dose 
of  chloral,  but  that  there  was  no  evidence  to  show  under 
what  circumstances -it  was  taken.” 

Shortly  after  the  inquest,  a  letter  was  addressed  to 
the  newspapers  by  the  solicitors  to  the  deceased  gentle¬ 
man’s  family,  stating  that  they  had  discovered  that  Air. 
Mendola  had  recently  purchased  an  ounce  of  chloral 
hydrate  from  the  wholesale  druggists  with  whom  he 
generally  dealt,  stating  that  he  intended  to  use  it  to 
relieve  paroxysms  of  pain  from  which  he  occasionally 
suffered.  It  appeared  from  the  post-mortem  examination 
that  the  deceased  was  suffering  from  fatty  degeneration 
of  the  heart. 


Another  inquest  was  held  on  Monday,  at  the  Middlesex 
Hospital,  upon  the  body  of  Mr.  Edwin  Charles  Small- 
man,  M.R.C.S.  For  some  time  past  deceased  had  been 
in  the  habit  of  taking  morphia  to  induce  sleep.  On 
Friday  morning  he  was  discovered  dead  in  his  bed.  By 
the  bedside  was  a  bottle  which  had  contained  chloral 
hydrate.  The  post-mortem  examination  showed  that  the 
deceased  had  been  in  a  very  bad  state  of  health,  and 
that  his  death  resulted  from  an  overdose  of  chloral, 
taken  while  in  a  state  of  great  weakness,  probably  for 
the  purpose  of  obtaining  sleep,  and  relieving  pain.  '  The 
jury  returned  a  verdict  of  “Death  from  natural  causes.” 


Suicide  by  Oxalic  Acid. 

On  Friday,  March  24th,  an  inquest  was  hold  on  the- 
body  of  John  Lovelace.  It  appeared  that  the  deceased 
had  been  taken  into  custody  on  a  charge  of  attempting 
to  murder  his  wife.  When  apprehended,  a  paper  and. 
white  powder  were  noticed  lying  on  the  floor.  Soon  after 
being  taken  to  the  station  he  began  to  vomit.  A  doctor 
was  sent  for,  but  before  he  arrived  the  man  was  dead. 

Professor  Attfield  said  that  he  had  made  an  examina¬ 
tion  of  the  contents  of  the  stomach,  and  that  there  was 
enough  oxalic  acid  in  the  stomach  to  account  for  death. 

The  son  of  the  deceased  said  his  father  was  a  shoe¬ 
maker,  and  used  oxalic  acid  in  his  business. 

The  jury  returned  a  verdict  of  “Suicide  while  in  an 
unsound  state  of  mind.” — Times. 


Standards  of  Weights  and  Measures. 

( From  the  London  Gazette ,  March  28,  1871.) 

The  following  imperial  measures  of  capacity,  which 
have  been  constructed  and  duly  verified  and  authenti¬ 
cated  in  the  Standards  Department  of  the  Board  of  Trade, 
and  their  capacity  accurately  determined  in  relation  to 
the  imperial  standard  measure  of  capacity  established 
under  the  provisions  of  section  6  of  the  Act  5  George  IV 
cap.  74,  have  been  declared  to  be  legal  secondary  stan¬ 
dards  of  capacity,  in  pursuance  of  sections  6  and  8  of  the 
Standards  of  Weights,  Measures,  and  Coinage  Act,  1866> 
viz. : — 

Imperial  Standard  Measures  of  Capacity. 

Liquid  Measure. — The  quarter-gill,  equal  to  l-128tb 
gallon. 

Bottle  Measures. — The  bottle,  equal  to  l-6th  gallon ; 
the  half-bottle,  equal  to  1-1 2th  gallon. 

Fluid  Ounce  Measures. — Measures  containing  respec¬ 
tively  the  following  weight  of  distilled  water,  at  the  tem¬ 
perature  of  62  deg.  Fahrenheit’s  thermometer,  weighed 
in  air  at  the  temperature  of  62  deg.  of  Fahrenheit’s  ther¬ 
mometer,  the  barometer  being  at  30  inches,  viz.  : — Four 
avoirdupois  ounces,  two  avoirdupois  ounces,  one  avoir¬ 
dupois  ounce,  half  an  avoirdupois  ounce.  Note. — The- 
following  ounce  measures  are  already  legalized  as  impe¬ 
rial  standard  measures  of  capacity,  viz. : — Quart,  equal 
to  40  fluid  ounces ;  pint,  equal  to  20  fluid  ounces  ;  half¬ 
pint,  equal  to  10  fluid  ounces ;  gill,  equal  to  5  fluid  ounces ; 
half-gill,  equal  to  fluid  ounces  ;  quarter-gill,  equal  to* 
lj  fluid  ounces. 

Liquid  Measures  of  Grain  Weights  of  Distilled  Water. 
— Measures  containing  respectively  the  following  weight 
in  grains  of  distilled  water,  at  the  temperature  of  62  deg. 
of  Fahrenheit’s  thermometer,  weighed  in  air  at  the  tem¬ 
perature  of  62  deg.  of  Fahrenheit’s  thermometer,  the- 
barometer  being  at  30  inches,  viz. : — 7000,  4000,  2000- 
1000  grains;  500,  300,  200,  100  grains;  50,  30,  20,  10 
grains ;  5,  3,  2,  1  grain. 


BOOK  RECEIVED. 

Handbuch  dee  Piiarmakognosie  und  Pharmako- 
logie  fiir  Aerzte,  Studirende  der  Medicin  und  Pharmacies 
Apotheker  und  Droguisten.  By  Prof.  Dr.  Archimedes- 
von  Schwarzkopf,  Teacher  of  Pharmacognosy,  Natio¬ 
nal  Economy  and  Commercial  Science  at  the  University  of 
Basle  and  Director  of  the  Germano- Swiss  Commercial 
School.  Part  I.  Leipzig  und  Heidelberg:  C.  F.  Win- 
ter’sche  Verlags-handlung.  1871. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  March  25  ;  the  ‘  Medical  Times  and  Gazette/ 
March  25 ;  the  ‘  Lancet,’  March  25 ;  the  ‘  Medical  Press  andi 
Circular,’  March 30;  ‘Nature,’  March 23;  the  ‘Chemical News,’ 
March  24;  ‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  March  23;  .‘Gar¬ 
deners’ Chronicle,’  March 25;  the  ‘Grocer,’  March25;  ‘Produce- 
Markets  Review,’  March  25 ;  the  ‘  English  Mechanic,’  March. 
24;  the  ‘Journal  of  the  Royal  Institution.’ 


April  1,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS 


790 


itotes  a  it!)  Queries. 

***  In  order  to  facilitate  reference ,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  their  ansivers  in  each  case  with  the  title 
and  member  of  the  query  referred  to. 

No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

NOTICE. — To  prevent  delay ,  correspondents  are  re¬ 
quested  to  send  their  communications  to  the  Journal  Depart¬ 
ment, ,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  W.C.,  and  not  to  the  Pub¬ 
lishers. 

[61.]— COLD  CREAM. 

R.  Cetacei, 

Cerae  Alb.,  aa  ^ss 
01.  Amygd.  D.  ^iv 
Otto  Ros®  gtt.  xx. 

M.  Geo.  33.  Gurgen,  Kimbolton. 

[166.]—  BLACK  INK. 

R.  Gall®  Aleppo  Cont.  ^lb. 

Ligni  H®matoxyli  2  oz. 

Gum.  Acaci®  3  oz. 

Ferri  Sulpk.  4  oz. 

Alum.  Sulpk.  1^  drm. 

Cupri  Sulpk.  1^  drm. 

Aqu®  Moll.  1  gall. 

And  a  small  quantity  of  muriate  of  soda  dried,  and  a  few 
drops  of  creasote. 

Tkis  is  a  good  ink.  It  must  be  done  by  cold  digestion,  as 
beat  takes  out  tko  starch  from  tke  galls,  which  increases  tke 
tendency  to  mouldiness;  and  I  always  dry  tke  sulpkate  of 
iron. — j.  H. 

[183.]— HOLBECK  TINCTURE. 

R.  Tr.  Rkei  Co.  ^iij 
Tr.  Cardam.  Co.  3j 
Tr.  Opii  %ss 
Sp.  Vini  Rect.  5iss 

Aqu®  Pur®  3'j-  „  . 

Tuis  is  a  Leeds  form,  taking  its  name,  from  some  peculiarity 
unknown  to  me,  from  a  place  called  Holbeck,  near  Leeds. 
It  is  a  stimulant  and  partly  antispasmodic;  tke  dose  skould 
be  regulated  by  tke  quantity  of  tr.  opii  it  contains, — J.  H. 

r'  [186.] — BAKING-POWDER. — “  Farina  ”  will  find  tke 
following  a  good  formula*: — 

R.  Sod®  Bicarb.  3xvj 

Pulv.  Acid.  Tart.  5xiv 
„  Magnes.  Carbon.  £vj 
„  Farin®  gxij 

M.  Rub  through  a  sieve. — Harry. 

“Senega  ”  sends  tke  following  excellent  receipt : — 

R.  Pulv.  Acid.  Tart.  8  oz. 

Pulv.  Sod®  Bicarb.  9  oz. 

Rice  Flour  10  oz. 

M.  A  teaspoonful  to  every  pound  of  flour. 


R.  Sod®  Bicarb.  1  lb. 

Farin®  1  lb. 

Pulv.  Alum  £  lb. 

Magnes.  Carb.  £  oz. 

Dry  in  oven  separately.  Magnesia  may  be  put  on  tke 
Hour.  If  Scotch  farina  can  be  got,  it  is  better  than  English 
ordinary  farina.  Mix. 

P.S. — Acid.  tart,  may  be  used,  if  preferred ;  but  the  writer 
has  found  quite  as  ready  a  sale  for  it  with  pulv.  alum. — 
J.  H. 

[188.]— WATERPROOFING.— 

Bisulpk.  Carbon,  ^ij 
Gutta  Perclia  §ss 
G.  Asphalt.  §ij 
(Brown  Amber)  5ss 
01.  Lini  3x’j’ 

Misce. 

Dissolve  tke  gutta  percha  in  tke  bisulpk.  carbon.,  tke  asphalt 
and  amber  in  tke  oil,  and  mix  well. — D.  L.  J  ONES. 


[198.] — COD-LIVER  OIL. — Can  any  of  your  readers  give 
a  short  descriptive  process  of  tke  manufacture  of  cod-liver  oil 
at  Newfoundland? — Alpha. 

[***  Papers  on  this  subject  have  already  been  published 
in  tke  Pharmaceutical  Journal:  by  Professor  Soubeiran, 
2nd  Ser.,  Vol.  VIII.  p.  39;  and  by  Mr.  Howden,  2nd  Scr., 
Vol.  VI.  p.  191,  and  Vol.  IX.  p.  31.2.  Information  as  to  tke 
different  methods  of  preparation  will  be  found  also  in  Cooley’s 
Encyclop®dia. — Ed.  Pharm.  Journ.] 

[199.] — GAS  BLADDERS.  —  Will  any  correspondent 
kindly  furnish  me  with  a  method  for  keeping  bladders  in 
a  soft  pliable  condition,  suitablo  for  experimenting  with 
gases? — Nil  sine  Lahore. 

[200.] — LEMONADE. — M  ill  any  reader  oblige  me  with  a 
good  recipe  for  making  lemonade  without  a  machine  1 — 

Harry. 

[201.] — SOLID  YEAST. — “Aroma"  wishes  to  be  furnished 
with  the  formula  for  solid  yeast  given  in  tke  transactions  of 
the  Royal  Scottish  Society  of  Arts. 

[202.]— SYRUP  OF  SANTONINE. — J.  E.  B.  M.  wishes 
for  a  form  for  making  syrup  of  santonine. 

[***  0,ir  correspondent  will  find  tke  information  lie  re¬ 
quires  in  tke  abstract  from  Dr.  Harley’s  paper  on  Santonin, 
ante,  p.  667. — Eh.  Pharm.  Journ. J 

[203.] — MILK  OF  MAGNESIA. — Will  any  reader  favour 
me  with  a  recipe  for  the  preparation  sold  under  tkis  name  ? — 
Vincit  Amor  Patrial 

[204.]— LINIMENTUM  RUBRUM.— Can  any  of  our 
dispensers  give  me  a  formulary  for  tkis  article,  used  some¬ 
times  in  prescriptions  ? — Vincit  Amor  Patrije. 

[205.]— COD-LIVER  OIL  AND  QUININE.— Can  any 
correspondent  kindly  oblige  me  through  tke  medium  of  your 
paper  with  a  formula  for  an  elegant  preparation  of  cod-liver 
oil  and  quinine  or  cod- liver  oil,  quinine  and  iron? — T.  E.  R. 

[***  Some  information  on  tkis  subject  will  be  found  in  tke 
Pharmaceutical  Journal,  1st  Ser.,  Vol.  XV.  p.  475,  and 
Vol.  XVII.  p.  36. — Eh.  Pharm.  Journ.] 

[203.]— PEPSINE  WINE. — Will  any  reader  kindly  fur¬ 
nish  me  with  a  good  formula  for  making  pepsine  wine? — 
James  Doubell. 

[207.] — SOAP  POWDER. — I  shall  feel  obliged  by  being 
supplied  with  a  recipe  for  soap  powder,  suitable  as  a  toilet 
soap. — D.  S.  Anherson. 

[208.] — ALUMINIUM. — Wanted,  tke  address  of  a  worker 
in  tkis  metal ;  or  where  shreds  or  shavings  of  same  may  be 
cheaply  procured. — P.  C. 

[209.] — CORN  SOLVENT. — T.  would  feel  obliged  by 
being  informed  of  a  good  solvent  for  soft  and  hard  corns. 

[210.]— COD-LIVER  OIL  JELLY. — “  Senega  ”  would 
feel  obliged  if  any  correspondent  would  send  him  a  formula 
for  cod-liver  oil  jelly. 

[211.] — HORTICULTURAL  INK. — Can  any  of  your 
correspondents  give  me  a  good  receipt  for  making  horticul¬ 
tural  ink?  Beasley  has  been  tried. — A.  P.  S. 

[212.] — WOOD  STAIN. — “  Pyroligneous  ”  wishes  for  a 
good  recipe  to  stain  wood  oak-colour. 

[213.]— LIQ.  AMMONITE  VALERIAN ATIS.— Can  any 
of  your  readers  give  me  a  formula  for  liq.  amrnoni®  Valeri¬ 
ana!  is  ? — A.  B. 

[214.]— SOLUTION  OF  ATROPIA. — Associate  P.  S. 
(Exeter)  wishes  to  be  informed  how  eight  grains  of  atropia 
can  be  held  in  solution  in  aq.  dcstil.  gj  without  tke  addition 
of  spirit  or  acid,  sulpk.  dil.  ?  To  be  used  for  complaints  of 
tke  eye. 

[***  According  to  Ivlcver’s  table,  published  in  last  week’s 
Journal,  p.  763,  it  might  be  effected  by  glycerine  or  a  mixture 
of  glycerine  and  water. — Eh.  Pharm.  Journ.] 


Erratum. — On  p.  737,  No.  [159],  “Aniseed  Cordial,” 
for  Sp.  Vin.  Rect.  3xiij,  vead  Sp.  Vin.  Rect.  3viij. 


800 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  1,  1871. 


tensptimtte. 

***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Our  Monthly  Evening  Meetings. 

In  the  number  of  this  Journal  issued  March  11th,  I  read 
with  attention  a  leader  bearing  the  above  title.  As  a  con¬ 
stant  attendant  and  sometimes  contributor,  I  have  taken 
considerable  interest  in  these  meetings.  Amongst  other  con¬ 
tributions  of  mine  in  the  Journal,  I  find  three  upon  this  par¬ 
ticular  subject,  the  first  dated  August  10th,  1857,  when  I 
endeavoured  to  stir  up  the  members,  etc.  to  more  energy  and 
better  attendances.  It  appeared  to  me  at  that  time  that  the 
chief  reasons  which  deterred  many  from  contributing,  espe¬ 
cially  the  young,  were  diffidence,  the  dread  of  criticism, — it 
has  been  sometimes,  I  have  felt,  over-sharp, — and  the  difficulty 
of  finding  something  new;  but  I  believe  I  cleared  away  these 
seeming  impediments. 

It  is  clear,  nevertheless,  from  past  experience,  that  if  we 
are  to  have  papers  and  good  attendances  some  system  must 
be  established  for  securing  them  ;  and  it  appears  to  me  that 
the  plan  of  an  annually-selected  committee  for  the  express  pur¬ 
pose,  as  recommended  in  the  said  leader,  would  be  a  good  one. 

Old  contributors  require  whipping  up,  young  ones  a  little 
encouragement.  Embryo  authors  are  naturally  timid,  and, 
like  exotic  plants,  want  nursing  and  gentle  forcing. 

Oar  Society  does  not,  1  feel  sure,  stand  alone  in  the  matter 
of  occasionally  flat  and  uninteresting  evenings,  and,  without 
descending  to  particulars,  many  circumstances  during  the 
two  past  sessions  have  in  some  measure  tended  to  the  present 
state  of  our  monthly  evening  meetings.  In  the  future  may 
there  be  much  improvement! 

There  is  a  difficulty ;  how  it  is  to  be  got  over  has  to  a  great 
extent  been  suggested. 

I  intrude  again,  in  order  that  the  matter  may  be  kept  pro¬ 
minently  before  the  members,  associates,  etc.  generally  and  the 
in-coming  Council  especially,  so  that  the  seed  now  sown  may 
not  be  unproductive  for  lack  of  encouragement  and  culture. 

18,  Conduit  Street,  A.  F.  IIaselden,  Y.P. 

March  27 th,  1871. 


A  Medley. 

Sir, — Si  milii  licet  “desipere  in  loco”  hoc,  I  will  send  you 
a  medley  this  time,  which  may  serve  to  relieve  the  dryness  of 
the  present  “legal”  discussion. 

Can  any  of  your  readers  or  yourself  tell  me  why  some 
tinct.  cinnam.  co.,  which  has  been  made  a  long  time,  has  de¬ 
posited  all  its  colouring  matter  in  the  form  of  a  loose  brown 
powder  at  the  bottom,  and  not  upon  the  sides  of  the  bottle  at 
all  P  I  did  not  make  it,  but,  knowing  who  did,  I  have  no 
reason  to  believe  it  otherwise  than  strictly  P.  L. 

I  once  removed  my  bergamotte  bottle  (containing  a  very 
fine  sample,  I  thought)  from  the  shade  to  a  position  where 
the  sun  during  part  of  the  day  shone  directly  upon  it.  It 
assumed  in  a  comparatively  short  time,  as  seen  through  a 
thick  incrustation  on  the  sides  of  the  bottle,  the  appearance 
of  weak  muddy  coffee,  and  its  fragrance  was  decidedly  im¬ 
paired.  Having  previously  enjoyed  a  due  north  aspect  with¬ 
out  a  ray  of  sunshine,  I  was  not  prepared  for  this,  and  cannot 
account  for  it.  Thinking  the  sample  might  be  in  fault  in 
some  way,  I  placed  a  second  lot  of  “  super.”  at  18s.  in  the 
same  situation,  but  soon  found  it  changing,  and  removed  it. 

But  the  following  is  my  greatest  puzzle: — Considerably 
more  than  two  years  ago,  a  painter  employed  in  my  house, 
but  not  needing  tor  his  work  with  me  any  such  colour,  bor¬ 
rowed  my  gum-brush.  It  was  lost  for  about  a  week,  but 
turned  up  again,  stained  of  a  most  intense  crimson.  If  this 
man  did  not  so  stain  it,  I  cannot  conceive  who  or  what  did. 
It  was  rinsed  out  in  boiling  water,  and  restored  to  its  former 
use.  Since  that  time  it  has  been  constantly  used  for  the  one 
purpose,  repeatedly  and  well  rinsed  in  hot  water  as  well  as 
the  pot,  and  the  gum— tragacanth— renewed  on  an  average 
once  a  fortnight  perhaps;  notwithstanding  which,  to  this 
day  it  continues  to  impart  a  decidedly  pink  tinge  to  every 
successive  lot  of  mucilage.  At  first,  of  course  the  colour  gra¬ 
dually  imparted  was  deep,  but  I  thought  I  should  wear  it  out 
and  curiosity  impelled  me  to  continue  to  use  it,  as  it  now 
does  to  ask,  what  can  the  dye  be?  Any  one  can  see  the 
brush  in  use. 


Any  one  may  also  see  the  following  order,  distinctly  ancf 
very  fairly  written,  with  two  errors  of  spelling, — transpa¬ 
rently  such, — only  : — 

“The  high  dried  up  azh  poweder,” 

as  it  is  in  my  possession.  My  customer — for  I  supplied  him 
with  threepennyworth  of  the  article  wanted — was  a  poor 
Irishman,  who  had  evidently  got  some  better-educated  friend 
to  write  down  the  name,  probably  from  his  own  dictation. 

This  may  exercise  the  ingenuity  of  some  of  our  younger 
friends,  and  the  following  will  make  them  laugh : — 

A  respectably-dressed  child,  of  seven  or  ei^ht  years  old, 
came  one  day  into  my  shop,  and  asked  for  “  A  pennyworth 
of  Uncle  William’s  pills.”  I  told  her  I  had  not  the  pleasure 
of  knowing  her  uncle,  and  dismissed  her ;  but  before  she  got 
out  of  the  door  she  returned,  saying,  “Mother  said,  Aunty 
Billy’s,  but  I  thought  it  couldn’t  be  right.” 

Lastly.  As  my  contribution  to  the  question  of  dispensing 
charges,  I- give  this,  which  happened  some  years  ago.  A  lady, 
named  Watkin,  came  to  my  shop,  saying  she  had  heard  a 
good  report  of  me,  and  intended  to  bestow  her  patronage, 
giving  me  at  the  same  time  a  prescription  for  a  single  powder 
of  three  ingredients,  hydr.  c.  creta  and  p.  rhei,  being  two  of 
them  to  make  up.  I  dispensed  it,  copied  and  registered  her 
prescription,  and  sent  both,  with  envelope,  etc.,  by  her  order,, 
to  her  residence,  charging  3 d.  The  next  day  Miss  W.  called, 
and  in  perfectly  grammatical  and  perhaps  elegant  (?)  lan¬ 
guage  abu  ed  me  for  imposing  upon  her,  asserting  that  as 
“  I  only  sent  a  little  paltry  boy  a  few  yards,  I  must  have  un¬ 
common  assurance  to  charge  her  3d.  for  one  powder,  when 
Messrs.  —  and  —  had  sent  their  man  with  it  more  than  half 
a  mile  for  a  charge  of  2d.”  I  never  saw  her  again.  I  desire- 
to  add  that  I  treated  the  story  with  contempt  at  the  time, 
and  never  believed  it. 

Within  the  last  eighteen  months  a  4-ouncc  bottle  was 
brought  to  me  to  be  filled  with  laudanum  for  a  shilling,  as 
the  party — tenanting  a  £40  house  at  least — “used  a  great 
deal  of  it.”  I  simply  refused  without  stating  my  price,  and,, 
not  hearing  again  from  the  party,  must  needs  suppose  they 
get  it  somewhere  at  or  near  that  price. 

Breclcf  eld  Road  North,  Liverpool,  Thomas  Lowe. 
March  20 th,  1871. 


Suicides  by  Carbolic  Acid. — It  is  suggested  to  a  corre¬ 
spondent  who  has  sent  us  a  cutting  from  a  newspaper  on  this 
subject  that  ‘suicide’  and  ‘fatal  accident’  are  not  synonymous 
terms. 

W.  Lea  will  find  recipes  for  Brilliantine  on  p.  437  in  the 
present  volume. 

W.  JB.  Orton  and  L.  L.  Roberts. — As  the  advertiser  did 
not  ask  for  a  chemists’  assistant  to  perform  the  duties  in 
question,  we  do  not  see  that  there  is  any  ground  for  com¬ 
plaint. 

G.  W.  (Ilorncastle). — A  pocket  lens  maybe  obtained  from 
any  optician. 

“  Herbarius.” — Cooke’s  ‘  Manual  of  Botanic  Terms,’  pub¬ 
lished  by  Hardwicke,  Piccadilly,  would  meet  your  require¬ 
ments  and  give  you  the  other  information  you  ask  for. 

F.  R.  W. — No  licence  would  be  required  to  make  orange 
wine  if  used  for  vin.  quinae  by  the  pharmacist  who  makes  it. 
The  orange  wine,  however,  cannot  be  made  and  sold  as  such. 

W.  B.  B.,  a  Junior. — Pil.  saponis  co.  was  certainly  in¬ 
tended,  and  not  a  pill  containing  two  grains  of  opium. 

A.  W.  V.  has  omitted  to  send  his  name  and  address. 

J.  Brough. — See  “Colours  for  Carboys,”  ante,  p.  516.  We 
cannot  give  recipes  for  sauces;  try  Cooley,  Beasley,  or  the 
‘  Dictionary  of  Daily  Wants.’ 

J.  S.  Harvey.-— 01.  laurocerasi  is  very  rarely  met  with, 
and  is  very  poisonous,  containing  5  per  cent,  of  hydrocyanic 
acid.  It  would  be  an  expensive  remedy.  Try  infus.  quassias. 

B.  K.  Campbell. — We  are  not  aware  of  the  existence  of 
“  scientific  poisoners,”  and  therefore  cannot  give  you  any  in¬ 
formation  as  to  the  poisonous  gases  they  may  be  in  the  habit 
of  using. 

J.  Lewis  (Swansea)  .-^The  loss  amounts  to  about  23  per 
cent,  by  volume. 


Communications,  Letters,  e4c.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  G-.  F.  Naldrett,  Mr.  Gr.  Oldham,  Mr.  J.  Smith,  Mr. 
Fairlie,  Mr.  F,  Johnson,  Mr.  M.  C.  Cooke,  S.  R.,  B.  H.  H-, 
A.  P.  S.,  W.  B.  B.,  C.  S„  S.  T.,  “A  Country  Chemist,” 
“Delta,”  “  Beta,”  “A  Nervous  Student.” 


April  8,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


801 


THE  CHEMICAL  NOMENCLATURE  OF 
THE  PHARMACOPOEIA, 

WITH  SUGGESTIONS  FOR  ITS  REVISION* 

BY  PROFESSOR  ATTFIELD. 

The  vocabulary  of  technical  terms,  or  nomen* 
clature,  of  a  pharmacopoeia  is  chemical,  botanical, 
zoological  and  galenical.  In  the  following  paper 
chemical  nomenclature  is  alone  considered. 

Introductory  remarks. — The  chemical  nomencla¬ 
ture  of  the  current  Pharmacopoeias  is  mainly  scien¬ 
tific,  founded  on  theory,  and  therefore  liable  to 
change.  Its  one  great  fault,  in  relation  to  medicine 
and  pharmacy,  is  mutability.  A  fault,  and  a  great 
fault,  because  the  life  and  health  of  people  are 
largely  dependent  on  the  perfect  understanding 
which  should  always  subsist  between  physician  and 
pharmacist  respecting  names  of  medicines  which 
the  former  prescribes  and  the  latter  prepares.  But 
it  is  a  fault  which  cannot  altogether  be  avoided. 
For  a  name  is  seldom  given  haphazard;  it  is  com¬ 
monly  designed  to  express  our  ideas  regarding  a 
thing  or  substance,  and  as  those  ideas  are  de¬ 
veloped  and  extended,  our  point  of  view  or  theory 
respecting  them  necessarily  changes ;  the  old  name 
is  no  longer  consistent  with  our  knowledge,  and 
must  therefore  be  also  changed.  Moreover,  there  is 
a  limit  to  the  power  of  language,  and  desirable  as 
may  be  a  system  of  names  for  remedial  agents  which 
shall  be  fixed,  abiding,  permanent,  the  production  of 
such  a  system  in  the  present  state  of  knowledge  is 
altogether  impossible.  What,  then,  are  pharma¬ 
cists,  medical  practitioners  and  others  to  do  when 
chemical  names  they  have  accepted  on  authority 
are,  by  the  same  authority,  modified  or  abandoned  ? 
Within  the  last  few  years  the  views  hitherto  pre¬ 
vailing  of  the  constitution  of  matter  have  under¬ 
gone  radical  alteration,  being  no  longer  consistent 
with  ascertained  truths,  and  the  nomenclature  or 
language  embodying  those  views  has,  of  course, 
shared  the  fate  of  the  theories.  Under  these  cir¬ 
cumstances,  by  what  principles  are  we  to  be  guided 
in  adopting  for  medicine,  pharmacy  and  the  Phar¬ 
macopoeia,  such  names  as,  on  the  one  hand,  shall 
be  perfectly  explicit,  readily  understood,  unambi¬ 
guous;  and,  on  the  other,  consistent,  or  at  least 
harmonious  with  prevailing  chemical  theories  as  ex¬ 
pressed  in  the  educational  literature  of  the  science  ? 
For  not  only  is  it  to  be  remembered  that  changes 
must  be  expected  in  pliarmacopoeial  names  because 
we  have  already  adopted  and  employ  a  nomencla¬ 
ture  which,  in  the  nature  of  things,  is  liable  to 
change ;  but  we  must  bear  in  mind  that  the  succes¬ 
sors  to  men  now  in  practice  are  learning  chemistry 
by  aid  of  the  new  hypotheses,  and  their  progress  is 
impeded  by  old  forms  of  language  and  by  the  erro¬ 
neous  notions  which  that  language  imparts.  This 
state  of  things  cannot  continue ;  the  march  of  science 
has  ever  been  aided,  never  hindered  by  medicine  or 
pharmacy.  But  what  position  are  we  to  take  in 
respect  to  this  subject?  The  question  is  one  that 
demands  careful  attention.  I  have  endeavoured  to 
answer  it  myself,  and  now  venture  to  give  to  others 
the  train  of  thought  I  have  followed,  and  the  con¬ 
clusions  at  which  I  have  arrived. 

Outline  of  the  paper. — I  intend,  firstly,  to  outline 
the  history  and  present  position  of  the  chemical 


*  Read  at  the  Evening  Meeting  of  the  Pharmaceutical  So 
riety  of  Great  Britain,  April  5,  1871. 

Third  Series,  No.  41. 


names  already  employed  in  Pharmacopoeias,  espe¬ 
cially  the  British,  and  to  glance  at  the  causes  of  the 
recent  revolution  in  chemical  nomenclature ;  and  to 
do  so,  not  by  way  of  aiding  the  followers  of  medicine 
to  criticize  matters  purely  chemical,  hut  to  enable 
them  to  arrive  at  sound  conclusions  respecting  the 
application  of  modern  chemical  nomenclature  to 
pharmacy.  I  shall  then  shortly  allude  to  chemical 
notation,  which  is  inseparably  connected  with  my 
subject  ;  mention  disadvantages  attending  altera¬ 
tions  in  chemical  names ;  state  the  functions  and 
positive  or  negative  qualities  which  names  should 
possess ;  give  a  complete  list  of  current  pharma - 
copoeial  names,  with  the  names  now  proposed,  and 
their  scientific  synonyms ;  and  finally  refer  to  names 
requiring  special  or  exceptional  treatment. 

History  and  present  position  of  the  chemical  names 
of  the  Pharmacopoeia. — The  system  of  nomenclature 
hitherto  accepted  from  chemists  by  pharmacists, 
practitioners  in  medicine  and  the  public,  that  which 
is  employed  in  European  and  American  pharma¬ 
copoeias,  was  mainly  devised  by  Lavoisier,  eighty- 
four  years  ago.  The  fundamental  principle  on  which 
it  was  founded  was,  that  the  name  of  a  salt  should 
express  its  composition.  The  many  animal  and 
vegetable  substances  discovered  since  that  time 
(notably  alkaloids  and  neutral  crystalline  principles) 
are  designated,  perhaps  fortunately,  by  unsystematic 
names,  names  which,  at  all  events,  are  not  liable  to 
change,  and  which  may  therefore  be  omitted  from 
consideration  in  this  paper.  The  great  majority  of 
chemical  substances  employed  in  pharmacy  are  such 
mineral  salts  as  were  known  to  Lavoisier,  and  their 
names  were  given  by  him  on  the  assumption  that 
they  contained,  on  the  one  hand,  an  undecomposable 
body,  generally  a  metal,  common  to  a  whole  class 
of  salts  (the  compounds  of  copper,  for  example), 
and  on  the  other,  a  body,  or  a  group  of  elements, 
also  common  to  a  number  of  salts  {sulphates,  for  ex¬ 
ample).  Soda,  potash,  lime,  baryta,  magnesia  and 
alumina  were  then  considered  to  be  elements ;  hence, 
as  I  shall  further  show  presently,  such  names  as 
carbonate  of  soda,  nitrate  of  potash  and  sulphate  of 
baryta  were  perfectly  consistent  with  those  of  car¬ 
bonate  of  iron,  nitrate  of  mercury,  sulphate  of 
copper.  During  the  twenty  j^ears  succeeding  1787, 
Lavoisier’s  views  of  the  constitution  of  salts  and  the 
language  or  nomenclature  in  which  those  views  found 
expression,  were  generally  accepted  throughout 
Europe.  Green  vitriol,  blue  vitriol,  Glauber’s  salt 
and  gypsum,  for  example,  were  considered  to  con¬ 
tain,  on  the  one  hand,  the  “elements”  iron,  copper, 
soda,  and  lime  respectively,  and,  on  the  other,  a 
group  of  elements  common  to  each  of  the  four  com¬ 
pounds  ;  the  four  different  elements  were  indicated 
in  the  spoken  and  written  nomenclature  of  the  com¬ 
pounds  by  their  four  names,  ‘iron,  copper,  soda, 
lime,’  while  the  one  group  and  its  presence  in  each 
of  the  four  compounds  was  indicated  in  the  spoken 
and  written  nomenclature  of  the  compounds  by  the 
word  ‘  sulphate  ’ ;  sulphate  of  iron,  sulphate  of  copper, 
sulphate  of  soda,  sulphate  of  lime.  This  change 
from  such  trivial  names  as  green  vitriol,  blue  vitriol, 
Glauber’s  salt  and  gypsum  to  the  systematic  che¬ 
mical  names  sulphate  of  iron,  sulphate  of  copper, 
sulphate  of  soda,  sulphate  of  lime,  seems  to  have 
been  effected  without  much  opposition.  At  that  time 
comparatively  few  persons  were  interested  in,  or 
affected  by  the  matter,  and  radical  changes  of  this 
kind  are  made  with  less  difficulty  by  the  few  than 


S02 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  8,  1871. 


the  many.  Afterwards  it  was  felt  that  the  multi¬ 
plication  of  chemical  substances  by  discovery  ren¬ 
dered  adherence  to  a  trivial  and  arbitrary  nomen¬ 
clature  impossible,  and  the  adoption  of  Lavoisier’s 
scientific  plan  imperative.  Lavoisier  got  the  world 
out  of  a  difficulty,  not  placed  it  in  one,  when  he  in¬ 
troduced  the  principle  of  scientific  nomenclature. 

Up  to  1807  no  necessity  arose  for  interfering  with 
the  nomenclature  of  Lavoisier ;  but  in  that  and  the 
following  year  Davy  made  his  brilliant  researches 
on  the  alkalies  and  alkaline  earths,  discovered  that 
potash,  soda,  baryta,  strontia  and  lime  were  not 
elements,  as  previously  had  been  supposed,  but  that 
the  true  basylous  radicals  of  the  so-called  compounds 
of  potash,  soda,  baryta,  strontia  and  lime  were  me¬ 
tals — to  which  were  given  the  names  potassium, 
sodium,  barium,  strontium  and  calcium.  Thence¬ 
forward  the  old  names  potash,  soda,  baryta,  strontia, 
lime,  were  used  to  designate  the  oxides  of  the  new 
metals.  Then  at  once  there  arose  a  dilemma  in  re¬ 
gard  to  nomenclature.  The  names  of  all  the  salts  of 
Davy’s  metals  were  no  longer  consistent  with  the 
names  of  the  salts  of  all  other  metals.  While  on 
the  one  hand  the  names  ‘  sulphate  of  copper  ’  and 
*  sulphate  of  iron  ’  distinctly  expressed  the  com¬ 
pounds  formed  by  the  union  of  metallic  *  copper  ’  or 
metallic  ‘  iron  ’  with  a  common  acidulous  group  of 
elements,  represented  by  the  word  ‘  sulphate,’  the 
names  ‘  sulphate  of  soda  ’  and  4  sulphate  ot  lime  ’  as 
distinctly  expressed  compounds  formed  by  the  union 
of  oxide  of  sodium  and  oxide  of  calcium  with  a 
common  acidulous  radical  still  indicated  by  the 
word  4  sulphate,’  but  not  having  the  same  composi¬ 
tion  as  (having  less  oxygen  than)  the  similar  acidu¬ 
lous  radical  united  with  the  copper  and  the  iron.  It 
was  felt  that  either  such  words  as  sulphate,  nitrate 
and  carbonate  must  each  have  two  significations, 
and  the  salts  of  the  alkalies  and  alkaline  earths  be 
considered  as  compounds  of  oxides  of  metals,  and  all 
other  salts  (sulphate  of  iron,  etc.)  as  compounds  of 
metals,  or  such  words  (sulphate,  nitrate,  carbonate, 
etc.)  must  have  a  common  (though  an  altered)  signi¬ 
fication,  and  all  oxygen  salts  be  considered  as  com¬ 
pounds  of  oxides  of  metals.  Davy,  supported  after¬ 
wards  by  Dulong,  Clark,  Graham,  Liebig  and  Daniell, 
suggested  that  all  metallic  salts  were  composed  of  me¬ 
tal  alone  on  the  basylous  side,  and  a  distinct  radical 
on  the  acidulous  side.  Unfortunately,  however,  ac¬ 
curate  knowledge  of  constitution  -was  included  in 
this  idea;  even  definite  names  being  proposed  for 
the  said  acidulous  radicals.  Thus  blue  vitriol  was 
termed  oxysulphionide  of  copper  (Daniell),  sulpliat- 
oxide  of  copper  (Graham)  and  sulplianide  of  copper 
(Otto).  Many  other  objections  to  the  theory  arose, 
and  hence  salts  came  to  be  regarded  as  compounds 
of  oxides  of  metals  with  certain  acidulous  radicals 
(now  known  as  anhydrides).  But  the  followers  of 
applied  chemistry  never  took  kindly  to  the  nomen¬ 
clature  ;  such  names  as  sulphate  of  oxide  of  iron, 
nitrate  of  oxide  of  silver,  acetate  of  oxide  of  lead,  got 
shortened  to  sulphate  of  iron,  nitrate  of  silver,  ace¬ 
tate  of  lead  ;  a  matter  of  no  great  moment  to  any  one 
who  had  become  a  chemist,  but  of  considerable  im¬ 
portance  to  every  one  learning  to  be  a  chemist.  The 
names  acetate  of  lead,  iodide  of  lead,  etc.,  logically 
planted  in  the  mind  the  impression  that  the  com¬ 
pounds  were  formed  of  lead  with  the  radical  of  ace¬ 
tates  and  lead  with  the  radical  of  iodides, — a  na¬ 
tural  idea,  which  had  to  be  unlearned,  and  by  con¬ 
siderable  effort  of  memory  a  mere  conventional  one 


put  in  its  place,  namely,  that  certain  acidulous  radi¬ 
cals  (iodine,  sulphur,  etc.)  combined  with  metals, 
while  certain  others  (anhydrides,  formerly  called 
acids)  with  oxides  of  metals.  Again,  that  a  yellow 
granular  precipitate,  caused  by  the  addition  of  per- 
cliloride  of  platinum  to  a  liquid  sometimes  indicated 
potassium  and  sometimes  potash,  or  that  a  certain 
black  coloration  sometimes  indicated  lead  and 
sometimes  oxide  of  lead,  were  illogical  statements 
against  which  the  mind  naturally  rebelled.  It  is 
true  an  explanation  was  afforded  of  such  anomalies 
by  the  assumption  that  even  haloid  salts  (such  as 
iodide  of  potassium)  on  dissolving  in  water  became 
true  salts  of  oxides  of  metals  (hydriodate  of  potash) ; 
but  weighty  arguments  were  adducible  against  this 
hypothesis.  In  short,  no  theory  of  the  constitution 
of  salts  was  offered,  or  has  yet  been  offered,  which 
satisfactorily  explains  and  harmonizes  all  known 
facts  respecting  salts.  Hence,  when  a  very  few 
years  ago  chemists  were  led  by  irresistible  argu¬ 
ments  and  stubborn  facts  to  double  many  of  the  old 
atomic  weights,  an  opportunity  of  abandoning  exist¬ 
ing  constitutional  theories  then  presented  itself,  and 
was  by  common  consent  accepted.  The  exertions  of 
Dumas,  Laurent  and  Gerliardt  bore  fruit.  The 
dualistic  idea  of  salts  being  formed  of  an  acidulous 
radical  with  the  oxide  of  a  metal,  and  the  not  less 
binary  notion  of  their  being  composed  of  a  distinct 
acidulous  radical  united  with  a  metal,  were  re¬ 
nounced,  and  hypothesis  altogether  rejected,  or,  at 
all  events,  restricted  to  the  idea  of  oneness.  These 
views  were,  of  course,  accompanied  by  a  commen¬ 
surate  alteration  in  chemical  notation  and  nomen¬ 
clature.  Blue  vitriol  no  longer  being  considered  to 
be  the  sulphate  of  the  oxide  of  copper,  as  shown  in 
the  formula  CuO,S03,  nor  even  to  have  the  binary 
constitution  implied  in  the  formula  Cu,  S04,  but  to 
be  a  structure  per  se ,  or,  at  least,  one  whose  detail  of 
constitution  was  unknown, — it  became  necessary  to 
devise  for  it  and  all  such  salts,  a  notation  and  no¬ 
menclature  which  should  be  consistent  with  the 
unitary  idea.  Strictly  speaking,  this  was  impos¬ 
sible.  The  relationship,  nay,  the  absolute  identity 
of  the  constituent  radicals  in  whole  classes  of  salts 
demanded  fair  representation  in  notation  and  nomen¬ 
clature,  a  result  fatal  to  pure  unitary  ideas.  Thus, 
the  unquestioned  relationship  of  the  cupreous  com¬ 
pounds  to  each  other  demanded  the  employment  of 
the  word  ‘  copper  ’  in  their  names  and  the  symbol  Cu 
in  their  formulae ;  while  the  unquestioned  relation¬ 
ship  of  salts  containing  the  elements  which  occur  in 
the  non-cupreous  portion  of  blue  vitriol  demanded  the 
employment  of  the  word  “  sulphate  ”  in  their  names 
and  the  symbols  S04  in  their  formulae,  and  with  the 
employment  of  such  names  and  such  formulae  the 
binary  idea  is  difficult  to  repress.  At  the  same  time 
all  are  agreed  that  the  unqualified  assumption  of 
knowledge  of  chemical  constitution  involved  in  the 
old  binary  theories  is  wrong,  hence  professedly  bi¬ 
nary  systems  of  notation  and  nomenclature  must  be 
relinquished  ;  the  names  sulphate  of  oxide  of  copper, 
with  its  formula  CuO,S03,  and  sulphate  of  oxide  of 
magnesium  (or  sulphate  of  magnesia),  with  its  for¬ 
mula  MgO,SOa,  must  be  given  up  for  sulphate  of 
copper  CuS04  (or  copper  sulphate  or  cupric  sul¬ 
phate),  and  sulphate  of  magnesium  MgS04  (or  mag¬ 
nesium  sulphate).  Such  names  and  formulae  suffi¬ 
ciently  exhibit  unquestioned  relationships,  while  they 
include  the  least  possible  amount  of  theory. 

Chemical  Notation. — I  would  offer  a  few  addi- 


April  8, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


803 


tional  sentences  respecting  chemical  notation.  All 
teachers  of  chemistry,  including  the  authors  of  nearly 
every  modern  manual,  with  remarkable  unanimity 
have  relinquished  the  old  system  of  notation,  that 
which  was  exclusively  employed  in  the  British  Phar¬ 
macopoeia  of  1864,  and  have,  to  a  greater  or  less  ex¬ 
tent,  adopted  the*  new.  In  the  present  (1867)  Phar¬ 
macopoeia  the  new  notation  is  represented  by  for¬ 
mulae  printed  in  Egyptian  type  (KN  Oa),  the  old  by 
formulae  in  Homan  (KO,NO-l;  a  course  suggested 
by  the  unsettled  condition  of  the  subject  at  the  time 
this  Pharmacopoeia  was  published.  It  is  to  be  ex¬ 
pected  that  the  next  British  Pharmacopoeia — still  I 


“  representing  accurately,  yet  with  caution,  the  ad¬ 
vancement  made  in  chemistry  and  pharmacy  ”  ( vide 
Preface),  and  reflecting  the  settled  practice  of  scien¬ 
tific  chemists — will  employ  the  usual  chemical  sym¬ 
bols  as  expressive  of  the  new  atomic  weights  (O  =  16) 
to  the  exclusion  of  the  old  (O  =  8),  and  will  alto¬ 
gether  discard  the  hypothesis  of  the  constitution  of 
salts  involved  in  such  formula)  as  KO,NOs,  or  (ac¬ 
cepting  the  new  atomic  weights)  K20,N205,  using 
only  the  less  theoretical  formulae  (e.g.  KN  03)  which 
are  now  employed  by  the  majority  of  teachers.  The 
following  formulae  will  further  illustrate  what  has 
just  been  stated  : — 


Old  and  New  Chemical  Formula:. 


Old  atomic 

Old  atomic 

New  atomic 

New  atomic 

New  atomic 

weights  and 

weights  and  weights  with 

weights  with 

weights  with 

dualistic 

binary 

dualistic 

binary 

unitary 

hypothesis. 

hypothesis. 

hypothesis. 

hypothesis. 

hypothesis. 

ko,no5 

k,no6 

k2o,n2o5 

K,  N  03 

KNO, 

ko,co2 

k,co3 

k2o,co2 

Ko,C03 

K2co3 

MgO,  S03 

Mg,  S  04 

MgO,  SO, 

Mg,  S  04 

MgS04 

HgCl 

Hg  Cl 

HgCl2 

HgCl2 

Hg  Cl2 

K,  39  ;  Mg,  12  ; 

Hg,  100 ; 

N,  14 ;  0,8;  C,6; 

S,  16;  Cl,  35'5. 

K,  39  ;  Mg,  24; 

Hg,200; 

N,  14;  0,16;  C,12 

;  S,  32  ;  Cl, 35' 

■5. 

Nitre . 

Pearlasli  (anhydrous)  . 

Epsom  salt  (anhydrous) 

Corrosive  sublimate  .  . 

Old  atomic  weights  .  . 

New  atomic  weights  .  . 

Little  more  need  be  said  in  favour  of  the  exclusive 
employment  of  modern  chemical  notation  in  future 
British  Pharmacopoeias.  Arguments  for  or  against 
the  atomic  and  other  theories  and  hypotheses  con¬ 
cerning  the  constitution  of  salts  on  which  this  nota¬ 
tion  is  based  would  be  out  of  place  in  this  paper. 
The  old  system  is  given  up  by  chemists ;  the  new  is 
already  officially  recognized  by  the  Council  under 
whose  authority  the  Pharmacopoeia  is  issued,  and  by 
the  various  examining  Boards,*  and  is  adopted  in 
educational  works  on  chemistry. 

These  are  sufficient  reasons  for  justifying  us  in 
the  expectation  of  seeing  the  new  notation,  if  any, 
alone  employed  in  the  third  British  Pharmacopoeia. 
Tliis  much  on  chemical  notation  it  was  desirable  to 
state;  for  it  is  inseparably  connected  with  the  chemi¬ 
cal  nomenclature  of  a  Pharmacopoeia.  Indeed,  nota¬ 
tion  and  nomenclature  should  obviously  harmonize, 
seeing  that  they  are  simply  different  methods  of  ex¬ 
pressing  the  thoughts  and  wants  of  everybody  re¬ 
specting  chemical  substances.  Formulae  are  more 
comprehensive  than  names,  and  convey  to  the  mind 
far  more  information,  but  they  are  intelligible  only 
to  the  educated  chemist.  Names  comprise  less 
knowledge,  but  are  more  or  less  understood  by 
all  and  suffice  for  general  purposes.  To  formulae, 
however,  we  look  to  ascertain  the  views  of  chemists 
concerning  the  constitution  of  chemical  compounds, 


*  Extracts  prom  Letters  to  the  Author. 

Royal  College  of  Physicians,  London.  “I  am  instructed 
to  say  that  the  Examiners  here  accept  either  notation.  While 
themselves  adopting  the  new,  they  are  unwilling  to  jeopar¬ 
dize  the  chances  of  those  who  have  been  educated  and  accus¬ 
tomed  to  the  old.” — Henry  Moody,  Secretary. 

Royal  College  of  Surgeons,  London.  “Only  in  the  Pre¬ 
liminary  Examination  is  chemistry  included.  The  new  system 
of  notation  is  adopted  by  the  Examiners.” — Edward  Trimmer, 
Secretary. 

The  Society  for  Apothecaries,  London.  “  Candidates  are 
allowed  to  use  the  old  or  the  new  notation,  according  as  they 
have  been  instructed.” — R.  H.  Robertson,  Secretary. 

The  Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Great  Britain.  “  The  new 
notation  is  recognized  by  the  Board,  but  candidates  having 
an  imperfect  knowledge  of  this  system  are  not  rejected  if  they 
possess  a  sufficient  acquaintance  with  the  old  notation.” — 
Elias  Bremridge,  Secretary. 


and  it  is  on  these  views  that  chemical  nomenclature 
is  founded. 

Disadvantages  attending  alterations  in  Nomencla¬ 
ture. — Thus  far  have  I  endeavoured  to  outline  the 
progress  of  chemistry  in  those  directions  which  affect 
chemical  nomenclature,  those  which  suggest  modifi¬ 
cation  in  the  chemical  names  of  pliarmacopceial  sub¬ 
stances.  Such  names  as  nitrate  of  potash  and 
sulphate  of  magnesia  are  unwarrantably  theoretic 
and  not  now  current  in  chemical  literature.  How 
can  these  and  similar  names  be  modified,  and  to 
what  extent  must  modification  be  carried?  Before 
answering  the  question  and  proposing  a  modified 
system  of  nomenclature,  I  would  allude  to  (a)  the 
alteration  of  chemical  names  as  involving  disadvan¬ 
tages,  and  (b)  the  properties  of  names.  The  disadvan¬ 
tages  are  obvious,  unquestionable,  and  to  be  avoided 
whenever  practicable.  Scientific  chemists,  those 
with  whom  originate  new  discoveries  of  specific  and 
generic  truths,  meet  with  these  difficulties  to  a  very 
small  extent.  Modification  and  extension  of  mental 
views  respecting  the  constitution  of  chemical  com¬ 
pounds  are  necessarily  accompanied  by  modification 
and  extension  of  the  language  in  which  those  views 
are  expressed;  hence  alterations  in  chemical  nomen¬ 
clature  are  naturally  met  with  in  the  original  memoirs 
recording  new  discoveries.  Indeed,  altered  nomen¬ 
clature  is  advantageous,  rather  than  the  opposite, 
while  confined  to  the  literature  of  original  research, 
for  it  assists  the  mind  hi  comprehending  new  truths. 
But  such  restriction  is  only  possible  for  a  time. 
Each  additional  discovery,  whether  relating  to  old 
substances  or  new,  gives  additional  impetus  to  the 
ever- advancing  waves  of  knowledge  until  the  old 
landmarks  have  to  be  removed  or  relinquished, 
and  reconstruction  becomes  inevitable.  Here  com¬ 
mence  difficulties  ;  for  while  alteration  in  language  is 
easy  and  convenient  to  followers  of  pure  science, 
because  a  natural  consequence  of  altered  mental 
views,  it  is  excessively  troublesome  and  inconvenient 
to  the  followers  of  applied  science,  who  have  to  en¬ 
tertain  the  alterations  first  and  the  reasons  after¬ 
wards. 

More  than  tliis,  most  serious  consequences  have 
sometimes  resulted  to  patients  from  one  medicine 


804 


TIIE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS 


[April  8,  1871. 


being  substituted  for  another,  solely  through  varia¬ 
tion  in  nomenclature.  But  I  need  say  nothing  fur¬ 
ther  on  this  head ;  it  has  already  been  adverted  to 
at  the  commencement  of  this  paper,  and  has  been 
fully  and  ably  treated,  either  specially  or  inciden¬ 
tally,  by  the  following  writers  on  pharmacopoeial 
nomenclature  : — 

Pharmaceutical  Journal:  Jacob  Bell,  Dr.  Paris, 
Dr.  Pereira,  Yol.  II.,  1st  Ser.,  pp.  369-374;  Mr.  E. 
Thompson,  Vol.  VIII.,  1st.  Ser.,  p.  3  ;  Mr.  A.  F. 
Haselden,  Vol.  I.,  2nd  Ser.,  p.  112  ;  “  C.  W.  M.”  and 
the  well-known  initials  “  C.  W.  Q.,”  Vol.  III.,  2nd 
Ser.,  p.  335  ;  Professor  Redwood,  Vol.  VI.,  2nd  Ser., 
p.  566  ;  in  Vol.  VII.,  2nd  Ser.,  “  On  the  Vegetable 
Drugs,”  by  Mr.  Daniel  Hanbury,  p.  96  ;  Mr.  Henry 
Deane,  p.  101;  Mr.  Proctor,  p.  381;  Mr.  T.  Lowe, 
p.  409;  Mr.  J.  C.  Brough,  Vol.  VIII.,  2nd  Ser., 
p.  214 ;  Mr.  J.  C.  Wilson,  Vol.  IX.,  2nd  Ser.,  p.  363. 

Properties  of  Names. — The  names  of  pharma¬ 
copoeial  chemicals  should  fulfil  certain  functions  or 
possess  definite  qualities,  positive  or  negative, 
namely, — 

1.  The  name  should,  as  far  as  possible  and  prac¬ 
ticable,  indicate  composition.  This  Lavoisierian 
principle  is,  as  I  have  already  shown,  one  of  neces¬ 
sity  as  well  as  expediency. 

2.  One  name  should  be  associated  with  only  one 
substance ;  but  the  converse  I  would  by  no  means 
urge,  namely,  that  one  substance  should  be  known 
by  only  one  name,  synonyms  being  useful  both  from 
a  theoretical  and  a  practical  point  of  view. 

3.  A  name,  even  if  fallen  out  of  use,  should  not 
be  transferred  to  a  substance  having  properties  dif¬ 
ferent  from  the  original  substance. 

4.  The  name  of  an  official  chemical  substance, 
that  is,  a  name  officially  recognized  in  national 
pharmacopoeias,  should  possess  the  minimum  of  in¬ 
stability.  This  quality  is  most  important.  Verbal 
changes  of  almost  any  kind  are  unpopular ;  changes 
in  chemical  nomenclature  have  done  much  to  retard 
the  progress  of  chemistry  amongst  the  people ;  but 
changes  in  the  names  of  pharmacopoeial  chemicals 
are  objectionable  in  the  interests  of  medical  practi¬ 
tioners,  their  patients  and  pharmacists. 

The  free  employment  of  Latin  and  Greek  nu¬ 
merals  in  a  chemical  name  was  strongly  advocated 
by  the  late  Professor  Miller.  But  though  highly 
useful  in  general  chemical  literature  for  indicating 
details  of  composition,  the  principle  is  too  dependent 
on  hypothesis  respecting  atomic  values  and  weights, 
and  too  susceptible  of  disturbance  caused  by  new 
discoveries  to  possess  the  element  of  permanence ; 
hence  it  must  be  avoided  in  pharmaceutical  che¬ 
mistry. 

5.  A  pharmacopoeial  name  should  admit  of  being 

either  easily  spoken  or  written,  both  in  the  full  and 
in  the  contracted  form,  in  modern  languages  and  in 
Latin.  ° 

6.  When  close  resemblance  between  two  salts  is 
indicated  by  identity  in  all  but  one  of  the  syllables 
of  their  names,  that  syllable  should  be  at  the  com¬ 
mencement  of  the  names  and  not  at  the  end,  where 
it  would  be  liable  to  be  omitted  by  a  prescriber. 
Indeed,  such  variations  are  often  indicated  with  most 
usefulness  by  a  separate  word  altogether,  confusion 
and  even  mischief  being  thereby  avoided.  Thus,  for 
calomel  and  corrosive  sublimate  the  names  subchlo¬ 
ride  of  mercury  and  perchloride  of  mercury  are 
greatly  to  be  preferred  to  mercurous  chloride  and 
mercuric  chloride  ;  for  a  physician,  in  -writing  a  pre¬ 


scription,  would  contract  the  former  to  hydr.  subchlor. 
and  hydr.  perehlor.,  which  are  still  sufficiently  dis¬ 
tinctive,  while  the  others  would  both  be  liable  to  be 
contracted  to  hyd.  chlor.,  and  a  patient  perhaps  be 
killed  by  corrosive  sublimate  instead  of  cured  by 
calomel.  So  green  iodide  of  mercury  and  red  iodide 
of  mercury  are  better  than  mercurous  iodide  and 
mercuric  iodide ,  or  green  sulphate  of  iron  and  persul¬ 
phate  of  iron  to  ferrous  sulphate  and  ferric  sul¬ 
phate  ;  any  greater  precision  that  may  be  desired 
being  given  by  chemical  formulae. 

7.  A  name  should  not  be  changed  for  mere  pur¬ 
pose  of  euphony,  real  or  fancied ;  thus,  clilorliydric 
for  hydrochloric. 

8.  Names  of  pharmacopoeial  chemicals  should  be 
consistent  with  each  other. 

9.  The  chemical  names  employed  in  pharmacy 
should  be  consistent  with  those  used  in  other 
branches  of  applied  chemistry,  and  with  the  lan¬ 
guage  of  scientific  chemistry  and  general  chemical 
literature.  I  sa3r  consistent,  certainly  not  identical. 
For  1  believe  the  time,  has  come  when ,  by  making  a 
few  slight  alterations  in  the  terminations  of  a  few  of 
our  chemical  names,  we  shall  have  a  system  of  phar¬ 
maceutical  nomenclature  which,  while  perfectly  har¬ 
monious  with,  is  quite  independent  of,  scientific 
chemical  nomenclature,  and  which  therefore  contains 
greater  elements  of  permanence  than  any  yet  adopted. 
These  alterations,  be  it  noted,  are  in  the  termina¬ 
tions  of  the  names  only ;  hence  the  contracted 
names  almost  universally  used  by  physicians  and 
pharmacists  would  in  no  way  be  interfered  with, — 
an  argument  which,  if  somewhat  left-handed,  must 
be  admitted  to  be  one  of  great  strength. 

(To  be  continued.) 


A  DISINFECTING  APPARATUS. 

BY  A.  W.  GERRARD. 

Tliis  little  machine  is  intended  to  supersede  the 
clumsy  and  inconvenient  method  recently  proposed 
for  the  elimination  of  carbolic  acid  vapour  and  sul¬ 
phurous  acid  gas,  by  means  of  heated  fire-shovels, 
warming-pans,  saucepans,  etc.  Its  parts  consist  of 


the  body,  which  is  about  the  size  of  a  quart  measure, 
its  sides  being  fine  wire  gauze ;  it  has  likewise  a  lid 


April  8, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


805 


of  the  same  material.  In  the  interior  is  a  spirit- 
lamp,  and  two  tin  pans,  one  for  the  reception  of  sul¬ 
phur,  the  other  for  carbolic  acid. 

The  method  of  using  it  with  sulphur  is  to  place 
one  of  the  pans,  containing  some  of  that  article,  upon 
the  rests  provided  for  it,  and  ignite  ;  the  fumes  will 
readily  diffuse  themselves.  The  combustion  of  this 
substance  is  accelerated  if  the  spirit-lamp  or  a  night- 
light  is  burnt  beneath  it. 

Carbolic  acid  can  be  used  in  the  same  manner  as 
sulphur,  but  either  the  lamp  or  a  night-light  must 
be  burnt ;  it  is  best  applied  in  the  undiluted  form. 

The  advantages  of  this  apparatus  are,  that  it  does 
away  with  the  necessity  of  sprinkling,  and  causes  a 
more  general  diffusion  of  vapour,  thus  attacking  the 
floating  germs  and  purifying  the  atmosphere.  It 
can  be  placed  between  bedding  with  perfect  safety, 
and  there  is  no  occasion  for  the  patient’s  removal 
while  this  is  being  done.  It  is  well  suited  for  deo¬ 
dorizing  rooms,  closets,  hospitals,  veliicles,  and  all 
purposes  for  which  disinfection  is  required,  being 
clean,  simple,  and  efficient  in  its  action. 

Another  use  to  which  it  may  be  applied  is  that  of 
a  child’s  food  warmer.  If  a  night-light  be  lit  and 
placed  in  the  interior,  a  tea-saucer  or  other  vessel 
containing  the  food,  placed  over  it,  will  keep  warm 
until  the  light  has  burnt  out. 


M0RPHI0METRIC  METHODS  COMPARED. 

BY  WILLIAM  PROCTER,  JUN. 

The  question,  “  What  is  the  best  process  for 
assaying  opium  to  determine  its  morphia  strength, 
suited  for  adoption  into  the  United  States  Pharma¬ 
copoeia  ?”  was  accepted  by  the  writer  at  the  Chicago 
meeting. 

Reflection  on  the  query  suggests  that  it  is  not  so 
much  what  is  the  best  analytical  process,  as  to  de¬ 
cide  what  process  is  best  suited  for  practical  use  by 
druggists  and  pharmaceutists  in  determining  the 
morphia  value  of  opium  for  the  purposes  of  the 
Pharmacopoeia.  Those  who  take  the  view  that  the 
process  should  embody  the  nicest  and  most  refined 
manipulations  of  the  analytical  laboratory,  may  not 
accept  this  view ;  but  when  it  is  understood  that  a 
large  majority  of  the  persons  needing  its  use  are  not 
analytical  chemists,  it  is  believed  that  simplicity, 
united  to  a  fair  degree  of  accuracy,  is  more  avail¬ 
able  than  extreme  accuracy,  beyond  the  reach  of 
most  apothecaries,  applied  in  a  complex  process. 

So  many  able  chemists  have  published  processes, 
some  of  which  are  well  known  in  connection  with 
their  names, — as  Staples’  process,  Mohr’s,  Guiller- 
mond’s,  etc., — that  the  ground  would  appear  to  be 
well  examined.  The  process  of  Staples  is  that  of 
the  United  States  Pharmacopoeia.  Its  point  is  in 
the  employment  of  alcohol  to  retain  the  colouring 
matter  in  solution  during  the  precipitation  of  the 
morphia,  and  in  mixing  the  ammoniacal  precipitant 
also  with  alcohol.  The  process  of  Mohr  avails  itself 
of  the  selective  power  of  boiling  lime-water  to  reject 
narcotina  and  retain  morphia  in  solution.  Both  of 
these  processes '  extract '  the  opium  with  cold  water. 
GuiUermond’s  process  employs  alcohol  of  71  per 
cent,  to  extract  the  opium,  which  is  then  precipitated 
by  ammonia.  The  precipitate,  as  in  Staples’  pro¬ 
cess,  contains  narcotina. 

One  difficulty  in  extracting  the  portion  of  opium 


soluble  in  water  is  the  caoutchoucoid  matter  which 
tends  to  resist  its  solvent  action.  The  idea  of  em¬ 
ploying  benzine,  or  light  coal  oil,  to  remove  this  as 
well  as  the  free  narcotina,  has  been  suggested  by 
Albert  E.  Ebert  for  auother  purpose,  and  has  been 
used  b}T  Dr.  Fliickiger  in  his  examination  of  opium. 
It  is  believed  that  the  preliminary  use  of  tins  sol¬ 
vent  in  opium  assays  may  be  usefully  adopted. 

Believing  that  the  best  way  to  arrive  at  a  solu¬ 
tion  of  the  query  was  to  tiy  several  processes  with 
the  same  solution  of  opium,  a  sample  of  nearly  dry 
opium,  weighing  300  grains,  was  triturated  to  coarse 
powder,  and  then  rubbed  with  repeated  portions  of 
water  until  finely  divided,  and  macerated  in  six 
times  its  weight  of  water  for  twelve  hours,  then  per¬ 
colated  on  a  filter  until  the  washings  were  nearly 
colourless.  The  united  liquids  (amounting  to  4500 
grains)  were  divided  into  three  equal  portions,  each 
representing  100  grains  of  opium. 

No.  1. — The  solution  was  evaporated  with  mode¬ 
rate  heat  to  half  a  fluid  ounce,  mixed  with  an  equal 
bulk  of  alcohol  (sp.  gr.  835),  filtered  through  a  small 
filter,  and  the  latter  washed  with  a  little  diluted 
alcohol.  50  minims  of  solution  of  ammonia  (sp.  gr. 
960)  was  mixed  with  2  fluid  drachms  of  alcohol. 
One-half  of  this  was  added  to  the  alcoholic  solution 
of  opium  with  agitation,  and  allowed  to  stand  six 
hours,  when  the  remainder  of  the  ammonia  was 
mixed  in,  and  the  vessel  permitted  to  rest  for  twenty- 
four  hours.  The  crystalline  matter  deposited  on  the 
interior  of  the  vial  being  detached,  the  contents 
were  at  intervals  poured  on  a  small  tared  filter,  and 
the  crude  morphia  washed,  first  with  diluted  alcohol 
and  then  with  water,  dried  at  120°,  and  weighed. 
The  product  was  9 '75  grains.  This  was  treated 
several  times  with  boiling  non-alcoholic  ether,  and 
the  ethereal  solution,  evaporated  in  a  small  tared  cap¬ 
sule,  gave  0'31  grain  of  crystalline  prisms,  equivalent 
to  0'31  per  cent,  of  narcotina,  and  9'44  per  cent,  of 
morphia  in  the  opium  examined. 

No.  2. — This  portion  was  treated  with  solution  of 
subacetate  of  lead  till  it  ceased  to  be  precipitated, 
the  precipitate  separated  on  a  filter  and  well  washed, 
the  filtrate  treated  with  diluted  sulphuric  acid  by 
drops  to  separate  the  excess  of  lead  as  sulphate,  and 
filtered.  The  clear  solution  by  moderate  heat  is  re¬ 
duced  to  half  a  fluid  ounce,  mixed  with  its  bulk  of 
alcohol,  filtered,  and  the  filtrate  mixed  with  50  grains 
of  solution  of  ammonia  containing  alcohol,  in  two 
portions  added  half  an  hour  apart,  and  allowed  to 
stand  twenty-four  hours.  The  morphia  was  depo¬ 
sited  in  large  distinct  crystals,  very  few  of  which 
were  attached  to  the  interior  of  the  vessel.  They 
were  collected  on  a  filter,  washed  with  diluted  alco¬ 
hol  and  water,  dried,  and  weighed  8'75  grains. 
This,  repeatedly  boiled  in  ether  and  the  ethereal 
liquids  evaporated,  afforded  but  a  trace  of  crystalline 
matter,  too  small  to  weigh  and  yet  distinctly  visible 
in  minute  prisms. 

No.  3. — This  was  mixed  with  60  grains  of  lime, 
previously  hydrated  and  boiled  for  fifteen  minutes, 
the  decoction  filtered  hot  from  the  dregs,  and  these 
well  washed  with  hot  water.  The  filtrate,  slightly 
acidulated  with  muriatic  acid,  was  evaporated  to 
half  a  fluid  ounce,  mixed  with  its  bulk  of  alcohol 
and  filtered ;  an  excess  of  alcoholic  ammonia  was 
added  and  mixed,  and  the  vessel  set  aside  for 
twenty-four  hours.  The  coloured  crystalline  powder 
and  the  portion  attached  as  a  crust  to  the  interior 
were  carefully  collected  on  a  filter,  washed,  dried 


800 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  8,  1871. 


and  weighed,  affording  10  grains  of  impure  morphia, 
more  coloured  than  either  of  the  other  results. 

The  use  of  alcohol  in  this  process  is  intended  to 
retain  the  colouring  matter,  yet  did  not  succeed  in 
producing  a  light-coloured  morphia. 

The  last  result,  according  to  Mohr,  should  contain 
no  narcotina,  yet,  when  boiled  to  exhaustion  in  ether 
deprived  of  alcohol,  the  ethereal  liquid  afforded  O' 75 
grain  of  narcotina,  making  the  result  of  morphia 
9  25  per  cent.,  and  narcotina  0  75  per  cent. 

It  will  appear,  by  a  comparison  of  these  results, 
that  the  Staples’  process,  whilst  less  complicated  than 
either  of  the  others,  yields  a  purer  product  than  the 
Mohr  process,  and  a  slightly  larger  yield  of  mor¬ 
phia  ;  whilst  the  process  No.  2,  which  is  suggested 
by  the  writer,  affords  the  purest  and  best  crystal¬ 
lized  morphia,  hut  is  more  complicated  than  either 
of  the  others.  Hence  it  is  the  first,  or  Staples’  pro¬ 
cess  that  is  to  he  preferred,  modified  by  treating  the 
powdered  opium  with  warm  benzine  as  a  preliminary 
operation.  The  final  success  is  greatly  aided  by 
conducting  the  evaporation  of  the  liquor  at  a  mode¬ 
rate  temperature,  which  renders  the  product  less 
contaminated  with  colouring  matter.  By  reducing 
the  bulk  before  precipitation  to  the  extent  noted 
above,  the  precipitation  of  the  morphia  is  facilitated, 
wdiilst  the  crystals  are  equally  light-coloured.  By 
using  benzine  beforehand,  the  extraction  of  the  opium 
will  be  more  thoroughly  accomplished. — Amer.  Jouni. 
Phurm.,  from  the  Proc.  Amer.  Pharm.  Assoc.  1870. 


THE  HONEY  TRADE  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 
DOMESTIC  AND  FOREIGN. 

BY  B.  F.  STACY,  CHARLESTOWN,  MASS. 

This  article,  which  twenty-five  years  ago  formed  quite 
an  insignificant  article  of  trade  in  this  country,  is  rapidly 
increasing  year  after  year  in  domestic  production ;  whilst 
the  amount  imported  is  growing  smaller.  While  less  is 
used  for  pharmaceutical  purposes,  it  nevertheless  is 
rapidly  increasing  in  domestic  use.  It  is  also  used 
largely  by  confectioners,  and  is  an  ingredient  of  many 
of  the  fancy  beers  which  have  recently  become  in 
vogue.  Some  dealers  maintain  that  the  honey  which 
is  the  product  of  a  cold  climate  is  vastly  superior  to  that 
of  warmer  latitudes,  which  seems  almost  a  contradiction 
to  nature,  as  Southern  lands  teem  with  flowers  far  ex¬ 
celling  as  a  base  of  supplies  to  the  bees.  One  sample 
that  the  writer  saw  from  Canada  excelled  all  others  in 
whiteness,  clearness  and  density.  Samples  from  New 
Lork,  Minnesota,  Vermont  and  New  Hampshire  ranked 
next  in  order.  The  only  way  to  obtain  pure  honey  is  to' 
buy  it  in  the  comb,  as  nearly  all  the  strained  honey  sold 
in  the  market  bears  unmistakable  evidence  of  adultera¬ 
tion  ;  this  is,  however,  so  well  known  and  so  easily  dis¬ 
covered  that  it  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  dwell  on  it,  and 
as  the  adulteration  is  mostly  sugar  and  occasionally  a 
little  starch,  to  give  it  a  whitish  appearance,  it  is  at 
least  harmless  ;  would  that  all  the  adulterations  now  in 
use  were  equally  so.  Out  of  ten  samples  purchased  of 
different  dealers,  eight  of  them  gave  plain  evidence  of 
having  been  tampered  with,  the  remaining  two  being 
samples  from  Cuba,  right  from  the  custom-house. 

“In  1860  the  total  product  of  honey  of  the  United 
States,  reported,  was  23,366,357  lb.”  “  New  York  stood 
at  the  head  of  the  list,  with  2,369,751  lb.,  followed  in 
order  by  North  Carolina,  2,055,969  lb.;  Kentucky, 
1,768,692  lb. ;  Missouri,  1,585,983  lb.  ;  Tennessee, 
1,519,390  1b.;  Ohio,  1,459,601  1b.;  Virginia,  1,431,591 
lb.;  Pennsylvania,  1,402,128  1b.;  Illinois,  1,346,803  1b.; 
and  Indiana,  1,224,489  lb. ;  all  other  States  falling  be¬ 
low  1,000,000  lb.”  “Since  the  census  of  1860  the  sta¬ 


tistics  obtained  have  been  partial  and  fragmentary ;  the 
statistics  of  Massachusetts  for  1865  showed  an  increase 
of  26  per  cent.,  and  that  of  Iowa  for  same  year  an  in¬ 
crease  of  22  per  cent,  over  the  figures  of  1860.”  “  In 

the  winter  of  1868-69  the  Department  of  Agriculture 
sent  out  circulars  to  known  apiarians  in  most  of  the 
States,  and  received  returns  from  489  counties  in  32 
states.  The  aggregate  number  of  hives  reported  was 
722,385.”  “Estimating  for  counties  not  reporting,  and 
and  making  due  allowance  for  the  fact  that  many  of 
the  counties  reporting  were  giving  special  attention  to 
bee  culture,  2,000,000  of  hives  were  deemed  as  low  a 
figure  as  the  returns  would  warrant.  Allowing  151b. 
of  surplus  honey  to  the  hive  (about  two-thirds  of  the 
average  reported),  the  total  product  in  1868  would  be 
30,000,000  pounds,  which  at  an  average  valuation  of 
22^  cents  per  pound,  wrould  give  $6,750,000.”  “  In 

1868  the  quantity  of  honey  imported  was  212,176  gal¬ 
lons;  value,  $117,172;  of  wThich  90,452  gallons,  value 
$50,569,  were  re-exported.  A  very  small  quantity  of 
domestic  honey  was  exported  the  same  year.  These 
figures  show  conclusively  that  an  immense  trade  in 
honey  has  been  built  up  in  this  country  and  is  constantly 
increasing,  which  will  eventually  supersede  all  necessity 
of  the  importation  of  any  from  the  West  Indies.”  A 
small  township  in  Minnesota  reports  262  hives ;  from 
these  hives  2826  pounds  of  surplus  honey  was  taken  in 
the  season  of  1869.  When  we  consider  that  the  cost 
of  production  is  merely  nominal,  it  will  be  seen  that  it 
pays  to  keep  bees. 

The  writer  respectfully  acknowledges  his  indebtedness 
to  the  Commission  of  Agriculture  for  the  statistical  in¬ 
formation. — American  Journal  of  Pharmacy ,  from  the 
Proceedings  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association , 
1870. 


NOTE  ON  CONFECTION  OF  SENNA. 


BY  JOHN  W.  EHRMAN. 


This  preparation,  when  properly  made,  is  an  excellent 
laxative — for  habitual  constipation  superior,  perhaps,  to 
any  other  remedy.  It  is  not  in  such  general  use  among 
physicians  or  the  public  as  it  is  entitled  to,  and  this  pro¬ 
bably  arises  from  the  fact  that  much  of  the  confection  of 
senna  of  the  market  has  little  or  no  resemblance  to  the 
officinal  article,  and  is  comparatively  worthless.  Phar¬ 
maceutically  considered  the  officinal  process  yields  a  re¬ 
sult  which  is  unobjectionable,  save  in  two  particulars; 
first,  the  presence  of  the  powders  of  senna  and  coriander 
(and  especially  of  the  latter,  which  is  most  difficult  to 
prepare)  imparts  a  degree  of  “  grittiness  ”  which  is  dis¬ 
agreeable  to  the  patient,  giving  the  impression  that 
“  dirt”  is  present ;  secondly,  the  consistence  of  the  con¬ 
fection  when  evaporated  to  the  specified  weight,  varies 
as  prepared  from  different  specimens  of  drugs,  and  is 
sometimes  too  thin,  when  the  mass  is  apt  to  go  into  fer¬ 
mentation.  Fortunately,  these  defects  may  be  easily  re¬ 
medied.  In  our  opinion,  the  purging  cassia,  consider¬ 
ing  that  it  is  so  difficult  to  obtain,  might  well  be  omitted 
and  substituted  by  an  additional  quantity  of  senna,  par¬ 
ticularly  as  there  can  be  no  advantage  in  multiplying 
the  number  of  substances  having  similar  therapeutical 
properties,  in  tins  or  other  preparations.  We  have  used 
the  modified  formula  given  below  (the  coriander  also 
being  omitted  and  substituted  by  ginger),  which  is  free 
from  the  objections  we  have  mentioned.  It  is  much 
more  agreeable  to  take  than  the  officinal  confection,  and 
is  equally  efficient : — 


Take  of  Tamarinds  .... 

Figs,  bruised . 

Prunes,  sliced  .... 
Fluid  Extract  of  Senna 
„  „  Ginger  . 

Sugar  . 

Water,  a  sufficient  quantity. 


20  parts. 


20 

15 

10 

1 

30 


99 

11 

91 

19 

19 


April  8, 187L] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


807 


Digest  in  a  close  vessel,  by  means  of  a  water  bath,  the 
tamarinds,  figs  and  prunes  in  ten  parts  of  water  for 
three  hours ;  separate  the  coarser  portions  with  the 
hands,  and  press  the  pulpy  mass  by  rubbing,  first 
through  a  coarse  sieve,  and  then  through  a  very  fine  one. 
Mix  the  residue  with  four  parts  of  water,  and,  having 
•digested  the  mixture  for  a  short  time,  treat  it  as  before, 
and  add  the  product  to  the  pulpy  liquid  first  obtained, 
evaporate  to  a  syrupy  consistence  over  a  water  bath,  add 
the  sugar  and  continue  the  heat  for  twenty  minutes,  or 
until  the  sugar  is  dissolved  ;  then  remove  from  the  bath, 
add  the  fluid  extracts  of  senna  and  ginger,  and  mix 
thoroughly. — The  Chicago  (U.S.J  Pharmacist. 


SUMBULUS  MOSCHATUS. 

Inspector  Lungershausen,  of  Moscow,  reports  in  No.  27 
of  TVochenschr.  f.  Gdrtnerei  unci  Pjlanzenkunde,  that  the 
hitherto  unknown  plant  yielding  musk,  or  sumbul  root, 
is  now  in  bloom  in  the  botanical  gai'den  at  Moscow. 
When  the  Russians  occupied  Bucharia,  the  plant  was 
discovered  and  several  roots  were  sent  to  Moscow,  of 
which  but  one  arrived  in  good  condition.  This  new 
umbelliferous  plant  it  was  hoped  would  produce  fruit 
-and  thus  be  propagated  in  Europe.  The  root  has  been 
used  in  Russia  with  considerable  success  in  Asiatic 
cholera. 

Professor  C.  Koch  regards  the  plant  as  a  very  interest¬ 
ing  one,  on  account  of  the  strong  musk  odour  of  its 
root,  and  because  the  musk  deer  lives  in  the  same  re¬ 
gions.  The  root  has  been  known  for  about  thirty-five 
years,  without,  however,  sustaining  the  high  reputation 
it  has  gained  in  Russia,  so  that  it  belongs  already  to  the 
-obsolete  remedies.  It  is  now  mainly  employed  in  per¬ 
fumery  in  place  of  the  high-priced  musk.  There  may, 
possibly,  be  two  musk  roots,  both  indigenous  to  Central 
Asia,  one  being  exported  through  Russia,  the  other  from 
the  East  Indies. 

The  musk  root  contains  about  9  per  cent,  of  a  soft 
oleoresin,  obtainable  by  ether,  which  in  contact  with 
water  has  the  odour  of  musk.  It  contains  a  peculiar 
acid,  sumbulic  acid,  which  appears  to  differ  from  ange¬ 
lic  acid  and  from  umbelliferone.  It  has  been  long 
(known  that  the  root  belongs  to  an  umbelliferous  plant ; 
flowers  and  fruits  have  sometimes  been  found  with  it. 
The  latter  differing  from  those  of  other  Umbcllifcrcc , 
were  made  the  type  of  a  new  genus,  and  the  plant  was 
named  Sumbulus  moschatus. — Hager’s  Ph.  Centralhalle, 
1870,  Nos.  39,  367,  368. 


CHINESE  PRODUCTS. 

In  the  Reports  of  her  Majesty’s  Consuls  in  China,  for 
1869-1870,  there  are  some  interesting  particulars  re¬ 
specting  the  production  of  several  substances  which  are 
of  interest  to  the  drug  trade. 

Fiijst  in  interest  among  these  stands  opium.  The  in¬ 
creasing  consumption  of  this  ding  is  now  largely  met 
by  native  cultivation.  The  native  opium  is  not  in 
favour  with  those  who  have  acquired  a  taste  for  the 
foreign  drug ;  but  it  is  thought  that  the  adulteration 
practised  in  the  preparation  of  the  Indian  opium  for 
smoking,  may  tend  eventually  to  make  the  cheap  native 
article  more  popular.  This  adulteration  is  said  to  con¬ 
sist  of  the  admixture  of  various  kinds  of  vegetables, 
ground  nuts,  and  sometimes  even  human  hair.  It  is 
probable,  however,  that  the  Indian  opium,  from  its 
superior  qualities,  will  always  hold  its  own  at  the  point 
now  reached  as  an  article  of  luxury  against  the  native 
grewn.  There  seems  little  doubt  that  the  actual  con¬ 
sumption  of  opium  in  China  is  increasing ;  the  Consul  at 
Iviu-kiang  reports  that  “  the  number  of  dens  for  the  ac- 
.commodation  of  opium  smokers  has  considerably  in¬ 
creased  within  the  past  few  years while  the  Consul  at 
Eoo-chow-foo  reports  that  “  opium  smoking  is  still  the 


fashion  of  the  elegant  and  wealthy  classes  of  society  in 
China,  no  matter  in  what  rank ;  it  is  the  pastime  of  the 
literary  man  and  the  mandarin,  as  well  as  of  the  mer¬ 
chant.” 

The  following  information  concerning  the  cultivation 
of  opium  in  the  province  of  Sze-chuen,  the  result  of  per¬ 
sonal  observation  and  inquiries  made  on  the  spot,  is  given 
in  the  report  of  the  delegates  of  the  Shanghae  Chamber 
of  Commerce  on  the  trade  of  the  Upper  Yang-tze: — 

“Cultivation  of  opium  is  very  profitable,  and  is,  con¬ 
sequently,  increasing  everywhere.  The  climate  of  Sze- 
chuen  is  warm  and  the  season  early,  so  that  at  least  two 
crops,  and  probably  three,  are  taken  off  the  ground, 
annually.  Where  the  poppy  is  grown  it  is  tho  first  crop 
ot  the  year,  and  only  occupies  the  ground  three  months, 
competing  with  wheat  or  beans  or  some  of  the  other 
cereal  crops  which  come  to  maturity  in  the  spring.  Tho 
seed  is  sown  in  the  first  moon,  say  February.  It  is  in 
flower  during  April,  and  the  juice  is  nearly  all  gathered 
by  about  the  middle  of  May,  when  the  stalks  are  taken 
up  for  burning.  Before  this,  the  succeeding  crop  has 
generally  been  sown,  if  it  is  a  dry  crop,  such  as  Indian 
corn,  tobacco  or  corn,  and  the  green  leaves  of  the  young- 
crop  appear  as  soon  as  the  dry  stalks  of  the  poppy  are 
cleared  away.  Rice  may  also  be  seen  growing  on  the 
field  where  the  poppy  has  been,  as  the  means  of  damming 
up  and  irrigating  the  arable  patches  on  the  hillsides  on 
which  the  poppy  grows  are  always  at  hand,  and  the  time 
of  sowing  the  rice  was  found  to  correspond  exactly  with 
the  time  when  the  opium  fields  had  been  cleared.  Very 
little  labour  seems  to  be  needed  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
poppy,  and  the  gathering  of  the  juice  may  be  the  work 
of  the  children  of  the  family.  The  incision  in  the  pod  is 
made  in  the  morning,  and  in  the  evening  the  juice  that 
has  oozed  out  is  scraped  off  into  a  cup,  when  it  gradually 
becomes  black,  and  a  few  days’  exposure  to  the  sun 
renders  it  dry  enough  to  be  packed.  The  poppy  seed  is 
used  for  food.” 

For  commercial  purposes  three  kinds  of  opium  are 
particularly  worthy  of  notice,  although  as  far  as  soil  and 
climate  are  concerned  there  seems  scarcely  any  limit  to 
its  cultivation.  These  are  the  growths  of  Szechucn 
(called  Chuen-tu),  Yunnan  (called  Nan-tu),  and  Kwei¬ 
chow  (called  (Kweichow-tu). 

The  quality  and  strength  of  the  Szechuen  opium 
varies  according  to  the  district.  Fungtoo  opium  is  said 
to  yield  75  per  cent,  of  extract ;  Foo,  70  per  cent ;  Kai, 
80  per  cent.,  but  these  are  vague  native  estimates.  Tho 
opium  ordinarily  produced  in  Eastern  Szechuen  is  from 
a  large  variety  of  poppy  with  white  petals ;  but  at 
Patung-hien  it  is  obtained  from  a  smaller  kind  with  pink- 
tipped  white  petals,  and  is  dearer  than  the  other.  Pink 
flowers  are  common  amongst  the  white,  and  there  are, 
doubtless,  many  slight  differences  in  the  quality  of  the 
drug  which  smokers  recognize. 

Yunnan  is  said  to  produce  more  opium  than  Szechuen. 
This  opium,  called  Nan-tu,  yields  80  per  cent,  of  extract, 
is  of  finer  quality  and  possesses  better  medicinal  qualities 
than  the  Szechuen,  and  is  longer  in  consuming.  It  is 
imported  in  large  quantities  into  Szechuen,  where  it  is 
used  by  wealthy  people. 

The  Kweichow  opium  resembles  the  Szechuen.  It 
was  formerly  largely  imported  in  the  latter  province  ; 
but  since  the  cultivation  of  the  opium  has  extended  there, 
the  demand  has  fallen  off. 

Rhubarb  is  collected  and  sold  in  the  Kwan-hien  dis¬ 
trict.  The  price  is  about  40  taels  per  picul.  (The  tael 
is  equal  to  about  6s. ;  the  picul  133^  lb.)  The  finest 
quality  is  the  produce  of  Szechuen.  A  distinction  has 
usually  been  made  between  the  Szechuen  and  the  Shansi 
rhubarb,  but  it  is  doubtful  whether  it  be  a  real  one.  The 
shipment  to  London  during  1869  amounted  to  1290 
piculs,  against  1910  piculs  of  the  previous  year. 

Safflower,  or  Hung-hwa,  is  another  valuable  product 
of  Szechuen.  The  best  kind  is  called  Kwa-tsze-hwa. 
The  flowers  are  rolled  together  and  cut  in  slices  about  a 


$08 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  8,  1871. 


mace  in  weight,  which  are  formed  into  square  blocks. 
The  second  quality  is  called  Ko-tsze-hung-hwa,  and  is 
made  from  the  heart  of  the  flower  dried.  An  inferior 
description  grows  in  Honan.  A  small  trial  shipment 
has  been  made  to  Marseilles,  hut  the  result  is  not  known. 

White  wax,  insect  wax  or  pela,  is  also  produced  in 
Szechuen  in  large  quantities.  The  insect  which  makes 
the  wax  is  found  in  Yunnan  on  a  tree,  which  is  merely 
designated  the  Chung-sliu,  or  insect  tree.  On  this  tree 
the  insect  forms  a  case  containing  hundreds  of  eggs, 
which  is  removed  in  the  fourth  moon  and  placed  on  the 
la-shu  (wax-tree)  in  Szechuen.  The  insects  come  out  of 
the  case  and  commence  secreting  the  wax  round  them¬ 
selves,  which  operation  is  finished  by  the  seventh  moon, 
when  the  insect  dies  and  the  wax  is  collected.  It  bears 
a  high  market  value,  and  is  prepared  at  a  trifling  cost. 
The  journey  into  Yunnan  to  procure  the  insect  includes 
all  that  can  be  called  expense  or  labour  in  the  production. 
The  insect  does  the  rest,  and  the  proprietors  have  to  do 
little  more  than  take  the  wax  off  the  tree  when  it  is 
ready  ;  yet  500,000  taels  would  probably  be  a  small  esti¬ 
mate  of  the  value  of  this  wax  exported  annually  from 
Szechuen.  It  is  found  also  in  Yunnan  and  Kweichow, 
but  probably  the  Szechuen  product  is  the  best  in  quality, 
as  it  certainly  is  the  most  abundant. 

The  quantity  of  cassia  has  increased  year  by  year 
since  1864,  when  the  shipment  was  13,800  piculs  against 
40,600  piculs  in  1869.  The  export  of  musk,  too,  during 
1869,  was  slightly  in  excess  of  that  of  1868.  On  the 
contrary,  the  shipments  of  gall-nuts  in  1869,  amounted 
to  not  quite  half  the  quantity  of  the  previous  years. 

Sulphur  is  produced  in  considerable  quantities  in  the 
hills  near  Yun-yang-hien,  and  a  small  quantity  in  Kwei¬ 
chow.  Kweichow  is  also  rich  in  mines  of  lead,  copper, 
and  especially  of  quicksilver,  which  latter  were  being 
worked  with  great  advantage  previously  to  the  late  re¬ 
bellions,  but  have  not  since  been  resumed. 

Tung  oil  is  one  of  the  largest  products  of  Szechuen. 
The  tung-shu  tree  grows  everywhere  throughout  the 
province,  preferring  steep  places  with  patches  of  good 
soil.  The  export  of  this  article  from  Hankow  by  vessels 
under  foreign  flags  was,  in  1868,  174,000  piculs.  Other 
oils  are  produced,  as  tsai-yew  (cabbage  or  rape  oil),  che- 
ma-yew  (tilseed  oil),  hwa-yew  (ground-nut  oil)  and  cha- 
yew  (tea  oil),  but  these  are  unimportant  as  articles  of 
commerce. 


LIME-JUICE  AND  PEPSINE.* 

Besides  pepsine  and  pancreatine,  now  much  used  as 
aids  to  digestion,  there  are  certain  food  solvents  equally 
worthy  of  attention,  which  have  hitherto  been  some¬ 
what  neglected.  The  gastric  juice,  besides  certain  saline 
matters,  contains  a  free  acid  and  the  organic  substance 
called  pepsine,  both  of  which  are  secreted  by  a  healthy 
stomach  during  a  meal,  and  are  essentially  necessary  for 
its  digestion.  While  pepsine  always  constitutes  the  fer- 
mentive  principle,  the  acid  of  the  gastric  fluid  varies, — 
hydrochloric,  phosphoric,  lactic  and  acetic  acids  having- 
been  found  therein.  The  gastric  juice  is  in  itself  anti¬ 
septic,  and  this  antiseptic  virtue  appears  to  depend 
greatly  upon  the  acid  portion.  A  few  grains  of  pepsine 
moistened  with  water  and  submitted  to  a  temperature  of 
100°,  will  in  a  short  time  ferment  and  emit  a  strong, 
almost  urinous,  odour.  But  if  a  few  drops  of  hydro¬ 
chloric,  phosphoric  or  acetic  acid  be  previously  added, 
no  such  smell  will  be  perceived.  The  solvent  effect  of 
certain  acids  upon  albuminoids  may  be  shown  by  coarsely 
bruising  a  small  portion  of  meat  and  adding  sufficient 
water  to  cover  it,  acidulated  with  either  of  the  above- 
mentioned  acids,— hydrochloric  acid  especially.  If  the 
mixture  be  then  digested  at  the  heat  of  the  stomach  for 
three  or  four  hours,  it  will  be  found  that  although  not 

*  Abstracted  from  a  paper  on  “Food  Solvents,”  by  Dr. 
Archer  Farr,  published  in  the  Medical  Times  and  Gazette 
March  18th,  1871. 


reduced  to  such  a  homogeneous  as  it  would  have  been 
by  pepsina  porci,  nevertheless  the  solvent  action  of  tho 
acid  is  manifest. 

In  order  to  test  the  comparative  digestive  powers  of 
hydrochloric  acid  and  pepsine,  Eberle  suspended  a  solid 
piece  of  meat  in  a  solution  of  each.  He  found  that,  in  a 
few  hours,  the  piece  of  meat  in  the  pepsine  solution  had 
wholly  disappeared,  but  the  piece  in  the  acid  solution 
remained.  Although  this  experiment  proves  that  pep¬ 
sine  constitutes  the  digestive  principle  of  the  gastric 
juice,  it  does  not  prove  that  the  acid  is  not  a  food 
solvent.  Pepsine  dissolves  by  virtue  of  its  fermentive 
action.  There  is  evidently  an  attracting  affinity  between 
the  ferment  and  the  albuminoid  resembling  chemical 
affinity,  inasmuch  as  a  new  compound  is  the  result. 
The  acid,  possessing  no  such  affinity,  acting  on  such  a 
complex  texture  as  a  piece  of  meat,  and  that  in  a  state 
of  rest,  could  not  be  expected  more  than  partially  to 
exert  its  solvent  action  under  circumstances  so  unfavour¬ 
able  to  its  action.  But  if  the  changes  that  food  under¬ 
goes  previous  to  and  on  entering  the  stomach — by  masti¬ 
cation  and  by  the  powerful  muscular  action  of  the  stomach 
— be  taken  into  consideration,  it  will  be  readily  perceived 
that  it  is  here  that  the  acid  of  the  gastric  juice,  if  it  act 
at  all  as  a  food  solvent,  would  be  found  to  exercise  its 
power.  This  may  explain  the  modus  operandi  of  lime- 
juice  and  other  acids  in  curing  or  preventing  scurvy. 
All  the  acids  that  have  been  discovered  in  the  gastric- 
juice  are,  without  exception,  antiscorbutics. 

Dr.  Farr  considers  that  indigestion  also  may  arise 
almost  or  quite  as  frequently  from  a  want  of  acid  as. 
from  a  deficiency  of  pepsine  in  the  gastric  juice.  He 
has  noticed  many  times  that  -where  pepsine  alone  has 
failed  to  relieve  dyspepsia,  the  exhibition  of  one  of  the 
non-astringent  acids  has  been  successful.  Believing 
that  the  prophylactic  virtue  of  lime-juice  and  other  acids 
depended  upon  their  direct  action  as  food  solvents,  it 
occurred  to  him  that  an  excellent  artificial  gastric  juice 
might  be  made  by  allowung  lime-juice  to  represent  the 
acid  portion.  Accordingly  he  had  a  mixture  of  lime- 
juice  and  pepsine  prepared,  which  he  reports  that  he 
and  many  of  his  medical  friends  have  used  successfully' 
in  cases  of  dyspepsia.  He  sayrs  that  lime-juice  with 
either  pepsine  or  pancreatine  makes  a  very  elegant  pre¬ 
paration,  is  very  convenient  for  prescribing,  and  may  be 
made  to  keep  almost  any  length  of  time  without  dete¬ 
rioration. 


KTote  on  Milk- Ash. — Mr.  J.  A.  Wanklyn  writes  as 
follows : — The  statement  current  in  the  text-books  that 
caseine  is  kept  in  solution  in  milk  by  means  of  alkali, 
with  which  it  forms  a  kind  of  salt,  cannot  be  correct,, 
inasmuch  as  I  find,  on  examining  the  ash  left  on  incine¬ 
rating  milk,  that  there  is  no  appreciable  quantity  either 
of  alkali  or  of  alkaline  carbonate.  The  experiment  was 
made  on  two  specimens  of  milk,  one  from  Hertfordshire, 
and  the  other  from  Essex.  I  evaporated  down  ten 
grammes  of  milk  in  a  small  platinum  dish,  incinerated 
the  residue,  and  then  moistened  the  ash  with  water,, 
added  drops  of  very  dilute  standard  sulphuric  acid,  and 
observed  the  reaction  on  litmus-paper.  After  the  addi¬ 
tion  of  0’5  cubic  centimetre  of  standard  acid,  the  action 
on  litmus-paper  is  not  alkaline ;  and  on  the  addition  of 
1  c.  c.  the  reaction  is  distinctly  acid.  0'5  c.  c.  corre¬ 
sponded  to  2\  milligr.  IL  8  04.  Milk-ash,  if  it  contain 
any  alkali  at  all,  does  not  contain  so  much  as  2  per  cent, 
of  carbonate  of  soda,  and  the  ratio  of  alkali  to  caseine 
cannot  be  so  large  as  2  to  400. — British  Medical  Journal. 

Prevention  of  “  Pitting  ”  in  Small-pox. — The 

Media  Azadirachta ,  L.,  an  Indian  plant,  is  used  by7  the 
natives  to  cover  the  bodies  of  patients  recovering  from 
small-pox,  as  it  is  supposed  to' prevent  the  mark  from 
becoming  permanent.  Dr.  Wight  says  of  this  tree 
that  “  the  leaves  beaten  into  a  pulp  and  externally  ap¬ 
plied  act  like  a  charm  in  removing  the  most  intractable 
form  of  psora  and  other  pustular  eruptions.” — A atureK 


April  8,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


800 


I' 


THE 

PROPOSED  POISON  REGULATIONS. 


MEETING  OF  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS 
AT  SHEFFIELD. 

On  Thursday  evening,  March  30th,  a  Meeting  of 
Chemists  and  Druggists  was  held  at  the  rooms  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  and  Chemical  Association,  to  consider 
the  regulations  which  have-  been  proposed  for  adoption 
by  the  Pharmaceutical  Council  as  to  the  storing,  dis¬ 
pensing  and  sale  of  poisons. 

Mr.  J.  T.  Dobb,  the  President  of  the  Association, 
occupied  the  chair,  and  stated  that  if  the  regulations 
were  passed  at  the  meeting  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
in  May,  they  would  be  sent  to  the  Privy  Council  and 
would  very  soon  afterwards  become  law.  Many  chemists 
and  druggists  thought  the  regulations  were  too  stringent, 
that  they  would  interfere  with  their  privileges,  that 
chemists  and  druggists  were  sufficiently  well  educated 
and  qualified  to  dispense  poisons,  and  that  special  legis¬ 
lation  for  them  was  not  required.  The  subject  was  a 
most  important  one,  and  the  meeting  had  been  called  in 
order  to  obtain  an  expression  of  opinion  from  the  chemists 
and  druggists  of  the  town. 

Mr.  Wilson  moved,  ‘‘That  this  meeting  regards  the 
proposed  compulsory  regulations  for  the  storing  and 
■dispensing  of  poisons  as  an  unwarrantable  interference 
with  the  freedom  and  independence  of  the  trade,  uncalled 
for  by  the  public  and  without  leading  to  their  greater 
safety ;  and  further,  this  meeting  desires  to  impress  upon 
the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  the  serious 
personal  and  legal  responsibility  already  resting  upon 
chemists  and  druggists,  which  naturally  makes  them 
adopt  the  most  careful  precautionary  measures  to  prevent 
accidents  ;  and  as  every  business  is  so  varied  and  peculiar 
in  its  character  and  circumstances,  each  principal  should 
xemain  at  liberty  to  make  such  arrangements  as  will 
best  suit  his  own  case  to  secure  safety,  and  therefore 
the  proposed  legislation  upon  the  subject  would  be  un¬ 
wise,  inconvenient  and  unnecessary  ;  and  this  meeting, 
while  recognizing  with  respect  the  Pharmaceutical 
Council,  pledges  itself  to  oppose  energetically  the  pro¬ 
posed  compulsory  poison  regulations.” 

This  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Stevenson. 

Mr.  Preston  objected  to  the  proposed  regulations, 
but  at  the  same  time  thought  some  regulations  were 
needed,  and  that  certain  regulations  might  be  suggested 
which  every  member  of  the  trade  could  agree  with.  Ho 
objected  to  the  clause  in  the  resolution — “  and,  therefore, 
any  definite  legislation  upon  the  subject  would  be  un¬ 
wise,  inconvenient  and  unnecessary” — and  moved,  as  an 
amendment,  the  proposition  with  the  clause  omitted. 

This  was  seconded. 

Mr.  Radley  was  opposed  to  the  regulations,  and  sug¬ 
gested  that  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  should  send  to 
every  member  of  the  trade  recommendations  as  to  poisons 
which  they  might  adopt  or  not,  as  they  thought  fit. 

This  was  objected  to  by  Mr.  Hudson,  who  considered 
that  if  they  laid  themselves  open  to  receiving  recom¬ 
mendations,  the  Privy  Council  would  think  the  regula¬ 
tions  were  necessary. 

Mr.  Cubley  spoke  in  favour  of  the  resolution,  and  ex¬ 
pressed  his  opinion  that  if  the  regulations  were  enforced, 
innumerable  accidents  with  poisons  would  arise  within 
twelve  months  after  their  coming  into  operation. 

After  some  further  discussion,  at  the  suggestion  of  Mr. 
Cocking,  Mr.  Wilson  consented  to  alter  his  resolution 
so  that  the  words  “  the  proposed  legislation  ”  were  in¬ 
serted  instead  of  the  words  “any  definite  legislation.” 

Mr.  Preston  then  withdrew  his  amendment,  and  the 
resolution  as  amended  was  carried  unanimously. 

Mr.  Radley  proposed,  “  That  in  the  opinion  of  this 
meeting  the  best  means  to  prevent  accidents  in  the 


storing,  dispensing  and  selling  of  poisons  is  the  im¬ 
proved  education  of  the  chemists  and  druggists,  secured 
by  the  Pharmacy  Act,  1868,  which  will  accomplish  all 
that  is  required  for  the  protection  and  safety  of  the 
public.” 

Mr.  Ward  seconded  the  motion,  and  after  some  dis¬ 
cussion  it  was  adopted  unanimously. 

Mr.  Cocking  moved  and  Mr.  Preston  seconded,  “  That 
partial  legislation  on  the  subject  of  poisons  is  impolitic 
and  unjust,  and  that  any  regulations  which  do  not  apply 
equally  to  surgeons,  apothecaries,  veterinary  surgeons, 
hospitals  and  dispensaries  cannot  be  deemed  satisfactory 
to  this  meeting.”  N 

The  motion  met  with  cordial  approval;  and  in  the 
course  of  a  brief  discussion  upon  it  the  Chairman  ex¬ 
pressed  his  opinion  that  some  surgeons  required  to  be 
looked  after  more  than  chemists  and  druggists,  as  they 
allowed  their  medicines  to  be  dispensed  by  the  boys  who 
looked  after  their  horse  and  carriage,  who  cleaned  their 
boots,  and  who  filled  up  the  remainder  of  their  time  by 
making  themselves  useful  about  the  house.  The  motion 
was  unanimously  adopted,  as  was  another  to  the  effect 
that  the  resolutions  be  forwarded  to  the  Pharmaceutical 
Council. 

A  cordial  vote  of  thanks  to  the  Chairman  concluded 
the  proceedings. 


MEETING  OF  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS  AT 
BIRMINGHAM. 

A  Meeting,  convened  by  the  Midland  Counties  Che¬ 
mists’  Association,  was  held,  March  31st,  in  the  Com¬ 
mittee  Room  of  the  Temperance  Hall,  Temple  Street,  to 
consider  the  proposed  new  regulations  with  respect  to 
the  sale  of  poisons.  The  chair  was  taken  by  Mr. 
Arblaster,  President,  and  there  were  present  Messrs. 
Palmer,  Dymond,  Crookes,  Miller,  Sanderson,  Brown, 
Price,  Grieves,  Lucas  and  others. 

In  commencing  the  proceedings,  the  Chairman  said 
the  question  was  one  of  great  importance  to  all  of  them. 
It  would  be  in  the  recollection  of  most  present  that  at 
the  meeting  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  in  May  last 
the  proposed  poison  regulations  were  the  great  subject 
of  discussion.  The  regulations  which  were  then  sub¬ 
mitted  were  negatived  after  very  considerable  discus¬ 
sion;  but  a  resolution  was  passed  in  the  following 
terms “  That  the  subject  be  taken  into  consideration 
by  the  incoming  Council ;  and  that  a  further  report  be 
made  to  the  next  Annual  Meeting.”  From  that  time — 
from  May  last  till  the  present  time — he  believed  the  sub¬ 
ject  had  continually  engaged  the  attention  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society,  and  they  had  again  proposed  regula¬ 
tions  somewhat  similar  in  character  to  those  of  last 
year ;  but  they  had  tacked  on  a  clause  relating  to  the 
dispensing  of  liniments,  embrocations  and  lotions  in  par¬ 
ticular-shaped  bottles.  With  that  exception,  the  regu¬ 
lations  were  the  same  as  before.  They  now  stood  as 
follows : — 

“  1.  In  the  keeping  of  poisons,  each  bottle,  vessel,  box 
or  package  containing  a  poison  shall  be  labelled  with 
the  name  of  the  article,  and  also  with  some  distinctive 
mark  indicating  that  it  is  poison.  2.  Also  in  the  keep¬ 
ing  of  poisons,  each  poison  shall  be  kept  on  one  or  other 
of  the  following  systems,  viz.  ( a )  in  a  bottle  or  vessel 
tied  over,  capped,  locked  or  otherwise  secured  in  a  man¬ 
ner  different  from  that  in  which  bottles  or  vessels  con¬ 
taining  ordinary  articles  are  secured  in  the  same  ware¬ 
house,  shop  or  dispensary;  or  ( b )  in  a  bottle  or  vessel 
readily  distinguishable  by  touch  from  the  bottles  or 
vessels  in  which  ordinary  articles  are  kept  in  the  same 
warehouse,  shop  or  dispensary ;  or  (c)  in  a  bottle,  vessel, 
box  or  package  kept  in  a  room  or  cupboard  set  apart  for 
dangerous  articles.  3.  All  liniments,  embrocations  and 
lotions  containing  poison  shall  be  sent  out  in  bottles 


S10 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  8,  1871. 


readily  distinguishable  by  touch  from  ordinary  medicine 
bottles,  and  there  shall  also  he  affixed  to  each  such 
bottle  (in  addition  to  the  name  of  the  article,  and  to  any 
particular  instructions  for  its  use)  a  label,  giving  notice 
that  the  contents  of  the  bottle  are  not  to  he  taken  inter¬ 
nally.” 

The  arguments  which  had  been  used  against  the  pro¬ 
posed  regulations  were  many.  Some  said  that  a  higher 
state  of  education  would  be  a  better  safeguard.  But 
they  had  continually  seen  that  mistakes  had  occurred 
among  the  best  educated  and  in  the  best  regulated  esta¬ 
blishments,  and  he  did  not  think  they  must  look  to  a 
higher  educational  standard  for  the  sole  means  of  pre¬ 
venting  those  mistakes.  Besides  which,  some  years 
must  necessarily  elapse  before  that  high  standard  of 
education  could  make  itself  felt  among  the  thousands 
of  chemists  in  the  country.  Another  objection  was  that 
the  surgeons  and  medical  practitioners  generally,  in¬ 
cluding  veterinary  surgeons,  were  not  subjected  to  the 
same  regulations  as  were  proposed  by  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society ;  but  this,  he  thought,  was  not  worthy  of  con¬ 
sideration,  for  ho  was  of  opinion  that  if  the  sale  of 
poisons  became  the  subject  of  legislative  interference,  no 
person,  surgeon  or  otherwise,  would  be  allowed  to  retail 
poisons  without  placing  himself  under  the  regulations. 
Again,  objections  had  been  made  to  the  mode  of  storing 
poisons ;  but  this  might  be  obviated  by  the  adoption  of 
a  particular  description  of  bottles,  and  taking  care  that 
those  bottles  were  properly  labelled  and  placed  in  a  par¬ 
ticular  spot.  If  such  things  as  the  alkaloids,  strychnine, 
morphia,  etc.  were  put  into  a  cupboard,  apart  from  the 
general  run  of  medicines,  it  would  be  the  means  of  pre¬ 
venting-  many  of  the  mistakes  which  had  occurred. 
Looking  at  the  correspondence  which  had  taken  place 
between  Dr.  Simon  and  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  it 
seemed  to  him  that  something  must  be  done.  Dr.  Simon 
wrote  to  the  Registrar  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  to 
the  following  effect : — ■ 

“  My  Lords  believe  it  to  have  been  the  opinion  of 
Parliament  that  proper  regulations  in  this  matter  are 
required  for  the  protection  of  the  public,  and  as  more 
than  two  years  have  elapsed  since  the  passing  of  the 
Act  without  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  having  pro¬ 
posed  any  such  regulations,  my  Lords  think  it  right  to 
inquire  whether  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  intends, 
within  any  time  you  can  specify,  to  propose  such  regu¬ 
lations  to  their  Lordships.  They  direct  me,  thex-efore, 
to  request  that  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  give  me, 
at  your  earliest  convenience,  the  information  required 
by  their  Lordships.” 

If  that  was  so,  if  something  must  be  done,  they  had  far 
better  do  what  they  could  to  regulate  themselves,  rather 
than  have  regulations  forced  upon  them  by  the  Govern¬ 
ment.  He  had  drawn  up,  and  would  submit  for  the  con¬ 
sideration  of  the  meeting,  the  following  resolution  : — - 

“  That  from  the  correspondence  between  Dr.  Simon 
and  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  it  appears 
that  her  Majesty’s  Privy  Council  insists  on  regulations 
being  framed  for  the  vending  and  dispensing  of  poisons ; 
and  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  meeting  that  the  regulations 
proposed  (with  the  exception  of  the  third)  by  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society  are  such  as  will  be  the  least  objection¬ 
able  to  chemists,  and  at  the  same  time  satisfy  the  re¬ 
quirements  of  the  Privy  Council.” 

Several  g-entlemen  present  expressed  an  opinion  that 
the  regulations  would  be  found  to  work  very  harshly 
upon  the  trade,  and  suggested  many  minor  difficulties 
which  would  present  themselves,  especially  in  the  poorer 
districts. 

Mr.  Dymond  said  he  was  glad  of  the  present  meeting, 
because  he  valued  a  free  expression  of  opinion  on  a  ques- 
1  ion  of  such  importance  as  this.  He  had  read  with  in¬ 
terest  the  reports  of  the  various  meetings  which  had  been 
held  throughout  the  country,  and  had  been  impressed, 


with  what  seemed  to  him,  an  absence  of  such  an  im¬ 
partial  view  of  the  subject  as  would  enable  chemists 
justly  to  appreciate  the  difficulties  of  the  question.  No> 
doubt  chemists,  like  many  other  classes  of  the  community, 
were  mainly  influenced  by  what  was  convenient^  them¬ 
selves  in  the  conduct  of  their  affairs.  This  was  not 
unnatural,  but  they  ought  at  the  same  time  not  to  ignore 
what  was  passing,  or  had  passed,  outside  their  own  circle. 
The  Pharmaceutical  Council,  upon  whom  had  devolved 
the  duty  of  suggesting  these  regulations,  contained  men 
of  long  experience  and  high  standing  in  the  trade.  They 
had,  with  special  opportunities,  watched  the  progress  of 
Pharmacy  Acts  and  legislation  on  poisons,  and  had  la¬ 
boured  in  their  behalf  for  many  years.  These  men  knew 
intimately  what  the  determination  of  the  Government 
was,  that  it  absolutely  demanded  regulations  to  be  ob¬ 
served  by  chemists  in  the  use  of  poisons.  They  saw  that 
the  press  demanded  it  (and  Mr.  Reynolds  was  quite  mis¬ 
taken  when  ho  declared  that  only  two  papers  had  spoken 
on  the  subject),  and  they  knew  that  the  public  approved 
it.  These  various  considerations  must  be  allowed  weight 
in  considering  the  question.  Regulations  of  some  kind, 
would,  no  doubt,  have  been  contained  in  the  last  Phar¬ 
macy  Act  had  not  the  Privy  Council,  on  the  urgent, 
recommendation  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Council,  that 
they  were  the  best  judges  of  what  was  possible  and  prac¬ 
ticable  to  chemists,  surrendered  to  them  the  duty  of 
framing  regulations.  The  Pharmaceutical  Council,  there¬ 
fore,  were  bound  by  the  highest  considerations  of  honour 
to  suggest  such  regulations  as  they  conscientiously  be¬ 
lieved  to  be  just,  as  well  as  of  value  to  the  trade.  Very 
little  objection,  indeed,  had  been  made  to  the  regulations 
themselves.  It  appeared  that  most  chemists  adopted 
them  in  one  or  more  ways.  What  the  chemists  objected 
to  was  compulsion  and  interference.  He  believed  the  fear 
of  interference  was  groundless.  But  subjection  to  law  was 
not  an  evil.  The  whole  of  our  liberties  were  based  upon 
the  restraints  of  law,  which  prevented  one  man  from 
injuring  another.  It  was  illegal  for  one  person  to  injure 
another  with  smoke  or  an  offensive  smell ;  but  these 
were  imaginary  nuisances  compared  with  that  of  one 
man  poisoning  another,  or  even  with  the  possibility  of 
doing  so  with  an  unprotected  array  of  poisons.  The 
present  fact,  however,  before  them  was  this, — the  Go¬ 
vernment  were  determined  that  chemists  should  observe 
some  regulations  in  the  keeping  and  dispensing  of  poi¬ 
sons.  They  had  now  the  opportunity  of  regulating- 
themselves.  Would  they  accept  this  golden  chance,  or 
by  waiting  a  little  longer  have  to  submit  to  Government 
regulations  with  results  which  no  one  could  anticipate  ? 

The  resolution  was  seconded  by  Mr.  J.  Lucas,  who  said 
he  could  see  no  hardship  in  having  to  comply  with  the 
regulations.  For  himself  he  did  not  think  they  were 
necessary  ;  but  if  regulations  were  to  be  framed,  he  be¬ 
lieved  that  those  proposed  were  as  easy  as  any  that  could 
be  devised  for  the  general  good.  There  was  much  mis¬ 
conception  abroad  as  to  the  sale  of  poisons,  some  persons 
still  believing  that  the  sale  of  paregoric  and  pennyworths, 
of  laudanum  and  the  like,  must  be  in  particular  poison- 
bottles,  and  not  in  bottles  or  vessels  that  their  customers 
might  bring  for  the  articles. 

No  other  resolution  being  proposed,  it  was  submitted 
to  the  meeting,  and  declared  to  be  carried  by  a  majority 
of  eight  votes  to  four  votes. 

Some  of  the  dissentients  said  that  the  resolution  would 
not  express  the  general  feeling  of  the  trade  in  Birming¬ 
ham. 

The  Chairman'  said  he  had  advertised  the  meeting  in 
the  daily  newspapers,  and  had  sent  out  120  post  cards  of 
invitation.  Those  who  were  absent  could  not  find  fault, 
and  he  thought  they  would  be  right  in  assuming  that 
many  of  them  were  satisfied  with  the  regulations. 

The  proceedings  terminated  with  a  vote  of  thanks  to 
the  Chairman. 


April  8,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


811 


Cfje  IJjmrmateutol  Journal. 

- ♦ - - 

SATURDAY,  APRIL  8,  1871. 


Communications  for  this  Journal,  ancl  boohs  for  review ,  etc., 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

Instructions  from  Members  and  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Brem- 
ridge,  Secretary ,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  JF.C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street ,  London ,  IF  Envelopes  indorsed  “  JPharm.  Journ.” 


THE  LAST  STEP  IN  POISON  REGULATION. 

Between  the  Scylla  and  Charybclis  of  displeasing 
the  governing  body  of  our  Society  and  of  becoming 
obnoxious  to  the  reproach  that  we  do  not  purvey  in¬ 
formation  with  such  promptitude  as  befits  this  age 
of  progress,  we  are  irresistibly  impelled  to  commit 
what  may  be  deemed  a  breach  of  the  regulations 
with  which  we  ought  to  comply.  But  as  the  occa¬ 
sion  is  one  that  we  may  fairly  term  exceptional,  we 
trust  that  the  balance  of  opinion  will  be  in  favour  of 
our  disobedience, — since  the  majority  of  our  mem¬ 
bers,  as  well  as  the  great  body  of  the  trade,  must  be 
anxious  to  hear  of  anything  taking  place  in  reference 
to  a  question  that  interests  them  so  profoundly  as 
that  of  poison  regulations. 

We  understand  that  in  the  Council  Meeting  of 
last  Wednesday,  Mr.  Sutton’s  motion  that  the  sense 
of  the  members  be  taken  on  the  question  at  issue, 
was  followed  up  by  an  amendment,  proposed  by  Mr. 
Dymond,  to  the  effect  that  the  Council  perceiving  the 
opinion  entertained  by  members  of  the  Society  to  be 
so  decidedly  antagonistic  to  the  application  of  com¬ 
pulsory  regulations,  should,  therefore,  suggest  the 
issue  of  the  proposed  regulations  simply  as  recom¬ 
mended  by  the  Society.  This  amendment  was  put 
to  the  vote  and  carried  with  only  one  dissentient 
vote — that  of  the  President. 

We  may  at  least  congratulate  our  readers  that 
the  question  which  has  for  months  agitated  our 
Society  and  the  entire  trade  is  thus  finally  disposed 
of.  There  is  no  longer  any  ground  for  hostility.  We 
trust  that  we  may  also,  by  anticipation,  congratulate 
them  on  the  removal  of  all  reason  for  future  anta¬ 
gonism  between  town  and  country,  and  on  the  pos¬ 
sibility  of  provincial  and  metropolitan  energies  being 
hereafter  united  to  promote  the  general  interest  of 
pharmacy  rather  than  directed  to  hostile  efforts. 

We  have  now  learnt  to  appreciate  the  power  of  the 
country  members,  and  may  therefore  take  this  oppor¬ 
tunity  to  urge  upon  them  not  to  neglect  its  exercise 
in  all  matters  which  affect  the  advancement  of  the 
trade. 

And  though  last,  not  least,  we  would  most  sin¬ 
cerely  express  our  regret  that  the  attainment  of  the 
result  we  now  record  involves  a  loss  which  it  may 


be  long  before  the  Society  can  make  good — we  refer 
to  the  resignation  of  the  Presidency  by  Mr.  Sand- 
ford,  which  followed  immediately  on  the  carrying 
of  Mr.  Dymond’ s  amendment.  Mr.  Sandford’s 
labours  for  the  good  of  pharmacy  are  far  too  well 
known  and  appreciated  by  the  trade  to  need  any 
reiteration  here,  and  we  feel  confident  that  few  will 
hear  of  his  resignation  without  profound  regret  that 
his  strong  sense  of  duty  has  rendered  it  impossible 
for  him  to  be  any  longer  the  leader  and  representa¬ 
tive  of  British  pharmacists. 


MEDICAL  DRUGGISTS. 

We  commend  to  the  consideration  of  our  medical 
contemporaries  the  state  of  things  described  in  Dr. 
Campbell  Black’s  paper*  as  existing  in  Glasgow', 
more  especially  since  the  reverse  of  the  picture  was- 
not  long  since  prominently  dwrelt  upon  in  the  columns 
of  the  Lancet  in  a  manner  which,  we  think,  w'as 
wanting  in  fairness  to  the  general  body  of  pharma¬ 
cists. 

Having  but  recently  expressed  our  opinions  on 
“the  relations  of  iiliarmacy  to  medical  practice,”! 
we  will  not  again  enter  upon  the  arguments  which 
wre  then  adduced  in  answrer  to  the  complaints  of  our 
contemporary  on  the  subject  of  counter-prescribing 
by  druggists.  We  are  no  advocates  of  the  practice, 
but  while  wre  know  that  under  some  conditions  it 
would  be  studiously  avoided,  we  cannot  shut  our 
eyes  to  the  fact  that  under  other  conditions,  pro¬ 
bably  of  most  frequent  occurrence,  it  is  unavoidable 
and,  if  only  for  that  reason,  not  properly  a  ground  for 
reproach  by  medical  practitioners.  Indeed,  we 
believe  that  all  reasonable  men,  whether  medical 
or  pharmaceutical,  would  agree  in  the  opinion  that 
no  precise  rule  can  be  laid  down  in  this  matter  as  to 
what  is  proper  and  what  improper,  but  that  under 
the  guidance  of  mutual  respect  and  consideration 
betw’een  medical  men  and  pharmacists,  the  individual 
judgment  of  those  concerned  is  the  best  means  of 
preventing  any  interference  wdtli  the  proper  functions- 
of  either  class. 

The  circumstances  described  by  Dr.  Campbell 
Black,  however,  are  of  such  a  nature  as  not  to  be 
regulated  by  any  such  principle  of  action.  The 
keeping  of  open  surgeries — as  they  are  called — or, 
pi  plainer  terms,  druggists’  shops,  by  medical  men 
is  an  open  invasion  of  the  pharmacist’s  business,  not 
a  mere  shifting  of  the  demarcation  between  that 
business  and  the  sphere  of  the  medical  men,  deter¬ 
mined  by  local  conditions.  We  would  willingly 
entertain  the  idea  that  the  practice  described  by 
Dr.  Black  wras  confined  to  Glasgow';  but  though  we 
know  this  is  not  the  case,  wre  trust  that  city  is  un¬ 
equalled  in  regard  to  the  extent  of  the  evil. 


*  See  p.  812.  t  See  p,  410. 


812 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  8,  1871. 


MEDICINAL  PLANTS. 

There  are  but  few  plants  with  which  we  are  ac¬ 
quainted  that  have  not,  at  some  time  in  the  course 
of  their  history,  had  a  reputed  value  for  the  cure  of 
some  complaint  or  disease.  This  is  notably  the  case 
in  India  and  other  parts  of  the  tropics.  If  good  for 
no  other  purpose,  they  are  invariably  said  to  cure 
snake-bites.  The  reason  why  so  many  Indian 
plants  of  reputed  medicinal  value  are  not  used  in 
this  country  is,  we  suspect,  not  so  much  on  account 
of  the  want  of  a  proper  trial  of  their  properties,  as 
to  the  fact  of  our  having  already  articles  with  simi¬ 
lar  properties  of  recognized  and  proved  value.  Con¬ 
sidering  the  number  of  members  of  the  medical  pro¬ 
fession  now  scattered  over  India,  we  might  reasonably 
suppose  that  as  good  a  test  of  the  properties  of  medi¬ 
cinal  plants  can  be  made  there  as  in  England . 

Occasionally,  however,  new  medicinal  agents  are 
brought  to  this  country  from  various  parts  of  the 
world, — one  of  the  most  recent  of  these  introduc¬ 
tions  which  has  come  to  our  notice  being  a  packet 
of  sticks  of  irregular  length,  each  about  three-quar¬ 
ters  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  with  a  thick  wliitish- 
grey  bark.  They  are  sent  under  the  name  of  condor 
or  vulture  cane,  and  are  said  to  be  a  valuable  medi¬ 
cine  in  cases  of  cancer,  in  the  Republic  of  Ecuador. 
The  plants,  we  are  told,  grow  in  the  province  of 
Loja,  but,  as  nothing  but  the  mere  sticks  have  been 
received,  we  are  unable  to  give  even  a  clue  to  their 
botanical  affinities. 

Professor  Frankland,  in  his  latest  report  to  the 
Registrar- General,  states  that  the  quality  of  the 
Thames  water  has  greatly  improved  during  the  past 
month,  but  that  the  best  water  supplied  from  that 
source  still  contained  more  than  four  times  as  lame 

O 

an  amount  of  organic  elements  as  that  present  in 
water  obtained  from  wells  sunk  into  the  chalk. 

In  a  letter  which  we  publish  elsewhere,  Professor 
Frankland  corrects  the  statement  in  Mr.  Erin’s 
paper,  that  he  regards  the  amount  of  nitrates  in  "water 
as  necessarily  the  result  of  the  oxidation  of  sewage 
matter,  and  points  out  that  the  data  given  by  him  as 
representing  antecedent  contamination  of  water  are 
reported  under  the  general  heading  of  “  Previous 
Sewage  or  Animal  Contamination  (Estimated).” 

As  a  proof  that  it  is  not  intended  to  allow  the 
new  law  for  sustaining  the  better  education  of 
apothecaries  in  Baltimore  to  become  a  dead  letter, 
it  is  stated  that  a  druggist  doing  business  in  the 
western  section  of  that  city  has  been  arraigned  upon 
the  charge  of  prosecuting  his  business  without  having 
undergone  the  examination  prescribed  by  the  Act  of 
last  year,  and  fined  fifty  dollars  and  costs. 

In  reference  to  the  paper  on  “  Sumbulus  Moscha- 
tus,”  at  page  807,  we  may  remark  that  a  specimen 
of  the  plant  yielding  tliis  drug  has,  we  believe,  been 
received  from  St.  Petersburg,  and  is  now  growing 
at  Kew  Gardens,  but  has  not  }Tet  flowered. 


fnrtmriiil  tansartions. 

GLASGOW  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

The  usual  Fortnightly  Meeting  of  this  Association  was 
held  in  Anderson’s  University,  204,  Georges  Street,  on  the 
22nd  of  March;  Mr.  Thomas  Davison,  President,  in  the 
chair.  There  was  a  very  large  attendance,  several  medical 
gentlemen  being  on  the  platform:  D.  Frazer,  Esq.,  P.C., 
and  Messrs.  Beattie,  Scott,  Peacock,  Symington  and 
Nelson  were  elected  members.  On  the  motion  of  Mr. 
J.  Fergus  Wilson,  seconded  by  Mr.  W.  R.  Kermath, 
a  large  and  influential  Committee  was  appointed  to  en¬ 
deavour  to  extend  the  early  closing  movement  to  all 
branches  of  the  drug  trade  in  Glasgow  and  neighbour¬ 
hood. 

D.  Campbell  Black,  Esq.,  M.D.,  was  then  introduced, 
and  delivered  an  address  on  “  The  Relations  of  Prescriber 
to  Dispenser.” 

Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen, — As  a  practitioner,  a 
comparative  stranger  in  this  city,  the  request  that  I 
should  deliver  a  short  address  before  the  members  of 
this  Association  I  received  as  a  compliment.  I  received 
it  in  that  spirit,  on  the  reflection  that  it  emanated  from 
a  Society  representing  now  a  large  and  intelligent  sec¬ 
tion  of  the  community,  and  one  entitled  at  the  hands  of 
the  medical  profession  to  the  most  courteous  considera¬ 
tion.  If  I  ask  myself  on  what  grounds  I  merited  this 
honour,  I  confess  to  feeling  somewhat  puzzled  for  an 
explanation,  if  it  be  not,  perchance,  that  a  report  of  my 
pugnacity — which  let  me  do  myself  the  justice  to  inform 
you  much  belies  me — has  reached  you,  and  that  towards 
the  termination  of  your  course  of  lectures  you  w^ere  soli¬ 
citous  of  a  little  mental  relaxtion.  Be  that  as  it  may,  it 
is  nevertheless  true  that  I  hold,  on  some  medical  ques¬ 
tions  opinions  which  some  are  pleased  to  term  extrava¬ 
gant  and  Utopian.  Whether  they  are  entitled  to  he  so 
designated  it  is  not  for  me  to  say,  while  I  am  satisfied 
that  they  are  the  expression  of  a  sincere  conviction,  and 
that,  as  such,  I  have  never  exhibited  timidity  in  pro¬ 
claiming  them,  hut  have  ever  regarded  personal  conse¬ 
quences  as  of  subsidiary  moment.  Well,  Gentlemen, 
you  have  heard  that  in  the  culinary  achievement  of 
making  hare  soup,  the  first  part  of  the  process  is  to 
catch  your  hare ;  and  having  in  an  evil  hour,  perchance 
for  myself,  acceded,  so  to  speak,  to  the  flattering  dal¬ 
liance  of  your  secretary,  the  question  of  a  subject  pre¬ 
sented  itself.  In  this  several  things  had  to  be  con¬ 
sidered.  Prominently  among  these,  the  limited  time  at 
my  disposal ;  and,  again,  the  desirability  that  I  should 
endeavour  to  entertain  you  "with  a  subject  mutually 
familiar.  Perhaps  you  are  aware,  some  of  you  at  least 
are,  that  in  a  paper  which  I  read  before  the  Medico- 
Chirurgical  Society  of  this  city  in  October  last,  and  for 
portions  of  which  I  had  to  submit  to  the  usual  amount  of 
abuse, — a  task  which  I  congratulate  myself  on  having 
survived, — I  animadverted  on  some  of  the  relations 
which  subsist,  in  this  city,  between  the  dispenser  of  medi¬ 
cine  and  the  prescriber.  The  limits  of  my  paper  on  that 
occasion  permitted  but  a  cursory  allusion  to  this  im¬ 
portant  subject ;  and  it  occurred  to  me  that  on  this  occa¬ 
sion  which  you  have  done  me  the  honour  to  place  at  my 
disposal,  I  ought  profitably  to  enlarge  on  that  portion  of 
the  subject  treated  of  in  my  paper  on  “  Medical  Reform,” 
and  endeavour  to  show,  not  that  the  present  relations 
between  prescriber  and  dispenser  are  desirable,  but  that 
they  are  extremely  unsatisfactory,  and  that  the  public 
benefit,  and  the  dignity  of  the  profession,  demand  of  a 
large  number  of  my  professional  brethren  concessions 
which  they  appear  extremely  reluctant  to  make.  There 
was  a  time  in  the  history  of  medicine  when  dispensing 
was  exclusively  in  the  hands  of  medical  practitioners. 
As  medical  science  extended,  and  as  investigations  into 
physiology  and  pathology  were  more  assiduously  prose¬ 
cuted  for  the  purpose  of  unravelling  the  hidden  sym- 


April  8, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


813 


teries  of  disease,  and  basing  its  treatment  on  rational 
principles— an  object  at  present  the  most  prominent 
and  most  praiseworthy  of  modem  medicine, — what  might 
be  called  the  manipulatory  portion  of  oui*  art  became  dis¬ 
carded  by  the  heads  of  the  profession,  and  was  confined 
in  England  and  Ireland  to  the  licentiates  of  the  Apothe¬ 
caries’  Company  in  the  respective  countries,  such  licen¬ 
tiates  possessing,  according  to  law,  certain  privileges ; 
while  in  Scotland  the  same  conditions  developed  the  drug- 
trade,  in  addition  to  the  shops  of  medical  practitioners. 
Corresponding  to  the  licence  of  the  Apothecaries’  Com¬ 
pany  in  England  and  Ireland,  there  was  no  analogous 
qualification  in  Scotland,  save,  perhaps,  that  the  licence 
of  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons  of  Edinburgh  and  of  the 
Glasgow  Faculty  conferred  the  right  to  deal  in  pharmacy. 
In  the  latter  country  a  physician,  i .  e.  a  graduate  of  medi¬ 
cine  of  a  university  considered  it  quite  honourable  and 
legitimate  to  keep  open  shop  ;  while  in  the  former  the 
apothecary  was  almost  exclusively  what  might  be  called, 
with  a  violation  of  gender,  in  these  primitive  times 
when  ladies  attended  to  their  household  duties,  the 
handmaid  to  the  physician,  or  pure  surgeon.  To  indi¬ 
cate  how  defined  the  duties  of  apothecary  were  even  in 
the  sixteenth  century  the  following  quaint  rules  for  an 
apothecary’s  life  and  conduct  merit  quotation  : — 

“  1.  Must  fyrst  serve  God,  forsee  the  end,  be  clenly, 
pity  the  poore. 

“2.  Must  not  be  suborned  for  money  to  hurt  man- 
kynde. 

“3.  His  place  of  dwelling  and  shop  to  be  clenly  to 
please  the  sences  withal. 

“  4.  His  garden  must  be  at  hand  with  plenty  of  herbes, 
seedes,  and  rootes. 

“  5.  To  sow,  set,  plant,  gather,  preserve  and  keep 
them  in  due  tyme. 

“  6.  To  read  Dioscorides,  to  know  ye  nature  of  plants 
and  herbes. 

“  7.  To  invent  medicines,  to  choose  by  colour,  taste 
odour,  figure,  etc. 

“  8.  To  have  his  mortars,  stilles,  poltes,  filters,  glasses, 
boxes,  clene  and  sweette. 

“  9.  To  have  charcoles  at  hand  to  make  decoctions, 
syrups,  etc. 

“  10.  To  keep  his  cleane  ware  close  and  cast  away  the 
baggage. 

“11.  To  have  two  places  in  his  shop,  one  most  cleane 
for  the  physic,  and  a  baser  place  for  the  chirurgerie  stuff. 

“  12.  That  he  neither  increase  nor  diminish  the  phy¬ 
sician’s  bill,  i.  e.  (prescription)  and  keep  it  for  his  own 
discharge. 

“  13.  That  he  neither  buy  nor  sell  rotten  drugges. 

“  14.  That  he  peruse  often  his  wares,  that  they  corrupt 

not. 

“  15.  That  he  put  not  in  quid  pro  quo  (t.  e.  use  one  in¬ 
gredient  in  the  place  of  another  when  dispensing  a  phy¬ 
sician’s  prescription)  without  ad vysement. 

“16.  That  he  may  open  wel  a  vein  for  to  helpe  pleu¬ 
risy. 

“  17.  That  he  meddle  only  in  his  vocation. 

“  18.  That  he  delight  to  reede  Nicolaus  Myrepsus, 
Valerius  Cordus.  etc.  etc. 

“  19.  That  he  do  remember  his  office  is  only  to  be  ye 
physician’s  cooko. 

“  20.  That  he  use  true  measure  and  weight. 

“21.  To  remember  his  end  and  the  judgment  of  God ; 
and  thus  do  I  commend  him  to  God,  if  he  .be  not  co¬ 
vetous  or  crafty,  setting  his  own  lucre  before  other  men’s 
help,  succour  and  comfort.” 

The  apothecaries,  to  whom  these  rules  were  given  were 
merely  grocers,  who  elected  to  perform  the  meaner  duties 
of  the  physician  or  surgeon.  In  the  fourth  year  of  James 
I.  a  charter  was  obtained  that  “willed,  ordained  and 
granted,  that  all  and  singular  the  freemen  of  the  Mystery 
of  Grocers  and  Apothecaries  of  the  City  of  London, 
should  and  might  be  one  body,  corporate  and  politic,  in 
deed,  fact,  and  name  of  the  Warden  and  Commonality  of 


the  Mystery  of  Grocers  of  the  City  of  London.”  And 
in  the  thirteenth  year  of  the  same  King-  and  reign  these 
so-called  mysteries  were  disunited,  this  being  the  origin 
of  the  London  Apothecaries’  Company.  For  a  consider¬ 
able  time  after  their  formation  as  a  company,  the  apothe¬ 
caries  were  kept  closely  under  the  surveillance  of  the 
College  of  Physicians ;  but  as  time  wore  on,  they  began 
to  assert  their  independence,  and  took  to  proscribing 
after  the  fashion  of  the  physicians.  This,  of  course, 
applies  to  England,  but  I  refer  to  the  circumstances  in 
order  to  indicate  that  originally  the  Society  of  Apothe¬ 
caries  was  intended  to  be  subservient  to  the  physician 
and  surgeons.  In  Scotland  the  conditions  to  which  I 
have  already  adverted,  developed  a  large  commercial 
enterprise,  independent  of  the  Scotch  physicians  and 
surgeons,  but  possessing  no  chartered  privileges.  Public 
benefit  at  length  demanded — the  trade  having  become 
such  an  extensive  one — a  guarantee  of  knowledge  of  the 
business,  and  ability  to  dispense  physicians’  and  surgeons’ 
prescriptions,  and  through  the  exertions  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society,  an  enlightened  measure  was  carried 
through  Parliament  in  1868,  whereby  it  is,  inter  alia , 
provided  “That  it  shall  be  unlawful  for  any  one  to  sell, 
or  keep  open  shop,  or  to  assume  the  title  of  ‘  chemist  and 
druggist  ’  or  the  like,  unless  he  shall  be  properly  regis¬ 
tered  under  the  Act,”  and  in  order  to  obtain  proper 
registration  under  the  Act  the  passing  of  a  very  stringent 
examination  is  a  necessity.  Now,  Gentlemen,  I  look 
upon  the  Pharmacy  Bill  as  having  entirely  superseded 
the  charter  of  the  Apothecaries’  Company  in  England, 
and  as  having  virtually  cut  the  connection  between  the 
practice  of  medicine  and  surgery,  and  pharmacy  as  a 
trade  in  Scotland ;  and  as  the  result  of  some  attention 
to  the  subject,  I  am  firmly  persuaded  that  it  is  expedient 
that  this  separation  should  exist.  I  shall  not  take  up 
your  time  by  animadverting  upon  the  hue-and-cry  raised 
against  the  Bill  by  the  medical  practitioners.  You  may 
remember  the  widespread  consternation  as  to  the  shutting 
of  their  shops.  I  thought  the  agitation  discreditable  to 
the  profession,  and  I,  for  one,  extremely  regret  that  the 
Act  was  not  enforced  in  its  primary  interpretation.  I 
therefore  think  the  Pharmacy  Bill  an  enlightened  mea¬ 
sure,  for  if  there  is  any  one  belief  that  I  hold  stronger 
than  another  on  medical  matters,  it  is  this  principle,  that 
no  medical  practitioner  should  have  a  pecuniary  interest 
in  the  drugging  of  his  patients.  This  being  the  case,  I 
maintain  that  indiscriminate  drugging  is  too  much  the 
custom  both  in  England  and  Scotland  (I  cannot  speak 
for  Ireland)  ;  that  it  does  much  to  subvert  a  rational 
faith  in  medicine,  and  that,  to  a  great  extent,  the  shop 
system  is  chargeable  with  the  offence.  In  the  face  of 
the  Pharmacy  Bill,  and  for  sundry  other  reasons  which 
I  shall  refer  to  in  the  sequel,  I  hold  that  it  is  highly 
discreditable  to  the  city  of  Glasgow,  that  out  of  a  total 
of  190  practising  practitioners,  not  less  than  120  should 
put  themselves  in  open  competition  with  qualified  drug¬ 
gists.  In  the  discussion  raised  upon  my  paper,  read 
before  the  Medico -Cliirurgical  Society,  the  President 
of  the  Faculty  contended  that  I  exaggerated  and  mis¬ 
represented  the  condition  of  the  profession  in  Glas¬ 
gow,  and  by  implication  admitting  the  shop  system  to  be 
inimical  to  the  interests  and  dignity  of  the  profession, 
held  that  there  w-as  not  now  one  medical  man’s  shop  for 
eight  that  previously  existed.  I  now  tell  you  that  this 
is  a  great  mistake,  for  there  never  were  more  doctors’ 
shops  in  Glasgow  than  at  present. 

But,  Gentlemen,  if  I  denounce  this  system  of  practice 
I  must  justify  my  denunciations  of  it.  For  the  shop 
system,  so  far  as  several  medical  men  in  this  city  are 
concerned,  I  plead  the  apology  of  necessity,  but  this  is 
quite  beside  the  question  of  principle,  and  in  what  re¬ 
spect  I  plead  this  necessity  I  have  in  my  paper  on  "  Me¬ 
dical  Reform”  endeavoured  to  point  out,  and  your  time 
will  not  permit  me  to  enter  on  this  part  of  the  subject  on 
this  occasion. 

Well,  I  charge  the  shop-system  with  slipshod  treat- 


■814 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS 


[April  8,1871. 


ment  of  disease,  indiscriminate  drugging,  and  a  down¬ 
ward  competition.  You  may  find  in  some  of  the  surgeries  of 
Glasgow,  so-called,  of  an  evening,  pei'chance  from  a  dozen 
to  two  dozen  people  waiting  to  see  the  mysterious  person 
ensconced  beyond  the  green  door,  on  which  “  Consulting 
Room”  shines  so  prominently.  It  takes  time  to  arrive 
.-at  a  correct  diagnosis,  it  takes  time  to  prescribe  suit¬ 
ably  to  the  disease,  and  this  time  being  taken,  an  honest 
•advice  should  be  given,  and  an  honest  advice  is  worth 
paying  for.  It  is  the  merest  farce  in  the  world,  and  it 
is  an  outrage  on  medical  science,  to  prescribe  for  a  crowd 
of  an  evening,  and  dole  out  to  a  credulous  multitude  a 
heterogeneous  mixture  from  this  bottle  and  the  other ; 
and  I  deny  that  in  the  majority  of  cases  this  system  of 
treatment  can  be  reconciled  to  any  physiological,  patho¬ 
logical,  or  chemical  principle.  No ;  the  threshold  of 
such  establishments  is  like  Pluto’s  portals — 

“  Smooth  the  descent  and  easy  is  the  way  ; 

But  to  return  (without  the  bottle)  and  view  the  cheerful 
skies, 

In  this  the  task,  the  mighty  labour  lies.” 

No  fee  being  exacted  in  the  back  room,  “the  bottle”  is 
sure  to  be  advised  “to  be  got  at  the  counter.”  It  is 
what  might  be  called  a  case  of  double  do;  the  patient 
endeavours  to  do  the  doctor,  and  the  doctor  in  return 
does  the  patient.  This  is  what  is  called  “the  bottle 
system,”  and  is  one  for  which  Glasgow  holds  con¬ 
spicuously  an  unenviable  notoriety ;  and  it  has  ingrained 
into  the  minds  of  so  many  in  the  city  the  belief 
that  medical  men  should  be  paid  for  their  medicine, 
that  a  medical  man  without  a  shop  is  a  vara  avis  in 
tends.  But  if  he  be  asked  why  this  system  is  so  much 
in  favour  here,  the  only  explanation  vouchsafed  is,  that 
it  will  not  do  to  practise  otherwise  in  Glasgow.  Well, 
I  have  only  to  remark,  that  I  am  not  aware  of  any  phy¬ 
siological  peculiarity  in  Glasgow  citizens  compared  with 
the  denizens  of  Edinburgh  or  Greenock ;  in  the  former  of 
which  there  are  but  few  doctors’  shops,  the  number  not 
above  four,  if  I  am  correctly  informed,  and  in  the  latter 
only  one.  I  believe  these  towns  have  an  equal  propor¬ 
tion  of  poor  people  as  we  have,  and  in  Greenock  especially 
there  are  none  of  those  self-seeking  excrescences  on  mo¬ 
dern  practice — Special  Institutions.  Yet  we  never  hear 
complaint  that  the  humbler  orders  do  not  receive  ade¬ 
quate  medical  attendance.  In  a  word,  medioal  practice 
in  Greenock  is  conducted  on  the  purest  method — consi¬ 
dering  the  size  of  the  town  and  the  large  proportion  of 
the  artisan  class — perhaps  in  Scotland. 

But  further,  the  shop  system  encourages  a  downward 
competition,  and,  in  consequence,  an  adulteration  of 
drugs.  I  am  of  those  who  believe  that  if  a  thing  is 
worth  purchasing  it  is  worth  paying  for;  and  if  this 
principle  hold  good  in  any  commercial  transaction,  it  as¬ 
suredly  obtains  in  the  purchase  of  medicine.  Unfortu¬ 
nately,  however,  “  common  sense  ”  is  a  very  uncommon 
attribute  of  modern  humanity,  and  ten  to  one,  the 
•chances  are,  that  the  man  who  asserts  most  strongly  in 
perfect  disregard  of  an  ancient  virtue,  called  truth,  or 
who  most  conforms  to  the  claptraps  of  a  Cheap-John,  is 
-the  man  who  will  be  most  generally  patronized.  If  the 
power  of  assertion  was  ever  of  service,  it  is  eminently 
in  this  age ;  lying,  to  use  a  plain  term  is,  par  excellence , 
one  of  the  most  profitable  avocations  in  these  latter  days. 
In  an  age,  therefore,  when  people  do  not  hesitate  to 
stuff  life  buoys  with  other  material  than  cork,  and  even 
tamper,  according  to  the  sage  of  Chelsea,  with  the  very 
composition  of  bricks,  we  need  not  be  surprised  if  what 
is  termed  a  colocynth  pill  is  not  a  colocynth  pill.  In 
the  adulteration  of  medicine  the  man  who  is  both  pre- 
.scriber  and  dispenser  has  an  ohvious  advantage  over  the 
simple  compounder  of  medicine ;  the  former,  trusting  to 
the  beneficence  of  the  vis  medicatrix  naturae ,  and  havin°-  an 
eye  to  a  plethoric  till,  often  goes  on  the  principle  that  a  rose 
ky  any  other  name  will  smell  as  sweet,  finds,  by  ex¬ 
perience,— a  much  abused  term  by  the  way, — that  it  is  im¬ 


material  whether  his  compounds  are  made  according  to 
the  Pharmacopoeia  or  not.  You  will  not  be  surprised, 
therefore,  to  learn  that  I  know  of  an  instance  where  a 
surgeon  represented  to  a  pharmaceutical  chemist  that  he 
must  reduce  his  pills  to  three-halfpence  per  dozen,  a 
price  at  which,  I  am  told,  it  is  perfectly  impossible  to 
make  up  colocynth  pills  according  to  the  Pharmacopoeia, 
not  to  speak  of  the  trifling  profit  which  every  reasonable 
pei’son  will,  as  a  matter  of  justice,  ungrudgingly  allow 
the  compounder.  In  these  cases,  I  am  informed,  the 
scammony  is  either  all  or  in  part  left  out, — a  veritable 
case,  Gentlemen,  of  the  play  of  ‘  Hamlet,’  with  the  ghost 
omitted. 

Now,  medical  science  may  suffer  in  this  respect,  and 
if  I  were  at  a  loss  to  draw  an  inference,  I  might  contend 
that  practices  such  as  these  conspire  to  make  Glasgow 
practitioners  so  little  known  beyond  the  good  old  city  of 
Saint  Mungo.  I  am,  at  all  events,  informed,  on  excel¬ 
lent  authority,  that  druggists  are  worse  remunerated  here 
than  in  any  city  in  the  kingdom,  and  that,  as  we  might 
consequently  expect,  we  excel  likewise  in  the  adulteration 
of  medicines.  Not  only  does  medical  science  suffer  in 
this  manner,  but  the  reputation  of  a  gentleman  who 
simply  prescribes  is  imperilled  if  his  prescriptions  luck¬ 
lessly  find  their  way  into  any  such  establishment.  It  is 
in  my  recollection  that  while  the  Pharmacy  Bill  was 
passing  through  Parliament,  one  of  the  grounds  of  oppo¬ 
sition  to  it  was  that  there  was  no  clause  in  it  rendering 
the  compounding  of  medicines  according  to  the  British 
Pharmacopoeia  compulsory  ;  and  I  remember  that  on 
this  point  the  Lancet  very  sensibly  suggested  that  any 
such  procedure  was  like  putting  the  cart  before  tho 
horse,  for  if  physicians  prescribed  according  to  the 
British  Pharmacopoeia,  the  necessity  of  compounding  me¬ 
dicines  according  to  it  would  be  forced  upon  druggists  ; 
but  it  is  surely  breaking  faith  with  us,  and  is  a  violation 
of  a  public  trust  reposed  in  druggists,  if  physicians  so 
prescribe,  and  their  patients  are  not  supplied  with  what 
is  so  ordered.  Now,  is  it  a  fact  that  the  existence  of 
medical  practitioners’  shops  to  the  extent  that  we  have 
them  in  this  city  fosters  indiscriminate  medication  ?  My 
experience  decidedly  confirms  this  belief.  Repeatedly 
have  I  witnessed  an  ominous  row  of  bottles,  so  signi¬ 
ficant  of  wry  faces,  adorn  the  mantelpiece  of  poor  pa¬ 
tients’  houses ;  and  how  often  is  the  confiding  remark 
made  that  Dr.  So-and-so  is  a  very  fine  man, — “  a  skilly 
doctor,” — that  no  one  grudged  him  his  fee,  but  had  an 
awful  horror  of  the  bottles !  I  have  elsewhere  endea¬ 
voured  to  show  that  by  this  system  a  great  injustice  is 
done  to  the  public,  and  that  it  is  a  method  of  practice 
the  most  powerful  of  any  I  know  in  pauperizing  people 
of  slender  means,  and  subverting  professional  integrity 
and  honour.  Human  nature  will  be  human  nature  to 
the  end  of  time ;  and  be  a  man  however  estimable  and 
upright  in  his  inclinations,  circumstances  have  a  prover¬ 
bial  influence  in  altering  cases ;  and  when  a  certain 
amount  of  money  is  invested  by  a  medical  man  in  a 
drug  establishment,  looking  at  the  question  from  a  com¬ 
mercial  point  of  view,  he  must  to  a  great  extent  be 
influenced  by  a  good  return.  I  hold  that  this  induce¬ 
ment — be  it  an  unconscious  bias — is  not  compatible  with 
the  honest  practice  of  the  medical  profession.  This,  of 
course,  leads  to  the  incessant  changing  of  bottles,  pow¬ 
ders,  etc.  Now  one  bottle,  to-day  another,  and  so  on. 
It  is  a  case  of — 

“  At  nine  these  powders  let  him  take, 

At  ten  the  draught,  the  phial  shake : 

And  you’ll  remember  at  eleven 
Three  of  these  pills  must  then  be  given. 

This  course  you’ll  carefully  pursue, 

And  give  at  twelve  the  bolus  too. 

If  he  should  wander,  in  a  crack 
Clap  this  broad  blister  on  his  back ; 

And  after  he  has  had  the  blister 
Within  an  hour  apply  the  clyster. 

I  must  be  gone ;  at  three  or  four 
I  shall  return  with  something  more.” 


April  8, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


S15 


To  my  mind,  the  man  who  so  acts, — and  this  is  no 
imaginary  picture, — if  he  he  honest,  can  at  least  have 
no  well-founded  conception  either  of  disease  or  its  ap¬ 
propriate  treatment ;  and  the  intelligent  patient  will 
not  foil  to  discover  that  his  medical  attendant  is  a  man 
fighting  an  unseen  enemy  in  the  dark,  or  is  solicitous  of 
pushing  the  trade  in  which  he  has  so  immediate  an  inte¬ 
rest,  that  medical  science  must  suffer.  That  will  be  ap¬ 
parent  to  any  one ;  for  how  is  it  possible  to  deduce  any 
reliable  inference  from  such  heterogeneous  treatment  P 
But,  Gentlemen,  to  give  you  a  home  thrust  now,  the 
complaint  is  frequently  urged  against  you  by  my  profes- 
.sional  brethren,  that  you  encroach  on  the  province  of 
the  physician  in  counter-prescribing,  and  that  opportu¬ 
nities  are  afforded  you  of  doing  so  in  a  peculiarly  favour- 
.able  manner  in  this  city,  where  a  drug  shop  and  a  me¬ 
dical  man  are  with  the  great  bulk  of  the  population 
identical.  Let  me  remind  you  of  the  rules  of  Bullyen 
above-quoted,  “  That  the  apothecary  meddle  only  in  his 
vocation,”  and  “That  he  do  remember  that  his  office  is 
only  to  be  ye  physician’s  cook.”  You  will  accede  to 
me  the  right  to  contend  that  if  I  consider  it  expedient 
that  we  should  leave  the  pharmaceutical  department  to 
you,  you  nrnst  meet  us  in  an  equally  liberal  spirit. 

And  I  will  say  this  for  the  most  respectable  druggists 
with  whom  I  have  conversed  on  this  subject,  that  they 
discourage  counter-prescribing,  and  reprehend  its  per¬ 
formance  in  others.  To  me  it  is  quite  clear  that  it  is 
only  by  mutual  concessions  between  dispenser  and  pre- 
scriber  that  their  relations  can  be  satisfactorily  adjusted. 
It  is  thus  that  we  must  endeavour  to  wipe  out  the  stigma 
against  medicine, — that  the  ancients  endeavoured  to  make 
it  a  science  and  failed ;  the  moderns  to  make  it  a  trade, 
and  succeeded. 

But,  Gentlemen,  while  I  am  opposed  on  principle  to 
the  shop  system,  you  will  not  be  surprised  if  I  fail  to 
find  words  to  express  my  indignation  at  the  sale  of  quack 
medicines  by  duly  qualified  medical  practitioners.  It 
appears  to  me  to  be  a  lamentable  manifestation  of  pro¬ 
fessional  degeneracy  that  so  many  doctors’  shops  in  this 
city  should  display  the  meretricious  tinsel  of  the  impos¬ 
tor;  nay,  further,  that  registered  practitioners  should 
stoop  to  the  issuing  of  circulars  for  the  purpose  of  bring¬ 
ing  quack  medicines  under  the  notice  of  the  public  in 
conjunction  with  their  names.  There  has  been,  and  ever 
will  be,  a  section  of  the  public  which  will  be  gulled,  and 
that  section,  I  regret  to  say,  not  the  most  illiterate  ;  but, 
above  all  others,  should  we  not  expect  members  of  the 
medical  profession  to  spurn  the  puffing  of  quack  medi¬ 
cines  P  What  can  be  expected  of  the  public,  in  the  face 
of  such  conduct  by  medical  men  P  I  cannot  witness 
without  a  feeling  of  profound  humiliation  such  cards  as, 
“For  a  Cough,  try  Gibson’s  Lozenges,”  exhibited  in 
surgeons’  windows,  and,  with  like  feeling,  “  Rooke’s 
Pills”  and  “Solar  Elixir”  or  “Whelpton’s  Purifying 
Pills,”  pressed  into  the  service  of  surgeons’  shop -window 
ornamentation.  Of  a  surety  Ichabod  has  been  inscribed 
on  the  JEsculapian  temple  in  modern  times.  Let  me 
refer  you  to  the  birthplace  of  our  science  in  the 
island  of  Cos,  400  years  before  the  Christian  era,  for  a 
nobler  example.  Here  Hippocrates,  in  the  grey  dawn  of 
history,  dedicated  his  best  energies  to  the  cultivation  of 
our  science,  with  that  object  which,  above  all  others, 
.should  be  paramount  with  the  honest  physician,  the 
amelioration  of  suffering ;  and  to  the  immortal  honour 
of  our  father  be  it  said  that,  diligent  and  skilled  in  his 
profession,  he  openly  avowed  the  measures  he  had  taken 
to  cure  diseases.  And  even  in  the  fourteenth  century  a 
righteous  detestation  of  imposition  manifested  itself  in 
such  punishment  as  the  following: — It  is  recorded  that 
■one  Roger  Clerk  professed  to  be  learned  in  the  art  of 
medicine,  and  prescribed  for  a  woman  suffering  from 
fever  the  hanging  of  a  certain  document  round  the  neck, 
containing  certain  herbs,  which  he  stated  were  an  anti¬ 
dote  to  the  disease  under  which  she  suffered.  The 
charm  did  not  work.  He  was  summoned  before  the 


Mayor  and  Aldermen  of  the  Guildhall  of  London,  at  the 
instance  of  the  husband  of  the  patient,  to  show  upon 
what  authority  he  practised  the  art  of  medicine.  His 
own  statement  was  sufficient  to  convict  him  of  being  a 
rogue  and  an  impostor,  and  he  was  forthwith  ordered  to 
be  placed  in  the  pillory,  and  therein  to  be  punished  for 
the  offence  he  had  committed  against  society.  His  pro¬ 
gress  to  the  pillory  is  thus  described : — “  It  was  ad¬ 
judged  that  the  same  Roger  Clerk  should  be  led  through 
the  middle  of  the  city  with  trumpets  and  pipes,  he  riding 
on  a  horse  without  a  saddle,  and  the  said  parchment  and 
a  whetstone  for  his  lies  being  hung  about  his  neck,  a 
urinal  also  being  hung  before  him  and  another  behind.” 
Oh  for  some  such  punishment  in  these  days  of  boasted 
progress  !  Only  I  would  extend  the  treatment  to  all 
abettors  of  quackery ;  and  you  can  fancy,  gentlemen,  if 
such  treatment  were  enforced  in  Glasgow,  what  an  im¬ 
posing  procession  would  be  thus  formed. 

Time  compels  me,  however,  to  draw  these  remarks  to 
a  conclusion ;  but  I  may  observe  that  I  find  it  far  more 
excusable  on  the  part  of  the  pharmacist  to  sell  quack 
medicines  as  a  branch  of  his  business.  This  is  a  ques¬ 
tion  with  him  regulated  by  the  law  of  supply  and  de¬ 
mand,  and  one  over  which  the  druggist  has  no  control, 
save  at  considerable  sacrifice,  which  his  refusal  to  sell 
patent  medicines  would  entail.  The  ignorance  and  gul¬ 
libility  on  the  part  of  the  public  is  an  antecedent  condi¬ 
tion,  and  it  is  his  as  a  matter  of  business  to  meet  the 
demand  so  created.  The  case  is  very  different  with  the 
medical  man,  whose  duty  it  ought  to  be  to  dispel  delusion 
and  error.  I  am  of  those  who  believe  that  no  enlightened 
Legislature  should  afford  its  protection  to  any  secret 
preparation,  and  on  this  point  the  law  of  France  is 
worthy  of  imitation.  As  there  is  no  law  to  which  ex¬ 
ception  may  not  be  taken,  and  no  principle  which  is 
universally  applicable,  there  may  occur  certain  cases  in 
which  it  is  impossible  to  practise  medicine  without 
dispensing  also,  as  in  rural  districts  and  in  connection 
with  appointments  to  large  public  works.  I  will  go  a 
little  further  than  this :  if  a  medical  man  chooses  to  supply 
medicine  to  his  own  patients  from  his  private  dwelling, 

I  do  not  think,  looking  particularly  at  the  matter,  as  a 
step  further  advanced  in  the  severance  of  the  duties 
of  medical  practitioners  from  that  of  the  pharmacien, 
that  the  practice  is  so  objectionable. 

Gentlemen,  these  then  constitute  some  opinions  I  have 
long  entertained  on  the  relations  of  prescriber  and  dis¬ 
penser,  and  you  will  do  me  the  justice  to  believe  that  I 
have  come  here  neither  to  flatter  you  nor  to  traduce  my 
professional  brethren  ;  my  endeavour  has  been  to  follow 
the  sound  rule  of  nothing  extenuating,  nor  setting  down 
aught  in  malice.  I  cordially  sympathize  with  you  in 
asking  my  brethren  to  move  on — to  give  up  merchandise 
— and  I  am  firmly  persuaded  that  medical  science  and 
the  public  would  be  the  gainers.  Perfection,  it  is  true, 
does  not  pertain  to  things  terrestrial,  but  that  is  no  rea¬ 
son  why  we  should  not  vie  one  with  another  in  the  de¬ 
gree  to  which  our  actions  should  incline  towards  the 
most  honourable  conduct,  even  at  the  risk  of  being  classed 
as  I  have  been  among  the  “  fussy  grievance-mongers.” 

I  console  myself  with  the  reflection  that  I  am  actuated 
by  no  envy,  while  it  is  a  well-known  truism — 

“  How  rarely,  friends,  an  honest  man  inherits. 

Honours  and  wealth  with  all  his  toils  and  pains, 

It  sounds  like  language  from  the  land  of  spirits, 

If  any  man  obtain  that  which  he  merits, 

Or  any  merit  that  which  he  obtains.” 

Gentlemen,  I  am  exceedingly  obliged  to  you  for  the 
courteous  attention  with  which  you  have  listened  to  these 
my  fragmentary  observations. 

The  President,  in  proposing  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Dr. 
Black,  stated  that  he  could  corroborate  many  of  Dr. 
Black’s  remarks  with  reference  to  both  surgeons  and 
druggists  keeping  very  inferior  drugs ;  it  was  only  the 


816 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  8,  1871. 


other  day,  he  said,  that  a  medical  practitioner  who  held 
his  diploma  from  the  University,  called  upon  him  and 
wanted  colocynth  pills  at  Is.  per  gross ;  and  though  he 
was  glad  to  say  such  a  state  of  things  was  gradually 
dying  out,  he  thought  it  was  a  disgrace  to  the  profession 
that  they  should  encourage  such  a  state  of  things. 

Mr.  Kinninmont,  in  seconding  the  motion,  also  re¬ 
ferred  in  humorous  terms  to  the  unhappy  state  of  matters 
between  prescriber  and  dispenser.  AVith  regard  to  counter 
prescribing  by  the  druggists,  he  said  that  respectable 
chemists  were  very  often  placed  in  an  awkward  predica¬ 
ment;  for,  through  the  great  number  of  surgeon- druggists 
in  the  city,  the  public  had  got  accustomed  to  look  upon 
the  counter  as  the  proper  place  to  get  prescribed  for 
in  any  but  serious  ailments,  and  that  if  a  druggist 
refused  to  prescribe  bilious  pills  or  a  calomel  powder  when 
asked,  the  customer  would  invariably  go  to  the  nearest 
surgery  and  get  supplied  there  with  what  he  wanted. 
He  also  pointed  out  that  people  when  they  asked  a  drug¬ 
gist’ s  opinion  on  anything,  generally  had  their  mind 
made  up  as  to  what  they  wanted,  and  merely  wished  the 
druggist  to  assure  them  that  the  medicine  they  had  made 
up  their  mind  to  take  was  the  proper  thing. 

After  some  amusing  remarks  by  Dr.  Moffat,  the  vote 
of  thanks  was  heartily  responded  to. 

The  Secretary  afterwards,  with  permission  of  Messrs. 
Evans,  Sons  and  Co.,  Liverpool,  presented  one  of  their 
Five  Guinea  Cabinets  of  materia  medica  to  the  Associa¬ 
tion. 

The  President,  in'  accepting  the  cabinet  in  the  name  of 
the  Association,  said  he  had  no  doubt  the  members  would 
all  make  a  good  use  of  it ;  and  those  especially  who  had 
examinations  to  pass,  would  find  it  of  great  benefit  in 
assisting  them  in  their  studies. 

Mr.  Paterson  seconded  the  motion,  and  suggested 
that  a  brass  plate  be  engraved  with  names  of  donors  and 
date  of  presentation,  to  be  placed  on  top  of  cabinet,  so 
that  “he  who  runs  may  read.” 

The  suggestion  was  supported  by  Mr.  MAIillan,  and 
agreed  to  with  acclamation. 

A  special  general  meeting  of  pharmaceutical  chemists 
and  chemists  and  druggists  on  the  “  poisons”  question 
was  announced  for  Monday,  3rd  April ;  and  a  paper  on 
“  Volatile  Oils”  for  next  ordinary  meeting  of  the  society. 


CHEMICAL  SOCIETY. 

Anniversary  Meeting,  March  30th  ;  Prof.  William¬ 
son,  F.R.S.,  President,  in  the  chair. 

The  President  delivered  the  following  address: — 

“  Gentlemen,— I  feel  much  pleasure  in  congratulating 
you  on  the  rapidly  increasing  prosperity  of  our  Society 
and  the  enlargement  which  has  taken  place  in  its  sphere 
of  usefulness ;  for,  on  the  one  hand,  the  number  of  our 
Fellows  continues  to  show  a  most  satisfactory  increase; 
and,  on  the  other  hand,  your  Council  has  made  arrange¬ 
ments  for  carrying  out  the  system  of  monthly  reports 
which  has  been  for  some  time  in  contemplation.  It  was 
hoped  that  the  Chemical  Society  of  Paris  might,  from 
the  first,  co-operate  with  us  in  the  preparation  of  these 
monthly  reports,  but  circumstances  beyond  their  control 
have  prevented  the  sister  society  from  joining  us  in  the 
beginning  of  this  year.  Deeming  it  undesirable  to  delay 
the  commencement  of  the  reports,  your  Council  still  look 
forward  to  the  future  co-operation  of  the  Paris  society 
in  their  preparation. 

“  You  are  aware  that  the  present  available  income  of 
the  Society  was  not  considered  to  be  sufticient  to  defray 
the  additional  expense  of  writing  and  printing  these 
reports,  and  I  have  the  pleasure  of  informing  you  that 
contributions  to  the  extent  of  £1175  have  been  promised 
by  members  of  your  body  towards  supplying  the  deficit 


during  the  first  five  years  of  the  appearance  of  these  re¬ 
ports.  The  British  Association  has,  moreover,  granted 
us  the  sum  of  £100  for  this  year  in  aid  of  the  under¬ 
taking.  We  hope  that  in  five  years  the  funds  of  the 
Society  may  have  sufficiently  increased  to  enable  us  to 
pay  the  whole  expense  of  the  reports,  and  that  their  pub¬ 
lication  will  be  valued  by  the  members  of  our  Society, 
and  promote  the  advancement  of  our  science,  wherever 
the  English  language  is  read.  The  next  number  of  our 
Journal,  wffiich  I  hope  to  see  in  a  few  days,  will  be  the 
first  to  contain  the  monthly  reports  in  addition  to  the 
original  papers  contributed  to  the  Society. 

“At  the  last  anniversary  meeting,  we  numbered  551 
ordinary  members  and  36  foreign  members ;  6  of  the 
former  have  withdrawn  from  the  Society.  On  the  other 
hand,  42  new  members  have  been  elected  into  the  So¬ 
ciety.  We  have  lost  5  ordinary  members  by  death,  viz. 
Mr.  George  Tolley,  Dr.  W.  A.  Miller,  Dr.  Aug.  Mat- 
thiessen,  Dr.  J.  S.  Muspratt  and  Mr.  W.  AY.  Rouch ;  and 
it  is  also  my  painful  duty  to  record  the  death  of  two  of 
our  foreign  members,  viz.  Prof.  Gustav  Magnus  and 
Prof.  Weltzien.” 

After  the  delivery  of  the  address,  the  Treasurer  read 
his  account  of  the  Society’s  finances,  which  shows  a 
balance  of  more  than  £1300  at  the  Society’s  bankers. 

The  election  of  the  President,  the  officers  and  the 
other  members  of  Council  for  the  ensuing  year  was  then 
proceeded  with,  and  the  following  is  the  list  of  the 
gentlemen  elected : — 

President :  E.  Frankland,  D.C.L.,  F.R.S. 

Vice-Presidents,  who  have  filled  the  office  of  President  : 
Sir  B.  C.  Brodie,  F.R.S.  ;  Warren  De  la  Rue,  Ph.D., 
F.R.S. ;  A.  AV.  Hofmann,  D.C.L.,  F.R  S. ;  Lyon  Play¬ 
fair,  Ph.D.,  C.B.,  F.R.S. ;  A.  AY.  AVilliamson,  Ph.D.,. 
F.R.S. ;  Col.  P.  lrorke,  F.R.S. 

Vice-Presidents  :  H.  Debus,  Ph.D.,  F.R.S. ;  J.  H.  Gil¬ 
bert,  Ph.D.,  F.R.S. ;  H.  M.  Noad,  Ph.D.,  F.R.S. ;  AV. 
Odling,  M.B., F.R.S.  ;  T.  Redwood,  Ph.D. ;  J.  Stenhouse, 
Ph.D.,  F.R.S. 

Secretaries  :  A.  Arernon  Harcourt,  M.A.,  F.R.S. ;  AV* 
H.  Perkin,  F.R.S. 

Foreign  Secretary  :  H.  Muller,  Pli.D.,  F.R.S. 

Treasurer :  F.  A.  Abel,  F.R.S. 

Other  Members  of  the  Council :  E.  Atkinson,  Ph.D.  ; 
H.  Bassett ;  C.  L.  Bloxam  ;  A.  Dupre,  Ph.D.  ;  F.  Field, 
F.R.S;  M.  Holzmann,  Ph.D. ;  H.  M'Leod  ;  E.  J.  Mills, 
D.Sc. ;  H.  E.  Roscoe,  Ph.D.,  F.R.S. ;  W.  J.  Russell, 
Ph.D.  ;  R.  Angus  Smith,  Ph.D.,  F.R.S. ;  A.  Voelcker, 
Ph.D.,  F.R.S. 

The  meeting  terminated  with  the  customary  votes 
of  thanks  to  the  retiring  President,  the  Secretaries,  the 
Treasurer,  etc. 


MEETINGS  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 


Tuesday  . Royal  Medical  and  Chirurgical  Society,  at 

April  11.  8.30  p.m. 

Photographic  Society,  at  8  P.M. 
Wednesday...  Society  of  Arts,  at  8  p.m. — “Boiled  Oil  and 
April  12.  Varnishes.”  By  C.  W.  Vincent. 

Microscopical  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

Friday . Quekett  Club,  at  8  p.m. 

April  14, 


AUGUSTUS  DE  MORGAN. 

Although  not  connected  with  the  particular  branch  of 
science  which  is  of  most  interest  to  the  readers  of  tins 
Journal,  the  late  Professor  De  Morgan  was  a  man  of 
such  eminence,  and  had  secured  to  himself  the  admiration 
and  respect  of  so  large  a  portion  of  the  community,  that 
no  apology  is  needed  for  giving  more  than  a  bare  notice 
of  his  death. 


Aprils,  1371.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


817 


Augustus  De  Morgan  was  bom  at  Madura,  in  Southern 
India,  in  June,  1806,  and  was  the  son  of  a  colonel  in  the 
Madras  army.  On  the  maternal  side  he  traced  his 
descent  from  the  mathematician,  James  Dodson,  F.R.S., 
many  years  master  in  the  mathematical  school  of  Christ’s 
Hospital  and  author  of  the  ‘  Antilogarithmic  Canon,’  a 
circumstance  to  which  he  regarded  himself  as  indebted  for 
his  particular  bent  of  mind.  Sent  early  to  England,  in 
1823  he  went  to  Cambridge,  where  he  became  fourth 
wrangler  in  1827,  before  he  was  twenty-one  years  of 
age.  Conscientious  scruples  preventing  him  from  sub¬ 
scribing  to  the  necessary  tests,  he  was  debarred  from  the 
college  fellowship  to  which  his  high  position  would  have 
otherwise  entitled  him.  He  afterwards  entered  Lincoln’s 
Inn  and  commenced  the  study  of  law,  but  he  soon  left 
this  and  devoted  himself  to  his  favourite  study.  In 
1828,  he  became  Professor  of  Mathematics  at  the  London 
University — now  University  College, — which  office  he 
held,  with  the  exception  of  the  five  years  from  1831  to 
1836,  until  1866;  when,  not  approving  of  the  course 
adopted  by  the  Council  in  an  appointment  to  one  of  the 
professional  chairs,  he  resigned  and  left  the  College,  of 
which  he  had  been  for  nearly  forty  years  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  ornaments. 

Professor  De  Morgan  was  the  author  of  several  "well- 
known  treatises  on  the  various  branches  of  mathematics 
and  logic,  and  a  contributor  to  the  Fenny  Cyclopaedia , 
Knight’s  British  Worthies,  the  Philosophical  Magazine , 
the  North  British  Review ,  the  Transactions  of  the  Cam¬ 
bridge  Philosophical  Society ,  the  Athenaeum,  etc.  He  was 
also  resorted  to  for  advice  by  many  of  the  principal  life 
assurance  companies. 

Professor  De  Morgan  had  been  ill  for  a  considerable 
time  previous  to  his  death.  An  attack  of  paralysis  was 
followed  by  a  disease  of  the  kidneys,  and  he  died  on 
Saturday  the  18th  of  March,  at  sixty- five  years  of  age. 


M.  Emile  IIepp,  the  well-known  pharmaceutical  che¬ 
mist,  of  Strasbourg,  while  labouring  to  extinguish  the 
fire  caused  by  the  German  artillery  in  the  civil  hospital, 
on  the  night  of  the  25th  of  August,  received  an  injury 
which  has  caused  his  death,  after  more  than  five  months’ 
suffering,  at  the  age  of  fifty-two.  The  savants  of  Stras¬ 
bourg  assembled  around  his  grave,  and  several  short  ad¬ 
dresses  were  pronounced  over  his  remains.  M.  Hirtz 
has  paid  a  further  tribute  to  his  late  colleague  by  the 
publication  of  a  careful  biography,  setting  forth  Emile 
Hepp’s  scientific  claims. — Athenaeum. 


The  death  is  announced  of  Mr.  Samuel  D.  Hendel,  a 
prominent  American  pharmacist,  and  member  of  the  firm 
of  Leiteh  and  Hendel,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  He  died 
suddenly  from  apoplexy  on  the  23rd  of  January,  at  the 
age  of  forty. 


Another  eminent  pharmacist,  of  the  same  city,  Mr. 
Eugene  L.  Massot,  died  on  the  14th  of  February. 
At  a  special  meeting  of  the  St.  Louis  College  of  Phar¬ 
macy,  the  following  resolutions  wrere  passed : — 

‘‘Whereas,  the  death  of  Mr.  E.  L.  Massot  having  been 
annoimced  to  this  college,  wre  feel  it  our  privilege  and 
duty  to  give  some  expression  to  our  deep  sense  of  his 
loss  and  our  affectionate  respect  for  his  memory.  There¬ 
fore,  be  it 

_  “  Resolved — That  we  bear  most  willing  testimony  to 
his  faithfulness  and  devotion  in  promoting  the  interests 
of  this  college,  he  being  one  of  its  most  thorough  friends, 
who,  at  all  times,  spared  no  trouble  and  thought  no 
labour  too  great  to  advance  its  interests.  The  records 
of  this  institution  recite  the  confidence  placed  in  him  by 
its  members.  Filling  successively  the  offices  of  Presi¬ 
dent  and  Vice-President,  he  gave  to  each  position  that 
careful  attention  so  necessary  for  the  successful  workings 
of  such  an  institution  as  ours  is.  His  blameless  and 
consistent  life,  his  amiable  and  genial  disposition,  and 


his^  eminently  attractive  social  qualities,  rendered  his 
society  sought  for  not  only  by  members  of  his  profes¬ 
sion,  but  by  all  who  came  within  the  sphere  of  his  ac¬ 
quaintance. 

_  “  Resolved — That  we  "will  attend  the  funeral  and  cor¬ 
dially  unite  in  every  token  of  respect  to  his  memory. 

“  Resolved — That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  pre¬ 
sented  to  the  family  of  the  deceased,  and  that  the  phar¬ 
maceutical  journals  of  the  country  and  the  city  press  be 
requested  to  publish  the  same.” 


(  The  Chemical  News  announces  the  death  of  Dr. 
Charles  M.  Wetherill,  of  Bethlehem,  Pennsylvania. 
I  he  deceased  gentleman  had  been  a  pupil  of  Liebig, 
and  was  esteemed  by  his  American  fellow- workers  as 
one  oi  the  most  active  chemists  America  possessed. 


The  Newt  Theory  and  Practice  oe  Medicine:  a 
Treatise  on  the  Nature,  Cause,  Cure  and  Prevention 
of  Disease,  with  practical  illustrations  of  the  medicinal 
and  other  uses  of  Hibbert’s  Patent  Antiseptic  Solu¬ 
tions.  Published  by  the  Author,  W.  Hibbert,  Cheet- 
ham,  Manchester.  1870. 

At  a  time  when  the  most  accomplished  and  philoso¬ 
phically-minded  physicians  are  admitting  that  medicine, 
as  a  science,  is  little  more  than  on  the  threshold,  Mr. 
W.  Hibbert  announces  his  discovery  of  the  true  nature 
and  cause  of  disease  in  general,  and,  what  is  more  to  the 
point,  the  sovereign  remedy  for  its  symptoms  in  par¬ 
ticular. 

In  a  preface,  the  style  of  which  makes  us  more  than 
dubious  whether  Mr.  Hibbert  has  received  an  ordinarily 
good  education,  he  unfolds  what  may  be  regarded  as  his 
ideas  of  “pathology” — ideas,  we  may  confidently  assert, 
considerably  in  advance  of  any  entertained  by  the  Royal 
Colleges  of  Physicians  or  Surgeons.  Dexterously  hook¬ 
ing  on  Professor  Lister,  of  Edinburgh,  to  his  little  medical 
go-cart,  he  comes  to  a  halt  before  the  British  public,  and 
assures  them,  in  genuine  showman’s  language,  that  the 
remedy  for  all  their  ailments  is  stowed  away  in  his 
vehicle,  and  that  they  have  only  to  “wralk  upstairs,” 
and  on  payment  of  a  small  gratuity,  obtain  the  desired 
relief.  Like  all  others  of  his  class,  he  is  very  strong  in 
the  kind  of  phraseology  which  at  once  alarms  and  mysti¬ 
fies  the  vulgar — “debility,”  “organic  imperfection,” 
“misdirected  nervous  irritability”  (whatever  that  may 
mean),  “disposition  to  morbid  activity,”  and  so  forth — 
phrases  which  may  signify  anything  or  nothing,  but 
which  the  empiric  is  well  aware  will  be  interpreted  by 
his  appropriate  audience  on  the  principle  of  “omne  ig- 
notuin  pro  horrifico.”  It  is  quite  unnecessary  to  examine 
Mr.  Hibbert’s  positions  in  detail.  His  ipse  dixit  is  quite 
sufficient  for  us.  But  before  proceeding  to  burn  our 
Pharmacopoeia,  throw  physic  to  the  dogs,  and  sign  a 
petition  for  the  ostracism  of  “duly-qualified”  pretenders, 
we  should  like  him  to  explain  how  his  antiseptic  solution 
is  good  at  once  for  diarrhoea  and  constipation.  When 
he  has  satisfied  us  on  this  point,  we  shall  refrain  from 
inquiring  whether  or  not  it  is  an  accidental  coincidence 
that  he  hails  from  Cheet-ham  ? 


The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  April  1 ;  the ‘Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
April  1 ;  the  ‘  Lancet,’  April  1 ;  the  ‘  Medical  Press  and 
Circular,’ April  5;  ‘Natui’e,’  March 30;  the  ‘Chemical  News,’ 
March  31 ;  ‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  March  30;  ‘Gar¬ 
deners’  Chronicle,’  April  1 ;  the  ‘  Grocer,’  April  1;  ‘  Produce 
Markets  Review,’  April  1;  the  ‘English  Mechanic,’  March 
31;  the  ‘Journal  of  Applied  Science’  for  April;  the  ‘Florist 
and  Pomologist  ’  for  April. 


818 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  8, 1871. 


itotes  anfr  Queries* 


***  In  order  to  facilitate  reference ,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  their  answers  in  each  case  with  the  title 
and  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

NOTICE. — To  prevent  delay ,  correspondents  are  re¬ 
quested  to  send  their  communications  to  the  Journal  Depart¬ 
ment,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  W.C.,  and  not  to  the  Pub¬ 
lishers. 

[186.]— BAKING  POWDER.— 

Sod*  Bicarb.  16  oz. 

Acid  Tart.  Exsicc.  8  oz. 

Rice  Flour,  12  oz. 

The  acidity  naturally  present  in  a  mixture  of  flour  and  water 
renders  a  larger  proportion  of  tartaric  unnecessary. — T.  S. 

[191.]— SOLVENT  FOR  WHITE  SHELLAC.— Per¬ 
haps  your  correspondent  is  not  aware  that,  unless  white 
shellac  is  dissolved  within  a  fortnight  of  its  preparation,  it 
is  not  worth  6d.  per  ton  ;  but  within  that  period  it  is  easily 
soluble  in  naphtha  or  finish. — Charles  B.  Allen. 

[*,*  White  shellac  is  usually  kept  in  water,  by  which  means 
its  capability  of  being  dissolved  is  preserved.  This  property 
is  very  soon  lost  upon  exposure  to  the  air. — Ed.  Phabm. 
J  OUBX.] 

[192.]— OXYGEN  GAS  PURE  FOR  INHALATION. 
— Take  a  bottle  furnished  with  a  tube  and  funnel,  and  put 
into  it  a  mixture  composed  of  equal  parts  of  lead  peroxide 
and  barium  peroxide,  then  add  some  weak  nitric  acid :  the 
reaction  takes  place  immediately,  the  effervescence  is  per¬ 
formed  quietly  and  the  oxygen  liberated. — Samuel  Eliott, 
Jun. 

[193.]— LIQUOR  OPII  SEDATIVUS.— I  send  the  fol¬ 
lowing  formula,  given  by  Mr.  Cooley : — Dissolve  ^hj  of  hard 
extract  of  opium  (prepared  by  percolation  with  temperate 
water)  in  ^xxx  of  boiling  distilled  water,  and  adding  to  the 
cold  and  filtered  solution  Wj  of  rectified  spirit,  and  water  to 
make  up  exactly  Oij. — Herbarius. 

[205.]— COD-LIVER  OIL  AND  QUININE.— Methods 
of  dissolving  quinine  and  many  other  alkaloids  and  metallic 
oxides  in  cod-liver  and  other  oils  were  described  by  Professor 
Attfield  in  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal,  2nd  Ser.  Vol.  IV. 
p.  388.  Some  time  afterwards  Mr.  Daniel  Hanbury  stated  at 
an  evening  meeting  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  that  he 
had  found  the  method  answer  well  for  cod-liver  oil  and  qui¬ 
nine. — Ed.  Pharm.  Journ. 

[210.]— COD-LIVER  OIL  JELLY.— The  following  for¬ 
mula  has  been  published  for  this  preparation  : — 


01.  Morrhuae 

.  75-00  parts. 

Sacch.  Alb.  . 

.  14-88 

Acid.  Citric.  . 

.  0-60 

Gelatin  .  . 

.  2-76 

yy 

Aqua?  .  .  . 

.  6-56 

yy 

01.  Essent.  . 

.  0-20 

yy 

100-00 

[211.]— HORTICULTURAL  INK.— I  have  tried  receipt 
in  Beasley,  headed  “  Ink  for  writing  on  Steel  or  Tin  Plate  or 
Sheet  Zinc,”  on  zinc,  and  find  it  answer  perfectly  if  the  labels 
are  well  cleaned  before  and  baked  after  writing. — Thomas 
Stokoe.  _ 

GLYCERINE  BALSAM. 

This  is  designed  to  whiten  and  soften  the  skin,  remove 
roughness,  chaps,  chilblains,  and  irritations  from  common 
causes. 

Take  White  Wax  (pure),  1  oz. 

Spermaceti,  2  oz. 

Oil  of  Almonds,  9  oz. 

Melt  together  by  a  moderate  heat  in  a  glazed  earthenware 
vessel,  and  add — 

Glycerine  (best),  3  oz. 

Balsam  of  Peru,  £  oz. 

The  mixture  is  to  be  stirred  until  nearly  cold,  and  then  poured 
into  pots.  [Instead  of  balsam  of  Peru,  12  or  15  drops  of 
otto  of  rose  may  be  employed.] — Druggists’  Circular. 


ALMOND  BALLS. 

1.  Take  of  Spermaceti,  2  oz. 

White  Wax  (pure),  4  oz. 

Oil  of  Almonds,  ^  pint. 

Melt  them  together  in  an  earthenware  pot  by  the  heat  of  a 
water-bath,  and,  when  the  mixture  has  cooled  a  little,  add— 
Essential  Oil  of  Almonds,  1  drm. 

Expressed  Oil  of  Mace,  1^  drm. 

Stir  the  mixture  constantly  until  it  begins  to  cool,  then  peur 
it  into  slightly-warmed  moulds,  which  may  be  ounce  gallipots 
or  egg-cups  with  smooth  bottoms.  This  will  form  hemisphe¬ 
rical  cakes. 

2.  Take  of  Hard  Clarified  Suet,  14  oz. 

White  Wax,  2  oz. 

Melt,  and  add — 

Essential  Oil  of  Almonds,  1  drm. 

Oil  of  Cloves  (or  Pimento),  ^  drm. 
and  proceed  as  in  No.  1.  Cheaper  and  inferior  to  the  first. 
Rub  it  into  the  skin.  [They  may  be  coloured  by  adding  the- 
colouring  material  while  the  whole  is  in  a  fluid  state.] — - 
Druggists’  Circular. 


CAMPHOR  BALSAM. 

1.  Take  of  Spermaceti,  2  oz. 

Olive  Oil,  ^  pint. 

Dissolve  by  a  gentle  heat,  and  add — 

Camphor  (cut  small),  1  oz. 

Stir  the  mixture  until  nearly  cold,  and  then  put  into  shorty 
wide-mouthed  bottles,  which  should  be  kept  well  corked. 

2.  Take  of  Curd  Soap,  1  oz. 

Water,  oz. 

Dissolve  by  heat,  and  stir  in  of 
Camphor,  ^  oz. 
previously  dissolved  in 

Olive  Oil  (hot),  3  oz. 

When  the  whole  is  thoroughly  combined  and  cold,  add — • 

Oil  of  Origanum,  £  oz. 

Strongest  Solution  of  Ammonia,  ^  oz. 
Alcohol,  1-|  oz. 

and  proceed  as  in  No.  1.  [These  are  stimulant  and  anodyne. 
The  first  may  be  used  to  prevent  chapping  of  the  skin,  re¬ 
move  chilblains,  and  to  stimulate  the  growth  of  the  hair. 
The  second  is  better  for  frictions  in  lumbago,  rheumatic 
pains,  etc.] — Druggists’  Circular. 


BALSAM  OF  HONEY. 

Take  Fine  Pale  Honey,  4  oz. 

Glycerine,  1  oz. 

Mix  by  a  gentle  heat ;  when  cold  add — 

Alcohol,  1  oz. 

Essence  of  Ambergris,  6  drops. 

Citric  Acid,  3  drms.- 

This  is  intended  to  remove  discolorations  and  freckles,  as  well 
as  to  improve  the  general  appearance  of  the  skin. — Druggists 7 
Circular. 


CALENDULA  JELLY. — Homeopathic. 

Take  of  Starch  in  powder,  70  grains. 

Glycerine,  1  fluid  ounce. 

Mix  the  powdered  starch  with  the  glycerine,  and  gradually 
heat  the  mixture  to  about  240°  F.,  constantly  stirring,  and 
when  cold  add — 

Saturated  tincture  of  marigold  flowers,  1  fluid  drachm. 

Tincture  of  Cochineal, 

Oil  of  Rose,  q.  s.  to  colour,  and  perfume. — Pharmacist 

CALENDULA  CERATE. 

Take  of  Marigold  flowers,  bruised,  1  part. 

Place  into  a  porcelain  dish  and  add  boiling  water,  2  parts- 

Let  it  digest  for  several  hours,  and  add  butter,  fresh,  6  parts.- 
Apply  heat  until  all  the  water  is  dispersed,  and  strain  through 
linen  cloth  with  pressure. 

Although  the  above  is  an  authoritative  formula  for  prepar¬ 
ing  this  innocent  external  remedy,  it  will  not,  if  prepared  by 
this  process,  receive  the  endorsement  of  the  disciples  of  Hah¬ 
nemann,  with  whom  it  is  a  prominent  remedy  “for  all  the  ills 
I  that  flesh  is  heir  to,”  for  want  of  the  characteristic  yellow 


April  8,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


819 


colour;  and  as  appearances  are  great  aids  to  strong  faith,  we 
will  add  a  formula  for  a  cerate  having  the  requisite  colour, 
and  ensuring  simplicity  and  dispatch  in  its  preparation : — 

Take  of  Tincture  of  Marigold  flowers  (saturated)  1  part. 
Lard  (fresh),  8  parts. 

Heat  on  a  water-bath  until  all  the  spirit  is  dispersed,  and  a 
uniform  preparation  is  obtained. — Pharmacist. 


SUGARED  CALAMUS,  OR  CANDIED  SWEET-FLAG 

ROOT. 

Take  of  Calamus  Root  (cut  in  small  pieces),  1  part. 
Macerate  in  4  parts  of  water  twelve  hours. 

Add  sugar  (crushed),  12  parts, 

And  with  constant  stirring  dry  it  perfectly,  by  the  aid  of  a 
gentle  heat. — Pharmacist. 


SPECIES  LAXANTES  SAINT-GERMAIN— SAINT- 
GERMAIN  LAXATIVE  POWDER. 

Take  of  Senna  leaves,  previously  exhausted  with  strong 
Alcohol,  and  dried,  16  parts. 

Elder  flowers,  10  parts. 

Fennel  seed, 

Anise  seed,  of  each,  5  parts. 

•Cut  and  well  bruise  them,  mix  together,  and  when  dispensing 
add  40  grains  of  Bitartrate  of  Potash  to  each  ounce  of  species. 
— Pharmacist.  _ 

CASTILLION’S  POWDER. 

Take  of  Tragacanth, 

Sago, 

Salep, 

Sugar,  of  each,  in  very  fine  powder,  4  parts. 
Carbonate  of  Lime  (precipitated),  1  part. 
Cochineal,  q.  s.  to  colour. 

Mix  them  thoroughly,  and  pass  through  a  fine  sieve. — Phar¬ 
macist. 


BLACK  CURRANT  LOZENGES. 

Take  of  Black  Currants,  dried,  a  sufficient  quantity;  add 
a  small  quantity  of  water,  and  soften  by  heating 
in  a  water-bath  until  reduced  to  a  soft,  pulpy  mass, 
pass  this  through  a  hair  sieve,  and  evaporate  to 
the  consistence  of  a  paste. 

Take  of  this  Black  Currant  paste, 

White  Sugar,  in  fine  powder,  of  each  1  pound. 
Gum  Arabic,  in  fine  powder,  2  ounces. 

Citric  Acid,  in  fine  powder,  \  ounce. 

Mix,  and  make  into  a  mass  with  Raspberry  Syrup,  q.  s.,  and 
divide  into  lozenges  of  10  grains  each. — Pharmacist. 


[215.] — HAIR  DYE. — “  P eta”  would  be  glad  if  any  one 
will  oblige  with  reliable  and  not  too  expensive  recipes  for 
black,  dark  brown,  and  light  brown  hair  dyes,  without  using 
ammonite  hydrosulph. 

[216.]— SHOW  COLOURS  FOR  LAMPS.— Can  any  of 
your  readers  supply  me  with  the  formulae  for  good  red  and 
green  show  colours  for  lamps?  They  must  neither  fade  nor 
freeze.— C.  S. 

[217.] — POMADE. — Can  any  reader  oblige  me  with  a 
form  for  Sardinian  or  Zouave  pomade  for  fixing  the  mous¬ 
tache  ? — Delta. 

[218.]—  INKS  FOR  DIES. — “  Inquirer"  would  be  glad 
to  be  furnished  with  recipes  for  black  and  coloured  inks  to  use 
with  dies  or  stamps. 

[219.] — DISPENSING. — I  received  the  following  pre¬ 
scription  to  dispense  last  week : — 

R.  Liq.  Ammon.  Acet.  ^iv 
Spt.  Camph.  §ss 
Aquae  Destill,  ^iiiss. 

M.  ft.  Lotio. 

To  be  applied  to  the  face  frequently.  Upon  adding  the 
spt.  camph.  to  the  liq.  ammon.  acet.  and  aqua,  there  was 
d  copious  separation  of  camphor,  by  the  addition  of  a  little 
tinctura  myrrhae  the  camphor  was  taken  up  and  the  lotion 
became  turbid. 

Can  any  of  your  readers  inform  me  if  I  am  justified  in 
either  adding  the  tinctura  myrrhae  to,  or  straining  the  cam¬ 
phor  from,  the  lotion  ? — B.  H.  H. 


fiflrmpttate. 

***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Previous  Sewage,  or  Animal  Contamination  in 
Potable  Waters. 

Sir, — In  your  last  number,  Mr.  Charles  Ekin  states,  in  an 
article  on  the  estimation  of  nitrates  in  potable  waters,  that 
“according  to  the  reports  of  the  Registrar-  General,  Professor 
Frankland  regards  the  amount  of  nitrates  in  a  water  as  neces¬ 
sarily  the  result  of  the  oxidation  of  sewage  matter ;  and  from 
the  nitrates  present  he  actually  calculates  how  great  the 
previous  sewage  contamination  lias  been. 

Permit  me  to  say  that  I  do  not  entertain,  or  express  in  my 
reports  to  the  Registrar- General  or  elsewhere,  any  such  view 
regarding  the  presence  of  nitrates  in  water.  Mr.  Ekin  will 
find,  on  referring  to  my  reports  to  the  Registrar- General, 
that  he  has  misquoted  the  heading  of  one  of  the  columns  in 
the  analytical  table,  the  words  being,  “  Previous  Sewage  or 
Animal  Contamination  (Estimated).'’  Even  if  it  be  admitted 
(but  the  evidence  adduced  by  Mr.  Ekin  on  this  point  is  by 
no  means  conclusive)  that  the  nitrates  in  certain  oolitic  waters 
are  derived  from  the  oxidation  of  fossil  animal  remains,  my 
definition  of  their  origin  would  still  be  perfectly  accurate. 

Ployal  College  of  Chemistry,  E.  Feankland. 

March  31s£,  1871. 


Storage  of  Poisons. 

Sir, — In  looking  over  the  correspondence  in  your  columns 
on  the  storage  of  poisons  regulations,  it  has  struck  me  that  the 
following  would  be  a  good  way  of  putting  the  whole  question. 

In  the  management  of  our  railways,  two  systems  of  signal¬ 
ling  were,  and,  I  believe,  still  are,  in  use, — one  a  “  positive,” 
the  other  a  “negative.”  Under  the  former,  the  way  is 
always  considered  safe  unless  a  positive  signal  of  danger  is 
raised.  Under  the  latter,  the  danger-signal  is  kept  raised, 
and  the  way  considered  unsafe  until  it  is  lowered. 

Now  it  seems  to  me  that  in  enforcing  the  storage  of  poisons 
regulations,  the  Pharmaceutical  Council  (acting  as  directors) 
would  be  adopting  the  first  of  these  systems.  The  officials, 
i.e.  the  apprentices,  assistants  and  working  principals  would 
consider  themselves  quite  safe  in  discharging  their  duties, 
until  a  danger-signal  in  the  shape  of  a  red  triangular  label, 
or  “  some  other  distinctive  mark”  were  raised;  when  they 
would  be  expected  immediately  to  pull  up  and  look  well  that 
their  way  was  clear  before  proceeding. 

On  the  other  hand,  by  allowing  individual  responsibility  to 
rest  upon  every  person  in  the  trade,  I  consider  the  second 
system  would  be  put  into  operation.  The  danger-signal 
would  constantly  be  against  us,  only  to  be  lowered  when  we 
were  off  duty. 

As  the  railway  companies,  after  putting  the  positive  system 
to  a  practical  test,  have  almost  unanimously  abandoned  it  in 
favour  of  the  negative,  I  think  the  Pharmaceutical  Council 
would  do  well  to  profit  by  their  experience,  and  not  make 
“physic-taking”  a  more  dangerous  experiment  than  railway 
travelling. 

Leeds,  March  29th,  1871.  S.  T. 


Poison  Cupboards. 

Sir, — What  sort  of  cupboard  would  it  take  to  hold  half  a 
ton  of  arsenic?  is  a  question  asked  in  a  recent  Journal. 
Having  just  planned  with  a  friend  something  of  this  descrip¬ 
tion,  it  may  be  useful  to  state  what  was  done.  In  one  of  the 
warehouses  is  a  sort  of  counter,  8  feet  long,  some  old  jars 
and  boxes  have  to  be  cleared  away  from  under  it,  it  is  then 
boarded  up  at  each  end ;  about  20  inches  of  boarding  nailed 
up  also  at  each  end  in  front,  and  a  couple  of  doors  hung  m 
the  centre  ;  the  doors  not  locked  but  fastened  with  a  spring- 
catch.  This  will  hold  a  ton  of  arsenic,  if  need  be ;  at  all 
events  it  has  room  for  two  casks  and  a  half,  containing  7  or  8 
cwt.  in  the  whole,  and  for  a  box  of  other  poison  packages. 

A  cupboard  can  easily  be  made  wherever  there  is  a  blank 
wall  by  putting  up  a  shelf  of  about  2  feet  wide,  and  then 
carrying  out  my  plan.  For  jars,  etc.  in  warehouse,  a  cup¬ 
board  is  at  once  "had  by  putting  a  couple  of  doors  in  front  of 
the  shelves. 


820 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  8,1871 


I  know  some  have  a  very  heavy  trade  in  these  poisonous 
articles ;  the  plan  I  have  stated  would  not  he  suited  so  well 
to  meet  their  wants  as  the  appropriating  of  an  entire  room  in 
which  all  poisons  could  be  kept. 

Whatever  difference  of  opinion  there  may  be  as  to  the  ad¬ 
visability  of  compulsory  poison  regulations,  all  seem  to  be 
agreed  as  to  the  propriety  of  adopting,  individually,  suitable 
arrangements  for  preventing  accidents.  I  am,  therefore,  in¬ 
duced  to  trouble  you  with  these  remarks. 

A  Country  Chemist. 


Syrup  op  Phosphate  op  Iron. 

Sir, — With  reference  to  the  article  on  syr.  ferri  phosph.  by 
Mr.  Carteighe  in  this  week’s  Journal,  I  should  like  to  make 
a  few  additional  observations. 

It  appears  to  me  to  be  not  so  much  a  stronger  acid  in  itself 
which  is  required,  as  a  freshly  prepared  (or,  perhaps,  more 
strictly  speaking  I  should  say,  freshly  diluted)  acid ;  and  I 
was  led  to  this  opinion  by  noticing,  that  when  the  syrup 
began  to  deposit  very  soon  after  being  made,  it  was  just  at 
such  times  as  my  stock  of  dilute  acid  was  getting  low,  and, 
consequently,  what  there  was  of  it  was  comparatively  old. 
On  first  noticing  this,  the  thought  struck  me, — why,  this  acid 
has  deteriorated  from  repeatedly  using  and  opening  the 
bottle;  but  upon  second  thought,  considering  the  stable 
nature  of  this  acid,  I  could  not  fancy  it  to  be  so ;  and  upon 
testing,  it  proved  not  to  be,  but  to  be  as  good  as  ever,  with 
the  simple  exception,  that  I  could  not  get  a  good  syrup  with  it. 

Up  to  the  time  of  my  noticing  this  I  had  thought  the  fault 
was  with  the  phosphate,  and  I  had  tried  precipitating  from 
hot  and  cold,  concentrated  and  dilute  solutions,  with  the 
acetate  of  soda,  and  without  it ;  but  all  these  plans  made  but 
a  trifling  difference  in  the  product.  However,  after  I  had 
such  good  grounds  for  believing  the  acid  to  be  at  fault,  I 
made  the  following  trial : — I  first  diluted  a  quantity  of  acid 
to  the  proper  strength,  then  with  a  portion  of  it  made  some 
of  the  syrup,  which  I  found  to  keep  well,  and  from  time  to 
time,  as  the  acid  got  older,  I  made  more  syrup  with  portions 
of  the  same;  and  I  found  that  as  the  age  of  the  acid  in¬ 
creased,  so  the  liability  of  the  syrup  to  spoil  increased.  Since 
then  I  have  invariably  made  the  dilute  acid  when  wanted  for 
making  the  syrup,  and  I  have  invariably  obtained  a  satisfac¬ 
tory  result ;  with  ordinary  precautions  it  will  keep  good  six 
months,  or  even  longer.  I  made  a  batch  in  September,  1870, 
which  lasted  me  until  the  commencement  of  the  present 
month,  and  the  last  bottle  sent  out  wras  as  good  as  the  first ; 
and  I  have  by  me  now  some  dilute  acid  made  last  summer, 
which  was  used  at  the  time  of  diluting  for  making  syrup 
which  kept  well,  and  yet  that  acid  will  not  now  hold  the 
phosphate  in  solution  beyond  an  hour  or  two,  the  syrup  be¬ 
ginning  to  turn  cloudy  almost  directly  the  sugar  is  dissolved. 
Beyond  this  one  thing  I  can  find  no  difference  between  the 
old  acid  and  the  fresh.  Can  it  be  a  molecular  change  ?  The 
reaction  with  all  tests  is  identical,  and  the  neutralizing  power 
with  alkalies  is  the  same. 

So  far,  therefore,  my  experience  would  go  to  support  the 
formula  proposed  by  Mr.  Carteighe,  and  I  scarcely  like  to  find 
fault  with  so  accomplished  a  pharmaceutist :  but  in  one  par¬ 
ticular  it  appears  to  me  to  be  not  quite  what  could  be  desired. 
In  his  formula  there  is  2  fl.  oz.  of  limpid  liquid  to  be  mixed 
with  10  fl.  oz.  of  syrup ;  this  would  make  an  unusually  thin 
syrup,  and  might,  I  think,  detract  somewhat  from  its  keep- 
ing  quality.  I  think  the  following  might  be  recommended 
as  an  amendment,  which  I  have  tried  and  found  to  answer 
well : — 


Phosphate  of  iron  (freshly  precipitated)  .  .  96  grs. 

Phosphoric  acid,  sp.  gr.  Do . 7  fl.  dr. 

Sugar . oz. 

Water  (q.  s.  to  form  12  fl.  oz.  syr.)  .  .  .  fl.  oz. 

Mix  the  acid  with  the  water,  dissolve  the  phosphate,  then 
add  the  sugar,  shaking  occasionally  until  dissolved, 

Alered  Rose. 

Maida  Hill,  W.,  March  29th,  1871. 


Preservation  op  Sulphate  op  Iron. 

Sir, — I  beg  to  make  a  correction  of  a  statement  promul¬ 
gated  by  me,  and  printed  in  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal 
for  May,  1868,  on  the  preservation  of  sulphate  of  iron.  The 
method  recommended  was  to  place  a  small  quantity  of  cam¬ 
phor  in  the  vessel  containing  the  sulphate.  After  having 


given  this  plan  a  fair  trial  (on  a  good  sample  of  the  sulphate), 
I  was  led  to  the  conclusion  that  it  answered  the  intention 
perfectly,  presuming  that  the  atmospheric  oxygen  was  ex¬ 
cluded  partially,  at  least,  by  means  of  the  vapour  of  camphor. 

More  recent  experience,  however,  has  shown  me  that 
camphor  has  not  the  smallest  effect  iu  preventing  oxidation 
of  badly-made  sulphate  of  iron,  i.  e.  when  crystallized  from 
a  solution  containing  much  free  sulphuric  acid ;  while,  on 
the  other  hand,  a  well-made  salt,  with  hard,  brilliant  facets, 
appears  to  require  nothing  beyond  a  good  stoppered  bottle 
and  a  dry  situation  to  keep  it  entirely  free  from  oxidation. 

George  Welborn. 


Obscure  Prescriptions. 

Sir, — As  an  illustration  of  one  of  the  numerous  phases  of  a 
provincial  druggist’s  business,  I  send  the  following  verbatim 
copy  of  a  prescription  lately  brought  to  a  druggist’s  shop  in 
the  county  of  Lincoln  to  be  compounded.  It  is  probable 
that  no  other  than  an  agricultural  mind  could  have  conceived 
such  a  medley  of  ingredients,  or  spelt  them  in  a  more  in¬ 
tensely  rural  manner. 

2  dr.  of  fabach. 

2  dr.  of  piloche. 

2  dr.  of  bittirhapple. 

2  dr.  of  colomet. 

10  gr.  of  gold  dust. 

2  dr.  of  mercury. 

Sprit  of  buckthorn  sufficient  for  60  pills. 

31s?  March,  1871.  G.  W. 


One  oe  the  Craet. 

Sir, — Perhaps  the  following  inscription  from  a  tombstone 
at  Broad  water,  near  Worthing,  might  interest  some  of  your 
readers  : — • 

IN 

MEMORY  OE 
MRS.  FRANCIS  SMITH, 

DRUGGIST, 

OF  WORTHING, 

WHO  DIED 

july  4th,  1837. 

AGED  101  YEARS. 

An  old  customer  of  Mrs.  Smith  remembers  going  into  the 
shop  sixty  years  ago  for  something  for  the  toothache,  when 
the  old  lady  observed,  “  Now,  my  boy,  the  stuff  I’m  about  to 
give  you  is  as  precious  as  gold,  so  there’s  but  very  little  for 
twopence ;  but  it’s  sure  to  d©  your  mother’s  toothache  good.” 
I  regret  the  name  of  the  specific  has  not  been  preserved. 

J.  Burt. 


M.  F.  S. — Most  of  the  information  you  ask  for  is  usually 
obtained  at  school,  and  may  be  found  in  any  biographical 
dictionary.  We  are  obliged  for  your  suggestion,  but  do  not 
think  our  readers  would  generally  appreciate  such  articles  as 
you  indicate. 

H. — The  cloudiness  and  deposit  you  speak  of  probably 
arise  from  impurity  of  the  water  used  in  making  the  lemonade. 
The  change  has  been  noticed  by  Dr.  Heisch  in  his  paper  ou 
“  Organic  Matter  in  Water,”  an  abstract  of  which  will  be 
found  in  No.  1,  p.  13,  of  the  present  series. 

A.  W.  V. — No  blame  could  have  been  attached  to  the  dis¬ 
penser  for  using  either  of  the  mint  waters,  as  both  are  officinal : 
we  should,  however,  have  used  aq.  menth.  pip.,  as  being  the 
one  commonly  prescribed. 

“  Vinum  ”  will  find  a  letter  on  the  subject  in  No.  26,  p. 
519. 

“ Parenchyma .” — The  work  mentioned  is  published  by 
Messrs.  Macmillan,  price  4 s.  6c?. 

“Henley.”— No.  2. 

J.  W. — We  believe  an  apparatus  similar  to  the  one  men¬ 
tioned,  of  foreign  manufacture,  was  introduced  to  the  trade 
by  Messrs.  Gilbertson,  of  Ludgate  Hill. 

“  Indoctus  ”  has  omitted  to  send  his  name. 


Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  F.  JohnsoD,  Mr.  M.  C.  Cooke,  Mr.  C.  R.  C.  Tichborne, 
Mr.  F.  M.  Rimmington,  Mr.  J.  W.  Jackson,  Mr.  Hustwick, 
Mr.  J.  Winser,  M.  F.  S.,  J.  S.,  N.,  “Delta,”  “Inquirer,” 
“Aqua  Pura,”  “  Somerset,”  “  Student.” 


April  15,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


821 


PHARMACY  IN  PRUSSIA. 

BY  ERNEST  J.  T.  AGNEW. 

German  unification  being  likely  to  assimilate  all 
brandies  of  technical  education,  a  description  of 
pharmacy  in  Prussia,  with  a  few  notes  on  its  varia¬ 
tions  in  the  other  States  of  the  great  German  Empire, 
will,  we  trust,  be  found  acceptable  and  interesting.  A 
superior  medical  Council  is  held  at  Berlin,  and  pro¬ 
vincial  councils  ( Reyierunys-ineclicinal-rath )  in  the 
chief  towns  of  eacli  province.  Generally  there  is  no 
special  school  or  college  of  pharmacy ;  but  students, 
as  in  other  professions,  are  expected  to  follow  the 
usual  university  courses,  before  which  they  must 
have  undergone  four  years’  apprenticeship,  and  must 
have  been  assistants  to  chemists  for  three  jrears 
more  before  passing  the  final  examination.  An 
apprentice  must  be  over  fourteen  years  of  age,  and 
must  pass  a  stiff  examination  by  the  Physicus  of  the 
district  in  Latin,  German,  and  the  elementary  phy¬ 
sical  and  natural  sciences.  On  receiving  his  exami¬ 
nation  certificate  he  enters  the  service  of  an  apothe¬ 
cary,  who  is  bound  to  instruct  him,  and  even  to  keep 
an  herbarium  of  the  indigenous  medicinal  plants  for 
his  benefit.  How  different  to  the  colour-grinding  and 
alum-powdering  instruction  on  which  most  English 
apprentices  have  to  base  their  future  pharmaceu¬ 
tical  education  !  On  emerging  from  his  apprentice¬ 
ship,  he  passes  before  the  Medical  Commission,  who 
examine  him  in  chemistry,  pharmacy,  etc.  This  as¬ 
sistants’  examination  is  certainly  much  more  search¬ 
ing  than  the  “ major”  of  London.  The  final  ordeal 
takes  place  when  the  student  has  reached  the  age  of 
twenty-five,  and  is  held  by  a  special  Board  at  the 
University.  There  are  eight  separate  examinations, 
which  are  as  follows  : — 

1.  Written  :  Mineralogy,  Botany  and  Toxicology. 

2.  To  prepare  a  certain  number  of  galenical  pre¬ 
parations  in  the  laboratory. 

3.  To  prepare  three  chemical  preparations  used  in 
pharmacy. 

4.  The  qualitative  and  quantitative  analysis  of  a 
mixture  of  salts. 

5.  The  analysis  of  some  mixture  containing  one 
or  more  poisons. 

6.  The  physiological  examination  of  drugs  and 
medicinal  plants. 

7.  An  essay  on  some  chemical  subject,  to  which 
great  importance  is  attached.  The  student  is  al¬ 
lowed  every  facility  for  references  (which  he  has  to 
name),  and  the  time  is  unlimited.  These  essays  are 
often  complete  monographs,  and  are  preceded  by  a 
curriculum  vita  of  the  student. 

The  eighth  is  a  viva  voce  and  public  interrogation 
on  all  pharmaceutical  studies  and  a  discussion  on 
the  essays.  This  last  examination  is  passed  before 
the  whole  Board,  and  entails  many  important  and  im¬ 
posing  ceremonies.  In  some  parts  of  Germany  there 
are  second-class  pharmacists,  who  pass  their  exami¬ 
nations  before  local  boards  in  the  chief  provincial 
towns  ;  but  their  privileges  are  fewr,  and  they  can  only 
establish  themselves  in  small  country  towns  or  vil¬ 
lages.  It  is  easy  to  see  that  the  eminent  position  oc¬ 
cupied  by  German  chemists  is  due  to  their  extensive 
knowledge  and  the  privileges  accorded  to  them  hi  con¬ 
sequence.  The  Government  alone  authorizes  the 
establishment  of  new  pharmacies ;  but  such  is  the 
degree  of  opposition  on  the  part  of  those  already  in 
business,  that  but  very  few  are  annually  established, 
although  the  population  of  the  large  towns  is  rapidly 

Third  Series,  No.  42. 


increasing.-  Berlin,  with  a  population  of  700,000, 
has  43  pharmacies,  Pestli  only  14.  In  Russia,  by  some 
most  extraordinary  anomaly,  German  apothecaries 
alone  are  permitted  to  practise,  to  the  exclusion  even 
of  natives,  unless  they  have  been  educated  in  a  Ger¬ 
man  university  and  possess  the  German  diploma. 
Thus,  in  St.  Petersburg  there  are  45  pharmacies 
to  532,000  inhabitants ;  in  Moscow,  30  to  380,000, 
or  over  12,000  persons  to  support  a  single  druggist. 
One  large  shop  in  the  former  place  keeps  over  forty 
assistants,  and  as  the  business  consists  only  in  dis¬ 
pensing,  enormous  fortunes  are  realized.  The  Ger¬ 
man  Pharmacopoeia  has  long  been  considered  official 
in  Russia ;  but  a  new  Russian  Pharmacopoeia  is 
about  to  be,  if  not  already,  issued.  In  Germany,  as 
in  all  other  countries  where  the  number  of  druggists 
is  limited,  the  medical  commissioners  fix  a  tariff  of 
prices  which  is  revised  every  year.  At  the  death  of 
a  pharmacist,  his  widow  may  carry  on  the  business 
until  her  children,  should  she  have  any,  have  at¬ 
tained  their  majority,  by  employing  a  duly- qualified 
manager.  Should  it,  however,  be  left  to  other  heirs, 
it  must  be  sold  within  a  year.  Before  the  druggist 
commences  business,  he  must  take  the  professional 
oath  before  the  Kreis-physicus  or  the  university 
authorities. 

A  peculiarity  of  German  pharmacists  is  the  adop¬ 
tion  of  a  sign.  The  number  of  Pelicans,  Golden 
Eagles,  etc.  in  Germany  is  only  to  be  equalled  by 
that  in  the  Licensed  Victuallers’  columns  of  the 
London  Post-Office  Directory.  In  general  nothing 
is  exposed  in  the  windows,  and  the  interior  seems 
redolent  with  professional  gravity.  The  principal 
pharmacies  consist  of  two  or  more  rooms ;  the  first, 
a  kind  of  -waiting-room  for  the  public,  who  dare  not 
penetrate  into  the  sanctum  where  a  number  of  silent 
and  spectacled  assistants  dispense  the  prescriptions 
brought  to  them  by  a  kind  of  shop -walker  or  “  pro¬ 
visor,”  who  returns  them  with  medicines  to  the 
customers.  The  law  compels  them  to  write  on  each 
label  the  name  of  the  medicine,  that  of  the  person 
for  -whom  it  is  intended,  how  to  be  taken,  and  the 
date  of  its  preparation.  Coloured  labels  are  used 
for  poisons  and  external  remedies.  The  apothe¬ 
caries  (as  pharmacists  are  designated  in  Germany) 
prepare  nearly  all  their  chemicals  and  galenicals,  for, 
owing  to  the  restrictive  measures  in  force  and  ensur¬ 
ing  immense’  profits  to  the  proprietors  of  drug-stores 
in  large  towns,  nearly  every  pharmacy  is  provided 
with  vast  laboratories,  containing  every  convenience 
for  practice  or  research.  Steam  is  commonty  used 
for  every  purpose  where  heat  is  required,  such  as 
for  drying,  distilling  and  evaporating.  Another 
reason  conducing  to  raise  the  status  of  pharmacy  in 
Germany  is,  that  a  great  number  of  men  possessing 
diplomas  are  unable  to  buy  or  obtain  the  necessary 
concession  from  the  Government  to  establish  tliem- 


*  About  thirty  years  ago,  the  apothecaries  at  Hamburg 
agreed  that  the  number  of  their  establishments,  then  more  than 
40  to  about  200,000  inhabitants,  far  exceeded  the  actual  re¬ 
quirements  of  the  public;  in  consequence  of  which  many 
places  scarcely  enabled  their  owners  to  earn  a  scanty  living. 
A  society  of  the  apothecaries  of  the  town  existed  already  for 
scientific  and  social  meetings ;  and  this  society  undertook  to 
raise  funds  by  annual  subscriptions,  and  to  gradually  buy  up 
the  smaller  establishments  until  the  total  number  should  be 
reduced  to  24.  This  object  has  been  carried  out  with  such 
perseverance  that  at  the  present  time  there  are  less  than 
30  pharmaceutical  establishments,  althouglqit  ha3  been  found 
necessary  to  establish  several  new  one3  in  recently  built 
suburbs. — Ed.  Pharr.  Jouen. 


822 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  15, 1871. 


selves,  and  are  consequently  obliged  to  seek  situa¬ 
tions  as  managers  or  assistants;  a  staff  of  sucli 
painstaking,  well-educated  men  necessarily  gives  a 
considerable  cachet  to  the  house  they  may  be  em¬ 
ployed  in.  The  inspection  of  pharmacies  is  no  dead- 
letter  in  Germany,  as  it  has  proved  to  be  in  France 
and  Italy.  Here  it  is  a  long,  searching  operation, 
generally  performed  by  two  delegates  in  the  pre¬ 
sence  of  the  Kreis-phy  sicus  of  the  district.  It  is 
compulsory  every  three  years ;  but  often  judged  ne¬ 
cessary  to  perform  it  oftener.  Not  only  are  the  drugs 
examined,  but  also  the  assistants  and  apprentices. 
The  inspectors  require  the  production  of  the  phar¬ 
macists’  diplomas,  Act  of  Concession,  tariff,  herbarium 
of  indigenous  plants,  prescription- books,  and  the 
prices  paid  for  executing  the  formula  therein.  As¬ 
sistants  and  apprentices  are  required  to  show  their 
examination  certificates,  are  asked  questions  on 
chemistry  and  pharmacy,  and  have  to  translate  pas¬ 
sages  of  the  pharmacopoeia,  which  is  quite  Celsus- 
like  in  the  excellence  of  its  Latin  construction.  The 
apprentices  are  bound  to  have  certain  hours  allotted 
to  them  for  study,  and  it  is  the  inspector’s  duty  to 
see  that  this  rule  has  been  complied  with.  Nearly 
every  drug  and  preparation  is  carefully  examined, 
and  often  analysed  if  any  doubt  be  entertained  as  to 
their  genuineness.  Laboratories,  stores,  cellars,  all 
are  inspected  most  minutely.  A  proces -verbal  of 
each  visit  is  sent  to  head-quarters,  where  a  resume 
of  it  is  made,  and  transmitted  to  the  pharmacist, 
with  the  addition  of  either  praiseworthy  reflections, 
counsels  for  his  benefit,  or  firm  but  polite  repri¬ 
mands.  In  some  parts  of  Germany,  corporations  or 
guilds  of  apothecaries  still  exist,  which  Government 
•can  hardly  interfere  with,  as  they  possess  exclusive 
privileges,  and  do  all  in  their  power  to  prevent  new¬ 
comers  from  establishing  themselves.  A  system  en¬ 
joying  so  many  and  great  advantages  is  naturally 
and  properly  subjected  to  very  severe  legislative 
measures.  The  laws  relating  to  the  storage  of  poi¬ 


sons  are  so  similar  to  those  in  force  elsewhere,  that 
it  is  useless  to  recapitulate  them  here.  The  German 
chemists  enjoy  great  advantages  and  privileges, 
which  are  counterbalanced  by  the  severest  of  exa¬ 
minations  and  the  most  searching  of  inspections. 
I  am  indebted  for  much  of  this  legal  information  to 
M.  Labelonye,  of  Paris,  whose  work  on  ‘  L’Organi- 
sation  Phannaceutique  en  Europe’  is  highly  in¬ 
teresting  and  instructive. 


THE  CHEMICAL  NOMENCLATURE  OF 
THE  PHARMACOPOEIA, 

WITH  SUGGESTIONS  FOR  ITS  REVISION. 

BY  PROFESSOR  ATTFIELD. 

(Concluded  from  page  804.) 

The  proposed  Names. 

The  following  is  a  table  of  names  of  all  the  clie- 
mieal  substances  in  the  British  Pharmacopoeia. 
Column  I.  contains  the  official  names ;  Column  II.  the 
names  now  suggested  for  employment  in  pharmacy, 
medicine  and  the  next  edition  of  the  British  Phar¬ 
macopoeia;  Column  III.  the  unitary  nomenclature 
of  modern  chemistry.  The  advantages  claimed  for 
the  proposed  names  are  that  they  are  more  consis¬ 
tent  with  each  other  than  the  old ;  they  are  formed 
on  one  uniform  system  instead  of  two ;  they  include 
less  of  theory,  and  therefore  have  greater  elements 
of  stability  than  the  old ;  and  they  are  harmonious, 
whilst  the  old  is  absolutely  inconsistent,  with  both 
modern  scientific  nomenclature  and  the  only  che¬ 
mical  notation  now  employed.  Then-  newness,  so 
far  as  they  are  new,  is  their  only  disadvantage, 
and  even  this  disadvantage  is,  in  practice,  reduced  to 
insignificant  proportions. 

Column  II.  also  contains  a  few  exceptional  alte¬ 
rations,  to  which  I  shall  allude  subsequently. 


Old  Names. 

Acetate  of  ammonia. 

Acetate  of  copper. 

A  cetate  of  iron. 

Acetate  of  lead. 

Acetate  of  morphia. 

Acetate  of  potash. 

Acetate  of  soda. 

Acetate  of  zinc. 

Acetic  acid. 

Acid  tartrate  of  potash. 
Aconitia. 

Albumen. 

Alcohol. 

Alum. 

Ammonia. 

Ammoniated  mercury. 
Ammonio-nitrate  of  silver. 
Ammonio-sulphate  of  copper. 
Ammonio- sulphate  of  magnesia. 
Amylic  alcohol. 

Arseniate  of  iron. 

Arseniate  of  soda. 

Arsenious  acid. 


Proposed  Names. 

Acetate  of  ammonium. 

Acetate  of  copper. 

Acetate  of  iron. 

Acetate  of  lead. 

Acetate  of  morphia. 

Acetate  of  potassium. 

Acetate  of  sodium. 

Acetate  of  zinc. 

Acetic  acid. 

Acid  tartrate  of  potassium. 
Aconitia. 

Albumen. 

Alcohol. 

Alum. 

Ammonia. 

Hydrate  of  ammonium  (syn.J. 
Ammoniated  mercury. 
Ammonio-nitrate  of  silver. 
Ammonio-sulphate  of  copper. 
Ammonio-sulphate  of  magnesium. 
Amylic  alcohol. 

Arseniate  of  iron. 

Arseniate  of  sodium. 

White  arsenic. 


Synonyms. 

Ammonium  acetate. 
Ammonic  acetate. 

Cupric  acetate. 

Ferric  acetate. 

Lead  acetate. 

Plumbic  acetate. 

Morphia  acetate. 

(  Potassium  acetate. 

\  Potassic  acetate. 

Sodium  acetate. 

Sodic  acetate. 

Zinc  acetate. 

Hydrogen  acetate. 

Acetic  acid. 

Acid  potassium  tartrate. 
Aconitia,  or  aconitine. 
Albumen. 

Ethyl  hydrate. 
v  Alcohol,  or  ethyl  alcohol. 
Alum. 

Ammonia. 

Ammonium  hydrate. 
Mercuric-ammonium  chloride. 
Argent -ammonium  nitrate. 
Cupro-diammonium  sulphate. 
Ammonio-magncsian  sulphate. 
Amyl  alcohol. 

Ferrous  arsenate. 

Sodium  arsenate. 

Arsenious  oxide. 


I 


April  15, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


823 


Old  Names. 

i  Atropia. 

Benzoate  of  ammonia. 

Benzoic  acid. 

Benzol. 

Bicarbonate  of  potash. 

Bicarbonate  of  soda. 

Bichromate  of  potash. 

Bismuth. 

Black  antimony. 

Black  oxide  of  manganese. 

Boracic  acid. 

Borax. 

Bromide  of  ammonium. 

Bromide  of  potassium. 

Bromine. 

Calomel  (syn.). 

Camphor. 

Carbolic  acid. 

Carbonate  of  ammonia. 
Carbonate  of  bismuth. 

Carbonate  of  iron. 

Carbonate  of  lead. 

f  Carbonate  of  lime. 

Carbonate  of  lithia. 

Carbonate  of  magnesia. 

|  Carbonate  of  potash. 

Carbonate  of  soda. 

Carbonate  of  zinc. 

Caustic  potash. 

Caustic  soda. 

Chalk. 

Chlorate  of  potash. 

Chloride  of  ammonium. 

Chloride  of  antimony. 

Chloride  of  barium. 

Chloride  of  calcium. 

Chloride  of  gold. 

Chloride  of  sodium. 

Chloride  of  tin. 

Chloride  of  zinc. 

Chlorinated  lime. 

Chlorinated  soda. 

Chlorine. 

Chloroform. 

Citrate  of  ammonia. 

Citrate  of  bismuth  and  ammonia. 

Citrate  of  iron  and  ammonia. 
Citrate  of  iron  and  quinia. 


Proposed  Names. 

Atropia. 

Benzoate  of  ammonium. 
Benzoic  acid. 

Benzol. 

Bicarbonate  of  potassium. 


Bicarbonate  of  sodium. 


Red  chromate  of  potassium. 

Bismuth. 

Black  sulphide  of  antimony. 

Black  oxide  of  manganese. 

Boracic  acid. 

Borax. 

Bromide  of  ammonium. 

Bromide  of  potassium. 

Bromine. 

Calomel  (syn.). 

Camphor. 

Carbolic  acid. 

Carbonate  of  ammonium . 
Oxijcarhonate  of  bismuth  (syn.). 
Carbonate  of  iron. 

Carbonate  of  lead. 

Carbonate  of  calcium . 

Carbonate  of  lithium. 

Carbonate  of  magnesium. 

Carbonate  of  potassium. 

Carbonate  of  sodium. 

Carbonate  of  zinc. 

Caustic  potash. 

Hydrate  of  potassium  (syn.). 
Caustic  soda. 

Hydrate  of  sodium  (syn.). 

Chalk. 

Chlorate  of  potassium. 

Chloride  of  ammonium. 

Chloride  of  antimony. 

Chloride  of  barium. 

Chloride  of  calcium. 

Perchloride  of  gold. 

Chloride  of  sodium. 

Stannous  chloride . 

Chloride  of  zinc. 

Chlorinated  lime. 

Chlorinated  soda. 

Chlorine. 

Chloroform. 

Citrate  of  ammonium. 

Citrate  of  bismuth  and  ammonium. 

Citrate  of  iron  and  ammonium. 
Citrate  of  iron  and  quinia. 


Synonyms. 

Atropia,  or  atropine. 

Ammonium  benzoate. 
f  Hydrogen  benzoate. 

(  Benzoic  acid. 

Benzene  or  Benzine. 

{Acid  potassium  carbonate. 

Hydrogen  potassium  carbonate. 
Mono-potassic  carbonate. 

/  Acid  sodium  carbonate. 

\  Hydrogen  sodium  carbonate. 

I  Mono-sodic  carbonate. 

\  Hydro-sodic  carbonate. 

(  Potassium  anhydrochr ornate. 

(  Potassium  bichromate. 

Bismuth. 

Antimonious  sulphide. 

Manganese  dioxide  or  peroxide. 

{Hydrogen  borate. 

Boric  acid. 

Boracic  acid. 

('  Sodium  anhydroborate. 

\  Borax. 

Ammonium  bromide. 

Potassium  bromide. 

Bromine. 

(  Mercurous  chloride. 

(  Calomel. 

Camphor. 

(  Hydrogen  carbolate. 

(  Carbolic  acid. 

Ammonium  carbonate. % 

Bismuth  oxycarbonate. 

Ferrous  carbonate. 

(  Lead  carbonate. 

\  ?  Triplumbic  dihydrate  dicarbonate. 
Calcium  carbonate. 

Lithium  carbonate. 

(Magnesium  carbonate. 

?  Tetrahydrous  dihydric  tetramag- 
nesic  tricarbonate. 

(  LHpotassic  carbonate. 

(  Potassium  carbonate. 

(  Bisodic  carbonate. 

\  Sodium  carbonate. 

Zinc  carbonate. 

(  Caustic  potash. 

|  Potassium  hydrate. 

(  Caustic  soda. 

(  Sodium  hydrate. 

(  Calcium  carbonate. 

\  Chalk. 

Potassium  chlorate. 

Ammonium  chloride. 

(  Antimony  trichloride. 

{  Antimonious  chloride. 

(  Barium  chloride. 

(  Baric  chloride. 

(  Calcium  chloride. 

{  Calcic  chloride. 

Auric  chloride. 

Sodium  chloride. 

Stannous  chloride. 

Zinc  chloride. 

Chloride  of  lime. 

Chloride  of  soda. 

Chlorine. 

(  Methenyl  chloride. 

\  Chloroform. 

Ammonium  citrate. 

(  Bismuth  ammonio-citrate. 

(  Ammonium  and  bismuthous  citrate. 

(  Ferric  ammonio-citrate. 

(  Ferric  and  ammonium  citrate. 

!  Ferric  quinio-citrate. 

Quinia  ferri-citrate. 

Ferric  and  quinia  citrate . 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  15,  1871. 


S2I 


Old  Names. 

Citrate  of  lithia. 

Citrate  of  potash. 

Citric  acid. 

Citro -tartrate  of  soda. 

Conia. 

Copper. 

Corrosive  sublimate  (syn.). 

Digitalin. 

Dried  alum. 

Dried  carbonate  of  soda. 

Dried  sulphate  of  iron. 

Ether. 

Ferrocyanide  of  potassium  (syn.). 
Gallic  acid. 

Gelatine. 

Glycerine. 

Granulated  sulphate  of  iron. 
Hydrated  peroxide  of  iron. 
Hydrochlorate  of  morphia. 

Hydrochloric  acid. 

Hydrochloric  sol.  of  arsenic. 

Hydrocyanic  acid. 

Hyposulphite  of  soda. 

Indigo. 

Iodate  of  potash. 

Iodide  of  cadmium. 

Iodide  of  iron. 

Iodide  of  lead. 

Iodide  of  mercury,  green. 

Iodide  of  mercury,  red. 

Iodide  of  potassium. 

Iodide  of  sulphur. 

Iodine. 

Iron. 

Lime. 

Magnesia. 

Magnetic  oxide  of  iron. 

Mercury. 

Mercury  with  chalk. 

Moist  peroxide  of  iron. 

Nitrate  of  lead. 

Nitrate  of  mercury. 

Nitrate  of  potash. 

Nitrate  of  silver. 

Nitrate  of  soda. 

Nitric  acid. 

Nitro -hydrochloric  acid. 

Nitrous  ether,  spirit  of. 

Oxalate  of  ammonia. 

Oxalate  of  cerium. 

Oxalic  acid. 

Oxide  of  antimony. 

Oxide  of  iron,  magnetic. 

Oxide  of  lead. 

Oxide  of  mercury,  red. 

Oxide  of  silver. 

Oxide  of  zinc. 

Perchloride  of  iron. 

P erchloride  of  mercury. 


Proposed  Names. 

Citrate  of  lithium. 

Citrate  of  potassium. 

Citric  acid. 

Citro-tartrate  of  sodium. 

Conia. 

Copper. 

Corrosive  sublimate  (syn.). 

Digitalin. 

Dried  alum. 

Dried  carbonate  of  sodium. 

Dried  sulphate  of  iron. 

Ether. 

Ferrocyanide  of  potassium. 

Gallic  acid. 

Gelatine. 

Glycerine. 

Granulated  sulphate  of  iron. 
Peroxyhydrate  of  iron. 
Hydrochlorate  of  morphia. 

Hydrochloric  acid. 

Hydrochloric  sol.  of  arsenic. 

Hydrocyanic  acid. 

Hyposulphite  of  sodium. 

Indigo. 

Iodate  of  potassium. 

Iodide  of  cadmium. 

Iodide  of  iron. 

Iodide  of  lead. 

Iodide  of  mercury,  green. 

Iodide  of  mercury,  red. 

Iodide  of  potassium. 

Iodide  of  sulphur. 

Iodine. 

Iron. 

Lime. 

Magnesia. 

Magnetic  oxyhydrate  of  iron  (syn.). 
Mercury. 

Mercury  with  chalk. 

Moist  perhydrate  of  iron. 

Nitrate  of  lead. 

-Ftemitrate  of  mercury. 

Nitrate  of  potassium. 

Nitrate  of  silver. 

Nitrate  of  sodium. 

Nitric  acid. 

Nitro-hydrochloric  acid. 

Nitrous  ether,  spirit  of. 

Oxalate  of  ammonium. 

Oxalate  of  cerium. 

Oxalic  acid. 

Oxide  of  antimony. 

Oxyhydrate  of  iron,  magnetic  (syn.). 
Oxide  of  lead.  W  1 

Oxide  of  mercury,  red. 

Oxide  of  silver. 

Oxide  of  zinc. 

Perchloride  of  iron. 

Perchloride  of  mercury. 


Synonyms. 

Lithium  citrate. 

Potassium  citrate. 

(  Hydrogen  citrate. 

\  Citric  acid. 

Sodium  citro-tartrate. 

Conia  or  conine. 

Copper. 

(  Mercuric  chloride. 

(  Corrosive  sublimate. 
Digitalin. 

Dried  alum. 

Dried  sodium  carbonate. 

Dried  ferrous  sulphate. 

(  Ethyl  oxide . 

\  Ether. 

Potassium  ferrocyanide. 

(  Hydrogen  gallate. 

\  Gallic  acid. 

Gelatin. 

( Propenyl  alcohol. 

(  Glycerin. 

Granulated  ferrous  sulphate. 
Ferric  oxyhydrate. 

Morphine  hydrochlorate. 

!. Hydrogen  chloride. 

Chlorhydric  acid. 

Hydrochloric  acid. 
Hydrochloric  sol.  of  arsenic. 

|  Hydrogen  cyanide. 

(  Hydrocyanic  acid. 

Sodium  hyposulphite. 

Indigo. 

Potassium  iodate. 

Cadmium  iodide ,  or  cadmic  iodide. 
Ferrous  iodide. 

Lead  iodide ,  or  plumbic  iodide. 
Mercurous  iodide. 

Mercuric  iodide. 

Potassium  iodide. 

Sulphur  iodide. 

Iodine. 

Iron. 

(  Calcium  monoxide. 

(  Lime. 

(  Magnesium  oxide. 

(  Magnesia. 

Ferroso - ferric  oxyh  y  dr  ate. 
Mercury. 

Mercury  with  chalk. 

Ferric  hydrate. 

Lead  nitrate. 

Mercuric  nitrate. 

Potassium  nitrate. 

(  Argentic  nitrate. 

\  Silver  nitrate. 

Sodium  nitrate. 

|  Hydrogen  nitrate. 

[  Nitric  acid. 

Nitro-hydrochloric  acid. 

(  Ethyl  nitrite ,  spirit  of. 

\  Nitrous  ether,  spirit  of. 
Ammonium  oxalate. 

Cerous  oxalate. 

(  Hydrogen  oxalate. 

\  Oxalic  acid. 

(  Antimony  trioxide. 

\  Antimonious  oxide. 
Ferroso-ferric  oxyhydrate. 

Lead  oxide ,  or  plumbic  oxide. 
Mercuric  oxide. 

(  Silver  monoxide. 

I  Argentic  oxide. 

Zinc  oxide. 

Ferric  chloride. 

Mercuric  chloride. 


ApA  15, 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


825 


Old  Names. 

Perchloride  of  platinum. 

Permanganate  of  potash. 
Pemitrate  of  iron. 

Peroxide  of  iron,  hydrated. 
Peroxide  of  iron,  moist. 
Persulphate  of  iron. 

Phenic  acid  (syn.). 

Phosphate  of  ammonia. 
Phosphate  of  iron. 
Phosphate  of  lime. 
Phosphate  of  soda. 

Phosphoric  acid. 

Phosphorus. 

Platinum. 

Potash,  solution  of. 
Prussiate  of  potash,  red. 
Prussiate  of  potash,  yellow. 
Reduced  iron. 

Santonin. 

Slaked  lime. 

Soda,  solution  of. 

Starch. 

Strychnia. 

Subacetate  of  copper. 
Subacetate  of  lead. 
Subchloride  of  mercury. 
Subnitrate  of  bismuth. 
Sugar. 

Sulphate  of  atropia. 
Sulphate  of  beberia. 
Sulphate  of  copper. 
Sulphate  of  indigo. 
Sulphate  of  iron. 

Sulphate  of  lime. 

Sulphate  of  magnesia. 
Sulphate  of  mercury. 
Sulphate  of  potash. 
Sulphate  of  quinia. 
Sulphate  of  soda_ 

Sulphate  of  zinc. 

Sulphide  of  ammonium. 
Sulphide  of  iron. 

Sulphur. 

Sulphurated  antimony. 
Sulphurated  potash. 
Sulphuretted  hydrogen. 

Sulphuric  acid. 

Sulphurous  acid. 

Tannic  acid. 

Tartar  emetic  (syn.). 
Tartarated  antimony. 
Tartarated  iron. 
Tartarated  soda. 

Tartaric  acid. 

Tartrate  of  potash. 

Tin. 

Valerianate  of  soda. 
Valerianate  of  zinc. 
Veratria. 

V  erdigris. 

Water. 

Zinc. 


Proposed  Names. 

Perchloride  of  platinum. 

Permanganate  of  potassium. 
Pemitrate  of  iron. 

Feroxyhydrate  of  iron  (syn.). 
Perhydrate  of  iron,  moist. 

Persulphate  of  iron. 

Phenic  acid  (syn.). 

Phosphate  of  ammonium. 

Phosphate  of  iron. 

Phosphate  of  calcium. 

Phosphate  of  sodium. 

Phosphoric  acid. 

Phosphorus. 

Platinum. 

Potash,  solution  of. 

?  Prussiate  of  potassium,  red. 

?  Prussiate  of  potassium,  yellow. 
Reduced  iron. 

Santonin. 

Slaked  lime. 

Soda,  solution  of. 

Starch. 

Strychnia. 

Oxy acetate  of  copper  (syn.). 

Oxy acetate  of  lead  (syn.). 
Subchloride  of  mercury. 

Oxy  nitrate  of  bismuth  (syn.). 

Sugar. 

Sulphate  of  atropia. 

Sulphate  of  beberia. 

Sulphate  of  copper. 

Sulphate  of  indigo. 

Sulphate  of  iron. 

Sulphate  of  calcium. 

Sulphate  of  magnesium. 

Persulphate  of  mercury. 

Sulphate  of  potassium. 

Sulphate  of  quinia. 

Sulphate  of  sodium. 

Sulphate  of  zinc. 

Sulphydrate  of  ammonium. 

Sulphide  of  iron. 

Sulphur. 

Sulphurated  antimony. 

Sulphurated  potash. 

Sulphuretted  hydrogen. 

Sulphuric  acid. 

Sulphurous  acid. 

Tannin  (syn.). 

Tartar  emetic  (syn.). 

Tartrate  of  antimony  and  potassium. 
Tartrate  of  iron  and  potassium. 
Tartrate  of  sodium  and  potassium. 

Tartaric  acid. 

Tartrate  of  potassium. 

Tin. 

Valerianate  of  sodium. 

Valerianate  of  zinc. 

Veratria.. 

Verdigris. 

Water. 

Zinc. 


Synonyms. 

j  Platinum  tetrachloride. 
j  Platinic  chloride. 

Potassium  permanganate. 
Ferric  nitrate. 

Ferric  oxyhydrate. 

Ferric  hydrate. 

Ferric  sulphate. 

(  Hydrogen  phenate. 

\  Phenic  acid. 

Ammonium  phosphate. 
Ferrous  phosphate. 

Calcium  orthophosphate. 
Pisodioh  ydric  phosphate. 

(  Hydrogen  phosphate. 

(  Phosphoric  acid. 
Phosphorus. 

Platinum. 

Potash,  solution  of. 

?  Red  potassium  prussiate. 

?  Yellow  potassium  prussiate. 
Reduced  iron. 

Santonin. 

(  Calcium  hydrate. 

\  Slaked  lime. 

Soda,  solution  of. 

Starch. 

Strychnine. 

Cupric  oxy  acetate . 
t  Basic  lead  acetate. 

}  Lead  oxyacetate. 

Mercurous  chloride. 

(  Basic  bismuth  nitrate. 

\  Bismuth  oxynitrate. 
Sugar. 

Atropine  sulphate. 

Beberine  sulphate. 

Cupric  sulphate. 
Sulphindigotic  acid. 

Ferrous  sulphate. 

Calcium  sulphate. 

Magnesium  sulph ate. 


Mercuric  sulphate. 

Potassium  sulphate. 

Quinine  sulphate. 

Sodium  sulphate. 

(  Zinc  sulphate. 

\  Zincic  sulphate. 

Ammonium  sulphydrate. 
Ferrous  sulphide. 

Sulphur. 

Antimonious  oxy  sulphide. 
Sulphurated  potash. 
Sulphuretted  hydrogen. 

(  Sulphuric  acid. 

{  Hydrogen  sulphate. 

|  Sulphurous  acid. 

\  Hydrogen  sulphite. 

Tannin. 

Tartar  emetic. 
Fotassio-antimonious  tartrate. 


Fotassio-ferric  tartrate. 
Fotassio-sodium  tartrate. 
(  Tartaric  acid. 

\  Hydrogen  tartrate, 
j  Potassium  tartrate. 

\  Lhpotassic  tartrate. 
Tin. 

Sodium  valerianate. 

Zinc  valerianate. 
Veratrine. 

Verdigris. 

Water. 

Zinc. 


826 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  15, 1871. 


Resume. — Tlie  chief  alterations  in  pharma copoeial 
nomenclature  now  proposed  amount  to  this,  that  the 
compounds  of  the  alkali-metals  and  alkaline-earth- 
metals  instead  of  being  named  as  hitherto  on  two 
distinct  systems,  should  follow  hut  one that  instead 
of  salts  of  potassium  and  of  potash  we  should  have 
salts  of  potassium  only ;  instead  of  sodium  and  soda 
compounds,  sodium  only ;  and  so  with  preparations 
of  ammonium,  lithium,  calcium,  magnesium  and  alu¬ 
minium.  This  is  a  step  in  the  direction  of  sim¬ 
plicity  and  permanency,  and  away  from  that  of 
theory. 

Synonyms. — Modern  scientific  chemical  names, 
and  the  old  dualistic  names  should,  I  think,  he  in¬ 
cluded  as  synonyms  of  the  leading  names  in  all 
Pharmacopoeias.  Many  might  he  mentioned  in  ad¬ 
dition  to  those  in  the  third  column  :  I  have  given  a 
selection  because  the  complete  and  consistent  sets 
(for,  unfortunately,  there  are  more  than  one)  would 
have  occupied  too  much  space. 

Exceptional  Alterations. —  Constitutional  objec¬ 
tions  to  the  name  acidum  arseniosum  would  he  ob- 
siated  by  the  old  name  arsenicum  album.  Some 
other  bodies,  apparently  similar  in  constitution  to 
white  arsenic,  are  alluded  to  in  the  text  of  the  British 
Pharmacopoeia  as  anhydrous  acids — a  most  ambigu¬ 
ous  and  self- contradictory  term ;  for  the  bodies  in 
question  either  are  acids  or  they  are  not  acids ; 
whereas  the  term  indicates  that  they  are  both — which 
is  impossible.  The  not  veiy  satisfactory  word  “  an¬ 
hydride”  is  coming  generally  into  use  for  these  bodies, 
and  this  might  be  employed  officially ;  but  all  ob¬ 
jection  would  be  avoided  if  the  strength  of  the  pliar- 
macopceial  acids,  which  are  mostly  aqueous  solutions 
of  acids,  were  solely  given  in  terms  of  real  acid  (the 
hydrogen  salt).  The  correlative  of  the  word  anhy¬ 
drous,  I  would  suggest,  should  be  hydrous ,  never 
hydrate  ;  especially  as  the  latter  word  is  now  given 
to  the  members  of  a  class  of  bodies  derived  from 
water,  as  hydrate  of  potassium,  and  not  to  bodies 
containing  water.  The  compound  from  which  anhy¬ 
drous  sulphate  of  copper  is  prepared  is  hydrous  sul- 
phate  of  copper,  not  hydrated  sulphate  of  copper.  In 
view  of  the  peculiar  composition  of  bichromate  of 
potassium  the  first  word  of  its  name  is  most  unsuitable, 
and  would  be  advantageously  replaced  by  red  chro¬ 
mate,  a  name  which  would  usefully  distinguish  the 
salt  from  yellow  chromate  of  potassium.  The  names 
of  the  bismuth  powders  are  not  at  present  consistent 
witn  each  other;  if  the  one  be  termed  subnitrate  the 
other  should  be  subcarbonate,  not  “  carbonate .”  But 
these  preparations  and  the  similar  compounds  of 
copper  and  lead  are  normal  rather  than  “  sub”  salts, 
containing  oxygen  in  the  place  of  an  exactly  equiva¬ 
lent  quantity  of  the  acidulous  radical  of  the  neutral 
salts,  and  might  well  be  termed  respectively  oxycar- 
tonate  oj  bismuth,  oxynitrate  of  bismuth,  oxycicetate 
<>j  capper,  oxyacetate  oj  lead  ;  at  all  events  the  latter 
names  would  do  good  service  as  synonyms.  Similar 
remarks  apply  to  the  peroxhydrat.es  of  iron.  The 
pi  efix  sub  is  most  usefully  and  indeed  indispens¬ 
ably  applied  m  the  case  of  calomel,  which  is  the 
lower  or  under-chbride  of  mercury:  it  would  be 
well  if  the  meaning  of  the  syllable  could  be  always 
nus  lestncted  to  its  etymological  signification,  and 
never  again  used  in  its  old  conventional  sense.  The 
names  tartarated  antimony,  tartarated  iron,  tarta- 
rated  sodium,  I  do  not  like  at  all.  The  sister  terms 
sulphurated  antimony  and  sulphurated  potash  are 
most  happy,  their  utter  vagueness  fairly  representing 


the  nondescript  character  of  the  preparations.  But 
tartrate  (or oxytartrate)  of  antimony  and  potassium , 
tartrate  of  iron  and  potassium,  and  tartrate  of  sodium 
and  potassium,  are  at  least  as  definite  in  composi¬ 
tion  as  the  citric  trio  which  are  already  honoured 
with  the  definite  names  (or,  rather,  with  the  old 
forms  of  the  names)  citrate  of  bismuth  and  ammo¬ 
nium,  citrate  of  iron  and  ammonium  and  citrate  of 
iron  and  quinia.  “  Prussiates”  might  now,  I  think, 
be  relegated  to  the  synonymic  category.  Instead  of 
Liquor  Soda  Effervescens,  B.  P.,  which  might  pos¬ 
sibly  be  confounded  with  Liquor  Soda,  I  would 
prefer  Aqua  Soda  Ef'ervescens,  and  so  with  Potash 
Water.  These  are  the  prominent  exceptional  alte¬ 
rations  to  which  I  would  draw  attention.  Then* 
acceptance  is  not  insisted  on,  nor  is  the  list  exhaus¬ 
tive.  Allusion  is  made  to  them  in  the  hope  that 
discussion  may  show  which  names,  on  the  whole, 
possess  the  greatest  number  of  advantages.  The 
alterations.  I  do  urge  are  those  considered  in  the 
main  portion  of  this  paper,  those  of  which  I  have 
already  given  a  resume. 

In  conclusion,  I  would  state  that  the  Lavoisierian 
names  now  proposed  for  use  in  medicine  and  phar¬ 
macy  have  already  been  freely  adopted  by  many  au¬ 
thors,  and  used  as  the  leading  nomenclature  of  my 
own  and  some  other  Manuals  of  Chemistry.  I  com¬ 
mend  them  to  the  medical  practitioners  and  pharma¬ 
cists  of  Europe,  America  and  the  Colonies. 


THE 

PROPOSED  POISON  REGULATIONS. 


MEETING  AT  GLASGOW. 

A  Special  General  Meeting  of  the  chemists  of  Glasgow 
and  West  of  Scotland  (convened  by  the  officers  of  the 
Glasgow  Association)  was  held  in  the  West  Hall,  Ander¬ 
son’s  University,  on  Monday,  3rd  inst.,  at  12  o’clock 
noon..  Mr.  Thomas  Davison,  President  of  the  Glasgow 
Association,  was  called  upon  to  preside. 

The  Chairman  read  the  circular  calling  the  meeting, 
and  the  proposed  regulations.  These,  he  thought,  suffi¬ 
ciently  explained  the  object  for  which  they  were  met, 
while  the  resolutions  to  be  proposed,  if  adopted  unani¬ 
mously,  would  be  regarded  as  expressive  of  the  opinion 
of  the  chemists  of  this  important  district.  He  would 
have  preferred  that  some  person  who  could  have  main¬ 
tained  a  more  neutral  attitude  should  have  been  appointed 
chairman  of  this  meeting,  as  he  felt  that  the  result  might 
be  looked  upon  as  a  foregone  conclusion.  The  proposed 
regulations  were  put  forth  for  the  avowed  object  of 
securing  the  safety  of  the  public,  but  if  so,  he  could 
not  see  why  surgeon-druggists  should  be  exempted, 
and  more  especially  in  Glasgow  and  Paisley,  where  medi¬ 
cal  practitioners  had  by  far  the  largest  share  of  dis¬ 
pensing.  He  contended  that  in  Scotland  generally  there 
were  lew  cases  of  poisoning  from  carelessness  on  the 
part  of  chemists,  and  even  in  England  thev  were  com¬ 
paratively  few.  He  therefore  thought  there  was  no 
necessity  for  the  safety  of  the  public  being  guaranteed 
by  any  such  regulations  as  those  proposed.  He  further 
thought  it  .was  quite  clear  that  if  the  chemists  accepted 
the  regulations,  they  would  be  continually  interfered  with. 
If  the  Pharmacy  Act  of  1868  had  been  adopted  in  its  en¬ 
tirety,  the  result  would  have  been  that  all  surgeons  who 
kept  open  shop  would  have  had  to  get  themselves  re¬ 
gistered  under  the  Act  as  chemists  and  druggists ;  they 
then  would  have  been  liable  to  the  same  restrictions.  But 
the  Amended  Act  of  1869,  he  believed,  was  intended  for 
no  other  purpose  than  to  have  medical  practitioners  en¬ 
tirely  exempted  from  the  operations  of  the  Act  of  1868, 


April  15,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


827 


and  any  one  who  reads  it  carefully  will  see  that  it  was 
intended  that  medical  men  were  not  to  he  interfered  with 
in  their  capacity  as  dispensers,  if  they  chose  to  carry 
on  a  dispensing  trade.  He  himself  had  had  some  communi¬ 
cation  with  the  medical  department  of  the  Privy  Council, 
in  the  course  of  which  he  showed  the  position  in  which  the 
Glasgow  chemists  would  be  placed,  and  requested  them 
to  take  steps  to  put  all  on  an  equality ;  the  reply  he  re¬ 
ceived  was  to  the  effect,  that  if  an  opportunity  occurred 
for  such  legislation,  his  suggestion  would  he  taken  into 
consideration.  He  thought  if  the  opportunity  were 
given  by  the  Society  rejecting  the  regulations,  we  should 
hear  no  more  of  them,  as  the  medical  men  who  kept  open 
shops  would  object  far  more  strongly  than  chemists 
against  any  compulsory  enactments. 

Mr.  John  Jaap,  Pharmaceutical  Chemist,  moved  the 
first  resolution : — “  That  this  meeting  is  opposed  to  the 
restrictive  measures  for  the  sale  and  keeping  of  ‘  poisons,’ 
recommended  by  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  So¬ 
ciety  (with  consent  of  the  medical  officers  of  her  Ma¬ 
jesty’s  Privy  Council)  for  adoption  at  the  annual  meeting 
in  May  next,  as  we  consider  it  is  highly  impolitic  to  in¬ 
terfere  in  any  way  with  the  conducting  of  our  business 
otherwise  than  as  recommendations ;  and  being  convinced 
that  the  greatest  security  for  the  public  lies  in  the  edu¬ 
cation  of  the  dispenser,  and  such  education  being  now 
mot  only  improved,  but  made  a  necessary  qualification,  is 
to  all  intents  and  purposes  a  guarantee  of  our  ability  to 
conduct  our  business  for  the  public  safety.”  Mr.  Jaap 
said  he  had  nothing  to  add  to  the  resolution,  as  it  fully 
expressed  his  opinions  on  the  matter. 

Mr.  Daniel  Frazer,  Pharmaceutical  Chemist,  in  se¬ 
conding  the  resolution,  confessed  that  he  did  so  with  no 
hesitancy,  because  he  held  very  decided  opinions  on  the 
subject.  He,  however,  thought  it  necessary  that  there 
should  be  means  taken  by  all  chemists  to  distinguish 
poisons  which  resembled  each  other  in  appearance.  He 
would  go  further,  and  say  that  the  public  should  have 
some  security  against  accidents  happening.  But  he 
wished  to  be  at  liberty  to  accomplish  that  object  him¬ 
self,  as  best  suited  his  circumstances,  without  any  undue 
interference  on  the  part  of  the  Privy  Council ;  he  also 
wished  his  brethren  in  the  trade  to  be  on  the  same  foot¬ 
ing,  for  he  could  not  believe  that  there  were  many  che¬ 
mists,  if  any,  who  would  be  careless  enough  to  keep 
•morphia,  arsenic  or  tartarized  antimony  on  the  same 
rshelf  with  bicarbonate  of  soda  or  powdered  sugar.  He 
thought  that  a.  separation  of  such  poisonous  articles, — 
some  on  high  shelves,  others  among  liquids,  and  poi¬ 
sonous  liquids  among  solids, — was  all  that  was  necessary. 

Mr.  Glen  (Renfrew),  in  supporting  the  motion,  said 
ffhe  proposed  regulations  would  be  gross  injustice  to  them, 
who  had  already  taken  steps  in  the  matter,  and  had  en¬ 
deavoured  to  protect  the  public  and  themselves  from 
;any  injury  arising  out  of  accidents  with  poisonous  drugs. 

Mr.  Alexander  Kinninmont,  Pharmaceutical  Che¬ 
mist,  moved  the  second  resolution  as  follows: — “That 
this  meeting  is  further  opposed  to  the  proposed  compul¬ 
sory  regulations,  as  their  adoption  by  the  Society  in 
their  present  form  will  tend  to  give  an  undue  and  invi¬ 
dious  advantage  to  one  class  of  retailers  over  another, — 
creating,  in  fact,  a  body  of  ‘privileged  traders;’  for, 
while  the  regulations  will  be  binding  only  on  those  re¬ 
gistered  under  the  Pharmacy  Act,  all  persons  registered 
under  the  Medical  Acts  will  be  exempted,  and  at  liberty 
to  act  as  they  think  proper, — it  being  the  custom  of 
many  medical  practitioners  throughout  the  country  to 
keep  open  shop  and  carry  on  a  retail  trade  in  the  same 
manner  as  chemists  and  druggists,  and  as  especially  in 
this  city  fully  two-thirds  of  the  drug  retailers  are  phy¬ 
sicians.”  Mr.  Kinninmont  said  he  thought  there  was 
little  to  add  to  the  resolution.  Chemists  generally  did 
not  want  to  interfere  writh  medical  men,  even  in  dispens¬ 
ing,  if  they  dispensed  only  their  own  prescriptions ; 
'but  all  felt  it  to  be  an  anomaly  that,  in  a  city  such  as 
Glasgow,  out  of  180  retailers  of  drugs,  120  of  those 


belonged  to  medical  practitioners,  and  that,  if  the  regu¬ 
lations  were  enforced,  those  120  would  be  at  liberty  to 
adopt  them  or  not  as  they  liked,  while  the  remaining  60 
would  be  compelled  to  do  so  ;  and  yet  there  was,  practi¬ 
cally  speaking,  no  difference  between  their  establishments 
and  the  conducting  of  their  business.  He  therefore  held 
that,  if  the  regulations  were  to  be  enforced,  they  should 
not  be  applied  to  one  class  alone,  but  to  all  engaged  in 
the  dispensing  and  selling  of  poisons. 

Mr.  D.  P.  Walker  seconded  the  motion,  and  said  he 
thought  it  was  now  time  that  the  dispensing  of  medi¬ 
cines  should  be  taken  out  of  the  hands  of  the  medical 
practitioners  altogether,  for  he  thought  it  was  a  dis¬ 
grace  to  a  city  like  Glasgow,  that  boys  of  eight  or 
twelve  years  of  age,  and  sometimes  girls,  were  all  that 
could  be  seen  at  the  back  of  the  counters  of  these 
doctors’  shops  from  morning  till  night.  He  thought  that 
the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  had  entirely 
mistaken  whom  the  regulations  were  needed  for.  It  was 
in  shops  of  this  description  where  they  were  required. 

Mr.  Black  wished  to  know  whether  all  who  kept 
open  shop  for  the  sale  of  poisons  were  not  equally  liable 
to  the  same  restrictions  as  chemists. 

Mr.  Harvie  (Airdrie)  said  he  thought  he  could  supply 
the  desired  information.  He  had  always  been  of  opinion 
that  medical  men  who  kept  open  shop  came  under  the 
poison  claus  )S  of  the  Pharmacy  Act,  the  same  as  drug¬ 
gists,  wh’ch  to  all  intents  and  purposes  they  were,  so  far 
as  the  sale  of  poisons  is  concerned  at  least,  and  he  na¬ 
turally  thought  they  should  act  in  the  sale  of  poisons 
the  same  as  they  who  were  professed  druggists ;  but, 
while  he  held  this  opinion,  a  medical  man  who  had  a 
shop  near  him,  thought  differently,  and  said  he  would 
sell  as  much  poison  as  he  could,  and  would  register  none 
of  it.  He  (Mr.  Harvie)  told  the  doctor  that  if  he  per¬ 
sisted  in  doing  so  he  would  make  a  case  of  it,  while  the 
doctor  said  he  was  quite  agreeable.  A  party  called 
shortly  afterwards  at  his  shop  for  half  an  ounce  of  corro¬ 
sive  sublimate ;  he  not  knowing  the  person,  asked  him 
to  bring  a  witness  whom  he  knew ;  the  man  said  he  needed 
no  witness  and  could  get  it  at  Dr.  So-and-So’s.  He  (Mr. 
Harvie)  advised  him  not  to  go  there  without  a  witness 
either,  or  if  he  did,  the  consequences  might  be  serious  to 
himself ;  the  man  paid  no  attention  however,  but  went 
straight  to  the  doctor's  shop  to  which  he  followed  him, 
and  witnessed  the  doctor  weigh  the  stuff,  wrap  it  up  in 
paper  and  hand  over  the  counter  without  even  a  label ;  ho 
called  a  policeman  at  once,  gave  the  man  in  charge  and 
lodged  the  case  with  the  procurator-fiscal.  The  fiscal 
wrote  to  Edinburgh  for  instructions,  and  in  a  day  or  two 
a  reply  came  from  Mr.  Kimberly,  giving  orders  not  to 
proceed  with  the  case  ;  it  was  thus  decided  in  favour  of  the 
doctor,  and  he  continues  to  sell  poisons  without  register¬ 
ing  them,  and,  in  many  cases,  not  even  labelling  them. 

Mr.  John  Currie,  Pharmaceutical  Chemist,  proposed 
the  third  motion,  as  follows  “  That  this  meeting  being 
convinced  that  it  is  impossible  to  frame  a  set  of  rules 
equally  suited  to  the  varied  requirements  of  different 
pharmaceutical  establishments,  and  because  we  feel  that 
no  restrictions  under  the  authority  of  the  law  are  likely 
to  prove  successful,  we  hereby  resolve  to  give  the  pro¬ 
posed  compulsory  regulations  our  most  strenuous  opposi¬ 
tion,  while  we  will  respectfully  consider  any  well-devised 
scheme,  if  sent  out  as  a  recommendation,  and  act  in  ac¬ 
cordance  therewith,  so  far  as  our  circumstances  will 
permit.”  He  said  that  the  best  security  to  the  public 
against  mistakes  from  the  sale  of  poisons  is,  first,  the  ex¬ 
ercise  of  sound  discretion  on  the  part  of  the  dispenser  as 
to  whom  poisons  should  be  sold  to,  when  not  prescribed  by 
a  physician  ;  secondly,  by  the  adopting  of  a  uniform  rule 
of  labelling  everything  carefully  and  by  affixing  on  mix¬ 
tures,  etc.,  for  internal  use  and  containing  ingredients  oi 
a  dangerous  nature  in  an  overdose,  a.  label,  ‘  poisonous 
in  an  overdose ;’  and  on  liniments,  lotions, .  embrocations, 
etc.,  ‘for  external  use  only,’  together  with  a  ‘poison 
label  in  red  ink,  if  made  up  of  dangerous  compounds. 


828 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  15,  1871. 


Mr.  Hamilton,  M.P.S.,  seconded  the  motion.  He  said 
that  one  great  objection  he  had  to  the  action  of  the 
Council,  was  the  persistent  manner  in  which  they  had 
brought  the  regulations  forward  without  first  consulting 
the  feelings  or  wishes  of  the  entire  trade ;  of  course  the 
final  decision  was  left  to  the  members  of  the  Society  at 
their  Annual  Meeting,  but  it  would  have  spared  the 
members  a  great  deal  of  anxiety,  not  to  say  of  exjicnse, 
had  their  proposition  not  been  so  arbitrary. 

Mr.  Glen  (Renfrew)  supported  the  resolution. 

Mi.  John  Black  moved  the  fourth  resolution  as  fol¬ 
lows  “  That  an  Association  be  formed  to  be  called 
‘  The  TV  est  of  Scotland  Chemists’  Defence  Association,’ 
to  co-operate  with  other  similar  organizations  in  opposing 
all  compulsory  and  partial  legislation ;  that  every  con¬ 
tributor  of  2s.  6d.  and  upwards  be  a  member,  and  that  a 
geneial  committee  be.  appointed  to  have  full  powers  to 
adopt  such  means  as  they  may  think  necessary  to  attain 
the  object  of  the  Association.”  Mr.  Black  said  he  thought 
they  would  all  see  the  necessity  for  having  a  standing 
committee  to  watch  over  their  interests,  even  although 
the  regulations  were  rejected  at  the  forthcoming  meet¬ 
ing-  in  May. 

Mr.  J.  M.  Fairlie,  M.P.S.,  said  he  would  have  pre¬ 
ferred  to  have  sat  a  silent  listener,  but  a  desire  to 
refute  some  of  the  arguments  put  forth  lately  in  support 
G!  D)c  regulations  must  be  his  excuse.  Mr.  Abraham, 

Liverpool,  and  others,  had  said  that  an  understanding 
was  come  to  with  Parliament  during  the  passing  of  the 
Pharmacy  Act  in  1868,  that  reg-ulations  were  necessary. 
He  himself  remembered  well  the  passing  of  the  Act,  and 
also  the  poison  clauses  that  were  tried  at  the  time  to  be 
inserted  into  it,  but  when  they  were  withdrawn,  he 
thought  it  was  that  we  should  hear  no  more  of  them. 
As  to  the  statement  that  it  was  then  understood  that 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society  was  the  proper  party  to 
make  such  regulations,  it  seemed  to  him  an  excuse  for 
getting  them  conveniently  shelved. 

vr1'  (Dumbarton)  supported  the  resolution. 

Dreig  m°yed  that  the  following  gentlemen  con¬ 
stitute  the  committee,  with  power  to  add  to  their  number, 
viz.,  Messrs.  D.  Frazer,  Jaap,  Kinninmont,  Black,  Davi¬ 
son  Currie,  Hamilton,  Alexander,  Walker,  Harvie, 
Borland  Moore,  Carr,  Fairlie  and  Hart,  Mr.  Davison, 
convener. 

Mr.  Moore,  Pharmaceutical  Chemist  (Stirling), 
seconded  the  motion. 


Mr.  Alexander,  Pharmaceutical  Chemist  (Greenock' 
moved  the  sixth  resolution  as  follows  “  That  the  Com 
mittee.be  entrusted  to  prepare  a  memorial  embodying  th 
foregoing  resolutions,  which  all  chemists  in  the  distric 
shall  have  an  opportunity  of  signing,  and  present  i 
to  the  members  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  at  thei 
Annual  Meeting  in  May,  and  also  to  the  medical  depart 
ment  of  the  Privy  Council.”  Mr.  Alexander  supporter 
his  resolution  in  a  lengthy  and  interesting  speech,  i 
course  of  which  he  showed  that  the  comparatively  fes 
accidents  that  arose  through  carelessness  on  the  part  o 
tne  dispenser,  and  especially  as  there  had  been  less  acci 
dents  since  the  passing  of  the  Act,  there  was  no  need  fo 
further  legislation  in  that  direction.  He  thought  tha 
the  Council,  should  turn  their  attention  a  little  to  ; 
pi^per  definition  of  who  should  sell  and  who  should  no 
sc  lags.  He  knew  that  in  England  many  huckster 
made  a  regular  practice  of  travelling  through  the  country 
selling  drugs  along-  with  their  other  merchandise. 

Mr.  Harvie  (Airdrie)  seconded  the  motion. 

A  general  conversation  then  took  place  with  reference 
°li0t-11(1,  mv°lved  in  the  proposed  regulations  (ii 

which  Air.  Borland,  Pharmaceutical  Chemist,  Ivilmar 
nock,  took  an  active  part),  at  the  close  of  which  th< 
chairman  put  the  various  motions  to  the  meeting,  whicl 
were  unanimously  agreed  to,  and,  on  the  motion  of  Mr 
Carr  (Dumbarton),  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Davi 
son  for  presiding-  brought  the  proceedings  to  a  close 


REGULATIONS 

(Framed  in  Pursuance  oe  her  Majesty’s  Order  in 
Council  of  the  4th  June,  1870)  for  an  Open  Com¬ 
petitive  Examination  for  the  Situation  of  As¬ 
sistant  Dispenser  in  her  Majesty’s  Naval  Esta¬ 
blishments. 

.  !•  The  examination  will  be  in  the  following  subjects, 
viz. : — 

1.  Handwriting. 

2.  Orthography. 

3.  Arithmetic  (to  vulgar  and  decimal  fractions). 

4.  English  Composition. 

Note. — Candidates  will  be  required  to  show  that  they 
possess  the  Minor*  qualifications  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society,  and  they  must  satisfy  the  Civil  Service  Com¬ 
missioners  on  this  point  before  they  can  be  admitted  to 
the  competition. 

2.  A  fee  of  7s.  6d.  will  bo  required  from  each  candidate 
attending  the  examination. 

3.  No  candidate  will  be  eligible  whose  age  on  the 
first  day  of  the  competitive  examination  is  less  than  20 
or  more  than  25. 

Civil  Service  Commission,  29th  March,  1871. 

Am  open  competition  will  be  held  in  London,  under 
the  above  regulations,  on  Tuesday,  April  25.  Five  per¬ 
sons  will  be  selected,  if  so  many  should  be  found  quali¬ 
fied  ;  two  to  fill  vacancies*  now  existing  at  Jamaica  and 
Ascension  Naval  Hospitals,  and  three  to  fill,  in  order  of 
merit,  the  next  vacancies  that  may  occur  while  they  are 
eligible  in  respect  of  age. 

The  daily  pay  is  as  follows  : — • 


Under 

5  years’ 
service. 

Under 

8  years’ 
service. 

Under 
11  years’ 
service. 

Under 
11  years’ 
service. 

Under 
17  years’ 
service. 

Under 

2  years’ 
service. 

5s. 

os.  6d. 

6s. 

6s.  6d. 

Is.  6d. 

8s.  6(7. 

and  for  every  additional  year  an  addition  of  6d.  per  diem 
till  .10s.  a  day  is  reached.  When  in  charge  of  stores  an 
additional  allowance  will  bo  granted,  viz.  Is.  per  day. 
An  allowance  of  6d.  a  day  in  lieu  of  food  and  light  and 
quarters  will  be  provided. 

Superannuation  will  be  allowed  in  accordance  with 
the  Superannuation  Act  of  1859.  Assistant  dispensers 
will  not  be  eligible  for  promotion  to  the  rank  of  dis¬ 
penser,  or.  to  be  placed  in  charge  of  stores,  until  they 
have,  obtained  the  Major  qualifications  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society. 

Persons  wishing  to  be  admitted  to  the  examination 
must  fill  up  the  annexed  form,  and  return  it  so  as  to 
reac-h  the  Civil  Service  Commission  on  or  before  April 
15th.  .  An  order  for  examination  will  then  be  sent  to 
them  in  due  course. 

Form  of  Afflication. 

To  the  Secretary,  Civil  Service  Commission. 

Sir,—!  hereby  apply  for  permission  to  attend  the 
examination  to  be  held  in  London  on  the  25th  April  for 
the  situation  of  assistant- dispenser  in  her  Majesty’s 
naval  establishments,  under  the  regulations  of  29th 
March,  1871. 

If  I  should  be  successful  in  the  competition,  I  shall  be 
prepared  to  satisfy  the  Civil  Service  Commissioners  that 
my  age  on  the  25th  April,  1871,  was  not  under  20  nor 
above  25 ;  that  my  health  and  character  are  such  as  to 
fit.  me  for  public  employment ;  and  that  I  possess  the 
Minor  qualifications  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society. 

Name  in  full  _ 

Address  in  full _ _ _ _ 

Date _ _ _ _ 

*  As  the  persons  who  may  be  appointed  to  these  two 
vacancies  will  be  in  charge  of  stores,  no  one  will  be  eligible 
tor  them  who  does  not  possess  the  Major  qualifications  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society. 


April  15,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


S29 


SATURDAY,  APRIL  15,  1S71. 


POISON  REGULATIONS. 

From  the  report  of  the  proceedings  at  the  late 
meeting  of  the  Council,  it  will  be  seen  that  there  was 
ground  for  the  statement  made  in  anticipation  last 
week  as  to  the  removal  of  any  reason  for  the  con¬ 
tinuance  of  such  hostile  action  as  we  have  with  re¬ 
gret  seen  commencing  within  the  last  few  weeks. 
Since  then  we  have  received  a  letter  on  the  subject 
from  Mr.  Sandford,  and  as  the  resignation  of  the 
President  is  an  exceptional  circumstance,  we  insert 
it  here.  We  do  not  doubt  that  even  those  who  differ 
from  Mr.  Sandford  will  recognize  the  strength  of 
the  convictions  which  have  guided  his  action,  and 
we  believe  that  all  will  agree  with  liim  as  we  do  in 
deprecating  anything  like  personal  contention. 

“  TO  THE  EDITOR  OF  THE  ‘  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL.’ 

“  Sir, — In  your  Journal  of  last  week  you  announce 
my  resignation  of  the  Presidency,  ‘  which  followed  imme¬ 
diately  on  the  carrying  of  Mr.  Dymond's  amendment .’ 

“It  is  not  to  disconnect  the  one  circumstance  from  the 
other  that  I  desire  to  address  some  words  of  explanation 
through  you  to  my  fellow-members,  but  to  show  them 
that  the  same  devotion  to  the  interest  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society  which  has  animated  me  for  so  many 
years  past,  has  impelled  me  in  my  present  course. 

“  When  the  Government  insisted  on  introducing  into 
the  Bill  of  1868  the  principle  of  regulations  as  to  the 
keeping,  dispensing  and  selling  of  poisons,  two  courses 
were  open  to  us ;  either  to  accept  the  duty  of  framing 
those  regulations  for  ourselves,  or  to  allow  the  power  of 
doing  it  to  be  placed  in  other  hands, — in  the  hands,  per¬ 
haps,  of  men  utterly  unacquainted  with  our  business.  I 
need  scarcely  say  the  former  course  was  accepted  as  by  far 
the  best  arrangement.  In  1869  the  Council,  feeling  that 
the  time  had  arrived  for  action,  with  great  care  and 
deliberation  framed  the  regulations  about  which  we 
have  had  so  much  controversy,  and  submitted  them  to 
the  Privy  Council,  in  order  that  there  might  be  har¬ 
monious  action  in  the  event  of  the  Society  agreeing  to 
them ;  they  were  accordingly  brought  before  the  general 
meeting  in  May  last. 

“  Time  rolled  on,  and  desiring  to  know  before  the 
meeting  of  Parliament  what  steps  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  had  taken  in  the  matter,  the  medical  officer  of 
the  Privy  Council  wrote  to 'the  Registrar  for  information. 
Again  the  approved  code  was  brought  before  our  Council 
and  repeatedly  confirmed  by  overwhelming  majorities. 
But  the  opponents,  although  in  minority  at  the  Board, 
had  a  good  cry  for  the  country,— for  nothing  stirs  up  the 
minds  of  men  more  than  the  information,  whether  true 
or  untrue,  that  their  liberties  are  about  to  be  trampled 
on,— and  a  wild,  unreasoning  clamour  was  raised  on  a 
mere  sentimental  grievance.  I  say  a  sentimental 
grievance,  because  on  all  hands  we  find  the  very  pre¬ 
cautions  we  proposed  have  been  in  use  (and,  for  the 
matter  of  that,  were  proposed  because  they  had  been  in 
use)  in  many  establishments  throughout  the  country. 
The  regulations  in  themselves  have  been  declared  good, 
hut  their  compulsory  observance  altogether  unbearable. 
No  man  courts  personal  restrictions,  just,  perhaps,  as  no 
man  pays  taxes  for  the  mere  love  of  paying,  but  men 
consent  to  pay  taxes  and  to  conform  to  laws  as  a  duty  to 
their  fellow-men ;  therefore,  although  the  task  of  op¬ 


posing  seems  to  have  become  almost  a  pleasure,  I  believe 
throughout  the. length  and  breadth  of  the  land,  many  of 
our  best  and  wisest  members,  although  naturally  silent, 
would  have  cheerfully  submitted  to  the  terrible  restric¬ 
tions  (!)  which  were  being  prepared  for  them.  In  this 
belief,  Sir,  I  was  not  shaken  by  the  1  tall  talk  ’  resounding 
about  us,  and  for  that  reason  felt  it  my  duty  still  to 
support  the  introduction  to  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the 
regulations  as  compulsory ;  not  without  hope  that  when 
calmly  deliberating  on  our  position,  the  Society  would 
have  risen  to  a  sense  of  the  duty  it  had  undertaken 
when  great  privileges  were  accorded  to  it,  and  in  the 
full  confidence  that  when  such  a  step  had  been  taken, 
no  charge  of  neglect,  and  consequently  no  plea  for  fo¬ 
reign  interference,  could  be  brought  against  us.  It  was, 
therefore,  according  to  my  judgment,  in  the  best  interest 
of  the  Society  that  I  laboured,  and  at  last  laboured  alone. 

“  In  the  discussion  arising  on  Mr.  Dymond’s  motion, 
I  had  the  great  satisfaction  of  hearing  from  those  gen¬ 
tlemen  with  whom  I  had  voted  during  two  long  and 
trying  years,  that  their  opinions  remained  unchanged 
although  their  votes  were  now  to  be  given  in  an  exactly 
contrary  direction.  Time  will  prove  whether  other 
parties  than  those  who  best  understand  the  matter  will 
not  try  their  hands  at  the  work  which  we  have  just 
abandoned,  and  if  they  do,  I  for  one  shall  be  unable  to 
say,  ‘  Gentlemen,  there  is  no  cause  for  interference.’ 

“  It  should  be  remembered  that  the  tendency  of  the 
present  day  is  to  departmental  action  in  the  executive. 
That  which  was  formerly  the  business  of  any  Govern¬ 
ment  office  now  becomes  the  duty  of  one,  and  is  conse¬ 
quently  more  narrowly  looked  after. 

“  Matters  concerning  the  public  health  seem  to  have 
fallen  to  the  Privy  Council,  and  more  immediately  to  the 
medical  department  of  that  Council.  Any  man  who 
reads  the  periodical  reports  issuing  therefrom,  must  be 
at  once  convinced  of  the  extreme  activity  of  the  heads  of 
that  department,  and  with  an  active  official  to  guide  them 
and  a  large  majority  in  the  House  of  Commons,  Minis¬ 
ters  may  succeed  sooner  than  is  expected  in  doing  that 
which  they  had  entrusted— with  misplaced  confidence 
they  will  say — to  our  hands.  The  question  before  us  is  en¬ 
tirely  apart  from  ‘free-trade’;  it  is  one  of  public  protection. 

“  Thus  much,  Sir,  for  my  persistent  perseverance  in  an 
unpopular  course,  for  my  seeming  disregard  of  the  wishes 
of  many  men  who  had  shown  me  so  much  kindness, 
showered  on  me  so  many  honours. 

“  And  now  for  my  withdrawal  at  the  moment  of  defeat 
from  the  high  office  I  had  held  so  long.  I  resumed  that 
office  in  June  last  under  very  difficult  circumstances. 
Death  had  deprived  me  of  my  partner,  and  I  could  no 
longer  spare  time  from  my  own  business  to  watch  the 
interests  of  the  Society  as  they  should  be  watched.  At 
Christmas  I  had  determined  to  vacate  the  chair,  but 
then  arose  the  clamour  which  I  felt  must  render  the 
office  of  President  a  most  unpleasant  one,  and  I  could 
not  in  honour  leave  such  a  bed  of  thorns  to  a  successor. 
I  told  you  in  a  former  letter  that  I  simply  held  on  for 
this  reason.  The  moment  the  vote  of  the  Council  ex¬ 
tinguished  the  compulsory  regulations  I  felt  at  liberty, 
and  availed  myself  of  that  liberty,  to  retire.  It  may  be 
asked  why  I  retired  when  but  a  few  weeks  would  have 
relieved  me  of  the  duty  F  And  here  again,  Sir,  I  felt 
that  in  doing  so  I  best  advanced  the  interest  and  honour 
of  the  Society.  I  hold  that  the  President,  who  is  con¬ 
stantly  called  on  to  act  on  behalf  of  the  Council,  should 
fairly  and  faithfully  represent  its  opinion ;  and  I  could 
not  fail  to  see  that  when  my  hand,  and  mine  alone,  was 
held  up  to  support  a  particular  line  of  action  in  regard  to 
the  vital  question  of  the  year,  I  had  ceased  to  be  in 
accord  with  my  fcllow-councillors — therefore  retirement 
was  the  only  honourable  course  open  to  me. 

“  You  doubtless  rejoice  that  the  pages  of  your  Journal 
will  no  longer  be  encumbered  by  this  controversy,  to  the 
exclusion  of  more  valuable  matter ;  that  contention  in 
our  body  will  cease,  and  I  heartily  join  you  in  that 


830 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  13, 1871. 


view;  but  I  may  say  at  parting  that  it  has  puzzled 
me  sorely  to  discover  why  there  should  ever  have  been 
anything  approaching  to  personal  contention.  The  ques¬ 
tion  was  one  on  which  men  were  quite  entitled  to  differ, 
but  it  was  one  to  be  settled  solely  by  the  votes  of  the  So¬ 
ciety,  not  by  the  Council,  who  would  only  have  presented 
the  regulations  to  the  Society  with  a  'recommendation 
that  it  would  be  wise  and  politic  to  adopt  them  rather 
than  bring  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  into  antagonism 
with  the  public  as  represented  in  Parliament. 

“  George  W.  Sandford. 

“  47,  Piccadilly,  April  10,  1871.” 

W  e  have  also  received  from  the  Honorary  Secre¬ 
tary  of  the  “  Metropolitan  Chemists’  Defence  Asso¬ 
ciation”  a  copy  of  the  circular  addressed  to  Regis¬ 
tered  Chemists  who  “  have  no  vote  at  the  meetings 
of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,”  together  with  a 
tatement  of  the  resolutions  passed  at  the  meeting 
held  on  the  20th  ult.,  and  a  memorial  for  signature 
and  presentation  to  the  Pharmaceutical  Society — at 
the  annual  meeting  in  May — expressive  of  disap¬ 
proval  of  “  compulsory  legislative  enactment”  in 
regard  to  regulations  for  the  Storing  and  Dispensing 
of  Poisons.  However,  the  opposition  to  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society  suggested  by  this  memorial  is  no 
longer  possible  even  in  appearance.  We  congratu¬ 
late  the  Association  that  in  this  respect  its  occupa¬ 
tion  is  gone,  and  that  there  is  no  longer  any  need  to 
publish  the  memorial. 

Tlhs  is  also,  to  a  great  extent,  the  case  as  regards 
the  meeting  at  Glasgow  on  the  3rd  inst. ;  but  we 
publish  that  report,  since  it  illustrates  the  sore 
grievance  ot  “medical  druggists,”  already  mentioned 
in  oui  last  number  as  having  attained  most  serious 
proportions  in  that  city.  Here  would,  indeed,  seem 
to  be  a  i  ery  fitting  opportunity  for  exercising  the 
regulatfv  e  action  of  the  Privy  Council.  Tliis  griev¬ 
ance  is  one  which  merits  the  attention  of  the  whole 
trade,  and  it  is  sufficiently  general  to  call  for  the 
endeavours  of  all  pharmacists  to  put  an  end  to  it. 

There  is  one  point  in  the  circular  of  the  Metro¬ 
politan  Chemists’  Defence  Association  that  we  can¬ 
not  omit  to  notice,  and  that  is  the  reason  assigned 
tor  considering  it  advisable  to  prepare  a  memorial 
viz.  that  Registered  Chemists  have  no  vote  at  the 
meeting  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  by  which 
their  views  may  be  recorded.  We  have  but  recently 
pointed  out  ■  that  this  disability  is  not  a  grievance 
but  y ohm t ary ;  while,  at  the  same  time,  it  is  one 
v  Inch  affords  room  for  suspecting  indifference  to  the 
general  interests  of  the  trade. 

We  hope  the  experience  now  gained  of  the  disad¬ 
vantage  attending  it,  may  be  the  means  of  inducing 
members  of  the  trade  to  avail  themselves  of  tlieir 
capability  of  legitimately  influencing  the  action  of 
the  Society,  rather  than  by  spasmodic  efforts  of 
association  which  cannot  be  altogether  without  a 
show  of  hostility. 

W  e  may  perhaps  the  more  reasonably  urge  the 
adoption  of  this  course,  since  there  is  a  belief  that 
the  application  of  compulsory  regulations  will  yet  be 
attempted,  and,  as  suggested  by  Mr.  Sandford,  per¬ 
haps  by  those  who  understand  the  matter  less  than 
the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society. 

Ante,  p.  771. 


M  e  are  glad  to  see  a  prompt  disposition  to  aban¬ 
don  contention  on  the  subject  of  regulations,  and 
have  no  doubt  Mr.  Wilkinson’s  letter,  published  in 
another  column,  will  open  up  a  discussion  that  will 
be  useful  in  defining  the  form  the  recommendations 
of  the  Society  should  take.  Judging  from  the  gene¬ 
ral  feeling  of  respect  for  the  Society  entertained  by 
the  trade  at  large,  we  believe  that,  with  proper 
management,  its  recommendations  in  regard  to  the 
storing  and  dispensing  of  poisons  would  effect  all 
that  could  be  desired. 


We  have  been  requested  to  call  the  attention  of 
members  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  to  Section  I. 
Clause  10  of  the  Bye-Laws,  which  provides  that  all 
subscriptions  shall  become  due  on  the  1st  of  January 
in  each  year,  and  that  the  names  of  Members  who 
have  not  paid  their  subscriptions  before  the  1st  of 
May  shall  be  omitted  from  the  Register  certified  by 
the  Council  at  the  Annual  Meeting.  Those  who  fail 
to  conform  with  this  rule  would  thereby  become  dis¬ 
qualified  from  taking  any  part  in  the  proceedings  of 
the  Society  at  the  approaching  annual  meeting.  ° 


It  is  sometimes  amusing  to  observe  the  ignorance 
of  people  in  matters  which  they  are  presumed  to 
have  thoroughly  mastered.  Here  is  a  good  illustra¬ 
tion.  The  Austrian  United  Society  of  Apothecaries, 
in  a  petition  against  free  trade  in  pharmacy,  ad¬ 
dressed  to  the  “  Reichstag,”  bases  some  of  its  argu¬ 
ments  upon  the  state  of  pharmacy  in  those  countries 
where  no  restrictions  whatever  are  enforced.  They 
gravely  inform  their  Parliament  that  in  London, 
among  3000  dispensing  establishments,  not  more 
than  twenty  enjoy  or  deserve  public  confidence,  and 
that  people  often  pass  three  or  four  hundred  druggists’ 
shops  before  they  come  to  one  where  they  like  to  have 
their  prescriptions  made  up.  True,  these  enviable 
twenty  shops  are  described  as  establishments  on  the 
most  gigantic  scale,  each  of  them  employing  as  many 
as  thirty  dispensers.  This  wonderful  information, 
no  doubt  as  new  to  our  readers  as  to  ourselves, 
leminds  us  of  a  statement  made  in  the  Prussian 
Chambers  some  seven  or  eight  years  ago  by  Herr 
vox  Kucke,  one  of  the  then  leading  statesmen  of  the 
country.  In  a  debate  on  the  same  subject,  viz.  the 
introduction  of  free  trade  into  the  practice  of  phar¬ 
macy  in  Prussia,  Herr  von  Kucke  after  proudly, 
but  not  less  justly,  dwelling  on  the  high  status  of  the 
German  pharmacist  as  compared  with  that  of  his 
foreign  brethren,  went  on  to  say  that  in  England 
the  vastly  superior  education  of  the  German  apothe¬ 
cary  was  fully  recognized  by  the  general  public,  and 
that,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  the  shortest  way  for  London, 
pharmacists  to  gain  public  confidence  was  to  placer 
a  board  in  their  windows  with  the  inscription, 

“  Deutsche  Apotheke  ” — German  qdiannacy.  It 
may  be  interesting  to  notice  that  in  the  course  of’ 
this  debate,  it  was  argued  against  free  trade  that 
the  value  of  the  existing  pharmaceutical  establish¬ 
ments  in  Prussia  represented  a  capital  of  72,000,00 ff 
thalers,  about  ^£11,000,000,  which  the  State  would 
be  bound  to  pay  to  the  owners  before  the  introduc¬ 
tion  of  free  trade. 


April  15, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


831 


transactions  xrf  tjre  f&arntateutttal  Smtv. 

MEETING  OF  THE  COUNCIL, 

April  5th ,  1871. 

MR.  SANDFORD,  PRESIDENT,  IN  THE  CHAIR. 

MR.  HASELDEN,  VICE-PRESIDENT. 

Present — Messrs.  Abraham,  Atherton,  Bottle,  Bourdas, 
Brown,  Carr,  Deane,  Dymond,  Edwards,  Evans,  Groves, 
Hills,  Mack  ay,  Savage,  Stoddart,  Sutton,  Williams, 
Woolley. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  con¬ 
firmed. 

The  Secretary  reported  that  he  had  received  forty-five 
nominations  for  the  ensuing  election  of  Council,  and  that 
the  following  twenty-two  had  signified  their  willingness 
to  accept  office  if  elected  : — 

Abraham,  John,  87,  Bold  Street,  Liverpool. 

Atherton,  John  Henry,  Long  Row,  Nottingham. 
Betty,  Samuel  Chapman,  6,  Park  Street,  Camden  Town, 
London. 

Brown,  William  Scott,  113,  Market  Street,  Manchester. 
Carr,  John,  171,  High  Holborn,  London. 

Collins,  John  Richard,  81,  Chalk  Farm  Road,  London. 
Cooper,  George,  101,  Fore  Street,  Exeter. 

Dymond,  George,  17,  Bull  Street,  Birmingham. 

Frazer,  Daniel,  113,  Buchanan  Street,  Glasgow. 
Greenish,  Thomas,  20,  New  Street,  Dorset  Square, 
London. 

Haselden,  Adolphus  Frederick,  18,  Conduit  Street, 
Regent  Street,  London. 

Hills,  Thomas  Hyde,  338,  Oxford  Street,  London. 
Mackay,  John,  119,  George  Street,  Edinburgh. 

Owen,  John,  234,  Upper  Street,  Islington,  London. 
Sandford,  George  Webb,  47,  Piccadilly,  London. 

Shaw,  John,  24,  Great  George  Place,  Liverpool. 

Smith,  Edward,  8,  The  Strand,  Torquay. 

Stott,  William,  Sowerby  Bridge,  Yorkshire. 

Wade,  John,  174,  Warwick  Street,  London. 

Williams,  John,  5,  New  Cavendish  Street,  London. 
Woolley,  George  Stephen,  69,  Market  Street,  Man¬ 
chester. 

Yarde,  Giles,  60,  Lamb’s  Conduit  Street,  London. 

That  the  following  Members  of  the  Society  had  been 
nominated  for  election  as  Auditors  for  the  ensuing  year, 
and  had  signified  their  willingness  to  accept  office  : — 

Barron,  Frederick,  2,  Bush  Lane,  London. 

Bower,  William,  96,  Tottenham  Court  Road,  London. 
Hodgkinson,  William,  127,  Aldersgate  Street,  London. 
Mackay,  John  Brunt,  2,  Bouverie  Street,  London. 
Squire,  William,  5,  Coleman  Street,  London. 

The  Reports  and  recommendations  of  the  Finance  Com¬ 
mittee  were  received  and  adopted. 

The  Reports  and  recommendations  of  the  House  Com¬ 
mittees  of  2nd  of  March  and  4th  of  April  were  received 
and  adopted. 

The  Report  and  recommendations  of  the  Library, 
Museum  and  Laboratory  Committee  were  received  and 
adopted. 

Resolved — That  Free  Laboratory  instruction  be  given 
to  the  Bell  Scholars  for  the  Session  1871-72. 

It  having  been  reported  by  Professor  Redwood  that 
Messrs.  Hopkin  and  Williams  had  presented  to  the 
Society’s  Museum  some  rare  and  valuable  specimens  of 
Thallium  and  its  compounds  (twenty-four  in  number), 
it  was  unanimously 

Resolved — That  the  best  thanks  of  the  Council  be 
given  to  Messrs.  Hopkin  and  Williams  for  their 
valuable  donation. 

The  Report  and  recommendations  of  the  Benevolent 
Fund  Committee  were  received  and  adopted:  a  grant 


of  Ten  Pounds  was  made  to  a  chemist  and  druggist 
residing  in  Sheffield. 

Tho  Report  and  recommendations  of  the  Parliamen¬ 
tary  Committee  were  received  and  adopted. 

The  Society’s  Solicitor  (Mr.  Flux)  attended  and  ad¬ 
vised  tho  Council  on  several  legal  questions. 

Tho  Report  of  the  Provincial  Education  Committee 
was  received,  and  it  was 

Resolved — That  in  future  tho  names  of  “  Apprentices 
or  Students”  should  bo  omitted  from  the  published 
list  in  the  Calendar  after  a  period  of  seven  years  from 
the  date  of  their  first  registration,  but  that  their 
names  be  retained  on  the  General  Register  of  the 
Society. 

Resolved — That  the  following  Conditions  and  Forms  of 
Application  under  which  grants  and  loans  in  aid  of 
Provincial  Schools  of  Pharmacy  are  to  be  made  be 
adopted  and  published  in  the  Journal : — 

Form  of  Application  for  Grants  in  Aid  of  Provincial 
Schools  of  Pharmacy. 

Name  of  Association  |  - - - ■ 

applying  for  Grant  j  _ 

(In  the  following  divisions  state  the  object  or  objects 
for  which  the  grant  is  required,  and  the  amount  it  is  de¬ 
sired  to  appropriate  to  any  or  each  of  the  following  pur¬ 
poses) — 

A  For  providing  apparatus, ) 
specimens,  diagrams,  etc. 

Specify  the  articles  re-  ;  - 

quired,  and  the  amount  _ 

of  grant  requested  .  .  . ,  _ 


B  For  providing  books,  etc.,N 
for  library.  State  the 
particulars  of  the  number 
of  books  already  in  the 
library  of  the  Association,  \ 
the  titles  and  prices  of  the 
books  it  is  now  desired  to 
purchase,  and  the  amount 
of  grant  requested  .  .  J 


C  For  any  other  object. 
State  the  purpose  for  which 
the  grant  is  required,  and 
the  amount  requested  .  . 


As  the  relative  claim  of  any\ 
town  to  receive  aid  from 
the  Society  must  be  indi¬ 
cated  by  the  earnestness 
and  efficiency  of  local  ef¬ 
fort,  state  here  any  consi¬ 
deration  which,  in  the 
opinion  of  the  applicants, 
entitles  them  to  a  grant 
from  the  Society’s  funds  ./ 


(Signed)  Name _ _ _ _ _ _ 

A  ddress _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

Secretary  of  the  above  Association - 


832 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  15,  1571. 


Three  resident 
Members  of  the 
Pharmaceutical 
Society. 


'Name _ 

Address 

Name 

Address 

Name _ 

Address 


Dated 


Form  of  Guarantee  for  the  Safe  Custody  of  Grants  of 
Materials  for  Class  Teaching,  etc. 

To  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society. 

We  acknowledge  having  received  the  following  appa¬ 
ratus  and  materials,  in  accordance  with  the  printed 
conditions  for  making  and  receiving  grants  to  provincial 
schools  of  pharmacy,  and  we  hold  ourselves  responsible 
for  their  safe  custody  for  a  period  of  three  years,  after 
which  time  we  agree  to  restore  them  to  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society’s  house  in  London,  and  to  defray  the  cost 
of  any  damage  that  may  have  occurred  to  them,  reason¬ 
able  wear  and  tear  excepted. 

(Signed)  Name  _ ___ 

Address _ ..  .  .  . 

Secretary  of  the _ _ 


Conditions  for  Making  and  Receiving  Grants  and  Loans  in 
Aid  of  Provincial  Schools  of  Pharmacy. 

1.  Grants  in  aid  of  Provincial  Education  in  Phar¬ 
macy  shall  be  made  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  mate¬ 
rials  for  class-teaching,  such  as  apparatus,  specimens, 
diagrams,  chemicals,  class-books,  etc.,  and  also  towards 
the  formation  of  libraries. 

2.  That  applications  for  such  grants  be  made  in  writing 
to  the  Council  on  forms  provided  for  the  purpose,  by 
local  Associations  of  Chemists  and  Druggists,  signed  by 
the  Secretary  of  the  Association  and  by  three  resident 
Members  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society. 

3.  That  each  application  shall  §tate  the  kind  of  aid  re¬ 
quired,  and,  where  a  money  grant  is  applied  for,  shall  in¬ 
dicate  the  sum  intended  to  be  applied  to  each  specific 
purpose. 

4.  That  where  a  grant  is  made  for  the  purpose  of  pro¬ 
viding  materials  for  class-teaching ,  etc.  the  applicants 
shall  guarantee  their  safe  custody  for  a  period  of  three 
years.  The  said  materials  to  be  the  loaned  property  of 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society  for  three  years,  after  the  expi¬ 
ration  of  which  they  may  be  resumed  by  it,  or  otherwise 
disposed  of.  The  Council  may,  in  special  cases,  forego 
this  guarantee  where  it  deems  it  not  desirable. 

5.  Applications  for  the  use  of  apparatus  from  the  “  loan 
collection  ”  of  the  Society  may  be  made  by  local  Associa¬ 
tions  of  Chemists  and  Druggists,  and  grants  made  for 
periods  of  fourteen  days,  in  accordance  with  the  follow¬ 
ing  rules : — 


/Name. 


Three  resident 
members  of  the 
Pharmaceutical 
Society. 


Address 

N  ame _ 

Address 

Name 


AAddress 


List  of  Articles  Received  and  Value. 


Form  of  Application  for  Temporary  Loans  of  Apparatus , 
etc.,  from  the  “  Loan  Collection  ”  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society. 

Name  of  Association  apply-  )  * 

ing  for  the  loan.  j 


Description  of  the  appara¬ 
tus  which  it  is  desired  to 
obtain,  with  number  on  the 
Society’s  catalogue. 


To  the  Secretary  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society, 

London. 

M  e  request  you  to  supply  us  with  the  above  appa- 
latus,  on  loan,  for  a  period  of  fourteen  days,  in  accord¬ 
ance  with  the  printed  conditions  specified  herewith,  and 
we  agree  to  give  the  required  guarantee  for  their  safety 
until  returned,  again  into  your  keeping*. 


(Signed)  Name 


Address _ 

Secretary  of 


Countersigned  by  two  Mem¬ 
bers  of  the  Association. 


Dated 


1.  A  list  of  the  apparatus  which  the  Society  is 
prepared  to  lend,  or  which  may  be  hereafter  added 
to  the  collection,  shall  be  published  in  the  Journal, 
and  printed  for  circulation  in  a  separate  form.  Such 
list  may  be  obtained  from  the  Secretary  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society. 

2.  This  apparatus  shall  only  be  lent  to  Associations 
of  Chemists  and  Druggists,  and  applications  for  their 
loan  must  be  made  in  writing,  on  forms  provided  for 
the  purpose,  signed  by  the  Secretary  of  the  local 
Association,  describing  the  articles  required,  and 
directed  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Pharmacetical 
Society. 

3.  The  Secretary  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
shall  refer  any  application  so  received  to  Dr.  Red¬ 
wood,  who,  with  the  assistance  of  the  Curator,  shall 
supply  the  same,  subject  to  approval  of  the  Presi¬ 
dent  or  the  Vice-President  of  the  Society,  and  to  the 
following  conditions  : — 

A.  No  apparatus  shall  be  lent  for  a  longer  period 
than  fourteen  days,  unless  a  renewed  application  is 
made  for  it. 

B.  All  apparatus  so  lent  shall  be  at  the  risk  of  the 
borrowers,  who  shall  defray  the  cost  of  any  damage 
that  may  occur  to  it. 

C.  Packing-cases  and  packing  will  be  provided 
and  paid  for  by  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  but  cost 
of  carriage  must  be  paid  for  by  the  borrowers. 

D.  A  list  of  the  apparatus  lent  to  local  Associa¬ 
tions  shall  be  sent  to  the  Secretary  applying  for  it, 
who  shall  sign  and  return  it  as  a  receipt  for  the 
apparatus  when  received. 

6.  Applications  for  aid  to  libraries  must  be  accompanied 
by  particulars  of  the  number  of  volumes  already  con¬ 
tained  in  such  library,  and  the  name  of  eaoh  book  applied 
for  and  its  price  specified. 

7.  The  relative  claim  of  any  town  to  receive  aid  from 
the  Society  must  be  indicated  by  the  earnestness  and 
efficiency  of  local  effort.  A  complete  curriculum  of  che¬ 
mistry,  practical  chemistry,  materia  medica,  pharmacy 
and  botany,  is  the  standard  to  be  aimed  at. 

8.  All  applications  to  the  Council  for  aid  may  be  re¬ 
ferred  to  a  standing  Committee  appointed  annually  for 
this  purpose.  The  recommendations  of  the  Committee 
to  be  laid  before  the  Council  for  action  thereon. 


April  15,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


833 


Form  of  Receipt  for  Temporary  Loans  of  Apparatus ,  etc. 
from  the  “ Loan  Collection'* 1'’  of  the  Pharmaceutical  So¬ 
ciety. 

List  of  apparatus,  etc.  and  number  of  the  same  in  the 
Society’s  catalogue,  forwarded  in  loan  for  fourteen  days 
to _ _ 


No. 


To  the  Secretary  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society, 

London. 

I  acknowledge  having  received  the  above  apparatus, 
etc.,  and  agree  to  return  it,  within  fourteen  days,  to  the 
Society’s  House  in  London,  unless  a  renewed  application 
for  it  and  a  fresh  grant  be  made  ;  and  to  be  responsible 
for  its  safe  custody  and  to  defray  the  cost  of  any  damage 
that  may  occur  to  it  whilst  it  remains  at  my  risk. 


Magnetism. 

Bar  magnet,  3  feet  long. 

Ditto  for  showing  magnetic  dip. 

Compound  magnet  (six  bars)  1  foot  long. 

Electro-Magnetism  and  Magneto-Electricity. 

Electrical  globe  for  illustrating  magnetism  of  the 
earth. 

Apparatus  to  show  rotation  of  electric  current  under 
influence  of  magnetism. 

Electric  conductor  rotating  between  poles  of  a  magnet. 

Disc  rotating  between  poles  of  a  magnet. 

Whirling-table  for  rotating  disc  of  copper  beneath 
suspended  magnet  and  for  many  other  purposes. 

Faraday’s  apparatus  for  showing  rotation  of  current 
of  electricity  round  permanent  magnet. 

Faraday’s  apparatus  for  showing  rotation  of  permanent 
magnet  round  current  of  electricity. 

Watkins’  apparatus  for  showing  rotation  of  magnet 
under  influence  of  electric  current. 

Saxton’s  magneto- electric  machine. 

Model  illustrating  Wheatstone’s  needle  telegraph. 

Light. 


(Signed)  Name _ 

Address _ 

Secretary  of  the 


The  following  is  a  list  of  that  portion  of  Apparatus 
belonging  to  the  Society  which  may  be  lent  to  Provincial 
Associations  on  the  foregoing  conditions  : — 

Frictional  Electricity. 

Glass  rod,  half  coated  with  sealing-wax. 

Large  electrophorus  on  insulating  stand. 

Jointed  electrical  discharger  and  curved  ditto. 

Large  framed  glass,  and  two  smaller  ones,  with  tinfoil 
figures  for  showing  luminous  electrical  discharge. 

Two  glass  tubes  for  discharge  of  electricity  in  vacuo. 

Set  of  four  glass  columns  arranged  on  mahogany  stand 
to  exhibit  luminous  discharge  of  electricity. 

Henley’s  universal  discharger. 

Cuthbertson’s  balance  electrometer. 

Harris’s  unit  jar  without  stand. 

Cuthbertson’s  quadrant  electrometer. 

Sir  William  Snow  Harris’s  balance  electrometer. 

Peal  of  electrical  bells. 

Battery  of  five  quart  Leyden  jars  in  frame. 

Five  Leyden  jars  in  box. 

Electric  firehouse  for  igniting  wool  saturated  with 
spirits  of  wine  by  electric  spark. 

Brass  cannon  for  igniting  gases  by  electricity. 

Electrical  mortar. 

Electrical  flask  for  showing  discharge  in  vacuo. 

15-inch  cylinder  electrical  machine. 

Electrical  whirl  on  insulating  stand. 

Apparatus  for  passing  electrical  spark  through  liquids. 

Galvanic  Electricity. 

Grove’s  battery,  20  cells,  complete  in  frames. 

Set  of  platinum  wires  on  frames  for  illustrating  heating 
and  magnetic  effects  of  galvanic  electricity. 

Decomposing  cell. 

Daniell’s  apparatus  for  the  electrical  decomposition  of 
salts. 

Bunsen's  apparatus  for  decomposing  water  by  elec¬ 
tricity. 

Small  galvanometer. 

Apparatus  for  exhibition  of  electric  light  in  vacuo  and 
in  gases,  mounted  an  tall  bronze  pedestal. 

Dc  la  Rue’s  electric  light  apparatus. 

Small  medical  induction  coil,  made  in  such  way  as  to 
illustrate  the  construction . 


Alcohol  lime -light  apparatus. 

Glass  prism  on  brass  stand. 

Solomon’s  magnesium  lamp  with  clockwork  motion. 

Apparatus  for  circular  polarized  light.  In  case. 

Copper  bottle  for  “  fire-cloud.” 

Polarizing  apparatus. 

A  pair  of  thickly- silvered  copper  parabolic  mirrors  by 
Watkins  and  Hill,  with  supports  provided  with  ball  and 
socket  movements. 

Crystallograrh,  Hydrostatics,  Pneumatics,  etc. 

Numerous  models  of  crystals  in  glass  and  wood. 

Common  goniometer. 

Wollaston’s  reflecting  goniometer. 

Set  of  five  turned  iron  pendulum  weights  from  20  lb. 
downwards  (provided  with  points  and  screw-plugs  for 
suspension)  for  the  pendulum  experiment  illustrating 
the  rotation  of  the  earth. 

Large  revolving  table  for  use  with  the  above. 

Large  diffusion-tube  and  stand. 

Lung  glass. 

Mercury  shower  cup. 

Large  Magdeburg  hemispheres. 

Small  air-pump. 

Apparatus  for  illustrating  principles  of  ventilation. 

A  letter  was  read  from  the  Glasgow  Chemists  and 
Druggists’  Association,  applying  for  a  copy  of  the  “  Re¬ 
gister,”  whereupon  it  was 

Resolved — That  a  copy  of  the  Register  be  forwarded 
to  the  Glasgow  Chemists  and  Druggists’  Associa¬ 
tion  for  the  use  of  its  members. 

Resolved — That  the  Editor  be  requested  to  draw  the 
attention  of  members  to  Section  1  Clause  10  of  the 
Bye-Laws,  reminding  them  that  the  non-payment 
of  their  annual  subscription  (due  Jan.  1st)  before 
the  1st  of  May,  excludes  them  from  the  privilege  of 
voting  or  taking  any  part  in  the  proceedings  at  the 
ensuing  election. 

Proposed  Poison  Regulations. 

Memorials  and  protests  against  their  adoption  were 
presented  from  Hull,  Newbury,  Maidstone,  Bradford, 
Canterbury,  Sheffield,  and  Manchester. 

Pursuant  to  notice,  it  was  moved  by  Mr.  Sutton  and 
seconded  by  Mr.  Atherton, 

That  an  appeal  to  the  members  of  the  Society  for 
their  opinion,  “Yes”  or  “No,”  upon  the  proposed 
Compulsory  Regulations  for  the  Storing  and  Selling 
of  Poisons  be  made  by  means  of  a  printed  foray  to 
be  issued  with  the  voting-papers  for  the  election 


834 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  15,  1871. 


of  Council  in  May,  and  that  members  be  requested 
to  return  such  papers  to  the  Registrar  previous  to 
the  Annual  Meeting  on  the  17th  May,  and  that 
the  President,  together  with  the  Mover  and  Seconder 
of  the  Resolution,  he  requested  to  frame  the  ne¬ 
cessary  paper. 

This  Motion  was  subsequently  withdrawn  in  favour 
of  the  following — 

Moved  by  Dymond,  seconded  by  Mr.  Abraham, 

That  considering  the  numerous  and  strongly  expressed 
objections  to  the  compulsory  character  of  the  sug¬ 
gested  Regulations  for  the  keeping  and  dispensing 
of  Poisons  by  members  of  the  Society  and  others 
who  will  be  affected  by  them,  and  in  order  to  obtain 
the  more  cordial  adoption  of  these  Regulations  by 
chemists  throughout  the  country,  it  is  resolved  to 
present  them  to  the  Annual  Meeting  with  such 
alterations  as  will  divest  them  of  a  compulsory  cha¬ 
racter,  but  accompanied  by  the  earnest  recommen¬ 
dation  of  this  Council  that  all  “Pharmaceutical 
Chemists”  and  “  Chemists  and  Druggists”  in  busi¬ 
ness  in  Great  Britain  do  make  use  of  these  recom¬ 
mended  Regulations  in  the  keeping  and  dispensing  of 
Poisons  enumerated  under  the  Pharmacy  Act  of  1868. 

On  a  division  the  following  voted  : — 

For  the  Motion — 

Messrs.  Abraham,  Atherton,  Bottle,  Bourdas,  Brown, 
Carr,  Deane,  Dymond,  Groves,  Mackay,  Savage, 
Stoddart,  Sutton,  Williams  and  Woolley. 

Against — 

Mr.  Sandford. 

Messrs.  Edwards  and  Haselden  were  present,  but 
did  not  vote. 

The  Motion  was  therefore  carried ;  whereupon, 

Mr.  Sandfokd  stated  that  as  during  the  last  few 
months  he  had  continued  to  hold  office  simply  that  his 
successor  might  not  commence  with  so  troublesome  a 
question  on  his  hands  as  the  Poison  Regulations,  now 
virtually  withdrawn,  and  as  he  felt  that  the  President 
■should  at  the  Annual  Meeting  represent  the  views  and 
opinions  of  the  Council,  lie  deemed  it  his  duty  at  once  to 
resign  the  Presidency. 

Resolved — That  the  following  Committee  be  appointed 
to  revise  the  wording  of  the  Poison  Regulations,  in 
order  to  bring  them  within  the  terms  of  the  Resolu¬ 
tion  to-day  passed  and  to  make  any  alteration  in 
the  wording  of  the  third  clause  it  may  suggest. 


Committee — Messrs. 

Carr,  Deane,  Dymond, 

Groves 

and  Williams. 

REPORTS  OF  THE 

BOARDS  OF 

EXAMINERS. 

Cancli- 

Candi- 

Candi- 

dates 

dates 

dates 

examined,  passed. 

failed. 

March  15,  Major  . 

1 

4 

,,  Minor . 

9 

8 

,,  17  Minor . 

14 

3 

39 

24 

15 

Piielim] x ary . — 5  Certificates  approved. 

A  Committee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Sandford,  Bourdas, 
Carr  and  Williams,  was  appointed  to  confer  with  the 
Board  ot  Examiners  with  respect  to  certain  proposed 
alterations  in  their  regulations. 


Resolved  That  Walter  Scott,  being  duly  registered 
as  a  Pharmaceutical  Chemist,  be  granted  a  diploma, 
stamped  with  the  seal  of  the  Society. 

Resolved  That  the  following,  being  duly  registered 
as  Pharmaceutical  Chemists,  be  elected  Members 


Arkinstall,  William  . Ludlow. 

Speechly,  Edward  . Vauxhall. 

Swain,  William  Thomas  . Boroughbrkffie. 

White,  J ames  W alter  . Hampton. 


Two  members,  having  paid  their  arrears  of  subscrip¬ 
tion  and  a  nominal  fine  of  Is.  each,  were  restored  to  their 
original  status  in  the  Society. 

Resolved — That  the  following  Registered  Chemists 
and  Druggists  be  elected 

MEMBERS  OP  THE  SOCIETY. 

Ault,  John . Eastwood. 

Bell,  Wm.  Middlewick  . London. 

Bosley,  John  Lawrence  . London. 

Cowles,  Charles  . Stratford. 

Dodds,  George  F . Kelso. 

Dodds,  Nicholas  . Coldstream. 

Dun,  Robert  Thompson  . Glasgow. 

Dunmore,  John . Birmingham. 

Dunsford,  Samuel . Wigan. 

Frost,  Wm.  Toogood  . Lee. 

Hammond,  Charles  Thomas  . .  Hull. 

Higgins,  James . London. 

Hughes,  Lancelot  Steele . London. 

Hughes,  Richard . Bangor. 

Hughes,  Thomas . Llandilo. 

Jones,  Richard . Chipping  Sodbury. 

McDonald,  James . Glasgow. 

Morris,  Edwin  . London. 

Pettigrew,  John  Wesley . Glasgow. 

Roberts,  John  . London. 

Yincer,  Frank  . Sevenoaks. 

Westwood,  Robert  Fleetwood.  .London. 

Resolved — That  the  following,  having  passed  their 
respective  Examinations,  be  elected  “Associates 
in  business :” — 

MINOR. 

Warman,  William  Albert  ....  London. 


MODIFIED. 

Atkinson,  Leonard  . Greenwich. 

Bowler,  William  Samuel  ....  Belper. 

Covell,  William  Mann  . London. 

Dickie,  James  . Glasgow. 

Fleming,  John . Glasgow. 

Gamble,  Henry  Arthur  . . London. 

Greig,  William . Glasgow. 

Lambert,  William  R . London. 

Mundy,  Alfred  Octavius . London. 

Pratt,  Edward  Jonathan . Great  Yarmouth. 

Smith,  Joe . Wath-upon-Deame. 

Willson,  Cornelius  . Grimsby. 

Resolved  that  the  following,  having  passed  their 
respective  Examinations,  be  elected  Associates  : — 

MINOR. 

Bird,  Matthew  Mitchell . Lynn. 

Bothamby,  Richard  Broughton. Guildford. 

Churchman,  James  . London. 

Clarke,  George  Ernest . Stowmarket. 

Dowson,  J oseph  . London. 

Earee,  Edwin  Thomas . Staines. 

Farrow,  Charles  Henry  . Diss. 

Ground,  William  Davie . Grantham. 

Guy,  Frederick . Louth. 

Hetherington,  Martin  Luther . .  Highbury. 

Holmes,  Nathaniel  Wheatcroft. Grantham. 

Jaques,  William  . Beverley. 

Jasper,  Frederick  William  . . .  .Penzance 

M‘Neil,  James  Norton . Macclesfield. 

Martin,  William  Thomas  ....  Lewes. 

Peters,  David . Llandilo. 

Pound,  Henry  William  . London. 

Read,  Henry  Holditch . Peterborough. 

Roberts,  Joseph  Elliott . Leeds. 

Thompson,  George  Alfred  ....  Tunbridge. 

Wilson,  John  Herbert . Lee. 


April  15,  1871.] 


.  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


835 


MODIFIED. 

Allden,  John . London. 

Bennett,  Joseph  . Bristol. 

Clark,  J ohn  . Sheffield. 

Eox,  George  Clement . London. 

Gibbs,  William  Duirs . Winchester. 

Kermath,  William  Ramsay. .  . . Glasgow. 

Sirett,  Henry,  jun . Buckingham. 

Smith,  William  Henry  . Cheltenham. 

Watts,  Walter . Peterborough. 


PHARMACEUTICAL  MEETING. 

Wednesday ,  April  5  th,  1871. 

MR.  G.  W.  SANDFORD,  PRESIDENT,  IN  THE  CHAIR. 

The  following  donations  to  the  library  and  museum 
were  announced : — 

The  Half-yearly  Abstract  of  the  Medical  Sciences :  from 
the  Editors  (per  Publishers), — The  Year-Book  of  Phar¬ 
macy  and  Proceedings  of  the  British  Pharmaceutical  Con¬ 
ference,  1870 :  from  the  Conference, — On  a  Localized  Out¬ 
break  of  Typhoid  Fever  in  Islington  during  the  months 
of  July  and  August,  1870,  traced  to  the  use  of  Impure 
Milk,  by  Edward  Ballard  :  from  the  Author  (per  Pub¬ 
lishers), — The  History  and  Present  State  of  Electricity, 
with  Original  Experiments,  by  Joseph  Priestley,  LL.D., 
F.R.S. ;  a  Volume  containing  pamphlets  as  follows: — 
1,  A  Series  of  Experiments  relating  to  Phosphori,  and 
the  Prismatic  Colours  they  are  found  to  exhibit  in  the 
dark,  by  B.  Wilson,  F.R.S.,  etc.,  together  with  a  Transla¬ 
tion  of  two  Memoirs  from  the  Bologna  Acts  upon  the  same 
subject ;  2,  A  Lecture  on  the  Perpetual  Motion ;  3,  A 
Continuation  of  New  Experiments  Physico- Mechanical, 
touching  the  Spring  and  Weight  of  the  Air,  and  their 
Effects.  The  I.  part.  Whereto  is  annexed  a  Short  Dis¬ 
course  of  the  Atmosphere  of  Consistent  Bodies,  by  the 
Honourable  Robert  Boyle,  F.R.S. :  from  Mr.  Alexander 
Bottle, — Durham  University  Calendar,  1871, — London 
University  Calendar,  1871  :  from  the  Universities, — 
Guy’s  Hospital  Reports,  Vol.  XVI.,  1870-71  :  from  the 
Editors  (per  Publishers), — On  the  Claims  of  Science  to 
Public  Recognition  and  Support,  with  Special  Reference 
to  the  so-called  “Social  Sciences:”  fromW.  A.  Guy,  M.B., 
F.R.S.,  etc.  (the  Author), — Zeitschrift  des  allgemeinen 
bsterreichischen  Apotheker-Vereines,  several  numbers, — 
List  of  the  Fellows,  etc.,  of  the  Royal  College  of  Physi¬ 
cians  :  from  the  College, — The  Chemists  and  Druggists’ 
Compendium,  a  Handbook  of  Practical  Receipts  and 
Processes  :  from  R.  J.  Owen,  St.  Mary,  Charterhouse, — 
Reports  on  the  Progress  of  Practical  and  Scientific  Me¬ 
dicine  in  Different  Parts  of  the  World,  1870,  Vol.  II. : 
from  Dr.  Dobell, — Curiosites  de  I  Alimentation  :  from 
Dr.  J.  Leon  Soubeiran, — Introductory  Address  delivered 
at  the  opening  of  the  Session,  1870-71  (Queen’s  Hos¬ 
pital,  Birmingham)  :  from  Alexander  Fleming,  M.D., — 
25  beautifully-prepared  Specimens  of  Thallium  and  its 
Salts,  viz.,  Thallium  (metallic  in  hydrogen)  acetate,  an- 
limoniate,  sulpho-antimoniate,  benzoate,  bromide,  car¬ 
bonate,  chlorate,  chloride,  sesquichloride,  platinochloride, 
carbazotate,  chromate,  bichromate,  iodide,  molybdate, 
nitrate,  oxalate,  peroxide,  silicate,  sulphate,  bitartrate, 
thallio-carb.,  tungstate ;  thallium  alum :  presented  by 
Messrs.  Hopkins  and  Williams, — Specimen  of  Coumarin : 
prepared  and  presented  by  Mr.  Fredk.  J anson  Hanbury, 
—Two  Specimens  of  Penguin  Oil :  presented  by  Mr.  P.  L. 
Simmonds, — Sugar  of  Ergot:  presented  by  Mr.  Rim- 
mington  (Bradford), — Specimens  of  Maple  Sugar,  Beet¬ 
root  Sugar,  Crystallized  Cane  Sugar,  a  fine  crystal  of 
Sucrose  from  Beet  Sugar  and  Glucose  from  Starch  as 
imported  :  presented  by  Mr.  Stoddart. 

The  Chairman  drew  attention  to  several  samples  of 
poisonous  articles  which  had  been  laid  on  the  table  by 
Mr.  Bland,  none  of  which  bore  any  label  intimating  the 


poisonous  nature  of  the  contents,  saying  he  apprehended 
Mr.  Bland’s  object  was  not  to  anticipate  any  discussion 
on  the  subject  of  storing  poisons,  but  rather  to  show  the 
facility  with  which  very  dangerous  articles  might  he  ob¬ 
tained  notwithstanding  the  clauses  in  the  Pharmacy 
Act.  It  certainly  seemed  a  great  grievance  that  whilst 
pharmaceutical  chemists  were  placed  under  numerous 
and  heavy  restrictions  as  to  the  manner  in  which  they 
should  carry  on  their  business,  traders  of  an  inferior 
class  were  allowed  to  sell  oxalic  acid,  acetate  of  lead, 
sulphate  of  zinc,  cyanide  of  potassium  and  such-like 
articles  without  any  protection  whatever.  There  could 
be  no  doubt  that  such  a  mode  of  selling  these  articles 
was  illegal,  but  he  supposed  there  was  no  means  of 
knowing  whether  the  person  who  supplied  the  articles 
was  connected  with  the  Society  or  not. 

Mr.  Bland  said  he  could  trace  every  article ;  they 
had  all  been  supplied  by  totally  unqualified  persons. 

The  Chairman  said  in  that  case  it  was  clearly  a  matter 
for  the  interference  of  the  police. 


Professor  Attfield  then  read  a  paper  on  “  The  Che¬ 
mical  Nomenclature  of  the  Pharmacopoeia,  with  Sug¬ 
gestions  for  its  Revision,”  which  will  be  found  printed 
at  pp.  801  and  822. 

The  Chairman  said  there  was  one  remark  in  the 
paper  which  he  considered  of  primary  importance,  viz. 
here  should  in  all  cases  be  a  perfect  understanding  and 
unanimity  in  nomenclature  between  prescribers  and  dis¬ 
pensers,  and  if  any  system  could  be  introduced  which 
would  increase  that  understanding,  it  would  be  an  im¬ 
mense  advantage  to  all  parties.  Another  point  of  detail 
of  considerable  importance  was  the  recommendation  that 
different  but  analogous  names  should  be  distinguished 
by  the  prefix  rather  than  the  termination,  on  account 
of  the  inveterate  habit  amongst  medical  men  of  abbre¬ 
viating  pharmaceutical  Latin.  They  could  not  very 
well  cut  off  the  beginning  of  a  word,  and  it  would  be  a 
great  relief  to  dispensers  if  they  could  see  by  the  first 
syllable  what  article  was  intended.  Great  difficulties 
had  sometimes  arisen  in  this  matter,  even  with  regard 
to  calomel. 

Professor  Frankland  said  there  seemed  to  have  sprung 
up  two  systems  of  chemical  nomenclature,  which  had  in 
many  cases  two  distinct  objects.  The  scientific  chemist, 
in  pursuing  his  investigations,  was  led  to  modify  his 
nomenclature,  and  frequently  also  his  notation ;  whilst, 
on  the  other  hand,  the  pharmaceutist  had  to  maintain  as 
strictly  as  possible  a  uniform  and  intelligible  system,  for 
he  quite  agreed  that  nothing  could  be  more  mischievous 
than  frequent  or  unnecessary  changes  of  names  in  phar¬ 
macy.  It  was  peculiarly  fortunate,  therefore,  that  Professor 
Attfield’s  scheme  retained  most  of  the  old  names,  and  only 
introduced  changes  where  they  had  become  almost  in¬ 
dispensable.  In  the  first  place,  there  could  be  no  doubt 
that  the  name  ought  to  individualize  the  substance 
named  ;  and  he  might  be  pardoned  for  pointing  out  one 
or  two  cases  in  the  list  where  this  rule  was  hardly  com¬ 
plied  with.  In  the  case  of  sulphate  of  iron  there  were 
two  substances  which  claimed  that  designation,  the  fer¬ 
rous  and  the  ferric  sulphates,  or  the  protosulphate  and  the 
persulphate.  There  might  perhaps  be  a  difficulty  in  the 
way  of  finding  euphonious  names  for  these  two  salts,  but 
he  would  suggest  the  terms  ferrosum  and  ferricum,  instead 
of  the  word  iron.  There  was  also  another  point  to  be  kept 
in  view,  viz.  that,  as  far  as  possible,  the  nomenclature  of 
applied  chemistry  should  be  consistent  with  that  of  che¬ 
mistry  exclusively  scientific ;  and  there  were  some  in¬ 
stances  where  this  consistency  was  somewhat  departed 
from.  At  the  head  of  the  list  was  placed  acetate  of  am¬ 
monium,  and  a  little  lower  down  acetate  of  morphia. 
Now,  in  two  compounds  so  analogous,  consistency  re¬ 
quired  that  you  should  be  able  to  substitute  one  basic 
constituent  for  the  other  without  altering  your  conception 
of  the  chemical  composition ;  in  other  words,  morphia 
ought  strictly  to  represent  ammonium,  which  it  did  not, 


830 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  15, 1&71. 


seeing-  that  it  was  the  analogue  of  ammonia  ancl  not  of 
ammonium.  He  would  suggest,  therefore,  that  the  word 
morphium  should  ho  introduced,  which  he  thought  would 
lend  itself  as  well  as  morphia  to  prescribers,  especially  as 
they  would  be  sure  to  omit  the  termination  in  either  case. 
But  this  would  render  the  names  of  the  compounds  of 
these  acids  with  natural  alkaloids  consistent  with  the 
names  of  the  salts  of  the  metallic  elements  and  compound 
radicals  such  as  ammonium.  With  regard  to  the  naming 
of  these  alkaloids,  he  observed  that  Professor  Attfield 
had  adopted  the  system  which  was  probably  more  in 
use  amongst  medical  men  than  the  opposite  plan,  to  a 
great  extent  used  by  pure  chemists,  viz.  the  termination 
ia  instead  of  ine.  He  did  not  know  that  any  important 
objection  could  he  urged  against  these  names ;  and  if  the 
terminal  ia  he  changed  to  him  in  naming  salts,  it  would 
entirely  get  rid  of  the  difficulty  with  regard  to  that  por¬ 
tion  of  the  name  representing  a  metallic  element,  or 
similarly  constituted  compound  radical,  which  performed 
precisely  the  same  functions  in  the  different  compounds. 
These  appeared  to  him  the  only  cases  of  inconsistency,  and 
he  was  very  glad  to  see  that  so  slight  an  amount  of  altera¬ 
tion  brought  the  system  of  pharmaceutical  names  so  nearly 
into  harmony  with  that  of  purely  scientific  chemistry. 

Professor  Redwood  said  that  whenever  the  Pharma¬ 
copoeia  had  been  submitted  to  revision  there  had  always 
been,  more  or  less,  alterations  effected  in  the  names  of  the 
substances  described,  and  these  changes  had  generally, 
although  not  always,  been  made  with  the  view  of  assimi¬ 
lating  them  to  those  employed  by  scientific  men.  This 
had  been  the  case  in  the  last  edition ;  the  other  object,  and 
perhaps  the  more  important,  being  to  make  each  name 
more  specific,  and  less  liable  to  misconception.  As  such 
changes  had  been  made  on  former  occasions,  so  he  had 
no  doubt  that  whenever  a  new  edition  came  out,  the 
same  thing  would  take  place,  and  perhaps  to  a  still 
greater  extent,  the  foundation  having  been  already  laid 
by  the  introduction  of  the  new  notation,  although  it  was 
not  thought  expedient  then,  on  account  of  the  unsettled 
state  of  the  subject,  to  relinquish  the  old  notation  which 
was  best  understood.  The  old  notation  being-  retained, 
the  old  names  were  necessarily  retained  likewise,  though 
the  introduction  of  the  new  notation  paved  the  way  for 
such  a  change  of  names  on  a  future  occasion,  as  Professor 
Attfield  had  indicated.  As  to  the  time,  however,  when  a 
new  Pharmacopoeia  would  be  prepared  it  was  impossible 
to  say ;  hut  the  average  life  of  an  edition  having  been  about 
ten  years,  it  would  probably  he  some  considerable  time  yet 
before  another  was  brought  out.  He  was  not  quite  sure, 
therefore,  that  it  was  advisable  to  discuss  the  matter  so 
long  beforehand,  though,  were  a  new  edition  in  course  of 
preparation,  he  should  advocate  in  the  majority  of  cases 
precisely  the  changes  proposed  by  Professor  Attfield, 
being  a  change  from  the  representation  of  salts  of  alka¬ 
lies  and  alkaline  metals  to  a  representation  of  their 
being  salts  of  the  metals  themselves,  thus  bringing  about 
a  consistency  and  uniformity  in  this  part  of  the  nomen¬ 
clature  with  the  other  part  which  hitherto  had  not 
existed  either  in  pharmacy  or  amongst  scientific  men 
themselves.  This  system  had  been  adopted  in  labelling 
the  specimens  in  their  museum  for  some  time  ;  as  there 
were  two  notations  given  in  the  Pharmacopoeia,  there 
was  an  old  name  which  corresponded  with  the  old  nota¬ 
tion,  and  a  new  name  precisely  the  same  as  those  which 
Professor  Attfield  proposed.  If  nothing  more  than  this 
were  suggested,  he  should  have  no  doubt  of  the  prin¬ 
ciple  being  adopted,  and  should  himself  go  with  the 
author  of  the  paper  entirely,  ancl  even  to  concur  in 
what  had  been  suggested  by  Dr.  Frankland,  that  the 
alkaloids,  morphia,  quinia,  and  so  on,  should  be  changed 
to  the  better-known  and  more-easily  expressed  names, 
morphine,  strychnine,  quinine  and'  so  on.  Such  a 
change  he  thought  could  be  made  without  any  incon¬ 
venience  or  difficulty,  for  these  were  the  names  gene¬ 
rally  used  in  commerce.  Dr.  Frankland  had  remarked 
that  there  would  still  be,  in  some  cases,  a  want  of  dis¬ 


tinctness,  instancing  sulphate  of  iron,  which,  he  said, 
represented  two  salts  which  required  to  be  distin¬ 
guished  from  each  other.  Now  in  the  present  Phar¬ 
macopoeia  both  were  ordered,  and  the  names  there  used 
were,  as  he  conceived,  sufficiently  distinct.  The  rule 
had  been  never  to  make  a  name  longer  than  necessary 
to  its  being  perfectly  understood ;  therefore,  the  term 
sulphate  of  iron  was  applied  to  the  ferrous  sulphate  or 
protosulphate,  which  was  rather  a  long  name,  and,  per¬ 
haps,  a  little  theoretical;  and  the  ferric  sulphate  was 
designated  by  the  prefix  per ,  without  which  the  name 
could  not  be  written,  so  that  there  could  he  no  am¬ 
biguity.  Whilst,  however,  he  agreed  with  much  that 
had  fallen  from  Professor  Attfield,  and  especially  with 
the  principles  he  had  laid  down,  he  could  not  concur  in 
all  his  proposed  changes,  though  the  number  to  which 
he  objected  was  but  small.  In  the  first  place  white 
arsenic  was  suggested  in  place  of  arsenious  acid ;  and  it 
was  suggested  that  the  term  ‘  acid  ’  should  not  be  used  to 
designate  a  body  which  contained  no  hydrogen,  as  such 
were  not  really  acids  according  to  modern  views.  If 
arsenious  acid  of  pharmacy  were  the  only  body  of 
the  kind  used,  or  likely  to  be  used,  in  medicine,  he 
did  not  know  that  there  would  be  any  great  objec¬ 
tion  to  the  change,  although  he  preferred  the  older 
term  as  being  more  distinctive,  for  the  name  “white 
arsenic”  might  be  applied  to  arsenic  acid  as  well  as  to 
other  compounds  of  arsenic,  while  arsenious  acid  was 
not  so  liable  to  misconception.  But  there  were  other 
bodies  which  stood  in  precisely  the  same  category,  for 
instance,  chromic  acid,  which  was  used  as  an  escharotic  ; 
and  if  the  term  ‘  acid  ’  must  not  he  applied  to  arsenious 
acid,  neither  should  it  be  applied  to  chromic  acid.  What 
then  could  it  be  called?  Chromic  anhydride  would 
be  a  proper  term,  but  he  should  not  he  prepared  to 
import  it  into  pharmacy.  It  was  unsatisfactory,  for 
even  scientific  chemists  differed  upon  it,  and  it  was  un¬ 
certain  how  long  it  would  maintain  its  position,  and  it 
would  be  very  unwise,  therefore,  to  introduce  it  into 
pharmacy,  where,  above  all  things,  permanence  was  re¬ 
quired.  No  one  could  have  any  doubt  as  to  what  was 
meant  by  arsenious  acid  or  chromic  acid,  and,  therefore, 
although  the  terms  might  be  open  to  a  little  objection 
theoretically,  he  thought  for  practical  purposes  they 
were  the  best  that  could  be  adopted  at  present.  Excep¬ 
tion  had  been  taken  to  the  term  bichromate  of  potash, 
and  he  only  wondered  that  the  proposed  change  to  red 
chromate  of  potash  had  not  been  made  before  ;  but  con¬ 
sistency  would  require  that  a  like  change  should  be 
made  in  the  cases  of  bicarbonate  of  soda  and  bicarbonate 
of  potash.  These  names,  however,  were,  he  thought,  pro¬ 
perly  retained,  being  so  well  understood,  although  they 
were  not  quite  satisfactory  theoretically.  Then,  again, 
there  was  the  term  black  sulphide  of  antimony,  which 
it  was  proposed  to  substitute  for  the  ordinary  name, 
black  antimony.  In  his  opinion  brevity  was  a  very  im¬ 
portant  consideration  and  he  was  quite  satisfied  with  the 
old  term,  which  had  been  thoroughly  understood  for 
generations  both  in  commerce  and  in  pharmacy.  Then 
came  the  substances  subnitrate  of  bismuth  and  carbonate 
of  bismuth.  Professor  Attfield  said  both  these  were  of 
analogous  composition,  and  that  if  one  was  called  sub¬ 
nitrate,  the  other  ought  to  be  called  subcarbonate. 
Theoretically  he  should  be  disposed  to  agree  with  this 
view,  but,  practically,  he  thought  it  better  to  leave  the 
names  as  they  stood.  Tho  subnitrate  was  in  the  former 
Pharmacopoeia  called  nitrate,  hut  it  was  necessary  to 
distinguish  it  from  the  crystalline  salt  which  was  acid  in 
its  reaction,  and  the  prefix  sub  was  used  for  that  purpose. 
With  regard  to  the  carbonate  of  bismuth,  although  un¬ 
doubtedly  it  was  an  oxycarbonate,  yet,  as  there  was  no 
other  carbonate  of  bismuth  with  which  it  could  be  con¬ 
fused,  ho  should  not  be  in  favour  of  introducing  a  longer 
name  when  the  short  one  was  sufficiently  explicit. 
The  same  theoretical  objection  would  apply  to  car¬ 
bonate  of  lead  and  carbonate  of  zinc,  both  of  which  were 


April  15,  18/1.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


837 


oxycarbonates,  but  no  proposition  was  made  to  alter 
them.  Chloride  of  tin,  which  was  ordered  as  a  reagent, 
was  proposed  to  be  changed  to  stannous  chloride,  but 
he  was  not  prepared  to  adopt  that  as  the  only  case  in 
which  this  particular  kind  of  nomenclature  should  be  in¬ 
troduced.  With  the  citrate  of  iron  and  ammonium,  and 
the  citrate  of  bismuth  and  ammonium,  he  would  include 
the  tartrates,  which  Professor  Attfield  took  great  objec¬ 
tion  to,  proposing  to  substitute  tartrate  of  Ron  and 
potassium  for  tartarated  iron.  The  latter  name  was 
adopted  as  being  shorter  and  more  convenient  to  use 
than  the  full  name,  and  thus  the  terms  tartarated  an¬ 
timony  and  tartarated  iron  arose.  They  were  not  given 
as  scientific  names,  but  nevertheless  they  did  indicate 
the  composition,  because  both  were  tartarated  pro¬ 
ducts.  Just  as  chlorinated  lime  was  lime  treated  with 
chlorine,  so  the  iron  and  antimony  were  treated  with 
tartar.  However,  he  should  not  object  to  the  names 
tartarated  iron,  etc.  being  changed,  but  not  for  those 
suggested.  He  should  prefer  going  back  to  the  old 
names,  Avhich  were  familiar  to  all,  and  sufficiently  ex¬ 
plicit  and  euphonious,  viz.  ammonio-citrate  of  iron — po- 
tassio-tartrate  of  iron,  which  names  were  still  used  in 
commerce.  As  for  the  termination  in  um ,  which  made 
the  name  so  much  more  of  a  mouthful,  he  was  quite  sure 
that  neither  commercial  men  nor  pharmacists  would  ever 
use  it.  Potassio-tartrate  of  antimony  again  was  the 
old  name  for  emetic  tartar;  and  the  new  preparation 
called  citrate  of  bismuth  and  ammonium  might,  in  like 
manner,  be  called  ammonio-citrate  of  bismuth.  Citrate  of 
iron  and  quinia,  or  quinine,  as  it  was  commonly  called, 
-frould  then  require  to  be  altered  for  the  sake  of  uni¬ 
formity.  He  did  not  like  ammonio-quiniate  of  iron,  and 
should  therefore  suggest  ferro-citrate  of  quinia  or  qui¬ 
nine.  There  was  only  one  other  case  he  wished  to  refer 
to,  and  that  was  where  it  was  suggested  that  the  familiar 
name  hydrated  peroxide  of  Ron  should  be  changed  to 
peroxydrate  of  iron.  He  was  not  at  all  favourable  to 
such  a  change,  thinking  the  old  names  far  preferable. 

Professor  Odlixg  said  Professor  Attfield  had  produced 
a  very  useful  paper,  and  upon  the  whole  had  steered  tole¬ 
rably  clear  of  difficulties.  He  was  happy  to  find  that  in 
most  instances  where  he  should  venture  to  differ  from 
the  conclusions  arrived  at,  he  had  been  forestalled  by  his 
friend  Dr.  Redwood ;  but  at  the  same  time  he  could  not 
agree  with  all  the  remarks  of  the  latter.  With  regard 
to  the  propriety  of  discussing  such  a  subject  at  the 
present  time,  and  to  the  probability  of  a  new  edition  of 
the  Pharmacopoeia  being  speedily  issued,  he  thought 
such  discussions  as  the  present  were  always  useful, 
as  they  opened  the  way  for  the  time  when  action  be¬ 
came  necessary,  however  long  it  might  be  deferred ; 
and  looking  to  the  great  merits  and  completeness  of 
the  present  edition,  he  had  no  doubt  that  a  long  time 
would  elapse  before  another  was  called  for.  He  had 
been  somewhat  surprised  at  the  delicacy  which  Dr.  Red¬ 
wood  felt  about  introducing  the  term  “white  arsenic,” 
but  he  was  quite  satisfied  shortly  afterwards  on  hearing 
his  remark  on  “black  antimony.”  Professor  Attfield, 
he  thought,  had  shown  great  discretion,  both  in  the  new 
names  he  had  proposed  and  in  regard  to  the  old  ones 
which  he  thought  should  be  discontinued.  He  quite 
agreed  that  names  involving  the  use  of  abbreviated  Latin 
or  Greek  numerals  were  to  be  avoided  as  far  as  possible, 
if  not  altogether,  and  the  use,  where  necessary,  as  dis¬ 
tinctions  of  red  and  yellow,  where  such-like  definitions 
obviously  applied,  was  much  to  be  recommended,  as,  for 
instance,  green  iodide  and  red  iodide,  red  prussiate  and 
yellow  prussiate,  yellow  chromate  and  red  chromate ;  for 
these  names  had  at  any  rate  the  element  of  stability,  as 
there  was  no  reason  to  suppose  that  the  various  salts 
would  alter  their  colour  within  the  next  generation  or 
two.  He  also  concurred  in  wdiat  had  been  said  as  to  the 
use  of  the  word  ‘  acid.’  It  was  wrell  known  that  this  term 
had  been  applied  for  a  long  series  of  years  to  two  distinct 
classes  of  compounds, — those  wdiich  were  ordinarily 


bought  and  sold  under  that  name,  such  as  oxalic,  citric 
or  tartaric  acids,  and  also  to  the  substances  which  were 
considered  to  exist  within  these  bodies,  and  to  give  them 
their  characteristic  properties.  Now  it  was  obvious  that 
the  same  name  should  not  be  given  to  two  totally  dis¬ 
tinct  substances  or  even  be  applied  to  bodies  belonging 
to  different  classes.  If  it  were  the  case,  which  he  be¬ 
lieved  it  was,  that  the  body  called  “  white  arsenic  ” 
belonged  to  an  entirely  different  class  of  bodies  from 
those  to  which  the  word  ‘  acid  ’  was  now  almost  uni¬ 
versally  restricted  by  chemists  all  over  Europe  and  in 
America,  it  wras  a  pity  that  it  should  not  be  distin¬ 
guished  and  called  as  was  suggested,  “  white  arsenic,” 
rather  than  arsenious  acid.  Originally  it  would  have 
been  but  a  matter  of  little  consequence  to  which  class 
the  word  ‘  acid  ’  should  be  applied,  but,  inasmuch  as  it 
was  now  applied  by  general  consent  to  salts  of  hydro¬ 
gen,  it  would  be  better  to  restrict  it  to  that.  Although, 
as  Dr.  Redwood  had  said,  the  term  arsenious  acid  was 
perfectly  definite,  there  being  no  true  salt  of  hydrogen 
recognizable,  and  although  it  was  not  always  necessary 
in  pharmacy  to  give  strictly  accurate  names,  yet  it  was 
undesirable  to  suggest  by  similarity  of  name  a  similarity 
of  character  where  such  had  no  existence.  The  staple 
recommendation  in  Professor  Attfield’s  paper  was  the  sub¬ 
stitution  of  the  metallic  names  potassium,  sodium,  calcium, 
for  the  alkaline  or  earthy  names,  potash,  soda  and  lime, 
and,  on  the  whole,  he  thought  this  recommendation  a 
wise  one.  At  the  same  time  he  was  not  prepared  to  go 
quite  so  far  as  Professor  Attfield  had  gone  with  regard 
to  the  history  of  that  class  of  names,  or  with  regard 
to  the  importance  and  necessity  of  the  change.  He 
was  quite  aware  of  the  fact  that  in  the  writings  of  La¬ 
voisier  and  his  colleagues,  sufficient  would  be  found  to 
warrant  Professor  Attfield’s  proposition,  but  there  were 
also  to  be  found  there  a  large  number  of  remarks  of  a 
totally  different  character  and  tendency.  It  would  be 
found  in  reality  that  the  habit  of  expressing  the  con¬ 
stituents  of  salts  as  binary  compounds,  did  not  originate 
until  long  after  the  Lavoisierian  period  ;  in  fact,  not 
until  the  days  of  Davy  and  Berzelius,  when  the  electro¬ 
chemical  theory  was  founded.  It  would  be  found  that 
the  Lavoisierian  nomenclature  could  bo  traced,  in  a 
great  measure,  to  De  Morveau,  and  his  older  names 
were  of  a  different  character.  His  notion  was  not  so 
much  to  define  the  composition  of  bodies  as  to  define 
their  chemical  nature ;  what  were  now  called  sulphates 
he  called  “vitriols,”  and  what  we  call  nitrates,  he  called 
“nitres,”  differentiating  them  as  iron  vitriol  and  copper 
vitriol,  and  he  might  have  gone  on  to  say  potash  vitriol, 
and  so  on ;  as  he  did  with  the  nitres,  for  he  spoke  of 
potash  nitre  and  soda  nitre.  He  did  not  imply  by  this 
that  the  former  was  a  compound  of  nitric  acid  on  the 
one  hand  with  potash  on  the  other,  but  that  it  was  a 
substance  of  one  particular  kind,  wThich  was  called  a 
nitre  or  a  vitriol  or  a  fluor,  as  the  case  might  be,  and 
that  the  varieties  were  expressible  by  the  words  de  fer , 
potash,  etc.  This  was  well  seen  in  the  older  Latin  names; 
for  instance,  wdiat  is  now  called  chloride  of  sodium  was 
called  indifferently  muriaticum  nitratum  or  nitratum 
muriaticum,  wrhich  did  not  associate  the  idea  of  the  con¬ 
stituents,  but  rather  endeavoured  to  indicate  clearly  the 
nature  of  the  substance  or  class  of  the  substance  with¬ 
out  expressing  its  ultimate  composition.  The  idea  of 
ultimate  composition,  although  it  was  to  be  found  in 
Lavoisier,  was  rather  superadded  by  the  results  of  the 
electro-chemical  theory.  Under  these  circumstances, 
therefore,  he  should  not  hesitate  to  use  the  term  iodide 
of  potash,  meaning  that  the  salt  was  the  potash  variety 
of  iodide;  still,  on  the  whole,  it  was  objectionable  that 
one  set  of  potash  compounds  should  be  called  potash, 
and  the  wrord  potassium  used  in  other  cases. .  Then, 
again,  writh  regard  to  ammonium  and  ammonia;  am¬ 
monia  wras  such  a  many- faced  substance  that  it  was  diffi¬ 
cult  to  say  wdiich  should  preponderate.  When  the  salts 
w'ere  analogous  to  those  of  potassium,  and  bore  a  mineral 


838 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  15,  1S71. 


character,  the  word  ‘  ammonium  ’  might  obviously  he 
used ;  hut  when  they  were  related  to  the  class  of  amides 
on  the  one  hand,  or  seemed  more  nearly  related  to 
alkalies  on  the  other,  he  was  not  quite  sure  whether 
the  balance  of  advantage  was  not  the  other  way.  At 
any  rate,  this  was  a  point  wdiich  should  he  left  open, 
and  the  words  ammonium  and  ammonia  might  he  used 
indifl'erently.  Again,  in  some  of  these  longer  names, 
he  thought  Professor  Attfield  had  striven  to  arrive  at 
that  which  he  himself  reprobated,  viz.  strict  scientific 
accuracy  where  it  was  not  required,  and  some  of  these 
names  he  did  not  think  particularly  fortunate;  for 
instance,  oxyhydrate  of  iron  magnetic,  peroxyhydrate 
of  iron  and  perhydrate  of  iron  moist.  Strictly  speaking, 
the  last  was  not  chemically  accurate,  inasmuch  as  it 
was  not  a  hydrate  which  was  a  hydrate  alone  ;  the  com¬ 
pound  was  partially  a  hydrate  and  partially  an  oxide ; 
it  did  not  correspond  with  a  perchloride  by  substituting 
for  each  atom  of  chlorine  an  atom  of  hydroxyl.  If  ac¬ 
curacy  were  attempted  it  should  he  carried  out,  or  the 
whole  scheme  would  call  for  further  revision.  Then 
came  the  question  of  the  salts,  which  it  was  proposed  to 
call  oxyacetate  of  copper  and  lead,  oxynitrate  of  bismuth 
and  oxycarbonate  of  bismuth.  In  these  cases  he  much 
preferred  the  word  sub ,  because,  at  any  rate,  it  was  not 
pretentious,  and  did  not  profess  to  give  the  exact  defini¬ 
tion  of  the  body,  while  some  of  these  names  were  scarcely 
accurate.  He  was  not  at  that  moment  prepared  to  say 
whether  oxyacetate  of  copper  was  strictly  correct ;  but 
in  some  cases  the  salts  were  really  hydraxyacetates,  and 
if  a  name  of  that  kind  were  introduced  at  all  it  might  as 
well  be  strictly  accurate.  Under  the  circumstances, 
however,  he  should  repudiate  strict  accuracy,  and  would 
suggest  the  use  of  the  prefix  sub  where  necessary  for 
distinction.  Where  substances  belonged  to  two  different 
classes  it  would  be  sufficient  to  distinguish  one  class  only ; 
for  instance,  in  the  majority  of  cases  it  would  be  suf¬ 
ficient  to  say  sulphate  of  iron  and  persulphate,  but  if  it 
that  were  not  sufficient  there  would  be  no  difficulty  in 
using  the  word  protosulphate.  In  the  case  of  chloride 
of  mercury  this  would  hardly,  perhaps,  suffice,  and  in 
that  case  the  word  sub  might  judiciously  be  used  to 
distinguish  the  sub- chloride,  although  the  word  sub 
would  then  be  used  not  in  a  strictly  analogous  sense  to 
that  in  which  it  was  applied  to  acetates  and  carbonates, 
basic  salts,  but  would  bo  applied  in  an  exceptional 
manner  to  an  exceptional  substance,  to  fulfil  an  excep¬ 
tional  purpose.  One  other  remark  with  reference  to  the 
modification  of  bodies  by  means  of  suffixes  or  affixes. 
Such  terminations  as  mercurous  and  mercuric  lent  them¬ 
selves  very  well  to  express  the  composition  of  bodies, 
much  better  indeed  than  the  prefixes  per  and  proto ,  but 
yet  the  argument  seemed  a  very  fair  one  which  had 
been  raised  by  Professor  Attfield  and  the  President,  that 
for  pharmaceutical  purposes  these  names  were  scarcely 
practicable.  In  the  two  sulphates  of  iron,  the  persul¬ 
phate  and  protosulphate,  it  was  scarcely  possible  to  dis¬ 
tinguish  between  the  sulphate  element  of  the  two  by 
any  mode  of  reaction  whatever,  and  thus  the  part  which 
was  distinguished  in  name  was  hardly  distinguishable  in 
fact ;  whereas  the  part  not  distinguished  in  name — the 
iron — it  was  well  known  was  in  the  two  states  known 
as  ferrous  and  ferric,  more  dissimilar  than  the  two  metals 
nickel  and  cobalt,  or  even  than  nickel  and  iron.  There¬ 
fore  that  portion  was  altered  in  name  which  was  scarcely 
found  to  be  altered  in  any  way  in  its  properties,  while 
those  things  remained  the  same  in  name  which  were 
really  most  distinct.  He  could  not  therefore  approve 
of  such  names  for  chemical  purposes;  but  still,  con¬ 
sidering  the  difficulties  which  had  been  raised  with  re¬ 
gard  to  the  practice  which  physicians  adhered  to  of 
curtailing  names,  he  did  not  see  that  in  pharmacy  any 
better  plan  could  be  adopted. 

Dr.  Quain  said  he  had  listened  to  both  the  paper  and 
the  discussion  with  the  greatest  pleasure.  He  had  come 
not  to  take  any  part  in  the  discussion,  but  simply  in 


a  conservative  capacity,  intending,  if  he  hoard  any  pro¬ 
posals  for  rashly  changing  names,  which  ho  was  very 
happy  to  state  he  had  not,  humbly  to  protest  against 
it,  for  nothing  was  more  deprecated  by  physicians 
than  to  find  the  names  of  the  materials  with  which 
they  woi'ked,  altered,  whilst  the  materials  themselves 
remained  the  same.  It  might  be  true  that  “  the  rose 
would  smell  as  sweet  by  any  other  name,”  but  if  the 
same  drug  were  presented  to  a  patient  by  a  different 
name,  in  many  cases  they  would  not  believe  it  had  the 
same  action.  And  not  only  so,  but  when  scientific  che¬ 
mists  were  constantly,  and  of  necessity  he  admitted, 
changing  the  names  of  bodies  in  accordance  with  the 
views  they  formed  of  their  composition,  it  was  some¬ 
times  very  hard  for  practical  physicians  to  keep  up  with 
them.  As  had  been  said  repeatedly,  names  should  bo 
short,  clear  and  expressive ;  and  if  they  were  so,  and 
persons  knew  what  was  meant,  whether  it  was,  for  ex¬ 
ample,  black  antimony,  or  tartarated  iron,  these  names 
were  just  as  good  as  if  they  were  called  by  the  long 
high-sounding  titles  that  had  been  mentioned.  For  his 
own  part,  he  should  say  the  simpler  the  name  the  better, 
and  if  possible,  whenever  a  new  edition  of  the  Phar¬ 
macopoeia  was  issued,  he  hoped  the  names  would  be 
made  still  simpler  and  more  expressive,  always  keep¬ 
ing  in  view  that  a  minimum  of  change  was  desirable. 
With  regard  to  the  time  when  a  new  edition  might 
be  looked  for,  he  hoped  it  would  be  a  long  time  yet ; 
and  considering  the  great  favour  with  which  the  pre¬ 
sent  edition,  prepared  under  the  supervision  of  Dr. 
Redwood,  had  been  received,  he  saw  no  reason  to  be¬ 
lieve  it  would  be  soon  superseded.  At  the  same  time  he 
thought  it  advisable  that  any  proposed  changes  of  names 
should  be  brought  forward  and  discussed ‘early,  in  order 
that  there  might  be  less  difficulty  when  the  time  for  a 
new  edition  did  come. 

Mr.  Groves  said  it  was  the  common  practice  of  pre- 
scribers  to  write  both  diluted  hydrocyanic  acid  and  di¬ 
luted  hydrochloric  acid  as  acicl  hydroc.,  which  sometimes 
occasioned  a  difficulty.  He  suggested  the  propriety  of 
going  back  to  the  old  name  prussic  acid.  Acidum  prus - 
sicum  dilution  was  perfectly  definite,  and  expressed  no 
theoretical  notions. 

Dr.  Redwood  thought  the  great  objection  to  that 
would  be  that  it  was  too  readily  understood  by  patients. 
The  same  difficulty  had  been  urged  in  other  cases. 

Mr.  Groves  said  he  believed  the  public  were  getting 
so  wide  awake  that  they  recognized  hydrocyanic  acid  as 
easily  as  prussic  acid. 

Professor  Attfield,  in  reply  to  the  observations  which 
had  been  made,  said  his  paper  was  divided  into  two  dis¬ 
tinct  portions ;  five-sixths  related  to  the  alteration  in  the 
names  of  salts  of  the  alkali-metals  and  alkaline  earth- 
metals,  and  the  other  sixth  to  certain  exceptional  altera¬ 
tions,  and  it  was  peculiarly  gratifying  to  him  to  find  that 
his  remarks  on  the  nomenclature  of  the  alkaline  and 
earthy  salts  were  pretty  much  confirmed  by  every 
speaker.  Most  of  the  exceptional  alterations  had  been 
introduced  with  the  view  of  starting  a  discussion  on  cer¬ 
tain  unsatisfactory  names  ;  he  was  quite  willing  to  leave 
several  of  these  names  as  they  stood. 

The  Chairman  said  he  could  not  help  thinking  he  had 
seen  during  the  last  few  years  more  or  less  inclination  to 
call  things  by  their  wrong  names.  Certain  preparations 
had  been  called  by  definite  chemical  names  which  did  not 
really  answer  to  their  composition,  and  thus  a  practice 
had  grown  up  which  was  a  disgrace  to  pharmacists,  and 
the  alteration  of  which  would  certainly  be  attended  with 
great  advantage. 

Oxyhydrogen  Light. — The  Scientific  American  states, 
that  a  prism  cut  out  of  the  mineral  dolomite  may  be  sub¬ 
stituted  with  advantage  in  place  of  the  lime  cylinders 
now  generally  employed.  As  dolomite  is  an  abundant 
rock,  its  application  in  this  way  may  prove  useful  for 
purposes  of  lighting. 


April  15, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


839 


f Minimal  fraitsariimts. 

LIVERPOOL  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Tenth  General  Meeting  of  the  Session  was  held 
at  the  Royal  Institution  on  Thursday  evening,  the  30th 
March’;  the  President,  Mr.  J ohn  Abraham  in  the  chair. 

Donations  of  periodicals  to  the  Library  were  an¬ 
nounced,  and  votes  of  thanks  accorded  to  the  donors. 

Mr.  S.  G.  Hilditch  called  attention  to  the  presence  of 
phosphate  of  lime  in  animal  charcoal.  He  thought  the 
formula  given  in  the  Pharmacopoeia  for  the  manufacture 
of  pure  animal  charcoal  was  incomplete,  and  suggested 
the  necessity  of  testing  for  phosphate  of  lime  before  using 
it  for  chemical  investigation.  He  promised  to  make 
further  experiments  and  report  at  a  future  meeting. 
Mr.  E.  Davies,  F.C.S.,  had  made  several  experiments, 
and  found  it  was  not  an  easy  matter  to  rid  the  animal 
charcoal  of  this  impurity. 

The  paper  for  the  evening,  on  “The  Nomenclature  of 
the  Natural  Sciences,”  by  Mr.  Charles  Symes,  Ph.D., 
etc.,  was  read  by  Mr.  Alfred  H.  Mason,  F.C.S.,  in  the 
unavoidable  absence  of  the  author. 

Mr.  E.  Davies,  F.C.S.,  was  glad  to  find  that  the 
science  with  which  he  was  associated  had  merited  praise 
from  Dr.  Symes  for  its  system  of  nomenclature ;  there 
had  not  been  so  many  difficulties  to  contend  with  as  in 
some  of  the  other  sciences,  as  old  names  were  changed 
before  the  great  mass  of  new  chemicals  were  introduced. 
He  thought  it  would  be  a  difficult  matter  to  alter  no¬ 
menclature,  and  in  some  cases  not  desirable.  Take 
British  Ferns,  for  instance,  with  their  many  varieties, 
alteration  would  not  make  their  nomenclature  more  ex¬ 
pressive.  Mineralogists  had  the  greatest  difficulties  to 
contend  with ;  and  it  was  there,  where  reform  was  most 
wanted,  he  thought  it  would  be  unwise  to  make  changes 
upon  individual  authority. 

The  President  thought  some  minerals  might  be  de¬ 
scribed  by  their  chemical  composition.  He  could  not 
see  any  objection  to  the  nomenclature  of  diatoms  being 
associated  with  the  name  of  the  first  exhibiter  of  them. 
Speaking  of  chemistry,  he  regretted  to  note  the  changes 
in  nomenclature  which  had  taken  place  of  late  years ; 
take,  for  instance,  chlorides  of  mercury.  Chemists  dif¬ 
fered  in  their  nomenclature;  for  instance,  sulphate  of 
soda  might  be  called  sulphate  of  soda,  sulphate  of  sodium 
or  sodic  sulphate. 

Mr.  Davies  thought  the  change  in  chlorides  of  mer¬ 
cury  was  a  very  desirable  one,  as  we  now  had  definitely 
mercuric  chloride  and  mercurous  chloride. 

The  Secretary  was  instructed  to  convey  a  unanimous 
vote  of  thanks  to  Dr.  Symes  for  his  paper  and  the  meet¬ 
ing  closed. 

MEETINGS  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 


Monday  . Medical  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

April  17.  London  Institution,  at  4  p.m. 

Tuesday  . Loyal  Institution,  at  3  p.m. — “On  the  Geo- 

April  18.  l°gy  °f  Devonshire,  especially  of  the  New 

Red  Sandstone.”  By  W.  Pengelly,  F.R.S. 
Wednesday...  Society  of  Arts,  at  8  p.m. — “The  Economical 
April  19.  Construction  of  Workmen’s  Dwellings.” 

By  J.  H.  Stallard,  M.D. 

Thursday . Loyal  Society,  at  9  p.m. 

April  20.  Linnean  Society,  at  8  P.M. 

Chemical  Society,  at  8  P.M. 

Friday  . Loyal  Institution,  at  8  p.m. 

Saturday . Loyal  Botanic  Society,  at  3.45  p.m. 


VACANCIES  AND  APPOINTMENTS  IN  CONNEC¬ 
TION  WITH  PHARMACY. 

The  Editor  icill  he  glad  to  receive  early  notice  of  any 
vacancies  of  pharmaceutical  offices  connected  with  public 
institutions,  and  likewise  of  appointments  that  are  made, — 
in  order  that  they  may  he  published  regularly  in  the  Journal . 

VACANCIES. 

A  Competitive  Examination  for  two  appointments  as 
Navy  Dispensers,  with  care  of  stores,  will  be  held  on  the  25th 
April.  For  particulars,  see  p.  828. 


Holes  anli  Queries. 


***  la  order  to  facilitate  reference,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  their  answers  in  each  case  with  the  title 
and  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

NOTICE. — To  prevent  delay,  correspondents  are  re¬ 
quested  to  send  their  communications  to  the  Journal  Depart¬ 
ment,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  TF.C.,  and  not  to  the  Pub¬ 
lishers. 

[186.] — BAKING  POWDER. — I  see  in  your  number  for 
March  11th  that  “ Farina"  wishes  for  a  good  form  for 
baking  powder.  The  following  is  one  I  can  confidently  re¬ 
commend,  as  I  frequently  have  pastry,  etc.  made  from  it,  be¬ 
sides  which  it  is  inexpensive. 

R.  Sodoe  Cai-b.  Exsicc.  Svhj 
Acid.  Tart.  Exsicc.  5vj 
Pulv.  Curcumae  5j 
Magnes.  Carb.  Levis  sij 

Mix.  The  soda  and  acid  must  be  properly  dried  before 
mixing  the  other  ingredients,  otherwise  the  powder  spoils  by 
keeping.  To  be  kept  in  stoppered  bottles. — A.  T.  Girdler. 

[193.] — LIQ.  OPII  SEDATIVUS. — An  excellent  formula 
for  the  above  is  given  by  Mr.  T.  B.  Groves,  F.C.S.,  in  the 
Pharmaceutical  Journal  for  January,  1869;  but,  as 
some  readers  may  not  be  able  to  refer  to  it,  I  send  an  abridg¬ 
ment. 

Opium,  in  coarse  powder,  1^  oz. 

Prepared  Chalk,  £  oz. 

Rectified  Spirit,  5  oz.  (f.) 

Distilled  Water,  q.  s. 

Boil  gently  for  half  an  hour  the  opium  and  chalk  with  one 
pint  of  distilled  water;  filter;  wrash  up  to  15  oz.  and  add  the 
spirit.  After  a  few  days’  repose  filter  again.  It  improves  by 
keeping.  Of  course,  the  finer  the  opium  the  better  the 
liquor.  This  is  of  the  same  strength  as  tr.  opii,  B.  P. — A.  P. 
Baker. 

CONDITION  POWDER. 

Take  of  Fenugreek,  in  powder,  16  parts. 

Sulphur,  in  powder,  8  parts. 

Cream  Tartar, 

Liquorice  Root,  in  powder, 

Nitrate  of  Potash,  in  powder,  of  each,  4  parts. 
Black  Sulphuret  of  Antimony,  in  powder,  2  parts. 
Gentian  Root,  in  powder, 

Anise  Seed,  in  powder. 

Common  Salt,  in  powder,  of  each,  1  part. 

Mix. — Pharmacist. 


[220.] — DISPENSING. — The  following  is  a  copy  of  a 
prescription  brought  to  me,  whilst  living  in  Sussex,  to  be  dis¬ 
pensed  : — 

R.  Quinice  Sulphatis  3ij 

Acid.  Hydrocb.  Dil.  5ivss 
Pot.  Iodid.  5iiss 
Tinct.  Iodi  5fij 
Syr.  Aurant.  3iv 
Spt.  Chlorof. 

Aq.  ad.  5viij.  M. 

Ft.  Misti  cujus  sumat  coch.  j  mag.  ex  cyath.  vinos,  aquae 
bis  in  die. — H.  fi.  S. 

The  price  I  charged  was  4s.  6d.  Will  any  of  your  readers 
kindly  inform  me  how  they  would  prepare  it? — G.  C.  Allen. 

[221.] — SULPHATE  OF  LIME. — Can  any  commercial 
use  be  made  of  the  sulphate  of  lime  left  after  making  the 
carbonic  acid  gas  ? — N. 

[222.]— TINCT.  COLOCYNTH. — J.  S.  would  like  to  be 
supplied  with  a  receipt  for  preparing  tinct.  colocynth. 

[223.] — LIQUID  GOLD. — Will  any  reader  inform  me 
how  to  make  a  liquid  gold  for  lettering  on  metal  ? — C.  J .  B. 

[224.]— GENERAL  HAMILTON’S  TOOTH  POW¬ 
DER  (a  preparation  of  some  twenty  years  ago). — AT.  C. 
will  be  obliged  for  a  recipe  for  the  above. 


840 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  15,  1871. 


Carospttact 

***  No  notice  can  be  talcen  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication ,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Poison  Regulations. 

Sir, — The  decision  of  the  Council  at  their  last  meeting  “  to 
issue  the  regulations  simply  as  recommended  by  the  Society” 
will  give  general  satisfaction,  and  is  a  great  relief  to  us  all. 

The  most  objectionable  part  of  the  proposition  being  thus 
withdrawn,  we  can  now  discuss  the  matter  more  calmly,  and 
it  is  to  be  hoped  we  may  produce  some  plan  that  will  be  accep¬ 
table  to  all.  The  chief  objection  now  to  the  regulations  is, 
that  they  apply  to  numerous  articles  which  require  no  special 
care  in  keeping  them,  and  to  many  which  it  would  be  almost 
impossible  to  keep  under  any  of  the  proposed  systems.  There 
is  no  doubt  that  cantharides,  ergot,  oil  of  savin,  tartar  emetic 
and  chloroform  were  not  included  in  the  schedule  on  account 
of  their  poisonotis  properties,  but  because  they  had  been,  or 
might  be,  used  for  improper  purposes,  and  were  put  into  the 
list  of  poisons  simply  in  order  to  limit  their  accessibility  to 
the  public;  and  it  is  clearly  unnecessary  to  apply  the  regula¬ 
tions  to  the  keeping  of  them  or  their  preparations. 

Then  with  regard  to  vermin  killers,  red  and  white  precipi¬ 
tate,  oxalic  acid,  opium  and  others,  which  are  commonly  kept 
weighed  ready  for  retail  sale, — the  very  object  of  their  being 
so  kept  ready  is  to  prevent  delay  in  serving  customers ;  and 
no  man  could  really  keep  these  articles  according  to  the  re¬ 
gulation,  whatever  pretences  of  doing  so  he  might  adopt. 
Further,  with  regard  to  many  of  the  “preparations”  of 
opium,  belladonna  and  others  not  particularly  dangerous,  but 
in  frequent  use  as  medicines,  it  is  by  no  means  desirable 
either  to  acquaint  the  public  with  their  dangerous  qualities, 
or  to  alarm  timid  customers  unnecessarily  by  placarding  them 
as  poison. 

I  would,  therefore,  suggest  that  the  regulations  should 
only  apply  to  the  more  dangerous  articles,  and  would  pro¬ 
pose,  that  in  the  keeping  of  poisons  the  following  precau¬ 
tions  be  recommended : — 

1.  That  every  box,  bottle,  vessel,  or  package  in  which  any 
poison  is  kept,  be  distinctly  labelled  with  the  name  of  the 
article  it  contains ;  also,  that  every  box,  etc.,  containing 
arsenic  or  its  salts,  prussic  acid,  the  poisonous  alkaloids  and 
their  salts,  metallic  cyanides,  oxalic  acid,  corrosive  sublimate, 
white  precipitate,  liniments  of  aconite  and  belladonna,  ess.  oil 
of  bitter  almonds  and  laudanum,  be  labelled  “  Poison.” 

2.  That  the  poisonous  alkaloids  and  their  salts,  prussic 
acid,  liniments  of  aconite  and  belladonna,  be  kept  in  dark 
blue  bottles  with  red  or  orange-coloured  labels. 

3.  In  dispensing  the  prescriptions  of  medical  practitioners, 
all  liniments,  lotions  and  embrocations  containing  poison  be 
sent  out  in  bottles  distinguishable  by  touch  or  colour  from 
ordinary  medicine  bottles,  and  that  the  labels  used  be  red  or 
orange. 

By  the  foregoing  plan  every  really  dangerous  article  is  sub¬ 
ject  to  special  precaution,  which  may  be  adopted,  and  the 
use  of  such  further  precautions  as  each  person  may  think  de¬ 
sirable  is  not  prevented.  The  use  of  blue  bottles  and  red 
labels  is  suggested  for  the  sake  of  uniformity,  and  because 
they  are  becoming  very  generally  adopted  for  dangerous 
articles. 

Should,  however,  the  plan  now  proposed  be  considered  not 
sufficiently  extended,  the  proposition  of  the  Council  may  be 
shorn  of  most  of  its  objectionable  features  by  the  following 
alterations : — 

Proposed  Recommendations  as  to  the  Keeping  and 
Dispensing  of  Poisons. 

1.  That  in  the  keeping  of  poisons  each  bottle,  vessel,  box, 
or  package  containing  a  poison  be  distinctly  labelled  with  the 
name  of  the  article,  and  that  each  bottle,  etc.  containing 
arsenic,  prussic  acid,  the  poisonous  alkaloids  or  their  salts, 
metallic  cyanides,  oxalic  acid,  corrosive  sublimate,  white  pre¬ 
cipitate,  iiniment  |of  aconite  and  belladonna,  ess.  oil  of 
bitter  almonds  and  laudanum,  be  labelled  “  poison.” 

2.  Also,  in  the  keeping  of  poisons,  that  prussic  acid,  the 
poisonous  alkaloids  and  their  salts,  liniments  of  aconite  and 


belladonna,  be  kept  on  one  or  other  of  the  following  sys¬ 
tems,  viz. : — 

(rt)  in  a  bottle  tied  over,  capped,  locked  or  otherwise 
secured  in  a  manner  different  from  that  in  which 
bottles  or  vessels  'containing  ordinary  articles  are 
secured  in  the  same  warehouse,  shop,  or  dispen¬ 
sary;  or 

(6)  in  a  bottle  or  vessel  readily  distinguishable  by  touch 
or  colour  from  the  bottles  or  vessels  in  which  ordi¬ 
nary  articles  arc  kept  in  the  same  warehouse,  shop 
or  dispensary ;  or 

(c)  in  a  bottle,  vessel,  box  or  package  kept  in  a  room  or 
cupboard  set  apart  for  dangerous  articles. 

3.  In  dispensing  the  prescriptions  of  medical  practitioners, 
all  liniments,  embrocations,  and  lotions  containing  poison 
be  sent  out  in  bottles  readily  distinguishable  by  touch  or 
colour  from  ordinary  medicine  bottles,  and  that  there  also  be 
affixed  to  each  such  bottle  (in  addition  to  the  name  of  the 
article,  and  to  any  particular  instructions  for  its  use)  a  label 
giving  notice  that  the  contents  of  the  bottle  are  not  to  be 
taken  internally. 

By  either  of  these  plans  the  object  in  view,  namely,  that  of 
guarding  against  accidents  and  mistakes,  will  be  secured  as 
far  as  can  be  done  by  any  mechanical  means ;  but  it  should 
never  be  forgotten  that  reading  the  labels  is  a  far  more  im¬ 
portant  thing  than  locks  and  keys,  safety  caps  and  sand-paper, 
and  that  if  a  man  neglect  that  first  and  most  important  duty, 
— reading  his  labels  carefully, — neither  poison- cupboards 
nor  angular  bottles  nor  corks  set  round  with  pins,  nor  any 
other  mechanical  contrivance  will  save  him  from  the  conse¬ 
quences  of  that  neglect. 

Cheetham  Kill,  April  IDA,  1871.  W.  Wilkinson. 


C.  J.  B. — (1.)  The  subscription  to  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
after  passing  the  Preliminary  Examination  is  a  voluntary 
one,  and  has  no  connection  with  the  Minor  Examination. 
Apply  to  the  Secretary  for  a  prospectus.  (2.)  The  name  of 
the  informant  would  not  be  disclosed. 

“ Somerset .” — We  consider  any  sum  under  £100  very  mo¬ 
derate.  No  master  who  does  his  duty  conscientiously  can 
afford  to  devote  the  necessary  time  for  a  less  remuneration 
than  the  amount  named. 

W.  W. — Reasonable  service  only  can  be  lawfully  exacted- 
What  is  “reasonable”  would  be  determined  by  the  character 
and  usages  of  the  trade,  which  differ  much  in  every  town. 
Lay  your  grievances  before  your  master,  and  ask  him  for  as 
much  consideration  as  circumstances  will  afford.  If  he  de¬ 
cline  to  entertain  your  proposals,  state  your  case  to  some 
solicitor,  clergyman  or  medical  man,  with  a  request  to  act  in 
a  friendly  way  as  arbitrator  between  yourself  and  your 
employer. 

“Cerium.” — We  believe  such  bottles  maybe  obtained  of 
any  dealer  in  medical  glass. 

J.  B.  should  apply  at  the  College  of  Surgeons. 

W.  S.  31. —  (1.)  We  do  know.  (2.)  Blaine’s  ‘  Outline  of 
the  Veterinary  Art,’  published  by  Messrs.  Longmans. 

“A  Student.” — (1.)  No.  (2.)  Because  the  ammonia  ci¬ 
trate  is  the  solvent  of  the  oxide  of  iron,  (3.)  Saxony. 
(4.)  The  foreign  metals  are  oxidized  and  separated  in  the 
slag  formed. 

“  Boiler  ”  has  omitted  to  send  his  name  and  address. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received : — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  April  8 ;  the ‘Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
April  8;  the  ‘Lancet,’  April  8;  the  ‘Medical  Press  and 
Circular,’  April  12;  ‘Nature,’  April  6;  the  ‘Chemical  News,’ 
April  7;  ‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  April  5;  ‘Gar¬ 
deners’  Chronicle,’ April  8 ;  the  ‘Grocer,’  April  8;  ‘Produce 
Markets  Review,’  April  8 ;  the  ‘  English  Mechanic,’  April 
7 ;  the  ‘  Practitioner  ’  for  April ;  the  ‘  Canadian  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Journal’  for  March;  the  ‘Philadelphia  Medical  and 
Surgical  Reporter,’  Nos.  730-732;  the  St.  Neots  Chronicle,. 
March  25. 


Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  J.  E.  Howard,  Dr.  De  Vry,  Mr.  T.  Collier,  Mr.  E.  E. 
Campbell,  Mr.  Hustwick,  Mr.  T.  Buck,  Mr.  C.  Ekin,  Mr.  M. 
C.  Cooke,  Messrs.  M'Master,  Hodgson,  and  Co.,  Mr.  T.  Lowe, 
Mr.  J.  T.  Newey,  Mr,  C.  Eve.  Mr.  W.  W.  Stoddart,  T.  P.  B., 
J.  W.,  C.  E.  L.  N.,  “A  Country  Member,”  “Moelline.” 


April  22,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


84,1 


THE  PARIS  SCHOOL  OF  PHARMACY. 

BY  WALTER  HILLS. 

During  a  stay  last  year  in  Paris,  I  had  an  oppor¬ 
tunity  of  working  for  three  months  in  one  of  the 
laboratories  of  the  School  of  Pharmacy  in  that  city. 
It  is  probable  that  very  few  of  those  interested  in 
pharmacy,  who-  have  visited  Paris,  are  acquainted 
with  the  old  edifice  in  the  Quartier  Latin,  bearing 
the  name  “l'Ecole  Superieure  de  Pharmacie.”  The 
following  remarks,  therefore;  concerning  this  institu¬ 
tion,  and  the  kind  of  study  earned  on  in  it  may  he  of 
interest : — The  building,  which  is  situated  near  the 
Pantheon,  is  unpretending — in  fact,  rather  ugly ; 
but  I  hear  that  it  is  proposed  to  erect  a  more 
commodious  school.  One-half  of  the  botanical  gar¬ 
dens,  by  which  it  was  surrounded,  has  lately  been 
taken  for  a  new  faubourg  or  boulevard,  thus  afford¬ 
ing  a  proof  that  not  even  the  abode  of  science  is 
respected  by  the  agents  of  Haussmann.  There  is  a 
museum,  similar  to  that  at  Bloomsbury  Square, 
which  is  always  open  to  the  public,  and  a  not  very 
extensive  library  which  is  open  every  day  from 
twelve  to  four  o’clock;  most  of  the  volumes  are  kept 
under  lode  and  key,  thus  necessitating  an  applica¬ 
tion  to  the  librarian,  on  the  part  of  the  student,  for 
the  hook  required. 

The  full  term  of  study  being  three  years,  there  are 
three  sets  of  laboratories.  The  first  year’s  men 
occupy  themselves  with  the  manufacture  of  chemical 
and  pharmaceutical  preparations ;  the  second  with 
physics,  and  the  third  with  analysis.  These  labora¬ 
tories  are  only  open  to  the  regular  students,  viz. 
those  who  are  following  the  whole  curriculum ;  con¬ 
sequently,  I,  as  a  visitor,  had  some  difficulty  in 
gaining  admission,  but  after  numerous  applications 
to  the  secretary,  and  writing  to  the  Minister  of  Public 
Instruction,  I  was  at  last,  thanks  to  Professor  Sou- 
beiran,  allowed,  on  the  payment  of  £1,  to  work  in 
either  of  the  three  laboratories.  I  chose  that  of  the 
third  year,  which  is  under  the  direction  of  M.  Per- 
sonne,  and  it  being  then  about  Easter,  there  remained 
twelve  weeks’  work,  previous  to  the  half-yearly  exa¬ 
minations  which  commence  about  the  third  week  in 
July,  the  subsequent  vacation  lasting  till  the  com¬ 
mencement  of  November. 

The  laboratory  for  students  in  their  third  year  is 
open  every  day  (except  Thursday)  from  twelve  to 
four  o’clock.  Once  a  fortnight,  there  is  a  lecture  by 
the  managing  director,  stating  the  work  to  be  pur¬ 
sued,  and  the  methods  employed  for  the  following 
two  weeks.  All  the  necessary  apparatus  and  chemi¬ 
cals  are  provided,  but  the  students  are  arranged  into 
groups  of  three  or  four,  each  group  possessing  one 
set  of  apparatus,  which  is  continually  changed  ac¬ 
cording  to  the  work  to  be  done.  This  arrangement 
has  a  disadvantage,  as  in  many  cases  two  of  the 
same  group  cannot  occupy  themselves  at  one  time 
on  the  same  analysis,  and  the  old  adage  is  exempli¬ 
fied  “  first  come,  first  served.”  I  should  think  there 
were  about  sixty  or  eighty  students  on  the  books  of  the 
third  year,  but  I  never  saw  more  than  about  twenty 
working  at  the  same  time.  I  now  give  the  heads  of 
the  work  of  each  week. 

1871,  le  25  Avril. 

1.  Recherche  de  phosphor  dans  xmc  matiere  organique. 

2.  Titrage  de  bromure  de  potassium. 

3.  Titrage  de  quinquina. 

(a)  Quinine. 

(j3)  Cinchonidine,  cinchonine,  etc. 

Third  Series,  No.  43. 


Le  2  Mui. 

1.  Titrage  de  lait. 

(«)  Beurre. 

(/3)  Sucre. 

(y)  Caseine. 

(j)  Matieres  inorganiques. 

(*)  Eau. 

2.  Titrage  de  cinnabar,  ou  d’autres  sels  de  mcrcure. 


Le  9  Mai. 


1.  Titrage  d’  opium. 


2.  Dosage  de  matieres  grasses  de  graiucs  oleagineuses. 

3.  Analyse  de  peintures  blanches. 

(«)  Ceruse. 

(iG)  Oxyde  de  zinc. 

(y)  Sulfate  de  baryte. 

4.  Analyse  de  peintures  vertes. 

(«)  Arsonite  de  cuivre. 

(/3)  Sol  de  plomb  avec  bleu  de  prusse, 

( y )  Oxyde  de  chrome. 

5.  Essai  et  titrage  de  minium. 

Le  16  Mai. 

1.  Recherche  toxicologique  de  1’ arsenic  ct  do  I  anti - 
moine  dans  matieres  organiques. 

2.  Titrage  de  kermes. 

3.  Titrage  de  sulfate  de  magnesic. 

Le  23  Mai. 

1.  Dosage  de  l’azote  d’une  matiere  organique. 

2.  Analyse  d’un  guano. 

3.  Essai  des  sirops. 

4.  Recherche  de  deux  acides  dans  une  matiere  alimcn- 
taire. 

Le  30  Max. 

1.  Dosage  du  carbon  et  de  1’ hydrogene  d’une  matiere 
organique. 

2.  Essai  des  savons. 

(a)  Dosage  de  l’eau. 

(/3)  Dosage  de  1’acide  gras. 

(y)  Dosage  de  l’alcali. 

(I)  Essai  d’un  savon  resineux. 

3.  Recherche  de  deux  metaux  dans  une  matiere  ali- 
mentaire; 

Le  6  Jain. 

1.  Dosage  du  chloro  d’une  matiere  organique. 

2.  Dosage  du  soufre  d’une  matiere  organique. 

3.  Recherche  toxicologique  du  mercure. 

4.  Recherche  de  deux  metaux  toxiques  dans  une  ma¬ 
tiere  alimentaire. 

Le  13  Jain. 

1.  Essai  des  urines. 

(x)  Dosage  de  l’uree. 

(/•>)  Caracteriser  et  doser  1’ albumin©  ct  ses  va- 
riete3. 

(y)  Caracteriser  la  glucose,  ct  doser. 

(§)  Caracteriser  la  bile. 

(j)  Caracteriser  les  divers  calculs  vesieulaircs. 

2.  Caracteriser  deux  metaux  toxiques  dans  une  matiere 
alimentaire. 

Le  20  Juhv. 

1.  Recherche  toxicologique  du  cuivre  dans  un  via. 

2.  Recherche  toxicologique  du  plomb  dans  un  vim 

3.  Recherche  toxicologique  de  1’aeide  cyanydr.que 
libre. 

4.  Recherche  toxicologique  de  l’acvde  eyanydr.quo 

combine.  __  f 

5.  Analyse  qualitative  d’un  melange  pulverulent. 

G.  Analyse  qualitative  d’une  dissolution  saline. 

Le  27  Jain. 

1.  Caracteriser  les  principaux  alcalis  organiques. 

2.  Recherche  toxicologique  de  la  morphine  ct  de  in 
strychnine. 

3.  Recherche  toxicologique  du  chloro  forme. 


812 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  23, 1871. 


4.  Analyse  qualitative  d’un  melange  pulverulent. 

5.  Analyse  qualitative  d’unc  solution  saline. 

Le  4  Juillet. 

1.  Examen  des  fibres  textiles  (microscopique  et  chi- 
mi  que)  . 

2.  Recherche  dc  taches  de  sang  (microscopique  et 
chimique). 

3.  Recherche  d’un  acide  dans  une  matiere  alimen- 
taire. 

4.  Analyse  d’une  dissolution  minerale. 

Le  11  Juillet. 

1.  Dosage  de  l’acide  carbonique  d’un  carbonate. 

2.  Recherche  toxicologique  de  1’ opium. 

3.  Examen  des  farines. 

(«)  Dosage  et  caracteres  du  gluten. 

(fi)  Dosage  et  caracteres  de  l’amidon. 

4.  Examen  microscopique  et  chimique  de  diverses 
farines,  pures  et  melangees. 

5.  Recherche  d’un  alcaloide  dans  une  matiere  alimen- 
taire. 

6.  Recherche  de  plusieurs  metaux. 

I  hope  on  another  occasion  to  give  a  few  particu¬ 
lars  of  the  lectures,  examinations,  etc.,  held  at  the 
School  of  Pharmacy. 


BRISTOL  PHARMACOLOGY. 

BY  W.  W.  STODDART,  F.C.S.,  E.G.S. 

( Concluded  from  page  663.) 

Nat.  Ord.  Rhamnace;e. 

This  Order  is  interesting  to  the  pharmaceutist  be¬ 
cause  it  comprises  several  plants  of  great  repute  in 
earlier  times.  One  of  these  is  the  Jujube-tree 
( Rhamnus  zizyphus),  whose  plum-like  fruit  originated 
the  well-known  jujubes,  which  at  first  were  formed 
from  the  juice,  made  into  a  proper  consistence  with 
gum  and  sugar,  and  extensively  sold  in  Spain  and 
Italy.  Those  now  sold  are  only  a  very  indifferent 
imitation.  Another  member  of  this  Order  claims  to 
be  the  tree  from  which  our  Saviour’s  crown  was 
made.  Homer  (Cktyss.  ix.  94)  speaking  of  one 
genus,  the  Zizyphus  lotus,  says  it  furnished  a  juice 
so  delicious,  that  for  its  enjoyment  men  would  for¬ 
sake  their  homes,  country  and  Mends. 

Rhamnus  catharticus  (Linn.) 

Is  the  only  plant  now  retained  in  our  Pharmaco¬ 
poeia,  though  why  such  an  agent  is  continued  in 
that  work  must  be  left  to  its  compilers.  Its  use  is 
confined  to  dogs  and  infants,  whose  cries  have  often 
borne  testimony  to  its  torturing  effects  on  the  in¬ 
testines.  Its  use  can  certainly  never  be  recommended 
except  for  punishment. 

The  Buckthorn  occurs  abundantly  in  the  hedges 
around  Bristol,  and  fine  examples  may  be  gathered 
at  Hanliam  and  Filton. 

Its  dark  purple  berries  yield  a  large  quantity  of 
juice,  which,  boiled  down  with  spices  and  sugar,  forms 
the  syr.  rliamni  of  the  B.P. 

The  pigment  termed  sap  green  is  made  by  evapo¬ 
ration  of  the  juice  and  treatment  with  lime. 

1  ha  chemistry  of  the  Buckthorn  has  never  been 
satisfactorily  worked  out.  According  to  M.  Bis- 
wanger  the  juice  contains  rhamnin,  rhamno-cathartin, 
colouring  matter  and  gum.  Rhamnin  (C4H1609)  is 
a  yellow  cry stalliz able  substance,  very  soluble  ini 
boiling  alcohol,  but  insoluble  in  ether  and  cold  water, 
soluble  in  alkalies,  but  precipitated  again  by  acids. 


Rhamno-cathartin  is  bitter  and  uncrystallizable,  and 
remains  after  the  rhamnin  has  been  separated.  It 
forms  a  yellowish,  translucent  mass,  yields  picric 
acid  with  nitric  acid,  and  unlike  rhamnin,  is  very 
soluble  in  water. 

Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosa:. 

This  large  and  extensive  group  of  plants,  although 
containing  the  names  of  a  great  number  with  useful 
and  medicinal  qualities,  yet,  with  one  exception,  is 
indigenous  to  foreign  localities.  From  it  we  obtain 
our  indigo,  logwood,  liquorice,  gum  arabic,  traga- 
canth,  catechu,  kino,  sandalwood,  senna,  cassia  and 
copaiba.  This  Order  is  said  to  comprise  from  6000 
to  7000  species. 

Saro thamn  us  scopa ri us  ( Wimmer) . 

This  is  the  only  Bristol  representative  of  the  Le- 
guminosce  used  in  medicine.  It  is  very  common  in 
many  places.  Both  the  yellow  and  wliite  varieties 
may  be  gathered  at  Cook’s  Folly,  St.  George’s, 
Stapleton,  Hanliam  and  Brislington.  This  pretty 
and  attractive  plant  seems  to  delight  in  dry  heaths 
and  hilly  ground. 

“  It  minds  me  of  my  native  hills, 

Clad  in  the  heath  and  fern ; 

Of  the  green  strath  and  flowery  brae, 

Of  the  glen  and  rocky  burn.” 

There  seems  to  be  some  uncertainty  to  which  of 
the  chemical  constituents  Broom  owes  its  well-known 
diuretic  properties.  Dr.  Stenhouse  attributes  them 
to  scoparin.  The  ashes,  like  those  of  most  land 
plants,  contain  a  large  percentage  of  potassic  car¬ 
bonate.  One  pound  of  Broom  tops  will  yield  ninety 
grams  of  that  salt. 

When  dec.  scoparii  is  evaporated  to  one-tenth  of 
its  bulk  and  laid  aside  for  twenty-four  hours,  it  forms 
a  kind  of  jelly.  This  gelatinous  mass  is  thrown  on 
a  filter  and  well  washed  with  cold  water.  The  fil¬ 
trate,  when  distilled  with  an  excess  of  soda,  yields  a 
colourless  oil,  which  collects  at  the  bottom  of  the 
receiver.  This  is  spartein  (C15H2602),  an  oily,  viscid 
base.  It  is  sparingly  soluble  in  water  and  possesses 
narcotic  properties.  Four  grains  will  kill  a  large 
rabbit. 

Scoparin  (C21H22O10),  before  mentioned  as  the 
probable  diuretic  principle,  is  obtained  from  the 
residue  on  the  filter,  after  the  separation  of  spartein. 
The  residual  jelly  is  boiled  with  water,  slightly 
acidulated  with  hydrochloric  acid,  filtered,  evapo¬ 
rated  and  set  aside  to  crystallize,  which  it  does  with 
considerable  difficulty.  Yellow  acicular  crystals  are 
formed,  having  neither  taste  nor  smell.  Sparingly 
soluble  .in  cold  water,  but  readily  so  in  alkaline 
solutions. 

Nat.  Ord.  Rosaceas. 

This  extensive  Order  contains  a  great  variety  of 
plants  in  constant  use  among  pharmaceutists. 

Some  of  them  are  poisonous  from  the  large  quan¬ 
tity  of  hydrocyanic  acid  they  contain ;  others  are 
remarkable  for  delicious  ethers,  which  render  them 
esteemed  among  our  choicest  fruits,  as  Almonds, 
Peaches,  Nectarines,  Apricots  and  Plums.  The  only 
truly  indigenous  member  of  this  family  used  in  our 
materia  medica  is  the  Dog-rose. 

Rosa  canina  (Linn.). 

This  well-known  and  ornamental  plant  is  familiar 
to  every  observer  of  our  hedgerows  by  its  pink  and 


April  22,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS 


843 


white  flowers,  guarded  by  hooked  prickles,  reminding 
one  of  Clare’s  country  maiden,  who — 

“  Eager  scrambled  tlie  Dog-rose  to  get 
And  woodbine  flowers  at  every  bush  she  met.” 

Both  Hippocrates  and  Pliny  speak  of  the  Kwopobov, 
or  Dog-rose,  so  named,  it  is  said,  on  account  of  its 
efficacy  in  curing  the  bite  of  a  mad  dog. 

The  part  of  the  plant  used  in  medicine  is  the  fruit, 
which  lias  for  many  years  past  been  employed  in 
making  the  conserve  of  hips,  a  useful  ingredient  in 
electuaries  and  tinctures,  as  well  as  an  excipient  in 
pill  masses. 

Nat.  Ord.  Umbellifeile. 

This  extensive  group  comprises  a  vast  number  of 
plants,  all  differing  in  well-marked  properties.  Some 
are  famed  for  their  esculent  qualities,  as  the  Carrot, 
Parsnip,  and  Celery.  Some  afford  a  milky  juice 
hardening  into  a  strong- smelling  resin,  as  assafoetida, 
ammoniacum,  galbanum,  and  opoponax.  Some 
are  extrely  poisonous,  as  Hemlock.  Others  supply 
essential  oils,  well  known  for  their  carminative  pro¬ 
perties,  as  Caraway,  Anise,  and  Dill.  These  oils  are 
very  interesting.  Many  of  them,  although  produced 
from  distinct  genera,  have  the  same  chemical  cha¬ 
racters,  and  form  a  distinct  series.  The  oils  of  Anise, 
Fennel  and  Dill  are  examples ;  they  consist  of  one- 
fiftli  of  hydrocarbon  isomeric  with  oil  of  turpentine 
(C12H16),  and  four-flftlis  of  a  solid  cry stalliz able  com¬ 
pound  (C16H120),  sometimes  called  anise  camphor. 
This  it  is  which  is  so  abundantly  deposited  when  ol. 
anisi  is  affected  by  a  cold  atmosphere.  The  fruits  of 
every  genus  are  so  singular  and  constant  in  tlieir 
configuration,  that  the  name  may  be  readily  ascer¬ 
tained.  The  fruit  is  composed  of  two  carpels  ad¬ 
hering  to  a  central  stalk.  Each  carpel  is  marked  by 
five  ridges  separated  by  vittie  or  channels.  A  trans¬ 
verse  section  placed  under  the  microscope  shows 
these  vittae  filled  with  essential  oil  in  a  very  beau¬ 
tiful  manner. 

Conium  maculatum  (Linn.). 

This  plant  is  familiar,  in  name  at  least,  to  all 
classical  students,  as  being  the  poison  used  for  de¬ 
stroying  Athenian  criminals.  It  is  thus  supposed  to 
have  caused  the  deaths  of  Socrates,  Pliocion  and 
Theramenes.  The  name  Conium  is  derived  from  the 
Greek  Kioveiov. 

The  Hemlock  is  found  in  damp  places,  such  as  the 
banks  of  the  Avon,  at  Shireliampton  and  Hanliam, 
at  Bishport,  Horfield,  Stapleton,  Bechninster,  and 
'Westbury-on-Trym. 

Conium  was  called  by  the  Homans  cicuta  ;  hence 
probably  arises  a  very  common  confusion  between 
the  true  Hemlock  and  the  spotted  Cowbane  of  North 
America  ( Cicuta  metadata) .  The  fruit  of  the  former 
differs  in  the  deeply-furrowed  albumen.  Hemlock  is 
said  to  be  poisonous  to  all  animals  except  sheep. . 

The  proper  time  for  collecting  Hemlock  is  just 
after  flowering  and  when  the  fruit  is  beginning  to 
form;  before  that  time  the  active  principle  is  not  so 
fully  developed. 

Conium  maculatum  is  known  at  once  by  the  smooth 
stem  and  dark  purple  spots.  All  parts  of  the  plant 
when  bruised  have  the  odour  of  mice,  especially  when 
moistened  with  liq.  potassre.  This  is  evidently  caused 
by  the  evolution  of  ammonia,  and  is  exactly  similar 


to  the  odour  given  off  when  crystallized  nitrate  of 
ammonia  is  melted. 

The  Conium  owes  its  active  properties  to  two  alka¬ 
loids,  conin  and  conliydrin. 

Conin  (CSH1SN)  is  a  volatile  liquid,  with  *89  sp. 
gr.  showing  an  alkaline  reaction  with  turmeric,  and 
has  a  horribly  repulsive  smell  like  tobacco,  but  when 
diluted,  like  mice.  Tliis  smell  disappears  when 
united  to  an  acid,  and  a  neutral  salt  formed.  It  is 
prepared  by  distillation  with  lime  or  potassic  car¬ 
bonate  when  ammonia,  conin  and  conhydrin  pass 
over. 

Conin  is  very  slightly  soluble  in  water,  but  when 
dissolved  in  four  parts  of  alcohol  is  miscible  in  all 
proportions.  Its  vapour  is  inflammable.  Conin  is 
most  abundant  in  the  seeds.  Six  pounds  of  unripe 
seeds  or  nine  pounds  of  ripe  seeds  yield  one  ounce  of 
conin.  When  the  leaves  are  dried,  all  the  conin 
volatilizes,  so  that  they  are  useless  as  medicine.  For 
the  same  reason,  most  samples  of  extract,  conii  are 
inert.  A  large  number  taken  from  several  shops 
would  not  even  give  any  odour  of  conin  when  treated 
with  liq.  potassas.  During  the  preparation  of  the 
extract,  the  evolution  of  ammonia  may  be  plainly 
detected.  One  cwt.  of  the  leaves  yields  about  4  or  5 
pounds  of  extract. 

The  other  alkaloid,  conhydrin  (C3H17NO),  as  its 
name  denotes,  is  the  hydrate  of  conin.  During  the 
preparation  of  the  latter,  conhydrin  crystallizes  in 
extremely  thin,  pearly  and  iridescent  scales.  When 
heated  with  three  times  its  weight  of  phosphoric  an¬ 
hydride,  it  is  decomposed  into  conin  and  water. 

Nat.  Ord.  Caprifoliace.e. 

The  Honeysuckle  group  is  not  now  so  much  used 
as  it  once  was  by  the  pharmaceutist,  only  one  being 
named  in  the  Pharmacopoeia. 

Sambucus  nigra  (Linn.). 

The  flowers  are  used  in  the  preparation  of  the 
water  and  ointment,  to  both  of  which  they  give  a 
pleasant  perfume.  The  Elder  is  very  common 
throughout  the  district,  both  the  usual  ovate -leaved 
and  the  variety  with  the  more  finely  divided  leaves. 

The  flowers  contain  a  volatile  oil  which  is.  very 
soluble  in  water.  The  best  method  of  obtaining  it 
is  to  distil  the  flowers  with  as  small  a  quantity  of 
water  as  possible.  Then  saturate  with  chloride  of 
sodium,  shake  with  sulphuric  ether  and  evaporate. 
The  essential  oil  of  Elder  is  colourless  and  solidifies 
cit  zero. 

The  berries  contain  malic  acid,  but  the  bark  con¬ 
tains  valerianic  acid.  The  pith  is  a  well-known 
microscopic  object,  and  is  extremely  useful  foi  polish¬ 
ing  the  glass  of  optical  apparatus. 

Elderberry  juice  is  used  for  the  adulteration  of 
port  wine,  or  for  making  a  factitious  substitute. 

The  presence  of  the  juice  in  port  wine  is  easily 
detected  by  the  precipitate  from  cupric  or  plumbic 
acetate.  The  spectrum  is  also  very  distinct  after 
the  addition  of  alum.  According  to  M.  Faure  sophis¬ 
tication  by  elderberry  juice,  in  red  wines  may  be 
detected  by  tannin  and  gelatine. 

A  little  gelatine  is  dissolved  in  the  wine  and  pre¬ 
cipitated  by  the  tannin ;  if  the  wine  be  genuine,  all 
the  colouring-matter  is  also  thrown  down,  whereas 
that  of  the  elder-juice  is  still  kept  in  solution. 


814 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  22,  1871. 


CHEMICAL  NOTES  TO  THE  PHARMACOPOEIA. 

BY  WILLIAM  A.  TILDEN,  B.SC.  LORD. 

DEMONSTRATOR  OE  PRACTICAL  CHEMISTRY  TO  THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 

Ferri  Peroxidum  Humidum. — Solution  of  persul¬ 
phate  of  iron  is  diluted  with  distilled  water  and 
poured  with  constant  stirring  into  solution  of  soda. 
The  brown  precipitate  which  forms  is  collected, 
washed  thoroughly  to  free  it  from  sulphate  of  sodium, 
drained  and  preserved  in  the  moist  state.  (See  Ferri 
et  Ammo-n.  Cit.) 

This  preparation  is  employed  as  an  antidote  to 
arsenic ;  an  insoluble  ferrous  arseniate  together  with 
ferrous  hydrate  being  probably  formed  : — 

2  Fe2  6HO+ As2  03=  Fe3  2  As  04  -f  Fe  2  H  0  -f  5  H2  0 . 

To  be  effective  it  must  be  freshly  prepared,  since 
ferric  hydrate  loses  the  elements  of  water  even  when 
preserved,  as  in  this  case,  in  contact  with  excess  of 
water.  The  hydrates  form  a  class  of  salts  which  are 
by  most  chemists  regarded  as  compounds  of  the  ra¬ 
dicle  H  0  with  the  metals.  Some  of  them  are,  how¬ 
ever,  so  readily  resolved  into  the  corresponding  ox¬ 
ides  and  water,  that  they  may  possibly  be  only  mole¬ 
cular  combinations.  For  example,  ferric  hydrate 
may  be  written  Fe2(HO)G  or  Fe203,  3H20.  With 
the  exception  of  the  hydrates  of  the  alkali  metals, 
they  are,  as  a  general  rule,  insoluble  in  water. 
Graham,  however,  prepared  soluble  modifications  of 
many  of  them,  such  as  ferric  and  aluminic  hydrates, 
by  submitting  solutions  of  the  chlorides  to  dialysis. 
In  the  case  of  ferric  chloride,  a  red  transparent  liquid 
remains  on  the  dialyser.  It  is  probable  that  tliis 
contains  the  real  hydrate,  Fe2GHO,  capable  of  ex¬ 
isting  only  in  solution,  and  that  all  the  solid  forms 
which  we  obtain  as  precipitates  are  in  reality  oxyhy- 
drates. 

Ferri  Peroxidum  Hydratum. 

Fe202(H0)2  or  Fe203,  H20. 

Moist  hydrate  of  iron  is  dried  at  a  temperature  of 
212°  until  it  ceases  to  lose  weight. 

This  seems  to  be  one  of  the  most  stable  and  defi¬ 
nite  of  the  hydrates  of  iron.  [§  Heated  to  dull 
redness  in  a  test-tube,  it  gives  off  moisture.]  The 
residue  is  Fe203:  this  test  shows  that  it  has  not 
been  dried  at  too  high  a  temperature.  When  such 
is  the  case,  the  preparation  ceases  to  be  easily  so¬ 
luble  in  acids. 

A  brown  ferric  oxyhydrate  is  commonly  sold  in 
the  shops  under  the  name  of  “carbonate  of  iron.” 
This  is  generally  prepared  by  precipitating  a  solution 
of  ferrous  sulphate  with  carbonate  of  sodium,  and 
exposing  the  resulting  ferrous  carbonate  freely  to  the 
nir  during  washing.  It  then  absorbs  oxygen  and 
loses  carbonic  anhydride.  It  generally  retains  a 
minute  quantity  of  unchanged  ferrous  carbonate,  and 
so  effervesces  when  treated  with  acids. 

Ferri  Phosphas.— [§Pliosphate  of  iron,  Fe32P04, 
partially  oxidated.] 

A  solution  of  sulphate  of  iron  is  mixed  with  a 
solution  of  phosphate  and  acetate  of  sodium.  The 
precipitate  is  collected  and  washed,  to  free  it  from  the 
acetic  acid  and  sulphate  of  sodium  which  are  retained 
in  solution.  The  use  of  the  acetate  of  sodium  and 


the  nature  of  the  reaction  are  explained  under  ferri 
arsenias,  which  is  prepared  in  a  manner  precisely 
similar. 

[§  A  slate-blue  amorphous  powder  insoluble  in 
water,  soluble  in  hydrochloric  acid.  The  solution 
yields  a  precipitate  with  both  the  yellow  and  red 
prussiate  of  potash,  that  afforded  by  the  latter  being 
the  more  abundant  (because  the  salt  is  essentially 
ferrous) ;  and  when  treated  with  tartaric  acid  and  an 
excess  of  ammonia,  and  subsequently  with  the  solu¬ 
tion  of  ammonio- sulphate  of  magnesia,  lets  fall  a 
crystalline  precipitate.] 

This  precipitate  is  MgNH4P04  6  HaO  ;  the  ar¬ 
seniate  gives  an  analogous  compound  of  similar  ap¬ 
pearance,  Mg N  H4  As  O  4  0  H2  O.  [§  When  the  salt 
is  digested  in  hydrochloric  acid  with  a  lamina  of 
pure  copper,  a  dark  deposit  does  not  form  on  the 
metal.]  This  test  shows  that  it  is  not  the  arseniate. 
[§  2  grains  dissolved  in  hydrochloric  acid  continue 
to  give  a  blue  precipitate  with  red  prussiate  of  potash 
until  25  cubic  centimetres  of  the  volumetric  solution 
of  bichromate  of  potash  have  been  added.]  This 
would  indicate  the  presence  of  ‘895  gram  of  ferrous 
phosphate  in  the  2  grams,  or  41*7  5  per  cent. 

One  molecule  of  red  chromate  will  convert  two 
molecules  of  ferrous  into  ferric  phosplmte.  Ferric 
phosphate  has  the  formula  Fe2''7  2  P  04 ;  it  is  not  now 
used  in  medicine. 

The  syrup  of  phosphate  of  iron  of  the  Pharma¬ 
copoeia  is  a  solution  of  ferrous  phosphate  in  dilute 
phosphoric  acid  with  sugar,  but  the  proportion  of 
phosphoric  acid  ordered  is  too  large. 

The  deepening  of  colour  to  which  tins  prepara¬ 
tion  is  liable  is  often  referred  to  change  in  the  sugar, 
under  the  influence  of  the  acid  present ;  it  generally 
arises,  however,  from  the  phosphate  of  iron,  owing 
to  having  been  imperfectly  washed,  retaining  small 
quantities  of  acetic  acid  or  an  acetate.  As  oxygen 
is  absorbed,  ferric  acetate  is  generated,  and  betrays 
itself  by  its  deep  brownish- red  colour. 

Ferri  Sulphas. — Iron  wire  is  dissolved  in  dilute 
sulphuric  acid,  aided  by  a  gentle  heat ;  and  when 
the  effervescence  caused  by  the  escape  of  the  hydro¬ 
gen  ceases,  the  liquid  is  filtered  and  set  aside  to 
crystallize— 

Fe  -f  H2S04  =  FeS04  +  H2. 

Undiluted  sulphuric  acid  has  scarcely  any  action 
upon  iron  in  the  cold ;  but,  when  water  is  added, 
hydrogen  gas  is  freely  evolved.  The  same  is  the  case 
with  zinc. 

In  former  Pharmacopoeias  the  green  vitriol  of 
commerce  was  employed  as  the  source  of  the  sul¬ 
phate  of, iron.  It  was  ordered  to  be  redissolved  in 
water,  a  small  quantity  of  sulphuric  acid  added,  and 
the  solution  digested  upon  some  iron  wire.  In  this 
way  the  brown  rusty  ferric  oxysulphate,  which  is 
always  present,  is  reduced  to  the  ferrous  state  by 
the  hydrogen  which  the  iron  wire  evolves  from  the 
sulphuric  acid.  Thus — 

Fe2(S04)20  +  HaS04  +  Fe 
=  3Fe  S04  +  H20. 

The  common  green  vitriol  of  commerce,  being  pre¬ 
pared  from  pyrites,  generally  contains  more  or  less 
copper  ;  this  may  be  removed  by  digesting  it  in  so¬ 
lution  upon  scraps  of  iron  ;  but  it  is  far  better  to 
prepare  pure  sulphate  of  iron  for  medicinal  pur¬ 
poses  by  the  official  process. 

Sulphate  of  iron  should  be  in  pale  greenish-blue, 


April  22,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


845 


not  deep  green,  crystals ;  it  should  give  a  nearly 
white  or  light  blue  precipitate  with  yellow  prussiate 
of  potash.  It  should  also  give  no  precipitate  with 
sulphuretted  hydrogen,  which  would  show  its  free¬ 
dom  from  copper.  A  better  test  for  copper  is  to  dis¬ 
solve  some  of  the  crystals  in  distilled  water,  and 
immerse  in  the  solution  a  clean  knife-blade  ;  if 
copper  is  present,  it  will  be  deposited  as  a  metallic 
coating  upon  the  iron. 


SULPHO-CARBOLATES. 

BY  T.  H.  HUSTWICK. 

From  communications  to  this  and  other  journals  on  the 
preparation  of  some  of  the  above  salts,  I  have  gathered 
that  the  formation  of  sulpho-carbolate  of  zinc  is  best  ac¬ 
complished  by  a  process  of  decomposition  or  displacement. 
In  a  late  number  of  this  Journal  (No.  39)  is  given  a  pro¬ 
cess  for  the  preparation  of  this  salt  by  decomposing  sul¬ 
pho-carbolate  of  lead  by  metallic  zinc ;  doubtless  the 
salt  of  zinc  thus  formed  is  of  great  purity,  but  is  it  not 
possible  that  a  salt  of  equal  purity  may  be  obtained  by 
direct  combination,  saving  both  time  and  trouble  F  My 
own  experience  leads  me  to  suppose  that  it  may.  I  have 
made  considerable  quantities  of  sulpho-carbolates,  and  the 
modus  opcrandi  followed  by  me  has  been,  in  its  essentials, 
that  recommended  by  Mr.  C.  H.  Wood  in  this  Journal 
(Yol.  X.  2nd  ser.  No.  7) ;  this  process,  however,  gives  a  salt 
more  or  less  coloured  and  less  crystallized  than  when  pure. 
Where  one  of  the  alkalies  or  alkaline  earths  is  the  base, 
nothing  more  is  required  than  to  evaporate  the  neutral 
solution  so  far  as  to  produce  a  good  crop  of  crystals  ;  these 
are  to  be  well  drained  and  redissolved  for  a  second  crys¬ 
tallization.  For  the  zinc  salt  I  have  saturated  the  di¬ 
luted  acid  with  the  oxide,  evaporating  the  solution  till, 
when  quite  cold,  a  nearly  solid  mass  of  crystals  is  left  in 
the  bottom  of  the  basin  :  this  reddish-coloured  magma  is 
well  broken  up  and  allowed  to  rest  a  short  time,  wdien 
the  supernatant  liquor  may  be  removed,  the  remainder 
placed  in  a  calico  cloth  and  strongly  pressed,  by  which 
a  further  quantity  of  red  mother-liquor  is  got  rid  of, 
leaving  a  cake  of  sulpho-carbolate  nearly  pure  ;  this, 
■when  again  dissolved,  filtered  and  sufficiently  evapo¬ 
rated,  yields  the  salt  in  a  state  of  purity  far  surpassing 
any  other  sample  I  have  ever  seen.  As  the  expressed 
cake  is  so  nearly  pure,  almost  the  whole  of  it  may  be  re¬ 
covered  by  further  evaporation.  This  procedure  applies 
equally  to  iron  and  copper.  To  obtain  the  copper-salt, 
the  diluted  acid  is  saturated  with  freshly -prepared  moist 
carbonate  of  copper,  producing  a  beautiful  intensely  green 
solution,  which,  no  doubt  will  make  an  excellent  colour 
for  druggists’  show-bottles.  The  crystals,  when  largo, 
arc  a  brilliant  blue,  and  form  clusters  of  great  beauty, 
but  difficult  to  obtain  as  single  crystals;  when  small, 
they  are  green,  probably  from  containing  less  wrater  of 
crystallization. 

The  iron  salt  was  obtained  by  the  action  of  the  acid 
on  fine  iron  wire ;  the  colour  of  the  crude  solution  i3  a 
most  intense  violet,  and,  like  that  of  copper,  would  doubt¬ 
less  make  a  good  colour  for  show-bottles.  The  expressed 
cake,  though  almost  white,  when  dissolved,  reproduces 
the  characteristic  violet  in  almost  its  original  intensity; 
the  crystals  produced  from  this  solution  are  violet-green, 
the  green  predominating ;  before  their  removal  from  the  j 
evaporating  basin,  they  should  be  carefully  washed  with 
ice-cold  water  by  means  of  a  syringe,  in  order  to  free 
them  from  the  coloured  mother-liquor  which  adheres 
with  great  pertinacity.  A  peculiarity  of  this  salt  is, 
that  a  freshly  prepared  solution  is  almost  colourless,  and 
without  a  trace  of  violet,  but  as  it  absorbs  oxygen,  per¬ 
oxide  of  iron  is  precipitated,  the  violet  tinge  once  more 
appeai-s,  and  increases  in  intensity  till  it  almost  equals, 
in  that  respect,  the  crude  solution. 

These  salts  are  all  easily  prepared,  are  very  stable,  and 
as  they  crystallize  from  pure  solutions  with  great  facility, 


and  into  regular  geometric  forms,  they  make  capital  show'- 
objects.  Some  crystals  of  the  calcium  salt  that  I  now  have 
are  perfect  rhombs.  The  way  in  which  all  these  solu¬ 
tions,  during  the  progress  of  crystallization,  climb  up 
and  over  the  sides  of  the  basin,  by  the  force  of  capillary 
attraction,  is  rather  astonishing,  unequalled,  as  far  as  my 
observation  goes,  by  any  other  compound ;  it  is  rather  a 
nuisance,  but  may  be  completely  prevented  by  slightly 
greasing  the  inside  edge  of  the  vessel.  Into  the  chemical 
part  of  the  question  it  is  not  my  purpose  to  go,  but  the 
remarkable  changes  exhibited  by  some,  at  least,  of  the 
sulpho-carbolates,  under  the  action  of  high  temperatures, 
shows  there  is  room  for  further  investigation.  Exposed 
to  the  heat  from  a  Bunsen’s  burner,  the  soda  and  potash 
salts  exhibit  all  shades  of  colour  from  pale  pink  to  in¬ 
tense  purple ;  and  afterwards  placed  on  the  glowing'  em¬ 
bers  of  a  bright  fire,  combustion  takes  place  in  a  very 
similar  manner  to  the  old  Pharaoh’ s  serpents,  leaving  an 
ash  equally  bulky  and  eccentric, 


AN  ALKALOID  FROM  CINCHONA  BARK  HITHERTO 

UNDESCRIBED. 

BY  DAVID  HOWARD,  F.C.S. 

In  experimenting  upon  impure  crystallizations  of  qui¬ 
nine  salts  obtained  from  the  mother-liquors  of  the  manu¬ 
facture  of  sulphate  of  quinine,  I  have  occasionally  been 
perplexed  by  an  unusual  loss  in  recrystaliizing,  which 
the  mechanically  adhering  mother-liquor  did  not  seem 
to  account  for. 

A  more  careful  examination  of  some  of  these  sub¬ 
stances  show's  that  the  cause,  in  some  cases  at  least,  is 
the  presence  of  an  alkaloid  hitherto  undescribed,  the  ex¬ 
treme  solubility  of  the  salts  of  which,  both  distinguishes 
it  at  once  from  the  cinchona  alkaloids  already  knowm, 
and  renders  it  very  difficult  to  separate  from  the  un- 
crystallizable  quinoidine. 

The  most  convenient  method  of  obtaining  it  is  to 
purify  the  alkaloids  contained  in  the  mother-liquor  front 
the  recrystallization  of  such  impure  products  as  I  have 
mentioned,  by  solution  in  ether,  and  after  evaporation  of 
the  ether  to  dissolve  wdth  oxalic  acid  in  as  small  a  quan¬ 
tity  of  water  as  possible,  and  allow  it  to  crystallize. 

The  oxalate  thus  obtained  may  be  purified  by  recrys¬ 
tallization  from  water,  with  addition  of  animal  charcoal, 
but  I  have  never  been  able  to  free  it  entirely  from  a 
yellow  colour. 

The  most  satisfactory  salt  for  analysis  is  the  platino- 
chloride,  which  is  prepared  in  the  usual  manner ;  it  is 
almost  insoluble  in  water  or  in  cold  hydrochloric  acid, 
but  soluble  wfith  difficulty  in  hot  strong  acid ;  it  forms  a 
crystalline  powuler  by  precipitation,  and  well-defined 
crystals  by  solution  in  acid. 

The  analysis  shows  that  it  is  isomeric  wdth  the  platino- 
chloride  of  quinine,  but  anhydrous,  instead  of  containing 
one  atom  of  water  of  crystallization,  given  off  at  120°,  as 
does  the  salt  of  quinine. 

The  ultimate  analysis  for  w'hich,  as  well  as  for  the 
other  combustions  which  I  shall  have  to  mention,  I  am 
indebted  to  the  skill  of  Mr.  FJuxley  and  Mr.  Gray,_  of 
the  Royal  College  of  Chemistry,  gives  the  followfing 
results : — 

C.  H.  Ft. 

Experiment  I.  .  .  32'67  3-67  26'63 

„  II.  .  .  32-67  3-82  26-62 

Gerhardb’s  formula  for  the  anhydrous  platino-chloridc 
of  quinine,  C.20  H.21 N2  0.2,  2HC1,  Pt  Cl4  requires 

C  32-60  H  3-53  Pt  26  76 

The  salt  taken  for  analysis  was  precipitated  from  a 
hot  acid  solution,  and  wras  a  distinctly  crystalline 
powder. 

The  composition  is  the  same  whether  it  bo  precipitated 
cold  in  a  neutral  solution,  or  crystallized  from  a  strong- 
acid  solution,  as  the  following  results  will  show  : — 


846 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  22,  1871 


Platino-chloride  precipitated  cold  .  .  Pt  26-50 

„  crystallized ....  26-62 

The  oxalate,  as  I  have  before  mentioned,  though  it  is 
the  most  easily  crystallized  of  the  salts  of  this  alkaloid, 
is  unfortunately  very  difficult  to  purify  entirely,  and 
changes  so  readily  under  the  influence  of  air,  light  or 
heat,  that  I  have  been  unable  to  obtain  it  colourless. 
When  a  dilute  aqueous  solution  is  concentrated  by  eva¬ 
poration  in  a  water-bath,  the  change  of  colour  shows 
that  decomposition  has,  to  a  certain  extent,  taken  place, 
and  on  the  addition  of  water,  a  brown  resinoid  matter 
separates  from  the  solution.  To  find  out  if  this  was 
caused  by  impurities  or  was  a  property  of  the  salt  itself, 
I  decomposed  the  platino-chloride  of  known  purity  by 
several  processes,  but  in  each  case  the  resulting  oxalate 
had  the  same  colour  and  the  same  tendency  to  decom¬ 
pose.  Even  when  prepared  from  perfectly  colourless 
solutions  of  the  alkaloid  in  ether,  I  have  still  found  the 
oxalate  of  a  greenish-yellow  hue,  even  before  the  appli¬ 
cation  of  heat ;  in  fact,  I  am  not  sure  that  this  colour 
may  not  be  inherent  in  the  salt  itself. 

It  is  extremely  soluble  in  water,  the  wet  crystals  melt¬ 
ing  at  100°,  but  much  less  so  in  cold  water  ;  insoluble  in 
ether,  but  very  soluble  in  alcohol,  and  to  a  less  degree 
in  amylic  alcohol,  from  hot  concentrated  solutions  in 
either  of  which  menstrua  it  crystallizes  freely  on  cool¬ 
ing.  The  water  of  crystallization  is  partially  given 
oft'  in  vacuo,  and  entirely  at  100°  after  previous  drying; 
if  the  salt  is  at  once  heated  to  100°  without  previous 
exsiccation,  it  is  apt  to  fuse. 

The  combustion  proved  exceedingly  difficult ;  the  usual 
process  with  cupric  oxide  was  found  inadmissible,  the  ox¬ 
alate  assuming  a  dark  brown  colour  as  soon  as  it  touched 
the  oxide.  The  only  practicable  method  is  burning  in 
oxygen  gas,  and  even  in  this  mode  of  analysis,  the  low 
temperature  at  which  the  substance  partially  decom¬ 
poses,  makes  it  difficult  to  accomplish  successfully.  It 
will  be  seen  that  the  results,  though  agreeing  very 
closely  among  themselves,  differ  considerably  from  the 
probable  formula,  showing  plainly  the  difficulty  of  ob¬ 
taining  a  pure  product. 

The  hydration  and  the  oxalic  acid  point  to  the  formula 
2(Co0H24N202),  C2H204  -f  9aq.,  the  numbers  obtained 
being : — 


c. 

H. 

Ca  Ha  04. 

Ha  O 
at  100. 

Ha  O 
iu  vacuo. 

Theory  . 

.  5600 

7-55 

1000 

18-00 

Exp.  I.  . 

.  57*57 

8-64 

10-07 

17-98 

14-23 

„  n.  . 

.  57*42 

8-74 

9-98 

17-98 

14-09 

„  hi. 

.  57-74 

9-14 

10-08 

17-89 

14-02 

„  IY. . 

.  57-85 

8-79 

10-23 

17-72 

13-82 

„V.  . 

• 

— 

10-19 

17-98 

— 

The  water  lost  by  drying  in  vacuo  agrees  very  closely 
with  7  atoms,  viz.  14*00  per  cent. 

The  salt  thus  differs  from  oxalate  of  quinine  by  three 
atoms  of  water  of  crystallization,  the  formula  of  the 
latter  being  2(C20H24N2O2),C2H2O4,  +  6aq. 

I  he  properties  of  the  other  salts  which  I  have  ex¬ 
amined  are  as  follows : — The  sulphate,  tartrate,  citrate, 
hydrochlorate, .  phosphate  and  acetate  are  all  exceed- 
ingly  soluble  in  water;  on  evaporation  in  vacuo  they 
form  semi-crystalline  masses,  impossible  to  obtain  in  a 
state  fit  for  analysis. 

^  I  he  hydrobromate  and  ferrocyanide  obtained  by  double 
(decomposition  form  oily  strata  at  the  bottom  of  the  solu¬ 
tion,  soluble  in  an  additional  quantity  of  water,  but  even 
on  long  standing  they  show  no  sign  of  crystallization. 

I  he  hydriodate  also  forms  an  oily  stratum  in  strong 
solutions,  but  on  standing  it  becomes  semi-solid  by  the 
formation  of  crystals ;  weaker  solutions  also  deposit  a 
small  quantity  of  flocculent  crystals,  but  in  neither  case 
can  they  be  separated  from  the  mother-liquor. 

1  he  sulphocyanide,  while  also  forming  an  oil  when,  in 
concentrated  solutions,  crystallizes  from  a  somewhat 
larger  quantity  of  water  in  long  silky  needles,  almost 
white,  very  soluble,  and  readily  decomposed  by  heat. 


The  iodo- sulphate  I  have  not  as  yet  succeeded  in  form¬ 
ing.  I  much  regret  this,  on  account  of  the  great  im¬ 
portance  of  this  salt  in  the  cinchona  alkaloids,  and  fur¬ 
ther  experiments  are  needed,  either  to  form  it  or  to  prove 
its  absence. 

The  alkaloid  itself,  as  obtained  by  precipitation  from 
a  solution  of  its  salts  by  potash  or  soda,  is  a  yellowish 
oil.  I  have  not  been  able  to  obtain  it  pure  in  the  solid 
state,  for  it  will  not  bear  heat  without  decomposition, 
and  holds  water  too  strongly  to  dry  in  vacuo.  It  is  very 
soluble  in  alcohol,  soluble  to  a  large  extent  in  ether,  from 
which  it  separates  as  an  oil  when  the  ether  is  allowed  to 
evaporate.  It  is  a  strong  base ;  the  salts  are  neutral  to 
test-paper ;  a  small  excess  of  the  base  strongly  restoi-es 
the  colour  of  reddened  litmus.  Ammonia  precipitates 
its  solutions  but  imperfectly,  and,  if  we  may  judge  from 
this  it  is  even  a  stronger  base  than  quinine. 

Chlorine -water  followed  by  ammonia,  produces  in  so¬ 
lutions  of  its  salts  the  green  colour  and  precipitate  of 
dalleiochin  which  distinguishes  quinine  and  quinidine. 
Sti’ong  acids,  even  in  the  cold,  pi'orluce  a  change  of  colour, 
and  even  when  diluted  with  a  considei'able  quantity  of 
water;  heat  rendei-s  the  action  much  more  rapid.  This 
coloration  is  strongest  when  nitric  acid  is  used,  an  excess 
of  which,  with  the  aid  of  heat,  will  develope  a  strong 
yellow-gTeen  colour,  even  in  a  weak  solution.  In  this 
reaction,  as  well  as  in  the  persistent  colour  of  its  salts, 
this  alkaloid  shows  a  curious  resemblance  to  aricine. 

The  yellow  colour  renders  the  examination  of  its  op¬ 
tical  properties  difficult,  but,  as  far  as  has  been  hitherto 
tried,  it  is  inactive.  I  have  not  been  able  to  recognize 
fluorescence  in  its  solutions. 

Its  taste  is  a  peculiar  bitter,  very  much  less,  both  in 
intensity  and  peimanence,  than  that  of  the  other  cin¬ 
chona  alkaloids. 

I  have  not  been  able  to  find  out  whether  this  alkaloid 
is  contained  in  all  the  species  of  cinchona,  or,  if  not,  to 
which  it  belongs,  for  the  difficulty  of  the  crystallization 
of  the  impure  salts  makes  it  a  matter  of  uncei’tainty  to 
obtain  it. 

My  uncle,  Mr.  J.  E.  Howard,  when  investigating  the 
leaves  of  the  Cinchona  succirubra ,  from  India,  found 
minute  quantities  of  an  alkaloid,  soluble  in  ether,  from 
which  an  alcoholic  solution  of  oxalic  acid  precipitated  it 
in  a  crystalline  form ;  but  the  small  quantities  at  his  dis¬ 
posal  prevented  his  examining  it  further  than  to  show 
its  analogy  with  quinine ;  his  present  conviction  is  that 
this  substance  is  identical  with  the  alkaloid  I  have  been 
desci'ibing,  and  though  the  evidence  is  not  yet  sufficient 
to  enable  us  to  speak  with  certainty,  it  tends  strongly  to 
prove  it.  It  seemed  so  desirable  to  settle  this  point,  and 
to  thi'ow  some  light,  if  possible,  on  the  order  of  forma- 
tion,  and  possibly  on  the  far  more  important  and  far 
more  difficult  question  of  the  mode  of  formation  of  the 
alkaloids  of  the  descending  sap,  that  he  has  written  to 
Mr.  Broughton,  and  we  hope  shortly  to  receive  a  quan¬ 
tity  of  the  leaves  sufficient  to  enable  us  to  investigate  it, 
— Journal  of  the  Chemical  Society. 


COMPOUND  SYRUP  OF  SQUILLS,  SYRUP  OF 
SENEEA  AND  SYRUP  OF  IPECACUANHA. 

BY  J.  C.  WHARTON. 

The  tendency  of  some  officinal  syrups  to  ferment  is 
strikingly  manifested  by  the  three  above  named,  and 
although  the  present  formulae  for  their  preparation  are 
improvements  upon  older  ones,  there  are  still  serious 
difficulties  in  following  implicitly  the  directions  laid 
down  in  the  U.  S.  Dispensatory.  As  a  consequence, 
there  are  vax-ious  inequalities  in  the  resulting  syrups, 
and,  as  I  believe,  fermentation  is  sometimes  actually  pro¬ 
moted  by  the  tedious  and  lengthy  proceedings  required. 

It  will  be  sufficient  to  offer  as  an  instance  the  com¬ 
pound  syrup  of  squill.  As  it  is  not  necessary  to  give 
the  formula  in  detailed  proportions,  the  reader  is  referred 
to  the  U.  S.  Dispensatory,  where  it  will  be  seen  that 


April  23,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


817 


•after  a  percolated  tincture  of  three  pints  is  obtained,  the 
directions  read  :  “  Boil  this  for  a  few  minutes,  evaporate 
it  by  means  of  a  water-bath  to  a  pint,  add  six  fluid 
ounces  of  boiling  water  and  filter.  Dissolve  the  sugar 
in  the  filtered  liquid,  and  having  heated  the  solution  to 
the  boiling-point,  strain  it  while  hot.  Then  dissolve 
ffhe  tartrate  of  antimony  and  potash  in  the  solution 
while  still  hot,  and  add  sufficient  boiling  water  through 
the  strainer  to  make  it  measure  three  pints.  Lastly, 
mix  the  whole  thoroughly  together.” 

In  following  these  directions  as  strictly  as  possible,  I 
have  almost  invariably  found  that  a  large  amount  of 
albuminous  or  “pectin-like”  matter  was  deposited,  and 
in  fact  this  is  the  stated  design  of  raising  the  liquid  to 
the  boiling-point.  Here  arises  the  chief  difficulty,  in 
my  opinion ;  at  any  rate  I  have  found  it  to  be  a  great 
one,  for  in  attempting  to  remove  this  deposit  by  filtration, 
•especially  if  a  considerable  quantity  of  liquid  is  prepared, 
the  filter  is  soon  clogged  by  the  gummy  matter,  and  the 
liquid  filters  very  slowly.  I  have  known  filtration  to 
eease  towards  the  close  of  the  operation.  In  such  a 
•case,  the  best  that  can  be  done  is  to  provide  a  new  filter 
.and  empty  the  old  one  into  it,  expressing  it  to  avoid 
loss  as  much  as  possible.  This  is  tedious  and  wasteful 
of  the  virtues  of  the  drug.  On  one  occasion  I  prepared 
•a  quantity  of  the  tincture,  and  such  was  the  tardiness  of 
filtration  that  several  days  were  occupied  in  completing 
it.  Towards  the  end  I  noticed  a  few  patches  of  a  mouldy 
growth  that  had  formed  on  the  surface  of  the  albuminous 
matter  in  the  filter,  and  by  smelling  it  perceived  that 
the  liquid  was  spoiled  before  the  syrup  was  made.  The 
failure  was  suggestive ;  and  I  concluded  that  if  a  few 
days  were  enough  to  spoil  the  liquid,  a  few  hours’  time 
might  injure  it,  and,  in  fact,  the  germs  of  fermentation 
might  begin  to  work  as  soon  as  the  liquid  was  cold, 
-since  the  protective  agency  of  alcohol  was  gone. 

Reasoning  as  above,  I  resorted  to  a  method  of  filtra¬ 
tion  often  used  when  a  difficult  precipitate  is  to  be  re¬ 
moved,  namely,  rubbing  the  muddy  liquid  with  mag¬ 
nesia.  In  this  case  it  acted  with  the  double  advantage 
of  mingling  its  particles  with  the  albuminous  matter, 
thus  facilitating  filtration  and  neutralizing  any  free  acid 
that  might  be  present  from  incipient  fermentation.  The 
result  was  very  satisfactory.  Filtration  was  greatly 
hastened,  and  the  syrup  produced  was  not  muddy-looking 
nr  translucent,  as  is  generally  the  case,  but  was  beauti¬ 
fully  transparent.  It  was  kept  a  year  without  fermenting, 
though  almost  daily  in  use. 

I  have  since  tried  the  same  method  of  filtration  with 
syrup  of  ipecacuanha  and  syrup  of  seneka,  with  like 
■results. 

There  is  a  point  that  may  seem  objectionable  in  using 
magnesia  or  its  carbonate  as  above,  and  it  has  been  duly 
considered  before  offering  these  suggestions.  It  is  this  : 
magnesia  is  alkaline  in  its  reactions,  and  as  the  active 
principle  of  seneka  is  considered  to  be  acid  (polygalic), 
it  would  seem  that  they  are  incompatible,  but  as  they 
are  both  feeble  in  their  affinities  and  as  filtration  proceeds 
rapidly,  there  is  practically  no  objection  to  mixing  them. 
There  is,  it  is  true,  a  very  slight  escape  of  carbonic  acid 
when  the  carbonate  of  magnesia  is  rubbed  with  the  con¬ 
centrated  liquid,  but  it  may  be  due  to  a  small  amount  of 
free  acid  of  a  different  character,  and  even  though  a  little 
polygalic  acid  should  be  removed  by  the  magnesia  the 
amount  is  so  trivial  as  to  be  of  no  importance,  and  the 
.objection  is  more  than  counterbalanced  by  the  complete 
removal  of  the  albuminous  and  pectinous  deposit  which 
generates  fermentation,  and  would  soon  decompose  more 
polygalic  acid  than  the  magnesia  removes. 

I  therefore  submit  the  following  formula),  adhering  as 
closely  to  the  U.  S.  Dispensatory  as  practicable,  and  would 
remark  that  the  use  of  carbonate  of  magnesia  is  sanc¬ 
tioned  by  that  authority  in  the  case  of  the  active  principle 
of  ipecacuanha,  which  the  reader  will  see  by  referring  to 
the  method  of  preparing  impure  emetia,  U.  S.  Dispen- 
.satory,  under  the  article  “Ipecacuanha:” — 


Syrupus  Scilla  Compositus . 

Take  of  Squill,  in  moderately  coarse  powder, 

Seneka,  in  moderately  fine  powder,  each  4 
troy  oz. 

Tartrate  of  Antimony  and  Potash,  48  grs. 

Sugar  (refined)  in  coarse  powder,  42  troy  oz. 

Diluted  Alcohol, 

Water,  each  a  sufficient  quantity  ; 

Carbonate  of  Magnesia,  60  grs. 

Mix  the  squill  and  seneka,  and  having  moistened  the 
mixture  with  half  a  pint  of  diluted  alcohol,  allow  it  to 
stand  for  an  hour.  Then  transfer  it  to  a  conical  perco¬ 
lator  and  pour  diluted  alcohol  upon  it  until  three  pints 
of  tincture  have  passed.  Boil  this  for  a  few  minutes, 
evaporate  it  by  means  of  a  water-bath  to  a  pint,  add  six 
fluid  ounces  of  boiling  water,  rub  the  liquid  with  the 
carbonate  of  magnesia  in  a  mortar  until  thoroughly 
mixed,  filter,  and  add  through  the  filter  sufficient  warm 
water  to  make  the  filtrate  measure  twenty-two  fluid 
ounces.  Dissolve  the  sugar  in  the  filtered  liquid,  and 
having  heated  the  solution  to  the  boiling-point,  strain  it 
while  hot.  Then  dissolve  the  tartrate  of  antimony  and 
potash  in  the  solution  while  still  hot,  and  add  sufficient 
boiling  water  through  the  strainer  to  make  it  measure 
three  pints  when  cold.  Lastly,  mix  the  whole  tho¬ 
roughly  together. 

Syrupus  Senega. 

Take  of  Senega,  in  moderately  fine  powder,  4  troy  oz. 

Sugar  (refined),  in  coarse  powder,  15  troy  oz. 

Diluted  Alcohol,  2  pints, 

Water,  a  sufficient  quantity, 

Carbonate  of  Magnesia,  30  grs. 

Moisten  the  seneka  with  two  fluid  ounces  of  the  di¬ 
luted  alcohol,  then  transfer  it  to  a  conical  percolator  and 
gradually  pour  upon  it  the  remainder  of  the  diluted 
alcohol.  When  the  tincture  has  ceased  to  pass,  evapo¬ 
rate  it  by  means  of  a  water-bath,  at  a  temperature  not 
exceeding  160°,  to  half  a  pint.  Rub  it  with  the  carbonate 
of  magnesia  in  a  mortar  till  thoroughly  mixed,  filter  and 
add  sufficient  warm  water  through  the  filter  to  make  the 
filtrate  measure  half  a  pint,  and  having  added  the  sugar, 
mix  well  together,  and  note  accurately  the  measure  of 
the  mixture  while  cold ;  then  dissolve  the  sugar  with 
the  aid  of  a  gentle  heat,  strain  the  solution  while  hot, 
add  sufficient  warm  water  through  the  strainer  to  bring 
the  syrup,  when  cold,  to  the  previously  noted  measure¬ 
ment  and  mix  them  thoroughly. 

Syrupus  Ipecacuanha. 

(Modified  from  former  editions  of  the  U.  S. 

Pharmacopoeia. ) 

Take  of  Ipecacuanha,  in  fine  powder,  2  troy  oz. 

Diluted  Alcohol, 

Water,  each,  a  sufficient  quantity, 

Sugar  (refined),  in  coarse  powder,  29  troy  oz. 

Carbonate  of  Magnesia,  45  grs. 

Moisten  the  ipecacuanha  with  one  fluid  ounce  of  the 
diluted  alcohol,  let  it  stand  for  twenty-four  hours.  Then 
transfer  it  to  a  conical  percolator  and  gradually  pour 
upon  it  diluted  alcohol  until  one  pint  of  tincture  has 
passed.  Evaporate  this  by  means  of  a  water-bath  to 
six  fluid  ounces,  add  ten  fluid  ounces  of  warm  water,^ 
and  having  rubbed  it  thoroughly  with  the  carbonate  of 
magnesia  in  a  mortar,  filter  and  add  sufficient  warm 
water  through  the  filter  to  make  the  filtrate  measure  one 
pint ;  then  add  the  sugar  and  dissolve  it  with  the  aid  of 
a  gentle  heat,  and  having  strained  the  hot  syrup,  add 
sufficient  warm  water  through  the  strainer  to  make  it 
measure  two  pints  when  cold. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  chief  point  of  difference  be¬ 
tween  the  two  first  formula)  above  given  and  the  U. 
Pharmacopoeia  requirements  is  the  filtration  of  the 
evaporated  tinctures  through  carbonate  of  magnesia. 


84S 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  22,  1871 


instead  of  paper  only  ;  but  I  would  call  the  attention  of 
the  authors  and  revisers  of  both  the  Pharmacopoeia  and 
Dispensatory  to  the  lack  of  explicit  directions  in  many 
of  the  formulae  for  syrups,  from  which  I,  with  many 
others,  have  suffered  loss  and  trouble.  The  difficulty  is 
mainly  in  the  want  of  full  and  accurate  directions  in  re¬ 
gard  to  the  various  measurements.  For  example,  the 
closing  directions  in  the  formula  for  compound  syrup  of 
squill  read  thus: — “Add  sufficient  boiling  water  through 
the  strainer  to  make  it  (the  hot  syrup)  measure  three 
pints”  (while  hot?).  In  view  of  the  tartar  emetic,  the 
design  of  the  formula  must  be  to  make  the  syrup  measure 
three  pints  when  cold,  but  a  fair  interpretation  of  the 
directions  cannot  mean  that.  Now  it  is  plain  that  three 
pints  of  hot  syrup  will  not,  upon  cooling,  be  three  pints 
of  cold  syrup,  admitting  that  no  evaporation  takes  place 
in  the  act ;  but  most  commonly  a  considerable  evapora¬ 
tion  will  take  place  during  the  process,  and  of  necessity 
a  crystallization  of  sugar  takes  place.  The  fault  is  even 
worse  in  the  formula  for  syrup  of  seneka.  The  directions 
read :  “  Filter,  and  having  added  the  sugar,  dissolve  it 
with  the  aid  of  a  gentle  heat  and  strain  the  solution 
while  hot.”  No  account  is  taken  of  the  loss  of  liquid  in 
filtering,  nor  of  evaporation  in  dissolving  the  sugar.  If 
the  directions  are  followed  precisely  in  such  cases,  crys¬ 
tallization  will  inevitably  take  place,  even  if  the  amount 
of  sugar  prescribed  is  not  a  little  too  great,  as  I  am  of 
opinion  it  is  in  the  two  first  of  the  syrups  herein  dis¬ 
cussed.  I  believe  that  in  practice  twenty-nine  troy 
ounces  would  be  found  to  answer  as  well  as  thirty  troy 
ounces,  or  a  proportional  reduction  of  other  quantities. 

It  should  be  remarked  that,  in  filtering  through  car¬ 
bonate  of  magnesia,  the  first  portions  of  liquid  often  pass 
through  cloudy ,  and  should  be  returned  to  the  filter  until 
the  filtrate  is  quite  clear.  This  will  ensure  a  transparent 
syrup. — Amer.  Journ.  I’ll  arm. 


THE  EXTEMPORANEOUS  BENZOATING  OF 
OINTMENTS. 

BY  CllAltLES  F.  BOLTON-. 

The  subject  of  benzoin  in  ointments  has  for  some  time 
past  attracted  the  attention  of  the  profession,  and  there 
is  nothing  in  the  whole  range  of  pharmacy  that  gives 
more  satisfaction  than  a  perfect  ointment,  not  only  to  the 
druggist  who  dispenses  it,  but  also  to  the  physician  who 
prescribes,  and  the  patient  who  uses  it.  There  is  nothing 
that  reflects  more  credit  on  the  pharmacist  than  an  ele¬ 
gant  and  well-dispensed  ointment.  To  accomplish  this 
requires  not  only  experienced  manipulation,  but  some¬ 
thing  more ;  it  needs  that  the  unctuous  matter  should  be 
fresh  and  free  from  the  least  trace  of  rancidity  ;  it  should 
not  only  be  this  way  when  dispensed,  belt,  if  possible, 
should  be  made  in  such  a  manner  that  it  would  remain  in 
a  perfectly  sweet  condition  for  a  considerable  length  of 
time,  thus  affording  the  patient  an  opportunity  of  using 
the  whole  of  the  ointment  in  a  sweet  state.  This  can  be 
effected  in  many  instances  by  using  the  officinal  unguen- 
tum  benzoini  as  the  base  of  the  ointment,  but  often  the 
physician  directs  the  ointment  to  bo  prepared  and  ben¬ 
zoated  extemporaneously.  To  benzoate  the  ointment  by 
the  officinal  process  involves  time,  but  by  the  plan  that  I 
suggest  it  can  be  accomplished  in  a  very  short  time  with¬ 
out  the  aid  of  heat,  thus  saving  a  great  deal  of  time  and 
trouble.  In  many  instances  time  is  quite  an  important 
object.  The  formula  that  I  have  decided  upon,  after 
making  several  experiments,  is  as  follows  : — 

R.  Benzoin.  Pulv.  (select.)  ^ij . 

Ether.  Sulphuric.  §iv 

01.  Ricini  ~j. 

Introduce  the  benzoin  into  an  8 -ounce  bottle,  add  the 
ether,  macerate  for  twenty-four  hours  with  frequent  agi¬ 
tation,  pass  through  a  filter,  to  the  filtrate  add  ol.  ricini, 
and  shake  until  dissolved;  then  transfer  to  a  shallow 
vessel,  in  order  to  allow  the  ether  to  evaporate  spontane¬ 


ously  ;  lastly,  when  the  ether  has  entirely  disappeared, 
place  in  a  wide-mouthed  bottle  ready  for  use.  With  a 
view  to  economy  I  experimented  with  alcohol  and  ben¬ 
zine  as  solvents;  the  former  of  the  specific  gravity  ‘817 
gave  moderate  satisfaction,  the  result  being  of  a  much, 
darker  colour,  owing  to  the  foreign  matter  in  the  benzoin 
being  more  soluble  in  alcohol  than  in  ether  ;  this  I  con¬ 
sidered  a  serious  objection,  as  it  discoloured  the  ointment 
considerably,  while  that  made  with  the  ether  did  not,  at 
least  not  more  than  if  it  were  benzoated  by  the  officinal 
process.  The  benzine  experiment,  however,  was  a  com¬ 
plete  failure,  it  extracting  from  the  benzoin  only  a  very 
small  amount  of  benzoic  acid,  leaving  entirely  undissolved 
the  resin,  cinnamic  acid  and  volatile  oil.  The  result  from 
the  formula  that  I  have  given  is  of  the  consistency  of  a 
soft  extract,  one  ounce  of  the  extract  fully  representing 
an  ounce  of  the  benzoin  in  a  state  that  is  perfectly  mis¬ 
cible  with  unctuous  substances.  I  benzoated  several 
ointments  with  this  extract  in  the  early  part  of  last 
April,  and  allowed  them  the  greater  portion  of  the  tirue- 
to  be  exposed  to  the  atmosphere,  and  when  I  examined 
them  in  the  fall  I  could  find  none  of  them  oxidized  in 
the  least,  and  in  the  case  of  ung.  hydr.  oxidi  rubri  the- 
bright  orange  colour  was  perfectly  preserved.  I  also 
used  it  in  several  prescriptions,  and  it  always  gave  per¬ 
fect  satisfaction.  I  used  it  in  the  proportion  of  half 
drachm  to  the  ounce  of  ointment :  it  can  also  be  used 
very  advantageously  in  preparations  for  the  hair,  it 
being  very  soluble  in  alcohol  and  perfectly  miscible  with 
ol.  ricini  in  combination  with  alcohol,  but  insoluble  in 
the  fixed  and  volatile  oils  in  a  free  state.  It  is  also  freely 
soluble  in  chloroform. — American  Journal  of  Pharmacy*. 


SYRUP  OF  IODIDE  OF  POTASSIUM  AND  IRON 
(OF  LAHACHE). 

Take  of 

Iodide  of  potassium .  308  grains. 

Iodido  of  iron  (in  solution  1  to  3)  230  ,, 

Orange-flower  ■water  ....  462  ,, 

Simple  syrup  (concentrated)  .  .  33  ’-  fluid  ounces. 

Dissolve  the  iodide  of  potassium  in  the  orange-flower 
water,  add  the  other  solution  and  incorporate  the  syrup. 
Preserve  it  cool  and  free  from  light. —  Union  Tharma- 
ccutiqac . 


The  Candle-berry  Tree  (. Aleurites  triloba)  is  well 
known  in  the  Moluccas  and  the  Pacific  Islands  on  ac¬ 
count  of  its  valuable  oil-seeds,  which  are  strung  on 
sticks  and  used  as  candles ;  the  oil  is  also  expressed  and 
used  for  culinary  purposes,  and  has  been  imported  in: 
small  quantities  into  this  country.  In  China  another 
species  of  Aleurites  ( A .  cor  cl  at  a),  known  as  the  Tungshu- 
tree,  yields  such  an  abundance  of  oil  that  it  is  said  to  be 
one  of  the  largest  products  of  the  province  of  Szectmen.. 
In  point  of  quality  it  is  inferior  to  that  of  the  camellia, 
but  it  is  very  extensively  used  for  lighting  purposes. 
The  natives  call  it  tung  oil. —  Gardeners  Chronicle. 

Galuncha. — Amongst  East  Indian  medicinal  plants 
the  Galuncha  (T'mospora  cordifolia,  Miers)  has  been  con¬ 
sidered  of  sufficient  value  to  be  placed  in  the  new  Indian 
Pharmacopoeia.  The  roots  and  stems  are  the  parts  used,, 
and  their  properties  are  tonic,  antiperiodic  and  diuretic.  . 
They  are  used  in  cases  of  general  debility  after  fevers, 
in  rheumatic  affections,  etc.,  and  are  administered  either 
in  the  form  of  tincture,  infusion  or  extract.  It  is  called 
Penawar  Sampei  (all-sufficient  medicine)  in  Borneo,  and 
is  in  daily  use  amongst  the  natives  as  well  as  by  many 
Europeans.  The  plant  is  very  tenacious  of  life,  a  por¬ 
tion  of  a  stem  hung  up  in  a  dry  room  for  more  than 
twelve  months,  without  touching  earth  or  water,  having 
been  known  to  throw  out  roots  during  the  whole  time. — - 
Gardeners  Citron  icle. 


April  22,  1371.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


819 


SATURDAY,  APRIL  22,  1871. 


Communications for  this  Journal ,  and  bools  for  review ,  etc ., 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

Instructions  from  Members  and  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  scut  to  Elias  Bkem- 
ridge,  Secretary ,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square ,  TF.C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  IF.  Envelopes  indorsed  “  Bharm.  Journ.” 


DEFECTS  IN  THE  PHARMACY  ACT. 

In  a  recent  number  of  the  Journal,*  when  calling 
the  attention  of  our  readers  to  the  issue  of  the 
Register  for  1871,  Ave  mentioned  some  of  the  diffi¬ 
culties  attending  its  compilation,  which  greatly  in¬ 
terfered  with  its  correctness.  At  the  same  time,  AAre 
pointed  out  that  serious  consequences  might  folloAv 
from  an  incorrect  entry,  caused  by  the  omission  of 
the  person  registered  to  give  notice  to  the  Registrar 
of  any  change  of  residence  on  his  part.  An  addi¬ 
tional  source  of  error  is  unreported  deaths. 

Confirmation  of  our  opinion  as  to  the  prevalence 
of  this  neglect  is  to  be  found  in  the  statement  made 
by  a  contemporary  that  no  less  than  1138  communi¬ 
cations  which  were  posted  recently,  addressed  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  Register,  liaATe  been  returned  marked 
“gone  away,”  “deceased,”  “not  knoAvn,”  or  with 
some  other  indorsement,  indicating  that  the  entry  in 
the  Register  is  incorrect.  This  is  a  state  of  things 
that,  however  much  to  be  regretted,  the  Registrar  is 
powerless  to  remedy,  AAdthout  the  active  co-operation 
of  the  registered  chemists  and  druggists  throughout 
the  country,  inasmuch  as  in  many  instances  no  com¬ 
munication  is  received  by  him  from  or  respecting  a 
registered  person  after  his  registration.  To  secure 
the  correctness,  and  therein  the  value  of  the  Register, 
any  information  concerning  deaths  or  removals  that 
may  come  under  the  notice  of  members  of  the  trade 
should  be  communicated  immediately  to  the  Regis¬ 
trar  ;  but  hitherto  this  has  rarely  been  done. 

The  authors  of  the  Bill  uoav  before  the  State 
Legislature  of  Illinois,  of  Avliich  Ave  have  already 
given  an  abstract,  f  have  foreseen  this  difficulty,  and 
propose  to  meet  it  by  a  clause  AArhich  provides  that  a 
registered  pharmacist,  upon  changing  his  place  of 
business,  shall  send  a  notice  of  it  to  the  Board,  and 
that  once  a  year  every  pharmacist  is  to  notify  AArhether 
lie  still  practises  pharmacy  at  his  registered  place  of 
business,  in  default  of  Avliicli,  after  one  letter  of  in¬ 
quiry  from  the  Registrar,  the  name  is  to  be  omitted 
from  the  Register.  Each  notice  is  to  be  accompanied 
by  a  fee  of  one  dollar,  in  return  for  which  the  Re¬ 
gistrar  Avill  have  to  furnish  him  AA'itli  a  copy  of 
the  Register.  This  clause  appears  to  furnish  the 


machinery  for  securing  a  greater  amount  of  accu¬ 
racy  in  the  Illinois  Register  than  is  at  present  found 
in  our  oavu,  and  probably  the  adoption  of  a  similar 
rule  would  be  advantageous  here. 


THE  PRELIMINARY  EXAMINATION. 

The  Report  of  the  Board  of  Examiners  relating 
to  the  Preliminary  Examination  on  the  3rd  inst., 
Avhich  is  printed  in  another  column,  suggests  matter 
for  graATe  reflection.  The  fact  that  out  of  two  hun¬ 
dred  and  ninety-four  candidates  aaIio  presented  them¬ 
selves  for  examination,  no  less  than  one  hundred  and 
tAventy-nine,  or  forty-three  per  cent.,  failed  to  obtain 
the  number  of  marks  Avliich  Avould  entitle  them  to 
registration  as  apprentices,  seems  to  imply  that  either 
the  standard  of  the  examination  Avas  too  high,  or 
that  a  large  proportion  of  the  candidates  Avere  defi¬ 
cient  in  the  knowledge  Avliich  they  might  fairly  have 
been  expected  to  possess. 

A  perusal  of  the  questions  proposed, — which  are 
likeAvise  printed, — Avill,  Ave  think,  sufficiently  prove 
that  the  first  alternative  does  not  at  all  explain  the 
result.  To  take  them  in  the  order  in  Avliich  they  are 
printed.  In  the  Latin  section  there  Avas  a  choice 
given  of  five  passages  for  translation,  tivo  only  being 
required ;  Avliile  the  questions  that  followed  Avere  of 
the  most  elementary  kind. 

With  regard  to  this  portion  of  the  examination, 
Ave  do  not  lose  sight  of  the  point  raised  by  a  corre¬ 
spondent  in  this  week’s  Journal,  that  in  conse¬ 
quence  of  all  persons  having  to  undergo  the  Prelimi¬ 
nary  Examination  before  proceeding  to  the  Minor 
and  Major,  some  avIio  have  passed  the  Modified  are 
prohibited  from  seeking  to  pass  the  higher  examina¬ 
tions.  It  is  true  that  many  men  in  the  drug  trade 
have  very  little  time  to  spare  for  the  study  of  the 
classics,  and  Ave  knoAV  that  there  is  a  certain  amount 
of  sympathy  felt  for  them  in  some  quarters,  which 
may  possibly  lead  to  steps  being  taken  to  meet  their 
case.  But  Ave  think  this  objection  loses  nearly,  if 
not  quite  all  its  force,  from  the  fact  that  two  of  the 
passages  for  translation — the  number  required — are 
actually  such  as  they  might  be  called  upon  at  any¬ 
time,  in  the  ordinary  course  of  their  business,  to 
render  into  English. 

The  questions  in  the  other  sections  are  not  at  all 
more  difficult  than  a  boy  avIio  has  received  a  liberal 
education  might  be  expected  to  answer,  and  that  so 
many  have  failed  to  do  so  is  strongly  suggestive  of 
the  necessity  of  regulations  for  compulsory  education  ; 
at  any  rate,  it  does  very  little  credit  to  our  present 
system. 

It  is  worthy  of  notice  that  the  largest  proportion 
of  failures  occurred  where  an  opposite  result  might 
fairly  liaAre  been  expected.  Eleven  candidates  failed 
aaIio  Avere  younger  than  sixteen  years  of  age  ;  ninety- 
three  betAveen  sixteen  and  tAventy  ;  and  the  re¬ 
mainder  beyond  that  age. 


*  Ante,  p.  G69. 


f  Ante,  p.  791. 


850 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  22, 1871. 


In  the  recent  Heport  of  Dr.  Letheby  to  the  Cor¬ 
poration  of  London  and  the  Metropolitan  Board  of 
Works,  on  the  quality  of  gas  supplied  to  the  Metro¬ 
polis,  it  was  stated  that  the  gas  had  been  found  free 
from  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  and  that  the  quantity 
of  ammonia  had  not  exceeded  the  amount  pre¬ 
scribed  by  the  referees,  viz.  5  grains  per  100  cubic 
feet  of  gas.  The  presence  of  sulphur  in  illuminat¬ 
ing  gas  would  be  particularly  obnoxious  to  the  phar¬ 
macist,  on  account  of  the  destructive  action  of  the 
sulphuric  acid  or  sulphate  of  ammonia  produced, 
and  the  consequent  corrosion  of  brass  littings,  etc. 
It  is  reported  to  have  been  found  in  very  variable 
proportions,  averaging  from  11-5  grains  to  30T1 
grains  per  100  cubic  feet.  In  reference  to  this  dif¬ 
ference,  we  may  here  remark  that  there  is  reason  to 
believe  that  much  of  it  is  referable  to  a  variation  in 
the  results  obtained  in  testing  for  sulphur ;  and  only 
recently  we  have  had  occasion  to  notice  that  the 
actual  result  obtained  in  testing  gas  for  sulphur  by 
the  method  known  as  LethEby’s  is  in  reality  very 
much  a  matter  of  accident,  being  so  much  influenced 
by  the  conditions  under  which  the  experiment  is  con¬ 
ducted. 

We  have  been  favoured  with  an  opportunity  of 
examining  a  Poison  Cabinet,  designed  to  promote 
Hie  safe  keeping  and  dispensing  of  poisons,  which 
has  been  patented  by  Mr.  Young.  We  propose  to 
give  a  description  of  it  in  our  next  number. 

The  Gardeners'  Chronicle  states  that  in  the  centre 
of  the  great  conservatory  of  the  ltoyal  Horticultural 
Society  there  is  a  plant  upwards  of  20  feet  high,  of 
the  old  Bhodoclendron  arhoreum,  which  has  this  year 
borne  innumerable  trusses  of  deep  blood-red  flowers, 
realizing  all  that  the  late  Dr.  Wallich  ever  wrote  of 
the  glorious  effect  produced  on  the  northern  slopes  of 
the  Himalaya,  where  vast  tracts  are  entirely  covered 
With  them. 


The  Athenanwi  announces  that  the  Educational 
Department  of  the  International  Exhibition  is 
makiug  progress,  and  is  likely  to  prove  not  only 
attractive  but  useful,  particularly  in  reference  to 
science  teaching.  We  understand  that  Professor 
Fuankland  has  been  requested  to  report  on  this 
branch,  and  we  may  therefore  expect  good  service  to 
be  done  towards  the  removal  of  our  strange  defi¬ 
ciencies  in  regard  to  science. 


Favourable  reports  have  been  received  concerning 
the  cinchona  cultivation  in  the  West  Indies.  Nature 
informs  us  that  in  the  Jamaica  plantations  the  trees 
are  seeding  plentifully.  About  40,000  seedling  plants 
of  C.  succirubra  have  also  been  raised  from  Jamaica 
seed.  Another  hundred  acres  of  land  have  been  pre¬ 
pared  for  planting  this  spring,  and  there  appears  to 
be  a  probability  of  a  still  larger  quantity  being  put 
under  similar  cultivation. 


Among  the  lectures  which  have  been  announced 
for  delivery  at  the  ltoyal  Institution  are  two  “  On 
Force  and  Energy,”  by  Charles  Brooke,  F.R.S., 
May  U  and  10  ;  and  one  “  On  the  Gaseous  and  Liquid 
States  of  Matter,”  by  Thomas  Andrews,  F.lt.S.,. 
June  2. 


The  British  Medical  Journal ,  referring  to  a  sim- 
gestion  made  in  its  columns*  and  already  quoted  hi 
this  J ournal,  to  the  effect  that  an  alcoholic  solution 
of  sulphurous  acid  would  be  a  convenient  vehicle  for 
setting  free  sulphurous  acid,  as  a  disinfectant,  says 
that  Messrs.  Herring  and  Co.  have  taken  the  hint 
then  given,  and  have  prepared  such  a  solution. 
Articles  of  clothing,  valuable  instruments  and  deli¬ 
cate  materials  may  be  effectually  disinfected  by 
dropping  a  measured  quantity  of  this  solution  on 
the  bottom  of  a  closed  box  in  which  they  are  placed. 
Pathological  preparations  may  be  preserved  fresh. 
An  antiseptic  and  wholesome  atmosphere  may  in 
like  manner  be  obtained  in  a  bed  or  bed-chamber. 
As  a  parasiticide,  on  rag  under  impermeable  tissue, 
it  will  be  found  most  energetic. 

At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Royal  Colonial  In¬ 
stitute  a  paper  was  read  on  the  “Appointment  of 
a  Reporter  on  Trade  Products  for  the  Colonies.” 
After  discussion,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  ask 
the  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Colonies  to  establish 
such  a  department,  and  further  to  suggest  the  forma¬ 
tion  of  a  Colonial  Museum  on  a  similar  basis  to  that 
established  at  the  India  Office. 


The  Mezereon  ( Daphne  Mezereon ,  L.)  and  the 
Spurge  Laurel  (D.  Laureola,  L.)  are  the  only  British 
representatives  of  the  Natural  Order  Tliymelaccee ; 
and  the  former,  grown  as  it  is  in  many  of  our  gardens 
and  shrubberies  for  its  fragrant  pink  flowers  opening 
at  so  early  a  period  in  the  spring,  is  a  very  creditable 
example  of  the  Order.  The  whole  plant  is  acrid 
and  powerfully  irritant,  and  the  bark  has  been  used 
in  medicine  in  this  country.  In  some  parts  of  France 
it  is  applied  to  the  skin  as  an  irritant  in  the  form  of 
a  blister,  a  piece  of  the  fresh  bark  being  simply  cut 
out,  Steeped  in  vinegar,  and  placed  on  the  affected 
part.  The  leaves  are  likewise  used  in  medicine  in 
various  parts  of  the  Continent.  JD.  Laureola  has 
similar  properties,  indeed  the  same  acrid  principle 
pervades  the  whole  Order.  In  Borneo  the  bark  of 
a  species  of  If  ilcstromia,  probably  IF.  indica,  is  used 
to  allay  toothache,  a  small  piece  being  chewed  with 
lime.  It  has  also  a  wide  reputation  in  that  country 
for  the  cure  of  whitlow.  The  natives  take  a  long 
strip  of  the  fresh  bark  and  bind  it  tightly  round 
the  finger  above  the  diseased  part,  it  soon  produces 
a  sore  encircling  the  finger,  which  is  supposed  to- 
prevent  the  spread  of  the  inflammation  and  effect  a 
speedy  cure. 

*  See  Pharmaceutical  Journal,  ante,  p.  465. 


April  22, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


851 


fenmiwns  jof  %  $Ijarnramttital  §jamtg. 


EXAMINATION  IN  LONDON. 

April  19  th,  1871. 

Present — Messrs.  Allchin,  Bird,  Carfeighe,  Cracknell, 
Deane,  Edwards,  Gale,  Garle,  Hanhury,  Haselden  and 
Ince. 

Dr.  Grecnhow  was  also  present  on  behalf  of  the  Privy 
Council. 

Twenty-throe  candidates  presented  themselves,  viz. 
four  Major  and  nineteen  Minor  ;  the  following  fourteen 
passed,  and  were  declared  to  be  duly  qualified  to  be 
registered : — 

MAJOR  (as  Pharmaceutical  Chemists). 


*Deane,  James  . Clapham. 

Fowler,  William  Ratcliffe  . . .  .Ipswich. 
Bannard,  Henry  . London. 

MINOR  (as  Chemists  and  Druggists). 

*  Saunders,  Charles  Price . Haverfordwest. 

Cole,  Walter  Benjamin  . Weymouth. 

Pentney,  James  Chapman  ....  Gorleston. 

Smith,  William  J ohn . Leicester. 

Ritson,  George . Sunderland. 

Morgan,  Richard . London. 

Harradine,  Henry  Ground. . .  .March. 

Ballard,  Frank  Peny . Ludlow. 

Baker,  Samuel . Chichester. 

Pratt,  Henry  James . Thirslc. 

Dawson,  Cautley . Stockport. 

The  above  names  are  arx*anged  in  order  of  merit. 


FIRST  OR  PRELIMINARY  EXAMINATION. 

Two  hundred  and  ninety-four  Candidates  presented 
themselves  for  this  Examination  on  the  3rd  April ;  the 
following  One  hundred  and  sixty-five  passed,  and  were 
declared  to  be  duly  qualified  to  bo  registered  as 

APPRENTICES  OR  STUDENTS. 

Wade,  Robert  Brady  . Shoreham. 

1  I  Cole,  Walter  Benjamin  . Weymouth. 

«  (  Knight,  Alfred  George  . Swansea. 

Reece,  Thomas . Llandilo. 

Dowding,  Alexander  W.  W.  .  .Weston-super-Mare. 

Pitchford,  William  . Newton  Abbot. 

Williams,  Win.  Lloyd  Owen  .  .Llanberis. 

Smailes,  Robert  . Grantham. 

Kirkup,  John  . Liverpool. 

Jackson,  Joseph  John . Bridgnorth. 

Kempster,  Fredk.  Augustus  . .  Clapham. 
j  Bamford,  Henry  William  . . .  .London. 

w  1  Smith,  Samuel . Leeds. 

Lloyd,  Frederick . Clay  Cross. 

"Appleby,  Edward  Joseph . Brighton. 

Blunt,  George  . Upton-on-Sevem. 

Fryer,  Richard  Green . Swansea. 

...  Good,  George  Arthur . Weston-super-Mare. 

|  Harris,  William  . Llandilo. 

w  i  Leach,  Isaac . London. 

I  M'George,  John  . Belfast. 

i  Mager,  William  Kelk . Doncaster. 

‘  Turner,  Richard  Yicary . Exeter. 

Roberts,  Robert . Bala. 

Perry,  John  . Congleton. 

Walker,  Joseph  . Stoke-on-Trent. 

^  (  Cutter,  Herbert . Bristol. 

|  <  Hensley,  Robert  Place  . Maidstone. 

w  (  Jones,  David  William . Llandilo. 

■3  j  Munday,  John . Bridgnorth. 

w  \  Walker,  Joseph . Whitby. 

*  Passed  with  Honours. 


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!  Coates,  Thomas . Malton. 

Frowd,  Edward  Francis . London. 

.  Young,  Charles  S . Grantham. 

1  Ascott,  Tom . Exeter. 

(  Farr,  Joseph . Peterborough. 

f  Kendall,  John  . Truro. 

{  Priestley,  Walter  Herbert  ....  Barnstaple. 

Kirk,  John  Robert  . Leeds. 

{Fuller,  Thomas . Fallowfield. 

Tamplin,  Charles  Edward. . .  .Kingston-on-Thames, 

Walker,  Thompson  F . York. 

Woolnough,  Harry  Arnold. .  .  .Norwich. 

Longley,  J oseph  . Barnsley. 

SAbington,  Leonard  Yates  . . .  .Nowcastle-u.-Lyne. 

Badcock,  Daniel  . Barnard  Castle. 

Chadwick,  Joseph  Dunhill. . .  .Barnsley. 

Roberts,  Joseph  . Liverpool. 

Bambridge,  Arthur  John  . . .  .Lancaster. 

~  i  Goodwin,  J.  Henry  Gerrard  . .  Ashton-under-Lyne, 

a-  )  Margetts,  Uslier  . Eastwood. 

w  /  Davies,  Peter  Hughes . Peterborough. 

Dawson,  Francis  Robert . Bolton. 

Donald,  William . Aberdeen. 

Horsfield,  Robert  F.  W . London. 

Kirby,  Thomas  William . Liverpool. 

Laird,  William  Alfred . Portsmouth. 

Tuxford,  J ames  Edward . Boston. 

Wright,  George  . .  .Sheffield. 

(  Carrol,  George . Bath. 

\  Robbins,  Alfred  Farthing  ....  Launceston. 

Pottinger,  Thomas  . Darford. 

Thompson,  George  . . . Derby. 

J ackson,  George  . Worksop. 

Simpson,  Allwood . Stalybridge. 

Stamps,  Frederick  . West  Bromwich, 

(  Carlton,  Thomas  Wokes . Hull. 

Hannath,  Wm.  Henry  Wyatt.  .Worksop. 

Jones,  Thomas . Merthyr  Tydfil. 

Davison,  John . West  Hartlepool. 

Chesterton,  William  Peter  . . .  .Walsall. 

David,  Albert  . Neyland. 

Ferriday,  William  . Ardwick. 

Gibson,  John  Chambers . Manchester. 

Kennett,  James . Eastbourne. 

Marin,  Ferdinand  Baptist  ....  London. 

Moore,  George  Brass  . Barnard  Castle. 

Pomeroy,  Francis  Thomas  ....  South  Petherton. 
Wardley,  Oliver  Edward  . . .  .Mildenhall. 
Woollerton,  Edwin  Goodburn  .Melton  Mowbray. 

(  Judson,  Charles  Thomas . Leeds. 

\  Nash,  William . Aberdeen. 

Ballard,  John  Smyth  . Carmarthen. 

Humphreys,  John  . Ashton -under-Lyne, 

J*  j  Hutchinson,  George  . . South  Shields. 

\  Mitchell,  Thomas  Maxwell ....  Leeds. 

/  Branson,  Frederick  Woodward.  Northampton. 

|  Parrott,  John  . Norwood. 

(  Sell,  William  Henry  . Bath. 

Canner,  William . Derby. 

Cook,  Frank . . .  Herne  Hill. 

Monkman,  James  Dixon . Leicester. 

.  Rhodes,  Samuel  . Oldham. 

Beverley,  George . Aberdeen. 

Williamson,  William  . Altrincham. 

Symons,  William  Henry . Barnstaple. 

Michie,  Henry  Esson  . Aberdeen. 

■3  |  Jones,  George  Marsh  . Sheffield. 

d*  (  Wellington,  Frederick . South  Petherton. 

Davidson,  Louis  . Newcastle-on-Tyne, 

^  (  Bathe,  Frederick  James . Chippenham. 

|  {  Chubb,  Richard  . Launceston. 

w  (  Morley,  Thomas  Walter . Derby. 

/Batchelor,  Alfred  Ernest . Fareham. 

j  Forster,  Francis  Alexander  ..Norwich. 

|  Haley,  William  Henry  . Norwich. 

w  I  Jenkins,  Henry . Salisbury. 

1  Jones,  William . Bagillt. 


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852 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  22,  1871. 


Brumwell,  William  Preston  . .  Newcastle-on-Tyne. 

|  Milton,  Thomas  Clement . Exeter. 

|  Shepherd,  John  William . Settle. 

Green,  Vittery . London. 

Newton,  Alfred  Henry  . Kenilworth. 

Winpenny,  Frank  Walker  ....  Barnard  Castle. 

Brown,  Horace . Thrapston. 

j  Dolman,  William . Cheltenham. 

(  Rutter,  Thomas  Dixon  . Scarborough. 

I  Harding,  Frederick  William  .  .Norwich. 

I  Robinson,  John  Edward . Boston. 

Ileald,  Charles . Sleaford. 

/  Foster,  George . Andover. 

;  Geldart,  John  . Whitehaven. 

Hammond,  William  Henry  .  .Northampton. 

Helmsley,  Alfred . York. 

Lewis,  David . Cardigan. 

Hitchcock,  James . Whittington  Moor. 

(  Robinson,  Thomas  Ward  . .  .  .Hull. 

(  Sangster,  William  . London. 

f  Birrell,  George . London. 

Boorne,  Charles  James  . Reading. 

Brothers,  John . Ashford. 

Goodrich,  John . Aldershot. 

;  Hcald,  Samuel  Haldane . Wakefield. 

j  Hume,  John  William  David  . .  Stokesley. 

;  Pcarse,  William  Francis . Yarmouth. 

Howell,  John  . Carmarthen. 

(Grayson,  Charles . Bawtry. 

Parkinson,  Thomas  Edmund  . .  Leeds. 

Richardson,  John  Richard  ....  Leeds. 

[  Smith,  John  Thomas  . Donington. 

(  Bannerman,  Charles  Alexander.  Belfast. 

I  Lea,  Frederick  James . Folkestone. 

j  Marlee,  Jonas  James  . Birmingham. 

i  Murison,  Alexander  A.  W.  P. . .  Macduff. 

I  Radley,  William  Gibson . Newton  Abbot. 

V  Smithard,  Herbert  Henry  ....  Guernsey. 

(  Barnes,  William  James  . Dover. 

Crompton,  Joseph . Leeds. 

Ellis,  Thomas  Wokes  . Hull. 

Garry,  Walter  Finch  . Canterbury. 

Hill,  Francis . Horncastle. 

Hurley,  Edward  William  ....  Reading. 

Knight,  Frank . Farnham. 

MTntyre,  William  . Wakefield. 

Neale,  Edgar . Farringdon. 

Tidd,  Arthur  Joseph  . Plulme. 

Rowley,  John  . Willenhall. 

Saunders,  James  Edwin . Stamford. 

Taylor,  Charles  Edward . Lancaster. 

White,  Robert  . Durham. 

Allen,  William . Stratford,  Essex. 

Bishop,  Edward  James  . Leicester. 

Milner,  Thomas  . Thirsk. 

Adams,  Herbert  Richard . London. 

Jones,  Owen  Williams . Flint. 

The  above  names  are  arranged  in  order  of  merit. 


The  following  is  a  list  of  the  towns  in  which  exa 
minations  were  held,  with  the  number  of  candidates  an 


nexed : — 

Aberdeen  .  8 

Abingdon  .  2 

Altrincham .  1 

Andover .  1 

Ashton-under- Ly  no  3 

Barnstaple .  2 

Bath  .  4 

Bedford  .  3 

Belfast  .  2 

Birmingham .  9 

Bideford .  1 

Bolton .  2 

Boston .  5 

Bradford . 1 


Bridgnorth .  2 

Brighton .  2 

Bristol .  3 

Bury  St.  Edmund’s.  1 

Canterbury .  1 

Cardigan .  2 

Carmarthen  .  4 

Carnarvon .  1 

Cheltenham  .  2 

Chesterfield  .  3 

Chichester .  1 

Chippenham  .  1 

Congleton  .  1 

Coventry  . 2 


Darlington .  4 

Derby .  6 

Doncaster  .  1 

Dover .  3 

Dudley  .  1 

Durham .  2 

Exeter .  3 

Farnham  .  2 

Flint  .  2 

Grantham  .  3 

Guernsey  .  1 

Hartlepool .  3 

Hertford .  1 

Horncastle . .  1 

Hull  .  5 

Lancaster  .  3 

Launceston .  3 

Leeds  . 10 

Leicester .  5 

Lewes .  2 

Lincoln  .  3 

Liverpool  .  5 

London  . 44 

Maidstone  .  2 

Manchester  . 12 

Merthyr  Tydfil  ....  3 
Middlesborough  . .  1 
Newark  .  1 


Newcastle-un.-Lyne  1 
Newcastle-on-Tjme  6 
Newport  (Mon.)  . .  1 
Northallerton  ....  1 


Northampton .  3 

Norwich .  4 

Oldham  .  3 

Pembroke  .  1 


Peterborough .  4 

Portsmouth  .  1 

Preston  .  3 

Reading .  3 

Retford  .  2 

Ripon .  1 

Rochdale .  1 

Rochester  .  2 

Ruthin  .  1 

St.  Austell . *  . .  1 

St.  Ives  (Cornwall)  1 

Salisbury  .  1 

Sheffield .  4 

Sleaford .  2 

Southampton .  1 

South  Shields .  2 

Stamford  .  1 

Stockport  .  1 

Stoke-on-Trent ....  1 

Sunderland .  2 

Swansea .  5 

Taunton .  4 

Tewkesbury  .  1 

Thirsk .  1 

Torquay .  2 

Truro .  1 

Wakefield  .  6 

Walsall  .  2 

W eston-super-Mare  2 

Whitby  .  1 

Whitehaven  .  3 

Winchester  .  1 

Wolverhampton  . .  1 

Wycombe  .  1 

Yarmouth  .  2 

York  .  4 


The  Questions  for  Examination  were  as  follows  : — • 

LATIN. 

1.  Translate  into  English  two  at  least  of  the  following 
sentences : — 

Suam  innocentiam  perpetua  vita,  felieitatem  Hel- 
vetiorum  hello,  esse  pcrspectam.  Itaque  se, 
quod  in  longiorem  diem  collaturus  esset,  reprre- 
sentaturum,  et  proximo,  nocte  de  quarta  vigilia 
castra  moturum,  ut  quam  primum  intelligere 
posset,  utrum  apud  eos  pudor  atque  officium  aut 
timor  valeret.  Quod  si  praeterea  nemo  sequa- 
tur,  tamen  se  sola  decima  legione  iturum,  de 
qua  non  dubitaret,  sibique  earn  praetoriam  co- 
hortem  futuram.  Huic  logioni  Ciesar  et  indul- 
serat  prsecipue  et  propter  virtutem  confidebat 
maxime. 

Cognito  Csesaris  adventu,  Ariovistus  legatos  ad 
eum  mittit,  quod  antea  de  colloquio  postulasset 
id  per  se  fieri  licere,  quoniam  propius  accessis- 
set,  seque  id  sine  periculo  facere  posse  existi- 
mare. 

Postulavit  deinde  eadem  quae  legatis  in  mandatis 
dederat,  ne  aut  rEduis  ant  eorum  sociis  helium 
inferet,  obsides  redderet :  si  nullam  partem  Ger- 
manorum  domum  remittcrc  posset,  at  ne  quos 
amplius  Rhenum  transire  pateretur. 

Coque  per  horam  dimidiam,  subinde  agitans,  et 
ubi  liquor  refrixerit  adjice  aquae  destillatae 
quantum  satis  sit  ut  octarios  sex  impleat,  de- 
nique  cola.  In  vasis  bene  obturatis  servetur. 

Misce.  Fiat  kaustus,  quinta  quaquo  hora  sumen- 
dus,  et  tempore  usus,  adde  singulis,  si  opus 
fuerit,  ad  praecavendum  diarrhoeam,  tinctime 
opii  guttas  tres. 

2.  State  to  which  declension  each  of  the  following 

nouns  belongs,  and  give  the  accusative: — emplas- 
tmm,  tinctur.a,  synipus,  pulvts,  inanus. 

3.  What  is  the  ablative  absolute  ?  Give  one  or  more 

examples. 


April  22,  187L] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


S53 


4.  Which  case  do  the  following  prepositions  take  after 

them  P — circiter,  inter,  apud.  Illustrate  by  ex¬ 
amples. 

5.  Explain  the  difference  between  personal  and  im¬ 

personal  verbs.  Give  examples. 

6.  State  how  the  nominative  to  a  verb  is  found,  and 

exemplify  the  same. 

ARITHMETIC. 

7.  A  boy  having  100  marbles,  lost  2.5  at  play,  and  then 

won  18,  after  which  he  lost  28  :  how  many  had  he 
left  ? 

8.  If  100  workmen  finish  a  piece  of  work  in  12  days, 

how  many  will  finish  it  in  3  days  P 

9.  If  £100  in  12  months  gain  £7  interest,  what  is  the 

interest  of  £571  for  6  years  ? 

10.  Multiply  §  of  oi  of  f-  by  3£  of  5 £  of  17£. 

11.  Divide  5*714  by  8275* 

ENGLISH. 

12.  Of  what  does  etymology  treat  ? 

13.  How  many  parts  of  speech  are  there  ?  Name  them. 

14.  How  many  cases  have  nouns,  and  which  two  are 

alike  ? 

15.  Give  the  plural  of  the  following  nouns  : — shelf,  wolf, 

goose,  scarf,  staff,  tooth,  ally,  deer,  court-martial, 
knight-errant,  index,  and  penny. 

16.  Parse  the  following : — Virtue  ennobles  the  mind, 

but  vice  debases  it. 

17.  Write  from  15  to  25  lines  upon  one  only  of  the  fol¬ 

lowing  subjects : — 

A.  The  employment  of  time. 

B.  Perseverance. 

C.  Memory. 


BRISTOL  PHARMACEUTICAL  ASSOCIATION. 

A  General  Meeting  of  this  Association  was  held  on 
Friday,  April  14th ;  Mr.  Stoddart,  President,  in  the 
chair. 

After  the  routine  business  of  the  meeting,  a  lecture 
was  delivered  by  W.  A.  Tilden,  Esq.,  B.Sc.,  Demon¬ 
strator  of  Chemistry  in  the  Laboratory  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society,  upon  “  Heat  considered  as  an  Agent  in 
Chemical  and  Pharmaceutical  Operations.” 

At  its  conclusion,  a  cordial  vote  of  thanks  to  the  lec¬ 
turer  was  carried  by  acclamation. 


MANCHESTER  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

The  Sixth  and  last  ordinary  Monthly  Meeting  of  the 
Session  was  held  in  the  Memorial  Hall,  Albert  Square, 
on  Friday  evening,  April  14th ;  Mr.  W.  S.  Brown,  Pre¬ 
sident,  in  the  chair.  There  was  a  large  attendance  of 
Members  and  Associates. 

The  Chairman  drew  attention  to  the  ‘  Book  of  Auto¬ 
graph  Prescriptions  ’  on  the  table.  These  had  been  col¬ 
lected  by  Mr.  J oseph  Ince,  of  London,  and  presented  to 
the  Association  by  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society.  The  great  value  of  this  collection  would,  he 
hoped  and  believed,  be  appreciated  by  the  students  who 
frequented  the  rooms  at  Mitre  Chambers.  Alluding  to 
the  classes  which  had  been  held  during  the  Session  at 
Owens  College,  he  said  the  attendance  had  been,  on  the 
whole,  satisfactory  to  the  Professors,  though  consider¬ 
ably  smaller  than  the  promoters  of  the  course  had  hoped. 
A  summer  course  of  lectures  on  botany  would  be  given, 
if  a  sufficient  number  of  names  were  sent  in  to  Mr. 
Benger,  the  Hon.  Sec.  He  congratulated  the  members 
on  the  present  aspect  of  the  Poison  Regulations,  which 
were  now  to  be  issued  as  recommendations  only,  and  he 
hoped  that,  with  the  modifications  which  would  bo  made 
in  them,  they  would  be  applicable  to  most  businesses, 
and  lie  trusted  that  chemists  would  apply  them  to  the 


best  of  their  opportunity,  so  as  to  ensure  the  safety  of 
the  public. 

Mr.  W.  Bostock  then  moved,  “  That  the  best  thanks 
of  this  Association  be  forwarded  to  the  Council  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society,  and  especially  to  Mr.  Joseph 
Ince,  for  his  kindness  in  collecting  and  arranging  the- 
‘Book  of  Autograph  Prescriptions,’  presented  to  the 
Association.” 

Mr.  G.  S.  Woolley,  in  seconding*  the  vote  of  thanks, 
said  that  in  future  much  greater  value  would  be  attached 
to  the  proficiency  of  candidates  in  pharmacy  and  prac¬ 
tical  dispensing  in  the  Examinations  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society,  and  he  would  strongly  advise  all  those 
who  were  preparing  for  those  examinations  to  avail 
themselves  of  the  opportunity  now  afforded  of  studying 
a  great  variety  of  styles  of  prescribing. 

The  resolution  was  carried  with  acclamation. 

Mr.  J.  T.  Slugg,  F.R.A.S.,  Vice-President,  then  de¬ 
livered  a  most  interesting  lecture  on  “The  Stars,  what 
they  arc,  where  they  are,  and  why  they  are.”  Mr. 
Slugg’s  lecture  was  listened  to  throughout  with  the 
greatest  attention,  and  at  its  conclusion  a  hearty  vote  of 
thanks  was  conveyed  to  the  lecturer. 


CHEMICAL  SOCIETY. 


April  6t/i. — Professor  Frankland,  F.R.S.,  President,, 
in  the  chair. 

The  President,  occupying  the  chair  the  first  time 
since  his  election,  returned  Iris  thanks  to  the  Society  for 
the  honour  conferred  upon  him,  and  expressed  his  readi¬ 
ness  to  discharge  the  duties  of  his  office  to  the  best  of  his 
abilities. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  elected  Fellows :  F. 
Coles,  C.  E.  Groves,  E.  W.  T.  Jones,  L.  T.  MacEwan, 
J.  L.  Shuter. 

The  following  papers  were  read: — “On  Burnt  Iron, 
and  Burnt  Steel,”  by  W.  Mattieu  Williams.  Iron,, 
which  has  been  damaged  by  reheating,  or  excessively, 
heated  and  exposed  after  balling  in  the  puddling  furnace, , 
is  designated  “burnt  iron”  by  the  workmen.  It  is  re¬ 
markable  that  no  amount  of  heat  applied  to  the  iron  in 
the  blast-furnace,  or  in  the  early  stages  of  the  puddling 
process,  produces  burnt  iron.  Burnt  iron  is  brittle,  its. 
fracture  is  short  and  what  is  called  crystalline,  it  lias 
lost  the  fibrous  character  of  good  iron.  If  steel  is  raised 
to  a  bright  red  heat  and  suddenly  cooled,  it  is  rendered 
hard  and  brittle,  but  these  conditions  may  be  modified 
by  the  process  of  tempering ;  if,  however,  the  steel  be 
raised  to  a  yellow  or  white  heat,  and  then  be  suddenly 
cooled,  it  is  no  longer  capable  of  being  tempered  by  mere- 
reheating.  It  is  worthless  for  ordinary  uses  of  steel 
unless  it  is  again  raised  to  a  welding  heat  and  rolled  or 
hammered  while  hot,  then  allowed  to  cool  gradually. 
The  fracture  of  burnt  steel  presents  a  coarse  grain  and  a 
crystalline  appearance.  Careful  investigation,  however, 
shows  something  more,  viz.  that  the  facets  of  the  aggre¬ 
gated  granules  have  a  more  or  less  conchoidal  form.  Tlio 
name  of  “toads’  eyes”  has  been  given  by  practical  men 
to  these  concavities.  Mr.  Williams  found  that  a  piece- 
of  burnt  iron  contained  oxide  of  iron  dispersed  through 
it3  mass.  A  sample  of  burnt  steel,  however,  investigated 
in  the  same  manner  as  the  iron,  showed  no  indications  of 
the  presence  of  oxide.  This  of  course  was  to  be  expected, 
as  the  carbon  of  the  steel  must  more  or  less  completely 
protect  the  metal  from  oxidation.  That  iron,  when  un¬ 
protected  by  combined  carbon,  should  oxidize  not  merely 
on  its  surface,  but  through  its  whole  substance,  when 
exposed  at  a  sufficiently  high  temperature,  and  for  a 
sufficient  length  of  time  to  the  action  of  the  atmospheric 
oxygen,  is  not  difficult  to  conceive,  since  the  researches, 
of  Dcville,  Troost  and  Graham  have  shown  red-hot  iron. 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  22, 1871. 


S54 


to  be  permeable  by  certain  gases.  In  the  case  of  steel, 
as  Mr.  Williams  states,  the  burning  is  limited  to  the  oxi¬ 
dation  and  consequent  removal  of  the  carbon  which 
takes  place  even  at  a  low  red  heat.  The  permeability  of 
red-hot  steel  by  oxygen  and  carbonic  oxide  enables  us  to 
understand  the  process  of  the  internal  oxidation  of  the 
carbon.  The  “toads’  eyes,”  or  conchoidai; facets  of  the 


strychnine,  in  a  case  of  diabetes,  had  been  signally  suc¬ 
cessful.  He  believed  the  bromide  of  quinine  to  be  the 
best  preparation  in  cases  of  remittent  or  intermittent  fever. 
Dr.  Richardson  next  mentioned  bromal  hydrate,  which 
he  said  was  less  soluble,  and  produced  more  convulsive 
action  than  chloral  hydrate,  and  could  not,  he  thought, 
replace  it.  He  then  exhibited  a  specimen  of  pure  anhy- 


so-called  crystals,  Mr.  Williams  explains  by  supposing  a  drous  chloral,  which  by  the  addition  of  pure  water  was 
piece  of  steel  at  the  temperature  most  favourable  to  the  converted  into  chloral  hydrate.  He  suggested  that  as 
rapidest  endosmosis  of  oxygen  and  the  exosmosis  of  car-  chloral  itself  was  a  fluid  caustic,  abstracting  water  ra- 
bonic  oxide  to  be  suddenly  cooled,  and  the  possible  occlu-  pidly,  it  might  be  usefully  employed  in  some  cases  where 
sion  of  the  carbonic  oxide  to  be  arrested.  The  result  soft  fungous  growths  had  to  be  removed.  A  specimen 
'would  be  a  certain  molecular  disintegration  and  porosity  ,  of  metachloral,  an  insoluble  white  substance,  obtained  by 
-of  the  steel,  presenting  those  conchoidal  spots.  This  the  action  of  sulphuric  acid  upon  chloral  hydrate,  was 
view  is  further  supported  by  the  fact  that  burnt  steel  then  shown.  It  is  isomeric  with  chloral,  and  when  treated 
may  be  cured  by  reheating  and  hammering,  or  rolling  at  with  an  alkali  is  resolved  into  chloroform  and  chlorate 
a  welding  heat.  of  the  alkali  employed.  It  seemed  to  act  as  a  gentle 

“On  the  Formation  of  Sulpho-acids,”  by  Dr.  Arm-  narcotic  when  administered  to  inferior  animals.  Lastly, 
strong.  Occupied  with  an  investigation  into  the  con-  Dr.  Richardson  exhibited  a  specimen  of  mercaptan,  or 
stitution  of  sulphuric  acid,  the  author  turned  his  atten-  sulphur  alcohol  (C,HfiS),  in  which  the  oxygen  of  ordi- 
tion  to  chlorhydric  sulphate,  a  body  discovered  some  nary  alcohol  is  replaced  by  sulphur.  He  furnished  con- 
years  ago  by  Professor  Williamson.  When  that  sub-  siderablo  information  concerning  the  action  of  this  agent, 
stance,  S021I0  Cl,  is  made  to  react  on  benzol,  the  chief  and  specially  mentioned  the  mental  depression  produced 
product  of  the  reaction  is  sulphobenzid,  sulphobenzolic  by  it  even  when  taken  in  very  minute  quantities.  He 
chloride  and  sulphobenzolic  acid  being  also  formed,  but  said  also  that  it  communicated  to  the  breath  a  peculiar 
in  relatively  very  small  quantity.  This  led  Dr.  Arm-  odour  like  that  met  with  in  wasting  diseases,  a  fact  which 
strong  to  commence  a  series  of  experiments  to  determine,  might  furnish  the  groundwork  for  a  new  line  of  research 


if  possible,  the  conditions  under  which  the  one  or  the 
other  of  the  above  reactions  took  place,  and  to  arrive  at 
a  general  expression  for  the  action  of  chlorhydric  sul¬ 
phate  on  organic  bodies.  The  bodies  he  had  until  now 
acted  upon  with  S  02  H  0  Cl  are  brombenzol,  nitrobenzol, 
nitrophenol  (both  modifications,  the  volatile  and  the 
-non-volatile),  and  naphthalin.  The  results  of  his  ex¬ 
periments  lead  the  author  to  conclude  that  the  normal 
action,  so  to  speak,  of  SCLHO  Cl  is  to  form  a  sulphacid, 
the  Cl  of  the  chloride  removing  H  from  the  body  acted 
upon  and  replacing  it  by  the  groujD  S03H;  it  is  only 
nnder  certain  conditions  that  both  Cl  and  HO  are  re 


in  the  diagnosis  of  disease. 


SOCIETY  OF  ARTS. 

The  Cultivation  of  the  Beet-root  in  England. 


At  the  Ordinary  Meeting  of  this  Society  held  on  Wed¬ 
nesday,  March  8  th,  a  paper  was  read  by  Dr.  Augustus 
Yoelcker,  F.R.S.,  on  “The  Cultivation  and  Uses  of 
Sugar-Beet  in  England.”  The  author  commenced  by 
stating  that  scarcely  more  than  half  a  century  had 
passed  since  the  first  beetroot  sugar  manufactory  was 

moved  from  the  chloride,  and  a  sulphobenzid-analogous  ere<^e^  *n  Germany,  and  sugar  was  extracted  from  beet- 
compound  formed.  What  these  conditions  are,  Dr.  Arm-  i  r,00^  on  .a  commeicial  scale ;  yet  in  spite  of  many  hm- 
strong-  hopes  to  establish  by  further  experiments.  I  fiances  m  the  shape  of  vexatious  fiscal  regulations,  and 


ihe  nature  of  the  geological  stratum  from  which  it  takes 


Austria.  It  had  also  found  its  way  into  Russia,  Sweden 


its  origin.  The  water  above-mentioned  comes  from  what  and  the  United  States.  At  present  there  were  over  50 0 


Dr.  Dawson  terms  the  Middle  Coal  Formation  of  Nova 
Scotia,  which  includes  the  productive  beds  of  coal,  and 
which,  according  to  the  same  authority,  are  destitute  of 
properly  marine  limestone.  The  analysis  of  the  water 
.seems  to  bear  out  the  latter  assertion,  since  the  water  is 
very  poor  in  chlorides. 


MEDICAL  SOCIETY  OF  LONDON. 


beetroot  sugar  factories  and  distilleries  in  France,  nearly 
200  in  Belgium  and  about  300  in  Prussia.  Probably 
the  number  of  Continental  factories  did  not  fall  far  short 
of  2000,  most  of  which  were  reported  as  doing  a  lucrative 
business.  Notwithstanding  the  success  which  had  at- 
i  tended  the  industry  abroad,  few  attempts  had  been  made 
in  England  to  cultivate  this  useful  crop,  which  he  attri- 
I  buted  to  the  fact  that  while  on  the  Continent  the  manu¬ 
facturer  was  often  himself  a  farmer,  this  was  not  the 
case  in  England ;  and,  therefore,  the  farmer  in  this 


At  the  meeting  of  the  Medical  Society  on  Monday,  I  country  did  not  pay  such  special  attention  to  thecultiva- 
March  13,  Dr.  B.  W.  Richardson  read  a  paper,  entitled  tion  of  roots  rich  in  sugar. 

Some  Further  Additions  to  Therapeutics  :  Organic  Bro-  In  speaking  of  the  cultivation  of  the  beetroot,  Dr. 
mides,  Metachloral;  with  a  Note  on  Sulphur  Alcohol.”  Voelcker  described  it  as  a  biennial  plant,  growing  wild 
After  reference  to  the  methods  of  research  in  therapeu-  in  the  south  of  Europe.  It  was  introduced  into  the 
tics,  he  introduced  some  new  medicinal  bromides,  viz.  Netherlands  by  the  Spaniards,  and  thence  brought  into 
biomide  of  quinine,  bromide  of  morphine,  and  bromide  Germany.  The  common  field  beet,  of  which  the  German 
Gi  sti)  chnme,  together  with  some  combinations  of  them,  name  is  “  mangel wurzel,”  was  introduced  into  this 
He  said  that  bromides^  were  best  administered  in  the  country  from  Germany  during  the  last  century.  The 
lor rn  of  s\  i  ups,  containing  one  grain  of  the  bromide  of  sugar-beet  is  a  variety  of  the  common  mangelwurzel 
quinine,  one-eightli  of  a  grain  of  morphine,  or  one  thirty-  obtained  by  crossing  and  culture.  Of  the  different  sorts, 
second  pait  of  a  grain  of  bromide  of  strychnia  in  the  i  the  white  Silesian  root  ( Beta  alba )  is  the  most  valued  as 
drachm  of  each  of  the  respective  syrups.  Compounds  of  being  particularly  rich  in  sugar.  When  grown  in  per- 
the  syiups  of  the  bromides  of  quinine  and  morphine,  and  fection  it  is  pear-shaped,  white  in  the  body,  shows  very 


of  quinine,  morphine  and  strychnine  were  also  useful 
In  each  drachm  of  these  the  same  proportion  of  dose  was 
maintained.  He  had  found  the  bromide  of  quinine  of 
great  service  in  syphilitic  ulceration.  Repeated  doses  of 


little  above  ground,  penetrates  about  twelve  inches  into 
the  soil  and  has  numerous  radicles.  It  is  light  green  on 
the  top,  has  white  flesh,  green  leaves  with  lighter 
coloured  ribs,  and  strong  long  petioles.  The  specific 


syrup  of  bromide  of  quinine  and  morphine  in  cases  of  gravity  of  the  beetroot  affords  a  good  test  of  its  quality ; 
neuralgia,  and  the  syrup  of  quinine,  morphine  and  the  greater  its  specific  gravity  the  richer,  as  a  rule,  will 


April  22,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


855 


.it  be  found  in  sugar.  A  better  test  is  the  specific  gravity 
of  the  juice,  which,  when  of  good  quality,  usually  varies 
dn  sp.  gr.  from  TO?  to  1-06,  or  even  1-078.  These  roots 
•contain  over  14  per  cent,  of  crystallizable  sugar.  The 
juice  of  roots  poor  in  sugar  invariably  falls  below  sp.  gr. 
1-06. 

After  treating  of  the  character  of  the  soils  suitable  or 
all- adapted  for  the  growth  of  beets,  the  manure,  the  time 
of  sowing,  distance  of  planting  and  various  other  points 
connected  with  the  cultivation,  the  author  proceeded 
to  discuss  the  composition  of  sugar-beets.  He  said  that 
all  the  sugar  present  in  fairly  ripe  roots  is  crystallizable, 
.and  when  perfectly  pure,  identical  in  composition  with 
crystallized  cane-sugar.  Beetroots  do  not  contain  any 
glucose,  or  grape  sugar,  and  the  glucose  contained  in  the 
molasses  produced  in  beet-sugar  manufacture  is  the  re¬ 
sult  of  changes  which  cannot  altogether  be  avoided  in 
extracting  the  crystallizable  sugar  from  the  roots.  In 
addition  to  sugar,  which  is  the  principal  solid  constituent 
of  beets,  there  is  found  in  them  water,  albuminous  or 
nitrogenous  compounds,  vegetable  fibre,  pectinous  com¬ 
pounds,  and  mineral  constituents  taken  up  from  the  soil. 

The  following  is  the  report  of  an  analysis  of  a  root 
grown  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Lavenham,  in  Suffolk. 
The  root  is  described  as  having  a  red  top,  rose-coloured 
skin,  and  weighing  2  lb.  4  4  oz.  The  specific  gravity  of 
ihe  juice  was  1-0689  at  a  temperature  of  64°  F. 


3Ioisture . 82*72 

Albuminous  compounds  (containing 

•231  of  nitrogen) . l-44 

Crude  fibre  (pulp) . 3-38 

Crystallizable  sugar . 10-94 

Pectin,  colouring  matter,  etc.  .  .  ‘45 

3Iineral  matter  (ash) . 1"07 


100-00 

Other  roots  grown  at  Lavenham,  and  in  Norfolk, 
Berkshire  and  Buckinghamshire,  contained  from  9  to  11 
per  cent,  of  sugar.  . 

As  an  illustration  of  the  importance  of  a  judicious  use 
of  manure  in  the  cultivation  of  beet,  Dr.  Yoelcker  men¬ 
tioned  that  the  highest  percentage  of  sugar,  amounting 
to  13  per  cent.,  which  he  had  obtained  from  any  of  the 
numerous  specimens  that  had  been  sent  him  was  from  a 
xose-coloured  Silesian  beet  weighing  little  above  two 
pounds,  which  had  been  grown  at  Barking  with  London 
.sewage.  On  the  other  hand,  in  another  specimen  raised 
by  the  same  sewrage  in  the  same  season,  he  found  only  3 
per  cent,  of  sugar.  The  author  then  described  the  pro¬ 
cess  of  the  manufacture  of  beetroot  sugar,  an  account  of 
which  we  pui-pose  giving  in  noticing  another  paper  read 
before  the  Society  at  its  next  meeting. 

Beetroot  distillation  was  the  next  subject  passed  under 
review,  a  business  which  on  the  Continent  is  often  added 
to  the  sugar  manufacture,  as  it  enables  the  manufacturer 
in  a  season  when  the  beetroot  is  too  poor  to  extract  the 
sugar  with  profit,  to  utilize  the  crop  by  fermenting  the 
sliced  roots  or  their  saccharine  juice,  and  obtain  by  dis¬ 
tillation  the  spirit  which  has  been  produced  by  the  pro¬ 
cess  of  fermentation.  The  roots  which  are  comparatively 
poor  in  sugar  also  contain  a  larger  proportion  of  albu¬ 
minous  and  saliue  constituents  which  interfere  with  the 
production  of  sugar-crystals,  but  have  no  influence  on 
'the  fermentation,  and  do  not  diminish  the  amount  of 
.alcohol.  In  addition  to  water,  the  first  distillation  of  the 
.fermented  roots  contains  certain  bye-products  of  fer¬ 
mentation  which  are  poisonous,  and  have  a  very  unplea¬ 
sant  taste  and  smell.  They  are  volatile,  and  popularly 
known  under  the  name  of  fousel  oils.  From  these  vola¬ 
tile  impurities  the  weak  crude  spirit  is  separated  by 
rectification. 

The  paper  concluded  with  a  reference  to  the  value  oi 
.the  beetroot  pulp,  or  refuse,  which  is  produced  in  the 
•sugar  manufactories  or  distilleries,  as  a  feeding  material. 
In  its  natural  state  the  pulp  contains  from  70  to  72  per 


cent,  of  water,  while  in  the  ordinary  mangold  the  water 
amounts  on  an  average  to  S8  or  89  per  cent.  In  round 
numbers  the  refuse  pulp  of  sugar  factories  where  presses 


are  used  contains,  in  100  parts  : — 

Water . 70-0 

Sugar . 1*5 

Albuminous  compounds  (flesh-forming 

matters) . 2  5 

Crude  fibre  and  a  little  lactic  acid  .  .  .  24-0 

31ineral  matter  (ash) . 2  0 


100-0 

Taking  into  consideration  the  probable  difference  in 
the  feeding  value  of  sugar  and  vegetable  fibre,  Dr. 
Yoelcker  said  he  was  inclined  to  think  that  a  ton  of 
fresh  beetroot  pulp,  as  it  comes  from  the  presses,  or  old 
pulp,  not  containing  more  water  than  fresh,  is  worth 
fully  as  much  for  feeding  purposes  as  1|  tons  of  the 
beetroots  from  which  it  is  obtained,  or  two  tons  of  com¬ 
mon  mangolds. 


LONDON  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

At  the  3Ieeting  on  Thursday,  3Iarch  9th,  3Ir.  Cox 
occupying  the  chair,  Mr.  Jessop  made  some  remarks  on 
Structural  Botany.  He  endeavoured  to  show  in  what 
way  the  structure  of  plants,  both  with  regard  to  their 
internal  and  external  organs,  may  best  bo  studied. 

By  the  help  of  a  number  of  well-executed  diagrams, 
he;  pointed  out  the  differences  in  shape  of  the  various 
kinds  of  cells,  explaining  how  they  became  modified, 
and  how  they  were  all  traceable  back  to  the  original 
oval  shape.  He  carried  out  the  same  plan  with  roots 
and  bulbs,  and  showed  how  the  different  forms  of  these 
may  be  dei’ived  from  certain  primary  forms  ;  several  dia¬ 
grams  were  exhibited,  in  which  leaves  were  traced  from 
a  few  simple  lines  to  their  many  modifications  of  shape. 
The  arrangement  of  leaves  upon  their  stems  was  next 
spoken  of.  It  seemed,  Mr.  Jcssop  remarked,  that  leaves 
followed  some  arithmetical  rule  of  growth  ;  it  was  almost 
the  only  instance  in  which  figures  were  of  any  use  in 
botany.  The  theory  that  the  veins  of  leaves  strike  off 
from  the  primary  vein  at  the  same  angle  as  the  stems  of 
the  plants  on  which  they  grow  was  also  .gone  into ;  there 
could  be  no  doubt,  he  said,  that  similar  species,  and  even 
genera,  of  plants  followed  such  a  law.  3Ir.  Jcssop  next 
spoke  of  plants  becoming  modified,  so  as  to  suit  them¬ 
selves  to  certain  conditions  of  life  ;  of  how  plants  grow 
in  classes  and  compose  the  scenery  of  certain  districts 
and  countries.  After  explaining  why  botany  was  not, 
and  could  not,  be  a  science  made  up  of  abstract  lav  s,  he 
said  he  certainly  thought  more  might  be  done  to  simplify 
the  study  in  the  manner  he  had  attempted.  . 

After  discussing  some  notes  in  the  “  Inquiry  Box,  a 
vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Jessop  and  the  Chairman  termi¬ 
nated  the  meeting. 


PHILADELPHIA  COLLEGE  OF  PHARMACY. 

At  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting  on  3Iarch  21st,  3Ir. 
oiiiNG  referred  to  several  specimens  from  a  large  natural 
;posit  of  phosphates,  recently  utilized  by  the  Charleston 
South  Carolina)  3Iining  and  3Ianufacturing  Company, 
ime  of  these  are  bones,  vertebrae,  etc.,  of  large  animals, 
it  others  appear  of  irregular  and  indefinite  shapes,^  so 
i  to  obscure  their  origin.  The  quantity  of  this  mate- 
al  is  immense,  and  it  is  readily  obtained  near  the^sur- 
,ce.  According  to  the  published,  analysis  it  contains 
3 out  29  per  cent,  of  phosphoric  acid,  equal  to  about  03 
jr  cent,  of  bone  phosphate  of  lb1}*3  j  if 3  chief  use  at 
resent  is  in  the  fabrication  of  fertilizers. 

Prof.  3Iaisck  exhibited  samples  of  Vanilla  planxjoua , 
-Bourbon  Vanilla.  This  variety  does  not  possess  the 
ime  delicacy  of  odour  as  the  Mexican.  Ihe  bean 
Lffers  from  the  3Iexican,  being  shorter,  wider  and  tei- 


85G 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  22,  1871. 


minuting  more  abruptly  at  the  ends.  Prof.  Maisch  also 
made  some  remarks  upon  several  varieties  of  Rhubarb 
not  met  with  in  the  United  States  markets.  These  rhu¬ 
barbs  are  grown  in  Austria,  and  called  Rheum  Emodi  and 
Rheum  pal mat  urn.  They  are  cultivated  to  a  considerable 
extent,  principally  for  dispensing  to  the  poor,  being- 
very  much  cheaper  in  price.  A  sample  exhibited  was 
handsome  in  appearance,  and  sold  at  $5  to  §7.20,  gold, 
for  108  pounds.  This  variety  is  so  well  prepared  that 
it  is  very  difficult,  except  upon  close  examination,  to 
distinguish  it  from  good  Chinese  rhubarb. 

Mr.  Gailaud  spoke  of  the  elixir  of  pepsin,  bismuth 
and  strychnia,  and  the  difficulty  experienced  by  most 
apothecaries  in  preventing  precipitation,  and  suggested 
forming  a  citrate  of  the  quinia  and  strychnia  with  excess 
of  citric  acid,  neutralizing  the  excess  of  acid  with  am¬ 
monia  ;  by  this  means  he  obtained  a  satisfactory  prepa¬ 
ration. — Amer.  Journ.  Rharm. 


MEETINGS  EOIt  TIIE  ENSUING  WEEN. 


Monday  . Medical  Society,  at  8  r.M. 

April  24.  London  Institution,  at  4  p.m. — “On  Astro¬ 

nomy”  (Educational  Course).  By  It.  A. 
Proctor,  F.R.A.S. 

Tuesday  . Royal  Institution,  at  3 p.m. — ‘-'On  the  Geo- 

April  25.  logy  of  Devonshire,  especially  of  the  New 

Red  Sandstone.”  By  W.  Pengelly,  F.R.S. 


Royal  Medical  and  Chirurgical  Society,  at 
8.30  p.m. 

Wednesday  ...Society  of  Arts,  at  8  p.m. — “Photography  in 
April  26.  the  Printing  Press,  being  a  Description  of 

the  Working  of  the  Heliotype  Process.” 
By  E.  Edwards. 

London  Institution,  at  12. — Annual  Meeting 


of  Proprietors. 

Thursday . Royal  Society,  at  9  p.m. 

April  27.  London  Institution,  at  7.30  p.m. — “Econo¬ 
mic  Botany.”  By  Professor  Bentley. 

Friday  . Royal  Institution,  at  8  p.m. 

April  28.  Qmkett  Club,  at  8  p.m. 


VACANCIES  AND  APPOINTMENTS  IN  CONNEC¬ 
TION  WITH  PHARMACY. 

The  Editor  will  be  glad  to  receive  early  notice  of  any 
vacancies  of  pharmaceutical  offices  connected  ivith  public 
institutions,  and  likewise  of  appointments  that  are  made, — 
in  order  that  they  may  be  published  regularly  in  the  Journal. 

VACANCY. 

The  office  of  Dispenser  at  the  South  Staffordshire  General 
Hospital.  For  particulars,  see  advertisement  in  last  week’s 
J  ournal. 


Poisoning  of  a  Child  through  the  Mistake 
of  the  Doctor. 


.At  Counden,  near  Bishop  Auckland,  the  child  of  a 
pitman  has  been  accidentally  poisoned,  in  consequence 
of  the  wrong  powders  having  been  given.  Directly  the 
mistake  was  discovered  the  doctor,  Mr.  M‘Intosh,  was 
sent  for,  who  said  it  was  entirely  his  fault,  that  he  had 
sent  the  powders  for  the  mother  instead  of  the  child. 
The  child  died  on  Sunday,  March  26th.  An  inquest 
was  opened  by  the  deputy-coroner  on  the  following 
W  ednesday,  but  the  inquiry  was  adjourned  for  a  fort- 
night.  South  Durham  and  Cleveland  Mercury . 


Poisoning  by  Cyanide  of  Potassium. 

An  inquest  has  been  held  at  St.  Neots  to  inquire  into 
the  death  of  William  Peck,  the  evidence  given  at  which 
illustrates  the  carelessness  with  which  poisons  are  kept  j 


by  many  persons  who  are  in  the  habit  of  using  them  for 
the  purposes  of  their  business. 

It  appeared  that  the  deceased  had  been  transacting 
some  business  with  Mr.  Chambers,  a  watchmaker  of  that 
town,  and  asked  for  a  glass  of  beer,  which  was  given 
him.  Shortly  afterwards  he  was  seen  by  an  acquain¬ 
tance  leaning  against  a  wall,  apparently  very  ill.  He 
Mils  taken  back  to  Mr.  Chambers’s,  and  medical  assist¬ 
ance  obtained,  but  died  about  an  hour  afterwards. 

Mr.  W.  Chambers  said  that  the  deceased  having 
asked  for  a  glass  of  beer,  he  told  his  wife  to  bring  the 
bottle  of  beer  from  the  parlour,  and  pour  out  a  glass. 
She  did  so,  and  the  deceased  drank  it,  and  remarked  that 
it  was  very  nice.  He  had  another  bottle  in  his  work¬ 
shop,  labelled  “gilding  solution,”  containing  cyanide  of 
potassium,  muriatic  acid,  ammonia  and  water.  Since 
the  accident  ho  had  labelled  that  bottle  “-Poison.”  An 
hour  or  two  before  Peck  came  in  he  sent  for  some- 
beer,  a  portion  of  which  he  mixed  with  the  gilding-solu¬ 
tion  ;  the  remainder  was  put  into  a  bottle.  He  sup¬ 
posed  that  after  he  had  done  gilding  he  had  poured  the 
remainder  of  the  gilding  solution  into  the  same  bottle, 
as  it  was  standing  side  by  side  with  the  gilding-solution 
bottle,  but  he  had  no  recollection  of  so  doing.  He  after¬ 
wards  took  the  bottle  into  the  parlour,  with  the  intention 
of  drinking  the  beer  it  contained  at  supper,  and,  if  Peck 
had  not  come  in  when  he  did,  undoubtedly  himself  and 
his  wife  would  have  drunk  it.  The  bottle  containing 
the  gilding  solution  was  generally  kept,  with  several 
other  bottles  containing  acids,  etc.,  in  a  cupboard  on  the 
cellar  stairs. 

Mr.  Wright,  surgeon,  said  that  he  found  the  deceased 
in  a  state  of  great  nervous  depression,  and  insensible. 
He  placed  him  in  a  semi-erect  position,  and  poured  some 
solution  of  ammonia  down  his  throat.  A  galvanic  bat¬ 
tery  was  also  used  with  some  apparent  benefit,  but  death 
ensued  soon  afterwards.  He  was  sure  it  had  been  caused 
by  cyanide  of  potassium.  He  remarked  that  in  his 
opinion  there  was  enough  cyanide  of  potassium  in  the 
glass  of  beer  which  the  deceased  drank  to  poison  up¬ 
wards  of  twenty  people. 

The  coroner  said  that  from  the  evidence  there  could 
be  no  doubt  that  the  poison  was  placed  in  the  beer  acci¬ 
dentally,  but  Chambers  had  been  guilty  of  gross  careless¬ 
ness.  The  bottle  of  poison,  also,  was  left  in  such  a. 
manner  that  any  person  might  have  drunk  from  it,  not 
even  the  word  poison  having  been  put  on  it  till  after  the 
fatal  occurrence. 

The  jury  returned  a  verdict  “  That  death  was  caused 
by  poison  administered  accidentally,  but  under  circum¬ 
stances  of  gross  carelessness  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Cham¬ 
bers.” 


BOOKS  RECEIVED. 

Anaesthetics.  By  Edward  R.  Squibb,  M.D.  Yew  York. 
3871.  From  the  Author. 

CuRIOSITES  DE  l’ ALIMENTATION.  By  Dl1.  J.  L.  SOUBEIRAN. 

Paris.  1871.  From  the  Author. 

Proceedings  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  As¬ 
sociation  at  the  Eighteenth  Annual  Meeting,  held  in 
Baltimore  in  September,  1870;  also  the  Constitution  and 
Roll  of  Members.  Philadelphia.  1870. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received : — The 'British 
Medical  Journal,’  April  15  ;  the ‘Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
April  15 ;  the  ‘  Lancet,’  April  15 ;  the  ‘  Medical  Press  and 
Circular,’  April  19  ;  ‘Nature,’  April  13  ;  the  ‘Chemical  News,’ 
April  14  ;  ‘  J  ournal  of  the  Society  ot  Arts,’  April  12 ;  ‘  Gar¬ 
deners’  Chronicle,’  April  15 ;  the  ‘  Grocer,’  April  15;  ‘  Produce 
Markets  Review,’  April  15  ;  the  ‘  English  Mechanic,’  April  14 
the  ‘American  Journal  of  Pharmacy’  for  April;  the  ‘Chicago 
Pharmacist’  for  March;  ;  the  :  New  Yrork  Druggists’  Circu¬ 
lar’  for  April;  the  ‘New  York  Medical  Record,’  April  1 
i  the  ‘  North  China  Daily  News,’  February  18. 


April  22,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


8-57 


itotts  anir  times. 


***  In  order  to  facilitate  reference,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  their  answers  in  each  case  with  the  title 
and  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

NOTICE. — To  prevent  delay,  correspondents  are  re¬ 
quested  to  send  their  communications  to  the  Journal  Depart¬ 
ment,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  W.C.,  and  not  to  the  Pub¬ 
lishers. 

[191.]— SOLVENT  OF  WHITE  SHELLAC.— The  reply 
of  Mr.  Allen  as  to  the  insolubility  of  white  lac  a  fortnight 
after  its  preparation  is  only  a  partial  truth.  I  have  kept  it 
in  glass-stoppered  bottles  and  in  stone  jai's  for  many  months 
without  its  solubility  being  in  any  degree  impaired. — J. 
Whitfield. 

[204.]—  LINIMENTUM  RUB  RUM.  —  F.  J.  Machin 

sends  the  following  formula  : — 

R.  01.  Succini  Rect.  m.xx 
01.  Carui  5j 
01.  Terebinth,  ^ij 
01.  Rubri  ^iv 
Otto  Rosm  gtt.  iv 
01.  Lini  ad  5xvj. 

M.  ft.  Linimentum. 

[211.]— HORTICULTURAL  INK.— Bichloride  of  plati¬ 
num  dissolved  in  distilled  water  forms  an  indelible  ink  for 
writing  on  zinc  or  brass  labels.  N.B. — Must  be  used  with  a 
quill  pen. — J.  J.  Thomas,  Weymouth. 

[222.]— TINCT.  COLOCYNTH.— Neligan  gives  the  fol¬ 
lowing  formula : — 

Colocynth  yj 
Star  Anise  5j 
Rectified  Spirit  fjxiv. 

Digest  for  three  days  and  filter. — J.  Whitfield. 

TUBA  ROOTS. — We  have  received  the  following  com¬ 
munication  from  Dr.  J.  E.  De  Vry: — In  reference  to  the 
notice  on  tuba  roots  on  p.  790  of  your  valued  periodical,  I 
take  the  liberty  to  inform  you  that  the  natives  in  Java  use 
under  that  name  Dalbergia  heterophylla  and  D.  purpurea 
to  narcotize  fishes  with  the  intention  to  catch  them.  I  sup¬ 
pose  these  are  the  same  plants  which  are  used  in  Borneo 
under  the  name  of  tuba  or  tooba. 

The  Hague,  6th  April,  1871. 

PARRISH’S  SYRUP  OF  THE  PHOSPHATES,  OR 
CHEMICAL  FOOD. — For  the  information  of  several  of 
our  correspondents,  we  reproduce  the  formula  for  the  above, 
from  Parrish’s  ‘  Practical  Pharmacy.’ 

Parrish's  Compound  Syrup  of  Phosphates. 

Take  of  Protosulphate  of  Iron  ^x 
Phosphate  of  Soda 
Phosphate  of  Lime  5xlj 
Phosphoric  Acid,  Glacial,  5xx 
Carbonate  of  Soda  9:j 
Carbonate  of  Potassa5j 
Muriatic  Acid 

Water  of  Ammonia,  of  each,  sufficient 
Powdered  Cochineal  5'j 
Water,  sufficient 
Sugar  lb.ij  ^viij,  offic.  ^ 

Orange-flower  Water  f  3]. 

Dissolve  the  sulphate  of  iron  in  [5  ij  of  boiling  water,  and 
the  phosphate  of  soda  in  f  giv  of  boiling  water.  Mix  the  so¬ 
lutions  and  wash  the  precipitated  phosphate  of  iron  till  the 
washings  are  tasteless.  Dissolve  the  phosphate  of  lime  in  four 
fluid  ounces  of  boiling  water  with  sufficient  muriatic  acid  to 
make  a  clear  solution  ;  when  cool,  precipitate  it  with  water  of 
ammonia,  and  wash  the  precipitate. 

To  the  freshly-precipitated  phosphates,  as  thus  prepared, 
add  the  phosphoric  acid  previously  dissolved  in  water ;  when 
clear,  add  the  carbonates  of  soda  and  potassa,  previously  dis¬ 
solved  in  water,  and  muriatic  acid  to  dissolve  any  precipitate. 
Now  dilute  with  water  till  it  reaches  the  measure  of  22  fluid 
■Dunces,  add  the  sugar,  and  towards  the  last,  the  cochineal ; 


dissolve  by  the  aid  of  heat,  strain,  and,  when  cool,  add  the 
orange -flower  water. 

As  thus  made,  each  teaspoonful  contains  about  2|  grains 
of  phosphate  of  lime,  1  grain  of  phosphate  of  iron,  with  frac¬ 
tions  of  a  grain  of  phosphates  of  soda  and  potassa,  besides 
free  phosphoric  and  hydrochloric  acids.  The  solution  is  per¬ 
fect,  the  taste  agreeably  acid  and  the  flavour  pleasant.  The 
disposition  to  precipitate  a  bulky  sediment  of  the  insoluble 
phosphates  is  one  of  the  greatest  annoyances  in  this  prepara¬ 
tion,  when  made  on  a  large  scale,  and  can  be  obviated  best  by 
substituting  hydrochloric  acid  for  a  suitable  portion  of  the 
phosphoric  acid  used,  taking  care  to  separate  tiie  liquid  into 
two  portions,  and  adding  the  carbonate  of  soda  and  potassa 
to  that  consisting  exclusively  of  the  phosphoric  acid  solution, 
lest  portions  of  chloride  of  sodium  and  chloride  of  potassium 
should  bo  formed  and  contaminate  the  resulting  solution. 

Owing  to  the  uncertain  strength  of  phosphoric  acid  of  com¬ 
merce,  being  a  mixture  of  the  monobasic,  bibasic,  and  tribasic 
acids,  and  always  being  contaminated  with  earthy  phosphates, 
there  is  some  uncertainty  about  the  proportions  to  be  em¬ 
ployed  in  the  above  formula.  These  considerations  have  in¬ 
duced  the  trial  of  a  method  by  double  decomposition,  which 
should  always  furnish  a  uniform  strength  of  acid  from  a  cheap 
and  accessible  source. 

E.  Scheffer,  of  Louisville,  Ky,  has  proposed  to  take  49 '25 
drachms  of  phosphate  of  lime,  34T25  monohydrated  sulphuric 
acid,  diluted  with  three  times  its  weight  of  water,  put  them 
in  a  thin  dish  and  heat  on  a  water-bath  for  half  a  day.  By 
this  process  only  37-25  drachms  of  phosphate  of  lime  will  be 
decomposed  by  the  sulphuric  acid  which  combines  with  the 
lime  of  these  37'25  drachms  to  form  sulphate  of  lime,  while 
the  phosphoric  acid  is  set  free  and  holds  the  other  twelve 
drachms  of  phosphate  of  lime  in  solution.  After  it  has  cooled, 
the  magma  is  pres-ed,  macerated  with  fresh  water,  and  again 
pressed,  and  the  liquid  evaporated,  if  necessary,  to  twenty 
fluid  ounces,  cooled  and  filtered.  The  phosphate  of  iron  and 
carbonate  of  potassa  and  soda  are  now  added  as  in  my  own 
recipe,  and  the  whole  made  into  a  syrup  secundum  artem. 

The  washing  of  the  precipitated  sulphate  of  lime  is  best 
performed  in  a  funnel,  the  water  being  thrown  upon  the 
middle  in  a  kind  of  reservoir  formed  by  raising  the  precipitate 
on  the  sides  of  the  funnel;  the  last  portions  are  collected  se¬ 
parately  and  evaporated  until,  with  the  stronger  portion, 
thev  have  the  desired  measure. 

Dr.  Joseph  G.  Richardson,  of  Philadelphia,  has  proposed 
to  use  citric  acid  as  the  solvent  for  the  phosphates  in  the  com¬ 
pound  syrup  ;  this  substitution,  though  probably  modifying 
the  therapeutic  properties  of  the  preparation,  furnishes  it  in 
a  very7  agreeable  form. 

Me  are  indebted  to  the  Chicago  Pharmacist  for  the  follow¬ 
ing  formulae : — 

BORAX  AND  GLYCERINE. 

Take  of  Borate  of  Soda  in  fine  powder,  1  part. 
Glycerine,  2  parts. 

Mix,  perfume,  and  coiour  with  cochineal. 

MEDICATED  PRUNES. 

Take  of  Senna  leaves,  2  parts. 

Boiling  water,  1(3  parts. 

Macerate  for  an  hour  and  strain:  add  to  this  infusion, 
Prunes  (stoned),  32  parts. 

Sugar  (crushed),  10  parts. 

Boil  together,  with  constant  stirring,  for  about  ten  minutes, 
and  evaporate  by  means  of  a  water-bath,  until  reduced  to  a 
pulpv  consistence  ;  add  to  each  pound  ot  this  confection, 
Citric  Acid,  in  fine  powder,  1  drachm. 
Tincture  of  Ginger,  1  fluid  ounce. 

Mix. 

CULINARY  ESSENCES. 

Flavour  of  Almond. 

Take  of  Oil  of  Bitter  Almonds  1  11.  drm. 

Alcohol,  95  per  cent.  10  11.  oz. 

Water  6  11.  oz. 

Dissolve  the  oil  in  the  alcohol  and  add  the  water,  and  filter. 

This  flavour  should  not  be  sold  without  a  caution  ns  to  its 
poisonous  nature,  and  directions  as  to  the  quantity  to  be  used. 

Flavour  of  Cara-way. 

Take  of  Caraway  Seed,  bruised,  1  oz.  troy 
Oil  of  Caraway  Seed  2  11.  drms. 

Diluted  Alcohol  16  11.  oz. 

Digest  for  eight  or  ten  days  and  filter. 


85  S 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  22,  1871. 


Flavour  of  Celery. 

Take  of  Celery  Seed,  bruised,  4  oz.  troy 
Diluted  Alcohol  16  fl.  oz. 

Digest  for  eight  or  ten  days  and  filter. 

Flavour  of  Cinnamon. 

Take  of  Ceylon  Cinnamon,  brused,  2  ox.  troy 
Oil  of  Cinnamon  ^  fl.  drm. 

Diluted  Alcohol  16  fl.  oz. 

Digest  for  fourteen  days  and  filter. 

Flavour  of  Cloves. 

Take  of  Cloves,  bruised,  1  oz.  troy 
Oil  of  Cloves  2  fl.  drms. 

Diluted  Alcohol  16  fl.  oz. 

Digest  for  eight  or  ten  days  and  filter. 


[225.]— CONCENTRATED  INFUSIONS. —  G.  31.  would 
be  glad  to  receive  information  as  to  the  best  method  of  pre¬ 
paring  concentrated  infusions  which  will  keep. 

[*#*  4Yc  think  the  best  way  is  to  avoid  concentrated  prepa¬ 
rations,  and  use  fresh  infusions.  These  may  be  prepared  in  a 
very  short  time.  See  a  paper  by  Mr.  Barnes  on  the  subject, 
ante,  p.  368,  and  another  by  Mr.  Allchin,  ante,  pp.  421,  481. 
— Ed.  Pharm.  Journ.] 

[226.]—  COD-LIVER  OIL  JELLY.— C.  F.  L.  AT.  would 
be  obliged  if  any  one  would  favour  him  with  particulars  of 
the  manipulation  for  the  formula  which  appeared  in  the 
Journal  for  April  8  [210].  The  ingredients  and  proportion 
were  named,  but  not  the  way  of  mixing.  He  has  tried  it 
several  ways,  but  failed  to  make  anything  like  an  elegant 
preparation. — A.  P.  S. 

[227.]— PREPARATION  OF  POMADES.— I  should  be 
glad  if  any  reader  could  inform  me  of  a  remedy  for  prevent¬ 
ing  the  steamed  appearance  on  the  sides  of  pomade  bottles 
after  they  are  filled  and  the  pomade  becomes  cold.  I  have 
tried  warming  the  bottles,  and  deferred  putting  the  pomade 
into  the  bottles  until  almost  solid,  but  with  no  better  result. 
— “Moelline.” 

[228.]— SYRUPUS  TONIC  US.— "  fou  will  oblige  by  saying 
in  next  publication  of  your  Journal  what  should  be  dispensed 
for  syrupus  tonicus  in  a  prescription  (a  Manchester  prescrip¬ 
tion).—!1.  P.  B. 

[229.] — STRAINERS. — What  is  the  best  straining  ma¬ 
terial  for  the  dispensing  counter — toiv  excepted  ? — J.  AY. 

[230.] — SILVERING  FOR  PILLS. — What  is  the  best 
substitute  for  mucilage  of  gum  arabic  in  silvering  pills  ? — 

J .  W. 

[231.] — BEETLE  POWDER. — Can  any  reader  oblige  me 
with  a  good  formula? — “  Give  and  Take.” 

[232.]— LIQUID  DENTIFRICE.— I  should  be  obliged 
by  a  formula  which  is  effectual  and  agreeable. — Tooth. 

[233.]- — PLATE  POWDER  for  polishing  brass,  silver, 
etc.  Will  be  obliged  for  a  good  recipe. — G.  H. 

[234.]— A  PROBLEM  FROM  DOVER.— What  should 
be  the  colour  and  consistence  of  this  medicine,  and  in  what 
order  should  the  ingredients  be  mixed  ?  The  person  who 
brought  the  prescription  said  he  never  had  it  made  up  twice 
consecutively  the  same  colour. 

-n  t  •  ^  .  .A  CoM- 

Av.  Liq.  Quimce  Ammon,  ^iss 

Syr.  Ferri  Phosph.  yj 

Ferri  Ammon.  Citr.  ^j 

Acid.  Phosph.  Dil.  5iss 

Aquas  Menth.  Pip.  5iiss 

Ammon.  Phospliat.' md 

M.  ft.  mistura. — A.  B. 

[235.]  MINERAL  OILS. — Would  any  scientific  reader 
tell  me  to  uliat  is  attributable  the  peculiar  “bloom”  so  cha¬ 
racteristic  ot  refined  mineral  oils,  and  inform  me  if  there  is 
any  process  by  which  this  may  be  got  rid  of?  The  “  bloom  ” 
much  resembles  that  of  quinine  in  solution. — A.  P.  B. 

[*#*  The  character  referred  to  is  an  instance  of  fluorescence 
similar  to  that  familiar  to  pharmacists  in  a  solution  of  quinine. 
See  an  article  by  Professor  Fliickigcr,  ante,  p.  682. — Ed. 
Fharm.  Journ.] 


ferajwnictttc. 

***  No  notice  can  be  tahen  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Has  Public  Opinion,  as  indicated  by  the  Press, 

DEMANDED  COMPULSORY  REGULATIONS  FOR  THE  STOR¬ 
ING,  etc.  of  Poisons? 

Sir, — I  beg  to  hand  you  the  enclosed  correspondence. 

So  lately  as  March  31st,  Mr.  Dymond  reiterated  in  a  public 
meeting  the  argument  in  favour  of  accepting  the  compulsory 
regulations,  “  that  the  press  demanded  it,  and  they  knew 
that  the  public  ajiproved  it.” 

In  a  parenthesis,  Mr.  Dymond  is  reported  to  liafe  thrown 
in  a  contradiction  of  something  which  he  wrongly  assumed 
I  had  said,  and  he  attempts  to  thrust  forward  this  side  issue 
as  a  shield  against  my  demand  for  the  proofs  of  his  own 
assertion. 

I  am  not  aware  that  any  public  interest  cr  advantage 
would  result  from  my  complying  with  Mr.  Dymond’s  request 
to  make  a  particular  statement,  in  order  that  he  may  dis¬ 
prove  it.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  I  recognize  great  import¬ 
ance  in  the  main  issue  between  us,  and  I  now  publicly  ask 
Mr.  Dymond  to  tell  us  how  many  of  the  “  3370  newspapers 
and  periodicals  ”  he  can  put  forward  to  support  his  asser¬ 
tion  ? 

I  forbear  to  allude  to  other  aspects  of  the  general  question, 
beyond  expressing  the  hope  that  the  sound  common  sense  of 
the  trade,  which  has  averted  the  immediate  danger  of  com¬ 
pulsion,  will  closely  scrutinize  the  alternative  scheme  to  be 
offered.  To  be  led  into  the  approval  and  recommendation  of 
any  system  which  closely  resembled  the  original  one  would 
be  an  illogical  act,  not  unlikely  to  bring  speedy  punishment 
by  the  compulsory  enactment  of  the  measures  which  we  had 
declared  to  be  desirable,  and  had  recommended  for  adoption. 

31orecambs,  April  17th,  1871.  Rich.  Reynolds. 

(No.  1.) 

t:  April  8,  1871. 

“  My  dear  Mr.  Dymond, — I  notice  in  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Journal  of  to-day,  that  at  a  meeting  held  in  Bir¬ 
mingham  you  referred  to  me  in  the  following  words,  viz., 
e  Mr.  Reynolds  was  quite  mistaken  when  he  declared  that 
only  two  papers  had  spoken  on  the  subject  ’  (that  of  regulat¬ 
ing  the  storing,  etc.  of  poisons). 

“After  this  public  statement  of  my  being  ‘  quite  mistaken/ 
I  must  ask  you  to  give  the  evidence  requisite  to  support  it, 
viz.  the  names  and  dates  of  the  papers  other  than  the  Lancet 
and  Pall  3Iall  Gazette,  and  what  they  said  in  favour  of  the- 
regulations. 

“  I  will  consider  your  reply  as  being  public,  and  am,  faith¬ 
fully  yours, 

“Richd.  Reynolds.” 

(No.  2.) 

“  April  11, 1871. 

“My  dear  Mr.  Reynolds, — Owing  to  my  absence  from, 
home,  your  letter  has  not  come  into  my  possession  until  this 
afternoon. 

“I  cannot  recognize  your  demand  that  I  should  prove  a 
statement  of  my  own,  until  I  have  an  assurance  from  you 
that  you  are  prepared  to  prove  the  truth  of  the  inference  of 
yours  which  is  opposed  to  it.  In  your  letter  of  Feb.  14 
(Pharm.  Journ.,  Feb.  18),  you  draw  the  conclusion  that 
because  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal  had  not  repro¬ 
duced  articles  on  the  suggested  poison  regulations  from  more 
than  two  papers,  therefore  no  more  than  two  papers  had  con¬ 
tained  articles  on  the  subject.  Such  a  statement  would  have 
been  amusing  from  its  simplicity,  if  an  absurd  inference  had 
not  been  drawn  from  it  which  was  intended  to  damage  the 
Council,  of  which  you  are  a  member,  and  you  now  ask  me  to 
disprove  your  remark ! 

“There  are,  as  you  doubtless  know,  about  3370  news¬ 
papers  and  periodical  publications  of  various  kinds  uncon¬ 
nected  with  the  drug  trade,  making  about  180,000  appear¬ 
ances  in  the  course  of  the  year.  If  you  will  first  plainly 
assert,  and  be  prepared  to  prove,  that  from  the  date  of  tbe- 
publication  of  the  suggested  poison  regulations  (Jan.  1,  1870)' 
to  the  date  of  your  statement  (Feb.  14,  1871)  no  more  than. 


April  22,  1871.]  the  pharmaceutical  journal  and  transactions. 


859 


two  of  these  papers  contained  any  notice  of  or  articles  on  the 
subject,  I  will  then  upset  your  proof  by  naming  another 
daily  newspaper  (which,  will  be  enough  for  the  present  pur¬ 
pose)  in  which  such  an  article  did  appear. 

“  I  am,  yours  very  faithfully, 

“  George  Dtmond.” 

The  Preliminary  Examination. 

Sir>  If  you  will  kindly  allow  this  a  corner  in  your  much- 
esteemed  Journal,  perhaps  it  may  be  the  means  of  directing 
t-he  attention  of  some  one  (more  competent  than  myself)  to 
the  subject  which  I  wish  to  lay  before  your  readers. 

.  M  ^eu  UP  M  Bloomsbury  Square  for  the  Modified  Exainina- 
tion,  I  heard  many  express  regret  at  being  compelled  to  pass 
the  Preliminary  Examination  (even  although  successful  in 
the  Modified)  before  being  eligible  for  the  “Minor”  or 
“  Major.  Now,  Sir,  I  am  confident  many  would  go  in  for 
the  Minor  and  Major  qualifications  were  it  not  for  that  great 
stumbling-block,  the  Preliminary.  Those  gentlemen  who  go 
up  for  the  Modified  are  mostly  men  well  up  in  years,  and  the 
greater  part  ot  them  have  forgotten  any  smattering  they  may 
have  had  about  Caesar  and  other  Latin  authors.  In  fact, 
many  have  never  had  any  acquaintance  with  that  ancient 
worthy.  Few  men  in  the  drug  business  have  time  to  spare 
tor  the  study  of  classics.  But  in  working  up  for  the  Minor 
ai)4  Major,  the  student  feels  that  he  is  studying  subjects 
which  are  of  practical  and  lasting  benefit.  I  do  not  advocate 
the  abolition  of  the  Preliminary  Examination ;  far  from  it. 
I  think  it  is  only  fair  and  reasonable  to  expect  the  youn"1 
members  (who,  for  the  most  part,  have  just  left  school)  to  be 
able  to  show  that  they  have  a  fair  classical  education.  But  I 
must  say  it  is  hard  for  us  older  members,  who  have  “  grown 
grey  with  age,”  to  be  compelled  to  « fight  our  battles  o’er 
again,”  and  study  up  the  “  History  of  the  Gallic  War,”  etc. 
I  hope  the  Council  will  “  be  merciful,”  and  grant  the  request 
of  those  who  have  passed  the  Modified,  and  admit  them  to 
the  Minor  and  Major  without  enforcing  the  Preliminary.  I 
am  sure  they  will  have  the  gratitude  of  all  “  Modified  men,” 
and  by  adopting  this  “liberal  policy”  the  number  of  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Chemists  will  be  increased  threefold,  and  will 
crush  the  jealousy  which  now  exists  between  Pharmaceutical 
Chemists  and  *  Chemists  by  Examination,”  as  some  indivi¬ 
duals  term  themselves.  Therefore,  let  me  urge  upon  the 
Council  the  propriety  of  sweeping  away  the  Preliminary  in 
the  case  of  those  who  have  passed  the  Modified,  and  I  think 
that  it  ought  to  count  for  something.  I  hope  that  some 
one  will  champion  our  cause.  g. 


Poison  Regulations. 

Sir,  This  poison  question  has  drawn  my  attention  so 
forcibly  to  the  influence  and  position  of  the  Council  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society,  that  on  receiving  the  Journal  of  last 
week,  I  read  over  the  names  of  the  gentlemen  who  have  been 
nominated  for  election  for  the  ensuing  year  with  critical 
curiosity.  Some  of  the  names  are  quite  unknown  to  me,  and 
as  to  their  opinions  on  what  I  consider  the  vital  points  of 
pharmaceutical  advancement,  I  have  not  the  remotest  idea  ; 
and.  in  a  short  time  I  shall  receive  my  voting-paper,  drawn 
up  in  accordance  with  the  bye-laws,  leaving  me  in  the  same 
blissful  ignorance. 

The  present  Council  some  time  ago  sent  me  a  code  of  regu¬ 
lations  as  to  the  storing  of  poisons,  recommended  by  them 
for  our  adoption  at  the  next  general  meeting.  I  assumed, 
therefore,  that  they  meant  to  take  their  stand  on  their  prin¬ 
ciples  of  action.  The  next  thing  I  hear  is  that  only  one 
Councillor  dared  to  nail  his  colours  to  the  mast  to  meet  the 
coming  storm. 

I  ask,  is  the  question  of  storing  poisons  to  be  discussed  at 
the  general  meeting  or  not  ? 

What  is  the  line  of  policy  marked  out  in  the  brains  of  the 
coming  men  who  aspire  to  constitute,  in  part,  the  future 
Council  ? 

And  what  is  this  question  ?  The  Pharmaceutical  Society 
vras  founded  for  the  advancement  of  pharmacy  and  for  the 
protection  of  our  privileges.  We  are  becoming  eminently 
■qualified  by  our  education  to  undertake  the  dispensing  of 
this  country,  awaiting  the  time  when  public  opinion  shall 
demand  that  the  man  who  prescribes  a  poison  shall  not  com¬ 
pound  it. 

Every  one  knows  where  the  great  bulk  of  the  medicine  of 
this  country  is  dispensed,  and  every  man  in  our  calling  knows 


perfectly  well  what  a  growing  dissatisfaction  there  is  anions 
the  people  against  secret  medicine  and  possible  secret  error. 
Ihe  Parliament  has  passed  a  Poison  Bill  and  the  Privy 
Council  are  desirous  its  provisions  should  be  carried  out.  It 
appears  to  be  met  by  the  chemists  with  a  determined  oppo¬ 
sition.  Could  anything,  as  a  matter  of  policy,  be  more  emi¬ 
nently  suicidal  ?  A  greater  blow  could  not  have  been  delivered 
at  .the  surgeries  of  this  land  than  the  adoption  of  a  system  of 

fusp7L7dUMl°nS  m  Chcmists’  shoPs  where  Prescriptions  are 

Many  ot  us  who  know  the  heavy  responsibilities  resting 
upon  us  adopt  some  system  of  poison  closets;  but  we  are  a 
slow  people.  I  instance  the  question  of  poison  bottles  and 
Se  stupid  arguments  brought  against  them  some  years  a^o. 
How  has  that  opposition  died  ?  Are  poison  bottles  adopted 
by  dispensing-houses  ?  Here  and  there  possibly  some  obsti¬ 
nate  chemist  will  uot  use  them,— and  it  is  just  so  with  our 
poisons.  Some  obstinate  employers  will  keep  their  tincture 
of  aconite  next  their  tincture  of  orange,  their  laudanum  next 
the  tmctuie  ot  rhubarb,  or  their  arsenic  not  far  from  the 
magnesia,  and  so  long  as  they  uso  them  themselves  it  is  their 
own  matter  ;  but  if  they  believe  the  Privy  Council  will  allow 
them  to  impose  such  terrible  risks  on  others,  they  are  very 
much  mistaken.  Parliament,  now  that  attention  has  been 
called  to  it,  will  see  the  necessity  ot  enforcing  some  plan  and 
who  are  so  able  to  design  it  as  ourselves  ?  hence  the  vast  im¬ 
portance  wre  ought  to  attach  to  the  election  of  the  Council 
this  year  arises.  Who  are  the  men  ?  What  is  their  standing 
in  the  trade  and  the  Society?  and  above  all,  what  are  their 
opinions  ?  Are  they  the  right  men  to  meet  the  emergency 
or  is  this  spasm  of  discontent  but  a  nightmare  of  apathy  ? 

~  ,  _  George  Mee. 

iv,  G rosvenor  Hoad,  Hu/Jiburg  New  Park  N 

April  18th ,  1871. 

Sir,— I  heartily  congratulate  the  Council  on  the  wise  course 
it  has  taken  in  abandoning  the  intention  of  proposing  any 
compulsory  poison  regulations  at  the  next  General  Meeting. 

Mr.  Reynolds  s  letter  in  the  Journal  of  February  18th  quite 
prepared  me  for  the  President’s  retirement,  and  I  deeply  re¬ 
gret  he  has  left  on  record  any  animus  towards  a  largo  majo¬ 
rity  of  our  brethren,  whom  he  accuses  of  raisin"-  “a  wild  un¬ 
reasoning  clamour  on  a  mere  sentimental  grievance,”  stieer- 
ingly  stating  that  he  wras  not  shaken  by  the  1  tall  talk’ 
resounding  about  him.” 

It  is  most  clear  Mr.  Sandford  is  not  the  man  to  uphold  our 
reputation  and  independence.  He  plainly  tells  us  “that 
should  other  parties  try  their  hand  at  the  work  of  compulsory 
poison  regulations,  ho,  for  one,  should  be  unable  to  say  there 
is  no  cause  foi  interference,  I,  therefore,  fully  a°Tce  with, 
his  explanation  as  touching  his  immediate  retirement,  “  that 
in  doing  so  he  best  advanced  the  interest  and  honour  of  the 
Society.” 

I  forbear  making  any  further  comment,  as  these  few  lines 
are  written  more  for  the  purpose  of  tendering  my  best  thanks 
to  the  members  of  the  Council  for  the  manly  course  they  have 
taken  m  upholding  our  position,  and  I  shall  be  most  happy 
in  supporting  them  all  at  the  next  General  Meeting. 

Kilburn ,  April  Yith.  John  Beaton. 

The  Adulteration  Bill. 

Sir,  Allow  me,  through  the  medium  of  the  Journal  to 
urge  upon  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  imme¬ 
diate  action  against  Mr.  Muntz’s  Adulteration  Bill.  I  do 
not  hesitate  to  affirm  that  it  that  Bill  should  become  lawr,  no 
chemist,  however  straight  he  might  desire  to  keep,  would5  be 
safe.  We  have  already  an  Adulteration  Act,  which  answers 
all  practical  purposes.  It  is  w-ell  knowrn  that  nearly  all  adul¬ 
terations  of  drugs  take  place  abroad,  and  therefore  if  this  Bill 
is  to  pass,  it  must  be  insisted  that  all  drugs  shall  be  analysed 
befoie  imported  into  this  country ;  there  must  be  supervision 
of  chemical  manufactories,  and  there  ought  also  to  be  ap¬ 
pointed  a  staff  of  analysts  to  examine  and  test  drugs  and 
chemicals  for  those  who  have  not  the  time  or  the  skill  to 
do  so. 

Is  it  not  much  better  to  take  the  bull  by  the  horns  than 
calmly  to  wait  till  mischief  is  done?  According  to  our  pre- 
sent  laws  no  chemist  dare  prescribe  for  a  patient  over  the 
counter  a  cough  mixture  of  oxymel  of  squills  and  paregoric 
Avithout  labelling  the  same  with  the  ominous  word  “poison,” 
unless  he  renders  himself  liable  to  a  fine !  All  chemists  may 
not  be  aware  of  this  fact.  Neither  must  ho  sell  a  6d,  bottle 


860 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  22,  1871. 


of  benzine  collas,  or  benzine  anything  else,  unless  he  has  a 
special  licence  for  so  doing, — which  no  one,  at  least  in  this 
town,  has  been  able  to  obtain, — without  rendering  himself 
liable  to  a  penalty  of  £20  !  All  chemists  may  not  be  aware 
of  this. 

And  yet  such  is  the  absurd  state  of  the  law.  And  if  ab¬ 
surd,  why  has  it  not  been  repealed  ?  I  answer,  because  of  the 
difficulty  of  getting  any  law  repealed. 

A  Country  Member. 

Maidstone,  April  8th,  1871. 


The  Nomenclature  op  the  Fiiaemacopieia. 


Sir. — To  the  accident  of  ray  name  being  mentioned  by 
Prof.  Attlield  at  the  last  Evening  Meeting  you  owe  this  letter. 

I  aim  at  the  every-day  and  practical  only,  not  the  theoretic 
or  scientific. 

I  would  again  urge  upon  those  having  power  and  autho¬ 
rity  the  great  desirableness  of  distinguishing  in  the  next 
B.  P.  between  oils  proper  and  “  Essential” — so  called.  Why 
should  the  word  “  Essence  ”  be  diverted  from  its  strict  mean¬ 
ing  and  common  acceptation  only  when  employed  in  phar¬ 
macy?  Ordinarily  it  signifies  the  distinguishing  quality  of 
a  thing,  or,  at  least,  a  concentration  of  its  strength  or  efficacy; 
but  in  the  Pharmacopoeia  it  stands  for — a  dilution  of  one  part 
to  four;  and  in  retail  usage  for  proportions  often  much 
weaker.  Let  the  essential  oils  be  denominated  “Essences,” 
and  their  dilutions  S.  A7.  R.  spirits.  Surely  no  precise 
strength  is  necessary  to  constitute  a  “spirit.” 

AY  hat  objection  can  there  be  to  substituting  “  massa  ”  for 
“piiula,”  seeing  that  it  has  long  been  so  far  sanctioned  in 
practice  as  to  make  it  impossible  to  misunderstand  it?  Or, 
perhaps  better  still,  “  pila”  for  the  lump,  “piiula  for  its  small 
subdivisions  ? 

Again.  AVhat  more  absurd  than  to  call  a  piaster  ready  for 
use  by  the  same  name  as  the  Composition  from  which  it  is 
made? — as  common-sense-like  as  to  call  a  table  “a  wood.” 
AVhat  objection  to  “plasma,”  “plastum,”  or  “plastrum,” 
whichever  be  the  best  Greek  ? 


The  same  objection  holds  to 


rid  urn. 


J  J 


“  glycerinum  ”  for  “  glyce- 


I  have  often  regretted  that  Sir  Humphry  Davy  ever  in¬ 
vented  that  awkward  and  unmanageable  (in  composition) 
word  “chlorine.”  “Murine,”  which  must  have  first  sug¬ 
gested  itself,  and  for  which  chlorine  was  substituted,  would 
have  been  more  euphonious,  more  manageable,  and  "would 
have  affected  no  disturbance  whatever.  For  my  own  part,  I 
am  decidedly  of  opinion  that  it  would  be,  even  now,  a  gain 
to  go  back  to  “muriatic,”  “ muriates,” and  to  coin  “ murine,” 
and,  if  needful,  “murides.” 

Many  have  been  the  suggestions  for  effectually  distin¬ 
guishing  between  calomel  and  corrosive  sublimate.  Here  is 
another.  Let  the  textual  name  for  the  first  be  “calomelas,” 
with  an  authorized  chemical  synonym,  for  disguise,  under¬ 
neath,  and  for  the  other  “calomelas  muriata.”  The  utmost 
extreme  of  hasty  contraction  must  add  the  “  m  ”  for  the  more 
dangerous  article,  and  that  would  bo  effective;  whilst  “ calom. 
niuriat.”  could  not  possibly  be  misinterpreted. 

T.  Lowe. 

Brookfield  Road  North,  Liverpool ,  April  8 ih,  1871. 


Previous  Sewage  or  Animal  Contamination  in 
Potable  AAAtf.rs. 

Sir, — It  is  with  the  greatest  diffidence  that  I  venture  to 
put  myself,  even  in  the  slightest  degree,  in  opposition  to  so 
eminent  an  authority  as  Dr.  Frankland,  but  I  cannot  allow 
his  charge  ot  misquotation  and  misrepresentation  contained 
in  his  letter  to  you  of  last  week  to  go  unanswered. 

lii  the  paper  he  refers  to,  I  made  use  of  the  term  “'pre¬ 


vious  sewage  contamination 


uu 


thi 


s  is  a  misquotation,  and  that 


Dr.  Frankland  says  that 
should  have  been  “pre¬ 


vious  sewage  ami  animal  contamination  (estimated).” 
On  reading  Dr.  Frankland’s  letter,  I  immediatelv  r 


eferred 
the  Chc- 
Development  of 


n, 

O  V. 


to  his  latest  published  paper,  viz.  that  rca; 
inical  Society  a  few  weeks  ago,  “On  the 
Fungi  in  Potable  A  Talers,”  and  there,  although  I  found  men 
t;on  twice  of  the  term  “  previous  sewage  and  animal  conta¬ 
mination,”  I  could  nowhere  find  any  mention  of  “previous 
sewage  and  animal  contamination '  (estimated).”  Where, 
then,  is  my  misquotation  ?  And  even  if  I  had  omitted  the 
word  “estimated,”  what  difference  could  it  possibly  have 
made  ? 

In  the  same  paper,  Dr.  Frankland  gives  the  results  of 


several  analyses  of  potable  waters  that  he  has  lately  made 
I  will  take  the  first  three  on  the  list. 


1. 

2- 

3. 

Ammonia  .... 

•161 

•027 

•no 

Organic  nitrogen  .  . 

Nitrogen  as  nitrates, 

T06 

•100 

T26 

etc . 

Total  combined  nitro- 

4-384 

1-637 

0 

gen . 

Previous  sewage  or 
animal  contamina- 

4-603 

1-760 

•217 

tion . 

44850 

16270 

590 

It  will  bo  seen  that,  as  a  matter  of  course,  the  “  nitrogen 
as  nitrates  and  nitrites  ”  is  contained  in  the  “total  combined 
nitrogen,”  and  also  that  from  this  “  total  combined  nitrogen” 
the  “previous  sewage  or  animal  contamination”  is  calcu¬ 
lated  ;  and  yet  Dr.  Frankland  denies  ray  statement,  “  that 
from  the  nitrates  present  he  calculates  how  great  the  pre¬ 
vious  sewage  contamination  has  been  !” 

I  did  not  for  a  moment  suppose  that  Dr.  Frankland  would 
consider  the  evidence  I  have  brought  forward  in  favour  of 
nitrates  being  produced  otherwise  than  by  the  oxidation  of 
sewage  or  animal  matter  conclusive.  I  am  glad  to  learn  he 
is  investigating  the  subject,  and,  as  my  only  object  is  to  get 
at  the  truth,  I  shall  equally  welcome  his  decision  whether  it 
be  for  or  against  me. 

Bath,  April  10th,  1871.  Charles  Ekin. 


AAre  have  been  requested  to  publish  the  following  corre¬ 
spondence  : — 


Hampstead,  April  8th,  1871. 

Gentlemen, — I  beg  leave  to  inquire  if  you  have  any  know¬ 
ledge  of  a  person  calling  himself  Fischer  or  Fisher,  represent¬ 
ing  himself  as  a  scientific  chemist,  a  Dane  by  birth,  but  long 
resident  in  Germany?  The  fact  that  in  making  an  applica¬ 
tion  to  me  for  relief,  he  used  your  name,  stating  that  you 
had  offered  him  temporary  employment,  induces  me  to  apply 
to  you  for  information,  with  a  view,  should  your  reply  not  bo 
of  a  satisfactory  nature,  of  publishing  the  facts  in  order  to 
put  a  stop  to  further  depredation  among  chemists  and  others. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  yours  very  truly, 


Messrs.  F.  C.  Calvert  and  Co. 


Chas.  Eve. 


Toiver  Chemical  Works, 

Bradford,  Manchester, 

April  10th,  1871. 

Chas.  Eve,  Esq.,  Hampstead. 

Sir, — In  I’eply  to  your  inquiry,  we  have  to  inform  you  that 
the  man  Fischer  or  Fisher,  to  whom  you  refer,  is  totally  un¬ 
known  to  us.  AYe  are,  Sir,  yours  respectfully, 

F.  C.  Calvbrt  and  Co. 


Tenax. — (1.)  No.  (2.)  Hooker’s  ‘Student’s  Flora.’  pub¬ 
lished  by  Messrs.  Macmillan,  price  10s.  6d.  (3.)  The  pre¬ 

sence  of  lead  in  glycerine  may  be  detected  by  means  of  sul¬ 
phuretted  hydrogen.  (4.)  Messrs.  Macmillan,  price  4s.  6d. 

Delta. — An  article,  by  F.  C.  Calvert,  on  “  The  Adulteration 
of  Oils”  will  be  found  in  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal, 
1st  Scries,  A7ol.  XIII.  p.  356. 

Mcdd's  ‘  Bharmaeopccial  Botany .’ — AYe  are  unable  to  give 
any  information  concerning  the  publication  of  the  above  work. 

G-.  G-. — The  names  referred  to  are  those  of  persons  who 
have  been  restored  to  membership  upon  payment  of  their 
arrears  of  subscription  according  to  the  bye-laws. 

IValter  Plumbly. — ‘  Seleeta  e  Prasscriptis  ’  is  published  by 
Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington  Street,  price  5s. 

The  Royal  Nuptial  Bouquet. — We  beg  to  acknowledge  the 
receipt  of  a  sample  case  of  this  perfume,  and  regret  that  we 
are  unable  co  chronicle  its  merits,  otherwise  than  in  our  ad¬ 
vertisement  columns. 

J.  H.  Talbot. — You  need  not  have  any  fear  of  any  explo¬ 
sion  under  the  circumstances  stated. 


Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  Wilkinson,  Mr.  AY.  AY.  Stoddart,  Mr.  Jackson,  Mr.  E. 
Hall,  Mr,  G.  C.  Kernot,  Mr.  A.  H.  Mason,  Mr.  F.  O.  Collins, 
Mr.  J.  T.  Robinson,  Mr.  A.  R.  Walden,  Mr.  A.  AAr.  Gerrard, 
Mr.  G.  Adam,  A.  P.  B.,  H.,  C.  T.  J.,  AY.  J.,  P.  C.,  C.  AY.  S., 
“Delta,”  “Boiler  Composition,”  “Inquirer.” 


April  29,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


8G1 


VARIABILITY  IN  THE  ACTIVITY  OF 

LEAVES. 

BY  M.  C.  COOKE,  M.A. 

It  is  well  enough  known  that  the  parts  of  plants 
collected  for  pharmaceutical  purposes  are  subject  to 
considerable  variation,  that  they  are  by  no  means 
uniform  in  the  proportions  of  their  constituents,  and 
hence  are  sometimes  likely  to  fail.  Many  instruc¬ 
tions  have  from  time  to  time  been  given  for  the  col¬ 
lection  of  roots,  rhizomes,  bark,  etc.,  in  order  that 
uniformity  might  be  more  readily  predicated.  The 
plant  just  before  the  period  of  flowering  is,  in  many 
of  its  parts,  stronger  or  weaker  in  certain  consti¬ 
tuents  than  at  other  periods.  Of  all  parts,  perhaps, 
roots  require  the  greatest  care  as  to  the  time  at 
which  collected.  Next  in  order,  as  it  seems  to  us, 
are  leaves.  There  are  not  many  leaves  of  indigenous 
plants  that  are  of  much  importance  as  articles  of 
materia  medica  ;  but  there  are  a  few,  and  if  these 
few  are  to  maintain  their  position,  it  is  of  the  utmost 
importance  that  they  should  be  uniform  in  their 
action,  which  cannot  bo  the  case  if  no  regard  be 
paid  to  certain  facts  associated  with  plant  life. 

It  may  be  asked  with  reason,  is  there  any  season 
or  any  condition  which  so  influences  the  develop¬ 
ment  of  active  principles  in  the  leaves  of  plants  as 
materially  to  affect  their  value  as  remedial  agents  ? 
Undoubtedly  there  is,  but  not  so  much  affecting  cul¬ 
tivated  as  wild  plants,  because  in  the  former  the 
conditions  are  more  uniform.  Setting  aside  all 
question  about  periods  of  flowering  or  fruiting,  or, 
in  fact,  of  any  period  in  the  history  of  any  individual 
plant,  there  seems  to  be  one  very  important  influ¬ 
ence  which  is  very  much  ignored,  as  affecting  con- 

O  7  O 

dition.  This  may  be  illustrated  by  reference  to  an 
example  in  which  active  principles  are  developed 
hi  a  liigh  degree,  and  in  which  the  opportunity  for 
testing  is  easily  secured.  The  facts  which  seem  to 
manifest  themselves  clearly  and  unmistakably  in 
tobacco  leaf,  may  be  supposed  to  influence  bella¬ 
donna  leaves,  stramonium  leaves,  and  even  the 
leaves  of  other  plants  not  in  the  least  allied  to  them. 

It  is  admitted  that  tobacco  grown  in  a  cold  cli¬ 
mate  is  much  stronger  than  that  grown  hi  a  mild 
one.  In  other  words,  active  principles  are  more 
concentrated  hi  leaves  grown  in  cold  climates,  where 
the  vegetation  is  less  vigorous,  than  in  warm  ones. 
When  the  tobacco  plant  is  forced  on  to  a  rapid 
growth,  with  a  plentiful  supply  of  moisture,  the  leaf 
is  found  to  contain  less  of  its  characteristic  prin¬ 
ciples  than  when  stunted,  starved,  and  but  slowly 
developed. 

Not  only  is  this  true  of  tobacco,  but  it  is  true  also 
of  other  plants  which  have  been  tested.  It  is  true 
of  cultivated  celery  that  the  petioles  and  leaves  are 
much  more  strongly  flavoured  when  grown  slowly 
than  when  grown  rapidly,  and  under  favourable  con¬ 
ditions  of  soil  and  moisture.  Except  as  they  influ¬ 
ence  rapidity  of  growth,  it  is  very  doubtful  whether 
the  chemical  constituents  of  a  soil  affect  in  any  ap¬ 
preciable  degree  the  active  principles  of  leaves. 

Take  another  example,  although  not,  perhaps, 
quite  so  pertinent.  In  a  •  very  dry  season,  or  when 
growing  in  very  dry  localities,  the  leaves  of  the 
common  nettle  are  much  more  highly  charged  with 
their  irritating  poison  than  when  grown  rapidly,  in 
a  wet  s.eason,  or  in  a  moist  locality. 

From  these  and  similar  instance?,  therefore,  we 
are  led  to  the  conclusion  that  rapid  growth,  with  a 
Third  Series,  No.  44. 


plentiful  supply  of  moisture,  is  least  favourable  to 
the  development  of  those  properties  in  leaves  which 
are  of  value  in  medicine.  Whether  tins  principle 
holds  good  with  glandular  plants,  secreting  essential 
oil,  such  as  the  Labiatce,  we  are  not  prepared  to 
affirm  from  actual  experience.  The  inference  is, 
that  leaves  ’grown  in  a  dry  season  would,  ceteris 
paribus,  be  more  active  than  leaves  grown  in  a  wet 
one  ;  that  plants  grown  in  a  damp  situation  or  a 
rich  stimulating  soil  would  be  milder  than  those 
grown  under  less  favourable  conditions.  In  fact,  we 
have  found  the  leaf  of  Arum  maculatum  to  vary  con¬ 
siderably  in  its  biting  acrid  properties  in  proportion 
to  its  development.  Leaves  from  large  rapidly  grow¬ 
ing  plants  in  moist  situations  are  by  no  means  so 
acrid  as  the  small  leaves  of  stunted  plants  growing 
on  dry  banks.  This  is  an  experiment  which  any 
one  can  perform  for  himself  during  a  country  stroll. 

It  would  be  of  interest  to  ascertain  by  careful 
analysis  what  is  the  difference  in  the  proportions  of 
the  constituents  of  such  leaves  as  belladonna  and 
stramonium,  grown  under  the  two  conditions  of  vi¬ 
gorous  and  retarded  vegetation.  The  very  rough  test 
applied  to  the  leaves  of  arum,  and  the  inexact  one 
applied  to  tobacco,  indicate  strongly  enough  that 
there  must  be  a  very  appreciable  difference  ;  but  this 
is  in  itself  insufficient,  it  should  be  determined  what 
is  the  difference ;  and  we  have  no  doubt  it  will  bo 
sufficient  to  account  for  much  of  the  variability  in 
the  action  of  leaves. 

A  less  important  circumstance,  but  one  which 
should  not  be  lost  sight  of  in  this  connection,  is  the 
difference  between  fully  matured  and  young  leaves 
from  the  same  plant.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that 
there  is  a  difference,  but  the  proportion  of  young- 
leaves,  weight  for  weight,  to  mature  leaves  will  not 
be  great  when  dried,  because  the  larger  percentage 
of  water  in  young  leaves  will  reduce  the  dispropor¬ 
tion,  as  well  as  the  excess  of  mature  leaves  which 
will  be  collected  from  a  full  grown  plant,  over  im- 
matured  ones. 

From  these  suggestions  it  seems  to  us  that  the 
pharmacologist  may  collect  some  of  the  causes  that 
influence  the  variability  in  activity  of  leaves  gathered 
and  dried  indiscriminately.  It  is  quite  possible  that 
in  some  instances  foliaceous  drugs  have  been  con¬ 
demned  for  their  uncertainty,  when  the  fault  has 
really  been  traceable  to  an  unsystematic  and  indis¬ 
criminate  mode  of  collection.  The  results  of  re¬ 
cent  experiments  on  the  influence  of  climate,  soil, 
moisture,  and  other  external  circumstances,  upon  the 
development  of  active  principles  and  aroma  in  to¬ 
bacco  leaves,  incline  us  to  the  opinion  that,  not  only 
in  that  instance,  but  in  many  others,  the  circum¬ 
stances  and  their  influences  have  been  too  much 
forgotten  or  ignored.  With  tliis  impression  we  have 
ventured  to  direct  attention  to  the  subject,  in  the 
pages  of  a  journal  which  is  interested  more  than 
any  other  in  pure  and  uniform  drugs. 


Vinca  Major. —Mr.  Spencer  Wells  states  that  in 
some  cases  of  menorrhagic  bleeding  he  has  found  a  pre¬ 
paration  of  Vinca  major ,  the  well-known  Greater  Peri¬ 
winkle  ©f  our  shrubberies,  preferable  to  lime,,  gallic 
acid  or  ergot.  He  was  first  told  of  it  by  Mr.  Squire,  and 
has  prescribed  it  according  to  the  formula  given  in  that 
gentleman’s  1  Companion  to  the  British  Pharmacopoeia, 
viz.  an  infusion  of  2  ounces  of  dried  herb  to  20  ounces  of 
boiling  water,  and  strained  when  cold. — British  Medical 
Journal. 


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THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  29,  1871. 


ADDITIONAL  REMARKS  ON 

THE  CHEMICAL  NOMENCLATURE  OF 
THE  BRITISH  PHARMACOPOEIA. 

BY  PROFESSOR  ATTFIELD. 

The  discussion  on  this  paper  at  a  recent  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Meeting  extended  so  much  beyond  the  usual 
hour  of  adjournment  that  I  could  only  express  my 
appreciation  of  the  support  the  chief  suggestions  re¬ 
ceived  ;  I  would  now  reply  to  one  or  two  of  the  points 
raised,  and  make  some  additional  observations. 

The  Proposed  System  of  Pharmaceutical  Nomen¬ 
clature. — It  will  be  remembered  that  my  leading 
proposition  was,  “that  the  compounds  of  the  alkali 
metals  and  alkaline  earth  metals,  instead  of  being 
named  as  hitherto,  on  two  distinct  systems,  should 
follow  but  one;  that  instead  of  salts  of  potassium 
and  potash  we  should  have  salts  of  potassium  only ; 
instead  of  sodium  and  soda  compounds  sodium  only ; 
and  so  with  preparations  of  ammonium,  lithium, 
calcium,  magnesium  and  aluminium.”  The  eminent 
chemical  and  pharmaceutical  authorities  who  spoke 
on  the  occasion — Professors  Frankland,  Odling, 
and  Redwood — entirely  concurred  with  this  sug¬ 
gestion,  and  I  have  now  the  gratification  of  stating 
that  the  leading  weekly  medical  periodicals — the 
Lancet,  Medical  Times  and  Gazette  and  British  Me¬ 
dical  Journal — have  given  their  support  to  the  plan ; 
in  short,  that  no  objection  to  it  has  at  present  been 
raised. 

With  respect  to  the  question  of  Professor  Frank¬ 
land  as  to  the  method  of  distinguishing  between 
similar  salts  of  one  metal,  e.  y.  the  two  sulphates 
of  iron,  I  would,  whenever  such  a  course  may  be¬ 
come  necessary,  add  to  the  name  a  word  or  an 
initial  syllable  recalling  some  prominent  difference 
in  the  properties  of  the  two  compounds :  thus,  green 
sulphate  of  iron  and  persulphate  of  iron  ;  these  names 
are,  to  the  pharmacist,  more  familiar  and  distinctive 
than  the  more  chemically  useful  names  Professor 
Frankland  proposes,  “sulphate  of  ferrosum”  and 
“  sulphate  of  ferricum moreover,  I  fear  that  phy¬ 
sicians  in  writing  prescriptions  would  contract  both 
the  latter  to  fer.  sulph.  Again,  there  are  two  chlo¬ 
rides  of  tin,  stannous  chloride  and  stannic  chloride, 
neither  used  in  medicine,  and  only  as  analytical  re¬ 
agents  in  pharmacy ;  hence  they  might  well  be  dis¬ 
tinguished  pharmaceutically  as  well  as  chemically 
by  the  names  just  given;  or  if  it  be  undesirable  to 
introduce  this  one  exception  to  the  general  principle 
advocated,  the  compounds  might  be  termed  respec¬ 
tively  solid  chloride  of  tin  and  liquid  chloride  of 
tin,  or  crystalline  chloride  of  tin  and  pcrcliloride 
of  tin. 

With  regard  to  the  history  of  the  chemical  nomen¬ 
clature  at  present  employed  in  Pharmacopceias,  I 
have  said  that  it  was  only  “mainly”  devised  by 
Lavoisier,  and  believe  that  I  have  followed  general 
custom  in  speaking  of  it  as  the  Lavoisierian  method; 
at  the  same  time  there  can  be  no  doubt,  as  indicated 
by  Professor  Odling,  that  it  was  gradually  developed 
by  the  contributions  of  many  minds.  “The  system 
of  nomenclature — the  joint  production  of  Lavoisier, 
De  Morveau,  Berthollet  and  Fourcroy — published  in 
1787  under  the  title  ‘Metliode  de  Nomenclature 
Chimique,  proposee  par  MM.  de  Morveau,  Lavoisier, 
Berthollet,  et  de  Fourcroy,’  still  continues  the  foun¬ 
dation  of  the  language  which,  with  many  variations 
in  minor  points,  is  employed  by  all  chemists  at  the 


present  day.”  (Professor  G.  C.  Foster’s  article  on 
“Nomenclature”  in  Watts’s  ‘Dictionary  of  Che¬ 
mistry.’)  I  may  add  that  the  system  I  propose  for 
adoption  in  medicine  and  pharmacy  was  employed 
in  1858  in  Conington’s  ‘  Handbook  of  Chemical 
Analysis,’  is  much  used  in  the  dictionary  just  cited, 
is  the  leading  nomenclature  of  the  ‘  Manual  of  Che¬ 
mistry’  I  first  published  in  18(57,  has  since  been  in¬ 
cluded  in  the  labels  of  the  chemical  specimens  in 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society’s  museum,  and  for  some 
years  has  been  placed  on  the  labels  of  at  least  one 
firm  of  English  chemical  manufacturers  (Messrs. 
IPopkin  and  Williams).  Hence  it  works  well  in 
practice.  For  scientific  purposes  it  is  scarcely  suffi¬ 
ciently  comprehensive ;  and  for  two  or  three  years 
I  have  hesitated  in  proposing  for  applied  chemistry 
a  system  of  names  not  identical  with  the  nomencla¬ 
ture  of  pure  chemistry.  As,  however,  there  is  still 
no  indication  that  the  two  or  three  systems  of  names 
used  by  teachers  of  pure  chemistry  will  ever  merge 
into  one,  and  as  it  would  be  impossible  to  employ 
more  than  one  in  applied  chemistry,  I  do  not  think 
I  act  disloyally  to,  or  influence  otherwise  than  bene¬ 
ficially,  the  science  I  follow  by  selecting  and  adapt¬ 
ing  one  of  the  current  systems  for  permanent  employ¬ 
ment  in  medicine  and  pharmacy. 

The  Exceptional  Alterations. — I  adhere  to  the 
opinion  that  the  old  and  perfectly  well-under¬ 
stood  name  arsenicum  album  is  preferable  to  acid  urn 
arseniosum.  The  body  is  not  an  acid  in  the  sense 
in  which  every  other  acid  in  the  Pharmacopoeia 
is  an  acid,  and,  therefore,  should  not  officially  be 
termed  an  acid.  Such  irregularities  are  prejudi¬ 
cial  to  the  interests  of  chemistry  and  confusing  to 
students.  As  for  other  anhydrides,  it  will  be  time 
enough  to  discuss  their  nomenclature  when  good  in¬ 
dications  appear  of  their  official  recognition.  Chro¬ 
mic  anhydride,  or  chromic  caustic,  might  be  termed 
red  caustic,  or  red  oxide  of  chromium.  In  the  cases 
of  the  subcarbonate  and  subnitrate  of  bismuth,  and 
the  subacetates  of  copper  and  lead,  it  has  been  con¬ 
sidered  by  Professors  Redwood  and  Odling  that  the 
prefix  “  sub  ”  is  not  well  substituted  by  “  oxy,”  and 
I  am  disposed  to  agree  in  this  opinion.  Indeed,  I 
have  never  strongly  urged  the  adoption  of  the  terms 
oxycarbonate,  oxynitrate,  oxyacetate,  oxyhydrate  as 
leading  names,  but  have  suggested  that  they  would 
be  highly  serviceable  as  synonyms ;  I  would  now 
thus  restrict  the  suggestion,  and  include  in  it  the 
hydrato-carbonates  of  lead,  magnesium  and  zinc. 
With  respect  to  the  “  scale  ”  preparations  and  some 
substances  similarly  named  (tartarated  antimony, 
tartarated  iron,  tartarated  soda),  I  am  glad  to  find 
that  Professor  Redwood  coincides  with  me  in  think¬ 
ing  that  the  existing  names  admit  of  improvement. 
I  have  suggested  that  alterations  in  these  names 
should  go  so  far  as  to  make  them  consistent  with  the 
corresponding  names  of  the  three  citrates.  My  only 
objection  to  the  six  names  my  colleague  mentioned 
(ammonio- citrate  of  bismuth,  ferro- citrate  of  quinia 
or  quinine,  etc.),  is  that  similar  compound  words 
(aceto-nitrate,  methyl- ethyl)  are  employed  in  che¬ 
mistry  for  the  express  purpose  of  suggesting  intimate 
union  between  the  bodies  whose  names  are  included 
in  the  compound  word,  no  such  union  being  pre¬ 
tended  to  exist  in  the  case  of  these  scaly  and  other 
preparations.  There  are  some  advantages  to  set 
against  this  objection,  at  the  same  time  it  is  desirable 
that  the  nomenclature  of  chemistry  and  pharmacy 
should  harmonize  as  much  as  possible.  As  for  the 


April  29,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


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names  of  the  alkaloids,  the  balance  of  usage  is  in 
favour  of  “  ine,”  instead  of  “  ia,”  as  the  terminal  sylla¬ 
ble  of  the  words ;  thus,  morphine,  quinine,  strych¬ 
nine, — not  morphia,  quinia,  strychnia. 


THE  TAMARIND. 

BY  JOHN  R.  JACKSON,  A.L.S. 

Curator  of  Museums ,  Royal  Gardens ,  Keu\ 

The  Tamarind  ( Tamariiulus  imlica,  L.)  is  well 
known  in  this  country  as  an  agreeable  and  useful 
medicinal  preserve.  There  is  only  one  species  of 
the  genus,  of  which,  however,  there  are  two  varieties, 
one  growing  in  the  East,  and  the  other  in  the  West 
Indies.  The  chief  difference  is  in  the  length  of  the 
pods,  those  of  the  Eastern  plant  being  from  three  to 
six  inches  long  and  slightly  curved,  and  containing 
from  six  to  twelve  seeds,  while  the  Western  variety 
is  shorter  and  seldom  has  more  than  four  seeds. 
The  trees  grow  to  a  great  height,  attaining  in  the 
East  Indies  eighty  feet.  The  pinnate  leaves  and 
racemes  of  yellow  and  red-streaked  flowers,  with 
purple  filaments,  give  it  a  pleasing  and  graceful  ap¬ 
pearance. 

The  wood  is  excessively  hard,  and  so  heavy  that 
it  sinks  in  water.  It  is  peculiarly  marked  with 
broad  cliocolate-brown  streaks.  In  the  East  Indies 
it  is  used  for  furniture  and  for  general  building  pur¬ 
poses.  Tamarinds,  as  seen  in  commerce,  consist  of 
the  pulpy  or  fleshy  part  of  the  pods — after  the  outer 
shell  has  been  removed — preserved  in  syrup  or 
sugar.  The  mode  of  preserving  them  is  either  by 
throwing  hot  sugar  from  the  boiler  on  the  ripe, 
pulpy  portion  of  the  pods,  or  by  placing  alternate 
layers  of  tamarinds  and  sugar  in  stone  jars :  pre¬ 
served  in  this  way  they  are  said  to  have  a  finer 
flavour  and  better  colour.  Tamarinds  are  valued 
with  us,  as  well  as  in  nearly  all  the  countries  where 
they  grow,  for  their  gentle  laxative  and  cooling  pro¬ 
perties  ;  they  are,  moreover,  used  in  tropical  countries 
as  an  article  of  food.  In  Sumatra  they  are  salted 
and  used  in  cooking  and  served  at  table,  and  in 
Western  India  they  are  used  in  preserving  or  pick¬ 
ling  of  fish.  The  leaves  partake  of  the  acid  property 
of  the  fruit,  and  a  decoction  is  employed  in  Ceylon 
for  fomentations  and  in  ophthalmic  cases ;  they  are, 
moreover,  taken  internally  for  the  cure  of  jaundice. 
In  Bengal  an  infusion  is  made  from  them  and  used 
in  preparing  a  fixed  yellow  dye,  in  which  silks,  after 
having  been  previously  dyed  in  indigo,  are  dipped 
and  changed  to  a  green. 

The  Tamarind-tree  is  said  to  exhale  a  large  amount 
of  acid,  and  the  damp  air  becoming  impregnated  with 
it  during  the  night,  sensibly  injures  the  fabric  of 
cloths  exposed  to  its  influence  for  any  length  of  tune. 
On  tins  account  the  natives  have  a  strong  objection 
to  sleep  under  the  trees.  It  has  been  said  that  no 
plants  will  grow  under  the  shade  of  the  Tamarind; 
but  tins  is  evidently  a  mistake,  though  it  is  not  im¬ 
possible  that  the  acid  has  an  injurious  effect  on  some 
plants.  The  flowers  are  employed  in  Ceylon  in  the 
preparation  of  a  confection  which  is  considered  valu¬ 
able  in  liver  complaints.  The  seeds,  in  times  of 
scarcity,  are  eaten  as  food,  being  first  roasted  and 
then  soaked  for  some  hours  in  water,  by  which  the 
hard  outer  skin  is  removed;  they  are  afterwards 
boiled  or  fried  and  eaten.  Simply  pulverized,  they 
are  mixed  with  water  into  a  thick  paste,  and  applied 
to  boils  to  promote  suppuration.  The  powder  is  also 


boiled  with  thin  glue,  and  is  said  to  constitute  one 
of  the  strongest  of  wood  cements.  Besides  all  these 
various  uses  of  the  Tamarind-tree,  it  is  said  that  the 
native  silversmiths  in  Southern  India  use  a  strong 
infusion  of  the  acid  fruits  mixed  with  sea  salt  for 
cleaning  and  brightening  silver. 


EXTR  ACTUM  CINCHONA  'FLA.VJE 
LiaUIDUM. 

BY  A.  W.  GERRARD, 

Dispenser ,  Guy's  Hospital. 

Having’some  time  since  obtained  this  preparation 
from  a  different  wholesale  house  than  whence  we 
usually  purchased  it,  I  was  much  surprised  at  the 
difference  in  taste,  odour  and  colour  from  that  we 
had  been  previously  using.  I  was  still  further 
astonished  when,  on  dispensing  it  with  an  alkali,  it 
gave  neither  precipitate  nor  turbidity.  I  at  once 
set  some  of  this  aside  for  examination,  and  at  the 
first  opportunity  prepared  some  by  the  British  Phar¬ 
macopoeia  ;  and  having  purchased  three  other  sam¬ 
ples,  I  engaged  myself  to  determine  their  relative 
value. 

We  know  that  its  medicinal  properties  are  due  to 
the  alkaloids  therein  ;  and  if  it  is  made  as  instructed 
with  the  yellow  bark,  winch  should  not  contain  less 
than  two  per  cent,  of  quinine,  a  measured  quantity 
should  yield  on  precipitation  with  an  alkali  an 
amount  of  alkaloids  not  below  a  certain  standard; 
what  that  standard  is  should,  I  think,  be  deter¬ 
mined  and  introduced  as  a  test  in  a  future  edition  of 
the  Pharmacopoeia. 

The  following  table  shows  the  amount  of  washed 
and  dried  precipitate  obtained  from  two  drams  of 
each  on  the  addition  of  solution  of  potash : — 


1  6 
£ 

Weight 
of  Pre¬ 
cipitate. 

Colour. 

Taate. 

T 

2 

3 

4 

5 

Home  made. 
Purchased. 

>> 

>> 

grs.  10 
„  10 
„  7 

>,  3 

„  o 

Dark  brown. 

V 

Brown. 

Pale  brown. 
Very  pale 
brown. 

Aromatic  bitter. 

M  .  99 

Les3  bitter. 
Slightly  bitter. 
Sweetish  and 
faintly  bitter. 

I  subjected  each  of  them  to  the  test  for  quinine 
by  the  ether  chlorine  water  and  ammonia  process, 
1,  2,  3  and  4  gave  the  emerald  green  colour,  5  failed ; 
1  and  2  left  the  largest  amount  of  quinine  upon  the 
watch-glass  after  the  evaporation  of  the  ether.  I 
may  here  mention  that  a  quick  and  ready  method  of 
proving  the  presence  of  quinine  in  tliis  preparation 
is  to  place  a  thin  layer  on  a  piece  of  window-glass, 
on  drying  and  exposing  to  transmitted  light,  it  wil . 
show  the  well-known  fluorescence. 

It  is  evident  that  this  article,  as  met  with  in  our 
pharmacies,  is  a  very  varying  product.  All  of  the 
samples  except  No.  1  came  through  respectable 
wholesale  houses  ;  that  they  should  supply  chemists 
with  such  diluted  forms  as  4  and  5  is  deserving  of 
censure,  and  warns  us  to  he  vigilant.  The  remedy 
for  this  is  in  our  own  hands.  Every-day  expe¬ 
rience  teaches  that  many  preparations  which  are, 
usually  purchased  should  be  home  made.  What 
proofs  have  we,  that  bought  pill-masses,  powders,  lini¬ 
ments,  etc.,  are  not  made  with  the  commonest  instead 
of  the  best  materials?  The  chemist  should  get  the 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  29,  1871 


801- 


root  bark  and  leaf,  and  operate  for  liimself ;  tlie  re¬ 
sult  will  amply  repay  tlie  labour,  and  he  has  the 
self- gratification  of  knowing  that  what  he  sells  is 
pure  and  unsophisticated.  If  the  performance  of 
these  duties  were  the  rule  instead  of  the  exception, 
we  should  not  hear  so  much  of  the  neglected  appren¬ 
tice,  for  had  he  the  opportunity  of  handling  the  spe¬ 
cimens  and  assisting  to  obtain  then*  products,  it 
would  leave  a  far  deeper  impression  on  his  memory 
than  cramming  from  books,  and  fill  him  with  that 
spirit  of  emulation  which  is  the  road  to  excellence. 


THE  ARTIFICIAL  PREPARATION  OF 
MANNITE.* 

BY  JOSEPH  M.  HIRSH,  OF  CHICAGO. 

The  preparation  of  artificial  mannite,  attempted 
at  the  instance  of  this  honourable  body,  has  been 
but  a  partial  success,  in  so  far  as  I  could  not  in 
every  instance  obtain  a  product  of  exactly  the  same 
composition  from  the  raw  material,  commercial  glu¬ 
cose.  Trials  with  pure  grape-sugar  invariably  failed, 
in  my  hands,  to  produce  that  peculiar  nauseous  prin¬ 
ciple  characteristic  of  manna. 

For  the  sake  of  brevity,  I  shall  mention  the  out¬ 
lines  of  my  experiments  in  this  direction. 

I  made  glucose  in  the  usual  manner  from  starch, 
leaving  about  10  per  cent,  of  dextrine  in  the  same 
undecomposed,  but  did  not  concentrate  the  glucose 
more  than  to  15°  Beaume.  To  this  solution  I  added 
5  per  cent,  of  wheat  flour,  5  of  molasses,  and  as 
much  of  common  malt  vinegar,  when  the  mass  was 
at  a  temperature  of  100°  F.  In  twenty-four  hours  a 
lively  fermentation  had  set  in,  which  continued  for 
three  days,  when  I  concentrated  the  liquid,  which  then 
showed  the  peculiar  nauseous  taste  and  odour  of 
manna.  Digested  with  alcohol,  mannite  dissolved, 
crystallizing  upon  evaporation  of  the  alcohol,  while 
dextrine  and  other  impurities  remained  behind  un¬ 
dissolved. 

The  peculiar  nauseous  principle  appears  to  be 
partly  decomposed  matter,  undergoing  a  gradual 
change  into  humus.  Whoever  has  been  in  a  vinegar 
factory,  badly  conducted,  where  poor  ventilation 
produces  an  incomplete  oxidation  of  the  alcohol,  but 
rather  decay,  must  at  once  be  struck  by  the  resem¬ 
blance  of  tliis  odour  to  that  of  manna.  It  was  this 
experience  which  induced  my  experiments  in  the 
manner  mentioned  above,  the  gluten  of  the  wheat- 
flour  forming,  together  with  the  vinegar,  an  excellent 
ferment  of  putridity,  which  not  only  produces  the 
nauseous,  humus-like  parts  existing  in  manna,  but 
also  the  molecular  change  of  cane-  and  grape-sugar 
which  converts  it  into  mannite. 

This  artificial  manna,  in  its  action  as  a  laxative, 
equals  the  true  manna  ;  and  very  likely  the  presence 
of  a  substance  in  a  state  of  change,  the  active  prin¬ 
ciple,  is  the  same  both  in  the  true  and  the  artificial 
manna.  The  mannite  produced  in  this  manner  does 
not  reduce  aklaline  cupric  tartrate,  showing  the 
complete  change  of  the  glucose ;  but  your  reporter 
would  beg  leave  to  complete  his  researches,  viz.  on 
the  elementary  analysis  of  the  artificial  product, 


*  Paper  read  at  the  meeting  of  the  American  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Association,  in  answer  to  the  query,  “  Can  mannite  be 
prepared  artificially  ?  and  if  so,  how  ?  And  has  it  the  same 
physiological  properties  ?” 


which  pressure  of  business  has  prevented  him  from 
completing. 

An  accompanying  sample  of  the  manna  produced 
will  show  how  far  my  attempts  have  been  successful. 
— Proc.  Amer.  Pharm.  Assoc.  1870. 


KOUMISS. 

BY  VICTOR  JAGIELSK.I,  M.D. 

The  modem  progress  of  physiological  chemistry  has 
advanced  the  position  of  dietetic  remedies  to  great  pro¬ 
minence  in  the  practice  of  medicine.  A  particular  know¬ 
ledge  of  their  properties  becomes  indispensable,  there¬ 
fore,  to  every  physician  who  would  keep  pace  in  learn¬ 
ing  with  the  obligations  due  to  his  patients.  Presuming, 
then,  upon  my  long  experience  in  the  science  and  art  of 
the  subject,  I  offer  these  remarks  upon  Koumiss,  for  I 
was  the  first  to  introduce  it  to  the  British  medical  pro¬ 
fession. 

Koumiss  accomplishes  the  twofold  beneficence  of  a 
grateful  food,  which  nourishes  the  debilitated  body,  and 
a  potent  physic  that  renews  its  failing  vitality.  It  is 
the  most  important  derivative  of  milk,  which  latter,  in 
its  various  forms,  has  risen  to  such  a  value  as  a  dietetic 
remedy,  that  special  institutions  in  connection  with  its 
use  in  the  treatment  of  disease  are  multiplying  yearly 
throughout  the  Continent.  Already  150  are  in  exist¬ 
ence,  with  double  that  number  of  physicians  attending 
at  them,  and  many  of  these  physicians  are  eminent  in 
their  profession. 

In  these  milk  institutions  milk  is  used  in  its  normal 
state — as  buttermilk,  as  thick  milk,  and  as  whey,  and 
sometimes  even  in  association  with  mineral  waters. 
Although  there  are  no  institutions  of  the  kind  in  this 
country,  yet  milk  and  its  derivatives  are  daily  assuming 
a  greater  importance  as  aids  to  other  systems  of  treat¬ 
ment  in  British  medical  practice. 

In  certain  severe  diseases,  accompanied  by  emaciation 
and  debility,  they  have  recently  established  a  high  cha¬ 
racter  as  restoratives.  Remedies  of  this  kind,  more 
especially  in  the  expectant  mode  of  treatment,  have  the 
advantage  over  hazardous  medicines  in  being  harmless 
at  the  worst.  They  are  free  from  any  anxiety  to  the 
physician,  and  are  much  more  likely  to  produce  the 
good  effect  which  he  desires  in  his  patient;  especially 
are  they  the  more  rational  means  with  which  to  com¬ 
mence  the  treatment,  for  they  may  soon  produce  results 
in  a  comfortable  way,  which  will  dispense  with  the  ne¬ 
cessity  of  co-operative  medicines. 

To  the  habitual  use  of  these  natural  hygienic  beve¬ 
rages  the  inhabitants  of  certain  territories  owe  their 
immunity  from  particular  diseases.  In  that  district 
called  the  Steppes  of  Russia,  lying  between  lat.  55°  30'  N. 
to  40°  N.,  and  long.  40°  E.  to  79°  50'  E.,  and  bordered 
by  the  river  Don  and  the  Lake  of  Baikal,  inhabited  by 
Kirgheses,  Tartars,  Bashkurs,  etc.  consumption  is  un¬ 
known.  Moreover,  the  people  of  these  lands  are  distin¬ 
guished  by  their  robust  health  and  iron  constitutions, 
notwithstanding  that  their  nomadic  habits  subject  them 
to  a  life  of  exposure  and  poverty ;  and  yet  almost  their 
only  food  and  drink  is  koumiss,  for  their  religion,  which 
is  Mahommedan,  forbids  the  use  of  other  liquors. 

The  exemption  of  these  people  from  phthisis  was  so 
remarkable  as  to  induce  travellers  to  comment  upon  it 
on  their  return  home.  Their  reports  soon  attracted  the 
attention  of  the  Russian  Government,  and  led  to  the 
organization  of  a  scientific  commission  of  inquiry  into 
the  general  character  of  the  country.  One  of  the  results 
of  these  investigations  was  to  settle  the  fact  that  the 
health  of  the  inhabitants  is  due  chiefly  to  their  simple 
diet  of  koumiss,  which  combines  all  the  elements  of  nu¬ 
trition  in  most  digestible  and  assimilable  forms. 

The  origin  of  the  word  Koumiss  is  unknown,  but  in 
the  Tartar  language  it  signifies  ‘  silver.’  This  definition 
is  probably  intended  to  be  suggestive  of  the  noble  qualities 


April  29, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


865 


of  that  beverage.  True  koumiss  is  prepared  from  mares’ 
milk  by  fermentation.  It  is  a  piquant,  sweetly  acidulous 
fragrant  liquor,  which,  when  taken  in  very  large  quan¬ 
tities ,  at  once  produces  a  pleasurable  excitement,  without 
any  had  after  effect,  owing  to  a  small  quantity  of  alco¬ 
hol  which  it  contains.  In  the  East  this  alcohol  is  sepa¬ 
rated  by  distillation  into  a  liquor,  which  is  called 
‘aracu.’  This  latter,  however,  differs  from  the  koumiss 
in  being  an  intoxicating  liquor  of  the  most  injurious 
kind.  Emaciated  by  their  meagre  rations  of  smoked 
meat  during  the  long  and  rigid  winters,  the  Tartars  hail 
the  approach  of  spring  with  great  rejoicing,  because  it 
brings  back  to  them  the  season  of  koumiss.  The 
meadows,  warmed  and  vivified  by  the  thick  snows  of  the 
winter,  now  bloom  forth  in  luxurious  pastures  to  restore 
the  drooping  bodies  of  the  half-starved  mares ;  and  the 
poor  animals,  once  more  natural  in  blood  and  flesh,  give 
abundantly  of  milk  to  make  the  koumiss,  which  serves 
in  turn  to  nourish  and  invigorate  their  masters.  It  is 
the  grateful  feeling  wfliich  is  natural  to  this  change 
from  a  bare  subsistence  to  one  of  wholesome  plenty  that 
inspires  the  Tartars  to  reverence  koumiss  as  of  ‘  Divine 
origin.’ 

It  should  be  here  remarked  that  the  mares  of  the 
Steppes  are  a  hardy  race  of  animals,  and  it  not  unfre- 
quently  happens  that  one  of  a  drove  which  may  drop  her 
foal  during  the  march  will  be  able,  with  her  colt,  to  re¬ 
sume  the  journey  two  hours  afterwards.  When  the  colt 
is  weaned,  the  mare  can  only  be  induced  to  yield  her 
milk  by  a  ruse ,  which  consists  in  making  the  colt  stand 
by  the  side  of  the  milker,  and  if  the  colt  has  been  taken 
away,  then  it  must  be  simulated  by  a  stuffed  dummy. 
The  daily  product  of  a  good  mare  is  two  or  three  litres 
of  milk,  but  only  when  the  mare  is  milked  frequently, 
say  at  intervals  of  every  four  hours. 

Mare’s  milk  assimilates  closely  in  composition  with 
woman’s  milk  ;  and  qualitatively  it  is  not  different  from 
cow’s  milk,  but  it  contains  more  of  sugar  (lactose)  and 
less  of  butter  and  caseine  than  the  latter.  Mare’s  milk 
has  a  peculiarity  which  distinguishes  two  other  kinds 
only,  viz.  those  of  the  ass  and  the  woman,  and  that  is, 
rennet  scarcely  coagulates  it. 

Milks  in  general  consist  of  84  per  cent,  to  95  per  cent, 
of  water,  and  16  per  cent,  to  5  per  cent,  of  solid  matters. 
The  solid  portion  is  made  up  of  lactose,  butter,  caseine, 
albumen  and  mineral  salts.  The  mineral  salts  consist 
chiefty  of  alkaline  and  earthy  chlorides  and  phosphates. 
In  addition,  there  are  traces  of  various  other  consti¬ 
tuents,  some  of  which  are  doubtful.  Although  the  milks 
of  different  animals  resemble  each  other  in  quality,  they 
are  quite  at  variance  as  to  the  quantitative  relations  of 
their  components  ;  that  is,  in  other  words,  species,  race, 
and  season,  mode  of  employment,  and,  measurably,  the 
kind  of  food,  are  controlling  influences  on  this  point. 

The  following  table  will  show  the  average  composition 
of  the  more  important  kinds  of  milk : — - 


W  oman 

Cow. 

Goat. 

Sheep. 

Ass. 

Mare. 

Sugar  .  .  . 

4-8 

4'6 

43 

5-4 

6-4 

7-3 

Butter  .  .  . 

2-9 

3-6 

3-4 

2-4 

1*3 

2-1 

Cheesy  Matter . 

2-0 

5-1 

4-4 

4-8 

1-9 

}l-0 

Salts  .... 

2-21 

0-6 

0-8 

0-9 

— - 

Total  .  .  . 

10-9 

13-9 

12-9 

13-5 

9-6 

10-9 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  milk  of  the  ass  and  the 
mare  are  nearly  alike  as  to  the  proportion  of  butter  and 
caseine,  and  very  nearly  similar  in  the  same  respect  to 
that  of  the  woman ;  but  the  amount  of  sugar  in  woman’s 
milk  is  much  less  than  in  either  of  the  two  others. 
Doubtless,  therefore,  it  is  the  large  proportion  of  sugar 
which  these  three  contain  that  renders  them  pre-emi¬ 
nently  suitable  for  the  manufacture  of  koumiss ;  and  of 
the  three,  mare’s  milk  is  the  most  favourable.  But  the 
reasons  which  cause  cow’s  milk  and  sheep’s  milk  to  be  less 


adapted  for  koumiss  making  have  not  yet  been  deter¬ 
mined  ;  possibly  it  may  be  owing  to  the  greater  amount 
of  caseine,  and  some  peculiarity  of  physical  condition. 
Be  that  as  it  may,  my  own  studies  and  experiments  have 
enabled  me  to  surmount  all  the  practical  difficulties  in 
this  connection,  and  to  produce  a  koumiss  which,  for  all 
therapeutic  purposes,  is  the  counterpart  of  that  from 
mare’s  milk.  By  the  skill  thus  acquired,  I  am  also 
enabled  to  make  koumiss  of  different  modifications,  as 
may  be  required  for  different  diseases.  This  art  of  sub¬ 
stitution  enables  us  to  have  koumiss  at  our  own  homes  : 
whereas  it  would  be  compulsory  otherwise  to  go  and 
drink  it  on  the  steppes  of  distant  Tartary,  as  nowhere 
else  are  the  mares  in  that  requisite  number  and  con¬ 
dition  for  being  milked  advantageously.  The  manipu¬ 
lations  are  of  a  nice  character,  and  require  experience 
and  attention. 

[To  be  continued.') 


NOTE  ON  AM YLO-NITROU 8  ETHER. 

13Y  JOHX  M.  MAISCH. 

Mr.  C.  Umney*  has  recently  examined  three  speci¬ 
mens  of  nitrite  of  amyl  as  met  with  in  the  English 
market,  and  found  them  all  to  be  impure,  one  containing 
in  fact  very  little  of  the  true  nitrite.  This  new  remedial 
agent  has  also  attracted  some  attention  in  this  country  ; 
to  what  extent  it  is  made  here  I  have  no  means  of  ascer¬ 
taining,  nor  am  I  prepared  to  give  an  opinion  of  the 
piu-ity  of  the  few  samples  I  have  seen.  Since,  however, 
its  preparation  is  rather  tedious,  and  since  it  is  very  apt 
to  be  contaminated  with  other  ethers,  the  requisite  care 
and  precautions  are  probably  not  always  applied. 

Having  had  occasion,  some  time  since,  to  prepare  it 
repeatedly  for  medicinal  purposes,  the  following  remarks 
are  offered  as  indicating  a  way  of  making  nitrite  of 
amyl  on  a  convenient  scale.  Mr.  Umney  prefers  the 
process  of  passing  nitrous  (hyponitric)  acid  into  amylic 
alcohol.  I  regard  this  process  as  unnecessarily  compli¬ 
cated,  since  purification  by  fractional  distillation  cannot 
be  avoided,  as  demonstrated  already  by  Rieckher.f  Ac¬ 
cording  to  Bunge,  J  5|  oz.  amylic  alcohol  require  from 
eight  to  nine  hours,  before  becoming  completely  sat  i- 
rated  with  nitrous  acid ;  volatile  products  are  given 
off,  and  the  residue  contains  nitrite  and  valerianate  or. 
amyl,  besides  a  black  non-volatile  body,  crystals  of 
nitrate  of  ammonia  and  probably  nitrate  of  amyl.  The 
process  which  was  first  suggested  in  1844  by  Balard,  it 
seems  to  me,  will  answer  all  requirements,  if  the  obser¬ 
vations  of  W.  Hoffmann^  regarding  the  formation  of 
nitrate  of  amyl  are  not  disregarded ;  ethyl-amylic  ether, 
amylic  aldehyde  and  hydrocyanic  acid  are  likewise 
formed. 

Of  the  three  last-named  compound's,  the  hydrocyanic 
acid  is  readily  removed  from  the  distillate  by  treatment 
with  an  alkali,  which  also  separates  any  nitrous  and 
nitric  acid  that  may  have  come  over.  The  aldehyde  has  its 
boiling-point  at  9-3°  C.  (Kopp),  and  the  ether  above  110° 
C.  These  figures  indicate  the  necessity  of  the  cautels  re¬ 
commended  by  Balard,  Hoffmann,  Rieckher,  etc. 

It  is  advisable  to  use  only  rectified  amylic  alcohol, 
since  the  previous  removal  of  ethylic  alcohol  is  much 
easier  than  the  removal  of  the  products  after  the  reaction 
with  the  nitric  acid  has  been  completed.  This  purifica¬ 
tion  is  most,  readily  and  economically  effected  by  Hirsch’s 
method,  ||  with  solution  of  table  salt  and  subsequent  dis¬ 
tillation  with  water. 

The  purified  amylic  alcohol  with  about  an  equal  bulk 
of  nitric  acid  is  introduced  into  a  capacious  glass  retort, 


*  Piiarm.  Journ.  and  Transactions,  1870,  p.  422. 
f  Jahrb.  f.  pr.  Chem.  vol.  xiv.  p.  1. 

£  Krit.  Zeitschr.  vol.  ix.  p.  34. 

§  Aim.  Ckcm.  und  PLuirm,  vol.  lxxv.  p.  303. 

||  See  Arner.  Jour.  Pluirm.^  1802,  p.  139,  328. 


SCG 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  29,  1871. 


and  a  moderate  heat  is  applied  and  very  gradually  in¬ 
creased.  As  soon  as  the  mixture  approaches  boiling,  the 
fire  is  removed  and  the  reaction  allowed  to  continue.  If 
the  application  of  the  heat  has  been  too  rapid  or  too  long 
continued,  considerable  frothing  occurs  and  the  contents 
of  the  retort  are  apt  to  foam  over.  With  a  moderate  and 
slowly  increased  heat  the  reaction  is  less  violent,  and  the 
temperature  rises  gradually  after  the  removal  of  the  fire 
and  the  beginning  of  boiling.  As  soon  as  the  thermo¬ 
meter,  inserted  into  the  tub  ulus,  rises  above  100°  C. 
(212°  F.)  the  receiver  is  changed,  the  distillate  now  be¬ 
coming  more  and  more  mixed  with  ethyl-amylic  ether 
and  nitrate  of  amyl,  readily  perceived  by  the  change  in 
odour. 

The  distillate  obtained  below  100°  C.  is  now  agitated 
with  an  aqueous  solution  of  caustic  or  carbonate  of  po¬ 
tash,  to  remove  free  acids,  and  after  separation  the  oily 
liquid  is  introduced  into  a  clean  retort  and  again  slowly 
heated.  The  first  portion  coming  over  contains  the 
amylic  aldehyde.  When  the  very  slowly  increased  heat 
has  risen  to  96°  C.,  the  receiver  is  again  changed  and  the 
distillate  now  collected  as  nitrite  of  amyl,  until  the 
thermometer  reaches  100°  C.,  when  the  distillation  is 
stopped. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  process  for  the  preparation 
of  this  compound  consists  of  two  distinct  operations ; 
first,  the  production  of  the  amyl-nitrous  ether,  and,  se¬ 
condly,  its  purification.  In  both  operations  the  very 
gradual  application  and  increase  of  heat  is  very  essential. 
The  yield,  is  small ;  not  having  kept  any  record  of  the 
yield,  I  am  unable  to  give  the  percentage  obtained.  All 
the  amylo-nitrous  ether  dispensed  by  me  was  made  by 
this  process. 

After  the  publication  of  Redwood’s  process  for  spirit 
of  nitrous  ether,  *  it  was  repeatedly  tried  with  entirely 
satisfactory  results,  and  the  idea  naturally  suggested 
itself  to  apply  the  same  process  to  the  similar  com¬ 
pound  amylo-nitrous  ether.  Accordingly,  amylic  al¬ 
cohol  was  mixed  with  sulphuric  acid,  the  mixture  in¬ 
troduced  into  a  retort  together  with  some  copper  wire, 
and,  after  cooling,  nitric  acid  was  added.  In  a  very  few 
moments  the  evolution  of  gas  was  observed,  the  liquid 
became  hot  without  the  external  application  of  heat,  and 
the  reaction  very  rapidly  increased  to  such  a  violence 
that  the  entire  charge  was  lost,  it  being  impossible  to 
condense  any  vapours  in  a  Liebig’s  condenser,  or  to  re¬ 
tain  much  of  the  liquid  forced  over,  in  the  receiver.  The 
experiment  was  never  repeated. 

Nadlerf  gives  a  process  which  he  says  readily  yields 
the  pure  nitrite.  It  having  come  but  lately  under  my 
notice,  I  am  not  prepared  to  speak  about  its  merits  ;  it 
consists  in  distilling  amylo-sulphate  of  potash  with 
nitrate  of  potash. 

The  composition  of  the  nitrite  of  oxide  of  amyl  is 
CioIInO,  N03 ;  it  ‘appears  to  me  that  we  ought  to  dis¬ 
continue  this  long  name,  as  well  as  also  nitrite  of  amyl. 
Amylo-nitrous  ether  expresses  the  chemical  relations  of 
this  compound,  and  the  similarity  of  names  also  indi¬ 
cates  its  analogy  to  the  officinal  ethylo-nitrous  ether, 
which  may  well  be  continued  to  be  called  nitrous  ether, 
just  as  ethylic  alcohol  and  all  its  direct  derivatives 
are  called  by  their  generic  names  merely — alcohol,  alde¬ 
hyde,  ether — without  any  prefix. — American  Journal  of 
Pharmacy. 


NEUTRAL  CRYSTALLIZABLE  PRINCIPLE  IN  BLACK 
SNAKE  ROOT  (CIMICIFUGA  ACEMOSA). 

BY  T.  ELLWOOD  CONARD. 

As  tins  plant  is  a  very  common  one,  and  has  been  fully 
described  in  articles  heretofore  written,  I  will  not  enter 
into  any  description  of  it,  but,  merely  state  the  condition 
of  the  root  acted  upon ;  and  of  the  very  many  experi¬ 


*  See  Amer.  Journ.  Pharm.  1867,  p.  330. 
f  Ann.  Chem.  und  Pharm.  vol.  cxvi.  p.  176. 


ments  made  I  will  give  those  only  which  resulted  most 
satisfactorily. 

In  order  to  get  the  advantage,  if  there  should  be  any, 
in  using  the  perfectly  fresh  root,  I  obtained  it  in  this 
way  directly  from  the  ground.  It  was  dug  in  the  latter 
part  of  July,  at  which  time  the  roots  were  quite  well 
developed. 

A  portion  of  these,  thoroughly  cut  and  bruised,  were 
put  in  a  still  with  water,  and  a  varied  and  continued 
heat  was  applied,  but  without  producing  in  the  distillate 
any  preceptible  amount  of  volatile  principle.  The  addi¬ 
tion  of  liquor  potass®  to  the  mixture  and  redistillation 
was  tried,  which  also  failed  to  develope  a  volatile  oil  or 
other  substance  ;  there  was  no  separation  of  anything 
from  the  water  which  distilled  over,  nor  had  it  any  taste 
or  smell,  except  an  earthy,  rooty  taste,  characteristic  of 
any  inert  vegetable  matter.  From  these  facts  we  infer 
the  root  does  not  owe  its  active  properties  to  the  posses¬ 
sion  of  a  volatile  substance. 

The  next  experiments  I  will  give  in  outline.  Three 
and  a  half  pounds  of  the  root,  cut  and  bruised,  were 
treated  with  four  and  a  half  pints  of  strong  alcohol  by 
maceration  for  four  weeks  and  filtered.  Two  pints  of 
this  tincture  was  treated  with  three  fluid  ounces  of  the 
solution  of  subacetate  of  lead,  which  completely  precipi¬ 
tated  the  resin,  tannin,  etc.  and  most  of  the  colouring- 
matter,  as  will  be  seen  below.  The  lead  was  separated 
from  the  filtered  liquid  by  means  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen 
in  excess ;  after  agitating  for  some  time  together,  filtered. 
A  repetition  of  the  process  proved  the  solution  to  be  en¬ 
tirely  free  from  resinous  or  gummy  substances,  also  from 
much  colouring  matter.  The  tincture  was  set  aside  and 
allowed  to  evaporate  spontaneously.  The  resulting 
powder  was  treated  repeatedly  with  benzine.  The 
several  washings  were  mixed  and  evaporated,  yielding  a 
minute  portion  of  a  disagreeable  nauseous,  fatty  sub¬ 
stance  without  colour.  The  ‘powder  was  freed  from  the 
odour  of  benzine,  placed  on  a  filter  and  thoroughly 
washed  with  water  ;  then  dried  and  dissolved  in  sixteen 
times  its  weight  of  strong  alcohol,  forming  a  saturated 
solution.  This  was  mixed  with  one  hundred  and  twenty 
grains  of  pure  alumina,  moistened  with  a  few  drops  of 
water,  and  agitated  for  twenty-four  hours,  then  put  in 
a  capsule  and  evaporated  spontaneously  to  a  very  dry 
light  mass.  This  was  put  on  a  filter,  and  hot  alcohol 
poured  on  it  until  entirely  exhausted.  This  was  allowed 
to  evaporate,  and  there  remained  a  crystalline  substance 
of  a  light  yellow  colour,  not  of  a  very  regular  or  decided 
shape,  but  of  a  massy  appearance,  resembling  almost 
exactly  the  crystals  of  sulphate  of  alumina  on  a  small 
scale.  But  under  the  microscope,  at  a  low  power,  their 
crystalline  form  was  more  distinct,  presenting  an  appear¬ 
ance  similar  to  that  of  rock  candy.  This  substance,  in 
powder,  has  little  taste,  on  account  of  its  extreme  insolu¬ 
bility  in  the  liquids  of  the  mouth.  But  its  solution  in 
alcohol  has  the  intensely  acrid  and  sharp  taste  that  cha¬ 
racterizes  recent  cimicifuga. 

The  crystals  have  the  following  characteristics : — They 
are  very  soluble  in  cold  alcohol,  more  so  when  heated. 
Dissolve  readily  in  dilute  alcohol,  also  in  chloroform,  and 
slightly  in  ether ;  but  are  entirely  insoluble  in  benzine, 
turpentine  and  bisulphide  of  carbon.  Fusible  at  a  mo¬ 
derate  temperature,  at  a  higher  taking  fire,  and  at  a 
red  heat  entirely  dissipated. 

This  substance,  from  the  following  experiments  and 
their  results,  appears  to  be  a  neutral  principle  : — 

A  small  quantity  moistened  on  a  jar  lid  with  liquor 
potass®,  and  approached  with  the  stopper  of  a  muriatic 
acid  bottle,  did  not  give  off  the  characteristic  white  fumes 
of  a  volatile  alkaloid,  nor  did  it  produce  fumes  when 
heated  with  liquor  potass®  and  brought  near  muriatic 
acid,  as  an  ordinary  alkaloid.  A  small  quantity  with 
liquor  potass®  put  in  a  tube  with  a  small  outlet,  was 
gently  heated,  but  no  odour  of  ammonia  was  given  ofl. 
Reddened  litmus  paper  remains  imehanged  by  continued 
contact  with  its  solution.  Entirely  incompatible  with 


April  29,  1S7L] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


867 


all  acids,  refusing  to  unite  with,  them  in  any  form  or  pro¬ 
portion.  These  few  facts  point  very  strongly  to  the 
conclusion  that  it  is  neither  an  alkaloid  nor  an  acid 
principle,  being  entirely  indifferent  to  the  alkalies  and 
not  reddening  litmus  paper.  The  therapeutic  properties 
of  this  substance  have  not  been  ascertained. — American 
Journal  of  Pharmacy. 


THE  USE  OF  LIQUID  CAOUTCHOUC  AS  AN  AD¬ 
DITION  TO  EMP.  BELLADONNiE  AND  OTHER 
PLASTERS. 

BY  J.  WILLITTS  WORTHINGTON. 

The  author  has  treated  this  subject  at  some  length  in 
his  inaugural  essay  before  the  Philadelphia  College  of 
Pharmacy,  from  which  we  abstract  the  following : — 

Much  difficulty  has  been  experienced  by  pharmaceu¬ 
tists  in  preparing  belladonna  plaster  so  as  to  retain  its 
adhesiveness  when  kept  ready  spread  for  some  time. 
The  proposed  improvement  consists  in  the  addition  of 
indiarubber  used  in  the  form  of  a  solution,  made  as 
follows : — 

Take  of  pure  Caoutchouc,  cut  in  small  pieces,  1  oz. 

Benzine  (from  Petroleum),  1  pint. 

Macerate  with  occasional  agitation  in  a  suitable 
stopped,  wide-mouthed  bottle  until  a  thick,  saturated 
solution  is  obtained.  To  prove  its  efficacy  in  preserving 
the  pliability  of  plasters,  the  author  prepared  a  mixture 
of  3  ounces  of  Burgundy  pitch,  4  drachms  of  yellow  wax, 
2  drachms  of  rosin  and  2  drachms  of  lard ;  melted  and 
strained.  This,  when  spread  and  kept  two  months,  bo- 
■came  very  brittle  and  cracked  on  handling. 

The  same  ingredients,  with  the  addition  of  4  drachms 
•of  liquid  caoutchouc  incorporated  when  they  were  in  a 
fused  state,  possessed  the  following  characters  : — 

Very  little  tendency  to  crack,  retains  its  pliability,  is 
more  adhesive,  and  has  a  beautiful  smooth  glossy  ap¬ 
pearance.  After  two  months,  part  of  it  very  cold  weather, 
this  plaster  retained  its  pliability. 

Experiments  were  then  made  with  officinal  belladonna 
plaster,  which  resulted  in  the  following  proportion  being 
•considered  most  suitable  : — 

Take  of  Belladonna  Plaster  (U.S.P.),  7  dims. 

Liquid  Gum  Elastic,  1  drm. 

The  belladonna  plaster  to  be  melted  by  a  water-bath, 
•and  the  liquid  rubber  then  added  and  stirred  well  until 
united  thoroughly. 

The  odour  of  the  benzine  disappears  when  the  solu¬ 
tion  is  added  in  this  way.  It  is  quite  important  to  avoid  an 
excess  of  heat,  and  hence  the  water- bath  is  recommended. 

Liquid  rubber  will  be  found  to  act  admirably  in  all 
plasters  which  may  be  made  to  keep  through  the  summer. 
— American  Journal  of  Pharmacy. 


CRYSTALLIZATION  OF  SULPHO-CARBOLATE  OF 

QUINIA. 

BY  C.  J.  RADEMAKER,  M.D. 

Having  had  occasion  to  prepare  sulpho-carbolate  of 
•quinia  for  hospital  use  in  this  city,  the  following  process 
was  resorted  to : — 

Crude  sulpho-carbolic  acid  was  saturated  with  plumbic 
carbonate,  the  sulpho-carbolate  of  lead  crystallized  and 
decomposed  with  sulphate  of  quinine.  The  solution  of 
sulpho-carbolate  of  quinine  filtered  and  evaporated,  but 
it  was  found  almost  impossible  to  crystallize  the  salt, 
■owing  to  the  gelatinous  condition  of  part  of  the  solution, 
which  adhered  to  the  small  amount  of  crystals  formed. 
The  gelatinous  mass  was  redissolved  in  alcohol,  and  set 
aside  to  evaporate  spontaneously,  with  the  same  result, 
it  being  found  impossible  to  remove  the  crystals  with 
any  degree  of  nicety  from  the  gelatinous  mass. 

I  then  made  a  solution  of  sulpho-carbolate  of  quinine 
of  definite  strength,  a  teaspoonful  of  the  solution  repre¬ 
senting  two  grains  of  the  crystallized  salt,  or  as  near 


two  grains  as  I  could  calculate  from  the  amount  of  sub¬ 
stance  used.  The  liquid  was  composed  of  three  parts 
water  and  one  part  alcohol,  and  set  aside  for  prescription 
use.  In  about  four  or  five  weeks  I  noticed  small  crystals 
forming,  which  gradually  increased  in  size,  the  large 
crystals  resembling  those  of  perchloride  of  iron.  Under 
the  microscope  they  made  a  beautiful  prismatic  appear¬ 
ance,  but  to  what  system  of  prisms  they  belonged  I  was 
unable  to  determine.  Part  of  the  crystals  were  taken 
out  of  the  bottle  and  examined  and  found  to  be  sulpho- 
carbolate  of  quinine. 

In  about  two  months  about  one-third  of  the  salt  had 
crystallized  out  of  the  solution.  The  salt  was  freely 
soluble  in  water,  but  slightly  soluble  in  alcohol,  and  not 
deliquescent. — American  Journal  of  Pharmacy. 


CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 
OPIUM  ALKALOIDS. 

Part  I. — On  the  Action  of  Hydrobromic  Acicl  on  Codeia .* 

BY  C.  R.  A.  WRIGHT,  D.SC. 

It  has  been  shown  by  the  late  Dr.  A.  Matthiessen,  in 
conjunction  with  the  writer, f  that  when  codeia  is  heated 
with  a  large  excess  of  strong  hydrochloric  acid  the 
following  reactions  successively  take  place  : — 

Codeia.  Chlorocodide. 

£18H21N03  +  HC1  =  II20  +  C18H20ClNO2. 

Chlorocodide.  Apomorphia. 

c18h20cino2  =  CH3C1  +  cI7h17no2. 

It  appeared  of  interest  to  examine  the  action  of  hydro¬ 
bromic  acid  under  similar  circumstances,  and  for  this 
purpose  Messrs.  Macfarlane,  of  Edinburgh,  with  their 
wonted  liberality,  put  a  considerable  quantity  of  pure 
codeia  at  the  writer’s  disposal. 

The  aqueous  hydrobromic  acid  employed  was  obtained 
by  the  action  of  H2S  on  Br  in  presence  of  water,  and 
subsequent  rectification  over  pulverized  K  Br ;  it  was 
free  from  S  04  II2  and  other  sulphur  compounds,  had  a 
sp.  gr.  of  about  1 -5,  and  contained  about  48  per  cent,  of 
H  Br. 

When  codeia  is  heated  with  from  three  to  six  times  its 
weight  of  this  acid,  either  on  a  water-bath  or  to  gentle 
ebullition  over  a  flame,  the  liquid,  which  at  first  pro¬ 
duces  no  precipitate  with  solution  of  carbonate  of  soda, 
gradually  darkens  in  colour,  and  acquires  the  property 
of  yielding  a  dense  white  precipitate  with  this  reagent. 
No  appreciable  quantity  of  methyl  bromide  is  evolved 
during  the  first  stages  of  this  change,  but,  subsequently, 
this  body  is  produced  in  some  little  quantity. 

The  precipitate  thrown  down  by  carbonate  of  soda  be¬ 
fore  this  further  change  ensues,  appears  to  consist  of  a 
variable  mixture  of  at  least  three  substances,  two  of 
which  are  readily  soluble  in  ether,  while  the  third  is  but 
sparingly  soluble  in  that  menstruum ;  all  are  bases,  the 
one  insoluble  in  ether,  and  one  of  those  soluble  contain¬ 
ing  bromine :  the  one  apparently  first  formed  is  pro¬ 
duced  by  a  reaction  precisely  analogous  to  that  whereby 
chlorocodide  is  generated,  viz. : — 

Codeia.  Bromocodide. 

C1SH21N03  +  HBr  =  H20  +  C18H2)BrN02, 

and  is,  therefore,  termed  bromocodide  ;  this  base  appears 
to  be  acted  on  further  with  great  ease,  giving  rise  ulti¬ 
mately  to  the  other  two,  the  first  of  which  has  the  con¬ 
stitution  of  codeia  less  one  equivalent  of  oxygen,  or 
CH21N02,  and  is,  therefore,  provisionally  named  deoxy- 
codeia  ;  whilst  the  second  has  the  composition  of  four 
molecules  of  codeia  coalesced  together,  one  of  the  84  H 
atoms  in  the  product  being  replaced  by  Br  ;  it  is,  there¬ 
fore,  provisionally  termed  bromotetracodeia,  the  simplest 

*  Extracted  from  the  ‘  Proceedings  of  the  Royal  Society,’ 

f  Proc.  Roy.  Soc.  vols.  xvii.  p.  460  j  xviii.  83. 


868 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  29, 1S71. 


mode  of  representing  the  simultaneous  formation  of  these 
two  bases  being  as  follows : — 

Bromoeodide.  Codeia. 

ClsH.sBrNO,  +  4C1sH21N  03 

Deosveodeia.  Bromotetracodeia. 

=  ClsH;1N0.2+C;3Hs3BrN4012. 

Owing'  to  the  ease  with  which  bromoeodide  is  altered, 
it  is  a  matter  of  some  difficulty  to  obtain  it  in  even  an  ap¬ 
proximately  pure  condition,  as  the  complete  separation 
of  deoxycodeia  appears  impracticable  when  this  base  has 
once  been  produced.  The  product  of  the  action  of  three 
parts  48  per  cent,  acid  on  one  part  codeia  on  the  water- 
bath  for  from  one  to  two  hours  is  precipitated  by  excess 
of  sodium  carbonate  and  the  precipitate  collected  on 
filters ;  unaltered  codeia  is  for  the  most  part  separated 
thus,  being  contained  in  the  filtrate.  Extraction  of  the 
mass  with  ether  and  agitation  of  the  ethereal  solution 
with  HBr  furnishes  crude  bromoeodide  hydrobromate, 
which  may  be  purified  by  a  repetition  of  the  process, 
fractional  precipitation  being  resorted  to  to  get  rid  of 
traces  of  colouring-matters :  the  purified  hydrobromate 
thus  obtained  was  a  viscid  colourless  liquid  which  utterly 
refused  to  crystallize,  and  dried  up  to  a  gum-like  mass 
over  SO, Ho.  Dried  at  100°,- -the  powdered  gum  gave 
these  numbers  :* — 

0-3500  grm.  gave  0'6340  C02  and  0T 580  H,0. 

0*230  grm.  boiled  with  N03II  and  AgN03  gave 
0*1900  AgBr.  • 

Calculated.  Found. 


/ - - v  A 


c18 . 

,  216 

48*76 

‘49*40 

H21 . 

,  21 

4*74 

5*01 

Br2 . 

,  160 

36*12 

N  . 

14 

3*16 

o2 . 

32 

7*22 

C18H20BrNO2HBr 

443 

100*00 

The  slight  excess  of  carbon  and  deficiency  in  bromine 
thus  found  are  doubtless  due  to  the  presence  of  a 
little  deoxycodeia,  the  hydrobromate  of  which  requires 
59*34  per  cent,  carbon  and  21*98  per  cent.  Br.  Another 
specimen  of  bromoeodide  hydrobromate,  prepared  as 
above  from  the  product  of  three  hours’  digestion  at  100° 
of  one  part  codeia  and  three  parts  4S  per  cent.  HBr, 
yielded  numbers  indicating  51*6  per  cent,  carbon,  5*3 
and  33*4  per  cent.  Br. ;  whilst  a  repetition  of  the  purifi¬ 
cation  process  scarcely  altered  the  numbers.  Owing  to 
the  great  difficulty  in  preparing*  the  pure  salt  in  quantity, 
no  attempt  to  isolate  and  analyse  the  base  itself  was 
made,  the  more  so  that  the  precipitate  thrown  down  by 
carbonate  of  soda  from  the  pure  hydrobromate  appeared 
to  tally  in  every  respect  with  the  chlorocodide  formerly 
examined  ;  their  qualitative  reactions,  too,  arc  identical. 

The  crude  bromoeodide  hydrobromate  obtained  after 
five  or  six  hours’  digestion  of  codeia  with  from  three  to 
five  times  its  weight  of  48  per  cent.  HBr  deposited,  on 
standing  for  some  days,  crystals  not  readily  soluble  in 
cold  water ;  recrystallized  several  tunes  from  boiling- 
water,  minute  snow-white  crystals  were  ultimately  ob¬ 
tained  ;  these  slightly  darkened  on  drying  over  S(34H.,, 
and  more  so  at  100°  and  gave  the  following  numbers  on 
analysis : — . 

0*3565  grm.  gave  0*7760  C02  and  0*1960  ILO. 

0*3245  grm.  gave  0*7045  CO.,  and  0*1790  H20. 

0*2200  grm.  burnt  with  soda-lime  gave  0*0570  Pt. 

0*1380  grm.  boiled  with  NO  HI  and  AgN  O,  gave 
0*0700  AgBr.  &  3  & 

These  numbers  agree  with  those  calculated  for  deoxy¬ 
codeia  hydrobromate,  as  the  following  comparison 
shows : — 


*  All  combustions  given  in  this  paper  were  made  with  lead 
chromate  and  timsheu  in  a  stream  of  dry  oxygen. 


Calculated. 


/  * 


C18 . 

.  216 

59*34 

H22 . 

.  .  22 

6*05 

N  . 

.  .  14 

3*84 

O . 

8*79 

Br . 

.  .  80 

21*98 

ClsII21N02HBr 

364 

100*00 

Found. 


59*36  59*21 

6*11  6*13 

-  -  3-69 

-  -  -  21*59 

The  yield  of  this  base  from  the  codeia  used  being  but 
small  (about  4  per  cent.),  no  attempt  was  made  to  isolate 
the  base  itself;  carbonate  of  soda  throws  down  from  the 
hydrobromate  solution  a  white  precipitate  which  is  solu¬ 
ble  in  alcohol,  other,  benzol  and  chloroform  ;  by  exposure 
to  air  it  rapidly  becomes  coloured,  and  finally  acquires  a 
very  dark  green  tint.  Its  qualitative  reactions  are  iden¬ 
tical  with  those  of  apomorphia ;  the  co'lour-reactions  of  the 
two  with  Fe2ClG,  N03H,  and  S04II2  -f-  K2Cr20-  being 
indistinguishable  when  examined  side  by  side.  Its  phy¬ 
siological  effects,  however,  are  different ;  three-tenths  of 
a  grain  of  the  hydrobromate  administered  by  the  mouth 
to  a  dog  producing  no  appreciable  effect,  whilst  a  much 
less  dose  of  apomorphia  produces  speedy  vomiting. 

(To  be  continued.) 


Wasps  and  the  Stamens  and  Pistils  of  Fuchs¬ 
ias. — The  use  of  the  petals  of  various  flowers  by  bees 
is  generally  known,  but  it  is  not  so  well  known  that 
wasps  remove  the  stamens  and  pistils  of  fuchsias  for 
their  own  use.  What  this  use  may  be  appears  some¬ 
what  uncertain,  but  the  fact  of  their  removal  is  chro¬ 
nicled  by  M.  Ch.  Morren,  who  states  that,  having  fre¬ 
quently  noticed  that  the  stamens  and  pistils  of  certain 
fuchsias  were  removed  by  some  unexplained  means,  he 
set  a  watch,  and  it  was  then  ascertained  that  the  wasps 
were  the  culprits.  That  they  are  employed  by  them  for 
some  purpose  seems  evident  from  the  fact  that  the 
wasps  were  observed  flying  about  the  garden  with  the 
stamens  in  their  mandibles.  M.  Morren  believes  that 
Vespa  nidulans  is  the  species  which  acts  in  this  manner, 
as  in  localities  where  this  wasp  does  not  occur  the 
flowers  remained  intact.  It  would  be  interesting  to  as¬ 
certain  whether  a  similar  phenomenon  has  been  noticed 
in  England. — Gardeners  Chronicle. 

Turmeric. — The  genus  Curcuma  is  known  as  furnish¬ 
ing  the  yellow  powder  called  turmeric,  which  is  used  as 
an  aromatic  ingredient  in  the  preparation  of  curry-pow¬ 
der,  and  also  in  various  branches  of  Eastern  cookery  as 
well  as  in  medicine,  and  as  a  colouring  matter  and  a  test 
for  alkalies.  The  young  tubers,  which  are  colourless, 
also  yield  a  kind  of  arrowroot,  that  known  as  East 
Indian  arrowroot  being  the  produce  entirely  of  species 
of  this  genus,  such  as  C.  angustifolia,  Roxb.,  C.  rubescens , 
Roxb.,  etc.  In  Borneo,  C.  purpurascens,  Bl.,  is  a  com¬ 
mon  plant,  and  the  older  rhizomes  are  dug  up,  beaten 
to  pieces,  and  washed  to  separate  the  farina  from  the 
fibre.  The  powder  is  not  only  used  in  the  preparation 
of  native  dishes,  but,  mixed  with  water  and  perfumes,  it 
is  smeared  over  the  faces  and  bare  arms  and  necks  of 
brides  and  bridegrooms  when  they  sit  in  state  before 
marriage,  or  receive  their  first  visits  of  ceremony.  Per¬ 
haps  our  perfumers  may  take  a  wrinkle. — Gardeners' 
Chronicle. 

Annatto. — In  an  article  in  the  Milk  Journal  a  resem¬ 
blance  is  pointed  out  as  existing  between  annatto  and 
those  well-known  coal-tar  products, — the  salts  of  rosolic 
acid ;  and  a  suggestion  is  made  that  it  is  worthy  of  inves¬ 
tigation  whether  the  rosolates  might  not  be  tried  as 
substitutes  for  anr.atto. 


April  C9,  IS71.] 


THE  P  H  ARM  ACE  E  TIC  AL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


869 


SATURDAY,  APRIL  29,  1S71. 


Communications  for  this  Journal,  and  boohs  for  review, etc., 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

Instructions  from  Members  ancl  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Brem- 
ridge,  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square ,  TF.C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London ,  IV.  Envelopes  indorsed  “  Bharm.  Journ." 


PHARMACY  IN  AUSTRIA. 

Among  tlie  many  political  and  social  questions 
which  are  discussed  in  Austria  just  now,  the  rela¬ 
tion  of  the  pharmacist  to  the  State  is  not  forgotten. 
There,  as  in  Germany,  the  pharmaceutical  business 
is  strictly  under  Government  control ;  the  number 
of  pharmacies  is  limited,  etc. 

Some  members  of  the  profession  at  \  ienna  for 
it  is  a  profession  there  and  not  a  trade — have 
lately  petitioned  their  parliament,  the  Beichsratli,  in 
favour  of  free  trade,  and  they  are  strongly  opposed 
by  the  Austrian  United  Society  of  Apothecaries, 
consisting  of  more  than  500  members  from  different 
parts  of  the  empire.  They  contradict  point  after 
point  the  arguments  adduced  by  the  free-traders  in 
a  long  document,  likewise  addressed  to  the  parlia¬ 
ment. 

As  to  the  state  of  pharmacy  generally,  they  say 
the  Pharmacopoeia  is  the.  Codex,  prescribing  what 
articles  are  to  be  kept,  and  of  what  quality.  Profes¬ 
sional  inspectors  ascertain  by  personal  visits  every 
year  the  efficiency  of  the  pharmaceutical  establish¬ 
ments,  and  their  annual  reports  are  most  favourable. 

In  order  to  prove  that  the  limitation  of  the  busi¬ 
ness  to  a  certain  number  is  most  conducive  to  the 
true  interests  of  the  public,  they  point  to  those  coun¬ 
tries  in  which  free  trade  in  pharmacy  does  exist. 

It  is  stated  as  a  matter  of  fact,  that  in  all  large 
towns  in  tins  country  a  few  only  of  the  many  pharma¬ 
cies  enjoy  public  confidence.  In  London,  it  is  asserted 
not  more  than  20  out  of  3000  pharmacists’  shops 
command  undoubted  confidence ;  but  these  20  esta¬ 
blishments  are  of  such  an  extent  as  to  employ  30 
assistants  each.  The  natural  consequence  is,  that 
prescriptions  are  often  sent  many  miles  to  the  dis¬ 
tant  shop  ;  and  of  what  use,  it  is  asked,  are  the  un¬ 
deserving  300  or  400  places  on  the  way  ? 

In  regard  to  France,  M.  Dorvault,  Director  of  the 
Pliarmacie  Centrale  at  Paris,  is  quoted,  who  said, 
“If  the  pharmacists  are  allowed  to  multiply  without 
limitation,  and  to  enter  into  competition  as  keen  and 
bitter  as  in  any  other  trade,  a  lamentable  falling  off  in 
these  establishments  must  be  the  consequence,  and 
many  pharmacists  will  be  forced  to  adopt  means 
they  themselves  despise  to  gain  a  decent  living. 


Next,  the  fixed  charges  in  dispensing,  regulated 
by  the  State,  are  discussed,  and  the  question  is  ven¬ 
tilated  which  system  is  most  advantageous  to  the 
public.  It  appears  the  principle  followed  in  the 
scale  of  prices  is  as  follows  : — Drugs,  if  sold  in  com¬ 
paratively  large  quantities,  are  charged  the  whole¬ 
sale  price,  with  an  addition  of  25  per  cent.,  and  in 
small  quantities  with  an  addition  of  50  per  cent. 
Another  charge  is  made  for  work,  bottles,  etc.,  so 
that  the  price  of  a  medicine  includes  four  or  five 
items. 

To  compare  the  charges  in  Austria  with  those 
made  in  England  and  France,  the  prices  as  agreed 
upon  by  the  Manchester  pharmacists,  and  copied  in 
full  from  this  Journal  of  17th  December  last,  are 
given,  and  also  a  copy  of  a  tariff  from  M.  Dorvault’s 
work,  ‘  L’Officine.’  The  result  of  this  comparison  is, 
that  the  prices  are  in  the  proportion  of  Austria  1, 
France  2,  England  3,  or  the  French  charges  for  me¬ 
dicines  are  twice  as  high,  the  English  three  times  as 
high  as  the  Austrian. 

The  explanation  for  this  great  difference  the  peti¬ 
tioners  find  in  the  fact  that,  after  all,  the  dispensing 
business  is  fixed  within  certain  limits,  and  that  the 
number  of  pharmacies  in  France  and  England  so 
vastly  exceeds  the  real  demand,  that  each  can  get 
only  a  small  share,  and  tries  to  make  up  by  higher 
prices.  But  even  these  high  prices  are  not  sufficient 
to  ensure  the,  existence  of  so  many  participators, 
and  they  are  driven  to  sell  all  sorts  of  patent  and 
proprietary  articles.  On  this  subject  the  Austrians 
wax  very  warm  indeed.  They  quote  words  of  the 
celebrated  Professor  Boudet,  spoken  at  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Congress  at  Paris  in  1867  “  You  liigli 

and  mighty  patrons  of  specialism,  do  not  barricade 
yourselves  behind  sophisms,  which  mislead  nobody. 
You  have  made  slaves  of  your  colleagues  ;  you  have 
degraded  them  to  retailers  of  your  patent  medicines, 
you  have  deprived  them  of  their  self-confidence  and 
of  their  professional  honour ;  you  have  sacrificed 
the  good-fellowship  of  your  brethren  to  your  egotis¬ 
tical  designs,  and  you  speculate  only  on  the  weak¬ 
ness  and  ignorance  of  the  sick,  on  the  sufteimg  of 
life,  and  every  one  becomes  without  compassion  a 
victim  of  your  guile.  Oh  !  if  your  principles  were 
realized ;  if  in  the  civilized  world  pharmacy  were 
handed  over  to  freedom  as  you  demand,  w  hat  a 
flood  of  specialities  !  what  international  rivalry  of 
miraculous  remedies  would  rush  down  upon  us ! 
how  the  diploma  of  pharmacy  would  be  degraded ! 
Yes,  I  do  not  shrink  from  saying  so;  and  if  that 
diploma  might  be  had  lor  the  trouble  of  picking  it 
up,  where  is  the  man  of  honour  to  be  found  who 
would  stoop  to  drag  it  out  of  the  mire  into  which  it 
has  fallen?  And  as  to  the  millions  you  realize  by 
your  specialities,  keep  them  for  yourselves  ,  I  value 
the  honour  of  my  country  higher  !” 

The  gist  of  the  petition  is  embodied  in  three 

points,  viz. : — 


870 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  29,  1871. 


1.  The  principle  of  free  trade  is  not  applicable  to 
the  pharmaceutical  business. 

2.  Free  trade  in  pharmacy  is  antagonistic  to  the 
true  interests  of  the  public,  and  must  ruin  the  pro¬ 
fession,  hitherto  so  highly  esteemed. 

3.  The  present  system  of  licences  is  the  best  both 
for  the  public  and  for  the  proprietors  of  pharmacies. 

And,  finally,  the  petition  complains  that  the  Go¬ 
vernment  has  removed  the  two  apothecaries  from  the 
sanitary  council  of  the  empire  at  a  time  when  in 
Russia  two  members  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
of  St.  Petersburg  have  been  appointed  members  of 
the  supreme  sanitary  council,  in  order  to  report  on 
all  points  connected  with  their  profession. 


DISPENSING  CHARGES. 

The  question  of  securing  a  uniform  rate  of  charges 
by  chemists  and  druggists  has  been  already  debated 
in  our  columns.*  The  Manchester  Chemists  and 
Druggists’  Association  gave  the  discussion  a  prac¬ 
tical  turn  by  agreeing  upon  a  list  of  dispensing 
charges,  which  they  recommended  for  adoption  by 
the  trade  generally.!  This  proceeding  has  now 
been  followed  by  the  issue  of  a  list  of  retail  prices 
and  dispensing  charges,  recommended  by  the  Bath 
Chemists  and  Druggists’  Association.  We  have 
been  favoured  with  a  cop}r  of  this  list,  to  which  the 
following  preface  is  attached : — 

“At  a  meeting  of  the  Association,  held  February  3rd,  a 
Committee  was  appointed  to  draw  up  a  price  list  with  a 
view  to  promote  uniformity  amongst  pharmaceutists  in 
our  own  city,  and  partly  also  with  the  hope  that  other 
towns,  in  the  West  especially,  will  also  issue  and  ex¬ 
change  lists  to  the  same  end. 

“  It  will  be  seen  that  the  prices  obtained  in  Bath  agree 
very  nearly  with  the  Manchester  list,  and  on  comparing 
them  with  those  of  other  towns,  so  far  as  it  has  been 
possible  to  do  so,  it  has  been  found  that  they  represent  a 
fan-  average. 

“As  a  matter  of  course,  prices  will  always  vary  in 
different  towns,  and  in  different  parts  of  the  same  town ; 
Dut  still  much  may  be  done  to  remove  the  reproach  that 
pharmaceutists  are  now  liable  to,  that  the  same  prescrip¬ 
tion  dispensed  at  respectable  establishments  in  various 
parts  of  the  kingdom  is  rarely  charged  for  twice  alike. 

“  Our  Bath  brethren  are  urged  to  abide  as  much  as  pos¬ 
sible,  especially  in  dispensing,  by  this  list,  the  prices  of 
which  are  certainly  far  from  excessive.  Cheapen  physic 
as  we  will,  the  public  will  never  swallow  an  extra  dose 
of  it,  and  since  we  must  live,  cutting  prices  simply  mean 
inferior  drugs.  It  is  as  much  therefore  for  the  interest 
of  the  medical  profession  and  the  public  generally  as  for 
ours  that  we  should  be  properly  remunerated. 

“  Even  if  ours  were  a  mere  trade,  which  it  is  not,  our 
incomes  are  ridiculously  small  as  compared  with  those  of 
our  neighbours  who  are  grocers,  drapers,  wine  mer¬ 
chants,  etc.,  and  this,  too,  in  spite  of  the  educational 
demands  now  very  properly  made  upon  us,  and  notwith¬ 
standing  our  long  hours  of  responsible  and  hard  work 
during  the  seven  days  of  the  week. 

“  It  is  requested  that  all  prescriptions  be  marked  under 
the  stamp  of  the  first  dispenser.” 


*  Ante,  p.  549.  f  See  p.  499. 


YOUNG’S  PATENT  POISON  CABINET. 

Those  of  our  readers  who  were  able  to  visit  the 
Exhibition  of  Objects  relating  to  Pharmacy,  held  at 
Liverpool  in  connection  with  the  last  meeting  of  the 
British  Pharmaceutical  Conference,  may  perhaps 
remember  seeing  a  model  of  a  poison  cabinet,  ex¬ 
hibited  by  Mr.  J.  C.  Young,  of  Warrington.  A 
practical  application  of  this  plan,  with  some  modi¬ 
fication  in  the  details,  is  now  being  submitted  to  the 
trade  by  its  inventor,  which,  it  is  claimed,  wilL 
render  difficult  the  occurrence  of  mistakes  in  dis¬ 
pensing.  It  consists  of  a  certain  number  of  shelves, 
according  to  the  space  allotted  to  it,  and  the  quantity 
and  size  of  the  bottles  to  be  accommodated.  Each 
bottle  is  labelled,  and  has  its  proper  place  in  the 
cabinet,  into  -which  place  it  is  securely  fastened.  On 
the  front  edge  of  the  shelf  are  painted  names  corre¬ 
sponding  with  the  labels  on  the  bottles  which  are. 
supported  by  it.  But  these  names  are — with  one 
exception,  for  the  sake  of  variety — not  immediately 
beneath  the  bottles  to  which  they  relate.  Under 
each  shelf  is  a  movable  indicator.  When  a  certain 
bottle  is  required,  the  indicator  is  pushed  along 
until  it  rests  directly  below  the  name  painted  on  the 
front  of  the  shelf,  when  it  will  be  found  that  that 
particular  bottle  is  released,  but  no  other.  Thus, 
should  the  strychnia  be  required,  the  name  has  first 
to  be  found  and  the  indicator  brought  under  it,  ancl 
then  the  bottle  itself,  which  may  be  five  or  six  or 
more  spaces  oft’.  This  operation,  although  occupying 
a  veiy  short  time,  necessitates  the  reading  of  the 
name  twice;  and  should  an  error  be  made  either 
time,  the  bottle  cannot  be  taken  out. 

By  another  provision  any  mistake  from  putting; 
one  bottle  into  the  place  of  another  is  prevented. 
Not  only  is  it  necessary  for  the  indicator  to  be  in  its 
proper  place  before  a  bottle  can  be  replaced,  but 
should  two  bottles  be  out  at  one  time  and  the  wrong 
one  be  taken  up,  it  is  not  possible  to  put  it  into  the 
wrong  space,  as  each  bottle  is  made  to  fit  its  own 
place  and  no  other. 

One  great  advantage  of  such  an  arrangement  as 
this  is  that  it  requires  the  intelligent  reading  of  the 
label  twice,  and  thus  the  dispenser’s  attention  is 
called  to  the  nature  of  the  substance  which  he  is 
about  to  use.  One  objection  to  all  previous  mecha¬ 
nical  contrivances  for  the  same  purpose  has  been 
their  tendency  to  lead  dispensers  to  trust  in  them 
entirely  instead  of  using  them  as  aids ;  transferring, 
as  Mr.  Squire  pithily  puts  it,  a  man’s  brains  from 
his  head  to  his  fingers.  Mr.  Young’s  invention,  how¬ 
ever,  is  hardly  open  to  this  objection,  as  by  a  simple 
mechanism,  not  likely  to  get  out  of  order,  it  prevents 
any  poison-bottle  being  taken  out  of  the  cabinet 
without  the  dispenser  being  well  aware  of  what  he 
is  doing.  At  a  time  when  there  is  so  much  discus¬ 
sion  upon  the  subject  as  at  present,  and  when  phar¬ 
macists  are  generally  desirous  of  adopting  any  ad¬ 
ditional  methods  for  securing  safety  from  accidents, 
we  think  this  Patent  Poison  Cabinet  worthy  of  their 
consideration. 


April  29,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


871 


POOR-LAW  TENDERS  FOR  MEDICINES  IN 
IRELAND. 

The  following  list  of  prices,  showing  the  anoma¬ 
lies  which  may  exist  under  the  present  system  of 
tenders  for  the  supply  of  medicines  to  unions  in  Ire¬ 
land,  is  published  in  the  British  Medical  Journal  as 
representing  the  prices  quoted  in  tenders  to  the 
North  and  South  Dublin  Unions 


North. 

South. 

8. 

d. 

8. 

d. 

per  gall. 

Acidum  accticum  fortius 

26 

8 

per  gall. 

3 

6 

Acidum  sulph.  aromat.  . 

2 

0 

per  lb.  . 

.28 

0 

per  lb. 

Aloes  hepatica  . 

0 

4 

.  6 

6 

n 

Aloes  Socotrina . 

1 

9 

n  * 

.  6 

6 

11 

Pilula  aloes  composita . . 

4 

0 

11 

.10 

0 

ii 

Pilula  colocynth.  comp. 

6 

0 

n  • 

.  2 

6 

ii 

Pilula  hydrargyri . 

1 

0 

n 

.  4 

6 

ii 

Pilula  rhei  composita  . . 

6 

0 

»  • 

.  1 

0 

ii 

Pulvis  scammonii . 

28 

0 

ii  • 

.10 

0 

ii 

Potassii  bromidum  .... 

6 

6 

11  • 

.20 

0 

11 

Iodum  . 

16 

0 

n  • 

.44 

0 

ii 

Pulvis  ipecacuanhas  .... 

10 

0 

ii  • 

.  5 

6 

ii 

Extractum  belladonnas  . 

4 

0 

n 

.16 

0 

ii 

Extractum  hyoscyami  . . 

1 

6 

n 

.  5 

4 

ii 

Pulvis  opii . 

50 

0 

11 

.22 

0 

ii 

Sulphas  magnesias  .... 

9 

4 

per  cwt. 

6 

0 

per  cwt. 

Sulphur  sublimatum  . . 

4 

8 

per  stone  1 

6 

per  st. 

If  the  opposition  to  Mr.  Lowe’s  match  tax  had 
not  caused  its  withdrawal,  it  would  have  been  pos¬ 
sible  to  urge  a  new  argument  to  overcome  his  re¬ 
luctance  to  entertain  anjr  application  for  grants  in 
aid  of  science.  It  might  then  have  been  said  that 
the  application  of  science  to  industrial  arts  afforded 
the  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  a  means  of  ob¬ 
taining  additions  to  the  revenue,  and  that  conse¬ 
quently,  from  his  point  of  view,  promotion  of  science 
■was  a  thing  to  be  desired  as  a  financial  expedient. 


An  interesting  plant  is  figured  in  the  present 
number  of  the  Botanical  Magazine  under  the  name 
of  Ghlorocodon  Whitei,  H.f.  It  is  a  climbing,’ leafy 
plant,  sometimes  reaching  to  the  tops  of  the  most 
lofty  trees,  and  sending  its  roots  out  among  the  sur¬ 
rounding  rocks  and  stones  to  a  distance  of  fifteen  to 
twenty  feet.  It  is  a  native  of  Natal,  but  is  never 
found  more  than  a  few  miles  from  the  sea.  The 
roots,  under  the  name  of  “  Mimdi  roots,”  are  exten¬ 
sively  collected  and  sold  by  the  Kaffirs,  who  eat 
large  quantities  of  them,  chewing  them  for  their 
agreeable  aromatic  taste  and  stomachic  properties. 
The  consumption  has  been  so  great  in  the  distiict 
where  the  plant  was  discovered  that  it  has  become 
rare.  It  is  said  that  the  roots  have  a  sweeter  and 
better  flavour  the  nearer  they  are  grown  to  the  sea. 
Some  of  the  living  roots  have  been  received  at 
Kew,  from  which  plants  have  been  raised  and  they 
flowered  last  autumn.  The  fresh  roots  have  a 
powerful  odour,  somewhat  resembling  that  of  the 
Tonquin  bean. 

At  the  Annual  General  Meeting  of  the  proprietors 
of  the  London  Institution,  held  on  Wednesday  last, 
Mr.  Daniel  Hanbury,  F.H.S.,  wras  elected  a  Mana¬ 
ger,  in  the  room  of  Mr.  S.  J.  Fletcher,  resigned. 


fransactions  af  tjje  f Irarmamttitiil  j&rritfg. 


EXAMINATION  IN  EDINBURGH. 

April  19  th,  1871.' 

Present — Messrs.  Ainslie,  Aitken,  Baildon,  Brown. 
Buchanan,  Kemp,  Young  and  Mackay. 

Twenty-two  Candidates  presented  themselves;  eight 
for  the  First  or  Preliminary  Examination,  eight  for  the 
Minor,  one  for  the  Major  and  five  for  the  Modified. 
The  following  fifteen  passed,  and  wrere  declared  to  be 
duly  qualified  to  he  registered : — 

FIRST,  or  PRELIMINARY  (as  Apprentices  or 

Students) . 

Caims,  Thomas . Edinburgh. 

Hinksman,  John  . . Edinburgh. 

Swan,  Peter . Edinburgh. 

Weddell,  George . Kelso. 

-s  i  Brown,  Allan  . Glasgow. 

o*  |  Ferguson,  William  James  ....  Gorebridge. 

w  (  Macmillan,  James  Laker . Glasgow. 

MINOR  (as  Chemists  and  Druggists). 

*  Mackay,  George  Duncan  . . .  .Edinburgh. 

Coldwell,  Peter . Edinburgh. 

Lunan,  Alexander . Aberdeen. 

Hardie,  Alexander  . Edinburgh. 

The  above  names  are  arranged  in  order  of  merit. 

MAJOR  (as  a  Pharmaceutical  Chemist). 

*  Linton,  Ralph  Tait . Edinburgh. 

MODIFIED  (as  Chemists  and  Druggists). 

Lockerbie,  James . Helensburgh. 

Midgley,  Charles . Manchester. 

Ritchie,  Andrew  Wemyss  - Alford,  Aberdeen. 

Errata.— Page  851,  col.  1,  line  5  from  bottom,  for 
Hensley,  Robert  Place,  rend  Hensby,  Robert  Place; 
page  851,  col.  2,  line  51,  for  Nash,  William,  read  Neish, 
William. 


LIVERPOOL  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Eleventh  General  Meeting  of  this  Association  was 
held  at  the  Royal  Institution  on  Thursday  evening,  the 
13th  instant;  the  President,  Mr.  John  Abraham,  in 
the  chair. 

Mr.  Alfred  E.  Tanner  asked  the  opinion  of  the  mem¬ 
bers  upon  the  incompatibility  of  persalts  of  iron  with 
infusion  of  chirata.  A  mixture  of  inf.  chiratce  with  liq. 
ferri  pemit.  had  been  returned  to  him  by  a  physician 
because  it  was  dark  coloured  and  slight  decomposition 
had  taken  place. 

Mr.  S.  G.  Hilditch  said  that  if  the  infusion  was  pre¬ 
pared  in  accordance  with  the  Pharmacopoeia,  persalts  of 
iron  were  incompatible  with  it,  and  the  mixture  would 
be  a  dark  brown  colour ;  but  if  the  infusion  was  pre¬ 
pared  with  cold  water,  the  mixture  would  not  be  effected. 
The  intensity  of  colour  would  vary  according  to  the  tem¬ 
perature  of  the  water  used  to  make  the  infusion,  hot 
water  taking  up  much  more  gallic  acid  than  cold  water ; 
he  noticed  that  the  characteristic  inky  taste  was  not  pre¬ 
sent,  but  this  might  be  covered  by  the  intense  hitter  of 
the  chirata. 

Mr.  Charles  Symes,  Pharmaceutical  Chemist,  thought 
the  process  given  in  the  Pharmacopoeia  for  making  lini- 
mentum  hydrargyri  was  unnecessarily  tedious,  melting- 

*  Passed  with  Honours. 


872 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  ;S71. 


the  mercurial  ointment  being  quite  undesirable ;  taking 
the  quantities  given  in  the  Pharmacopoeia,  he  agitated 
the  ammonia  with  one-half  the  camphorated  oil ;  rubbed 
the  mercurial  ointment  with  the  other  half,  and  mixed 
the  two  results  together.  A  few  minutes  sufficed  for  the 
■operation,  heat  was  not  used,  and  the  product  was  quite 
satisfactory. 

Mr.  James  Blair  concluded  his  paper  upon  “  The  Che¬ 
mistry  of  Calico  Printing.” 

The  paper  was  illustrated  with  photographs,  charts, 
specimens  of  materials  dyed  and  printed,  and  by  experi¬ 
ments  showing  the  effects  of  some  of  the  processes  em¬ 
ployed. 

[We  purpose  printing  this  paper  in  a  future  number.] 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  paper,  Mr.  Blair  replied  to 
■several  questions  asked  by  those  present,  and  after  a 
short  discussion,  the  President  congratulated  Mr.  Blair 
upon  the  copious  and  strictly  scientific  manner  in  which 
he  had  treated  his  subject,  and  moved  a  vote  of  thanks, 
which  was  carried  unanimously. 


GLASGOW  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

Anderson’s  University. 

The  Fourteenth  and  concluding  Meeting  of  the  Session, 
Wednesday,  April  19th,  1871 ;  Mr.  Thomas  Davison, 
President,  in  the  chair. 

A  paper  was  read  by  Mr.  J.  L.  Macmillan  on  “  Vola¬ 
tile  Oils,”  in  course  of  which  he  called  attention  to  the 
difficulty  in  testing  these,  and  their  liability  to  adultera¬ 
tion,  stating  that  turpentine,  from  its  resemblance  in 
chemical  composition  to  most  volatile  oils,  was  frequently 
used.  He  then  referred  to  the  specific  gravity  and  blot¬ 
ting-paper  tests,  stating  that  while  the  latter  answered 
for  fixed  oils,  they  were  both  unreliable  tests  in  some 
cases,  and  suggested  to  the  Council  that  a  prize  offered 
for  a  reliable  test  might  bring  out  some  satisfactory 
result. 

Mr.  Kinninmont  remarked  that  the  adulteration  of 
volatile  oils  was  one  which  deserved  attention,  and  he 
would  recommend  Mr.  Macmillan  to  proceed  in  his  in¬ 
vestigations.  He  said  he  had  lately  come  across  a  sample 
of  ol.  lavand.  which  was  adulterated  with  castor  oil,  and 
from  its  solubility  in  alcohol  it  was  with  much  difficulty 
detected. 

Some  remarks  were  afterwards  made  by  Messrs.  Pa¬ 
terson  and  Fairlie,  and,  on  the  motion  of  the  Pre¬ 
sident,  a  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  Mr. 
Macmillan  for  his  paper. 

The  report  of  the  Early  Closing  Committee  was  then 
submitted,  and  being  considered  favourable,  the  Com¬ 
mittee  was  instructed  to  take  further  action  as  soon  as 
possible. 

Mr.  Fairlie,  Hon.  Secretary,  afterwards  stated  the 
arrangements  that  had  been  entered  into  with  the  “  Popu¬ 
lar  Class  Committee”  of  Anderson’s  University,  for  the 
conducting  of  a  botany  class  for  students  in  pharmacy ; 
about  thirty  names  were  given  in,  and  Professor  Hennedy 
had  arranged  to  begin  on  Wednesday  evening,  April  26th. 

.  The  President,  Mr.  Davison,  then  delivered  his  Vale¬ 
dictory  Address,  in  course  of  which  he  congratulated 
the  .  members  on  the  importance  of  the  position  their 
Society  had  now  attained.  In  referring  to  the  early 
history  of  the  Sooiety,  he  said  it  was  instituted  in  1854 
as  an  Early  Closing  Association,  and,  at  the  end  of  three 
years, _  having  partially  attained  its  object,  it  was  re¬ 
organized  into  a  Mutual  Improvement  Society.  For 
many  years  their  only  place  of  meeting  was  in  a  tem¬ 
perance  hotel,  but  latterly,  through  the  kindness  of  Dr. 
Moffat,  they  were  permitted  to  meet  in  his  laboratory, 
till  last  year,  when  the  Council  thought  it  desirable  that 
some  change  should  be  made,  both  for  the  good  of  the 
Society  and  the  trade.  Negotiations  were  entered  into 
with  two  of  the  scientific  institutions  of  the  city,  the 


result  being,  that  they  were  now  located  within  the  walls 
of  a  University.  They  h'ad  still  much  to  undertake,  yet, 
however,  before  they  could  take  the  position  they  ought, 
he  therefore  counselled  the  members  to  greater  diligence 
and  perseverance  in  their  studies. 

Mr.  Ivinninmont,  in  proposing  a  vote  of  thanks  to 
Mr.  Davison  for  his  services  as  President,  remarked  that 
he  thought  he  (Mr.  Kinninmont)  was  the  only  member 
present  who  had  attended  the  first  meeting  on  the  early 
closing  movement  in  1854,  and  on  looking  back  over  the 
years  that  had  intervened,  he  thought  they  had  much  to 
congratulate  themselves  on  in  the  advance  that  had  been 
made.  Those  present  could  have  no  conception  of  the 
struggles  of  these  early  years.  He  thought  they  had 
been  exceedingly  fortunate  this  session  in  the  choice  of 
President  and  Secretary,  and  to  his  mind  the  amount  of 
work  they  had  gone  through  was  extraordinary.  He 
trusted  that  the  same  energy  would  characterize  all 
the  members,  that  at  no  distant  date  we  might  see  a 
school  of  pharmacy  established  in  this  important  district. 
He  had  much  pleasure  in  proposing  a  hearty  vote  of 
thanks  to  the  President  and  Secretary,  which  was  re¬ 
sponded  to  with  acclamation. 

Messrs.  Davison  and  Fairlie  briefly  replied,  acknow¬ 
ledging  the  compliment  paid  them. 

The  Secretary  then  called  attention  to  the  ‘  Register’ 
of  Chemists  and  Druggists,  which  had  been  presented  to 
the  Association  by  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society. 

The  President,  in  moving  the  thanks  of  the  Associa¬ 
tion  to  the  Council  for  their  donation,  stated  that  Mr. 
Joseph  Ince  was  engaged  in  preparing  a  book  of  auto¬ 
graph  prescriptions  for  Glasgow,  and.  that  it  was  ex¬ 
pected  to  be  ready  in  May,  when  any  member  would 
have  an  opportunity  of  examining  the  collection. 


CHEMICAL  SOCIETY. 


April  2 Oth. — Professor  Odling,  F.R.S.,  Vice-President, 
in  the  chair. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  elected  Fellows  :  C.  C. 
Grundy,  S.  B.  Lee,  G.  Sutcliffe,  W.  Ward. 

Mr.  C.  Haughton  Gill  read  a  paper  “  On  some  Saline 
Compounds  of  Cane  Sugar.”  Peligot  has  described  a 
compound  of  cane-sugar  and  salt,  to  which  he  ascribed  a 
formula  of  C24H42  0.21  NaCl  (C  =  6H=*5  0  =  8),  which 
requires  14-92  per  cent,  of  sodic  chloride : — this  indicates 
the  replacement  of  9  parts  of  water  by  58*5  parts  of  sodic 
chloride.  Bondeau  de  Carrolles  subsequently  examined 
a  similar  compound  to  which  he  ascribed  the  formula 
C24H20O20,  NaCl,  3 HO,  which  includes  water  of  crystal¬ 
lization  of  which  Peligot  makes  no  mention.  Subse¬ 
quently  Mitscherlich  denied  the  existence  of  the  body, 
and  Hochstetter  mentioned  that  other  chemists  had  failed 
to  obtain  it.  Mr.  Gill,  being  at  first  unsuccessful  in  pre¬ 
paring  Peligot’ s  compound  by  the  method  described, 
boiled  a  solution  of  sugar  with  an  excess  of  salt  for  some 
time,  filtered,  and  set  aside  the  apparently  uncrystal- 
lizable  syrup.  At  the  end  of  some  months  a  few  small, 
not  very  transparent,  but  individually  distinct  crystals, 
had  formed.  They  were  drained,  rinsed,  pressed  and 
analysed.  The  numbers  lead  to  the  formula  2  (C12  H22Ou), 
3 NaCl,  4H20.  This  compound  of  an  unexpected  com¬ 
position  having  been  obtained,  a  number  of  solutions  of 
sugar,  with  various  proportions  of  different  salts,  were 
made  up  and  set  aside  to  crystallize.  The  salts  employed 
were  the  chlorides  of  potassium,  sodium,  lithium  and 
ammonium,  the  bromides  of  potassium  and  sodium,  and 
the  iodides  of  potassium,  sodium,  lithium  and  ammonium. 
In  each  case  four  solutions  were  prepared,  having  one, 
two,  three  and  four  molecules  of  the  salt  to  the  double 
molecule  of  sugar,  2  (C12H22On).  None  of  the  potassium 
salts  gave  compounds  of  a  definite  composition.  The 


April  29,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


873 


mixture  containing  the  chloride  in  the  smallest  propor¬ 
tion  gave  crystals  of  pure  sugar,  those  containing  the 
two  largest  proportions  gave  a  crop  of  the  pure  potassic 
chloride. 

The  solutions  containing  potassic  bromide  behaved  in 
a  very  similar  manner,  giving  crystals  often  very  clear 
and  sharp,  and  sometimes  five  or  six  m.m.  in  extreme 
dimensions,  but  always  anhydrous  and  of  irregular  com¬ 
position.  The  solutions  containing  potassic  iodide  eva¬ 
porated  to  very  thick  sticky  masses,  sometimes  contain¬ 
ing  a  number  of  minute  crystals  which  could  not  be 
separated  from  the  mother- liquor. 

The  sodium  salts  gave  more  definite  results.  In  the 
case  of  the  chloride,  the  solution  containing  least  salt 
first  gave  crystals  of  pure  sugar,  and  then  on  further 
concentration  deposited  crystals,  which  are  doubtless  the 
same  as  those  of  the  compound  examined  by  Peligot,  and 
are  identical  with  those  obtained  from  the  liquid  con¬ 
taining  the  next  higher  proportion  of  salt,  viz.  NaCl  to 
C12H22On.  This  compound  crystallizes  in  prisms  ter¬ 
minated  by  pyramids,  is  very  soluble  in  water,  less  so  in 
spirit.  When  to  its  solution  in  spirit  of  not  more  than 
7 o  per  cent,  ether  is  added,  an  oily  layer  is  formed  at 
the  bottom  of  the  vessel,  and  in  this  crystals  form,  which 
have  the  composition  C12H2.2On,  NaCl,  2H20. 

The  solutions  containing  sodic  bromide  can  hardly  be 
made  to  crystallize  at  all.  A  small  quantity  of  minute 
confused  crystals  were  deposited  after  some  months  from 
the  solution  containing  3NaBr  to  2C12H22On;  these 
when  pressed  and  dried  over  oil  of  vitriol  gave  numbers 
which  would  point  to  a  formula,  NaBrC12H22On  HERO, 
but  it  is  more  probable  that  when  pure  it  is  similar  in 
composition  to  the  analogous  compound  of  sodic  chloride. 

The  solutions  containing  sodic  iodide  give  crystals  of 
definite  and  constant  composition  with  remarkable  ease. 
These  crystals  always  have  the  same  composition,  what¬ 
ever  the  proportions  of  the  constituents  in  the  mixture, 
unless  one  be  in  such  large  excess  that  it  can  in  part 
crystallize  out  before  the  liquid  becomes  saturated  with 
the  compound.  The  solutions  containing  a  moderate 
excess  of  sodic  iodide  yield  the  best  crystals  and  quickest 
growth.  It  can  be  recrystallized  as  often  as  desired 
from  water  or  dilute  spirit  without  suffering  decomposi¬ 
tion,  forming  large  transparent  crystals  even  from  small 
quantities  of  solution.  Their  constitution  is  expressed 
by  the  formula  2 (C^H^O^),  3NaI,  3H20.  None  of 
the  mixtures  containing  lithium  gave  any  crystals  other 
than  those  of  sugar. 

The  mixtures  containing  ammonic  salts  gave  no  defi¬ 
nite  compounds. 

No  results  were  obtained  from  the  solutions  containing 
ammonic  iodide. 

The  crystals  of  sugar  containing  ammonic  chloride, 
and  the  equally  distinct,  though  generally  smaller  ones, 
containing  potassic  bromide,  and  those  deposited  from  a 
hot  alcoholic  solution  of  the  lower  salt-compound,  must 
be  built  up  by  an  anhydrous  compound  of  the  salt  and 
sugar,  isomorphous  with  sugar  itself,  crystallizing  out 
together  with  an  excess  of  the  latter. 

That  the  crystals  are  not  simply  sugar  with  adhering 
ammonic  chloride  is  shown  by  their  individual  perfec¬ 
tion,  and  by  the  fact  that  they  are  deliquescent,  whereas 
neither  constituent  is  so. 

The  solutions  of  all  the  bodies  described  in  this  paper, 
especially  that  of  the  lower  salt  compound,  exhibit  per¬ 
sistent  supersaturation  in  a  remarkable  degree.  A  satu¬ 
rated  warm  solution,  when  cooled  and  shut  up  in  an  air¬ 
tight  vessel  with  several  crystals  of  the  solid  body,  con¬ 
tinues  to  deposit  more  of  the  compound  for  several 
months. 

The  composition  of  the  sodic  iodide  compound  makes 
it  seem  probable  that  the  true  molecular  weight  of  cane- 
sugar  should  be  represented  by  004,1144  022. 

The  measurements  of  the  various  crystals  mentioned 
in  Mr.  Gill’s  paper  were  kindly  executed  by  Professor 
W.  II.  Miller." 


BRITISH  MEDICAL  ASSOCIATION.— METRO¬ 
POLITAN  COUNTIES  BRANCH. 

At  the  Ordinary  Meeting  of  the  above  Branch,  held  at 
the  Charing  Cross  Hotel  on  Friday,  April  21st,  Dr.  E. 
C.  Seaton  opened  a  discussion  on  ‘  Some  of  the  Lessons 
to  be  derived  from  the  present  Epidemic  of  Smallpox.’ 

Dr.  Seaton,  after  alluding  to  the  severity  of  the 
present  epidemic,  proceeded  to  give  statistical  details 
which  had  been  compiled,  and  wThich,  he  argued,  proved 
very  strongly  the  great  value  of  vaccination  for  the 
prevention  and  mitigation  of  the  virulence  of  smallpox. 
Thus,  in  the  cases  which  had  occurred  in  London  there 
had  been  forty-five  per  cent,  of  deaths  among  the  un¬ 
vaccinated,  whilst  among  the  vaccinated  they  only 
amounted  to  nine  per  cent.  A  rule  had  been  adopted 
in  the  metropolitan  smallpox  hospitals  that  all  persons 
engaged  in  those  establishments  should  be  revaccinated 
before  entering  upon  their  work.  The  result  had  been 
that,  with  three  exceptions,  they  had  hitherto  escaped 
infection.  These  three  exceptions  proved  the  rule,  for 
it  was  found  upon  inquiry  that  in  each  case,  for  one 
reason  or  another,  the  regulation  had  not  been  carried 
out.  He  mentioned  that  while  on  a  visit  to  Rotterdam, 
he  had  been  surprised  to  notice  the  small  proportion  of 
infants  brought  for  vaccination  compared  with  the  pro¬ 
portion  in  this  country.  Upon  inquiry  he  found  that 
throughout  Holland  vaccination  was  frequently  deferred 
until  the  children  were  five  or  six  years  of  age,  the  con¬ 
sequence  being  a  death-rate  from  smallpox  far  in  excess 
of  that  of  this  country.  He  thought  one  lesson  to  be 
learned  from  this  epidemic  was  the  necessity  of  the  com¬ 
pulsory  registration  of  all  births.  Next  that  the  com¬ 
pulsory  provisions  of  the  Yaccination  Act  should  be 
thoroughly  carried  out.  At  the  same  time,  while  it  was 
proper  to  compel  people  to  do  that  which  was  right  in 
the  matter,  they  ought  also  to  be  shown  that  it  was 
their  duty.  Much  might  be  done  in  this  way  by  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  profession  taking  the  trouble  to  explain  and 
refute  the  groundless  objections  that  were  brought 
against  vaccination.  He  had  found  in  several  towns 
and  rural  districts  that  by  means  of  a  little  persuasion, 
it  had  been  possible  to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  the 
Act  without  an  appeal  to  the  law.  In  conclusion  he 
said  that,  in  his  opinion,  vaccination  successfully  per¬ 
formed  once  in  infancy  and  again  at  the  age  of  puberty, 
was  a  most  valuable  safeguard  against  the  smallpox. 

Dr.  Steele,  of  Liverpool,  furnished  some  information 
concerning  the  epidemic  in  that  town.  The  death-rate 
there  had  been  twelve  per  cent,  among  vaccinated  cases 
and  sixty  per  cent,  among  unvaccinated.  In  Liverpool 
there  had  been  but  one  case  of  smallpox  among  the 
large  number  of  persons  employed  at  the'hospitals,  and 
that  had  been  in  a  person  who  had  been  exempted  from 
the  rule  of  re  vaccination. 

Mr.  Lillee,  Medical  Officer  of  Whitechapel,  said  that 
medical  officers  were  greatly  cramped  in  their  action  by 
the  amount  of  “red  tape”  they  had  to  contend  with, 
and  mentioned  an  instance  where  a  person  who  had 
been  sent  from  Whitechapel  to  the  Homerton  Asylum 
was  sent  back  again  because  a  printed  form  wras  not 
filled  in  which  had  not  been  previously  supplied. 

Dr.  LAkKESTER  considered  that  the  fact  that  after  so 
long  a  time  the  disease  was  still  in  our  midst  was  a  disgrace 
to  the  country.  If  it  had  been  a  cattle  disease,  and  oxen 
or  sheep  had  been  the  victims,  we  should  have  stamped 
it  out  long  ago.  He  advocated  the  compulsory  registra¬ 
tion  of  all  births.  Then  he  would  appoint  inspectors  in 
every  parish  who  should  have  the  power  to  go  into  every 
house  and  see  that  vaccination  was  strictly  attended  to. 
He  considered  also  that  medical  men  should  immediately 
inform  the  medical  officer  of  health  of  cases  of  smallpox, 
in  order  that  he  might  take  the  necessary  steps  to 
prevent  its  spread.  They  ought  not,  as  in  many  cases, 
to  assist  in  keeping  its  existence  secret,  for  fear  of  loss 
of  custom  to  their  patients,  thus  allowing  them  to  become 


:874 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  29,  1871. 


foci  of  contagion.  Proper  means  for  disinfecting  bed¬ 
ding,  clothing,  etc.,  should  also  be  provided  in  sufficient 
quantity.  He  had  himself  met  with  a  poor  man  who 
complained  that  the  stench  of  smallpox  in  his  house 
was  so  great  that  he  had  not  been  able  to  sleep  for 
•several  nights.  In  the  parish  of  St.  James’s,  West¬ 
minster,  he  had  tried  gas  apparatus,  but  it  was  not 
sufficiently  effective.  He  had  now  an  oven  in  which 
the  infected  material  was  placed  and  the  heat  raised  to 
2o0° ;  this  was  found  to  be  effectual  for  disinfecting 
beds,  etc.,  without  pulling  them  to  pieces.  He  con¬ 
sidered  these  measures  should  be  carried  out  universally 
by  some  higher  authority  and  not  left  to  the  action  of 
individual  vestries.  In  the  parish  of  St.  James’s  he  had 
ascertained  that  in  a  population  of  40,000  there  was  an 
•annual  emigration  of  2000,  replaced  by  an  immigration 
of  a  like  number ;  and  unless  similar  measures  had  been 
carried  out  in  the  parishes  from  whence  these  persons 
came,  they  rendered  useless  a  great  deal  that  had  been 
done.  As  coroner  he  had  held  inquests  in  cases  where 
unvaccinated  children  had  died  from  smallpox,  and 
although  that  had  been  looked  upon  by  some  persons  as 
rather  a  sharp  proceeding,  he  believed  it  had  been  of 
service  by  bringing  home  to  the  parents  the  effects  of 
their  negligence. 

An  animated  conversation  followed,  in  which  more 
than  one  speaker  expressed  a  doubt  as  to  the  utility 
of  revaccination,  one  gentleman  saying  that  it  was  no 
more  possible  for  a  person  who  had  been  properly  vac¬ 
cinated  once  to  be  successfully  revaccinated,  than  for 
him  to  have  the  measles  or  hooping-cough  a  second 
time. 

In  reply,  Dr.  Seaton  said  that  he  thought  results  had 
-proved  the  efficacy  of  revaccination.  At  the  same  time 
vaccination  in  the  adult  is  a  much  more  serious  affair 
than  in  the  infant,  and  he  looked  with  disfavour  upon  a 
great  deal  of  the  revaccination  which  had  been  so 
fashionable  lately  at  the  West-End.  He  thought  that, 
as  a  rule,  the  operation  performed  once  in  infancy  and 
once  in  adolescence  was  sufficient,  except  in  cases  where 
the  constitution  might  be  supposed  to  have  undergone  a 
great  change,  as  after  eruptive  fevers,  etc. 


MEETINGS  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 


Monday  . Medical  Society,  at  8  p.m. — Annual  Oration. 

May  1.  Royal  Institution,  at  2  p.m. — Annual  Meet¬ 

ing. 

London  Institution,  at  4  p.m. — “On  Astro¬ 
nomy”  (Educational  Course).  By  R.  A. 
Proctor,  F.R.A.S. 

Tuesday  . Royal  Institution,  at  3  p.m. — “On  the  Geo- 

May  2.  logy  of  Devonshire,  especially  of  the  New 

Red  Sandstone.”  By  W.  Pengelly,  F.R.S. 

Wednesday...  Society  of  Arts,  at  8  p.'m. — “The  Production 

May  3.  of  Artificial  Cold.”  By  Professor  John 

Gamgee. 

Thursday . Royal  Society,  at  8.30  p.m. 

•May  4.  Linnean  Society,  at  8  p.m. 


Chemical  Society,  at  8  p.m. — “The  Produc¬ 
tive  Powers  of  Soils  in  Relation  to  the  Loss 
of  Plant  Food  by  Drainage.”  By  Dr. 
Voelcker,  F.R.S. 

London  Institution,  at  7.30  p.m. — “Econo¬ 
mic  Botany.”  By  Professor  Bentley. 

.Royal  Institution,  at  8  P.M. 


VACANCIES  AND  APPOINTMENTS  IN  CONNEC¬ 
TION  WITH  PHARMACY. 

The  Editor  will  he  glad  to  receive  early  notice  of  any 
'vacancies  of  pharmaceutical  offices  connected  with  public 

institutions,  and  likewise  of  appointments  that  are  made, _ 

in  order  that  they  may  he  published  regularly  in  the  Journal. 

VACANCY. 

The  Justices  of  the  County  of  Worcester  propose,  at  their 


Midsummer  Sessions,  to  appoint  an  Analyst  of  articles  of  Food 
and  Drink  purchased  within  the  said  county.  For  particulars, 
apply  to  Mr.  W.  N.  Marcy,  Clerk  of  the  Peace,  at  his  office 
in  Worcester. 


pwlianmttarjr  anil  fato  fmcccMngs. 


Suicide  by  Carbolic  Acid. 

Messrs.  W.  E.  Jeffreys,  M.R.C.S.,  and  J.  Hainworth, 
F.R.C.S.,  report  in  the  Medical  Times  and  Gazette  a  death 
from  poisoning  by  carbolic  acid,  which  occurred  on  the 
1st  inst.  The  deceased,  who  had  been  discharged  re¬ 
cently  from  Betlilem  Hospital,  was  found  by  his  house¬ 
keeper  on  his  bed,  insensible  and  “snorting.”  There 
was  a  strong  smell  of  carbolic  acid  in  the  room,  and  a 
bottle  containing  some,  which  had  been  kept  in  the 
kitchen  for  cleansing  purposes,  was  found  on  the  drawers. 
Medical  assistance  was  promptly  obtained,  but  death 
followed  in  about  fifty  minutes  after  the  supposed  time 
of  his  taking  the  poison.  The  housekeeper  estimated 
the  quantity  taken  as  between  one  and  two  tablespoon¬ 
fuls. 

At  the  post-mortem  examination  all  the  parts  over 
which  the  acid  had  flowed  were  found  whitened  and 
hardened  by  the  superficial  cauterization  of  the  epider¬ 
mis  and  epithelium,  while  a  longer  contact,  as  in  the 
stomach,  had  caused  a  corrugation  of  tho  epithelium  and 
the  breaking  of  it  up  into  small  particles.  Upon  the 
application  of  the  B.  P.  test  to  the  contents  of  the 
stomach,  the  characteristic  reaction  of  carbolic  acid  was 
observed. 


Collision  at  the  Stepney  Station. 

By  a  collision  which  took  place  at  the  Stepney  Junc¬ 
tion  of  the  Black  wall  Railway,  on  Sunday  afternoon, 
April  9th,  a  carriage  belonging  to  a  Blackwall  train  was 
driven  by  the  engine  of  a  Bow  train  partly  over  the 
railings  and  brickwork,  so  that  it  was  only  prevented  by 
the  couplings  from  falling  into  an  engineer’s  yard.  The 
only  passenger  in  the  carriage  was  Mr.  George  Hunter, 
son  of  Mr.  J.  Hunter,  Pharmaceutical  Chemist,  of  High 
!  Street,  Gosport.  He  was  bruised  and  very  much  shaken, 
and  has  received  a  severe  shock  to  his  system,  but  is  now 
progressing  favourably. 


Poisoning  by  a  Salt  of  CorrEit. 

A  singular  instance  of  poisoning  by  copper  was  inves¬ 
tigated  on  Thursday  by  Mr.  Price,  coroner  for  Salford 
Hundred,  at  Audenshaw.  The  inquest  was  held  on  tho 
body  of  a  young  married  woman,  named  Sarah  Rogers, 
twenty-four  years  of  age,  who  died  at  Hooley  Hill,  on 
the  24th  ult.,  under  circumstances  that  led  the  police  to 
arrest  her  husband  on  a  charge  of  administering  poison. 
The  inquiry  had  been  adjourned  for  the  purpose  of  an 
analysis  of  the  contents  of  the  stomach  of  the  deceased. 
Dr.  Calvert  stated  that  he  was  induced  to  search  for  an 
|  irritant  poison.  He  looked  in  vain  for  traces  of  oxalic 
acid,  arsenic,  baryta,  antimony,  lead,  bismuth,  tin,  mer¬ 
cury,  and  at  last  tested  for  copper,  though  he  thought 
this  substance  was  less  likely  to  be  found.  Never  dur- 
:  ing  an  experience  of  thirty  years  had  he  found  such 
i  difficulty  in  detecting  the  presence  of  the  poison  for 
:  which  he  was  in  search,  owing  to  the  stomach  and  in- 
:  testines  being  emptied  by  excessive  vomiting  and  purg- 
j  ing.  After  much  careful  examination,  he  found  a  very 
I  small  quantity  of  copper  in  the  stomach,  a  larger  quan- 
)  tity  in  the  intestines,  and  portions  in  the  liver.  Bearing 
in  mind  the  statement  made  by  one  of  the  witnesses 
i  that  deceased  had  been  purged,  and  had  vomited  for 
I  some  days  (seventy-two  hours  altogether),  that  only  a 
small  quantity  of  a  salt  of  copper  was  required  to  produce 
death,  and  that  it  was  easily  removed  from  the  body  by 


April  £9,  1S71.J 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


S75 


vomiting  and  purging,  lie  was  not  surprised  that  only  a 
.small  quantity  was  found.  He  was  of  opinion  that  the 
Inflammation  was  produced  by  the  toxic  action  of  a  salt 
•of  copper.  Although  some  toxicologists  entertained  a 
belief  that  in  certain  instances  copper  was  a  natural 
element  of  the  body,  he  was  of  opinion  that  in  this  case 
the  quantity  found  was  too  large  to  admit  of  its  exist¬ 
ence  under  such  circumstances.  Thei’e  were  cases  on 
record  of  persons  having  been  poisoned  by  partaking  of 
food  cooked  in  utensils  lined  with  copper ;  and  it  was 
well  known  that  others  had  died  from  eating  sweet¬ 
meats,  jams  and  sauerkraut  made  in  culinary  utensils  of 
the  same  material.  Taylor,  in  his  work  on  poison,  men¬ 
tioned  the  case  of  some  seamen  poisoned  by  eating  fatty 
matter  cooked  in  a  copper  vessel.  There  were  many 
other  instances  of  persons  partaking  of  copper  sufficient 
to  produce  death  without  its  being  administered  as  a 
poison.  Cases  of  intentional  poisoning  by  copper  were 
exceedingly  rare,  owing  to  its  easy  detection  from  the 
powerful  metallic  taste  it  produced.  There  was  one 
exception,  however,  a  substance  used  by  painters, — ver- 
diter, — which  had  no  taste.  Something  like  a  drachm 
would,  in  his  opinion,  cause  death.  In  reply  to  various 
questions,  it  was  stated  that  no  copper  vessels  were  used 
in  the  house  of  deceased,  or  at  the  hat  manufactory 
where  she  and  her  husband  were  employed.  Professor 
Calvert  added  that  the  contents  of  a  bottle  of  which 
deceased  had  partaken  contained  no  traces  of  copper. 
The  jury  returned  a  verdict  to  the  effect  “That  deceased 
died  from  the  effects  of  poisoning,  but  how,  when,  or  by 
what  means  taken  or  administered  there  was  no  evidence 
to  show.” 


Death  from  Bichloride  of  Methylene. 

An  inquest  was  held  on  Friday  last,  at  Charing  Cross 
Hospital,  to  inquire  into  the  circumstances  attending  the 
death  of  David  Skelton,  a  labourer,  who  died  while 
under  the  influence  of  bichloride  of  methylene,  for  the 
purpose  of  an  operation. 

Mr.  Ewin  Canton,  surgeon  to  the  Charing  Cross  Hos¬ 
pital,  stated  that  the  deceased  attended  the  hospital  for 
treatment  of  an  injury  to  one  of  his  fingers,  which  he 
had  received  while  killing  a  pig,  the  tusks  of  the  animal 
having  severely  lacerated  it.  Mr.  Canton  advised  am¬ 
putation  of  the  finger,  to  which  deceased  assented,  and 
expressed  a  wish  to  have  it  done  under  the  influence  of 
chloroform.  On  the  previous  Tuesday  the  operation  was 
performed,  he  having  previously  inhaled  1^  drachms  of 
bichloride  of  methylene.  This  was  administered  by  the 
regular  administrator  of  the  hospital,  and  was  not  more 
than  half  the  quantity  usually  given.  The  deceased 
having  become  insensible,  the  finger  was  removed,  the 
operation  not  lasting  more  than  one  minute,  when  it 
was  noticed  that  his  head  had  fallen  on  one  side,  his  eyes 
were  upturned,  and  breathing  and  pulsation  had  ceased. 
Every  effort  was  made  to  restore  animation,  but  without 
success.  Upon  a  post-mortem  examination  he  had  found 
all  the  organs  in  a  perfect  state  of  health ;  the  heart  and 
brain,  the  organs  usually  affected  when  chloroform  is 
administered,  not  presenting  any  traces  of  the  action  of 
-the  methylene.  The  only  way  in  which  he  could  account 
for  the  death  was  by  supposing  that  the  man  being  in  a 
state  of  great  nervous  excitement  at  having  to  undergo 
the  operation,  the  methylene  had  acted  upon  the  nervous 
system,  causing  instant  death.  He  had  known  death  to 
occur  under  an  operation  from  excitement,  without  the 
administration  of  an  anaesthetic.  There  was  no  doubt 
that  in  the  case  under  inquiry  death  had  resulted  from 
the  use  of  the  bichloride  of  methylene.  Cases  of  death 
while  under  the  influence  of  this  agent  were  very  rare, 
but  he  never  allowed  it  to  be  administered  except  with 
the  patient’s  full  consent. 

The  jury  returned  a  verdict  “That  the  deceased  died 
from  the  effects  of  methylene  properly  administered 
•during  an  operation.” 


HOUSE  OF  COMMONS. 

The  Proposed  Tax  on  Matches. — April  20.— In 
making  the  annual  financial  statement,  the  Chancellor  of 
the  Exchequer  announced  an  estimated  deficiency  amount- 
ingto  £2,713,000,  for  which  it  would  bo  necessary  to  pro¬ 
vide.  In  order  that  this  might  be  done,  he  proposed, 
.amongst  other  things,  to  impose  a  tax  upon  matches,  an 
idea  that  he  confessed  to  having  borrowed  from  Ame¬ 
rican  finance.  He  spoke  of  matches  as  being  one  of  the 
most  splendid  boons  which  science  has  given  to  man,  to 
enable  him  to  dispense  with  the  flint  and  steel.  Ho 
proposed  to  put  a  halfpenny  stamp  upon  every  box  of 
matches  containing  not  more  than  a  hundred,  and  a  penny 
stamp  on  a  box  containing  not  more  than  one  hundred  wax 
lights  or  fusees.  He  said  that  560,000,000  boxes  of  matches 
and  45,000,000  of  wax  lights  and  fusees  were  made  in 
this  country  annually.  The  revenue  estimated  from  this 
source  was  £550,000.  Having  noticed  that  the  device  of 
an  ark  on  some  boxes  was  a  very  odd  and  inappropriate 
one, — suggestive  of  a  watery  idea, — he  proposed  to  adopt 
as  a  motto  for  the  stamp  the  words  Ex  luce  lucellum .* 

Dr.  Playfair,  in  supporting  the  proposition  of  the 
Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer,  said  that,  although  when 
he  was  examined  before  the  Committee  of  1867  as  to  the 
propriety  of  levying  a  tax  on  matches,  he  was  not  able 
to  see  how  it  could  be  done,  he  had  given  the  subject  his 
consideration  occasionally  since,  and  had  come  to  the  con¬ 
clusion  that  it  might  be  done.  Nearly  1  ^  per  cent,  of  the 
fires  arose  from  the  careless  use  of  matches.  The  care¬ 
less  use  of  matches  had  led  to  carelessness  in  their 
manufacture.  He  believed  the  proposed  tax  would  give 
an  impulse  to  the  manufacture  of  safety  matches.  A 
competition  in  the  manufacture  of  improved  quality 
would  have  a  good  effect  on  the  workers  ;  it  would  tend 
largely  to  remove  that  horrid  disease,— the  worst  that 
medical  men  had  to  deal  with, — disease  of  the  jawbone. 

April  25. — Mr.  Disraeli  having  given  notice  of  his 
intention  to  move  that  the  financial  proposals  of  the 
Government  were  unsatisfactory  to  the  House,  the  Chan¬ 
cellor  of  the  Exchequer  announced  that,  in  view  of  the 
disfavour  with  which  the  match  tax  had  been  received 
in  many  quarters  of  the  House,  the  Government  had 
decided  to  withdraw  it. 


Handbuch  der  Piiarmacognosie  end  Piiarmacologie 
fur  Aerzte,  Studirende  der  Medicin  und  Pharmacie, 
Apotheker  und  Droguisten.  By  Prof.  Dr.  Archi¬ 
medes  von  Schwartzkopf,  Teacher  of  Pharmacognosy, 
National  Economy  and  Commercial  Science  at  the 
University  of  Basle,  and  Teacher  of  the  Germano- 
Swiss  Commercial  School.  Part  I.  Leipsic  and 
Heidelberg  :  C.  F.  Wintersche  Vcrlagshandlung. 
1871. 

It  is  almost  impossible  to  imagine  a  more  difficult 
task  than  to  write  a  book  on  pharmacognosy  and  pharma¬ 
cology  which  would  meet  all  just  demands  of  the  day, 
for  the  simple  reason  that  it  must  embody  all  the  infor¬ 
mation  which  the  student  of  medicine  or  pharmacy,  the 
medical  man  and  the  pharmacist  may  require  in  order 
to  ascertain  the  physical  and  chemical  properties  of 
their  remedies,  distinguishing  marks  of  purity  and  adul¬ 
teration  of  their  physiological  actions  and  therapeutical 
applications. 

The  writer  or  compiler  of  such  book  must  have  an  in¬ 
timate  acquaintance  not  only  with  chemistry,  natural 
philosophy,  botany  and  mineralogy,  but  also  with  phar¬ 
macy  and  its  practical  applications,  and  with  some  of  the 
most  important  branches  of  medical  science,  viz.  the 

*  The  Times  suggests  that  Mr.  Lowe  should  now  adopt  for 
his  crest  a  match  smokingjproper,  with  the  motto  “  Et  I/ucifer 
1  et  Luctifer.” 


876 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  29,  1671. 


action  of  remedies  on  the  human  system  and  their  mode 
of  application. 

Very  rarely  indeed  do  we  find  a  single  man  to  have 
mastered,  in  all  their  details,  half-a-dozen  sciences,  and 
it  is  a  fair  question  to  consider  whether  the  division  of  such 
a  vast  undertaking-  among  different  specialists  would  not 
result  in  a  work  more  satisfactory  to  the  authors  and  to 
their  readers.  W e  do  not  pretend  to  he  endowed  with  suffi¬ 
cient  insight  into  all  these  sciences  to  pass  a  critical  verdict 
upon  this  hook  as  a  whole,  and  gladly  we  will  restrict 
ourselves  to  the  pharmaceutical  or  rather  chemical  part ; 
we  do  so  the  more  readily,  because  the  first  volume  now 
before  us, — after  a  short  introduction  and  a  discourse  on 
general  pharmacology, — embraces  that  part  of  special 
pharmacology  which  treats  of  remedies  derived  from  the 
inorganic  world. 

The  author  states  in  tlio  preface  that  in  the  general 
plan  and  arrangement  of  his  book  he  followed  Pereira’s 
‘  Elements,’  third  edition  of  1851, — the  last  edition  of  1864 
is  evidently  not  known  to  him ;  he  also  gives  a  number 
of  other  books  used  by  him  generally,  and  for  phar¬ 
maceutical  preparations  he  quotes  Mohr’s  ‘  Commentar  ’ 
as  his  authority  ;  i.  e.  he  has  copied  him  wherever  pos¬ 
sible. 

We  might  have  expected  in  this  volume,  which  treats 
chiefly  of  the  elements  and  then-  combinations,  some  re¬ 
ferences,  however  slight,  to  chemistry  in  general,  to  the 
development  and  changes  in  the  interpretations  of  a 
science  which,  during  the  last  twenty  years  and  more, 
have  made  its  study  both  so  difficult  and.'  so  fascinating ; 
but  not  a  word  is  said  on  the  subject :  there  are  the 
antiquated  names  and  formulas,  as  if  settled  for  all  time ; 
the  formulas  very  often  wrongly  given,  and,  on  reading 
article  after  article,  one  is  often  tempted  to  look  back 
to  the  title-page  to  see  whether  the  book  really  has  been 
written  in  this  century. 

It  is  evident  chemistry  is  not  the  author’s  speciality ; 
it  is  also  equally  evident  that  the  chemical  part,  written 
in  the  most  dreary  style  imaginable,  must  deter  any  stu¬ 
dent,  be  he  ever  so  enthusiastic,  from  following  up  his 
chemical  pursuits,  if  left  to  this  book. 

The  author  has  not  the  grasp  of  mind  to  see  before 
him  the  whole  field,  to  systematically  work  out  a  plan ; 
it  is  only  too  clear  that  in  compiling  the  work  he  has 
consulted  many  others ;  he  has  copied  here  a  bit  and 
there  a  bit,  without  having  the  capacity  of  welding  the 
parts  into  one  homogeneous  and  harmonious  whole.  The 
inevitable  consequence  is — as  the  result  of  much  labour, 
we  are  sorry  to  say  so — complete  failure  and.  disap¬ 
pointment. 

Now,  in  a  book  of  reference  like  this,  including  so 
many  different  topics,  the  strictest  adhesion  possible  to  a 
clear  and  well-digested  system  is  absolutely  necessary  ; 
and,  we  must  confess,  it  is  exactly  the  defiance  of  this 
necessary  rule  which  struck  us  first  on  reading  this 
book. 

To  substantiate  such  serious  accusations,  we  have  only 
one  difficulty,  viz.  to  select  a  few  from  the  many  proofs 
we  meet  with  on  every  page. 

The  inorganic  world  is  divided  into  Class  I.,  non-me- 
tallic  substances  ;  and  we  expected,  of  course,  to  come  in 
due  time  to  Class  II.,  metallic  substances,  but  at  the  end 
of  the  ten  non-metals  and  their  compounds,  grouped  into 
so  many  orders,  the  author  has  forgotten  his  system, 
goes  on  without  division  to  Order  XI.,  potassium,  and  so 
on  to  the  end  of  the  book  with  all  metals. 

A  confusion  more  tantalizing,  because  constantly  re¬ 
peated,  is  the  truly  impartial  freedom  with  which  the 
different  scales  of  temperature  are  made  use  of.  Fahren¬ 
heit,  Celsius  and  Reaumur  are  given  indiscriminately ; 
and  this  ia  the  more  surprising  in  a  German  book,  as 
Fahrenheit  s  scale  is  utterly  unknown  in  Germany. 
Sometimes  two  scales,  in  charming-  harmony,  are  brought 
together  in  one  sentence ;  so  on  page  100,  we  read,  “  water 
expands  at  32°  F.,  it  forms  crystals  (a  novel  way  of  de¬ 
scribing  the  freezing  of  water),  and  it  boils  at  100°  C.”  ; 


or  at  page  151,  “iodine  melts  at  107°  C.,  and  becomes 
gaseous  at  140°-144°  R.”  .Then  again,  sometimes  no 
scale  is  given  at  all,  as  under  iodoform,  page  165,  where 
an  alcoholic  solution  of  iodine  is  to  be  warmed  to  35°-40°. 

From  the  liberal  use  of  Fahrenheit’s  scale,  and  much 
internal  evidence,  it  is  only  too  apparent  that  the  book 
is  chiefly  a  mere  translation  of  Pereira  of  1851 ;  but 
by  great  curtailment  of  the  original,  much  valuable  in¬ 
formation  is  omitted.  There  is  not  a  single  woodcut ; 
the  diagrams  of  chemical  decomposition,  giving  such 
clear  representation  of  the  process,  are  left  out,  and 
verbal  descriptions,  often  hazy  and  incorrect,  are  sub¬ 
stituted. 

The  greatest  carelessness  is  shown  in  the  enumeration 
of  the  elements  and  their  compounds ;  sometimes  their 
symbols  and  equivalents  are  given,  sometimes  not,  as 
under  Na,  Ba,  Al,  etc. ;  the  same  with  pharmaceutical 
preparations,  the  composition  of  which  is  given  after  the 
name,  but  just  as  often  not. 

After  carbon  we  read,  vapour  density  (?)  of  carbon=l ; 
and  we  must  assume  from  the  query,  that  the  author 
could  not  realize  the  idea  of  carbon  vapour  density. 

Most  apparent  is  the  absence  of  systematical  arrange¬ 
ment  in  nomenclature.  We  will  quote  a  few  of  the  head¬ 
ings  of  the  iron  salts.  Here  we  have,  ferrum  sulphuri- 
cum  crystallizatum,  persulphas  ferri,  ferrum  chloratum, 
fen-urn  bromatum  in  maximo,  ferrum  ammoniato-sul- 
phuricum,  ammoniaeum  hydrochloratum  ferratum ; — and 
this  is  a  fair  specimen  of  the  style  throughout  the  book. 

We  will  conclude  with  a  few  extracts,  taken  at  ran¬ 
dom,  which,  better  than  any  words,  will  show  the  value 
of  the  book. 

Creasote  and  petroleum  are  essential  oils. 

Graphite  is  brought  from  Borrowdale  to  London,  and 
sold  byj  auction,  or  in  a  public-house  in  Essex  Street^ 
Strand,  every  first  Monday  in  the  month. 

Phosphorus  is  made  from  bone-ash  (3CaOPO^), 
which  on  being  mixed  with  water  and  sulphuric  acid, 
gives  off  carbonic  acid. 

Sulphuretted  hydrogen  is  at  55°  F.  a  transparent 
liquid; — the  slight  matter  of  a  pressure  of  15°  to  le0 
atmosphere  being  forgotten. 

Sesquicarbonate  of  ammonia  is  frequently  used  for 
effervescing  powders. 

Kali  picronitricum,  nitrophenol  and  picric  acid  are  one 
and  the  same  substance. 

Kali  causticum,  the  formula  of  which  is  K  0,  is  brought 
into  the  market  in  solution,  as  a  fine  powder  and  fused. 

Forty  pages  further  on,  we  find  again  kali  hydricum 
fusum  and  solution,  as  separate  articles. 

British  soda-water  often  contains  copper  and  lead. 

Soda-saltpetre  is  only  found  in  South  America. 

And  so  we  might  go  on  and  copy  the  whole  book. 

The  directions  for  making  the  pharmaceutical  pre¬ 
parations  are  throughout  correct ;  as  before  stated,  they 
are  taken  from  Mohr’s  ‘Commentar,’  a  valuable  book, 
well  known  in  this  country,  as  translated  by  Dr.  Red¬ 
wood. 

Altogether  we  must  agree  with  the  author  of  this  book, 
when  he  states  in  the  preface,  it  is  possible — nay,  even 
probable— -that  a  more  experienced  pen  than  his  might 
have  been  more  successful  in  collecting,  arranging  and 
digesting-  the  different  substances. 


BOOKS  RECEIVED. 

Select-  Methods  in  Chemical  Analysis  (chieely  Or¬ 
ganic).  By  William  Crookes,  F.R.S.,  etc.  London: 
Longmans.  1871.  From  the  Publishers. 


George  W.  Childs.  A  Biographical  Sketch.  By  James 
Parton.  Philadelphia.  1870.  From  the  Author. 


\ 


April  29,  1871.] 


TI1E  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


877 


©Mtprg* 


The  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy  announces  the 
death  by  an  accident,  at  the  age  of  thirty-four,  of  Mr. 
Ferris  Bringhurst,  of  Wilmington,  Delaware,  a  pro¬ 
minent  and  much-esteemed  member  of  the  American 
Pharmaceutical  Association.  The  deceased  gentleman 
was  engaged  in  the  preparation  of  a  quantity  of  oxygen 
from  chlorate  of  potash,  for  the  illustration  of  a  lecture 
he  was  about  to  deliver  to  the  members  of  a  working 
men’s  institute,  when  the  iron  apparatus  he  was  using- 
burst.  One  of  the  fragments  struck  him  on  the  forehead, 
inflicting  a  dreadful  wound  and  causing  his  death  a  few 
days  afterwards. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  April  22  ;  the  ‘Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
April  22 ;  the  ‘  lancet,’  April  22 ;  the  ‘  Medical  Press  and 
Circular,’  April  26 ;  ‘Nature,’  April  20 ;  the  ‘Chemical  News,’ 
April  21;  ‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  April  19 ;  ‘Gar¬ 
deners’  Chronicle,’  April  22 ;  the  ‘  Grocer,’  April  22;  ‘  Produce 
Markets  Review,’  April  22  ;  the  ‘  English  Mechanic,’  April  21 ; 
the ‘Pood  Journal’ for  April;  the  ‘Photographic  Journal,’ 
April  18  ;  the  ‘  Journal  of  the  London  Institution,’  April  18; 
‘ Proceedings  of  the  Royal  Institution;’  the  ‘Brewers’  Guar¬ 
dian,’  April  24;  ‘Philadelphia  Medical  and  Surgical  Re¬ 
porter,’  Nos.  733,  734;  the  ‘New  York  Herald,’  April  5. 


U.ohs  anil  twits. 


***  In  order  to  facilitate  reference ,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  their  answers  in  each  case  with  the  title 
and  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

NOTICE.— To  prevent  delay ,  correspondents  are  re¬ 
quested  to  send  their  communications  to  the  Journal  Depart¬ 
ment  ^  17,  Bloomsbury  Square ,  TP.C.,  and  not  to  the  Pub¬ 
lishers. 

[191.] — WHITE  SHELLAC. — To  obviate  the  annoyance 
occasioned  by  the  alteration  that  white  shellac  sooner  or  later 
undergoes,  dissolve  it  as  soon  as  received  from  the  maker  in 
methylated  spirit,  so  that  one  fluid  ounce  shall  contain  half 
■an  ounce  by  weight.  In  this  fluid  form  it  is  at  once  available 
for  polishes;  and  should  a  little  of  the  solid  be'required,  it 
can  readily  be  obtained  by  precipitation  with  hot  water.  This 
suggestion  is  addressed,  of  course,  to  small  and  unfrequent 
consumers  only. — T.  B.  Groves. 

[220.]— DISPENSING.— 

R.  Quinim  Sulpha tis  9ij 

Acid.  Hydroch.  Dil.  5ivss 
Pot.  Ioclid.  5hss 
Tinct.  Iodi  5iij 
Syr.  Aurant.  ^iv 
Spt.  Chlorof.  5ij 
Aq.  ad  ^viij.  M. 

This  prescription  is  one  of  those  which  never  give  satisfac¬ 
tion  to  the  dispenser,  and  often  creates  a  feeling  of  distrust  in 
the  mind  of  the  patient  for  whom  it  was  written.  It  is  im¬ 
possible  to  mix  it  and  not  have  decomposition.  I  consider 
the  following  to  be  the  best  manner  of  preparing  it : — 

After  selecting  the  8-oz.  bottle,  let  an  ounce  of  water  be 
put  into  it,  and  then  introduce  the  “  iodide  of  potassium;” 
when  perfect  solution  has  taken  place,  add  the  “diluted 
acid”  and  the  “syrup  of  orange,”  shake  well  together;  then, 
having  previously  weighed  the  “  quinine  ”  and  powdered  it 
finely  by  passing  a  knife  over  it,  introduce  it  into  the  bottle 
and  shake  well.  Mix  the  “  tinct.  of  iodine  ”  and  the  “  spt. 
of  chloroform  ”  together,  and  add  this  gradually  (shaking  well 
at  each  addition)  to  the  mixture. 


When  prepared  in  the  above  manner,  it  assumes  a  reddish, 
opaque  colour,  but,  after  standing  for  some  time,  ehanges 
its  appearance  and  becomes  almost  bright,  a  precipitate  is 
thrown  down  (iodide  of  quinine  ?)  and  a  scaly  film  is  formed 
on  the  surface  of  the  mixture,  both  of  which,  to  a  certain  de¬ 
gree,  disappear  when  the  mixture  is  well  agitated. 

If  the  prescribed  dose  be  mixed  with  a  wineglass  of  wrater 
and  well  stirred,  it  still  does  not  form  a  perfect  solution. — 
C.  T.  J. 

[221.] — SULPHATE  OF  LIME  is  valuable  to  farmers; 
10  cwt.  per  acre  being  used  as  a  top  dressing  for  clovers,  tre¬ 
foil,  cinquefoil,  etc. — H. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  there  is  a  difference 
between  the  sulphate  of  lime  used,  in  the  form  of  gypsum,  as 
manure  and  the  residue  from  the  production  of  carbonic  acid 
gas,  inasmuch  as  the  latter  contains  free  sulphuric  acid. — Ed. 
PlIARM.  J OTJRN.] 

[222.] — TINCTURA  COLOCYNTHIDIS,  known  also  as 
“  Dahlberg’s  Tincture.” — The  following  is  from  the  Prussian 
Pharmacopoeia : — 

Colocynth  Pulp  (cut  small  and 
free  from  seeds)  5j 
Aniseed  5j 
Proof  Spirit,  1  lb. 

Digest  for  eight  days,  express  and  filter. 

Dose. — 6  to  20  drops.— C.  T.  J. 

A  similar  answer  has  been  received  from  F.  O.  Collins. 


J.  T.  C.  thinks  that  J.  Whitfield  is  wrong  in  stating  the 
time  for  maceration  of  the  above  to  be  three  days.  According 
to  Beasley’s  ‘  Book  of  Prescriptions,’  Neligan  prescribed  the 
Prussian  formula,  which  is — 

Colocynth  yj 

Aniseed  5j 

Proof  Spirit,  1  lb.  (not  14  oz.) 

Digest  for  eight  days,  express  and  filter. 

[226.]— COD-LIVER  OIL  JELLY. — C.  D.  L.  N.,  if  he 
can  meet  with  some  true  sweet  almond  flour  (I  have  none), 
is  i-ecommended  to  try  my  glycylceum.  See  article  of  that 
name  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Dundee  meeting  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Confei-ence.  A  little  ingenuity  spent  upon  it 
would  make  it,  I  think,  a  useful  item  of  elegant  pharmacy. — 
T.  B.  Groves. 

[228.]— SYRUPUS  TONICUS.— Easton’s  syrup,  flavour¬ 
ed  with  orange  flower-water,  is  largely  prescribed  in  Man¬ 
chester  and  its  neighbourhood  under  the  name  of“syrupus 
tonic us.” 

Each  fluid  drachm  of  this  preparation  contains  ; — 

Phosphate  of  Iron . 1  gi*ain. 

„  Quinine  ....  1  „ 

„  Strychnine  .  .  .  „ 

—James  Woolley,  Manchester. 

[229.] — STRAINERS. — In  answer  to  J.  W.,  I  beg  to  say 
that  a  piece  of  fine  muslin  placed  in  the  neck  of  the  funnel  is 
very  useful.  It  must  not  be  pressed  in  too  tight. — George 
Adams. 

During  the  cotton  famine  a  substitute  for  cotton  wool, 
prepared  from  flax  by  the  process  of  the  late  Chevalier 
Clausen,  was  offered  for  sale  by  Messrs.  Bourne  and  Taylor. 
For  some  years  I  saw,  much  to  my  annoyance,  some  pounds 
of  it  lying  about  in  my  wareroom  unsaleable,  for  it  did  not 
take.  Now  I  am  equally  annoyed  to  note  its  gradual  dis¬ 
appearance,  for  I  have  devoted  it  to  the  purpose  indicated  by 
J.  W.,  and  do  not  certainly  know  whence  to  obtain  afresh 
supply7.  Its  advantages  are  these — it  is  cleaner  and  finer 
than  tow,  not  so  fine  as  cotton  w7ool,  and  is  not  repellent  of 
icater,  w  hich  is  its  crowning  superiority. 

The  best  vroven  strainer  that  I  have  discovered  is  crinoline, 
or  at  least  a  cheap  cotton  material  that  goes  by  that  name. 
Its  stiffness — due  to  starch  or  some  cereal  flour — must  be 
removed  by  washing  in  very  hot  water.  Then  it  appears  like 
a  coarse  and  strong  muslin.  For  press  bags  I  have  selected 
strong  serge,  after  trying  canvas,  duck,  etc.  I  am  told  that 
a  kind  of  twilled  flannel  is  still  better.  I  saw  it  in  use  at 
the  laboratory  of  Messrs.  Evans,  Liverpool,  but  have  not  yet 


878 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  29, 1S71. 


succeeded  in  finding  out  where  it  can  be  purchased  in  the 
ordinaiy  way  of  business.  I  may  add,  though,  that  Messrs. 
Evans  kindly  offered  to  spare  me  some  at,  I  think,  about  os. 
per  yard. — T.  33.  Groves. 

[231.] — BEETLE  POWDER. — In  reply  to  “  Give  and 
Take's  ”  request  for  a  beetle  powder,  he  will  find  the  follow¬ 
ing  very  good : — 

R.  Red  Lead,  4  oz. 

Flour,  1  oz. 

Powdered  Sugar,  1  oz. 

M.  Place  a  little  of  the  powder  on  a  small  piece  of  paper. 
Cats  or  dogs  will  not  touch  it.  I  will  warrant  it  to  kill  any 
amount  of  beetles. — S.  G.  M. 

[234.]— A  PROBLEM  FROM  DOVER.— 

R.  Liq.  Quinise  Ammon,  ^iss 

Syr.  Ferri  Pliosph.  Jj 
Ferri  Ammon.  Citr.  5j 
Acid.  Phosph.  Dil.  5iss 
Aquse  Menth.  Pip.  5”ss 
Ammon.  Pliosphat.  5hj 

M.  ft.  mistura. — A.  B. 

Ferri  ammonio-citratem  in  aqua  menthce  piperita;  solve, 
ammonite  phosphatem  in  acitlo  phosphorico  diluto;  ferri 
phosphatis  syrupum  quinte  ammoniatte  liquori  adde,  denique 
simul  omnia  misce. — ScoxiCUS. 

[240.] — DISPENSING. — The  following  prescription  was 
brought  to  me  to  dispense  : — 

R.  Sp.  iEtheris, 

,,  Lavandulce, 

.,  Ammon.  Ar.,  aa.  5ij 
Mist.  Camph.  ad  oviij. 

M.  ft.  mist. 

The  person  called  the  day  following  to  say  that  some  mis¬ 
take  must  have  been  made  in  its  preparation,  as  it  had  been 
made  up  at  one  of  the  first  houses  in  London,  and  was  of  a 
reddish  colour.  My  mixture  was  colourless. 

Please  inform  me  what  appearance  the  mixture  should 
present  when  properly  dispensed. — J.  Crookes. 

THE  TASTE  OF  COD-LIVER  OIL.— Dr.  Aubrey 
Wicks,  in  a  letter  to  the  Lancet,  says  that  the  fishy  taste  of 
cod-liver  'oil  may  be  modified  by  placing  a  few  grains  of 
chloride  of  sodium  on  the  tongue  before  taking  a  dose.  “  With 
this  simple  adjunct,  patients  who  before  rejected  the  oil  will 
take  it  with  apparent  relish,  describing  the  taste  as  that  of 
herring  or  sardine.”  A  piece  of  bread  may  be  eaten  after¬ 
wards.  Dr.  A.  S.  Hudson,  writing  to  the  American  Medical 
Gazette,  says  that  the  taste  may  be  wholly  disguised  by 
adding  to  one  pint  of  the  oil  half  an  ounce  of  tincture  of  gum 
guaiacum  and  a  drachm  of  essence  of  gualtheria. 


[236.] — DISPENSING. — The  following  prescription  was 
brought  to  me  to  dispense  a  few  days  since ;  as  the  quantity 
of  bromide  was  so  excessive,  will  some  of  your  readers  kindly 
say  what  they  would  do  in  such  a  case  ? — 

R.  Potasste  Chloratis  5ij 
Potassii  Bromidi  §j 
Inf.  Gent,  recentis  ad  ^viij 

A  sixth  part  thrice  a  day.— J.  H.  G.,  South  Kants. 

[237.] — RED  INK. — Can  any  of  your  readers  give  me  a 
good  receipt  for  bright  red  ink  ? — J.  H.  G. 

[238.]— TOBACCO  PAPER.— Please  give  me  in  your 
next  impression  a  formula  for  making  the  “  tobacco  paper  ” 
used  by  gardeners  to  burn  in  greenhouses  to  kill  insects. — 
A.  P.  S. 

[239.]— CREAMY  FURNITURE  POLISH.-C.  TV.  S. 
would  feel  obliged  if  any  correspondent  would  favour  him 
with  a  formu'a  for  a  cream  of  furniture  polish. 


CULINARY  ESSENCES. 

(From  the  Chicago  Pharmacist.) 

Flavour  of  Ginger. 

Take  of  Ginger  Root,  bruised,  2  oz.  troy 

Wild  Ginger  (Asarum),  bruised,  1  drm. 
Lemon  Peel,  bruised,  1  oz.  troy 
Diluted  Alcohol  16  11.  oz. 

Macerate  for  fourteen  days  and  filter. 

Flavour  of  Lemon. 

Take  of  Lemon  Peel  (fresh),  cut  thin, 

2  oz.  troy. 

Oil  of  Lemon  (fresh)  1  fl.  oz. 

Alcohol,  95  per  cent.,  12  11.  oz. 

Water  4  11.  oz. 

Digest  for  eight  or  ten  days  and  filter. 

Flavour  of  Nutmegs. 

Take  of  Nutmegs  (grated)  1  oz.  troy. 

Oil  of  Nutmegs  2  fl.  drms. 

Diluted  Alcohol  16  fl.  oz. 

Digest  for  eight  to  ten  days  and  filter. 

Flavour  of  Orange. 

Take  of  Orange  peel  (fresh),  cut  thin, 

2  oz.  troy. 

Oil  of  Orange  (fresh)  ^  11.  oz. 

Alcohol,  95  per  cent.,  12  11.  oz. 

Water  4  11.  oz. 

Digest  for'eiglit  to  ten  days  and  filter. 

Flavour  of  Pose. 

Take  of  red  Rose  leaves,  in  coarse  powder, 
oz.  troy 

Oil  of  Rose,  pure,  5  drops 
Alcohol,  95  per  cent.,  6  11.  oz. 

Water  10  11.  oz. 

Dissolve  the  oil  in  the  alcohol,  mix  with  the  water  and  mace¬ 
rate  the  rose  leaves  for  eight  to  ten  days  in  the  menstruum 
and  filter. 

Flavour  of  Tonqua  Bean. 

Take  of  Tonqua  Bean,  bruised,  4  oz.  troy 
Orris  Root,  in  powder,  oz.  troy 
Diluted  Alcohol  16  11.  oz.  s 
Digest  for  fourteen  days  and  filter. 

Flavour  of  Vanilla. 

Take  of  Vanilla  Bean,  cut  very  small, 

2  oz.  troy 

Diluted  Alcohol  16  fl.  oz. 

Digest  for  three  to  four  weeks  and  filter. 

Flavours  of  banana,  pineapple,  raspberry  and  strawberry, 
termed  fruit  essences,  are  alcoholic  solutions  of  the  amyl  and 
ethyl  ether  series. 

Flavour  of  Pineapple. 

Take  of  Essence  of  Pineapple  (artificial) 

6  11.  drms. 

Diluted  Alcohol  14  fl.  oz. 

Simple  Syrup  1  fl.  oz. 

Mix.  Tincture  of  Cinnamon  2  11.  drms. 

Flavour  of  Paspberry. 

Take  of  Essence  of  Raspberry  (artificial) 

1  11.  oz. 

Diluted  Alcohol  12  11.  oz. 

Syrup  of  Raspberry  (fruit)  2  11.  oz. 
Tincture  of  Orris  Root  (4  oz.  to  the 
pint) 

Tincture  of  Cochineal,  of  each  ^  11.  oz. 

Mix. 

Flavour  of  Strawberry. 

Take  of  Essence  of  Strawberry  (artificial) 

1  A.  oz. 

Diluted  Alcohol  13  fl.  oz. 

Syrup  of  Raspberry  (fruit) 

Syrup  of  Pineapple  (fruit)  of  each 
6  11.  drms. 

Mix.  Tincture  of  Cochineal  £  11.  oz. 


April  29,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


879 


Cjarmptore* 

***  JSro  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

The  Preliminary  Examination. 

Sir, — Would  you  kindly  allow  me  space  for  a  few  words  in 
reply  to  the  letter  of  your  correspondent  B.  S.,  contained  in 
your  last  issue? 

Whilst  I  think  it  highly  desirable  that  every  encourage¬ 
ment  should  be  given  to  those  who  are  desirous  of  possess¬ 
ing  the  Minor  or  Major  qualifications,  yet  I  think  it  unfair 
that  they  should  be  admitted  to  this  ground  by  passing  along 
the  temporary  bridge  of  “the  Modified”  instead  of  by  the 
proper  road  from  the  Preliminary.  The  Modified  Examina¬ 
tion,  as  I  understand,  was  provided  for  those  young  men  who 
were  thought  to  have  a  vested  interest  in  the  trade  sufficient 
to  entitle  them  to  a  less  stringent  examination,  and  thus  far 
I  think  their  case  was  met ;  but  there  were  others  who  would 
gladly  have  availed  themselves  of  the  “  Modified,”  and  who 
had  been  even  longer  in  the  trade  than  some  of  those  eligible 
for  the  “  Modified,”  but  were  kept  out  by  reason  of  their  age, 
not  having  attained  twenty- one  years.  Those  young  men, 
after  having  been  six  or  seven  years  in  the  trade,  were  com¬ 
pelled'  (as  I  know  in  many  cases  where  they  have  gone  to 
business  young)  to  work  up  what  “they”  had  never  learnt 
at  school,  viz.  their  Caesar,  etc.  I  don’t  see  that  it  would  be 
doing  this  class  of  young  men  justice,  who  have  not  had  what 
I  should  almost  call  the  privilege  of  laying  claim  to  the 
“  Modified,”  to  allow  those  who  have  been  thus  privileged  to 
take  step  No.  2  before  having  taken  step  No.  1. 

But  lastly,  and  chiefly,  in  your  editorial  article  of  last  week 
on  the  Preliminary  Examination,  you  state  that  the  objec¬ 
tion  raised  by  your  correspondent  B.  S.  loses  all  its  force  from 
the  mere  fact  that  two  of  the  passages  given  are  actually 
such  as  might  occur  for  translation  in  every-day  business. 
I  am  quite  of  your  opinion,  Sir  ;  and,  moreover,  I  cannot  see 
that  there  would  be  much  gained  by  being  admitted  to  the 
“Minor”  without  having  passed  the  “Preliminary”  (al¬ 
though  the  Latin  is  of  a  medical  character,  and  consequently 
more  familiar  to  persons  in  the  trade) ;  still  I  think  that 
where  the  elementary  knowledge  required  in  the  Preliminary 
is  wanting,  there  would  be  an  inability  to  render  in  full 
Latin  the  prescriptions  given  in  the  Minor. 

13,  Hereford  Hoad ,  W.  Minor  Associate. 


Sir, — In  perusing  your  Journal  of  to-day,  my  attention 
was  drawn  to  the  above  subject,  on  which  I  may,  perhaps,  be 
allowed  to  make  these  few  remarks .  Although  the  examina¬ 
tion  questions  of  the  3rd  inst.  were  more  stringent  than  those 
formerly  selected  by  the  Board  of  Examiners,  still  there  was 
not  the  stringency  in  them  which  should  prevent  the  candi¬ 
date  from  obtaining  the  number  of  marks  entitling  him  to 
registration  as  an  apprentice.  I  hope  that  those  who  did  not 
prove  successful  will  persevere  with  the  subjects,  in  order  that 
they  may  be  more  successful  when  they  offer  themselves  again. 
There  are  some  candidates  who  ought  not  to  be  surprised  to 
find  themselves  plucked.  I  have  known  those  who  thought 
to  pass  this  examination  by  simply  studying  each  alternate 
book  of  Caesar  or  the  first  half  of  Book  I.,  and  acting  simi¬ 
larly  with  the  declensions  and  rules  of  the  Latin  grammar, 
etc.  But  if  the  candidate  wishes  to  pass  without  having  to 
offer  himself  a  second  time,  I  would  strongly  recommend 
him  to  study  the  subjects  throughout.  In  the  43  per  cent, 
of  unsuccessful  of  the  3rd  inst.  I  have  no  doubt  there  were 
several  who  knew  very  little  or  nothing  whatever  of  the  Latin 
language  before  they  entered  their  term  of  apprenticeship. 
It  must,  of  course,  then  be  extremely  difficult  for  them  to 
study  classics  and  attend  to  the  routine  of  their  business.  In 
order  to  obviate  this  difficulty  of  apprentices,  some  step 
should  be  taken  by  the  Society  in  distributing  papers  respect¬ 
ing  the  subjects  of  this  examination  to  most  of  or  all  public 
schools  where  the  Latin  language  is  taught,  in  order  that  the 
principals  of  such  schools  might  make  known  the  subjects  to 
those  boys  who  wish’  to  enter  the  business  of  a  chemist  and 
druggist.  This  would  obviate  a  great  difficulty  of  appren¬ 
tices,  as  they  would  then  be  aware  of  the  classical  examina¬ 
tion  that  they  had  to  undergo  during  their  apprenticeship, 


which  many  'would  pass  before  leaving  school.  I  have  heard 
apprentices  who  are  in  the  trade  say  they  wished  that  they 
had  known  in  their  school  days  that  such  an  examination  was 
compulsory,  as  they  would  have  then  taken  the  opportunity 
of  passing  it  before  leaving  school  instead  of  being  troubled 
with  it  during  their  apprenticeship,  while  they  might  be 
studying  other  subjects  in  order  to  enable  them  to  pass  the 
other  examinations  of  the  Society.  And  I  have  not  the  least 
doubt  that  there  are  numerous  apprentices  in  the  trade  who 
have  not  yet  passed  the  Preliminary  Examination,  but  who 
would  have  been  too  glad  to  have  passed  it  before  leaving 
school  for  their  term  of  apprenticeship,  had  they  known  it 
before.  If  the  Society  would  adopt  the  above  or  some  similar 
plan,  I  think  the  Board  of  Examiners  would  not  only  find  an 
increase  of  successful  candidates  in  the  Preliminary,  but  also 
in  the  Minor  and  Major  Examinations. 

Atherstone,  April  22 nd,  1871.  George  Sant. 


Syrup  op  Phosphate  op  Iron. 

Sir, — In  looking  over  recent  suggestions  as  to  syr.  ferri 
phosph.,  I  notice  a  letter  from  Mr.  Rose  in  the  Journal  of 
the  8th  of  this  month,  commenting  on  a  form  given  by  Mr. 
Carteighe  in  a  previous  number,  and  suggesting  the  addition 
of  more  sugar. 

Mr.  Rose  recommends  that  12  fl.  oz.  should  contain  8|  oz. 
sugar.  Now  Mr.  Carteighe,  in  his  form,  adds  to  the  2  fl.  oz. 
acid  and  water,  containing  the  iron,  10  fl.  oz.  syrup,  which 
contain  8^-  sugar  (if  made  according  to  the  Pharmacopoeia) ; 
therefore  I  cannot  see  any  improvement  in  Mr.  Rose’s  form, 
as  it  takes  the  longer  of  the  two  to  prepare,  and  gives  exactly 
the  same  result  as  Air.  Carteighe’s. 

Hotting  Hill,  April  22nd,  1871.  E.  B.  Starkey. 


Sir, — Desiring  to  make  some  syr.  ferri  phosph.  in  accord¬ 
ance  with  the  formula  proposed  by  Mr.  Carteighe,  and  having 
no  phosphoric  acid  of  the  required  strength,  I  determined  to 
repare  a  quantity  from  some  glacial  phosphoric  acid  which 
had  in  sticks.  The  necessary  amount  was  dissolved  in  a 
composition  evaporating  basin,  and  the  solution  heated  until 
it  ceased  to  give  a  precipitate  with  solution  of  albumen,  and 
afforded  the  necessary  reactions  with  the  ammonio-nitrate  of 
silver  test ;  it  was  then  evaporated  to  the  sp.  gr.  P500.  Freshly 
precipitated  ferrous  phosphate  treated  in  the  prescribed  man¬ 
ner,  became  dissolved  in  a  few  seconds,  but  (the  solution) 
became  quite  milky  on  dilution  with  water,  or  syrup;  an  older 
sample  of  phosphate  was  only  dissolved  in  part,  a  white-look¬ 
ing  compound  remaining  insoluble,  and  on  filtration,  the  clear 
filtrate  behaved  in  a  like  manner,  when  similarly  treated.  If 
any  of  your  correspondents  could  inform  me  as  to  what  was 
the  probable  change  the  acid  had  undergone,  which  is  not 
indicated  by  the  ordinary  reagents,  they  would  help  me  out 
of  a  difficulty. 

London,  April  22nd,  1871.  Aliquis. 


The  Sale  of  Poisons. 

Sir, — Allow  me  to  inquire,  through  the  medium  of  your 
Journal,  if  the  trade  generally  are  aware  that  tinefc.  opii  is 
frequently  retailed  from  small  village  shops  (not  registered) 
as  narcotic  tincture,  opiated  tincture,  etc.,  and  supplied  to 
them  by  many  who  call  themselves  leading  chemists  ?  I  know 
instances  where  pharmaceutical  chemists  have  even  done  this. 
Is  it  fair  play  to  those  young  men  who  study  for  months  to¬ 
gether  to  pass  the  required  examination,  for  them  to  find 
that  a  complete  novice  can  sell  the  same  poison  under  a 
different  nomenclature?  If  this  is  to  continue,  what  benefit 
has  the  registered  chemist  over  the  shopkeeper  as  to  the  sale 
of  prohibited  drugs  ? 

Grantham.  April  21st,  1871.  A.  P.  S. 


Jury  Service. 

Sir, — As  the  time  is  drawing  very  near  when  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society  will  hold  its  annual  meeting,  may  I  again 
trouble  you  for  space  to  suggest  to  our  Council  the  desirable¬ 
ness  of  recommending  to  the  Privy  Council  a  regulation 
which  would  tend  much  more  to  the  safety  of  the  public  than 
poison  cupboards,  keys,  etc.  i.  e.  “  That  all  chemists  on  the 
Register  be  exempt  from  serving  on  juries.”  Indeed  Dickens, 
in  his  trial  of  Pickwick,  puts  the  reasonableness  of  the^  sug¬ 
gestion  very  clearly  before  the  public,  where  he  says  “  The 
chemist  on  being  summoned  to  the  trial  as  a  juryman  begged 


880 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[April  29,  1871. 


off,  on  the  plea  that  he  had  only  a  boy  to  mind  the  shop, 
who  did  not  know  Epsom  salts  from  oxalic  acid.” 

I  do  not  think  it  fair  that  a  man  should  be  compelled  to 
leave  his  business,  when  upon  the  proper  fulfilment  of  his 
own  duties  in  that  business  depends  the  safety  of  many  lives, 
or  even  the  ruin  of  his  business. 

Manchester,  April  22nd,  1871.  W.  B.  O. 


A  Proposal  to  Enforce  Early  Closing. 

Sir, — May  I  ask  you  to  be  good  enough  to  spare  me  a  small 
space  to  bring  before  the  members  of  the  profession  a  subject 
which  has  appeared  several  times  before  in  this  .Journal,  but 
unfortunately  no  person,  having  any  amount  of  influence 
over  the  profession,  having  taken  it  up,  it  was  allowed  to 
drop  as  an  impossibility  r1  It  is  that  of  early  closing.  Now 
that  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  requires  so  much  scientific 
as  well  as  practical  knowledge,  there  ought  to  be  some  mea¬ 
sures  taken  to  enforce  early  closing,  that  assistants  and 
apprentices  (more  especially  in  Town)  might  have  an  oppor¬ 
tunity  of  preparing  themselves  for  the  requisite  examinations. 
I  think  as  the  Council  have  the  power  to  revise  and  amend 
the  laws,  etc.  relating  to  pharmacy,  they  might  make  an  addi¬ 
tion  to  the  new  Act  of  1888,  very  advantageous  to  the  rising 
generation  of  pharmacists.  If  I  might  be  permitted  to  sug¬ 
gest  the  following  addendum,  to  be  made  to  the  eighth  clause 
of  the  Pharmacy  Act  1868,  15  &  16  Yict.  c.  Ivi.,  I  am  sure  it 
would  be  hailed  with  delight  by  all  young  persons  engaged 
in  the  metropolis ;  some  such  words  as  the  following  might  be 
used  : — “And  to  enable  persons  to  attain  the  necessary  quali¬ 
fications,  all  persons  in  Great  Britain  practising  as  denoted 
in  clause  3  of  the  Pharmacy  Act  1868,  31  &  32  Yict.  c.  xxi., 

shall,  after  the - day  of - 1871,  close  their  shops,  or 

cause  them  to  be  closed,  and  shall  suspend  business  entirely 
(except  in  case  of  urgent  medicine  being  required,  which,  of 
course,  some  person  must  be  at  home  to  attend  to)  at  eight 
o’clock,  f.m.,  and  no  persons  in  their  employ  shall  be  detained 
after  that  time,  but  shall  be  allowed  to  study  or  otherwise 
make  use  of  their  time,  neither  shall  they  be  employed  more 
than  twelve  hours  in  each  day,  including  an  hour  and  a  half 
for  meals:  in  violation  of  this  law  such  persons  to  be  fined 
such  sum  as  the  Council  may  think  fit.”  I  can  safely  say 
that  if  the  Council  would  give  this  matter  their  consideration, 
a  material  difference  would  be  seen  in  the  attendance  by  mem¬ 
bers,  etc.  at  the  various  meetings  of  the  Society,  and  Mr. 
Haselden,  Y.P.,  would  no  longer  have  to  complain  of  the 
poorly  attended  meetings-  The  Society  would  be  remunerated 
by  a  greater  number  of  candidates  presenting  themselves  for 
the  respective  examinations.  I  am  longing  to  see  this  matter 
taken  up  by  some  of  our  influential  members. 

Aspirant  to  the  “Major  Qualification.” 


The  Fraternity  of  the  Profession. 

Sir, — Now  that  the  poison  regulations  question  is  fairly  on 
its  way  to  an  end,  I  think  the  Council  would  do  well  by 
endeavouring  to  infuse  a  more  fraternal  spirit  amongst  the 
whole  body  of  chemists.  Without  the  exception  of  any  other 
profession,  we  are,  I  think,  the  most  jealous  of  each'  other, 
whereas  it  should  be  quite  the  reverse  of  this ;  for  surely  an 
educated  chemist  ought  by  virtue  of  his  education,  apart 
from  even  any  higher  motive,  to  be  above  such  behaviour  as 
is  too  often  shown  to-wards  those  of  the  same  calling. 

I  had  occasion  some  few  days  since  to  visit  one  of  these 
brethren,  wishing  to  obtain  from  him  a  small  quantity  of 
chloral  hydrate.  I  asked  for  half  a  drachm,  and,  having 
omitted  taking  a  bottle,  I  requested  that  I  might  be  fur¬ 
nished  with  one.  This  was  done  by  supplying  a  one-ounce 
wide-moutli  stoppered  one.  I  then  asked  the  price  of  the 
whole,  and  was  told  one  shilling.  Note,  this  price  was  to 
pne  of  the  profession;  what  it  would  have  been  to  the  public 
it  is  impossible  to  say ;  but  I  think  there  are  few  London 
establishments  where  more  would  have  been  charged  in  the 
retail. 

Y  hile  such  ill-feeling  as  this  exists  amongst  us,  we  cannot 
expect  the  cause  of  pharmacy  to  make  much  advancement ; 
but  were  we  more  friendly  towards  each  other,  and  tried  to 
facilitate  each  other’s  “  common  interest  ”  (even  if  nothing 
more)  in  everything  pertaining  to  the  profession,  with  such 
a  union  -we  should 'possess  strength. 

Bloxham,  April  11  th,  1871.  J.  T.  Newey. 


A  Queer  Customer. 

Sir, — As  I  think  the  enclosed  might  contribute  to  amuse 
your  readers,  I  hope  you  will  give  it  a  place  when  there 
is  a  spare  corner  in  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal.  You 
see  it  is  indited  on  elegant  tinted  paper,  and  it  was  pre¬ 
sented  by  a  small  boy  at  my  counter  with  the  modest  accom¬ 
paniment  of  Id.  to  pay  for  its  prescribing  and  dispensing. 

Marlow,  April  19 th,  1871.  Charles  M.  Foottit. 

“if  yow  plees  will  you  send  me  soom  iwas 
porely  for  three  days  no  it  stopt  iam  in  such 
pain  in  my  belley  and  stomek  aged  48 
willam  ilowers 
cookham 
deen” 


Cautions. 

Sir, — The  communication  in  your  J ournal  of  the  22nd  inst. 
from  Mr.  Eve  respecting  a  person  who  calls  himself  Fischer, 
recalls  a  slight  personal  experience  of  my  own.  Many  months 
ago  Mr.  Fischer  called  upon  me  in  a  town  quite  remote  from 
London,  and  begged  for  money  to  enable  him  to  travel  a 
stage  further,  using  the  names  of  scientific  chemists  in  the 
north  of  England  with  much  freedom. 

Mr.  Eve’s  letter  convinces  me  that  anything  which  I  gave 
him  was  badly  bestowed,  and  that  it  will  be  well  for  the 
future  that  our  body  should  be  relieved  from  Mr.  Fischer’s 
importunities.  F.  C.  S. 


Sir, — In  your  issue  of  March  18th,  I  saw  advertised  a 
literal  translation  of  the  first  book  of  ‘  Caesar’s  Commenta¬ 
ries  ’  at  the  price  of  2s.  6 cl.,  to  apply  to  “  Casticus,”  General 
Post  Office,  Birmingham.  Being  an  apprentice  studying  for 
the  Preliminary  Examination,  I  applied  for  the  translation, 
enclosing  thirty-one  stamps.  Not  having  received  a  reply,  I 
wrote  to  inquire  the  cause,  and  have  never  yet  received  a 
reply,  neither  in  the  shape  of  book  or  otherwise.  I  should 
be  very  much  obliged  to  you  if  you  would  furnish  me  with  the 
proper  name  and  address  of  the  advertiser,  as  I  think  it  very 
hard  indeed  for  young  apprentices  as  myself,  anxious  to 
acquire  knowledge  and  to  “get  on ”  in  the  pharmaceutical 
profession,  to  forfeit  our  money  to  unprincipled  persons,  in  the 
attempt  to  get  books  for  the  furtherance  of  our  knowledge. 

I  enclose  stamped  and  directed  envelope  for  reply. 

M.  Leigh. 

[***  In  reference  to  this  communication,  we  are  informed 
by  the  Publishers  that  they  are  unable  to  comply  with  our 
correspondent’s  request  to  be  furnished  with  the  proper  name 
and  address  of  the  advertiser,  the  order  for  the  advertisement 
being  only  dated  “Birmingham.”  It  is  just  possible  that  it 
is  bond  fide,  but  it  is  more  probable  that  it  is  a  swindle,  so  we 
insert  our  correspondent’s  letter  in  order  to  prevent,  as  far 
as  possible,  any  further  mischief  being  done. — Eh.  Pharm. 
Journ.]  _ 

“  Inquirer .” — Apply  at  Apothecaries’  Hall. 

“ Boiler  Composition .” — Boiler  incrustation  generally  con¬ 
sists  of  the  carbonate  and  sulphate  of  lime  contained  in  the 
water  used  for  generating  steam. 

J.  T.  Bobertson. — We  are  informed  that  Mr.  Gerrard’s  im¬ 
proved  suppository  mould  may  be  obtained  from  Mr.  Mather, 
of  Newgate  Street.  The  prices  are  for  six,  5s.;  twelve,  13s.; 
twenty-four,  32s.  each. 

W.  J. — We  have  no  means  for  furnishing  formulae  of  pro¬ 
prietary  articles. 

T.  S.  Johnson. — Our  correspondent  was  in  error.  It  is 
unnecessary  to  label  the  medicine  “poison,”  provided  the  for¬ 
mula  be  copied  in  a  book. 

G-.  Adams. — You  would  be  right  in  using  the  preparation 
of  the  London  Pharmacopoeia. 

“July.” — Certificates  cannot  be  issued  from  the  office  in 
an  imperfect  state. 

“An  Inquirer.” — We  have  no  knowledge  of  any  such  Bill 
having  been  introduced. 


Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  G.  Adams,  Mr.  M.  C.  Cooke,  Mr.  F.  Thompson,  Mr. 
H.  J.  Baildon,  Mr.  R.  Hedley,  the  Secretary  of  the  Liverpool 
Chemists’  Association,  W.  R.,  J.  T.  C.,  S.  G.  M.,  “  Guaco,” 
“Scoticus,5"  “'Inquirer,”  “  Southsea,”  “Pro  Bono  Publico.” 
We  have  also  received  communications  from  “Spcs,”  “  Er¬ 
rata,”  and  E.  B.,  in  which  the  requirements  as  to  anonymous, 
letters  have  not  been  complied  with. 


i  May  6, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


881 


PARCHMENT  PAPER  AS  A  FILTERING 

MEDIUM. 

BY  CHARLES  R.  C.  TICHBORNE,  F.C.S.,  ETC. 

Tke  Bunsen  filter  is  now  well  known  and  familiar 
to  most  manipulators.  It  merely  consists  of  a  funnel 
and  filter  connected  with  an  air-tiglit  vessel,  in  the 
interior  of  which  a  partial  vacuum  can  be  produced, 
either  by  a  Sprengel  or  ordinary  air  pump ;  in  fact, 
by  any  contrivance  by  which  a  downward  pressure 
of  some  considerable  power  is  exerted  upon  the  fluid 
washing  some  precipitate,  or  upon  a  liquid  it  is 
desirable  to  filter  quickly. 

To  give  us  the  opportunity  of  doing  this  properly, 
it  is  necessary  to  have  a  nicely  prepared  support 
beneath  the  nozzle  of  the  filter,  to  enable  it  to  bear 
the  considerable  pressure  to  which  it  is  exposed ; 
the  nozzle  of  the  filter  being  the  point  of  weakness. 
This  is  generally  done  by  very  carefully  forming  a 
little  cone  of  platinum  foil,  which  must  exactly  fit 
the  bend  of  the  funnel.  If  the  fit  is  not  perfect,  it 
generally  results  in  the  breaking  of  the  filter  and 
the  failure  of  the  experiment.  This  is  at  once  ob¬ 
viated,  and  the  platinum  nozzle  dispensed  with,  by 
using  parchment  paper  as  a  filter.  Parchment  paper 
bears,  under  such  circumstances,  any  reasonable 
pressure ;  and  yet  it  is  a  perfect  filtering  medium. 
As  regards  the  strength,  Dr.  Hofmann  sa}rs  that  it 
becomes  five  times  as  strong  as  the  paper  before  it 
is  parclimentized ;  and  I  think  that,  when  speaking 
of  moist  bibulous  paper,  it  is  no  exaggeration  to  say 
its  strength  is  increased  at  least  twenty  times. 

In  making  the  parchment  paper  for  this  purpose, 
the  following  method  should  be  adopted.  It  differs 
very  little  from  the  ordinary  one,  except  as  regards  a 
few  precautions  : — I  use  one  part  of  pure  sulphuric 
acid  and  one -half  part  of  distilled  water  well  mixed 
in  a  dish  or  shallow  vessel.  Where  practical,  this 
mixture  should  be  ice  cold,  and  under  no  circum¬ 
stances  must  it  be  used  while  it  is  warm.  Pieces  of 
Swedish  filtering-paper  should  then  be  dexterously 
floated  upon  the  acid,  so  as  to  bring  every  particle  of 
the  surface  in  contact  with  it.  But  it  is  not  neces¬ 
sary  to  parclimentize  both  sides.  The  next  point  of 
importance  after  the  cooling  of  the  acid  mixture  is 
the  quickness  used  in  the  washing,  which  must  be 
thorough. 

This  paper,  which  has  proved  itself  so  useful  to 
us  for  dialytic  purposes,  forms  the  most  perfect  fil¬ 
tering  medium,  if  properly  managed,  with  which  I 
am  acquainted.  Although,  under  ordinary  circum¬ 
stances,  it  is  nearly  impervious  to  fluids,  they  pass 
through  with  perfect  facility  under  pressure.  The 
structural  change  produced  by  sulphuric  acid  upon 
cellulose  is  the  converse  of  most  of  the  other  acids. 
Thus  in  paper  converted  into  pyroxylene  by  the 
action  of  nitric  acid  the  fibres  are  seen,  when  ex¬ 
amined  with  the  microscope,  to  be  more  or  less  con¬ 
tracted,  and  the  result  is  a  non- contiguous,  or  friable 
structure,  covered  with  small  holes ;  but  in  parch- 
mentized  paper  the  fibres  are  swelled  considerably 
in  bulk,  and  are  converted  into  a  colloid  or  gelati¬ 
nous  substance,  which,  although  slowly  pervious  to 
fluids,  is  very  homogeneous  in  texture,  and  hence  its 
strength. 

In  Bunsen’s  original  paper  he  speaks  of  the  diffi¬ 
culty  of  preventing  filaments  of  the  paper  used  from 
becoming  mixed  with  precipitates.  “  Thus,”  he  says, 
“  another  and  an  inestimable  advantage  springs 
from  the  peculiar  condition  of  a  precipitate  filtered 

Third  Series,  No.  45. 


by  this  method, — the  surface  of  the  filter  becomes  in¬ 
jured  and  torn,  so  that  the  precipitates  become  mixed 
with  filaments  of  paper.  Gelatinous  precipitates 
(when  washed  under  pressure)  adhere  to  the  filter 
in  a  thin  coherent  layer,  and  may  be  removed  piece 
after  piece  so  completely  that  the  paper  remains 
perfectly  clean  and  white.”  Now  parchment  paper 
is  of  that  nature  that  it  might  be  scraped  with  a 
knife  or  brushed,  without  invalidating  a  quantitative 
analysis. 

Parchment  paper  would  be  perfection  for  filtering 
by  pressure  ;  but,  alas !  it  has  one  drawback.  The 
practical  difficulty  is  in  making  the  filter  lie  close  to 
the  funnel,  so  as  not  to  permit  atmospheric  air  to 
pass  down  by  the  side,  instead  of  exerting  its  pres¬ 
sure  upon  the  surface  of  the  liquid  in  the  filter. 
This  difficulty  is  removed  by  placing  an  inner  filter 
of  ordinary  filtering-paper  larger  than  the  parch¬ 
ment-paper  one  ;  therefore,  the  latter  should  be  thin, 
and  only  treated  with  acid  on  one  side.  It  is  from 
this  reason  that  parchment  paper  may  be  used  more 
advantageously  in  a  Bunsen  filtering-apparatus  made 
on  the  principle  of  a  percolator — the  bottoms  of  the 
upper  vessel  being  covered  with  good  strong  paper, 
strengthened  with  muslin ;  such  an  apparatus  as 
this  is  applicable  to  many  purposes,  such  as  quick 
and  thorough  exhaustion  of  a  powder  by  any  men¬ 
struum,  or  the  separation  of  crystals  from  a  viscid 
liquid. 

BRISTOL  PHARMACOLOGY. 

BY  W.  W.  STODDART,  F.C.S.,  F.G.S. 

( Continued  from  page  843.) 

Nat.  Ord.  Valeri  an  Acer. 

This  is  another  very  singular  Order  of  plants, 
most  of  them  having  an  extremely  powerful  odour, 
which  is  due  to  an  extraordinary  series  of  chemical 
products. 

Valeriana  officinalis  (Linn.). 

This  attractive  plant  is  found  growing  in  moist 
places.  It  is  found  in  the  Leigh  Woods,  Lock’s 
Mills,  Bedminster,  Baptist  Mills  and  on  the  banks 
of  the  Avon.  The  pink  flowers  are  very  conspicuous 
among  the  grasses  and  sedges  of  the  water’s  edge. 
The  leaves  are  used  by  the  country  people,  under  the 
name  of  Allheal,  as  a  cooling  application  to  whitlows 
and  boils. 

The  roots  (or  rather  rhizomes,  from  which  spring 
fibrous  roots)  are  a  yellowish-wliite,  becoming  brown 
when  dry.  They  contain  0  per  cent,  of  resin  and 

per  cent,  of  a  volatile  oil. 

The  essential  oil  of  valerian  is  yellowish- green, 
having  a  strong  odour  of  the  plant,  an  acid  reaction 
and  a  sp.  gr.  0  0.  It  consists  of  70  per  cent,  of 
valerol  (C6H10O),  which  is  a  crystalline  principle, 
easily  changing  into  valerianic  acid  by  the  absorp¬ 
tion  of  oxygen.  The  other  constituent  is  borneine 
(C10H16)  a  liquid  hydrocarbon  isomeric  with  oil  of 
turpentine.  The  valerianic  acid  (C5H10O2)  is,  how¬ 
ever,  the  most  important  to  the  chemist. 

It  is  a  colourless,  oily  liquid,  and  was  first  dis¬ 
covered  by  Chevreul  in  the  fat  of  the  dolphin.  It 
occurs  in  the  berries  of  Viburnum  Opulus,  and  is  pro¬ 
duced  whenever  fatty  matters  undergo  oxidation,  or 
albuminous  substances  putrefy,  so  that  it  is  frequently 
present  in  animal  secretions. 


8S2 


TIIE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  6, 1871. 


For  trade  purposes  valerianic  acid  is  generally 
manufactured  by  the  oxidation  of  amylic  alcohol 
(fouscl  oil). 

c5h„ho  +  o2  =  c5h10o2  +  h2o. 

Amylic  Alcohol.  Valerianic  Acid. 

For  experimental  purposes  this  acid  may  be  pro¬ 
duced  by  distilling  valerian  root  with  sulphuric  acid 
and  bichromate  of  potash.  By  this  means,  not  only 
the  acid  naturally  present  in  the  plant  passes  over 
into  the  receiver,  but  also  that  produced  during  the 
operation  by  the  oxidation  of  the  valerol. 

C,HI0O  +  O»  =  C,H10Oa.  +  co2. 

Valerol.  Valerianic  Acid. 

Valerianic  acid  stands  in  exactly  the  same  relation 

»/ 

to  amylic  alcohol  that  acetic  acid  does  to  etliylic 
alcohol  (C2H5HO),  thus, — 


Oil  of  chamomile,  like  that  of  anise,  is  a  com¬ 
pound  of  a  peculiar  substance,  with  a  hydrocarbon 
isomeric  with  oil  of  turpentine  (C10PI16).  The  former 
is  termed  angelic  aldehyde  (C5HsO).  When  oil  of 
chamomile  is  heated  with  dry  hydrate  of  potassium, 
this  aldehyd  is  converted  into  angelic  acid  (C5H302), 
identical  with  that  found  in  the  roots  of  Angelica 
and  Sumbul. 

C5HsO  +  KHO  =  C5H7K02  +  H2. 

Angelic  Angelate  of 

Aldehyd.  Potassium. 

Should  the  heat  used  be  too  strong,  the  angelic 
acid  is  washed  and  decomposed  into  propionic  and 
acetic  acids. 


C5Hs02  +  2H20  =  C2H402  +  C3H602  +  2H. 

Angelic  Acetic  Propionic 

Acid.  Acid.  Acid. 


GsH„no  +  o2  =  c5h]0o2  +  h20. 

Amylic  Alcohol.  Valerianic  Acid. 

and — 

C2U5HO  +  02  =  C2H402  +  h2o. 

Ethylic  Alcohoi.  Acetic  Acid. 

Another  example  showing  the  analogy  is,  that  an 
ether  is  formed  from  the  combination  of  valerianic 
acid  and  the  base  of  amylic  alcohol. 

C8Hn  +  C5H10O2  =  C5Hn,  C5H902  +  H. 

Amyl.  Valerianic  Valerianate  of 

Acid.  Amyl. 

This  product  is  sold  under  the  name  of  oil  of  apples. 

It  will,  therefore,  be  seen  how  extensive  a  series 
of  combinations  may  arise  from  the  constituents  of 
so  simple  a  plant  as  valerian ;  indeed,  far  more  than 
can  be  described  in  a  paper  like  the  present. 

Nat.  Ord.  Composite. 

From  this,  the  most  comprehensive  group  in  the 
vegetable  kingdom,  only  three  English  plants  are 
mentioned  in  our  materia  medica.  It  is  so  named 
because  the  flowers  are  compounded  of  many  smaller 
ones,  enclosed  in  a  calyx-like  assemblage  of  bracts, 
termed  an  involucre.  The  general  properties  of  the 
plants  composing  this  Order  are  tonic,  astringent 
and  carminative. 

Anthemis  nohilis  (Linn.). 

This  well-known  plant  is  found  on  most  of  the 
waste  places  near  Bristol,  as  at  Hanliam,  Crew’s 
ITole,  Fill,  Sea  Mills,  etc. 

It  is  a  common  supposition  among  country  people, 
that  the  more  the  Chamomile  plant  is  trodden,  the 
faster  it  grows.  This  idea  is  made  use  of  by  Shake¬ 
speare  when  speaking  of  the  effects  produced  on  the 
human  constitution  by  an  intemperate  life,  “  For 
though  the  Chamomile  the  more  it  is  trodden  the 
faster  it  grows ;  yet  youth,  the  more  it  is  wasted  the 
sooner  it  wears.” 

Both  the  common,  or  single,  and  the  cultivated,  or 
double,  flowers  are  sold  in  the  shops,  and  although 
the  latter  look  the  more  handsome  and  are  therefore 
often  preferred,  yet  the  single  are  far  more  efficacious, 
because  they  contain  more  essential  oil.  The  oil  is 
found  in  the  disc,  but  in  the  double  flower,  the 
yellow,  tubular,  oil-bearing  florets  of  the  disc,  are 
changed  into  the  barren  white  rays. 

The  two  principal  constituents  of  the  Chamomile 
are  the  volatile  oil  and  bitter  extract.  One  hundred¬ 
weight  of  the  flowers  yields  about  two  ounces  of  oil 
and  forty- eight  poimds  of  extract. 


The  official  extract  is  made  by  evaporating  a  watery 
infusion  to  a  proper  consistence,  and  adding  lifteen 
minims  of  the  essential  oil  to  every  pound  of  flowers 
employed,  to  restore  that  wasted  during  the  process. 

Taraxacum  Dcns-lconis  (DC.). 

This  very  common  and  ubiquitous  plant  has  the 
credit  for  far  more  virtues  than  it  iwobabty  ever 
possessed.  Whether  fresh  or  as  preserved  juice, 
as  an  extract  or  when  actually  torrefied,  it  seems 
all  one  and  the  same,  with  the  same  comprehensive 
attributes  of  a  resolvent,  aperient  and  tonic  ! ! ! 

The  juice  of  the  root  only  is  made  use  of  in  the 
Pharmacopoeia.  When  expressed  in  the  autumn 
months  it  changes  its  milky  colour  to  a  brown,  and 
immediately  coagulates  and  deposits  caoutchouc. 
The  juice  also  contains  taraxacin,  grape  sugar,  gum, 
a  peculiar  resin,  inulin,  and  the  usual  alkaline  and 
earthy  salts.  When  pressed  in  the  spring,  the  juice 
has  a  much  less  percentage  of  solids,  and  is  more 
bitter  from  an  excess  of  taraxacin.  The  latter,  by 
the  action  of  frosts  and  cold  weather,  becomes  con¬ 
verted  into  mannite  and  glucose,  producing  the  well- 
known  sweet  taste  perceptible  when  the  roots  have 
been  gathered  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year. 

The  fresh  roots  yield  about  half  their  weight  of 
juice.  In  the  spring  months,  one  pound  of  extract 
is  afforded  by  eight  or  nine  pounds  of  juice,  while  in 
the  autumn  only  four  pounds  will  yield  that  quan¬ 
tity. 

When  freshly-pressed  taraxacum  juice  is  received 
in  water,  and  heated  to  212°  F.,  resin,  caoutchouc 
and  albumen  separate.  The  filtered  juice,  after  eva¬ 
poration,  yields  crystals  of  taraxacin.  They  are 
slightly  bitter,  melt  easily,  and  are  soluble  in  water, 
alcohol  and  ether.  When  dissolved  in  the  mineral 
acids,  they  do  not  suffer  decomposition.  The  coa- 
gulum  separated  by  the  filter  is  then  exhausted 
with  hot  alcohol,  and  set  aside  for  spontaneous  eva¬ 
poration,  when  the  so-called  resin  is  obtained.  This 
resinous  substance  is  unaltered  by  alkalies  or  nitric 
acid.  Sulphuric  acid  dissolves  it,  forming  a  yellow¬ 
ish  liquid. 

The  dandelion  roots,  roasted  and  mixed  with 
coffee,  are  sold  under  the  name  of  dandelion  coffee, 
but  very  commonly  cliicory  roots,  purchased  in 
Covent  Garden  market,  are  used  as  a  substitute. 
The  so-called  dandelion  cocoa  is  nothing  more  than 
a  mixture  of  ext.  taraxaci  with  soluble  cocoa. 

The  fruit  of  the  taraxacum,  with  its  stipitato 
pappus,  is  an  interesting  object,  forming 

“  The  schoolboy’s  clock  in  every  town.” 


May  G,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


8  S3 


So  beautifully  is  the  seed  balanced,  that  the 
slightest  breeze  carries  it  away  like  a  miniature 
balloon. 

Lactuca  virosa  (Linn.). 

This  plant  does  not  occur  very  plentifully  near 
Bristol,  but  may  be  gathered  on  St.  Vincent’s  rocks 
and  at  Leigh.  Its  usual  height  is  about  two  feet, 
and  it  never  attains  the  size  frequently  seen  in  the 
south-eastern  parts  of  England. 

Bentham  considers  Lactuca  virosa  to  bo  a  Va¬ 
riety  of  L.  Scariola,  only  differing  by  the  leaves 
being  dess  glaucous  and  broader  in  form.  If  this 
opinion  be  correct,  it  would  reconcile  Dr.  Sibtliorp’s 
objection  to  Sprengel’s  assertion,  that  Lactuca  virosa 
was  the  6piba%  aypla  of  Dioscorides.  The  lettuce  is 
common  in  Greece  and  Ital}r,  and  was  undoubtedly 
used  by  the  Romans  as  a  salad  and  medicine.  Ho¬ 
race  (Sat.  2.8)  speaks  of  its  use  as  a  provocative  to 
the  appetite : — 

“  Rapula,  lactucae,  radices;  qualia  lassum 
Perveliunt  stomachura.” 

In  another  place  (Sat.  2.4),  he  says  that  lettuces 
are  indigestible  things  for  the  habitual  drinker,  when 
suffering  from  dyspepsia  and  acidity  : — ■ 

Nam  lactuca  innatat  acri 
Post  vinum  stomaclio.” 


mixed  until  chlorophyll.  One  hundredweight  of  the 
plant  will  produce  from  four  to  five  pounds  of  ex¬ 
tract. 

The  proper  time  for  gathering  the  lettuce  for 
pharmaceutical  use  is  about  the  middle  of  the  time 
of  inflorescence. 

{To  be  continued.) 


DISTILLATION  IN  PARTIAL  VACUO. 

The  vessel  in  which  the  liquid  is  to  be  distilled 
may  be  either  a  flask  or  a  tubulated  retort,  with  a 
narrow  neck  fitting  into  a  large,  tubulated  globe. 
Bend  a  glass  tube  twice  at  right  angles,  pass  the 
short  leg  through  the  tiibulus  of  the  globe,  and 
the  long  leg  by  means  of  an  india-rubber  cork  into 
a  wide  tube  holding  about  100  c.c.,  and  terminating 
in  a  very  narrow  tube  at  least  30  in.  long ;  the 
lower  end  of  tliis  long  tube  to  dip  into  a  mercury 
trough. 

Fit  a  bent  tube  into  the  flask  or  tubulus  of  the  re¬ 
tort,  and  draw  it  out  at  a  point  outside  the  retort ; 
attach  a  carbonic  acid  apparatus  to  this  tube,  and 
pass  carbonic  acid  through  the  apparatus  to  expel 
(  all  atmospheric  air,  or  until  the  gas  escaping  from 
!  the  long  tube  at  the  other  end  is  completely  absorbed 
by  a  solution  of  caustic  potash.  Now  seal  the  tube 
by  which  the  carbonic  acid  entered,  at  the  narrow 


The  lettuce  owes  its  medicinal  virtues  to  the  pre¬ 
sence  of  lactucarium,  or  lettuce  opium,  a  mild  nar¬ 
cotic,  and,  like  its  poppy  congener,  is  a  compound 
of  various  principles.  Its  composition  appears  to 

be, — 


Lactucone . 

Lactucm  and  Lactucic 

Acid . 

Caoutchouc  .  .  . 

Albuminous  substance 
Mannite  .... 
Oxalic  Acid  .  .  . 

Resin,  moisture,  etc. 
Ash . 


48-05 

10-61 

4-70 

7-33 

2-05 

1-00 

14-40 

4-30 


100-00 


Lactucone 


(C,0H61O3)  is 


tained  from  lactucarium  by  boil¬ 
ing  alcohol,  when  it  forms  colour¬ 
less,  insipid  crystals,  which  melt 
between  150°  and  160°.  They  are 
insoluble  in  water,  but  readily  so 
in  alcohol,  ether  and  oil, 

Lactucin  (C22HiS03)  is  a  yel¬ 
lowish,  bitter,  cr}'stalline  substance, 
which  is  not  very  soluble  in  ether, 
but  more  so  in  alcohol  and  acetic 
acid. 

Lactucic  acid  is  a  vellow  amor- 

V 

pilous  substance,  obtained  by  the 
action  of  dilute  sulphuric  acid  on 
lactucarium.  Like  mannite  and 
glucose,  it  reduces  cupric  sulphate. 

The  Lactuca  sativa,  or  garden 
lettuce,  contains  lactucarium,  but 

in  much  less  quantity.  Schultz  ^ _ _ 

says  a  plant  of  L.  sativa  will  yield  17  grains,  while  j  point,  pour  about  100  c.c.  of  caustic  potash  lye  on 
one  of  L.  virosa  will  yield  50  grains.  the  mercury,  and  lower  the  trough  until  the  tube 

Extractum  lactucre  consists  chiefly  of  lactucarium  dips  into  the  lye. 


834 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  6, 1871. 


Gently  warm  tlie  globe,  to  expel  a  few  gas  bub¬ 
bles;  on  cooling,  the  potash  solution  will  rise  to  the 
widened  part  of  the  tube,  after  which  the  trough 
must  be  raised  so  that  the  tube  dips  into  the  mer¬ 
cury. 

The  absorption  of  the  carbonic  acid  by  potash  pro¬ 
duces  a  partial  vacuum,  indicated  by  the  rise  of 
mercury  in  the  long  tube,  which  at  the  same  time 
shows  that  all  the  joints  are  air-tight. 

The  column  of  mercury  must  remain  stationary 
for  some  time  at  a  height  of  15  in.  above  the  surface 
of  the  mercury  in  the  trough,  when  the  liquid  in  the 
retort  will  be  under  a  pressure  of  only  half  an  atmo¬ 
sphere. 

Then  heat  the  retort  and  well  cool  the  globe. 

The  use  of  an  air-pump  supersedes  the  potash 
apparatus.  A  T  tube  is  introduced  instead,  one  leg 
of  which  is  connected  with  the  air-pump,  to  draw 
out  the  air  before  and  after  the  distillation,  the 
second  leg  connects  the  globe,  and  the  third  is  at¬ 
tached  to  a  long  tube  dipping  into  mercury. 

The  success  of  the  operation  entirely  depends 
upon  the  absolute  perfection  of  the  joints,  for  which 
india-rubber  is  the  best  material.  Vulcanized  corks 
and  tubes  are  first  boiled  in  a  weak  solution  of 
caustic  soda,  they  are  then  well  dried  and  immersed 
in  molten  tallow  ;  after  several  hours  they  are  taken 
out  and  well  cleaned  with  a  cloth.  Corks  and  tubes 
thus  prepared  make  perfectly  air-tight  joints,  they 
do  not  become  hard  and  brittle,  but  preserve  their 
elasticity.  India-rubber  melts  at  about  150°  C. 
(302°  F.).  In  case  the  heat  applied  during  the  dis¬ 
tillation  exceeds  this  temperature,  the  connection  at 
the  tubulus  of  the  retort  must  be  made  with  a  sound 
cork,  which  is  made  air-tight  by  soaking  it  in  molten 
wax  or  paraffin,  and  by  painting  a  solution  of  caout¬ 
chouc  in  chloroform  over  the  part  above  the  tubulus. 

Many  organic  substances,  partially  decomposed 
by  distillation  under  ordinary  pressure,  such  as 
glycerine,  may  be  volatilized  without  decomposition, 
provided  the  receiver  is  well  cooled  to  prevent  the 
tension  of  the  vapours  from  exerting  any  pressure. — 
Commentar  znr  osterreichisclien  Pharmacopce. 


Cpgtors  for  ^fohnfs. 

CHEMICAL  NOTES  TO  THE  PHARMACOPOEIA. 

BY  WILLIAM  A.  TILDEN,  B.SC.  LOND. 

DEMONSTRATOR  OF  PRACTICAL  CHEMISTRY  TO  THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 

Ferri  Sulphas  Exsiccata. — FeS04H20. 

Sulphate  of  iron  dried  at  a  temperature  which  is 
gradually  raised  to  400°,  loses  six  out  of  the  seven 
molecules  of  water  which  it  contains.  This  last 
molecule  is  only  expelled  by  a  much  stronger  heat ; 
but  if  a  solution  of  the  salt  be  mixed  with  sulphate 
ot  potassium  or  ammonium,  a  double  salt  is  produced 
in  which  the  alkali  sulphate  replaces  this  seventh 
molecule  of  water. 

Thus  FeS04,  K2S04,  GH„0.  The  sulphates  of 
magnesium,  zinc  and  copper  form  double  compounds 
of  a  similar  formula.  Heated  to  redness,  sulphate 
of  iron  leaves  a  residue  of  red  ferric  oxide,  Fe2  03. 

Ferri  Sulphas  Granulata.— A  solution  of  freshly 
prepared  sulphate  of  iron  is  filtered  into  rectified 
spirit.  The  salt  being  insoluble  in  spirit  is  precipi¬ 
tated  in  small  granular  crystals.  Some  experiments 


made  by  a  student  in  the  laboratory  of  tlie  Society 
showed  that  this  preparation  is  of  the  same  composi¬ 
tion  as  the  ordinary  sulphate  of  iron,  having  lost 
none  of  its  water  of  crystallization.  It  is  supposed 
to  resist  oxidation  longer  than  the  crystallized  salt. 
To  retard  such  change,  it  has  been  recommended  to 
keep  in  the  bottle  containing  sulphate  of  iron  a  small 
piece  of  camphor  wrapped  in  paper. 

Ferrum. —  [§Wrought  iron  in  the  form  of  wire  or 
nails  free  from  oxide.] 

Chemically  pure  iron  is  almost  unknown.  The 
Pharmacopoeia  orders  wrought  iron  to  be  employed 
for  preparing  the  ferruginous  compounds,  because  in 
that  form  it  is  practically  least  contaminated  with 
foreign  substances.  The  impurities  contained  in  iron 
wire  are  chiefly  minute  quantities  of  carbon  (average 
•3  per  cent.),  silicon,  phosphorus  and  sulphur.  When 
ordinary  iron  is  dissolved  in  dilute  hydrochloric  or 
sulphuric  acid,  the  evolved  hydrogen  possesses  ail 
odour  which  is  due  to  the  presence  in  it  of  minute 
quantities  of  the  hydrogen  compounds  of  these  ele¬ 
ments.  A  small  quantity  of  carbon  also  floats  un¬ 
dissolved.  This  is  much  more  noticeable  when  cast 
iron  is  used.  Other  substances  are  usually  present, 
but  in  proportions  smaller  still,  and  interfere  in  no 
way  with  the  employment  of  the  iron  for  pharma¬ 
ceutic  purposes. 

Iron  filings  are  objectionable,  as  they  are  not  only 
usually  very  dirty,  but  contain  particles  of  other 
metals. 

Ferrum  Redactum. —  [§  Metallic  iron,  with  a  va¬ 
riable  amount  of  magnetic  oxide  of  iron.] 

Hydrated  peroxide  of  iron  contained  in  a  gun- 
barrel  is  heated  to  redness  in  a  current  of  pure  and 
dry  hydrogen  gas.  The  greater  part  of  the  iron  is 
thus  reduced  to  the  metallic  state : — 

Fe203,  HoO  +  3H2=:  Fe2  -f  3H20  +  H20 

A  small  quantity  of  it,  however,  does  not  lose  the 
whole  of  its  oxygen,  and  thus  a  certain  proportion  of 
magnetic  oxide  of  iron  is  retained  in  the  product. 

3  Fe2  03,  H2  O  +  H2  =  2  Fe3  04  +  H20  +  3H20 

At  the  end  of  the  process,  the  current  of  hydrogen 
is  continued  until  the  tube  is  cold.  If  exposed  to 
the  air  whilst  still  hot,  the  pulverulent  iron  becomes 
red-hot  from  the  rapid  reabsorption  of  oxygen,  and 
the  product  is  spoiled. 

[§  A  fine  greyish-black  powder,  strongly  attracted 
by  the  magnet,  and  exhibiting  metallic  streaks  when 
rubbed  with  firm  pressure  in  a  mortar.  It  dissolves 
in  hydrochloric  acid  with  the  evolution  of  hydrogen.] 
This  hydrogen  should  be  odourless,  that  is,  free  from 
sulphuretted  hydrogen,  the  evolution  of  winch  indi¬ 
cates  the  presence  of  a  little  sulphide.  “  As  the  hy¬ 
drated  peroxide  of  iron  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  is  made 
by  precipitation  from  a  solution  of  persulphate  of 
iron  with  caustic  soda,  this,  as  produced  by  manu¬ 
facturers,  generally  retains  a  small  portion  of  sul¬ 
phate,  which  is  not  completely  washed  out  in  the 
process,  and  this  sulphate  is  afterwards  reduced  to 
sulphide  by  the  hydrogen  during  the  conversion  of 
the  oxide  to  reduced  iron.  Tlie  liability  to  such  a 
result  would  be  obviated  if  the  oxide  used  in  the 
process  were  directed  to  be  obtained  from  chloride  of 
iron  by  precipitation  with  ammonia.” — Redwood. 

Strong  ignition  of  the  oxide  before  use  would  also 
probably  effect  the  same  object. 

[§  10  grains  added  to  an  aqueous  solution  of  50 
grains  of  iodine  and  50  grains  of  iodide  of  potassium, 


May  6, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


885 


anti  digested  in  a  small  flask  at  a  gentle  lieat,  leave 
not  more  than  5  grains  undissolved,  which  should  be 
entirely  soluble  in  hydrochloric  acid.]  This  residue 
unacted  upon  by  the  iodine  is,  of  course,  the  oxide 
which  is  present,  the  metallic  iron  being  removed  in 
solution  in  the  form  of  iodide. 

Ferrum  Tartaratum  (see  Ferri  et  Ammon.  Cit. 
and  Ferri  et  Quixje  Cit.). — The  tartarated  iron  is 
generally  recognizable  by  its  deep  colour  and  sweet¬ 
ish  taste.  The  tests  indicated  in  the  Pharmacopoeia 
are  intended  to  show  that  it  is  free  from  ammonia, 
that  it  is  made  from  cream  of  tartar,  and  that  it 
contains  a  due  proportion  of  iron,  viz.  30  per  cent, 
of  the  peroxide.. 

KOUMISS. 

BY  VICTOR  JAGIELSKI,  M.D. 

{Concluded  from  page  865.) 

The  fermentation  which  milk  undergoes  by  the  pro¬ 
cess  which  converts  it  into  koumiss,  presents  many 
differences  from  those  changes  induced  in  milk  by 
the  ordinary  methods  of  souring  and  curdling  it,  such  as 
exposure  to  air  and  heat,  addition  of  acids  or  rennet, 
.etc.  In  all  these  cases  lactic  acid  is  formed ;  but  in  the 
fermentation  process  for  koumiss,  that  product  is  accom¬ 
panied  with  other  derivatives  of  the  milk  which  impart 
a  peculiar  character,  physical  as  well  as  chemical.  This 
character  not  only  distinguishes  the  fresh  koumiss,  but 
pushes  it  on,  under  the  influence  of  time,  into  further 
changes,  which  are  not  common  to  milk  under  ordinary 
circumstances.  According  to  With,  Stahlberg,  Hartier, 
and,  more  recently,  Weinberg,  koumiss  is  composed  of 
alcohol ',  lactic  acid ,  sugar,  finely  divided  caseine ,  fat,  salts, 
carbonic  acid  and  water .  This  composition  represents  the 
mare’s  milk  (koumiss)  in  its  fresh  or  No.  1  state.  After 
having  been  in  bottle  for  from  five  to  ten  days,  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  temperature  of  the  atmosphere,  it  has  changed 
by  progressive  fermentation  into  koumiss  No.  2.  This 
latter  differs  chemically  from  the  former  in  containing 
more  alcohol  and  carbonic  acid,  but  less  of  solid  matters. 
At  the  same  time,  its  external  or  physical  character  has 
perceptibly  changed,  for  it  is  homogeneous  when  well 
shaken  and  sparkles  like  champagne.  It  is  also  more 
acidulous  than  sweet,  owing  to  the  development  of  traces 
of  acetic  acid.  By  further  age  it  becomes  spontaneously 
No.  3 ;  and  this  modification  not  only  contains  all  the 
elements  of  the  koumiss  Nos.  1  and  2,  but  more  or  less 
butyric  acid,  succinic  acid,  acetic  acid,  and  glycerine  in 
addition.  The  proportion  of  alcohol  and  carbonic  acid, 
moreover,  has  largely  risen  at  the  expense  of  the  solid 
constituents.  This  koumiss  is  also  more  acidulous  and 
sparkling  than  even  No.  2,  and  rushes  through  the  top  of 
the  bottle  as  a  rich  foaming  liquor.  It  will  be  observed, 
then,  that  the  fermentation  progresses  with  age,  and  also 
that  the  older  a  koumiss  becomes,  the  higher  rises  its 
proportion  of  alcohol  and  carbonic  acid,  and  the  lower 
falls  its  amount  of  solid  matters. 

Cow’s  milk  koumiss  should  be  made  to  correspond  in 
composition  with  that  from  mare’s  milk  ;  nevertheless  it 
is  sometimes  necessary  to  make  different  modifications  to 
suit  the  varying  exigencies  of  disease  and  personal  idio¬ 
syncrasy.  This,  of  course,  requires  a  certain  chemical 
knowledge  and  skill  which  will  give  thick  koumiss, 
skimmed  koumiss,  whey  koumiss,  diabetic  koumiss,  me¬ 
dicated  koumiss,  or  any  other  modification  that  may  be 
desired. 

According  to  Morfit,  the  koumiss  No.  2,  from  cow’s 
milk,  contains  traces  in  variable  degree  of  certain  fra¬ 
grant  compounds,  to  which  it  may  owe  its  character  of  a 
delicious  beverage.  These,  he  supposes,  are  generated 
from  the  volatile  elements  of  the  fat  under  the  influence 
of  the  fermenting  action  and  of  the  strong  gaseous  pres- 
surc  in  the  bottle.  There  arc  other  original  and  sug¬ 


gestive  views  by  this  able  chemist  upon  the  relations  of 
koumiss,  and  as  they  tend  to  confirm  my  own  observa¬ 
tions,  I  propose  to  make  them  the  subject  in  part  of  a 
more  scientific  paper  at  some  future  leisure. 

Mare's  milk  koumiss  runs  through  the  transition  state 
of  No.  2  much  more  quickly  than  the  koumiss  from 
cow’s  milk.  It  is  also  more  acid  in  the  No.  3  state,  and 
preliminary  to  its  decay  assumes  a  bitter  taste.  This 
bitter  taste  differs  from  the  slight  bitter  of  No.  3,  cow’s 
milk  koumiss,  which  is  a  pleasant  peculiarity  and  not  a 
sign  of  approaching  decay.  All  the  different  numbers 
have  the  colour  and  appearance  of  milk,  and  it  should  be 
noted  here,  that  the  cow’s  milk  koumiss  is  a  most  agree¬ 
able  beverage  throughout. 

Koumiss,  unlike  milk,  agrees  well  with  the  feeblest 
stomach ;  and  the  molecular  condition  of  its  butter  and 
caseine,  together  with  the  presence  of  lactic  acid  and 
other  aids  to  digestion,  render  it  the  type  of  assimilable 
nutriments. 

The  foregoing  description  applies  equally  to  the  mare’s 
milk  koumiss  of  the  steppes  and  the  cow’s  milk  koumiss 
of  this  country,  with  the  differences  noted.  This  latter, 
or  cow’s  milk  koumiss,  as  made  on  the  Continent,  does 
not  retain  its  soundness  so  long,  and,  moreover,  is  not  so 
agreeable  to  the  taste. 

The  next  point  in  sequence  is  the  physiological  rela¬ 
tions  of  koumiss :  but  to  elucidate  these  would  require 
more  space  than  the  limits  of  this  paper  allow.  I  will, 
however,  embrace  the  general  physiology  of  the  subject 
in  the  remarks  which  I  am  about  to  make  upon  its 
therapeutics.  Moreover,  I  have  already  discussed  the 
special  physiology  of  the  several  constituents  of  koumiss 
in  my  treatise  of  the  last  year. 

The  high  reputation  of  koumiss  on  the  Continent  has 
been  fully  confirmed  in  my  own  private  practice  and 
that  of  my  professional  brethren  who  have  used  it.  With 
its  aid,  I  have  been  able  to  treat  certain  diseases  with 
gratifying  results  to  both  patient  and  physician.  Most 
remarkable  benefit  is  obtained  by  its  use  in  all  those 
complaints  arising  from  feeble  digestion,  whether  caused 
by  impoverishment  of  the  gastric  juice  or  catarrhal  com¬ 
plications,  in  nervous  irritation  and  in  the  different 
phases  of  dyspepsia.  Although  the  general  properties 
correspond  throughout  the  three  numbers,  the  chemical 
and  physical  modifications  which  make  the  differences 
between  them,  give  to  each,  in  addition,  a  special  cha¬ 
racter,  and  by  this  character  it  is  adapted  for  special 
cases.  In  like  manner  these  special  koumisses,  which 
are  designated  severally  as  thick,  skimmed,  whey,  and 
diabetes  koumiss,  are  modifications  prepared  to  suit  par¬ 
ticular  diseases. 

In  commencing  the  koumiss  treatment,  the  physician 
must  judiciously  consider  the  condition  of  his  patient, 
and  regulate  the  use  of  this  remedy  accordingly.  If 
debility  be  so  great  that  the  patient  must  keep  in  bed, 
then  the  koumiss  is  to  be  given  only  in  very  small  quan¬ 
tities  at  short  intervals,  that  is,  about  an  ounce  every 
hour.  In  such  case  it  is  necessary,  and  indeed  in  all 
cases  it  will  be  better,  to  restrict  the  diet  solely,  to  this 
beverage  for  a  period.  The  power  of  assimilation  will 
improve  gradually,  and  sometimes  even  rapidly,  and  as 
this  improvement  advances,  so  will  the  taste  for  koumiss 
increase,  and  enable  the  patient  to  drink  all  that  is  re¬ 
quired  for  a  wholesome  nutrition. 

In  this  connection  it  must  be  remembered  that  the 
koumiss  not  only  contains  all  the  plastic,  respiratory  and 
heat-giving  elements  of  the  body,  but  presents  them  in 
such  a  form  that  they  are  rapidly  absorbed  to  renew  the 
wasted  tissues  of  the  body.  In  this  respect  koumiss  is 
notably  distinguished  from  milk,  which,  in  any  other 
modification,  is  intolerable  to  many  stomachs,  even  in 
small  quantities.  When  the  patient  is  drinking  the 
second  quart  of  koumiss  per  clay,  his  increase  ot  flesh 
and  strength  will  be  very  perceptible.  I  have  had  cases 
in  which  the  gain  amounted  to  as  much  as  ten  pounds  in 
a  month,  where  the  only  food  taken  with  the  koumiss 


8SG 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  G,  1871. 


v/as  dry  bread.  Every  quart  that  is  drunk  carries  into 
the  body  about  four  ounces  of  solid  food,  so  that  koumiss 
supplies  every  rational  want.  Of  course  invalids  in 
lesser  degree,  and  those  who  go  about  actively,  may 
drink  according  to  their  appetite,  even  though  they 
consume  as  much  as  a  gallon  per  day. 

Patients  in  the  adynamic  stage  of  febrile  disease  re¬ 
gain  wonderfully  appetite  and  strength,  and  recover  from 
stupor ;  their  dry,  black  tongue  clears  up  by  perceptible 
gradations  daily,  the  nervous  tremor  subsides  promptly, 
the  respiration  becomes  free,  and  the  diuresis  augments. 
This  shows  how  thorough  is  the  digestibility  of  koumiss, 
and  how  great  is  the  restorative  power  of  its  elements. 
It  is  because  the  entire  nutriment  of  the  original  milk  is 
presented  in  those  forms  which  greatly  facilitate  the 
natural  action  of  the  enfeebled  organs  of  digestion  ;  in 
other  words,  chemical  skill  has  done  in  the  preparation 
of  koumiss  nearly  all  the  preliminary  work  which  would 
otherwise  fall  on  the  digestive  organs. 

As  has  been  noted  already,  koumiss  can  be  made  of 
any  consistence  or  composition ;  therefore,  if  the  amount 
of  caseine  in  the  normal  koumiss  is  too  great  for  any  in¬ 
dividual  case,  it  must  be  replaced  by  another  of  lesser 
richness  in  that  clement.  Again,  for  example,  feverish 
persons  require  a  thin  or  whey  koumiss.  The  physiolo¬ 
gical  explanation  of  whey  koumiss  in  this  connection  is, 
that  it  not  only  gives  less  plastic  material',  but  is  very 
rich  in  sugar  and  salts. 

For  stout  people  the  internal  qualities  of  the  koumiss 
must  be  so  adjusted  as  to  exclude  the  nourishing  ten¬ 
dency,  and  therefore  whey  koumiss  is  thus  indicated. 
Rut  if  a  fat  person  has  any  morbid  condition,  such  as 
chronic  bronchitis,  the  koumiss  must  be  not  only  whey 
koumiss,  but  have  the  special  action  suited  to  that  mor¬ 
bid  condition.  The  No.  2,  or  in  more  severe  cases,  the 
No.  3  koumiss  of  whey  have  this  special  action  by  reason 
of  their  much  greater  proportion  of  lactic  acid. 

That  exercise  in  open  air,  after  each  dose,  augments 
the  appetite  for  koumiss  I  have  already  stated ;  but  it 
must  be  added,  that  the  warmer  the  season  the  more 
rapid  is  the  progress  in  the  cure ;  for  then  the  koumiss 
has  the  immediate  effect  of  allaying  thirst  and  exciting 
appetite. 

Fresh  or  No.  1  koumiss  is  a  mild  aperient,  and  pro¬ 
motes  the  flow  of  bile; — it  is  indicated,  therefore,  in 
constipation,  especially  when  the  complexion  is  sallow 
and  the  conjunctiva  yellowish.  So  beautifully  does  it 
clear  the  skin,  that  its  effect  in  this  respect  is  proverbial 
in  Moscow  as  the  ‘  koumiss  complexion.’ 

No.  3  koumiss  applies  to  chronic  diarrhoea,  relaxation 
of  the  mucous  membranes,  and  to  nervous  debility  ;  it  is, 
therefore,  well  suited  for  bronchitis,  winter  cough,  and 
consumption.  In  such  cases  it  is  a  benignant  friend 
which  has  no  rival ;  for,  though  not  a  specific,  it  is 
always  a  great  palliative,  and  oftentimes  a  means  of 
cure.  It  is  necessary,  however,  to  be  used  under  the 
advice  of  a  physician,  so  that  it  may  be  associated  with 
other  treatment  as  might  be  thought  expedient. 

Diaphoresis  appears  to  be  greatly  increased  by  koumiss 
in  summer,  but  in  the  colder  seasons  diuresis  is  strongly 
marked,  and  sometimes  both  effects  follow  together, 
especially  in  dropsies  without  organic  lesion. 

The  pulse  at  first  shows  no  change,  but  when  the 
koumiss  has  been  taken  for  a  few  days,  then  during  the 
hours  which  follow  its  ingestion,  the  frequency  dimi¬ 
nishes,  but  there  is  more  softness  and  fulness  of  volume. 
From  this  it  might  be  inferred  that  koumiss  is  contra¬ 
indicated  in  haemorrhage  ;  but  such  is  not  the  case,  for 
in  fact  the  blood  itselt  is  modified  so  favourably  in  its 
plasticity,  and  the  walls  of  the  blood-vessels  are  so 
strengthened,  that  the  tendency  to  bleeding  becomes 
lessened. 

Koumiss  produces  a  general  calmness  of  feeling,  some¬ 
times  accompanied  with  slight  drowsiness  ;  and  the  con¬ 
tinuous  use  of  it  in  its  normal  state  produces  plumpness 
in  degree  greater  as  the  emaciation  has  been  more  ad¬ 


vanced.  Experience  has  shown  in  this  connection  that 
the  average  gain  of  weight  ranges  from  the  minimum  of 
one  ounce  to  the  maximum  of  ten  ounces  per  day.  The 
weight  of  the  patient  should  therefore  be  taken  at  the 
commencement  of  the  treatment,  and  from  time  to  time 
afterwards  in  order  to  observe  the  effect.  If,  in  ten 
days,  there  is  no  sign  of  an  increase,  then  it  is  better  to 
stop  the  koumiss. 

In  conclusion,  No.  2  koumiss  is  neither  aperient  nor 
constipating,  but  in  other  respects  is  midway  between 
Nos.  1  and  3.  It  may  be  substituted  advantageously  for 
other  drinks  at  meals,  as  it  has  a  very  agreeable  taste, 
and  is  a  great  promoter  of  digestion. 

If  it  should  be  desired  to  impart  an  aperient  property 
to  either  Nos.  2  or  3,  it  is  only  necessary  to  drink  the 
latter  with  one-half  of  fresh  milk.  By  this  admixture, 
the  milk  also  becomes  very  digestible. — The  Milk  Journal. 


CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 
OPIUM  ALKALOIDS. 

Part  I. — On  the  Adieu  cf  Uydrobromic  Acid  on  Codeia. 

RY  C.  It.  A.  WRIGHT,  D.SC. 

{Concluded  from  pay e  868.) 

The  third  base  is  conveniently  obtained,  as  hydrobro- 
mate,  by  treating  codeia  with  three  times  its  weight  of 
48  per  cent.  HBr  for  two  hours  on  the  water-bath,  pre¬ 
cipitating  the  product  (diluted  with  water)  by  excess  of 
carbonate  of  soda,  collecting  on  filters,  and  well  draining 
from  the  mother -liquors,  and  finally  extracting  with 
ether  until  scarcely  anything  more  is  taken  up ;  care 
must  be  taken  to  have  as  little  watery  fluid  as  possible 
present,  otherwise  the  insoluble  substance  forms  a  sort  of 
lather  on  agitation  from  which  the  ether  will  not  sepa¬ 
rate.  The  insoluble  substance  is  then  dissolved  in  the 
least  possible  quantity  of  weak  hydrobromic  acid  and 
fractionally  precipitated  by  cautious  additon  of  stronger 
acid ;  the  second  precipitate  is  dissolved  up  in  water,  in 
which  it  is  readily  soluble,  and  a  few  drops  of  carbonate 
of  soda  solution  added.  The  filtrate  from  this  vields, 
with  strong  H  Br,  nearly  white  flakes,  which  are  wholly 
void  of  crystalline  character  under  the  microscope.  These 
remain  solid  at  100°  if  previously  completely  dried  over 
S  04 II2 ;  but  if  warmed  whilst  moist,  become  a  more  or 
less  coloured  tar.  Dried  at  100°,  the  following  numbers 
were  obtained : — 

0-3440  grm.  gave  0-6810  C02  and  0-1740  H20. 

0-3425  grin,  gave  0*6685  CO  and  0-1680  H20. 

0-5615  grm.  burnt  with  soda  lime  gave  0-1310  Pt. 

0-3200  grm.  boiled  with  NOsH  and  AgN  03  gave 
0-1330  AgBr  and  0  0315  Ag. 

Calculated 


r - - A 


c72  .  . 

. 864 

54-03 

HS7  .  . 

. 87 

5-44 

k;  .  . 

. 56 

3-50 

012  .  . 

. 192 

1201 

Brs  .  . 

. 400 

25-02 

Cj-2  H^  Br  N4  012, 4  H  Br  1599 

100-00 

Found. 

r 

\ 

53'99 

53-23 

5-61 

5"45 

3-33 

24-97 


Carbonate  of  soda  throws  down  from  the  hydrobromate 
a  nearly  white  precipitate,  which  rapidly  darkens,  and 
finally  turns  a  deep  green,  nearly  black.  Dried  at  100° 
rapidly,  the  product  gave  the  following  numbers,  which 
fall  below  those  required  for  the  formula  C;2  H^BrN^Op 
but  which  agree  with  those  required  for  a  similar  formula 
but  containing  more  oxygen: — 


May  G,  1->71.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


88T 


0-3810  grm.  gave  0-8460  C02  and  0-2080  II20. 

0-4430  grm.  boiled  with  AgNCh  and  NO.,  H  gave 
0  059  AgBr. 

Calculated.  Found. 


n. 

'-72  •  •  • 

•  • 

864 

60-89 

60-56 

h83  •  •  • 

•  • 

83 

5-85 

607 

Br  .  .  . 

•  • 

80 

5-64 

N4  .  .  . 

«  • 

56 

3-95 

i 

osl  .  .  . 

•  • 

336 

23-67 

H^BrN^Oj;, 

+  o9 

1419 

100-00 

It  hence  happens  that  the  free  base  rapidly  absorbs 
oxygen.  In  confirmation  of  this,  0-11  grm.  of  the  hy- 
drobromate  treated  with  caustic  potash  and  injected  by 
a  pipette  into  15  cubic  centiins.  of  air  over  mercury  ab¬ 
sorbed  0-9  cubic  centim.  in  the  course  of  an  hour,  or 
0  per  cent,  of  the  total  volume  of  the  air ;  the  salts, 
however,  when  dry,  may  be  kept  without  alteration, 
and  only  slowly  darken  by  exposure  to  air  when  moist. 

This  welding  together  of  four  molecules  is  not  wholly 
without  parallel  in  the  history  of  the  opium  alkaloids  and 
their  derivatives:  thus  opianic  acid  heated*  furnishes 
a  body  containing  four  times  as  much  carbon  as  the 
■original  acid ;  thus 

4C10H10Os=H2O  +  CjoH38019. 

The  qualitative  reactions  of  bromotetracodeia  appear  to 
be  identical  with  those  of  bromo-  and  chlorocodide.  The 
base  itself,  when  freshly  precipitated,  is  slightly  soluble 
in  water,  being  thrown  down  again  by  addition  of  strong 
brine  ;  in  ether  and  benzol  it  is  almost  insoluble,  and  in 
.  alcohol  but  sparingly  soluble. 

When  crude  bromotetracodeia,  got  by  extraction  with 
ether  of  the  mixture  of  bases  thrown  down  by  carbonate 
of  soda,  is  dissolved  in  weak  hydrochloric  acid,  and  preci¬ 
pitated  twice  or  thrice  by  excess  of  stronger  acid,  nearly 
white  flakes  are  ultimately  obtained,  resembling  in  all 
their  physical  properties  the  broinohydrobromate  of  te- 
tracodeia.  These  flakes,  however,  contain  no  bromine, 
the  absence  of  this  element  being  ascertained  by  the 
negative  results  obtained  on  examining  with  chlorine- 
water  and  ether  the  acidified  solutions  of  the  lime-salts 
got  by  combustion  with  quicklime,  and  of  the  sodium- 
.  salts  got  by  boiling  with  N  OsH  and  AgN  03.  and  fusing 
with  carbonate  of  soda  the  silver-salts  thus  got.  Dried 
over  S04H,  and  finally  at  100°,  this  body  gave  numbers 
indicating  a  base  of  constitution  analogous  to  that  of 
bromotetracodeia ;  it  may  therefore  be  termed  chloro- 
tetracodeia. 

.Specimen  A. — 0-3880  grm.  gave  0-1970  AgCl. 

0-3645  grm.  gave  0-8395  C02  and  0-2120 
H20. 

0-3940  grm.  burnt  with  soda  lime  gave 
0-1080  Pt. 

Specimen  B. — 0-4460  grm.  gave  1-0150  C02  and  0-2560 
HeO. 

0-2350  grm.  gave  0-1250  AgCl. 

Calculated. 


c72 . 

864 

62-77 

. 

87 

6-32 

N/ . 

56 

4-07 

^12 . 

192 

13-94 

Cl5 . 

177-5 

12-90 

C7oH83C1N40124HC1 

1376-5 

100-00 

Found. 


Specimen  A.  Specimen  J3. 

62-81  -  62-07 

6*46  6-38 

-  3-90 

12-56 - -  13-16 

Specimen  A  had  been  three  times  precipitated  by  H  Cl 

*  Matthiessen  and  Wright,  Proc.  Roy.  Soc.  xvii.  p.  341. 


in  large  excess,  while  specimen  B  had  only  been  thrown, 
down  twice,  and  probably  retained  a  trace  of  bromotetra^ 
codeia. 

Specimen  A  converted  into  platinum- salt  gave  the  fol¬ 
lowing  numbers  after  drying  at  100°. 

0-4215  grm.  gave  0  0810  Pt=  19-22  per  cent. 

The  formula  C^HggCl^O.o,  4HC1,  2PtCl4  requires 
19*18  per  cent. 

Like  bromotetracodeia,  the  free  base  appears  to  absorb 
oxygen  with  avidity.  Dried  as  rapidly  as  possible  at 
100°,  the  precipitate  thrown  down  by  carbonate  of  soda 
gave  these  numbers : — 

0-3880  grm.  gave  0-9190  CCh  and  0-2230  1LO. 

0-3100  „  0-0330  AgCl. 

Calculated.  Found. 


Cr2  .  .  .  . 

.  864 

64-74 

64-59 

Hss  .... 

.  83 

6-22 

6-38 

N4  .... 

.  56 

4-20 

Ojg|  .... 

.  296 

22-18 

Cl . 

2-66 

H83ClN4012  +  0a 

1334-5 

100-00 

In  all  its  physical  and  chemical  properties  clilorotetra- 
codeia  closely  resembles  bromotetracodeia :  their  quali¬ 
tative  reactions  are  identical ;  they  have  an  intense  bitter 
taste  and  apparently  but  slight  physiological  action,  at 
any  rate  in  small  doses. 

My  thanks  are  due  to  Mr.  J.  L.  Bell,  in  whose  labora¬ 
tory  the  above  experiments  were  carried  out. 


YEAST  AND  OTHER  FERMENTS.* 

UY  C.  A.  WATKINS. 

In  this  paper  I  shall  endeavour  to  lay  before  you  some 
of  those  chemical  changes  which  take  place  in  certain 
substances  when  under  the  influence  of  other  substances 
called  Ferments.  In  some  of  these  transformations  the 
microscope  shows  us  that  there  exists  an  intfthate  con¬ 
nection  between  the  processes  and  the  growth  of  some 
minute  organisms,  while  in  others  the  changes  are  purely 
chemical.  The  subject,  which  is  of  interest  alike  to  the 
physiologist,  microscopist  and  chemist,  has  received  great 
attention  from  many  excellent  observers ;  nevertheless, 
very  little  is  known  about  it,  and  at  present  the  whole 
matter  is  involved  in  great  mystery. 

I  therefore  feel  considerable  diffidence  in  addressing 
you  on  such  a  subject,  and  should  not  have  attempted  it 
had  I  not  observed  that  many  wi’iters  fall  into  serious 
errors  when  discussing  the  chemical  operations  of  the 
ferments. 

I  may  at  once  tell  you  that  the  matter  contained  in 
this  paper  is  perhaps  more  chemical  than  microscopical ; 
but  the  fact  is,  these  two  investigations  are  inseparable 
if  -we  desire  accurate  knowledge,  and  it  is  impossible  to 
view  ferments  broadly,  if  treated  only  as  a  chemical  or 
only  as  a  microscopical  subject. 

Fermentation  is  a  term  applied  to  various  chemical 
transformations,  which  certain  ordinarily  stable  com¬ 
pounds,  such  as  starch  and  sugar,  undergo  when  in 
contact  with  a  small  quantity  of  an  azotized  or  albu¬ 
minous  substance,  which  is  itself  in  an  active  state  of 
alteration.  This  active  substance  is  called  a  ferment, 
and  one  of  the  peculiar  properties  of  such  a  body  is  that 
it  receives  nothing  from,  nor  imparts  anything  to  the 
matter  which  is  undergoing  fermentation,  but  is  itself 
decomposed  and  destroyed  as  a  ferment  in  proportion 
to  the  matter  fermented,  which  is  gradually  split  up,  or 
unfolded  into  two  or  more  substances  of  simpler  compo¬ 
sition,  sometimes  with  and  sometimes  without  the  as¬ 
similation  of  water. 

This  unfolding  under  the  action  of  ferments  is  totally 
different  to  that  chemical  change  known  as  catalysis, 
which  takes  place  in  one  substance  by  mere  contact  with 

*  Reprinted  from  the*  ‘  Journal  of  the  Quekett  Micro¬ 
scopical  Club.’ 


888 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  6,1871. 


another,  such  as  the  unfolding  of  alcohol  into  other  and 
water  by  contact  with  sulphuric  acid ;  for  although  the 
acid  causes  such  a  wonderful  change,  it  is  not  destroyed 
by  the  operation,  and  consequently,  when  once  the  pro¬ 
cess  is  set  going  an  unlimited  quantity  of  alcohol  may 
be  converted  by  the  original  acid. 

All  the  ferments  are  highly  complex  azotized  sub¬ 
stances  allied  to  albumen  ;  but  while  they  possess  this 
character  in  common,  they  may  be  divided  into  two 
groups — the  one  being  living  organisms,  as  yeast,  and 
the  other  substances  derived  from  various  organic  sources, 
such  as  albumen,  gluten,  casein,  diastase,  emulsin  and  a 
variety  of  others,  all  of  which  decay  most  rapidly  when 
in  a  moist  state. 

The  authors  of  the  ‘  Microscopical  Dictionary  ’  would 
“  exclude  these  substances  from  the  ferments,  and  desire 
that  the  term  fermentation  be  restricted  to  those  changes 
which  take  place  only  through  the  agency  of  living  or¬ 
ganisms  or  fungi;”  regarding  which  they  also  say,  “A 
general  law  appears  to  prevail  throughout  the  fungi 
that  their  nutrition  differs  from  that  of  all  other  plants 
in  depending  exclusively  on  the  absorption  and  decom¬ 
position  (with  the  evolution  of  carbonic  acid  gas)  of 
organic  compounds,  therefore  consisting  of  the  perform¬ 
ance  of  the  operation  of  fermentation  on  the  organic 
matters  on  which  they  feed.”  Rut  as  tlio  chemical 
operations  of  the  ferments  are  so  similar,  notwithstanding 
the  wide  difference  in  their  organization,  I  consider  there 
would  be  no  advantage  in  separating  them  as  proposed, 
as  they  form  a  distinct  class  of  chemical  phenomena.  I 
have  also  to  observe  that  it  is  not  true  that  carbonic 
acid  gas  is  always  given  off  during  fermentation,  nor  is 
it  proved  that  it  is  evolved  during  the  growth  of  all  the 
fungi.  The  ferments  to  which  I  desire  to  call  your 
attention  are — • 

My  coderma  vini,  or  yeast,  which  converts  sugar  into 
alcohol. 

Boiled  yeast,  which  converts  sugar  into  gum  and 
mannite — this  transformation  being  called  the  vis¬ 
cous  fermentation. 

Casein,  which  converts  sugar  into  lactic  acid  and 
butyric  acid  ;  this  last  conversion,  however,  being- 
attributed  to  the  action  of  the  vibrio  and  diastase, 
which  converts  starch  into  sugar. 

I  shall  have  a  few  words  to  say  on  II.  aceti,  or  the 
vinegar  plant  as  some  call  it,  which,  although  included 
by  many  among  the  ferments,  is  not  so  considered  by 
chemists,  for  reasons  I  will  hereafter  explain. 

When  a  saccharine  solution  is  left  in  contact  with 
casein  either  in  the  form  of  fresh  curd  or  cheese,  the 
sugar  is  slowly  transformed  into  lactic  acid  according  to 
the  following  equation  : — - 

Cane  sugar,  C12Hn On  +  HO  =  2CGHGOc  lactic  acid. 

In  this  fermentation  water  is  assimilated,  but  no  gas  is 
evolved. 

A  solution  of  lactic  acid,  similarly  treated,  is  trans¬ 
formed  into  butyric  acid  thus  : — 

Lactic  acid,  2C6HG06  =  CsHs04  -f  4C02  +  4H. 

butyric  Carbonic  Hydrogen. 

Acid.  Acid. 

In  this  fermentation  both  carbonic  acid  and  hydrogen 
gases  are  evolved.  It  is  a  question  not  yet  answered, 
whether  these  chemical  changes  are  induced  by  mere 
contact  with  the  decomposing-  casein  which  is  regarded 
as  the  ferment,  or  whether  the  minute  organisms  de¬ 
veloped  in  these  solutions  are  the  real  ferments  living- 
on  the  matters  therein.  One  thing  is  certain,  that  in 
both  fermentations  living  organisms  abound,  and  they 
cannot  grow  without  chemical  changes  taking  place. 

“  M.  Pasteur  considers  that  a  specific  ferment  is  con¬ 
cerned  in  the  production  of  the  lactic  acid  fermentation, 
which  spreads  itself  out  as  a  grey  substance  over  the 
surface  of  the  sediment ;  and  he  asserts  that  this  organ¬ 
ism,  when  once  obtained,  and  a  small  quantity  added  to 
a  solution  of  sugar,  very  rapidly  converts  it  into  lactic 
acid,  provided  the  solution  contain  a  small  quantity  of 


some  nitrogenous  substance.  When  this  grey  matter  is 
examined  by  the  microscope  it  is  seen  to  consist  of  very 
small  globules  or  very  short  articulations,  either  isolated 
or  in  threads,  much  smaller  than  yeast,  and  to  exhibit 
very  rapid  gyratory  motion.” 

I  have  not  succeeded  in  obtaining  this  grey  matter, 
but  as  the  lactic  acid  fermentation  goes  on  very  slowly, 
and  as  this  season  of  the  year  is  not  favourable  for  ex¬ 
periments  on  fermentation,  it  may  not  have  had  time  to 
make  its  appearance. 

In  order  to  observe  the  organisms  which  accompany 
the  transformations  of  sugar,  I  watched  the  progress  of 
the  lactic  acid  fermentation  of  cane  sugar,  that  of  milk 
sugar  by  the  gradual  decomposition  of  milk,  and  also  the 
viscous  fermentation  of  cane  sugar ;  for  although  I  have 
seen  no  notice  of  any  living  organism  being  concerned 
in  this  fermentation,  I  thought  it  likely  that  the  viscid 
ropy  matter  which  is  formed  therein  was  probably  due 
to  some  organic  growth. 

Now  in  all  these  experiments  I  found  that  as  soon  as 
decomposition  commenced,  or  at  least  was  appreciable, 
but  not  until  then,  organic  life  was  found  in  all  the 
fluids ;  that  in  all  cases  they  appeared  on  the  surface 
before  they  wore  seen  in  the  body  of  the  fluid,  and 
that  when  first  discovered  they  were  not  in  an  active 
condition,  but  as  the  decomposition  progressed  they 
became  so,  and  moved  through  the  fluid  with  rapidity, 
but  those  at  the  surface  continued  to  be  the  most  active. 
Those  bodies  are  species  of  Vibrio  and  Bacterium. 

The  milk  used  in  the  experiments  was  obtained  per¬ 
fectly  fresh  and  divided  into  three  portions — one  con¬ 
taining  the  cream  after  the  milk  had  stood  twenty-four 
hours,  the  second  was  simply  the  skimmed  milk,  while 
the  third  portion  was  some  of  the  same,  with  the  addition 
of  chalk  to  neutralize  the  lactic  acid  as  it  was  formed. 
During  four  days  the  milk  remained  sweet,  and  I  de¬ 
tected  no  organism  in  any  part  of  it ;  but  at  the  end  of 
the  fourth  day  the  cream  had  a  sour  odour,  indicating 
that  lactic  acid  had  been  formed,  and  a  small  speck 
taken  from  the  surface  with  a  needle  exhibited  a  mass 
of  Bacterium-like  bodies  which,  when  some  distilled 
water  was  passed  between  the  glass  slide  and  cover, 
swarmed  through  the  fluid  with  rapid  and  various 
capers.*  On  the  fifth  day  the  milk  had  become  sour, 
and  exhibited  the  same  active  organs,  but  in  the  portion 
to  which  the  chalk  was  added  they  were  neither  so 
numerous  nor  so  active.  On  the  eighth  day  fungus 
spores  and  mycelia  appeared  on  the  surface  of  the 
cream,  and  the  same  was  noticed,  but  in  a  lesser  degree, 
some  days  afterwards  on  the  two  portions  of  milk ;  but 
as  a  considerable  amount  of  lactic  acid  was  formed  before 
these  objects  made  their  appearance,  I  do  not  imagine 
they  were  concerned  in  the  fermentation  which  was 
going  on. 

But  it  was  in  the  mixture  of  boiled  yeast  and  sugar 
solution  to  produce  the  viscous  fermentation  that  I 
found  these  bodies  developed  most  rapidly,  for  in  twenty - 
four  hours  after  the  mixture  was  made  the  fluid  was 
covered  with  a  thin  film,  which  proved  to  be  entirely 
these  organisms  packed  closely  together,  so  that  no 
motion  could  be  seen  until  some  distilled  water  was 
added,  when  their  activity  was  fully  displayed.  In  the 
course  of  a  few  days  the  film  had  become  a  thick  viscid 
scum,  consisting  entirely  of  these  minute  bodies,  without 
a  sign  of  any  fungoid  growth. 

From  the  fact  that  tlrese  organisms  grow  most  rapidly, 
and  are  in  the  greatest  activity  at  the  surface,  it  appears 
that  air  is  necessary  to  produce  these  results,  for  in  the 
mixture  of  milk  and  chalk  from  which  carbonic  acid  was 
given  off  as  the  lactate  of  lime  was  formed,  they  were 
always  in  smaller  quantity  and  less  active  condition : 
this  vessel,  too,  was  covered  with  a  plate  of  glass,  while 
all  the  other  solutions  were  covered  with  paper. 

(To  be  continued.) 

*  The  motion  here  referred  to  is  not  due  to  the  currents 
produced  by  capillary  attraction,  evaporation,  etc. 


May  6,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


8S9 


C[)t  |)j);inn;ttaifit;i(  Jottrmtl. 


SATURDAY,  MAY  6,  1S71. 


Communications  for  this  Journal,  and  boohs  for  review, etc., 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

Instructions  from  Members  and  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Brem- 
ridge,  Secretary ,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  IF.  C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London ,  IF.  Envelopes  indorsed  “  Pharm.  Journ.” 


CHEMICAL  NOMENCLATURE  IN  PHARMACY. 

Having  but  recently  urged  on  our  readers  tlie  ne¬ 
cessity  of  improving  the  character  of  the  monthly 
Evening  Meetings  of  the  Society,  it  was  with  great 
pleasure  we  witnessed  Professor  Attfield’s  en¬ 
deavour  to  give  practical  effect  to  our  suggestions, 
and  we  therefore  desire  to  express  our  thanks  to  him 
for  having  so  promptly  taken  the  matter  in  hand,  as 
well  as  our  hearty  congratulations  on  the  very  suc¬ 
cessful  issue  of  his  exertions.  We  doubt  not  that 
all  members  of  the  Society,  and  especially  all  atten¬ 
dants  at  the  Evening  Meetings,  will  participate  with 
us  in  these  feelings,  while  hoping  that  in  the  ensuing 
season  there  may  be  a  succession  of  papers  brought 
forward  as  interesting  and  useful  as  that  to  which 
we  refer. 

It  is  satisfactory  to  find  that  Professor  Attfield’s 
suggestions  for  the  revision  of  the  chemical  nomen¬ 
clature  of  our  Pharmacopoeia  do  not  involve  any 
violent  changes,  but  that,  while  seeking  to  attain 
uniformity  consistent  with  chemical  science,  those 
.■suggestions  are  conservative  in  their  tendency,  and 
influenced  by  the  sound  principle  that  for  medical 
and  pharmaceutical  purposes  it  is  more  important 
that  names  should  denote  things  rather  than  our 
ideas  as  to  the  nature  or  constitution  of  those  things. 
Moreover,  the  simplicity  of  the  plan  by  which  uni¬ 
formity  is  to  be  attained  in  the  designation  of  che¬ 
micals  in  pharmacy  is  so  great  as  to  constitute  a 
•strong  argument  in  favour  of  Professor  Attfield’s 
proposals  being  generally  adopted,  and  on  this  ground 
alone  we  are  not  surprised  to  find  they  have  met 
with  general  approval  both  by  the  medical  men  and 
•chemists  who  took  part  in  the  discussion  and  by  the 
medical  press.  The  few  points  in  regard  to  which 
there  were  differences  of  opinion  were  only  of  minor 
importance,  and  would  probably  be  settled  without 
difficulty  by  having  regard  to  the  essential  requi¬ 
sites  of  a  name  for  medical  and  pharmaceutic  pur¬ 
poses,  and  by  making  the  possession  of  chemical  pro¬ 
priety  subordinate  to  them. 

We  should  be  glad  to  see  the  main  features  of 
Professor  Attfield’s  plan  adopted,  not  only  in  the 
British  Pharmacopoeia,  but  also  in  that  of  the  United 
States,  as  'well  as  the  Pharmacopoeias  of  Europe,  so 
as  to  secure  the  very  great  advantage  of  a  permanent 
and  uniform  nomenclature. 


PHARMACY  IN  AMERICA. 

The  School  of  Pharmacy  in  connection  with  the 
College  of  Pharmacy  at  Chicago,  which  was  re¬ 
organized  last  October,  has  had  a  prosperous  session 
under  the  new  faculty,  Professors  Blaney,  Bartlett 
and  Hambrigiit.  The  class  numbered  thirty,  of 
whom  one  was  a  lady. 

The  Annual  Meeting  of  the  College  was  held  oil 
the  15tli  March.  Mr.  E.  H.  Sargent,  in  an  address 
delivered  upon  vacating  the  presidential  chair,  urged 
upon  the  members  the  advisability  of  co-operating 
with  the  officers  in  obtaining  employment  for  students 
coming  from  a  distance,  and  also  of  enabling  the 
“  clerks  ”  in  their  employ  to  attend  the  lectures. 
In  reference  to  the  system  of  instruction,  he  sug¬ 
gested  that  in  future  years  it  would  be  advisable  to 
give  a  course  of  lectures  to  the  junior  class  separate 
from  the  senior.  Such  a  system,  he  thought,  would 
possess  greater  thoroughness,  and  the  subjects  would 
be  presented  in  better  order.  It  seemed  to  him  plain 
that  if  the  lectures  were  adapted  to  the  senior  class 
they  could  not  be  suited  to  the  junior,  and  if  suitable 
to  the  junior  class  they  were  unfit  for  the  senior. 
This  plan  would  be  attended  with  more  labour  and 
demand  a  greater  sacrifice  of  time  by  the  teachers, 
but  the  advantage  to  the  taught  would,  in  his 
opinion,  be  sufficient  to  warrant  both.  The  pub¬ 
lication  of  the  Pharmacist  had  been  continued,  and 
it  had  proved  a  valuable  auxiliary  to  the  College. 
Its  success,  both  in  a  scientific  and  pecuniary  view, 
has  been  very  encouraging.  The  growing  import¬ 
ance  of  the  varied  interests  of  the  College  are  such 
as  necessitate  the  provision  of  a  permanent  home 
for  the  institution,  and  a  committee  has  been  ap¬ 
pointed  for  the  purpose  of  considering  and  reporting 
upon  the  subject.  The  following  are  the  names  of 
the  officers  for  the  ensuing  year  : — President,  E.  H. 
Sargent  ;  Vice-Presidents,  John  W.  Ehrman  and  E. 
T.  Schloetzer  ;  Treasurer,  A.  C.  Vandenburgfi  ;  Se¬ 
cretaries,  G.  M.  Hambright  and  Albert  E.  Ebert. 
Mr.  Joseph  Inge  and  Mr.  C.  It.  C.  Tichborne  have 
been  elected  honorary  members  of  this  College. 

The  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy  commenced 
its  fiftieth  session  on  March  15,  when  the  degree  of 
“graduate  in  pharmacy”  was  conferred  upon  sixty- 
nine  persons  who  had  passed  their  examination. 
The  Board  of  Examiners  reported  that  they  have 
found  it  advisable  to  change  the  examination  for  the 
diploma  from  a  verbal  to  a  written  one.  The  entire 
number  of  candidates  are  accommodated  in  two 
rooms  at  separate  desks,  so  as  not  to  communicate 
with  each  other ;  a  professor  attending  in  each  room 
to  reply  to  proper  queries.  One  branch  is  considered 
each  day,  and  as  soon  as  a  student  announces  that 
he  has  completed  his  task,  he  is  shown  ten  specimens 
relating  to  the  particular  branch  under  considera¬ 
tion,  the  names  of  which  he  has,  according  to  his 
judgment,  to  write  down,  so  that  the  answers  of  each 
student  to  all  queries  and  specimens  are  recorded. 


890 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  G,  1871. 


At  the  Annual  Meeting  the  Committee  appointed  to 
select  a  suitable  person  for  Editor  of  the  American 
Journal  of  Pharmacy  reported  that  they  had  agreed 
to  recommend  Professor  John  INI.  Maisch  for  that 
office.  The  business  of  the  journal  is  now  conducted 
at  the  College,  where  all  correspondence  is  to  be 
sent.  A  balance  of  1421  dollars  in  favour  of  the 
Journal  was  announced  in  the  Treasurer’s  report. 
The  officers  chosen  by  this  Society  for  the  ensuing 
year  are — President,  Dillwyn  Parrish  ;  Vice-Presi¬ 
dents,  W.  Procter,  j un.,  and  Robert  Shoemaker; 
Treasurer,  Ambrose  Smith  ;  Secretaries,  C.  Bullock 
and  Alfred  B.  Taylor. 

The  Maryland  College  of  Pharmacy  commenced 
its  nineteenth  annual  session  on  the  evening  of  the 
10th  of  March.  The  Act  of  Incorporation,  em¬ 
powering  the  Society  to  confer  the  degree  of  Doctor 
in  Pharmacy  upon  suitable  persons,  having  been 
read,  that  title  was  awarded  to  Professor  William 
Procter,  Professor  John  Maiscii  and  Professor  Israel 
J.  Grahame,  of  Philadelphia,  and  Professor  David 
M.  Stewart,  M.D.,  of  Delaware.  A  list  of  nine  per¬ 
sons  who  had  successfully  jiassed  their  examination 
was  read,  and  the  degree  of  Graduate  of  Pharmacy 
was  publicly  conferred  upon  them  by  the  President. 
The  evening’s  proceedings  concluded  with  an  address 
to  the  students  by  Professor  Claude  Baxley,  M.D. 
As  in  the  case  of  the  Philadelphia  College,  the  exa¬ 
minations  at  the  Maryland  College  are  conducted  in 
writing.  It  is  expected  that  the  Act  passed  last  year 
by  the  General  Assembly  of  Maryland  for  the  regu¬ 
lation  of  the  practice  of  pharmacy  in  the  city  of 
Baltimore,  will  greatly  increase  the  welfare  and  in¬ 
fluence  of  this  College. 

The  Annual  Meeting  of  the  College  of  Pharmacy 
of  the  City  of  New  York  was  held  on  March  10. 
Ten  diplomas  of  Graduate  in  Pharmacy  were  conferred 
upon  members  of  the  graduating  class  and  two  prizes 
of  fifty  dollars  each  were  presented,  one  to  the  student 
passing  the  best  general  examination,  and  the  other 
to  the  student  passing  the  best  examination  in  botany 
and  materia  meclica.  At  a  meeting  of  the  students, 
called  for  the  purpose,  resolutions  were  passed  thank¬ 
ing  the  Professors  and  other  officials  for  the  manner 
in  which  the  classes  had  been  conducted,  and  urging 
other  pharmaceutical  students  to  avail  themselves 
of  the  opportunities  for  instruction  afforded  by  this 
College.  The  officers  elected  to  serve  during  the 
ensuing  year  are, — President,  W.  Hegeman  ;  Vice- 
Presidents,  T.  Frohwein,  J.  Coddington  and  W. 
Neergaard;  Treasurer,  W.  Wright,  jun. ;  Secretary, 
Edward  L.  Miliian. 

With  respect  to  legislation  affecting  pharmacy, 
we  may  say  that  the  Ontario  Act*  has  now  become 
law.  The  New  York  Drug  Clerk  Billf  has  been 
somewhat  modified :  the  board  of  examiners,  which 
it  was  originally  proposed  should  consist  of  six,  being 


*  Ante,  pp.  752  and  772.  f  Ante,  p.  772. 


reduced  to  four  members,  viz.  one  skilled  pharma¬ 
ceutist,  one  practical  druggist  and  two  physicians, 
who  are  to  be  appointed  by  and  hold  office  during  the 
pleasure  of  the  mayor  of  New  York.  The  salary  is 
to  be  not  more  than  2500  dollars  per  annum  for 
each  commissioner,  and  the  secretary,  who  is  to  be 
a  practical  druggist  elected  by  the  board :  the  amount 
to  be  fixed  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  New  York. 
Any  deficiency  that  may  exist  after  the  payment  of 
the  expenses  of  the  Act  out  of  the  fees  received  is  to 
be  raised  by  a  tax  on  real  and  personal  property  in 
the  city  of  New  York. 

A  Bill  to  appoint  an  examiner  of  drugs  in  Penn¬ 
sylvania  is  now  before  the  Legislature  of  that  State. 
At  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Philadelphia  College 
of  Pharmacy,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  examine 
this  Bill,  and  to  take  steps  to  prevent  its  becoming 
law  if  found  to  be  objectionable. 


A  course  of  eight  lectures  upon  Economic  Botany, 
with  especial  reference  to  Vegetable  Substances  used 
for  Food,  will  be  delivered  by  Professor  Bentley, 
in  the  Museum  in  the  Rojail  Botanic  Society’s 
Gardens,  Regent’s  Park,  commencing  on  Friday, 
May  12tli.  They  will  be  open  to  Fellows  and  Mem¬ 
bers  of  the  Society,  and  to  bearers  of  ivory  tickets, 
or  the  ordinary  orders  of  admission  to  the  gardens. 


At  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Royal  Institution 
on  Monday  last,  the  following  gentlemen  were  una¬ 
nimously  elected  as  officers  for  the  ensuing  year  : — 
President,  Sir  Henry  FIolland,  Bart.,  M.D.,  D.C.L., 
F.R.S. ;  Treasurer,  William  Spottiswoode,  M.A., 
F.R.S. ;  Secretary,  Henry  Bence  Jones,  M.A.,  M.D., 
D.C.L.,  F.R.S. 

Arrangements  have  been  made  in  York  for  open¬ 
ing  a  school  for  instruction  in  Pharmaceutical  Sci¬ 
ence,  under  the  superintendence  of  W.  Procter, 
M.D.,  F.C.S.  The  Summer  Course  of  Lectures, 
commencing  on  Friday,  May  5,  will  be  continued 
weekly  through  May,  June  and  July,  and  the  Winter 
Session,  will  extend  from  October  to  March.  Fees 
for  both  Sessions  (to  Pupils  or  Assistants  of  Sub¬ 
scribers),  one  guinea,  which  may  be  paid  to  the 
Honorary  Treasurer,  Mr.  T.  Cooper. 


The  collection  at  the  Twickenham  Economic  Mu¬ 
seum,  which  had  been  got  together  by  Mr.  Thomas 
Twining,  at  considerable  trouble  and  expense,  for 
the  purpose  of  illustrating  the  various  branches  of 
domestic  economy,  has,  we  regret  to  say,  been 
destroyed  by  a  fire  that  originated  in  one  of  the 
cellars. 


Our  readers  will  find  in  the  correspondence  co¬ 
lumns  a  letter  from  Mr.  Bottle,  having  reference  to 
the  qualities  of  the  paper  now  in  general  use,  which 
is  well  worthy  of  perusal. 


May  6,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


891 


TRANSACTIONS  OF  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 


STATEMENT  OF  ATTENDANCE  OF  MEMBERS  OF  COUNCIL  ON  COMMITTEES 

FOR  THE  YEAR  1870-71. 


COMMITTEE3 

i 

hkld  Once  a 

Committees 

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No.  of  Committee 

Meetings  held. 

12 

12 

13 

12 

7 

e 

5 

13 

Abraham: 

| 

1 

j 

( Liverpool )  . 

3 

* 

5 

* 

3 

2 

1 

14 

Atiiehton 

| 

(Nottingham) 

* 

* 

* 

* 

3 

4 

1 

8 

Bottle 

1 

(. Davcr )  .  . 

. 

6 

* 

4 

* 

* 

2 

12 

Bourdas 

. 

( London )  .  . 

11 

13 

12 

7 

5 

2 

50 

Brown 

(Manchester) 

* 

*  i 

*• 

1 

* 

1  | 

2 

Carr  j 

Ph 

(London)  .  . 

4 

* 

O 

O 

2 

1 

* 

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W 

1 

lit 

Deane 

K-1 

(London)  .  . 

* 

* 

* 

3 

* 

* 

* 

w 

M 

1 

4 

' 

DymoNd 

H 

8 

(Birmingham) 

10 

* 

* 

0 

* 

3 

<3 

26 

Edwards 

fat  1 

(Hartford)  . 

& 

12 

0 

1 

1 

* 

Ph 

P  1 

1 

15 

Evans 

0 

0 

(London)  .  . 

3 

* 

* 

* 

1 

2 

* 

W  1 

6 

Groves 

w 

M 

( Weymouth) . 

& 

8 

* 

*• 

* 

3 

H  i 

4 

15 

Haselden 

o 

59  1 

(London)  . 

10 

12 

11 

6 

6 

4 

3 

Q  1 

7  | 

Hills 

r-H 

24 

(London)  .  . 

12 

8 

* 

2 

* 

i-t 

« 

2  , 

i 

Mackay 

w 

6 

(Edinburgh) 

•  1 

1 

* 

* 

1 

* 

1 

2 

H 

HH 

2 

1 

Reynolds 

8 

(Leeds)  . 

* 

3 

* 

# 

* 

3 

o 

Q 

2  i 

Sandford 

9 

49 

(London)  .  . 

2 

12 

8 

11 

0 

4 

3 

03 

fat 

M 

Savage 

H 

o  ! 

Q 

Brighton)  . 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

3 

* 

• 

Stoddart 

| 

-  | 

11 

(Bristol)  .  . 

i 

4 

* 

* 

* 

4 

* 

2 

i 

Sutton 

* 

6 

(Norwich)  . 

* 

* 

1 

* 

2 

3 

Williams  f 
(London)  .  . 

Woolley 

• 

* 

7 

3 

* 

* 

3 

2 

5 

I 

1 

20f 

9 

(Manchester) 

* 

* 

4 

* 

4 

Brady  f 

* 

0 

(Newcastle)  . 

* 

* 

3 

* 

2 

5 

Hanbury  % 
(London)  . 

4 

* 

* 

r 

0 

— v - 

2 

2 

* 

*  *  ! 

1 

0 

1  •  •  ■ 

13J 

r 

*  Not  appointed  on  this  Committee. 

t  Mr.  Bradv  resigned  November,  1870  ;  Mr.  Williams  elected  December,  18  <0. 

^  i  -w— v  1  1  f)  A  .  /-v  I  I  O  11 0  TXT  1  S  /  I  . 


i>ir.  x>rau.y  rusignuu.  1071 

Mr.  Hanbury  resigned  December,  1870;  Mr.  Carr  elected  January,  187  . 


■S92 


[May  6,  1871. 


TIIE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


STATEMENT  OF  ATTENDANCE  OF  MEMBERS  OF  COUNCIL  AT  COUNCIL  MEETINGS  FOR 

THE  YEAR  1870-71. 


Abraham,  John . 

Atherton,  John  Homy 
Bottle,  Alexander  . . . . 

Bourdas,  Isaiah . 

Brown,  William  Scott 

-Carr,*  John . . 

Deane,  Henry . 

Dymond,  George  . . . 


Edwards,  George  . 

Evans,  Henry  Sugden  . 
Groves,  Thomas  B. 
Haselden,  Adolphus  F.  . 
Hills,  Thomas  Hyde  . . . 

Mackay,  J  ohn . 

Reynolds,  Richard . 

Sandford,  George  Webb 


8 

9 

9 

12 

12 

4 

G 

11 


Savage,  William  Dawson . 

Stoddart,  William  Walter  . . . . 

Sutton,  Francis  . 

Williams, f  John . 

W oolley,  George  Stephen  . . . . , 


Brady,  Henry  B.f  . . 
Hanbury,*  Cornelius 


11 

9 

8 

5 

8 

4 

3 


ANALYSIS  OF  EXAMINATIONS.— ENGLAND  AND  WALES.— 1870. 
Number  of  Meetings  of  the  Board . 22 


Major  . 

Total  number  of 
Candidates 
during  the  year. 

....  75 

Total  number 
of  Candidates 
rejected  during 
the  year. 

18 

Total  number  of 
Examinations 
during  the  year. 

11 

Average  number 
of  Candidates  at 
each  meeting. 

6-81 

Average  number 
of  rejections 
at  each 
meeting. 

1-63 

Per 

cent,  of 
Failures. 

24 

Minor . 

Preliminary  . 
Modified  . . . . 

....  258 

_  741 

....  349 

81 

221 

117 

13 

4 

9 

19-84 

185-25 

38-77 

5-78 

55-25 

13-00 

31 

30 

33-5 

ANALYSIS  OF  EXAMINATIONS.— SCOTLAND.— 1870. 


Major  . 

Minor . 

Preliminary 
Modified  . . . 


Total  number  of 
Candidates 
during  the  year. 

6 

31 

.  . .  62 

44 


Total  number 
of  Candidates 
rejected  during 
the  year. 

0 

9 

13 

8 


Total  number  of 
Examinations 
during  the  year. 

4 

7 

7 

7 


Average  number 
of  Candidates  at 
each  meeting. 

1-5 

4-4 

8-85 

6-28 


Average  number 
of  rejections 
at  each 
meeting. 

0 

1-28 

1-85 

1-14 


Per 

cent,  of 
failures. 

0 

29 

20-96 

18-18 


REGISTRAR’S  REPORT  AS  TO  MEMBERS,  ASSOCIATES  AND  APPRENTICES  SUBSCRIBING 
TO  THE  SOCIETY  FOR  THE  YEAR  ENDING  31st  DECEMBER,  1870. 

Members — Pharmaceutical  Chemists.  Members — Chemists  and  Druggists. 

Number  of  Members,  1869  .  1783  1  Number  of  Members,  1869  .  ........  403 

»  V  restored,  etc.,  1870  .  ...  13  elected,  1870  .  189 

elected,  etc.,  1870  ....  81  _ 


changed  from  “  Chemist  and 
Druggist”  to  “Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Chemist  ”...  3 


1880 

Deaths,  Seceders,  etc.  (see  particulars  below)  .  .  78 


Total  number  of  Members,  December  31st,  1870  .  1802 


Increase . 19 

Deaths,  Seceders,  etc. : — 

Deaths . 39 

Retired  (out  of  business) . 21 

Resigned . 1 

Medical . 3 

Gone  away . 1 

No  Notice . 13 


592 

Deaths,  Seceders,  etc.  (see  particulars  below)  .  •  10 

Total  number  of  Members,  December  31st,  1870  .  582 
Increase  ......  179 

Deaths,  Seceders,  etc. :  — 

Deaths . 2 

Now  Pharmaceutical  Chemists  .....  3 

Gone  away . 2 

No  Notice  (1  a  Lunatic) . 2 

Erased  from  Register  ........  1 

10 


78 


Associates  in  Business. 

Associates , 

Major  and  Minor , 

not  in  Business. 

Number  of  Associates  in  Business,  1869  .  .  .  . 

22 

1870. 

1869. 

Increase. 

„  „  ,,  elected,  1870  .  . 

61 

431 

288 

170 

— 

27 

83 

Seceder  (no  notice) . . . 

Total  number  of  Associates  in  Business,  December 

1 

458 

Apprentices. 

31st,  1870  . .  .  .  . 

82 

— 

1870. 

1869. 

Increase. 

Increase . 60 

564 

499 

65 

*  Mr.  Hanbury  resigned  December,  1870  ;  Mr.  Carr  elected  January,  1871. 
f  Mr.  Brady  resigned  November,  1870;  Mr.  Williams  elected  December,  1870. 


May  6, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


893 


PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY,  EDINBURGH. 

The  last  Scientific  Meeting  of  the  North  British  Branch 
took  place  in  St.  George’s  Hall,  on  Monday  evening,  24th 
April,  at  half  past  eight  o’clock ;  Mr.  Aitken,  President, 
in  the  chair. 

Mr.  Paton,  Assistant-Keeper  in  the  Industrial  Mu¬ 
seum,  was  introduced  by  the  President  and  road  a  paper, 
“  On  the  History  of  Oriental  Spices.” 

The  paper  was  illustrated  by  coloured  drawings  and 
specimens.  It  will  be  printed  in  a  future  number. 

A  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Paton  for  his  interesting  com¬ 
munication  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Young,  seconded  by 
Mr.  Leitch,  and  carried  with  acclamation. 

The  President  then  proceeded  to  give  his  Valedictory 
Address : — 

Gentlemen, — We  are  now  come  to  the  close  of  the 
last  meeting  of  another  session,  and  I  think  we  may 
congratulate  ourselves  on  this  being  in  all  respects  the 
best  attended,  the  most  agreeable,  and  fully  as  instructive 
as  any  of  former  years. 

During  the  past  session  we  have  had  various  and  valu¬ 
able  papers  on  scientific  subjects  from  gentlemen  of  the 
highest  standing  in  science  and  the  arts. 

In  November  last  Dr.  Stevenson  Macadam  favoured 
ns  with  an  able  paper  on  Fermentation.  In  the  course 
of  this  lecture,  after  having  referred  to  the  old  theory, 
the  lecturer  introduced  the  more  rpcent  improvements 
of  Dr.  Tyndall,  Monsieur  Pasteur  and  Dr.  Angus  Smith. 
Dr.  Macadam,  in  his  usual  happy  manner,  illustrated 
these  with  many  diagrams  and  tables. 

At  our  next  meeting,  which  took  place  in  the  Masonic 
Hall  on  the  evening  of  the  23rd  January,  Dr.  Balfour, 
Professor  of  Botany  in  the  University,  very  kindly  gave 
a  lecture  on  Ipecacuanha-root  and  its  Cultivation  in  the 
Royal  Botanic  Gardens  here.  The  Professor  had  a  large 
and  an  attentive  audience.  This  lecture,  most  ably 
delivered,  was  illustrated  by  many  specimens,  diagrams 
and  a  number  of  living  plants,  together  with  a  large 
collection  of  drawings,  beautifully  painted  from  nature 
by  Mr3.  Balfour. 

Again,  in  February  we  had  a  very  popular  lecture 
from  Professor  Archer,  of  the  Museum  of  Science  and 
Art,  the  subject  being  the  History  and  Properties  of 
Isinglass  and  Allied  Substances,  with  the  manner  in 
which  it  is  procured,  prepared  and  used.  Specimens  of 
the  air-bladders  of  fishes  in  the  different  forms  in  which 
they  are  dried  for  preservation  and  use  were  shown  in 
illustration. 

After  making  a  few  observations  on  some  of  the 
peculiarities  and  fondness  of  the  Chinese,  Japanese  and 
other  Oriental  nations  for  gelatinous  substances  similar 
to  isinglass,  the  Professor  concluded  by  stating  the  great 
difficulty  and  expense  incurred  in  procuring  such  forms 
as  these,  and  specially  mentioned  the  fabulous  prices 
given  for  edible  birds’ -nests,  etc. 

Our  fourth  scientific  meeting,  on  the  evening  of  the 
22nd  February,  was  enhanced  by  a  paper  on  a  discovery 
of  Priestley,  given  by  James  Dewar,  Esq.,  F.R.S.E.  & 
F.C.S.  This  lecture  was  exceedingly  well  illustrated  by 
several  practical  experiments  and  was  much  applauded 
throughout. 

Mr.  Dewar,  having  given  an  interesting  account  of 
the  successive  experiments  made  by  Joseph  Priestley  in 
1772  in  connection  with  fixed  air,  how  produced  and  its 
effects  on  vegetable  life,  traced  the  discoveries  subse¬ 
quently  made  by  scientific  inquirers  into  the  connection 
betwixt  light  and  the  life  of  plants.  A  few  beautiful 
specimens  of  these  were  exhibited,  and  the  lecture 
brought  to  a  termination  by  Mr.  Dewar  promising  at 
some  future  time  to  favour  us  with  another  paper  on 
some  popular  subject  connected  with  our  profession. 

Then  again  to-night,  being  the  winding-up  of  the 
business  of  this  session,  we  have  been  earnest  listeners 
to  the  very  admirable  paper  4  On  the  History  of  Oriental 
Spices’  from  Mr.  Paton,  Assistant- Keeper,  Edinburgh 


Museum  of  Science  and  Art.  The  excellence  of  this 
example  of  Mr.  Paton’ s  researches  on  the  subject,  and 
the  able  and  fluent  manner  in  which  it  has  been  illus¬ 
trated  and  brought  before  us,  has  already  drawn  from 
you  unmistakable  evidence  of  the  pleasure  afforded, — I 
think  also  of  your  desire  to  hear  him  again ;  and  I  have 
no  doubt,  should  ‘the  learned  gentleman  see  his  way  to 
favour  us  with  a  like  paper  next  session,  the  obligation 
will  be  acknowledged  and  appreciated  by  every  one  of 
us. 

I  am  glad  to  say,  gentlemen,  that  the  large  number  of 
candidates  presenting  themselves  for  examination,  and 
who  have  been  successful  in  passing  during  this  session, 
testify  most  clearly  to  their  careful  attention  and  study. 
The  proficiency  in  many  cases  being  so  decidedly  marked, 
manifested  on  their  part  an  anxiety  to  get  through 
creditably  and  with  honour. 

I  might  here,  gentlemen,  take  some  notice  of  the 
queestio  vexata ,  which  is  causing  such  a  sensation  at  the 
present  time  amongst  the  members  of  the  drug  trade. 
Both  sides,  however,  being  so  ably  championed,  and  the 
feelings  of  each  so  well  ventilated  in  the  Pharmaceutical. 
Journal,  and  also  in  the  Chemist  and  Druggist,  I  think 
it  advisable  to  leave  this  alone,  seeing  that  to-night  we 
have  so  little  time  for  any  discussion  upon  the  subject. 
At  the  same  time,  my  own  conviction  is,  should  legisla¬ 
tive  enactments  be  necessary  for  enforcing  compulsory 
poison  regulations  on  us,  they  ought  certainly  not  to  bo 
one-sided,  but  include  surge  on -druggists  a3  well,  and  all 
others  who  sell  or  dispense  poisons  in  any  shape  what¬ 
ever.  In  the  establishments  of  this  city  the  greatest  care 
is  taken  to  secure  the  public  from  danger ;  and  while  we 
are  all  anxious  and  willing  to  make  such  arrangements, 
and  use  such  precautions  and  safeguards  as  suit  our  own 
places  of  business,  with  every  satisfaction  to  our  cus¬ 
tomers,  I  cannot  see  that  any  Legislative  Council  what¬ 
ever  has  the  right  to  burden  us  with  their  enactments, 
unless  with  the  full  consent  of  those  so  deeply  concerned. 

You  will  have  observed  a  very  modest  intimation  of 
some  six  or  eight  words  at  the  bottom  of  the  billet  call¬ 
ing  this  meeting.  It  simply  states  that  subscriptions  to 
the  Benevolent  Fund  are  earnestly  requested.  You  are  all 
well  aware  that  in  every  large  community  many  do  fall 
somehow  into  difficulties ;  it  may  be  through  some  severe 
dispensation  of  Providence,  or  it  may  have  been  their 
own  imprudence,  or  their  want  of  sufficient  care,  atten¬ 
tion  and  energy  in  conducting  their  business.  In  what¬ 
ever  way  this  has  happened,  they  are  kept  down  by  the 
heavy  hand  of  misfortune  and  poverty,  rarely  able  to  get 
up  again.  It  is  to  such  as  these  the  Benevolent  F und 
brings  relief,  and  it  has  been  the  means  of  making  the 
widow’s  heart  sing  for  joy,  and  it  has  brought,  in  many 
cases,  some  degree  of  comfort  and  happiness  to  many  a 
poor  and  desolate  fireside.  We  are  commanded  to  re¬ 
member  the  poor,  the  surety  is  unquestionable  :  For  he 
that  giveth  to  the  poor,  lendeth  to  the  Lord. 

And  now,  gentlemen,  before  retiring  from  the  position 
of  president,  to  which  you  so  kindly  elected  me,  and 
having  enjoyed  the  honour  for  three  successive  sessions, 
may  I  venture  to  express  the  hope  that  the  duties  of  the 
chair  have  been  conducted  to  your  satisfaction. 

I  would  wish  also  to  tender  my  sincere  thanks  to  those 
gentlemen  who  have  evinced  such  an  interest  in  our 
meetings,  and  have  ever  readily  and  handsomely  come 
forward  and  given  us  so  many  valuable  papers,  lectures 
and  communications  on  scientific  subjects. 

And  to  all  of  you,  gentlemen,  my  sincere  acknowledg¬ 
ments  are  due  for  your  continued  good  will  and  courtesy 
on  every  occasion  of  our  meeting  together.  I  trust  a 
large  measure  of  like  kindness  may  be  accorded  to  my 
successor,  Mr.  Baildon,  a  gentleman  well  known  to  all 
of  you,  of  the  highest  standing  as  a  pharmacist,  and  one 
of  the  oldest  members  of  this  Society  in  Scotland. 

As  to  the  younger  brethren,  and  those  who  have  al¬ 
ready  passed  or  are  about  to  pass  their  first  examination, 
I  would  just  say,  having  made  a  good  beginning,  sec  that 


891 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  G,  1871. 


jyou  do  not  fall  back  or  lag  behind.  Re  up  and  doing ; 
never  rest  content  with  the  appearance  merely,  but  ac¬ 
quire  knowledge  on  every  subject,  and  more  particularly 
on  that  connected  with  your  profession,  for  such  as  it  is 
you  will  be  compelled,  in  all  probability,  to  rest  upon  it 
your  whole  dependence  in  after  life.  Bear  in  mind  that 

“  In  youth’s  gay  season  of  delight, 

When  all  around  is  fresh  and  lair, 

We  think  not  of  its  rapid  flight, 

It  costs  us  not  a  single  care. 

But  grey  hairs  come,  and  wrinkles  too, 

And  many  a  thought  that  makes  us  sad ; 

Ah !  then  we  think  how  fast  they  flow, 

Those  few  short  years  when  we  were  glad.” 


conclusion,  gentlemen,  as  intelligent  members  of 
this  Association,  we  ought  to  have,  as  it  were,  one  mind 
and  one  heart  a  heart  beating- in  unison  with  each  other, 
nnd  diflusing  with  every  pulse  life  and  health  and  joy  to 
"the  remotest  member  of  the  Society.  Some  of  you  make 
a  beginning,  and  come  forward  next  session  with  a  will 
and  in  earnest.  Give  an  essay  or  a  lecture  on  some  sub¬ 
ject  bearing  upon  ourselves,  or  on  the  business  with 
which  we  are  connected,  or  on  the  Society  we  have  all 
so  much  at  heart.  There  are  not  a  few  young  men  in 
this  hall  to-night  perfectly  able,  and  I  trust  not  unwill- 
lng,  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  keep  up  and  sustain  the 
dig  ml} ,  the  prosperity  and  the  high  standing  of  the 
North  British  Branch  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society. 

At  the  close  of  this  address,  Mr.  Ainslie  moved  a  vote 
<of  thanks  to  Mr.  Aitken  for  his  servicoe  as  President  to 
the  Society.  This  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Young,  and 
carried  amidst  hearty  applause. 


At  this  stage  of  the  proceedings,  visitors  and  others 
were  requested  to  withdraw,  the  members  of  the  Society 
remaining  to  take  part  in  the  Annual  Meeting. 

The  Secretary  then  read  the 


Annual  Report. 

The  Council,  at  the  close  of  another  session,  beo-  f 
congratulate  the  members  of  the  Society  on  the  cor 
turned  progress  of  pharmaceutical  education. 

It  must  be  evident  to  those  interested  that  the  con- 
puisory  power  obtained  under  the  recent  Act  of  1868  ■ 
already  bearing  good  fruit,  and  that  the  taunt  of  war 
of  proper  culture  in  the  chemist  and  druggist  as  ar 
pertaining  to  his  daily  walk  and  avocation  is  fast  lx 
coming  a  thing  of  the  past.  This  is  not  only  highl 
satisfactory,  but  is  also  very  encouraging.  Lono-  an 
arduous  has  been  the  struggle ;  for  while  the  privilege 
vested  m  the  Society  by  the  Bill  of  1852  left  the  matte 
°*  e.x^matlfn  ^ly  optional,  it  was  felt  that  the  ver 
establishment  of  Boards  of  Examiners  in  London  an 
Edinburgh  was  m  reality  paving  the  way  for  the  mor 

compulsory  powers  which  were  obtained  in  our  last  Ac 
of  Parliament. 

It  is  true  that  the  Bill  of  1868  was  far  from  bein 
pci  feet  mixed  up  as  it  was  with  poison  schedules,  ye 

tw.1v1JStLna°  g-aTe  both  Position  and  power,  which  th 
»r  ociety  had  vainly  struggled  for  many  years  to  acquire 

t0VChnm°nt  rGCOgni1tion’  with  a  definite  organization 
has,  however,  now  placed  the  affairs  of  our  Society  o: 

such  a  firm  basis  that  it  only  requires  we  should  be  tru 

confusion  bvwV^10  US  t0  e™erS°  from  the  gloom  an. 
contusion  by  which  we  were  formerly  surrounded. 

-,4  g!ance  at  the  Journal  from  time  to  time  shows  ver 

plainly  how  many  candidates  present  themselves  for  th' 

various  examinations.  In  London  especially  the num 

forP  tbP  Ed-S1nera nleV3  Durm£  18~°>  those  coming  be 
fore  ,  the  Edinburgh  Board  were — Major  6,  Minor  31 

Preliminary  62,  Modified  44;  total  143.  Of  thes 
there  were  rejected  9  Minor,  13  Preliminary,  8  Modi 
°l  an  average  of  20  per  cent,  spread  ove 

the  whole.  In  connection  with  the  rejections,  it  is  ; 
catisfactory  thing  to  note  that  many  of  those  candidate; 


who  fail,  and  come  again  before  the  Board  for  re-exami¬ 
nation,  admit  that  it  was  a  benefit  to  be  sent  back  to  their 
studies,  as  it  compelled  them  to  become  thoroughlv  ac¬ 
quainted  with  the  various  departments  in  which  they 
had  been  found  deficient.  J 

Ific  Council  cannot  avoid  at  this  time  expressing  their 
satisfaction  that  the  very  vexed  question  of  compelling 
chemists  and  druggists  to  adopt  certain  precautions  for 
keeping,  storing  and  selling  poisons  has  been  settled 
and  arranged.  It  is  freely  admitted  that  it  is  most 
desirable  all  due  precautions  ought  at  all  times  to  be 
taken  in  keeping  and  dispensing  highly  dangerous 
articles ;  and  while,  they  conceive  that  in  most  places  of 
business  such  care  is  already  exercised  and  in  full  opera¬ 
tion,  they  can  scarcely  admit  the  propriety  of  compul¬ 
sory  measures  in  connection  with  this  departmant  of  a 
chemist  s  ordinary  business,  believing  as  they  do  that  in 
all  probability  such  an  enactment  would  have  led  to  the 
appointment  of  an  inspector  or  other  Government 
official.  The  recent  vote  at  one  of  the  Council  meetings 
has  set  the  matter  at  rest,  and  the  members  here  very 
heartily  concur  in  the  resolution  that  certain  poison 
regulations  bo  very  earnestly  recommended  for  general 
adoption. 

The  Museum  of  the  Society  in  Edinburgh  has  been 
enriched  by  a  very .  handsome  contribution  from  Mr. 
Ransom,  of  Hitchin,  in  the  form  of  a  series  of  carefully 
and  beautifully  .prepared  and  mounted  specimens  of 
many  of  the. medicinal  plants,  and  for  which  the  Council 
feel  the  Society  is  much  indebted  to  the  donor.  A  few 
other,  specimens,  have  been  added  during  the  year,  but 
auditional  contributions  will  be  gladly  received. 

The.  Library  continues  to  be  supplied  with  volumes 
from  time  to  time,  and  arrangements  have  now  been  in 
operation  for  a  considerable  period  by  which  books  can 
be  had  at  any  time  by  applying  to  the  Curator. 

As  St.  George’s  Hall,  which  has  now  been  so  long 
used  as  a  place  of  meeting,  will  be  required  for  other 
purposes,  steps  are  being  taken  to  obtain  suitable  ac¬ 
commodation  for  Museum,  Library,  Examinations  and 
place  .of  meeting.  Due  notice  will  be  given  to  those 
interested  when  the  matter  has  been  arranged. 

The  Council  think  it  due  to  Professor  Balfour  and  to 
Dr.  Stevenson  Macadam,  who  have  so  kindlv  lent  their 
assistance  in  enabling  students  in  pharmacy  to  attend 
their  lectures  on  botany  and  chemistry,  and  trust  that 
as.  the  same  liberality  continues  to  bo  exercised  pupils 
will  evince  an  appreciation  of  the  kindness  shown  by 
those  gentlemen,,  by  taking  the  opportunities  now 
placed  within  their  power  of  gaining  instruction  in  such 
important  branches  of  pharmaceutical  education. 

I  he  Council  cannot  conclude  without  tendering  their 
thanks  to  those  who  have  contributed  during  the  past 
session  to  render  the  scientific  meetings  so  interesting 
and  instructive.  The  attendance  throughout  has  been 
very  gratifying,  and  it  is  confidently  hoped  in  succeed¬ 
ing  sessions  that  the  Society  may  continue  to  record  the 
kind  assistance  of  their  friends  and  others  in  keeping  up 
the  character  and  increasing  the  number  of  these  meet- 
mgs,  which  are  now  recognized  as  being  so  useful  and 
instructive. 

After  some  remarks  by  Mr.  Mackenzie  and  others, 
various  explanations  were  given  by  the  Secretary, 
when  the  adoption  of  the  Report  was  formally  moved  by 
Mr.  Anderson,  of  Musselburgh,  seconded  by  Mr.  W. 
Gilmour,  and  carried  unanimously. 

The  following  office-bearers,  for  1871-72  were  then 
severally  proposed  and  unanimously  elected:— 

President :  Mr.  H.  C.  Baildon,  73,  Princess  Street. 

J  icc-President  :  Mr.  Buchanan,  52,  North  Bridge. 

Council :  The  President  and  Vice-President ;  Messrs. 
W.  Ainslie,  W.  Aitken,  D.  R.  Brown,  G.  Blanshard,  J. 
Gardner,  W.  Gilmour,  Kemp  (Portobello),  W.  Noble,  R. 
Raimes,  J.  R.  \oung,  J.  Mackenzie,  Kinninmont,  Davi¬ 
son  and  Fraser  (Glasgow),  with  the  President  and  Vice- 
President  in  London  ex  ojjiciis. 


May  G,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


805 


Board  of  Examiners  :  The  following  gentlemen  were 
proposed  as  members  of  the  Board: — Messrs.  H.  C. 
Baildon,  W.  Aitken,  D.  R.  Brown,  J.  R.  Young,  J. 
Buchanan,  W.  Ainslie,  D.  Kemp,  W.  Gilmour. 

Secretary  :  Mr.  John  Mackay. 

Library  and  Museum  Committee  :  President  and  Vice- 
President ;  Messrs.  Aitken,  D.  R.  Brown  and  Mackay; 
Mr.  D.  R.  Brown  to  be  Convener. 

Curator  of  Museum  :  Mr.  Paton. 

Honorary  Secretary  :  Mr.  John  Mackay. 

At  the  close  of  the  meeting  a  very  special  vote  of 
thanks  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Young  to  Mr.  Mackay  for 
-•all  the  labour  and  trouble  he  had  taken  during  the  past 
year  as  Honorary  Secretary  to  the  Society  in  Edinburgh  : 
this  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Gilmore,  and  was  enthusias¬ 
tically  carried. 

Mr.  Mackay  shortly  replied,  and  the  proceedings  were 
brought  to  a  close. 


The  Annual  Supper  of  the  North  British  Branch 
of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Great  Britain  was 
held  in  the  Cafe  Royal  Hotel.  There  were  upwards  of 
a  hundred  gentlemen  present.  The  chair  was  occu¬ 
pied  by  Mr.  H.  C.  Baildon,  who  was  supported  on  the 
aright  by  Professor  T.  C.  Archer,  Dr.  Angus  Macdonald, 
Dr.  Sidey,  Mr.  Davidson  (Glasgow),  Mr.  Paton  of  the 
Industrial  Museum,  Mr.  D.  R.  Brown  and  Mr.  Ainslie ; 
and  on  the  left  by  Dr.  Peel  Ritchie,  Mr.  Aitken,  Mr. 
Kinninmont  (Glasgow),  Mr.  George  Blanshard  and  Mr. 
D.  Kemp  (Portobello). 

The  croupiers  were  Messrs.  Buchanan  and  Mackay. 
They  were  supported  by  Messrs.  J.  R.  Young,  Gilmour, 
Leitch,  Noble,  James  Aitken,  Nisbet  (Portobello),  Con- 
nacher  (of  Markinch),  and  Dodwell  (of  London). 

After  the  usual  loyal  and  complimentary  toasts,  the 
Chairman,  in  proposing  “  The  Pharmaceutical  Society 
of  Great  Britain,”  congratulated  the  company  on  the 
progress  that  had  been  made  since  the  Society  was  insti¬ 
tuted  by  Mr.  Jacob  Bell.  The  position  the  Society  had 
taken  up  .was  now  impregnable, — everything  showing 
that  it  was  prospering  and  likely  to  prosper.  Among 
the  other  toasts  were,  “  The  President  and  Council  in 
London  and  Mr.  Mackay,”  by  Mr.  Aitken  ;  “  The 
Honorary  Members  of  the  Society,  and  Professor 
Archer,”  by  Mr.  Buchanan;  “The  Royal  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons  and  Dr.  Angus  Macdonald, 
by  Mr.  Leitch;  “The  Secretary,  Mr.  Mackay,” 
by  Mr.  Baildon;  “Friends  from  a  distance,”  by  Mr. 
Ainslie  ;  “  The  Chairman,”  by  Mr.  Kemp  ;  “  The 

Croupiers,”  by  Mr.  Young.  A  number  of  songs  and 
recitations  were  given  in  the  course  of  the  evening. 


VACANCIES  AND  APPOINTMENTS  IN  CONNEC¬ 
TION  WITH  PHARMACY. 

The  Editor  will  he  glad  to  receive  early  notice  of  any 
vacancies  of  pharmaceutical  offices  connected  with  public 
institutions,  and  likewise  of  appointments  that  are  made, — 
in  order  that  they  may  be  published  regularly  in  the  I ournal. 

appointment. 

Mr.  Albert  Ager  has  been  appointed  Dispenser  to  the 
Surrey  Dispensary,  in  the  room  of  the  late  Mr.  Nathaniel 
Staddon,  who  held  the  office  for  forty-five  years. 


MEETINGS  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 


Tuesday 
May  9. 


Royal  Institution,  at  3  P.M.— “  On  Force  and 
Energy.”  By  Mr.  C.  Brooke. 

Royal  Medical  and  Chirurgical  Society,  at 
8.30  p.m. 


Photographic  Society,  at  8  P.m. 

Wednesday  ...Society  of  Arts,  at  8  p.m. — “The  Application 
May  10.  of  Steam  to  Canals.”  By  G.  E.  Harding, 

C.E. 


Microscopical  Society,  at  8  p.m. 


Thursday . Royal  Society,  at  8.30  p.m. 

May  11.  Royal  Institution,  at  3  p.m. — “On  Sound.” 

By  Professor  Tyndall. 

Friday  . Royal  Institution,  at  9  p.m. 

May  12.  Royal  Botanic  Society. — “  Economic  Bo¬ 

tany.”  By  Professor  Bentley. 

Quekett  Club,  at  8  P.M. 

Saturday . Royal  Botanic  Society,  at  3.45  p.m. 


parlianmttarjr  mh  framiititp. 


Poisoning  of  Three  Children  by  Carbolic  Acid. 

An  inquest  was  held  last  week  in  the  Manchester 
workhouse,  at  Crumpsall,  upon  the  bodies  of  three 
girls  who  had  died  in  consequence  of  having  carbolic 
acid  administered  to  them  in  the  place  of  a  cough  mix¬ 
ture. 

Mr.  Richard  Wharf,  the  master  of  the  workhouse, 
said  there  was  a  cupboard  in  the  workhouse  that  was 
under  the  sole  charge  of  Miss  Lees,  the  assistant-school- 
mistress,  in  which  medicine  and  other  stores  were  usually 
kept,  and  also  carbolic  acid,  for  use  as  a  disinfectant. 
He  could  not  say  whether  any  caution  had  been  given 
to  Miss  Lees  as  to  the  use  of  the  carbolic  acid.  After 
the  death  of  the  first  girl  he  had  a  conversation  with 
Miss  Lees,  wrhen  she  said  she  thought  she  had  adminis¬ 
tered  the  cough  mixture. 

Mr.  Brebner,  the  resident  medical  officer,  said  he  be¬ 
lieved  the  bottle  containing  carbolic  acid  had  been  in 
the  girls’  school  about  two  years.  There  were  in  the 
cupboard  mentioned  a  bottle,  marked  poison,  containing 
carbolic  acid ;  another  with  a  cough  mixture  for  the 
girls  in  the  room;  a  third  bottle  contained  tincture  of 
iron,  to  be  taken  in  cod-liver  oil.  It  was  astringent,  but 
not  hot  like  carbolic  acid.  Upon  being  called  to  see  the 
children,  he  ordered  brandy  and  an  emetic.  He  could 
not  tell  from  the  symptoms  by  what  cause  they  had 
been  produced.  He  obtained  other  medical  assistance, 
but  the  girls  all  died.  A  post-mortem  examination  showed 
that  death  had  been  caused  by  carbolic  acid.  The  organs 
of  the  body  were  in  a  highly  congested  state,  and  there 
was  the  smell  of  carbolic  acid  in  the  stomach. 

After  having  been  cautioned  by  the  coroner,  Elizabeth 
Lees  said, — About  ten  minutes  to  eight  o’clock  on  Satur¬ 
day  the  three  girls  who  are  dead  came  to  me  for  their 
cough  medicines.  I  invariably  kept  the  carbolic  acid  at 
the  back  of  the  cupboard,  in  a  corner  along,  with  the 
Condy’s  fluid,  but,  by  some  means  or  other  which  I  can¬ 
not  explain,  the  carbolic  acid  bottle  had  got  to  the  front, 
and  was  standing  side  by  side  with  Catherine  Kearney  s 
medicine  bottle.  Since  Catherine  Kearney  had  .  been 
taking  that  medicine,  I  had  frequently  made  a  mistake 
in  taking  hold  of  the  carbolic  acid  bottle,  instead  of  the 
cough  bottle,  but  I  had  found  out  the  mistake  by  look¬ 
ing  at  the  label.  But  on  Saturday  night,  having  been 
very  unwell  all  day,  I  went  to  the  cupboard,  and  on 
opening  it  the  gaslight  shone  on  the  label  of  Catherine 
Kearney’s  medicine,  and  I  immediately  put  my  hand  on 
the  next  bottle,  fully  believing  that  it  was  the  cough 
mixture,  because  I  always  kept  them. together.  I  admi¬ 
nistered  the  contents  to  the  girls,  giving  them  a  little 
over  one  teaspoonful  each,  and  not  quite  two,  that  being 
the  quantity  of  cough  mixture  I  was  ordered  to  give. 

There  was  another  glass  of  medicine  poured  out, 
and,  having  had  a  bad  cough,  I  was  myself  in  the  act 
of  raising  it  to  my  lips  to  take  some  when  Maria 
Hughes,  a  nurse,  came  in.  She  had  previously  com¬ 
plained  of  a  cough  during  the  day.  I  said,  “  'I  ake  this, 
Maria  ;  this  will  do  you  good.”  As  soon  as  she  had 
taken  it,  she  said,  “  Oh,  dear !  how  it  burns  my  mouth  . 
Being  rather  astonished,  I  turned  round  to  the  cup¬ 
board,  and  I  saw  the  carbolic-acid -labelled  bottle 
standing  by  the  side  of  Catherine  Kearney  s.  reeling 


896 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  6, 1371. 


sure  that  I  could  not  have  made  that  mistake,  I  said, 

“  Why,  I  must  have  given  you  Catherine  Kearney’s 
medicine,  which  was  to  he  taken  in  cod-livcr  oil.” 
Thinking  that  was  the  cause  of  it  burning,  I  at  once 
poured  out  some  oil  arid  gave  it  to  Hughes.  It  seemed 
to  make  her  sick.  The  other  girl,  Mary  Ann  Monaghan, 
was  still  waiting  in  the  passage,  and  I  also  gave  her 
some  oil.  She  at  fii-st  refused  to  take  it,  but  I  told  her 

/  i 

she  had  better.  She  drank  it,  and  then  seemed  very  ill. ; 
I  then  went  for  the  doctor. 

The  coroner,  in  summing  up,  explained  the  law  on 
the  subject.  Where  a  person,  while  doing  a  lawful  act 
in  a  lawful  way,  unfortunately  killed  another  person, 
the  act  was  in  law  an  excusable  homicide.  It  was  for  j 
the  jury  to  judge  whether  this  was  the  case  in  the  present 
instance. 

The  jury,  after  consulting  for  a  short  time,  returned  a 
verdict  “  That  the  deceased  girls  died  from  misadven¬ 
ture.”  They  added  a  recommendation  that  the  board  of 
guardians  should  take  into  consideration  the  use  of  car¬ 
bolic  acid  and  other  poisonous  disinfectants  in  the  work-  . 
house,  and  by  what  means  and  by  what  persons  these 
disinfectants  be  used  in  future. 

The  nurse  Hughes  is  progressing  favourably  towards 
recovery. —  The  Manchester  Courier. 


Anaesthetics.  By  Edwakd  R.  Squibb,  M.D.  New  j 

York.  1871. 

Dr.  Squibb,  of  Brooklyn,  has  recently  published  a  pam- : 
phlet  on  the  subject  of  anaesthetics.  The  work  is,  in 
fact,  a  paper  read  before  the  Medical  Society  of  the  State 
of  New  York,  and  was  published  in  advance  of  the 
volume  of  “  Transactions  of  the  Society,”  in  the  Mew 
York  Journal  of  Medicine  for  April,  1871. 

We  are  in  England  peculiarly  well  supplied  with  in- ! 
formation  on  the  subject  of  anaesthesia.  We  have  had 
many  industrious  and  able  investigators  on  the’  subject, 
and  are  accustomed  to  find  in  it  a  rich  and  varied  litera¬ 
ture.  To  us,  consequently,  Dr.  Squibb’ s  paper  is  some¬ 
what  barren ;  he  speaks  only  of  three  anaesthetic  sub- ' 
stances,  viz.  nitrous  oxide,  ether  and  chloroform,  and 
offers  no  suggestion  in  respect  to  research  after  other  and 
better  substances  for  general  anaesthesia. 

The  paper  evidently  is  written  to  support  one  position,  j 
viz.  that  ethylic  ether  of  specific  gravity  0-728,  yields! 
the  best  and  safest  narcotic  vapour ;  to  which  is  added 
an  endeavour  to  prove  that  the  same  vapour  may  be  ; 
made  the  most  applicable  agent  for  general  administra¬ 
tion.  On  the  question  of  the  safety  of  ethylic  ether,  we 
agree  with  Dr.  Squibb ;  on  the  question  of  its  efficiency 
as  a  general  anaesthetic,  when  it  is  efficiently  adminis-  j 
tered,  we  agree  with  Dr.  Squibb ;  but  on  the  final  ques- ! 
tion  of  the  facility  of  its  administration,  we  cannot  for  a  j 
moment  agree  with  him,  neither  do  we  think  his  book  in  | 
the  slightest  measure  removes  the  well-known  and  widely  ! 
felt  objections  to  ether,  on  the  ground  of  its  indifferent 
applicability.  Dr.  Snow  hit  the  mark  admirably  wdien  he 
was  once  called  to  task,  by  some  critic,  for  inconsistency. ! 
He  had  expressed  his  opinion  freely,  that  ether  was  safer 
than  chloroform.  “  Then,”  inquired  the  critic,  “  why  do  ! 
you  not  act  consistently,  and  give  ether  to  your  many  : 
patients,  instead  of  chloroform  ?” — “  I  use  chloroform 
now  instead  of  ether,”  replied  Snow,  “  for  the  same  rea-  j 
son  that  you  use  lucifer  matches  instead  of  the  tinder- , 
box an  occasional  risk  never  stands  in  the  way  of  ready  i 
applicability.  I  his  is  strictly  true,  and  it  would  always 
hold  good  as  between  ether  and  chloroform,  if  we  were  | 
absolutely  bound  to  these  two  fluids,  i.  e.  the  one  would 
give  us  the  convenience,  the  other  the  safety,  and  the 
convenience  would  prevail ;  happily,  we  are  not  so 
bound. 

AYc  have  said  that  Dr.  Squibb’ s  advocacy  of  the  appli¬ 


cability  of  ether  is  not  borne  out  by  his  description  of 
the  fact ;  we  think  rather  that  his  advocacy  lies  the 
other  way.  For  instance,  after  describing  an  apparatus 
of  his  own  construction  for  the  administration  of  ether, 
and  which  we  can  but  admit  is  a  sensible  and  ingenious 
device,  he  proceeds  to  give  113  the  details  of  the  practice 
of  it.  In  every  case,  after  the  patient  is  ready,  the  ap¬ 
paratus,  which  consists  of  a  sort  of  double- cone  muslin 
bag,  is  wetted  completely  through  with  water,  and  after¬ 
wards  squeezed  until  it  no  longer  drips.  A  tin  tube 
is  then  introduced  into  the  narrow  part  of  the  bag,  the 
measured  quantity  of  ether  is  poured  out  into  a  tumbler, 
a  roll  of  flannel  and  blotting-board  is  immersed  into  the 
other  to  absorb  it,  and  this  roll  is  finally  put  into  the  tin 
tube.  Now  the  bag  is  charged  and  ready ;  the  open  end 
is  applied  to  the  face  of  the  patient,  so  as  to  cover  the 
mouth  and  nose,  and  the  inhalation  commences.  The 
quantity  of  ether  required  for  the  first  charge  is  lA  to  2 
fluid  ounces  for  an  adult  man,  and  the  administrator  is 
recommended  to  commence  his  operations  about  ten 
minutes  before  the  surgeon  begins  his  part.  "When  the 
stage  of  restless  excitement  occurs,  the  bag  is  to  be  kept 
to  the  mouth  with  gentle  force ;  if  vomiting  occur,  the 
bag  must  be  momentarily  removed.  And  when  the  full 
stage  of  insensibility  is  attained,  the  bag  is  for  a  time 
removed,  so  as  to  avoid  the  fourth  or  snoring  stage  of 
sleep. 

In  the  close  of  the  account  certain  precautions  are 
offered  for  preventing  “  that  supersaturation  of  the  body 
with  ether,  which  tends  to  the  more  certain  occurrence 
of  prolonged  nausea  and  vomiting,  which  so  often  induce 
septicaemia,  and  thus  cause  death.”  The  author  adds 
that  he  has  sustained  anaesthesia  with  ether  for  sixty-five 
minutes,  the  quantity  of  ether  consumed  being  less  than 
5  fluid  ounces. 

We  have  given  these  particulars  fairly  and  fully,  be¬ 
cause  they  support  what  we  have  indicated,  that  they 
are  against  the  reintroduction  of  etheT  into  practice. 
When  we  can  narcotize  with  a  fluid  which  requires  fluid 
drachms  only  instead  of  fluid  ounces,  which  can  be  car¬ 
ried  in  the  waistcoat  pocket,  which  can  anaesthetize  in 
from  three  to  four  minutes,  which  can  keep  up  the  insen¬ 
sibility  for  any  required  time,  and  which  does  not  nau¬ 
seate  more  than  ether,  we  may  be  sure  that  fatal  accidents 
from  it  in  the  proportions  in  which  such  accidents 
happen,  will  not  cause  it  to  be  displaced  by  so  incon¬ 
venient  an  agent  as  ether.  No,  the  secret  of  perfecting 
anaesthesia  lies  in  procuring  a  fluid  as  good  as  chloro¬ 
form,  as  convenient  as  chloroform,  and  as  safe  as  ether. 
Already  many  advances  have  been  made  in  this  direction 
of  research ;  the  action  of  various  narcotic  agents  has 
been  the  subject  of  much  laborious  investigation ;  the 
reasons  of  the  faults  of  ether  and  chloroform  have  been 
conspicuously  demonstrated,  and  the  actual  requirements 
for  a  safe  and  ready  anaesthetic  have  been  formulated. 
This  is  the  true  line  of  progress,  from  which  it  is  now 
as  impossible  as  it  were  unwise  to  recede.  The  bad 
effects  of  anaesthetics,  the  vomiting,  the  convulsion,  the 
syncope,  the  asphyxia,  the  occasional  death,  are,  accord¬ 
ing  to  one  of  our  most  diligent  authorities,  all  accidental 
and  unnecessary  attendants  on  the  process  of  production 
of  insensibility  to  pain  :  they  depend,  that  is  to  say, 
simply  on  qualities  in  the  agents  as  yet  employed  dis¬ 
tinct  from  the  pure  anaesthetic  qualities  of  the  agents. 
We  prefer,  therefore,  rather  to  look  forward  to  the  new 
triumphs  of  science  than,  with  Dr.  Squibb,  to  go  back¬ 
wards  to  the  old. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received: — Tbe  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  April  20;  the ‘Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
April  29 ;  the  ‘  Lancet,’  April  29 ;  the  ‘  Medical  Press  and 
Circular,’  May  3;  ‘  Nature,’ }  April  27  ;  the  ‘Chemical  News,’ 
April  28;  ‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’ April  20 ;  ‘Gar¬ 
deners’  Chronicle,’  April  29  ;  the  ‘  Crrocer,’  April  29;  ‘  Produce 
Markets  Review,’  April  29  ;  the  ‘  English  Mechanic,’  April  28 ; 
the  ‘  Doctor  ’  for  April ;  the  ‘American  Chemist  ’  for  Si  arch  ; 
the  ‘  Florist  and  Pomologist’  for  April. 


May  C,,  1671.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


S97 


Doles  ani)'  faeries. 


***  In  order  to  facilitate  reference ,  correspondents  arc 
requested  to  mark  their  ansicers  in  each  case  xvith  the  title 
and  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

[230.]— SILVERING  FOR  PILLS. — For  this  process 
two  vessels  slioulcl  be  used,  a  small  cup  gallipot  and  an 
ordinary  covered  pot.  Having  placed  the  silver  leaf  in  the 
former  and  the  pills  in  the  latter,  shake  over  the  pills  a  very 
little  compound  tragacanth  powder.  Introduce  a  few  drops 
of  proof  spirit,  according  to  the  number  of  pills  (about  one 
drop  to  the  dozen  or  less),  and  disperse  it  thoroughly  by 
agitation,  shaking  till  the  pills  are  nearly  dry.  Then  turn 
them  out  into  the  silver,  cover  with  a  piece  of  clean  paper, 
and  a  few  turns  in  the  hand  will  produce  a  very  brilliant 
result. 

I  have  adopted  this  plan  for  some  years  with  unvarying 
satisfaction. — L.  H. 

[231.] — BEETLE  POWDER. — Powdered  borax  sprinkled 
in  their  haunts  is  certain  destruction  to  them.  I  can  vouch 
for  its  efficacy. — H.  C.  B. 

[236.]— DISPENSING. 

R.  Potasses  Chloratis  ,“ij 
Potassii  Bromidi  §j 
Inf.  Gent,  recentis  ad  ^ viij 

A  sixth  part  thrice  a  day. 

In  reference  to  the  foregoing  prescription  sent  by  J.  II.  G., 
South  Hants,  we  have  received  the  following  communica¬ 
tions  : — 

I  should,  if  possible,  have  seen  the  prescriber — presuming, 
of  course,  that  he  was  what  is  called  a  duly  qualified  medical 
man — to  call  his  attention  to  the  unusual  and  excessive 
dose  ordered,  and  been  guided  by  his  instructions ;  or  if  this 
had  not  been  convenient,  I  should  have  dispensed  it  with 
potassii  bromid.  5jj  which  was  doubtless  the  quantity  in¬ 
tended, — especially  so  as  this  quantity,  if  taken  as  directed, 
would  give  the  usual  full  dose  of  ten  grains. 

I  should  also  have  made  a  note  on  the  margin  of  the  pre¬ 
scription,  saying  what  I  had  done,  partly  for  the  guide  of 
future  dispensers,  but  chiefly  to  attract  the  attention  of  the 
prescriber,  should  he  again  see  it. — J.  B.  Leslie,  Sheffield. 


No  doubt  the  sign  gj  was  a  slip  of  the  pen,  and  was  in¬ 
tended  for  5j  by  the  prescriber.  I  should  have  felt  justified  in 
dispensing  5j  of  bromide  of  potassium,  as  the  sixth  part  of 
an  ounce  would  be  so  much  in  excess  of  the  maximum  dose 

of  the  B.  P. — H.  J.  B. 


The  5j  is  evidently  a  mistake,  5j  no  doubt  having  been  in¬ 
tended;  and,  in  the  event  of  J.  H.  G.  being  unable  to  com¬ 
municate  with  the  physician,  he  would  be  perfectly  jus¬ 
tified  in  refusing  to  dispense  such  a  prescription. — Geoege 
Masson. 

[*#*  We  do  not  think  the  opinion  expressed  by  our  corre¬ 
spondents  is  correct,  for  notwithstanding  the  dose  stated  as 
the  maximum  in  the  B.  P.,  it  is  a  fact  that  bromide  of  po¬ 
tassium  is  given  now  in  very  much  larger  doses,  and  we  do 
not  think  the  quantity  stated  in  the  prescription  is  at  all 
excessive  or  unusual. — Ed.  Phaem  Jouen.] 

[237.] — RED  INK. — I  have  found  the  following  answer 
very  well : — 

R.  Carminse  9j 

Liq.  Ammon.  Fort.  5ss 
Gum.  Acacias  3j 
Aq.  Destil.  3i'j- 

Misce. — H.  J.  Blackbouen. 

[239.]— FURNITURE  CREAM.— The  following  will  be 
found  an  excellent  furniture  cream: — 

R.  Ceroe  Fiav.  2|  oz. 

„  Alb.  1  oz. 

Sapo.  Cast.  5j 
01.  Terebinth., 

Aq.  Bull,  ana  10  oz. 

Potass.  Carb.  5j- 

Melt  the  wax  and  turpentine  together,  dissolve  the  soap 


and  potass,  carb.  in  the  aqua,  and  mix  while  warm,  stirring 
till  cold. — S.  D. 

[240.]— DISPENSING. 

R.  Sp.  JEtheris, 

„  Lavandulae, 

.,  Ammon.  Ar.,  ana  5ij 
Mist;  Camph.  ad  3viij. 

M.  ft.  mist. 

The  above,  if  properly  dispensed,  would  bo  colourless  or 
very  slightly  milky.  Tinct.  iavand.  co.  must  have  been  put  in 
the  London  mixture  by  mistake. — W.  B.  Oeton. 


The  Loudon  dispenser  must  have  used  tinct.  Iavand.  co. 
(which  in  E.  Pli.  was  called  sp.  Iavand.  co.)  instead  of  sp. 
Iavand.  as  ordered.  This  would  account  for  its  being  of  a 
reddish  colour. 

Properly  dispensed,  the  mixture  should  be  colourless,  and 
perhaps  almost  imperceptibly  turbid. — J.  B.  Leslie,  Shefield. 


There  can  be  no  doubt,  I  think,  that  the  prescription,  as 
dispensed  by  Mr.  Crookes,  was  correct,  and  as  little  question 
that  in  the  former  instance  the  compound  tincture  of  lavender 
was  employed  in  place  of  'the  spirit,  which  may,  or  may  not, 
have  been  "intended.  It  may  be  urged  against  this  conclusion 
that  the  spirit  is  rarely,  if  indeed  ever  prescribed,  and  more 
especially  so  in  combination  with  spt.  ammon.  aroin. ;  but  the 
duty  of  the  dispenser  in  such  a  case  as  the  present,  seems  to 
me  "to  be  to  send  the  substance  ordered,  and  not  what  he  may 
choose  to  think  was  intended,  and  the  more  so  when  the  sub¬ 
stance  is  an  official  one;  such  a  course  of  procedure  at  once 
removes  any  blame  from  the  dispenser  to  the  prescriber, 
whilst  an  opposite  course  might  lay  him  open  to  censure. 
Every  dispenser  must  be  aware  that  in  nine  cases  out  of  every 
teD,  the  compound  tincture  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  is  desig¬ 
nated  a  compound  spirit,  and  for  this  reason  and  the  liability 
to  error  by  the  accidental  omission  of  the  word  comp.,  I  think 
it  is  to  be  regretted  that  a  substance  of  so  little  value  and  so 
seldom  used,  as  the  spirit  of  lavender,  should  have  found  its 
way  into  the  Pharmacopoeia.  Here  we  have  a  case  in  point 
of  the  value  of  an  assertion  made  by  Professor  Attfield  in  his 
paper  on  the  “  Nomenclature  of  the  Pharmacopoeia,”  that  one 
name  should  be  applied  only  to  one  substance  (and  surely 
synonyms  are  not  required  here)  ;  and  if  we  are  to  have  a 
compound  tincture  of  lavender,  do  not  let  us  have  a  com¬ 
pound  spirit  one  time  and  a  tincture  the  next.  In  such  cases 
the  dispenser  is  powerless  to  remedy  the  evil,  and  if  physi¬ 
cians  will  persist  in  such  a  course,  little  else  can  be  expected 
than  embarrassment  to  the  dispenser,  and  consequent  incon¬ 
venience,  perhaps  danger  to  the  patient.  How  much  need¬ 
less  perplexity  would  be  saved,  it  the  present  nomenclature 
were  studied  and  adopted  by  preservers  !  What  is  a  dispenser 
to  do  when  sodee  carb.,  or,  worse  still,  sodas  sesquicarb.  is 
ordered,  say  in  a  doubtful  cai?e  ?  or  in  a  mixture  where  he  feels 
tolerably  sure  the  bicarbonate  is  intended  ?  or  aq.  menthee 
without  any  clue  as  to  whether  viridis  or  piperitse  is  to  used  ? 
Every  one  knows  such  illustrations  might  be  multiplied,  they 
occur  every  day,  and  are  productive  of  much  uncertainty 
and  anxiety. — Geoege  Masson. 


I  believe,  in  most  large  dispensing  establishments,  tinctura 
Iavand ulce  composite  would  be  used,  and  would  account  for 
the  reddish  colour. — H.  J.  B. 


[241.]— WARTS.— Will  any  reader  kindly  inform  me  of  a 
good  application  for  warts.  Caustic  and  acetic  acid  have  been 
tried,  but  failed  ?— Oaiega. 

[242.]— IODIDE  OF  STARCH. -I  require  a  method  of 
making  this  in  powder.  I  have  already  made  some,  but  it 
appears  to  be  in  solution  and  I  cannot  filter  any  out;  by  eva¬ 
poration,  the  colour  disappears. — J .  T.  B. 

[243.]— HYPO  CHLORIDE  OF  SULPHUR.— I  should 
be  glad  if  some  of  your  chemical  readers  can  give  me  any  in¬ 
formation  on  the  subject  of  the  “  hypochloride  of  sulphur, 
which  Mr.  E.  Wilson  orders  in  the  ointment  he  so  frequently 
prescribes.  What  is  it,  what  is  its  composition,  and  how  is 
it  made? — E.  B. 


80S 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  6,  1371. 


***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

The  Society  axd  the  “  Outsiders.” 

Sir, — The  defence  committees,  metropolitan  and  provincial, 
have  effected  their  object — all  fear  of  compulsory  resolutions 
concerning  the  storage  of  poisons  being  extinguished, — and 
the  selected  representatives  for  the  new  Council  are  pledged 
to  resist  Government  interference.  Having,  on  request, 
allowed  myself  to  be  put  in  nomination  for  the  Council  for  a 
special  purpose,  which  no  longer  exists,  I  now  beg  to  state 
my  desire  to  withdraw  from  competition  against  those  gentle¬ 
men  who  have  been  considered  best  fitted  to  represent  the 
interests  of  pharmacy  for  the  ensuing  year. 

Being  no  longer  a  candidate,  I  feel  at  liberty  to  remark 
that,  confident  as  many  arc  in  their  security  under  the  pro¬ 
tection  of  the  new  Council,  there  will  never  be  either  safety 
or  repose  whilst  the  trade  is  divided  against  itself.  Why  is 
the  Society  to  stand  in  its  chilly  isolation,  a  mournful  spec¬ 
tacle  of  mistaken  purposes  ?  Why  does  it  not  endeavour  to 
draw  within  its  embrace  the  strength  and  power  of  numbers, 
that  when  interference  is  attempted,  it  may  present  an  un¬ 
broken  front  and  a  formidable  opposition?  As  it  exists  it  is 
useless  for  any  great  effort.  It  may  drag  uphill  an  educa¬ 
tional  element,  but  its  weakness  is  apparent  so  long  as  there 
is  a  pharmaceutic  body  and  an  army  of  “outsiders.” 

The  first  round  only  of  the  poison  battle  has  been  fought, 
and,  fortunately  for  the  Society,  there  wa3  no  difference  of 
opinion  in  the  trade, — another  instance  of  the  benefit  arising 
from  unity.  But  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  the  Privy 
Council  will  consent  to  have  its  requirements  ignored,  and 
our  danger  lies  more  in  the  division  amongst  ourselves  than 
even  in  the  power  of  Government  officers.  The  Society  is 
indebted  to  the  “outsiders”  for  their  antagonism,  which 
gave  them  power  over  the  education  of  the  future  pharma¬ 
cist;  but  it  was  never  intended  to  constitute  or  establish  a 
Society  with  one  idea  only.  Education  is  of  primary  im¬ 
portance,  but  protection  to  trade  interests  and  convenience 
is  equally  great ;  and  if  the  members  of  the  Society  are  to  be 
gratified  with  their  success  in  placing  men  of  their  choice  on 
the  governing  board,  what  guarantee  will  the  outside  trade 
have  that  their  position  will  be  considered?  In  your  leader 
of  the  loth  ult.,  you  very  justly  pointed  out  that  the  out¬ 
siders’  inability  to  influence  the  action  of  those  in  power  was 
“voluntary;”  and  that  if  they  did  not  “avail  themselves  of 
their  capability  of  legitimately  influencing  the  action  of  the 
Society”  their  abstinence  arose  from  “indifference,”  while 
their  apathy  rendered  them  unworthy  of  the  sympathy  ex¬ 
pressed  on  their  behalf. 

I  quite  agree  with  you  that  “  outsiders  ”  did  obtain  that 
concession  legally,  as  a  reward  for  the  assistance  given  to  ob¬ 
tain  the  Pharmacy  Bill;  and  there  was  also  “a  tacit  under¬ 
standing”  between  the  leaders  of  the  two  parties,  quite  as 
clear  as  that  with  the  Government  respecting  the  poisons, 
that  there  should  be  every  facility  given  to  “  outsiders  ”  to 
swell  the  list  of  membership  of  the  Society,  but  no  sooner 
was  the  power  vested  in  the  Council,  than  they  treacherously 
put  aside  “  a  tacit  understanding  ”  and  created  a  disgust  not 
easily  to  be  effaced. 

This  short-sighted  policy  of  the  conservative  Councillors  is 
now  producing  thistles  where  there  might  have  grown  figs. 
If  the  petty  jealousy  which  animated  these  gentlemen  in 
their  desire  to  keep  the  Society  for  the  future  generation  and 
their  own  domination,  had  given  place  to  a  broad  and  liberal 
spirit,  there  would  now  have  existed  one  united  body  of  che¬ 
mists,  haying  a  common  interest  to  support.  The  strength 
political  is  not  in  the  education  of  its  members,  but  in  the 
number ;  and  if  the  miserable  policy  which  has  hitherto  pre¬ 
vailed  could  be  exchanged  for  one  which  recognized  every 
member  ot  the  trade,  then  not  only  would  the  revenue  be 
doubled,  but  a  friendly  feeling  would  spring  up,  and  when 
interference  was  attempted,  there  need  be  no  division, — all 
would  fight  under  the  same  banner.  It  is  very  odd  that 
hitherto  those  belonging  to  the  Society  from  its  formation, 
have  been  chiefly  instrumental  in  retarding  its  growth  and 
preventing  the  dream  of  its  founder  from  being  fulfilled. 

May  3rd,  18/1.  John  Wade. 


Paper  Notes  for  Circulation. 

Sir, — May  I  crave  a  corner  of  the  Journal  to  indicate  to 
our  brethren  the  necessity  that  at  present  exists  for  careful 
examination  of  the  paper  that  is  daily  passing  through  their 
hands?  I  do  not  allude  to  the  daily  press,  or  the  paper  cur¬ 
rency,  but  to  the  paper  in  current  use  for  the  purpose  of 
wrapping  powders.  The  demies  and  other  makes  of  white 
paper  now  in  use  in  the  trade  are  very  generally  impregnated 
with  sulphur  compound,  introduced  for  bleaching  purposes; 
and  such  paper,  when  used  for  wrapping  pepsine  or  other 
powders  containing  free  acid,  will  in  a  short  space  of  time, 
and  particularly  so  upon  a  damp  day,  give  off  sulphuretted 
hydrogen  in  unmistakable  quantity.  My  attention  has  been 
drawn  to  this  fact  by  the  circumstance  of  detecting  the  vile 
smell  of  this  gas  in  a  recently-dispensed  packet  of  pepsine 
powders,  and  fortunately  prior  to  their  having  been  sent  out. 
A  first  impression  led  lo  the  inference  that  the  pepsine, 
although  recent  stock,  wa3  either  impure  or  undergoing  spon¬ 
taneous  decomposition;  having  satisfied  myself  to  the  con¬ 
trary,  my  attention  was  naturally  directed  to  the  paper  in 
which  the  powders  were  folded,  a  demy  of  presumed  good 
quality,  and  which,  to  the  unassisted  nose  and  eyes,  appeared 
to  be  as  good  as  could  possibly  be  dosired  for  the  purpose; 
but,  upon  placing  a  small  roll  of  it  in  a  test-tube,  and  satu¬ 
rating  with  dilute  acid,  it  gave  out  unmistakable  evidence  of 
the  source  of  the  annoyance. 

I  have  since  tested,  with  similar  result,  several  other  papers 
which  I  had  in  stock,  and  some  obtained  in  the  district,  also 
the  samples  of  a  London  dealer, — and,  I  may  add,  the  paper 
now  being  used  for  the  Journal,  which  will,  in  a  minor  de¬ 
gree,  afford  illustration. 

A  prompt  and  facile  mode  of  examination  is  to  sprinkle 
a  few  drops  of  dilute  acid  upon  a  small  piece  of  the  paper  to 
be  examined,  and  in  about  one  minute  evidence  will  be  ob¬ 
tained  by  the  olfactory  organs  more  than  sufficient  to  damage 
the  historic  reputation  of  any  first-class  dispensing  establish¬ 
ment  using  such  paper  for  containing  pepsine  powders.  It 
may  be  remarked  that  the  gas  is  more  freely  eliminated  from 
the  under  surface  of  the  paper  than  the  upper  and  sprinkled 
one,  illustrating  the  high  density  of  this  obnoxious  gas. 

Alexander  Bottle. 

Dover,  April  23th,  1871. 


Poison  Regulations. 

Sir, — You  will  oblige  by  allowing  me  a  small  space  to  ad¬ 
dress  my  fellow  pharmacists  again  upon  the  poison  regula¬ 
tions.  I  think  I  may  say  we  are  all  agreed  that  they  have' 
lost  their  most  objectionable  feature  in  ceasing  to  have  the 
character  of  iron  shackles.  But  it  must  be  remembered  that 
that  is  not  the  only  question  we  have  to  ask  ourselves  regard¬ 
ing  them.  Could  it  be  proved  that  they  were  free  from  evil 
tendencies,  I  should  still  protest  against  their  being  put  forth  as 
the  recommendation  of  our  Society,  unless  it  were  also  evident 
that  they  were  practically  useful,  and  the  most  desirable  that 
could  be  suggested.  It  is  not  my  wish  now  to  go  over  the 
whole  argument  again ;  enough  has  been  said  to  show  that 
the  proposed  code  has  been  found  wanting  in  many  respects, 
besides  the  want  of  liberty  to  adopt  any  other  precautions  in¬ 
stead  of  them,  if  others  were  found  to  be  more  applicable.  It 
was  stated  in  the  circular  of  Reasons  which  the  Council 
issued  that  the  regulations,  when  proposed  to  ho  made  com¬ 
pulsory,  ■would  not  be  enforced  ;  how  then  can  we  expect  that 
the  same  regulations,  brought  forward  as  a  simple  recom¬ 
mendation,  can  meet  with  general  adoption?  Enough  haa 
been  said  against  them  to  show  that,  as  a  code,  they  will  be  a 
dead  letter. 

I  do  not  think  we  could  expect  the  outgoing  Council  to 
bring  forward  any  modification  of  the  code,  nor  do  I  think 
that  the  Society  would  do  well  either  to  pass  the  code  as  it 
now  stands,  or  to  attempt  to  modify  it  at  the  annual  meeting. 
More  satisfactory  results  would  probably  be  obtained  by  re¬ 
questing  the  incoming  Council  to  examine  the  objections 
raised  and  the  suggestions  made  in  the  correspondence  you 
have  already  published,  and  in  the  reports  of  meetings 
already  held,  and  endeavour  to  frame  a  code  which  would 
be  more  generally  useful. 

I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  recommendations  would 
be  of  more  value  if  made  more  definite,  and  if  based  upon  the 
use  of  a  poison  label,  a  label  stating  the  dose,  and  a  label 
“  not  for  internal  use,”  and  if  every  article  to  which  any  of 
these  labels  was  recommended  to  be  applied  was  distinctly 
specified. 


May  6,  1S7L] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


S93 


There  will,  no  doubt,  be  found  other  suggestions  equally 
worthy  of  their  attention.  Barnard  S.  Proctor. 

11,  Grey  Street,  Newcastle. 


Conversazione,  Souxn  Kensington  Museum. 

Sir, — Last  year  I  observed  on  the  admission  card  to  the 
Conversazione  the  direction  “Evening  Dress.” 

Now,  many  of  our  country  members,  when  upon  rare  occa¬ 
sions  they  visit  the  metropolis,  leaving,  for  a  few  days, 

“  Their  homely  joys  and  destiny  obscure,” 

do  not  carry  many  changes  of  dress,  and  yet,  perhaps,  they 
are  not  intended  to  be  excluded  from  this  gathering. 

Could  not  a  more  definite  statement  of  what  is  required  be 
made  than  “  evening  dress”  ? 

While  many  of  our  London  members  and  their  assistants 
never  wear  an  apron,  many  of  our  more  humble  country 
associates  consider  themselves  in  evening  dress  when  they 
take  off  their  apron  ! 

Others — old  men,  like  myself— may  be  accustomed  to  wear 
the  same  dress  in  the  evening  as  they  wear  in  the  morning. 

Court  dress  is  defined;  and  if  members  are  required  to 
appear  at  the  Conversazione  in  black,  or  in  velvet,  let  it  be  so 
stated.  Joseph  Leay. 

Downside,  Chilcompton,  Bath, 

April  29 th,  1871. 


assistants,  I  think  some  improvement  on  the  present  state  of 
things  might  be  made,  with  equal  advantage  to  both  parties. 
Early  closing  would  not  only  be  a  boon  to  those  who  are  pre¬ 
paring  for  their  examinations,  but  also  for  those  who  have 
passed,  and  who  wish  to  retain  and  add  to  the  knowledge 
they  have  gained. 

One  who  nas  passed  the  Major 
Examination. 


Sir,- 


signed 


-I  observe 
Aspirant 


Proposal  to  Enforce  Early  Closing. 

Sir, — Would  you  kindly  allow  me,  through  the  medium  of 
your  valuable  Journal,  to  agitate  the  early  closing  proposal, 
which  appeared  in  your  last  issue.  I  think  the  Council  might 
as  justly  enforce  it  as  the  examinations  are  enforced.  After 
being  behind  the  counter  from  7.30  a.m.  until  10  p.m.  and 
Saturdays  until  12  p.m.,  may  I  ask  what  time  is  there  for 
study?  (Even  on  Sunday  three  hours  night  and  morning 
are  required  respectively.)  If  in  the  meantime  an  hour’s 
study  was  allowed  daily,  it  would  certainly,  in  a  slight  degree, 
alter  the  case;  but  that  is  out  of  the  question  altogether,  for 
the  mere  appearance  of  a  book  within  the  said  hours,  makes 
the  too  general  cry  of  “Look  alive,  so-and-so  wants  making 
or  doing,”  vibrate  through  the  place. 

Without  exception  do  Mr.  Newey’s  statements  concerning 
“existing  jealousy”  (which  also  occupied  a  portion  of  last 
week’s  Journal)  apply  to  certain  members  of  the  profes¬ 
sion  in  a  town,  where  apprentices  have  repeatedly  tried 
and  failed  to  pass  their  Preliminai’y  examination.  What 
else  but  failures  can  be  expected  amidst  such  privileges, 
where  neither  an  association  is  formed  or  classes  to  attend? 
whereas  in  a  neighbouring  town,  much  smaller,  all  the 
chemists  open  and  close  at  eight  prompt,  and  have  formed 
an  association  and  classes,  and  find  it  to  answer  admirably. 

I  mean  jealousy,  not  only  in  Mr.  Newey’s  instance,  but 
most  particularly  respecting  the  closing  of  their  various  esta¬ 
blishments.  As  ten  o’clock  approaches,  those  who  are  seve¬ 
rally  situate  in  sight,  watch  each  other  like  a  cat  watching  a 
mouse.  Eventually  one  has  the  good  resolution  to  close,  then 
out  of  a  kind  of  shame  the  others  follow  suit,  but  still  don’t 
find  their  coffers  any  better  fdled  than  some  wise  exceptionals, 
who  close  at  eight  prompt  and  find  the  day’s  work  quite  long 
enough.  I  think  the  suggested  addendum  of  your  last  week’s 
correspondent,  would  do  away,  in  a  great  measure,  with  the 
ill-feeling  amongst  members,  and  greatly  facilitate  the  ap¬ 
prentices  and  assistants  in  passing  the  examinations  now  set 
before  them. 

I  hope  you  will  insert  this,  as  it  will  give  those  in  the  me¬ 
tropolis  an  idea  of  how  business  is  carried  on  in  the  country, 
and  that  some  influential  exertions  will  be  brought  to  bear 
to  supply  the  deficiency  in  the  Pharmacy  Act  of  1868. 

Justice. 


a  letter  in  your  impression  of  last  week, 
to  the  Major  Qualification,”  which,  to  my 
mind  hits  the  greatest  drawback  to  our  business,  namely,  the 
absurdly  long  hours  of  business. 

His  object  in  writing  is  to  gain  for  students  the  time  neces¬ 
sary  for  study— a  worthy  object.  But  when  “  Aspirant  ”  has 
passed  his  Major  Examination,  and  finds  himself  in  business 
some  day,  will  not  the  burden  of  his  imprisonment  be  even 
yet  harder  to  bear  ?  He  will  find  himself  opening  his  shop  at 
7.30  a.m.,  from  which  time  until  10.30  or  11  p.m.  he  will  not- 
be  able  to  leave  his  occupation.  Can  any  position  bo  more 
pitiable  ? — a  recluse  nolens  volens,  debarred  from  all  those 
social  enjoyments  and  relaxations  which  make  life’s  journey 
pleasant. 

A  gentlemanly  profession,  forsooth  !  Certes,  had  I  known, 
or  been  in  a  position  to  calculate,  what  would  follow  when  I 
served  my  apprenticeship  of  five  years  to  a  worth}7  man  in  a 
country  town,  with  plenty  of  spare  time  and  freedom,  I  had 
quickly  abandoned  all  idea  of  adopting  pharmac}7. 

And  I  ask  any  sensible  chemist  why,  in  the  name  of  all 
that’s  rational,  we  glue  ourselves  to  our  counters  for  two  and 
three  hours  after  other  tradesmen  are  enjo}Ting  that  rest  whicha 
long  day’s  work  demands  ?  I  venture  to  think  no  one  will 
assert  that  the  exigencies  of  the  profession  require  it.  All 
the  thought  the  public  takes  for  us  is  embodied  in  a  remark 
made  to  me  last  night  by  a  gentleman  who  brought  his  pre¬ 
scription  at  10  p.m.:  “I  should  have  come  earlier,  but  I 
knew  j'our  shop  would  not  be  closed.”  Therefore,  we  must 
act  for  ourselves.  This  would  be  easy  enough  if  those  in  high 
places  amongst  us  so  willed  it. 

Pray  pardon  me  for  occupying  so  much  of  your  space,  but, 
when  on  this  subject,  I  can’t  help,  as  Sam  Meller  says, 
“  opening  the  valve  a  inch  or  two.” 

A  Pharmaceutical  Chemist. 

Brighton,  April  29th,  1871. 


“Jury  Service.” 

Sir, — The  letter  of  “  W.  B.  O.”  in  your  last  Journal,  ap¬ 
pealing  for  the  Council’s  consideration  of  exemption  from 
“  jury  service,”  is  a  just  and  reasonable  one  ;  and  this  subject 
may  be  urged  upon  the  Privy  Council  very  appropriately. 

The  amended  Pharmacy  Act  imposes  upon  all  chemists  and 
druggists  regulations  which  require  the  constant  attention 
and  personal  inspection  of  the  proprietor,  to  see  that  they 
are  carried  out,  he  being  responsible  for  any  omissions  by  any 
one  left  in  charge. 

Is  it  therefore  just  or  right  that  such  regulations  should  be 
imposed  by  the  Legislature  unless,  at  the  same  time,  there  is 
provided  “exemption  from  jury  service”  for  all  upon  “the 
register  P” 

Leek,  Mag  1st,  1871. 


W.  J. 


Sir, — Your  correspondent  “  Aspirant  to  the  Major  Qualifi¬ 
cation”  is  acting  on  the  maxim  of  Oliver  Cromwell,  that, 
while  “  it  is  good  to  strike  when  the  iron  is  hot,  it  is  better  to 
make  the  iron  hot  by  striking.”  The  iron  has  got  cold ;  so 
much  has  been  said  and  written  about  that  all-absorbing 
topic,  the  poison  regulations,  that  the  old  grievance  of  which 
your  correspondent  complains  has  been  lost  sight  of.  I  am 
.glad  to  see  the  subject  introduced  again.  I  do  not  see  the 
practicability  of  “Aspirant  for  the  Major  Examination’s” 
.suggestion,  that  early  closing  should  bo  made  compulsory ; 
but,  if  the  question  were  fairly,  discussed  by  employers  and 


The  Pharmaceutical  Examinations. 

Sir, — I  ask  leave  to  express  my  satisfaction  with  the  letter 
of  “  Minor  Associate”  in  your  last  week’s  issue  on  the  above 
subject.  I  think  with  him  that  the  case  of  the  “  Modified  ” 
men  was  as  well  met  as  could  be  under  the  circumstances ; 
although  there  was  a  degree  of  hardship  in  the  retrospective 
character  of  the  Pharmacy  Act. 

As  one  who  was  compelled  to  avail  himself  of  the  less 
stringent  examination,  I  beg,  however,  to  protest  against  the 
“  Ah,  me  miserabile !  ”  style  of  some  of  your  “  modified  ”  cor¬ 
respondents. 

Doubtless  there  are  many  of  these,  even  as  of  pharmacists 
of,  say,  ten  or  fifteen  years  ago,  to  whom  the  present  Pre¬ 
liminary  would  be  an  impassable  barrier;  but  on  the  other 
hand,  let  it  be  borne  in  mind  that  there  are  not  a  few  to 
whom  it  would  be  a  trifle,  who  have  neither  time  nor  inclina¬ 
tion  to  superadd  to  their  present  duties  that  of  acquiring 
proficiency  for  an  examination  in  technical  science.  “  Modi¬ 
fied”  gentlemen  desirous  of  pharmaceutical  honours  ought 


900 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  6,  1871. 


not  to  slirink  from  the  conditions  upon  which  they  are  ob¬ 
tainable. 

My  own  opinion  is  that  with  the  qualifications  necessary 
to  pas3  the  “Modified,”  £1000  and  a  good  opening  for  busi¬ 
ness,  any  one  may  leave  all  doubts  about  getting  on  to 
“aspiring”  members  of  the  profession. 

Another  Associate. 


Sir, — I  quite  agree  with  B.  S.  that  the  Council  ought  to 
be  a  little  more  just  in  their  rules,  etc.  in  respect  to  the  exa¬ 
minations.  I  will  not  take  up  much  of  your  valuable  space, 
but  I  should  like  to  say  a  word  on  the  separate  examinations 
for  chemists  who  were  in  business  at  the  time  of  the  passing 
of  the  Pharmacy  Act.  I  was  in  business  myself  at  the  time, 
and  made  application  to  the  Secretary  for  examination,  but 
was  informed  that  I  either  must  have  been  in  business  five 
years  or  be  not  less  than  thirty  years  of  age.  I  could  not 
comply  with  either,  as  I  had  only  been  in  business  about  a 
year  and  was  only  twenty-eight  years  of  age.  I  was 
anxious  to  pass  the  examination ;  but  I  could  not  think  of 
starting  with  the  Preliminary  Examination  at  my  age  and 
with  the  cares  of  business.  It  may  be  said  that  a  line  has  to 
be  drawn  somewhere  and  that  it  must  be  hard  for  somebody. 
Now  I  contend  if  a  line  is  to  be  drawn,  why  not  in  all  fair¬ 
ness  draw  it  thus,  viz.,  that  all  who  were  in  business  for 
themselves  at  the  time  the  Act  was  passed  ought  to  have 
been  entitled  to  pass  the  separate  examination  irrespective 
of  their  age  ?  What  has  age  got  to  do  with  it  so  long  as  a 
man  is  in  business  P  Will  some  one  plead  my  cause  ?  if  they 
do  they  will  plead  for  many  in  like  circumstances.  The 
Council  ought  to  revise  their  regulations  on  the  above  sub¬ 
ject  and  give  all  a  fair  start.  Pro  Boko  Publico. 

Sir, — Your  correspondent  George  Sant,  in  last  week’s 
Journal,  is  quite  correct,  I  am  sure,  in  his  assumption  that 
“many  of  the  unsuccessful  in  the  last”  Preliminary  knew 
little  or  nothing  of  the  Latin  language  before  entering  their 
apprenticeship,  and  I  am  glad  he  has  opened  up  the  subject 
in  order  that  it  may  be  thoroughly  ventilated.  I  should  like 
to  see  some  of  your  abler  correspondents  give  some  hints  and 
recommendations  to  those  who  are  in  the  following  position, 
and  they  are  not  a  few.  A  young  man  not  having  received 
a  classical  education,  possibly  educated  at  a  British  school, 
and  whose  parents  were  not  in  a  position  to  give  him  a  liberal 
education,  aspires  to  the  trade  of  chemist  and  druggist;  he 
becomes  an  apprentice  before  the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy 
Act,  not  knowing  that  examination  would  be  compulsory, 
and  twelve  or  eighteen  months  after  he  has  been  apprenticed 
the  Act  is  passed,  compelling  him  to  learn  Latin  during  his 
business  hours  and  to  undergo  a  thorough  training — a  most 
desirable  thing,  but  which,  if  he  had  known  it  before,  would 
have  turned  his  attention  to  some  other  trade  or  profession, 
possibly  as  remunerative  and  requiring  no  classical  know¬ 
ledge. 

In  your  leader  of  the  22nd  ult.  you  say  the  questions  apart 
from  Latin  “  were  not  at  all  more  difficult  than  a  boy  who 
has  received  a  liberal  education  might  be  expected  to  answer.” 
Unfortunately  all  have  not  received  a  liberal  education,  and 
it  is  on  behalf  of  such  I  write  and  ask  for  information  for 
their  direction.  Can  anything  be  done  to  meet  their  case  ? 
May  they  expect  any  mercy  at  the  hands  of  the  examiner  ? 

To  a  youth  having  just  left  school  and  knowing  such  an 
examination  has  to  be  passed  before  enteriug  on  the  study  of 
chemistry,  botany,  etc.  it  is  nothing,  but  to  such  an  one  as 
I  have  described  the  case  is  widely  different;  and  you  would 
be  conferring  a  great  benefit  upon  such  if  you  would  open 
your  columns  for  a  little  interchange  of  ideas  upon  this  par¬ 
ticular  subject,  and  upon  which  our  future  pharmacists  de¬ 
pend.  Sympathetic. 

In  reply  to  our  correspondent’s  inquiry,  we  would 
suggest  that  since  a  liberal  education  is  a  necessary  qualifica¬ 
tion  for  the  practice  of  pharmacy,  those  who  are  wanting  in 
that  respect  should  either  overcome  this  deficiency  or  abandon 
the  idea  of  becoming  pharmacists.  At  the  same  time,  we 
think  it  would  not  be  any  great  hardship  to  acquire  a  know¬ 
ledge  of  such  Latin  as  is  of  daily  use  in  ordinary  business. — 
Ed.  Pjharm.  Journ.] 

Sir, — In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1869  I  was  one  of  a  num¬ 
ber  of  gentlemen  who  passed  the  Modified  Examination.  Seve¬ 
ral  months  later,  whilst  busy  at  my  work  of  preparing  for  the 
Major  Examination  (my  progress  being  but  slow,  in  conse¬ 
quence  of  the  calls  of  business),  I  heard  that  some  bye-laws 


had  passed  which  took  from  me  the  right  of  presenting  my¬ 
self  for  examination,  and  swept  away  whatever  privileges  I 
had  possessed  upon  my  election  as  an  Associate  of  tbe  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society. 

Had  I  been  in  the  least  warned  of  such  a  step,  in  all  pro¬ 
bability  I  should  have  taken  immediate  steps  for  entering 
my  name  on  the  list  of  candidates  for  a  Minor  Examination, 
or,  to  say  the  least,  if  I  had  had  any  degree  of  foresight  I 
might  have  avoided,  as  a  snare  and  a  delusion,  the  Modified 
Examination, — which,  in  truth,  I  had  elected  solely  on 
grounds  of  economy. 

To  an  outsider,  such  a  case  may  appear  trivial,  and  nothing 
worse  than  a  mild  dose  of  red  tape  ;  but  to  many  assistants 
who  have  already  passed  middle  age,  it  is  far  otherwise.  I 
refer  especially  to  those  who  are  engaged  in  some  of  our 
bustling  shipping  and  manufacturing  towns,  where  the  hours 
of  business  range  from  6.30  or  7  a.m.  to  10  p.m.,  and  not  un- 
frequently  midnight.  I  know  of  situations  where  it  would 
puzzle  the  boldest  to  find  any  time  for  study;  but,  for  the 
sake  of  brevity,  I  will  not  multiply  instances.  Is  it  reason¬ 
able  that  the  meaning  of  the  Pharmacy  Act  should  be  so 
affected  by  stringent  bye-laws  as  to  withdraw  the  only  bond 
of  sympathy  that  connected  the  most  intelligent  part  of  our 
assistants  with  the  Pharmaceutical  Society? 

I  hope  the  Council  will  reconsider  their  cruel  decision,  and 
prevent  the  estrangement  of  a  large  body  of  well-meaning 
gentlemen.  The  result  will  be,  I  feel  sure,  a  source  of  encou¬ 
ragement  to  many  who  are  striving,  by  self-instruction  and 
other  means,  to  fulfil  their  part  in  the  elevation  of  their  pro¬ 
fession.  Spes. 

Warrington,  April  28th,  1871. 

A  Ciiemists’  Club. 

Sir, — Having  frequently  been  asked  by  young  men  in  the 
country,  “  Where  can  we  stay  if  we  come  up  to  town  to  attend 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society  or  in  search  of  situations?”  it  Las 
induced  me  to  address  those  in  the  trade  through  your  columns 
on  the  subject  of  a  “  chemists’  club  ”  being  formed,  where 
young  men  could  Lave  the  comforts  and  accommodation  of  home 
at  a  moderate  expense.  I  am  fully  convinced  it  would  be 
well  supported,  nor.  only  by  those  in  the  country,  but  also 
those  resident  in  town,  and  there  are  many  advantages  v  hi  fa 
would  be  derived  from  such  an  institution.  I  should  much 
like  to  see  the  matter  further  discussed  in  your  Journal. 

.  ■  A  Subscriber. 

C.  P. — The  plant  sent  is  not  Ranunculus  bulbosus,  but  is 
the  common  celandine,  figwort  or  pilewort,  R.  Ficaria,  Liun. 
var.  a.  dioergens,  E.  Schultz.  Its  acrid  property  has  led  to 
its  use  for  outward  application  in  some  forms  of  tumours,  but 
this  acridity  is  easily  dispelled  by  heat, — indeed  it  is  used  as  a 
potherb  in  some  parts  of  Sweden.  It  is  not  nearly  so  acrid 
as  some  of  the  buttercups,  though  moist  grass  lands  are  some¬ 
times  dressed  with  coal  or  wood  ashes  to  destroy  it.  We  do 
not  remember  an  instance  of  its  injurious  effects  to  man  or 
beast.  Eigures  of  that  plant  and  R.  btilbosus  can  be  seen  in 
Sowerby’s  ‘English  Botany,’  vol.  i. 

F.  Thompson. — You  had  better  apply  to  the  Secretary  for 
a  Syllabus  of  the  Examination. 

F.  Hall. — Yes. 

C.  G.  B. — The  sum  of  10s.  6d.  paid  annually  by  a  registered 
apprentice  or  student  of  the  Society  is  not  paid  by  him  for 
the  Journal,  but  as  the  subscription  attached  to  connection 
with  the  Society.  In  virtue  of  this  connection  he  is  entitled 
to  be  supplied  with  a  copy  of  the  Journal  free,  to  the  free  use 
of  the  library  and  museum,  and  to  attend  the  lectures  of  the 
professors  at  half  fees.  The  Jacob  Bell  scholarships,  also, 
are,  under  certain  restrictions  as  to  age,  open  to  him. 

Querist. — See  the  information  on  this  subject  already  pub¬ 
lished,  ante,  pp.  590, 752,  772,  791,  and  in  this  week’s  number, 
p.  890. 

G.  H. — A  formula  for  u  Pick-me-up  ”  has  already  been 
given  at  p.  497. 

W.  Clark  will  find  a  formula  for  peppermint  cordial  on 
p.  497  and  one  for  aniseed  cordial  on  p.  737. 

Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  E.  Agnew,  Mr.  E.  Skippei’,  Mr.  J.  Whitfield,  Mr.  J. 
Metherell,  Mr.  C.  Symes,  Mr.  A.  Marshall,  Mr.  A.  T.  Girdlcr, 
Mr.  M.  C.  Cooke,  Mr.  A.  H.  Mason,  Norwich  Chemists’ 
Assistants’  Association,  C.  H.,  J.  T.  V.,  M.  P.  S.,  B.  S., 
“Kappa,”  “TolPedn  Penwith,”  “Hydrargyrum,”  “Stucco.” 
A.  P.  S.  has  not  complied  with  the  rule  as  to  anonymous- 
communications. 


May  13,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


901 


ORIENTAL  SPICES.* 

BY  JAMES  BATON, 

Assistant-Keeper  in  the  Museum  of  Science  ancl  Art , 

Edinburgh. 

In  the  early  history  of  the  world,  and  down  to 
comparatively  modern  times,  the  trade  in  spices  oc¬ 
cupied  a  very  different  position  from  that  in  which 
we  now  find  it.  The  name  itself  indicates  that  they 
were  the  chief  medium  of  international  exchange; 
and  in  our  language,  to  the  present  day,  we  have 
the  word  specie  applied  to  gold  used  for  such  ex¬ 
change.  Both  words  are  derived  from  the  Latin 
species,  land  or  quality;  thus  both  spice  and  specie 
mean  the  special  kind  or  medium  of  trade.  Spice 
was  thus  in  ancient  times  the  staple  of  foreign  com¬ 
merce,  as  cattle  was  that  of  domestic  trade ;  in  pro¬ 
cess  of  time  men  found  it  convenient,  instead  of 
dragging  about  their  oxen,  to  use  the  image  of  an  ox 
on  a  bit  of  leather,  hence  pecunia  and  pecuniary,  or 
cattle  transactions ;  so  also  in  foreign  commerce 
specie  or  gold  tokens  came  into  the  place  of,  or  to  ex¬ 
change  for  spices. 

As  the  primary  object  of  tliis  paper  is  to  give  an 
outline  of  the  commerce  in  these  substances,  only 
such  notes  of  their  natural  history  will  be  prefixed 
as  may  enable  us  to  comprehend  what  we  mean  by 
Oriental  spices,  and  some  of  the  conditions  under 
which  they  grow. 

All  spices  have  in  common  a  hot  pungent  taste, 
and  are  possessed  of  stimulant  properties,  in  which 
their  value  chiefly  lies ;  they  possess,  in  addition, 
a  more  or  less  pleasing  aromatic  flavour,  and 
these  properties  reside  in  an  essential  oil,  or  other 
chemical  bodies  they  contain.  They  are  drawn  from 
widely  different  sections  of  the  vegetable  kingdom, 
and  from  very  various  organs  and  parts  of  plants. 
Thus  we  have  spices  from  rhizomes  or  root-stocks, 
from  bark,  twigs,  leaves,  flower-buds,  fruit  and  from 
the  appendages  of  the  fruit,  so  that  almost  every  part 
of  the  living  plant  is  in  turn  employed  to  yield  these 
precious  products.  Notwithstanding  this,  the  series 
of  substances  used  to  any  considerable  extent  in  the 
form  of  spice  is  not  at  all  extensive ;  and  it  is  only  to 
the  two  or  three,  which  have  had  much  commercial 
importance,  including  cinnamon  and  its  allies,  com¬ 
mon  pepper,  the  clove,  the  nutmeg  and  mace,  that 
we  may  at  the  present  time  refer. 

Foremost  in  order  of  antiquity,  most  highly  prized 
for  delicacy  of  flavour,  and  most  generally  esteemed, 
stand  the  spices  of  the  cinnamon  series.  In  regard 
to  these,  a  considerable  amount  of  confusion  long 
existed,  and  still,  to  some  extent,  remains.  Cinna¬ 
mon,  cassia,  or  cassia  lignea,  and  cassia  vera  are  the 
recognized  commercial  distinctions  of  these  sub¬ 
stances  ;  and  as  regards  properties  and  value  they 
are  quite  sufficient.  They  are  the  barks  of  various 
species  of  trees  or  shrubs  belonging  to  the  Natural 
Order  Lcairacece,  or  Laurels  ;  and,  as  cultivated,  are 
in  their  foliage  and  general  appearance  not  unlike 
the  so-called  laurels  or  bay  bushes  common  along  all 
garden  and  park  walks.  "Were  the  plants  allowed 
to  develope  they  would  become  trees  of  considerable 
size;  but  as  the  most  valuable  bark  is  procured 
from  young  shoots,  the  coppice  system  is  pursued  in 
their  cultivation;  that  is,  they  are  treated  as  we 
treat  our  plantations  for  yielding  oak  bark,  the  main 


*  Paper  read  before  the  North  British  Branch  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society  at  Edinburgh,  April  24,  1871. 

Third  Series,  No.  4G. 


stem  being  cut  down,  a  vigorous  growth  of  shoots 
springs  from  the  roots,  and  from  these  shoots  cinna¬ 
mon  and  cassia  are  prepared. 

The  true  cinnamon  of  modern  times  is  derived 
from  Ginnamomum  Zeylanicum  ;  so  named  from  the 
impression  that  Ceylon  is  the  native  country  of 
cinnamon.  Undoubtedly  the  best,  and,  till  within 
very  recent  times,  the  only  true  cinnamon  brought 
to  Europe,  since  the  Portuguese  opened  up  the  Cape 
passage,  came  from  Ceylon.  But  it  is  remarkable 
that,  previous  to  the  settlement  of  the  Portuguese  in 
Ceylon,  only  the  most  obscure  hints  regarding  its 
existence  in  that  country  are  to  be  found.  And  it 
was  not  till  well  into  the  seventeenth  century,  after 
the  Dutch  had  long  held  the  island  and  devoted 
very  great  attention  to  the  cultivation  of  this  spice, 
that  the  fame  of  Ceylon  cinnamon  arose,  as  being 
the  finest  and  richest  in  the  world,  Ceylon  may, 
notwithstanding,  have  been  its  native  country  ;  but, 
in  that  case,  the  cinnamon  of  the  earlier  ages  must 
have  been  a  variety  of  cassia,  which  we  find  by 
Pereira  is  in  much  greater  esteem  than  cinnamon 
in  the  East  of  Europe — the  countries  of  the  early 
overland  traffic.  Or  it  has  also  been  suggested 
that  cinnamon,  as  well  as  coffee,  is  a  native  of 
north-east  Africa,  the  country  marked  in  ancient 
maps  Begio  Cinnamomifera  or  Aromata  ;  now  known 
as  Guardafui,  from  two  Arabic  words,  meaning  the 
promontory  of  spices;  and  that  the  enterprising 
Arabs  conveyed  the  plants  to  both  the  Malabar 
coast  of  India  and  Ceylon  ;  in  the  latter  of  which  all 
the  conditions  for  the  most  perfect  development  of 
their  properties  existed,  whereas  in  India  they 
quickly  degenerated,  and  have  only  left  their  traces  in 
valueless  wild  plants  found  among  the  Coorg  Hills. 

The  sources  of  the  less  delicate  spice,  cassia,  are 
more  numerous,  being  produced  by  several  species 
of  Ginnamomum ;  ancl  geographically,  it  is  compa¬ 
ratively  widespread.  .  The  species  of  Ginnamomum 
yielding  cassia  have  not  yet  been  very  clearly  esta¬ 
blished  ;  but  there  is  no  doubt  that  Chinese  cassia, 
which  is  most  largely  imported,  is  yielded  by  a  dif¬ 
ferent  species  from  that  which  flourishes  in  Hin- 
dostan.  The  old  Dutch  naturalist  Rumphius  re¬ 
marked  that  cinnamon,  cassia,  and  clove  bark, 
though  so  very  much  alike,  are  scarcely  ever  found 
in  the  same  countries ;  it  is,  therefore,  probable  that 
cassia  is  produced  in  the  different  regions  where  it 
grows  from  different  but  allied  species.  However, 
as  no  commercial  distinction  is  maintained  betwixt 
these,  it  is  sufficient  for  our  purposes  to  know  that 
cassia  is  a  comparatively  widespread  spice,  culti¬ 
vated  in  China,  the  Malay  Peninsula,  Hindostan, 
and  many  of  the  islands  of  the  Indian  Archipelago. 

The  bark  known  as  Cassia  vera,  is  the  thick 
pieces  taken  from  the  old  stems  of  the  species  of 
Ginnamomum,  and  differs  from  the  others  only  in 
containing  a  very  large  proportion  of  woody  fibre  to 
an  exceedingly  small  percentage  of  aromatic  matter. 

The  less  important  spices  yielded  by  the  Ordei: 
Lauracece  we  simply  enumerate  as  cassia  buds,  the 
flower-buds  of  species  of  Ginnamomum  ;  clove  bark, 
the  Culitlawan  or  Kulit-lawang  bark  ( Ginnamomum 
culitlawan)  of  the  Moluccas  or  Spice  Islands ;  and 
the  Ravensara  nuts  of  Madagascar  (Agathophyllum 
aromaticum ).  The  commercial  relations  of  these  are 
unimportant. 

Cloves,  which  are  the  flower-buds  of  a  tree,  the 
Garyophyllus  aromaticus,  belonging  to  the  Natural 
I  Order  Myrtacece  or  Myrtles,  were  originally  confined 


302 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  13, 1871. 


to  five  exceedingly  small  islands  in  the  Moluccas. 
The  culture  was  transferred  to  Amboyna  by  the 
Dutch,  who,  for  the  purposes  of  their  monopoly, 
made  the  most  strenuous  and  barbarous  efforts  to 
extinguish  the  growth  in  all  other  parts.  Even  a 


_ in 

removal  of  this  small  distance  had  such 

that 


feat 

was 

and 

cess 


an  effect 

upon  the  highly  sensitive  clove-tree,  that  it  threw 
back  the  period  of  bearing  from  the  seventh  or  eighth 
year  of  its  age  in  its  native  islands  to  the  twelfth  or 
fourteenth  in  the  Amboyna  group.  On  this  account 
Humpliius,  who  calls  the  clove  “  the  most  beautiful, 
most  elegant  and  most  precious  of  all  known  trees, 
says,  “  Hence,  it  appears,  that  the  Great  Disposer 
of  tilings  in  His  wisdom,  allotting  His  gifts  to  the 
several  regions  of  the  world,  placed  cloves  in  the 
kingdom  of  the  Moluccas,  beyond  which,  by  no 
human  industry,  can  they  be  propagated  or  perfectly 
cultivated.”  For  many  centuries  the  truth  of  this 
assertion  remained  unassailable ;  and  it  was  only 
about  the  beginning  of  this  century  that  the  tree  was 
successfully  grown  away  from  the  Archipelago,  being 
then  introduced  to  several  French  colonies  in  the 
Indian  Seas,  Guiana  and  the  West  Indies,  and  Zan¬ 
zibar  on  the  East  African  coast,  from  which  last 
the  chief  supply  of  cloves  now  comes.  But  this 
against  nature,  as  Humpliius  would  assert, 
only  accomplished  after  long-continued  efforts 
repeated  failures,  and  owed  its  measure  of  suc- 
to  the  bitter  monopoly  of  the  Dutch,  who,  to 
maintain  their  monopoly  prices,  were  often  obliged 
to  burn  their  superfluous  stores ;  and  it  is  on  record 
that  in  two  days  in  17G0,  8,000,000  florins’  worth  of 
cloves  were  burned  at  Amsterdam,  perfuming  the  air 
with  delicious  fragrance,  and  distilling  spicy  streams 
of  essential  oil  from  the  burning  mass. 

The  following  is  a  fanciful  description  of  the  clove- 
tree  by  Sir  Thomas  Herbert : — “  ’Tis  most  part  of 
the  year  green,  having  leaves  long  and  small  dis¬ 
tending  into  many  branches.  It  blossoms  early, 
but  becomes  exceedingly  inconstant  in  complexion, 
from  a  virgin  white  varying  into  other  colours  ;  for 
in  the  morning  it  shows  a  pale  green,  in  the  me¬ 
ridian  a  distempered  red,  and  sets  in  blackness.  The 
cloves  manifest  themselves  at  the  utmost  end  of  the 
branches,  and  in  their  growing  evaporate  such  sense- 
ravishing  odours,  as  if  a  compendium  of  Nature’s 
svreetest  gums  were  there  extracted  and  united.” 

It  is  at  the  point  when  the  opening  flower-bud 
from  being  first  a  delicate  green  has  passed  through 
a  pale  yellow  to  a  blood-red  that  the  spice  is  ready 
for  harvesting.  If  left  on  the  tree  after  this  period, 
the  calyx  rapidly  swells,  the  fruit  ripens,  nearly  all 
aroma  disappears,  and  what  are  known  as  mother- 
cloves  are  produced. 

The  clove-tree  is  remarkably  variable  in  its  yield ; 
some  years  there  is  ahnost  no  harvest,  and  at  vary¬ 
ing  intervals  of  from  three  to  six  years  there  is  an 
extraordinary  crop.  Seven  pounds  is  a  large  average 
for  a  tree,  but  some  trees  have  been  known  to  yield 
regularly  from  40  to  00  lb.  Humpliius  mentions  a 
remarkable  tree,  130  3Tears  old,  which  one  season 
yielded  the  enormous  quantity  of  1100  lb.,  and  next 
season  half  that  quantity.  At  that  time  the  produce 
of  this  single  tree  for  these  two  years  would  yield 
nearly  <£'300  ;  and  that  was  a  much  larger  sum  then 
than  it  now  represents. 


KALA  NEMUK,  OR  BLACK  SALT. 

BY  M.  C.  COOKE,  M.A. 

This  drug  is  in  high  esteem  amongst  the  natives 


of  India,  and  appears  to  be  nothing  more  than  an 
impure  chloride  of  sodium  containing  a  little  sul- 
phuret  of  iron.  It  has  the  appearance  of  a  brown, 
dirty  table  salt,  discoloured  with  soot,  not  by  any 
means  prepossessing.  Under  the  heading  of  sodii 
cliloridum,  it  is  briefly  alluded  to  in  the  Pharma¬ 
copoeia  of  India.  The  Hindustani  names  are  Kala- 
niinuk,  Bit-loban  or  Bit-noben,  Pud-loon,  Nimuch- 
seeyah  and  Sownchurloon.  In  Persian  and  Arabic 
it  is  named  Melk,  Melk-nuft,  Melk-aswed,  Nimue-i- 
nuft,  Nimue-i-sed  and  Nimue-i-hindi.  It  is  probably 
the  sal  asphaltites  and  sal  sodomenus  of  Galen  and 
other  ancient  authors. 

The  following  is  the  description  of  this  substance 
as  given  by  Dr.  Waring.  It  occurs  in  large  irre¬ 
gular  masses,  for  the  most  part  of  a  dark  brown 
colour.  It  has  a  strong  saline  taste,  communicating 
a  peculiar  sensation  diffused  over  the  mouth,  which 
is  not  easily  described.  At  first  the  taste  is  dis¬ 
agreeable,  but  those  wdio  are  in  the  habit  of  using  it, 
declare  that  it  not  only  becomes  pleasant,  but  is 
often  taken  to  remove  a  disagreeable  taste  from  the 
mouth.  When  the  salt  is  perfectly  dry,  it  has 
scarcely  any  perceptible  smell ;  but  wdien  moistened 
it  sends  forth  a  strong  smell  of  sulphuretted  hy¬ 
drogen.  It  dissolves  readily  in  a  small  portion  of 
water,  forming  a  solution  of  a  greenish  colour,  which 
emits  a  strong  sulphureous  smell,  resembling  bilge- 
wrater,  or  the  foulest  gun-scourings.  By  exposure  to 
the  air  the  smell  gradually  abates,  the  greenish 
tint  disappears,  the  liquor  becoming  clear  as  the 
purest  water ;  when  this  has  taken  place,  if  the  solu¬ 
tion  has  been  pretty  strong,  on  pouring  out  the 
water  the  inside  of  the  vessel  in  which  it  wras  con¬ 
tained  is  found  lined  with  a  crust  of  a  dark  brown 
colour — a  phenomenon  observed  in  most  sulphur 
wrells ;  this  will  be  best  discovered  if  the  experiment 
is  made  in  a  glass  vessel. 

It  wras  for  some  time  considered  doubtful  whether 
or  not  this  wras  a  natural  or  artificial  product.  That 
there  is  a  dark- coloured  natural  salt  to  wliich  the 
name  of  Kala-nemuk,  or  black  salt,  is  applied  there 
can  be  no  doubt ;  but  it  is  equally  certain  that  the 
drug  so  highly  extolled  by  the  natives  for  its  medi¬ 
cinal  virtues  is  an  artificial  combination  of  common 
salt  with  iron  and  sulphur.  It  is  tins  artificial  pro¬ 
duct,  therefore,  which  is  the  subject  of  these  obser¬ 
vations,  and  .which  possesses  pharmacological  in¬ 
terest. 

The  follow-ing  analysis  and  method  of  preparation 
are  given  on  the  authority  of  Playfair’s  translation  of 
the  ‘  Taleef  Sliereef’ : — Black  oxide  of  iron,  6  grains; 
sulphur,  14  grains ;  muriate  of  lime,  12  grains  ;  mu¬ 


riate 


grams 


(To  he  continued.) 


of  soda,  444  grains ;  loss  4  grains  =  480 
It  is  thus  prepared : — Take  two  seers  (about 
4  lbs.)  of  anula  (fruit  of  Emblica  officinalis),  one  seer 
about  2  lbs.)  of  Ashkhur  (iron  scoriae  ?),  bruise  both 
and  mix  them  with  20  seers  (about  40  lbs.)  of  rock- 
salt,  also  bruised ;  put  the  whole  into  a  vessel,  cover 
the  vessel  wdtli  a  cloth,  all  except  the  mouth ;  lute 
this  cloth  wrell  with  soft  clay,  and  place  it  in  the 
sun  to  dry.  When  perfectly  dry,  put  it  on  the  fire 
(let  the  mouth  of  the  vessel  be  rather  small).  Keep 
constantly  stirring  it  with  an  iron  spatula  or  spoon ; 
when  well  boiled  and  mixed,  take  it  off  and  allow  it 
to  cool,  then  add  tinkhar  (borax),  jawakhar  (an  im- 


May  13, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


pure  borax),  tilkh  (talc,  probably),  kibreetk  (sul¬ 
phur),  sweet  salt  and  soot,  equal  parts  ;  mix  all  well 
together  and  add  a  quantity  of  salt  water ;  then  boil 
the  whole  down  and  strain  slowly  through  a  cloth 
by  drops,  then  boil  the  clear  fluid  till  crystallization 
takes  place. 

This  appears  to  be  the  genuine  medicinal  salt 
such  as  we  have  met  with,  and  which  was  known  to 
Dr.  Waring  when  he  wrote  the  description  we  have 
quoted.  In  the  Punjab  an  artificial  black  salt  is 
made  without  iron  or  sulphur,  according  to  Mr. 
Baden  Powell,  who  gives  the  following  mode  of 
manufacture  in  his  recent  volume  of  ‘  Punjab  Pro¬ 
ducts.’  It  may  be  remarked  incidentally  that  there 
are  several  compounds  known  to  the  natives  under 
different  names  wliich  have  chloride  of  sodium  as  a 
principal  ingredient : — “  One  maund  of  Sambar,  or 
Dindwa  salt ;  \  seer  of  ‘  baherali  ’  (fruit  of  Termi- 
nalia  belerica) ,  seer  of  ‘  liar  ’  (fruit  of  Terminalia 
chebula) ;  ^  seer  of  ‘  aonla  ’  (fruit  of  Emblica  offici¬ 
nalis)  ;  -j-  seer  of  black  sajii  (impure  carbonate  of 
soda) :  all  these  are  put  into  an  earthen  pot  over  a 
fire  and  kept  there  till  scorched;  when  about  35 
out  of  41  seers  remain,  the  pot  is  taken  oft’  and  the 
black  salt  is  made.  About  two  maunds  of  wood  are 
used.  The  price  is  now  in  Bhawani  three  rupees 
per  maund.  It  is  used  only  as  medicine,  and  is  ex¬ 
ported  to  the  North-Western  Provinces  and  to  the 
Punjab.  No  tax  is  levied  at  Bhawani,  but  it  pays 
duty  as  salt  when  taken  across  the  customs’  line.” 
It  is  called  Kala  nimak  or  Nimak  sonclial.  There 
is  no  indication  of  iron  in  this  process.  Probably 
both  methods  are  employed,  and  hence  the  ‘black 
salt  ’  may  or  may  not  contain  iron  according  to  its 
mode  of  manufacture.  The  name  given  in  the 
*  Taleef  Shereef’  is  Nemuk-soonchur  or  Nemuk-sia, 
called  also  Bitlaban  and  Kala-nemuck.  It  is  de- 

-  J  — — -"•«  •—*  ^  am  •  o  rl 

scnoea  as  a  tome  m  u.y  ojjcjjoi.c»  Ul  UV  f  W  V1W  W 
struent  in  obstructions  of  the  spleen  and  mesenteric 
glands  of  children ;  a  stimulant  in  chronic  rheu¬ 
matism  and  palsy ;  a  vermifuge.  Dr.  Henderson 
and  Mr.  Twining  consider  that  there  is  reason  to 
believe  that  in  chronic  enlargements  of  the  spleen 
and  liver,  the  result  of  malarious  poisoning,  it  pos¬ 
sesses  considerable  powers.  Twining  advises  its 
administration  in  doses  of  gr.  x.  with  5ss  of  the 
black  myrabolan  every  morning,  in  the  intervals 
between  the  employment  of  liis  famous  spleen 
mixture.  It  is  held  in  high  esteem  in  various  forms 
of  paralysis,  especially  in  that  in  which  the  organs 
of  speech  are  affected,  and  it  is  extensively  used 
by  native  farriers  in  the  diseases  of  cattle. 


THE  PREPARATION  OP  CHLORAL. 

Extracted  from  the  remarks  of  Dr.  E.  R.  Squibb 
before  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association. 

Cliloral  is  the  ultimate  product  of  the  action  of 
chlorine  on  alcohol,  as  its  name  implies,  the  first 
syllables  of  the  two  words  being  formed  into  the 
name ;  “  clilor,”  the  first  syllable  of  chlorine,  and 
“  al,”  the  first  syllable  of  alcohol,  making  “  chloral.” 
When  chlorine  gas  in  a  dry  state  is  passed  into 
absolute  alcohol,  a  series  of  changes  appear  to  take 
place  wliicli  may  depend  on  the  abstraction  of  hy¬ 
drogen  and  the  substitution  of  chlorine.  The  first 
portions  of  chlorine  gas  that  pass  into  absolute 
alcohol  are  converted,  or  appear  to  be  converted,  at 
once  into  hydrochloric  acid,  and  that  hydrochloric 


903- 


acid  is  absorbed  by  the  remainder  of  the  alcohol  and 
reacts  with  it,  producing  hydrochloric  ether.  The 
second  step  in  the  reaction  is  to  again  decompose  or 
supersaturate  this  hydrochloric  ether  with  chlorine, 
and  then  hydrochloric  acid  escapes ;  and  finalty,  as 
heat  is  applied  in  the  process,  the  hydrochloric  ether 
escapes  and  a  substitution  appears  to  take  place, 
whereby  chlorine  is  substituted  for  hydrogen  in  the 
already-decomposed  alcohol.  This  is  but  a  rude  out¬ 
line  of  the  process.  Cliloral  was  discovered  by  Lie¬ 
big  in  1829  or  1830,  although  the  paper  in  which  it 
was  described  was  not  published  until  about  1832 ; 
therefore  it  is  commonly  stated  that  he  discovered 
it  in  1832,  which  is  incorrect.  Dumas  was  the  next 
who  investigated  it,  and  these  two  observers  investi¬ 
gated  it  as  a  table  specimen  product.  Last  year. 
Dr.  Otto  Liebreicli,  in  his  physiological  investiga¬ 
tions  regarding  the  group  of  anaesthetic  chemicals, 
reasoned  back  to  this  substance  the  known  effects  of 
chloroform,  and  tried  it  first  upon  animals,  then  upon 
patients.  At  first  he  supposed  it  was  an  anaesthetic,, 
but  afterwards  modified  this  view,  and  now  I  believe 
regards  it  as  a  hypnotic,  and,  in  some  cases,  an  ano¬ 
dyne.  The  apparatus  for  making  chloral  consists, 
first,  in  the  means  of  generating  chlorine ;  second, 
in  the  means  of  drying  the  chlorine  ;  third,  in  the 
means  of  passing  it  into  absolute  alcohol  without 
loss ;  and,  fourth,  having  the  absolute  alcohol  in 
such  a  position  that  it  can  be  gradually  wanned. 
The  process  requires  about  twenty-eight  days  for 
the  current  of  chlorine  to  be  passed  into  the  absolute 
alcohol,  and  I  believe  the  slower  the  current  passes 
into  the  absolute  alcohol  the  better ;  that  is  to  say, 
the  longer  the  time  which  is  taken  to  produce  the 
chloral  the  better ;  I  think  there  is  less  waste  and 
more  chloral  obtained  for  the  same  quantity  of  alco¬ 
hol.  It  is  a  curious  circumstance  that  hydrate  of 

hv  nassinor  the  chlorine  into  ab- 

XVJ  p/A  VV*  V*v  V  JU  w 

solute  alcohol,  and  this  shows  that  water  13  OTIC  Of 
the  results  of  the  decomposition  of  the  alcohol ;  yet 
if  hydrated  alcohol  be  used,  the  product  is  different. 
I  have  tried  different  degrees  of  strength  of  alcohol, 
from  absolute  down  to  ninety-two  per  cent.,  and  have 
obtained  good  results  only  from  absolute  alcohol. 
16  gallons  of  such  alcohol,  in  twenty- eight  days, 
with  the  use  of  about  a  ton  and  a  quarter  of  mixture 
of  binoxide  of  manganese  and  common  salt,  and 
about  the  same  quantity  of  sulphuric  acid, — the  16 
gallons  of  absolute  alcohol  weighing  about  92  pounds, 
— I  obtained  about  160  pounds  of  crude  hydrate  of 
chloral.  This  crude  hydrate  of  chloral,  as  it  is  made 
by  the  passage  of  the  chlorine  into  the  alcohol,  is 
contaminated  with  several  other  products  wliich  pass 
over  in  the  distillation,  and  cannot  be  separated  by 
simple  distillation.  It  is  necessary,  therefore,  to 
apply  sulphuric  acid  in  the  purification  of  the  cliloral. 
Concentrated  sulphuric  acid  is  shaken  with  the  crude 
hydrate  of  chloral,  and  the  dehydrated  chloral  is 
then  distilled  off  from  the  sulphuric  acid.  In  this 
way  we  get  cliloral  that  is  free  from  water.  After 
purifying  tliis  by  one  or  two  applications  of  sulphuric 
acid,  then  the  stoecliiometric  proportion  of  water  is 
added,  and  it  is  either  sublimed  or  crystallized.  In 
connection  with  tliis  liydrature  allow  me  to  go.  back 
to  the  name  of  chloral.  I  iwopose  to  call  it  simply 
chloral, — not  hydrate  of  chloral,  nor  chloral  hydrate. 
It  seems  to  me  surplusage,  as  we  do  not  in  our  lan¬ 
guage  commonly  call  hydrated  compounds  hydrates  ; 
that  is,  we  do  not  usually  recognize  the  presence  of 
combined  water  in  the  names  of  chemical  compounds. 


901 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  13, 1871. 


We  do  not  say  hydrate  of  sulphuric  acid,  or  hy¬ 
drate  of.  hydrochloric  acid,  and  in  this  case  we  shall 
save  a  good  deal  of  nomenclature  that  is  useless  by 
calling  it  simply  chloral.  We  heard  yesterday,  that 
the  bees  by  taking  a  little  honey  from  each  flower 
gathered  thirty  millions  of  pounds.  Every  flower 
and  every  bee  helps  to  make  the  aggregate.  A  cer¬ 
tain  amount  of  nervous  force  is  expended  on  every 
word  we  utter,  and  if  we  save  this  word  now  (and 
now  is  the  time  to  start),  it  will  save  an  aggregate 
of  nervous  force  which,  in  the  future,  will  amount  to 
a  great  many  lives.  I  do  not  believe  in  useless  lan- 
guage,  particularly  where  it  can  so  well  be  avoided, 
and,  therefore,  think  we  had  better  call  this  from 
the  beginning,  simply  chloral,  although  the  other 
name  is  pretty  generally  used* 

The  difficulties  in  the  way  of  making  chloral  are 
very  numerous.  The  apparatus  I  have  now  at  work 
is  about  the  tenth  modification  from  the  first  one, 
and  I  started  with  all  the  knowledge  on  the  subject 
then  in  the  books.  The  liberation  of  chlorine  from 
common  salt  and  black  oxide  of  manganese  by  run¬ 
ning  sulphuric  acid  into  it  is  easy  enough,  but  unless 
the  current  be  steady  the  result  is  imperfect,  and 
there  can  be  no  good  or  definite  calculations  made 
as  to  the  time  or  the  quantity.  The  black  oxide  of 
manganese  and  common  salt  need  both  to  be  assayed 
and  added  together  in  their  equivalent  proportion, 
and  then  the  calculated  amount  of  sulphuric  acid,  in 
any  given  specimen  is  to  be  made  upon  its  specific 
gravity,  and  the  acid  can  only  be  added  to  the  mix¬ 
ture  by  calculation,  because,  if  added  until  chlorine 
ceases  to  be  eliminated  a  great  excess  will  be  used. 
I  mix  100  pounds  of  the  mixture  of  black  oxide  of 
manganese  and  common  salt  with  about  ten  gallons 
of  water  in  a  still,  and  then  run  seven  gallons  of  00° 
slowly  into  it,  using  “  pan  acid,”  1562  specific  gra¬ 
vity,  using  a  mechanical  stirrer,  and  heating  the  mix- 

■fnvA  Tv*  4-1-  -»*.  '  ^  w 

jLii  mis  a  tolerably  uniform  current  of  chlorine 
is  eliminated.  This  is  then  conducted  to  the  drying 
apparatus,  which  consists  of  a  tliree-neck  Woulfe’s 
bottle,  with  a  long,  narrow  glass  percolator  ground 
into  the  middle  neck.  This  percolator  is  filled  with 
pieces  of  broken  glass  from  which  the  fine  particles 
have  been  sifted  out,  and  into  the  top  of  this  broken 
glass,  concentrated  sulphuric  acid  is  supplied  from 
an  elevated  reservoir.  This  acid  percolates  through 
the  broken  glass,  and  accumulates  hi  the  Woulfe’s 
bottle  below  until  it  reaches  the  level  of  an  adjusted 
siphon,  by  which  it  is  discharged  through  one  of  the 
necks  of  the  bottle.  Through  the  third  neck  the 
chlorine  enters  by  a  tube  which  dips  under  the  acid 
in  the  bottle.  Thus  the  gas  is  made  first  to  bubble 
through  the  acid  in  the  bottle,  and  then  to  pass  over 
the  extended  surface  of  broken  glass  in  the  tall  per¬ 
colator,  this  surface  being  kept  moistened  with  fresh 
portions  of  acid,  and  thus  becomes  thoroughly  dried 
and  in  the  proper  condition  to  enter .  the  alcohol. 
The  chlorine  thus  passed  down  into  the  alcohol  at 
first  increases  the  volume  of  the  alcohol  by  one- 
fourth.  At  first,  the  whole  of  the  bubbles  of  gas  are 
absorbed,  and  the  alcohol  increases  in  volume  and 
becomes  heated,  the  bottle  requiring  to  be  kept  cold ; 
but  after  about  three  days  the  reaction  between  the 
chlorine  and  alcohol  becomes  more  sluggish,  and 


*  Wlxile  this  note  is  being  prepared  for  publication  a 
serious  mistake,  bj  abbreviating  the  words  hydrate  of  chloral 
to  “hyd.  chlor.”  in  prescription,  was  corrected  in  time  to 
avoid  danger. — E.  It.  S. 


then  a  little  heat  in  the  bath  is  necessaiy.  From 
that  time  the  bath  is  made  gradually  warmer  until 
the  end  of  the  process,  which  is  determined  by  the 
gas  pressing  unchanged  through  the  hot  liquid  in 
the  bottles.  The  product  is  then  the  crude  hydrate 
of  chloral.  Then  if  the  contents  of  the  bottles  be 
allowed  to  cool,  a  large  proportion  crystallizes.  It 
will  not  run  from  one  part  of  the  bottle  to  another, 
but  still  is  very  moist.  This  is  taken  in  portions  of 
about  twenty  pounds  at  a  time  and  shaken  up  with 
six  to  eight  pounds  of  strong  sulphuric  acid,  the 
whole  mixture  poured  into  a  tubulated  retort  and 
the  chloral  distilled  off.  This  is  received  in  a  clean, 
dry  vessel,  is  weighed,  and  then  partially  hydrated 
with  a  weighed  quantity  of  water.  .  Carbonate  of 
lime  and  slaked  lime  are  then  added  in  the  propor¬ 
tion  of  four  ounces  to  each  twenty  pounds,  and  the 
mixture  is  again  distilled  from  a  clean  apparatus. 
The  result  of  the  distillation  now  is  partially  hy¬ 
drated  chloral;  it  distils  better  partially  hydrated 
than  when  hydrated  entirely.  The  remainder  of  the 
water  required  by  stoecliiometrical  calculation  is  now 
added,  and  the  hot  liquid  poured  on  plates  to  crys¬ 
tallize,  the  plates  being  covered  by  a  bell-glass.  In 
a  few  hours  the  crystallization  is  complete,  and  if 
well  managed  the  contents  of  the  plates  are  in  a  solid 
cake,  which  is  rubbed  into  a  coarse,  damp  powder  in 
a  clean  mortar,  and  filled  into  bottles. 

I  obtained  from  16  gallons  of  absolute  alcohol 
160  pounds  of  crude  chloral,  which,  when  purified, 
yielded  about  125  pounds  of  purified  hydrate  of 
chloral.  That  is  about  the  best  yield  I  have  yet 
obtained.  I  have  now  about  65  gallons  in  process 
all  the  time,  by  a  series  of  baths,  by  which  I  expect 
to  get  110  pounds,  or  thereabouts,  every  week,  or 
every  ten  days ;  that  is,  each  bath  being  of  a  different 
age,  and  being  finished  in  about  thirty  days,  will 
give  one  bath  or  n recess  everv  — :n 

-  ~  J  ww~- .  o.  J_U  VV  i-Li. 

thus  be  seen  that  it  is  not  a  very  profitable  prepara¬ 
tion  to  make,  particularly  when  made  in  competition 
with  the  German  article,  and  I  believe  I  should 
never  have  undertaken  to  make  it,  except  for  my 
conviction  that  it  is  the  most  important  of  all  the 
additions  to  the  materia  medica  for  many  years  past, 
and  very  commonly  sent  to  our  market  from  abroad 
of  bad  quality,  and  without  any  traceable  responsi¬ 
bility  in  regard  to  quality  or  make. 

Some  accidents  of  an  apparently  trivial  nature 
seemed  to  indicate  that  chloral  is  very  liable  to  de¬ 
composition  from  contact  with  organic  matter,  but 
experiments  have  shown  that  it  is  not  equally  liable 
to  this  decomposition  from  all  kinds  of  organic 
matter.  Even  the  same  kind  of  organic  matter  does 
not  always  produce  the  same  effect  with  the  same 
cliloral.  For  example,  where  syrup  of  orange-peel 
is  used  as  a  vehicle,  decomposition,  with  the  produc¬ 
tion  of  hydrochloric  acid,  will  sometimes  commence 
in  a  day  or  two,  and  sometimes  not  for  weeks, 
though  the  apparent  conditions  be  the  same.  One 
observer  will  testify  that  with  simple  syrup  it  never 
spoils  or  decomposes,  while  another,  equally  trust¬ 
worthy,  will  find  the  same  chloral  decompose  with 
simple  syrup  very  promptly.  Under  such  circum¬ 
stances,  the  only  safe  practice  is  to  keep  clfloral  as 
free  as  possible  from  all  organic  matter  until  we 
know  more  about  it ;  and  this  particularly  in  view 
of  the  harm  it  does  when  given  in  even  a  partially 
decomposed  solution.  It  appears  to  be  by  far  the 
best  practice  to  dispense  it  in  simple  watery  solution 
in  glass- stopped  vials,  since  in  this  condition  it  keeps 


May  13, 1S71.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


905 


indefinite!}7,  and  can  be  added  to  any  desired  vehicle 
at  the  time  of  taking;  and  ice -water  appears  to  be 
about  as  good  a  vehicle  for  this,  as  for  all  saline 
substances,  as  any  yet  devised.  When  given  to 
patients  who  have  been  long  fasting  it  is  often  found 
to  disagree  with  them,  or  at  best  to  affect  them  less 
favourably  than  when  given  near  a  meal,  or  when 
the  gastric  secretions  are  not  in  the  condition  of  long 
fasting.  Hence,  the  syrup  of  orange-peel,  or  the 
mucilage,  etc.,  with  which  it  is  common  to  give  it, 
may  not  be  without  useful  effect,  and  those  physicians 
who  have  now  abandoned  these  mixtures  for  the 
simple  solution,  often  if  not  generally,  advise  their 
patients  to  eat  a  cracker,  or  take  some  other  light 
food  in  small  quantity,  before  or  immediately  after 
a  hypnotic  dose.  When  the  medicine  affects  per¬ 
sons  unfavourably,  it  should  always  be  examined  for 
hydrochloric  acid  by  smelling  and  tasting,  and  by 
litmus  paper.  Nitrate  of  silver  is  too  sensitive  a 
test,  for  if  the  solution  have  been  some  time  made, 
and  especially  when  water  containing  organic  matter 
is  used,  a  cloudiness  may  be  produced  with  this  test 
which  it  is  quite  safe  to  disregard. — Proc.  Am.  Ph. 
Association,  1870. 


FILTERING-PAPERS  AND  FILTERS, 

With  General  Remarks  on  the  Important  Branch  of 
Practical  Pharmacy  in  which  they  are  employed. 

BY  JOSEPH  M.  HIRSH,  OE  CHICAGO. 

Original  suggestions  are  almost  impossible  upon  this 
practical  topic,  which,  for  we  know  not  how  many  cen¬ 
turies,  has  busied  not  only  the  master  minds  occupying 
themselves  with  the  sacred  healing  art,  but  everybody 
almost  in  all  vocations  of  life ;  and  the  excellent  sug¬ 
gestions  regarding  filters,  laid  down  in  all  works  on 
practical  pharmacy,  will  be  a  sufficient  apology  for  con¬ 
fining  the  present  essay  to  a  few  observations  on  the  fil¬ 
tering-paper  and  filters  in  general  use.  The  main  object 
of  filtration,  with  especial  reference  to  pharmacy,  being 
the  separation  of  a  clear  liquid  from  a  solid  residue,  we 
must  demand  as  of  prime  importance  of  the  filtering- 
medium,  that  it  offers  a  dense,  uniform,  unbroken  sur¬ 
face  to  the  liquid  passing  through  it,  so  that  no  solid 
particles  may  pass  through  the  same,  the  complete  sepa¬ 
ration  of  which  from  the  liquid  is  aimed  at. 

The  most  ordinary  objects  of  filtration  at  the  pharma¬ 
cist’s  are  the  preparations  of  clear  tinctures,  and  the 
restoration  of  such  liquid  preparations  as  have  grown 
turbid  or  deposited  a  sediment  by  standing,  respectively 
by  decomposition  ;  these  latter  instances  being,  a  pity  to 
say,  by  no  means  exceptional.  For  this  object  paper  is 
mainly  employed  as  a  cheap  and  convenient  medium. 

The  general  characteristics  of  good  filtering-paper,  like 
complete  dense  felting,  uniformity,  poverty  in  soluble 
salts,  constituting  its  ashes,  are  well  known,  and  your 
reporter  can  only  repeat  the  experience  of  many  who 
have  found  good  Swedish  filtering-paper  to  fulfil  all 
claims  of  prime  quality  made  upon  it.  But  it  was  always 
selected  with  some  partiality,  because  upon  repeated  tests 
of  the  ordinary  filtering-paper,  obtainable  in  our  back- 
woods  town  of  Chicago,  a  sad  deficiency  was  found. 
Three  qualities  were  chiefly  obtainable. 

The  French  grey  filters,  coming  in  round  sheets,  ready 
for  folding;  square  grey  sheets,  sometimes  of  lighter 
colour  and  white ;  square  sheets,  so-called  Swedish  filter¬ 
ing-paper,  which  it  might  be,  although  the  coolness  with 
which  it  keeps  its  name  is  the  only  sign  of  its  northern 
homb.  It  is  not  felted  evenly,  some  spots  being  quite 
heavy,  while  others  are  so  thin  as  to  be  semi-transparent, 
and  others  again  permit  not  only  the  passage  of  light, 


but  of  solid  tangible  substance.  In  fact  I  could  never 
obtain  any  Swedish  filtering-paper  here  but  what  had 
at  least  some  pinholes.  Of  the  grey  filtering-paper,  the 
round  French,  as  also  the  square,  twenty  sheets  in  each 
hundred  examined  contained  pinholes.  Such  paper  is 
perfectly  useless  for  the  separation  of  some  precipitates, 
while  it  may  answer  for  the  separation  of  others,  such  as 
would  fill  up  even  the  gigantic  pores  of  imperfect  filters. 
In  this  case  the  first  turbid  filtrate  would  have  to  be  re¬ 
turned  upon  the  filter,  upon  which  the  deposition  of  the 
first  precipitate  then  forms  the  true  filtering  medium. 

The  safest  way  in  using  such  filtering-paper  is  to  use 
a  double  filter,  when  the  dense,  unbroken  sheet  of  the 
one,  upon  being  moistened,  will  closely  press  against  the 
sides  of  the  second  filter,  thus  closing  up  any  imperfec¬ 
tions  present  in  the  same,  although  there  is  one  much 
better  way,  namely,  not  to  use  such  filtering-paper  at  all. 
In  some  cases  the  use  of  double  or  even  quadruple  filters 
becomes  necessary,  even  if  the  quality  of  the  paper  is 
excellent,  as  in  the  filtration  of  concentrated  aqueous 
solutions  of  oils  or  carbolic  acid,  when  a  clear  solution  is 
desired.  In  this  case  the  benefit  resulting  from  the  use 
of  several  layers  of  paper  is  not  only  due  to  the  greater 
depth  of  the  filtering  medium  through  which  the  liquid 
has  to  pass,  but  to  the  different  direction  given  to  the 
liquid  dining  its  passage  through  each  filter,  so  that  it 
pursues  a  zigzag  course  through  the  different  strata  of 
paper,  which  is  equivalent  to  a  longer  and  more  obstructed 
passage,  with  which  the  good  effect  of  filtration  increases. 
Paper  filters,  on  account  of  the  feeble  strength  of  the 
material  and  its  limited  size,  can  only  be  used  for  opera¬ 
tions  upon  a  small  scale ;  and  for  such  we  often  find  a 
preferable  substitute  in  clean,  well-washed  cotton  batting, 
a  small  quantity  of  which  is  pressed  into  the  neck  of  a 
common  funnel,  which  then  is  filled  with  the  liquid  to 
be  filtered.  The  cotton  plug  may  be  made  as  loose  or 
firm  as  the  filtering  liquid  demands ;  its  dimensions,  re¬ 
spectively  to  its  depth,  may  also  be  increased  or  decreased 
at  pleasure,  liquids  of  great  fluidity  passing  readily 
through  a  dense  and  deep  cotton  plug;  while  syrups 
filter  only  through  a  loose  plug,  unless  pressure  is  ap¬ 
plied.  For  this  purpose,  also,  cotton  is  preferable,  as 
considerable  pressure  can  be  used  to  increase  the  speed 
of  filtration ;  while  paper  would  not  be  strong  enough  to 
resist  that  pressure  without  especial  care  and  precaution, 
such  as  using  at  the  same  time  a  filter  of  cotton  cloth,  which 
sustains  the  pressure,  and  upon  which  the  paper  filter 
lies,  so  as  to  make  no  folds,  while  the  funnel  which  sup¬ 
ports  the  filter  must  have  exactly  an  angle  of  45  degrees, 
so  as  to  ensure  the  close  adherence  of  the  filter  to  the 
walls  of  the  funnel.  A  small  platinum  cone  may  also  be 
slipped  over  the  joint  of  the  filter,  having  the  same  angle, 
to  add  to  its  strength  to  sustain  the  pressure.  The  fur¬ 
ther  construction  of  pressure-filters  has  been  so  fully  a 
subject  of  discussion  in  the  pharmaceutical  press,  that  I 
may  safely  pass  it  by  with  the  suggestion  that  the  sim¬ 
plest  pressure-filter  is  a  siphon,  where  filtration  would 
take  place  upward  through  the  short  arm  of  the  same. 
To  do  this  successfully,  the  opening  of  this  short  arm 
must  be  very  wide,  narrowing  down  funnel-like  to  the 
tube,  which  should  be  of  very  small  calibre.  The  differ¬ 
ence  in  width  between  the  short  and  the  long  arm  must 
be  very  great,  to  render  the  siphon  useful  as  a  filter,  for 
the  reason  that  only  a  large  opening  closed  by  the  ob¬ 
structing  filtering  medium  will  admit  through  the  latter 
a  sufficiently  large  amount  of  liquid  to  keep  the  long 
arm  of  the  siphon-tube  filled.  Should  less  than  that 
amount  of  liquid  pass  through,  air  will  enter  and  will  at 
once  disturb  the  action  of  the  siphon. 

On  a  large  scale  the  pharmacist  rarely  has  occasion  to 
use  filters  except  in  percolation,  which  perhaps  hardly 
belongs  within  the  scope  of  this  paper,  since  filtration 
has  simply  the  object  of  separating  a  liquid  substance 
from  a  solid  one,  while  percolation  proper,  in  the  cus¬ 
tomary  pharmaceutical  sense  of  the  term,  by  means  Of 
filtration  accomplishes  also  the  extraction  of  soluble  sub. 


906 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  13, 1871. 


stances  from  the  filtering  medium.  But  the  process 
being  mainly  one  of  filtration,  your  reporter  ventures  to 
present  a  few  suggestions  which  he  deems  as  applicable 
to  pharmaceutical  percolation  as  to  filtration  proper. 

Filters  or  percolators  should  be  constructed  tall  and 
narrow,  so  that  the  filtering  or  exhausting  liquid  should 
have  to  travel  a  great  distance  through  a  large  mass  of 
filtering  material,  or  powdered  drugs  in  the  case  of  per¬ 
colation,  as  only  with  the  increased  contact  and  surface 
the  efficiency  of  a  filter  is  increased.  If  of  two  filters  of 
the  same  capacity,  the  one  is  twice  as  tall  as  the  other, 
the  tallest  will  be  almost  twice  as  effective,  since  in  the 
shorter  filter  the  liquid  passes  but  half  as  long  through 
the  filtering  material,  withdrawing  itself  soon  from  the 
same,  while  each  particle  of  liquid  comes  in  contact  with 
but  half  the  quantity  of  filtering  material,  the  paths 
which  the  filtering-liquid  passes,  being  increased  in 
number  in  the  same  ratio  as  they  are  decreased  in  length. 

Although  used  in  the  arts  for  many  years,  the  prac¬ 
tical  application  of  this  principle  in  pharmacy  is  of  but 
recent  date ;  namely,  the  use  of  fractional  percolation, 
an  apparatus  for  the  same,  or  a  series  of  filters,  being  in 
fact  no  more  than  a  long  tall  filter  cut  into  many  short 
filters  for  the  sake  of  more  convenient  handling,  and  more 
convenient  separation  of  the  exhausted  part  of  the  filter 
in  the  first  one  of  the  series.  Here  I  would  beg  leave  to 
remark  that  various  suggestions  in  regard  to  fractional 
percolation,  dictating  the  exchange  of  different  filters  in 
an  especial  order,  with  retention  of  some  of  the  first  fil¬ 
trate  (percolate),  prior  to  its  passage  through  all  of  the 
filtering  material  (powdered  drug)  appears  to  me  arbi¬ 
trary,  since  no  percolate,  no  matter  how  concentrated,  is 
so  strong  but  that  its  passage  through  some  fresh  por¬ 
tions  of  unused  drugs  would  increase  its  strength,  the 
active  principle  of  that  part  of  the  drug  being  exhausted 
at  the  same  time  to  some  extent,  thus  rendering  more 
complete  the  work  of  exhaustion  of  subsequent  portions 
of  filtering  liquid. 

Fractional  percolation,  no  matter  whether  two  or  an 
indefinite  number  of  filters  are  used,  should  be  so  con¬ 
ducted  that  each  particle  of  the  filtering-liquid  would 
pass  through  all  of  the  filtering  material.  This  will 
■ensure  a  thorough  exhaustion  of  the  filtering  material, 
and  a  corresponding  thorough  purification  (in  the  case  of 
percolation  through  saturation)  of  the  filtering  liquid. 

Another  point  worthy  of  consideration  is  the  difference 
in  the  results  between  upward  and  downward  filtration. 
In  the  latter,  the  liquid,  following  its  own  gravity  only, 
will  select  those  paths  where  it  finds  the  least  resistance, 
namely,  around  the  single  particles  of  the  filtering  ma¬ 
terial,  which  to  a  great  extent  it  will  leave  untouched 
and  therefore  unused.  In  upward  filtration,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  passage  of  the  liquid  is  guided  by  hydrostatic 
pressure  in  a  straight  upward  direction  regardless  of  re¬ 
sistance,  and  the  filtering  material  is  more  thoroughly 
exhausted.  For  liquids  of  low  specific  gravity,  like  oils, 
this  mode  of  filtration  is  well  established,  because  the 
water  used  in  displacing  the  last  portions  of  the  oil  is 
quite  effective,  consequent  upon  the  difference  of  the 
specific  gravity  of  the  two  liquids.  But  if  an  extract,  a 
syrup,  or  other  liquid,  heavier  than  water,  is  to  be  dis¬ 
placed  by  that  liquid,  a  partial  diffusion  of  the  same 
through  water  will  take  place.  This  is  quite  trifling  if 
the  liquid  is  well  followed  up  by  the  displacing  fluid 
(water),  but  has  been  deemed  sufficient  by  some  to  form 
an  obstacle  to  the  practical  application  of  upward 
filtration. 

In  experiments  made  in  this  direction,  your  reporter 
found  that  syrup  weighing  thirty-five  degrees  Beaume, 
displaced  by  water,  soon  yielded  a  filtrate  of  but  two  de¬ 
grees  Beaume,  if  the  filter  was  kept  at  a  temperature  of 
about  ninety  degrees  F.,  to  ensure  fluidity  of  the  syrup ; 
the  filtering  material  in  this  case  was  bone-black. 

Where  the  thorough  exhaustion  of  the  last  trace  is  of 
great  significance,  the  filter,  which  for  pharmaceutical 
purposes  is  rarely  of  great  dimensions,  might  be  made 


revolvable  around  an  axis,  so  that  top  or  bottom  could 
be  interchanged  for  the  reception  or  discharge  of  the 
liquid  filtered.  Here  the  filtration  might  be  carried  on 
upwards,  and  the  exhaustion  of  the  filter  downwards. 
Pressure  filtration,  as  also  that  with  the  exclusion  of  air, 
can  be  carried  on  well  and  simply  in  the  manner  of  up¬ 
ward  filtration. 

As  to  the  material  most  useful  for  filtration  to  the 
pharmacist,  I  will  mention  besides  filtering- paper,  cotton 
batting  for  most  ordinary  liquids,  for  which  might  be 
substituted  in  many  cases  white  clay,  fuller’s  earth,  when 
only  turbidity  is  the  motive  for  filtration. 

In  several  instances  it  has  come  to  the  notice  of  your 
reporter  that  otherwise  good  pharmacists,  who  never 
would  buy  or  make  an  inferior  preparation,  would  filter 
liquids,  like  ferrated  elixir  of  Calisaya,  through  large 
quantities  of  bone-black.  The  great  absorbent  power  of 
bone-black  was  completely  lost  sight  of.  A  plug  of  cotton 
batting  would  have  been  more  appropriate.  If  bone- 
black  is  used  for  filtering  pharmaceutical  preparations, 
it  should  be  completely  freed  from  its  phosphates  by 
muriatic  acid,  the  nitrogenous  carbon  remaining  behind 
being  a  much  more  powerful  substance  for  filtration 
(decolorization)  than  the  ordinary  bone-black,  while  it 
contains  nothing  soluble  that  would  contaminate  any 
pharmaceutical  preparation. 

For  chromic  acid,  or  similar  oxidizing  agents  or  caus¬ 
tics,  the  proper  filtering  medium  is  glass-powder  or  gun¬ 
cotton,  while  for  the  filtration  of  mercury  a  double  layer 
of  good  chamois  skin  should  be  taken,  and  gentle  pres¬ 
sure  applied  to  effect  the  passage  of  the  metal. — Pro¬ 
ceedings  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association . 


TESTING  COCHINEAL. 

BY  J.  M.  MERRICK. 

I  give  in  the  following  article  the  outlines  of  the 
method  I  am  in  the  habit  of  using  for  testing  samples 
of  cochineal  to  ascertain  their  comparative  colouring 
powers.  I  have  not  seen  it  described  in  print,  and  while 
it  is  a  much  closer  and  more  accurate  method  than  that 
which  is  based  upon  dyeing  strips  of  mordanted  woollen 
stuffs,  it  is  preferable  to  the  bleaching  with  chloride  of 
lime  method, — as  the  oxidizing  substance  used,  viz, 
potassic  permanganate,  does  not  precipitate  the  colour¬ 
ing  matter  of  the  cochineal. 

I  grind  to  a  fine  powder  the  samples  to  be  tested, 
weigh  out  two  or  two  and  one-half  grammes,  and  boil 
this  amount  in  a  capacious  narrow-necked  flask,  with 
750  c.  c.  of  water,  for  one  hour.  The  liquid  is  imme¬ 
diately  filtered  through  dry  paper  filters,  and  tested 
when  cold.  To  test  it,  50  c.  c.  are  measured  in  a  flask  of 
that  capacity  and  poured  into  another  flask  of  about 
200  c.  c.,  and  the  measuring  vessel  rinsed  with  a  definite 
quantity  of  water,  say  10-15  c.  c. 

A  weak  solution  of  permanganate  is  then  run  in  from 
a  burette  with  a  glass  cock,  the  flask  being  shaken  well 
after  the  addition  of  every  10  c.  c. 

So  much  permanganate  solution  is  added  that  the  co¬ 
chineal  extract  shall  be  changed  from  its  original  colour 
to  a  pink  of  the  very  faintest  shade,  almost  yellow,  in 
fact,  but  never  reaching  a  full  yellow.  This  pink  shade 
should  be  persistent,  that  is,  it  should  not  turn  yellow 
after  standing  fifteen  minutes  ;  and  after  a  little  practice 
it  will  be  found  very  easy  to  obtain  the  tinge,  which 
shows  that  the  colouring  matter  is  almost  but  not  quite 
destroyed. 

When  a  number  of  samples  are  to  be  compared  I 
arrange  an  equal  number  of  200  c.  c.  flasks  and  test-tubes 
on  the  table,  a  tube  standing  in  its  rack  in  front  of  each 
flask.  Then  the  same  number  of  c.  c.  of  the  perman¬ 
ganate  solution  (which  should  be  at  least  so  -weak  that 
bulk  for  bulk  of  this  and  the  cochineal  solution  will  be 
required)  is  run  into  each  flask,  taking  care  to  use  too 
little  to  completely  destroy  the  colouring  matter  in  all . 


Hay  13,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


907 


The  flasks  are  well  shaken  and  allowed  to  stand  for  ten 
.minutes. 

Part  of  the  contents  of  each  is  then  poured  into  the 
-corresponding  test-tube,  and  a  glance  at  the  tubes  as 
they  stand  side  by  side  will  show  which  is  the  least 
affected  by  the  bleaching  liquid.  This  sample  having 
been  selected  to  serve  as  a  standard,  the  contents  of  the 
test-tube  are  returned  to  this  flask,  and  more  perman¬ 
ganate  solution  is  cautiously  added,  until  a  very  faint 
pink  tinge,  which  a  fraction  of  a  c.  c.  will  turn  to  a  full 
yellow,  is  obtained. 

The  number  of  c.  c.  used  having  been  noted,  a  fresh 
trial  is  made,  in  which  the  c.  c.  required,  minus  one,  are 
used,  the  flask  agitated,  and  the  last  c.  c.  or  part  of  it,  as 
.the  whole  may  not  be  necessary,  added.  If  the  two  re¬ 
sults  agree,  the  next  sample  is  treated  in  the  same  way,  • 
and  so  on  until  all  are  tested. 

I  usually  make  a  final  trial  by  measuring  tho  50  c.  c. 
of  each  solution  into  its  flask,  running  in  the  perman¬ 
ganate  in  the  ascertained  amount  into  each  as  quickly  as 
possible,  letting  the  flasks  stand  ten  minutes,  and  then 
making  a  comparison  of  all  in  the  test-tubes. 

If  the  shades  are  not  exactly  alike,  a  pretty  good  guess 
•can  generally  be  made  of  the  fractions  of  c.  c.  required, 
which  should  be  added,  the  contents  of  the  tubes  being 
joined  to  that  in  the  flasks,  and  a  second  or  third  com¬ 
parison  thus  made. 

This  is  a  rather  long  description  of  what  in  practice  is 
a  very  simple  and  good  process,  the  three  principal 
points  to  be  borne  in  mind  being, 

1.  To  use  a  weak  solution  of  permanganate. 

•2.  To  have  a  very  faint  pink  colour  as  a  standard  of 
comparison. 

3.  To  let  the  liquids  remain  after  agitation  together 
10-15  minutes  before  comparing  them. 

I  may  add,  that  it  is  very  remarkable  how  little  can 
be  told  of  the  value  of  a  sample  of  cochineal  by  a  mere 
physical  examination,  and  that  the  frequent  inconsis¬ 
tency  between  value  and  price  is  equally  surprising.  I 
have  known  samples  to  differ  thirty  per  cent,  in  colour¬ 
ing  power,  and  only  one  or  two  cents  per  pound  in 
.price. — American  Chemist. 


TINCTURE  OF  HY03CYAMUS. 

BY  M.  DONOVAN. 

Some  years  since  I  published,  through  the  medium  of 
the  Medical  Press ,  an  account  of  trials  made  on  myself 
■and  others,  with  a  view  to  discover  what  dose  of  tincture 
of  hyoscyamus  should  be  given  in  order  to  produce  its 
-sedative  effects.  The  experiment  was  made  on  several 
persons,  beginning  with  a  drachm  dose,  increasing  it  to 
«ix  drachms,  and  in  my  own  case  to  one  ounce,  of  the 
tincture  of  the  Dublin  Pharmacopoeia.  In  no  case  were 
any  effects  observed  be}Tond  dryness  of  the  throat  and 
fauces.  The  experiments  were  made  with  tinctures 
prepared  from  the  dried  leaves  of  garden-grown  plants, 
from  wild  plants  collected  in  a  mountainous  district  of 
North  Wales,  and  from  the  same  leaves  dried  and  un¬ 
dried. 

I  was  under  the  impression  that  some  of  the  plants 
employed  in  making  the  tinctures  on  which  I  experi¬ 
mented  were  in  the  second  year  of  their  growth,  but  the 
Trials  now  to  be  described  have  convinced  me  that  none 
of  them  could  have  been  more  than  one  year  old.  At 
that  time  I  was  not  acquainted  with  the  means  which  I 
have  since  discovered  of  testing  the  age  of  the  plant. 

I  satisfied  myself  by  these  experiments  that  tincture 
•of  hyoscyamus  prepared,  as  I  believe  it  generally  is  in 
this  country,  from  leaves  of  one  year’s  growth,  is  all 
but  powerless.  I  was  strengthened  in  this  opinion  by 
finding  that  M.  Hertz  has  given  upwards  of  fifteen 
grains  of  the  extract,  most  probably  made  from  the 
plant  in  its  first  year,  without  any  sensible  effect. 

Mr.  Houlton  had  long  before  affirmed  the  inertness  of 


the  one-year-old  plant,  and  the  activity  of  that  of  two 
years  old. 

In  order  to  come  to  some  determination  on  this  sub¬ 
ject,  I  adopted  means  of  procuring  a  tincture  certainly 
made  from  the  latter,  and  from  trials  with  it  soon  con¬ 
vinced  myself  that  it  was  an  article  of  very  different 
value  from  a  tincture  of  the  one-year-old  plant,  and 
that  all  my  former  experiments  must  have  been  made 
with  the  latter,  although  I  was  led  to  believe  that,  in 
some  of  them,  the  plant  of  two  years’  growth  had  been 
used. 

My  first  trial  was  on  myself.  I  took  one  drachm,  and 
for  an  hour  or  two  felt  no  effect  beyond  dryness  of  tho 
moutht  On  a  subsequent  occasion  I  took  two  drachms, 
and  in  two  hours  had  proof  that  I  had  taken  a  suffi¬ 
ciency.  My  sensations  were  indescribable :  one  was  a 
feeling  of  uncertainty  of  my  steps  in  walking,  although 
they  were  really  quite  steady,  and  a  slight  sensation  of 
giddiness.  This  trial  convinced  me  that  I  had  taken  as 
full  a  dose  as  prudence  would  permit.  To  a  lady  who 
suffered  from  headache  I  gave,  at  her  own  request,  one 
drachm  of  this  tincture.  In  about  two  hours  she  felt  so 
overcome  by  sleepiness  that  she  could  scarcely  keep  her 
eyes  open  ;  the  headache  was,  however,  greatly  relieved. 
On  another  occasion  she  took  a  similar  dose,  and,  being 
in  bed,  she  soon  fell  into  “a  delightful  sleep,”  and,  on 
awaking,  found  that  the  headache  was  almost  gone  ;  but 
she  complained  of  dryness  of  the  fauces  and  throat, 
although  on  the  first  occasion  she  did  not  experience 
either  of  these  effects.  Some  months  after  the  same  lady 
suffered  from  headache,  and  did  not  receive  any  benefit 
from  a  similar  dose ;  nor  did  another  person  experience 
any  relief  from  toothache  nor  any  other  effect  beyond 
slight  dryness  of  the  fauces,  which  soon  passed  off. 

Convinced  by  the  foregoing  considerations  that  the 
medicinal  properties  of  hyoscyamus  reside  exclusively 
in  the  plant  of  two  years  old,  and  that  the  plant  of  one 
year’s  growth  is  therefore  useless,  I  sought  to  discover 
an  easy  test  by  wdiich  the  age  of  the  plant  from  which  a 
given  tincture  had  been  prepared  could  be  determined. 
The  following  has  at  least  the  advantage  of  simplicity : 
add  a  little  of  the  tmctqre  t9  a  nflass  of  water ;  if  tllO 
mixture  become  slightly  milky,  the  tincture  was  made 
from  a  two  years  old  plant ;  if  it  remain  transparent, 
the  plant  was  in  its  first  year. 

The  British  Pharmacopoeia  gives  no  information  as  to 
what  shall  be  the  age  of  the  hyoscyamus  from  which  the 
tincture  is  to  be  made ;  it  is,  thercfox*e,  a  matter  of  chance 
whether  it  will  have  any  effect  or  be  powerless.  Given 
in  the  dose  of  twenty  or  thirty  drops,  as  is  sometimes 
done,  it  is  hard  to  believe  it  can  have  any  effect  in  either 
case. — The  Medical  Press  and  Circular. 


YEAST  AND  OTHER  FERMENTS. 

BY  C.  A.  WATKINS. 

( Continued  from  page  888.) 

"When  starch  or  sugar  is  transformed*  into  butyric 
acid,  vibriones  are  sure  to  be  found  in  the  fluid,  whether 
they  produce  this  fermentation  or  not ;  and  lately  a  most 
remarkable  statement  has  been  published  by  M.  Bechamps 
regarding  this  matter.  This  gentleman  asserts  that  he 
has  discovered  that  there  exist  at  the  present  time,  in 


*  During  the  transformations  which  took  place  in  these 
experiments,  I  detected  no  organism  having  the  slightest 
resemblance  to  yeast ;  the  only  fungus  being  Oidium  lactis, 
which  does  not  grow  in  the  fluid,  and,  in  my  opinion,  has 
no  reference  to  the  fermentation.  In  all  the  instances  in 
which  lactic  acid  was  formed,  I  noticed  only  bacteria  or 
vibriones,  and  while  I  admit  that  under  more  favourable 
conditions  of  temperature  other  growths  may  appear,  I  do 
not  consider  any  of  these  organisms  to  be  the  specific  lactic 
acid  ferment. 


908 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  13,  1871, 


large  blocks  of  chalk  taken  at  a  depth  of  200  feet  from 
the  surface  of  the  soil  out  of  a  tunnel  driven  in  a 
mountain,  large  quantities  of  microscopic  animalcules, 
which  he  has  named  Microzyma  Cctcc  ;  and  he  also  states 
that  if  some  of  this  chalk  he  placed  in  a  saccharine 
solution,  lactic  and  butyric  acid  fermentation  ensue. 

Yeast  is  so  well  known  that  its  description  here  is 
quite  unnecessary,  and  the  fact  that  it  converts  sugar 
into  alcohol  is  patent  to  all.  The  chemical  formula  of 
this  change  is  thus : — - 

Ci2H12012  =  2C4Hf)Oo  +  4C02 

Grape  Sugar.  Alcohol.  Carbonic  Acid. 

A  east  is  supposed  to  be  the  conidial  condition  of 
Temcilhum  glaucuin ,  but  much  light  is  required  to  be 
thrown  on  this  matter  to  raise  it  from  its  present  ob¬ 
scurity. 

The  yeast  cells  consist  of  an  outer  membrane  of  ccllulin 
— the  same  material  as  the  cellular  tissue  of  other  vege¬ 
tables — in  the  interior  of  which  is  a  highly  complex 
gelatinous  substance  allied  to  albumen. 

The  appearance  of  yeast  under  the  microscope  varies 
considerably  with  its  condition ;  when  at  rest,  that  is, 
when  fermentation  is  arrested,  its  form  varies  from 
globular  to  ovoid,  frequently  with  an  uneven  outline, 
as  if  the  cells  were  very  partially  empty;  but  when 
they  are  put.  into  a  fresh  solution  of  sugar  they  swell 
out,  and  during  active  fermentation  appear  globular  or 
nearly  so,  and  more  transparent  than  before. 

When  yeast  is  added  to  brewer’s  w-ort  it  increases 
rapidly,  and  grow's  to  six  or  eight  times  its  original 
quantity  during  fermentation;  the  wort  being  a  solution 
which  contains  in  abundance  the  elements  required  for 
its  development,  namely,  grape  sugar  and  some  albu¬ 
minous  substances  derived  from  the  malt  and  hops. 

During  fermentation  these  albuminous  matters  dis¬ 
appear  from  the  solution  in  proportion  to  the  develop¬ 
ment  of  the  yeast,  and  the  sugar  also  disappears  in  the 
same  ratio.  When  the  fermentation  is  complete,  we 
find  that  in  place  of  the  complex  albuminous  matters  in 
.the  wort,  we  have,  simpler  chemical  combinations,  such 
as  salts  of  ammonia,  and  in  place  of  the  sugar  we  have 
alcohol.  Jhese  ^chemical  changes  take  place  simul¬ 
taneously  ;  but  with  this  important  difference,  that  the 
amount  of  nitrogen  in  the  original  wort  is  reduced  by 
about  one-half,  while  the  alcohol  and  carbonic  acid 
nearly  correspond  to  the  weight  of  the  sugar,  the  re¬ 
mainder  being  converted  into  lactic  acid,  etc.,  a  small 
quantity  of  which  is  always  formed  during  vinous  fer¬ 
mentation.  But  the  yeast  consisting  almost  entirely  of 
albuminous  matters,  and  having  increased  to  several 
times  its  original  quantity,  fully  accounts  for  the  dis¬ 
appearance  ot  so  large  a  proportion  of  the  nitrogen  from 
the  wort. 

Thus  it  will  be  easily  understood  that  yeast,  in  order 
to  grow,  must  be  supplied  with  some  soluble  azotized 
matter,  such  as  albumen ;  and  it  is  as  easily  proved  that 
it  will  not  grow  without. 

To  ferment  one  hundred  parts  of  sugar,  one  part  of 
yeast  is  required;  when  the  fermentation  is  complete, 
the  yeast  is  exhausted,  and  in  its  place  ammoniacal  salts 
and  cellulin  are  found.  As  the  vinous  fermentation  takes 
plaoc  only  during  the  growth  of  the  yeast,  it  may  be  said 
tnat  it  wall  grow  in  simple  saccharine  solutions.  In  a 
certain  sense  this  is  correct,  but  such  growth  is  degene¬ 
rate  and  exhaustive,  and  not  the  healthy  growth  which 
increases  and  multiplies,  for  in  such  a  solution  the  yeast 
posrti\  ely  lives  on  its  own  substance :  this  has  been  proved 
by  Pasteur  in  the  following  manner:— “He  took  a  quan¬ 
tity  ot  washed  yeast  and  divided  it  into  two  equal  por¬ 
tions,— one  of  these  was  placed  in  a  solution  of  pure 
sugar,  the  other  portion  was  boiled  in  water,  the  de¬ 
coction  filtered,  and  the  filtrate  added  to  a  similar  solu¬ 
tion  of  sugar,  to  which  a  very  minute  quantity  of  fresh 
yeast  was  added.  In  the  first  case  twelve  parts  of  sugar 


were  converted  into  alcohol  in  six  days,  when  the  yeast 
became  exhausted.  In  the  second  case  the  liquid  became- 
turbid ;  fresh  yeast  was  formed  at  the  expense  of  the 
azotized  matter  derived  from  the  boiled  yeast,  and  ten 
parts  of  sugar  were  fermented  in  nine  days.” 

Some  years  ago,  when  experimenting  on  bread-making 
I  was  much  puzzled  by  finding  that  when  the  yeast  was 
thoroughly  washed  the  sponge  did  not  rise  so  quickly, 
nor  was  the  bread  so  light  as  when  made  with  yeast  as 
received  from  the  brewery.  I  have  since  learned  that  a 
portion  of  the  yeast  is  soluble  in  water,  and  that  when  it 
has  been  dissolved  out  by  washing,  the  yeast  is  less 
active ;  on  exposure  to  the  atmosphere,  however,  it  re¬ 
covers  its  activity. 

Yeast  causes  a  curious  and  important  change  to  take- 
place  when  added  to  a  solution  of  cane  sugar,  converting 
it  into  fruit  sugar  by  causing  it  to  combine  with  one 
equivalent. of  water,  during  which  operation  the  solution 
increases  in  specific  gravity.  This  transformation  is 
attributed  to  the  soluble  portion  of  the  yeast ;  but  be 
this  as  it  may,  some  of  it  is  evidently  destroyed  by  the 
process,  as  a  larger  proportion  of  yeast  is  required  ta 
convert  cane  sugar  into  alcohol  than  grape  sugar.  It  is- 
a  fact  scarcely  known  to  brewers,  who  use  it,  that  canei 
sugar  cannot  be  fermented  into  alcohol;  for  although* 
when  yeast  is  added  to  a  cane  sugar  solution  the  vinous, 
fermentation  eventually  ensues,  it  nevertheless  does  not 
commence  until  the  yeast,  without  any  apparent  change- 
in  itself,,  has  transformed  the  whole  of  the  cane  sugar- 
into  fruit  sugar.  The  progress  of  this  transformation 
may  be  witnessed  by  polarized  light :  the  cane  sugar 
producing  a  right-hand  rotation  of  the  ray=  73°,  while 
the  fruit  sugar  causes  a  left-hand  rotation  of  26°. 

I  have  one  more  observation  to  make  in  reference  to 
yeast.  .  When  it  has  been  kept  some  days,  of  course, 
according  to  temperature,  it  loses  the  pleasant  smell  it 
had  when  fresh,  and  acquires  some  fermentive  properties,, 
which,  as  far.  as  I  am  aware,  have  not  received  much  at¬ 
tention.  It  is  well  known  to  brewers  that  if  the  yeast 
be  allowed  to  stand  on  the  beer  for  a  day  or  two  after 
fermentation  has  been  stopped,  a  very  disagreeable  effect, 
is  produced ;  the  beer  is  not  acetified,  but  the  flavour  is 
entirely  changed ;  it  is  unpalatable,  and  the  brewers  call 
it  yeast-bitten. 

Now  I  am  not  in  a  position  to  throw  any  light  on 
this  change ;  but  if  stale  yeast  be  examined  with  the 
microscope,  there  will  be  found  interspersed  among  the 
ordinary  cells  a  large  number  of  minute  globular  bodies, 
which  are  generally  in  motion ;  and  I  have  also  noticed 
a  larger  proportion  of  short,  straight  vibrio-like  bodies,, 
than  are  to  be  found  in  yeast  during  active  fermentation. 

Whether  these  organisms  produce  the  disagreeable 
effects  referred  to,  I  am  unable  to  say,  and  merely  point 
to  them  as  one  of  the  changes  which  take  place  in  yeast 
when  left  to  itself. 

Diastase  is  a  ferment,  which  has  the  property  of  con¬ 
verting  starch  into  sugar,  by  causing  it  to  assimilate 
the  elements  of  water  without  evolving  any  gaseous 
products. 

The  transformation  is  represented  thus  : — 

<AHlt,O10  +  2HO  =  C12H120,2. 

Starch.  Vfater.  Sugar. 

Diastase  is  extracted  from  malt  by  soaking  it  in¬ 
water,  in  which,  at  moderate  temperature,  it  is  soluble ;_ 
it  may  be  taken  as  the  type  of  the  ferments  produced  in 
all  germinating  seeds, — for  as  all  seeds  contain  starch, 
which  must  be  rendered  soluble  in  the  form  of  sugar - 
before  it  can  become  food  for  the  embryo — so  they  all 
contain  some  azotized  matters,  as  albumen,  gluten,  etc., 
which  are  capable  of  passing  into  the  form  of  a  ferment,., 
allied  to  diastase. 

(To  be  continued.') 


*  May  13, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


909 


%\i  $ounraI. 


SATURDAY,  MAY  13,  1S71. 


Communications  for  this  Journal,  and  boohs  for  review ,  etc., 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

Instructions  from  Members  and  Associates  respecting  t  ic 
. transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Lkem- 
eidge,  Secretary ,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square ,  W.C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London ,  TV.  Envelopes  indorsed  “  Fharm.  Journ. 


THE  COUNCIL  ELECTION. 

The  approaching  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Society 
r  hicls  fair  to  rival  that  of  last  year  in  importance, 

:  though  we  trust  it  will  he  free  from  its  disagreeable 
i features.  If  we  may  judge  from  the  letters  of  Mi. 

:  Balkwjll  and  Mr.  -Ell wood,  there  is  likely  to  he 
.HO  small  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the  policy  of  the 
course  taken  by  the  Associations  formed  in  reference 
to  the  question  of  Poison  Regulations ;  and  it  is 
probable  that  those  who  are  in  favour  of  compulsory 
regulations  will  not  he  altogether  silent  when  that 

question  is  brought  forward. 

As  regards  the  election  of  Council,  there  is  one 
point  which  we  would  earnestly  press  on  the  con¬ 
sideration  of  the  Society  at  large,  and  that  is  the  de¬ 
sirability  Of  avoiding  even  the  appearance  of  any 
feeling  of  personal  antagonism.  We  do  this  because 
it  is  a  thing  that  happens  readily,  though  uninten¬ 
tionally,  in  discussion  among  earnest  men  who  are 
really  interested  in  the  question  at  issue,  and  another 
reason  why  we  do  so  is,  the  noteworthy  fact  that, 

.  although  there  were  originally  45  nominations  foiytlie 
14  vacancies  on  the  Council,  there  are  only  22  cancli- 
r  dates  for  election. 

We  need  not  urge  upon  our  readers  the  importance 
of  having  at  command  the  services  of  competent  and 
influential  men  for  conducting  the  business  of  this 
Society,  and  the  fact  just  referred  to  that  so  few 
have  been  found  willing  to  accept  office  is,  we  think, 
one  that  should  be  regarded  as  a  warning  against 
manifestations  of  intemperate  zeal,  and  as  a  cogent 
reason  for  the  suppression  of  any  proceedings  calcu- 
’  lated  to  render  the  office  of  a  councillor  one  that  is 
in  any  degree  disagreeable  or  invidious.  It  is  not 
long  since  that  the  Council  of  the  Society  v  as  col¬ 
lectively  denounced  by  a  self- constituted  authority, 
as  being  “  unworthy  to  occupy  the  position  which 
lias  been  delegated  to  it,  while  more  recently  the 
same  anathema  has  been  launched  against  an  indi¬ 
vidual  member  of  the  Council  because  he  dared  to 
defend  the  opinions  he  held.  But  though  such 
rhetoric  may  seem  to  outside  factions  a  fitting  means 
of  obtaining  influence,  we  trust  the  deliberations  of 
.  the  pharmaceutical  body  will  always  be  animated  b\ 

« a  more  rational  spirit. 


THE  CONVERSAZIONE. 

After  the  notices  that  have  appeared  in  our  ad¬ 
vertising  columns  during  the  last  few  weeks,  it  is 
scarcely  necessary  to  remind  bur  readers  of  next 
week’s  entertainment  at  South  Kensington.  Each 
member  of  the  Society  is  entitled  to  a  card  of  ad¬ 
mission  for  himself  and  a  lady.  Each  Associate  and 
Apprentice  of  the  Society,  and  each  Chemist  and 
Druggist  on  the  Register,  may,  on  application,  ob¬ 
tain  a  card  of  admission  for  himself.  Cards  of  ad¬ 
mission  may  be  obtained  on  application  to  the 
Secretary,  at  17,  Bloomsbury  Square.  Some  cor¬ 
respondence  has  reached  us  in  reference  to  the  dress 
that  should  be  worn  on  the  occasion,  but  we  do  not 
anticipate  there  will  be  any  such  difficulty  on  that 
score  as  to  call  for  special  directions.  We  may, 
however,  state  that  it  will  probably  be  conducive  to 
the  comfort  of  visitors  if,  on  this  occasion,  they  lay 
aside  the  conventional  “chimney-pot”  hats,  since 
the  authorities  of  South  Kensington  decline  to  pro¬ 
vide  for  their  custody  during  the  evening. 


THE  BENEVOLENT  FUND. 

The  publication  in  this  number  of  the  J ournal  of 
a  list  of  contributions  received  towards  the  Benevo¬ 
lent  Fund  of  the  Society  affords  an  opportunity  qf 
Calling  attention  to  the  great  inequality  that  exists 
in  the  amounts  received  from  different  parts  of  the 
kingdom.  Of  the  total  sum  acknowledged,  more 
than  one- third  has  been  contributed  from  London,, 
which  is  greatly  in  excess  of  the  proportion  existing 
between  the  trade  there  and  in  the  country. 

That  this  does  not  altogether  arise  from  indiffer¬ 
ence  on  the  part  of  country  members,  but  apparently 
rather  Rom  the  absence  of  organization  in  many 
towns,  would  appear  from  the  fact  that  while  a  few 
small  places  make  a  creditable  return,  some  of  the 
largest  towns  in  the  kingdom  have  contributed  but  a 
nominal  sum.  We  must  also  take  this  opportunity 
of  suggesting  that  contributions  to  this  Fund,  the 
benefits  of  which  are  available  to  the  whole  trade, 
should  be  very  much  more  general  than  would  appear 
to  be  the  case,  judging  from  the  list  of  subscriptions 
which  we  now  publish.  Taking  the  tiade  in  round 
numbers  at  ten  thousand,  the  sum  subscribed  does 
not  represent  one  shilling  a  head.  This  is  a  subject 
that  might  well  engage  the  active  attention  of  the 
Local  Secretaries  of  the  Society. 


Professor  Bentley  will  commence  his  Demon¬ 
strations  on  the  parts  of  plants  and  the  Natural 
Orders,  at  the  Gardens  of  the  Royal  Botanic  Society, 
on  Friday  morning  next,  at  8  o’clock.  Students 
must  apply  to  the  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury 
Square,  for  cards  of  admission. 


910 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  13, 1871- 


MEDICAL  PAPYRUS  WITH  ANCIENT 
PRESCRIPTIONS. 

The  medical  papyrus  presented  to  tlie  British 
Museum  by  the  Itoyal  Institution  is  about  7  ft.  C  in. 
long  by  7  in.  wide.  It  is  unfortunately  much  muti¬ 
lated,  and  has  been  considerably  worm-eaten.  The 
commencement  is  wanting,  but  its  contents  are  a 
series  of  recipes  or  modes  of  cure  for  different  mala¬ 
dies,  unaccompanied  by  any  diagnosis  or  account  of 
the  disease  itself.  The  papyrus  is  written  on  both 
sides,  and  is  a  palimpsest,  and  on  the  endorsement  is 
the  commencement  of  a  second  series  of  cures  for  a 
malady,  the  nature  of  which  is  not  known,  but  the 
remedy  for  which  is  said  to  have  been  miraculously 
found  in  an  old  book  discovered  in  a  hole  in  the 
wall  of  a  certain  temple  by  a  priest.  The  book  so 
found  was  written  in  the  days  of  Cheops,  the  cele¬ 
brated  monarch  of  the  4tli  dynasty,  and  the  builder 
of  the  great  pyramid.  The  remedy  for  this  malady 
consisted  of  incantations  and  prayers,  and  no  drugs 
were  employed.  Other  recipes  are  given  for  the  eyes, 
both  right  and  left.  Amongst  the  drugs  mentioned  for 
.some  maladies  are  wax,  fat,  and  incense.  One  remedy 
is  for  a  stoppage  of  haemorrhage  from  the  head  and 
other  parts  of  the  body, — shavings  or  twigs  of  acacia, 
grains  of  a  substance  called  Icasjpr,  to  be  burnt,  also 
milk,  branches  of  olive,  the  liah*  of  a  cat,  and  honey. 
One  prescription  orders  the  chapter  to  be  said,  and 
the  breast  to  be  rubbed  with  drops  of  the  Water  of 
an  animal  called  tesh-tesh,  some  extract  of  a  material 
called  matn,  and  wax  and  honey  mixed  with  a  prepa¬ 
ration  called  tart.  Another  mixture  was  a  preparation 
of  sycomore  and  lizards.  Fig  leaves,  gum,  and  excre- 
mentitious  matter  were  also  employed,  and  eked  out 
with  prayers  and  adjurations,  but  the  meanings  of  the 
names  of  many  of  the  substances  are  as  yet  not  in¬ 
terpreted.  This  papyrus  has  not,  like  that  of  Berlin, 
the  quantities  attached,  but  many  of  the  recipes  date 
from  an  early  period,  as  that  of  Amenophis  III.  of  the 
18th  dynasty.  The  papyrus  is,  however,  very  re¬ 
markable  for  its  mention  of  these  drugs  at  all,  as 
some  of  the  other  medical  ones  known,  as  that  of 
Leyden,  have  prayers  and  adjurations  only. 


A  Society  has  lately  been  formed  under  the  presi¬ 
dency  of  Mr.  Henry  Deane,  F.L.S.,  with  the  title  of 
the  South  London  Microscopical  and  Natural  History 
Club.  It  is  proposed  to  hold  its  meetings  monthly, 
so  that  by  the  delivery  of  lectures  and  the  reading 
of  papers,  and  occasional  excursions  into  the  country, 
a  taste  for  the  study  of  microscopy,  zoology  and 
botany  may  be  developed  among  the  members.  It 
is  also  hoped  eventually  that  a  cabinet  and  her¬ 
barium  may  be  formed,  illustrative  of  the  indigenous 
fauna  and  flora  of  East  Surrey.  The  first  meeting 
was  held  on  April  1,  at  Gloucester  Hall,  Brixton. 
The  annual  subscription  is  fixed  at  ten  shillings. 


tonsactions  af  %  Hjjitnramttintl  Kudrin. 


MEETING  OF  THE  COUNCIL, 

May  3 rd,  1871. 

MR.  HASELDEN,  F.L.S.,  VICE-rRESIDENT.  IN  THE  CHAIR. 

Present — Messrs.  Abraham,  Atherton,  Bottle,  Bourdas,. 
Carr,  Dymond,  Edwards,  Evans,  Groves,  Hills,  Sandford, 
Savage  and  Williams. 

The  Minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  con¬ 
firmed. 

Mr.  Haseldcn  was  elected  President,  in  the  place  of. 
Mr.  Sandford,  resigned. 

It  was  moved  by  Mr.  Edwards,  seconded  by  Mr.  Hills, 
and 

Resolved  unanimously — That  the  best  thanks  of  this 
Council  be  given  to  Mr.  George  Webb  Sandford  for 
the  very  efficient  manner  in  which  he  has  always* 
conducted  the  affairs  of  the  Council,  and  they  regret, 
that  any  circumstance  should  have  arisen  to  neces¬ 
sitate  his  retirement  from  a  position  so  ably  filled0 
by  him. 

The  Report  of  the  House  Committee  was  received; 
and  adopted. 

The  Report  and  recommendations  of  the  Finance  Com¬ 
mittee  were  received  and  adopted. 

The  Report  of  the  Library,  Museum,  and  Laboratory- 
Committee  was  received  and  adopted. 

The  Annual  Report  of  the  Council  presented  by  this 
Committee,  after  careful  consideration,  was  agreed  to. 

The  Report  of  the  Parliamentary  Committee  was  re¬ 
ceived  and  adopted,  and  it  was 

Resolved — That  the  Registrar  be  authorized  to  erase 
from  the  Register  the  namo  of  Catherine  Forman, 
of  Glasgow.  ’ 

Toison  Regulations. 

The  Regulations  to  be  submitted  to  the  Annual  Meet¬ 
ing  of  the  Society  for  voluntary  adoption,  in  conformity 
with  the  Resolution  passed  at  the  last  meeting  of  the 
Council,  were  presented  by  the  Committee  appointed  to 
revise  them,  and,  with  some  amendments,  were  agreed 
to  in  the  following  form  :  — 

1.  That  in  the  keeping  of  poisons  each  bottle,  vessel, 
box  or  package  containing  a  poison  be  labelled  with  the 
name  of  the  article,  and  also  with  some  distinctive  mark 
indicating  that  it  contains  poison. 

2.  Also  that  in  the  keeping  of  poisons,  each  poison  bo 
kept  on  one  or  other  of  the  following  systems,  viz. : — 

(a)  In  a  bottle  or  vessel  tied  over,  capped,  locked 
or  otherwise  secured  in  a  manner  different  from  that 
in  which  bottles  or  vessels  containing  ordinary  arti¬ 
cles  are  secured  in  the  same  warehouse,  shop  or  dis¬ 
pensary  ;  or 

(b)  In  a  bottle  or  vessel  rendered  distinguishable 
by  touch  from  the  bottles  or  vessels  in  which  ordinary 
articles  are  kept  in  the  same  warehouse,  shop  or  dis¬ 
pensary;  or 

(c)  In  a  bottle,  vessel,  box  or  package  kept  in  a 
room  or  cupboard  set  apart  for  dangerous  articles. 

3.  That  all  liniments,  embrocations  and  lotions  con* 
taining  poison  be  sent  out  in  bottles  rendered  distin¬ 
guishable  by  touch  from  ordinary  medicine  bottles,  and 
that  there  also  bo  affixed  to  each  such  bottle  (in  addition 
to  the  name  of  the  article,  and  to  any  particular  instruc¬ 
tions  for  its  use)  a  label  giving  notice  that  the  contents 
of  the  bottle  are  not  to  be  taken  internally. 

The  Report  of  the  Conversazione  Committee  was  re* 
j  ceived  and  adopted. 


May  13, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


911 


Resolved — That  the  Registrar’s  Report  presented  at 
the  March  meeting  of  the  Council  be  published  in 
the  next  number  of  the  Journal  (6th  May),  as  also 
the  attendances  of  Council  and  Committees  for  the 
year  1870-71  to  the  present  time. 

The  Secretary  submitted  the  names  of  thirty-one 
Members  and  two  Associates  in  Business  who  had  ten¬ 
dered  their  subscriptions  subsequent  to  the  30th  April, 
and  it  was 

Resolved — That  they  be  restored  to  their  former  status 
on  payment  respectively  of  a  fine  of  Is.,  and  that 
the  Secretary  be  authorized  to  issue  to  each  Member 
and  Associate  so  restored  voting-papers  for  the  en¬ 
suing  election. 

REPORTS  OF  THE  BOARDS  OF  EXAMINERS. 

England. 


1871. 


Examination. 


»» 

it 


18&19Major 
19. . .  .Minor 


Candi- 

Candi- 

Candi- 

dates 

dates 

dates 

examined. 

passed. 

failed. 

•-  294 

165 

129 

4 

3 

1 

►  19 

11 

8 

317 

•»  tm  r% 

HO 

«  on 

loO 

Two  Certificates  were  received  in  lieu  of  the  First  or 
Preliminary  Examination. 


Scotland. 


CancK-  Candi¬ 
dates  dates 

1871.  Examination.  examined,  passed. 

April  18  .  .First,  or  Preliminary.  8  7 

„  „  ..Minor .  8  4 

„  „  ..Major .  1  1 

„  „  . .  Modified  ..........  5  3 


Candi¬ 

dates 

failed. 

1 

4 

0 

2 


22  15  7 

Resolved — That  the  following  having  passed  their 
respective  examinations  be  elected  “Associates  in 
Business — 


MINOR. 

Chifney,  Newton . Lower  Tooting. 

Earnshaw,  Benjamin  King. . . . Eastbourne. 

Longley,  John  William . Leeds. 

Miller,  Nathaniel . Preston. 

Pentney,  James  Chapman  . . .  .Norwich. 


MODIFIED. 

Bentley,  John  Nuttall . Heywood. 

Bingley,  Frederick  Beavis  . . .  .Guildford. 

Butler,  Edward  Henry  ......  Leicester. 

Dawney,  Charles . Bath. 

Harrison,  Joseph  James  ..... .Market  Harbroh 

Hiscock,  Richard . Coventry. 

Laing,  John  Stewart  . New  Cross. 

Lunniss,  James . . .  Holloway. 

Shields,  Robert  James . Mexborough. 

Slack,  Josiah  William . Wormley. 

Resolved — That  the  following  having  passed  their 
respective  examinations  be  elected  “Associates:” — 

MAJOR. 

Mason,  Philip  Henry  . Norwich. 

Taylor,  John  William . Great  Grimsby. 

MINOR. 

Baker,  Samuel . . .  Chichester. 

Gower,  Alfred  John . Tonbridge. 

Hackett,  John  Henry . Lincoln. 

Hannaford,  William  . Peterborough. 

Howorth,  George  Buxton  ....  Chertsey. 

Huline,  Richard  Gleave . Hammersmith. 

Lord,  Frederick  * . Boston. 


Mackay,  George  Duncan  ....  Edinburgh. 

Margetson,  James  F . Norwich. 

Morgan,  Richard . London. 

Pratt,  Henry  James . Thirsk. 

Ritson,  George . Sunderland. 

Savory,  Harry  Banting . Painswick. 

Smith,  Fuller  . King’s  Lynn. 

Smith,  William  John . Leicester. 

Thomas,  Thomas  Rees . Llandovery. 

White,  William  Henry  . London. 

Young,  John  Rymer  . Warrington- 

MODIFIED. 

Cadby,  Samuel  Kittle . Margate. 

Lear,  Charles  . London. 

Martin,  Amelius  Hare . Paris. 

Morgan,  Philip  Henry  . Bristol. 

Saunders,  Charles  John  Heath  Bromley. 

Sproat,  Robert . Derby. 

Stokes,  Walter  Edward . Sandgate. 

Targett,  Charles  George . Salisbury. 

Thomas,  Horace  Alfred . Norwich. 

A  grant  from  the  Benevolent  Fund  of  £10  was  made- 
to  an  orphan  daughter  of  a  late  member  at  Southampton, 
and  also  a  grant  of  £10  to  the  widow  of  a  deceased 
annuitant. 

The  Secretary  was  requested  to  publish  in  the  J ournal 
a  list  of  contributors  to  the  Benevolent  Fund  for  tho 
current  year. 


SUBSCRIPTIONS  AND  DONATIONS  TO  THE. 
BENEVOLENT  FUND  FOR  1871. 


LONDON. 


Allchin,  Alfred,  Richmond  Road,  Barnsbury  .  . 
Allgood,  Edmund  J.,  22,  Belle  Yue  Terrace, 

Seven  Sisters  Road,  N . 

Anderson,  Charles,  23,  Lower  Belgrave  St.,  S.  W 
Andrews,  Frederick,  23,  Leinster  Terrace,  AY. 
Applegate,  Edwin,  Upper  Holloway,  N.  .  . 
Attwood,  Alfred,  1 A7,  Cannon  Street,  E.C.  . 


Dona-  Subscrip- - 
tion.  tion. 

£.  8.  J.  £.  s.  J.  - 
0  10  6 

0  5  O'* 

110 
0  10  6- 
0  10  G 
1  1  O' 


Bacon,  J.  T.,  per  Mr.  Mould,  Moorgate  St.,  E.C 
Balch,  E.,  14,  Claremont  PI.,  N.  Brixton,  S.AV. 
Barnard,  John,  338,  Oxford  Street,  AY.  .  . 

Barnes,  J.  B.  1 ,  Trevor  Ter.,  Kuightsbridge,  S.AA 
Barron,  Frederick,  2,  Bush  Lane,  E.C.  .  . 
Bartlett,  AV.,  1,  Bretteu  Terrace,  Chelsea,  S.AY 
Batchelor,  C.  J.  H.,  G,  Nugent  Terrace,  N.AV. 
Bate,  II.,  Thorne  Road,  South  Lambeth,  S.AY. 
Beddard,  J.,  40,  Churton  St.  Belgrave  lid.  S.AAr 
Bell,  AV.  H.,  9G,  Albany  Street,  N.AY.  .  .  . 
Bentley,  Prof.,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  AV.C. 
Best,  J.,  11,  Jonson’s  Place,  Harrow  Road  . 
Betty,  S.  C.,  G,  Park  St.,  Regent’s  Park,  N.AY. 
Billing,  Thomas,  143,  New  Bond  Street,  AV.  . 
Binge,!'.,  Stockbridge Terrace,  Pimlico,  S.AV. 
Bird,  Robert,  74,  High  Street,  Clapham,  S.AV. 
Bird,  AV.  L.,  42,  Castle  Street,  Oxford  Street 
Bolton,  T.,  98,  Queen’s  Road,  Dalston,  E.  . 
Bourdas,  Isaiah,  7,  Pont  Street,  S.AY.  .  .  . 
Bourdas,  Isaiah,  jun.,  48,  Belgrave  Road,  S.AV. 
Bourdas,  John,  7,  Pont  Street,  S.AV.  .  .  . 
Bowden,  E.  and  A.,  13,  Charles  Street,  S.AV. 
Bradley,  J.,  Brondesbury  Ter.,  Kilburn,  N.AY. 
Bromley,  Richard  M.,  3,  Beckenham  Place 

Denmark  Hill,  S.E . .  •  •  • 

Brooks,  C.,  Southville,  AArandsworth  Road,  S.AV 
Brown,  H.  F.,  40,  Aldersgate  Street,  E.C.  . 
Buck,  Thomas,  552,  Kingsland  Road,  E.  .  . 
Buckle,  C.  F.,  77,  Gray’s  Inn  Road,  AV.C.  . 
Bullen,  T.,  13,  Hereford  Rd.,  Bayswater,  AV. 
Burden,  Thomas,  G,  Store  Street,  AV.C.  .  . 
Burgoyne,  Burbidges  and  Co.,  16,  Coleman  St. 
Butt,  Edward  N.,  13,  Curzon  Street,  Mayfair 

Chard,  F.  J.,  39,  Warwick  St.,  Pimlico,  S.W. 
Cheetham,  AV.  H.,  22,  Commerce  Place,  Nort 

Brixton,  S.AV . 

“  Chemists’  Ball,”  Committee  of .  .  .  •  • 

Chubb,  James  C-,  102,  St.  John  Street,  E.  C. 
Churchyard,  Robert  L.,  112,  Camden  Rd.,  N.W 
Clarke,  Arthur  U.,  217,  Edgware  Road,  AV .  . 


110 
0  5  0- 
1  1  0 
0  10  6 
2  2  O 
0  10  G 
0  5  0 
0  10  G 
0  10  G 
0  10  & 
110 
0  10  & 

0  10  6 
0  10  G 
0  10  G 
0  10  G~ 
1  1  O 
0  5  0 

1  1  0i 

110 
110 
110 
1  1  0^ 

0  10  G- 
0  10  G 
0  10  G- 
0  10  G- 
11(>' 
0  10  G 
0  10  G 

2  2  0 
110 

0  10  &■ 

0  10  6 
21  0  O 
110 
0  10  G 
0  10  &- 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  13,  1871. 


912 


Dona-  Subscrip¬ 


tion.  tion. 

£.  s.  d.  £.  s.  d. 

Coles,  Ferdinand,  248,  King’s  Road,  S.W.  .  .  0  10  G 

Coles,  John  W.,  Camberwell  New  Road,  S.E.  .  0  10  G 

Cooper,  A.,  18,  Abingdon  Ter.,  Kensington,  W.  110 

Constance,  E.,  37,  Leadenhall  Street,  E.C.  .  .  0  10  G 

Cooke,  John,  1126,  Hoxton  Street,  N .  0  10  G 

Cooper,  W.  H.,  5,  Andover  Ter.,  Hornsey  Rd.  0  10  6 

Corby n  and  Co.,  300,  Holborn,  W.C .  110 

Coveil,  W.  M.,  303,  Mare  Street,  Hackney,  E.  .  0  5  0 

Cracknell,  C.,  217,  Edgware  Road,  W .  2  2  0 

Croyden,  Charles,  37,  Wigmore  Street,  W.  .  .  0  10  6 

Cruse,  J.  C.j  27,  Canonbury  Place,  N .  0  5  0 


Darby  and  Gosden,  140,  Leadenhall  St.,  E.C.  .  2  2  0 

D’Aubney,  Thomas,  82,  Shepherdess  Walk,  N.  .  110 

Davenport,  J.  T.,  33,  Great  Russell  St.,  W.C.  .  2  2  0 

Davies,  Wm.,  292,  Gray’s  Inn  Road,  W.C.  .  .  O  10  G 

Davy,  Yates,  and  Routledge,  New  Park  St.,  S.E.  2  2  0 

Deane,  Henry,  Clapbam,  S.W .  110 

Dinnefordand  Co.,  172,  New  Bond  St.,  W.  .  .  2  2  0 

Dismorr,  Henry,  6,  Store  Street,  W.C.  ...  0  10  6 

Doubell,  J.,  Archer  St.,  Notting  Hill,  W.  ...  050 

Dyson,  W.  B.,  4,  Gloucester  Rd.,  S.  Kensington  .  0  10  G 


E.  B.,  Hackney  Road . 

Eade,  George,  72,  Goswell  Road,  E.C.  .  .  . 
Elkington,  E.,  56,  Grange  Road,  Bermondsey 
Ellis,  George  H.,  4,  Finsbury  Pavement,  E.C. 
Elvey,  Thomas,  8,  Halkin  Street  West .  .  , 
Evans,  H.  S.,  60,  Bartholomew  Close,  E.C.  . 
Evans,  J.  H.,  60,  Bartholomew  Close,  E.C.  . 
•By?;  9.,  -0,  Ilig'u  Street,  Hampstead,  N.W.  . 


0  5  0 
O  10  G 
110 
O  10  6 
110 

110 
T  T  O 

£.  1  V 

0  10  6 


Eaulconer,  R.  S.,  270,  Walworth  Road,  S.E. .  .  110 

Field,  William,  83,  Brompton  Road,  S.W.  .  .  110 

Fincham,  Robert,  57,  Baker  Street,  W.  ...  110 

Fisher  and  Haselden,  18,  Conduit  Street,  W.  .  110 

Fitch,  Robert  O.,  South  Hackney,  E .  O  10  G 

Eoott,  Richard  R.,  Stockbridge  Terrace,  S.W.  .  0  10  6 

Forrest,  R.,  20,  Cork  Street,  Bond  Street,  W.  .  110 

Fox,  W.,  109  and  111,  Bethnal  Green  Rd.,  E.  .  110 

Francis,  G.  B.,  5,  Coleman  Street,  E.C.  ...  110 

Eroom,  W.  H.,  75,  Aldersgate  Street,  E.C.  .  .  110 

Gadd,  C.,  1,  Harleyford  Rd.,  Vauxhall,  S.W.  .  O  10  6 

Gadd,  Henry,  High  Street,  Kingsland,  E.  .  .  110 

Gadd,  R.,  1,  Harleyford  Road,  Vauxhall,  S.W.  .  0  10  6 

Gale,  H.,  3,  Millbrook  Place,  Camden  Town  .  .  ©  E.0  ■§ 

'Gale,  Samuel.  338,  Oxford  Street,  W .  110 

Gaunt  and  Fuller,  221,  Union  Street,  Southwark.  O  10  6 

Gedge,  W.  S.,  90,  St.  John  Street,  E.C,  ...  0  10  6 

Glover,  George,  19,  Goodge  Street,  W.  ...  110 

Goddard,  G.  E.,  37,  Chapel  Street,  S.W.  ...  110 

Good,  Thomas,  2,  Miuories,  E . 110 

Goodwin,  John,  Lower  Clapton,  E .  110 

Granger,  Edwin  John,  Upper  Clapton,  E.  .  .  110 

Gristock,  T.,  42,  South  St.,  Manchester  Sq.,  W.  110 

Grundy,  T.,  37,  Leadenhall  St.,  E.C .  O  10  6 


Henty,  H.  M.,  87,  High  Street,  St.  John’s  Wood  ©50 

Herrings  and  Co.,  40,  Aldersgate  Street,  E.C.  .  2  2  0 

■Hickey, Evan L.,  199,  King’s  Road, Chelsea,  S.W.  ©  10  6 

Hiekley,  Thomas  P.,  297,  Edgware  Road,  W.  .  ©  10  6 

Hill,  Arthur  B.,  11,  Little  Britain,  E.C.  ...  110 

Hill,  Arthur  S.,  11,  Little  Britain,  E.C.  ...  110 

Hills,  Thomas  Hyde,  338,  Oxford  Street,  W.  .  5  5  0 

Hodgkinson,  Charles,  127,  Aldersgate  St.,  E.C.  .  ©  10  6 

Hodgkinson,  Stead  and  Treacher,  127,  Alders¬ 
gate  Street,  E.C .  220 

Hooper,  Bartlett,  43,  King  William  Street,  E.C.  110 

Hooper,  L.,  43,  King  William  Street,  E.C.  .  .  ©  10  G 

Hopkin,  W.  K.,  5,  New  Cavendish  Street,  W.  .  110 

Horncastle,  John,  17,  Craven  Road,  W.  .  .  .  ©  10  6 

LHowden,  Robert,  78,  Gracechurch  St.,  E.C.  .  .  110 

Howell,  Maurice,  Gl,  High  St.,  Peckham,  S.E.  .  ©  10  6 

Hugill,  John,  147,  Cannon  Street,  E.C.  ...  110 

Humpage,  Benjamin,  Turnham  Green,  W.  .  .  ©  10  6 

.Hunt,  Charles,  29,  Chapel  Street,  S.W.  ...  ©  10  6 

Hunter,  John,  22,  High  Street,  Kensington,  W.  ©50 

Hyslop,  J.  Cahill,  54,  New  Church  Street,  W.  .  ©  10  6 

Ive,  W.,  2,  Stanhope  Ter.,  S.  Kensington,  S.W.  ©  10  6 

Jacks,  Ebenezer,  161,  Gower  Street,  W.C.  .  .  ©  10  6 

Jackson,  James  B.,  89,  Bishopsgate  St.  Within  .  110 

Jeynes,  G.  W.,  G2,  Princess  St.,  Edgware  Road.  ©  5  0 

Johnson,  Benjamin  M.,70,TottenhamCt.Rd.,W.  ©  10  6 

Jones,  Frederick,  175,  Kentish  Town  Rd.,  N.W.  ©  5  0 

Jones,  Frederick  Win.,  11,  Norton  Folgate,  E.  .  ©  10  6 

Jones,  William,  8,  Richmond  Terrace,  W.  .  .  0  5  0 

Jones,  W.  O.,  34,  Cambridge  Terrace,  Cornwall 

Road,  Notting  Hill,  W .  ©50 

Kemp,  Robert,  205,  Holloway  Road,  N.  .  .  .  ©  10  6 

Kendall,  Charles  F.,  126,  Clapham  Road,  S.W. .  0  10  6 

Kent,  Thomas,  226,  Blackfriars  Road,  S.E.  .  .  ©  10  G 

'.Kent,  Thomas  R.,  22G,  Blackfriars  Road,  S.E.  .  0  10  6 


Kernot,  George  C.,  3,  Chrisp  Street,  Poplar,  E. 
King,  Thomas  W.,  108,  Crawford  Street,  W. 
Knight,  J.,  New  Park  Road,  Brixton  Hill,  S.W. 
Knott,  Samuel,  15,  Norton  Folgate,  E.  .  .  . 


Dona-  Subscrip, 
tion.  tion. 

£•  S,  d ,  £,  $ .  d. 

0  10  6 

0  5  0 

0  10  G 

0  5  0 


Lacey,  Samuel,  21,  VassallRd.,  N.  Brixton,  S.W.  0  2  6 

Large,  John  H.,  G5,  New  North  Road  ....  0  10  6 

Lawrence,  Fredk.,  383,  Kentish  Town  Rd.,  N.W.  0  10  6 

Lescher,  Joseph  S.,  GO,  Bartholomew  Close,  E.C.  110 

Lidwell,  J.  E.,  130,  High  St.,  Notting  Hill,  W. .  ©  10  6 

Linford,  John  S.,  146,  Holborn  Bars,  E.C.  .  .  ©  10  6 

Lockyer,  George,  Deptford,  S.E .  0  10  6 

Long,  H.,  48,  High  Street,  Notting  Hill,  W.  ,  110 


McCulloch,  F.,  13,  Hart  St.,  Covent  Gdn.,  W.C.  110 

MacGeorge,  William,  346,  Essex  Road,  N.  .  .  110 

Maitland,  John,  10,  Chester  PL,  Hyde  Park,  W.  110 

Marston,  John  Thomas,  105,  London  Wall  .  .  0  10  6 

Matthews,  William,  12,  Wigmore  Street,  W.  .  O  10  6 

Maw,  Son  and  Thompson,  11,  Aldersgate  St.,E.C.  2  2  0 

Medcalf,  E.,  Brixton .  ©  10  6 

Meggeson,  George .  110 

Merrell,  J.,  1,  Queen’s  Ter.,  Camden  Road,  N.W.  110 

Middleton,  Francis,  338,  Oxford  Street,  W.  .  .  110 

Mitchell,  John,  254,  Upper  Street,  Islington,  N.  0  10  6 

Morgan,  David,  25,  Brecknock  Road,  N.  .  .  .  ©  10  6 

Mould,  Samuel,  21,  Moorgate  Street,  E.C.  .  .  110 

Mundy,  Alfred  Octavius,  11,  Norton  Folgate,  E. .  0  10  6 


waiter  \v.,  238,  Essex  Road,  N.  .  .  .  .  ©  id  & 

Newzam,  II.  S.,  40,  Theberton  Street,  Islington  0  10  6 

Nicholson,  F.,  216,  St.  Paul’s  Rd.,  Highbury,  N.  110 

Northway,  John,  27,  Great  Tower  Street,  E.C.  .  110 

Orpe,  Thomas  M.,  329,  Old  Kent  Road,  S.E.  .  ©  10  6 

Owen,  John,  234,  Upper  Street,  Islington,  N.  .  110 


Palmer,  Robert,  35,  Ovington  Square,  S.W,  .  .  1  1  © 

Parker,  J.  D.,  40,  Aldersgate  Street,  E.C.  .  .  0  10  G 

Paul,  Dr.,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square . 5  5  0 

Penrose,  Arthur  W.,  5,  Amwell  Street,  E.C.  .  0  10  6 

Pidduck,  John,  Bridge  Ter.,  Harrow  Road,  W.  ©  10  6 

Plummer,  George,  185,  High  Street,  Peckham  .  110 

Pratt,  Edmund,  8,  Upper  Berkeley  Street,  W.  .  110 

Preston  and  Sons,  88,  Leadenhall  Street,  E.C.  .  2  2  0 

Price,  J.  M.,  3,  Loughborough  PL,  Brixton  Rd.  0  1 OS 

Quiller,  Charles,  148,  Sloane  Street,  S.W.  .  .  0  10  6 

Quinlan,  Joseph,  59,  Barnsbury  Road,  N.  .  .  ©  10  G 

Radermacher,  C.  J.,  6,  Ellington  St.,  Islington, N.  1  1  0 

Richardson,  G.,  12,  Norland  Pl.,  Notting  Hill,  W.  0  10  S 

Ringrose,  George,  123,  St.  George’s  Street,  E.  .  0  10  6 

Roach,  Pope,  8,  St.  James’s  Street,  S.W.  ...  1  1  0 

Robbins,  John,  and  Co.,  372,  Oxford  Street,  W.  1  1  0 

Rose,  Alfred,  441,  Edgware  Road,  W .  0  10  6 

Rouse,  Frederick  J.,  Clapham,  S.W .  0  10  6 

Rowe,  Robert,  South  Kensington,  S.W.  ...  ©  10  6 

Rowntree,  T.,  1,  Westbourne  Road,  Islington,  N.  0  10  6 

Rowson,  Henry,  2,  Chichester  Street,  W.  .  .  0  10  6 

Rutter,  Edmund  Yates,  35,  Moorgate  St.,  E.C.  2  2  0 


Sadler,  William,  15,  Norton  Folgate,  E.  .  .  . 
Sandford,  George  Webb,  47,  Piccadilly,  W.  .  . 

Sangster,  A.,  G6,  High  St.,  St.  John’s  Wood, N.W. 
Schacht,  William,  6,  Finsbury  Place  South,  E.C. 
Selleek,  Edward,  Apothecaries’  Hall,  E.C.  .  . 
Shephard,  Thomas  F.,  37,  All  Saints’  Road,  W. 
Sheppard,  A.,  51,  Hollowood  Rd.,  W.  Brompton 
Simpson,  H.,5,  Hanover  PL,  Regent’s  Pk.,  N.W. 
Slipper,  James,  87,  Leather  Lane,  E.C.  .  .  . 
Smith,  W.,  2,  Alfred  Terrace,  South  Hackney,  E. 
Smith,  William  F.,  280,  Walworth  Road,  S.E.  . 
Sparrow,  W.  C.  F.,  2,  Ranelagh  Terrace,  S.W.  . 
Spurling,  William,  8,  Stanley  Rd.,  Hackney,  E. 

Starkie,  Richard  S.,  4,  Strand,  W.C . 

Stathers,  J.,  43,  Norland  Rd.,  Notting  Hill,  W. 
Steel,  F.  W.,  2,  Morgan’s  Pl.,  Liverpool  Rd.,  N. 

Steer,  Philip  R.,  411,  Mare  Street,  E . 

Stevenson,  William  L.,  1G5,  Edgware  Road,  W. 
Stickland,  W.  H.,  South  Kensington,  S.W.  .  . 

Stocken,  James,  33,  Euston  Square,  N.W.  .  . 
Stoneham,  Philip,  45,  Craven  Road,  W.  .  .  . 

Strawson,  G.  F.,  101,  High  Holborn,  W.C.  .  . 


0  10 
1  1 
1  1 
©  10 
©  10 
0  10 
©  10 
©  10 
©  10 
0  10 


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1 


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0 

0 

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6 

6 

6 

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0 

0 

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0 


Taplin,  W.  Gilbert,  75,  Hampstead  Road,  N.W.  I  1 

Taylor,  Thomas,  High  Street,  Peckham,  S.E.  .  ©  10 

Thompson,  Henry  A.,  22,  Worship  Street,  E.C.  1  1 

Thompson,  John,  11,  Aldersgate  Street,  E.C.  .  11 

Tipping,  T.  J.  W.,  12,  High  St.,  Stoke  Newington  ©  10  ” 

Titley,  T.,  44,  Charlotte  Street,  Fitzroy  Sq.,  W.  ©  10  © 

Townsend,  Charles,  40,  Aldersgate  Street,  E.C.  0  10  G 

Trotman,  A.  C.,  16,  Cambridge  Street,  W.  .  .  ©  10  G 

Tugwell,  W.  H.,  3,  Lewisham  Rd.,  Greenwich  .  ©  10  6 

Turner,  Charles  E.,  G3,  Great  Russell  St.,  W.C.  ©  10  6 


May  13, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


913 


Dona-  Subscrip¬ 


tion.  tion. 

£.  s.  d.  £.  s.  d. 

Umney,  Charles,  40,  Aldersgate  Street,  E.C.  .  0  10  G 

Vizer,  Edwin  B.,  G3,  Lupus  St.,  Pimlico,  S.W.  »  110 

W.  T.  C .  0  10  6 

Warner,  Carter  and  Co.,  Charterhouse  Sq.,  E.C.  110 

Warner,  Charles  H.,  55,  Fore  Street,  E.C.  .  ,  110 

Wastie,  F.,  183,  Lower  Kennington  Lane,  S.E.  .  0  10  6 

Weston,  Samuel  J.,  151,  Westbourne  Ter.,  W.  .  110 

Westrup,  J.  B.,  70,  Kensington  Park  Hoad,  W.  0  10  6 

Whincup,  William,  404,  Essex  Hoad,  N.  .  .  .  0  10  6 

Whitburn,  Augustus  R.,  174,  Regent  Street,  W.  0  10  6 

Whittle,  E.  C.  C.,  Townsend  Rd.,  St.  John’s  Wd.  0  5  0 

Wickham,  William,  509,  New  Cross  Road,  S.E.  0  10  6 

Wilkinson,  Thomas,  Regent  Circus,  W.  ...  110 

Williams,  John,  5,  New  Cavendish  Street,  W.  .  110 

Williams,  J.  J.,  13,  Desborough  PI.,  Harrow  Rd.  0  10  6 

Williams,  R.,  2,  Gresham  PI.,  E.  Brixtou,  S.W.  0  10  6 

Willows,  Jesse,  101,  High  Holborn,  W.C.  .  .  110 

Wilson,  Thomas,  Upper  Holloway,  N .  0  10  G 

Wise,  Walter,  43,  Duke  St.,  Manchester  Sq.,W.  110 

Wooldridge,  John,  290,  Euston  Road,  N. W.  .  0  10  6 

Wootton,  Wm.,  10,  Mount  Row,  Liverpool  Rd.  0  10  6 

Wyman,  John,  122,  Fore  Street,  E.C .  110 

Young,  George,  12,  Ebenezer  Ter.,  Millwall,  E.  0  5  0 


Dona-  Subscrip- 


Brighton,  Gwatkin,  James  Thomas 

tion. 

£.  s.  d. 

tion. 
£.  s. 
0  10 

d. 

6 

„  Haffenden,  Thomas 

0  5 

0 

,,  Kemp,  John  .... 

0  10 

6 

,,  Noakes,  Richard  .  .  . 

0  10 

0 

,,  Robson,  Thomas .  .  . 

„  Samuel,  Edward  .  .  . 

0  10 

6 

0  10 

6 

,,  Savage,  William  Dawson 

0  10 

6 

,,  Savage,  William  Wallace 

0  10 

G 

,,  Schweitzer,  Julius  .  . 

1  1 

0 

,,  Smith,  Walter  Henry  . 

0  10 

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Bristol,  Ackerman,  Theophilus 

1  1 

0 

,,  Butler,  Samuel  .... 

0  10 

6 

,,  Hatch,  Isaac  and  Co.  .  . 

1  1 

0 

„  Hodder,  Henry  .... 

0  5 

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,,  Margetson,  James  .  .  . 

0  10 

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,,  Sircom,  Richard  .  .  .  . 

0  10 

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,,  Stoddart,  William  W.  . 

0  10 

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Bromley  {Kent),  Baxter,  William  W. 

0  10 

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„  Saunders,  Charles  J.  H. 

,,  Shillcock,  Joseph  B.  .  . 

!  5  5  0 

0  10 

6 

Broseley,  Stevens,  John  .... 

0  10 

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Bruton,  Hill,  Richard  .... 

0  5 

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Buckingham,  Sirett,  George  .  . 

0  10 

6 

,,  Sirett,  George  B.  . 

0  10 

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Burslem,  Blaclishaw,  Thomas  .  . 

0  10 

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„  Guest,  George  C.  .  .  . 

0  2 

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COUNTRY. 


Abergavenny,  Ackrill,  George  . 
Alf reton,  Robinson,  J.  Spencer 
Ampthill,  Allen,  George  .  .  . 

Arbroath,  Milne,  P . 

Ashbourne,  Bradley,  Edwin  S.  . 
Ashford,  In  gall,  Joseph  .  .  . 

Atherton ,  War  burton,  Thomas 


Banbury,  Ball,  George  Yincent  .  . 
Barking,  Fitt,  Francis  Edward  .  . 

Barnet  {New),  Young,  Robert  Fisher 
Barnstaple,  Goss,  Samuel  .... 
Basingstoke,  Woodman,  George  .  . 

Bath,  Davis,  Barnitt  and  Co.  .  .  . 

„  Pooley,  John  Carpenter  .  . 

,,  Rolfe,  William  A . 

„  Tylee,  John  P . 

Beckenham,  Day,  Thomas  S.  .  .  . 

Bedford,  Anthony,  John  Lilley  .  . 

„  Taylor  and  Cuthbert .  .  . 

Berkeley,  Bell,  Edward  C.  .  ...  . 

Berwick,  Carr,  William  Graham .  .  . 

„  Davidson,  John  .  .... 

Beverley,  Richardson,  John  .  .  . 

.,  Robinson,  James  Mowld  . 
Bewdley,  Newman,  Robert  ..... 

Bickley,  Garle,  John  ...... 

Bideford ,  Hogg,  Thomas  .... 

Birmingham,  Churchill,  John  .  .  . 

„  Clayton,  Francis  Corder 

„  Foster,  Alfred  H.  .  . 

„  Lucas,  Joseph  .  .  . 

„  Musson,  Telemachus  G. 

„  Palmer,  Charles  F.  .  . 

„  Pegg,  Herbert  .  .  . 

„  Perry,  William  Henry 

„  Snape,  Edward  .  .  . 

,,  Southall,  Son  and  Dymond 

,,  Sumner,  John.  .  .  . 

Bishop’s  Stortford,  Speechly,  George 
Blackheath,  Lavers  and  Son  .  .  . 

Blandford,  Groves,  Wellington  E.  . 
Bodmin,  Williams,  Joel  D 
Bognor,  Long,  Alfred  T.  . 

Boston,  Allen,  Thompson 
„  Marshall,  Robert 
Boyton,  Nunn,  Charles  G. 

Bradford  {Yorks.),  Blackburn,  Bailey 

,,  Harrison  and  Parkins 

,,  Hick,  Joseph 

,,  Rogerson,  Michae 

Bridge,  Thomas,  James  .  .  . 

Bridgnorth,  Steward,  William  . 
Bridlington,  Cooper,  Mark  W. 

Bridport,  Beach  and  Barnicott 
„  Beach,  James  ... 

,,  Tucker,  Charles  .  . 

Brighton,  Barton,  Charles  .  . 

,,  Barton,  Henry  .  . 

„  Brew,  Thomas  A.  . 

,,  Cornish,  William 

„  Else,  William  .  .  . 

„  Foster,  Frederick  . 

,,  Glaisyer,  Thomas 


n 


and 


Son. 


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99 

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99 


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9  9 


Cambridge,  Deck,  Arthur  . 
Canterbury,  Amos,  Daniel  . 

Gardner,  Austen  W. 
Harvey,  Sidney 
„  Paine,  William 
Cardiff,  Coleman,  E.  J.  .  . 

Drane,  R . 

Inglis,  W.  G.  .  . 

Joy,  Francis  W.  . 
Williams,  Thomas  . 

Yorath,  C.  .  .  . 

Carlisle,  Hallaway,  John 
„  Moss,  William  .  . 

,,  Sawyer,  James  .  . 

,,  Thompson,  Andrew 
Carnarvon ,  Jones,  John  .  . 

Chatham,  Crofts,  Holmes  Cheney 
„  French,  Gabriel  . 

,,  Tribe,  John  ...  . 
Chelmsford,  Baker,  Charles  P. 

Baker,  Garrad 
Seaton,  George 
Tomlinson,  James 
Cheltenham,  Fletcher,  Francis 
,,  Palmer,  Faithful 
Chertsey,  Boyce,  George 
Chester,  Hodges,  William  . 

Chew  Magna,  Milton,  Thomas 
Chichester ,  Long,  WrilliamE. 

,,  Pratt,  John  .  . 

Chipping  Ongar ,  Chapman,  Richard 
Cirencester,  Smith,  Charles  S.  . 
Cockermouth,  Bowerbank,  Joseph 
Colchester,  Chaplin,  John  L. 

Cole,  Frederick  A. 
Manthorp,  Samuel 
Prosser,  Evan  T. 

,,  Shenstone,  James 

Colsterworth,  Wing,  Samuel 
Coningsby,  Brown,  Samuel 
Cottingham ,  Lister,  George 
Coventry,  Hinds,  James  . 
Crewkerne,  Pearce,  Joseph 
Crickhowell,  Christopher,  William 
Croydon,  Blake,  Charles  . 

„  Long,  Henry  . 

,,  Stannard,  Frederick  J 


99 

99 

99 


am 


Denbigh,  Edwards,  Wrilliam 
Devizes,  Madge,  James  C.  . 
Diss,  Cupiss,  Francis  .  .  . 

,,  Gostling,  Thomas  P.  . 

„  Smith,  Thomas  W. 

„  Thrower,  Edward  A.  . 
Doncaster,  Ilowarth,  James 
Dorking,  Clark,  W.  W.  .  . 
Dover,  Bottle,  Alexander  . 

„  Forster,  Robert  .  . 

,,  Forster,  Robert  Henry 
,,  Hambrook,  John  B. 
Driffield,  Great,  Elgey,  J ames 
Dudley,  Dennison,  Matthew 
,,  Hollier,  Elliott  .  . 
Durham,  Burdon,  John  .  . 

„  Rollin,  John  George 
,,  Sarsfield,  William 

„  Wrortley,  John 


0  10  6 
0  10  6 
0  5  0 
0  10  6 
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0  10  6 
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110 
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0  5  • 

0  10  t, 
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0  10  6 
oio  d 


*914 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS 


[May  13, 1871 


Dona-  Subscrip¬ 
tion. 


Haling ,  Barry,  Thomas . 

,,  Hayles  Brothers . 

Edinburgh,  Aitken,  J ames . 

,,  Aitken,  William . 

„  Baildon,  H.  C . 

,,  Brown,  D.  R . . 

,,  Buchanan,  James . 

„  Duncan,  Flockhart  and  Co.  .  .  , 

„  Leiteh,  William 

„  Macfarlane,  A.  Y.  .  .  .  j  .  , 

,,  Macfarlan,  J.  and  Co . . 

,,  Mackay,  John  . . 

,,  Robertson,  James . 

Edmonton  ( Lower ),  Jefferson,  Thomas  .  .  , 

Eton,  Bingham,  William  H . 

„  Lewis  and  Son  .......... 

Exeter,  Bromfield,  Charles  ........ 

,,  Cooper,  George . . 

,,  Husband,  Matthew . 

, ,  N apier,  George  L . . 

,,  Palk,  John . 

,,  Stone,  John . 

Hairford,  Manning,  Henry  . . . 

Halkirk,  Murdoch,  David  .  . . 

Eareham,  Batchelor,  Charles . 

„  Peat,  Walter . 

Elint,  Jones,  Michael  .  ........ 

Florence,  Groves,  Henry . 

Hordingbridge,  Haydon,  Frederick  W.  .  . 

•Gainsborough,  Marshall,  John  Ferres  .  .  . 

Gateshead,  Elliott,  Robert . 

,,  Garbutt,  Cornelius  D . 

Glasgow,  Currie,  John,  oil,  Sauchiehall  Street 

,,  Frazer,  Daniel . 

,,  Kinninmont,  Alexander  .... 

,,  Murdoch  Brothers . 

Goole,  Hasselby,  Thomas  John . 

Gosport,  Hunter,  John  .  . . 

,,  Mumby,  Charles . 

Grantham,  Hall,  Thomas . 

Gravesend,  Beaumont,  William  II . 

,,  Spencer,  Charles . 

Guildford,  Martin,  Edward  W.  .  .  .  .  . 

„  Shepherd,  George  Prentis  .  .  . 

Halstead,  Evans,  Daniel  Ogilvie  ..... 

JIarleston,  Muskett,  James . 

,,  Parker,  Henry  Walter  .... 

Harrogate,  Coupland,  Joseph . 

,,  Greenwood,  Charles  ..... 

,,  Greenwood,  John . 

,,  Taylor,  Joseph  H . 

Harwich,  Bevan,  Charles  F . 

Hastings,  Bell,  James  A . 

,,  Miller,  Frederic  ....... 

,,  Rossiter,  Frederic . 

Haverfordwest,  Saunders,  David  Price  .  . 
Hawkhurst,  Stainburn,  Joseph  ..... 

Hag,  Davies,  John  L . 

Heavitree,  Bralley,  Charles . 

Heckmondwike,  Booth,  John . 

Hedon,  Soutter,  Messrs . 

Hendon,  Goldfinch,  George  . . 

Hertford,  Lines,  George ........ 

Heywood,  Beckett,  William . 

Hirwain,  Sims,  Joseph . 

Honiton,  Turner,  George . 

Horsham,  Jull,  Thomas . 

,,  Williams,  Philip . 

Howden,  Saville,  John . 

Huddersfield,  Fryer,  Henry . 

,,  King,  William . 

„  Higgins,  Tom  S . 

Hull,  Akester,  Joseph  C . 

,,  Allison,  Brothers . 

,,  Anholm,  August . . 

,,  Balk  and  Shepherdson . 

,,  Barlow,  George . .  . 

„  Baynes,  James  .  . . . 

3,  Bell,  Charles  B . 

„  Briggs,  George  Jeremiah . 

3,  Cottingham,  Kirk . 

3,  Des  Forges,  Joseph  Henry . 

3,  Dixon,  Joseph . 

,,  Dobson,  John  B . 

t,  Dyson,  George . 

3,  Earle,  Francis . 

3,  Escreet,  James  . . 

,,  Fisher,  John  R . 

,,  Gibson,  Charles  P . 

•3,  Green,  Alfred . 

„  Hall,  Henry  R.  F . .  .  . 


tion. 

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0  10  6 
0  10  6 
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110 
0  10  6 
0  10  6 
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0  5 
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Hull,  Hammond,  Charles  T. 
Hart,  George  William 
Hollingsworth,  James 
Jubb,  Edward  .  .  . 
Kelliugton,  Mark  L.  . 
Kirtou,  Joseph  B.  .  . 
Milner,  John  George  . 
Myers,  George  .  .  . 
Preston,  John  .  .  . 
Smith,  Anthony, 


Dona¬ 
tion. 
£.  s.  d. 


99 
9 9 

99 

99 

99 

a 

99 

99 

99 

99 


Staning,  William 


Jersey,  Millais,  Thomas 


Kendal,  Severs  and  Bateson 
Kidderminster,  Bond,  Charles 
Kilmarnock,  Borland,  John . 

„  Rankin,  William 


0 
0 
0 
0 

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Landport,  Tryon,  William  G.  .  .  . 

Langholm,  Rome,  Robert  M.  .  .  . 
Leamington,  Barnett,  John  .... 

,,  Davis,  Henry  .... 

„  Jones,  Samuel  Urwick  . 

„  Death  and  Woolcott  .  . 

„  Pullin,  William  H.  .  . 

Leatherhead,  Ilewlins,  Edward  .  . 

Leeds,  Bilbrcugh,  J.  B . 

,,  Brooke,  Thomas . 

,,  ]  Goodall,  Backhouse  and  Co.  . 

„  Harvey,  Thomas  ..... 

„  Hirst,  James  Andus  .... 

„  Jefferson,  Peter . 

„  Metcalfe,  Edmund  Henry  . 

,,  Reynolds,  Freshfield  .  .  . 

,,  Reynolds,  Richard  .... 

„  Sagar,  Henry . 

„  Smeeton,  William  .... 

„  Taylor  and  Fletcher  .... 

,,  Yewdall,  Edwin . 

Lees,  Marlor,  Jabez . 

Leicester,  Clarke,  Walter  B.  .  .  . 
„  Cooper,  Thomas  .... 

,,  Salisbury,  William  Bryan 

Leominster,  Davis,  D.  Frederick  .  . 

Lewes,  Head,  J ohn . 

„  Martin,  Thomas . 

,,  Saxby,  Henry  ...... 

Lewisham,  Clift  and  Crow  .... 

Lincoln,  Tomlinson,  Charles  K.  .  . 
Liverpool,  Barber,  George  .... 

,,  Coupland,  Henry  .  ,  . 

,,  Fergusson,  John  .  .  . 

,,  Hunt,  Thomas  .... 

,,  Jones,  Owen  Lewis  .  .  . 

,,  Maskery,  Samuel  .  .  . 

„  Parkinson,  Richard .  .  . 

,,  Pheysey,  Richard  .  .  . 

„  Utley,  Alfred . 

Looe,  nicks,  James  L . 

Loughborough,  Paget,  John  .... 

Louth,  Hurst,  John  ...... 

Lowestoft,  Edmonds,  Benjamin  M.  . 
Ludlow,  Cocking,  George  .... 

Lye  ( Stourbridge ),  Jones,  Rowland  G. 
Lymington,  Allen,  Adam  U.  ... 


Macduff,  Henry,  Andrew . 

Maidstone,  Rogers,  William  .... 
Malvern  {Great),  Burrow,  Messrs.  .  . 
Malvern  Link,  Gwilliam,  John  Cole  .  . 
Malvern  Wells,  Wakefield,  Cecil  H.  . 
Manchester,  Brown,  William  Scott  .  . 
„  Carter,  William  .... 

„  Hampson,  Robert .... 

„  Jackson,  Thomas  .... 

„  Johnstone,  Charles  A.  .  . 

„  Maunder,  Robert .... 

,,  Mitchell,  John . 

„  Paine,  Standen  .... 

„  Ransome,  Thomas  .  .  . 

,,  Ter^,  Thomas  .... 

,,  Walsh,  Edward  .... 

,,  Wilkinson,  George  .  .  . 

„  Wilkinson,  William  .  .  . 

„  Woolley,  James  .... 

„  Wright  and  Barnaby  .  . 

Market  Drayton,  King,  William  George 

Mary  port,  Cockton,  John . 

Melton  Mowbray ,  Leadbetter,  W.  A.  . 
Merthyr  Tydfil ,  Thomas,  Rees  .  .  . 
Montreal,  Mercer,  Nathan . 


Needham  Market,  Harrington,  A. 
Nether  Stowey,  Ham,  John  .  . 


Subscrip¬ 

tion. 

£.  s.  d. 

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110 


May  13,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


915 


tion 
£.  s.  d. 

Netley ,  Borchert,  Heinrich,  T.  G . 

.. Newcastle-on-Tyne ,  Brady,  Henry  B . 

,,  „  Potts,  Thomas . 

„  ,,  Proctor,  Barnard  S.  .  .  . 

Newcastle-under -Tyne,  Cartwright,  William  .  . 

Newport  ( Monmouthshire ),  Pearman,  Henry  .  . 

„  „  Phillips,  John  .  .  % 

„  „  Young,  John  .  .  . 

Newton  Abbot,  Poulton,  John . 

Newtown,  Morgan,  Richard  ........ 

Northallerton,  Warrior,  William . 

Northampton,  Barry,  James . 

,,  Mayger,  William  D.  .  .*  .  .  . 

Norwich,  Arnold,  Edward . 

,,  Caley,  Albert  J . 

,,  Cooke,  William  ........ 

,,  Sutton,  Francis  i . 

„  Woodcock,  Page  D . 

Norwood  ( Upper )  ,  Birch,  Henry  C . 

Nottingham,  Jenkins,  Joseph  ....... 

Oakham,  Wellington,  James  Martin  .... 

Odiham,  Hornsby,  John  H . 

Oldham,  Bagshaw,  William ........ 

,,  Bates,  Henry . 

,,  Hargraves,  Henry  L . 

,,  Henthorn,  Joshua . 

Ore  {Hastings),  Neve,  Francis  Charles  .... 

Oswestry,  Vaughan,  David . 

Otley,  Pratt,  Richard  Munton . 

Dandle,  Roper,  Henry  Edward . 0  10  0 

Oxford,  Prior,  George  T . 

Fetherton  (South),  Wellington,  Frederick  G.  N. 

Pillgwenlly ,  Morgan,  William . . 

Rlymouth,  Balkwill,  Alfred  Payne . 

„  Burd wood,  James . 

„  Northcroft,  Jonathan . . 

,,  Sloggett,  Thomas  C.  .  .  .  .  .  . 

Point  de  Galle,  Bissett,  George  M‘Ritchie  .  .  2  10  0 
Pontypridd,  Bassett,  Charles  ....... 

Portobello,  Kemp,  David . . 

Portsmouth,  Parsons,  William . 

Rreston,  Hogarth,  William  . . 

„  Oakey,  Joseph  Malpas . 

.Putney,  Farmer,  John  . . 

,,  Jeffcoat . 

,,  Jones,  Thomas . 

Ramsgate,  Fisher,  Charles  and  Sons  .... 

,,  Morton,  Henry . 

Retford,  Baker,  William .  . . 

Rhyl,  Jones,  E.  Powell . 

Richmond  (Surrey),  Hopwood  and  Son  .... 

,,  ,,  Clarke,  Thomas  M.  .  .  . 

Pichmond  (Yorks.),  Thompson,  Thomas  ... 

Rochdale,  Booth,  James . 

„  Lord,  Ellis . 

,,  Taylor,  Edward  ........ 

,,  Whitehead,  John . 

Pock  Ferry,  Dutton,  John  .  . 

-Rochester,  Barnaby,  Henry  .  . 

,,  Harris,  H.  W.  .  . 

Rotherham,  Booth,  Nathaniel  . 

Rothesay,  Duncan,  William  .  . 

„  Macintosh,  Archibald 

Rugby,  Garratt,  John  C.  .  .  . 

,,  Garratt,  Samuel  ... 

,,  Lewis,  Thomas  C.  .  . 

Ryde ,  Dixon.  Henry  .... 

,,  Gibbs,  William  ..... 

„  Taylor,  Richard  .  *  .  . 

,,  Wavell,  John  .  , 

Rye,  Smith,  Alfred  W.  .  .  .  . 

•St.  Alban's,  Martin,  Henry  G. ,  , 

,,  Roberts,  Albinus  .  . 

St.  Austell,  Geldard,  John  .  .  , 

■St.  Day,  Corfield,  Charles  .  .  . 

„  Corfield,  Thomas  J.  T.  . 

Salford,  Manfield,  John  W.  .  . 

Salisbury,  Atkins,  Samuel  Ralph 
Saltash,  Matthew,  William  Ham 
Seacombe,  Holt,  Richard  Wylde  ( 

•Selby,  Colton,  Thomas  .... 

,,  Cutting,  Thomas  J.  .  .  , 

„  Glew,  William  .  .  .  .  < 

Shanklin,  Lasham,  John  .... 

Sheffield,  Ellinor,  George  .  .  , 

,,  Hudson,  F . 

„  Jennings,  John  E,  H.  , 

„  Maleham,  Henry  .  .  , 

„  Priestley,  Henry  .  .  . 

„  Radley,  William  V.  .  . 

•Shepherd’s  Bush,  Jones,  William  . 

'Stafford,  Baigent,  William  H.  .  . 


Dona-  Subscrip¬ 


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Shields,  South,  Forrest,  Robert  ...... 

,,  Mays,  Robert  J.  J . 

Shrewsbury,  Blunt,  Son  and  Co . 

f,  Cross,  William  Gowen . 

„  Cross,  William  Gowen,  jun.  .  .  . 

,,  Edwards,  William . 

,,  Salter,  J.  B.  .  ....... 

Sittingbourne,  Rook,  Edward  ....... 

Sleaford,  Heald,  Benjamin . 

Slough,  Griffiths,  Richard . .  , 

Southampton,  Palk,  Edward . 

,,  Randall,  William  B . 

Southport,  Ashton,  William  .  . . 

,,  Garside,  Thomas  ....... 

,,  Sykes,  Thomas  Hindle . 

„  Walker,  William  H . 

Southsea,  Cruse,  Thomas  H . 

„  Hackman,  Leonard  L.  .....  . 

,,  Rastrick  and  Son . 

Soicerby  Bridge,  Stott,  William . 

Spalding,  Asiing,  Brelsford . 

,,  Swift,  Francis . 

Spileby,  Rainey,  Edward  . . 

Stafford,  Averill,  Henry  A . . 

,,  Averill,  John  ......... 

Staines,  Jones,  Edward  George . 

Steyning,  Goodwyn,  Charles  S.  ...... 

Stockport,  Shaw,  Alexander  Henry . 

Stockton-on-Tees,  Bainbridge,  R.  R . 

„  Brayshay,  Thomas  .  .  .  . 

,,  Brayshay,  William  B.  .  .  . 

„  Clarke,  William . 

Stourbridge,  Bland,  John  H . 

,,  Burgess,  William  ...... 

,,  Hughes,  Samuel . 

„  Loverock,  Henry . 

„  Morris,  Alfred  Philip . 

T,  Perks,  Francis . 

Whitwell,  George  ...... 

StowmarTcet,  Simpson,  T.,  and  Son . 

,,  Sutton,  Charles  William  .... 

Stratford,  Holford,  Thomas  C.  ...... 

Stratford-upon-Avon,  Wynne,  Edward  P.  .  . 

Stroud,  Coley,  Samuel  J . 

Sunbury,  Leare,  James  ......... 

Sunderland,  Nicholson,  John  J . 

Sutton  Coldfield,  Smith,  William . 

Sydenham,  Harris,  Daniel  R . .  . 

,,  Holloway,  Thomas  H . 

,,  Lang,  William  ........ 

,,  Pocklington,  James  ...... 

„  J.  M.  W . 

Taunton,  Evans,  J.  J . . 

,,  Fouracre,  Robert . 

,,  Gregory,  George  Henry . 

,,  Hambly,  Charles  J . 

,,  Kirkman,  Charles  J.  . 

,,  Kirkpatrick,  Samuel . 

„  Pearse,  John . 

„  Prince,  Henry . 

,,  Redman,  Sidney . 

Thornton-in-Craven,  Wilson,  Thomas  .... 

Tickhill,  Crowther,  Thomas . 

Tiverton,  Norrish,  Henry . 

Todrnorden,  Lord,  Charles  ........ 

Torpoint,  Down,  Richard  H . 

Tottenham,  Bently,  William  James . 

Trimpley,  Steward,  Josiah  . . 

,,  Steward,  Theophilus  ...... 

Tunbridge  Wells,  Delves,  George  ..... 

,,  Gardener,  Charles  ..... 

,,  Howard,  Richard . 

,,  Sells,  Robert  James  .  .  .  . 

,,  Sissmore,  H.  T . 

Twickenham,  Bishop,  Thomas . 

Uttoxeter,  Johnson,  John  B . .  .  . 

Wakefield,  Duffin,  Thomas . 

,,  Romans,  Thomas  W . 

,,  Taylor,  John . 

Wallingford,  Payne,  S.  .  .  ’  . . 

Walmer,  Peake,  Robert  .......*• 

Walton-on-Tham.es,  Power,  Edward  .... 

Wandsworth,  Nind,  George  .....  .  • 

Wandsworth  (New),  Crosby,  James . 

Warrington,  Robinson,  JohnT . 

Watford,  Chater,  Jonathan,  and  Son  .... 
Wcaverham,  Manifold,  John  J.  ...... 

Wellingborough,  Thorne,  John . 

Wellington,  Langford,  John  B . . 

Welwyn,  Lawrance,  Edmund . . 

West  Hartlepool,  Cooper,  S.  H . 

,,  Davison,  John  . . 

Weymouth,  Groves,  T,  . . 


Dona¬ 
tion. 
£.  s.  d. 


Subscrip¬ 

tion. 

£.  s.  d. 
0  18  6 
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91G 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  13, 187L 


Dona-  Subscrip¬ 


tion.  tion. 

£.  s.  d.  £.  s.  d. 

Winchester,  Powell,  Edward  .  . .  110 

Windsor,  Boyce,  John  P.  .  . .  0  10  6 

„  Collins,  H.  G .  0  5  0 

,,  Crook,  Edward  . .  0  10  6 

„  Grisbrook,  Edward .  0  10  6 

„  Leigh,  John . .  -  0  10  6 

,,  Russell,  Charles  J.  L.  .  0  10  6 

,,  Weller,  George .  0  10  G 

,,  Wetherhead,  E .  0  10  6 

Woolwich,  Parkes,  John  C .  0  10  6 

,,  Rastrick,  John  A .  0  10  6 

Worcester,  Whitfield  and  Sons  ......  110 

„  Witherington,  Thomas  .....  110 

Wrexham,  Paine,  Charles  .  . .  0  10  6 

Wylce,  Drake,  William .  02G 

Wymondham ,  Skoulding,  William  .....  050 

Yarm,  Reed,  George .  0  10  6 

Yeovil,  Manning,  Thomas  D.,  jun.  .....  110 


Yarm,  Reed,  George . .  0  10  6 

Yeovil,  Manning,  Thomas  D.,  jun.  .....  110 


LIVERPOOL  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Twelfth  General  Meeting  of  this  Association  was 
held  at  the  Royal  Institution  on  Thursday  evening, 
April  27th;  the  President,  Mr.  John  Abraham,  in  the 
chair. 

The  following  donations  were  announced : — Hooker’s 
‘Student’s  Flora,’  Tyndall  ‘On  Sound,’  Naquet’s  ‘Mo¬ 
dem  Chemistry,’  ‘  The  Life  and  Letters  of  Faraday,’ 
2  vols.,  Tuson’s  ‘Veterinary  Pharmacopoeia,’  Roscoe’s 
*  Spectrum  Analysis,’  Fresenius’s  ‘  Quantitative  Analy¬ 
sis  ’  (last  edition),  Williams’s  ‘  Chemical  Manipulation,’ 
Prior’s  ‘  British  Plants,’  ‘  The  Homoeopathic  Pharma¬ 
copoeia,’  Miller’s  ‘Chemistry’  (last edition),  3  vols. :  from 
the  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference,  Bell  and  Hills 
Fund— ‘  Proceedings  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical 
Association  at  the  Eighteenth  Annual  Meeting,  held  in 
Baltimore,  September,  1870’:  from  Professor  Maisch,  of 
Philadelphia — ‘  The  Chicago  Pharmacist’  :  from  Mr. 
Ebert,  Chicago — ‘The  New  York  Druggists’  Circular’  : 
from  Mr.  Mercer,  Montreal  —  ‘  The  Pharmaceutical 
Journal’ :  from  the  Society — ‘Journal  of  the  Liverpool 
Polytechnic  Society’ :  from  the  Society. 

_  The  President  informed  the  members  that  the  Coun¬ 
cil  had  felt  great  difficulty  in  selecting  suitable  books 
for  the  appropriation  of  the  Bell  and  Hills  Fund,  their 
Library  being  well  supplied  with  many  standard  works ; 
they  had,  therefore,  solicited  the  assistance  of  Professor 
Attfield,  who  had  kindly  selected  and  sent  down  the 
books  on  the  table.  He  was  sure  they  would  all  agree 
with  him  that  it  was  a  very  useful  selection,  and  would 
prove  a  valuable  addition  to  the  Library,  and  that  they 
would  feel  much  indebted  to  Professor  Attfield  for  his 
kindness.  He  would  remind  the  members  that  the  Com¬ 
mittee  of  the  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference  were 
enabled  to  make  this  handsome  donation  through  the 
thoughtful  liberality  of  Mr.  Thomas  Hyde  Hills,  of 
London,  honorary  member  of  the  Association. 

Unanimous  votes  of  thanks  were  voted  to  the  donors 
for  their  valuable  donations. 

The  paper  for  the  evening  was  by  Mr.  A.  Norman 
Tate,  “  Some  Thoughts  on  Iron.”  The  Secretary  an¬ 
nounced  that  he  had  received  a  communication  from  Mr. 
Tate,  regretting  his  being  compelled  unexpectedly  to 
go  out  of  town. 

A  short  discussion  arose  upon  the  safe  keeping  of 
poisons,  after  which  the  members  adjourned. 


NORWICH  CHEMISTS’  ASSISTANTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

On  Monday,  1st  inst.,  the  first  of  a  series  of  lectures, 
intended  to  replace,  during  the  summer  months,  the 
classes  held  throughout  the  winter,  was  given  at  the 


rooms  of  the  above  Society,  by  Mr.  A.  J.  Caley,  subject 
“  The  Tests  of  the  Pharmacopoeia.” 

The  Lecturer  began  by  stating  that  it  was  his  inten¬ 
tion  to  go  through  the  reagents  alphabetically,  and  to 
endeavour  to  maintain  a  simplicity  in  treating  the  sub¬ 
ject  which  should  adapt  it  to  the  comprehension  of  the 
youngest  apprentice  amongst  them.  After  enlarging 
upon  the  paramount  importance  of  cleanliness  during 
the  application  of  tests,  and  advising  that  the  strength 
of  the  solutions  employed  should  correspond  to  those 
ordered  in  the  Pharmacopoeia,  the  lecturer  adduced 
several  examples  indicating  the  great  care  that  had  been 
taken  in  compiling  the  Pharmacopoeia  to  provide  means, 
for  the  detection  of  adulteration.  He  then  passed  to  the 
consideration  of  the  reagents,  explaining  their  sources 
and  processes  of  manufacture,  the  purposes  for  which 
they  are  employed,  and  methods  of  application,  at  the 
same  time  noticing  the  origin  of  the  various  adulterants. 

The  subject  was  handled  in  a  most  able  manner,  and, 
being  well  illustrated  by  experiments,  elicited  frequent, 
applause  from  the  audience. 

The  meeting  terminated  with  the  usual  vote  of  thanks. 


MEETINGS  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 


Tuesday  .... 
May  16. 
Wednesday. 
May  17. 


Thursday. 
May  18. 


Friday 
May  19. 


..Royal  Institution,  at  3  E.M. — “On  Force  and. 
Energy.”  By  Mr.  C.  Brooke. 

..Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Great  Pritain,  at 
11  a.m.  for  12 :  Annual  Meeting.  At  8  p.m.  r 
Conversazione  at  South  Kensington  Mu¬ 
seum. 

Society  of  Arts,  at  8  p.m. — “The  Utilization 
of  Prison  Labour.”  By  Captain  E.  E.  Du 
Cane,  R.E. 

..Royal  Institution,  at  3  p.m. — “On  Sound.” 
By  Professor  Tyndall. 

Chemical  Society,  at  8p.m.  —  “On  a  New- 
Double  Salt  of  Thallium.”  By  R.  J.  Eris- 
well.  “On  a  New  Benzolic  Derivative.” 
By  D.  Armstrong. 

..Royal  Institution,  at  9  P.M. 

Royal  Botanic  Society. — “  Economic  Bo¬ 
tany.”  By  Professor  Bentley. 


At  Teignmouth,  Devonshire,  April  19th,  Richari> 
Bayly  Cornelius,  Pharmaceutical  Chemist,  aged 
twenty-seven. 


Chemistry:  General,  Medical  and  Pharmaceutical, 
including  the  Chemistry  of  the  U.S.  Pharmacopoeia - 
By  John  Atteield,  Ph.D.,  F:C.S.,  etc.  From  the 
second  and  enlarged  English  edition.  Revised  by  the 
Author.  Philadelphia :  Henry  C.  Lea.  1871. 

We  have  already  had  occasion  more  than  once  to 
speak  in  terms  -of  very  high  commendation  of  Professor 
Attfield’s  excellent  manual.  It  is  therefore  a  matter 
of  little  surprise  to  us  that  we  are  called  upon  to 
welcome  its  reappearance  in  a  new  dress  from  the  other 
side  of  the  Atlantic,  notwithstanding  that  so  little  ap¬ 
probation  is  usually  accorded  by  our  American  brethren 
to  the  productions  of  the  old  country. 

So  much  success,  however,  has  attended  the  use  of  the 
book  in  the  English  School  of  Pharmacy  and  generally 
among  the  pharmaceutical  students  of  Great  Britain, 
that  we  venture  to  predict  for  it  a  very  wide  circulation 
among  the  pharmacists  of  the  United  States.  The 
general  plan  of  the  book  we  have  .before  described  in 
detail  and  it  is  now  familiar  to.  the  majority  of  our  readers. 
That  plan  we  still  look  upon  as  excellent.  We  have  no 
faith  in  any  attempts  to  teach  or  to  learn  chemistry 


31  ay  13, 1871.] 


TIIE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


917 


otherwise  than  by  experiment,  and  in  Dr.  Attlield’s 
Manual  experiment  is  the  leading-  and  characteristic 
feature.  Every  theoretical  conclusion  is  led  up  to  and 
.supported  by  a  series  of  experiments,  for  the  most  part 
simple  enough  to  be  performed  without  difficulty  by  a 
novice,  and  requiring  the  employment  of  hut  little  special 
apparatus. 

We  almost  wish  the  author  had  thought  good  to  extend 
.and  develope  a  little  further  the  chapter  on  chemical 
philosophy,  and  also  some  of  the  theoretical  considerations 
interspersed  through  his  pages.  Whilst  entertaining 
all  due  appreciation  of  the  enormous  labour  of  which 
•every  page  is  witness,  in  the  multitudes  of  formulae, 
notes  and  references  which  are  to  be  found  therein,  we 
'venture  to  think  it  would  have  contributed  to  elevating 
the  philosophical  character  of  the  book,  without  diminu¬ 
tion  of  its  usefulness,  if  some  portions  of  it  had  pre¬ 
sented  less  of  the  character  of  a  dictionary.  An  earnest 
.student  will  sometimes,  with  mistaken  diligence,  commit 
masses  of  this  kind  of  matter  to  memory,  and,  as  we 
have  before  observed,  leave  off  with  too  large  a  notion 
of  what  he  has  learned,  and  too  small  a  conception  of 
what  there  is  yet  to  acquire.  Under  the  guidance  of 
judicious  teachers,  however,  this  is  not  likely  to  inter¬ 
fere  to  any  serious  extent  with  the  generally  valuable 
-qualities  of  the  work. 

In  this  American  edition  all  necessary  corrections 
seem  to  have  been  very  carefully  attended  to.  The 
headings  of  the  sections  are  now  in  thick  type,  so  as  to 
very  greatly  facilitate  reference.  The  chemistry  of  the 
Preparations  and  Materia  Medica  of  the  United  States 
Pharmacopoeia  has  been  introduced  side  by  side  with 
that  of  the  British  Pharmacopoeia,  and  evidently  every 
■care  has  been  taken  to  render  the  book  worthy  of  the 
reception  which  we  feel  sure  it  will  meet  with  at  the 
hands  of  the  pharmacists  of  America. 

The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  May  6;  the  ‘Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
May  6;  the  ‘  Lancet,’  May  6;  the  ‘  Medical  Press  and  Circular,’ 
JSIay  10:  ‘  NatiirA.’  iiffl-o-  a.  ttio  i fw nw.: i  at —  >  m 

- j  -,  —  ^u.ay  u; 

‘Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,’  May  5;  ‘Gardeners’  Chro¬ 
nicle,’  May  6;  the  ‘Grocer,’  May  6;  ‘Produce  Markets  Re¬ 
view,’  May  6;  the  ‘English  Mechanic,’  May  5;  ‘Food 
Journal’  for  May;  the  ‘Practitioner’  for  May;  the  ‘Cana¬ 
dian  Pharmaceutical  Journal’  for  April. 

ftote  anli  <$arats. 

***  In  order  to  facilitate  reference ,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  their  answers  in  each  case  with  the  title 
and  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

NOTICE. — To  prevent  delay ,  correspondents  are  re¬ 
quested  to  send  their  communications  to  the  Journal  Depart¬ 
ment,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  1V.C.,  and  not  to  the  Pub¬ 
lishers. 

[222.]— TINCTURA  COLOCYNTHIDIS.— Mr.  J.  Whit¬ 
field  sends  a  further  communication  on  this  subject,  and,  ac¬ 
cording  to  his  request,  we  print  here  the  formula  given  in 
the  last  edition  of  the  Prussian  Pharmacopoeia : — 

Colocynth  (free  from  seeds),  8  parts  by  weight 
Star  Anise  Fruit  ....  1  part  „ 

Alcohol,  sp.gr.  *830  to  ‘834,  9G  parts  „ 

Macerate  for  eight  days. 

[236.]— DISPENSING.— BROMIDE  OF  POTASSIUM. 
—In  looking  over  the  Journal  this  morning,  my  attention 
was  directed  to  the  replies  to  J.  PL.  Gr.’s  inquiries,  and  I  am 
quite  in  accord  with  the  Editor  as  to  the  British  Pharma¬ 
copoeia  dose ;  but  still  I  think  that  80  grains  three  times 
daily  is  excessive,  notwithstanding  that  much  larger  doses  are 
given  in  practice  than  that  sanctioned  as  the  maximum  of  the 
B.  P.  I  have  seen  it  myself  administered  in  15  and  20  grain 
■doses  thrice  daily,  but  I  very  much  question  the  practice. 
Three  distinct  cases  have  come  under  my  notice  where  such 


doses  have  produced  a  feeling  as  if  the  interior  of  the  skull 
was  being  scraped.  However,  Dr.  Ainstie,  in  the  February 
number  of  the  Practitioner ,  gives  two  cases  where  large 
doses  were  given  ;  in  the  first  90  grains,  and  in  the  second  120 
grains  daily,  with  decided  success.  In  both  cases,  smaller 
doses  had  been  tried  without  benefit.  I  should  certainly  en¬ 
deavour  to  communicate  with  the  physician,  or  learn,  if  pos¬ 
sible,  some  history  of  the  case,  before  I  should  feel  justified 
in  dispensing  so  large  a  dose. — G.  J.  G. 

[240.J — DISPENSING. — Further  communications  have 
been  received  from  Mr.  H.  H.  Pollard,  Mr.  A.  Marshall  and 
Mr.  E.  Skipper  in  reference  to  the  prescription  ordering  sp. 
lavand. 

We  have  no  doubt  that  in  this  case  the  compound  tincture 
was  intended  by  the  prescriber. — Ed.  Piiaem.  Jouex. 

[241.] — WARTS. — “  Omega”  will  find  a  very  successful 
application  in  commercial  chloride  of  ammonium.  The  wart 
should  be  first  moistened  with  a  little  water,  and  then  rubbed 
with  a  piece  of  the  above,  repeating  it  daily. — L.  A.  S.  A. 

[242.]—  IODIDE  OF  STARCH  POWDER.— J*.  T.  B. 
will  find  the  following  formula  serve  his  purpose  : — 

R.  Iodine  Resublimcd  g r.  xxiv 
Sp.  Yini  Rect.  iqxxiv  vcl  q.  s. 

Pulv.  Amyli  Pur.  jj. 

Rub  the  iodine  to  powder  by  means  of  the  spirit ;  gradually 
add  the  starch,  and  triturate  until  the  mass  assumes  a  uni¬ 
form  colour. — L.  A.  S.  A. 

[243.]—  HYPOCHLORIDE  OF  SULPHUR.— In  most 
establishments,  I  believe  a  powder  prepared  in  a  similar 
manner  to  the  following  would  be  dispensed  for  “  sulph. 
hypochlor.” : — 

“Into  a  vessel  containing  a  thin  layer  of  ‘  washed  ’  sulphur 
let  chlorine  be  passed,  until  the  gas  ceases  to  be  absorbed.” 

The  true  hypochloride  is  a  volatile  liquid,  obtained  by  pass¬ 
ing  a  current  of  chlorine  over  “melted”  sulphur,  and  distil¬ 
ling  the  liquid.  This  preparation  is  not  so  often  used  in 
ointments,  etc.,  as  the  impregnated  powder. — J.  T.  C. 

Hypochloride  of  sulphur  is  prepared  by  spreading  washed 
sulphur  thinly  on  the  bottom  of  a  wooden  box,  or  other 
chamber,  and  passing  chlorine  gas  slowlv  over  it  until  it 

ceases  to  be  absorbed. — L.  A.  S.  A. 

I***  A  more  convenient  apparatus  for  working  on  a  small 
scale  would  be  a  wide  glass  tube. — Ed.  Phaem.  Jouen.] 


[244.] — LOYAGE. — TV.  Clark  wishes  for  a  recipe  for 
making  lovage. 

[245.] — CLOVES  CORDIAL. — A  correspondent  asks  for 
a  formula  for  the  preparation  of  cloves  cordial. 

[246.] — INSECT  POWDER. — Can  any  reader  give  me 
a  good  recipe  for  a  powder  to  kill  insects  ? — A.  P.  S. 

[247.]— DISPENSING. — To-day  the  following  prescrip¬ 
tion  was  brought  to  be  dispensed  : — 

R.  Ferri  et  Quinse  Citr.  5j 
Amon.  Sesquicarb.  5ij 
Sp.  Myristicce  5SS 
Syr.  Simpl.  5SS. 

M.  A  tablespoonful  with  a  tablespoonful  of  lemon  juice  in  a 
wineglassful  of  water  effervescing. 

Will  some  of  your  readers  inform  me  of  the  best  manner  to 
dispense  it,  and  what  appearance  it  should  present  ?  I  may 
add  that  ammonia  was  spelt  with  one  m,  and  the  in  under¬ 
lined. — Alfeed  Maeshall. 

[%*  It  seems  to  us  that  in  this  prescription  the  water  was 
left  out.  Probably  a  six-ounce  mixture  was  intended. — Ed. 
Phaew.  Jouex.] 

[248.]— SIPHON  BAROMETER  TUBES.— Can  any  of 
your  correspondents  acquaint  me  with  the  best  method  for 
filling  the  siphon  barometer  tubes  ? — Htdeaegyeum. 

[249.]— BRILLIANT  ELASTIC  BOOT  VARNISH.— I 
should  be  glad  if  any  of  your  readers  could  furnish  me  with  a 
good  recipe  for  the  above  varnish  for  patent  leather,  etc., 
which  can  be  sponged  off. — C.  H.  H. 

[250.]— CRYSTAL  VARNISH.— Would  you  kindly, 
through  the  Phaemaceuticad  Jouenal,  inform  “  Indoctus” 
how  to  make  a  good  crystal  varnish,  such  as  is  used  in  posi¬ 
tive  photographs  ? 


918 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  13, 1871. 


Craspttee. 


***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

The  Forthcoming  Election  of  Council. 

Sir, — I  have  received  the  enclosed  circular  from  the  Hono¬ 
rary  Secretary  of  “  The  Chemists’  Defence  Association,” 
Manchester. 

No  doubt  all  members  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  have 
received  a  similar  circular  ;  it  puts  forward  a  list  of  candidates, 
backed  by  the  Committee,  for  election,  and  I  must  say  I  con¬ 
sider  it  a  highly  objectionable  and  ill-advised  document, — its 
originators,  no  doubt  well-meaning  individuals,  attempting 
a  most  uncalled-for  interference  with  the  free  exercise  of 
the  elective  rights  of  the  Society. 

This  proceeding  is  objectionable,  because  it  attempts  to 
create  an  imperium  in  imperio.  It  announces  the  existence 
of  a  supervising  body,  which  endeavours  to  control  the 
governing  body  of  the  Society. 

It  is  objectionable  because  it  is  impertinent.  The  Society 
has  never  delegated  any  powers  to  this  Committee,  nor  asked 
it  to  select  a  list  in  its  behalf — not  being  appointed  by  the 
■Society,  it  has  no  right  to  usurp  the  power  of  doing  so, 
especially  as  it  does  so  professedly  to  prejudge  questions, — to 
warp  the  judgment  and  bind  the  votes  of  the  future  Council. 

It  is  objectionable,  because  there  are  always  a  number  of 
undecided  men  ready  to  vote  for  any  list  rather  than  to  use 
their  independent  judgment;  doubly  so,  because  these  loose 
voters,  being  aggregated,  are  likely  to  swamp  independent 
ones.  It  cannot  be  denied  that  the  candidates  named  on 
such  a  list,  if  elected,  are  mere  nominees  of  a  clique,  and 
that  at  any  time  they  could  be  influenced  by  a  vote  of  the 
Committee  which  put  them  in. 

Unless  a  counter  list  be  issued  this  one  may  be  carried,  and 
if  a  counter  one  be  issued  it  becomes  a  question  of  party 
snirit.  and  not  as  to  the  best  men. 

The  attempt  is  therefore  most  vicious  in  the  sense  of  unsound 
and  bad,  and  I  trust  the  Society  will  not  be  led  by  the  nose 
by  wire  pullers,  but  will  prefer  managing  its  own  affairs, 
electing  its  own  rulers, — men  of  known  capacity  and  worth, 
— and  then  trust  its  affairs  to  their  hands  rather  than  to 
that  of  a  Committee  whose  members,  thinking  they  know 
better  than  the  Council,  are  bent  upon  reforming  it  accord¬ 
ing  to  their  own  crude  and  conceited  notions. 

F.  P.  Balkwill,  M.P.S.,  F.L.S.,  etc. 

. Plymouth ,  May  Uh,  1871. 


Sir, — The  London  and  Manchester  Defence  Associations 
have  united  in  issuing  a  circular,  in  which  they  recommend 
to  the  constituency  the  names  of  certain  gentlemen  for  election 
to  the  forthcoming  Council. 

The  ground  of  their  selection  appears  to  be  the  views  which 
these  gentlemen  are  supposed  to  entertain  upon  the  question 
ot  “  poison  regulations,”  though  as  there  are  those  amongst 
them  who  voted  for  the  compulsory  nature  of  these  regula¬ 
tions,  tlie.reason  of  their  choice  does  not  appear  very  clear. 
It  is  a  misfortune  that  associations  which  have  sprung  up 
under  special  circumstances  and  for  special  objects,  should 
attempt  to  direct  events  which  have  a  wider  significance ; 
because,  the  compulsory  character  of  these  regulations  being 
withdrawn  and  no  ground  of  opposition  to  them  being  left, 
the  claims  of  the  various  candidates  ought  to  rest  upon  a 
broader  basis  than  that  of  one  question  only,  the  significance 
of  which  has  now  nearly  passed  away. 

It  should  also  bo^  remembered  that  other  questions  of  im¬ 
portance  to  the  welfare  of  pharmacy  are  impending,  and  that 
the  very  men  required  in  the  Council,  the  working  members 
and  the  men  elected  as  the  representatives  of  provincial  phar- 
macy,  are  those  whom  the  combined  associations  would  em¬ 
ploy  the  powers  given  them  for  other  purposes  to  exclude 
from  its  debates.  An  examination  of  the  statement  of  attend¬ 
ance  of  members  of  the  Council  on  committees  shows,  that 
whereas  4  of  the  Associations’  favourites  attended  in  all  25 
committees,  the  4  gentlemen  they  seek  to  keep  out  of  the 
Council  attended  139,  as  follows : — • 


Atherton . 8  out  of  24  meetings. 

Brown . 2  ,,  19  „ 

Mackay . 6  „  37  „ 

Woolley . 9  „  31  „ 

Total  .  .  25  „  111 

Abraham  .....  14  out  of  51  meetings. 

♦Bourdas . 50  „  63  „ 

Dymond . 26  „  37  „ 

Sandford . 49  „  80  „ 

Total  .  139  231  „ 

There  is  one  question  of  the  utmost  importance  that  the- 
associations  fail  to  notice,  viz.  the  admission  of  reporters  to> 
and  the  publication  of,  the  monthly  proceedings  of  the  Coun¬ 
cil.  Had  this  measure  been  adopted  by  the  Council  a  year- 
ago,  we  should  not  now  be  again  in  the  dark  as  to  the  senti¬ 
ments  of  many  members  of  the  Council  on  other  popular 
questions  besides  poison  regulations ;  and  it  is  probable  that 
the  opposition  to  these  and  to  the  proceedings  of  the  Council, 
in  respect  of  them,  would  not  have  proceeded  so  far  or  have 
been  so  productive  of  personal  recriminations,  had  the  con¬ 
stituency  and  their  representatives,  by  means  of  the  inevi¬ 
table  criticism  of  the  press,  become  better  acquainted  with, 
each  other. 

Referring  to  the  past  action  of  the  Council  on  the  ques¬ 
tion  of  the  publication  of  its  proceedings,  I  find  that  at 
the  meeting  of  Council,  October  Gth,  1869,  the  following  - 
resolution  was  moved  by  Mr.  Dymond  and  seconded  by  Mr. 
Stoddart : — 

“  That  as  the  universally  expressed  feeling  of  the  Anni¬ 
versary  Meeting  was  in  favour  of  the  publicity  of  the  pro¬ 
ceedings  of  the  Council  of  the  Society,  it  is  expedient  that 
its  proceedings  be  fully  reported  in  the  Pharmaceutical. 
Journal,  and  that  reporters  desiring  to  represent  other 
Journals  be  permitted,  at  the  discretion  of  the  Council,  to  be 
present,  but  that  any  portion  of  the  proceedings  which  the 
Council  shall  declare  to  be  unsuited  for  publication  shall  not 
be  reported.” 

To  this  resolution  an  amendment  was  moved  by  Mr., 
rv — cr„>^nrWl  hv  Mr.  Snuire-  the  obiect  of  which 

Ui*m6v  - -j - -  x - - - ...  .. 

was  to  postpone  and  upset  the  resolution.  The  following-' 
voting  then  took  place  (see  Journal,  Vol.  XI.  page  255.) 

For  the  Amendment— Messrs.  Abraham,  Bottle,  Bourdas,. 
Deane,  Edwards,  Haselden,  Hills,  Ince,  Morson,  Orridge^ 
Sandford  and  Squire. 

Against  the  Amendment — Messrs.  Brady,  Carteighe,  Dy¬ 
mond,  Savage,  Stoddart,  Williams. 

The  motion,  was  therefore  lost,  and  the  amendment  retain¬ 
ing  the  secret  sittings  carried. 

Again  I  find  at  the  meeting  of  Council  on  June  1st,  187G> 
it  was  once  more  moved  by  Mr.  Dymond  and  seconded  by 
Mr.  Stoddart: — 

“  That  it  is  desirable  at  the  commencement  of  the  new 
series  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal,  that  the  proceed¬ 
ings  of  the  Council  be  more  fully  reported  in  that  and  other 
Journals,  and  that,  under  regulations,  reporters  be  admitted 
to  the  meetings  of  Council.” 

To  this  resolution  an  amendment  was  again  moved,  but 
this  time  by  Mr.  Abrahams  and  seconded  by  Mr.  Edwards,, 
the  object  of  which  was  to  quash  the  motion.  The  following 
voting  took  place 

For  the  Amendment — Messrs.  Abraham,  Atherton,  Bottle,, 
Bourdas,  Deane,  Edwards,  Evans,  Groves,  Haselden,  Hills 
and  Sandford. 

Against  the  Amendment — Messrs.  Brady,  Brown,  Dymond,. 
Reynolds,  Savage,  Stoddart  and  Woolley. 

The  motion  was  therefore  again  lost,  and  the  amendment 
carried. 

These  facts  speak  for  themselves.  Let  us  hope,  at  any 
rate,  that  the  constituency  will  support  those  men  who  have 
so  persistently  urged  and  voted  for  the  publication  of  the 
Council’s  proceedings,  and  those  who  show  by  their  attend¬ 
ance  on  committees  a  willingness  to  serve  the  Society’s  in¬ 
terests.  Michael  John  Ellwood. 

Leominster,  May  8th,  1871. 


*  Our  correspondent  is  here  in  error.  Mr.  Bourdas  is  not 
a  candidate  for  election.— Ed.  Ph.  J. 


-May  13, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


The  Poison  Regulations. 

Sir, — Previous  to  tlie  Annual  General  Meeting  next  week, 
I  wish,  with  your  permission,  to  say  a  few  words  on  the 
above. 

Although  much  has  been  written  on  the  subject,  but  little 
conclusion  seems  to  have  been  arrived  at,  beyond  losing  to 
the  Society  one  of  the  best  Presidents  it  ever  possessed,  and 
I  take  leave  to  say  the  only  sensible  man  on  this  subject  at 
the  Council  table. 

The  opposition  to  the  Poison  Regulations  was  started  and 
sustained  by  the  very  self-same  party  who  opposed  the  Phar¬ 
macy  Act  in  1866,  to  wit,  the  party  who  are  the  adherents  of 
the  Chemist  and  Druggist ;  for,  all  opposition  ceasing,  that 
party  and  its  exponent  cease  also;  and  it  is  so  far  unfortu¬ 
nate,  that  readers  of  that  periodical  are  not,  as  a  rule,  readers 
of  the  Journal,  and  vice  versa;  so  that  there  has  been  no  true 
communion  of  thought  on  the  subject,  and,  therefore,  no  real 
expression  of  feeling  of  the  profession  in  its  entirety. 

Feeling  this  I  shall,  if  no  one  else  is  found  to  do  so,  bring 
the  subject  formally  before  the  meeting  on  the  17th  instant, 
in  order  that  the  question  may  receive  a  definite  answer. 

My  reasons  for  deprecating  the  opposition  that  has  been 
offered  to  the  enforcement  of  these  regulations  are  : — 

1.  That  while  all  admit  the  necessity  of  regulations,  and 
-actually  adopt  them,  yet,  unaccountably  enough,  some  object 
to  them  for  no  discoverable  reason  except  that  they  are  in 
future  to  be  compulsory. 

2.  That  the  proposed  regulations,  while  complying  with 
ihe  order  of  the  Medical  Council,  and  satisfying  the  public 
by  clauses  1  and  2,  virtually  make  the  case  our  own,  and 
ought  to  disarm  all  opposition  from  our  own  body  by  clause  3. 
For,  while  it  might  no  doubt,  in  certain  cases,  be  highly  ob¬ 
jectionable,  if  not  impracticable,  to  use  peculiar  bottles  and 
poison  cupboards,  yet  no  one  could  take  the  smallest  ob¬ 
jection  to  making  the  poison-containing  vessel  sensible  to  the 
touch;  the  remedy  was  the  easiest  conceivable,  and  applicable 
alike  to  bottles,  casks  and  jars. 

The  turmoil  that  has  arisen  on  this  subject  seems  to  me  to 
he  totally  unreasonable,  and  utterly  devoid  of  any  sensible 
objections,  equalled  only  by  the  disgraceful  scene  enacted  at 
the  General  Meeting  in  May  last  year,  which,  with  due 
deference  to  those  who  differ  from  me,  I  must  say,  is  little 
-calculated  to  raise  a  body  of  men  who  claim  an  educational 
qualification,  and  who  have  recently  obtained  a  valuable  Act 
of  Parliament,  in  the  esteem  of  either  the  medical  profession 
■or  the  public. 

The  only  objection  put  forward  at  all  worthy  the  name  is, 
that  the  restrictions  would  not  apply  to  medical  men,  but 
should  they?  Have  they  not,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  quite  as 
muchyight  to  dispense  their  own  medicines  as  to  hand  them 
over  to  the  chemist  to  dispense  for  them  ?  And  does  it  not, 
as  another  fact,  pay  them  better  to  do  so  ? 

I  do  not  consider  that  the  warning  our  Council  received, 
that  they  had  failed  in  fulfilling  the  provision  of  the  Phar¬ 
macy  Act  relating  to  poisons,  had  no  significance;  we  went 
to  Parliament  for  a  Bill,  and  Parliament  who  had  had,  be  it 
remembered,  the  question  of  poisons  before  them  for  years, 
gave  us  a  Bill,  but  a  Bill  having  a  poison  clause ;  they,  of 
course,  not  caring  a  jot  for  our  ideas  of  vested  interest  and 
monopoly,  but  having  simply  the  welfare  of  the  public  at 
heart. 

And  having  got  our  Bill,  which  we  did  want,  but  contain¬ 
ing  a  poison  clause,  which  we  did  not  want,  what  do  we  do? 
Why,  our  utmost  to  stultify  all  that  the  Society  has  done  for 
dhe  advancement  of  pharmacy  during  the  last  twenty  years,  by 
ignoring  the  most  important  clause  in  the  Bill,  arraying  our¬ 
selves  against  the  medical  men,  and  showing  to  the  public, 
by  whom  we  live,  that  we  care  less  for  their  safety  and  wel¬ 
fare  than  for  our  own  pockets. 

The  question  of  poisons  having  been  so  prominently  intro¬ 
duced,  even  by  the  daily  papers,  we  could  hardly  have  done 
anything  that  would  have  told  so  much  in  our  favour  as  to 
have  adopted  these  compulsory  regulations. 

But,  Sir,  the  not  improbable  cause  of  much  of  the  present 
opposition  is,  no  doubt,  to  be  found  in  the  bad  odour  of  the 
profession  of  a  pharmacist  at  the  present  time ;  what  with 
dispensing  surgeons  on  the  one  hand,  and  co-operative  stores 
on  the  other,  surely  the  pharmacist  is  in  great  tribulation. 

Still,  that  is  no  reason  why  he  should  stumble  over  a  pre¬ 
sent  imaginary  grievance  and  forget  the  future  good,  and 
that  good  is  only  to  be  obtained  by  union,  and  a  con¬ 
stant  endeavour  to  raise  his  professional  and  social  status  as 


9inf 


much  as  possible,  so  that  when  the  change  for  the  better  does 
come,  he  may  be  in  a  position  to  reap  the  full  benefit  of  it. 

Above  all,  let  us  avoid  even  apparent  contempt  for  our  new 
Act,  avoid  anything  tending  to  an  unpleasant  collision  with 
the  medical  profession,  and  avoid  all  dissensions  among  our¬ 
selves,  or,  too  late,  we  may  find  that  Parliament,  having  given 
us  the  power  of  self-legislation,  and  seeing  us  incapable  of 
using  that  power,  ignores  all  future  appeals,  and  quietly  re¬ 
signs  us  to  the  tender  mercies  of  the  Medical  Council. 

John  H.  Baldock. 

Norwood,  May  8th ,  1871. 


The  Eaely  Closing  Question. 

Sir, — Will  you  again  allow  me  to  make  a  few  remarks  with 
regard  to  “early  closing ”  ? 

In  last  week’s  impression  I  noticed  several  letters  referring 
to  the  one  which  you  so  kindly  inserted  for  me,  and  at  the 
conclusion  of  which  I  styled  myself  “Aspirant  to  the  Major 
Qualification.”  Unfortunately,  one  of  the  gentlemen  who 
wrote  does  not  sec  the  practicability  of  making  early  closing 
compulsory.  I  am  sure  that  without  compulsion  we  should 
only  get  a  few  to  act  up  to  the  mark,  as  was  the  case 
before  examinations  were  made  compulsory.  I  am  glad  to 
see  that  this  gentleman,  ■who  has  passed  the  Major  Exami¬ 
nation,  does  not  discountenance  the  movement  altogether; 
and,  I  think,  if  he  considers  the  matter  he  will  see  that  there 
is  not  the  slightest  chance  of  the  question  being  discussed  by 
employers ;  whereas  we  have  a  faint  hope  of  the  compulsory 
system  being  adopted  if  we  can  only  get  the  majority  in  our 
favour,  which,  I  think,  there  is  little  doubt  about,  as,  bearing 
directly  on  all,  there  will  be  no  room  to  express  dissatisfac¬ 
tion.  The  compulsory  movement  would  be  quite  as  prac* 
ticable  as  the  law  which  limits  the  hours  of  confinement  of 
milliners  and  factory  girls,  also  the  Compulsory  Education 
Act,  both  of  which  may  be  taken  as  examples.  We  know' 
there  will  always  be  some  persons  who  will  only  be  too  ready 
to  throw  cold  water  on  matters  of  this  kind,  but  we  must  dis¬ 
regard  them,  and  make  nil  desperandum  our  motto. 

Another  thing  I  wish  to  mention  is  “  Sunday  work.”  We 
are  too  lenient  and  obliging  to  persons  on  Sunday  when  they 
come  for  a  pennyworth  of  cough  lozenges  or  a  pound  of 
linseed-meal  which  they  may  have  forgotten  to  fetch  on 
Saturday.  Now,  I  ask,  why  should  this  be?  Why  should 
wre  be  confined  to  the  house  for  the  bad  memory  and  failings 
of  the  public?  The  fact  is,  that  wTe  are  so  ill-remunerated 
that  wre  cannot  show  that  independence  which  would  have 
the  desired  effect,  as  may  be  seen  in  all  other  trades.  Of 
course  it  would  not  do  to  send  a  person  away,  w’hen  we  know 
that  our  neighbours  will  only  be  too  pleased  to  serve  them. 
They  should  not  be  served  by  anybody  on  Sunday;  wre  could 
all  then  show  a  more  independent  spirit. 

Allow  me  to  say,  in  conclusion,  that  once  these  matters 
are  considered  and  put  into  force,  the  great  advantages  and 
benefits  derived  therefrom  will  be  clearly  seen.  I  am  sure  if 
the  Council  would  consider  this  early-closing  question,  it 
would  reflect  a  much  greater  amount  of  credit  than  the  most 
absurd  poison  question,  about  which  so  much  has  been  said, 
and  on  which  even  now  no  satisfactory  results  have  been 
arrived  at. 

I  hope  with  “  One  who  has  Passed  the  Major  Examinat  ion  ” 
the  iron  may  be  kept  hot  by  striking. 

London,  W.,  May  6th,  1871.  T.  S.  M. 


Sir, — I  would  suggest  that  there  is  a  difference  between 
late  and  long  hours.  If  chemists’  assistants  were  capable  of 
combination  for  such  a  purpose,  long  hours  would  be  doomed. 
As  it  is,  a  little  consideration  on  the  part  of  principals  would 
remove  every  grievance  on  this  score. 

After  a  five  years’  apprenticeship,  during  part  of  which 
business  hours  were  from  6.30  a.m.  until  10  p.m.,  and  during 
the  remainder  from  7  a.m.  until  9  p.m.,  it  was,  perhaps, 
natural  that  I  should  rebel  against  long  hours.  Hence,  during 
an  assistantship  of  twelve  years  I  made  it  a  rule  to  accept  no 
situation  involving  more  than  twelve  hours’  work  per  diem, 
including  meal  times. 

As  a  principal,  circumstances  necessitated  the  keeping  of  my 
shop  open  more  than  twelve  hours  a  day  (though  still  an 
hour  and  a  half  less  than  my  neighbours) ;  but  it  is  my  rule 
to  demand  of  no  one  in  my  employment,  whether  assistants, 
apprentices  or  errand  boys,  more  than  twelve  hours’  work 
per  diem,  including  meal  times.  The  adoption  of  the  prin- 


920 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  13,1871.. 


ciple  of  division  of  labour  would  meet  the  requirements  of 
long  hours  of  business  (where  such  are  necessary),  and  the 
demands  of  assistants  for  short  hours  of  work. 

May  8th,  1871.  _____  Justus. 

Examinations. 

Sir, — Where  the  shoe  pinches  it  is  only  reasonable  to  ex¬ 
pect  the  sufferer  to  cry  out,  and,  if  possible,  remove  the  cause 
of  the  evil. 

My  opinion  is  that  the  Modified  ought  to  test  the  practical 
capabilities  of  the  candidate,  and  if  (after  passing  the  Modi¬ 
fied)  a  man  is  not  competent  to  pass  the  Minor,  then  I  say 
the  Modified  Examination  is  a  sham — a  mere  “  delusion  and 
snare.” 

If  the  Modified  examination  is  not  a  guarantee  of  compe¬ 
tence,  why  have  that  examination  at  all  ?  I  cannot  see  why 
men  who  have  only  passed  the  Modified  should  not  be  compe¬ 
tent  to  enter  for  the  Minor  A  They  enjoy  the  same  privileges  as 
regards  the  dispensing  and  compounding  of  medicines  as  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Chemists,  and  yet  they  are  not  considered  compe¬ 
tent  to  enter  even  for  the  Minor.  Now,  Sir,  is  not  this  ab¬ 
surd  ?  Surely,  if  a  man  acquits  himself  to  the  satisfaction 
of  the  Examiners  in  the  Modified,  he  need  not  be  compelled 
to  undergo  a  second  ordeal  by  a  Preliminary  ?  If  so,  I  repeat, 
the  Modified  examination  is  a  mere  farce,  and  no  dependence 
can  be  placed  on  it. 

Cannot  this  subject  be  brought  before  the  Council  or  the 
Annual  Meeting  to  be  dealt  with  on  its  own  merits  ? 

There  are  always  certain  people  in  every  community  who 
carp  at  any  little  privileges  they  imagine  their  neighbour 
enjoys.  But  take  the  calm  and  unprejudiced  opinion  of  our 
Council,  and,  I  think,  I  may  venture  to  predict  that  our 
request  will  be  granted.  By  the  tone  of  your  article  a 
fortnight  ago,  I  think  that  you  are  not  altogether  against 
our  proposals;  and  I  am  sure  if  you  use  your  influence 
in  our  favour,  it  will  go  a  long  way  towards  furthering  our 
object.  We  all  know  the  readiness  with  which  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Journal  takes  up  arms  in  any  good  cause, 
and  I  trust  we  may  in  this  instance  reap  the  benefit  of  your 
co-operation.  B.  S. 

Sir, — I  think  the  reply  you  make  to  “  Sympathetic  ”  exactly 
meets  the  case. 

If  a  young  man  cannot,  or  will  not,  qualify  himself  for  the 
duties  devolving  upon  him  in  the  sphere  of  life  he  has  chosen, 
he  had  better  take  to  another  calling  where  the  standard  of 
qualification  is  lower. 

Not  one  word  will  I  say  against  a  youth  having  a  good 
amount  of  education  to  begin  with ;  and  I  do  not  think  that 
any  should  enter  the  drug  trade  without  being  pretty  well  up 
in  Latin,  Arithmetic,  etc.  But  with  regard  to  those  whose 
education  has  been  neglected,  let  me  say,  only  “put  your 
shoulder  to  the  wheel,” — adopt  for  your  guidance  the  motto 
(affixed  to  a  trade-mark  which  I  frequently  see)  “  Ora  et 
labora,”  and  you  need  fear  nothing. 

The  writer  of  this  letter  entered  the  drug  trade  before  even 
the  foundation  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  and  therefore 
no  necessity  to  prepare  for  meeting  an  examination  existed.  He 
left  school  at  the  early  age  of  fourteen  to  go  apprentice,  and 
certainly  was  not  a  prodigy  in  educational  acquirements  ;  nor 
was  his  career  commenced  under  the  most  favourable  circum¬ 
stances — apprenticed  in  a  county  town,  engaged  from  six  in 
the  morning  until  ten  at  night,  employed  two-thirds  of  the 
time  in  powdering,  grinding  paint,  putting  up  casks  of  oil, 
stacking  bath-bricks  and  other  abnormal  operations  of  a 
similar  character, — “  the  pursuit  of  pharmaceutical  knowledge 
under  difficulties  ”  was  certainly  a  marked  characteristic  of 
his  early  experience. 

Books  on  chemistry,  pharmacy,  etc.  were  scarce,  dear  and 
of  very  different  style  to  the  excellent  manuals  now  so  nu¬ 
merous.  We  had  no  journals,  no  schools  of  pharmacy  (even 
in  our  largest  cities),  in  fact  no  help  of  any  sort.  At  all 
events  I  speak  of  things  as  I  found  them. 

It  is  not  pleasant  to  speak  of  one’s  own  performances,  but 
as  the  writer’s  name  will  not  appear  to  this  article,  it  can 
serve  no  purpose  of  vanity,  if  he  had  any.  I  may,  therefore, 
say  that  although  I  have  had  a  hand  in  teaching  many,  I 
have,  so  far  as  my  own  education  is  concerned,  had  no  help 
except  “self-help.” 

And  yet  in  the  few  leisure  hours  I  could  steal  from  a  very 
active  life,  I  managed  to  acquire  a  pretty  good  knowledge  of 
botany,  materia  medica  and  elementary  chemistry,  including 
-qualitative  analysis.  As  for  my  Latin,  although  hundreds  of 


prescriptions  passed  through  my  hands,  I  do  not  remember 
ever  meeting  with  one  I  could  not  translate. 

I  undertook  the  management  of  the  laboratory  in  a  large 
provincial  business,  where  I  was  able  to  prepare  the  various 
chemicals  and  pharmaceutical  preparations  in  a  most  satis¬ 
factory  manner,  and  afterwards  became  senior  dispenser  and 
manager  of  the  laboratory  at  one  of  the  principal  London 
hospitals. 

Now,  after  saying  all  this,  let  me  enter  my  sincere  protest 
against  the  abominable  system  of  late  hours,  so  justly  com¬ 
plained  of  by  your  various  correspondents ;  it  is  as  iniquitous 
as  it  is  unnecessary.  It  is  quite  time  this  state  of  things 
was  altered;  the  members  of  the  trade  have  the  remedy  en¬ 
tirely  in  their  own  hands,  and  if  a  feeling  of  fraternity,  in¬ 
stead  of  a  spirit  of  jealousy,  did  but  animate  us,  there  would 
be  no  difficulty  about  the  matter. 

Wherever  classes  can  be  formed  and  pharmaceutical  schools 
established,  by  all  means  let  it  be  done, — let  our  young 
men  have  all  the  facilities  for  acquiring  knowledge  we  can 
place  in  their  way.  But  whether  classes  or  no  classes,  with 
schools  or  without  them,  let  our  would-be  students  learn  this- 
one  great  truth,  that  Providence  helps  those  who  help  them¬ 
selves. 

If  the  apprentices  (in  the  neglected  town)  mentioned  by 
“  Justice”  in  your  last  impression,  who  have  repeatedly  failed, 
in  passing  the  Preliminary  Examination,  did  but  bear  this  in 
mind,  they  might  avoid  the  risk  of  failure. 

The  fact  is  (I  am  speaking  from  every-day  experience), 
the  majority  of  our  apprentices  and  assistants  seem  to  desire 
to  imbibe  knowledge  in  the  same  way  they  take  their  meat 
and  drink,  by  having  it  poured  down  their  throat.  There  are 
a  few  noble  exceptions,  and  these  are  workers,  not  com- 
plainers. 

Let  the  most  be  made  of  the  system  of  late  hours,  which 
so  extensively  and  almost  universally  prevails ;  still,  it  is  a 
great  disgrace  to  young  men  who  have  served  an  apprentice¬ 
ship  of  four  or  five  years  in  a  chemist’s  shop,  to  know  so  little 
of  their  business  as  is  the  case  with  far  too  many  of  them. 

The  following  may,  perhaps,  be  useful  to  “  Sympathetic  ” 
and  others.  One  of  the  cleverest  young  men  it  has  been  my 
lot  to  have  in  my  employ,  came  to  me  as  an  improver  at  the 
age  of  nineteen ;  and  he  surprised  me  "wonderfully  by  stating 
that  he  had  scarcely  ever  been  to  school  in  his  life,  having 
been  employed  in  field  labour.  At  fourteen  he  went  as 
errand-boy  to  a  chemist ;  with  part  of  his  wages  he  bought  a 
Latin  and  English  Grammar,  and  paid  a  schoolmaster  a  trifle 
for  giving  him  occasional  lessons  in  Latin.  He  was  with  me 
two  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  I  obtained  him  a  situation 
in  a  very  first-class  house,  where,  at  the  age  of  twenty-  three, 
he  became  resident  manager.  Since  then  he  has  given  up  the 
drug  trade  and  is  now  at  college,  where  he  last  year  obtained 
the  highest  number  of  marks  for  Greek  and  Latin,  and  above 
the  average  for  Hebrew. 

His  brother  (also  an  errand  boy)  followed  in  his  footsteps 
and  succeeded  him  as  manager,  where  he  now  remains. 

One  who  has  known  the  Drug  Trade 
MORE  THAN  THIRTY  YEARS. 


Evening  Dress. — We  have  received  several  letters  on  this 
subject,  in  which  our  correspondents  express  their  opinion, 
that  it  is  a  duty  to  the  Society,  as  well  as  to  the  fairer  element 
of  the  Conversazione,  that  visitors  should  appear  in  “  evening 
dress ;  ”  and  they  suggest  that  any  one  who  may  be  in  doubt 
as  to  what  that  should  be  had  better  refer  to  his  tailor. 

“  Spes.” — The  Board  of  Examiners  occasionally  decide  that 
a  candidate  may  present  himself  for  re-examination  in  some 
special  subject  or  subjects  in  which  he  has  previously  failed, 
but  this  is  a  matter  quite  at  their  discretion. 

“  Chemicus.” — In  the  present  state  of  the  law,  it  is  not 
illegal  to  carry  on  a  business  in  the  manner  indicated  by  you. 


READING-CASES.  —  Ashworth’s  Patent  “Looped 
Binder”  Folios,  made  to  hold  six,  thirteen,  or  twenty-six 
numbers  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal,  are  now  ready, 
and  may  be  had  of  Messrs.  Taylor  and  Co.,  Printers,  10,  Little 
Queen  Street,  London, W.C.,  pricels.  6d.  Binders,  6d.  per  gross. 

Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  T.  S.  Pellors,  Mr.  P.  Howman,  Mr.  J.  R.  Jackson, 
C.  H.  H.,  F.  C.  S.,  T.  S.  M.,  J.  T.  C.,  J.  S.  B.,  M.  P.  S.,  T.  B., 
A.  Z.,  H.  W.  H.,  “  Alpha.”  «  A  Country  Chemist,”  “  Can- 
tharides  ”  and  “  Botanist  ”  have  not  complied  with  the  rule 
as  to  anonymous  correspondence. 


May  20, 1871 .] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


921 


BRISTOL  PHARMACOLOGY. 

BY  W.  W.  STODDART,  F.C.S.,  E.G.S. 

( Continued  from  page  883.) 

Nat.  Orel.  Solanace.e. 

This  Order  of  plants  is  well  known  for  producing 
the  most  deadly  poisons.  In  some  genera  the  juice 
of  the  plant  will  he  strongly  deleterious,  while  the 
solids  will  he  nutritious.  It  is  so  with  the  common 
potato.  The  water  in  which  the  tuber  has  been 
boiled  and  the  juice  of  the  shoots  and  leaves  are  very 
noxious,  while  whole  nations  use  the  boiled  tuber  as 
a  common  and  wholesome  food. 

Hyoscyamus  niger  (Linn.). 

This  singular  plant  delights  in  waste,  sandy  places, 
and  may  be  found  at  Aust,  Shireliampton,  Hanham 
and  Clevedon. 

Its  clammy,  sticky  feel,  with  an  oppressive,  dis¬ 
agreeable  odour,  produces  an  unfavourable  impression 
on  the  collector,  which  is,  however,  partly  removed 
by  its  elegant  yellow  corolla,  relieved  by  dark  purple 
veins. 

Authors  have  been  undecided  as  to  whether  the 
biennial  and  annual  plants  should  be  regarded  as 
distinct  varieties,  or  the  latter  only  a  more  mature 
growth  of  the  former.  Judging  from  the  general 
anatomy  of  the  plant,  and  the  spectroscopic  appear¬ 
ance  of  the  juice,  the  latter  is  probably  the  true  state 
of  the  case.  At  all  events,  the  biennial  is  the  only 
one  that  ought  to  be  used  for  making  the  extract  and 
tincture,  both  of  which  are  very  favourite  prepara¬ 
tions.  One  cwt.  of  the  fresh  leaves  will  produce  six 
pounds  of  extract. 

The  microspectroscope  will  immediately  decide 
whether  the  tincture  has  been  made  from  the  bien¬ 
nial  plant.  Five  dark  bands  are  distinctly  seen, 
which  are  not  visible  in  that  from  the  annual.  They 
are  so  well  marked  that  the  tinct.  liyoscyami  is  a 
beautiful  object  for  exhibition  on  a  screen  by  the 
electric  or  oxyliydrogen  light. 

The  Henbane  seeds  are  very  pretty  objects  for  the 
binocular  microscope.  They  are  flattened,  greyish- 
green,  and  marked  with  small  reticulations  resem¬ 
bling  the  balls  used  by  schoolboys  made  with  netted 
string. 

The  active  properties  of  the  Henbane  are  supposed 
to  be  due  to  hyoscyamin,  an  alkaloid  existiug  in  the 
plant  as  malate. 

It  in  some  degree  resembles  atropine  in  its  action 
on  the  system,  and  has  a  peculiar  soothing,  tranquil¬ 
lizing  effect,  without  many  of  the  objectionable  qua¬ 
lities  of  opium. 

Hyoscyamin  is  most  readily  prepared  from  the 
seeds  by  exhaustion  with  alcohol  and  diluted  sul- 
phuririacid,  when  the  alkaloid  is  removed  by  potassic 
carbonate  and  ether. 

It  crystallizes  with  difficulty  in  tufts  of  acicular 
crystals.  "When  dry,  it  is  inodorous,  but  when  mois¬ 
tened  gives  off  a  tobacco-like  odour.  It  is  soluble  in 
water,  alcohol,  and  ether.  It  is  decomposed  by 
caustic  alkalies  like  the  alkaloids  of  all  the  solana- 
cepus  plants,  as  pointed  out  by  Dr.  Garrod,  so  that 
preparations  of  Henbane,  Belladonna,  Stramonium, 
or  Tobacco  should  never  be  prescribed  with  liq. 
potassae.  Hyoscyamin  is  completely  precipitated  by 
tincture  of  iodine. 

Third  Series,  No.  47. 


Solatium  Dulcamara  (Linn.). 

This  pretty  climbing  plant  is  very  common  in  the 
hedges  and  conspicuous  in  the  month  of  July  with 
its  potato-like  flowers.  The  bright  yellow  pointed 
anthers  project  from  the  purple  corolla,  each  segment 
of  which  is  marked  by  two  green  spots  at  the  base. 

Dulcamara  owes  its  active  properties  to  a  poison¬ 
ous  alkaloid  named  solanin  (C43H71N016),  which 
abounds  in  every  part  of  the  plant. 

A  very  ready  method  for  obtaining  solanin  on  a 
small  scale  fbr  microscopic  observation,  is  to  let  a 
potato  germinate  in  a  dark  cellar,  when  the  etiolated 
shoots  will  proceed  for  a  long  distance  towards  the 
light.  On  macerating  these  colourless  shoots  with 
very  dilute  sulphuric  acid,  solanin  may  be  precipi¬ 
tated  from  the  Altered  solution  by  a  little  warm  am¬ 
monia.  Care  must  be  taken  that  the  acid  used  be 
not  too  strong,  or  the  alkaloid  will  be  decomposed. 

Another  very  good  method  is  to  add  lime  to  the 
expressed  juice  of  the  potato  germs,  or  berries  of  the 
Dulcamara,  and  exhaust  the  precipitate  with  alcohol. 
By  evaporating  a  drop  of  the  solution  on  a  glass 
slip,  very  beautiful  and  characteristic  crystals  may 
be  obtained.  Under  a  high  power  they  appear  as 
slender,  right-angled,  four-sided  prisms.  Solanin  is 
soluble  in  alcohol,  but  nearly  insoluble  in  ether  and 
water.  With  chromic  acid  a  sky-blue  colour  is  pro¬ 
duced,  with  nitric  acid  a  rose-red,  and  with  sulphuric 
acid  an  orange-red,  passing  to  a  violet. 

By  the  action  of  dilute  hydrochloric  and  sulphuric 
acids,  solanin  is  decomposed  into  solanidin 
(C2SH41NO)  and  glucose. 

C„H:1N011  +  3H.0=C!1H(,N0  +  3(C6H1206). 

Solanin.  Solanidin.  Glucose. 

Solanidin  differs  from  solanin  by  being  soluble  in 
ether. 

Strong  hydrochloric  acid  converts  solanin  into 
another  alkaloid,  solanicine  (C50H73N2O).  Z  wenger, 
who  was  the  discoverer,  sa}rs  it  is  nearly  insoluble 
in  alcohol,  ether  and  water.  It,  however,  requires 
further  investigation. 

Nat.  Ord.  ScROPHULARIACEiE. 

Only  one  of  the  many  genera  comprised  in  this 
group  is  employed  medicinally,  although  the  Fig- 
wort,  Mullein  and  Eyebriglit  were  formerly  in  great 
request. 

Except  perhaps  the  Mini  ulus  moschatus,  so  "well 
known  in  gardens,  every  species  is  devoid  of  any 
aromatic  flavour. 

Digitalis  purpurea  (Linn.). 

This  handsome  and  attractive  plant  is  found 
wherever  the  sandstone  occurs,  as  at  Brislington, 
Westbury,  Leigh  Woods  and  Ashton. 

It  derives  its  name  from  Digitabulum  (a  thimble), 
on  account  of  the  shape  of  its  flowers,  and  was  called 
by  an  old  writer  “  Thimble- wort.” 

It  was  a  favourite  remedy  of  Dr.  Withering,  who 
largely  used  it  in  his  own  practice,  and  first  drew 
the  attention  of  physicians  to  its  valuable  properties. 

“  The  vapid  pulse  it  can  abate, 

The  hectic  ilush  can  moderate, 

And  blest  by  Ilim  whose  will  is  fate 
May  give  a  lengthen’d  day.” 

The  Foxglove  owes  its  peculiar  sedative  and  di¬ 
uretic  properties  to  a  glucoside,  named  digitalin 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  20,  1871. 


(Cn  H  OrL  It  is  white,  inodorous,  and  so  intensely 
bitter  that  it  can  he  distinctly  tasted  w  hen  dissolv  ed 
in  200,000  parts  of  water.  It  is  much  more  soluble 
in  alcohol  and  ether.  . 

When  sulphuric  acid  is  added  to  digitalin,  it  hist 
blackens  it  and  changes  it  into  a  brown  liquid,  after¬ 
wards  becoming  crimson.  When  this  brown  liquid 
is  dropped  into  a  small  quantity  of  vatei  it  pioduces 
a  rich  green  colour. 

The  dried  leaves  yield  *78  per  cent.,  the  seeds 
o  per  cent,  and  the  seed- capsules  *3  per  cent,  of 

■di gitalin.  .  . 

When  digitalin  is  boiled  with  sulphuric  acid,  it  is 
■converted  into  glucose  and  another  base,  called 
digitaliretin,  (C15H2505). 


^-  27-^45  O15 
Digitalin. 


+ 


h2o  =  c15h25o5 

Digitaliretin. 


+  2(C6H1206). 

Glucose. 


M.  Labourdais  says  that  the  digitalin  may  be  re¬ 
moved  from  the  infusion  by  animal  charcoal,  from 
which  it  may  be  recovered  by  means  of  boiling 
alcohol. 

The  Foxglove  is  said  to  contain  a  large  number  of 
bases  and  acids,  but  further  researches  are  neces¬ 
sary. 

(To  be  continued.) 


ORIENTAL  SPICES. 

BY  JAMES  PATON, 

A ssistan  t-Keeper  in  the  Museum  of  Science  and  Art , 

Edinburgh. 

( Continued  from  page  902.) 

Nutmegs  and  mace  are  the  products  of  a  tree, 
'  Myristiea  moschata,  belonging  to  the  Natural  Order 
Myristicacece.  The  nutmeg-tree,  which  is  dioecious, 
having  the  male  or  barren  flowers  on  one  tree,  and 
the  female  fertile  flowers  on  another,  is  described  as 
in  appearance  somewhat  like  the  clove,  though  rather 
loftier,  averaging  30  but  reaching  to  50  feet.  The 
leaves  are  shaped  like  those  of  the  pear-tree,  but 
larger  and  of  a  beautiful  glossy  green  upper  surface, 
and  soft  grey  below.  The  fruit  is  exceedingly  like  a 
nectarine  or  large  plum ;  but  furrowed  all  round  in¬ 
stead  of  on  one  side  only,  as  in  the  case  of  the  nectarine. 
When  the  fruit  is  ripe,  this  furrowed  exterior,  which 
is  a  thick  fleshy  covering,  bursts  open  and  discloses 
what  is  undoubtedly  the  most  beautiful  fruit  in  the 
world.  Surrounding  an  oval  nut  of  a  dark  coloured 
glossy  surface,  are  seen  the  broad  veins  of  mace,  an 
arillus  of  the  brightest  vermilion.  Within  tliis  glossy 
shell  is  the  nutmeg  of  commerce,  and  the  vermilion 
arillus  is  what  we  receive  as  yellow  mace.  Here  is 
the  quaint  Sir  Thomas  Herbert’s  description  of  the 
fruit : — “  The  nut  is  clothed  with  a  defensive  husk 
like  those  of  a  baser  quality,  and  resembles  the  thick 
lind  of  a  walnut,  but  at  full  ripeness  discovers  her 
naked  purity,  and  the  mace  chastely  entwines  (with 
a  vermilion  blush)  her  endeared  fruit  and  sister, 
which  hath  a  third  coat,  and  both  of  them  breathe 
out  most  pleasing  smells.  The  mace  in  few  days 
(like  choice  beauties),  by  the  sun’s  flames,  becomes 
tawny ;  yet  in  that  complexion  best  pleases  the  rustic 
gatherer.” 

The  nutmeg-trees  are  in  constant  bearing, — flowers 
and  fruit  in  all  stages  of  advancement,  being  at  all 
times  found  on  the  same  tree.  But  in  its  native 
haunts,  there  are  three  harvests  from  the  tree  an- 


nuall}',  first  in  April,  when  the  finest  spice  is  gathered ; 
next  in  the  end  of  July,  producing  the  largest  quantity, 
and  finally  in  November,  which  Mr.  Crawford  says 
is  a  supplementary  gathering.  A  good  tree  yields 
steadily  about  10  lb.  of  nutmegs  and  mace;  but 
taking  plantations  overhead,  including  male  and 
female  trees,  the  produce  will  not  exceed  4  lb. 

The  Dutch  made  the  same  strenuous  efforts  to  limit 
the  production  of  nutmegs  which  they  applied  to  the 
clove-tree ;  but  with  this  they  had  greater  difficulty. 
Originally  of  somewhat  wider  distribution,  they  en¬ 
deavoured  to  confine  the  trees  to  the  three  small 
islands  forming  the  Banda  group,  and  for  that  pur¬ 
pose  organized  annual  expeditions  for  the  extermina¬ 
tion  of  all  other  trees.  The  efforts  of  two  species  of 
pigeon  to  spread  the  tree  constantly  baffled  the 
watchfulness  of  the  Dutchmen.  The  pigeons  swal¬ 
lowed  the  nutmegs,  the  mace  of  which  was  easy  of 
digestion ;  but  the  shell  enclosing  the  nutmeg  was 
too  much  even  for  the  all-absorbing  maws  of  pigeons ; 
consequently  they  took  their  flight  to  neighbouring 
shores,  and  there  safely  planted  the  uninjured  nut¬ 
megs,  in  defiance  of  the  most  stringent  and  threaten¬ 
ing  proclamations  of  the  governor-general  of  the 
Dutch  East  Indies. 

The  Dutch  guarded  their  nutmeg  parks  in  Banda 
with  greater  jealousy  than  did  the  Hesperides  their 
fabled  golden  apples.  It  was  not  till  these  islands 
passed  first  for  a  short  time  into  the  hands  of  the 
French  under  the  first  republic,  and  next  into  our 
own  possession,  till  the  settlement  of  the  then  existing 
European  turmoils,  that  an  opportunity  was  fairly 
afforded  of  attempting  the  propagation  of  the  valued 
fruits  away  from  these  islands.  The  difficulty,  though 
long  apparently  surmounted,  has  proved  more  insu¬ 
perable  than  in  the  case  of  cloves ;  and  it  may  be 
said  that  now  no  nutmegs  are  grown,  on  a  commer¬ 
cial  scale,  beyond  the  east  part  of  the  Archipelago. 
Under  our  East  India  Company  the  first  apparently 
successful  introduction  of  nutmegs  into  the  Straits 
settlements  took  place  about  the  beginning  of  this 
century.  The  company  expended  great  sums  on  the 
transport  and  care  of  the  trees ;  but  in  their  impa¬ 
tience  at  the  little  progress  the  plants  appeared  to 
make,  they  ordered  the  plantations  to  be  abandoned 
or  sold.  They  were  handed  over  to  private  enter¬ 
prise,  and  soon  they  began  to  yield  productively. 
The  commercial  success  was  immense,  and  a  nutmeg 
mania  seized  upon  the  inhabitants.  Everywhere 
nutmeg-trees  were  planted ;  flower-gardens  were  dug 
up,  and  the  prized  trees,  which  were  with  no  trouble 
to  heap  wealth  upon  their  fortunate  possessors,  were 
substituted.  The  jungle  was  cleared  and  planted 
with  nutmegs,  and  their  overshadowing  kanary  trees, 
according  to  the  most  approved  method,  when  in  the 
height  of  the  planting  fever,  a  sickly  yellow  patch 
was  seen  on  the  topmost  boughs  of  some  of  the 
hitherto  flourisliing  trees.  Steadily  it  descended, 
and  steadily  it  spread  ;  attacked  plants  were  rooted 
out,  and  healthy  ones  stimulated  with  manures,  yet 
the  blight  continued  its  deadly  progress.  Plantations 
were  even  cleared  and  renewed,  and  again  the  fatal 
patch  appeared,  and  no  power  of  man  was  able  to 
stay  its  progress.  A  great  revulsion  then  occurred ; 
plantations  were  abandoned,  and  the  fruit  of  many 
healthy  trees  was  left  to  rot  on  the  ground ;  the  in¬ 
duction  steadily  declined  till  it  has  well-nigh  ceased ; 
and  now  amidst  the  tangled  hiding-places  of  the 
deadly  snake,  and  the  lair  of  the  equally  dreaded 
tiger,  may  be  found  many  blasted  stems,  and  some 


May  20,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


923 


yet  green  and  flourishing  nutmeg-trees,  marking  the 
place  where  not  long  ago,  with  great  care  and  trouble, 
the  precious  plants  were  eagerly  tended. 

Pepper  stands  on  a  somewhat  different  footing 
from  any  of  the  already  noted  spices.  These  are,  at 
most,  of  the  luxuries  of  this  life ;  pepper  we  are  al¬ 
most  warranted  in  putting  in  the  higher  category  of 
necessities.  While  the  consumption  of  the  first  de¬ 
scribed  is  chiefly  confined  to  the  wealthy  and  luxu¬ 
rious,  and  for  many  causes  has  been  steadily  declin¬ 
ing,  pepper  is  eagerly  sought  for  by  all  classes,  is  in 
constantly  increasing  demand,  and  now  of  much 
greater  commercial  importance  than  all  the  rest 
combined. 

Under  the  generic  name  pepper,  are  included  the 
products  of  more  than  one  species  of  plant.  There 
is  first  and  chiefly  the  black  pepper  plant,  Piper 
nigrum,  of  the  Natural  Order  Piperaceee,  from  which 
the  common  white  and  black  pepper  of  commerce  are 
derived.  Secondly,  the  long-pepper  plant,  Chavica 
lioxburgliii,  allied  to  and  used  like  the  former,  but  not 
largely  imported  to  this  country.  And  thirdly,  Cayenne 
pepper,  yielded  by  several  species  belonging  to  the 
Solanacece,  or  Deadly  Nightshade  Order,  an  Order 
most  important,  both  for  its  dietetical  and  medicinal 
products. 

The  common  pepper  plant  is  a  native  of  the  Ma¬ 
labar  or  Western  Coast  of  India,  where  it  is  found 
growing  wild,  and  from  thence  it  has  long  been  na¬ 
turalized  in  the  western  islands  of  the  Archipelago, 
chiefly  in  Sumatra,  and  from  these  localities  the 
supplies  of  the  world  are  drawn ;  for  though  intro¬ 
duced  to  the  TV  est  Indies,  the  product  of  the  west 
has  not  been  able  to  compete  with  that  of  the  east. 
The  pepper  plant  or  vine,  as  it  is  called,  from  its 
appearance,  is  a  twining  plant,  growing  to  a  height 
of  25  feet,  with  dark  green  heart-shaped  leaves,  short 
brittle  branches,  and  spiked  fruit,  which  is  first  green, 
then  red,  and  finally  black.  Our  ordinary  black 
pepper  is  produced  from  the  berries  in  their  red  or 
not  quite  ripe  state  ;  white  pepper,  on  the  other  hand, 
is  prepared  from  the  black  or  ripe  seeds,  by  soaking 
in  water  for  some  days,  and  peeling  off  the  dark 
husk.  There  is  a  likely  enough  story  that  instruc¬ 
tions  were  at  one  time  sent  to  the  East  India  Com¬ 
pany’s  servants  to  cultivate  the  white  pepper  plant 
rather  than  the  black,  as  white  pepper  always  com¬ 
manded  the  best  market.  Two  harvests  are  gathered 
yearly  from  the  vines,  an  average  yield  per  plant 
being  scarcely  half  a  pound.  The  Malabar  pepper 
always  commands  the  highest  price  in  European 
markets. 

We  can  only  name  the  other  spices  which  have 
their  homes  in  the  far  East,  and  which  have  at  one 
time  or  another  figured  in  European  commerce.  Cap¬ 
sicums  or  chillies  are  the  fruit  of  various  species  of 
Capsicum,  and  are  now  cultivated  for  both  spices  and 
pickles  in  all  tropical  regions.  Singularly,  notwith¬ 
standing  the  richness  of  the  Indian  Archipelago  in 
rare  and  delicate  spices,  it  is  only  the  capsicum  that 
is  cared  for  and  consumed  by  the  natives.  Ginger, 
turmeric  and  cardamoms  all  belong  to  the  Order 
Zingiber  acece.  Ginger  is  now  extensively  cultivated 
in  the  West  Indies  and  in  tropical  Africa,  as  well  as 
in  its  widely  extended  native  regions  in  the  East. 
Turmeric,  as  a  spice,  we  know  chiefly  through  its 
share  in  the  composition  of  curry-powders  ;  and  car¬ 
damoms,  though  anciently  much  appreciated  by  the 
Greeks  and  Romans,  and  still  used  as  a  spice  in  the 
East,  have  been  by  us  entirely  relegated  to  the  pro¬ 


vince  of  a  medicine.  Various  umbelliferous  seeds 
have  also  always  held  a  place  among  spices,  several 
of  them  being  peculiar  to  the  East,  but  of  these  we 
may  take  no  note  in  the  meantime. 

The  following  figures  represent  the  imports  and 
estimated  value  of  the  spices  of  1809  in  Britain : — 
Cassia,  527,000  lb*,  value  £25,000. 

Cinnamon,  2,700,000  lb.,  value  £327,000* 

Pepper,  18,000,000  lb.,  value  £343,000. 

Cloves,  4,800,000  lb.,  value  £72,049. 

Mace,  70,000  lb.,  value  £10,550. 

Nutmegs,  800,000  lb.,  value  £57,000. 

[To  be  continued.) 


SOLUTION  OF  GUAIAC  RESIN  FOR 
MEDICINAL  USE.f 

BY  JAMES  T.  SHINN,  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

There  are  two  officinal  liquid  preparations  of 
guaiac,  the  tincture  and  ammoniated  tincture,  both 
of  which  are  perfect  solutions  of  the  drug,  but  are 
very  disagreeable  in  taste  when  given  alone,  or  even 
when  diluted  with  four  or  five  parts  of  water.  The 
great  desideratum  is  to  find  a  menstruum  which  is  a 
good  solvent,  readily  miscible  with  water  and  palat¬ 
able  ;  and,  although  unsuccessful  in  this  attempt,  I 
will  give  some  results  of  the  experiments  made. 

Alcohol  dissolves  all  the  resinous  portion  of  com¬ 
mercial  guaiac,  leaving  from  20  to  25  per  cent,  of 
impurities,  chiefly  chips  of  the  wood  and  sand ;  and 
the  purified  guaiac  obtained  by  evaporating  the 
alcohol  from  this  solution  is  readily  dissolved  %  its 
weight  of  that  fluid.  The  officinal  tincture  (three 
ounces  to  a  pint),  will  bear  an  equal  volume  of  water 
or  syrup  and  remain  clear,  and  is  miscible  in  any 
proportion  with  glycerine  and  liquor  potassse  without 
producing  turbidity. 

Thinking  a  reduction  in  the  amount  of  spirit 
might  be  an  advantage,  the  following  formula  was 
tried : — 

Take  of  Purified  Guaiac  £ij 
Alcohol  f^iij 
Solution  of  Potash  f  ^ij 
Glycerin  f^xj. 

Dissolve  the  guaiac  in  the  alcohol,  and  add  the  so¬ 
lution  of  potash  and  glycerin. 

-  This  forms  a  clear  and  permanent  solution,  of 
pleasanter  taste  than  the  tincture  when  given  alone, 
but  when  mixed  with  water  producing  about  the 
same  turbidity,  and  leaving  the  same  acrid  taste  in 
the  fauces.  Glycerin  does  not  mask  this  acridity 
so  well  as  sugar,  but  the  substitution  of  part  syrup 
produced  a  precipitate  of  the  resin. 

Decidedly  the  most  agreeable  manner  of  adminis¬ 
tering  guaiac  in  liquid  form,  so  far  as  tried,  is  that 
of  a  syrup  prepared  as  follows : — 

Take  of  Guaiac 

Solution  of  Potash  f^ss 
Sugar  S^iv 
Water  sufficient. 

Macerate  the  guaiac  in  the  solution  of  potash  r 


*  Ceylon,  cinnamon  entered  at  2s.  6<i.  per  lb. ;  cinnamon 
from  other  parts  at  3 d.  per  lb. 

•f  Paper  read  at  the  meeting  of  the  American  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Association,  in  answer  to  the  query,  “  hat  is  the  best 
and  most  eligible  liquid  form  for  the  preparation  and  admi¬ 
nistration  of  guaiac  resin  ?” 


TIIE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AXE  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  20,  1871. 


C24 


mixed  with  f  5ij  of  water,  for  two  or  three  days  ; 
then  percolate  with  water  till  8  fluid  ounces  of  liquid 
are  obtained,  in  which  dissolve  the  sugar. 

This  syrup  is  quite  pleasant  to  the  taste,  and  can 
be  taken  alone  or  mixed  with  water ;  it  has  been 
prescribed  for  several  years  by  Dr.  Ludlow,  of  Phil¬ 
adelphia,  with  decided  benefit  in  cases  of  rheuma¬ 
tism,  and  can  be  given  for  a  long  period  without 
exciting  disgust. 

The  quantity  of  solution  of  potash  may  be  doubled 
without  rendering  the  syrup  unpalatable,  and  thus 
would  increase  the  amount  of  guaiac  dissolved. — 
Proc.  Amer.  Pharm.  Assoc.  1870. 


CHEMICAL  NOTES  TO  THE  PHARMACOPOEIA. 

BY  WILLIAM  A.  TILDEN,  B.SC.  LOND. 

DEMONSTRATOR  OF  PRACTICAL  CHEMISTRY  TO  THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 

Glycertnum,  C3Hs03  or  C3H5  (PIO)3. — Glycerine 
is  obtained  from  fats  or  fixed  oils  by  one  or  other  of 
several  processes : — 

1.  In  the  manufacture  of  emp.  plumbi  (q.  v.).  The 
acfueous  solution,  separated  from  the  plaster,  is,  if 
necessary,  treated  with  a  little  sulphuretted  hydro¬ 
gen,  to  remove  from  it  a  small  quantity  of  oxide  of 
lead  retained  in  solution.  The  precipitated  sulphide 
of  lead  is  removed  by  subsidence,  and  the  clear 
liquid  evaporated  to  a  syrup. 

2.  By  throwing  steam  previously  heated  to  about 
500°  F.  into  heated  fat  contained  in  a  boiler  a  distil¬ 
late  is  obtained,  which  separates  on  standing  into 
an  aqueous  solution  of  pure  glycerine  and  an  oily 
layer  consisting  of  the  acids  of  the  fat.  (Price’s 
Glycerine.)  Suppose  stearine  to  have  been  the  ma¬ 
terial  employed : — 

C3H53C13H3502  +  3H.H0 

Stearine.  Water. 

=  C3  H5  3  H  O  +  3  H  C,  ,H„  02. 

Glycerine.  Stearic  acid. 

3.  The  spent  leys  from  which  hard  soap  has  been 
separated  contain  a  quantity  of  glycerine.  Thus — 

C3  H5  3  C13H33  02  +  3  Na  H  O 

Oleine.  Hydrate  of  Sodium. 

=  C3  H5  3  H  0  +  3  Na  Cls  H33  02. 

Glycerine.  Oleate  of  sodium! 

.  Tllls  is  now  recovered  in  some  works  by  neutra¬ 
lizing  the  alkaline  liquid  by  an  acid,  evaporating  to 
a  low  bulk,  and  distilling  the  residue  in  a  current  of 
steam. 

Pure  glycerine  should  be  colourless  and  odour¬ 
less,  sp.  gr.  1-25  (B.P.).  The  glycerine  of  the  Phar¬ 
macopoeia  contains  a  small  percentage  of  water. 
Much  of  the  glycerine  of  commerce,  particularly  the 
foreign,  which  is  generally  made  by  the  lead-plaster 
process,  contains  chlorides  of  sodium  and  calcium, 
and  will  not  therefore  form  a  clear  mixture  with 
nitrate  of  silver. .  Glycerine  is  readily  oxidizable, 
and  is  therefore  incompatible  with  such  agents  as 
permanganates.  It  is  slightly  volatile  at  the  boil¬ 
ing-point  of  water,  but  cannot  be  distilled  in  the 
ordinary  way  without  much  decomposition,  intensely 
irritating  vapours  of  acrolein  being  evolved,  it 
may,  however,  be  distilled  without  change  in  a  cur¬ 
rent  of  superheated  steam  or  in  a  partial  vacuum. 


The  vapour  of  glycerine  is  inflammable.  Glycerine, 
as  shown  by  the  formula  C3Hs(HO)3,  is  the  hydrate 
of  a  trivalent  radicle.  The  action  of  acids  upon  it 
gives  rise  to  the  formation  of  salts  (of  'which  the  fats 
are  examples)  analogous  to  the  compound  ethers 
formed  from  ordinary  alcohol, — the  difference  be¬ 
tween  them  being  that,  whereas  ordinary  alcohol  is 
the  hydrate  of  a  univalent  hydrocarbon,  it  can  form 
with  a  monobasic  acid  only  one  such  compound,  as 
acetic  ether,  C3H5.C2H302. 

Glycerine,  being  the  hydrate  of  a  tn valent  hydro¬ 
carbon,  may  form  with  such  an  acid  as  acetic  or 
stearic  three  different  compounds. 

Glycerine . (C3H5),"(HO)3. 

Glyceryl  mono-acetate  .  (03H5),"(HO)2O2H3O!!. 

,,  di-acetate  .  .  (C3H5)"'(H0)(C2H302)2. 

tri-acetate  .  .  (C3H5V,,(C2H302\v 

„  mono-stearate.  (C3H5)",(H0)2C13H3502. 

,,  di- stearate  .  .  (C3H5)W (HO)  (C18H3502)2. 

„  tri-stearate  .  (C3H5),,/ (C13H3302)3. 

(Common  stearine.) 

The  relation  of  glycerine  to  oil  of  mustard  is  in¬ 
teresting.  When  distilled  with  biniodide  of  phos¬ 
phorus,  it  yields  the  iodide  of  a  radicle  containing 
the  same  elements  as  glyceryl,  but  univalent. 

2  C3  H5  3  H  0  +  P2 14 
=  2  C3  H5 1  +  2  P  H  O  (H  0)2  -f  I2. 

Iodide  of  aliyl.  Phosphorous  acid. 

And  this  iodide,  digested  with  sulphocyanide  of 
potassium,  yields  mustard- oil  and  iodide  of  potas¬ 
sium. 

C3  H5 1  +  K  N  C  S  =  K I  +  (C3  H5)  N  (C  S) ". 

Mustard  oil. 

Hydrargyri  Iodidum  Rcbrum. 

Four  parts  of  percliloride  of  mercury  are  dissolved 
in  boiling  distilled  water  and  mixed  with  live  parts 
of  iodide  of  potassium  similarly  dissolved.  The 
scarlet  precipitate  is  collected,  washed  and  dried  at 
212°. 

HgCl2  +  2KI  =  Hgl2  +  2KC1. 

In  the  process  of  precipitating  the  iodine,  a  salmon- 
coloured  precipitate  is  first  thrown  down ;  this  is  a 
compound  of  iodide  and  chloride,  which  is  changed 
by  the  further  addition  of  iodide  of  potassium  into 
pure  iodide.  An  excess  of  iodide  of  potassium  causes 
the  precipitate  to  disappear. 

It  may  also  be  prepared  by  rubbing  together  in  a 
mortar  mercury  and  iodine  in  the  proportions  repre¬ 
sented  by  the  formula. 

Urr  I  —  H°T 

xx©  I  x2  —  xxox2 

200  -f  127x2  451 

Bed  iodide  of  mercury  is  almost  absolutely  insolu¬ 
ble  in  water,  but  is  slightly  soluble  in  alcohol,  freely 
so  in  ether,  and  in  a  solution  of  iodide  of  potassium, 
forming  in  the  last  case  a  double  salt,  HgI2KI. 

It  is  also  dissolved  by  hydrochloric  acid,  common 
salt,  sal  ammoniac  and  by  a  solution  of  corrosive 
sublimate,  in  which  case  it  gives  a  double  iodo- chlo¬ 
ride,  Hg  I2  2  Hg  Cl2. 

One  of  its  most  curious  properties  is  that  of  chang¬ 
ing  into  a  yellow  allotropic  modification  when  heated 
gently.  When  sublimed  it  forms  magnificent  thin 
prismatic  crystals,  which,  whilst  warm  and  undis¬ 
turbed,  are  yellow,  but  resume  the  red  colour  spon¬ 
taneously  after  a  time,  or  immediately  on  being 
rubbed. 


May  20,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


925 


Specific  gravity  of  vapour 
200  -1-  2(127) 


X  -0693  =  227  X  '0093  =  15*73. 


(See  Ether.) 

Hydrargyrt  Iodidum  Viride. 

200  parts  of  metallic  mercury  are  triturated  with 
127  parts  of  iodine,  and  the  combination  is  assisted 
by  moistening  with  a  small  quantity  of  spirit,  the  use 
of  which  also  prevents  the  development  of  heat.  In 
the  Pharmacopoeia  1  ounce  (=137 '5  grains)  of  mer¬ 
cury  is  employed  with  278  grains  of  iodine;  these 
proportions  are  almost  identical  with  those  given 
above,  which  are  the  numbers  theoretically  required. 
The  product  of  the  official  process  is  a  dull  greyish- 
green  powder,  which  is  directed  to  be  dried  in  a  dark 
room  on  filtering  paper,  without  heat. 

This  substance  is  very  liable  to  variation  in  pro¬ 
perties  and  composition. 

When  prepared  according  to  directions,  the  green 
powder  is  a  mixture  of  red  or  mercuric  iodide,  mer¬ 
curous  iodide  and  metallic  mercury ;  combination  is 
incomplete.  But  when  the  trituration  is  continued, 
mixture  becomes  yellow,  and  then  assumes  the  cha¬ 
racter  of  true  mercurous  iodide  Hgl.  It  changes  in 
colour  upon  exposure  to  light,  and  when  heated  so 
as  to  cause  sublimation,  is  resolved  for  the  most  part 
into  metallic  mercury  and  the  red  iodide. 


YEAST  AND  OTHER  FERMENTS. 

BY  C.  A.  WATKIXS. 

[Continued  from  page  908.) 

The  action  of  diastase  on  starch  is  so  well  described  in 
all  chemical  works  which  treat  of  the  vegetable  pro¬ 
ducts,  that  it  seems  strange  any  one  should  attribute  the 
conversion  of  starch  into  sugar,  during  germination,  to 
any  other  cause,  without  assigning  some  sound  reason. 
Yet,  in  a  popular  book  by  Dr.  Carpenter,  on  ‘Vegetable 
Physiology,’  published  a  few  years  ago,  he  says : — 
“  Starch  differs  but  little  from  sugar,  in  chemical  com¬ 
position,  except  in  containing  one  additional  proportion 
of  carbon.  When  germination  commences,  oxygen  is 
absorbed  by  the  seed  in  the  substance  of  which  it  com¬ 
bines  with  the  carbon  that  is  to  be  set  free  from  it ;  and 
a  large  quantity  of  carbonic  acid  is  then  given  forth 
again  to  the  air,  whilst  in  the  same  proportion,  the  starch 
is  converted  into  sugar.” 

This  implies  that  the  conversion  of  the  starch  into 
sugar,  and  the  evolution  of  C  02  gas  in  germination,  are 
the  results  of  the  same  process  ;  but  if  you  will  refer  to 
my  diagram,  you  will  see  that  starch  does  not  contain 
an  additional  proportion  of  carbon,  as  compared  with 
sugar,  but  that  it  requires  two  equivalents  of  HO  to 
equal  it ;  and  that  were  one  or  two  equivalents  of  carbon 
to  be  oxidized  and  abstracted,  we  should  not  have  sugar 
as  the  result. 

It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  in  germination  the  starch 
is  converted  into  sugar  by  the  diastase,  which  is  probably 
formed  from  the  azotized  matters  by  the  vital  action  of 
the  embryo.  The  oxidation  of  some  of  the  carbon  con¬ 
tained  in  the  seed  is  more  likely  to  be  due  to  the  decom¬ 
position  of  the  sugar  and  other  matters  by  the  growth 
of  the  embryo,  the  cells  of  which  appear  to  me  to  per¬ 
form  chemical  functions  similar  to  some  of  the  fungi,  for 
at  this  period  of  its  growth  it  must  be  remembered  the 
vegetable  action  is  reversed,  that  it  is  now  living  on 
organic  compounds  and  evolving  C02  gas;  whereas, 
when  it  has  expanded  its  leaves  to  the  light  and  atmo¬ 
sphere,  its  food  must  be  reduced  to  simpler  forms  before 
it  can  assimilate  it,  and  it  will  then  construct  organic 
compounds  and  decompose  C02  gas,  eliminating  oxygen. 


Malt  contains  about  -r^^th  part  of  its  weight  of  dia¬ 
stase,  and  as  one  part  of  diastase  will  convert  2000  parts 
of  starch  into  sugar,  it  evidently  contains  a  much  larger 
quantity  than  is  necessary  for  the  conversion  of  the  re¬ 
maining  starch  in  the  grain.  This  is  taken  advantage 
of  in  various  ways  by  distillers,  etc.,  for  the  purpose  of 
conveiding  unmalted  grain  and  starch  from  other  sources 
into  sugar. 

The  action  of  diastase  and  other  similar  soluble  fer¬ 
ments  is  supposed  to  be  instantaneous  when  the  matters 
on  which  they  act  are  also  made  soluble. 

As  an  illustration  of  this,  I  will  tell  you  what  is  done 
at  one  of  the  large  distilleries  in  the  North. 

Starch  and  grain  are  ground  into  a  fine  powder  and 
put  into  a  mash  tun  capable  of  holding  several  hundred 
quarters,  and  heated  till  the  starch  granules  burst,  and 
a  thick  paste  is  formed.  AVhen  at  the  proper  tempera¬ 
ture,  an  infusion  of  malt  is  run  in  and  agitated,  and  in 
about  two  minutes  the  whole  of  this  stiff  mass  becomes 
perfectly  fluid,  the  starch  being  at  once  converted  into 
sugar  by  the  diastase  in  the  infusion. 

In  the  instances  of  fermentation  I  have  brought  to 
your  notice  I  have  shown  only  the  chemical  transforma¬ 
tions  of  the  matters  fermented,  these  changes  resulting 
in  the  rearrangement  of  the  atoms  or  the  molecules  of 
which  those  matters  are  built  up,  thereby  giving  rise  to 
entirely  new  structures. 

The  ferments  themselves  suffer  differently,  being 
always  reduced  to  the  simplest  combinations. 

Looking  at  the  result  of  a  fermentation,  it  would 
appear  that  the  ferment  and  the  matter  fermented  did 
not  enter  into  combination,  but  that  its  transformation 
is  due  to  the  force  generated  in  the  decomposition  of  the 
ferment  with  which  it  is  in  contact.  It  is,  however, 
clear  that  the  changes  which  take  place  in  the  two 
substances  are  collateral,  for  the  same  ferment  will 
produce  various  chemical  transformations  of  a  substance 
according  to  the  phase  of  its  own  decomposition. 
“  Thus  diastase,  when  fresh,  converts  starch  into  sugar  ; 
if  kept  for  a  few  days,  it  converts  it  into  gum  instead  of 
sugar;  while  at  another  period  it  converts  the  starch 
first  into  sugar,  and  then  transforms  it  into  lactic  acid.” 

Therefore  the  transformations  always  depend  on,  and 
are  relative  to,  the  peculiar  changes  which  take  place  in 
the  ferment. 

The  commercial  production  of  vinegar  appears  to  be 
due  to  the  agency  of  one  or  more  microscopic  organisms, 
the  mass  being  called  the  vinegar  plant,  which,  as  I 
have  said,  is  not  regarded  as  a  true  ferment  by  chemists, 
and  for  this  reason :  all  the  ferments  proper,  such  as  I 
have  described,  produce  the  transformations  entirely 
within  the  solutions,  receiving  nothing  from,  nor  im¬ 
parting  anything  thereto  ;  but  the  conversion  of  alcohol 
into  vinegar  is  a  case  of  simple  oxidation,  in  winch  the 
oxygen  is  derived  from  the  atmosphere,  each  equivalent 
of  alcohol  absorbing  four  equivalents  of  oxygen  to  be¬ 
come  acetic  acid,  according  to  the  following  formula  : — ■ 


C,H60.2  +  2  0 

Alcohol. 

C4H402  +  20 

Aldehyd. 


C4H40o  +  2HO 

Aldehyd.  Water. 

=  CJI3O3  +  HO 

Acetic  Acid. 


In  countries  where  no  duty  is  imposed  on  the  manu¬ 
facture  of  alcohol,  it  can  be  made  into  vinegar  cheaply 
and  rapidly.  The  alcohol  diluted  with  water,  and  a 
small  quantity  of  some  azotized  substance  added,  is 
allowed  to  trickle  over  beech  shavings  placed  in  a  vat, 
so  arranged  that  a  current  of  air  circulates  freely 
throughout. 

For  some  days  the  process  goes  on  very  slowly ;  but 
the  shavings  become  gradually  covered  with  a  slimy 
fungus,  called  mother  o.  vinegar,  and  then  Rectification 
proceeds  much  more  rapidly. 

Pure  dilute  alcohol,  exposed  to  the  air,  undergoes  no 
chemical  change,  and  its  conversion  into  vinegar  is  un¬ 
doubtedly  due  to  some  complex  action  of  the  growth  of 


926 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  20,  1871. 


the  fungus  on  the  matters  in  solution;  hut  the  exact 
•chemical  operations  of  this  vegetation  are  unknown. 

Since  writing  the  above  my  attention  has  been  called 
to  some  observations  on  this  plant  by  Mr.  Slack  (vol.  v. 
p.  2),  and  published  in  the  ‘  Microscopical  Transactions.’ 
He  states,  and  I  have  no  doubt  of  the  truth  of  the  asser¬ 
tion,  that,  “If  some  of  the  gelatinous  portion  of  the 
plant  be  examined  with  high  powers,  it  will  be  found  to 
contain  millions  of  minute  bodies,  resembling  bacteria, 
some  of  them  not  exceeding  y^^oyth  of  an  inch  in 
length.” 

1  have  recently  examined  a  dilute  solution  of  alcohol, 
which  is  being  converted  into  vinegar,  and  find  these 
bacteria  in  abundance.  They  may  be  seen  distinctly 
when  magnified  250  diameters,  though  a  high  power 
must  be  used  to  resolve  their  structure. 

The  study  of  these  minute  organisms,  though  very 
uninviting  to  the  general  microscopist,  would  richly  re¬ 
ward  any  patient  investigator  ;  for  until  we  know  more 
of  the  chemical  processes  which  take  place  in  and  through 
them,  the  subject  of  putrefactive  decomposition  must 
remain  a  blank,  as  it  is  at  present. 

The  vinegar  plant  and  yeast  are  said  to  be  different 
conditions  of  the  same  vegetation  ;  the  Brothers  Tulasne 
have  shown  us  that  these  lowrer  species  of  vegetation 
pass  through  various  phases  during  their  growth,  each 
having  previously  been  considered  as  a  distinct  plant ; 
and  I  see  no  reason  why  these  minute  organisms  should 
not  produce  different  chemical  combinations  at  the  dif¬ 
ferent  stages  of  their  development,  since  we  see,  in  the 
higher  order  of  certain  plants,  that  some  of  their  che¬ 
mical  processes  are  reversed  at  points  of  their  existence, 
namely,  during  germination,  flowering  and  the  ripening 
of  the  fruit,  when  they  absorb  oxygen  and  give  off  car¬ 
bonic  acid  to  the  atmosphere. 

In  conclusion,  allow  me  to  observe  that  I  am  fully 
aware  of  having  written  a  paper  with  a  very  slender 
knowledge  of  the  microscopic  organisms,  whose  chemical 
operations  I  have  discussed ;  therefore  I  hope  those  parts 
which  I  have  left  in  darkness  will  now  receive  the  light 
■of  your  experience  and  knowledge  as  microscopists.  I 
am  very  anxious  to  obtain  information  concerning  the 
part  which  those  minute  vibriones  and  bacteria  play  in 
nature’s  economy,  for  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  those 
remarkable  bodies,  appearing  everywhere  and  springing 
into  active  existence  almost  at  a  moment’s  notice,  must 
perform  some  important  part  in  many  of  the  changes 
which  surround  us. — Journal  of  the  Quekett  Microscopical 
Club. 


THE  USE  OF  ANIMAL  CHARCOAL  FOR  THE 
PURIFICATION  OF  SACCHARINE  SOLUTIONS  IN 
POLARIMETRICAL  ANALYSIS. 

(From  the  French  of  Dr.  Stammer.) 

A  certain  quantity  of  animal  black,  in  powder  or  in 
grist,  is  often  employed  to  decolour  and  purify  saccharine 
solutions  intended  for  polarimetrical  analysis.  It  is 
true  that  some  chemists  avoid  this  use  of  char,  in  which 
they  think  they  see  a  cause  of  error ;  but  it  is  generally 
admitted  that  in  these  conditions  the  char  does  not  ab¬ 
sorb  the.  sugar,  and  therefore  does  not  affect  the  results. 

As  this  opinion  does  not  appear  to  have  been  based  on 
special  experiment,  M. .  Scheibler,  in  concert  with  M. 
Daunal,  undertook  a  seiies  of  researches  on  the  absorp¬ 
tion  of  sugar  in  the  treatment  of  saccharine  solutions  by 
means  of  char,  which  have  placed  beyond  doubt  the  fact 
•  of  this  absorption  in  such  a  way  as  to  prevent,  hence¬ 
forth,  the  use  of  this  method  of  clarification  for  exact 
analysis. 

The  following  tables  contain  the  results  of  some  expe¬ 
riments,  in  which  different  sorts  of  sugar  have  been  used. 
The  proper  quantity  of  these  sugars  was  dissolved  in 
50  cubic  centimetres  of  water,  and  purified  in  the  ordi¬ 


nary  way  by  means  of  acetate  of  lead  (except  the  samples 
marked  by  an  asterisk  in  the  table),  and  first  examined 
in  the  polariscope.  The  same  solution  was  then  mixed 
with  the  quantity  of  powdered  char  shown  in  the  third 
column  of  the  table,  and  the  action  prolonged  during  the 
time  indicated  in  the  fourth  column.  The  filtered  solu¬ 
tion,  decoloured,  was  polarized  afresh,  and  the  proportion 
absorbed  calculated.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  every 
possible  precaution  was  taken  to  prevent  any  cause  of 
inaccuracy;  consequently,  the  results  are  entirely  con¬ 
clusive. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  char  absorbed  some  sugar  in 
every  case,  and  that  the  quantity  absorbed  was  propor¬ 
tionate  to  the  quantity  of  char  employed. 

Some  hours’  contact  sufficed  to  render  the  absorption 
sensible.  The  previous  clarification  by  acetate  of  lead, 
and  the  degree  of  purity  of  the  sugars,  appear  to  have 
had  no  influence. 


Table  I. — Absorption  of  Pure  Sugar  by  Char. 

230°  F. 


Dried  to 


Sugar  employed  in 
experiment. 


Raw  sugar,  No. 


»> 

»> 

!) 


It 

tt 


it 

it 


it 


it 

Masse 


tt 

d’empli, 
1st  product 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 


:} 


Pure  sugar . 
Sugar  in  crystals . 


Degree  of  Po¬ 
larization. 

Quantity  of  char  em¬ 

ployed  — Grammes. 

Time  of  contact  with 

the  char. — Hours. 

Proportion  of  sugar  ab¬ 

sorbed  per  cent,  of  sugar. 

Before  treat¬ 

ment  by  cbar in 
percentages. 

After  treatment 

by  char  in 

percentages.  J 

ioo-oo 

99-8 

5"5 

23 

0-2 

99-7 

99-3 

5*5 

24 

0-4 

91-5 

9M5 

5-5 

3 

0-35 

94-2 

93-8 

5-5 

18 

0-4 

90-8 

90-4 

5-5 

24 

0-4 

95-4 

94-65 

5-5 

20 

0-45 

93-45 

930 

5-5 

24 

0-45 

91-8 

91  -5 

5-5 

24 

0-3 

95  8 

95-45 

5-5 

16 

0-35 

82-35 

81-95 

5-5 

18 

0-4 

Table  II. — Absorption  of  Pure  Sugar  by  Char. 

320°  F. 


Dried  to 


Degree  of  Po- 

4 1 

Sugar  employed 

in 

i  larizal 

.2 

•  U  # 

ion. 

"  '  '  “N 

-td 

a 

a> 

a 

:  e  * 

Ol  01 

■  «-  a 
i  £  s 
«  2 

tact  with 
[lours. 

Vi  <D 

A  Oh 

to  o 

3  • 

»  *> 

o  ® 

experiment. 

"5  2  5 

£  o  to 

«  a  go 

1  oO 

G  | 

° 

O  *. 

c*_i 

O  0> 

Cu 

®-°  a 

■*-  «  n 

VS  T5 

o’0 

g 

A  i  <D 

ra  6  & 

Oi  o  O 

>■»  Qj 

a, 

p  ® 

CS 

3  O 

O’P, 

<D  O 

a  o; 
S5 

2  & 

*  3 

1  Pure 

sugar . 

• 

• 

100-0* 

99-55 

5-5 

16 

0-45 

Suga 

r  in  cry 

stals . 

99-75* 

99-3 

5-5 

16 

0-45  , 

Raw 

sugar, 

Nc 

>.  1 

97-25* 

96-75 

5' 5 

16 

0-5 

11 

?? 

2 

93-1 

92-5 

5'5 

3-12 

0-6 

11 

11 

3 

931 

91-9 

11-0 

3-12 

1-2 

11 

11 

4 

91-75 

91-2 

bo 

16 

0-55 

11 

11 

5 

98-4* 

98-2 

b'b 

16 

0-2 

tt 

11 

6 

99-0* 

98-45 

bb 

16 

0'55 

11 

11 

7 

98-4 

97-8 

bb 

16 

0-6 

19 

11 

8 

92-1 

91-0 

110 

16  i 

1-1 

tt 

11 

9 

93-2 

92-2  j 

110 

16 

1-0  | 

19 

11 

10 

91-8 

90-8 

15-0 

16  j 

1-0 

19 

11 

11  i 

97-3* 

97-1 

b'b 

16  I 

0-2 

Masse  d’empli, 
1st  product 

>1 

83-3 

82-9 

bb  ! 

! 

16 

0-4 

1 

We  must  conclude  from  these  results  that  the  use  of 


May  20,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


027 


char  in  analyses  of  sugars  is  not  allowable,  and  that 
the  general  opinion  on  the  non-absorption  of  sugar  is 
erroneous. 


[That  char  will  absorb  a  proportion  of  sugar  is  con¬ 
clusively  proved  by  the  above  experiments  ;  therefore, 
in  every  exact  analysis,  its  use  should  be  avoided,  if  pos¬ 
sible.  But,  in  the  analysis  of  low  raw  sugar,  subacetate 
■of  lead  will  not  sufficiently  decolour  the  sugar  solution 
for  the  disk  to  be  plainly  visible  through  the  solution 
placed  in  the  tube  of  the  polariscope.  The  use  of  char 
is  then  necessary,  but  the  char  will  in  a  short  time  be¬ 
come  saturated  with  sugar  from  the  solution  flowing 
through  it,  and,  in  fact,  only  that  portion  which  runs 
through  first  will  be  much  affected  ;  so  that  the  only 
precaution  necessary  is  to  run  off  a  quantity  of  the  solu¬ 
tion  through  the  char,  sufficient  to  saturate  it  with  sugar 
before  filling  the  tube  of  the  polariscope.  That  the 
^quantity  necessary  for  saturation  may  be  easily  ascer¬ 
tained  is  shown  in  the  following  experiment : — 

A  solution  of  pure  loaf  sugar,  of  the  ordinary  density 
for  examination  by  Soleil’s  polariscope,  was  filtered 
.through  130  cubic  centimetres  of  new  char  of  grist. 

Degree  of 
Polarization. 


Before  filtration . 100* 

1st  2 5  c.c.  of  filtered  solution  .  88-9 

2nd  2.5  c.c.  ,,  „  .  97‘9 

3rd  25  c.c.  ,,  ,,  .  99‘7 

4th  25  c.c.  ,,  „  .  100- 


It  will  thus  bo  seen  that  it  was  needful  to  run  off  three 
times  the  quantity  of  sugar  solution  contained  by  the 
tube  of  the  polariscope  before  the  filtered  solution  gave 
results  unaffected  by  the  absorptive  power  of  char. — 
IEd.  S.  C.] — American  Chemist,  from  the  ‘  Sugar  Cane.' 


THE  PREPARATION  OF  FERRIDCYANIDE  OF 

POTASSIUM. 

BY  WILLIAM  T.  WENZELL. 

Ferridcyanide  of  potassium  is  usually  prepared  by 
'the  'process  of  Gmelin,  the  discoverer  of  this  salt,  by 
passing  chlorine  slowly  into  a  dilute  solution  of  yellow 
prussiato  of  potash,  until  the  liquid  ceases  to  yield  a 
precipitate  on  the  addition  of  a  persalt  of  iron.  The 
•chemical  reaction  which  takes  place  in  this  process  de¬ 
pends  upon  chlorine  abstracting  one  equivalent  of  potas¬ 
sium  from  two  molecules  of  ferrocyanide  of  potassium, 
which  coalesce  to  form  one  molecule  of  the  ferridcyanide 
■of  potassium,  chloride  of  potassium  being  formed  at  the 
same  time,  as  follows  :  — 2  (K.> Cy,  F e  Cy)  -f-  Cl  =  K,  Cy, 
Fe20y3  +  KCl.  . 

This  process  is  no  doubt  one  of  the  best,  and  when  the 
.action  of  the  chlorine  can  be  interrupted  in  time  to  pre¬ 
vent  the  decomposition  of  a  portion  of  the  product  into 
ehloride  of  cyanogen  and  various  secondary  compounds, 
which  are  known  to  act  injuriously  by  their  presence  in 
preventing,  to  some  extent,  the  subsequent  crystalliza¬ 
tion  of  the  salt.  This  loss  and  inconvenience  is  avoided, 
according  to  Professor  Reichardt,  of  Jena,*  by  substitut¬ 
ing  bromine  for  chlorine,  which  will  prevent  the  occur¬ 
rence  of  the  decomposition  to  which  the  ferridcyanide  is 
liable  by  the  prolonged  action  of  chlorine.  Aside  from 
:this  advantage,  the  author  recommends  his  process  on 
the  ground  of  greater  facility  with  which  the  salt  is  pre¬ 
pared.  The  reaction  is  in  every  way  identical  with  that 
of  chlorine,  the  product  being  ferridcyanide  of  potas¬ 
sium  and  bromide  of  potassium: — 2(K2Cy,FeCy)-fBr 
=  K3Cy,Fe2Cy3-{-KBr.  In  regard  to  the  economy  of  a 
process,  which  calls  for  the  use  of  bromine, — an  article 
■ - - - — 

*  Dingler’s  Poiytechn.  Journal,  Dec.  18G9. 


although  of  late  years  greatly  reduced  in  value, — few 
manufacturers  could  be  induced  to  adopt  such  an  expen¬ 
sive  substitute. 

The  process  which  I  have  used  for  years,  and  for 
which  I  claim  results  as  advantageous  as  the  bromine 
process,  with  the  additional  desideratum  of  cheapness,  is 
based  on  the  action  of  chlorine,  which  is  formed  and 
made  to  act  upon  the  yellow  prussiate  in  statu  nascent i 
during  the  process.  Four  equivalents  of  hydrochloric 
acid  and  one  of  bichromate  of  potash  arc  made  to  act 
upon  a  boiling  solution  of  ferrocyanide  of  potassium, 
with  the  formation  of  two  equivalents  of  ferridcyanide 
of  potassium,  three  of  chloride  of  potassium,  one  of 
sesquioxide  of  chromium,  one  of  water  and  one  of  chlo¬ 
rine,  as  exemplified  by  the  following  equation : — 
4  (K2  Cy,  Fe  Cy )  +  K  O  2  Cr  03+ 4  H  Cl  =  2  (K,  Cy,  Fe„  Cy3) 
+ 3  K  C1+  Cr,  O,,  3  H  O  -f  H  0  +  Cl. 

Reduced  from  equivalent  to  working  quantities,  the 
following  formula  will  give  satisfactory  results : — • 

Bichromate  of  potash,  1  part,  by  weight. 

Ferrocyanide  of  potassium,  cryst.,  5 -72  parts,  by  weight. 

Muriatic  acid,  spec.  grav.  1TG,  3  parts,  by  weight. 

Water,  60  parts,  by  weight. 

Dissolve  the  two  salts  in  hot  water,  add  the  acid,  heat 
to  boiling,  continuing  the  ebullition,  replacing  the  water 
evaporated  during  the  process  until  a  portion  of  the  fil¬ 
tered  liquid  is  not  precipitated  on  the  addition  of  sesqui- 
chloride  of  iron.  When  reaction  is  completed  filter  the 
liquid,  and  wash  the  hydrated  sesquioxide  of  chromium, 
unite  the  liquids,  and  concentrate  to  crystallization.  If 
the  evaporated  liquid  possess  an  acid  reaction,  the  addi¬ 
tion  of  caustic  potash,  in  sufficient  quantity  to  cause  a 
weak  alkaline  reaction,  will  greatly  facilitate  the  subse¬ 
quent  crystallization.  Generally,  there  is  no  difficulty 
experienced  by  following  these  processes  if  the  rela¬ 
tive  proportions  are  used  in  the  prescribed  equivalent 
amounts.  An  excess  of  muriatic  acid  should  be  studi¬ 
ously  avoided,  inasmuch  as  an  excess  will  contaminate 
the  solution  of  red  prussiate  of  potash  with  sesquichlorido 
of  chromium,  which  will  communicate  an  emerald-green 
colour,  and  give  a  green  precipitate  of  hydrated  sesqui¬ 
oxide  of  chromium  on  the  addition  of  ammonia. — The 
Pharmacist. 


CALIFORNIA  CASTOR  OIL. 

The  Marysville  Appeal  has  the  following  account  of  a 
recent  visit  to  the  castor-oil  manufactory  of  Dr.  M ‘Daniel, 
situated  in  Marysville : — “  Being  a  novice  in  the  prepa¬ 
ration  and  pi’essing  of  the  castor-bean,  and  the  process 
employed  to  produce  the  pure  oil,  we  were  surprised  at 
the  simplicity  of  the  machinery  and  everything  con¬ 
nected  with  the  modus  operandi.  The  beans  are  first  sub¬ 
jected  to  a  dry  heat  of  an  hour  or  so  in  a  furnace.  This 
softens  them  and  brings  them  to  that  peculiar  state  re¬ 
quired  in  expeditious  pressing.  They  are  then  taken 
out  and  placed  in  a  screw-press,  run  by  horse-power,  and 
capable  of  pressing  between  80  and  100  gallons  of  oil 
per  day.  From  the  press  the  oil  is  conveyed  into  a 
vessel,  and  from  thence  into  a  large  iron  tank  or  boiler. 
In  this  is  placed  60  gallons  of  oil  and  the  same  amount 
of  water,  the  latter  serving  to  cleanse  the  oil  of  all  im¬ 
purities.  The  oil  is  then  boiled  about  an  hour,  and  kept 
standing  until  the  next  morning,  when  the  water  is 
drawn  off  and  the  oil  transferred  to  the  clarifiers,  which 
arc  composed  of  zinc,  and  capable  of  holding  from  60  to 
100  gallons  each.  After  standing  about  eight  hours  in 
the  sun,  it  is  taken  out  and  put  into  cans,  and  is  ready 
for  the  market.  Beans  of  a  superior  quality  are  worth 
about  $90  per  ton,  and  100  pounds  are  supposed  to  pro¬ 
duce  5  gallons  of  oil.” — Druggists'  Circular  and  Chemical 
Gazette. 


928 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  20,  1871*. 


The  Balsam  Bog  of  the  Falkland  Islands  is  one  of 
the  most  singular  and  interesting  plants  of  the  Umbel - 
U force.  Azorellci  Srtago,  Hf.,  has  a  similar  hahit,  covering 
the  ground  in  Kerguelen’s  Land,  near  the  sea,  with 
"brown  masses  many  feet  in  extent,  and  often  so  soft  that 
the  traveller  plunges  into  or  through  them  up  to  the 
middle.  Like  the  Dolax  glebana,  the  living  part  of  the 
plant  forms  a  crust  over  a  vast  amount  of  debris,  the 
decayed  or  decaying  remains  of  former  years’  growth, 
through  which  the  living  roots  descend  into  the  ground! 
It  is  the  most  abundant  plant  in  Kerguelen’s  Land.  In 
Fuegia  it  is  much  more  scarce,  occurring  only  in  small 
tufts  on  the  mountains. — Gardeners'  Chronicle.  ' 

The  Ink  Plant.— There  is  a  plant  in  New  Granada 
which  if  #  °ur  inkmakers  could  only  grow  in  sufficient 
quantity  in  this  country,  would  prove  a  fortune  to  them. 
The  plant  in  question  ( Coriaria  mi/mifolia )  is  commonly 
known  as  the  ink-plant,  and  the  juice  ‘is  used  without  any 
preparation.  According  to  a  tradition  in  the  country,  its 
properties  were  discovered  during  the  Spanish  adminis¬ 
tration.  A  number  of  documents  which  had  been  sent 
to  the  mother  country  got  wetted  by  the  salt  water  while 
the  vessel  was  passing  round  the  Cape ;  those  written 
with  common  ink  became  nearly  illegible,  while  those 
written  with  “  chanchi,”  as  the  juice  is  called,  remained 
unaltered.  A  decree  was  therefore  issued  that  all  Go¬ 
vernment  communications  should  in  future  be  written 
with  the  vegetable  juice.  The  ink  is  of  a  reddish  colour 
when  freshly  written,  becoming  perfectly  black  after  a 
few  hours,  and  does  not  corrode  a  steel  pen  so  readily  as 
ordinary  ink. — Nature. 

Boxwood.  At  the  present  day,  when  the  columns  of 
our  newspapers  teem  with  advertisements  of  various  pre¬ 
parations  for  promoting  the  growth  or  changing  the 
colour  of  the  hair,  the  following  account  of  the  results  of 
the  use  of  a  preparation  of  boxwood  for  that  purpose 
may  be  of  interest.  Boxwood,  according  to  the  old  her¬ 
balists,  was  used  from  a  remote  period  to  render  the  hair 
auburn ;  and  we  are  told  by  Phillips  that  a  young  woman 
in  Lower  Silesia,  whose  hair  had  fallen  off  after  a  severe 
attack  of  dysentery,  was  advised  to  wash  her  head  with 
a  decoction  ot  boxwood,  in  order  to  induce  it  to  grow 
again.  This  she  did;  and  “hair  of  a  chestnut  colour 
grew  on  her  head,  as  she  was  told  it  would  do ;  but, 
having  used  no  precaution  to  secure  her  face  and  neck 
from  the  lotion,  they  became  covered  with  red  hair  to 
such  a  degree  that  she  seemed  but  little  different  irom 
an  ape  or  a  monkey  !” — Nature. 

Cultivation  of  Tea  in  the  United  States.— The 

American  Commissioner  ot  Agriculture  reports  that  tea 
culture  is  fast  becoming  a  feature  of  importance  in  the 
u ostein  and  southern  States,  and  that  in  a  few  years 
enough  tea  will  be  grown  in  those  sections  to  meet  the 
home  consumption.  The  department  has  sent  out  to 
various  parts  of  the  country  over  50,000  plants,  nearly 
all  of  v  hi cli  ha's  e  lived ;  and  it  is  now  distributing  seed 
which  came  from  plants  raised  in  South  Carolina.— 
Grocer. 

Another  Use  for  Coal  Oil.— Samuel  Bryant,  of 
clarion  ton,  -^fiss.,  has  discovered  that  petroleum  will 
make  the  hair  grow.  The  way  that  he  found  out  this 
new  property  of  coal  oil  was  simply  this  :  he  had  a  large 
boil  on  the  bald  place  on  his  head,  which  gave  him  much 
pam,  and,  in  the  absence  of  anything  else,  ho  rubbed 
coal  ml  on  it.  He.  says  it  relieved  the  pain  almost  in¬ 
stantly  so  he  continued  to  rub  on  the  oil  until  the  boil 
was  entirely  well,  when,  to  his  surprise,  he  found  a  thin 
coating  of  hair  coming  out  over  the  bald  place.  He  con¬ 
tinued  the  use  of  ^the  oil  for  a  month  or  two,  and  now 
has  a  heavy  coat  oi  hair  on  his  head. — Democrat,  Da  list  on 
Bpa,  N.Y. 

A  Deposit  of  Alum  of  considerable  magnitude  has 
been  discovered  in  the  Kuhu  valley  in  Madras  by 
shepherds.  As  a  rule,  the  headmen  of  villages  prefer 
even  now  not  to  disclcse  mineral  discoveries. — Nature. 


CONVERSAZIONE  OF  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL 
SOCIETY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN. 

On  "Wednesday  evening,  in  response  to  the  invitation*, 
of  the  President  and  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society,  .a  larg'o  company  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  as¬ 
sembled  in  the  South  Kensington  Museum.  The  meeting 
was  a  most  successful  one,  and  the  presence  of  many 
ladies,  who  thronged  the  various  courts  or  listened  to 
the  fine  selection  of  music  performed  by  the  band  of  the 
Grenadier  Guards,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Dam 
Godfrey,  gave  a  picturesqueness  and  charm  to  the  scene 
v  hich  must  have  added  considerably  to  the  pleasure  of 
those  who  were  privileged  to  witness  it.  In  the  Lecture- 
Room,  the  Orpheus  Glee  Union,  under  the  leadership  of 
Mr.  W.  Fielding,  sang  a  selection  of  glees  and  madrigals, 
and  here,  again,  every  corner  of  the  room  was  crowded. 

.  By  the  courtesy  of  the  authorities  at  the  South  Ken¬ 
sington  Museum  tlie  south  court,  with  the  gallery  at 
the.  end,  was  for  the  first  time  thrown  open,  the  screen, 
’which  formerly  parted  off  one  end  of  it  having  been  re¬ 
moved. 

-the  company  numbered  close  upon  three  thousand, 
and  among  the  visitors  present  were  Lord  Bathurst 
Lord  de  L.Isle  and  Dudley,  Sir  Whiter  Stirling,  Sir  G. 
Duncan  Gibb,  Sir  John  Bowring,  Sir  Charles  Locock, 
Sir  W.  Ferguson,  Captain  Stacpoole,  M.P.,  Dr.  J.  A. 
Lush,  M.P.,  and^  very  many  eminent  medical  and  scien¬ 
tific  men  both  of  this  and  other  countries. 


ANNUAL  DINNER  OF  THE  MANCHESTER 
CHEMISTS’  ASSISTANTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  First  Annual  Dinner  of  this  Association  was  held 
on  Thursday  evening,  April  27th,  1871,  at  the  Mitre 
Hotel ;  the  President  in  the  chair ;  the  vice-chair  bein" 
occupied  by  Mr.  Alleock. 

After  a  few  suitable  remarks  from  the  President,  and 
the  usual  loyal  toasts,  the  following  were  the  toasts  of 
the  evening : — 

u  The  Success  of  the  Manchester  Chemists’  Assistants’ 
Association,”  by  the  Vice-Chairman  ;  “  The  Manchester  ■ 
Chemists  and  Druggists’  Association,”  by  Mr.  W.  Lane  ; 
“The  Pharmaceutical  Society,”  by  Mr.  Yeats  ;  “The 
health  of  the  retiring  Officers  and  Committee,”  by  Mr. 
Dickinson. 

The  special  health  of  the  Secretary  (Mr.  B.  H.  Cow- 
gill)  was  then  proposed  for  the  very  great  service  he  had 
rendered  the  Association. 

Phe  Secretary  briefly  responded,  and  thanked  the 
members  for  the  great  mark  of  respect  shown  to  him  ;  he 
sincerely  hoped  that  on  future  sessions  every  success 
would  attend  them. 

I  he  remainder  of  the  evening  was  very  agreeably 
spent  with  music,  singing,  etc. 


A  Disease  in  the  Coffee  Plant  has  lately  ap¬ 
peared  in  the  coffee  plantations  of  Ceylon,  which  mav 
prove  a. serious  one.  The  Rev.  M.  J.  Berkeley,  in  a 
communication  to  the  Gardeners'  Chronicle ,  says  that  he 
has.  i cceivecl  specimens  forwarded  by  Mr.  Th waites,  in. 
v  hich  the  albumen  of  the  seed  (the  portion  so  universally 
used)  has  been  developed  sufficiently  to  present  the  usual 
convoluted  appearance ;  but  the  growth  seems  to  have 
been  suddenly  arrested.  In  consequence  the  substance 
is  not  perfectly  solidified,  so  that  it  contracts  and  ac¬ 
quires  a  dark  dusky  tinge,  in  some  cases  becoming  black. 
On  examination  under  the  microscope,  every  seed  up  to 
a  certain  point  app>ears  normal,  nor  is  there  the  slightest  • 
trace  ot  fungi.  Mr.  Thwaites  attributes  the  disease, 
and  as  Mr.  Berkeley  thinks,  correctly,  to  sudden  changes- 
m  the  weather,  and  it  is  hoped  that  it  will  not  extend., 
beyond  the  present  season. 


May  20,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


929 


®jje  IJjmnnamiliral  $ounta(. 


SATURDAY,  MAY  20,  1S71. 


■Communications  for  this  Journal,  and  boohs  for  review, etc., 
■i should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

Instructions  from  Members  and  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Brem- 
ridge,  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  IV.  C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  IV.  Luvelopes  indorsed  u  Fharm.  Journ.” 


THE  ANNUAL  MEETING. 

Anticipating  tlie  full  report  of  the  proceedings  of 
Wednesday,  we  now  place  before  our  readers  some 
•of  tlie  most  important  points.  The  chair  was  occu¬ 
pied  by  the  newly  elected  President,  Mr.  Hasei.den, 
who  commenced  his  address  by  referring  briefly  to 
liis  unanticipated  appearance  in  the  Presidential 
•chair ;  and  in  alluding  to  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Sand- 
ford,  eulogized  that  gentleman’s  uprightness,  ability 
and  patience  as  President.  Speaking  of  the  custom 
which  had  obtained  with  his  predecessors  of  notic¬ 
ing  the  pharmaceutical  novelties  of  the  year,  he  re¬ 
ferred  to  the  importance  assumed  by  hydrate  of 
'chloral,  but  said  that  the  results  of  scientific  research 
were  now  so  freely  published  that  he  who  runs  may 
read.  The  early  closing  question,  which  had  re¬ 
cently  been  discussed  in  the  Journal,  was  one  of 
•great  difficulty as  a  rule  what  would  be  practicable 
with  one  class  of  business  would  not  be  so  with 
another.  With  regard  to  the  examinations,  he 
thought  that  the  report  made  by  Dr.  Green  how  was 
’•very  gratifying.  Opinions  had  been  expressed  that 
ilie  Preliminary  Examination  was  made  too  strin¬ 
gent,  especially  in  the  Latin,  but  he  could  scarcely 
see  how  the  examination  could  be  made  lighter,  if  it 
were  to  be  an  examination  at  all,  for  the  pliaimaceu- 
iical  Latin  required  is  only  such  as  should  be  known 
by  every  one  behind  a  chemist  s  counter.  He  also 
•expressed  a  hope  that  when  the  subject  of  the  poison 
regulations  came  before  the  meeting,  they  would 
bestow  upon  it  that  quiet  and  calm  consideration 
.-the  subject  deserved. 

The  adoption  of  the  Council’s  report  and  the 
financial  statement  was  then  moved  by  Mr.  Wiggins 
.and  seconded  by  Mr.  Carteighe. 

In  the  discussion  that  followed,  several  members 
•called  attention  to  the  fact  pointed  out  in  this 
.  Journal  last  week,  that  the  subscriptions  from  some 

•  of  the  large  towns  to  the  Benevolent  Fund  were 
very  trifling,  while  the  names  of  others  veie  absent 
from  the  list  altogether.  Several  suggestions  were 
made ;  one  that  a  circular  should  be  supplied  to  the 
local  secretaries  by  means  of  which  they  might  can¬ 
vass  then*  districts,  and  it  seemed  to  be  the  geneial 

•  opinion  that  upon  these  gentlemen  much  would  de¬ 
pend  as  to  the  amount  of  contributions  that  would  be 


obtained.  Mr.  Vizer  thought  that  it  would  be  ad¬ 
vantageous  to  add  a  separate  column  to  the  Calendar, 
showing  the  subscription  or  lack  of  subscription  of 
each  of  the  members,  also  that  a  more  frequent  pub¬ 
lication  of  donations  would  be  advisable. 

This  gentleman  also  mooted  another  subject  that 
has  been  alluded  to  in  our  columns,  the  imperfect 
state  of  the  Register  and  the  absence  of  any  pro¬ 
vision  for  securing  notification  of  any  change  of 
address. 

Mr.  Schacht  again  brought  forward  the  subject 
of  provincial  education,  and  said  that  while  not 
wishing  in  any  way  to  check  contributions  to  the 
Benevolent  Fund,  he  thought  that  was  not  a  matter 
of  primary  importance  for  the  Society  in  its  corporate 
capacity.  He  complained  that  while  F500  had  been 
voted  towards  that  Fund  from  the  general  funds  of 
the  Society,  so  little  money  had  been  spent  in  the 
interest  of  provincial  education. 

He  also  pointed  out  that  while  the  accommoda¬ 
tion  for  students  in  the  London  School  is  only  suf¬ 
ficient  for  a  hundred  pupils  a  }Tear,  that  is  not  more 
than  a  twentieth  part  of  the  number  who  have  to  be 
educated ;  and,  in  reference  to  the  complaints  that 
more  do  not  pass  the  examinations,  he  declared  his 
opinion  that  the  opportunities  for  acquiring  pharma¬ 
ceutical  knowledge  are  virtually  no  greater  than  they 
were  thirty  years  ago. 

After  these  and  some  other  remarks  which— though 
relating  to  matters  of  deep  interest  to  the  Society 
took  only  a  subordinate  part  on  this  occasion,  the 
resolution  was  put  to  the  meeting  and  carried. 

The  most  important  feature  of  the  day  s  business 
was  then  introduced  by  the  President,  who  said, 
that  in  reference  to  the  Poison  Regulations,  he  should 
merely  read  a  letter  that  had  been  received  from  Mr. 
Simon,  and  then  move  the  resolution,  “That  this 
meeting  having  considered  the  recommendations 
prepared  by  the  Council,  desires  the  Council  to 
propose  them  for  voluntary  adoption,  but  does  not 
desire  and  does  not  prescribe  them  as  or  to  become 
regulations  within  the  meaning  of  the  I  liaimacy 
Act,  1868.” 

This  resolution  was  seconded  by  Mr.  I.  Bourdas. 

An  amendment  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Giles  to 
the  effect  that,  by  virtue  of  the  power  granted  by  the 
Pharmacy  Act  of  1868,  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
of  Great  Britain  prescribed  the  regulations,  and  re¬ 
solved  that  they  be  submitted  to  her  Majesty’s  Privy 
Council  for  their  consent.  He  remarked  that  the  oc¬ 
casions  were  few  when  a  Society  should  differ  with  the 
recommendations  of  its  executive,  but  the  present  was 
one.  The  Council  had  yielded,  he  thought  wrongly, 
their  own  judgments  to  an  expression  of  opinion 
which  was  informal.  He  said  that  the  Society  was 
bound  to  prescribe  regulations  in  accordance  with 
the  pledges  made  in  its  behalf  on  the  passing  of  the 
Pharmacy  Act,  186.8,  and  he  proceeded  to  read 
various  extracts  from  that  Act,  from  leading  articles 


930 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  20,  1871. 


iii  tlie  Pharmaceutical  Journal,  and  from  the  de¬ 
bates  in  the  Houses  of  Paliament, — -particularly  from 
the  speeches  of  Mr.  Lowe,  Mr.  Bruce,  Lord  Gran¬ 
ville  and  Lord  Bedesdale, — to  show  that  the  obli¬ 
gation  was  generally  known  and  recognized  at  that 
time.  The  consequence  of  a  repudiation  of  the  con- 
tract  by  the  Society  would  be  injurious  to  its  in- 
thience,  and  would  inevitably  lead  to  inspection  by 
causing  the  Privy  Council  to  seek  further  legis¬ 
lation. 

Mr.  Giles’s  amendment  was  seconded  by  Mr. 
Baldock,  and  a  long  discussion  took  place,  the  re¬ 
sult  of  which  was,  that  on  division  85  votes  were 
given  for  the  amendment  and  104  against  it.  The 
re  solution  moved  by  the  President  was  then  put 
and  carried. 

In  the  course  of  the  discussion  which  followed 
Mr.  Giles  s  amendment,  some  of  the  speakers  took 
occasion  to  point  out  that  it  had  been  suggested  the 
meeting  was  not  competent  to  dispose  of  the  ques¬ 
tion  as  to  Poison  Regulations,  because  many  who 
were  opposed  to  the  compulsory  application  of  those 
1  peculations  were  not  present.  It  is  satisfactory  to 
find  that  this  fallacy  was  not  lost  sight  of,  for  if  it 
veie  to  be  seriously  entertained,  the  performance 
of  the  Society  s  functions  might  be  indefinitely  sus¬ 
pended.  If  .the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Society  be 
not  a  representative  of  the  Society  in  its  corporate 
capacity,  it  ought  to  be  so;  it  is  the  absentees 
who  are  in  fact  responsible  and  to  blame  for  any 
unfitness  in  the  acts  of  the  corporate  body,  or  for 
any  disregard  of  the  opinions  held  by  them,  and  there 
can  scarcely  be  any  more  emphatic  condemnation 
of  those  opinions  than  absence  from  the  general 
meetings. 

Quite  on  a  par  with  this  idea  is  the  outcry  raised 
against  the  action  of  the  Society  by  those  who  do 
not  belong  to  it,— who,  in  the  spirft  of  Uriah  Heep, 
rejoice  in  calling  themselves  “  outsiders.”  Several 
of  those  who  took  part  in  the  discussion  on  Wednes¬ 
day,  expressed  opinions  quite  in  accord  with  our 
recent  remarks  on  this  point;  and  though  Mr. 
Urvick  pleaded  the  existence  of  a  bar  as  an  excuse 
for  not  entering  the  Society,  we  were  glad  to  see 
indications  of  the  opinion  that  every  one  practising 
the  art  of  Pharmacy  should  be  a  member  of  the 
Society.  We  fully  believe  with  Mr.  Humpage  that 
t  ie  more  “outsiders”  are  brought  in  contact  with 
the  Society,  the  more  readily  will  their  prejudices  be 
dispelled,  and  the  more  powerfully  will  the  pharma¬ 
cists  of  Great  Britain  be  in  the  position  to  substitute 
for  mere  clamour,  a  public  opinion  entitled  to  respect 
and  able  to  command  it. 


At  the  moment  of  going  to  press,  we  learn  that 
the  voting  for  Members  of  Council  has  resulted  in 
the  election  of  Messrs.  Atherton,  Betty,  Brown, 
Carr,  Frazer,  Greenish,  Haselden,  Hills,  Mackay,’ 
Sandford,  Shaw,  Smith,  Williams  and  Woolley. 


It  was  announced  by  the  President  of  the  Royal 
Academy,  at  the  recent  annual  banquet  of  that  body,, 
that  it  had  been  decided  to  establish  a  Professorship 
of  Chemistry  in  connection  with  the  Academy.  The 
object  ot  its  institution  is  to  promote  the  study  of  the 
properties  of  colours,  varnishes,  etc.,  so  as  to  ensure* 
as  far  as  possible  purity,  and,  above  all,  permanency 
of  colour.  In  the  recent  exhibition  of  the  ancient 
masters  the  fact  has  been  apparent  that  while  many 
of  the  old  pictures — some  of  them  three  or  four  hun¬ 
dred  years  old — still  retain  their  original  brilliancy 
and  purity  of  colour,  some  of  those  painted  within 
the  last  fifty  years  by  painters  of  European  renown, 
have  greatly  deteriorated.  The  professor  will  be 
required  to  deliver  practical  lectures  on  the  proper¬ 
ties  of  colours,  which  will  be  open  to  the  students; 
and  members,  as  well  as  artists  generally,  who  may 
wish  to  be  present.  He  will  also  be  expected  to  give 
information  respecting  oil  painting  and  mural  dev¬ 
iation  to  any  artist  seeking  it.  In  connection  with 
this  chair  it  is  intended,  as  soon  as  the  Government 
buildings  are  completed,  to  erect  a  laboratory  for 
carrying  out  experiments  with  regard  to  colours. 


The  following  papers,  which  are  copies  of  the- 
agreements  entered  into  with  pharmacists  by  assis¬ 
tants  and  apprentices  in  Hamburg,  may  be  interest¬ 
ing  to  some  of  our  readers  as  supplementary  to  the. 
articles  which  have  recently  appeared  in  tliis  JoumaL 
on  the  practice  of  pharmacy  on  the  Continent.  They 
may  also  assist  in  affording  an  idea  of  the  relations, 
existing  there  between  assistants  and  apprentices, 
and  their  principals. 

The  documents  are  signed  by  the  Pharmaceutical 
Membeis  of  the  Sanitary  Council,  and  every  phar¬ 
macist  there  is  obliged  to  have  his  assistants  or 
apprentices  registered  within  a  month  of  their  en¬ 
gagement. 

Obligation  of  a  Pharmaceutical  Assistant. 

“  I>  >  after  having  been  engaged  at  Mr. - ’s. 

busmess,  promise,  upon  my  honour  and  conscience,  to- 
show  due  respect  and  obedience  to  the  Hon.  Sanitary 
Council,  especially  to  their  medical  and  pharmaceutical 
members,  also  to  my  principal  as  my  superior,  to  dis¬ 
pense  all  prescriptions  without  delay,  by  day  or  by  night 
with  duo  attention  and  care,  without  the  least  alteration^ 
not  to  take  one  article  for  another,  nor  to  permit  the 
apprentices  to  do  so ;  to  prepare  all  chemical  or  other 
compounds,  according  to  the  legal  Codex  Medicamen- 
tanus,  to  keep  everything  properly  and  clean,  to  sell 
drastics,  opiates,  or  poisons  only  with  the  knowledge  of" 
my  principal,  or,  in  his  absence,  as  far  as  the  laws  per¬ 
mit  me,  and,  with  due  precaution,  to  follow  strictly  im 
dispensing  the  legal  tariff,  and  in  retail  sales  the  instruc¬ 
tion  of  my  principal ;  not  to  allow  strangers  to  read  the 
books  in  which  the  prescriptions  are  entered,  to  be  polite- 
and  modest  towards  everybody,  to  abstain  from  all  pre¬ 
scribing,  not  to  receive  any  visitors  during  business- 
hours,  to  fulfil  all  my  duties  diligently  and  faithfully, 
and  to  act  in  every  respect  as  an  honourable  and  upright 
pharmaceutical  assistant.” 

Obligation  of  a  Pharmaceutical  Apprentice . 

U  -Q  >  apprentice  in  Mr. - ’s  business,  do  hereby 

promise  most  faithfully  to  endeavour,  to  the  best  of  my 


May  20,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


931 


abilities,  honestly  and  conscientiously  to  fulfil  the  obli¬ 
gations  I  have  entered  into  as  a  pharmaceutical  appren¬ 
tice,  willingly  and  cheerfully  to  obey  my  principal  or 
other  superiors,  to  execute  any  work  intrusted  to  me 
with  care  and  cleanliness,  in  doubtful  cases  never  to 
follow  my  own  opinion,  but  always  to  ask  the  advice  of 
my  principal  or  of  the  assistants  placed  over  me ;  with¬ 
out  their  permission  never  to  sell  emetics  or  purgatives, 
drastic  or  poisonous  substances ;  to  behave  towards  the 
public  with  politeness  and  modesty,  not  to  receive  any 
visitors  during  business  hours,  nor  to  occupy  my  time 
with  extraneous  matters,  diligently  and  carefully  to 
apply  the  time  allowed  to  me  for  my  own  instruction, 
and  thankfully  to  receive  any  information ;  above  all  to 
endeavour  practically  to  apply  any  knowledge  acquired, 
to  avoid  or  to  despise  no  practical  work  however  trifling, 
and  not,  as  is  frequently  the  case,  to  any  but  practical 
work  in  favour  of  scientific  study ;  finally,  at  all  times 
to  behave  as  may  be  expected  from  an  honourable  and 
upright  pharmaceutical  apprentice.” 

These  obligations  may  appear  one-sided,  all  in 
favour  of  the  principal,  but  it  must  be  stated  that  he 
has  his  duties  as  well;  the  Sanitary  Council  has 
arranged  weekly  lectures  on  chemistry,  botany,  etc. 
which  the  assistants  are  desired,  but  the  apprentices 
obliged  to  attend ;  in  like  manner  weekly  botanical 
excursions  are  arranged,  under  the  guidance  of  an 
experienced  botanist,  which  makes  it  easy,  almost 
natural  for  assistants  and  apprentices  to  collect  their 
own  herbaria,  and  these  scientific  instructions  are 
paid  for  by  the  Principal  as  a  member  of  the  local 
Pharmaceutical  Society. 


Accoudixg  to  an  estimate  in  the  Grocer ,  the  im- 
ports  of  beetroot-sugar  in  the  Clyde  during  the  seven 
months  from  September  1,  1870,  to  March  31,  1871, 
amounted  to  nearly  30,000  tons. 


The  British  Medical  Journal  is  enabled,  from 
information  derived  through  private  and  trustworthy 
sources,  to  state  that  Ceylon  gives  fair  promise  to 
take  rank  at  no  very  distant  time  as  one  of  the  chief 
quinine-producing  countries.  Until  recently  it  was 
thought  that  the  bark  of  the  cinchona  plant,  as  cul¬ 
tivated  in  that  colony,  did  not  yield  an  appreciable 
quantity  of  quinine,  but  only  cinchonine  or  other  of 
the  less  valuable  medicinal  alkaloids  ;  consequently 
little  attention  was  bestowed  on  its  cultivation.  But 
in  a  recent  analysis  of  some  barks  sent  to  this 
country,  289  grains  of  sulphate  of  quinine,  47  grains 
of  quinidine,  and  14  grains  of  alkaline  cinchonine 
were  found  in  one  pound  of  bark.  Thus  an  ounce 
of  sulphate  of  quinine  was  obtained  from  one  pound 
eight  ounces  and  a  quarter.  As  the  supply  from 
Peru  has  greatly  diminished,  and  as  India,  it  is  said, 
consumes  its  own  quinine,  there  is  reason  to  believe 
that  the  cultivation  of  cinchona  will  secure  some  of 
the  attention  of  cultivators  in  Ceylon  which  has 
hitherto  been  almost  exclusively  devoted  to  the 
growth  of  the  coffee  plant.  As  another  cause  which 
may  give  an  impetus  to  the  cultivation  of  cinchona 


in  Ceylon,  it  is  stated  that  the  red  bark  is  highly 
praised  in  Paris  for  tooth-powders,  as  it  gives  them 
a  delicate  tinge,  and,  at  the  same  time,  a  bitter 
flavour. 


A  MiLK-yiehling  tree,  native  of  the  valley  of  the- 
Amazon,  and  known  as  the  Ma^aranduba  or  Massa- 
randuba,  has  lately  been  introduced  to  notice  in 
Europe.  It  is  a  large  tree,  and  appears  to  be  a 
species  of  Mimusops,  belonging  to  the  Natural 
Order  Sapotacca.  It  is  abundant  in  the  Amazon  val¬ 
ley,  in  the  province  of  Bio  de  Janeiro,  Para,  Minas- 
Geraes,  etc.  The  wood  is  hard,  as  is  the  case  with 
most  of  the  Sapotacecc,  and  is  used  both  for  ship  and 
house  building.  The  milk  is  quite  white,  and  flows- 
from  the  trunk  freely  upon  incisions  being  made,, 
but  hardens  on  exposure  to  the  air,  when  it  has? 
similar  elastic  properties  to  gutta  perclia  and  ba¬ 
tata.  When  fresh  it  is  used  both  medicinally  and 
as  an  alimentary  article,  but  never  in  its  pure 
state,  being  either  mixed  with  a  small  quantity  of 
water,  or  used  as  we  use  ordinary  milk,  with  coffee 
or  tea. 


A  prize  of  J'10  and  another  of  d'3  are  offered  by 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  for  the  best  two  col¬ 
lections  of  British  insects  injurious  to  any  one  plant, 
the  choice  of  the  plant  being  left  to  the  collector. 
The  insects  are  to  be  shown  as  much  as  possible  in 
their  various  stages  of  development,  and  a  preference 
will  be  given  to  those  collections  which  most  success¬ 
fully  illustrate  the  life-liistory  of  the  insect,  and  ex¬ 
hibit  the  mischief  done,  whether  by  specimens,  draw¬ 
ings,  models,  or  other  means,  examples  of  which  may 
be  seen  in  the  Society’s  collection  in  the  South  Ken¬ 
sington  Museum.  Two  other  prizes  of  do  and  £2 
are  offered  for  the  best  miscellaneous  collection  illus¬ 
trating  similarly  any  branch  of  British  economic  en¬ 
tomology.  The  collections  are  to  be  sent  to  Mr.  J. 
Richards,  Assistant- Secretary  of  the  Society,  on  or 
before  the  1st  of  May,  1872,  each  collection  bearing 
a  motto,  and  accompanied  by  a  separate  sealed  en¬ 
velope  with  the  motto  on  the  outside,  and  the  name 
of  the  competitor  within. 


We  regret  to  say  that  Mr.  Ferdinand  Kohn,  of 
whose  paper  on  “  The  Different  Methods  of  Extract¬ 
ing  Sugar  from  Beetroot  and  Cane,”  recently  read 
before  the  Society  of  Arts,  we  this  week  give  an  ab¬ 
stract,  died,  after  a  few  days’  illness,  on  the  2nd  inst. 


We  learn  from  the  Aihenmim  that  an  Italian 
Chemical  Society  has  been  established,  under  the 
auspices  of  Dr.  Canizzaro.  The  Society  will  pub¬ 
lish  a  journal  under  the  joint  editorship  of  MM. 
S chief,  Tassinari,  Koiiner,  Paterno  and  Gabbas. 


932 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  20,  1871. 


EXAMINATION  IN  LONDON. 


May  12  th,  1871. 

Present— Messrs.  Allchin,  Bird,  Carteighe,  Cracknell, 
Davenport,  Deane,  Edward's,  Gale,  Garle,  Haselden  and 
Ince. 

MODIFIED  EXAMINATION. 


Forty-seven  Candidates  were  examined  ;  the  following 
twenty-seven  passed,  and  were  declared  to  be  qualified 
to  he  registered  as 

CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS. 


Archer,  James  . Lechlade. 

Bowen,  Joseph  William . Holyhead. 

Burnham,  Henry . Preston,  Yorkshire. 

Coates,  Henry  . York. 

Coates,  Richard  . Croydon. 

Crackle,  William  Henry . Nottingham. 

Elliott,  William  . Wandsworth. 

Fogg,  Robert  . Bolton. 

Gilliatt,  William . London. 

Gray,  James  Thomas  . Padiham. 

•Green,  John  . New  Cross. 

Gunn,  Daniel  . Paddington. 

Hardcastle,  William,  jun . Darlington. 

Kay,  John  Broomhead  . London. 

Oakley,  Robert  Henry  . Birkenhead. 

Plumb,  James  Edwin . Surbiton. 

Raw,  James  Harrison . Beverley. 

Saunders,  John . London. 

Spratt,  George  Uriah . Boston. 

Spyer,  Newton . \Yatlington. 

fSteeper,  Samuel  . Roughton. 

Thomas,  Joseph  Josiah  . Ryde. 

Wade,  Thomas  Taylor  . Cotham,  Bristol. 

Wakefield,  Thomas . Birmingham. 

Willan,  James  Henry  Burton  .London. 

Williams,  James  . London. 

Woodcock,  Arthur  . . . London. 


The  Certificates  presented  by  the  undermentioned 
were  received  in  lieu  of  the  First  or  Preliminary  Ex- 
■  animation : — 


Bird,  Lewis  John . Northampton. 

Yidler,  William  Thomas . Hendon. 

The  above  should  be  read  as  part  of  the  proceedings  of 
the  Board  of  Examiners  at  the  meeting  held  on  April 
19th,  1871,  see  p.  851. 


SUNDERLAND  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Annual  General  Meeting  was  held  on  April  3rd, 
in  the  Society’s  Rooms,  Fawcett  Street;  Alderman 
Thompson,  President,  in  the  chair. 

The  Report  and  Balance  Sheet  for  the  past  year  were 
read  by  the  Secretary,  and  adopted  by  the  meeting. 

“In  presenting  the  Second  Annual  Report  to  the 
.Members  and  Associates,  the  Council  is  happy  to  be  able 
to  state  that  the  Society  progresses  favourably,  and 
during  the  past  year  has  amply  justified  the  hopes  that 
were  entertained  of  its  usefulness  and  success. 

“During  the  session  the  rooms  at  60,  Fawcett  Street, 
have  been  open  nightly  for  purposes  of  study,  provided 
w-ith  books,  contributed  by  several  members,  scientific 
periodicals,  the  property  of  the  Society,  and  the  materia 
medica,  cabinet,  and  text-books,  presented  by  Messrs. 
Evans  and  Co. 

“  Lectures  have  also  been  delivered  by  the  following 
gentlemen: — In  October,  1870,  by  Mr.  Nicholson,  on 


‘  The  Progress  made  in  Practical  Chemistry  during  the 
past  year.’  In  November,  by  Mr.  Sharp,  on  ‘  Sulphur, 
its  History,  Sources  and  Properties.’  In  December,  by 
Mr.  Cockburn,  on  ‘  Cinchonas  and  their  Alkaloids.’ 
In  February,  1871,  by  Mr.  J.  Harrison,  on  ‘Heat  and 
its  Applications.’ 

“  Various  subjects  connected  with  the  business  have 
been  brought  forward  for  discussion,  and  the  decision  of 
the  Society  acted  on ;  among  others,  a  petition  was  sent 
up  to  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  at  the 
last  Annual  Meeting,  against  the  Poisons  Regulations. 

“The  Society  has  also,  by  a  large  majority,  passed  a 
resolution  in  favour  of  steps  being  taken  to  extend  the 
exemption  from  service  on  juries,  now  enjoyed  by  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Chemists  only,  to  all  registered  chemists  and 
druggists. 

“At  the  end  of  this,  the  second  year,  the  members  of 
the  Council  venture  to  hope  that  the  members  will  give 
them  credit  for  having  done  all  in  their  power  to  pro¬ 
mote  the  welfare  of  the  trade,  and  that  they  will  bestow 
the  same  amount  of  encouragement  and  support  on  then- 
successors  as  they  have  upon  them.” 

The  Balance  Sheet  showed  an  expenditure  of£  18. 16s.  9(7. 
and  a  balance  of  2s.  9 d.  in  the  Treasurer's  hands. 

The  following  officers  were  elected  for  the  ensuing 
year: — W.  Thompson,  Esq.,  President;  Mr.  H.  Thomp¬ 
son,  Vice-President ;  Mr.  Robinson,  Treasurer,  and  Mr. 
Nicholson,  Secretary.  Council: — Messrs.  Harrison, 
Nasbet,  Sharpe,  Thompson,  Lord,  Bird,  Ititson,  Cock- 
burn  and  Burn. 

It  was  resolved  that  the  Monthly  Meetings  be  held  on 
the  first  Tuesday  in  the  month,  instead  of  the  Monday, 
as  formerly. 

That  the  annual  subscription  be  reduced  to  5s.  for 
members,  and  '2s.  6d.  for  associates. 

That  this  meeting,  “  considering  that  all  Chemists  and 
Druggists  now  require  registration,  and  that  they  dis 
charge  the  same  duties-  and  incur  the  same  responsi¬ 
bilities  as  Pharmaceutical  Chemists,”  is  of  opinion  that 
the  exemption  from  service  on  juries,  now  enjoyed  by 
Pharmaceutical  Chemists  only,  ought  to  be  extended  to 
every  registered  Chemist  and  Druggist. 

That  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  be 
requested  to  take  steps  to  secure  this  object. 

Votes  of  thanks  were  then  passed  to  the  officers  and 
lecturers  for  the  past  year. 


MANCHESTER  CHEMISTS’  ASSISTANTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

The  First  Annual  Meeting  of  this  Association  was 
held  on  Thursday  evening,  April  20th,  1871,  in  the 
Council  Room,  "Mitre  Chambers ;  the  President,  Mr.  W. 
Metcalfe,  in  the  chair. 

On  rising  he  reviewed  at  some  length  the  benefits  to 
be  derived  from  such  an  Association  as  their  own.  He  felt 
happy  that  they  had  been  so  successful  during  this  then- 
first  session,  as  the  report  which  he  would  call  upon  the 
Secrctai-y  to  read  would  show ;  besides  the  Society  being 
a  source  of  mutual  improvement,  it  had  also  been  a  means 
of  creating  a  more  friendly  feeling  amongst  the  Assistants 
and  Apprentices  of  Manchester  than  had  hitherto  ex¬ 
isted  ;  he  then  called  upon  the  Secretary  to  read  the 
report  as  follows : — 

“The  Committee,  on  presenting  this  their  first  Annual 
Report,  are  happy  to  be  able  to  congratulate  you  upon 
the  great  success  attained  by  this  Association  during  its 
first  session;  since  its  commencement  on  November  3rd 
of  last  year,  1870,  the  following  papers  have  been  read : — 
‘  Water,’  by  Mr.  Miles  Atkinson ;  ‘  The  Alkaloids  Mor¬ 
phia,  Strychnia  and  Quinine,’  by  Mr.  Raworth ;  ‘  Mer¬ 
cury  and  its  Preparations,’  by  Mr.  J.  Hodson  ;  ‘  Iron  and 
its  Preparations,’  by  Mr.  W.  Metcalfe ;  ‘Adulteration  of 
Drugs,’  by  Mr.  Nicholson;  ‘The  Examinations  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  and.  Pharmaceutical  Titles,’  by 
Mr.  Gill ;  ‘  The  Materia  Medica  of  the  Pharmacopoeia,’ 


May  20, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


938^ 


by  Mr.  Clark  ;  ‘  Opium,'*  by  Mr.  Lane ;  ‘  Metrical  Sys¬ 
tem  of  Weights  and  Measures,’  by  Mr.  Spencer ;  ‘  Medi¬ 
cinal  Uses  of  Vegetables  and  their  Preparations,’  by  Mr. 
Binns;  ‘  Vegetable  Tissue,’  by  Mr.  Yeats ;  ‘The'' Pro¬ 
posed  Poison  Regulations,’  by  Mr.  B.  H.  Cowgill ;  ‘  Con¬ 
centrated  Infusions,’  by  Mr.  Mercer. 

“  Besides  the  above,  on  four  occasions,  Mr.  Clark  has 
examined  and  explained  the  nature,  etc.  of  the  specimens 
contained  in  the  cabinets  of  the  Chemists  and  Druggists’ 
Association.  There  have  also  been  some  very  interesting 
discussions  upon  ‘  The  Dispensing  of  Prescriptions,’  and 
the  various  modes  of  prescribing  adopted  by  the  medical 
profession. 

“  On  referring  to  the  poison  regulations  question,  we 
are  of  opinion  that  the  course  to  be  pursued  as  decided 
at  the  meeting  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Council  on  April 
5th,  will  meet  with  your  entire  approval. 

“The  memorial  signed  by  the  members  of  this  Asso¬ 
ciation  and  other  assistants,  numbering  in  all  97,  against 
the  passing  of  any  compulsory  regulations  for  the  keep¬ 
ing  and  dispensing  of  ‘poisons,’  was  presented  at  the 
above  meeting  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Council  by  Mr. 
W.  S.  Brown. 

“  We  are  happy  to  state  that  in  a  pecuniary  sense  our 
affairs  are  satisfactory,  there  being  a  balance  in  the  hands 
of  the  Treasurer  of  ios.  lQy. 

“  On  retiring  from  our  office,  we  unanimously  express 
a  wish  that  this  Association  may  prosper.  We  are  sure 
that  in  many  ways  it  has  been,  and  will  continue  to  be 
most  advantageous  in  point  of  usefulness,  instruction 
and  intercourse.” 

The  report  being  confirmed,  the  election  of  officers  and 
committee  for  the  ensuing  year  then  took  place  (by 
ballot),  when  the  following  were  elected  : — • 

President,  Mr.  W.  Lane ;  Vice-President,  Mr.  Allcock ; 
Secretary,  Mr.  Clark;  Treasurer,  Mr.  Dickinson;  Com¬ 
mittee,  Mr.  Cooper,  Mr.  Harrison,  Mr.  Headley,  Mr. 
Mercer,  Mr.  Nicholson,  Mr.  Tyson. 

After  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  retiring  officers  and  com¬ 
mittee,  the  meeting  terminated. 


DUNDEE  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

A  Meeting  of  the  above  Association  was  held  in  their 
room,  71,  High  Street,  on  Tuesdav  evening,  May  2nd; 
Mr.  W.  Laird,  President,  in  the  chair. 

The  Secretary,  Mr.  James  Russell,  presented  a  col¬ 
lection  of  drugs  from  Messrs.  Hodgkin  son,  Stead  and 
Treacher ;  and  also,  in  the  name  of  Messrs.  Evans, 
Sons  and  Co.,  wholesale  druggists,  Liverpool,  one  of  their 
cabinets  of  materia  medica,  containing  upwards  of  300 
specimens  of  drugs  and  chemicals,  with  descriptive  tables. 

The  President,  in  accepting  the  gift,  expressed  a  hope 
that  the  Association — particularly  the  junior  members, 
for  whose  benefit  the  gift  was  especially  intended — would 
largely  avail  themselves  of  the  advantage  that  so  com¬ 
plete  a  collection  of  the  articles  used  in  their  profession 
placed  within  their  reach,  and  moved  that  a  special  vote 
of  thanks  be  sent  to  the  firms,  and  acknowledgment  made 
in  the  local  and  trade  journals. 

Mr.  Jack  seconded,  and  Mr.  Doig  and  others  supported 
the  motion,  which  was  carried. 

Mr.  F.  Young  presented  a  copy  of  ‘  Barber’s  Medical 
Botanical  Chart  of  the  World,’  the  gift  of  Mr.  Charles 
Kerr,  and  suggested  that  the  assistants  should  combine 
and  form  a  class  for  the  study  of  materia  medica,  to 
which  end  the  chart  would  be  a  useful  companion  to  the 
cabinet,  and  said  that  from  his  own  experience  of  the 
benefits  derived  from  his  attendance  at  the  class  for 
chemistry,  conducted  by  the  President  during  the  past 
two  sessions,  the  time  would  be  well  spent. 

A  collection  of  crystals,  the  gift  of  Mr.  Laird,  was  also 
exhibited  during  the  evening. 

_  _  o  o  9 

Mr.  Ross  proposed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  Chairman, 
which  was  cordially  carried. 


SOCIETY  OF  ARTS. 

The  Extraction  of  Sugar  from  Beetroot  and  Cane.. 

At  the  Meeting  of  the  Society  of  Arts  on  the  loth 
March,  Mr.  Ferdinand  Ivoiin,  C.E.,  road  a  paper  on 
the  “  Different  Methods  of  Extracting  Sugar  from  Beet¬ 
root  and  Cane,”  of  which  the  following  is  an  abstract :  — 

The  two  plants  at  present  principally  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  sugar  are  beetroot  and  cane.  The  sugar 
in  both  these  plants  exists  dissolved  in  the  juice  which 
is  held  within  the  vegetable  cells ;  but  the  character 
and  composition  of  the  solutions  are  different  in  the 
two  kinds  of  juice.  Beetroot  juice  contains  from  7  to  15 
per  cent,  of  sugar,  a  considerable  proportion  of  insoluble 
and  soluble  albumen  and  a  quantity  of  salts,  which 
generally  give  to  it  an  alkaline  character.  The  cane 
juice  contains  insoluble  nitrogenous  matter,  soluble  al¬ 
bumen  and  certain  salts  ;  but  its  reaction  is  always  acid, 
and  its  contamination  with  salts  is  less  in  proportion 
than  that  of  the  beetroot.  The  percentage  of  sugar  in 
cane  juice  ranges  widely,  but  maybe  taken  as  averaging 
from  15  to  20  per  cent,  in  that  from  ripe  cane.  Cane 
juice  generally  contains  also  a  sensible  proportion  of 
glucose,  different  in  composition  from  cane  sugar,  and 
incapable  of  being  crystallized  in  the  ordinary  processes 
of  sugar  manufacture  ;  but  beetroot  contains  only  a 
small  percentage  of  it.  The  beetroot  contains  about 
96  per  cent,  of  juice  and  only  4  per  cent,  of  a  solid  in¬ 
soluble  substance  which  forms  the  pulp.  The  sugar¬ 
cane  is  composed  of  90  per  cent,  of  juice,  the  remaining 
1 0  per  cent,  being  'wood-fibre,  in  the  shape  of  cane-trash 
or  bagasse.  The  sugar  is  extracted  from  these  plants 
by  separating  the  saccharine  solution  from  the  surround¬ 
ing  solid  masses. 

The  traditional  and  most  primitive  method  of  extract¬ 
ing  the  juice  from  beetroot  and  cane  is  by  mechanical 
pressure.  By  the  compression  of  the  raw  material  the 
cellular  structure  of  the  tissues  is  destroyed,  and  the 
liquid  contents  of  the  individual  cells  forced  out  from, 
the  solid  residue.  Juice  so  expressed  is  consequently 
charged  with  the  impurities  originally  contained  in  the 
plant,  and  intermixed  with  minute  fragments  of  the 
fibrous  solid  mass  that  have  been  disintegrated  by  the 
action  of  the  mechanical  force.  The  beetroot  before  being- 
exposed  to  this  process  of  extraction  requires  to  be  re¬ 
duced  to  a  fine  pulp  by  means  of  a  so-called  “pulper,” 
or  rasp.  It  generally  consists  of  a  double  revolving 
drum  fitted  with  toothed  saw  blades  or  scrapers,  which 
being  rapidly  rotated,  effects  the  disintegration  of  the- 
roots  and  converts  the  mass  into  a  fine  soft  pulp.  The- 
pulp  is  then  placed  into  woollen  bags  and  subjected  to 
pressure  in  a  powerful  hydraulic  press,  by  which  process 
the  juice  is  forced  through  the  meshes  of  the  bags  andi 
the  solid  residue  formed  into  a  dry  dense  cake.  In  con¬ 
sequence  of  the  imperfect  breaking  up  of  the  vegetable  - 
cells  by  the  action  of  the  rasp,  a  quantity  averaging - 
about  14  per  cent,  of  the  juice  remains  in  the  residue, 
which  is  not  sensibly  affected  by  increase  or  longer 
duration  of  the  pressure.  About  another  five  per  cent, 
of  juice,  however,  may  be  obtained  by  the  expedient  cf 
mixing  the  water  with  the  pulp  in  the  process  of  rasp¬ 
ing;  the  water,  by  the  action  of  endosmosis  and  exos¬ 
mosis,  effecting  a  partial  extraction  of  the  sugar  con¬ 
tained  in  the  unbroken  cells. 

The  extraction  of  sugar  from  the  cane  by  the  applica¬ 
tion  of  pressure  in  the  ordinary  roller-mill,  is  a  method 
defective  in  several  important  points,  which  were  well 
set  out  by  Mr.  Henry  Bessemer  in  the  specification  for  a 
patent  of  a  hydraulic  press  invented  by  him  twenty 
years  ago.  In  order  to  extract  the  juice  by.its  means 
the  rollers  must  be  set  sufficiently  close  to  give  a  very 
tight  pinch,  but  not  close  enough  to  break  up  the  cane- 
i  trash,  which  would  be  thereby  lessened  in  value  as  lueh. 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  20,  1871. 


£31 


or  to  force  out  certain  other  matters  with  the  juice 
which  are  prejudicial  to  it.  This  uniformity  of  pressure, 
in  consequence  of  the  variability  in  the  size  of  the  canes 
and  the  knots  and  rind  being  harder  than  the  other 
parts,  is  practically  impossible  under  the  present  method, 
and  thus  a  quantity  of  green  wax,  chlorophyll  and  other 
objectionable  matters  is  expressed  from  the  knots  and 
the  rind  which  should  have  escaped  pressure  altogether. 
The  presence  of  the  fragments  of  cane  and  of  the  small 
pieces  of  cellular  tissue  in  the  j  uice  greatly  increases  its 
tendency  to  fermentation  and  impedes  the  process  of 
■defecation.  Notwithstanding  many  improvements  in¬ 
troduced  into  the  construction  of  modern  sugar  mills, 
the  amount  of  juice  obtained  by  the  best  of  them  only 
averages  about  70  per  cent,  of  the  weight  of  the  cane. 
As  the  theoretical  quantity  of  juice  in  the  cane  is  90 
per  cent.,  there  is  about  20  per  cent,  of  juice  still  left  in 
■the  cane  after  undergoing  the  process  of  crushing. 

If  the  results  of  pressure,  as  applied  to  beetroot  and  to 
cane  be  considered,  the  proportion  of  unexpressed  juice 
in  the  beetroot,  amounting  to  9  per  cent.,  compares 
favourably  wTith  the  20  per  cent,  left  in  the  cane.  But 
the  placing  of  the  beetroot  pulp  into  bags,  and  the 
proper  building  up  of  the  piles  of  bags  in  the  hydraulic 
press,  are  operations  which  take  up  much  time  and  re¬ 
quire  considerable  skill  to  perform  well.  The  expense 
of  washing  and  mending  the  bags  also  forms  a  serious 
item  in  the  cost.  To  obviate  these  disadvantages  several 
methods  have  been  invented. 

The  first  of  these  in  chronological  order  was  designed 
By  M.  Schutzenbach  for  the  extraction  of  the  juice  by 
the  means  of  centrifugal  force.  The  beetroot  pulp  i3 
placed  in  a  cylindrical  sieve  or  perforated  drum,  which 
is  made  to  revolve  on  a  vertical  spindle  at  the  rate  of 
1000  or  1200  revolutions  a  minute,  and  is  enclosed  in  an 
outer  cylindrical  casing.  The  action  of  centrifugal  force, 
corresponding  to  the  velocity  of  the  rotation,  effects  a 
rapid  displacement  of  the  juice,  while  the  solid  portion 
<of  the  pulp  is  retained  in  the  cylinder.  A  quantity  of 
-water,  amounting  to  about  30  or  40  per  cent,  of  the 
weight  of  the  pulp,  is  injected  into  the  turbine,  in  finely- 
divided  streams,  during  the  operation,  for  the  purpose  of 
assisting  the  displacement  of  the  juice.  By  this  method, 
under  careful  management  and  supervision,  the  yield  of 
juice  from  the  beet  has  reached  88  per  cent.,  while,  as 
compared  with  the  hydraulic  press  system,  the  manual 
labour  is  greatly  reduced,  and  the  expense  of  the  pulp 
hags  is  avoided  altogether.  The  centrifugal  system  has, 
however,  not  gained  ground  on  the  Continent,  principally 
from  its  success  depending  too  much  upon  the  skill  and 
•care  in  the  working  of  the  turbine ;  the  slightest  variation 
in  the  quality  or  quantity  of  the  pulp  with  which  it  is 
charged  requiring  a  scientific  readjustment  of  the  quan¬ 
tity  of  water  injected  and  of  the  speed  of  the  revolu¬ 
tions. 

Another  method,  invented  by  the  same  "gentleman, 
consisted  in  the  pulp  undergoing  a  process  of  maceration. 
This  was  effected  by  causing  water  to  pass  succes¬ 
sively  through  a  series  of  ten  or  twelve  tanks  charged 
with  pulp,  which  -were  placed  so  that  the  juice  might 
drain  off  from  one  tank  into  the  next  until  the  last  was 
reached.  The  process  is  very  economical  in  the  amount 
of  labour  required,  and  is  capable  of  a  good  yield  under 
careful  management. 

But  this  invention  is  superseded  by  that  of  Herr 
J ulius  Robert,  of  Seelowitz,  in  Austria,  one  of  the  most 
eminent  beetroot  sugar  manufacturers  on  the  Continent, 
which  is  a  process  of  diffusion,  dispensing  entirely  with 
Ihe  application  of  direct  mechanical  force,  and  based 
upon  Graham  s  celebrated  discovery  of  the  osmotic  pro¬ 
perties  of  organic  cells.  By  it  the  saccharine  matter  is  ex¬ 
tracted  from  the  closed  cells  without  bursting  them  open. 
The  name  of  diffusion  was  given  by  Graham  to  a  process 
which  takes  place  when  two  liquids  containing  different 
bodies  in  solution  are  separated  only  by  an  organic 
.membrane ;  the  liquids  mutually  exchange  their  soluble 


matters  and  gradually  equalize  their  degree  of  concen¬ 
tration.  There  is,  however,  a  great  difference  in  the 
speed  with  which  this  exchange  and  equalization  take 
place  ;  crystallizable  bodies,  such  as  sugar  and  salts, 
passing  through  the  organic  partition  at  a  quicker  rate 
than  non-crystallizable,  such  as  albumen  and  other  ni¬ 
trogenous  compounds.  By  this  property,  therefore,  the 
unbroken  cells  of  beetroot  or  cane  immersed  in  water  or 
weak  saccharine  solutions  are  capable  of  yielding  part  of 
their  sugar  and  salts  to  the  surrounding  liquid.  A  slice 
of  beetroot  or  sugar  cane,  containing  10  per  cent,  of 
sugar  in  its  juice,  immersed  in  an  equal  weight  of  water, 
will  gradually  part  with  its  saccharine  contents  until  the 
juice  in  the  cells  and  the  water  outside  each  contain 
5  per  cent,  of  sugar.  If  a  fresh  slice,  containing  10  per 
cent.,  be  placed  in  this  5  per  cent,  solution  of  sugar,  the 
resulting  equalization  will  produce  a  solution  of  7^  per 
cent.  On  the  other  hand,  the  partially-exhausted  slice, 
containing  o  per  cent,  of  sugar,  will  part  with  2j  per 
cent,  of  it  to  a  fresh  supply  of  water.  Thus,  by  a  series 
of  operations,  bringing  the  pure  water  into  contact  first 
with  nearly  exhausted  slices,  and  then  passing  the  weak 
saccharine  solutions  over  slices  which  have  parted  with 
a  smaller  proportion  of  their  sugar,  the  solution  pro¬ 
duced  may  be  brought  very  nearly  to  the  density  of  the 
natural  juice  of  the  plant;  while  the  slices  coming  in 
contact  successively  with  weaker  and  weaker  saccharine 
solutions,  and  finally  with  pure  water,  give  up  near  ly  all 
their  sugar  and  become  completely  exhausted.  Another 
advantage  resulting  from  this  process  is,  that  in  conse¬ 
quence  of  the  difference  of  speed  between  the  diffusion 
of  sugar  and  that  of  the  nitrogenous  compounds  in  a 
given  time,  which,  if  sufficient  for  the  proper  proportion 
of  sugar  and  soluble  salts  to  pass  into  the  surrounding 
liquid,  only  a  small  portion  of  the  nitrogenous  com¬ 
pounds  will  be  given  up  ;  while  the  insoluble  impurities 
are  prevented  entirely  from  leaving  the  cells  of  the  plant 
and  passing  into  the  diffusion  juice.  Thus  the  juice  pro¬ 
duced  by  the  diffusion  process  is  always  purer  and  less 
liable  to  spontaneous  decomposition  or  fermentation 
than  that  expressed  by  mechanical  force.  This  process 
has  been  applied  to  beetroot  and  to  sugar-cane  with  an 
equally  complete  and  decided  success. 

In  practically  carrying  out  this  system,  the  beetroots 
are  first  washed,  and  then  cut  by  machinery  into  slices 
of  about  5  in.  or  f-  in.  in  width  and  thickness,  and  of  a 
length  according  to  the  size  of  the  roots.  They  are  then 
ready  for  placing  in  the  diffusion  battery.  This  consists 
of  nine  or  ten  cylindrical  vessels,  containing  slices  in 
different  stages  of  exhaustion  and  juice  of  different  de¬ 
grees  of  density.  As  each  portion  of  the  operation  is 
completed,  the  solution  is  conveyed  to  the  vessel  contain¬ 
ing  the  slices  with  the  next  highest  i>roportion  of  sugar. 
Thus  in  each  vessel  in  turn  the  slices  having  the  least 
sugar  are  brought  into  contact  with  fresh  water,  and  are 
discharged  from  it  with  only  about  ^  per  cent,  of  sugar ; 
while  at  the  other  end  of  the  process  the  rich  solution 
which  has  passed  successively  through  the  other  vessels 
is  passed  into  that  containing  the  fresh  slices,  and  is  dis¬ 
charged  thence  into  the  clarifying-pan.  The  exhausted 
slices  are  equally  valuable  as  a  food  for  cattle  with  tho 
pulp  from  the  hydraulic  press,  but  they  hold  a  large  sur¬ 
plus  of  water,  which  is  a  drawback  when  it  is  necessary 
to  convey  them  from  one  place  to  another.  This  has  been 
to  some  extent  obviated  by  submitting  them  to  the  action 
of  a  hydraulic  press,  which  removes  the  water  without  to 
any  great  extent  expelling  the  elements  of  food. 

With  the  sugar-cane  the  process  is  very  similar,  and 
it  has  been  successfully  carried  out  by  a  company  in 
Madras.  The  juice  so  procured  is  very  pure  ;  it  has  a 
bright  yellow  colour,  and  gives  off  but  little  scum  in 
the  clarifier.  When  the  cane  is  perfectly  ripe  and  in 
good  condition,  the  diffusion  juice  requires  no  filtration 
through  animal  charcoal,  and  may  be  passed  at  once  into 
the  evaporators  and  vacuum  pans,  producing  good  high- 
class  raw  sugar.  The  diffusion  juice,  however,  contains 


May  20, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


935 


an  excess  of  about  20  per  cent,  of  water,  the  cost  of  eva¬ 
porating  which  has  to  be  taken  into  account.  To  balance 
ithis  on  the  other  side,  the  yield  of  juice  by  diffusion 
.(when  reduced  to  the  natural  density  of  the  juice  of  the 
eane)  is  about  82  per  cent,  against  70  per  cent,  obtained 
by  the  mill.  Moreover,  in  consequence  of  its  greater 
purity,  a  larger  proportion  of  crystallizable  sugar  is  ob- 
lained  from  it,  amounting  in  some  cases  to  43  per  cent. 
The  capital  and  labour-  required  for  the  two  methods  are 
about  the  same. 

Herr  Robert  has  recently  invented  a  modification  of 
his  process  by  which  it  is  carried  on  in  one  vessel.  The 
fresh  slices  are  introduced  at  the  bottom  of  a  single 
vessel,  and  gradually  carried  upwards,  the  solution  as  it 
becomes  of  greater  specific  gravity,  in  consequence  of  its 
increased  richness  in  sugar,  descending  to  the  bottom, 
and  being  drawn  off  as  concentrated  juice. 

The  above  processes  for  sugar  extraction  are  equally 
applicable  for  the  production  of  spirits,  since  the  saccha¬ 
rine  juice  so  obtained  is  easily  fermented  and  rendered 
fit  for  distilling. 


CHEMICAL  SOCIETY. 

May  4th. — Dr.  Warren  de  la  Rue,  F.R.S.,  Vice-Pre¬ 
sident,  in  the  chair.  The  following  gentlemen  were 
elected  Fellows R.  S.  Best,  C.  S.  Cross,  W.  H.  Darling, 
G.  H.  Ogston,  J.  Schweitzer,  W.  A.  Smith.  Dr.  Volcker 
■delivered  a  lecture  “  On  the  Productive  Powers  of  Soils 
in  Relation  to  the  Loss  of  Plant  Food  by  Drainage.  ’ 

The  lecturer  began  by  showing  the  futility  of  the 
belief  that  a  soil  analysis  could  reveal  whether  a  land 
was  productive  or  not.  To  those  who  only  imperfectly 
know  the  teachings  of  modern  agricultural  science,  it 
appears  very  simple  to  remedy  a  deficient  soil  by  finding 
out,  through  analysis,  the  wanting  constituents,  and 
then  to  supply  them.  But  this  is  not  so.  Not  only  is  it 
difficult  exactly  to  analyse  a  soil,  but  many  other  condi¬ 
tions  besides  the  composition  of  a  land  have  to  be  ob¬ 
served.  The  state  of  combination  in  which  the  mineral 
constituents  of  a  land  are  found,  the  physical  condition 
of  the  soil,  the  presence  or  absence  of  some  matter  inju¬ 
rious  to  the  growth  of  plants, — all  these  are  as  many  im¬ 
portant  points  upon  which  soil  analysis  throw's  no  light 
whatever.  The  lecturer  equally  opposes  the  views  of 
those  who  advocate  that  in  a  system  of  national  farming 
there  should  be  kept  up  a  debtor  and  creditor  account 
as  regards  the  constituents  wdiich  are  removed  from  the 
soil  in  the  crop  grown  upon  it,  and  the  quantity  of  ferti¬ 
lizing  matter  restored  to  it  in  the  shape  of  manure.  The 
fertility  of  the  soil  cannot  be  maintained,  much  less  in¬ 
creased,  if  only  as  much  fertilizing  constituents  were 
applied  to  the  land  as  were  removed  from  it  in  the 
crops. 

Dr.  Volcker  then  discussed  the  relative  values  of 
various  mineral  salts  as  manures,  quoting  in  support  of 
his  views  the  results  of  the  classical  field  experiments  of 
Lawes  and  Gilbert,  and  this  then  led  the  lecturer  to 
speak  of  the  examination  of  land- drainage  waters. 
Lawres  and  Gilbert  throughout  a  long  series  of  experi¬ 
ments  on  the  growth  of  wheat  have  experienced  a  great 
loss  of  nitrogen.  The  amount  of  nitrogen  supplied  in 
the  manures  was  greater  than  that  recovered  in  the  in¬ 
creased  produce.  It  appeared  to  Dr.  Volcker  that  the 
nitrogen  lost  might  have  passed  into  the  drains.  Care¬ 
ful  collection  of  such  drainage  waters  and  their  analysis 
proved  Dr.  Volcker  s  supposition  to  be  correct.  It  be¬ 
came  clear  that  in  whatever  form  the  nitrogen  is  applied 
to  the  soil,  a  large  proportion  of  it  is  carried  off  chiefly 
in  the  form  of  nitrates. 

At  all  times  of  the  year,  but  especially  during  the 
.active  period  of  growth  of  the  crops,  nitrates  are  found 
in  the  watery  liquid  which  circulates  in  the  land,  whereas 
-ammonia  salts  are  never  met  in  any  appreciably  large 
quantities.  It  may,  Iherefoi’e,  be  assumed  that  it  is 


chiefly,  if  not  solely,  from  the  nitrates  that  the  crops 
build  up  their  nitrogenous  organic  constituents. 

Dr.  Volcker’ s  analyses  of  drainage  waters  further 
showed  that  potash  and  phosphoric  acid,  which  certainly 
•are  the  most  important  mineral  constituents  for  the 
plant,  are  almost  entirely  retained  in  the  soil,  whilst  the 
less  important,  as  lime  or  magnesia  or  sulphuric  acid, 
pass  wdth  greater  readiness  out  of  the  land. 


MEETINGS  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 


Monday  . Royal  Geographical  Society,  at  1  p.m.  An- 

May  22.  niversary. 

Tuesday  . Royal  Institution,  at  3  p.m. — “Animal  Me- 

May  23.  ckanics.”  By  the  Rev.  Professor  Houghton. 

Royal  Medical  and  Cliirurgical  Society,  at 
8.30  p.m. 

Wednesday  ...Linnean  Society,  at  3  p.m.  Annual  Meeting. 

."Thursday . Royal  Institution,  at  3  p.m. — “On  Sound.’* 

May  25.  By  Professor  Tyndall. 

Royal  Society,  at  8.30  p.m. 

Friday  . Royal  Institution,  at  8  p.m. 

May  26.  Quekett  Club,  at  8  p.m. 

Saturday . Royal  Botanic  Society,  at  3.45  p.m. 


VACANCIES  AND  APTPOINMENTS  IN  CONNEC¬ 
TION  WITH  PHARMACY. 

The  Editor  icill  be  glad  to  receive  early  notice  of  any 
vacancies  of  pharmaceutical  offices  connected  with  public 
institutions,  and  likewise  of  appointments  that  are  made, 
in  order  that  they  may  be  published  regularly  in  the  J ournal . 

APPOINTMENT. 

Mr.  Frederick  John  Barrett,  Pharmaceutical  Chemist  (late 
student  in  the  School  of  Pharmacy),  as  Dispenser  to  the  South 
Staffordshire  General  Hospital,  Wolverhampton,  in  the  place 
of  Mr.  T.  Weaver,  resigned. 


| arlramtnterj  antr  fato  f  mailings. 

Death  from  Overdose  of  Chloral  Hydrate. 

The  death  of  Dr.  Bruce,  resident  surgeon  in  the 
Dundee  Infirmary,  consequent  upon  an  overdose  of 
chloral  hydrate,  is  reported.  It  appears  that  Dr.  Bruce 
was  suffering  much  pain  from  a  sw-ollen  finger,  arising, 
he  thought,  from  an  accidental  puncture  during  a  dis¬ 
section.  As  the  swelling  increased,  he  resorted  to  doses 
of  chloral  hydrate  to  deaden  the  pain,  and  on  Mon¬ 
day,  the  8th  instant,  he  seems  to  have  taken  an  extra 
quantity.  He  was  seen  by  his  colleague,  Mr.  Moon,  to 
whom  he  complained  of  the  continued  swelling  and  pain. 
That  gentleman  desired  an  attendant  to  apply  a  poul¬ 
tice,  and  proceeded  round  the  wards.  Upon  his  icturn, 
he  found  Dr.  Bruce  dead.  The  deceased  gentleman  was 
twrenty-seven  years  of  age.  He  graduated  last  year,  and 
had  held  the  post  in  the  infirmary  but  three  weeks. 


Poisoning  by  Carbolic  Acid. 

Dr.  Gerrard  reports  inth q  Lancet  a  case  from  Jamaica, 
in  wffiich  a  sailor  was  poisoned  by  carbolic  acid.  .  It  ap¬ 
peared  that  the  captain  kept  in  a  cupboard  in  his  cabin 
two  bottles  similar  in  appearance,  but  one  of  them  con¬ 
taining  rum  and  the  other  carbolic  acid.  It  is  supposed 
that  the  deceased,  searching  for  the  rum,  drank  from 
the  carbolic  acid  bottle  instead,  as  it  was  found  halfway 
out  of  the  cupboard,  but  writh  the  cork  in  it.  When  dis- 
covered,  lie  was  comatose,  ■with,  contracted  pupils  and 
intermittent  pulse,  stertorous  breathing  and  frothing  at 
the  mouth.  There  wras  also  a  peculiar  livid  appearance 
about  the  eyelids,  Bps  and  ears.  The  odour  of  carbolic 
acid  was  present.  Medical  aid  was  obtained,  but  dca 
followed  wdthin  three-quarters  of  an  hour  ot  the  sup¬ 
posed  time  of  his  taking  the  poison.  It  was  said  that 
the  deceased,  w'hilst  searching  for  liquor  on  a  previous 
voyage,  had  swallowred  some  lamp-oil  m  mistake  loi  lum. 


93G 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  20, 1871. 


A  Large  Dose  of  Chloral  Hydrate. 

As  illustrating  the  variable  effects  of  this  drug-,  a  cor¬ 
respondent  of  the  Lancet  mentions  a  case  where  a  patient 
saved  up  five  draughts,  each  containing  twenty- five 
grains  of  chloral  hydrate,  for  the  purpose  of  committing 
suicide.  He  found  her  just  woke  from,  a  very  deep 
sleep  in  an  excited  state,  crying  and  complaining  of 
great  pain  at  the  heart.  Knowing  that  she  was  addicted 
to  drink,  and  being  told  that  she  had  taken  more  than 
half  a  bottle  of  brandy  besides  other  liquor,  he  attributed 
her  state  to  that  cause.  Afterwards,  however,  she  con¬ 
fessed  to  having  taken  the  five  draughts,  making  a  dose 
of  125  grains.  The  next  morning,  with  the  exception  of 
being  unable  to  sleep  or  take  food,  and  the  pulse  being- 
irregular,  she  seemed  as  usual. 


©Mtanr. 

SIR  JOHN  FREDERICK  WILLIAM 
HERSCHEL,  BART. 

On  Thursday,  the  11th  instant,  a  man  whose  name  has 
been  for  the  greater  portion  of  the  present  century 
honourably  associated  with  those  of  the  pioneers  of  sci¬ 
ence,  passed  away.  The  announcement  of  the  death  on 
that  day  of  Sir  John  Frederick  William  Plerschel,  Bart., 
chronicles  the  last  stage  of  a  long  life  spent  in  active 
scientific  investigation,  which  resulted  in  discoveries  that 
have  added  considerably  to  the  stores  of  human  know¬ 
ledge. 

John  Horschel  was  born  in  1792  at  Slough,  where  his 
father,  Sir  William  Hersehel,  had  just  previously  com¬ 
pleted  the  erection  of  his  forty-foot  telescope,  at  that 
time  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  marvels  of  the  day.  Being 
the  only  child  in  the  house,  and  continually  surrounded 
by  the  appliances  for  astronomical  study,  it  is  not  sur¬ 
prising  that  he  early  displayed  a  love  for  natural  philo¬ 
sophy;  the  inherent  mathematical  powers  of  his  mind 
being  developed  under  the  most  favourable  circumstances. 

His  early  education  he  received  from,  a  private  tutor. 
At  Cambridge,  where  he  entered  St.  John’s  College,  he 
was  senior  wrangler  and  Smith’s  prizeman  in  1813.  The 
same  year  he  published  his  first  work,  ‘  A  Collection  of 
Examples  of  the  Application  of  the  Calculus  to  Finite 
Differences.’  His  father’s  great  discovery  of  the  motion 
of  the  binary  stars  seems  to  have  produced  a  powerful 
impression  on  his  mind,  and  in  1816  he  commenced  to 
examine  and  catalogue  the  nebula)  and  clusters  of  stars. 
This  work  was  continued  by  him — part  of  the  time  in 
conjunction  with  the  late  Sir  James  South — until  1830, 
the  results  being  recorded  in  the  Philosophical  Transac¬ 
tions  and  the  Memoirs  of  the  Astronomical  Society  ;  the 
importance  of  the  services  being  recognized  by  the  award 
to  him  of  the  astronomical  prize  of  the  French  Academy 
of  Sciences  and  the  gold  medal  of  the  Astronomical 
Society.  .In  1822  he  published  a  treatise  on  the  absorp¬ 
tion  of  light  by  coloured  media ;  another,  on  Sound, 
was  also  supplied  by  him  to  the  ‘  Encyclopaedia  Metro- 
politana.’  In  1830  his  Preliminary  Discourse  on  the 
Study  of  Natural  Philosophy  appeared  in  ‘  Lardner’s 
Cabinet  Cyclopaedia,’  and  caused  a  considerable  amount 
of  discussion.  Although  it  has  not  taken  the  rank  which 
its  admirers  at  .first  claimed  for  it,  it  gives  abundant 
proofs  of  the  writer’s  eloquence  and  learning. 

Being  dissatisfied  with  the  small  amount  of  time  during 
which  our  changeable  climate  allowed  of  the  use  of  the 
telescope,  and  being  desirous  of  making  a  survey  of  the 
southern  heavens,  he,  in  November,  1833,  left  England 
for  the  Cape,  and  fixed  his  residence  in  the  neighbour¬ 
hood  of  I  able  Bay.  There  he  set  up  his  instruments, 
and  for  four  years  devoted  his  energies  to  the  work  he 
had  proposed  for  himself.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he 
returned  to  England.  The  scientific  world  had  -watched 
with  great  interest  his  proceedings  in  connection  with 
this  visit  to  the  Cape,  and  upon  his  return  the  public  ap¬ 


probation  was  manifested  in  the  liveliest  manner.  He- 
was  entertained  at  a  great  public  dinner  in  London,  and 
the  Government  of  the  day  offered  to  reimburse  him  all 
the  expenses  of  the  expedition,  a  proposition  that  he  dis¬ 
interestedly  declined.  He  had  previously  received  from 
King  William  IV.  the  Guelphic  order  of  Knighthood, 
and  on  the  occasion  of  the  coronation  of  Queen  Victoria 
he  was  made  a  baronet.  The  presidency  of  the  Royal 
Society  having  become  vacant  by  the  resignation  of  the 
Duke  of  Sussex,  it  was  proposed  to  elect  Hersehel  to  the 
honourable  office,  and,  but  for  his  declining  to  stand,  he 
would  probably  have  been  chosen.  In  1842  he  was 
elected  Lord  Rector  of  Marischal  College,  Aberdeen,  and 
in  1848  he  became  president  of  the  Royal  Astronomical 
Society.  In  1850  he  was  appointed  to  the  Mastership  of 
the  Mint,  a  post  which  he  resigned  in  1855,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  the  late  Professor  Graham. 

Sir  John  Hersehel’ s  scientific  acquirements  were  not 
limited  to  the  particular  branch  of  astronomy  with  which 
his  name  is  more  generally  connected.  He  also  made 
some  original  researches  in  optics,  and  was  an  accom¬ 
plished  chemist  and  electrician.  Wo  do -not  propose  here¬ 
to  give  a  complete  list  of  his  writings,  nor  of  the  honours 
which  he  received  from  many  other  countries.  But  we 
would  mention  the  peculiar  charm  with  which  he  con¬ 
trived  to  invest  somewhat  abstruse  subjects,  and  the  suc¬ 
cessful  manner  in  which  he  popularized  scientific  teach¬ 
ing.  After  his  retirement  he  still  occasionally  qsed  his 
pen  in  the  service  of  the  public,  and  within  the  last  two 
or  three  years  he  contributed  to  ‘  Good  Words’  a  series 
of  popular  articles  on  the  wonders  of  the  universe. 

■w  At  the  request  of  many  eminent  scientific  men,  Sir- 
John  Hersehel  was  buiied  in  Westminster  Abbey,  on 
Friday,  the  19th  instant. 

Sir  John  Hersehel  married  in  1829  Margaret  Brodic, 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Alexander  Stewrait,  by  whom 
he  had  nine  daughters  and  three  sons.  He  is  succeeded 
in  the  title  by  his  son  Mr.  William  Hersehel,  of  the 
Bengal  Civil  Service,  who  was  bom  in  1833. 


JAMES  YATES,  F.R.S. 

We  regret  to  have  to  announce  the  death  of  Mr.  James- 
Yates,  M.A.,  F.R.S.,  which  took  place  at  his  residence, 
Lauderdale  House,  Ilighgate,  on  the  7 th  inst.  Although 
better  known  of  late  years  as  the  chief  and  liberal  pro¬ 
moter  of  the  International  Association  for  the  intro¬ 
duction  of  the  Metric  System  of  Weights  and  Measures- 
into  this  country,  he  was  distinguished  by  his  classical 
and  scientific  attainments.  His  learning  was  not  only 
very  extensive,  but  profound  and  accurate,  and  he  con¬ 
tributed  largely  to  several  classical  and  archaeological 
works.  He  always  took  an  active  interest  in  the  pro¬ 
ceedings  of  the  Royal  Society.  He  was  also  an  influ¬ 
ential  member  of  the  Geological  Society,  and  of  other 
learned  and  scientific  bodies. 


CoMMENTAR  ZUR  OSTERREICHISCHEX  PlIARMACOPOS,  eili 
Handbuch  fur  Apothcker,  Sanitatsbeamte  und  Aerzte, 
mit  Rucksicht  auf  die  wichtigsten  Pharmacopoeen  des 
•Auslandcs.  By  F.  C.  Schneider,  Professor  at  the 
Imperial  Josephinum,  and  Dr.  Aug.  Vogl,  Lecturer 
at  the  Vienna  University.  3  vols.;  2nd  edition. 
Vienna :  Manz’sche  Buchhandlung. 

This  is  a  capital  book,  ever}7,  page  of  which  bears  wit¬ 
ness  not  only  that  the  authors  are  fully  at  home  in  the 
matters  they  treat  of,  but  also  that  they  have  the  rare  gift 
of  communicating  their  information  in  a  lucid  and  at¬ 
tractive  manner.  The  student  is  carried  along  from  one 
subject  to  the  next,  seldom  without  gaining  some  new 
and  useful  information ;  he  soon  learns  to  handle  the- 


May  20,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


937 


book  as  a  reference  on  any  subject  connected  with  practi¬ 
cal  or  theoretical  pharmacy,  and  will  not  readily  lay  it 
aside. 

Ihe  authors  have  divided  their  labour  in  such  manner 
that  Dr.  Vogl  has,  in  the  first  volume,  worked  out  phar¬ 
macognosy,  and  Dr.  Schneider,  in  the  second  volume, 
treats  the  chemico- pharmaceutical  part;  whereas  the  third 
volume  contains  a  German  translation  of  the  Latin  sixth 
edition  of  the  Austrian  Pharmacopoeia,  with  many  addi¬ 
tional  remarks  and  references  to  foreign  Pharmacopoeias. 

The  first  volume,  on  pharmacognosy,  by  Dr.  Yogi,  is 
(divided,  into  a  general  part,  treating  of  methods  of  mi¬ 
croscopical  investigations,  and  of  the  origin  and  condi¬ 
tion  ot  vegetable  drugs,  the  collecting,  drying  and  storing 
of  the. same;  and  a  special  part,  classifying  the  drugs 
according  to  their  origin,  from  the  vegetable,  animal, 
■or  mineral  kingdom.  Those  derived  from  the  first  source 
are  of  course  vastly  predominant,  and  they  again  are 
grouped  under  three  divisions,  viz.  : — ■ 

Plants  or  parts  of  plants,  directly  recognized  as  such. 

Vegetable  substances,  the  organic  structure  of  which 
can  be  recognized  only  by  the  microscope. 

Vegetable  substances  without  organic  structure. 

There  are,. of  course,  many  subdivisions,  botanically 
arranged,  which  we  cannot  enter  into  just  now,  but  the 
principal  classification  will  at  once  show  the  scientific 
character  the  author  imparts  to  his  book.  He  does  full 
justice  to  the  botanical,  chemical  and  physical  charac¬ 
teristics  of  the  different  articles,  their  adulteration,  etc., 
but  above  all,  and  wherever  possible,  he  calls  in  the  aid 
of  the  microscope,  either  to  bring  out  new  characteristics 
or  to  strengthen  those  hitherto  known.  He  dwells  so 
strongly  on  the  value  of  microscopical  investigations  that 
we  must  give  his  own  words  in  the  preface. 

The  microscope,  he  says,  opens  up  to  us  the  structural 
relation  of  organized  parts ;  not  only  docs  it  present  to  us 
a  clear  view  of  the  manner  in  which  primary  organisms 
combine  into  membranes,  and  how  these,  in  wonderful 
variety,  build  up  vegetable  substances,  but  it  also  affords 
ns  an  insight  into  the  workshop  and  habitation  of  the 
products  resulting  from  the  processes  of  vegetable  life. 

By  placing  the  structure  of  drugs  before  us,  the  micro¬ 
scope  collects  for  us  a  series  of  characteristics,  which, 
because  not  changeable,  are  highly  valuable  for  the  re¬ 
cognition  and  distinction  of  substances  which  defy  other 
means  of  inquiry.  And  further,  while  obtaining  a  clear 
representation  of  the  distribution  of  ihe  active  principles 
in  the  different  parts  of  plants,  we  may  often  form  an 
opinion  of  the  quality  of  a  substance,  or  obtain  informa¬ 
tion  in  regard  to  the  most  suitable  season  for  collecting, 
or  the  best  manner  of  preparing  and  storing  different 
vegetable  remedies. 

The  author  has  most  carefully  studied  the  character¬ 
istic  elementary  construction  of  the  plants,  he  has  re¬ 
corded  the  results  of  many  micro- chemical  investigations, 
often  illustrated  by  capital  woodcuts  from  original  draw¬ 
ings,  which  assist  in  distinguishing  in  a  simple  manner 
many  officinal  herbs,  even  in  powder,  such  as  belladonna, 
hyoscyamus,  digitalis,  senna,  etc. 

The  general  part  opens  with  a  detailed  description  of 
the  microscope,  aided  by  clear  woodcuts,  and  often  con¬ 
taining-  good  practical  advice.  For  instance,  it  is  often 
of  great  advantage  to  sketch  the  object  under  the  micro- 
fscope,  i.  c.  to  reproduce  the  microscopic  view  as  accu¬ 
rately  as  possible.  Many  forms  of  apparatus,  often  very 
-expensive,  have  been  constructed  for  this  purpose  :  the 
.glass  prism,  the  camera  lucida,  Soemmering’s  mirror ;  but 
they  may  all  be  dispensed  with  by  acquiring  the  “  dou¬ 
ble  sight.”  If  we  look  with  one  eye  into  the  microscope, 
and  with  the  other  on  a  sheet  of  white  paper  placed  at 
the  side  of  the  instrument,  the  sight  with  the  picture  of 
the  object  will  be  projected  into  the  other  eye,  and  with 
-steadiness  of  the  eyes  the  outlines  of  the  picture  may  be 
drawn  very  accurately. 

Under  preparation  of  objects,  the  difficulty  of  getting 
ffine  sections  of  small  or  thin  substances,  such  as  leaves, 


is  overcome  by  cutting  a  cork  in  two,  placing  the  leaf 
between  the  two  halves,  and  binding  them  firmly  together 
with  a  string ;  it  is  easy  to  cut  off  thin  slices  of  the  cox-k, 
and  each  will  carry  a  very  thin  slice  of  the  leafwith  it. 

Vrc  are  much  tempted  to  follow  Dr.  Vogl’s  details  of 
micro-chemical  reagents,  but  we  will  only  quote  the  ap¬ 
plication  of  colouring  matters. 

Organic  compounds  are  divided  into  two  classes,  those 
which  take  up  colouxing  matter,  and  those  which  do  not 
do  so.  The  first  class  comprises  albuminous  compounds, 
tannin,  certain  alkaloids,  etc.  ;  the  second  cellulose, 
starch,  gum,  etc. ;  but  the  latter  by  being  pex-meated  by 
the  members  of  the  first  group,  acquire  the  quality  of 
taking  up  colouring-matter,  either  directly  or  after 
treatment  with  mordants,  caustic  lye,  sulphuric  acid, 
alum. 

Ihe  coloration  brings  out  cei'tain  structural  arrange¬ 
ments,  othei-wise  indistinct  oi-  invisible ;  the  gradation 
iix  colour  separates  whole  pai’ts  of  lxxombx-anes  more 
completely  than  in  the  colourless  state,  and  the  pi-esenco 
or  absence  of  colour,  indicates  the  presence  or  absence  of 
certain  substances,  their  locality,  and  to  a  certain  extent 
even  their  relative  proportion. 

We  next  coixxe  to  an  exhaustive  treaty  on  cells,  cell- 
membranes  and  their  contents,  which  are  described  as 
under  starch,  inulin,  sugar  and  dextrine,  gum  and  mu¬ 
cilaginous  matter,  tannin,  protein,  fat,  essential  oils  and 
resins,  colouring  matter,  alkaloids,  crystals  (acid,  alka¬ 
line  or  neutral  salts),  gases.  This  part  is  richly  illus¬ 
trated  by  wonderfully  clear  woodcuts ;  it  is  almost  a  book 
within  a  book. 

The  last  division  of  the  general  or  introductory  paid 
speaks  of  the  origin  and  condition  of  vegetable  substances, 
and  it  is  perhaps  more  important  to  the  German  reader, 
because  in  Germany  many  plants  or  pai'ts  of  plants  which 
have  been  excluded  from  our  Pharmacopoeia,  ai*e  still 
officinal,  and  also  because  German  pharmacists,  wher¬ 
ever  possible,  collect  herbs,  flowers,  roots  and  seeds  when 
fresh,  and  dry  them,  and  store  their  supply  from  year  to 
year.  As  the  amount  of  active  principle  in  the  plants — 
and  hence  their  medicinal  value — is  greatly  influenced  not 
only  by  cultivation,  by  the  season,  the  climate  and  the 
soil,  but  also  afterwards  by  the  drying,  preparing  and 
storing,  all  these  different  considei-ations  are  fully  gone 
into  and  carefully  described. 

The  work  is  so  rich  in  a  variety  of  matters,  that  it  is 
impossible  to  do  justice  to  the  authors  in  a  single  article ; 
and  as  the  x-eaders  of  the  Journal  will  not  be  disinclined 
to  have  before  them  a  more  detailed  exposition  of  the 
advanced  and  earnest  manner  in  which  pharmacy  is 
taught  and  treated  on  the  Continent,  we  pxu-pose  giving 
a  series  of  extracts  from  this  last  and  valuable  addition 
to  pharmaceutical  literature. 

A  New  Wellingtonea  Gigantea,  forty  feet  four 
inches  in  diametei-,  which  exceeds  by  seven  feet  the 
largest  previously  known,  has  been  discovered  near 
Visalia,  in  Southern  California.  A  sectioix  of  one  of 
these  trees  is  now  being  exhibited  in  Cincinnati,  which  is 
seventy-six  feet  in  circumference  and  fourteen  feet  high. 
It  was  cut  last  year  about  two  hundx-ed  and  fifty  miles 
south-east  of  San  Francisco,  far  up  the  western  slope  of 
the  Sieri’a  Nevado  mountains,  and  was  carried  on  three 
waggons  drawn  by  seventeen  yoke  of  cattle. — Nature. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  May  13;  the ‘Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
May  13;  the  ‘Lancet,’  May  13;  the  ‘Medical  Press  and  Cir¬ 
cular,’  May  17;  ‘Nature,’  May  11;  the  ‘Chemical  News,’ 
May  12;  ‘Gardeners’  Chronicle,’  May  13;  ‘Journal  of  the 
Society  of  Arts,’  May  12;  the  ‘Grocer,’  May  13;  ‘Produce 
Markets  Review,’  May  13;  the  ‘  English  Mechanic,’  May  12; 
the  ‘  Chemist  and  Druggist,’  May  15  ;  ‘  Journal  de  Pharmacie 
et  de  Chimie  ’  for  November  and  December;  the  ‘Amei-ican 
Journal  of  Pharmacy’  for  May;  the  ‘New  York  Druggists’ 
Circular’  for  May;  the  ‘Photographic  Journal,’  May  16; 
the  ‘  Brewers’  Guardian,’  May  15. 


938 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  20,  1871. 


fote  ani  ^atrics. 


*#*  In  order  to  facilitate  reference ,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  their  ansivers  in  each  case  with  the  title  i 
and  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

NOTICE. — To  prevent  delay,  correspondents  are  re¬ 
quested  to  send  their  communications  to  the  Journal  Depart¬ 
ment,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  JF.C.,  and  not  to  the  Bub- 
Ushers. 

[227.]— PREPARATION  OF  POMADES.— Not  having 
seen  any  reply  to  the  inquiries  of  your  correspondent 
“  MoelUne,”  of  the  22nd  ult.,  I  think  I  may  venture  to  sug¬ 
gest  to  him  to  use  less  solid  matter  in  the  preparation  of  his 
pomades,  and  to  have  his  bottles  just  warmed  through,  and 
the  pomade  just  beginning  to  set  before  pouring  in.  At  this 
season  of  (he  year  I  find  2  oz.  of  genuine  beeswax  is  suffi¬ 
cient  for  1^  lb.  of  oil  for  solid  pomade;  in  winter,  If  oz.  is 
sufficient. 

For  crystalline  pomade,  “  Moelline”  will  find  21  oz.  sper¬ 
maceti  sufficient  tor  1  lb.  of  oil  in  summer,  and  2f  oz.  in 
winter. — W.  Parkin gton. 

[231.] — BEETLE  POWDER. — The  recommendation  of 
the  New  York  Druggists'  Circular  of  borax  as  a  cockroach 
exterminator  has  been  going  the  round  of  the  papers  to  such 
an  extent  as  to  create  a  popular  demand  for  the  article  for 
this  purpose.  I  should  like  to  know  how  it  is  to  be  applied, 
for  it  seems  to  me  that  nothing  short  of  subcutaneous  exhibi¬ 
tion  will  suffice.  It  is  recommended  to  be  sprinkled  in  their 
haunts,  but  there  must  be  some  magic  in  “  putting  the  salt 
on  their  tails,”  for  I  have  nearly  smothered  them  with  borax, 
and  kept  them  for  seven  days  in  a  glass ;  but  I  might  as  well 
have  subjected  them  to  the  pope’s  anathema,  for  “none  of 
them  seemed  a  penny  the  worse,”  but  they  were  as  brisk  and 
lively  at  the  end  of  the  saline  treatment  as  at  the  beginning. 
The  experience  of  some  housekeepers  would  lead  to  the 
opinion  that  what  is  poison  at  one  period  is  food  at  another. 
Can  any  entomological  correspondent  explain  ? — Henry  H. 
Pollard. 


Powdered  borax  is  a  delusion  and  a  snare  as  a  poison  for 
my  blackbeetles.  A  quarter  of  a  pound  has  been  expended 
for  their  benefit,  not  mine ;  for  they  have  eaten  it  all  up, 
and  are  more  numerous  than  ever. — J.  B. 


[254.]— ACIDULATED  GINGER  SYRUP.— Will  any 
reader  oblige  with  a  form  for  making  acidulated  ginger- 
syrup  for  aerated  gingerade  that  will  not  exhibit  ilocculenee- 
after  being  bottled  one  or  two  months  ? — M.  P.  S. 

[255.] — LIQUID  GLUE. — T.  C.  L.  would  be  glad  if  any 
reader  could  inform  him  what  adhesive  substance  is  used  for 
joining  cardboard  or  willow  boxes  together ;  something  that 
sets  hard  directly. 


COPAIBA  JELLY'. — At  a  clinical  lecture  delivered  by 
Mr.  Berkeley  Hill,  in  University  College  Hospital,  he  exhi¬ 
bited  a  new'  preparation  of  copaiba  in  the  form  of  a  jelly, 
which  he  said  was  taken  by  his  patients  readily.  It  was 
bright  and  almost  as  firm  as  calf’s-foot  jelly,  very  attractive- 
by  its  rosy-red  colour  to  the  eye,  and  not  repulsive  to  the 
palate,  its  flavour  being  masked  by  peppermint.  It  contained 
50  per  cent,  of  copaiba.  A  piece  as  large  as  a  filbert,  rolled 
in  wafer-paper,  might  be  swallowed  without  being  tasted  at 
all.  The  after  effects  of  nausea,  diarrhoea,  etc.  are  not  more 
than,  if  so  frequent  as,  from  other  preparations  of  copaiba. 
The  specimen  had  been  prepared  by  Mr.  Martindalo,  dispenser- 
to  the  hospital,  according  to  the  following  formula,  which  was 
an  improvement  made  by  him  upon  the  original  one 

Take  of  Thick  Copaiba  *viij 
Powdered  Sugar  31V 
Honey  (not  crystallized) 

Distilled  Water  5v 

Oil  of  Peppermint  5j 

Roseine  (dissolved  in  mxx  water)  ^  gr. 

Put  the  honey,  sugar,  copaiba  and  water  into  an  evapo¬ 
rating  dish.  Keeping  it  well  stirred,  heat  the  mixture  gently 
till  it  boils,  and  continue  the  agitation  and  ebullition  about- 
five  minutes.  In  the  first  part  of  the  operation  two  distinct 
strata  are  formed, — the  upper,  the  copaiba;  the  lower,  the- 
honey,  etc.  As  the  water  is  evaporated,  numerous  bubbles 
of  steam  are  given  off,  just  as  the  whole  becomes  a  homo¬ 
geneous  jelly.  WThen  it  has  partly  cooled,  stir  in  the  roseine- 
and  oil  of  peppermint.  When  well  made,  it  should  resemble- 
raspberry  jelly.  Should  this  very  minute  quantity  of  roseine- 
(one  of  the  aniline  pigments)  be  objected  to,  an  ammoniacal 
solution  of  carmine  gives  a  very  good  colour. — Lancet. 

OIL  OF  SANDAL- WOOD. — The  following  formula  for 
the  administration  of  oil  of  sandal- wood  is  suggested  by  Dr- 
Henderson  :— 

Oil  of  Sandal- wood 
Rectified  Spirits  of  Wine 
Oil  of  Cinnamon  nixxv. 


[241.] — WARTS.  —  If  “  Omega"  has  tried  caustic  and 
acetic  acid,  and  failed,  let  him  try  liq.  potassce  or  Lugol’s 
caustic  solution  of  iodine. — J.  B. 

[242.]— IODIDE  OF  STARCH.— 

Iodi  gr.  xxiv 
P.  Amyli  -j. 

Triturate  the  iodine  with  a  little  water ;  add  the  starch  gra¬ 
dually,  and  continue  the  trituration  till  the  compound  is  of  a 
deep  and  uniform  colour.  Dose,  5ss  to  5ij. — J.  B. 


[251.] — INKSTAINS. — Would  any  one  favour  me  with  a 
recipe  for  taking  out  inkstains  P — Querist. 

[252.] — DISPENSING. — Would  any  reader  kindly  in¬ 
form  me  the  best  way  of  dispensing  the  following  recipe  ?— 
R.  Zinci  Sulphatis  9ij 

Cupri  Sulphatis  gr.  x 
Mucilaginis  Acacite  3iv 
Tr.  Ferri  Muriatis  5iv 
Aquae  5x1]. 

Mft.  Injectio  3SS  ter  die  interdum. — Alpita. 

[253.]—  ESSENCE  OF  RATAFIA. — What  is  the  strength 
css.  ratafia  is  usually  sold  ?  I  have  been  for  some  years  in 
the  habit  ot  selling  it  in  the  proportion  of  1  part  essential  oil 
to  7  parts  s.  v.  r.  (or  sixteen  times  the  strength  of  the  formula 
given  in  the  Journal  of  the  22nd  April) ;  and,  as  I  think  a 
uniformity  in  this  article  very  desirable,  it  may  be  useful  to 
have  the  opinions  of  our  brethren  through  your  “  Notes  and 
Queries  ”  column. — Amygdala. 


Dose,  one  or  two  drachms  three  times  a  day. — Lancet. 

ZINC  WATER  TANK. — M.  Zinrek  reports  in  the  Lyon- 
Medical  the  results  of  examinations  of  water  that  had  been 
kept  for  a  long  time  in  zinc  tanks.  He  found  that  the  water 
dissolved  the  zinc  in  proportion  to  the  chlorides  it  contained, 
and  the  length  of  time  during  which  it  wa3  in  contact.  Boil¬ 
ing  does  not  precipitate  the  zinc  from  water  charged  with  it.- 
In  a  sample  of  water,  containing  a  small  proportion  of  chlo¬ 
rides,  but  which  had  been  a  long  time  in  a  zinc-tank,  as  much 
i  as  fifteen  grains  of  zinc  was  found  in  each  quart.  To  prevent 
this  state  of  things,  the  author  recommends  that  zinc  tanks* 
be  coated  inside  with  an  oil  paint  of  which  ochre  or  asphalte 
forms  the  basis.  No  minium,  ceruse,  or  carbonate  of  zinc 
should  be  used.  Fifteen  grains  in  a  quart  seems  an  enormous 
proportion,  nor  does  the  author  say  whether  he  found  the- 
actual  metal  or  a  salt  of  oxide  of  zinc. — Lancet. 

ANHYDROUS  GLYCERINE.— M.  Eberhard  has  called 
attention  to  the  power  possessed  by  absolutely  anhydrous 
glycerine  of  withdrawing  water  by  an  exosmotic  process  from 
tissues  to  which  it  is  applied.  Marion  Sims  some  time  ago- 
demonstrated  that  a  ball  of  lint  dipped  in  glycerine  and  ap¬ 
plied  to  a  freely  suppurating  surface  arrests  the  secretion. 
Fiirst  has  also  applied  the  glycerine  plug  in  a  large  number 
of  cases  of  fluor  albus,  and  M.  Eberhard  states  that  he  has 
been  very  successful  in  applying  the  same  means  in  similar 
cases. — Practitioner. 

GLA^CEROLE  OF  IODINE. — This  preparation,  recom¬ 
mended  for  loss  of  the  voice,  is  composed  of  a  solution  of 
10  grains  of  iodine  in  1  oz.  of  inodorous  glycerine. — Jledical 
l  Record. 


May  20,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


939 


***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  "Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication ,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Early  Closing. 

Sir, — I  am  liappy  to  find  that  the  importance  of  early 
closing  to  pharmaceutical  students  has  been  commented  upon 
in  your  columns,  and  I  think  that  if  it  were  thoroughly  in¬ 
vestigated  by  the  Council,  the  desired  issue  would  be  obtained. 
I  have  often  wondered  why  drapers,  grocers,  etc.,  could  close 
at  an  early  hour,  merely  to  give  their  young  men  an  oppor¬ 
tunity  of  enjoying  themselves  after  their  day’s  toil,  whilst 
chemists  cannot  entertain  the  idea,  although  it  would  only 
afford  those  facilities  for  study  which  might  be  reasonably 
expected  from  an  employer,  especially  during  apprenticeship. 

I  quite  agree  with  T.  S.  M.  that  compulsion  is  the  only 
means  by  which  early  closing  could  be  carried  out  effectually. 
The  jealousy  generally  existing  between  pharmacists  prevents 
anything  being  settled  amicably  by  them.  Like  the  dog  in 
the  manger,  if  they  cannot  derive  any  good  from  it  them¬ 
selves,  they  all  take  good  care  that  no  one  else  does. 

Milford,  May  15th,  1871.  Filix. 


Some  Abuses. 

Sir, — The  ethical  code  of  pharmacy  dates  even  before  the 
formation  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  and  when  Mr.  Ince 
indited  his  well-meaning  paper  pharmaceutical  ethics  were 
practically  a  long  stride  ahead  of  what  he  apparently  wished 
to  inculcate.  That  a  pharmacist  be  a  gentleman  is  now  gene¬ 
rally  admitted,  the  examinations  proving  an  ordinary  colle¬ 
giate  education  without  the  special  technical  instruction 
required  before  obtaining  the  diploma.  Jacob  Bell,  the 
founder  of  the  Society,  could  never  have  wished  that  in  statu 
■quo  in  the  matter  of  pharmaceutical  progress  that  has  cha¬ 
racterized  pharmacy  since  his  lamented  demise. 

We  require,  as  pharmacists,  the  respect,  not  only  of  the 
public,  but  of  the  medical  profession.  But  very  few  of  our 
■craft  are  aware  of  the  contemptuous  manner  in  which  the 
majority  of  doctors  arc  in  the  habit  of  depicting  to  their 
patients  our  supposed  contumacious,  ignorant  and  unautho¬ 
rized  acts.  That  some  enlightened,  liberal  and  generous  in¬ 
tellects  would  scorn  so  to  do  I  am  fully  aware  and  gladly 
admit,  but  they  unfortunately  are  the  exceptions  that  prove 
the  rule. 

How  many  country  surgeons  or  general  practitioners,  well 
able  to  diagnose  a  disease,  and  capable  of  calmly  calculating 
the  effect  of  quinine  or  iron  on  a  debilitated  system,  rush  to 
their  dispensaries,  and  hurriedly  throw  together  a  mixture 
with  enough  sal  volatile  to  precipitate  the  quinine  or  carbo¬ 
nate  of  soda,  to  render  a  soluble  tincture  insoluble  and  nearly 
inert. 

As  long  as  we,  qualified  pharmacists,  are  content  to  remain 
inactive  on  the  subject  of  our  rights  and  our  just  monopolies, 
so  long  must  we — in  order  to  obtain  a  livelihood,  and  some 
even  a  bare  pittance — endeavour  to  snatch  what  few  crumbs 
drop  from  the  professional  table.  It  has  now  passed  into  an 
axiom  that  as  long  as  medical  men  dispense,  pharmacists  will 
prescribe.  And  yet  I  venture  to  say  that  no  pharmacist  ever 
does  so  without  certain  twinges  of  conscience.  But  what  is 
he  to  do  ?  Send  the  patient  to  Dr.  X.,  who  dispenses  his 
own  medicine?  Nay!  Why  should  he?  To  be  rewarded 
by  Dr.  X.’s  injunctions  to  the  patient  to  distrust  the  whole 
body  of  chemists,  and  himself  in  particular,  as  ignorant 
meddlers?  It  is  probable  that  the  less  enlightened  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  profession  think  that,  if  they  were  to  give  up  dis¬ 
pensing  their  own  medicines,  the  chemists  would  not  give  up 
counter-prescribing. 

Then  crede  experto!  I  have  lived  on  the  Continent  a 
number  of  years,  and  have  made  a  study  of  pharmacy  in  its 
relation  to  medicine  in  various  countries,  and  nowhere  have 
I  found  so  cordial  an  entente  between  two  such  hand-in-hand 
professions  as  in  those  countries  where  an  official  and  recog¬ 
nized  status  is  given  to  each.  And  when  the  pharmacist,  in¬ 
stead  of  wasting  his  time  in  listening  to  a  long  detail  of  a 
child’s  health,  sends  the  patient  to  Dr.  L.,  in  the  certainty  of 
seeing  ere  long  a  customer  with  a  prescription  and  a  con¬ 
tented  countenance,  is  he  likely  to  interfere  in  any  such 


arrangement  so  eminently  advantageous  and  mutually  bene¬ 
ficial  ?  Then  why  this  apparent  distrust  on  the  part  of  the 
profession  ?  They  could  now  perform  a  graceful  act,  raising' 
their  own  status,  by  recognizing,  as  Parliament  has  done, 
the  separate  and  distinct  qualifications  of  an  educated  and 
examined  body  of  pharmacists. 

Optimists  say  that  this  desired  change  is  gradually  being 
effected.  I  do  not  think  that  on  reflection  we  can  endorse 
that  statement.  Eminent  men  of  large  practice,  and  others 
whose  increasing  calls  on  their  time  necessitate  the  employ¬ 
ment  of  every  means  to  expedite  their  visits,  naturally  prefer 
writing  a  prescription  to  the  bother  of  dispensing  and  send¬ 
ing  out  medicines.  But  in  country  towns  and  throughout 
England  generally,  I  am  sure  that  three-fourths  of  the  work 
that  ought  to  fall  to  the  pharmacist  is  withheld  from  him,  to 
the  prejudice  of  a  class  legally  qualified  and  officially  in¬ 
tended  to  perform  it.  True  principles  of  political  economy 
are  here  violated,  and  continental  countries,  whose  legislators 
it  is  the  fashion  to  sneer  at,  have  at  least  the  merit  of  a 
clearer  appreciation  of  the  respective  functions  of  medical 
and  pharmaceutical  science.  Having  obtained  a  legal  status, 
it  is  the  duty  of  pharmacists  as  a  body  to  use  their  utmost 
endeavours  to  ensure  their  right  of  being  the  only  legally- 
qualified  dispensers  of  medicine,  and  to  bring  to  an  end  the 
illegal  dispensing  by  surgeons  and  other  practitioners.  The 
heads  of  the  profession  are  in  its  favour,  and  a  wholesome 
and  firm  agitation  on  the  part  of  those  most  concerned  couid 
but  be  fruitful  of  ultimate  benefit  and  success.  We  are  cer¬ 
tainly  entitled  to  some  privileges  and  considerations  for  all 
the  stringent  examinations  and  regulations  voluntarily  im¬ 
posed  upon  ourselves  in  deference  to  the  wishes  and  opinions 
of  the  public.  A  recent  writer  in  the  Standard,  on  the  aban¬ 
donment  of  the  Poison  Regulations  Bill,  mentions  “the  great 
privileges  accorded  to  pharmacists.”  As  yet,  they  seem 
totally  intangible  and  imaginary,  unless  the  exemption  from 
serving  on  juries  be  considered  a  set-off  to  the  innumerable 
difficulties  which  beset  the  thorny  path  that  attends  the  ob- 
tainment  of  even  a  bare  livelihood  as  a  chemist  and  druggist. 

E.  A. 


The  Minor  Examination  and  ire  Provincial 
Associations. 

Sir, — In  your  Journal  of  May  6th  are  twTo  or  three  letters 
on  the  subject  of  early  closing, — wTant  of  time  for  study  being 
brought  forward  as  the  main  argument.  One  writer  takes  it 
for  granted  that  where  early  closing  is  introduced,  an  associa¬ 
tion  Avith  classes,  etc.,  wall  follow.  In  many  towns  this  has 
been  the  case,  but  do  these  associations  fulfil  their  purpose? 
With  some  honourable  exceptions,  I  think  they  do  not.  In 
the  city  of  80,000  people  from  which  I  write,  and  which  we 
will  call  Cathay,  is  an  association  of  this  sort.  The  following 
rough  statistics  will  show  how  it  is  getting  on: — 

Number  of  pharmacies  in  the  city,  40. 

,,  assistants,  12. 

„  apprentices,  40. 

Average  time  of  closing,  7.30. 

The  association  was  started  last  autumn  (solely  through  the 
laudable  exertions  of  twTo  assistants)  with  ample  funds  and 
about  forty  members,  with  many-  of  the  masters  as  honorary 
members. 

Three  classes  on  separate  subjects  have  met  each  week,  and 
the  result  is  that  the  attendance  at  these  classes  averaged 
twenty-two  for  the  first  three  weeks  of  the  session  and  nine 
for  the  last  three,  at  which  number,  I  fear,  it  will  remain  all 
through  the  next  session,  should  the  association  survive  so 
long. 

I  attribute  this  falling  off  to  the  fact  that  the  class-teachers 
go  into  their  subjects  thoroughly.  To  do  this  is  not  the  ob¬ 
ject  of  the  great  majority  of  apprentices.  They  prefer  to 
solve  the  problem  as  follows : — Given,  utter  ignorance  of 
theoretical  pharmaceutics  as  a  base  for  three  months’  despe¬ 
rate  cramming ;  required,  to  wriggle  through  the  Minor 
Examination  and  then  to  fling  up  study  in  toto. 

Till  the  Major  is  looked  upon  as  the  natural  sequence  to 
the  Minor  and  the  need  is  felt  of  getting  up  each  subject 
thoroughly,  the  comparatively  slow  method  of  teaching  by 
classes  will  not  answTer,  except  for  students  who  have  the 
whole  day  at  their  disposal.  Let  additional  inducements 
(such  as  the  title  of  Fellow)  be  held  out  to  pass  the  Major, 
and  this  state  of  things  will  be  altered.  Instead  of  being 
regarded  as  a  hideous  ogre,  holding  up  the  bar  of  the  Minor 


940 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  20,  1871. 


which  must  somehow  be  got  over,  under  or  round,  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society  will  be  looked  on  as  a  guardian  spirit, 
striving  by  its  examinations  and  by  other  means  to  raise  the 
trade  in  public  estimation  and  to  increase  its  esprit  de  corps. 

Cathay,  Hay  12th.  Philip  H.  Mason. 

P.S. — Will  some  correspondent  kindly  point  out  what  ad¬ 
vantage  beyond  the  honour  of  the  thing  is,  at  present,  gained 
by  passing  the  Major  ? 

Uniformity  of  Charges. 

Sir, — Allow  me  to  express  my  opinion  that  pharmaceutists, 
as  a  body,  could  not  more  effectually  conduce  to  the  future 
aggrandizement  of  their  profession — for  such  it  now  strictly  is 
or  should  be — than  by  manifesting  their  determination  to 
suppress  petty  and  unseemly  jealousies,  and  to  arrive  at  an 
amicable  understanding  with  each  other  regarding  uniformity 
of  charges. 

One  naturally  jumps  to  the  conclusion  that  adulteration 
must  be  extensively  in  vogue  when  prescriptions  such  as  the 
following  are  brought  to  be  dispensed  for  sixpence,  as  hap¬ 
pened  to  me: — 

R.  Sp.  Am.  Co. 

Tr.  Opii, 

Sp.  Cainpb. 

Tr.  Rlici  Co. 

Ess.  Menth.  Pip. 

Tr.  Capsici,  ana  5ij. 

M.  Cap.  guttm  xx  per  dosis. 

When  I  expostulated  and  urged  that  it  was  at  the  rate  of  cost 
pi’ice,  I  was  informed  that  it  had  frequently  been  obtained 

at  Mr. - ’s  for  that  price;  consequently,  having  dispensed 

it  I  had  no  alternative  but  to  let  the  customer  have  it.  Had 
I  known  this  before  preparing  it,  I  should  certainly  have  re¬ 
fused  to  stain  my  conscience  and  measure-glass  with  such  a 
disgusting  and  glaring  specimen  of  the  worse  than  grocer-like 
system  of  cutting  one  another’s  throats. 

The  following,  though  somewhat  notorious,  is  not  one  of 
Stratford’s  proteges,  but  was  dispensed  at  Milo  End  for  six¬ 
pence  : — 

R.  Lin.  Saponis  Co.  3j 

Tinct.  Cantharidis, 

Sp.  Ammon. 

01.  Succinis  Rect.,  ana  ^iij.  M. 

Unless  Dame  Fortune  intervenes,  we  must  evidently  suffer 
the  same  fate  as  the  proverbial  Kilkenny  cats  of  old. 

Stratford,  JE.  Robert  H.  Keeley. 


Unqualified  Assistants. 

Sir, — Among  the  various  matters  touched  upon  by  your 
Correspondents  I  am  surprised  that  of  allowing  errand  boys 
to  serve  behind  druggists’  counters  has  not  been  referred  to. 
We  hear  much  of  professional  qualifications,  conscientious  dis¬ 
charge  of  duties  towards  customers  and  the  high  position  phar¬ 
macy  should  aim  at,  but  not  a  word  is  said  against  these  quali¬ 
fications  being  diluted  by  an  errand  boy  behind  the  counter. 

In  old  times,  errand  boys  were  brought  forward  and  many 
eventually  became  masters,  then  there  was  silence  concerning 
qualification  and  position. 

Things  have  changed.  The  Pharmacy  Act  prevents  any 
person  carrying  on  retail  except  under  restriction,  but  it 
allows  any  compliant  person’s  wife  or  errand  boy  to  retail 
medicines  during  the  absence  of  the  principal.  This  seems 
anomalous,  and  affords  little  security  to  many  of  those  for 
whose  welfare  the  Pharmacy  Act  was  passed. 

_  It  may  be  said  that  in  a  neighbourhood  where  the  drug¬ 
gist’s  wife  dispenses  her  smiles  and  medicines,  and  the  boy 
mixes  up  the  “  antibilious,”  a  poor  population  preponderates, 
but  have  not  the  poor  quite  as  much  claim  as  the  rich  to 
legal  protection  ?  M.P.S.  by  Election. 

Not  ting  Hill,  TV. 


Who  Discovered  Ether  Anaesthesia? 

Sir, — As  the  public  generally  are  always  in  an  unhappy 
fog  of  innocent  doubt  as  to  the  name  of  the  first  discoverer  of 
Amesthetics,  and  not  five  people  in  a  thousand  could  tell  the 
name  of  the  man  who  made  the  first  application  of  ether 
vapour  to  take  away  pain  in  surgical  operations,  perhaps 
you  would  find  a  corner  for  the  interesting  fact  that  a  monu¬ 
ment  has  been  set  up  this  year  in  America  to  commemorate 
the  discovery.  It  may  appear  to  some  a  little  in  the  spread- 
eagle  style ;  but  all  wiio  have  studied  the  history  of  anaesthe¬ 
tics  will  agree  with  the  truth  of  the  inscription. 


A  committee  of  American  citizens  at  Boston  have  erected: 
at  Mount  Auburn  an  appropriate  monument  to  the  memory 
of  Morton.  The  inscription  tells  its  own  tale: — 

“  W.  T.  Morton,  inventor  and  revealer  of  Amesthetic  inha¬ 
lation. — Before  whom  in  all  time  Surgery  was  Agony. — By 
whom  Pain  in  Surgery  was  averted  and  annulled. — Since' 
whom  Science  has  controlled  Pain.” 


The  inscription  is  in  four  parts  on  the  four  faces  of  the 
monument.  Next  to  his  name  stands,  perhaps,  that  of 
Waldie,  the  chemist,  who  taught  Sir  James  Simpson  the  use 
of  chloi'oform,  and  first  directed  his  attention  to  it,  as  set 
forth  in  this  pamphlet  of  Waldie’s  brother,  so  disingenuously 
ignored,  as  well  as  this  monument  to  Morton,  by  our  medi¬ 
cal  journals;  but  the  next  generation  will  do  honour  or  credit 
to  Morton’s  memory.  There  are  two  monuments  in  the 
Hotel  Dieu  in  Paris,  put  up  by  the  French  people,  one  to 
Bichat,  the  other  to  Magendie.  When  shall  we  have  one  to. 
Dalton  or  Davy,  Wells  or  Morton  ? 

Charles  Kidd,  M.D. 

Sackville  Street,  TV.,  April  25th,  1871. 


Borax  and  Blackbeetles. 

Sir, — I  don’t  know  how  it  is  that  paragraphs  are  concocted 
and  go  the  round  of  the  papers,  and  then  disappear;  when,  if 
the  information  conveyed  in  them  were  only  true,  they  would 
be  immortal. 

If,  for  example,  it  were  only  true  that  that  domestic  pest, 
the  blackbeetle,  can  be  got  rid  of  by  means  of  a  little  borax, 
as  you  state  on  the  authority  of  the  Neio  York  Druggists T 
Circular  (p.  7G2,  ante),  there  is  not,  I  imagine,  a  druggist’s- 
shop  in  the  kingdom  that  would  not  be  besieged  for  supplies 
of  borax.  But,  alas  !  English  cockroaches,  unlike  their  Ame¬ 
rican  congeners,  have  a  profound  contempt  for  pounded 
borax ;  they  crowd  over  it  and  trample  it  underfoot,  and,, 
instead  of  “  fleeing  in  terror  from  it,  and  never  appearing 
again  where  it  has  once  been  placed,”  they  seem  rather  to 
rejoice  over  it,  and  to  haunt  my  kitchen  in  greater  force  than 
ever.  And  yet  I  have  applied  it  three  times  ! 

If  the  other  part  of  the  paragraph  is  equally  reliable,  I 
shall  not  be  disposed  to  tempt  my  laundress  to  “  save  nearly 
one-half  her  soap  ”  by  the  use  of  borax. 

I  cannot,  however,  couclude  without  congratulating  all' 
pharmaceutical  chemists  on  the  excellent  journal  that  reaches 
us  weekly.  T. 

London,  Hay  11th,  1871. 

[V  There  seems  to  be  a  considerable  diversity  of  expe¬ 
rience  on  this  subject.  Only  a  fortnight  since  we  printed 
(p.  897)  a  communication  from  a  respected  correspondent,  in 
which  he  said  that  powdered  borax,  sprinkled  in  the  haunts 
of  blackbeetles,  was  certain  destruction  to  them,  and  that  he- 
could  vouch  for  its  efficacy.— Ed.  Pharm.  Journ.] 

Qualifications  for  Success  in  Business. 

Sir, — “Another  Associate”  says,  “  with  the  qualifications- 
necessary  to  pass  the  Modified,  £1000  and  a  good  opening 
for  business,  any  one  may  leave  all  doubts  about  getting  on. 
to  ‘aspiring’  members  of  the  profession.” 

£1000  and  a  good  opening  for  business  are,  I  grant,  at  all 
times  desirable  aids,  but  not  necessary  qualifications,  as  I  can 
testify  from  personal  experience,  for  I  had  neither ;  and  yet 
I  have  succeeded  admirably,  thanks  to  the  professors  in  town.. 

My  opinion  is,  that  gentlemen  holding  the  Major  qualifi¬ 
cation,  and  possessing  besides  ordinary  business  capacities, 
are  almost  certain  of  success  and  that  “Another  Associate” 
will  find  their  success  greater  than  those  who  simply  have- 
£1000.  F.C.S.,  Pharmacist  with  Honours,  etc. 

Hay  6th,  1871. 


F.  B.  Big  gall. — Blaine’s  ‘Outlines  of  the  Veterinary  Art,’ 
published  by  Messrs.  Longman. 

J.  S.  D. — The  preparation  inquired  about  is  advertised  as- 
being  prepared  by  Mr.  Chapman,  of  10,  Duke  Street,  Portland 
Place,  London. 

A  correspondent,  signing  himself  “Inquirer,”  has  not  com¬ 
plied  with  the  rule  as  to  anonymous  communications. 


Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  C.  A.  Thredgale,  Mr.  C.  Gr.  Bunn,  Mr.  P.  Howman,  Mr. 
T.  Collier,  Mr.  A.  Barron,  Mr.  John  Ingham,  N.  Y.  W.,. 
Gr.  W.,  T.  C.  L.,  F.  H.  W.,  A.  P.  S.,  C.  S.,  A.  S.,  “  Persevero,’" 
“Arum,”  “Botanist,”  “Ferment,”  “Inquirer”  (Brighton). 


May  27,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


SATURDAY,  MAY  27,  1S71. 


Communications  for  this  Journal,  and  boohs  for  review, etc., 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

Instructions  from  Members  and  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Brem- 
RiDGE,  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  JF.C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  IF.  Envelopes  indorsed  “  JPharm.  Journ." 


LOCAL  SCHOOLS  OF  SCIENCE. 

The  increased  attention  that  has  been  devoted 
duiing  the  last  few  years  to  the  subject  of  scientific 
education,  and  the  consequent  recognition  of  the 
great  benefits  which  would  result  from  the  more 
general  possession  of  scientific  knowledge,  have 
already  resulted  in  some  practical  attempts  to  sup¬ 
ply  the  great  defect  which  had  previously  existed. 
The  universities  have,  to  some  extent,  acquiesced  in 
the  claims  of  science  to  a  place  among  the  studies 
of  those  who  are  able  to  resort  to  them  for  education, 
whilst  public  and  private  efforts  have  been  made 
here  and  there  throughout  the  country  to  supply  the 
needs  of  students  in  other  ranks  of  societv. 

But  the  rate  of  progress  has  hitherto  been  com¬ 
paratively  slow,  and  the  question  from  whence  the 
funds  are  to  be  obtained  for  defraying  the  expenses 
attending  the  inauguration  of  science  schools  is  one 
that  has  had  and  will  have  very  great  influence  upon 
it.  The  thoughts  of  many  who  have  been  working 
for  the  spreading  of  such  knowledge  have  often  been 
turned  to  the  rich  educational  endowments  existing 
in  this  country,  and  many  wishes  have  been  ex¬ 
pressed  that  the  trustees  of  these  funds  should  con¬ 
sider  whether  they  might  not  be  utilized  to  assist  in 
gaining  the  desired  end. 

Such  help  has  come  in  a  recent  offer  from  the 
authorities  of  the  University  of  Durham  of  .£1000  a 
year  for  six  years  towards  the  foundation  of  a  school 
of  science  in  Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  with  a  promise 
that  if  the  institution  answers  their  expectations,  the 
grant  of  £1000  annually  shall  be  made  perpetual. 
In  order  that  the  school  might  be  carried  on  effi¬ 
ciently,  it  was  desired  by  the  University  that  their 
offer  should  lie  met  by  a  guarantee  of  a  like  amount 
from  Newcastle  and  the  district.  The  matter  has 
been  taken  up  with  great  spirit.  At  a  preliminary 
meeting  subscriptions  to  the  amount  of  £"350  a  year 
for  six  years  were  promised,  and  in  addition  the  sum 
of  £3000  spread  over  six  years  guaranteed.  This 
amount  has  since  been  increased  to  £16,000,  and  it 
is  hoped  that  a  capital  fund  of  £30,000  may  be 
raised,  with  which  it  is  intended  to  establish  a  college 
for  the  teaching  of  physical  science  as  applied  to 
engineering,  mining,  manufacture  and  agriculture. 

As  an  instance  of  the  valuable  results  arising  from 

Third  Series,  No.  48. 


911 


the  union  of  scientific  and  practical  knowledge  may 
be  mentioned  the  process  invented  by  Mr.  Julius 
Robert  for  the  extraction  of  sugar  from  beetroot 
and  sugar-cane  by  diffusion,  as  described  by  the 
late  Mr.  Ferdinand  Kohn,  in  a  paper  read  before 
the  Society  of  Arts  a  few  weeks  ago,  an  abstract  of 
which  will  be  found  in  a  previous  number.  Here 
was  a  manufacture  which  had  been  carried  on  for 
centuries  upon  what  was  acknowledged  to  be  a 
primitive  and  imperfect  principle,  even  the  most 
perfect  machinery  failing  to  give  a  satisfactory  re¬ 
sult.  But  coming  under  the  notice  of  a  man  who, 
while  cognizant  of  one  of  the  latest-revealed  scientific 
truths,  was  also  acquainted  with  the  practical  details 
and  requirements  of  the  manufacture,  a  process  was 
invented  which  has  already  proved  of  great  import¬ 
ance,  and  which  was  well  described  by  the  chairman 
of  the  meeting,  Mr.  G.  C.  T.  Bartley,  as  “  a  most 
remarkable  instance  of  the  application  of  pure  science  ■ 
to  practical  and  commercial  purposes.” 

On  the  other  hand,  Mr.  Mattieu  Williams,  in  a 
paper  on  “  Burnt  Iron  and  Burnt  Steel,”  read  before 
the  Chemical  Society  last  month,  illustrated  the 
large  amount  of  empirical  knowledge  sometimes 
acquired  by  workmen,  which  is  either  allowed  to  die 
with  them  as  a  trade  secret  or  is  not  made  generally 
useful,  through  the  inability  of  those  possessing  it  to 
explain  the  “reason  why.”  Speaking  of  the  diffi¬ 
culties  which  had  to  be  overcome  in  the  rolling  of 
large  iron  plates  and  in  the  reheating  of  such  great 
masses  without  burning  them,  he  referred  to  the 
large  wages  which  were  offered  to  workmen  who 
could  conduct  these  furnace  operations  successfully. 
He  said  that  he  knew  an  illiterate  black-faced  work¬ 
man  who  earned  as  much  as  £40  weekly  by  pay¬ 
ments  received  as  tonnage  upon  work  done  under 
his  direction.  Having  watched  this  man  and  others 
similarly  successful  in  furnace  operations,  he  found 
that,  by  various  devices — the  philosophy  of  which 
they  did  not  dream  of  understanding — they  subjected 
the  iron  to  the  action  of  a  reducing  flame  only,  and 
so  prevented  its  oxidation. 

It  is  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  scientific  educa¬ 
tion  into  closer  contact  with  such  manufacturing 
skill  that  colleges  like  the  one  projected  at  New¬ 
castle  are  intended :  we  believe  they  are  sure  to  exer¬ 
cise  a  lasting  and  beneficial  influence  upon  the  future 
of  our  country,  and  to  repay  well  any  cost  that  may 
be  incurred  in  their  establishment. 

We  trust  that  ere  long  no  part  of  the  country  will 
be  without  such  a  college,  and  that  in  this  way, 
among  other  advantages,  opportunities  may  be  pro¬ 
vided  for  the  acquisition  of  thorough  scientific  know¬ 
ledge,  which  is  so  indispensable  for  the  proper  exer¬ 
cise  of  a  pharmacist’s  daily  business. 


A  lecture  will  be  delivered  “  On  National  Health,” 
by  Dr.  Acland,  at  the  Royal  College  of  Physicians, 
next  Friday,  the  2nd  of  June,  at  5  p.m.  ;  and  at  the 
same  time  on  Wednesday,  the  7tli  of  June,  a  course 
of  three  lectures  “  On  War  in  its  Sanitary  Aspects, 
with  special  reference  to  the  period  from  1793  to 
1815,”  will  be  commenced  by  Dr.  Guy,  and  con¬ 
tinued  on  the  following  Friday  and  Wednesday . 

On  Tuesday  evening  the  House  of  Commons  went 
into  committee  on  the  “Adulteration  of  Food  and 
Drugs  Bill,”  but  progress  was  immediately  reported, 
and  the  House  resumed. 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  27,  1871. 


£U2 


©ransaxlians  of  lljt  flarntaxtutiral  ^urictj. 

MEETING  OF  THE  COUNCIL. 

J Lay  VI tli,  1871. 

MR.  HASELDEN,  F.L.S.,  PRESIDENT,  IN  THE  CHAIR. 

Present — Messrs.  Atherton,  Bottle,  Bourdas,  Brown, 
Carr,  Deane,  Dymond,  Edwards,  Evans,  Groves,  Hills, 
Mackay,  Reynolds,  Sandford,  Stoddart,  Sutton  and  Wil¬ 
liams. 

Mr.  Bourdas  was  elected  Vice-President,  and  took 
the  chair  accordingly. 

The  Secretary  presented  a  list  of  members  whose  sub¬ 
scriptions  had  been  tendered  subsequently  to  the  30th 
April. 

Resolved — That  the  said  members  be  restored  to  their 
original  status  on  payment  respectively  of  a  nominal 
fine  of  one  shilling. 

The  following  letter  was  read,  and  ordered  to  be  en¬ 
tered  on  the  minutes  : — 

“ Medical  Department  of  the  Privy  Council , 
May  Uh,  1871. 

“  Sir, — The  Lords  of  Pier  Majesty’s  Council,  observing 
that  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
js’to  be  held  in  the  course  of  the  present  month,  direct 
me  to  refer  you  to  my  letter  of  the  ‘23rd  December,  1870, 
.and  to  say  that  they  trust  that  such  regulations  will  then 
be  made  (under  the  first  section  of  the  Pharmacy  Act, 
1868)  in  regard  to  the  keeping,  dispensing  and  selling  of 
poisons,  as  will  be  sufficient  to  secure  the  safety  of  the 
public. 

“  Their  Lordships  think  it  right  to  apprise  the  Council 
,of  the  Society  that,  should  no  such  regulations  be  sub¬ 
mitted  for  their  approval  after  the  approaching  meeting, 
they  will  feel  it  their  duty  to  endeavour  to  protect  the 
public  by  proposing  to  Parliament  further  legislation. 

“  I  am,  Sir, 

“Your  obedient  servant, 

“John  Simon. 

“  The  Secretary  to  the 

“  Pharmaceutical  Society, 

“  Bloomsbury  Square.” 

Resolved — That  the  letter  be  read  at  the  Annual  Ge¬ 
neral  Meeting,  and  that  copies  be  distributed  among 
the  members  present. 

The  Council  then  adjourned  to  the  Annual  Meeting. 


THE 

THIRTIETH  ANNUAL  GENERAL  MEETING 
OF  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 

Wednesday,  May  With,  1871. 

MR.  A.  r.  HASELDEN,  E.L.S.,  PRESIDENT,  IN  THE  CHAIR. 

The  Secretary  having  read  the  notice  convening  the 
meeting,  the  President  delivered  the  following  address : — 

Gentlemen, — Two  months  ago  I  little  expected  that  I 
should  on  this  day  have  the  honour  and  pleasure  of 
addressing  you  from  this  chair.  As  there  is  no  rose 
without  a  thorn,  so  the  pleasure  comes  not  unalloyed. 
You  will  readily  understand  the  allusion,  viz.  the  retire¬ 
ment  of  Mr.  Sandford  from  the  post  I  now  fill.  I  feel 
assured  that  you  will  not  only  look  for  it  from  me,  but 
strongly  approve  of  my  paying  a  passing  tribute  to  the 
merits  of  that  gentlemen,  one  of  the  best  Presidents  the 
Society  ever  had.  I  know  his  value  well.  You  cannot 
estimate  too  fully  the  loss  of  so  upright,  so  able,  and  last, 
but  not  least,  so  patient  a  chairman. ; 

Thirty  years  ago  a  paper  was  read  “  On  the  Consti¬ 
tution  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Great  Britain,” 
at  the  Introductory  Pharmaceutical  Meeting,  held  May 


11th,  1841.  For  as  many  years  have  I,  first  as  an  asso¬ 
ciate,  then  as  a  member,  watched  the  steady  advance¬ 
ment  of  the  Society.  Duriug  that  time  I  have  observed 
many  changes.  I  have  seen  the  good  ship  threatened 
by  storms  from  within  and  from  without,  surrounded 
ofttimes  by  shoals  and  quicksands,  but  ever  buoyant, 
ever  seaworthy,  coming  safe  into  harbour,  avoiding 
Scylla  and  not  falling  into  Charybdis.  I  call  to  mind 
now  words  spoken  by  one  who  has  grown  grey  in  your 
service,  “  that  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  would  at  some 
future  day  become  a  very  great  and  influential  Society.” 
I  endorsed  his  words  then,  I  endorse  them  now ;  and 
why  F  Because  it  is  based  upon  good  sound  principles  ; 
by  educational  means  expanding,  training  and  raising 
the  mental  qualities,  striving  by  union  for  the  good  of 
each  other,  and  conferring  a  corresponding  advantage 
upon  the  general  public  by  providing  for  it  not  merely 
an  intelligent  class  of  pharmaceutists,  but  also  an  edu¬ 
cated  intelligence,  for  natural  talent  and  intellect  lose 
nothing,  but  gain  much,  by  cultivation.  “The  human 
mind,  without  education,  is  like  marble  in  the  quarry, 
which  shows  none  of  its  inherent  beauty  until  the  skill 
of  the  polisher  fetches  out  the  colour.” 

Folio vring  the  steps  of  those  who  have  preceded  me,  I 
might  remind  you  of  novelties  introduced  and  of  the 
results  of  scientific  research  during  the  past  year,  but 
all  these  are  now  so  freely  published  that  they  who  run 
may  read.  Nevertheless,  there  is  one  preparation  in 
particular  which  I  cannot  pass  unnoticed,  the  hydrate  of 
chloral ;  known  before  the  past  year,  yet  happily  never 
before  called  so  largely  into  requisition  at  home  or  abroad 
(during  the  war)  for  the  relief  of  thousands  of  suffering 
fellow-creatures.  In  a  lecture  delivered  in  February 
last,  Dr.  Richardson  stated  that  nearly  fifty  tons  of  the 
hydrate  had  been  used  in  England  during  the  previous 
eighteen  months.  He  also  stated — and  this  may  be  inter¬ 
esting  to  pharmaceutists,  as  showing  the  necessity  of 
discretion  in  its  employment — “that  in  professional 
hands,  now  that  its  action  is  better  understood  and  the 
novelty  of  its  application  worn  off,  the  employment  of  it 
is  less  than  it  was  some  months  ago ;  while  the  practice 
of  resorting  to  it  by  the  public  is  on  the  increase,  and  a 
new  class  of  cases  is  thereby  becoming  known,  marked 
by  particular  symptoms,  and  assuming  in  some  instances 
a  serious  character.” 

Among  many  other  things  which  during  the  year 
have  engaged  the  attention  of  correspondents  in  our 
Journal  I  have  observed  the  question  of  early  closing, — 
a  question  eminently  interesting,  and  meriting  earnest 
attention ;  but  I  have  always  felt,  that  whilst  it  is  a 
matter  in  which  each  may  do  much  by  example  and 
otherwise  in  his  own  immediate  neighbourhood,  it  would 
be  quite  out  of  character  for  residents  in  one  quarter  of 
any  large  city  to  legislate  for  those  in  another.  At 
some  establishments  in  this  metropolis  closing  com¬ 
mences  at  8  o’clock  p.m.,  an  hom'  at  which  in  others  the 
main  business  of  the  day  virtually  begins,  when  an 
assistant  so  situated  might  exclaim,  with  Sterne’s  star¬ 
ling,  “I  can’t  get  out — I  can’t  get  out!”  The  reason 
put  forward  not  unfrequently  in  favour  of  early  closing 
is,  that  apprentices  and  others  may  have  time  for  study  ; 
and  the  reason,  so  far,  is  a  good  one.  No  one  can  well 
appreciate  the  value  of  opportunities  for  study  more 
than  those  who  have  known  and  felt  the  want  of  such. 
"Where  were  they  thirty  years  ago  ?  I  trust  that  those 
who  have  opportunities  will  not  only  value  them,  but 
make  much  of  them. 

“  To  catch  dame  Fortune’s  golden  smile, 

Assiduous  wait  upon  her ; 

And  gather  gear  by  ev’ry  wile 
That’s  justified  by  honour : 

Not  for  to  hide  it  in  a  hedge, 

Nor  for  a  train- attendant, 

But  for  the  glorious  privilege 
Of  being  independent.” 

This  reminds  me  that  I  should  make  some  remarks 


May  27,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


913 


ancnt  our  Examinations.  In  so  doing,  1  would  invite 
jour  attention  to  that  portion  of  the  Annual  Report 
Ayhich  hears  upon  them.  If  a  doubt  ever  existed  in  the 
minds  of  any  respecting  the  nature  and  mode  of  con¬ 
ducting  the  Examinations,  the  passages  extracted  from 
Dr.  Greenhow’s  communications  thereon,  published  in 
the  Twelfth  Report  on  Public  Health  by  the  medical 
officer  of  the  Privy  Council  will,  I  feel  confident,  at 
once  dispel  it,  so  far  at  least  as  the  present  Examiners 
are  concerned.  Personally  (ex  officio )  I  have  taken  great 
interest  in  the  Examinations,  and  have  been  an  earnest 
participator  in  all  the  duties  of  the  Board,  and  I  can  say 
truly  that  I  have  never  been  associated  with  gentlemen 
more  considerate  and  conscientious. 

In  continuation,  a  few  words  upon  the  Preliminary 
Examination  may  not  be  out  of  place,  as  many  opinions 
have  been  expressed  thereon.  Some  think  it  is  too 
severe ;  others,  that  the  Latin  is  more  than  should  be 
expected ;  and  again,  that  the  questions  are  not  always 
equal;  that  is,  that  they  are  moi'e  difficult  upon  one 
occasion  than  upon  another.  It  may  be  so  with  some  of 
the  questions,  but  they  are  balanced  by  others  equally 
easy  ;  many,  indeed,  simply  elementary.  For  my  own 
part,  I  can  scarcely  see  how  the  examination  can  be 
lighter,  if,  indeed,  it  is  to  be  an  examination  at  all ; 
though  candidates  who  have  been  some  time  from  school 
may  find  Ciesar  difficult  to  work  up,  the  Pharmaceutical 
Latin  required  is  only  such  as  should  be  known  by  every 
one  behind  a  chemist’s  counter  ;  but  in  the  face  of  this, 
some  of  the  oldest  candidates  pas3  the  best  examination 
in  Latin  and  arithmetic  and  some  of  the  youngest  the 
worst.  Forty  years  ago,  before  this  Society  was  esta¬ 
blished,  a  lad  about  to  be  apprenticed  to  a  chemist  was 
supposed,  under  any  circumstances,  to  know  something 
of  Latin,  for  no  prescribcr  in  those  days  thought  of 
putting  any  portion  of  his  prescription  in  the  mother- 
tongue;  and  now,  after  thirty  years’  existence  of  a  So¬ 
ciety,  one  of  whose  prominent  features  was  and  is  an 
improved  educational  condition,  can  any  say  that  he 
did  not  think  Latin  would  be  required  ?  Any  unbiassed 
person  examining  the  written  answers  in  the  Prelimi¬ 
nary  Examinations,  would  be  forcibly  Struck  with  what 
seems  to  indicate,  in  a  large  proportion  of  the  cases,  an 
utter  absence  of  training  in  preparing  for  this  examina¬ 
tion  ;  the  work  done  represents  the  work  of  youths  who 
have  no  one  to  guide,  none  to  direct  their  studies  and 
well-intentioned  labour.  I  do  not  mean  grinding  or 
cramming.  I  hesitate  to  be  more  explicit.  Gentlemen 
— like  the  author  of  a  u  Botanical  Student’s  Dream  ” 
(vide  Piiarm.  Journ.,  March  18th,  1871,  p.  745),  and  all 
those  who  take  an  interest  in  the  young — will,  I  doubt 
not,  comprehend  to  what  I  allude,  for  the  young  stand 
in  need  both  of  encouragement  and  guidance.  Thus  far 
I  have  said  nothing  of  the  Benevolent  Fund,  as  it  is 
pretty  fully  treated  in  the  Report ;  but  I  may  mention 
that  the  fir  at  legacy  of  £19.  19a-.  has  been  announced  from 
the  executors  of  the  late  Mr.  C.  Coles.  Had  Mr.  Coles 
been  spared  to  us,  he  would  have  been  a  valuable  mem¬ 
ber.  I  am  now  fast  approaching  the  end  of  that  which 
I  have  desired  to  say,  leaving  to  the  last  the  most  im¬ 
portant  question  which  will  be  brought  before  you  for 
consideration  to-day.  The  poison  regulations  have  oc¬ 
cupied  the  time  not  only  of  the  Council,  but  more  or  less 
of  .all  classes  connected  with  pharmacy,  the  Council 
yielding, — when  not  to  have  done  so  might  have  been 
construed  into  unnecessary  persistency, — determined, 
whether  wisely  or  not  I  pretend  not  to  say,  to  offer  to 
this  meeting  certain  recommendations  to  be  observed  in 
the  keeping,  storing  and  dispensing  of  poisons,  for  volun¬ 
tary  adoption.  In  considering  this  question  when  it 
comes  before  you,  let  me  ask  you,  in  all  seriousness,  to 
bestow  upon  it  that  quiet  and  calm  consideration  with 
which,  on  many  previous  occasions,  you  have  been  justly 
credited,  and  for  which  you  had  established  a  well- 
merited  prestige.  Before  taking  the  final  plunge,  let 
me  impress  upon  you  this  one  word — Think. 


“Facilis  descensus  Avcrni: 

Sed  revocare  gradum,  superasque  evadere  ad  auras, 
Hoc  opus,  hie  labor  est.” 

A  word  or  two  now  upon  my  own  account.  This, 
gentlemen,  is  my  first  appearance,  at  a  short  notice,  in 
this  character;  it  may  be  the  last ;  a  few  hours  or  a  few' 
days  may  send  me  amongst  the  rank  and  file.  Be  that 
as  it  may,  I  shall  still  labour  in  the  cause  of  pharmacy 
and  the  Pharmaceutical  Society ;  shall  still  respect  the 
names  of  those  Seniors  who  foreshadowed  and  esta-* 
blished  this  our  position ;  and  as  I  have  ever  done,  shall 
still  take  an  interest,  not  only  in  this  Society  but  in  all 
those  who  follow  the  arduous  and  exacting  occupation 
of  a  pharmaceutical  chemist,  or  chemist  and  druggist. 

The  President  called  upon  the  Secretary  to  read  the 
Report  of  the  Council.  It  was  resolved  that  the  Report 
be  taken  as  read. 

REPORT  OF  THE  COUNCIL. 

In  presenting  the  report  of  the  proceedings  of  the  past 
year,  the  Council  commence  as  usual  w*ith  some  observa¬ 
tions  on  the  financial  condition  of  the  Society. 

The  Balance  Sheet  has  been  long  enough  in  the  hands 
of  members  of  the  Society  to  have  been  carefully  read 
and  considered,  and  doubtless  has  been  compared  by 
many  with  the  statement  of  1869,  wdiich  exhibited  a 
balance  in  the  treasurer’s  hands  at  the  close  of  the  year 
considerably  larger  than  the  present,  as  wrcll  as  larger 
investments  made  during  the  year  in  Government  Securi¬ 
ties.  That  year  commenced  with  a  much  heavier  balance, 
and  another  circumstance  may  be  mentioned  explaining* 
the  difference,  namely, — an  alteration  in  the  time  of 
receiving  from  the  Publishers  certain  proceeds  of  the 
Journal,  wdiich  at  the  end  of  1870  amounted  to  £1586. 
18s.  Gd.  due  to  the  Society;  had  this  been  a  receipt  in¬ 
stead  of  an  asset,  it  w*ould  have  given  the  balance  of  the 
past  year  an  advantage  over  its  predecessor. 

The  true  gauge,  however,  of  prosperity  must  be  looked 
for  in  the  subscriptions  and  fees  of  the  year,  and  under 
this  head  at  first  glance  there  seems  to  be  a  falling  off ; 
this  must  not,  how*ever,  be  taken  as  conclusive,  because  it 
arises  from  a  decrease  in  the  amount  of  registration  fees' 
of  chemists  and  druggists  in  business  before  the  passing* 
of  the  Pharmacy  Act,  1868  :  in  those  paid  by  assistants 
entitled  to  be  registered  on  passing  a  Modified  Examina¬ 
tion  ;  and  also  in  the  entrance  fees  of  chemists  and 
druggists.  These  items  must  lessen  year  by  year,  and 
ultimately  disappear  entirely  from  our  financial  state¬ 
ments.  The  subscriptions  2)yoPer  show  an  increase  of 
nearly  five  hundred  persons,  who  have  become  con¬ 
nected  with  the  Society  in  the  various  grades  since  our 
last  report. 

On  the  debit  side  of  the  account  a  heavier  amount  than 
usual  appears  for  apparatus ;  caused  by  the  purchase  ot 
the  large  and  valuable  assortment  collected  from  time  to1 
time  by  Dr.  Redwood  during  his  long  connection  with, 
the  Society.  The  Council  before  deciding,  on  this,  pur¬ 
chase  took  advice  from  one  of  the  most  eminent  philoso¬ 
phical  instrument  makers  in  London,  and  had  the  appa¬ 
ratus  thoroughly  examined  by  a  Committee,  both  of 
wffio.se  reports  w*ore  conclusive  as  to  the  desirability  of 
the  Society  securing,  under  such  favourable  terms  as  Dr. 
Redw*ood  had  offered,  this  important  collection. 

The  great  increase  in  the  business  of  the  Society,  and 
the  greater  number  of  clerks  required  for  its  perform¬ 
ance,  rendered  it  necessary  in  1869  to  remodel  the  office, 
involving  a  considerable  outlay,  part  of  wffiich  appeal’.-* 
in  the  account  of  1870. 

The  commission  on  laboratory  fees  paid  to  the  Di¬ 
rector  and  Demonstrator  does  not  accurately  give  the 
expenditure  of  1870,  the  commission  on  the  fees  of  tho 
previous  year  from  October  to  Christmas  being  included 
in  the  £616  now  debited.  To  accommodate  additional 
pupils  in  the  laboratory  certain  alterations,  which  w*ere 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  27,  1871 


941 


FINANCIAL  STATEMENT,  from  January  1st  to  December  31st,  1870.  dr* 


£  s.  d. 

Balance  in  Treasurer’s  hands,  January  1,  1870  .  .  . 

Government  Securities  .  .  .  Interest . 

Life  Members’  Bund  .  .  .  Fees  .  .  57  15  0 

Interest  .  85  1  7 


Subscriptions  : 

1802  Members,  Pharmaceutical  Che¬ 
mists  .  1,892  2  0 

393  Members,  Chemists  and  Druggists  412  13  0 
189  Members,  Chemists  and  Druggists 
elected  1870  .  .  .  £198  9  0 
189  Entrance  Fees .  .  .  396  18  0 


£  s.  d. 

950  3  1 
264  18  9 


142  16  7 


595  7  0 


82  Associates  in  Business  ....  86  2  0 

458  Associates  not  in  business  .  .  .  240  9  0 

561  Apprentices .  o<jg  g  q 

Arrears .  Ill  16  6 


Fines  on  Arrears . 

Laboratory . Fees.  .  .  1,185  11  6 

Breakages  .  465 


Lectures  .......  Fees 

Registration  Fees  : — 

71  Pharmaceutical  Chemists,  Maior 

Examination . .  ,  409  10  0 

196  Chemists  and  Druggists,  Minor 

Examination . 621  12  0 

264  Chemists  and  Druggists,  Modified 

Examination .  277  4  0 

630  Apprentices,  Preliminary  Examina¬ 
tion  . 1,328  0  0 

467  Examination  Fees .  490  7  0 

41  Registration  Fees  as  Chemists  and 

Druggists  in  Business  ....  215  5  0 

11  Jury  Certificates .  0  11  0 


Bent . 

Stationery, — Sale  of  printed  matter  ....... 

Sundries . 

‘  Register,’  Sale  of  .  ,  *  * 

Deposit  Note,  repaid  by  Bankers  with  £31.  15s.  2 d. 
Interest  .... 


3,634  11  6 
6  0  0 


1,189  17  5 
203  14  0 


3,337  9  0 
100  0  0 
15  12  1 
3  17  0 
183  10  6 

1,031  15  2 


£  s.  d%  £  s*  d. 

Balance  due  to  Secretary,  January  1,  1870  ....  3  0  10 

Government  Securities Investment  .  .  1,096  10  0 

Transferred  to 
Benev.  Fund  .  500  0  0 


Advertisements . . 

Apparatus . 

Annuities  Dr.  Redwood . 

Carriage . 

Commission,  Collecting  Subscriptions,  etc. 

Conversazione . 

Pharmaceutical  Meetings . 


188'  3  li 
18  16  2 


Examiners,  Boards  of  (England  and  Scotland)  .  .  . 

Fixtures  and  Fittings . . . 

Furniture . 

Gratuity  to  Mr3.  Harrison,  late  Porter’s  Wife  .  .  . 

House  Expenses . 

Journal,  Balance  of  Account . 

Laboratory : — 

Director’s  Salary ....  £200  0  0 

Percentage  on 
£583.  0s.  6rf., 

Fees  received 
from  Oct.  to 
Dee.  1869  .  £145  15  1 

Percentage  on 
£1185.1  ls.Od., 

Fees  received 

during  1870  .  295  3  5  440  18  6 

- -  640  18  6 

Demonstrator’s  Salary  .  .  ,  100  0  0 
Percentage  on 
£583.  0s.  6(2., 

Fees  received 
from  Oct.  to 
Dec.  1869  .  58  6  3 

Percentage  on 
£118  5.1  lx.  0(2., 

Fees  received 

during  1870  .  118  1  3  176  7  C 

- -  276  7  6 

Assistant-Demonstrator’s  Salary  ...  65  0  0 


Porter’s  Wages . 80  13  0 

Chemicals,  Gas,  Coke,  etc . 194  15  8 


Law  Costs . 

Lectures  : — 

Professor  of  Chemistry  and  Pharmacy  .  300  0  0 
Prolessor  of  Botany  and  Materia  Mediea  300  0  0 
Subscription  to  Botanic  Gardens  ...  21  0  0 

Prize  Medals,  etc .  7  14  6 


Library . . . 

Museum Curator’s  Salary .  100  0*  6 

Specimens  and  Sundries  ...  65  15  3 


1,596  10  0 
33  17  4 
324  15  6 
25  0  0 
3  18  6 
36  7  1 


207  0  1 
855  17  2 
179  9  8 
40  2  0 
10  0  0 
67  11  1 
1,848  14  8 


1,257  14  8 
261  0  10 


628  14  6 
86  8  10 


Expense  of  the  Society  in  Scotland . 

Postage . 

Repairs  and  Alterations . 

Rent,  Rates,  Taxes,  and  Seven  Years’  Insurance  in 

advance  . 

Repayments . 

Stationery,  Engraving,  Printing,  and  Office  Expenses  . 
Salaries  : — 

Secretary  and  Registrar .  450  0  0 

Assistant-Secretary  and  Deputy- Regis¬ 
trar  .  187  10  0 

Clerks  and  Servants . 530  1  0 

Sundries,  General . 11  12  9 

Expenses  incurred  in  second  scrutiny  of 
Votes  for  Election  on  the  Council,  the 
first  return  having  been  found  incorrect : 

Fees  to  Scrutineers .  23  2  0 

Turquand,  Young,  and  Co.,  Account¬ 
ants  . 16  2  6 


Travelling  Expeuses  (Country  Members  of 

Council) . 

Refreshments  for  Council . 

‘  Register,’  Cost  of  Publication 

Registrars’ Certificates  of  Death . ’ 

Local  Secretaries’  Expenses . 

Balance  in  Treasurer’s  hands . * 

Balance  in  Secretary’s  hands . !  !  .’ 


165  15  3 
95  14  1 
155  4  11 
488  13  6 

571  19  10 
25  17  6 
275  5  0 


1,167  11  0 


50  17  3 

229  15  6 
14  3  9 
252  6  9 
8  6  10 
9  16  11 
69  18  0 
16  16  3 


£11,064  5  1 


£11,064  5  1 


May  27,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


945 


TVe,  the  undersigned  Auditors,  have  examined  the  Accounts  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,' and  find  them  correct 
agreeably  with  the  foregoing  statement;  and  that  there  was  standing  to  the  account  of  the  Society,  at  the  Bank  of 
England,  on  the  31st  December,  1870  : — - 


General  Fund .  ) 

Life  Members’  Fund  . j 

Benevolent  Fund  . ) 

Pereira  Memorial  Fund .  j 

Bell  Memorial  Fund  . 

Secretary’s  Casual  Relief  Fund  ... 


New  3  per  Cents. 

Consols. 

Do. 

Do. 


£10,200  0  0 
2,890  0  0 

11,500  0  0 
100  0  0 


The  Hills  Prize  Fund  . Russian  Bonds  (at  Bankers) . 

Frederick  Barron, 
William  Hodgkinson, 
John  Brunt  Mackey, 
William  Squire, 


£13,090  0  0 

11,600  0  0 
2,050  0  0 
105  0  0 

200  0  0 


Auditors. 


BENEVOLENT  FUND,  1870. 


£  s.  d. 

To  Balance  in  Treasurer’s  hands  (Jan.  1,  1S70)  ....  421  15  4 
„  Dividends  on  invested  capital  .........  815  11  G 

„  Donations . £98  4  0 

„  Subscriptions . .  586  16  9 

-  685  0  9 


£  s.  d.  £  s.  d. 

By  10  Annuitants,  to  Christmas,  1870,  at  £30 

each .  300  0  0 

,,  2  Annuitants,  elected  Oct.  1870  (2  months 

to  Christmas),  at  £5  each . 10  0  0 

-  310  0  0 

,,  Grants:  — 

Member,  London,  4th  grant,  now  a  Can¬ 
didate  for  Annuity . 210  0 

Member,  at  Jersey,  from  1852  to  1808,  age 
64,  cripple  from  rheumatic  gout,  elected 

an  Annuitant,  Oct.  1870 .  10  0  0 

Widow  (with  three  children)  of  a  late 

Member  in  Kent .  20  0  0 

Orphan  daughter  of  a  late  Member  at 

Southampton  (fourth  grant)  ....  10  0  0 

Member  at  Oxford . 10  0  0 

Widow  of  a  late  Member  at  London,  age 

51  (fourth  grant)  . 5  0  0 

Member,  late  of  Watford,  age  58  ...  10  0  0 
Widow  of  a  late  Member  at  Lancaster, 

age  62,  now  a  Candidate  for  an  Annuity  10  0  0 
[Registered  Chemist  and  Druggist  at 

Brighton,  age  43  .  15  0  0 

-  110  0  0 

,,  Balance  due  to  Secretary,  Jan.  1,  1870  .  0  0  3 

,,  Premium  on  the  Orphan  Bentley’s  Policy 

of  Assurance . 1  11  2 

,,  Advertisements . 210 

,,  Postage . 8  19  3 

-  12  11  8 

,,  Printing  and  Stationery . 13  10  0 

Purchase  of  £961.  12s.  10tf.  Consols . 891  5  10 

...  85  0  1 


Balance  in  Treasurer’s  hands  (Dec.  31,  1870) 


£1,422  7  7 


February  23,  1871. 

Consols,  31st  December,  1869  . ^10,000  0  0 

Consols,  purchase  of,  as  above . 061  12  10 

Consols,  purchase  of  (transfer  of  £500  from  General  Fund  Account)  ....  538  7  2 

Total  invested  Capital . £11,500  0  0 

We,  the  undersigned  Auditors,  have  examined  the  above  Account,  and  find  the  same  correct. 

Frederick  Barron, 
William  Hodgkinson, 
John  Brunt  Mackey, 
William  Squire, 

February  23,  1871. 


Auditors. 


mentioned  in  the  report  of  last  year,  appear  on  this  occa¬ 
sion  as.  increasing  the  item  of  “  Repairs  and  alterations.” 

The  Council  have  been  encouraged  by  the  greater  use 
made  of  the  library  to  increase  their  outlay  in  the  pur¬ 
chase  of  "books.  The  selection  has  been  carefully  made 
from  month  to  month  by  the  Library  Committee. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  cost  entailed  upon  the 
Society  by  the  publication  of  the  Register,  in  conformity 
with  the  Act  of  1868,  has  been  reduced  from  £245  in 
1869  to  £68  in  the  past  year,  with  the  satisfactory  pro¬ 
spect  of  a  still  further  diminution  of  expense  in  future 
issues.  In  noticing  the  4  Register,’  the  Council  would 


draw  attention  to  the  great  difficulty  experienced  by  the 
Registrar  in  keeping  it  correctly,— a  difficulty  mainly 
caused  by  unreported  retirements,  changes  of  residence 
and  deaths.  The  Council  would  urge  upon  members  the 
great  assistance  they  may  afford  the  Registrar,  by  send¬ 
ing  timely  information  of  changes  which  take  place  in 
their  neighbourhoods. 

The  remarks  on  the  Financial  Statement  cannot  bo 
closed  without  alluding  to  the  pension  granted  to  Dr. 
Redwood  when  the  change  in  the  editorship  of  the 
Journal  occurred  in  July  last.  Dr.  Redwood  had  been 
so  long  connected  with  that  publication,  and  had  devoted 


€46 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  27,  1871. 


so  many  of  the  test  years  of  his  life  to  its  service,  that 
the  Council  felt  it  hut  an  act  of  justice  to  give  him  such 
an  acknowledgment  of  his  labours. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  at  the  close  of  the  meeting 
of  1870,  a  resolution,  proposed  by  Mr.  Schacht,  was  car¬ 
ried,  expressive  of  the  opinion  that  the  means  hitherto 
adopted  by  the  Society  for  the  advancement  of  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Education  were  no  longer  adequate  to  the  neces¬ 
sities  of  the  times,  and  urging  the  in-coming  Council  to 
consider  some  scheme  for  enlarging  the  usefulness  of  the 
funds  at  their  disposal. 

The  Council,  mindful  of  the  altered  condition  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society, — no  longer  a  merely  voluntary 
association,  but  one  to  which  all  intending  chemists  must 
apply  for  authority  to  exercise  their  calling,  and,  failing 
to  possess  a  sufficient  educational  qualification,  would  fail 
to  obtain  that  authority, — immediately  after  its  first 
meeting  issued  inquiries  to  the  various  Provincial  Asso¬ 
ciations,  and  founded  on  the  answers  thereto,  a  Report 
which  was  published  in  the  Journal.  Certain  recom¬ 
mendations  having  been  adopted,  forms  of  application 
for  aid  were  prepared ;  these,  however,  were  found  to 
require  reconsideration,  and  some  alterations  were  con¬ 
sequently  made  which  it  is  hoped  will  render  them  more 
practicable.  The  subject  is  not  an  easy  one,  as  the  fund 
available  for  the  purpose  is  small,  yet  the  Council  trust 
some  aid  may  be  afforded  to  those  who  are  anxious  to 
advance  their  professional  education,  but  are  residing 
in  localities  where  chemists  are  not  sufficiently  numerous 
to  maintain  public  schools  for  that  purpose.  One  great 
advantage  arising  out  of  the  purchase  of  Dr.  Redwood’s 
apparatus — an  advantage  which  had  due  weight  in  de¬ 
ciding  on  the  purchase — is,  that  some  portions  of  it  are 
adapted  for  the  illustration  of  lectures,  and  may  be  lent 
on  certain  conditions  to  Provincial  Associations. 

The  Council  have  great  satisfaction  in  drawing  atten¬ 
tion  to  the  following  passages  from  the  Reports  on  the 
Examinations  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Great 
Britain  by  Dr.  Grccnhow,  published  in  the  Twelfth 
Report  on  Public  Health  by  the  medical  officer  of  the 
Privy  Council : — 

“The  technical  examinations  are  made  as  practical  as 
possible.  The  prescriptions  submitted  to  the  candidates 
are  very  various  in  character,  and  have  all  been  actually 
written  for  patients  and  dispensed  in  chemists’  shops. 
The  ability  to  read  prescriptions  is  obviously  one  of  the 
most  necessary  qualifications  for  chemists  and  druggists, 
and  a  large  proportion  of  marks  has  therefore  been  very 
properly  allotted  to  this  subject  in  both  the  Modified 
and  Minor  Examinations.  When  present  I  have  ob¬ 
served  that  although  most  of  the  candidates  can  read 
ordinary  prescriptions  correctly  enough  to  ensure  their 
being  able  to  dispense  from  them  with  safety,  compara¬ 
tively  few  are  sufficiently  conversant  with  Latin  to  read 
■with  accuracy  prescriptions  couched  in  somewhat  un¬ 
usual  terms,  or  having  appended  to  them  minute  direc¬ 
tions  for  use  in  the  Latin  language.  The  already-re¬ 
cited  regulations  sufficiently  show  the  scope  of  the  several 
examinations  in  the  other  subjects,  and  I  may  add  that 
the  selection  of  specimens  submitted  to  candidates  for 
recognition  is  well  calculated  to  test  their  practical 
knowledge. 

“I  have  closely  observed  the  mode  of  conducting  the 
several  technical  examinations  by  the  appointed  exa¬ 
miners,  and  can  bear  testimony  to  the  zealous  and  con¬ 
scientious  manner  in  which  these  gentlemen  discharge 
their  duty.  On  some  occasions  I  have  followed  the  same 
candidates  through  their  examination  in  all  the  succes¬ 
sive  subjects,  making  my  own  estimate  of  the  number 
-of  marks  which  they  had  earned  in  each  subject,  and 
then  comparing  this  estimate  with  the  number  of  marks 
.assigned  to  them  by  the  examiners,  which  has  seldom 
shown  any  considerable  discrepancy.  On  other  occa¬ 
sions  I  have  remained  for  a  considerable  time  watching 
the  examinations  of  successive  candidates  in  the  same 
subject,  and  have  satisfied  myself  of  their  being  con¬ 


ducted  with  perfect  fairness  and  impartiality  as  between 
one  candidate  and  another. 

****** 

“  I  have,  in  conclusion,  only  to  repeat  what  has  already 
been  implied  in  my  Report,  that,  in  my  opinion,  the  ex¬ 
aminations  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  are  of  such 
sort,  and  are  conducted  in  such  manner,  as  to  constitute 
a  sufficient  guarantee  to  the  public  with  regard  to  the 
qualifications  of  persons  admitted  to  register  under  the 
Pharmacy  Act,  1868.” 

The  changes  made  last  year  in  the  publication  of  the 
Journal  can  scarcely  be  said  to  have  had  a  sufficient 
trial.  The  largely  increased  expense  caused  by  the 
weekly  issue,  the  increase  in  the  number  of  members, 
etc.,  have  occasioned  so  much  larger  an  expenditure 
than  formerly,  that  sufficient  advertisements  have  not 
been  forthcoming  to  meet  it. 

At  the  last  Annual  Meeting,  the  following  resolution, 
in  reference  to  the  regulations  for  the  keeping,  dispens¬ 
ing  and  selling  of  poisons,  was  adopted : — “  That  the 
subject  be  taken  into  consideration  by  the  in-coming 
Council,  and  that  a  further  report  be  made  to  the  next 
Annual  Meeting.” 

The  consideration  of  this  important  question  has  oc¬ 
cupied  a  considerable  portion  of  the  time  of  the  Council 
during  the  past  year.  The  various  motions  which  have 
been  brought  forward  and  the  result  of  the  divisions 
thereon,  have  been  published  in  the  Journal.  Yielding, 
however,  to  the  opinions  of  a  large  number  of  pharma¬ 
ceutical  chemists  and  chemists  and  druggists  throughout 
the  kingdom,  expressed  at  public  meetings  and  in  me¬ 
morials,  the  Council  have  determined  to  submit  to  the 
meeting  the  regulations  for  adoption  as  Recommenda¬ 
tions. 

The  Benevolent  Fund  has  slowly  but  steadily  advanced 
during  the  last  few  years.  The  dividends,  however, 
arising  from  the  invested  capital  being  inadequate  to 
meet  the  annual  pensions, — the  Council,  in  1870,  felt 
justified  in  transferring  £500  from  the  ordinary  Funds 
of  the  Society  to  this  Fund.  Twelve  annuitants  have 
been  elected  since  Mr.  Orridge  (whose  loss  is  greatly 
regretted)  so  strongly  aided  in  establishing  these  grants 
and  in  generally  furthering  the  objects  of  the  Fund ; 
occasional  grants  are  also  made  where  the  Council  con¬ 
sider  them  required  and  desirable. 

All  members  of  the  trade  are  now  eligible  to  receive 
aid  from  the  Benevolent  Fund,  whether  members  of  the 
Society  or  not ;  but  it  is  a  matter  of  regret  that,  while 
so  many  could  well  afford  assistance,  so  few,,  compara¬ 
tively,  have  come  forward  to  help.  It  may  be  that  men 
who  are  not  members,  and  consequently  are  not  called 
on  for  subscriptions  to  the  Society,  have  not  had  the 
claims  of  the  Fund  brought  immediately  before  them, 
but  the  Council  believe  that  Local  Socretaries  might 
easily  obtain  their  co-operation  in  so  good  an  object. 

During  the  past  year  Mr.  Westwood,  a  very  old  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  Society,  and  one  who  had  for  several  years 
acted  as  an  auditor  of  its  accounts,  has  passed  away,  to 
the  great  regret  of  all  who  knew  him. 

The  Council  cannot  conclude  their  Report  without 
also  expressing  their  sincere  regret  on  account  of  the 
retirement  of  Mr.  Sandford  from  the  Presidential  Chair ; 
for,  however  opinions  may  occasionally  have  differed, 
they  have  uniformly  admired  the  kind  feeling,  ability, 
patience  and  perseverance  of  their  colleague. 

The  Registrar  placed  on  the  table  the  following : — 

Register  of  Members,  Associates  and  Apprentices 
of  the  Society. 

Register  of  Pharmaceutical  Chemists. 

Register  of  Assistants. 

, Register  of  Apprentices  or  Students. 

Under  the  Pharmacy  Act,  1852. 

Register  of  Chemists  and  Druggists. 

Under  the  Pharmacy  Act,  1868. 


May  27,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


94  7 


Mr.  Wiggin  (Ipswich)  :  Gentlemen,  I  beg  to  move 
rthat  the  Report  of  the  Council  be  received  and  adopted, 
and  printed  in  the  Journal  and  Transactions  of  the  So¬ 
ciety.  I  am  very  pleased  indeed  to  have  again  the  oppor¬ 
tunity  of  addressing  you,  to  come  up  again  as  I  have 
■done  for  many  years,  combining  business  with  pleasure. 
As  you  have  all,  no  doubt,  read  the  Report,  anything  I 
•could  say  would  be  quite  a  woi'k  of  supererogation,  par¬ 
ticularly  after  the  able  manner  with  which  our  President, 
in  his  opening  address,  has  commented  upon  everything 
•connected  with  it.  So  far  as  regards  the  Finances,  I 
amust  say  I  think  the  statements  in  the  Report  are  hardly 
■so  good  as  usual ;  but  I  accept,  as  I  feel  myself  bound  to 
>do,  the  explanations  made  by  our  governing  body,  those 
■whom  we  have  elected  to  serve  us  for  the  last  year.  I 
have  nothing  particular  to  say  about  that  bone  of  con¬ 
tention  amongst  us,  the  Poison  Regulations,  because 
they  will  be  the  subject  of  remark  hereafter;  but  I  may 
say  that  I  would  rather  we  should  manage  our  own 
work  than  let  other  people  do  it  for  us.  There  is  one 
•ether  matter  which  the  Chairman  mentioned,  and  upon 
which  I  feel  very  strongly,  namely,  the  retirement  of 
Mr.  Sandford.  We  know  the  peculiar  circumstances 
•under  which  he  retired,  and  I  must  say,  that  in  electing 
to  do  so  he  did  a  very  graceful  act ;  one  which,  in  my 
•opinion,  proved  him  to  be  a  most  honourable  gentleman. 
I  think  he  properly  appreciated  his  position,  and  I  hope 
■and  trust  that  by  our  votes  to-day  wre  shall  show  that 
the  feeling  of  the  majority  of  this  Society  goes  with  him. 

A  Member  :  May  I  ask  whether,  by  adopting  the 
^Report,  we  also  take  the  regulations  as  to  the  Poison 
Rill  with  it  ? 

The  Chairman  :  You  do  not.  The  regulations  will 
tbe  put  to  you  afterwards  as  a  separate  question. 

Mr.  M.  Carteigiie  :  I  beg  to  second  the  motion  for 
rthe  adoption  of  the  Report. 

Mr.  Robbins  :  I  should  like  to  make  a  few  observations 
with  regard  to  the  Benevolent  Fund.  In  reading  the 
.Pharmaceutical  Journal  of  last  week,  I  was  struck, 
mpon  looking  over  the  list  of  subscriptions,  with  the 
.smallness  of  the  sums  there  enumerated.  I  searched  the 
list  for  a  great  number  of  names  which  I  fancied  ought 
rto  be  there,  and  found  them  only  conspicuous  by  their 
-absence.  In  looking  over  some  of  the  large  towns  of 
.great  commercial  importance,  I  found  that  the  sums 
put  dowm  were  really  very  insignificant,  and  there  were 
•other  towms  wdiich  I  looked  for  in  vain.  I  think  it  is  a 
•disgrace  to  such  a  body  as  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
lhat  this  should  be  so  ;  wre  arc  bound  to  look  after  the 
•orphans  and  widows,  the  poor  and  the  indigent  of  our 
■own  body.  It  is  not  only  a  duty  which  we  ought  to  per¬ 
form,  but  we  should  also  look  upon  it  as  a  privilege  and  a 
pleasure.  I  cannot  fancy  that  chemists  are  less  liberal 
•and  less  charitable  than  other  people.  I  think  this  must 
•arise  from  the  subject  not  having  been  placed  promi- 
mently  enough  before  the  members  generally.  I  am  told 
.that  the  donations,  subscriptions  and  interest  arising  from 
.•funded  property  are  not  sufficient  to  meet  the  require¬ 
ments  of  the  annuitants,  and  when  we  see  that  the  amount 
: subscribed  by  the  members  does  not  amount  to  a  shilling 
a  head,  I  think  it  is  time  we  took  the  matter  into  serious 
■consideration.  Our  President  has  mentioned  that  we 
.have  recently  had  a  legacy  left  us,  and  it  is  a  remarkable 
.fact  that  that  is  the  first  legacy  left  to  the  Benevolent 
Fund.  We  have  not  many  Peabodys  in  our  ranks,  and 
■therefore  I  shall  not  quarrel  writh  the  dead  ;  but  to  the 
.living  I  wmuld  urge  that  they  take  this  matter  into 
consideration  and  see  wrhether,  before  the  next  meeting, 
we  cannot  put  a  more  respectable  list  before  the  mem- 
.‘bers. 

Mr.  Kent  :  Sir,  my  chief  object  in  coming  here  to-day 
was  to  speak  upon  the  subject  which  has  been  alluded  to 
by  the  last  speaker.  I  happen  to  know  six  large  towms 
in  the  country  from  which  you  receive  only  £2.  7?.,  and 
there  are  above  100  respectable  chemists  doing  a  very 
large  amount  of  business  there.  I  do  not  think  that 


those  chemists  are  divested  of  feelings  of  sympathy  for 
the  poor  in  our  class  more  than  those  chemists  who  do 
subscribe  to  our  funds.  I  think  it  is  due  to  the  fact  that 
their  attention  has  not  been  drawn  to  the  subject.  I 
think  if  your  local  secretaries  were  specially  directed  to 
call  attention  to  this  matter,  and  make  application  to 
the  different  chemists  of  their  localities,  you  wmuld  find  a 
great  improvement  in  the  state  of  your  Benevolent  Fund. 
I  hope  that  we  have  a  good  many  of  those  local  secre¬ 
taries  now  present,  and  that  their  minds  wall  be  drawn 
to  the  subject ;  also  that  the  incoming  Council  will  en¬ 
courage  those  gentlemen  by  sending  a  nice  circular,  so 
that  it  can  be  distributed  amongst  the  chemists  in  their 
locality.  I  feel  assured  that  wre  cannot  exactly  sleep 
comfortably  in  our  beds  if  wre  neglect  our  "widows  and 
our  orphans.  I  would  further  suggest  that  in  the  case 
of  those  chemists  wdio  are  known  to  be  well-to-do,  and 
will  not  subscribe  a  farthing,  if  any  of  their  friends  should 
become  dependent,  it  should  be  a  question  whether  the 
Society  should  entertain  any  application  from  them. 
The  various  charitable  institutions  throughout  the  coun¬ 
try,  I  believe,  act  upon  that  principle ;  and  it  again  acts 
as  a  sort  of  stimulus  on  all  parties  during  the  time  of 
prosperity,  when  they  do  possess  the  means  to  contribute 
something,  to  know  that  if  the  sorrows  of  life  should 
come  upon  them,  and  their  friends  are  left  destitute,  they 
will  be  cared  for  by  the  societies  to  which  they  have 
belonged,  and  to  which  they  have  subscribed.  I  am 
heartily  pleased  that  attention  has  been  drawn  to  this 
matter,  and  hope  that  after  this  day  we  shall  have  to 
congratulate  ourselves  upon  the  improved  state  of  our 
Benevolent  Fund. 

Mr.  Humpage  :  I  should  like  to  say  a  word,  Sir,  re¬ 
specting  this  Benevolent  Fund.  I  believe  it  is  through 
apathy  that  many  gentlemen  have  not  come  fonvard 
and  assisted  the  Fund,  and  I  think  that  generally  they 
are  not  members  of  the  Society.  If  they  were,  and  had 
the  Journal  coming  before  them  four  times  a  month,  they 
must  see  that  the  Benevolent  Fund  and  its  distribution 
does  occupy  a  considerable  portion  of  the  Council’s  time 
and  attention.  When  we  bear  in  mind  that  three  years 
ago  there  were  about  2000  members  of  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society,  I  did  expect,  when  the  doors  of  the  So¬ 
ciety  were  so  widely,  so  kindly  (I  was  going  to  say  so 
lavishly)  rolled  open,  a  very  large  number  would  rush  in. 
We  asked  them  to  come  in  and  unite  with  us  who  had  been 
working  for  thirty  years.  We  had  created  the  Society ; 
we  had  in  addition  subscribed  £10,000  for  this  Benevolent 
Fund — and  all  we  asked  them  was,  to  come  in  and  shake 
hands  and  help  us.  There  could  be  no  difference  of 
opinion  as  to  the  desirableness  of  this  fund.  There 
might  be  a  difference  as  to  the  proceedings  at  the  Council 
table,  but  I  repeat,  there  could  be  no  difference  as  to 
the  propriety  of  every  member  of  the  trade  who  can  af¬ 
ford  it  giving  an  annual  subscription  to  this  fund,  since 
all  are  eligible  to  receive  its  help.  I  hope  and  trust  many 
country  chemists  will  speedily.join  the  Society,  when  their 
attention  will  be  more  completely  called  to  its  advantages; 
and  depend  upon  it,  if  they  have  any  prejudices,  the  more 
you  can  bring  them  in  contact  -with  the  Society,  those 
prej  udices  will  be  melted  away.  I  have  come  in  contact 
with  many  gentlemen  who  have  prejudices.  A  short 
time  ago  a  gentlemen  who  lives  in  my  neighbourhood,  a 
man  of  standing,  a  man  of  influence,  a  man  of  character, 
and  a  man  of  position,  launched  a  complaint  to  me  to  this 
effect, — I  had  no  circular  from  the  Council  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society  respecting  these  poison  regulations,  and 
I  think  I  am  as  respectable  a  man  as  the  2000  who  had 
the  circulars.  I  am  one  of  the  10,000  outside.  I  told 
him  that  he  did  not  look  at  it  in  the  proper  light.  I 
said,  “  Why  have  you  not  had  a  circular  f  Because  you 
would  not  unite  yourself  with  the  Society.  If  I  volun¬ 
tarily  keep  myself  back  from  joining  a  club,  can  I  ex¬ 
pect  to  have  notice  of  the  movements  and  doings  of  that 
club?  Assuredly  not.” — “Sir,”  said  he,  “I  never  looked 
at  it  in  that  light ;  I  see  the  justice  of  it ;  you  are  right.’* 


948 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  27,  1871. 


Gentlemen,  illuminate  the  trade  generally,  and  you 
must  have  a  very  much  larger  income  for  distribution. 

Mr.  Mize li :  Sir,  I  have  one  or  two  remarks  I  should  he 
glad  to  make  upon  the  Report.  As  touching  the  Benevo¬ 
lent  Fund,  I  most  fully  concur  with  every  word  which 
has  been  uttered,  and  I  would  only  add  one  suggestion  re¬ 
specting  it ;  that  is,  in  publishing  the  calendar,  together 
with  the  members’  names  and  residences,  you  should  have 
a  column  stating  the  amount  they  subscribe  to  the  Bene¬ 
volent  Fund.  It  would  be  very  handy  and  convenient 
to  those  who  were  taking  an  interest  in  any  case  and 
canvassing  for  votes,  because  it  would  at  once  show  the 
number  of  votes  each  member  had  ;  it  would,  at  the  same 
time,  be  a  silent  monitor  to  those  against  whoso  names  a 
subscription  was  not  found.  Another  matter  is,  that 
before  the  new  issue  of  the  Journal  we  used  to  have  a 
report  of  the  donations  to  that  fund  published  monthly, 
which  has  recently  been  discontinued.  I  think  that 
was  a  good  plan,  because  it  brought  the  matter  promi¬ 
nently  and  frequently  before  the  members.  If  that  plan 
were  readopted,  it  might  stir  up  benevolence,  and  so 
help  the  fund.  Another  suggestion  I  would  make  is 
with  regard  to  the  library.  I  believe  the  rule  at 
present  is  that  the  library  shall  be  open  up  to  six 
o’clock  ;  might  it  not  be  extended,  with  advantage  to 
many  of  the  students  and  assistants  in  London,  if  it 
were  open  up  to  nine  o’clock?  Young  men  are  out 
in  the  evening,  and  have  an  opportunity  of  reading  in 
the  library,  but  they  cannot  do  so  in  consequence  of  the  I 
present  regulations.  Another  point  I  would  observe 
upon  is  the  accuracy  of  the  register.  In  last  year’s 
Report  we  were  told  that  the  register  was  very  satisfac¬ 
tory.  I  am  sorry  to  differ  from  that  opinion.  The  ex¬ 
perience  I  have  had  lately  has  told  me  it  is  anything 
but  satisfactory.  I  believe,  I  may  say,  that  in  London 
there  are  from  150  to  200  addresses  in  the  register  which 
are  wrong,  and  that  in  the  whole  of  the  country  there 
are  between  1000  and  2000  such  wrong  addresses.  That , 
is  a  very  serious  matter,  because  I  believe  if  the  re¬ 
gister  were  taken  into  court,  it  would  be  no  evidence 
whatever  unless  it  were  correct.  The  Act  of  Parlia¬ 
ment,  by  clauses  9  and  10,  provides  against  that  difficulty, 
and  gives  the  Registrar  power  to  issue  letters  by  v  hich 
that  register  may  be  corrected.  If  the  Council  have  the 
power,  I  think  it  would  be  well  to  exercise  it ;  and 
before  the  publication  of  the  register,  every  person 
should  be  required  annually  to  notify  his  residence,  and, 
in  case  of  failing  to  do  so,  that  his  name  should  be  left 
out,  capable  of  being  restored  in  after  sheets  up  to  a 
certain  date  upon  payment  of  a  trivial  fine.  I  believe 
that  a  regulation  of  that  kind  is  in  force  in  the  case  of 
the  Law  Society,  and  that  it  would  be  a  great  improve¬ 
ment  if  it  were  judiciously  carried  out  with  the  register 
of  this  Society. 

Mr.  Schacht  (Clifton) :  Sir, the  subject  of  the  Benevo¬ 
lent  Fund  is  one  upon  which  I  should  be  sorry  to  say 
one  word  that  would  seem  like  a  damper  upon  the  feelings 
which,  I  hope,  more  or  less  actuate  us  all.  But  however 
much  the  observations  which  have  been  made  apply  to 
ns  individually,  I  think  they  ought  not  to  apply  to  us  in 
our  corporate  capacity.  It  seems  to  me  that  benevolence 
should  not  be  considered  as  the  flrst  duty,  at  any  rate,  ; 
of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society.  And  moreover,  what¬ 
ever  cause  there  may  be  for  something  like  a  lecture 
to  us  individually,  I  say  I  do  not  think  it  (Joes  apply 
to  us  in  our  corporate  capacity ;  for,  on  the  very  ba¬ 
lance-sheet  we  have  in  our  hands,  there  is  a  sum  of  j 
£500  which  has  been  handed  to  the  Benevolent  Fund. 
The  reason  why  I  introduce  the  subject  in  this  way 
is,  that  I  wish  at  the  same  time  to  call  attention  to 
a  statement  in  the  Report  in  which  I  am  very  much 
interested,  and  with  which  my  name  is  very  politely 
again  associated.  I  mean  the  subject  I  had  the  honour 
to  introduce  last  year — provincial  pharmaceutical  edu¬ 
cation.  I  think,  I  may  fairly  say,  that  we  owe  the 
Council  the  expression  of  our  gratitude  for  what  has 


been  done  up  to  the  present  time.  At  any  rate,  the- 
statements  contained  in  the  Report,  and  the  action, 
which  they  have  taken,  are  as  much,  perhaps,  as  any  of 
us,  interested  in  the  subject,  had  a  right  to  expect  at 
this  stage  of  the  history  of  the  subject ;  but  the  admis¬ 
sion  made  in  the  Report,  and  the  action  taken  upon  that 
admission,  are,  as  yet,  far  from  proportionate.  And  one 
of  the  arguments  adduced  for  this  poverty  of  action  is  . 
the  smallness  of  means  available  for  the  purpose.  I  rise 
not  for  the  sake  of  complaining  that  more  has  not  been 
done,  but  rather  to  express  a  hope  that  a  great  deal 
more  will  be  done  in  this  direction,  which  I  consider  to- 
be  one  of  such  immense,  I  was  going  to  say,  paramount 
importance.  You,  Sir,  in  your  opening  address  congra-- 
tulated  the  whole  profession  of  pharmacy  upon  the  fact, 
that  in  the  present  day  men  who  wanted  to  improve  them¬ 
selves  had  greatly  better  opportunities  of  doing  so  than  in 
past  times.  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  your  attention 
has  been  rather  limited  to  what  you  are  accustomed  to  ■ 
see  in  this  institution,  upon  which  have  hitherto  been 
concentrated  all  the  resources  of  the  Society.  AYe  com¬ 
plain  that  in  the  provinces  scarcely  anything  has  as  yet 
been  done,  except  by  local  effort ;  and  it  is  a  little  gall-  - 
ing  to  be  told  of  the  small  amount  that  is  at  the  disposal 
of  the  Council  for  this  purpose.  It  may  bo  so,  but  we 
think  it  a  large  sum.  You  have  all  noticed  the  fact  that 
something  like  £2000  a  year  is  spent  on  the  education, 
conducted  in  this  institution.  Something  like  £1200  are- 
spent  in  the  laboratory,  and  £630  in  the  lectures.  More¬ 
over,  £500  are  handed  over  to  the  Benevolent  Fund, 
and  thus  education  in  the  provinces  is  literally  nowhere ; 
and  the  only  advance  I  can  see  is  that  a  large  purchase - 
has  been  made  of  certain  apparatus,  valued  at  £300, 
which  it  is  proposed  shall  be  lent  for  lectures  in  the  pro¬ 
vinces.  There  are  certain  regulations,  which  seem  to  me 
to  be  intricate,  in  which  I  suppose  money  grants  are 
hinted  at,  but  their  exact  operation  is  made  a  little  mys¬ 
terious.  Probably  they  are  more  generous  than  I  think, 
them  to  be.  I  am  not  in  the  least  degree  anxious  to- 
cavil,  seeing  that  those  regulations  have  first  of  all  to 
stand  the  test  of  experience ;  but  it  is  upon  the  spirit  of, 
the  thing  that  I  wish  my  observations  to  bear.  AYe 
spare  money  for  everything  else,  but  seem  to  neglect 
that  which,  I  think,  is  a  paramount  claim— the  education, 
of  the  mass  of  our  young  pharmacists.  The  accommo¬ 
dation  at  this  school  is  only  equal  to  about  100  pupils  per 
annum,  which  is  not  more  than  a  twentieth  part  of  the  • 
number  who  require  to  be  educated,  and  yet  complaints 
are  made  that  more  do  not  pass  the  examination.  I 
again  say  we  have  no  opportunity  other  than  in  this  esta¬ 
blishment,  nor  any  means  of  acquiring  knowledge  other - 
than  we  had  thirty  years  ago,  which,  instead  of  being 
matter  for  congratulation,  is  a  disgrace. 

Mr.  Urwick:  Sir,  it  would  appear  that  there  is  some- 
reason  to  suppose  that  some  day  or  other  we  may 
fall  shoit  of  funds  if  we  give  lectures  in  the  country, 
but  I  think  there  is  a  way  in  which  we  may  secure  the 
requisite  funds.  It  appears  there  are  a  large  number  of 
chemists  and  druggists  who  have  all  the  privileges  given, 
them  by  the  Act,  but  still  not  being  members  of  this 
Society,  we  do  not  get  their  annual  subscriptions.  It 
would  seem  that  there  is  a  golden  bar  which  prevents 
their  entiy,  and  that  is  the  two-guinea  bar.  If  that.- 
could  be  diminished,  or  even  done  away  with  altogether, 

I  think  the  number  of  those  men  who  stand  outside 
would  be  greatly  diminished,  that  they  would  come  in,, 
and  that  your  annual  subscriptions  would  greatly  aug¬ 
ment.  Therefore,  I  would  suggest  that  we  should  meet 
them  in  some  way. 

Mr.  Radley  (Sheffield) :  Sir,  I  feel  very  much  gratified 
by  the  remarks  which  have  just  been  made  with  reference 
to  the  educational  question.  I  am  connected  with  a  local 
association  which  has  endeavoured  to  establish  a  school 
and  lectures  for  the  benefit  of  the  rising  generation. 
Our  difficulty  is  becoming  rather  serious  in  regard  to 
funds  for  the  maintenance  of  tho  lectures  during  tL&- 


'May  27, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


next  few  years.  AYe  can  support  our  institution  so  far 
as  the  members  are  concerned  as  to  finding  rooms, 
library,  chemical  apparatus  and  a  museum ;  but  we 
•are  unable  to  get  a  sufficient  number  of  pupils  to  meet 
.the  cost  of  the  lectures.  During  the  past  winter  we  had 
twenty-four  lectures  on  chemistry.  To  meet  the  ex¬ 
pense  of  those  lectures  the  association  has  had  to  pay 
£10.  105.  in  addition  to  the  pupils’  fees ;  and  if  it  is  to 
be  repeated  in  the  various  other  branches  of  scientific 
^knowledge  it  will  be,  as  1  have  said,  very  difficult  for  us 
to  maintain  our  position.  We  feel  desirous  to  bring  this 
matter  before  the  Association  generally ;  and,  although 
the  Council  have  done  very  well  hitherto,  we  do  hope  in 
the  coming  year  to  succeed  in  getting  help  from  them  in 
this  particular.  A  great  number  of  our  senior  young  men 
have’taken  advantage  of  the  Modified  Examination,  and, 
therefore,  do  not  go  in  for  the  lectures  to  the  extent 
-which  all  will  have  to  do  in  the  course  of  time.  We 
Teel  it  to  be  desirable  that,  at  all  events,  for  a  few  years 
xve  should  have  some  monetary  help  to  tide  us  over  our 
•difficulties.  I  am  quite  aware  of  the  considerations  that 
.spring  out  of  this  from  the  number  of  schools  there 
•are  in  the  country ;  but  I  think  the  thing  might  be 
.met,  and  I  trust  it  will  be. 

Mr.  Slipper :  Sir,  there  is  an  error  in  the  casting  of 
the  Benevolent  Fund,  showing  a  deficiency  of  £10  ;  and 
I  should  like  to  know  whether  it  can  be  accounted  for  in 
•any  way. 

Mr.  Bremridge  :  There  does  appear  to  be  an  omission 
•of  £10  ;  whether  it  be  a  clerical  or  printer’s  error  I  do 
not  for  the  moment  know.  The  money  has,  however, 
been  expended,  and  the  total  is,  I  am  sure,  quite  accurate. 

At  a  later  stage  of  the  proceedings,  Mr.  Slipper  an¬ 
nounced  to  the  meeting  that  Air.  Bremridge  had  shown 
.him  the  auditors’  account,  in  which  the  missing  item 
was  set  out.  It  was,  therefore,  a  printer's 'error. 

The  resolution  for  the  adoption  of  the  Report  was  then 
.put  and  carried  unanimously. 

The  Chairman  :  The  next  question  before  us,  gentle- 
mien,  is  that  of  the  poison  regulations.  It  is  a  very  im¬ 
portant  one,  and  you  will  readily  conceive  my  position 
in  bringing  the  matter  before  you.  At  the  last  Annual 
.Meeting  it  was  remitted  to  the  Council  in  this  way, — 
that  the  subject  be  taken  into  consideration  by  the  in¬ 
coming  Council,  and  that  a  further  report  be  made  to 
■the  next  Annual  Meeting.  I  shall  not  attempt  to  waste 
your  time  by  using  any  arguments  whatever,  either  in 
favour  of  or  against  the  adoption  of  these  regulations, 
.-as  }rou  know  the  Council  a  month  ago  decided  upon  pre¬ 
senting  them  to  you  as  recommendations  for  your  adop¬ 
tion.  But  it  is  quite  right  I  should  mention  to  you 
That  it  was  considered  by  some  that  if  they  were  adopted 
•as  voluntary  regulations,  the  Privy  Council  could  put 
their  seal  upon  them,  and  the  Act  of  Parliament  would 
.make  them  law,  so  that  they  would  become  compulsory. 
I  also  feel  that  I  should  read  to  you  a  letter  received 
from  Air.  Simon,  medical  officer  to  the  Privy  Council, 
-•about  twelve  days  ago.  The  letter,  which  is  addressed 
"to  the  Secretary,  is  as  follows  : — 

“  Six*, — The  Lords  of  Her  Alajesty’s  Council,  observing 
that  the  Annual  Aleeting  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
is  to  be  held  in  the  course  of  the  present  month,  direct 
me  to  refer  you  to  my  letter  of  the  23rd  December,  1870, 
•and  to  say  that  they  trust  that  such  regulations  will  then 
be  made  (under  the  first  section  of  the  Pharmacy  Act, 
1868)  in  regard  to  the  keeping,  dispensing  and  selling  of 
poisons,  as  will  be  sufficient  to  secure  the  safety  of  the 
public. 

“  Their  Lordships  think  it  right  to  apprise  the  Council 
of  the  Society  that,  should  no  such  regulations  be  sub¬ 
mitted  for  their  approval  after  the  approaching  meeting, 
they  will  feel  it  their  duty  to  endeavour  to  protect  the 
^public  by  proposing  to  Parliament  further  legislation. 

“  I  am,  Sir, 

“  Your  obedient  servant, 

“  John  Simon.” 


040 


I  need  scarcely  tell  you  that  this  letter  was  very  cour¬ 
teously  acknowledged,  but  no  further  remark  was  made 
about  it  than  that  it  would  be  presented  to  the  Council 
at  the  earliest  possible  opportunity.  With  respect  to  the 
regulations  or  recommendations  being  made  compulsory, 
supposing  you  adopt  them  to-day  as  voluntary,  our  Soli¬ 
citor  was  instructed  to  draw  up  such  a  resolution  as 
could  not  very  well  in  common  sense  be  made  compul¬ 
sory  by  merely  adopting  them  as  recommendations. 
These  arc  the  recommendations  : — 

“Recommendations  by  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  of 
Great  Britain  for  the  keeping,  dispensing  and  selling  of 
poisons. 

“  1.  That  in  the  keeping  of  poisons  each  bottle,  vessel, 
box,  or  package  containing  a  poison  be  labelled  with  the 
name  of  the  article,  and  also  with  some  distinctive  mark 
indicating  that  it  contains  poison. 

“  2.  Also  that  in  the  keeping  of  poisons,  each  poison 
be  kept  on  one  or  other  of  the  following  systems,  viz. 

“  (ft)  In  a  bottle  or  vessel  tied  over,  capped,  locked, 
or  otherwise  secured  in  a  manner  different  from  that 
in  which  bottles  or  vessels  containing  ordinary  articles 
are  secured  in  the  same  warehouse,  shop,  or  dispen¬ 
sary;  or 

“  (Jj)  In  a  bottle  or  vessel  rendered  distinguishable 
by  touch  from  the  bottles  or  vessels  in  which  ordinary 
articles  are  kept  in  the  same  warehouse,  shop,  or  dis¬ 
pensary  ;  or 

“  (c)  In  a  bottle,  vessel,  box,  or  package  kept  in  a 
room  or  cupboard  set  apart  for  dangerous  articles. 

“3.  That  in  the  dispensing  and  selling  of  poisons,  all 
liniments,  embrocations  and  lotions  containing  poison  be 
sent  out  in  bottles  rendered  distinguishable  by  touch  from 
ordinary  medicine  bottles,  and  that  there  also  be  affixed 
to  each  such  bottle  (in  addition  to  the  name  of  the  article, 
and  to  any  particular  instructions  for  its  use)  a  label 
giving  notice  that  the  contents  of  the  bottle  are  not  to 
be  taken  internally.” 

It  only  remains  now  for  me  to  put  the  resolution  as 
drawn  up  by  our  Solicitor  for  your  consideration,  and  it 
is  this  :  “  That  this  meeting  having  considered  the  re- 
commen  lations  as  to  the  keeping,  dispensing  and  selling 
of  poisons,  prepared  by  the  Council,  desires  the  Council 
to  propose  them  for  voluntary  adoption,  but  does  not  de¬ 
sire  and  does  not  prescribe  them  as  or  to  become  Regula¬ 
tions  within  the  meaning  of  the  Pharmacy  Act,  1868.” 

Air.  Burden  :  Can  we  have  the  first  clause  of  the 
Pharmacy  Act  read  ? 

Air.  Flux,  the  Society's  Solicitor,  then  read  the  first 
clause,  which  is  to  the  following  effect : — “  From  and  after 
the  31st  day  of  December,  1868,  it  shall  be  unlawful  for 
any  person  to  sell  or  keep  open  shop  for  retailing,  dispens¬ 
ing  or  compounding  poisons,  or  to  assume  or  use  the  title 
chemist  and  druggist,  or  chemist  or  druggist,  or  pharma¬ 
cist,  or  dispensing  chemist  or  druggist  in  any  part  of  Great 
Britain,  unless  such  person  shall  be  a  pharmaceutical 
chemist,  or  a  chemist  and  druggist  within  the  meaning 
of  this  Act,  and  be  registered  under  this  Act,  and  conform 
to  such  regulations  as  to  the  keeping,  dispensing  and 
selling  of  such  poisons  as  may  from  time  to  time  be  pre¬ 
scribed  by  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  with  the  consent 
of  the  Privy  Council.” 

Air.  Bourdas  (Vice-President) :  I  beg  to  second  the 
resolution. 

Air.  Giles  :  Sir,  I  think  the  occasions  are  few  when 
any  society,  be  it  a  society  for  scientific,  social  or  com¬ 
mercial  purposes,  may  differ  on  points  of  administration 
with  its  appointed  governing  body.  But  I  do  consider 
the  present  is  such  an  occasion,  not  only  on  account  of 
its  vast  importance,  but  also  on  account  of  the  fact  that 
the  Council  bring  before  us  a  matter  which  we  know  by 
their  own  previous  information  they  do  not  in  their 
hearts  approve,  but  in  obedience  to  an.  expression  ot 
opinion  utterly  informal,  and  which  I  consider  they  made 
a  mistake  in  respecting  to  the  extent  they  have  done.  I 
find  it  is  necessary  to  deal  with  this  question  not  simply 


950 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  27,  1871. 


upon  the  resolution,  because  the  resolution  does  not  raise, 
as  it  appears  to  me,  the  vital  point  which  is  at  the  bottom 
of  the  whole  thing.  I  find  it  necessary  therefore  to  move 
an  amendment,  and  I  will  just  state  to  you  what  that 
amendment  is.  It  is  in  effect  a  repetition  of  the  same 
motion  applied  to  the  present  regulations,  which  motion 
was  brought  before  you  a  year  ago  by  the  Council.  But 
I  will  tell  you  why  I  desire  to  do  so.  It  is,  that  wo  may 
decide  now  upon  the  principle  which  underlies  the  ques¬ 
tion  of  the  imposition  of  these  regulations ;  that  is  to 
say,  whether  we  have  contracted  an  obligation  to  Par¬ 
liament  which  we  are  bound  to  fulfil  in  prescribing  cer¬ 
tain  regulations,  I  care  not  now  much  what  they  are,  be¬ 
cause  in  considering  the  details  of  such  regulations,  we 
are  led  away  from  the  point,  whether  it  is  our  duty  to 
prescribe  them  or  not.  There  has  been  a  great  deal  of 
very  verbose  discussion  upon  the  matter,  and  there  was 
a  very  lengthened  meeting  a  year  ago.  Ever  since  that 
time  there  has  been  continual  discussion  of  it  in  letters 
in  the  Journal  and  elsewhere.  But  I  venture  to  assert 
that  the  main  point  of  the  question,  the  intrinsic  essence 
of  it,  has  been  very  much  kept  in  the  background, 
while  questions  of  detail  have  been  under  consideration, 
which  are  only  of  secondary  importance,  or  questions 
which  do  not  concern  us,  as  for  example,  the  necessity 
for  these  regulations  at  all.  Sir,  we  are  not  the  conser¬ 
vators  of  the  public  safety.  Parliament  is  the  conser¬ 
vator  of  the  public  safety,  and  Parliament  has  said  in 
terms,  about  which  there  has  been  no  vagueness  or  un¬ 
certainty  or  dispute,  that  regulations  are  necessary.  It 
is  then  a  question  for  us  whether  we  will  fulfil  the  obli¬ 
gation  imposed  upon  us  by  Parliament,  or  whether  we 
intend  to  measure  our  feeble  power  against  its  omnipo¬ 
tence.  I  wish  to  call  your  attention  to  what  the  obliga¬ 
tions  are  which  we  have  undertaken,  and  I  venture  to 
say  that  no  person  who  ha3  read  carefully,  as  I  have 
done,  the  Act  itself,  the  debates  which  occurred  in  the 
two  houses  of  Parliament  upon  that  Act,  and  the  leaders 
in  our  own  Journal  at  that  time,  can  come  to  any  other 
conclusion  than  that  it  was  the  intention  of  Parliament 
to  impose  upon  us  the  obligation  of  prescribing  some 
regulations,  that  we  understood  it  so  at  the  time,  and 
that  we  accepted  the  Bill  and  the  privileges  which  the 
Bill  conferred,  laden  with  that  obligation.  The  first 
clause  of  the  Act  has  been  already  read,  all  that  is 
essential  to  us  I  will  read  again.  That  the  persons 
privileged  by  this  Act  shall  “  conform  to  such  regu¬ 
lations  as  to  the  keeping,  dispensing  and  selling  of 
such  poisons  as  may  from  time  to  time  be  prescribed 
by  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  with  the  consent  of 
the  Privy  Council.”  I  cannot  conceive  that  you 
can  rationally  interpret  that  Act  of  Parliament,  unless 
you  suppose  it  contemplated  that  these  regulations 
should  be  prescribed.  But  let  us  turn  to  the  debates 
which  took  place  upon  the  passing  of  that  Bill  through 
the  House  of  Commons.  Permit  me,  however,  first  of 
all,  to  turn  to  the  leading  article  in  our  own  Journal 
to  showr  how  that  Act  was  interpreted  at  the  time. 
“  The  provisions  for  preventing  the  improper  use  of 
poisonous  substances  will  not  be  complete,  notwith¬ 
standing  the  labours  which  the  Legislature  has  devoted 
to  the  subject  during  this  and  previous  sessions  of  Par¬ 
liament,  until  some^further  arrangements  and  regulations 
Rave  been  made  regarding  dangerous  medicines.  Such 
regulations  are  contemplated  in  the  Act  which  has  just 
been  passed,  and  they  may  be  made  from  time  to  time 
by  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  with  the  concurrence  of 
the  Privy  Council.  The  subject  is  one  of  considerable 
importance,  involving  several  points  of  detail,  and  it 
merits  the  serious  attention,  not  only  of  pharmaceutists, 
but  of  members  of  every  branch  of  the  medical  pro¬ 
fession.  Questions  will  naturally  arise  as  to  the  best 
methods  of  arranging  and  labelling  the  bottles  in  which 
dangerous  and  other  drugs  are  kept  for  use  in  dispensing, 
of  distinguishing,  when  dispensed,  such  medicines  as 
may  be  safely  administered  internally  from  those  which 


arc  intended  for  external  use,  and  of  drawing  attention 
to  those  medicines  intended  for  internal  administration 
which  require  great  care  or  special  precautions  to  be  ob¬ 
served  in  using  them.”  Then  there  are  some  other 
matters  which  I  need  not  read.  But  then  occurs  this, 
passage : — “  Many  of  these  regulations  relate  so  exclu¬ 
sively  to  the  internal  arrangements  of  the  shop  or  dis¬ 
pensary,  that  those  only  who  have  practical  experience 
in  dispensing  can  fully  judge  of  the  extent  to  which  they 
are  likely  to  realize  the  required  object.  Details  of  this, 
description  will  therefore  be  most  successfully  devised 
and  carried  out  by  those  who  have  the  strongest  and 
most  direct  interest  in  their  operation.”  So  far  as  to 
the  way  in  which  we  interpreted  the  intention  of  the- 
Act.  Now  let  us  see  what  the  Legislature  has  thought 
and  said  upon  that  subject.  I  find  that  Mr.  Lowe- 
said  when  the  Bill  was  about  to  be  introduced  into  the- 
House, — “The  noble  lord  the  Vice-President  of  the 
Committee  of  Council  gave  notice  that  he  would  move 
that  the  Bill  should  he  referred  to  a  Select  Committee, 
but  that  notice  has,  I  am  sorry  to  see,  been  withdrawn, 
and  some  amendments  have  been  put  on  the  notice^ 
paper  in  substitution,  but  they  do  not  seem  to  touch  the-, 
main  question,  which  is,  whether  powers  of  licensing: 
persons  to  sell  clangorous  drugs  shall  be  entrusted  to 
persons  who  are  in  truth  a  mere  voluntary  association. 

I  hope  the  Government  will  take  care  that  an  oppor¬ 
tunity  be  given  for  discussing  the  principle  of  the  Bill, 
and  that  the  Bill  be  not  allowed  to  pass  through  Com¬ 
mittee  between  two  and  three  in  the  morning  without, 
discussion.  The  Government  ought  to  obtain  some  sc- 
curity  from  this  voluntary  association  that  the  provisions- 
of  the  Bill  will  be  properly  carried  into  effect.”  Again 
we  find  he  says  in  reference  to  clause  1,  “  I  move  to 
leave  out  the  words  Pharmaceutical  Society  with  the- 
conscnt  of ;”  the  effect  of  that  would  be  that  it  would, 
have  taken  out  of  the  hands  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  any  control,  and  would  have  vested  the  whole 
matter  in  the  hands  of  the  Privy  Council.  Mr.  Headlam 
contended  against  that,  and  said,  “The  regulations  as- 
to  the  keeping  and  selling  of  poisons  will  be  prescribed, 
by  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  with  the  consent  of  the- 
Privy  Council.  It  seems  perfectly  clear  that  these  two- 
bodies,  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  who  will  prepare^ 
these  regulations  which  will  relate  to  their  own  trading, 
and  the  Privy  Council,  will  act  together ;  for  the  latter 
will  have  to  give  their  consent  to  the  regulations.  Ik 
cannot  be  objected  that  there  ought  to  be  some  regula¬ 
tions  relating  to  the  sale  of  poisons  ;  nor  can  it  be  ob¬ 
jected,  I  think,  that  these  regulations  ought  in  the  first, 
instance  to  be  framed  by  the  Pharmaceutical  Society.”” 
Mr.  Headlam  took  charge  of  this  Bill  through  the  House,, 
being  in  correspondence  with  our  authorized  representa¬ 
tives  and  negotiators,  and  he  said,  speaking  in  that  ca¬ 
pacity,  “  It  cannot  bo  objected  there  ought  to  be  some 
regulations  relating  to  the  sale  of  poisons,  or  that  the- 
Pharmaceutical  Society  are  the  proper  persons  to  framo 
them.”  I  am  trying  to  show  the  intention  of  Paidiament 
with  reference  to  this  Bill  which  we  accepted.  Mr.  Lowa 
further  on  says,  “  I  think  the  clause  as  framed  is  non¬ 
sense.  The  idea  is,  that  the  persons  referred  to  shall 
conform  to  certain  regulations  which,  with  the  consent 
of  the  Privy  Council,  shall  be  prescribed  by  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society,  etc.”  So  far  as  regards  the  House- 
of  Commons.  Now  in  the  House  of  Lords  I  find  that 
Lord  Redesdale  was  exceedingly  pertinacious  in  an 
endeavour  to  introduce  into  the  body  of  the  Bill  pro¬ 
visions  as  to  the  kind  of  bottles  to  boused  in  dispensing  and 
sending  out  liniments,  embrocations  and  poisons,  which, 
constitutes  one  of  the  provisions  of  these  regulations. 
Lord  Redesdale  is  chairman  of  committees  in  the  House  ; 
he  is  a  man  of  exceedingly  great  influence,  and,  at  last, 
he  very  unwillingly  yielded,  upon  the  understanding- 
that  it  would  be  done  by  the  Pharmaceutical  Society.. 
But  I  want  to  read  you  the  way  in  which  his  opposition 
I  was  overcome  by  Lord  Granville,  who,  also  on  behalf  of 


May  27,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS 


951 


the  Society,  was  coaching1  the  hill  through  the  other 
House.  He  says, — “  1  think  that  the  clause  framed  hy 
the  noble  lord  may  ho  modified  with  advantage  before  it 
is  submitted  to  the  House.  On  this  subject  I  have  re¬ 
ceived  a  letter  from  a  gentleman  of  much  practical  expe¬ 
rience,  and  I  will  read  it  to  the  House.  He  says,  ‘  I  find 
that  Lord  Redesdale  retains  his  faith  in  the  poison-bottle, 
and  intends  to  propose  it  again  on  the  third  reading  of 
the  Pharmacy  Bill,  adopting  that  which  I  certainly  be¬ 
lieve  to  he  hy  far  the  most  distinctive  bottle  ever  used. 
But  the  more  I  consider  his  lordship’s  proposition,  and 
the  more  I  think  of  the  value  pertaining  to  special  bottles 
of  any  shape  when  used  according  to  the  discretion  of 
dispensers  who  understand  their  business,  the  more  im¬ 
pressed  I  become  with  the  impolicy  of  specific  enactments 
concerning  them.  I  have  already  told  your  lordship 
that  most  chemists  in  London  use  distinctive  bottles  for 
dangerous  articles  and  external  applications ;  they  have 
done  so  for  the  last  six  or  seven  years,  the  practice  gra¬ 
dually  increasing.  I  have  also  said  that  the  use  of  those 
bottles  should  ho  restricted  to  such  articles.  Now  I 
presume  the  words  “poison”  and  “poisonous”  in  the 
proposed  clause  must  he  construed  according  to  clause  2. 
If  so,  we  should  he  prohibited  from  using  such  bottles 
for  every  medicine  not  in  the  schedule  ;  and  I  need 
scarcely  say  the  schedule  does  not  contain  a  sixth  part 
of  tho  dangerous  preparations  daily  passing  through  our 
hands.  I  should  not  think  now  of  selling  laudanum  in 
any  other  than  a  poison-bottle  ;  laudanum  is  not  in  the 
schedule,  consequently  I  must,  if  tho  amendment  pass, 
discontinue  that  precaution.  I  Icnow  Lord  Redesdale 
thinks  it  is  the  inconvenience  of  the  compulsory  enact¬ 
ment  which  actuates  tho  Pharmaceutical  Society  in  re¬ 
sisting  his  proposal,  but  I  can  assure  you  most  honestly 
that  they  are  anxious,  both  hy  example  and  recommen¬ 
dation,  to  promote  his  views,  and  really  apprehensive  that 
his  amendment  would  prevent  their-  doing  so.’  ”  The 
objection  to  that  was,  to  a  stiff,  hard  and  fast  rule  for  the 
adoption  of  a  certain  bottle  at  the  will  and  pleasure  of 
Parliament,  without  affording  us  an  opportunity  of  con¬ 
sidering-  how  far  it  was  applicable.  I  am  not  going  to 
argue  much  in  favour  of  the  details  of  these  regulations. 
What  I  want  to  contend  for  is,  that  we  are  under  a  bond  of 
good  faith  to  comply  with  the  Act  of  Parliament,  and  pass 
such  resolutions  as  we,  with  our  knowledge  of  the  busi¬ 
ness,  know  to  be  sufficient  to  carry  out  the  intentions  of 
Parliament  and  secure  the  public,  whilst,  at  the  same  time, 
we  do  not  impose  any  impediments  to  the  carrying  on 
of  our  business.  I  think  I  have  shown  it  was  tho  intention 
of  Parliament  to  impose  upon  us  the  obligation  to  prescribe 
such  regulations ;  that  penalties  were  to  bo  imposed  on 
those  who  broke  the  regulations ;  and,  if  so,  the  language 
of  the  Act  of  Parliament  would  be  perfect  nonsense  if 
they  never  wore  prescribed.  I  think  I  have  shown  you 
that  that  was  so  understood  at  the  time  throughout 
tho  country,  and  that  it  was  so  understood  and  accepted 
here  as  the  signification  of  those  clauses  and  the  debates 
in  Parliament.  It  is  a  question,  therefore,  as  it  seems 
to  me,  very  much  of  good  faith.  As  men  of  honour,  as 
men  of  business,  and  as  prudent  men  who  are  anxious  to 
conserve  that  which  we  have  been  thirty  years  building 
up,  the  honour,  the  reputation  and  the  influence  of  this 
Society,  which  has  already  checked  much  crude  legisla¬ 
tion  that  would  have  been  of  tho  greatest  possible  in¬ 
jury  to  us;  in  order  that  we  may  maintain  that  influence 
for  the  future  as  tho  protector  of  tho  trade,  I  say  we 
must  not  now  do  that  which  would  sacrifice  our  reputa¬ 
tion,  which  would  put  us  in  the  position  of  breakers  of 
pledges,  because  I  can  conceive  no  consequences  which 
would  be  more  disastrous  than  the  Nemesis  which  follows 
societies  or  individuals  who  do  not  keep  good  faith.  I 
cannot  see,  Sir,  how  we,  as  men  of  honour,  can  depart 
from  the  negotiations  which  were  conducted  on  our 
behalf  by  the  Council  and  by  those  who  more  especially 
represented  tho  Council.  I  do  not  see  how  wo  can  repu¬ 
diate  the  signification  of  that  letter,  which  I  take  to  be  a 


guarantee  that  it  would  bo  safe  to  leave  the  carrying 
out  of  tho  intentions  of  Parliament  to  this  Society.  It  is 
a  very  proud  privilege,  a  great  distinction,  to  have  been 
associated  with  Parliament  in  making  laws  for  our  own 
government.  As  somebody  has  said,  it  is  much  better 
that  we  should  have  a  hand  in  making  our  own  laws, 
than  that  they  should  bo  framed  by  persons  who  do 
not  understand  our  position.  We  have  been  told  by  our 
Council  that  they  did  give  those  pledges.  It  is  evident 
that  the  Privy  Council  understood  them  to  do  so,  and 
they  now  call  upon  us  to  fulfil  our  guarantees.  But 
another  thing  is  said,  and  that  is,  that  if  that  pledge  was 
given  it  was  given  in  excess  of  authority.  I  profess  to 
know  something  about  Parliamentary  business.  There 
are  few  sessions  in  which  I  am  not  in  Parliament,  cither 
promoting  bills  or  opposing  bills ;  and  I  confess  that,  I 
should  bo  much  astonished  if  those  for  whom  I  acted  did 
not  feel  bound  by  pledges  given  in  their  behalf.  Can  a 
Society  go  up  en  masse  ?  It  is  against  the  laws  and 
liberties  of  England  to  do  so.  We  are  bound  to  depute, 
our  Council,  and  they  depute  their  representatives ;  and 
what  their  representatives  assent  to,  in  obtaining  privi¬ 
leges  of  great  importance,  is  binding  upon  us.  For  good¬ 
ness’  sake  do  not  let  us  begin,  when  we  are  thirty  years 
old,  to  be  breakers  of  pledges.  I  do  not  want  to  look  at 
tho  consequences,  for  the  fear  of  consequence  is  a  low 
motive  ;  but  if  it  can  be  shown  that  we,  with  our  eyes 
open,  have  undertaken  this,  then,  I  say,  that  whatever 
the  consequences,  coate  que  codte,  let  us  carry  out  what 
we  have  undertaken  to  do.  But  I  am  content  to  rest 
upon  consequences,  and  their  advantageous  or  disad¬ 
vantageous  effect ;  and  upon  that  point  the  only  tan¬ 
gible  thing  I  have  heard  is,  that  if  we  prescribe  these 
regulations,  it  will  inevitably  lead  to  inspection,  and 
all  the  inconveniences  and  annoyances  which  flow  from 
it.  I  regard  inspection  as  odious  to  Englishmen,  and 
there  is  nothing  on  earth  that  I  should  be  more  anxious 
to  contend  for  than  my  own  independent  action.  But 
I  have  looked  through  this  Act  of  Parliament,  and  I  find 
that  under  it  there  are  no  powers  for  inspection ,  and  that  it 
cannot  he  imposed  upon  us.  If  we  prescribe  these  regula¬ 
tions,  I  defy  an  inspector  to  come  into  my  place,  or 
I  will  guarantee  to  kick  him  out  if  he  does.  What  aro 
tho  provisions  of  clause  15  of  the  Act  F — that  whoever 
shall  fail  to  conform  with  any  regulation,  and  so  on, 
“  shall  for  every  such  offence  be  liable  to  pay  a  penalty,” 
and  so  on.  Let  me  ask  how  those  penalties  aro  to  bo 
recovered  F — by  tho  action  of  tho  Registrar  only.  But 
what  are  the  consequences  provided  we  do  not  pass  these 
regulations  ?  We  exasperate  the  Privy  Council.  The 
Privy  Council  tell  us  in  so  many  words  that  they  will 
seek  further  legislation.  It  is  no  longer  Mr.  Lowo  and 
Mr.  Bruce  :  but  the  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  and  tho 
Home  Secretary,  who,  throughout  tho  passing  of  this  Act, 
showed  themselves  most  jealous  of  giving  to  a  voluntary 
association  any  control.  He  was  the  man  who  said  that 
Parliament  ought  to  take  security  that  we  would  fulfil 
our  undertaking.  But  he  said  something  more  than  that. 

A  Membek  :  How  long  is  he  likely  to  bo  in  office  F 

Mr.  Giles  :  I  do  not  care  to  attempt  to  answer  that 
question.  Mr.  Lowe,  with  characteristic  pertinacity, 
says,  with  reference  to  clause  2,  “  I  shall  move  to  leave 
out  tho  words  1  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  So¬ 
ciety  of  Great  Britain  (hereinafter  referred  to  as  tho 
Pharmaceutical  Society)  may  from  time  to  time,  by  reso¬ 
lution,  declare  that  any  article  in  such  resolution  named 
ought  to  bo  deemed  a  poison  within  the  meaning  of  this 
Act.’  The  object  I  have  is  this : — It  is  desirable  that 
the  public  shall  know  the  number  and  names  of  the 
poisons  against  which  regulations  have  been  made. 
The  Arsenic  Act  is  published  and  put  in  force,  and  you 
will  want  somebody  to  prosecute  under  this  Act,  and 
certainly  tho  Pharmaceutical  Society  will  bo  a  most  un¬ 
fit  body.  The  Act  ought  to  be  placed  under  the  cure  of  the 
police  and  in  the  hands  of  a  department  of  the  Govern- 
*  ment,  and  certainly  not  left  in  the  hands  of  those  who 

8  C  4 


952 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  27,  1871. 


•will  live  by  the  sale  of  poisons ;  if  that  be  so,  the  restric¬ 
tions  imposed  will  be  of  little  value.”  The  Home  Se¬ 
cretary  says,  “  I  shall  support  the  amendment,  for  I 
desire  to  enlarge  the  powers  of  the  Privy  Council,  who 
have  already  a  medical  department.  The  clause  as  it 
stands  will  restrict  the  powers  of  the  Privy  Council,  and 
I  see  no  advantage  in  doing  that.”  What  have  we  to 
expect  if  we  wilfully  let  pass  this  opportunity  of  settling 
this  question  in  a  rational  manner  F  I  say  these  regu¬ 
lations  are  such  as  ought,  apart  from  law  or  anything 
else,  to  be  adopted  by  every  conscientious  man,  by 
every  wise  man,  who  wishes  to  lay  his  head  on  his 
pillow  with  a  feeling  of  satisfaction  and  security.  I  say 
what  is  likely  to  be  the  consequence  if  we  lose  the  pre¬ 
sent  opportunity  F  Why,  we  are  told  that  we  shall 
have  application  for  further  legislation.  That  applica¬ 
tion  will  be  made  to  persons  who  will  feel  their  sagacity 
and  foresight  complimented  by  our  breakdown,  and  will 
be  exceedingly  glad  to  impose  the  strictest  regulations 
upon  those  whom  they  regard  as  a  recalcitrant  and 
obstinate  body  of  men,  and  they  will  come  down  with 
all  the  force  of  that  hostility  which  we  are  so  anxious  to 
avoid.  Sir,  I  beg  to  move  as  an  amendment  to  the 
resolution,  “  That,  by  virtue  and  in  exercise  of  all  powers 
and  authorities  granted  under  the  provisions  of  the 
Pharmacy  Act.  1868,  in  this  behalf,  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  of  Groat  Britain  do  hereby  prescribe  the  follow¬ 
ing  regulations  for  the  keeping,  dispensing  and  soiling  of 
poisons,  and  resolve  that  the  same  be  submitted  to  her 
Majesty’s  Privy  Council  for  their  consent.”  (The  Regu¬ 
lations  proposed  were  the  same  as  the  Recommendations 
proposed  by  the  Council  for  voluntary  adoption  :  see  p. 
949.) 

Mr.  Baldocic  (Norwood)  said  :  Mr.  President  and  Gen¬ 
tlemen, — I  have  much  pleasure  in  seconding  the  amend¬ 
ment.  I  shall  not  say  much  on  the  subject,  because  I  feel 
quite  certain,  from  the  ability  with  which  Mr.  Giles  has 
dealt  with  the  question,  I  should  be  very  little  able  to  add 
anything  which  will  influence  the  meeting  in  favour  of 
the  amendment,  but  I  fully  agree  in  what  he  has  said. 
Those  gentlemen,  however,  who  intend  to  oppose  this,  or 
propose  any  further  amendment,  should  not  forget  what 
took  place  in  1868  and  the  two  previous  years,  when 
Pharmacy  Bills  were  brought  in  by  Sir  Eitzroy  Kelly 
and  by  Sir  John  Shelley.  On  those  occasions,  we  lost  our 
Bill  because  we  met  with  factious  opposition  from  with¬ 
out, — the  parties  I  refer  to  being,  then  as  now,  unwilling 
to  be  led  in  any  way  by  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society,  which  has  done  so  much  for  the  whole 
body  during  the  last  thirty  years.  The  Bill  which  we 
might  have  had  on  that  occasion,  if  it  had  not  been  for 
the  opposition,  was,  I  think,  far  more  suited  to  our 
requirements  than  what  we  got  in  the  following  year, 
and  we  nearly  lost  that  because  there  were  no  poison 
regulations  in  it.  When  Parliament  gave  us  that  Act, 
it  was  with  the  express  understanding  that  it  was  to 
contain  poison  clauses,  and  much  delay  was  caused  on 
this  account.  Numerous  meetings  of  the  Society  and  of 
the  Council  took  place,  and  ultimately  the  Bill  was 
passed  in  its  present  shape.  Coming,  then,  to  the  re¬ 
commendations  which  have  been  proposed  to  us,  it  cer¬ 
tainly  seems  to  me,  as  I  said  in  the  letter  which  ap¬ 
peared  in  last  week’s  Journal,  that  all  opposition  to 
them  ought  now  to  cease.  No  doubt  it  would  be  very 
objectionable  in  some  cases  to  keep  drug  bottles  under 
lock  and  key, — in  the  wholesale  trade,  for  instance ;  but 
when  we  are  simply  asked  to  make  the  poison  vessel  dis¬ 
tinguishable  by  the  sense  of  touch, — whether  it  be  any¬ 
thing  which  shall  prick  our  fingers,  or  a  spring  upon  the 
lid,  or  any  other  means, — I  think  the  remedy  is  in  our 
own  hands,  and  could  be  easily  applied  by  every  one. 
The  only  fault  I  find  with  the  poison  schedule  is,  that  it 
is  so  limited  in  its  character.  The  poisons  in  the  sche¬ 
dule  are  very  few,  and  the  more  numerous  they  are  the 
better  for  us,  because,  although  to  a  certain  extent  it 
will  increase  the  difficulties  with  which  we  have  to  deal, 


it  would,  on  the  other  hand,  confine  the  sale  of  poisonous 
articles  to  qualified  men  instead  of  leaving  it  so  largely, 
as  at  present,  in  the  hands  of  persons  who  are  now  not 
legally  responsible  for  their  acts  in  the  same  degree. 
The  only  objection  made  against  these  provisions  is  that 
they  do  not  apply  to  medical  men ;  but  what  have  we 
to  do  with  legislating  for  medical  men  F  They,  like  us, 
are  under  the  authority  of  the  Privy  Council,  and  are 
subject  to  all  sorts  of  pains  and  penalties  if  they  neglect 
their  duties.  We  certainly  fight  under  their  banner,  for 
they  are  a  superior  body  to  us,  and,  do  what  we  can,  we 
are  not  able  to  coerce  them  in  any  way  any  more  than 
they  can  coerce  us.  We  complain  very  justly  that  many 
of  them  dispense  their  own  medicines,  but  that  is  totally 
beside  the  question  now  before  the  meeting,  and  has 
nothing  whatever  to  do  with  it.  If  they  choose  to  dis¬ 
pense  their  own  medicines,  and  make  a  mistake  and 
poison  any  one,  they  are  quite  as  amenable  to  the  law  as 
we  are.  The  question  has  been  asked  whether,  if  we 
pass  these  resolutions,  they  will  become  compulsory ; 
and,  if  compulsory,  whether  they  will  involve  a  system 
of  inspection.  I  take  it  they  will  not,  and  in  both  cases 
cannot.  For  who  is  to  inspect  us  F  Certainly  not  the 
police,  as  Mr.  Giles  said ;  we  want  a  more  intelligent  body 
than  they  are.  I  take  it,  it  will  depend  upon  whether  any 
accident  occurs.  If  we  pass  these  regulations,  and  make 
them  compulsory,  and  any  accident  happen,  we  shall 
be  then  asked,  “Have  you  or  have  you  not  complied 
with  these  regulations  F”  And  if f  you  have,  that  will  bo 
a  sufficient  answer  to  the  charge ;  but,  if  not,  you  will 
incur  the  penalties  mentioned  in  the  Bill.  I  have  great 
pleasure  in  seconding  Mr.  Giles’s  amendment. 

Mr.  Vizer  :  May  I  be  allowed  to  ask  a  question,  be¬ 
cause  I  think  it  is  very  important  that  the  meeting 
should  understand  clearly  the  position  in  which  wo 
stand  F  I  came  here  this  morning  with  the  full  determi¬ 
nation  that,  as  far  as  I  was  concerned,  this  discussion 
should  be  conducted  in  as  calm  and  quiet  a  spirit  as  pos¬ 
sible  ;  but  I  want  clearly  to  understand  the  nature  of 
the  amendment  which  is  before  the  meeting,  because  it 
seems  to  me  that  it  is  a  repetition  of  the  resolution 
which  was  moved  from  the  chair,  with  the  addition 
simply  that  it  be  made  compulsory.  If  such  be  the  case, 
I  cannot  understand  that  that  is  an  amendment  unless  the 
amendment  consist  in  the  fact  of  the  regulations  being 
made  compulsory,  which,  I  think,  is  a  question  we  have 
already  settled.  The  Council  has  settled  it. 

A  Member  :  It  is  this  meeting  that  has  to  settle  it. 

Mr.  Vizer  :  The  views  of  the  whole  meeting  and  of 
the  trade  are,  I  believe,  against  compulsion.  We  are 
not  come  here  to-day  to  put  a  collar  round  our  necks 
which  last  year  we  very  distinctly  refused  to  wear.  If  I 
understand  the  amendment  aright,  and  we  are  asked  to 
pass  a  vote  for  compulsory  regulations,  I  do  not  think 
we  need  discuss  it  long.  I  shall  be  glad  if  the  Chairman 
will  tell  us  whether  we  are  to  divide  upon  the  question 
whether  these  regulations  are  to  be  compulsory  or  not. 

The  Chairman  :  As  I  take  it,  this  is  an  amendment  by 
Mr.  Giles  on  the  original  motion  of  the  Council.  It 
is  quite  competent  to  Mr.  Giles  to  propose  such  an 
amendment,  and  it  is  also  quite  competent  for  any  other 
member  to  propose  a  further  amendment  after  that.  If 
this  amendment  of  Mr.  Giles  should  pass,  there  can  be 
no  doubt,  I  think,  that  the  recommendations  or  regula¬ 
tions  will  then  become  compulsory. 

Mr.  Brown  (Manchester)  :  I  rise  to  a  point  of  order. 
I  shall  certainly  maintain  that  the  amendment  of  Mr. 
Giles  is  no  amendment  at  all.  I  should  like  to  have  the 
opinion  of  our  solicitor  upon  that  point,  and  I  am  sorry 
he  is  not  present  at  this  moment  in  order  to  answer  it. 
But  I  appeal  to  any  gentleman  who  has  had  experience  of 
public  meetings  whether  this  is  an  amendment.  I  main¬ 
tain  it  is  an  original  motion,  of  which  notice  ought  to 
have  been  given,  and  it  ought  to  have  been  proposed  as 
a  substantive  motion,  and  seconded  in  due  form.  Then 
it  would  have  been  in  order. 


May  27, 18,'l.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


953 


Mr.  Abraham  (Liverpool) :  I  am  satisfied,  Sir,  that  the 
amendment  which  has  been  moved  is  perfectly  in  order. 
It  is  upon  the  main  question  whether  these  regulations 
should  he  compulsory  or  not.  I  beg  to  say  that  there 
is  not  a  member  of  the  Society  who  would  have  been 
more  glad  than  myself  to  have  adopted  them  as  recom¬ 
mendations  only,  provided  we  could  honourably  do  so : 
but  I  think  it  has  been  shown  clearly  by  Mr.  Giles’s 
statement,  to  every  man  in  this  room,  that  as  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  we  are  bound 
to  pass  these  regulations.  Not  because  we  like  them, 
by  any  means,  but  because  the  Legislature  has  im¬ 
posed  upon  us  the  duty  of  making  regulations.  And  I 
beg  to  say  that  although  I  seconded  Mr.  Dymond’s  mo¬ 
tion  to  bring  this  matter  before  you  in  the  way  in  which 
it  has  now  been  done  by  the  Council,  it  was  simply  to 
enable  you  to  do  the  next  best  thing  to  doing  the  right 
thing.  I  believe  it  is  our  duty  to  pass  these  regulations 
in  the  sense  in  which  they  were  contemplated  by  Par¬ 
liament  ;  and  although  as  a  member  of  the  Council  I 
seconded  the  motion  that  they  should  be  framed  so  as  to 
enable  you  to  pass  them  as  recommendations  only,  as  I 
think  that  would  be  better  than  rejecting  them  altoge¬ 
ther,  yet  standing  here  as  a  member  of  the  whole  body, 
who  only  have  the  authority  to  make  these  regulations, 
subject  to  the  confirmation  of  the  Privy  Council,  I  cannot 
but  raise  my  voice  in  favour  of  the  amendment  which 
has  been  moved  by  Mr.  Giles.  And  I  must  remind  you 
that  it  was  the  opinion  of  a  large  majority  of  the  Council 
that  they  ought  to  be  passed  in  the  sense  in  which  they 
were  originally  proposed.  The  proceedings  of  the 
Council  are  not  now  known  to  you  only  from  the  state¬ 
ment  of  the  President,  or  from  the  resolution  which  has 
been  laid  before  you.  The  proceedings  of  the  Council 
have  been  published  from  month  to  month  in  the  Jour¬ 
nal,  and  you  know  that  the  Council  think  you  ought  to 
pass  these  as  regulations.  It  is  only  a  small  minority  of 
the  Council  who  hold  a  different  opinion,  and  I  believe 
most  or  all  of  them  were  not  members  of  Council  at  the 
time  the  Act  passed.  It  is  only  with  them  that  there  is 
any  difference  of  opinion  as  to  our  duty  in  the  matter ;  and 
although  I  desire  to  make  these  regulations  as  little  bur¬ 
densome  as  possible, — and  I  do  not  think  they  ought  to  be 
adopted  if  they  are  at  all  burdensome,  or  if  it  could  be 
shown  that  there  would  bo  any  difficulty  in  observing 
them  in  any  shop  in  the  kingdom, — to  refuse  to  pass  any 
regulations  at  all  is  distinctly  to  set  aside  the  vote  of 
Parliament,  and  is,  I  am  assured,  perilling  the  interests 
of  the  Society  and  of  every  member  of  the  body. 

Mr.  Brown  :  The  question  before  the  meeting  is  not 
whether  the  regulations  should  be  compulsory  or  not, 
but  whether  this  meeting  will  adopt  certain  recommenda¬ 
tions  which  are  submitted  by  the  Council. 

Mr.  Vizer:  In  support  of  what  Mr.  Brown  has  just 
said,  I  maintain  that  if  an  amendment  of  this  nature  be 
laid  before  the  meeting,  it  is  one  of  the  most  unheard-of 
and  unprincipled  acts  which  can  be  conceived.  I  repeat 
it.  It  is  an  unheard-of  and  unjust  act.  This  meeting 
has  been  called  together  in  tho  ordinary  way  as  an  an¬ 
nual  meeting ;  the  recommendations  have  been  issued  to 
every  member  with  the  one  distinct  idea  that  they  were 
to  be  brought  forward  by  the  Council  as  recommenda¬ 
tions  only.  And  I  beg  leave  to  say  that  if  that  view  of 
the  case  is  altered,  it  is  most  dishonourable  on  the  part 
of  the  Council.  This  meeting  has  been  called  to  decide 
the  question  whether  we  shall  receive  these  as  recom¬ 
mendations,  and  hundreds  of  members  have  absented 
themselves  from  this  meeting  on  the  distinct  understand¬ 
ing  that  they  were  to  be  put  forward  simply  as  recom¬ 
mendations.  I  do  assert  most  emphatically  that  if  an 
amendment  of  this  nature  is  allowed,  it  is  a  most  dis¬ 
creditable  act.  The  Council,  as  a  body,  ought  to  protest 
against  it.  But  I  sincerely  trust  that  the  meeting  will 
not  be  detained  over  the  argument  on  compulsory  regu¬ 
lations,  but  that  a  division  will  be  speedily  come  to,  and 
I  am  convinced  that  90  out  of  100  will  vote  against  it. 


It  is  an  unheard-of  thing  to  waste  our  time  discussing 
such  a  question,  and  the  sooner  we  come  to  a  vote  upon 
it  the  better. 

Mr.  Urwick:  I  wish  to  make  a  few  observations  on 
these  recommendations,  but  in  the  first  place  I  do  feel 
that  we  should  be  committing  a  most  dishonourable  act 
if  we  are  parties  to  any  vote  which  is  to  be  compulsory, 
when  the  notice  sent  to  the  country  members  and  dis¬ 
tributed  throughout  the  kingdom  had  only  recognized 
these  as  recommendations.  It  would  be  taking  an  ad¬ 
vantage  of  the  country  members  to  entertain  such  a 
question,  and  I  therefore  protest  against  the  amendment, 
and  call  upon  the  Chairman  to  enter  my  protest. 

Mr.  Edward  Burden  :  May  I  ask  if  the  Chairman  has 
ruled  that  the  amendment  is  in  order,  or  not  P 

The  Chairman  :  Yes,  I  have  ruled  that  the  amend¬ 
ment  is  in  order.  It  is  competent  for  any  member  to 
move  an  amendment  to  any  motion  that  may  be  brought 
forward. 

Mr.  Humpage  :  It  appears  to  me  that  it  is  no  use  my 
coming  here  and  arguing,  if  I  have  sent  up  my  paper 
pledging  myself  to  a  certain  course.  I  conceive  that 
these  papers  have  been  sent  up  believing  that  such-and- 
such  a  course  would  be  adopted,  and  that  these  rules 
would  be  passed  as  recommendations.  But  I  also  ought 
to  be  aware  that  if  at  this  annual  meeting  the  members 
present  should  think  otherwise,  and  any  gentleman 
should  choose  to  make  an  amendment,  and  a  different 
view  is  afterwards  taken,  when  argument  has  been 
gone  into,  it  is  perfectly  regular  to  vote  for  such  an 
amendment.  We  surely  cannot  tell  our  friends  in  the 
country  what  will  take  place  at  a  meeting  like  this.  If 
they  are  so  much  interested  in  it,  let  them  come  up,  and 
then  they  will  be  ready  to  vote ;  but  if  we  can  do  no¬ 
thing,  what  is  the  use  of  coming  here  and  discussing  tho 
question. 

Mr.  Urwick  :  Can  we  make  rules  binding  the  body 
of  members,  the  body  not  having  notice  of  those  rules  P 

Mr.  Hampson  (Manchester) :  If  it  is  thought  desirable 
to  deceive  and  disgust  the  whole  trade,  now  is  the  time, 
by  means  of  this  amendment.  You  want  the  outsiders  to 
come  in,  and  by  the  course  of  action  now  proposed  you 
thrust  them  out.  The  amendment  may  be  in  perfect 
order — I  do  not  pass  any  opinion  upon  that — but  tho 
consequences  of  the  amendment,  if  carried,  will  be  to  sow  a 
whirlwind  in  the  country  that  you  will  not  see  the  la  t 
of  for  some  time.  I  have  had  some  means  of  judging  of 
the  spirit  of  opposition  to  compulsory  regulations,  and  I 
can  assure  you  that  if  you  wish  to  advance  the  interests  of 
pharmacy,  or  even  to  advance  the  interests  of  this  Society, 
you  will  not  vote  in  favour  of  the  amendment.  This 
amendment  will  plainly  show  the  outsiders,  many  of 
whom  I  conceive  are  quite  equal  in  capacity  to  ourselves, 
what  they  may  expect  from  the  unscrupulous  adherents 
of  compulsion,  and  you  will  likewise  arouse  a  spirit 
amongst  them  that  will  not  easily  be  set  at  rest.  You 
will  shut  the  doors  against  them,  and  sow  discord  through¬ 
out  the  country.  I  should  like  to  say  a  few  words  on 
the  general  question.  The  word  “honour”  has  been  put 
forward  in  this  discussion,  and  freely  reiterated,  and  wo 
are  told  that  if  we  do  not  vote  in  a  particular  way  wo 
shall  be  dishonoured.  I  maintain  that  nothing  of  tho 
sort  follows  as  a  consequence  ;  that  if  certain  gentlemen 
who  were  in  high  office  at  the  time  had  the  power  through 
their  fortuitous  position  to  carry  the  Pharmacy  Act 
through  Parliament,  they  did  not  ask  the  opinion  of  the 
country  about  it,  and  you  must  also  remember  that  we 
are  not  only  legislating  for  the  few  in  this  room, — be¬ 
cause,  properly  speaking,  it  is  legislation  we  are  about, 
— not  merely  for  pharmaceutical  chemists,  but  for  the 
entire  trade  throughout  the  country,  numbering  many 
thousands. 

Mr.  Macicay  :  I  desire  to  say  one  or  two  words  upon 
this  point.  I  have  been  listening  very  calmly  to  what 
has  been  going  on,  and  have  heard  tho  word  “honour” 
used  repeatedly,  and  perhaps  advisedly ;  but  that  word 


951 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS 


[May  27,  1871. 


may  in  certain  circumstances  have  two  meanings.  I 
am  not  prepared  to  say  that  tire  amendment  is  illegal, 
or  to  protest  against  its  introduction,  hut  this  I  do  say, 
and  I  say  it  most  emphatically,  it  would  have  been  a 
much  fairer  course  for  the  gentleman  who  has  so  ably  and 
eloquently  pleaded  for  this  amendment,  if  duo  notice  had 
been  given  of  it.  I  make  this  remark,  and,  in  doing  so, 
speak  strongly  for  the  following  reasons  : — I  know,  and 
believe  many  gentlemen  present  know,  that  deputations 
had  been  organized  in  different  parts  of  the  country — I 
can  speak  positively  as  to  Glasgow  and  some  other  places; 
that  these  gentlemen  had  been  prepared  to  come  here 
and  represent  the  chemists  'and  druggists  in  various 
towns,  had  the  compulsory  question  not  been  understood 
to  bo  at  end ;  and  therefore  most  of  those  deputations 
which  had  been  organized  would  have  been  in  this  room 
to-day  to  oppose  this  amendment.  It  is  not  for  me 
to  enunciate  what  my  views  are,  but  at  a  recent  meet¬ 
ing  of  the  Council  I  joined  in  the  almost  unanimous 
vote  that  a  certain  course  of  procedure  should  be  adopted. 
That  course  resulted  in  the  recommendations  which 
are  before  us,  and,  having  emanated  from  the  Coun¬ 
cil,  they  havo  been  circulated  broadcast  throughout 
Groat  Britain,  and  I  say  it  is  specially  unfair,  and  I  use 
the  word  with  due  consideration,  to  many  country  gen¬ 
tlemen  who  are  as  deeply  interested  in  this  question  as 
wo  are,  to  push  the  question  of  this  amendment  to  a  vote. 
So  strongly  do  I  feel  upon  this  point,  that  if  the  amend¬ 
ment  is  pressed  I  may  move  the  adjournment  of  the 
meeting. 

Mr.  Waugh  :  There  has  been  a  great  deal  of  talk 
about  honour,  and  so  on,  but  my  experience  is  this,  that 
a  man  who  knows  and  feels  what  personal  honour  is,  will 
be  very  careful  how  he  casts  reflections  upon  the  honour 
of  other  men.  It  is  a  very  delicate  thing,  and  to  all 
rightly-constituted  minds  that  which  every  man  most 
highly  prizes.  I  am  perhaps  the  oldest  member  of  the 
Council  hero,  and  whatever  may  be  the  abstract  merits  of 
this  question,  I  say,  do  not  press  that  amendment.  When 
I  came  hero  to-day,  a  bit  of  paper  was  put  into  my  hands, 
bearing  date  May  4th,  and  I  must  say  I  felt  this  was  a 
most  unusual  step,  and  it  looked  very  much  like  attempt¬ 
ing  to  steal  a  march  upon  us.  How  was  it  that,  the 
Journal  having  been  published  twice  since  that  date,  the 
document  was  not  published  ?  How  was  it  you  never 
published  that  little  private  note  from  your  friend,  Mr. 
Simon  ?  It  is  a  close  thing,  gentlemen,  and,  in  my  opinion, 
not  a  fair  thing  at  all.  I  must  sit  down,  but  I  bog  you 
not  to  press  that  amendment. 

A  Memrer  :  Will  not  Mr.  Giles  withdraw  the  amend¬ 
ment,  and  make  us  all  a  happy  family  ? 

Mr.  Randall  (Southampton) :  I  would  heartily  join  in 
what  has  j  ust  been  said,  and  bog  that  at  all  events  in  the 
shape  it  has  taken,  this  amendment  may  be  withdrawn. 
Not  because  I  object  to  the  amendment  in  itself,  for  I 
should  support  it  most  heartily  at  the  proper  time,  and 
as  it  regards  mere  technicality  I  think  it  certainly  is  an 
amendment,  and  a  reasonable  one :  but  why  I  think  it 
ought  not  to  be  taken  now  is,  that  it  is  more  than  an 
amendment,  not  less.  It  proposes  that  the  common  seal  of 
the  Society  should  be  put  to  certain  regulations  which  will 
give  them  the  power  of  an  Act  of  Parliament ;  but  I  say 
that  after  what  has  taken  place,  supposing  wo  do  this 
to-day,  the  Privy  Council  will  not  admit  that  it  has 
been  properly  done,  and  will  send  it  back  to  us  to  do 
again;  for  I  am  quite  satisfied  that  the  Privy  Council  on 
looking  into  the  matter,  would  say, — We  are  very  glad 
indeed  that  these  regulations  havo  been  carried,  but  they 
certainly  must  bo  carried  at  a  meeting  at  which  due 
notice  of  their  being-  brought  forward  has  been  given. 

I  do  not  think  it  was  necessary  to  speak  quite  so  strongly 
about  honour,  and  so  on ;  I  think  we  shall  bo  all  agreed 
that  we  cannot  take  them  as  regulations  to-day,  but  I 
do  hope  that  if  Mr.  Giles  should  see  it  right  to  with¬ 
draw  them  as  such,  he  may  still  give  some  of  us  an 
opportunity  of  showing  that  we  do  feel  that  in  our  cor¬ 


porate  capacity  wc  ought  to  act  exactly  in  tho  same  way 
as  we  should  as  individuals.  I  say  that  if  tho  members 
of  this  Society  individually  had  done  what  we  have  done, 
as  Mr.  Giles  pointed  out  to  us,  we  should  not  one  of  us 
havo  drawn  back  from  taking  upon  ourselves  the  burden 
of  those  regulations ;  I  do  not  think,  as  a  corporate  body, 
we  have  any  right  to  do  anything  less.  Therefore,  al¬ 
though  it  would  not  bo  proper  to  pass  those  now,  seeing 
that  no  notice  has  been  given  of  them,  I  quite  agroe 
that  we  ought  to  pass  them  some  day.  Now,  gentle¬ 
men,  it  is  only  fair  to  look  at  the  course  winch  has 
been  taken.  It  was  not  tho  Pharmaceutical  Society’s 
Bill  that  introduced  poison  regulations,  but  for  some 
reason  which  I  shall  not  criticize,  our  Bill  was  upset 
once,  and  nearly  upset  again  by  attempts  to  put  poison 
regulations  in.  Then  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  said, 
that  being  the  case,  supposing  Parliament  will  give  us 
a  Bill,  not  just  for  the  promotion  of  our  own  interests, 
but  a  Bill  that  shall  promote,  as  they  think,  tho  interests 
of  the  public,  whereby,  at  the  same  time,  our  interests 
will  be  promoted, — wo  will  put  in  the  next  Bill  some 
poison  regulations.  They  insisted  on  having  not  only 
regulations  for  selling,  but  also  for  keeping  poisons. 
The  Society  has  done  its  best  to  obtain  a  Bill ;  and  having- 
in  vain  attempted  to  do  without  poison  regulations,  now, 
as  men  of  honour,  as  wc  havo  had  tho  regulations  forced 
upon  us,  I  think  we  ought  to  carry  them  out  straight¬ 
forwardly.  That  I  believe  to  be  our  position,  and  I 
think  that  we  ought  to  pass  those  recommendations 
now,  and  also  to  pass  a  resolution  that  we  shall  bo 
quite  ready  to  make  them  regulations  if  called  upon  to 
do  so. 

Mr.  Clark  (Leicester) :  Would  you  kindly  state,  Mr. 
Chairman,  if  in  your  opinion  the  passing  of  this  resolu¬ 
tion  will  give  satisfaction  to  tho  Lords  of  tho  Privy 
Council  ?  If  you  think  it  will,  or  if  you  think  it  will 
save  us  from  obnoxious  legislation,  I  should  at  once  ask 
this  meeting  to  pass  it  unanimously,  and  would  urge 
upon  Mr.  Giles  to  withdraw  his  amendment,  upon  condi¬ 
tion  that  Mr.  Vizor  adopts  the  same  course  in  regard  to 
his  resolution.  If  this  plan  should  bo  adopted,  I  have 
no  doubt  a  favourable  impression  would  be  made  upon 
the  Privy  Council,  and  would  have  much  more  weight 
than  if  carried  by  only  a  small  majority. 

Tho  Chairman  :  I  am  not  in  a  position  to  say  that  the 
Privy  Council  would  be  satisfied  with  tho  recommenda¬ 
tions.  I  have  had  no  communication  myself  personally 
with  tho  Privy  Council  or  its  officers  in  any  way  what¬ 
ever.  Tho  letter  which  has  been  alluded  to  came  to  tho 
Secretary,  and,  as  has  boon  stated,  that  letter  was  laid 
before  tho  Council.  I  felt  that  was  no  more  than  I 
could  do  in  my  position.  Certainly  it  appears  to  me 
that  any  gentleman  may  make  an  amendment,  and  any 
gentleman  may  make  a  further  amendment.  I  am  de¬ 
sirous  'of  doing  that  which  the  meeting-  approves  of ; 
and  if  tho  meeting  particularly  desires  that  Mr.  Giles’s 
amendment  should  bo  withdrawn,  and  if  Mr.  Giles  is 
willing  to  withdraw  it,  I  am  willing  it  should  be  so. 
But  I  cannot  order  Mr.  Giles  to  withdraw  it ;  and  if  ho 
insists  upon  it  being  put,  I  must  put  it. 

Mr.  Squire  :  From  the  general  spirit  of  this  discus¬ 
sion  on  both  sides,  it  docs  appear  to  mo  that  tho  Privy 
Council  must  gather,  from  what  has  been  said,  that  tho 
thing  requires  more  ventilation.  These  regulations  con¬ 
sist  of  three  parts,  either  of  which  may  be  adopted  by 
chemists ;  and  it  does  appear  to  me  that  they  arc  still 
imperfect.  I  think  if  a  law  was  imposed  which  wo  have 
to  follow,  it  should  implicitly  state  one  rule  of  action. 
Hero  are  three,  and  they  appear  to  me  to  be  very  diffi¬ 
cult  for  people  to  adhere  to  strictly.  I  do  not  think  in 
any  Act  of  Parliament  this  sort  of  ambiguity  would  be 
allowed.  When  I  was  in  tho  House  of  Commons  about 
this  Bill,  Mr.  Sandford  said  to  me,  “  What  do  you  think 
of  that  clause?”  which  I  afterwards  learnt  was  a  pet 
.use  of  a  gentleman  connected  with  the  Privy  Council, 
d  it  was  to  this  effect,  that  no  poison  should  be  sent 


May  27, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


955 


out  except  in  single  doses,  and  that  upon  the  order  of  a 
medical  man.  'When  you  consider  that  a  man  may  be 
ordered  a  composing  dose  to  be  taken  every  two  or  three 
hours  during  the  night,  I  think  it  would  be  rather 
awkward  to  require  a  doctor  s  order  for  each  dose  to  be 
obtained.  That  shows  you  what  may  bo  expected  from 
the  Privy  Council,  and  that  without  our  assistance  they 
could  not  frame  such  regulations  as  should  bo  prac¬ 
ticable  ;  and  it  is  no  use  making  an  Act  of  Parliament 
unless  it  is  so,  for  it  woidd  never  be  followed.  Upon 
the  whole,  therefore,  I  think  that  the  question  is  not 
yet  matured.  When  I  was  here  last  time,  as  a  member  of 
the  Council,  I  said  the  same,  and  I  still  think  so.  I 
think  the  spirit  of  these  meetings  shows  that  there  is  an 
inclination  to  obey  any  laws  that  the  Council  like  to 
make ;  and  I  think  the  tendency  is  to  make  such  regula¬ 
tions,  if  they  can,  as  shall,  in  every  way,  satisfy  the 
Privy  Council  also.  We  are  not  a  rebellious  body,  but  wo 
do  not  think  these  are  the  things  which  should  be  made 
compulsory ;  therefore,  I  hope  that  another  year,  if  we 
shall  live  so  long,  we  shall  have  an  amendment  of  this 
which  will  be  more  acceptable  to  the  body  at  large. 

Mr.  Hills  :  I  wish  to  say  shortly  why  I  have  changed 
my  opinion,  not  since  I  have  been  in  this  room,  but 
during  the  various  meetings  which  we  have  had  at  the 
Council.  I  believe  with  many  gentlemen  who  have 
spoken  here  to-day,  that  we  must  some  day  or  other 
have  regulations,  and  that  they  must  be  enforced — 
regulations  framed  by  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  and 
approved  by  the  Privy  Council.  I  originally  was  in 
the  majority,  thinking  these  regulations  ought  to  be 
passed,  and  hoped  that  they  would  be  confirmed  by 
the  meeting  here  and  afterwards  go  to  the  Privy  Council. 
But  I  changed  my  mind,  because  there  seemed  to  bo  so 
great  an  objection  out-of-doors.  I  therefore  thought 
it  would  be  better  to  pass  them  as  recommendations  to 
be  tried,  feeling  sure  that  if  once  tried  they  would  be 
voluntarily  adopted  as  regulations;  they  are  now  brought 
forward  as  recommendations,  and  I  hope  my  friend  Mr. 
Giles  will  withdraw  his  amendment.  By  doing  so  wo 
shall  become,  as  has  been  said,  a  happy  family  ;  and  the 
trial  of  these  recommendations  of  the  Council  for  twelve 
months  will  so  far  convince  us  of  their  usefulness  and 
practicability,  that  we  shall  adopt  them  as  regulations 
at  the  next  annual  meeting. 

Mr.  Saxdfoud  :  Gentlemen,  I  have  often  been  re¬ 
ceived  here  with  the  same  good-feeling  which  now  greets 
me,  and  though  I  fear  I  shall  differ  from  many  of  you 
to-day,  still  I  hope  we  shall  be  as  good  friends  as  ever.  I 
am  sure,  Mr.  President,  you  will  quite  appreciate  the 
difficulty  under  which  I  rise, — I,  who  have  always  held 
that  the  Council  should  stick  together,  and  that  if  there 
is  a  majority  on  any  one  point,  the  minority  should  suc¬ 
cumb.  I,  being  in  the  minority,  a  minority  of  one  single 
individual,  must  now  rise  to  oppose  a  majority.  But  in 
doing  so,  I  act,  as  I  ever  have  done,  in  the  interests 
of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  because  I  believe  most 
certainly  that  the  course  proposed  by  Mr.  Giles  is  that 
which  will  secure  for  the  Society  the  position  which 
it  has  held  hitherto,  and  which  is  now  imperilled  by 
the  action,  or  rather  want  of  action,  proposed.  It  has 
been  asked  whether  the  Privy  Council  will  be  satisfied 
with  these  things  as  recommendations.  I  have  had  no 
communication  with  the  Privy  Council  since,  I  think, 
January  last,  when  the  regulations  in  form  were  agreed 
to  and  submitted  to  this  Council,  and  afterwards  accepted 
by  it.  But  I  am  perfectly  satisfied  that  they  would 
not  be  taken  as  of  any  value  whatever.  I  think  we 
must  all  of  us  have  observed,  gentlemen,  that  of  late 
years  the  tendency  of  the  Government  has  been  to  act 
in  departments,  and  that  certain  subjects  have  been 
handed  over  to  different  departments.  All  matters  con¬ 
nected  with  the  public  health  have  been  handed  over  to 
the  Privy  Council,  and  I  do  not  know  that  we  should 
find  fault  with  that  because  we  want  to  have  the  Govern¬ 
ment  of  the  country  carried  on  as  efficiently  as  possible. 


Formerly  such  questions  were  everybody’s  business  ; 
you  might  go  to  the  Home  Office,  or  the  Board  of 
Trade,  or  any  other  office ;  but  now  they  are  concentrated 
in  the  Privy  Council  Office,  and  there  is  a  medical  officer 
there  who  is  one  of  the  most  active  servants  of  the 
Government.  We  know  perfectly  well  what  the  feeling 
of  that  medical  officer  is  from  what  our  friend  Air. 
Squire  says,  of  a  notice  I  pointed  out  to  him  on  the- 
paper,  as  our  Bill  went  through,  that  no  poison  should 
be  sold  to  any  person  except  in  medicinal  doses,  without 
the  order  in  writing  of  a  legally-qualified  medical  prac¬ 
titioner.  That  i3  the  sort  of  thing  which  we  may  ex¬ 
pect  from  the  Privy  Council.  I  hold  here  in  my  hand 
all  the  Poison  Bills  which  have  ever  boon  introduced, 
there  are  no  less  than  eight ;  and  there  is  another  very 
important  one  which  was  never  introduced  to  Parlia¬ 
ment.  And  what  do  I  find  arc  the  provisions  in  these- 
Poison  Bills  ?  I  find  that  in  the  first,  which  was  pro¬ 
posed  by  Lord  Granville — I  may  say  our  friend  Lord 
Granville,  because  it  was  through  him  we  obtained 
our  Bill, — that  no  poison  should  be  sold  except  to  per¬ 
sons  of  full  age,  that  they  shoidd  not  be  sold  with¬ 
out  witnesses,  that  they  should  not  be  sold  without  the- 
certificate  of  a  medical  man,  or  a  clergyman,  or  a  magis¬ 
trate.  I  find  that  every  poison  is  to  be  sent  out  in  four¬ 
sided  bottles,  and  that  on  each  of  those  sides  there  should 
be  the  word  “  poison  ”  impressed.  I  find  that  there- 
were  inspectors  to  be  appointed.  Now  the  less  wo  say 
about  inspectors  the  better ;  but  I  find,  as  I  go  on,  that 
in  one  of  these  Bills  the  inspectors  wore  to  be  con¬ 
stables.  Lord  Granville’s  Bill  in  May,  1857,  was  No.  1. 
It  went  on  to  Mr.  Walpole,  so  both  sides  of  the  House 
were  engaged  in  this  matter.  Mr.  Walpole  was  in 
power  in  1859,  when  he  proposed  his  Bill,  and  he  put 
in  a  provision  that  the  constables  were  to  visit  and  see 
that  wo  complied  with  the  regulations.  At  that  time 
Jacob  Bell  waas  living,  and  under  his  guidance  we  op¬ 
posed  all  these  Bills,  but  we  did  so  on  one  special  prin¬ 
ciple,  viz.  that  they  did  not  provide  for  the  qualification 
of  the  vendor.  I  take  up  these  Bills  to  show  you  that 
they  were  fairly  considered  in  this  Council,  that  they 
were  considered  as  things  which  would  go  on,  and  they 
were  amended  by  the  Council.  This  Bill  which  I  hold 
in  my  hand  is  covered  over  with  erasures  and  altera¬ 
tions  and  interlineations  made  by  way  of  amendment, 
by  your  Council.  Therefore  it  is  not  a  new  subject  with 
the  Council  at  all.  And  what  happened  then  ?  Last 
of  all,  Jacob  Bell  himself  drew  a  Bill.  We  have  been, 
told  over  and  over  again  that  had  Jacob  Bell  been  living, 
we  should  never  have  been  threatened  with  such  a  BilL 
as  this  ;  that  he  would  have  led  the  trade  and  resisted  it. 
But  what  did  ho  do  ?  He  drew  a  Bill  in  which  ho  in¬ 
troduced  as  examiners  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  a 
foreign  body;  and  he  not  only  did  that,  but  he  pro¬ 
posed  this  particular  clause  appointing  inspectors,  which* 
I  must  read  to  you,  although  I  do  not  like  to  publish 
it.  This  Bill  was  never  in  Parliament ;  it  was  prepared, 
with  the  endorsement,  that  it  was  a  Bill  containing  in 
substance  “all  that  is  valuable  or  likely  to  be  practically 
useful  to  the  public  in  the  sale  of  poisons.”  This,  remem¬ 
ber,  was  a  Poison  Bill,  not  a  Pharmacy  Bill.  It  provided 
who  should  be  allowed  to  sell  poisons,  and  that  all  poisons, 
should  be  distinctly  labelled  with  their  names  and  so  on, 
and  then  I  find  this  clause,  to  which  I  want  to  call  your 
attention.  “  The  President  and  Censors  of  the  College- 
of  Physicians  of  London  shall  have  full  power  from  time 
to  time,  at  reasonable  times  in  the  day,  to  enter  and 
search  any  shop  or  place  where  any  drugs  or  medicine, 
simple  or  compounded,  are  sold  by  retail,  to  ascertain 
that  the  provisions  of  this  Act  concerning  the  keeping  of 
poisons  and  the  labelling  of  the  same  are  duly  observed.” 
That  is  the  Bill  which  was  prepared  by  Jacob  Bell  him¬ 
self  to  be  submitted  to  Parliament.  I  just  wished  to 
show  you  that,  to  show  in  what  a  different  position  we 
now  are.  We  have  now  the  opportunity  of  making 
regulations  without  any  inspection  whatever.  W  o  can- 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  27,  1871. 


35  G 


not  have  an  inspector  sent  into  onr  shops  without  a 
fresh  Act  of  Parliament,  and  wo  have  every  reason  to 
"believe  that  the  Pi  ivy  Council  would  he  satisfied  with 
the  regulations  we  have  proposed,  which  might  he  easily 
carried  out.  As  Mr.  Squire  said,  you  may  take  one  course 
or  you  may  take  all  three  courses  ;  with  that  elasticity  we 
should  not  interfere  in  any  way  with  the  easy  carrying- 
on  of  business.  Here  we  have  an  opportunity  of  doing 
this,  and  now  we  say,  no,  we  will  not  do  it.  If  ever 
inspectors  are  appointed,  we  shall  have  to  thank  those 
who  have  drawn  attention  to  the  subject  by  their  oppo¬ 
sition.  "We  do  not  say  the  regulations  are  bad,  but  it  is 
a  sentimental  grievance  that  we  should  have  them  at  all, 
therefore  wo  throw  it  up  entirely,  and  let  the  Privy 
Council  go  to  Parliament.  You  know  quite  well  what 
Parliament  will  do.  There  is  a  sample  of  what  they  would 
have  done  in  1857  and  in  later  years.  And  I  think  that 
is  evidence  enough  to  show  what  Parliament  will  do  now ; 
because  remember  that  with  an  active  medical  officer  on 
the  Privy  Council,  he  will  urge  on  his  representatives  in 
the  House  of  Commons  and  the  House  of  Lords,  and  the 
Government  will  go  to  him  for  advice  on  all  these  ques¬ 
tions.  He  has  before  him  all  the  details  of  poisoning  cases 
and  all  the  accidents  that  happen  in  business,  and  you 
cannot  say  that  these  things  arc  unnecessary.  If  you  say 
so,  the  answer  is,  we  are  told  that  in  the  best  houses 
they  are  all  adopted,  therefore,  how  can  you  call  them 
unnecessary  P  I  heard  a  gentleman  say  this  morning 
that  he  was  utterly  astonished  at  the  opposition  to  these 
regulations ;  that  he  knew  some  twenty  shops  in  the 
country  where  no  precautions  were  taken,  and  where 
all  the  poisons  and  other  drugs  were  huddled  together 
indiscriminately.  Now,  remember  it  is  not  when  a  man 
is  going  to  use  strychnine  that  he  wants  to  be  reminded 
that  he  has  strychnine  in  his  hands,  it  is  when  he  is 
going  to  use  some  innocent  medicine  such  as  James’s 
powder,  and  he  by  accident  gets  hold  of  the  strychnine 
bottle,  it  is  then  he  wants  to  be  reminded  by  some  simple 
means  that  he  has  not  got  James’s  powder  in  his  hand. 
And  you  are  not  bound  to  use  the  same  precaution  with 
every  poison.  I  may  tie  strychnine  over  with  a  leather 
cap  and  be  more  careful  with  it  than  with  a  morphia 
bottle.  I  say  nothing  now  about  the  honour  of  the 
thing,  because  I  consider  that  is  perfectly  established. 
Mr.  Giles  has  most  correctly  stated  the  feeling  and  the 
understanding  there  was  at  the  time  of  the  passing  of 
our  Act.  I  have  heard  it  objected  that  it  was  a  tacit 
understanding.  Sir,  there  must  be  tacit  understanding 
when  you  are  on  business  like  this.  Mr.  Giles  tells  you 
what  happens  always  in  getting  Bills  through  Parlia¬ 
ment.  I  was  to  a  great  extent  authorized  to  treat  with 
the  members  of  Parliament  and  with  the  Government  in 
the  proceedings  with  regard  to  this  Bill,  and  I  am  per¬ 
fectly  satisfied  that  I  did  not  in  any  way  neglect  the  in¬ 
terests  of  the  Society.  If  any  man  battled  with  the  me¬ 
dical  officer  of  the  Privy  Council,  I  did,  and  in  all  but  one 
thing  I  beat  him,  that  one  thing  I  always  felt  ashamed 
of,  it  was  that  he  succeeded  in  bringing  in  poppies ; 
that  one  thing  I  could  not  get  over.  It  was  the  last 
thing,  and  I  think  Lord  Granville  went  into  the  House 
rather  in  a  hurry,  or  that  might  have  been  excluded 
also.  I  mention  that  to  show  you  that  I  have  not 
been  the  obsequious  servant  of  Mr.  Simon.  Ho  would 
never  propose  anything  to  me  which  would  be  derogatory 
to  this  Society.  Mr.  Giles  alluded  to  the  debates  which 
took  place,  and  I  will  not  go  further  into  this  point.  I 
will  pass  that  over  and  confine  myself  to  the  question  of 
piolicy.  I  say  it  is  policy  for  us  to  adopt  these  regula¬ 
tions  in  the  form  in  which  Mr.  Giles  proposes.  Some 
people  speak  of  breach  of  faith  in  proposing  this  amend¬ 
ment.  I  say  it  is  no  such  thing.  Last  year  it  was  pro- 
posed  that  these  recommendations  should  be  adopted  for 
twelve  months ;  they  have  been  on  their  trial  for  twelve 
months  and  more.  They  were  submitted  to  you  last 
year,  and  you  have  all  had  an  opportunity  of  trying 
them  since,  and  there  has  not  been  a  valid  objection  to 


one.  But  if  there  were,  it  is  quite  open  for  this  meeting 
to  amend  them  in  detail.  If  you  do  not  like  tying  over, 
use  some  other  means,  you  can  amend  them  in  any 
manner  you  like  in  detail ;  but  j  ust  admit  the  principle 
that  we  are  a  part  of  the  Government,  that  we  are 
pledged,  and  that  it  is  not  only  that  we  are  pledged,  but 
that  it  is  our  interest  to  act  in  accord  with  the  Go¬ 
vernment  and  not  in  antagonism.  I  do  therefore  most 
sincerely  trust  that  you  will  vote  for  the  amendment  of 
Mr.  Giles. 

Mr.  Wade  :  I  think  we  may  all  take  it  for  granted 
the  Council  are  willing  to  adopt  the  views  of  the  trade, 
and  more  especially  of  their  own  members.  If  such  is 
the  case,  I  would  just  take  you  back  to  the  last  annual 
meeting,  when  the  resolution  come  to  was,  not  that  we 
did  not  require  or  would  not  take  such  regulations, 
but  that  which  we  distinctly  stated,  and  which  has  since 
been  endorsed,  was,  that  these  regulations  that  were  put 
forward  were  not  of  a  consistent  character,  and  it  was 
not  desirable  to  have  them  compulsory.  If  such  was 
the  case,  I  would  ask  the  Council  whether  they  have 
learned  from  the  trade  during  the  past  twelve  months 
what  is  their  opinion,  and  what  is  the  opinion  of  their 
own  members.  I  do  not  wish  to  mention  intimidation, 
or  to  say  a  word  about  storms  that  may  be  created  ;  but, 
having  once  expressed  an  opinion,  I  think,  when  that 
has  been  done  in  a  calm  and  deliberate  manner,  the 
Council  maybe  fully  justified  in  altering  the  opinions 
they  had  formed,  and  studying  the  wants  and  desires  of 
their  constituents.  I  am  not  one  to  blame,  but  rather 
to  honour  and  respect  the  course  which  has  been  taken 
by  our  late  worthy  President,  and  I  shall,  as  long  as  I 
have  the  pleasure  of  knowing  him,  honour  him  for  the 
course  he  has  adopted.  It  is  a  great  pleasure  to  me  to 
acknowledge  what  he  has  done  for  the  trade,  although  I 
have  differed  from  him  many  times,  but  still  it  has 
always  been  my  desire  to  hold  him  in  high  honour ; 
and,  although  I  differ  from  him  now,  still  there  is  not 
an  act  which  ho  ever  committed  which  redounded 
more  to  his  honour  and  credit  than  his  resignation. 
Still,  while  I  admit  this,  I  must  oppose  Mr.  Giles’s 
amendment.  At  the  same  time,  I  cannot  support  the 
resolution  of  the  Council.  I  say  so  for  this  reason.  I 
consider  it  a  most  insidious  amendment.  I  think  it  has 
been  brought  down  after  the  sense  of  the  whole  trade 
and  of  all  our  members  has  been  taken  in  every  part  of 
the  country, — after  that  opinion  has  been  expressed  by 
deputation  and  memorial,  and  it  has  been  virtually 
acknowledged.  After  that  a  letter  comes  to  you  on  the 
4th  of  May,  which  ought  to  have  been  published  in  the 
Journal.  We  ought  to  have  been  made  acquainted  with 
that,  which  may  be  called  a  threat,  an  intimidation  sent 
from  the  Privy  Council  office.  If  there  is  anything  dis¬ 
honourable  I  consider  it  is  Mr.  Giles’s  amendment,  be¬ 
cause  I  do  think  that  that  which  the  Council  have  put 
forward  was  an  act  of  honour.  They  attended  to  the 
wishes  of  their  constituents  ;  they  saw  that  during  the 
past  year  the  trade  had  made  up  their  minds  upon  the 
point,  and,  with  commendable  good  sense,  they  attended 
to  those  wishes,  and  put  forward  these  propositions  in 
form  of  recommendations  rather  than  regulations.  I 
beg  you  not  to  go  back  from  that  course  of  action.  If 
you  do  not  wish  to  create  distrust,  but  to  make  out¬ 
siders  feel  that  this  Society  has  but  one  interest,  and  that 
interest  only  the  interest  of  its  members,  do  not  pass 
Mr.  Giles’s  amendment.  It  comes  in  at  the  last  hour 
when  we  are  not  prepared,  the  idea  having  gone  abroad 
that  we  were  not  to  have  any  opposition  of  this  kind. 
The  idea  was,  that  we  wpre  to  carry  something  which 
should  meet  the  views  of  the  Privy  Council,  and  not  be 
compulsory  on  ourselves.  If  the  Council  in  their  deli¬ 
berations  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  these  reso¬ 
lutions  they  have  adopted  are  likely  to  be  in  accordance 
with  the  spirit  of  the  Act,  why  do  we  hear  so  much 
I  about  want  of  honour  and  breach  of  faith  ?  Is  it  likely 
that  your  Council,  composed  of  men  of  honour,  would 


May  27,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


957 


ever  allow  such  l’csolutions  as  these  to  ho  put  forward 
for  your  acceptance  if  they  did  not  think  they  were 
carrying  out  the  honour  and  spirit  of  the  Act  ?  Do  you 
suppose  they  would  allow  their  Solicitor  to  frame  a 
resolution  which  would  meet  the  wishes  of  the  whole 
Society  unless  they  felt  they  were  carrying  out  honour¬ 
ably  that  which  it  was  their  duty  to  do  ?  Therefore, 
upon  every  principle  of  honour,  I  think  we  ought  to 
accept  that  which  our  Council  have  put  forward  rather 
than  that  insidious  amendment  of  Mr.  Giles.  So  much 
with  regard  to  Mr.  Giles ;  hut  with  regard  to  the  reso¬ 
lution  of  the  Council,  I  must  say  I  do  not  consider  that 
these  regulations  have  been  sufficiently  looked  into  since 
our  last  meeting.  I  consider  they  are  almost  equivalent 
to  those  which  were  then  put  forward.  We  then  said 
we  are  prepared  to  accept  certain  recommendations,  and 
if  you  will  give  us  sucli  recommendations  not  only  which 
are  beneficial  to  the  public,  but  such  as  really  can  be 
carried  out,  that  is  what  we  want.  We  do  not  say  we 
will  not  do  it ;  w’e  say,  give  us  such  regulations  as  we 
can  practically  and  honourably  carry  out.  Mr.  Sand- 
ford  has  told  us  that  in  London  every  one  adopts  these 
resolutions.  Of  course  they  do,  because  there  is  no  diffi¬ 
culty  about  it.  But  he  says  in  the  country  you  go  into 
a  shop,  and  find  poisons  of  all  kinds  scattered  about. 
Why  is  it  ?  Because  the  characters  of  the  business  arc 
so  opposite,  and  what  is  easy  in  one  place  is  difficult  in 
another.  Therefore  we  say  that  these  resolutions  are 
not  practicable  for  the  country.  We  say  that  in  the 
great  dispensing  houses  and  others  in  cities,  where  you 
have  nothing  but  small  quantities  to  deal  with,  you  may 
accept  them,  and  think  you  are  doing  very  right  in 
carrying  them  out ;  but  it  is  not  so  easy  for  our  country 
friends;  and  therefore,  unless  you  revise  these  resolu¬ 
tions, — and  we  asked  you  at  the  last  meeting  to  take 
them  back  and  revise  them, — I  do  not  think  they  are 
such  as  should  meet  with  general  acceptance.  Let  us 
have  such  a  coje  of  rules  as  can  bo  carried  out  practi¬ 
cally,  and  then  we  shall  bo  ready  to  honourably  fulfil 
our  duties  under  the  Act ;  we  shall  bring  the  whole 
trade  into  unity,  and  reflect  credit  on  ourselves. 

Mr.  Sandford  explained  that  the  note  from  Mr. 
Simon  had  not  been  published  earlier  because,  when  a 
former  one  was  published  immediately  on  its  receipt 
by  the  Secretary,  a  complaint  was  made  that  it  ought 
not  to  have  been  done  before  it  was  laid  before  the 
Council. 

Mr.  Wade  said  he  was  glad  to  have  that  explanation, 
because  the  very  fact  of  the  former  note  having  been 
published  made  him  think  it  desirable  that  the  one  of 
May  4th  should  have  made  been  known  to  the  trade 
immediately. 

Mr.  Watts  :  Last  year,  during  the  noisy  discussion 
which  took  place  with  regard  to  the  Poison  Bill,  I  made 
a  remark  to  this  effect,  that  we  must  not  lose  sight  of 
this  great  fact,  that  if  we  did  not  make  regulations  for 
ourselves  the  Privy  Council  would  make  them  for  us, 
and  that  anything  done  on  the  part  of  the  Government 
would  be  hardly  so  acceptable  to  the  body  generally  as 
if  it  were  done  by  ourselves.  I  think  that  same  remark 
will  apply  on  the  present  occasion.  A  great  deal  has 
been  said  about  country  members  and  outsiders,  but  my 
own  opinion  is  that  country  members  and  outsiders  know 
very  little  about  the  matter.  What  I  mean  is  this, 
that  there  are  a  great  many  members  in  the  country 
who  desire  to  be  led ;  and  the  proof  of  that  is  shown 
in  what  our  friend  Mr.  Yizer  has  done,  and  ho  not  only 
intends  to  lead  the  country  members  but  the  town  mem¬ 
bers  also,  if  possible.  I  must  say  I  am  rather  surprised 
at  the  remark  of  Mr.  Randall,  that  if  these  regulations 
were  adopted  the  Privy  Council  would  send  them  back 
and  say  they  were  irregular,  or  something  to  that  effect. 
I  conceive  that  Mr.  Giles  is  in  perfect  order ;  and  I  am 
very  much  surprised  that  those  who  are  in  the  habit  of 
attending  public  meetings  should  express  any  opinion 
to  the  contrary.  It  is  competent  to  any  one  to  move  an 


amendment,  and  I  trust  Mr.  Giles  will  press  his  to  a 
division. 

Mr.  Bell  (Hull) :  The  gentleman  who  has  just  sat 
down  stated  that  Mr.  Yizer  was  trying  to  lead  the  coun¬ 
try  members.  This  I  consider  a  great  slur  upon  those 
gentlemen,  and  I  cannot  submit  to  it.  With  regard  to 
these  regulations,  we  in  Hull  fully  understood  that  they 
were  withdrawn,  and  would  come  before  us  as  recom¬ 
mendations  only,  otherwise  I  can  assure  you  that  two'- 
thirds  of  the  members  of  the  Society  in  Hull  would  have 
boon  present  hero  to  oppose  them. 

Mr.  Davison  (Glasgow)  :  I  came  here  to  represent 
Glasgow,  and  the  feeling  there  is  that  the  regulations 
would  be  presented  to  the  mooting  as  recommendations 
simply.  Since  I  came  here  I  have  seen  this  note  of 
Mr.  Simon’s,  but  I  am  prepared  to  vote  just  the  same. 
Mr.  Simon  speaks  of  the  regulations  being  required  for 
the  safety  of  the  public,  but  in  Glasgow  two-thirds  of  the 
dispensing  is  done  by  medical  men  who  keep  open  shops. 
Some  of  them  have  three,  and  many  have  two ;  and  I 
think  if  tiny  Privy  Council  and  Mr.  Simon  are  going  to 
legislate  for  the  benefit  of  the  public  they  ought  to  legis¬ 
late  for  these  surgeons.  Not  many  weeks  ago  a  man 
came  into  my  shop,  and  asked  for  an  ounce  of  tincture 
of  cantharides,  which  I  refused  to  supply  him  with  un¬ 
less  he  brought  two  witnesses  with  him,  which  he  de¬ 
clined  to  do,  but  in  the  course  of  half  an  hour  he  came 
back  again,  and  brought  a  bottle  containing  an  ounce  of 
tincture  of  cantharides  without  even  a  poison-label  on  it, 
which  he  had  obtained  at  a  surgeon’s ;  and  in  many  of 
these  doctors’  shops  there  is  not  a  responsible  person, 
but  merely  a  girl  or  a  boy  sometimes  to  serve.  I  am 
quite  prepared  to  attend  before  Mr.  Simon  any  day  to- 
explain  the  matter. 

Mr.  R.  0.  Pitch  (Hackney)  said  he  had  not  intended 
to  be  present,  as  he  understood,  the  regulations  had  been 
withdrawn ;  but  he  had  received  a  private  intimation 
that  it  would  bo  requisite  for  him  to  come.  With  re¬ 
gard  to  the  Poison  Bill,  he  could  supplement  what  was 
said  by  the  last  speaker  by  parallel  cases  in  London.  It 
looked  very  well  on  paper  to  talk  about  the  protection 
of  the  public,  but  there  was  a  good  deal  of  nonsense 
about  it.  Not  long  ago  a  Greenwich  pensioner  came 
into  his  shop,  and  asked  if  he  wanted  to  buy  any  savin, 
as  he  had  a  large  shrub  of  it  for  sale.  On  the  other 
hand,  a  gentleman’s  coachman,  wdio  wanted  some  to  give 
his  horses  at  the  spring  of  the  year,  came  all  the  way 
from  Acton  to  his  shop  at  Hackney,  where  he  had  been 
accustomed  to  procure  it,  because  the  chemists  at  Acton 
would  not  supply  him  with  it.  If  any  regulations  were 
required  at  all,  he  hoped  they  would  include  one  that  no 
person  under  sixteen  should  be  served  with  any  poison 
without  written  instructions,  for  mistakes  were  con¬ 
stantly  happening  with  children. 

Mr.  Long  :  I  must  agree  with  Mr.  Giles  and  Mr.  Sand- 
ford,  and  all  those  gentlemen  who  have  spoken  on  that  side 
of  the  question.  I  think  the  opposition  that  we  have  is 
like  the  opposition  which  wo  get  in  every  trade  to  every¬ 
thing  in  the  nature  of  improvement.  People  talk  about 
putting  collars  on  their  necks,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing  ; 
but,  if  they  were  to  adopt  every  enlightened  method  of 
principle  which  was  proposed,  it  would  be  much  better 
for  them.  I  cannot  imagine  men  who,  in  such  a  dan¬ 
gerous  business  as  ours,  could  be  content  to  have  these 
poisons  strewn  broadcast  over  their  premises,  to  be  taken 
hold  of  by  anybody  haphazard.  The  regulations  are 
very  good  in  themselves,  and  can  easily  be  followed. 
Either  of  three  principles  which  are  laid  down  may  be 
adopted  ;  and  the  people  in  the  country,  of  whom  so 
much  talk  is  made,  if  they  have  a  cask  of  arsenic,  can 
easily  lock  it  up,  and  tie  their  other  poison-bottles  down 
with  leather,  or  adopt  some  simple  means  ot  calling 
attention  to  them.  I  think,  therefore,  it  is  very  absurd, 
and  unnecessary,  to  object  so  to  it.  We  shall  have  to 
have  it,  and  therefore  we  may  as  well  do  it  in  our  own 
way,  as  otherwise  we  shall  have  to  accept  regulationg 


958 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  27,  1871. 


imposed  upon  us  "by  Act  of  Parliament.  If  we  were  not 
to  oppose  so  many  difficulties,  but  to  take  advantage  of 
every  modern  improvement. — like  early  closing,  shutting 
up  on  Sundays,  and  so  on, — we  should  he  in  a  much  better 
position  than  we  are  now.  W e  have  not  any  time  to  our¬ 
selves,  not  because  we  could  not  have  it,  hut  because  we 
-choose  to  impose  this  collar  upon  ourselves ;  and  we  allow 
the  public  to  suppose  that  a  chemist  is  at  their  beck  and 
■call  any  moment  they  like,  instead  of  making  them  pro¬ 
vide  for  their  wants  in  our  business  the  same  as  they 
would  in  any  other  case. 

Mr.  Dymond  (Birmingham)  :  I  hope,  Mr.  Chairman, 
that  whatever  we  do,  we  shall  make  up  our  minds  to  settle 
the  matter  now,  without  postponing  it  or  adjourning  the 
meeting.  I  have  listened  with  the  greatest  interest  to 
what  has  taken  place,  and  the  more  I  have  listened  the 
•clearer  has  my  mind  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the 
-Council  have  done  right  in  presenting  the  motion  which 
they  have.  We  have  here  opinions  most  ably  stated  by 
Mr.  Giles,  in  which  I  may  say  I  most  cordially  agree. 
"We  have  other  exactly  opposite  opinions,  also  ably  stated 
"by  Mr.  Yizer,  and  it  seems  to  me  that  the  recommenda¬ 
tion  of  the  Council  exactly  lies  between  them.  If  one 
side  will  give  way  a  little,  and  the  other  will  give  way 
and  meet  at  the  point  proposed  by  the  Council,  we  may 
come  to  a  unanimous  conclusion.  These  recommenda¬ 
tions  I  am  sure,  from  my  own  experience  of  what  has 
taken  place  in  the  Council,  have  been  the  result  of  long 
and  anxious  deliberation.  We  have,  on  the  one  hand, 
known  all  that  Mr.  Sandford  has  told  us  of  what  tho 
Privy  Council  has  done,  of  what  has  been  attempted  in 
previous  Acts  of  Parliament,  and  indeed  have  become 
familiar  with  the  whole  history  of  the  question,  with 
opportunities  which  few  others  have  possessed.  Knowing 
this,  a  large  majority  of  the  Council  felt  that  the  regu¬ 
lations,  in  their  compulsory  form,  were  those  which  the 
country  ought  to  accept.  On  the  other  hand,  we  have, 
since  these  first  resolutions  were  arrived  at,  had  mani¬ 
festations  of  opinion  throughout  Great  Britain,  by  means 
of  meetings  and  memorials  addressed  to  the  Council,  the 
meaning  of  which  has  been  unmistakable,  and  which  it 
would  have  been  folly  to  ignore.  Tho  Council  is  but  a 
representative  body  ;  it  was  bound  to  take  notice  of  the 
■opposition  thus  manifested,  and  it  would  not  have  been 
Si  fair  representation  of  the  opinion  of  our  constituents  to 
.attempt  to  pass  these  resolutions  compulsorily.  We 
f  here  fore  went  again  into  the  matter  with,  speaking  for 
anyself,  convictions  still  unshaken  of  the  desirability  of 
.such  regulations  and  of  the  obligations  which  the  Society 
.had  incurred  by  the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy  Act,  but 
yet  conscious  that  the  chemists  of  the  country  were  un¬ 
prepared  for  such  a  measure.  Convinced  of  that,  I,  as  a 
member  of  the  Council,  say  it  was  not  our  business  to 
-carry  forward  that  measure  in  a  compulsory  form.  Yield¬ 
ing  to  that  which  we  see  is  the  opinion  of  the  trade,  we 
have  brought  forward  these  measures  in  the  form  of  re¬ 
commendations  ;  and  I  am  convinced,  in  proposing  that 
recommendatory  form,  we  have  done  the  only  thing  pos- 
.sible  to  do,  and  which  I  believe  it  is  wise  for  this  meeting 
to  accept.  I  do  ask  you  to  settle  the  question  now,  by 
passing  the  moderate  measure  which  we  have  proposed. 

Mr.  Linford  :  I  perfectly  agree  with  what  Mr.  Dy- 
mond  has  said,  but  what  if  the  Privy  Council  will  not 
accept  that  only  as  a  recommendation  ?  Are  we  any 
nearer  to.  our  end  at  all  P  Is  it  not  possible  that  the 
•only  way  in  which  it  can  be  successfully  presented  would 
be  that  the  recommendations  should  be  adopted  for  a 
year  on  the  distinct  understanding  that  if  they  are  found 
practicable,  they,  or  some  other  recommendations  which 
may  be  amendments  of  these,  should  be  adopted  as  com¬ 
pulsory  at  the  meeting  this  day  twelvemonths.  I  think 
by  that  means  we  may  arrive  at  a  medium  course,  which 
•may,  to  a  certain  extent,  satisfy  the  Privy  Council,  and 
•enable  us  to  still  hold  in  our  own  hands  the  regulations, 
which,  if  we  once  give  them  up  to  those  who  arc  not  ac¬ 
quainted  with  the  trade,  will  be  imposed  upon  us  in  a 


very  different  shape.  I  have  heard  a  great  deal  about 
objection's  to  these  regulations,  but  I  myself  have  con¬ 
ducted  business  in  the  country  and  in  London.  I  have 
dealt  in  paints,  oils  and  colours,  as  well  as  drugs  ;  and  I 
have  had  the  entire  conduct  of  a  largo  West-End  busi¬ 
ness  ;  but  I  have  never  yet  heard  any  distinct  and  spe¬ 
cific  accusation  against  any  one  of  the  regulations  as 
impossible  to  be  carried  out.  I  should  like  some  country 
member  to  tell  us  what  it  is  he  cannot  do.  If  he  can¬ 
not  lock  up  his  cask,  he  can  put  some  sandpaper  on  the 
lid,  or  put  a  rim  of  sandpaper  round  it ;  there  are  many 
things  which  will  be  strictly  in  conformity  with  these 
regulations,  and  which  are  perfectly  easy  of  adoption. 
There  is,  perhaps,  no  business  where  it  would  be  more 
difficult  to  carry  them  out  than  whore  I  am  at  the  pre¬ 
sent  time,  but  I  think  even  there  I  could  manage  to 
carry  them  out  without  any  insuperable  difficulty  ;  and 
being  able  to  carry  them  out  without  fear  of  inspection 
is  an  advantage  which  we  ought  not  to  lose  sight  of. 

Mr.  Squire  :  I  think  Mr.  Linford’s  observation,  if 
put  in  the  form  of  an  amendment,  would  be  carried 
almost  unanimously  by  the  meeting, — that  is,  to  adopt 
these  regulations  for  a  year. 

Mr.  Edwards  :  I  will  not  go  over  the  whole  ground 
which  has  been  gone  over  already  to  wearisomeness ; 
but  two  things  I  will  notice.  We  are  charged  with 
having  unfairly  published  this  letter,  or  rather  with 
keeping  it  back  as  a  threat.  Now,  when  the  first  letter 
of  Mr.  Simon’s  came,  it  was  published  immediately ;  and 
we  were  charged  with  doing  that  which  we  had  no  busi¬ 
ness  to  do  until  the  Council  saw  it.  It  was  said  that 
the  Editor  of  the  Journal  had  no  business  to  publish 
that  letter  until  it  was  laid  before  the  Council ;  there¬ 
fore,  this  letter  was  not  published  until  the  Council  had 
seen  it.  One  other  remark  I  would  make  about  the  in¬ 
spection.  I  shall  not  go  at  all  deeply  into  that,  except 
to  state  that  the  fear  of  inspection  is  a  perfect  fallacy  in 
my  mind,  unless  you  refuse  these  regulations,  and  then, 
I  believe,  it  looms  in  the  distance,  and  is  not  very  far 
off.  But  the  Council  have  done  what  they  could  do. 
You  know  their  opinion,  and  their  opinion  is  un¬ 
changed  still ;  but  if  you  will  not  have  these  regu¬ 
lations,  the  Council  have  ceased  to  wish  to  force  them 
upon  you,  and  they  throw  the  responsibility  upon  your¬ 
selves.  But  I,  as  a  member  of  the  Council,  cannot 
help  warning  you  that,  if  you  wish  for  inspection 
with  all  your  heart,  you  had  better  reject  these  resolu¬ 
tions.  The  Committee  of  the  Privy  Council,  if  they 
bring  any  bill  into  Parliament,  will  not  omit  inspection  ; 
and  depend  upon  it  you  will  have  yourselves  to  thank 
for  that  which  you  might  have  avoided.  We  are  not 
entitled  to  say  that  we  know  they  are  quite  satisfied 
with  them,  but  we  have  every  reason  to  believe  that,  if 
you  pass  them,  it  is  all  they  require.  I  remember  a 
little  time  ago  sitting  at  a  board  of  health,  and  some  Act 
of  Parliament  was  mentioned.  I  said  to  the  solicitor: 
“But  supposing  it  is  not  done,  how  is  it  to  be  enforced  ?” 
“Enforced,”  said  he,  “like  every  other  Act  of  Parlia¬ 
ment.  If  a  man  breaks  the  law,  and  is  found  out,  he 
will  be  punished.”  It  was  not  that  an  inspector  was 
needed.  Where  is  there  an  inspector  for  gunpowder  ? 
Where  is  the  inspector  under  the  Arsenic  Act  ?  It 
rests  on  the  same  ground  as  every  other  law ;  if  you  do 
not  obey  it,  you  do  it  at  your  peril.  You  will  find  there 
is  no  inspection  necessary ;  but  I  must  tell  you,  whether 
you  think  it  popular  or  unpopular,  if  you  wish  to  have 
inspection,  you  cannot  adopt  a  surer  method  to  obtain  it 
than  by  refusing  to  pass  these  resolutions. 

Mr.  Townsend  :  I  think,  with  regard  to  the  amend¬ 
ment  of  Mr.  Giles,  there  is  a  very  serious  difficulty,  from 
the  fact  of  a  circular  having  been  sent  to  the  whole 
trade  which,  by  implication,  led  tho  country  members  to 
infer  that  the  regulations  would  be  adopted  to-day  as 
recommendations  only.  I  think  this  difficulty  might  be 
solved,  and  the  subject  might  be  calmly  considered,  if 
some  such  resolution  as  this  were  passed,  that  in  adopt- 


May  27,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


950 


mg  the  recommendations  suggested  by  the  Council,  this  consider  the  question  calmly,  gentlemen,  and  not  he 

Snpipfv  1  fi  fr*  +  rl  AO! r’fiLi’L'Lf  irv-P  ^1, 1  __  T _ •  1  •  a_  i  •  •  1° •  1  *11  1  -» 


Society  is  prepared  to  consider  the  desirability  of  confirm 
ing  them  as  regulations  at  a  future  meeting. 

Mr.  Giles  :  I  have  been  asked  several  times  whether 
I  will  consent  to  withdraw  my  amendment.  I  shall  be 
very  willing  to  withdraw  it  on  conditions.  If  I  can  be 
.assurod,  to  begin  with,  that  by  postponing  action  at  the 
present  time,  we  shall  be  secured  against  any  action  of  an 
offensive  nature  in  future.  I  regret  exceedingly  that  it 
has  been  considered  necessary — not  by  myself  so  much 
us  by  others  with  whom  I  have  consulted — to  mix  up 
Ibis  question  of  compulsion  and  principle  with  these 
-questions  of  detail.  Mv  last  intention,  after  I  had  sub¬ 
mitted  the  notice  which  I  gave  of  this  amendment,  was 
to  move  a  resolution  to  the  effect  that  it  is  the  duty  of 
this  meeting  to  comply  writh  the  provisions  of  the 
Pharmacy  Act,  by  prescribing  certain  regulations,  leaving 
altogether  out  of  the  question  the  nature  of  these  special 
regulations,  in  order  that  they. might  be  made  the  subject 
-of  further  deliberation  amongst  gentlemen  appointed  by 
this  meeting  to  confer  with  the  Council.  But  I  am  satis- 
tied  it  is  no  use  to  delay.  We  have  delayed  for  twelve 
months,  and  I  do  not  think  we  have  fulfilled  the  kind  of 
-engagement  we  gave  when  we  theh  postponed  it.  I  do 
not  think  the  chemists  throughout  the  kingdom  have 
.given  these  regulations  a  trial.  I  w?ould  only  just  say 
one  wmrd  more  in  justification  of  a  slight  imputation 
on  my  personal  honour  in  bringing  this  matter  forward 
.at  the  last  hour.  To  begin  "with,  notice  was  given  by 
3Ir.  Baldock  of  such  a  resolution  in  the  Journal ;  and,  in 
the  second  place,  I  have  an  abhorrence  of  anything  like 
a  packed  meeting.  I  determined  to  bring  this  forward 
do  such  a  meeting  as  happened  to  come,  and  I  assure  you, 
-on  my  honour,  I  have  not  asked  a  single  person  to 
-attend  it.  Granted  the  opportunity  of  packing  the 
meeting,  no  matter  what  the  question  is,  I  will  undertake 
to  carry  it,  but  do  not  let  any  one  have  the  chance  of 
jpacking  it. 

Mr.  U ii wick  :  I  think  Mr.  Giles  ought  not  to  go  into 
the  question  again.  If  there  has  been  any  question  asked 
'which  he  wishes  to  answer,  and  the  meeting  wishes  to 
hear  him,  it  might  be  allowed  ;  but  we  ought  not  to  go 
into  a  discussion  again. 

Mr.  Edwards  :  Mr.  Giles  has  an  undoubted  right  to 
jreply. 

Mr.  Giles  :  I  understand  that  I  am  replying  by  the 
.courtesy  of  the  meeting.  I  assume  I  have  cleared  myself 
from  the  charge  of  bringing  this  forward  in  any  dishonour¬ 
able  way.  The  question  is,  shall  I  withdraw  this  amend¬ 
ment  ?  I  am  willing  to  meet  any  compromise  which  will  not 
j>ut  us  in  the  position  of  leaving  this  room  to-day  with 
•the  effect  that  we  have  passed  over  this  opportunity,  and 
.have  declined  to  do  that  which  I  hold  to  be  our  duty,  to 
form  regulations  in  accordance  wdth  the  provisions  of  the 
Act  of  Parliament.  If  any  gentleman  can  suggest  any 
method,  by  which  that  can  be  done,  I  am  willing  to  agree 
to  it ;  but  if  it  comes  to  this,  that  we  withdraw  this  re¬ 
solution,  and  let  the  thing  go  on  as  a  denial  of  the  obliga¬ 
tion  to  impose  some  poison  regulations,  I  do  hold  that  it 
as  of  all  things  necessary  that  we  should  endeavour,  at 
•all  events,  to  keep  open  a  channel  of  communication 
-between  ourselves  and  the  Privy  Council.  There,  I 
think,  is  the  fatal  mistake  made  by  our  Council.  I 
think  you  should  have  said  wtc  are  bringing  forward  a 
thing  which  may  not  be  agreeable  to  you,  but  still,  as 
the  representative  organization  of  this  Society,  we  think  it 
•car  duty  to  keep  faith.  If  we  do  not  succeed  in  carrying 
this  thing  through,  and  we  come  into  collision  with  Parlia¬ 
ment,  we  shall  at  all  events  be  clean-handed  in  the  matter, 
•and  can  go  forward  afterwards  and  make  the  best  terms 


rashly  hurried  into  a  decision  which  will  land  us  in  an 
unfortunate  position,  which  we  may  hereafter  have  to 
regret.  If  any  gentleman  is  prepared  with  a  resolution 
which  will  have  the  effect  of  a  compromise,  I  shall  be 
glad  to  withdraw ;  but  if  not,  I  must  still  insist  upon 
my  amendment,  in  order  to  get  a  definite  expression  of 
the  opinion  of  the  meeting. 

Mr.  Vizer:  If  Mr.  Giles  will  accede  to  the  amend¬ 
ment  which  I  was  going  to  move,  it  will  solve  the  diffi¬ 
culty. 

Mr.  Giles  :  I  do  not  know  what  your  amendment 
is. 

The  Chairman'  :  I  will  read  it.  This  is  the  amend¬ 
ment  suggested  by  Mr.  Vizer,  “  That  whilst  desirous  of 
taking  every  reasonable  means  for  the  protection  of  the 
public,  this  meeting  considers  the  recommendations  of 
the  Council  unsatisfactory,  and  therefore  refers  the 
question  for  reconsideration  to  the  new  Council.” 

Mr.  Stacey  :  I  am  very  glad,  Mr.  Chairman,  to  notice 
from  what  has  been  said,  the  implicit  confidence  which 
the  country  members  evidently  have  in  the  Council  in 
London.  They  say  that  so  fully  was  it  understood  that 
the  Council  were  going  to  bring  forward  these  recom¬ 
mendations,  that  hundreds  of  members  felt  there  was  no 
need  for  them  to  attend.  I  am  glad  to  see  that  there 
is  such  confidence  in  the  Council  ;  but  I  will  call 
their  attention  to  one  fact,  that  having  that  confidence 
and  the  Council  having  given  most  unusual  exertions  to 
this  matter,  they  must  remember  that  the  Council  have 
expressed  their  full  confidence  in  the  views  of  Mr.  Giles 
and  Mr.  Sandford.  Almost  every  one,  certainly  every 
one  that  has  spoken  has  done  so.  Now  the  difference  in 
the  whole  discussion  lies  between  those  two  words  ‘‘recom¬ 
mendations”  and  “  regulations.”  The  views  are  the  same 
in  every  other  respect.  I  have  been  attending  to  this 
discussion  with  very  great  care,  and  I  wish  further  to  call 
attention  to  one  very  important  principle  that  was  a  little 
interfered  with  in  one  part  of  the  discussion,  namely, 
that  this  meeting  is  not  a  corporate  body,  that  is  to  say, 
it  is  not  a  complete  representation  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  of  Great  Britain.  Now  if  you  once  allow  that 
principle  to  creep  in,  we  get  into  very  dangerous  con¬ 
siderations  with  respect  to  previous  meetings.  You  must 
take  this  meeting  as  a  meeting  of  the  Society,  and  its 
actions  as  such ;  and  I  would  ask  this  meeting  to  con¬ 
sider  whether  they  cannot  accept  these  regulations  as  the 
express  act  of  the  Council,  and  not  merely  take  them  as 
recommendations,  which  will  place  this  Society  in  very 
great  difficulties  with  the  Government.  To  say  nothing 
else,  it  will  place  them  in  great  difficulty  with  the  Privy 
Council,  and  they  are  already  in  a  sufficiently  difficult 
position.  Our  position  will  be  rather  anomalous,  seeing 
that  as  a  voluntary  Society  we  have  to  carry  out  an  Act 
of  Parliament  which  refers  to  the  whole  body  of  chemists 
in  the  country.  Therefore,  I  think  the  Council  may  ask 
the  support  of  the  meeting,  and  I  hope  the  meeting  will 
give  them  that  support  in  passing  these  as  regulations. 

The  Chairman  :  I  will  now,  gentlemen,  put  the  amend¬ 
ment,  but  you  must  bear  with  me  one  moment,  whilst  I 
say  that  if  anything  has  been  done  which  has  proved  not 
quite  so  open  as  you  might  have  expected,  it  has  been 
simply  an  error  in  judgment,  not  from  any  desire  to  mis¬ 
lead.  But  when  I  see  an  amendment  in  print  which 
was  intended  to  be  brought  forward  without  having  been 
made  known  to  the  Council  or  the  Society  at  large,  I 
cannot  see  how  you  could  complain  of  another  gentleman 
bringing  forward  an  amendment  which  had  not  been  in 
print.  I  simply  say  that,  because  some  of  our  friends 
have  used  the  word  “honour”  once  or  twice,  and  I  think 


we  can.  That  is  of  the  greatest  possible  importance,  and  we  ought  to  do,  not  only  that  which  is  honorable,  but  if 
I  do  implore  you  not  to  be  led  aside.  A  gentleman  near  possible  something  more.  The  letter  from  the  Privy 
.me  said  he  did  not  think  this  question  was  understood  in  Council  has  been  in  the  hands  of  every  member  of  the 
•the  country ;  and  he  is  so  far  right,  that  it  requires  a  Council  for  some  days,  and,  therefore,  it  was  quite  com- 
.great  deal  of  reading  up  back  evidence,  in  order  to  be  petent  for  those  gentlemen  who  reside  in  the  country, 
'quite  in  possession  of  the  actual  facts  of  the  case.  Do  and  who  felt  so  strongly  that  their  friends  would  be  kept 


960 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[May  27, 1871. 


away  from  this  annual  meeting-,  on  the  supposition  that 
the  resolutions  would  he  passed  as  recommendations,  to 
have  informed  their  constituents  that  they  had  received 
such  a  letter,  and  that  possibly  something-  more  than  was 
anticipated  might  he  brought  forward.  I  need  not  again 
read  Mr.  Giles’s  amendment;  hut  I  will  ask  Mr.  Giles 
and  Mr.  Vizer  to  he  tellers  on  one  side,  and  Mr.  Baldock 
and  Mr.  Betty  on  the  other. 

The  meeting  then  divided,  and  upon  Mr.  Yizer  being 
requested  to  announce  the  numbers,  ho  reported  that 
there  were  10-4  against  the  amendment,  85  for  it. 

The  Chairman  then  declared  the  amendment  lost  by 
19  votes. 

The  Chairman  being-  about  to  put  the  original  reso¬ 
lution — 

Mr.  Y izer  said :  I  now  beg-  leave  to  move  my  amend¬ 
ment,  Sir.  I  will  not  detain  the  meeting  long,  because 
I  hope  they  will  agree  to  it.  The  amendment  is  as  fol¬ 
lows  : — “  That  whilst  desirous  of  taking  every  reason¬ 
able  moans  for  the  protection  of  the  public,  this  meeting 
considers  the  recommendations  of  the  Council  unsatisfac¬ 
tory,  and  therefore  refers  the  question  for  reconsidera¬ 
tion  to  the  new  Council.”  I  hope  the  meeting  will 
clearly  understand  that  we  do  not  by  this  amendment  turn 
aside  the  idea  of  the  need  of  recommendations.  We, 
on  the  contrary,  acknowledge  and  receive  that  fact  as 
an  axiom  of  pharmacy,  but  at  the  same  time  we  hold 
that  these  recommendations  which  are  now  put  forth  by 
the  Council  are  capable  of  material  improvement ;  and 
on  that  ground  we  think  this  meeting  should  return 
them.  But,  further,  these  recommendations  are  virtually 
the  same  as  those  put  forward  last  year.  I  have  this 
morning  carefully  compared  them,  and  can  see  no  dif¬ 
ference  whatever  in  them,  with  the  exception  of  a  word 
or  two  here  and  there,  and  the  transposition  of  clauses 
in  second  division,  the  spirit  and  essence  being  essen¬ 
tially  the  same.  AVe  believe  that  if  the  Council,  instead 
of  returning-  on  our  hands  the  same  regulations  which 
wo  last  year  so  unmistakably  declared  to  be  unsatis¬ 
factory,  were  to  take  them  back,  and  invite  help  from 
gentlemen  outside  to  a  general  committee  appointed  to 
reconsider  the  whole  question,  a  far  better  code  of  recom¬ 
mendations  might  then  be  issued.  I  think,  therefore,  that 
if  the  Council  would  now  take  them  back,  and  in  twelve 
months’  time  submit  them  again  for  our  acceptance  at 
the  next  annual  meeting-  (so  far  as  I  can  learn  the  feel¬ 
ings  of  those  gentlemen  with  whom  I  have  been  in 
contact),  the  meeting  would  not  then  object  to  adopt  a 
really  good  code  of  regulations.  It  is,  therefore,  in  my 
opinion,  most  desirable  that  these  should  be  reconsi¬ 
dered,  and  that  we  should  have  a  more  thoroughly  di¬ 
gested  code.  I  want  it  to  be  clearly  understood  that  wo 
do  not  object  to  recommendations,  but  we  do  say  that 
these  are  crude  and  unsatisfactory. 

Mr.  Hampson  :  I  will  not  detain  the  meeting,  but  I 
simply  second  the  resolution. 

Mr.  Urwick  :  I  beg  leave  to  support  the  amendment, 
and  for  one  reason  I  may  say,  that  at  the  very  begin¬ 
ning  of  the  recommendations  we  find  the  word  “selling;” 
but  the  Act  itself  has  provided  for  the  selling  of  poisons, 
and  there  is  nothing  said  in  the  following  clauses  about 
it ;  therefore,  that  word  is  uncalled  for,  and  shows  the 
necessity  for  revision.  AVhcn  I  commenced  business 
some  years  ago,  I  adopted  a  poison  cupboard,  and  every 
precaution  which  I  could  in  dispensing ;  but  there  are 
still  things  here  which,  I  think,  may  be  changed,  so  as 
to  place  the  dispenser,  and  one  who  has  to  deal  with 
drugs,  in  a  more  comfortable  position  than  these  regula¬ 
tions  would  entail.  For  instance,  we  are  told  all  poisons  ; 
but  it  did  not  say  that  this  refers  to  the  schedule  of  the 
Act.  Seeing  the  meeting-  is  impatient,  I  w-ill  only  make 
an  observation  on  the  words  “not  to  be  taken  inter¬ 
nally.”  In  the  case  of  an  acid  lotion  being  sent  out,  the 
words  “not”  or  “internally”  may  become  obliterated, 
and  the  words  “to  be  taken”  or* “to  bo  taken  inter¬ 
nally’’  remain  on  the  bottle;  I  therefore  suggest  the 


words  “for  outward”  or  “external”  use  would  be- 
better. 

Air.  Sandford  asked  whether  All*.  ALzer  meant  re¬ 
commendations  or  compulsory  regulations. 

Air.  Vizer  :  Certainly  not  compulsory  regulations, — 
recommendations  only. 

The  Chairman  then  put  the  amendment,  -which,  upon 
a  show  of  hands,  he  declared  lost. 

Air.  Linford  :  I  have  already  given  notice  of  one 
amendment  which  I  proposed  to  move,  which  was  simply 
to  the  effect  that  we  adopt  these  recommendations  for  a 
year,  with  a  distinct  understanding  that  the  Council 
will  propose  these,  or  some  amended  form,  in  which  the 
regulations  may  become  compulsory  at  the  next  general 
meeting. 

Air.  Giles  :  I  second  Air.  Linford’s  amendment. 

The  Chairman  said  this  was  not  an  amendment,  but 
would  come  as  a  substantive  resolution. 

The  original  resolution  as  moved  by  the  President 
and  seconded  by  Air.  Bourdas  was  then  put  and  carried. 

The  Secretary  said  that  Air.  Linford  was  preparing  a 
resolution  which  he  intended  to  submit ;  but,  in  the 
meantime,  he  should  like  to  secure  a  sufficient  number 
of  gentlemen  willing  to  act  as  scrutineers,  and  the  fol¬ 
io-wing  gentlemen  were  nominated : — 

Alessrs.  Andrews,  Baldock,  Constance,  Froom,  Hop- 
kin,  Horncastle,  Humpage,  Kettle,  AIoss,  Palmer,  Pound, 
Robbins,  Vizer  and  Young. 

Air.  E.  Burden  asked  what  was  the  meaning  of  two 
items  in  the  invested  property  of  the  Society,  one  of 
which  was  denominated  Hills’  Prize  Fund  (£200),  and 
the  other  the  Secretary’s  Casual  Relief  Fund  (£105). 
Did  that  mean  relief  given  occasionally  to  the  Secretary  P 

The  Chairman  said  that  Air.  Hills,  who  was  always 
very  desirous  to  assist  in  promoting  the  education  of 
young  men,  had  established  a  prize  of  books  to  be  dis¬ 
tributed  every  month  to  those  who  passed  the  best  Alinor 
examination.  It  was  not  necessary  to  say  how  that 
fund  was  established,  but  Air.  Hills  himself  had  found 
the.  largest  portion  of  the  money,  the  remainder  being 
derived  from  the  sale  of  the  portrait  of  the  late  Air. 
Jacob  Bell.  With  respect  to  the  Secretary’s  Casual  Fund, 
it  arose  in  this  way.  Upon  one  occasion  an  honorarium 
of  £100  was  given  to  the  Secretary  for  his  extraordinary 
services  in  connection  with  the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy 
Bill,  which  he  invested  at  once,  in  order  that  he  might 
have  a  sum  of  money  to  apply  to  in  the  case  of  persons 
who  asked  for  casual  relief,  not  being  eligible  for  the 
Benevolent  Fund. 

Air.  E.  Burden  said  he  -was  very  glad  to  hear  this  ex¬ 
planation,  and  he  begged  leave  to  propose  a  vote  of 
thanks  to  both  those  gentlemen. 

The  motion,  being  seconded,  was  carried  with  acclama¬ 
tion. 

Air.  Hills  said  he  was  very  glad  the  Society  had  been 
X-Jeased  to  accexit  his  small  donation,  the  object  being  to 
assist  those  who  passed  the  Alinor  examination  with 
books  to  prepare  them  for  the  Alajor  one.  As  a  young 
man  he  had  felt  the  want  of  books  himself,  and,  there¬ 
fore,  he  thought  it  desirable  to  help  those  who  might  be 
in  the  same  position. 

The  Secretary  said,  whoever  hax)x>ened  to  fill  his 
office  after  him  would  always  find  a  great  many  calls  for 
casual  relief ;  and,  therefore,  if  any  gentleman  liked  to- 
add  to  the  fund  he  should  be  very  happy  to  receive  such 
donations. 

Air.  Linford  :  Air.  Chairman,  I  shall  be  as  brief  as- 
possible  in  proposing  this  resolution,  and  my  object  in 
doing  so  is,  that  the  Society  may  not  land  themselves  in 
a  hole.  The  Privy  Council  will  not  accept  simply  re¬ 
commendations  as  a  reason  for  staying  other  proceedings, 
and,  therefore,  I  have  framed  the  resolution  in  such 
terms  as  to  acknowledge  our  liability  at  all  events. 
I  therefore  propose,  “That  this  Aleeting  is  of  opinion 
that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  to  pro¬ 
pose  at  an  early  opportunity  regulations  for  the  keeping. 


May  27,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


9GI 


dispensing  and  sale  of  poisons,  in  accordance  'with  the 
provisions  of  the  Pharmacy  Act,  1868. 

Mr.  Giles  :  I  beg  leave  to  second  that  resolution. 

Mr.  Reynolds  (Leeds) :  After  the  most  impressive 
■way  in  which  Mr.  Mackay  has  spoken  of  the  duty  of 
this  meeting  towards  those  members  who  are  absent  to¬ 
day  upon  the  faith  of  an  understanding,  and  his  illustra¬ 
tion  ot  the  intended  deputation  from  Glasgow,  I  feel  it 
difficult  to  add  anything  upon  the  point.  Mr.  Randall 
has  represented  the  same  view  from  the  south  of  Eng¬ 
land  ;  and  it  is  my  duty,  on  behalf  of  my  fellow-members 
in  Leeds,  to  protest  against  the  principle  of  compulsion 
being  voted  in  their  absence,  which  is  due  to  their  faith 
in  the  late  vote  of  the  Council.  If  a  matter  has  under¬ 
gone  free  discussion,  and  it  is  put  to  the  vote,  after 
■every  member  has  had  the  privilege  of  expressing  his 
opinion,  I  will  bow  to  the  opinion  of  the  majority  as 
readily  as  any  man,  but  I  am  quite  sure  that  what  has 
been  said  by  the  Council,  the  acceptation  of  the  resolu¬ 
tion  already  passed  by  it,  with  only  one  dissentient,  and 
the  statement  by  the  Journal  that  this  question  was  prac¬ 
tically  settled,  have  induced  gentlemen  to  stay  away ;  and 
.after  the  resolution  which  has  been  passed,  I  can  see  no 
reason  why  we  should  commit  ourselves  for  the  future, 
ns  this  resolution  would  do.  If  notice  is  given  I  do  not 
object  to  any  motion  whatever,  only  let  us  act  fairly 
towards  those  who  are  not  here.  I  will  add  one  word 
as  to  the  recommendations  themselves.  I  believe  the 
great  mischief  in  connection  with  them  as  they  now 
.stand  is  that  they  adopt  the  poison  schedule  A,  which  was 
•drawn  up  for  a  totally  different  purpose,  and,  I  think,  we 
should  start  on  a  simpler  basis. 

Mr.  Giles  :  I  rise  to  second  the  resolution,  because  I 
believe  it  has  not  yet  been  done.  And  I  must  protest  at 
people  coming  here  and  saying  that  because  their  friends 
are  not  here,  it  is  not  competent  for  the  meeting  to  trans¬ 
act  the  ordinary  business  of  the  Society.  Such  a  thing  I 
never  heard  of  in  all  my  life,  and  I  have  been  a  good  deal 
accustomed  to  public  meetings.  I  never  did  hear  such  a 
ridiculous  proposition  as  that.  If  that  were  the  principle 
to  be  acted  on,  why  should  we  come  here  at  all  ?  why  not 
transact  our  business  through  the  post  by  means  of  postal 
cards  ?  We  are  met  here  to  discuss  anything  and  every¬ 
thing  connected  with  the  business  of  the  Society  which 
may  have  arisen  during  the  year,  and  if  the  Council,  or 
governing  body,  choose  to  bring  forward  any  subject,  that 
subject  being  on  the  tapis  is  sufficient  to  justify  anybody 
in  bringing  forward  his  own  views  upon  it,  and  carrying 
them  if  he  can.  Do  not,  then,  let  us  make  such  children 
of  ourselves  as  to  talk  such  stuff  as  that.  I  am  ashamed 
of  being  a  member  of  a  meeting  which  fills  this  room,  and 
to  hear  it  seriously  argued  that  we  are  not  competent  to 
deal  with  any  question  that  is  brought  before  us.  This 
resolution  is  not  the  same  as  the  one  which  was  proposed 
before,  but  it  is  one  which  has  my  assent  and  approval, 
rather  more  even  than  the  amendment  I  myself  moved, 
because  it  leaves  entirely  open  what  the  nature  of  the 
regulations  shall  be,  and  contemplates  their  being 
thoroughly  ventilated,  and  that  if  thought  desirable,  as 
has  been  suggested,  you  may  call  in  the  assistance  of 
persons  from  without.  Persons  may  be  appointed  at 
this  meeting,  or  there  is  no  reason  why  any  person 
should  not  write  to  the  Council ;  in  fact,  I  do  not  know 
that  the  Council  have  not  already  been  inundated  with 
suggestions.  Some  persons  say  that  these  suggestions 
are  not  satisfactory,  but  no  one  has  said  why,  except 
one  gentleman  who  said  so  under  a  mistake.  And 
although  we  have  heard,  over  and  over  again,  that  many 
firms  adopt  superior  precautions  to  those  recommended 
here,  I  defy  anybody  to  indicate  a  possible  precaution 
which  is  not  contained  within  the  four  corners  of  this 
-paper.  I  admit  the  elasticity  of  that  paper.  Our  excel¬ 
lent  and  generally  sagacious  friend,  Mr.  Squire,  rather 
complained  of  their  not  being  sufficiently  matured,  and 
wanted  a  hard-and-fast  system  of  regulations.  But  that 
is  exactly  the  thing  we  do  not  want.  We  want  some¬ 


thing  that  shall  comprehend  everything  necessary,  and 
not  bind  us  to  anything  in  particular.  I  do  think,  there¬ 
fore  that  we  are  justified  in  passing  this  resolution,  and 
that  it  is  not  pressing  the  old  question  in  a  new  form. 
The  old  question  was  whether  we  should,  on  this  present 
occasion,  prescribe  for  ourselves  certain  specific  regula¬ 
tions,  and  now  the  new  question  is,  that  this  Society 
should  acknowledge  the  duty  which  lies  upon  it  of  pre¬ 
scribing  regulations  at  a  convenient  time.  Those  are 
totally  distinct  things.  If  not,  gentlemen,  I  am  a  donkey, 
and  do  not  understand  the  English  language.  That  is 
my  misfortune,  and  I  am  very  sorry  it  should  be  inflicted 
on  the  meeting.  I  do  think  we  ought  now  to  give  a  dis¬ 
tinct  indication  to  the  Privy  Council  that  we  are  not 
going  to  evade  the  obligations  which  they  think  lie  upon 
us.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  we  do  mean  to  evade  them 
let  us  say  so  in  downright  terms,  so  that  there  may  be 
no  mistake  about  it. 

Mr.  Randall  (Southampton)  :  In  the  first  place,  Mr. 
Chairman,  let  me  say  that  I  do  not  bring  to  this  meeting 
any  authority,  save  and  except  such  as  I  bring  in  my 
own  person,  and  I  do  not  pretend  to  represent  anybody. 
We  have  had  no  meetings,  but  I  believe,  as  far  as  I 
know,  the  majority  of  those  near  me  would  be  quite  sa¬ 
tisfied  to  have  compulsory  regulations  passed.  I  think 
so,  but  I  am  not  quite  sure.  In  the  next  place,  I  look 
at  this  resolution  as  a  perfectly  different  matter  from 
the  former  one.  I  feel  that  it  would  be  dishonourable 
in  us  to  do  anything  to  bind  the  Society  to-day,  after  it 
has  been  understood  that  no  such  thing  would  be  brought 
forward.  If  the  first  resolution  had  passed,  it  would  have 
bound  the  whole  body,  but  this  will  simply  bind  the  pre¬ 
sent  meeting. 

Mr.  Edward  Burden  :  We  have  committed  ourselves 
to  certain  recommendations  which  are  to  be  forwarded 
to  the  Privy  Council.  I  was  going  to  ask,  suppose  the 
Privy  Council  set  their  seal  to  them,  and  render  them 
compulsory.  How  should  we  be  placed  then  ? 

Mr.  Squire  :  I  think  the  Council  are  placed  in  this 
position.  They  will  have  to  give  some  answer  to  the 
Privy  Council,  but  we  do  not  commit  ourselves  under 
this  resolution  to  do  anything  immediately,  but  simply 
that  regulations  should  be  made  for  the  storing,  keeping 
and  dispensing  poisons,  according  to  the  provisions  of 
the  Act ;  and  we  on  the  Council  may  frame,  with  the 
advice  of  others,  such  regulations  as  should  not  be  so 
obnoxious  as  these,  and  present  them  to  the  Privy  Coun¬ 
cil.  It  simply  says,  we  do  propose  to  make  some  regu¬ 
lations.  We  are  not  compelled  to  make  them  as  strin¬ 
gent  as  these,  and  I  do  not,  therefore,  see  any  reason 
why  the  meeting  should  not  adopt  Mr.  Linford’s  resolu¬ 
tion.  There  is  nothing  in  it  which  commits  us  to  any 
particular  line, — it  only  says  the  regulations  are  to  be 
framed  ;  and  surely  it  is  not  such  a  very  hard  case  to 
frame  such  as  should  be  satisfactory  to  the  Society  by 
another  year. 

The  Chairman  :  This  motion  says  nothing  about  time, 
and  therefore  I  apprehend  it  really  implies  that  we  are 
to  set  to  work  at  once.  I  cannot  say  how  soon  we  may 
be  called  upon. 

Mr.  Schacht  :  It  strikes  me  that  there  is  a  very  im¬ 
portant  principle  involved  in  this  resolution.  We  have 
voted  once,  I  thought,  on  the  principle, — we  have  argued 
on  the  principle ;  and  now  this  is  a  modification  of  the 
old  principle  again.  It  says  this  meeting  is  of  opinion 
that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Council  to  do  so-and-so  ;  but  it 
was  upon  that  very  consideration,  whether  it  was  a  duty 
or  not,  that  I  went  into  one  lobby  instead  of  the  other. 
I  am  of  opinion  that  there  is  no  obligation  on  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society  to  do  anything  of  the  kind.  I  am 
quite  aware  that  there  is  an  awkward  legal  phrase  in 
the  Pharmacy  Act,  which  may  be  interpreted  in  two 
ways.  There  is  a  word  there  written  “  may,  which 
some  individuals  choose  to  read  “  shall.  In  my  opinion 
the  latter  reading  is  incorrect ;  and  on  that  interpreta¬ 
tion  I  held  my  objection  to  the  original  proposition  0£ 


9G2 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[Hay  27,  1S7I. 


the  Council  last  year,  and,  consequently,  I  approve  of 
what  they  have  done  in  the  interval,  in  changing  their 
regulations  into  recommendations.  We  are  now  told 
that  if  these  recommendations  do  not  satisfy  the  Privy 
Council,  we  shall  have  some  dreadful  system  of  inspec¬ 
tion  forced  upon  us  in  exchange,  and  we  are  taunted 
v  ith  the  fact  that  it  will  serve  us  right.  I  disbelieve  it 
altogether.  My  opinion  is  that  any  application  to  Par¬ 
liament  for  compulsory  powers,  such  as  would  he  impe¬ 
ratively  necessary  in  order  to  make  any  such  regulations 
compulsory  and  effectual,  would  ho  met  with  such  a 
storm  of  opposition  from  all  sections  of  the  medical  and 
pharmaceutical  bodies,  that  it  would  have  to  he  with¬ 
drawn  ,  that,  in  tact,  it  would  receive  precisely  the  same 
treatment  with  which  the  recent  attempt  in  Parliament 
was  recei\ed  to  place  the  regulations  of  railways  under 
the  inspection  of  the  Loard  of  Trade.  I  dare  say  gentle¬ 
men  will  remember  that  only  a  few  weeks  ago  an  at¬ 
tempt  was  made  to  introduce  a  system  of  regulation  and 
management  of  railways,  hut  it  was  rejected  almost 
tumultuously ;  and  the  grounds  upon  which  one  member 
of  the  Government  opposed  it  were  precisely  the  same 
as  those  upon  which,  as  I  understand,  the  chemists  and 
druggists  of  England  rest  their  objections  to  these  com¬ 
pulsory  regulations,  viz.  that  in  the  first  place  it  would 
invoh  e  the  recognition  of  something  like  a  handing'  over 
of  a  portion  of  the  responsibility  which  each  individual 
feels  ho  is  xmder  if  left  to  himself;  and,  on  the  other 
hand,  that  in  order  to  make  it  in  the  smallest  degree 
efficient  you  must  have  a  system  of  inspection.  “  How¬ 
ever  good  the  regulations  may  be,”  said  Mr.  Chichester 
Fortescue,  “it  is  no  good  pressing  them  upon  the  rail¬ 
way  interest,  unless  you  establish  a  system  of  inspection 
to  see  they  are  carried  out.”  And  precisely  the  same 
here.  Ihc  sole  legal  power  to  enforce  these  regulations, 
should  .  they  become  law,  rests  with  Mr.  Dremridge. 
There  is  no  one  else  who  has  power  to  prosecute  any 
individual  who  infringes  that  Act.  Upon  Mr.  Bremrido-e 
alone  rests  the  responsibility  of  doing  so,  and  I  ask  what 
can  ho  do  f  He  can  do  simply  nothing.  I  may  obey 
the  1  cgulations,  and  my  next-door  neighbour  may  leave 
them  alone.  Is  ot  a  creature  wTill  know  anything  about 
it,  and  unless  ho  poisons  some  one,  every  one  may  do 
precisely  as  he  likes.  Then,  what  is  the  use  of  them  F 
A  law  alieady  exists  which  deals  with  any  one  who 
commits  an  offence.  If  any  one  by  mistake,  accident  or 
default  poisons  another  he  is  amenable  to  the  law,  and 
has  to  pay  a  heavy  penalty.  This  Bill  makes  it  possible 
that  he  may.  have  to  pay  an  additional  £5  fine,  after, 
perhaps,  having  to  pay  £2000  as  compensation.  What 
is  the  good  of  that  ?  Simply  nothing  at  all.  If  these 
things  mean  anything,  they  mean  that  care  should  be 
taken  that  men  exercise  those  precautions  which  should 
Tre}  ent  accidents ;  and,  in  order  that  they  may  answer 
~:eu-  PurP0Se>  there  must  be  a  system  of  inspection. 
That  I  rebel  against  vehemently  and  strongly.  I  would 
not  allow  the  smallest  end  of  the  wedge  to  intrude  itself 
between  me  and  the  conduct  of  my  own  business.  I 
should  not  vote  for  any  regulations  at  all,  for  it  seems 
to  me  that  they  would  become  merely  a  dead  letter.  I 
believe  we  are  not .  necessarily  compelled  as  a  body  to 
frame  these  regulations  at  all.  I  am  awrare  that  that  is 
a  moot  question ;  but  I  never  held  the  opinion  that  it 
was  obligatory.  It  is.  a  matter  referred  to  the  future, 

ffiently  for  consultation  by  the  members  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society,  and  if  the  Society,  in  its  entire  and 
corpoi  ate  capacity,  chooses  to  determine  that  compul- 
sory  regulations  are  unwise,  there  is  no  obligation  in 
that  Bill  to  make  it  a  point  of  honour  in  the  smallest 
degree  to  introduce  them. 

“J:  ?X'  C^teighe:  Gentlemen,  I  hope  you  will  sup- 
port  this  resolution,  there  is  one  question  raised  now  by 
Mr.  Schacht  on  which  I  cannot  remain  silent.  He  says 
he  believes  that  if  such  regulations  as  are  contemplated 
were  ever  brought  before  the  Legislature,  they  would  bo 
scouted  and  laughed  at.  Let  me  tell  him  that  in  the 


lobby  of  the  House  of  Commons  four  members  of  the- 
Parliamentary  Committee  of  this  Society  watched  every 
stage  of  the  Bill,  and  every  alteration  suggested  by  the 
medical  officer  of  the  Privy  Council ;  that  they  were  in 
telegraphic  communication  with  every  local  secretary 
throughout  the  country ;  that  Mr.  Brady,  Mr.  Reynolds, 
and  many  others  were  working  with  all  their  might  to- 
get  members  up ; .  but  in  the  face  of  all  that  we  could 
not,  on  a  vital  principle  of  the  Bill,  got  forty  members 
in  the.  House  when  there  was  a  division.  In  fact,  the 
Council  resisted  every  alteration  as  much  as  they  possibly 
could,  and  endeavoured  to  do  without  these  regulations, 
but  it  was  simply  a  question  of  a  bargain :  we  were  told, 
either  you  must  have  these  regulations,  or  you  shall  not 
have  a  monopoly  without.  You  may  not  think  it  was  a 
right  thing  to  do ;  it  may  have  been  a  wrong  thing,  but 
the  Act  is  now  law,  and  it  would  be  found  very  difficult 
to  undo  the  law.  If  you  pass  this  resolution,  you  may 
save  the  Council  from  immediate  action  on  the  part  of 
the  Privy  Council,  and  I  do  adjure  you,  therefore,  to 
pass  it.  As  Mr.  Randall  has  told  you,  it  does  not  impose* 
any  regulations ;  it  simply  asserts  a  principle,  and  there¬ 
fore  many,  who  could  not  vote  for  Mr.  Giles’s  amendment 
can  go.  with  us  on  this  point.  By  so  doing,  I  am  sure- 
you  will  save  the  Council  from  considerable  difficulty. 
Where  will  you  find  men  who  would  have  done  more 
for  you  with  the  Privy  Council  than  they  have  ?  It 
was  said  that  these  regulations  were  not  what  was  re¬ 
quired,  and  that  they  ought  to  be  referred  back  again  to* 
the  new  Council.  Why  the  same  thing  was  done  last 
year ;  and  Mr.  Vizer  and  his  friends  did  all  they  could 
to  send  new  men  to  the  Council,  and  from  that  very  new 
Council  we  got  recommendations  practically  the  sama 
as  we  had  last  year. 

Mr.  Yizeii  :  I  had  nothing  whatever  to  do  with  influ¬ 
encing  the  elections  last  year. 

„  Mr.  Carteigiie  :  I  only  go  by  what  you  said  last  year. 
Aou  said  send  fresh  men  to  the  Council — I  am  speaking 
from  memory — and  these  fresh  members  have  brought, 
before  us  to-day  in  substance  the  same  recommendations* 
as  were  brought  forward  last  year.  It  is  really  a  ques¬ 
tion  of  your  power  of  resisting  the  Government.  If  you. 
are  sure  that  you  can  resist  a  Government  measure  if  it  is* 
introduced,  then  do  nothing ;  because  recommendations, 
are  utterly  worthless  to  the  Privy  Council.  Once  admit 
the  principle  that  you  ought  to  do  this,  and  they  will,  I 
think,  give  you  time  to  consider  what  regulations  you: 
will  adopt,  and  to  make  them  as  lenient  as  you  think  de¬ 
sirable.  But  do  acknowledge  the  principle,  or  else  say 
deliberately  that  you  reject  it.  If  you  do  so  by  so  nar¬ 
row  a  majority  as  you  have  had  to-day,  you  may  guess- 
what  will  happen  if  any  unfortunate  chemist  should 
happen  by  accident  to  poison  a  bishop.  Contemplate- 
the  smallest  thing  of  the  kind  occurring,  and  what  will 
be  the  result,  with  the  energy  which  the  medical  officer 
of  the  Privy  Council  possesses.  You  all  know  what 
immense  power  he  has,  and  that  he  is  not  a  man  to  be 
balked.  I  do  not  sympathize  with  the  regulations,  I 
only  look  at  it  as  a  matter  of  policy,  of  prudence  and  of 
wisdom.  Where  do  you  find  pharmacy  without  restric¬ 
tions,  that  is,  on  a  professional  basis  P  Go  to  the  United 
States  ;  you  find  restrictions  there.  Go  anywhere  on 
the  Continent,  and  you  find  restrictions  on  the  sale  of 
poisons  much  greater  than  these  would  be.  You  cannot- 
blow  hot  and  cold.  You  cannot  be  both  free-traders* 
and  monopolizers. 

A  Member:  We  are  not  monopolists. 

Mr.  Carteigiie  :  You  have  a  monopoly  of  examina¬ 
tion.  I  do  not  say  we  should  not  have  secured  it  unre¬ 
stricted  if  wo  could,  but  we  tried  and  failed.  As  for  the* 
notion  that  the  words  do  not  mean  it,  all  I  can  say  is,  as 
a  member  of  the  Council  at  the  time  and  as  a  member 
of  the  Committee — and  there  are  several  other  mem¬ 
bers  hero  who,  I  think,  will  agree  with  me — that  was* 
not  only  the  distinct  understanding,  but  the  under¬ 
standing  in  writing,  and  the  clause  was  drawn  up  id 


May  27,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


9G3 


■concert  with  the  Medical  Officer  of  the  Privy  Council. 
"We  tell  you  that,  and  you  say  it  does  not  hind  3*011,  hut 
that  I  cannot  agree  to.  You  lost  a  great  deal  by  not 
passing  this  last  year.  At  that  time,  as  Mr.  Sehacht 
has  said,  regulations  might  have  "become  a  dead  letter ; 
in  fact,  he  has  told  3*011  how  excellent  tho3r  would  he  for 
practically  carrying  nothing  out,  and  ho  astonishes  me 
by  not  having  voted  for  Mr.  Giles’s  amendment.  It  ap¬ 
pears  that  he  is  reall3r  waiting  for  inspection,  and  giving 
the  notion  of  its  necessity  to  the  Government  for  the 
time  being.  And  realty  the  discussion  in  the  Journal 
keeps  the  idea  in  the  minds  of  the  Government  and  of 
the  medical  officer,  who  no  doubt  reads  our  Journal 
regularly.  You  may  depend  upon  it  if  I10  thinks  the 
public  will  not  he  sufficiently  protected  without  inspec¬ 
tion  he  will  ask  for  it.  As  Mr.  Randall  has  very  fairly 
expressed  it,  there  ma3*  he  differences  of  opinion  whether 
these  are  the  best  possible  regulations,  hut  we  arc  now 
simply  enunciating  the  principle  that  at  some  time  or 
other  we  will  impose  regulations  of  some  kind.  If  we 
do  not,  I  am  sure  the  Council  will  he  in  a  great  diffi¬ 
culty,  and  I  fear  3*011  will  not  get  men  on  the  Council 
who  will  he  willing  to  give  up  the  necessar3*  time  to 
tight  the  Government  on  a  question  of  this  sort  when  it 
ma3*  arise. 

Mr.  Wade  :  I  desire  to  move  an  amendment  in  order 
to  test  this  question,  and  it  is  to  this  effect, — “  That  this 
meeting  having  already  expressed  its  opinion  on  the 
question  of  poison  regulations,  desires  to  leave  it  in  the 
hands  of  the  Council  to  deal  with  as  they  shall  see  fit.” 

I  move  this  because  I  apprehend  that  the  Council,  both 
the  outgoing  and  incoming  Council,  will  he  perfectly  com¬ 
petent  to  know  what  to  do  as  to  carrying  out  the  pro¬ 
visions  of  the  Act.  It  will  he  for  the  incoming  Council, 
taking  the  wishes  of  the  meeting  as  expressed  to-day,  to 
carry  out  these  recommendations  as  the3*  may  see  fit.  I 
think,  therefore,  that  such  a  resolution  as  Mr.  Linford’s 
is  altogether  superfluous  and  unnccessaiy. 

Mr.  Yizeu  :  I  beg  to  second  the  amendment  of  Mr. 
Wade.  Mr.  Carteighe  sa3*s  he  does  not  blow  hot  and 
cold.  This  powerfully  illustrates  the  evil  of  the  con¬ 
tinued  absence  of  reporters  from  our  Council  meetings. 
If  those  proceedings  were  reported,  we  should  realty 
know  what  was  done  ly  the  Council,  which  now  we 
know*  nothing  about  further  than  on  which  side  each  gen¬ 
tleman  votes.  I  do  sincerety  hope  that  the  new*  Council 
wall  take  this  matter  into  their  early  consideration.  One 
word  about  the  amendment.  Mr.  Carteighe  says  w*e  are 
not  able  to  balk  Mr.  Simon  ;  my  opinion  happens  to  be 
just  the  reverse  :  I  think  if  that  gentleman  were  to  bring 
forw*ard  an  Act  of  Parliament  for  compelling  us  to  accede 
to  compulsoiy  regulations,  he  w*ould  not  be  able  to  cany 
it  without  including  also  medical  men,  surgeons,  dis¬ 
pensers  at  hospitals  and  eveiybod3*  else  connected  with 
the  dispensing  of  medicines.  I  have  far  too  high  an 
opinion  of  the  character  of  our  Legislature  to  believe 
that  the  British  House  of  Parliament  w*ould  pass  an3* 
Act  to  bind  a  fractional  part  of  a  large  and  intelligent 
bod}*  of  men,  leaving  the  gx’eater  majority  unshackled 
with  an}*  restriction  whatever.  I  think  in  that  w*ay  we 
may  fairly  meet  Mr.  Simon.  If  he  wishes  to  make  the 
regulations  compulsory  let  him  go  to  Parliament  to  do 
so,  and  then  w*e  shall  have  to  fight  the  battle  out.  The 
motion  is  in  my  opinion  merely  an  attempt  by  a  side 
wind  to  catch  a  few  votes  on  the  principle  of  Mr.  Giles’s 
amendment,  w*hich  has  been  already  lost. 

Mr.  Squire  :  I  think  the  amendment  is  a  very  ju¬ 
dicious  one.  Let  us  leave  the  matter  in  the  hands  of 
the  Council,  and  sec  what  course  of  action  they  take. 

Mr.  Saxdford  :  I  feel  perfectly  convinced  that  you 
will  not  satisfy  the  Privy  Council  in  this  w*ay ;  and 
w*hen  I  think  how  much  more  pow*cr  Mr.  Simon  has 
now*  than  he  had  in  1868,  I  do  implore  you  to  vote  for 
the  resolution. 

Mr.  Abraham  :  You  may  remit  it  to  the  Council,  but 
they  have  no  power  to  do  anything.  Nothing  but  this 


meeting  can  exercise  the  legal  authorit}*  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society,  unless  you  choose  to  adjourn  it  or  call  a 
special  meeting. 

Mr.  E.  Burden*  :  I  do  hope  the  Council  will  have  the 
wisdom  to  leave  the  question  where  it  is  and  do  no  more. 
I  hear  the  words  Privy  Council,  Government,  Parlia¬ 
ment,  used  by  one  and  anothei*,  and  at  the  same  time  wo 
are  told  that  these  recommendations  are  not  going  before 
the  Privy  Council  at  all.  I  believe  if  they  arc  sub¬ 
mitted.  to  the  Privy  Council  or  the  Government,  the 
question  will  be  directly  asked,  how  do  you  propose  to 
enforce  them  ?  and  they  will  require  some  system  of  in¬ 
spection  or  some  other  regulations  w*hich  may  prove  ob¬ 
noxious.  Under  these  circumstances  I  should  bo  for 
leaving  the  matter  where  it  is,  and  let  it  rest  until  the 
Government  raises  the  question.  Mr.  Giles  has  remarked 
that  no  one  had  brought  forward  any  objection  to  these 
regulations,  but  the  fact  is  he  gave  us  no  opportunity  for 
doing  so,  by  shutting  us  up  to  the  question  of  compul¬ 
sion  or  not.  Otherwise  I  should  have  been  prepared 
to  propose  the  omission  of  No.  2  altogether. 

The  amendment  w*as  then  put  by  the  Chairman  and 
declared  to  be  carried  on  a  show*  of  hands.  It  w*as  then 
put  as  a  substantive  motion  and  carried. 

Mr.  Urvvick  proposed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  Presi¬ 
dent  for  his  able  conduct  in  the  chair,  which  w*as  carried 
unanimously,  and  the  meeting  w*as  then  adjourned  until 
Friday  the  19th  instant  at  eleven  o’clock. 


ADJOURNED  MEETING, 

Friday,  Mag  19th,  1871. 


MR.  A.  F.  HASELDEN*,  F.L.S.,  PRESIDENT,  IN*  THE  CHAIR. 

The  Scrutineers  brought  up  their  report  as  folio w*s : — 
Scrutineers’  Report. 

We,  the  undersigned  Scrutineers,  appointed  at  the 
Thirtieth  Annual  General  Meeting  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society  of  Great  Britain,  do  hereby  certify  that 
we  have  examined  the  voting-papers  committed  to  us 
and  report  the  following  : — 

Yoting-papcrs  received . 1478 

Disallow*ed  as  folio w*s  : — 

Informal  (having  more  than  14  names 

left) . 13 

Received  by  the  Secretary,  per  post, 

after  the  15th  inst . 124 

Enclosed  in  envelopes  not  signed  by 

Yoters . 14 

Sent  direct  to  the  Secretary  ....  3 

-  154 


1324 


Hills  .  . 

.  1218 

Shaw  .  .  . 

769 

Haselden  . 

.  1200 

Sandford  .  . 

722 

Mackay  . 
"Williams  . 

.  1188 
.  1123 

Owen  .  .  . 

719 

Carr  .  . 

.  1087 

Dymond  .  . 

678 

Atherton  . 

.  1042 

Abraham  .  . 

621 

Woolley  . 

.  1041 

Cooper  .  . 

343 

Greenish  . 

.  992 

Yarde  .  .  . 

334 

Brown .  . 

.  972 

Collins  .  . 

273 

Betty  .  . 

.  869 

Wade  .  .  . 

269 

Smith  .  . 

.  850 

Stott  .  .  . 

238 

Frazer .  . 

.  828 
Benjamin 

Humpage,  Chairman. 

Frederick  Andrews, 
John*  II.  Baldock, 
Edward  Constance, 
Wji.  Henry  Froom, 
Wm.  King  Hop  kin, 
John  Horncastle, 
Joseph  Kettle, 

May  18  th,  1871. 


John  Moss, 

Robert  Palmer, 
Matthew  Pound, 
John*  Robbins, 

Edwin  B.  Vizer, 
Robt.  Fisher  Young. 


964 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS 


[.May  27, 1S71- 


The  Chairman  then  declared  the  Council  and  Auditors 
for  the  ensuing  twelve  months  to  consist  of  the  following 
Members : — 

Council. 

Atherton,  John  Henry,  Long  Row,  Nottingham. 
Betty,  Samuel  Chapman,  6,  Park  Street,  Camden  Town, 
London. 

Bottle,  Alexander,  37,  Town  wall  Street,  Dover. 
Brown,  William  Scott,  113,  Market  Street,  Man¬ 
chester. 

Carr,  John,  171,  High  Holhorn,  London. 

Edwards,  George,  Dartford. 

Frazer,  Daniel,  113,  Buchanan  Street,  Glasgow. 
Greenish,  Thomas,  20,  New  Street,  Dorset  Square, 
London. 

Groves,  Thomas  Bennett,  Weymouth. 

Haselden,  Adolphus  Frederick,  18,  Conduit  Street, 
Regent  Street,  London. 

Hills,  Thomas  Hyde,  338,  Oxford  Street,  London. 
Mack  ay,  John,  119,  George  Street,  Edinburgh. 
Reynolds,  Richard,  13,  Briggate,  Leeds. 

Sandford,  George  Webr,  47,  Piccadilly,  London. 
Savage,  William  Dawson,  30,  Upper  Bedford  Street, 
Brighton. 

Shaw,  John,  24,  Great  George  Place,  Liverpool. 

Smith,  Edward,  8,  The  Strand,  Torquay. 

Stoddart,  William  Walter,  9,  North  Street,  Bristol. 
Sutton,  Francis,  9,  Bank  Plain,  Norwich. 

Williams,  John,  5,  New  Cavendish  Street,  London. 
Woolley,  George  Stephen,  69,  Market  Street,  Man¬ 
chester. 

Auditors. 

Barron,  Frederick,  2,  Bush  Lane,  London. 

Bower,  William,  96,  Tottenham  Court  Road,  London. 
Hodgkinson,  William,  127,  Aldersgate  Street,  London. 
Mackey,  John  Brunt,  2,  Bouverio  Street,  London. 
Squire,  William,  5,  Coleman  Street,  London. 

The  Scrutineers  also  handed  to  the  President  their 
report  of  the  returns  for  the  election  of  Local  Secretaries. 

Votes  of  thanks  were  given  to  the  Scrutineers  and  the 
Chairman,  and  the  meeting  separated. 


CoTttspntcnrc. 

***  No  notice  can  he  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  he  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  hut  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

The  Benevolent  Fund. 

Sir, — As  one  of  the  Local  Secretaries,  whose  conduct  Mr. 
Vizer  seemed  by  implication  to  censure,  I  should  like  to  ask 
that  gentleman  on  what  authority  he  made  the  statement  on 
Wednesday  last,  that  there  were  at  least  1050  errors  in  the 
country  Register. 

I  feel  sure  he  cannot  find  any  in  this  district;  and  I  ques¬ 
tion  the  extent  of  his  allegation  in  others.  I  can  easily  un¬ 
derstand  that  in  London  150  errors  may  creep  in,  because 
there  are  difficulties  in  obtaining  information  which  do  not 
exist  in  the  country.  Here,  those  on  the  Register  often  in¬ 
quire  of  me  the  position  of  others  in  respect  to  it.  Besides 
this  I  am  periodically  stirred  up  to  make  the  necessary  in¬ 
quiries  by  a  circular  from  our  active  Registrar. 

Ipsioich,  Hay  20th,  1871.  J.  Wiggin. 

Sir, — In  looking  over  the  list  of  subscribers  to  the  Benevo¬ 
lent  Fund,  I  was  struck  with  the  poor  figure  the  wholesale 
houses  cut  in  the  list.  I  should  have  thought  gentlemen 
making  their  thousands  a  year  could  have  at  least  subscribed 
their  ten  guineas  yearly.  The  mistake  has  doubtless  arisen 
more  from  want  of  thought  than  want  of  heart ;  I  hope  next 
year  will  see  an  amendment.  Some,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  are 
conspicuous  by  their  absence. 

Many  of  us  are  very  poor,  but  there  is  not  one  of  us,  even 
if  it  cost  a  day’s  fast,  who  could  not  subscribe  at  least  a 
shilling  a  year.  Out  of  10,000  chemists  you  have,  at  a  rough 
calculation,  not  above  a  thousand  subscribers.  I  would  sug¬ 


gest  that  the  9000  should  be  canvassed  for  at  least  a  shilling- 
subscription,  and  as  much  more  as  they  are  able  to  give.  I 
would  suggest,  moreover,  that  the  publication  of  the  names- 
should  not  be  compulsory,  as  many  men  do  not  like  to  con¬ 
fess  they  are  poor.  The  Secretary  of  the  Fund  should  appoint 
a  chemist  in  every  parish  in  London,  and  in  every  town  and 
village  in  the  country,  with  authority  to  make  the  collection. 
He  should  have  a  printed  card  given  him,  and_the  necessary- 
safeguards  taken  against  peculation. 

A  hundred  years  hence,  it  is  possible,  a  Benevolent'Fund,. 
through  better  social  arrangements,  will  be  almost  super¬ 
fluous,  but  till  that  “good  time”  arrives  each  must  give  his- 
mite. 

May  10th,  1871.  _  “Left  Hand.” 

The  Recommendations  for  the  Keeping,  Dispensing- 
and  Selling  of  Poisons. 

Sir, — I  should  be  obliged  by  your  allowing  me  space  in  the- 
Journal  for  the  following  statement,  which  I  intended  to  have- 
laid  before 'the  Meeting  on  the  17th,  but  into  which,  owing 
to  the  length  to  which  the  discussion  had  already  extended 
when  I  rose  to  move  my  amendment,  I  abstained  from  going, 
as  also  many  other  arguments,  with  wffiich  I  was  prepared  to* 
prove  the  unsatisfactory  nature  of  the  “  recommendations  ” 
submitted  to  the  trade  for  adoption ;  but  this  statement  is 
such  conclusive  evidence  of  the  absence  of  any  grounds  calling; 
for  compulsory  enforcement  of  regulations,  that  I  hope  you 
will  excuse  my  troubling  you  with  it. 

Having  carefully  gone  through  the  Pharmaceutical  Journals 
of  the  last  ten  years,  the  following  is  the  summary  of  deaths 
from  accidental  poisoning  as  reported  therein: — 

Errors  in  dispensing  by  chemists  ....  5 
„  „  surgeons  ....  6 

Errors  in  retail . 7 

Errors  by  nurses,  etc.,  mistaking  bottles  .  .  3 

Omitting  those  by  surgeons,  the  total  deaths  per  annum* 
would  be  one  and  a  half. 

When  we  take  into  consideration  the  tens  of  thousands  of 
prescriptions  annually  dispensed,  and  the  innumerable  sales- 
of  poisons,  would  any  regulations,  however  carefully  they 
might  be  framed,  and  however  stringently  enforced,  apart 
from  absolute  perfection,  reduce  this  infinitesimally  small 
percentage  ?  Could  any  Government  with  reason  go  to  Par¬ 
liament  for  power  to  bind  a  large  and  intelligent  body  of  men* 
upon  such  grounds  ?  Edwin  B.  Yizer. 

63,  Lupus  Street,  Belgravia  South,  S.W. 

Sir, — In  the  course  of  the  discussion  upon  the  poison  re¬ 
gulations,  I  have  been  somewhat  amused  to  find  that  many 
members  of  the  Council,  through  the  opposition  manifested 
throughout  the  country,  have  withdrawn  their  support  from 
Mr.  Sandford,  although  their  opinions  still  agreed  with  his. 
Now,  I  maintain  that  when  we  members  vote  for  gentlemen 
to  represent  us  upon  the  Council,  we  expect  them,  after  pro¬ 
per  consideration,  to  vote  always  in  the  way  they  themselves 
shall  at  the  time  being  judge  to  be  for  the  best  interests  of 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  quite  irrespective  of  the  opinions 
of  those  outside  or  around  them.  Were  our  representatives 
to  do  this,  we  should  always  respect  them,  if  we  could  not 
agree  with  them.  I  think  Mr.  Sandford  alone  in  this  affair  has 
acted  altogether  consistently.  The  actions  of  some  of  the 
others  would  almost  indicate  their  wish  for  office  (did  I  not 
know  the  honourable  character  of  those  I  am  alluding  to).  I 
can  only  suppose,  therefore,  that  they  have  been  influenced 
by  the  idea  that  their  duty  is  to  carry  out  the  wishes  of  the 
majority  of  those  who  send  them  there  instead  of  being  free 
to  exercise  their  own  judgment. 

May  20th,  1871.  M.  P.  S. 

Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  F.  Yincer,  Mr.  R.  Sheppard,  Mr.  J.  Wiggin,  Mr.  J- 
Schweitzer,  Mr.  J.  II.  Gostling,  Mr.  S.  Maskery,  Mr.  Paton, 
Mr.  W.  W.  Jones,  Mr.  Harry  Leach,  Mr.  J.  W.  Williams,. 
Mr.  J.  R.  Jackson,  the  Secretary  of  the  Liverpool  Chemists’ 
Association,  the  Secretary  of  the  Norwich  Chemists’  Assist¬ 
ants’  Association,  M.  P.  S.,  R.  G.  H.,  X.  Y.  Z.,  J.  H.,  T.  H.,. 
H.  B.,  “Lover  of  Truth,”  “Capsicum,”  “Henricus,”  “A 
Country  Chemist,”  “Give  and  Take,”  “ Obfera,”  “Quoero,” 
“  Aquila.” 

In  consequence  of  the  great  pressure  upon  our  space  caused 
by  the  report  of  the  proceedings  at  the  Annual  Meeting,  we 
are  compelled  to  defer  the  publication  of  several  communica¬ 
tions. 


June  3,  1871 .] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


965 


CHLORAL  HYDRATE. 

BY  DB.  F.  VERSMANN. 

Some  time  ago  I  proposed  sulphuric  acid  for  test¬ 
ing  chloral  hydrate,  and  I  now  wish  to  give  the 
numerical  results  of  a  few  comparative  experiments 
made  with  sulphuric  acid  and  ammonia.  The  ob¬ 
jections  to  the  last  reagent  are  twofold,  the  results 
obtained  are  not  very  accurate  and  the  analysis  re¬ 
quires  longer  time  than  is  desirable. 

In  my  previous  paper  I  have  drawn  attention  to 
the  fact  that  the  solubility  of  chloroform  in  water  is 
the  true  cause  of  the  inaccuracy,  and  not  the  further 
decomposition  of  chloroform  by  ammonia,  and  I 
arrived  at  the  result  in  the  following  manner.  In 
testing  chloral  hydrate  I  always  take  10  grammes 
instead  of  the  large  quantity  hitherto  proposed.  10 
grammes,  if  pure,  should  yield  4‘82  c.  c.  of  chloro¬ 
form.  I  therefore  placed  5  c.  c.  of  chloroform  in  a 
long  and  narrow  well- stoppered  tube,  graduated  in 
0T  c.  c.,  and  after  having  added  some  water  and 
briskly  shaking  the  tube,  I  heated  it  in  like  manner  as 
in  the  analysis  of  the  hydrate  and  allowed  it  to  stand 
for  twelve  hours.  The  loss  was  exactly  0"2  c.  c.  with 
repeated  experiments ;  and  as  exactly  the  same  loss 
was  found  in  experiments  with  strong  ammonia,  it  is 
evident  not  only  that  it  is  owing  to  the  solubility  of 
chloroform  in  water,  but  also  that  it  must  be  taken 
into  account  in  testing  the  hydrate.  It  is  a  constant 
loss,  and  whenever  the  ammonia  test  should  be  pre¬ 
ferred,  0'2  c.  c.  must  be  added  to  the  quantity  of 
chloroform  actually  observed.  I  have  adopted  this 
plan,  which  I  may  call  the  ammonia  test  corrected. 
The  results  thus  corrected  correspond  exactly  with 
the  sulphuric  acid  test,  but  I  still  prefer  the 'latter, 
because  the  decomposition  of  the  hydrate  into  chloral 
and  water  is  completed  in  a  few  minutes. 

I  have  described  the  modus  operand i  before  and  I 
therefore  need  not  repeat  it,  but  I  will  at  once  give 
the  results  of  a  few  experiments  made  with  samples 
from  different  manufacturers.  The  specific  gravity 
of  chloroform  has  been  taken  by  Mr.  Umney  and 
others  at  1497.  I  think  this  is  too  high ;  I  prefer 
to  take  it  as  1490  at  15‘5  C.  (60°  F.).  The  specific 
gravity  of  pure  chloral  I  take  as  1505  at  the  same 
temperature. 


AMMONIA  TEST. 

Ten  Grammes  of  Chloral  Hydrate. 


Cubic  centim.  of  Chloroform. 

Observed.  1  Corrected. 

Percentage  of 
Chloroform. 

Percentage  of 
Hydrate. 

4-20 

4T0 

65-56 

90-80 

4-40 

4-G0 

68-54 

94-93 

4-45' 

4-05 

69-28 

95-95 

4-50 

4-70 

70-03 

96-99 

SULPHUEIC  ACID  TEST. 

Ten  Grammes  of  Chloral  Hydrate. 

C.  c.  of  Chloral. 

Percentage  of 
Chloral. 

Percentage  of 
Chloral  Hydrate. 

5-40 

81-27 

91-18 

5"65 

85-03 

95-40 

5-70 

85-78 

96-24 

5-75 

86-54 

97-09 

Third  Series,  No.  49. 


THE  OCHRO  AND  THE  MUSK  MALLOW. 

BY  JOHN  R.  JACKSON,  A.L.S., 

Curator  of  Museums,  Royal  Gardens,  Kcw. 

Perhaps  there  is  no  one  family  of  plants  having 
so.  many  species,  with  such  a  decided  characteristic 
property  running  through  the  whole,  as  the  Mcd- 
vacea.  Almost  all  are  mucilaginous,  and  though 
none  of  them  are  now  officinal  in  this  country,  the 
marshmallow  (. Althaea  officinalis,  L.)  and  the  com¬ 
mon  mallow  (. Malva  sylvestris,  L.)  are  sometimes 
used  by  the  peasantry  in  rural  districts,  a  decoction 
of  the  leaves  of  the  first  being  applied  for  fomenta¬ 
tions,  and  the  mucilage  with  which  both  this  and  the 
common  mallow  abound  being  employed  as  a  soothing 
or  softening  drink  in  coughs  and  bronchial  affections. 
It  is,  however,  chiefly  in  France  that  the  roots  are 
used  to  produce  a  demulcent  drink  known  there  as 
Guimauve. 

In  tropical  or  temperate  regions,  where  the  species 
of  this  Order  are  found  most  abundantly,  the  muci¬ 
lage  and  seeds  of  the  several  species  are  used  by  the 
natives  for  various  medicinal  purposes.  Two  of  the 
most  interesting  plants  are  the  ochro  ( Hibiscus  escu- 
lentus,  L.)  and  the  musk  mallow  (H.  Abelmoschus, 
L.),  the  first  interesting  on  account  of  its  esculent 
and  medicinal  properties  and  uses,  and  the  second 
principally  on  account  of  its  seeds  being  used,  to  a 
certain  extent,  as  a  substitute  for  animal  musk. 

The  Ochro,  or  edible  hibiscus,  is  an  annual  her¬ 
baceous  plant,  with  hairy  stems  and  alternate  cordate 
leaves  strongly  toothed,  and  from  three  to  five-lobed. 
The  petals  are  pale  yellow,  with  a  deep  crimson 
base.  The  capsules  or  fruits  appear  to  vary  much 
in  size  according  to  the  country  where  they  are  pro¬ 
duced.  Those  we  have  seen  from  the  East  Indies 
are  usually  from  four  to  six  inches  in  length  and 
about  one  inch  in  diameter  at  the  base,  tapering 
upwards  to  the  apex,  while  those  grown  in  Venezuela 
and  some  other  parts  of  South  America,  as  well  as 
those  from  South  Africa,  are  not  more  than  two  or 
two  and  a  half  inches  long  and  one  and  a  half  inches 
diameter  across  the  centre.  They  are  marked  with 
from  five  to  eight  ridges,  running  longitudinally  from 
the  base  upwards  and  corresponding  with  the  num¬ 
ber  of  cells,  each  ridge  forming  a  valve  and  partially 
dehiscing  when  the  fruit  is  ripe  and  dry ;  the  small 
round  seeds  also  becoming  loose  and  shaking  in  the 
capsule  like  a  rattle.  The  plant  is  a  native  of  the 
West  Indies,  but  is  cultivated  extensively  in  all 
tropical  countries,  as  well  as  in  the  south  of  France, 
principally  for  the  sake  of  its  fruit.  This  is 
gathered  before  it  is  fully  ripe  and  is  used  as  a 
vegetable,  but  chiefly  for  imparting  a  mucilaginous 
thickening  to  soups  ;  it  is  also  used  when  very 
young  for  pickling,  like  capers.  The  plant  is  offi¬ 
cinal  in  India,  being  considered  a  valuable  emollient 
and  demulcent;  the  capsules  are  employed  in  a 
decoction,  and  the  Indian  Pharmacopoeia  gives  the 
following  instructions  for  its  preparation  : — 

“  Take  of  the  fresh  immature  capsules,  sliced 
transversely,  three  ounces ;  water,  a  pint  and  a  half. 
Boil  to  a  pint  and  strain  ;  sweeten  to  taste. 

“Dose. — From  three  to  six  ounces,  or  ad  libitum, 
as  an  ordinary  drink.” 

The  inhalation  of  the  vapour  of  the  hot  decoction 
has  been  found  very  serviceable  in  allaying  cough, 
hoarseness,  irritation  of  the  glottis  and  other  affec¬ 
tions  of  the  throat  and  fauces.  The  dried  capsules 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[Jane  3, 1871. 


COG 


may  be  employed  when  they  are  not  procurable  in  a 
fresh  state. 

According  to  the  testimony  of  Dr.  Gibson  and 
others,  the  fresh  capsules  bruised  form  an  efficient 
emollient  poultice. 

The  seeds  are  used  in  native  practice  in  the  pre¬ 
paration  of  a  demulcent  drink,  corresponding  to  our 
use  of  barley,  and  the  leaves  are  used  for  poultices. 

The  musk  mallow  (H.  Ahelmoschus ,  L.  =  Ahel- 
moschus  moschatus,  Mcencli)  is  also  an  annual  her¬ 
baceous  plant  with  irregularly-toothed  hastate  leaves. 
The  flowers,  like  those  of  the  former  species,  are 
yellow  with  a  crimson  base,  and  are  succeeded  by 
an  oblong-lanceolate  hairy  capsule.  The  plant  is  a 
native  of  the  East  Indies,  but  has  become  naturalized 
in  the  West,  and  is  also  cultivated  in  most  tropical i 
countries. 

Both  in  the  East  and  West  Indies  the  bruised 
seeds  are  used  internally  and  externally  as  a  sup¬ 
posed  remedy  for  snake-bites  ;  they  have  a  very 
strong  musky  odour,  and  possess  cordial  and  sto¬ 
machic  properties,  and  the  Arabs  mix  them  with 
their  coffee  to  give  it  a  perfume.  They  are  also , 
used  by  perfumers  in  this  country,  chiefly,  we.  be¬ 
lieve,  in  the  form  of  powder  for  sachets,  being  im¬ 
ported  from  the  West  Indies  for  this  purpose. 

Both  of  the  above-named  plants  abound  in  a  strong  i 
silky  fibre. 

ORIENTAL  SPICES. 

BY  JAMES  PATON, 

Assistant-Keeper  in  the  Museum  of  Science  and  Art, 

Edinburgh. 

( Continued  from  page  923.) 

International  commerce  in  the  earlier  ages  of  the 
world  was  very  different  in  all  its  relations  and  sur¬ 
roundings  from  the  conditions  under  which  the  traf¬ 
ficking  of  the  world  is  conducted.  Commercial  treaties 
are  modern,  and  free  trade  is  yet  only  an  idea; 
geographical  knowledge  was  cultivated  among  the 
ancients  only  to  the  extent  of  knowing  the  strength 
and  weakness  of  neighbouring  estates;  a  foreigner 
all  over  the  world  was  a  natural  enemy,  a  liighway 
through  the  nations  there  was  therefore  none,  and 
he  was  indeed  a  brave  man  who  trusted  himself  to 
the  sea  in  the  frail  vessels  which,  creeping  along 
the  coasts,  courted  destruction  at  the  first  blast  of  a 
summer  gale : — 

“  Ille  robur  et  les  triplex, 

Circa  pectus  erat,  qui  fragilem  truci 
Commisit  pclago  rateru.” 

In  these  circumstances  each  people  had  to  find  [ 
within  its  own  borders  the  necessities  of  life ;  to 
bring  them  from  abroad  was  out  of  the  ques¬ 
tion,  and  when  home  supplies  became  insufficient 
the  people  had  to  spread  themselves  outward  over 
unoccupied  lands.  International  commerce  con¬ 
sisted  in  passing  onward  from  State  to  State  a  very 
lew  of  the  rarest  luxuries  and  indispensable  medi¬ 
cines,  which  the  very  wealthy  and  most  civilized 
demanded ;  and  these  in  their  progress  through  each 
nation  were  made  a  source  of  revenue  to  the  com¬ 
munities  that  commanded  the  route.  Thus  spices 
and  odorous  gums,  the  rich  products  of  the  Eastern 
tropics,  of  which  no  single  grain  has  ever  been  raised 
on  the  less  genial  shores  of  Europe,  along  with 
precious  stones  and  pearls,  from  the  earliest  ages. 


|  formed  the  sole  basis  of  the  commerce  of  the  West 
|  with  the  East. 

The  earliest  glimpse  we  have  of  the  spice  trade 
j  gives  us  a  most  characteristic  and  vivid  impress  of 
the  traffic  of  the  early  world.  As  the  sons  of  Jacob 
had  just  completed  the  execution  of  their  plot  against 
their  envied  brother  Joseph,  on  the  horizon  appeared 
“  a  company  of  Islimaelites  from  Gilead,  bearing 
spicery,  balm,  and  myrrh,  going  to  carry  it  down  to 
Egypt.”  Thus  1700  years  before  the  Christian  era 
we  find  the  Arabs  possessed  of  the  spice-trade,  which 
their  country,  as  a  principal  entrepot ,  continued  to 
hold  down  to  the  sixteenth  centurv,  when  the  whole 
s}Tstcm  was  overthrown  by  the  discovery  of  the  Cape 
passage.  At  this  period  Egypt  was  the  capital  of 
civilization,  learning  and  luxury ;  and  myrrh,  cassia 
and  other  odoriferous  substances,  we  are  informed 
by  Herodotus,  were  used  for  embalming  the  dead 
and  in  religious  ceremonies. 

The  southern  portion  of  Arabia,  called  Sabaea  or 
Sheba,  was  peculiarly  well  situated  for  commanding 
the  great  trade  in  spices  (hence  the  name  Arabia 
Felix  or  Araby  the  Blest),  lying  in  the  direct  route 
from  the  east  to  the  west,  commanding  the  great 
caravan  route  by  the  valley  of  the  Euphrates  to  the 
shores  of  the  Mediterranean,  and  just  opposite  the 
Regio  Cinnamomifera  or  Aroma ta,  the  north-east 
promontory  of  Africa,  from  which,  and  not  from 
India,  the  main  supply  of  the  spices  then  used  was 
drawn.  The  Sabeans  had  the  necessary  skill  and 
enterprise  for  conducting  this  trade,  and  cunning 
did  not  fail  them.  They  overclouded  the  mysteries 
of  the  prized  commodities  with  fables,  such  as  that 
cinnamon  was  gathered  from  the  nests  of  the  phoenix, 
which  bird  procured  it  in  some  miraculous  way ;  that 
it  was  found  in  the  land  of  the  birth  of  Bacchus,  in 
marshes  guarded  by  winged  serpents ;  that  terrible 
bats  flew  at  the  eyes  of  those  engaged  in  gathering 
cassia,  and  other  such  tales,  all  of  which  we  presume 
1  served  to  keep  up  both  the  interest  in  and  price  of 
these  spices,  and  to  deter  the  much  believing  inha¬ 
bitants  of  the  early  world  from  prosecuting  such 
!  dangerous  enterprises  on  their  own  account. 

The  wealth  and  glory  of  Arabia  Felix,  acquired 
through  this  spice  trade,  was  the  wonder  of  ancient 
times,  and  the  writers  revel  in  descriptions  of  the 
grandeur  of  its  cities,  and  the  magnificence  of  its 
merchants’  houses.  Vessels  of  silver  and  gold, 
pillars  of  houses  of  pure  silver,  furniture  inlaid  and 
■overlaid  with  pure  silver,  gold  and  precious  stones 
are  spoken  of  as  common  furnishings  in  the  houses 
of  the  merchants ;  and  our  own  Milton,  in  imaging 
the  gorgeous  state  of  the  prince  of  the  power  of  dark¬ 
ness,  uses  the  comparison : — 

“  High  on  a  throne  of  royal  state  which  far 
Outshone  the  wealth  of  Ormuz  or  of  Inch” 

Further,  the  fame  of  spices  from  Araby,  and  the 
poetical  fallacy  of  winds  laden  with  the  spicy  odours 
he  alludes  to  in  one  of  his  magnificent  images — 

“  North-west  winds  blow 
Sab  can  odours  from  the  spicy  shores 
Of  Araby  the  blest.” 

Civilization  and  the  trade  in  spices,  from  the 
earliest  ages  of  which  we  have  any  records,  marched 
steadily  from  East  to  West,  hand  in  hand,  till  in  the 
end  of  the  fifteenth  century,  having  reached  the 
great  ocean,  this  very  spice  trade  carried  civilization 
across  this  mighty  obstacle,  and  added  a  new  and 


June  3, 187L] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


967 


hitherto  unknown  world  to  the  dominions  of  culture. 
Sidon,  and  afterwards  T}rre,  the  mighty  cities  of  the 
Phoenicians,  situated  on  the  east  of  Palestine,  first 
commanded  the  waters  of  the  Mediterranean,  and 
hy  the  way  of  the  Persian  Gulf  and  the  valley  of  the 
Euphrates'received  the  spiceries  of  the  East,  in  which 
they  traded  with  Egypt  and  the  western  countries. 

Alexander  the  Great,  on  his  triumphal  return  from 
his  conquering  march  over  Asia,  brought  back  with 
him  to  Europe  the  first  knowledge  and  use  of  com¬ 
mon  pepper.  His  contemporary,  Theophrastus,  in 
his  *  History  of  Plants,’  thus  describes  it :  “  Pepper, 
indeed,  is  a  fruit,  and  there  are  two  kinds  of  it ;  the 
one  is  round,  like  a  vetch,  having  a  husk,  and  rather 
red  in  colour,  but  the  other  is  oblong,  black,  and  full 
of  seeds,  like  poppy  seeds.  Both  kinds  are  heating, 
on  which  account  they  are  used  as  remedies  for,  and 
antidotes  against  poisoning.”  Thus  apparently  both 
common  pepper  and  capsicums  were  known  as  pepper 
from  the  earliest  times. 

Arabia  Felix,  being  out  of  the  line  of  Alexander’s 
progress  through  Asia,  he  left  in  the  quiet  possession 
of  its  most  lucrative  trade ;  but  in  founding  the  city 
of  Alexandria,  he  established  what  was,  to  some 
extent,  a  rival  to  the  commercial  cities  of  South 
Arabia,  and  an  additional  link  in  the  long  chain  that 
stretched  from  the  gates  of  Home  away  into  the 
absolutely  unknown  East. 

In  a  work  entitled  the  ‘  Periplus  of  the  Erythrean 
Sea,’  written  in  the  early  years  of  the  Christian  era, 
most  minute  details  regarding  the  commerce  of  that 
period  are  given.  As  showing  the  estimation  in 
which  spices  were  held  in  Home,  about  the  time  the 
Apostle  Paul  lay  there  a  prisoner,  and  when  Home 
was  in  its  zenith  of  wealth,  luxury  and  dissipation, 
we  may  quote  the  prices  paid  for  spiceries :  — 

£.  s.  d. 

Cinnamon  (then  chiefly  brought 
from  the  Regio  Cinnamomifera 
or  the  modern  Guardafui)  .  *0  17  3  per  lb. 

Cinnamon  Oil . 00  0  0  „ 

Black  Pepper .  0  3  3  „ 

White  ,, .  0  5  9  ,, 

Long  ,, . 0  12  2  „ 

Cardamoms .  0  9  8  ,, 

Ginger . '..0  4  9  „ 

It  is  remarkable  that  in  this  list  neither  nutmegs 
nor  cloves,  two  of  the  most  esteemed  luxuries  of  later 
times,  appear.  These  the  Homans  had  not  for  an¬ 
other  100  years  ;  it  is  not  till  about  a.d.  100  that  they 
are  first  spoken  of.  On  two  or  three  of  the  most 
insignificant  islands  in  the  Indian  Archipelago, 
heaved  up,  and  still  constantly  tossed  by  violent  vol¬ 
canic  energy,  these  precious  trees  had  hitherto  grown 
and  flourished  unheeded  by  the  inoffensive  savages 
that  peopled  the  isles.  It  had  been  well  for  the 
innocent  people  had  they  rooted  out  and  cast  into 
the  sea  the  last  stump  of  these  trees,  for  they  brought 
on  their  heads  unspeakable  sufferings,  and  on  the 
Western  nations  a  load  of  crime  and  cruel  infamy 
unparalleled  among  the  cruel  deeds  of  mankind. 

Growing  upon  these  very  remote  islands,  and  not 
at  all  cared  for  by  any  inhabitants  of  the  Archipelago, 
it  is  not  to  be  wondered  that  these  most  delicate 
substances  were  so  late  in  being  discovered,  when 
intercommunication  was  limited  and  perilous,  and 


*  These  figures,  of  course,  represent  very  much  less  value 
at  the  present  day. 


!  among  people  of  sluggish  and  unadventurous  habits. 
The  discovery  of  the  virtues  of  nutmegs  and  cloves 
is  presumed  to  have  been  accomplished  by  the  Te- 
lingas  of  the  east  or  Coromandel  coast  of  India 
about  the  time  of  Christ,  when  by  religious  per¬ 
secution  they  were  driven  in  large  numbers  to  the 
islands  of  the  Archipelago.  In  connection  with 
this,  Mr.  John  Crawford,  in  his  ‘  History  of  the 
Indian  Archipelago,’  remarks,  “  It  is  a  curious  and 
interesting  fact  that  every  important  change  in  the 
mode  of  conducting  the  commerce  of  India  has 
been  the  result  of,  or  has  followed  a  religious  revo¬ 
lution  or  convulsion.  The  trade  of  the  Hindoos 
extended  in  no  direction  but  towards  Arabia  until 
a  religious  schism  propelled  their  enterprise  to 
the  hitherto  unknown  countries  which  yielded 
spices.  The  Arabian  traders  went  no  further  east 
than  the  coast  of  Malabar,  until  they  acquired 
enthusiasm  and  energy  from  the  religion  of  Ma¬ 
homed,  when  they  crossed  the  Bay  of  Bengal,  colo¬ 
nized  in  the  India  islands,  and  pushed  their  com¬ 
merce  and  their  settlements  to  China.  Even  the 
last  great  revolution  in  the  commerce  of  the  East, 
effected  by  the  European  race,  is  distinctly  connected 
with  the  great  changes  in  religious,  as  well  as  other 
opinions  which  characterized  the  commencement  of 
the  sixteenth  century.” 

( To  he  continued.) 


diopters  for  Stuknts. 

CHEMICAL  NOTES  TO  THE  PHARMACOPOEIA. 

BY  WILLIAM  A.  TILDEN,  B.SC.  LOND. 

DEMONSTRATOR  OF  PRACTICAL  CHEMISTRY  TO  THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 

Hydrargyri  Oxidum  Rubrum. 

Some  mercury  is  divided  into  two  equal  portions  ; 
one  is  dissolved  in  nitric  acid,  and  the  solution  eva¬ 
porated  to  dryness. 

3Hg-f8HN03=3[Hg2N03]+2N0-f-4H20. 
The  other  is  then  triturated  with  the  dry  residue, 
and  the  whole  heated  till  black,  and  nitrous  vapours 
cease  to  be  evolved ;  on  cooling  it  becomes  red. 

Hg2N03  +  Hg=  2HgO  +  2NO  +  02. 

The  official  product  is  an  orange-red  powder.  The 
scaly  variety  commonly  seen  is  made  by  heating  the 
crystallized  nitrate.  They  are  identical  in  composi¬ 
tion  and  properties,  but  the  yellow  oxide  precipitated 
in  the  Lotio  Hydr.  Flava,  or  by  adding  potash  or 
soda  to  solution  of  mercuric  chloride  is  a  distinct 
variety  which  possesses  decidedly  greater  chemical 
activity.  Red  oxide  of  mercury  is  sufficiently  solu¬ 
ble  in  water  to  give  an  alkaline  reaction  with  litmus 
paper.  [§  Entirely  volatilized  by  a  heat  under  red¬ 
ness,  being  at  the  same  time  decomposed  into  mer¬ 
cury  and  oxygen.  If  this  be  done  in  a  test-tube,  no 
orange  vapours  are  perceived.]  Complete  volatiliza¬ 
tion  ensures  freedom  from  such  things  as  brick-dust, 
red  lead,  etc.  which  would  be  left  behind.  The  pre¬ 
sence  of  undecomposed  nitrate,  a  most  dangerous  con¬ 
tamination,  would  be  shown  by  the  production  of 
orange  nitrous  vapours. 

Red  oxide  of  mercury  dissolves  in  hydrochloric 
acid,  forming  the  perchloride. 

Unguentum  Hydr.  Oxidi  Hubii  is  frequently  apt 
I  to  become  slate-coloured.  This  arises  from  a  reduc- 


9G8 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[Jane  3,  1S71 


tion  or  deoxidation  of  the  red  oxide  with,  formation 
of  the  black  mercurous  oxide.  This  is  not  so  liable 
to  occur  when,  as  in  the  present  Pharmacopoeia, 
yellow  wax  is  employed.  In  the  last  edition  the 
ointment  was  prepared  from  white  wax,  prepared 
lard  and  almond  oil.  So  made,  it  rapidly  becomes 
grey,  and,  if  a  careless  operator  has  used  unwashed 
lard,  it  even  becomes  white  from  the  reaction  of  the 
salt  upon  the  mercuric  oxide  to  form  corrosive  sub¬ 
limate. 

Hyduaugyiii  Pehchloridum. 

A  mixture  of  mercuric  sulphate,  common  salt  and 
a  little  black  oxide  of  manganese  is  heated  in  a  dry 
flask,  or  any  suitable  subliming  apparatus.  The  per- 
chloride  condenses  in  distinct  brilliant  prismatic 
crystals  or  in  masses.  The  change  which  occurs  is 
a  double  decomposition. 

HgS04  -f  2 Nad  =  HgCl2  +  Na2S04. 

But  since  the  sulphate  of  mercury  is  apt  sometimes 
to  contain  small  quantities  of  mercurous  sulphate, 
which  by  reacting  upon  the  salt  would  give  rise  to 
calomel,  the  oxide  of  manganese  is  added  to  prevent 
this. 

[§  Perchloride  of  mercury  is  more  soluble  in  al¬ 
cohol,  and  still  more  so  in  ether  than  in  water.] 
When  dissolved  in  much  water  and  exposed  to  light, 
a  partial  decomposition  of  the  salt  ensues,  and  a 
little  calomel  is  deposited.  In  the  Liquor  Hyclrarg. 
Bichlor.  B.  P.,  a  small  quantity  of  sal-ammoniac  is 
added,  with  the  view  of  preventing  this  change  by 
forming  with  the  perchloride  a  more  stable  double 
salt. 


The  aqueous  solution  is  acid  to  test-paper. 

[§  Its  aqueous  solution  gives  a  yellow  precipitate 
with  caustic  potash  (HgO),  a  white  precipitate 
(HgNH2Cl)  with  ammonia,  and  a  curdy  white  pre¬ 
cipitate  (Ag  Cl)  with  nitrate  of  silver.  When  heated 
it  sublimes  without  decomposing  or  leaving  any 
residue.] 

Specific  gravity  of  vapour 

200  +  2(3^m)  x  .0G93  _  9.39> 


The  antidote  to  corrosive  sublimate  is  albumen, 
which  combines  with  it  to  form  an  insoluble  com¬ 
pound.  The  white  of  egg  should  be  given  in  mode¬ 
rate  quantities,  or  the  insoluble  compound  is  redis¬ 
solved. 


ECONOMIC  ENTOMOLOGY. 

In  the  collection  of  economic  entomology  exhibited  at 
South  Kensington  Museum,  the  life  history  of  the  in¬ 
sects  is  given,  not  only  by  specimens  showing  them  in 
their  various  stages  of  development,  but  also  by  exhibit¬ 
ing  specimens  of  the  material  subject  to  attack,  with  the 
insect  belonging  to  it  fixed  in  the  natural  position,  as 
observed  either  when  carrying  on  its  work  or  under¬ 
going  its  transformations. 

_  Thus,  in  the  case  of  our  timber  beetles,  specimens  are 
given  showing  the  injured  wood  with  the  beetles  at  work 
on  it  as  when  alive,  and  in  the  case  of  some  of  our 
insects  which  carry  on  their  work  or  transformations  in 
the  earth,  specimens  are  given  of  the  earth  structures, 
so  preserved  as  to  present  them,  if  not  in  their  full 
freshness,  at  least  sufficiently  clearly  for  purposes  of  in¬ 
struction. 

For  the  method  of  preparation  of  the  earth-cells  we 
may  take  those  of  the  Balaninus  glandium  as  an  example. 
The  cells  should  be  laid  on  a  smooth  surface,  such  as 


wood  or  china,  and  a  rather  thin  solution  of  gum  arabic, 
carefully  dropped  from  a  camel's -hair  pencil,  on  all  the 
parts  that  can  be  reached,  and  the  moisture  allowed  to 
soak  in ;  the  drops  of  gum- water  may  be  gently  drawn 
in  any  direction  required  with  the  point  of  the  brush, 
hut  the  earth  should  not  on  any  account  he  touched  with 
the  brush  during  the  process,  or  it  will  he  reduced  to 
mud,  and  the  characteristic  markings  destroyed.  When 
dry  the  specimen  should  be  turned,  and  the  gum-water 
applied  as  before  to  the  parts  previously  untouched,  and 
the  process  repeated  till  the  specimen  is  firmly  set.  If 
the  operation  has  been  carefully  performed,  the  glaze  on 
the  surface  will  give  little  more  than  the  appearance  of 
wet  earth ;  but  if  this  is  objectionable  a  little  dry  earth 
of  the  same  kind,  powdered  over  the  surface  whilst  still 
damp,  will  restore  the  natural  appearance. 

Such  specimens  as  ants’  nests  may  bo  preserved  by 
taking  up  a  section  of  a  few  inches  in  thickness  very 
carefully  with  a  sharp  spade,  or,  better  still,  with  a  long 
kitchen-knife,  and  laying  it  at  once  on  a  board,  with  the 
face,  afterwards  to  be  exhibited,  downwards  ;  and,  hav¬ 
ing  trimmed  the  specimen  neatly,  so  as  to  be  square  at 
the  sides,  enclosing  it  in  a  strong  cardboard  or  thin 
wooden  frame  (like  a  box  without  top  or  bottom),  filling 
in  what  is  then  the  upper  side  with  very  liquid  plaster 
of  Paris  up  to  the  edge  of  the  enclosing  frame.  The 
liquid  mixture  will  run  into  the  holes,  and,  setting 
almost  immediately,  will  keep  the  earth  from  falling 
away  when  the  specimen  is  restored  to  its  proper  posi¬ 
tion,  and  the  surface  to  be  exhibited  may  then,  if  neces¬ 
sary,  be  treated  as  above  described,  with  gum-water  to 
secure  the  safe  preservation  of  the  earth  galleries. 

Beetles  injurious  to  timber  may  be  well  displayed  by 
choosing  a  piece  of  wood  with  characteristic  specimens 
of  the  injuries  caused  by  the  kind  of  beetle  to  be  exhi¬ 
bited,  and  drilling  two  small  holes  beneath  the  spot 
where  it  is  to  be  placed,  then  passing  a  fine  wire  hori¬ 
zontally  through  the  thorax  of*  the  insect,  drawing  the 
two  ends  through  the  drilled  holes,  and  tying  them 
securely  at  the  back  of  the  wood.  If  a  pin  is  also  passed 
through  the  beetle  in  the  usual  way,  it  will  help  to 
secure  the  insect  in  the  desired  position ;  and  the  head 
of  the  pin  may  he  cut  off  or  concealed  by  a  touch  of 
paint,  so  as  not  to  spoil  the  life-like  appearance  of  the 
specimen.  Beetles,  or  other  insects  too  small  or  soft  in 
their  texture  to  be  treated  in  this  manner,  may  be  fixed 
by  gum,  glue  or  marine  glue,  of  a  single  pin  may  bo 
driven  through  so  deeply  into  the  wood  that  the  head  of 
the  pin  rests  on  the  insect,  and  sometimes  by  carefully 
lifting  one  of  the  elytra  of  a  beetle,  the  pin  may  be 
passed  through  beneath  it,  and  the  wing- cover  return¬ 
ing  to  its  place  will  entirely  conceal  the  artificial  sup¬ 
port. 

Rupee  may  be  fixed  with  glue  and  concealed  pins,  and 
the  larger  larvae,  such  as  those  of  the  goat-moth,  may 
be  well  represented  by  plaster  models  from  life,  fixed  in 
the  injured  timber  from  which  the  original  was  taken  : 
but  in  all  these  matters  the  characteristic  position  and 
colouring  of  the  insect  should  be  well  studied  before  any 
attempt  is  made  to  represent  it,  and  all  artificial  attach¬ 
ments  or  supports  should  show  as  little  as  possible.  If 
it  is  quite  unavoidable  that  they  should  appear,  a  little 
earth  or  wood-dust  applied  to  the  surface  of  the  glue  or 
gum,  and  a  few  touches  of  paint  on  the  wires  will 
usually  deaden  them,  so  as  to  attract  little  notice. 

Besides  the  substances  mentioned,  there  are  others 
still  more  perishable,  such  as  fruit,  leaves  or  roots, 
which  it  is  necessary  should  be  represented,  in  order  to 
give  perfect  illustration  of  the  destructive  powers  of 
many  of  our  insects.  In  some  cases  these  can  be  shown 
by  accurate  drawings;  in  others,  models  in  wax  or 
plaster  give  a  satisfactory  representation,  and  in  the 
Entomological  Collection  of  the  Horticultural  Society  at 
South  Kensington  are  many  specimens  of  models  in 
plaster  of  Paris,  representing  vegetable  substances  in¬ 
jured  by  insects,  the  insects  themselves  in  their  larval 


June  3,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


9G9 


form,  and  other  subjects  connected  with  economic  ento¬ 
mology.  The  process  of  making  these  is  as  follows : — 

The  object  to  be  modelled  should  first  be  coated 
thickly  and  strongly  with  wax  ;  this  may  be  done  by 
placing  it  on  a  smooth  board  which  has  been  slightly 
damped  to  prevent  adhesion,  and  then  brushing  the 
melted  wax  rapidly  over  it  with  a  camel' s-hair  pencil. 
The  wax  should  at  first  be  almost  boiling  hot,  so  that  it 
may  flow  from  the  brush  like  water,  and  leave  no  marks 
where  the  successive  applications  join  each  other,  and 
when  a  thin  coating  of  wax  has  been  secured  over  the 
entire  surface  of  the  object  (or  such  parts  as  it  is  desired 
to  model),  the  mould  should  bo  gradually  thickened  by 
the  application  of  successive  brushfuls  of  the  rapidly 
cooling  wax  till  it  is  of  the  required  strength. 

If  the  object  to  be  modelled  is  a  leaf,  it  is  best  to 
remove  it  from  the  mould  before  the  wax  is  perfectly 
cool.  In  this  state  it  can  be  gently  lifted  and  drawn 
from  the  mould  without  injuring  the  most  delicate  folds. 

If  it  is  a  fruit  or  root,  the  wax  should  be  left  untouched 
till  it  is  thoroughly  cold  and  hard,  and  the  object  may 
then  be  cut  away  carefully  with  a  knife  or  curved 
chisel,  the  central  part  being  first  gradually  removed 
till  a  mere  film  remain  of  the  rind  or  bark  of  the  object 
immediately  touching  the  wax  mould.  This  may  be 
broken  away  or  withdrawn  by  a  pair  of  forceps,  and 
removed  through  the  opening  which  has  been  left  where 
the  object  was  placed  on  the  modelling-board. 

The  cavity  is  then  to  be  filled  with  plaster  of  Paris,^ 
mixed  smoothly  with  water  to  about  the  consistency  of 
cream,  and  laid  into  the  mould  in  successive  brushfuls 
with  the  kind  of  paint-brush  known  as  a  hog-tool.  Much 
of  the  beauty  of  the  model  depends  on  the  care  exercised 
in  this  part  of  the  work.  If  the  plaster  is  sufficiently 
liquid,  and  worked  well  into  all  parts  of  the  mould  with 
the  brush,  all  is  well ;  but  if  the  plaster  is  too  thick,  or 
allowed  to  run  at  once  in  a  mass  into  the  mould,  air- 
bubbles  and  other  defects  are  most  likely  to  appear,  and 
the  model  to  be  totally  useless. 

It  is  necessary  to  procure  the  best  plaster  of  Paris, 
such  as  may  be  procured  from  the  London  dealers,  as 
what  is  procured  in  country  towns  seldom  sets  pro¬ 
perly,  and  consequently  causes  much  disappointment. 
When  the  plaster  has  set  firmly,  the  wax  should  be  re¬ 
moved  by  pouring  scalding  water  over  it ;  and  the  model, 
after  having  been  properly  dried,  either  by  warmth  or 
by  setting  it  aside  on  blotting-paper  for  some  days, 
should  be  carefully  examined,  and  all  superfluous  plaster 
and  imperfections  removed,  and  it  will  then  be  ready 
for  colouring. 

In  colouring,  the  great  object  is  to  give  the  natural 
tints  without  injuring  the  perfect  representation  of  tex¬ 
ture  of  surface  already  obtained ;  unless  the  colouring 
materials  are  used  with  great  care,  the  fine  markings 
which,  through  their  truth  of  representation,  give  the 
life-like  appearance  to  the  model,  will  be  lost  sight  of, 
and  its  value  much  deteriorated. 

To  meet  this  point,  we  should  be  careful  to  avoid  the 
application  of  paint  in  layers,  which  are  liable  to  leave 
the  .  projecting  parts  bare  and  the  fine .  depressions 
clogged,  and  to  render  evident  the  markings  of  the 
brush  and  the  junctions  of  the  various  tints  of  paint. 
If  the  model  is  prepared  by  being  soaked  on  the  surface 
with  drying  oil,  and,  after  being  slightly  warmed,  the 
paint  (which  should  be  the  ordinary  good  oil-paint  used 
by  artists)  is.  so  to  say,  floated  with  the  brush  over  the 
surface,  allowing  the  tints  to  blend  and  run  into  each 
other  in  some  places,  the  superfluous  matter  being  care¬ 
fully  removed  from  the  hollows  with  a  fine  brush,  this 
method  will  usually,  with  care  and  patience,  succeed,  so 
that  the  object  may  be  satisfactorily  tinted  in  a  very 
short  time,  and  will  only  require  the  addition  of  a  few 
characteristic  touches  (or  possibly  corrective  washes  of 
transparent  tint),  applied  where  requisite,  after  the  first 
coat  has  dried. 

The  minutiae  of  work,  such  as  kinds  of  varnish  and 


different  methods  of  manipulation,  would  be  too  long  in 
detail  to  enter  on  here,  but  it  may  be  added  that  the 
natural  appearance  of  the  model  may  often  be  much 
enhanced  by  the  addition  of  such  parts  of  the  original  as 
are  durable.  For  example,  the  dry  scales  of  the  pseudo  - 
bulbs  of  orchids,  or  the  outer  coats  of  some  bulbs,  may 
be  carefully  removed  from  the  object  to  be  modelled  be¬ 
fore  the  mould  is  taken,  and,  being  replaced  on  the 
model  in  their  proper  position  after  it  has  been  tinted, 
will  give  a  truthfulness  and  beauty  to  the  work  which 
could  be  obtained  in  no  other  manner. — Gardeners 
Chronicle. 


THE  USE  OE  WAX,  TALLOW,  ETC.  IN 
SUPPOSITORIES.  * 

BY  CHARLES  L.  EBERLE. 

Pure  cacao-butter  may  be  asserted  to  be  but  rarely  if 
ever  met  with  in  the  drug  market.  The  samples  for  sale 
vary  sensibly  in  colour  and  consistency,  and  no  positive 
rule  for  judging  of  a  pure  article  by  cursory  examination 
can  be  offered.  A  candid  admission  by  several  prominent 
manufacturers  of  the  article,  reveals  the  fact  of  its  fre¬ 
quent  adulteration,  and  since  the  extended  demand  and 
sale  of  this  production  for  cosmetic  and  suppository  ap¬ 
plication,  a  greater  variety  of  mixtures  known  as  butter 
of  cacao  is  to  be  found  than  formerly. 

The  pharmacist,  however,  but  seldom  applies  it  to  uses 
other  than  in  the  preparation  of  suppositories,  the  suc¬ 
cessful  use  of  which  depends  upon  a  base,  whose  point  of 
fusion  will  correspond  to  animal  heat,  which  can  bo 
handled  readily  when  in  form,  and  which,  upon  exposure 
to  the  natural  heat  of  the  body,  will  promptly  liquefy 
not  melt  slowly,  thus  depositing  quickly  the  medicating 
ingredient  upon  the  surface  to  which  it  has  been  ex¬ 
hibited. 

The  butter  of  cacao  most  satisfactory  for  pharma¬ 
ceutical  use  is  of  a  dirty  white,  inclined  to  yellow  in  ap¬ 
pearance,  firm  under  pressure,  yet  disposed  to  yield  its 
surface  when  held  in  the  hand  by  the  warmth  thus  im¬ 
parted,  fusing  readily  at  or  about  98°,  which  sets  rapidly 
after  fusion  when  exposed  to  cold,  and  which,  after  such 
exposure,  maintains  its  original  character  at  ordinary 
temperatures. 

Such  cacao-butter  may  be  had,  and  under  proper  ma¬ 
nipulation  it  needs  no  addition  of  a  hardening  ingic- 
dient  to  adapt  it  to  suppository  use. 

Cacao-butter  at  98°  F.  liquefies.  This  is  more,  appa¬ 
rent  in  the  rectum  or  vagina  than  by  merely  holding  in 
the  hand.  The  mixtures,  I  mean  the  mixtures  made  by 
the  pharmacist  with  the  cacao-butter  of  the  market,  var^ 
in  their  behaviour  in  proportion  to  the  quantity  and 
character  of  the  hardening  ingredient  used  in  connection 

with  it.  , ,  , 

A  considerable  proportion  of  cetaceum  may  be  aclaea 
without  materially  affecting  the  value  of  a  suppository ; 
at  least  ten  per  cent.,  if  combined  with  the  butter,  will 
produce  a  suppository  which  will  not  be  likely  to,be  com¬ 
plained  of  by  the  medical  profession,  but  the  slowness 
with  which  this  alloy,  so  to  speak,  fuses,  makes  this  or 
the  addition  of  any  hardening  substance  a  serious. objec¬ 
tion.  Wo  need  promptness  of  action  in  the  application 
of  medicines  by  suppository,  which  can  be  best  secured 
by  rapid  liquefaction  of  the  excipient,  and  no  mixture  or 
single  substance  combines  the  essential  requisites  so 
completely  as  a  good  sample  of  so-called  cacao-butter. 

The  addition  of  wax  to  cacao-butter  is  to  bo  repre¬ 
hended.  While,  under  restriction,  a  mixture  may  be 
formed  which  will  harden  more  quickly  and  bear  moie 
handling  than  the  butter  alone,  the  reflecting  pharmacist 
will  bear  in  mind  the  slowness  ol  its  fusion  at  annn 


*  Paper  read  at  the  meeting  of  the  American.  Pharmaceu 
\jical  Association. 


070 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  3,  1871. 


heat,  and  the  consequent  suspension  of  the  medicine, 
which  should  he  diffused  and  deposited  over  as  large  a 
surface  as  possible. 

Content  with  the  simple  fusion  of  such  mixtures,  the 
ease  with  which  they  may  be  manipulated,  and  the  temp¬ 
tation  to  dispense  quickly,  the  more  important  fact  has 
been  overlooked  by  many,  who  will,  doubtless,  correct 
the  error  in  their  future  operations.  I  have  invariably 
found  that  when  the  additions  were  not  large  enough 
to  render  the  use  of  the  moulded  cones  inadmissible, 
there  was  no  advantage  gained  by  a  combination  of  base 
or  excipient. 

With  regard  to  the  effect  upon  the  animal  tissues  of 
such  applications  of  hardened  suppositories,  I  can  only 
say  that  where  they  are  of  such  a  character  as  to  produce 
local  irritation,  the  uneasiness  induced  requires  their  re¬ 
moval  ;  this  objection  is  now  but  seldom  met  with. 
Within  the  past  two  years  the  education  of  the  pharma¬ 
cist  has  materially  advanced  in  this  direction,  so  that 
none  of  repute  dispense  cones  that  will  not  at  least 
fuse  at  animal  temperature,  however  slowly  this  fusion 
may  occur,  or  however  imperfectly  they  may  medicate 
from  the  suspension  of  the  medicine  until  its  ejection  by 
the  action  of  the  parts.  Those  having  but  occasional 
prescriptions  for  them,  are  now  in  the  habit  of  depend¬ 
ing  on  the  larger  retail  establishments,  who  furnish  the 
trade  with  a  great  variety. 

There  need  be  no  apprehension  of  a  local  irritation 
arising  from  the  use  of  wax,  if  not  carried  beyond  the 
proper  fusing-point.  As  much  as  fourteen  per  cent,  is  used 
by  pharmacists  of  good  repute,  without  complaint  in  this 
respect.  The  mixture  fuses  quite  slowly  at  animal  tem¬ 
perature,  but  there  is  no  apparent  dissection  of  the  cone, 
whereby  the  wax  is  separated  from  the  butter  during 
fusion ,  however  much  this  may  be  the  case  when  the 
melted  substances  are  allowed  to  cool  ad  libitum.  There 
is  a  uniformity  of  constitution  so  long  as  the  heat  is 
present. 

Slow  manipulation  with  a  mixture  of  wax  and  cacao - 
butter  before  hardening,  wre  can  readily  understand, 
wTould  cause  a  granulation  of  the  wax,  and  produce  a 
cone  in  which  the  heat  to  which  it  is  to  be  subjected 
would  act  only  upon  the  cacao-butter,  to  the  exclusion 
of  the  wax,  which  'would  then  remain  unchanged,  causing 
irritation  and  difficulty ;  but  we  are  only  supposed  to  be 
dealing  with  mixtures  which  have  been  well  stirred  at 
the  time  of  their  introduction  into  the  mould,  which 
mould  has  been  thoroughly  chilled,  and  the  suppository 
likewise.  Under  such  circumstances  the  mixture  is  uni¬ 
form  and  perfect,  and  shows  no  disposition  to  separate 
on  fusion,  if  the  heat  be  maintained  at  that  point. 

The  difficulties  in  a  proper  understanding  of  the  pre¬ 
paration  of  suppositories  without  the  addition  of  a  harden¬ 
ing-  ingredient  in  connection  with  cacao-butter  have 
been  solely  those  of  manipulation. 

Experience  is  leading  many  to  prepare  the  excipient 
with  a  smaller  proportion  of  wax,  spermaceti,  etc.,  than 
they  at  first  thought  necessary,  until  the  quantity  used 
by  some  is  so  trifling  as  to  practically  amount  to  little  or 
no  use. 

Of  the  various  mixtures,  those  of  one-eighth  sperma¬ 
ceti  or  one- fourteenth  or  less  of  wTax  are  least  objection¬ 
able.  Tallow  suet  or  paraffine  produced  no  results  not 
secured  by  the  first-mentioned,  while  there  were  some 
objections  to  be  attached  to  their  use  not  present  in  the 
others. 

.  Now  while  some  have  discovered  points  of  manipula¬ 
tion  to  make  these  suppositories  of  cacao-butter  alone , 
lapidly  and  well,  (and  how  much  often  hangs  upon  a 
very  slight  thread  in  this  respect !)  far  exceeding  in  value 
those  I  am  about  to  offer  to  you,  I  will  simply  state  the 
mode  which  gives  me  the  most  satisfactory  result. 

The  mould  is  of  brass ;  a  clamp  hinged  at  one  ex¬ 
tremity  and  handled  at  the  other,  held  firmly  in  place 
by  a  ring  slipped  over  said  handles ;  the  cones  are  turned 
from  the  interior  face  of  the  clamps,  as  in  an  ordinary 


bullet-mould.  It  should  mould  at  least  one  dozen,  and 
be  improved  by  the  addition  of  a  loose  clamp,  to  be  at¬ 
tached  firmly  in  the  centre  and  at  the  bottom  of  so  lono- 
a  tool,  to  prevent  the  loss  of  the  fused  mass  before  con¬ 
gealing,  by  running  from  between  the  plates. 

This  mould  should,  so  far  as  possible,  be  thoroughly 
chilled  and  ready  for  use.  To  place  the  fused  butter  in 
the  mould  while  it  is  wrarm,  and  cool  both  by  the  same 
operation,  almost  invariably  results  in  the  contraction  of 
the  metal  upon  the  cool  cone  to  a  degree  that  upon  the 
attempted  separation  of  the  matrix  every  cone  will  be 
split  in  two.  When  the  mould  is  thoroughly  cooled,  the 
butter  sets  rapidly,  and  in  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  the 
suppositories  will  drop  from  the  matrices  by  their  own 
gravity. 

The  deductions  I  draw  from  a  close  observance  of  this 
subject  for  the  past  two  years  are,  that  the  addition  of  a 
substance  such  as  wax,  spermaceti,  etc.  to  cacao-butter 
produces  a  mixture  requiring  a  higher  point  of  heat  for 
its  fusion,  and  in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  such  ad¬ 
dition  ;  and  that  when  such  addition  is  made,  if  it  should 
not  be  sufficient  to  prevent  the  fusing  of  a  suppository 
at  animal  temperature,  no  irritating  or  harmful  effect  is 
produced  either  upon  the  vagina  or  urethra.  Where  a 
larger  quantity  than  that  mentioned  above  is  added,  the 
annoyance  produced  requires  the  removal  or  ejection  of 
the  suppository  before  any  harm  may  be  done. — Troc. 
Amer.  Fharm.  Assoc.  1870. 


PROCESS  FOR  PREPARING  LIQ.  FERRI  TERSUL- 
PHATIS  AND  LIQ.  FERRI  SUBSULPHATIS,  U.S.P., 
WITHOUT  THE  FORMATION  OF  NOXIOUS  GASES- 

by  j.  cheese. 

The  best  method  for  preparing  the  persulphates  of  iron 
perfectly  pure  is,  undoubtedly,  to  run  a  stream  of  chlo¬ 
rine  gas  through  a  solution  of  the  protosulphate  pre¬ 
viously  acidulated  with  the  proper  quantity  of  sulphuric 
acid.  But  this  is  obviously  impracticable  to  most  phar¬ 
maceutists.  The  Pharmacopoeia  of  the  United  States 
prescribes  to  oxidize  the  protosulphate  of  iron  by  means 
of  nitric  acid,  a  certain  proportion  of  sulphuric  acid  being 
added.  This  is  more  practicable,  and  yields  a  good  pro¬ 
duct,  but  is  liable  still  to  several  objections.  Expensive 
vessels  are  required  for  boiling  a  mixture  of  sulphuric 
and  nitric  acids ;  a  good  draught  is  also  nep essary  for  the 
escape  of  the  nitrous  fumes,  and  very  often  during  the 
operation  the  vessels  are  broken,  or  the  operator  is  an¬ 
noyed  by  the  poisonous  gases  escaping  into  the  room. 
For  these  reasons,  many  pharmaceutists  prefer  to  buy 
the  articles  ready  made ;  they  have  to  pay  a  high  price 
for  it,  and  to  depend  on  the  manufacturer  for  its  strength 
and  purity. 

I  propose  this  new  method,  by  wffiich  any  pharmaceu¬ 
tist  may  prepare  his  own  liq.  ferri  tersulphatis  or  his  liq. 
ferri  subsulphatis  on  his  very  prescription-desk,  if  need 
be,  and  wdth  the  usual  implements  found  in  all  drug¬ 
stores. 

R.  Sulphate  iron  in  coarse  powder,  12  troy  ounces. 

Sulphuric  acid,  2  troy’-  ounces  and  60  grains. 

Chlorate  of  potash,  348  grains. 

Boiling  water,  12  fluid  ounces. 

Dissolve  the  sulphate  of  iron,  in  the  boiling  water,  in 
a  glass  matrass,  or  any^  convenient  bottle.  Add  the  sul¬ 
phuric  acid  gradually,  and,  while  the  liquid  is  hot,  add 
the  chlorate  of  potash  by  small  portions.  When  all  is 
dissolved,  filter  and  complete  24  fluid  ounces.  The  whole 
operation  need  not  take  more  than  fifteen  minutes. 

The  following  equation  explains  the  reaction : — 

12Fe0,S03’-f  6S03  +  K0,'C105  = 
6Fe203,3S03+KCl.‘ 

This  process  has  the  advantage  of  giving  out  no  fumes 


June  3,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


971 


or  smell  of  any  kind ;  the  product  is  free  from  any  acidity 
‘hut  what  belongs  to  the  salt  itself. 

It  is  true  the  persulphate  of  iron  thus  obtained  con¬ 
tains  a  small  quantity  of  chloride  of  potassium,  but  this 
does  not  interfere  with  any  of  the  uses  for  which  it  is 
wanted  by  the  pharmaceutist.  I  think  that  the  nitric 
acid  always  present  in  the  preparation  of  U.  S.  P.  is 
•much  more  objectionable.  Besides,  any  one  who  has 
followed  the  U.  S.  P.  process  knows  that  it  is  always 
when  one  tries  to  get  rid  of  the  last  traces  of  nitric  acid 
that  the  porcelain  or  enamelled  dishes  are  broken. 

A  slight  modification  of  the  formula  will  give  the 
liquor  ferri  subsulphatis  U.  S.  P. : — • 

R.  Sulphate  of  iron,  coarse  powder,  12  troy  ounces. 

Sulphuric  acid,  1  troy  ounce  and  30  grains. 

Chlorate  of  potash,  340  grains. 

Boiling  water,  10  fluid  ounces. 

Operate  as  above,  and  evaporate  to  12  fluid  ounces. 
Filter. — The  Physician  and  Pharmacist,  Feb.  1871. 


AMERICAN  SUMAC. 


Since  the  war,  and  in  the  reversal  of  fortune  conse¬ 
quent  thereto,  many  of  the  people  of  the  South  have 
turned  their  attention  to  other  sources  of  revenue  than 
the  former  staples  of  tobacco,  corn  and  cotton,  and  this 
necessity  has  developed  new  and  heretofore  neglected 
eources  of  revenue.  For  instance,  it  is  said  that  one 
county  alone  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina  shipped 
North  last  winter  about  $100,000  worth  of  quails  (called 
partridges  there),  not  to  speak  of  the  new  industry  of 
“  truck  farming,"  in  which  men  are  now  making  fortunes, 
who  a  few  years  ago  would  have  thought  it  almost  a 
disgrace  to  sell  so  apparently  insignificant  a  thing  as  a 
strawberry. 

Among  these  new  industries,  and  rising  rapidly  into 
importance,  are  the  gathering  and  manufacturing  for 
market  of  sumac.  This  article  is  used  as  a  dyestuff  and 
for  tanning  morocco.  Formerly  all  used  was  brought 
■from  Europe ;  now  the  Southern  States  supply  a  large  I 
quantity,  already  supplanting  the  low  grades  of  the 
foreign  article,  and  it  is  hoped  ere  long  also  to  take  the 
place  of  the  finer  grade. 

The  difference  between  American  and  foreign,  or, 
rather,  American  and  Sicilian  first  grades,  is  probably 
due  to  the  fact  that  the  latter  is  cultivated ;  the  former 
is  as  yet  a  wild  product  growing  on  those  vast  fields  of 
so-called  worn-out  land  abundant  through  the  South 
from  their  former  wasteful  system  of  farming.  How¬ 
ever,  one  of  the  largest  dye-manufacturers  says  that 
the  tannin  in  the  Southern  sumac  seems  to  be  in  .a 
different  form  from  the  Sicilian,  and  hence  the  latter  is 
still  preferred  by  dyers,  especially  for  fine  work.  Still 
this  may  be  due  merely  to  cultivation,  as  all  know  the 
changes  that  have  been  made  from  time  immemorial  in 
various  grains,  grasses  and  fruits  by  culture  and  care. 

Tanners  of  morocco  say  that  the  Southern  sumac, 
when  carefully  gathered,  free  from  sticks  and  dirt,  the 
leaves  and  leaf- stem  only,  is  equal  in  tannin  strength  to 
the  best  Sicilian ;  that  with  Sicilian  at  $175  per  ton  such 
sumac  finely  ground  should  bring  $125  per  ton.  Ihe 
usual  price  is  $50  to  $90,  and  it  has  sold  at  $110.  It 
is  like  everything  else ;  it  pays  to  put  it  on  the  market 
in  the  best  order  possible. 

In  treating  of  the  operation  of  gathering  and  preparing 
for  market,  we  shall  first  state  something  of  the  different 
varieties  of  sumac.  There  are  six  botanically  different 
varieties  of  sumac  in  the  United  States ;  of  these,  three 
are  of  value,  one  is  of  little  or  no  use,  and  two  are 
poisonous.  The  first  three  resemble  each  other  very 
much  in  leaf  and  size,  growing  from  four  to  ten  and 
.fifteen  feet  high,  chiefly  on  dry  uplands,  in  old  fields. 
Of  these  three,  two  have  hairy  berries  and  one  has  a  hairy 
down  on  the  branch,  like  that  on  a  deer  s  horn  in  summer ; 
,£he  third  has  a  perfectly  smooth  berry  and  branch.  The 


leaves  of  all  these  are  valuable,  though  probably,  if  care 
were  taken  to  keep  them  separate,  the  hairy  or  stag-horn 
sumac  would  bo  found  most  valuable  for  dyeing. 

Of  the  other  three  the  dwarf  sumac,  one  or  two  feet 
high,  is  valueless  ;  another  grows  only  in  swampy  places, 
and  while  its  juice  is  said  to  make  a  fine  varnish,  used 
largely  in  Japan,  yet  it  is  so  poisonous  to  many  persons 
that  it  is  best  let  alone;  the  third  is  the  well-known 
poison  oak. 

In  gathering  the  sumac,  leaves  and  leaf-stems  should 
be  carefully  picked  without  any  of  the  woody  stem,  then 
dried  under  cover  on  lattice-work  shelves  to  give  free 
access  to  air,  frequently  stirring  or  turning  to  prevent 
I  heating.  When  thoroughly  dried,  at  the  end  of  two  or 
three  weeks,  it  is  sent  to  New  York  or  to  the  nearest 
mill  for  sale.  In  this  state  it  is  worth  from  $1.25  to 
$1.75  per  hundred  lbs.,  but  woody  stems  and  dirt  detract 
from  its  value  very  much.  The  buyer  in  the  interior  of 
Virginia,  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina  and  Georgia 
can  seldom  afford  to  pay  more  than  $  1  per  hundred. 

At  the  mill  it  is  ground  very  fine  and  screened.  The 
mill  is  of  the  usual  drug-mill  form :  an  upright  wheel 
revolving  on  its  edge  in  a  circular  trough,  as  the  old- 
fashioned  mill  for  grinding  clay.  It  should  bo  tightly 
enclosed ;  if  not,  a  large  quantity  of  the  light,  fine 
1  powdered  sumac  will  escape  and  be  lost.  On  care  and 
economy  in  this  operation  depends  the  miller  s  profit. 
After  grinding,  it  is  screened  and  packed  in  bags,  162  lbs. 
to  the  bag,  and  thus  sent  to  market.  The  bags  to  hold 
this  quantity  should  be  cut  out  40  x  60  inches.  1  ourteen 
such  bags  will  hold  a  ton.  This  is  exactly  the  style 
and  weight  that  Sicilian  sumac  is  packed  as  sent  to  the 
United  States.  To  sell  well,  it  should  be  of  a  light 
green  colour. 

The  time  of  gathering  is  from  July  1st  to  just  before 
first  frost,  not  later;  in  some  parts  it  may  commence 
earlier.  It  should  be  done  when  the  flower  is  in  full 
bloom,  not  before. 

It  is  stated  that  the  consumption  of  sumac  in  Great 
Britain  is  over  20,000  tons  per  annum,  and  that  it  is  yearly 
increasing.  In  the  United  States  3500  tons  of  native,  and 
perhaps  3000,  or  over,  of  foreign  are  used ;  probably  500 
tons  of  native  growth  arc  exported.  As  the  demand  and 
uses  for  leather  never  grow  less,  it  is  not  at  all  probable 
that  all  which  the  South  can  produce,  if  properly  prepared, 
will  ever  fill  the  needed  supply ;  and  if  it  should  create  a 
plethora  on  the  market,  it  would  only  cause  new  uses  to 
be  found  for  it,  or  engender  the  production  of  a  finer 
article. 

There  is  no  reason  why  at  least  5000  tons  should  not 
be  exported  to  Europe,  besides  supplying  home  demands. 
The  mill  machinery  is  said  to  cost  $2500  without  power. 
With  the  crude  article  at  $1.50  per  hundred  even,  $12 
to  $15  per  ton  for  grinding  and  bags,  $10  for  loss,  and 
$10  for  freight  to  New  York,  there  is  certainly  a  fair 
margin  of  profit  at  $90  per  ton,  at  least,  which  price  a  good 
article  will  certainly  always  bring  in  New  York.  Ihese 
figures  of  cost,  also,  arc  rather  high.  There  is  plenty  of 
room  for  at  least  ten  more  mills  in  the  nov  unoccupied 
field  of  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina  and  Georgia.  Any 
good  business  place  in  the  upper  or  middle  sections  of 
these  States  will  do  as  a  site. 

Wo  have  stated  that  sumac  is  used  for  tanning  and 
dyeing.  For  these  purposes  the  user  generally  makes 
his  own  decoctions,  and  uses  them  when  fresh  and  warm. 
It  is  stated  that  the  liquor  injuries  by  standing.  For 
tanning  it  is  valued,  as  it  does  not  discolour  the  leather. 
It  is  used  in  the  same  manner  as  a  decoction  of  bark. 
Best  Sicilian  contains,  according  to  Muspratt,  sixteen  per 
cent,  of  tannin  and  Virginia  ten  per  cent.  We  have  no 
doubt  the  vastly  improved  mode  of  gathering  and  pre¬ 
paring  the  American  sumac  will  now  increase  its  quan¬ 
tity  of  tannin.  .  .  , 

In  dyeing  it  is  used  to  produce  a  fawn  ami  a  rien 
vellow,  a  black,  a  peculiar  shade  of  green,  and  a  red. 
The  mordants  are  usually  tin  or  aluminous  substances. 


972 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  3, 1871. 


With  Brazil  wood  and  tin  solution  it  produces  a  red  ; 
with  copperas  and  logwood  a  rich  permanent  black. 
With  a  solution  of  chloride  of  tin  alone,  a  rich  yellow, 
and  this  with  Prussian  blue,  shades  of  green.  It  is  used 
chiefly  as  a  base,  and  has  the  quality  of  giving  great 
permanency  to  the  colours  dyed  with  it.  The  leaves  of 
the  hairy  species  called  staghorn  are  considered  best  to 
dye  yellow. 

The  sumac  berries  are  of  very  little  value,  though  wo 
think  in  the  progress  of  science  a  use  will  be  found  for 
them.  They  are  said  to  contain  largo  quantities  of 
malic  acid.  They  are  now  used  in  small  quantities  by 
the  druggists,  and  when  ripe  make  a  very  refreshing 
and  cooling  beverage.  They  should  by  all  means  be 
kept  out  of  the  gathered  leaves,  as  they  contain  a  red 
dye,  hence  would  injure  the  quality  of  the  sumac. — 
tSdentiJic  American . 


POPFY  FARMING  IN  QUEENSLAND. 

A  successful  attempt  at  poppy  farming  is  reported 
from  Queensland.  A  specimen  of  opium,  grown  by  Mr. 
Tatnel  in  the  Toowoomba  district  last  season,  has  been 
-exhibited,  consisting  of  five  cake3  weighing  one  pound 
each,  which  was  part  of  the  produce  of  a  quarter  of  an 
acre  of  poppies.  The  quality  was  so  superior  that  the 
whole  exhibit  was  purchased  by  a  medical  gentleman  in 
Toowoomba  at  £3.  10s.  per  pound.  The  net  proceeds  of 
the  crop  will  amount  to  £28  or  £30. 

We  extract  the  following  particulars  as  to  the  cultiva¬ 
tion  from  the  Brisbane  Courier  : — 

“  The  first  advice  given  by  Mr.  Tatnel  is  to  be  ex¬ 
ceedingly  careful  in  selecting  the  seed  [Va paver  semni- 
fernm).  This  appears  to  be  the  main  point,  as  on  this 
hinges  ultimate  success.  There  are  some  kinds  of 
poppies  very  similar,  in  many  respects,  to  the  true 
Turkey,  but  which  are  not  adapted  to  this  climate.  The 
East  Indian  seeds  germinate  quite  as  freely,  but  the 
Turkish  jdant  will  blossom  nearly  three  weeks  before  it. 
The  former,  also,  has  but  one  capsule,  and  upon  incising 
it  only  a  small  quantity  of  gum  will  exude,  and  subse¬ 
quent  incisions  will  not  produce  further  discharges. 

“  The  white  poppy  plant  is  also  very  similar  to  the 
East  Indian,  but  equally  unprolific.  Opium  can  bo  ob¬ 
tained  in  greater  or  less  quantity  from  all  the  poppy 
species,  but  the  main  object  is  to  select  those  sorts  which 
will  yield  the  greatest  profit  to  the  grower. 

“  The  poppy  must  have  rich  ground,  either  naturally 
so,  or  through  the  application  of  manure.  Land  which 
has  been  worked  previously  for  a  root-crop,  and  brought 
into  fine  tilth  by  the  cultivator  and  horseshoe,  is  better 
than  new  land  for  this  plant,  for  as  it  has  a  tap-root  any 
interference  with  the  downward  course  of  the  latter  will 
prevent  the  flow  of  opium.  It  ought  to  be  sown  in 
drills, .  from  eighteen  inches  to  two  feet  apart.  The 
objections  to  the  broadcast  system  of  sowing  are  : — First. 
That  when  making  incisions  it  is  very  difficult  to  dis¬ 
tinguish  between  those  plants  which  are  cut,  and  those 
uncut.  Secondly.  When  gathering  it  is  impossible  to 
avoid  coming  in  contact  with  the  liquid  gum,  thus 
causing  a  great  waste.  Sow  the  seed  in  the  drills  in  the 
first  instance,  as  transplanting  is  so  difficult  and  un¬ 
certain,  with  such  delicately  tap-rooted  plants.  The 
tap-root  resembles  a  piece  of  cotton  thread,  and  it  is 
almost  impossible  to  remove  it  without  injury.  The 
time  for  sowing  in  this  district  is  from  the  middle  of 
May  to  the  end  of  J une,  but  it  would  be  well  to  get 
as  much  of  the  sowing  completed  as  soon  as  possible 
before  the  end  of  May.  Frosts  will  not  affect  the  poppy 
plant,  nor  will  watering  too  freely  benefit  them,  warm 
dry  weather  being  the  most  favourable  season  for  a  large 
return  of  gum.  The  plant  may  be  made  to  grow  very 
rank,  through  the  application  of  liquid  manure,  but  the 
extra  quantity  of  produce  will  prove  a  thin  milky  sub¬ 
stance,  which,  when  dry,  is  not  worth  the  trouble  of  col¬ 
lecting.  The  system  of  gathering  is  very  simple,  and 


may  be  performed  by  careful  children.  The  yield  per 
acre  has  been  estimated  at  from  35  to  40  lb.,  and  the 
price  for  the  raw  and  unadulterated  produce  would  range 
from  about  £3  to  £3.  10*.  per  lb.” 

The  following  practically  explains  the  gathering  pro¬ 
cess  : — 

“The  time  to  cut  the  capsule  is  from  two  to  three 
days  after  the  flower-leaves  have  fallen  off,  when  it  will 
be  about  the  size  of  a  walnut.  There  arc  two  methods 
of  doing  this,  which  have  been  found  to  answer ;  the  first 
is  by  making  several  longitudinal  cuts  from  the  base  to- 
the  crown ;  the  second  to  make  two  horizontal  incisions 
one  above  the  other  half-round  the  capsule,  the  cuts  to 
be  made  with  a  sharp  knife,  and  made  in  such  a  way 
that  they  should  have  an  upward  slope,  by  which  means  ■ 
— should  the  knife  penetrate  through  the  shell  of  the 
capsule — inward  bleeding  and  consequent  loss  of  gum 
will  be  prevented. 

“The  latter  plan  was  found  to  be  the  best.  The 
knife  used  should  be  one  having  two  blades  one-sixth  of 
an  inch  apart,  with  a  guard  upon  the  blades  to  prevent 
them  cutting  too  deeply.  The  cutting  process  should  - 
take  place  during  the  evening,  as  the  gum  exudes  in. 
greater  quantities  during  the  cool  hours  of  the  night 
than  in  the  day,  and  will  be  found  in  a  fit  state  to  gather 
when  the  sun  has  been  on  it  for  an  hour  or  two  in  the 
morning. 

“  Those  who  are  to  collect  the  gum  should  be  furnished 
with  a  blunt  knife,  with  which  to  scrape  the  heads,  and. 
have  a  sharp-edged  tin  fastened  by  a  strap  round  the 
waist  in  which  to  collect  the  opium.  The  tin  must  have 
a  sharp  edge,  as  the  opium  adheres  very  firmly  to  the 
knife,  from  which  some  force  is  required  to  remove  it. 

“Towards  the  evening,  hands  can  be  set  to  work  to- 
cut  the  heads  a  second  time,  making  the  cuts  on  that 
side  of  the  capsule  left  uncut  the  previous  day.  The 
process,  as  described,  may  be  continued  each  day  until 
the  heads  cease  to  yield  sufficient  gum  to  make  it  pay¬ 
able. 

“In  conclusion,  the  opium  collected  should  be  dried 
in  shallow  plates  to  a  proper  consistency  to  work  into 
flat  cakes  weighing  about  half  a  pound  each,  and  let 
this  be  clone  as  early  as  possible,  for  it  soon  becomes 
musty  if  not  properly  dried.  When  it  is  worked  into- 
the  required  shape,  cover  it  with  poppy  leaves  and  keep 
it  in  a  dry  place. 

“The  plant  may  be  grown  with  profitable  results  for 
capsules  alone,  and  with  very  little  risk  to  the  cultivators. 
The  capsules  are  worth  3 os.  per  thousand  in  Melbourne, 
and  the  yield  per  acre  is  from  thirty-five  to  forty  thou¬ 
sand,  according  to  season. 

“We  understand  that,  independently  of  the  yield  of 
opium,  Mr.  Tatnel  has  also  obtained  a  fair  crop  of  seed, 
a  portion  of  which  he  will  no  doubt  distribute  among, 
his  friends  and  neighbours  before  the  planting-season, 
which  is  now  rapidly  approaching.” 

In  connection  with  the  subject  of  the  entomological 
prizes  offered  by  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,*  we- 
have  great  pleasure  in  reproducing  in  another  part  of 
this  Journal  an  article  from  the  Gardeners'  Ciironicle , 
containing  some  valuable  advice  on  the  preparation  of 
specimens. 


NOTICE. — In  answer  to  several  inquiries  we  are 
enabled  to  state  that  Ashworth’s  Patent  Looped  Binder 
Folios,  made  to  hold  six,  thirteen  or  twenty-six  numbers- 
of  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal,  are  now  ready,  and 
may  be  had  of  Messrs.  Taylor  and  Co.,  Printers,  10,, 
Little  Queen  Street,  London,  W.C.,  price  Is.  0 d.  Bind¬ 
ers,  Gd.  per  gross. 


*  See  ante ,  p.  931. 


•  June  3,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


973 


|)ljiiniutccutit;il  lounml. 


SATURDAY,  JUNE  3,  1871. 


Communications  for  this  Journal,  and  books  for  review, etc., 
■should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

Instructions  from  Members  and  Associates  respecting  the 
■transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Brem- 
rldge,  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  W.C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  A  eiv  Burlington 
Street,  London,  7 V.  Envelopes  indorsed  u  Bharm.  Journ.” 


LIME  AND  LEMON-JUICE. 

It  is  well  known  among  those  chiefly  interested  in 
itlie  subject  that  one  of  the  main  objects  of  the  Mer- 

•  chant  Shipping  Act  of  18G7  (commonly  called  the 
Duke  of  Hichmond’s  Act)  was  to  ensure  a  supply  of 
genuine  lime  and  lemon-juice  to  the  crews  of  merchant 
ships.  Past  experiences  went  to  prove  that  a  large 
proportion  of  so-called  lime-juice,  put  on  hoard  ships 
hound  to  distant  parts,  consisted  of  solutions  of  citric, 
sulphuric  or  other  acids,  entirely  inert,  and  some- 
dimes  harmful.  Scurvy  continued  to  prevail,  and  hence 
it  was  enacted  that  all  lime  and  lemon -juice  shipped 
for  the  use  of  sailors  shall  he  examined  hy  a  com¬ 
petent  officer,  mixed  with  a  certain  amount  of  spirit, 
.and  bottled  under  the  direction  of  customs’  officers. 
There  can  he  no  reasonable  doubt  that  this  system 
lias  succeeded  remarkably  well,  as  it  has  secured 
m  proper  supply  of  good  juice  to  the  mercantile 
.marine,  and  as  scurvy  has  in  consequence  dimi¬ 
nished  by  from  GO  to  70  per  cent.  But  there  are 
two  unsettled  and  very  important  questions  in  con¬ 
nection  with  this  subject  which  pharmaceutists 
should  be  specially  able  to  aid  in  deciding.  (1.)  The 
•exact  analytical  standard  of  lime  and  lemon-juice. 
(2.)  Does  genuine  lime  and  lemon -juice  require  the 
addition  of  alcohol  for  its  proper  conservation  ?  As 
to  (1)  we  would  remark  that  the  Marine  Department 
■  of  the  Board  of  Trade  have  delegated  the  official 
•examination  of  lime  and  lemon-juice  in  connection 
with  the  working  of  the  Merchant  Shipping  Act  of 
18G7  to  the  Laboratory  Department  of  the  Inland  Be- 
venue,  and  that  no  very  delicate  analysis  is  required 
.to  determine  the  genuineness  of  the  juice.  But  in¬ 
asmuch  as  the' antiscorbutic  value  of  lime  and  lemon- 
juice  does  not  appear  to  depend  upon  a  single  in¬ 
gredient,  but  upon  the  combination,  it  is  eminently 
useful  and  necessary  to  know  exactly  the  proportions 

•  of  the  constituents  and  the  particular  way  in  which 
they  are  combined.  The  late  Master  of  the  Mint 
separated,  with  great  care,  the  colloid  and  crystal¬ 
line  principles  of  the  juice,  and  submitted  them  tor 
^practical  experiment  to  the  officers  of  the  Seamen  s 
.Hospital,  with  a  view  to  aid  in  determining  whether 
the  therapeutic  value  of  the  juice  existed  in  the 
former  or  the  latter  principle. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  second  point  should 
immediately  engage  the  serious  attention  of  chemists, 


inasmuch  as  whenever  the  Merchant  Shipping  Code 
is  discussed  in  Committee  of  the  House  of  Commons, 
an  energetic  attempt  will  be  made  to  do  away  alto¬ 
gether  with  the  “fortifying”  section  of  the  Act  of 
18G7,  and  to  send  the  juice  aboard  ship  “  un¬ 
adulterated”  with  spirit  of  any  sort  or  kind.  The 
positive  therapeutical  effects  of  lime  and  lemon-juice 
can  be  best  determined  by  medical  men,  but  phar¬ 
maceutists  may  render  very  valuable  aid  in  assist¬ 
ing  to  determine  accurately  the  points  above  men¬ 
tioned.  And  a  rider  may  be  added  to  the  investiga¬ 
tion,  indicating  the  comparative  differences  between 
the  juice  of  the  lime  and  the  lemon,  so  as  to  aid  the 
physician  in  determining,  if  possible,  which  of  the 
two  may  be  recommended  as  the  more  valuable  pro¬ 
phylactic  against  scurvy. 


RECOGNITION  OF  BLOOD-STAINS. 

Dr.  Letheby’s  recent  reference  to  the  use  of  the 
spectroscope  for  this  purpose  in  medico-legal  inqui¬ 
ries  has  called  forth  from  a  writer  in  the  Lancet  the 
following  remarks : — 

“  The  spectroscope,  as  many  of  our  readers  will  know, 
came  into,  use  as  an  instrument  of  chemical  analysis, 
thirteen  years  ago,  and  was  originally  employed  for  the 
detection  of  the  alkali- metals  and  a  number  of  other 
metals,  the  substances  to  be  analysed  being  heated 
strongly  in  a  colourless  flame,  and  made  to  yield  incan¬ 
descent  vapours,  the  light  from  which,  passing  through 
a  prism,  furnished  characteristic  spectra.  These  spectra 
consist  of  narrow  bands  of  light,  quite  sharp  and  dis¬ 
tinctly  defined,  and  having  much  the  aspect  ot  bands  of 
narrow  China  ribbon.  They  have  fixed  colours  and  fixed 
position  in  the  spectrum.  The  value  of  this  kind  of  ana¬ 
lysis  was  most  strikingly  exemplified  by  Bunsen,  its 
discoverer,  who  by  means  of  it  discovered  t  w  o  new 
alkali-metals,  caesium  and  rubidium.  Later,  Mr.  Crookes 
discovered  the  metal  thallium  by  means  of  spectroscopic 
observation ;  and  still  later  a  fourth  now  metal,  indium, 
was  recognized  in  the  same  manner.  In  each  of  these 
examples  chemists  operated  upon  incandescent  vapouis, 
and  it  was  the  presence  of  a  narrow  bright  line  of  pecu¬ 
liar  colour,  and  occupying  a  perfectly  fixed  and  definite 
position  in  the  spectrum,  which  led  to  these  important 
discoveries.  A  second  kind  of  spectroscopic  obsei nation 
naturally  suggested  itself  to  chemists,  viz.  obsci  rations 
of  spectra  given  by  passing  colourless  light  through 
coloured  solutions ;  instead  of  light  from  incandescent 
vapour,  light  from  a  coloured  liquid  was  sent  through 

the  prism.  .  . 

“This  second  kind  of  spectroscopic  obscr\ation  is, 
however,  not  so  satisfactory  as  the  first.  Theic  are  no 
sharp  and  brilliant  bands  of  light,  standing  out  like 
China  ribbon,  and  perfectly  unmistakable  by  all  eyes. 
Instead  of  striking  appearances  of  this  kind,  all  that  is 
to  be  observed  is  a  little  dimness  here  and  thcie  in  the 
spectrum.  The  dim  spaces  which  are  not  shai  pi} 
bounded  have  been  dignified  with  the  name  of  absorption 
bauds,  and  many  of  them  are  so  little  conspicuous  as  to 
be  invisible  to  all  but  the  highly  educated  e\  e. 

“  No  discovery  has  as  yet  been  made  by  means  ot 
these  spectra ;  and  but  for  the  great  success  v  hich  at¬ 
tended  the  first  kind  of  spectrum -analysis  very  little 
weight  and  importance  would  be  allowed  to  the  indica¬ 
tions  of  the  second. 

“In  the  spectra  of  incandescent  vapours  thcie  aie,  as 
we  mentioned,  narrow  bright  lines  of  light.  There  are 
also  bright  tracts  in  these  metallic  spectra.  Aow,  it 
there  were  only  these  illuminated  tracts,  and  not  the  lines 
of  light,  the  spectrum  of  an  incandescent  vapour  would 
degenerate,  for  analytical  purposes,  into  the  condition 
of  the  spectrum  furnished  by  light  after  transmission 


974 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  3,  1871. 


through  a  coloured  liquid.  Tho  spectrum-analysis  of 
blood  docs  not  deserve  the  highest  degree  of  confidence.” 

This  conclusion  is  likely  to  be  zealousl}r  contro¬ 
verted  by  the  admirers  of  spectroscopy,  though  the 
late  supposed  discovery  of  a  new  element  through  its 
aid,  and  by  two  philosophers  simultaneously,  is  per¬ 
haps  calculated  to  raise  some  doubt  as  to  the  spec¬ 
troscope  being  a  safe  guide  in  such  important  cases. 


INDIAN  QUININE. 

The  Indian  papers  give  a  very  unsatisfactory  ac¬ 
count  of  the  results  obtained  in  the  manufacture  of 
bark  alkaloids  lately  attempted  by  the  Government. 
The  subject  is  of  such  importance  that  wo  extract 
the  following  documents  from  the  Calcutta  Observer 
and  the  Engl ishman.  We  believe  the  statements  made 
are  in  the  main  correct.  There  seems  to  be  some  little 
discrepancy  as  regards  the  issue  of  the  impure  pro¬ 
duct,  but  we  have  been  promised  further  information 
on  the  matter  from  Professor  1)e  Yhij,  which  will  no 
doubt  put  it  in  a  proper  light. 

“Does  the  Government  of  India  eat  pickles?  Wc 
know  that  a  late  member  of  that  Government,  who  is 
now  obtaining  a  considerable  amount  of  public  attention, 
devoted  much  of  his  time  to  the  study  of  that  important 
condiment.  We  see  no  internal  evidence  of  its  still 
finding  a  place  in  the  dietary  scale  of  tho  members,  at 
all  events  of  tho  Legislative  Council ;  and  we,  therefore, 
venture  to  request  the  serious  attention  of  Government 
to  the  humane  caution  which  Messrs.  Crosse  and  Black- 
well  are  in  the  habit  of  affixing  by  labels  to  their  bottles, 
warning  the  public  against  being  unduly  attracted  by 
the  beautiful  green  of  the  preparations  of  other  vendors 
into  poisoning  themselves  with  copper.  We  must,  then, 
ask  them  if  they  are  aware  that  they  are  issuing  under 
their  sanction  a  preparation  by  ihe  side  of  which  the 
dangers  of  green  pickles  sink  into  insignificance.  We 
understand  that  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  Government 
cinchona  gardens  has  produced,  with  immense  satisfac¬ 
tion  to  himself  and  the  Government,  a  preparation  which 
'  he  is  pleased  to  call  ‘  amorphous  quinine’ ;  if  this  prepa¬ 
ration  has  one  quality  of  which  ho  is  more  proud  than  an¬ 
other,  it  is  its  beautiful  green  colour,  so  soothing  to  the  eye 
of  a  fevered  patient,  so  suggestive  of  the  luxuriant  growth 
of  the  Government  gardens,  and,  we  are  afraid  wo  must 
add,  of  the  skill  of  its  manufacturing  agents.  This  plea- 
sant-looking  drug  has  been  largely  issued  to  the  heads  of 
departments  for  experiments  in  the  public  hospitals  and 
dispensaries.  If  some  fortunate  accident  had  not  pre¬ 
vented  its  actual  use,  there  is  reason  to  fear  that  the  re¬ 
sult  of  the  experiment  would  have  shown  itself  in  a 
large  increase  in  the  death-rates  of  our  hospitals,  which 
would  no  doubt  in  due  course,  and  according  to  well- 
established  precedent,  have  been  attributed  to  inappro¬ 
priate  buildings  or  insufficient  ventilation.  But,  happily, 
Government  has  been  saved  from  being  placed  in  the 
position  of  a  druggist  ignorantly  compounding  and  dis¬ 
pensing  poison  by  the  discovery  made  by  Dr.  Simpson, 
who  is  now  sitting  on  the  cinchona  committee,  that  this 
green  drug  is  little  more  than  a  cunningly-devised  mix¬ 
ture  of  copper  stewpan  and  hark,  displaying,  it  must  at 
all  events  be  admitted,  considerable  skill  in  the  dissolv¬ 
ing  of  the  stewpans.  We  trust  that  the  escape  will 
teach  the  Government  that  it  is  not  real  economy  to 
entrust  the  more  delicate  chemical  operations  to  a  Eu¬ 
ropean  gardener  assisted  by  Booteah  coolies.  If  a  pri¬ 
vate  manufacturer  have  a  business  of  this  sort  in  hand, 
his  first  endeavour  will  be  to  secure  tho  best  available 
skill  for  its  superintendence  ;  but  the  financial  policy  of 
the  present  day  takes  an  opposite  view,  and  thinks  con¬ 
trol  of  expenditure,  without  the  slightest  regard  for 
future  profit  or  loss  or  consequences  in  any  form,  is  all 
that  it  has  to  look  to.” — Calcutta  Observer. 


“  It  is  stated  that  the  new  product  of  the  cinchona  bark, 
lately  furnished  by  the  Superintendent  of  tho  Darjeeling: 
plantations  for  distribution  to  medical  officers,  is  largely 
contaminated  with  poisonous  quantities  of  copper.  This; 
gentleman  had  prepared  a  substance  which  he  believed 
to  contain  the  whole  of  the  cinchona  alkaloids  jumbled 
up  together,  and  forwarded  it  with  a  view  to  its  febrifuge 
and  anti-periodic  powers  being  subjected  to  crucial  trial 
in  some  of  tho  large  hospitals.  He  supposed  that  this 
compound  contained  all  the  febrifuge  principles  of  bark  ; 
and  the  reason  assigned  for  stopping  short  of  isolating 
the  various  alkaloids,  such  as  quinine,  quinidine,  cin- 
chonidine  and  cinchonine,  is  economy  of  manufacture. 
Hence  the  attempt  to  introduce  this  substance  of  un¬ 
known  chemical  composition  and  strength.  Such  an 
attempt  is  essentially  a  retrograde  step  in  science,  and 
could  only  have  been  initiated  by  ignorance  of  the  mo¬ 
dern  tendency  and  principles  of  therapeutics,  the  whole 
scope  of  which  has  been  to  procure  the  separation  of  the 
active  principles  of  drugs  in  a  manageable  form,  so  that 
their  doses  may  be  fixed  with  certainty,  and  the  powei’3 
of  those  doses  ascertained  with  the  greatest  attainable 
exactitude.  This  has  already  been  done  with  reference 
to  elaterium  and  morphia,  and  also  with  reference  to 
quinine,  quinidine,  cinchonidine,  and  cinchonine ;  yet 
Mr.  Clarke  now  asks  medical  men  to  go  back  to  the  old 
system,  in  defiance  of  tho  teachings  of  organic  chemistry 
and  therapeutics,  and  to  substitute  imperfection  for  per¬ 
fection,  uncertainty  for  certainty,  in  a  matter,  concerning 
the  welfare  and  lives  of  thousands  of  human  beings. 

“If  there  cannot  be  found  in  India  scientific  talent 
sufficient  for  tho  isolation  of  the  cinchona  alkaloids  in  a 
pure  form — and  we  believe  that  such  is  available — by  all 
means  let  the  process  of  manufacture  be  stopped  at  a 
stage  when  all  the  alkaloids  arc  believed  to  have  been 
concentrated  in  a  small  compass.  But  let  the  substance 
thus  obtained  be  sent  to  Europe  for  sale  to  the  manufac¬ 
turers,  wTho  know  how  to  properly  work  the  mixed  mass. 
In  the  name  of  humanity  wo  protest  against  this  raw 
compound  being  foisted  upon  the  hospitals  of  this  coun¬ 
try, — a  proposal  as  unscientific  and  unsound  as  it  would 
be  to  substitute  opium  or  the  squirting  cucumber  for 
morphia  or  elaterium,  on  the  ground  that  a  saving  would 
be  effected  thereby  in  the  manufacture.  Tho  gentleman, 
from  whom  the  idea  emanates,  although  holding  a  quasi¬ 
medical  appointment,  is  not  a  medical  man,  or  he  would 
have  shrunk  from  the  risks  to  human  life  which  would 
inevitably  follow  the  practical  adoption  of  his  scheme. 
The  powder  has  been  used  in  Madras,  where  the  fevers 
are  of  a  very  mild  type,  and,  as  was  to  bo  expected,  ar 
fair  number  of  recoveries  are  noted.  So  it  was  with  tho 
!  “Jesuits’  Bark”  in  the  seventeenth  century.  But  just 
as  the  latter  had  to  be  abandoned  for  quinine,  so  it  would 
bo  folly  and  cruelty  now  to  return  from  the  pure  form  of 
the  medicine  to  Mr.  Clarke’s  raw  material.  The  dangers 
of  such  a  course  are  increased  by  the  medical  ignorance; 
of  the  present  superintendent.  Tho  substance  which  he. 
has  supplied  for  hospital  use  is  found  upon  analysis  to 
contain  20  per  cent,  of  the  poisonous  carbonate  of  copper, 
or  10lr  per  cent,  of  the  metallic  copper!  The  presenco 
of  dangerous  adulteration  in  such  quantities  indicates, 
either  gross  incapacity,  or  almost  criminal  carelessness 
in  the  preparation  of  the  drug.  Fortunately,  the  timely 
discovery  of  the  poisonous  admixture  had  been  made,  we- 
believe,  by  a  member  of  the  Cinchona  Commission  before. 

:  the  powder  was  issued  from  the  medical  stores  for  trial.. 
Had  this  discovery  not  been  made  in  time,  a  large  quan¬ 
tity  would  have  been  distributed,  and  disastrous  con¬ 
sequences  must  have  resulted  from  large  doses  of  a  poisom 
cumulative  in  its  operation,  and  deadly  in  its  effects. 

“The  announcement  of  this  fact,  we  hope,  will  make 
the  Government  pause  before  they  commit  the  extraction 
of  the  cinchona  alkaloids  to  persons  unacquainted  with 
the  delicate  chemical  processes  requisite  for  their  suc¬ 
cessful  isolation  and  purification. — The  Calcutta  English¬ 
man .” 


June  3, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


975 


®ntnsadions  of  %  gljarmaxtutical  jstoriftg. 


EXAMINATION  IN  LONDON. 

May  21th,  1871. 

Present — Messrs.  Allchin,  Bourdas,  Carteighe,  Crack  - 
nell,  Davenport,  Deane,  Edwards,  Gale,  Hanbury,  Hasel- 
dcn,  Ince  and  Southall. 

Dr.  Grecnhow  was  also  present  on  behalf  of  the  Privy 
Council. 

Thirty-four  Candidates  presented  themselves,  viz.  six 
Major  and  twenty-eight  Minor ;  the  following  twenty- 
four  passed,  and  were  declared  to  he  duly  qualified  to  be 
registered : — ■ 

MAJOR  (as  Pharmaceutical  Chemists). 

*Freeman,  Ernest . Stourbridge. 

*Catterns,  Heneage  Parker  . . .  .London. 

Troako,  Marler  Hamilton  ....  Kingsbridgc. 
Sambrook,  "William . Cardigan. 

MINOR  (as  Chemists  and  Druggists). 

*Selley,  John . Aylesbury. 

*  Wilkes,  John  Sanders . Stafford. 

*Dolman,  William . Cheltenham. 

*Bames,  Francis  Joshua  . Preston. 

*Hill,  Walter . Cheltenham. 

*Threlfall,  Hugh  . London. 

^Barclay,  John  . London. 

Webb,  Herbert  Charles  . London. 

Ellwood,  Francis  Henry . Norwich. 

Cooper,  Anthony  Yincett  ....  Birmingham. 

Stansby,  Charles  John  . Derby. 

Smith,  Arthur  John . London. 

Brown,  Richard  Fearon . London. 

Wilson,  Thomas  . Blackheath. 

Forsbrook,  William  Henry  . .  Birmingham. 

"I  (  Carr,  George . Sheffield 

\  Cordley,  William  Bains . London. 

Smyth,  Arthur  William . Diss. 

Tonks,  Joseph  . Wolverhampton. 

Parker,  William  . London. 

The  above  names  arc  arranged  in  order  of  merit. 

The  certificate  presented  by  the  undermentioned  was 
received  in  lieu  of  the  First  or  Preliminary  Examina¬ 
tion  : — 

Sergeant,  William  R . Boston. 


|rol)hui!tI  taimcfiffns. 

LIVERPOOL  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Thirteenth  and  concluding  General  Meeting  of 
this  Association  (Twenty-second  Session)  was  held  at 
the  Royal  Institution  on  Thursday  evening,  the  11th 
inst. ;  the  President,  Mr.  John  Abraham,  in  the  chair. 

Mr.  S.  G.  IIilditcii  made  the  following  communica¬ 
tions  : — 

Liq.  Myrrh®  Co. — A  convenient  method  for  the  easy 
preparation  of  mistura  fend  composita,  according  to  the 
following  formula — • 

p,  Ferri  Sulphas  gr.  xxv  ) 

Aq.  Rosoe  ^viij  ,  =  *x  Mist.  Ferri  Co.B.  Ph. 

Liq.  Myrrhae  Co.  5lj  ) 

Tinctura  Ferri  Acetatis.— The  instructions  given  in 
Squire’s  ‘Companion  to  the  British  Pharmacopoeia’ 
would  not  produce  the  preparation  in  accordance  with 
the  Pharmacopoeia.  Air.  Squire  recommended  the  ace¬ 
tate  of  potash  to  be  dissolved  in  20  oz.  of  water ;  the 
Pharmacopoeia  ordered  rectified  spirit. 

The  President  said  that  this  was  one  of  the  most  un¬ 


satisfactory  preparations  in  the  Pharmacopoeia  ;  he  had 
made  several  experiments,  but  could  not  succeed  in 
making  a  tincture  which  would  keep  an  indefinite  time. 

Mr.  Edward  Davies,  F.C.S.,  considered  an  alcoholic 
solution  of  acetate  of  iron  an  impossibility. 

Tinctura  Hyoscyami. — Large  quantities  of  hyoscyamus 
leaves  of  first  year’s  growth  were  used  in  making  this 
preparation.  It  was  necessary  that  it  should  be  pre¬ 
pared  from  leaves  of  second  year’s  growth.  A  tincture 
prepared  from  the  former,  when  put  into  water,  would 
remain  perfectly  bright,  whilst  the  officinal  tincture 
would  become  milky.*  This  was  a  simple  test;  the 
matter  was  of  great  importance,  as  it  had  been  proved 
that  the  therapeutic  effects  of  the  two  tinctures  differed 
very  materially. 

Carbo  Animalis  Purificatus. — 1 The  result  of  his  expe¬ 
riments  was  the  production  of  8  per  cent,  of  animal  char¬ 
coal  from  ordinary  bone  black. 

Air.  Davies  thought  a  good  sample  of  bone  black 
should  yield  at  least  10  per  cent. 

An  interesting  discussion  followed  these  communica¬ 
tions,  in  which  several  members  took  part. 

The  President  thanked  Mr.  Iiilditch  for  his  valuable 
information,  and  then  delivered  the  following  valedictory 
address  : — 

President’s  Valedictory  xVddress. 

This  being  the  last  meeting  of  the  Session,  I  am  ex¬ 
pected  to  address  to  you  a  few  parting  words. 

First,  let  me  express  my  sense  of  our  obligations  to 
those  gentlemen  who  have  contributed  to  our  instruction 
by  interesting  communications.  One  of  the  first  of  these- 
was  a  valuable  paper  on  ozone,  by  our  Vice-President, 

;  Mr.  Davies.  Another  was  by  Mr.  Keith,  on  some  of  the 
newest  processes  connected  with  photography.  I  had 
not  tho  pleasure  of  hearing  it,  but  I  was  told  by  those 
qualified  to  judge  that  it  was  unusually  excellent.  There 
were  also  two  able  papers,  well  illustrated-,  on  the  che¬ 
mistry  of  calico  printing  by  Mr.  Blair.  We  have  been 
much  indebted  to  our  Hon.  Secretary  for  his  diligent  at¬ 
tention  to  the  duties  of  his  office,  and  also  for  bringing 
before  us  the  subject  of  chloral. 

This  new  sedative  has  hardly  maintained  the  place 
which  was  first  assigned  to  it.  Experience  has  shown 
that  its  use  is  not  unattended  with  danger,  and  that  for 
its  beneficial  application  care  and  experience  are  re¬ 
quired. 

A  thoughtful  paper  on  the  nomenclature  of  the  na¬ 
tural  sciences  was  contributed  by  Dr.  Syme ;  but  until 
we  get  a  new  science  of  geometry,  I  fear  that  we  cannot 
abandon  tho  use  of  arbitrary  terms  in  the  descriptions  of 
most  natural  objects. 

Our  most  interesting  evening  was  unquestionably  that- 
on  which  our  talented  townsman,  Professor  Roscoe, 
favoured  us  with  his  lecture  on  solar  chemistry;  on 
which  occasion  experiments  connected  with  spectrum 
analysis  were  shown  in  a  manner  more  brilliant  and  effec¬ 
tive  than  had  been  before  seen  in  Liverpool.  During 
the  same  evening  many  of  our  friends  contributed  to 
our  entertainment  and  instruction,  amongst  whom  I 
should  particularly  mention  members  of  the  Microsco¬ 
pical  Society  with  their  instruments.  Mr.  Albert  Samuel 
exhibited  very  successfully  an  interesting  experiment  to 
illustrate  Tyndall’s  theory  of  the  cause  of  the  blue  colour 
of  the  sky ;  and  we  were  indebted  to  Mr.  Davies  for  expe¬ 
rimental  illustrations  of  the  properties  of  explosive  com¬ 
pounds. 

The  additions  to  the  Library  are  deserving  of  special 
mention.  First,  a  book  of  autograph  prescriptions,  com¬ 
piled  by  Mr.  Meo  ;  secondly,  fourteen  volumes  presented 
by  the  Pharmaceutical  Conference  from  the  fund  sup- 

*  This  communication  was  made  before  the  publication  of 
M.  Donovan’s  paper  on  “  Tincture  ot  Hyoscyamus  in  tne 
Pharmaceutical  Journal  of  the  13th  inst.,  of  the  exist¬ 
ence  of  which  Mr.  Hilditch  was  unaware— A.  H.  Mason, 
j  Mon.  Sec. 


Passed  with  Honours. 


97  G 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[Jane  3,  1671. 


plied  by  Mr.  Thomas  Hyde  Hills.  For  the  selection 
Ave  were  indebted  to  Professor  Attfield ;  for  I  am  glad  to 
say  that  our  library  is  so  well  supplied  with  useful  and 
A'aluable  boolcs  that  we  had  some  difficulty  in  determining 
what  we  could  advantageously  add  to  it. 

I  am  sorry  that  I  cannot  congratulate  you  on  the 
numbers  which  have  attended  the  classes  of  our  school  of 
pharmacy.  Rut  wherever  the  blame  may  rest — if  there 
be  blame  anywhere — it  must  not  fall  on  our  teachers  of 
chemistry,  botany  and  materia  mcdica,  Mr.  Davies  and 
Dr.  Carter,  whose  qualifications  can  hardly  be  excelled. 
The  shoe  does  not  yet  pinch  our  young  men  very  much, 
by-and-by  it  will  be  felt. 

Our  attention  has  no  doubt  often  been  called  to  the 
consideration  of  the  causes  of  the  unhealthiness  of  Lh7cr- 
pool,  or  rather — as  I  believe  it  would  be  more  correct  to 
say — of  parts  of  Liverpool.  To  chemistry  our  town  au¬ 
thorities  are  now  looking  for  a  remedy,  and  we  shall  Avait 
with  much  interest  for  the  report  of  the  able  chemists, 
Doctors  Parkes  and  Sanderson,  to  whom  the  inquiry  has 
been  intrusted.  In  the  meantime,  I  will  Arenture  to  ex¬ 
press  my  belief  that  a  very  large  part  of  the  unhealthi¬ 
ness  of  certain  classes  of  the  population  arises  from  their 
sleeping  in  large  numbers  in  Arery  small  rooms,  with  all 
access  of  air  shut  off.  There  is  a  popular  idea  that  night 
aii’  is  bad,  I  belieAre  that  it  is  a  pernicious  error,  and  that 
we  should  take  every  means  in  our  power  for  correcting 
it.  Night  air  is  at  any  rate  far  better  than  the  exhausted 
aii1  which  has  been  breathed  by  any  of  our  fellows. 

Our  kindred  societies  in  Edinburgh  and  Bath  have 
published  price-lists,  which  I  would  recommend  you  to 
procure,  particularly  the  more  recent  one  published  at 
Bath.  It  is  Arery  desirable  that  we  should  know  what 
•  others  think  on  this  matter,  and  that  Ave  should  do  what 
is  just  and  fair  to  ourselves  and  the  public. 

I  am  sorry  to  observe  the  death  of  our  toAvnsman,  Mr. 
James  Yates,  F.R.S.,  who  has  taken  so  active  a  part  for 
many  years  in  promoting  the  adoption  of  the  metrical 
system,  and  of  the  advocacy  of  which  he  was  one  of  the 
principal  and  most  munificent  supporters. 

Mr.  Aisrahaai  concluded  with  a  feAv  other  remarks, 
including  an  expression  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Charles  Sharp 
for  his  services  in  teaching  an  elementary  botanical 
class. 

Mr.  E.  Daates,  F.C.S.,  in  moving  a  A'ote  of  thanks 
to  the  President  for  his  address  and  his  conduct  in  the 
chair  during  the  year,  agreed  Avith  Mr.  Abraham  that 
among  the  causes  of  the  unhealthy  state  of  Liverpool, 
the  one  he  had  referred  to  was  one  of  the  greatest. 
Lie  gave  his  experience  of  a  A’isit  he  paid  to  a  house  in  a 
court  off  a  small  street,  in  which  he  said  the  smell  was 
something  frightful.  Overcrowding  and  want  of  ATenti- 
lation,  and  that  pernicious  system  of  building  houses 
back  to  back,  and  in  courts  with  one  end  stopped  up  and 
the  other  end  nearly  so,  Avere  the  great  causes  of  the  high 
death-rate  in  Liverpool.  He  admitted  many  other  causes. 
The  bad  habits  of  the  people,  drunkenness  and  other 
things  had  their  effects ;  but  his  own  pmaate  opinion 
was  that  these  others  were  the  great  root  of  the  CA’il,  and 
until  they  could  do  something  in  the  way  of  proA'iding 
dwellings  for  the  poor  outside  the  town,  and  razing  to 
the  ground  a  great  number  of  these  courts,  and  opening 
up  some  more  complete  channels  for  the  air  to  go  up 
from  the  river  right  through  the  town,  they  would  not 
bring  down  the  mortality  of  Liverpool  to  anything  like 
a  normal  figure. 

Mr.  J .  S ii aaa'  seconded  the  motion,  which  was  supported 
by  Mr.  A.  II.  Mason,  F.C.S  ,  who  drew  attention  to  the 
injurious  practice  of  householders  allowing  walls  to  be 
papered  AA'ithout  having  the  previous  paper  remoA'ed,  in¬ 
stancing  cases  where  five  or  six  were  to  be  seen  on  one 
wall,  thereby  fostering  disease  and  impure  air. 

The  vote  having  been  carried  unanimously,  the  Chair¬ 
man  acknowledged  the  compliment,  and  the  proceedings 
terminated. 


NORWICH  CHEMISTS’  ASSISTANTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 

On  Monday,  May  loth,  Mr.  F.  Sutton,  F.C.S. ,  gave  a 
highly  interesting  lecture  on  Carbon,  at  the  rooms  of  the 
aboA'e  Association. 

The  lecturer  began  by  remarking  how  difficult  it  was 
to  make  an  isolated  lecture  really  instructive,  as  the 
limited  time  at  their  disposal  forbade  more  than  a  passing 
allusion  to  the  most  prominent  characters  of  the  subject 
under  consideration,  but  he  trusted  that  he  should  be 
able  to  interest  them  in  some  of  the  facts  connected  with 
carbon,  and  if  this  only  led  them  to  take  up  chemistry 
as  an  amusement,  his  purpose  would  be  answered. 

The  lecturer  then  adArocated  the  cause  of  “hobbies,” 
and  after  reminding  his  hearers  of  the  saying  that  “  The 
man  of  one  book  was  a  dangerous  opponent,”  he  adA'ised 
all  present  to  make  a  “hobby”  of  either  chemistry  or 
some  branch  of  natural  history,  assuring  them  that  they 
would  find  such  a  course  advantageous  in  every  respect. 

After  noticing  the  various  forms  of  carbon,  and  its 
universal  presence  in  organic  bodies,  the  lecturer  pro¬ 
ceeded  to  consider  its  use  in  the  animal  and  A’egetable 
economies,  its  importance  in  ordinary  methods  of  illumi¬ 
nation  and  heating,  and,  finally,  the  explosive  compounds 
into  which  it  enters. 

The  subject  was  well  illustrated  with  striking  experi¬ 
ments,  and  elicited  repeated  applause. 


MIDLAND  COUNTIES  CHEMISTS’  ASSOCIA¬ 
TION. 

The  Second  Annual  Meeting  of  the  above  Association 
was  held  at  the  Temperance  Hall,  Birmingham,  on 
May  26th.  In  the  unavoidable  absence  of  the  President, 
the  chair  was  taken  by  Mr.  H.  Whittles.  We  regret 
to  say  there  was  but  a  small  attendance  of  members. 

The  Honorary  Secretary  read  the  Report  of  the 
Council,  and  the  Chairman  the  statement  of  accounts. 

Report. 

“  Folio Aving-  the  precedent  set  at  their  first  annual 
meeting,  the  Council  beg  to  submit  a  simple  statement 
of  their  proceedings  during  the  past  year. 

“It  will  be  in  the  recollection  of  some  here  present 
that  at  our  last  annual  meeting  a  letter  addressed  to  the 
Home  Secretary  respecting  the  Petroleum  Act  of  186-8 
was  ordered  to  be  forwarded.  It  was  to  the  effect  that 
great  injustice  was  done  to  the  retailers  of  petroleum  in 
this  town  from  the  excessive  charge  made  by  the  Town 
Council  for  licences  for  selling  the  same,  it  being  two 
guineas  in  Birmingham,  and  only  from  2s.  6d.  to  os.  in 
most  large  towns. 

“His  attention  was  also  drawn  to  the  promised  intro¬ 
duction  of  a  supplementary  bill  for  amending  that  Act,  and 
exempting  benzine  collas,  benzine,  etc.,  from  its  opera¬ 
tion. 

“  A  reply  was  recehred  that  it  was  under  the  conside¬ 
ration  of  Government,  but  nothing  more  has  been  heard 
of  it.  It  was,  however,  stated  in  one  of  our  daily  papers 
a  few  daA'S  ago  that  a  Bill  was  to  be  introduced  into  the 
House  of  Lords  to  exempt  these  articles. 

“The  Council  were  also  directed  to  arrange  for  a 
course  of  lectures  on  pharmacy  to  the  assistants  and 
apprentices  of  members  during  the  summer  months. 

“  In  accordance  with  these  directions,  a  circular  was 
addressed  to  the  members  of  the  Association,  inquiring 
as  to  the  number  that  would  take  advantage  of  the 
same.  The  replies  being  tolerably  satisfactory,  arrauge- 
ments  were  made  with  Dr.  Hill  for  a  course  of  lectures, 
and  thirty  attended  the  first  course.  A  second  was  ar¬ 
ranged  for,  but  from  some  cause  or  other  this  was 
not  so  well  attended,  only  eleven  entering  their  names, 
resulting  in  a  considerable  loss  to  the  Association. 

“  The  failure  of  these  attempts  to  afford  practical  in¬ 
structions  on  pharmacy  to  our  rising  members  is  such  as 


June  3,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


977 


will,  we  think,  prevent,  at  any  rate  for  the  present,  a 
fresh  movement  for  a  like  purpose. 

“  In  December  a  communication  was  received  from 
the  Warden  of  Queen’s  College  on  the  practicability  of 
establishing-  a  course  of  lectures  on  botany,  pharmacy, 
etc.,  and  wishing  to  know  if  any  support  might  be  ex¬ 
pected  from  the  Pharmaceutical  Society.  Some  letters 
passed  between  the  Council  and  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society;  but  it  being  found  that  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  did  not  intend  at  present  to  propose  to  subsidize 
any  local  arrangements  by  money  grants,  the  proposal 
dropped  through,  mainly  on  the  ground  of  the  high  fees 
named  by  the  Queen’s  College. 

“  In  January  arrangements  were  made  for  the  Annual 
Supper,  hut  the  responses  to  the  invitations  sent  out 
were  so  few  that  it  was  thought  advisable  to  postpone 
it.  A  very  pleasant  evening  having  been  spent  on  a 
former  occasion,  it  was  thought  that  it  might  be  a  means 
of  uniting  the  members  of  the  Association  more  closely 
together,  and  by  being  oftener  brought  into  contact  with 
each  other,  of  doing  away  with  the  petty  jealousies  that 
so  often  are  the  greatest  bane  in  any  profession  or  trade. 

“  Some  further  correspondence  has  taken  place  on  the 
Petroleum  Bill  with  the  Pharmaceutical  Society.  Mr. 
Brcmridgo  states  that  no  charge  is  made  in  London  for 
licences,  and  he  questions  if  the  authorities  have  any 
legal  right  of  making  any  charge  whatever. 

“The  new-elected  Hon.  Sec.  having  written  to  ask 
the  favour  of  the  J ournal  being  sent  for  the  use  of  the 
members  of  this^Association,  the  Council  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society  kindly  consented,  and  the  Secretary  has 
supplied  all  the  numbers  of  the  present  series,  which, 
when  complete  and  bound,  will  make  the  first  volume 
the  property  of  the  Association,  and  be  a  useful  work  of 
reference.  And  the  weekly  issue,  which  will  continue 
to  be  sent  to  one  of  the  new  Hon.  Secs.,  if  it  is  thought 
practicable,  could  be  circulated  among  the  members. 

“  The  general  expenditure  of  the  Association  seems  to 
have  been  well  guarded,  and,  but  for  the  large  item  of 
£23.  2?.  Or/,  paid  to  Dr.  Hill,  would  have  been  very 
small ;  as  it  is,  there  remains  a  balance  in  its  favour  of 
£19.  15s.  2d. 

“In  conclusion,  the  Council  submit  to  this  meeting 
their  second  revised  edition  of  the  ‘  Price  List,’  which 
they  believe  is  now  pretty  generally  adopted  in  the  Mid¬ 
land  Counties ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  they  must  express 
their  regret  that  the  efforts  they  have  made  for  the 
establishment  of  classes  on  Pharmacy,  etc.  for  the  assis¬ 
tants  and  apprentices  have  not  been  more  highly  appre¬ 
ciated.” 

The  election  of  officers  for  the  ensuing  year  having 
taken  place,  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  Chairman  brought 
the  proceedings  to  a  close. 


ABERDEEN  ASSOCIATION  OF  ASSISTANT 
CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS. 

At  the  half-yearly  General  Meeting  of  the  Aberdeen 
Association  of  Assistant  Chemists  and  Druggists,  held 
in  St.  Nicholas  Lane  Hall,  on  Thursday,  25th  May, 
the  following  were  elected  office-bearers  for  the  next 
six  months  : — President,  Mr.  John  Tocher;  Vice-Presi¬ 
dent,  Mr.  L.  Maitland;  Secretary,  Mr.  John  Gordon; 
Treasurer,  Mr.  John  Hosil ;  Committee,  Messrs.  Cassil, 
F arquhar,  Broomhead,  Fraser  and  Spence. 

During  the  past  session  a  long  and  varied  programme 
has  been  gone  through,  the  essays  on  some  of  the  sub¬ 
jects  showing  no  small  ability  and  talent  in  their  writers  ; 
and  in  addition  to  what  the  members  have  contributed 
for  their  mutual  improvement,  Mr.  Ross,  chemist,  Castle 
Street,  kindly  added  a  share,  by  a  magnificent  exhibition 
of  photographic  transparencies  by  means  of  the  lime 
light. 

On  the  whole,  in  spite  of  manifold  drawbacks,  the 
Society  still  bravely  fights  its  way  onward,  and  strives 
with  a  steady  purpose  to  fulfil  its  mission,  viz.  to  blend 
in  the  nicest  proportions  the  useful  with  the  entertaining. 


IJnitMiiimp  cf  SmnMc  Satieties. 

ROYAL  INSTITUTION  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN. 

The  Revived  Theory  of  Piilogistox.* 

BY  WILLIAM  ODLIXG,  M.B.,  F.R.S., 

Tullerian  Professor  of  Chemistry ,  Royal  Institution. 

“  Observation  cm,  quam  produco,  bono  jure  miki  vindico. 

.  .  .  Materia  krec  itrnescens,  in  omnibus  tribus  remis.  una 
eademque  existit.  L  nde,  ut  e  vegetabili  in  animate,  abuu- 
dantissime  transmigrat,  ita  ex  utrolibet  korum,  in  mineralia 
et.  ipsa  metalla,  promptissime  omnium  transfertur.” — Stahlii 
ISxperimenta,  Observationes,  Animadversiones,  CCC  Nu- 
mero. 

In  1781-83  Cavendish  showed  that  when  inflammable 
air,  or  hydrogen,  and  dephlogisticated  air,  or  oxygen, 
are  exploded  together  in  certain  proportions,  “  almost 
the  whole  of  the  inflammable  and  dephlogisticated  air  is 
converted  into  pure  water,”  or  as  he  elsewhere  expresses 
it,  “is  turned  into  water.” 

On  June  2f,  1783,  the  experiment  of  Cavendish  was 
repeated  on  a  larger  scale  and  in  a  somewhat  different 
form  by  Lavoisier,  who  not  only  confirmed  the  synthesis 
of  the  English  chemist,  but  drew  from  it  the  conclusion 
— at  first  strongly  contested,  then  rapidly  acknowledged, 
and  since  never  called  into  question — “that  water  con¬ 
sists  of  inflammable  air  united  to  dephlogisticated  air,” 
or  that  it  is  a  compound  of  hydrogen  and  oxyg-en. 

This  conclusion,  so  opposite  to  his  own  preconception 
on  the  matter,  Lavoisier  subsequently  confirmed  by  an 
analysis  of  water.  He  found  that  iron,  heated  to  redness 
and  exposed  to  the  action  of  water -vapour,  became 
changed  by  an  abstraction  of  oxygen  from  the  water, 
into  the  selfsame  oxide  of  iron  procurable  by  burning 
the  metal  in  oxygen  gas, — the  other  constituent  of  the 
water,  namely,  its  hydrogen,  being  freely  liberated. 

With  the  demonstration  by  Lavoisier  of  the  compo¬ 
sition  of  water  began  the  triumph  of  that  antiphlogistic 
theory,  which  he  had  conceived,  in  a  necessarily  imper¬ 
fect  form,  so  far  back  as  1772,  or  before  the  discovery  of 
oxygen,  and  had  brought  to  completion  by  the  aid  of 
every  successive  step  in  pneumatic  chemistry,  achieved 
by  himeelf  or  by  others. 

In  1785,  the  relationship  to  one  another  of  hydrogen 
and  water  being  then  conclusively  established,  Berthoilet 
declared  himself  a  convert  to  the  new  theory  of  combus¬ 
tion  put  forward  by  his  countryman.  Fourcroy  next 
gave  in  his  adhesion  ;  and  soon  afterwards  De  Morvoau, 
invited  to  Paris  expressly  to  be  reasoned  with  by  La¬ 
voisier,  succumbed  to  the  reasons  set  before  him.  The 
four  chemists  then  associated  themselves  together,  and 
in  spite  of  a  strong  though  short-lived  opposition  both 
in  England  and  Germany,  succeeded  in  obtaining  for 
‘  La  Chimie  Franchise  ’  an  all  but  universal  recognition. 

The  principal  articles  of  the  new  or  antiphlogistic 
theory  of  combustion  propounded  by  Lavoisier  are  as 
follows : — That  combustible  bodies  in  burning  yield 
products  of  various  kinds  ;  solid  in  the  case  of  phos¬ 
phorus  and  the  metals,  liquid  in  the  case  of  hydrogen, 
gaseous  in  the  case  of  carbon  and  sulphur.  That  in 
every  case  the  weight  of  the  products  formed  by  the 
burning  is  greater  than  the  weight  of  the  combustible 
burnt.  That  the  increase  of  weight  is  due  to  an  addition 
of  matter  furnished  to  the  combustible  by  the  air  in 
which  its  burning  takes  place.  That  bodies  of  which 
the  weights  are  made  up  of  the  weights  of  two  or  more 
distinct  kinds  of  matter  are  of  necessity  compound ; 
whereas  bodies  of  which  the  weights  cannot  be.  shown  to 
be  made  up  of  the  weights  of  two  or  more  distinct  kinds 
of  matter  are  in  effect  simple  or  elementary.  That  inas- 


*  Notes  of  a  Lecture  delivered  at  the  Weekly  Evening 
Meeting,  Friday,  April  23,  1871  ;  Sir  Ilenry  Holland,  Bart., 
M.L).,  D.C.L.,  F.It.S.,  President,  in  the  chair. 


THE  ni  Ami  ACE  b  TIC  AL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTION  S 


[ J  une  3,  1871 


078 


much  as  the  weights  of  the  products  furnished  by  the 
"burning  of  different  combustibles  are  made  up  of  the 
weights  of  the  combustible  burnt  and  of  the  oxygen 
consumed  in  the  burning,  these  products  are  compound 
bodies — oxides,  in  fact,  of  the  substances  burnt.  That 
inasmuch  as  given  weights  of  many  combustibles,  as  of 
hydrogen,  sulphur,  phosphorus,  carbon  and  the  metals, 
are  not  apparently  made  up  of  the  weights  of  two  or 
more  distinct  kinds  of  matter,  these  particular  combusti¬ 
bles  arc  in  effect  elementary ;  as  for  the  same  reason  is 
the  oxygen  with  which,  in  the  act  of  burning,  they  enter 
into  combination.  And  lastly,  that  combustion  or  burn¬ 
ing  consists  in  nothing  else  than  in  the  union  of  com¬ 
bustible  matter,  simple  or  compound,  with  the  empyreal 
matter,  oxygen — the  act  of  union  being  somehow  attended 
by  an  evolution  of  light  and  heat.  And  except  that  it 
would  be  necessary  nowadays  to  explain  how,  in  certain 
eases  of  combustion,  the  combustible  enters  into  union, 
not  with  oxygen,  but  with  some  analogue  of  oxygen, 
the  above  precise  statement  might  equally  well  have 
been  made  by  Lavoisier  in  1785  or  be  made  by  one  of 
ourselves  at  the  present  day. 

Lavoisier’s  theory  of  combustion  being  known  as  the 
antiphlogistic  theory,  the  question  arises,  What  was  the 
phlogistic  theory  to  which  it  was  opposed  and  which  it 
succeeded  so  completely  in  displacing  ?  This  phlogistic 
theory  was  founded  and  elaborated  at  the  close  of  the 
seventeenth  century  by  two  German  physicians,  Beecher 
and  Stahl.  Having  exercised  a  scarcely  disputed  au¬ 
thority  over  men’s  minds  until  the  notorious  defection 
in  1785,  it  preserved  for  some  years  longer  a  resolute 
though  tortuous  existence,  and  was  to  the  last  defended 
;tnd  approved  by  our  own  Priestley  and  Cavendish,  who 
died,  the  former  in  1801  and  the  latter  in  1810. 

The  importance  attached  to  the  refutation  of  this 
theory  may  be  judged  of  from  the  circumstance  that 
after  the  early  experiments  of  Lavoisier  on  the  composi¬ 
tion  and  decomposition  of  water  had  been  successfully 
repeated  by  a  committee  of  the  French  Academy  in 
1790,  a  congratulatory  meeting  was  held  in  Paris,  at 
which  Madame  Lavoisier,  attired  as  a  priestess,  burned 
on  an  altar  Stahl’s  celebrated  ‘  Fundamenta  Chemise 
Dogmatics  ct  Experimentalist  solemn  music  playing  a 
requiem  the  while.  And  the  sort  of  estimation  in  which 
the  Stahlian  doctrines  have  since  been  held  by  chemists 
is  fairly  illustrated  by  a  criticism  of  Sir  J.  Herschel, 
who,  speaking  of  the  phlogistic  theory  of  chemistry, 
says  that  it  “  impeded  the  progress  of  the  science,  as  far 
as  a  science  of  experiment  can  be  impeded  by  a  false 
theory,  ....  by  involving  the  subject  in  a  mist  of  vi¬ 
sionary  and  hypothetical  causes  in  place  of  the  true 
acting  principles.”  Possibly,  however,  this  much-abused 
theory  may  yet  prove  to  contain  an  element  of  perma¬ 
nent  vitality  and  truth  ;  anyhow  the  study  of  this  earliest 
and  most  enduring  of  chemical  theories  can  never  be 
wholly  devoid  of  interest  to  chemists. 

To  appreciate  the  merit  of  the  phlogistic  theory  it  is 
necessary  to  bear  in  mind  the  period  of  its  announce¬ 
ment.  Its  originator,  Beecher,  was  bom  in  1625,  and 
died  a  middle-aged  but  worn-out  man  in  1682,  a  few 
years  before  the  publication  of  the  ‘  Principia.’  His  more 
fortunate  disciple,  Stahl,  who  was  born  in  1660  and  died 
in  1734,  in  his  seventy-fifth  }’ear,  though  afforded  a  possi¬ 
bility  of  knowing,  seems  equally  with  Beecher  to  have 
remained  throughout  his  long  career  indifferent  to  the 
Newtonian  principle  that  the  weight  of  a  body  is  pro¬ 
portionate  to  its  quantity  of  matter, — that  loss  of  weight 
implies  of  necessity  abstraction  of  matter,  and  increase 
-of  weight  addition  of  matter.  Whether  or  not  the 
founders  of  the  phlogistic  theory  conceived  that  change 
of  matter  in  the  way  of  kind,  might  equally  with  its 
•change  in  point  of  quantity,  be  associated  with  an  alte¬ 
ra!  ion  in  weight— and  it  must  not  be  forgotten  what 
pains  Newton  thought  it  necessary  to  take  in  order 
to  show  the  contrary — certain  it  is  they  attached  very 
little  importance  to  the  changes  of  weight  manifested 


by  bodies  undergoing  the  metamorphoses  of  combus¬ 
tion.  It  might  be  that  when  combustible  charcoal 
was  burned  the  weight  cf  incombustible  residue  was 
less  than  the  original  weight  of  charcoal, — it  might  be 
that  when  combustible  lead  wras  burned  the  weight  of 
incombustible  residue  was  greater  fhan  the  original 
weight  of  metal ;  this  was  far  too  trifling  an  unlikeness 
to  stand  in  the  way  of  the  paramount  likeness  presented 
by  the  two  bodies.  For  the  lead  and  charcoal  had  the 
common  property  of  manifesting  the  wonderful  energy 
of  fire  ;  they  could  alike  suffer  a  loss  of  light  and  heat — 
that  is,  of  phlogiston — by  the  deprivation  of  which  they 
were  alike  changed  into  greater  or  less  weights  of  inert 
incombustible  residue. 

And  not  only  were  these  primitive  students  of  the 
philosophy  of  combustion  unconscious  of  the  fact  and 
meaning  of  the  relationship  in  weight  subsisting  between 
the  consuming  and  the  consumed  body,  but  they  were 
altogether  ignorant  of  the  part  played  by  the  air  in  the 
phenomena  which  they  so  boldly  and  successfully  at¬ 
tempted  to  explain.  Torricelli's  invention  of  the  baro¬ 
meter  and  Guericke’s  invention  of  the  air-pump  were 
both  indeed  made  during  Beecher’s  early  boyhood :  but 
years  had  to  elapse  before  the  consequent  idea  of  the 
materiality  of  air  could  be  domiciled,  as  it  were,  in 
human  understandings.  And  not  until  more  than  a 
century  after  Torricelli’s  discovery  of  the  weight  of  air, 
— not,  indeed,  until  the  time  of  the  great  pneumatic 
chemists  Black  and  Cavendish,  and  Priestley  and 
Schcele,  was  it  ever  imagined  that  the  aerial  state,  like 
the  solid  or  liquid  state,  was  a  state  common  to  many 
distinct  kinds  of  matter ;  and  that  the  weight  or  sub¬ 
stance  of  a  rigid  solid  might  be  largely  conti’ibuted  to 
by  the  weight  or  substance  of  some  constituent  having 
its  independent  existence  in  the  aerial  or  gaseous  form. 
The  notion  that  100  lbs.  of  smithy-scales  might  consist  of 
73  lbs.  of  iron  and  27  lbs.  of  a  particular  kind  of  air,  and 
that  100  lbs.  of  marble  might  consist  of  56  lbs.  of  lime 
and  44  lbs.  of  another  kind  of  air,  was  a  notion  utterly 
foreign  to  the  older  philosophy.  Air,  it  was  allowed, 
might  be  rendered  mephitic  by  one  kind  of  contamina¬ 
tion  and  sulphurous  by  another,  and  inflammable  by  a 
third ;  it  might  even  be  absorbed  in,  and  so  add  to  the 
weight  of  a  porous  solid,  as  water  is  absorbable  by  sand ; 
but  still  air  was  ever  indisputably  air,  essentially  alike 
and  unalterable  in  its  mechanical  and  chemical  oneness. 
This  familiar  conception  had  to  be  overcome,  and  the 
utterly  strange  notion  of  the  largely  aerial  constitution 
of  solid  matter  to  be  established  in  its  stead,  by  the 
early  pneumatic  chemists,  Black  and  Cavendish  and 
Bergmann,  before  the  deficiencies  rather  than  positive 
errors  of  the  phlogistic  theory  could  be  perceived. 

But  long  ere  the  foundation  of  modern  chemistry  had 
thus  been  laid,  in  1756,  by  Black’s  discovery  of  fixed 
air  or  carbonic  acid  as  a  constituent  of  mild  alkalis  and 
limestone,  those  old  German  doctors,  Beecher  and  Stahl, 
though  ignorant  of  the  nature  of  air  and  neglectful  of 
the  import  of  gravity,  had  yet  found  something  to  say 
about  the  chemistry  of  combustion  worthy  of  being  de¬ 
fended  a  century  afterwards  by  men  like  Priestley  and 
Cavendish, — worthy,  it  is  believed,  of  being  recognized 
nearly  two  centuries  afterwards  as  the  expression  of  a 
fundamental  doctrine  in  chemical  and  cosmical  philo¬ 
sophy.  They  pointed  out,  for  example,  that  the  dif¬ 
ferent  and  seemingly  unlike  processes  of  burning, 
smouldering,  calcining,  rusting,  and  decaying,  by  which 
combustible  is  changed  into  incombustible  matter,  have 
a  community  of  character  ;  that  combustible  bodies  pos¬ 
sess  in  common  a  power  or  energy  capable  of  being 
elicited  and  used,  whereas  incombustible  bodies  are  devoid 
of  any  such  energy  or  power;  and  lastly,  that  the 
energy  pertaining  to  combustible  bodies  is  the  same  in 
all  of  them,  and  capable  of  being  transferred  from  the 
combustible  body  which  has  it  to  an  incombustible  body 
which  has  it  not,  rendering  the  body  that  was  energetic 
and  combustible  inert  and  incombustible,  and  the  body 


June  3,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


079 


that  was  inert  and  incombustible  energetic  and  com¬ 
bustible, — and  further  rendering  some  particular  body 
•combustible  over  and  over  again.  That  this  is  a  fair 
representation  of  the  views  held  by  phlogistic  chemists 
is  readily  recognizable  by  a  study  of  chemical  works 
written  before  the  outbreak  of  the  antiphlogistic  revolu¬ 
tion.  After  Lavoisier's  challenge,  the  advocates  of 
7 phlogiston,  striving  to  make  it  account  for  a  novel  order 
of  facts  with  which  it  had  little  or  nothing  to  do,  were 
driven  to  the  most  incongruous  of  positions  ;  for  while 
Priestley  wrote  of  inert  nitrogen  as  phlogisticated  air, 
Kir  wan  and  others  regarded  inflammable  hydrogen  as 
being  phlogiston  itself  in  the  isolated  state.  Very  dif¬ 
ferent  is  the  view  of  phlogiston  to  be  gathered  from  the 
writings  of  Dr.  Watson,  for  example,  who  was  appointed 
Professor  of  Chemistry  at  Cambridge  in  1761,  became 
Regius  Professor  of  Divinity  in  1771,  and  Bishop  of 
Llandaff  in  1782.  This  cultivated  divine,  indifferent  it 
is  true  to  the  novel  questions  by  which  in  less  placid 
regions  men’s  minds  were  so  deeply  stirred,  amused  the 
leisure  of  his  dignified  university  life  by  writing 
scholarly  accounts  of  the  chemistry  it  had  formerly  been 
his  province  to  teach ;  and  in  the  first  volume  of  his 
well-known  ‘Chemical  Essays,’  published  in  1781,  the 
following  excellent  account  of  phlogiston  is  to  be 
found : — 

“Notwithstanding  all  that  perhaps  can  be  said  upon 
this  subject,  I  am  sensible  the  reader  wall  still  be  ready 
lo  ask,  What  is  phlogiston  ?  You  do  not  surely  expect 
that  chemistry  should  be  able  to  present  you  with  a 
handful  of  phlogiston,  separated  from  an  inflammable 
body ;  you  may  j  ust  as  reasonably  demand  a  handful  of 
magnetism,  gravity,  or  electricity  to  be  extracted  from  a 
magnetic,  weighty,  or  electric  body.  There  are  powers 
in  nature  which  cannot  otherwise  become  the  objects  of 
sense,  than  by  the  effects  they  produce  ;  and  of  this  kind 
is  phlogiston.  But  the  following  experiments  will  tend 
•to  render  this  perplexed  subject  somewhat  more  clear. 

“  If  you  take  a  piece  of  sulphur  and  set  it  on  fire,  it 
will  burn  entirely  away,  without  leaving  any  ashes  or 
yielding  any  soot.  During  the  burning  of  the  sulphur, 
-a  copious  vapour,  powerfully  affecting  the  organs  of  sight 
.and  smell,  is  dispersed.  Means  have  been  invented  for 
-collecting  this  vapour,  and  it  is  found  to  be  a  very  strong 
acid.  The  acid  thus  procured  from  the  burning  of  sul¬ 
phur,  is  incapable  of  being  either  burned  by  itself,  or  of 
•contributing  towards  the  support  of  fire  in  other  bodies  : 
the  sulphur,  from  which  it  was  procured  was  capable  of 
both :  there  is  a  remarkable  difference,  then,  between 
the  acid  procured  from  the  sulphur  and  the  sulphur 
itself.  The  acid  cannot  be  the  only  constituent  part  of 
.sulphur ;  it  is  evident  that  something  else  must  have  en¬ 
tered  into  its  composition,  by  which  it  was  rendered 
capable  of  combustion.  This  something  is,  from  its  most 
remarkable  property,  that  of  rendering  a  body  combusti¬ 
ble,  properly  enough  denominated  the  food  of  fire,  the 
inflammable  principle,  the  phlogiston . This  inflam¬ 

mable  principle,  or  phlogiston,  is  not  one  thing  in  ani¬ 
mals,  another  in  vegetables,  another  in  minerals ;  it  is 

.absolutely  the  same  in  them  all . This  identity  of 

phlogiston  may  be  proved  from  a  variety  of  decisive  ex¬ 
periments  ;  I  will  select  a  few,  which  may  at  the  same 
time  confirm  what  has  been  advanced  concerning  the 
.•constituent  parts  of  sulphur. 

“  From  the  analysis  or  decomposition  of  sulphur 
•  effected  by  burning,  we  have  concluded  that  the  consti¬ 
tuent  parts  of  sulphur  are  two — an  acid  which  may  be 
collected,  and  an  inflammable  principle  which  is  dispersed. 
If  the  reader  has  yet  acquired  any  real  taste  for  chemical 
truths,  he  "will  wash  to  see  this  analysis  confirmed  by 
.  synthesis ;  that  is,  in  common  language,  he  will  wish  to 
.see  sulphur  actually  made  by  combining  its  acid  with  an 
inflammable  principle.  It  seldom  happens  that  chemists 
can  reproduce  the  original  bodies,  though  they  combine 
together  all  the  principles  into  which  they  have  analysed 
.them ; . in  the  instance,  however,  before  us,  the 


reproduction  of  the  original  substance  will  be  found 
complete. 

“As  the  inflammable  principle  cannot  be  obtained  in 
a  palpable  form  separate  from  all  other  bodies,  the  only 
method  by  which  we  can  attempt  to  unite  it  with  the 
acid  of  sulphur  must  be  by  presenting  to  that  acid  some 
substance  in  which  it  is  contained.  Charcoal  is  such  a 
substance;  and  by  distilling  powdered  charcoal  and  the 
acid  of  sulphur  together,  we  can  procure  a  true  yellow 
sulphur,  in  nowise  to  be  distinguished  from  common 
sulphur.  This  sulplmr  is  formed  from  the  union  of  the 
acid  with  the  phlogiston  of  the  charcoal ;  and  the  char¬ 
coal  may  by  this  means  be  so  entirely  robbed  of  its  phlo¬ 
giston,  that  it  will  be  reduced  to  ashes,  as  if  it  had  been 
burned . 

“  I  will  in  this  place,  by  way  of  further  illustration  of 
the  term  phlogiston,  add  a  word  or  two  concerning  the 
necessity  of  its  union  with  a  metallic  earth,  in  order  to 
constitute  a  metal.  Lead,  it  has  been  observed,  when 
melted  in  a  strong  fire,  burns  away  like  rotten  wood  ;  all 
its  properties  as  a  metal  are  destroyed,  and  it  is  reduced 
to  ashes.  If  you  expose  the  ashes  of  lead  to  a  strong 
fire,  they  will  melt ;  but  the  melted  substance  will  not 
be  a  metal ,  it  will  be  a  yellow  or  orange-coloured  glass. 
If  you  pound  the  glass,  and  mix  it  with  charcoal  dust,  or 
if  you  mix  the  ashes  of  the  lead  with  charcoal  dust,  and 
expose  either  mixture  to  a  melting  heat,  you  will  obtain, 
not  a  glass,  but  a  metal ,  in  weight,  colour,  consistency 
and  every  other  property  the  same  as  lead.  The  ashes 
of  lead  melted  without  charcoal  become  glass  ;  the  ashes 
of  lead  molted  with  charcoal  become  a  metal.  The  char¬ 
coal,  then,  must  have  communicated  something  to  the 
ashes  of  lead,  by  which  they  are  changed  from  a  glass  to 
a  metal.  Charcoal  consists  of  but  two  things — of  ashes 
and  of  phlogiston ;  the  ashes  of  charcoal,  though  united 
with  the  ashes  of  lead,  would  only  produce  glass ;  it 
must  therefore  be  the  other  constituent  part  of  charcoal, 
or  phlogiston,  which  is  communicated  to  the  ashes  of 
lead,  and  by  an  union  with  which  the  ashes  are  restored 
to  their  metallic  form.  The  ashes  of  lead  can  never  be  re¬ 
stored  to  their  metallic  form  without  their  being  united 
with  some  matter  containing  phlogiston,  and  they  may  bo 
reduced  to  their  metallic  form  by  being  united  with  ang 
substance  containing  phlogiston  in  a  proper  state,  whe¬ 
ther  that  substance  be  derived  from  the  animal,  vegeta¬ 
ble,  or  mineral  kingdom ;  and  thence  we  conclude  not 
only  that  phlogiston  is  a  necessary  part  of  a  metal,  but 
that  phlogiston  has  an  identity  belonging  to  it,  from 
whatever  substance  in  nature  it  be  extracted.  And  this 
assertion  still  becomes  more  general,  if  we  may  believe 
that  metallic  ashes  have  been  reduced  to  their  metallic 
form,  both  by  the  solar  rays  and  the  electrical  fire.” 

The  foregoing  account  by  Dr.  Watson  is  almost  a 
translation  from  Stahl's  ‘  Zymotechnica  Fundamentals, 
simulque  experimentum  novum  sulphur  verum  arte  pro- 
ducendi,’  in  which  he  establishes  what  may  be  called  the 
permanency  of  chemical  substance, — that  metallic  lead  is 
reproducible  from  the  ashes  of  lead,  sulphur  verum  from 
the  acid  of  sulphur.  And,  whether  or  not  taking  note 
of  the  oxidations  and  deoxidations  effected,  how  little 
differently,  even  at  the  present  day,  would  the  actions 
referred  to  be  described  and  explained !  Is  it  not  our 
habit  to  say  that  charcoal  and  sulphur  and  lead  are 
bodies  possessing  potential  chemical  energy,  that  is 
phlogiston ;  that  in  the  act  of  binning,  their  energy 
which  was  potential  becomes  kinetic  or  dynamical,  and 
is  dissipated  in  the  form  of  light  and  heat ;  that  the  pro¬ 
ducts  of  their  burning  (including  the  gaseous  product 
now  known  to  be  furnished  by  the  burning  of  charcoal)^ 
are  substances  devoid  of  chemical  energy,  that  is,  of 
phlogiston ;  that  when  the  acid  substance  furnished  by 
burning  sulphur  is  heated  with  charcoal,  some  energy  ot 
the  unburnt  charcoal  is  transferred  to  the  burnt  sulphur, 
just  as  some  energy  of  a  raised  weight  may  be  transferred 
to  a  fallen  one,  whereby  the  burnt  sulphur  is  unburnt , 
provided  with  energy,  and  enabled  to  burn  again,  and 


9  SO 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[Jane  3, 187L 


tlic  fallen  weight  is  lifted  up,  provided  with  energy,  and 
enabled  to  fall  again  ;  that  the  potential  chemical  energy 
of  metallic  lead  did  not  originate  in  the  lead,  hut  is 
energy  or  phlogiston  transferred  thereto  from  the  char¬ 
coal  by  which  it  was  smelted ;  and,  lastly,  that  the  che¬ 
mical  energy  of  the  charcoal  itself,  its  capability  of 
burning,  its  power  of  doing  work, — in  one  word,  its 
phlogiston  is  merely  a  portion  of  energy  appropriated 
directly  from  the  solar  rays  F 

If  this  be  a  correct  interpretation  of  the  phlogistic 
doctrine,  it  is  evident  that  the  Stahlians,  though  igno¬ 
rant  of  much  that  has  since  become  known,  were  never¬ 
theless  cognizant  of  much  that  became  afterwards  for¬ 
gotten.  For  most  of  what  has  since  become  known, 
mankind  are  indebted  to  the  surpassing  genius  of  La¬ 
voisier  ;  but  the  truth  which  he  established,  alike  with 
that  which  ho  subverted,  is  now  recognizable  as  a  partial 
truth  only ;  and  the  merit  of  his  generalization  is  now 
perceived  to  consist  in  its  addition  to — its  demerit  to 
consist  in  its  supersession  of — the  not  less  grand  gene¬ 
ralization  established  by  his  scarcely  remembered  prede¬ 
cessors.  This  being  so,  the  relationship  to  one  another 
of  the  Stahlian  and  Lavoisierian  theories  of  combustion 
furnishes  an  apt  illustration  of  the  general  truth  set 
forth  by  a  great  modern  writer,  that  “in  the  human 
mind  one-sidedness  has  always  been  the  rule,  and  many- 
sidedness  the  exception.  Hence,  even  in  revolutions  of 
opinion,  one  part  of.  the  truth  usually  sets  while  another 
rises.  Even  progress,  which  ought  to  superadd,  for  the 
most  part  only  substitutes  one  partial  and  incomplete 
truth  for  another;  improvement  consisting  chiefly  in 
this,  that  the  new  fragment  of  truth  is  more  wanted, 
more  adapted  to  the  needs  of  the  time,  than  that  which 
it  displaces.” 

The  partial  truth  contributed  by  Lavoisier  was  indeed 
more  wanted,  more  adapted  to  the  needs  of  the  time, 
than  the  partial  truth  which  it  displaced.  To  him  che¬ 
mists  are  indebted  for  their  present  conception  of  mate¬ 
rial  elements  ;  and  especially  for  their  knowledge  of  the 
part  played  by  the  air  in  the  phenomena  of  combustion, 
whereby  oxygenated  compounds  are  produced.  The  phlo- 
gistians,  indeed,  were  not  unaware  of  the  necessity  of 
air  to  combustion,  but,  being  ignorant  of  the  nature  of 
air,  were  necessarily  ignorant  of  the  function  which  it 
fulfilled.  To  burn  and  to  throw  off  phlogiston  being 
with  them  synonymous  expressions,  the  air  was  con¬ 
ceived  to  act  by  somehow  or  other  enabling  the  combus¬ 
tible  to  throw  its  phlogiston  oft’ ;  and  a  current  of  air 
was  conceived  to  promote  combustion  by  enabling  the 
combustible  to  throw  its  phlogiston  off  more  easily. 
Moreover,  contact  of  air  was  not  essential  to  combustion, 
provided  there  was  present  instead  some  substance,  such 
as  nitre,  which  equally  with,  or  even  more  effectively 
than  air,  could  enable  the  combustible  to  discharge  itseif 
of  phlogiston.  But  while  the  phlogistians,  on  the  one 
hand,  were  unaware  that  the  burnt  product  differed  from 
the  original  combustible  otherwise  than  as  ice  differs  from 
water,  by  loss  of  energy;  Lavoisier,  on  the  other  hand, 
disregarded  the  notion  of  energy,  and  showed  that  the 
burnt  product  included  not  only  the  stuff  of  the  combus¬ 
tible,  but  also  the  stuff  of  the  oxygen  it  had  absorbed  in 
the  burning.  But,  as  well  observed  by  Dr.  Crum- 
Brown,  we  now  know  “that  no  compound  contains  the 
substances  from  which  it  was  produced,  but  that  it 
contains  them  minus  something.  We  now  know  what 
this  something  is,  and  can  give  it  the  more  appropriate 
name  of  potential  energy ;  but  there  can  be  no  doubt 
that  this  is  what  the  chemists  of  the  seventeenth  cen¬ 
tury  meant  when  they  spoke  of  phlogiston.” 

Accordingly,  the  phlogistic  and  antiphlogistic  views 
are  in  reality  complementary,  and  not,  as  suggested  by 
their  names  and  usually  maintained,  antagonistic  to  one 
another.  It  has  been  said,  for  example,  that,  according 
to  Stahl,  the  product  of  combustion  is  simple,  and  the 
combustible  a  compound  of  the  product  with  imaginary 
phlogiston,  which  is  false ;  whereas,  according  to  La¬ 


voisier,  the  combustible  is  simple,  and  the  product  a 
compound  of  the  combustible  with  actual  oxygen,  which 
is  true.  But  in  this  case,  as  in  so  many  others,  every¬ 
thing  turns  upon  the  use  of  the  same  word  in  a  different 
sense  at  different  periods  of  time.  When  Lavoisier 
spoke  of  red  lead  as  being  metallic  lead  combined  with 
oxygen,  ho  meant  that  the  matter  or  stuff  of  the  red  load 
consisted  of  the  matter  or  stuff'  of  lead  plus  the  matter  or 
stuff  of  oxygen.  But  when  the  Stahlians  spoke  of  me¬ 
tallic  lead  being  burnt  load  combined  with  phlogiston, 
they  had  the  same  sort  of  idea  of  combination  in  this 
instance  as  others  have  expressed  by  saying  that  the- 
weight  of  a  body  is  compounded  of  its  matter  and  its 
gravity;  or  that  steam  is  a  compound  of  water  and 
heat ;  or,  to  use  a  yet  more  Lavoisierian  expression,  that 
oxygen  gas  itself  is  a  compound  of  the  basis  of  oxygen 
with  caloric.  It  is  not,  then,  that  the  one  statement, 
Stahlian  or  Lavoisierian,  is  false  and  the  other  true,  but 
that  both  of  them  are  distorted,  because  incomplete. 
Chemists  nowadays  are  both  Stahlian  and  Lavoisierian 
in  their  notions ;  or  have  regard  both  to  energy  and 
matter.  But  Lavoisierian  ideas  still  interfere  very  little 
with  our  use  of  the  Stahlian  language.  While  we  ac¬ 
knowledge  that  in  the  act  of  burning  the  combustible  and 
the  oxygen  take  equal  part,  just  as  in  the  act  of  falling- 
the  weight  and  the  earth  take  equal  part,  yet  in  our 
common  language  we  alike  disregard  the  abundant 
atmosphere  and  abundant  earth  as  being  necessarily 
understood,  and  speak  only  of  the  energy  of  the  com¬ 
bustible  and  of  the  weight,  which  burn  and  fall  respec¬ 
tively.  Whatever  may  be  the  fault  of  language,  how¬ 
ever,  chemists  do  not  omit  to  superpose  the  Lavoisierian 
on  the  Stahlian  notion.  They  recognize  fully  that  it  is- 
by  the  union  of  the  combustible  with  oxygen  that  phlo¬ 
giston  is  dissipated  in  the  form  of  heat ;  and  further, 
that  phlogiston  can  only  be  restored  to  the  burnt  com¬ 
bustible  on  condition  of  separating  the  combustible  from 
the  oxygen  with  which  it  has  united;  just  as  energy  of 
position  can  only  be  restored  to  a  fallen  weight  on  con¬ 
dition  of  separating  it  to  a  distance  from  the  surface  on. 
which  it  lias  fallen. 

That  Stahl  and  his  followers  regarded  phlogiston  as  a 
material  substance,  if  they  did  so  regard  it,  should  inter¬ 
fere  no  more  with  our  recognition  of  the  merit  due  to* 
their  doctrine,  than  the  circumstance  of  Black  and  La¬ 
voisier  regarding  caloric  as  a  material  substance,  if  they 
did  so  regard  it,  should  interfere  with  our  recognition  of 
the  merit  due  to  the  doctrine  of  latent  heat.  But  though 
defining  phlogiston  as  the  principle  or  matter  of  fire,  it 
is  not  at  all  clear  that  the  phlogistians  considered  this- 
matter  of  fire  as  constituting  a  real  body  or  ponderable 
substance  ;  but  rather  that  they  thought  and  spoke  of  it 
as  many  philosophers  nowadays  think  and  speak  of  the 
electric  fluid  and  luminiferous  ether.  The  nondescript 
character,  properly  ascribable  to  phlogiston,  is  indicated 
by  the  following  quotation  taken  from  Macquer’s  ‘Ele¬ 
ment  de  Chymie  Theorique,’  1749.  It  must  not,  of 
course,  be  forgotten  that  the  popular  impression  as  te 
phlogiston  having  been  conceived  by  its  advocates  as  a. 
material  substance  having  a  negative  weight  or  levity,  is 
erroneous ;  and  is  based  on  an  innovation  that  was  intro¬ 
duced  during  the  struggling  decadence  of  the  phlogistic 
theory,  and  advocated  more  particularly  by  Lavoisier’s 
subsequent  colleague,  Guyton  de  Morveau,  in  his  ‘  Dis¬ 
sertation  sur  le  Phlogistique,  considere  comme  Corps 
grave,  et  par  rapport  aux  changemens  de  pesanteur  qu’il 
produit  dans  les  corps  auxqu els  il  est  uni,’  1762.  Mac- 
quer  writes  as  follows  : — ■ 

“  La  matiere  du  soleil,  ou  de  la  lumiere,  le  phlogis¬ 
tique,  le  feu,  le  soufre  principe,  la  matiere  inflammable, 
sont  tous  les  norns  par  lcsquels  on  a  coutumo  de  designer 
1’ clement  du  Feu.  Mais  il  paroit  qu’on  n’a  pas  fait  une 
distinction  assez  exacte  .  .  .  .  du  nom  qu’il  merite.  ven- 
tablement  lorsqu’il  entre  effectivement  comme  principe- 
dans  la  composition  d’un  corps,  ou  bicn  lorsqu’il  est  seul 
et  dans  son  etat  naturel.  Si  on  1’ envisage  sous  ccttc 


•Jane  3,  1571.] 


TIIE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS.  9S1 


•dcrnicre  vue,  le  nom  do  Feu,  de  matiere  du  soleil,  de  la 
lumiere  et  de  la  chaleur,  lui  convient  particulierement. 
Pour  lors,  e’est  une  substance  que  l’on  peut  considerer 
comme  composee  de  particules  infiniment  petites,  qui 
■sont  agitces  par  un  mouvement  tres-rapide  ct  continuel, 
par  consequent  esscntiellement  fluide.  Cette  substance, 
■dont  le  soleil  cst  comme  le  reservoir  general,  s’en  emane 
perpetuellement,  et  est  repandue  universellement  dans 
toils  les  corps  quo  nous  connoissons ;  maisnon  pas  comme 
principe  ou  essentielle  a  leur  mixtion,  puisqu’on  peut  les 
en  priver,  dumoins  en  grande  partic,  sans  qu’ils  soutfrent 
pour  cela  la  moindre  decomposition.  .  .  .  Cependant  les 
phenomenes  que  presentent  les  matieres  inflammables 
lorsqu’elles  brulent,  nous  indiquent  qu’ellcs  contiennent 
xeellement  la  matiere  du  Feu  comme  un  de  leurs  prin- 
■cipes.  .  .  .  Examinons  done  les  proprietes  de  ce  feu  fixe, 
■et  devenu  principe  des  corps.  C'est  lui  auquel  nous 
donnerons  particulierement  le  nom  de  matiere  inflam¬ 
mable,  du  soufre  principe,  ou  de  Phlogistique,  pour  le 
•distinguer  du  Feu  pur.” 

Again,  much  the  same  tiling  is  to  be  found  in  Baume’s 
x  Manuel  de  Chymie,’  1765  :  as  for  example  : — 

“Nous  considerons  le  feu  sous  deux  etats  differens. 
Lorsqu’il  est  pur,  isole,  et  qu’il  ne  fait  partie  d’aucun 
■compose  ....  Lorsqu’il  est  combine  avec  d’autres  sub¬ 
stances,  et  qu’il  fait  un  des  principes  constituans  des 
corps  composes  ....  On  n’est  pas  certain  si  le  feu  est 
jpesant.  II  y  a  des  experiences  pour  et  contre.  .  .  . 

“  Pendant  la  combustion  des  substances,  le  feu  com¬ 
bine  se  reduit  en  feu  eleincntaire,  et  se  dissipe  a  mesure. 
Le  celeb  re  Boerbaave  n’est  cependant  pas  de  ce  senti¬ 
ment  ;  il  dit  que  si  cela  etoit,  la  quantite  de  feu  elemen- 
taire  devroit  augmenter  a  l’infini  dans  la  nature.  .  .  . 
Mais  il  est  facile  do  repondre  a  cette  objection,  en  disant 
comme  on  est  en  droit  de  le  presum er,  que  le  feu  ele- 
mentaire,  degage  des  corps,  se  combine  a  mesure  avec 
dlautrcs  substances,  et  qu’il  perd  toutes  ses  proprietes  do 
feu  libre,  en  devenant  principe  constituant  des  corps,  dans 
la  composition  desquels  il  entre.  .  .  .  Le  principe  dont 
nous  entendons  parler  ici,  est  celui  que  Stahl  a  nomine 
gphlogistiquc  ” 

In  interpreting  the  above  and  other  phlogistic  writings 
by  the  light  of  modern  doctrine,  it  is  not  meant  to  attri¬ 
bute  to  their  several  authors  the  precise  notion  of  energy 
"that  now  prevails.  It  is  contended  only  that  the  phlo- 
g'istians  had,  in  their  time,  possession  of  a  real  truth  in 
nature  which,  altogether  lost  sight  of  in  the  intermediate 
period,  has  since  crystallized  out  in  a  definite  form.  “  I 
trust,”  said  Beecher,  “  that  I  have  got  hold  of  my  pitcher 
by  the  right  handle.”  And  what  he  and  his  followers  got 
hold  of  and  retained  so  tenaciously,  though  it  may  be 
fihiftingly  and  ignorantly,  we  now  hold  to  knowingly, 
definitely  and  quantitatively,  as  part  and  parcel  of  the 
grandest  generalization  in  science  that  has  ever  yet  been 
established. 


BRITISH  PHARMACEUTICAL  CONFERENCE. 

Meeting  of  Executive  Committee  at  17,  BLOOMS¬ 
BURY  SQUARE. 

Mag  1 6th,  1871. 

Present — Messrs.  Williams  (in  the  chair),  Brady,  Car- 
ieighe,  Groves,  Mackay,  Martindalc,  Matthews,  Schacht, 
Attfield  and  Reynolds  (Secretaries),  and  Collins  (Assis¬ 
tant-Secretary). 

‘  Year  Book  of  Pharmacy  for  1871.’ — Arrangements 
were  made  for  printing  and  publishing  the  second  an¬ 
nual  volume  in  the  autumn  of  the  present  year. 

Distribution  of  the  1  Year  Book .’ — After  due  delibera¬ 
tion,  and  the  consideration  of  opinions  expressed  by  se¬ 
veral  local  secretaries,  the  Committee  resolved  to  distri¬ 
bute  the  next  ‘  Year  Book  ’  by  post  only.  The  Secretaries 
were  instructed,  in  collecting  the  annual  subscription 
•of  five  shillings,  to  ask  for  an  additional  sixpence  to 
cover  cost  of  delivery  of  the  volume,  and  to  request  all 


members  to  accept  this  rule  in  order  to  avoid  the  expense 
of  salaries  to  clerks  and  messengers.  The  Committee  con¬ 
sidered  that  by  thus  devoting  nearly  the  whole  of  the 
funds  to  the  production  of  the  ‘  Year  Book,’  a  complete, 
efficient  and  inexpensive  manual  would  be  obtained, 
which  would  always  be  found  to  be  indispensable  as  a 
desk  companion  for  the  year,  and  an  invaluable  perma¬ 
nent  work  of  reference  for  every  chemist  and  druggist. 

Presentation  Copies  of  the  ‘  Year  Book'- — The  Secretaries 
reported  that  sixteen  books  had  been  sent  to  the  leading 
lil  >raries  and  journals  of  pharmacy  in  Europe  and  Ame¬ 
rica.  Resolved,  that  a  copy  be  forwarded  to  every 
English  provincial  Pharmaceutical  Association  possess¬ 
ing  a  library. 

The  “  Bell  and  Hills  ”  Fund. — The  Secretaries  stated 
that  ten  guineas’  worth  of  books  had  been  presented  to 
the  library  of  the  Chemists’  Association  at  Liverpool, 
and  had  been  duly  acknowledged. 

Few  Members. — In  view  of  the  continuous  annual 
publication  of  the  ‘  Year  Book,’  the  Secretaries  were 
ordered  to  issue  a  circular,  requesting  every  member  to 
obtain  one  or  more  new  members,  and  otherwise  to  endea¬ 
vour  to  increase  the  numerical  strength  of  the  Con¬ 
ference. 

Candidates  for  Membership—  The  following  were  elected 
members  of  the  Conference  : — 

Anderson,  J.,  Edinburgh  ;  Babtie,  J.,  Dumbarton  ; 
Baker,  A.  P.,  London ;  Baker,  F.  B.,  London ;  Barratt, 
J.,  London;  Berry, W.,  Bristol;  Birch,  H.  C.,  London; 
Brearey,  W.  A.,  Isle  of  Man ;  Brodie,  R.,  Glasgow ; 
Buchanan,  D.,  Greenock;  Buchanan,  Dr.  J.  D.,  Glas¬ 
gow;  Butten,  J.,  Rangoon;  Clarke,  A.  Id.,  London; 
Colclough,  W.,  London ;  Collett,  C.  B.,  Exeter ;  Cowan, 
Professor,  Glasgow. ;  Cuff,  R.  C.,  Bristol ;  Dunn,  J., 
Selkirk ;  Evans,  I).  0.,  Halstead ;  Evans,  W.,  Liverpool; 
Fairgricve,  T.,  Edinburgh;  Fowler,  W.  R.,  Spilsby ; 
Fiaser,  J.,  Inverness  ;  Gilmour,  W.,  Edinburgh  ;  Grif¬ 
fith,  R.,  Slough;  Hammond,  C.  T.,  Hull;  Hart,  J., 
Manchester ;  Hart,  W.,  Bolton  ;  Hartley,  W.,  St.  An¬ 
drews  ;  Henderson,  W.  P.,  Dundee;  Hewitt,  G.,  Kid¬ 
derminster  ;  Hodgkinson,  AY.,  London ;  Hothersall,  J., 
Bolton;  Hughes,  J.  T.,  Altrincham;  Hurst,  J.  B., 
Louth;  Jackson,  A.  II.,  Manchester;  Jackson,  J.  P., 
London;  Johnson,  A.,  Rotherham;  Jones,  M.,  Flint; 
Laird,  G.  II.,  Edinburgh ;  Leigh,  J.  J.,  Bishop  Auck¬ 
land  ;  Longley,  G.,  Stockport ;  Mackenzie,  — ,  Glasgow ; 
Mackenzie,  J., Edinburgh;  Mackey,  — , London;  Mackill, 
R.  C.,  Hamilton ;  Macpherson,  A.,  Stornoway ;  Maitland, 
J.  E.,  London  ;  Maxwell,  G.  N.,  Northampton  ;  Mitehin, 
F.,  London ;  Moffatt,  Dr.  R.  C.,  Glasgow  ;  Napier,  A., 
Edinburgh  ;  New,  T.  C.,  Manchester;  Niven,  AY.,  Edin¬ 
burgh  ;  Paine,  C.,  Wrexham  ;  Palmer,  A.  N.,  Bury  St. 
Edmunds ;  Parkin,  C.,  Doncaster ;  Pasmore,  G.,  Ports¬ 
mouth  ;  Peake,  II.  F.,  Twickenham ;  Peters,  J.,  London ; 
Pond,  B.  C.,  London ;  Porrett,  G.  W.,  Scarborough ; 
Pote,  S.  R.,  Exeter ;  Prince,  A.  G.,  Longton ;  Procter, 
Dr.  W.,  York  ;  Sang,  E.,  Edinburgh ;  Selkirk,  J.,  Edin¬ 
burgh  ;  Slater,  AY.  II.,  Romsey  ;  Smith,  A.,  Edinburgh ; 
Stewart,  J.,  Hamilton;  Swift,  F.,  Spalding  ;  Symons,  W., 
Barnstaple  ;  Taylor,  C.,  Liverpool ;  Taylor,  AY.,  Hey- 
wood;  Taylor,  AY.  G.,  Nuneaton;  Vennall,  G.,  Cran- 
leigh  ;  AYarrior,  II.,  Northallerton  ;  AVilliams,  R.,  Man¬ 
chester  ;  AYoodburn,  Dr.  J.  C.,  Glasgow ;  AYoolley,  G., 
Nottingham;  AYynne,  E.  P.,  Stratford-on-Avon;  Young, 
P.,  Dundee. 


CHEMICAL  SOCIETY". 

Mag  18 th. — Professor  Frankland,  F.R.S.,  President, 
in  the  chair.  Messrs.  T.  Greenish  and  J.  E.  Mayall 
were  elected  Fellows.  The  following  papers  were  read  : — 
“  On  a  New  Double  Salt  of  Thallium,”  by  R.  J.  Friswell. 
The  author,  wishing  to  prepare  platinocyanide,  mixed 
hot  solutions  of  thallic  carbonate  and  potassic  platino- 
cyanide,  and  obtained,  on  leaving  the  mixture  to  cool, 
masses  of  splendid  crystals,  which  appeared  by  trans- 


9S2 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[Jane  3, 1871. 


mitted  light  of  a  magnificent  crimson-red,  whilst  their 
reflected  colour  was  a  hronzy  green  of  strong  metallic 
lustre.  Analysis  showed  that  they  are  a  compound  of 
thallic  carbonate  with  thallic  platinocyanide  Tl2PtCy4, 
CO  T1o2.  On  treating  this  salt  with  acids,  carbonic  acid 
is  set  free,  and  a  pale  pink  residue  left,  which,  on  exa¬ 
mination,  was  found  to  he  thallic  platinocyanide.  The 
next  paper  read  was  “  On  the  Action  of  Nitric  Acid  on 
Dichlorophcnolsulphuric  Acid,”  by  Dr.  Armstrong. 


gfotcs  ira)>  Queries. 


***  In  order  to  facilitate  reference ,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  their  answers  in  each  case  with  the  title 
and  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

Ho  notice  can  he  taken  of  anonymous  communications „ 
All  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 


MEETINGS  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 
Wednesday  ...London  Institution,  at  2  p.m. — Distribution 


June  7.  of  Prizes  and  Certificates  by  the  President, 

Thomas  Baring,  Esq.,  M.P. 

Friday  . Quekett  Club,  at  8  p.m. 

June  9.  ltoyal  Botanic  Society,  at  4  p.m. — “  Economic 

Botany.”  By  Professor  Bentley. 
Saturday . Royal  Botanic  Society,  at  3.45  p.m. 


VACANCIES  AND  APPOINTMENTS  IN  CONNEC¬ 
TION  WITH  PHARMACY. 

The  Editor  will  be  glad  to  receive  early  notice  of  any 
vacancies  of  pharmaceutical  offices  connected  with  public 
institutions,  and  likewise  of  appointments  that  are  made, — 
in  order  that  they  may  be  published  regularly  in  the  Journal. 

APPOINTMENT. 

Mr.  Edwin  Eoy  has  been  appointed  Dispenser  at  her  Ma¬ 
jesty’s  Prison  at  Dartmouth. 


farJiittutntarj  aitir  flato  fwmMngs. 

Poisoning  by  Prussic  Acid. 

On  Tuesday,  an  inquiry  was  held  at  St.  George’s  Hos¬ 
pital  respecting  the  death  of  Mr.  Russell  Goldie,  the 
secretary  and  superintendent  of  the  institution.  It  ap¬ 
peared  from  the  evidence  adduced  that  the  deceased  had 
been  in  the  habit  of  taking  prussic  acid  to  allay  a  cer¬ 
tain  pain  from  which  he  was  suffering.  On  Sunday 
morning  he  went  up  to  his  room  in  the  hospital.  He 
said  he  was  unwell,  and  complained  of  a  pain  in  the  side. 
After  drinking  a  cup  of  tea,  he  lay  down  on  the  couch 
and  said  he  did  not  wish  to  be  disturbed.  About  two 
o’clock  in  the  afternoon  the  assistant  secretary  found  him 
lying  on  the  couch  quite  cold  and  dead.  On  the  table 
■was  a  bottle  which  had  contained  prussic  acid  and  cam¬ 
phor.  Mr.  John  F.  Boyes,  Gloucester  Crescent,  Regent’s 
Park,  said  he  had  known  deceased  for  many  years. 
"When  he  had  been  with  him  he  had  often  thought  his 
breath  smelt  of  prussic  acid  or  laudanum.  Witness  had 
charged  him,  as  a  friend,  with  taking  prussic  acid,  and 
deceased  on  one  occasion  said,  “  My  dear  friend,  if  you 
suffered  the  pain  I  do,  you  would  bo  glad  enough  to  take 
anything  to  allay  it.”  Mr.  Thomas  Jones,  resident  me¬ 
dical  officer  of  the  hospital,  said  ho  saw  the  deceased 
alive  on  Saturday.  He  then  appeared  very  nervous  and 
excited,  and  said  to  witness  the  cause  of  his  condition 
was  through  certain  annoyance  and  the  hospital  work. 
He  died  from  the  effects  of  prussic  acid.  The  coroner 
having  summed  up,  the  jury  returned  a  verdict  that 
the  deceased  was  accidentally  poisoned  by  taking  an  over¬ 
dose  of  prussic  acid. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  May  27;  the ‘Medical  Times  and  Gazette,’ 
May  27;  the  ‘  Lancet,’ May  27;  the  ‘Medical  Press  and  Cir¬ 
cular,’  May  31;  ‘Nature,’  May  27;  the  ‘Chemical  News,’ 
May  26;  ‘Gardeners’  Chronicle,’  May  27;  ‘Journal  of  the 
Society  of  Arts,’  May  27;  the  ‘Grocer,’  May  27;  ‘Produce 
Markets  Review,’  May  27  ;  the  ‘English  Mechanic,’  May  27  ; 
‘Journal  of  the  Chemical  Society  ’  for  May ;  the  ‘  Canadian 
Pharmaceutical  Journal’  for  May;  Ihe  ‘Chicago  Pharma¬ 
cist  ’  for  May ;  the  1  Leavenworth  Medical  Herald  and  Journal 
of  Pharmacy’  for  May;  the  ‘British  Journal  of  Dental 
Science  ’  for  J uue. 


BORAX  AND  BLACKBEETLES. — We  have  received 
a  considerable  amount  of  correspondence  upon  the  question) 
whether  the  use  of  borax  as  a  beetle-powder  is  followed: 
by  the  extirpation  of  those  household  pests.  Most  of 
our  correspondents  deny  its  efficicy.  Professor  Tomlinson, 
to  whose  letter,  under  the  signature  of  “  T.,”  we  in  a  re¬ 
cent  number  appended  a  note  pointing  out  that  there  was 
diversity  of  opinion  upon  the  subject,  informs  us  that  he 
tried  the  recommendation  of  H.  C.  B.,  and  sprinkled 
powdered  borax  in  the  haunts  of  the  beetles,  but  without 
success,  lie  therefore  resolved  to  decide  the  matter  by  ex¬ 
periment  upon  a  captured  blackbeetle,  particulars  of  which, 
he  has  kindly  forwarded  to  us.  The  conclusions  at  which 
he  arrived  ivere — “  (1)  that  powdered  borax  is  not  a  poison 
to  the  blackbeetle  ;  (2)  that  it  does  not  act  by  any  sup¬ 
posed  odour  on  the  beetle, — the  beetle,  on  the  contrary, 
gives  a  powerful  odour  to  the  borax  and  to  his  prison-house 
(3)  the  pounded  borax  does  seem  to  annoy  the  beetle  by  its- 
mechanical  action,  clinging  to  his  limbs  and  making  him  un- 
comfortable ;  (4)  the  beetle  is  under  no  permanent  delusions 
as  to  the  powdered  borax — he  tasted  it  and  did  not  like  it, 
he  got  it  about  his  person  and  cleaned  it  off,  and  avoided  ia 
as  far  as  his  narrow  prison  would  allow.  In  conclusion,  L 
must  express  my  opin'on.  that  powdered  borax  is  quite  useless- 
in  getting  iid  of  b’a  kbeetles.” 

Another  correspondent  (“  Obrera”),  who  has  experimented 
with  borax  and  found  it  inefficacious,  has  also  tried  red  lead, 
flour  and  sugar  without  result,  in  consequence,  he  thinks,  of 
the  beetles  declining  to  cat  the  mixture.  He  says  that  a  mix¬ 
ture  of  strong  ammonia  with  two  or  three  times  its  bulk  of  hob 
water  has  a  very  quick  effect.  He  has  known  a  large  beetle 
to  be  killed  by  receiving  two  or  three  drops  of  it  on  the 
head.  He  suggests  that  the  solution  should  be  injected  late 
at  night  through  the  crannies  which  the  beetles  are  known  to> 
traverse.  He  has  not  found  liquid  carbolic  acid  to  have- 
much  effect  upon  them;  but  the  carbolic  acid  powder  seems, 
to  clog  their  feet,  and  permit  the  vapour  to  reach  their  brain 
organism  before  they  can  escape  from  it. 

On  the  other  hand,  “A  Country  Chemist ”  writes  : — “A 
grocer  in  this  city  about  two  years  since,  having  great  numbers- 
of  these  pests  about  his  pi’emises,  tried  various  articles  which, 
wo  were  then  selling  as  ‘  beetle  poisons,’  but  with  little  bene¬ 
ficial  result.  U pon  the  recommendation  of  a  wholesale  biscuit 
manufacturer,  who  assured  him  that  powdered  borax  kept 
their  place  quite  clear  of  these  vermin,  he  purchased  an 
ounce  of  me,  which  he  found  to  be  a  certain  cure.  We, 
therefore,  tried  it  on  our  own  premises,  and,  finding  it  to  an¬ 
swer,  have  ever  since  sold  it  as  ‘  beetle  powder  ’  without  a 
single  complaint  against  its  efficacy.” 

“  Give  and  Take,”  whose  query  has  brought  forth  such 
differences  of  opinion,  suggests  that  the  question  of  the  best 
way  to  exterminate  these  and  similar  household  pests  is 
worthy  of  more  attention  than  it  has  hitherto  received,  espe¬ 
cially  from  those  who  are  students  in  the  science  of  entomo¬ 
logy.  Our  correspondent  seems  to  complain  that,  by  the  use 
of  the  word  “  borax”  instead  of  “  sod®  biboras,”  in  our 
‘  Notes  and  Queries’  column,  we  have  enabled  other  journals 
to  publish  what,  if  it  had  been  what  it  professed  to  be,  ought 
to  have  bee-n  regarded  somewhat  in  the  light  of  a  trade  secret. 
Even  if  we  were  prepared  to  endorse  such  an  opinion, — which- 
would  be  equivalent  to  supposing  that  none  but  chemists 
know'  that  the  terms  are  synonymous, — we  could  not  plead 
guilty  to  the  charge,  as  the  paragraph  which  has  been  going 
the  round  of  the  papers  was  taken  from  an  American  source* 
and  generally  acknowledged  as  such. 

[231.]— BEETLE  POWDER.— I  have  found  that  com¬ 
mon  red  wafers,  such  as  are  used  for  letters,  placed  in  the 
haunts  of  beetles,  are  very  useful  in  getting  rid  of  these 
troublesome  pests.  I  have  also  successfully  used  a  mixture 
of  plaster  of  Paris  and  oatmeal,  equal  parts,  and  about  one- 
fourth  of  sugar. — J.  N.  M. 


June  3,  1S71.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


9S3 


Cflrrcspniitntt. 

***  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

The  Benevolent  Fund. 

Sir, — I  was  much  surprised  to  see  that  a  suggestion  had 
been  made  at  the  annual  meeting  that  “it  would  be  ad¬ 
vantageous  to  add  a  separate  column  to  the  Calendar,  show¬ 
ing  the  subscription,  or  lack  of  subscription,  of  each  of  the 
pnembers  ”  to  the  Benevolent  Fund.  It  is  a  fertile  idea,  and 
might  be  worked  by  promoters  of  local  charities  and  sectarian 
leaders  until  all  spontaneity  were  eliminated  from  our  charity 
sand  our  giving  became  a  mere  matter  of  coercion.  Surely 
the  asterisks  of  the  Calendar  are  all  that — if  not  somewhat 
more  than — could  be  desired.  To  me  it  is  questionable  what 
moral  right  any  person  has  to  advertise  my  not  subscribing 
to  any  particular  charity.  AVhence  the  authority  of  the 
■censors  ? 

To  the  utmost  I  would  support  the  proposition  that  it  is 
the  duty  of  every  man  to  devote  a  liberal  poition  of  his  in¬ 
come  to  charitable  purposes ;  but  I  would  equally  oppose  the 
interference  of  any  one  in  the  manner  of  ils  allocation.  No 
man  should  be  branded  for  electing  to  be  the  almoner  of  his 
own  bounty. 

Charity  is  such  an  evident  outflow  of  Christianity  that  it 
is  difficult  to  discuss  any  branch  of  it  without  recalling  the 
admonition  of  its  Founder  that  “  alms  should  be  in  secret.” 
In  this  spirit  the  suggestion  might,  perhaps,  be  tolerated 
that,  while  it  is  highly  desirable  that  subscribers  should  in¬ 
crease  their  subscriptions,  and  that  every  member  should 
become  a  subscriber,  it  is  not  advisable  that  any  names  should 
be  published. 

Is  there  so  little  of  principle  and  so  much  of  policy  in  our 
giving  that  a  half-crown  subscription  must  be  published  all 
■over  the  country  ?  In  modern  times  we  have  so  improved 
upon  the  ancient  sect  that  we  “  sound  the  trumpet”  of  our 
promises  before  us  and  advertise  our  subscriptions  afterwards. 
We  no  longer  “do  good  by  stealth,”  nor  “blush  to  find  it 
fame.”  Henricus. 

May  22nd,  1871. 


Poison  Regulations. 

Sir, — When  the  Council  agreed  to  submit  the  po:son  regu¬ 
lations  as  a  code  for  voluntary  adoption,  a  “  tacit  understand¬ 
ing”  arose  that  they  would  not  be  submitted  to  the  vote  of 
the  meeting  as  a  compulsory  code.  I  need  not  say  more,  for 
those  who  have  read  your  last  number  know  all  the  rest. 

Barnard  S.  Proctor. 


Sir, — I  was  apprenticed  in  the  country,  the  business  a 
mixed  wholesale  and  retail.  I  have  lived  in  situations  both 
in  country  and  town  I  have  been  in  my  present  house  thirty 
years,  and  have  been  connected  with  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  from  the  year  of  its  formation,  but  cannot  recollect  a 
single  case  of  poisoning  that  would  not  have  been  prevented 
by  the  most  simple  precaution. 

Education  will  give  knowledge  of  drugs  and  doses,  but 
will  not  prevent  absence  of  mind.  It  is  reported  of  one  of 
our  greatest  men  that,  instead  of  applying  his  lady’s  hand  to 
his  lips,  he  once  used  the  little  finger  of  it  as  a  tobacco-stopper. 
The  best,  because  the  most  simple,  precaution  that  I  have 
.read  of,  is  a  band  of  colour,  equally  applicable  to  the  most 
carefully  conducted  dispensing  establishment  or  the  most 
carelessly  kept  country  warehouse;  in  the  one  case  by  a  solu¬ 
tion  of  sealing-wax  in  spirit  round  the  neck  and  under  the 
lip  of  the  bottle,  and  in  the  other  by  a  paint  brush  round  the 
top  of  the  arsenic  cask.  We  should  not  again  hear  of  arsenic 
being  substituted  for  gypsum  in  lozenges,  or  strychnia  for 
salicm  in  powders.  I  voted  yesterday  for  the  “recommenda¬ 
tions  ”  of  the  Council  being  made  “regulations,”  but  I  fear 
if  they  become  law  this  plan  becomes  illegal,  as  the  bottles, 
etc.,  are  neither  tied  over,  capped  or  locked,  rendeied  distin¬ 
guishable  by  touch  or  necessarily  kept  apart.  I  should  regret 
this,  and  therefore  make  my  remonstrance  while  it  is  still 
©pen  to  the  Council  to  consider  it. 

J.  M.  IIucrleeridge. 

116,  Ebtiry  Street,  Eaton  Square,  S.W., 

May  1  Qth,  1871. 


The  Register  op  Chemists  and  Druggists. 

Sir, — As  Mr.  Wiggin,  who  addresses  a  question  to  me  in 
this  week’s  Journal,  was  present  at  the  meeting  when  I  made 
the  statement  the  accuracy  of  which  he  doubts,  I  regret  he 
did  not  save  his  own  as  well  as  my  time  by  putting  the  query 
then  ;  had  he  done  so,  I  should  have  felt  great  pleasure,  with 
the  kind  permission  of  our  “active  Registrar,”  in  giving  him 
ocular  demonstration  that  I  had  not  made  an  assertion  I  was 
unable  to  substantiate.  If  Mr.  Wiggin  will,  on  his  next 
visit  to  Bloomsbury  Square,  ask  our  mutual  friend  the  “active 
Registrar”  for  a  view  of  returned  circulars,  his  incredulity 
will,  I  think,  at  once  be  put  to  flight. 

As  Mr.  Wiggin  is  evidently  anxious  that,  so  fur  as  Ipswich 
at  least  is  concerned,  all  matters  should  be  found  correct,  I 
venture  to  draw  his  attention  to  one  oversight  on  his  part, 
which  doubtless  he  will  take  an  early  opportunity  of  rectifying. 
I  refer  to  the  utmost  entire  absence  of  Ipswich  from  the  list 
of  contributors  to  the  Benevolent  Fund.  Should  the  Council 
think  well  to  adopt  my  suggestion  of  publishing  the  subscrip¬ 
tions  against  each  name  in  the  Calendar,  I  regret  to  say  Mr. 
Wiggin  and  his  charge  would  be  found  wanting. 

As  Mr.  W.  may  be  anxious  to  know  my  authority  for 
stating  this  fact,  I  refer  him  to  the  Calendar  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society  for  1871,  and  to  the  Pharmaceutical 
Journal  of  the  13th  instant.  Edwin  B.  Vizer. 

63,  Lupus  Street,  Belqracia  South, 

May  21th,  1871. 


The  late  Election  of  Council. 

Sir. — Will  you  permit  me,  through  your  columns,  very 
sincerely  to  thank  the  719  members  'who  recorded  their  votes 
in  my  favour  at  the  Annual  Meeting  on  the  17th  inst.  The 
result  is  highly  satisfactory  to  me,  being  only  three  votes  be¬ 
low  Air.  Sandford,  the  late  President.  I  should  have  been 
exceedingly  sorry  to  have  displaced  that  gentleman,  and 
thereby  deprive  the  Society  of  his  valuable  services.  I  trust, 
however,  at  some  future  time,  to  have  a  seat  on  the  Council, 
when  I  shall  have  more  time  and  leisure  to  attend  to  its  im¬ 
portant  duties. 

In  the  meantime,  let  me  urge  on  the  great  body  of  che¬ 
mists  to  secure  at  least  the  return  of  two  or  three  of  thoir 
number  to  represent  them  on  the  Council. 

John  Owen. 

231,  Upper  Street,  Islington,  London,  Ar. 


Pharmaceutical  Examinations. 

Sir, — ATour  correspondent,  Air.  P.  II.  Mason,  asks  some  one 
to  inform  him  what  advantage  is  gained  by  passing  the  Major 
Examination  besides  the  honour  of  the  thing?  I  will  at- 
tempt  to  answer  him.  In  the  first  place,  Air.  M.  allows  that 
the  title  Fellow  would  be  compensation  enough,  thus  proving 
that  it  is  no  direct  monetarv  advantage  that  he  alludes  to. 
With  this  premise,  by  stating  my  own  case,  I  think  I  shall 
effect  my  proof.  Having  lately  passed  the  Examination 
alluded  to  with  honours,  although  in  studying  for  it  I  have 
only  learnt  enough  to  teach  me  my  ignorance  of  the  great 
field  of  knowledge  beyond,  yet  I  have  gaiued  the  title  of 
Pharmaceutical  Chemist,  with  a  diploma  stating  to  the  public 
that  it  was  obtained  by  examination,  which  title  will  yearly 
be  of  more  value,  as  those  who  have  obtained  it  otherwise 
are  passing  away.  Also,  I  obtained  the  privilege  of  becoming 
a  member  of  the  Society,  giving  me  the  power  of  voting  at 
the  General  Meeting,  etc.,  which  privilege  I  have  recently 
availed  myself  of;  and,  thirdly,  when  I  set  up  in  business,  I 
expect  to  prosper  beyond  what  I  should  have  done  with  only 
my  Minor  qualification.  Believing,  Sir,  that  these  induce¬ 
ments  are  quite  sufficient  to  urge  young  men  to  push  on  to 
the, Major,  I  see  no  need  for  the  title  of  Fellow,  which  would 
but  add  another  to  the  long  list  that  already  confuses  the 
public  mind.  If  we  who  have  lately  passed  it  do  not  obtain 
from  the  public  all  the  respect  we  would  have  them  give  to 
it,  yet  the  day  is  coming  when  the  young  pharmacist  will 
enjoy  a  very  superior  position  to  the  chemist  and  druggist. 

AI.  P.  S. 


Sir, — I  fully  agree  with  “B.  S.”  that  the  man  who  has 
passed  the  Modified  Examination  should  be  eligible  for  the 
.Minor.  I  myself,  knowing  I  must  pass  the  Modified  before 
January,  1870,  or  be  shut,  out  from  the  Society  altogether, 
hastened  to  do  so,  fully  intending,  at.  a  future  time,  to  pre¬ 
sent  myself  for  the  Minor,  and  lastly  the  Ala  j  or ;  but  finding 


984 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[Jane  3, 1871, 


by  the  bye-laws  I  am  debarred  this  opportunity,  I,  with  many 
others,  shall  remain  a  Modified  man,  unless  the  Council  shall 
alter  the  bye-laws,  and  allow  the  man  who  has  passed  the 
Modified  to  present  himself  for  the  Minor  Examination. 
Should  they  do  so,  it  would  not  only  greatly  increase  the 
number  of  Pharmaceutical  Chemists  and  interests  of  the 
Society,  but  meet  the  requirements  of  the  many  and  not  the 
few  of  the  Modified  men. 

Forward. 


and  then  we  shall  be  able  to  find  time  for  two  hours’  study, 
night  and  morning.  No  one,  of  course,  will  ever  grumble  to 
dispense  a  prescription  for  any  emergency  or  accident  after 
the  prescribed  hours.  When  the  public  know  the  time  for 
closing,  they  will  purchase  their  ounce  of  salts  or  pennyworth 
of  hair- oil  before  eight,  as  they  now  do  before  ten  o’clock. 

A.  II.  A.,  Jun. 

Cliftonville,  Brighton,  May  1 6th,  1871. 


The  Directs  supplied  by  Surgeons. 


Druggists’  Prices. 


Sir, — In  reading  the  account  of  the  inquest  on  the  body  of 
the  child  Bruce  Logan,  at  Steeple  Claydon,  Bucks,  I  was 
surprised  at  the  following  part  of  the  evidence : — 

It  was  stated  that  a  day  or  two  before  the  murder  the 
accused  woman  Muir  obtained  some  “  laudanum  ”  at  a  sur¬ 
geon’s,  which  was  served  in  his  absence  by  his  “wife,”  and 
was  not  labelled  “poison.”  Afterwards,  however,  that  lady 
called  and  stated  that  as  the  laudanum  was  stronger  than 
was  usually  sold  by  druggists  her  husband  wished  to  have  it 
labelled. 

Now,  although  surgeons  are  not  subject  to  the  same  pains 
and  penalties  that  we  druggists  are  for  selling  poisons  with-  I 
out  a  label,  I  think  it  hardly  fair  for  them  to  cover  their  as¬ 
sistants’  carelessness  by  a  reflection  upon  the  strength  of  our 
drugs.  That  this  statement  was,  on  the  part  of  the  surgeon, 
a  palpable  misrepresentation  seems  evident ;  and  I  certainly 
do  not  think  that  the  experience  of  druggists  will  tend  to 
establish  the  fact  that  the  drugs  used  by  surgeons  ai*e  of  su¬ 
perior  quality  to  our  own.  For  my  own  part,  I  have  seen 
too  frequently  to  the  contrary.  In  bringing  this  matter  be¬ 
fore  the  notice  of  your  correspondents,  I  am  anxious  to  know 
their  views  upon  the  subject. 

May  20th,  1871.  A  Lover  op  Trutii. 


Tiie  Early  Closing  Question. 

Sir, — You  were  kind  enough  to  find  space  in  your  valuable 
Journal  for  a  letter  written  by  me  some  months  ago  proposing 
the  establishment  in  Brighton  of  a  school  of  pharmacy.  I 
am  sorry  to  say  that  out  of  the  many  chemists  we  have  here, 
not  one  would  second  my  proposal.  So  much  for  their  public  i 
spirit.  My  present  purpose,  however,  is  to  request  you  to 
be  kind  enough  to  grant  me  space  for  a  few  remarks  on 
4  early  closing.’  I  quite  sympathize  with  my  brother  assist¬ 
ants  as  to  the  long  hours  we  day  by  day  endure.  Why  can¬ 
not  the  servants  who  receive  their  orders  from  their  mistresses 
early  in  the  morning  deliver  them  to  the  chemist  within  ' 
reasonable  hours  ?  Instead  of  this  they  lay  prescription  and 
bottle  on  the  dresser-shelf,  and  there  they  let  them  remain 
until  they  go  out  dressed,  at  seven  or  eight  o’clock  (and  even 
later)  in  the  evening.  Thus  their  pleasure  becomes  our  pain. 
They  leave  their  orders  at  this  late  hour  and  coolly  request  j 
that  they  may  be  made  up  and  sent  home  immediately.  It 
may  be  that  it  is  Missis’  night  draught  and  she  can’t  go  to 
bed  without  it,  and  so  on ;  such  messages  are' quite  an  every¬ 
day  affair  here.  Sometimes  I  employ  a  little  gentle  remon¬ 
strance,  but  am  frequently  told  (in  anything  but  polite  terms), 

“  Do  you  think  I  was  going  to  come  up  with  it  on  purpose, 
when  Missis  doesn’t  want  it  till  she  goes  to  bed?” 

Some  evenings  I  have  counted  from  fifteen  to  twenty  pre¬ 
scriptions  delivered  by  servants  after  eight  o’clock  to  be  dis¬ 
pensed  that  same  night,  nearly  all  of  which  might  have 
been  brought  in  earlier  in  the  day.  During  my  experience 
in  Brighton  I  cannot  remember  one  instance  where  a  lady 
has  brought  a  prescription  after  dusk,  unless  it  be  a  newly- 
written  one.  But  as  long  as  servants  know  our  shops  are 
kept  open  till  ten  or  eleven  o’clock  at  night  for  general  retail, 
we  shall  be  martyrs  to  long  hours.  The  proprietors  do  not 
suffer,  only  the  assistants.  The  proprietors  have  no  more 
examinations  to  pass,  nor  do  they  wish  to.  They  are  already 
registered  and  in  business.  The  assistant,  on  the  other  hand, 
before  he  can  call  himself  a  chemist  and  druggist  and  go  into 
business,  must  pass  an  examination.  How  can  he  study? 
What  time  has  he?  He  is  mixing  up  scammony  and  jalap 
from  7.30  a.m.  till  10.30  p.m.  Can  he  be  expected  to  study 
Attfield’s  ‘Chemistry,’  Bentley’s  ‘Botany’  and  his  Latin 
‘  Delectus  ’  after  these  late  hours  ? 

After  all,  Sir,  I  think  you  will  agree  with  me  that  there  is 
a  great  deal  of  human  nature  in  the  chemist’s  assistant,  and 
that  he  ought  not  to  be  expected  to  do  so  very  much  above  and 
beyond  other  men.  Let  our  hours  be  from  eight  to  eight, 


Sir, — The  “prices”  question  is  ever  again  and  again  crop¬ 
ping  up  in  the  Journal;  but  agitate  as  we  will,  the  end! 
at  which  we  aim  will  be  delayed  indefinitely  so  long  as  we- 
have  members  of  the  trade  meeting  in  committee  and  draw¬ 
ing  up  “  pi’ice  lists,”  in  which  the  prices  of  3i,  5iss  and  ^i  jj 
mixtures  are  appraised  at  4d.  Gd.  and  8 d.  respectively.  These 
prices  actually  appear  in  a  list  drawn  up  by  our  friends  north, 
of  the  Tweed,  in  which,  by  the  way,  though  there  is  some 
flourish  about  “your  committee,”  etc.,  everything  that  might 
indicate  its  origin  is  suppressed, — printer’s  name  and  address 
included. 

Fourpence  for  eight  doses  of  medicine !  How  much  is- 
left  for  the  “skilled  labour,”  after  deducting  2 \d.  for  bottle, 
cork,  labels,  paper,  etc.  On  whatever  sum  can  one  “  live  and 
keep  up  appearances  ”  in  the  “  land  of  cakes  ”  ? 

Bradford,  May  20th,  1871.  R.  Gr.  H. 


Sir, — There  has  been  a  great  deal  said  lately  in  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Journal  about  various  prices  in  different 
towns.  A  week  or  two  since,  when  visiting  Bristol,  I  found 
there  was  a  chemist  in  that  town  advertising  articles  at  such 
very  low  prices,  that  I  should  have  almost  thought  incredible- 
hacl  I  not  read  it  myself ;  for  instance,  carbonate  of  soda  4sd. 
per  lb.,  citrate  of  magnesia  Is.  6d.  per  lb.,  seidlitz  powders- 
9 d.  per  doz.,and  boasts  in  his  advertisement  of  selling  articles- 
in  the  trade  cheaper  than  any  other  man.  I  hear,  too,  that 
he  dispenses  prescriptions  and  charges  only  as  much  as  the- 
articles  come  to,  and  sells  13^-d.  patent  medicines  at  lOJcA 
each.  I  think,  with  the  difficult  examinations  that  have  to- 
be  passed,  there  might  be  more  uniformity  in  prices,  without 
such  foolhardy  competition.  T.  H. 


J.  N.  M. — The  examination  is  a  written  one,  and  may  be- 
eonducted  by  a  local  secretary,  if  notice  be  given  to  the  Re¬ 
gistrar. 

A.  Z. — The  method  proposed  by  Dr.  At t field  in  the  article- 
referred  to,  for  obtaining  a  solution  of  quinine  in  cod-liver  oil, 
was  to  produce  an  oleate  of  quinine  by  digesting  the  alkaloid, 
well  dried,  with  twice  its  weight  of  oleic  acid  at  the  tempera¬ 
ture  of  boiling  water  for  an  hour  or  two.  Oleate  of  quinine- 
has  the  consistence  of  a  soft  resin,  is  perfectly  stable,  and 
may  be  regarded  as  a  concentrated  solution  of  quinine,  to  be- 
diluted  whenever  necessary,  and  to  any  required  extent. 
The  paper  is  too  long  to  be  extracted  entire,  but  copies  of  the- 
number  containing  it  may  be  had  on  application  to  the  pub¬ 
lishers. 

C.  G.  Bunn. — (1.)  Yes.  (2.)  The  Latin  examination  in¬ 
cludes  the  translation  into  English  of  a  paragraph  from  the- 
first  book  of  Caesar,  or  a  passage  from  each  of  the  following 
works  : — Pereira,  ‘  Selecta  e  Proescriptis,’  and  the  last  edition 
(Latin)  of  the  London  Pharmacopoeia. 

Arum. —  (1.)  The  different  directions  as  to  the  pronuncia¬ 
tion  of  the  words  mentioned  result  from  the  different  rules  of' 
orthoepy  followed  by  the  lexicographers.  We  cannot  under¬ 
take  to  decide  which  is  right.  (2.)  We  should  recommend 
you  to  follow  Professor  Bentley’s  arrangement. 

Guaco. — We  do  not  know  the  substance  inquired  about, 
but  believe  the  name  to  be  that  given  to  one  of  the  alleged 
remedies  which  are  supplied  by  benevolent  advertisers  in 
return  for  a  certain  number  of  stamps. 


Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  F.  Liley,  Mr.  M.  C.  Cooke,  Mr.  J.  R.  Jackson,  Mr.  D. 
Hanbury,  X.  Y.  Z.,  J.  A.  M.,  F.  P.  C.,  A.  P.  S.,  «  Cyathus” 
“Unguentum,”  “  Bo-Peep.” 

“  Chemicus”  has  not  complied  with  the  rule  respecting 
anonymous  communications. 


Juno  10,  1871.] 


TIIE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


9S5 


BEEF  EXTRACT  IX  COMBINATION. 

BY  PROFESSOR  EDWARD  PARRISH. 

The  greatly  increased  reliance  by  practitioners  of 
medicine  on  the  use  of  proper  nutriment,  not  only  as 
an  aid  to  convalescence,  hut  also  to  sustain  the  forces 
of  life  in  the  incipient  stages,  and,  indeed,  through¬ 
out  the  course  of  some  very  prevalent  diseases,  has 
called  for  a  variety  of  beef  extracts  for  the  ready 
preparation  of  essence  of  beef  and  beef-tea.  The 
large  sale  of  these  attests  the  value  placed  on  them, 
not  only  by  physicians  but  by  the  public  at  large, 
and  yet  the  idea  of  making  articles  of  diet  from  some- 
thing  bought  at  the  drug  store,  and  having  some  of 
the  characters  of  a  medicine,  is  so  repulsive  to  the 
keen  sensibilities  of  many  invalids,  that  often  resort 
is  had  to  the  tedious  extemporaneous  methods  of 
extracting  the  juice  directly  from  fresh  beef. 

Moreover,  it  is  often  observed  that,  however  nicely 
made,  essence  of  beef  and  beef-tea  soon  lose  their 
relish  when  given  constantly,  under  medical  advice, 
or  as  a  part  of  the  treatment — a  distaste  which  is 
sometimes  due  to  the  disease,  but  perhaps  oftener  to 
the  fact,  that  variety  constitutes  one  of  the  chief 
attractions  in  matters  dietetic. 

In  giving  medicines,  the  importance  of  consulting 
the  taste  of  the  patient  is  less  recognized ;  they  are 
taken  as  a  disagreeable  necessity,  and  are  not  ex¬ 
pected  to  possess  the  attractions  which  usually  per¬ 
tain  to  articles  of  diet. 

These  considerations  seem  to  favour  the  idea  of 
combining  beef  extract  into  pharmaceutical  prepara¬ 
tions,  and  thus  giving  it  at  stated  intervals,  nolens 
volens. 

The  composition  of  such  preparations  being  un¬ 
known  to  the  patient,  and  the  taste  being  disguised 
by  admixture  with  suitable  adjuvants,  that  feeling 
of  disgust  created  by  the  idea  of  animal  food  in  an 
undefined  state,  intermediate  between  medicine  and 
diet,  is  avoided. 

Of  the  several  proprietary  beef  compounds  recently 
introduced  I  have  little  knowledge,  and  have  no 
doubt  that  they  are  useful.  The  object  of  tliis  paper 
is  not  to  supersede  these,  but  to  point  out  a  method 
of  varying  the  composition  of  nutritive  medicinal 
compounds,  and  to  put  it  within  the  reach  of  all  to 
meet  the  requirements  of  the  medical  practitioner, 
by  furnishing  any  of  these  extemporaneous]}',  as 
required. 

Beef  stock,  as  sold  in  tin  cans,  soldered,  has  been 
cheap  since  the  war,  and  by  solution  in  glycerine, 
diluted  with  water,  may  be  brought  to  a  tolerably 
permanent  fluid,  miscible  with  pharmaceutical  pre¬ 
parations.  The  proportion  may  be  six  parts  of  beef 
stock  to  three  or  four  of  water,  and  one  of  glycerine. 
In  time  this  becomes  gelatinous,  probably  by  the 
glycerine  combining  with  gelatine,  always  present  in 
the  stock. 

Experiments  tried  by  exposing  this  fluid  to  a 
temperature  and  other  circumstances  favourable  to 
putrefaction,  indicate  that  in  midsummer  it  would  be 
necessary  to  keep  it  in  a  cool  place,  yet  probably 
no  further  difficulty  would  be  experienced  with  this 
than  with  many  other  preparations  which  during 
the  intense  heat  of  our  summers  require  special  pre¬ 
cautions  to  prevent  decomposition. 

In  the  absence  of  beef  stock,  resort  may  be  had  to 
either  of  the  solid  extracts  of  beef.  I  have  dissolved 
Tourtellot’s  extract  in  eight  parts  of  water,  and 
added  half  a  part  of  glycerine,  blit  the  solution,  like 

Third  Series,  No.  50. 


the  foregoing,  is  very  inelegant.  A  good  addition  to 
either  of  these  is  caramel,  which  improves  the  colour 
and  gives  a  flavour  of  bitterness. 

Gelatine  is  the  ingredient  which  interferes  with 
the  eligible  appearance  and  physical  properties  of 
these  solutions,  and  hence  to  remove  this  without 
materially  impairing  their  nutritive  qualities  is  a 
desideratum.  Solutions  of  tannin  added  in  small 
portions,  after  largely  diluting  with  water,  causes  a 
white  flocculent  to  separate,  which  may  be  removed 
on  a  filter  or  Canton  flannel  strainer,  and  then,  on 
evaporation  to  about  the  consistence  of  syrup,  we  have 
what  may  be  termed  a  clarified  solution  of  beef  ex¬ 
tract,  preserved  by  glycerine.  The  tannin  should 
be  added  with  care,  not  to  have  an  excess,  and  the 
filtration  should  be  resorted  to  before  the  solution  is 
inspissated,  and  yet  after  heat  has  been  applied.* 

The  beef  basis  being  at  hand,  it  is  easy  to  make 
suitable  extemporaneous  mixtures  with  iron,  quinine, 
the  phosphates,  and  other  tonics,  dissolved  either  in 
very  dilute  alcoholic,  or  in  saccharine  menstrua. 
Some  judgment  is  required  in  the  selection  of  these. 
As  a  rule,  sweet  syrups  are  best  adapted  to  children ; 
molasses  is  used  in  one  of  the  popular  proprietary 
nutritive  tonics  ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  great  care 
is  required  not  to  cloy  the  stomach  of  an  adult  with 
sweets  constantly  administered. 

Fluid  extract  of  liquorice  is  one  of  the  best  ex¬ 
cipients  for  disguising  the  meat  flavour ;  that  made 
from  the  root  by  the  use  of  diluted  alcohol  gives  a 
strong  liquorice  flavour  and  taste  without  much  body. 
Diluted  phosphoric  acid,  or  the  compound  syrup  of 
phosphates,  is  a  good  addition.  Strong  alcoholic 
liquids  would  be  incompatible  with  it,  but  wines  mix 
well,  increasing  fluidity  and  producing  but  slight 
precipitation.  Wine  of  iron  or  bitter  wine  of  iron 
may  be  advantageously  added  in  the  proportion  of 
one  part  of  the  wine  to  three  of  the  extractum  carnis 
fluidum. — American  Journal  of  Pharmacy. 


BRISTOL  PHARMACOLOGY. 

BY  W.  W.  STODDART,  F.C.S.,  F.G.S. 

[Continued  from  pay e  922.) 

Nat.  Ord.  Urticace^e. 

This,  though  not  a  very  extensive  Order,  yet  is 
one  containing  plants  of  great  utility,  some  sup¬ 
plying  edible  fruits,  some  valuable  textile  fibres  and 
others  caoutchouc.  From  others,  also,  is  procured 
the  terrible  upas  poison,  the  intoxicating  cliurrus, 
the  fig  and  the  mulberry. 

Humulus  Lupulus  (Linn.). 

This  well-known  climber  is  often  seen  on  the 
hedges  near  Stapleton,  Flax  Bourton,  Crew’s  Hole, 
Saltford  and  Bishops  worth.  Near  the  last  locality 
it  has  been  seen  growing  with  the  Cuscuta  Europcea. 

The  Hop  plant  was  introduced  into  England  from 
Flanders  in  the  reign  of  Flenry  VIII. : — • 

“Hops,  reformation,  bays  and  beer, 

Came  into  England  all  in  one  year.” 

Some  naturalists  have  hesitated  to  consider  the  Hop 


*  Liebig’s  beef  extract  is  free  from  the  objection  arising 
from  the  presence  of  gelatine,  and,  as  it  is  desirable  to  dis¬ 
pense  with  the  tannin  treatment,  and  to  be  able  t-o  prepare 
an  eligible  fluid  by  an  easy  and  quick  process,  resort  may  be 
had  to  this  elegant  though,  costly  product. 


98  G 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  10, 1871. 


as  other  than  naturalized,  but  Babington  says  it  is 
truly  a  native.  It  is  the  female  plant  that  is  so 
much  employed  as  a  brewing  ingredient,  the  strobiles 
being  the  part  used.  These  are  composed  of  scales, 
each  of  which  has  at  its  base  two  minute  seeds.  On 
the  scales  and  seeds  are  found  yellow,  granular, 
resinous  glands,  which,  as  the  strobile  ripens,  become 
loose  and  drop  off.  These  minute  bodies  are  used  in 
pharmacy  under  the  name  of  lupulin,  and  in  them 
resides  the  flavour  so  highly  prized.  The  strobiles 
yield  from  8  to  18  per  cent,  of  these  lupulinic  grains. 
They  are  most  interesting  microscopic  objects,  from 
vt)o  to  lio  °f  an  inch  i11  diameter,  and  are  shaped 
like  flattened,  subovate  little  saucers,  and  covered 
over  with  cell  markings.  They  are  attached  by  a 
short  pedicel.  As  they  get  older,  the  central  portion 
expands,  and  instead  of  the  former  concave  sfliape, 
swell  out  and  become  convex. 

According  to  the  analyses  of  MM.  Pelletier  and 
Payen,  the  so-called  lupulin  consists  of  volatile  oil, 
2  per  cent. :  bitter  extract,  10  per  cent. ;  resin,  50 
per  cent. ;  and  tannic  acid,  5  per  cent., — the  re¬ 
mainder  being  gum,  calcium  and  potassium  malates, 
otc.  When  distilled  with  water,  about  1  per  cent,  of 
valerianic  acid  (C5H10O2)  passes  over,  with  an  oil 
■consisting  of  a  hydrocarbon  (C10H16)  and  valerol 
(CgH10O).  The  latter,  by  keeping,  becomes  con¬ 
verted  into  valerianic  acid.  Hence  the  peculiar 
cheesy  flavour  of  old  hops. 

C6H10O  +  H.O  =  CSH10  02  +  2H. 

Valerol,  Valerianic 

acid. 

One  hundredweight  of  hops  will  yield  about  forty 
pounds  of  extract  as  ordered  by  the  Pharmacopoeia. 

Nat.  Ord.  Ulmace.e. 

The  plants  forming  this  Order  differ  from  the  last 
by  never  having  the  flowers  in  the  form  of  catldns, 
but  in  clusters  of  flat,  membranous,  leaf-like  expan¬ 
sions,  with  a  notch  at  the  top,  and  one  seed  fixed  in 
the  centre. 

Ulmiis  campestris  (Linn.). 

This  noble  tree  occurs  very  generally  throughout 
the  neighbourhood.  Fine  examples  may  be  exa¬ 
mined  in  the  grove  leading  to  Bedland  Court,  and  in 
some  of  the  city  squares.  The  finest  specimens  are 
found  where  the  soil  is  rich,  friable  and  sandy. 

Elm  bark  is  a  tonic  and  astringent,  and  is  much 
prized  in  Norway  for  tanning  leather  used  for  glove- 
maldng.  Ulmin,  so  familiar  to  the  agricultural  stu¬ 
dent  as  one  of  the  constituents  of  mould,  peat,  etc., 
derives  its  name  from  the  substance  found  in  the 
black  excrescences  so  often  observed  on  the  trunks 
of  old  elms. 

Elm  bark  contains  about  20  per  cent,  of  a  kind  of 
mucilaginous  substance,  3  of  tannin,  G  of  resin  and 
10  of  inorganic  salts. 

Nat.  Ord.  AmentacejE. 

Tfiis  valuable  Order  of  trees  is  distinguished  by 
the  flowers  being  arranged  in  catldns  (amenta). 
Only  one  is  mentioned  in  the  Pharmacopoeia. 

Quercus  pedunculata  (Willd.). 

Perhaps  no  natural  object  lias  been  so  frequently 
mentioned  by  writers  of  every  age  and  clime  as  the 
Oak.  It  is  frequently  mentioned  in  the  Bible, 
although  probably  in  many  passages  the  evergreen 
oak  (Q,  Ilex)  is  the  species  meant.  It  was  held 


sacred  by  the  Greeks,  Homans,  Gauls  and  Britons. 
Horace  speaks  of 

“  Quercus  et  ilex 

Multa  frugc  pecus,  mulla  dominum  juvet  umbra.” 

and  in  many  of  his  beautiful  descriptions  of  rural 
scenes  alludes  to  the  groves  of  oak-trees : — 

“  Querceta  Gargani  laborant.” 

In  his  ‘  Bucolics,’  ‘  Georgies  ’  and  ‘  iEneid,’  Virgil 
over  and  over  again  mentions  the  monarch  of  the 
forest  as  one  of  the  principal  objects  of  a  sylvan 
landscape : — 

“  Tbe  monarch  oak,  the  patriarch  of  the  trees, 

Shoots  rising  up,  and  spreads  by  slow  degrees ; 
Three  centuries  he  grows,  and  three  he  stays 
Supreme  in  state,  and  in  three  more  decays.” 

The  chief  value  of  the  plant  resides  in  the  bark, 
which  is  celebrated  for  the  large  quantity  of  tannic 
acid  it  contains.  The  barks  are  gathered  in  the 
spring,  because  they  contain  a  larger  percentage 
and  are  more  easily  separated  from  the  wood.  The 
bark  of  young  stems  is  most  highly  prized.  Besides 
tannic  acid,  oak-bark  contains  gallic  and  quercitannic 
acids,  and  about  2  per  cent,  of  ash. 

The  following  example  of  the  percentage  of  tannic 
acid  from  oak-barks,  at  different  periods  of  the  year, 
are  taken  from  the  author’s  laboratory  journal : — 

Entire  bark  in  May  =  6'05  per  cent. 

„  August  =  4*39  ,, 

Inner  bark  only  May  =  21*13  „ 

„  August  =  15*31  ,, 

Tannic  acid  (C27H„2017)  from  oak  is  that  kind 
which  gives  a  bluisli-biack  colour  with  ferric  salts. 
It  is  glucoside,  for  when  boiled  with  diluted  acid  it 
becomes  converted  into  glucose  and  gallic  acid 
(C7H605). 

C27H22017  +  4H20  =  C6H1206  +  3  C7H605. 

Tannic  acid.  Glucose.  Gallic  acid. 

Gallic  acid  differs  from  tannic  by  producing  no 
precipitate  with  gelatine.  It  is,  however,  a  singular 
circumstance  that  when  mixed  with  gum  it  has  that 
property. 

When  tannic  acid  is  heated,  it  becomes  decom¬ 
posed  into  pyrogallic  acid  (CcH603),  so  well  known 
as  an  article  of  great  use  in  photography,  and  a  sin¬ 
gular  dark-coloured  insoluble  substance  termed  me¬ 
tagallic  acid  (C6H402). 

=  3CgHg03  -f-  C6H402  -f-  3  C02. 

Tannin.  Pyrogallic  Metagallic 

acid.  acid. 

The  tannic  acid  procured  from  catechu,  cinchona, 
etc.  differs  from  that  contained  in  oak-bark,  by  giv¬ 
ing,  with  ferric  salts,  a  greenish  instead  of  a  bluish- 
black  precipitate,  and  by  not  yielding  glucose  or 
pyrogallic  acid.  Quercitannic  acid  present  in  oak- 
bark  differs  from  the  usual  tannic  acid  of  the  galls 
by  being  non- convertible  into  gallic  acid  or  pyro¬ 
gallic  acid,  and  from  the  tannic  acid  of  catechu  by 
giving  a  bluisli-biack  precipitate  with  ferric  salts. 

During  the  last  few  years  the  oaks  in  the  West  of 
England  have  been  infested  by  galls.  A  great 
number  have  been  analysed  by  the  author,  but  have 
proved  useless  for  commercial  purposes,  from  the 
small  percentage  of  tannic  acid  present.  This  may 
be  owing  to  being  allowed  to  remain  on  the  tree  till 
the  insect  escapes,  for  nearly  all  were  perforated. 


June  10,  1871.3 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


987 


NOTICE  ON  THE  DECOLONIZATION  AND 
DEODORIZATION  OF  TINCTURE  OF 
IODINE. 

BY  JAMES  LAKER  MACMILLAN. 

Witliin  the  last  year  or  two  an  unusual  degree  of 
attention  has  been  devoted  to  methods  for  deco¬ 
lorizing  tincture  of  iodine.  The  agent  commonly 
resorted  to  for  this  purpose  is  ammonia ;  a  practice 
which  cannot  be  too  highly  censured,  inasmuch  as  a 
change  takes  place  which  is  liiglily  detrimental  to  its 
medicinal  properties.  J3y  the  addition  of  ammonia 
to  this  tincture,  one  or  more  compounds  of  iodine 
and  nitrogen  are  formed,  which  are  thrown  down 
in  the  state  of  a  black  precipitate,  which  is  re¬ 
dissolved  after  standing  for  a  number  of  hours,  or  by 
the  addition  of  carbolic  acid. 

The  reaction  is  as  follows : — 

6I-MNH8  =  NI3  +  3NH4I. 

Thus,  it  will  [be  seen  that  the  use  of  ammonia  for 
this  purpose  is  detrimental  to  the  medicinal  efficacy 
of  the  iodine ;  and  that  when  such  so-called  tinctures 
prepared  by  this  process  are  substituted  for  the 
tincture  proper,  the  physician  unwittingly  uses  a 
solution  of  the  above  compound.  To  rectify  this 
error  is  the  object  of  tliis  notice ;  to  which  I  ap¬ 
pend  the  following  simple,  though  none  the  less 
noteworthy  processes,  for  the  consideration  of  the 
pharmaceutical  body  at  large. 

Process  No.  1. — Potassium  acetate  (KC2H302) 
2‘59  gram,  with  7*7  gram  solution  of  K HO,  having 
a  specific  gravity  of  1*06,  at  15'55°  C.,  are  capable  of 
decolorizing  2 '592  decagrams  of  tincture  of  iodine, 
B.P. 

Process  No.  2. — A  similar  reaction  is  manifest  if 
treated  with  a  solution  of  NaHO,  having  a  specific 
gravity  of  l’OT  at  15'55°C.,  in  the  proportions  of  5‘3 
decigrams  of  the  sodium  solution  to  3‘6  gram  of  the 
tincture. 

[We  believe  these  preparations  (introduced  by  the 
late  Sir  James  Simpson)  should  not  be  decolorized, 
since  that  cannot  be  done  without  interference  with 
the  medicinal  efficacy  of  the  iodine. — Ed.  Pharm. 

Jo  URN.] 

ORIENTAL  SPICES. 

BY  JAMES  BATON, 

Assistant-Keeper  in  the  Museum  of  Science  and  Art , 

Edinburgh. 

(Concluded  from  page  9G7.) 

With  the  discovery  and  introduction  into  com¬ 
merce  of  the  clove  and  nutmeg,  the  last  link  in  the 
series  of  Oriental  spices  was  supplied.  In  the  early 
and  rude  state  of  the  traffic,  the  steps  by  which 
spices  reached  the  European  markets  were  numerous, 
and  their  progress  slow.  The  Javanese  brought  the 
Moluccas  spices  to  the  western  ports  of  the  Archi¬ 
pelago.  The  Klings  or  Telingas  next  carried  them 
to  the  eastern  shores  of  India.  Thence  the  third 
journey  was  to  Calicut,  or  other  port  on  the  Ma¬ 
labar  coast,  where  were  collected  the  pepper  and 
other  spices  of  India  and  Ceylon.  Fourthly,  the 
Arabs  conveyed  them  to  their  ports  on  the  Red  Sea, 
or  the  Persian  Gulf,  and  from  these,  by  many  stages, 
they  reached  the  Mediterranean  and  Black  Sea  ports. 
These  four  voyages  were,  as  already  remarked,  re¬ 
duced  to  one  by  the  Arabs  in  the  seventh  century, 


under  the  impulse  given  to  their  energies  by  the 
doctrine  of  Mahomed,  and  in  this  condition  the- 
Asiatic  portion  of  the  journey  continued  till  the  dis¬ 
covery  of  the  Cape  passage  struck  it  a  fatal  blow. 

On  the  European  side  many  important  cities  arose, 
flourished  and  attained  great  power  during  what  we 
call  the  dark  Middle  Ages,  through  their  hold  on 
this  most  lucrative  commerce.  Smyrna  caught  the 
caravans  that  toiled  along  the  Euphrates  Valley,  and 
across  the  Desert,  and  forwarded  the  precious  pro¬ 
ducts  to  the  Black  Sea  ports  and  Constantinople, 
To  a  few  mud-flats  at  the  head  of  the  Adriatic  the 
miserable  remnant  of  a  Roman  province  were,  in  the 
sixth  century,  hunted  by  the  hordes  of  the  Goths 
and  Huns,  and  in  miserable  huts,  they  caught  a  few 
fish,  and  dried  a  little  salt,  in  which  they  began  a 
humble  commerce.  From  that  beginning  the  proud 
republic  of  Venice  arose,  the  commercial  influence 
and  political  power  of  which  overshadowed  the  civi¬ 
lized  world.  The  records  of  the  Middle  Ages  are 
principally  made  up  of  the  wars  and  commercial 
rivalries,  the  endeavours  to  outwit  and  overreach 
each  other  in  the  great  eastern  trade  of  the  Venetians 
aud  them  great  compeers  the  Genoese,  till  the  Por¬ 
tuguese  involved  both  in  inevitable  ruin  by  open¬ 
ing  up  the  Cape  passage. 

Towards  the  beginning  of  the  fifteenth  century 
the  civilization  and  commercial  instincts  which  had 
been  marching  steadily  westward  reached  what  ap¬ 
peared  to  be  the  outer  limit  of  the  world.  The 
ocean- bounded  kingdoms  cast  greedy,  longing  eyes 
at  the  glories  of  Venice  derived  from  the  costly  aro¬ 
matics  of  the  East.  The  restless  spirit  of  enter¬ 
prise  chafed  at  the  seemingly  impassable  barrier. 
Then  at  the  courts  of  these  Western  nations  ap¬ 
peared  two  brothers,  Genoese  sailors,  of  the  name  of 
Colon  or  Columbus,  with  a  proposal  to  reach  the' 
land  of  spices  by  what  appeared  to  them  a  short 
voyage  due  west.  Ultimately  the  one,  by  name 
Christopher,  succeeded  with  the  king  of  Spain,  and 
found,  not  the  little  spice  islands,  but  the  great  con¬ 
tinent  of  America.  At  the  same  time,  the  Por¬ 
tuguese  had  sent  two  emissaries  to  the  East  to  ex¬ 
plore  the  countries  where  the  pepper,  cinnamm  and 
spices  that  enriched  Venice  were  produced.  One 
went  to  India,  where  he  saw  pepper  and  ginger 
actually  growing,  and  learned  that  cloves  and  nut¬ 
megs  were  produced  in  very  distant  eastern  coun¬ 
tries.  On  liis  return  to  Cairo,  he  sent  to  his  govern¬ 
ment  much  information  regarding  eastern  commerce, 
and  departed  to  Abyssinia,  the  land  of  Prester  John, 
where  his  companion  had  died.  Here  he  was  de¬ 
tained  twenty  years, — the  Abyssinians  even  at  that 
time  had  a  fancy  for  Europeans ; — then  he  was 
allowed  to  return  home,  without  his  release  costing 
his  country  ten  millions  of  pounds. 

Meantime,  the  restless  Portuguese  had  likewise 
been  feeling  their  way  along  the  African  coast,  and 
Bartholomew  Diaz  had  actually  doubled  the  Cape, 
wliich,  from  its  stormy  waters,  he  called  Cabo  Tor- 
mentosa;  but  the  king,  seeing  better  omen  in  it, 
changed  it  to  Cabo  de  Boa  Esperan9a.  Thereafter, 
in  1498,  Vasco  de  Gama,  with  the  first  European 
vessel  which  had  ploughed  the  eastern  seas,  dropped 
his  anchor  in  the  harbour  of  Calicut.  The  stream  of 
merchandise,  which  for  twenty  centuries  had  poured 
its  torrents  of  wealth  through  the  Red  Sea  and  the 
Persian  Gulf  was  immediately  dried  up,  and  the 
States  which  had  flourished  by  it  withered  like 
plants  from  wliich  the  nourishing  roots  were  cut  off. 


983 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  10,  1S71 


.  The  success  of  the  Portuguese  discoveries  stimu¬ 
lated  the  enterprise  of  other  maritime  nations ;  and 
to  the  endeavours  to  find  a  route  to  the  Spice 
Islands  are  distinctly  traceable  our  own  early  efforts 
to  establish  a  north-west  passage  which  have  now 
such  tragic  interest  for  us,  and  of  which  we  have 
not  even  yet  heard  the  last.  To  the  same  impulse 
is  also  owing  the  first  circumnavigation  of  the  globe 
by  the  brave  but  unfortunate  Spaniard  Magellan, 
who,  by  sailing  westward,  reached,  in  1521,  the 
northern  islands  of  the  Archipelago,  known  and  yet 
possessed  by  the  Spanish  as  the  Philippine  Islands. 

Such  were  some  of  the  great  ends  attained  for  the  ! 
world  by  the  agency  of  this  commerce.  But  with 
these  the  benefits  to  humanity  ceased.  It  is  true  | 
that  for  a  time  wealth,  power  and  prosperity  flowed 
into  Portugal.  The  enhancement  in  price  which  j 
naturally  accrued  on  these  luxuries,  from  tedious,  - 
difficult  and  dangerous  journeys,  and  which  had ' 
averaged  at  lowest  twenty  times  the  original  price, 
the  Portuguese  unjustly  continued  to  demand,  and 
Europe  was  no  gainer  in  this  respect  by  the  open¬ 
ing  up  of  the  ocean  path  to  the  East. 

Thus  we  find  that  pepper,  when  it  came  to  Eng¬ 
land  by  the  tedious  and  costly  journeying  already 
described,  cost  3 s.  6(7.  per  pound,  or  about  sixteen 
times  its  cost  in  the  Malabar  market.  Under  the 
Portuguese  it  rose  to  L>\,  or  eighteen  times  its  prime 
cost.  Cloves  continued  to  cost  about  10s.  6(7.  per 
pound,  thirty  times  tlieir  price  in  the  Moluccas,  and 
the  Venetian  merchants  for  some  time  even  continued 
to  compete  with  their  western  rivals.  Nutmegs  and 
mace  by  way  of  the  Mediterranean,  which  at  one 
time  could  be  bought  in  the  Moluccas  for  \d.  and 
1(7.  per  pound  respectively,  cost  4s.  6(7.  and  9s.  Un¬ 
der  the  close  monopoly  of  the  Dutch,  they  rose — nut¬ 
megs  to  10s.  3^(7.  per  pound,  and  mace  to  £1. 10s.  5(7. 
Thus  mace  cost  in  England  730  times  what  was 
once  regarded  as  its  fair  value  in  its  native  islands  ! 
With  such  enormous  sources  of  profit,  the  spirit  of 
avarice  and  greed  was  effectually  stirred  up,  and  all 
sense  of  moderation,  uprightness  or  even  decency  in 
dealing  was  forgotten  among  the  western  trading 
Powers.  The  claims  of  the  possessors  of  the  soil 
were  never  for  a  minute  considered,  except  in  so  far 
as  they  were  tools  for  production  of  wealthy  cargoes, 
or  obstructions  to  the  rapacity  of  the  traders,  which 
should  be  treated  as  men  treat  noxious  weeds  in 
their  gardens.  The  history  of  the  three  centuries 
which  follow  the  discovery  of  the  Cape  passage  is 
made  up  of  sickening  details,  intrigue,  meanness 
and  bloodshed  ;  the  Portuguese  by  such  means  esta¬ 
blished  themselves,  by  like  means  the  Dutch  sought 
to  supplant  them,  and  we  are  bound  to  confess,  by  the 
same  unholy  method,  our  nation  also  founded"  our 
great  eastern  empire.  Honourable  trading  was 
never  thought  of.  The  Pope  first  divided  nearly  the 
whole  world,  known  and  unknown,  between  the  Spa¬ 
niards  and  the  Portuguese.  The  Portuguese  seized 
their  eastern  possessions  as  quickly  as  distance  and 
their  limited  navy  would  allow.  Their  first  work 
was  to  overawe  the  people  by  strongly-fortified  trad¬ 
ing  posts ;  then  the  triple  work  of  commerce,  con¬ 
version  and  extermination  went  on  hand  in  hand. 
Next  the  Dutch  appeared,  and  dexterously  used  the 
cowed  and  terrified  people  against  their  original 
oppressors.  Codlin,  they  said,  was  the  friend.  Then 
the  appearance  of  the  British  completed  the  trian¬ 
gular  duel ;  and,  with  varying  fortunes,  they  fought, 
separately  or  any  two  against  any  one,  till  the  Por¬ 


tuguese  were  first  in  effect  driven  from  the  field. 
The  Dutch  were  ultimately  driven  from  Ceylon  to¬ 
wards  the  end  of  the  last  century,  but  their  hold 
upon  the  eastern  archipelago  was  never  fairly 
shaken.  There,  through  persevering  monopoly  and 
other  narrow- spirited  restrictions,  they  ultimately 
succeeded  in  killing  the  goose  that  laid  the  golden 
eggs ;  and  the  trade  which  made  the  glories  of 
Venice  and  Genoa,  and  first  established  the  great 
trading  communities  of  the  West,  is  now  carried  on 
at  a  loss  to  the  Dutch  government.  In  Ceylon  we 
have  the  same  tale  to  tell;  the  settlers  there  also 
were  too  late  in  being  removed,  and  the  cinnamon 
trade  has  become  insignificant  and  unheeded. 

Yet  we  must  acknowledge  that  more  powerful 
agencies  have  been  at  work  than  the  spirit  of  mono¬ 
poly.  A  trade  has  sprung  up  with  the  East  which, 
in  extent  and  value,  is  a  hundredfold  that  of  the 
spices.  Tea  and  coffee  have  supplied  a  new  stimu¬ 
lant  in  a  much  more  manageable  form ;  they  have 
effected  a  social  revolution,  and  spice,  the  former 
king  of  commerce, — a  name  that  lured  men  even 
more  than  the  charm  of  gold, — would  now  little 
more  than  occupy  the  capital  of  one  of  our  great 
merchants ;  and  the  trees  which  were  guarded  with 
inhuman  jealousy,  and  the  roots  of  which  Roman 
conquerors  placed  with  divine  honours  in  the  tem¬ 
ples  of  their  gods,  may  now  grow,  drop  their  fruit, 
and  wither  unheeded  in  the  tangle  of  tropical  forests. 


UVA  URSI. 

DY  JULIUS  JUNG  MANN. 

[The  author  gives  a  good  botanical  description  of  the 
plant  and  its  habitat ;  he  describes  the  drug,  refers  to 
its  introduction  in  medicine,  and  reviews  the  analyses 
made  since  1809  to  the  present  time,  then  he  proceeds 
to  his  own  experiments.] 

A  quantity  of  coarsely  powdered  TJva  ursi  leaves  was 
exhausted  with  cold  water  by  percolation,  the  infusion 
heated  to  the  boiling-point,  strained,  a  greenish  floccu- 
lent  coagulum  of  albumen  was  left  on  the  strainer  ;  the 
infusion,  after  having  been  more  concentrated,  was  treated 
with  freshly  prepared  hydrated  oxide  of  lead,  until  it 
would  no  longer  produce  a  precipitate ;  this  was  sepa¬ 
rated  by  a  filter.  The  filtrate,  still  more  concentrated 
by  evaporation,  was  divided  into  two  parts ;  the  first 
was  set  aside  in  a  warm  place  to  evaporate  spontaneously, 
the  second  was  treated  with  strong  alcohol ;  this  pro¬ 
duced  a  bulky  precipitate  of  gummy  matter,  which  was 
removed  by  filtration ;  the  alcoholic  filtrate  was  again 
divided  into  two  portions,  the  first  set  aside  to  evaporate 
spontaneously,  the  second  evaporated  to  a  syrup  and 
then  treated  with  ether  ;  the  different  ethereal  solutions 
were  mixed  and  evaporated  at  common  temperature. 
The  residue  consisted  of  a  mass  of  nearly  colourless  pris¬ 
matic  crystals  of  considerable  size,  of  a  bitter  slightly 
acrid  taste,  with  a  small  quantity  of  resinous  matter  of 
peculiarly  disagreeable  odour  adhering — ericolin. 

They  could  be  easily  purified  by  either  washing  them 
with  ether,  which  would  dissolve  out  the  resin,  or  else 
by  dissolving  them  in  a  small  quantity  of  boiling  water, 
filtering  and  recrystallizing ;  thus  purified  from  water 
they  were  inodorous,  not  near  as  large,  but  small  needles 
having  a  silky  lustre. 

The  alcoholic  solution  yielded  a  dark  coloured  extract 
nearly  black ;  this  was  redissolved  in  alcohol  and  treated 
with  animal  charcoal,  filtered  and  again  evaporated 
spontaneously;  yielded,  after  being  pressed  and  dried, 
yellowish- white  crystals  of  a  flocculent  character  having 
no  odour. 

The  aqueous  solution,  which  had  been  set  aside  in  a 


Jane  10,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


9S9 


warm,  place,  was  found,  after  about  two  weeks  standing, 
to  consist  of  a  soft  extractive  mass,  covered  all  over  the 
surface  with  small  white  crystals,  very  difficult  to  re¬ 
move,  on  account  of  the  large  amount  of  black,  gummy 
extractive  adhering  to  it.  The  crystals  contained  in 
this  mass  could  only  be  obtained  after  long  and  repeated 
treatment  with  animal  charcoal ;  to  remove  colouring 
matter  and  other  impurities,  it  might  be  purified  by 
precipitating  the  colouring  matter  by  a  solution  of  alum; 
but  this  mode  of  proceeding  can  only  be  recommended 
when  arbutin  is  the  only  object  in  view,  otherwise  it  is 
objectionable,  as  it  complicates  the  process.  A  quicker 
way,  however,  to  obtain  the  crystals,  I  found  to  be  by 
treating  the  extractive  mixture  with  a  mixture  of  alco¬ 
hol  and  ether,  in  which  they  readily  dissolve,  leaving 
behind  nearly  all  the  impurities  ;  as  thus  obtained,  the 
crystals  have,  in  their  moist  condition,  a  yellowish 
colour,  becoming  nearly  white  when  dried;  they  pos¬ 
sessed  the  same  properties  as  those  obtained  previously. 

All  the  crystals  obtained  by  these  different  processes 
proved  to  be  arbutin ,  the  discovery  of  which  was  first 
announced  by  Kawalier  in  1852. 

A  second  quantity  of  leaves  was  reduced  to  a  coarse 
powder,  decocted  with  water,  the  decoction  strained  and 
precipitated  with  neutral  acetate  of  lead,  the  precipitated 
lead  salt  was  filtered  off  and  the  filtrate  was  treated  with 
basic  acetate  of  lead,  until  a  precipitate  was  no  longer 
produced,  this  being  filtered  out.  Sulphuretted  hydro¬ 
gen  gas  was  passed  in  the  filtrate  until  all  the  lead  was 
precipitated ;  the  sulphuret  of  lead  was  then  removed  by 
a  filter,  and  the  excess  of  hydrosulphuric  acid  by  heating 
the  filtrate ;  this  was  evaporated  to  a  soft  extract,  redis¬ 
solved  in  water,  treated  with  animal  charcoal,  then  again 
filtered  and  evaporated,  and,  while  hot,  set  aside.  After 
about  twenty- four  hours’  standing,  the  bottom  of  the  vessel 
was  covered  with  bunches  of  small  crystalline  needles  of 
arbutin  ;  these  were  pressed  and  dried  between  filtering- 
paper,!  and  purified  by  redissolving  them  in  a  small 
quantity  of  boiling  water  and  again  allowing  the  crystals 
to  separate ;  these,  when  pressed  and  dried,  consisted  of 
small  prismatic  needles  having  a  silvery  lustre.  This 
second  process  for  obtaining  the  arbutin  is,  in  the  main 
points,  the  original  one  of  Kawalier,  except  that  lie  docs 
not  precipitate  with  basic  acetate  of  lead,  which,  how¬ 
ever,  removes  nearly  all  the  gum  and  colouring  matter, 
and  thereby  facilitates  the  crystallization  to  some  ex¬ 
tent. 

Arbutin  generally  crystallizes  from  ether  in  prismatic 
needles  of  considerable  size  and  perfectly  colourless,  from 
an  alcoholic  solution  in  small  acicular  crystals  of  a 
white  colour,  and  in  small  bunches  of  needles  from 
water ;  it  is  neutral  in  its  behaviour,  very  soluble  in 
warm  or  hot  water,  less  in  cold  water  or  alcohol,  more  in 
hot  alcohol,  very  sparingly  in  ether;  a  concentrated 
solution  of  arbutin  is  precipitated  by  strong  alcohol  or 
ether  added  to  it,  but  the  precipitate  rapidly  disappears 
on  shaking.  Concentrated  sulphuric  acid  or  hydro¬ 
chloric  acid,  added  to  the  crystals  on  a  small  plate,  gra¬ 
dually  dissolves  them  without  change  of  colour.  With 
nitric  acid  the  crystals  first  turned  black  and  then  slowly 
dissolved,  the  acid  assuming  a  yellow  colour  and  giving 
off’  fumes  of  nitrous  acid.  Arbutin  in  aqueous  solution 
does  not  affect  an  alkaline  solution  of  sulphate  of  copper, 
the  salts  of  lead,  acetate  and  subacetate  do  not  precipi¬ 
tate  it,  salts  of  iron  have  no  effect  upon  it ;  other  re¬ 
agents  for  organic  bodies  as  tannic  and  gallic  acid,  bi¬ 
chloride  of  mercury,  nitrate  of  silver,  iodide  of  potassium 
and  bichloride  of  platinum  were  tried  without  any  re¬ 
sults. 

While  experimenting  with  these  reagents,  I  acciden¬ 
tally  found  a  very  characteristic  and  remarkable  test  for 
arbutin.  When  a  solution  of  arbutin  in  water  is  rendered 
alkaline  by  ammonia,  or  any  other  caustic  or  carbonated 
alkali,  and  then  phosphomolybdic  acid  is  added,  a  blue 
colour  is  produced ;  in  strong  solutions  the  coloration 
is  of  a  deep  azure  blue,  but  the  bluish  hue  can  be  ob¬ 


served  even  in  very  dilute  solutions.  One  grain  of 
arbutin  was  distinctly  indicated  in  twenty  pints  of  water 
(1  in  140,000)  ;  this  reaction  does  not  occur  with  molyb¬ 
date  of  ammonia,  nor  does  it  take  place  when  phosphoric 
or  phosphomolybdic  acid  is  acted  upon  by  an  alkali 
alone. 

A  solution  of  arbutin  may  be  perfectly  colourless  but 
still  impure ;  when  to  an  impure  solution  of  arbutin 
ammonia  or  any  caustic  or  carbonated  alkali  is  added,  a 
deeper,  sometimes  orange,  colour  is  produced,  while  a 
solution  of  pure  arbutin  is  not  affected  in  this  way. 

[The  author  next  describes  the  composition  and  glu- 
coside  nature  of  arbutin  and  the  mode  of  obtaining  hv- 
drokin  one,  the  literature  on  the  subject  being  reviewed 
and  compared  with  his  experiments.] 

E.  C.  Hughes,  in  an  essay  on  Uva  ursi,  published  in 
the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy,  1817,  describes  a 
crystalline  principle  which  he  obtained  from  the  leaves 
and  to  which  he  gave  the  name  “  Ursin.”  This  ursin, 
although  it  has  not  been  noticed  in  European  literature, 
has  received  some  attention,  and  has  generally  been  re¬ 
garded  as  a  distinct  principle  in  American  works.  As 
this  was  obtained  before  the  known  existence  of  arbutin, 
and  as  its  mode  of  preparation  is  similar  to  that  of  ar¬ 
butin,  I  was  led  to  suppose  that  the  two  might,  perhaps, 
be  identical ;  to  satisfy  myself,  I  prepared  some  ursin 
according  to  Hughes’  method,  which  consists  in  macera¬ 
tion  and  percolation  of  the  leaves  with  cold  water,  pre¬ 
cipitating  the  tannin  by  a  solution  of  gelatine,  filtering  and 
evaporating  to  dryness,  treating  the  remaining  extract  by 
strong  alcohol,  the  alcoholic  solution  with  animal  char¬ 
coal,  filtering  and  evaporating  spontaneously.  By  this 
process  an  acicular  crystalline  mass,  to  which  a  small 
quantity  of  resin  adhered,  was  obtained,  having  nearly 
all  the  properties  of  arbutin  ;  the  solution,  rendered  al¬ 
kaline,  produced  a  blue  colour  with  phosphomolybdic 
acid,  and  it  yielded,  when  boiled  with  dilute  sulphuric 
acid,  the  same  product  of  decomposition,  hydrokinone, 
besides  separating  ericolin. 

Hughes  states,  however,  that  his  ursin  was  precipi¬ 
tated  by  carbonate  of  potash  and  by  the  solution  of 
subacetate  of  lead,  while  it  was  not  affected  by  the  tinc¬ 
ture  of  chloride  of  iron  ;  but  as  he  uses  a  solution  of 
gelatine  to  precipitate  the  infusion  of  the  leaves,  he  only 
gets  rid  of  the  tannic  acid  while  the  gallic  acid  remains 
in  solution,  and  is  afterwards  obtained  together  with 
the  arbutin  (his  ursin).  A  solution  of  this  mixture, 
then,  of  course,  precipitates  with  basic  acetate  of  lead, 
but  then  it  ought  to  be  affected  by  the  salts  of  iron  ;  but 
the  tincture  which  he  used  is  a  very  uncertain  test, 
owing  to  the  free  acid  it  contains,  which  does  not  indi¬ 
cate  small  quantities,  as  in  this  case,  while  the  solution 
of  subacetate  of  lead  precipitates  even  the  smallest  trace 
of  gallic  acid.  Carbonate  of  potash  would  produce  a 
slight  change  in  the  colour,  but  an  actual  precipitation 
did  not  take  place.  The  ursin  of  Hughes  must,  there¬ 
fore,  be  considered  as  an  impure  arbutin. 

[The  author  then  minutely  describes  the  action  of 
nitric  acid  on  arbutin  and  the  production  of  binitro- 
arbutin,  discovered  by  Strecker ;  also,  the  decomposition 
of  this  compound  into  sugar  and  binitro-hydrokinone, 
after  which  the  effect  of  chlorine  upon  arbutin  is  con¬ 
sidered.] 

Arbutin  has  also  been  found  abundantly  in  Chimaphila 
umbellata ,  and  it  probably  exists  in  a  number  of  erica- 
ceous  plants.  Its  medical  properties  have  never  been 
practically  applied;  it  was  at  one  time  believed  to  re¬ 
present  the  diuretic  properties  of  Uva  ursi,  and  Hughes 
states  that  one  grain  of  his  ursin  proved  a  powerful 
diuretic.  The  celebrated  pharmacologist,  Dr.  Schroff  of 
Vienna,  who  experimented  with  pure  arbutin,  states, 
however,  that  it  possesses  no  diuretic  properties  at  all : 
he  gave  it  in  doses  as  high  as  8  grains,  and  could  not 
detect  it  in  the  urine. 

When  the  mother-liquor  from  arbutin  is  heated  with 
a  dilute  acid  (sulphuric  or  muriatic)  a  resinous  body 


D90 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS 


[June  10,  1871. 


separates,  which  has  received  the  name  of  ericolin ;  this, 
again,  is  a  glucoside,  which,  when  treated  with  a  dilute 
acid,  splits  into  grape  sugar,  and  an  odorous  substance 
having  the  character  of  a  volatile  oil,  ericinol;  both 
have  been  noticed  already  by  Kawalier  in  his  investiga¬ 
tion.  In  preparing  ericolin  from  the  mother-liquor  of 
arbutin,  I  found  that  a  portion  of  ericolin  is  decomposed 
as  soon  as  it  forms  into  ericinol,  giving  rise  to  the  strong 
disagreeable  odour  of  the  latter.  Ericolin  is  a  dark 
brown  resin,  becoming  somewhat  lighter  when  dried  and 
rubbed  to  powder ;  its  chemical  composition  is  C6S H56  042. 
Its  decomposition  into  ericinol  is  shown  by  the  follow¬ 
ing:— 

Ericolin.  Ericinol.  Grape  Sugar. 

^gs ■^■56^42  +  8HO  =Co0H1602  -j- 4C12H12012. 

[The  literature  on  ericinol  and  ericolin  is  now  re¬ 
viewed,  and  their  occurrence  in  different  plants  spoken 
of.  The  precipitate  obtained  with  hydrated  oxide  of 
lead  was' found  to  contain  tannin,  gallic  and  malic  acids, 
but  to  be  free  from  tartaric  and  citric  acids.  The  preci¬ 
pitate  obtained  by  adding  alcohol  in  a  concentrated  in¬ 
fusion  of  the  leaves,  contained  gum,  glucose  and  a  lime 
salt.  The  leaves,  previously  exhausted  with  water,  were 
treated  with  ether,  and  Trommsdorff’s  urson  was  pre¬ 
pared  from  the  ethereal  tincture  (see  Am.  Journ.  Ph., 
1854).] 

Trommsdorff’s  process  directs  the  ethereal  extract  to 
be  washed  by  ether  before  treating  with  alcohol ;  this 
removes,  besides  the  colouring  matter,  some  fatty  mat¬ 
ter  ;  but  when  operating  upon  larger  quantities,  I  be¬ 
lieve  that  animal  charcoal  will  answer  the  same  purpose. 
Another  way  to  prepare  urson  is  to  percolate  the  leaves, 
previously  exhausted  by  water,  with  strong  alcohol ;  the 
dark-green  tincture  deposits  already  on  standing  a  large 
quantity  of  nearly  white  urson,  which  only  needs  re- 
crystallizing  ;  the  remainder  of  the  tincture  is  evapo¬ 
rated,  treated  with  water,  and  then  washed  with  ether 
and  recrystallized  from  alcohol.  Urson,  when  pure, 
possesses  neither  odour  nor  taste ;  it  is  insoluble  in 
water,  sparingly  soluble  in  alcohol  and  ether.  It  is  not 
affected  by  alkalies  or  dilute  acids. 

Concentrated  sulphuric  acid  turns  it  black  and  gra¬ 
dually  carbonizes  it,  the  acid  assuming  a  red  colour. 
Concentrated  nitric  acid  turns  it  yellow,  gradually  dis¬ 
solving  it,  giving  off  nitrous  apid.  When  heated,  urson 
melts  into  an  amorphous  transparent  mass;  at  a  still 
higher  temperature  it  boils  and  sublimes  in  a  test-tube 
unchanged.  Its  medical  properties  have  as  yet  not  been 
ascertained,  at  least  no  physiological  experiments  have 
been  made  with  it,  and  very  probably  it  is  entirely  inert. 
A  small  quantity  of  volatile  oil  was  found  in  the  aqueous 
solution  of  the  ethereal  extract,  besides  some  tannic  and 
gallic  acids. 

The  organic  constituents  of  uva  ursi  as  obtained  by 
this  investigation,  therefore,  are : — 

Arbutin,  and  its  product  of  decomposition,  hydro- 
kinone ;  ericolin,  ericinol,  urson ;  (ursin,  the  diuretic 
principle  of  Hughes,  was  found  to  be  impure  arbutin  ;) 
tannic,  gallic  and  malic  acids,  then  a  small  quantity  of 
volatile  oil,  fatty  matter,  wax,  gum,  sugar,  albumen, 
colouring  matter,  etc. 

The  test  for  arbutin  may,  perhaps,  serve  for  finding 
this  principle  in  plants,  without  isolating  it,  for  an  in¬ 
fusion  of  uva  ursi,  when  diluted  with  sufficient  water  to 
make  it  perfectly  colourless  and  then  rendered  alkaline, 
produces,  on  the  addition  of  phosphomolybdic  acid,  the 
blue  reaction  due  to  arbutin  ;  when  the  alkali  (ammonia) 
is  added  to  the  diluted  colourless  infusion,  a  colour 
(orange)  again  appears,  owing  to  the  astringent  acids 
present ;  this  colour  must  also  be  removed  by  again  di¬ 
luting  it  with  water,  before  the  final  addition  of  the 
phosphomolybdic  acid. 

This  test  cannot  be  applied  to  a  strong  infusion,  be¬ 
cause  phosphomolybdic  acid  reacts  with  tannic  and  gallic 
ncids  green,  and  the  blue  colour  cannot  then  be  observed. 
— Amer .  Journ.  of  Pharmacy. 


ERYTHROCENTAURIN  IN  AMERICAN  CENTAURY. 

BY  JOHN  F.  HUNEKER. 

This  principle  was  discovered  in  European  centaury 
( Erythrcea  Centaur ium),  a  few  years  ago,  by  Mehu,  a 
French  chemist,  who  obtained  it  in  the  minute  quantity 
of  one  grain  in  three  thousand  grains  of  the  herb. 
The  question  very  naturally  arose,  whether  American 
centaury  ( Sabbatia  angularis)  also  contained  this  princi¬ 
ple;  the  experimenter  will  prove  that  it  may  be  ob¬ 
tained. 

The  flowers  and  leaves  of  Sabbatia  angnlaris  to  the 
amount  of  two  pounds  were  exhausted  with  one  gallon 
of  water,  a  portion  of  which  was  evaporated  by  a  water 
bath,  and  allowed  to  stand  to  deposit  the  apotheme. 
This  was  separated  by  filtration,  and  strong  alcohol 
added  to  the  filtrate,  which  precipitated  gum.  On  again 
filtering,  the  infusion  was  evaporated  to  the  consistence 
of  a  syrup,  and,  on  cooling,  washed  with  strong  ether, 
which  took  up  erythrocentaurin  and  deposited  it  on 
spontaneous  evaporation.  Erythrocentaurin,  as  thus 
obtained,  is  a  non-nitrogenous  principle,  in  small  acicu- 
lar  crystals,  which  are  transparent,  but  in  this  case  were 
contaminated  with  yellow  colouring  matter,  and,  being 
in  such  a  small  quantity,  the  experimenter  feared  losing 
them  in  decolorizing. 

The  crystals  have  a  sharp  acrid  taste,  reminding  one  of 
tobacco,  and  are  soluble  in  alcohol,  ether,  water,  alkalies 
in  solution  and  acids,  but  insoluble  in  fixed  and  volatile 
oils,  being  also  slightly  volatilized  by  heat. 

The  only  proofs  that  they  are  similar  to  erythrocen¬ 
taurin  of  the  European  centaury  are : — first,  that  they 
exist  in  the  same  minute  quantity ;  second,  that  they 
are  reddened  by  solar  light,  but  if  dissolved  and  recrystal¬ 
lized,  regain  their  original  colour.  Therefore  there  is 
not  a  doubt  but  that  these  principles  are  similar  in  com¬ 
position  and  character. 

[The  author  made  a  series  of  experiments  to  deter¬ 
mine  the  proximate  composition  of  American  centaury, 
and  found,  besides  erythrocentaurin,  resin,  chlorophyll, 
fatty  matter,  gum,  albumen,  pectin,  bitter  extractive, 
trace  of  volatile  oil,  an  organic  acid,  red  colouring  matter 
and  salts.  He  was  unsuccessful  in  his  attempts  to  isolate 
and  crystallize  the  bitter  principle. 

The  author  regards  the  aqueous  extract  as  the  most 
concentrated  pharmaceutical  preparation ;  he  gave  ten 
grains  of  it  to  a  half-grown  cat,  which  in  a  short  time 
appeared  to  be  under  the  influence  of  a  narcotic  seda¬ 
tive  ;  after  sleep,  lasting  for  two  hours,  violent  purgation 
set  in,  causing  death  in  twenty-four  hours. — Ed.  Amer . 
Journ.  Pharm.~\ 


THE  CHEMISTRY  OF  CALICO  PRINTING.* 

BY  JAMES  BLAIR. 

The  art  of  producing  coloured  figures  or  patterns  on 
cotton  cloth  has  been  known  and  practised  for  many 
years  in  this  country,  and  for  centuries  in  India  and 
China.  Within  the  last  quarter  of  a  century  this  indus¬ 
try  has  made  great  progress,  due  to  the  use  of  improved 
appliances,  and  the  more  accurate  knowledge  of  colour¬ 
ing  matters  and  their  various  compounds,  besides  the 
discovery  of  many  new  colouring  matters,  the  result  of 
unwearied  chemical  investigation  and  research.  This 
result  has  been  greatly  attained  by  calico  printers  them¬ 
selves,  among  wdiom  are  to  be  found  many  able  che¬ 
mists. 

The  old  plan  of  printing  with  blocks  by  hand  has 
been  almost  entirely  superseded  by  the  cylinder  printing 
machine,  and  in  every  department  more  perfect  ma¬ 
chinery  has  been  introduced,  with  a  corresponding  de¬ 
crease  of  manual  labour.  The  result  of  this  is,  that 


*  Paper  read  before  the  Liverpool  Chemists’  Association, 
on  March  16th  and  April  13th,  1871. 


'June  10, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


991 


while  the  production  of  printed  goods  is  yearly  increas- 
ing,  the  number  of  operatives  employed  is  nearly  sta¬ 
tionary  ;  the  number  of  print-works  is  also  smaller  than 
previously,  the  small  works  having  been  gradually  sup¬ 
planted  by  a  few  large  ones.  Some  of  these  are  very  ex¬ 
tensive,  employing  over  1000  operatives,  and  producing 
’nearly  1,500,000  pieces  of  printed  cloth  per  annum. 

Of  the  very  many  colouring  matters  known,  compara¬ 
tively  few  are  now  employed  by  the  calico  printer  in 
producing  all  the  combinations  of  colours  he  requires  ; 
and  these  vary  greatly,  both  in  the  manner  of  applica-. 
tion  and  in  the  value  of  the  effects  produced;  and  as 

■  chemistry  has  furnished  us  with  a  host  of  new  colouring 
matters, — aniline,  phenol,  naphthaline,  and  anthracine 
•colours, — and  as  these  are  commercially  valuable  just  in 
•  so  far  as  they  can  be  employed  by  the  dyer  and  printer, 
I  have  thought  that  a  brief  sketch  of  the  various  opera¬ 
tions,  and  the  chemical  changes  involved,  might  possess 

.  some  little  interest. 

Fibres  may  be  generally  divided  into  two  classes, 

■  animal  fibre  and  vegetable  fibre, — the  former  re¬ 
presented  by  silk  and  wool,  the  latter  by  flax  and 

<  cotton,  which  entirely  differ,  both  in  their  formation 
'  and  in  the  manner  in  which  they  retain  colouring  mat¬ 
ters.  Animal  fibre,  such  as  wool,  presents  under  the 
microscope  the  appearance  of  a  solid  cylinder  of  a  soft 
.  spongy  matter,  has  considerable  elasticity,  and  absorbs 
and  retains  readily  most  colouring  matters.  It  contains  a 
.fatty  matter,  from  which  it  has  to  be  freed  by  scouring 
with  very  weak  alkali,  to  prepare  it  for  dyeing.  Wool, 
.also,  is  strongly  acted  on,  indeed  dissolved  by  alkalies,  and 
it  is  turned  yellow  by  immersion  in  nitric  or  sulphuric 
.acids.  Cotton,  on  the  other  hand,  is  unchanged  in  colour 
by  N  Oj  or  S  03,  but  first  swells  up,  and  by  lengthened 
immersion  dissolves  in  these  acids,  while  it  is  nearly  un- 
affected  by  treatment  with  alkaline  solutions,  and  it  con¬ 
tains  no  oil  in  the  fibre.  Wool  not  only  absorbs  colour- 

■  ing  matters  from  their  solutions,  but  many  metallic 
salts  (as  AL03S03),  which  cannot  be  removed  by  wash¬ 
ing  with  cold  water,  and  only  by  large  volumes  of  boil¬ 
ing  water.  Cotton,  on  the  other  hand,  has  a  very  weak 
.affinity  for  metallic  salts  and  colour.  When  viewed 
nnder  the  microscope,  a  cct’:on  fibre  presents  the  appear¬ 
ance  of  a  hollow  cylindrical  tube,  sometimes  slightly 

-■oval,  the  walls  of  the  tube  being  coated  with  a  fine 
.-down.  Some  chemists,  as  Persoz,  have  maintained  that 
■the  union  of  fibres  with  metallic  salts  and  colouring  mat¬ 
ters  was  purely  chemical,  and  that  the  difference  between 
wool  and  cotton  in  this  respect  was  simply  one  of  degree. 
-However,  Mr.  Crum  has  shown  that  dyed  cotton  cloth 
.retains  the  colour  simply  mechanically  ;  in  other  words, 
the  dyeing  of  cotton  consists  in  introducing  the  colouring 
••matter  in  a  soluble  form  into  the  hollow  tube,  and  then 
-solidifying  it  by  forming  an  insoluble  lake  with  some 
metallic  salt  or  other  mordant,  when  the  insoluble  com¬ 
pound  so  produced  is  unable  to  escape  by  the  narrow 
openings  of  the  fibre. 

In  unripe  or  not  fully-developed  cotton  the  tube  is 
nearly  flat,  and  too  narrow  to  admit  of  solution  ;  conse¬ 
quently,  this  cotton  will  not  dye.  The  printer  receives 
•the  grey  cloth  direct  from  the  loom,  and  turns  it  out 
-ready  to  be  made  up  into  dresses,  which  involves 
.several  operations  preparatory  to,  and  succeeding,  the 
impression  of  the  coloured  pattern  on  the  cloth.  Pre¬ 
paratory  to  the  printing,  the  cloth  is  singed  and 
■bleached. 

Singeing  is  a  purely  mechanical  operation,  and  has  for 
its  object  the  removal  of  the  soft  down  coating  the  ex¬ 
terior  of  the  fibres.  The  appliance  consists  of  a  small  fur¬ 
nace  about  10  ft.  long  by  6  ft.  high  and  5  ft.  broad ;  in  the 
-middle  of  the  roof  of  the  furnace,  and  running  its  entire 
length,  is  a  semicircular  bar  of  copper,  which  is  kept  red- 
hot  by  the  fire  underneath.  The  cloth  is  drawn  over, 
.and,  by  pressing  in  its  passage  the  red-hot  copper  bar, 
the  down  on  the  cloth  is  burnt  off;  but  the  spark  on 
idle  cloth  is  extinguished  before  the  cloth  can  be  materially 


injured  bypassing  immediately  through  a  trough  of  cold 
water.  This  operation,  if  properly  conducted,  does  not 
injure  the  strength  of  the  fibre,  which  should  sustain  the 
same  strain  after  as  before  singeing.  The  next  opera¬ 
tion  is  bleaching. 

Bleaching  has  for  its  object  purification  of  the  fabric 
from  all  coloured  or  other  impurities,  whether  naturally 
associated  with  the  tissues  or  added  to  serve  some  pur¬ 
pose,  and  wdiich,  communicating  more  or  less  colour  to 
the  cloth,  thereby  destroy  its  beauty.  These  are  a  re¬ 
sinous  matter,  a  yellowish  colour,  soluble  in  alkalies ; 
the  dressing  employed  in  the  manufacture  of  the  cloth, 
and  the  coloration  produced  by  singeing.  This  process 
is  conducted  in  the  following  manner : — 

_  The  grey  cloth  is  first  damped  (by  passing  through  a 
cistern  filled  with  cold  water,  and  is  then  drawn  through 
squeezers,  by  which  the  damping  is  made  uniform  and 
the  excess  of  water  removed)  to  make  it  less  bulky  in 
the  kier,  to  which  it  is  transferred  from  the  squeezers  by 
a  winch. 

During  the  filling  of  the  kier  the  valves  at  the  bottom 
are  kept  open  to  allow  of  the  escape  of  any  moisture 
which  may  fall  to  the  bottom. 

In  a  pot  or  small  boiler,  60  lb.  of  burnt  lime  shell  are 
slaked  and  boiled  with  100  lb.  of  soda  ash  dissolved  in 
water,  until  the  carbonate  of  soda  is  converted  into 
caustic  soda. 

The  solution  is  allowed  to  clarify  by  resting  till  the 
sediment  (CaOCCh)  has  fallen  to  the  bottom,  and  the 
clear  solution  is  drawn  off  by  a  valve  situated  a  few 
inches  above  the  bottom  of  the  pot,  and  run  into  the 
kier  where  the  grey  cloth  has  been  arranged.  The 
charge  is  made  up  wdth  water  to  900  gallons,  or  till  the 
cloth  is  covered  with  the  alkaline  solution.  This  is  the 
charge  for  4000  lb.  of  grey  muslins  or  calicoes,  and  is 
boiled  for  four  hours  under  35  lb.  pressure  steam. 

The  solution  is  then  drawn  off  from  the  kier  into  a 
cistern,  where  it  is  kept  for  further  use,  and  the  goods 
are  cooled  by  running  cold  water  on  them,  which  is  al¬ 
lowed  to  drain  off  by  the  bottom  of  the  kier. 

The  cloth  is  then  run  from  the  kier  through  a  machine, 
fed  with  200  lb.  burnt  lime  shell  slaked  and  made  into 
a  cream  with  water,  and  back  to  the  kier,  where  it  is 
boiled  (with  the  liquor  of  the  first  boil  and  the  200  lb.  of 
'  ime  which  it  took  up  in  passing  through  the  machine) 
for  ten  hours  with  open  kiers. 

The  exhausted  liquor  is  of  no  further  use  and  is  thrown 
away;  the  goods  are  then  cooled,  passed  through  a 
washing  machine  with  cold  water,  and  then  through  a 
souring  machine,  fed  with  sulphuric  acid,  at  4°  Tw.,  and 
allowed  to  lie  in  the  sour  taken  up,  on  a  drainer  for  four 
'lours. 

The  cloth  is  then  washed  by  passing  through  a  ma¬ 
chine  with  water,  twice  if  the  water  be  not  very  pure, 
but  if  quite  pure,  the  washing  may  be  effected  by  pour¬ 
ing  water  upon  the  goods  till  the  sour  is  washed  out. 

The  goods  are  then  run  back  to  the  kier  and  boiled 
with  a  charge  consisting  of  250  lb.  of  soda  ash,  60  lb.  of 
rosin  and  900  gallons  of  water  (which  has  been  previously 
prepared  in  the  following  manner),  for  ten  hours,  under 
35  lb.  pressure  of  steam.  The  250  lb.  soda  ash  are  dis¬ 
solved  in  150  gallons  of  water  and  added  to  the  60  lb. 
rosin.  This  solution  of  rosin  soap  is  then  run  into  the 
kier  and  water  added  up  to  900  gallons,  with  the  4000 
lb.  of  cloth,  and  boiled,  as  before  stated,  for  ten  hours 
under  35  lb.  pressure  of  steam. 

The  liquor  is  then  run  off  and  the  goods  cooled  as 
before.  The  goods  are  then  washed  in  a  machine  and 
passed  through  squeezers.  The  cloth  is  then  passed 
through  a  machine,  fed  with  bleaching  liquor,  at  1°  to  2° 
on  the  chlorine  test,  and  allowed  to  lie  on  a  drainer  four 
hours.  It  is  then  sweetened  by  passing  through  a  ma¬ 
chine  with  water,  soured  as  before,  and  the  sour  washed 
out  by  twice  washing  with  cold  water. 

It  is  then  dried  on  steam-heated  cylinders. 

Previous  to  printing,  the  cloth  is  shaved,  or  freed  from- 


992 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  10, 1871. 


loose  fibres,  by  passing  over  a  spiral  knife,  dusted,  and 
then  beamed  on  a  roller  free  from  all  creases.  It  is  then 
ready  for  printing. 

The  colours  of  printed  goods  may  be  divided  into  three 
classes,  viz.  1.  Pigment  Colours;  2.  Steam  Colours; 
3.  Mordanted  Colours. 

Pigment  Colours  are  those  which  require  no  treatment 
subsequent  to  printing  to  develope  them,  and  which  re¬ 
main  in  great  measure  unchanged  in  colour  by  printing, 
and  where  the  operation  consists  simply  in  fixing  them 
in  or  on  the  cloth.  They  are  of  two  kinds — 1st,  soluble 
pigments,  which  can  be  introduced  into  the  interior  of 
the  fibres,  such  as  the  aniline  colours;  2nd,  insoluble 
pigments,  which  can  only  be  fastened  on  the  exterior,  as 
idtramarine,  chrome  green,  ochres,  lakes,  etc. 

6 'team  Colours  are  those  in  which  chemical  and  colour¬ 
ing  matters  are  so  mixed  that,  when  printed,  they  enter 
the  fibre  in  solution ;  but,  on  being  submitted  to  the 
action  of  steam,  chemical  combination  takes  place,  so  as 
to  produce  an  insoluble  colour  in  the  fibre. 

Mordanted  Colours  are  those  where  a  metallic  salt  or 
other  fixing  agent  is  printed  on  the  cloth,  which,  when 
subsequently  immersed  in  a  bath  containing  the  colour¬ 
ing  matter  in  solution,  becomes  dyed,  the  mordant  form¬ 
ing  with  the  colour  an  insoluble  lake  or  coloured  com¬ 
pound,  as  garancine  and  madder  work. 

In  describing  the  operation  of  printing,  it  is  necessary 
to  describe  the  apparatus  employed ;  secondly,  the  pre¬ 
paration  of  the  colours,  and  the  mode  of  procedure. 

The  printing  machine  consists  of  a  massive  iron  roller, 
accurately  turned,  supported  at  each  end  by  a  strong- 
iron  support  or  cheek  furnished  with  arms,  through  each 
of  which  works  a  screw ;  at  the  ends  of  the  screws  are 
the  rests  in  which  the  ends  of  the  copper  rollers  are 
placed,  and  by  these  screws  the  rollers  can  be  tightly 
screwed  up  against  the  iron  cylinder.  There  is  also  an 
arrangement  of  screws  to  fix  the  rollers  more  or  less 
aside,  so  as  to  enable  the  printer  to  fit  the  pattern  that  is 
to  make  the  engravings  on  the  various  rollers  exactly 
coincide.  Above  the  central  roller  of  the  machine  is  a 
light  iron  roller,  and  around  these  two  rollers  passes  an 
endless  blanket  of  india-rubber.  The  cloth  to  be  printed 
is  fastened  behind  the  machine  on  two  light  projecting 
arms.  The  rollers  having  been  properly  fastened  in 
the  machine,  a  colour  trough  of  wood  or  copper  is 
fastened  beneath  each  copper  roller ;  in  each  trough  is 
a  light  wooden  roller,  sometimes  a  brush,  brought  nearly 
in  contact  with  the  copper  roller ;  this  is  to  transfer  the 
supply  of  colour  from  the  trough  to  the  copper  roller. 
Into  each  trough  is  then  placed  the  colour  to  be  printed 
on  the  cloth  by  that  part  of  the  pattern  engraved  on  the 
corresponding  copper  roller.  When  the  machine  is  set 
in  motion,  the  cloth  is  passed  between  the  copper  rollers 
and  the  iron  cylinder  of  the  machine,  and  in  its  passage 
it  gets  the  coloured  pattern  impressed  upon  it.  Each 
copper  roller  is  furnished  with  two  knives,  one  resting 
along  the  top,  the  other  along  its  base  ;  the  one  is  to  re¬ 
move  all  colour  from  the  surface  of  the  roller,  except 
that  in  the  engraving,  before  coming  in  contact  with  the 
cloth,  the  other  to  take  up  any  loose  fibres  or  down  be¬ 
fore  the  roller  gets  a  second  supply  of  colour.  Simulta¬ 
neously  with  the  passage  of  the  white  cloth  through  the 
machine,  two  plies  of  grey  cloth  are  passed  through  the 
machine  with  it,  and  between  the  endless  blanket  of  fhe 
machine  and  the  white  cloth  ;  this  is  to  serve  as  a  blotter 
and  to  absorb  any  excess  of  colour  printed  on,  and  so  pre- 
\  ent  any  spreading  ot  the  colours  beyond  the  limits  of 
the  pattern. 

( To  be  continued.) 


FERRATED  ELIXIR  OF  CINCHONA. 

1IY  PROFESSOR  MAISCH. 

At  my  request,  Mr.  William  M ‘Intyre,  of  Philadelphia, 
has  furnished  me  with  the  following  formula  for  elixir  of 
calisaya  with  pyrophosphate  of  iron,  in  which  calisaya 
hark  is  employed : — • 


Take  of  Calisaya  ^iv 

Sweet  Orange  Peel,  recently  dried  5'ui 

Coriander  5vi 

Ceylon  Cinnamon  5iv 

Cardamom 

Anise,  ana  31J. 

Prepare  these  for  percolation,  and  displace  with  a 
mixture  of  one  quart  stronger  alcohol  and  three  quarts  • 
of  water. 

To  this  tincture  add — - 

Oil  of  Orange  (fresh)  40  in. 

Lemon  (fresh)  16  in. 

Almonds  (fresh,  essential)  4  m ,  dissolved 
in  Alcohol,  four  fl.  drs. 

Agitate  this  mixture  with  moist  freshly  precipitated 
hydrated  sesquioxide  of  iron  (well  washed),  prepared, 
from  an  aqueous  solution  of  the  sesquicliloride,  for  three 
or  four  days,  or  until  a  portion  filtered  off  shows  no  re¬ 
action  with  the  tincture  of  chloride  of  iron.  Filter,  and. 
dissolve  in  it,  without  heat,  two  and  a  half  pounds  (av.)  • 
sugar.  Add  1024  grs.  pyrophosphate  of  iron,  previously- 
dissolved  in  a  small  portion  of  water,  and  make  up  the 
measure  of  one  gallon,  if  necessary,  by  the  addition  of 
water.  If  a  more  reddish  colour  is  wanted,  use  a  few 
grains  of  soluble  citrate  of  iron. 

The  elixir  thus  prepared  will  keep  well  in  colour,  and 
has  a  resemblance  to  the  article  extensively  advertised 
under  the  same  name. 

If  the  cinchona  bark  contains  3  per  cent,  of  alkaloids, 
and  supposing  the  bark  to  be  entirely  exhausted,  one- 
gallon  of  elixir  prepared  according  to  the  above  formula 
would  contain  about  GO  grains  of  alkaloids,  or  nearly 
half  a  grain  to  the  fluid  ounce.  Cinchona  bark,  however, 
cannot  be  completely  exhausted  by  weak  alcohol,  and 
after  the  treatment  of  the  resulting  tincture  with  hy¬ 
drated  sesquioxide  of  iron,  the  natural  combination  of' 
the  cinchona  alkaloids  is  broken  up,  and  nothing  of 
medicinal  value  is  retained  by  the  liquid  except  the 
alkaloids.  The  aromatics  used  in  most  of  the  formulas, 
I  believe,  add  comparatively  little  to  the  medicinal  virtues  • 
of  this  preparation,  which  aims,  ostensibly,  to  unite  the 
tonic  properties  of  cinchona  and  iron.  These  considera-  - 
tions  induced  me  to  take  advantage  of  the  excellent  com¬ 
bination  of  aromatics  with  calisaya  bark,  which  was 
suggested  by  Dr.  Squibb,  and  has  met  -with  great  favour 
by  the  medical  corps  of  the  United  States  army.  Accord¬ 
ingly,  I  have  dispensed,  for  the  last  five  years,  a  ferrated 
elixir  of  calisaya  made  by  the  following  formula,  and 
manipulated  as  follows : — 

1.  Triturate  magnes.  carbon.  5SS  first  with  the  follow¬ 
ing-  volatile  oils : — 01.  aurantii  u\  xx,  ol.  anisi  ut  xv,  ol. 
coriandri  and  cinnam.  ana  ut  10,  ol.  carvi  ut  v;  then, 
with  a  mixture  of  2  oz.  alcohol  and  14  oz.  water,  throw 
upon  a  filter  and  wash  with  water  until  the  filtrate 
measures  3J  pints. 

2.  Mix  tinct.  cardam.  (simpl.)  f^ij,  tinct.  zingib.  and 
calami  ana  fgi,  alcohol  Oj,  and  add  syrup,  simpl.  Oj. 

3.  Dissolve  unbleached  quinia  5iss,  with  acid.  citr. 
5ijss,  in  alcoh.  dilut.  fgiv. 

4.  Dissolve  forri  pyrophosph.  5xx,  in  aq.  ferv.  f*viij. 

Add  solution  No.  3  to  No.  2;  then  add  No.  4,  then. 

No  1,  and  finally  add  1-4  pint  simple  syrup  and  4-  pint 
alcohol.  The  whole  measures  8-|  pints,  and  may  be 
coloured  by  caramel  to  suit;  each  fluid  ounce  contains 
about  9i  grs.  pyrophosphate,  f  gr.  alkaloids,  and  1  gr. 
each  of  ginger,  calamus,  and  cardamom.  It  has  a  very 
pleasant,  warm,  aromatic,  but,  at  the  same  time,  a 
decidedly  bitter  taste.  The  unbleached  quinia  may  be 
prepared  from  the  infusion  of  calisaya  bark,  made  with 
acidulated  water,  by  precipitating  with  an  alkali.  I  have 
come  into  possession  of  a  chinoidin  containing  a  large 
percentage  of  quinia  and  quinidia,  which  has  been  used 
with  advantage. 

_  The  two  formulas  published  above  represent  the  two  • 
views  held  by  our  pharmacists,  namely,  that  cinchona 
bark,  as  such,  and  the  isolated  alkaloids  alone  should  be  • 
combined  with  salts  of  iron. — Amer.  Journal  of  Pharmacy*. 


-June  10, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


993 


Jiljitrnutttufkal  Journal. 

• - ♦ - - 

SATURDAY,  JUNE  10,  1S71. 


Communications  for  this  Journal,  and  boohs  for  review ,  etc., 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

Instructions  from  Members  and  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Biiem- 
ridge,  Secretary,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  IF.  C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London ,  TF.  Envelopes  indorsed  11  Pharm.  JournP 


THE  REGULATION  OF  PHARMACY  FROM  A 
MEDICAL  POINT  OF  VIEW. 

Ouh  esteemed  contemporary,  tlie  British  Medical 
■Journal,  has  undertaken  to  censure  with  vehemence 
the  action  latety  taken  in  reference  to  poison  regula¬ 
tions.  Though  an  entire  column  is  occupied  with  hard 
words  of  condemnation,  the  real  facts  of  the  case  are 
evidently  so  little  understood  by  the  writer  that  we 
•are  filled  with  wonder  to  find  a  journal  so  likely  to 
be  well  informed  on  this  subject  should  have  perpe¬ 
trated  such  an  absurdity  as  to  charge  the  Council 
'with  breaking  faith  with  the  Government.  It  is 
■equally  absurd  to  blame  the  Council  of  this  Society 
with  having  avoided  a  responsibility  that  never 
rested  until  it,  and  never  was  imposed  upon  it  by 
the  Government  or  the  Pharmacy  Act,  or  anything 
save  our  contemporary’s  imagination ;  for  though 
the  public  at  large,  or  the  general  press,  might  well 
be  excused  for  ignorance  of  the  fact,  we  little  ex¬ 
pected  to  find  a  medical  journal  even  forgetting  that 
the  power  of  prescribing  poison  regulations  does  not 
rest  until  the  Council  at  all,  but  that  it  is  the  Society 
:alone,  in  its  corporate  capacity,  which  has  that  power 
under  the  Pharmacy  Act ;  yet  this  cardinal  fact  is 
-overlooked  by  the  British  Medical  Journal ;  and 
since  its  censure  of  the  Council  has  no  other  founda¬ 
tion,  we  have  no  need  to  defend  that  body  against 
the  charge  of  having  committed  “  a  flagrant  aban¬ 
donment  of  public  duty.” 

But,  apart  from  tliis  strange  error,  we  will  not 
affect  to  be  unconscious  that  our  contemporary’s 
strictures  were  intended  to  have  a  wider  application. 
No  doubt  the  writer  of  the  article  shares  the  opinion 
of  those  who  advocate  the  adoption  of  poison  regu¬ 
lations  in  a  compulsory  form, — they  are  a  numerous 
and  a  goodly  party,  comprising  some  of  the  foremost 
men  of  British  Pharmacy, — but  we  must  not  forget 
that  they  constitute  a  minority  of  the  Society  which 
lias  the  power  of  acting  in  the  matter.  Even  Mr. 
Saxdford,  the  most  strenuous  advocate  of  compul¬ 
sory  regulation,  recognizes  the  propriety  of  united 
action  in  which  the  minority  should  succumb  to  the 
majority,  and  we  have  always  contended  that  this 
question  must  be  decided  by  vote.  It  has  been  so 
decided,  and  whether  the  decision  be  right  or  wrong, 
whether  it  be  a  conclusive  settlement  of  the  question 


or  not,  those  who  hold  the  opinion  of  the  minority 
have  no  right  to  assume  that  the  majority  has  been 
unmindful  of  those  duties  and  obligations  which  are 
imposed  upon  the  Society  by  the  Pharmacy  Act,  or  that 
the  opposition  to  compulsory  regulations  has  been 
instigated  by  selfish  disregard  of  what  is  necessary 
for  the  public  safety.  Without  taking  side  with 
either  of  the  opinions  held  on  the  question  of  poison 
regulations,  we  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  such  an 
assumption  would  be  monstrous.  However  obliga¬ 
tory  the  provisions  of  the  Act  may  be  in  regard  to 
poison  regulations,  it  surely  cannot  be  contended 
that  the  Society  is  under  the  obligation  to  prescribe 
regulations  unless  they  were  necessary,  and  it  has 
been  decided  by  the  Society  that  compulsory  regula¬ 
tions  are  not  needed. 

The  Society  has  done  what  it  deemed  necessary, 
after  consideration  of  the  question  by  those  most 
competent  to  judge.  It  has,  in  fact,  adopted  the 
recommendation  of  its  Council  (though  the  British 
Medical  Journal  does  not  appear  to  be  aware  of  this) ; 
and  until  the  measures  decided  upon  have  proved 
inadequate  to  secure  the  public  against  danger  aris¬ 
ing  from  the  keeping  and  dispensing  of  poisons,  there 
does  not  seem  to  be  any  rational  ground  for  urging 
that  further  steps  be  taken.  Whenever  that  proof 
can  be  furnished,  we  have  little  doubt  that  the  mem¬ 
bers  of  this  Society  will  duly  fulfil  their  obligations 
and  exercise  their  privilege  of  providing  a  remedy  at 
once  protective  of  the  public  and  conducive  to  their 
own  interests  as  a  class.  Meanwhile,  we  would  sug¬ 
gest  to  our  contemporary  that  his  zeal  in  the  matter 
of  poison  regulations  may  be  fitly  exercised  in  re¬ 
forming  the  practices  of  medical  dispensers,  and  with, 
great  prospect  of  benefit  to  the  public.  The  oppor¬ 
tunity  for  this  has  been  pointed  out  repeatedly  hi 
this  Journal,  and  it  is  again  referred  to  in  tills 
number  by  a  correspondent. 


THE  PRELIMINARY  EXAMINATION. 

To  undergo  an  examination,  it  will  be  admitted, 
is  not  gerierally  one  of  the  most  agreeable  ordeals ; 
and  if  the  person  examined  be  inexperienced  and 
the  surrounding  circumstances  be  strange,  the  re¬ 
sulting  embarrassment  doubtless  sometimes  prevents 
the  candidate  from  doing  full  justice  to  liis  attain¬ 
ments.  This  would  be  very  likely  to  occur  in  such 
an  examination  as  the  Preliminary  Examination  of 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  where  a  large  proportion 
of  the  persons  examined  are  young,  and  comparatively 
unaccustomed  to  judge  and  act  for  themselves.  To 
assist  such  in  economizing  the  time  at  their  disposal 
by  proceeding  methodically  to  their  work,  the  follow¬ 
ing  plain  suggestions  for  avoiding  the  errors  wliicli 
the  candidates  most  frequently  fall  into,  have  been 
prepared.  We  hope  that  they  will  be  of  service  and 
prove  the  truth  of  the  adage, — 

“A  word  spoken  in  due  season,  how  good  is  it  I” 


994 


THE  PHAEMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  10, 1871. 


1.  Do  the  work  in  the  order  set  clown,  not  begin¬ 
ning  with  English,  running  confusedly  into  arith¬ 
metic  and  Latin,  and  then  finishing  with  English. 

2.  Do  not  throw  away  time  by  writing  out  the 
questions  before  the  answers ;  put  the  numbers  only, 
distinctly  and  carefully,  leaving  a  small  space 
between  each  answer. 

3.  Translate  all  the  Latin,  if  it  can  be  done  readily, 
without  taking  up  too  much  time,  or  such  passages 
only  as  can  be  done. 

4.  Head  the  questions  carefully,  and  do  not  give  a 
gender  when  asked  for  a  case. 

5.  When  particular  case-endings  of  certain  nouns 
are  required,  do  not  decline  one  noun  entirely. 

C.  When  Latin  examples  are  asked  for,  give  them 
in  that  language,  and  not  in  English. 

7.  Do  not  say  objective  case  in  Latin,  or  accusa¬ 
tive  in  English. 

8.  In  arithmetic  endeavour  to  let  the  working  of 
the  sums  appear,  keep  them  well  apart;  when  the 
answers  only  are  put  down,  let  them  be  clear  and 
separate ;  let  the  scribbling-papers,  showing  the 
working,  accompany  the  answers,  and  do  not  lose 
time  by  carrying  decimals  ad  infinitum. 

9.  In  the  English  let  the  composition  be  written, 
if  possible,  fairly  off  at  first,  so  as  not  to  spend  time 
in  writing  the  same  twice ;  attend  to  the  orthography  ; 
select  one  subject  and  keep  to  it,  not  doing  five  or  six 
lines  upon  two  subjects. 

10.  All  the  previous  questions  being  published, 
work  them  out,  and  ask  some  kind  friend  to  examine, 
and,  if  necessary,  correct  the  answers. 

11.  Each  candidate  should  state  his  age  as  indi¬ 
cated. 

12.  By  endeavouring  to  cany  out  these  simple 
directions,  candidates  will  not  so  frequently  finish 
with  “no  more  time.” 


DR.  ACLAND  ON  THE  NATIONAL  HEALTH. 

A  numerous  and  influential  audience  assembled 
in  the  theatre  of  the  Iloyal  College  of  Physicians  on 
Friday,  the  2nd  instant,  to  hear  Dr.  Acland’s  lecture 
on  the  “National  Health.”  Few  men  have  esta¬ 
blished  a  better  right  to  be  heard  on  this  subject 
than  the  Regius  Professor  of  Medicine  in  the  Uni¬ 
versity  of  Oxford.  His  monograph  on  the  outbreak 
of  cholera  there  in  1854;  his  numerous  lectures  and 
reports  on  drainage,  on  fever,  on  the  sanitary  con¬ 
dition  of  various  localities,  take  rank  among  the 
best  contributions  to  the  science  of  hygiene ;  while 
their  classic  elegance  of  style  has  made  their  sub¬ 
ject  attractive  in  quarters  rarely  reached  by  the 
pure  savant.  His  lecture  of  Friday  last  will  very 
shortly  be  made  publici  juris,  so  that  it  will  suffice 
for  us  merely  to  draw  attention  to  one  or  two  of  its 
salient  features. 

Dr.  Acland  placed  in  a  very  clear  light  what  is 
meant  by  National  Health,  which  he  defined  to  be. 


“  that  condition  of  the  individuals  of  the  nation 
which  enables  those  individuals  to  discharge  rightly 
their  respective  functions  in  the  State,  ‘  to  do  their 
duty  in  the  state  of  life  to  which  they  are  called  ’ : 
the  statesman  to  be  in  training  for  exercising  the 
complex  intellectual  operations  of  his  high  office; 
the  artisan,  the  soldier,  the  abstract  thinker,  each  for 
his ;  and  if  we  regard  the  philosophic  teaching  of  the 
great  author  of  the  4  Republic,’  parents  of  either  sex 
for  the  raising  of  the  future  citizens  of  the  State.”' 
Combating  the  objection  that  “National  Health”  is. 
a  fiction  of  the  mind, — that  no  such  collective  phy¬ 
sical  condition  exists, — he  proceeded  to  show  that' 
Darwin’s  doctrine  confirms  the  conviction  that  ac¬ 
quired  habits,  whether  of  body  or  mind,  may  be 
very  permanent  in  a  race — so  permanent  as  to  re¬ 
quire  a  corresponding  persistency  of  sanitary  amelio- 
ration  to  eradicate  them. 

He  drew  an  interesting  sketch  of  the  noble  con¬ 
troversy  which  some  forty  years  ago  arose  in  Scot¬ 
land  between  Dr.  Chalmers  and  Dr.  Pulteney. 
Alison  as  to  whether  the  care  of  the  sick  poor  and. 
of  the  destitute  should  be  left  to  the  voluntary  efforts, 
of  the  benevolent,  or  be  placed  under  the  strict  eye 
of  the  law.  The  latter  solution  of  the  difficulty  was. 
Alison’s,  who  showed,  once  for  all,  that  whatever 
might  have  been  the  evils  engendered  in  England 
under  the  Poor  Law,  the  evils  of  destitution  left  to 
charity  were  greater,  both  to  the  nation  and  to  tlia 
individual.  In  logical  sequence  on  the  doctrine  of. 
Alison,  we  are  fast  reaching  a  further  social  con¬ 
ception  that  prevention  of  sickness  is  a  yet  more- 
rational  course  than  its  cure ;  that,  in  fact,  prevention, 
of  all  disease  which  is  not  surgical,  and  of  much, 
disease  that  is  surgical,  is  as  strictly  a  department 
of  medicine  as  treatment. 

The  great  conditions  of  a  nation’s  health  were, 
next  passed  in  review,  and  the  causes  by  wliicli. 
they  are  perverted  were  clearly  and  exhaustively  set. 
forth. 

The  distinguished  lecturer  concluded  by  enforcing, 
the  necessity  for  a  sanitary  State  service,  and  con¬ 
gratulated  his  audience  on  the  fact  that  Trinity 
College,  Dublin,  had  just  followed  the  example  of. 
University  and  of  King’s  College,  London,  in  adding, 
a  Professorship  of  State  Medicine  to  its  curriculum.. 
Scotland  will  be  untrue  to  her  traditions  as  a  pro¬ 
moter  of  medical  science,  if  she  fail  to  follow  the 
example  of  the  sister  kingdom.  Whatever  excuse 
she  may  have  had  for  postponing  the  establishment 
of  a  sanitary  chair  becomes  every  day  weaker  and. 
weaker  with  the  diffusion  of  such  enlightened  views, 
on  national  health  as  those  of  their  latest  and  most 
eloquent  expositor,  Dr.  Acland. 


The  Adulteration  of  Food,  Drugs,  etc.,  Bill  is  not 
to  be  proceeded  with  further  this  session.  On  the 
1st  instant  the  order  for  committee  was  discharged, 
and  the  Bill  withdrawn. 


June  10, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


995 


The  Local  Executive  Committee  of  tlie  British 
Association  have  announced  that  the  meeting  at 
Edinburgh  will  commence  on  Wednesday,  August 
2nd,  under  the  Presidency  of  Sir  William  Thomson, 
M.A.,  LL.D.,  D.C.L.,  F.R.S.L.  &  E.,  Professor  of 
Natural  Philosophy  in  the  University  of  Glasgow. 


We  have  been  favoured  with  a  copy  of  the  first 
number  of  a  new  journal  of  pharmacy  from  America. 
The  conductors  of  the  Leavenworth  ( Kansas J  Me¬ 
dical  Herald,  considering  “  the  intimate  relations 
existing  between  medicine  and  its  close  and  natural 
ally,  the  art  of  pharmacy,”  and  believing  that  “  the 
judgment  and  opinions  of  the  educated  pharmacolo¬ 
gist  must  be  of  interest  to  the  ambitious  physician,” 
have  thought  it  advisable  to  supplement  the  Medical 
Herald  with  a  department  to  be  entitled  the  Journal 
of  Pharmacy.  We  cannot  say  much  for  the  origi¬ 
nality  of  the  articles  in]  the  first  number,  but  doubt¬ 
less  when  it  becomes  known  to  the  Kansas  pharma¬ 
cists  that  such  a  journal  exists,  it  will  not  be  long  be¬ 
fore  original  communications  are  forthcoming.  The 
editorship  of  the  new  journal  has  been  entrusted 
to  Mr.  H.  J.  Brown,  who,  in  his  “salutatory”  ad¬ 
dress,  thus  announces  his  intentions  and  opinions : — 

u  My  aim  shall  be  to  make  this  Journal  of  practical 
use  to  every  druggist  in  this  section  of  country,  and  to 
deal  in  questions  of  special  interest  pertaining  to  the 
science ;  make  such  selections  as  will  be  of  service  to 
our  readers,  and  supply  the  best  information  on  all  new 
preparations,  chemicals,  etc.,  at  my  command. 

“  I  believe  in  the  onward  march  of  pharmacy,  its 
growth  and  prosperity.  The  Great  West  throbs  in 
sympathy  with  its  progress,  and  moves  forward  with  its 
schools  of  pharmacy  in  solid,  column. 

“  I  shall  hear  the  standard  that  shall  be  for  the  eleva¬ 
tion  and  advancement  of  this  science,  encouraging  a 
spirit  of  research  and  study,  and  working  in  harmony 
with  all  wiio  are  assisting  in  its  progress  ;  advocating  a 
thorough  pharmaceutical  education  for  the  young  men 
of  our  country,  the  establishment  of  schools  of  phar¬ 
macy,  where  they  can  receive  such  instruction  as  will 
fit  them  for  the  responsible  duties  of  their  profession.” 


A  project  for  framing  a  Universal  Pharmacopoeia 
for  tlie  -whole  of  the  German  Empire  is  reported. 
According  to  the  Lancet,  a  Committee  is  to  be  formed 
for  the  purpose,  consisting  of  twelve  members,  of 
whom  Prussia  is  to  send  three,  Saxony,  Mecklen¬ 
burg  and  Bavaria  each  two,  and  Wurtemberg,  Baden 
and  Hesse  each  one.  The  Committee  will  be  em¬ 
powered  to  call  to  their  assistance  men  whose  special 
knowledge  may  prove  useful.  It  is  anticipated  that 
the  work  will  be  ready  by  the  1st  of  January,  1872. 


We  notice  that  the  Montreal  Chemists’  Associa¬ 
tion  has  succeeded  in  obtaining  an  Act  of  Incorpo¬ 
ration.  This,  although  not  of  so  great  importance 
as  the  Act  recently  passed  in  Ontario,  is  a  step  in 
the  right  direction.  About  two  years  since  an  effort 
was  made  to  secure  an  Act  for  the  better  regulation 


of  pharmacy  in  the  province  of  Quebec ;  but,  in  con¬ 
sequence  of  the  great  opposition  offered  by  the  medi¬ 
cal  men  who,  in  some  parts,  monopolize  both  the 
prescribing  and  the  dispensing  of  medicines,  it  was 
unsuccessful.  At  present,  a  person  wishing  to  enter 
the  business  must  submit  to  an  examination  by  a 
board  of  examiners,  consisting  entirely  of  doctors ; 
and  the  sole  power  of  granting  a  licence  to  carry  on 
the  business  is  vested  in  the  physicians.  It  is  hoped 
that  the  educational  organization  in  connection  with 
the  newly  incorporated  Society  will  gradually  win 
for  its  members  an  influence  that  will  ensure  success 
in  a  future  attempt  at  legislation. 


The  prosecution  of  the  Toronto  druggists  for  the 
illegal  sale  of  poisons,  to  which  we  have  referred  on 
former  occasions,*  has  finally  resulted  in  the  dis¬ 
missal  of  all  the  cases  through  the  absence  of  the 
informer’s  witness.  Under  the  new  law,  which  has 
been  passed  since  the  institution  of  the  proceedings* 
such  a  prosecution  will  not  be  possible. 


A  Bill  has  been  brought  before  the  New  York 
Legislature  proposing  to  forbid  the  renewral  of  a 
prescription  without  the  special  order  of  the  pre- 
scriber,  but  there  does  not  appear  much  probability^ 
of  its  passing.  The  subject  was  to  come  on  for  dis¬ 
cussion  before  the  American  Medical  Association  at 
its  annual  meeting  in  May  at  San  Francisco.  In 
reference  to  this  subject,  the  American  Journal  of 
Pharmacy  states  that  in  Philadelphia  several  phy¬ 
sicians  have  tested  it  practically  by  having  on  their 
prescription-blanks  a  notice  that  the  apothecary  is 
to  retain  the  prescription,  but  not  to  renew  it  without 
a  special  order.  This  plan  has,  liowrever,  been  found 
to  be  impracticable,  and  it  is  believed  that  the  phy¬ 
sicians  have  discontinued  the  use  of  these  forms. 


Nature  reports  that  among  other  South  American, 
districts  on  the  point  of  being  re-worked  are  the 
Cinnabar  mines  of  Santa  Barbara  in  Huancavolico, 
in  Pen.!,  gold  and  silver  mines  in  Cauca,  and  copper 
mines  in  Doepar,  in  Colombia  or  New  Granada. 


We  learn  from  the  Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts: 
that  a  newr  fibre,  obtained  from  the  bark  of  the  mul¬ 
berry  tree,  has  been  produced  by  Mr.  G.  B.  Marasi. 
It  is  expected  that  the  new  material  will  answer 
almost  all  the  pinposes  for  which  hemp  and  flax  are 
employed.  _ _ 

We  read  in  the  Athenamm,  that  a  native  amor¬ 
phous  sulphide  of  mercury  has  recently  been  col¬ 
lected  in  Lake  County,  California.  Its  composition 
is — sulphur,  13-82 ;  mercury,  85‘79.  It  is  proposed 
to  call  this  newr  mineral  metacmnabarite. _ 

*  See  ante,  pp.  547  and  651. 


996 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  10, 1871. 


©ranmficras  of  t|e  Ifraroarnttol  Batitii 

EXAMINATION  IN  EDINBURGH. 

May  30 th,  1871. 

Present— Messrs.  Ainslie,  Aitken,  Baildon,  Brown, 
Buchanan,  Ivemp,  Young  and  Mackay  (Secretary). 

Fourteen  Candidates  were  examined,  viz.  four  Minor 
four  Modified,  and  six  Preliminary;  the  folio  win  o-  ten 
passed,  and  were  declared  to  be  duly  qualified  to  be 
registered : — 

MINOR  (as  Chemists  and  Druggists). 

*Eingland,  William,  iun . Thornhill 

Black,  James . . Markinch. 

Beaton,  W  illiam . Fraserburgh. 

MODIFIED  (as  Chemists  and  Druggists). 

Gavin,  John  . . . Manchester. 

Ramsden,  William  . Fallowfield. 

Richardson,  Thomas  James  . .  Carlisle. 

FIRST,  or  PRELIMINARY  (as  Apprentices  or 

Students). 

Chalmers,  George . Edinburgh. 

.  Go  wans,  James . Edinburgh. 

§  /  CiO'VNiij  James  iJacdonald.  . .  . ,  Dunfeimiline 

w  1  Paterson,  Alexander  Clarkson  .Edinburgh. 

The  above  names  are  arranged  in  order  of  merit. 


LOCAL  SECRETARIES,  187l-72.f 

■f1ber<Jare  .  Evans,  Thomas  Whitty. 

Aberdeen  .  Davidson,  Charles 

Abingdon  .  Smith,  William. 

Altrincham  .  Holt,  William  Henry. 

Andover  ...  .  Madgwick,  William  B. 

Ashby-de-la-Zouch  .  Johnson,  Samuel  E 

Ashton-under-Lyne .  Bostock,  William 

Aylesbury .  Turner,  John. 

Banbury  .  Beesley,  Thomas. 

•Ean^ .  Ellis,  Bartlet. 

^arne.t  .  Huggins,  George  Thomas. 

Jarnsley  .  Badger,  Alfred. 

Barnstaple  .  Goss,  Samuel. 

Basingstoke  . .  Sapp,  Arkas. 

:~atb  . .  Pooley,  John  Carpenter. 

Bedford .  Cuthbert,  John  Mason. 

Belfast  .  Reade,  Oswald  A. 

EeTer  .  Ashton,  John. 

®erw'ck .  Carr,  William  Graham. 

Bewcfiey  .  Newman,  Robert. 

Bide  ford.... .  Hogg,  Thomas. 

Birkenhead  .  Nicholson,  Henry. 

Birmingham .  Southall,  William. 

B  ackburn . .  Pickup,  Thomas  Hartley. 

Blackpool .  Harrison,  Joseph. 

.  Williams,  Joel  Drew. 

H011"11  .  Dutton,  George. 

tUT  i'iv'r; .  Marshall,  Robert. 

Bradford  (dorks.) .  Ilogerson,  Michael. 

U?°"  . .  Bright,  Philip. 

5nflnStoa  .  Forge,  Christopher. 

B'fiP ?rt  .  Beach,  James. 1 

Bristol  .......... .  Stoddart,  William  W. 

Bromley  (Kent)  .  Baxter,  William  W. 

Buckingham .  Sirett,  George. 


Passed  with  Honours. 

f  Bocal  Secretaries  are  appointed  in  all  Towns  in  Great 
Biitam  which  return  a  Member  or  Members  to  Parliament  • 
and  m  such  other  Towns  as  contain  not  less  than  Three 
Members  of  the  Society  or  Associates  in  business. 


Burnley . 

Bury  St.  Edmund’s 

Buxton . 

Cambridge 

o  . 

Canterbury  . 

Cardiff  . 

Cardigan  . 

Carlisle . 

Carmarthen . . 

Carnarvon  . . 

Chatham  . 

Chelmsford  . 

Cheltenham  . 

Chester . 

Chesterfield . 

Chichester . . 

Chippenham . . 

Christchurch . 

Cirencester  . 

Cockermouth  . . 

Colchester . 

Congleton . . 

Coventry  . . 

Croydon  . 

Darlington  . 

Denbigh  . 

Derby  . . 

Devizes  . . 

Dewsbury . 

Diss  . 

Doncaster . . 

Dorchester  . 


Dorking 
Dover  .. 


Droitwich.... 

Dudley . 

Dumfries _ 

Dundee . 

Dunfermline 

Durham  _ 

Ealing  . 

Eastbourne  . 
Edinburgh  . 
Elgin  . 


Enfield . 

Evesham  . 

Exeter  . 

Eye  . 

Falkirk . 

Falmouth . 

Fareham  . 

Farnham  . 

Flint . ; . 

Folkestone  . . 

Forfar  . 

Frome  . 

Gainsborough  . 

Gateshead  . 

Glasgow  . 

Gloucester  . 

Goole  . 

Gosport  . 

Grantham . 

Gravesend  . 

Greenock  . 

Greenwich  . 

Grimsby,  Great  . 

Guernsey . 

Guildford . 

Haddington . 

Halifax . 

Harrogate . 

Hartlepool  . 

Harwich  . 

Hastings  &  St.  Leonards. 
Haverfordwest . 


..  Thomas,  Richard. 

..  Youngman,  Edward. 

..  Barnett,  Alexander. 

..  Deck,  Arthur. 

..  Bing,  Edwin. 

..  Joy,  Francis  William. 

..  Davies,  David. 

..  Moss,  William. 

..  Davies,  Richard  M. 

..  Lloyd,  William. 

..  French,  Gabriel 
. .  Baker,  Charles  Patrick. 

..  Smith,  Nathaniel. 

. .  Bowles,  Charles  A. 

..  Greaves,  Abraham. 

..  Long,  William  Elliott. 

..  Westlake,  Bernard. 

..  Green,  John. 

..  Skinner,  Thomas. 

.  Bowerbank,  Joseph. 

Manthorp,  Samuel. 

.  Goode,  Charles. 

.  Wyley,  John. 

.  Crafton,  Ralph  Caldwell. 

.  Abbott,  John  Thomas. 

.  Edwards,  William. 

.  Frost,  George. 

.  Clark,  Robert. 

.  Gloyne,  Thomas  II. 

.  Gostling,  Thomas  Preston. 

.  D unhill,  William  Workman. 
.  Evans,  Alfred  John. 

.  Clark,  William  Williams. 

.  Bottle,  Alexander. 

.  Taylor,  Edmund. 

Hollier,  Elliott. 

Allan,  William. 

Hardie,  James. 

Stiell,  Gavin. 

Sarsfield,  William. 

Barry,  Thomas. 

Browne,  Henry  Robert. 
Mackay,  John. 

Robertson,  William. 

Bass,  William  Thomas. 
Dingley,  Richard  Loxley. 
Palk,  John. 

Bishop,  Robert. 

Murdoch,  David. 

Newman,  Walter  F. 

Peat,  Walter. 

Clarke,  Benjamin  J. 

Jones,  Michael. 

Cadman,  Daniel  Charles. 
Ranken,  James  A. 

Harvey,  William  Brett. 
Marshall,  John  F. 

Green  well,  William  Crozier. 
lvinninmont,  Alexander. 
Berry,  Edward. 

Hasselby,  Thomas  J. 

Hunter,  John. 

Gamble,  Richard. 

Beaumont,  William  H. 
Alexander,  James  Gray  F. 
Tugwell,  William  Henry. 
Willson,  Cornelius. 

Arnold,  Adolphus. 

Martin,  Edward  W. 

Watt,  James. 

Shaw,  Benjamin. 

Coupland,  J oseph. 

Corner,  Robert. 

Bevan,  Charles  F. 

Rossiter,  Frederick. 

Saunders,  David  P. 


June  10, 1S71-] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


997' 


Hereford  . 

Hertford  . 

Hitchin . 

Horncastle  . 

Horsham  . 

Huddersfield . 

Hull  . 

Huntingdon . 

Ipswich . 

Ironbridge  . 

Jersey  . 

Kendal . 

Kidderminster . 

Kilmarnock  . 

King’s  Lynn . 

Kingston-on-Thames  ... 

Ivnaresborough  . . 

Kniitsford . 

Lancaster . 

Launceston  . . 

Leamington  . 

Leeds  . 

Leek . 

Leicester  . 

Leighton  Buzzard  . 

Leith . 

Leominster  . 

Lewes  . 

Lewisham . 

Lincoln  . 

Liskeard  . 

Liverpool  . 1 

Louth  . 

Ludlow  . 

Lymington  . 

Macclesfield  . 

Maidenhead  . 

Maidstone . 

Maldon  . 

Manchester,  Salford,  &c. 

Margate . 

Market  H  arbor ough . 

[Merthyr  Tydvil . 

Middlesborougli  . 

Monmouth . 

Montrose  . . 

Neath . 

Newark . 

Newbury  . 

Newcastle-under-Lyme  . 

Newcastle-on-Tyne  . 

Newport  (I.  "Wight) . 

Newport  (Mon.)  . 

Newtown  .  . 

Northallerton  . 

Northampton  . 

Norwich  . 

Norwood  . 

Nottingham  . 

Odiham  . 

Oldham  . 

Oswestry  . 

Oxford  . 

Paisley  . 

Pembroke  . 

Pembroke  Dock  . 

Perth . 

Peterborough  . 

Petersfield . 

Plymouth  . 

Poole  . 

Portsmouth,  etc . 

Preston  . 

Ramsgate  . 

Reading . 

Retford  . 


Jennings,  Reginald. 

Lines,  George, 
llansom,  William 
Elsey,  John. 

"Williams,  Philip. 

Higgins,  Tom  Sellers. 
Earle,  Francis. 

Ekins,  William. 

Anness,  Samuel  Richard. 
Hartshorn,  William  H.  T. 
Ereaut,  John,  jun. 

Severs,  Joseph. 

Bond,  Charles. 

Rankin,  William. 

Atmore,  George. 

Gould,  Frederick. 

Sindall,  John  William. 
Silvester,  Joseph. 

Wearing,  William. 

Eyre,  Thomas  Symes. 
Jones,  Samuel  Urwick. 
Reynolds,  Richard. 

Blades,  Christopher. 
Cooper,  Thomas. 

Headman,  William. 

Finlay  son,  Thomas. 

Davis,  David  Frederick. 
Martin,  Thomas. 

Clift,  Edward. 

Peppercorn,  Benjamin. 
Eliott,  Samuel. 

Abraham,  John. 

Hurst,  John  B. 

Cocking,  George. 

Allen,  Adam  U. 

Bates,  William  Isaac. 
Walker,  Robert. 

Oliver,  Jo  si  ah. 

W allworth,  David. 
Wilkinson,  William. 
Knight,  Alfred. 

Bragg,  William  B. 

Smyth,  Walter. 

Taylor,  William  J. 

White,  Walter. 

Burrell,  George. 

Hibbert,  Walter. 

Harvey,  John. 

Childs,  Philip. 

Cartwright,  William. 
Proctor,  Barnard  Simpson. 
Orchard,  Herbert  Joseph. 
Pearman,  Henry. 

Owen,  Edward. 

Warrior,  William. 

Barry,  James. 

Sutton,  Francis. 

Birch,  Henry  Cooper. 
Atherton,  John  Henry. 
Hornsby,  John  H. 
Hargraves,  Henry  Lister. 
Smale,  Richard  Bill. 

Prior,  George  T. 

Hatrick,  William. 

John,  David  "William. 
Andrews,  Charles. 

Reid,  Neil. 

Sturt-on,  Richard. 

Edgeler,  William  BicknelL 
Balk  will,  Alfred  P. 

Penney,  William. 

Rastrick,  J.  L.  {Southsea) 
Houghton,  "William. 
Morton,  Henry. 

Jameson,  Walter  C. 

Baker,  William. 


Richmond  (Surrey)  .  Hopwood,  Henry  J.  S. 


Richmond  (Yorks.)  . Thompson,  Thomas. 

Ripen .  Judson,  Thomas. 

Rochdale  . .  Taylor,  Edward. 

Rochester  &  Sti'ood  .  Harris,  Henry  William. 

Rothesay  . . .  Duncan,  William. 

Rugby  . .  Garratt,  John  Colpinan. 

Runcorn  .  Whittaker,  William. 

Ruthin  .  Bancroft,  John  James. 

Ryde  (I.  Wight) .  Wavell,  John. 

Rye  .  Plomley,  James  Foulis. 

St.  Alban’s  .  Davenport,  Edward. 

St.  Andrew’s .  Smith,  William. 

St.  Austell  .  Hern,  Wm.  Henry. 

St.  Ives’  (Cornwall) .  Young,  Tonkin. 

Salisbury  .  Atkins,  Samuel  Ralph. 

Scarborough .  Whitfield,  John. 

Selby .  Colton,  Thomas. 

Shaftesbury  .  Powell,  John. 

Sheerness  . .  Rayner,  William. 

Sheffield .  Radley,  William  Valentine- 

Shields,  South  .  Mays,  Robert  J.  J. 

Shrewsbury  .  Cross,  William  Go  wen. 

Southampton .  Palk,  Edward. 

Southport  .  Cumine,  Frederick  Hill. 

Spalding .  Rhodes,  Frank. 

Stafford .  Averill,  John. 

Staly  bridge  .  Brier  ley,  Richard. 

Stamford  .  Patterson,  George. 

Stirling  .  Duncanson,  William. 

Stockport  .  Lowndes,  Hervey. 

Stockton-on-Tees .  Braysliay,  William  Bolam.. 

Stoke-on-Trent  .  Adams,  Jonathan  Henry. 

Stourbridge  .  Bland,  John  Handel. 

Stowmarket  .  Sutton,  Charles  William. 

Stroud  .  Blake,  William  Frederick. 

Sunderland  .  Nicholson,  John  Joseph. 

Swansea .  Brend,  Thomas. 

Sydenham  .  Holloway,  Thomas  II. 

Tamworth  .  Allkins,  Thomas  Boulton. 

Taunton  .  Prince,  Henry. 

Tavistock  .  Gill,  William. 

Tenby  .  Davies,  Moses  Prosser. 

Tervterden  .  Willsher,  Stephen  H. 

Tewkesbury  .  Allis,  Francis. 

Tliirsk  .  Thompson,  John. 

Tiverton .  Havill,  Paul. 

Torquay .  Millar,  F.  C.  [Moss. 

Truro .  Sex*pell,  Samuel. 

Tunbridge .  Wibmer,  Lewis  Michael. 

Tunbridge  Wells  .  Gardener,  Charles. 

Ulverstone  .  Radnall,  William  Henry. 

AVakefield  .  Taylor,  John. 

Wallingford  .  Payne,  Sidney. 

Walsall  .  Highway,  Henry. 

Wandsworth .  Nind,  George. 

Wareham  .  Randall,  Thomas. 

Warrington  .  Webster,  Samuel  Matlier- 

War  wick  .  Baly,  James. 

Watford  .  Chater,  Jonathan. 

Wednesbury .  Gittoes,  Samuel  James. 

Welshpool .  Williams,  T.  Kemble. 

Westbury  .  Taylor,  Stephen. 

Weston-super-Mare .  Rich,  Thomas. 

Weymouth  and  Melcombe  Regis... Mason,  Arthur. 

Whitby  .  Stevenson,  John. 

Whitehaven  .  Ivitchin,  Archibald. 

Wigan  .  Dunsford,  Samuel. 

Winchester  .  Powell,  Edward. 

Windsor .  Russell,  Charles  J.  L. 

AY olverhampton  .  Brevitt,  AVilliam  Yates. 

AAroodstock  .  Stubbs,  Robert. 

AYoolwich  .  Rastrick,  John  Alfred. 

AVorcester .  AVitlierington,  Thomas. 

AVorthing  .  Cortis,  Charles. 

AVrexliam  .  Edisbury,  James  Fisher. 


DOS 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  10, 1871. 


"Wycombe  .  Furmston,  Samuel  C. 

Yarmouth,  Great- .  Owles,  James  Jolm. 

York  . .  Davison,  Ralph. 


BRISTOL  PHARMACEUTICAL  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Monthly  General  Meeting  was  held  on  Friday, 
May  12th  ;  Mr.  Townsend  in  the  chair. 

The  Hon.  Sec.  reported  the  receipt  from  Joseph  Ince, 
Esq.,  of  two  additional  batches  of  prescriptions  collected 
And  forwarded  by  him  for  the  purpose  of  rendering  more 
■complete  the  1  Book  of  Prescriptions  ’  already  presented 
to  the  Association. 

The  following  letter  was  then  read  from  the  President, 
Mr.  Stoddart  : — 

“  Dear  Mr.  Schacht, — I  'am  sorry  to  say  that  I  am 
prevented  joining  you  this  evening.  I  have  sent  a  spe¬ 
cimen  of  that  curious  substance  metachloral,  which  has 
been  mentioned  by  Dr.  Richardson  as  a  new  hypnotic. 
Although  isomeric  with  soluble  chloral,  it  is  perfectly 
insoluble  in  ether,  water’  and  alcohol.  Like  common 
chloral,  it  [is  convertible  into  trichloracetic  acid ;  and 
when  treated  with  an  alkali  is  also  converted  into  chlo¬ 
roform  and  an  alkaline  formeate.  It,  however,  differs 
by  not  being  altered  by  hydrochloric  acid  and  chlorate 
of  potash. 

“When  common  chloral  is  kept  for  some  time,  it 
changes  spontaneously  into  the  insoluble  metachloral. 
It  is  mere  easily  prepared  by  adding  sulphuric  acid  to 
chloral  hydrate,  when,  after  standing  for  seven  or  eight 
hours,  the  metachloral  separates,  and  may  be  washed 
with  water  and  alcohol.  rIhe  chloral  becomes  converted 
into  metachloral  and  chloralide  : — 

3  C2 II  Cl3  0  =  C-IL  Cl6  03  +  CII  Cl3. 

Chloral.  Chloralide.  Chloroform. 

the  remaining  chloral  becoming  metachloral,  but  un¬ 
changed  as  to  its  chemical  composition. 

u  I  have  sent  the  specimen  in  water,  to  show  its  com¬ 
plete  insolubility.  On  drying  it  and  heating  it  to  180°  C., 
it  immediately  becomes  ordinary  soluble  chloral. 

“  Yours  very  truly, 

“  W.  Walter  Stoddart.” 

Mi.  Schacht  then  introduced  the  subject  of  the  Liquor 
Eerri  Perchloridi  Fortior  and  the  Tincture  of  the  British 
1  harmacopoeia.  He  detailed  a  series  of  experiments, 
made  with  a  view  to  explain  the  cause  of  the  occasional 
change  which  occurs  in  the  latter,  and  showed  it  was 
due  to  a  want  of  sufficient  chlorine  in  the  mixture.  He 
explained  the  liability  to  this  deficiency  by  pointing  out 
that  the  quantity  of  nitric  acid  ordered  in  the  Pharma¬ 
copoeia  preparation  was  more  than  sufficient  for  the  con- 
vcision  of  the  iron  into  the  condition  of  perchl oride,  and 
that  exactly  to  that  extent  was  the  liability  of  failure, 
inasmuch  as  all  excess  of  nitric  acid  went  to  the  produc¬ 
tion  of  aqua  regia  with  the  free  hydrochloric  acid  in  the 
preparation,  and  thus  necessarily  the  chlorine  was  lost 
during  the  subsequent  evaporation.  Herecommended  that 
the  nitric  acid  be  added  gradually  to  the  hot  acid  solu¬ 
tion  ol  the  ferrous  chloride,  and  only  in  sufficient  quan¬ 
tity  to  bring,  about  its  conversion  into  ^chloride,  a 
chang-e  that  is  very  distinctly  indicated  by  the  sudden 
evolution  of  red  fumes.  He  believed  that,  attention 
berng  paid  to  this  point  m  the  manufacture  of  the  liquor 
the  Iinctura  Ferri  Perchloridi  of  the  B.  P.  was  a  better 
preparation  than  the  old  Tr.  Ferri  Sesquichlor.,  inasmuch 
as  pure  iron  wire  was  more  easily  procured  than  pure 
peroxide  of  iron.  This  opinion  was  founded  upon  the 
■examination  of  samples  of  the  two  preparations  made 
both  by  himself  and  by  other  pharmacists. 


IJmci&mgs  nf  Smntifa  Batitlm. 

PHILADELPHIA  COLLEGE  OF  PHARMACY. 

A  Meeting  of  this  Society  was  held  on  Tuesday,  April 
18  ;  Professor  Procter  presided. 

Professor  Parrish  read  a  paper  on  Beef  Extracts  in 
Combination,*  and  exhibited  specimens  of  several  fluid 
preparations  made  with  and  without  treatment  for  tho 
separation  of  gelatine,  all  containing  glycerine  as  an 
antiseptic  ingredient.  He  also  showed  some  bottles  of 
Fleisch  Extract  Syrup,  imported  several  years  ago  from 
Frankfort-on-the-Main,  the  contents  of  which  had  be¬ 
come  completely  solidified. 

In  view  of  the  suggestion  to  precipitate  the  gelatine 
by  means  of  tannin  from  the  beef  extracts  of  commerce, 
Professor  Procter  queried  whether  the  animal  alkaloids 
might  not  also  be  precipitated  by  tannin. 

Professor  Maisch  said  that  the  Liebig  Company’s  Ex¬ 
tract  of  Meat,  and  some  other  kinds  made  by  Liebig’s 
formula,  were  free  from  gelatine,  and  would  furnish  fluid 
extracts  without  the  necessity  of  resorting  to  the  process 
of  clarifying. 

Professor  Parrish  remarked  that  he  had  intended  to 
prepare  some  of  a  similar  preparation  from  Liebig’s  Ex¬ 
tract,  and  would  do  so,  and  embody  the  result  in  his 
paper.  On  motion,  the  paper  was  referred  for  publication. 

Professor  Parrish  exhibited  specimens  of  several  fari¬ 
naceous  materials  prepared  by  the  Nutrio  Manufacturing 
Company  for  domestic  use  and  for  infants’  food.  These 
were  all  made  from  wheat  which  had  been  heated  to 
nearly  300°  F.,  by  which  it  loses  from  10  to  nearly  20 
per  cent,  of  moisture,  and  the  starch  is  partially  con¬ 
verted  into  dextrine  and  sugar.  The  Company  is  work¬ 
ing  under  patents  which  apply  in  part  to  the  apparatus 
for  the  application  and  regulation  of  the  temperature. 
One  of  the  chief  advantages  to  be  obtained  by  the  exten¬ 
sion  of.  this  branch  of  manufacture  will  be  the  cheapen- 
iug  of  infants’  food,  now  so  extensively  imported. 

A  general  discussion  followed  on  the  process  for  making 
Ferrated  Elixir  of  Bark,  and  the  practicability  of  sepa¬ 
rating  the  tannin  by  hydrated  peroxide  of  iron,  the  ex¬ 
perience  of  members  differing  in  regard  to  this. 

Mr.  MTntyre  stated  that  if  Calisaya  bark  is  treated 
with  a  very  dilute  alcoholic  menstruum,  and  the  tincture 
then  mixed  with  the  hydrated  oxide,  it  would  cease  to 
blacken  with  soluble  salts  of  iron.  He  stated  that  he 
used  pyrophosphate  of  iron  as  the  principal  salt  in  the 
elixir,  and  overcame  the  green  tint  by  a  small  addition 
of  solution  of  citrate  of  iron.  He  had  also  diluted  the 
officinal  fluid  extract  of  cinchona  with  good  success, 
instead  of  starting  with  the  bark  itself.  He  had  found 
the  solution  of  chloride  of  iron  convenient  for  precipi¬ 
tating  the  hydrated  oxide  with  ammonia,  on  account  of 
the  great  facility  of  washing  out  the  very  soluble  muriate 
of  ammonia  from  the  magma. 

Professor  Maisch  expressed  his  preference  for  the 
Cinchona  alkaloids  in  making  this  elixir,  and  stated  his 
conviction  that  few,  if  any,  of  the  principal  manufacturers 
used  the  bark  itself,  or  even  the  alkaloids,  in  sufficient 
proportion  to  impart  much  of  the  tonic  property  of  Cin¬ 
chona.  He  stated  the  proportion  of  his  elixir  as  follows, 
using  a  chinoidin,  which  contains  much  quinia  and  qui- 
nidia,  90  grains  to  Oviiiss,  9^  grains  of  pyrophosphate 
are  contained  in  each  fluid  ounce. 

A  general  discussion  followed  as  to  the  propriety  of 
preparing  elixirs  to  meet  the  popular  demand,  or  to  fill 
the  prescriptions  of  physicians.  Professor  Maisch’s  cus¬ 
tom  is  to  make  all  such  as  are  required  in  the  course  of 
his  business,  and  to  decline  prescriptions  which  call  for 
special  proprietary  preparations.  Professor  Procter  pre¬ 
fers  sending  to  the  physician  for  the  formula  in  all  cases 
in  which  there  is  uncertainty  as  to  the  composition  de¬ 
signed,  and  dispensing  such  as  are  well  known.  Pro¬ 
fessor  Parrish’s  practice  is  to  originate  a  formula  in  any 


*  See  p.  985. 


June  10,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


999 


case  in  -which  there  is  none  published,  taking  into  account 
the  proper  doses  and  pharmaceutical  requirements  of  the 
ingredients,  hut  in  no  case  selling  one  of  his  own  where 
^another  is  evidently  intended  to  he  prescribed. 

Mr.  Gailard  exhibited  a  specimen  of  Whitman’s 
Cacao  Butter,  of  fine  quality,  used  by  him  in  making 
■suppositories. 

Professor  Maiscii  called  attention  to  the  fact  that  the 
fusing-point  of  this  oil  is  generally  stated  to  be  at  about 
90°  F.,*  while  common  experience  shows  that  supposi¬ 
tories  made  with  it,  without  admixture,  will  retain  their 
.shape  reasonably  well  throughout  the  hot  summers  of  the 
United  States. 

The  preparation  of  suppositories  being  under  discus¬ 
sion,  the  method  of  preparing  them  without  fusion  was 
adverted  to. 

Professor  Procter  stated  that  he  had  practised  that 
•method  on  their  first  introduction,  but  noticed  a  differ¬ 
ence  in  the  facility  of  manipulating  them  according  to 
the  temperature  of  the  hands  of  different  persons ;  while 
some  could  form  a  suppositoiy  without  inconvenient 
fusion,  others  would  have  the  mass  become  too  soft  to 
Randle. 

Professor  Procter  exhibited  the  remains  of  the  retort, 
the  explosion  of  which  killed  the  late  F erris  Bringhurst, 
together  wdth  the  curved  piece  of  iron  taken  from  his 
•brain,  measuring  about  1^  inches  in  length  by  about  1 
inch  in  width  by  ^  inch  in  thickness. 

Professor  Maisch  gave  the  result  of  his  analysis  of 
•several  samples  of  assafoetida  taken  by  the  drug  inspector 
of  the  port  from  different  cases  and  from  different  parts 
of  the  mass,  with  the  following  result - 

No.  1.  No.  2.  No.  11.  No.  18.  No.  20. 


Oleoresin . 34-25  4W7  61-80  37'86  28-88 

Alcoholic  resin  .  .  .  2"23  2"42  113  162  1"20 

Total  resin  and  vol.  oil  3G"48  43-89  62  93  39  48  30-08 

Impurities . 57*50  44-01  15-20  51'70  62-09 

Gum  moisture  and  loss  6-02  12-10  2T87  8‘82  7'83 


100-00  100-00  100  00  100-00  100-00 

These  were  samples  of  amygdaloid  assafoetida  which 
n  year  ago  was  rejected  by  the  purchaser  as  adulterated, 
he  claiming  that  good  assafoetida  should  be  entirely  free 
from  sulphate  of  lime.  The  impurities  in  the  above 
instance  consist  of  gypsum  and  vegetable  fragments,  as 
always  met  with  in  the  resinous  matter  agglutinating 
the  tears. 


MASSACHUSETTS  COLLEGE  OF  PHARMACY. 

The  Third  Annual  “  Commencement  ”  of  the  Massa¬ 
chusetts  College  of  Pharmacy  was  held  in  Boston,  on 
May  18th.  The  President,  Mr.  S.  C.  Colcord,  in.  his 
opening  address,  said  that  the  students  were  from  thirty 
to  forty  in  number,  with  three  professors.  The  Insti¬ 
tution  suffered  from  the  want  of  suitable  rooms,  and  at 
present  he  thought  apothecaries  did  not  take  sufficient 
interest  in  it,  but  he  hoped  the  time  would  come  when 
the  College  would  compare  well  with  that  at  Philadelphia. 

Professor  J.  Babcock  then  read  a  portion  of  two 
.selected  theses  by  members  of  the  graduating  class,  on 
“Citrate  of  Iron  and  Quinine,”  by  Mr.  Beale, ,  and 
•“  Capsicum,  with  Assays  of  its  Commercial  Powder,”  by 
Mr.  Drury.  The  reading  of  the  theses  was  supplemented 
by  some  remarks  upon  the  importance  of  assays  in  dis¬ 
covering  adulterations  in  drugs.  A  valuable  hydro¬ 
meter  was  then  presented  to  Mr.  Drury  for  proficiency 
in  his  studies. 

A  valedictory  address  was  delivered  by  Professor  G. 
.F.  H.  Markoe.  He  spoke  of  the  new  and  enlargod 
-field  of  action  upon  which,  in  the  enjoyment  of  their  pro¬ 
fessional  rights,  the  students  were  about  to  enter.  As 
pharmaceutists,  he  said,  they  must  still  continue  stu- 
- - - - — - -  J 

*  Watts’  ‘Dictionary  of  Chemistry’  gives  30°  C.  (863  F.) 


dents,  especially  of  chemistry  and  botany.  By  devoting 
their  leisure  hours  to  the  study  of  science,  they  would 
ennoble  their  characters  and  elevate  their  profession. 
They  should  look  well  to  the  details  of  their  art,  bearing 
in  mind  that  what  w*as  worth  doing  at  all  wras  worth 
doing  well.  The  pharmacist  should  carefully  avoid  in¬ 
vading  the  domain  of  medicine.  The  professions  should 
be  kept  carefully  distinct.  Either  one  affords  scope  for 
the  best  abilities,  and  there  is  no  excuse  for  the  practice 
of  both  by  the  same  person.  He  exhorted  the  graduates 
to  remember  the  importance  of  their  duties  and  acquit 
themselves  like  men. 

The  Rev.  J.  M.  Manning  then  delivered  an  address. 
The  subject  of  pharmacy,  he  said,  was  one  in  which  all 
people  were  interested,  and  there  were  some  considera¬ 
tions  in  respect  to  it  which  clergymen,  although  not 
familiar  with  the  science,  might  enforce.  As  Shylock 
said  of  the  JewTs,  so  it  is  with  clergymen,  if  you  poisoned 
them  they  died.  The  quality  and  preparation  of  medi¬ 
cines  were  of  the  utmost  importance,  as  blunders  and 
mistakes  by  apothecaries  could  not  be  risked.  Lawyers 
might  sometimes,  after  a  case  had  been  lost,  seek  redress 
for  their  clients  in  a  higher  court,  and  clergymen  could 
restate  their  doctrines  if  in  one  Sunday’s  sermon  they 
had  been  a  little  top-heavy,  but  there  wras  no  chance  for 
a  second  experiment  wdth  the  apothecary.  He  ought 
also  to  know  how  to  stock  his  shelves  and  to  stand  be¬ 
tween  the  public  and  the  importers  of  drugs.  Adulte¬ 
rations  in  articles  of  food  might  be  endured  occasionally, 
but  it  wais  necessary  that  the  pharmacist  should  be  ever 
ready  and  able  to*  protect  the  public  against  harmful 
mixtures.  Such  knowdedge  and  skill  being  required, 
the  next  question  was  how  to  prepare  men  for  the  pro¬ 
fession.  He  did  not  think  that  men  who  were  preoccu¬ 
pied  or  were  enthusiasts  on  any  subject  were  fit  to  be 
pharmacists.  Keenness  of  touch,  delicate  eyesight,  a 
nice  sense  of  smell,  and  an  exquisite  perception  by  taste 
were  necessary  for  the  skilful  performance  of  his  duties. 
No  one  should  be  allowed  to  attempt  practising  until  he 
was  acquainted  with  every  detail  and  item  of  his  duties  ; 
therefore,  the  College  of  Pharmacy  was  indispensable, 
and  he  w*as  surprised  that  no  one  had  yet  thought  of  en¬ 
dowing  such  an  institution  in  Boston.  As  to  the  ques¬ 
tion  whether  pharmacy  should  be  regarded  as  a  trade  or 
a  profession,  the  point  he  made  was  that  it  did  not  make 
so  much  difference  what  it  was  called,  provided  the  work 
was  honestly  and  well  done.  Just  in  proportion  as  they 
maintained  their  integrity  the  calling  wrould  be  elevated. 
He  also  thought  that  the  pharmacist  could  not  be  too 
careful  in  entering  the  inviting  field  of  dealing  in  patent 
medicines. 


MEETINGS  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 


Tuesday  . Royal  Medical  and  Cliirurgical  Society ,  at 

June  13.  8.30  p.m. 

Photographic  Society ,  at  8  p.m. 

Wednesday  ...Microscopical  Society,  at  8  P.M. 

Thursday  ......Royal  Society,  at  8.30  p.h. 

June  15.  Chemical  Society,  at  8  p.m.  —  “  An  Experi¬ 

mental  Inquiry  as  to  the  Action  of  Elec¬ 
tricity  on  Oxygen.”  By  Sir  B.  C.  Brodie. 
Linnean  Society,  at  8  p.m. 

Friday . Society  of  Arts,  at  8  p.m.— Annual  Conver- 

June  16.  sazione  at  the  South  Kensington  Museum. 

Royal  Botanic  Society,  at  4  p.m.— “  Economic 
Botany.”  By  Professor  Bentley. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  June  3;  the  ‘Medical  Times  and  Gazette, 
June  3:  the  ‘Lancet,’  June  3;  the  ‘Medical  Press  and  Cir¬ 
cular,’  June  7;  ‘Nature,’  June  1;  the  ‘Chemical  News, 
June  8:  ‘Gardeners’  Chronicle,’  June  3;  ‘  Journal  ot  the 
Society  of  Arts,’  June  3;  the  ‘Grocer,’  June  3;  Produce 
Markets  Review,’  June  3;  the  ‘English  Mechanic,  June  3  ; 
‘Proceedings  of  the  Royal  Institution;’  ‘Journal  ot  Materia 
Medica  ’  for  May. 


1000 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  10, 1871. 


Court  of  Queen’s  Bench,  Westminster,  5th  June. 

Ex  parte  Whisken. 

This  was  an  application  on  the  part  of  a  clicmist  and 
druggist,  at  Welshpool,  for  a  mandamus  to  compel  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  to  restore  his  name  to  the  Regis¬ 
ter.  It  was  alleged  that  he  had  a  right  to  be  registered, 
and  the  applicant  made  affidavit  that  previous  to,  and  at 
the  time  of  the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy  Act,  1868,  ho 
kept  an  open  shop  for  the  making  up  of  medicines. 

The  Court  granted  a  rule  nisi. 

The  applicant  in  this  case  had  been  sued  for  penalties, 
and  the  case  was  to  come  on  for  trial  in  the  Welshpool 
County  Court  on  Thursday,  June  8. 

In  due  course  the  whole  case  will  he  submitted  to  the 
Court. 


Central  Criminal  Court,  6th  June. 

Jobbery  of  Saffron. 

William  Hall,  warehouseman ;  John  Adams,  labourer ; 
and  George  Robinson,  chemist,  were  charged  with  felo¬ 
niously  breaking  and  entering  the  warehouse  of  Charles 
Brumleu,  and  stealing  200  lb.  weight  of  saffron,  value 
£2-50,  his  property. 

The  prosecutor  is  a  drug  merchant.  On  the  night  of 
the  17th  April,  a  warehouse  in  Biiliter  Street,  belonging 
to  him,  was  broken  into,  and  a  large  quantity  of  saffron 
stolen.  When  the  prisoners  were  taken  into  custody,  it 
was  found  that  they  had  been  dealing  with  the  stolen 
property  immediately  after  the  robbery,  and  offering  it 
for  sale  at  prices  far  below  its  real  value. 

The  jury  returned  a  verdict  of  feloniously  receiving 
against  Hale,  and  acquitted  the  other  two  prisoners,  be¬ 
lieving  that  they  had  acted  innocently  under  the  direc¬ 
tion  of  Hale.  The  Recorder  sentenced  Hale  to  eighteen 
months’  imprisonment  with  hard  labour. 

Alfred  Hughes,  who  carried  on  the  business  of  a  che¬ 
mist  in  the  Hackney  Road,  was  also  charged  with  being 
implicated  in  the  transaction,  but  while  in  custody  at 
the  police  station  he  attempted  to  commit  suicide  by 
cutting  his  throat,  and  has  since  died. 


Attempted  Suicide  by  Vermin  Killer. 

On  Wednesday,  May  17,  the  wife  of  a  pensioner  living 
at  Freston,  in  Suffolk,  made  a  determined  attempt  to  com¬ 
mit  suicide,  having,  while  taking  her  tea,  swallowed  a 
large  quantity  of  Battle’s  Vermin  Killer.  The  woman 
became  very  ill,  and  symptoms  of  poison  being  very 
evident,  medical  assistance  was  obtained.  She  is  likely 
to  recover. 


Suicide  ey  Arsenic. 

An  inquest  was  held  at  Bethnal  Green  on  Tuesday, 
J une  6,  on  the  body  of  William  Perry,  who  had  died 
from  the  effects  of  arsenical  poisoning.  Deceased  was  a 
carman  out  of  work,  and  had  lately  been  in  a  very 
desponding  state.  He  had  been  selling  arsenic  to  chance 
customers  recently,  and  his  wife  believed  he  had  stolen 
it.  He  told  her  that  he  was  afraid  the  police  would 
take  him  up,  and  the  same  night  he  poisoned  himself  with 
some  of  it.  A  card,  with  an  address  in  the  City  Road, 
was  found,  and  on  inquiries  being  instituted,  the  deceased 
was  stated  to  be  an  agent  to  a  shop  engaged  to  sell  arse¬ 
nic  and  other  drugs.  Mrs.  Jackson,  the  owner  of  the 
shop,  said  that  she  had  in  her  possession  28  lb.  of  arsenic 
from  the  time  of  the  death  of  her  husband  seventeen 
years  ago.  _  She  expressed  great  surprise  when  told  that 
she  was  liable  to  pay  a  line.  The  jury  returned  a 
verdict  of  “Suicide  while  of  unsound  mind,”  and  the 
coroner  ordered  the  police  to  take  the  case  in  hand. — 
Standard. 


HOUSE  OF  COMMONS. 

Adulteration  of  Food,  Drugs,  etc.,  Bill. — Thurs¬ 
day,  June  1st. — The  order  for  committing  the  Adultera¬ 
tion  of  Food,  Drugs,  etc.,  Bill  was  read  and  discharged,, 
and  the  Bill  withdrawn. 

In  answer  to  a  question  concerning  the  adulteration 
of  tea,  put  by  Lord  E.  Cecil  on  Friday,  the  Chancellor 
of  the  Exchequer  said  no  regulations  could  be  made  to 
require  custom-house  officers  to  detain  tea  suspected  of 
adulteration  under  the  present  law,  neither  would  he 
take  upon  himself  to  recommend  the  enactment  of  a  law 
to  provide  for  making  such  regulations,  because  such  a 
course  would  render  the  customs  more  unpopular  than 
they  were,  and  would  not  prevent  adulteration  by  the- 
retailer. 


Weights  and  Measures. — Friday,  2nd  June. — In 
answer  to  Mr.  Read,  Mr.  Chichester  Fortescue  said  he 
had  hoped  to  bring  in  a  Bill  dealing  with  the  whole 
subject  of  weights  and  measures  this  session,  but  hr 
the  present  state  of  public  business  he  did  not  see  a 
prospect  of  securing  the  attention  of  the  House  to  so- 
complicated  a  subject.  He  added,  that  neither  the  Select 
Committee  of  1862,  nor  the  Royal  Standards  Commis¬ 
sion,  recommended  the  compulsory  introduction  of  the- 
metric  system ;  the  Royal  Commission,  however,  recom¬ 
mended  its  permissive  introduction. 


DR.  JAMES  WATSON. 

Medicine  has  lost  an  able  practitioner,  and  Glasgow 
a  valuable  citizen,  in  Dr.  James  Watson,  who  died  on 
the  30tli  nit.  The  deceased  gentleman,  after  an  un¬ 
usually  thorough  curriculum  of  study,  was  admitted  a 
Fellow  of  the  Faculty  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  in 
1810.  In  1842,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  physicians- 
to  the  Royal  Infirmary  and  to  the  Fever  Hospital  in 
Clyde  Street.  He  was  three  times  elected  President  of 
the  Faculty  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  by  whom  he- 
was  fondly  termed  the  “Father  of  the  Faculty,”  on  the- 
ground,  not  only  of  his  seniority,  but  of  the  paternal 
interest  he  took  in  the  welfare  of  the  Corporation.  The 
Faculty,  as  a  further  mark  of  the  esteem  in  which  thew 
held  him,  hung  his  portrait  in  their  Hall,  and  founded, 
the  prize  which  bears  his  name.  No  department  of  me¬ 
dicine,  whether  in  its  diagnostic  or  in  its  pharmaceutical 
aspect,  escaped  his  intelligent  recognition ;  and  in  his 
capacity  as  member  of  the  General  Medical  Council  of 
the  United  Kingdom  ho  did  valuable  service  in  elevat¬ 
ing  the  standard  of  preliminary  education  for  all  aspi¬ 
rants  to  professional  practice. 


BOOKS  RECEIVED. 

Companion  to  the  Last  Edition  of  the  British 
Pharmacopeia,  comparing  the  Strength  of  its  various 
Preparations  with  those  of  the  London,  Edinburgh,  Dublin, 
United  States  and  other  Foreign  Pharmacopoeias,  with 
Practical  Hints  on  Prescribing.  By  Peter  Squire,  F.L.S- 
Eighth  Edition.  London  :  J.  and  A.  Churchill.  1871. 


Contributions  towards  the  Materia  Medica  and 
Natural  History  of  CniNA,  for  the  Use  of  Medical 
Missionaries  and  Native  Medical  Students.  By  Frede¬ 
rick  Porter  Smith,  M.B.  London,  Medical  Missionary  in 
Central  China.  Shanghai:  American  Presbyterian  Mis¬ 
sion  Press.  London :  Triibner  Jmd  Co.,  60,  Paternoster 
Row.  1871. 


On  the  Curability  of  Cancer  and  its  Medical 
Treatment  without  Surgical  Operation.  By  Dr- 
G.  von  Schmitt.  London:  Wyman  and  Sons.  1871. 


June  10,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1001 


Dates  anlr  Queries. 


'***  In  order  to  facilitate  reference,  correspondents  are 
requested  to  mark  their  answers  in  each  case  with  the  title 
and  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

j\o  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications. 
All  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

[228.]— SYRUPUS  TONICUS.— It  was  not  till  I  read  in 
a  recent  Journal  Mr.  Woolley's  reply  to  query  228  that  I 
was  aware  the  name  “  tonic  syrup  ”  (originated  by  myself 
some  five  or  six  years  since)  had  passed  the  limits  of  this 
town.  As,  however,  it  appears  to  have  done  so,  I  will  tres¬ 
pass  on  3’our  space  with  a  brief  explanation  of  its  origin  and 
the  formula  for  the  same. 

About  the  time  indicated  above,  a  physician  suggested  to 
me  that  the  formula  for  syr.  feiri  et  quin  re  et  strychniae 
phosph.  might  probably  be  altered  with  advantage,  some  of 
liis  patients  having  complained  of  its  acidity  or  extreme  bit¬ 
terness,  others  of  its  tendency  to  change  before  they  had 
taken  the  quantity  prescribed.  With  this  view  I  made 
several  experiments,  resulting  in  the  adoption  of  the  follow¬ 
ing  formula : — 

E.  Ferri  Sulph.  5v 
Sodae  Fhosph.  5v 
Sod®  Acetat.  5j 
Quince  Sulph.  gr.  192 
Liq.  Ammonice  q.  s. 

Acid.  Sulph.  Dil.  q.  s. 

Aquce  Rest.  q.  s. 

Strychniae  gr.  vj 
Acid.  Phosph.  Dil.  ^x 
Sacch.  Alb.  §xx 
Aq.  Aurantii  ^iv. 

Manipulate  as  in  the  original  formula. 

The  points  of  difference  are,  the  use  of  sodee  acet.  with  the 
Jjhosph.  in  precipitating  the  iron,  diminution  in  the  quantity 
of  acid,  phosph.  and  increase  of  sugar  and  addition  of  aq. 
aurantii.  The  proportions  of  iron,  quinine  and  strychnine 
are  the  same  as  in  Easton’s  syrup.  Put  it  became  desirable 
fo  distinguish  between  the  two  (many  medical  men  adhering 
to  the  old  form).  The  name  tonic  syrup  seemed  suitable  and 
■short,  in  the  same  way  that  “chemical  food”  is  used  to  indi¬ 
cate  Parrish’s  syrup.  This  syrup  is  more  pleasant  to  take, 
and  its  keeping  qualities  enhanced,  but  I  still  find  it  desir¬ 
able  to  preserve  it  in  small  bottles  (2  or  4  oz.),  well  stoppered, 
-quite  full  and  in  the  dark. — Charles  Stmes,  York  Place, 
Dirlcenhead. 

[236.]— BROMIDE  OF  POTASSIUM.— I  am  quite  dis¬ 
posed  to  agree  with  the  remarks  made  by  Ed.  Pdaem. 
Jourx.  I  have  known  cases  of  5ss  to  5is3  ordered  fora 

dose.— W.  C.  H. 

BORAX  AND  BLACKBEETLES. — Two  closets  in  dif¬ 
ferent  rooms  in  my  business  premises  were  infested  with  this 
pest.  Every  likely  remedy  had  been  tried,  including  brush¬ 
ing  over  their  haunts  with  a  strong  solution  of  corrosive  sub¬ 
limate,  but  in  vain.  I  accidentally  saw  from  an  American 
source  that  borax  was  a  cure.  I  tried  it  by  sprinkling  it 
freely  in  these  closets,  and  where  formerly  scores  could  have 
been  seen  at  any  time,  not  one  can  now  be  found,  and  I  con¬ 
cluded  they  were  poisoned.  A  few  days  since,  however,  find¬ 
ing  some  in  a  cask,  I  had  them  caught  and  put  into  a  box 
with  some  borax.  It  did  not  kill  them  ;  but,  for  my  part,  I 
am  quite  contented  that,  whether  dead  or  alive,  they  have 
•quite  disappeared. — H.  C.  B. 


[256.]— LIQUID  COCHINEAL. — I  should  feel  obliged 
by  your  asking  for  a  recipe  for  liquid  cochineal? — Ton  Pedx 
Pehwith. 

[*#*  Several  formulae  have  been  given  in  the  Journal, 
though  it  appears  there  is  still  a  want  of  one  for  a  prepara¬ 
tion  that  will  keep  well. — Ed.  Pharh.  Journ.] 

[257.] — GINGER  BEER  POWDER. — U.  B.  would  be 
glad  of  a  formula  for  making  ginger  beer  powder,  sufficient 
for  two  gallons  in  a  packet. 


[258.]— ESSENTIAL  OILS  OF  MYRRH  AND  WAX. 
— Can  any  of  your  readers  inform  me,  where  in  London  or 
elsewhere,  I  can  meet  with  the  essential  oils  of  myrrh  and 
wax  ?  I  have  tried  everywhere,  but  without  success. — A.  S. 

[*»*  We  are  informed  that  Messrs.  Trepte  and  Ferko,  of 
Leipzig,  in  their  long  list  of  essential  oils,  offer  “myrrhenol 
acht.”  By  oil  of  wax,  it  is  presumed  that  the  empvreumatic 
oil  of  wrax,  the  preparation  of  which  is  described  in  many  old 
books  (as  Ph.  Lond.  1721),  is  intended,  but  it  is  not  a  thing 
to  be  found  in  the  shops. — Ed.  Pharai.  Journ.]. 

[259.] — DRYTNG  SALVE. — Can  any  one  give  me  a  good 
form  for  a  drying  salve  for  cows  ? — UnguEntum. 

[***  Probably  the  information  would  be  found  in  a  work 
on  veterinary  pharmacy. — Ed.  Pharm.  Joure.] 

[260.]— PASTILLES  GUIMAUVE3.— Z.  and  Y.  is  de¬ 
sirous  of  obtaining  a  formula  for  preparing  pastilles  gui- 
mauves. 


LOCAL  APPLICATIONS  IN  SMALL-POX.— At  a  re¬ 
cent  meeting  of  the  Societe  de  Therapeutique,  M.  Deliou 
stated  that  the  plan  which  he  had  found  to  succeed  best  was 
the  application  of  a  mixture  of  collodion  and  castor  oil,  with 
the  addition  of  l-100th  of  bichloride  of  mercury. — Practi¬ 
tioner. 

GANTEINE  FOR  CLEANING  XID  GLOVES.— 
White  Soap  250  parts 
Water  155  parts. 

Dissolve  with  heat,  cool,  and  add — 

Eau  de  Jarelle,  165  parts 
Solution  of  Ammonia  10  parts. 

The  whole  to  be  ground  together  until  a  smooth  paste  is 
formed.  A  little  of  this  is  rubbed  over  the  glove  with  a  piece 
of  flannel. — New  York  Druggists'  Circular. 

VANILLA  FLAVOUR. — A  correspondent  of  the  New 
York  Druggists'  Circular  says  that,  having  tried  various 
methods  of  extracting  all  the  virtue  of  the  vanilla,  he  has 
found  none  to  answer  so  well  as  the  following : — 

Take  Vanilla  Beans  1  oz. 

White  Sugar  1  oz. 

Triturate  in  an  iron  mortar  until  reduced  to  a  pulpy  mass, 
then  pack  in  a  conical  glass  percolator,  and  pour  on  it  8  oz. 
of  neutral  sweet  spirits,  heated  by  a  water-bath  in  a  lightly 
stoppered  bottle  to  the  temperature  of  125°  F.  When  this 
has  passed,  change  the  receptacle,  and  repeat  the  process 
with  the  same  quantity  of  sweet  spirits;  lastly,  mix  the  per¬ 
colates. 

DUTCH  DROPS  OR  HAARLEM  DROPS.— There  is  a 
considerable  difference  in  the  ingredients  and  quality  of  these 
long-celebrated  drops,  but  the  most  common  preparation,  per¬ 
haps,  is  according  to  the  following  formula : — 

Take  Balsam  of  Turpentine  2  oz. 

Oil  of  Turpentine  10  oz. 

Mix.  The  genuine  drops  are  the  residuum  of  the  rectification 
of  oil  of  turpentine. — New  York  Druggists'  Circular. 

PRESERVATION  OF  ERGOT.— Ergot  is  injured  from 
being  eaten  by  a  minute  insect  of  the  Acarus  genus,  which 
appears  to  have  a  liking  for  damaged  rye,  among,  perhaps, 
many  other  things  to  it  not  less  palatable..  As  it  has  an 
aversion,  however,  to  many  pungent  things,  it  may  be  kept 
away  by  putting  in  the  vessel  that  contans  the  ergot  a  few 
drops  of  the  oil  of  cloves,  or  a  few  cloves  themselves,  or  car¬ 
damom  seeds  or  camphor.  If  well  dried  before  corking  up, 
ergot  may  in  this  manner  be  preserved  for  several  years.— 
New  York  Druggists'  Circular. 

UTILIZATION  OF  RESIDUE  IN  MAKING  TINC¬ 
TURE  OF  MYRRH. — Mr.  E.  B.  Shuttleworth,  the  editor 
of  the  Canadian  Pharmaceutical  Journal,  having  noticed 
the  large  amount  of  residue  in  making  tincture  of  myrrh 
according  to  the  British  Pharmacopoeia,  was  induced  to 
attempt  to  utilize  it.  From  fifty-two  pounds  of  the  residue 
of  percolation,  dissolved  in  boiling  water,  strained,  and  al¬ 
lowed  to  deposit,  he  obtained  twelve  gallons  of  mucilage, 
forming  an  excellent  substitute  for  paste,  and  possessing  un¬ 
limited  keeping  qualities.  Although  scarcely  so  adhesive  as 
mucilage  of  gum  arabic,  this  latter  property  may  be  obtained 
by  the  addition  of  a  little  molasses. 


1002 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  10, 1871. 


feropftmte. 


*#*  No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  JV7iatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  be  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

Poison  Regulations. 

Sir, — I  beg  the  favour  of  your  inserting  copy  of  the  ac¬ 
companying  correspondence  in  relation  to  a  letter  published 
in  the  Journal  of  June  3rd. 

Clifton,  June  6th,  1871.  Richard  W.  Giles. 

(Copt.) 

Clifton,  June  3rd,  1871. 

Sir, — Permit  me  to  ask  what  you  wish  to  be  understood 
from  your  letter  in  the  current  No.  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Journal,  headed  “  Poison  Regulations.”  Allow  me  also  to 
direct  your  attention  to  a  letter  in  the  Journal  of  May  13th, 
signed  by  Mr.  Baldock,  who  seconded  the  amendment  pro¬ 
posed  by  myself  at  the  Annual  Meeting,  to  which  amend¬ 
ment  your  letter  appears  to  point. 

Your  reply  is  requested  for  the  purpose  of  inserting  it  in 
the  next  No.  of  the  Journal,  and  I  shall  therefore  feel  obliged 
if  you  will  favour  me  with  it  as  early  as  possible. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Barnard  S.  Proctor,  Esq.  Richard  TV.  Giles. 

Neio  castle- on- Tyne. 

(Copt.) 

Grey  Street  Newcastle-on-Tyne. 

Dear  Sir, — I  have  just  received  your  note,  and  in  reply,  all 
I  wish  to  be  understood  by  my  few  lines  in  last  No.  of  Jour¬ 
nal  is  that-  it  is  dangerous  to  have  any  “  tacit  understand¬ 
ings  ;”  they  are  as  slippery  as  ghosts  and  about  as  indefinite. 

Yours  truly, 

R.  TV.  Giles,  Esq.  Barnard  S.  Proctor. 


Sir, — In  your  last  number  Mr.  Hucklebridge  advocates  the 
use  of  a  red  band  of  colour  as  the  simplest  and  most  efficient 
check  against  mistakes. 

Now  as  I  decidedly  differ  from  him  on  this  point  (whilst 
agreeing  with  the  rest  of  the  letter),  it  will  not  perhaps  be 
unfair  to  endeavour  to  turn  his  own  illustration  against  him. 

Let  me  ask  now  if  the  lady  whose  finger  had  been  so  very 
rudely  used  for  a  tobacco  stopper,  had  been  anxious  to  guard 
against  the  repetition  of  such  a  mistake,  would  she  have  been 
more  likely  to  effect  this  by  colouring  the  top  of  her  finger 
red,  or  by  wearing  two  or  three  rings  with  sharp  points  or 
roughened  edges  properly  placed  ? 

Having  written  so  recently  on  poison  regulations,  I  should 
not  have  troubled  you  again,  only  I  think  the  distinction 
drawn  is  worthy  of  consideration. 

TV.  C.  H. 


Sir, — I  have  a  strong  feeling  against  the  “  Poison  Bottle.” 
I  fear  that  such  a  bottle  becoming  familiar  in  households 
will  be  used  for  general  purposes.  There  is  a  general  re¬ 
luctance  to  smashing  a  bottle  of  whatever  kind,  and  when 
the  sign  of  danger  becomes  familiar  it  loses  its  caution.  The 
Poison-Bottle  may  be  used  for  an  innocent  medicine  (or  other 
contents),  and  this  practice  may  lead  to  awful  mistakes,  be¬ 
cause  the  sign  of  poison  being  associated  thus  with  an  inno¬ 
cent  medicine  may  lead  to  the  swallowing  of  poison  instead 
ot  the  innocent  medicine,  as  both  may  be  in  the  same  kind  of 
bottle. 

To  pay  for  a  bottle  or  phial,  so  long  as  one  has  a  bottle  or 
phial  fit  tor  the  purpose  in  hand,  is  “  against  tho  grain,”  and 
there  is  a  too  common  trust  in  mere  remembrance  as  the  re¬ 
conciliation  for  departure  from  strict  propriety. 

Common  beer-bottles  are  used  for  furniture  oil,  and  ink 
(and  I  know  of  a  mistake  of  a  serious  nature  caused  thereby), 
and  even  vitriol,  and  I  have  seen  a  castor-oil  bottle  used  for 
ardent  spirits.  I  have  seen  blacking-bottles  hardly  distin¬ 
guishable  from  stone  ginger-beer  bottles,  and,  so  far  as  I 
know,  the  one  bottle  was  used  for  both  purposes,  from  tho 
reluctance  to  pay  for  the  proper  bottle. 

Suppose  a  “stingy”  man,  or  a  “hard  up”  man,  or  an 


economical  (!)  man,  wants  something  in  a  bottle,  for  which 
bottle  he  must  pay  if  he  have  not  one.  Suppose  he  has  a 
“poison-bottle,”  and  gets  that  filled  with  non-poisonous  con- 
tents,  what  is  the  harm?  It  is  this,  that  trusting  to  the 
familiar  use  of  such  a  bottle,  he  may  be  some  day  off  his. 
guard  and  use  a  “poison-bottle,”  with  poison  in  it,  believing 
he  is  using  the  innocent  stuff. 

I  believe  in  a  poison-bottle  only  if  it  can  change  its  cha¬ 
racter  tvhen  the  poison  is  no  longer  in  it,  and  is  so  decidedly 
alarming  in  appearance,  lohile  the  poison  is  in  it,  that  even/ 
in  the  dark  its  characteristic  tvarning  ivill  be  felt. 

The  nearest  approach  to  such  a  thing,  that  I  now  conceive, 
is  a  broad  black  tape  tied  round  the  neck  of  every  bottle  con¬ 
taining  poison  (whether  as  stock  in  the  shop,  or  dispensed), 
and  that  such  tape  shall  have  two  long  ends  hanging  down 
over  the  bottle.  When  such  a  poison-bottle  is  no  longer 
used  for  poison  the  tape  can  be  removed,  and  the  bottle  looked 
upon  as  a  safe  bottle.  The  deliberate  removal  of  the  tape* 
will  be  the  surety  that  the  poison  also  is  removed  (unless 
criminality  is  involved),  and  the  familiar  idea  of  poison  also  re¬ 
moved,  leaving  such  a  symbol  with  its  full  terrors  when  seen- 

The  accidentally  removable  “  Poison  ”  label  would  not 
only  be  there  (subject  to  obliteration),  but  there  wrould  tena¬ 
ciously  remain  a  peculiar  symbol  of  poison,  which  only  de¬ 
liberation  or  design  could  remove,  while,  for  convenience, 
when  no  poison  existed,  the  removal  of  the  tape  (impossible* 
by  ordinary  accident)  would  restore  the  washed  bottle  to  a 
common  purpose. 

I  hold  that  tho  symbol  of  poison  should  vanish  writh  the 
poison. 

Alfred  W.  P.  Smith. 

Edinburgh,  May  31st,  1871. 


Poisons  in  Surgeries. 

Sir, — J ust  now  as  there  is  a  deal  of  agitation  respecting  the 
manner  in  which  chemists  store  their  poisonous  preparations, 
it  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  say  a  few  words  respecting  the 
wTay  in  which  surgeons  keep  their  preparations. 

As  a  traveller  for  a  provincial  wholesale  drug  house,  L 
have  good  opportunity  for  observing  the  manner  in  which 
their  preparations  are  stored  in  their  surgeries. 

In  the  first  place,  I  frequently  find  the  bottles,  pots,  etc. 
labelled  very  illegibly  and  imperfectly ;  and  as  regards  their 
juxtaposition,  you  will  find  ext.  belladon.  and  ext.  anthem, 
embracing  each  other  ;  whilst  on  the  other  hand,  tinct.  opii,. 
liq.  ammonite  and  sp.  aether,  nit.  are  close  companions  with, 
lin.  belladon.,  lin.  aconit.  and  tinct.  rhei.  co.,  in  fact  they  are- 
jumbled  together  in  hopeless  confusion;  and  when  this  is. 
coupled  with  the  bits  of  scribbled  paper  stuck  on  by  way  of' 
apology  for  a  label,  I  am  surprised  that  fatal  mistakes  do  not, 
occur  more  frequently  than  they  appear  to  do. 

I  do  not  wish  to  say  one  w-ord  against  our  surgeons  which 
they  do  not  deserve,  but  we  know  that  sometimes  “  very  un¬ 
favourable  symptoms  set  in,”  or  perhaps  “  the  fever  is  in¬ 
creased  with  wonderful  rapidity,”  or  something  of  that  sort. 

Ltcopodium. 


The  Benevolent  Fund. 

Sir, — Much  has  been  written  on  this  subject  lately,  some  of 
it  in  a  spirit  likely  to  do  good,  and  some  with  a  very  different- 
tendency,  for  I  cannot  think  that  the  cynical,  conceited,  dog¬ 
matic  tone  adopted  by  some  correspondents,  whose  chief  aim 
appears  to  be  to  make  themselves’very  prominent  in  every¬ 
thing, — if  not  by  popularity,  then  by  notoriety, — can  elicit 
any  good  result. 

I  fully  agree  wTith  the  sentiments  of  “  Senricus .”  There- 
are  some  people  who,  in  these  matters,  not  only  “let  their- 
right  hand  know  what  their  left  hand  doeth,”  but  they  seerm 
little  pleased  if  everybody  else  does  not  know  it  too.  I  am 
quite  willing  that  they  should  be  gratified,  even  by  having 
their  names  embalmed  in  printer’s  ink  with  heavier  type  than 
those  of  their  less  magnanimous  neighbours,  if  that  Gan  be  con¬ 
veniently  carried  out;  but  let  them  be  satisfied  with  their  own. 
distinction,  and  concern  themselves  less  about  others.  TYhen 
they  ask  that  the  names  of  others  shall  be  printed  in  a  manner 
to  show  that  they  do  not  subscribe  as  much  as  Mr.  Biglittle,  I. 
think  they  are  asking  what  they  have  no  right  to  ask,  and  what 
they  would  not  like  others  to  ask  if  they  were  differently  con¬ 
cerned.  There  are  many  who  have  not  yet  subscribed  to  the 
Benevolent  Fund,  and  others  who  have  contributed  only  small 


June  10,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1003 


sums,  simply  because  they  cannot  afford  to  do  more,  but  who 
•are  not  a  whit  less  generous  or  well-disposed  towards  it  than 
some  who  give  a  little  more,  and  accompany  it  with  so  much 
ostentation.  Pew  of  us  can  afford  to  help  others  much,  what¬ 
ever  may  be  our  desires,  and  therefore  let  the  more  prosperous 
ask  their  less  fortunate  brethren  for  subscriptions  with  some 
consideration  for  their  feelings,  or  they  will  annoy  and  disgust 
many  more  than  they  will  win  to  subscribe. 

After  thus  freely  expressing  my  opinion,  I  will  venture  to 
suggest  for  consideration  one  small  way  of  increasing  the 
Pund;  which  is,  that  instead  of  free  admission  to  the  annual 
conversazione,  a  small  charge  should  be  made  for  the  tickets 
* — not  less  than  a  shilling,  and  not  more  than  half-a-crown — 
the  money  so  obtained  to  be  given  unreduced  to  the  said 
fund. 

I  believe  everybody  would  pay  it,  not  only  without  grum¬ 
bling,  but  with  pleasure,  knowing  the  purpose  to  which  it 
would  be  applied. 

Whether  I  may  be  able  to  attend  or  not,  I  will  pledge  my¬ 
self  always  to  pay  for  one  if  not  for  two. 

If  this  suggestion  is  objectionable,  possibly  it  may  prompt 
others  to  think  of  some  way  more  acceptable. 

I  will  just  add  that,  notwithstanding  the  twitting  manner 
in  which  the  words  “  our  active  Registrar”  are  quoted,  after 
some  little  personal  experience  of  him,  I  do  not  think  the 
adjective  misapplied,  but  think  it  would  be  well  if  we  all  were 
as  “active”  in  our  own  business,  and  as  little  “active”  in  that 
of  other  people  as  “our  active  Registrar.”  Salt. 


Sir, — I  am  surprised  to  see  a  process  of  intimidation  sug¬ 
gested  as  a  means  of  getting  subscribers.  This  will  never  do, 
it  must  be  left  to  every  man’s  conscience  what  he  can  or  will 
give  in  any  work  of  charity.  And  as  far  as  my  experience 
goes,  I  do  not  believe  there  are  many  who  can  be  frightened 
into  liberality. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  Pund  certainly  has  a  claim  upon 
every  chemist  and  druggist  throughout  the  land.  Let  circu¬ 
lars  be  sent  to  the  local  secretaries  throughout  the  country, 
for  distribution.  In  these  circulars  let  the  attention  of  the 
trade  be  solicited  to  the  benefits  and  requirements  of  this  In¬ 
stitution.  Let  those  who  are  not  members  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society  be  requested  to  become  so.  I  do  not  think 
the  entrance  fee  unjust  or  unreasonable  (certainly  I  paid  it 
myself  without  any  scruple).  The  annual  subscription  is 
moderate  enough  for  the  advantages  conferred  in  return; 
especially  if  exemption  from  jury  service  be  added,  which  in 
all  reason  and  equity  ought  to  be  the  case. 

Some  who  would  not  become  members,  might  be  induced 
to  be  subscribers  to  the  Benevolent. 

I  am  firmly  convinced  that  a  great  deal  might  be  done  in 
this  wTay,  from  personal  experience  during  the  time  I  was 
connected  with  the  United  Society. 

And  another  part  of  my  experience  is  this,  that  there  are 
few  occupations  in  life  where  there  is  a  greater  likelihood  of 
pecuniary  assistance  being  required  by  deserving  members 
than  in  that  of  a  chemist  and  druggist. 

One  wjio  has  Known  the  Drug  Trade 

MORE  THAN  THIRTY  YEARS. 


Pharmaceutical  Examinations. 

Sir, — In  answer  to  your  correspondent  of  the  20th  inst., 
though  I  cannot  point  out  the  advantages  I  will  endeavour  to 
give  him  a  few  of  the  disadvantages  of  those  who  have  passed 
the  Major  Examination,  and  also  been  some  few  months  in 
the  Laboratory  studying  practical  chemistry. 

If  my  memory  does  not  fail  me,  some  few  years  since,  at  a 
special  General  Meeting  of  the  Society,  it  was  stated  that 
the  Council  had  no  intention  of  again  opening  the  door  of 
admission  except  by  examination.  Now,  Sir,  I  and  many 
others  took  the  Council  at  their  word,  and  after  going 
through  the  due  course  of  training  at  Bloomsbury  Square, 
passed  the  examinations ;  and  how  has  the  Society  rewarded 
us  for  our  simple  faith  ?  Our  best  means  of  explanation  will 
be  to  take  two  fellow-apprentices  just  free  from  their  bonds, 
both  with  £500 :  the  one  goes  forth  as  an  assistant,  and  by 
that  means  adds  a  little  to  his  store,  whereas  the  other  thirst¬ 
ing  after  a  knowledge  of  the  articles  that  daily  pass  through 
his  hands,  wends  his  way  towards  Bloomsbury  Square,  where 
we  find  him,  day  after  day,  ruminating  over  Fownes,  Bentley, 
Royle,  Bowman,  etc.,  and,  after  months  of  careful  training, 
passes  the  Major,  and  receives  a  certificate. 


We  again  find  our  two  friends  brought  face  to  face,  when 
they  wish  to  commence  business ;  granting  them  to  be  both  of 
equal  business  tact  and  perseverance,  the  one  who  turned  his 
back  on  the  Society  is  able  to  buy  a  very  much  better  busi¬ 
ness  than  the  Major  Associate,  but  of  this  he  did  not  com 
plain,  and  only  asked  to  be  left  with  his  knowledge  and  title 
to  fight  the  battle  for  himself ;  but  here  steps  across  his  path 
the  foster-mother  to  whom  he  had  been  taught  to  look  up, 
and  who  he  had  fondly  hoped  would  prove  the  lever  that  would 
raise  him  some  little  above  his  non-examined  neighbour. 
She  not  only  folds  her  arms  round  his  opponent,  but  gives 
him  a  title  quite  equal  to  his  own,  and  from  which  the  public 
cannot  distinguish  the  difference.  What  we,  who  have  been 
led  to  part  with  our  money,  ask,  or  rather  demand  is,  that  all 
who  have  passed  the  Major  shall  have  some  title  which  will 
distinguish  them  from  those  who  have  passed  into  the  Society 
through  another  gate,  and  I  would  suggest  Fellows  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  College — F.P.C. 

Perhaps  some  may  think  this  picture  overdrawn,  but  I  can 
only  tell  them  I  am  waiting  from  practical  experience. 

May  31s£,  1871.  F.  P.  C. 


Sir, — I  cannot  agree  with  your  correspondent  “  Forward” 
that  he,  having  passed  the  Modified  Examination,  should  be 
allowed  to  skip  the  Preliminary. 

I  suppose  I  may  infer,  that  the  Modified  men  are  alarmed 
at  the  number  of  examinations  they  have  to  undergo.  I 
would  suggest,  the  Council  might  make  the  path  easier  for 
them  in  this  way,  viz.  when  they  have  passed  the  Preliminary, 
to  allow  them  to  go  on  for  the  Major. 

I  do  not  think  that  any  one  should  or  coidd  attain  the  title 
of  pharmacist  without  having  knowledge  of  the  kind  neces¬ 
sary  to  pass  the  Preliminary,  so  that  it  would  be  no  hardship, 
but  the  reverse  to  require  him  to  undergo  the  test  previously. 

If  the  Council  were  to  make  the  Modified  an  equivalent  to 
the  Minor,  when  the  Preliminary  is  passed,  it  would  remove 
any  cause  for  grumbling. 

There  would  be  no  injustice  done  to  those  who  have  passed 
the  Minor,  as  the  Modified  men  are  placed  on  the  same  foot¬ 
ing  with  them  in  other  respects  already,  for  which  I  think 
the  latter  gentlemen  have  cause  to  be  thankful. 

Birkenhead,  Jane  oth,  1871.  J.  H.  K. 


Druggists’  Prices. 

Sir, — A  week  or  ten  days  ago  I  was  offered  Is.  3d.  for  a 
gxij  effervescing  mixture  and  xij  carb.  soda  powder  and  bot¬ 
tle,  but  declined;  it  was  an  old  prescription,  but  no  chemist’s 
name  appeared  on  it.  I  was  informed  that  it  had  been  dis¬ 
pensed  scores  of  times  for  Is.  in  the  North. 

Peterborough.  Stephen  Willson. 


Sir, — I  know  of  a  retail  doctor  at  the  east  of  London  who 
doles  out  a  child’s  powder  for  the  low  charge  of  Id.  where 
chemists  charge  1  \d.  each,  and  whose  equipage  would  not 
disgrace  a  West-End  M.D.,  with  a  pair  of  handsome  grey 
horses  and  three  fine  spotted  carriage  dogs  to  follow  in  the 
rear ;  and  this  very  same  doctor,  moreover,  is  principal 
agent — “the  London  depot” — of  the  wonderful  “Elixir  of 
strength” — “it  gives  strength  to  the  weak  and  makes  the 
aged  forget  their  infirmities,  and  restores  manhood  to  the 
most  shattered  constitution” — “nervousness  more  speedily 
cured  by  the  elixir  than  by  any  agency  yet  discovered.” — 
“  N.B.  This  renowned  medicine  will  keep  in  all  climates ;  no 
vessel  should  proceed  to  sea  without  having  a  supply  on 
board” — “The  glory  of  man  is  strength” — “Agents:  all 
registered  chemists  throughout  the  civilized  world  ” — “Copy¬ 
right  entr.  Sta.  Hall,  April  21,  1865.  Trade  mark,  or  words 
elixir  of  strength.”  What  medical  man  of  sensibility  and 
education  would  not  say  Bosh  to  this  glaring  trash  ?  This 
is  a  specimen  of  the  degrading  trade  done  by  a  doctor  even 
in  London,  as  well  as  Glasgow. 

I  have  troubled  you  with  rather  a  long  “ditty,”  with  hope 
against  hope  that  it  may  put  shame  in  the  conscience  of  the 
accused  and  teach  them  to  desist  from  so  encroaching  and 
low  a  scale  of  trading ;  which  will  fully  reward  your  obedient 
servant  with  others  of  his  brethren.  Bo-peep. 

May  30tli,  1871. 


100  I 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  10,  1871  ► 


Druggists’  Prices  North  or  the  Tweed. 

Sir, — Your  correspondent  “  S.  G.  H.”  makes  reference  in 
last  Saturday’s  Journal  to  a  retail  price  list,  which,  he  states, 
has  been  drawn  up  on  this  side  of  “  the  border.”  I  consider 
it  my  duty  as  Secretary  to  the  Glasgow  Association  to  state 
that  so  far  as  that  body  is  concerned,  they  have  had  no  hand 
in  its  compilation ;  they  have  not  countenanced  in  any  way 
the  dispensing  of  a  one-ounce  mixture  for  fourpence,  nor  have 
they  suppressed  the  origin  of  the  list  issued  by  their  authority. 

James  M.  Fairlie, 

Hon.  See.  Glasgow  Chemists’  Association. 

St.  George's  Cross,  Glasgovv,  5th  June,  1871. 


Sir, — “ It.  G.  U.”  (Bradford)  is  quite  entitled  to  sneer  at  our 
prices,  but  we  cannot  allow  him  to  misrepresent  them.  He 
quotes  5i,  3iss  5ij  mixtures  4 d.,  Gd.  and  8 d.  respectively  (it 
should  be  ^i,  4 d.  to  6 d.),  and  afterwards  deducts  2^d.  for  bot¬ 
tles,  etc.,  to  estimate  how  much  is  left  for  skilled  labour.  Will 
it  be  believed  that  immediately  above  the  line  he  quotes,  there 
stands  “all  prices  exclusive  of  bottles”?  and  that  5!,  ^iss, 
3ij  phials  are  priced  2d.  each  in  the  same  price  list. 

Edinburgh.  A.  N. 


The  Chemists’  Club. 

Sir, — I  was  extremely  pleased  with  the  suggestion  of 
“  Subscriber  ”  on  the  above  subject  in  the  Journal,  and  as  he 
invites  the  opinions  of  those  interested,  I  with  much  pleasure 
volunteer  mine. 

I  think  that  if  a  club  were  established  under  the  control 
of  our  Council,  possessing  the  necessary  accommodation  for 
country  members  visiting  the  metropolis,  for  students  coming 
up  for  examinations  or  attending  the  laboratories,  or  for  assis¬ 
tants  seeking  situations,  also  to  be  used  as  a  resort  for  London 
members  and  assistants,  it  would  be  an  advantage,  the  neces¬ 
sity  of  which  has  long  been  felt,  and  which  would  be  much 
appreciated,  and  would  do  much,  I  am  sure,  to  further  a  feel¬ 
ing  of  fraternity  and  good-fellowship  among  our  brother 
members. 

I  think  a  nominal  annual  subscription,  together  with  a 
moderate  charge  for  accommodation,  would  be  quite  a  success, 
and  that  few  indeed  of  our  members,  in  town  or  country, 
would  withhold  from  subscribing  to  so  useful  an  institution. 
I  hope  to  hear  the  opinions  of  other  gentlemen,  and  that 
it  may  be  well  considered  and  discussed. 

One  who  would  gladly  Subscribe. 


Inspection  op  Weights  and  Measures. 

Sir, — It  has  often  occurred  to  my  mind  whether  chemists 
and  druggists  are  really  liable  to  be  visited  by  inspectors  of 
weights  and  measures,  and  I  now  beg  leave  to  put  forth  this 
question  through  your  valuable  Journal,  if  you  will  kindly 
allow  me  so  to  do.  It  does  appear  by  the  enclosed  old  list 
that  there  are  copies  of  the  imperial  standard  weights  in 
8-dram,  4-dram,  2-dram,  1-dram  and  ^-dram  ;  consequently 
all  using  these  weights  in  way  of  trading  are  subject  to  be 
called  upon  by  these  officials ;  even  all  dispensing  chemists, 
as  well  as  doctors  and  surgeons  who  retail.  M.  P.  S. 


A  Medley. 

R.  Potass.  Bicarb.  5\j 
Ammon.  Garb.  5ss 
Liq.  Ammon.  Acet.  3j 
Sp.  Etkeris  Nitr.  5iss 
„  „  Chlor.  5j 

Yini  Ipecac.  5j 
Liq.  Cinchon.  (Battley)  5iij 
Syr.  Scilloe  §ss 
Aquae  ad  ^viij. 

M.  Capt.  partm.  Gtarn  c.  3ss  succ.  limon.  ter  die  in  statu 
effervescentia. 

The  above  is  the  prescriber’s  usual  remed3r  for  coughs  and 
colds,  sometimes  omitting  liq.  cinchon.,  and  in  one  case  omit¬ 
ting  it,  but  adding — 

Sp.  Ammon.  Co.  5iij 
Liq.  Taraxaci  5vj. 

Highgate.  Ale.  Marshall. 


C.  A.  Threadgale. — The  answer  to  the  question  “if  the  ' 
calling  of  a  chemist  and  druggist  is  a  profession”  will  depend 


mainly  upon  the  way  in  which  that  calling  is  pursued.  Our 
correspondent  will  see  some  pertinent  remarks  on  the  ques¬ 
tion  at  page  999. 

F.  JL.  TV. — (1.)  We  believe  that  the  rule  would  be  to  uso- 
the  Pharmacopceia  preparation.  (2.)  We  are  not  aware  that 
Mr.  Wilson  has  a  preference  for  any  particular  aqua  mellis. 

“  Hydrargyrum.” — The  stain  may  be  removed  by  heating 
the  button  carefully  in  a  glass-tube  until  the  mercury  is 
volatilized. 

M.  M.  L. — You  are  quite  correct  in  your  supposition. 

J.  Hooge. — One  of  the  best  books  for  preparing  for  the 
Minor  Examination  in  the  subject  mentioned  is  Garrod’s 
‘  Essentials  of  Materia  Medica.’  There  are  also  a  good  work  by 
Scoresby- Jackson,  a  new  edition  of  which  has  been  published 
recently,  and  Farre’s  Abridgment  of  Pereira’s  Materia 
Medica. 

“Ferment.” — Pasteur’s  papers  on  Fermentation  were  pub¬ 
lished  in  the  ‘  Comptes-Rendus  des  Seances  de  T  Academie  ties- 
Sciences.’ 

F.  Liley. — The  temperature  would  be  about  180°  F. 

“  Cyathus.” — We  have  already  given,  at  p.  878,  a  few  re¬ 
cipes  similar  to  those  you  ask  for,  but  it  requires  only  a  small 
amount  of  pharmaceutical  ingenuity  to  produce  any  of  the- 
flavouring  syrups  used  for  aerated  drinks. 

C.  S. — A  precipitate  must  be  produced  if  the  medicine  be 
dispensed  according  to  the  prescription,  and  if  there  be  the 
proper  amount  of  quinine  in  the  ferro-citrate. 

“  Aquila”  had  better  write  to  the  editor  of  the  Hair¬ 
dressers’  Chronicle. 

“  Dubitas.” — If  the  preparation  be  kept,  it  is  liable  to  ex¬ 
plode. 

A.  P.  S.  (Liverpool). — (1.)  We  do  not  know  of  any  autho¬ 
rity  for  preferring  one  kind  to  another.  There  is  a  consider¬ 
able  difference  in  the  price.  (2.)  The  results  obtained  appear 
to  be  of  sufficient  interest  and  importance  to  justify  their  being- 
made  the  subject  of  a  paper,  and  we  shall  be  glad  to  open  the- 
inquiry  by  publishing  them  in  the  Journal  in  that  form. 

“Amygdala.” — A  solution  containing  one  scruple  in  one- 
ounce  of  water  will  keep  at  ordinary  temperatures. 

IV.  Morgan. — We  are  obliged  for  the  information,  and  will 
place  it  at  the  disposal  of  future  inquirers. 

A.  P.  S. — The  question  has  already  been  asked,  but  has- 
not  yet  been  answered. 

“  Capsicum.” — Probably  because  rectified  spirit  of  wine  is- 
the  better  solvent  of  the  active  principles. 

A.  Parron. —  (1.)  The  most  trustworthy  test  for  chloral 
hydrate  is  the  production  of  chloroform  by  the  action  of  alka¬ 
lies  upon  it,  but  the  method  of  using  the  test  would  depend 
upon  circumstances.  (2.)  We  have  noticed  the  coloration- 
spoken  of,  but  are  not  aware  of  the  cause.  Probably  it  is  due 
to  some  slight  impurity  in  the  preparation. 

S.  Maslcery. — If  the  pills  were  put  up  in  boxes  containing- 
more  than  a  dose,  we  think  that  the  label  would  be  liable. 

“  Stucco.” — The  action  is  due  to  oxidation  of  the  spirit 
vapour  induced  by  the  spongy  platinum  and  generating  suffi¬ 
cient  heat  to  keep  the  platinum  red-hot  and  evaporate  the- 
perfume. 

“  Guliehnus.” — We  think  the  label  is  liable  as  referring  to 
a  remedy  for  a  disorder,  and  giving  directions  for  use. 

G.  TV. — Mix  seven  parts  of  water  with  one  part  of  the  acid 
referred  to. 

H.  TV.  H. — The  article  mentioned  is  a  proprietary  one,  and 
we  are  therefore  unable  to  give  the  formula  for  its  prepara¬ 
tion. 

“  Inquirer.” — Yvr e  know  of  no  authorized  formula. 

“Alpha.” — You  would  probably  find  the  information  in  a 
work  on  perfumery. 

G.  H.  Stricldand. — The  amount  is  very  small  and  variable. 

Erratum. — In  last  week’s  Journal,  p.  983,  col.  29,  line  17 
from  top,  for  “  utmost  entire  absence”  read  “  almost  entire- 
absence.” 


Communications,  Letters,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  S.  Wilson,  Mr.  J.  H.  Kay,  Mr.  J.  Edwards,  Mr.  E.  II. 
Strickland,  Mr.  D.  Hanbury,  Mr.  R.  Manlove,  Report  of  the 
Nottingham  and  Notts  Chemists’  Association,  H.,  “  Spes,’* 
“  Investigatio,”  “  Minor,”  “  Associate.” 

READING-CASES.  —  Ashworth’s  Patent  “Looped 
Binder”  Folios,  made  to  hold  six,  thirteen,  or  twenty-six 
numbers  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal,  are  now  ready, 
and  may  be  had  of  Messrs.  Taylor  and  Co.,  Printers,  10,  Little 
Q ueen  Street,  London,  W.C.,  price  Is.  6d.  Binders,  6d.  per  gross. 


June  17, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1005 


HOTS  OH  KYDRQCYAHATE  OS  MORPHIA. 

BY  PROFESSOR  J.  M.  MAISCH. 

>  Among  the  descriptions  of  morpliia  salts,  as  fur¬ 
nished  by  various  chemists,  the  hydrocyanate  is  not 
enumerated.  In  Gmelin’s  ‘  Chemistry  ’  some  double 
hydrocyanates  are  mentioned,  but  not  the  simple 
morphia  salt ;  and,  as  far  as  I  know,  nothing  is 
known  of  its  formation  or  its  properties. 

A  prescription  having  been  received,  calling  for 
1  grain  eacli  of  acetate  of  morpliia  and  cyanide  of 
potassium  in  a  3-oz.  mixture,  the  separation  of 
needles  was  observed  before  the  medicine  was  handed 
out ;  they  were  removed  by  straining,  and  found  to 
be  a  salt  of  morphia.  Although  granulated  cyanide 
of  potassium  was  used,  it  was  still  possible  that  this 
salt  might  have  been  impure,  and  the  formation  of 
the  crystals  due  to  some  impurity. 

Pure  hydrocyanic  acid  was  therefore  neutralized 
with  ammonia,  and  the  aqueous  liquid  diluted,  so 
that  it  contained  in  each  fluid  drachm  1  grain  of 
pure  cyanide  of  ammonium.  This  solution  was  ex¬ 
perimented  with  like  the  solution  of  cyanide  of 
potassium.  The  following  contains  the  results  of 
the  experiments  thus  far  obtained  : — 

1.  A  neutral  solution  of  a  morphia  salt,  even  if 
diluted  to  the  proportion  of  1  :  1500  (1  grain  in 
3£  oz.),  yields  until  a  neutral  cyanide  a  crystalline 
precipitate  consisting  of  hydrocyanate  of  morphia. 

2.  After  the  crystals  have  separated,  the  filtrate, 
acidulated  with  nitric  acid,  yields  no  precipitate  with 
iodoliydrargyrate  of  potassium  ;  the  morpliia  hydro¬ 
cyanate,  therefore,  if  soluble  at  all,  dissolves  but 
very  sparingly  in  water. 

3.  The  solubility  of  the  morphia  hydrocyanate 
appears  not  to  be  increased  by  an  excess  of  the 
precipitant. 

4.  The  precipitate  is  readily  dissolved  if  the  liquid 
is  slightly  acidulated  by  a  mineral  acid ;  it  is  like¬ 
wise  soluble  in  acetic  acid,  and  for  this  reason  does 
not  appear  in  a  mixture  containing  syrup  of  squill. 

5.  Hydrocyanic  acid  does  not  precipitate  a  neutral 
solution  of  morpliia. 

It  is  obvious  from  the  foregoing  that  morphia 
salts  ought  not  to  be  prescribed  simultaneously  with 
neutral  cyanides,  except  enough  acid  be  added  to 
retain  the  hydrocyanate  of  morphia  in  solution. — 
Amer.  Journ.  Pharmacy. 


LIQUOR  PLUMBI  SUBACETATIS. 

BY  STEWART  KELLAM,  OF  GALVESTON,  TEXAS.* 

As  it  is  of  considerable  interest  to  the  pharmaceu¬ 
tist  to  know  the  strength  of  the  basic  acetate  of  lead 
of  the  different  Pharmacopoeias,  I  have,  in  the  labo¬ 
ratory  of  Hr.  F.  A.  Genth,  carefully  prepared  the 
different  samples,  and  have  examined  them  with  re¬ 
ference  to  their  specific  gravity,  and  the  amount  of 
oxide  of  lead  which  they  contain.  The  materials 
used  for  such  preparations  were  first  examined  quali¬ 
tatively.  The  acetate  of  lead  was  in  thick,  stout 
crystalline  masses ;  the  interior  brilliant,  and  only 
the  outside  slightly  coated  with  a  more  basic  ace¬ 
tate  ;  it  was  free  from  copper,  and  contained  no 
other  impurities. 

The  litharge,  on  the  contrary,  was  of  far  less 

*  An  Inaugural  Essay  upon  passing  tlie  examination  for 
the  degree  of  Graduate  in  Pharmacy  of  the  Philadelphia 
College  of  Pharmacy. 

Third  Series,  No.  51. 


purity.  I  have  examined  six  samples  from  different 
sources;  they  all  contained  carbonic  acid  and  minute 
traces  of  silver ;  two  of  them  also  metallic  lead,  and 
red  oxide  of  lead ;  two  were  contaminated  with  oxides 
of  iron  and  copper,  with  alumina  and  lime  ;  and  the 
other  two  showed,  besides  the  impurities  mentioned, 
silicic  acid  and  teroxide  of  antimony.  As  it  is  so 
very  easy  to  obtain  the  pure  oxide  of  lead  by  the 
calcination  of  the  pure  carbonate,  it  is  advisable  to 
prepare  always  the  pure  oxide  for  pharmaceutical 
preparations.  I  have  prepared  my  solutions  of  the 
subacetate,  both  with  the  purest  of  the  examined 
samples  of  commercial  litharge,  and  with  chemically 
pure  oxide  of  lead. 

1.  Prepared  according  to  the  Pharmacopoeia  Ba- 
densis : — 190  parts  of  sugar  of  lead  are  digested  with 
222  parts  of  oxide.  I  have  tried  the  process  by 
digesting,  in  a  close  flask,  12  grins,  of  acetate  of  lead 
with  14  grms.  of  litharge  and  GO  c.  c.  of  distilled 
water  for  two  days.  The  mixture,  after  a  short 
time,  had  assumed  a  thick,  pasty  consistence,  from 
the  formation  of  a  large  percentage  of  .the  so-called 
■i-  acetate,  and  yielded  such  a  small  proportion  of 
liquid  that  further  experiments  were  not  made. 

2.  According  to  the  Prussian  Pharmacopoeia : — 3 
parts  of  acetate  of  lead  are  digested  in  a  close  flask 
for  one  or  two  days,  with  one  part  of  litharge  and 
10  parts  of  water,  and  filtering  the  product  after 
cooling,  which  then  should  have  a  specific  gravity  of 
1-235  to  1-240. 

An  experiment  made  with  18  grms.  acetate  of  lead, 
0  grms.  of  litharge  and  00  c.  c.  of  water  (distilled)  gave, 
after  digestion  and  filtration  of  the  small  quantity  of 
undissolved  basic  acetate,  a  clear  liquid,  which,  how¬ 
ever,  after  several  days,  deposited  a  slight  precipi¬ 
tate.  The  specific  gravity  was  found  to  he  1-238, 
and  19:3255  grms.  of  the  liquid  gave,  when  precipi¬ 
tated  with  sulphuric  acid,  and  after  the  expulsion  of 
the  liberated  acetic  acid  by  evaporation,  54)258  grms. 
sulphate  lead,  equal  to  19’14  per  cent,  of  oxide  of  lead. 

3.  The  Bavarian  Pharmacopoeia  takes,  for  three 
parts  of  acetate  of  lead,  one  part  of  litharge  and 
eight  parts  of  water,  and  boils  down  the  mixture  till 
the  liquid  has  acquired  a  specific  gravity  of  l’SGO. 
According  to  Witts tein  (‘  Chemiscli-Pharmaceutische 
Praeparate  ’),  it  is  easier  and  better,  and  yielding  the 
same  result,  to  take  only  one-half  the  quantity  of  water. 
My  experiment  was  made  according  to  Wittstein, 
and  18  grms.  of  acetate  of  lead,  with  G  grms.  of  oxide 
of  lead,  were  digested  with  33  grms.  of  water,  and, 
after  filtration,  gave  a  clear  liquid  of  P37G  specific 
gravity.  12*5856  grms.  gave  4'8464  grms.  sulphate 
of  lead,  equal  to  28‘34  per  cent,  of  oxide  of  lead. 

4.  The  Pharmacopoeia  Gallica  uses  the  same  pro¬ 
portions  of  acetate  and  oxide  of  lead  as  the  Bavarian ; 
hence  I  did  not  deem  it  necessary  to  repeat  my  ex¬ 
periments  with  these  proportions. 

5.  The  Pharmacopoeia  Britannica  prepares  the 
liquor  plumbi  subacctatis  by  taking  5  oz.  (avoird.)  of 
acetate  of  lead,  3£  ounces  of  litharge,  and  one  impe¬ 
rial  pint  of  distilled  water ;  boils  for  half  an  hour, 
constantly  stirring  the  mixture ;  filters  after  cooling, 
and  adds  water  to  make  the  product  20  ounces.  The 
specific  gravity  is  1-260, 

In  my  experiment  I  have  taken  20  grms.  of  ace¬ 
tate  of  lead,  14  grms.  of  litharge  and  60  grms.  of 
water,  and  added  to  the  product  the  required  quan¬ 
tity  of  water  to  produce  GO  grms.  of  liquid.  The 
specific  gravity  in  my  experiment  was  considerably 
higher,  and  found  to  be  P353.  18D218  grms.  gave 


1006 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  17, 1871. 


G*5408  gnus,  sulphate  lead,  equal  to  2G*71  per  cent, 
of  oxide  of  lead. 

6.  Several  experiments  were  made  with  the  pro¬ 
cess  recommended  in  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia,  with 
commercial  litharge  as  well  as  with  chemically  pure 
oxide  of  lead,  and,  for  comparison  with  these,  others 
by  using  the  cold  process  recommended  by  M. 
Neming.* 

I.  Hot  process. — The  required  specific  gravity  of 
the  product  is  P267. 

A.  I  boiled  for  half  an  hour  16  grins,  of  acetate  of 
lead  with  9 ’5  grms.  of  litharge  and  64  gnus,  of  dis¬ 
tilled  water.  The  product  was  a  clear  liquid  of 
1*265  specific  gravity.  9*5588  grms.  gave  2*9403 
grms.  of  sulphate  of  lead,  or  22*64  per  cent,  of  oxide 
of  lead. 

B.  The  same  proportions  of  ingredients  were  used, 

but  c.  p.  oxide  of  lead  in  the  place  of  litharge.  The 
specific  gravity  of  the  product  was  1*234.  14*2815 

grms.  gave  3*7053  grms.  of  sulphate  of  lead,  equal  to 
19*09  per  cent,  of  oxide  of  lead. 

C.  A  repetition  of  the  last  experiment  with  a 
sample  of  acetate  of  lead  from  another  source,  gave 
a  liquid  of  1*230  specific  gravity,  11*4528  grms.  of 
which  gave  2*9068  grms.  sulphate  of  lead,  equal  to 
18*68  per  cent,  of  oxide  of  lead. 

II.  Cold  process. — The  same  proportions  of  the  re¬ 
quisite  substances  were  allowed  to  remain,  with 
frequent  agitation,  in  contact  for  twenty-four  hours, 
and  in  experiment  a,  made  with  litharge,  gave  a 
liquid  of  1*243  specific  gravity,  of  which  19*3736 
grms.  gave  5*2476  grms.  sulphate  of  lead,  which  is 
equal  to  19*93  per  cent,  of  oxide  of  lead. 

B.  repeated  with  c.  p.  oxide  of  lead,  I  obtained  a 
liquid  of  1*242  specific  gravity,  of  which  15*2463 
grms.  gave  4*1196  gnus,  of  sulphate  of  lead,  or  19*88 
per  cent,  of  oxide  of  lead. 

C.  A  third  experiment,  which  was  made  with 
acetate  of  lead  from  another  source,  yielded  a  liquid 
of  1*220  specific  gravity.  13*14  grms.  of  the  same 
gave  3*23  grms.  of  sulphate  of  lead,  which  repre¬ 
sents  18*09  per  cent,  of  oxide  of  lead. 

From  these  experiments  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
liquores  plurnbi  subacetatis  obtained  by  the  different 
Pharmacopoeias  yield  very  different  products,  but 
also  that  the  same  process  gave  products  of  not  ex¬ 
actly  the  same  composition ;  and  as  always  the  same 
care  has  been  used  in  each  case,  I  cannot  account 
for  differences  of  nearly  2  per  cent,  in  the  amount  of 
oxide  of  lead  (as  has  been  found  between  No.  6, 
II  A.  and  C.),  otherwise  than  that  the  very  low  tem¬ 
perature  at  the  time  of  the  preparation  of  C.  is  the 
cause  of  this  and  other  discrepancies. 

As  a  general  observation  I  will  add,  that  the  pre¬ 
parations  made  in  the  cold  appear  to  keep  better 
than  those  obtained  by  boiling,  the  latter  more  readily 
depositing  basic  salts. — Amer.  Journ.  Pharmacy. 


NOTES  ON  BIRD  OILS, 

BY  P.  L.  SIMMONDS. 

Among  the  animal  oils  or  fats,  that  of  birds  has 
been  the  least  investigated,  probably  because  it  is 
so  seldom  met  with  in  commerce,  and  yet  there  are 
some  quarters  where  various  kinds  have  economic 
and  medicinal  uses.  Goose  grease  is  perhaps  the 
only  one  wliich  with  us  has  a  domestic  reputation  as 
an  emollient  for  chapped  hands,  etc.  As  Mr.  Stanford 

*  Phaem.  Jourx.  July  9th,  1870,  from  Journ,  de  Phar- 
made  et  de  Chimie, 


has  recently  drawn  attention  to  the  fulmar  oil  in  the 
J ournal,  a  few  notes  as  to  the  uses  and  commerce  in 
other  oils  or  fats  from  birds  may  probably  lead  to 
further  investigations  and  a  careful  examination  of 
any  useful  properties  they  may  possess. 

The  Penguin  ( Diomedia  chilensis )  in  the  Falkland 
Islands  is  chiefly  sought  after  for  its  oil,  deriving  its 
name  from  its  pinguidity  or  excessive  fatness.  On 
the  islands  of  the  Falkland  group  these  birds  are 
found  in  millions,  and  schooners,  with  a  gang  of 
twelve  or  fifteen  men,  go  there  solely  for  boiling 
down  the  oil  of  the  birds.  The  fat  of  eleven  birds 
slammed  gives  about  one  gallon  of  oil,  and  each 
schooner  or  gang  of  men  will  return  to  Stanley,  after 
a  month  or  six  weeks’  campaign,  with  from  25,000  to 
30,000  gallons  of  oil.  This  oil,  which  comes  chiefly  to 
London,  is  used,  I  believe,  for  currying  leather  only. 
I  have  sent  Mr.  Stanford  and  the  museum  of  the 
Society  specimens  of  this  oil.  It  varies  in  colour 
according  to  the  time  it  has  been  boiled. 

Another  bird  oil  largely  sought  for  in  the  islands 
of  Bass’s  Straits  and  New  Zealand,  is  from  what 
is  called  locally  the  mutton  bird  (Pro  cell  aria  oh- 
scura).  Large  quantities  of  oil  are  obtained  from 
the  young  birds.  The  body  is  pressed  and  the  oil 
runs  from  the  mouth,  each  bird  yielding  about  half 
a  gill.  The  oil  is  reputed  to  possess  considerable 
virtue  as  a  liniment  in  cases  of  rheumatism.  The 
fat,  when  clean,  is  pure  white  and  looks  like  goose 
fat,  but  the  taste  is  rather  oily ;  however,  it  may  be 
used  for  a  good  many  purposes  other  than  for  food. 
It  burns  very  well  in  small,  shallow  tin  lamps,  which 
get  warmed  by  the  light  and  melt  the  fat. 

Father  Labat  (Nouv.  Voy.  tome  vi.  p.  395)  speaks 
of  the  virtues  of  the  grease  or  fat  of  the  frigate  bird. 
It  is  said  to  be  an  admirable  specific  in  the  sciatica, 
and  in  numbness  of  the  limbs  and  other  ailments 
arising  from  a  want  of  circulation.  The  grease  is  to 
be  heated,  and  while  it  is  on  the  fire,  the  parts 
affected  are  to  be  well  rubbed  and  chafed  in  order  to 
open  the  pores,  and  some  good  brandy  or  spirits  of 
wine  are  to  be  mixed  with  the  fat  immediately  before 
it  is  applied.  A  piece  of  blotting-paper  steeped  in 
this  mixture  may  be  laid  on  the  part,  with  com¬ 
presses  and  a  bandage  to  keep  it  in  its  place. 

Mother  Carey’s  chickens  ( Procellaria  p el-ay ica) 
are  killed  in  quantities  at  the  Western  Islands  for 
then*  oil.  They  are  so  plump  that  the  islanders 
merely  draw  a  candle-wick  through  the  body,  and  it 
becomes  so  saturated  with  the  liquid  fat  as  to  form 
a  lamp  without  further  process. 

Ostrich  fat  has  much  local  repute.  The  first  care 
of  the  sportsman  after  securing  his  bird,  is  to  re¬ 
move  the  skin,  so  as  to  preserve  the  feathers  unin¬ 
jured  ;  the  next  is  to  melt  down  the  fat  and  pour  it 
into  bags  formed  out  of  the  skin  of  the  thigh  and  leg, 
strongly  tied  at  the  lower  end.  The  grease  of  an 
ostrich  in  good  condition  fills  both  its  legs,  and  as  it 
brings  three  times  the  price  of  common  butter,  it  is 
considered  no  despicable  part  of  the  game.  It  is 
not  only  eaten  with  bread  and  used  in  the  prepara¬ 
tion  of  kooskoos  and  other  articles  of  food,  but  the 
Arabs  reckon  it  a  valuable  remedy  in  various  mala¬ 
dies.  In  rheumatic  attacks,  for  instance,  they  rub 
it  on  the  part  affected  till  it  penetrates  tliorouglily ; 
then  lay  the  patient  in  the  burning  sand,  with  his 
head  carefully  protected.  A  profuse  perspiration 
comes  on,  and  the  cure  is  complete.  In  bilious  dis¬ 
orders,  the  grease  is  slightly  warmed,  mixed  with 
salt  and  administered  as  a  potion.  It  acts  thus  as 


June  17, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1007 


a  powerful  aperient,  and  causes  great  emaciation  for 
the  time ;  but,  according  to  the  Arabs,  the  patient, 
having  thus  been  relieved  from  all  the  bad  humours 
in  Ills  body,  afterwards  acquires  robust  health  and 
his  sight  becomes  singularly  good. 

The  grease  of  the  emu,  or  Australian  ostrich 
(Dromaius  Novce-Hollandice )  is  held  in  great  esteem 
by  both  colonists  and  natives  as  a  cure  of  bruises 
and  rheumatism.  The  skin  of  the  bird  produces  six 
or  seven  quarts  of  a  clear,  beautiful,  bright  yellow 
inodorous  oil.  The  method  of  obtaining  the  oil  is 
to  pluck  the  feathers,  cut  the  skin  into  pieces  and 
boil  it. 

At  one  of  the  Madras  Industrial  Exhibitions,  oil 
from  peacocks’  fat  in  Timievelly  was  shown,  but 
it  was  not  stated  to  what  use  it  was  applied. 

In  South  America,  in  the  immense  cavern  of  Gau- 
charo,  in  the  government  of  Cumana,  Humboldt  de¬ 
scribes  an  extensive  pursuit  carried  on  of  a  bird  for 
its  fat  by  the  Indians.  Tins  cave  is  peopled  by  millions 
of  nocturnal  birds  ( Steatornis  oaripensis) ,  a  new  spe¬ 
cies  of  the  Gaprimulgis  of  Linnaeus.  About  midsum¬ 
mer  the  young  birds  are  slaughtered  by  thousands. 
The  peritonaeum  is  found  loaded  with  fat,  and  a  layer 
of  the  same  substance  reaches  from  the  abdomen  to 
the  vent,  forming  a  kind  of  cushion  between  the  hind 
legs.  Humboldt  remarks  that  this  quantity  of  fat 
in  frugivorous  animals  not  exposed  to  the  light,  and 
exerting  but  little  muscular  motion,  brings  to  mind 
what  has  been  long  observed  in  the  fattening  of  geese 
and  oxen.  It  is  well  known,  he  adds,  how  favour¬ 
able  darkness  and  repose  are  to  tins  process.  The 
fat  of  the  young  birds  is  melted  in  clay  pots  over  a 
brushwood  fire.  It  is  half  liquid,  transparent,  in¬ 
odorous,  and  so  pure  that  it  will  keep  above  a  year 
without  tinning  rancid.* 

The  passenger  pigeons  ( Columbci  migratoria )  of 
North  America  are  another  source  of  oil.  They  mi¬ 
grate  at  certain  seasons  in  millions,  and  the  Indians, 
watching  their  roosting-places  in  the  forests,  knock 
them  on  the  head  in  the  night  and  bring  them  away 
by  thousands.  The  Indians  preserve  the  oil  or  fat, 
which  they  use  instead  of  butter.  There  was  formerly 
scarcely  any  little  Indian  village  in  the  interior 
where  a  hundred  gallons  of  this  oil  might  not  at  any 
time  be  purchased.  The  squabs,  or  young  pigeons, 
when  taken  in  quantity,  are  also  melted  down  by 
the  settlers  as  a  substitute  for  butter  or  lard. 


A  J  WAIN  OR  OMUM. 

( Ptychotis  ajoican.) 

BY  M.  C.  COOKE,  M.A. 

One  of  the  drugs  included  in  the  new  Indian 
Pharmacopoeia,  which  is  unknown  in  European 
practice  but  has  doubtless  intrinsic  merit  to  recom¬ 
mend  it,  is  the  one  which  heads  this  notice.  The 
seeds,  or  more  accurately  the  fruits,  of  several  um¬ 
belliferous  plants  are  well  known  and  appreciated, 
but  the  Ominn  has,  somehow,  escaped  regard.  It 
may  be  that  it  has  no  virtues  which  are  not  possessed 
in  an  equal  degree  by  others,  yet  a  notice  and  a  few 
observations  on  its  uses  will  not  be  altogether  out  of 
place. 

The  vernacular  names  collected  and  verified  by 
Mr.  Moodeen  Sheriff  are — Kamiine-miduJci ,  Arabiq; 


Narilthdh  and  Zing  an,  Persian;  Ajvayan,  Hindu¬ 
stani;  Ajvan,  Duklmi;  Ornarn,  Tamul ;  Omamu  or 
Vamamv,  Telegu ;  Ayamodakam  and  Homam,  Ma- 
kiyalim;  Voma,  Canarese ;  Ajvain  or  Ajvan ,  Ben¬ 
gali;  Vova-sada  and  Vova ,  Maliratta ;  Ajwan , 
Gujerati ;  Assamodagun  or  Omani,  Cinglialese ;  and 
JSamhum,  Burmese. 

The  fruits  are  smaller  than  caraways  or  any 
umbelliferous  fruits  employed  in  Europe,  and  there 


Fruits  of  Ajwan  (Ptychotis  ajoican). 

is  no  record  of  their  ever  having  been  offered  for 
sale  in  our  markets.  The  plant  itself  is  thus  de¬ 
scribed  : — 

“  Stem  erect,  dichotomous ;  leaves  few,  cut  into 
numerous  linear  or  filiform  segments,  the  uppermost 
simply  pinnate;  umbel  with  7-9  rays;  involucre 
few-leaved ;  leaflets  linear,  entire ;  fruit  strongly 
ribbed,  covered  with  small  blunt  tubercles.”  Figured 
in  the  second  volume  of  Wight’s  ‘  leones,’  plate  566. 
Roxburgh  says,  “  Tins  is  one  of  the  most  useful  and 
at  the  same  time  grateful  of  the  umbelliferous  tribe. 
It  is  much  cultivated  in  Bengal  dining  the  cold 
season.  I  never  saw  it  wild.  The  seeds,  like  those 
of  caraway,  have  an  aromatic  smell  and  warm  pun- 

fent  taste  ;  they  are  much  used  by  both  natives  and 
luropeans  for  culinary  and  medicinal  uses ;  they 
are  amongst  the  smallest  of  the  umbelliferous  order, 
and  are  to  be  met  with  in  every  market  in  India.”* 
Mr.  Wood  says,  in  his  remarks  on  this  drug,f  “  I 
have  good  reason,  indeed,  to  remember  the  effects  of 
the  omum,  for  on  one  occasion,  when  a  boy,  I  was 
attacked  at  midnight  with  a  severe  fit  of  colic  (the 
only  severe  one  I  recollect  to  have  ever  suffered 
from),  brought  on  by  indulging  in  fruit.  No  medical 
aid  was  at  hand,  and  the  only  remedy  given  me  was 
the  omum  seed,  which  I  was  directed  to  chew  and 
wash  down  with  water,  which  was  not  only  followed 
by  :  speedy  but  complete  relief.”  And  in  another 
part  of  the  same  communication  he  adds,  “  While  at 
Vizagapatam  some  few  years  ago,  I  remember  to 
have  seen,  during  a  pretty  sharp  outbreak  of  cholera, 
the  richer  classes  of  the  people  purchasing  the  omum 
water  and  distributing  it  wherever  required.” 

By  the  natives  of  India,  the  omum  or  ajowan  is 
constantly  used  in  all  sudden  derangements  of  the 
primes  vies,  such  as  vomiting,  diarrhoea,  colic,  flatu¬ 
lence,  etc. ;  in  the  premonitory  diarrhoea  of  cholera, 
and  often  in  the  unmistakable  cholera  itself;  and 
testimony  is  not  wanting  to  show  that  it  is  some¬ 
times  at  least  as  useful  a  medicine  in  the  earlier 


*  Roxburgh:  ‘  Flora  Indica,’  vol.  ii.  p.  91.  ,  f 

■f  The  1  Madras  Quarterly  Journal  of  Medical  Science,  Oct. 
18C2,  p.  294. 


*  Bonnycastle’s  f  South  America.’ 

tJ 


1008 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[Jane  17, 1871. 


stages  of  the  last-mentioned  disease  as  many  other 
more  costly  ones. 

In  some  forms  of  dyspepsia,  in  the  vomiting, 
griping,  or  diarrhoea  from  errors  in  diet,  in  simple 
Hatnlence  and  even  tympanites,  in  faintness  and 
exhaustion,  in  choleraic  diarrhoea,  in  certain  cases 
of  colic  and  in  hysteria,  it  has  been  found,  even 
when  given  alone,  pre-eminently  useful. 

From  all  that  is  known  of  tills  medicine  it  appears 
to  combine  the  stimulant  quality  of  capsicum  or 
mustard,  the  bitter  property  of  kreata,  and  the  anti- 
spasmodic  virtues  of  asafoetida. 

The  seed,  or  fruit,  is  one  of  the  forms  of  adminis¬ 
tration  by  the  natives  ;  another  is  in  decoction  with 
sundry  other  aromatics,  namely,  ginger,  sweet  flag, 
galanga,  etc.,  but  it  is  evident  this  is  not  a  good 
iorim  A  distilled  water,  under  the  names  of  ‘  Sison 
Cordial  ’  and  ‘  Omum  Water,’  is  sold  at  many  of  the 
dispensaries  and  shops  about  the  counfry.  Another 
preparation  called  “  Sugar  of  Omum  ”  is  to  be  had 
in  Madras.  It  has  the  appearance  of  candy,  and 
though  probably  a  little  more  expensive,  is  much 
more  efficacious  and  agreeable  than  the  water.  Mr. 
Lynsdale  gives  the  following  directions  as  to  quan¬ 
tity  for  distillation : — “  To  one  viss  (or  3  lb.)  of  the 
bruised  seed,  add  six  bottles  of  water  and  distil  over 
four.  In  the  necks  of  these  bottles  will  be  found  the 
oil,  amounting  to  about  *ss.”  The  Bengal  Pharma¬ 
copoeia  directs  two  gallons  of  water  to  one  of  the 
Ajwan,  distilling  over  one  gallon. 

The  Pharmacopoeia  of  India  gives  the  following, — 
“  Take  of  Ajwain  fruit,  bruised,  twenty  ounces,  water 
two  gallons;  distil  a  gallon.  Dose,  from  one  to  two 
fluid  ounces.”  .  There  is  not  probably,  in  the  city  of 
Madras  and  its  suburbs,  a  single  Eurasian  family 
who,  if  they  have  not  some  of  the  omum  water  at 
home  (and  numbers  have),  have  not  used  it  at  some 
time  or  other,  or  at  least  heard  of  its  virtues.  And 
it  is  not  in  Madras  alone  that  it  is  so  extensively 
used  by  the  middle  classes  of  society,  bjit  in  many 
of  the  larger  cantonments  up-country  it  is  pretty 
well  known.  Further,  with  very  few  exceptions  in¬ 
deed,  the  so-called  seed  of  the  omum  is  to  be  found 
among  the  domestic  medicines  of  both  Mahomedan 
and  Hindoo  families,  and  is  looked  upon  as  the  sine 
qua  non  of  remedies  in  many  affections. 

The  “sugar  of  omum”  alluded  to  above  is  evi¬ 
dently  the  same  as  in  the  Pharmacopoeia  of  India  is 
called  Ajwain-  1c a -p hul,  said  to  be  sold  in  the  bazaars 
of  the  Deccan,  Scinde,  etc.,  and  is  prepared  in  Cen¬ 
tral  India  during  the  cold  season.  It  is  also  stated 
to  form  spontaneously  on  the  surface  of  the  distilled 
water  of  Ajwan.  Dr.  Stenliouse  examined  and 
found  it  to  be  a  Stearopten  (see  Pharm.  Journ.  1855 
vol.  XXV.  p.  272). 


ON  THE  PREPARATION  OF  SUPPOSITORIES. 

BY  WILLIAM  G.  EWIXG. 

^  r(ja^  most  °f  the  articles  that  have  appeared  in  ! 
the  Amer.  Journ.  Pharmacy  for  several  years  upon  the 
subject  of  suppositories,  and  have  gained  many  valuable 
suggestions  from  Messrs.  J.  B.  Moore,  Charles  L.  Eberle 
and  others ;  but  I  have  fallen  upon  a  process  not  alluded 
to  by  any  of  them,  that  greatly  facilitates  this  tedious, 
and  sometimes  very  difficult  and  troublesome  class  of 
prescriptions.  The  plan  I  have  adopted  is  as  follows : — 
mst,  procure  a  large,  coarse  tin  grater, — such  as  may 
.  had  of  any  tinner —and  with  it  grate  the  cacao  butter 
mio  a  coarse  powder,  pass  through  sieve  No.  20,  and  put 


it  into  a  wide-mouthed  bottle  ready  for  use ;  next,  take 
some  pure  white  wax,  grate,  sift,  bottle,  and  set  it  aside 
in  the  same  manner  as  above.  The  fragments  that  will 
not  pass  through  the  sieve  can  be  melted  and  gratod 
again  after  cooling.  "With  these  two  substances  on  hand, 
the  prescriptionist  is  prepared  for  any  formula  in  the 
suppository  line. 

The  management  of  the  melting-point  of  suppositories 
has  been  a  matter  of  great  difficulty,  annoyanco  and 
delay,  varying  as.  it  does  with  the  seasons ;  but  with 
this  grated  material  we  havo  a  ready  means  of  regu¬ 
lating  it  at  will ;  for  if  the  mass  should  be  too  hard,— as 
in  winter, — the  addition  of  a  little  olive  oil  will  be  found 
advantageous ;  or,  if  too  soft, — as  in  summer, — the  addi¬ 
tion  of  the  grated  wax  will  bring  it  to  the  right  con¬ 
sistence.  In  addition  to  the  above  ready  means  of  con¬ 
trolling  the  melting-point,  it  has  the  advantage  of  being 
much  more  easily  manipulated.  For  instance,  take  the 
following  suppository  from  the  U.  S.  Dispensatory,  13th 
edition,  viz. : — 

P>  Tannic  Acid . grs.  36 

Benzoated  Lard  ....  41 

White  Wax . 10 

Oil  of  Theobroma .  ...  „  90 

The  directions  are  to  melt  the  wax  and  oil  of  theo¬ 
broma  with  a  gentle,  heat  and  add  the  tannic  acid  and 
benzoated  lard,  previously  rubbed  together  in  a  mortar, 
and  mix  all  the  ingredients  thoroughly ;  pour  the  mix¬ 
ture,  while  it^is  still  fluid,  into  suitable  moulds  of  the 
capacity  of  1-5  grains,  or  the  fluid  mixture  may  be  al¬ 
lowed  to  cool,  and  then  divided  into  twelve  equal  parts, 
each  of  which  shall  be  made  into  a  conical  or  other  con¬ 
venient  form  for  a  suppository. 

The  above  formula  is  easily  expressed,  but  not  so 
easily  complied,  with  in  all  cases,  owing  to  the  variable 
nature  of  the  oil  of  theobroma,  and  also  to  the  tempera¬ 
ture  of  the  season  ;  but,  accepting  it  as  it  stands,  the  ad¬ 
vantage  of  the  grated  wax  and  cacao  butter  is  very  per¬ 
ceptible,  since,  instead  of  melting  one  portion  together, 
and  rubbing  the  other  portion  in  a  mortar  as  prescribed, 
the  whole  may  be  at  once  mixed  and  rubbed  together  in 
a  mortar,  forming  a  plastic  mass  as  easily  rolled  into 
lengths  and  divided  as  an  ordinary  pill  mass ;  and  each 
piece  formed  by  the  fingers  into  a  conical  shape,  or,  if 
desirable,  pressed  into  suitable  moulds  previously  dusted 
with  lycopodium,  as  suggested  by  Mr.  J.  B.  Moore. 
The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  far  more  difficult  prescrip¬ 
tion  that  was  brought  to  me  by  a  patient  to  be  filled  one 
very  warm  night : — 

P>  Carbolic  Acid  ....  grs.  wt 
Cacao  Butter . jiss. 

Mix  and  make  suppositories  No.  10. 

Here  the  prescriptionist  is  in  a  dilemma.  If  the  car¬ 
bolic  acid  and  cacao  butter  are  melted  together,  they  will 
not  solidify  oh  cooling ;  if  wax  be  melted  with  the  mix¬ 
ture,  considerable  time  is  occupied  in  adjusting  the  pro¬ 
portions,  as  it  is  necessary  to  test  it  by  allowing  portions 
to  cool  from  time  to  time,  and  adding  wax  by  degrees 
until  the  proper  consistence  is  attained  ;  meanwhile  the 
carbolic  acid  is  evaporating  and  the  efficacy  of  the  sup¬ 
positories  being  impaired.  Having  the  grated  materials 
at  hand,,  and  no  other  resource  but  to  add  a  sufficiency 
of  wax,  it  was  immediately  and  easily  done  by  rubbing  it 
in  until  the  proper  consistence  was  attained,  the  amount 
of  wax  required  being  70  grains;  the  prescription  was 
much  more  quickly  dispensed  than  by  any  of  the  usual 
methods,  and  as  there  was  no  heat  employed  in  the  pro¬ 
cess  there  could  have  been  no  evaporation  of  the  carbolic 
acid.  In  the  above  case,  the  grated  wax  and  carbolic 
acid  were  first  well  rubbed  together  and  the  cacao  butter 
added  last. 

.  As  no  allowance  was  made  for  the  addition  of  wax,  the 
size  of  each  suppository  was  slightly  increased  (though 
not  materially)  and,  as  each  contained  the  exa'ct  propor- 


June  17,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1009 


tion  of  its  active  ingredient,  the  design  of  the  prescrip¬ 
tion  was  executed.  The  weight  of  each  suppository 
might  have  been  left  unchanged  by  omitting  enough 
cacao  butter  to  balance  the  wax  that  was  added. 

It  is  needless  to  repeat  examples,  though  many  diffi¬ 
cult  ones  might  be  given  from  actual  experience ;  it  is 
sufficient  to  state  a  few  general  principles. 

When  dry  substances  are  prescribed,  they  should  be 
reduced  to  fine  powders  (if  not  already  so),  then  tho¬ 
roughly  incorporated  with  the  grated  cacao  butter,  and 
rubbed  in  a  mortar  until  the  mixture  becomes  a  plastic 
mass  easily  rolled  into  lengths,  divided  and  formed  into 
suppositories.  Should  moist  substances,  such  as  ex¬ 
tracts  or  any  articles  not  dry,  be  prescribed,  they  may 
be  rubbed  first  with  about  an  equal  bulk  of  the  grated 
cacao  butter,  and  afterwards  readily  combined  with 
the  remaining  ingredients. 

As  a  general  rule,  all  substances  used  in  medicating 
suppositories  must  be  either  in  the  state  of  a  fine  powder 
or  a  uniform  paTo ;  the  prescriptionist  must  decide  upon 
the  more  easily  attainable  state. 

The  advantages  of  using  the  cacao  butter  in  the  grated 
state  are  numerous.  It  furnishes  the  moans  of  easy 
manipulation,  of  readily  adjusting  the  melting-point,  of 
avoiding  the  delay  of  melting  and  cooling,  and  the  use 
of  ice  which  is  not  always  procurable,  of  thorough  and 
perfect  incorporation  of  its  ingredients,  of  exactness 
with  which  the  mass  may  be  divided ;  besides  the  satis¬ 
faction  it  gives  the  prescriptionist  of  knowing  that  no 
separation  nor  subsidence  of  any  of  its  ingredients  can 
possibly  take  place,  which  certainly  cannot  be  felt  when 
the  substance  is  melted  and  moulded. — American  Journal 
of  Fluxrmacy. 


THE  CRYSTALLIZATION  OF  CAMPHOR. 

BY  R.  BOTHER. 

The  peculiar  predilection  of  camphor  for  the  crystal¬ 
line  form,  is  one  of  the  petty  annoyances  inherent  to  the 
dispensing  department.  Insignificant  as  the  objection 
may  seem,  it  is  nevertheless  one  for  which  the  dispensing 
pharmaceutist  is  but  too  willing  to  accept  a  remedy. 
This  difficulty  is  chiefly  experienced  with  powdered 
camphor,  but  the  objection,  likewise,  though  in  a  less 
obvious  degree,  applies  to  the  aqueous  solution.  The 
most  perfect  means  of  pulverizing  camphor,  although 
not  the  most  practicable,  is  undoubtedly  the  method  by 
precipitation.  The  trituration  with  small  quantities  of 
chloroform,  ether,  benzine,  and  naphtha,  has  been  pro¬ 
posed  ;  but  none  of  these  substances  possess  any  advan¬ 
tages  over  alcohol,  which  even  still  is  preferable  to  all. 
There  is  no  difficulty  whatever  in  pulverizing  camphor, 
the  object  is  to  retain  it  so. 

For  this  purpose  it  has  been  suggested  to  triturate  the 
camphor  with  small  quantities  of  magnesium  carbonate. 
If  this  management  ensured  the  pulverulent  state  in¬ 
definitely,  the  magnesium  would  often  be  objectionable. 
The  writer  has  not  tested  the  process,  but  was  informed 
by  good  authority  that  it  is  not  satisfactory ;  a  similar 
result  is  experienced  by  precipitating  the  camphor  with 
water  from  an  alcoholic  solution,  holding  the  magnesium 
carbonate  in  suspension.  Other  dry  substances,  as  starch, 
for  instance,  have  been  used  with  equally  indifferent 
success.  The  writer,  feeling  the  necessity  of  some  alter¬ 
native,  and  basing  his  theory  of  this  crystallization  upon 
the  volatility  of  camphor,  applied  an  ethereal  solution  of 
rosin  with  a  view  of  coating  the  particles  with  a  deposit 
of  resin.  The  experiment,  however,  yielded  a  negative 
result.  The  writer,  assuming  then  that  a  non-volatile 
solvent  might  retard  the  crystallization,  employed  a 
small  proportion  of  fixed  oil — preferably  castor  oil.  This 
addition  is  entirely  unobjectionable,  and  although  it 
does  not  strictly  meet  the  most  sanguine  expectation  of 
preventing  crystallization,  it  yet  modifies  this  tendency 
to  such  a  degree  that  after  a  long  trial  the  writer  is  so 
thoroughly  satisfied  with  its  peculiar  advantages  that 


the  complete  success  of  the  experiment  would  have  been 
scarcely^  hailed  with  more  delight.  The  proportion  of 
castor  oil  employed  is  about  one  part  in  thirty  of  cam¬ 
phor,  or  even  less.  It  is  added,  together  with  the  alcohol, 
to  the  camphor,  and  the  whole  triturated  to  the  proper 
degree  of  fineness.  The  great  advantage  rests  in  the 
fact  that  the  crystals  of  camphor  subsequently  formed 
are  exceedingly  minute,  and  that  the  oil  entirely  removes 
the  very  disagreeable  adhesiveness  and  tenacity  of  the 
camphor,  which  becomes  so  troublesome  during  the  tri¬ 
turation  of  pure  camphor.  Camphor  containing  the  oil 
can  be  triturated  in  large  or  small  quantities,  without 
in  the  least  clogging  the  mortar  or  pestle.  The  powder, 
after  keeping  even  a  long  time,  mixes  perfectly  and  with 
facility  with  all  the  ordinary  ingredients  with  which  it 
is  usually  combined  in  prescriptions.  The  peculiar  gum- 
|  miness  has  been  perfectly  removed  by  the  intervention 
of  the  oil. 

The  aqueous  solution  of  camphor  is  another  point  at 
issue.  It  has  been  supposed  that  during  cold  weather 
camphor  water  drops  part  of  its  camphor.  However, 
this  phenomenon  is  only  apparent.  The  writer  has  often 
been  struck  by  the  extraordinary  solvent  power  of  verv 
cold  water  upon  camphor,  so  that  during  the  coldest 
winter  weather  the  cold  water  drawn  fresh  Rom  the 
hydrant,  and  having  a  very  low  temperature,  always 
yielded  the  strongest  camphor-water,  which,  when  sub¬ 
jected  to  the  warm  temperature  of  the  room,  deposited 
camphor  abundantly  and  in  weighable  quantities,  not 
upon  the  glass  above  the  liquid,  but  floating  in  beautiful 
crystals  in  the  liquid  itself;  so  much  so,  that  the  water 
was  often  filtered  again  before  use. 

To  verify  the  above  conclusion,  the  writer  employed 
lukewarm  water.  The  camphor  was  first  finely  tritu¬ 
rated  with  the  aid  of  alcohol,  then  with  the  magnesium 
carbonate,  first  rubbed  through  a  coarse  sieve,  then  with 
a  portion  of  the  water,  and  poured  into  a  capacious 
bottle ;  the  remainder  of  the  water  was  then  gradually 
added,  and  the  mixture  violently  shaken  during  the 
intervals,  and  finally  filtered.  (This  is  essentially  the 
writer’s  manipulation  for  the  aromatic  waters.)  The 
bottle  containing  the  filtrate  was  securely  corked  and 
allowed  to  cool.  After  six  hours  a  very  thin  film  of 
crystalline  camphor  had  deposited  on  the  walls  of  the 
bottle  above  the  liquid,  the  latter  containing  no  visible 
trace,  not  even  floating  upon  the  surface.  The  liquid 
wa3  again  filtered  and  exposed  to  intense  cold  for  a  long 
time,  but  no  more  camphor  separated,  although  the 
liquid  possessed  the  taste  of  camphor  in  a  marked  degree. 
Therefore,  to  make  camphor- water,  free  from  separated 
camphor,  use  lukewarm  water,  or  use  water  of  the  ordi¬ 
nary  temperature,  let  it  become  equalized  to  the  tempe¬ 
rature  of  the  room,  and,  after  a  repose  of  twenty-four 
hours,  filter.  But  to  make  a  supersaturated  camphor- 
water,  employ  water  having  a  very  low  temperature. — 
The  Tharmacint. 


THE  CHEMISTRY  OF  CALICO  PRINTING. 

BY  JAMES  BLAIR. 

[Continued from  page  992.) 

Figment  Colours. — These  consist  essentially,  first,  of 
the  colouring-matter  to  be  printed ;  secondly,  of  the 
fixing  material ;  and  thirdly,  of  the  thickening  neces¬ 
sary  to  give  the  colour  consistence,  and  to  prevent  the 
running  or  spreading  of  the  colour,  and  so  the  spoiling 
of  the  figure  to  be  printed. 

Insoluble  Colours. — The  principal  insolulle  colours 
are— ultramarine,  Guignot’s  green,  chromate  of  lead, 
Prussian  blue,  brown  earths,  aniline  black  and  lakes, 
of  the  colouring  principles  of  Persian  berries,  logwood, 
cochineal,  etc.  with  iron,  alumina  and  oxide  of  tin. 

Soluble  Paint  Colours. — These  are  chiefly  the  Anilino 
colours,  .  viz.  magentas,  blues,  mauves,  violets,  green, 
orange,  scarlet  and  brown. 

The  Phenol  Colours. — Azuline  blue,  rosolic  acid  and 


1010 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  17,  1871. 


peonine ;  these  separately,  or  mixed,  furnish  most  of 
the  required  shades. 

Aniline  black  is  produced  by  the  action  of  a  salt  of 
copper  (the  sulphide  is  generally  used)  on  hydrochlorate 
of  aniline.  It  is  a  very  intense  and  fast  colour. 

Lampblack,  digested  in  strong  sulphuric  acid  and  then 
washed  free  from  acid  by  cold  water,  has  also  been  used 
us  a  black  pigment.  A  black  pigment  is  also  obtained  by 
precipitating  a  slightly  ammoniacal  decoction  of  logwood 
by  a  salt  of  iron,  such  as  the  nitrate  of  iron,  and  washing 
the  resulting  precipitate  of  hemateate  of  iron  with  cold 
water  until  tree  from  impurities. 

Guignot’s  green  (sesquioxide  of  chromium)  is  prepared 
by  heating  to  dull  redness  a  mixture  of  three  parts  of 
boracic  acid  and  one  part  of  bichromate  of  potash.  The 
mixture  swells  and  becomes  of  a  very  fine  green  coloiu\ 

The  mass  is  then  lixiviated  with  water  to  remove  the 
borate  of  potash,  and  the  sesquioxide  of  chromium  finely 
pulverized  is  ready  for  use.  In  the  preparation  of  this 
colour,  too  high  a  pressure,  causing  fusing  of  the  mass, 
must  be  guarded  against,  as  the  colour  is  thereby  entirely 
destroyed,  an  olive-green  gloss  being  obtained  in  its 
place. 

Mauve  colours  are  produced  by  the  action  of  bichro¬ 
mate  of  potash,  hypochlorite  of  lime  and  chloride  of  tin 
on  solutions  of  salts  of  aniline. 

Magenta. — This  name  is  applied  to  several  of  the  salts 
of  rosaniline, — the  acetate  and  the  hydrochlorate  of  rosa- 
niline. 

Rosaniline  Co0H19N3  is  produced  by  the  action  of 
various  oxidizing  agents  on  a  mixture  of  aniline  and 
toluidine.  The  best  result  is  obtained  by  heating  a  mix¬ 
ture  of  70  per  cent,  of  toluidine  and  30  per  cent,  of 
aniline  at  a  temperature  of  190°  F.,  until  the  production 
of  colour  is  complete.  The  resulting  product  is  impure 
arseniate  of  rosaniline,  from  solutions  of  which  the  rosa¬ 
niline  may  be  obtained  by  precipitation  by  an  alkali. 
Arseniate,  acetate  and  hydrochlorate  of  rosaniline  are 
soluble  in  water  and  alcohol  and  yield  very  fine  pink 
colours. 

Blue  and  violet  are  obtained  by  heating  salts  of  rosa¬ 
niline  with  aniline,  and  with  many  of  the  alcohol  radi¬ 
cals,  as  phenyl,  ethyl,  methyl,  etc.,  the  alcohol  radical 
taking  the  place  of  hydrogen. 

Amine,  or  rosolic  acid,  is  produced  by  heating  at  140° 
6  parts  of  carbolic  acid,  4  parts  of  oxalic  acid  and  3  parts 
of  sulphuric  acid.  It  is  soluble  in  alcohol  and  yields 
golden-yellow  and  orange  shades. 

Peonine  is  produced  by  prolonged  heating  of  aurine 
with  a  large  excess  of  ammonia.  This  colour  yields 
shades  of  crimson. 

These  colours,  by  themselves  or  mixed,  yield  most 
shades  required. 

For  example : — 

Pt.  Lavender. — Mauve  -f-  indigo  extract. 

»  Drab.-Logwood  pulp  +  (Bio™  {  }  ) 

buff  liquor  {  } 

„  Stone. — The  above  -j-  ultramarine. 

„  Brown. — Berry  pulp,  magenta,  pt.  purple. 

,,  _  Slate. — Indigo  extract,  magenta,  black  pulp. 

Thickenings. — Wheat  starch,  or  gum  tragacanth. 

Fixing  Agents. — Blood  or  egg  albumen,  dissolved  in 
water  at  3  to  6  lb.  per  gallon,  and  used  =  1  to  2  lb.  albu¬ 
men  per  gallon  of  colour ;  caseine  and  gluten  are  also 
used  as  fixing  agents. 

Steam  Colours. — In  these  colours  the  ingredients  are 
mixed  in  such  a  manner  that  they  are  soluble  when 
printed,  and  so  penetrate  the  fibre,  but,  on  being  sub¬ 
mitted  to  steam,  chemical  action  takes  place  and  an  in¬ 
soluble  colour  is  formed  on  the  fibre.  It  is  sometimes 
very  difficult  to  meet  this  condition,  but  it  is  sometimes 
effected  by  leaving  out  an  essential  ingredient  from  the 
colour  and  preparing  the  cloth  with  it  previous  to  print¬ 
ing  ;  indeed,  as  this  preparation  is  found  beneficial  to 


most  colours  of  this  class,  it  is  usually  adopted,  and  is 
called  steam  prepare. 

Steam  Prepare. — The  goods  are  padded  in  a  solution 

f  11° 


of  stannate  of  soda,  at 


1 


Tw.,  according  to  the  kind 


of  cloth  and  the  colours  likely  to  be  printed  on  it.  The 
cloth  is  then  dried  and  beamed,  after  passing  through 
weak  acid  and  washing. 

Black. — Logwood  liquor,  44  gallons  at  12°  -f-  iron 
liquor,  2  gallons  at  12° ;  starch,  12  lb. ;  boil  and  cool,  then 
add  iron  liquor,  1|  gallons,  at  32° ;  FeCl,  1  quart,  at  80°. 

Chocolate. — Logwood  liquor,  6f  gallons  +  starch,  13 

I.  .  .  -r,  -n  (3  quarts  berry  liquor,  at  80°  ) 

lb.  +  4  B.  B.  gum  |  8  jg  alum  >  } 

'  8  lb.  red  prussiate  of  potash  ) 

'  14  gallons  water.  J 

U.  Red. — Sapan,  wood  liquor,  nitrate  of  alum,  KO  Cl  03, 
alum,  bark  liquor,  water  starch. 


(  Tartaric 
\  Oxalic 


\  /  NH3C1  ) 
j  \  Blue  pulp  j 


( Water  ) 

R.  Blue. —  <  Gum  > 

(  Starch  j 
(  Yellow  and  red  pulp  ) 

(  Concentrated  S  03.  j 

Green. — Blue  +  berry  liquor  +  SnCL,  or  else  -j-  bark 
liquor. 

Lavender. — Logwood,  boiled  in  red  liquor  oxalic 
acid  or  -f  red  prussiate  =  purple. 

Amber. — Berry  liquor  with  oxide  of  tin. 

Brown. — Catechu,  4  lb. ;  acetic  acid,  2^  pints 
-{-NaOC02,  2  lb.,  in  1  gallon  water;  when  used,  add 
1  pint  CuON05,  at  102°  Tw. 

The  colours  are  printed  and  dried  in  the  same  manner 
as  paint  colours ;  and  as  the  after  treatment  of  those  two 
kinds  of  colours  differs  much  from  that  of  the  mordanted 
colours,  we  will  follow  them  to  completion.  The  printed 
goods,  whether  paints  or  steams,  are  loosely  reeled, 
wrapped  in  a  stout  blanket  and  hung  up  in  a  strong  iron 
chamber,  where  they  are  subjected  to  a  pressure  of  steam 
for  one  hour,  which  in  the  case  of  paints  fixes  the  colour 
by  coagulating  the  albumen  ;  and,  in  the  case  of  steams, 
developes  as  well  as  fixes  the  colours.  The  goods  are 
then  opened  out  and  exposed  to  the  air  to  cool,  washed 
with  water,  sometimes  slightly  soaped  and  dried.  They 
are  then  cleared. 


CONVERSAZIONE  OF  THE  ROYAL  COLLEGE  OF 
PHYSICIANS. 

The  Royal  College  of  Physicians  held  a  Conversazione 
on  Wednesday  evening.  The  attendance  was  numerous 
enough  to  be  almost  oppressive ;  the  libraries  and  the 
dining  room,  where  refreshments  were  served,  being  at 
one  time  so  full  that  there  was  barely  standing  space. 
The  objects  of  interest  were  judiciously  selected  from  a 
great  variety  of  quarters.  Mr.  Graves  contributed  the 
portraits  of  the  Marquess  of  Lome  and  the  Princess 
Louise,  by  Mr.  Holyoake ;  Mr.  Brudenell  Carter,  a  very 
fine  Japanese  cloisonnee  enamel;  Professor  Tennant,  a 
selection  of  fossils,  with  diamonds  from  South  Africa, 
and  gold  from  New  Zealand  ;  Dr.  Rae,  a  number  of  curi¬ 
osities  of  the  Esquimaux  and  North  Pacific  Islanders ; 
while  the  Autotype  Company,  Messrs.  Salviati  and  Co., 
the  London  Stereoscopic  Company,  Messrs.  Murray 
and  Heath  (of  Jermyn  Street),  and  Messrs.  Power  and 
Lealand  were  each  represented  by  numerous  specimens 
of  their  respective  arts.  In  the  small  library,  Mr.  An¬ 
derson  Rose’s  choice  collection  of  engraved  portraits  de¬ 
servedly  attracted  much  attention  from  those  of  the 
company  who  appreciated  art  in  its  application  to  his¬ 
tory  ;  and  Mr.  Seymour  Haden’s  very  fine  etchings  also 
received  special  commendation. 

In  consequence  of  the  pressure  upon  our  space  caused 
by  the  legal  reports,  we  are  compelled  this  week  to  with¬ 
hold  the  Correspondence  and  Reports  of  Societies. 


'June  17, 1371.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1011 


Cjie  |o«ntaI. 

- 0 - - 

SATURDAY,  JUNE  17,  1S71. 


Communications  for  this  Journal,  and  boohs  for  review, etc., 
•should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

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

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street,  London,  IF.  Envelopes  indorsed  u  Fharm.  Journ 


PHARMACEUTICAL  LEGISLATION. 

The  official  report  of  tlie  proceedings  of  the 
Council*  and  our  Parliamentary  report,!  will,  this 
week,  be  found  to  contain  matter  of  especial  interest 
and  importance.  At  the  Council  meeting  hold  on 
the  7tli  instant,  it  was  resolved,  in  furtherance  of 
the  decision  arrived  at  by  the  Society  at  its  Annual 
Meeting,  that  the  regulations  for  the  keeping,  dis¬ 
pensing  and  selling  of  poisons,  which  we  have  already 
published,;];  should  be  forwarded  to  every  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Chemist  and  Chemist  and  Druggist  on  the 
register,  with  the  urgent  request  of  the  Council  for 
their  universal  adoption.  At  the  same  time  a  letter 
of  inquiry  from  Mr.  Simon  was  answered,  informing 
him  that  this  was  to  be  done  at  once. 

But  it  has  since  then  become  apparent  that  a  Bill 
to  amend  the  Pharmacy  Act  of  1868  had  already 
been  introduced  into  the  House  of  Lords,  by  the 
Lord  President  of  the  Council,  acting  on  behalf  of 
ihe  Privy  Council.  The  purport  of  this  Bill,  which 
will  be  found  printed  at  p.  1015,  is  to  transfer  the 
power  of  action  in  the  matter  of  poison  regulations 
from  the  Society  to  the  Council,  and  also  to  give  the 
Privy  Council  the  power  of  acting  under  certain  con¬ 
ditions.  This  Bill  was  ordered  to  be  printed  on  the 
6th  instant.  On  Monday  it  was  read  a  second  time. 
On  Tuesday  it  passed  through  Committee.  On 
Thursday  it  was  read  a  third  time,  and  passed. 

Consequent  upon  this  action  of  the  Privy  Council, 
a  special  meeting  of  the  Council  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society  was  summoned  on  Wednesday,  re¬ 
sulting  in  a  resolution — That  a  Committee  be  ap¬ 
pointed  to  watch  the  progress  in  Parliament  of  the 
.Bill,  and  prevent  the  passing  of  obnoxious  clauses. 

It  now  remains  to  be  seen  what  ground  there  may 
be  for  the  opinion  which  has  been  pretty  freely  ex¬ 
pressed  to  the  effect  that  the  pharmacists  of  this 
country  have  not  as  a  class  either  the  power  or  the 
influence  to  command  representation  in  Parliament. 
It  is  not  now  necessary  to  consider  the  grounds  on 
which  this  opinion  is  based,  but  there  is  no  question 
•as  to  the  present  occasion  being  an  opportunity  for 
shoving  whether  there  can  be  any  efficient  opposition 

*  See  p.  1013.  f  See  p.  1015.  J  Seep. 949. 


brought  to  bear,  or  whether  there  may  not  be  good 
reason  for  the  taunt  that  the  agitation  against  poison 
regulations  is  merely  “tall  talk”  about  a  “senti¬ 
mental  grievance.” 

In  reference  to  our  article  last  week,  in  which  we 
expressed  a  hope  that  the  action  taken  by  the 
Society  would  have  been  deemed  sufficient  by  the 
Privy  Council,  at  least  for  the  present,  we  may 
just  mention  that  one  of  the  obscurer  medical 
journals  endeavours  to  ridicule  our  remarks  on  the 
subject ;  but  while  betraying  ignorance  of  the  fact 
that  the  Council  had  acted  for  the  Society,  and  had 
acted  as  its  representative,  it  merely  exposes  the 
deficiency  of  its  information,  and  illustrates  the 
maxim,  “  ex  nihilo  nil  fit." 


RECENT  EVENTS  AND  THE  iC  OUTSIDE”  ORGAN. 

The  Chemist  and  Druggist  for  June,  while  natu¬ 
rally  devoting  to  the  “  pecuniary  principle  ”  the  first 
place,  furnishes  its  readers  with  a  somewhat  out  of 
date  resume  of  the  election  for  fourteen  members  of 
the  Pharmaceutical  Council,  in  the  shape  of  a  column 
of  propositions,  which  are  generally  so  far  truisms 
as  to  be  above  criticism.  In  another  place  our  con¬ 
temporary  deals  largely  in  retrospective  potenti¬ 
alities  concerning  those  who  “stayed  away”  from 
the  Annual  Meeting ;  but  at  the  same  time  shrewdly 
assumes  an  air  of  warning  as  to  the  possible  con¬ 
sequences  of  staying  away  on  such  an  occasion.  In 
a  spirit  of  fairness  we  abstain  from  any  comment  on 
the  prophecy  as  to  the  action  of  Parliament  in  the 
matter  of  Poison  Regulations,  for  it  is  evident  the 
article  was  written  before  any  knowledge  of  the 
Pharmacy  Bill  of  187 1  had  been  obtained,  and  the 
validity  of  the  prediction  hazarded  yet  remains 
uncertain. 

But  the  most  interesting  portion  of  the  Chemist 
and  Druggist  this  month  is  the  Supplement  con¬ 
taining  an  account  of  the  Pharmacy  Bill  now  in  the 
House  of  Lords,  and  there  the  Chemist  and  Drug¬ 
gist,  so  far  does  justice  to  the  remarks  we  have  else¬ 
where  made,  as  to  express  belief  in  the  passage  of 
the  Bill  through  Parliament,  and  in  the  need  for 
active  measures  if  it  is  to  be  opposed  successfully. 
We  quite  agree  with  tills  view,  and  feel  equally  sme 
that  as  the  matter  now  stands,  something  will  be 
needed  much  more  efficient  than  editorial  buttering 
of  Mr.  Gladstone. 


MULTIPLE  VISION. 

In  the  columns  of  a  scientific  contemporary  there 
recently  appeared  a  discussion  as  to  how  many  dif¬ 
ferent  objects  it  is  possible  to  include  in  an  instan¬ 
taneous  glance  of  the  eye.  The  performance  of  any 
considerable  number  of  experiments  to  decide  this 
question  would  possibly  result  in  a  certain  amount 
of  bewilderment  and  inability  for  the  time  to  dis¬ 
criminate  between  a  larger  and  a  smaller  quantity. 


1012 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[Jane  17, 1871  .. 


We  would  charitably  suggest  some  such  condition 
to  account  for  the  propensity  shown  by  the  Lancet , 
when  referring  to  some  topics,  to  reverse  the  gene* 
rally  received  axiom  that  the  lesser  is  included  in 
the  greater.  We  would  only  just  allude  to  the  fact 
that  whenever  it  refers  to  the  poison  question  it 
speaks  as  if  the  number  of  deaths  proved  to  have 
occurred  through  the  carelessness  of  pharmacists  was 
a  very  large  one ;  this  might  be  a  matter  of  opinion 
depending  upon  what  constitutes  a  large  number. 

But  some  of  our  contemporary's  statements  are 
not  open  to  tins  explanation.  A  short  time  ago  it 
gravely  announced  in  leader  type,  in  reference  to 
infant  mortality  in  France,  that'  “  out  of  every  tliou- 
“  sand  children  under  a  year  old,  288,  according  to  Dr. 
“  Bebthillon,  perish  in  the  Marne,  295  in  the  Oise, 
“  307  in  Seine-et-Marne,  813  in  Yonne,  318  in  Seine 
“  Inferieure,  319  in  Eure,  and  in  the  department 
“  Eure-et-Loire  (dedicated  ‘aux  petits  Parisiens’), 
“  370  !”  And  then  it  naively  asks,  “  Is  not  this  an 
“  appalling  return  ?”  Well,  we  rather  think  it  is. 

As  a  fitting  corollary  we  add  another  extract 
from  the  Lancet  last  week.  “  A  chemist  and  drug- 
“  gist  at  Welshpool,  because  of  some  alleged  mis- 
statement  on  his  part,  had  his  name  removed  this 
“  year  from  the  Society’s  Begister,  with  the  result 
“  of  his  being  repeatedly  sued  in  the  Welshpool 
“  County  Court  for  penalties  as  an  unregistered  vendor 
“  of  (bugs.”  Now  as  the  “  chemist  and  druggist  ” 
with  whom  the  Lancet  seems  to  sympathize  has  only 
been  sued  once  by  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  and 
the  result  of  that  case  was  hardly  known  in  London 
at  the  time  when  it  is  presumed  our  contemporary 
went  to  press,  we  are  compelled  to  fall  back  upon 
some  such  theory  as  we  have  suggested,  unless  indeed 
the  Lancet  intends  to  try  its  hand  with  the  sporting 
papers  in  the  prophetic  hue.  But  then,  will  not  the 
fact  that  the  Court  of  Queen’s  Bench  has  since  decided 
that  the  person  in  question  is  not  a  “  chemist  and 
druggist”  at  all,  have  some  slight  effect  upon  the 
vaticination  ? 


Mr.  Bentham,  in  liis  recent  Presidential  Address 
at  the  Anniversary  Meeting  of  the  Linnean  Society, 
said  that  the  mismatching  of  specimens  had  been  in 
botany  a  fertile  cause  of  the  production  of  false 
genera  and  species.  The  most  careful  collectors 
have  in  good  faith  transmitted  flowers  and  fruits  be¬ 
longing  to  different  plants  as  those  of  one  species : 
the  fruits  perhaps  picked  up  under  a  tree  from  which 
they  were  believed  to  have  fallen,  or  under  two  trees 
in  the  same  forest  with  similar  leaves,  one  in  flower, 
the  other  in  fruit,  are  supposed  to  be  identical,  but  in 
fact  not  even  congeners.  Mismatching  in  the  sub¬ 
sequent  stages  of  drying,  sorting  and  distributing  of 
specimens  is  also  very  frequent.  Another  cause  is 
that  collectors  instead  of  noting  down  any  memo¬ 
randa  at  the  time,  and  attaching  them  immediately 
to  the  specimens,  or  identifying  them  by  numbers, 


too  often  trust  to  their  memory  when  finally  packing 
up  them  specimens.  So  long  as  a  hasty  glance  at  a 
specimen  and  the  memoranda  attached  to  it  is  substi¬ 
tuted  for  reasoning  by  analogy,  these  errors  are  not 
discovered.  Till  recently  the  genus  Magallana,  of 
Cavanilles,  was  allowed  seriously  to  invalidate  the- 
character  of  Tropoeolese,  the  strong  internal  evidence- 
that  it  was  founded  upon  the  fruit  of  one  Natural 
Order  carefully  attached  to  a  poor  flowering  speci¬ 
men  of  another,  being  overlooked. 


Mtrcfi  has  been  done  of  late  years  in  introducing 
medicinal  plants  of  other  climes  into  Indian  soil  for 
cultivation  for  commercial  purposes.  The  cinchonas 
have  been  a  grand  success,  and  other  experiments, 
we  hope,  will  be  equally  successful.  Though  we 
are  naturally  more  interested  in  plants  connected 
with  our  own  branch  of  science,  we  can  nevertheless 
rejoice  at  the  success  of  other  useful  plants ;  and 
though  the  following  extract  of  a  letter  of  a  corre¬ 
spondent  in  Southern  India  bears  more  immediately" 
upon  agriculture,  it  is,  we  think,  a  good  indication 
of  what  we  may  expect  of  India  at  no  very  distant 
date.  Our  correspondent  says, — “  Agricultural  to¬ 
pics  have  of  late  received  much  more  attention  out 
here  than  they  ever  did  before.  Arrangements  are 
pending  at  Calcutta  for  a  new  department  of  agri¬ 
culture  and  commerce  for  India.  Model  farms  are 
also  being  established  in  different  parts  of  the  coun¬ 
try,  to  show  the  native  farmers  the  advantages  of 
the  European  system.  The  authorities  are  at  last 
beginning  to  perceive  that  the  native  style  of  culti¬ 
vation  is,  after  all,  faulty,  and  are  getting  alarmed 
about  the  land  revenue,  crops  not  being  so  good  as 
they  used  to  be.  Fuel  is  getting  scarcer  every  year, 
and  the  manure  is  taken  as  a  substitute,  thereby 
impoverishing  the  soil,  while  artificial  manures  are 
still  unknown  to  the  natives  generally.” 


The  first  of  a  series  of  articles,  by  Dr.  B.  W. 
Richardson,  F.R.S.,  entitled  “  Some  Further  Addi¬ 
tions  to  Therapeutics,”  appears  in  the  current  num¬ 
ber  of  the  Practitioner.  In  this  paper  the  author 
treats  of  the  organic  bromides,  viz.  bromide  of  qui¬ 
nine,  bromide  of  morphine,  and  bromide  of  strych¬ 
nine,  their  combinations  and  administration,  and 
hydrobromic  ether  and  bromide  of  methyl.  The 
substance  of  the  article  has  already  appeared  in  the 
Journal,  ante,  p.  851. 


We  are  this  week  indebted  to  a  correspondent  for 
a  copy  of  the  Beverley  Guardian,  containing  a  full 
account  of  a  recent  case  of  poisoning  by  arsenic  at 
Beverley ;  we  take  the  opportunity  of  communicating 
to  our  readers  that  we  shall  always  be  glad  to  receive 
from  them  any  similar  information  on  matters  of 
interest  to  pharmaceutists. 


-June  17, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1013 


MEETING  OF  THE  COUNCIL. 


June  7  th,  1871. 

Present — Messrs.  Atherton,  Betty,  Bottle,  Brown, 
Carr,  Edwards,  Greenish,  Groves,  Haselden,  Hills,  Sand- 
ford,  Savage,  Shaw,  Smith,  Stoddart,  Sutton,  'Williams 
and  Woolley. 

Mr.  A.  F.  Haselden  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  took 
the  same  accordingly. 

The  minutes  of  Council  on  the  3rd  and  17th  ult.  were 
read  and  confirmed. 

This  being  the  first  meeting  of  the  Council  after  the 
Anniversary,  the  election  of  Officers  for  the  ensuing 
year  was  proceeded  with  by  ballot. 

Mr.  A.  F.  Haselden  was  unanimously  elected  President. 

Ballot  was  then  taken  for  the  election  of  Vice-Presi¬ 
dent  with  the  following  result : — 


Edwards  . .  9 

Williams . . . .  7 


Mr.  Edwards  was  then  declared  Vice-President. 

Mr.  Hills  was  unanimously  elected  Treasurer. 

Elias  Bremridge  was  reappointed  Secretary  and  Re¬ 
gistrar. 

Richard  Bremridge  was  reappointed  Assistant-Secre¬ 
tary  and  Deputy-Registrar. 

Moved  by  Mr.  Brown,  seconded  by  Mr.  Carr, 

Resolved — That  the  following  be  the  Standing  Orders 
of  the  Council  for  the  ensuing  year : — 

1.  — That  at  all  meetings  of  the  Council  the  chair  shall 
be  taken  at  eleven  o’clock  in  the  forenoon,  and  business 
immediately  proceeded  with,  provided  a  quorum  be 
present. 

2.  — That  all  notices  of  motion  shall  be  given  in  writ¬ 
ing  to  the  Secretary,  and  shall  distinctly  state  the  nature 
or  substance  of  the  resolution  intended  to  be  submitted 
to  the  Council ;  and  all  such  notices  shall  be  dated  and 
numbered  as  received,  and  entered  in  a  book  to  be  kept 
for  that  purpose  at  the  Secretary’s  office,  which  book 
shall  be  open  to  the  inspection  of  every  member  of  the 
Council. 

3.  — That  motions  for  which  such  notice  shall  be  given 
■shall  have  precedence  over  other  motions,  and  be  entered 
by  the  Secretary  upon  the  notice  paper  in  the  order  in 
which  they  are  received, — routine  business  and  other 
matters  brought  specially  before  the  Council  by  the 
President  only  excepted. 

4.  — That  the  Secretary  shall  insert  ill  the  summonses 
for  any  meeting  of  the  Council,  in  addition  to  such 
matters  as  may  be  ordered  by  the  President,  all  subjects 
for  which  notice  of  motion  shall  have  been  given  before 
five  o’clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  day  preceding  the 
day  for  summoning  the  Council. 

5.  — That  at  every  meeting  of  the  Council  all  motions, 
whether  original  motions  or  amendments,  shall  be  re¬ 
duced  into  writing,  signed  by  the  mover,  and  delivered 
.to  the  Secretary  immediately  upon  being  seconded. 

6.  — That  whenever  amendments  are  made  upon  origi¬ 
nal  motions,  no  second  amendment  shall  be  taken  into 
consideration  until  the  first  amendment  be  disposed  of. 

7.  — That  if  a  first  amendment  be  carried,  it  displaces 
the  original  question,  and  becomes  itself  the  question, 
whereupon  any  further  amendment  may  be  moved. 

8.  — That  if  the  first  amendment  be  negatived,  then  a 
.second  may  be  moved  to  the  original  question  under 
consideration ;  but  only  one  amendment  shall  be  sub¬ 
mitted  to  the  Council  for  discussion  at  one  time. 

9.  — That  the  mover  of  every  original  motion,  but  not 
of  any  amendment,  shall  have  a  right  to  reply,  immedi¬ 
ately  after  which  the  question  shall  be  put  from  the 
chair;  but  that  no  other  member  be  allowed  to  speak 


more  than  once  on  the  same  question,  unless  permission 
be  given  to  explain,  or  the  attention  of  the  chair  be 
called  to  a  point  of  order. 

Resolved — That  the  best  thanks  of  this  Council  are 
due,  and  are  hereby  tendered,  to  their  Lordships 
the  Committee  of  Council  on  Education  for  the  use 
of  the  South  Kensington  Museum  on  the  17th  May 
for  the  purpose  of  holding  the  Society’s  Conver¬ 
sazione. 

Resolved — That  the  Secretary  be  requested  to  convey 
to  the  official  staff  of  the  South  Kensington  Museum 
the  best  thanks  of  this  Council  for  the  prompt  and 
enorgetic  manner  in  which  the  arrangements  for 
the  Society’ stConversaziono  on  the  17th  May  were 
carried  out. 

The  following  Committees  were  appointed : — 

General  Purposes — The  whole  of  the  Council ;  to  meet 
on  the  day  preceding  the  meeting  of  Council,  at  7.30  p.m. 

Finance — Messrs.  Betty,  Carr,  Greenish,  Sutton  and 
Woolley  ;  at  11  a.m.  on  the  day  preceding  the  meeting  of 
Council. 

Library ,  Museum  and  Laboratory — Messrs.  Brown, 
Greenish,  Hills,  Sandford,  Stoddart  and  Williams  ;  at 
11  a. ir.  on  the  second  Wednesday  of  each  month. 

Mouse — Messrs.  Brown,  Greenish,  Hills,  Sandford, 
Stoddart  and  Williams. 

Benevolent  Fund — Messrs.  Betty,  Carr,  Greenish,  Sut¬ 
ton  and  Woolley. 

Parliamentary — Messrs.  Atherton,  Bottle,  Brown,  Hills, 
Sandford,  Savage,  Shaw  and  Williams,  with  power  to 
add  to  their  number. 

Publication  of  Council  Minutes — The  President,  Vice- 
President  and  Mr.  Sandford ;  the  first  Tuesday  after  the 
meeting  of  Council. 

Provincial  Education — Messrs.  Atherton,  Betty,  Carr, 
Greenish,  Groves,  Mackay,  Reynolds,  Sandford,  Shaw, 
Stoddai’t,  Sutton,  Williams  and  Woolley ;  to  meet,  when 
required,  on  the  day  preceding  the  meeting  of  Council, 
at  4  p.m. 

On  the  motion  of  Mr.  Hills,  seconded  by  Mr.  Savage, 
the  following  twelve  Pharmaceutical  Chemists  were 
elected  and  appointed  Examiners  for  England  and  Wales 
for  the  ensuing  year,  subject  to '  the  approval  of  the 


Pxdvy  Council : —  ... 

Allchin,  Alfred . London. 

Barnes,  James  Benjamin . London. 

Bird,  Augustus . .  London. 

Carteighe,  Michael  . . . London. 

Cracknell,  Charles  . . London. 

Davenport,  John  T . London. 

Gale,  Samuel . .  . . London. 

Garle,  John  . .  Bickley,  Kent. 

Hanbury,  Daniel  . . .  London. 

Ince,  Joseph  . . London. 

Linford,  John  Samuel  ........  London. 

Southall,  William . Birmingham. 


The  following  seven  Pharmaceutical  Chemists  were 
appointed  Examiners  for  Scotland  for  the  ensuing  year, 
subject  to  the  approval  of  the  Privy  Council : — 


Ainslie,  William  . Edinburgh. 

Aitken,  William  . Edinburgh. 

Brown,  David  Rennie . Edinburgh. 

Buchanan,  James . Edinburgh. 

Gilmour,  William  . Edinburgh. 

Kemp,  David . Portobello. 

Young,  James  R.  . . Edinburgh. 


The  President  and  Vice-President  are  on  all  Commit¬ 
tees  ex  officio,  and  on  the  respective  Boards  of  Examiners 
in  London  and  Edinburgh. 

Local  Secretaries. 

The  Council  elected  Local  Secretaries  for  the  ensuing 
year  (a  list  of  whom  was  published  inlast  week  s  Journal). 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  17, 1871. 


1014 


The  Report  of  (Messrs.  Carr,  Haselden  and  Williams, 
who  acted  as)  the  Finance  Committee  in  auditing  the 
accounts  for  the  past  month  was  presented,  showing  on 
the  General  Fund  account  a  balance  in  the  Treasurer’s 
hands  of  £2983.  14s.  2 d.,  and  submitting  for  payment 
accounts  amounting  to  £773.  9s.  lid. ;  and  on  the  Bene¬ 
volent  Fund  account  a  balance  of  £569.  10s.  1  d. 

Resolved — That  the  Report  be  received  and  adopted, 
and  payments  made. 

Resolved — That  the  Treasurer  be  requested  to  pur¬ 
chase  Stock  on  the  following  accounts  : — 

General  Fund  .  .  New  Three  per  cents.  £1000 


Life  Members’ Fund  do.  £110 

Benevolent  Fund  .  Consols . £500 


Resolved — That  the  Report  of  the  Library,  Museum 
and  Laboratory  Committee  be  received,  and  that 
the  question  of  warming  the  Laboratory  be  referred 
back  to  the  Committee. 

Resolved — That  it  is  expedient  to  elect  two  Annuitants 
on  the  Benevolent  Fund  in  October  next,  and  that 
the  Secretary  be  requested  to  announce  in  the  usual 
channels  that  such  election  will  take  place. 


REPORT  OF  THE  BOARD  OF  EXAMINERS. 


England  and  Wales. 


Candi- 

Candi- 

Candi- 

dates 

dates 

dates 

1871,  Examination. 

examined. 

passed. 

failed. 

May  12.,,.  Modified  . 

27 

20 

,,  23&24Major  . 

4 

2 

,,  24. . .  .Minor  .......... 

20 

8 

— 

- . 

81 

51 

30 

Preliminary.  Two  Certificates  were  received 

in  lieu 

of  this  Examination. 

Scotland. 

Candi- 

Candi- 

Candi- 

dates 

dates 

dates 

1871.  Examination. 

examined. 

passed. 

failed. 

May  30. . .  .Minor . 

3 

1 

,,  ,,  . , .  .Modified  . 

3 

1 

„  „  . . . .  Preliminary  ...... 

4 

2 

— • 

- - 

— 

14 

10 

4 

The  following  letter  from  the  Medical  Department  of 
the  Privy  Council  was  read : — 


[Copy.] 


“  Medical  Department  of  the  Privy  Comcil, 

“ June  1st,  1871. 

“  Sir, — Adverting  to  my  letter  of  the  4th  ult.,*  the 
Lords  of  Her  Majesty’s  Council,  believing  that  the  An¬ 
nual  Meeting,  therein  referred  to,  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  has  now  been  held,  direct  me  to  inquire  what 
steps  the  Society  has  taken  with  regard  to  the  matters  to 
which  that  letter  has  reference. 

“  I  am,  Sir, 

“  Your  obedient  servant, 

“John  Simon. 


“  The  Secretary  to  the 

“  Pharmaceutical  Society , 

“  Bloomsbury  Square ,  w.c.” 


Moved  by  Mr.  Brown,  seconded  by  Mr.  Woolley, — 
Resolved — That  the  following  letter  be  adopted  by 
this  Council,  and  the  Secretary  bo  instructed  to 
forward  the  same  to  the  Medical  Department  of  the 
Privy  Council : — 


[Copy.] 

“  Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Great  Britain, 
“17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  W.G., 

“ June  Ith,  1871. 

“Sir, — In  reference  to  your  letter  of  May  4th,  drawing 
attention  on  behalf  of  the  Lords  of  Her  Majesty’s  Council 
'  X)  the  approaching  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Pharmaceu- 
dcal  Society,  trusting  that  regulations  would  then  be 
made  in  regard  to  the  keeping,  dispensing  and  selling  of 
poisons  (as  will  be  sufficient  to  secure  the  safety  of  the 
public),  and  of  June  1st,  inquiring  what  steps  the  Society 
had  taken  with  regard  to  the  matters  referred  to  in  the- 
previous  letter,  I  am  instructed  by  the  Council  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  this  day  assembled  (being  the- 
first  meeting  after  the  Annual  Meeting),  to  inform  you 
that  at  the  meeting  of  the  Council  of  tho  Pharmaceutical 
Society,  held  on  the  5th  April,  it  was  resolved  that  Regu¬ 
lations  for  the  keeping,  selling  and  dispensing  of  poisons 
should  be  issued  as  Recommendations. 

“In  this  form  they  were  submitted  to  and  adopted  by 
the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  held 
on  the  17th  May  last,  and  copies  will  at  once  be  distri¬ 
buted  by  the  Council  to  Pharmaceutical  Chemists  and  re¬ 
gistered  Chemists  and  Druggists  throughout  the  country. 
The  Council  beg  to  submit  to  the  Lords  of  her  Majesty’s 
Privy  Council  a  copy  of  the  Recommendations  and  thn 
resolution  of  the  Annual  Meeting  thereon. 

“  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir, 

“  Your  obedient  servant, 

“Elias  Bremridge,. 

“  Secretary  and  Registrar. 

“John  Simon,  Esq.” 

Resolved — That  a  printed  copy  of  the  recommenda¬ 
tions  for  the  keeping,  dispensing  and  selling  of  poi¬ 
sons,*  passed  at  the  Annual  Meeting,  be  forwarded 
to  every  Pharmaceutical  Chemist  and  Chemist  and- 
Druggist  on  the  Register,  with  the  urgent  request 
of  this  Council  for  their  universal  adoption. 

A  memorial  which  had  been  handed  in  by  Mr.  Yizer 
from  chemists  and  druggists,  not  being  Members  of  the 
Society,  deprecating  the  enactment  of  compulsory  regu¬ 
lations  as  to  the  storing  and  dispensing  of  poisons,  was 
presented  to  the  Council. 

Moved  by  Mr.  Atherton,  seconded  by  Mr.  Brown, — 

Resolved — That  tho  various  applications  for  assistance 
which  had  been  received  from  Provincial  Societies 
be  referred  to  the  Provincial  Education  Committee 
for  their  consideration. 

Resolved — That  Dr.  J.  L.  Soubeiran,  of  Paris,  be 
elected  an  Honorary  and  Corresponding  Member  of 
this  Society. 

Resolved — That  tho  following,  being  duly  registered  as 

Pharmaceutical  Chemists,  be  severally  granted  a  Cer¬ 
tificate  stamped  with  the  seal  of  the  Society : — 

Bannard,  Henry  . . . London. 

Cattems,  Heneage  Parker  ....  London. 

Deane,  James  . Clapham. 

Fowler,  William  Ratcliffe  ....  Ipswich. 

Freeman,  Ernest  . Stourbridge. 

Linton,  Ralph  Tait  .... . . . .  „ .  Edinburgh. 

Sambrook,  William . .  Cardigan. 

Troake,  Marler  Hamilton  ....  Kingsbridge. 

Resolved — That  the '.following  Pharmaceutical  Che¬ 
mists  be,  and^are  hereby  elected  ^Members  of  the 
Society : — 

Agnew,  Ernest  James  Tween.  .London. 

Clarke,  Josiah  . .  Croydon. 

Deane,  James  . . . Clapham. 

Fowler,  William  Ratcliffo  . . .  .East  Kirkby. 


*  See  Pharh.  Journ.  May  27th,  1871,  p.  942. 


*  See  Pharm.  Journ.  May  27th,  1871,  p.  949. 


June  V,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1015 


Fryer,  Charles  ........  . . London. 

Hcrsley,  Thomas  Wood  ......  London. 

Procter,  Samuel  J ames  . London. 

Scott,  Walter  . . Elgin. 

Sherburn,  Thomas  . Howden. 

Watts,  John  . . London. 

Wiliams,  GeorgeTIenry . London. 


Resolved — That  the  following  registered  Chemists  and 
Druggists  he  elected  Members  of  the  Society : — 

Bainbndge,  Robert  Robinson . .  Stockton-on-Te«s. 

Bellamy,  J ohn . Birmingham. 

Dudgeon,  Charles  . Bristol. 

Dutton,  Francis  . .  Bolton. 

Holmes,  Joseph  . . . .  ....  Leeds. 

Hunt,  Samuel  . . .  Sudbury. 

J  ones,  Alfred  Maddox . . .  Brynmawr. 

Kaye,  Hamor  . Huddersfield. 

Linnett,  Samuel  Soden . 59,  Southgate  Road. 

Scott,  David  Wolsey  ........  Barmouth. 

Short,  Edward  Henry  ......  Acton. 

Walker,  Joseph  . Tewkesbury. 

Wells,  Thomas  . . . .  91,  Charlwood  St. 

Resolved — That  the  following  having  passed  their 
respective  examinations  be  elected  Associates  in 
business : — 

MINOR. 


Edey,  George  . . .  Christchurch. 

Gittings,  Alfred . . . Oldbury. 

Glazier,  Walter  Henry  ......  London. 

Giindell,  John . .  Hull. 

Hay,  Thomas  Alexander  , . . .  Wavertree. 

Hodgkinson,  George  A . London. 

Richardson,  Richard  Thomas,  .Liverpool. 

Riggall,  Francis  Henry . Louth. 

Sumner,  Benjamin  Tindale  . ,  Grantham. 
Waterworth,  Alfred  Preston. 


The  Secretary  presented  a  list  of  Members  and  11  Asso¬ 
ciates  in  Business,”  who  had  paid  their  subscriptions 
since  the  30th  April  last,  and  it  was 

Resolved — That  they  be  severally  restored  to  their 
former  status  on  payment  respectively  of  a  nominal 
fine  of  la. 

SPECIAL  MEETING  OF  COUNCIL,  June  lith, 

To  consider  the  provisions  of  the  Bill  now  before  the 
House  of  Lords,  intituled  “  An  Act  to  Amend  the 
Pharmacy  Act,  1868.” 

MR.  A.  F.  HASELDEN,  PRESIDENT,  IN  THE  CHAIR. 

MR.  EDWARDS,  VICE-PRESIDENT. 

Present — Messrs.  Atherton,  Betty,  Bottle,  Brown,  Carr, 
Greenish,  Groves,  Hills,  Sandford,  Savage,  Shaw,  Smith, 
Williams  and  Woolley. 

Moved  by  Mr.  Brown,  seconded  by  Mr.  Greenish, 

That  the  passing  of  the  Biil  as  now  worded,  intituled  an 
“An  Act  to  Amend  the  Pharmacy  Act,  1868,”  be 
opposed  by  the  Council. 

Amendment — Moved  by  Mr.  Groves,  seconded  by  Mr. 
Smith, 

That  a  committee  of  this  Council  be  appointed  to 
watch  the  progress  in  Parliament  of  the  Bill  “  to 
Amend  the  Pharmacy  Act,  186S,”  and  prevent  the 
passing  of  obnoxious  clauses. 

For  the  Amendment — 

Messrs.  Carr,  Edwards,  Groves,  Haselden,  Hills, 
Sandford,  Smith  and  Williams. 

Against — - 

Messrs.  Atherton,  Betty,  Bottle,  Brown,  Greenish, 
Savage,  Shaw  and  Woolley. 

The  numbers  being  equal,  the  Chairman  gave  the 
casting  vote  in  favour  of  the  Amendment. 

The  Amendment  was  then  put  as  a  substantive  mo¬ 
tion  and  carried. 


MODIFIED. 

Bum,^  Thomas . , . Sunderland. 

Fudge,  Charles  William  «...  Shepton  Mallet. 

Reeolved — That  the  following  having  passed  their 
respective  examinations  be  elected  Associates  : — 

MINOR. 

Ballard,  Frank  Perry ........  Ludlow. 

Barclay,  John  . . London. 

Barnes,  Francis  Joshua . Preston. 

Black,  James  . . .  Markin  eh, 

Carr,  George  . .  Sheffield. 

Cooper,  Anthony  Vincett  ....  Birmingham. 

Davies,  Robert  Higgins . Dartford. 

Ellwood,  Francis  Henry  ....  Norwich. 

Forsbrook,  William  Henry  ,  .Birmingham. 

Hill,  Walter,  Cheltenham. 

Kemp,  John . . . .  Inverness. 

Maddison,  Henry  Gildon  ....  London. 

Parker,  William  . . .  London. 

Saunders,  Charles  Price ......  Haverfordwest. 

Selley,  J  ohn . . . Aylesbury. 

Shenstone,  William  Ash  well ..  Colchester. 

Smyth,  Arthur  William ......  Diss. 

Stansbv,  Charles  John  . Derby. 

Tonks,  Joseph . ....Wolverhampton. 

Wilkes,  John  Sanders  ......  Stafford. 

Woolley,  Harold ............  Manchester. 

MODIFIED. 

Archer,  James  . . .  Lechlade. 

Btwen,  Joseph  William . Holyhead. 

Burton,  Joseph  . . Sheffield. 

Coates,  Henry . . .  York. 

Ramsden,  William  . . Fallowfield. 

Richardson,  Thomas  James  . .  Carlisle. 

Spratt,  George  Tjriah . Boston. 

Woodcock,  Arthur . London. 


Moved  by  Mr.  Groves,  seconded  by  Mr.  Smith,  and 
Resolved — That  the  Parliamentary  Committee  be  in¬ 
structed  to  watch  the  Bill  referred  to  in  the  last 
Resolution,  and  that  Mr.  Betty  bo  added  to  that 
Committee. 

Moved  by  Mr.  Woolley,  seconded  by  Mr.  Brown,  and 
Resolved — That  the  proceedings  of  this  day’s  Council 
be  inserted  in  the  current  week’s  Journal. 


At  the  termination  of  the  Council  meeting  the  Par¬ 
liamentary  Committee  met  and  determined  on  sending  a 
deputation  to  the  medical  officer  of  the  Privy  Council  on 
the  following  day  (Thursday)  for  the  purpose  of  intro¬ 
ducing  certain  amendments  into  the  Bill. 


prlranttntsrj  nnlx  fitto  framiiktjs. 

A  BILL  INTITULED  AN  ACT  TO  AMEND  THE 
PHARMACY  ACT,  1868. 

Whereas  under  the  Pharmacy  Act,  1868,  persons  selling 
or  keeping  open  shop  for  retailing,  dispensing  or  com¬ 
pounding  poisons  are  required  to  conform  to  such  regu¬ 
lations  as  to  the  keeping,  dispensing  and  selling  of 
poisons  as  may  from  time  to  time  be  prescribed  by  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society,  with  the  consent  of  the  Privy 
Council : 

And  whereas  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  have  failed 
to  submit  for  the  consent  of  the  Privy  Council  any 
regulations  for  the  above  purposes,  and  it  is  expedient 
to  make  further  provision  for  the  making  of  such  regu¬ 
lations  : 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Queen’s  most  Excellent  Majesty, 
by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Lords  Spi¬ 
ritual  and  Temporal,  and  Commons,  in  the  present 
Parliament  assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same, 
as  follows : 

1.  This  Act  shall  be  construed  as  one  with  the  Phar- 


101G 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  17  1871. 


macy  Act,  1868  (in  tliis  Act  referred  to  as  the  principal 
Act),  and  with  the  Act  of  the  session  of  the  thirty- second 
and  thirty-third  years  of  the  reign  of  her  present  Majesty, 
chapter  one  hundred  and  seventeen,  intituled  “  An  Act 
to  amend  the  Pharmacy  Act,  1868,”  and  those  Acts  and 
this  Act  may  he  cited  together  as  the  Pharmacy  Acts, 
186S  to  1871,  and  each  of  the  above- mentioned  Acts  and 
this  Act  may  be  cited  as  the  Pharmacy  Act  of  the  year 
in  which  it  was  passed. 

2.  The  recited  powers  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
of  Great  Britain  under  the  principal  Act  shall  cease,  and 
the  Council  of  the  said  Society  may  from  time  to  time 
submit  to  the  Privy  Council  regulations  as  to  the  keep¬ 
ing,  dispensing  and  selling  of  poisons  within  the  meaning 
of  the  principal  Act,  and  as  to  revoking  or  amending 
any  such  regulations  previously  made,  and  the  Privy 
Council  may,  if  they  think  fit,  by  order  approve  of  such 
regulations. 

If  at  any  time  it  appear  to  the  Privy  Council  that 
there  are  no  regulations  for  the  time  being  in  force 
under  the  principal  Act  as  to  the  keeping,  dispensing 
and  selling  of  poisons  within  the  meaning  of  the  princi¬ 
pal  Act,  the  Privy  Council  may  servo  a  notice  on  the 
Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  requiring  them 
to  frame  and  submit  for  the  approval  of  the  Privy  Council 
regulations  as  to  the  matters  aforesaid,  and  if  the  Council 
of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  within  the  time  limited 
by  such  notice,  not  being  less  than  two  months  from  the 
date  of  the  service  of  the  notice,  make  default  in  framing 
such  regulations,  or  obtaining  the  approval  of  the  Privy 
Council  thereto,  the  Privy  Council  may  themselves 
frame  regulations  as  to  the  matters  aforesaid. 

All  regulations  approved  or  framed  by  the  Privy 
Council  in  pursuance  of  this  section  shall  have  the  same 
effect  as  regulations  prescribed  in  manner  specified  in 
the  principal  Act. 


HOUSE  OF  LORDS. 

Pharmacy  Bill,  June  6. — The  Pharmacy  Bill  was  in¬ 
troduced  by  the  Lord  President  of  the  Council.  It  was 
.read  a  first  time  and  ordered  to  be  printed.  The  second 
reading  wras  appointed  for  June  12. 

June  12. — The  Pharmacy  Bill  was  read  a  second  time. 
Committee  fixed  for  June  13. 

June  13. — The  Pharmacy  Bill  passed  through  Com¬ 
mittee.  To  be  read  a  third  time  on  Thursday,  June  15. 

June  15. — The  Pharmacy  Bill  was  read  a  third  time 
and  passed.  _ _ 

HOUSE  OF  COMMONS. 

Medical  Act  (1858)  Amendment  Bill. — June  14. — 
The  second  reading  of  this  Bill  was  moved  by  Dr.  Lush. 
He  said  it  was  brought  forward  in  consequence  of  Mr. 
Foster's  Bill  of  last  session  having  failed  to  satisfy  the 
profession,  and  the  Government  being  too  busy  this 
session  to  deal  with  the  question.  It  proposed  to  substi¬ 
tute  the  present  Council  of  twenty-four  members  by  one 
of  twelve,  four  members  to  be  nominated  by  the  nine¬ 
teen  examining  bodies  at  present  in  existence,  four  by 
the  Crown,  and  four  by  the  whole  body  of  the  profes¬ 
sion.  It  provided  also  that  before  a  man  was  allowed  to 
practise  he  should  be  compelled  to  pass  one  examina¬ 
tion,  which  examination  should  indicate  the  minimum 
standard  of  professional  education  in  this  country. 

Mr.  Jessel  said  this  Bill  would  give  a  monopoly  of 
•examination  into  the  hands  of  the  Medical  Council,  by 
giving  it  a  right  to  appoint  the  Board  of  Examiners,  in 
which  it  differed  from  the  Government  Bill  of  last  year. 
It  also  defined  what  the  examiners  were  to  do,  without 
having  regard  to  the  natural  progress  of  science  and 
learning.  Under  the  present  system  there  had  been  a 
race  to  diminish  the  qualification  required,  in  order  to 
attract  a  large  number  of  fee-paying  persons  to  the 
examinations.  The  examiners  must  be  made  honest  by 
preventing  them  from  having  a  pecuniary  interest  in 
the  result  of  the  examinations.  It  would  not  be  right 


to  have  the ,  Examination  Board  and  the  Controlling 
Board  composed  of  the  same  persons. 

Dr.  Brewer  supported  the  Bill. 

Dr.  Playfair  said  that  whereas  the  present  Bid  extin¬ 
guished  the. old  corporation,  which  he  though,  was  a 
mistake,  another  Bill  that  was  before  the  House  recog¬ 
nized,  and  left  them  nearly  alone.  It  was  a  disadvan¬ 
tage  to  have  nineteen  examining  bodies  havirg  a  ten¬ 
dency  to  compete  with  each  other,  thus  securing  only  a 
minimum  qualification ;  but  it  did  not  follow  that  they 
should  be  reduced  to  one.  It  would  be  better  chat  there 
should  be  an  examining  body  for  England,  another  for 
Scotland,  and  another  for  Ireland.  He  hoped  both  Bills 
would  be  withdrawn,  and  that  the  Government  would 
deal  with  the  question  next  Session. 

Mr.  W.  F orster  said  that  the  Government  were  aware 
of  the  great  practical  evils  that  resulted  from  there  being 
nineteen  accredited  bodies  for  certifying  medical  prac¬ 
titioners,  but  they  had  been  unable  to  deal  with  the 
question  this  year.  So  many  subjects  pressed  for  legis¬ 
lation,  that  he  could  not  pledge  the  Government  to  bring 
in  a  Bill  next  session,  but  if  they  did  not,  and  a  private 
member  took  up  the  subject,  no  opposition  would  be 
offered  to  the  fullest  consideration  of  the  subject. 

After  a  few  words  from  Dr.  Brady,  who  stated  that 
his  own  Bill,  the  “  Medical  Act  (1858)  Amendment  (No. 
2)  Bill,”  had  been  carefully  prepared,  and  gave  satis¬ 
faction  to  the  profession,  both  Bills  were  withdrawn. 


WELSiirooL  County  Court,  Thursday ,  June  8 th,  1871. 

(. Before  J.  W.  Smith,  Esq.,  Judge.) 

Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Great  Britain  r.E.  C.  AYhisken, 

of  Welshpool. 

This  vc as  an  action  brought  to  recover  £5,  upon  parti¬ 
culars  as  follows : — k£  To  amount  of  penalty  incurred  by 
the  defendant  in  selling  or  keeping  open  shop  for  retail¬ 
ing,  dispensing  or  compounding  poisons  or  a  poison,  and 
in  taking,  using  or  exhibiting  the  name  or  title  of  che¬ 
mist  and  druggist,  contrary  to  the  provisions  of  the 
Pharmacy  Act,  1868  (31  &  32  Yict.  cap.  121).” 

Mr.  Flux  (of  London)  appeared  for  the  Pharmaceuti¬ 
cal  Society ;  Mr.  Chandler  (of  Shrewsbury)  appeared  for 
tho  defendant. 

Mr.  Chandler. — Your  Honour  will  allow  me  to  apply 
that  this  case  shall  stand  over  to  a  future  day.  I  can 
only  assure  you  that  the  case  came  before  the  Court  of 
Queen’s  Bench  this  week,  and  that  a  rule  was  granted 
nisi  for  a  mandamus.  The,  case  will  be  tried  in  all  its 
details  on  Saturday,  and  the  very  fact  of  this  plaint  be¬ 
ing  issued  is  mentioned  in  the  application  to  the  Judges. 
I  am  not  prepared  to  go  on  with  the  case  to-day ;  my 
documents  are  in  London,  and  I  do  not  think  it  is  fair  to 
yourself  or  to  the  defendant  that  the  case  should  be  pro¬ 
ceeded  with.  I  am  prepared  to  pay  the  amount  of  the 
penalty  sued  for  into  Court,  but  I  do  not  think  it  fair 
that  the  case  should  be  heard  here  to-day. 

Mr.  Chandler  then  handed  to  the  J udge  the  Times  of 
Tuesday,  June  6th. 

Mr.  Flux, — I  have  no  objection  to  your  Honour  look¬ 
ing  at  the  Times.  I  have  no  doubt  that  it  contains  a 
correct  report  of  what  took  place  in  the  Court  of  Queen’s 
Bench,  but  the  application  to  that  Court  was  an  ex  parte 
one.  Of  course  the  application  of  my  friend  is  opposed 
by  me.  That  this  application  would  be  made  was  inti- 
matod  to  me,  and  my  reply,  which  I  will  hand  to  your 
Honour,  is  dated  the  27th  May.  The  case  of  the  So¬ 
ciety  which  I  have  the  honour  to  represent  is  thfr : — 
They  are  charged  in  the  public  interests  to  project  the 
public  in  the  matter  of  the  selling  of  poisons  hav¬ 
ing  satisfied  themselves  that  the  defended  is  not  a 
qualified  person,  and  is  deliberately  violating  the  law, 
they  have  thought  it  a  duty  to  coimience  this  action 
(which  by  the  law  must  be  tried  iv  the  locality  where 
the  defendant  resides  and  is  knowQ  for  the  protection  of 


June  17, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


io:r 


the  public ;  and,  representing  the  Society,  I  cannot  take 
the  responsibility  of  consenting  to,  or  even  of  failing  to 
the  utmost  of  my  ability  to  oppose,  any  delay  in  this 
matter,  because  so  long  as  this  case  is  undecided  the 
defendant  is  holding  himself  out  to  the  -world  as  possess¬ 
ing  a  statutory  qualification  to  sell  poisons  ;  and  if  by 
any  accident  any  subject  of  her  Majesty  were  to  be  seri¬ 
ously  prejudiced  through  the  sale  of  poisons  by  the  de¬ 
fendant,  I  being  charged  with  these  proceedings,  could 
not  feel  that  I  was  free  from  blame  in  the  matter.  As 
to  the  case  in  the  Court  of  Queen’s  Bench  being  dis¬ 
posed  of  on  Saturday  or  Monday,  seeing  that  the  term 
ends  on  Monday,  I  can  hardly  hope  that,  in  the  existing 
state  of  business,  the  rule  can  be  argued  before  Novem¬ 
ber.  So  far  as  I  am  aware,  there  will  not  be  any  sittings 
after  term  at  which  a  rule  of  this  kind  can  be  argued, 
and  I  have  no  hope  of  getting  the  matter  disposed  of  be¬ 
fore  Michaelmas  Term  unless  it  be  accomplished  on 
Monday.  If  it  be  not  disposed  of  on  Monday,  the  defen¬ 
dant  will  have  an  excuse  for  continuing  to  sell  poisons  to 
her  Majesty’s  subjects  between  this  date  and  November. 

The  Judge. — Is  it  limited  to  the  case  of  selling  poisons  P 

Mr.  Flux. — Certainly ;  ho  can  sell  anything  else,  but 
he  cannot  call  himself  chemist  and  druggist,  and  he  can¬ 
not  sell  certain  poisons  if  he  be  not  a  duly  qualified  per¬ 
son.  The  issue  as  to  whether  he  is  a  duly  qualified  per¬ 
son  or  not  is  one  which  I  can  approach  with  the  utmost 
confidence.  I  put  it  to  your  Honour  that  I  may  pro¬ 
ceed  with  it  at  once.  This  question  will  hardly  be  dis¬ 
posed  of  by  the  Court  of  Queen’s  Bench,  because  if  the 
defendant  be  restored  to  the  register  he  will  none  the 
loss  have  been  in  open  violation  to  the  law  during  the 
period  covered  by  this  plaint.  He  knows  that  ho  is  not 
on  the  register,  and  my  case  is  plain  that  he  is  violating 
the  law  at  this  moment.  Whether  he  can  obtain  the 
restoration  of  his  name  to  the  register  is  a  matter  which 
the  Court  of  Queen’s  Bench  may  deal  with ;  but  that  he 
will  get  his  name  restored  I,  as  the  adviser  of  the  So¬ 
ciety,  cannot  for  a  moment  imagine.  Your  Honour  will 
see  that  the  gist  of  the  defendant’s  case  in  the  Court  of 
Queen’s  Bench  is,  that  before  a  given  day  in  18G8  he 
carried  on  the  business  of  a  chemist  and  druggist  in 
open  shop,  in  New  Street,  in  this  town.  The  place  is 
within  a  few  minutes’  walk  of  this,  and  although  it  is 
perhaps  too  much  for  me  to  suggest  that  your  Honour 
should  see  the  place  yourself,  I  may  venture  to  say  that  if 
some  one  deputed  by  your  Honour  were  to  go,  he  would 
be  shocked  at  the  appearance  of  the  place. 

The  Judge. — Was  there  no  open  shop  ? 

Mr.  Flux. — No,  your  Honour. 

Mr.  Chandler. — These  are  facts  which  have  to  be  de¬ 
cided  on  solemn  affidavits  in  London.  The  defendant’s 
witnesses  are  not  here  now,  and  will  not  be  here.  The 
question  which  is  now  being  tried  is  a  sort  of  preliminary 
one,  and  may  be  used  by  us  on  Monday.  Whiskcn  was 
certainly  at  one  time  on  the  register,  and  during  that 
time  no  harm  occurred  to  any  one;  and  to  ask  your 
Honour  to  put  a  stop  to  a  business — 

The  Judge. — Is  he  the  farrier  F 

Mr.  Flux. — Yes,  your  Honour,  and  never  was  anything 
else. 

Mr.  Chandler. — I  am  in  no  position  to  fight  the  case 
to-day.  My  agents  gave  the  other  side  notice  of  my  in¬ 
tention  to  apply  for  this  postponement,  and  it  has  not 
been  consented  to. 

Mr.  Flux. — My  reply  was,  that  if  the  defendant  would 
cease  to  use  the  title  “  chemist  and  druggist,”  and  would 
otherwise  cease  to  violate  the  law  during  the  interval,  we 
would  consent. 

The  Judge  (to  Mr.  Chandler). — One  would  have  thought 
that  you  would  have  been  willing  to  have  foregone  the 
selling  of  poisons. 

Mr.  Chandler. — We  have  not  violated  the  law,  and 
why  should  a  large  society  ride  rough-shod  over  us  F 
Acting  under  the  advice  of  counsel,  I  would  not  give 
such  an  undertaking.  Besides,  there  is  in  the  defen¬ 


dant’s  shop  a  member  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
acting  as  his  assistant;  and  no  danger  can  therefore 
arise,  and,  even  if  it  did,  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
would  not  be  liable  for  it.  Therefore,  that  argument  is, 
I  think,  a  somewhat  far-fetched  one.  The  case  is  before- 
your  Honour,  but  I  repeat  that  I  am  not  prepared  to 
proceed  with  it  now. 

Mr.  Flux. — I  know  nothing  about  there  being  any 
member  of  the  Society  in  the  defendant’s  employ. 

The  Judge. — I  wall  turn  the  matter  over  in  my  mind. 

Mr.  Flux. — Respecting  my  friend’s  statement  as  to  this 
gentleman’s  name  having  been  on  the  register,  I  should 
like  your  Honour  to  note  that  it  was  placed  on  the  re¬ 
gister  on  the  strength  of  a  certificate  granted  by  a  gen¬ 
tleman  who  is  at  present  High  Sheriff  of  the  count}'; 
and  that,  upon  a  letter  being  addressed  to  that  gentle¬ 
man  by  the  Registrar  of  the  Society  (a  most  courteous 
letter,  as  your  Honour  will  see),  directing  his  attention 
to  that  which  he  had  signed,  as  well  as  to  the  words  of 
the  statute, — that  gentleman  wrote  a  most  courteous- 
reply,  expressing  his  prior  ignorance  of  the  words  of 
the  statute,  and  withdrawing  his  certificate ;  and  there¬ 
upon  the  Council  of  the  Society  erased  the  defendant’s 
name  from  the  register. 

Mr.  Chandler . — Although  they  had  received  further 
certificates. 

Mr.  Flux. — No,  they  had  not. 

The  Judge.- — What  I  have  to  do  is  to  make  up  my 
mind  whether  I  shall  direct  this  case  to  be  adjourned  or 
not,  and  I  will  consider  the  matter. 

At  a  later  period  of  the  day,  the  Judge,  addressing  tho- 
defendant’s  attorney,  said  :  The  facts  are  admitted  which 
render  the  defendant  liable  to  the  penalty,  and  you  seek 
an  adjournment  only  in  consequence  of  the  proceedings, 
in  town  F 

Mr.  Chandler. — Yes,  because  we  say  that  he  ought  to 
be  on  the  register. 

The  Judge. — I  do  not  conceive  that  I  have  any  power 
to  abrogate  any  section  of  the  Act  of  Parliament,  or  to 
add  any  words  to  it.  Even  admitting  that  it  had  been 
already  decided  that  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  were 
wrong  in  excluding  the  name  of  the  defendant  from  the 
register,  he  would  still,  according  to  the  Act  of  Parlia¬ 
ment,  be  liable  to  this  penalty,  and  I  should  have  no 
power,  so  far  as  I  can  at  present  see,  to  relieve  him  from 
it.  I  sit  here  to  administer  the  law  as  I  find  it. 

Mr.  Chandler. — Supposing  that  the  Court  of  Queen’s 
Bench  decides  that  the  defendant  is  entitled  to  have  his 
name  upon  the  register,  we  shall  obtain  a  judge’s  order 
directing  the  Society  to  reinstate  the  name. 

The  Judge. — That  would  not  relieve  him  from  the 
penalty ;  he  was  not  on  the  register  at  the  time  when 
the  act  complained  of  was  committed. 

Mr.  Chandler. — Very  true  ;  but  if  the  judges  order  his 
name  to  be  replaced,  the  Society  will  be  obliged  to  com¬ 
ply  with  the  order,  and  then  they  would  not  be  able  to 
sue  him  for  a  penalty. 

The  Judge. — Still  he  would  not  have  been  on  the- 
register  during  the  past  time,  in  respect  of  which  this 
action  is  brought. 

Mr.  Chandler. — Your  Honour  will  see  that  the  judges 
might  find  that  it  was  wrong  to  remove  his  name. 

The  Judge. — I  do  not  know  that  they  would  have  the- 
power  to  do  so.  They  might  grant  a  ride  against  me  in 
enforcing  the  penalty  against  him  under  those  circum¬ 
stances  ;  that,  however,  is  not  the  case  before  me.  Ac¬ 
cording  to  the  Act  of  Parliament  he  is  within  the  penal 
clause,  and  I  do  not  think  that  I  have  any  power  to  re¬ 
lieve  him  ;  but  what  I  can  do  is  this,  to  say  to. the  repre¬ 
sentative  of  the  Society;  if  it  be  decided  against  you  in 
the  Court  of  Queen’s  Bench,  I  would  suggest  that  you 
should  undertake  not  to  enforce  the  penalty. 


*  We  arc  informed  by  the  Registrar  that  the  assistant  is 
not  a  member  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  nor  is  he  on  the 
Register  of  Chemists  and  Druggists. — Ln.  1’haeii.  JouiiX. 


1018 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS 


[Juno  17,  1871. 


Mr.  Flux. — Your  Honour  may  bo  sure  that  I  will  not 
enforce  this  penalty  until  the  decision  of  the  Court  of 
-Queen’s  Bench  upon  the  rule  is  obtained,  and  that  if  the 
decision  be  in  favour  of  this  defendant  I  will  not  seek  to 
enforce  the  penalty  at  all ;  but  I  wish  the  defendant  to 
understand  this,  that  by  continuing’  the  business  so  long 
as  his  name  is  not  on  the  register,  he  is  holding  himself 
■out  to  the  public  in  a  capacity  which  I  cannot  recognize, 
and  which  I  am  bound,  by  all  means,  to  discourage ;  and 
that  if  he  continues  the  offence,  I  shall  deem  it  a  duty 
to  renew  my  applications  for  a  penalty. 

Mr.  Chandler. — But  not  until  after  a  decision. 

Mr.  Flux. — I  shall  indeed. 

The  Judge.— I  quite  expected  Mr.  Flux  to  say  that; 
but  he  will  not  enforce  them. 

Mr.  Flux. — No. 

The  Judge.  Until  the  contrary  be  proved,  it  must  be 
assumed  that  the  decision  of  the  Council  as  to  the  era¬ 
sure  of  the  defendant  s  name  from  the  register  was  a  just 
one ;  otherwise,  we  should  be  continually  having  these 
defences  raised,  and  we  might,  diming  an  indefinite 
■period  of  time,  have  these  persons  carrying  on  their 
trade,  and  endangering  the  lives  of  her  Majesty’s  sub¬ 
jects,  whilst  it  was  being  tried  in  a  Superior  Court 
whether  they  ought  to  have  been  on  the  register  or  not. 
I  think  it  would  be  an  unfortunate  state  of  things  if  that 
were  so.  At  any  rate,  I  sit  here  to  administer  the  law 
as  I  find  it,  and  not  to  relieve  from  the  effects  of  the 
law  by  importing  provisions  which  I  do  not  find  in  the 
Act  of  Parliament  itself.  I  think  it  would  be  an  idle 
waste  of  .the  public  time  to  do  more  than  submit  that  if 
the  decision  in  the  Court  of  Queen’s  Bench  be  adverse 
to  the  Society  the  penalty  shall  not  be  enforced.  As  to 
any  future  penalties  which  might  be  sued  for,  u  sufficient 
unto  the  day  is  the  evil  thereof.” 

Mr.  Chandler.  My  friend  has  put  it  fairly  enough, 
but  I  believe  that  this  case  will  be  tried  on  Saturday ; 
my  friend,  however,  thinks  differently,  and  I  quite  bow  to 
his  superior  judgment.  All  that  I  say  is,  that  if  we  do 
our  best  to  try  this  on  Saturday  we  lose  no  time,  and  it 
would  be  unjust  to  make  a  man  liable  from  day  to  day. 

The  Judge.  I  think  they  will  have  vindicated  the 
public  interests  by  these  proceedings,  and  that  they  will 
not  feel  obliged  themselves  to  sue  for  any  further  penalty, 
os  Mi.  Chandler  says  his  real  intention  is  to  pursue  this  in 
the  Superior  Court  with  the  utmost  possible  diligence, 
and.  I  should  think  the  sooner  he  can  get  the  question 
decided,  the  better  pleased  he  will  be. 

Mr.  Flux.  Everything  is  being  done  on  my  part  to 
facilitate  the  hearing  of  the  case  in  the  Queen’s  Bench 
before  the  end  of  the  term ;  and  I  venture  to  say  that 
there  can  be  no  doubt  as  to  the  great  weight  which  will 
attach  to  your  Honour's  remarks  with  my  clients  ;  and 
I  shall  feel  it  a  duty  to  communicate  them,  and  act  upon 
them,  so  far  as  possible,  although  I  do  not  feel  at  liberty 
to  give  an  undertaking  on  their  part  not  to  sue. 

I  he  Judge. — Aou  can  represent  my  views  to  them. 

J/U  Chandler.— This  has  been  going  on  for  some  time, 
and  the  proceedings  should  have  been  taken  long  ago. 
i  That  remark  recoils  upon  my  friend ;  he 

should  have  applied  for  his  mandamus  before. 

, ,  %  he  Judge.— ■  It  certainly  strikes  me  as  remarkable,  that 
Mr.  Chandler  s  client  should  have  waited  so  long  as  he 
has  and  should  not  have  taken  proceedings  at  once. 

Mr.  Chandler. — His  waiting  caused  him  no  iniury, 

and.be  thought  he  might  be  affording  amusement  to  the 
feociety. 

Mr.  Flux  then  tendered  formal  evidence. 

Jfr.  Chandler.— I  admit  that  my  client’s  name  was  not 
cn  ihe  register,  that  .he  used  the  title  chemist  and  dnm- 
gist,  and  that  the  action  is  duly  brought  in  point  of  form. 

Ihe  Judge.— I  give  judgment  for  the  plaintiff  with  costs. 

Mr.  Flux  then  applied  for  the  cost  of  the  Registrar’s 
attendance  as  a  witness. 

The  Judge.— I  do  not  see  that  there  was  any  necessity 
for  the  Registrar  s  personal  attendance. 


COURT  OF  QUEEN’S  BENCH,  WESTMINSTER. 

Trinity  Term. 

Monday ,  June  I2tlt,  1871. 

Present — Lord  Chief  Justice  Cockburn,  Mr.  Justice 
Lush,  and  Mr.  Justice  H annex. 

The  Queen  v.  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 

of  Great  Britain. 

Mr.  Quain  (Mr.  Bullock  with  him). — My  Lords,  in  the 
case,  of  the  Queen  against  the  Council  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society  of  Great  Britain,  I  have  to  show  your 
Lordships  cause  against  a  rule  which  has  been  obtained 
by  my  learned  friend  Mr.  Bullen  upon  the  5th  of  this 
month,  calling  upon  that  Society  to  show  cause  “  w  hy  a 
writ  of  mandamus  should  not  issue  directed  to  them 
commanding  them  to  direct  the  Registrar  of  the  said 
Society  to  restore  the  name  of  the  said  Edward  Charles 
Whisk  on  to  the  Register  of  Chemists  and  Druggists.” 
The  question  is,  "whether  this  gentleman  is  entitled  to  be 
restored  to  that  register  P  My  Lords,  the  Act  of  Par¬ 
liament  under  which  this  question  arises  is  the  31st  and 
32nd  Victoria,  chapter.  121,  and  that  is  ‘‘An  Act  to 
regulate  the  Sale  of  Poisons,  and  Alter  and  Amend  the 
Pharmacy  Act,  1852.”  Now  this  Act  of  Parliament 
provides  for  persons  entitled  to  be  registered ;  and  I 
believe  I  may  state  shortly  the  fact,  that  nobody  is  en¬ 
titled  to  call  himself  a  “  chemist  and  druggist,”  or  to 
sell  poisons  (I  believe  he  may  sell  anything  else),  unless 
he  brings  himself  within  the  authority  of  this  Act. 
Those  are  the  only  two  things  which  the  Legislature 
have  interfered  with.  In  order  to  do  that,  the  statute 
defines  what  persons  shall  be  entitled  to  be  registered, 
and  the  only  question  we  have  to  discuss  is  this,  whether 
the  applicant  for  the  ■writ  of  mandamus  in  this  case  was 
a  chemist  and.  druggist  carrying  on  that  business  in  an 
open  shop  dispensing  prescriptions  of  duly  qualified 
medical  practitioners  before  July,  1868,  it  being  in  July, 
1.868,  that  this  Act  came  into  operation ;  because  it  en¬ 
titled  all  persons  who  were  actually  in  business  before 
that  date  to  be  registered,  as  a  matter  of  course,  after 
delivering  to  the  Registrar  their  certificates.  Now,  the 
third  section  s.ays,  and  this  is  the  section  upon  which  it 
turns,  “  chemists  and  druggists  within  the  meaning’  of 
this  Act  shall  consist  of  all  persons  who  at  any  time 
before  the  passing  of  this  Act,  have  carried  on  in  Great 
Britain  the  business  of  a  chemist  and  druggist  in  the 
keeping  of  open  shop  for  the  compounding  of  the  pre¬ 
scriptions  of  duly  qualified  medical  practitioners.”  It 
turns  out  to  be  entirely  a  question  of  fact,  upon  one  part 
of  the  case,  which  is  as  to  whether  Mr.  "Whisk on,  who 
makes  ,  this  application,  can  bring  himself  wuthin  that 
definition,,  and  can  show  that  he  was  a  chemist  and  drug¬ 
gist  carrying  on  business  in  an  open  shop,  dispensing 
prescriptions  of  duly  qualified  medical  practitioners,  be¬ 
fore  the  date  of  July,  1868  ?  Now,  my  Lords,  I  will 
tell  you  'what  the  facts  are  as  disclosed  upon  the  affi¬ 
davits. 

Mr.  Bullen. — My  Lords,  if  my  friend  is  going  into  the 
facts,  I  must  ask  that  the  case  may  be  postponed,  in 
order  that  we  may  answer  the  affidavits  that  have  been 
filed,  as  the  affidavits,  of  which  th^re  are  no  less  than 
twenty-six  sheets,  have  only  been  delivered  to  me  late 
on  Saturday  night  last. 

Mr.  Quain. — It  was  only  moved  on  the  5th  of  June. 

Mr.  Bullen. — But  the  affidavits  consist  of  all  sorts  of 
imputations  upon  my  client. 

Mr.  Quam. — I  apprehend,  my  Lords,  the  question  is 
this  :  we  say — and  that,  in  fact,  explains  the  whole  case 

that  we  were  induced  to  place  upon  the  register  the 
name  of  this  applicant  in  consequence  of  incorrect  in¬ 
formation  furnished  to  us.  That  so  far  from  being  a 
chemist  and  druggist  (at  least,  that  is  what  we  say) 
within  the  meaning  of  the  provision  that  I  have  just  read 
to  your  Lordship,  this  person  was  nothing  else  but  a  cow 


June  17,  1671.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1019 


or  cattle  doctor — a  farrier,  in  fact — at  Welshpool ;  that 
ho  was  not  a  chemist  and  druggist  in  the  ordinary  sense 
of  the  word,  and  did  not  make  up  prescriptions,  except 
so  far  as  they  were  for  cattle  and  horses,  and  that  he 
was  not  a  person  who  came  within  the  status  which  he 
■ought  to  have  occupied  at  the  time  he  made  the  applica¬ 
tion.  This  is  the  question  of  fact,  so  far  as  that  is  con¬ 
cerned.  I  have  a  large  number  of  affidavits,  of  course, 
upon  the  subject. 

The  Lord  Chief  Justice. — It  is  a  difficult  inquiry,  and 
this  is  an  unsatisfactory  mode  of  disposing  of  it,  if  it  de¬ 
pends  upon  the  affidavits. 

Mr.  Quain. — I  was  going  to  say,  my  Lord,  if  it  were  a 
mere  question  of  fact,  no  doubt,  as  there  are  conflicting 
affidavits,  your  Lordships  would  not  go  into  them. 

The  Loyd  Chief  Justice. — What  I  was  thinking  was 
that  we  might  refer  it  to  the  Master. 

Mr.  Quain. — I  am  ready  to  take  any  course  your  Lord- 
ship  wishes ;  but,  before  your  Lordship  does  that,  I 
would  wish  to  draw  your  attention  to  this.  My  learned 
friend,  Mr.  Bullock,  who  is  with  me,  and  myself,  have 
looked  at  the  matter  in  consultation,  and,  as  I  have  j  ust 
observed,  if  it  rested  entirely  upon  conflicting  affidavits 
■upon  matters  of  fact,  I  could  not  expect  your  Lordships 
at  this  moment  to  go  into  them  and  to  decide  upon  them  ; 
but  I  would  submit  (and  I  throw  this  out  for  the  con¬ 
sideration  of  my  friend  Mr.  Bullen)  that  this  is  a  matter 
resting  entirely  upon  points  of  law,  and  I  would  ask 
your  Lordships  to  decide  it  upon  them  without  going 
-into  the  facts,  and  upon  them,  I  say,  this  is  not  a  case 
for  a  mandamus  at  all. 

The  Loycl  Chief  Justice. — We  had  a  similar  application 
to  this  some  time  ago. 

Mr.  B  alien. — That  was  upon  another  Act,  my  Lord. 

Mr.  Quain. — My  friend  is  quite  right ;  that,  was  upon 
another  Act.  This  is  the  first  time  your  Lordships  have 
been  called  upon  to  put  a  construction  upon  this  Act. 
The  point  I  am  going  to  take  is,  that  this  is  a  matter  of 
•discretion  ;  that  is  to  say,  that  there  is  a  judicial  discre¬ 
tion  in  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  and, 
that  if  they  have  decided  it,  your  Lordships  will  not  inter¬ 
fere.  This  is  not  an  application  upon  the  ground  that 
they  have  been  asked  for  a  hearing  and  have  declined  it, 
because,  here,  they  have  heard  and  have  decided ;  and  I 
submit  that  the  matter  having  been  so  heard  and  so  de¬ 
cided  by  the  Council  of  the  Society  under  the  Statute,  it 
then  comes  within  the  ordinary  case  where  the  Legis¬ 
lature  having  vested  these  functions  in  the  Council  of  a 
-Society,  and  they  having  exercised  them,  the  question 
.cannot  be  retried  upon  affidavits.  That  is  the  real  point. 
Now,  having  referred  your  Lordships  to  the  third  section, 
I  will  call  your  Lordship’s  attention  to  the  fifth:  “The 
persons  who  at  the  time  of  the  passing  of  this  Act  shall 
have  been  duly  admitted  pharmaceutical  chemists,  or 
.shall  be  chemists  and  druggists  within  the  meaning  of 
the  Act,  shall  be  entitled  to  be  registered  under  the  Act 
without  paying  any  fee  for  such  registration :  provided, 
however,  as  regards  any  such  chemist  and  druggist,  that 
his  claim  to  be  registered  must  be  by  notice  in  writing, 
signed  by  him,  and  given  to  the  Registrar,  with  certifi- 
oates  according  to  the  schedules  C  and  D.”  And,  ac¬ 
cordingly,  the  applicant  in  this  case  sent  up  to  the  Re¬ 
gistrar  the  certificates  C  and  D,  within  the  meaning  of 
that  clause;  and,  having  done  that,  he  was  thereupon 
placed  on  the  register,  and  his  name  was  printed  in  the 
Register  of  the  year  1870.  Information  after  that  reached 
the  Council  of  the  Society  that  he  was  not  really  what 
he  professed  to  be,  and  thereupon  an  investigation  took 
place.  The  certificate  under  schedule  C  is  one  that 
comes  from  himself,  that  being  one  that  is  sent  from  the 
person  in  business  as  a  chemist ;  but  the  certificate  under 
schedule  D  is  to  be  in  these  words,  and  is  to  be  from  a 
medical  practitioner  or  magistrate  :  “  I  declare  that  I  am 
a  duly  qualified  medical  practitioner  (or  magistrate),  and 
that  to  my  knowledge  [blank],  residing  at  [blank],  in  the 
county  of  [blank],  was  in  business  as  a  chemist  and 


druggist,  in  the  keeping  of  an  open  shop  for  the  com¬ 
pounding  of  the  prescriptions  of  duly  qualified  medical 
practitioners  before  the  [blank]  day  of  [blank].”  That 
he  complied  with,  undoubtedly,  in  the  first  instance  ; 
but  as  soon  as  the  information  reached  the  Society  that 
he  was  not  what  he  professed,' to  be,  they  communicated 
with  him,  and  they  also  wrote  to  the  gentleman,  the 
magistrate,  who  had  signed  that  certificate.  He  hap¬ 
pened  to  be  a  gentleman  named  Jones,  and  a  most 
respectable  gentleman,  no  doubt,  he  being,  at  the  present 
time,  the  High  Sheriff  of  Montgomeryshire.  The  matter 
having  been  brought  to  his  attention,  he  was  asked 
whether  he  adhered  to  the  declaration  ho  had  made  ac¬ 
cording  to  the  terms  of  the  statute,  a  copy  of  the 
Act  of  Parliament  being  sent  to  him,  showing  that  he 
must  state,  within  his  knowledge,  that  the  person  was  a 
person  who  compounded  medicines.  As  soon  as  that 
matter  was  called  to  Mr.  Jones’s  attention,  and  he  saw 
the  nature  of  the  certificate  which  he  was  expected  to 
give,  he  wrote  a  letter,  in  which  he  withdrew  the  certifi¬ 
cate,  saying  that  he  could  not  allow  his  name  to  bo 
attached  to  a  document  upon  which  a  shadow  of  doubt 
existed.  After  that  withdrawal,  I  apprehend  this  gen¬ 
tleman  was  not  entitled  to  remain  on  the  register. 

After  that,  a  certificate  of  a  gentleman  named  Brock 
was  sent  in,  but  that  was  after  the  name  had  been 
erased  in  the  way  in  which  I  am  going  to  tell  your 
Lordships. 

Then  comes  the  8th  section,  which  refers  to  the  Re¬ 
gistrar  :  “  The  Registrar  appointed,  or  to  be  appointed, 
under  or  by  virtue  of  the  Pharmacy  Act,  shall  be  Re¬ 
gistrar  for  the  purposes  of  the  Act.” 

Then  the  9th  section  says  : — “  The  Council  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  shall,  with  all  convenient  speed 
after  the  passing  of  this  Act,  and  from  time  to  time  as 
occasion  may  require,  make  orders  or  regulations  for 
regulating  the  register  to  be  kept  under  this  Act  as 
nearly  as  conveniently  may  be  in  accordance  with  the 
form  set  forth  in  the  schedule  (B)  to  this  Act  or  to  the 
like  effect.” 

Then  comes  the  10th  section,  which  is  with  reference 
to  the  Registrar  : — “  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Regis¬ 
trar  to  make  and  keep  a  correct  register  in  accordance 
with  the  provisions  of  this  Act  of  all  persons  who  shall 
be  entitled  to  be  registered  under  this  Act,  and  to  erase 
the  names” — your  Lordships  see  he  has  power  to  erase 
the  names — “  of  all  registered  persons  who  shall  have 
died,  and  from  time  to  time  to  make  the  necessary  alte¬ 
rations  in  the  addresses  of  the  persons  registered  under 
this  Act.  To  enable  the  Registrar  duly  to  fulfil  the 
duties  imposed  upon  him,  it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  Re¬ 
gistrar  to  write  a  letter  to  any  registered  person,  ad¬ 
dressed  to  him  according  to  his  address  on  the  register, 
to  inquire  whether  he  had  ceased  to  carry  on  business 
or  has  changed  his  residence,”  and  so  on. 

Then  there  is  the  important  section,  section  12,  of  the 
Act,  and  the  words  are  these : — “  No  name  shall  bo 
entered  in  the  register  except  of  persons  authorized  by 
this  Act  to  be  registered,  nor  unless  the  Registrar  bo 
satisfied  by  the  proper  evidence  that  the  person  claiming 
is  entitled  to  be  registered;  and  any  appeal  from  the 
decision  of  the  Registrar  may  be  decided  by  the  Council 
of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  and  any  entry  which 
shall  be  proved  to  the  satisfaction  of  such  Council  to 
have  been  fraudulently  or  incorrectly  made  may  be 
erased  from  or  amended  in  the  register  by  order  in 
writing  of  such  Council.” 

Then  there  is  a  penalty  put  upon  the  Registrar  by 
section  14  : — “  Any  Registrar  who  shall  wilfully  make 
or  cause  to  be  made  any  falsification  in  any  matter  re¬ 
lating  to  the  said  registers,  and  any  person  who  shall 
wilfully  procure,  or  attempt  to  procure,  himself  to  bo 
registered  under  the  Pharmacy  Act  or  under  this  Act, 
by  making  or  producing,  or  causing  to  be  made  or  pro¬ 
duced,  any  false  or  fraudulent  representation  or  declara¬ 
tion,  either  verbally  or  in  writing,  and  any  person  aid- 


1020 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND,  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  17, 1871 


ing  or  assisting  him  therein,  shall  he  deemed  guilty  of  a  ! 
misdemeanour.”  Then  there  are  certain  rights  reserved 
under  the  16th  section.  Now,  what  happened  was  this  : 
As  soon  as  this  magistrate,  Mr.  Jones,  withdrew  his  cer¬ 
tificate,  the  matter  was  brought  before  the  Council  of 
the  Society,  and  a  correspondence  took  place. 

Mr.  Justice  Lush. — Was  Mr.  J one3  himself  the  person 
•who  gave  the  certificate  ? 

Mr.  Quean. — Yes. 

Mr.  Justice  Lush. — That  he  withdrew  ? 

3Lr.  Quain. — Yes. 

Mr.  Justice  Lush. — At  that  time  there  was  no  proper 
evidence. 

Mr.  Quain. — I  suppose  so.  His  name  had  been  on. 

Mr.  Bullen. — It.  was  actually  on  at  that  time. 

Mr.  Quain. — He  was  on  at  the  time  Mr.  Jones  with¬ 
drew  hi3  certificate.  On  receiving  the  certificates  C. 
and  D.,  and  the  application,  it  was  put  on  as  a  matter  of 
course.  Then  being  on,  and  being  published  in  the  list, 
he  was  on  the  regular  register  for  1870,  and  then  this 
information  reaches  the  Council  that  he  has  not  been 
properly  put  on. 

Mr.  Justice  Lush. — Then  you  say  that  it  was  proved 
to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Council  that  his  name  had  been 
incorrectly  put  on  F 

Mr.  Quain. — Yes,  my  Lord. 

Mr.  Justice  Lush. — And  therefore  they  authorized  the 
erasing  it  ? 

Mr.  Quain. — Yes. 

Mr.  Bullen. — I  should  like  to  have  the  letter  read 
which  was  written  by  Mr.  Jones,  if  my  friend  comments 
on  this,  at  the  time  he  withdrew  it. 

Mr.  Quain.- — By  all  means. 

Mr.  Bullen.- — Your  Lordships  will  see  ho  docs  not  go 
into  the  merits  at  all. 

Mr.  Quain. — Whether  he  goes  into  the  merits  or  not, 
he  withdrew  his  letter.  The  correspondence  is  set  out 
on  the  affidavit.  Mr.  Whisken  most  improperly  says 
that  Mr.  J  ones  was  threatened.  There  was  no  threat  or 
anything  of  the  kind  to  Mr.  Jones.  The  letter  is  written 
to  Mr.  Jones  on  the  16th  July,  and  he  answers  it  in  this 
way : — “  I  thank  you  very  much  for  your  courteous 
communication  respecting  Mr.  Whisken,  veterinary 
surgeon,  Welshpool.  On  the  receipt  of  your  letter  I 
sent  t-o  Mr.  Whisken,  requesting  his  immediate  presence 
to  give  a  satisfactory  explanation.  My  declaration  was 
founded  entirely  upon  his  statement  of  the  facts  that  he 
had  fully  and  faithfully  complied  with  the  requirements 
of  the  Pharmacy  Act.  I  had  never  seen  the  Act  until 
you  kindly  favoured  me  with  a  copy.  I  understand  the 
point’is  whether  Mr.  Whisken  keeps  an  open  shop  or  not  ? 
I  have  requested  Mr.  Whisken,  with  whom  I  have  had  an 
interview  to-day,  to  write  to  you  full  particulars  in  reply 
to  your  inquiries,  and  shall  feel  obliged  if  you  will 
oblige  me  with  a  line  saying  that  his  explanations  are 
satisfactory.” 

Mr.  Justice  Lush. — If  that  is  true,  his  certificate  was 
contrary  to  the  statute. 

Mr.  Quain. — Yes. 

Mr.  Justice  Lush. — It  requires  it  to  be  within  the 
knowledge  of  the  party. 

Mr.  Quain. — By  an  oversight  he  overlooked  the  point ; 
it  was  accordingly  pointed  out  to  him  in  the  next 
letter. 

Mr.  Jones  is  then  written  to  by  the  Registrar  in  these 
words,  “  Dear  Sir,- — I  am  in  receipt  of  yours  of  the  16th 
instant,  and  also  of  a  letter  from  Mr.  Whisken.  The 
chief  point  is  not  as  you  apprehend,  whether  or  not  he 
kept  an  open  shop,  although  that  is  important.  The 
question  is  this  :  did  Mr.  Whisken  keep  an  open  che¬ 
mist  s  shop  to  your  knowledge  for  the  compounding  of 
the  prescriptions  of  duly  qualified  medical  practitioners  ? 
His  letter  is  so  illiterate  that  my  informant’s  statement, 
that  ‘  he  could  not  read  a  prescription  if  any  one  were 
rash  enough  to  trust  him  with  one,’  would  seem  to  be 
correct.” 


We  have  a  facsimile  of  ono  of  his  letters,  if  your  Lord- 
ships  would  like  to  see  it. 

“  As  to  his  having  a  shop,  we  must,  I  suppose,  accept 
his  own  statement,  which  is,  that  he  ‘  had  a  place  sit  a 
part  as  a  shop,’  but  as  to  the  prescriptions,  I  should  be 
glad  to  hear  from  you  further.  If  you  do  not  feel  satis¬ 
fied  that  Mr.  Whisken  is  entitled  to  registration,  and 
you  made  the  declaration,  on  the  faith  of  which  his  name 
was  placed  on  the  register,  without  having  at  the  time  a 
full  knowledge  of  the  conditions  on  which  such  registra¬ 
tion  could  be  effected,  I  presume  you  will  withdraw’  your 
name  from  the  matter  altogether ;  if  not,  please  confirm 
your  adherence  to  your  declaration.” 

Then  the  Act  of  Parliament  is  sent  to  that  gentleman, 
and  ho  answTers  it  on  the  19th  July  in  these  words,  Dear 
Sir, — Since  I  was  favoured  by  you  with  the  Pharmacy 
Act  of  1868,  I  have  considered  its  provisions,  and  wish 
to  withdraw  my  declaration  relating  to  Mr.  Whisken,  of 
Welshpool,  as  I  cannot  allow  my  name  to  be  attached 
to  a  document  upon  which  a  shadow  of  doubt  exists.” 

( Their  Lordships  consulted.) 

Lush. — Does  it  appear  that  the  Council 


-Yes ;  the  resolution  of  the  Council  is  set 


Mr.  Justice 
had  decided  ? 

Mr.  Quain. - 
out  in  the  affidavit. 

The  Lord  Chief  Justice. — I  cannot  help  thinking,  Mr. 
Bullen,  that  unless  you  are  prepared  to  show  that  there 
has  been  something  altogether  exceptional,  or  something 
arbitrary  in  the  decision  of  the  Council  in  the  course  of 
the  case,  we  cannot  take  upon  ourselves  to  review  their 
exercise  of  the  jurisdiction  and  authority,  which  is  clearly 
vested  in  them.  They  are  the  proper  persons  to  decide 
it,  and  it  is  within  their  competency. 

Mr.  Quain. — I  should  say  that  wo  have  offered  him  a 
rehearing  if  he  likes,  and  he  has  declined  it ;  I  can  read 
the  letter. 

Mr.  Bullen.- — I  am  told  that  is  not  so. 

Mr.  Quain. — Don’t  say  that,  because  I  will  read,  from 
the  affidavit,  what  we  have  offered.  As  the  Council  was 
most  anxious  that  justice  should  be  done,  this  letter  was 
written  by  Mr.  Bremridge,  “  I  am  in  receipt  this  morn¬ 
ing  of  a  letter  from  Messrs.  Howell,  Jones  and  Howell 
they  are  his  attorneys.  “  If  you  like  to  make  an  appeal 
to  the  Council  yourself,”— -that  is,  a  second  appeal,  after 
the  first  case  has  been  decided, — “  I  will  lay  the  matter 
before  them  again,  in  this  case.  Please  let  me  have  your 
appeal  this  week,  so  that  it  may  be  presented  next  Coun¬ 
cil  day.  In  the  meanwhile,  as  your  name  does  not  now 
appear  on  the  register ;  if  you  continue  to  carry  on  busi¬ 
ness,  it  will  be  the  duty  of  this  Society  at  once  to  insti¬ 
tute  proceedings  against  you.”  After  that  we  get  an 
answer  from  Messrs.  Howell,  Jones  and  Howell,  the 
attorneys :  “  Our  client  has  handed  to  us  your  letter  of 
yesterday  to  reply  to.  He  declines  to  make  any  appeal 
to  the  Council,  and,  notwithstanding  your  communica¬ 
tion,  intends  to  continue  his  business.” 

Mr.  Bullen. — Your  Lordships  will  find  from  our  affida¬ 
vit,  that  so  late  as  the  10th  February,  1871,  in  this  year, 
Mr.  Whisken  went  before  the  President  of  the  Council 
and  had  an  interview  with  him  about  the  matter.  That 
Iptter  was  written  by  Messrs.  Howell  and  Jones.  How 
it  came  to  be  written  I  don’t  know ;  but  ho  has  been 
before  them  since. 

Mr.  Justice  Lush. — What  did  the  President  say  ?  He 
is  not  the  Council. 

Mr.  Bullen.- — He  is  President  of  the  Council.  That 
appears  upon  my  affidavit,  on  which  I  moved. 

Mr.  Justice  Lush. — How  does  that  appear? 

Mr.  Bullen. — I  will  read  it.  “  On  or  about  the  10th 
day  of  February,  1871,  I  had  an  interview  with  Mr.  G-. 
W.  Sandford,  the  President  of  the  said  Society,  who  ad¬ 
vised  me  to  lay  a  full  statement  before  the  Council  by 
way  of  appeal,  promising  that  it  should  be  laid  before  the 
Council’s  monthly  meeting,  held  the  1st  day  of  March, 
1871,  and  that  I  should  hear  the  result  of  their  decision,, 
immediately  after,  and  that  all  proceedings  were  stayed. 


June  17, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1021 


against  me  for  the  present.”  If  your  Lordship  re¬ 
members,  we  were  being  sued  in  the  County  Court  for 
penalties.  And,  “  I  accordingly,  on  the  27th  of  the  same 
month  of  February,  sent  a  full  account  of  the  facts,  as 
also  copies  of  the  letters  or  certificates  now  produced  and 
shown  to  me,  marked  respectively  C,  D,  E,  F  and  Gr,  en¬ 
closed  in  a  letter  to  the  said  Mr.  Sandford,  copy  whereof  is 
as  follows: — ‘Welshpool,  27th  February,  1871.  Dear  Sir, 
— I  have  sent  you  a  copy  of  statement,  also  copy  of  some 
of  the  letters  that  I  am  in  possession  of,  shall  be  greatly 
obliged  if  you  will  lay  the  same  before  the  Council.  I 
think  you  will  see  by  the  enclosed  that  I  have  been  sub¬ 
jected  to  the  greatest  insults,  and  the  conduct  of  your 
local  secretary  here  has  been  most  disgraceful ;  a  part  of 
which  has  been  in  this  place  disposed  of  before  the  ma¬ 
gistrates.’  ”  Now,  in  one  of  my  affidavits  we  show  that 
the  local  secretary  and  himself  had  been  summoning  one 
another  before  the  magistrate,  and  were  at  daggers  drawn, 
and  that  the  whole  proceeding  has  arisen  from  jealousy. 

‘  I  also  think  it  my  duty  to  inform  you  that  every  time 
my  name  has  been  appended  in  the  Journal  it  has  been 
publicly  exhibited  by  your  local  secretary.  Thanking  ’ 
you  for  the  kindness  and  courtesy  shown  towards  me 
when  last  in  London.  I  am,’  ”  etc.  Then  the  affidavit 
goes  on : — “  Not  having  heard  either  from  the  said  Mr. 
Sandford  or  the  Registrar,  Mr.  Elias  Bremridge,  I,  on 
the  20th  day  of  March,  1871,  sent  the  following  letter  to 
the  said  Mr.  Sandford,  which  I  caused  to  be  registered  : 
— ‘Welshpool,  26th  March,  1871.  Dear  Sir, — I  de¬ 
livered  my  statement  to  you  before  March  1st,  1871,  as 
registered,  and  this  being  the  20th,  I  think  I  ought  to 
have  heard  something  from  you  respecting  the  decision 
■of  the  Council  in  my  case  before  now.  Will  you  kindly 
inform  me  by  return  wliat  decision  the  Council  came  to, 
and  oblige,’  etc. ;  and  on  the  24th  of  the  same  month  of 
March,  received  a  reply  as  follows : — ‘March  22nd,  1871. 
Dear  Sir, — Your  statement  was  laid  before  the  Council 
at  its  last  sitting,  and,  as  we  only  meet  on  the  first  Wed¬ 
nesday  of  each  month,  may  be  said  to  be  still  under  con¬ 
sideration.  After  Wednesday,  April  5th,  you  will, 
doubtless,  hear  definitely  from  the  Registrar.  In  the 
meantime  you  know  all  the  proceedings  against  you  are 
stopped.  Faithfully  yours,  Gr.  W.  Sandford.’  I  then 
heai'd  nothing  more  of  the  matter  until  the  loth  day  of 
May  instant,  when  I  was  served  with  the  County  Court 
summons  now  produced  and  shown  to  me  marked  H  ; 
and  on  the  17th  day  of  may  instant,  I  wrote  the  said  Mr. 
Elias  Bremridge  as  follows  : — ‘Welshpool,  17th  of  May, 
1871.  Sir, — Not  having  heard  in  reply  to  the  statement 
forwarded  to  your  President  on  the  26th  February  last, 
to  be  laid  before  the  Council,  and  having  been  served 
with  a  County  Court  summons  for  the  recovery  of  a 
penalty  of  £5,  I  beg  to  apply  to  the  Pharmaceutical  So¬ 
ciety  to  insert  my  name  on  the  Register  of  Chemists  and 
Druggists  for  the  present  year,  and  that  on  default 
thereof,  I  intend  to  apply  for  a  mandamus  to  the  Court  of 
Queen’s  Bench  to  compel  the  insertion  of  my  name,  and 
I  have  to  request  an  immediate  reply  to  this  application. 
Youi's,  etc.,  E.  C.  YGhisken.’  And,  on  the  24th  day  of 
ihe  same  month  of  May,  I  received  a  reply  from  Messrs. 
Flux  and  Co.,  Solicitors  to  the  Pharmaceutical  Society.” 
So  that  the  answer  after  we  had  been  sued,  only  oame 
from  Messrs  Flux  and  Co. : — “  Sir, — Your  letter  of  the 
17th  instant,  addressed  to  E.  Bremridge,  Esq.,  Regis¬ 
trar,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square,  has  been  handed,  by  that ; 
gentleman,  to  us.  On  reference  to  the  Pharmacy  Act, 
you  will  find  that  the  action  brought  against  you  is  by 
the  Registrar  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  with  the 
authority  of  the  Council.  You  may  be  sure  that  the 
Council  did  not  give  authority  until  after  full  considera-  j 
tion  of  your  case.  We  may  mention  that  one  of  the 
members  of  the  Council  was  deputed  to  visit  Welshpool,  j 
and  made  inquiries,  and  that  the  Council  are  fully  satis¬ 
fied  that  the  action  brought  is  proper  in  all  respects.”  j 
Mr.  Quain. — Now  allow  me  to  interpose  for  a  moment. 
So  far  from  that  being  the  case,  as  my  learned  friend  has 


just  stated,  I  have  an  affidavit  in  my  hand  of  the  Presi¬ 
dent,  in  which  I  have  got  this  statement :  that  they  took 
the  trouble  of  sending  one  of  their  own  Council  to 
Welshpool,  to  investigate  the  matter  again.  I  have  the 
affidavit  of  the  gentleman  who  went  down  to  Welshpool, 
and,  so  far  from  there  being  no  communication  with  Mr. 
Whisken,  I  have  his  letters,  in  the  affidavit  to  the  Presi¬ 
dent,  on  the  subject  after  the  statement  was  sent  in.  It 
is  in  Air.  Sandford’s  affidavit.  He  says,  “  Mr.  Whisken 
called  on  mo  on  the  10th  day  of  February  last.  I  lis¬ 
tened  to  what  ho  had  to  say,  and  told  him  that  his  best 
course  was  to  lay  a  full  statement  (by  which  I  meant  an 
accurate  statement)  before  the  Council  by  way  of  appeal, 
promising  that  it  should  be  laid  before  the  Council's 
monthly  meeting  to  be  held  on  the  then  next  first  of 
March,  and  that  he  should  hear  the  result  of  their  deci¬ 
sion  afterwards,  and  that  I  would  request  the  solicitors 
to  hold  their  hands  until  further  instructed,  and  I  did 
afterwards  accordingly  so  request  the  said  solicitors. 
The  said  E.  C.  Whisken  having  sent  to  me  the  letter 
of  the  27th  February,  1S7 1,  set  out  in  his  affidavit,  toge¬ 
ther  with  the  documents  therein  referred  to,  I  laid  them 
before  the  meeting  of  the  Council  which  was  held  on 
Wednesday,  the  1st  day  of  March,  and  they  were  con¬ 
sidered,  and  proceedings  then  took  place  as  expressed  in 
minutes  of  that  meeting  in  the  words  following  : — -‘  Re¬ 
gistration  of  E.  C.  Whisken,  of  Welshpool.  An  appeal 
and  affidavits  in  support  of  Mr.  Whisken’ s  claim  to  regis¬ 
tration  having  been  read,  it  was  resolved,  That  Mr.  Abra¬ 
ham  beauthorized  to  visit  Welshpool,  and  to  makeporsonal 
inquiry  as  to  the  claim  of  Mr.  Whisken  to  be  restored  to 
the  register  of  chemists  and  druggists,  and  report  to  the 
next  Council  meeting.’  I  subsequently  received  from 
the  said  E.  C.  Whisken  his  letter  of  the  20th  March,  1871, 
and  replied  by  mine  of  March  22nd,  1871,  set  out  in  his 
affidavit.  The  statement  in  the  said  affidavit  which  im¬ 
mediately  follows  the  copy  of  my  letter  dated  22nd  March, 
1871,  and  which  is  in  the  words  following — ‘I  then 
heard  nothing  more  of  the  matter  until  the  loth  day  of 
May  instant,  when  I  was  served  with  the  County  Court 
summons  ’ — is  absolutely  untrue,  so  far  as  it  is  inconsis¬ 
tent  with  the  following  facts,  for  I  say  that  the  said  Mr. 
Abraham  did  discharge  the  duty  undertaken  by  him  at 
the  Council,  and  go  from  Liverpool  to  Welshpool  and 
investigate  the  matter,  and  have  an  interview  with  the 
said  E.  C.  Whisken;  and  that  on  March  28th,  1871,  the 
said  E.  C.  Whisken  wrote  and  sent  to  me  a  letter  which 
contained  clauses  as  follows : — ‘  I  received  your  letter  on 
the  24th  inst.,  and  on  the  25th  a  person  called  upon  me 
from  Liverpool,  stating  himself  to  be  one  of  the  Council, 
and  giving  his  name  as  John  Abraham.  He  said  he 
was  in  possession  of  my  statement,  and  also  copies  of 
letters,  and  wished  to  see  the  original  letters,  which  I 
allowed  him  to  do.  He  then  asked  me  a  series  of  what 
I  thought  were  impertinent  questions,  adding  insult  to 
injury ;  he  also  wished  me  to  read  some  prescriptions 
which  he  had  brought  with  him,  but,  taking  into  consi¬ 
deration  the  facts  of  the  case,  I  declined  to  comply  with 
his  request.  ...  I  shall  therefore  be  glad  to  know  whe¬ 
ther  the  Council  had  authorized  Mr.  Abraham  to  call  and 
catechise  me  in  the  way  he  has  done,  and  to  hear  the 
result  of  its'meeting  on  the  5th  proximo.’  I  also  received 
from  the  said  E.  C.  Whisken  another  letter,  dated  April 
3rd,  1871,  also  referring  to  the  said  call  of  Mr.  Abraham. 
Mr.  Abraham  attended  the  meeting  of  the  Council  on 
the  first  Wednesday  in  April  last,  and  proceedings  took 
place  thereat,  and  produced  a  report  which  was  con¬ 
sidered  by  the  Council,  and  appeared  to  be  conclusive 
against  the  claims  of  the  said  E.  C.  Whisken,  and  the 
Council  accordingly  rejected  and  referred  the  documents 
and  evidence  in  reference  to  the  case  to  Mr.  Flux,  with 
instructions  to  take  such  further  action  in  conjunction 
with  the  Registrar  as  might  be  desirable  or  necessary. 
In  all  the  minutes  aforesaid  the  Council  of  the  said  Society 
acted  bond  fide  and  in  the  exercise  of  the  best  of  their 
judgment;  they  havo  been  anxious  to  discharge  the 


1022 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  17, 1871. 


duty  committed  to  them  for  the  protection  of  the  public 
in  the  matter  of  the  sale  of  poisons,  and  at  tho  same  time 
most  desirous,  not  to  act  unjustly  to  the  said  E.  C. 
Whisken.” 

The  whole  thing  has  been  thoroughly  investigated. 

The  Lord  Chief  Justice.- — If  we  had  known  all  this  we 
should  not  have  granted  the  rule. 

Mr.  Bullen. — That  is  an  affidavit  that  I  have  not  got 
a  copy  of.  My  Lords,  what  we  say  is  this,  that  opposition 
has  been  got  up  by  Mr.  "Williams,  who  is  the  local  secre¬ 
tary  to  the  Society  down  there. 

The  Lord  Chief  Justice. — Whose  duty  it  is  to  make 
any  communication  to  them  if  any  one  is  carrying  on 
business  as  a  chemist  and  druggist  who  is  not  qualified. 

Mr.  Bullen. — But  we  say  the  information  that  was 
given  to  the  Society  has  not  been  true  information. 

The  Lord  Chief  Justice. — They  were  willing  to  give 
you  an  opportunity  of  being  reheard,  which  I  do  not 
know  that  they  are  now  boimd  to  do,  as  you  have  allowed 
the  time  to  pass.  -Still  they  are  willing  to  give  you  an 
opportunity  of  going  before  the  Council  again. 

Mr.  Bullen. — I  should  have  said  that  your  Lordships 
had  power  to  have  this  matter  inquired  into. 

The  Lord  Chief  Justice. — So  we  have,  if  we  see  any 
abuse  of  the  authority  of  the  Council.  The  powers 
given  to  them  are  so  salutary,  and  the  exercise  of  them  so 
desirable  for  the  protection  of  the  public ,  that  unless  we  see 
a  case  of  manifest  injustice  and  oppression  we  do  not  inter¬ 
fere.  So  far  from  seeing  anything  of  that  kind  here,  as 
far  as  I  can  judge,  it  appears  that  what  has  been  done 
by  the  Council  has  been  properly  done.  I  do  not  wish 
to  say  anything  more. 

Mr.  Bullen. — What  I  wish  to  submit  to  the  Court  is 
this,  that  I  have  sufficient  evidence  before  the  Court,  in 
the  shape  of  affidavits  from  medical  practitioners  in  the 
place,  for  it  to  be  said  that  the  Council  has  been  mis¬ 
informed. 

The  Lord  Chief  Justice. — If  they  hav*)  been  misinformed, 
they  can  correct  anything  they  have  done ;  that  is  to  say, 
if  you  would  be  so  good  as  to  condescend  to  go  to  the 
proper  tribunal,  that  is,  the  Council,  and  satisfy  the 
Council  that  they  have  acted  improvidently  in  the  case. 

Mr.  Bullen. — I  should  submit  it  is  rather  late  in  the 
day  for  them  to  say  they  are  ready  to  hear  it  again. 

Mr.  Justice  Lush. — A  man  who  declines  to  satisfy  them 
that  he  can  read  a  prescription,  surely  is  not  entitled  to 
come  here  for  a  mandamus. 

Mr.  Bullen. — We  have  satisfied  them. 

Mr.  Qua  in. — On  the  contrary. 

Mr.  Justice  Lush. — On  the  contrary,  you  have  not. 

Mr.  Bullen. — We  have  the  affidavits  of  several  medical 
practitioners  who  have  examined  this  man.  But  there 
is  this  difficulty,  my  Lords,  they  have  put  us  in  the 
County  Court. 

Mr.  Justice  Lush. — You  deserve  to  be  there  if  you 
have  been  practising  without  a  qualification.  This  is 
an  indirect  mode  of  preventing  that  action  being  tried. 

Mr.  Bullen . — No,  my  Lord,  we  say  “  you  wrongfully 
refused  to  qualify  us,  and  therefore  we  go  to  the  Court 
of  Queen’s  Bench  to  make  you  do  it.  We  are  prepared 
to  say  to  the  Court  of  Queen’s  Bench  we  have  satisfied 
the  Act  in  all  respects.”  That  is  what  I  ask  your 
Lordships  to  do,  and  to  hear  the  affidavits,  and  say 
whether  you  are  not  satisfied  that  we  are  properly  quali¬ 
fied  to  be  put  on  the  register. 

The  Lord  Chief  Justice. — "What  for?  However,  if  you 
have  anything  to  say  we  will  hear  you. 

Mr .  Bullen. — I  do  not  wish  to  keep  the  case  up  if  your 
Lordships  have  made  up  your  minds ;  but  I  should  ask 
your  Lordships  to  impose,  so  to  say,  the  rehearing  of  our 
case  before  the  Council  itself. 

The  Lord  Chief  Justice. — They  offer  that. 

Mr.  Quain. — We  have  done  that  twice. 

Mr.  Bullen. — Are  you  ready  to  do  it  again  F  that  is  the 
question. 

The  Lord  Chief  Justice. — Up  to  the  present  time  you 


have  declined  to  avail  yourself  of  that  offer.  It  is  not 
for  us,  under  those  circumstances,  to  impose  any  condi¬ 
tion.  Tho  Council  will  do  what  they  think  to  be  right. 
If  they  have  thought  it  right  to  say  they  will  give  you 
a  further  hearing,  I  have  no  doubt  they  will  continue 
to  say  it,  without  our  interfering.  I  think  there  is  no 
alternative  but  to  discharge  the  rule,  and  to  discharge  it 
with  costs.  If  a  man  will  be  obstinate,  and  not  submit 
himself  to  the  proper  authority  which  has  been  autho¬ 
rized  by  the  Act  of  Parliament  to  consider  whether  he  is 
entitled  to  practise  or  not,  and  will  come  here,  he  must 
pay  the  expenses. 


Poisoning  by  Arsenic. 

An  inquiry  into  the  deaths  of  Airs.  Matilda  Harper, 
wife  of  Mr.  William  Harper,  farmer,  of  Linley  Hill, 
near  Beverley,  and  of  Lily  Marian  Taylor,  their  grand¬ 
child,  was  held  on  Friday  last.  On  the  25th  ult.,  Airs. 
Harper,  Aliss  Harper  and  the  child  Taylor,  in  the  ab¬ 
sence  of  the  male  members  of  the  family,  partook  of  tea, 
and  during  the  meal  the  child  was  taken  ill.  Airs.  Harper, 
who  for  some  time  previously  had  been  in  delicate 
health,  soon  afterwards  became  indisposed,  and  as  they 
grew  worse  assistance  was  sent  for.  Dr.  Calvert,  of 
Brandesburton,  ascertained  that  they  were  suffering  from 
the  effects  of  poison.  Everything  possible  was  done  to 
alleviate  their  agonies,  but  medical  aid  was  of  no  avail,, 
and  both  Airs.  Harper  and  her  granddaughter  died 
next  day.  Aliss  Harper  and  Hannah  Bromby  were  also 
taken  ill  after  tea,  as  was  also  Henry  Dunn,  a  brick  ~ 
layef,  working  at  the  house,  but  they  were  ultimately 
restored.  An  inquest  was  opened  on  the  bodies  on  the- 
20th  ult.,  evidence  was  given  to  show  that  red  lead 
had  been  used  by  the  family  during  cleaning  time,  and  the 
hypothesis  was  entertained  that  the  water  used  for  the  tea 
might  have  become  impregnated  with  the  poison.  A 
pump,  which  had  been  for  a  time  disused,  was  repaired 
the  same  day,  and  the  water  for  the  tea  was  taken  from  this 
pump.  Other  persons,  however,  who  were  not  affected, 
drank  from  the  pump  spout  shortly  after  it  was  mended, 
and  this  fact  tended  to  show  that  poison  must  have  been 
contained  in  some  of  the  vessels  in  which  the  water  had 
been  placed  from  the  time  of  its  extraction  from  the 
pump  to  coming  on  to  the  table.  The  kettle,  teapot, 
etc.,  were  carefully  taken  care  of  by  the  police,  and  the* 
inquest  was  adjourned  in  order  that  the  viscera  of  the 
child  and  the  contents  of  the  vessels  might  be  analysed.. 

Aliss  Alary  Anna  Harper  said  :  Eed  lead  was  used  on 
Thursday.  Hannah  Bromby  filled  the  kettle  on  the* 
day  of  the  accident  from  the  pump.  No  one  told  her 
to  put  the  kettle  on  the  first  time.  She  put  it  on  the 
kitchen  fire  on  her  own  account.  It  was  her  duty  to- 
do  so.  The  kettle  boiled  some  time  between  four  and 
five  o’clock.  When  it  boiled,  I  told  her  to  take  it  off 
and  refill  it  from  the  river.  When  it  boiled  over,  I  saw 
some  stuff  of  a  slate  colour  come  from  the  kettle,  and 
I  told  her  to  fill  it  from  the  river.  She  took  it  out  of  the 
kitchen  into  the  back  kitchen,  and  I  suppose  into  the 
yard.  I  had  not  noticed  the  kettle  boil  over  in  that 
way  before.  She  was  just  going  out  of  tho  kitchen 
where  I  was,  when  I  told  her  to  refill  it  from  the  river. 
She  could  not  help  hearing  me.  During  the  time  the* 
pump  was  disused,  about  three  weeks,  we  used  the  water 
from  the  river  for  drinking  purposes.  We  have  not 
lately  used  soda  in  the  tea,  not  for  three  or  four  months 
perhaps.  Do  not  remember  using  it  since  Hannah 
Bromby  came  to  us.  Did  not  observe  anything  the- 
second  time  the  kettle  boiled.  Do  not  remember  looking. 
Aly  mother  filled  the  teapot  as  soon  as  the  kettle  boiled, 
a  second  time.  I  gave  Alarian  Taylor  about  a  quarter 
of  a  mug  full  of  tea  first,  and  about  as  much  milk.  If 
was  not  a  large  mug.  She  did  not  drink  above  half 
of  it.  She  complained  of  being  sick,  and  mother  gave 
her  a  drink  of  her  tea  in  a  saucer.  She  drank  about  & 


June  17, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1023 


quarter  of  a  saucer  full.  She  had  not  been  sick  before, 
but  only  complained.  As  soon  as  she  got  the  tea  out 
of  the  saucer  she  was  sick  before  she  could  get  out  of 
her  chair.  I  then  got  some  tea  and  also  began  to  be 
sick.  Bromby  at  that  time  was  in  the  back  kitchen,  and 
also  looking  out  of  the  front  kitchen  door.  That  morning 
there  had  been  a  disagreement  between  my  mother  and 
the  under-girl.  There  had  also  been  one  once  before. 
On  the  Thursday  morning  (the  day  of  the  occurrence) 
mother  told  her  to  sweep  up  the  back  kitchen.  I 
did  not  hear  her  say  anything  in  reply.  When  I  came 
down,  the  other  girl  told  me  that  Bromby  had  been 
saucy  to  my  mother.  I  spoke  to  her  and  told  her  I  should 
not  have  my  mother  insulted.  She  did  not  say  anything 
to  me  and  I  told  her  she  should  leave.  I  believe  I  said 
she  should  go  at  once.  My  mother  was  first  sick  on  the 
lawn. 

By  Dr.  Procter :  The  substance  that  boiled  up  out  of 
the  kettle  was  not  like  red  sand. 

Mr.  William  Procter,  of  York,  deposed :  I  am  a  doctor 
of  medicine  and  Fellow  of  the  Chemical  Society,  Lon¬ 
don.  I  received  on  Sunday,  the  21st  of  May,  from  Dr. 
Calvert,  the  following  articles,  viz.  No.  1  jar,  containing 
a  liver  and  portion  of  intestine.  In  both  I  found  a  small 
quantity  of  arsenic.  Another  jar  contained  a  stomach 
and  its  contents.  That  I  found,  on  examination,  to  be 
considerably  inflamed,  and  contain  a  small  quantity  of 
stringy  mucus,  with  matter  like  white  of  egg,  which 
chemically  I  found  it  to  be.  In  this,  also,  I  detected 
arsenic.  No.  3  was  a  pint  bottle,  labelled  water  from 
the  pump.  On  standing,  that  deposited  a  brown  matter, 
which  I  separated  by  filtration,  and  found  to  consist  only 
of  organic  matter.  In  neither  the  water  nor  the  deposit 
could  I  detect  any  trace  of  arsenic  or  lead.  No.  4  was  a 
bottle  containing  about  four  ounces  of  water  said  to  be 
obtained  from  the  kettle.  On  standing,  it  deposited  a 
reddish-brown  powder.  This  I  separated  by  filtration. 
In  the  first  instance  I  distilled  the  clear  water  filtered 
from  the  powder.  I  found  nothing  in  the  distillate. 
I  then  examined  the  water,  and  from  the  quantity 
of  water  given  to  me,  about  four  ounces,  I  separated 
12  grains  of  sulphide,  or  yellow  arsenic,  which  is  equi¬ 
valent  to  9J  grains  of  white  arsenic.  I  then  examined 
the  brown  powder  which  I  had  separated  by  filtration. 
That  contained  very  slight  traces  of  arsenic,  and  I  found 
it  to  be  composed  of  carbonate  of  lime  and  oxide,  or  rust 
of  iron.  (Witness  explained  that  he  did  not  expect  to 
find  arsenic  in  quantities  in  the  powder ;  it  was  soluble, 
and  would  be  found  in  the  water.)  No.  5  was  a  bottle 
containing  Mrs.  Harper’s  last  vomit.  That  contained  a 
large  quantity  of  greenish  deposit,  which  the  microscope 
showed  to  consist  of  mucus  containing  partly  digested 
food,  and  a  few  muscular  fibres  and  fat  globules.  I 
found,  by  examination,  that  the  green  tinge  was  due  to 
bile.  I  detected  no  mineral  poison.  No.  6  was  Mrs. 
Harper’s  fmces.  In  that  I  detected  no  mineral  poison. 
No.  7  was  given  to  me  as  the  under-servant’s  vomit.  It 
contained  some  whitish  particles  floating  in  it,  which 
the  microscope  showed  to  be  partly  digested  food  and 
fat  mixed  with  mucus.  This  I  verified  chemically.  I 
detected  no  arsenic,  lead,  or  other  mineral  poison  in  it. 
No.  8  was  given  me  as  the  upper-servant’s  vomit.  I 
found  it  contained  a  very  large  quantity  of  flaky  matter, 
which  was  evidently  food.  I  detected  no  poisonous 
matter  at  all.  No.  9  was  a  bottle  which  contained  water, 
and  a  reddish  powder  adhering  to  the  sides  and  to  the 
bottom  of  the  bottle.  This  I  found  to  be  a  mixture  of 
litharge  and  red  load  with  some  oily  matter.  I  found 
no  arsenic  in  it.  On  Tuesday,  the  23rd  of  May,  I  re¬ 
ceived  from  Mr.  Calvert  the  following  articles,  namely, 
No.  10,  an  iron  kettle.  At  the  time  he  brought  it  to  my 
house  it  contained  about  a  tea-cup  full  of  water.  In  his 
presence,  in  that  water,  I  showed  the  presence  of  arsenic. 
The  kettle  is  very  much  furred  with  oxide  of  iron.  (This, 
witness  said,  was  only  the  ordinary  fur.)  No.  11  was 
a  caddy,  containing  about  a  teaspoonful  of  tea.  That 


contained  no  poisonous  substance.  Several  other  pack¬ 
ages  I  received,  but  I  found  no  arsenic  in  them.  No.  19 
was  a  red  powder,  but  it  contained  no  arsenic.  The 
packages,  from  No.  15  to  19,  I  received  from  Superin¬ 
tendent  Wright,  on  the  29th  of  May.  The  others  I  re¬ 
ceived  from  Dr.  Calvert.  I  received  others  up  to  No. 
25,  which  were  of  no  importance.  No.  26  was  a  tin  case 
in  which  was  a  sod,  on  which  had  been  vomited  matter. 
I  examined  it  carefully.  It  gave  no  indication  of  any 
poisonous  matter,  except  arsenic,  which  I  found  in  it. 
No.  27  was  a  portion  of  soil,  but  it  contained  no  arsenic. 
It  has  been  stated  that  some  soils  contained  arsenic,  but 
this  did  not. 

In  reply  to  Lieut- Col.  Layard,  Dr.  Procter  said  he 
had  received  communications  from  large  manufacturers 
of  colours,  and  found  that  the  practice  to  mix  red  lead 
with  arsenic  to  adulterate  it  was  unknown.  Since  this 
occurrence  he  had  analysed  red  lead  from  nearly  all  the 
retail  dealers  in  York,  and  found  no  arsenic.  With  re¬ 
gard  to  the  existence  of  arsenic  in  water  he  might  say 
that  cold  water  would  take  up  a  grain  or  a  grain  and  a 
half,  whilst  water  which  has  been  boiled  and  allowed  to 
cool  would  take  up  perhaps  1 2  grains. 

Dr.  Calvert,  of  Brandesburton,  deposed  :  On  Thursday, 
the  18th  May,  about  a  quarter  to  eight  o’clock  p.m.,  I 
received  a  note  from  Mrs.  Harper  stating  that  Megson, 
from  Leven,  had  been  repairing  their  pump,  after  which 
the  girl  had  filled  the  teakettle.  Tea  having  been  made, 
the  family  had  partaken  of  it,  and  were  immediately 
taken  ill.  The  writer  requested  that  I  should  send  them 
something  to  do  them  good.  I  considered  the  matter 
well  over,  and  considered  it  my  duty  to  proceed  to  the 
house,  as  I  suspected  it  was  a  case  of  poisoning.  My 
suspicions  were  more  confirmed  on  meeting  a  young  man 
named  Watson  Dunn,  jun.,  coming  for  me  to  visit  his 
brother,  who  had  just  arrived  from  the  Harpers,  and 
who  was  suffering  from  violent  vomiting  and  other  symp¬ 
toms.  His  residence  being  in  the  way  to  the  Harpers, 
I  first  visited  him  and  found  him  suffering  from  violent 
vomiting,  attended  with  pains  at  the  stomach,  with  heat 
and  burning  at  the  back  of  the  throat,  headache,  great 
thirst,  drowsiness  and  general  collapse.  The  skin  was 
cold  and  clammy  and  the  countenance  pale ;  the  pulse 
small  and  scarcely  perceptible.  He  had  vomited  freely 
on  his  way  home,  and  had  had  an  emetic  administered. 
I  gave  him  certain  directions  in  the  way  of  treatment, 
and  then  proceeded  to  the  Harpers.  On  my  arrival  I 
found  Miss  Harper  and  the  child  reclining  on  a  couch. 
I  at  once  inquired  what  was  the  matter,  and  Miss  Harper 
told  me  that  after  partaking  of  tea  the  child,  her  mother 
and  herself  had  commenced  to  vomit.  I  proceeded  to 
examine  Miss  Harper  and  the  child,  and  found  them 
suffering  from  similar  symptoms  to  those  from  which 
Henry  Dunn  was  suffering.  I  then  inquired  for  Mrs. 
Harper  and  found  her  in  bed.  She  got  up  and  came 
down  to  see  me.  In  the  meantime  Mrs.  Harper  referred 
me  to  the  under-girl,  Hannah  Bromby,  who  she  said 
was  suffering  the  same  way  as  the  rest  of  the  family.  I 
proceeded  to  the  kitchen  and  found  Bromby  suffering,  as 
far  as  I  was  able  to  judge  at  the  time,  from  the  same 
symptoms  as  the  rest  of  the  family.  I  administered  the 
usual  remedies  in  cases  of  irritant  poison,  and,  after  a 
space  of  about  three  hours  and  a  half,  found  my  patients 
to  a  certain  extent  rallied.  I  returned  to  Leven,  and 
finding  Dunn  somewhat  better  I  went  home  and  for¬ 
warded  medicine  to  each  patient.  About  half-past  three 
next  morning  I  was  again  summoned,  and  arrived  soon 
after  four.  I  found  that  the  child  had  died  in  the  mean¬ 
time.  Mrs.  Harper  was  suffering  from  a  great  amount 
of  collapse,  and  I  requested  Mr.  Harper  to  send  for  Dr. 
Boulton.  In  the  meantime  I  administered  stimulants, 
and  had  the  satisfaction  of  finding  Mrs.  Harper  gradually 
rallying.  About  seven  o’clock  I  was  summoned  to  Leven 
to  a  case,  and,  considering  that  Mrs.  Harper  had,  to  some 
extent  rallied,  and  expecting  the  presence  of  Dr.  Boulton 
shortly,  I  left.  On  returning,  about  eleven,  which  was 


1024 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  17, 1871. 


as  early  as  I  could  get,  I  met  Dr.  Boulton  coming  to 
Leven  from  Linley  Hill.  On  asking  him  how  Mrs. 
Harper  was,  his  answer  confirmed  the  opinion  I  had 
formed  at  seven  o’clock  that  she  was  rallying.  He  re¬ 
turned  with  me  to  Linley  Hill,  hut  unfortunately  our 
favourable  prognostics  was  doomed  to  be  fallacious,  we 
found  Mrs.  Harper  gradually  dying,  and  she  expired  a 
little  before  one.  We  administered  stimulants  and  other 
remedies  applicable  to  the  case.  On  Saturday  morning, 
by  the  coroner’s  orders  I  proceeded  to  make  a  post¬ 
mortem  examination  on  the  body  of  the  child  Marian 
Taylor.  I  found  oozing  from  the  nostrils  a  thick  brownish 
matter,  and  on  proceeding  to  open  the  abdomen  I  found 
the  peritoneum  in  a  highly  congested  state.  I  exposed 
the  stomach  and  intestines.  I  did  not  open  the  stomach, 
but  removed  it  for  the  purpose  of  analysing  the  contents. 
I  also  removed  the  liver  and  a  portion  of  the  smaller  in¬ 
testines,  which,  with  the  stomach,  I  placed  in  jars.  The 
contents  of  the  abdomen  were  in  a  congested  condition 
throughout.  I  did  not  examine  any  other  organ.  On  the 
Eriday  morning,  early,  I  inquired  for  the  kettle  in  which 
the  water  had  been  boiled  from  which  the  tea  had  been 
made,  and  of  which  Mrs.  and  Miss  Harper  and  Marian 
Taylor  had  partaken.  It  was  brought  to  me  by  Eliza¬ 
beth  Ash,  the  upper-girl.  I  found  it  to  contain  a  small 
quantity  of  water,  which  I  poured  into  a  clean  bottle. 
The  kettle  and  bottle  were  given  over  to  Superintendent 
Wright.  I  procured  the  fasces  and  last  vomit  of  Mrs. 
Harper  and  locked  them  up.  I  took  to  Dr.  Procter,  of 
York,  on  Sunday,  the  21st,  in  jars,  the  liver,  stomach  and 
portion  of  small  intestines  of  Lily  Marian  Taylor,  a  little 
bottle  containing  water  from  the  pump,  a  bottle  contain¬ 
ing  water  taken  from  the  kettle,  Mrs.  Harper’s  last 
vomit,  Mrs.  Harper’s  faeces,  tho  under-servant’s  vomit, 
the  upper-girl’s  vomit,  and  a  jar  containing  red  lead  in 
suspension.  On  Tuesday,  the  23rd  of  May,  I  took  to 
York,  to  Dr.  Procter,  the  iron  kettle,  which  I  received 
from  Superintendent  Ixnight,  a  teacaddy  containing  a 
small  portion  of  tea,  a  bottle  containing  water  from  the 
foldyard  pump,  some  anti-smut  powder,  white  crystal¬ 
line  powder,  and  another  packet  of  powder  from  the 
bacon-house. 

As  soon  as  I  arrived  at  Dr.  Procter’s,  on  the  Tuesday, 
he  pi'oceeded  to  show  me  certain  tests  applied  to  about  a 
teaspoonful  of  water,  which  was  in  the  kettle,  on  my 
delivering  it  to  him.  The  tests  applied  indicated  fully 
the  presence  of  arsenic. 

Mr.  James  Douglas  Wright,  Superintendent  of  Police 
at  Leven,  deposed  :  On  the  morning  of  Friday,  the 
19th  of  May,  from  information  I  received,  I  came  to 
Mr.  Harper’s,  where  I  was  shown  the  dead  body  of  Lily 
Marian  Taylor.  It  would  be  between  eight  and  nine 
o’clock  in  the  morning.  I  made  inquiries,  and  received 
from  Mr.  William  Harper  a  bottle  containing  water, 
numbered  4.  On  a  shelf  in  the  front  kitchen  was  a 
basin  containing  the  vomit  of  tho  under- girl,  Bromby. 
In  the  servants’  bedroom  I  found  the  vomit  of  the 
upper-girl,  Elizabeth  Ash.  A  puncheon,  containing 
water  and  a  mixture  of  red  lead,  was  handed  to  me  by 
the  charwoman,  Mrs.  Newman.  A  teakettle  was  handed 
to  me  by  IJIr.  John  Harper  the  same  morning.  A  tea^ 
caddy  I  found  on  a  sideboard  in  the  room.  On  the  22nd 
I  took  a  bottle  full  of  water  from  the  foldyard  pump.  I 
took  possession  of  a  packet  of  smut  powder  from  the 
saddle-room  on  the  19th,  also  a  packet  of  alum  powder 
from  the  saddle-room,  and  some  powder  taken  from  the 
bakehouse.  These  articles  were  locked  up  by  me  in  a 
closet  in  the  house  as  well  as  some  ducks.  On  the  20th 
I  delivered  up  to  Dr.  Calvert,  by  the  directions  of  the 
coroner,  several  of  those  articles,  and  on  the  28th  I  de¬ 
livered  up  others.  On  the  23rd  I  made  a  further  search 
here,  and  found  in  a  closet,  in  the  front  kitchen,  a  paper 
containing  powder,  numbered  16,  and  a  tin  canister  con¬ 
taining  some  other  powder.  I  also  found  a  packet  of 
anti-smut  powder  and  other  powders,  a  paper  of  horse- 
balls,  a  bottle  containing  liquid,  a  bottle  containing 


consistency  like  paste,  and  a  teapot  containing  sundry 
bottles.  The  latter  I  found  in  a  bureau  in  the  room. 
These  I  locked  up  in  the  kitchen  closet,  the  key  of 
which  I  have  yet.  On  the  24th,  I  was  shown  by  Mis3 
Harper  the  first  and  second  vomits  of  Mrs.  Harper  on 
the  lawn.  I  took  up  the  sods,  and  placed  them  in  a  tin 
canister.  I  also,  at  a  distance  of  eight  or  ton  paces  from 
these  vomits,  took  up  some  of  the  sods  and  earth  on  the 
lawn,  which  I  also  placed  in  a  tin.  On  Monday,  the 
29th  May,  I  handed  to  Dr.  Procter,  of  York,  several  of 
these  articles.  On  Friday  morning,  the  19th,  I  searched, 
the  female  servants’  boxes,  but  found  no  packages  in 
powder  of  any  description  there.  I  have  since  made 
inquiries  at  Beverley,  Driffield,  Leven  and  the  neigh¬ 
bourhood  of  all  chemists  relative  to  the  sale  of  any 
arsenic,  but  cannot  hoar  that  any  has  been  sold  at  any 
of  these  places  recently  that  was  likely  to  have  been  got 
by  any  of  the  servants  about  here. 

Mr.  John  Robert  Harper  stated  that  on  Friday  morn¬ 
ing,  the  19th  ult.,  he  gave  tho  kettle,  from  which  the 
water  had  been  taken  for  tea,  to  Superintendent  "Wright. 
Witness  got  it  from  the  boiler  top  in  the  front  kitchen. 
He  got  hi3  tea  in  the  kitchen,  on  hi3  return  with  his 
father  from  Beverley  fair,  about  eight  o’clock  on  the 
previous  night.  He  took  tea  alone,  and  the  water  used 
was  from  a  small  kettle.  The  other  kettle  was  near  the 
fireplace  then,  and  was  in  the  same  position  the  next 
morning. 

Henry  Dunn,  of  Leven,  bricklayer,  deposed  that  on. 
Thursday,  the  18th  of  May,  he  was  working  at  Linley 
Hill.  About  a  quarter  to  six  o’clock  he  came  from  up¬ 
stairs,  where  he  had  been  working,  into  the  kitchen,  and 
sat  down  to  tea.  The  child  was  sick  then.  He  drank 
from  half  to  three-quarters  of  a-  cup  out  of  a  basin,  and 
as  it  was  nasty  he  did  not  sup  any  more.  He  had  not 
got  above  two  or  three  hundred  yards  from  the  house 
when  he  was  taken  sick,  and  vomited  three  or  four  times 
before  he  got  to  the  Llall  G-arth,  where  he  got  a  drink  of 
water.  He  then  went  to  Leven  and  got  two  emetics  at 
the  druggist’s  shop.  He  went  home  with  them  and  took 
them  both,  one  about  an  hour  after  the  other.  He 
vomited  until  about  one  o’clock  in  the  morning,  when, 
he  felt  somewhat  better,  and  by  the  leave  of  Dr.  Calvert, 
who  had  attended  him  twice,  went  to  bed. 

By  Mr.  Harper:  Before  I  started  to  go  home  the 
upper-girl,  Ash,  asked  me  when  I  was  near  the  pump,  if 
I  had  drunk  any  tea.  I  said  yes.  She  then  asked  me 
if  I  thought  it  was  pump  water  that  made  it  nasty.  I 
said  I  did  not  know,  but  if  I  had  got  more  I  should  have 
been  sick  then.  She  appeared  to  think  I  was  more 
frightened  than  hurt. 

Thomas  Matthew  Gilbert  deposed  that  he  was  shep¬ 
herd  to  Mr.  Harper.  On  Thursday  night,  the  18th  ult., 
he  went  through  the  yard  to  see  the  sheep,  about  a 
quarter  to  seven  o’clock,  and  saw  the  under-girl,  Bromby, 
vomiting  at  the  swine  tub.  Witness  asked  her  what  was 
tho  matter,  and  she  said  she  was  sick,  but  she  did  not 
know  what  with.  She  had  only  had  cold  water  from  the 
pump.  He  went  into  the  back  kitchen,  and  the  groom 
said  to  him  that  they  were  all  sick,  but  did  not  know 
what  with.  Witness  then  went  and  sat  down  to  his 
supper  in  the  front  kitchen.  Miss  Harper  sat  by  the 
fireside,  and  the  charwoman  had  the  little  girl  on  her 
knee.  He  asked  them  what  the  matter  was,  and  one 
of  them  said  they  were  all  sick  with  the  tea.  Witness 
told  them  that  if  they  thought  there  was  any  poison  in 
it,  they  had  better  send  for  the  doctor.  Miss  Harper 
wrote  a  note,  and  sent  the  groom  for  the  doctor. 

This  concluded  the  evidence,  and  the  jury,  after  a 
short  deliberation,  returned  a  verdict  of  “  Wilful  Mur¬ 
der”  against  some  person  or  persons  unknown,  the  de¬ 
ceased  having  been  in  their  opinion  feloniously  and  with 
malice  aforethought  poisoned  by  the  administration  of 
arsenic,  but  by  whom  administered  there  was  no  evi¬ 
dence  to  show. 


Juno  21,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1025 


NEW  READING  OE  THE  PETROLEUM 

ACTS. 

BY  BOVEBTON  REDWOOD,  F.C.S. 

Secretary  and  Consulting  Chemist  to  the  Petroleum 
Association. 

Considerable  misapprehension  appears  to  prevail 
in  reference  to  the  Judgment  recently  delivered  in 
the  Court  of  Queen’s  Bench  in  an  appeal  against  a 
conviction  under  the  Petroleum  Acts.  The  judg¬ 
ment  in  question  involves  a  new  reading  of  the  Acts 
of  a  somewhat  unexpected  nature ;  and  a  very  general 
impression  exists  that,  whereas  a  licence  lias  only 
hitherto  been  needed  for  such  petroleum  as  gives  off 
inflammable  vapour  below  100°  F.,  it  is  now,  in  con¬ 
sequence  of  this  judgment,  unlawful  to  keep  any  de¬ 
scription  of  petroleum,  except  in  pursuance  of  a 
licence.  This  opinion  is  in  fact  embodied  in  the 
following  notice,  which  has  been  circulated  in  the 
town  of  Cambridge  : — 

“  Borough  of  Cambridge.  The  Court  of  Queen’s 
Bench  having  decided  that  all  persons  dealing  (without 
a  licence)  in  petroleum  or  any  product  thereof,  whether 
it  gives  off  an  inflammable  vapour  at  a  temperature  of 
less  than  100  degrees  Fahrenheit  or  not,  are  liable  to  the 
penalties  imposed  by  the  Petroleum  Acts.  Notice  is 
hereby  given,  that  proceedings  will  be  taken  against  all 
persons  found  dealing  therein,  contrary  to  the  provisions 
of  the  Petroleum  Acts,  on  and  after  the  loth  day  of  June 
instant. 

“By  order,  Edmond  Foster,  Town  Clerk. 

“  Guildhall,  5th  June,  1871.” 

It  will,  however,  be  evident  from  a  consideration 
of  the  facts  of  the  case  that  such  a  view  is  not  in  ac¬ 
cordance  with  the  decision  of  the  Court. 

The  appellant,  an  oil  merchant,  was  charged  be¬ 
fore  the  Surrey  magistrates,  under  the  Petroleum 
Acts,  with  keeping,  otherwise  than  for  private  use, 
within  fifty  yards  of  a  dwelling-house,  a  quantity  of 
petroleum  without  being  licensed  in  accordance  with 
the  said  Acts.  On  the  hearing  of  the  information  it 
was  admitted  by  both  parties  that  the  petroleum  in 
question  did  not  give  off  inflammable  vapour  at  a 
temperature  of  less  than  100°  F. ;  nevertheless,  the 
magistrates  convicted  the  appellant  and  adjudged 
him  to  pay  a  fine  of  ten  shillings  and  costs,  a  case 
being  granted  for  the  Court  of  Queen’s  Bench.  The 
case  was  argued  before  Mr.  Justice  Blackburn  and 
Mr.  Justice  Mellor ;  Mr.  Grantham  appearing  for 
the  appellant  and  Mr.  Lord  for  the  respondent.  Mr. 
Grantham  contended  that  as  the  petroleum  in  ques¬ 
tion  did  not  give  off’  inflammable  vapour  below  100° 
F.,  it  did  not  come  within  the  following  definitions 
contained  in  the  Acts  of  1862  and  1868 : — ■ 


prove  that  it  was  not  “  petroleum  ”  within  the  mean¬ 
ing  of  the  Acts  ;  since  the  Legislature,  by  the  use  of 
the  words  “  shall  include,”  evidently  intended  that 
“  petroleum  ”  (legally  used)  should  mean,  not  only 
all  such  products  of  petroleum  and  the  other  sub¬ 
stances  mentioned  in  the  Act  as  give  off  inflammable 
vapour  under  100°  F.,  but. also  petroleum  itself  (as 
distinguished  from  the  products  of  petroleum)  uncon¬ 
ditionally.  Mr.  Grantham  argued  that  the  words 
“  shall  include  ”  had  always  been  construed  in  the 
sense  of  “  shall  be  confined  to,”  and  that,  although 
it  was  possible  that  a  wrong  word  might  have  been 
used,  yet  that  the  intention  of  the  Legislature  was  in 
accordance  with  what  he  contended  for.  In  this 
sentiment  the  Court  could  not  concur,  Mr.  Justice 
Blackburn  remarking  — “  It  is  very  common  in  the 
interpretation  clause  of  an  Act  of  Parliament  to  say 
that  a  parish  shall  include  a  township,  but  it  never 
could  be  contended  with  success  that  a  parish  is 
confined  to  a  township.”  Mr.  Grantham  was  un¬ 
prepared  for  this  distinction  being  drawn  between 
petroleum  and  the  products  of  petroleum,  and  there¬ 
fore  found  himself  in  a  difficulty.  The  liquid  in 
question  had,  as  is  usual  in  such  cases,  been  spoken 
of  by  both  sides  as  petroleum ;  the  term  petroleum 
being,  of  course,  used  in  its  ordinary  commercial 
sense ;  in  fact,  it  had  been  admitted  by  the  appellant 
to  be  petroleum  commercially  speaking,  though  it 
was  denied  that  it  was  “  petroleum”  within  the  mean¬ 
ing  of  the  Acts.  Now,  however,  it  was  clear  that, 
according  to  the  definition  of  the  Court,  the  liquid 
should  have  been  termed  a  product  of  petroleum 
wliicli,  scientifically,  it  undoubtedly  wras.  This  Mr. 
Grantham  explained,  and  the  following  argument 
ensued : — 

Mr.  Justice  Blackburn  :  “  I  thought  the  case  had  found 
that  it  was  what  is  called  petroleum.” 

Mr.  Grantham :  “  The  term,  as  used  in  the  trade,  is 
applied  to  that  which  you  go  into  a  shop  and  buy,  and 
at  once  put  in  your  lamp  and  burn.” 

Mr.  Justice  Blackburn  :  “  I  should  have  inferred  that 
that  was  a  product  of  petroleum,  not  petroleum  itself.” 

Mr.  Grantham  :  “It  is  assumed  that  that  which  is  the 
subject  of  the  argument  is  what  is  commonly  called 
petroleum.” 

Mr.  Justice  Blackburn  :  “  If  there  has  been  a  mistake, 
and  that  this  was  not  petroleum,  but  the  product  of 
petroleum,  he  has  lost  his  ten  shillings ;  the  penalty  is 
nothing ;  it  is  the  principle.” 

Mr.  Grantham  :  “If  there  be  any  doubt  as  to  that,  I 
should  ask  that  the  case  may  be  re-stated.” 

Mr.  Justice  Blackburn :  “It  would  cost  twenty  times 
as  much  as  it  is  worth.  Assuming  this  to  be  petroleum, 
and  not  a  mere  product,  it  is  required  that  it  should  be 
licensed,  although  it  does  not  throw  off  this  vapour.” 


1862.  “  1  Petroleum,’  for  the  purposes  of  this  Act, 

shall  include  any  product  thereof  that  gives  off  an  in¬ 
flammable  vapour  at  a  temperature  of  less  than  one 
hundred  degrees  of  Fahrenheit’s  thermometer.” 

1868.  “For  the  purposes  of  the  Petroleum  Acts,  1862, 
1868,  including  all  local  acts  and  bye-laws  relating  to 
petroleum  or  the  produce  thereof ;  1  petroleum  ’  shall  in¬ 
clude  all  such  rock-oil,  Rangoon  oil,  Burmah  oil,  any 
product  of  them,  and  any  oil  made  from  petroleum,  coal, 
schist,  shale,  peat,  or  other  bituminous  substance,  and 
any  product  of  them,  as  gives  off  an  inflammable  va¬ 
pour  at  a  temperature  of  less  than  one  hundred  degrees 
of  Fahrenheit’s  thermometer.” 

The  Court,  however,  held  that  it  wras  not  sufficient 
to  show  that  the  petroleum  in  question  did  not  give 
off’  inflammable  vapour  belowr  100°  F.  in  order  to 
Third  Series,  No.  52. 


The  case  therefore  proceeded  on  the  assumption 
that  the  liquid  in  question  wras  petroleum  as  distin¬ 
guished  from  the  products  of  petroleum,  or,  in  other 
words,  wras  crude  petroleum,  Mr.  Justice  Blackburn 
remarking :  “  The  only  question  in  this  case  is, 
whether  that  [the  interpretation  clause]  does  not  in¬ 
clude  crude  petroleum,  or  natural  petroleum,  Which 
gives  off  this  vapour  or  not.”  The  decision  of  the 
Court  wall  bo  evident  from  the  following  extracts 
from  the  judgment : — 

Mr.  Justice  Blackburn:  “I  think  the  object  and  in¬ 
tention  of  the  Legislature  was,  that  petroleum,  as  im- 

*  This  quotation  and  similar  ones  are  from  a  transcript  ot 
the  shorthand  writer’s  notes,  which  Mr.  Grantham  has  as¬ 
sured  the  w'riter  are  substantially  correct. 


1026 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  21,  1871. 


ported  in  its  natural  state,  should  not  be  stored  without 
a  licence.”  ...  “I  have,  therefore,  come  to  the  conclu¬ 
sion  ”  ...  “  that  the  petroleum,  not  being  a  manufac¬ 
tured  petroleum  but  petroleum  proper,  may  not  be  kept 
and  stored  without  a  licence.” 

The  new  reading  of  the  Acts  as  embodied  in  this 
judgment,  therefore,  amounts  to  this,  that  “  petro¬ 
leum  ”  (legally  spealdng)  has  a  double  meaning ;  it 
means : — 

1.  Any  product  of  petroleum  or  other  substance  men¬ 
tioned  in  the  Act  of  1868,  provided  it  give  off  inflam¬ 
mable  vapour  below  100°  F. 

2.  Petroleum  proper  (as  distinguished  from  the  pro¬ 
ducts  of  petroleum),  or,  in  other  words,  crude  petroleum, 
unconditionally. 

This  new  reading,  though  doubtless  at  variance  with 
the  intention  of  the  Legislature,  is,  as  will  be  seen,  of 
no  practical  importance,  if  it  be  understood,  as  crude 
petroleum  is  not  now  imported ;  it  is  however  a  hard¬ 
ship  that  dealers  should  be  subjected  to  the  unjusti¬ 
fiable  annoyance,  arising  from  those  in  authority 
being  unacquainted  with  the  real  meaning  of  the 
judgment. 

It  should  be  distinctly  comprehended  that  the  oil 
imported  from  America,  known  in  the  wholesale 
trade  as  “  refined  petroleum,”  and  sold  in  the  shops 
under  {the  names  “ petroleum,”  “rock  oil,”  “crystal 
oil,”  etc.,  is,  not  only  scientifically,  but  also  in  the 
eye  of  the  law,  “  a  product  of  petroleum,”  and  that, 
as  such,  no  licence  is  needed  for  storing  it,  provided 
it  does  not  give  off  inflammable  vapour  below  100° 
F.  when  tested  in  accordance  with  the  Act. 

Note. — Since  the  above  was  forwarded  to  the 
Editor,  a  Petroleum  Bill,  now  before  the  House  of 
Lords,  has  been  printed.  Tins  Bill  contains  a  new 
interpretation  clause,  which  is  a  great  improvement 
on  those  of  the  existing  Acts ;  and  although  the  term 
“include,”  which  has  caused  so  much  trouble,  again 
makes  its  appearance,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that, 
should  the  Bill  become  law  (in  which  case  the  Acts 
of  1862  and  1868  would  be  repealed),  much  of  the 
ambiguity  which  at  present  attaches  to  the  wrord 
“petroleum”  would  be  removed. — B.  B. 

“Baltic”  B.C.,  June  19 th. 


(Oraptcrs  hr  jltuiitnts. 

CHEMICAL  NOTES  TO  THE  PHARMACOPOEIA. 

BY  WILLIAM  A.  TILDEN,  D.SC.  LOND. 

DEMONSTRATOR  OF  PRACTICAL  CHEMISTRY  TO  THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  SOCIETY. 

Hydrargyri  Subchloridum. —  Mercuric  sulphate 
is  first  triturated  with  a  quantity  of  metallic  mercury 
equal  to  that  which  it  already  contains,  the  combina¬ 
tion  being  assisted  b}r  moistening  with  a  few  drops 
of  water.  A  grey  powder  is  thus  obtained  which  is 
practically  mercuiws  sulphate. 

Hg  S  04  -f  Hg  =  Hg2  S  04. 

From  this  equation  HgS04,  or  296  parts  of  the 
sulphate,  require  Hg  or  200  parts  of  the  metal,  form¬ 
ing  496  parts  of  the  mercurous  sulphate. 

Chloride  of  sodium  is  then  added  and  the  mixture 
sublimed  with  the  aid  of  a  pretty  strong  heat. 

Hg2S04  +  2  Na  Cl  =  2  Hg  Cl  -f  Na2  S  04. 

If  the  sublimation  is  conducted  in  a  small  flask  or 


pot,  so  that  the  vapour  condenses  upon  a  warm  sur¬ 
face  and  but  slowly,  crystalline  masses  are  obtained, 
a  form  which  would  be  unsuitable  for  administration 
in  medicine.  The  vapour  is  therefore  driven  from 
the  subliming  pot  into  a  pretty  large  brick  chamber, 
in  which,  in  consequence  of  the  sudden  cooling 
effected,  the  calomel  condenses  in  the  form  of  a  fine 
dust.  This  is  washed  with  boiling  water,  to  remove 
from  it  the  traces  of  corrosive  sublimate  that  are 
invariably  produced. 

Calomel,  in  the  pulverulent  state,  as  produced  by 
sublimation,  is  not  a  white  powder,  but  has  a  yellowish 
tint,  which  is  increased  by  trituration  in  a  mortar. 

[§  Digested  with  solution  of  potash,  it  becomes 
black ;  and  the  clear  solution,  acidulated  with  nitric 
acid,  gives  a  copious  white  precipitate  with  nitrate  of 
silver.]  The  black  compound  is  of  course  mercurous 
oxide,  chloride  of  potassium  being  left  in  solution. 

[§  Contact  with  hydrocyanic  acid  also  darkens  its 
colour.]  The  result,  however,  is  not  a  definite  mer¬ 
curous  cyanide,  but  a  mixture  of  metallic  mercury, 
calomel  and  a  cyanide,  or  probably  a  cliloro cyanide. 
[Warm  ether,  which  has  been  shaken  with  it  in  a 
bottle,  leaves,  on  evaporation,  no  residue.]  This 
shows  the  absence  of  corrosive  sublimate. 

Calomel  may  be  prepared  according  to  other  me¬ 
thods  ;  one  wliicli  was  at  one  time  employed  con¬ 
sists  in  precipitating  a  solution  of  mercurous  nitrate 
with  common  salt. 

In  undergoing  volatilization,  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that  calomel  undergoes  decomposition  into 
free  mercury  and  mercuric  chloride,  recombination 
ensuing  when  it  again  condenses.  In  consequence 
of  tills,  the  specific  gravity  of  the  vapour  connot,  in 
tliis  case,  be  taken  as  any  evidence  of  molecular 
weight. 

Hydrargyri  Sulphas. — Mercury  is  boiled  with 
strong  sulphuric  acid,  the  heat  being  continued  until 
the  metal  lias  disappeared  and  a  dry,  white,  crystal¬ 
line  powder  remains : — 

Hg  +  Ho  02  S  02  -f  Ho  S  04 

Sulphuric  acid. 

=  HgS04  +  H20  +  IDO  +  S02. 

Mercuric  Water.  Sulphurous 

sulphate.  acid  gas. 

Mercuric  sulphate  is  decomposed  by  water  with 
formation  of  “  turpetli  mineral,”  a  mercuric  oxysul- 
pliate : — 

3  Hg  S  04  +  2  H2  O  =  Hg3  S  04  02  +  2  H2  S  04. 

Hydrargyrum. — This  important  metal  is  obtained 
almost  exclusively  from  the  native  sulphide,  Hg  S  or 
cinnabar,  by  one  .  of  two  processes.  Either  the 
mineral  is  roasted  in  a  current  of  air,  which  oxi¬ 
dizes  the  sulphur  into  the  permanently  gaseous  S  02, 
the  mercury  being  simultaneously  carried  in  the 
state  of  vapour  through  a  series  of  earthen  pipes, 
where  it  condenses  to  the  liquid  state  and  runs  into 
a  reservoir;  or  the  powdered  mineral  is  distilled 
with  lime,  when  a  mixture  of  sulphide  and  sulphate 
of  calcium  remains  behind  with  the  excess  of  lime 
and  the  gangue,  and  metallic  mercury  distils  over. 

The  impurities  contained  in  the  mercury  of  com¬ 
merce  are  principally  traces  of  lead,  zinc,  tin  and 
bismuth.  Mercury  so  contaminated  does  not  form 
bright  spheroidal  globules,  but  each  one  leaves  a 
trail  behind  it.  These  impurities  are  best  removed 
by  redistillation,  but  the  mercury  may  also  be 
rendered  sufficiently  pure  for  ordinary  purposes  by 


June  24,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1027 


agitation  with  a  small  quantity  of  nitrate  of  mercury 
and  subsequent  straining.  P*re  mercury  is  entirely 
volatilized  by  heat  and  leaves  no  residue.  It  boils 
at  680°  F.  Specific  gravity,  13  50G. 

Hydrargyrum  Ammonjatum. — A  solution  of  per- 
cliloride  of  mercury  in  water  is  poured  into  solution 
of  ammonia,  and  the  precipitate  collected,  wasliec 
free  from  sal-ammoniac  and  dried  at  212°: — • 

HgCb,  -f  NH2H  +  NH3 

Ammonia.  Ammonia. 

=  HgNHjCl  -b  N  Hs  H  Cl. 

Amido-chloride  Sal-ammoniac, 
of  mercury. 

Ammoniated  mercury  is  an  opaque  wliite  powder, 
which  often  has  a  slight  yellowish  tinge,  which  is  in- 
creased  by  prolonged  washing. 

[§  Digested  with  caustic  potash,  it  evolves  am¬ 
monia,  acquiring  a  pale  yelloAv  colour,  and  the  fluid 
filtered  and  acidulated  with  nitric  acid  gives  a  white 
precipitate  with  nitrate  of  silver.] 

Hg"NII2Cl+KHO 

Potash. 

=  HgO  -f  NH,  +  KC1. 

Yellow  mercuric  Ammo-  Chloride  of 
oxide.  nia.  potassium. 

[§  Boiled  with  a  solution  of  chloride  of  tin,  it  be¬ 
comes  grey  and  affords  globules  of  metallic  mercury.] 

HgNH2Cl  +  Sn"Cl2  +  2HC1 

Stannous  Hydrochloric 
chloride.  acid. 

=  Hg  +  NH4C1  +  SniT  CI4. 

Metallic  Sal-ammo-  Stannic 
mercury.  niac.  chloride. 

[§  Entirely  volatilized  by  a  heat  under  redness.] 
To  this  should  be  added  the  words  “ without  fusing .” 

Much  of  the  wliite  precipitate  of  commerce  melts 
before  volatilizing,  in  consequence  either  of  consist¬ 
ing  of  “  fusible  wliite  precipitate,” 

Hg  H2  N  Cl,  N  Hj  Cl, 

which  contains  a  smaller  proportion  of  mercury ;  or 
in  consequence  of  deficient  washing  whereby  it  re¬ 
tains  some  sal-ammoniac.  (See  Pharm.  Journ.  s.  s. 
Vol.  X.  p.  515.) 

White  precipitate  is  represented  by  most  chemists 
as  a  compound  formed  from  sal-ammoniac  by  the 
replacement  of  two  atoms  of  hydrogen  by  one  atom 
of  mercury. 

H4NC1.  HgHjNCl. 

Sal-ammoniac.  White  precipitate. 

By  others  it  is  regarded  as  an  amido-chloride  or 
clilor-amide  of  mercury ;  that  is  to  say,  as  a  com¬ 
pound  in  which  the  bivalent  atom  mercury  is  united 
to  the  two  univalent  atoms  Cl  and  amidogen  N  H2. 
In  reality,  however,  these  two  views  are  identical,  as 
an  examination  of  the  formulae  ay  ill  show  : — 

First  yiew.  Second  view. 

Hs"),Tr,  „  (NH, 

h  [NC1  nsjci  2 

or  HgH2NCl.  or  HgNHoCl. 

The  univalent  radicle  N  H2  results  from  the  re¬ 
moval  of  one  atom  of  H  from  ammonia  N  H3,  just  as 
the  univalent  radicle  Cl  is  left  on  the  removal  of  H 
from  H  Cl : — 

NH,- H=  (NH2)\ 

C1H  — H=  Cl'. 

Hydrargyrum  cum  Creta. — Grey  poAvder,  when 
kept  for  a  long  time,  is  apt  to  contain  traces  of  mer¬ 


curic  oxide,  formed  by  gradual  oxidation  of  the  mer¬ 
cury  by  contact,  in  a  finely  divided  state,  Avitli  the 
air.  To  detect  this,  the  test  is  given  in  the  Pharma¬ 
copoeia.  [§  The  solution  formed  witlx  hydrochloric 
acid  is  not  precipitated  by  the  addition  of  chloride  of 
tin.] 


DETECTION  OF  TURMERIC  IN  POWDERED 
RHUBARB  AND  YELLOW  MUSTARD. 

BY  J.  M.  MAISCH. 

Rhubarb  root  which  has  been  attacked  by  insects 
or  deteriorated  in  consequence  of  dampness  and  heat, 
is  by  some  dealers  sent  to  the  mills  and  ground 
together  with  some  sound  rhubarb,  or,  if  the  colour 
is  not  sufficiently  bright,  turmeric  is  added,  and  the 
powdered  rhubarb  finds  its  way  afterwards  into  the 
hands  of  the  unsuspicious  as  a  prime  article.  The 
fraud  may  be  detected  in  a  feAv  minutes  in  the  follow¬ 
ing  manner : — 

A  small  quantity  of  the  suspected  rhubarb  is  agi¬ 
tated  for  a  minute  or  two  with  strong  alcohol  and 
then  filtered.  Chrysoplianic  acid  being  sparingly 
soluble  in  this  menstruum,  the  brown  yellow  colour 
of  the  filtrate  is  due  to  the  resinous  principles  of 
rhubarb  mainly ;  if  adulterated  with  turmeric,  the 
tincture  will  be  of  a  brighter  yelloAv  shade.  A  strong 
solution  of  borax  produces  in  both  tinctures  a  deep 
red-broAvn  colour.  If  now  pure  muriatic  acid  be 
added  in  large  excess,  the  tincture  of  pure  rhubarb 
Avill  instantly  assume  a  light  yellow  colour,  Avliile  the 
tincture  of  the  adulterated  poAvder  will  change  merely 
to  a  lighter  shade  of  bro\Arn  red.  The  test  is  a  very 
delicate  one,  and  is  based  on  the  liberation  of  boracic 
acid,  which  imparts  to  curcumin  a  colour  similar  to 
that  produced  by  alkalies,  wliile  all  the  soluble  prin¬ 
ciples  of  rhubarb  yield  pale  yelloAv  solutions  in  acid 
liquids. 

The  same  test,  applied  in  the  same  manner,  is  also 
applicable  to  ground  mustard  seed.  The  seeds  of 
Sinapis  alba  yield  a  powder  of  a  yellow-grey  colour, 
entirely  distinct  from  the  colour  of  yellow  mustard 
met  with  in  the  market.  Agitated  with  alcohol  and 
filtered,  a  turbid  solution  is  obtained,  Avliicli  assumes 
a  bright  yelloAv  on  the  addition  of  the  borax  solution, 
and  becomes  colourless  or  whitish  again  on  being 
supersaturated  with  muriatic  acid.  If  the  mustard 
fie  coloured  Avith  turmeric,  the  filtrate  lias  a  yellow 
tint,  becomes  broAvn-red  by  borax  and  retains  the 
colour  on  the  addition  of  muriatic  acid.  All  the  so- 
called  yellow  mustard  of  our  commerce  which  I  have 
'  lad  occasion  to  examine,  whether  ground  in  England 
or  in  the  United  States,  contains  turmeric.  This 
iractice  ought  to  be  discountenanced  ;  for,  under  the 
yellow  colour  imparted  by  curcuma,  adulteration  of 
mustard  may  be  carried  on  to  an  almost  indefinite 
extent,  if  strength  be  supplied  by  the  addition  of  a 
little  capsicum. — Amer.  Journ.  of  Pharmacy. 


GLYCEROLE  OP  LUPULIN. 

BY  EMMET  KANNAL. 

Take  of  Lupulin,  one  troy  ounce 
Alcohol,  six  fluid  ounces 
Glycerin,  nine  fluid  ounces 
Curasao  cordial,  one  fluid  ounce. 
Mix  the  alcohol  with  two  fluid  ounces  of  glycerine, 
moisten  the  lupulin  with  the  mixture,  pack  into  a 


1023 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  21,  1S71- 


cylindrical  percolator,  and  continue  to  add  this  mix¬ 
ture  until  eight  fluid  ounces  of  the  percolate  has 
passed ;  to  this  add  the  remainder  of  glycerine,  pre¬ 
viously  mixed  with  the  Curasao,  and  thoroughly  mix 
the  whole  together.  This  will  afford,  by  careful 
manipulation,  a  very  fine  preparation,  miscible  with 
any  of  the  officinal  syrups  or  tinctures,  and  possess¬ 
ing  all  the  medicinal  properties  of  lupulin.  Dose, 
for  an  adult,  one  teaspoonful,  representing  ?b  grains 
of  lupulin. — Amer.  Journ.  of  Pharmacy. 


THE  CHEMISTRY  OF  CALICO  PRINTING.  £ 

BY  JAMES  BLAIR. 

( Continued  from  page  1010.) 

Clearing  has  for  its  object  the  removing  of  any  taint 
or  soiling  contracted  in  the  former  operations,  and  also 
has  a  brightening  action  on  some  colours.  It  consists  in 
padding  the  goods  in  a  solution  of  bleaching  powder 
at  to  f°  Tw.  (the  less  whites  the  stronger  the  liquor), 
then  passing  the  goods  through  blue  liquor,  i.  e.  ultra- 
marine  and  110.  The  ultramarine  may  be  mixed  with  the 
bleaching  liquor.  The  goods  on  passing  from  the  bleach¬ 
ing  and  bluing  liquor  are  dried  by  passing  over  steam 
cylinders,  then  starched  with  solution  of  fine  wheat  starch 
and  dried  (if  muslins  tentered),  calendered,  folded, 
pressed. 

Mordanted  or  Dyed  Colours. — In  these  colours  various 
metallic  salts  are  printed  on  the  cloth,  and  means 
adopted  for  rendering  their  base  permanently  fixed. 
This  being  accomplished,  the  goods  are  immersed  in  a 
bath  containing  the  colouring  principle,  which  in  the 
operation  of  dyeing  combines  with  the  mordant  in  the 
cloth,  forming  a  lake  or  other  chemical  compound  with 
it.  The  principal  styles  of  this  class  are: — 1,  Chrome 
oranges  and  yellows.  2,  Logwood  blacks.  3,  Madder 
work.  4,  Garancine  work. 

The  first  are,  of  course,  produced  by  a  lead  salt  and  a 
soluble  chromate.  The  other  styles  involve  the  use  of 
madder,  logwood,  garancine,  alizarine,  Lima  wood,  bark, 
sumac,  quercitron,  galls,  flavine,  Persian  berries,  in  the 
dye  bath;  salts  of  iron,  alumina  and  tin,  individually 
or  mixed,  constituting  the  mordants. 

Chrome  Orange. — The  cloth  is  padded  with  solution  of 
MgOSOg  at  12  oz.  per  gallon  and  dried.  The  orange 
mordant,  the  basis  of  which  is  acetate  of  lead,  is  printed 
on,  and  by  the  Mg  0  S  03  converted  into  the  insoluble 
sulphate  of  lead  in  the  fibre  of  the  cloth. 

The  cloth  is  then  passed  through  a  cold  bath  of  35  lbs. 
bichrome  -f-  112  lbs.  salt  +  HO  till  26°  Tw.,  which  pro¬ 
duces  the  yellow  and  insoluble  chromate  of  lead. 

The  cloth  is  then  worked  in  a  vat  of  bichrome  at 
40°  Tw.  and  CaO,  boiling,  which  changes  the  yellow 
chromate  into  the  orange  chromate  of  lead ;  then  cooled 
by  rinsing  in  cold  water,  and  then  rinsed  in  lime  water, 
rinsed  in  water,  and  dried. 

Chrome  Yellows  are  produced  in  the  same  way  as  the 
orange,  but  the  treatment  in  the  hot  chrome  and  lime 
vat  and  the  washing  in  lime  water  is  omitted. 

The  operations  of  printing  and  dyeing  madder,  garan¬ 
cine  and  logwood  are  in  some  degree  analogous,  so  may 
be  conveniently  described  together.  The  mordants  re¬ 
quired  for  this  style  are  acetate  of  iron  and  alumina,  and 
chloride  of  tin,  catechu,  nitrate  of  copper,  chloride  of 
iron ;  the  dyes — logwood,  Lima  wood,  bark,  sumac, 
quercitron,  galls,  flavine  and  Persian  berries. 

Mordants. — Acetate  of  iron,  supplied  to  the  printer  in 
concentrated  solution  at  32°  Tw.,  is  made  by  passing  the 
crude  pyroligneous  acid  obtained  from  wood  distillation 
direct  from  the  still  over  iron  turnings  in  the  condenser. 
It  invariably  contains  tarry  impurities,  which,  however, 
in  no  way  interfere  with  its  usefulness  ;  diluted  less  or 
more  with  H  O  it  furnishes  all  the  shades  of  black,  purple 
and  lilac  produced  by  dyeing  with  madder,  logwood, 


garancine,  alizarine  or  mixtures  of  these  dyes  ;  thus 
black — 1  volume  EeOA  and  1  volume  HO  =  FeOA  at 
16°,  thickened  by  boiling  with  flour  +  2  oz.  A  S  03 ;  purple, 
weaker  according  to  shade  wanted ;  purple  standard, 
FeO  A,  at  12°  F.,  from  1  of  purple  standard  to  8  of  gum 
water  to  1  to  36 ;  covers  1  to  6  to  1  to  22  ;  pads  1  to  24 
to  1  to  54,  figure  thick  with  black  gum ;  covers  and 
pads  boiled  with  flour.  The  solutions  of  acetate  of  iron 
are  thickened  for  printing  by  flour  or  British  gum. 

Acetate  of  alumina  is  made  by  neutralizing  sulphate  of 
alumina  solution  with  solution  of  acetate  of  lime,  and  is 
used  neutral,  or  with  a  trace  of  free  alum.  Acetate  of  lime 
is  made  by  saturating  slaked  lime  with  the  crude  acetic 
acid  from  wood  distillation  ;  it  always  contains  tarry 
matters,  which,  for  most  work,  are  harmless.  Cake  alum 
supplied  in  slabs  is  nearly  pure  A1203S03,  and  must  be 
free  from  iron. 

This  mordant,  more  or  less  diluted,  furnishes  all  shades 
of  red  and  pink  with  madder,  garancine  or  alizarine. 
Where  a  very  bright  red  is  wanted,  chloride  of  tin  is 
mixed  with  the  alumina  mordant. 

For  pinks,  the  tin  is  sometimes  omitted.  The  mor¬ 
dants  are  prepared  for  printing  by  thickening  with 
starch  or  British  gum. 

Mixtures  of  alumina  mord.  and  iron  mord.  give  all 
shades  of  chocolate  from  madder,  garancine  and  alizarine. 

Catechu. — The  valuable  colouring  principle  of  this 
substance  is  catechin,  C-Hc03,  which  bears  a  resemblance 
to  tannin. 

This  substance  furnishes,  with  small  proportions  of 
CuON  0=  and  acetate  of  alumina,  the  various  shades  of 
brown. 

A  standard  solution  is  made  of  catechu  in  H  O,  with 
NH3CI  and  acetic  acid;  this  is  thickened  with  gum 
gedda,  and  Cu0N05+A1203S03  added  just  before 
printing. 

The  same  colours,  with  FeCl  substituted  for  ALO;i 
acetate,  furnish  shades  of  drab. 

Dyes. 

Logwood  contains  hematoxyline  C1(5H1406;  it  is  so¬ 
luble  in  IIO  and  alcohol,  and  crystallizes  with  three 
atoms  of  water  in  colourless  crystals.  Air-  or  oxygen 
do  not  act  upon  it,  but  in  presence  of  NII3  it  is  converted 
into  hematein,  Clf)H10O5,  which  combines  with  the  NH3, 
forming  hemateate  of  ammonia,  thus  Clf)II14Or)  +  0  + 
NH3=C16H9  (NH4)  05  +  2H20  ;  hematein,  the  actual 
colour  is  soluble  in  II 0.  It  is  an  amorphous  brown-red 
body,  and  forms  crystallized  salts  with  the  alkalies  and 
insoluble  lakes  with  many  metallic  salts,  thus,  the  lead 
lake  is  blue,  the  copper  violet,  tin  violet,  iron  black, — 
these  lakes  have  considerable  stability. 

Madder  ( Rubio,  tinctoria ). — The  valuable  constituents 
of  madder-roots  are — rubian,  C2gH34015  ;  alizarine, 
C10HnO3;  purp urine,  C30H20O10. ;  and  erythrosyme,  a 
nitrogenous  body. 

Rubian,  C28H34015,  is  regarded  as  the  primary  source 
of  the  valuable  .colouring-matters  in  the  madder  root. 
It  is  soluble  in  cold  water  and  in  alcohol,  yielding 
yellow-coloured  solutions  having  a  bitter  taste.  By  fer¬ 
mentation  produced  by  the  action  of  erjifirosyme,  and 
also  by  sulphuric  acid,  rubian  is  converted  into  alizarine 
and  purpurine,  glucose  and  resinous  matters  being  also 
formed  at  the  same  time. 

Alizarine,  C10II6O3. — This  is  the  valuable  colouring- 
principle  of  madder.  It  does  not  exist  to  any  great  ex¬ 
tent  in  the  root,  but  is  a  product  resulting  from  the  de¬ 
composition  of  the  rubian  by  fermentation.  Alizarine  is 
insoluble  in  cold  water,  but  soluble  in  boiling  water, 
bisulphide  of  carbon,  naphtha,  etc.  It  sublimes  at  228° 
F.,  and  is  obtained  in  golden-yellow  needles.  It  forms 
stable  compounds  with  alumina,  iron  and  tin,  and  these 
lakes  are  insoluble  in  water  and  even  in  solutions  of  soap. 

Purpurine,  C30H20O10.  is  another  colouring-matter 
resulting  from  the  decomposition  of  rubian.  It  forms 
definite  compounds  with  alumina,  iron  and  tin.  These 


June  24, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1029 


lakes  are  redder  in  shade  than  the  corresponding  aliza¬ 
rine  oompounds.  They  are  insoluble  in  water,  but  are 
distinguished  from  tho  alizarine  lakes  by  their  solubility 
in  solutions  of  soap  and  also  in  hot  solutions  of  alum. 

Garancine. — This  i3  prepared  by  boiling  ground 
madder  roots  with  sulphuric  acid  and  water.  Tho  acid 
is  then  removed  by  washing  with  water.  By  this  treat¬ 
ment  the  rubian  of  the  madder  is  converted  into  aliza¬ 
rine  and  purpurine,  while  the  pecten  and  resinous 
matters  are  in  great  measure  destroyed. 

Bark,  Sumac,  Galls. — The  valuable  constituent  of 
these  substances  is  the  tannin  which  they  contain. 

Persian  Berries,  Quercitron,  Flavin. — The  colouring 
principle  of  these  substances  is  quercitrine,  C23H10Oi0, 
which  forms  lakes  with  several  metallic  bases.  Its  com¬ 
binations  with  alumina  and  oxide  of  tin  arc  yellow. 

Lima  Wood  contains  a  colouring  principle  called  bra- 
ziline,  C^H^O-,  which  also  forms  lakes  with  many  me¬ 
tallic  salts. 

The  dye-stufFs  are  mostly  used  in  conjunction  with 
garancine,  for  the  production  of  various  shades  of  choco¬ 
late,  red,  orange,  brown  and  drab. 

The  style  of  goods  dyed  direct  from  madder  roots  are 
black,  purple,  lilacs,  red  and  pinks,  and  sometimes 
orange. 

The  goods  are  printed  in  the  same  manner  as  pigment 
or  steam  colours,  but  instead  of  colouring-matter,  the 
ferrous  or  alumina  mordants,  already  described,  are 
printed  on  and  the  goods  are  dried.  Simple  figures  arc 
printed  once,  covers  twice,  and  pads  three  times. 

Ageing. — The  dried  goods  arc  thc-n  aged.  This  opera¬ 
tion  is  conducted  in  a  building  called  a  stove.  This 
building  is  open  from  ceiling  to  floor ;  on  the  floor  is  an 
iron  frame  with  light  tin  rollers  about  9  feet  long,  and 
ne>ar  the  top  of  the  building  is  a  similar  frame,  but  to 
every  six  tin  rollers  is  a  massive  wooden  roller  (covered 
with  flannel),  propelled  by  gearing,  and  forming  the 
traction-power  for  drawing  the  cloth  through  the  ma¬ 
chine.  The  cloth  is  passed  in  a  continual  line  through  this 
machine,  entering  at  tho  bottom,  ascending  to  the  top, 
and  descending  again,  after  passing  over  each  roller; 
and  as  the  rollers  are  closely  set,  a  great  length  of 
cloth  may  be  in  the  machine  at  a  time ;  and  although 
moving  rapidly,  the  time  it  is  in  the  building  is 
considerable.  The  stove  is  usually  made  so  wide  as 
to  have  two  frames  in  the  width;  parallel  with  each 
frame  is  a  6-inch  steam-pipe,  along  the  entire  length 
of  which  are  many  openings,  expanding  into  wide  tin 
funnels,  hooded  in  such  a  way  as  not  to  project  the  stc-am 
which  issues  from  them  against  the  cloth.  During  the 
passing  of  the  goods  through  the  stove,  volumes  of  steam 
are  being  thrown  from  the  tin  funnels  into  tho  chamber, 
and  this  steam  is  rapidly  absorbed  by  the  dry  goods.  The 
object  is  to  keep  the  atmosphere  as  nearly  saturated  as 
possible  without  condensing  into  water.  If  the  supply 
of  steam  is  inadequate,  the  ageing  will  be  ineffective ;  if 
too  much  steam,  the  dew-point  will  be  reached,  and 
water-drops  falling  on  the  goods  will  cause  stains  or 
blanks  in  the  dyeing.  The  temperature  is  kept  at 
about  80°  F.,  the  degree  of  saturation  is  regulated  by  ob¬ 
servation  of  a  wet  and  dry  bulb  hygrometer ;  dry  bulb, 
80°,  wet  76°.  Tho  goods  are  then  further  aged  by  being 
loosely  piled  in  a  warm  and  moist  room  for  48  hours. 
In  the  ageing  the  action  that  takes  place  is  as  follows :  — 
Tho  greater  part  (but  never  the  whole)  of  the  acetic  acid 
is  volatilized,  leaving  behind  the  oxides  of  iron  and  alu¬ 
mina  ;  in  the  case  of  the  former,  it  is  partly  changed  into 
sosquioxide,  the  result  being  partly  ferrous  and  partly 
ferric  oxide. 

After  ageing,  the  goods  are  submitted  to  the  operation 
of  Bunging ,  or  Cleansing. — This  has  for  its  object  the  re¬ 
moval  of  the  thickening  and  sightenings  and  from  the  ex¬ 
cess  of  mordant  used  in  the  printing,  secondly,  from  the 
excess  of  acid,  and  it  has  also  been  found  to  make  the 
colours  brighter  and  faster  than  they  would  otherwise  be ; 
it  also  has  a  remarkable  influence  in  permanently  fixing 


the  mordants,  and  bringing  them  into  the  condition 
most  favourable  for  the  dyeing.  For  many  years  this 
process  consisted  in  passing  the  goods  through  a  bath  of 
cow-dung  in  warm  water,  the  insoluble  and  fibrous  mat¬ 
ters  of  it  removing  the  excess  of  mordant  and  thicken- 
mg,  thereby  preventing  the  staining  of  the  whites, 
whilst  its  alkalinity  neutralized  the  excess  of  acid  in  the 
mordant.  The  peculiar  green  colouring  principle  has 
also  been  thought  to  be  efficacious  in  producing  brighter 
and  faster  shades,  either  by  combining  with  the  mordant 
or  by  deoxidizing  it.  But  perhaps  the  most  valuable 
constituent  of  the  dung  was  its  phosphates,  which  ren¬ 
dered  the  mordants  more  permanent.  Since  the  value  of 
the  phosphates  has  been  ascertained,  several  chemical 
compounds  have  been  substituted  for  the  cow-dung ;  the 
principal  of  these  are  phosphates,  silicates,  arsenites  and 
arseniates  of  soda  and  lime,  or  mixtures  of  these  sub¬ 
stances. 

Bunging  of  Pink  Pads. — The  vat  is  charged  with  2000 
gallons  of  HO  and  4  gallons  of  arseniate  of  soda  at 
74°  IV.,  and  heated  to  150°  F.,  and  the  goods  are  passed 
through  this  solution.  Tho  strength  of  the  liquor  is 
maintained  by  addition  of  As05NaO.  Tho  goods  are 
then  thoroughly  washed  in  a  washing  machine. 

Pink  Plates. — Same  as  for  pads,  but  a  mixture  of  sili¬ 
cate  of  soda  with  NaOAsOs. 

Purple  Pads.— These  are  run  successively  through 
three  baths,  all  consisting  of  water  and  CaOSi03  in  sus¬ 
pension,  the  first  bath  being  strongest,  the  second  weaker, 
and  the  third  weakest ;  temperature  180°  F. 

Purple  Plates. — Same  bath  as  for  pads,  but  heated  only 
to  140°. 

Chocolate  Pads  and  Acid  Garancines. — Three  baths ; 
first,  with  cow-dung  and  chalk ;  tho  others  with  cow- 
dung  alone  (chocolate,  temp.  80°;  acid  garancine,  150°), 
all  well  washed  afterwards. 

Garancines. — Three  baths,  ^  NaO  As  05  +  Na  O  As  03. 
Heat  150°. 

Logwood  Blacks. — Same  dunging  as  garancines. 

The  goods  having  been  dunged,  and  then  thoroughly 
well  washed,  are  ready  for  the  next  process. 

Byeing. — The  dye-bath  is  usually  made  of  iron,  some¬ 
times  of  wood,  and  is  a  rectangular  cistern  from  10  to  15 
feet  long  by  4  to  5  feet  wide  and  4  to  7  feet  deep  ;  some¬ 
times  it  is  narrower  towards  the  bottom.  It  is  heated 
by  a  perforated  steam  pipe,  which  is  placed  along  the 
bottom  of  the  bath.  There  is  usually  a  diaphragm  in  the 
middle  of  the  bath,  but  which  does  not  extend  the.  full 
depth.  This  is  to  prevent  the  goods  getting  entwined, 
while  at  the  same  time  it  allows  of  their  passing  below 
the  bottom  of  the  diaphragm.  Along  the  top  of  the  bath 
is  a  winch  or  reel,  which  during  the  dyeing  is  kept  re¬ 
volving.  The  bath  having  been  filled  with  the  proper 
quantity  of  cold  water,  the  goods  are  then  entered ;  one 
end  of  each  piece  being  passed  over  the  reel,  down  the 
back  of  the  diaphragm,  below  it,  and  then  brought  up  in 
tho  front  of  it,  is  sewn  to  the  other  end.  In  this  way 
twenty-five  to  fifty  pieces  may  be  placed  in  the  bath. 
The  proper  quantity  of  ground  madder-root  is  then 
thrown  in,  and  if  necessary  a  little  CaOCOo.  The 
winch  is  then  set  in  motion,  and  when  the  dye-stuff  is 
thoroughly  mixed  in  the  bath,  steam  i3  turned  on,  and 
the  temperature  gradually  and  steadily  raised  to  200°  or 
180°  F.  in  three  "hours.  The  chemical  changes  in  the 
bath  have  already  been  described  in  speaking  of  aliza¬ 
rine.  The  rubian  is  converted  into  alizarine  and  pur- 
purine,  and  these  combine  with  the  mordants ;  the 
pectcn  combines  with  the  lime. 

Garancines  are  dyed  in  a  similar  manner,  but,  owing 
to  the  colour  all  existing  as  alizarine  and  purpurine,  the 
temperature  can  be  raised  more  rapidly,  and  the  dyeing* 
is  usually  completed  in  two  hours. 

After  dyeing  madder,  the  cloth,  besides  alizarate  of 
iron,  AL03,  and  tin,  contains  purpurates  of  those  bases, 
also  sometimes  pectates  of  the  colouring  matter  and  resi- 
|  nous  matters,  mechanically  adhering  to  the  surface  of 


1030 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[Jane  34,  1871. 


the  cloth.  These  latter  have  all  to  be  removed ;  and  to 
effect  this  the  goods  are  first  washed  in  boiling  water, 
then  in  cold  water,  and  are  then  soaped.  Black  and 
purples  are  cleansed  best  in  a  bath  of  soap,  and  boiling 
H  0,  the  treatment  lasting  one  hour.  Pinks  one  hour  ; 
commence  cold,  raised  gradually  to  212°  ;  from  4  oz.  to 
10  oz.  of  soap  are  required  for  each  piece,  according  to 
cloth  and  colours.  The  soaping  dissolves  the  purpurates, 
but  any  impurities  still  remaining  are  removed  by  clear¬ 
ing.  This  consists  in  passing  the  goods  through  a  vat 
at  190°  F.  of  weak  NaOC02  and  bleaching  powder.  If 
pinks  are  of  a  bluish  hue,  it  is  removed  by  a  weak 
bath  of  SnCl  and  sulphuric  acid  cold,  washing,  and 
then  cleansing  as  above.  Garancines  are  not  regarded 
as  so  fast  as  madder  work,  arising  from  the  fact  that 
garancine  usually  contains  a  larger  proportion  of  pur- 
purine  ;  and  as  this  class  of  work  is  usually  done  at 
a  cheaper  rate  than  madder  or  alizarine,  they  are  only 
•very  slightly  soaped,  so  as  to  get  the  full  advantage  of 
the  coloured  purpurates.  The  combinations  alizarine 
and  purpurates  form  with  the  catechu  mordants  (pro¬ 
ducing  brown  and  drab  colours)  are  less  stable  than 
their  combinations  with  FeO  and  AL  03,  and  therefore 
brown  and  drab  work  is  not  soaped,  but  after  dyeing  is 
simply  well  washed  in  boiling  and  cold  water,  then  dried, 
and  cleared  in  the  same  way  as  steam  colours,  a  e.  by 
padding  with  weak  bleaching  liquor  and  ultramarine 
blue.  They  are  next  dried,  then  finished.  This  con¬ 
sists  in  starching,  calendering,  folding  and  pressing. 

I  have  thus  endeavoured  very  briefly  to  give  you  the 
general  outline  of  the  operations  involved  in  calico 
printing,  an  industry  which  must  always  be  peculiarly 
interesting  to  chemists,  as  its  rapid  progress  and  present 
high  degree  of  perfection  arises,  in  no  small  degree, 
from  the  study  and  intelligent  application  of  the  science 
of  chemistry.  Nor  can  it  be  doubted  that  a  clearer 
■knowledge  of  the  nature  and  properties  of  the  various 
colouring  matters  will  be  accompanied  by  corresponding 
progress  of  this  industry. 


UNGUENTUM  ACIDI  CARB0LICI,  LIQUOR  SEDATI- 
VUS  AND  EXTRACTUM  FABiE  CALABARIENSIS. 

The  following  formulas  for  the  preparation  of  Un- 
guentum  Acidi  Carbolici,  Liquor  Sedativus  and  Extrac- 
tum  Fabas  Calabariensis  have  been  furnished  to  the 
Chicago  T harmacist  by  Mr.  C.  Eredigke  : — - 

TJngucntum  Acidi  Carbolici. 

Simple  Ointment,  benzoated,  4  pounds  troy. 

Carbolic  Acid,  crystallized,  3  ounces  96  grains. 

Liquefy  the  acid  by  immersing  the  vessel  containing 
it  in  hot  water,  and  when  the  ointment  is  about  congeal¬ 
ing,  add  the  acid,  stirring  well  with  a  strong  wooden 
.spatula. 

Each  drachm  contains  three  grains. 

This  ointment  has  been  of  excellent  service  in  trcat- 
ing  large  superficial  wounds,  and  ulcerating  surfaces 
caused  by  burns,  and  in  cutaneous  eruptions  of  a  parasitic 
nature. 

Liquor  Sedativus. 

Tinct.  Opii  Camphor. 

Spts.  2Eth.  Nit.  dulc. 

Spts.  Mindereri. 

Syr.  Simpl. 

Aq.  Camphor*,  ana  part.  *q. 

M.  et  ft.  solutio.  Dose :  A  teaspoonful. 

To  increase  the  therapeutic  effect  of  this  mixture,  2 
fl.  5  °f  tinct.  gelsemini,  or  1  fl.  5  of  tinct.  verat.  vir.  are 
•often  added  to  four  ounces,  to  meet  particular  indica¬ 
tions.  This  is  a  combination  often  prescribed  in  diseases 
complicated  with  febrile  symptoms. 

Extraction  Fabcc  Calabariensis. 

Calabar  Beans,  1000  grammes. 

Alcohol  of  0*864,  5000  grammes. 

Reduce  the  beans  to  a  fine  powder,  digest  with  a  litre 
of  alcohol  over  a  water-bath,  which  must  be  maintained 


at  a  gentle  heat  for  two  hours.  Then  introduce  the 
mixture  into  a  displacement  cylinder,  and  when  the 
liquor,  which  results  from  this  digestion,  ceases  to  run, 
pour  over  the  powder  a  second  litre  of  boiling  alcohol, 
and  continue  in  this  manner  till  the  liquor  passes  off 
colourless.  Mix  the  solutions,  distil  off  the  greater  por¬ 
tion  of  the  alcohol,  and  evaporate  over  a  water-bath  to 
the  consistence  of  an  extract.  It  is  necessary  to  stir  con¬ 
stantly  towards  the  close  of  the  operation,  in  order  to 
render  the  product  homogeneous. 

1000  grammes  of  Calabar  beans  furnish  from  25  to  30 
grammes  of  extract,  having  a  pilular  consistence. 

The  above  is  the  process  for  the  preparation  of  this 
extract  adopted  by  the  French  Pharmacopoeia. 


THE  PHARMACY  BILL. 

MEETING  OF  MEMBERS  OF  THE  PHARMA¬ 
CEUTICAL  SOCIETY  AT  LIVERPOOL. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  local  members  of  the  Pharma- 
ceutical  Society  of  Great  Britain,  held  at  the  Royal  In¬ 
stitution,  Liverpool,  on  the  19th  June,  1871,  convened  to 
consider  the  Bill  before  Parliament  for  amending  the 
Pharmacy  Act;  Mr.  John  Abraham  in  the  chair, — 

It  was  moved  by  Mr.  Siiaw,  and  seconded  by  Mr. 
Horton — 

“  That  this  meeting  oppose  the  Bill  now  before  the 
House  of  Commons,  entitled  an  Act  to  Amend  the 
Pharmacy  Act  of  1868.” 

It  was  moved  as  an  amendment  by  Mr.  Alpass,  se¬ 
conded  by  Mr.  Parkinson — 

“  That  this  meeting  is  of  opinion  that  the  exemption  of 
medical  men,  keeping  open  shops  for  the  retailing,  dispen¬ 
sing  and  compounding  of  medicines,  from  any  regulations 
approved  by  the  Privy  Council,  should  be  abrogated.” 

After  a  discussion,  the  amendment  was  withdrawn, 
and  the  motion  having  been  put  was  negatived. 

It  was  moved  by  Mr.  Alpass,  and  seconded  by  Mr. 
Barber,  “That  this  meeting  approve  of  the  action  of 
the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  in  the  ap¬ 
pointment  of  a  Committee  to  watch  the  progress  of  the 
Bill,  with  a  view  to  prevent  the  introduction  of  obnox¬ 
ious  clauses.” 

The  motion  was  carried  unanimously. 


MEETING  OF  CHEMISTS  AND  DRUGGISTS 

AT  LEEDS. 

A  Meeting  of  the  Registered  Pharmaceutical  Chemists 
and  Chemists  and  Druggists  of  Leeds  was  held  at  the 
Philosophical  Hall  on  Monday,  June  19  ;  Mr.  William 
Smeeton,  President  of  the  Leeds  Chemists’  Association, 
in  the  chair. 

Nearly  forty  chemists  carrying  on  business  in  Leeds 
were  present,  and  representatives  from  Bradford  and 
Wakefield. 

The  following  resolutions  were  carried  unanimously : — 

Moved  by  Mr.  Edward  Thompson,  seconded  by  Mr. 
Edward  Brown, — 

1st.  That  this  meeting,  having  carefully  considered 
what  would  be  the  effect  of  the  passing  of  a  Bill 
now  before  Parliament,  intituled  “  A  Bill  to  Amend 
the  Pharmacy  Act,  1868,”  expresses  its  strong  dis¬ 
approval  of  the  Bill,  and  indignation  at  the  attempt 
being  made  to  force  it  hastily  through  Parliament. 

Moved  by  Mr.  J.  B.  Stead,  seconded  by  Mr.  E.  Yew- 
dall, — 

2nd.  That  a  petition  be  presented  to  the  House  of 
Commons  against  the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy  Bill 
and  forwarded  to  Mr.  Baines  for  presentation,  and 
that  the  other  Members  for  the  borough,  as  well  as 
those  for  the  West  Riding,  be  requested  to  support 
the  prayer  of  the  petition. 

Moved  by  Mr.  S.  Taylor,  seconded  by  Mr.  P.  Jeffer¬ 
son, — 


Jans  24, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1031 


3rd.  That  the  following  bo  appointed  a  delegation 
from  this  meeting  to  join  a  deputation  to  the  Right 
Hon.  W.  E.  Forster,  in  order  to  represent  to  him 
the  strong  reasons  existing  why  this  unnecessary, 
oppressive  and  unfair  measure  should  not  be 
passed, — 

Delegation — Messrs.  Smeeton,  Brown,  Thompson, 
Reynolds  and  Yewdall. 

The  meeting  was  unanimous  in  feeling,  and  on  no  pre¬ 
vious  occasion  has  any  subject  excited  so  much  interest 
among  the  chemists  of  the  town.  Numerous  speakers 
denounced  the  injustice  and  impolicy  of  the  Bill,  and 
deprecated  the  position  brought  about  by  those  leaders  of 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society  who  had  misrepresented  to 
the  Government  the  views  of  their  constituents. 

A  vote  of  thanks  to  the  Chairman  closod  the  proceed¬ 
ings. 


MEETING  AT  GLASGOW. 

At  a  Special  Meeting  of  Chemists  of  Glasgow  and 
surrounding  towns  (convened  by  circular),  held  in 
Anderson’s  University,  204,  George  Street,  Glasgow,  on 
Tuesday  the  20  th  inst.,  the  “Pharmacy  Act  Amendment 
Bill  ”  was  discussed,  and  the  following  resolutions  una¬ 
nimously  agreed  to : — 

Pi'oposed  by  Mr.  T.  Davison,  seconded  by  Mr.  John 
Jaap — 

1.  In  the  opinion  of  this  Meeting,  the  conduct  of  Dr. 
Simon,  Medical  Officer  of  the  Privy  Council,  towards 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society  and  the  trade  generally, 
has  been  marked  by  an  arbitrariness  and  want  of 
oourtesy,  which  deserves  our  severest  censure,  in  so 
far  as  Dr.  Simon  assumes  that  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  is  bound  by  the  Act,  1868,  to  make  regula¬ 
tions  for  the  keeping,  etc.,  of  poisons, — an  assump¬ 
tion  which  is  not  warranted  by  the  fact,  and  also  for 
the  unseemly  haste  with  which  his  Amended  Act 
was  forced  through  the  House  of  Lords, — it  having 
passed  the  third  reading  before  the  trade  were  made 
aware  of  its  nature. 

Proposed  by  Mr.  H.  Hart,  seconded  by  Mr.  A.  Ivin- 
minmont — 

2.  That  this  measure,  placing  as  it  does,  the  interests 
of  an  entire  trade  at  the  mercy,  virtually,  of  a  single 
individual,  from  whose  decision  there  is  no  appeal, 
is  unjust,  oppressive,  and  unworthy  of  the  legisla¬ 
tion  of  this  country. 

Proposed  by  Mr.  Harvie,  Airdrie,  seconded,  by  Mr 
.♦Sinclair — 

3.  That  the  safety  of  the  public  is  best  secured  by  the 
proper  education  of  the  dispenser,  and  that  this  is 
ensured  by  the  provision  of  the  Pharmacy  Act,  1868, 
— the  only  amendment  necessary  being  an  explana¬ 
tion  or  interpretation  that  its  clauses,  as  to  the  sale 
and  dispensing  of  poisons,  extends  alike  to  all  shops, 
whether  kept  by  surgeons  or  registered  chemists. 

Proposed  by  Mr.  Black,  seconded  by  Mr.  Greig — 

4.  That  a  deputation  be  appointed  by  this  meeting  to 
wait  upon  the  Vice-President  of  the  Privy  Council, 
in  conjunction  with  other  deputations  from  various 
parts  of  the  country ;  and  also,  on  account  of  the 
Absence  of  Mr.  Frazer,  a  deputy  wait  on  Mr.  Mackay 
before  he  leaves  to  attend  the  Council  Meeting  in 
London  on  Thursday. 

Proposed  by  Mr.  Carr,  seconded  by  Mr.  Fairlie — 

•o.  That  an  earnest  appeal  be  made  to  the  chemists 
throughout  Glasgow  and  West  of  Scotland,  to  raise 
funds  sufficient  to  carry  out  a  thorough  opposition 
to  the  Bill  about  to  be  brought  before  the  House  of 
Commons,  and  to  defray  the  expenses  of  a  deputation 
to  London  to  explain  and  express  the  true  opinions 
of  the  trade ;  and  that  the  Secretary  and  Treasurer 
~be  appointed  to  carry  out  the  same. 


Proposed  by  Mr.  James  White,  seconded  by  Mr. 

Lockhart  (Marvhill) — 

6.  That  the  following  petition  be  signed  by  all  che¬ 
mists  in  Glasgow  and  surrounding  towns,  and  sent  to 
Mr.  Graham,  M.P.,  for  presentation  to  Parliament. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Commons  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland  in  Parliament  assembled. 

The  humble  petition  of  the  undersigned  pharmaceutical 
chemists,  chemists  and  druggists  and  others,  inha¬ 
bitants  of  Glasgow  and  surrounding  towns,  Scotland, 
carrying  on  business  and  duly  registered  under  the 
provisions  of  the  Pharmacy  Act,  1868, 

Sheweth : 

That,  whereas  a  Bill,  intituled  “  An  Act  to  Amend 
the  Pharmacy  Act,  1868,”  has  been  introduced  into 
the  House  of  Lords,  has  been  rapidly  passed  through 
the  various  stages,  and  is  now  before  your  honour¬ 
able  House,  that  the  said  Act  contains  provisions 
which  will  inflict  grievous  annoyance  and  injury  on 
your  petitioners  and  others,  and  that  such  pro¬ 
visions  are  in  nowise  necessary,  either  for  the  safety 
of  the  -public,  or  for  the  due  carrying  out  of  the 
provisions  of  the  Pharmacy  Act,  1868. 

Your  petitioners,  therefore,  humbly  pray  that  your 
honourable  House  will  refuse  its  sanction  to  the 
said  amended  Act,  or  postpone,  for  a  reasonable 
time,  its  consideration,  to  enable  evidence  to  be 
presented  by  which  your  petitioners  will  be  able  to 
satisfy  your  honourable  House  that  the  said  amended 
Act  is  unnecessary  and  unjust. 

And  your  petitioners  will  ever  pray. 


MEETING  AT  NEWCASTLE. 

Copy  of  resolutions  passed  at  a  meeting  of  the  Chemists 
and  Druggists  of  Newcastle  and  Gateshead,  held  at  the 
College  of  Medicine,  Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  June  20th, 
1871 ;  Jos.  W.  Swan,  Esq.,  in  the  chair. 

Moved  by  Mr.  Buckett,  seconded  by  Mr.  Owen,  and 
resolved — 

That  this  meeting,  having  carefully  considered  a  Bill 
now  before  Parliament,  entitled  “An  Act  to  Amend 

■  the  Pharmacy  Act  of  1868,”  protests  against  its  pro¬ 
visions  on  the  following  grounds  : — 

1st.  That  the  Bill,  if  passed,  would,  without 
reason,  deprive  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  of  rights 
carefully  reserved  to  it  in  the  Pharmacy  Act  of 
1S68. 

2nd.  That  it  would  place  in  the  hands  of  the 
Privy  Council  the  power  of  making  petty  regula¬ 
tions  for  the  storage  of  poisons,  which,  to  be  of  any 
practical  value,  must  be  devised  by  those  who  know 
by  daily  experience  the  requirements  of  the  case. 

3rd.  That  as  by  for  the  largest  proportion  of  the 
dispensing  of  poisons  in  England  and  Scotland — and 
in  many  parts  of  the  kingdom  a  considerable  portion 
of  their  retail  sale — is  undertaken  in  the  surgeries 
of  medical  practitioners  whom  this  Act  would  not 
affect,  its  provisions,  whilst  they  would  afford  no 
material  protection  to  the  public,  would  involve  a 
manifest  injustice  to  the  whole  body  of  chemists  and 
druggists.  . 

4th.  That  the  Pharmacy  Acts  now  in  force  afford 
a  better  guarantee  to  the  public  that  only  really 
useful  regulations  respecting  the  keeping,  dispensing 
and  selling  of  poisons  will  be  sanctioned  than  if  the 
existing  Acts  were  amended  in  the  manner  proposed 
by  the  said  Bill. 

Moved  by  Mr.  Dobson,  seconded  by  Mr.  Alfred  Brady, 
and  resolved — 

That  this  meeting  adopt  a  petition  to  the  House  of 
Commons  against  the  Bill,  the  same  to  be  forwarded 


1032 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS; 


[June  24, 1872, 


to  the  Right  Hon.  T.  E.  Headlam,  with  a  request 
that  he  will  present  it  and  support  its  prayer,  and 
that  this  meeting  at  the  same  time  expresses  its 
grateful  acknowledgment  to  the  Right  Hon.  T.  E. 
Headlam  for  his  services  in  promoting  useful  Phar¬ 
maceutical  legislation. 

Moved  by  Mr.  H.  B.  Brady,  seconded  by  Mr.  Owen, 
and  resolved — 

That  the  Chairman  (Mr.  Swan)  and  the  Secretary 
(Mr.  B.  S.  Proctor)  be  requested  to  join  the  depu¬ 
tations  from  Leeds  and  other  places  in  representing 
to  Mr.  Forster  and  such  Members  of  Parliament  as 
it  may  seem  desirable  to  communicate  with  personally 
the  views  of  the  chemists  of  this  district  respecting 
the  measure. 


MEETING  AT  NOTTINGHAM. 

At  a  large  Meeting  of  chemists,  held  on  Tuesday,  June 
20th,  at  the  rooms  of  the  Nottingham  and  Nottingham¬ 
shire  Chemists’  Association,  the  following  resolutions 
were  proposed  and  unanimously  carried : — • 

That  this  meeting  entirely  disapproves  of  the  Bill 
now  before  Parliament,  entitled,  “  An  Act  to  Amend 
the  Pharmacy  Act,  1S6S,”  and  resolves  that  a  peti¬ 
tion  bo  forwarded  to  the  local  representatives  to  be 
presented  to  Parliament,  and  would  respectfully 
urge  them  to  support  the  prayer  thereof. 

That  this  meeting,  recognizing  the  necessity,  at  the 
present  crisis,  of  united  action  in  opposing  the  Phar¬ 
macy  Bill,  1871,  now  before  Parliament,  would  re¬ 
spectfully  urge  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  to  ask  for  delay,  in  order  that  its  provisions 
may  be  fully  considered. 

That  three  delegates — Mr.  Atherton,  Mr.  Rayner  and 
Mr.  YV.  Smith — from  this  meeting  be  appointed  to 
attend  the  deputation  to  the  Right  Hon.  W.  E. 
Forster,  at  the  House  of  Commons,  on  Thursday 
next. 


MEETING  OF  THE  HALIFAX  CHEMISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION.  * 

Mr.  Stott,  President,  in  the  chair. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  consider  the  amended 
Pharmacy  Bill  of  the  Government.  The  Secretary  stated 
that  immediately  on  receipt  of  the  xYct  he  had  entered 
into  correspondence  with  the  Manchester  Defence  Asso¬ 
ciation  and  also  with  the  borough  members.  Replies 
were  read  from  both,  stating  that  ample  time  would  be 
allowed  for  chemists  to  become  acquainted  with  the 
Bill. 

The  President  stated  that  during  the  Annual  Meeting 
he  learned  a  good  deal  on  the  poison  question,  and  found 
that  the  medical  officer  of  the  Privy  Council  was  a  most 
indefatigable  servant,  and  had  fully  determined  that 
something  should  be  done  ;  still  he  did  not  see  what  we 
could  do  otherwise  than  offer  a  strenuous  opposition  to 
the  Bill.  He  doubted  if  the  Council,  being  so  divided, 
would  pass  any  compulsory  regulations,  and  then  the 
sole  power  would  be  vested  in  Dr.  Simon. 

Messrs.  Dyer,  Farr,  Jcssop,  Hebden,  all  spoke  against 
the  measure ;  and  on  the  motion  of  Mr.  Brook,  seconded 
by  Mr.  Dyer,  a  petition  against  the  Bill  as  read  was 
adopted  by  the  meeting,  and  ordered  to  be  sent  to  the 
Right  Hon.  James  Stansfeld  for  presentation  to  the 
House  of  Commons,  and  that  Col.  Akroyd  be  requested 
to  support  its  prayer. 

It  was  thought  highly  important  that  each  individual 
chemist  should  correspond  with  the  borough  and  county 
members,  asking  them  to  oppose  the  Bill,  and  that  a 
deputation  should  join  the  Manchester  one,  to  confer 
with  Mr.  Forster,  the  Yice-President  of  the  Council. 

*  The  report  of  this  meeting  was  received  without  any  date 
.affixed. 


DEPUTATION  TO  THE  PRIVY  COUNCIL. 

A  Deputation  of  Pharmaceutical  Chemists  and  Che¬ 
mists  and;  Druggists  from  various  parts  of  the  kingdom 
had  an  interview  with  the  Right  Hon.  YV.  E.  Forster, 
Y  ice- President  of  the  Council,  at  his  official  residence  in 
Downing  Street,  on  Thursday  last.  The  Medical  Officer 
of  the  Privy  Council  was  present.  Mr.  Jacob  Bright  in¬ 
troduced  the  deputation.  The  following  members  of  Par¬ 
liament  were  present  on  behalf  of  the  deputation  : — Mr. 
Jacob  Bright,  the  Right  Hon.  T.  E.  Headlam,  Mr.  Ed¬ 
ward  Baines,  Mr.  James  Clay,  Mr.  S.  A.  Beaumont,  Mr. 
Christopher  Sykes,  Mr.  T.  YV.  Mellor,  Mr.  Graham,  Mr. 
A.  0.  Ewing,  Mr.  Pease  and  Mr.  YYr.  St.  J.  YVheclhouse. 
There  were  also  present  six  members  of  the  Council  of 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  the  Secretary  and  the  So¬ 
licitor  to  the  Society. 

Mr.  Schacht,  of  Bristol,  stated  the  object  of  the  depu¬ 
tation,  and  the  objections  of  the  chemists  and  druggists 
throughout  the  kingdom  to  the  proposed  amendment  of 
the  Pharmacy  Act  were  urged  by  Mr.  Kinninmont,  of 
Glasgow,  Mr.  Vizer,  of  London,  and  Mr.  Brown,  of 
Manchester,  who  spoke  at  considerable  length. 

Mr.  Flux  (Solicitor)  then  read  a  resolution  which 
had  been  passed  by  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society.* 

Mr.  Forster,  in  reference  to  the  remarks  of  Mr. 
Schacht,  pointed  out  that  the  figures  produced  showed 
that,  exclusive  of  medical  practitioners,  only  one-fourth- 
of  the  persons  keeping  open  shop  as  chemists  and  drug¬ 
gists  were  members  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  and 
it  might  be  presumed  that  the  remaining  three-fourths 
comprised  many  who  did  not  possess  the  educational 
qualifications  which  had  been  relied  upon  by  the  speaker- 
as  being  all  that  were  required  for  the  protection  of  the 
public.  Also  that  the  remarks  of  a  member  of  the  Go¬ 
vernment  quoted  in  favour  of  leaving  railway  companies- 
and  others  free  of  restraint — while,  perhaps,  well  founded 
as  general  rules  for  conduct — were  subject  to  exceptions, 
and  that  the  restraints  imposed  on  railway  companies  re¬ 
specting  the  carriage  of  gunpowder  and  other  especially 
dangerous  articles  were  a  precedent  for  restraints  on 
dealings  in  especially  dangerous  poisons. 

In  reference  to  the  remarks  of  Mr.  Vizer  and  Mr. 
Brown  respecting  the  feeling  of  the  trade  and  the  absence- 
of  public  opinion  on  the  subject  of  compulsory  regula¬ 
tions,  ho  said  that  Parliament  had  already  considered  the 
matter  and  passed  the  existing  Act,  which,  according  to- 
his  reading  of  it,  required  that  regulations  should  be 
framed  and.  become  compulsory ;  that  the  course  pursued 
by  the  Society  had  been  brought  under  his  notice,  and 
ho  thought  it  a  duty,  as  a  member  of  the  Government, 
to  seo  that,  so  long  as  the  Act  remained  unrepealod,  it 
should  be  carried  out ;  that  the  Government  had  not 
been  hasty  either  in  framing  the  Bill  now  before  the 
House  of  Commons  or  in  passing  it  through  the 
House  of  Lords, — that,  in  fact,  the  course  of  the 
Bill  in  the  upper  house  was  usual ;  and  with  regard 
to  the  future,  he  was  quite  prepared  to  afford  every  op¬ 
portunity  for  discussion,  and  should  be  happy  to  give 
his  most  careful  consideration  to  any  suggestions  which 
may  be  made  for  improvement  of  the  Bill,  but  that  he 
could  not  encourage  the  idea  that  the  Bill  would  be 
withdrawn  or  postponed  until  next  session ;  and  then, 
with  especial  reference  to  remarks  by  Mr.  Kinninmont, 
said  that  he  individually  thought  that  a  primal  facie  case 
existed  for  placing  all  persons  keeping  open  shop  for  the 
retailing  of  poisons  on  an  equal  footing  with  respect  to 
formalities,  and  he  should  be  glad  to  consider  any  clause 
which  might  be  framed  with  that  object. 

The  deputation  then  thanked  the  Right  Honourable 
gentleman  for  his  courteous  reception,  and  -withdrew. 

*  See  p.  1035. 


June  24, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1033 


<- 


SATURDAY,  JUNE  21,  1S71. 


Communications  for  this  Journal,  and  boohs  for  review ,  etc., 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square. 

Instructions  from  Members  and  Associates  respecting  the 
transmission  of  the  Journal  should  be  sent  to  Elias  Biiem- 
hldge,  Secretary ,  17,  Bloomsbury  Square ,  1F.C. 

Advertisements  to  Messrs.  Churchill,  New  Burlington 
Street ,  London ,  W.  Envelopes  indorsed  “  Bharm.  JournB 


METHYLATED  FINISH. 

"We  have  frequently  called  attention  to  the  diffi¬ 
culties  experienced  by  chemists  and  others  keeping 
methylated  finish  for  sale,  in  obtaining  legal  finish 
from  the  makers,  and  not  methylated  spirit  contain¬ 
ing  a  small  proportion  of  gum,  and  which  legally  is 
nothing  but  methylated  spirit.  The  fact  may  not  be 
known  to  many  in  the  trade,  but  it  is  nevertheless 
a  fact,  that  nearly  all  the  so-called  finish  now  sold 
contains  in  solution  not  more  than  one-tenth  the  re¬ 
quired  amount  of  gum  resin.  In  proof  of  this  we 
may  state  that  of  ten  samples  of  finish  recently  ex¬ 
amined,  one  only  contained  the  proper  proportion  of 
gum,  viz.  three  ounces  hi  the  gallon.  The  conse¬ 
quence  is,  that  those  persons  who  have  no  licence 
for  the  sale  of  methylated  spirit,  but  who  sell  this 
spurious  finish,  are  liable  to  a  penalty  of  T'50. 

Why  the  makers  of  finish  are  so  chary  of  adding 
the  full  proportion  of  gum,  it  is  not  difficult  to  ex¬ 
plain.  In  the  first  place  gum,  though  very  cheap, 
adds  to  the  price  of  methylated  spirit,  and  its  pre¬ 
sence  also  prevents  the  dilution  with  water  of  spirit 
below  a  certain  strength,  and  in  the  second  place,  as 
finish  can  be  kept  on  any  premises  and  sold  in  any 
quantity  without  being  accompanied  by  certificate, 
the  maker  is  not  subject  to  the  restrictions  upon  him 
as  in  the  case  of  methylated  spirit.  It  is  well  known 
to  the  makers  that  the  so-called  finish  would  be 
liable  to  seizure  if  kept  by  them  in  any  place  except 
in  rooms  allowed  for  storing  methylated  spirits. 

They  therefore  are  careful  to  keep  the  finish  and 
methylated  spirit  together,  and  thus  the  excise  au¬ 
thorities  are  compelled  to  recognize  all  as  methylated 
spirit  so  long  as  it  is  on  the  trader’s  premises.  As 
soon,  however,  as  such  finish  comes  into  the  posses¬ 
sion  of  a  person  not  licensed  to  keep  methylated 
spirit,  he  is  liable  to  a  penalty  for  keeping  methy¬ 
lated  spirit  without  licence,  and  thus  it  is  we  con¬ 
stantly  hear  of  chemists  and  others  being  prosecuted, 
whilst  the  makers,  who  are  the  actual  offenders, 
escape  punishment. 

Even  in  a  good  cause  there  is  always  a  certain 
amount  of  obloquy  attaching  to  a  man  prosecuted  in 
a  police-court,  and  in  cases  like  those  now  under 
review,  the  annoyance  of  so  appearing  is  increased 


by  the  fact  that  though  legally  guilty,  the  defendant 
is  morally  innocent.  Only  recently  a  case  of  this 
kind  was  heard  at  Bow  Street,*  but  Messrs.  Taylor 
and  Culver,  the  defendants,  were  bold  enough  to  go 
into  court,  in  order  to  be  able  to  take  proceedings 
against  the  person  who  supplied  them  with  this  ille¬ 
gal  finish.  The  magistrate,  while  compelled  to  convict, 
could  not  refrain  from  expressing  his  opinion  that 
the  defendants  had  been  imposed  upon.  Now  while 
one  man  may  be  found  to  have  sufficient  courage  to 
go  into  court,  there  are  scores,  especially  in  country 
towns,  where  publicity  of  this  kind  is  ruinous,  who 
would  pay  any  moderate  sum  rather  than  defend  such 
a  case,  and  this  is  a  main  reason  why  the  manufacture 
of  finish  is  carried  on  in  such  a  loose  manner. 

To  propose  a  remedy  for  this  state  of  tilings  which 
would  be  completely  effectual,  would  be  difficult  in¬ 
deed,  but  we  venture  to  suggest  that  the  excise  au¬ 
thorities  might,  at  certain  fixed  periods,  have  ex¬ 
aminations  made  of  the  finish  made  by  all  the  dif¬ 
ferent  manufacturers,  and  also  more  frequently  cause 
the  so-called  finish  to  be  examined  after  it  has  left 
the  premises  of  the  maker.  By  these  two  simple 
precautions  the  Board  of  Inland  Revenue  would  be¬ 
come  acquainted  with  those  who  did  not  comply  with 
the  law,  and  also  be  able  to  detect  the  maker  sending 
out  this  spurious  finish  without  certificates.  This 
increased  vigilance  would,  we  are  sure,  do  much  to 
put  a  stop  to  the  present  practice,  by  causing  manu¬ 
facturers  to  exercise  more  care  in  complying  with 
the  excise  regulations.  The  expense  incurred  in 
such  supervision  would  be  merely  nominal,  as  there 
are  less  than  a  dozen  makers  of  methylated  spirit  in 
the  United  Kingdom,  and  although  there  is  no  record 
in  the  official  reports  of  the  number  of  finish  makers, 
we  are  strongly  of  opinion  that  the  number  does  not 
exceed  twenty. 

Whilst  suggesting  increased  vigilance  on  the  part 
of  the  Excise,  it  is  only  fair  to  say  that  every  needful 
precaution  should  be  taken  by  the  purchasers  of 
finish,  that  they  get  the  proper  article  supplied  to 
them.  The  finish  they  buy  should  therefore  bo 
tested,  and  a  simple  mode  of  examination  is  based 
on  the  fact  that  gum  resin  is  insoluble  in  water, 
although  soluble  in  spirit.  Thus,  if  to  a  small 
quantity  of  finish  in  a  test-tube  there  be  added  about 
three  times  its  bulk  of  water,  it  will  be  found  that  if 
the  finish  be  properly  made,  the  mixture  becomes 
milky,  and  a  curdy  precipitate  falls  ;  but  if  the  mix¬ 
ture  remains  transparent,  or  only  slightly  turbid,  it 
does  not  contain  the  proper  proportion  of  gum. 

In  cases  like  the  present,  great  advantages  would 
be  obtained  if  those  interested  would  combine  to 
suppress  such  an  illegal  trade  as  that  we  have  en¬ 
deavoured  to  expose  ;  and  if  the  pharmaceutical  che¬ 
mists  of  the  United  Kingdom  would  take  the  trouble 
to  turn  their  chemical  knowledge  to  account  for  the 
protection  of  their  own  interests,  prosecutions  like 

*  See  p.  1040. 


1031 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  21, 1871. 


those  we  have  named  would  be  few  indeed;  and 
wholesale  houses  would  in  this  case,  as  in  others, 
find  very  speedily,  that  the  only  satisfactory  mode  of 
doing  business  is  to  supply  legitimate  and  proper 
articles  to  their  customers. 


THE  HARVEIAN  ORATION. 

On  Wednesday,  in  the  Royal  College  of  Physi¬ 
cians,  Dr.  Thomas  King  Chambers  delivered  the 
Harveian  oration  on  the  “  Progress  of  Therapeutics,” 
a  subject  on  which  few  men  have  a  better  right  to 
speak  than  the  author  of  ‘  Digestion  and  its  Derange¬ 
ments,’  the  *  Renewal  of  Life,’  and  of  ‘  Indigestion 
Functionally  Treated.’  The  accomplished  lecturer 
gave  a  rapid  survey  of  the  history  of  medicine,  show¬ 
ing  the  gradual  liberation  of  medical  practice  from 
the  doctrine  that  disease  is  something  external  to 
the  body  —  something  to  be  expelled  from  it  by 
various  kinds  of  treatment.  Disease,  he  said,  was 
now  regarded  as  a  condition, — a  lowered  one,  indeed, 
but  still  a  condition — of  vitality.  Towards  the  re¬ 
storation  of  life  to  its  normal  standard,  therapeutic 
aid  was  now  directed;  and  the  profession  was  be¬ 
coming  more  successful  in  this  undertaking  from  the 
teachings  of  “designed  experiment”  on  the  lower 
animals,  and  from  the  aid  supplied  by  such  instru¬ 
ments  as  the  sphygmograph.  With  the  multiplica¬ 
tion  of  those  aids,  the  lecturer  anticipated  a  much 
more  certain  and  satisfactory  means  of  diagnosis, 
suggesting  much  more  successful  plans  and  treat¬ 
ment  than  had  hitherto  been  adopted.  Dr.  Chambers 
brought  liis  oration,  amid  loud  applause,  to  an  effec¬ 
tive  close ;  after  which  the  President,  in  the  name 
of  himself  and  the  Council,  proceeded  to  award  the 
“Baly  medal”  to  the  most  distinguished  cultivator 
of  physiological  science  within  the  year.  After  a 
few  appropriate  observations  in  compliment  to  its 
late  founder,  and  in  reference  to  the  encouragement 
it  was  calculated  to  give  to  scientific  medicine,  the 
medal,  twenty  guineas  in  value,  was  awarded  to  Dr. 
Lionel  Beale. 


AMERICAN  REGULATION  OF  TRADE. 

Now  that  “regulations”  affecting  trade  are  a  matter 
of  so  much  interest,  the  following  account,  given  by 
Mr.  T.  Hughes,  M.P.,  of  the  regulations  in  refer¬ 
ence  to  the  sale  of  alcoholic  liquors  in  Massachusetts 
is  worth  notice : — 

“  As  regards  the  ‘  liquor  laws,’  he  did  not  stop  to  dis¬ 
cuss  the  question  of  absolute  prohibition,  but  spoke  fa¬ 
vourably  of  the  stringent  laws  of  Massachusetts,  where 
a  strict  and  direct  legal  supervision  over  the  sale  of 
liquor  was  exercised.  A  State  Commissioner,  appointed 
ever}’  year,  controlled  the  sale  of  alcoholic  liquors,  which 
were  vended  by  a  small  number  of  authorized  agents — 
only  four  for  the  city  of  Boston.  The  agents  could  only 
obtain  their  supplies  from  the  State  Commissioner,  and 
they  were  bound  to  record  all  their  sales.  All  liquor 
had  to  be  tested  and  certified  by  the  public  assayer. 


Persons  known  as  confirmed  drinkers  might  be  reported 
by  their  friends  or  guardians,  and  it  was  a  penal  offence 
for  the  agents  to  sell  to  them,  damages  being  also,  in 
addition,  recoverable  from  them  by  action.  The  prac¬ 
tical  result  of  these  stringent  laws  was  that  a  drunken 
man  was  nowhere  to  be  seen,  and  that  a  thirsty  one 
might  have  to  travel  through  many  streets  before  he 
came  to  a  liquor  shop.” 


SPECTROSCOPIC  TEST  FOR  BLOOD. 

We  call  our  readers’  attention  to  the  letter  on  this 
subject  by  Mr.  Stoddart,  of  Bristol,  for,  as  an  expe¬ 
rienced  observer,  his  opinion  carries  much  weight 
with  it,  more  especially  since  his  remarks  are  free 
from  any  exaggeration. 


The  Managers  of  the  London  Institution,  in  ac¬ 
cordance  with  the  recommendation  of  the  Annual 
Meeting  of  Proprietors,  have  resolved  to  afford  op¬ 
portunities  during  the  ensuing  season  for  the  reading' 
and  discussion  of  communications  on  subjects  of 
special  interest  in  science,  literature,  commerce  and 
the  arts,  provided  they  receive  such  offers  as  will 
ensure  an  adequate  succession  of  suitable  papers. 
It  is  believed  that  this  proposed  extension  of  the  use 
of  the  commodious  lecture  theatre  in  Finsbury  Circus 
will  produce  a  series  of  attractive  meetings,  similar 
in  character  to  those  of  the  Society  of  Arts,  but  re¬ 
presenting  directly  the  business  and  thought  of  the 
City.  It  is  not  intended  to  restrict  the  reading  and 
discussion  of  papers  to  the  proprietors  of  the  Insti¬ 
tution,  or  to  limit  the  range  of  subjects  otherwise 
than  by  the  provisions  of  the  Ro}ral  Charter,  which 
preclude  theology  and  politics. 


The  Newark  (New  Jersey)  Pharmaceutical  Asso¬ 
ciation  has  published  a  formulary  of  elixirs  and 
unofficinal  preparations,  and  issued  it  to  the  medical 
profession  of  that  city,  together  with  a  circular  irt 
which  they  deprecate  the  prescribing  of  such  fancy 
preparations  of  particular  manufacturers,  since  many 
of  them  cannot  contain  the  constituents  they  profess, 
to  contain.  The  members  of  the  Association  propose 
in  all  cases  to  dispense  those  made  according  to  the 
formulae  agreed  upon,  unless  a  special  preparation 
is  indicated. 


Mr.  Robert  Howard,  whose  death  we  chronicle 
this  week,  was  the  head  of  the  well-known  firm  of 
Howard  and  Sons.  He  was  a  son  of  the  celebrated 
meteorologist  Luke  Howard.  Mr.  Robert  Howard 
had  been  in  delicate  health  for  some  time,  and  died 
at  liis  estate  in  Dorsetshire.  He  was  buried  in 
Abney  Park  Cemetery  on  the  8th  instant. 


We  much  regret  to  learn  that  Mr.  Francis  Sutton, 
of  Norwich,  has  been  suffering  from  a  severe  attack 
of  pleurisy,  which  has  left  him  in  a  very  weak  state.. 


June  24,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1035 


Srsnsiirftotts  of  %  |1|araramttifitl  Sffdftji. 

MEETING  OF  THE  COUNCIL. 

June  22nd,  1871. 

MU.  A.  F.  HASELDEN,  PRESIDENT,  IN*  THE  CHAIR. 

Present — Messrs.  Atherton,  Betty,  Bottle,  Brown, 
Carr,  Greenish,  Groves,  Haselden,  Hills,  Mackay,  Rey¬ 
nolds,  Sandford,  Savage,  Shaw,  Stoddart,  Williams  and 
Woolley  : — 

Deputations  in  reference  to  the  proposed  Pharmacy 
Bill  from  various  parts  of  the  country  and  London  were 
received : — 

A  deputation  of  delegates  to  the  Pharmaceutical 
Council  upon  their  action  with  regard  to  the  Amended 
Pharmacy  Act,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Edwin  B.  Vizor, 
Pimlico ;  John  Owen,  Islington ;  Jas.  Baynes,  Hull ; 
Atkinson  Pickering,  Hull ;  Chas.  B.  Bell,  Hull ;  Jolin 
Unthank,  Wakefield  ;  John  Wade,  London ;  Joseph  W. 
Swan,  Newcastlc-on-Tyne  ;  Robert  Hampson,  Manches¬ 
ter;  Barnard  S.  Proctor,  Newcastle;  Thos.  S.  John¬ 
son,  Manchester;  Thomas  D'Aubney,  London;  Jabez 
Waterhouse,  Ashton-under- Lyne  ;  G.  F.  Schacht,  Clif¬ 
ton ;  John  Pitman,  Bristol;  AV.  AV.  Urwick,  London; 
AV.  H.  AVaterhouse,  Ashton;  Job  Preston,  Sheffield; 
Edward  Taylor,  Rochdale. 

Also  a  deputation  from  Glasgow,  consisting  of  Mr. 
Alexander  Kinninmont,  Mr.  Davison  and  Mr.  Fairlie. 

A  Memorial  from  Pharmaceutical  Chemists  and  Che¬ 
mists  and  Druggists,  requesting  a  Special  General  Meet¬ 
ing  to  he  convened,  was  received,  but,  being  informal, 
the  roquest  could  not  be  complied  with. 

Moved  by  Mr.  Reynolds,  seconded  by  Mr.  Greenish — 
That  the  result  of  the  interview  of  the  Parliamentary 
Committee  with  the  Right  Hon.  AV.  E.  Forster  is 
not  satisfactory,  and  that  considering  the  widely- 
felt  objection  to  the  proposed  amended  Pharmacy 
Bill,  this  Council  determines  to  oppose  the  passing 
of  such  a  measure  in  the  House  of  Commons. 

Amendment,  moved  by  Mr.  Sandford,  seconded  by 
Mr.  Groves, — 

That  it  is  undesirable  that  this  Council  should  commit 
itself  to  such  decided  opposition  to  the  Bill ;  and  that 
the  course,  proposed  at  the  last  special  meeting  of 
Council,  of  watching  the  progress  of  the  measure 
and  preventing  the  passing  of  obnoxious  clauses, 
should  be  continued,  the  more  especially  as  this 
course  affords  an  opportunity  of  obtaining  advan¬ 
tages  for  chemists  generally. 

For  the  Amendment — 

Messrs.  Groves,  Haselden,  Hills,  Mackay,  Sandford, 
Stoddart  and  AVilliams. 

Against — 

Messrs.  Atherton,  Betty,  Bottle,  Brown,  Greenish, 
Reynolds,  Savage,  Shaw  and  AVoolley. 

The  Amendment  was  therefore  lost. 

Mr.  Carr  was  not  present  at  the  division. 

On  the  original  motion  being  again  put,  the  following 
Amendment  was  moved  by  Mr.  Groves,  seconded  by  Mr. 
Hills : — 

That  any  decided  opposition  to  the  Bill  is  unadvisable 
at  the  present  time,  as  the  appointment  with  Mr. 
Forster  on  Saturday  might  furnish  reasons  for  view¬ 
ing  the  Bill  in  a  more  favourable  light. 

For  the  Amendment — 

Messrs.  Groves,  Haselden,  Hills,  Sandford,  Stoddart 
and  AVilliams. 

Against — 

Messrs.  Atherton,  Betty”,  Bottle,  Brown,  Greenish, 
Rcy  nol  Is,  Savage,  Shaw  and  AV  oolley. 

The  Amen  Imcnt  was  therefore  lost. 


Mr.  Mackay  did  not  vote  and  Mr.  Carr  was  not  pre¬ 
sent  at  the  division. 

On  the  original  motion  being  again  put,  it  was  moved 
by  Mr.  Brown  and  seconded  by  Mr.  Bottle  : — 

Resolved — That  tho  words  “during  this  Session  of 
Parliament”  be  added  to  tho  original  motion. 

The  original  motion,  with  the  addition  of  those  words, 
was  then  put. 

For  the  Motion — 

Messrs.  Atherton,  Betty,  Bottle,  Brown,  Greenish, 
Mackay”,  Reynolds,  Savage,  Shaw  and  AVoolley”. 

Against — • 

Messrs.  Groves,  Haselden  and  Sandford. 

The  motion  was  therefore  carried. 

Messrs.  Hills,  Stoddart  and  AVilliams  were  present, 
but  did  not  vote.  Mr.  Carr  was  not  present  at  tho 
division. 

Moved  by”  Mr.  Savage,  seconded  byr  Mr.  Bottle,  and 

Resolved — That  the  Secretary”  of  this  Society*  do  attend 
with  the  deputation  of  chemists  appointed  to  wait 
upon  the  Right  Hon.  AV.  E.  Forster,  at  three  o’clock 
to-day,  and  take  with  him  a  copy*  of  the  Resolu¬ 
tion  of  this  Meeting  of  Council  and  leave  tho  same 
with  Mr.  Forster ;  and  that  the  Society*’s  Solicitor  do 
also  attend. 

The  Council  then  adjourned  until  five  o’clock. 

On  the  reassembling  of  the  Council — 

Moved  by*  Mr.  Brown,  seconded  by*  Mr.  Shaw — 

Resolved — That  a  memorial  be  drawn  up  by*  tho 
Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society*  and  for¬ 
warded  to  the  Vice-President  of  the  Privy  Council, 
urging  tho  withdrawal  or  postponement  of  tho 
Amended  Pharmacy*  Bill. 

It  was  then  proposed  by*  Mr.  AVoolley,  and  seconded 
by  Air.  Betty*, — 

That  this  Council  do  petition  the  House  of  Com¬ 
mons  not  to  pass  tho  Bill  now  before  it,  intituled 
“xVn  Act  to  Amend  the  Pharmacy*  Act,  1868,”  the 
seal  of  the  Society  being  attached  to  the  petition. 

For — 

Messrs.  Betty,  Bi  own,  GreenisI,  Mackay,  Reynolds, 

Shaw  and  AVoolley*. 

Against — 

Messrs.  Haselden  and  Sandford.  Messrs.  Hills  and 
AVilliams  did  not  vote. 

Moved  by  Air.  Shaw,  seconded  by  Air.  AAroolley, — 

Resolved — That  Alessrs.  Betty,  Brown,  Greenish  and 
Reynolds  be  appointed  a  Committee  to  direct  tho 
operations  of  the  Society*  in  communicating  with 
the  Local  Secretaries  and  members  upon  the  subject 
of  opposing  the  Bill. 


Tho  Council  then  adjourned  till  Saturday*  at  10.30  r.or. 


NOTTINGHAAI  AND  NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 
CHEAIISTS’  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Second  Annual  Aleeting  of  this  Society  was  held 
at  the  rooms,  Britannia  Chambers,  Pelham  Street,  on 
Tuesday,  the  30th  of  Alay. 

The  President,  Air.  J.  H.  Atherton*,  who  occupied 
the  chair,  alluded,  in  the  course  of  a  short  address,  to  the 
satisfactory  position  of  the  Society*,  and  complimented 
the  members  on  the  importance  of  the  work  of  the  past 
session,  more  especially  in  its  educational  efforts.  The 
classes  on  chemistry,  materia  medica  and  pharmacy  had 
been  well  attended  by  the  associates,  and  with  encoura¬ 
ging  results.  The  increase  in  the  number  of  members 
during  the  past  year,  and  the  unanimity  of  their  meet¬ 
ings,  were  a  source  of  congratulation  to  the  Council. 
The  President  then  mentioned  the  progress  made  in  tho 


103G 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  24, 1671. 


formation  of  the  museum,  and  expressed  a  "belief  that,  at 
the  commencement  of  the  next  session,  a  very  fair  num¬ 
ber  of  specimens  would  he  classified  and  arranged. 
After  referring  to  the  poison  regulations  proposed  by  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  at  the  request  of  the  Privy 
Council,  the  assistance  to  provincial  associations  by  the 
parent  society  and  other  matters  of  special  interest  to 
the  profession,  he  concluded  by  thanking  the  members 
for  the  invariable  courtesy  and  kindness  he  had  always 
received  at  their  hands  during  the  three  years  he  had 
held  the  position  as  president  of  their  society. 

The  Annual  Report  of  the  Council  was  then  read  and 
adopted. 

A  special  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  to  the  lecturers, 
more  especially  to  Mr.  Mayfield,  who  conducted  the 
class  on  materia  medica  and  pharmacy. 

The  following  officers  were  elected  for  the  ensuing- 
year: — President:  Mr.  J.  H.  Atherton,  F.C.S.  Vice- 
President:  Mr.  W.  H.  Parker.  Treasurer:  Mr.  John 
Rayner.  Plan.  Secretary :  Mr.  R.  Fitzhugh,  F.C.S. 
Council:  Messrs.  Woodward,  Jackson,  Mayfield,  W. 
Smith,  Whitworth,  F.  White,  Lewis  and  J.  J enkins. 


A  BILL  INTITULED  AN  ACT  FOR  THE  SAFE 
KEEPING  OF  PETROLEUM  AND  OTHER 
SUBSTANCES  OF  A  LIKE  NATURE. 

W  liereas  it  is  expedient  to  consolidate  and  amend  the 
law  relating  to  the  safe  keeping  of  petroleum  and  other 
substances  of  a  like  nature  : 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Queen’s  most  Excellent  Majesty, 
by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Lords  Spi¬ 
ritual  and  Temporal,  and  Commons,  in  this  present  Par¬ 
liament  assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  as 
follows : 

1.  This  Act  may  be  cited  as  “The  Petrolemn  Act, 
1871.” 

2.  In  this  Act,  if  not  inconsistent  with  the  context, 
the  following  terms  have  the  meanings  hereinafter  as¬ 
signed  to  them  ;  that  is  to  say, 

The  term  “borough”  means — 

In  England  any  place  for  the  time  being-  subject  to 
the  provisions  of  the  Act  of  the  session  of  the  fifth 
and  sixth  years  of  the  reign  of  King  William  the 
Fourth,  chapter  seventy-six,  “to  provide  for  the 
regulation  of  municipal  corporations  in  England  and 
Wales,”  and  the  Acts  amending  the  same ; 

In  Scotland  any  royal  burgh  and  any  burgh  or  town 
returning  or  contributing  to  return  a  member  or 
members  to  serve  in  Parliament ; 

In  Ireland  any  place  for  the  time  being  subject  to  the 
provisions  of  the  Act  of  the  session  of  the"  third  and 
fourth  years  of  the  reign  of  her  present  Majesty, 
chapter  one  hundred  and  eight,  “  for  the  regulation 
of  municipal  corporations  in  Ireland,  and  the  Acts 
amending  the  same ;” 

The  term  “  person”  includes  a  body  corporate  : 

The  term  “  Secretary  of  State”  means  one  of  her  Ma¬ 
jesty’s  Principal  Secretaries  of  State: 

The  term  “Lord  Lieutenant”  means  the  Lord  Lieu¬ 
tenant  of  Ireland  or  the  lords  justices  or  other  chief 
-governors  or  governor  of  Ireland  for  the  time  being : 

The  term  “harbour”  means  any  harbour  properly  so 
called,  whether  natural  or  artificial,  and  any  port,  haven, 
estuary,  navigable  river,  dock,  pier,  jetty,  or  other  works 
in  or  at  which  ships  do  or  can  ship  or  unship  goods  or 
passengers : 

The  term  “  harbour  authority”  includes  any  persons 
or  person  being  or  claiming  to  be  proprietors  or  pro¬ 
prietor  of  or  intrusted  with  the  duty  or  invested  with 
the  power  of  improving,  maintaining,  or  managing  anv 
_  harbour : 

The  term  “  ship”  includes  every  description  of  vessel 


used  in  navigation,  whether  propelled  by  oars  or  other¬ 
wise  : 

The  term  “  Summary  Jurisdiction  Acts”  means,  is 
follows  : 

As  to  England,  the  Act  of  the  session  of  the  eleventh 
and  twelfth  years  of  the  reign  of  her  present  Ma¬ 
jesty,  chapter  forty-three,  intituled  “An  Act  to 
facilitate  the  performance  of  the  duties  of  justices 
of  the  peace  out  of  sessions  within  England  and 
W  ales  with  respect  to  summary  convictions  and 
orders,”  and  any  Acts  amending  the  same  : 

As  to  Scotland,  “The  Summary  Procedure  Act,  1864 

As  to  Ireland,  within  the  police  district  of  Dublin  me¬ 
tropolis,  the  Acts  regulating  the  powers  and  duties 
of  justices  of  the  peace  for  such  district,  or  of  the 
police  of  such  district;  and  elsewhere  in  Ireland, 
“  The  Petty  Sessions  (Ireland)  Act,  1851,”  and  any 
Act  amending  the  same  : 

The  term  “Court  of  Summary  Jurisdiction”  means 
and  includes  any  justice  or  justices  of  the  peace,  sheriff 
or  sheriff  substitute,  metropolitan  police  magistrate,  sti¬ 
pendiary  or  other  magistrate,  or  officer,  by  whatever 
name  called,  to  whom  jurisdiction  is  given  by  The  Sum¬ 
mary  Jurisdiction  Acts  or  any  Acts  therein  referred  to, 
or  to  proceedings  before  whom  the  provisions  of  the 
Summary  Jurisdiction  Acts  are  or  may  be  made  appli¬ 
cable  : 

The  term  “county  rate”  means  as  regards  Scotland 
the  county  general  assessment  leviable  in  pursuance  of 
“  The  County  General  Assessment  (Scotland)  Act,  1868.” 

3.  For  the  purposes  of  this  Act  the  term  “petroleum” 
includes  any  rock  oil,  Rangoon  oil,  Burmak  oil,  oil  made 
from  petroleum,  coal,  schist,  shale,  peat,  or  other  bitu¬ 
minous  substance,  and  any  products  of  petroleum,  or  any 
of  the  above-mentioned  oils  ;  and  the  term  “  petroleum, 
to  which  this  Act  applies,”  means  such  of  the  petroleum 
so  defined,  as,  when  tested  in  manner  set  forth  in  sche¬ 
dule  one  to  this  Act,  gives  off  an  hifiammable  vapour  at 
a  temperature  of  less  than  eighty- five  degrees  of  Fah¬ 
renheit's  thermometer. 

4.  Every  harbour  authority  shall  frame  and  submit 
for  confirmation  to  the  Board  of  Trade  bye-laws  for 
regulating  the  place  or  places  at  which  ships  carrying 
petroleum  to  which  this  Act  applies  are  to  be  moored  in 
the  harbour  over  which  such  authority  has  jurisdiction, 
and  are  to  land  their  cargo,  and  for  regulating  the  time 
and  mode  of,  and  the  precautions  to  be  taken  on,  such 
landing.  The  harbour  authority  shall  publish  the  bye¬ 
laws  so  framed  with  a  notice  of  the  intention  of  such 
authority  to  apply  for  the  confirmation  thereof.  The 
Board  of  Trade  may  confirm  such  bye-laws  with  or 
without  any  omission,  addition  or  alteration,  or  may  dis¬ 
allow  the  same. 

Every  such  bye-law  when  confirmed  shall  be  pub¬ 
lished  by  the  harbour  authority,  and  may  be  from  time 
to  time  altered  or  repealed  by  a  bye-law  made  in  like 
manner.  Bye-lav, rs  under  this  section  shall  be  published 
in  such  manner  as  the  Board  of  Trade  may  from  time  to 
time  diroct. 

If  at  any  time  it  appears  to  the  Board  Of  Trade  that 
there  is  no  bye-law  for  the  time  being  in  force  under 
this  section  in  any  harbour  the  Board  of  Trade  may,  by 
notice,  require  the  harbour  authority  of  such  harbour  to 
frame  and  submit  to  them  a  bye-law  for  the  purposes  of 
this  section,  and  if  such  harbour  authority  make  default 
in  framing  a  bye-law  and  obtaining  the  confirmation 
thereof  within  the  time  limited  by  such  notice,  the  Board 
of  Trade  may  make  a  bye-law  for  the  purposes  of  this 
section,  and  such  bye-law  shall  have  the  same  effect  as 
if  it  had  been  framed  by  the  harbour  authority  and  con¬ 
firmed  by  the  Board  of  Trade. 

Where  any  ship  or  cargo  is  moored,  landed  or  other¬ 
wise  dealt  with  in  contravention  of  any  bye-law  for  the 
time  being  in  force  under  this  Act  in  any  harbour,  the 
owner  and  master  of  such  ship,  or  the  owner  of  such 
cargo,  as  the  case  may  be,  shall  each  incur  a  penalty  not 


June  24,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1037 


exceeding  fifty  pounds  for  each  day  during  which  such 
contravention  continues,  and  it  shall  he  lawful  for  the 
harbour  master  or  any  other  person  acting  under  the 
orders  of  the  harbour  authority  of  such  harbour  to  cause 
such  ship  or  cargo  to  be  removed,  at  the  expense  of  the 
owner  thereof,  to  such  place  as  may  be  in  conformity 
with  the  said  bye-law,  and  all  expenses  incurred  in  such 
removal  may  be  recovered  in  the  same  manner  in  which 
penalties  are  by  this  Act  made  recoverable. 

5.  The  owner  or  master  of  every  ship  carrying  a  cargo 
consisting  wholly  or  in  part  of  petroleum  to  which  this 
Act  applies,  on  entering  any  harbour  within  the  United 
Kingdom,  shall  give  notice  of  the  nature  of  such  cargo 
to  the  harbour  authority  having  jurisdiction  over  such 
harbour. 

If  such  notice  is  not  given,  the  owner  and  master  of 
such  ship  shall  each  incur  a  penalty  not  exceeding  the 
value  of  such  ship  and  cargo. 

6.  Where  any  petroleum  to  which  this  Act  applies — 

(ff)  Is  kept  at  any  place  except  during  the  seven  days 

next  after  it  has  been  imported  ;  or 

(b)  Is  sent  or  conveyed  by  land  or  water  between  any 

two  places  in  the  United  Kingdom ;  or 

(c)  Is  sold  or  exposed  for  sale ; 

the  vessel  containing  such  petroleum  shall  have  attached 
thereto  a  label  in  conspicuous  characters,  stating  the 
description  of  the  petroleum,  with  the  addition  of  the 
words  “dangerously  infiammablo,”  and  with  the  addi¬ 
tion, — 

(a)  In  the  case  of  a  vessel  kept,  of  the  name  and  ad¬ 

dress  of  the  consignee  or  owner  : 

(b)  In  the  case  of  a  vessel  sent  or  conveyed,  of  the 

name  and  address  of  the  sender  : 

(c)  In  the  case  of  a  vessel  sold  or  exposed  for  sale,  of 

the  name  and  address  of  the  vendor. 

All  petroleum  to  which  this  Act  applies  which  is  kept, 
sent,  conveyed,  sold  or  exposed  for  sale,  in  contravention 
of  this  section,  shall,  together  with  the  vessel  containing 
the  same,  be  forfeited,  and  in  addition  thereto,  the  person 
keeping,  sending,  selling  or  exposing  for  sale  the  same, 
shall  for  each  offence  be  liable  to  a  penalty  not  exceeding- 
five  pounds. 

7.  Save  as  hereinafter  mentioned,  after  the  passing  of 
this  Act  petroleum  to  which  this  Act  applies  shall  not 
be  kept,  except  in  pursuance  of  a  licence  given  by  such 
local  authority  as  is  in  this  Act  mentioned. 

All  petroleum  kept  in  contravention  of  this  section 
shall,  together  with  the  vessel  containing  the  same,  be 
forfeited,  and  in  addition  thereto,  the  occupier  of  the 
place  in  which  such  petroleum  is  so  kept  shall  be  liable  ; 
to  a  penalty  not  exceeding  twenty  pounds  a  day  for  each 
day  during  which  such  petroleum  is  so  kept. 

This  section  shall  not  apply  to  any  petroleum  kept 
either  for  private  use  or  for  sale,  provided  the  following 
conditions  are  complied  with  : — • 

(1)  That  it  is  kept  in  separate  glass,  earthenware,  or 
metal  vessels,  each  of  which  contains  not  more  than 
half  a  pint,  and  is  securely  stopped : 

(2)  That  the  aggregate  amount  kept,  supposing  the  whole  j 

contents  of  the  vessels  to  be  in  bulk,  does  not  exceed 
three  gallons. 

8.  The  following  bodies  shall  respectively  be  the  local 
authority  to  grant  licences  under  this  Act  in  the  districts 
hereinafter  mentioned  ;  (this  is  to  say,) 

(1)  In  the  city  of  London,  excopt  as  hereafter  in  this 

section  mentioned,  the  Court  of  the  Lord  Mayor 
and  aldermen  of  the  said  city : 

(2)  In  the  metropolis  (that  is  in  places  for  the  time 

being  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Metropolitan 
Board  of  Works  under  “  The  Metropolis  Manage¬ 
ment  Act,  1855  ”),  except  the  City  of  London,  and 
except  as  hereafter  in  this  section  mentioned,  the 
Metropolitan  Board  of  Works : 

(3)  In  any  borough  in  England  or  Ireland,  except  as 

hereafter  in  this  section  mentioned,  the  mayor, 
aldermen,  and  burgesses  acting  by  the  Council : 


(4)  In  any  place  in  England  or  Ireland,  except  as- 
hereafter  in  this  section  mentioned,  within  the 
jurisdiction  of  any  trustees  or  improvement  com¬ 
missioners  appointed  under  the  provisions  of  any 
local  or  general  Act  of  Parliament,  and  not  beings 
a  borough  or  comprising  any  part  of  a  borough, 
the  trustees  or  commissioners : 

(5)  In  any  borough  in  Scotland,  except  as  hereafter  ia. 
this  section  mentioned,  the  town  council ; 

(6)  In  any  place  in  Scotland,  except  as  hereafter  in 
this  section  mentioned,  within  the  jurisdiction  of 
police  commissioners  or  trustees  exercising  tho 
functions  of  police  commissioners  under  any  gene¬ 
ral  or  local  Act,  and  not  being  a  borough  or  com¬ 
prising  any  part  of  a  borough,  the  police  commis¬ 
sioners  or  trustees : 

(7)  In  any  harbour  within  the  jurisdiction  of  a  harbour 
authority,  whether  situate  or  not  within  the  juris¬ 
diction  of  any  local  authority  before  in  this  section 
mentioned,  the  harbour  authority,  to  the  exclusion 
of  any  other  local  authority : 

(8)  In  any  place  in  which  there  is  no  local  authority 
as  before  in  this  section  defined,  in  England  or* 
Ircland,  the  justices  in  petty  sessions  assembled, 
and  in  Scotland  any  two  or  more  justices  of  the 
peace  for  the  county  sitting  as  judges  in  the- 
justice  of  peace  court. 

9.  Licences  in  pursuance  of  this  Act  shall  be  valid  if 
I  signed  by  two  or  more  of  the  persons  constituting  the 

local  authority,  or  executed  in  any  other  way  in  which 
!  other  licences,  if  any,  granted  by  such  authority  are 
;  executed.  Licences  may  be  granted  for  a  limited  time, 

'  and  may  be  subject  to  renewal  or  not  in  such  manner  as 
the  local  authority  think  necessary. 

There  may  be  annexed  to  any  such  licence  such  con¬ 
ditions  as  to  the  mode  of  storage,  the  nature  and  situation 
of  the  premises  in  which,  and  the  nature  of  the  goods 
with  which  petroleum  to  which  this  Act  applies  is  to  be 
stored,  the  facilities  for  the  testing  of  such  petroleum 
from  time  to  time,  the  mode  of  carrying  such  petroleum 
within  the  district  of  the  licensing  authority,  and  gene-  • 
rally  as  to  the  safe  keeping  of  such  petroleum  as  may 
seem  expedient  to  the  local  authority. 

Any  licensee  violating  any  of  the  conditions  of  his 
licence  shall  be  deemed  to  be  an  unlicensed  person. 
There  may  be  charged  in  respect  of  each  licence  granted  . 
in  pursuance  of  this  Act  such  sum,  not  exceeding  five- 
shillings,  as  the  local  authority  may  think  fit  to  charge. 

10.  If  on  any  application  for  a  licence  under  this  Act 
the  local  authority  refuse  the  licence,  or  grant  the  same 
only  on  conditions  with  which  the  applicant  is  dissa¬ 
tisfied,  the  local  authority  shall,  if  required  by  the  ap¬ 
plicant,  deliver  to  him  in  writing  under  the  hand  or- 
hands  of  one  or  more  of  the  persons  constituting  tho- 
local  authority,  a  certificate  of  the  grounds  on  which 
they  refused  the  licence  or  annexed  conditions  to  the 
grant  thereof. 

The  applicant  within  ten  days  from  the  time  ox  tho 
delivery  of  the  certificate  may  transmit  the  same  to  a. 
Secx-etary  of  State  if  the  application  is  for  a  licence  in. 
England  or  Scotland,  and  to  the  Lord  Lieutenant  if  the 
application  is  for  a  licence  in  Ireland,  together  with  a 
memoi'ial,  praying  that  notwithstanding  such  refusal 
the  licence  may  be  granted,  or  that  the  conditions  may 
not  be  imposed,  or  may  be  altei'ed  or  modified  in  such 
manner  and  to  such  extent  as  may  be  set  forth  in  such, 
memorial. 

It  shall  be  lawful  for  the  Secretary  of  State,  or  the- 
Lord  Lieutenant,  if  he  think  fit,  on  consideration  of  such 
memoi-ial  and  certificate,  and,  if  he  think  it  necessary  or 
desirable,  after  due  inquiry  and  a  report  by  such  pei-son 
as  he  may  appoint  for  that  purpose,  to  grant  the  licence 
prayed  for,  either  absolutely  or  with  such  conditions  as 
he  thinks  fit,  or  to  alter  or  modify  the  conditions  imposed 
by  the  local  authoi'ity ;  and  the  licence  so  granted,  or 
altered  and  modified,  as  the  case  may  be,  when  certified. 


103S 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[J une  24,  1871. 


under  the  hand  of  a  Secretary  of  State,  or  the  Lord 
lieutenant,  shall  be  to  all  intents  as  valid  as  if  granted 
by  the  local  authority. 

11.  Any  officer  authorized  by  the  local  authority  may 
purchase  any  petroleum  from  any  dealer  in  it,  or  may, 
on  producing  a  copy  of  his  appointment,  purporting  to 
be  certified  by  the  clerk  or  some  member  of  the  local 
authority,  or  producing  some  other  sufficient  authority, 
require  the  dealer  to  show  him  every  or  any  place,  and 
all  or  any  of  the  vessels  in  which  any  petroleum  in  his 
possession  is  kept,  and  to  give  him  samples  of  such 
petroleum  on  payment  of  the  value  of  such  samples. 

When  the  officer  has  by  either  of  the  means  afore¬ 
said  taken  samples  of  petroleum,  he  may  declare  in 
writing  to  the  dealer  that  he  is  about  to  test  the  same,  or 
■cause  the  same  to  be  tested,  in  manner  provided  by  this 
Act,  and  it  shall  be  lawful  for  him  to  test  the  same  or 
cause  the  same  to  be  tested,  at  any  convenient  place  at 
such  reasonable  time  as  he  may  appoint,  and  the  dealer 
or  any  person  appointed  by  him  may  bo  present  at  the 
testing,  and  if  it  appear  to  the  officer  or  other  person  so 
testing  that  the  petroleum  from  which  such  samples  have 
been  taken  is  petroleum  to  which  this  Act  applies,  such 
officer  or  other  person  may  certify  such  fact,  and  the  cer¬ 
tificate  so  given  shall  be  receivable  as  evidence  in  any 
proceedings  that  may  be  taken  against  a  dealer  in  petro¬ 
leum  in  pursuance  of  this  Act ;  but  it  shall  be  lawful  for 
a  dealer  proceeded  against  to  give  evidence  in  proof  that 
such  certificate  is  incorrect,  and  thereupon  the  court  be¬ 
fore  which  any  such  proceedings  may  bo  taken  may,  if 
such  court  think  fit,  appoint  some  person  skilled  in  test¬ 
ing  petroleum  to  examine  the  samples  to  which  such  cer¬ 
tificate  relates,  and  to  declare  whether  such  certificate  is 
correct  or  incorrect. 

Any  expenses  incurred  in  testing  any  petroleum  of 
such  dealer  in  pursuance  of  this  section  shall,  if  such 
dealer  be  convicted  of  keeping,  sending,  conveying,  sell¬ 
ing,  or  exposing  for  sale,  petroleum  in  contravention  of 
this  Act,  be  deemed  to  be  a  portion  of  the  costs  of  the 
proceedings  against  him,  and  shall  be  paid  by  him  ac¬ 
cordingly.  In  any  other  event  such  expenses  shall  be 
paid  by  the  local  authority  out  of  any  funds  for  the  time 
being  in  their  hands,  and  in  case  the  local  authority  are 
the  j  ustices  out  of  the  county  rate  as  part  of  the  expenses 
■of  such  justices. 

12.  Any  dealer  who  refuses  to  show  to  any  officer  au¬ 
thorized  by  the  local  authority  every  or  any  place  or  all 
or  any  of  the  vessels  in  which  petroleum  in  his  possession 
is  kept,  or  to  give  him  such  assistance  as  he  may  require 
for  examining  the  same,  or  to  give  to  such  officer  samples 
■of  such  petroleum  on  payment  of  the  value  of  such 
samples,  or  who  wilfully  obstructs  the  local  authority,  or 
any  officer  of  the  local  authority,  in  the  execution  of  this 
Act,  shall  incur  a  penalty  not  exceeding  twenty  pounds. 

13.  Where  any  court  of  summary  jurisdiction  is  satis¬ 
fied  by  information  on  oath  that  there  is  reasonable 
ground  to  believe  that  any  petroleum  to  which  this  Act 
.■applies  is  being  kept,  sent,  conveyed,  or  exposed  for  sale 
within  the  j  urisdiction  of  such  court  in  contravention  of 
.this  Act,  at  any  place,  whether  a  building  or  not,  or  in 
.any  ship  or  vehicle,  such  court  shall  grant  a  warrant  by 
virtue  whereof  it  shall  be  lawful  for  any  person  named 
an  such  warrant  to  enter  the  place,  ship,  or  vehicle 
named  in  such  warrant,  and  every  part  thereof,  and 
.examine  the  same  and  search  for  petroleum  therein,  and 
take  samples  of  any  petroleum  found  therein,  and  if  any 
petroleum  to  which  this  Act  applies  be  found  therein, 
which  is  kept,  sent,  conveyed,  or  exposed  for  sale,  in 
■contravention  of  this  Act,  to  seize  and  remove  such  pe¬ 
troleum  and  the  vessel  containing  the  same,  and  to  de¬ 
tain  such  petroleum  and  vessel  until  some  court  of  sum¬ 
mary  jurisdiction  has  determined  whether  the  same  are 
•or  not  forfeited,  the  proceedings  for  which  forfeiture  shall 
be  commenced  forthwith  after  the  seizure. 

Any  person  seizing  any  petroleum  to  which  this  Act 
applies  in  pursuance  of  this  section  shall  not  be  liable  to 


any  suit  for  detaining  the  same,  or  for  any  loss  or  damage 
incurred  in  respect  of  such  petroleum,  otherwise  than  by 
any  wilful  act  or  neglect  while  the  same  is  so  detained. 

If  any  petroleum  to  which  this  Act  applies  is  seized  in 
pursuance  of  this  section  in  any  ship  or  vehicle,  the 
person  seizing  the  same  may  use  for  the  purposes  of  the 
removal  thereof,  during  twenty-four  hours  after  the 
seizure,  the  said  ship  or  vehicle,  with  the  tackle,  beasts, 
and  accoutrements  belonging  thereto,  and,  if  he  do  so, 
shall  pay  to  the  owner  thereof  a  reasonable  recompense 
for  the  use  thereof,  and  the  amount  of  such  recompense 
shall,  in  case  of  dispute,  be  settled  by  the  court  of  sum¬ 
mary  jurisdiction  before  whom  proceedings  for  the  for¬ 
feiture  are  taken,  and  may  be  recovered  in  like  manner 
as  penalties  under  this  Act  may  be  recovered. 

Any  person  who,  by  himself  or  by  any  one  in  his 
employ  or  acting  by  his  direction  or  with  his  consent, 
refuses  or  fails  to  admit  into  any  place  occupied  by  or 
under  the  control  of  such  person,  any  person  demanding 
to  enter  in  pursuance  of  this  section,  or  in  any  way  ob¬ 
structs  or  prevents  any  person  in  or  from  making  any 
such  search,  examination,  or  seizure,  or  taking  any  such 
samples  as  authorized  by  this  section,  shall  be  liable 
to  pay  a  penalty  not  exceeding  twenty  pounds,  and  to 
forfeit  all  petroleum  to  which  this  Act  applies  which  is 
found  in  his  possession  or  under  his  control. 

14.  Her  Majesty  may  from  time  to  time  make,  revoke 
and  vary  Orders  in  Council  directing  this  Act  or  any 
part  thereof  to  apply  to  any  substance,  and  this  Act,  or 
the  part  thereof  specified  in  the  Order  shall,  during  the 
continuance  of  the  Order,  apply  to  such  substance,  and 
shall  be  construed  and  have  effect  as  if  throughout  it 
such  substance  had  been  included  in  the  definition  of 
petroleum  to  which  this  Act  applies,  subject  to  the  fol¬ 
lowing  qualifications : 

(1)  The  quantity  of  any  substance  to  which  this  Act  is 

directed  by  Order  in  Council  to  apply,  which  may 
he  kept  without  a  licence,  shall  be  such  quantity 
only  as  is  specified  in  that  behalf  in  such  order, 
or  if  no  such  quantity  is  specified  no  quantity  may 
be  kept  without  a  licence ; 

(2)  The  label  on  the  vessel  containing  such  substance 

shall  be  such  as  may  be  specified  in  that  behalf 
in  the  order. 

15.  All  offences  and  penalties  under  this  Act,  and  all 
money  and  expenses  by  this  Act  directed  to  be  recovered 
as  penalties,  shall  be  prosecuted  and  recovered  under  the 
provisions  of  the  Summary  Jurisdiction  Acts  before  a 
court  of  summary  jurisdiction,  and  all  necessary  powers 
and  j  urisdictions  are  hereby  conferred  on  such  court  in 
Scotland. 

Provided  as  follows : 

1.  A  court  of  summary  jurisdiction  shall  not  impose  a 
penalty  exceeding  fifty  pounds,  but  any  such  court 
may  impose  that  or  any  less  penalty  for  any  one 
offence,  notwithstanding  the  offence  involves  a 
penalty  of  higher  amount. 

2.  The  “  Court  of  Summary  Jurisdiction,”  when  hear¬ 
ing  and  determining  an  information  or  complaint, 
shall  be  constituted  in  some  one  of  the  following 
manners ;  that  is  to  say, — 

(fl)  In  England,  either  of  two  or  more  justices  of  the 
peace  in  petty  sessions  sitting  at  a  place  appointed 
for  holding  petty  sessions,  or  of  one  of  the  magis¬ 
trates  hereinafter  mentioned,  sitting  alone  or  with 
others  at  some  court  or  other  place  appointed  for 
the  administration  of  justice  ;  that  is  to  say,  the 
Lord  Mayor  or  any  alderman  of  the  city  of  Lon¬ 
don,  a  metropolitan  police  magistrate,  a  stipen¬ 
diary  magistrate,  or  some  other  officer  or  officers 
for  the  time  being-  empowered  by  law  to  do  alone 
or  with  others  any  act  authorized  to  be  done  by 
more  than  one  justice  of  the  peace : 

(5)  In  Scotland,  of  two  or  more  justices  of  the  peace 
sitting  as  judges  in  a  justice  of  the  peace  court,  or 
of  one  of  the  magistrates  hereinafter  mentioned 


June  24, 1S71.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1030 


Bitting-  alone  or  with  others  at  some  court  or  other 
place  appointed  for  the  administration  of  justice  ; 
that  is  to  say,  the  sheriff  of  the  county  or  his  sub¬ 
stitute,  or  the  provost  or  other  magistrate  of  a 
royal  burgh,  or  some  other  officer  or  officers  for 
the  time  being  empowered  by  law  to  do  alone  or 
with  others  any  act  authorized  to  be  done  by  more 
than  one  justice  of  the  peace : 

■(e)  In  Ireland,  within  the  police  district  of  Dublin 
metropolis,  one  of  the  divisional  justices  of  the 
police  district  of  Dublin  metropolis,  and  elsewhere 
of  two  or  more  justices  of  the  peace  in  petty  ses¬ 
sions,  sitting  at  a  place  appointed  for  holding 
petty  sessions. 

3.  The  description  of  any  offence  under  this  Act  in  the 
words  of  such  Act  shall  be  sufficient  in  law. 

4.  Any  exception,  exemption,  proviso,  excuse  or  quali¬ 
fication,  whether  it  does  or  not  accompany  the  de¬ 
scription  of  the  offence  in  this  Act,  may  be  proved 
by  the  defendant,  but  need  not  be  specified  or  nega¬ 
tived  in  the  information ;  and  if  so  specified  or  nega¬ 
tived,  no  proof  in  relation  to  the  matters  so  specified 
or  negatived  shall  be  required  on  the  part  of  the 
informant  or  prosecutor. 

•5.  No  conviction  or  order  made  in  pursuance  of  this 
Act  shall  be  quashed  for  want  of  form  or  be  removed 
by  certiorari  or  otherwise,  either  at  the  instance  of 
the  crown  or  of  any  private  party,  into  any  superior 
court.  Moreover,  no  warrant  of  commitment  shall 
be  held  void  by  reason  of  any  defect  therein,  pro¬ 
vided  that  there  is  a  valid  conviction  to  maintain 
such  warrant,  and  it  is  alleged  in  the  warrant  that 
the  party  has  been  convicted. 

6.  All  forfeitures  may  be  sold  or  otherwise  disposed  of 
in  such  manner  as  the  court  may  direct. 

16.  All  powers  given  by  this  Act  shall  be  deemed  to 
the  in  addition  to  and  not  in  derogation  of  any  other 
powers  conferred  on  any  local  or  harbour  authority  by 
Act  of  Parliament,  law,  or  custom,  and  every  local  autho¬ 
rity  and  harbour  authority  may  exercise  such  other 
powers  in  the  same  manner  as  if  this  Act  had  not  passed ; 
and  nothing  in  this  Act  contained  shall  be  deemed  to 
•exempt  any  person  from  any  penalty  to  which  he  would 
•otherwise  be  subject  in  respect  of  a  nuisance. 

17.  The  Acts  mentioned  in  schedule  two  to  this  Act 
are  hereby  repealed  to  the  extent  in  that  schedule  men¬ 
tioned. 

Provided  that  such  repeal  shall  not  affect  any  Order 
in  Council  made,  or  any  licence  granted,  under  any  Act 
Iiereby  repealed  or  any  liability  or  penalty  incurred  in 
xespect  of  any  offence  committed  before  the  passing  of 
this  Act,  or  any  remedy  or  proceeding  for  enforcing  such 
liability  or  penalty,  and  every  such  order,  so  far  as  re¬ 
lates  to  the  matters  provided  for  by  this  Act,  and  every 
such  licence  shall  have  effect  as  if  it  had  been  made  or 
granted  under  this  Act. 

SCHEDULES. 

SCHEDULE  ONE. 

Directions  for  Testing  Petroleum  to  Ascertain  the  Tempe¬ 
rature  at  which  it  Gives  Off  Inflammable  Vapour. 

The  apparatus  to  be  employed  in  this  test  shall  con¬ 
sist  of : — 

(a)  An  outer  vessel  of  metal  to  contain  water,  about 
four  inches  in  diameter  and  four  inches  deep,  so  contrived 
that  some  source  of  heat,  such  as  a  spirit-lamp  or  gas- 
burner,  can  be  applied  to  it  to  heat  the  water  which  it 
contains  : — 

(5)  An  inner  vessel  of  thin  metal  to  contain  the  petro¬ 
leum  to  be  tested,  about  two  inches  in  diameter  and  two 
inches  deep,  provided  with  an  external  rim  or  flange, 
.above  which  the  edge  of  the  vessel  shall  rise  about  one- 
fourth  of  an  inch,  and  by  which  it  may  be  supported  in 
the  outer  vessel  so  that  its  contents  may  be  heated  through 
Ihe  medium  of  the  water. 


The  inner  vessel  for  the  petroleum  shall  bo  provided 
with  a  cover  of  thin  metal  fitting  to  the  edge  which  rises 
above  the  rim  or  flange  already  described.  This  cover 
shall  be  about  half  an  inch  deep,  so  that  its  top  may 
be  half  an  inch  above  the  surface  of  the  petroleum  to 
be  tested.  In  the  cover  there  must  be  fitted  a  Fahren¬ 
heit  thermometer  with  a  spherical  bulb,  in  the  scale  of 
which  ten  degrees  shall  occupy  at  least  half  an  inch  in 
length ;  the  thermometer  must  be  placed  in  such  a  posi¬ 
tion  that  the  bulb  shall  be  just  covered  by  the  petroleum. 

Near  the  front  edge  of  the  cover  there  shall  be  a  circular 
opening,  and  through  this  the  petroleum  is  to  be  tested. 
This  opening  is  to  be  provided  with  a  small  moveable 
cover. 

In  making  the  experiment  with  this  apparatus,  the 
water  in  the  outer  vessel  shall  in  every  case  be  heated  to 
eighty  degrees  Fahrenheit  before  the  petroleum  is  put 
into  the  inner  vessel.  When  the  temperature  of  the 
water  has  reached  eighty  degrees,  the  source  of  heat  must 
be  withdrawn,  the  inner  vessel  must  then  bo  filled  with 
the  petroleum  to  be  tested  up  to  the  level  of  the  outer 
rim  or  flange,  which  must  be  indicated  by  a  mark  on  the 
inside,  and  the  cover  with  the  thermometer  must  be  put 
in  its  place.  The  source  of  heat  must  now  be  again 
placed  beneath  the  vessel  containing  the  water,  and  when 
the  temperature  of  the  petroleum  in  the  inner  vessel  has 
reached  eighty  degrees,  a  small  light  should  be  applied  to 
the  circular  opening  in  the  cover ;  if  the  vapour  be  not 
ignited,  that  is  if  no  pale  blue  flash  or  flicker  of  light  be 
produced,  the  application  of  the  light  should  be  repeated 
at  about  every  two  degrees  of  increase  of  temperature 
until  the  flash  of  the  ignited  vapour  be  observed,  and  the 
temperature  at  which  the  first  flash  takes  place  is  the 
temperature  at  which  that  sample  of  potroleum  gives  off 
an  inflammable  vapour. 

In  every  case  a  second  experiment  shall  be  made  to 
check  the  results  obtained  in  the  first. 

A  model  of  the  apparatus  described  above  is  deposited 
with  the  warden  of  the  standards,  and  reference  shall  be 
made  to  it  in  case  of  any  difficulty  or  dispute  as  to  the 
meaning  of  the  terms  employed  in  this  description. 


SCHEDULE  TWO. 


Year  and 
Chapter. 

Title. 

Extent  of 
Repeal. 

25  &  26  Yict. 
c.  66. 

29  &  30  Yict. 
c.  69. 

31  &  32  Yict. 
c.  56. 

An  Act  for  the  Safe  Keep¬ 
ing  of  Petroleum. 

The  Carriage  and  De¬ 
posit  of  Dangerous 
Goods  Act,  1866. 

The  Petroleum  Act,  1868. 

The  whole 
Act. 
Sections 
eight  and 
nine. 

The  whole 
Act. 

HOUSE  OF  LORDS. 

Petroleum  Bill. — June  16. — A  Bill  for  the  safe  keep¬ 
ing  of  petroleum  and  other  substances  of  a  like  nature 
was  presented  by  the  Earl  of  Morley,  and  read  a  first 

time.  . 

June  20.— The  Earl  of  Morley,  in  moving  the  second 
reading  of  the  Petroleum  Bill,  explained  that  it  consoli¬ 
dated  the  former  Acts  on  the  subject,  and  the  existing 
regulations  as  to  the  landing,  storage,  etc. 


HOUSE  OF  COMMONS. 

Pharmacy  Bill. — June  19. — The  Pharmacy  Bill,  hav¬ 
ing  passed  the  House  of  Lords,  was  brought  in  and  read 
a  first  time.  Ordered  to  be  read  a  second  time  on  Mon¬ 
day,  J une  26.  .  _ 

Weights  and  Measures  (Metric  System)  Bill. 
June  21. — The  second  reading  of  this  Bill  was  deferred 
till  Wednesday,  July  26. 


1010 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  24, 1871. 


Illegal  Sale  of  Methylated  Spirit. 

On  the  8th  instant,  Messrs.  Taylor  and  Culver,  173 
and  175,  High  Street,  St.  Pancras,  were  prosecuted  at 
Bow  Street,  before  Mr.  Vaughan,  for  selling  methylated 
spirit  without  licence.  They  pleaded  “Guilty,”  but 
wished  the  case  to  be  heard  on  its  merits,  for  the  pur¬ 
pose  of  giving  them  power  to  take  legal  proceedings 
against  the  firm  who  supplied  them  with  the  article.  It 
was  proved  in  evidence  that  the  sample  sold  to  the  In¬ 
land  Revenue,  officer  was  part  of  a  gallon  of  what  had 
been  purchased  by  the  defendants  as  “Finish.”  The 
stone  bottle  containing  the  so-called  “  Finish”  was  pro¬ 
duced,  and  a  large  gummed  label  having  on  it  “  Methy¬ 
lated  Finish”  was  pasted  on  the  bottle. 

It  was  proved  by  Mr.  Bannister,  of  the  Inland  Re¬ 
venue  Laboratory,  that  the  sample  purchased  contained 
only  57  grains  of  gum  in  the  gallon,  instead  of  13122- 
grains.  The  magistrate  said,  that  from  the  invoice 
liandod  in,  and  from  the  bottle  produced,  labelled  as  it 
was,  he  was  of  opinion  the  defendants  had  been  imposed 
upon,  but  his  duty  was  to  fine  the  defendants  in  the 
mitigated  penalty  of  £12.  10s.,  as  the  offence,  had  been 
fully  proved.  Mr.  Dwelly,  the  Crown  Solicitor,  in¬ 
formed  the  magistrate  he  hoped  to  be  able  to  prosecute 
the  person  who  had  supplied  the  illegal  article,  but  at 
present  there  were  certain  difficulties  in  the  way  which 
he  would  not  then  name,  but  which,  however,  he  hoped 
to  remove  in  order  to  bring  the  proper  person  to  punish¬ 
ment. 


Sheffield  County  Court. — Thursday ,  June  loth,  1871. 


tain  how  ho  was  progressing.  Instead  of  doing  this, 
however,  he  sold  him  twenty  mercurial  pills,  and  never 
visited  him,  the  result  being  the  fearful  illness  to  which 
he  had  referred. 

The  plaintiff  was  then  called,  and  in  his  evidence  boro 
out  Mr.  Sugg’s  opening  statement.  He  said  that  during 
his  illness  he  went  to  the  Buxton  Hospital,  where  his 
expenses  were  £1  per  week;  but  in  cross-examination, 
by  Mr.  Whitfield,  he  admitted  that  he  was  a  free  patient 
at  that  institution,  and  explained  that  but  for  this  fact 
he  would  have  had  to  pay  the  amount  named.  On  the 
fourth  day  of  taking  the  pills  he  saw  the  defendant,  who, 
on  observing  his  state,  said,  “  Oh  dear !  You  must  not  take 
any  more.”  He  would  not  take  any  more  for  £100,000. 
He  had  lost  twenty-six  pounds  of  flesh  in  a  month  and 
four  or  five  days.  His  earnings  were  £1.  1  Is.  7 \d.  per 
week. 

Mr.  Harrison,  surgeon,  said  that  when  he  was  called 
in  to  attend  the  plaintiff  he  found  him  suffering  from 
general  debility  and  mercurial  salivation.  It  was  dan¬ 
gerous  to  take  cold  while  salivation  was  going  on.  Me¬ 
dical  men  seldom  administered  mercury  to  salivation, 
but  when  they  did  so  they  looked  carefully  after  the 
patient. 

Mr.  A.  Taylor,  house  surgeon,  Sheffield  Public  Hospi¬ 
tal,  said  that  when  he  first  saw  the  plaintiff  he  was 
suffering  from  salivation,  but  rheumatism  subsequently 
set  in.  Taking  cold  while  under  salivation  would  very 
likely  lead  to  rheumatism. 

Evidence  was  also  given  proving  the  plaintiff  s  absence 
from  work  and  his  previous  good  health. 

Mr.  Whitfield  submitted  that  there  was  no  case  to  go 


[Before  T.  Ellison,  Esq.,  Judged) 

Claim  against  a  Chemist. 

Thomas  Ingall,  saw  carpenter,  Oak  Street,  Ileeley, 
sought  to  recover  from  Joseph  John  Riding,  chemist 
and  druggist,  Devonshire  Street,  the  sum  of  £50,  damages 
alleged  to  have  been  sustained  through  the  administra¬ 
tion  of  improper  medicine.  Mr.  Sugg  appeared  for  the 
plaintiff,  and  Mr.  Whitfield  for  the  defendant,  the  case 
being  tiled  before  a  jury. 

In  opening  the  case,  Mr.  Sugg  said  that  the  defendant 
had  a  branch  establishment  at  Heelcy,  near  to  where  the 
plaintiff  resided.  On  December  17th,  the  plaintiff  was 
passing  along  the  street  when  the  defendant,  who  was 
near  his  shop  door,  asked  him  how  he  was.  Plaintiff 
replied  that  he  was  not  very  well,  upon  which  the  defen¬ 
dant  recommended  him  to  have  a  pennyworth  of  his 
pills.  He  took  the  pills  as  advised,  but  received  no 
benefit  from  them,  and  he  informed  the  defendant  of 
this  as  he  passed  his  shop  the  day  but  one  afterwards. 
The  defendant  thereupon  said  that  plaintiff’s  liver  was 
out  of  order,  and  told  him  he  had  better  take  some  of  his 
liver  pills,  supplying  him  with  a  box  containing  twenty, 
and  instructing  him  to  take  six  per  day.  This. he  did  for 
three  days,  and  on  the  fourth  morning  he  took  the  re¬ 
maining  two.  After  commencing  work  on  the  fourth 
day  he  was  taken  very  ill  while  at  work  ;  he  became 
very  weak,  his  tongue  was  swollen,  hi3  teeth  loose,  and 
salivation  set  in.  Up  to  that  time  he  had  been  strong 
and  healthy,  and  had  never  before  required  the  aid  of  a 
medical  man.  So  ill,  however,  did  he  become  on  that 
occasion,  that  he  fell  down  and  liad  to  bo  taken  home. 
Mr.  Harrison,  surgeon,  who  was  sent  for,  attended  him 
at  his  home  for  nearly  a  fortnight,  and  gave  it  as  his 
opinion  that  his  illness  was  the  effect  of  extreme  saliva¬ 
tion.  He  then  went  into  the  Sheffield  Hospital,  whore 
he  was  under  the  care  of  Mr.  Taylor.  For  sixteen  weeks 
the  plaintiff  was  unable  to  work,  and  his  health  was  not 
yet  quite  restored.  Mr.  Sugg  contended  that  the  defen¬ 
dant,  if  lie  represented  himself  as  skilled  in  diseases  such 
as  he  said  the  plaintiff  was  suffering  from,  ought  to  have 
given  him  proper  directions  in  reference  to°  the  medi¬ 
cine,  and  in  a  case  where  salivation  was  deemed  neces¬ 
sary,  he  should  have  called  to  see  the  plaintiff  to  ascer- 


to  the  j  ury.  The  defendant  did  not  hold  himself  out  as. 
capable  of  curing  these  diseases,  but  simply  said,  “  Try 
my  pills.” 

His  Honour  said  that  the  law  now  was  that  every 
person  who  held  himself  out  as  following  any  skilful 
employment  was  bound  to  bring  to  the  exercise  of  it  a 
reasonable  amount  of  skill.  This  applied  to  medical 
men,  but  not  to  chemists  and  druggists,  who  were  simply 
sellers  of  drugs.  There  was  a  case  in  which  a  person 
went  to  a  blacksmith  to  have  a  tooth  drawn,  and  the 
latter  broke  his  jaw.  He  sued  for  damages,  and  the 
Court  held  th.it  there  was  no  cause  of  action,  because  the 
man  should  not  have  gone  to  a  blacksmith  under  such, 
circumstances. 

Mr.  Sugg  contended  that  in  the  present  case  the  de¬ 
fendant  had  voluntarily  placed  himself  in  the  position  of 
a  skilful  practitioner. 

His  Honour  said  that  a  chemist  and  druggist  could 
not  administer  medicines  for  profit.  If  a  man  would  be 
so  great  a  f  ool  as  to  go  to  a  chemist  and  take  any  pills  that 
he  might  give  him,  it  was  his  owm  fault.  The  matter 
having  been  argued  at  some  length,  his  Honour  decided 
that  there  was  no  case  for  the  jury.  If  it  had  been  a 
case  in  which  a  surgeon  or  qualified  practitioner  had 
done  an  injury  to  any  one  through  not  bringing  to  the 
performance  of  his  duties  that  amount  of  reasonable  skill 
which  the  law  required,  the  action  would  have  lain  ;  but 
the  defendant  wTas  merely  a  chemist  and  druggist,  and 
held  himself  out  to  the  world  as  simply  a  seller  of  drugs. 
The  ordinary  practice  of  mankind  teas  not  to  go  to  chemists: 
and  druggists  as  if  they  were  medical  men ,  but  to  go  to  a 
medical  man  first,  obtain  his  advice ,  and  then  go  to  the  che¬ 
mist  and  druggist  for  the  drugs  that  had  been  prescribed. 
In  the  present  case  the  plaintiff  first  went  to  the  chemist 
and  druggist,  and  took  the  pills  which  he  recommended. 
It  might  be  that  the  plaintiff  had  been  injured  by  the 
pills,  but  in  his  opinion  that  made  no  case  for  the  jury. 
There  was  no  skill  required  by  a  chemist  and  druggist,  who- 
did  not  hold  himself  out  as  a  possessor  of  skill.  It  was 
the  same  as  if  the  plaintiff  had  taken  pills  which  he  (the 
Judge)  had  recommended  as  very  valuable  for  his  com¬ 
plaint.  He  (the  Judge)  would  not  be  liable  under  such 
circumstances.  He  should  therefore  hold  that  there  was 
no  case  to  go  to  a  jury,  so  that  unless  the  plaintiff  elected 


June  24, 1S7I-] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1041 


■to  Tie  nonsuited,  lie  should  direct  the  jury  to  find  a 
verdict  for  the  defendant. 

Hr.  Sugg-  preferred  a  verdict  for  the  defendant,  in 
order  that  he  might  be  in  a  position  to  appeal. 

A  verdict  for  the  defendant  ivas  then  entered. 


Lambeth  Police  Couht,  June  16. 

Charge  against  a  “  Medical  Botanist.” 

Charles  do  Badderley,  41,  of  Exeter  Villas,  Kcmning- 
ton  Oval,  described  as  a  medical  botanist,  and  Sarah  de 
Badderley,  37,  said  to  be  his  wife,  were  charged  before 
Mr.  Ellison  on  a  warrant  with  having  supplied,  ergot  of 
rye  with  intent  to  cause  the  miscarriage  of  a  woman. 
Mr.  Poland  appeared  on  the  part  of  the  Government  to 
pirosecute ;  Mr.  Fullager  was  for  the  prisoners. 

Counsel,  in  opening  the  case,  said  the  attention  of  the 
police  authorities  had  been  directed  to  the  parties,  and 
their  notice  was  called  to  the  following  advertisement  in 
a  publication  called  the  Medium  : — “  Clairvoyance. — 
Madame  de  Badderley,  the  celebrated  clairvoyante,  at 
Lome  for  consultation  from  2  to  7  daily.  Communica¬ 
tions  by  letter,  stating  age,  etc.  Morning  consultations 
by  appointment.  Address  4,  Exeter  Villas,  Eennington 
Oval,  London,  S.E.” 

_  Mrs.  Hansard,  a  widow,  who  had  acted  under  the  direc¬ 
tion  of  Mr.  Inspector  Clark,  of  the  detective  department 
of  Scotland  Yard,  said  that  according  to  instructions  she 
went  on  the  16th  of  March  to  4,  Exeter  Villas,  with  the 
letter  produced  and  a  sovereign  he  gave  her.  She  told 
the  servant  who  opened  the  door  that  she  wanted  to  see 
Madame  de  Badderley  privately.  The  male  prisoner 
came  forward  and  said  he  was  “Mr.  de  Badderley.” 
The  woman  came,  and  he  left  for  a  time.  Witness 
told  the  female  prisoner  that  she  was  in  great  trouble 
through  a  niece,  who  was  pregnant,  and  was  in  a 
situation  in  the  country.  The  prisoner  said  she  could 
do  nothing  until  put  into  a  state  of  clairvoyance ;  and 
the  male  prisoner,  who  came  in,  said  he  would  perform 
the  operation.  He  stared  at  her  aifd  made  passes,  and 
when  she  nodded  that  she  was  in  a  proper  state  of  clair¬ 
voyance,  he  blindfolded  her,  and  told  witness  to  hold  her 
hand  while  asking  her  any  question,  or  her  power  would 
be  gone.  Witness  took  her  hand  and  held  it  the  whole 
time.  She  read  the  letter  to  her  which  had  been  given 
by  Inspector  Clark,  and  which  was  written  as  if  it  came 
from  the  niece  to  the  aunt.  Witness  asked  the  female 
prisoner  if  she  could  do  anything,  and  she  said  she  would, 
when  out  of  the  clairvoyant  state,  give  her  some  herbs  to 
procure  abortion.  Witness  rang  the  bell,  and  the  male 
prisoner  came  into  the  room,  took  off  the  bandage  from 
the  eyes  of  the  woman,  who  appeared  to  wake  up.  Wit¬ 
ness  then  told  her  what  she  had  said,  and  the  woman 
requested  the  man  to  give  her  two  bundles  of  herbs  and 
also  a  box  of  the  strongest  pills.  Ho  wTent  out  of  the 
room  and  shortly  came  back  with  a  bundle  of  herbs. 
The  female  prisoner  said  the  fee  was  usually  a  guinea, 
but  as  the  girl  was  a  servant  it  would  be  10s.  Witness 
handed  to  her  the  sovereign  she  had  from  Inspector 
Clark,  and  she  gave  it  to  the  male  prisoner,  and  he  gave 
witness  10s.  in  change.  The  woman  said  that  in  case 
what  she  had  given  her  did  not  act  she  was  to  call  on 
the  21st  of  March,  and  then  she  would  give  her  some¬ 
thing  stronger.  Witness  took  the  articles  to  the  Horns 
Tavern,  where  she  had  appointed  to  meet  the  inspector, 
and  gave  them  to  him.  On  the  21st  of  March  she  met 
Sergeant  Freeman  at  Kennington,  and  from  him  re¬ 
ceived  a  second  letter  and  another  sovereign.  She 
went  to  the  house  of  the  prisoners.  She  again  saw 
both  prisoners  together.  She  told  the  woman  that  the 
medicine  had  not  acted.  The  woman  was  again  put 
in  a  state  of  clairvoyance.  Witness  read  a  second  letter, 
nnd  asked  her  if  she  could  give  her  the  powders  pro¬ 
mised.  She  said  she  would,  and  they  were  to  be  taken 
in  warm  bitter  beer  before  going  to  bed.  The  powders 
would  be  very  strong,  and  she  described  what  they 


could  perform.  She  said,  if  required,  she  would  make 
up  a  mixture,  and  her  fee  would  be  £5.  Witness  said 
the^  price  was  high,  and  the  woman  said  she  had  great 
difficulty  in  getting  the  herbs.  She  afterwards  told  wit¬ 
ness  not  to  come  before  three  weeks,  as  it  was  a  critical 
case.  W  itness  was  also  to  write  a  note  a  day  before  she 
came,  without  giving  any  name,  which  was  to  be  ad¬ 
dressed  to  her  as  Madame  do  Badderley,  as  Mr.  de  Bad¬ 
derley  had  nothing  to  do  with  such  cases,  and  she  made 
up  the  medicine  herself.  When  she  had  asked  her  all 
questions  on  her  state  she  rang  the  bell,  and  the  male 
prisoner  brought  her  out  of  her  state  of  clairvoyance, 
and  after  going  out  of  the  room  he  returned  with  four 
powders.  Witness  handed  her  the  sovereign  given  to 
her  and  received  10s.  in  change.  She  gave,  on  leaving, 
the  powder  to  Sergeant  Freeman.  On  the  19th  of 
April  witness  wrote  a  letter  as  directed,  addressed  to 
“  Madame  de  Badderley,”  and  on  the  next  day  called. 
Inspector  Clark  gave  her  a  £5  note,  of  which  he  took 
the  number,  and  the  male  prisoner  told  her  a  letter  had 
been  received,  and  madame  would  be  ready  in  a  few 
minutes.  The  female  prisoner  came  in,  and  at  her  own 
request  was  put  into  a  state  of  clairvoyance.  While  in 
that  supposed  state  the  woman  startled  her,  and  said 
a  gentleman  was  passing  her  vision  who  frequently  con¬ 
sulted  her.  She  added  that  she  did  not  know  what  she 
had  to  do  with  the  witness’s  young  friend  who  then 
came  up  before  her.  There  was,  she  continued  to  say, 
life  in  the  child,  and  it  was  a  very  critical  case.  She 
would  give  her  the  mixture,  and  advised  that  the  girl 
should  get  away  from  her  place,  as  it  would  make  her 
cry  out,  and  that  would  cause  the  domestics  to  become 
alarmed ;  a  doctor  would  be  sent  for,  and  they  would  all 
be  in  a  pretty  plight.  She  said  how  powerful  the  mix¬ 
ture  was,  and  what  was  left  must  at  once  be  destroyed. 
The  girl,  she  said,  was  to  have  every  comfort,  and  to  be 
careful  not  to  take  cold.  Witness  produced  the  £5 
note,  and  she  said  to  witness,  “  You  stupid ;  why  didn’t 
you  bring  gold  ?”  The  other  prisoner  got  change,  and 
the  woman  put  one  guinea  aside,  she  said,  for  his  con¬ 
sultation  fee. 

Inspector  Clark  was  called  to  confirm  the  last  witness. 
He  had  planned  the  interview,  and  took  the  prisoners  on 
Thursday  morning  into  custody  at  the  house. 

Mr.  Fullager  reserved  his  cross-examination,  and  Mr. 
Poland  asked  for  an  adjournment.  Mr.  Ellison  said 
there  must  be  a  remand. 

Mr.  Fullager  asked  that  bail  might  be  accepted,  and 
produced  a  letter,  he  said,  from  a  member  of  Parliament. 
Mr.  Ellison  said  the  case  was  far  too  serious  for  him  to 
take  bail.  Mr.  Poland  said  he  should  complete  the  case 
on  the  next  occasion. 


Dr.  Dobell’s  Reports  on  the  Progress  of  Practical 
and  Scientific  Medicine  in  different  Parts  of 
the  World.  Contributed  by  numerous  and  distin¬ 
guished  Coadjutors.  Yol.  II.  London:  1871. 

In  spite  of  his  somewhat  unprofessional  title-page,  (if 
coadjutors  are  “distinguished’,’  there  is  surely  no  neces¬ 
sity  for  publishing  the  fact !)  Dr.  Dobell  has  carried  out 
a  good  idea  so  satisfactorily  as  to  make  us  regret  that 
this,  his  second,  volume  will  also  be  his  last.  As  medi¬ 
cine  advances,  it  becomes  more  and  more  requisite  to 
record  the  net  results  of  each  successive  year’s  observa¬ 
tion  and  experience ;  otherwise,  the  fellow- workers  in 
the  same  mighty  field  will  be  kept  in  ignorance  of  each 
other’s  achievements,  and  much  time  will  be  wasted  in 
the  solution  of  problems  already  solved. 

As  might  have  been  expected,  the  report  of  the  con¬ 
tributions  made  to  medical  knowledge  in  the  United 
Kingdom  is  fuller  and  more  satisfactory  than  those 
transmitted  from  other  parts  of  the  globe  ;  Dr.  Dobell 
having  laboured  under  disadvantages  similar  to  those  of 


1042 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  24, 1871 » 


the  compilers  of  our  Army  and  Navy  Blue-hooks,  which 
are  generally  a  year  or  two  behindhand,  owing  to  the 
distance  of  the  several  stations  from  headquarters. 
Among  the  most  interesting  papers  in  this  section  are 
those  of  Dr.  W.  AY.  Ireland  (of  Fisher  Row,  near  Edin¬ 
burgh),  on  the  “Prevention  of  Disease;”  the  author 
being  very  instructive  in  the  matter  of  disinfectants ;  of 
Dr.  Adolphus  Wahltuch  (of  Manchester),  on  “Materia 
Medica  and  Therapeutics,”  in  which  a  good  account  is 
given  of  chloral  hydrate  ;  and  of  Mr.  R.  Brudenell  Carter 
(Ophthalmic  Surgeon  to  St.  George’s  Hospital)  on 
“Ophthalmology,”  in  which  ho  enounces  Mr.  Jonathan 
Hutchinson’s  doctrine  that  the  hurtful  effects  of  tobacco 
upon  the  optic  nerves  are  most  frequently  seen  in  per¬ 
sons  who  abstain  from  alcohol ;  Mr.  Hutchinson  being 
“decidedly  of  opinion  that  the  injurious  influence  of 
tobacco  is,  to  some  extent,  counteracted  by  alcohol.” 

Of  the  contributions  from  abroad,  undoubtedly  the 
best,  as  well  as  most  interesting,  is  that  of  Professor 
Yillcmin,  of  the  Yal-de- Grace  Hospital  (translated  by 
Dr.  Ireland),  on  the  progress  of  medical  science  in 
France.  Surrounded  by  wounded,  and  beset  by  every 
kind  of  distraction  during  the  latter  part  of  1870,  Dr. 
Yillcmin  has  succeeded  in  composing  a  very  instructive 
picture  of  what  France  has  achieved  in  medicine  during 
that  eventful  year.  Germany  is  well  represented  by  Dr. 
Julius  Althaus;  and  Italy  by  Dr.  Sammut,  of  Naples. 
Of  the  colonies,  perhaps  Australia,  in  spite  of  the  frag¬ 
mentary  nature  of  its  reports,  appears  in  the  most  enter¬ 
taining,  if  not  instructive,  light ;  a  considerable  portion 
of  its  contribution  being  occupied  by  a  vindication  of 
Professor  Halford’s  mythical  (and  slightly  dangerous) 
“  cure  for  ;snake-bite.”  There  is  also  a  paper  on  the 
prevalence  of  consumption  in  Australia, — a  subject  on 
which  there  is  no  better  authority  than  the  writer,  Dr. 
William  Thomson,  of  Melbourne. 

This  volume  is  a  great  improvement  on  its  predecessor. 
Dr.  Dobell,  indeed,  as  often  happens,  seems  to  have  aban¬ 
doned  his  undertaking  just  when  he  was  acquiring  that 
familiarity  with  its  subject-matter  and  modus  ope  ran  di 
which  makes  after-success  not  only  certain  but  progres¬ 
sive. 


©Mfuanr. 

On  the  2nd  of  June,  Mr.  Robert  Howard,  F.C.S., 
Pharmaceutical  Chemist,  of  Tottenham.  Aged  70. 

On  the  4th  of  June,  Dr.  Fredekic  Holst,  Ex-Pro¬ 
fessor  of  Medicine  in  the  University  of  Christiania,  and 
Honorary  Member  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  of 
Great  Britain.  Aged  79f-  years. 

On  the  9th  of  June,  at  his  residence,  Sloane  Street, 
Chelsea,  Charles  Rowett  Quiller,  Pharmaceutical 
Chemist.  Aged  42  years. 


MEETINGS  FOR  THE  ENSUING  WEEK. 


Tuesday  . H oyal  Medical  and  Chirurgical  Society,  at 

June  27.  8.30  p.m. 

Wednesday  ...Society  of  Arts,  at  4  f.m. — Anniversary. 

Friday . Hoyal  Botanic  Society,  at  4  p.m. — “  Economic 

J une  30.  Botany.”  By  Professor  Bentley. 


The  following  journals  have  been  received: — The  ‘British 
Medical  Journal,’  Junel7  ;  the  ‘Medical Times  and  Gazette,’ 
June  17 ;  the  ‘ Lancet,’  June  17;  the  ‘Medical  Press  and  Cir¬ 
cular,’  June  21;  ‘  Nature,’ June  15  ;  the  ‘Chemical  News,’ 
June  17 ;  ‘Gardeners’  Chronicle,’  June  17;  ‘Journal  of  the 
Society  of  Arts,’  June  17 ;  the  ‘  Grocer,’  June  17;  ‘Produce 
Markets  Review,’  J  une  17 ;  the  ‘  English  Mechanic,’  June  17  ; 
the  ‘Chicago  Pharmacist’  for  May;  the  ‘  American  Journal 
of  Pharmacy’  for  June;  the  ‘New  York  Druggists’  Circular’ 
for  June;  the  ‘Florist  and  Pomologist,’  the  ‘  Brewer’s  Guar¬ 
dian,’  June  19  ;  ‘  Bulletin  do  la  Societe  Botanique  de  France,’ 
vol.  xviii.  part  2;  ‘  Neues  Reperiorium  fiir  Pnarmacie,’  vol. 
xx.  part  5. 


ftotes  anh  (Queries. 


%*  In  order  to  facilitate  reference,  corresqoondents  are 
requested  to  mark  tlieir  answers  in  each  case  with  the  title 
and  number  of  the  query  referred  to. 

No  notice  can  be  taken  of  anonymous  communications . 
All  queries  or  answers  should  be  accompanied  by  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer. 

[256.]— LIQUID  COCHINEAL. 

R.  Cocci  Cacti, 

Potass.  Carbon., 

Potass.  Tart.  Acid., 

Pulv.  Aluminis,  aa  5j 
Aquae  ^viij 

Boil  the  cochineal,  carbonate  of  potassium  and  water  toge¬ 
ther,  then  add  the  alum  and  acid  tartrate  of  potassium  ;  when 
cold  add  half  a  drachm  of  rectified  spirits  of  wine  to  each 
ounce  and  filter. 

I  have  tried  the  above,  and  find  that  it  keeps  well. — 

H.  J.  B. 


R.  Carmine  yj 

Sp.  Yini  Rect.  5yj 
Aq.  ^iss 

Liq.  Potassce  5ij 
Syrupi  ad  yvj 

Misce.  '  C.  S.  S, 

[259.]— DRYING  SALYE. 

R.  Alum.  Pulv. 

Adipis  Ppt.  aa  ^iv 
01.  Origani  5ss 
Ft.  Ung. 

[260.]— “PATE  DE  GUIMAUYE. 

Take  of  Decorticated  Marshmallow  Root  5iss 
Distilled  Water  Oiss. 

Macerate  for  twenty-four  hours  and  strain.  To  this,  adcl 
Picked  Gum  Arabic,  and 
Finest  White  Sugar,  of  each  5XV 
Dissolve,  and  stirririg  constantly,  evaporate  to  the  consis¬ 
tency  of  thick  syrup,  add  gradually  the  -whites  of  5  eggs  well 
beaten  up  with 

Orange  Flower  Water  ^iss 

Evaporate  (with  constant  stirring)  until  the  “paste”  is 
firm  enough  to  be  cut  into  tablets  of  the  required  shape.— 
J.  T.  C. 


[261.1— “EXTRACT  OF  MALACCA  BEAN.”— Would 
any  reader  kindly  oblige  me  with  some  information  respecting 
the  above  extract  ?  I  was  asked  for  it  a  few  days  ago,  and 
my  customer  said  that  he  had  got  it  before.  Would  it  be 
the  St.  Ignatius  bean  he  meant  ? — G.  S.  Highmoob. 

[262.]— TINCT.  FERRI  PERCHLORIDI. — I  wish  to 
elicit  an  opinion  from  some  of  your  readers  as  to  the  advisa¬ 
bility  of  substituting  liq.  ferri  perchlor.  for  the  tincture  of 
the  same,  in  dispensing,  as  during  warm  weather  the  latter 
will  not  keep  -without  undergoing  decomposition.  In  nine- 
prescriptions  out  of  ten  the  liquors  may  be  used  without 
causing  the  slightest  difference  from  what  would  be  the  case 
were  tincture  used,  and  it  has  the  advantage  of  being  a  stable 
preparation  under  all  ordinary  circumstances.  I  am  con¬ 
vinced  that  medical  men  order  the  tincture  solely  as  a  matter 
of  habit,  and  not  from  any  superior  therapeutical  effect  it  may 
have. — H. 

[263.]— DISPENSING  PRICES.— A  prescription  was 
lately  brought  to  me  as  follows  : — 

R.  Tr.  Yeratrioe  Yirid.  5ij 
Sumat  gutt®  iij  ter  die  ex  aqua. 

Will  some  of  your  correspondents  kindly  favour  me  with 
their  opinion  as  to  what  would  be  a  reasonable  price  for  th:> 
same  ? — H. 


ORANGE  FLOWER  WATER.— It  is  a  matter  of  daily 
experience  that  this  water  frequently  becomes  unsightly  from, 
the  formation  in  it  of  fiocculent  vegetable  matter,  and  seme- 


June  24,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1013 


times  this  turbidity  is  accompanied  by  an  unpleasant  odour. 

I  recently  tried  the  experiment  of  adding  to  such  a  sample  a 
crystal  or  two  of  permanganate  of  potassium,  and  was  much 
gratified  by  the  result.  After  standing  for  a  few  hours,  the 
■confervoid  matter  and  the  precipitated  manganic  oxide  were 
■easily  removed  by  filtration,  leaving  the  water  colourless,  I 
bright  and  of  faultless  odour.  The  alkaline  reaction  produced 
in  it  was  very  slight,  and  would  not,  I  think,  interfere  with 
the  uses  to  which  this  water  is  applied. — J.  F.  Bkowx,  Dover. 

NEW  FIBRE  FROM  THE  BARK  OF  THE  MUL¬ 
BERRY  TREE.— In  reference  to  the  paragraph  on  the  ! 
above  subject,  on  p.  995,  a  correspondent  sends  us  an  extract 
from  a  little  biographical  work  by  Alphonse  Karr,  in  which 
the  discovery  is  said  to  have  been  made  by  Serres  more  than 
three  centuries  ago,  and  asks  whether  it  has  lain  dormant 
ever  since.  The  authority  for  our  statement,  as  mentioned 
at  the  time,  was  the  Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts,  but  we 
shall  be  glad  to  receive  any  further  information  on  the  sub¬ 
ject.  The  extract  is  as  follows ; — “  Serres  (naquit  pres 
Viviers  en  1539)  est  le  premier  qui  ait  introduit  en  France  la 
culture  de  cet  arbre  utile  et  annonija  qu’on  pouvait  faire  de 
belles  dtoffes  avec  l’ecorce  des  arbres  qu’on  en  rctranche  a  la 
taille.” 


PINEAPPLE  ESSENCE. 

Chloroform  1  part  (by  volume) 
Aldehyde  1  part 
Butyrate  of  Ethyl  5  parts 
Butyrate  of  Amyl  10  parts 
Glycerine  3  parts 
Alcohol  100  parts. 

RASPBERRY  ESSENCE. 

Nitric  Ether  1  part 
Aldehyde  1  part 
Acetate  of  Ethyl  5  parts 
Formiate  of  Ethyl  1  part 
Butyrate  of  Ethyl  1  part 
Benzoate  of  Ethyl  1  part 
Enanthylate  of  Ethyl  1  part 
tSebacic  Ether  1  part 
Salicylate  of  Methyl  1  part 
Acetate  of  Amyl  1  part 
Butyrate  of  Amyl  1  part 
Tartaric  Acid  5  parts 
Succinic  Acid  1  part 
Glycerine  4  parts 
Alcohol  100  parts. 


SAUCES. — As  we  have  received  several  inquiries  from 
correspondents  concerning  sauces,  we  extract  the  following, 
formulae  from  the  New  York  Druggists’  Circular,  though  we 
Arc  unaware  upon  what  authority  they  are  given : — 

No.  1. 

White  Vinegar  15  gallons 
Walnut  Catsup  10  gallons 
Madeira  Wine  5  gallons 
Mushroom  Catsup  10  gallons 
Table  Salt  25  pounds 
Canton  Soy  4  gallons 
Powdered  Capsicum  2  pounds 
Allspice,  powdered, 

Coriander,  powdered,  aa  1  pound 
Cloves, 

Mace, 

Cinnamon,  aa  £  pound 

Assafoetida  \  pound,  dissolved  in  Brandy  1  gallon. 

20  pounds  of  hogs’  liver  is  boiled  for  twelve  hours  with  10 
gallons  of  water,  renewing  the  water  from  time  to  time. 
Take  out  the  liver,  chop  it,  mix  with  water,  and  work  it 
through  a  sieve;  mix  with  the  sauce. 

No.  2. 

White  Vinegar  210  gallons 
Canton  Soy  36  gallons 
Sugar  house  Syrup  30  gallons 
Walnut  Catsup  50  gallons 
Mushroom  Catsup  50  gallons 
Table  Salt,  120  pounds 
Powdered  Capsicum  15  pounds 
Allspice, 

Coriander,  of  each  7  pounds 
Cloves, 

Mace, 

Cinnamon,  of  each,  4  pounds 

Assafoetida  2|  pounds,  dissolved  in  St.  Croix  Rum 
1  gallon. 


STRAWBERRY  ESSENCE. 

Nitric  Ether  1  part 
Acetate  of  Ethyl  5  parts 
Formiate  of  Ethyl  1  part 
Butyrate  of  Ethyl  5  parts 
Salicylate  of  Methyl  1  part 
Acetate  of  Amyl  3  parts 
Butyrate  of  Amyl  2  parts 
Glycerine  2  parts 
Alcohol  100  parts. 

AROMATIC  ESSENCE  OF  GINGER.— Mr.  W.  R. 
Jones  recommends  the  following  as  yielding  a  very  agreeable 


form  of  tincture  of  ginger: — 

R.  Ginger . 

5xij 

Cinnamon . 

oj 

Cardamoms . 

Cloves . 

3'i.j 

Capsicum . 

5’j 

All  in  moderately-coarse  powder. 

Alcohol . 

Oiv. 

Moisten  the  powder  with  a  small  portion  of  the  alcohol, 
pack  firmly  iuto  a  percolator,  and  gradually  pour  on  the  re¬ 
mainder  of  the  alcohol. — American  Journal  of  Pharmacg. 

ADULTERATION  OF  LARD.— A  case  of  adulteration 
of  lard,  for  the  sake  of  obtaining  a  good  colour,  is  reported  in 
the  Canadian  Pharmaceutical  Journal  by  Mr.  E.  B.  Shuttle- 
worth.  Having  purchased  some  beautifully  white  lard,  he 
proceeded  to  use  it  for  the  preparation  of  ointment  of  nitrate 
of  mercury.  Upon  adding  the  mercurial  solution,  instead  of 
a  citrine  a  decidedly  saturnine  colour  was  produced,  develop¬ 
ing  in  a  short  time  to  a  full  slate  colour.  The  lard  was  con¬ 
sequently  examined,  and  found  to  contain  a  large  proportion 
of  lime.  Mr.  Shuttleworth  was  afterwards  told  by  a  lard 
renderer  that  it  was  a  common  practice  among  lard  dealers 
to  mix  from  2  to  5  per  cent,  of  milk  of  lime  with  the  melted 
lard.  A  saponaceous  compound  is  thus  formed  that  is  not 
only  pearly  white,  but  will  allow  of  the  stirring  in,  during 
cooling,  of  25  per  cent,  of  water. 


No.  3. 

White  Vinegar  1  gallon 
Canton  Soy, 

Molasses,  of  each  1  pint 
Walnut  Catsup  1J  pint 
Table  Salt  4  ounces 
Powdered  Capsicum, 

Allspice,  of  each  1  ounce 
Coriander  ^  ounce 
Cloves, 

Mace,  of  each  ^  ounce 

Cinnamon  6  drachms 

Assafoetida  i  ounce,  in  4  ounces  Rum. 

M. 


TINCTURA  OPII  CAMPHORATA  (U.S.).— The  fol¬ 
lowing  formula  for  the  extemporaneous  pi’eparation  of  tinc- 
tura  opii  camphorata  is  published  by  Mr.  W.  Ramstead  J  ones, 
of  Mount  Airy,  Philadelphia,  in  the  American  Journal  of 
Pharmacg : — 

Take  of  Tinet.  Opii . siij  Sijss 

Sp.  Camphorae . sj  5iij 

01.  Anisi . 5ij 

Acid.  Benzoic . 5ij 

Alcoholis,  q.  s.  ft . Ovj. 

Mix. 

Mel.  Despumat . 51V  (roy 

Aquce,  q.  s.  ft . Oij. 

Mix  the  two  solution?  together,  and  filter  through  paper. 


1044 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[June  24,  1S7T- 


***  No  notice  can  he  taken  of  anonymous  communica¬ 
tions.  Whatever  is  intended  for  insertion  must  he  authenti¬ 
cated  by  the  name  and  address  of  the  writer  ;  not  necessarily 
for  publication,  but  as  a  guarantee  of  good  faith. 

The  Lancet  and  the  Specteoscope. 

Sir, — All  who  are  in  the  habit  of  reading  the  Lancet  must 
have  remarked  the  article  in  a  recent  number,  containing  some 
rather  caustic  reflections  on  the  value  of  part  of  Dr.  Letheby’s 
evidence,  in  which  he  refers  to  the  valuable  aid  afforded  by 
the  micro-spectroscope.  Either  the  author  of  that  article 
must  have  been  misled,  or  not  much  accustomed  to  the  use 
of  that  instrument. 

The  bands  produced  by  the  blood-spectrum  are  by  no  means 
“dim,”  but,  on  the  contrary,  well  defined  when  observed  by 
a  properly-constructed  instrument.  The  micro-spectroscopes 
generally  sold  differ  greatly ;  most  of  them  give  rectangular 
fields,  but  all  are  not  equally  adapted  for  observing  the  spectra 
of  coloured  solutions.  The  prisms  of  one  kind  are  so  ar¬ 
ranged  that  the  colours  run  parallel  to  the  short  side,  and  are 
much  diffused.  The  others  are  so  arranged  that  the  colours 
run  parallel  to  the  long  side  of  the  rectangle.  The  former 
arrangement  is  the  best  for  observing  the  spectra  of  incan¬ 
descent  metals,  and  showing  what  the  Editor  of  the  Lancet 
terms  “the  China  ribbon”  lines.  It  will,  however,  give  very 
inferior  results  with  the  absorption  bands  of  coloured  liquids. 
The  latter  arrangement,  or  that  with  the  colours  running 
parallel  with  the  longest  side  of  the  field,  will  show  them  well 
defined,  even  when  a  very  diluted  solution  of  blood  is  used. 

Moreover,  this  is  not  the  chief  point  to  be  observed  in 
micro-spectroscopy.  It  is  not  so  much  whether  the  bands 
are  well  defined,  but  their  position  in  the  spectrum.  It  must 
have  constantly  occurred  to  every  observer  that  there  are 
numerous  examples  that,  when  placed  on  the  stage  of  the 
microscope  one  after  another,  appear  identical  even  to  the 
most  practised  eye  and  the  closest  scrutiny.  But  when  two 
spectra  are  placed  side  by  side  by  means  of  the  auxiliary 
prism,  the  question  of  their  identity  is  instantly  decided.  If 
the  spectra  be  from  the  same  substance,  they  will  fit  exactly 
one  on  the  other ;  but  if  not,  there  would  be  what  the  geologist 
would  term  “  a  fault.”  Mr.  Sorby  and  Dr.  Letheby  are  quite 
correct  when  they  say  that  no  other  known  spectrum  is  like 
that  of  blood.  If  the  spectrum  of  blood  be  observed  by  the 
terminal  prism  of  the  spectroseope,  the  spectrum  of  no  other 
known  substance,  placed  in  juxtaposition  by  means  of  the 
side  prism,  will  exactly  match  it. 

The  jargonium  fallacy  has  nothing  whatever  to  do  with  the 
question ;  and,  before  taunting  Mr.  Sorby,  the  Editor  of  the 
Lancet  would  do  great  service  in  the  cause  of  medical  juris¬ 
prudence  if  he  would  name  any  substance  that  would  give  a 
spectrum  coincident  with  that  of  blood. 

W.  W.  Stoddaet. 


“Oedees”  in  Council. 

Sir, — What  have  the  Council  been  doing  to  Mr.  Brown, 
that  Mr.  Brown  should  so  rebuke  the  Council  ?  lias  it  proved 
such  a  bear-garden  since  he  joined  it,  that  his  rooted  aversion 
to  “  regulations”  has  been  forced  to  give  way  to  the  necessity 
of  prescribing  standing  orders  for  its  better  government  ? 

I  can  assure  Mr.  Brown  that  before  he  enjoyed  the  distinc¬ 
tion  of  a  seat  at  the  Council,  business  was  conducted  ihere 
with  the  decorum  and  regularity  to  be  expected  from  gentle¬ 
men  and  men  of  business.  There  was  in  those  days  no  ne¬ 
cessity  to  codify  the  very  A  B  C  of  public  affairs. 

But  “nous  avons  change  tout  cela.”  The  Council  is  now 
distracted  by  party  feeling,  its  unity  of  action  sadly  impaired, 
its  influence  abated;  and  these  new  “ standing  orders”  give 
token  of  still  further  disorganization. 

As  we  read  clauses  6,  7  and  8,  we  wonder  if  the  object  be 
to  impeach  the  late  President  or  to  affront  his  successor, 
and  a  horrible  apprehension  takes  hold  of  us  that  the  next 
clause  will  follow — 

“  9.  To  prevent  confusion,  no  two  members  will  in  future 
be  allowed  to  speak  at  once,  without  express  permission  from 
the  chair.” 

But  seriously  these  exhibitions  are  calculated  to  bring  the 
Council  and  the  Society  into  contempt.  How  could  the  Pre¬ 


sident  have  accepted  a  proposition  imputing  to  him  total 
incompetence  for  the  duties  of  his  office  ? 

It  is  time  that  the  better  sense  of  the  Society  rose  against-, 
the  factious  proceedings  by  which  elections  of  Council  have- 
recently  been  dominated,  and  that  our  members  should  recol¬ 
lect  that  the  Council  which  they  appoint  is  not  a  parliament 
but  a  government.  Ex-Councilloe. 


Poison  Regulations. 

Sir, — I  am  surprised  to  find  so  much  opposition  to  the- 
“  Poison  Regulations;”  however  inconvenient  and  unpleasant 
it  may  be  to  submit  to  those  regulations,  my  belief  is  that 
the  more  we  have  of  Government  inspection  the  better  it  will 
be  for  the  bond  fide  chemist.  The  Pharmaceutical  Council 
deserves  the  thanks  of  the  community'fior  swelling  the  tide  of 
that  progress  which,  in  my  belief,  is  gradually  carrying  us- 
to  the  adoption  of  the  continental  system  of  Government 
appointment  and  supervision.  That  system,  while  making  the- 
number  of  pharmacists  less,  would  place  those  left  in  a  posi¬ 
tion  to  do  without  debasing  the  trade  by  dealing  in  farthing- 
dips  and  methylated  tincture  of  rhubarb. 

A  Countey  Chemist. 


The  Pseliminaby  Examination. 

Sir, — If  “  J3.  S.”  intended  his  letter  of  the  13th  ult.  to  be  a. 
reply  to  mine  of  the  29th  April,  I  fail  to  see  that  he  has  an¬ 
swered  one  point  in  it.  I  urged  two  objections  to  the  Modified 
men  being  admitted  to  the  Minor. 

1st.  Injustice  to  those  who  were  not  of  age  at  the  time  of 
the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy  Act,  many  of  whom  had  been 
longer  in  the  trade  than  some  of  those  eligible  for  the  Modified- 

2nd.  That  no  advantage  would  be  gained  by  being  admitted 
to  the  Minor  without  the  Preliminary,  as  to  a  considerable- 
extent  the  same  knowledge  requisite  in  the  Preliminary  is- 
requisite  in  the  Minor,  in  the  translation  of  prescriptions. 

“  L>.  S.”  is  perfectly  correct  in  saying  that  the  Modified  does 
“test  the  practical  capabilities  of  the  candidate,”  so  far  as  it 
goes,  but  as  to  its  being  a  “  delusion  and  snare,”  it  can  nei¬ 
ther  be  the  one  nor  the  othex*,  as  all  who  avail  themselves  of 
the  Modified  know,  or  ought  to  know  what  to  expect. 

To  take  the  Modified  with  all  its  privileges  (which  “  S.  S.’T 
admits  to  be  as  great  a3  those  enjoyed  by  pharmaceutical 
chemists),  and  then  to  cry  out  because  they  cannot  skip  the 
Preliminai’y,  seems  to  me  selfish  in  the  extrexne. 

If  in  the  words  of  “  Another  Associate  ”  mexx  desire  phar¬ 
maceutical  honours,  they  ought  not  to  shrink  from  the  con¬ 
ditions  under  which  they  are  conferred. 

J une  7th,  1871.  Minoe  Associate. 


“  Live  and  Let  Live.” — The  evils  of  the  system  are  obvious, 
but  at  present  it  seems  as  if  it  must  be  left  to  work  its  own 
cure.  If  our  corespondent  can  suggest  any  method  of  ad¬ 
vantageously  dealing  with  the  subject,  wo  should  be  glad,  to 
receive  such  communication  from  him. 

“  Ice  Cream  Soda.” — One  of  the  ingredients  in  your  mixtui’e 
might  raise  the  question  whether  you  would  not  require  to- 
take  out  a  spirit  licence. 

“Kappa.” — Articles  on  the  subject  of  the  removal  of  hy¬ 
drocyanic  acid  from  oil  of  bitter  almonds  will  be  found  in  the 
Phabm.  Jouen.  1st  Ser.  Yol.  XIII.  p.277,  and  2nd  Ser.  Vol. 
VI.  p.  407. 

F.  W.  Steel. — Our  attention  has  been  drawn  to  the  same 
practice  befoi’e,  but  it  is  one  that  we  do  not  see  that  there  is 
any  possibility  of  interfering  with. 

“  Spes.” — Boiled  linseed  oil  is  generally  used  for  the  pur¬ 
pose. 

“  Cotmtry  Druggist.” — (1.)  The  mixture  should  be  sent 
out  in  an  3 viij  bottle,  not  filled  up.  (2.)  We  believe  a  per¬ 
fumed  carbolic  acid  has  been  advertised  by  several  manufac¬ 
turers. 

[*%*  Carbolic  acid  readily  dissolves  essential  oils,  and  it 
may  be  made  aromatic  in  this  way  at  discretion. — Ed.  Phabm. 
Jouen.] 

Communications,  Lettees,  etc.,  have  been  received  from 
Mr.  R.  Palmer,  Mr.  E.  Agnew,  Mr.  T.  Perkins,  Mr.  Pardoe, 
Mr.  W.  Grey,  Mr.  R.  Owen,  Mr.  Pollard,  Mr.  Proctei*,  Messrs. 
Schoetensack,  Mr.  J.  MTnnes,  Mr.  W.  "Wilkinson,  Mr.  J. 
Smith,  Mr.  II.  B.  Brady.  Mr.  Woolley,  Mr.  Coles,  Mr.  W. 
Hills,  Mr.  H.  B. -Polanch  N.  E.  L.  El.,  J.  T.  C.,  R.  G.  H., 
S.  R.,  A.  P.  S.,  A.  B.  C.,  R.  H.  C.  M.,  W.  J.  S.,  “Phyto,” 
“  Chemicus,”  “  Ignotus,”  “  Chemist.” 


July  1,  1871-1 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1045 


INDEX  TO  VOL.  I. 

(THIRD  SERIES.) 


All  Letters  to  the  Editor  mil  he  found  arranged  under  the  head  of  “  Correspondence 

under  the  head  of 11  Editorial  Articles  and  Notes." 


Leading  Articles ,  eto., 


TAGE 

ABC  Process  for  the  Production 
of  Solid  Manure  from  Sewage .  5,  25 
Aberdeen  Association  of  Assistant^ 
Chemists  and  Druggists .  11,  47,  9/7 
Acetate  of  Morphia,  Decomposi¬ 
tion  of,  in  Solution  .  .  .  664 

Acetic  Fermentation  (Liebig)  122,  141 
Acetum  Cantharidis  and  the  Ve¬ 
sicating  Preparation  of  Cantha- 
rides  (C.  R.  C.  Tichborne)  .  . 

Acids  and  Bases,  Heat  developed 
in  the  Combination  of 

Acidum  Arseniosum  .  . 

. - Benzoicum  . 

- Carbolicum  .  . 

Gallicum 


—  Hydrochloricum  .  . 

—  HydrocyanicumDilutum 

—  Nitri'cum . 

—  Nitro  -  Hydrochloricum 


Dilutum  .  .  . 

—  Phosphoricum  Dilutum 


—  Sulphuricum 


Dilutum 


—  Sulphurosum 
—  Tannicum  . 
—  Tartaricum 


Aconite  Alkaloids,  Contributions 
to  the  History  of  (T.  Ilusemann) 
Aconitum  Napellus  (W .  W .  Stod- 

dart) . . .  • 

— - -,  Note  on  the  Alkaloids 

of  the  Genus  (Fluckiger)  .  . 

Acorns,  Poison  of . 

Acridine,  A  New  Organic  Base  . 
Action  against  a  Druggist .  .  . 


-  for  Poisoning  a  Dog 


Actions  against  Druggists 
Adansonia  digitata  (M.  C.  Cooke) 
Adjourned  Meeting  of  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society  .... 
Adulterated  Beeswax  .  .  -  • 

- - Tea . 

Adulteration . -687 

_ _ _ _ in  Copaiva  Balsam, 

-  -  425 

130 
366 


501 

606 

14 

15 

55 

56 
56 
56 

138 

157 

157 

343 

344 
363 

382 

383 

382 

601 

121 

366 

323 

494 

714 

150 

64 

963 

286 

798 


Detection  of  (H.  Hager).  .  - 

- - of  Carbonate  of  Soda 

- of  Catechu  .  .  . 

of  Food  and  Drink 


and  of  Drugs,  Bill  to  amend 
the  Law  for  the  Prevention  of  , 


Adulteration  of  Food  and  Drink, 
Legislation  to  prevent  (P.  Bo- 

van)  . 

- Food,  Drugs,  etc., 

Bill,  Withdrawal  of  .  .  - 

- : - “  Golden  Syrup” 

- Lard .  .  .  556 

—  Saffron,  The  (D 


PAGE 


Ilanbury). 


Ingham) 


-  (J 


-withChal 


Wines 


JEther  .  .  . 

African  Saffron 
Agnew,  E.  J.  T.,  Pharmacy  in 
Paris  during  the  Insurrection  . 


270 

1000 

707 

1043 

241 

624 

266 

715 

403 

618 

783 


694 


Pharmacy  in  Prussia  821 
Aid  to  Pharmaceutical  Education 
in  the  Provinces  .  .  .  387,  389 

Ailanthus  excelsa  (NarayanDaji),  154, 

175,  193 

Ajwan  or  Omum  (M.  C.  Cooke)  .  1007 
Albumen,  Note  on  the  Constitu¬ 
tion  of  (J.  A.  Wanklyn)  .  .  263 

Alcohol  Amylicum . 4C3 

- - -,  Experiments  on  the  Ef¬ 
fects  of,  on  the  Human  Body 
(E.  A.  Parkes  and  C.  Wollo- 

wicz) . #  •  136 

Alcoholic  Fermentation  (Liebig),  61, 

81,  101 

Alcohol  in  Chloroform  and  Chloral 
Hydrate,  Detection  of  .  -  -  683 

Alkaloid  from  Cinchona  Bark 
hitherto  undescribed  (D.  How¬ 
ard)  . 845 

Alkaloids  of  the  Genus  Aconitum, 

Note  on  (Professor  Fluckiger)  121 

- ,  Synthesis  of  ...  .  605 

’  Allchin,  A., "infusions  .  .  -  421,  481 

Alleged  Frauds  on  the  Revenue .  218 

- -  Poisoning  of  Sheep  liy 

Dipping  Composition  (Smith 

v.  Barker) . 156 

Almond  Balls . 818 

- Flavour . 857 

- —  Powder  for  Preparing 

Emulsions  508 

Aloes,  a  Few  Notes  on  (W.  A. 
Tilden) . 375,423 


PAGE 

Aloes,  The  Purgative  Action  of 
(T.  and  H.  Smith)  .  .  .  .  402 

Alum,  A  Deposit  of . 928 

Alumen . .  424 

Alum  in  Bread,  Detection  of  (R. 

C.  Moffat) . 595 

Amandine .  598,  637 

Amendment  of  the  Medical  Act  .  190 

American  Drugs  (L.  Diehl)  .  .  705 

— -  Pharmaceutical  Asso¬ 
ciation  .  237,  334,  513 

- Regulation  of  Trade  .  1034 

-  Sumac . 971 

America,  Pharmaceutical  Legis¬ 
lation  .  .  .  . . 772 

- ,  Pharmacy  in  .  .  .  .  889 

Ammonia  Compounds  of  Plati¬ 
num,  The  (Dr.  Odling)  .  .  .  32 

-  Cure  for  Snake-Bite, 

The .  210,  384,  48S 

Ammonite  Carbonas . 424 

Ammonii  Bromidum  .  .  •  -  425 

- Chlorklum . 425 

Ammonio- Citrate  of  Iron  .  .  .  346 

Amylo-Nitrous  Ether  (J.  M. 

Maisch) . 865 

“  An  Age  of  Progress”  (J .  Ince).  9 

_ -1 - (B.  S. 

Proctor)  ........  8 

Analysis  of  Examinations — Eng¬ 
land  and  Wales . 892 

_ _ _ _ _  Scot¬ 


land  . 

Anderson,  Dr.  Thomas,  Obituary 

Notice  of . .  • 

Andersonian  University  Medical 

School .  .  .  . . 

Anderson’s  University  .... 
Andrew  Boorde  of  Physychc  Doc¬ 
tor  (H.  B.  Brady)  .  .  .  .  _  • 

Andrews,  T.,  Heat  developed  in 
the  Combination  of  Acids  and 

Bases  .  .  .  •  •  •  •  •  • 

Angelic  into  Valerianic  Acid, 

Conversion  of . 

Anhydrous  Glycerine  .... 
Animal  Charcoal,  The  Use  of  for 
the  Purification  of  Saccharine 
Solutions  in  Polarimetrical 

Analysis  . . 

Aniseed  Cordial . 

3  h 


892 

396 

474 

258 

561 


606 

110 

938 


926 

737 


1046 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[July  1,  1871 


PAGE 

Annatto . 868 

Animal  Dinner  of  the  Manchester 
Chemists’  Assistants’  Associa¬ 
tion  . 928 

- Sheffield 

Pharmaceutical  and  Chemical 
Association  .  .  .  .  .  .  610 

- -  Sunderland 

Chemists’  Association  .  .  .  650 

Annual  Festival  of  the  Glasgow 
Chemists  and  Druggists’  Asso¬ 
ciation . 728 

Annual  General  Meeting  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  .  .  929,  942 

Annual  Meeting  of  the  Bradford 
Chemists’  Association  .  .  .  631 

- Halifax 


Chemists  and  Druggists’  Asso¬ 
ciation  . 

Leeds  Che¬ 


mists’  Association  . 


- Manchester 

Chemists’  Assistants’  Associa¬ 
tion  . 

Midland 


594 

428 

932 


Counties  Chemists’  Association  976 

Sheffield 


Pharmaceutical  and  Chemical 

Association . 594 

- Sunderland 

Chemists’  Association  .  .  .  932 

Annual  Report  of  the  Oldham 
Chemists  and  Druggists’  As¬ 
sistants  and  Apprentices’  As¬ 
sociation  .  . 733 

of  Inquests,  by 


Dr.  Lankoster 
Annual  Supper  of  the  Hull  Che¬ 
mists’  Association . 

■ - Leicester 

Chemists’  Assistants’  Associa¬ 
tion  . . 

Nottingham 


590 

488 

650 


and  Notts  Chemists’  Associa¬ 
tion  . 689 

Anonymous  Writing  .  .  51,  60,  80 

Anthemis  Nobilis . 882 

366 
443 
443 
443 
148 
156 


Antidote  to  Carbolic  Acid  .  . 
Antimonii  Oxidum  .... 
Antimonium  Sulphuratum 

- Tartaratum  .  . 

Antineuralgic  Ointment  .  . 

Antiperiodic,  A  New  .  .  . 

Antiseptics  in  the  War  Hospitals  307 
-,  The  Comparative  Ef- 

530 
545 


ficacy  of 
Apomorphia 
Apparatus,  List  of,  which  may  he 
lent  to  Provincial  Associations  833 
Appointment  of  Examiners  .  .1013 
Apprenticeship  and  Early  Train¬ 
ing  of  Pharmacists,  The  (F.  B. 

Benger) . 252 

Aqua  Camphorae . 557 

Aquaforti s,  Attempted  Suicide  by  418 
Archer,  Professor,  Isinglass  .  .  655 

Areca-nut  Tooth  Paste  .  .  .  637 

Argenti  Nitras . 443 

- Oxidum . 503 

Argentum  Purificatum  ....  503 

Arnica  Cerate . 598 

Aromatic  Essence  of  Ginger  .  .  1043 

- Sulphuric  Acid  (J.  W. 

Ehrman) . 746 

Arseniate  of  Iron . 15 


TAGE 

Arseniate  of  Soda . 15 

Arsenic . 139 

-  Acid . 15 

-  in  Phosphorus  of  Com¬ 
merce,  Amount  of  (C.  J.  Rado- 

maker) . 426 

- ,  Poisoning  by,  66,  512,  596,  1022 

- ,  Suicide  by . 1000 

- ,  Test  for . 704 

Arsenious  Acid . 14 

Artificial  Ice  .  , . 465 

- India-rubber  .  .  .  .  704 

Ashton  and  iDukinfield  Che¬ 
mists’  Association . 493 

Ashy  Crown  Cinchona  in  Vene¬ 
zuela  . 66 

Assistant  Dispensers  in  Naval 
Hospitals,  Regulations  for  the 
Competitive  Examination  for 

Appointments  as . 828 

Atmosphere,  The  Chemistry  of 
the  (J.  A.  Wanklyn)  .  .  41,  86 

Attempted  Poisoning  by  a  Vermin 

Killer . 536 

- Laudanum,  317,  337 

Attendance  of  Members  of  Coun¬ 
cil  on  Committees  for  the  year 

1870-71  .  891 

- Council 

Meetings  for  the  year  1870-71  *  892 
Attfield,  Professor,  Supposed  An¬ 
tiseptic  Properties  of  Cassava 

Juice . .  .  274 

- - ,  The  Chemical 

Nomenclature  of  the  Pharma¬ 
copoeia,  with  Suggestions  for 

its  Revision .  801,  822 

Australian  Opium,  Note  on  (J.  S. 

Ward) . .543 

Austria,  Pharmacy  in  ...  .  869 

Autograph  Proscriptions  for  Ex¬ 
amination,  Loan  and  Reference  308 
Automatic  Regulator  for  Main¬ 
taining  Constant  Temperatures 

(F.  B.  Benger) . 252 

Azores,  Climate  of  the  ....  77 

Baking  Powder  .  .  .  799,  818,  839 

Baldness,  Application  for  .  .  .  50 

Balfour,  Professor  Ipecacuanha  .  630 

Balsam  Bog,  The . 928 

-  of  Honey . 818 

Baobab  (M.  C.  Cooke)  ....  64 

Barnes,  J.  B.,  Experiments  on 
Some  of  the  Infusions  of  the 

Pharmacopoeia . 368 

Barnstaple,  Meeting  of  Chemists 

at . 712 

Bateman,  Mr.,  Hard  and  Soft 

Water . 168 

- T.  H.,  Unguentum  Sa- 

binse . 3 

Bath  Powder . 496 

Baths  for  University  College 

Hospital . 465 

Battle’s  Vermin  Killer,  Poisoning 

by . 627 

Baudrimont,  E.,  The  Use  of  Tin- 
foil  for  Preserving  Substances 
liable  to  Change  on  Exposure 

to  the  Air .  4 

Beale,  L.  S.,  Glycerine  Solu¬ 
tions  of  Pepsin  and  other  Sub¬ 
stances  . 586 

Beech  Morels  (M.  C.  Cooke)  .  .  264 


PAGE 

Beech-nut  Oil . 727 

Beef  Extract  in  Combination .  .  985 

Beeswax . 637 


Beetle  Powder  .  878,  897,  938,  982 

Beetroot  and  Cane,  Extraction  of 
Sugar  from  (F.  Kohn)  .  .  .  933 

- ,  Cultivation  of,  in  Eng¬ 
land  . 855 

Bell,  C.  A.,  The  Composition  of 

the  Ferric  Iodates . 624 

- ■,  J.,  Fermentation  .  ...  13 

Benevolent  Fund,  The,  367,  389,  492, 


911 

Bengal,  Report  on  Cinchona  Cul¬ 
tivation  in . 109 

Benger,  F.  B.,  Automatic  Regu¬ 
lator  for  Maintaining  Constant 

Temperature . 252 

- ,  The  Apprentice¬ 
ship  and  Early  Training  of 

Pharmacists . 252 

Bcnger’s  Apparatus,  Improve¬ 
ments  in . 470 

Benzine . 397 

Benzoating  of  Ointments,  The 
Extemporaneous  (C.  F.  Bolton)  848 

Benzoic  Acid . .  .  15 

Betts’s  Metallic  Capsules  ...  8 


Betts  Suits,  The  .  .  27,  32,  38,  629 

- Again,  The  .  .  .  212 

- ,  Judgment  of  the  Lord 


Chancellor  in  .....  .  635 
Bevan,  P.,  Legislation  to  Prevent 
the  Adulteration  of  Food  and 

Drink . 270 

Bhang  or  Opium  Eating  in  India  706 
Bill  for  the  Safe  Keeping  of  Pe¬ 


troleum  and  other  Substances 

of  a  like  Nature . 1030 

Bill  to  Amend  the  Law  for  the 
Prevention  of  Adulteration 
of  Food  and  Drink  and  of 


Drugs . 694 

- Petroleum 

Acts,  1862  and  1868  ....  112 

- Pharmacy  Act, 

1868  .  1015 

Bird  Oils,  Notes  on  (P.  L.  Sim- 

monds)  . . 1006 

Birdwood,  G.,  Frankincense  or 

Olibanum . 163 

Birmingham,  Meeting  of  Che¬ 
mists  and  Druggists  at  .  .  .  809 

Bischof,  Charles  Gustavus,  Obi¬ 
tuary  Notice  of . 597 

Bismuthi  Carbonas . 503 

- Subcarbongs  (T.  P. 

Blunt).  ........  144 


- Subnitras . 504 

- Subnitras,  Report  on 

Commercial  Specimens  of  .  .  728 

Bismuthum  Purificatum  .  .  .  504 

Bisulphide  of  Carbon,  Effect  of, 

on  Wood .  4 

Black  Currant  Lozenges  .  .  .  819 

- Ink  .......  737,  799 

Blair,  J.,  The  Chemistry  of  Calico 
Printing  ....  990,  1009,  1028 

Bleaching  Sponges  .  .  ,  .  .  668 

Blisters,  New  Material  for  .  .  66 

Blood  Pictures . 139 

- Stains,  Recognition  of  .  .  973 

Blue  Colour  for  Show  Bottles  .  497 

Blunt,  T.  P.,  Bismuthi  Subcar - 
bonas . 744 


July  1, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS, 


1047 


PAGE 

Bolton,  C.  F.,  The  Extemporane¬ 
ous  Benzoating  of  Ointments  .  848 

Books  Received,  17,  37,  57,  76,  99,  139, 
158,  179,  199,  357,  396,  418,  456, 
515,  536,  556,  576,  597,  617,  715,  798, 
856,  876,  982,  1001,  1006 

Borax .  525,  762 

- and  Blackbeetles .  .  984, 1001 

- and  Glycerine  .  .  .  .  857 

Botanical  Prize  for  1872  .  .  .  753 

- Specimens . 696 

- Student’s  Dream,  The 

(W.  Southall) . 745 

Botany  in  Medical  Schools  .  .  546 

Boullay,  Peter  Francis  William, 
Obituary  Notice  of  ...  .  58 

Bourgoin,  E.,  Researches  on  the 
Electrolysis  of  Certain  Organic 


Alkalies . 243 

Boxwood  . 928 


Bradford  Chemists’  Association  631, 

793 

Brady,  H.  B.,  Andrew  Boorde,  of 

Physyche  Doctor . 561 

- ,  Resignation  of  Mr.  .  .  388 

Brilliantine . 437 

Bristol  Pharmaceutical  Associa¬ 
tion,  173,  294,  448,  534,  672,  774, 

853,  998 

- Pharmacology  (W.  W. 

Stoddart),  482,  601,  661,  842,  881, 

921,  985 

- Association,  Meeting  at 

Liverpool  ....  236,  247,  253 

- Medical  Association,  The  139 

- (An¬ 
nual  Meeting) . 150 

- ,  Me¬ 
tropolitan  Counties  Branch  .  873 

British  Medical  Journal,  The  .  132 

- Pharmacopoeia  in  Canada  510 

- Pharmaceutical  Confer¬ 
ence,  134,  213,  227,  231,  249,  272, 
296,  314,  335,  351,  373,  894,  412, 
433,  633,  712,  981. 
Pharmaceutical  Conference, 
Greeting  to  American  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Conference  .  .  .  297 

- Papers 

read  at  the  Meeting  of  the  : — 

A  Century  of  Old  Books  (J. 

Ince) . 297 

Apprenticeship  and  Early 
Training  of  Pharmacists  (F. 


B.  Benger) . 252 

Automatic  Regulator  for  Main¬ 
taining  Constant  Tempera¬ 
tures  (F.  B.  Benger)  .  .  .  252 

A  Few  Notes  on  Aloes  (W.  A. 

Tilden) . 375 

Better  Excipient  for  the  Offici¬ 
nal  Pill  Masses  (W.  Martin- 

dale)  . 412 

Bitter  Cassava  Juice  (J.  Att- 

field) . 274 

Chemical  Constitution  of  Sul¬ 
phurated  Potash  (J.  Watts) .  416 

Closing  Business . 435 


Concentrated  Compound  De¬ 
coction  of  Sarsaparilla  (F. 

M.  Rimmington)  .  .  .  .  296 

Flax  Lints  of  Commerce  under 
the  Microscope  (T.  Greenish)  352 
Fulmar  and  Fulmar  Oil  (E.  C. 

C.  Stanford) . 374 


PAGE 

British  Pharmaceutical  Confer¬ 
ence,  Papers  read  at  the 
Meeting  of  the  : — 

Hydrargyrum  cumCreta(M.  J. 

Ellwood) . 414 

Introductory  Address  of  Mr. 

Stoddart . 232 

Laboratory  Notes  on  Turmeric 
(J.  Cooke)  .  .  ....  415 

Microscopic  Examination  of 
Extracts  made  from  Tinctures 
(M.  J.  Ellwood)  .  .  .  .  414 

Nepaul  Aconite  (T.  B.  Groves)  433 
Note  onCalamine  (R.  Reynolds)  434 
Notes  on  the  Cultivation  of  the 
Opium  Poppy  in  Australia 

(J.  W.  Hood) . 272 

Pharmaceutical  Education  in 
the  Provinces,  Discussion  on 
the  Facilities  for  .  .  .  .  335 
Purity  of  the  Yellow  Beeswax 
of  Pharmacy  (E.  Davies)  .  249 

Report  of  the  Executive  Com¬ 
mittee  . 231 

Specific  Gravity  and  Actual 
Weight  of  Certain  “Volume 
Measures’  ’  of  V  arious  Liquids 
and  Preparations  (F.  M. 

Rimmington) . 296 

Saccharo-Chirettine  (D.  S. 

Kemp) . 250 

So-called  “  Citrate  of  Magnesia” 

(F.  M.  Rimmington)  .  .  274 
Storing  of  Poisons  (E.  Smith) .  394 

Strength  of  twenty- four  Spe¬ 
cimens  of  Saccharated  Car¬ 
bonate  of  Iron  (J.J.  Nicholson)  251 
Sulphite  of  Zinc  (C.  R.  C.  Tich- 

borne) . 351 

Bromide  of  Potassium  .  .  567,  1001 

- , - - — - used  in  Me¬ 
dicine,  Report  of  Experiments 

on . 147 

Bromides,  Syrups  of  the  .  .  .  854 

Bromum . 526 

Brownen,  G.,  Waters  of  the  Bri¬ 
tish  Pharmacopoeia  .  .  .  .  241 

Brown  Hair  Dye . 78 

Brown,  J.  F.,  Fatal  Case  of 
Poisoning  with  Chloral  Hy¬ 
drate  .  3 

- ,  The  Chemical  Re¬ 
actions  of  Chloral  Hydrate .  .  342 

Bullock,  C.,  Death  from  an  Over¬ 
dose  of  Strychnia . 96 

Bunya-Bunya,  The . 770 

Burns  and  Scalds . 763 

- - ,  Local  Applications  to  .  .  366 

Burnt  Iron  (W.  M.  Williams)  .  853 

Business . 751 

Butterflies’  Wings,  The  Colour 

of . ■ . 426 

Butyric  Acid  in  Glycerine,  Test 
for . 348 

Cadmii  Iodidum . 563 

Calamine,  Note  on  (R.  Reynolds)  434 

Calcii  Chloridum . 564 

Calcis  Carbonas  Praecipitata  .  .  564 

- Hydras . 564 

- Phosphas . 564 

Calx  Chlorata . 564 

Calendar  for  1871,  The.  .  .  .  710 

Calendula  Cerate . 818 

- Jelly . 818 


PAGE 

Calico  Printing,  The  Chemistry 
of  (J.  Blair)  .  .  .  990,1009,1028 

Californian  Acorns . 686 

- Castor  Oil  ....  927 

- - - ,  The  Sulphur  Beds  of  6 

Camphorato  Blisters,  To  .  .  .  583 

Camphor  Balls . 618 

- Balsam . 818 

- Cake . 598 

■,  The  Crystallization  of 


(R.  Rother) . 1009 

Canada,  Pharmaceutical  Pro¬ 
spects  in  (J.  Baker  Edwards, 

....  21 


Ph.D.,  F.C.S.)  . 

- ,  The  Salo  of  Poisons  in 


547 

848 


872 


Candle-berry  Tree,  The  .  .  . 

Cane-sugar,  Some  Saline  Com¬ 
pounds  of  (C.  Ilaughton  Gill) . 
Cantharidate  of  Potash,  Prepara¬ 
tion  of . 285 

Cantharides,  Inefficacy  of  Imma¬ 
ture  . 158 

Caoutchouc,  Use  of  as  an  Addi¬ 
tion  to  Plasters  (J.  W.  Worth¬ 
ington)  . 867 

Capsicine . 179 

Caraway  Flavour . 857 

Carbolic  Acid . 55 

,  Antidote  to .  .  .  366 

,  Attempted  Suicide 

. 775 

,  Poisoning  by,  238,  714, 

735,  895,  935 

■,  Suicide  by  .  .  .  695 

Use  of  Prepara- 


ky 


tions  of  in  Smallpox  Epide¬ 
mics  . 626 

Carbonic  Acid . 396 

Gas,  Suffocation  by  37 


Carded  Oakum . 189 

Cardiff  Chemists’  Dinner  .  .  .  269 

Carious  Teeth . 466 

Carpenter,  W.  B.,  The  Micro¬ 
scope  and  its  Revelations  .  641,  721 
Carstens,  J.  H.,  Iodoform  .  .  .  544 

Carteighe,  M.,  Syrup  of  Phos¬ 
phate  of  Iron  and  other  Syrups 
containing  Phosphoric  Acid  . 
Cassava  Juice,  its  supposed  Anti¬ 
septic  Properties  (J.  Attfield)  . 

Castillon’s  Powder . 

Castor- Oil,  California  .... 
- Soap  (F.  M.  Rim- 


761 

274 

819 

927 


mington) . 682 

Catechu,  Adulteration  of  .  .  .  366 

Caustic,  Poisoning  of  a  Child  by .  714 

Celery,  Flavour . 857 

Cement  for  India-rubber  .  496,  515 

Century  of  Old  Books,  A  (J .  Ince), 

297,  314 

Cerii  Oxalas . 623 

Cerium  and  Lithia,  The  Salts  of.  626 
Ceylon,  Cinchona  Cultivation  in.  931 

Chalk  Mixture . 446 

Chalybeate  Waters  (J.  Macpher- 

son) . 

Chandler,  W.  H.,  the  Production 
of  Iodine  and  Bromine  . 

Chapters  for  Students : 

Chemical  Notes  to  the  Pharma¬ 
copoeia  (W.  A.  Tilden),  14,  55, 138, 
157,  343,  363,  382,  402,  424,  443, 
503,  525,  563,  623,  743,  783,  844, 

924,  967 

Cheap  Aerated  Beverages  .  .  .  129 

3  H  2 


125 


285 


1048 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[July  1, 1871 


PAGE 

Chemical  Food . 857 

-  Nomenclature  in  Phar¬ 
macy  . 889 

Notes  to  the  Pharma¬ 


copoeia  (W.  A.  Tilden),  14,  55,  138, 
157,  343,  363,  382,  402,  424,  443,  503, 
525,  563,  623,  743,  783,  844,  924,  967 
Society,  Meeting  of,  13,  673, 


693,  794,  816,  853,  872,  935,  981 

- -  Reactions  of  Chloral 

Hydrate,  The  (J.  F.  Brown)  .  342 

Chemist  Fined  for  Selling  a  Tooth- 
Powder  without  a  Licence  .  .  775 

Chemistry  of  Calico  Printing,  The 
(J.  Blair)  .  .  .  990,  1009,  1028 

Chemists  and  Druggists’  F und  for 
the  Sick  and  Wounded,  Con¬ 
tributions  to  the,  172,  192,  213,  229, 
248,  268,  287,  308 
Chemists’  Ball,  The  .  .  .  569, 688 

-  Defence  Association  .  708 

-  Weights  and  Measures  131 

Cherry  Tooth-paste  .  .  .  557,  577 

Chester  Chemists’  Association  .  692 

Chilblains,  226,  357,  437,  456,  488,  496 
Child  Poisoned  by  Mistake  .  .  695 
China,  Introduction  of  Maize  into 
(H.  F.  Hanceand  W.  F.  Mayers) 
Chinese  in  America,  The 

- Native  Opium  . 

- Products .  .  . 


—  Therapeutics 


Chiretta,  Remarks  on  Specimen 
of  (E.  A.  Webb)  .... 
Chloral  (A.  H.  Mason)  .  .  . 

-  (C.  A.  Martius  and  P 

Mendelsohn- Bartholdy)  .  . 

• - ,  Large  Doses  of  .  .  . 

-,  The  Preparation  of  (E.  R 


Squibb^ 


on 


367 
541 

87 
148 

903 

ydrate  of . 145 

Hydrate,  397,  437,  651,  688,  709 

- - —  (F.  Versmann)  965 

- ,  Dr.  Richardson 

. 650 


522 

179 

604 

867 

157 


- ,  Chemical  Re¬ 
action  of  (J.  F.  Brown)  .  .  . 

and  Chloral  Al- 


coholate  (Dr.  F.  Versmann) 

-,  Deaths  Supposed 


342 

701 


to  result  from  Excessive  Doses  of  636 

- ,  Preparation  of  .  58 

- ,  Deaths  from  an 

Excessive  Dose  of  .  .  735,  798,  935 

Discussion  on,  at 
.  .  .  691 


Liverpool 


Fatal  Case  of 


Poisoning  with  (J.  F.  Brown) . 

- ,  Flavour  for  .  . 

- ,  Large  Dose  of  . 

New  Applica- 


3 

547 

936 


tion  of . 366 

- ,  Overdoses  of,  649,  675 

- ,  Preparation  of  .  58 

-  Palatable.  .  .  348 

- ,  Poisoning  by  .  713 

- ,  The  Dose  of.  .  667 

,  The  Quality  of 


(B.  H.  Paul) . 621 

•,  The  Tests  for  (C. 


PI.  Wood) . 703 

Chloric  Acid,  Test  for  .  .  .  .  547 

Chloride  of  Ethylidene  ....  3 

* - of  Lime  as  a  Cargo  .  .  628 

- of  Zinc  in  Rods  .  .  .  106 


PAGE 


Chlorodyno . 496 

- ,  Death  through  an 

Overdose  of . 347 

Chloroform  as  an  Anaesthetic, 

The  Use  of . 467 

- and  Chloral  Hydrate, 

Detection  of  Alcohol  in  .  .  .  683 

- ,  Death  under  the  In¬ 
fluence  of . .  286 

- in  Japan,  Death  from  347 

- ,  The  Introduction  of, 

into  Anaesthetics . 305 

Chloroformum . 623 

Chloroform,  Vehicle  for  the  In¬ 
ternal  Administration  of  .  .  307 

Cholera  Fungus,  rPhe  (M.  C.  Cooke)  483 
Cimicifuga  racemosa  (Black 
Snake  Root),  Neutral  Crystal- 
lizable  Principle  in  (T.  E. 

Conard) . 866 

Cinchona  Alkaloids,  Names  of  the 
(J.  E.  De  Vrij)  ......  544 

- Bark,  An  Alkaloid  from, 

hitherto  Undescribed  (D.  How¬ 
ard)  . 845 


- Bark,  Determination  of 

the  Value  of . 110 

- Bark,  East  Indian  .  .  326 

- -  Cultivation  in  Bengal, 


Report  on . 109 

- - in  Ceylon  .  937 

- - - in  India  .  325 

- - - in  Java  (J. 

E.  Howard) . 441 

- . - - - in  Java  .  466 

- - in  Mexico.  146 


- Ferrated  Elixir  of 

(Professor  Maisch)  ....  992 
— - ,  Report  on  the  Cultiva¬ 
tion  of,  at  Darjeeling.  .  .  .  746 

Cinchonse  in  Java . 90 

- ,  Hybridization  of  .  ,  118 

“  Cincho- Quinine  ”  (W.  T.  Wan- 

zell) . 115 

Cinnamon  Flavour . 858 

Citrate  of  Iron . 346 

- and  Quinia  .  363,  425 

Citrate  of  Magnesia,  The  so- 
called  (F.  M.  ,Rimmington)  .  275 

Citrates  of  the  U.  S.  Pharmaco¬ 
poeia,  The  (C.  Lewis  Diehl)  346,  363 
Citric  Acid,  New  Source  of  .  .  189 

Civet,  Ambergris  and  Castor  .  .  536 

Claim  against  a  Chemist  .  .  .1040 

Clark’s  Water  Softening  Process  130 
Climate  of  the  Azores  ....  77 

Close  of  the  Chemists  and  Drug¬ 
gists’  Fund  for  the  Sick  and 


Wounded . 447 

Closing  Business  of  British  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Conference  .  .  .  436 

Cloves  Flavour . 858 

Coal  Gas,  Sulphur  in  .  .  .  .  113 

Coal  Oil,  Another  Use  for  .  .  .  928 

Coca  (E.  H.  Fournier)  ....  43 

Cochineal  Testing  (J.  M.  Mer¬ 
rick)  . 906 

Cochlearia  Armoracia  .  .  .  .  661 

Codeia,  Action  of  Hydrobromic 


Acid  on  (C.  R.  A.  Wright)  .  8&7,  886 
Cod-liver  Oil  Jelly  .  .  .  .  818,  877 

- and  Quinine  .818,  984 

Coffee  Plant,  Disease  in  the  .  .  928 

Collin’s  Composition  Powder  .  .  457 

Cold  Cream .  477,  496,  799 


PAGE 

Collodion,  Ilmmostatic  ....  99 

- ,  Morphia . 99 

Colonial  Tobacco . 487 

Colophonine  and  Colophonic  Hy¬ 
drate  (C.  R.  C.  Tichborne)  .  .  302 

Coloured  Cements,  Preparation 
of,  that  will  harden  in  a  short 

time . 685 

Coloured  Rain  and  Snow  .  .  .  190 

Colouring  for  Pomades  .  .  .  377,  397 

- Materials  in  Tinctures .  307 

Colours  for  Carboys  .  .  .  .516,757 
Combinations  of  Carbonic  Anhy¬ 
dride  with  Ammonia  and  Water 
(E.  Divers),  45,  93,  126,  384,  444, 

484,  505,  526 


Commaille,  M.,  Mustard  .  .  .  265 
Comparative  Efficacy  of  Anti¬ 
septics,  The . 530 

Composition  for  Cleaning  Brass  .  497 

Condensed  Milk,  Chemical  Exa¬ 
mination  of . 606 

- ,  Chemical  Exa¬ 
mination  of  Several  Sorts  of  (L. 

Kofler) . 89 

Conditions  for  Making  and  Re¬ 
ceiving  Grants  and  Loans  in 
Aid  of  Provincial  Schools  of 

Pharmacy . 832 

Condition  Powder . 839 

Condy’s  Patent  Fluids  .  .  .  .  225 

- Fluids . 408 

Confection  of  Senna,  Note  on  (J. 

W.  Ehrman) . 806 

Conference,  British  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical.  See  British  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Conference. 

Confidential  Circular  from  New 
York,  A . 446 


Conium  Maculatum . 842 

- - ,  Amount  of 

Active  Substance  in  ...  .  348 

- ,  Preparations  of  ;  their 

Character  and  Medicinal  Value 

(J.  Harley) . 584 

Conservancy  of  the  Thames  .  .  317 

Contributions  to  the  Chemists  and 
Druggists’  Fund  for  the  Sick 
and  Wounded,  172,  192,  213,  229, 
248,  268,  287,  308 


Convention  of  Colleges  of  Phar¬ 
macy  . 158 

- of  Delegates  from 

Colleges  of  Pharmacy  .  .  .  348 

Conversazione  of  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society  of  Great  Britain  .  928 

- ,  The . 909 

- of  the  Royal  Col¬ 
lege  of  Physicians . 1010 

Cooke,  J.,  Laboratory  Notes  on 

Turmeric . 415 

Cooke,  M.  C.,  Ajwan  or  Omum  .  1007 

- •,  Baobab  (Adanso- 

nia  digitata,  L.) . 64 

- ,  Beech  Morels  .  .  264 

- ,  Cholera  Fungus, 

The . 483 

- ,  Development  of 

Ergot,  The . 702 

- ,  Gold  Thread  .  .  161 

- ,  Guarana.  .  .  .  221 

- ,  Hasan-i-Yusaf  .  2 

- ,  Hermodactyls  .  .  784 


neola  auriculata) . 681 


July  1,  1871  -  J 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1049 


PAGE 

Cooke,  M.  C.,  Kafur  Kachri  (He¬ 
dy  chium  spicatum)  .  .  .  .  603 

- ,  Kali-Kutki  (Picro- 

rhiza  Kurroa) . 502 

•  - - - ,  Kali  Nemuk  .  .  902 

- - ,  Kashmir  Morels  .  345 

•  - ,  Medicinal  Ferns,  181, 

204 

■ - ,  Spogcl  Seeds  (Plan- 

tago  ispaghula,  Roxb.)  ...  86 

,  Starch  for  the  Mi 


croscope . 401 

- ,  Unto-Mool  (Tylo- 

phora  asthmatica) . 104 

- ,  Variability  in  the 

Activity  of  Leaves . 861 

-,  Water  Chestnuts  .  125 


Copaiba  Balsam,  Detection  of 
Adulterations  in  (II.  Hager)  .  425 

- Jelly . 938 

Copper,  Poisoning  by  a  Salt  of  .  158 

Coprosma  grandifolia,  Examina¬ 
tion  of  the  Bark  of,  for  Alka¬ 
loids  . 628 

Coriaria  ruscifolia,  Extraction  of 
the  Poisonous  Principle  of  (W. 

Skcy) . 565 

Cork  for  Poison  Bottles  .  .  .  .  179 

Corns,  Cure  for . 706 

Correspondence  : — • 

A  Chemists’  Club  .  .  .  900,  1004 

Adulteration  of  Food,  etc.,  Bill,  780, 

859 

Advertising  by  Post  Cards  .  .  320 

Alleged  Exorbitant  Charge  for 

Dispensing . 520 

A  Medley . 800 

An  Advertisement  .  .  .  .  780 

An  Age  of  Progress  (A.  H. 

Clay  pole) . 40 

- - - (C.  Eve)  39 

Anonymous  Correspondence  .  20 

- - Writing  ....  100 

Application  of  Disinfectants, 

The . 699 


A  Queer  Customer 
A  Reclamation  .  . 


A  Suggestion  .  .  . 

Aurora  Borealis  .  . 

Betts’s  Chancery  Suit 
-  Suit  .... 


880 

660 

600 

380 

219 

79 

459 

940 


Beware  of  Swindler*; .  .  . 

Borax  and  Blackbeetlcs  .  . 

Brighton  Chemists’  Association,  259, 

279 

■ - Prices  versus 

Brighton  Chemists’  Associa¬ 
tion  . 340 

Cautions . 880 

- to  the  Trade  .  .  .  400 

Chemists’  English . 59 

Child  Poisoned  by  Mistake  at 

Manchester . 740 

Chloral .  620,  639 

• - Hydrate . 300 

- - in  Sea  Sickness  .  .  .  500 

Chloric  Ether  and  the  Chloro¬ 
form  Discovery,  Detur  Dig- 


mon 


660 

Citrate  of  Magnesia  .  .  .  80,100 

Clause  16,  Pharmacy  Act,  1868  780 

Concentrated  Medicine  .  .  220,  260 

Conversazione,  South  Kensing¬ 
ton  Museum . 899 

Dangerous  Prescription  .  .  .  620 


TAGE 

Correspondence :  — 

Dispensing . 780 

- by  Medical  Men  .  60 

- Charges  .  420,  539,  560 

■ - Alliances  .  .  .  620 

• - in  Surgeries  .  .  780 

- Prices . 760 


-  Reform  and  Poison 


Restrictions . 759 

Double  Salts . 338 

Druggists’  Charges,  379,  398,  440, 
45\  479,  498,  520,  580,  660,  984, 

1002 

- -  Prices . 279 

-  North  of  the 

Tweed . 1004 

Drugs  Supplied  by  Surgeons  .  984 

Election  of  Council,  The  Late  .  39 

Examinations . 920 

Exemption  from  Serving  on 

Juries . 760 

Extra  Charges  after  Business 

Hours . 260 

- before  or  after 

Business  Hours  .  .  .  .319, 338 

Explosion,  Case  of  ....  120 

Feeding  Bottles  .  .  359,  380,  440 

Fox’s  “  Palatable”  Cod-liver 
Oil  and  Castor  Oil  .  .  .  .  479 

Free  Trade  in  Surgical  Instru¬ 
ments  .  219,  259,  278 

Gallic  Acid  Solution  .  .  .  .  357 

Has  Public  Opinion,  as  Indi¬ 
cated  by  the  Press,  demanded 
Compulsory  Regulations  for 
the  Storage,  etc.,  of  Poisons  F  858 
Help  for  Students,  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Education  in  the  Pro¬ 
vinces  . 318 

Homoeopathic  Medicine,  Sale 
of,  by  Pharmacists  ....  18 

Hospital  Dispensing,  200,  220, 

227,  259,  300,  319,  359,  399 
How  to  Drive  away  Mosquitoes  200 
Hydrate  of  Chloral  .  .  .  .  719 

Hydraulic  Presses  for  Tinctures  359 
Improvement  in  Stoppered 

Bottles .  260,  280 

Information  Wanted  .  .  .520,539 

Infusions . 559 

- - of  the  British  Phar¬ 
macopoeia . 400 

Inspections  of  Weights  and 

Measures . 1004 

- A  Medley  .  .  .  1004 

Irish  Pharmacy . 720 

- Bill  ....  500 

Jury  Service .  879,  899 

Juries,  Exemption  from  (W. 

Y.  Brevitt) . 19 

Keeping  of  Poisons,  The  .  .  239 

Limits  of  the  Medicine  Stamp 

Duties  Act . 519 

Lists  of  Drugs . 560 

Local  Secretaries,  Work  for  .  19 

Lord  Mayor  of  London,  The  .  440 

Loss  of  Spirit  in  Making  Tinc¬ 
tures  .  379,  399 

• - the 

Tinctures  of  the  British 
Pharmacopoeia  .  .  .  .  321,  379 

Mag.  Ferri  et  Quin.  Sulph.  .  560 

Major  Examination,  The  .  .  379 

Material  for  Stanching  Blood 
from  Wounds . 260 


PAGE 

Correspondence : — 

Microscopic  Examination  of 

Starch . 460 

More  Fetters . 620 

Mounting  Microscopic  Objects,  338, 

357,  377 

Mr.  Cole’s  Prescription  .  .  .  220 

Navy  Dispensers  .  .  .  .79, 120 

New  Material  for  Suppositories 

and  Pessaries . 480 

Notes  and  Queries  (J.  R.  Faulk¬ 
ner)  . 339 

Obscure  Prescriptions,  420,  438,  458, 
498,  540,  580,  820 

One  of  the  Craft . 820 

Order  of  Merit  at  Examinations  20 
“  Orders”  in  Council .  .  .  .  1044 

Our  Monthly  Evening  Meetings  800 
Our  Responsibilities  ....  160 

Paper  Notes  for  Circulation  .  898 

Patent  Medicine  Licence  .  .  338 

Pepsine  and  Pancreatine  .  .  440 

Pharmaceutical  Apparatus  .  .  420 

- Education,  398,  420 

- Ethics  .  .  .  599 

- - Examinations,  899, 

983,  1002 

- Titles,  160,  180,  240, 

259,  319,  358,  378 
Pharmacist,  or  Pharmaceutical 

Chemist? . 119 

Pharmacists  and  Medical  Prac¬ 
titioners  ....  279,  299,  339 
Pharmacy  Act,  The,  in  its  Re¬ 
lation  to  the  Sale  of  Poisons 

by  Grocers . 260 

- and  Medical  Prac¬ 
titioners  . 360,  379,  398 

- in  Brighton .  .  .  579 

- inlreland,  399,  438,  539, 

760 

Physicians’  Prescriptions  .  .  480 

Plaster  Spreading . 200 

Point  of  Ethics,  A,  480,  500,  519, 

539,  559 

Poison  Bands  v.  Poison  Bottles  779 

- - Cupboards . 819 

Poisonous  Confectionery  .  .  700 

- - Feeding  Bottles  .  320,  339 

Poison  Regulations,  140,  299,  840, 
859,  898,  919,  983,  1002,  1044 
Poisons  in  Surgeries  .  .  .  .1002 

.  239 


-,  The  Keeping  df . 


Preliminary  Education,  Prize 

Scheme . 420 

Prescribing  and  Dispensing  .  559 

Preservation  of  Sulphate  of 

Iron . 820 

Previous  Sewage  or  Animal 
Contamination  in  Potable 

Waters . 819,  860 

Prison  Compounders  .  .  .  .  318 

Professor  Redwood’s  Annuity,  179, 

200 

Proposal  to  Enforce  Early 
Closing  ......  880,  899 

Proposed  Regulations  for  Stor¬ 
ing  of  Poisons,  517,  537,  558,  578, 
599,  619,  638,  659,  67 6,  697,  716, 

738,  757,  776 
Public  Dispensaries  .  .  .  .  360 

Qualifications  for  Success  in 

Business . 940 

Register  of  Chemists  and  Drug¬ 
gists,  The . 983 


1050 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[July  1,  1871. 


PAGE 


PAGE 


PAGE 


Correspondence : — 

Regulations  for  Storing  Poisons  38 
Remedy  for  the  Toothache  .  .  520 

Rule  of  Thumb  .  100,119,160,180 
Safeguards  against  Poisoning  .  159 

Sale  of  Drugs  by  Grocers,  179,  640 


— . — —  Poisonous  Materials  .  -320 

“  Sic  Vos  non  Vobis”  ...  60 

Some  Abuses . 938 

Specific  Gravities  and  Volume 

Measures . 340 

Spiritus  JEtheris  Nitrosi  .  .  520 

- Chloralis . 600 


State  Aid  for  Pharmaceutical 
Education  .....  159,  260 
Storage  of  Poisons  .  .  .  .  819 

Storing  of  Poisons,  The  .  .478,498 
Surgical  Instruments,  Free 

Trade  in . 120 

Syrup  of  Phosphate  of  Iron, 

820,  879 

The  “  Age  of  Progress  ”  and 
Provincial  Members  .  .  17,  18 

The  Benevolent  Fund,  964,  983, 1002 
The  Case  of  Poisoning  at  Fal¬ 
mouth  . 780 

The  ‘  Chemist  and  Druggist  ’ 
and  the  Poison  Regulations .  759 

The  Early  Closing  Question, 

919,  939,  984 

The  Forthcoming  Election  of 
Council  .......  918 

The  Fraternity  of  the  Profession  880 
The  Journal,  the  Council,  and 


the  Poison  Regulations  .  .  697 

The  ‘  Lancet’  and  the  Spectro¬ 
scope  ........  1044 

The  late  Election  of  Council  .  983 

The  Library . 580 

The  Microscope  and  its  Reve¬ 
lations  . 700 

The  Minor  Examination  and 
the  Provincial  Associations  .  939 

The  Nomenclature  of  the  Phar¬ 
macopoeia  . 860 


The  Payment  of  Assistants.  .  600 

The  Pharmacy  Act  .  .  .  .  519 

The  Poison  Question  .  .  .  .  338 

The  Preliminary  Examinations,  859, 

879,1044 

The  Recommendations  for  the 
Keeping,  Selling  and  Dis¬ 
pensing  of  Poisons  ....  964 

The  Sale  of  Poisons  .  .  .  .  879 

The  Society  and  the  “  Out¬ 
siders  ”  898 

Threats  of  Law  Proceedings 
against  Druggists  ....  440 

Trade  Grievances  .  .  119,  140,  180 

- Morality . 400 

Ung.  Aq.  Rosse  and  Tinetura} .  340 
Uniformity  of  Charges  .  .  .  940 

Unqualified  Assistants  .  .  .  940 

Vallisneria  Plant,  The,  and  the 
Breeding  of  Leeches  ...  20 

Warning,  A . 480 

Who  discovered  Ether  Anaes¬ 
thesia  F . 940 

Wholesale  Druggists’  Assistants’ 

^  Society .  480,  579,  680 

York  Chemists’  Association,  620,  700 
Correspondence  between  the  Glas¬ 
gow  Chemists  and  Druggists’ 
Association  and  Mr.  Simon  on 
the  Poison  Regulations  • .  .  .  632 


Correspondence  with  the  Privy 
Council  ....  642,  942,  1014 

Correspondents,  Answers  to,  20,  40,  60, 
80,  100,  120,  140,  160,  180,  200,  220, 
240,  260,  280,  300,  320,  340,  360,  380, 
400,  420,  440  460,  480,  500,  520,  540, 
560,  580,  600,  620,  640,  660,  680,  700, 
720,  740,  760,  780,  800,  820,  840,  860, 
880,  900,  920,  940,  984,  1004,  1044. 
Corrosive  Acids,  Poisoning  by  .  60 

Cosmetique . 377 

Cost  of  Dimples,  The  .  .  .  .  488 
Cotton  for  Stanching  Haemor¬ 
rhage,  A  New  ......  218 

Cough  Balls  for  Horses .  .  .  618,  637 

- Balsam .  496,  637 

- Mixture,  An  Elegant  .  .  426 

- Mixture,  Poisoning  by  a  .  657 

- Pills .  557,  677 

- Remedies . 627 

Council  Election,  The  .  .  .  .  909 

- ,  Meetings  of,  53, 132,  230,  308, 

388,  652,  731,  831,  910,  942,  1013, 

1035 


Cowhage . 663 

Creta  Prseparata . 664 


Crouse,  J.,  Process  for  Preparing 
Liquor  Ferri  Tersulphatis  and 
Liquor  Ferri  Subsulphatis, 
U.S.P.,  without  the  Formation 

of  Noxious  Gases . 970 

Croton  Oil,  Poisoning  by  .  .  .  347 

Croup,  Glycerine  inhalation  in  .  609 

Chemists’  Ball,  The . 610 

Crystalline  Pomade  .  .  .  .  477,  496 

Crystallization  of  Camphor,  The 
(R.  Rother) . 1009 


Crystallized  Hydrate  of  Soda  .  50 

Crystal  Varnish  for  Negatives  .  716 

Cucumber  Ointment . 425 

Culinary  Essences . 857 

Culture  and  Diseases  of  the  Silk¬ 
worm  . 42 

Cupri  Sulphas  . . 664 

Cutch,  Mode  of  Preparing  from 
the  Acacia  Catechu  (C.  Du- 

maine) . 24 

Cyanide  of  Potassium,  Poisoning 

by . .856 

Cystine  (J.  Dewar) . 385 

Cytisin  (W.  Marine) . 682 

Damages  against  a  Druggist  at 
Liverpool . 93 


Dangerous  Drugs . 742 

Darwinism  in  Chemistry  .  .  .  365 

Davies,  E.,  Ozone . 432 

Davis,  E.,  Purity  of  the  Yellow 
Beeswax  of  Commerce  .  .  .  249 


Dead  at  his  Post . 658 

Death  from  an  Overdose  of 

Opium . 616 

- —  Strychnia 

(C.  Bullock) . 96 

Death  from  Escape  of  Gas ...  78 

Decayed  Teeth . 536 

Decimal  Grain  Weight ....  190 

Decolorization  and  Deodorization 
of  Tincture  of  Iodine  (J.  L. 

Macmillan) . 987 

Decomposition  of  Acetate  of 
Morphia  in  Solution  (J.  M. 

Maisch) . 064 

Defects  in  the  Pharmacy  Act  .  849 
Defence  of  Paris,  The  .  .  .  .  210 


De  Morgan,  Augustus,  Obituary 


Notice  of . 816 

Dentistry . 397 


Detection  of  Turmeric  in  Pow¬ 
dered  Rhubarb  and  Yellow 
Mustard  (J.  M.  Maisch) .  .  .  1027 
De  Vrij,  Dr.  J.  E.,  Names  of  the 
Cinchona  Alkaloids  .  .  .  .  544 
- ,  The  Presence  of  Man¬ 
ganese  in  Beech-nuts  .  .  .  583 

Dewar,  J.,  Cystine . 385 

- ,  Inverted  Sugar  .  .  169 


Diamond  Cement . 477 

Diehl,  L.,  American  Drugs  .  .  705 

Diehl,  C.  L.,  Pharmaceutic 
Notes . 786 


- ,  The  Citrates  of 

the  U.S.  Pharmacopoeia  .  346,  363 
Digitalis  Leaves,  Time  for  Col¬ 
lecting  (F.  Schneider)  ...  50 

- purpurea  .....  921 

Dinner  at  Liverpool  (British 
Pharmaceutical  Conference)  .  246 

Discrimination  of  Fibres  in  Mixed 
Fabrics,  the  (J.  Spiller)  .  .  .  264 

Disinfectant,  Poisoning  by  a  .  .  547 

Disinfectants,  The  Application  of  625 
- - - -  Used  in  the  Inter¬ 
national  Society's  Hospitals  .  278 

Disinfecting  Apparatus,  A  (A. 

W.  Gerrard) . 804 

Dispensing,  397,  437,  457,  477,  496, 
497,  515,  536,  618,  771,  877,  878, 

897  917 

- (W.  J.  Halliday)  .  ’  741 

- Charges . 870 

- in  Surgeries  .  .  .  612 

Distillation  in  Partial  Vacuo  .  .  883 

Divers,  E.,  Combinations  of  Car¬ 
bonic  Anhydride  with  Am¬ 
monia  and  Water,  45,  93,  126,  384, 
444,  484,  505,  526 


Division  of  Powders  by  the  Eye  .  65 

Donovan,  M.,  Tincture  of  Hyos- 

cyamus . 907 

Double  Suicide  by  Cyanide  of 

Potassium . .  .  436 

Druggists,  Actions  against  .  .  150 


- ’  Charges  ...  467,  530 

Drug  Market  Notes,  408,  446,  466, 

488,  568,  686,  728 

Drying  Salve . 1042 

Dumaine,  C.,  Mode  of  Preparing 
the  Cutch  of  Commerce  from 
the  Acacia  Catechu  ....  24 

Dundee  Chemists  and  Druggists’ 

Association . 431,933 

Durham,  University  of, ,  College 

of  Medicine . 316 

Dutch  Drops,  or  Haarlem  Drops  1001 

East  Indian  Cinchona  Bark  .  .  326 

Easton’ s  Syrup  of  the  Phosphates  377 
Eau  de  Cologne  .  .  .  419,  437,  456 

- -  de  Millefleurs . 457 

- de  Portugal . 419,  477 

- Sedatif . 377 

Eberbach,  E.,  Iodide  of  Calcium 
and  Syrup  of  Iodide  of  Calcium  304 
Eberle,  C.  L.,  The  Use  of  Wax, 
Tallow,  etc.,  in  Suppositories  969 
Ebert,  A.  E.,  Malt  Extract  .  .  507 

-  Pharmaceutical 

Notes . 128,  566 

Eclectic  Inhaler,  The  ....  25 


July  1,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1051 


PAGE 

Economic  Entomology  .  .  .  .  968 

Editorial  Articles  and  Notes  : — 
Accident  to  Mr.  Reynolds  .  388,  411 
A  Contribution  to  the  History 
of  Anaesthetics  .....  792 

Actions  against  Druggists  .  .  150 

Adulteration . 687 

A  German  Pharmacopoeia  .  .  995 

Agriculture  in  India  .  .  .  .1012 

Aid  to  Pharmaceutical  Edu¬ 
cation  in  the  Provinces  .  .  387 

Alcoholic  Solution  of  Sulphu¬ 
rous  Acid . 850 

American  Regulation  of  Trade  1034 
An  Act  to  Regulate  the  Sale  of 
Poisons  in  Ireland  .  .  .  .  137 

A  New  Journal  of  Pharmacy  .  995 

- Phase  of  “  Coaching  ”  .  629 

Anonymous  Writing  ....  51 

Apothecary-General  (Ireland) .  568 

Appointment  to  the  Chair  of 
Chemistry  at  St.  Bartholo¬ 
mew’s  Hospital . 490 

A  Strange  Way  of  Remedying 


an  Evil . 793 

Autograph  Prescriptions  for 
Examination,  Loan  and  Re¬ 
ference  . 308 

A  Visit  to  the  Seat  of  War  .  .  327 

Bequest  to  the  Benevolent 

Fund . 570 

Betts’s  Metallic  Capsules  .  .  8 

Bishop  of  Sierra  Leone,  The  .  469 
British  Association  and  Edin¬ 
burgh,  The . 212 

Business . 751 

Canadian  Pharmacy  Bill  .  .  669 


Chemical  Nomenclature  of  the 

Pharmacopoeia . 889 

Chemists  Holding  the  Office  of 
Mayor  .  ...  427,  447,  469 

Chloral  Hydrate  .  .  .  .651,  709 

Chlorocodon  Whitei,  H.  f.  .  .  871 

Cinchona  Bark  from  Ceylon  .  388 

- -  Cultivation  in  Cey¬ 
lon  . 931 

- Cultivation  in  Ja¬ 
maica  . 850 

- Cultivation  in  the 

Neilgherry  Hills  .  .  .  .  570 

Defects  in  the  Pharmacy  Act  .  849 

Disinfectants  for  the  War  Hos¬ 
pitals  . 247 

Dispensing . 771 

- - Charges  ....  870 

-  and  Alli¬ 
ances  .  547,  549 

- in  Surgeries.  .  .  612 

Dr.  Acland  on  the  National 

Health . 994 

Dr.  Lankester’s  Annual  Re¬ 
port  of  Inquests . 590 

Dr.  Rumsey  on  the  Pharmacy 

Act . 91 

Druggists’  Charges  .  .  .  .  467 

Educational  Department  of  the 
International  Exhibition .  .  850 

Election  of  a  New  Member  of 

the  Council . 570 

Entomological  Prizes  .  .  .  931 

Extract  of  Flesh  and  Fish  in 


Java . .  .  349 

German  Ideas  of  English  Phar¬ 
macies  . 830 

Gratuitous  Service  .  .  .  .  212 


PAGE 

Editorial  Articles  and  Notes  : — 
Greeting  of  the  American  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Conference  to  the 
British  Pharmaceutical  Con¬ 


ference  . 327 

Help  for  the  Wounded  .  .  .  149 

Henry  Deane . 427 

Hospital  Dispensing  .  .  .  149,  227 

Hypodermic  Injection  .  .  91,111 

Imports . 531 

Indian  Drugs . 137 

- Quinine . 974 

Lime  and  Lemon  Juice  .  .  .  973 

Local  Schools  of  Science  .  .  941 


London  Chemists’  Association .  550 

Lord  Mayor  Dakin  .  .  .  .  411 


Ma9aranduba . 931 

Majors  and  Members .  .  .  .  171 

Medical  Druggists  .  .  .  .  811 

- Papyrus  with  Ancient 

Prescriptions . 910 

Medicinal  Plants . 812 

Medicines  for  the  Irish  Unions  570 
Memorial  to  Dr.  Miller  .  .  .  669 


Methylated  Finish  .  .  .  .1033 

Metropolitan  Laboratories  .  .  287 

Mismatching  of  Specimens  in 

Herbaria  .  1012 

Misnomers . 531 

Montreal  Chemists’  Association  995 
Mr.  Muntz’s  Adulteration  Bill .  791 

Mr.  Simon  on  the  Pharmacy 

Act . 171 

- Practice  of 

Pharmacy  in  Great  Britain  .  191 

Multiple  Vision  .  .  •  .  .  .1011 

New  American  Chemical 
Journal  .......  268 

Newark.  Pharmaceutical  Asso¬ 
ciation  . 1034 

Odisse  quern  Lseseris .  .  .  .  192 

Opium  Cultivation  .  .  .  .  710 

Our  Monthly  Evening  Meetings  729 

Ozokerit . 427 

Paris  Societe  d’Acclimatation  .  688 

Pension  to  Dr.  Stenhouse  .  .  651 

Pharmaceutical  Assistants  and 
Apprentices  in  Hamburg  .  930 

- - - - Education  in 

France  ........  228 

- Exhibitions  .  131 

- Legislation  .  1011 

-  in 

America . 772 

_____ -  in 

Illinois.  .......  791 

Pharmacy  and  Medical  Prac¬ 
tice.  .  .  .  409 

- and  Medical  Practi¬ 
tioners  .  267 

• - and  the  State  .  .  511 

- Bill  for  Victoria.  .  590 

- in  America  .  .  .  889 

- in  Austria ....  869 

- in  Ireland .  .  .  327,  611 

Philadelphia  College  of  Phar¬ 
macy  .  .  .......  731 

Poison  Labels . 629 

- Regulations,  91,  489,  611,  829 

Pollution  of  Rivers  Commis¬ 
sions  . 27 

Poor  Law  Apothecary  (Ire¬ 
land)  .  .  .  447 

- Tenders  for  Medi¬ 
cines  in  Ireland . 871 


PAGE 

Editorial  Articles  and  Notes  : — 

Poor  Law  Unions  Apothe¬ 
cary  for  Ireland . 569 

Prescriptions . 590 

- for  Provincial  As¬ 
sociations  .  .  .  .  531,  612,  669 

Presentation  to  Mr.  A.  II. 

Mason . 427 

Presidency  of  the  Royal  So¬ 
ciety  . 793 

Professor  Frankland,  Report 
on  the  Quality  of  Thames 

Water . 812 

- Gamgee’s  Method  of 

Preserving  Meat  .  .  .  .  268 

Professorship  of  Chemistry  at 
the  Royal  Academy  .  .  .  930 

Prosecution  of  an  Unregistered 
Apothecary  in  Baltimore  .  812 

- of  Toronto  Drug¬ 
gists  .  651,  995 

Recent  Events  of  the  “  Out¬ 
side”  Organ . 1011 

Recognition  of  Blood  Stains  .  973 

Renewal  of  Physicians’  Pre¬ 
scriptions  in  New  York  .  .  995 

Report  on  the  Quality  of  Gas 
supplied  to  the  Metropolis  .  850 

Reports  on  the  Examinations 
of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
of  Great  Britain  .  .  .  .  228 

Resignation  of  Mr.  Brady  .  .  388 

Sale  of  Poisons  Act  in  Ire¬ 
land  . 569 

Sandford  Testimonial  Fund  .  267 

Scientific  Hobbies .  .  .  ..  .  730 

- Tolerance  .  .  .  .  711 

Source  of  Quinine  ....  349 

South  London  Microscopical 
and  Natural  History  Club  .  910 

Spiritus  Ammonia)  Aromaticus  709 
Supplement  to  the  Indian  Phar¬ 
macopoeia  . 427 

Supply  of  Drugs  to  Unions  .  468 

The  “  Age  of  Progress”  .  .  .  51 

The  Annual  Meeting  .  .  .  929 

The  Benevolent  Fund  .  .  .  909 

The  Betts  Suits  ....  27,629 
• - and  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Conference  .  .  267 

- Again  .  .  .  212 

- ,  Lord  Chan¬ 
cellor’s  Judgment  .  .  .  .  635 

The  British  Association .  .  .  247 

- Medical  Journal  .  131 

-  Pharmaceutical 


Conference . 227 

-  Pharmacopoeia  in 

Canada  .......  510 

The  Calendar  for  1871  .  .  .  710 

The  Chair  of  Chemistry  at  St. 
Bartholomew’s  Hospital  .  .  327 


The  Chemists’  Ball  .  .  .  569,  688 

The  Chicago  Pharmacist  .  .  427 
The  Conversazione  .  .  .  .  909 

The  Council  Election  .  .  .  909 

The  Effects  of  Drugs .  .  .  .  349 

The  Election  of  Annuitants  .  367 

The  Harveian  Oration  .  .  .1034 

The  Lancet  and  Pharmaceu¬ 
tists’  Charges . 489 

- —  and  the  Mutual 

Medical  Aid  Society  ...  7 

- on  the  Act  of  Pre¬ 
scribing  . 287 


1052 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS 


[July  1,1871. 


PAGE 

Editorial  Articles  and  Notes  : — 

The  Last  Step  in  the  Poison 

Regulations . 811 

The  London  Institution .  .  .1034 

The  Medical  Officers  of  the  In¬ 
ternational  Society .  .  .  .  268 

The  Milk  Journal . 730 

The  Natural  Order  Thymelaceae  850 
The  New  Librarian  of  the 
London  Institution  ...  51 

The  Ontario  Pharmacy  Bill  .  752 

The  Opening  Year  .  .  .  .  547 

The  Petroleum  Act  .  .  .  .  Ill 

The  Poor  Law  Apothecary  for 

Ireland . 510 

The  Postal  Regulations  .  .  .  327 
The  Preliminary  Examination,  859, 

993 

The  Proposed  Poison  Regulations, 
509,  531,  651,  687,  771 

-  Tax  on  Matches .  87  5 

The  Quality  of  Drugs  .  .  .  590 

The  Register  for  1871  .  .  .  669 

• - of  Chemists  and 

Druggists . 149 

The  Regulation  of  Pharmacy 
from  a  Medical  Point  of  View  993 
The  Rule  of  Thumb  ....  67 

The  Sale  of  Laudanum  .  .  .  327 

The  School  of  Pharmacy  .  .  247 
The  Sewage  Question  ...  67 

The  Use  of  Chloroform  as  an 

Anesthetic . 467 

The  Year-Book  of  Pharmacy,  13 1,569 
Treatment  and  Utilization  of 

Sewage .  7 

Utilization  of  Sewage  ...  28 

Year-Book  of  Pharmacy  .  .  490 

Young’s  Patent  Poison- Cabinet  870 
Edwards,  J.  Baker,  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Prospects  in  Canada  .  .  21 

Effect  of  Bisulphide  of  Carbon 

on  Wood .  4 

Effects  of  Drugs,  The  .  .  .  .  349 

- Godfrey’s  Cordial  .  .  199 

Ehrman,  J.  W.,  Note  on  Aro¬ 
matic  Sulphuric  Acid .  .  .  .  746 

- ,  Note  on  Con¬ 
fection  of  Senna . 806 

Ekin,  C.,  Estimation  of  Organic 
Matter  and  Nitrates  in  Potable 

Water . 781 

Election  of  Annuitants,  The  .  .  367 

• - Auditors . 964 

- New  Member  of 

Council . 671 

- New  Members  of 

Council . 963 

- Officers . 1013 

Electrolysis  of  Certain  Organic 
Alkalies,  Researches  on  (E. 

Bourgoin) . 243 

Elementary  Chemistry  (H.  M. 

Hart) . 514 

Ellwood,  M.  J.,  Microscopic  Ex¬ 
amination  of  Extracts  made 
from  Officinal  Tinctures  .  .  414 

- ,  Note  on  Hydrar¬ 


gyrum  cum  Creta . 414 

Embossing  Stamp . 577 

Embrocation,  Poisoning  by  an  .  307 

Emplastrum  Plumbi  .  .  .  .  665 

Emulsion  of  Almonds  (H.  P. 

Reynolds) . 683 

Entomology,  Economic ....  968 


PAGE 


Entomological  Prizes  .  .  .  .  931 

Epsom  Salts . 465 

Ergot,  Fluid  Extract  of  (C. 

Umney) . 371 

- — ,  The  Development  of  (M. 

C.  Cooke)  .  .  .  .  .  .  ;  .  702 

Erythrooentaurin  in  American 
Centaury  (J.  F.  Huneker)  .  .  990 

Essence  of  Coffee . 577 

- of  Jargonelle  Pear  .  .  618 

Ethylidene,  Chloride  of  .  .  .  3 

Eucalyptus  Leaves . 668 

- Oil . 78 

Evaporization,  Apparatus  for  Ra¬ 


pid,  at  Limited  Heat,  under 
Reduced  Pressure,  without  the 
Use  of  a  Pump  (A.  B.  Prescott)  115 
Evening  Meeting,  Our  Monthly  .  729 

- Meetings,  288,  367,  470,  551, 

655,  732,  835 

- ?  Papers  read 

at  the  : — 

Experiments  on  Some  of  the 
Infusions  of  the  Pharmaco¬ 
poeia  (J.  B.  Barnes)  .  .  .  368 
Note  on  Australian  Opium  (J. 

S.  Ward) . 543 

Pharmacy  in  the  United  States 
(R.  Howden)  ....  461,  471 
Remarks  on  a  Specimen  of 
Chiretta  (E.  A.  Webb)  .  .  367 

The  Chemical  Nomenclature 
of  the  Pharmacopoeia,  with 
Suggestions  for  its  Revision 
(Professor  Attfield)  .  .  .  801 
The  Microscope  and  its  Reve¬ 
lations  (W.  B.  Carpenter),  641,  721 
Ewing,  W.  G.,  The  Preparation 

of  Suppositories . 1008 

Examinations  in  Edinburgh,  10,  69,  92, 
329,  470,  612,  711,  871,  996 

- in  London,  10,  28,  55, 

68,  112,  327,  350,  411,  469,511,  533, 
590,  670,  688,  773,  851,  932,  975 

- ,  Major,  10,  55,  68,  69, 

399,  350,  411,  511,  592,  688,  711, 
773,  851,  871,  975 

- ,  Minor,  10,  55,  68,  69, 

112,  329,  350,  411,  470,  511,  533, 
592,  612,  688,  711,  773,851,  871,975 

- ,  Modified,  10,  28,  69, 

112,  327,  329,  469,  470,  612,  670, 

711,  871,  932 

- ,  Preliminary,  10,  28,  69, 

112,  328,  329,  350,  411,  470,  533, 
590,  612,  688,  711,  773,  851,  871 
Examiners,  Appointment  of  .  .1013 

Excise  Prosecution . 494 

Exemption  from  Juries .  .  .  .  192 

Exeter  Branch  Pharmaceutical 

Society  .  112 

Exhibition  at  Liverpool  in  con¬ 
nection  with  the  British  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Conference  .  .  .  448 

-  of  Chemicals,  Drugs, 

etc.,  at  Baltimore,  in  connec¬ 
tion  with  the  American  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Association  .  .  .  513 

Ex  parte  Whisken . 1000 

Explosion  of  an  Ammonia  Still  .  465 

-  of  Naphtha  ....  366 

-  of  Nitro-Glycerine  .  99 

Extraction  of  the  Poisonous  Prin¬ 
ciple  of  the  Tutu  Plant  ( Coria - 
via  ruscifolia)  (W.  Skey)  .  .  565 


TAGE 

Extractum  Cinchonae  Flavaa  Li- 
quidum  (A.  W.  Gerrard)  .  .  863 

- Fabae  Calabariensis  .  1030 

Extracts  of  Flesh  and  Fish  in 

Java  . . 349 

Eye  Salve,  A  New . 218 

-  Seed  .  . . 628 

Facts  and  Reasonings  concerning 
the  Heterogeneous  Evolution 
of  Living  Things  .  .  .  .  65,  90 

Female  Pharmaceutists  in  Hol¬ 
land  . 628 

Fermentation,  Acetic  (Liebig),  122, 141 

- ,  Alcoholic  (Liebig)  ,61,81 

- (A.  W.  William¬ 
son),  176,  194,  214,  236,  276,  354, 
452,  534,  573,  595,  613 

- (J.  Bell)  ....  13 

Ferratcd  Elixir  of  Cinchona  (Pro¬ 


fessor  Maisch) . 992 

Ferri  Arsenias . 15 

-  Carbonas  Saccharata .  .  .  665 

-  et  Ammoniae  Citras  .  .  .  743 

- et  Quinae  Citras  .  .  .  .  743 

-  Iodidum . 743 

- -  Oxidum  Magneticum  .  .  783 

-  Peroxidum  Humidum  .  .  844 

-  Peroxidum  Hydratum  .  .  844 

-  Phosphas . 844 

-  Sulphas . 844 

-  Sulphas  Exsiccata  .  .  .  884 

-  Sulphas  Granulata  .  .  .  884 


Ferric  Iodates,  The  Composition 

of  the  (C.  A.  Bell) . 624 

Ferridcyanide  of  Potassium,  The 
Preparation  of  ( W.  T.  W enzcll)  927 

Ferrum . 884 

-  Tartaratum . 885 

Fil  d’Archal  .......  357 

Filtering  Papers  and  Filters  (J. 

M.  Hirsh) . 905 

Financial  Statement . 944 

Fire  and  Loss  of  Life  at  a  Whole¬ 
sale  Chemist’s . 266 

Flag  Root . 819 

Flavoured  Castor  Oil  .  .  658,  696 


Flavour  for  Chloral  Hydrate.  .  547 

Flax  Lints  of  Commerce  under 
the  Microscope  (T.  Greenish)  .  352 

Flexible  Varnish . 577 

Florida  W ater . 598 

Fliickiger  and  HOhn,  Ophelia 

Chirayta . 105 

Fliickiger,  Professor,  Magnificent 
Fluorescence  of  Peppermint 

Oil . 682 

- ,  Note  on  the  Alkaloids 

of  the  Genus  Aconitum  .  .  .  121 

- ,  Rhatany  from 

Para . 84 

- ,  Testing  of  Bit¬ 
ter  Almond  Oil  and  Oil  of 

Cloves . 321 

Fly  Poison . 230 

Food  of. Infants,  The  ....  226 

-  of  the  Armies,  The  .  .  .  268 

-  Products  of  St.  Peters¬ 
burg,  The . 788 

Forms  of  Application  for  Grants 
in  Aid  of  Provincial  Schools  of 

Pharmacy . 831 

Fournier,  E.  H.,  Coca  ....  43 

Fowler,  Robert  John,  Obituary 
Notice  of . 514 


July  1,  1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS 


1053 


rAGE 


Frankincense,  or  Olibanum  (G. 

Birdwood) . 163 

Frankland,  Prof.,  Development 
of  Fungi  in  Potable  Water,  673,  693 
Free  Admissions  to  the  Royal  Bo¬ 
tanic  Society’s  Gardens,  Re¬ 
gent’s  Park . 753 

Fremy,  E.,  Dc  Losscn’s  Oxy- 

Ammonia . 23 

French  Essences  . . 496 

Fulmar  and  Fulmar  Oil,  The 
(E.  C.  C.  Stanford)  ....  374 

Fumigation . 397 

Fungi  in  Potable  Water,  Deve¬ 
lopment  of  (Professor  Frank¬ 
land)  .  673,  693 

Furniture  Cream . 897 

Gallic  Acid . 56 

Galuncha  ; . 848 

Gastric  Juice . 226 

Generation  of  Heat  by  Fungi  .  199 

Geranium  Dissectum  .  .  .  .  686 

German  Yeast . 598 

Gerrard,  A.  W.,  A  Disinfecting 
Apparatus . 804 


- ,  Extractum  Cin¬ 
chonas  Flavao  Liquidum  .  .  863 

- ,  Improved  Mould 

for  Suppositories  and  Pessaries  423 
Gigantic  African  Mushroom,  A  .  226 

Gill,  C.  H.,  Some  Saline  Com¬ 


pounds  of  Cane  Sugar  .  .  .  872 

Ginger  Flavour . 878 

Gingilie  Oil . 226 

Ginseng  (J.  R.  Jackson)  .  .  208,  665 

Gissing,  Thomas  Waller,  Obitu¬ 
ary  Notice  of . 556 


Glasgow  Chemists  and  Druggists’ 
Association,  373,  472,  533,  595,  631, 

754,  812,  872 


Glasgow,  Meeting-  at,  to  Consider 
the  Pharmacy  Act  Amendment 
Bill  .........  1031 

- ,  Mooting-  of  Chemists  and 

Druggists  at . 826 

Glucose . .  129 


-  (C.  A.  Joy) . 323 

-  Containing  Sugars,  Exa¬ 
mination  of  (C.  H.  Gill) .  .  .  794 

Glycerine  Balsam . 818 

- ,  Distillation  and  Boil¬ 
ing  Point  of . 794 

- Extracts  of  Pepsine  and 

other  Ferments . 544 

- in  Beer  and  Wine  .  .  364 

- Inhalation  in  Croup  .  609 

- Jelly .  397,  497 

- of  Iodine . 938 

- Solutions  of  Pepsin  and 

other  Substances  (L.  S.  Beale)  586 

- ,  Solvent  Powers  of 


(Klcver)  . 763 

Glycerinum . 924 


Glycerole  of  Lupulin  (E.  Ivannal)  1027 
Glycyrrhizin  (J.  M.  Hirsh)  .  .  749 

Golden  Syrup,  Adulteration  of  .  707 

Gold  Thread  (M.  C.  Cooke)  .  .  161 

Graham,  Statue  to  the  late  Pro¬ 
fessor  . 347 

Grant  College  Medical  Society, 

Bombay .  154,  175,  193 

Grants  in  Aid  of  Provincial 
Schools  of  Pharmacy,  Forms  of 
Application  for . 837 


PAGE 


Granular  Citrate  of  Magnesia  .  78 

Grape  Sugar  from  Corn,  The  Ma¬ 
nufacture  of . 488 

- ,  New  Method  of  De¬ 
termining  of  (C.  Knapp)  .  .  301 

Green  Fire . 357 

-  Fluid  for  Show  Bottles, 


477,  515,  536 
Griffiths,  F.  T.,  The  Nightshades  430 
Grove,  T.  B.,  Nepaul  Aconite  .  433 

Guaiac  Resin,  Solution  of,  for  Me¬ 
dicinal  Use  (J.  T.  Shinn)  .  .  923 


Guarana  (M.  C.  Cooke)  .  .  .  221 

Guava,  The . 605 

Guelder  Rose,  Supposed  Poison¬ 
ing  by  the  Berries  of  the  .  .  386 

Gum  Acroides . 696 

- Cowrie . 497 


Guy,  T.  O.,  Sulphoearbolic  Acid 
and  the  Sulphocarbolatcs  .  .  52 


Haarlem  Drops . 1001 

Haemostatic  Collodion  ....  99 

Hager,  H.,  Detection  of  Adulte¬ 
rations  in  Copaiva  Balsam  .  .  425 

Hainan,  Products  of  the  Island  of 


(R.  Swinhoe) . 522 

Hair  Dye .  637,  737 

-  (Brown) . 78 

- Oil,  A  Good . 190 

- Scent .  456,  477 

- Tonic,  Mor fit’s . 170 

- Wash .  457,  557 

Halifax,  Meeting  at,  to  consider 
the  Pharmacy  Act  Amendment 
Bill . 1032 


Halifax  and  District  Chemists 
and  Druggists’  Association,  295,  594, 


755 

Halliday,  W.  J.,  Dispensing  .  .  741 

Hamburg,  Pharmaceutical  As¬ 
sistants  and  Apprentices  in  .  930 

Hanbury,  D.,  The  Adulteration 

of  Saffron . 241 

Hance,  H.  F.,  Introduction  of 

Maize  into  China . 522 

- ,  The  So-called 

“  Olives”  of  Southern  China  .  684 

Hard  and  Soft  Water  (Mr.  Bate¬ 


man)  . 168 

Harley,  J.,  Preparations  of  Co- 
nium ;  their  Character  and  Me¬ 
dicinal  Value . 584 

- •,  Solution  of  Santonin  667 

- ,  Har  veian  Oration,  The  1034 

Hasan-i-Yusaf  (M.  C.  Cooke)  .  2 

Hastings  ABC  Sewage  Works, 

Accident  at . 139 

Hawley,  J.  S.,  The  Digestive 
Power  of  Commercial  Pepsins  785 

Hay  Asthma . 78 

Health  of  the  Armies  of  the  Rhine  159 
Heat  developed  in  the  Combina¬ 
tion  of  Acids  and  Bases  (T.  An¬ 
drews)  . 606 

Help  for  the  Wounded  .  .  .  149,  170 

Henry  Deane . 427 

Hermodactyls  (M.  C.  Coolie)  .  .  784 

Ilerschel,  Sir  J.  F.  (Obituary  No¬ 
tice  of) . 936 

Ilessc,  0.,  New  Alkaloids  of 

Opium . 205 

Heterogeneous  Evolution'of  Liv¬ 
ing  Things,  Facts  and  Reason¬ 


ings  concerning  the  .  .  .  65, 90 


rAGE 


Hiccough,  Obstinate  ....  407 
Hills,  W.,  Paris  School  of  Phar¬ 
macy  . 841 

Hirsh,  J.  M.,  Artificial  Prepara¬ 
tion  of  Mannite . 864 

- ,  Filtering  Papers 

and  Filters . 905 


- ,  Glycyrrhizin  .  .  749 

Ilolbcck  Tincture . 799 

Honey  Trade  of  the  United  States 

(B.  F.  Stacy) . 806 

Honolulu,  Botanizing  in  .  .  .  547 

Hood,  J.  W.,  Note  on  the  Culti¬ 
vation  of  the  Opium  Poppy  in 

Australia . 272 

Horn,  H.,  Hyoscyamin,  its  Pre¬ 
paration  and  Constitution  .  .  304 

Horticultural  Ink  .  .  .  .  818, 857 

Hospital  Pharmacy  120  years  ago  381 

- Dispensing  .  .  .  .  149 

Howrard,  D.,  An  Alkaloid  from 
Cinchona  Bark  hitherto  Unde¬ 
scribed  . 845 


- ,  J.  E.,  Cinchona  Culti¬ 
vation  in  Java . 441 

Howden,  R.,  Pharmacy  in  the 

United  States .  461,  471 

How  to  Apply  Leeches  ....  508 

- -  —  Fasten  Rubber  to  Wood 

and  Metal . 610 

Hiigel,  Baron  Charles  von,  Obi¬ 
tuary  Notice  of . 139 

Hull  Chemists’  Association,  351,  492, 

673 

- ,  Meeting  at . 763 

Huneker,  J.  F.,  Erythroccntaurin 
in  American  Centaury  .  .  .  990 

Hunterian  Medical  Society  .  .  135 

Husemann,  T.,  Contributions  to 
the  History  of  the  Aconite  Al¬ 
kaloids  . 382 


Hustwick,  T.  H.,  Sulpho-Carbo- 

lates . 845 

Huxley,  Professor,  Address  at 

Liverpool . 253 

- ,  Materia  Me- 

dica  as  a  Branch  of  Medical 


Education . 

Hybridization  of  Cinchona)  . 

.  118 

Hydrargyri  Iodidum  Rubrum 

.  924 

- Viride  . 

.  925 

- Oxidum  Rubrum 

.  967 

- Perchloridum  .  . 

.  968 

- Subchloridum .  . 

.  1026 

- Sulphas  .... 

.  1026 

Hydrargyrum . 

.  1026 

- Ammoniatum  . 

.  1027 

- cum  Creta  .  . 

.  1027 

- ,  Note 

on  (M.  J.  Ellwood)  .  .  .  .  414 

Hydrate  of  Chloral . 145 

- (C.  Umney) .  107 

Hydrobromates  of  Quinine  and 
Cinchonine  (M.  Latour)  .  .  301 

Hydrochlorate  of  Quinine  in 

Whooping  Cough . 266 

Hydrocyanate  of  Morphia  (J.  M. 

Maisch) . 1005 

Hydrogen  Gas,  Improved  Me¬ 
thod  of  Producing  .  .  .  .  566 

Hyoscyamin,  its  Preparation  and 
Constitution  (II.  Horn)  .  .  .  304 

Hyoscyamus  Niger  .....  921 

- ,  Tincture  of  (M. 

Donovan) . 907 


1054 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS 


[July  1, 1871. 


PAGE 


rAGE 


Hypoclilorido  of  Sulphur  .  .  .  917 
Hypodermic  Injection  .  .  .  .  91 
. — - of  Calomel  217 


Ice,  Singular  Formation  of  .  .  37 

Illinois,  Pharmaceutical  Legisla¬ 
tion  in . 791 

Immunity  of  Monkeys  to  Strych¬ 
nia  .  6 

Imports . 532 

Impure  Acetic  Acid . 278 

Inaugural  Meeting  of  the  School  (j 

of  Pharmacy . 288 

Inco,  J.,  An  Age  of  Trogi-ess  .  .  9 


- ,  A  Century  of  Old  Books,  297, 

314 

- ,  Prescriptions  for  Pro¬ 
vincial  Associations  .  .  .  .  581 

Incompatibility  of  Digitalis  with 
Sulphate  of  Quinine  .  .  .  .  727 
- - Quinine  and 


Veratrum  Yiridi . 668 

Indelible  Ink . 50 

India,  Cinchona  Cultivation  in  .  325 

- ,  Cultivation  of  Ipecacu¬ 
anha  in .  5 


- ,  State  of  Medicine  in  prior 

to  the  British  Rule  (Baboo 
Gopaul  Chunder  Roy)  .  .  .  135 

Indian  Drugs  ...  ...  137 

- Hemp  in  Menorrhagia  .  218 


- Quinine . 974 

Infusions  (A.  Allchin)  .  .  .421,481 


Experiments  on  Some  of  the 

(J.  B.  Barnes) . 368 

Ingham,  J.,  The  Adulteration  of 

Saffron . 624 

Ink  Plant,  The . 928 

Insect  Poison,  A  New  .  .  .  .  6 

Introduction  of  Chloroform  into 
Anaesthetics .......  305 


Introduction  of  the  Ipecacuanha 

Plant  into  India  .  .  .  .  170 

- to  the  Study  of  In¬ 
organic  Chemistry  (W.  A. 

Miller) . 576 

Introductory .  1 

- — - Address,  British 

Pharmaceutical  Conference 
(W.  W.  Stoddart)  ....  232 

Inverted  Sugar  (J.  Dewar)  .  .  169 

Iodide  of  Calcium  and  Syrup  of 


Iodide  of  Calcium  (0.  Eber- 

bach) . ;  .  .  364 

- Potassium  used  in  Me¬ 
dicine,  Report  of  Experiments 
on  the . 89 


- Starch . 938,  917 

Iodine  and  Bromine,  The  Produc¬ 
tion  of  (W.  H.  Chandler)  .  .  285 

- ,  Decolorization  and  Dc- 

odorization  of  Tincture  of  (J. 

L.  Macmillan) . 987 

Iodoform  (J.  H.  Carstens) .  .  .  544 

Ipecacuanha,  Cultivation  of,  in 
India  .........  5 

- -  Plant,  Introduction 

of  into  India . 170 

- (Prof.  Balfour)  .  .  630 

- Syrup  of  ...  .  348 

. . -  -,  Syrup  of  (J.  C. 

Wharton) . 846 

Ireland,  Act  to  Regulate  the  Sale 
of  Poisons  in  Ireland .  .  .  .  137 


Ireland,  Pharmacy  in  .  .  .  .  611 

- ,  Pharmacy  Bill  for  .  .  405 

Irish  Scientific  Societies  .  .  .  348 

Isinglass  (Professor  Archer)  .  .  655 

Iva,  (Achillea  Moschata),  (A.  Y. 
Planta-Reichenau)  .  .  .  .  727 


Jackson,  J.  R.,  Ginseng 
- ,  The  Ochro 


.  208,  665 
and 


the  Musk  Mallow  .... 

- ,  The  Tamarind 

Jacob  Bell  Portrait,  The  .  . 

Jagielski,  Y.,  Koumiss  .  .  . 

Java  Cinchona  Bark  .  .  . 

- ,  Cinchona  Cultivation  in 


.  965 

.  863 

.  309 

864,  885 
.  342 
(J. 


E.  Howard) . 441 

Jew’s  Ear  (M.  C.  Cooke)  .  .  .  681 
Jobst,  Herr,  Java  Cinchona  Bark  342 
- ,  J.,  Report  on  Opium  Cul¬ 
tivation  in  Wiirtemberg  .  .  302 

Joy,  C.  A.,  Glucose . 323 

Jungmann,  J.,  Uva  Ursi  .  .  .  988 


Kafur  Ivachri  (Hcdvchium  spica- 
tum),  (M.  C.  Cooke)  ....  603 

Kali-Kutki  (M.  C.  Cooke) .  .  .  502 

Kali  Nemuk  (M.  C.  Cooke)  .  .  902 

Kameela . 707 

Kashmir  Morels  (M.  C.  Cooke)  .  345 

Katipo  or  Poison  Spider  of  New 
Zealand  (Dr.  Wright)  .  .  .  545 

Kemp,  D.  S.,  Saccharo-Chiret- 
tine,  a  New  Preparation  of 

Chiretta . 250 

Kinkead,  R.  J.,  A  Combined  So¬ 
lution  of  Pep  sine  and  Pancrea¬ 
tine  . 403 

Ivlever,  Solvent  Powers  of  Glyce¬ 
rine  . 763 

Knapp,  C.,  New  Method  of  De¬ 
termining  Grape  Sugar  .  .  .  301 

Kofler,  Chemical  Examination  of 
Several  Sorts  of  Condensed 
Milk . 89 


Kohn,  F.,  Extraction  of  Sugar 
from  Beetroot  and  Cane  .  .  .  933 

Koumiss,  (Y.  Jagielski)  .  .  864,  885 


Labels  for  Herbaria  .  .  .  .  419,  477 


Lactuca  Yirosa . 883 

‘  Lancet  ’  and  Pharmaceutists’ 
Charges,  The . 489 


- ,  The,  and  the  Mutual 

Medical  Aid  Society  ....  7 

;  Lankester,  Dr.,  Report  for  1870  .  627 

■  Large  Doses  of  Chloral .  .  .  .  148 

Last  Step  in  Poison  Regulations  811 
Latour,  M.,  Hydrobromates  of 
Quinine  and  Cinchonine  .  .  301 

Laudanum,  Attempted  Suicide  by  356 
- ,  Death  from  an  Over¬ 
dose  of . 798 

- ,  Poisoning  by  .  .  286,  756 

- ,  The  Sale  of  .  .  .  556 

Lead  in  Tinfoil . 179 

-  Poisoning . 575 

- ,  A  New  Source  of  426 

Leaves,  Variability  in  the  Activity 

of  (M.  C.  Cooke) . 861 

Leeches,  The  Trade  in  (P.  L. 

Simmonds) . 521 

Leeds  Chemists’  Association  428,  630 

- ,  Meeting  at,  to  consider 

the  Pharmacy  Act  Amendment 
j  Bill . 1030 


PAGE 

Leicester  Chemists’  Assistants  and 
Apprentices’  Association,  174,  650, 

712 

Lemon  Flavour  .  .  .  .  .  .  878 

Letheby,  H.,  Present  Prospects 
of  the  Sewage  Question  in  Re¬ 
lation  to  the  Public  Health,  24,  46, 

69 

Liebig,  Baron  von,  Acetic  Fer¬ 
mentation  ......  122,  141 

- ,  Alcoholic 

Fermentation . 61,  81 

- ,  on  Fermen¬ 
tation  . 68 

• - - T - ,  The  Process 

of  Nutrition .  261,  281 

- - - ,  The  Source 

of  Muscular  Power,  161,  182,  201, 

222 

Light,  The  Scattering  of  (Pro¬ 
fessor  Tyndall) . 633 

— - ,  (W.  A.  Tilden)  ...  35,  97 

Lime  and  Lemon  Juice .  .  .  .  973 

- Juice  and  Glycerine  .  .  658,  716 

-  Juice  and  Pepsine  .  .  .  808 

- Water,  Poisoning  by  Home 

Made  .........  657 

Lincoln  Chemists’  Association  .  351 

Liniment um  Rubrum  .  .  .  .  857 

Linnean  Society  .  .  .  473,  513,  613 

Lint,  Substitute  for . 158 

Linum  usitatissimum  .  .  .  .  662 

Liquid  Cement . 245 

- Cochineal . 1042 

- Pepsine  and  Saccharated 

Pepsine  (E.  Scheffer)  .  .  .  666 

Liquor  Cocci . 456,  477 

-  Ferri  Tersulphatis  and 

Liquor  Ferri  Subsulphatis, 
U.S.P.  Process  for  Preparing 
without  the  Formation  of  Nox¬ 
ious  Gases  (J.  Creuse)  .  .  .  970 

- Myrrhae  Co . 975 

- Opii  Sedativus  .  .  .  818,  839 

- Plumbi  Subacetatis  (S. 

Ivellam) . 1005 

- Quiniae  Ammon.  .  .  675,  737 

- Sedativus . 1030 

Liverpool  and  its  Health  Officer .  158 

- Chemists’  Association,  11, 350, 

371,  391,  472,  512,  554,  631,  671, 
691,  753,  793,  839,  871;  916,  975 

- ,  Meeting  at,  to  consider 

the  Pharmacy  Act  Amendment 


Bill  . . 1030 

- ,  Meeting  at  .  .  .  .  765 

- ,  September,  1870  .  .  191 

Local  Schools  of  Science  .  .  .  941 

- Secretaries  for  1870-71  .  30 

- Secretaries  for  1871-72, 

List  of . 996 

Locock’s  Pulmonic  Wafers,  Poi¬ 
soning  by . 286 

London  Chemists’  Association,  657, 


734,  855 

Institution  .  .  .  .  150, 615 


- ?  New  Libra¬ 
rian  of . 51 

- * - ,  Meeting  in  .  768 

Lupulin,  Glycerole  of  (E.  Kannal)  1027 

Ma9aranduba . .  .  931 

Macmillan,  J.  L.,  Decolomation 
and  Deodorization  of  Tincture 
of  Iodine . 987 


July  1,  18/1.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1055 


rAGE 


Macpherson,  J.,  Chalybeate  Wa¬ 
ters  . 125 

Madeira . 386 

Maisch,  J.  M.,  Amylo-Nitrous 

Ether . 865 

- ,  Decomposition 

of  Acetate  of  Morphia  in  Solu¬ 
tion  . 664 

- ,  Note  on  Hydro- 

cyanate  of  Morphia  ....  1005 

• - f  Ferrated  Elixir 

of  Cinchona . 992 


• - ,  The  Precipita¬ 

tion  of  Quinia  by  Iodide  of  Po¬ 
tassium  from  Acid  Solutions  .  744 

Maize,  Introduction  of  into  China 
(H.  F.  Hance  and  W.  F.  Meyers)  522 
Majors  and  Members  .  .  .  .  171 

Malt  Extract  (A.  E.  Ebert)  .  .  507 
Manchester  Chemists  and  Drug¬ 
gists’  Association,  312,  429,  492,  672, 

853 

- Chemists’  Assistants’ 

Association  .  412,  471,  690,  774,  932 
Manganese  in  Beech-nuts,  The 
Presence  of  (J.  E.  De  Vrij)  .  583 

Mannite,  Artificial  Preparation  of 


(J.  M.  Hirsh) . 864 

Marking  Ink . 618 

Mamie,  Dr.  W.,  Cytisin  .  .  .  682 

Martindale,  W.,  A  Better  Exci¬ 
pient  for  the  Official  Pill 
Masses . 412 


- ,  Spiritus  Ammo- 

niae  Aromaticus,  its  Prepara¬ 
tion  and  Composition  .  .  .  704 

Martius,  C.  A.,  and  P.  Mendel- 
sohn-Bartholdy,  Chloral  .  .  87 

Mason,  A.  H.,  Chloral  .  .  .  .  541 
Massachusetts  College  of  Phar¬ 
macy  . 999 

Materia  Medica  as  a  Branch  of 
Medical  Education  (Professor 

Huxley) .  8 

Matthiessen,  Augustus,  Obituary 

Notice  of . 317 

Mauritius,  Silk  and  Sunflowers 

in . 130 

M’Boundou  or  Icaja,  an  Ordeal 
Poison  used  at  the  Gaboon 
(Rabuteau  and  Peyre)  .  .  .  187 

Medical  Act  Amendment  Bill  .  1016 

— - Arrangements  in  the 

French  Army . 158 

“ -  Botanist,”  Charge 

against  a . 1040 

- Druggists . 811 

- - Officers  of  Health,  Asso¬ 
ciation  of . 355 

- Papyrus  with  Ancient 

Prescriptions . 910 

Medicinal  Ferns  (M.  C.  Cooke)  181,  204 

- Plants  ......  812 

Medicines  for  the  Irish  Unions  .  570 

Mercuric  Nitrate,  Ointment  of 

(R.  Rother) . 107 

Metachloral . 998 

Methylated  Finish . 1033 

-  Spirit  (P.  L.  Sim- 

monds) . 562 

- ,  Illegal  Sale  of  1040 

- ,  Sale  of  with¬ 
out  a  Licence . 695 

Methylene,  Death  from  Bichloride 
of . 875 


PAGE 

Metric  System  of  Weights  and 
Measures,  Bill  to  Establish  the  796 

Metrical  System . 58 

Metropolitan  Laboratories .  .  .  287 

Mexico,  Cultivation  of  Cinchona  in  146 
Microscope  in  Pharmacy,  The  .  667 
- ,  The,  and  its  Revela¬ 
tions  (W.  B.  Carpenter) .  .  641,  721 

Microscopic  Examination  of  Ex¬ 
tracts  made  from  Officinal  Tinc¬ 
tures  (M.  J.  Ell  wood)  .  .  .  414 

Midland  Counties  Chemists’  As¬ 


sociation  . 11, 976 

Milk,  Analysis  of . 606 

- and  Whey  Cures,  The  .  .  147 

- Ash,  Note  on . 808 

-  Journal,  The . 730 

-  of  Rosea . 325 

-  Quality  and  Analysis  of  .  116 

Miller,  William  Allen,  Obituary 

Notice  of . 298 

- ,  J.  T.,  Spiritus  Ammon  he 

Aromaticus . 742 

Miquel,  Dr.  F.  A.  G.,  Obituary 

Notice  of . 675 

Misnomers . 531 

Mistake,  Poisoning  by  .  .  .  .  547 

Mistleto  on  the  Oak,  Growth  of 

the . 21S 

Mistura  Cretm . 286 

Modification  of  Bones  by  Earths 

in  the  Food . 189 

Moffat,  R.  C.,  Detection  of  Alum 

in  Bread  . . 595 

Monkey  Nuts . 488 

Montreal  Chemists’  Association  .  693 

Morphia  Collodion . 75 

- ,  Death  from  an  Over¬ 
dose  of  .......  .  615 

- ,  Hydrocyanate  of  (J.  M. 


Maisch) . 1005 

- ,  Suicide  by  ....  695 

- ,  Supposed  Death  from 

Subcutaneous  Injection  of  .  .  616 

Morphiometric  Methods  Com¬ 
pared  (W.  Procter)  ....  805 

Mosquitoes,  How  to  Drive' away  158 

MouthWash . 618 

Mullein  Plant,  The . 365 

Multiple  Vision . 1011 

Muscarin,  the  Alkaloid  of  the 

Fly  Fungus . 42 

Muscular  Power,  The  Source  of 
(Baron  Liebig)  .  .  182,  201,  222 

Mushrooms . 88 

Musk  Mallow,  TheOchro  and  the 

(J.  R.  Jackson) . 965 

Muspratt,  James  Sheridan,  Obi¬ 
tuary  Notice  of  .....  696 

Mustard  (M.  Commaille)  .  .  .  265 

National  Association  for  the  Pro¬ 
motion  of  Social  Science  .  .  270 

- Health,  Dr.  Acland  on 

the . 994 

Naval  Dispensers,  Regulations 
for  the  Competitive  Examina¬ 
tion  for  Appointment  as  .  .  828 

Navy  Dispensers . 44,  51 

Nepaul  Aconite  (T.  B.  Grove)  .  433 

Nemy,  M.,  Preparation  of  Sub¬ 
acetate  of  Lead  by  the  Cold 


Process  •«••••••  2*4 

New  Alkaloids  of  Opium  (O. 
Hesse) . 205 


TAGE 

Newcastle-on-Tyne,  Meeting  at .  750 

- ,  Meeting  at,  to  consider 

the  Pharmacy  Act  Amendment 

Bill . 1031 

New  Reading  of  the  Petroleum 
Acts  (B.  Redwood)  ....  1025 

- Fibre  from  the  Bark  of  the 

Mulberry  Tree  ....  995,  1043 
New  Indian  Remedy,  A  (Ailan- 
thus  excelsa)  .  .  .  154,  175,  193 

- - -  Material  for  Blisters  .  .  66 

- -  Material  for  Supposito¬ 
ries,  A . 4  46 

- -  Remedies  (B.  W.  Richard¬ 
son)  . 362 

-  Source  of  Citric  Acid  .  .  189 

•  -  Test  Solution  for  Sugar  .  189 

•  -  York,  Law  concerning  the 

Sale  of  Poisons  in  the  State  of  587 
Nicholson,  J.  J.,  Strength  of 
Twenty-Four  Specimens  of 
Saccarated  Carbonate  of  Iron  .  251 

Nightshades,  The  (F.  T.  Griffiths)  430 


Nitrate  of  Amyl . 209 

Nitric  Acid . 138 

Nitrite  of  Amyl  (C.  Umney)  .  .  422 

Nitro-Glycerine  Explosion  .  .  426 

Nitrous  Oxide  Gas  (Dr.  Thudi- 

chum) . 167 

Nomenclature  of  the  Pharmaco¬ 


poeia,  The  Chemical,  with  Sug¬ 
gestions  for  its  Revision  (Pro¬ 
fessor  Attfield)  .  .  .  .  801,  822 

Norwich  Chemists’  Assistants’ 


Association  .  269,  392,  670,  916,  976 
Notes  and  Queries,  317,  338,  357,  377, 

397,  419,  437,  456,  477,  496,  515, 

537,  557,  577,  598,  618,  637,  658, 

675,  696,  716,  737,  757,  799,  818, 

839,  857,  874,  897,  917,  938,  982,  1001 
Notes  and  Queries  : — 


Adulteration  of  Lard .  . 

African  Saffron  .  .  . 

Almond  Balls  .... 
-  Flavour  .  .  . 


1043 

618 

818 

858 


Amandine .  598,  637 

Anhydrous  Glycerine  .  .  .  938 

Aniseed  Cordial . 737 

A  Problem  from  Dover  .  .  .  878 

Aqua  Camphorm  .  .  .  - .  .  557 

Arcca-nut  Tooth-paste  .  .  .  637 

Aromatic  Essence  of  Ginger  .  1043 

Arnica  Cerate . 598 

Baking  Powder  .  .  799,  818,  839 

Balsam  of  Honey . 818 

Bath  Powder . 496 

Beeswax . 637 

Beetle  Powder  .  878,  897,  938,  982 

Benzine . 397 

Black  Currant  Lozenges  .  .  819 

Black  Ink .  737,  799 


Blue  Colour  for  Show  Bottles  .  497 
Borax  and  Blackbeetle3  .  984,  1001 

- and  Glycerine  .  .  .  .  857 

Botanical  Specimens  ....  696 

Brilliantine . 437 

Bromide  of  Potassium  .  .  .1001 

Calendula  Cerate . 818 

- Jelly . 818 

Camphor  Balls . 618 

- Balsam . 818 

- Cake . 598 

Caraway  Flavour  .....  857 

Castillon’s  Powder  .  .  .  .  819 

Celery  Flavour . 857 


105  G 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS 


[July  1, 1871 


TAGE 

Notes  and  Queries  : — 

Cement  for  India-rubber  .  496,  515 
Cinnamon  Flavour  .  .  .  .  858 

Civet,  Ambergris  and  Castor  .  536 

Chemical  Food . 857 

Cherry  Tooth-paste  .  .  .  557,  577 
Chilblains  .  .  357,  437,  456,  496 

Chloral  Hydrate  .  .  .  .  397,  437 

Chlorodyne . 496 

Cloves  Flavour . 858 

Cod-liver  Oil  and  Quinine  .  .  818 

- Jelly  .  .  .818,877 

Collin’s  Composition  Powder  .  457 

Cold  Cream  .  .  .  .477,  496,  799 

Colouring  for  Pomades  .  .  377,  397 


Colours  for  Carboys 
Composition  for  Clcanin 
Compound  Salts 
Condition  Powder . 
Copaiba  Jelly  .  . 

Cosmetiquo 


Cough  Balls  for  Horses 


Balsam 
Pills  . 


.  516,  757 
Brass,  497 
.  .  338 
.  .  839 

.  .  938 

.  .  377 
.618,  637 
.  496,  637 
.  557,  577 
.  477,  496 
atives.  716 
.  857 
.  536 

.  397 
.  477 


Crystalline  Pomade 
Crystal  Yarnish  for  Neg 
Culinary  Essences . 

Decayed  Teeth .  . 

Dentistry  .  .  . 

Diamond  Cement  . 

Dispensing,  397,  437,  457,  477,  496, 
497,  515,  536,  618,  877,  878,  897, 

917 

Drying  Salve . 1042 

Dutch  Drops  or  Haarlem  Drops,  1001 
Easton’s  Syrup  of  the  Phos¬ 


phates 

Eau  de  Cologne 

- Millefleurs . 

- Portugal  . 

Eau  Sedative  .  . 

Embossing  Stamp  . 

Essence  of  Coffee  . 

• - Jargonelle  Pear  . 

Fild’Archal.  .  . 

Flavoured  Castor  Oil 
Flexible  Yarnish  . 

Florida  Water  .  . 

French  Essences  . 
Fumigation  .  .  . 

Furniture  Cream  . 

German  Yeast  .  . 

Ginger  Flavour 
Glycerine  Balsam  . 

Jelly . 


377 
419,  437,  456 
.  457 
419,  477 
.  377 
.  577 
.  577 
.  618 
.  .  357 
.  058,  696 
.  .  577 
.  477,  598 
.  .  496 

.  .  397 
.  .  897 
.  .  598 

.  .  878 
.  .  818 
.  397,  497 
.  .  938 

.  .  357 


Glyccrole  of  Iodine 
Green  Fire  .  .  . 

Green  Fluid  for  Show  Bottles,  477, 

515,  536 

Gum  Acroides  .  . 

Gum  Cowrie  .  . 

Hair  Dye  .  .  . 

- Oil  Scent  .  . 

- Wash  .  ,  . 


Holbeck  Tincture  . 
Horticultural  Ink  . 
Hypochloride  of  Sulphur 
Iodide  of  Starch  . 

Labels  for  Herbaria 
Lard,  Adulteration  of 
Lemon  Flavour-  .  . 

Lime  Juice  and  Glycerine 
Linimentum  Rubrum 
Liquid  Cochineal  .  . 

Liquor  Cocci  .  .  . 


696 
.  497 
637,  737 
456,  477 
457,557 
.  799 

818,  857 
.  917 
917,  938 
419,  477 
.  1043 
.  878 
658,716 
.  857 
.  1042 
456,477 


TAGE 

Notes  and  Queries  : — 

Liquor  Opii  Sedativus  .  .  818,  839 

Liquor  Quiniae  Ammon.  .  675,  737 
Local  Applications  in  Small¬ 
pox  . 1001 

Marking  Ink . 618 

Mounting  Microscopic  Objects  338 

MouthWaslr . 618 

Mulberry  Tree,  New  Fibre 
from  the  Bark  of  ...  .  1043 

Nutmeg  Flavour . 878 

Oil  of  Kermcs . 357 

Oil  of  Sandal-wood  ....  938 

Orange  Flavour . 878 

Orange  Flower  Water  .  .  .  1042 

Over-proof  Spirit  .  .  .  .516,557 
Oxygen  Pure  for  Inhalation  .  818 

Pastile  Paper . 497 

Pate  de  Guimauve  ....  1042 
Patent  Medicine  Licence  .  .  338 

Peppermint  Cordial  .  .  .  .  497 

Perfumes . 437 

Perfumed  Liquid  Ammonia  .  577 

Pick  Me  Up . 497 

Pineapple  Essence  .  .  .  .1043 

-  Flavour  .  .  .  .  878 

Pot  Pound .  496,  515 

Preparation  of  Pomades  .  .  938 

Preservation  of  Ergot  .  .  .  1001 

Pulvis  Glycyrrhizae  Co ..  .  .  377 

Quillai  Bark . 397 

Quinine  Mixture  .  .  .  .  397. 437 
Raspberry  Essence  .  .  .  .1013 

Raspberry  Flavour  .  .  .  .  878 

Red  Ink . 897 

Rome  and  Paris . 377 

Rose,  Flavour . 878 

Rose  Tooth  Powder  .  .  .419,437 
Rubini’s  Camphor  .  .  .377, 397 

Sachet  Perfume . 377 

Saint-Germain  Laxative  Pow¬ 
der  . 819 

Salad  Dressing . 757 

Sauces . 1043 

Scientific  Library . 598 

Street  Lightning . 618 

Silvering  for  Tills . 897 

Small-pock  Marks  .  .  .  .  496 

Solvent  for  White  Shellac  .  818,  857, 

877 

Solubility  of  Citrate  of  Iron  .  437 
Strainers . 877 


Strawberry  Essence  ....  1043 

- - — Flavour  ....  878 

Sugared  Calamus,  or  Candied 

Sweet-flag  Root . 819 

Sulphate  of  Lime . 877 

Sympathetic  Ink  .  .  .  .  397, 419 

Syrup  of  Chloral  Hydrate  .  .  456 

- Tamarinds  .  .  .  .  5  77 

- the  Phosphates  (Par¬ 


rish)  .  . . 857 

Syrupus  Croci . 577 

- Ferri,  Quinae  et 

Strychnia)  Phosphatum  .  397,  419 

- —  Tonicus  .  .  .  877,  1001 

Talca  Gum . 598 

Tannin  in  Galls . 419 

Tasteless  Pills . 477 


Taste  of  Cod-liver  Oil,  The  .  878 

Teeth  Stopping . 377 

Tinctura  Colocynthidis,  857,  877,  917 

- Opii  Camphorata  (U.S.)  1043 

- Pruni  Yirginian®  .  .  477 

Tincture  of  Myrrh  and  Borax, 675,737 


PAGE 


Notes  and  Queries  : — 

Toilet  Yinegar .  497,  515 

Tonqua  Bean  Flavour  .  .  .  878 

Tuba  Roots . 857 

Utilization  of  Residue  in 
Making  Tincture  of  Myrrh  .  1001 
Yanilla  Flavour  .  .  .  878, 1001 

Warts . 917,  938 


Watch  Oil . 577 

Waterproofing . 799 

Water  Test . 457 

Weather  Glass .  437,  456 

White  Oils . 737 

Ylang  Ylang . 598 

Zinc  Water  Tank . 938 

Nottingham  and  Notts  Chemists’ 


Association  .  12,  393,  572,  688,  753 

Nottingham,  Meeting  at  .  .  .  763 

- ,  to  con¬ 
sider  the  Pharmacy  Act  Amend¬ 


ment  Bill . 1032 

Nutmeg  Flavour . 878 


Nutrition,  The  Process  of  (Baron 
Liebig) .  261,  281 


Obituary,  17,  38,  58,  77,  100,  118,  139, 
159,  238,  258,  298,  317,  376,  396, 
436,  475,  514,  536,  556,  597,  658, 
675,  696,  715,  736,  75fi,  774,  816, 
916,  936,  1000,  1042 
Obituary  Notices  : — 

Albrecht  von  Graeffe .  .  .  .  118 

Augustus  De  Morgan  .  .  .  816 

Augustus  Matthiessen,  F.R.S.  317 
Baron  Charles  von  Hiigel  .  .  139 

Benjamin  Brogdcn  Orridge  .  238 

Charles  Gustavus  Bischof  .  •  .  597 
Count  Cyprian  Wollowicz  .  .  715 

Dr.  James  Watson  ....  1000 
James  Copland,  M.D.,  F.R.S.  .  77 

J.  T.  Porter . 159 

James  Sheridan  Muspratt  .  .  696 

James  Yates,  F.R.S . 936 

Miquel,  Dr.  F.  A.  G.  .  .  .  67 5 

Peter  Francis  William  Boullay  58 
Robert  John  Fowler  .  .  .  .  514 

Sir  James  Clark,  Bart,  M.D., 

F.R.S.  . . 17 

Sir  John  Frederick  Herschel, 

Bart . 936 

Thomas  Anderson,  F.L.S., 

F.B.S.E . 318 

Thomas  Walter  Gissing  .  .  556 

William  Allen  Miller,  F.R.S. .  298 

Obscure  Prescriptions  ....  468 

Ochro  and  the  Musk  Mallow, 

The  (J.  R.  Jackson)  ....  965 

Odisse  quern  Lmseris  .  .  .  .  192 

Odling,  Dr.,  The  Ammonia  Com¬ 
pounds  of  Platinum  ....  32 

- ,  The  Revived  Theory 

of  Phlogiston . 977 

Odoriferous  Plants,  Ancient  Use  of  188 
(Enanthe  crocata,  Poisoning  of  a 
Man  and  Horse  by  .  .  .  .  110 

Officers,  Election  of . 1013 

Oil  of  Kermes . 357 

- Rue,  Synthesis  of  (E.  Go- 

rup-Besanez  and  F.  Grimm)  .  323 

- Peppermint  as  a  Local 

Anaesthetic . 426 

- Sandal  Wood . 938 

- Yitriol,  Poisoning  by  .  .  347 

Ointment  of  Mercuric  Nitrate  (R. 
Rother) .  107,  70S 


July  1, 187L] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1057 


TAGE 

Ointments,  The  Extemporaneous 
Benzoating  of  (C.  F.  Bolton)  .  818 

Olibanum  (G.  Bird  wood)  .  .  .  163 

Olives,  The  So-called,  of  Southern 
China  (II.  F.  Hance)  .  .  .  684 

On  a  Localized  Outbreak  of  Ty¬ 
phoid  Fever  in  Islington  (E. 

Ballard) . 616 

Ontario  College  of  Pharmacy,  554,  674 

- Pharmacy  Bill,  Tho  .  .  752 

Opening  Year,  The . 549 

Ophelia  Cliirayta  (Fliickiger  and 

Hohn) . 105 

Opium . 230 

-  Alkaloids,  Contributions 

to  the  History  of  (0.  R.  A. 

Wright) _ .  867,  886 

-  Chinese  Native .  .  .  .  604 

-  Cultivation . 710 

Cultivation  in  India  .  .  715 

Culture,  Note  on  (M. 


Kennedy) . 762 

- Death  from  an  Overdose  of  616 

- -  New  Alkaloids  of  (O. 

Hesse) . 

Poppy,  Cultivation  of,  i 


PAGE 

Parkes,  E.  A.,  and  C.  Wollowicz, 
Experiments  on  the  Effects 
of  Alcohol  on  the  Human 

Body . 136 

Parliamentary  and  Law  Pro¬ 
ceedings  : — 

A  Chemist  Fined  for  Selling  a 
Tooth  Powder  without  a 

Licence . 775 

A  Child  Poisoned  by  Mistake  .  695 

494 

714 
798 
556 

715 


in 


Australia  (J.  W.  Hood)  . 

-,  Power  of,  to  Relieve  an 


Exhausted  Frame 

Production  in  Wiirtem- 


berg,  Report  on  (J.  Jobst) 

The  Cultivation  of,  in 


China  (J.  R.  Jackson) 

Trade  in  China,  The 


(P.  L.  Simmonds) 

Yeratrum  Yirido,  An  An- 


205 

272 

218 

302 

782 

361 


tidote  to . 610 

Orange  Flavour . 878 

- Flower  Water  ....  1042 

Oriental  Spices  (J.  Paton),  901,  922, 

966,  987 

Origin  of  Malaria . 508 

Orridge,  Benjamin  Brogdcn,  Obi¬ 
tuary  Notice  of . 238 

- ,  Mrs.,  Letter  of  Condo¬ 
lence  to . 133 

Over-proof  Spirit  .  .  .  .516,557 

Oxalic  Acid . 383 

- ,  Attempted  Suicide 

by . 715 

- -,  Suicide  by  ...  798 

Oxy-Ammonia,  Do  Losscn’s  (E. 

Fremy) . 23 

Oxy -hydrogen  Light  .  .  .  .  838 

Oxygen  Pure  for  Inhalation  .  .  818 

Ozone  (E.  Davies) . 432 

Palatable  Cod- liver  Oil .  .  .  431,  512 

- Hydrate  of  Chloral  .  .  348 

Pancreatine  and  Pepsine,  A  Com¬ 
bined  Solution  of  (R.  J.  Kin- 

kead) . 

Papaver  Rhoeas  (W.  W.  Stod- 

dart) . 

- somniferum  (W.  W. 

Stoddart) . 602 

Para,  Rhatany  from  (F.  A.  Fliic- 

kiger) . 84 

Tara  site  on  the  Lemon  .  .  .  .  668 

Parchment  Paper  as  a  Filtering 
Medium  (C.  R.  C.  Tichborne)  . 

Paris,  Pharmacy  in,  during  tho 
Insurrection  (E.  J.  T.  Agnew)  . 
School  of  Pharmacy  (W. 


403 


603 


Hills) 


881 

783 

841 


Action  against  a  Druggist 


for  Poisoning  a  Dog 


Adulterated  Tea 
Adulteration  of  Lard .  .  . 

- Wines  .  . 

Alleged  Frauds  on  tho  Re¬ 
venue  . 218 

- -  Poisoning  by  a  Cough 

Mixture . 657 

- of  Sheep  b3r 

Dipping  Composition  (Smith 

v.  Barker) . 

Attempted  Suicide  by  Aqua¬ 
fortis  . 

— — — — - Carbolic 


Acid 


156 
418 

M  P' 

.  .  .  no 

Lauda- 
317,  337,  356 
Oxalic 
...  715 

-  Sugar  of 

Lead . 657 

Ycrmin 


num 


Acid 


Killer . 1000 

Bill  to  Amend  the  Law  for 
tho  Prevention  of  Adultera¬ 
tion  of  Food  and  Drink  and 
of  Drugs . 694 


- Petroleum 

Acts  1862  and  1868  .  .  . 

— -  Intituled  an  Act  for  the 


112 


Safe  Keeping  of  Petroleum 
and  other  Substances  of  a 

like  Nature . 1036 

- to  Amend 

the  Pharmac)'  Act,  1868.  .  1015 

—  to  Establish  the  Metric 


System  of  Weights  and  Mea¬ 
sures  . 796 

Betts  v.  Willmott  and  others  .  32 

714 
1040 


Case  of  Alleged  Poisoning  .  . 

Claim  against  a  Chemist  .  . 

Charge  against  a  Medical  Bo¬ 


tanist  . 1041 

of  Poisoning  at  Lei¬ 


cester  . 756 

Chemists’  Weights  and  Mea¬ 
sures  . 131 

Collision  at  tho  Stepney  Station  874 

Conviction  of  a  Chemist’s  As¬ 
sistant  . 376 

- under  tho  Petro¬ 
leum  Acts  .  .  317,  356,  395,  455 
Damages  against  a  Druggist  at 

Liverpool . 93 

Death  by  Bichloride  of  Methy¬ 
lene . 875 

- from  an  Overdose  of 

Laudanum . 798 

of  Morphia  615 


Deaths  from  Overdose  of  Chlo¬ 
ral  Hydrate .  798,  935 

-  Supposed  to  Result 

from  ^Excessive  Doses  of 
Chloral . .  .  636 


TAGE 

Parliamentary  and  Law  Pro¬ 
ceedings  : — 

Double  Suicido  by  Cyanide  of 

Potassium . 436 

Druggist  Acting  as  Ac¬ 
coucheur,  A . 596 

Excise  Prosecution  ....  495 

Exemption  from  Juries  .  .  .  192 

House  of  Commons  .  .  775, 1000 

- Lords . 1039 

Illegal  Sale  of  Methylated 

Spirit . 1040 

Medical  Act  (1858)  Amend¬ 
ment  Bill . 1016 

Opium  Cultivation  in  India  .  715 

Overdose  of  Chloral  Hydrate  .  675, 
713,  735,  935,  966 
Pharmaceutical  Society  v. 

Whisken . 1016 

Poisoning  by  Arsenic  .  .  .  1022 

- — - — - — - - in  Ireland  514 

•  - - - -  a  Salt  of  Copper  874 

•  - - —*  * - -  Carbolic  Acid,  714, 735, 

935 

- Cynanide  of  Po¬ 
tassium  . 856 

- -  Home-made 


Lime  Water . 657 

- -  Laudanum  .  .  756 

Prussic  Acid,  775,  982 


of  a  Child  by 


Caustic  .  . . 714 

856 


a  Child  through 


a  Mistake  of  the  Doctor 

- Three  Children 

by  Carbolic  Acid  .  .  .  .  895 

Poisonous  Confectionery  .  .  575 

Queen,  The,  v.  Pharmaceutical 

Society . 1018 

Sale  of  Methylated  Spirit  with¬ 
out  a  Licence . 695 

-  Patent  Medicine  with¬ 
out  a  Licence . 456 

• - with¬ 
out  a  Stamp  or  Licence  .  .  514 

Sale  of  Poison . 317 

Sale  of  Poisons  (Ireland)  Bill  .  7 

Standards  of  Weights  and 

Measures . 798 

Substitution  of  a  Mercurial 
Powder  for  Dover’s  Powder  395 
Suicide  by  Arsenic  ....  1000 

- Carbolic  Acid  .  695,  874 

- —  Morphia  .  .  .  .  695 

- Nitric  Acid  .  .  .  456 

- - - Oxalic  Acid  .  .  .  798 

- -  Prussic  Acid  .  .  .  713 

Supposed  Mistake . 57 5 

Parrish’s  Syrup  of  the  Phosphates  857 

Pastilc  Powder . 497 

Pate  de  Guimauvc . 1042 

Patent  Medicine  Licences  .  .  .  464 

Paton,  J.,  Oriental  Spices,  901, 922,  966, 

987 

Paul,  B.  II.,  The  Quality  of  Chlo¬ 
ral  Hydrate . 621 

Pay  tine . 226 

Peppermint  Cordial . 497 

- Oil,MagnificentFluo- 

resccnce  of  (Prof.  Fliickiger)  .  682 

Pepsine  and  other  Ferments, 
Glycerine  Extracts  of  .  .  .  544 

- and  Pancreatine,  A  Com¬ 
bined  Solution  of  (R.  J.  Kin- 
kead) . 403 


1058 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


LJuly  1,  1871. 


PAGE 


Pepsino  and  Lime  Juice  .  .  .  808 

Pepsin,  Liquid  and  Saccharated 

(E.  Scheffer) . 666 

- ,  Medicinal  (R.  Y.  Tuson)  143 

Pepsins,  The  Digestivo  Power  of 
Commercial  (J.  S.  Hawley)  .  785 

Perfumed  Liquid  Ammonia  .  .  577 

Perfumes . 437 

Permanganate  of  Potash  .  .  .  347 

Petroleum . 568 

- Accident . 675 

- Act . Ill 


Acts,  Conviction  under,  317, 

356,  395 

- ,  New  Reading  of 


the  (B.  Redwood) . 1025 

- ,  Bill  for  the  Safe  Keep¬ 
ing  of . 1036 

- ,  Illegal  Storage  of.  .  456 

- Spirit,  Fatal  Accident 

with . 117 

- ,  Sale  of,  without  a 

Licence . 616 

Pharmaceutical  Education  in  the 
Provinces,  Discussion  on,  at 

Liverpool . 335 

- in  the 

Provinces,  Tabulated  Returns 


from  Provincial  Associations  311,  331 
Pharmaceutical  Exhibitions  .  .  131 


- Infelicities  in 

England . 668 


- Legislation  .  .1011 

- Notes  (A.  E.  Ebert),  128, 

566 

- —  Prospects  in  Ca¬ 
nada  (J.  Baker  Edwards,  Ph.D., 

F.C.S.) . 21 

- —  Society  v.  Colmer 

and  Wife . 198 

- Society  v. Whisk  en  1016 

- ,  Transac¬ 
tions  of.  See  Transactions  of 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society. 

- - - Notes  (C.L.  Diehl)  786 

Pharmacist  in  Germany,  The 

(Herr  Leipner) . 613 

Pharmacopoeia,  The  Chemical 
Nomenclature  of,  with  Sugges¬ 
tions  for  its  Revision  (Pro¬ 
fessor  Attfield) . 801, 822 


Pharmacy  Act,  Defects  in  .  .  .  849 

- ,  Dr.  Rumsey  on  tho  91 

Pharmacy  Bill,  The  Amended : — 
Deputation  to  the  Privy  Coun¬ 
cil  . 1032 


Meeting  at  Glasgow  .  .  .  .1031 

„  Halifax  ....  1032 

„  Leeds . 1030 

,,  Liverpool  .  .  .  1030 

,,  Newcastle  .  .  .1031 

„  Nottingham  .  .  .  1032 

Pharmacy  and  Medial  Practice  .  409 
- - - Practi¬ 
tioners  . 267 

- and  the  State  .  .  .  511 

- Bill  for  Ireland  .  .  405 

•  - Bill  for  Victoria  .  .  590 

•  - in  America  .  .  .551,  889 

- in  Austria  ....  869 

•  - in  Ireland,  327,  409,  410, 

611 

- in  Prussia  (E.  Agnew)  821 

- in  the  United  States 

(R.  Howden)  ...  .  .461,  471 


PAGE 


Philadelphia  College  of  Phar¬ 
macy  ...  37,  634,  692,  794,  998 
Phlogiston,  The  Revived  Theory 
of  (W.  Odling)  .......  977 

Phosphorus,  Turpentine  as  an  An¬ 
tidote  to . 685 

Photographic  Society  of  London .  555  ; 

Physostigma  Yenenosum  .  .  .  586  J 

Pick-Me-Up  .......  497 

Pill  Masses,  A  Better  Excipient 
for  the  Official  (W.  Martin- 

dale)  . 412  | 

- Knives . 488 

Pills  of  Sulphate  of  Quinine  .  .  668 

Pineapple  Flavour . 878 

- Essence . 1043 

Pitcher  Plants,  The  Fluid  of  .  .  418 

Pitting  in  Smallpox,  Prevention 

of .  108,  808 

Plantago  Ispaghula  (M.  C.  Cooke)  86 
Plants  as  Manufacturers  .  .  486,  504 

Playfair,  Dr.,  Address  at  New- 

castle-on-Tyne . 271 

Podophyllin . .  .  605 

Poison  Bottles,  Cork  for  .  .  179, 180 

Poisoning,  Charge  of,  at  Leicester  756 
Poisoning  by  : — 

Acorns . 366 

An  Embrocation . 307 

A  Liniment . 695 

Aquafortis . 418 

A  Salt  of  Copper  ....  158,  874 
Arsenic  .  66,  514,  596,  1000,  1022 

Arsenite  of  Copper  in  Wall 

Paper . 218 

Berries  of  the  Guelder  Rose  .  386 

Bichloride  of  Methylene  .  .  87  5 


Carbolic  Acid,  238,  508,  529,  714, 
735,  695,  77 5,  874,  895,  935 


Carbonic  Acid . 37 

Caustic . 714 

Chloral  Hydrate  .....  3 

Corrosive  Acids . 50 

Cough  Mixture . 657 

Croton  Oil  .......  347 

Cyanide  of  Potassium  .  .  436,  856 

Disinfectant . 547 

Escape  of  Gas .  78,  421 

Fly  Paper . 230 

Godfrey’s  Cordial . 199 

Home-made  Lime  Water  .  .  657 
Laudanum,  99,  286,  547,  742,  756, 

775 

Load . .  .  426 

Locock’s  Pulmonic  Wafers .  .  286 

Morphia . 615,  616,  695 

Nitric  Acid . 456 

CEnanthe  crooata  .  .  .  .  .  110 

Oil  of  Vitriol  ......  347 

Opium . .  616 

Overdose  of  Chloral  Hydrate,  636, 
649,  675,  713,  735,  775,  935 
Overdose  of  Ohlorodyne .  .  .  347 
Oxalic  Acid  ......  715,  798 

Prussic  Acid  ...  .  713,  775,  982 

Red  Precipitate . 494 

Sheep  Dipping  Composition  .  436 

Snuff'  contaminated  with  Lead.  465 
Strychnia  .......  307 

Sugar  of  Lead  ......  657 

Tincture  of  Squills  ....  547 


Vermin  Killer  .  .  .  536,  627,  1000 
Worm  Lozenges  :  .  .  .  *  307 

Wrong  Powders . 856 

Yew  Berries . 347 


PAGE 

Poisoning  by : — 

Yew  Leaves . 286 

Poisonous  Confectionery  .  .  .  575 

i  Poison  Regulations,  91,  111,  120,  489, 

611,  651,  829 

- ,  Correspon¬ 
dence  between  the  Glasgow 
Chemists’  Association  and  Mr. 

Simon  on  the . 632 

- ,  Correspon¬ 
dence  with  the  Privy  Council 
Concerning  .  .  .  652,  942,  1014 

- ,  Statement 

of  Reasons  which  induced  the 

Council  to  suggest . 653 

- ,  The  Pro¬ 
posed  : — 

Meeting  at  Birmingham  .  .  809 

„  Glasgow  ....  828 

„  Hull  .....  763 
,,  Liverpool  .  .  .  763 

„  London  ....  768 

,,  Manchester  .  .  .  774 

„  Newcastle-on-Tyne  750 
„  Nottingham.  .  .  763 

„  Sheffield  ....  809 

Poisons,  Law  concerning  the  Sale 
of,  in  the  State  of  New  York 

(F.  Tillon) . 587 

Poison  Spider  of  New  Zealand, 

The  Katipo,  or  (Dr.  Wright)  .  545 
Poisons,  The  Storing  of  (E.  Smith)  394 
Polarimetrical  Analysis,  The  Use 
of  Animal  Charcoal  for  the 
Purification  of  Saccharine  So¬ 
lutions  in . 926 

Pollution  of  Rivers  Commissions  27 
Pomades,  Preparation  of  .  .  ,  938 

Poor-Law  Apothecary  for  Ire¬ 
land,  The . 510 

-  Unions’  Apothecary  for 

Ireland . 569 

-  Tenders  for  Medicines 

in  Ireland . 871 

Poppy  Culture  in  North  America  148 

- Farming  in  Queensland  .  972 

Porter,  J.  T.,  Obituary  Notice  of  159 
Postal  Regulations,  The  .  .  .  327 
Post  Cards  and  Sympathetic  Ink  366 
Potable  Waters,  Estimation  of 
Organic  Matter  and  Nitrates  in 

(C.  Ekin) . 781 

Potash,  Production,  Present  State 
of  (C.  P.  Williams)  ....  404 

Pot  Pourri  .......  496,  515 

Powders,  Division  of,  by  the  Eye  65 

- ,  Poisoning  by  Wrong  .  856 

Practical  Notes  on  the  Prepara¬ 
tions  of  tho  British  Pharmaco¬ 
poeia  (C.  R.  C.  Tichboroe)  .  .  501 

Preliminary  Examination,  The  849,993 
Prescott,  A.  B.,  Simple  Apparatus 
for  the  Rapid  Evaporization, 
at  Limited  Heat,  under  reduced 
Pressure,  without  the  Use  of  a 


Pump . 115 

Prescriptions . 589 


- for  Provincial  As¬ 
sociations.  . 531 

- - - (J.  Ince)  581 

Preservation  of  Ergot  .  .  .  .1001 

Preserved  Meats .  366,609 

President’s  Address  at  the  An¬ 
nual  Meeting  of  the  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Society  ...  .  .  .  942 


July  1, 1871.] 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


1059 


PAGE 

Privy  Council,  Correspondence 

with .  652,  942,  1014 

- ,  Deputation  to  .  1032 

Problem  from  Dover,  A  .  .  .  878 

Proceedings  of  Scientific  Socie¬ 
ties  : — 

American  Pharmaceutical  As¬ 
sociation  ....  237,  334,  513 


Andersonian  University  Medi¬ 
cal  School . 474 

Anderson’s  University  .  .  .  258 

Association  of  Medical  Officers 
of  Health . 355 


British  Association,  58,  236,  253,  493 

- Medical  Association,  150,  873 

- Pharmaceutical  Confe¬ 
rence,  213,  231,  249,  272,  296,  314, 
335,  351,  373,  394,  412,  433,  448, 
473,  633,  712,  981 
Chemical  Society,  794,  816,  853,  872, 

935,  981 

Grant  College  Medical  Society, 
Bombay  ....  154,  175,  193 
Hunterian  Medical  Society .  .  135 

Linnean  Society  .  .  473,  513,  613 

London  Chemists’  Association,  657, 

734,  855 

-  Institution  .  .  .  150,  615 

Massachusetts  College  of  Phar¬ 
macy  . 999 

Medical  Society  of  London,  452,  854 
Montreal  Chemists’  Association  693 
National  Association  for  the 
Promotion  of  Social  Science  270 
Ontario  College  of  Pharmacy,  554,674 
Philadelphia  College  of  Phar¬ 
macy  .  37,  633,  692,  794,  855,  998 
Photographic  Society  of  London  555 
Quekett  Microscopical  Club,  92,  774 
Royal  Institution  .  .  32,  633,  977 

Royal  Society .  136,  473 

Sheffield  School  of  Medicine  .  236 

Societe  de  Pharmacie  .  37,  69,  193 
Society  of  Arts,  176,  194,  214,  236, 
276,  354,  452,  534,  573,  595,  613, 

854,  933 

St.  Andrew’s  Medical  Gradu¬ 
ates’  Association  .  .  .  .  474 

University  of  Durham  College 

of  Medicine . 316 

Process  of  Nutrition,  The  (Baron 

Liebig) .  261,  281 

Procter,  W.,  Morphiometric  Me¬ 
thods  Compared . 805 

Proposed  Poison  Regulations,  The 

509,  531,  687,  771 
Provinces,  Pharmaceutical  Edu¬ 
cation  in:  Tabulated  Returns 
from  Provincial  Associations, 

311,  331 

Provincial  Associations,  List  of 


Apparatus  which  may  be  Lent 

to . 833 

- Education  Committee, 

Report  of  the . 389 

Provincial  Schools  of  Pharmacy, 
Conditions  for  Making  and  Re¬ 
ceiving  Grants  and  Loans  in 

Aid  of . 832 

Provincial  Transactions  : — 

Aberdeen  Association  of  As¬ 
sistant  Chemists  and  Drug¬ 


gists  .  11,  473,  977 

Ashton  and  Dukinfield  Che¬ 
mists’  Association  .  .  .  .  493 


PAGE 

Provincial  Transactions 
Barnstaple,  Meeting  of  Che¬ 
mists  of  .......  712 

Bradford  Chemists’  Association,  631, 

793 

Bristol  Pharmaceutical  Asso¬ 
ciation,  173,  294,  448,  534,  613, 
672,  774,  853,  998 
Chester  Chemists’  Association .  692 

Dundee  Chemists  and  Drug¬ 
gists’  Association  .  .  .  431,  933 

Edinburgh  Branch,  428,  630,  655,  893 
Exeter  Branch  Pharmaceutical 

Society . 112 

Glasgow  Chemists  and  Drug¬ 
gists’  Association,  373,  472,  533, 
595,  631,  754,  812,  872 
Halifax  and  District  Chemists 
and  Druggists’  Association,  295, 

594,  755 

Hull  Chemists’  Association,  351, 492, 

673 

Leeds  Chemists’  Association,  428,  630 
Leicester  Chemists’  Assistants 
and  Apprentices’  Association,  174, 

650,  712 

Lincoln  Chemists’  Association.  351 
Liverpool  Chemists’  Association,  11, 
350,  371,  391,  431,  472,  512,  554, 
631,  671,  691,  753,  793,  839,  871, 

916,  975 

Manchester  Chemists  and 
Druggists’  Association,  312,  429, 

492,  672,  853 

- Chemists’  Assist¬ 
ants’  Association,  412,  471,  690, 

774,  932 

Midland  Counties  Chemists’ 

Association . 11, 976 

Norwich  Chemists’  Assistants’ 
Association,  269,  392,  670,  916,  976 
Nottingham  and  Notts  Che¬ 
mists’  Association,  12,  393,  5 72, 

688,  753,  1035 

Scarborough  Chemists’  Asso¬ 
ciation  . 712 

Sheffield  Pharmaceutical  and 
Chemical  Association,  31,  372,  430, 
534,  593,  689,  794 
Sunderland  Chemists’  Associa¬ 
tion,  333,  412,  492,  650,  712,  754, 

932 

Prussia,  Pharmacy  in  (E.  Agnew)  821 
Prussic  Acid,  Poisoning  by  .775,  982 

- Suicide  by  .  .  .  713 

Ptychotis  ajowan  (M.  C.  Cooke) .  1007 


Puff-balls  for  the  Wounded  .  .  266 

Pul  vis  Glycyrrhizae  Co.  .  .  .  377 

Punitaqui  Quicksilver  Mine  .  .  407 

Pure  Caustic  Soda . 65 

Purnell,  J.  B.  R.,  Quinia  and 
some  Analogous  Substances  in 
Prescriptions  . . 787 

Quality  of  Chloral  Hydrate,  The 

(B.  H.  Paul) . 621 

- Drugs,  The  .  .  .  589 

Queensland,  Poppy  Farming  in  .  972 

Queen  v.  Council  of  the  Pharma¬ 


ceutical  Society . 1018 

Quekett  Microscopical  Club  .  92,  774 


Quill ai  Bark . 397 

Quinia  and  some  Analogous  Sub¬ 
stances  in  Prescriptions  (J.  B. 

R.  Purnell) . 787 


TAGE 

Quinia,  The  Precipitation  of,  by 
Iodide  of  Potassium  from  Acid 
Solutions  (J.  M.  Maisch)  .  .  744 
Quinine  and  Cinchonine,  Ilydro- 
bromates  of  (M.  Latour)  .  .  301 

- ,  Indian . 974 

-  Mixture  ....  397,  437 

- ,  Source  of . 349 

Rademaker,  C.  J.,  Amount  of  Ar¬ 
senic  in  Phosphorus  of  Commerce,  426 


- Crystalliza¬ 
tion  of  Sulpho-Carbolate  of 

Quinia . 867 

Rad  way’s  Ready  Relief  .  .  .  286 

Raspberry  Flavour . 878 

- Essence . 1043 

Rational  Therapeutics  (B.  W. 

Richardson) . 341 

Recent  Events  and  the  “  Outside” 

Organ . 1011 

Recommendations  by  the  Phar¬ 
maceutical  Society  for  the 
Keeping,  Dispensing  and  Sell¬ 
ing  of  Poisons . 949 

Rectification  of  Ether,  Accident 

during  the . 42 

Red  Ink . 897 


Redwood,  B.,  New  Reading  of 
the  Petroleum  Acts  ....  1025 
Register  for  1871,  The  .  .  .  149,  669 


Regulation  of  Pharmacy  from  a 
Medical  Point  of  View,  The  .  993 

Report  of  Bristol  Pharmaceutical 

Association . 294 

Report  of  Executive  Committee 
of  the  British  Pharmaceutical 

Conference . 231 

- the  Council  ....  943 

- the  Glasgow  Chemists 

and  Druggists’  Association .  .  373 


the  Liverpool  Chemists’ 


Association  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  371 

- the  Manchester  Che¬ 
mists  and  Druggists’  Association  312 

—  - the  Provincial  Educa¬ 
tion  Committee . 389 

- the  Sale  and  Keeping 

of  Poisons  Committee  .  .  .  491 

—  -  the  Warden  of  the 

Standards . 188 


- on  the  Cultivation  of 

Cinchona  at  Darjeeling  .  .  .  746 

Reviews : 

A  Laboratory  Text-book  of 
Practical  Chemistry  (W.  G. 

Valentin) . 576 

A  Manual  of  Botany  (R. 

Bentley) . 475 

- Structural  Botany 

(M.  C.  Cooke) . 736 

Anaesthetics  (E.  R.  Squibb)  .  896 
An  Elementary  Course  of 
Botany,  Structural,  Physio¬ 
logical  and  Systematic  (A. 

Henfrey) . 475 

A  System  of  Botanical  Analysis 
applied  to  the  Diagnosis  of 
British  Natural  Orders  (W. 
Handsel  Griffiths)  .  .  *  .  75 

Characteristics  of  the  Principal 
Wines  we  drink  (A.  Dupre)  57 
Chemistry :  General,  Medical 
and  Pharmaceutical  (J.  Att- 
field)  American  edit.  .  .  .  916 


1060 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[July  1, 1871 


rAGE 


Reviews : — 

Commentar  znr  bsterreich- 
ischen  Pharmacopoe  (A. 


Yogi)  . . 936 

Concentric  Calculators  (J.  Bel¬ 
lows)  . 396 

Eczema :  its  Nature  and  Treat¬ 
ment  (T.  Fox) . 99 

Essais  do  Culture  du  Quin¬ 
quina  a  la  Martinique  (C. 

Belanger) . 76 

Handbuch  der  Pharmacog- 
nosie  und  Pharmacologie 


(C.  F.  Yerlagshandlung)  .  875 
Index  to  the  Native  Names  of 
Indian  and  other  Eastern 
Economic  Plants  and  Pro¬ 
ducts  (J.  Forbes  Watson)  .  37 

Lecture  Notes  for  Chemical 
Students  (E.  Frankland)  .  16 

Le  Livre  des  Parfums  (E.  Rim- 

mel) . 118 

Manual  of  Quantitative  Ana¬ 
lysis  (R.  Galloway)  ...  36 

Map  of  the  Geographical  Dis¬ 
tribution  of  Medicinal  Sub¬ 
stances  contained  in  the 
British  Pharmacopoeia  .  .  118 

On  Diet  and  Regimen  in  Sick¬ 
ness  and  Health  (H.  Dobell)  99 
Reports  on  the  Progress  of 
Practical  and  Scientific  Me¬ 
dicine  in  different  Parts  of 
the  World  (Dr.  Dobell)  .  .1041 


Science  for  the  People  (T. 

Twining) . 75 

Supplement  to  the  Pharma¬ 
copoeia  of  India  (Moodeen 

Sheriff) . 494 

The  Chemists  and  Druggists’ 

Almanack . 495 

The  Cultivation  of  the  Cin¬ 
chonas  or  Peruvian  Bark- 
trees  in  Java  (K.  W.  Yan 
Gorkom) . 76 


The  Manual  of  Colours  and 
Dye  Wares  (J.  W.  Slater)  .  76 

The  Natural  History  of  Com¬ 
merce  (J.  Yeats)  .  .  .  .  476 

The  New  Theory  and  Practice 
of  Medicine  (W.  Hibbert)  .  817 

The  Students’  Flora  of  the 


British  Islands  (J.  D. 

Hooker) . 16 

The  Unity  of  Medicine  (F. 
Davies) . 99 


Yollstandige  Anleitung  zur 
Fabrikation  Kunstlicher  Mi- 
neralwasser  und  der  Brause- 
getranke  (H.  Hager)  ...  75 

Water  Analysis  (J.  A.  AYank- 
lyn  and  E.  T.  Chapman)  .  118 

Reynolds,  H.  P.,  Emulsion  of  Al¬ 


monds  . 683 

- ,  R.,  Note  on  Calamine  434 

Rhamnus  catharticus  .  .  .  .  842 

Rhatany  from  Para  (F.  A.  Fllicki- 

ger)  . . 84 

Rhubarb,  Sweet  Tincture  of  .  .  546 

Richardson,  Dr.,  Chloral  Hy¬ 
drate  . 650 

- - - ,  New  Remedies.  363 

- - - ,  Rational  Thera¬ 
peutics  . 341 

Riga  Pine,  The . 38 


PAGE 

Rimmington,F.  M.,  Castor  Oil  Soap  682 


- ,  Compound 

Concentrated  Decoction  of  Sar¬ 
saparilla  . 296 

- ,  The  So- 

called  Citrate  of  Magnesia  of 
Pharmacy . 275 


- - - ,  The  Speci¬ 
fic  Gravity  and  the  Actual 
AYeight  of  certain  “Arolume 
Measures”  of  Yarious  Liquids 

and  Preparations . 266 

Ringworm,  Application  for  .  .  348 

Road  AYatering,  Solutions  of  So¬ 
luble  Chlorides  for  .  .  .  .  307 

Roasting  of  Coffee,  The  .  .  .  307 

Robbery  of  Saffron . 1000 

Robinson,  C.  J.,  Our  Salad  Herbs  167 

Rome  and  Paris . 377 

Rosa  canina . 842 

Roscoe,  Professor,  Address  at 

Liverpool .  254’ 

Rose  Flavour . 878 

- Tooth  Powder  ....  419,  437 

Rother,  R.,  Ointment  of  Mercuric 

Nitrate . 107 

- ,  The  Crystallization 

of  Camphor . 1009 

Royal  Institution  .  .  32,  633,  977 

- Society .  176,  473 

- —  Medals,  The  .  .  508 

Rub  ini’s  Camphor  .  .  .  .  377, 397 


Saccharated  Carbonate  of  Iron, 
Strength  of  Twenty-four  Spe¬ 
cimens  of  (J.  J.  Nicholson)  .  251 

Saccharo-Chirettinc,  a  New  Pre¬ 
paration  of  Chiretta  (D.  S. 

Kemp) . 250 

Sachet  Perfume . 377 

Saffron,  Robbery  of . 1000 

- ,  The  Adulteration  of  (J. 

Ingham) . 624 

- , - -  (D. 

Hanbury) . 241 

Saint-Germain  Laxative  Powder  819 

Salad  Dressing . 757 

- Herbs,  Our  (C.  J.  Robin¬ 
son)  . 167 

Sale  of  Laudanum,  The  .  .  327,  556 

- Patent  Medicines  without 


Stamp  or  Licence . 514 

- Petroleum  without  a  Li¬ 
cence  . 616 

- Poisons  Act  in  Ireland  .  569 

- Poisons  in  Canada,  The  .  547 

- Poisons  (Ireland)  Bill  .  7 

Sambucus  nigra . 843 

Sandford  Memorial,  Presentation 

of  Portrait . 294 

Santonin,  and  its  Detection  in 
the  Urine  (W.  G.  Smith)  .  .  528 

- ,  Solution  of  (J.  Harley)  667 

Saponaceous  Plants  (P.  L.  Sim- 

monds) . 585 

Sarothamnus  scoparius  .  .  .  .  842 

Sarsaparilla,  Compound  Concen¬ 
trated  Decoction  of  (F.  M. 

Rimmington) . 296 

Sauces . 1043 

Scarborough  Chemists’  Associa¬ 
tion  . 712 

Scammony,  Resin  of  ....  408 

Scarlet  Fever . 347 

- ,  The  ATctims  of.  .  210 


PAGE 

Schacht,  G.  F.,  Inaugural  Ad¬ 
dress  . 291 

Scheffer,  E.,  Liquid  Pepsin  and 
Saccharated  Pepsin  .  .  .  .  666 

School  of  Pharmacy,  The  .  .  .  247 
Science  Degrees  of  the  Univer¬ 
sity  of  London . 27 

Schneider,  F.,  Time  for  Collect¬ 
ing  Digitalis  Leaves  ....  50 

Scientific  Hobbies . 730 

- Library . 598 

Societies,  Proceedings  of.  See 


Proceedings  of  Scientific  So¬ 
cieties. 

Scrutineers’  Report . 963 

Sea-sickness,  Pleasant  Remedy 

for . 465 

Scneka,  Syrup  of  (J.  C.  AYharton)  846 
Senna,  Confection  of,  Note  on 
(J.  W.  Ehrman)  .....  806 

Sessional  Prizes . 133 


Sewage  Irrigation . 129 

- ,  Production  of  Solid  Ma¬ 


nure  from  (ABC  Process)  .  525 

- Question,  The  ....  67 

- ,  Treatment  and  Utiliza¬ 
tion  of .  7 

Sheep-dipping  Composition,  Poi¬ 
soning  of  a  Family  by  a  .  .  436 

Sheet  Lightning . 618 

Sheffield,  Meeting  of  Chemists 

and  Druggists  at . 809 

- Pharmaceutical  and 


Chemical  Association,  31,  372,  430, 
534,  593,  689,  754 


-  School  of  Medicine  .  236 

Sheurcr-Kestner,  Smoke,  The 
Theory  of  its  Formation  .  .  22 

Shipment  of  Dangerous  Articles  356 
Silk  and  Sunflowers  in  Mauritius  130 
Silkworm,  Culture  and  Diseases 

of  the . 42 

Silvering  for  Pills . 897 

Silver  Plating,  Test  for  .  .  .  790 

Simmonds,  P.  L.,  Methylated 

Spirit . 562 

- ,  Notes  on 

Bird  Oils . 1006 

- ,  Saponaceous 

Plants . 585 

- . - }  The  Trade 

in  Leeches . 521 

Sinapis  alba . 662 

- nigra . 661 


Skcy,  AV.,  Extraction  of  the  Poi¬ 
sonous  Principle  of  the  Tutu 
Plant  (Coriaria  ruscifolia)  .  .  565 

Smallpox,  Local  Application  in  .  1000 

- Marks . 496 

- ,  The  Treatment  of  .  38 

Smith,  E.,  The  Storing  of  Poi¬ 
sons  . 394 

- ,  T.  and  H.,  Thq  Purgative 

Action  of  Aloes . 402 

- ,  AY.  G.,  Santonin,  and  its 

Detection  in  the  Urine  .  .  .  528 

Smoke,  The  Theory  of  its  For¬ 
mation  (Sheurer-Kestner)  .  .  22 

Snake  Poisoning,  Mortality  from  278 

-  Root  (Cimicifuga  race- 

mosa),  Neutral  Crystallizable 
Principle  in  (T.  E.  Conard)  .  866 

Snuff  Contaminated  by  Lead 

Poisoning  by . 465 

Societe  de  Phannacie,  Paris,  37,  69, 193 


July  1, 1871.] 


TIIE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS 


10G1 


PAGE 

Society  of  Arts,  Cantor  Lecture,  176, 
193,  214,  236,  276,  354,  452,  534, 
573,  595,  613,  854,  933 

Soda?  Arsenias . 15 

Soda  Water,  Invention  of  .  .  .  170 

Solanum  Dulcamara . 921 

Solubility  of  Citrate  of  Iron  .  .  437 

Solution  of  Guaiac  Resin  for  Me¬ 
dicinal  Use  (J.  T.  Shinn)  .  .  923 
Solvent  for  Ear  Wax  .  .  .  .  366 

- White  Shellac,  818, 857, 877 


- Powers  of  Glycerine  (Klc- 

ver) . 763 

Source  of  Muscular  Power,  The 

(Baron  Liebig-) . 161 

Southall,  W.,  The  Botanical  Stu¬ 
dent’s  Dream . 745 


South  London  Microscopical  and 
Natural  History  Club  .  .  .  910 

Species  and  Race,  The  Difference 

between . 748 

Specific  Gravity  and  the  Actual 
Weight  of  certain  “Volume 
Measures”  of  various  Liquids 
and  Preparations  (F.  M.  Rim- 

mington) . 296 

Spill,  D.,  Xylonite . 555 

Spiller,  J.,  On  the  Discrimination 
of  Fibres  in  Mixed  Fabrics  .  264 

Spirgatis,  H.,  Examination  of  the 
Resin  of  Tampico  Jalap  .  .  .  344 

Spiritus  JEtheris  Nitrosi  (A.  E. 

Tanner) .  463,472 

- Ammonia}  Aaomat.,  588,  709 


■ - Ammonia}  Aromaticus, 

its  Preparation  and  Composi¬ 
tion  (W.  Martindale)  .  .  .  704 

•  - Ammonia}  Aromaticus, 

(J.  T.  Miller) . 742 

- Salis  Dulcis . 667 

Spogel  Seeds  (M.  C.  Cooke)  .  .  86 

Spurious  Quinine . 707 

Squibb,  E.  R.,  The  Preparation 

of  Chloral . 903 

Squills,  Compound  Syrup  of  (J. 

C.  Wharton) . 846 

St.  Petersburg,  the  Food  Pro¬ 
ducts  of . 788 

Standards  of  Weights  and  Mea¬ 
sures  . 798 

•  - ,  Report  of  the  Warden 

of  the . 18S 

Stanford,  E.  C.  C.,  The  Fulmar 

and  Fulmar  Oil . 374 

Starch  for  the  Microscope  (M.  0. 

Cooke) . 401 

State  Aid  for  Pharmaceutical 

Education . 211 

Statement  of  Reasons  which  in¬ 
duced  the  Council  to  Suggest 


Regulations  regarding  the  Keep  - 
ing,  Dispensing  and  Selling  of 

Poisons . 653 

Stewart,  Balfour,  What  is  Energy 

185,  207,  224 

Stoddart,  W.  W. ,  Bristol  Pharma¬ 
cology,  482, 601, 661, 842, 881, 921, 985 

-  Introductory 

Address,  British  Pharmaceuti¬ 


cal  Conference . 232 

Strainers . 877 


Strawberry  Essence . 1043 

- Flavour . 878 

Strychnia,  Delicate  Colour  Test 
for  the  Detection  of  ...  .  348 


PAGE 

Strychnia,  Poisoning  by  ...  307 
Subacetate  of  Lead,  Preparation 
of,  by  the  Cold  Process  (M. 

Nerning) . 24 

Substitution  of  Mercurial  Powder 
for  Dover’s  Powder  ....  395 

- ,  Singular  Case  of  .  170 

Sugared  Calamus,  or  Candied 

Sweet-flag  Root . 819 

Sugar,  New  Test  Solution  for  .  189 

- of  Lead,  Attempted  Suicide 

by . 657 

Suggestions  for  Candidates  pass¬ 
ing  the  Preliminary  Examination,  993 
Suicide  by  Carbolic  Acid  .  508,  695 


- Morphia . 695 

- Nitric  Acid  ....  456 

- Prussic  Acid  .  .  .  713 

Sulphate  of  Iron . 245 

- of  Lime . 877 

- of  Quinine,  Supply  of, 

to  the  French  Army  .  .  .  .  170 

Sulphite  of  Zinc  (C.  R.  C.  Tich- 
borne) . 351 


Sulpho- Acids,  The  Formation  of 

(Dr.  Armstrong) . 853 

Sulpho-carbolate  of  Quinia,  Crys¬ 
tallization  of  (C.  J.  Rademaker)  867 

- Zinc  ...  762 

Sulpho-carbolates  (T.  H.  Hust- 


wick) . 845 

Sulpho-carbolic  Acid,  and  the  Sul¬ 
pho-  carb dates  (T.  O.  Guy)  .  52 

Sulphurated  Potash,  Chemical 
Constitution  of  (J.  Watts)  .  .  416 

Sulphur  Beds  of  California,  The  .  6 

- — Deposit,  Now  ....  347 

- in  Coal-Gas . 113 

Sulphurous  Acid  .  ,  .  .  .  465,  488 

Sumac,  American . 971 

Sumbulus  Moschatus  .  .  .  .  807 
Sunderland  Chemists’  Associa¬ 


tion,  333,  412,  493,  650,  712,  754,  932 
Supply  of  Drugs  to  Unions  .  .  468 

Supposed  Death  from  Subcutane¬ 
ous  Injection  of  Morphia  .  .  616 

Suppositories  and  Pessaries,  Im¬ 


proved  Mould  for  (A.  W.  Ger- 

rard) . 423 

- ,  A  New  Material  for  446 

- ,  The  Preparation  of 

(W.  G.  Ewing) . 1008 

- ,  The  Use  of  Wax, 

Tallow,  etc.  in  (C.  L.  Eberle)  .  969 

Sweet  Tincture  of  Rhubarb  .  .  546 


Sympathetic  Ink  .  .  .  366,  397,  419 

Synthesis  of  Alkaloids  .  .  .  .  605 

- Oil  of  Rue  (E.  Gorup- 

Besanez  and  F.  Grimm) .  .  .  323 

Syrup  of  Chloral  Hydrate  .  .  .  456 

- Citric  Acid  ....  446 

- Iodide  of  Iron  .  .  .  508 

- Iodide  of  Potassium  and 

Iron . 848 

• - Ipecacuanha  ....  348 

- Ipecacuanha  (J.  C. 

Wharton) . 846 

- Phosphate  of  Iron  and 

other  Syrups  containing  Phos¬ 
phoric  Acid  (M.  Carteighe)  .  761 

- Seneka  (J.  C.  Wharton)  846 

- Squills,  Compound  (J. 

C.  Wharton) . 846 

- Tamarinds . 577 

Syrupus  Croci . 577 


PAGE 

Syrupus  Croci  (G.  W.  Kennedy)  707 
-  Ferri,  Quince  et  Strych¬ 
nia}  Phosphatum  ....  397,  419 
- Tonicus  .  .  .  877,  1001 

Tabulated  Returns  from  Provin¬ 
cial  Associations  concerning 
Pharmaceutical  Education  .311,  331 

Talca  Gum . 598 

Tamarind,  The  (J.  R.  Jackson)  .  863 

Tampico  Jalap,  Examination  of 
the  Resin  of  (H.  Spirgatis)  .  344 

Tanner,  A.  E.,  Spiritus  JEtheris 


Nitrosi  .......  463,  472 

Tannin  and  Glycerine  Pencils  .  313 

-  in  Galls . 419 

- -  versus  Alum . 446 

Taraxacum  Dens-leonis.  .  .  .  882 

Tasteless  Pills . 477 

Taste  of  Cod-liver  Oil,  The  .  .  878 

Tea  in  the  United  States,  Culti¬ 
vation  of . 928 

Toeth  Stopping . 377 

Test  for  Chloric  Acid  .  .  .  .  547 

- Silver  Plating. .  .  .  .  790 


Testing  Cochineal  (J.  M.  Merrick)  906 

-  of  Bitter  Almond  Oil  and 

Oil  of  Cloves  (F.  A.  Fliickiger)  321 

Thebolactic  Acid . 210 

Theine  as  a  Therapeutic  Agent, 

The  Use  of  (L.  Thompson).  .  704 

Thompson,  L.,  The  Use  of  Theine 
as  a  Therapeutic  Agent  .  .  .  704 

Tichborne,  C.  R.  C.,  Colophonino 
and  Coloplionic  Hydrate  .  .  302 

- - -,  Parchment 

Paper  as  a  Filtering  Medium  .  881 

• - - - ,  Practical 

Notes  on  the  Preparations  of 
the  British  Pharmacopoeia  .  .  501 

- ,  Sulphite  of 

Zinc . 351 

Tilden,  W.  A.,  A  Few  Notes  on 

Aloes . 375 

- ,  Chapters  for  Stu¬ 
dents.  See  Chapters,  etc. 

Tinctura  Colocynthidis  .  857,  877,  917 

- Ferri  Acetatis  .  .  .  975 

- Opii  Camphorata  .  .1043 

- -  Pruni  Virginiana}  .  .  477 

Tincture  of  Hyoscyamus  (M.  Do¬ 


novan)  . 907 

- Nux  Vomica  (J.  B. 

Moore) . 790 


- Squills,  Poisoning  by  547 

Tinctures  of  the  British  Pharma¬ 
copoeia,  Loss  of  Spirit  in  Making 
the  (C.  Umney)  ....  321,  379 

- ,  Colouring  Materials  in  307 

Tinfoil,  Lead  in . 179 

- ,  the  Use  of,  for  Preserv¬ 
ing-  Substances  liable  to  Change 
on  Exposure  to  the  Air  (E. 

Baudrimont) .  4 

Tin-lined  Water  Pipes  ....  547 

Tinted  Honey . 546 

Toilet  Vinegar .  497,  515 

Tonqua  Bean  Flavour  .  .  .  .  878 

Transactions  of  the  Pharmaceuti¬ 
cal  Society,  10,  28,  53,  68,  92,  112, 
132,  230,  308,  327,  350,  367,  388, 
469,  491,  511, -533,  551,  571,  590, 
612,  652,  670,  688,  711,  753,  773, 
831,  851,  871,  891,  910,  932,  942, 
963,  975,  996,  1013,  1035 


1062 


THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  JOURNAL  AND  TRANSACTIONS. 


[July  1,  1871. 


PAGE 

Transactions  of  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society : — 

Analysis  of  Examinations  .  .  892 

Annual  Meeting . 942 

Benevolent  Fund,  367,  389,  492,  911 
Correspondence  with  the  Privy 
Council  .  .  .  .652,942,1014 

Election  of  Annuitants  .  .  .  367 

Associates,  54,  134,  230, 


309,  390,  492,  572,  655,  732,  834, 

911,  1015 
Members,  54,  134,  230, 


309,  391,  572,  732,  834,  1015 


Evening  Meetings,  367,  470,  551,  655, 


835 


Examinations  in  Edinburgh,  10,  69, 
92,  329,  470,  612,  711,  871,  996 
London,  10,  28,  55, 


68,  112,  327,  350,  411,  469,  511, 
533,  590,  670,  688,  773,  857,  932, 

975 

Financial  Statement  .  .  .  .  944 

Forms  of  Application  for 

Grants  in  Aid  of  Provincial 

Schools . 831 

List  of  Apparatus  which  may 
he  lent  to  Provincial  Asso¬ 
ciations  .  833 

-  Local  Secretaries  for 

1870- 71  .  30 

- - for 

1871- 72  .  996 


Major  Examination,  Candi¬ 
dates  who  have  passed  the,  10, 
55,  68,  69,  329,  350,  411,  511,  592, 
688,  711,  773,  851,  871,  975 
Meeting  of  Council,  53, 132,  230,  308, 
388,  652,  731,  831,  910,  942,  1013, 

1035 

Minor  Examination,  Candi¬ 
dates  who  have  passed  the,  10, 
55,  68,  69,  112,  329,  350,  411,  470, 
511,  533,  592,  612,  688,  711,  773, 

851,  871,  975 

Modified  Examination,  Candi¬ 
dates  who  have  passed  the,  10, 
28,  69,  112,  327,  329,  469,  470, 
612,  670,  711,  871,  932 
Pharmaceutical  Chemists,  Di¬ 
plomas  granted  to,  54,  133,  390, 
571,  655,  732,  834,  1014 
Meetings,  288,  367, 


Transactions  of  the  Pharmaceu¬ 
tical  Society : — 

Statement  of  Attendance  of 
Members  of  Council  on  Com¬ 
mittees,  1870-71  .... 

- - - -  Reasons  which 


PAGE 


PAGE 


891 


Wanklyn,  J.  A.,  Note  on  the  Con¬ 
stitution  of  Albumen  .  .  .  .  263 

~,  The  Chemistry  of 


653 

911 


induced  the  Council  to  sug¬ 
gest  Regulations  regarding 
the  Keeping,  Dispensing  and 
Selling  of  Poisons  .... 
Subscriptions  and  Donations 
to  the  Benevolent  Fund  .  . 

Tabulated  Returns  from  the 
Provincial  Associations  .  310,  330 
Trisnitrate  of  Bismuth,  Reaction 
of  Potassic  Iodide  with  the  Offi¬ 
cinal  (W.  B.  Woodman  and 

C.  M.  Tidy) . 464 

Tuba  Root .  790,  857 

Turmeric . 868 

-,  Laboratory  Notes  on 


(J.  Cooke) . 415 

in  Powdered  Rhubarb 


and  Yellow  Mustard,  Detection 
of  (J.  M.  Maisch)  .  ...  .  .1027 

Turpentine  as  an  Antidote  to 

Phosphorus . 685 

Tuson,  R.  V.,  Medicinal  Pepsin  .  143 

Tutu  Plant  (Coriaria  ruscifolia)  . 
Tylophora  asthmatica  (M.  C. 

Cooke) . 104 

Tyndall,  Prof.,  The  Scattering 
of  Light . 633 


Umney,  C.,  Hydrate  of  Chloral  . 
- ,  Loss  of  Spirit  in 


107 


Making  the  Tinctures  of  the 
British  Pharmacopoeia  .  .  321,  379 

-,  Nitrite  of  Amyl  .  .  422 


Ung-uentum  Sabinae  (T.  H.  Bate¬ 
man)  .  3 

- Acidi  Carbolici  .  .  1030 


University  of  London,  Science 

Degrees  of  the . 

Unto-Mool  (M.  C.  Cooke)  .  .  . 

Utilization  of  Residue  in  making- 


27 

104 


Tincture  of  Myrrh 
Sewage 


Uva  Ursi  (J.  Jungmann) 


1000 

28 

988 


470,  551,  655,  732,  835 
Preliminary  Examination,  Can¬ 
didates  who  have  passed  the, 

10,  28,  69,  112,  328,  329,  350,  411, 
470,  533,  590,  612,  688,  711,  773, 

851,  871 

Proposed  Regulations  as  to  the 
Keeping  of  Poisons  .  .  491,  910 

Registrar’s  Report  .  .  .  .  892 

Report  of  the  Council  .  .  .  943 

- Provincial  Edu¬ 
cation  Committee  .  .  .  389, 652 


Reports  of  the  Board  of  Exa¬ 
miners,  54,  390,  492,  571,  654,  711, 

834,  910,  1014 
— - Professors  .  .  288 


Special  Meeting  of  Council,  1015, 

1035 

Statement  of  Attendance  of 
Members  of  Council  at  Coun¬ 
cil  Meetings,  1870-71  ...  892 


747 
881 
878,  1001 


861 


749 

568 


Vaccination,  Death  from 
Valeriana  Officinalis  .  . 

Vanilla  Flavour  .  .  . 

Variability  in  the  Activity  of 
Leaves  (M.  C.  Cooke)  .  .  . 

Vegetable  Fibres,  New  Method 

of  Distinguishing . 

Vegetable  Wax  in  Japan  .  .  . 

Vehicle  for  the  Internal  Adminis¬ 
tration  of  Chloroform.  .  .  . 

Veratrum  Viride,  an  Antidote  to 

Opium . 610 

Vermin  Killer,  Attempted  Poison¬ 
ing  by  a .  536,  1000 

Versmann,  Dr.  F.,  Chloral  Hy¬ 
drate  .  ....  965 

- ,  Chloral  Hydrate 

and  Chloral  Alcoholate  .  .  .  701 


307 


Vinca  Major . 861 

Vinum  Ferri . 554 

Voelcker,  Dr.,  The  Productive 
Power  of  Soils  in  Relation  to 

,  .  .  935 


the  Atmosphere  .  .  .  .  41,  86 

Ward,  J.  S.,  Note  on  Australian 

Opium . 543 

Warts .  245,  938,  917 

Wasps  and  the  Stamens  and 

Pistils  of  Fuchsias . 868 

Watch  Oil . 577 

Water  Analysis,  Estimation  of 
Organic  Matter  and  Nitrates  in 
Potable  Waters  (C.  Ekin)  .  .  781 

Water  Chestnuts  (M.  C.  Cooke)  .  125 

Water-Glass  as  a  Bandage  .  .  426 

Waterproofing . 799 

Water  Supply . 210 

- Test . 457 


Waters  of  the  British  Pharma¬ 
copoeia,  The  (G.  Browncn) .  .  241 

Watson,  Dr.  James,  Obituary 

Notice  of . 1000 

Watts,  J.,  Chemical  Constitution 
of  Sulphurated  Potash  .  .  .  416 

Wax  Varnish . 546 

Weather  Glass  • . 456 

Webb,  E.  A.,  Remarks  on  a  Speci¬ 
men  of  Chiretta . 

Wellingtonea  Gigantea,  A  New  . 
Wenzell,  W.  T.,“  Cincho- Quinine 
-,  The  Preparation 


367 
937 
”  115 


927 

747 


of  Ferridcyanide  of  Potassium 
West  Indian  Medicinal  Plants  . 
Wharton,  J.  C.,  Compound  Syrup 
of  Squills,  Syrup  of  Seneka,  and 
Syrup  of  Ipecacuanha  .  .  . 

What  is  a  Poison  ? . 

- Energy  ?  (Balfour  Stewart)  185, 

207,  224 


846 

386 


White  Oils . 737 

Williams,  C.  P.,  Present  State  of 
the  Potash  Production  .  .  .  404 

Williamson,  A.  W.,  On  Fermen¬ 
tation,  176,  194,  214,  236,  276,  354, 
452,  534,  573,  595,  613 
Will  Snake-Poison  Kill  a  Snake  ?  790 

Wine  Supply  of  Paris,  The  .  .  269 

Wollowicz,  Count  Cyprian,  Obi¬ 
tuary  Notice  of . 715 

Wood,  C.  II.,  The  Tests  for  Chlo¬ 
ral  Hydrate . 703 

Worm  Lozenges,  Poisoning  by  .  307 

Wright,  C.  R.  A.,  Contributions 
to  the  History  of  the  Opium 
Alkaloids .  867,  886 


Xylonite  (D.  Spill) 


555 


Food  and  Drainage 


Yates,  James,  Obituary  Notice  of  937 
Year-Book  of  Pharmacy,  The,  131,  490, 

569 

- and  Trans- 


597 


actions  of  the  British  Pharma¬ 
ceutical  Conference  .... 

Yeast  and  other  Ferments  (C.  A. 

Watkins) .  887,  907,  925 

Yellow  Beeswax  of  Commerce, 
Purity  of  the  (E.  Davis)  .  .  249 

Yew  Berries,  Poisoning  by  .  286,  347 
Young’s  Patent  Poison  Cabinet  .  870 

Ylang-Ylang . 598 


Zinc  Water-tank . 938